Spirits and Enemies
A Ronin Warriors Fic
By: chayei

Ch. 5 - A Story To Tell
Finished - 2/24/03

Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors. However, I created Chaya,
Mayuko, Kaede, and other unnamed original characters so they are mine.
If you want to use them, please ask first.

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Notes:

"/..../"- speaking in English

"...."- speaking in Japanese

_...._- thinking or speaking telepathically

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"Azrael, it has happened." reported Kali as soon as she came within
hearing range of the Warlord of Death.

Azrael looked up at Kali as he heard this comment. His face betrayed
the confusion he struggled to hide. "What has happened, Kali?" he
asked, his voice cool and calm.

"Terra has revealed herself." she replied. Azrael's unusually emotional
face showed the feelings he still held for Terra. They were feelings of
love, longing and regret, as if he had made a mistake in the past.

On the outside, Kali looked as collected and stoic as usual when she
observed this, but inside a resentful sigh shuddered through. _How
could it be that the man I would give my life for not notice my feelings
and treat me the same as Adonis? As if I were nothing more than a
brainwashed soldier. Doesn't he realize I came to the Dynasty for him?
He was the first person to ever show me kindness of any
sort._

/Because you never shown any signs of your feelings? Or because he is
blinded by feelings he still harbors for the Terran Child? / her
traitorous heart whispered.

"Is that all, Kali?"

"No. Lux is there also. As well as the unwoken Aeris."

"Summon Adonis for a meeting immediately, Kali." Azrael commanded. "I
will be informing our lady of this recent development." With that,
Azrael left the room, not waiting for an acceptance of these orders.

The Warlady of Nightmares let her mask down at last, showing all the
pain she felt. "Of course, Azrael." she whispered painfully, closing
her eyes to stop the gathering tears from falling. It would do Kali no
good if she left proof to show Adonis of her moment of weakness. Kali
then left the war room to inform the Warlord of Pain of the upcoming
meeting.

***********************************************************************

Chaos had broken out over the Koji Mansion. Most everyone wanted to
know something. Who was this girl who had come with Kale? In what
relation was she to Chaya and Dani? How did Chaya know the ex-warlords?
These were the questions inhabiting the minds of the Ronin Warriors and
Mia.

Chaya was alive and in this very room? Has she forgiven us? Why had
Kale brought Maggie with him? Who did this Danielle woman remind Dais
of? The ex-warlords had these questions circulating through their heads
respectively.

The Spirits were by far the quietest. They only let off feelings of
joy, relief, amazement, and wonder. Kayura concluded this was because
they were all telepaths as was she. Like her, they hadn't revealed the
fact of their telepathy to the holders of the sacred armors.

"If you would all keep your thoughts still for just a minute then the
explaining can begin." Kayura announced in the calm, commanding tone
that she had developed over the past year. The group quickly focused on
Kayura, their thoughts quieting immediately. "Thank you for bringing
Maggie, Kale. It will make things a bit easier to explain. I would
like to introduce Margaret Davis, also known as the Spirit Lux, to you,
Ronin Warriors." The realization that this new girl was Chaya's younger
sister immediately dawned on the five young men with that explanation.
Kayura then turned to Danielle and smiled at her. "I would also like to
welcome you, holder of the powers of Aeris." This statement had shocked
the Spirits and Kayura knew it.

"Kayura, what do you mean?" spoke up Mayuko. "Danielle isn't Aeris. She
never was. The powers of Aeris were held by Matt, and he died in our
last major battle against Tiamat. The powers don't choose a new host.
They remain dormant until the former host is reborn."

"I know that well, Aqua. But the powers of Aeris were never truly
awakened. Instead they were manipulated, drawn out from the true holder
of the powers. Tell me, were there times that Danielle became weak
while you fought Tiamat's forces?"

Kaede spoke up immediately, "Yes. It was always after a major battle
between Tiamat's soldiers and ... Matt."

"I guess this explains my dreams, and why I worked so hard to be sent to
Toyama." spoke Danielle suddenly.

"What do you mean?" asked Chaya.

"I'll explain later. Meanwhile, I'm sure there are a few other
questions that need to be answered."

"Yeah!" exclaimed Kento. "Like how does Chaya know the ex-warlords?"

The Spirits looked at Chaya, knowing that the story was a painful one.
She waved off their worried expressions and answered. "That's an easy
question to answer, Kento, but it will take awhile. Do think you can
stay seated long enough?" Chaya joked with smile. Seeing that the Ronin
wouldn't back down, she sighed and began her story. "Dani and Maggie
aren't my biological sisters. It's quite amazing that we look so much
alike. I wasn't even born in the States. If you look on my adoption
papers, it will say place of birth and parents unknown. That is because
I was born in the Nether Realm." Chaya paused to let that fact sink in.
"As a slave."

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Seventeen Years Earlier, in the Nether Realm

She had been born to two slaves who worked in the fields by the Palace
of the Demon Emperor Talpa, but that hadn't kept the child hidden from
Talpa. Everything was going according to his plans. This babe was the
reborn Terran Child. Talpa had known when he had captured the girl
child's predecessor millennia earlier that the former Child of the Earth
would not submit to his rule. Instead he had planned on the fact that
she would die in the Nether Realm and be reborn in his lands. Now the
only question remaining was how the girl was to be raised into the
perfect servant for Talpa. Not everyone was born with a soul of loyalty
as his Dark Warlord Anubis.

To give the child perfect loyalty to him was a tricky game. One false
move and she would be forever spiteful of him. He needed the child to
have complete devotion to her master. That meant she would have to stay
with her parents, for now. Until it was time for her to begin her
training. But how to influence her to work and obey only him?

The answer dawned suddenly to him. The Dark Warlords. They would be
able to keep an eye on her and influence her opinions, while Talpa would
be able to keep them from killing each other until he had all of the
nine armors. After all, Talpa intended on telling them how important
this girl was to become. They would all struggle to gain her devotion
and be too busy to plot ways to kill each other. Talpa would be able to
kill two birds with one stone.

***

Two years later

"NIISAN!!"

Two years ago, Anubis would not have been able to picture himself
talking civilly to the other Dark Warlords, let alone playing older
brother to a little slave. It never ceased to amaze him how much the
innocence of one little girl had changed him and the other Dark
Warlords. Instead of regularly plotting to kill each other, there was a
sense of brotherhood between the four of them. And it was all because
of this one girl.

It was not Talpa's plan exactly, but it had not affected the way the
warlords were performing so he had seen no reason to interfere with
their actions around the girl. If anything, their performances had
improved because they were able to work as a team.

"You came!"

"Of course I came, my little star. I always keep my promises don't I?"
Anubis answered her little exclamation.

"Yes, but I never know when you will be busy, Niissan. Are the others
going to come?"

Anubis smiled at the question. He was by far the closest to her, so he
always did his best to keep his promises to her. The others were more
like big brother's friends. They kept this image by coming around
often, but not nearly as much as Anubis. "They will come by a little
later, Chaya, OK?"

"Kay!"

Anubis was always amazed by how mature Chaya was for a two-year-old.
She thought beyond herself and spoke with a vocabulary much more
advanced than most two-year-olds. But then, that was to be expected.
Children did not stay children long in the Dynasty

***

One Year Later, in the Mortal Realm

It was horrible. Kaasan ... Tousan ... gone. It was all Niisan's
fault! He knew what was happening. Niisan's, ... and Kale's, ... and
Dais's and Sekhmet's! It's all their fault! But she had left. Left
that scary place, and was now in an even scarier one. Tall, dark
buildings that looked nothing like the palace. And it was raining. She
was glad for that cause it covered her tears. Niisan always said tears
were a sign of weakness that should never be shown by a warrior.

But ... she didn't care what Niisan thought. Not anymore. Because of
him, Kaasan and Tousan had left. And they were never coming back. She
couldn't hold any tears back now; they were coming too fast.

"/Is everything okay? /" Spoke a kind voice suddenly.

Chaya looked up even though she didn't understand what was said. The
kind voice belonged to a smiling woman. She was obviously expecting an
answer. "Sorry, I don't know what you're saying."

Miriam Davis was shocked to here the language of her ancestors come from
the mouth of this child. She didn't look Japanese. In fact, she looked
an awful lot like her daughter Danielle when she was younger. "That's
alright, little one. Luckily enough, I understand you. Now where are
your parents?"

"Their gone!" Exclaimed Chaya as she broke down in tears for a second
time.

"Shh... shhh, little one. I'm going to take you to a place where some
nice people will help you, okay?" At the nod of the young girl's head,
Miriam picked her up and waved down a taxi to take them to Social
Services. If needed, Miriam was more than ready to take care of the
girl until a more permanent home was ready.

***

The Nether Realm

"ANUBIS! How could you fail at something as simple as bringing Chaya to
the palace?" exclaimed Kale, who was angry beyond belief at his fellow
warlord.

"How could you be stupid enough to let her see her parents' deaths?"
added Dais, equally mad.

"She could be anywhere by now." pointed out Sekhmet.

"I know." answered Anubis. "But she ran off from me. I did not realize
where we were heading until I saw the slave fields. If I had recognized
my surroundings sooner, this would not have happened. And I know where
she is. Chaya is in the Mortal Realm."

"The Mortal Realm!" shouted Dais. "That helps a lot. We can just go
stroll over Master Talpa and ask him to send one of us to the Mortal
Realm to find a misplaced Terran Child. Have you forgotten there are no
easy means to get there from here?! It could take years for Lord
Badaman to create a portal to enter the Mortal Realm!"

"I know, Dais." answered Anubis coolly. "That is why I am to take full
responsibility for this mistake instead of all of us like Master Talpa
threatened if there should be a mistake."

The four Dark Warlords of the Dynasty stared coldly at each other as
they prepared to enter Talpa's chamber. It was the last meeting they
ever had with some resemblance of the Brotherhood that had developed
over the past three years. The link that held them together was gone.

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Chaya had finished her story, with a few bits added in by Kale and
Anubis. The Ronin were amazed. They had hardly known anything about
the Dynasty before they had fought with Talpa. They still didn't know
that much now. Chaya's story had but given them a glimpse into what
life was like for those that lived in the Nether Realm.

"Before the Ronin start asking all these questions which I know are
inevitable, have you forgiven us, Chaya? I mean, you have no reason to.
We did so much to hurt you." asked Sekhmet.

"What's done is done, Sekhmet. You did what you did because Talpa
ordered you to. What's important now is that you have realized what you
did was wrong and are trying to change that." answered Chaya.

"Sooo..." prompted Kale.

Chaya smiled, "Of course I've forgiven you. If I hadn't, the four of
you would be in deep trouble right now, if not dead."

"That's a relief, I think." responded Anubis.

"Changing the subject, Chaya, the one thing I want to know is how were
you able escape the Nether Realm?" asked Sage.

"I don't know. I guess it's because the barrier between the two worlds
had weakened enough for me to pass through when I lost control of my
powers."

"Either that, or someone was looking out for you, Chaya." replied Ryo.
"Who knows? It may have even been the Ancient One."

Everyone smiled at that comment. The Ancient One was always high in the
respect of the Ronin Warriors, Kayura, Mia, and Anubis. Sometimes one
could even get Kale, Dais, and Sekhmet to admit their respect for the
wise man. The Spirits, while having never of actually meeting the man
in question, had held him in high regard for the knowledge he had given
them through their dreams.

All of a sudden, Dais went pale, a look of shock on his face. "D-Dani?"

***********************************************************************

Dais wasn't really listen to what Chaya was saying. After all, he had
not only heard it all before, he was an important part of the story.
No, instead of listening to a part of his life, he was studying the
woman who had arrived with Chaya. Her older sister, Danielle. He knew
he had seen Danielle somewhere, but the question was where? And when?
As far as he remembered, he spent all of her lifetime in the Nether
Realm as Talpa's loyal servant. Well, except for those few months.

It was a last attempt to locate the Terran Child about ... three years
ago. Badaman had finally found a way to open portals to enter the
Mortal Realm. A list of locations had been made as to where Chaya may
had ended up and the Dark Warlords has been sent to the four most likely
places. Anubis had been sent to Tokyo, and Sekhmet had been assigned to
Hong Kong. Kale had gone to Paris, and Dais was temporarily relocated
to New Orleans, Louisiana. They were to spend the next months searching
for any connection that might lead them to Chaya.

Dais had enrolled himself in a local college called Tulane University
after taking a challenging yet amusing examination known as the SATs.
The knowledge that the mere mortals felt was important in life was
useless. When had things only a scholar needed to know overcome the
need to fight and outwit your enemies? But that was it. He had spent
five months in that city and had found no trace of Chaya in any
resources granted to him by the university. There was nothing more to
tell of his experience in that city. Well, there was the time the
mortals showed their true selves. Weeks of celebration and drunkenness
known as Mardi Gras. It was an interesting experience to say the least.
No, wait. He had met someone. A woman. She had taught him how to use
the dreaded mortal contraption known as a computer. She had helped with
many things. BUT WHO WAS SHE?! He couldn't remember her face or her
name. They had been ... involved. Yes, he remembered that. He may
have even felt love for the woman. But her identity was a mystery to
him. Talpa must have placed a memory spell on him. Yes, that was it!
Because of what he had felt for that woman, Talpa had caused him to
forget.

_Dani, must be mad about how I left without a trace. No good-bye or
anything._

Wait a minute ... "D-Dani?"

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In the Dynasty, a very different scene was taking place. The three
active Warlords Azrael, Adonis, and Kali were standing around a strategy
table. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. An
argument was being held between two of the three present.

"All I want to know, Azrael, is if the Empress knows about the
attack." stated Adonis as calmly as possible while struggling to keep
his temper under check.

"Of course the Empress knows, Adonis. She is the one who gave
me the duty of organizing the attack." replied Azrael, also struggling
to stay calm. "Now, Adonis, I need you and Kali to attack from the
front of the manor. I will be in the woods behind the manor with a
legion of soldiers waiting to ambush the forces of good. Adonis, I will
give you my signal when to attack. Should you attack before the signal
is given, the Empress will hear of it. Understand?"

"Yes, Azrael. Crystal clear." responded Adonis. "You have no
need to treat me like a child."

"I only treat you like you act."

"WHY YOU!"

"BOYS!" shouted Kali, finally involving herself in the heated
discussion. "Save it for the attack. It will do us no good to make
things easier for the warriors."

It was settled. The meeting went on, this time without the
tension between the male warlords, stored for another time to battle it
out. Instead their energy was focused on those who opposed them, and
how they will be pummeled to the ground.

***********************************************************************

A state of shock was present in the majority of the inhabitants
of the Koji Manor. First, it was Chaya and her story. Now there was
something between Dais and Danielle?

"Wait a minute!" said Chaya. "You two know each other?"

"You mean you didn't already know, Chaya?" asked Sage in an
innocent sounding voice.

Chaya just smiled sweetly back at him. "Despite popular belief,
Sage, I'm not all-knowing. People just tend to assume such a fact."
she answered in a sugary-sweet voice. Sage only glared in response. It
seemed the two could only be civil for so long.

"What is between Dais and myself is not important. It is
something that will be worked out after our current problem." Danielle
replied in response to Chaya's earlier problem.

White Blaze suddenly lifted his head and rose up from the
ground. He headed toward the window and looked outside.

"What is it, boy?" asked Ryo. "Do you see something out there?"

A loud explosion would be the answer to Ryo's question. As the
dust cleared away, it was discovered that the outer wall of the room was
now missing. The Warlady of Nightmares stood in the newly formed gap.

Kali gave an evil smirk. "Excuse me," she said, "but can you
come out to play?"

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