"Alright, we have the go-ahead from Lady Sana. First, we force them into a fight. Then, if he still refuses, we capture the targets. But we can't execute until she says the word. Any questions?" He didn't see or hear anyone give any indication they needed further instructions. "Good, on my signal."

As Kento's parents and Kaye were working on the renovations inside the restaurant, they were unaware of the assassins waiting to charge inside.

"Thank you, Kaye, for helping," Mrs. Rei Faun said as she brought in the hot tea from the kitchen. She set the tray on a nearby table.

Kaye smiled at her, "I don't mind. It gives me something to do when Kento is training in China. Plus, I like to work on renovations."

"Kento was going to help us with this. But the timing was not the best. It turned out to be a larger project than we imagined." Mr. Rei Faun replied as he started to explain.

"It's fine. Plus, this gives me a chance to find out stories Kento hasn't told me." Kaye responded with a smirk.

The two Rei Fauns glanced at one another and then back at her. "So many to choose from, it's hard to know where to start."

"Here is a good one to start..." Mrs. Rei Faun responded. She was interrupted when the assassins crashed through the front window of the restaurant.

The assassins shifted into fighting stances. They held their weapons at the ready. Chains with metal balls embedded with spikes. "It seems we interrupted something."

Kento watched from his caged cell the attack at his family's restaurant. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Sana. "Call them off!"

Sana laughed, "I don't think so. Unless, of course, you give in and go with the ceremony."

Kento turned his attention back to the screen. 'I know my parents and Kaye can take care of themselves.' He clenched his fists in anticipation. "My answer is still no!"

Sana gave a little shrug, "Then, I guess we'll have to keep watching to see what happens with my assassins. But remember, whatever happens to them, it's because of your stubbornness."

Kento winced internally. He hoped Sana was wrong, and nothing would happen. Kento wished there was some way he could have sent a message or something to the others. But all he could do was watch and hope they'd be alright.

Kaye and the Rei Fauns shifted into fighting stances as well. 'Who are they? Why are they attacking us?'

"Leave our restaurant!" Mr. Rei Faun shouted at them.

"I don't think so, old man. We have our orders."

Kaye studied them as she narrowed her eyes, "Hey! Hasn't anyone taught you about respect?"

"We don't respect our prey. The one we respect is our leader. So, I suggest you shut your pretty little mouth if you know what's good for you."

Kaye shifted a bit with her back foot as it hooked onto the back of an opened paint can. "I think you might want to shut yours." As soon as she made complete contact with the paint can, she hooked it towards one of the assassins. The can flew from the floor and splashed on his weapon and face.

He yelled as he started to wipe the paint from his face. The other two assassins turned their attention to the one who got painted, and this created the opportunity for Mr. Rei Faun to jump up and kicked one of them on the side of the head.

The assassin who received the kick flew off to the side. Then the attacker hit his side on the framing knocking it out of place.

Mr. Rei Faun landed and glared at the one he kicked. He watched his opponent. He knew it takes more than one kick to keep these people down. Mr. Rei Faun smirked a bit as he felt the excitement of a fight glinted off in his eyes. He took a chance and glanced to where the other sounds of the fighting took place.

Mrs. Rei Faun ducked from the launch of the ball with metal spikes and went to the inside. She landed an elbow in the center of her attacker's chest and then brought her leg around the back of his and pulled it out from under him. Her opponent went down on his back but kept hold of his weapon.

Kaye dove to the side, and on her way to her feet, she picked up a piece of lumber and blocked the spiked ball from making contact. The two locked in with one another. She stumbled forward a couple of steps when her attacker yanked back and freed his weapon from the board. She glanced around and saw Mr. and Mrs. Rei Faun were having no trouble holding their own. Kaye smiled a bit, and then her smile faded when more assassins crashed through.

The assassins surrounded the three of them, blocking any chance of escape.

"Are you two..." Kaye started to ask as the three of them stayed back to back.

"We are fine, Kaye. What about you?" Mrs. Rei Faun questioned as she and her husband took in their situation.

"I'm alright. Any idea of whom these people are?" Kaye replied as her sight returned to the one she splashed paint.

"Their fighting style seems familiar. Something we ran across a long time ago in China. I'm having a hard time trying to remember from where." Mr. Rei Faun answered as he was trying to think back to where they ran into these people.

Kaye glared at the painted attacker, "Who are you working with, and what's your reason for attacking us?"

He reached out and grabbed onto Kaye's throat. His sleeve slid back when he extended his arm and revealed a tattoo. The attacker smirked a bit when he felt her hands trying to pry his grip off of her neck. "You'll find out in due time. But for now, be a quiet little hostage."

'Hostage?' Kaye frowned and then stopped as she brought her hands down when she felt him release her throat. She raised a hand and rubbed her throat.

"Pa," Mrs. Rei Faun whispered as she tugged on his sleeve. She saw him give a slight nod as he glanced at the attacker's arm and saw the same tattoo. "I thought they were still in China."

"I thought so too," Mr. Rei Faun replied in a whisper. He glared at the painted assassin. "Now I remember. You're from the Jade Thorns."

Kaye glanced at him with a slight frown, 'Jade Thorns? Why would they know about them? Who are they?'

The painted assassin moved in front of him, "Very good, so you do remember. I wasn't sure because of your old age."

"It isn't the Jade Thorns' style to take hostages. So, what's your end game?"

"If I told you, then I'd have to kill you before it was time. So far, the three of you are still needed to be alive. It takes the fun out of it, but it's what our leader wants."

"So, she is still your leader after all this time?" Mr. Rei Faun asked as he kept his sights on him.

"Yes, it's good you remember. Since you know all too well how our leader operates."

The painted assassin clicked his earpiece, "My lady, your assets are secure."

At the compound, Sana smiled as she turned to face Kento. "So, do you still resist my offer?"

Kento continued to watch the screen. His heart tightened when he watched the people he cared about the most being surrounded by assassins. He knew Kaye couldn't risk calling upon her armor since his parents didn't know about any of them possessing mystical armors. They'd be able to fight, but with the restaurant filled with assassins, the number of them was too great.

"Well? The longer you take to make a decision, the shorter time they have to live. Tick, tock Kento."

The orange Ronin squeezed his eyes tight as he looked away from the screen. There was no other choice. Kento raised his head and opened his eyes. "Fine. I'll go through with the ceremony. I'll marry you, Sana. Let them go first."

"I'll let them go, but after the ceremony. Not before," Sana replied as she motioned for another to approach. "He's a holy man from this region. He has no misgivings about what we do for a living."

Kento glared at the holy man, "How can you align yourself with these butchers?"

The holy man shrugged, "One chooses their path in life. I have chosen to live, and in turn, they spared my life for me to work for them. Now then, shall we proceed?"

"How comforting, so then you became an assassin too, I take it." Kento shot back at him.

"No, they allow me to stay with my holy duties, as well as other special, projects so to speak."

Kento looked at him suspiciously, "What do you mean, special projects?"

"Never you mind about what he meant, Kento. Let's get on with the ceremony." Sana replied as she glanced at the holy man.

He nodded and started their wedding ceremony. "Do you, Sana of the Jade Thorns, take Kento Rei Faun as your lawfully wedded husband?"

Sana looked over at Kento as a cruel smile creased her face, "I do."

The holy man nodded and looked at Kento, "Do you, Kento Rei Faun, take Sana of the Jade Thorns as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I," Kento started to say and then glanced at the screen. 'Kaye... Ma... Pa... Forgive me.' He turned his attention towards him. "I do."

The holy man nodded and reached into his robe as he pulled out two rings. "Place the rings on one another."

Sana and Kento exchanged rings, and then they looked at the holy man. "I pronounced you Kento and Sana, married." He nodded and then walked away from the recently married couple.

"I did what you wanted! Now call them off!" Kento growled.

"Fair enough," Sana replied as she called to the assassins who were in Kento's family restaurant. "It's done."

"Yes, my lady," The painted assassin replied as he glanced around the room. "Our lady wants us to retreat." He studied the three and smirked, "Count yourselves lucky this day. We are leaving now."

As quickly as they appeared, the assassins vanished. Kaye turned her attention towards the two Rei Fauns. So many questions whirled in her head. "What..."

Mr. Rei Faun shook his head and walked out of the main room towards the back.

"Gomen, Kaye, but I think it's time for you to go home." Mrs. Rei Faun said with a heavy heart.

Kaye looked at her with concern and confusion laced in her eyes. "What's going on? What is it you two are not telling me?"

"I apologize, but I can't get into it right now. Please, go home. It's in your best interest. Also, we are going to put a hold on the renovations for the moment. The attack brought a lot of damage to the restaurant. We'll have to make new plans." Mrs. Rei Faun replied as she was doing her best to come up with a plausible excuse. She knew Kaye would want to stay and help them to deal with the Jade Thorns. But she wasn't ready to have her know about them, not yet. Mrs. Rei Faun turned around and walked out as well.

Kaye frowned when she watched the two of them whisper among themselves. She tried to get their attention, but they wouldn't turn towards her. Kaye wasn't sure what to think. She wished Kento was here, so she could talk with him about what happened. He might know what's going on with his parents. With a sigh, Kaye walked out of the restaurant and hailed a cab to go home.

"Pa, are you certain we should have kept her out of this?"

"We can't allow for her to get caught up in this. It's too dangerous. The Jade Thorns, as you, remember is ruthless. They'd do anything and everything to get what they want. You know this as much as I."

"I know, but we shouldn't have to keep her in the dark. Kaye has a right to know about our history with the Jade Thorns."

"Because she and our son are in a relationship?" Mr. Rei Faun asked with a raised brow.

"Especially because of the reason. Kaye deserves to know."

He shook his head, "It isn't our place to tell her. It's Kento's responsibility to tell Kaye about our history. If he informed Kaye, then she would have recognized the tattoo on his arm. But going by her confusion, he didn't. Come, Ma. It's time to go home." Mr. Rei Faun replied in a quiet tone, and the two of them left the restaurant.

Kaye watched out the window during the cab ride. She frowned as her mind went back to what took place. When Kento comes back from China, he's going to have much to explain. Who were the Jade Thorns? What was their connection to Kento's family? 'Looks like I'm going to have to find out about the Jade Thorns on my own when I get home.'

Kento felt such anger in his heart it was hard for him to contain it. He roared from the top of his lungs as Kento allowed this to happen. They almost lost their lives. Kento saved them, but also he lost them in a different sense. He felt this was the beginning of whatever Sana has planned. Kento had no choice but to play out whatever Sana has in mind.

Sana watched her new husband with amusement, "Come now, Kento. You should be relieved."

He whirled around and glared at her, "Relieved? Because you spared their lives by this, whatever this is?"

Sana laughed, "Of course, at least they're alive. But don't you worry, when we go back to Japan, you and I will let them in on our joyous union! I already have things in place there."

Kento growled low in his throat, "Whatever you have in mind. I won't go through with it. Not anymore. I married you because you backed me into a corner. If you believe I'm going to do anything else you say, you're crazier than I thought."

A creepy grin spread across her face, "We'll see, my dear husband. We will see." Sana replied as she turned and walked away from him.