Chapter Twelve

Written: October 2013

Ryo let out a slow breath as he studied his surroundings, the mist was thick and dense but what little terrain he could see told him he was not home. The fact he was still in the Wildfire armor when Riynd had happily bragged about how she needed the armor realm and Inferno could grant her that…Well, he wasn't there either.

"So where the hell am I?" he groaned, "God, I feel like I've been hit by a city."

A low chuckling reached his ears, "I'm afraid that would be my armor for you, Shiroi has always packed a punch."

The Ronin Leader's breath hitched as he quickly spun around. Dark brown eyes greeted him, and the man's black hair was tied neatly. The samurai armor he wore was old, from an era long since gone. Just looking at this man, Ryo knew at once who he was because she looked exactly like him.

"Akinori-sama," Wildfire's bearer was quick to bow his head in respect.

"Oh no, Rekka-kun, that will never do. None of that –sama nonsense I will not stand for it. San will do just fine," he returned the bow. "As for where you are, Limbo but this part of it leans closer to the spirit realm than that of the Future as Simoria has erroneously thought."

"The others?" the Ronin of Wildfire's concern was quick to turn that of his teammates.

"The armor's realm and in the Present. Now as for where Riynd and Shiroi are fighting, they are in the Future. And before you ask, yes being here makes you dead in a technical aspect. However, you are far closer to what could be considered the edge of it than the others are. I believe, as my daughter would say, it's a nasty habit of yours."

"Heh," Ryo rubbed at the back of his head, embarrassed, "She's got a point. I've been that way since day one, though. You would know."

Akinori let out a belting laugh, "Oh too good, you boys did get around Simmy after all!" He smacked Ryo in the back, and the Wildfire Ronin nearly fell flat on his face. "Good job, Rekka-kun, good job."

The Leader of the Ronin managed to regain his balance in the nick of time, and righted himself. The young man was referencing the fact he had almost lost his neck during that first lifetime, and if it hadn't been for Akinori he most certainly would have. It would seem the first bearer of the white armor was far too pleased that the Ronin had gotten around Simoria.

"Akinori-" he paused and forced the correction, "San, why are you here? Especially now, after all this time?"

"All the more reason, wouldn't you say?" the man answered as he started to walk, seeming to know where to go through this thick white mist. "My daughter is far too gifted a medium, and with the Council not aware of her as she was, any sooner would have been too dangerous."

"So since we blew her cover completely, you figured why not?" He was seeing so much of Elayne's personality in this man. Now everything she did made absolute perfect sense to him.

"Exactly. Not to mention Shiroi is far overstepping its bounds. It has Riynd engaged now, but it will tire of her shortly. My daughter isn't in a position to deal with it right now for if she was she would have been here with you already."

"Why? Why do I have your armor, and not her?" the Wildfire Ronin demanded, the question had plagued him ever since he had realized who she was. For the life of him, he still did not know why.

"It was a lethal combination, that armor and her," Akinori spoke after being silent for some minutes. "She seemed to have a lot of faith in you, that you would be a proper bearer for it. Your father and I had always been good friends, and it was my recommendation that he put you under Kaosu's tutelage. Well, my brother had the utmost confidence in your abilities as a Trooper. Need there be more than that?"

Ryo shook his head, frustration boiling up within him, "You thought I could control it. But I can't, I-"

"Ryo," the older man placed a hand on his shoulder, "Listen to me, you have done a far better job than even you realize. There is one thing you must understand though, there is a reason it is fighting you so badly now. It mainly has to do with the lore I know has become attached to it."

Realization dawned on the Wildfire Ronin then as he recalled what the Seasonals had learned from Badamon, as he recited: "It has the power to destroy the world, and every thousand years it does so." His blue-eyes were wide, "It does it because we fail, and she has to restart time. So, that's the trade off?"

"Yes. The only reason Shiroi is fighting you now is because the time period for you to fail has always held. The armor is merely anticipating the failure."

"Technically we already have failed. Sage and I died earlier on, and you said we are dead now. So…"

"Heh well there is that," Akinori sheepishly admitted, the fog slowly starting to lift as they continued to walk forward. "But getting out of Limbo, it will stop fighting you. May never have had a love for her, but Shiroi certainly is fearful of what she can do to it."

"Where are we going?"

"Trying to get you back to somewhat safer middle ground, can't leave it all for my daughter and the tigers," Akinori joked, drawing to a halt. "Hm, think that Riynd character is about to be out of the way in the next twenty minutes. You'll still have to rectify the rest of it, but I think you are capable of the task."

"Hate to make this a question and answer session, but since you are being helpful with explaining things: what is up with the damn cats anyway?"

The man rubbed at the back of his head, embarrassed, "Ah. Yasu and Kouki were our retainers; Kaosu and myself. Ceres was my wife's lady in waiting. They were slain saving our lives and Simoria interceded, giving them life in the form's they now hold."

"That explains why they know everything," Ryo admitted, eyeing the other man carefully. "All right, what else? You're shifting your weight back and forth. Elayne does that when she's holding back."

"Well see, she does take after me a little. And "Elayne," hm Italian."

"It was Shin's idea, Seiji has always called her "An," though," Ryo admitted, "Subconsciously remembered her I guess, seeing as how when we originally met her, 'An' is what she went by."

"Not too far off the mark on either count really. Like I said, this is the first time I have been able to talk to you since our initial introduction. So, you do this old man a favor, hm? Take care of my little girl for me."

Ryo gave a bow of his head, and was fully prepared to answer but both men jumped about nine feet in the air, having been completely oblivious to the listener of their conversation.

"Funny, and here all this time I was pretty sure I had been taking care of myself, like ninety other people, and oh gee I don't know this whole galaxy all at once," Elayne dryly remarked as she appeared before them, arms crossed in front of her chest. "Oh yeah, not to mention all the other galaxies, dimensions, and realms because other Sector Guards are too damn lazy to do their jobs."

Initial surprise gone, Akinori beamed a grin, "Ang, that's my girl! I knew you would be able to sense me."

"Some reason you're pestering my Ronin, Chichiue? Because I know you weren't loitering about at the edge of Limbo for a social visit."

"Mother's flare and wit," the man praised, both seemed oblivious to the fact Ryo was still there.

Wildfire's bearer took the smart option and did what he could to blend in with the backdrop while they had their exchange.

Elayne was not impressed, as she waggled her finger to match her disapproval, "Chichiue I am not playing."

"Just getting Rekka-kun up to date on things, I also thought I should try and keep him from completely slipping over. Save you the trouble of having to do it yourself."

"Chichue," she wasn't buying it. "Oi!"

"Oh come on," Akinori protested, throwing up his hands in mock despair, "Let me be a father, and threaten him! With all these life cycles I am more than entitled to give him a hard time once."

"Bah!" Elayne slammed a hand to her forehead, frustration tinged in her voice, "Then I wonder why Lativia is so damned impossible! She is just like you."

'Really?' Ryo arched an eyebrow, because as far as he was concerned Elayne took after her father an awful lot. In fact, it was absolutely freaky. Some kids were a little like one or both of their parents, whereas Elayne was exactly like her old man.

A smug smile was on the man's lips, "So your sister told you she figured it out, did she?"

"Go back to Heaven, or your corner of Limbo, or wherever you've been hanging out the last several thousand years," she groused out, falling into a sulk.

Akinori chuckled at his daughter's actions, before wrapping her in a hug, "We're proud of you, Angerona. Never forget that."

"Thanks," she murmured, returning the hug, "Tell them I said hi." The grin on his face was the only answer she needed.

"Rekka-kun, I was glad to have a chance to chat," Akinori inclined his head, "She can get you the rest of the way."

Ryo returned the acknowledgement, "It was an honor."

"See you around kids," he waved and walked back into the mist.

What emotions were running through Elayne right now, Wildfire's bearer wasn't sure and would not even dare begin to guess. Yet, he was fearful they would pull her down so he was quick to keep her mood from doing so. A smirk was on his face and she was quick to quirk an eyebrow at him, her unspoken question of what, all too easy for him to answer.

"So, looks like I got your father's approval."

It worked, the young woman flushed bright red and quickly popped him in the head, "Shut up Hot Shot!"

He laughed at her and shook his head as she continued to glower at him, though the sudden thought struck him, "Wait, your sister is still alive?"

"And the little brat remembers," she complained, starting to stalk angrily through the mist, quick to go on a rant. "Should've guessed, she is just like Chichiue! Hell, she figured out I was Universe before the others did. I shouldn't have been so surprised."

"Hotaru is your real sister?"

"Shut up!"

Silence fell between them for a few moments, before the Wildfire Ronin took notice that they were walking in the direction Akinori had specifically steered him away from. A frown formed on his face as the young woman in front of him continued to remain quiet, not divulging what was on her mind or where they were heading.

Until Ryo got tired of it, "Where are we going?"

"The others ought to be fine, they've got Simoria and I didn't come here by myself. You and I need to get to the Future, stop Riynd and Shiroi. You're the only one that can get this done, Ryo. You know that."

The Ronin Leader shifted uneasily, "You sure the guys will be okay? Our track records aren't that great, as you like to point out."

"If not I'll think of something," she abruptly halted, "Here, this is where the tear is. Ready?"

Wildfire's bearer didn't really feel prepared but he gave a nod to the affirmative anyway, there was little time left to waste. He couldn't spend it debating his reservations.

If she noticed his hesitation she didn't say anything about, merely took his hand and pulled him through the rift.

Ryo guffawed as he landed practically on top of her, "The hell?"

"We went through a cusalta," her impatience came through now, "You know what those are. Don't act so surprised."

He was embarrassed as he disentangled himself from her; he hadn't been expecting the force of that. He offered a weak smile as an apology, head quickly snapping to where the sounds of fighting were located. It took only a moment for him to go from sheepish person to hardened warrior.

"Let's get this done," he murmured quietly, withdrawing his twin katanas.

Elayne gave a mute nod in answer, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding she summoned the glaive to her hand, "Just in case, but I know you. You've got this."

Ryo gave a chuckle, "Or you can hope anyway, right?"

"Just be careful."

Careful? As Ryo picked his way through the desolated terrain, he couldn't help but feel her words of parting were an understatement. This was what the Future was like? The sun was gone, blotted out by thick dark clouds what should have been lush ground nothing more than cracked rock beneath his feet.

How had it ever gotten like this? Ryo shook his head to clear it. He would have to put these thoughts aside for now. Riynd was a difficult opponent and really the Inferno wasn't much better. If he wanted a chance at succeeding he was going to have to focus. It was easier said than done; the shock of seeing the Future in such a state had really touched a nerve in him. There was no way he was going to let this happen. He'd let his soul be ripped apart first.

Ryo drew to a halt and his held breath, before looking over the precipice which granted him view of the armor and Riynd's fight. He had to time this just right; otherwise, he was going to have two problems and not just one. At this point, Wildfire's bearer knew he would only be able to take on one opponent.

Timing was going to be everything. Vivid blue eyes narrowed as he watched both being an armor fight back and forth, neither one seeming to gain the upper hand. Ryo knew though, he knew the white armor was merely toying with her for its own amusement. As Akinori had said soon it would bore of her, and who knows what it would do after that?

The strikes came faster as the movement between the pair increased, almost to the point where the normal eye could not see. Riynd was continuing to fight the way she normally did, with taunting and far little interest in her surroundings. After fighting with Elayne, Wildfire's bearer would have thought Riynd might learn to take the time to gauge her opponents. She hadn't though, because Inferno had her all too easily strung along.

He felt the sudden shift in the air around him, and the unease from Wildfire doubled within the span of a few sparse seconds. That was when Ryo took the opportunity to make his move. Inferno had tired of the battle summoning the power for its finishing strike, and as it did this the Ronin Leader called the armor back to him. Just as Riynd let out a dying scream.

'You dare?!' the white armor was incensed.

'Damn right I do!' Ryo bit out irately as he struggled with the armor for control. 'You are done. You had your fun, now knock it off!'

'Simple minded, far too much. Think it will be that easy to control me?'

'No, but there is no way I am letting you do as you please.'

He looked up for a moment, slightly startled at seeing Elayne directly in front of him. How long had she been standing there? The young woman was looking at him worriedly, hand hesitantly holding the glaive at her side.

"Ryo?" she leapt back as red flames emerged from the ground, though just as quick to counteract were the black ones that sprang up to protect her.

'Enough!' the Ronin Leader commanded. 'Or would you rather she erase us both?'

Inferno hesitated, 'She would not. You are too important to her.'

'That isn't going to mean shit with the fate of this galaxy on the line,' he probably would have been amused at the armor's interpretation on any other day, but he wasn't finding it funny right now. 'Not one more thing out of you. Or, Akinori mentioned something about a 'blood pact.'"

He felt the armor violently shudder at the suggestion, 'I yield.' There was a long pause, 'She was right. You are more than a proper bearer.'

"Ryo?" she fought down the panic in her voice as the young man went crashing to his knees.

Ryo looked up at her with a wry grin on his face, "Sorry, was having technical difficulties. Kinda like a split personality issue."

"Asshole," Elayne walked up to him and went to her knees, resting her forehead against his. "Don't ever scare me like that, again. Ever."

"No promises," Wildfire's bearer chuckled, pulling back to brush his lips against her forehead. "I'll try not to give you a stroke though." He was quick to become solemn faced, "It will listen, but for how long I-"

She pressed a finger to his lips and shook her head, "It won't fight you anymore. I heard some of your back and forth. Trust me it won't risk my evoking that pact."

"What is it anyway?" he couldn't help but ask, especially after Akinori mentioned it but offered no details.

"Well what it amounts to," she said as she got back to her feet, "Is me shoving it back into the little itty bitty box I found it in. Except this time, it will be for all eternity."

The young man stared at her with abject shock, "Huh?!"

"I am the reincarnate of my grandmother, remember? Specifically my father's mother: thus the Ancient One's. So, I was the one that allowed the armors here to begin with. It was why Kaosu was able to "forge" them. I can just as easily rescind that invite."

'Hime you are bluffing,' Rekka chided. 'You are far too used to us being around at this point.'

"With all the grief you have given me? Don't even go there, Rekka. I would certainly do it if I had to. I might even be ecstatic to get rid of your clunky asses," she was quick to fire back.

Ryo merely shook his head at their banter, "We need to get back, you two can argue later. What's wrong?" He had noticed her demeanor change, and the fact she had stopped short.

"I've got to get the cusalta closed. I can't risk something slipping through to this side. You have to go without me."

"Elayne-" worry instantly filled his face, the last time he and the others had closed one she had nearly died. While she may have had as many lives as a cat, he had no desire to find out how many she had already used up. And the fact the last time he had seen her, she was in bed barely clinging to life was doing nothing to help bolster his confidence.

"Or you could simply allow me to take care of the problem," a smooth voice said from behind them.

Ryo's eyes went wide as he turned around and was greeted by a familiar face. Though, he could instantly tell she was not quite the same. She had an older air about her, and the fuku she sported was different than the one was used to seeing.

"Pluto," Elayne breathed out what was undoubtedly a sigh of relief. "I was afraid with as screwy as things are here, you wouldn't be able to sense us."

"I thought I felt something," the Neo-Senshi admitted, "However, it was your sister that sensed you. Not I."

"Meddlesome bugger," she groused, then shook herself. "The Troopers?"

"They are well again, and on speaking terms. It would seem spending time as Riynd's guests helped them to stop being such assholes."

"Small blessing," Elayne admitted, a frown on her face. "Set, I want you to shut the way completely."

The Time Guardian arched an eyebrow at hearing this, "Are you certain?"

"Un, I will be able to bring the little ones home. However, we cannot leave the way open anymore. You know as well as I, the risks that are still out there. Close everything from this end, when I bring them home I will shut it from that side."

Ryo looked between the two women, a frown on his face as they discussed what they needed to do. Suddenly, he felt something stir and knew immediately what that meant: the others were in a lot of trouble.

Elayne had felt it to, head snapping to the rift, "Shit! That dumb bitch let Kuroi loose, damn it. Go on Ryo, I'm two seconds behind you."

"All right," Wildfire's bearer nodded, and then stepped through the portal.

A loose breath escaped her lips, as she cast a look to the Neo-Senshi knowing there was something else, "What is it?"

"How long have you known?" the woman queried, "That this was not your Future at all."

"The minute Leiko showed up purporting to be Neo-Universe I had a hunch," Elayne admitted running a hand through her hair. "And then when we merged for a time so she could hide, I knew. I was able to read her thoughts without her getting into mine."

"Then why assist us like you have?"

"Because it is my job, I am a Sector Guard. Even if I wasn't, just because it isn't my realm, doesn't mean I don't care about the people in it," she winked. "Compassion has always been my greatest weakness."

"Your sister did remark that it was your undoing," the woman then added, "If you are her."

Elayne hesitated and then answered with a nod, "Yes. Just keep this between us? I don't want them to know. It'll only hurt them and that's not what I want."

"I understand, you have my solemn word."

Suddenly, the Secondary Guardian felt a shift in the air, "Got to go, I'll see you when I bring the kids home. Oh! Send a scouting party for me? I have Seasonals I want to torment. There'll be enough leeway for them to get through after you shut the way."

Neo-Pluto laughed, "All right then. Good luck!"

Without a moment's hesitation Elayne leaped through the portal, and the Time Guardian of the Future shut it behind her.