Ronin Warriors

The Ugly Duckling ~ Chapter 8: A Friend At Last

By .:†:. Kakeumei Tenshi .:†:.

Hello! I hadn't expected to be back so soon with another chapter but here I am! After finishing the last chapter, I had started writing down this chapter on paper so I could get my thoughts more organized. ^_^ It helped for I think I was able to come up with better description of the setting and what the characters themselves were feeling. I'm going to be busy with a bunch of things…First, I'm going to be working on collecting a bunch of fansubs that haven't been distributed in the United States so that I could start my own fansub business. So far, I've decided to get Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, Oniisama E…(Brother, Dear Brother), Miracle Girls, and an actual set of Marmalade Boy tapes for now. I know there's several more at the back of my mind like Yawara!, but I'm afraid a lot of them are going to be unfinished sets.  Enough of my babbling…onwards to the fanfic!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin Warriors.

            Lifting her finger, Kayura pushed her glasses back up onto the bridge of her nose. "Argh! This is about the fifteenth time I've done this! I need new prescription," She fumed, kicking a stray stick on the path. Sighing , she took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. As the wind shifted directions, she shivered a bit. The chill in the wind grew and bit at her as the winds grew stronger. "I should've brought a coat along…" She muttered, her teeth chattering just slightly. Wrapping her arms around her slight frame, she made her way until the desired location appeared in view. Cursing slightly as her teeth chattering became worse, she broke into a full run towards the school. She was getting nearer until suddenly, four tall and hostile figures obscured her view of the school and stopping her in the process.

            "Well hello Kayura, how are you doing today?" Lindsay's silky voice, with a touch of mockery, flowed to Kayura's sensitive (and a wee bit cold) ears.

            Regardless of her shivering frame and chattering teeth, Kayura's eyes flashed as she drew herself to her full height, her face void of any emotions. "Hello, can I help you with something?" She greeted cordially.

            "Of course, people can always help me but you're just so nice, you ask to help, don't you? Well, if that's the case, you can help me by getting on your knees and begging like a dog…" Lindsay laughed as if it were the funniest thing in the world. "I'm just kidding! You see, my humor sometimes' gets the better of me,"

            Kayura rolled her eyes and tried to maneuver her way around the group. However, they blocked her progress, sneering. "Please let me through." She cordially asked, anger and agitation in her voice.

            Lindsay's face darkened. "Do you think I'm blind? Did you just roll your eyes at me?" She demanded. "Nevermind that, I know you did. Did you know that it's rude to do that? We'll just have to teach this bitch a lesson eh girls?" During her little speech, Lindsay had stepped up so that she was face-to-face with Kayura. This technique was made to frighten Kayura and show that Lindsay was in power, however, Kayura was undaunted by it.

            Kayura's nose wrinkled as Lindsay's perfume engulfed her and she tried to keep the remnants of her breakfast inside her stomach. The perfume Lindsay was wearing could smell good if the girl hadn't used it in such large amounts. Maybe it's just my nose…I can't believe guys flock to this girl like bees to honey. She hadn't spent days training so that her nose would pick up every possible scent imaginable, ONLY to be ruined by some human girl's perfume. Suddenly, without even a warning, Kayura sneezed. Since there was no room to turn or stick her hand up so that she didn't sneeze on anyone, she sprayed Lindsay. Kayura couldn't help but feel bad as she watched the girl jump away screaming and shrinking, her lackies soon following in pursuit.

            "You stupid bitch!" Lindsay swore at Kayura, loudly. It was pure luck that no teacher's were around to hear it for vulgarity was forbidden on school grounds.

            Kayura had had just about enough. "Look Lindsay, if you didn't wear so much damn perfume, or if your ugly face wasn't so near, maybe I wouldn't have spat on you though I only regret that I felt bad when it is clear that you needed to be spat on and brought to your senses!" With that, Kayura drew up the biggest loogie she could find in the back of her throat and huked it at Lindsay. It was disgusting…however, she couldn't help but feel a slight wave of satisfaction. Groans and more shrieking was heard. This is bound to attract at least some attention. The loudest shrieking was of course…Lindsay.

            "AUGH!" She shrieked shrilly while her hands went crazy.

            Kayura couldn't see how that had helped the big roll of spit and mucus rolling down Lindsay's shirt.

            "You stupid bitch!" Lindsay said, not being able to think of any new insults.

            "Wow…your creative juices are really flowing today aren't they?" Kayura sneered as she shoved her way past the human wall. "Bye…bitch!" She mocked.

            Unfortunately, a teacher had heard that. "Kayura Shindo!" Mr. Ignacie called angrily. He marched over, his face bright red. "Swearing is NOT permitted on school grounds!"

            Kayura wanted to protest but she decided against it. She was better then those stupid girls. "Yes, Mr. Ignacie," She replied rolling her eyes. She seemed to be doing a lot of eye rolling lately.

            Turning a nice bright shade of red, for he had seen Kayura's rolling eyes, his voice, drenched with anger, he calmly spoke, "Miss Shindo, you will spend the whole day writing 'I will not swear and I will not disrespect my elders when spoke to,' five hundred times! On the chalkboards!"

            Kayura felt a protest rise in her throat but she kept it down. "Mr. Ingnacie, that's insane, you know there's not enough chalkboards to write something that long five hundred times."

            "Your comment is disregarded. I guess you'll have to write small then, won't you?" He all but sneered.

            Kayura narrowed her eyes in stony silence. Off of the side, she could see Lindsay, Naoko, Rika, and Aino sneering, whispering to each other about her, of course. She could feel herself growing agitated, more angrier, and frustrated…yet first period had yet to start.

.:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:.

            Mia felt odd returning to her old school. She knew she shouldn't for she had gone to this district for her education for goodness knows how long. Guess it's only because I haven't been here in such a long time… Glancing at her watch, she frowned. She hadn't expected to be here this early but it seemed that she was half an hour too early for picking up Sai. Sai had stayed for a review class and she had offered to pick him up so that she could take him out for a small beverage before she had to go home and eat dinner with Mr. Tsubasa. Finally, she concluded that she would at least walk around the school and decide how much had changed. I doubt much for I've only been away for a year and a half…

            Strolling down the empty halls, she sighed as memories of taunts, the teasing, and everything else came back to her. She didn't think she ever had a good memory of the school, which was a shame for this school was rated as one of the best schools. However, the people who came here were obviously quite rich…and obviously quite vain. The taunts and mistreating of the students back then hurt her and it still hurt her. I won't let it get to me. She vowed silently.

            Because of the quiet halls, she had heard the faint sound of chalk hitting a chalkboard and the quite mutterings of a female. Deciding to investigate, she listened even more carefully before she finally found the door to the room where the sound was coming from. Twisting the knob and opening it slowly, Mia poked her head in. "Hello?" She asked.
            "Oh hi, can I help you?" A girl at the chalkboard cordially asked. Her long blue hair had been piled on top of her head and out of the way. There was no mistaking the coldness from the girl's voice.

            "Hello, I'm sorry, did I bother you?" Mia asked blushing. What made her open the stupid door anyways?

            The girl shook her head. "Not at all, I'm only here as a punishment. It's nice to have a little distraction."

            Mia glanced at the board where it consisted of several rows of 'I will not swear and I will not disrespect my elders when spoken to.' "Eee…I remember these. I accidentally broke a flower pot and the teachers made me write it two hundred times. The only good that came out of it was that I was able to approve my penmanship. Anyways, I've been rude and I've distracted you from your work,"

            Kayura shook her head. "No, not at all, I needed it anyways. By the way, I'm Kayura. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I fear my manners aren't what they should be," Kayura said as she wiped her hand and held it out to Mia.

            Mia shook it firmly. "That's alright, my manners weren't at its peak either. I'm Mia Koji, I use to come to this school and I figured to take a stroll just to see how much it changed."

            "You use to come to this school? How come you stopped?" Kayura questioned as she picked up the piece of chalk again.

            "My parents were moving because they were transferred, I didn't complain. I didn't like this school very much." Mia walked over and looked at the various pieces of chalk.

            "I understand, regardless of this school's reputation, it has nothing to boast of when you actually come here. Anyways…how come you're in this school right now? Are your parents making you come back?" Kayura asked as she finished a line of her punishment.

            Mia shook her head and quietly answered, "My parents died a few months ago in a freak accident…"

            Kayura stopped writing as she glanced at Mia's pain-filled face. "Oh I'm sorry…I had no business bringing it up."

            Mia looked up with tears in her eyes. "No, it's alright, you had no way of knowing…" Wiping the tears from her eyes, she chuckled. "You must think low of me…breaking down in front of you like this." She took the napkin Kayura offered her.

            "No, not at all," Kayura soothed.

            Clearing her voice, Mia spoke, "I'm here to pick up my cousin, Sai Mouri. He had a review class and I offered to take him out for a drink and ice cream afterwards."

            "Ohhh…I think I know what review. That doesn't end for another fifteen minutes right?"

            Mia nodded. "Hai, in the mean time, would you like some help?"

            "Pride keeps me from accepting but sense pushes me to accept…so sure, if it doesn't bother you," Kayura smiled as she watched Mia take a piece of chalk.

            "Nope!" Mia grinned in reply.

            In those fifteen minutes, the girls had made plans to hang out with each other the next day.

.:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:.

            "How was review class?" Mia asked as Sai got in.

            "It helped a lot, thanks for picking me up," Sai smiled.

            "No prob, I made a new friend in the process too," Mia grinned happily. She had a reason to because for the first time in years, she had a female confident that she could finally call a friend. Sai would always be her close buddy but sometimes, she needed a girl to confide in.

            "That's wonderful," Sai replied happily.

.:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:.

            Kayura smiled to herself as she slowly walked on the path. Her hands were covered with chalk dust and they were a bit sore. She would've had to stay longer if it hadn't been for Mia's help…Caught up in her thoughts, Kayura didn't notice the shadows lingering in the bushes and trees. Suddenly, a branch came hurtling towards her. Her hand came up and snatched it out of the air, no sooner, she was soon bombarded with stones and sticks of all sorts. Running quickly, she hightailed it out of the forest.

.:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:..:†:.

            Growling, Kayura slammed the door shut as battle armor appeared on her frame, her school uniform disappearing. Her eyes flashed as a large gold necklace appeared around her neck and red eye shadow appeared on her eyelids. Her books disappeared and in her hands, she held a staff. "Anubis!" She hollered as she opened the door to the throne room. "How much longer is the preparation going to take?"

            Anubis, Seckmet, Cale, and Dais looked up in surprise as they regarded the Queen.

            Kayura winced as she touched a tender bruise on her face. "These mortals are pathetic. We're doing them a favor if we annihilate them and the sooner, the better!" She snarled.

            "Well, it's almost finished but we need to make some alterations…Have you found the five armor bearers?" Anubis asked calmly.

            This also calmed Kayura down. "I'm sorry for snapping at you all like that…And no, I haven't found them. I can't sense their power anywhere…"

            "Did something happen?" Dais asked, sensing her agitation.

            "I was attacked by mortals on the way home…I couldn't do anything to protect ourselves or I'd reveal who I really was. They attacked me with stones and sticks while hiding in the bushes. COWARDS." Kayura snarled in distaste.

            "Are you alright?" Sekmet asked. "I have a painkiller in the cabinets,"

            Kayura shook her head, wincing as the throb in her head became greater. "No it's alright, I'll manage."

            "We're sorry for the time it's taking to prepare this…"

            "It's alright, it'll be worth it. I know it will."

Next time on Ronin Warriors…

Kayura: Midterms are rolling close and everyone is on a tight edge. Something has happened and it's just about broke down Mia's reserve. I hope she's alright…

Mia: Really, I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about. But I am worried…I feel as if something's going to happen soon. I know the answer is no…but I wonder, why do I get a feeling that you're mixed up in this somehow, Kayura?

Sai: Mia, you worry so much about others…so I worry about you. Are you sure you're alright? You promise you'll tell me whenever there's something bothering you, right?

Kayura: It's almost ready, I can feel the power growing stronger…I think I know why I wasn't able to sense it earlier. The armors can sense when they are needed and because the preparations are almost finished – maybe that's why they've awakened.

Sai: Oh no…it's Grandfather Koji!

Anubis: Next time on Ronin Warriors: The Ugly Duckling~ Chapter 9: It's Been Done.

Mia: GRANDFATHER!

Alright everyone, I'm sorry that was a short chapter. I figured it was good to leave it like that…^_^ I hadn't expected this story to take a turn for the supernatural but I think it can work out like this. I'm already planning out the next chapter but I'll be working on my website so I can get the shrines set up. That's pretty much about it…Thanks everyone!

.:†:. Kakeumei Tenshi .:†:.