DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN RONIN WARRIORS. IF I DID, I WOULDN'T BE WRITING FANFICTION.

Revived

I can't sleep. I wouldn't sleep, even if they told me too – something just feels odd in the air. Despite this being the netherworld, I can't shake the feeling I'm running out of time to do…whatever it is I can in my state.

With nowhere to go, and nothing really to look at, I look at my feet, and notice something odd. The stairs are peeling, and not in the normal – oh, the stairs are old and peeling, kind of way – but in a way that the stairs are literally peeling, right in front of my eyes. I blink and rub them, but the surface of the stairs peels away. I stand up, my ankles only burning slightly, and step off the gazebo, turning to see the entire gazebo is peeling. It's like before, when Buddo was the monster I was seeing, and the world seemed to be replaced by something…something else. Looking around the courtyard, it's all peeling, melting, flipping away. Somewhere far away, I hear a horn – or some kind of distant almost inaudible alarm.

"What is that?" I ask aloud. Then panic overtakes me. "WHAT IS HAPPENIIIIIING!?"

Be calm, little one, I am here.

Turning quickly, a gangly, humanoid creature with no arms, and a sewed-up, faceless, head is staggering toward me at a quick pace; almost on top of me.

I scream, fearing I never got out of the dungeon; never escaped the horror I was trapped in. Falling to my knees, I wrap my arms around my head like it'll protect me.

Hands grapple at my arms, but I shake them off and keep screaming.

"GODAMMIT, OPEN YOUR EYES!"

I just keep screaming, shoving the beast away.

"SHADDUP!" Hands pry my hands, and get ahold my wrists in a vice-like grip. "EMMA! EMMA, GODAMMIT!"

Shaking my arms to get the beast off of me, I crack an eye open, tears flowing down my cheeks.

The sight startles me into silence and stillness. I stare, my breath barely stirring.

"R-Row?" I gasp.

Rowen gives me this 'yea, duh' look, and nods. "The hell?"

I hazard a look around and start to relax slightly.

Blue skies, a comfortable light breeze, and little white flowers as far as my eyes can see.

Only those you allow, may enter this sanctuary.

I look at Rowen. "Did you hear that?"

"You screamin'? Yeah, I heard it." Rowen's still god ahold of my wrists.

I shake my head. "No, the woman's voice."

Rowen's expression goes from 'yea duh' to 'what the what?'

"Nevermind." I shake my head, and let my body collapse, but Rowen catches me. "Thank god it's you."

"Who the hell else would it be?" Rowen asks.

"You don't wanna know." I say against his blue pullover.

Rowen pushed me to arms' length. "Tell me anyway."

I sigh and consider it. "Promise you won't think I'm, crazy?"

"Please." Rowen frowns. "I may think alotta things about ya, Em, but crazy ain't ever been one of 'em."

I nod. "Yeah, of course."

We walk a little, and I tell Rowen everything about the dungeon, Pyramid Head, and the weirdy little demon things that tried to swarm me.

"Yeah." Rowen nods after I finish. "That's Silent Hill alright." He rubs his head with one hand. "Man, Em, I'm sorry. I guess I didn't really think ya could be scared of a damn game."

I shrug. "I didn't think so either; I mean I know it's not real, and I've lived through worse. I would take demons over my step-mother any day, honestly."

"Yeah…" Rowen sighs as we keep walking.

"But how are you here? This is my safe zone; you weren't anywhere near me to get invited in." I say thoughtfully.

"Gee. Thanks." Rowen scoffs.

I realize how that must've sounded an gasp. "Oh my gosh, Rowen I didn't even mean it the way it came out. Sorry, Row."

"Yeah, sure." Rowen nudges me with his elbow. "But seriously, my dad says you and Ryo are in the Netherworld too, now; where are you guys right now?"

"Sleepin'!" Rowen laughs. "Where else?"

"Where…else?" I give him a look.

"This is a dream; obviously." Rowen snorts.

Even after what I told him happened to me, he still thinks he's dreaming? I sigh, and nod. "Yeah, but a nice dream, right?"

"Sure, Em." Rowen snorts.

"Y'know what would make this dream perfect, though?" I ask.

The smell of caramel corn wafts in the air, and pleasant weight crinkles in my hands; a bag of caramel corn.

Rowen reaches in and plucks out a few pieces. "I meant to take ya; to Universal Japan, that is." He says.

"We meant to do a lot of things. All that touristy stuff people take for granted that I never saw growing up. Disney, Universal, Mt. Fuji Station museum."

"Snow Town." Rowen says.

I smile. I can hear the day-to-day din of Osaka, and the field of flowers turns into a street near Rowen's apartment, but we both keep walking like it's just completely normal.

"Yeah," Rowen says, looking around. He takes my hand as we walk. "Me too."

I inhale the smell of caramel corn again, but then I'm standing in the field of flowers alone, no caramel corn, and no Rowen.

My lip trembles, and I sit down.

-No, my little one- She coos.

I keep crying, thinking of all the reasons Rowen could've ended up in this between-world.

-You are forever connected to the hearts of those who carry the light-

I think of Sage's light, and I choke on my sobs.

-Take heart, little one.-

My sobs ebb, but I still feel a burning in my chest from the guilt I carry because I slept with Rowen. "I just want to tell him I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize." Sage's voice sounds just as distressed as I feel.

I whip my head up to see who's there, a warm breeze whips pleasantly over my head, and Sage is leaning over me with one hand out. He smiles.

"Sage?" I take his hand.

"Last time I checked." Sage's smile widens. He pulls me to my feet. "I heard you calling me, and the next thing I knew I was standing here looking at you. Please don't be sad." He pulls me against him, and I wrap my arms around his warm body.

"You're such a jerk." I sniff against his shirt.

"I know." Sage sighs. "I didn't mean those things I said about Juushirou."

Shaking my head, I look up at him. "No, don't explain. I understand."

"Yes I do." Sage insists. "Your dad has done nothing but protect you, and I was jealous because I wanted to protect you."

I frown at him.

"I know how that sounds." Sage's gaze averts from me.

I nod.

"And if you say Kenbukyo was our ally then I believe you; you wouldn't make that up." Sage says. "I should've trusted you more, Emma. You have this amazing intuition and power within you; maybe part of me was hoping you wouldn't get dragged into Netherworld again."

"Sage." I hug him tighter for a few seconds, and he reciprocates, wrapping me in his arms.

"Guess that makes me sound like a dumbass." Sage says.

"Yeah." I smile. "But you're my dumbass."

Sage leans down and kisses my lips softly. He cups a hand to my cheek and kisses me deeper as he pulls me tight against him with his other arm.

The surroundings change. No more flowers, but a bedroom somewhere with soft streetlights coming in the window. Sage and I are removing clothing, kissing, and caressing each other. Sage picks me up, and I wrap my legs around him as he lays me down on the bed. We don't talk; there's nothing to say that speaks louder than action.

I wake up in the bed, Sage's arm draped over me as if we had fallen asleep afterward. I can smell breakfast; someone's cooking. I sit up, and look around; I've never seen this bedroom before. But there are two sets of clothes folded on the dresser.

"Sage." I shake him gently.

Sage wakes slowly, and sees me. "Hi." He looks confused and looks around the room. "Where are we?"

I shake my head and shrug. "I don't know."

Sage pauses, and inhales audibly. "Someone's cooking."

I nod. "And laid out clothes for us." I point at the dresser.

"Maybe this is some Netherworld trap." Sage says.

I shake my head. "No, this feels different."

Sage's arms slides off me as I get up, walk over and put on the smaller set of clothes – they're my clothes – my sleep shorts and tank top.

"These are my pajamas." Sage says next to me as he puts on the black sweatpants and t-shirt.

I shrug and we both walk to the bedroom door.

"Careful." Sage is right behind me, his hand on my back.

I open the door slowly, and beyond it is someone's apartment. It's a nice, clean space with a three-tiered fish tank, each tier holding a betta fish.

"Oh neat." I walk over to the fish tank. There's a little red one that looks at me and almost seems to smile and wag its tail.

"Who's place is this?" Sage comes out after me.

There's a sliding door leading to a room beyond, and Sage walks over to investigate.

I pull myself away from the adorable fish, and follow after him. "Careful." I say sort of patronizingly, and smile.

Sage pushes the door open and quickly yanks me aside as a mug flies past us.

"Whoops, sorry! Guess I can't juggle!" Kento laughs.

"Kento!" I run in and hug him.

"He-hey, pretty girl! How's it goin'?" Kento loosely hugs me back and pats my head.

"Kento?" Sage walks in, pushing the door open completely.

"Huh. Didn't know there was anything out there." Kento shrugs. "Ah well, were you guys sleepin' or somthin'?"

I look at Sage. Sage blushes and shifts his feet.

"They weren't sleeping, per say." Cye infers as he stands up from rummaging in a cabinet under the stove he's working at.

Kento turns and gives Cye a look.

"Oh, nevermind. I'll tell you when you're older." Cye shakes his head.

Kento shrugs and sits on a stool at the bar, and munches on something in a bowl in front of him.

I run around the bar, and hug Cye.

"Oof!" Cye juggles the pan he's cooking with. "Good to see you, lovey, really, I just have a hot pan to stir."

"I know, it's okay." I hang onto him for a second more then let go and turn to see what Kento's eating. "Is that…caramel corn?"

Kento shrugs. "Guess so. It was just sitting here, so…" He pops a few more kernels in his mouth.

I smile at the bowl then turn to look at what Cye is cooking, but it's like my eyes can't focus on it, or maybe there's nothing there worth consequence in this place.

Cye sees me staring, and smiles. "What would you like for breakfast, lovey?"

Pancakes come to mind. Then suddenly, Cye is tending pancakes, and there's a bowl of batter next to the stove.

"And eggs?" I ask.

A skillet of eggs is warming on the back burner.

I look at Kento and Sage.

Kento and Sage both glance at the appearance of actual food.

"Your power is confined only by the limits of your imagination." Cye says.

"Sounds dangerous." I worry.

"Indeed, when controlled by others." Cye says. "Or influenced by dark thoughts and feelings." He gives this knowing look.

A lightbulb goes on and I suddenly realize what the Silent-Hill-esque hallucinations are. Not something to be afraid of, but my fear itself. Even this world, this "safe haven" is a manifestation of my own making.

I look at Cye. He smiles.

Sage and Kento are having some idle conversation. I brought them here, to a safe place; we could all stay here forever. I could bring everyone here – Ryo, Rowen, Mia, Yuli, dad, Buddo – anyone I want, and we'd all be safe from the Netherworld; safe from Talpa and the demon hordes. But the rest of the world would be S.O.L.

"See what is hidden, and remember you already know the answers to all those questions inside you." Cye puts the pancake on a plate and hands it to me.

I take it, looking at him with a sadly content expression.

"You should answer the door, little one." Cye says.

I set the plate down and walk to the door. The door bell rings just as I reach for the handle, and I open the door; smiling.

"Hey Row!"

I open my eyes, and I'm standing in the courtyard, the flesh-like dark world all around me. Pyramid Head is here, just standing between me and the exit.

"The limits of my imagination." I say, looking down at my bandaged hands and feet. The bandages reform themselves into fingerless gauntlet-like gloves, and sturdy, knee-high boots. The robe turns into a armor-like dress, and leggings. "I am afraid." I say to Pyramid Head.

Pyramid Head growls.

"But I'm not going to let that stop me." I swing out an arm, a white blade popping into existence.

Buddo and Anzen are here, standing behind me now.

Anzen caws at Pyramid Head, and the dark world dissolves. Pyramid Head runs toward me, swinging the huge sword out, but as it comes to slice across me, the sword, Pyramid Head's arm, body, and head all shatter with it.

Buddo kneels down, and I climb on, glancing at the gazebo; wondering briefly if this place is real, if Dad, Uncle Shunsui, Yoruichi, Ichigo, and Retsu are really here, waiting for me to find them in the real world.

"Buddo, you know where everyone is, right?" I pat his huge shoulder.

Buddo nods, and whinnies, like 'hell, yeah!' and off he goes, galloping into the labyrinth, like a dramatic climax in an adventure movie.

Concrete walls give way to courtyards and bridges over yellow rivers. We come within sight of the castle, and a huge tower being built, like a monolith of death.

"What the hell is that?!" I shout, although there's no one around to answer me.

"My lady!" I hear Kenbukyo shout.

"Kenbukyo!" I look around.

His armored form is on the rooftops above me. "This way, my lady – The Ronins!"

"Follow him, Buddo! Follow him!" I urge the huge horse on.

Buddo turns down corridor after corridor, his huge hooves thundering on the pavement. Anzen flies above, keeping time with Kenbukyo and guiding us from the ground.

We get to the end of corridors, opening up on a huge courtyard, with castle walls all around us. Still holding the blade, I look for Kenbukyo for guidance. He leaps off the rooftops and lands next to Buddo. "Quickly, my lady. Your steed can keep the guards at bay; the Ronins need your light in the darkness."

I nod, dismounting Buddo. "Stay here so I can find you, Bud!" I call out as I follow Kenbukyo into the castle. "Do you know where you're going?" I ask him.

"Follow the sound of chimes." Kenbukyo says.

I can hear it now; the armors' chime. "I hear it!" Hope invigorates me, and I run faster down the dark corridor; unafraid of what lies beyond. The corridor lets out in an underground cavern, with just a dock of sorts, surrounded by a huge golden lake. Behind me is the entrance to the corridor; a gilded pagoda.

I see three familiar dark armors surrounding Ryo. The purple one raises rage inside me – how dare he use my fear, manipulate me and still go on trying to kill the people I love.

"DAIS!" I roar at him.

The purple-armored figure slowly turns, and I can see the fear in his one visible eye.

I want him to get a good look at me, so I walk slowly out toward them, snapping my free hand, and appearing another sword identical to the first. "Imagination is a powerful thing, boys."

I recognize Cale, and he glares at me.

"The hell've you been!" Ryo shouts.

"Having breakfast." I rush at Cale first, because he's closest, taking two swipes of the swords, leaving glowing, white marks on him that make the warlord groan and leap away from me.

The third guy I don't know comes at me, and I can smell something like turpenoid coming off him.

"His swords are covered in poison!" Ryo warns.

Dodging as the guy makes a deliberate sweep toward my face, I have flashbacks of the dungeon, and the sword that swiped my neck. "YOU!" I swing an arm, and make a cut of light across his lower torso.

"You LIVE!" He clutches his middle and leaps away as the light burns into his armor.

Now Dais is only between me and Ryo.

Dais grunts, eye glaring at me.

"I have to commend you; you really did a number on me." I say to him, nodding curtly.

"I clearly underestimated you, human." Dais says.

I shake my head. "You're mistaken."

Dais starts; only a twitch of his one visible eye showing any indication of his indignation.

"I'm not human." I say. "I'm a Soul Reaper."

"No!" Dais wields his claw-like weapon at me, but the claws land on either side of me, missing me entirely.

"You're sloppy when you panic!" I come at him from the front, Ryo coming from the back.

Dais leaps out of the way, I slide on my knees, throwing one sword out as Cale tries to back-attack Ryo, skewering the surprised warlord's side. He pulls the sword out quickly, the surface burning his hand before he throws it into the water, and leaps away.

I just make another sword with the flick of my hand, and stand up.

"Hey, what happened to that girl who was screamin' all the time?" Ryo teases.

"She stopped screaming." I grin.

"You will scream for the last time!" Dais comes at us.

The cavern shakes.

"Oh, I am NOT in the mood for a cave-in." I look around in panic.

"We're not goin' down!" Ryo exclaims. "Right?!" He turns to look at me. "Right?!"

I nod. "Right!"

A pillar of light explodes out of the water, and the sound of the armors' chime comes with it.

"Rowen!" I exclaim.

"HELL YEAH!" Ryo whoops.

A second pillar, third, and fourth follow.

Then four orbs of colored energy explode through the pillars, changing into armored warriors, and the four armors land in unison on the dock. A sword, trident, and staff each land in the dock for the warriors to wield.

I turn and look to see Buddo stand at the other end of the dock with Kenbukyo.

"Couldn't stay put." I say.

Buddo trots in place, Anzen on his head.

I turn back and look at the four warriors each, smiling. "You found them." I say to Rowen.

Rowen smirks. "You found 'em first."

I grin. "How was breakfast?"