Mind, Body, and Soul

by: Nova

Chapter 2

Please, pretty please, with whipped cream and a cherry on top, send your wonderful comments, or flames, to me. I love to hear from people, even if it's not necessarily nice.

Nova =^-^=

After the guys had departed, Keiko and Ari cleaned up the King sized mess that seemed to still encompass the whole apartment, except for their bedrooms and the bathroom. There were some dishes that lay in piles, cascading along the counter and into the sink. The living area had crumbs all over the tables, chairs and couches. The girls decided to just break out the vacuum and cleaning supplies. It was a big mess, even though they had worked to clean some of it up when the guys were still there.

"Man, remind me of the mess that we'll have to clean up before I decide it would be a great idea to invite them all over here." Ari said and swept more crumbs off the table in front of the couch.

"Not a problem. And you do the same for me," Keiko added.

"It's a deal."

That night, exhausted by the evenings occurrences, both girls fell into a deep sleep. Keiko didn't sleep soundly though. Nightmares interrupted the calm she was experiencing. Ari woke to hear the whimpering and went to lean her head into Keiko's room. The sheets were crumpled in a lump at her feet, a bit of them twined around her shins. Keiko must be in for it pretty bad; she was usually a soundless, motionless body until she awoke the next day. Ari nudged Keiko and spoke to her, to wake Keiko up. It worked.

Keiko sat up with a jerk and a few salty tears dropped off her chin onto the blanket, sheets and Keiko's lap. "It was so realistic. I felt like I was reliving it all over again."

"I wonder why were having these nightmares now. Are they getting worse?" Ari asked.

"I don't know your answer to the first question, but the dreams are getting worse. Each time it seems more real then before. Hope this doesn't go on much longer." Keiko explained.

"Do you think you'll be okay for the rest of the night?" Ari asked.

"Yea, thanks though. I think I'll be a wreck tomorrow though. At least we're not doing anything big and important. Well, you know what I mean." Keiko sighed and lay back down.

"Yea, I know. Night." Ari shook her head and left Keiko's room. These dreams were getting more common for both of them. Keiko really wouldn't be awake the next day. Most likely, Keiko would have trouble getting back to sleep. As it usually was after the nightmares for both girls.

"Night." Keiko yelled back.

* * * *

Next day in class, Keiko and Ari were discussing the nearing weekend and Sage and Rowen walked up behind them. Keiko yawned and lay her head on her arms, which were on the little desk .

"Somebody didn't get enough sleep last night I see. Maybe we should have left earlier," Sage commented.

"No, you were fine, but this somebody wishes that she could have stayed home today, but no, her irritating roomy dragged her to class anyway," Keiko replied sarcastically.

"Ha, ha. Being around you when you're a grump is no picnic ya know," Ari retorted.

Craig snuck up behind them. "Havin' trouble sleepin' baby? Come to my place to night and I guarantee you'll be as good as new."

"Leave her alone. You know she doesn't want to have anything to do with you," Rowen stated. He wasn't about to let this guy bother Keiko.

"What are you gonna do 'bout it? Craig sneered and smirked, he liked it when he could get these reactions out of people. Sage put his hand on Rowen's shoulder. It had the affect that he was expecting. Rowen backed off, his shoulders relaxing.

"You're not worth my time or energy," Rowen said.

"Humpf. Well, girls, see ya later when you're little partners aren't protectin' ya." Craig snorted and turned. He slunk away. Acting like they had beaten him. He wasn't about to give up this easy.

* * * *

Class went by quickly again that day, much to Keiko's happiness. She had slept during her breaks, so she was not quite so tired as she had been earlier. On their drive home, the cloaked figure appeared to them once again. He pushed the hood back and gave them a name to go with his face.

"Well, hello again girls. You may call me Mordecai. Now for the amulets."

"I think you know our answer." Keiko challenged him, an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach, she knew Ari probably felt the same way. Keiko donned her subarmor, but once again, Mordecai and his little metal flunkies vanished. Keiko banished her subarmor back to the amulet before any of the pedestrians noticed. It was kind of strange to see them disappear and have it seem like it never happened. If only they knew. "He is testing us, I think."

"Yea. I have the feeling that the next time he arrives that he won't just talk to us again," Ari said and Keiko nodded her agreement.

* * * *

"WHY? Why do you test me? Answer me Mordecai!" The figure on the throne hissed. The frustration was getting to him. His right-hand was not following orders. He was to not to bother the girls he was supposed to be on their side as it was. The figure sighed. His speculations must be true. Mordecai must be working for the enemy.

"My lord, I will not let it happen again. You have my word."

"Your word is not good enough, I must regret." An orb, silver and teal in color shot off his hand and pushed Mordecai into the wall. Mordecai grunted and sank to his knees. "You will earn more then that if you insist on disregarding my orders to you."

"I understand Lord Tadeous. I am sorry." Mordecai stood, shakily, the blast had surprised him. It would not the next time, there would be no next time. His new master would see to that.

* * * *

It was Saturday evening, and Keiko, Ari, Rowen and Sage gathered at a small table in a sidewalk cafe for dinner and to discuss the interviews. They each were armed with pen and notepad to write done the information. It was warm and the music flooded the area, creating a soothing atmosphere for the group.

A happy couple walked past them, the woman laughing at the joke that her husband must have told her. Ari smiled and wondered if she could be like that young bride, her man wrapping his strong arms around her and telling her sweet something's to make her giggle and smile. To wear a beautiful gown and all those candles... To be that way, what a wish. If only she did not have the burden of the armor. But she quickly shrugged that thought away and decided that even she could be happy like that new bride and groom seemed to be tonight.

"Earth to Ari, come in Ari, you-who, Ari..." Keiko laughed as Sage waved his hand in front of Ari's vacant face. Ari then snapped back to reality. Rowen and Keiko were laughing and Sage had a big grin on his face. "So, you decided to join us now. How nice."

"Ha ha. No need to be rude. I was just having this really nice daydream and you guys ruined it," Ari whined.

"We had to. You were getting all spacey and stuff. You must of had some dream to have such an interesting look on your face. What a cheesy grin," Keiko smirked.

"Keiko, I'll tell you about it later. I guess we should get back to business," Ari said, sighing.

A waiter cleared his throat and taped his pen on the order sheets as if he had been standing there for a few minutes watching these people talk and ignore him. He had not been there long. "Can I please take your order now? What would you all like?" He said.

"I'll have an iced tea and a grilled chicken and bacon sandwich, please," Keiko told him.

"I would like a Mountain Dew and a mini-pizza with everything, please," Ari said politely.

"I'll have a Coke and a Mega-burger, please," Rowen said and Sage seconded that request. When the impatient waiter left, Rowen started up the interview again. "Where have you lived Ari?"

"All around. My dad owns an excavation business. They go around digging stuff up to sell to museums and research groups. So my dad moves us around quite a bit. He used to any way. We were settled in New Orleans and my dad decided he wanted to stay put for a while. He had done that before, when we lived in Northern California. I lived in London and then in Italy for a couple years. My dad liked the European dig sights, but my mom wanted to go back to the U.S. I met Keiko in New Orleans some years back." Ari explained to them, Sage jotted down the notes and Ari shifted her weight to get more comfortable in the chair.

A chill wind blew threw the street, causing Keiko to shiver. It was getting darker and Ari then noticed that their group were the only ones there. A small flicker of light caught Sage's attention in the distance. "What's that?" Sage pointed to the light he had seen only moments earlier. "And what's happening? All the people have disappeared." Sage noticed the girls were uneasy. It had to be something to do with them. He was pretty damn sure of that now. The little show they had witnessed at the beach and this, well, something was up.

The same cloaked figure that had been after Keiko and Ari, was walking towards them. His stride was strong. He was sure of himself. "Well well, I go looking for you two and now there are two others that should have disappeared with the rest of the others. What is the meaning of this?" Mordecai snickered and the area around them lit up so they could see each other. "You could not have something hidden from me."

Now standing, Rowen put his hands of Keiko's shoulders and whispered into her left ear. "What's going on, why does he act like he knows you?"

"Of course they know me. Now just give me the amulets girls and I'll leave you alone. I need them so much more then you. You can go on with your nice little lives here and I'll go back to mine. How about that deal?" Mordecai put forth his hand as if in a transaction and stepped towards Keiko, Ari and the guys.

"No deal," Keiko told him bluntly.

"Oh, do not go saying that." Mordecai then quickly seized Rowen's throat in his strong grasp and spoke. "Now you see what you have done? Your little friend here might die, and just because you would not give up those amulets."

"Well, I kinda have grown fond of mine. Keiko, how about you, do you like yours too?" Ari asked, smiling Keiko's way.

Keiko nodded yes and smiled right back at Ari. "Yea, I'm quite attached to mine too."

"Okay then, that leaves us just one choice I suppose." At that, a dark purple aura shown around the stone in Ari's amulet, spreading around her. On her forehead, a symbol glared brightly. It stood for 'Soul'.

Keiko followed Ari's example, the aura around her was dark blue, with a bit of gold running along the edge. The symbol glowing on Keiko's forehead stood for 'Mind'. The light around them dispersed. Ari and Keiko now wore their subarmor.

The subarmor was lighter and simpler than the guys'. Keiko's was navy blue with gold accents and Ari's was purple with silver accents. The subarmor fit them quite well, leaving no guesses about their bodies underneath.

Mordecai dropped Rowen to the tarmac street and grinned. "Ah, so, not without a fight, eh?" Keiko helped Rowen up, he was shaky, but okay.

"You two have some things that you'll have to explain later," Sage told them.

"Yea, we figured, but you two need to get outa here now," Keiko replied.

"Fine, but I hope you two know what your doing," Sage countered.

"Oh, we do, sorta," Ari said.

The guys turned and then sat down in an alley way. Sage shook his head. "I think that those two may need our help. Oh, and I don't think that they are the bad side."

"I agree with you on both accounts. We definitely have to be ready," Rowen told him. They kneeled there, in the alley, quietly watching as the scene unfolded before them.

All three contenders had their guards up. Not one wanted to start, although the girls had the advantage of numbers, Mordecai had the advantage of the knowledge of fighting and using his powers.

Ari did not have a weapon without putting on her full armor and she mind-sent Keiko. ~I think maybe we should armor up. I know you have some light powers and stuff without your full armor, but I'm a sitting duck.~

~Actually, I think your right, but I want to save mine just in case I really need it. Use yours, and you know I'll back you up,~ Keiko told her.

Ari took a few steps back and put her hands together in front of her amulet. It glowed brighter than it previously had and dust and green leaves out of no where swirled around her. A screaming eagle was heard, and then it all dissipated. Ari now stood in her full armor. It was purple, outlined with silver. Silver wings were folded on her back and a silver cross bow was on her lower, right arm. Ari unfolded it and pulled a silver and dark purple feathered arrow out of the air. She aimed it at Mordecai.

Keiko stood in her subarmor. She raised her hands, holding them palm to palm. She slowly pulled them apart. Between her palms, a swirling blue energy ball floated.

"Okay, so you know what to do, but that doesn't mean that you know how to fight." At that, Mordecai charged them and both girls threw what they had at him.

They were weak and inexperienced with fighting and it showed. Every now and then they would get a hit in, but Mordecai was stronger, faster, and just all around better then they were. Keiko and Ari were tiring out fast.

Keiko decided she needed to up the stakes. As Ari had done before, Keiko put her hands together, in front of her amulet. A dark blue glow swelled around her. Smoke and flames swirled around Keiko. The roar of a mystic beast sounded in everyones' ears. The dark blue and gold of her armor emerged and formed on Keiko's subarmor. The battle continued.

"About time you decided to put it on," Ari whispered.

"So, am I slowing you down? Tiring you out?" Mordecai sneered, and sent both girls crashing into a wall.

The buildings were taking a beating from the blasts. Glass shards covered most of the street, crunching under each step Mordecai took. Bits and pieces of the buildings were also strewn about, as well as a few deck chairs and such from the stores. The small, once tidy buildings were crumbling down, and Rowen decided that he and Sage would have to enter the fray.

"Both girls are down. Lets go!" Rowen told Sage, as he pulled the blonde to his feet.

Mordecai stood a little over six feet tall. He easily hoisted the girls over his head, throwing them into a pile of rubble. The rest of the walls fell on top of them. Keiko had little energy left, but hauled her friend and herself out of the mess. Keiko could not bring herself to stand. She looked fearfully at Mordecai, who laughed and put his hand upon his swords hilt. The blade gleamed in the flame light, throwing beams of reflected light on the ground. The flames danced with the slight breezes. Keiko slowly fell and lay in the rubble.

Mordecai thought he had won this one. Both girls were knocked out, and hurt bad. He was about to take back his prize when he was hit and fell to the ground. Mordecai looked up, his harsh, dark violet eyes glaring Rowen and Sage's way. They had hit him, these little boys had chanced to touch him. They would pay like the girls had for standing up to him. Mordecai had a double take. The boys that Keiko and Ari had pushed to leave before for their safety, were now standing before him in subarmor.

"Other armors?! I must report this to my master. Tadeous will not win." Mordecai stood, murmured to himself and left the scene in a violet hazed, cloud of blackened smoke.

"I think we surprised him. For once the bad guys aren't after us," Sage said.

"No, they're just after the girls. Who, I might add, can't protect themselves good enough. We need to take them to our place and call the others over." Rowen explained and went to pick Keiko up. Sage followed Rowen's example with Ari. The heavier armor gave way to the lighter subarmor beneath, as if it understood that the guys were trying to help.

Rowen and Sage jumped on top of the buildings, as the darkness disappeared, giving way to the evening. The people reappeared, but walked and stumbled around as if they were dazed and confused about where they were, what had happened, or where a half hour of time had gone to. Everything was as it had been before the fighting had taken place.

Within the cafe, a confused waiter stood gawking at the empty table. The group of four had ordered and left. He grumbled and went back to the kitchen. His manager would have his hide for this.

* * * *

"Man, what an evening. I thought that the armors we have were the only ones out there." Sage looked thoughtful, running different ideas through his mind. Of course they only had known about the armors they had previously encountered, maybe there were more out there somewhere. Sage told this idea to Rowen. Rowen nodded and thought about that idea.

"I think you're right. We'll wait until Ari and Keiko wake up and see if they know anything about this. Obviously it wasn't the first time that guy has bothered them." Rowen sighed, "They held him off pretty good for a little while, even without practicing."

"Yea, but still, they won't be able to last if we don't help them. And you know it."

It was quiet as Rowen and Sage snuck the girls into their apartment that evening. Sage lay Ari on one of the couches and went to the kitchen where the phone was. He placed a short phone call to the apartment that Ryo, Cye and Kento shared. They were in a larger complex, where the apartments were bigger, for more then two people. They had three people and Ryo's large white tiger living with them, so they had to have the extra space.

* * * *

^RINGGGG... RINGGGG... RI^ "Hello, hey Sage, what's the urgent message? WHAT?!!" Ryo shouted, alerting Cye and Kento to the kitchen scene. Ryo said a few more things, put the phone back on its cradle and turned to his roommates. "That was Sage, he and Rowen just had an encounter with that 'bad feeling' we've all had. It has something to do with Keiko and Ari too. Lets get going." And they did, as fast as they possibly could without the assistance of subarmor.

* * * *

Back at Sage and Rowen's apartment, Sage placed the phone back on its holder, and put his hand up to his ringing head. Ryo had really yelled loud into the mouth piece.

"You okay man?" Rowen asked as he checked on his friend and then sat back in his seat by the couch Keiko lay on.

"Yea, I'm fine. Ryo just responded a bit loudly when I told him the news." Sage sat on the floor against the wall and closed his eyes. "They should be here pretty soon."

"Well, I think their subarmor is trying to heal them. Or maybe its still protecting them, because they're not conscious," Rowen pondered. There was a loud pounding on the door. Sage stood first, motioning to Rowen to watch out in case their friends decided to attack one of the girls or something.

"I knew it! It IS them! Why did ya bring 'em here?" Kento overreacted and glared at his friends. Ryo looked like he wanted to either put his armor on to dust the new enemy or tear his friends apart for bringing them here. Cye stood there with a slightly confused look. Rowen was glad Cye was not the type to jump to conclusions. That was one less head-strong warrior that he and Sage might have to hold back.

"Chill out guys. They're on our side. They got beat up bad by this guy named Mordecai. He works for someone, but we don't know who. He has no armor, but some how he is horribly strong and powerful. And Keiko and Ari have armor. I think Mordecai wanted to take them back with him, not kill them. Keiko and Ari don't know what their doing at all. If we hadn't put on our subarmor when they were knocked out, they would be gone, or dead." Rowen explained the situation to the group and Ryo, Cye and Kento sat down in chairs they pulled up from the dining table.

"So I guess we'll have to tell them about our armors," Ryo said to no one in particular.

"Yea, but at least we don't have to fight friends, right?" Cye asked.

"Right. I'm glad it's not Keiko and Ari that are the ones that we're up against. It does make it so much harder to go up against your friends," Sage replied.

"Definitely gotta agree with ya one this one Sage," Kento remarked.

"At least it's a weekend, ya know? Then we'll have extra time to sort this all out. Although it would be better to have a little more time. We can't all not go to class Monday," Ryo said.

"Let's just hope that nothing happens tomorrow. Keiko and Ari might as well stay put this evening. I don't think they're going any where. We'll get together tomorrow and ask questions then, okay?" Rowen said.

"Sounds like a plan," Cye replied.

* * * *

Keiko gained consciousness sometime during the night and turned her head to look around. Ari lay on the other couch and they were still both in their subarmor. Keiko looked at her surroundings and had not a clue to tell her where she and her friend were. Keiko stood, her legs shook a bit underneath her, but she quickly regained strength and balance. She walked around, trying to find a clue to where she was. It had to be Rowen and Sage's place. It was the same set up as her and Ari's apartment, just different decorations and furniture. The hallway to the bedrooms was the same and Keiko made her way over to it. She peeked into the door on her left and say a figure sleeping. Closer investigation and Keiko discovered it to be Sage, his blonde hair tousled during movements he made during his sleep. Rowen's room was on the other side. The door was closed and a bit of light spilled in the hallway from under the door. Keiko knocked lightly... Nothing, Keiko slowly opened the door. Rowen was asleep, a book open on his chest. Keiko put a marker in the book, pulled the comforter up to Rowen's chin, turned off the reading lamp and left; closing the door behind her. Upon returning to the couch she had been put on, Ari greeted her.

"Sneaking around the place? What did ya find?" Ari smirked and sat next to Keiko, leaning back onto the armrest.

"It's the guys apartment. I have a feeling we've been out for some time. Rowen and Sage brought us back here. They know our secret. They might have told the other three too. I think they'll be here tomorrow, unless tomorrow is already today." Keiko shifted, the subarmor wasn't to comfortable. She banished it back into her amulet. Ari already had when she woke up to see Keiko moving around in the apartment.

"Gonna be an interesting day tomorrow or whatever then huh?"

Keiko let out a small laugh and nodded at Ari. "Oh yea, and we're gonna be doing a lot of explaining. Better get some sleep."

"Yea man. See ya in the morning. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams to you to Ari." Ari stood and went to lay back down on her bed for the night. Both girls settled in for the rest of the night. For what sleep they could get for the next day's round of questioning.

* * * *

Oh, looky, another chapter that I changed tonight. I think I'm on a roll! Will I make it three changed chapters, perhaps four? We shall see. Please send comments, all are welcome, believe me. I need messages to keep going, to know that these stories are being read.

Nova =^-^=