The Armor of the Soul

By Dixxy

Chapter Thirteen: Disappearing Senshi

(Keisha)

Two days went by and Sam and Rona still hadn't spoken to any of us. Anubis was especially disturbed. Given what he'd done was probably pretty bad, but he was trying to repent for what he'd done and from what I could tell he was doing a darn good job at it. Having them break of from the rest of us must have been tearing him apart.

Ria, Sara and I were at my house, discussing what Anubis had told us. We hadn't come up with anything, aside from Sara wondering if the Ronin Warrior of Torrent was cute. Ria snapped back by saying that Wildfire was probably some sort of a super model, and the two of them started going at it. And about guys they hadn't even met!

"I'm telling you, Sara, the Wildfire guy is the leader! The leader's ALWAYS the best looking!" said Ria. "You probably got the nerd inventor guy with the Coke-bottle glasses and pocket protectors."

"Nuh-uh!" said Sara. "I probably got the WAY cute surfer guy."

"Yeah right, Sara, I doubt-"

RING-RING!

I leapt over the couch to grab the phone, glad that something had popped up to take my attention away from the other two Senshi. I saw Evan also making it for the phone. I reached down and casually picked up the phone as my brother dove into the couch, successfully causing my friends to yelp from surprise. Sara even drew her dagger, standing on the couch and whipping her head around.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hello, Keisha?"

"Oh, hi Ella, how's Sam?"

A dreary silence was on the other end of the line. "You mean you girls aren't on another mission?"

I froze. "What?"

"Sam, when she went to your meeting, she hasn't come home since! Rona's father called as well, and Rona hasn't come home yet, either!" she said. I could tell Sam's normally bubbly aunt was near hysterics.

"Well I'm sure they're okay and that they're together. They got mad at Anubis over something I'll tell you later and they stormed out," I said. By now Ria, Evan, and Sara had turned their full attention to me and the phone.

"What?" asked Ella.

"Well, he had kind of a dark past he didn't tell us about and the two of them got really mad."

"How bad?"

"Used to work for Trulpa's brother bad."

"Well, are you sure they're okay?"

I tried to smile. "They'll probably come back when they're done blowing steam," I said.

"Yeah, I guess so. Knowing Sam it could be a week!" said Ella. "All right, I feel a little better about it, thank you. Good bye, Keisha. Say hi to your parents for me."

"Okay, by Ella," I said, hanging up the phone. "Sam and Rona haven't been at their homes since the meeting."

"That isn't good, is it?" said Evan.

"Hello!? With Trulpa still out there she might have them!" said Ria.

"I think Trulpa would have let us know that by now," said Sara. "She would have dangled them in front of our faces and started taunting us. She hasn't got them, yet."

"Well, we still need to find them," I said. "I'm gonna start calling some of their other friends."

"Think about how many friends Rona has," said Sara. "A LOT."

I groaned. Rona's repertoire of boyfriends was very wide spread. "I'll be making phone calls all night!"
"I'll do it, Keisha, and I'll get Anubis and Mike to start calling around, too," said Evan, getting up off the floor.

"Evan, today you're saint," I said.

"Today?" he asked.

"Sometimes, between you and Trev, you're the devil," said Sara. "Let's start checking out some of their hang-outs and secret spots."

"Then we'll panic if we can't find them," said Ria.

"Does that actually help?" I asked.

"No, but knowing how we react that's what we'll do."

~

After a few hours of searching Boston and a few of the surrounding cities, we came up empty handed. As did Evan and everyone he'd gotten to help with the phones. Sara even suggested going to the police. Eventually, Anubis had what was left of the Senshi, Ella, Mr. Santana, Ria's Aunt Sally, Evan, and Trevor gathered in Mike's living room.

"No, we can't go to the police," said Anubis. "That could be dangerous."

"Well, can't that magic staff of yours do something?" asked Mr. Santana.

Anubis sighed. "The Staff isn't good at locating Senshi like this. It can hunt down the holding places of the armors but not the bearers themselves or the armors on the bearers. If they were close by it would be a different story."

"They probably took off on Rona's motorcycle," said Sally. "Might've gone up to New Hampshire or down to Rhode Island or Connecticut for all we know. And with all the time that's passed they could easily be in New York!"

"That isn't good," said Ria, cringing. "But I don't think they went that far."

"Why's that?" asked Sally.

"Because they knew that Trulpa's going to start a second war. Kaze wasn't exactly a push-over," said Sara.

Mr. Santana folded his armors. "I'm still worried. Having my daughter running off and fighting wars on a level that I can't even comprehend isn't what I'd call comforting," he said.

"I'll agree with you on that, but the armors choose who they believe is the best suited to win against the Dynasty. So far these girls are the best picks yet," said Anubis.

"Really?" I asked. "We're the best picks?"

"As are the current Ronin Warriors. You're all brave, powerful, and excellent welders of your respective magic powers," said Anubis. "Yes there are a few hot heads, but this is expected."

"Yeah, the gung-ho morons are part of the driving force," said Sara.

Anubis sighed heavily. "To think Torrents are generally laid back and passive."

"Laid back and passive? Sara? You gotta be kidding me," I said.

"Most of the Torrents I've met are calm, quiet, and a lot less aggressive than this one, here," said Anubis.

Ria smiled. "And what about the other armors?" she asked. "In fact, what can you say about these Ronin Warriors?"

Anubis sighed. "They're in Japan and the likely hood of you meeting them is highly unlikely," he said.

"But what if Trulpa and Talpa unite or something?" I asked.

"Trulpa and Talpa hate each other with a passion ever since a fight they had a hundred years ago over something that happened the last time the two groups of Ronins united. The two Halos, a young man named Nako and a young woman named Sachi got their hands on a big project that they were working on. After they started blaming each other they became something short of enemies," he said.

"What was it they stole?" I asked.

The former Warlord sighed. "I haven't the slightest clue, but it was important. Brenamon and her now dead husband, Badamon, were up in a tight know over that one for quite a while."

"So why are you avoiding telling us about the Ronin Warriors?" asked Mr. Santana.

"I don't know, I feel odd about telling you about them without their permission, I guess. I respect them as warriors, friends, and allies. It seems almost disgraceful," said Anubis. "But perhaps you will meet them. It could very well happen."

Ria stood up. "Tomorrow I'm going to China Town," she announced.

"Why?" asked Evan.

"I heard rumors about a psychic who's amazingly accurate. I want to see if this guy can help us figure out where Sam and Rona took off to," said Ria.

"I'll go!" said Sara.

"I'd rather not," I said.

Trevor grinned. "Afraid you're gonna get bested by some Average Joe, Keisha?"

"No!" I said. "I just think I'd do more if I'm out on the street using my own powers, thank you very much!"

"Trev, leave Keisha alone," said Sara.

Trevor laughed before Sara kicked him.

"Where's this guy at?" asked Anubis.

"A studio owned by a woman named Madame Shinshu. I heard she's getting a ton of money from this kid," said Sara.

"That name rings a bell," said Anubis. "But why?"

"Well, let's all get home and let you figure it okay, okay, Anubis?" said Evan.

Anubis nodded as we exchanged good-byes and left.