'Lightning what do you think that you are doing? Do you honestly believe that you alone can stop me?' asked Maji.
'Maji, you of all people should know that this isn't the way that it should be done. So why are you forcing them to hand over their kanji orbs, unless?' asked Lightning as he kept his eyes on him.
'Yes you are right Lightning. The time is closer than you possibly realize.' replied Maji.
'But why, why now of all times? They are not ready for this.' said Lightning.
'You and I have witnessed what they can do when they have to, but how can you have so little faith in them?' asked Maji.
'It's not that I don't have faith, it's just that this is bigger than any of them has ever faced.' replied Lightning as he noticed that Kaye and the others were now outside watching them for some kind of opening.
'It looks like our time is up, I'll see all of you again real soon, count on it.' said Maji as he disappeared from the yard.
"Ok, now would someone explain what just happened here?" asked Sage as he and the others looked around confused.
"I can take a guess, Lightning knew what Maji was going to do so he decided to go after him and try to reason with him alone, but if that didn't work then he would have had to fight him instead." replied Rowen.
"I guess that sounds reasonable Rowen, it's as good of an explanation that we're going to get for the time being." said Mia as she looked at him.
"Well there's one way to find out, hey Kaye think that you could asked Lightning what that was all about?" asked Cye as he glanced at her.
"Huh, ah sure Cye, no problem." replied Kaye as she walked over to Lightning.
'Kaye, I'm sorry will you be able to forgive me for keeping this from you?' asked Lightning.
'You've aplogized once already, and I've realized something while I was resting. I realized that you hid this from us for a very important reason. You thought that it wasn't the right time to tell us until all of the other weird things that we've been through were behind us. So I'm not angry any more, I'm just glad that you're back.' replied Kaye with a small smile.
'Kaye there's something that I have to tell you. It's really important for you and the others to know.' said Lightning.
'What is it? I have a feeling that what you're going to tell me, I'm not going to like it am I?' asked Kaye in concern.
'No you're not, but it is very important for you and the others to know, before this testing with Maji really begins.' replied Lightning.
'You mean to tell me that the first time that we've met up with him wasn't the start of his stupid tests?' asked Kaye now starting to get angry.
'Unfortunately yes that's exactly what I'm saying. Now if we would all go inside I'll fill you in on the details.' replied Lightning as he headed back towards the mansion.
"Kaye what was all of that about?" asked Ryo as he and the others looked at her for an explanation. Kaye began to fill the others in on the conversation that occured between her and Lightning. They seemed just as curious as she was to find out what the tiger meant. So they walked back to the mansion and into the livingroom where Lightning was waiting for them.
'Kaye I think that you better tell them to take a seat. They're not going to take the news very well when they hear what I have to say.' said Lightning.
"Mia, guys Lightning wants us to take a seat." said Kaye as she looked at them.
"Why does he want us to do that Kaye?" asked Kento.
"He said that we're not going to exactly like what he has to say." replied Kaye as she took a seat on the couch. Kento sat down next to Kaye, and Cye was on the other side. Mia sat at her desk, Ryo took the floor next to White Blaze. While Sage and Rowen each took a chair.
'Now as you know, Maji...' said Lightning as he began to start his explanation.
'Sorry to interrupt Lightning, but I think in order to save time from you telling me and then from me to them why don't you link with the guys and Mia as well.' suggested Kaye.
"Hey guys, Mia I've asked Lightning to link with you like the one that he and I share. That way it'll cut down on the explanation time." said Kaye.
"Are you serious, he can actually do that? How long will this link last?" asked Cye as he looked at her.
"Well I'll put it this way, once Lightning has made the mental link it's there just as long as you want it." replied Kaye.
"But what if the connection is broken, then can we get connected again?" asked Sage.
"I believe so." replied Kaye.
"That's good enough for me. Well then Let's get this going, I want to find out about this guy Maji, and what kind of tests the rest of you are suppose to be going through." said Mia as she showed that she was ready. Kaye nodded and looked over at Lightning, he shook his head and began to open the telepathic link to the others.
'As you know the legend behind the ronin armors, well this story takes place about the same time as when they were created. You see, after the Ancient separated Talpa's armor into the nine armors, he went on a quest to find out if there were more.' explained Lightning.
'Whoa, wait a minute, you're telling us that even back then there were more than just the nine armors?' asked Kento in confusion.
'Yes that is correct.' replied Lightning.
'Then how could this information have been hidden from my grandfather's journals?' asked Mia.
'Most of the information was lost over time, and what information that you and your grandfather collected during your research, was more than enough to help you destroy Talpa.' replied Lightning.
'That maybe true Lightning, but what does this have to do with what you're telling us about Maji and his so called tests?' asked Kaye.
'Unfortunately Kaye, the information that you have about the Dynasty, was only a stepping stone to help you prepare yourselves for what all of you are about to face.' replied Lightning.
'You mean to tell us that everything that we went through, was for nothing?!' asked Ryo angrily.
'Lightning, is what Ryo said true? Is what they went through with the Dynasty for nothing?' asked Kaye.
'No Kaye it wasn't for nothing. What they went through, like I said before was to prepare them for what is about to come. You see, everything that you know, felt, experienced, and learned will be able to help you. But if you don't believe in what I just told you, then none of you will survive the outcome.' replied Lightning sternly.
'Lightning, for the risk of asking, what do you mean by won't survive the outcome?' asked Sage.
'If the people that are being tested fail, then they could lose more than their armor.' replied Lightning.
'Has anyone failed?' asked Kaye trying not to show any fear.
'Most of the people that wore the armors before you have passed, but yes Kaye to answer your question, yes some of them have failed.' replied Lightning sadly.
'Lightning what happened to the ones that failed? Please, we have to know.' said Mia.
'I'm sorry Mia, but I can't tell you.' replied Lightning as he began to leave.
'Hey where are you going? You can't just come back, drop this information in our laps and then just leave.' said Rowen as he got up from his chair.
'I'm sorry, but I can't help you any more. I have to leave, my role in this is something that I don't want to do, but it's my duty and I'm honor bound to fufill it.' replied Lightning as he began to leave again.
'Lightning wait! What is your role in this so called test?' asked Kaye as she suddenly got up from the couch.
'I have to be the other one to see if you and the others are worthy of keeping your armors. I'm sorry, but I've already said too much. Goodbye and good luck, you'll need it.' replied Lightning as he disappeared from the livingroom. Everyone stared at each other in a mixture of complete shock and confusion. No one could believe what they just heard, it was like they were waking up from a bad dream.
"Well what do we do now? We can't exactly sit around and wait to see what happens next?" asked Cye.
"I know Cye, but for now that's all we can do." replied Ryo as he stood up from the floor.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm not just going to sit around and wait." said Kento as he began to get a little angry.
"Oh really Kento, and what do you plan to do?" asked Sage as he glared at Kento.
"I'm going to go and find this Maji guy and take him out thats what!" Kento yelled back.
"Really Kento, is that what you think, and what happens if you go out and try to take him out and it turns out that he's too much for ya, then what!" Sage said now getting a little angry.
"Guys stop it! That's enough, no more fighting! Please, we need to figure this out, because if we don't..." said Kaye as she tried to stop them from continuing their arguement.
"Kaye, come on now, we'll make it. We've been through a lot of close calls, and we'll get through this too." said Kento as he began to walk towards her.
"Yea I know, it's just that well why, why now of all times does this have to happen? As a matter of fact, why does it have to happen at all?" asked Kaye as she began to show her frustrations.
"Kaye..." said Kento as he tried to comfort her. Kaye buried her head into Kento's chest and closed her eyes. Kento looked up and started to look around to the others.
"Kento, I'm sorry I didn't mean to go off on you like that, it's just..." said Sage.
"Hey man it's ok, no damage done. We're just on edge that's all." replied Kento with a small smile.
"I don't believe it with my own eyes, Kento is actually being the peacekeeper, I thought that was my job?" asked Cye with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Hey!" replied Kento with a grin. Kaye began to slowly pull her head away from Kento's chest and opening her eyes. She looked up at Kento's face and gave a small grin showing that she was feeling a little better.
"Now that's better, I was wondering if I would have to return that particular favor that you did to me when we were sparring." said Kento with a grin.
"I'm glad that you didn't becaue that was the last piece of cake." replied Kaye with a grin.
"What! No way! Aw come on Kaye tell me that you're kidding!" said Kento in alarm.
"Sorry Kento she's not kidding that was definately the last piece of the cake." replied Mia as she started to laugh.
"Kaye, you better start running if ya know what's good for ya. I'll even give ya a head start." warned Kento.
"Oh yea, who says I'll need a head start mister?" asked Kaye with a smirk.
"Oh no, there is going to be no running inside, especially with what happened earlier. Do I make myself clear?" asked Mia in a mock motherly tone. Kaye and Kento looked at each other and then looked at Mia and nodded.
"Good now that's settled, does anyone have any ideas of what our next move should be?" asked Cye as he looked around at the others for their suggestions.
"I suggest that we forget about it tonight and get a good night's sleep. Besides I have a feeling that we're going to need all of the rest that we can get." said Ryo as he saw that everyone agreed with his idea. So then everyone said their good nights and turned in for the night.
'Maji, you of all people should know that this isn't the way that it should be done. So why are you forcing them to hand over their kanji orbs, unless?' asked Lightning as he kept his eyes on him.
'Yes you are right Lightning. The time is closer than you possibly realize.' replied Maji.
'But why, why now of all times? They are not ready for this.' said Lightning.
'You and I have witnessed what they can do when they have to, but how can you have so little faith in them?' asked Maji.
'It's not that I don't have faith, it's just that this is bigger than any of them has ever faced.' replied Lightning as he noticed that Kaye and the others were now outside watching them for some kind of opening.
'It looks like our time is up, I'll see all of you again real soon, count on it.' said Maji as he disappeared from the yard.
"Ok, now would someone explain what just happened here?" asked Sage as he and the others looked around confused.
"I can take a guess, Lightning knew what Maji was going to do so he decided to go after him and try to reason with him alone, but if that didn't work then he would have had to fight him instead." replied Rowen.
"I guess that sounds reasonable Rowen, it's as good of an explanation that we're going to get for the time being." said Mia as she looked at him.
"Well there's one way to find out, hey Kaye think that you could asked Lightning what that was all about?" asked Cye as he glanced at her.
"Huh, ah sure Cye, no problem." replied Kaye as she walked over to Lightning.
'Kaye, I'm sorry will you be able to forgive me for keeping this from you?' asked Lightning.
'You've aplogized once already, and I've realized something while I was resting. I realized that you hid this from us for a very important reason. You thought that it wasn't the right time to tell us until all of the other weird things that we've been through were behind us. So I'm not angry any more, I'm just glad that you're back.' replied Kaye with a small smile.
'Kaye there's something that I have to tell you. It's really important for you and the others to know.' said Lightning.
'What is it? I have a feeling that what you're going to tell me, I'm not going to like it am I?' asked Kaye in concern.
'No you're not, but it is very important for you and the others to know, before this testing with Maji really begins.' replied Lightning.
'You mean to tell me that the first time that we've met up with him wasn't the start of his stupid tests?' asked Kaye now starting to get angry.
'Unfortunately yes that's exactly what I'm saying. Now if we would all go inside I'll fill you in on the details.' replied Lightning as he headed back towards the mansion.
"Kaye what was all of that about?" asked Ryo as he and the others looked at her for an explanation. Kaye began to fill the others in on the conversation that occured between her and Lightning. They seemed just as curious as she was to find out what the tiger meant. So they walked back to the mansion and into the livingroom where Lightning was waiting for them.
'Kaye I think that you better tell them to take a seat. They're not going to take the news very well when they hear what I have to say.' said Lightning.
"Mia, guys Lightning wants us to take a seat." said Kaye as she looked at them.
"Why does he want us to do that Kaye?" asked Kento.
"He said that we're not going to exactly like what he has to say." replied Kaye as she took a seat on the couch. Kento sat down next to Kaye, and Cye was on the other side. Mia sat at her desk, Ryo took the floor next to White Blaze. While Sage and Rowen each took a chair.
'Now as you know, Maji...' said Lightning as he began to start his explanation.
'Sorry to interrupt Lightning, but I think in order to save time from you telling me and then from me to them why don't you link with the guys and Mia as well.' suggested Kaye.
"Hey guys, Mia I've asked Lightning to link with you like the one that he and I share. That way it'll cut down on the explanation time." said Kaye.
"Are you serious, he can actually do that? How long will this link last?" asked Cye as he looked at her.
"Well I'll put it this way, once Lightning has made the mental link it's there just as long as you want it." replied Kaye.
"But what if the connection is broken, then can we get connected again?" asked Sage.
"I believe so." replied Kaye.
"That's good enough for me. Well then Let's get this going, I want to find out about this guy Maji, and what kind of tests the rest of you are suppose to be going through." said Mia as she showed that she was ready. Kaye nodded and looked over at Lightning, he shook his head and began to open the telepathic link to the others.
'As you know the legend behind the ronin armors, well this story takes place about the same time as when they were created. You see, after the Ancient separated Talpa's armor into the nine armors, he went on a quest to find out if there were more.' explained Lightning.
'Whoa, wait a minute, you're telling us that even back then there were more than just the nine armors?' asked Kento in confusion.
'Yes that is correct.' replied Lightning.
'Then how could this information have been hidden from my grandfather's journals?' asked Mia.
'Most of the information was lost over time, and what information that you and your grandfather collected during your research, was more than enough to help you destroy Talpa.' replied Lightning.
'That maybe true Lightning, but what does this have to do with what you're telling us about Maji and his so called tests?' asked Kaye.
'Unfortunately Kaye, the information that you have about the Dynasty, was only a stepping stone to help you prepare yourselves for what all of you are about to face.' replied Lightning.
'You mean to tell us that everything that we went through, was for nothing?!' asked Ryo angrily.
'Lightning, is what Ryo said true? Is what they went through with the Dynasty for nothing?' asked Kaye.
'No Kaye it wasn't for nothing. What they went through, like I said before was to prepare them for what is about to come. You see, everything that you know, felt, experienced, and learned will be able to help you. But if you don't believe in what I just told you, then none of you will survive the outcome.' replied Lightning sternly.
'Lightning, for the risk of asking, what do you mean by won't survive the outcome?' asked Sage.
'If the people that are being tested fail, then they could lose more than their armor.' replied Lightning.
'Has anyone failed?' asked Kaye trying not to show any fear.
'Most of the people that wore the armors before you have passed, but yes Kaye to answer your question, yes some of them have failed.' replied Lightning sadly.
'Lightning what happened to the ones that failed? Please, we have to know.' said Mia.
'I'm sorry Mia, but I can't tell you.' replied Lightning as he began to leave.
'Hey where are you going? You can't just come back, drop this information in our laps and then just leave.' said Rowen as he got up from his chair.
'I'm sorry, but I can't help you any more. I have to leave, my role in this is something that I don't want to do, but it's my duty and I'm honor bound to fufill it.' replied Lightning as he began to leave again.
'Lightning wait! What is your role in this so called test?' asked Kaye as she suddenly got up from the couch.
'I have to be the other one to see if you and the others are worthy of keeping your armors. I'm sorry, but I've already said too much. Goodbye and good luck, you'll need it.' replied Lightning as he disappeared from the livingroom. Everyone stared at each other in a mixture of complete shock and confusion. No one could believe what they just heard, it was like they were waking up from a bad dream.
"Well what do we do now? We can't exactly sit around and wait to see what happens next?" asked Cye.
"I know Cye, but for now that's all we can do." replied Ryo as he stood up from the floor.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm not just going to sit around and wait." said Kento as he began to get a little angry.
"Oh really Kento, and what do you plan to do?" asked Sage as he glared at Kento.
"I'm going to go and find this Maji guy and take him out thats what!" Kento yelled back.
"Really Kento, is that what you think, and what happens if you go out and try to take him out and it turns out that he's too much for ya, then what!" Sage said now getting a little angry.
"Guys stop it! That's enough, no more fighting! Please, we need to figure this out, because if we don't..." said Kaye as she tried to stop them from continuing their arguement.
"Kaye, come on now, we'll make it. We've been through a lot of close calls, and we'll get through this too." said Kento as he began to walk towards her.
"Yea I know, it's just that well why, why now of all times does this have to happen? As a matter of fact, why does it have to happen at all?" asked Kaye as she began to show her frustrations.
"Kaye..." said Kento as he tried to comfort her. Kaye buried her head into Kento's chest and closed her eyes. Kento looked up and started to look around to the others.
"Kento, I'm sorry I didn't mean to go off on you like that, it's just..." said Sage.
"Hey man it's ok, no damage done. We're just on edge that's all." replied Kento with a small smile.
"I don't believe it with my own eyes, Kento is actually being the peacekeeper, I thought that was my job?" asked Cye with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Hey!" replied Kento with a grin. Kaye began to slowly pull her head away from Kento's chest and opening her eyes. She looked up at Kento's face and gave a small grin showing that she was feeling a little better.
"Now that's better, I was wondering if I would have to return that particular favor that you did to me when we were sparring." said Kento with a grin.
"I'm glad that you didn't becaue that was the last piece of cake." replied Kaye with a grin.
"What! No way! Aw come on Kaye tell me that you're kidding!" said Kento in alarm.
"Sorry Kento she's not kidding that was definately the last piece of the cake." replied Mia as she started to laugh.
"Kaye, you better start running if ya know what's good for ya. I'll even give ya a head start." warned Kento.
"Oh yea, who says I'll need a head start mister?" asked Kaye with a smirk.
"Oh no, there is going to be no running inside, especially with what happened earlier. Do I make myself clear?" asked Mia in a mock motherly tone. Kaye and Kento looked at each other and then looked at Mia and nodded.
"Good now that's settled, does anyone have any ideas of what our next move should be?" asked Cye as he looked around at the others for their suggestions.
"I suggest that we forget about it tonight and get a good night's sleep. Besides I have a feeling that we're going to need all of the rest that we can get." said Ryo as he saw that everyone agreed with his idea. So then everyone said their good nights and turned in for the night.