The Sixth Ronin Warrior
Chapter 4
Sekhmet's Scheme
The world around me blurred into focus. I was back into what I could now call my bedroom. White Blaze was still at my side, sound asleep. My body ached, but my head wasn't dizzy when I sat up. The room was dark and so was outside. I looked for a clock, not that it mattered because time had no effect on life anymore. You didn't have to be anywhere at any specific time unless a dynasty dork shows up.
Most of my energy had returned, but I still wasn't back to "normal." I felt incredibly weak. White Blaze got up and licked my hand in encouragement. I leaned over and put my forehead on his head. It was soft and warm. I smiled. I reached for my cross around my neck. I sat up, closed my eyes, and concentrated.
Will we be able to bring all the warlords to our side? Is it Talpa that we're fighting? If not, then who? Will he or she ever show themselves? Can we defeat them? I shook my head, trying to stop the questions from surfacing. My head spun from the countless thoughts that raced through my head. I threw my body back down on the bed in disgust. After lying there for fifteen minutes, I fell back into a deep sleep.
* * *
I woke up the next morning to the sound of laughing. I got up and looked out the window. There were people swimming in the lake. I knew who all of them were. I smiled. I'm glad we have so much free time. I wonder if it will last.
I changed into my bathing suit and went outside. Everyone was horseplaying in the water. I walked out to a diving platform out to the side of the lake. There I jumped off and did a flip before I dived into the water. Woah, I thought, where the heck did I learn to do that?
"Very nice," a voice said. It was Mina.
"Thanks. I didn't know I could do that," I replied. The water felt nice after being asleep for so long.
Something underneath me lifted me up out of the water from the bottom of my feet. "Think quick," Sai yelled as he pushed me high out of the lake. The first thing I did was jump upward into the air. Then I flipped backward and landed behind Sai. He was looking sideways for me and finally looked back and saw me smiling.
"Wow. Next time you let me know you're there," he laughed. Serena and the other scouts were having a relay race down to the other side of the lake. It was funny, I could hear the whining, yelling, and other insults that they were saying as they made their way across the water.
The ronins were taking it somewhat easy. Kento was sitting on the shore snacking, while Sage, Ryo, and Rowen were floating on their backs.
I looked around at the serenity around us. Serenity. Isn't that Dais's kanji? I thought about this as I joined the others floating on our backs. I closed my eyes and relaxed my body. Dais was with Kayura learning about the good and the spirit of his armor.
Gradually something ate at my skin. It hurt. I stood up and saw that the water was red. Not the lake! How could he spoil such beauty?
"Sekhmet," I said aloud.
"Yep," agreed Kento.
"What is that noise?" asked Rowen. We listened. I almost burst out laughing. It was Serena and the girls screaming.
"It's Serena and the scouts screaming their heads off. They must've seen the change in the water," I replied. "Agh!" The water continued eat at my skin.
"Ronin Warriors to arms!" Rowen announced.
"Armor of Wildfire, Tao Jin!"
"Armor of Halo, Tao Chi!"
"Armor of Strata, Tao Inochi!"
"Armor of the Torrent, Tao Shin!"
"Armor of Hardrock, Tao Gi!"
"Armor of the Spirit, Tao Ai!"
Our subarmors appeared on our bodies. The scouts were struggling to swim out of the water because of two factors: the poison that contaminated the water and the army of dynasty soldiers that surrounded them. They had already transformed. Each scout tried her power on the soldiers with little success.
The ronins took off to the rescue, but were too late.
"Foolish children. You are too late. I have your friends where you will never be able to get them back. They will prove to be very good allies," Sekhmet laughed. The warlord of venom stood above us and appeared to be standing on air.
"Let them go!" I screamed knowing full well that he won't give in to a fifteen-year-old's demands. However, they were my best friends and I wasn't going to let them go so easily.
"Silly girl. Even though you have armor, what makes you think you can stand up to me?" he said. "I could let all of you join them if you wish."
Sage pulled me back, "Remember, we will be no use to your friends if you or any of us get caught in his trap. We'll get them back don't you worry. It just won't be right now."
I wanted to rescue them now, but I knew Sage was right. We needed to stand back and make a plan.
Sekhmet laughed evilly above us. I felt a chill make its way down my spine. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my armor. I opened my eyes and nodded at Sage in understanding.
The scouts appeared in a cloud of vision in front of us. They were tied up in bonds similar to those that held Sage, Sai, and Kento at one point. They appeared to be unconscious.
"All the dynasty wants is your armors, Ronins. Give them to us and your friends will be set free. No harm will come to them...until later," said the warlord as he disappeared.
* * *
The ronins, because of the horrible day, spent the rest of it planning for the next assault and training me. I felt like an inexperienced pawn, which I was in a way. Each taught me how to use their weapons. Then we had a practice battle that tested my skills and abilities. I didn't do too badly for a novice, but I still needed work.
I was exhausted before the day was out. At dinner Sai and I cooked dinner. It wasn't as good as it was when he and Lita cooked, but it was good enough. All of our appetites had disappeared even though we were hungry.
* * *