The Sixth Ronin Warrior
Chapter 8
The Aspiring Hope
The wind started to pick up and the air became bitter cold. This was definitely a freak storm. I shivered and wished that I'd brought a jacket. The sky had grown overcast in the past hour. I could tell it was going to rain or snow. My walk had lasted almost two hours and it was only eleven o'clock in the morning. I decided it was time to head back.
After about ten minutes of walking, the storm had grown fierce and unmerciful. Snow was falling and the wind was rough. The air was bitter cold and all I had on was a sweatshirt. I reached for my crystal orb and said, "Armor of the Spirit! Tao Ai!" My subarmor appeared and I grew a little warmer, but I collapsed onto the warm ground.
Maybe White Blaze will help me. I sure could use a ride. I whistled as loud as I could and I hoped that the white tiger would hear me. I pushed myself off the ground and started to walk once more. I continued on steadily, even though my body had begun to shiver noticeably. I heard something behind me, like running footsteps. I turned; my hair blew across my face as I recognized the large outline of White Blaze. I made my armor disappear before he could see that I had had it on.
"Hey boy!" I exclaimed, thrilled to see him. "Will you take me home?"
He growled his answer and I crawled onto his back. With my face in his fur I listened to his heart and his breath as he rushed back to the house. I was half-asleep when we arrived.
"Lisa! Are you okay?" I heard Rowen ask as he helped me off White Blaze.
"Ugh," I blinked hard, trying to wake up. "Yeah, just a little cold though." I smiled faintly. He was worried about me and I'm sure the others were too.
I heard him breathe a sigh of relief as he gave me a big hug. Something tight in my chest loosened and I began to cry. My eyes started to burn as I hugged him back. I was crying and I didn't know why. All I knew was that I was happy to be where I was.
I sniffed and said, "Can we go inside now? I'm still freezing."
He smiled and nodded.
* * *
The storm was releasing its full fury outside. There was no way I would be able to get home now. I was perfectly happy curled up on the couch in front of the burning fireplace sipping Sai's hot chocolate.
Ever since the scouts met the ronins, Raye, Lita, and Mina have been "running" after them. The pairing flipped back and forth too. It was hilarious. One day it would be Lita and Ryo, then it would be Ryo and Raye, vice versa with Sage, Kento, and Mina.
The phone rang. Gee, I wonder who it could be. Raye had been calling every ten minutes for Ryo and to say the least he was fed up.
"No one answer that!" he yelled across the room. I laughed.
Sage picked up. "Hello?"
"Yes, this is Raye. What's up Sage?" She asked in a high voice. He rolled his eyes.
"Nothing much. Just a little snowed in is all."
"Oh," now she sounded disinterested. "May I talk to Ryo?"
Sage was clearly annoyed. He turned to Ryo. Ryo pleaded and shook his head desperately. His eyes were bright and wide.
Sage grinned evilly and returned to the phone, "I'm sorry, Raye. He's taking a nap."
That wouldn't stop her, "Oh well. I'll call back later."
"Ugh, that won't be necessary. He'll be really busy later."
Before she could protest, Sage hung up the phone.
"You know, Ryo, she'll eventually make her way over here snow or no snow," he said.
"Then I'll be at the volcano or swimming in ice water or….being somewhere other than here," he stammered.
I laughed, "For the phones why don't you just unplug them all or something."
Ryo said, "That's not a bad idea."
He was desperate to get away from Raye. I don't blame him. I wouldn't appreciate it very much if someone kept bothering me like she bugs Ryo. That would get very old. He came into the living room and collapsed into one of the easy chairs. I smiled. "So, I assume you're going to stay another night," Ryo said.
I nodded, "I don't really have a choice do I? I'm not going out in that weather."
"Don't blame you."
* * *
Rowen eventually joined me on the couch. He didn't say much, but he doesn't say much anyway. He doesn't have to and his company was nice. My head eventually leaned on his shoulder, and then his head was on mine.
We looked up and our gaze met. His blue eyes sparkled in the firelight as he put his arm around my shoulders. I leaned on his shoulder once more and closed my eyes. I would've melted to the floor had I not have been sitting on the couch. I wanted the moment to last forever.
The night was peaceful. I don't know how long we stayed on the couch, but I had fallen asleep leaning against him.
I woke up in my own room in their house. It took me a moment to get my bearings, but I did. I assume someone had carried me to bed.
* * *
School started back up and things were as crazy as ever. Christmas and New Year's had come and gone. Ryo, Sage, Rowen, Sai, and Kento continued to attend my school. The scouts continued to be themselves-boy crazy as ever with the exception of Amy.
For Christmas, the guys presented me with my own ronin varsity jacket. I was thrilled. It was identical to theirs in every way, except for the "L" on the left side and the numbers "06" on the right sleeve. The "L" standing for Lisa and the "06" meaning the Sixth Ronin Warrior. The back had the gigantic letters "RW", meaning, of course, for Ronin Warriors.
Rowen and I continues to be best friends and went on dated together every now and then. Our feelings for each other grew as time wore on. At school we would walk hand-in-hand down the hallways to our classes with the others not far behind.
High School was great from then on. Evil continued to plague our world like a disease and we never failed to banish it. Our true identities continued to remain a secret.
The legacy of the Ronin Warriors continued as we grew up. The armors were handed down form generation to generation.