Midnight Shadows
Part 7
By Mieren
Mieren stirred slightly, blinking in the darkness of the room for a moment before shifting her eyes red and glancing around. Spotting the clock, she made a face. One of the few things she had come to understand in her time here was how to tell what time of day it was by the strange numbers on the clocks. It was the middle of the night.
Grumbling darkly to herself about what might have woken her up, she squirmed out of Rowen's grasp and strained her ears listening to the sounds echoing throughout the house to her sensitive ears. Wildfire was muttering in his sleep, as usual. Torrent was tossing in his bed, probably due to Hardrock's snoring. Big surprise there. Halo was still spitting vulgarities in his sleep for being evicted to the couch again. Unable to hear anything out of the ordinary, Mieren opened her other senses.
Something tickled at the back of her mind. She frowned in irritation. Whoever what calling her was a considerable distance from her, and most definitely not in this dimension. Whoever's calling me had better have a good reason for waking me, Mieren grumped, fully opening her mind to the message.
Mieren's eyes widened instantly. Throwing Rowen onto the floor roughly, earning herself a startled curse, she jumped up to leave the room. She let out a loud ululating cry as she dashed into the hall, screaming at the two great cats in her mind as she tore into Ryo's room, jerking him out of bed roughly. Continuing down the hall, she lifted Cye and Kento out of their beds, slapping them both hard on the backside to get them moving before venturing downstairs, thankfully finding Sage already awake.
"What in the hell is going on?" Ryo demanded, scowling at Mieren for having been awakened so roughly.
I have a few spies roaming the Dynasty. I was just informed that the Warlords are mounting an attack. You must be forewarned, they are much stronger now. They have been in the pools for nearly a week, according to my source, with the exception of Kayura. Something else has been done to her. Get moving!
"Where are they?" Rowen asked quickly, completely awake, much to the surprise of the other four Ronins.
They are about to open a portal in the city. I suggest that we get over there now and set up a welcoming party.
"I've always loved a bit of good exercise," Kento said happily. "Just wish that those idiots could find a better time to play."
Exercise? Have you gone mad? All three Warlords are there, Kayura with them. Every last one of them is inconceivably stronger than the last time we fought them, so all of you must be careful. Gather around, here we go.
Cye jumped when he realized what she intended. Not bothering to argue, they all gathered around, Cye placing his hand on her shoulder to provide her with energy that she would desperately need to accomplish this maneuver. She immediately slapped it away, glaring at him.
You will need your energy. I cannot fight this battle. I am no longer strong enough to do anything, and skill will only take you so far when your opponents are that much stronger than you are. Wildfire, Halo, Hardrock. I want you three to guard Torrent and Rowen while they cast spells. Torrent, if you insist on casting the Exodus spell, make sure you hit one of them with it, and then you better hit the dirt if you wanna live. You will be virtuously defenseless while doing so. Summon your armor the instant you get there and be ready to fight. Halo, Wildfire. Feel free to shapeshift during the battle to gain more strength if you need it. Don't worry, your armor will accommodate the change. If you do so, make sure that they see you do it. That'll scare the piss outta 'em. Here we go.
The five Ronins were only able to gasp as the world went white.
* * *
Ryo shifted impatiently, glancing around in annoyance. They had been waiting for over an hour and had seen no sign of a Dynasty soldier, much less a Warlord. He made a face, wondering why Mieren had yanked them all out of bed just to stand around in the middle of the night like a bunch of idiots. He stiffened when a shadow materialized in front of him, crimson eyes piercing the night.
"Anything yet?" he whispered.
Nothing so far, but give them a minute.
"We've given them plenty of time," Rowen grumped, Sage nodding in agreement.
Would you rather wait here or back at the house, where you'll endanger Mia?
"That's not fair," Ryo hissed angrily.
"How are Cye and Kento doing?" Rowen asked quickly before Ryo completely snapped and jumped Mieren in one of his infamous blind furies.
They're fine. Torrent sent me to see how you three are doing. Speaking of which, why are you here, Halo? This isn't where I told you to stand watch.
Sage shrugged. "I'm here because I couldn't find Cye and Kento."
Mieren hissed in vexation. Go back to your post. We need to watch from a variety of angles so we're sure to see them when they get here. Unless you'd rather be caught by surprise, that is.
"We'll see them coming," Ryo muttered angrily.
You had better do as I say if you want to survive. I have more fighting experience than the whole lot of you put together, and I know more than you could possibly imagine about combat. This way, when they appear, they'll be surrounded. Move it, Halo!
"I though you weren't supposed to divide your forces," Sage murmured.
That's only if they know you're there. They're not expecting us, so I think it better to surround them and try to keep them off balance.
Sage frowned and shifted his eyes to a shining golden before vanishing into the shadows around them. Ryo shifted his eyes to crimson for a moment to pinpoint the position his friend had just taken up, nodding to himself thoughtfully. Sage had the right idea in finding a high place to hide. Signaling to Rowen, he jumped to the roof of the building beside him, leaving Mieren to vanish into the darkness as she followed Sage.
Ryo looked up as something tickled the corner of his mind, causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end. He flattened himself to the roof, pulling Rowen down beside him. The pavement below flickered strangely in the shadows, alerting him that something was terribly wrong.
Hey Sage, you see that? Ryo called softly in his mind.
Yea. What the hell is it?
I have no idea, but have Mieren tell Kento and Cye.
Ryo clenched his hands around his katanas, tensing his muscles as he prepared to attack whatever was coming out of the black flames licking the pavement. Rowen squinted pitifully beside him, fingering his bow uncertainly.
"Flare Up Now!"
"Arrow Shock Wave!"
* * *
Sage gaped as Kayura and the three Warlords rose out of the black flames, dispersing frantically with startled shouts as two sure-kills shot towards them. He tensed as Cale jumped away from the source of the two sure-kills, nearly landing on top of him. Grinning viciously, he raised his no-dachi.
"Thunder Bolt Cut!"
Cale vaulted out of the way madly, the sure-kill slamming into him from point-blank range despite his desperate efforts. Rolling with the blast, he regained his feet, scowling darkly at the Ronin confronting him.
"I thought you were a…" Cale began in astonishment, cutting off abruptly as Sage's sure-kill shot towards him again, swearing as he evaded the blast this time.
No-dachi met no-dachi in a shower of green and black sparks. Cale nearly lost one of his hands when he flinched at the appearance of a slender black-clad girl that he had though was dead. Scowling at her furiously for the interruption, he leapt away from Sage, pausing in his battle just long enough to throw a blast of energy at the girl.
Sage smiled, greatly amused at the prospect of Cale being totally unnerved. He choked on his grin when Cale shot a bolt of energy towards Mieren, the black fireball exploding a few feet from her as it contacted a shimmering white shield. He bit his lip worriedly, glad that Cale didn't see her stagger from the strain of holding the shield.
Sage smiled suddenly, readying his no-dachi. Cale's eyes narrowed as he saw the unexpected grin, obviously wondering if his opponent had gone stark raving mad. Sage shifted his eyes to a shining golden, lashing out with his no-dachi when Cale blanched and jerked back in shock. Cale barely managed to block his blow.
Mieren watched the battle for a moment, throwing a fireball of her own into the Warlord's side before vanishing into the darkness. Sage watched her go, knowing that she was heading for the conflagration of sure-kills flaring in the sky not far from them. He gaped when Cale barely flinched at the impact of the white flames.
"You're doing quite well, Halo, but you should know that I'm only toying with you. I'm much stronger than you could possibly imagine now," Cale taunted.
"You think that I'm fighting with my full power?" Sage asked slyly.
"You don't know what power is," Cale hissed, concentrating slightly. Black flames shot up around him, cloaking him even from Sage's improved vision.
Sage blanched, his mind screaming for him to retreat as he felt the waves of energy emanating from the Warlord. Resorting to something his hoped he wouldn't have to do to win, he called upon his hidden abilities, forcing himself to shapeshift. He prayed that Mieren was right when telling them that their armor would change with the wearer.
* * *
"Star Storm Scream!"
"Web of Deception!"
Rowen felt his knees buckle as he slid to the ground, all of his strength diverted into holding the shield protecting himself and Ryo steady. Ryo crouched ever lower to the ground beside him as the shield shivered and shrank, nearing them at an alarming rate.
A blinding flash of light erupted in the distance, showing a silhouette darkening the sky behind Dais and Kayura for an instant. Rowen's eyes bulged.
"Oh God, Mieren, no. Please don't," he whispered.
Dais fell from the sky as she careened into him from behind, Kayura forgetting to maintain her sure-kill as she saw the cloaked figure staring at her from atop Dais's back. She forgot her shock as Mieren was thrown through the air immediately, slamming into one building, emerging from the other side and finally vanishing into a second building. Dais grinned at his handiwork happily.
"Little Ronins," he called mockingly. "There's no need to fight any longer. We've won. Even the mighty demon is no match for us!"
Rowen flinched, worry painting his face for a moment as he looked at the hole in the building in which Mieren had disappeared. Worry gave way to blind fury in an instant. He jumped to his feet, sapphire flames raging around him as he turned to Dais.
"You dare to attack her?" he hissed dangerously.
Dais blinked at the boy's vehemence, not sure how to respond. He didn't get a chance to think about it as the ground shot up to ensnare his legs, holding him in place.
"Arrow Shock Wave!"
Dais sneered at Rowen contemptuously, casually swatting aside the sure-kill as it neared him.
"Pathetic, Strata," he growled, looking at the concrete holding him unconcernedly for a moment before pulling free with horrifying ease. "Would you like to see a real trick?" he called, pausing when Rowen blanched and stepped back.
Dais threw his arms up in the air. Rowen froze as the world shimmered and bucked wildly, Dais and Kayura vanishing abruptly.
"Flare Up Now!" Ryo screamed, slamming his sure-kill into the last place he had seen Dais. He raised his katanas defensively at the responding chuckle.
"Is that all the better you can do, little Ronin?" Dais called mockingly, appearing in over three dozen places instantly.
"Ah shit," Rowen muttered.
"Star Storm Scream!"
Rowen raised his arms to block immediately, crying out in horror as he was suddenly lifted off the ground, the sure-kill slamming into the ground where he had been standing. He looked down in alarm as he realized he was over twenty stories above the ground already, and was still rising. A heavily muscled black neck extended in front of him, taloned hands gripping his ankles to hold him securely in place on the ridged back, enormous membranous wings extended to either side of him.
Rowen trembled slightly, remembering the description Sage had given them of Mieren in her dragon form. Nodding shakily, he raised his bow and began unleashing a hail of arrows upon the dozens of little Dais figures scrambling around below. He froze when the world spun in his mind, all of the illusions below vanishing, leaving three figures in his view. One of the three was spinning wildly, wielding katanas frantically. Taking aim, he began raining arrows upon the other two, both of which vanished from view as they dodged faster than he could follow.
"You bitch!" Kayura screamed, shooting through air at the two of them, aiming her attack at Mieren, much to Rowen's surprise. He nearly wet himself when Mieren banked sharply to avoid the slash, changing her turn into a roll to avoid Dais's silent approach. Rowen clung to her desperately as they turned upside down for a moment, his eyes bulging at the sight of the inconceivable distance between himself and the ground.
Kayura and Dais charged from opposite sides, intent on dropping her from the sky to stop her from interfering with Dais's illusions. Rowen released arrows as quickly as he could nock them, managing to drive Dais away from them. He slid forward as Mieren abruptly stopped in midair, nearly unseating him.
Rowen gasped as he looked down, eyes watering at the sight of the two blades protruding from the scaled neck in front of him. Mieren released his ankles to reach forward and down, trying to dislodge the swords holding her. Kayura smirked at them, yanking her swords back roughly, sending Rowen and Mieren careening to the ground.
He watched in horror as they approached the ground at an alarming speed, certain that they would both be crushed upon impact. At the last moment, Mieren wrapped her arms and legs tightly around him, throwing her wings out in one last, powerful downstroke. They slowed immensely, but not completely. Spinning in the last few feet in the air, Mieren made sure that she landed on the bottom, cushioning Rowen's fall in a sickening crunching of ribs.
Rowen jumped off immediately, slipping his arms around her desperately as Ryo watched in helplessness. A resounding howl rose up in the night, evolving into a furious cry that echoed through the streets.
A flare of sapphire energy destroyed the night, Kayura's scream silent in the answering thunder.
* * *
Ryo gaped in astonishment as the blue fires died from the sky, leaving Rowen sprawled bonelessly across the pavement. Kayura was nowhere to be seen. Ryo looked up slowly as he heard a clattering thunder approach him from the next street.
He froze when Sage darted into the street, eyes immediately locking on Rowen's limp form. Sage howled angrily, rearing back onto his hind legs as he spun to face Cale again, barely blocking a lethal blow.
Ryo couldn't tear his eyes from Sage's armor. In his centaur form, the only part of him that was visible was a golden tail, subarmor covering him completely from neck to hooves. His full armor was arranged heavily across him, heavy ridges and spikes standing out at potentially lethal angles that spoke of dire consequences for anyone who came near him. Instead of wielding just a no-dachi, Sage held a knife in his left hand in addition to the no-dachi in his right. The blade left his fingers immediately, flying through the air to plant itself in Cale's shoulder, earning a startled yelp from the Warlord. Sage replaced the knife immediately, pulling another blade from a hidden sheath in his armor, seemingly from an infinite supply.
Grinning to himself, Ryo spun back to face Dais, wanting to watch his friend longer but afraid of taking his eyes from the fight. He swore loudly when he saw that he had missed his window of attack, Dais having renewed his illusion. Grinding his teeth, he countered the illusion in the only way he could think of at the moment.
"Hey Dais!! Get a load of this!!!"
Ryo concentrated fiercely, willing himself to shift into a wolf. He gasped as his armor and subarmor suddenly became molten, shifting wildly about him. He ground his teeth, forcing himself to ignore his armor while he transformed. Unfurling his wings wildly for effect, he looked around expectantly and was not disappointed.
"HOLY SHIT!!!" Dais shrieked, losing control of his illusion.
"Flare Up Now!"
Ryo blinked at the new power rushing forward from his sure-kill. Dais leapt backward too late, Ryo's blast slamming into him directly.
Ryo glanced at his armor briefly while Dais lay prostrate, groaning weakly. He grinned at the sleek look to his armor, the streamline ridges flowing along his back and legs. Tossing his head, he noted that his helmet seemed to be sporting several horns. He looked back to Dais as he tried to rise weakly. Out of the corner of his eyes, he glimpsed his wings, his subarmor shielding the leading edge of the thick membrane to the tips. The wing-fingers were covered by the subarmor as well, leaving the membrane free to catch the air. At the tip of each finger, his armor had created a rather nasty looking claw to match the spike decorating the joint where all of the wing-fingers converged.
Grinning incredulously, understanding perfectly what had so thoroughly unnerved Dais, he moved towards the fallen Warlord. Rising quickly, he leveled his katanas, blinking in confusion. Looking down, he saw an addition from his subarmor that served as heels, allowing him to stand comfortably. Blinking delightedly, he looked at his arms. His katanas were attached to the sides of his arms, extended at the moment. He relaxed his hands experimentally, watching in fascination as the blades retracted out of his way.
"This is no time to be playing with your new armor!" Sage yelled angrily.
Ryo looked up, grimacing in embarrassment. Before he had a chance to move forward to finish Dais, Cale snatched up his fallen comrade, leaping out of Ryo's reach. Moving to a safe position in the air, he began to shake Dais.
"Damn it! Wake up!"
Dais groaned groggily, stirring slightly. Cale yelped and dropped him as Ryo shot through the air quickly, if unsteadily, in their direction. Dais recovered just enough to brace himself a moment before he slammed into the ground, watching in horror as Sage charged him, no-dachi raised. Looking around wildly, he grabbed up the first defense he saw available to him. Rowen.
Sage skidded to a halt as Dais seized his unconscious friend from the ground, holding a blade of black flames to his throat.
"Tell Wildfire to stop," he hissed.
Sage's throat worked silently for a moment before he took a hesitant step back.
"Ryo! Stop! He has Rowen!"
Ryo froze, his shock earning him a nasty slash in his wing from Cale's no-dachi. Folding his wings, he dropped to the ground numbly, staring at the horrifying scene before him.
"I think that we can use his help, don't you Cale?" Dais called mockingly as he rose unsteadily to join his companion.
"If he survives," Cale taunted, nicking Rowen's chin with his no-dachi, causing him to groan and stir weakly.
Cease this. NOW.
"What the hell is that?" Cale called out, glancing around in confusion.
Look down.
"Well, well. It would seem that the mighty demon rises again," Dais sneered.
Release him, or I will do something that will make punching through your armor look like a joke.
Cale's face paled and darkened by turns as he regarded the girl below him, not noticing Dais's answering blanch.
"That was you?" Cale called out, a dangerous glint entering his eyes.
"Yea, it was her," Dais muttered, pressing his blade tighter to Rowen's throat.
How about a trade then? You can have me if you let him go.
"What kind of trick is this?" Dais hissed, looking at Cale in confusion.
No trick. As much as I tried to avoid it, I'm afraid that I've fallen in love with that boy. Release him, and you may have me. Hurt him, and I will go on a rampage the likes of which neither you nor the Dynasty has ever seen.
"NO!" Rowen screamed, now fully awake and bucking in Dais's grip.
Cale's eyes narrowed speculatively. "Sure. It's a deal."
Cale dropped to the ground, approaching Mieren slowly, wary of a trap. She stood unmoving as he approached, not even flinching as he brought his no-dachi to her neck, drawing a thin trail of blood.
Swear that you'll release him.
"I swear," Cale murmured softly, drawing his no-dachi back. Mieren nodded, tilting her chin back and closing her eyes. Cale chuckled, swinging his blade with all of his new strength, a grin spreading across his face at the resulting howl from above him.
"MIEREN!!!" Rowen shrieked, bucking in Dais's grasp, oblivious to the blade digging into his throat, tears streaming down his face.
"Come on, Dais. We'll throw him back in the pools," Cale called out loudly, grinning widely at the appalled expressions regarding him as he vanished in a swirl of black flames.
Dais looked numbly at the boy bucking in his grasp, screaming out the girl's name over and over, the boy's broken expression tearing at his mind. This wasn't right. He blinked at the thought, preparing himself to follow Cale, shoulders drooping as the boy went limp in his arms, body racked with sobs.
Without thinking, he lowered himself to the ground, walking forward unsteadily towards the two Ronins glaring at him furiously. Twin katanas and no-dachi were immediately leveled with him, but neither made a move to attack.
Dais continued forward numbly, unloading the now catatonic boy into Sage's arms, not resisting when a katana slid between his helmet and armor to rest against his neck. He didn't even notice the blade drawing blood as he stood unmoving, mind reeling.
"I don't want any part of this," he mumbled as he turned to walk away, Ryo's katana leaving a huge gouge in the back of his neck. Deep violet, nearly black, flames rose around him as he vanished into the night, leaving the dumbfounded Ronins gaping into the now empty darkness.
* * *
"Snake Fang Strike!"
Cye leapt out of the way of Sehkmet's sure-kill frantically, watching in shock as the pavement where he had been standing ceased to exist. Kento scrambled to his feet, gripping his tetsubo forcefully in his right hand, his left arm hanging limply at his side.
"You okay, Kento?"
"I think so," he muttered.
"Super Wave Smasher!"
Sehkmet laughed as the sure-kill shot towards him, raising one hand almost contemptuously to block the blast. He steadied his hand, black flames gathering around his outstretched fingers, forming into a black sphere.
"Um, Cye?"
"Yea?"
"What is that?"
"I have no idea."
Neither had time for further conversation as Sehkmet threw the molten essence of darkness at them. Cye raised his arms frantically, leaning forward into the blast slightly, turquoise flames flaring wildly around his slender form. Black flames met turquoise, the night sky lighting up in a blinding flash.
Kento squinted into the returning blackness, swearing loudly when he saw Cye sprawled across the ground just in front of him. He dropped to his knees beside the younger boy, reaching out slowly, afraid of what he would find.
"Cye? Are you okay?"
Cye groaned weakly, trying to rise and failing miserably. "I think so."
"Why didn't you dodge that thing?" Kento demanded angrily, brow furrowing in worry for his best friend.
"If I had, it would have hit you," he murmured.
"Something wrong, little Ronins?" Sehkmet called mockingly.
Kento ground his teeth. This was bad. They were losing miserably and Sehkmet seemed to be messing around. He took a deep breath, hoping to calm his nerves, failing pathetically when he remembered that Sehkmet wasn't even trying.
Kento jumped to his feet, readying his tetsubo unsteadily and trying to clear his mind. Thoughts drifting back to the training Mieren had given them, he raised his weapon in a defensive position, hoping he could pull off this maneuver with only one hand. Spinning the tetsubo over his head, he began warily.
"Iron Rock Crusher!"
Predictably, Sehkmet moved out of the way, not bothering to block the blow this time. Kento was already hidden in the shadows, preparing himself for the next wave. Sehkmet immediately spotted him, rolling his eyes as he started forward. Kento swore. He wasn't supposed to be seen yet. Skipping around in the attack, he darted forward, praying silently that Sehkmet would stay on the ground.
Sehkmet smirked as Kento charged him, readying his swords. At the last moment, Kento threw his feet out from under him, careening into the startled Warlord's legs. Phrases rang out into the night that made Kento blanch from the pure vulgarity. He grinned weakly, deciding that if nothing else, his opponent had a creative vocabulary.
Bringing his tetsubo up sharply, he managed to get in a direct blow to Sehkmet's jaw, earning himself another set of interesting phrases.
Kento blinked. "What exactly is an unnatural spawn of the diseased crevice of a rodent's scrotum?"
Sehkmet scowled at him, jumping to his feet and leveling his swords angrily. Kento followed suit warily, preparing himself for a vicious onslaught of slashes. Sehkmet had to be furious now, having been hit for the first time in this battle. It was about to be the second time, Kento noted, grinning when he saw Cye creeping up unsteadily from behind the furious Warlord.
Cye leveled his yari slowly, turquoise flames gathering around the tip of the weapon, swirling gently. The flames intensified, lighting up the streets around the three combatants. Sehkmet stiffened, spinning on his heels to face the younger Ronin.
"Super Wave Smasher!"
Sehkmet grunted from the impact at point-blank range, flying through the air over Kento's head to land face first into the pavement over fifty feet away.
"Hey, Cye. That's pretty neat."
"Thanks."
Sehkmet jumped to his feet, scowling furiously at the two Ronins. He whipped all six of his swords out of their sheaths, deciding to show the two what a real sure-kill was supposed to do.
"Snake Fang Strike!"
The blow deflected off of a shimmering blue dome, throwing the blast away from its primary target, directly into the secondary. Kento's shriek of agony rang through the night. An answering howl of rage erupted from a few streets over, immediately followed by a blinding sapphire flash and a clap of thunder that rattled the buildings as far as the eye could see.
Cye darted over to where Kento had fallen, cradling his best friend's head in his lap, tears streaming down his face.
"Kento? Can you hear me?" Cye called softly, eyes misting at the weak groan he received as an answer.
Lowering his friend gently to the ground, he looked up angrily at Sehkmet. He was aware that Sehkmet was speaking, but his mind refused to make sense out of the jumble of words. He remained cradling his friend for several minutes, tears stinging his eyes when Kento shuddered and went limp.
Cye's eyes clouded as he saw his friend lying still on the pavement, his throat constricting. Eyes burning, he began to slowly speak the words streaming into his mind.
"What in the hell are you saying, Torrent?" Sehkmet snapped, eyes narrowing at the gibberish that the boy was spitting into the night. "What is 'Allayendis'?"
"Turning against the light, an angel falls from the earth. He has been banished by the light of the world and dimension. Turning against the wonders of life, the dark warrior destroys the world. I will bring about this destruction! Exodus!"
Sehkmet recognized the last word of the rambling nonsense from something that Cale and Dais had told him. He face paled in horror as he realized that they hadn't been jerking his chain, the turquoise flames swirling around the youngest Ronin bathing the area in blinding light for miles around. The Warlord didn't even have time to blink before a lethal blast of energy slammed into him, the burning slash of power threatening to blind any eye that glimpsed it, even for an instant.
* * *
"Come on, Rowen. Can you hear me?" Ryo called out softly, shaking the catatonic boy from where he hung limply in Sage's arms.
"What are we going to do with him?" Sage asked softly. "We can't leave him here and we can't take him with us when we look for Cye and Kento. If they're still fighting, we may have to help and Rowen'll just be in the way."
"Assuming he doesn't get hurt or killed."
"We can't leave him here, can we?"
Give him to me, then.
Without thinking, Sage handed Rowen's limp form to the accepting arms of a figure beside him.
Sage realized what he had done suddenly when he caught Ryo's incredulous expression, eyes wide and jaw hanging slack. Spinning angrily, he turned to face who he had handed off his best friend to, freezing in astonishment when he found himself face to face with Mieren.
"But I thought that you were…" Sage trailed off slowly.
Dead?
"Yes! We saw Cale decapitate you! How can you be alive?" Ryo spluttered.
Idiot. Like I would really commit suicide like that. Don't be weird.
Mieren grinned at their gaping for a moment before turning her attention to the limp boy in her arms, her eyebrows climbing towards her hairline.
What happened to him?
"He thinks you're dead," Sage murmured helpfully, blinking when Mieren snorted wryly.
You people don't know me very well, it would appear. I'll snap him out of it, just give me a second, she said, a grin starting to build on her face. Pushing his helmet out of the way, she kissed him deeply, pulling back with a contented grin when his filmed eyes cleared slightly as he blinked uncertainly.
"Mieren?" Rowen asked softly, pulling himself free. Taking several steps back, he eyed the corpse still sprawled in the street before turning back to the girl standing in front of him.
You doubt who I am? she asked slowly, grinning wickedly. Want proof?
Rowen only continued to look alternately between her and the corpse in the street, taking a few steps back and shaking his head in confusion.
Very well, but remember that you asked for it.
Moving forward, she placed one hand on the breastplate of his armor, sliding her hand down to where his ribs ended. His armor rippled slightly, allowing her hand to pass through. Ryo and Sage began snickering as Rowen's face went bright red, clashing horribly with his armor. They only needed one guess to decide what she had just done.
Stepping back, she placed her hands on her hips, grinning happily. Convinced?
Rowen nodded quickly, glancing one last time at the corpse in the street.
That wasn't me over there, I'll have you know. That's just a spell a bit more advanced than I think you'll ever be able to manage.
Rowen nodded slowly, the red finally starting to fade from his cheeks. "Where are Cye and Kento?" he asked without looking away from Mieren.
"We don't know," Sage muttered, making a face.
Rowen spun around to face them, blanching when he got a good look at them for the first time. "What in the hell happened to your armor?"
"Neat, huh?" Ryo asked, inspecting the subarmor covering his wings again.
Rowen nodded numbly. "I though she was kidding when she said that your armor would change to accommodate you guys."
Somewhere in the distance, turquoise flames enveloped the night and a single word drifted back to them.
"Exodus!"
Shit! Duck and cover!
Everyone hit the pavement just as a shock wave passed over them, a swirling blue and white shield barely deflecting the worst of the blast.
Rowen was the first to jump to his feet. "We need to find them quickly," he breathed, eyes wide. "Cye wouldn't use that spell unless he was desperate."
I should hope not.
Mieren ran over to Sage, dragging Rowen behind her. Placing her hands on Sage's back, she concentrated for a moment, smoothing the ridges and spikes from his armor before physically throwing Rowen onto his back. Sage blinked in surprise for a moment before his features degenerated into a scowl.
"Get off me, Rowen."
Stay where you are, Rowen. And as for you Halo, quit complaining. He can't run as fast as the rest of us and I don't want him falling behind. Halo, Wildfire. Follow me.
Mieren jumped forward, shifting into a sleek black dragon in midair. She was running as she hit the ground. Ryo immediately leapt after her, running on all fours. Sage made one last face before following, Rowen clinging to him for dear life.
* * *
Cye gasped for breath, blinking at the spots dancing in his vision. Unable to see in the darkness, he allowed his eyes to shift to crimson. He immediately spotted Kento sprawled limply on the pavement a few paces away from him. Scrambling over to his friend, Cye searched madly for a pulse, heaving a relieved sigh when he found one, faint though it was.
Hooking his arms beneath his friend, Cye heaved himself to his feet, struggling to stay upright as his knees began to buckle violently. Growling to himself, he started forward at a halting pace, nearly dropping his friend with each step.
"Remind me to put you on a diet," Cye muttered, locking his knees and arms stubbornly as he headed for the last place where he had seen Sage's sure-kill.
Grinding his teeth audibly, he forced himself to keep moving, certain that if he stopped that he would never get moving again. He squinted into the darkness in front of him, forcing his crimson eyes to focus on the steadily approaching shapes. He counted three, two of which were moving silently. The third could be heard from a mile off.
Setting Kento gently to the ground, he raised his yari defensively, praying that anyone approaching would leave him alone. Anyone who cared to attack him would see his bluff for what it was immediately at this point in time. The first shape in the blackness was far ahead of the other two and was closing the distance between them at an alarming rate. The first shadow came into view, a heavily muscled black dragon lurching from the deep shadows into the starlight.
Cye gasped, stepping back and leveling his yari.
"Super… Wave…"
Stop that, Torrent. It's just me.
"Mieren?" he called hesitantly.
You bet. How badly is Hardrock hurt? Mieren called as she skidded to a halt beside the fallen boy, shifting into her human form almost as an afterthought.
"I'm not sure. It's bad enough though. Where's Sage?"
"Over here," he called as he came to a sudden stop, instantly unseating Rowen, who squawked indignantly at being dumped on the ground in such a manner.
"You could have asked me to get off," Rowen grumped as he pushed himself off of the ground, brushing himself off angrily.
"What the hell happened to your armor?" Cye cried out suddenly as he got a good look at Sage and Ryo.
"Later, Cye. How's Kento doing?"
"It's bad Ryo," Sage called softly, looking up with haunted eyes. "What happened to him Cye?"
"Sehkmet hit him with his sure-kill twice."
"Twice?" Sage murmured, eyes narrowing. "That means that Sehkmet has gotten a lot stronger too. It appears that Mieren was right."
"Was he throwing around new attacks?" Ryo asked slowly.
"A few," Cye whispered, eyes clouding as Sage shook his head and moved back.
"This is beyond my abilities," Sage breathed, eyes squeezed shut forcefully.
Rowen, Halo, if you would…
Rowen nodded quickly, moving over to place his hand on Mieren's shoulder as she inspected Kento carefully. Sage immediately placed his hand on her other shoulder, a deep emerald glow enveloping him as sapphire flames shot around Rowen, both of their energies dwarfed by the snowy flames that enveloped Mieren.
"I thought you were weaker than us," Sage said softly.
I am. At the moment, I'm using your energies to do this.
"It's more than that," he hissed.
Fine. I'm cheating. We'll talk about it later, Halo.
Sage accepted that for the moment. He would get a straight answer out of her later if it killed him. He blinked suddenly as he realized something.
"Weren't you hurt?"
Not overly. I've taken much worse than this and you know it. If you have enough energy, you can heal me when I'm done with Hardrock.
Mieren ducked her head, the snowy flames flaring over twenty stories above her for a moment before the fires shrank, concentrating around her hands. One by one, all of the Ronins had to look away from her hands as the light became blinding. Squirming out of Rowen and Sage's grasps, Mieren completed the intricate spell she had been casting with such care.
As the light faded, Cye moved over to Kento immediately as Rowen pushed Sage out of the way to kneel beside Mieren. Sage and Ryo watched worriedly.
"They need to rest," Cye murmured, lifting Kento slowly, depositing him on Sage's back after a moment's deliberation.
"Hey! What am I? A pack mule?"
"Pack horse maybe," Ryo corrected, grinning at Sage's answering scowl.
"Sage? What about Mieren?"
Grumbling, Sage reached out to heal the girl, blinking at the weariness that appeared to saturate her very soul. He healed her injuries quickly, taking care of the nicks on Rowen's throat almost as an afterthought.
Rowen looked at Mieren carefully, finally nodding to himself before tossing her onto Sage's back and climbing up after her to keep both her and Kento from falling off.
"Get off," Sage said softly, dangerously.
Ryo chuckled to himself. "Pound them later, Sage. Right now, we've go to get back, quickly if possible."
"I don't see you carrying anyone," he grumped.
Ryo made a face. "Fair enough," he murmured, tossing Cye a careful look.
Cye blanched. "You can't be serious."
"Lose the armor and get on."
Sage blinked as Cye banished his armor to stand in his fish covered pajamas, looking uncertainly at Ryo's ridged armor before summoning his subarmor and climbing onto his friend's back, careful to keep from crushing his wings. He sat down slowly between Ryo's shoulder blades, wondering how he was going to hold on.
"Rowen, ditch your armor."
Rowen only blinked in surprise before obeying. Sage started forward, consoling himself with the fact that at least the three on him didn't weigh too much. He grinned ruefully as he saw the expression on Cye's face from where he sat precariously on top of Ryo. His unnerved expression changed to one of horror as Ryo jumped into the air, grabbing Cye's ankles as he rose smoothly from the ground.
Sage started into a backbreaking gallop, grateful that Ryo was gliding slowly enough for him to keep up. Together, they set a new speed record as they headed back to Mia's for some much needed rest.
* * *
"Now, will you guys please tell me what's going on?" Mia pleaded. She had seen them arrive with Kento and Mieren unconscious, Sage and Ryo transformed, and Cye and Rowen almost unable to stand upright. "You vanished without telling me anything, and I think I deserve to know what the hell you were doing all night."
Ryo made a face and looked up wearily. "One of Mieren's friends told her that the Warlords were coming, and she thought it was better to meet them where they arrived than to let them bring the battle here."
Mia grimaced. "Well, it is better that you fight somewhere else beside here, but you still should have told me you were going."
"We didn't think we had enough time for that."
"Whatever. Now what happened out there?"
"Mieren had us split up. She said it would be more effective to surround them when they arrived. Rowen and I were fighting Dais and Kayura, Sage was fighting Cale, and Cye and Kento were fighting Sehkmet. Mieren was moving around between the fights until she was hurt trying to protect Rowen," Ryo sighed. This was going to take awhile to explain fully.
Sage shook his head. He knew what had happened and had no desire to hear Ryo telling Mia what he already knew in perfect detail. Moving into the living room, he looked from where Kento was sprawled on the couch to where Mieren was slumped in the armchair. Making a face, he examined them again, sighing when he only found the same thing he had with every other inspection. There was nothing to heal, just an unnatural weariness that didn't allow for either of them to move in the slightest. It was infuriating to see them both exhausted like this, several hours of rest not seeming to have had any effect on either of them.
He scrubbed his hand through his hair. Recently, Mieren had been wearing out more quickly and needed longer to recover each time. When they had first met her, she had been seriously injured but had beaten all of them without a problem, carrying three of them in full armor afterward without seeming to mind. He had seen her withstand what should have been mortal injuries without even flinching, or even noticing in most cases. It tore him up to see her lying unconscious like that. He frowned. He didn't even like her that much. If he was having trouble with this, he could only imagine how Rowen felt.
Sage blinked thoughtfully. If she were simply weary, she wouldn't be lying there like that. It just wasn't like her. There had to be something wrong with her.
Concentrating carefully, he infused what little energy he had left into her, grinning weakly when her eyelids fluttered in response.
Ah, Halo. Gather the others, quickly.
Sage didn't bother to ask her askance, immediately calling loudly for the others. Bolting upstairs, he physically yanked Rowen out of his bed, pushing him forcefully into the hall before running to get Cye. In the span of a minute, he had everyone gathered in the living room around Mieren.
"This better be important," Rowen grumped, never pleased about being forcefully removed from his bed.
Sage made a face. He had forgotten to tell them why he had called them. Shrugging, he gently placed his hand on Mieren's shoulder, shaking her gently.
"Are you still awake?"
Barely. Listen closely, Ronins. You need to do something. Hardrock is dying and I can't keep him alive much longer.
Everyone in the room had long since gone pale, Cye sinking to the floor slowly.
"What do you mean 'dying'?" he whispered.
He was hit by the Warlord's sure-kill twice. They are much stronger now. To be honest, I am amazed he was still alive when I got to him. There are no wounds to heal. The Warlord of Venom has efficiently poisoned him, and it is beyond both my and Halo's abilities to heal.
"What did you do when you found him?" Rowen asked slowly, hoping they could build on it. Mieren quickly squashed what little hope there was of that.
I linked his life force to mine. His was nearly nonexistent when I found him. We live on the same life energies now, and it is killing us both.
"How long do we have?" Ryo breathed, eyes widening.
One day. Two at the very most. I wasn't in the best of shapes when I did this, and even if I had been, I wouldn't have been able to hold out more than a week.
"Oh God," Mia's whimper was barely audible.
"What if we took turns at this until he recovers?" Sage asked quickly, grasping for anything they might be able to do.
Won't work. Hardrock will not recover. All that will happen if you take turns is that you will wear yourselves out and be unable to fight. You will lengthen his life by no more than a week by doing what you suggest, and it will leave us all vulnerable to attack. Recovery from sharing one's life force takes longer than the cycle would.
"Then there's nothing we can do?" Ryo asked brokenly.
Figure out something. I'm in no shape to do anything.
"Isn't there anything you know that might be able to help?" Cye demanded.
"The only one who can defuse the venom from those blows is the one who inflicted them," a soft, mocking voice came from behind them. The four conscious Ronins immediately spun to face the intruding voice. Cale grinned maniacally from beside Dais, the latter studying the floor intently from behind them.
Cale brought his no-dachi down viciously, nearly taking off one of Rowen's arms. Yelping in horror, he lurched to the side, landing heavily on Cye. Ryo and Sage bolted in opposite directions, calling their subarmor as they dodged blows wildly.
Dais stood staring at the floor for a moment, blinking in confusion for a moment when a blow landed on his back. Scowling, he spun to lash out at the offending warrior, staring blankly behind himself when he didn't see anyone behind him. Another blow landed in the small of his back. Spinning quickly, he planted a kick in his opponent's ribs, jaw dropping limply when a gaunt black-clad figure slammed into the wall.
"I thought you were dead!" he cried out in frustration.
You thought wrong. I've lived too long to die that easily.
"And how long is that?"
Does no one in this dimension know that it is impolite to ask a lady her age?
Dais's one eye narrowed, an irritated tick beginning in his cheek. "If you're not dead yet, I can fix that easily enough," he growled.
Deep purplish black flames surrounded him, concentrating into balls in his fists. Mieren's eyes widened slightly. The molten balls of black and purple flames left Dais's hands suddenly, dissipating instantly as they contacted a shimmering white dome. Mieren's knees buckled beneath her, depositing her roughly to the ground.
"So even the mighty demon falls," he sneered, preparing a final attack.
Such pleasure you take in killing a girl that was sitting on death's door.
The blackish flames died in Dais's hands. "What?"
I was already dead before attacking you. Your blows will only speed up the process a bit, you realize.
Dais narrowed his one good eye, studying her carefully, oblivious to the battle raging around him. "But you're not even hurt."
I die protecting a friend, Warlord. It is something I don't think you'd understand.
He followed her gaze blankly, his one remaining eye widening in shock. "Hardrock? But why protect him? Isn't he dying?"
Yes, he is. Friendship is a strange thing. Even now, after all these years, I continue to learn.
"You didn't answer why."
Because I would rather die trying to save him than to just stand back and watch him die, wondering if I could have done something.
Dais slid to the floor bonelessly beside the slender girl regarding him wearily, closing his eye as his throat constricted painfully.
* * *
Cale swung his no-dachi as quickly as his newfound strength and speed would allow for, landing several painful blows on the weary Ronins.
Rowen rose unsteadily to his feet, clutching one arm where armor and flesh alike had been pierced by a blow he hadn't been able to avoid. Cye lay unmoving on the floor, breath rasping wetly through the blood streaming from his mouth around a broken jaw.
Ryo had managed to call his full armor and was attempting to keep Cale occupied long enough for Sage to call his as well. He brandished his katanas threateningly, trying to hide the weariness that slowed his wits as surely as his movements. Cale slipped past his defenses with a deadly grace, sliding his no-dachi through Ryo's katanas to puncture his right lung, slinging the boy across the room to get him off of his blade.
Sage cried out Ryo's name furiously, slashing out viciously with his own incredible strength. The deadly arc of his no-dachi was cut short as Cale contemptuously swatted aside his blow, delivering a kick to knock the boy's feet out from under him. He raised his hands to deliver a deathblow, crashing into the floor as Rowen tackled him furiously, not bothering to call his armor and too tired to use his magical abilities.
Tossing the youth off him irately, he thumped his heel into Sage's ribs as he tried to rise, sickening pops and cracks resounding through the room as he moved over to where Rowen had landed. Raising his blade with a cruel smile, he began with the lethal downward arc.
The blow was intercepted by a source that he hadn't expected to see alive when he had arrived here. Mieren slumped forward across Rowen limply, a deep trench running from her shoulder blades to her lower back. Looking at the slender girl carefully, he decided that she shouldn't even be alive at the moment with the miniscule amount of energy remaining in her body.
Shrugging at the strange turn of events, he decided to finish the job for sure this time, raising his no-dachi immediately lest some other surprise catch him off-guard. Before he could swing what would have ended the presence of two nuisances in his life, pain erupted between his shoulder blades, stopping him short. Cale turned in disbelief to see Dais on one knee, one hand planted firmly on the floor for balance, the other pointed in his direction, wisps of purple flames licking his fingers. A second blast followed the first, slamming Cale into the wall before rising into an amethyst inferno that threw him forcefully out of the dimension.
Dais wobbled unsteadily, mind reeling at what he had just done. He was barely in a sound enough state of mind to realize that the two conscious Ronins were staring at him intently along with a young woman with auburn hair. He rose slowly, Rowen mimicking him uncertainly, Sage watching warily from where he lay clutching his side.
Dais stumbled over to the far side of the room, picking up Ryo carefully. Depositing him next to Sage uncertainly, he dropped to the floor and began staring off intently into space, eye glazing and head hanging slack.
Sage only hesitated a moment before healing Ryo, wishing he could do the same for himself. Growling an oath that made Rowen blink in surprise, he pulled himself over to Mieren, praying silently that she was still alive. Seeing the numerous broken ribs along her side, he winced in sympathy. He began with the more serious of her wounds, the three-inch deep, two-foot long slash down her back.
"Bring Cye over here," he hissed in pain, not sure he had the strength to move himself across the room again. Rowen complied as quickly as he was able, limping slightly and only able to use one arm.
Sage used the last remaining bit of his energy to do what he could for his friend's jaw before he slumped to the floor, utterly spent and gasping vainly for breath. He was distantly aware of a hand caressing his cheek. He spasmed slightly as his ribs creaked suddenly, a burning pain shooting down his side. Anger and pain were forgotten when he opened his eyes to see Mieren leaning slightly to hold his jaw for a moment longer before falling back to the floor.
"Mieren?" he asked softly, pulling himself to a sitting position, eyes watering slightly at the pale stinging sensation remaining in his ribs.
Yes, Halo? she asked softly, her exhaustion terrifyingly apparent.
"Are you alright?"
No.
Sage swallowed, hating himself for what he asked next. "How long?"
I'd say we have fifteen, maybe twenty minutes left at the very most. I think I pushed myself a little too hard.
Sage banished his armor, trying to fight back the tears welling in his eyes.
"Isn't there anything you can do?"
The unexpected voice of concern caused Sage to go rigid. He nearly called his armor again. Glaring at Dais angrily, he began seriously considering ways to kill the man. He might have done it if he had had the energy to spare.
"No," he snapped, unwilling to show any patience to the man who had essentially killed Kento and Mieren both.
"Mieren?" Rowen called softly, dropping to his knees beside her, eyes glistening.
Yes? Her thought was barely discernable is his mind.
"I there anything that can be done?"
The only way for myself to survive at the moment is to get Kento off of my life force, and the only way I'm going to do that is if there's a way to keep him alive in the process.
"What about Turriv?" Sage asked slowly, hoping Kento wouldn't kill him for this.
Turriv? You can't be serious, Halo. You know he cannot heal anything more than lacerations, and the great cats never merge with anything besides other great cats.
Sage took a deep breath, growing desperate. "But you said he was half demon."
That I did. The great cats are immune to most poisons, so I guess it would be possible… she trailed off, opening her eyes slowly to regard him carefully. How can you suggest this? You know what you ask.
"I don't care," he whispered, eyes burning. "I can't watch him die."
Mieren sighed and was silent for a moment. The front door crashed open as Turriv and White Blaze bounded in, the cougar darting over to Mieren as the tiger migrated towards Ryo. Turriv's eyes widened slightly and he stepped back, looking between Kento and Mieren slowly. He sat down slowly, eyes closed.
Sage blinked. He could almost hear the conversation passing between them. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Ryo placed one hand on his shoulder.
"What's going on?"
"We found a way to save Kento and Mieren," Sage said almost inaudibly.
"How?" Ryo asked, not liking the pained look in Sage's eyes.
"Turriv," he whimpered, closing his eyes.
Sage didn't need to say anything further. Ryo understood. He slid to the floor beside his friend, jaw quivering.
"If the cougar can save him, why are you so upset?" Dais asked in confusion, scaring Ryo out of several years of his life.
"What the hell is he still doing here?!" he demanded.
"Dais blasted Cale," Sage said bluntly, Rowen nodding numbly in agreement as he moved over closer to the others, dragging Cye with him.
"What?" Ryo hissed, face darkening dangerously.
"All I know is that Mieren was facing Dais one moment, and the next, she was saving me from Cale. Dais shot him just before Cale killed her," Rowen murmured absently, throat constricting when he realized what they were planning.
"Um, what is going on?" Dais asked, not receiving an answer for a second time.
"Guys, you're not planning to do what I think you are, are you?" Mia asked softly, eyeing Dais nervously.
"Planning what?" Dais asked, beginning to grow slightly miffed at being ignored.
"Are you sure this is the only way to save him?" Cye asked groggily, eyeing Dais askance but not saying anything when he noticed that the others were apparently ignoring the baffled Warlord. Dais growled angrily, unused to being so thoroughly disregarded.
Sage closed his eyes, unwilling to watch what he knew was coming. Curling into a ball, knees pulled tightly to his chest, he dropped his head into his arms and began to weep silently. Dais's jaw dropped when he realized the boy sitting next to him was crying, unable to see any reason for it. Looking up, he received his answer.
Having finished his conversation with Mieren, the massive cougar walked over to Kento uncertainly, looking at Mieren one last time. Placing one enormous paw on the boy's back, the great cat closed his eyes in concentration, golden flames licking his rigid form gently. The cougar pulled him onto the floor roughly, rolling him onto his stomach effortlessly. Kento's armor vanished abruptly, leaving him clad only in the boxers he had been sleeping in, those vanishing in a swirl of disintegrated fabric. Turriv lay down on top of the prostrate boy, drawing a deep breath and bracing himself as the flames around him leapt higher. Relaxing completely, he seemed to melt, his entire form liquefying and swirling around the unconscious boy beneath him.
Dais's jaw had long since contacted his armor's breastplate, his one remaining eye threatening to roll out of its socket. He hadn't realized he'd been backing up until his back contacted the wall. Throat constricting, he became aware that the four Ronins gathered around him had moved over to their friend along with the woman who had been staring at him earlier. The girl only watched from where she lay, obviously too tired to pull herself over to where the others had gathered.
Drawing a deep breath, Dais moved over to where the others had gathered, realizing for the first time what must have happened to Ryo and Sage. Getting a good look at Kento, he decided that it would have been better if he had stayed on the other side of the room, pressed against the wall.
The thing on the floor didn't look like the Ronin he had remembered fighting so many times in the past, resembling instead some horrid cross between a human and cougar, not really favoring one over the other. His body shape appeared to be basically human, if one could ignore the fact that he was covered in fur from the top of his head to the tip of the very long tail he now sported. His head and feet resembled a cougar more than anything, but his hands seemed to be completely human, excluding the fur covering them completely and the wicked claws tipping his fingers.
Kento was rousing slowly, muttering obscenities that caused Dais's cheeks to heat furiously. Rowen repeated one of the vulgarities silently, mouthing the words as if committing them to memory for future use. Dais realized suddenly that they boy had no idea what had happened to him yet and began to wonder if he should hide out somewhere until after they broke the news to him. If he was saying things like that when they were just helping him to his feet, Dais had no intention of being around when he found out what had happened. He turned to find a place to hide a moment too late.
"What the hell…" were the only words out of Kento's mouth before he began cursing in earnest, the very mildest of the upcoming phrases causing Dais to choke in shock. Even Sehkmet wasn't that vulgar.
Dais was looking around frantically for a place to hide when he heard something that made his blood run cold.
"What is he doing here?"
"Ah shit," Dais breathed, bolting for the door, eternally grateful that he was still wearing his armor.
He wasn't fast enough. Kento slammed into him before he had taken two steps, driving him face-first into the floor, effectively pinning him there. Dais yelped loudly as he felt claws sinking into his back through his armor, struggling to regain his feet to leave until Kento calmed down long enough to agree not to kill him.
He blinked when the weight was suddenly lifted from his back, rolling to his side carefully to look around. Rolling around on the floor in a tangle of arms and legs were Kento and the black-clad girl he had saved from Cale earlier. The struggle only lasted for a few seconds, Kento pinning her firmly to the ground as she panted desperately for air.
Dais shifted uncomfortably as Kento eyed him carefully, preparing to spring from the looks of it. He raised his hands slowly, hoping that his surrender would be accepted. He wasn't in a mood to fight at the moment, especially against someone who looked to be stronger than himself.
The decision was taken from both of them as Cye resolutely stepped between them, arms crossed angrily. Rowen joined him without hesitating, Ryo and Sage following more slowly. The brunette woman was just sitting on the floor, curled up tightly, shoulders quivering slightly with her sobbing.
"Whose side are you on?" Kento demanded furiously.
"Yours, I guess," Dais murmured softly, brows furrowing as he studied the floor, not realizing that the boy had been talking to his friends.
Kento let out a blood-curdling growl that he cut off immediately when he realized what he was doing. Eyeing everyone quickly, he darted out of the room, apparently up the stairs from the sound of it.
"He's taking this better than I did," Sage muttered, eyeing Dais carefully, obviously not sure what to do with him.
"Ryo, move it," Cye snapped.
"Why me?"
"It has to be you or Sage, and I think that Kento's more likely to listen to you considering whose suggestion this was."
"You're not insinuating that we tell him, are you?" Sage yelped, eyes panicked.
"If we don't, Kento'll try to kill Mieren again," Rowen murmured.
"So it's better that she try to kill me?" he wailed.
"We'll figure it out later," Cye muttered. "Move it, Ryo."
"Great," Ryo intoned dryly, stumping up the stairs after his friend.
"You're all nuts," Dais wailed. "How can you be taking this so calmly?"
"This isn't the first time something like this has happened, you know," Rowen said dryly, not really paying attention to him, his eyes focused on Mieren.
"Is she okay?" Cye asked softly.
"I think so," Rowen said, picking her up gently and heading upstairs with the girl dangling from his arms, apparently unconscious again.
Cye looked over at Dais, blinking in consideration before turning to Sage. "So what do we do with him?"
"Not a clue. What do you think Mia?"
Mia looked up, scrubbing her eyes with the back of one hand. "I don't care."
"I'm still in the room," Dais said loudly, eyebrows shooting towards his hairline when they still didn't seem to notice him.
"You think he's actually on our side, Cye?" Sage asked slowly.
"I could check, I think. I'm not very good with spells like that yet."
"I'm not deaf, you must realize," Dais informed them dryly, only to be completely ignored again.
A loud yelp, a crash of glass, and a resounding thud came from upstairs. Sage and Cye only glanced at the ceiling before continuing with their conversation, not noticing Dais's incredulous look.
"Don't tell me that's a common occurrence too," he muttered, not expecting an answer and not getting one.
"Do you have enough energy to cast a spell right now?" Sage asked slowly.
"I'm doing better in the energy department than you are."
"That isn't saying much."
"I think I'll try it anyway."
"And I think I'll strip off my armor and clothes and just stretch out on the couch comfortably and take a nap completely naked since you don't seem to realize I exist," Dais said cheerfully, banishing his armor to leave him standing in an old-fashioned kimono.
Mia glared at him angrily. "Try it and see what it gets you," she hissed.
"At last!" he called out joyously as he lifted his arms triumphantly, voice dripping with sarcasm. "They realize that I'm here!"
"Mia, would you like us to pound him into the floor?" Sage asked in all seriousness, which only goaded Dais to tweak them a bit further.
"Ah, so the lovely lady has a name. Would you care to join me on the couch, Mia?" he said in the most alluring voice he could manage, raising one eyebrow at her.
"Which would you prefer, Mia? Slow and painful, or quick and more painful?"
"Come now, Cye, we can give her a few more options than that."
"Sure thing. Skinned, fried, boiled, gutted, lynched, impaled, bludgeoned, drowned, maimed, or a combination of the previously listed? Even worse, we could subject him to Rowen's cooking for awhile."
"Feed him Rowen's cooking? There's no need to be that cruel. I opt for just disemboweling him and being done with it."
"Wait just a minute, Sage. I thought that this was Mia's choice."
"I say go for all of the above," she growled.
Dais blanched. They had to be kidding.
When he paled, Cye moved over to him, grinning happily. "Hold still. This won't take more than a minute or so."
Dais looked at him as though he had lost his marbles, wondering if he ever had them to begin with. Cye noticed his look and laughed.
"I'm just checking to see where your loyalties lie. Now hold still," he snickered, ignoring the foul looks Dais was directing at him.
Dais watched him carefully, quickly losing track of the intricate swirls of turquoise flames as the boy wove them into a complicated pattern.
"Now whose side are you on?" Cye murmured.
"Couldn't you have just asked me that a second ago instead of doing whatever the hell you just did?"
"Not a chance."
"Well, after what I just did to Cale, I think I'm on your side," he muttered dryly.
"Well, Cye?" Sage asked slowly.
Cye made a face before answering. "I think we're stuck with him. He was telling the truth."
"Is that what that spell did?"
"I wonder if Ryo wants a roommate," Sage mused, grinning slightly.
"Probably not. Maybe we could just let him sleep on the couch for awhile."
"I thought you didn't want me on the couch," Dais began again, praying that they would stop ignoring him eventually.
"I don't want him in the living room," Mia hissed.
"That's probably for the best. I like to sleep in the nude."
"Are you sure you don't want us to do something to him?" Cye asked.
"Not if you make a mess," Mia muttered.
A mortified yelp echoed from upstairs, followed by a loud thud and the sound of retreating footsteps. Dais looked at the ceiling, his one eye widening.
"Are you sure this happens all the time?" he wailed.
Sage sighed. "If it will make you feel better, I'll go check on them," he said soothingly, voice dripping with sarcasm. Without waiting for a response, he levered himself to his feet, groaning and clutching his side.
"Ribs still hurt?" Cye asked softly, brows furrowing in concern.
"Yea, a bit."
Tough it out for a bit, Halo. I'm too tired to heal you any further than that.
Sage looked up at the ceiling, frowning slightly. "Mieren appears to be awake."
"Which means that Rowen'll be awake too," Cye snickered.
"Ah hell," Sage muttered. "If Mieren is up all night, then she's probably going to sleep in. Who's going to wake Rowen tomorrow?"
"I'm not going in there," Cye said quickly.
"Neither am I," Mia seconded.
"I think I'll stay down here tonight," Sage said slowly, eyeing the couch.
"Then where do I stay?" Dais asked, beginning to grow irritated again.
"You can sleep on the roof for all I care," Mia said absently.
"I think I would find your room much more comfortable."
"I think you're asking for it," Mia hissed.
Sage scrubbed his hands through his already tangled hair. "I'll crash in Ryo's room tonight. Dais can have the couch."
Mia opened her mouth to protest, clicking her teeth shut when she decided that any argument at this point in time would just be a waste of breath.
"Speaking of Ryo, how do you think he's doing?" Cye murmured.
"I'll go check. If he's not having any luck with Kento, I may be able to help," Sage said slowly, obviously wondering if he would return in one piece.
* * *
Sage knocked softly on the door to Kento's room, wincing at the answering crash sounding from within. Pushing open the door, he entered warily, eyeing the chaos within and wondering how Ryo could have survived this long.
"Kento," he began, cutting off as all of the air in his lungs rushed out between his teeth as Kento careened into him, pinning him to the floor, golden eyes blazing. Sage cried out in pain, clutching his side. "Watch the ribs!"
"Hey, Sage! Glad to see you here," Ryo called, brushing himself off stiffly.
"Kento, you know perfectly well you can change back, so calm down," Sage said through clenched teeth as he tried to push Kento off of him.
"How in the hell could you do this to me?!" Kento shrieked.
Sage paled. "You told him?" he breathed, eyes bulging.
Ryo shook his head vehemently. "He already knew. He wasn't awake, Sage, but he knew. He keeps saying something about a diamond being taken and golden flames rising in the night."
Sage winced as thick claws sank into his shoulders, trying frantically to think of something to say. He blinked suddenly, looking at Kento more closely.
"Hey! Your eye's back!"
Kento snarled at him wordlessly, a murderous expression appearing on his face. He drew back one arm to slap Sage, claws extended. Sage's eyes widened and he threw Kento across the room, scrambling to his feet quickly when Kento rebounded off of the wall and charged him again. Without thinking, Sage concentrated slightly, drawing in more energy to keep his friend from his throat. Kento skidded to a stop in his charge, eyes wide.
Ryo blinked. "I didn't know you could do that."
Sage looked at his friends in confusion for a moment before looking into one of Cye's mirrors. He blanched at what he had done. He raised one hand to his face in disbelief, blinking to clear his eyes. Excluding his golden eyes, he looked exactly like a gray version Ryo did when he transformed, only lacking the wings.
"Since when could you turn into a wolf?" Kento demanded.
"Since about thirty seconds ago," he murmured.
Kento snorted loudly, settling to the floor slowly as he eyed his friends askance.
"I wish I had thought of that," Ryo snickered, eyes dancing. "He's been mopping the floor with me since I came up here."
"I seriously doubt that, Ryo. You've seen his side of the room. I can't see him doing any sort of cleaning."
"Ha ha," Kento muttered. "Now what?"
Sage looked at him for a moment, making a face at his friend. "As soon as I figure out how to turn back, then I'll see if I can teach you."
"I thought you already knew how to change back," Ryo said slowly.
"That was a little different. I have no idea where this form came from, so I'm not quite sure how to go about changing it."
"Shouldn't it be the same?" Ryo asked curiously.
"Obviously not," Sage snapped.
Before Ryo had time to ask anything further, emerald flames rose abruptly around Sage for a mere moment, nearly blinding in intensity. When they winked out a second later, Sage was standing as he had been before coming into the room. Muttering something about a new form requiring new levels of concentration and shrugging slightly, he turned to Kento.
"Now pay attention, or this could take forever."
"It will anyway. You know how thick his skull is," Ryo smirked.
"Remind me to kill you both later," Kento grumped, earning amused and slightly wary looks from both Ryo and Sage.
To Be Continued…
I'm working on fighting the computer for the old files. Have patience. Let me know you adore and worship me for so far conquering the evil demons of electronics. R&R!