Ronin Warriors: Next Generation: Forever You Will Know Me

Ronin Warriors: Next Generation: Forever You Will Know Me

By: Shadow Chaser

Chapter 4

Both stared at each other with hatred and malice.

"Ryo!" Mia shouted, making Ryo glance at Mia, who was held captive in the arms of two nether soldiers.

At that moment, Blackfire stuck, dealing a gash across Ryo's left cheek. Ryo felt pain flare up from the wound, and tasted some blood as it dripped down his face. Ryo struck back, slicing at Blackfire, dealing him a gash across his forehead.

"You fight well Wildfire," Blackfire sneered as both warriors stepped a few feet away from each other, panting heavily, "but it won't be good enough, because I know every weakness in you. Where you are the most vulnerable, and how to strike at that spot."

"Die scum," Ryo spat and charged at Blackfire, swing his twin katanas.

They clashed, sending sparks and bits of metal. Ryo slashed Blackfire across the chest area, and Blackfire saw the error he made. Using it to his advantage, he kicked Ryo full force in the stomach, sending him back into a tree. Ryo cried out as he slammed into the tree, making a big dent mark. 'Man, my clone is a lot stronger and more vicious,' he thought as he tried to clear away the stars that were threatening to send him into the oblivion of darkness. He looked up with sweat-stained eyes and saw Blackfire towering above him, ready to strike the final blow.

"Now, my clone, you will die," Blackfire said, and put his twin katanas ends together, "Flare Up Now!"

Ryo saw the familiar movements he used to do when he was performing his sure-kill, but instead they were coming towards him. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see his end.

"MAGMA SWIPE!" Sayli's voice cried out, and Ryo opened his eyes to see his future daughter standing in front of him, her katanas forming the Conjunction sure-kill.

Sayli's sure-kill met up with Blackfire's and neither one relented to each other, pouring power into their respective sure-kills. Ryo moved his arms and winced as pain shot through the right one. 'Must have been broken during the fight,' he thought as he gathered up his katanas. He jumped up high above into the air, ignoring the pain, he powered up.

"FLARE UP NOW!" Ryo yelled, his eyes narrowing as he felt incredible power surge to his jointed katanas.

He swiped down towards Blackfire, and saw the fire-energy combine with Sayli's, both gaining strength as it raced towards Blackfire. Suddenly Blackfire jumped out of the way, and Ryo's eyes widened as he realized that both sure-kills was going to hit Mia who was held fast by two nether soldiers.

"NO MIA!" Ryo yelled, ending his sure-kill, but he saw it was too late.

His and Sayli's hit Mia dead on, making her scream out it pain.

"MIA!!" Ryo yelled as he landed on the ground and rushed over to her side, not caring about Blackfire or his goons.

"Mia," he whispered as he held her once peach colored face, now blackened by fire.

"Ryo?" Mia said weakly, her jade green eyes focusing on his tiger blue ones, "don't worry about me. I'll always love you."

Mia's eyes slowly closed and her head dropped. Ryo held her against his him, tears falling down his face, and making the cuts he received earlier burn with pain, but he didn't care. The other Ronins and C-Ronins looked on, saddened.

"Sayli, what's happening to you?" Kaira asked, looking at the C-Ronin of Wildfire who was glowing brightly.

"Oh my god, I'm fading. I don't exist anymore," Sayli murmured in surprise; she lifted up her hands and saw that they were fading away.

"Such a pity," Blackfire said, hovering above the group, his katanas ready, "it's war, casualties happen."

"I'll try to heal Mia. She is still breathing, so there might be a chance. Go deal with asshole over there," Kareyn said and placed a hand on her forehead, the other one on her stomach, "Sage, Sama, I'll need your help."

Ryo slowly stood up, and he looked up at the hovering Blackfire. Tears were streaming down his face, but he didn't care. He saw Blackfire recoil a bit and saw a fear in his evil clone's eyes. 'I must look like hell just brought me back and gave me a new weapon,' Ryo thought as he unsheathed his twin katanas.

"We end this now," Ryo said, a rage of fire burning inside him.

He launched himself at Blackfire and swung at him. The two blades each had clashed and both warriors parted, landing a few feet away from each other. Around them, the rest of the Ronins and C-Ronins were finishing off the remaining nether and shadow soldiers. Ryo charged again and swung with a strength that was not his own. He knocked away Blackfire's katanas and pointed both of his katanas at Blackfire's throat.

"I should just kill you right now," Ryo said, his eyes a wildness with flames dancing in them.

"Well, then do it. If you could kill me in cold blood then you are worthy to join Shadow Lord," Blackfire taunted, panting heavily.

Ryo hesitated, his swords wavering. 'Could I actually kill a person in cold blood. No, not when they are helpless,' he thought.

"You see, you are too weak," Blackfire said, grinning at the sight of Ryo, who looked confused.

Blackfire glanced up and saw a beam of yellow light coming towards him.

"My master summons me. I will tell him about your prowess," Blackfire said, and he was sucked up under Ryo's swords and the beam of light disappeared.

Ryo glanced down on the ground as it started to rain. 'How can I let him do this to me?' he thought as he put his katanas back into the coverings in the back of his armor. He closed his eyes for a few moments and his armor disappeared. Opening his eyes, he noticed that the shadow and nether soldiers were gone, leaving the other Ronins/C-Ronins standing.

"No, Sayli don't go! You're like a sister to me!" Kaira said, bringing Ryo's head around to see Kaira facing a fading Sayli.

There was a sudden flash of gray, green and light green, coming from where the three healers were over Mia's body. Ryo noticed that the Ronins were gathered around the healers, while the C-Ronins was gathered around their leader. Ryo saw that not all the Ronins and C-Ronins came out of the battle unscathed. Cye was the worst, supported by Kento; he was bleeding from different places, the blood running down his sub-armor. Rowen was clutching an arm, broken during the fight, and Kento was limping a little. Ryo knew that he didn't look better. He had suffered a lot of bruises and cuts during the battle with Blackfire. Looking over to the C-Ronins, he saw that Shino had a nasty gash over his left eye and Hiro looked like a truck ran over him a thousand times. Ryo walked over to where his fellow Ronins were gathered, and peered over Kareyn's shoulder. He saw Mia's blackened skin flake off, revealing new healed skin, and Mia slowly opened her eyes.

"Was I dead?" Mia whispered, staring at the closed eyes of Sama, Kareyn and Sage, their bodies glowing in a green-gray color.

"Mia! You're alive!" Ryo exclaimed, his injuries momentarily forgotten as he picked Mia up and hugged her.

"Easy Ryo, she's still weak," Sage said, placing a hand on his forehead as Ryo turned Mia around and around.

"Ryo stop," Mia said, and Ryo put her down grinning as he stared deep into her eyes.

"Yo, mom, dad? Can I suggest we get inside?" Sayli said, popping her head up between them.

"Yeah, sure. Hey, thanks Sage, Kareyn, and Sama. You guys alright?" Ryo asked, supporting Mia, as she walked on jelly legs.

"You know us healers. Be ready on the button," Sage said, grinning tiredly.

"Is there a possible chance that Shadow Lord will strike again tonight?" Shino asked, helping Kento carry Cye in to the mansion.

"I'll be on guard," both Kaira and Kareyn said at the same time.

"No. Kareyn, we need you and Sage to be the healers," Ryo said, "Sama, you and Kaira take tonight's guard. Rowen, you and Sayli are backups, since your injuries aren't that severe."

"Yes, sir," Rowen said, his New Yorker accent making the "sir" sound a bit British.

* * *

"Your report, Blackfire," Shadow said, his metal claws made a clinking sound as they tapped impatiently for Blackfire's report.

"Ryo of the Wildfire has a large heart, so it is vulnerable to him. He cares too much about others, that he will even die for them. I say he is the easiest to conquer. But in order to do that, we need to injure or capture one of his fellow Ronins, or C-Ronins. That away he cannot summon the Armor of Inferno. Cye of the Torrent was injured from the battle with Blackhawk, so he did not summon Inferno. I find that this was a wise tactic," Blackfire said, bowing his head.

"Yes, it's a pity that Blackhawk disobeyed my orders and went out in a solo mission of his own. I had to kill him myself," Shadow sighed, in mock contempt, "Kamagati!"

"Yes my lord?" Kamagati said stepping out from the shadows.

"Capture Strata, Halo and Elements. They will be useful to our plans. Beware of the C-Ronins. I want you to use this," Shadow said handing her a black velvet bag, "it is a sleeping powder, much like that traitorous Kayura used. Go spread this over them in a fore night. I want them to be unprepared."

"Yes, my lord. I will obey," Kamagati said and disappeared along with the bag.

"Blackfire, you did well. Now go and check on our prisoners in the Nether pool. We shall wait and in time, they will crumble and fall," Shadow said, and his laughter echoed throughout the Nether realm.

* * *

Kareyn shook her head as she took a quick glance at the living-family converted room at the Ronins/C-Ronins sitting together, discussing what ifs. She and Sage had healed as much as their powers would allow them too, but all that were injured were still wearing some form of bandage. Mia had a cold-compress on her forehead, and was leaning on Ryo, asleep. Ryo had a scar down his cheek and one of his hands had cloth gauze over it. Sage sported some white bandages over his face and arms, while Sayli looked the best; she only had one scratch on her. Kareyn looked over to where the residence bookworm was. Rowen's left arm was in a sling and a cold-compress over his blue tuff of hair. Next to him, sitting on the ground and furiously pressing buttons on the Nintendo system was Hiro and Kento; both having sprained their right ankles. Cye was on his own couch, having to contend with the most injuries.

"Hey, Kareyn? You're going to melt the pot with that kind of hot water," Shino's voice said from behind her, startling her.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking," Kareyn said, handing Shino the clean pot, in which he dried with a cloth.

"Yeah. That was the worst battle ever. Facing two different types of soldiers and warlords that could knock the crap out of you," Shino said, squeezing the excess water out of the cloth.

Kareyn looked out into the backyard of Mia's mansion, imagining what she would see there in the morning. 'Probably a wreaked backyard with debris and burn marks,' she thought as she dried her hands.

"I better go and check on Sama and Kaira, make sure they didn't kill each other yet," Kareyn said and left the kitchen.

* * *

Flash!

"Surrender to me Wildfire, and I will make you stronger!" a deep voice said as a black gloved hand reached out to Ryo, grabbing him and lifting him up.

"No! I won't!" Ryo found himself saying as she struggled within the vise-like grasp of the hand.

Ryo struggled, but he found himself short of breath, as the hand squeezed tighter. His vision swam in blackness and he found himself plunging to the ground, barely conscious as the hand let go.

Flash!

Ryo woke up with a gasp. He ran a couple of fingers though his sweat covered hair, breathing deeply as the last images of the nightmare washed away into the depths of his mind. 'Damn! What the hell was that?' he though feverantly as he glanced at White Blaze, who surprisingly had not stirred when he woke up from his nightmare. He looked up to the ceiling. Kaira and Sama fought only once during the night, then each had taken up opposite ends of the roof, neither talking to each other. Ryo grinned as he lay down onto his bed again. 'I just hope that we will be able to defeat these warlords,' he thought as he ran a finger down the scar that he had gotten during battle with Blackfire. Sudden sleepiness swam over him and he let himself fall into the black oblivion.

* * *

Flash!

'Where the hell am I? And what is this century?' Rowen thought feverishly as he saw an ancient village with people dressed in peasant clothes tending to rice fields and farms. He looked at himself, and saw that he was sort of transparent. 'Oh, not again. I hate these dreams and stuff,' he thought. There was a sound of childish laughter and Rowen looked up to see two boys, a little older than him, but looking a lot like him. 'Wait, is that Sanjuro and Tokoshino?' Rowen thought to himself as he watched the scene.

"Come on Toko, you can do better than that!" Sanjuro said, stopping to catch his breath as he saw his twin brother running furiously.

"Yeah, well, you're the fastest one Sanjuro," Tokoshino said stopping near his brother and coughed.

"Hey, you alright?" Sanjuro asked, looking at his twin with concern.

'Man they sure do have a strong bond,' Rowen thought as he continued to look at the scene.

Flash!

"Sanjuro, have you ever heard of Talpa and Shadow Lord?" an older Tokoshino said.

'Oh, great! I think I'm gonna get a cat scan after this dream,' Rowen thought as he saw that the dream had propelled him a few years ahead in the dream sequence.

"You know that is forbidden even to mention it in our clan," Sanjuro said, doing a few push-ups in preparation for the war.

"Well, excuse me mister-I-just-got-the-coolest-armor. I happen to adore him and look up to him as an idol," Tokoshino said angrily.

"Toko! How can you say that! We are at war with him. He is our enemy!" Sanjuro exclaimed, shock by the words his brother threw at him.

"You are at war; you and your pathetic little Samurai Troopers. Imagine, defeating him with the elements of nature. I'm leaving. I am disgusted in you little brother," Tokoshino said, looking at the younger twin with disgusted contempt.

Sanjuro stared helplessly at his older twin as he walked out and slammed the sliding door shut.

Flash!

'That's it! Let me out of here! I don't want to face any more dreams!' Rowen thought as he experienced another flash of memory, 'hey, where am I?'

"Arrow Shock Wave!" Sanjuro's voice said, and a stream of energy headed towards Tokoshino, who was dressed in a different armor.

"Cauldron of Darkness!" Raven yelled, sending his sure-kill towards Sanjuro's.

Sanjuro was blasted back into a rock as his sure-kill and Raven's combined. He collapsed on to the ground.

"Sanjuro! Summon Inferno!" a green clad armored person yelled from a tree.

"Armor of Inferno!" Sanjuro yelled as four different colored orbs surrounded him.

There was a flash of fire, and Sanjuro emerged in the sparkling white armor.

"Rage of Inferno!" Sanjuro yelled and the sure-kill obliterated Nether soldiers and engulfed Raven.

Sanjuro immediately reverted back to his Strata armor and rushed over to his wounded brother.

"My brother…" Sanjuro whispered as he held Raven's body, laid crumpled on the ground.

Suddenly Raven's eyes snapped open and he lifted an arm that held a wicked dagger and stabbed Sanjuro in the chest. Sanjuro fell back with a cry, staring at the hilt of the dagger that was stick out of his chest and blood pouring from the wound.

"Sanjuro!" he heard his best friend Hariel call out.

He felt strong hands support him and he looked into the faces of his teammates.

"Sanjuro, don't worry, Watanabe will heal you," Hariel said as he slowly pulled the dagger out of Sanjuro's chest.

"Hariel, don't worry. It is my time to leave this world. I want you to wear the Armor of Inferno now. Lead us to victory, and take good care of my son Akane," Sanjuro whispered.

His eyes slowly closed and he laid still. The Samurai Troopers bowed their heads in recognition of a fallen comrade.

Flash!

Rowen bolted upright on his bed. He shook his head a few times to clear away the remaining images of his dream. 'More like a crash course on ancient history,' he thought wirely to himself. He glanced at the digital clock sitting beside his bed on a desk. It read: 8:30 AM. 'Now this has got to be the worst wake up call ever! It's too early in the morning,' he thought as he tried to fall back asleep. He closed his eyes for a few minutes, then reopened them again as he gave up on trying to fall back to sleep. He laid on his bed, listening to the morning sounds in Mia's mansion. Someone was yelling their head off at Hiro to get out of the kitchen again. 'Must be Shino,' he thought as he gave a tight grin. There was a sudden tiger growl and a person yelped. 'Gotta be Ryo getting a morning wake up call from White Blaze,' Rowen thought. There was a sudden knock on his door.

"Yo! Sleepyhead wake up!" Kareyn's voice said outside his bedroom door.

"Yeah, whatever," Rowen mumbled, as he got up and slipped on a dark blue colored robe.

He moved his left arm and felt that it didn't hurt. It was completely healed. He opened the door and found Kareyn fiddling with her cow clock.

"So who's the next victim of the infamous cow clock?" Rowen asked, grinning as she pressed a few buttons on the clock.

"Cousin Kento," Kareyn said, not looking up, "done. Now this should scare him up."

"Alright, you go wake him up, I'll get the squad ready," Rowen said, placing a kiss on her cheek, then walking down stairs, "Hey where's Sage?"

"Don't worry about the squad. I'll be fine. I don't think Sage's waken up yet," Kareyn called after him.

* * *

Flash!

'It's not real,' Sage told himself firmly as he continued to watch the scene unfold before his eyes.

'Oh, but it is Halo. Watch and see,' Kamagati's voice told him.

Sage closed his eyes, but still the scene appeared before his closed eyes, as if they were transparent.

"Seiji! Help us!" his younger sister Satsuki, cried his Japanese name.

He watched as dynasty nether soldiers came pouring though portals, surrounding his home and dojo.

"No!" Sage cried, as he tried to help his family.

He punched one in the face, but his hand passed right though. 'No, this isn't real!' Sage thought desperately as he saw his father sliced in half before his eyes.

"Seiji-chan! Where are you?" his older sister Yayoi said, tears streaming down her face.

She was holding her younger sister protectively, Sage's grandfather behind them, and ready to defend the children.

'You see, they suffer like this because it is your fault. You did not get rid of Talpa's goons, and they have come back for revenge,' Kamagati's voice said in his head.

"No, this is not real. Talpa is dead, and the warlords would not have let this happen," Sage yelled to Kamagati, hoping she could hear him, wherever she was.

'Well, I guess the warlords are slightly off target,' Kamagati replied, and showed him another scene.

Lady Kayura and the warlords were held in chains above the nether spirit pool.

"Sage?" a faraway voice said, and Sage could faintly make out the image of Ryo.

"Ryo! Help me get out of here!" Sage yelled, hoping Ryo could hear him.

"Hey Sage, wake up man!" Kento's faint face and voice said.

"No! Kamagati, you will pay for this," Sage said.

To be continued…

* * *

To all those who want to read this crap:

From: Shadow Chaser-your resident little Y2K bug (just kiddin)

Comments? Flames? I'll take it all! Okay for starters, the cow clock is from one of my sister's marching band friends. It's an inside joke, because in the story where Kareyn first meets up with the guys, Kento is afraid of the cow clock. When he was little, Kareyn used to visit him a lot and would always bring the clock. So you could say that he is a little allergic to the clock. How do you like the history? I know, I kind of warped it, but it's pretty cool to see my version on how Hariel got the armor of Inferno. Anyway, Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers or any of their characters do not belong to me, they belong Nagoya and Sunrise companies. My characters that I created are mine. Please ask if you want to use them. Thanks! IMPORTANT NOTICE: The up coming chapters might get a little gruesome, but not too much I hope. And hope to see you in a month, if the Y2K bug doesn't eat up my computer. Reminder, midterms are coming, so these chapters will be getting slower production. Happy 2000!