Chapter One: School Days

"I can't do this."

"You knew this was gonna happen one day, Cye."

"But so soon!?" I said.

Kojiro sighed heavily. "Yes, you did, I did, everyone did. So get a grip on reality!"

Rowen walked into the living room where Kojiro and I were having our discussion. "What are you guys talking about?"

I felt my eyes water. "I'm not ready for this!"
"Oh good Lord, Cye, it's just her first day of first grade," said Sage.

I sniffed. "But she's growing up so fast," I said.

Rowen laughed. "Ariel seems excited about it."

"Daddy, Koji, Rowen, Sagey, look at me!" The four of us looked up. Ariel was at the bottom of the stairs wearing a pale blue jumper, white tights, black shoes, and a dark blue blouse. Her auburn hair was done up in a French braid. Over one shoulder was a pale blue Sailor Mercury backpack. Mia stood behind her with the keys to the jeep. "I'm all ready for school!"

"You are, aren't you?" I said.

"Daddy, why are crying?"

"Because you're getting to be a big girl," I said. "I can't believe you're already six years old and at that going into grade school."

Ariel blinked. "Why not?"

"You'll understand when you're older," I said.

"Are you and Pops coming?" she asked.

"To see you off, yes," I said, getting up. Dad came downstairs. He only looked four years older than me, but in actuality, he was well over four hundred years older than me. Weird knowing that Anubis Doji was my father.

"Ready to go, Pops?" asked Ariel.

"Of course," he said. I noticed the camera hanging around his neck. Oh no. My father, a camera, and my daughter were never a good combination. Unless you were a film salesman. "Let's get going already!"

"Hey, good luck in the big house!" said Kento as he walked into the room. Ariel blinked at him. "Have a good day, shrimpazoid."

"Kento!" said Ariel. Kento plastered a foolish grin on his face and sauntered away. I got up and headed towards the door, Ariel running after me. Dad laughed, shaking his head. Outside, White Blaze gave her a forlorn look. "I'll be back after school," she said. White Blaze tried to slurp her, but she backed away. "Not now!"

Ryo smiled from behind White Blaze. "Have a nice day," he said, then he went back to what he was doing. Ariel, Mia, Dad, and I climbed into the car and drove off.

After Dad went through a full roll of film and I spent a good ten minutes telling her over and over again to behave and be a good girl, Ariel went inside the building. Then, Mia drove us home and gave Rowen the keys so that myself, Ryo, Sage, Kento, Kojiro, and Rowen could get to our OWN school.

College.

Graduation was very, very close at hand. I'd have my marine biology bachelor's degree soon enough. Then I'd be able to make enough money to buy a house so Ariel and I didn't need to depend on Mia or live in a cramped apartment.

I know what you're thinking. Why do I have a six year while I'm still in college? Easy. She was conceived when I was fifteen and born when I was sixteen. Yes, I'm a teen father, but I'm a responsible one. More responsible than her mother was.

I was fifteen, she was sixteen. I was a happy and content virgin, but she was not a virgin and wanted me and her in bed together. I said no. She persisted. What ended up being a peaceful date turned into a horrifying rape for me. I remember not really talking to anyone for a month. During that month she got all "lovey-dovey" with me. Then she left because I had gotten her pregnant.

A few days after the baby was born, we ran into each other. She wanted to put the baby in the orphanage after telling me why she'd left. I couldn't bear to see my own child, no matter how devastating it was to my morality and dignity it had been to me. I took her in and fled to Tokyo for four years.

That's where I met Kojiro. He'd been kicked out of his home because his "father" was angry that he wasn't really his son. Kojiro had been the result of an affair between his mother and her boss. Kojiro felt sorry for me, helped me name Ariel, got me psychological help, and we worked together to make a living.

Four years and three months later, another event came thrashing back at me. I am not just a young adult. I am not just a college student. I am not just a father. I am also a Ronin Warrior. Chances are you already know all about that considering you're reading this so I won't bother getting into detail about all that. What happened then was Ariel was kidnapped by the Dynasty as were the other Ronins, Kojiro and our young friend Yuli discovered they, too, were Ronins, and I admitted to Mia, Yuli, and Anubis why I left.

After saving Ariel and the guys saved me, Sehkment, Dark Warlord of Venom, was killed by White Blaze. Kojiro was captured by Kioko, the new Warlord/lady, tortured, and Yuli sacrificed ten years of his life to save him. Then, after Ryo and the other formed the Inferno, I developed a new power. Yuli and I did Talpa in, but Ryo and the others finished him off.

Two years have passed since then. Ariel is growing up to be a beautiful young girl, I'm getting better and better off, and things were beginning to turn around.

Little did I know but they'd head right back down the path I was headed once again, and this time, it wouldn't be so easy.

Lunch came sometime later. I was working on my homework in a secluded spot under a large tree I head to when I don't want to be bothered by the others. They understand. Sometimes I go to be alone, work on homework, and a lot of times plan for the future. Ariel has become my biggest expense over a short period of time. All of my earnings are very thinly spread. I can't afford to buy her the prettiest dresses or the most expensive toys. Now that she was getting into grade school I feared that she was going to get pressured because of this.

"Mind if I take a seat?" I looked up to see a short young woman with chin length red hair and bright green eyes smiling at me.

"Uh, sure," I said nervously, moving over. The woman sat down.

"Hi, I'm Robyn," she said sweetly.

"Um, hi, I'm, Cye," I said. Robyn smiled sweetly.

"What's your major?"
"Marine biology."

"Seafood cook."

"What!?"
"Kidding!" said Robyn with a laugh. "I'm just joshing with ya, Cye! I'm a literature major."

"That's nice I said," I said.

"You're being shy, are you shy?"

"If you only knew," I said, standing up and walking away. I didn't have to look back to know that Robyn was probably a little hurt.

Note: Robyn belongs to Ghost of the Dawn and is from her fic Demons in the Doorway, Monsters Down the Hall. I did ask permission to use Robyn for this fic and I cannot make a comment if you want to use her. Bring it up with Ghost.