Chapter 29

The Dog that Barks

Disclaimer: I STILL do not own the Ronin Warriors! Period! FINITO! Anyone wants to sue me over them is going to end up with a LOT of bills!

After the events in the Training Hall, things began to move forward for James and Twyla. The two began to spend a great deal of time together in the evenings, causing remarks from Kento of "Get a Room!" to which James responded, "When you get a lady of your own, THEN you'll understand!"

Ryo though, was a bit quieter about it. When he mentioned it to James, he was politely told "If you have a compliant, then think about YOUR relationship with Mia" which settled the matter.

Finally though, came the day when Mia had to leave Toyoma for the States. "Everything packed?" asked Ryo. "Check" came the reply. "Tickets?" "Check" "Agenda for the talks?" "Check" Finally, Mia turned to Ryo.

"Ryo, I love you very much, but you DON'T have to act like a mother hen" she told him. "The agenda is laid out, the tickets are ready, and Twyla will be here. So don't worry!" she told him.

"I know Mia. It's just that, you are the rock that the team is built on. After Talpa's attack on us when we first formed, you were the one who brought us back together. I just don't like the idea of you leaving here, that's all" he explained to her.

Mia gave him a kiss on both the cheeks and a full one on the lips. "Don't worry Ryo. I'm a big girl now. I can handle this trip to the states. Besides" she said, with a lusty twinkle in her eyes, "you never know WHAT I might bring back from a trip to California" she told him.

And with that, the final preparations were made to load up the jeep, and head off for the airport. However, all this activity did not go unnoticed in the Dynasty!

"DARK WARLORDS, report to me!" called out Talpa, as he awaited his men. In a matter of seconds, the four warlords were present in the throne room. "The woman Mia Koji is preparing to leave Japan. You will execute a two prong strike: The first prong will be to keep the Ronin's busy. The second part will be to capture the woman known as Twyla Koji and bring her to the Dynasty. That job will be given to the Warlord of Stealth" Talpa stated, pointing at Ami, who nodded in agreement.

"Then we are nothing but cannon fodder!" exclaimed Boaz, who was hit by a bolt of energy for his words.

"Do not question my orders! You will keep the Ronin's busy while the other strike is going on! NOW GO!" ordered Talpa. And with that, the Warlords left for Earth.

Talpa then turned toward his Warlord of Stealth. "Are you prepared for your part of the mission?" he asked her.

Ami nodded. "My armor is at full power and I have a full assortment of drugs and other material to incapacitate or kill my opponents. The women at the Koji manor house will not last long" she told Talpa, as she teleported to earth.

At the airport departure terminal, the Ronin's gathered around Mia, as she presented her tickets, and she got ready to leave on her trip to the United States. "I want you to promise me that you will not give Twyla any problems! My half sister may be tough, but she means well" she told them. Just then the announcement came that her flight was boarding. "I'll see everyone in about 2 weeks" she said, as she rushed to the departure gate. A few minutes later, the plane departed Toyoma for the United States.

As the men left the airport, they were met by Nightshade, Cassandra, and Boaz. "You WILL surrender your armors Ronin Warriors. Master Talpa demands it" Nightshade told them, his voice carrying a Russian accent to it.

"You know the answer to that Nightshade. We will NEVER surrender our armors to you and Talpa!" Ryo responded, calling upon his sub armor, as did the rest of the team.

"You remember what happened the last time you fought us: I sent your soldiers running and you took off like a pack of scalded dogs. Now you want another fight? GIVE ME A BREAK!" snarled James as he prepared to unleash his energy claws.

"We have defeated your soldiers and defeated Talpa's forces in the past. What makes you so certain that you can defeat us?" asked Rowen, as he took a long look at the Warlords

"Goodness will never surrender to evil. Leave now, before we are forced to destroy you" Sage quietly stated, as he started looking over the trio in front of him.

"If you think that chaos and anarchy are going to prevail, then think again!" Kento stated, as he started moving toward the trio of Warlords.

"I would prefer not to fight, but if I must, to save those I care about, then I will" Cye quietly added to the statements of the others.

Suddenly, the Warlords received a message in their heads from Talpa: "Return to the Dynasty. Your work is done"

As the trio faded from sight, the six Ronin warriors heard one last statement from Nightshade: "We were the Dog that barked. The Dog that Bites has already struck!"