Title: Trip of a Lifetime
Author: Asa Date
Chapter Five: Armor of Starlight
Email: stratasgirl@hotmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Disclaimer: The Ronins do not belong to me, though I deeply wish they did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weatherman on T.V. had said it would be another sunny day. Boy was he wrong, dark clouds were settling in the sky at a rapid pace. Soon the whole sky was pitch black. Street lights had turned on. It was as if it were nighttime, only it was actually two o' clock in the afternoon. The wind had picked up speed to an amazing 35 mph. Palm trees swayed violently in the wind. Rain beat down hard on the house. Mia peeked out the window.
"I sure hope Cye, Dawn, Crystal, and Ryo are okay out there," Mia said.
"I'm sure they're fine." Kento said.
Suddenly lightning struck in the sky, a loud crack of thunder followed shortly after. It scared the heck out of the girls. Asa screeched and dove behind the couch. Violet winced and covered her ears at both the thunder and Asa's scream. Having been standing at the window, Mia ran over to the bottom of the stairs. Having not flinched at all, the guys were laughing.
"It's only a little thunder." Kento said, a smile playing on his lips.
"A little?" Asa said, raising an eyebrow, "It just about scared me to death!"
"It's so close," Violet stated, "Way less than a mile away."
"Something tells me this isn't a normal storm." Sage replied calmly to both Rowen and Kento.
Mia groaned, "Sage, are you sure?"
Violet and Asa watched the four with interest, Violet was the first of the two to speak up, "How isn't it a normal storm?"
Rowen answered, "Well, um, it's kind of a long drawn out story that you probably don't want to hear."
"We've got all the time in the world." Asa said sweetly.
"Maybe some other time." Kento said.
Both girls were extremely stubborn and refused to give up.
"Come on you guys! Please tell us!" Violet replied. The guys and Mia just shook their heads no.
The two grumbled, "No fair." Asa said.
Another loud crack of thunder followed and the electricity went out.
Asa smiled in spite of the situation they were in, "All right! Candle time!"
Violet groaned, "Oh brother, Miss Candle Happy is at it again"
Asa laughed, "So, are there any candles in the house?"
Mia and Asa walked around searching for candles. As soon as they had retrieved four handfuls, they set the candles all over the den and kitchen and lit them. It continued to storm outside. Cye and Crystal ran into the house completely soaked. Ryo and Dawn arrived soon after.
Ryo shook his head, "I have a weird feeling about this. Guys do you think this has to do with the D-"
Sage covered Ryo's mouth, "Don't say it in front of them."
Asa and Violet frowned, Dawn and Crystal looked extremely confused. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light, thought to be lightning but strange enough no sound of thunder was heard after it. A knock at the door followed.
Mia walked cautiously to the front door and opened it, surprised to see it was Kayura and the ex-warlords.
Mia gulped, surprised, "Well, hello. Come in..."
Kayura walked inside from the rain followed by Cale, Anubis, Dais, and Sekhmet.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ryo asked.
Kayura smiled at him, "Even we deserve a little vacation you know."
Cale nodded, agreeing with her, "We were wondering if we could bum a few rooms here."
"Well, um, ah....." Mia began.
"We're kind of full." Cye finished for her, motioning toward the four girls.
Violet spoke up, "We can get another room at the hotel we were at before if you'd like us too."
"Nonsense!" Sage said, rather quickly, "A few people can share a room. It's no big deal."
So, it was decided that Kayura and Mia would share a room, Dawn and Violet would share a room, and Crystal and Asa would share a room so Dais and Cale were roomies in the room Asa was in and Anubis and Sekhmet would be roomies in the room Dawn was in at first.
Asa sensed something familiar about Anubis but she shrugged off the feeling. It was dumb anyway. She was horrified to find out Sekhmet loved snakes and Dais loved spiders.
While the girls were getting to know the four ex-warlords in the den(AN: though they didn't know they were ex-warlords...duh), Ryo had pulled Kayura aside in the kitchen.
"Is there any reason you guys decided to come besides the fact of it being summertime?" he asked.
Kayura hesitated, "We aren't sure what's going on but we know something's about to happen. I keep getting this weird feeling that the armors may be needed again."
Ryo groaned, "You think it's the dynasty?"
Kayura shrugged, "I don't know and it's bugging the hell out of me."
Ryo draped his arm over her shoulder, "Don't worry `bout it Kay. If there's trouble us guys'll take care of it."
Kayura smiled when Ryo called her by her nickname, "You'd better be right Wildfire."
"Aren't I always?" he smirked.
Kayura hit him lightly in the chest and walked back into the den, Ryo followed.
Dais was tormenting Crystal with a spider. Sekhmet was laughing at Crystal. Asa was looking at Sekhmet like he was the biggest moron on the planet. Violet was yelling at Dais to stop and put the spider away. Cale was watching Violet, a goofy grin on his face. Sage was glaring at Cale. Rowen was reading. Mia was reading a journal her grandfather wrote about the legend of the armors, Anubis was peeking over Mia's shoulder. Cye was in the kitchen cooking, Kento hovered around the kitchen like a starving mutt. Dawn was staring out the window. Ryo shook his head, amused at the scene before him, It was going to be one heck of a summer.
Violet got so mad at Dais that she took the spider and squashed it, Dais wasn't too happy about it either.
"Hey, why'd you kill that spider? It didn't do anything to you!" he protested.
"You were taunting Crystal with it, that's why!" Violet replied.
Dais pouted. Crystal sighed, relieved. Sekhmet, still laughing, was close to tears.
Violet turned her attention to him, "And what's so funny?"
Sekhmet continued laughing, unable to stop. A death glare from Violet was enough to shut him up.
"How old are you guys anyway?" Asa asked.
"We're all 23." Cale answered.
Violet snorted, "Sure don't act your age."
"Hey!" Cale protested, "I do. It's just those two knuckle heads who don't." He pointed to Dais and Sekhmet.
The storm continued long into the night. Everyone had since gone to bed. Asa tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having a strange dream.
Asa walked along a small creek in a fairy wooded area. Dogwood trees were in full bloom and the sky was a calm sea of clouds. Her hair had been pulled up into a bun, a few stray strands hung carelessly in front of each ear. She wore a long silver kimono. Spotting a beautiful Weeping Willow tree, she sat down underneath its welcoming shade. Limbs covered with soft leaves hung low, creating a wall around her. Suddenly the serene scene was violated by the sounds of a battle. Her heart rate increased as she listened. Peeking from the safety of the tree she could see two armored men fighting. The name `Kioten' popped into her brain as she watched one of the warriors with black armor that had the symbol of a dragon stretched along the chest-plate. The other warrior, with blue-green armor and long red hair, seemed very familiar to her. She could not figure out how until she got a better look at his face. She gasped, what was Anubis doing in her dream? The battle raged on until
Kioten collapsed on the ground, lifeless. Before he died, she heard him say, "I will return one day to claim what is rightfully mine and you will suffer dearly". Who was Kioten? Why does she have a feeling she's met him before? How did Anubis end up in my dream? To her frustration, her surroundings began to fade.
Asa awoke with a headache and was feeling very frustrated. Why does she feel she's met Anubis and this Kioten guy before. Why did she dream what she dreamed? It made no sense. None at all. Outside, the birds were chirping merrily. Crystal was sound asleep in the other bed. Asa looked at her watch to find it was 5:00 a.m. She tried to close her eyes and go back to sleep but she only tossed and turned. She gave up on getting anymore sleep and headed downstairs after changing from her night clothes to a white baby-tee with the word `Baby' written on it in pink glitter and a pair of extremely short blue jean shorts.
Anubis had had a similar dream as Asa, but he was fighting Kioten in his dream near a large Weeping Willow tree. After Anubis had defeated him, the last words of the warrior echoed through him like the waves in the ocean, `I will claim one day what is rightfully mine and you will suffer dearly'. He had been having this dream for weeks. Woke up in a sweat each time. Unlike Asa, Anubis knew this dream was once a reality a long time ago. Kioten wanted a young girls hand in marriage only because of an armor she possessed. Anubis was the only thing standing in his way for he was the girl's fiancé . This was just before the time when Anubis was lured into Talpa's control. Anubis lowered his head sadly, he had loved the girl dearly. She must have thought he had hated her when he had disappeared like that. God, he'd do anything to see her again. After these hundred years he still longed to see her face again.
~Later at the beach~
Everyone except Mia and Kayura were at the beach enjoying themselves. Mia and Kayura had decided to stay at the house to try and figure out if there were any other threats besides Talpa they should worry about since Kayura and the ex-warlords have been picking up some bad vibes lately. Mia's grandfathers database in her laptop of the armors had much information about the armors and their past that they all may need to know and may help them figure out what's been bothering Kayura and the others.
Rowen, Kento, Dais, Sekhmet, Ryo, and Sage were playing volleyball. The rest were clowning around in the water. A tall pier was nearby. People were on it fishing.
Cye was jumping into the waves as they rolled past. The girls were chicken fighting. Crystal was on Violets shoulders and on Asa's shoulders were Dawn. The girls couldn't knock each other down so Cale thought it'd be funny to knock all of them down himself and he did. The girls got even by dunking Cale into the water. Violet noticed later than Cale had a scar going across one of his eyes and she asked him how he had gotten it. He just shrugged and said he didn't remember. After on they all sat on the beach on a huge blanket from the house and sunned. Dawn's head rested in Ryo's lap and they talked quietly to each other. Sage had a sand crab in his hand and was taunting Asa with it. Crystal and Cye were watching something out in the water. Violet was watching Cale. Kento was eating. Anubis was looking at Asa with his mouth wide open, eyebrows scrunched up in thought.
Dawn looked up at Ryo, "That night at the club I noticed you got a sad look in your eyes when you mentioned your father. I don't mean to pry or anything but did something happen to him?"
Ryo looked down at her and nodded, "Yeah, he died when I was a kid."
Dawn shifted around so that she was laying on her stomach, head in hands. Her face was a short distance from his, "That's so sad." Ryo just shrugged. He was getting a little uncomfortable because he wasn't used to talking about it. Dawn moved again so that she was now sitting in his lap, facing him, "You want to talk about it?" she asked. Ryo shook his head no. "Well, if you ever do just let me know okay?". Ryo nodded. Dawn kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Sage held the crab an inch from Asa's face and she squealed, "Get it away!" Sage just laughed.
Sekhmet and Dais each held onto of her arms so she couldn't move, they were laughing the whole time. She was pinned to the ground. With all her strength she kicked Sage in the crotch. Now blue in the face, Sage doubled over, falling onto Asa. Dais let go.
"Get off me you big `Shroom Head!" Asa replied. The crab ran up Sekhmet's arm. Surprised, he let go of Asa and slung the crab off himself. Rowen, who had been reading, was now scolding Sage. Sage, who was now red in the face, got off Asa and stood up.
"Sorry about that." Sage said. He then winced, "God, you didn't have to kick me."
"I did to!" Asa said, "You deserved it.". Sage playfully tossed a handful of sand at her.
Asa stood to chase Sage off the blanket but Rowen grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back down.
"Did you sleep okay Asa?" Rowen asked.
"No, actually not." Asa answered, "I had a real weird dream."
"Really? About what?" Rowen asked.
Asa looked over at Anubis and replied, "Anubis was in it...."
"What?" Anubis was surprised, as was Rowen. Anubis asked, "What was it like?"
Asa explained her dream to them and Rowen was biting his lip, thinking about it. Anubis paled, "Are you sure the guys name was Kioten that I was fighting?"
Asa nodded, "Yeah. I mean, I didn't hear him say his name or anything...it just popped into my head as I was watching."
"You do look very much like her." Anubis stated out loud, more to himself than to the others. Everyone's interest had turned to Asa's dream. Rowen was trying to analyze it but couldn't make any sense of it.
"Like who?" Asa asked.
Anubis blushed slightly, "It doesn't matter right now. I had the same dream as you did Asa but I was, of course, fighting Kioten."
This time, it was Asa's turn to pale, "You're joking....right?"
Anubis shook his head no.
"How is that possible?" Asa asked.
"It actually happened...in the past." Anubis answered.
"What?" Asa then laughed, "Come on, how can we both dream the same dream about something that happened in the past? Besides, I don't believe in people having past lives."
"I never mentioned having past lives." Anubis replied.
"Then how..."
"It's a long story Asa but I think you may be in trouble." Anubis said.
"We've been picking up on some strange vibes lately." Dais said.
"Strange vibes?" Crystal asked.
"What are you guys?" Violet asked, "Some kind of psychics or something?"
Cale chuckled, "No, but it would be a tough thing to explain to you four girls right now."
"Start explaining." Dawn demanded.
"When the time is right." Sekhmet replied.
"Since you both dreamed about a person named Kioten, maybe this person is who we need to look out for." Rowen stated.
"Yeah," Ryo agreed, cracking his knuckles, "I bet you Kioten is on his way."
Anubis sighed, "I have no doubt in my mind that the bastard is on his way."
"So we need to come up with a plan." Sage replied. (AN: very typical thing for Sage to say, eh? :)
"We'll crush him like a bug!" Kento exclaimed.
Asa was freaking out, "I'm getting scared. That dream is scaring me, the fact that Anubis had the same dream and is claiming it to have actually happened is scaring me, the idea of someone coming after us is scaring me, and all this secrecy is scaring me. If someone doesn't start explaining things soon I'm gonna have an anxiety attack or something."
Violet groaned, "You already are Stardust."
"We can't discuss this out here, we need to go back to the house." Cye said, and all the guys agreed.
"Let's go NOW." Asa said.
~the house~
As soon as the girls entered the house they wanted to know then and there what was going on . "You know, you probably won't believe us." Rowen said.
"You never know until you tell us." Dawn replied.
Cye sighed and looked at each of the guys, "So, who wants to be the one to tell them about us?"
"All I care to know is why the heck someone is after me." Asa said.
Ryo shrugged, "I'll tell them." Ryo proceeded to explain to Crystal, Violet, Dawn, and Asa about the nine mystical armors worn by the guys and about the ordeal they all went through last summer defeating Talpa. Rowen would add his two bits into the story every now and then.
Violet was very skeptical, "Lovely little story, but I don't believe a word of it."
"I knew it'd be hard for you to believe, that's why I'm going to do what I'm about to do." Ryo said.
"And what is that?" Crystal asked.
Ryo smirked, "Give me a minute and I'll show you." Ryo transformed quickly into his armor. Crystal, Asa, Violet, and Dawn were stunned into silence.
Dawn's tongue was practically hanging out of her mouth, "Wow...you've gotta wear that more often."
Crystal soon came to her senses, "Uh, how the heck did you do that?"
"So, can all of you guys do this?" Violet asked. Sage nodded.
Asa groaned, "That doesn't explain why some psycho may possibly be after me!"
"Now that, I don't know." Ryo admitted.
Asa began to whine, "Do ANY of you have even the slightest clue why?"
"Yes Asa, I do." Anubis said, finally speaking up.
"Please clue me in!" Asa replied.
"Can we talk upstairs?" Anubis asked.
Asa nodded and they were halfway to the stairs when Cye stopped them, "Why can't the rest of us know why?"
"Because, Torrent, this is rather personal." Anubis said, "I'll tell the rest of you later. Right now I need to help Asa out."
~Anubis's room~
Anubis and Asa walked upstairs and into his room, he closed the door behind them. Asa sat down on Sekhmet's bed; Anubis sat facing her on his bed.
"So..." Anubis began.
"So tell me already!" Asa exclaimed, "Please!"
"Shhh!" Anubis said, "Calm down Asa." He then shook his head, slightly amused, "You act just like her."
"Like who?" Asa asked.
"Ayeka, the last person known to have worn the Armor of Starlight, and she was my future wife. Your ancestor too...I'm guessing. I know you have possession of the armor because I can see it in you, and the armor is passed down through the generations usually."
Asa bit her lip, "I did have a great great grandmother from Japan named Ayeka Tomoe. She moved here when she was in her thirties with my great great grandfather."
"You look so much like her too that it pains me to look at you sometimes." Anubis admitted.
"You must have really loved her." Asa said and Anubis nodded. Asa continued, "About all that Ryo said in the den...it is all true?"
Anubis nodded again, "Yes. Dais, Cale, Sekhmet, Kayura, and I had been brainwashed by Talpa and he used our armors for his own evil deeds. I never meant to leave Ayeka."
"I can see how much you cared for her." Asa replied.
"It wasn't until Ryo, Sage, Cye, Kento, and Rowen destroyed Talpa that the five of us came to our senses...I found myself in a new era and without Ayeka."
"Who and why do you think someone is out to kill me?" Asa asked.
"Think back to the dream you and I both had." Anubis replied.
"Kioten?" Asa asked and Anubis nodded, "I didn't really understand what he meant by what he said before you killed him...and, hey, if you killed him how is he a threat now? "
"He's after your armor." Anubis said.
"My armor? Oh...the Starlight armor...." Asa replied.
Anubis shrugged, "My guess is someone gave him immortality."
Asa sighed, "We don't even know if Kioten is a threat right now. It's not like he has shown up or anything."
"That's true," Anubis agreed, "But I, as well as the others, have felt his presence."
Asa groaned, "What a summer vacation this has turned out to be."
There was a knock at the door and Rowen peeked in, "You two, it's time for lunch."
Anubis nodded and stood up, obviously on his way downstairs. Asa stood but she was not heading towards the kitchen, instead, she walked to the window and looked out it at the yard below. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned around to see it was Rowen.
"You gonna eat?" Rowen asked.
Asa nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I'll be down in a minute."
"Hurry down." Rowen replied, "Kento's got quite an appetite, he may eat all of it before long."
Asa laughed, "Well, if he does you and I can go out to eat somewhere else."
Rowen smiled, "I'd like that." He kissed her on the cheek and left the room. Asa followed soon after.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, did you like this chapter? Huh? Huh? Huh? Lemme know what you think of it darnit!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Asa Date
Chapter Five: Armor of Starlight
Email: stratasgirl@hotmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Disclaimer: The Ronins do not belong to me, though I deeply wish they did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weatherman on T.V. had said it would be another sunny day. Boy was he wrong, dark clouds were settling in the sky at a rapid pace. Soon the whole sky was pitch black. Street lights had turned on. It was as if it were nighttime, only it was actually two o' clock in the afternoon. The wind had picked up speed to an amazing 35 mph. Palm trees swayed violently in the wind. Rain beat down hard on the house. Mia peeked out the window.
"I sure hope Cye, Dawn, Crystal, and Ryo are okay out there," Mia said.
"I'm sure they're fine." Kento said.
Suddenly lightning struck in the sky, a loud crack of thunder followed shortly after. It scared the heck out of the girls. Asa screeched and dove behind the couch. Violet winced and covered her ears at both the thunder and Asa's scream. Having been standing at the window, Mia ran over to the bottom of the stairs. Having not flinched at all, the guys were laughing.
"It's only a little thunder." Kento said, a smile playing on his lips.
"A little?" Asa said, raising an eyebrow, "It just about scared me to death!"
"It's so close," Violet stated, "Way less than a mile away."
"Something tells me this isn't a normal storm." Sage replied calmly to both Rowen and Kento.
Mia groaned, "Sage, are you sure?"
Violet and Asa watched the four with interest, Violet was the first of the two to speak up, "How isn't it a normal storm?"
Rowen answered, "Well, um, it's kind of a long drawn out story that you probably don't want to hear."
"We've got all the time in the world." Asa said sweetly.
"Maybe some other time." Kento said.
Both girls were extremely stubborn and refused to give up.
"Come on you guys! Please tell us!" Violet replied. The guys and Mia just shook their heads no.
The two grumbled, "No fair." Asa said.
Another loud crack of thunder followed and the electricity went out.
Asa smiled in spite of the situation they were in, "All right! Candle time!"
Violet groaned, "Oh brother, Miss Candle Happy is at it again"
Asa laughed, "So, are there any candles in the house?"
Mia and Asa walked around searching for candles. As soon as they had retrieved four handfuls, they set the candles all over the den and kitchen and lit them. It continued to storm outside. Cye and Crystal ran into the house completely soaked. Ryo and Dawn arrived soon after.
Ryo shook his head, "I have a weird feeling about this. Guys do you think this has to do with the D-"
Sage covered Ryo's mouth, "Don't say it in front of them."
Asa and Violet frowned, Dawn and Crystal looked extremely confused. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light, thought to be lightning but strange enough no sound of thunder was heard after it. A knock at the door followed.
Mia walked cautiously to the front door and opened it, surprised to see it was Kayura and the ex-warlords.
Mia gulped, surprised, "Well, hello. Come in..."
Kayura walked inside from the rain followed by Cale, Anubis, Dais, and Sekhmet.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ryo asked.
Kayura smiled at him, "Even we deserve a little vacation you know."
Cale nodded, agreeing with her, "We were wondering if we could bum a few rooms here."
"Well, um, ah....." Mia began.
"We're kind of full." Cye finished for her, motioning toward the four girls.
Violet spoke up, "We can get another room at the hotel we were at before if you'd like us too."
"Nonsense!" Sage said, rather quickly, "A few people can share a room. It's no big deal."
So, it was decided that Kayura and Mia would share a room, Dawn and Violet would share a room, and Crystal and Asa would share a room so Dais and Cale were roomies in the room Asa was in and Anubis and Sekhmet would be roomies in the room Dawn was in at first.
Asa sensed something familiar about Anubis but she shrugged off the feeling. It was dumb anyway. She was horrified to find out Sekhmet loved snakes and Dais loved spiders.
While the girls were getting to know the four ex-warlords in the den(AN: though they didn't know they were ex-warlords...duh), Ryo had pulled Kayura aside in the kitchen.
"Is there any reason you guys decided to come besides the fact of it being summertime?" he asked.
Kayura hesitated, "We aren't sure what's going on but we know something's about to happen. I keep getting this weird feeling that the armors may be needed again."
Ryo groaned, "You think it's the dynasty?"
Kayura shrugged, "I don't know and it's bugging the hell out of me."
Ryo draped his arm over her shoulder, "Don't worry `bout it Kay. If there's trouble us guys'll take care of it."
Kayura smiled when Ryo called her by her nickname, "You'd better be right Wildfire."
"Aren't I always?" he smirked.
Kayura hit him lightly in the chest and walked back into the den, Ryo followed.
Dais was tormenting Crystal with a spider. Sekhmet was laughing at Crystal. Asa was looking at Sekhmet like he was the biggest moron on the planet. Violet was yelling at Dais to stop and put the spider away. Cale was watching Violet, a goofy grin on his face. Sage was glaring at Cale. Rowen was reading. Mia was reading a journal her grandfather wrote about the legend of the armors, Anubis was peeking over Mia's shoulder. Cye was in the kitchen cooking, Kento hovered around the kitchen like a starving mutt. Dawn was staring out the window. Ryo shook his head, amused at the scene before him, It was going to be one heck of a summer.
Violet got so mad at Dais that she took the spider and squashed it, Dais wasn't too happy about it either.
"Hey, why'd you kill that spider? It didn't do anything to you!" he protested.
"You were taunting Crystal with it, that's why!" Violet replied.
Dais pouted. Crystal sighed, relieved. Sekhmet, still laughing, was close to tears.
Violet turned her attention to him, "And what's so funny?"
Sekhmet continued laughing, unable to stop. A death glare from Violet was enough to shut him up.
"How old are you guys anyway?" Asa asked.
"We're all 23." Cale answered.
Violet snorted, "Sure don't act your age."
"Hey!" Cale protested, "I do. It's just those two knuckle heads who don't." He pointed to Dais and Sekhmet.
The storm continued long into the night. Everyone had since gone to bed. Asa tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having a strange dream.
Asa walked along a small creek in a fairy wooded area. Dogwood trees were in full bloom and the sky was a calm sea of clouds. Her hair had been pulled up into a bun, a few stray strands hung carelessly in front of each ear. She wore a long silver kimono. Spotting a beautiful Weeping Willow tree, she sat down underneath its welcoming shade. Limbs covered with soft leaves hung low, creating a wall around her. Suddenly the serene scene was violated by the sounds of a battle. Her heart rate increased as she listened. Peeking from the safety of the tree she could see two armored men fighting. The name `Kioten' popped into her brain as she watched one of the warriors with black armor that had the symbol of a dragon stretched along the chest-plate. The other warrior, with blue-green armor and long red hair, seemed very familiar to her. She could not figure out how until she got a better look at his face. She gasped, what was Anubis doing in her dream? The battle raged on until
Kioten collapsed on the ground, lifeless. Before he died, she heard him say, "I will return one day to claim what is rightfully mine and you will suffer dearly". Who was Kioten? Why does she have a feeling she's met him before? How did Anubis end up in my dream? To her frustration, her surroundings began to fade.
Asa awoke with a headache and was feeling very frustrated. Why does she feel she's met Anubis and this Kioten guy before. Why did she dream what she dreamed? It made no sense. None at all. Outside, the birds were chirping merrily. Crystal was sound asleep in the other bed. Asa looked at her watch to find it was 5:00 a.m. She tried to close her eyes and go back to sleep but she only tossed and turned. She gave up on getting anymore sleep and headed downstairs after changing from her night clothes to a white baby-tee with the word `Baby' written on it in pink glitter and a pair of extremely short blue jean shorts.
Anubis had had a similar dream as Asa, but he was fighting Kioten in his dream near a large Weeping Willow tree. After Anubis had defeated him, the last words of the warrior echoed through him like the waves in the ocean, `I will claim one day what is rightfully mine and you will suffer dearly'. He had been having this dream for weeks. Woke up in a sweat each time. Unlike Asa, Anubis knew this dream was once a reality a long time ago. Kioten wanted a young girls hand in marriage only because of an armor she possessed. Anubis was the only thing standing in his way for he was the girl's fiancé . This was just before the time when Anubis was lured into Talpa's control. Anubis lowered his head sadly, he had loved the girl dearly. She must have thought he had hated her when he had disappeared like that. God, he'd do anything to see her again. After these hundred years he still longed to see her face again.
~Later at the beach~
Everyone except Mia and Kayura were at the beach enjoying themselves. Mia and Kayura had decided to stay at the house to try and figure out if there were any other threats besides Talpa they should worry about since Kayura and the ex-warlords have been picking up some bad vibes lately. Mia's grandfathers database in her laptop of the armors had much information about the armors and their past that they all may need to know and may help them figure out what's been bothering Kayura and the others.
Rowen, Kento, Dais, Sekhmet, Ryo, and Sage were playing volleyball. The rest were clowning around in the water. A tall pier was nearby. People were on it fishing.
Cye was jumping into the waves as they rolled past. The girls were chicken fighting. Crystal was on Violets shoulders and on Asa's shoulders were Dawn. The girls couldn't knock each other down so Cale thought it'd be funny to knock all of them down himself and he did. The girls got even by dunking Cale into the water. Violet noticed later than Cale had a scar going across one of his eyes and she asked him how he had gotten it. He just shrugged and said he didn't remember. After on they all sat on the beach on a huge blanket from the house and sunned. Dawn's head rested in Ryo's lap and they talked quietly to each other. Sage had a sand crab in his hand and was taunting Asa with it. Crystal and Cye were watching something out in the water. Violet was watching Cale. Kento was eating. Anubis was looking at Asa with his mouth wide open, eyebrows scrunched up in thought.
Dawn looked up at Ryo, "That night at the club I noticed you got a sad look in your eyes when you mentioned your father. I don't mean to pry or anything but did something happen to him?"
Ryo looked down at her and nodded, "Yeah, he died when I was a kid."
Dawn shifted around so that she was laying on her stomach, head in hands. Her face was a short distance from his, "That's so sad." Ryo just shrugged. He was getting a little uncomfortable because he wasn't used to talking about it. Dawn moved again so that she was now sitting in his lap, facing him, "You want to talk about it?" she asked. Ryo shook his head no. "Well, if you ever do just let me know okay?". Ryo nodded. Dawn kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Sage held the crab an inch from Asa's face and she squealed, "Get it away!" Sage just laughed.
Sekhmet and Dais each held onto of her arms so she couldn't move, they were laughing the whole time. She was pinned to the ground. With all her strength she kicked Sage in the crotch. Now blue in the face, Sage doubled over, falling onto Asa. Dais let go.
"Get off me you big `Shroom Head!" Asa replied. The crab ran up Sekhmet's arm. Surprised, he let go of Asa and slung the crab off himself. Rowen, who had been reading, was now scolding Sage. Sage, who was now red in the face, got off Asa and stood up.
"Sorry about that." Sage said. He then winced, "God, you didn't have to kick me."
"I did to!" Asa said, "You deserved it.". Sage playfully tossed a handful of sand at her.
Asa stood to chase Sage off the blanket but Rowen grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back down.
"Did you sleep okay Asa?" Rowen asked.
"No, actually not." Asa answered, "I had a real weird dream."
"Really? About what?" Rowen asked.
Asa looked over at Anubis and replied, "Anubis was in it...."
"What?" Anubis was surprised, as was Rowen. Anubis asked, "What was it like?"
Asa explained her dream to them and Rowen was biting his lip, thinking about it. Anubis paled, "Are you sure the guys name was Kioten that I was fighting?"
Asa nodded, "Yeah. I mean, I didn't hear him say his name or anything...it just popped into my head as I was watching."
"You do look very much like her." Anubis stated out loud, more to himself than to the others. Everyone's interest had turned to Asa's dream. Rowen was trying to analyze it but couldn't make any sense of it.
"Like who?" Asa asked.
Anubis blushed slightly, "It doesn't matter right now. I had the same dream as you did Asa but I was, of course, fighting Kioten."
This time, it was Asa's turn to pale, "You're joking....right?"
Anubis shook his head no.
"How is that possible?" Asa asked.
"It actually happened...in the past." Anubis answered.
"What?" Asa then laughed, "Come on, how can we both dream the same dream about something that happened in the past? Besides, I don't believe in people having past lives."
"I never mentioned having past lives." Anubis replied.
"Then how..."
"It's a long story Asa but I think you may be in trouble." Anubis said.
"We've been picking up on some strange vibes lately." Dais said.
"Strange vibes?" Crystal asked.
"What are you guys?" Violet asked, "Some kind of psychics or something?"
Cale chuckled, "No, but it would be a tough thing to explain to you four girls right now."
"Start explaining." Dawn demanded.
"When the time is right." Sekhmet replied.
"Since you both dreamed about a person named Kioten, maybe this person is who we need to look out for." Rowen stated.
"Yeah," Ryo agreed, cracking his knuckles, "I bet you Kioten is on his way."
Anubis sighed, "I have no doubt in my mind that the bastard is on his way."
"So we need to come up with a plan." Sage replied. (AN: very typical thing for Sage to say, eh? :)
"We'll crush him like a bug!" Kento exclaimed.
Asa was freaking out, "I'm getting scared. That dream is scaring me, the fact that Anubis had the same dream and is claiming it to have actually happened is scaring me, the idea of someone coming after us is scaring me, and all this secrecy is scaring me. If someone doesn't start explaining things soon I'm gonna have an anxiety attack or something."
Violet groaned, "You already are Stardust."
"We can't discuss this out here, we need to go back to the house." Cye said, and all the guys agreed.
"Let's go NOW." Asa said.
~the house~
As soon as the girls entered the house they wanted to know then and there what was going on . "You know, you probably won't believe us." Rowen said.
"You never know until you tell us." Dawn replied.
Cye sighed and looked at each of the guys, "So, who wants to be the one to tell them about us?"
"All I care to know is why the heck someone is after me." Asa said.
Ryo shrugged, "I'll tell them." Ryo proceeded to explain to Crystal, Violet, Dawn, and Asa about the nine mystical armors worn by the guys and about the ordeal they all went through last summer defeating Talpa. Rowen would add his two bits into the story every now and then.
Violet was very skeptical, "Lovely little story, but I don't believe a word of it."
"I knew it'd be hard for you to believe, that's why I'm going to do what I'm about to do." Ryo said.
"And what is that?" Crystal asked.
Ryo smirked, "Give me a minute and I'll show you." Ryo transformed quickly into his armor. Crystal, Asa, Violet, and Dawn were stunned into silence.
Dawn's tongue was practically hanging out of her mouth, "Wow...you've gotta wear that more often."
Crystal soon came to her senses, "Uh, how the heck did you do that?"
"So, can all of you guys do this?" Violet asked. Sage nodded.
Asa groaned, "That doesn't explain why some psycho may possibly be after me!"
"Now that, I don't know." Ryo admitted.
Asa began to whine, "Do ANY of you have even the slightest clue why?"
"Yes Asa, I do." Anubis said, finally speaking up.
"Please clue me in!" Asa replied.
"Can we talk upstairs?" Anubis asked.
Asa nodded and they were halfway to the stairs when Cye stopped them, "Why can't the rest of us know why?"
"Because, Torrent, this is rather personal." Anubis said, "I'll tell the rest of you later. Right now I need to help Asa out."
~Anubis's room~
Anubis and Asa walked upstairs and into his room, he closed the door behind them. Asa sat down on Sekhmet's bed; Anubis sat facing her on his bed.
"So..." Anubis began.
"So tell me already!" Asa exclaimed, "Please!"
"Shhh!" Anubis said, "Calm down Asa." He then shook his head, slightly amused, "You act just like her."
"Like who?" Asa asked.
"Ayeka, the last person known to have worn the Armor of Starlight, and she was my future wife. Your ancestor too...I'm guessing. I know you have possession of the armor because I can see it in you, and the armor is passed down through the generations usually."
Asa bit her lip, "I did have a great great grandmother from Japan named Ayeka Tomoe. She moved here when she was in her thirties with my great great grandfather."
"You look so much like her too that it pains me to look at you sometimes." Anubis admitted.
"You must have really loved her." Asa said and Anubis nodded. Asa continued, "About all that Ryo said in the den...it is all true?"
Anubis nodded again, "Yes. Dais, Cale, Sekhmet, Kayura, and I had been brainwashed by Talpa and he used our armors for his own evil deeds. I never meant to leave Ayeka."
"I can see how much you cared for her." Asa replied.
"It wasn't until Ryo, Sage, Cye, Kento, and Rowen destroyed Talpa that the five of us came to our senses...I found myself in a new era and without Ayeka."
"Who and why do you think someone is out to kill me?" Asa asked.
"Think back to the dream you and I both had." Anubis replied.
"Kioten?" Asa asked and Anubis nodded, "I didn't really understand what he meant by what he said before you killed him...and, hey, if you killed him how is he a threat now? "
"He's after your armor." Anubis said.
"My armor? Oh...the Starlight armor...." Asa replied.
Anubis shrugged, "My guess is someone gave him immortality."
Asa sighed, "We don't even know if Kioten is a threat right now. It's not like he has shown up or anything."
"That's true," Anubis agreed, "But I, as well as the others, have felt his presence."
Asa groaned, "What a summer vacation this has turned out to be."
There was a knock at the door and Rowen peeked in, "You two, it's time for lunch."
Anubis nodded and stood up, obviously on his way downstairs. Asa stood but she was not heading towards the kitchen, instead, she walked to the window and looked out it at the yard below. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned around to see it was Rowen.
"You gonna eat?" Rowen asked.
Asa nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I'll be down in a minute."
"Hurry down." Rowen replied, "Kento's got quite an appetite, he may eat all of it before long."
Asa laughed, "Well, if he does you and I can go out to eat somewhere else."
Rowen smiled, "I'd like that." He kissed her on the cheek and left the room. Asa followed soon after.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, did you like this chapter? Huh? Huh? Huh? Lemme know what you think of it darnit!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------