origins-P15

gather round all you Wildfire fans, it's the part you've all been bugging me about for weeks. And as per request of my buddy Wildfire, I'll try to make parts longer. (He wanted more screen time. ^_^) Enjoy!

PART FIFTEEN

...blood fear war stop no trust...

Ahh!

Cye shot up from bed and nearly toppled over the side. He drew in several deep shaking breaths to calm himself as he got his bearings. His bed, his, room, his house. All was quiet, all was clear, all was good. But even as Cye wiped the sweat from his brow with his still trembling hand, he couldn't help but think that not all was quiet, clear, and good.

Cye laid back on his pillow and rubbed his face, trying to wipe away the memory of the nightmare as he wiped away the sweat. He never would've admitted it to Kento that day in the library - he barely wanted to admit it to himself - but Kento's cookie dream sounded suspiciously like Cye's own nightmares. Except Cye's were clearer. When the dreams had started, the balls of light were just that - balls of light. But over the past couple of weeks, five of those balls of light had begun to evolve, take shape. They became humanoid, then human. Humans wearing armor.

Cye couldn't sleep. He got out of bed hoping to find something to help him relax. He knew just what he needed. The only question was whether he could successfully sneak out of the house or not. Cye looked out at the rolling ocean, its pushing and pulling in steady, perpetual rhythm. He decided to make a go of it.

He threw on some warm clothes and headed outside. It was surprisingly easy. Usually he got got caught, given that his mother and older sister were both light sleepers.

Cye sat on the beach and watched the pulsing waves as the cold wind brushed his face. Where are these nightmares coming from? he wondered. The dreams focused on wars, and fighting, and evil. Cye had never been involved in such things. So why the nightmares?

Usually the ocean calmed him. But now he was growing antsy and fidgety. What is wrong with me? Cye thought. Something isn't right. Maybe I just need to walk a bit. Cye closed his eyes as he strolled the beach, breathing in the salty ocean air.

He opened his eyes and blinked. He was walking away from the ocean. This confused Cye greatly. For his entire life, no matter where he lived, he had always felt a sort of internal pull toards the ocean. Now something was pulling him away, pulling hard. Cye walked faster. He could hardly keep up, the unknown force was so strong. He began running, then sprinting.

Cye had never run so fast or so long in his life. He ran for miles, following the pull. He skirted the edge of town and ended up in the woods. He ran through the trees, dodging bushes and branches and rocks. And then it stopped. Cye skidded to a halt as he caught his breath. The pull was gone, leaving Cye feeling empty. He wanted the pull back, needed it. He had to find out where it had been taking him. With no other option, Cye continued walking forward.

A twig snapped. Cye froze, petrified. What other damn fool idiots could be wandering around the woods at this hour of the night? Another stick broke and Cye swallowed hard. H-hello? he called tentatively. W-who's t-there?

A short silence. Then, Cye?

Kento? Cye nearly fell over from relief. Kento, you bloody nearly scared me to death.

Sorry little buddy, Kento said walking over to Cye. You okay? What are you doing out in the woods anyway?

Cye frowned. Well, what are you doing out in the woods?

Hm, I think I asked you first.

With no answer that didn't sound completely stupid, Cye shrugged in the darkness. Never mind, he said. What do we do now?

Keep walking I guess.

The two continued on in the direction they'd both been going. For several minutes they walked in silence, listening as the bare branches scraped against each other in the wind. Cye shivered, from the cold too.

They stopped. There were voices up ahead. Maybe we should go say hello, Cye suggested softly.

Yeah, why don't you go say hello and then come back and tell me how it is, Kento whispered back.

The voices had stopped. Then one called out confidently, Who's over there?

Cye and Kento shrugged at each other. Who wants to know? Kento called back.

The second voice answered. Kento?

Rowen?

Kento and Rowen left their respective partners behind and met in the middle. They both began talking at once.

What're ya doing here?

Are you by yourself?

Who're you with?

What's going on?

While they were talking, Cye came up behind Kento and Sage came up behind Rowen. Appropriate glares were directed at and by the appropriate people.

Sage shifted his gaze from Kento to Cye. So, he said, What are you two doing out here anyway?

Well, we're not - see, it's - well, it's silly, Cye stammered, slightly intimidated by the more confident boy.

Let me guess, Sage cut him off. You woke up from a nightmare with angry balls of light and, needing to relax, snuck outside. Once there, a strange force pulled you and you ran, eventually ending up in the woods, where it stopped. Sage smirked.

Kento and Rowen stared at Sage wide-eyed. How did you -

Well, yes, Cye said thoughtfully. Except you obviously haven't had the dreams that long if the colors are still only balls of light. Later they start to look more like people.

Sage's expression lost its smugness. How long have you -

A fallen branch cracked. All four boys froze and listened. Whatever had stepped on the branch kept coming. Who's out there? Show yourself! Sage called.

A low growl was heard. It rose in pitch as a large four legged animal appeared baring teeth and caws.

Cye backed away slowly. N-n-n-nice kitty. Nice kitty.

It's a – it's a – it's a -

Tiger? Rowen supplied helpfully to Kento.

Off in the distance, someone whistled. The tiger pricked his ears and stopped growling. A boy looking the same age as the others appeared next to the tiger. Geez, Whiteblaze, what're ya doin running off in the middle of the night to scare people? He had long unruly black hair. If they're out here, that means they're on our side, remember?

He turned his attention to the four boys standing before him. I'm really sorry about that, he said. Whiteblaze here would never hurt you; he's just been kinda paranoid lately. He's really just a big house cat, he playfully ruffled the top of the tiger's head, who has a tendency to have an attitude, he added pointedly. He bowed slightly to the boys. I'm Ryo Sanada.

Sage took the initiative, stepped forward and bowed. I am Sage Date. This, he said turning to his left, is Rowen Hashiba, Kento... and... Sage shrugged, realizing he didn't actually know the other boy's name.

Kento Rei Fung, and Cye Mouri, Kento finished. Is that really your tiger?

What did you mean by on our side? Sage cut off Ryo's lighthearted answer to Kento;s question.

Ryo turned serious. Can you see what I'm wearing?

It looks like body armor, Cye said. Red and white if I'm not mistaken by the dark.

Ryo nodded and suddenly it disappeared, leaving jeans and a red sweater. He held out his hand to the speechless group and opened it, revealing a small, red, marble sized sphere. Since you're all here, I guess you all have something that looks like this?

They stood silent a moment. Then Cye dug into his pants pocket and pulled out his own light blue sphere. He glanced up at Kento. Kento, somewhat shocked that someone else had a marble, produced his own orange sphere. He looked at Rowen who passed the gaze on to Sage. Sage dipped his fingers into his shirt pocket and pulled out a green sphere. He nodded to Rowen. Rowen glanced around at the other spheres and took a deep breath. He pulled out his dark blue sphere.

Ryo came forward to fill in the circle of five. Once all five spheres were in close proximity to each other, their normal glow flared up brighter than it ever had, and lingered. When the glow finally died down to a contented pulsing, Ryo grinned. Good. We're all here.

*****

Ryo led everyone farther into the woods to a small log cabin. My grandmother lives here too, he explained, but she's visiting some friends this weekend and won't be back until Sunday.

Ryo motioned for everyone to sit in front of the fire. He placed his red sphere on the floor in the middle of the circle and everyone else followed suite. I've had that, and with it the dreams, for almost three months, Ryo began. A few weeks ago I started to hear a voice telling me about the armors in the dream.

Ryo stopped quickly to gauge everyone's interest. Sage, the obvious leader of the four, was attentive but cautious. The blue-haired one - what was his name? Oh yes, Rowen - was sitting as far from Ryo as possible while still being inconspicuous about it. He had a distrustful glare in his eye. Kento was looking bored already but remained respectfully silent. Cye was the only one who seemed genuinely interested in what was going on. Ryo continued.

Ryo held up his sphere. These are actually the armors, the yoroi. It's mystical, so you have to call on it, or something. The long and short of it is, Ryo looked up at the group, the armors chose us as their barers in order to fight a great evil that will soon threaten the world.

Rowen snorted. Mystical armor.

So how do we call the armor, or whatever? Kento asked.

Is it just the body armor or is there more? Cye wanted to know.

There's only five of us, Sage said. In the dream there are six more colors.

I know, Ryo said. But these five are the clearest ones and I can't tell exactly what the others are. He looked at Cye. There is more. I was only wearing the subarmor before. You call it by yelling the name of the armor. I'll show ya.

Ryo stood up, yoroi in hand, jumped, and back flipped in the air. Armor of Wildfire! He landed in a crouch on the floor.

Cool! Kento exclaimed. How do ya get past that?

Ryo shrugged. I don't know. I found out the armor name in a dream though. He sat down again. And to get rid of it you just sort of will it away.

That's awsome, Kento said, picking up his yoroi. I wonder what my armor name is. Hey Ro. Kento nudged the boy next to him. What do you think?

About what? Rowen mumbled. I don't believe any of that stuff.

But it's true! Ryo protested indignantly. I just proved it with -

Yeah, good show, Rowen interrupted. Where are the mirrors?

I'm not entirely convinced myself, Sage put in.

But why do WE have to fight? Cye asked, mostly of himself. We're just a bunch of kids. What can we do?

The armor - Ryo began, but Kento cut him off.

Come on guys! We'll be like super heroes!

Aren't you ever serious? Sage scowled.

Rowen sighed. I could still be in bed-

Kento grabbed Rowen's arm, pulled him closer and began whispering in his ear. A faint smile appeared on Rowen's face. It soon grew to the size of a small grin. Kento pulled away, grinning himself. Well?

Rowen, grin genuine and intact, turned to Kento. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life.

Hmpf.Ó Kento crossed his arms. That's not what you said when you were eight.

That was totally different! Rowen cried, fervently hoping that no one could see the color rising to his face.

Ryo, now realizing that Rowen and Kento had a much longer history together than anyone else in the room, threw a questioning glance to Sage. Sage could only shrug in return. Cye merely watched in confused

silence.

Oh yeah? Kento boldly challenged Rowen.

Well, um, yeah... Rowen's original deluge of denials faltered. He bit his lip. He had begun thinking. Maybe... not...

Right. Kento draped an arm over Rowen's shoulders. Now supposing that it IS the same, and supposing that you DO belive all this stuff, how would you, being the resident genius, go from subarmor to full armor?

Amazing, Cye breathed. Kento had actually managed to bring all of that back around to the topic at hand.

Rowen took a good long look at Kento, sighed a defeated sigh, and picked up his yoroi. MaybeÓ he ventured, it has something to do with the kanji in the middle. I assume everyone has one and that they're all different? Each boy recited his kanji: virtue, wisdom, justice, trust, life.

If getting to the subarmor needs the name of the armor, Cye suggested, then going to the full armor will probably need that and whatever kanji you have.

So I say, Armor of Wildfire, virtue? Ryo sounded a bit skeptical of the choice of words.

You know, Sage spoke up, those five sound similar to the five Confucion values.

You're right, Rowen agreed. Except they always said, the way of before whatever they were talking about.

Armor of Wildfire. The way of virtue. Ryo wrinkled his nose.

Doesn't quite have the right ring to it, does it, Cye said.

The room lapsed into silence except for the crackling of the fire as they all thought. Sage steepled his fingers in front of his nose. Rowen rested his chin on his hand. Cye leaned back on his elbows. Kento stared at the ceiling. Ryo scratched a sleeping Whiteblaze behind the ears.

Dao Jin.

Huh? Kento pulled his attention away from the ceiling.

Dao Jin, Ryo repeated. The way of virtue.

Sage nodded. Yes, of course.

Great! Kento clapped his hands. Let's go outside and try it out.

Kento led the way outside and Whiteblaze brought up the rear. Everyone looked expectantly to Ryo, who was still in his subarmor. He stepped back from everyone and took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, he muttered. Armor of Wildfire! Dao Jin!

Their tiny section of forest was ablaze with light and color. Bolts of silk and pink sakura blossoms filled the air. Pieces of red armor formed around Ryo's body: the legs, the torso, the arms, and finally Ryo lifted his helmet onto his head. The transformation completed itself as the silk and blossoms disappeared and Ryo pulled two gleaming katanas from the sheaths on his back.

The other four boys jumped back in surprise. That was incredible, Cye said. I donÕt belive it!

Ryo turned the blades over in his hands. Perfectly weighted, he said. Like they were made just for me.

You're familiar with katanas? Sage asked curiously.

Yeah. Go figure I've been practicing more lately. But my other pair isn't nearly as nice as these. How bout you?

I do kendo mostly, Sage replied. I usually use a no-datchi or the practice equivalent.

Oh. Ryo couldn't make himself put the swords away just yet. They were too perfect. Hey, does anyone else have any fighting experience? he asked the other three boys.

Cye shook his head. Kento shrugged. I can fight, but it's more like street fighting than martial arts.

Hm. How about you Rowen? Ryo asked.

I wonder if fighting with my father counts, Rowen thought. Probably not. Um, well, not really.

But he's got the best aim of probly anyone in the city! Kento spoke up proudly. He can hit a target from, from, from, well, a long ways away!

Sage rolled his eyes and Rowen could feel himself blushing again. His talents were always being extolled by somebody. Sage caught Rowen's glance and gave him an understanding nod and smile.

It's something to start wth anyway, Ryo said as he finally resheathed his blades. So what do we do now?

Ryo was met with four open stares. No one knew what to do; they'd all been expecting Ryo to know what to do. Kento finally broke the silence.

You said you found out your armor name in a dream, right? Hell, I'm goin

home an going back to bed so I can get mine too! Bye guys! Catch ya later Ryo! Kento waved.

Ryo waved back. A real go-getter and ready for action, Ryo thought. Bye Kento!

Hey Kento, wait up! Cye called. Ryo, will you be attending our school?

I start at Han'a High on Monday, Ryo said. I'm in tenth grade.

Great! So are we. See you on Monday! Cye waved and followed Kento.

Compassionate, but grounded, Ryo observed silently. See ya Monday Cye!

Sage moved in front of Ryo. This is quite a task you have set before us, Sananda Ryo. If all that you say is true, I hope we will be able to live up to what I'm beginning to think the armors represent.

I'm sure we will. Ryo couldn't think of anything else to say.

Sage turned to leave. You coming, Ro?

Yeah, in a sec. Rowen lingered a moment as Sage left.

Ryo watched as Rowen stood silently, taking in him and his armor. Ryo watched his eyes as they gave him a once-over, down and up. Ryo locked gazes with Rowen as he waited for him to say something.

But Rowen didn't say anything. He merely turned and shook his head, muttering something that would leave Ryo curiously dumbfounded for days: Spaceman Spiff.

__________________________________________________________

A/N: If you don't know who Spaceman Spiff is, go find out. Although I find it hard to believe anyone over the age of, say, fourteen or so wouldn't know. I'll give you two hints: he was created by Bill Watterson and his alter ego was mentioned in an earlier chapter.