A/N: Ahh! Okay, that last story had some severe moments… like the 'through'- 'threw' moment (which SR pointed out. Thanx). But I'm glad people reviewed it, so… thanx to all who did that too. Disclaimer thing times 2(one for the last part as well {~can't believe she missed that~}): I DO NOT OWN RONIN WARRIORS! I'm not sure who does, but I'm really liking that person right now 'cause RW is the best show ever! ~happy dance~ Oh! Any of the characters I've made up are completely mine, so ask if you want to use them, 'kay? THANKZ!
Blood of the Eternal Star: Seasons of the Armors Trilogy: Fall's Electric Ice
I'm Ariogya Sheekai. Call me Ary, Ariogya I don't care either way. Just don't call me a dumb blonde. Why? I get enough of that from Grant (my evil double and wearer of the Corrupt Ice armor). He's gonna get it. Anyway, I have shoulder length blond hair (duh) and brown eyes, plus the Ice Star armor. Unlike Brin and Nicka, I don't technically have a boyfriend. But if Sage of Halo thinks he can protect me from my own destiny… I don't care if he is a Ronin Warrior…
I'm Sakimata Demhi. Saki, Sakimata, doesn't matter. Unlike Ary, names don't really get to me. I'm a sort of pacifist, but I'll fight if I have to. My hair is black, long and always braided. I can't stand in my face, but I don't want to cut it either. My eyes are green (Cye calls them Emerald Green, but… I won't go into that) and my armor is Lightening Star, twin of Wicked Lightening. Trust me, he deserves it…
Prologue (Ariogya)
"Saki! You're up!" yelled Brin. Nicka grinned maliciously.
"This should be interesting," she said.
"Shut up, Nikki," said Saki defensively. "If I remember, you were the one that threw the ball in the first place (A/N: Hey! It's the right threw!)." Nicka shrugged.
"Maybe, but you're the one that had the bruise for a month."
"Can we do this?" I asked. "While we're young?"
"Ready?" asked Ryo. Saki picked up the bat and nodded.
"Maybe I'll get a pop fly and it'll hit Nee," she said with a wild grin. Instead, when she did hit the 'ball', she slammed it far right, directly at me. I reached up to grab it, but it suddenly stopped in mid air. Cold chills raced through me and I snarled angrily.
"Oh, don't seem so disappointed, Ary," said Grant. The 'ball' became the Jewel of Life again as he passed it to Kaji. "Really, this is only a social call."
"What do you morons want?" growled Brin, her sub armor appearing.
"I knew we forgot to do something," added Nicka. "Like taking out the trash." Briana and Yuli ducked behind Bree's sister and Brin pretty much got that protective looks she does when she feels anyone is threatened (she still does, by the way). Kaji's lip curled in a malicious smile as he tightened his grip on the Jewel. It shattered and the pieces rained down around me.
"The staff is ours, the Jewel of Life is gone, and you… don't stand a chance."
Chapter 1
I stalked angrily into the kitchen. That… That…. That…! I thought heatedly.
That what, Ary?
Trust me Senaara, you don't want to know.
Well, know it's a little late, don't you think?
Geez! I try so hard to find some sanity and yet, I have yet to get there. Will I ever get away from you people?!
Not me, no.
I thought as much. "Hey, Saki, Cye, Have you guys figured out what's for dinner yet?" Saki's head snapped in my direction and she quickly pulled back from Cye's arms. Her eyes found the cutting board, but there wasn't any need to do anything on it, since we didn't know what dinner was yet.
"Oh, um, hey Ary. It's, uh, either chili, or, uh, soup," she said. I put my hands on my hips, a thought racing through my mind. Not a particularly fun one either.
"Okay then. Cye, why don't you see what everyone else wants?" He cast a glance at Saki, then walked past me out of the kitchen. At least someone was capable of getting a freaking clue. I won't divulge who wasn't, just back up, read the intro and take a wild guess… "Would you care to explain the hell that was?" Pause.
"Am I nuts?" she asked, turning to the sink. I headed for the refrigerator and opened the door. For fall, it was sure hot.
"Not completely, no," I answered. "You just like Cye." She nodded, then smiled.
"Like you like Sage?" I growled.
"Don't test me. I do not like Sage."
"Right, of course you don't. This coming from the one who stated the very first day we met them that Sage was cute, intelligent, and brave, as well as a clear thinker in battle."
"Saki, he meditates in battle."
"So?"
"One of these days, I hope he gets run through by a Dynasty soldiers," I said matter of factly. She frowned.
"You don't…"
"I do."
"Why?"
"He's an overprotective jerk! He thinks I'm six and I need to be protected!"
"Technically, you do, since you don't have your ar-"
"You say armor and I'll run you through with that knife."
"Okay, I won't say armor. But Ary, think about it, Sage wouldn't be so protective if he didn't care about you."
"Brin said the same thing-"
"Poor Brin. Where did you bury the body?"
"She's alive. It's just… he gets on my nerves!"
"They're guys. That's what they're supposed to do. Promise me one thing, though. Don't rip his throat out until you absolutely have to."
"Saki, have I ever made promises I can keep?"
Chapter 2
"I got it!" Sarean and I both dove for the ball. One of us managed to hit it and it cleared the net just as the gym teacher blew the whistle.
"Watch it next time, Ariogya," said Sarean as she stood up and walked back to the locker room. I chose to stay on the floor. It was much more comfortable then getting up and having to fight the urge to hit Sarean.
"Nice hit, Ary," said Brin. "Come on." She offered her hand to help me up, but I didn't take it. I still stood up, but without any help. "So are you coming?"
"Huh?"
"Where have you been the last hour?!"
"Sorry, I've been a little-"
"Out of it?" suggested Nicka. "Yeah, I'll agree with that. Guy troubles, Ar?"
"You're pushing the wrong buttons," I growled. "Don't. Just stop there before I hit you. Now what were you talking about, Brin?"
"We're all going to a movie. Mia, Ryo, Kento, Nicka, Saki, Micja, Rowen, pretty much everyone other then White Blaze, but only because they don't allow large white tigers into the theater."
"Sure, why not? Are we picking up the kids today?"
"We're all meeting there." The end of the day bell rang and people started to race out of the locker room. "Sixth hour gym on a Friday afternoon. What could be better?"
"Not knowing the Dynasty exists?" suggested Micja quietly. Brin nodded, then whipped her head towards the other end of the school.
"Or not knowing Kaji exists?" she asked, shaking herself.
"He's just a low down pain in the ass," said Nicka, snapping out of her own trance. "You'll get used to it."
"If you say so." The sunlight was warm as we walked past the busses. I stalled the let some people get on and the announcement on the radio drifted through the air.
"… And scientists are still baffled by the strange freezing of a volcano outside of town that happened earlier this morning…" Brin stooped mid stride and turned back to look at us. I didn't want to ruin the already dying mood, but I was getting an overall feeling of ickiness in my stomach. Something was about to go terribly, terribly wrong.
Chapter 3(Saki)
I stretched out underneath the shadow of a tree. It was a good day to be in the shade: too warm not to be and too hot to be inside. Brin was talking with Mia, Ryo, and Rowen, Nicka and Kento were(what else?) eating some chips she had found in her backpack, Ary was sitting as far from Sage as she dared, which was approximately the swing next to his, even if she was avoiding any form of conversation, and Cye was leaning against the tree behind me.
"Those two," I muttered. "They're the perfect couple, only they don't see it."
"I don't know Ary very well," said Cye(with the accent that I absolutely adored). "But Sage can be pretty stubborn."
"Ary too. She was born stubborn." A breeze blew in, blowing my bangs and sending a shiver down my spine.
"What's wrong?" asked Cye.
"Nothing, I just didn't… expect a breeze, that's all." The doors to the school opened and little kids started to come out. Briana and Yuli were last, wrapped up in some argument(as usual), but their immediate path was blocked by a taller then normal fifth grader and two boys about their age. "Oh, this figures."
"What?"
"That's Keya, Koma, and Giran. Keya and Koma are Kaji's younger sibs and Grant is Giran's older brother."
"Oh."
"Where do you think you're going, twerps?" asked Keya coolly. Briana held up her hand, finished her sentence, then faced her opponent.
"Look, Keya, we don't have the time today. We're meeting my sister and some friends."
"Don't you know who you're talking too?!" raged Keya. Briana sighed.
"Fine. We'll do this your way. You're Keya, all powerful fifth grader(who's been held back more times then I can count on one hand) and younger sister to Kaji, an eighth grader. No offense, Keya, but I knew. It's just that I didn't care." At this point in time, Yuli took a step back and shook his head sadly. This was apparently something he had seen before.
"You little- Koma, Giran, get her." Both boys dove at her, but she somehow managed to pin both boys on the ground with their arms twisted behind their backs.
"Does insanity run in your family?" asked Rowen in genuine shock. Brin smiled and nodded.
"Of course it does. Where have you been?"
"Listen, Keya, like I said, I don't have the time today. There's too much I have to do." She let the boys go and they scrambled to their feet, then stood next to their leader. "We go through this everyday: you get angry, send those two after me, or Yuli on occasion, and we always win, so get a clue and get off my back." Keya was, to say the least, not happy. She lunged, but Briana dodged and then it became two against one when Yuli tripped her while innocently looked at the sky. I almost choked trying not to laugh too loudly.
"Hey Yuli!" shouted Ryo. "Briana! Come on, let's go!"
"'Kay!" Briana yelled back, grabbing Yuli's arm. "Let's hurry, Yules. I don't want to miss the movie."
"Okay, I'm coming," he said.
"What was that all about?" asked Brin when they reached us. Briana shrugged.
"Everyday, Keya tries to get on my bad side. She usually does." Then she giggled. "But it was kinda funny watching them run from the soldiers today."
"What?!"
"Yeah," said Yuli, slightly confused. "Some Dynasty soldiers attacked today at recess, but Sage and Rowen took care of them." Brin crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the two Ronins, who were trying to find something else to talk about.
"And when were you planning on telling us this?" she asked.
"I knew," said Ryo. Brin sent him a glare that said he should just shut his mouth. Ary was pretty much focused on glaring at Sage with all her might.
"It wasn't a big thing," he tried to explain. "It was just a few random soldiers-"
"Who attacked a school full of children!" she exploded. "For the love of- what part of being a team doesn't get through your head?!" Then she took a deep breath and picked up her backpack. "Sorry, but I think I'll skip the movie." She started for the forest and disappeared.
She's using the shadows, explained Nycoelle. She can be miles away in two seconds.
Great, but she could be walking right into a trap. The coldness came back over me, but this time, it had a voice.
"Pity, really," said Micael. "I was hoping the downfall of Ariogya wouldn't be so easy for Grant."
"What?!" I yelled. "Oh no! You wouldn't!"
"Watch me, Sakimata. We will be vic- ow!" Whatever he had been trying to say was cut off by my fist in his face. Stars danced in my vision, but I didn't care. Sage and Ary had to be stopped.
Before it became too late.
Chapter 4
Cye grabbed my arm just as I reached the road.
"Saki, calm down. We'll find them," he said.
"I just don't want to lose my friends," I said. Micael's psycho laugh filled the air. "Bastard! Show yourself!"
"Why do you wish so much to die?" he asked.
"It's not my wish to die. You're the one that's trying to kill my friends." He appeared, bringing none too few soldiers with him. Cye, in his sub armor, stood between me and my double. To say the least, I wasn't happy with him, or Micael.
"Brave words," said Micael coolly. "But do you really think you can save your friends? The Ronin of Torrent and an armorless bitch? Is your stupidity level really that high?"
"You'd be surprised," I muttered. "Cye, leave Micael to me. You take care of the soldiers."
"Are you sure?" I nodded as the soldiers attacked.
"Hey! You want me, Micael? Come and get me!" He dove for me and missed. "Wow, even with your armor, your still slow as rock. Dumb as one too."
"Wicked Lightening Shocker!" I barely dodged this time. Okay, so I was trying to get on his bad side, but think of this: if he was angry, he wasn't focused. I had seen it before and I would make sure to use it against him.
Suddenly, I was paralyzed. In all of his rage, he was succeeding in hitting me. I gripped a tree branch over my head, but I still kept falling into darkness.
"Listen, Kamigara, I know you care, but this is my decision."
"I know, Nycoelle, but what do you think, means more to us? You or the Dynasty?" I glared at him, then jumped off the edge of the rock. Keshen Dragoen, Harial, and Keshen's friend, Oraie, were walking over towards us. They were refugees from a village that had been attacked by the Dynasty. I didn't want the same thing happening to my family and friends.
"The Dynasty will turn anything and everything against you," said Harial quietly. Keshen glared at him behind his back, then crossed her arms over her chest angrily. He saw none of this.
The ground started to shake. Kamigara caught me before I could fall over, but I pulled away from him as the impossibly tall doors rose from the ground.
"You have decided," said the odd looking spirit. I nodded.
"I will join Talpa in the Dynasty." Kamigara opened his mouth to say something but I stopped him. "Your destiny lies on a separate path." Badamon turned his attention towards Keshen.
"Your delay must end, Keshen Dragoen." She stepped past Harial and stood by me.
"I will not let this world die because I am stubborn," she said. Then she shot me a weak smile. "I guess we have something common after all."…
Fury ran through me, jolting every part of my body with a new electricity. I gripped the handle of my nodaochi and struggled to my feet. Micael had given up on torturing me. Instead, he and several of his soldiers pals, were beating up Cye, who had obviously been caught off guard after I past out. Knowing him, he had tried to protect me.
Guys! They're all morons!
Kamigara tried to protect me from my own destiny, said Nycoelle sadly. And in the end, I killed him.
You can't help the past, Nycoelle, I told her. You can only take from its mistakes. "Stop it!" I screamed at Micael. "You came here to beat me up, not him!"
"So you're awake," he said contemptuously. "And armored."
"Observant. Now, try some of my power. Lightening Blade Shock!" Somehow, I managed to push all of my strength out. Micael knew Cye's life was more important then mine and if he died, I would die, and that would be the end of it. The coward! He ran from battle, taking the soldiers with him. My sure kill slammed into a tree, destroying it in one blow. I sent my armor away and ran to help Cye up.
"Saki?" he said weakly. I grinned and nodded.
"Hi."
Chapter 5(Ariogya)
Ary, stop, you'll get lost!
I don't care! What do you want from me?! Do you want me to turn back and ask Sage for help?!
Just slow down. He doesn't want you to get hurt.
Well, maybe I want to get hurt! Something caught my arm and I fought the urge to hit whoever it was. I really wish I had.
"Ary, calm down," said Sage.
"Leave me alone!" I tore from his grasp. "Why can't you just let me be?"
"Because the Dynasty's after you-"
"Let them come! I can take on Talpa all by myself!"
"You're not thinking, Ary, you have to calm down."
Listen you him, he's right. For once. I took a deep breath, dropped my backpack and slapped Sage as hard as I good. He grabbed my arm before I could again.
"What did you do that for?" he asked calmly. I ripped my arm away.
"That was because just once, I'd like to see you lose your temper."
"Maybe I'd like to see you keep yours." That stopped me. I wanted to hit him again, of course, but… he had a point.
"Why do you insist that I need a baby sitter?" I asked, trying to calm my nerves. Probably not the best question to calm my rage, but it was the first thing that popped into my head.
"I don't think you need a baby sitter," he started. "But if I didn't try and keep from getting hurt, I wouldn't deserve to be a Ronin Warrior." Who called it? Now he definitely needed to be slapped again. Did he really expect me to believe that he felt it was his duty to protect me? HA!
"Halo, you're nuts," I said. "I don't need protection from anyone, even you. Once I find my armor, I'll be able to take care of myself."
"I know, but… what if you don't find your armor? I mean, before it's too late to have it."
"Like if I die before I get my armor?" I sighed. "Sage, I have a better chance of being hit by a semi truck in the middle of an ocean, okay? My armor is still connected to Grant's and really doubt Talpa, or any of the Dynasty, are ready to let an armor go."
"You'd be surprised." A cold wind blew through the trees, brining with a shower of ice chunks. Sage shielded me from the attack, but took some pretty hard hits. It took me a minute to fully grasp the fact that he was unconscious and bleeding badly. Damn him! Why couldn't he just be selfish for once?!
"You've gone too far, pretty boy," I said, standing up. "Way too far."
"Oh, is the poor Ronin dying? I'm sorry, maybe I should've asked first!" I dove for him, but my feet were frozen to the ground. "You've got a minute to declare your loyalty to Master Talpa before you're fresh frozen and switch sides anyway."
"I'll never fight against my friends," I said, fighting down shivers. He laughed as the ice overtook me, cutting off my air supply. I would rather die then go with him… darkness over came me and I called death with my heart.
"Call you armor!" yelled Veria.
"I won't," I said. "Death is a hundred times better then calling that damned armor!"
"Do it, Senaara," said Keshen. She supported to from my side, but my legs were collapsing beneath me. Damn soldiers, I thought. Can't aim their bloody arrows. "You'll die if you don't."
"I don't care! I won't fight against them! They want to save the mortal realm, which is the same reason we're here in the first place!"
"Stop living in the past!" said Linja. "Our paths are different. We have to destroy them before they get a chance to fight Master Talpa. Which do you think is better? Being destroyed by us… or him?"
I screamed, shattering my icy grave. My hand gripped my spear and I felt tears on the edge of my eyes. "They" were the Ronins of Senaara's time. Harial, Sammaei, Oriae, Kamigara, Nahar, and Mienan.
"You've gone way over the limit," I said to Grant. He paled slightly. "Didn't expect this, did you, pretty boy?"
"For a dumb blonde, you gain your armor fast," he shot back with a sneer. "But if you fight me, who'll protect poor Halo?" I glanced at Sage's still unconscious form. The bleeding had stopped, but I knew deep down that Grant was a born opportunist: any chance to kill off a Ronin and he would take it without a second chance.
Just once, I thought, walking over to sage. Let me protect you.
Courage My armor shield formed around him, but in the process, I lost my spear. Still, the fight wouldn't be over 'till one of us, me or Grant, was defeated.
Your daggers are your last hope, said Senaara. She had a slight hint of sadness in her voice.
Yup. I unsheathed the twin daggers from my back. One of the common things with the Star Gaze armors are a pair of daggers that can use the armor's power just like the main weapons.
Gotta love it.
"Ice… Dagger… Strike!" I yelled. Six identical daggers lanced the air, coming from behind me. Grant dodged all but one that slammed into his leg. At the same time, my own leg collapsed beneath me, a clean slice straight through.
"What pain I fell, you feel," he said, leaning on his spear. "Did Brin's little accident with Kaji's dagger not teach you this?"
"It taught me plenty," I answered, resheathing one dagger. "Fell this, bastard." I stabbed the last blade into the cut, and shocks of pain tore through me, but it was worth the look of intense agony on Grants face.
"This is far from over, Ariogya Sheekai," he said, vanishing. Everything as quiet, then Sage groaned. I sent my armor away and struggled to my feet. The pain was ebbing, but it would last as long as Grant let it.
"Ary," muttered Sage. "Your armor…"
"Now will you let me fight my own battles?" I asked, sending my sub armor away too. I tore a strip from my shirt and wrapped it around a deep gash on his back. Damn Grant… damn Sage… Damn them both!
"I guess I have to," he admitted. "You're already hurt, so I failed…"
"Don't even," I threatened, jerking hard on the knot. He winced, then smiled. Rrgghh, damn his smile too. It was incredibly cute. And I was just noticing this. Call me blind, call me blonde, I don't care anymore. They're all true.
The End
Hi again! Okay, this was shorted then the last one, but only because I didn't have so much to explain this time around. Yet again, I shall thank people. Thank you to tiger, the first person to review(even though ShadowRand had read it before) and rowin's fan/crazy mew/ Anime fan(I think) for giving me encouragement. And yes, BIG thanks to ShadowRand and Shadow_Crystal, though she needs to be beaten with a ten foot psychic pole. Hmm… speaking of beating with poles, I have to go. Bya! ~walks away to beat Mr. Wurst with the aforementioned pole because he screwed me up in auditions on PURPOSE~