Ryo Strikes Out Big Time
Ryo closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. His dream was sweet. He was surrounded by woods. It was so peaceful and tranquil. And he hadn't felt like this in....hours? That was right.....all this had happened in that matter of hours. He lost Arein. Lost one of his best buds, Rowan. Lost WhiteBlaze. Lost what little confidence he had in his self. I've lost everything..... I have nothing left but..... he closed his eyes a moment and took in a breath.
When he opened his eyes he was no longer surrounded by a forest. But was in some kind of...fairy place. And he could only wonder why he thought of faries when taking in the scenery. Maybe it was because of what he saw looking forward.
"Arein?" he said confused
.
The figure walked plainly to him and kneeled infront of him, "Yes Ryo,"
"Why are you here. I though...." he stopped for a moment and remembered something. Arein had wanted Rowans armor. And that locket. Damn I fogot! he scolded his self.
"I know you forgot about what I asked of you Ryo," she stood up and looked into his eyes. "Its alright though, give him the locket today."
"What is it with that locket? Is it like...powerful or something." he snickered and thought of what power it would have. All type of things came to mind. Fairy magic, girl power, for a moment he thought he'd bust out laughing.
"Ryo," Arein said in a stern voice, "It has great power and will make you the strongest of the Ronin Warriors again."
Ryo's thought of laughter suddenly stopped, "What?"
"It can steal Rowans armor, and make you the strongest one of all. And I'll come back to you Ryo. Just wait and see. I'll be all yours again."
Ryo couldn't help it. The simple thought have having Arein back to him, and safe, was all to good to be true. But he wanted that so badly. He'd surely give up Rowan's armor for that cause. Right?
"I...dont know." Ryo steped back away from Arein.
"Why not?" she asked, stepping to him as he stepped away.
"Because....this is some freaky little dream and I am not about to give into it." he stood strong and glared dangerously at Arein.
"So...." Arein stepped back, tears in her eyes, "You wouldn't do that for me? Just to have me back...." the Arein figure slowly walked away in tears. "I really love you, Ryo. And I forgive you for not loving me back. I understand now....all I wanted was his armor. And we could be together.....but not now." Areins figure disappered and Ryo woke with one thing in mind.
Getting Rowan's armor.
*~*
Ryo looked under his bed and got the golden locket there. He walked down the steps in search of Rowan. His tiger blue eyes, dark and cold. After a quick search of the house....Rowan was not there. So Ryo went to ask Cye.
Ryo slammed his fist on the kitchen counter. Cye jumped and looked at him,
"Ryo...what in the world is wrong with you."
"Where's Rowan?" he said in a harsh low whisper. Fustration going through him.
"Well....he and Sage went to the woods earlier. Sage is going to try healing him and,"
Ryo got up and left, "Ryo! Where are you going?!"
"Somewhere," Ryo whispered then disappered into the tree's.
In a small clearing in the middle of the woods he found the archer and the swordsman. Sage was doing his best to heal his battered freind. But Rowan wanted to find Arein. He was very worried about her. Making him unable to clear his mind and allow Sage to do the healing.
Ryo smiled to his self and approached the two, "Hi, "he said in a normal, cool tone.
Sage turned quickly and glared dangerously at Ryo, "Don't you have somewhere to be Ryo, like looking for Arein?" his tone angering.
"Well, yes. But I wanted to tell Rowan something. Can we have a minute alone?"
Sage was about to yell no, but Rowan stood up, "Yea, Sage give us a quick minute."
Sage sighed and left. Atleast it seemed he did. He only went and hid behind a few tree's, to make sure Ryo didn't screw up and fight Rowan again.
"Well?" Rowan asked, seeing Ryo was hiding something behind his back.
Ryo looked up and smiled kindly at his freind, "I'm sorry we fought earlier. I don't know
what came over me."
Hormones, Rowan thought and sighed, "Its alright man...I fer'give ya."
"Thanks alot Rowan. Now....about Arein. I know a way to get her back."
"What?" Rowan looked at him confused. Sage about to give his hiding place away by yelling what Rowan said.
"Yes, if I give her something she'll come back." Ryo looked up at Rowan, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Well..." Rowan stepped back not liking the look in Ryo's eyes, "What do you have to give her? Wait...how do you know where she is?"
"That dosen't matter," he held out his hand and smiled at Rowan, "Take it," the golden locket was in his palm.
"What? Why?"
"You want Arein to come back don't you?" Ryo said a little mad.
"Well...." Rowan reached over and took the locket from Ryo's hand.
The locket then open and black energy oozed from it, and started swirling around Rowan. It surrounded his body as he looked around confused. Ryo stepped back, eyes wide. Unable to do anything as Rowan yelled for help.
Sage ran from where he hid, his full armor now on, and prepared to fight off blackness. It didn't work though. The energy threw him off like it was nothing. Sage now lay to the side groaning in pain. Unable to move.
In a split second Rowan disappered. Along with the locket, the energy. It was like all that had never happened. Ryo fell to his knee's wonder what, and why he just done what he had done.
Sage layed on the ground growling at Ryo, "Why the HELL did you just sit there Ryo?!?! Where did he go?!? You trick him you little bastard!" Sage the collasped to the side, his armor disappered and he lay there cussing all he could between breaths.
A figure above Ryo laughed, "Weak little children." it said. Ryo looked up and glared dangerously at the enemy.
"It was you all along! Wasn't it! Takumi answer me!!"
Takumi laughed again, "Yes, it was me. I'm so glad you finally relized that. Wildfire you certainly do let your body think for your mind 'eh?"
Ryo growled, "Where is Arein? What did you do to Rowan? Where's WhiteBlaze? Because I have a feeling you know about all of this."
"As a matter of fact, I do Wildfire, "Takumi snapped his fingers and a image appered. It was Arein sitting on a jail-like bed, WhiteBlaze at her feet. A second image appered with Rowan, who was in a torcher chamber. Much like the one Tulpa had torchered Cye,Sage, and Kento in.
"Why?!" Ryo asked, "Why did you do all this?"
"Its all very simple Wildfire. I want the armors. All nine of them. I already have the four Warlords armor. That was very easy to get. They are at the time suffering like Strata. I did this for reasons. Many indeed. I tricked you into fighting with Strata over that pathetic little girl. Arein. She had a part in this befour she was even born. She was made to carry out this plan."
"Your crazy!" Ryo said slowly.
"Over what? My pure determination to get those armors? I don't dare call it crazy. I call it brillant and very well thought out"
Ryo looked down, "So, this was all apart of your plan. You tricked me into fighting with Rowan and making him weak. You took Arein as part of this 'plan'. You used her in my dreams....to get me to go agnist Rowan. Then you gave me that locket to help you capture Rowan. You show yourself and make it apper that Rowan was stronger than me, to get me jealous. I can't belive I was so stupid....all I wanted was Arein to forgive me. I screwed up so BAD!!" he yelled the last word as loud as he could, and fell to his knee's in tears.
"Indeed Wildfire, you have messed up badly. I'll tell you what, If you can break into the neather realm, and defeat me in a battle then you can have all that is yours back. What do you say to that?"
Ryo glared deadly, "I accept," Takumi laughed and disappered.
~*~
Ryo looked over at Sage, who was sitting up now. "Ryo...I didn't know that...." he looked down hurt. He had been so bad to Ryo....and all Ryo wanted was Areins forgiveness. That was why all this was happening.
"Come on Sage, "Ryo wiped his eyes and walked over to Sage, "Lets get back to the other and tell them whats up. We have to find a way into the Neather Realm to get Rowan, WhiteBlaze and Arein back."
Sage nodded and saw Ryo's determination. Sage looked down as they headed toward the house. He may have screwed up....But I think we'll get through this.....we have to Sage smiled. They would win this battel.