Part Twenty-Three: Yuli's Sacrifice (Note: back to Cye's POV)

The lot of us started to look for Kojiro. Yuli and Ariel were riding White Blaze. The guys were asking about what I'd been doing for the past four years. I told them everything. The story was in bits and pieces thanks to several attacks by Dynasty Tin Cans. Yuli stuck to defending Ariel, which I thanked him for. Yuli told me in response it was as a thank-you for protecting him when he was younger and the fact that if he didn't, who would protect her?

We made our way inside the palace, taking random turns every which way. Surprisingly there weren't a lot of attacks inside the castle. They happened, but not as much as we expected. Something wasn't right. So close to Talpa's stronghold, yet the reinforcements were so weak. But why? Why would the forces he so thin?

We'd eventually get out answer. And we wouldn't like it. Not one bit.

Eventually, we heard moans in the distance. Painful ones. We went to investigate the moans and came apon a creepy dark room. It was so dark I didn't see White Blaze slink up next to me. "Daddy, it's dark in here," whispered Ariel. "I'm scared."

"Ariel?" came a weak voice. "Is that, is that you?" Kojiro! That had to be Kojiro! But what was he doing here?

"Kojiro!?" I asked. "What are you doing in here?!"

That was when I heard Kioko's laughter. The lights and on and we saw Kojiro tied to a strange looking star with seven points. He looked beaten up and weak, even in subarmor. Kioko stood next to him, a whip in hand. "I'm so glad you boys could make it. I found this one fighting lone wolf in hall. Not a smart move for a rookie, eh, Icefire?"

Kojiro tried to look defiant. "I hope you rot," he said. Kioko cracked the whip, and Kojiro cried out. I winced. Yuli was covering Ariel's eyes.

"You don't need to see this," said Yuli to Ariel. She buried her head into his shoulder. Mia was horrified. I was in shock. Is THAT what it was like watching someone be tortured?! Now I knew how Ryo and Rowen felt when Kayura projected the rest of us. Kojiro continued to scream. None of us dared step further. Kioko could just as easily kill him. And that was the last thing we wanted to happen.

"Oh my God, that's inhuman," said Sage, looking at Kojiro. "Let him go!"

"No, I'm not done playing with him just yet," said Kioko. Suddenly, the star lit up and Kojiro screamed. They were electrocuting him. Just like they had with Kento, Sage, and me.

"Stop it!" yelled Ryo.

Kioko obeyed, leaving Kojiro panting. "I'll let him go when I feel he's dead or close to it."

"No!" said Yuli. "I won't let you."

Anubis' eyes widened. "Yuli, what are you doing!?"

Yuli closed his eyes. "The only thing I CAN do to free Kojiro!"

"No! Don't do it! You know what the punishment is!" said Anubis.

"I'm willing to risk that," said Yuli. His Chrono blade appeared before him. "TIME SLICING FREEZE!"

The next thing I knew Kioko was tied up in a corner, Kojiro and was free (and for that matter confused as to him he got there) and Yuli was no where to be seen. I ran over to Kojiro to try and make sure he was okay. He was more confused that anything, though.

"NOOOOOO!" said Anubis, falling to his knees in defeat. "I shouldn't have told him that much. Why did he do that!?"

"Told him what!?" asked Ryo. "Where's Yuli!?"

"He stopped time," said Anubis. "It was nothing to us, but he stopped time."

"Stopped time?" asked Kento "That's incredible!"

Anubis shook his head. "The Lord of the Chronos doesn't agree. The bearer of the Armor of the Chrono is not supposed to stop time. The punishment-"

"Punished!?" I asked. "What do you mean, punished?! He just saved a life!"

Anubis shook his head. "He played with time. The punishment is guarding the Chronos for the next decade."

"A DECADE!?" said Mia. "We won't see him in ten years! He'll be twenty-two by then!"

"No, no, not at all. He'll only age two years during that time," said Anubis.

"Oh good Lord," said Mia. She fell to her knees and began to sob. Ariel looked hurt. She'd made a friend out of him. The others were speechless.

"I don't believe he did that," said Kojiro, "and at that, for me. We were so mean to each other."

"I know, but, he probably wanted to make it up to you," I said.

"Now I get a guilty conscience for the next ten years," joked Kojiro.

"Be serious," I said, helping him to his feet. Kojiro weakly got to his feet. The other Ronins walked over. Sage stepped forward.

"Here, let's see what I can do about healing you," he said. Sage placed his hands on Sage's forehead and concentrated. Kojiro was soon standing on his own power. "Hi, I'm Sage Date, or, Sage of the Halo."

"Rowen Hashiba or Rowen of the Strata," said Rowen, extending his hand.

"Ryo of the Wildfire, and to others, Ryo Sanada."

"Kento Rei Fuang or Kento of the Hardrock."

"Kojiro of the Icefire or Kojiro Tomae," said Kojiro. "Nice to meet you guys. Cye bust you guys out?"

"Actually, we busted ourselves out and rescued him from a vat of boiling acid," said Ryo with a laugh.

"Really, a vat of boiling acid? Can't they do something original!?" said Kojiro.

"Virtue of creativity," I said, rolling my eyes. "Like what, Kojiro?"

"I'd rather not say, because I might give them ideas," he said. "Now, we're down a Ronin, so can we still beat Talpa?"

"I'd imagine so. We'll have the Inferno plus one," said Anubis.

"Inferno?" asked Kojiro.

"When Rowen, Kento, Cye, and Sage give Ryo their powers, he transforms into the legendary White Armor of Inferno. It's said to be so powerful in the right hands that it can destroy entire worlds," said Mia.

"Wow," said Kojiro.

"Is it bad?" asked Ariel.

"No armor is good or bad," said Anubis. "It depends on the person who wears it and how it was presented to them. I used to have an armor, but since it was presented to me as a way to power and never dying, I was bad, but your father and the other Ronins had their armors presented as a way to defend the Mortal World. I eventually saw that myself," said Anubis.

"So since Ryo's good, then the Inferno's good?" said Ariel. Anubis nodded. "So I shouldn't be afraid?"

"It's very powerful, but the Jewel of Life will protect you," he said. Ariel fingered the beet shaped amulet and looked at me.

"Is everything gonna be okay?" she asked.

I didn't know what to tell her. "We can only hope for the best," I said. "We can only hope for the best."