Title: Tortured Soul
Chapter 2: In Love and War
Authors: Elf Toshiba and Sailor Eclipse
Disclaimerz:
Elf: *snore*
Eclipse: *nudge, nudge* Wake up! We still have to play The Ronin Warriors Drinking Game!!! ((With Pepsi for Elf and Coke for me...we're always sober!! *^_^*)) Besides, I haven't seen RW in an eternity thanks to stupid CN...stupid bastards... *^_^* 10:36, we're playing a drinking game and we have to get up at 7:45 to babysit. Oh what fun! *yawn* Elf, got anything to say before I start off this fic?
Elf: Yeah *crunch crunch*
Eclipse: She's eating nuts... *smack* No, not that you pervert!!! And also, 4got2mention, neither one of us owns Ronin Warriors aka Samurai Troopers. I like the name ST better, though!
Chapter 2: In Love and War
Sasami woke with a splitting headache. 'Musta been that all-nighter I pulled over at Fuhurata's,' she thought, dragging herself out of bed to get ready for school at Han'a High. She stumbled to her closet, pulling off her flowered pajama tank top and pajama pants, pulling on her chocolate brown jacket and skirt, white dress shirt, and blue ribbon, the typical girl's uniform at Han'a.
She quickly admired her late-night painting, still drying on her easel- a sketch she had drawn of an armor that somewhat resembled a griffin. She planned to get her paints and her pastels out tonight to finish it up and add more detail. Maybe eventually it could reach the wall status- meaning that it would be good enough to hang up somewhere in her house. Sasami sighed, turning away from the picture.
She had another weird dream the night before. This time it included a sinister-looking woman with long silver hair. And of course, Sasami herself. In that armor she had sketched the night before. A long battle raged between the two of them in the few hours she had slept. And always, she woke up right before the woman nearly sliced her neck open with her sword. Sasami no longer needed an alarm clock- these dreams always woke her up in a sweat.
"Miyuki..." she called her Husky dog that was her only company in her small one bedroom apartment. Miyuki yawned and grinned his dogish smile looking up from Sasami's bedsheets. "You stupid dog," she said affectionately. Miyuki just grinned back at her. "You c'mon," Sasami said. "Time for your breakfast." Miyuki leaped to his feet, bounding for the door at the mention of food. Sasami took one last look at her hand-drawn posters that covered the room, then walked from her sleeping quarters into the even smaller living quarters.
A pastel purple sofa that matched the light blue walls of the living room, a small TV and VCR, coffee table, as well as another table that held a small framed picture and a lamp, were the only additions to the bland room.
She followed her dog into her island-style kitchen and pulled out a bag of dog food from one of her cabinets, pouring Miyuki's breakfast into a blue bowl and placing it on the tile floor. Miyuki chowed down as Sasami began to prepare her own breakfast of pancakes. Besides artwork, Sasami was exceptionally gifted at cooking, a trait she had inherited- and learned- from her mother.
After finishing her breakfast and cleaning up, she grabbed her booksack and headed for the small framed picture of an older couple and a teenage boy with obsidian hair. By his side was a 12-year old girl with long curly brown hair sporting a peace sign.
"Ja Ne, Papa, Mama, Toya. I'm going to school now."
~~School Han'a High
"Brie-chan!" Sasami yelled, running to catch up with her best friend. Brie, as usual, was still in her half-sleep daze. For all Sasami knew, her friend was sleep-walking. "Konnichi'wa, nakayoshi!" she said, slowing her pace as she walked next to her best friend.
"Mhuhhh...mmm...uh...hey..." Brie mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Coffee still hasn't hit ya yet?" Sasami joked, giving her friend a nudge.
"Mhuhhh...mmm...uh...huh...what...?...you say somethin'...?" Brie murmured, trying to stay on her two feet.
"Hi there, Sasami-baka!" Sasami was greeted with a punch upside the head.
"WHAT THE HECK!?" Sasami turned around, furious. It wasn't just a smack on the head- it was a freaking blown-out punch. She looked up to see familiar ash-blue hair.
"KENTO-SAN!!!!" she screeched.
"Kon'wa Kento-chan.." Brie yawned wide after she greeted her new friend. She rubbed her eyes. Instead of the nightmares she normally had, she had had a pleasant dream. It had involved Ryo and her..
"HEY BRIE-CHAN!!" Kento swung his arm around Brie's shoulder, forcing the still half-asleep girl to fall on her face.
"HEY!!" Brie jumped up, not bothering to fix her bangs over her scar. When she realized, it was to late. The others had seen it.
"Brie-chan..what's that from?" Sasami asked gently. She had seen the sudden flash of fear in her friend's silver eyes. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to, ok?"
"It ha-happened a lo-long time ago.." Brie stammered, "Back when I lived in Kansas. Th-that's all.."
"Oh..ok.." Sasami was a bit disturbed by her best friend's sudden reaction to the question.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" Rowen and the rest of the clan showed up to see Brie with a nervous look on her face while trying to fix her bangs, Sasami with a 'look' on her face, and finally Kento with a sorrowed look in his eyes.
"Kento? Sasami? Brie?"
"Oh..yea..hey guys! What's up?" Kento replied, shaking the look off his face.
"Hey, Brie-chan. You ok?" Ryo asked her.
"Huh? Oh hey, guys. Ryo-chan." she acknowledged the boys with a look.
"I..uh..I gotta get to P.E. Ja ne." She walked off to the gymnasium.
"Sasami, what's the matter with her? Do you know?" Ryo asked Sasami.
"Why do ya wanna know? Do you like her or something?" Sasami asked sardonically.
"I..uh..uh..think I needa get to P.E. too. See ya round guys!" Ryo jogged off to get to P.E. class. For some reason, it seemed as though he was avoiding the question.
"Hn..you guys thinkin' what I'm thinking?" Sasami had a gleeful look in her eyes.
"I think so..if it's about hooking Ryo and Brie up..then yup..we are!" Kento said happily.
"Heck no," Rowen said. "I'm not getting messed up in this. Not gonna risk Ryo killing me."
"Me 'either," added Sage. "I want to live to be legal."
"You two can do it, but not me," Cye added.
"YOU WIMPS! ALL OF YOU!!!" screeched Sasami. "Love is everything! Love is life....happiness!!! You KNOW Ryo-chan and Brie-chan are destined!!! Brie-chan's never acted this kooky around someone. She likes him. No, my bad, loves him! So stop being a wimp and help us out."
"Sorry..." The rest of the clan shrugged, walking to the three story Ha'na High school building.
"You're going to leave her with me?!" screeched Kento. "If you guys don't help me set the lovebirds up, then who will? This loonatic chick! And I couldn't live through it!" Kento whined. Sasami hit him upside the head.
"And what's wrong with me?! YOU'RE the one with the attitude problem!"
"Yeah, well, people like you always cause the worst in me to come out," Kento added. Rowen, Cye and Sage quickened their pace. They wanted nothing to do with the two psychopaths quarreling again.
"People like ME?! PEOPLE LIKE ME!?" Sasami yelled angrily. "I'm not the one who had to go nuts that a girl got a higher score than you on a video game! Talk about pathetic! YOU'RE the one that starts all the stupid fights we have!"
"Whatever, Sasami-baka. I'm not in the mood to fight more than I have to. It's too early in the morning."
"That's just an excuse, ya little sissy!" Sasami countered. "What did you say?" Kento yelled back.
"YOU'RE A SISSY!" Sasami said, shoving Kento.
"**YOU'RE** THE SISSY!" he said, shoving her back, starting a fight that was equivalent to a schoolyard scuffle. The rest of the clan quickly scuttled away, not wanting to be seen with the immature duo.
"Sasami Satono! Are you STILL fighting with boys?" Keyra Himawari said with a laugh. She had her light blue hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was in a couple of classes with Sasami, but Sasami really didn't know much about her. Lagging a few feet behind her were her two best friends, Yumeko Shino and Lako Kino.
Yumeko had shoulder-length brown hair that dangled across her shoulders and was usually pulled back in a pale purple ribbon. Lako had super-long cotton candy pink hair that touched her lower back.
"If you knew Kento-baka here, you would be fighting too," Sasami said, giving up the fight for the time being. The other girls giggled.
"You're nuts, Sasami. You should stick to cooking and acting more feminine! You can't always rely on beating up guys to get ya a husband," lectured Lako with a smile. Sasami could tell she was just kidding, but no one wanted a tomboy for a wife- they wanted a beautiful girl that could cook and sew and clean. Sasami was the complete opposite, with the exception of cooking, that is....
"You have first period English IV with us, right?" Kento piped up.
"Uh-huh," the quiet Yumeko said. "Why don't you guys walk with us to class? I mean, we're all headed in the same direction..." Kento finished.
"I do need a new tutor in English..."
"Sure," Keyra answered for all of them.
"C'mon, you guys! The bell's about to ring...!"
~~MEANWHILE, A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FIRST PERIOD P.E.
"Hey, Brie-chan, wait up!" Ryo called after the retreating back of Brie.
"Huh? Oh hey, Ryo-chan." she said glumly. She had that immense look of sadness in her eyes that foretold that something very bad had happened in her past. Ryo grabbed her by her shoulders with one hand, using the other under her chin, forcing her to look up into his own eyes as he looked deep into hers. And found what he wanted to know.
Blood-Rage-Anger-Drunken Father-Pain-Hurt-Cuts-Guns-Scars-Knives-Hospital Rooms-Strange Smells-Doctors-Blackness-Terror-Sadness-Unloved-Hatred
"Oh gods..Brie-chan..I never..I wish.." Ryo grabbed her into a hug that neither one wanted to end. Ryo had seen into her past; she didn't care anymore. She trusted him.
"I'm over it now, Ryo-chan. That's why we moved to Japan five years ago. Please, I trust you, but until I'm ready, please don't tell the others. Okay?" she looked up to see his face inches away from hers. Ryo began to lean his lips towards her mouth. She closed her eyes, suddenly wondering what it would be like if he kissed her.. Ryo watched as gently shut her eyes.
"I have something to tell you, Gabriella." He said in a husky voice, his lips right above hers. "What is it?" she open her eyes a little.
'Please..' She thought.
"If you ever need someone to talk to about it, you can always come to me, I promise." 'Damn! That's not it! I wanted to tell her the truth! Damn it!' Ryo thought.
"Oh, thanks."
~~FIRST PERIOD ENGLISH IV
Sasami slipped a note to Kento who sat across from him. Passing notes was prohibited, but she didn't care. Besides, her friend's happiness and love was more important than flunking Haruna-sensei's class. Besides, she didn't do well in foreign language classes.
"And so, the action verb modifies a noun- got that class?" Haruna-sensei said, turning away from the board just in time to see Kento receive the note.
"Kento-san, do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class? That note you just received from Sasami-san, for example..."
"Okay, then, I'll read it," Kento said.
Sasami was pissed. 'You'd better not,' she thought angrily to no one in particular.
"Yuske is just the cutest guy! I just love the way his hair flows into his eyes, his strong build, his cute smile. Kento, I would DIE to marry such a hottie. But, of course, I could never be worthy to even stand in his presence. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be in the presence of any life. Kame, lately, I have felt that my life is pointless. Everyday things become worse and worse than before and my chances of getting a boyfriend decrese every day. I know I am a very unpopular dork, and will never amount to anything more than a plumber. Maybe I should end it all tonite. What do you think? Sasami." Kento lied, pretending to read from the letter.
"THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WROTE!!!" Everyone in the class, including Yuske, who sat in the front row, stared at her obscurely. "KENTO-BAKA IS LYING!"
"Sasami-san, I would appreciate it if you would go to the counselor's office," Haruna-sensei said.
"BUT I DIDN'T WRITE THAT LETTER! KENTO-SAN IS LYING! HE'S JUST TRYING TO GET ME IN TROUBLE!!! THE LETTER WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT-"
"Sasami-san, I know that you must be really embarressed about this, but I would appreciate it if you would head to the counselor's office," Haruna-sensei interupted. "I know denial is the first stage. We don't want anything to happen to you."
"BUT!!!!!!" Sasami whined.
"No if's, and's, or but's. Go now, Sasami-san."
Sasami got up from her chair and glared at Kento, and mouthed to him, "I'm gonna kill you," as she walked towards the door and to the counselor's office, the place Sasami dreaded most.
Kento-baka- Meet me after school at Fuhurata Game Arcade and Fruits Parlor. Got something to discuss about Ryo-chan and Brie-chan, but I got work until late. Don't consider this an invitation. And I DON'T consider you a friend. In fact, you are the biggest jerk I have ever met in my life. But I could use some help trying to set up my nakayoshi with a nice guy. Just hoping you might want to help out... Not that I NEED some help. Especially from a baka sexist pig like you, but... Meet me there if you want to set up our nakayoshi. -Sasami-chan *^_^*
Kento took the note and shoved it into his pocket.
~~LATER THAT DAY...
At about lunchtime Sasami could finally leave the counselor's office. It took lots of persuading that she wasn't suicidal or nuts, but after about four hours of suffering Nuko-sensei finally dismissed her from his office. Torture. Pure torture.
Sasami sat down at the table that she and Brie had adopted for the year...their regular table. Brie placed her lunch tray on the table and took a seat next to her.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Brie asked.
"Nothing other than I'm going to kill Kento," Sasami replied, punching the table. "He's a jerk!!!! Arggghhhhhhhh!!!!" She punched the table harder. "Just thinking about him pisses me off to no end!!!"
"Had fun in Nuko-sensei's office?" Kento's voice boomed, grabbing an apple off of Sasami's tray and chomping down on it. "Hope you don't mind that I eat this." Sasami got up from her chair in a fury, pushing her chair nearly four feet away.
"You're hungry, huh? Well, I owe you a knuckle sandwhich!!!" she said, using the oldest line in the book. Thankfully Ryo, Rowen, Sage, and Sai appeared out of seemingly nowhere.
"Hey guys, what's for lunch.." Sai trailed off as he saw the murderous look Sasami was giving Kento, and Kento's careless look.
"Uh..Brie-chan..what's the matter?"
"Ask them..all I know is that Sasa-chan was sent to the counceler's office for something Kento said in English IV." Brie replied, with a faraway look in her eyes, acting like she was about to cry.
"Sasami? Kento? What's going on?!" Rowen asked irritably.
"He started it! And I quote 'Yuske is just the cutest guy! I just love the way his hair flows into his eyes, his strong build, his cute smile. Kento, I would DIE to marry such a hottie. But, of course, I could never be worthy to even stand in his presence. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be in the presence of any life. Kame, lately, I have felt that my life is pointless. Everyday things become worse and worse than before and my chances of getting a boyfriend decrese every day. I know I am a very unpopular dork, and will never amount to anything more than a plumber. Maybe I should end it all tonite. What do you think? Sasami.' He got me sent to Nuko-sensei's office!!" It was just then that she lunged at Kento, trying to choke him. She was restrained by the hands of Ryo and Sage. "Let me GO!"
"Okay...let's try and CALLLLMMMM down. Okay?" Sage said in the type of voice someone would talk to a small child in. "It's okay..."
During this time, Brie was absolutely silent. Ryo shot her a glance, seeing the blankness in her eyes, decided to call an end to the fight. Sasami was still struggling against him and Sage.
"Sasami, onegi, calm down."
"Huh?" Sasami looked started at the tone of Ryo's voice. It was a mix of pain and longing. She had a very good idea who he was longing for. She looked dead straight at Brie. 'Brie-chan..how can you be so oblivious to the love that practally RADIATES offa this boy for you?! Kame, girl, you must be dead or totally naive!'
She was suddenly shocked to see Brie's shocked eyes look up into her eyes. The look in them said 'Is it true?' Suddenly, Brie dashed away from the table.
"What?! Brie-chan! WAIT!!" Sasami tried to run after her friend but couldn't on account of two boys still holding onto her arms. "Lemme GO!"
As Brie ran, she had several memories slap her in the face. Memories that she had tried to leave behind when she left Kansas. And started her new life in Tokyo.
~~Flashback
"NOO!! SHERMAN!! PLEASE STOP! PLEASE!!" Brie heard her mother call out. She had been locked in her room when her father had come back from a four day drinking run. She was terrified for her mother's life as well as her own.
~~End
As she ran she felt the hot tears running trails down her cheeks.
~~Flashback
"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" her drunken father slurred, pulling a butcher knife from the kichen cabinent. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR WHINING!!" he raised the knife higher, scaring the hell out of Brie. The knife slashed down in an arc, nearly cutting her cheek.
~~End
"NOO!!" she screamed as someone grabbed her arm, twisting her around to face them. Mind still in the past, she thought it was her father. She struggled to get away, her tears blurring her vision. "NOO!! Please, don't hurt me!! I didn't do it!" she was suddenly pulled into strong arms. As they wrapped around her, she buried her face into the shoulder of the person the arms belonged to. She sobbed into the embrace.
"Shh..it'll be ok. I'm here for you. It'll be ok." the voice said. Brie looked up and saw the face of Ryo. She just sobbed harder. She suddenly remember what she had heard from Sasami's mind. 'Brie-chan..how can you be so oblivious to the love that practily RADIATES offa this boy for you?! Kame, girl, you must be dead or totally naive!'
"Ryo..I'm so sorry."
"For what?" Ryo looked confused.
"For everything. For running away, crying on you, laying my problems on you when you probably didn't care.." she was silenced when she felt Ryo's arms tighten around her and his chin rest on top of her head.
"It's ok. I DO care." With those words, Gabriella Stoker fell hopelessly in love with Ryo Sanada.
"Brie-chan?! BRIE-CHAN!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!?" Brie and Ryo jumped apart and blushed a deep crimson. Brie hurriedly brushed her tears away. They then saw Sasami and the rest of the clan run around the corner.
"Brie-chan, are you okay?" Sasami asked, concerned, giving her friend a caring hug.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Brie lied.
"No you're not; I know something's wrong....Why can't you tell me?" Sasami yelled, pulling away from her friend. "I'm your best friend! Lately you've been acting so weird and you won't tell me what's the matter! I thought I was your friend!" she slammed her fist into the wall. "Look, you know that I totally trust you. Why can't you trust me?! I'm sick of you keeping secrets from me, especially since I worry about you. But that's fine- if you wanna be that way, go ahead and be that way..." Sasami turned around and ran off.
"Sasa-chan..I'm sorry..I just don't want you hurt."
MEANWHILE, IN THE NETHER-REALM
"Lady Asaka, you have served me well in releasing me from the fate bestowed onto me by the Ronin Warriors. I appreciate your efforts." An armored head spoke to a person that still lay among the shadows.
She stepped closer towards the candles that surrounded him in a star shape, revealing her girlish figure. She wore a skimpy black leather two piece outfit that sihlotted her long silver hair. "That is the least I could do for milord," she said with a bow. "Reconstructing fate through time was nothing for me."
"Lady Nobuko has just been informed of a new armor that may be even more useful than even the armor of Inferno. According to legend, 1000 years ago an armor known as the armor of Valiant was forged by a powerful Sorcress who ruled a country-island off the coast of Japan. Her country resisted being conquered by the Nether-Realm. She split the armor into ten diffrent armors- the Armor of GoldenSun, the Armor of EarthFire, the Armor of Olympia, the Armor of Galaxia, Armor of SilverMoon, the Armor of DarkSky, the Armor of DeathScythe, the Armor of BlackRain, the Armor of ShadowHawk, and of course, your own armor, the Armor of NightHeart. The Sorcress blessed each armor with the ability to perform some sort of magic. With all the Magic Armors together, I can use the magic of the armor to return myself to my original form. Lady Nobuko, Lady Naru, Lady Reika, and Lady Tenshi have the Armor of DarkSky, DeathScythe, BlackRain, and ShadowHawk and NightHeart. But I still need the other five armors...Lady Asaka, I need your help," Lord Talpa responded.
"My help?" Lady Asaka seemed a bit alarmed. "What about the others? They are just as capable as me."
"Your power doubles in the moonlight- which is usually the best time for us to work- at night. I need you to find the five 'Mage Warriors' and bring them here. In the meantime, I need you to retrieve Lady Naru. Tell her I have some *OTHER* urgent buisness for her," Talpa continued.
"Yes, Milord," Lady Asaka said as she disapeared from the candle light.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 3: New Evil
Eclipse: You like?! I don't care if you like!! ((Actually I do...send me feedback!!)) Elf: *yawn and rubs eyes* I just woke up..Hey!! Who wants some romance between Brie and Ryo?! In the next chapter.. *is interrupted by Eclipse*
Eclipse: I gotta pee. *^_^*
Elf: *sweatdrop* Hee-hee please excuse her..my lil' mousie just pissed on her..*grins* Now where was I??
Eclipse: AH! I will never forget the antics of your stupid retarded mouse. My leg smells like piss now!!! Argghhh! Well, the sleepover is now officially over with my mom preparing to pick me up any minute now... ::sigh::
Elf: *grins like a maniac*
Eclipse: Well, considering Elfie here doesn't know how to upload and send the fic to Chibi Angel and Volturmacs...er...hope I spelt that right...I'll probably have it sent in a couple of days. ::prays her pooter is back up:: Um, here's a couple of 'thank you's' we needed to make:
Chibi Angel-- Thanks for actually posting this fic. And all of Eclipse's no matter how horrible they are.
Our Parents-- For letting us spend the last three days together.
Kame-- Heck, Thank Kame for inspiring us! Aishitaru, Kame-sama!
Sunrise-- for making RW/ST
Ryo and Kento-- for being cute little hotties
The Ronin Warrior's Drinking Game-- for giving us something to do when we think we would lose our minds.
Sweetie-- for pissing on Eclipse. It makes life a hell of a lot more intersting when Eclipse is bitching about rat piss. (aka Elf's mouse)
Tapes-- because since CN took it off the air we have a lovely invention known as tapes to eternally enjoy the Rws..
Our Fans-- They love us, they really love us! (Send us mail!!!!)
Chapter 2: In Love and War
Authors: Elf Toshiba and Sailor Eclipse
Disclaimerz:
Elf: *snore*
Eclipse: *nudge, nudge* Wake up! We still have to play The Ronin Warriors Drinking Game!!! ((With Pepsi for Elf and Coke for me...we're always sober!! *^_^*)) Besides, I haven't seen RW in an eternity thanks to stupid CN...stupid bastards... *^_^* 10:36, we're playing a drinking game and we have to get up at 7:45 to babysit. Oh what fun! *yawn* Elf, got anything to say before I start off this fic?
Elf: Yeah *crunch crunch*
Eclipse: She's eating nuts... *smack* No, not that you pervert!!! And also, 4got2mention, neither one of us owns Ronin Warriors aka Samurai Troopers. I like the name ST better, though!
Chapter 2: In Love and War
Sasami woke with a splitting headache. 'Musta been that all-nighter I pulled over at Fuhurata's,' she thought, dragging herself out of bed to get ready for school at Han'a High. She stumbled to her closet, pulling off her flowered pajama tank top and pajama pants, pulling on her chocolate brown jacket and skirt, white dress shirt, and blue ribbon, the typical girl's uniform at Han'a.
She quickly admired her late-night painting, still drying on her easel- a sketch she had drawn of an armor that somewhat resembled a griffin. She planned to get her paints and her pastels out tonight to finish it up and add more detail. Maybe eventually it could reach the wall status- meaning that it would be good enough to hang up somewhere in her house. Sasami sighed, turning away from the picture.
She had another weird dream the night before. This time it included a sinister-looking woman with long silver hair. And of course, Sasami herself. In that armor she had sketched the night before. A long battle raged between the two of them in the few hours she had slept. And always, she woke up right before the woman nearly sliced her neck open with her sword. Sasami no longer needed an alarm clock- these dreams always woke her up in a sweat.
"Miyuki..." she called her Husky dog that was her only company in her small one bedroom apartment. Miyuki yawned and grinned his dogish smile looking up from Sasami's bedsheets. "You stupid dog," she said affectionately. Miyuki just grinned back at her. "You c'mon," Sasami said. "Time for your breakfast." Miyuki leaped to his feet, bounding for the door at the mention of food. Sasami took one last look at her hand-drawn posters that covered the room, then walked from her sleeping quarters into the even smaller living quarters.
A pastel purple sofa that matched the light blue walls of the living room, a small TV and VCR, coffee table, as well as another table that held a small framed picture and a lamp, were the only additions to the bland room.
She followed her dog into her island-style kitchen and pulled out a bag of dog food from one of her cabinets, pouring Miyuki's breakfast into a blue bowl and placing it on the tile floor. Miyuki chowed down as Sasami began to prepare her own breakfast of pancakes. Besides artwork, Sasami was exceptionally gifted at cooking, a trait she had inherited- and learned- from her mother.
After finishing her breakfast and cleaning up, she grabbed her booksack and headed for the small framed picture of an older couple and a teenage boy with obsidian hair. By his side was a 12-year old girl with long curly brown hair sporting a peace sign.
"Ja Ne, Papa, Mama, Toya. I'm going to school now."
~~School Han'a High
"Brie-chan!" Sasami yelled, running to catch up with her best friend. Brie, as usual, was still in her half-sleep daze. For all Sasami knew, her friend was sleep-walking. "Konnichi'wa, nakayoshi!" she said, slowing her pace as she walked next to her best friend.
"Mhuhhh...mmm...uh...hey..." Brie mumbled, still half-asleep.
"Coffee still hasn't hit ya yet?" Sasami joked, giving her friend a nudge.
"Mhuhhh...mmm...uh...huh...what...?...you say somethin'...?" Brie murmured, trying to stay on her two feet.
"Hi there, Sasami-baka!" Sasami was greeted with a punch upside the head.
"WHAT THE HECK!?" Sasami turned around, furious. It wasn't just a smack on the head- it was a freaking blown-out punch. She looked up to see familiar ash-blue hair.
"KENTO-SAN!!!!" she screeched.
"Kon'wa Kento-chan.." Brie yawned wide after she greeted her new friend. She rubbed her eyes. Instead of the nightmares she normally had, she had had a pleasant dream. It had involved Ryo and her..
"HEY BRIE-CHAN!!" Kento swung his arm around Brie's shoulder, forcing the still half-asleep girl to fall on her face.
"HEY!!" Brie jumped up, not bothering to fix her bangs over her scar. When she realized, it was to late. The others had seen it.
"Brie-chan..what's that from?" Sasami asked gently. She had seen the sudden flash of fear in her friend's silver eyes. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to, ok?"
"It ha-happened a lo-long time ago.." Brie stammered, "Back when I lived in Kansas. Th-that's all.."
"Oh..ok.." Sasami was a bit disturbed by her best friend's sudden reaction to the question.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" Rowen and the rest of the clan showed up to see Brie with a nervous look on her face while trying to fix her bangs, Sasami with a 'look' on her face, and finally Kento with a sorrowed look in his eyes.
"Kento? Sasami? Brie?"
"Oh..yea..hey guys! What's up?" Kento replied, shaking the look off his face.
"Hey, Brie-chan. You ok?" Ryo asked her.
"Huh? Oh hey, guys. Ryo-chan." she acknowledged the boys with a look.
"I..uh..I gotta get to P.E. Ja ne." She walked off to the gymnasium.
"Sasami, what's the matter with her? Do you know?" Ryo asked Sasami.
"Why do ya wanna know? Do you like her or something?" Sasami asked sardonically.
"I..uh..uh..think I needa get to P.E. too. See ya round guys!" Ryo jogged off to get to P.E. class. For some reason, it seemed as though he was avoiding the question.
"Hn..you guys thinkin' what I'm thinking?" Sasami had a gleeful look in her eyes.
"I think so..if it's about hooking Ryo and Brie up..then yup..we are!" Kento said happily.
"Heck no," Rowen said. "I'm not getting messed up in this. Not gonna risk Ryo killing me."
"Me 'either," added Sage. "I want to live to be legal."
"You two can do it, but not me," Cye added.
"YOU WIMPS! ALL OF YOU!!!" screeched Sasami. "Love is everything! Love is life....happiness!!! You KNOW Ryo-chan and Brie-chan are destined!!! Brie-chan's never acted this kooky around someone. She likes him. No, my bad, loves him! So stop being a wimp and help us out."
"Sorry..." The rest of the clan shrugged, walking to the three story Ha'na High school building.
"You're going to leave her with me?!" screeched Kento. "If you guys don't help me set the lovebirds up, then who will? This loonatic chick! And I couldn't live through it!" Kento whined. Sasami hit him upside the head.
"And what's wrong with me?! YOU'RE the one with the attitude problem!"
"Yeah, well, people like you always cause the worst in me to come out," Kento added. Rowen, Cye and Sage quickened their pace. They wanted nothing to do with the two psychopaths quarreling again.
"People like ME?! PEOPLE LIKE ME!?" Sasami yelled angrily. "I'm not the one who had to go nuts that a girl got a higher score than you on a video game! Talk about pathetic! YOU'RE the one that starts all the stupid fights we have!"
"Whatever, Sasami-baka. I'm not in the mood to fight more than I have to. It's too early in the morning."
"That's just an excuse, ya little sissy!" Sasami countered. "What did you say?" Kento yelled back.
"YOU'RE A SISSY!" Sasami said, shoving Kento.
"**YOU'RE** THE SISSY!" he said, shoving her back, starting a fight that was equivalent to a schoolyard scuffle. The rest of the clan quickly scuttled away, not wanting to be seen with the immature duo.
"Sasami Satono! Are you STILL fighting with boys?" Keyra Himawari said with a laugh. She had her light blue hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was in a couple of classes with Sasami, but Sasami really didn't know much about her. Lagging a few feet behind her were her two best friends, Yumeko Shino and Lako Kino.
Yumeko had shoulder-length brown hair that dangled across her shoulders and was usually pulled back in a pale purple ribbon. Lako had super-long cotton candy pink hair that touched her lower back.
"If you knew Kento-baka here, you would be fighting too," Sasami said, giving up the fight for the time being. The other girls giggled.
"You're nuts, Sasami. You should stick to cooking and acting more feminine! You can't always rely on beating up guys to get ya a husband," lectured Lako with a smile. Sasami could tell she was just kidding, but no one wanted a tomboy for a wife- they wanted a beautiful girl that could cook and sew and clean. Sasami was the complete opposite, with the exception of cooking, that is....
"You have first period English IV with us, right?" Kento piped up.
"Uh-huh," the quiet Yumeko said. "Why don't you guys walk with us to class? I mean, we're all headed in the same direction..." Kento finished.
"I do need a new tutor in English..."
"Sure," Keyra answered for all of them.
"C'mon, you guys! The bell's about to ring...!"
~~MEANWHILE, A FEW MINUTES BEFORE FIRST PERIOD P.E.
"Hey, Brie-chan, wait up!" Ryo called after the retreating back of Brie.
"Huh? Oh hey, Ryo-chan." she said glumly. She had that immense look of sadness in her eyes that foretold that something very bad had happened in her past. Ryo grabbed her by her shoulders with one hand, using the other under her chin, forcing her to look up into his own eyes as he looked deep into hers. And found what he wanted to know.
Blood-Rage-Anger-Drunken Father-Pain-Hurt-Cuts-Guns-Scars-Knives-Hospital Rooms-Strange Smells-Doctors-Blackness-Terror-Sadness-Unloved-Hatred
"Oh gods..Brie-chan..I never..I wish.." Ryo grabbed her into a hug that neither one wanted to end. Ryo had seen into her past; she didn't care anymore. She trusted him.
"I'm over it now, Ryo-chan. That's why we moved to Japan five years ago. Please, I trust you, but until I'm ready, please don't tell the others. Okay?" she looked up to see his face inches away from hers. Ryo began to lean his lips towards her mouth. She closed her eyes, suddenly wondering what it would be like if he kissed her.. Ryo watched as gently shut her eyes.
"I have something to tell you, Gabriella." He said in a husky voice, his lips right above hers. "What is it?" she open her eyes a little.
'Please..' She thought.
"If you ever need someone to talk to about it, you can always come to me, I promise." 'Damn! That's not it! I wanted to tell her the truth! Damn it!' Ryo thought.
"Oh, thanks."
~~FIRST PERIOD ENGLISH IV
Sasami slipped a note to Kento who sat across from him. Passing notes was prohibited, but she didn't care. Besides, her friend's happiness and love was more important than flunking Haruna-sensei's class. Besides, she didn't do well in foreign language classes.
"And so, the action verb modifies a noun- got that class?" Haruna-sensei said, turning away from the board just in time to see Kento receive the note.
"Kento-san, do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class? That note you just received from Sasami-san, for example..."
"Okay, then, I'll read it," Kento said.
Sasami was pissed. 'You'd better not,' she thought angrily to no one in particular.
"Yuske is just the cutest guy! I just love the way his hair flows into his eyes, his strong build, his cute smile. Kento, I would DIE to marry such a hottie. But, of course, I could never be worthy to even stand in his presence. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be in the presence of any life. Kame, lately, I have felt that my life is pointless. Everyday things become worse and worse than before and my chances of getting a boyfriend decrese every day. I know I am a very unpopular dork, and will never amount to anything more than a plumber. Maybe I should end it all tonite. What do you think? Sasami." Kento lied, pretending to read from the letter.
"THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WROTE!!!" Everyone in the class, including Yuske, who sat in the front row, stared at her obscurely. "KENTO-BAKA IS LYING!"
"Sasami-san, I would appreciate it if you would go to the counselor's office," Haruna-sensei said.
"BUT I DIDN'T WRITE THAT LETTER! KENTO-SAN IS LYING! HE'S JUST TRYING TO GET ME IN TROUBLE!!! THE LETTER WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT-"
"Sasami-san, I know that you must be really embarressed about this, but I would appreciate it if you would head to the counselor's office," Haruna-sensei interupted. "I know denial is the first stage. We don't want anything to happen to you."
"BUT!!!!!!" Sasami whined.
"No if's, and's, or but's. Go now, Sasami-san."
Sasami got up from her chair and glared at Kento, and mouthed to him, "I'm gonna kill you," as she walked towards the door and to the counselor's office, the place Sasami dreaded most.
Kento-baka- Meet me after school at Fuhurata Game Arcade and Fruits Parlor. Got something to discuss about Ryo-chan and Brie-chan, but I got work until late. Don't consider this an invitation. And I DON'T consider you a friend. In fact, you are the biggest jerk I have ever met in my life. But I could use some help trying to set up my nakayoshi with a nice guy. Just hoping you might want to help out... Not that I NEED some help. Especially from a baka sexist pig like you, but... Meet me there if you want to set up our nakayoshi. -Sasami-chan *^_^*
Kento took the note and shoved it into his pocket.
~~LATER THAT DAY...
At about lunchtime Sasami could finally leave the counselor's office. It took lots of persuading that she wasn't suicidal or nuts, but after about four hours of suffering Nuko-sensei finally dismissed her from his office. Torture. Pure torture.
Sasami sat down at the table that she and Brie had adopted for the year...their regular table. Brie placed her lunch tray on the table and took a seat next to her.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Brie asked.
"Nothing other than I'm going to kill Kento," Sasami replied, punching the table. "He's a jerk!!!! Arggghhhhhhhh!!!!" She punched the table harder. "Just thinking about him pisses me off to no end!!!"
"Had fun in Nuko-sensei's office?" Kento's voice boomed, grabbing an apple off of Sasami's tray and chomping down on it. "Hope you don't mind that I eat this." Sasami got up from her chair in a fury, pushing her chair nearly four feet away.
"You're hungry, huh? Well, I owe you a knuckle sandwhich!!!" she said, using the oldest line in the book. Thankfully Ryo, Rowen, Sage, and Sai appeared out of seemingly nowhere.
"Hey guys, what's for lunch.." Sai trailed off as he saw the murderous look Sasami was giving Kento, and Kento's careless look.
"Uh..Brie-chan..what's the matter?"
"Ask them..all I know is that Sasa-chan was sent to the counceler's office for something Kento said in English IV." Brie replied, with a faraway look in her eyes, acting like she was about to cry.
"Sasami? Kento? What's going on?!" Rowen asked irritably.
"He started it! And I quote 'Yuske is just the cutest guy! I just love the way his hair flows into his eyes, his strong build, his cute smile. Kento, I would DIE to marry such a hottie. But, of course, I could never be worthy to even stand in his presence. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be in the presence of any life. Kame, lately, I have felt that my life is pointless. Everyday things become worse and worse than before and my chances of getting a boyfriend decrese every day. I know I am a very unpopular dork, and will never amount to anything more than a plumber. Maybe I should end it all tonite. What do you think? Sasami.' He got me sent to Nuko-sensei's office!!" It was just then that she lunged at Kento, trying to choke him. She was restrained by the hands of Ryo and Sage. "Let me GO!"
"Okay...let's try and CALLLLMMMM down. Okay?" Sage said in the type of voice someone would talk to a small child in. "It's okay..."
During this time, Brie was absolutely silent. Ryo shot her a glance, seeing the blankness in her eyes, decided to call an end to the fight. Sasami was still struggling against him and Sage.
"Sasami, onegi, calm down."
"Huh?" Sasami looked started at the tone of Ryo's voice. It was a mix of pain and longing. She had a very good idea who he was longing for. She looked dead straight at Brie. 'Brie-chan..how can you be so oblivious to the love that practally RADIATES offa this boy for you?! Kame, girl, you must be dead or totally naive!'
She was suddenly shocked to see Brie's shocked eyes look up into her eyes. The look in them said 'Is it true?' Suddenly, Brie dashed away from the table.
"What?! Brie-chan! WAIT!!" Sasami tried to run after her friend but couldn't on account of two boys still holding onto her arms. "Lemme GO!"
As Brie ran, she had several memories slap her in the face. Memories that she had tried to leave behind when she left Kansas. And started her new life in Tokyo.
~~Flashback
"NOO!! SHERMAN!! PLEASE STOP! PLEASE!!" Brie heard her mother call out. She had been locked in her room when her father had come back from a four day drinking run. She was terrified for her mother's life as well as her own.
~~End
As she ran she felt the hot tears running trails down her cheeks.
~~Flashback
"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" her drunken father slurred, pulling a butcher knife from the kichen cabinent. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR WHINING!!" he raised the knife higher, scaring the hell out of Brie. The knife slashed down in an arc, nearly cutting her cheek.
~~End
"NOO!!" she screamed as someone grabbed her arm, twisting her around to face them. Mind still in the past, she thought it was her father. She struggled to get away, her tears blurring her vision. "NOO!! Please, don't hurt me!! I didn't do it!" she was suddenly pulled into strong arms. As they wrapped around her, she buried her face into the shoulder of the person the arms belonged to. She sobbed into the embrace.
"Shh..it'll be ok. I'm here for you. It'll be ok." the voice said. Brie looked up and saw the face of Ryo. She just sobbed harder. She suddenly remember what she had heard from Sasami's mind. 'Brie-chan..how can you be so oblivious to the love that practily RADIATES offa this boy for you?! Kame, girl, you must be dead or totally naive!'
"Ryo..I'm so sorry."
"For what?" Ryo looked confused.
"For everything. For running away, crying on you, laying my problems on you when you probably didn't care.." she was silenced when she felt Ryo's arms tighten around her and his chin rest on top of her head.
"It's ok. I DO care." With those words, Gabriella Stoker fell hopelessly in love with Ryo Sanada.
"Brie-chan?! BRIE-CHAN!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!?" Brie and Ryo jumped apart and blushed a deep crimson. Brie hurriedly brushed her tears away. They then saw Sasami and the rest of the clan run around the corner.
"Brie-chan, are you okay?" Sasami asked, concerned, giving her friend a caring hug.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Brie lied.
"No you're not; I know something's wrong....Why can't you tell me?" Sasami yelled, pulling away from her friend. "I'm your best friend! Lately you've been acting so weird and you won't tell me what's the matter! I thought I was your friend!" she slammed her fist into the wall. "Look, you know that I totally trust you. Why can't you trust me?! I'm sick of you keeping secrets from me, especially since I worry about you. But that's fine- if you wanna be that way, go ahead and be that way..." Sasami turned around and ran off.
"Sasa-chan..I'm sorry..I just don't want you hurt."
MEANWHILE, IN THE NETHER-REALM
"Lady Asaka, you have served me well in releasing me from the fate bestowed onto me by the Ronin Warriors. I appreciate your efforts." An armored head spoke to a person that still lay among the shadows.
She stepped closer towards the candles that surrounded him in a star shape, revealing her girlish figure. She wore a skimpy black leather two piece outfit that sihlotted her long silver hair. "That is the least I could do for milord," she said with a bow. "Reconstructing fate through time was nothing for me."
"Lady Nobuko has just been informed of a new armor that may be even more useful than even the armor of Inferno. According to legend, 1000 years ago an armor known as the armor of Valiant was forged by a powerful Sorcress who ruled a country-island off the coast of Japan. Her country resisted being conquered by the Nether-Realm. She split the armor into ten diffrent armors- the Armor of GoldenSun, the Armor of EarthFire, the Armor of Olympia, the Armor of Galaxia, Armor of SilverMoon, the Armor of DarkSky, the Armor of DeathScythe, the Armor of BlackRain, the Armor of ShadowHawk, and of course, your own armor, the Armor of NightHeart. The Sorcress blessed each armor with the ability to perform some sort of magic. With all the Magic Armors together, I can use the magic of the armor to return myself to my original form. Lady Nobuko, Lady Naru, Lady Reika, and Lady Tenshi have the Armor of DarkSky, DeathScythe, BlackRain, and ShadowHawk and NightHeart. But I still need the other five armors...Lady Asaka, I need your help," Lord Talpa responded.
"My help?" Lady Asaka seemed a bit alarmed. "What about the others? They are just as capable as me."
"Your power doubles in the moonlight- which is usually the best time for us to work- at night. I need you to find the five 'Mage Warriors' and bring them here. In the meantime, I need you to retrieve Lady Naru. Tell her I have some *OTHER* urgent buisness for her," Talpa continued.
"Yes, Milord," Lady Asaka said as she disapeared from the candle light.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 3: New Evil
Eclipse: You like?! I don't care if you like!! ((Actually I do...send me feedback!!)) Elf: *yawn and rubs eyes* I just woke up..Hey!! Who wants some romance between Brie and Ryo?! In the next chapter.. *is interrupted by Eclipse*
Eclipse: I gotta pee. *^_^*
Elf: *sweatdrop* Hee-hee please excuse her..my lil' mousie just pissed on her..*grins* Now where was I??
Eclipse: AH! I will never forget the antics of your stupid retarded mouse. My leg smells like piss now!!! Argghhh! Well, the sleepover is now officially over with my mom preparing to pick me up any minute now... ::sigh::
Elf: *grins like a maniac*
Eclipse: Well, considering Elfie here doesn't know how to upload and send the fic to Chibi Angel and Volturmacs...er...hope I spelt that right...I'll probably have it sent in a couple of days. ::prays her pooter is back up:: Um, here's a couple of 'thank you's' we needed to make:
Chibi Angel-- Thanks for actually posting this fic. And all of Eclipse's no matter how horrible they are.
Our Parents-- For letting us spend the last three days together.
Kame-- Heck, Thank Kame for inspiring us! Aishitaru, Kame-sama!
Sunrise-- for making RW/ST
Ryo and Kento-- for being cute little hotties
The Ronin Warrior's Drinking Game-- for giving us something to do when we think we would lose our minds.
Sweetie-- for pissing on Eclipse. It makes life a hell of a lot more intersting when Eclipse is bitching about rat piss. (aka Elf's mouse)
Tapes-- because since CN took it off the air we have a lovely invention known as tapes to eternally enjoy the Rws..
Our Fans-- They love us, they really love us! (Send us mail!!!!)