The Armor of the Soul

By Dixxy

Chapter Nineteen: A New Beginning

(Keisha)

I felt bad for Kento. He was a nice guy, and some pretty nasty stuff had happened to him. Everything that happened to him, it made me hate Trulpa even more. When we relayed the story to Ria and Sara, I could see it in there eyes and that they were silently damning her to Hell as well. Once we finished up, Anubis came into the field. He stopped short, looking at Kento. My partner in arms looked at him as well, the two studying each other. An eerie silence fell onto me and my fellow Senshi.

The silence was broken when Anubis smiled and laughed lightly. "Kento, it has been a long time," he said. "You seem. . . older, wiser, even. Not the hard-headed young man I knew last year."

Kento gave a small bow to Anubis, which I later learned was a sign of respect in Japan. "It's good to see you alive and well also, Anubis," he said. "You don't look a day older since the last time I saw you, either."

Anubis folded his arms. "So, tell me, what brings you-"

"Anubis, why don't we fill you in on the way back to Boston, or wait until we get back to Mike's so that he has the scoop as well?" I suggested. "He's told it twice already, let's try to make it as painless as possible."

"I don't mind, really," said Kento.

"It'll get annoying after a while and you'll start dropping out important details," said Sara. "That happens to me every time I over rehearse an oral report. Trust me, it's for the best."

"Oh," said my partner in arms. He shifted uncomfortably, placing his hands into his pocket. "I guess that makes sense."

I smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I know you're uncomfortable. You just about don't know us. Well, you kinda know Anubis, but we want to help you. Your friends are in trouble and we're willing to help."

Kento didn't say anything, but I saw a slight smile on his lips. Ria laughed and Sara just grinned. "Kento, the girls are very easy to be natural around. Don't clam up on us, now."

~

On the way back to Boston, we told Kento about our first war and about what happened to us during the fight with Kaze. "I remember Ria trying to talk to us. It wasn't a picnic holding that guy back," he said, scratching his head.

"Well, he wasn't a picnic to fight, either, but I think you guys made a huge difference," said Ria. "Still, we need to figure out what Trulpa's going to do with Cye and Sage, since I doubt she's having them over for tea."

"Might be bait," said Kento. "That's the whole reason I was even caught by Talpa. Dais told me Talpa had them and I tried foolishly to save them myself. I just couldn't stand the thought of them being in there, so I just went. I, I should've gone and got Ryo and Rowen."

"Kento, your heart was in the right place," said Anubis. "And it was a brave thing to do, none the less. You just didn't think it through, but I'm sure they appreciated the gesture."

"Sage yelled at me for doing that," said Kento.

"Well Sage is an unappreciative jackass," said Ria. "It's the thought that counts."

"I'm sure that was just his way of saying 'Thanks for trying to save us,'" said Anubis. He then shot Ria a look. "Watch your mouth, young lady. Ria did a "Who, me?" type gesture and Anubis growled, mumbling something about how difficult American women were.

"Thanks," said Kento. "I needed to hear that."

"Let's just get back to Mike's place," said Sara. "Then we'll figure out what to do from there."

~

Once we got back to Boston, Kento told Mike and Anubis his story. I added in things where he forgot to mention details that could be important. "That's sick," said Anubis. "I have hated Talpa for about a year, but to kill your own brother is absolutely disgusting. Never mind. It's BEYOND absolutely disgusting."

"I agree," said Sara. She turned her head slightly to the side after focusing her attention on our new ally/friend. "Is there anything else that could help? Odd things Trulpa did at anytime during your captivity?"

Kento crossed his arms and legs. "Well, when she found out Anubis was alive, she kind of singled out Cye by grabbing him by his hair and threw him down. She wouldn't tell me or Sage why, but I think she eventually told Cye. I could kind of feel he was keeping a secret, but he seemed scared to share it."

Anubis went wide eyed. "That's weird. What else can you tell us?"

"Well, I think the secret has something to do with his parents. Before the Kaze experiment began, we all woke up tied down to these tables in our subarmor. Sage and I were conscious and Cye was talking about something while he was still out. The first thing he said was 'father'. Cye's dad died about a week after he was conceived," said Kento. "He never even knew Cye was the on the way, and Cye's only seen him in pictures. Then he said something about his mother lying to him."

"That's even weirder," I said. "Anything else?"

"Ryo, Rowen, and Mia have definitely given up on us being alive. Yuli is questionable, if it helps any," said Kento.

"Probably not. In your current situation, where you've been missing for nearly a year, it would be unwise to return home just yet. It would raise too many questions with the police. Your family and the other Ronins would understand, but not the general public," said Anubis.

"I, I know," said Kento, lowering his eyes. "I know there's a good chance I'll never see them again, but. . . someday. Just not, not right now."

Seeing that Kento was having some difficulty with the fact it would be a while that he'd see his family again, if at all, the subject was changed. "You say you have the Hardrock spell book?" asked Anubis.

"Cye has Torrent and Wildfire, Sage has Strata and Halo," said Kento, clicking off an orange cuff I'd failed to notice. He tapped the jewel on the cuff, causing a REALLY big spell book (think library atlas or library dictionary big) and a crystal ball with an orange tint to it to appear. He placed his armor orbe with the other two objects. "It's got a ton of stuff in here." He turned to me. "Maybe I'll teach you a few tricks out of here."

My eyes widened. "Sounds like fun," I said.

"Now, Sage and Cye were pulled into the Dynasty," said Mike.

Kento nodded. "I know," he said. "They told me about what happened. I thought they got away, too, but I guess not."

"We'll get them out," said Ria. "You guys could be useful allies and friends. You're a nice guy and I'm sure Sage and Cye are, too."

"Sage?" he said. "He can be an ice cold bastard when you first meet him, but after a while you learn he's got a good personality and a devious little mind. Cye is shy, but once he warms up to you he's peachy keen. He'll even get into a fight with you if you're lucky."

"You seem to know Cye fairly well," said Anubis.

Kento sighed heavily. "Well, we met shortly after he came to Japan as an exchange student and he lived with me and my family up until the war. We're best friends," he said. "Sage kinda is, too, now, but we've known each other longer than any of the Ronins."

I frowned sympathetically. "You must really miss him."

"I'm worried, too," he said.

"You girls had better get home. We'll start looking for Sam and Rona in the morning," said Mike. We all nodded and went home.

~

The next day, I got to Mike's early. I heard something out back and slowly went around. My eyes widened to see Kento practicing with a practice staff on some sort of a martial arts technique. His moves were smooth and precise, like some sort of an angelic dance, rather than a battle tactic.

Okay, okay. It wasn't the technique that wowed me. Kento was shirtless.

"Hi," I said. Kento looked over, surprised, and lost his balance. I covered my mouth with my hand as I rushed over to help him up. "Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that."

"No bother," he said. He blushed. "Um. . ."

Girl you are to me

All that a woman should be

And I dedicate my life to you always

"Not bad," I said.

"What? My bod or my technique?" he asked.

I grinned. "Both." Kento blushed even more as I laughed. "C'mon, you keep in shape, you deserve a compliment once in a while."

A love like yours is rare

It must have been sent from up above

And I know you'll stay this way for always

"But from a girl?" he asked.

I extended a hand. Kento took it and I helped him to his feet. "Sure, why not?"

And we both know, that our love will grow

And forever it will be you and me

"Well, girls, I mean, you know, guys date girls and stuff," he said. I laughed. "What?"

"Well, if guys are supposed to date girls, then wouldn't you want them to compliment you?" I asked.

"Um, kind of," he said, taking sudden interest in moving the dirt around with his shoe. "But, well, I, uh-"

"Loss for words?"

"Bingo."

Ooo, you're like the sun

Chasing all of the rain away

When you come around you bring brighter days

"I thought so. Is one of the words you want to say four letters long?"

"Maybe."

"Begin with an 'l'?"

". . . maybe."

You're the perfect one

For me and you forever will be

And I will love you so for always

The two of us looked at each other for a long time, slowly moving closer to each other. Before I knew it, we were very close, me having to tilt my head back just a smidgen (he's only a few inches taller than me) to look at him correctly. Nervously, Kento placed a hand on my cheek and kissed me.

The feeling was incredible! I'd kissed guys before, but I'd always been under the impression I was supposed to stay within my ethnic group. Kento was far from black, and I wondered what my parents would think about it. I broke away.

"Keisha?" he asked. "I, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

Ooh, ooh

I will love you so for always

"No, not that. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea," I said. "I mean, I'm black and you're oriental."

Kento raised one eyebrow, then made an "o" with his mouth as he realized what I was talking about. "Your parents against inter-racial dating?"

"I'm not sure, I always thought I was supposed to date and marry black men," I said. I sighed heavily, unsure of what to do. I liked Kento, but was I ready for that? "Besides, I just met you yesterday!"

Ooh, ooh

I will love you so for always

"So, we could get to know each other better. And maybe your parents won't be against the idea," he said. He took my hand. "Because even though I kinda thought I had to date within my own ethnic group, none of those girls I liked have ever been as beautiful as you are."

"I'm, I'm beautiful?" I said. No one had ever said that about me before! Kento nodded and hugged me. I returned the action. I felt safety in his arms and didn't ever want to break from the embrace. I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes and ravishing in the feeling.

Ooh, ooh

I will love you so for always

"Go Keisha!"

I turned my head to see Sara had arrived. She was making kissy faces at us and started to ask us what we planned on naming our children. I gave Kento a quick look before taking off after the smallest of the Senshi.