Episode 14 – Rock and Roll
The day may have been bright and sunny in the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture – if a little hot – but if there was one thing Kento couldn't stand more than a heatwave, it was an empty stomach. As he sat on a bench in Yamashita Park, in some shade provided by a couple trees, he could practically hear his gut growling – as if asking him what in the world he'd been thinking.
It'd been three days since he returned to his hometown of Yokohama – three days in which he'd failed to find his quote-unquote "dream girl." He'd gotten so frustrated that, this morning, he vowed not to stop for anything – even food – until he found her. But now that it was well into the afternoon, he wasn't sure he could keep his vow much longer. Now I know what zombies feel like on their best days! I don't even wanna know what it's like on their worst!
Indeed, winning that lottery three years ago had been easy by comparison. And even when he found her, what were the odds she'd believe a total stranger – for all he knew – telling her he was a samurai who wore mystical armor created by a ghost in order to fight a thousand-year-old Dynasty of evil…and that she could be one too? Kento slapped his forehead, then slid the hand down his face.
He was a Ronin Warrior! He should be going toe-to-toe with Dynasty baddies right now! But no. Instead, he was wishing this haystack of a city would just yield up its hidden – and hopefully not too sharp – needle already. Come on, Kento. Be the genius everyone knows you are and think! Yet the only set of clues he had to look back upon were those from his dream – which was still weird enough as it was.
The first thing he'd been aware of was standing in complete and utter blackness. Even then, Kento had been pretty sure that, wherever he was, he was not in his bedroom. Feeling his way around, he felt age-old rocks sanded over with dust, along with the occasional signature smoothness of glass. He hadn't been this disoriented in five years – not since Talpa revealed to him the true, mind-blowing origins of both the Ronin armors and those of the Dark Warlords – and he didn't like it any more now than then. More, he was going to make sure every potential enemy knew it.
Raising both his fists and voice, the latter echoed into the distance as Kento loudly warned, "Whoever's out there, I'm ready to dance – if you get my drift! Come on!"
Although he already felt blinder than a bat, Kento feared he'd be blinded for real when a bright light burst forth out of nowhere before his eyes. He shut them with a surprised shout, shielding his face with his arms. "What in the–?" Suddenly, as tightly as he'd just closed them, his eyes went wild and his jaw fell open as he realized he was in a cave. Far from a dingy underground wasteland, however, this one was practically a treasure trove.
As he slowly turned in place, Kento gazed in awe upon the stunning array of jewels dotting the stone walls and ceiling in both the main room and the half-dozen tunnels encircling it. Some sparkled, while others glowed. And just as no two snowflakes are exactly alike, neither were any of these gems a copy of another. Kento marveled at the endless variety of shapes and a rainbow of colors – including some he didn't even know existed. "Woah…! What is this place…?"
Yet even as he put his wonder into words, his wariness resurfaced. Hmm…I'm willing to bet someone does own this place. And if that were the case, pretty as all these precious stones were, that didn't necessarily mean their owner was a pretty person – inside or out. Lifting his fists once more, Kento turned in place again, now watchful for anything that might emerge out of the remaining shadows.
"I know I'm not alone. And neither am I up for a game of hide-and-seek! So come out cowards!" This time, an abrupt noise echoed from the tunnel nearest him. But before he could charge down it, a series of smaller yet clearly distressed sounds followed, giving him pause. Is that…crying? Though his guard remained up, he inched closer toward the tunnel entrance to hear better, until he stiffened in alarm. No way! It sounds like…a little girl!
As the oldest of five, one of the things Kento hated most was seeing little kids in danger. And while he couldn't actually see this one, her sobs loudly and clearly told him she was in dire need of his help. "Hello?" he called, his previously combative tone now concerned. "Anybody down here?" More crying. "I-I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna help." Again, only weeping. No longer content to wait while he could act, Kento hastened down the passageway.
He quickly lost track of the passage of time, but the only thing that mattered was locating the girl. The further he ventured through the network of tunnels, the more clearly he heard her, until he was certain the poor girl had to be around the next corner. If she was lost, it wouldn't surprise him, given how deeply these caverns ran already. But if somebody hurt her…! Then there's gonna be hell to pay! But before he could announce his presence, the girl's crying suddenly ceased, causing him to stop.
Shortly after, it was replaced by a completely different noise that bewildered him even more. That's weird. It's the same voice. But now it sounds like she's…laughing? Kento froze as he recalled the laughter once made by another girl – one whom Talpa kept on a leash to be a bane to the Ronin Warriors. But Kayura joined our side when she broke free from the Dynasty's control. Wait…have I been lured into a trap?! With renewed hostility, he shouted, "Nice try! But I'm not the one who's trapped down here!"
Not wanting to take any risks – or at least, no more than necessary – Kento dived forward past the corner and stood back up right in the line of whatever fire might be there. But no kind of fire could've stunned as much as the sight that greeted him. Just over a dozen yards ahead – where the one-way tunnel branched into three – a lone, silent silhouette stood in front of the one in the center.
For all his squinting, the only thing Kento could make out was a feminine shape, which was quite older than he expected – maybe even around his age. Besides that, despite the glowing gemstones all around them, only the whites of the shadow's eyes were visible, leaving him clueless as to her identity. And yet, for whatever reason, Kento could only stare at her in the same way he'd stared at the jewels – utterly captivated… Unless that reason is brainwashing!
Not keen on being fooled twice and having the shame fall on him, he promptly confronted the one who'd deceived him with crocodile tears. "Jig's up, missy! I'm not falling for any more of your tricks! So come on and fight like a man! Or…" He paused awkwardly. "Whatever! Face me!" But yet again, she thwarted his expectations – this time by turning and fleeing down the tunnel in the middle. Still, Kento wasn't about to let this dastardly dame go without a fight.
While this new tunnel lacked ceiling crystals to light his path, he followed the echo of her footsteps. "Think you can outrun me?! Fat chance! I'm a Ronin Warrior, and I don't pull punches!" But she kept running. Eventually, a yelp and an accompanying commotion sounded. Certain he was closing in on her, Kento shot forward in that direction and darted around the corner. But he would've lost his own footing had he not stopped on a dime at the top of a rocky incline that sloped downward.
At the same time, he felt the chill of a cold breeze – and instantly knew it for the bad omen it was. He was nearing the cave's exit to the outside world – a wide, open world in which his lady could vanish for good. Not if I can help it! Throwing all caution to the surrounding wind, Kento dove rather than slid down the slope. Upon reaching the bottom in a rough landing, he shrugged off the bumps and bruises he'd sustained, and resumed the chase.
By now, however, he was being chased himself – by his own doubts. No way is she gonna get away with getting away from me! But the moment he stepped out of the darkness of the cave and into that of the moon and starlit night beyond, even as he all but frantically looked around for the young woman, it was he who'd been caught – by the knowledge that she had escaped him…that he had failed.
Wishing he had something to hit, Kento instead let out a noise that was half-groan, half-shout, and sank to his knees onto the grass beneath him. Anger at having his pride stolen sparked within him, but it was quickly snuffed out. In its place, he felt a bizarre mixture of dejection, regret, and the sense that he'd lost a priceless treasure. "But…why…?" he wondered out loud. "I didn't even know her."
"That does not mean you never will, Kento of Hardrock," a feminine voice spoke from behind, which Kento immediately recognized as belonging to a woman he did know. Looking over his shoulder, his eyes widened upon seeing the tell-tale regalia, and a familiar – if ghostly – face partially veiled by red hair.
"Suzunagi!" he gasped, slipping slightly before gaining his feet. "What are you doing here?" Suzunagi merely blinked at him. In spite of his initial astonishment, Kento quickly grew irritated by her lack of response. "What does it matter, anyway?" he asked redundantly, throwing up his hands. "I just lost a fugitive! Then again, you probably already know that." Suddenly, suspicion compelled him to point an accusing finger at the stone-faced spirit woman. "You know who she was, don't you?" he demanded. "Whatever you know, spill it!"
Instead, Suzunagi challenged him in turn, but with a far more level tone. "Therein lies your problem – your tendency to rush to conclusions and act on them just as fast." Her pale eyes then took on a knowing look he found quite unsettling. "And whereas your friends are relieved to be away from the fighting…you miss it."
Kento shoved his discomfort down in a hard swallow, but he was no less frustrated. "So what if I do? What does that have to do with my question?"
Suzunagi neither smiled nor frowned. "Your drive to fight for justice is commendable, Kento. But justice isn't fought for only on the battlefield. Moreover, it must consider the viewpoints of all involved, not only yours – just as you considered hers when you thought she was in trouble."
Kento furrowed his eyebrows. "But she wasn't. If anything, she tricked me!" Faced once more with the truth, his previous despondency reemerged, causing him to hang his head in defeat. "And now she's gone!" He kept his gaze solely on the ground, lifting it only after Suzunagi laid a gentle hand on his lower cheek and slowly raised his face back up – as his own mother often did whenever he felt down.
"Your pursuit does not have to end here," she assured him with unexpected warmth in her voice and eyes, before both turned alarmingly grave. "In fact, it mustn't, if you should have any hope of vanquishing the coming evil."
Kento very nearly jumped out of his skin with shock. "No way!" he exclaimed in excited apprehension. "Seriously?! Who do we have to fight now?!" He then paused in yet more amazement. "Does that girl have anything to do with all this?!"
Suzunagi simply regarded him with an gaze that seemed to be bidding him farewell. "I can only tell you that you will find the answers you seek in the most unlikely of places." Having lost his voice in his utter disbelief, Kento forgot to call out to her, to demand she be clearer, until it was too late. The next thing he knew, he'd been back in his own bedroom, which was lit up not by gems but the early morning sun.
And as had been the case that day, it hadn't done much to brighten this present day either – not where he was concerned. "So much for ESP," Kento huffed, wishing he hadn't said such a stupid thing. "Maybe I should grab a bite to eat." Ignoring his mother's lessons on delayed gratification, he stood from the bench and headed down one of several pathways paved with stone, all the while trying to blot Suzunagi's haunting words about his shortcomings out of his mind.
Lost as he was in his efforts, Kento received a surprising source of help when he ventured into the heart of the park. A sizable stage had been erected in the very center, and was already attracting a considerable crowd. Wha-? How'd I miss that before? Lifting himself on his toes and squinting his eyes, the latter widened upon seeing band instruments set up across the stage, and speakers on either end. Yet he couldn't see any logos adorning the stage, nor on any of the instruments.
"Eh," Kento breathed in exasperation, "maybe it's just a cheap sideshow." Whatever it was, he resumed his stroll, once more focused on the mission at hand – lunch.
By the time he left the scene behind, Kento was staring at the ground, not eager to spot any other potential distractions. But he hadn't thought to block his ears. Had he, his head wouldn't have perked up at a noise that grabbed his attention even more than the stage had. Where's that whistling coming from? No sooner had he asked that than he received an answer – and a rather eyebrow-raising one at that.
Not too far away, a young woman – or a girl, he wasn't quite sure – was sitting on a bench, wearing earbuds and holding a classical guitar, which she immediately began playing. At the same time, she belted out some lyrics.
"'How do you feel about ME?'
It's no fun being straightforward and direct.
Just aim and shoot me a clever TRICK
And everything will suddenly feel perfect!"
Kento's eyebrows shot up even further, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She'd only just started the song, and was already super into it. More, she had a super strong voice. And that wasn't all that'd captured his interest.
Having grown up in the big city, Kento had seen all kinds of fashion trends. But this girl's style was a colorful mishmash of punk, rock, hip-hop, and who-knew-what-else. Not that it was off-putting. In fact, he found it charming. Her face was framed with unkempt dark purple, nearly black hair shorter than even Ryo's and Cye's – to Kento's amusement. Her fingernails were polished black and fine charcoal lined her eyes – which were disappointingly closed, thus hiding their color from him. But he continued listening to her singing.
"Hey boy, I'm your ideal girl!
But you won't know if you don't go out and do some digging!
I am gonna rock your world!
Burnin' hot! Yeah, I've got what it takes! And I'm not kidding!
I only want you! Do you want me, too?
I know you and I both can feel the tension!
I wanna satisfy and be satisfied!
Pretty please, baby boy – come on, let's have some fun!"
And back she went to whistling. As for Kento, he certainly wanted to satisfy his curiosity. Though not exactly a believer in love at first sight, he couldn't deny an unseen rope was pulling him towards this girl. Aside from her obvious talent and eclectic taste, there was something else about her he couldn't put his finger on – yet intrigued him all the same. Well, only one way to find out. And so what if Sage gets more girls? This'll show him! Even so, Kento took a breather before heading forward – and hoping he wouldn't come off as a creep.
The girl, on the other hand, was content to remain in the world inhabited only by her and her music – until a voice sounded through her earbuds, startling her. What the–? Oh man, I'm in for it now! She hastily removed her earbuds and set the guitar aside. "Sorry, bro! I–!" Her eyes flew open, and went wide upon seeing a young man far different from the one she'd expected, and staring as if intrigued. While not usually inclined to do so herself – much less condone such behavior from strangers – she nonetheless stared back.
He was tall – but not so much that he towered over her – his shoulders were broad, and skin tan. His messy, dark gray hair had a bluish tint. And on his round face – which indicated he was around her age – were a pair of bright blue puppy-dog eyes. Though not exactly conventional, he was handsome in his own way. But her senses soon returned. "Uh," she began before clearing her throat. "Hi. Did you say something? I-I didn't hear you."
The guy seemed to relax somewhat. "No biggie," he waved it off. "You're pretty good. I was just strolling by when…I heard you." He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "But I guess I wasn't supposed to, huh?"
She tilted her head, still unsure of what to make of this stranger, until she realized there was something rather fascinating – almost familiar – about him. With narrowed, studious eyes, she asked, "Um, don't take this the wrong way, but…have I seen you before?"
"Um…" For a moment, he appeared taken off guard, but then shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." As if eager to move on, he remarked, "By the way, I think you're holding the guitar wrong."
She chuckled, and the fact that he'd caused her to endeared her all the more to him. "I'm left-handed," she replied. His face became wide-eyed and red with embarrassment, but she saved him any apology. "While we're at it, name's Riko," she introduced herself. "Riko Isono."
His expression changed again, this time appearing thoughtful. "Riko…?" He then smiled, and it made him look as warm and sunny as the day itself. "That's cute!"
Riko let out another chuckle at the young man's compliment – even as she felt a blush coming on. "Thanks!" Equally curious, she asked, "And you are?"
He smirked and replied eagerly, "Call me Kento!" More hesitantly, he added, "J-just Kento." Though she knew he must have a surname, Riko wasn't one to pry.
"Nice to meet you, Kento!" With a laidback manner and stance, she asked further, "What brings you to the park? You here to see the Battle of the Bands?"
Kento's eyes went round again with surprise. "Is that what's up?" Pointing behind him with his thumb, he explained, "I saw the stage just now; there's already a bunch of people gathered in front of it." Without pausing, he asked, "Oh! You're in one of the bands, aren't you?"
Riko gasped in mock innocence. "However did you guess?" Fortunately, Kento quickly caught on to her scheme, and the two laughed softly. "Yes, I am!" Riko then dipped her chin, grinning proudly. "Me, my brother, and three friends. We're called the 'SAMURAI BOYS & GIRLS.' We got the name from this super old story, about these five mystical samurai armors. It's pretty cool! Ever heard of it?"
Once she mentioned the tale of bygone years, Kento visibly jolted, his gaze stricken with alarmed bewilderment. "W-what did you say?" he stammered nervously.
What did I say? Riko wondered. Out loud, she asked, "What do you mean? What's wrong?" Instead of answering her, Kento began backing away like she'd suddenly contracted some deadly disease.
"Um, uh…" He shook his head sharply. "S-sorry. I…I gotta go. I have…stuff…to take care of." He tripped slightly, but then hastened away, leaving Riko to stare after him in utter confusion.
"What was that all about…?" Eventually though, she shrugged it off. What does it matter anyway? I just met him. Pushing the matter to the back of her mind, Riko turned her attention to tuning her guitar. Yet as she reached for her earbuds, she heard her name being called, causing her to look up again. This time, she saw a girl, fifteen years of age and waving as she hurried toward her. Unlike Kento's, hers was a face Riko knew well – and made her groan silently. "Tomomi, what are you doing here?"
"Finding you!" the girl replied breathlessly as she halted in front of her, bending over slightly as she proceeded to explain. "Turns out you might be the first ones up after all."
Riko sat bolt upright at the news. "What? I thought we were third in line! Where was I when this happened?" She momentarily winced at how redundant that sounded. "Why didn't Junpei call me?"
"He found out just now," Tomomi replied to her first question. Her tone then turned a bit awkward as she answered the next. "And…he lost his phone."
Riko groaned aloud this time. "Again?!" For all the effort he put into keeping track of everybody's instruments, Junpei tended not to do the same for his phone. "We're gonna have to have a serious chat about this!"
"Hope you're talking about him and not me." Tomomi glanced away briefly. "I'm just following orders." The older girl rolled her eyes and huffed before packing up her things and locking her guitar in its case. "Who was that, by the way?"
"Who?" Riko asked, then frowned when she understood. "Oh, him?" Tomomi nodded eagerly, and Riko felt a cynical smirk tug at her lips. "Just a fan – of sorts. He was passing through and heard me sing, and told me how much he liked it. It was just a pleasant chat." More soberly, she insisted, "Really."
Though the insinuation didn't fade from her gaze, Tomomi shrugged. "If you say so." She nodded over her shoulder. "Come on. We don't want Junpei to come looking for both of us." Relieved she left it at that – and not keen to get on their brother's bad side – Riko lifted her guitar case and allowed her little sister to lead the return trip toward the inner park – even as she felt a slight current of envy course through her.
Four years separated them, but Tomomi was already more beautiful than Riko could ever hope to be. Her hair flowed behind her like a waterfall at midnight, her voice was undoubtedly feminine, and her taste in clothes was typically girly. By contrast, Riko's hair had always hated being styled period – hence the bob cut – her scratchy speaking voice could easily be mistaken for a young boy's, and her fashion preferences were…unusual, to say the least.
For the most part, Riko was content to be weird – to be distinct from the crowd. But as for the rest of her… The next thing she knew, she was back in her dream from a few nights ago, which had been nothing short of baffling from the second it began.
First, there was cave-like darkness that'd seemed to stretch on to infinity, and harbor no signs of life other than her own thumping heart. The sheer loneliness of it all seemed to hang thickly in the air like fog. But before Riko could even wonder where she was, a beam of bright light on the opposite side of the cave all of a sudden shot straight up to the ceiling, piercing the dead dark – and rousing her curiosity about its source. Though cautious, she let her feet carry her toward the light as it continued shining from what looked like a stone pedestal.
On top of it sat a spotless sheet of silvery glass – with the edges of someone's reflection in it. Yet more intrigued, Riko leaned over the crystal mirror – only to immediately step back in alarm. But her eyes and those of the reflection remained locked on each other, unblinking. "Is… Is that…me?" The girl in the mirror certainly resembled her – same face, same eyes, same hair. But this version of her appeared mangled, battered…and bruised. No way that's me! I haven't had bruises like that since–
Riko's thoughts abruptly changed course when an echoing pair of footsteps filtered into her ears – along with equally unsettling laughter. She spun around, but other than her, the cave was still empty. Even so, in a moment of indignation, she considered calling out the two who'd snuck up on her, ordering that they show themselves, even challenging them to a fight. But soon, a familiar feeling of dread compelled her to obey a silent yet urgent voice in her head. Run, Riko! Run!
Despite the pitch black of the caverns beyond, she somehow instinctively knew where to go. And yet, no matter how far she fled, the footsteps and laughter remained close behind Riko, reaching out to her like giant, invisible claws. "No! No! Stop following me!" But her demand was made in vain. Her only option was to keep running – never mind her rapidly draining stamina. Eventually, in her gasping for more air, she failed to catch a crack in the cave floor – but her foot did.
Riko fell to the hard, dusty ground in a tired heap, releasing her last vestiges of strength in a series of coughs. At least the sounds made by her stalkers were now fading. But that was the least of her woes. Here she was, back in a position she'd vowed long ago never to be in again – lost, exhausted, and vulnerable. In spite of how much she'd toughened up in the years since, hot water sprang to her eyes, and she let out a cry mixed with shame and misery.
The minutes that ticked by seemed as endless as the tears that streamed down her face, and in the midst of her anguish, Riko knew nobody would listen to her. Nobody would hear, nor care, just as they hadn't that day. Except, maybe– Again, her thoughts were interrupted, this time by herself. What was she doing, feeling sorry for herself like this? She was dreaming for crying out loud! For crying out loud… And before she knew it, her sobs had turned into laughter.
She did tend make the noise at inappropriate times – a coping mechanism, according to her mother. In this case, it refilled her energy tank enough for her to slowly but steadily regain her feet. Yet Riko was promptly silenced when she found herself not only in front of an entryway to three different tunnels – but also surrounded by sparkling, glittery gemstones. She'd always been an admirer of precious stones, but never had she seen so much beauty contained in such small vessels…
"Nice try! But I'm not the one who's trapped down here!" an angry shout echoed suddenly from the tunnel behind her, snapping her out of her wonder. Like before, Riko spun around to meet this new threat head on, only to be yet more surprised at what she actually faced.
Barely a dozen yards from her stood not a monster, but a fellow human being – a man, judging by the voice she'd just heard. Yet though he stood among as many crystals as she did, their collective glow did nothing to enlighten her about his identity. All she could see were the whites of his eyes, which appeared to regard her with the same dazed fascination. For a time that seemed to stretch farther than all these tunnels combined, they gazed at each other in spellbinding silence, until the man broke it with the same loud and abrupt anger as before.
"Jig's up, missy! I'm not falling for any more of your tricks! So come on and fight like a man! Or… Whatever! Face me!" Though certainly inclined to, Riko wasn't eager for any more reminders of the past. Instead, she turned back around and flew down the tunnel behind her like she'd just gained wings.
But of course, the man just couldn't leave her alone. She wanted to shout that to him as she heard the echo of his rapidly increasing pace, but she remembered just in time to keep the much-needed air in her lungs. At one point, she thought she heard her new pursuer say something else, but she couldn't hear him over the blood pulsing through her head. Once again, all she could do was run – from him, from those who'd stalked her, from her memories–!
Riko yelped as the ground beneath her disappeared without warning. She then hit it again and again as gravity did its thing, dragging her down to an unknown destination, until she arrived at it with a resounding thud. Knowing that guy must've heard it, she wasted no time getting back up and pushing on…and on…and on…all the while close to begging for an end to endless shadows – when her unspoken wish was granted at last.
It was still dark, but Riko knew she'd left the still air of the cave for the freely flowing wind of the outside world. Yet even then, she couldn't rely only on the night to help her escape. Ignoring the burning sensation in her legs and chest, she kept running. The next thing she knew, she was once more surrounded by shadows – but these came from a forest of trees that'd welcomed her. Still, only when she was certain she could no longer hear the man's footsteps did she finally halt.
Pressing her back against surprisingly smooth bark, Riko panted as she slid down into a sitting position. And yet, relieved though she was to be free of that guy, there was no reprieve to be had from the silent accusations that seemed as numerous as the unending rows of trees. Coward! You're tougher than this! The real Riko would've fought back! Riko planted her hands against her ears, closed her eyes, and gave release to her pent-up frustration. "Shut up!"
"You will have to do more than that if you want them to cease," a feminine voice that wasn't hers echoed. Reopening her eyes, Riko gasped upon seeing a woman who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. But that wasn't all that'd stunned her. The visitor's flowing white robe bore no blemishes, granting her an unearthly aura. A Christian rosary hung from her neck, and the bangs of her tied-up, scarlet hair hung just above her eyes – which appeared neither young nor old. "Why do you run? Why do you hide?"
Riko's awestruck stare turned into one of bewilderment, which quickly gave way to impatience. "Like you can't tell!" she exclaimed as she waved her arm behind her. "I was fearing for my life! Duh!"
The woman's expression remained solemn, as did her tone. "The actual answer may not be so obvious, Riko Isono." Riko gasped again, wondering how in the name of all things insane did this whoever – or whatever – know her name.
Even weirder, the spirit gently lifted her chin and smiled softly as she spoke further. "You are a fighter, Riko. You are a warrior." The corners of her mouth fell slightly. "But whatever her strengths – and however many or few, great or less they may be – every soldier has a weakness she must confront." She then gazed at Riko as though she could see right through her. "Your greatest weakness, ironically, is your fear of weakness – or rather, vulnerability."
Feeling defensive again, Riko didn't hesitate to retort. "Yeah, and it was because of that that I got hurt!" Her voice trembled a bit at that last word, then solidified again. "But apparently, ghosts know everything. You already know my name anyway."
As if she hadn't spoken at all, the spirit woman moved on. "You may not see the difference between the two, but it is there – just as others may see the toughened exterior you project, but not your real heart underneath it." She then lifted her left hand – and heavy-looking robe sleeve – and though Riko wanted to continue the argument, she decided to humor the stranger and look where she directed. But she was completely unprepared for the sight that transfixed her.
A large clearing in the middle of the forest was littered with dozens of fallen armored soldiers, except for one – the only woman – who stood tall above them. Her features were as obscured as the caveman's. Even so, Riko got the impression that she was a noble heroine who'd just conquered an army of evil, rather than a bloodthirsty killer who'd just slain an army of innocents. But when she looked to the spirit woman for answers, all she got was, "Remember Riko, a true warrior is a sincere warrior. She is not afraid to let others dig and discover the treasure that lies deep within."
Suddenly, her form became distorted like a reflection in water. And only then did Riko realize she hadn't thought to ask the stranger who she was. Yet before she could, her eyes had flashed open, and she was once more alone – not in the dark of night but the broad daylight that'd flooded her room. Of course, it'd made no more sense now than it had then. Then again, neither did that guy's behavior just now.
And once that thread of connection was woven, Riko stopped dead in her tracks. Was it simply coincidence, or could those two sources of confusion be linked with one another? But before she could dwell on it any more, a frightened yet angry cry startled her back into reality. "Thief! Stop him! He's got my wallet!"
Oh man! She knows! I know she knows! With Riko Isono's face stamped in his memory, Kento could hardly see two feet in front of him. But he did know he was going around in circles, the same way his thoughts threatened to spiral out of control as he wondered wildly what to do.
Tell her, that's what. Even so, he argued with himself. But what if she does turn out to be a baddie? Or what if I just come across as a freak after all – and a lune? Wringing his hands and feeling lost in every way, Kento sighed and stared at the concrete. "What's the use? She probably already thinks I'm an idiot." I'd wish for some kinda sign, but that's probably about as likely as robbery in broad dayli–
"Thief! Stop him! He's got my wallet!" His train of thought having come to a screeching halt, Kento frantically looked this way and that, until he spotted an older man who appeared as though he'd just been jumped, his eyes wide with panic as he pointed straight ahead of him.
Kento's gaze flew in that direction to see a younger and lither yet surprisingly normal-looking dude hotfooting it away from the scene, holding his score against his chest. And it made Kento seethe. "Why you little–!"
"Oh no you don't!" another shout startled him into freezing. This time, he saw none other than Riko Isono sprint full-speed ahead, right for the runaway robber, before she gave a great cry and leaped forward with outstretched arms, tackling the guy to the ground in a heap of flailing limbs. And though his mind struggled to keep up, Kento continued to watch the spectacle in utter speechlessness.
The man had to be two heads taller than her, but Riko absolutely refused to let go as she attempted to pin him underneath her. Even when he managed to get halfway up again, she kept at it, hissing and spatting as she wrestled the formerly cocky crook back down with a look of wild yet steely determination on her face. It was like watching a cat trying to take down a lone wolf. Yet it was only when two other men arrived to relieve Riko of her hefty burden that Kento realized he hadn't thought once to help her. But then, he hadn't really needed to.
"Woah…!" he exhaled in dumbfounded awe – when the girl bent over, panting for air. But even then, Kento remained still. As if what he'd just witnessed wasn't crazy enough, what he saw next was like lightning on a clear day. In this case, the light glowed from Riko's forehead. And it's…orange! Just like my armor! Kento neither blinked nor breathed as the light took the shape of a kanji character, which he read as "誠/Sei" – or "Sincerity" in English. And just like that, he'd finally received his sign.
All the Ronin armors had been blessed with a virtue. Kento's armor of Hardrock stood for "義/Gi," or "Justice" in English. More, every Ronin Warrior's respective virtue sometimes glowed at their forehead. But if I'm seeing the same from Riko right now, does that mean…?! No wonder she was such a fighter! And even if she hadn't shown herself to be, why hadn't he thought of it sooner?! Regardless, there was no longer any doubt in Kento's mind. Riko wasn't only an ally – she was a fellow Ronin Warrior! Oh man! This is all kinds of awesome!
But before he could wonder what to do next, Kento jolted at an abrupt shaking sensation. It lasted only a few seconds, but when he scanned the area, it became clear he wasn't the only one who'd felt it. Even so, that didn't put him any more at ease. He could usually detect these things before they happened – he was the warrior of earth, after all – yet this one felt way different from any in recent memory. And when it started up again, with even more severe shaking, he knew it was only going to get worse. "Earthquake!" "Duck and cover!" "What the eff is going on?!"
These yells and many more echoed all around Kento. He of course was just as alarmed, but when his eyes found Riko again, all other sights and sounds both near and far faded into a mental fog, leaving only a single goal in his mind. "Riko!" he called, diving straight for her. Her now wide-eyed gaze lifted to meet his, but barely had she opened her mouth before he shouted, "Quiet! I'm saving your life!" And barely had the words left him before she yelped as he lifted her over his shoulder. Without pausing, he hurried away from the area fast as he could with Riko in tow.
"Put me down, right now!" Riko shouted angrily through her teeth. Kento tried to tune out her protests, but she quickly proved a handful, kicking and pounding at his back. But his hold remained firm.
"It's not what you think!" Kento shouted back. "I'm doing this for your own good!" Admittedly, he was only now beginning to regret this latest addition to his lifelong list of ideas that seemed good at the time. But he'd dug himself in far too deep already.
"Hey! You!" an irate male voice soon yelled behind them. "Drop her!" Kento disobeyed – mainly because doing otherwise would result in Riko breaking something. Still, the guy yelled again, "Are you deaf?! I said drop her!"
Though he knew it might not do much good, Kento called over his spare shoulder, "Sorry, buddy! I need her right now!" Immediately after, Riko grabbed at his face to the point where he feared she'd claw his eyes out.
"Dude! That's my brother!" Upon hearing her, Kento skidded to a grinding stop, nearly dropping Riko as had been demanded of him. Though he still held her, he turned around to face a young man who instantly made him curse his poor decision-making.
He stood taller than Kento by at least three inches, and looked at least a couple years older. Other than that, he could've passed as Riko's twin. He even had the same look Kento had seen in her eyes when she wrestled with the robber, except this time, it was directed at him – which made it far more intimidating.
Realizing he still had her over his shoulder, Kento promptly let Riko down. But his attention remained on her brother. "I swear, this isn't what it looks like!" he shouted above the shaking still going on.
"Sure looks like it to me!" the guy barked back, his eyes ablaze with fury. At the same time, another girl – younger than Riko yet looking no less like her – hurried from behind to join them.
"Look out!" she shouted in fright. A great creaking noise sounded above all their heads, and everyone obeyed the younger girl, dodging out of the way just in time before the top half of a two-story building crashed onto the concrete below, leaving a great cloud of dust in its wake that sent everyone into coughing fits.
In that moment, Kento remembered that, regardless of his mission, he was still a Ronin Warrior sworn to protect the innocent – even if one of them already hated his guts. "Follow me!" he yelled through his coughs, nodding past his shoulder. "I can help you guys get outta here!"
Not surprisingly – yet much to his frustration – Riko's brother didn't appear convinced. "Like we're gonna trust you right after you–!" Riko punched him in the arm hard before he could finish.
"Shut it, Junpei!" she snapped at him. "At least he's trying to help instead of leaving us to die!" Even Junpei looked somewhat startled, but Riko had earned herself even more of Kento's respect.
"Yeah, what she said!" he backed her up. Though he did want to help her family, he still needed to explain things to Riko, and he could only do that if he got on Junpei's good side.
Thankfully – and likely due to the continuing earthquake – it didn't take long for him to relent. "Fine! But I'm watching you!" His eyes briefly flared up at Kento, but at least they were no longer hostile – mostly.
Still, it was good enough for Kento. "Alright, come on!" he waved everyone over, and they didn't hesitate to follow him. Yet they didn't get very far before disaster literally struck not once, but twice more.
A series of especially violent shakes not only sent everybody to the ground, but tore open an enormous gash in the concrete mere inches away from where they landed. The younger girl screamed in terror. "Tomomi!" Riko screamed as well, hugging her close. This in turn prompted the guys to leap forward in an attempt to shield both girls from anything that might give way. But then, suddenly, the shaking gradually started to lessen. Even so, all four refugees stayed utterly still and silent, until the earth was finally stable again.
Yet before anyone could so much as sigh in relief, a great crack sounded from deep underneath the broken road – and Kento's heart stopped as he realized what that meant. He opened his mouth to warn the others, only to lend a loud cry to a symphony of terrified noises as the concrete caved in. Down they all plummeted into the great big gaping hole. Kento forgot which way was up as he was tossed to and fro.
Right then, the air was filled with the erupting commotion made by another collapsing building. The bricks that rained down looked as big as skyscrapers. Chaos and destruction shook the world in place of the earthquake, until even the sky was veiled in black, and the only remaining sound was the ringing in his ears.
Reviews would be appreciated.
AN: The lyrics from the song Riko sings are ones I've translated from the J-pop song by Airi Suzuki, "TRICK." Great song! But unfortunately I don't own it. watch?v=1RU5YJR62ms
Also, the band name "SAMURAI BOYS & GIRLS" comes from the RW albums released in the 80s. Whenever the guys, Mia, and Yuli all sang a song together, they were called the "SAMURAI BOYS & GIRLS."