Disclaimer: In case you somehow haven't figured it out yet, I do not own the Ronin Warriors or anything associated with them. Don't sue me for using them. I'm broke, and all you'd get outta me is a… *searches her pockets* …dime. Not exactly worth it, eh? Shara, Kenji, Empress Nephalia, Miaka, Eros, and Rime are mine. Don't take them without permission, or I'll sue you. Then maybe I could actually have the money needed to buy a life… =P
Regret"Kenji… Oh, Kenji!" Shara fell to her knees and wrapped the boy in a tight embrace. "You're okay… Thank God you're okay!"
The child raised his arms and returned his mother's hug. He started to speak, but suddenly his body went rigid, and a strangled cry scratched its way up his throat and past his lips.
Shara pulled back a bit and gazed at her son with concern. "Kenji…? What's wrong, sweetie?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and violently pushed himself away. "No! Don't touch me! Go away!" Kenji covered his ears with his hand and staggered back, clenching his eyes shut against some invisible force. "Leave me alone! Stop it! Stop it!" Pain and terror twisted his sweet, innocent features. His head whipped from side to side, his small body quaked with fine tremors.
Shara stretched out one hand and gingerly touched his shoulder. "Honey, calm down! You're going to hurt yourself!"
He fell backwards and began to curl up into the fetal position. "No… It wasn't me… I didn't… Somebody help… Make the pictures go away…" Soft whimpers filled the air and the child began to sob wildly. "I'm sorry, Mommy! I didn't want to hurt you! But I did… I… growed up… and I… I hurt you… I'm sorry, Mommy… I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" His words dissolved into a slow, terrified chant of apologies.
Shara covered her mouth with one hand. "He remembers… Oh, God! He remembers being a Warlord!" She rushed to her son's side and held him gently. "It's okay, Kenji… That wasn't you… You didn't do anything wrong… Don't cry, baby… Please don't cry…" Stroking his hair, she rocked back and forth on her heels, murmuring soothing words into the small boy's ear.
He pulled out of her embrace and lifted his tormented eyes to meet her gaze. "Mommy… I don't want it… I don't want the power any more… It hurts, Mommy… Make it stop. Make it all stop…" Kenji stretched one hand toward the sword he had dropped on the floor after his transformation had finished. "Please stop the pain, Mommy…"
The katana elevated from the floor and floated toward the boy's outstretched hand. It settled in his palm and Kenji held it up to his mother.
"Please, Mommy. It hurts."
She accepted the slim blade and held it loosely, uncertain about what she should do next. Feeling a hand on her left shoulder, Shara turned her head and stared up into tear-filled clear blue eyes, a pale face streaked with blood and growing bruises. Sage. Showing his support for whatever she decided to do.
Another hand caressed her right shoulder. Stormy blue eyes and an ocean of wild hair. Proud features twisted by sadness. He was also showing support for her decision. Both Rowen and Sage were waiting for her to make the next move, waiting to see if she would bring a blade against her own son. Both were showing they would accept whatever she did, that they understood why if she actually went through with it.
Shara switched her gaze to Kenji. She ran her eyes over the delicate blue waves that crowned his head, the tiny, pixie nose that was so similar to her own, the beautiful, soft teal eyes. His small mouth was curved into a gentle smile. Her son, so adorable, and so perfect. Her angel. Six-years-old, but with a wisdom in his gaze that was years ahead of its time. A wisdom that had been forced upon him by the Empress' spell. Nothing would ever be able to erase that tragic knowledge from his eyes, that never-ending sadness. He would never be able to grow up the way a child should. No matter what he did, the darkness of his possessed self's deeds would haunt him ceaselessly. They would eat away at his young mind, destroying it, driving him mad. It wasn't a future any mother would wish for her child.
But what was her other option? Spilling the blood of her own son? How could any mother wish to do that either? Neither choice was acceptable, but what other alternatives were there? There was no way to save Kenji.
Shara wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her left hand, tightening her grasp on the sword with her right. "Okay, baby… Mommy will make it stop…"
Glancing one last time at Sage and Rowen, she plunged the blade down.
It slipped cleanly between two ribs and punctured the boy's heart. He coughed once, blood trickling out the corner of his mouth, and smiled weakly.
"Take it… I… love you… Mom…"
Then he lay still.
"Kenji… Kenji!!" Shara threw back her head and howled in pain. Her son. Her precious boy. Dead. Dead. Slaughtered by her hands. She grasped the sword even more tightly and began to turn it toward her own chest. She deserved to die for what she had just done. Any mother who kills her child deserves to die.
Suddenly a brilliant rush of light charged up the sword and flowed into Shara's hands. It raced up her arms and filled her body with an iridescent energy. Pure silver brilliance lit the entire room, causing everyone else in the room to shield their eyes. Shara staggered to her feet, watching her hands turn transparent, and then solid once more. The strange flickering traveled up her arms to her shoulders and then made its way down her body. It filled her with power, with a sense of peace and serenity. All traces of blood were erased from the katana in her right hand. The glow began to solidify around her body, encasing it in brilliant silver Armor.
She lifted her head and stared across the room at Nephalia. "Empress. The time has come. The Dynasty's reign of terror ends today."
Nephalia's eyes widened as she examined the shining Armor. It was clearly silver, but it had a faint transparence that hinted at the shape of the delicate white skin underneath. Stars seemed to glow from within the shimmering Armor, making her body shine with points of radiant light. Form-fitting, high-heeled boots adorned her legs. On her shoulders was a piece of silver cloth, a flowing cape of liquid mercury. Instead of the typical samurai-style helmet, this Armor had an exquisite tiara that pressed against her forehead. A luminous emerald sparkled from the center of the circlet. Lines swirled away from the center, forming an intricate design that appeared to be representing the multitudes of stars and planets in the sky.
"What… what is… that?" the Empress stammered, fear written across her haunting features. "How did… how did you get that?"
Shara held her hand in front of her face and gazed at the lovely Armor, a gentle smile crossing her face as she did. "It was a gift."
The Empress' eyes grew wide in surprise. "The… the boy? He passed the Armor… to you? Through his blood…" She clapped her hands together. "Incredible! I didn't know that was even possible!"
The silver Ronin tilted her head and frowned, confused because of the Empress' sudden display of enthusiasm. "Why are you so thrilled about that? You do realize I'm going to use this to kill you, don't you?"
The Empress threw back her head and laughed. "No, my dear. You will do no such thing. Your heart is not pure. Therefore, you cannot use the full power of the Armor of Creation. However… You can be corrupted." She raised one white hand and held it toward Shara. A dark energy began to grow from the center of her palm, illuminating the sinister smile on the Empress' face. "As your son became mine, so shall you. Join me, Shara. Become one with the darkness!"
The ball of power launched from the evil woman's hand and flew toward the surprised girl. She made a move to dive away, but it was too late. The wicked energy was only inches away.
"No!" A dark blue blur flashed in front of Shara and was struck by the Empress' attack. He staggered back, convulsing as the dark power began to seep inside his body, distorting the pure light of his mind and soul. The Ronin collapsed to the floor, his eyes sliding shut.
"Rowen!" Shara kneeled at his side and threw her arms around his still body. "You big dummy! Why'd you have to do that?" She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling the stinging sensation in her eyes that promised tears. "Always trying to save me, even when you don't have to… You jerk…"
His eyelashes fluttered open. The Ronin's eyes were black and soulless once again. Rowen's right arm lifted from the floor and his hand descended on Shara's neck, gripping it tightly in a chokehold.
She raised her eyes to meet his stony gaze and smiled softly. "Don't, Rowen… Please… Don't…" One hand floated up to caress his cheek; the other pushed against the floor and slid her body upward until her face was hovering inches above his. "Let go…" Slowly, tenderly, she lowered her lips to his in a loving kiss.
His black eyes slipped shut; his hand fell from around her throat and settled at his side. Suddenly, his arms were around her and he was returning her kiss with a burning passion that wouldn't be denied and couldn't be destroyed. Not even by the Empress' magic.
Starting from where their lips met, brilliant silver light began to form around the duo as they continued to kiss. It lit up the room with warmth and beauty. It was a light of indescribable power, a light of purity, the light of love. The glow surrounded them in a protective shell, shielding them from the darkness outside. It was their own little cocoon where they could be safe together for all eternity if they wished it so. And Rowen certainly wanted it to be that way.
Oh, man… I'm sorry I tried to kill you again…
That's okay, hon. It's all over now. You're back to your normal sweet self again, thanks to… whatever this light is. Some kind of weird power of my new Armor, I guess.
Shara… Let's just stay here, okay? It's a mess out there… I mean, as soon as you stop this, and get out of your Armor, all that grief will crash down around you again and you'll want to die. Not to mention what Sage is gonna do if we disperse the shield… We both promised him… and now look at us. We can't stay away from each other, Shara. It's going to ruin everything. But as long as we stay here, it doesn't matter what anyone out there says. We're safe… we're together.
I never knew you were such a coward, Rowen.
I'm not! I just… have a healthy worry about what will happen if we go back.
Uh-huh. Well, sorry, Rowen. As enjoyable as this state is, it isn't real. We can't just hide here and abandon the outside world. The earth and its peoples need our power, the power of the Ronin Warriors. I won't sacrifice the entire planet to Nephalia and the Dynasty just because of… your feelings for me.
… My feelings for you… You phrase it like you don't have any for me.
I didn't say that! Right now, all that's holding us in this place are your feelings, your desire to be alone with me. If you let it go, we can return to reality and I can kill Nephalia and we can all go home! Isn't that what you want?
… I don't have a home, Shara. Sure, I have a decent apartment and a well-paying, though utterly pointless, job, but… I don't have a home, or a life. There's nothing but loneliness for me in the world outside. Loneliness, and anger, and jealousy, and pain… Can't you understand why I'm not incredibly eager to return? Can't you see why I'd rather just stay here in peace with you?
Rowen… I—
I mean, what can I do out there, Shara? I can save the world, but then I'm left to be miserable in it. Maybe I just don't care any more about saving the bloody planet… Maybe I just want to find happiness for myself, just once… Just one thing that will keep me alive during the roughest of times… A love to call my own…
Sometimes things aren't meant to be, Rowen… Sage and I… I don't think there's anything that can tear us apart. Not even you. Not even… the love we have for one another. … And that is the problem, of course. I do love you… As much as I love Sage, perhaps… And there's nothing I can do to change that. But it won't do any good while it exists either. All it will do is hurt us both… So, please. Let's get out of here. I want to be with my husband again… to cry on his shoulder after this is all said and done. I still want Sage, Rowen. … I'm sorry.
So am I.
The silver light began to diminish. Soon Shara could push herself up and away from Rowen and stand on her own two feet once more. Rowen stood behind her and placed a protective hand on her shoulder. Annoyed, she shrugged him off and then glanced around until she spotted her husband standing several feet away, a dark, angry look on his handsome face. The lovely blonde rushed over and embraced him tightly, burying her face in his strong shoulder.
"Sage… Forgive me… I had to get Rowen back to normal… And that was the first way that popped into my head…"
He shook his head slightly, not raising his arms to return the hug. "Shar… I don't know what I'm going to do with you. You're my wife… but you're constantly holding and kissing Rowen. And just now… that light… Why do you two seem capable of doing such extraordinary things? Why… not with me…?
She sighed softly, bowing her head. "I… I don't know. It just… happens. But I do know one thing. No matter what there may be between Rowen and me, it doesn't change how I feel about you. You're my husband, Sage, and I love you more than anyone else. Despite how it looks sometimes, my feelings for you will never die… never be cast aside for any reason. If you don't believe my words…" She lifted her chin and forced his eyes to meet hers. "… Look into my eyes and tell me I'm lying."
Peering into her eyes, Sage could feel the truth of what she said. Yet the ice in his chest refused to thaw. When he looked at her, he knew his gaze was chilling. "You may speak the truth, but it does not change reality. Your actions are not the ones of a woman in love. Anything but. And actions are much stronger than words, Shara." He slipped out of her embrace and coldly turned her to face Nephalia. "But we can speak of this later. Now you must fight."
She shivered at his icy touch, tears springing to her eyes. Shara drew her sword, but couldn't seem to move to strike. How could she fight now? She couldn't even think straight. Sage, who was always tolerant, always forgiving, had turned away from her. Dismissed her in such a detached manner. The anger had faded from his handsome face, leaving behind a stiff mask of disdain. Shara turned to face him once more, hoping to see one flicker of affection in his eyes.
"Sage… Please…"
"No, Shara. No more lies." His voice hung heavy in the air, his words like icicles. He curled his lips into a dark shadow of his usual smile. She now disgusted him. Those large, expressive eyes he had always loved now seemed utterly pathetic and full of deception. Merely used as a tool to evoke sympathy. As she began to turn away again, tears trailing down her cheeks, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against her ear. His voice came out harsh and cruel.
"You disgust me, whore."
A choked sob escaped her lips and she nearly fell. Tears began to pour down her face in twin streams. He hated her. Utterly and totally. A heavy weight settled on her back and she could stand straight under the pressure. Her chest was blazing with a painful heat, as if red-hot needles were being forced into her heart. His cold disdain wounded her more than a thousand lashes of a whip. It was hard to breathe as her shoulders heaved with terrible sobs. Her sword fell from her hand and clattered on the stone floor. Her knees folded beneath her and she collapsed, all her strength gone. The silver Armor vanished and she was left cold, naked, and alone.
Rowen grabbed Sage and slammed him against the wall. "What are you doing? How can you treat her like that? I oughta kill you!"
The blond man laughed. "Go ahead. I'm sure Shara would love having me gone. Then you two could continue with your affair completely guilt-free. But beware, Rowen. She might start sleeping around on you as well." His pale eyes were full of contempt: contempt for his wife and contempt for his best friend. He looked over Rowen's shoulder and called across the room. "Hey, Ryo! I'd watch Miaka closely if I were you. Since Rowen doesn't seem capable of keeping his hands off other men's wives."
Ryo lifted one eyebrow in amusement. Quickly, he turned and began speaking to the former Warlords in a quiet voice before striding over to join Sage and the others. The three old Dynasty members turned to face Nephalia. Kale and Sekhmet attacked the wicked Empress while Dais used the Ancient's staff to create a force field around the other Warriors.
Miaka stalked over and slapped Sage across the face. Hard. Her hand stung with needles as his cheek turned ruddy pink. The redhead's full lips curved into a ruby sneer. "Watch your mouth, Sage. Don't talk about my best friend that way." She whirled away from him and kneeled beside Shara, wrapping a comforting arm around the blonde's trembling shoulders.
"Don't listen to him, sweetie… You're not bad…"
Sage broke free of Rowen's grasp and stood beside his wife, a dark smirk twisting his mouth. "Oh, no. It's perfectly acceptable to cheat on your husband."
"Maybe if you weren't always gone, it wouldn't have happened!" Miaka snapped. "You were never there to support her! Your stupid training has always been more important than your own wife!"
"I love her! She knew that, no matter how far away I was! But if just wasn't enough! She's a whore, Miaka! No matter how much I loved her! No matter how much I cared for her! It… it was just… never enough…" The ice in his eyes began to melt slightly as his voice lost some of its strength. "… I have responsibilities to this planet… I couldn't… just forget those. Even for love… The future of Shara… of everyone… has always been my responsibility. I have to protect them. And the only way I can do that is through my training."
Miaka opened her mouth to say something, but she was interrupted by a tentative male voice.
"We all want to protect the ones we love, Sage… There's no fault in that. But don't let yourself become so afraid of the future that you lose sight of the present." Cye laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Kento nodded his agreement. "Yeah, man. The only good reason to fight is to protect what you love. But you go totally overboard!"
"Not saying this is all your fault, Sage." Ryo gave his friend a quick smile. "Rowen and Shara definitely deserve a huge majority of the blame. But just a tiny bit is reserved for you."
Sage didn't say a word. His eyes flitted from one Ronin to the next before settling on Rowen. The blue-haired Warrior met his gaze stonily, but a slight nervous tremor passed over his face. The two stood still, silently seething with jealousy and rage. The very air vibrated with the power of their anger, like invisible ocean waves of emotion rippling through the room. Their past friendship was completely forgotten in that intense moment. But then Rowen's stone mask crumbled and a hint of a smile crossed his face.
"Hate me all you want, Sage. I probably deserve it all." He brushed a strand of dark hair out of his eyes and sighed. "I really haven't been that kind to you, old friend. Which is a pity because I think we're a lot alike. Sometimes it's almost as if we're the reflections of one another. I guess that'd make me the dark-half, huh?" Rowen shot a rueful glance at his friend. "I'm sorry that I've hurt you, dude. Never wanted to."
Sage looked torn as he lowered his gaze to the floor. He knew he should hate Rowen. Hate him for so many reasons, for so many things. But he was right. The two of them had always been best friends, almost as close as Cye and Kento. It was the first time Sage had ever heard Rowen utter that they were reflections of one another, but it certainly wasn't the first time Sage had thought it. Their minds worked in harmony a large portion of the time and it sometimes felt that they were merely extensions of one another. Two versions of the same person on opposite sides of the mirror. They had similar tastes, which was made painfully obvious by the love they both held for Shara. As much as Sage wanted to despise Rowen, he simply couldn't. It would be like hating himself.
But he could never trust him again. Walls had been formed between them that could never be completely destroyed. Perhaps they could be friends, but their future relationship would only be a shadow of what it had been. And for the good of the earth, they would have to reconcile to some extent. Sage fixed his serious gaze on Rowen once again and nodded somewhat reluctantly.
"Apology partially accepted. In the interest of saving our world and in saving at least a part of our friendship, I'll attempt to be more cordial. However. Things will never be the same, Rowen. Not between you and I, and not between Shara and I. And hopefully not between you and Shara either. There is no trust here any longer. Both of you will have to earn my respect and regain your honor. That will take quite some time. But it's a better opportunity than either of you deserve."
Turning, he kneeled beside his weeping wife and took her hand in his. "Shara. I apologize. I said things in anger that were improper and cruel. No matter how hurt I am, I shouldn't lash out at you that way."
She lifted her face to meet his steady gaze. "… Sage. So you… forgive me?"
"Not entirely. But this is certainly neither the place nor the time to discuss this in full. We need your help in defeating Nephalia currently. We can talk this over at a later time." He rose slowly, helping the trembling girl to stand on unsteady legs. "Call your Armor back and finish this."
She shook her head. "I… I don't know if I can… I can't even think straight…"
Dais let out a shout, interrupting the moment. "Ronins! I hate to interrupt your little soap opera, but you have to hurry! My barrier won't last much longer, and neither will Kale and Sekhmet!" He grimaced as another energy ball struck the shield of light he had constructed. "Finish this now!"
Sage nodded at him. He then cupped Shara's chin in his palm and gave her a slight smile. "You can do this. If there's anything you are, it's a warrior. Do it, Shara. Do it for me, for Rowen, for Miaka… For Kenji. Have faith in your power, Shar."
Her eyes slid shut as she tried to concentrate on the power that burned quietly within her body. It was hidden deep under the pain and sorrow that made her chest ache, behind the feelings of emptiness and despair. The shadows loomed on all sides of it, threatening to smother it in misery. Yet it stubbornly grew stronger as she focused all her remaining energy on it. Yet she somehow knew the power of her own spirit would not be enough. Her emotions were too tumultuous, and her energy too weak. The light in her chest began to fade away as she began to give up on ever being able to summon the Armor again.
Then a warm hand enclosed hers. Tough and unyielding because of the Armor, but still gentle and caring. Coolness enveloped Shara's other hand as slim fingers laced with hers. Almost in unison, three other heavy hands clasped her shoulders with a squeeze. And the soft rush of power that radiated from where her cheek was cradled still surged relentlessly. Rowen. Miaka. Ryo, Cye, Kento. And Sage. All leanding their strength to her body, giving her the essence of life necessary. The quiet glow within her began to grow with the additional sources of energy. Shara tried to concentrate on the new flowing colors and direct them to where they were needed. But the nagging doubt, her anguish, kept clouding her mind and disrupting her attempts. She nearly wept from frustration.
Let it go, Shara. We'll take care of our problems later.
Chill, chick. Accept our power and let it flow. Don't worry about Sage. He's a butthead.
You can do this! With my fire helping out, how can you fail?
We trust you. Kento and I are behind you all the way.
Hurry up! I wanna go home and eat!
She had to smile at the rush of warmth their words summoned from her heart. But sadness still froze her thoughts. One voice had not spoken. The one that meant the most.
After several moments of silence, one final statement broke free in her mind.
Love is your power, your gift. Use it now.
Her heart soared. She focused her will on the pulsing energy that shone in her soul, directing the rivers of color to the heart of her Armor. Emerald eyes flew open as a silver character flashed on her forehead. The beautiful, complicated lines and curves of the kanji for "Love." Piece by piece, her Armor reappeared, covering her bare skin with glittering material. It hugged the curves of her body, flaunting its every detail. Clusters of stars formed over four of her body's chakras, glowing brighter than ever before. The flowing cape appeared at her shoulder and cascaded nearly to the floor in quicksilver waves. Metal flowed in a stream from her palm and into the air, solidifying into a slim katana. A brilliant green stone shimmered into view on her forehead, but this time her character was overlaid on the crystal. Instead of the circlet ringing her head, an intricate helmet of silver curls and waves protected her. Rectangles of metal that ended in sharp points were hanging from all sides of the upper portion of the helm. She ran her fingertips lightly over the firm, shimmering Armor that clung like a second skin. It was even more lovely than ever.
Kento flashed her a playful grin. "Much better. More Ronin, less Senshi. Like a real champion of love and justice."
Ryo shook his head and laughed. "Dude. You watch way too much anime."
Rowen explored the katana's blade delicately with is palm. "Not bad. Almost impaled my hand, though."
Miaka chuckled and gave Shara's hand a squeeze. "You just picked the wrong hand to hold." She enfolded her friend in a quick hug. "You look awesome, girlie. I knew you could do it."
Shara smiled in thanks before her eyes landed on Sage. He had taken a step back and was simply watching as the other Warriors examined her Armor. The expression on his face was flat and unreadable. She gazed into his cool eyes, searching for any sign of any emotion. He simply stared back for a moment, impassive, but then a faint smile of approval curved his lips.
"Sage…"
He shook his head firmly. "No. Not now. There's work to be done. Get to it."
Silently, she turned to face Nephalia. The other Ronins took a few steps back, giving her all the room she needed. Shara tightened her grasp on her blade and shot a daring smirk at the wicked Empress.
"You're going down."
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AN: Final chapter coming up, followed by an epilogue which will lead up to a special surprise. ^_^ I really don't have much to say about this one, other than it's kind of sappy and sadly sweet. If anyone is getting the feeling that Sage and Shara's relationship is mending too quickly, don't worry. Things never stay calm for long when I'm around…