Timeline: during episode 36 [Ryo, Kento and Sai were fighting the Warlords; Sage and Rowen engaged Kayura, while Yuli and Mia watched; eventually they all met up again and Anubis prevented Ryo from killing Kayura]
CHAPTER 9:
"For Angel."
"Anubis!"
"The staff led me to you just in time. Come." Anubis watched the young Ronin stumble into the tunnel. He had indeed been just in time. A few more minutes and Sehkmet's poison would have ended his battle forever.
Without another glance, Anubis headed down the long tunnel toward where he suspected Kento to be. Ryo followed. Still thanking his lucky stars for the last minute rescue, glad at first that he hadn't drowned in Sehkmet's poison, until he began to feel the searing heat that burned the sensitive flesh of his legs. He staggered ... stumbled ... faltered.
"Ryo!" Anubis knelt beside his young friend. There was no time for this. Sehkmet was still close by. Kento needed help. With an impatient crease wrinkling his forehead, Anubis laid a hand on an armored shoulder. "Wildfire, get up!"
Ryo could barely find the strength to drag heavy lids open. Why was he staring up at Anubis? A second ago, he'd been sloshing through the murky water following Anubis down the tunnel. Where was this pain coming from? He gritted teeth so hard his jaw hurt.
"Anubis?" Ryo squinted up at the red head. "Hurtsss."
He did realize Anubis' lips were moving, and after he closed his eyes and concentrated with the last of his strength, he made out the words: "Banish the armor, Ryo. "
He balked at the thought. His armor protected him. If it hadn't been for the armor, Sehkmet's poison would have destroyed him. It was the armor that shielded him from hurt and injury and ... death. But why then, why was he in so much pain?
Concerned Anubis saw the slightly raised eyebrows, the questioning furrow of the forehead, the stubborn set of clenched jaws. [TR1]He hesitated, surreptitiously wiping his hand on [TR2] his tunic. It stung from the poison that still coated Ryo's armor and was slowly burning the soft flesh beneath. His help would soon be too late. Firmly gripping the Ancient's staff, Anubis concentrated and channeled his strength.
Ryo was hovering at the brink of consciousness when he felt himself enveloped by a soft light. Something peaceful and warm that molded itself to his prone form. He didn't notice his armor was gone until the cool wetness of the brackish water he lay in came in contact with the searing heat on his skin.
He lay there, shivering and naked, barely conscious, listening to the steady hum of a soothing and calming voice in his ear. How did he...? Where was his...?
Anubis tried to ignore his battle weary instincts that told him that Sehkmet's stench still lingered in the air. And that the battle noises were slowly getting louder, coming nearer. This was not a safe place to be. Nevertheless, his hands were unhurried and gentle as they splashed water on the acid burns on Ryo's skin.
He watched with growing concern the deepening red on pale skin that slowly climbed all the way to Ryo's chest, leaving nasty red blotches and angry blisters in its wake. A muscular, well defined chest.
Snatching his hand back, Anubis nearly lost his balance. What was he thinking? Rummaging in his pouch for a strip of clean cloth, he averted his eyes. This was hardly the time to notice such a thing, he chastised himself. But long forgotten hormones weren't so easily dismissed. [TR3]
Ryo's painful moans echoed in the dimly lit tunnel. Trembling with pain, he struggled. He needed to throw off the blanket that kept him covered. He was so hot. Bucking, kicking and thrashing, [TR4]he tried to rid himself of that heavy heat that engulfed him. Why wasn't Anubis helping him? Where was he? Why wasn't anybody helping him?
The clang of sword on sword carried down the tunnel, startling Anubis out of his trance-like fascination with the curve of Ryo's shoulders. How long had he been staring? With a sneer and an abrupt shake of the hand to fling back stray strands of red, he told himself that this was not the place or time to engage in ... ogling. [TR5]But he could hardly sling a naked Ronin over his shoulder and run through the city trying to find shelter.
A boyish grin lit up his face. Hmm? It was an altogether interesting picture his mind painted for him. A moment of weakness and appreciative eyes roamed the pale [TR6] expanse of Ryo's athletic body again. The Ronin might be young, but there was great promise there. An attractive face with just the right angles. The widest blue eyes that should in all honesty not grace a young man's face. His strong shoulders weren't exactly broad yet, but they would be. A smooth chest, flat stomach, and jutting hipbones that begged to be touched. Soft, unmarred skin - where the acid hadn't burned it.
Reminding himself that only a few weeks ago he would have killed Kale [TR7] had he leered in a similar fashion, Anubis held the wet cloth to Ryo's temple for a moment while he brushed damp strands of black from his forehead. The Ronin responded with a low moan and turned into the touch.
Wiping gently with the rag, he meticulously washed the poison off Ryo's body. It seemed to work. Ryo's struggles became weaker, but his breathing turned shallow as the damage to his body took its toll. With a gentleness that surprised him, Anubis gathered the trembling boy into his arms and held him close while murmuring soothing words of encouragement.
Cradling the shivering body to his chest, Anubis dipped his head and planted a feathery kiss on a feverish brow. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the feel of a soft, warm body in his arms. He didn't exactly smell clean and fresh, but he carried the scent of someone clean and untouched.
Lost to the sensation, Anubis let a hand quest haltingly forward, touching pale skin, still slightly pink where acid had touched it. He wondered if anybody had ever dared to touch the Ronin that way. Who? One of his comrades-in-arms? Which one had been allowed to ...?
Argh. This was not productive. Anubis shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut. He could not do this. He wasn't doing this. But his mind kept providing him with pictures and images of young bodies, muscular arms, strong legs entwined, while his ears heard the low sounds of whispered promises and the soft moans of love making.[TR8].
He felt his own body respond and shame flooded his cheeks, just as a cool hand cupped his face. His eyes flew open.
"It's okay, you know." Ryo's eyes were huge and wide and blue and knowing.
Drowning in those blue depths, Anubis very nearly faltered. Maybe it was his self-control that reasserted itself, maybe the sound of battle that intruded on them again, whatever it was, it destroyed that fragile bond between them.
"You are better now." It was a statement as much as a question. And it came out a bit hoarse and husky. Unwilling to lay Ryo back down in the murky water, Anubis rose instead and lowered the young warrior on his feet. It was a thoughtful and gentle gesture. [TR9]"Come. Kento needs our help."
He turned without another glance, trusting Ryo would follow. And Ryo did, head lowered to hide[TR10] a wistful smile and a low sigh.
[TR1] This is Anubis' concern right? This phrase probably should go somewhere else in this sentence...
[TR2] on his tunic?
[TR3]LOL! Amen, brother.
[TR4]thrashing, he
[TR5]Great word!
[TR6]Would Ryo be pale? I always figured he was the darkest of the Ronins. Of course, this is entirely up to you!
[TR7]Mmmm...Kale...
[TR8]Mmmm..nice picture!
[TR9]gesture. "Come
[TR10]hide
CHAPTER 9:
"For Angel."
"Anubis!"
"The staff led me to you just in time. Come." Anubis watched the young Ronin stumble into the tunnel. He had indeed been just in time. A few more minutes and Sehkmet's poison would have ended his battle forever.
Without another glance, Anubis headed down the long tunnel toward where he suspected Kento to be. Ryo followed. Still thanking his lucky stars for the last minute rescue, glad at first that he hadn't drowned in Sehkmet's poison, until he began to feel the searing heat that burned the sensitive flesh of his legs. He staggered ... stumbled ... faltered.
"Ryo!" Anubis knelt beside his young friend. There was no time for this. Sehkmet was still close by. Kento needed help. With an impatient crease wrinkling his forehead, Anubis laid a hand on an armored shoulder. "Wildfire, get up!"
Ryo could barely find the strength to drag heavy lids open. Why was he staring up at Anubis? A second ago, he'd been sloshing through the murky water following Anubis down the tunnel. Where was this pain coming from? He gritted teeth so hard his jaw hurt.
"Anubis?" Ryo squinted up at the red head. "Hurtsss."
He did realize Anubis' lips were moving, and after he closed his eyes and concentrated with the last of his strength, he made out the words: "Banish the armor, Ryo. "
He balked at the thought. His armor protected him. If it hadn't been for the armor, Sehkmet's poison would have destroyed him. It was the armor that shielded him from hurt and injury and ... death. But why then, why was he in so much pain?
Concerned Anubis saw the slightly raised eyebrows, the questioning furrow of the forehead, the stubborn set of clenched jaws. [TR1]He hesitated, surreptitiously wiping his hand on [TR2] his tunic. It stung from the poison that still coated Ryo's armor and was slowly burning the soft flesh beneath. His help would soon be too late. Firmly gripping the Ancient's staff, Anubis concentrated and channeled his strength.
Ryo was hovering at the brink of consciousness when he felt himself enveloped by a soft light. Something peaceful and warm that molded itself to his prone form. He didn't notice his armor was gone until the cool wetness of the brackish water he lay in came in contact with the searing heat on his skin.
He lay there, shivering and naked, barely conscious, listening to the steady hum of a soothing and calming voice in his ear. How did he...? Where was his...?
Anubis tried to ignore his battle weary instincts that told him that Sehkmet's stench still lingered in the air. And that the battle noises were slowly getting louder, coming nearer. This was not a safe place to be. Nevertheless, his hands were unhurried and gentle as they splashed water on the acid burns on Ryo's skin.
He watched with growing concern the deepening red on pale skin that slowly climbed all the way to Ryo's chest, leaving nasty red blotches and angry blisters in its wake. A muscular, well defined chest.
Snatching his hand back, Anubis nearly lost his balance. What was he thinking? Rummaging in his pouch for a strip of clean cloth, he averted his eyes. This was hardly the time to notice such a thing, he chastised himself. But long forgotten hormones weren't so easily dismissed. [TR3]
Ryo's painful moans echoed in the dimly lit tunnel. Trembling with pain, he struggled. He needed to throw off the blanket that kept him covered. He was so hot. Bucking, kicking and thrashing, [TR4]he tried to rid himself of that heavy heat that engulfed him. Why wasn't Anubis helping him? Where was he? Why wasn't anybody helping him?
The clang of sword on sword carried down the tunnel, startling Anubis out of his trance-like fascination with the curve of Ryo's shoulders. How long had he been staring? With a sneer and an abrupt shake of the hand to fling back stray strands of red, he told himself that this was not the place or time to engage in ... ogling. [TR5]But he could hardly sling a naked Ronin over his shoulder and run through the city trying to find shelter.
A boyish grin lit up his face. Hmm? It was an altogether interesting picture his mind painted for him. A moment of weakness and appreciative eyes roamed the pale [TR6] expanse of Ryo's athletic body again. The Ronin might be young, but there was great promise there. An attractive face with just the right angles. The widest blue eyes that should in all honesty not grace a young man's face. His strong shoulders weren't exactly broad yet, but they would be. A smooth chest, flat stomach, and jutting hipbones that begged to be touched. Soft, unmarred skin - where the acid hadn't burned it.
Reminding himself that only a few weeks ago he would have killed Kale [TR7] had he leered in a similar fashion, Anubis held the wet cloth to Ryo's temple for a moment while he brushed damp strands of black from his forehead. The Ronin responded with a low moan and turned into the touch.
Wiping gently with the rag, he meticulously washed the poison off Ryo's body. It seemed to work. Ryo's struggles became weaker, but his breathing turned shallow as the damage to his body took its toll. With a gentleness that surprised him, Anubis gathered the trembling boy into his arms and held him close while murmuring soothing words of encouragement.
Cradling the shivering body to his chest, Anubis dipped his head and planted a feathery kiss on a feverish brow. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the feel of a soft, warm body in his arms. He didn't exactly smell clean and fresh, but he carried the scent of someone clean and untouched.
Lost to the sensation, Anubis let a hand quest haltingly forward, touching pale skin, still slightly pink where acid had touched it. He wondered if anybody had ever dared to touch the Ronin that way. Who? One of his comrades-in-arms? Which one had been allowed to ...?
Argh. This was not productive. Anubis shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut. He could not do this. He wasn't doing this. But his mind kept providing him with pictures and images of young bodies, muscular arms, strong legs entwined, while his ears heard the low sounds of whispered promises and the soft moans of love making.[TR8].
He felt his own body respond and shame flooded his cheeks, just as a cool hand cupped his face. His eyes flew open.
"It's okay, you know." Ryo's eyes were huge and wide and blue and knowing.
Drowning in those blue depths, Anubis very nearly faltered. Maybe it was his self-control that reasserted itself, maybe the sound of battle that intruded on them again, whatever it was, it destroyed that fragile bond between them.
"You are better now." It was a statement as much as a question. And it came out a bit hoarse and husky. Unwilling to lay Ryo back down in the murky water, Anubis rose instead and lowered the young warrior on his feet. It was a thoughtful and gentle gesture. [TR9]"Come. Kento needs our help."
He turned without another glance, trusting Ryo would follow. And Ryo did, head lowered to hide[TR10] a wistful smile and a low sigh.
[TR1] This is Anubis' concern right? This phrase probably should go somewhere else in this sentence...
[TR2] on his tunic?
[TR3]LOL! Amen, brother.
[TR4]thrashing, he
[TR5]Great word!
[TR6]Would Ryo be pale? I always figured he was the darkest of the Ronins. Of course, this is entirely up to you!
[TR7]Mmmm...Kale...
[TR8]Mmmm..nice picture!
[TR9]gesture. "Come
[TR10]hide