Chapter Nineteen: Yuli's Quest

I still couldn't believe I was a Ronin Warrior! This was so cool! But, still, there WAS Ryo and the others to rescue. Maybe being a Ronin wasn't so cool. I didn't like fighting for my life and the Mortal Realm. This wasn't like the games I played when I was a kid. This was real. I had a huge responsibility.

Not to mention I had a feeling that Kojiro and I could get along a little bit better, maybe. But then again it WAS fun to annoy him. The sap. I enjoyed picking on him. Kojiro was a bit of a wuss, making him an easy target. I was just trying to get my mind off of things.

But he was Cye's friend, and had apparently helped Cye during a rough time in his life. I still didn't understand why Cye had been so afraid to tell us about what happened. Me? I understand. I was only eight when he left. I didn't understand any of those concepts of love, and sex, and reproduction. I just learned all that when I was eleven!

It burns me now to know why he was acting to strangely. I can remember he stayed in his room a lot after that one time Sheila brought him home. The morning after. He was a mess for a month. I was worried about him, but he wouldn't even talk to Kento. I remember drawing him a picture of him in his armor (which was basically a blue stick figure that had a grey horn and holding a big pointy stick) and sliding it through the door. Kento told me Cye had put it up on the wall. I think he was just being polite. If we had only known what had happened, then maybe, maybe he would have stayed. Maybe none of this would have happened.

No. I can't say that. There's no way to tell. And then Kojiro would have been defenseless without a clue.

Which is EXACTLY where I was.

After I'd managed to somehow pull myself to shore after Kojiro and Cye fell over the water fall, I attempted to dry off my hair and slept in one of the dug-out grooves in the cave walls. It was creepy, and I didn't like it. It made me think of my parents. I almost cried. I missed them so much. I can still remember my mother's warm smile and my dad's hearty laugh. I wonder what would have happened if they had lived. I still would have gone to see the guys as much as possible- Mia, too- but there was never a trace found of them.

"Yuli. . ."

I looked up. "Mama?" I asked.

"Yuli. . ."

"Dad!?" I asked excitedly. "Have you been here all this time!?"

"Yuli. . ."

"Mom! Dad!" I cried, running towards the sound of their voices.

"Yuli . . ."

"MOM! DAD! I'M COMING! I'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE! I' A RONIN WARRIOR NOW!"

"Yuli . . ."

At that point I was beginning to get suspicious. Why hadn't they gotten excited to hear me? My voice had changed a little, sure, but not THAT much! I made my way slowly towards the source and was horrified at what I saw.

Badamon. He and several of his Nether Spirits were gathered around an altar. Floating about the altar were the spirits of my parents. "Yuli. . . come here, my child," my mother asked.

Badamon turned his head. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Yuli of the Chrono. I should have guessed you were a Ronin in the making all those years ago," he said. "Then, I could have disposed of you early on. The warlords could have easily severed your head. Come out now, I know you're there."

"What are you doing with my parents!?" I demanded and I stepped out of the shadows. "Where are they?"

"Right here. This is all that is left of them. I thought you'd enjoy watching me turn their souls into Nether Spirits."

"NO!" I cried as the chanting began. "NO! MOM! DAD! GET OUT OF HERE!"

Badamon began to chant. I HAD to stop him from taking my parents! I HAD to! "Armor of the Chrono, DAO YUUKOU!" In a flash I was in my armor. "SILENCE TIME SLICE!"

FWASH!

"AHHHH! YOU LITTLE BRAT! YOU- AH!" screamed Badamon as he faded away. "THIS ISN'T THE LAST TIME WE'LL BATTLE, CHRONO! THIS BATTLE IS NOT FINISHED!"

"For now, it is," I said firmly. The other Nether Spirits wisely flew off in several directions. My parents' spirits snapped out of whatever trances they were in by the time I was back in subarmor.

"Wh. . . where am I? The last thing I remember is- Yuli!" my mother cried. She floated over to me. "What, what happened to you, my child?"
"I, I grew up," I said, almost in tears.

My father joined her. "You'll always be our son. And never forget that."

"Thank you for saving us, Yuu-Yuu," said my mother. Yuu-Yuu, my mother's old pet name for me.

"Are you alive or dead?"

My mother took in a deep "breath". "I'm afraid we're dead, my son. We were killed early on in the war. I'm glad you got away."

"We both are," said my father. "And you've grown up into a strong young man. Please, take care of yourself. Make us proud."

"I, I will. Good, good, good bye," I said as they slowly faded away.

"We love you. . ."

"I love you, too, Mom, Dad," I said. Soon, they were gone. I began to sniffle, then, I fell to my knees and cried my eyes out.

I stopped blubbering a few hours or so later. I stood up, wiped my tears away, and started looking for the exit. I had to find it eventually. I just had to.

"AHHHH!"

"Ariel!" I cried. I darted towards the sound of her voice. White Blaze and Anubis were defending Ariel and Mia from a bunch of Dynasty goons. I joined in the fight.

"Yuli!" cried Ariel.

"Stay back!" I said, sending a Tin Head into a wall. It caved into itself. I then leapt infront of Ariel and Mia, blocking the Tin Cans until the last one was impaled by the Staff.

"Nice handiwork, Anubis," I said.

"Not bad for a beginner," joked Anubis. "Come we must continue on."