*Holds up a sign that says: We only own our own characters, not the Ronin Characters.
Peace is Threatened
Chapter 14.
Flash turned away and headed off, determined to rescue Thunder. The others soon caught up with her; all wondering what she had planned.
"Tell me you're not going to do this to Brock now," Ryo said.
"I'm not," she replied. "We have to find Amaya, Josephine, and Hana. We're going to go after Thunder and rescue him."
"Um, we don't even know where Mesu is keeping him," Kento said.
"The Dynasty, Kento," Ryo said. "It's quite obvious."
Kento nodded and looked at Flash.
"We may need to use our armors power to create a bridge to the Dynasty," Mia said.
"A bridge?" Flash asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryo explained to her what it was as they walked along, searching for the other three Ronin Guardians. Flash nodded her head as she listened to him explain it all.
"Sounds interesting. But there's no need for you to waste your armors' energy like that," she told them.
"What do you mean?" Ryo asked, incredulously.
"Blaze can get us there."
"How?" Mia asked.
"Blaze has this special crystal, and this power inside him," Flash explained. "The crystal cannot be obtained nor controlled by anyone except by him. It won't work for anyone else. He can teleport us there in no time."
They were all surprised at this, and wondered what other secrets Flash had not told them yet. But they didn't have time to ask. "Hey guys!" a familiar shout came to them somewhere from the left of them. They all turned and saw Josephine waving her arms at them, and with Hana sitting down, and Amaya standing next to her. All three were in subarmor. The others quickly rushed over to them.
"What happened?" Ryo demanded.
"We got attacked by soldiers," Hana exclaimed.
"But we took care of them," Amaya told them.
"How's Rowen?" Josephine asked.
"He was beat up pretty good by Brock," Mia explained to them softly. "But he's resting now and Sage and Rekino are with him."
"So now what?" Kento asked.
Everyone looked at Ryo, and it appeared he was thinking. He looked at Flash and saw the fire in her eyes. He knew what she already had planned. "Ok, here's what we do. We go after Thunder and rescue him."
*~*
Rekino was sitting in on of the chairs watching Rowen as he slept. She had been there for almost two hours. Rowen had fallen asleep shortly after the guys left. She and Sage just talked for most of the time about what the plan was for Brock and Mesu. Rekino had wanted so badly to go with Flash and the others, but she stayed with Rowen. She loved him, but was it worth missing out on kick some Dynasty butt? She sighed and laid back into the chair. She hated hospitals. She spent too much time in them when she was little. She never told anyone about the cancer she had in her left knee.
Man, what I wouldn't give for something to eat right now. I'm starving! She slowly pulled away from that thought; I'm sounding too much like Kento and Josephine. Good Lord!
She stole one more glance at Rowen before she let her eyes close. She was tired from all of the day's events. Sage was on the other side of the room, already asleep. She let her eyes close and drift off into the land of darkness. She never had dreams. After her mother and father died, she never dreamt. She only slept in darkness. However, tonight was different.
*In Rekino's dream*
She looked around. She was in the Dynasty. She walked around and came across sounds of a battle. As fast as her legs could carry her, she ran to the scene. She stopped and gasped at what she saw. The ground was covered in dark red blood. She saw bodies all around her. On closer inspection, she noticed those bodies belonged to her friends. Sage was lying on top of Hana both of them were dead. It seemed like he was trying to protect her. She looked around and saw Josephine and Cye. They were tied to a tree together. Swords were going through their armor. Ahead of her, she saw that Flash, Thunder, Ryo, Mia, and Rowen were the only ones still alive. They were fighting, which looked to be like, Mesu. He was different though. He was taller, stronger, and looked much like Talpa; only he was human, sorda.
Rekino saw Mesu raise his sword and strike Mia. The Lady of Strata fell to the ground, a huge wound in her stomach. How could his swords penetrate the Mystical Armors? She heard Ryo scream, and while his defenses were down; Mesu struck Ryo in the back of the head, which caused him to fall right beside Mia. She stood there in horror as she watched her friends die. She couldn't move. Mesu suddenly turned to her with an evil smirk on his face.
"You're next, Rekino of the Lady Wildfire," Mesu charged her with full force.
Rekino couldn't move. Her whole body was frozen. She waited for the impact to come, but heard a voice threw Mesu's screaming.
"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"
Both Rekino and Mesu turned to see Rowen standing on shaking legs. His arrow flying straight towards Mesu. It hit the demon with full force, and he was sent flying back. Rekino looked at the man she loved. She found her blood flow, and started to run towards Rowen. She hugged him with all the strength she possessed. He tilted her head up and kissed her. They held on to each other for the longest. Never ending the kiss. Rekino suddenly felt the taste of blood in her mouth. She broke away and looked at Rowen. He had blood lining the edge of his lips. She gasped in surprise.
"I'm sorry, Rekka. I couldn't protect you," Rowen said. He kissed her one last time and breathed on her lips, "I love you."
Rekino caught him as he fell forward. She let the tears stream down her face as she cried for the one she lost. For her brother and the guys. For her Lady Guardians. She cried for Flash and Thunder as well. They had just become friends, and she let them die. She looked up as she heard and evil laughter. Mesu was standing above her and Rowen, with a bloody sword in his hand.
"I told you I would have my victory, Lady Wildfire. Now you DIE!" Mesu said.
Rekino smiled and brought her hands around Rowen, "We'll be together, even in the after life, Tenku no Touma."
*End Dream*
Rekino woke up, gasping for breath as the images of the dream flew through her mind. She held her face in her hands, trying to get the images to go away, but they remained, taunting her, scaring her. Her hands clenched the sides of her chair, turning her knuckles white. She was certain she would scream at any moment. Then suddenly, the images faded away and she found
herself in the hospital room once again. She took deep breaths trying to calm herself.
"Hey, are you all right?" came a whisper from across the room.
She glanced up at Sage. He was awake and watching her worriedly. How long he had been awake, she did not know. So many things were going through her mind she was certain her head would explode at any moment.
Sage frowned deeply. Something wasn't right. Rekino seemed to be frightened by something only she could see. That worried him. What had happened? He wondered worriedly. "Rekino?" he tried again.
Rekino wiped her face and nodded. "Just…just a horrible dream…" she whispered so softly it was hard to hear her almost, and yet Sage was able to hear her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked gently.
There was a long pause. Rekino glanced toward Rowen, watching him with a frown. She loved him so much it hurt to see him like this. She would have given anything to take his pain for him. She still couldn't believe that Brock had actually been able to beat him up. Just wait until she got her hands on him! She would rip him to shreds with her bare hands!
"Rekino?" Sage asked again in a soft voice.
Rekino sighed. She knew she'd have to tell someone. And so she slowly and quietly began to tell Sage her horrible dream, "I had a dream, Sage. It was horrible. I was standing alone and I heard a battle. I ran as fast as I could. I saw you lying on top of Hana, both of you dead. Josephine and Cye were tied to a tree with swords going through their bodies…God…the blood…there was so much blood…Mia, Ryo, Rowen, Flash, and Thunder were the only ones left fighting. Mesu struck Mia hard and Ryo went after her…Mesu took advantage of Ryo's distraction to kill him," Rekino buried her face in her hands and kept going, "After that…he charged at Thunder and Flash…he threw some kind of vile at Thunder…I didn't see what was in it, but it made Thunder weaker than a baby kitten. His body seemed to just wither away and die. Flash was enraged with anger and she charged at Mesu. Quicker than lighting, he picked her up and threw her in a lake. Rowen took the advantage and tried to stop him…but with a single flick of his wrist…he sent Rowen into a tree!" She softly let the tears roll down her cheeks, "I watched my friends DIE! I just stood there and didn't do a damn thing! I saw Flash…her face was horrid…she was looking at me and I couldn't do anything! I…I…feel like such a failure…" Rekino shot her head up and glared at Sage, "I failed them all…I let them die…"
Sage's eyes widened at Rekino's condition. She was a girl that was known to hardly cry, yet, she was crying now. Sage slowly got up and walked over to Rekino and took her into his arms. He hugged her tightly, stroking her hair. Something a big brother would do, "How can you say you failed us, Rekino? Rowen and I are still here and…"
"Rowen was nearly beat to death, Sage," Rekino said through her sobs, "I feel like I've…failed him the most…I…I let Brock…b-beat him up…a-and…I wasn't there to…h-help him…"
Sage pulled Rekino back and looked her sharply in the eyes, "Look at me, Rekino," He saw her soft, glowing amethyst eyes look up at him, "Listen to me, you haven't failed anyone. It wasn't your fault that Ro got beat up. You didn't fail him and you haven't failed any of us yet," He grabbed her chin when she turned away from him, "What would Ryo say if he saw you like this? Or better yet, what would Rowen say?"
"Well," came a soft voice from the room. They both turned to see Rowen sitting up on the bed, "I'd tell her to dry up her tears. That she's never been a failure to me and she'll never be to anyone. Cause angels never fail."
"Dude, that was so corny," Sage chuckled. He let go of Rekino and lightly kissed her on the forehead. He loved her like a little sister. They had gotten a lot closer since he started going through her diary.
"It's true. She's my angel," Rowen said and looked Rekino in the eyes, "Then, I would tell her to come here so I could give her a hug and a kiss and whisper sweet nothings into her ear," He cocked his head to the side, "How about it Rekino? Can I hug and kiss you and whisper sweet nothings into your ear?"
Rekino smiled and started to get up but stopped when images of her dream flashed in her head. Her face paled and she backed away. Her eyes widened with fear as she stopped up against the wall, "N-no…I…w-won't…" She put her hand around her neck and grabbed tightly against her necklace, "I won't…I can't…"
"Rekino? What in blue blazes are you talking about?" Sage asked. He advanced towards her but she pushed him back swiftly. Sage landed in the chair that she use to be in, "Rekino?"
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Rowen tried to get out of bed, but his body demanded against it. His eyes feel sadly at the woman he loved, "What's wrong?"
"I won't…" Rekino clinched her eyes shut at the images flowing through her mind. She made a silent command to her armor, and with a flash of light, she was in her subarmor. She looked around the room for something quick to get out of. She noticed the open window. Rekino made a quick dash and jumped over Rowen's bed, making sure not to hit her head. She turned to the others with a look of anger, "I w-won't…LET HIM BEAT ME!" With the said, she jumped out the window.
"Rekino!" Rowen screamed. Ignoring the pain of his ribs, he jumped out of the bed and speed walked to the window, Sage closely behind him. The Ronin of Strata watched as his girlfriend did a perfect landing on the street below them. If he were a judge, he'd give her a ten on the landing. Rowen was sure glad no one was driving this time of night, "What the hell is her problem?"
"I don't know, but I'm going after her!" Sage brought out his kanji orb, and prepared to get in subarmor, but Rowen stopped him, "What's up, Ro?"
"Don't go after her, Sage. Let her be," Rowen said quietly, "Something's wrong with her, and I'm sure once she finds out, she'll come back. I'm sure she's just going to clear her head or something."
"Yeah, whatever you say," Sage sighed, "I'm not on the feeling easy side, so I'm going to try and contact Hana and let her know that Rekino went psycho and jumped out the window."
"You're so over dramatic, Sage," Rowen laughed but stopped when he remembered the state of his body. He leaned on the wall, "Help me back in bed, will ya?"
*~*
After Rekino landed on the streets of Toyama, she jumped right back up and started to sprint. She ran as fast as she could. Her eyes still glittering with tears and the wind whipped around her face and blew her black hair around. Her hands were clinched at her side and she could feel the throbbing pain in her knee from the when she landed. She ignored the pain, as she always did, and kept running. Her fears cast aside; her cancer wasn't bothering her now, and her anger swelled up inside her body. She forgot about Brock and kept her focus and Mesu. She was going to make him pay. Her eyes hardened as she ran for the house. With her mind made up, she quickened her pace along the streets of Toyama. Hopefully she would make it before the others left and not let them notice her.
*~*
Flash and the others arrived at the house to see White Blaze and Blaze asleep outside on the porch. Josephine smiled and ran up to the animals to huge them. The tiger and the wolf were, nonetheless, surprised by the sudden outburst of the Hardrock Guardian.
"Hello big kitties!" Josephine said and hugged the animals closer.
"Josephine, for the last time, White Blaze isn't a kitty. He's a TIGER!" Ryo yelled.
"And Blaze is a wolf," Flash said calmly. She walked over to her pet and scratched him behind the ear, "Blaze, we need in the Dynasty."
Blaze nodded his furry head and stood up on all fours. He walked out onto the lawn in stood in the middle of the group. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the energy of the crystal around his neck. In a matter of minutes, a bright flash surrounded Blaze and the others stepped back. When the light was gone, the remaning Ronins and Guardians saw the brilliant, white wolf standing next to a dimension gateway.
"I'll never get tired of seeing that," Flash walked over to the bridge and turned towards the others, "What're you guys waiting for? It's time to kick Mesu's butt and get Thunder back!"
"Right!" Mia said and looked at the other girls, "We don't know what we'll find on the other side, so, let's armor up!" After all, she was second in command after Rekino, "Symbol of Life, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Strata, Inochi!"
Hana was third in command, "Symbol of Wisdom, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Halo, Chi!"
Amaya was forth in command, "Symbol of Trust, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Torrent, Shin!"
Josephine was fifth in command, "Symbol of Justice, shine forth and envelope me in the Lady Ronin Armor of Hardrock, Gi!"
"Let's follow their suit," Ryo said and prepared to armor up, "Armor of Wildfire, Toa Jin!"
"Armor of Torrent, Toa Shin!"
"Armor of Hardrock, Toa Gi!"
After all of the guys and girls were armored up, except for Flash, they jumped into the bridge and headed up. Amaya closed her eyes tightly she hated heights! Mia was use to it. She wore the Lady Armor of Strata. Josephine smiled childishly at how fast they were going. Hana was just sitting Indian style on the way up in a meditated state. She was receiving a message from Sage about something. The other guys were use to it since they've done this once before.
Flash smiled and jumped in after the others. Blaze followed his master into the bridge. Once he was on the other side, he would close the gateway so no one could follow them; however, they didn't notice a figure in the bushes watching them. She wore a victorious smile at her achievements. After the wolf had gone through, the young woman in red armor jumped in right before the gateway started to close. Rekino knew that once they landed in the Dynasty, the others would be engaged in a fight. That would give her enough time to get out of their range and attack Mesu. She knew that was being headstrong. Going straight into battle without thinking was something she was good at. Rekino knew that she was going to get beat up pretty badly. She just prayed that it wasn't going to be crucial.
*~*
In the Dynasty, Mesu watched as the Ronins, Lady Guardians, and Flash jumped through the gateway. Before it closed, he saw the Lady of Wildfire jump in last. He smiled to himself. He had finally learned her other weakness: her knee. One hit in her right knee would bring her down. He had plans for her, also for Flash. This was going to be a going to be a glorious evening.
"Guards, go out front and gather your troops. We have guests arriving!" Mesu ordered his first in command.
"Yes sir!" The soldier bowed and disappeared.
Mesu turned his attention back to the viewing orb. He saw the four Lady Guardians, three Ronin Warriors, Flash, and Blaze land outside his castle. He tried not to blink when Rekino landed behind them and took off into the woods surrounding his castle. The others seemed to be arguing over something. It didn't matter though. Soon, they would arrive and Mesu would have the three things he desired most: Flash, Rekino, and world domination.