A girl other than Reia brought the food out, and the same girl brought the check.
"Hey, where's that girl who took our order?" Sage asked as he collected the money everyone had tossed onto the table and handed it all in a big wad to the waitress.
"Um... who took your order?" The girl asked as she stuffed the money into the pouch on her belt.
"Her name was Reia," Kento said.
"Oh, Reia. New gal, kind of keeps to herself. Her shift ends in five minutes." And with that, the brunette was gone. Sage smiled and said if Reia wouldn't agree to see him, he'd track that waitress down.
When they left the building, Sage parted from the group, saying he was going to wait around for Reia. Rowen went in another direction from the group as well.
"Hey, Rowen?" Mia called, the breeze whipping her brown hair in several directions. "Where are you going?"
"Take a walk. Think. Don't worry about me, I'll find my own way back to campus," Rowen called over his shoulder as he thrust his hands into his pockets and went off.
"Should we pick you up after class?" Ryo asked.
"Nah. I'll walk home," Rowen called just before disappearing around a corner.
Reia scrubbed most of the makeup off of her face and took her hair out of the buns and braids, letting it cascade in wavy curls down to her waist. She tied it back in a hasty ponytail with a black scrunchie and changed out of the red dress into a wrinkled, tight pair of faded jeans and a black tank top.
"I'll see you later," She called to another waitress as she left, not even bothering to check who the girl was.
As she left the restaurant through an alley door she became aware of a presence. She saw a boy about her age leaning against the wall several yards away, wild blond hair flopping over his right eye. He looked like he was waiting for someone.
"That's one of the guys who was with him," She said to herself, silently fingering the picture in her pocket.
She walked past him, trying not to attract attention to herself. She wasn't ready to confront any of the Ronin Warriors. Especially not Rowen. That had to come later.
"Oh, hey!" The boy called as she walked past him. She turned back to look at him, surprised he recognized her.
"Hi, I'm Sage," He said with a smile, extending his hand. She stared at it.
"I was in there, in the restaurant. I just wanted to let you know you're the best waitress I ever had!" His grin widened; she finally grasped his hand to shake it.
"I only took your order," She said with confusion. He didn't let go of her hand. ~ Good grief, this guy isn't coming on to me, is he? ~ She thought to herself.
Seeing the uncomfortable look appearing on Reia's face, Sage released her hand. She casually wiped the sweat onto the back of her jeans.
"So... I was wondering, since you've been working hard today and all, if you wanted to go for some coffee or something," Sage said, putting on his best charming smile.
"Look, ah, Sage, is it?... You're very sweet, but I'm kind of busy today," She said, edging past him.
"Well, OK, if that's how you feel," Sage replied with a shrug. "Say, where are you staying? I haven't seen you around... something about you just doesn't say 'local'."
Reia stopped and turned to face Sage again. "I... I'm an exchange student," She lied.
"Really? Cool, from where?" Sage asked, seemingly eager to know.
She thought about it for a minute before answering, "China."
"Well, you speak excellent Japanese," Sage complimented, bowing. "And I must say you're the prettiest Chinese girl I've ever seen."
Reia blushed and stammered to find a few words. "Well, actually, I am Japanese... My parents are both Japanese, and I was born on, ah..." It took her a minute to try and think of Japan's geography, "I was born in Yokohama. But I grew up in China."
That actually wasn't an entire lie; Reia did grow up in China, transferring back to Neo-Tokyo City at the age of 14, but 13 years of her life were spent in Beijing.
"So, you're staying with a Japanese family?" Sage asked, casually leaning against the wall again.
"...You can say that," Reia responded after a brief hesitation. Actually, she was sleeping wherever she could, she had recently landed a place a Women's Youth Hostile.
"Well, look at the time," Reia exclaimed, looking at her watch to break the uncomfortable silence and tear her eyes from Sage's gaze. "Maybe... I'll see you later," She added quickly for finally making her escape.
"Hopefully," Sage called after her.
~ Something's not right with her. She dodged most of my questions and didn't tell me all the truth, ~ Sage thought darkly. The Warrior of Light was better at seeing through people than his personality put out. ~ Not to mention she didn't want to go out with me, ~ He added, somewhat disappointed. He took one last wistful glance at Reia walking away. One hand in her pocket, head kind of down. Dark blue hair whipping in the breeze. For some reason, he thought of Rowen just then.
Rowen sighed and brushed a leaf from his hair that had fallen from the trees above him. He finally settled down on a bench. He looked around at other people in the park. Children playing in the sandbox, a teenage couple shyly walking around aimlessly hand in hand, an old man with three dogs, and lastly a young couple, probably newlyweds, sitting on a bench across from him, cuddling a small bundle wrapped in a blanket.
Rowen wondered if he could ever have what these people have. A normal life, a wife, kids... a full time job that he got paid for rather than the one he had at the moment of protecting the world and depending on Mia for a large part of his financial support. He was pretty sure the other guys felt that way often; he knew he did. Another part of him wondered if he really wanted a change in his life.
He found his mind drifting to the girl from the restaurant, the waitress, Reia. ~ What am I doing?! ~ He wondered to himself. ~ I shouldn't be thinking about her at all... Aw, heck, maybe the others are right, maybe I really do have a crush... ~
"What is up with me?" Rowen said aloud. A few people gave him strange looks.
He looked at his watch. 1:45. He had class in 15 minutes, and he dared not be late. Jumping over the bench, he took off at a sprint, hoping he could catch a bus. He caught one at the last minute, and made it back to class on time.
Thankfully, class ended an hour early. Rowen usually relished his time in class, him being the top student, and reading being his true love. But today his mind was preoccupied, and he had left his stuff in Mia's jeep, causing himself to get berated by the professor. The other students found his situation quite humorous. Rowen was itching to get out of the room that day.
Rowen left campus cursing and mentally slapping himself. ~I can't believe I let some chick at a Chinese restaurant occupy my brain all afternoon...!~ He thought angrily as he boarded a bus to get to the outskirts of town; he could walk the rest of the way back to Mia's place.
Reia smiled, in bliss for the first time since she found herself landed in the 20th century. The forest was beautiful, the foliage allowed only thin streams of clear, prefect light to penetrate, creating dazzling pictures, combinations of light, shadow, and color on the forest floor. She walked until she found a rock jutting over a stream, a waterfall behind it; a great place to meditate. It had been an exciting, but stressful day.
Meanwhile, in the black depths of the Nether World, Talpa sat on his throne. He sat there, his throne, his place as King of the evil realm... but he was a prisoner there. Five chains bound him to his throne, preventing him from moving, or using any power. Five chains. Around his legs, a gold chain glowing with the kanji of justice. His waist was bound by a light blue chain glowing with trust. Around his arms, a darker blue glowing as life force. His shoulders were bound with a green chain, a silent, pulsating glow of wisdom. And around his neck, a red chain, virtue.
"How are you today, my lord?" A Nether Spirit asked, floating up to Talpa's side.
"How goes your works on getting me out of here to exact my revenge on the Ronin Warriors?" Talpa asked in a low, threatening voice.
"Um... well..." The spirit trailed off.
"Master!" A spirit called, rushing into the throne room and bowing before Talpa.
"What is it?" Talpa hissed.
"News, Master. We detect a Ronin Warrior on Earth!"
"You idiot!" Talpa roared. "I know there are FIVE Ronin Warriors on Earth! Who do you think has me prisoner in my own realm?!"
"No, Sir... It's a girl." The spirit exclaimed frantically, waving his hands. An image appeared over a candle flame of Reia meditating at the stream's edge.
Talpa smiled inwardly. The two spirits fidgeted nervously. "She's returned," Talpa murmured.
"R- Returned, Master?" The first spirit asked meekly.
Talpa chuckled. "I can't believe it! My master plan to destroy the Ronin Warriors fails with their sudden defeat of me, and Kayura betraying me, and now, the end result is back, in this time, full grown and powered no less!" Talpa let out a full throated guffaw. The two spirits began to laugh with him, but nervously.
Talpa suddenly stopped laughing. "You laugh at me?!" He roared.
"Aiiieee! No! Of course not, Master!" The second spirit wailed, groveling at Talpa's chained feet.
"Kill her! Eliminate her! I don't care if you have to send out a hundred soldiers, I want the girl's head!" Talpa shrieked as the two spirits floated out as fast as they could go.
"Wait!" Talpa cried suddenly. The second spirit stopped, almost shaking.
"I want you to organize an army of soldiers and Nether Spirits. I want you to find and retrieve a few deserters... my former Warlords, Cayle, Dais, and Sehkmet. Bring that traitorous wench Kayura as well. I will need them if I am going to successfully overcome this new threat to my empire."
"Y-Yes, Milord," The spirit squawked before fleeing in the same fashion at the other one.
Reia opened her eyes suddenly, her meditation disturbed by a sound not native to these woods. The footsteps of several people... and the clanking of armor.
"Oh, shi- ACK!" Reia's curse under her breath was cut off by a strong, bulky arm wrapping around her neck. She only had enough breath for one scream.
Rowen hadn't gotten very far into the woods before he heard it... a scream. A young girl's strangled cry. Someone in trouble. He didn't hesitate long before running towards the sound, crashing through the foliage rather ungracefully in the effort for speed. He fell down once, and when he got up to continue running, as he could still hear the cries, only they were fading, and his leg screamed with pain with every step.
Reia heaved with all her strength and managed to get the first soldier off of her. Being very weak, she avoided another blow by accident when she fell down, rolled down the rock, and fell into the stream. She gasped and struggled to get out of the water... and ended up falling into deeper water and being pulled under by currents because of an ill placed kick from a soldier.
Her vision swimming and head spinning, she searched numbly for something to grab under the water. Her sense of direction was messed up and she knew she'd drown if she didn't do something. She hit a rock suddenly and broke the surface, gasping and sputtering. The soldiers had not lost her, they were coming for her again. She was in pain, and weak. She knew she couldn't fight them all.
Rowen broke into the clearing where the stream was... and recoiled in horror and anger at what he saw... several Dynasty Soldiers, attacking a wet, bedraggled and beaten looking girl. She ran along the banks of the stream, splashing, tripping and falling, getting up and running again. Desperately and weakly avoiding and blocking blows. Her long blue hair hung tangled down her back and clung to her forehead in a bloody mess.
Rowen felt his blood boiling, rising in anger.
"Hey!" Rowen shouted, chucking the biggest rock he could find at the nearest soldier. "Why don't you creeps pick on someone your own size?!"
As he rushed the nearest soldier to him, his clothes transformed into the dark blue and white suit of body armor.
After defeating a few soldiers, it became clear he couldn't keep this up for long. He began slowing down, and his leg began to protest further activity again. More blows landed on him than he would have liked...
Reia picked herself up off the ground and shook her head to clear her vision. The Dynasty soldiers had stopped attacking... but why? Then she saw they were all ganged up on Rowen, who was trying to fight them all. She wanted to scream at him to transform... but she couldn't find the strength or the courage to admit she knew anything. ~ You fool... why don't you?! ~ She thought desperately before weakly falling back onto the ground.
"A- Armor of Strata!... Dao Inochi!!!" Rowen finally cried, holding his hands in the air. The cherry blossoms drifted into the air from nowhere. Reia had the others transform into their armor before, and she had done it herself, many times, in the future she came from. But somehow it was more breathtaking this time.
"OK now I'm ready to rumble with you guys!" Rowen shouted, jumping backwards and grabbing his bow as it materialized in the air in front of him.
Reia felt a new strength flowing into her she groaned and painfully stood up... but her legs felt strong. Her forehead was warm, tingling... she figured her kanji was burning. This had never happened before... It had to be being around Rowen...
"ARROW... SHOCK... WAVE!!!" Rowen cried, releasing his special attack on the soldiers. It was only then that he noticed Reia standing behind the soldiers... in the path of the wave.
~ Oh my God!!! ~ Reia and Rowen thought simultaneously as they both realized what was about to happen. Rowen tried to make a jump for her, she only put her arms out in front of her. Rowen reached her just as the shock wave did... He grabbed her and tried to throw her down, the wave hitting him in the back, sending them both flying.
Reia's eyes flashed white as her feet hit the ground again rather than falling on her back with Rowen on top of her. She quickly built a large force field around them, the brunt of Rowen's wave hitting her force field. The result: Big energy explosion. This time they did hit the ground, although relatively uninjured. Not surprising for Rowen to be in good shape, but Reia, an unarmed 16 year old girl?
They laid on the ground for several minutes before moving. Reia opened her eyes and painfully lifted her head. The trees all around her destroyed, rocks blown up, and they were in a huge crater. Rowen was sprawled over her, seemingly unconscious.
"Good God," Reia exclaimed, looking around. She sat up to get a better look of things, holding Rowen's head in her lap.
"Are you OK?" She whispered, brushing some hair back from his face. "Wake up!"
"Oh... augh... God, where am I?..." Rowen mumbled as he opened his eyes. They widened in alarm as he realized he did not recognize his surroundings. "What the-" He cried, sitting up. "Who are you?! What happened here?"
Reia quickly put on a "hysterical-not-too-bright-damsel-in-distress" demeanor. She wasn't a bad actress.
"Oh, oh my God, there were all there horrible guys, and they jumped me, and then you came and fought them, and there were lights, and explosions, and, Ohmygod it was so scary!" She cried all in one breath before bursting into theatrical tears.
"Um... Oh jeez," Rowen stammered. The Armor of Strata faded back into his regular clothes. "Hey, girl, don't cry or anything. It's OK now, all right?" He put his hands on her shoulders to try to comfort her.
It was hard for Reia not to grin. ~ He bought it, hook, line, and sinker, ~ She thought with smug satisfaction.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Rowen said, trying to stand up. He cried out in pain and fell back to his knees.
"You're not going anywhere on that leg," Reia exclaimed, putting her hand on the calf of the injured knee. "Feels like you pulled a muscle," She observed. "Trying to save me..." She added finally. "I'm sorry."
They made eye contact again. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Rowen muttered. ~ Too creepy. She looks just like me... and why were those soldiers attacking her? ~
"Come on, then," Reia said, standing up. She offered a hand to Rowen. "I think I can help you along. You don't look so heavy now that you got your armor off."
"No, I can walk-" Rowen groaned and almost collapsed again, but Reia quickly slipped an arm around him to hold him up.
It took a little effort to get out of the crater, what with Rowen's bad leg, and Reia being physically smaller and weaker than Rowen, she could not just pull him out of the hole, and he could not just climb out. They finally reached ground level muddy and tired. She was glad no one else had been around to witness the spectacle.
"No what?" She gasped, breathing heavily. "We're in the middle of the forest, you're hurt, and I don't think I can support you for very long."
"My friends will show up eventually," Rowen said, rolling over onto his side. "So I guess we just wait."
"Wait, huh?" Reia responded, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
"So what were you doing out here anyway?" Rowen asked after a long period of uncomfortable silence.
"I could ask you the same question," Reia responded sharply.
"I was going back to where I stay," Rowen replied, figuring there was no good reason to keep it a secret.
"You live out here?" Reia whispered, looking around. "You're lucky."
Rowen shook his head. "I dunno... I feel like I'm mooching. Me an' the guys, we're staying at a friend's house. She's practically supporting us."
"The guys?" Reia asked. She knew who he was talking about, but she was still acting.
"My friends," Rowen answered. He looked at Reia closely. "You're that waitress from the Chinese restaurant, aren't you?"
She nodded. "I came out here to clear my head... think, meditate, you know... so... those guys you were with, I assume those are the friends you were talking about? And that girl must own the house you're staying at, am I right?"
Rowen nodded. "Mia does a lot for us... we're all really grateful to her."
"Tell me about your friends," Reia said. She was tempted to say, "The Ronin Warriors," But she knew she could not.
So Rowen took the time to fill in Reia about the personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. about the other Ronin Warriors. It did not escape him how she was hanging on his every word, actually paying attention.
"You know... I think my leg's a little better now," Rowen finally commented at the end of his descriptions. He stood up weakly but did not fall.
"It's getting dark," Reia observed, looking up at the sky. "I still don't think you can make it home by yourself."
"And you shouldn't go off alone," Rowen replied.
"Rowen should be back by now," Mia commented, leaning over Cye's shoulder to look out the window of the kitchen.
"You know Rowen... probably stopped by the library after class and lost track of time," Cye laughed. "Watch out, Mia, I'm going to open the oven."
"You really don't have to cook every night, Cye... you're a guest in my house," Mia said as she moved aside so Cye could open up the oven and check on his lasagna.
"A guest who's been crashing at your house for almost a year now?" Cye responded. "It's the least I can do. Besides, you know how much I enjoy it..."
"Still..." Mia protested.
"And besides... the guys took a vote and decided they prefer me to cook," Cye continued with a smirk.
"My cooking is just fine, just ask Kento," Mia cried, punching Cye playfully in the arm.
"Kento would eat his own armor if he got hungry enough," Cye muttered.
"I heard that," Mia responded, trying not to laugh.
"Hey that's not true!" Kento cried, coming up behind them. "Ooh, I smell Cye's special lasagna!" Kento bent down to peer into the oven window.
"In a half an hour, you bottomless pit," Cye exclaimed, politely moving Kento out of the way. "Why don't you go... I don't know, wash up or something?"
"Yes, mother," Kento replied, adding a sarcastic bow before sauntering out of the kitchen.
Kento went into the living room and passed Sage, who was laying on the couch listening to a Heart Brigade CD on his Diskman... and singing along.
"Don't quit the day job," Kento shouted, plucking the headphones from Sage's ears. Sage only laughed and put the headphones back on, making a face at Kento.
"All I wanna do..." Sage sang with the CD. Kento shrugged and went to the stairs.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Ryo called, coming halfway down the stairs as Kento was halfway up.
"In a little while, you guys," Mia called, coming out of the kitchen. Suddenly the front door burst open and Rowen and a young woman staggered in, both dirty, injured, and tired looking.
"All I wanna do is make love to you- Oh my God!" Sage cried, jolted out of his little musical daydream. He whipped the headphones off and sat up in alarm.
"Rowen!" Mia cried. "What happened to you?!"
Cye came out of the kitchen then, staring at the scene before him in disbelief. "Um... should I set an extra place for dinner?" Was the only thing he could come up with to say.
"Hey, where's that girl who took our order?" Sage asked as he collected the money everyone had tossed onto the table and handed it all in a big wad to the waitress.
"Um... who took your order?" The girl asked as she stuffed the money into the pouch on her belt.
"Her name was Reia," Kento said.
"Oh, Reia. New gal, kind of keeps to herself. Her shift ends in five minutes." And with that, the brunette was gone. Sage smiled and said if Reia wouldn't agree to see him, he'd track that waitress down.
When they left the building, Sage parted from the group, saying he was going to wait around for Reia. Rowen went in another direction from the group as well.
"Hey, Rowen?" Mia called, the breeze whipping her brown hair in several directions. "Where are you going?"
"Take a walk. Think. Don't worry about me, I'll find my own way back to campus," Rowen called over his shoulder as he thrust his hands into his pockets and went off.
"Should we pick you up after class?" Ryo asked.
"Nah. I'll walk home," Rowen called just before disappearing around a corner.
Reia scrubbed most of the makeup off of her face and took her hair out of the buns and braids, letting it cascade in wavy curls down to her waist. She tied it back in a hasty ponytail with a black scrunchie and changed out of the red dress into a wrinkled, tight pair of faded jeans and a black tank top.
"I'll see you later," She called to another waitress as she left, not even bothering to check who the girl was.
As she left the restaurant through an alley door she became aware of a presence. She saw a boy about her age leaning against the wall several yards away, wild blond hair flopping over his right eye. He looked like he was waiting for someone.
"That's one of the guys who was with him," She said to herself, silently fingering the picture in her pocket.
She walked past him, trying not to attract attention to herself. She wasn't ready to confront any of the Ronin Warriors. Especially not Rowen. That had to come later.
"Oh, hey!" The boy called as she walked past him. She turned back to look at him, surprised he recognized her.
"Hi, I'm Sage," He said with a smile, extending his hand. She stared at it.
"I was in there, in the restaurant. I just wanted to let you know you're the best waitress I ever had!" His grin widened; she finally grasped his hand to shake it.
"I only took your order," She said with confusion. He didn't let go of her hand. ~ Good grief, this guy isn't coming on to me, is he? ~ She thought to herself.
Seeing the uncomfortable look appearing on Reia's face, Sage released her hand. She casually wiped the sweat onto the back of her jeans.
"So... I was wondering, since you've been working hard today and all, if you wanted to go for some coffee or something," Sage said, putting on his best charming smile.
"Look, ah, Sage, is it?... You're very sweet, but I'm kind of busy today," She said, edging past him.
"Well, OK, if that's how you feel," Sage replied with a shrug. "Say, where are you staying? I haven't seen you around... something about you just doesn't say 'local'."
Reia stopped and turned to face Sage again. "I... I'm an exchange student," She lied.
"Really? Cool, from where?" Sage asked, seemingly eager to know.
She thought about it for a minute before answering, "China."
"Well, you speak excellent Japanese," Sage complimented, bowing. "And I must say you're the prettiest Chinese girl I've ever seen."
Reia blushed and stammered to find a few words. "Well, actually, I am Japanese... My parents are both Japanese, and I was born on, ah..." It took her a minute to try and think of Japan's geography, "I was born in Yokohama. But I grew up in China."
That actually wasn't an entire lie; Reia did grow up in China, transferring back to Neo-Tokyo City at the age of 14, but 13 years of her life were spent in Beijing.
"So, you're staying with a Japanese family?" Sage asked, casually leaning against the wall again.
"...You can say that," Reia responded after a brief hesitation. Actually, she was sleeping wherever she could, she had recently landed a place a Women's Youth Hostile.
"Well, look at the time," Reia exclaimed, looking at her watch to break the uncomfortable silence and tear her eyes from Sage's gaze. "Maybe... I'll see you later," She added quickly for finally making her escape.
"Hopefully," Sage called after her.
~ Something's not right with her. She dodged most of my questions and didn't tell me all the truth, ~ Sage thought darkly. The Warrior of Light was better at seeing through people than his personality put out. ~ Not to mention she didn't want to go out with me, ~ He added, somewhat disappointed. He took one last wistful glance at Reia walking away. One hand in her pocket, head kind of down. Dark blue hair whipping in the breeze. For some reason, he thought of Rowen just then.
Rowen sighed and brushed a leaf from his hair that had fallen from the trees above him. He finally settled down on a bench. He looked around at other people in the park. Children playing in the sandbox, a teenage couple shyly walking around aimlessly hand in hand, an old man with three dogs, and lastly a young couple, probably newlyweds, sitting on a bench across from him, cuddling a small bundle wrapped in a blanket.
Rowen wondered if he could ever have what these people have. A normal life, a wife, kids... a full time job that he got paid for rather than the one he had at the moment of protecting the world and depending on Mia for a large part of his financial support. He was pretty sure the other guys felt that way often; he knew he did. Another part of him wondered if he really wanted a change in his life.
He found his mind drifting to the girl from the restaurant, the waitress, Reia. ~ What am I doing?! ~ He wondered to himself. ~ I shouldn't be thinking about her at all... Aw, heck, maybe the others are right, maybe I really do have a crush... ~
"What is up with me?" Rowen said aloud. A few people gave him strange looks.
He looked at his watch. 1:45. He had class in 15 minutes, and he dared not be late. Jumping over the bench, he took off at a sprint, hoping he could catch a bus. He caught one at the last minute, and made it back to class on time.
Thankfully, class ended an hour early. Rowen usually relished his time in class, him being the top student, and reading being his true love. But today his mind was preoccupied, and he had left his stuff in Mia's jeep, causing himself to get berated by the professor. The other students found his situation quite humorous. Rowen was itching to get out of the room that day.
Rowen left campus cursing and mentally slapping himself. ~I can't believe I let some chick at a Chinese restaurant occupy my brain all afternoon...!~ He thought angrily as he boarded a bus to get to the outskirts of town; he could walk the rest of the way back to Mia's place.
Reia smiled, in bliss for the first time since she found herself landed in the 20th century. The forest was beautiful, the foliage allowed only thin streams of clear, prefect light to penetrate, creating dazzling pictures, combinations of light, shadow, and color on the forest floor. She walked until she found a rock jutting over a stream, a waterfall behind it; a great place to meditate. It had been an exciting, but stressful day.
Meanwhile, in the black depths of the Nether World, Talpa sat on his throne. He sat there, his throne, his place as King of the evil realm... but he was a prisoner there. Five chains bound him to his throne, preventing him from moving, or using any power. Five chains. Around his legs, a gold chain glowing with the kanji of justice. His waist was bound by a light blue chain glowing with trust. Around his arms, a darker blue glowing as life force. His shoulders were bound with a green chain, a silent, pulsating glow of wisdom. And around his neck, a red chain, virtue.
"How are you today, my lord?" A Nether Spirit asked, floating up to Talpa's side.
"How goes your works on getting me out of here to exact my revenge on the Ronin Warriors?" Talpa asked in a low, threatening voice.
"Um... well..." The spirit trailed off.
"Master!" A spirit called, rushing into the throne room and bowing before Talpa.
"What is it?" Talpa hissed.
"News, Master. We detect a Ronin Warrior on Earth!"
"You idiot!" Talpa roared. "I know there are FIVE Ronin Warriors on Earth! Who do you think has me prisoner in my own realm?!"
"No, Sir... It's a girl." The spirit exclaimed frantically, waving his hands. An image appeared over a candle flame of Reia meditating at the stream's edge.
Talpa smiled inwardly. The two spirits fidgeted nervously. "She's returned," Talpa murmured.
"R- Returned, Master?" The first spirit asked meekly.
Talpa chuckled. "I can't believe it! My master plan to destroy the Ronin Warriors fails with their sudden defeat of me, and Kayura betraying me, and now, the end result is back, in this time, full grown and powered no less!" Talpa let out a full throated guffaw. The two spirits began to laugh with him, but nervously.
Talpa suddenly stopped laughing. "You laugh at me?!" He roared.
"Aiiieee! No! Of course not, Master!" The second spirit wailed, groveling at Talpa's chained feet.
"Kill her! Eliminate her! I don't care if you have to send out a hundred soldiers, I want the girl's head!" Talpa shrieked as the two spirits floated out as fast as they could go.
"Wait!" Talpa cried suddenly. The second spirit stopped, almost shaking.
"I want you to organize an army of soldiers and Nether Spirits. I want you to find and retrieve a few deserters... my former Warlords, Cayle, Dais, and Sehkmet. Bring that traitorous wench Kayura as well. I will need them if I am going to successfully overcome this new threat to my empire."
"Y-Yes, Milord," The spirit squawked before fleeing in the same fashion at the other one.
Reia opened her eyes suddenly, her meditation disturbed by a sound not native to these woods. The footsteps of several people... and the clanking of armor.
"Oh, shi- ACK!" Reia's curse under her breath was cut off by a strong, bulky arm wrapping around her neck. She only had enough breath for one scream.
Rowen hadn't gotten very far into the woods before he heard it... a scream. A young girl's strangled cry. Someone in trouble. He didn't hesitate long before running towards the sound, crashing through the foliage rather ungracefully in the effort for speed. He fell down once, and when he got up to continue running, as he could still hear the cries, only they were fading, and his leg screamed with pain with every step.
Reia heaved with all her strength and managed to get the first soldier off of her. Being very weak, she avoided another blow by accident when she fell down, rolled down the rock, and fell into the stream. She gasped and struggled to get out of the water... and ended up falling into deeper water and being pulled under by currents because of an ill placed kick from a soldier.
Her vision swimming and head spinning, she searched numbly for something to grab under the water. Her sense of direction was messed up and she knew she'd drown if she didn't do something. She hit a rock suddenly and broke the surface, gasping and sputtering. The soldiers had not lost her, they were coming for her again. She was in pain, and weak. She knew she couldn't fight them all.
Rowen broke into the clearing where the stream was... and recoiled in horror and anger at what he saw... several Dynasty Soldiers, attacking a wet, bedraggled and beaten looking girl. She ran along the banks of the stream, splashing, tripping and falling, getting up and running again. Desperately and weakly avoiding and blocking blows. Her long blue hair hung tangled down her back and clung to her forehead in a bloody mess.
Rowen felt his blood boiling, rising in anger.
"Hey!" Rowen shouted, chucking the biggest rock he could find at the nearest soldier. "Why don't you creeps pick on someone your own size?!"
As he rushed the nearest soldier to him, his clothes transformed into the dark blue and white suit of body armor.
After defeating a few soldiers, it became clear he couldn't keep this up for long. He began slowing down, and his leg began to protest further activity again. More blows landed on him than he would have liked...
Reia picked herself up off the ground and shook her head to clear her vision. The Dynasty soldiers had stopped attacking... but why? Then she saw they were all ganged up on Rowen, who was trying to fight them all. She wanted to scream at him to transform... but she couldn't find the strength or the courage to admit she knew anything. ~ You fool... why don't you?! ~ She thought desperately before weakly falling back onto the ground.
"A- Armor of Strata!... Dao Inochi!!!" Rowen finally cried, holding his hands in the air. The cherry blossoms drifted into the air from nowhere. Reia had the others transform into their armor before, and she had done it herself, many times, in the future she came from. But somehow it was more breathtaking this time.
"OK now I'm ready to rumble with you guys!" Rowen shouted, jumping backwards and grabbing his bow as it materialized in the air in front of him.
Reia felt a new strength flowing into her she groaned and painfully stood up... but her legs felt strong. Her forehead was warm, tingling... she figured her kanji was burning. This had never happened before... It had to be being around Rowen...
"ARROW... SHOCK... WAVE!!!" Rowen cried, releasing his special attack on the soldiers. It was only then that he noticed Reia standing behind the soldiers... in the path of the wave.
~ Oh my God!!! ~ Reia and Rowen thought simultaneously as they both realized what was about to happen. Rowen tried to make a jump for her, she only put her arms out in front of her. Rowen reached her just as the shock wave did... He grabbed her and tried to throw her down, the wave hitting him in the back, sending them both flying.
Reia's eyes flashed white as her feet hit the ground again rather than falling on her back with Rowen on top of her. She quickly built a large force field around them, the brunt of Rowen's wave hitting her force field. The result: Big energy explosion. This time they did hit the ground, although relatively uninjured. Not surprising for Rowen to be in good shape, but Reia, an unarmed 16 year old girl?
They laid on the ground for several minutes before moving. Reia opened her eyes and painfully lifted her head. The trees all around her destroyed, rocks blown up, and they were in a huge crater. Rowen was sprawled over her, seemingly unconscious.
"Good God," Reia exclaimed, looking around. She sat up to get a better look of things, holding Rowen's head in her lap.
"Are you OK?" She whispered, brushing some hair back from his face. "Wake up!"
"Oh... augh... God, where am I?..." Rowen mumbled as he opened his eyes. They widened in alarm as he realized he did not recognize his surroundings. "What the-" He cried, sitting up. "Who are you?! What happened here?"
Reia quickly put on a "hysterical-not-too-bright-damsel-in-distress" demeanor. She wasn't a bad actress.
"Oh, oh my God, there were all there horrible guys, and they jumped me, and then you came and fought them, and there were lights, and explosions, and, Ohmygod it was so scary!" She cried all in one breath before bursting into theatrical tears.
"Um... Oh jeez," Rowen stammered. The Armor of Strata faded back into his regular clothes. "Hey, girl, don't cry or anything. It's OK now, all right?" He put his hands on her shoulders to try to comfort her.
It was hard for Reia not to grin. ~ He bought it, hook, line, and sinker, ~ She thought with smug satisfaction.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Rowen said, trying to stand up. He cried out in pain and fell back to his knees.
"You're not going anywhere on that leg," Reia exclaimed, putting her hand on the calf of the injured knee. "Feels like you pulled a muscle," She observed. "Trying to save me..." She added finally. "I'm sorry."
They made eye contact again. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine," Rowen muttered. ~ Too creepy. She looks just like me... and why were those soldiers attacking her? ~
"Come on, then," Reia said, standing up. She offered a hand to Rowen. "I think I can help you along. You don't look so heavy now that you got your armor off."
"No, I can walk-" Rowen groaned and almost collapsed again, but Reia quickly slipped an arm around him to hold him up.
It took a little effort to get out of the crater, what with Rowen's bad leg, and Reia being physically smaller and weaker than Rowen, she could not just pull him out of the hole, and he could not just climb out. They finally reached ground level muddy and tired. She was glad no one else had been around to witness the spectacle.
"No what?" She gasped, breathing heavily. "We're in the middle of the forest, you're hurt, and I don't think I can support you for very long."
"My friends will show up eventually," Rowen said, rolling over onto his side. "So I guess we just wait."
"Wait, huh?" Reia responded, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.
"So what were you doing out here anyway?" Rowen asked after a long period of uncomfortable silence.
"I could ask you the same question," Reia responded sharply.
"I was going back to where I stay," Rowen replied, figuring there was no good reason to keep it a secret.
"You live out here?" Reia whispered, looking around. "You're lucky."
Rowen shook his head. "I dunno... I feel like I'm mooching. Me an' the guys, we're staying at a friend's house. She's practically supporting us."
"The guys?" Reia asked. She knew who he was talking about, but she was still acting.
"My friends," Rowen answered. He looked at Reia closely. "You're that waitress from the Chinese restaurant, aren't you?"
She nodded. "I came out here to clear my head... think, meditate, you know... so... those guys you were with, I assume those are the friends you were talking about? And that girl must own the house you're staying at, am I right?"
Rowen nodded. "Mia does a lot for us... we're all really grateful to her."
"Tell me about your friends," Reia said. She was tempted to say, "The Ronin Warriors," But she knew she could not.
So Rowen took the time to fill in Reia about the personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. about the other Ronin Warriors. It did not escape him how she was hanging on his every word, actually paying attention.
"You know... I think my leg's a little better now," Rowen finally commented at the end of his descriptions. He stood up weakly but did not fall.
"It's getting dark," Reia observed, looking up at the sky. "I still don't think you can make it home by yourself."
"And you shouldn't go off alone," Rowen replied.
"Rowen should be back by now," Mia commented, leaning over Cye's shoulder to look out the window of the kitchen.
"You know Rowen... probably stopped by the library after class and lost track of time," Cye laughed. "Watch out, Mia, I'm going to open the oven."
"You really don't have to cook every night, Cye... you're a guest in my house," Mia said as she moved aside so Cye could open up the oven and check on his lasagna.
"A guest who's been crashing at your house for almost a year now?" Cye responded. "It's the least I can do. Besides, you know how much I enjoy it..."
"Still..." Mia protested.
"And besides... the guys took a vote and decided they prefer me to cook," Cye continued with a smirk.
"My cooking is just fine, just ask Kento," Mia cried, punching Cye playfully in the arm.
"Kento would eat his own armor if he got hungry enough," Cye muttered.
"I heard that," Mia responded, trying not to laugh.
"Hey that's not true!" Kento cried, coming up behind them. "Ooh, I smell Cye's special lasagna!" Kento bent down to peer into the oven window.
"In a half an hour, you bottomless pit," Cye exclaimed, politely moving Kento out of the way. "Why don't you go... I don't know, wash up or something?"
"Yes, mother," Kento replied, adding a sarcastic bow before sauntering out of the kitchen.
Kento went into the living room and passed Sage, who was laying on the couch listening to a Heart Brigade CD on his Diskman... and singing along.
"Don't quit the day job," Kento shouted, plucking the headphones from Sage's ears. Sage only laughed and put the headphones back on, making a face at Kento.
"All I wanna do..." Sage sang with the CD. Kento shrugged and went to the stairs.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Ryo called, coming halfway down the stairs as Kento was halfway up.
"In a little while, you guys," Mia called, coming out of the kitchen. Suddenly the front door burst open and Rowen and a young woman staggered in, both dirty, injured, and tired looking.
"All I wanna do is make love to you- Oh my God!" Sage cried, jolted out of his little musical daydream. He whipped the headphones off and sat up in alarm.
"Rowen!" Mia cried. "What happened to you?!"
Cye came out of the kitchen then, staring at the scene before him in disbelief. "Um... should I set an extra place for dinner?" Was the only thing he could come up with to say.