Chapter Twelve
"Demons in the Doorway, Monsters Down the Hall"
By Ghost of the Dawn

Chapter Twelve - Stranger Than Fiction

The full moon was out that night; shedding its gentle rays on the never-sleeping city of Toyama. Off from the main lights and the noisy traffic, two figures sat in the moonlight. They were perched at the top of a large grey building with their legs dangling off the edge. Behind them was a giant tank of water in which a large killer whale swam lazily. He was long since used to his human visitors as they had been there many times before.
"It's been a long time since I've seen the moon that way," Robyn commented as she watched the sky. "All big and orange and bright like that."
"It's quite a sight," Cye agreed. He stopped looking at the moon and started gazing at Robyn's profile as a question burned in his mind. "Robyn, you've been acting really quiet and strange these past few days. Are you mad because none of us asked you to the prom?"
"Pfft, no," Robyn snorted automatically. "I don't care who I go with. It's not a big deal to me." Cye looked at her dubiously. "It's not!" Robyn insisted. "And what about you? You've been edgy all day, what's the deal? You can't possibly be that worried about breaking your mom's vase, can you?" Cye instantly looked away and wrapped his arms around himself as if it had suddenly gotten very cold. His breathing came out rapid and uneven and his eyes were unfocused, as if remembering a vision. "Cye?" Robyn asked in a worried tone. She slowly reached out to him.
"Robyn, what's going on?!" Cye suddenly snapped to life before Robyn could touch him.
Robyn jumped back when he yelled at her. "What are you talking about?"
"What's happening to us?" Cye continued, his voice shaking. "There's something out there, I can feel it. I've seen it! It's getting all of us!" The rusty-haired young man looked like he was going to cry. He lowered his head and hooked his hands behind his neck to cover it.
"Cye," Robyn said with more sympathy now. She leaned closer and put her arms around him. "It's okay," she whispered softly.
Cye lifted his head upon feeling her touch and looked into her eyes. His own were starting to water. "Please tell me that thing when we were children - that monster we saw. Please tell me that was just a bad dream. That I just made it up. I couldn't bear to go through it all over again."
Robyn pulled him closer and pressed her forehead against his temple. "It's time we talked," she said quietly. "About when we were kids, about America, about everything."
Cye nodded and put a hand on her arm for comfort. Robyn looked around and suddenly felt an unnerving chill about being in the open night air. "Back at the house," she decided. "We'll go home and talk about everything, okay?"
"Yes, that would be nice," Cye agreed as they stood.
Robyn smiled and they started for the stairs that led to the lower level of the marina and finally, out of the building and towards their house. They walked close together as they traveled down the empty sidewalk. It was late and there weren't many pedestrians out at this hour. A chilly breeze whipped past them and the two walked closer than they would normally. The place they were traveling through looked quiet and empty. Cye couldn't help but feel that something was wrong about this place. He stepped closer to Robyn and put a hand on her shoulder as they continued on. All the while he was looking around for anything that might give him cause for such alarm.
But it was Robyn who suddenly stopped short. Cye looked at her in surprise when she halted him by placing an arm in front of his chest. "What is it?" he asked.
Robyn didn't answer as she turned around. She moved in front of Cye as if to protect him from some attacker. Cye didn't even see it coming before it appeared.
Robyn was hit squarely by a tremendous force that seemed to come out of nowhere. A great weight pinned her to the sidewalk as large, razor-sharp claws slashed at her face. Robyn tried with all her might to fight the thing off, but it was too heavy.
Suddenly, the great object was knocked off her. Robyn scrambled to her feet, clutching the right side of her face while looking with her left good eye. The first and only thing she noticed was Cye, wresting with a large, black dog-like beast. The monster had huge snapping jaws, white burning eyes, and a mass that could have rivaled even White Blaze himself. Robyn watched dumbly as Cye, now dressed in a curious white and light blue armor, punched and kicked at the dog-like creature. The monster growled and snapped back savagely, trying to lock his jaws on his human attacker so he could tear him apart.
"CYE!" Robyn screamed.
The massive creature now had the bearer of Torrent pinned to the ground and it took all Cye's strength just to keep the thing's jaws from biting his head off.
"Robyn!" Cye managed to yell back as he fought for his life. "Run! Get out of here! Go get help! Find the others!"
"Cye, no!" Robyn cried. "I - I can't-"
"Get out of here!" Cye grimaced as the beast clamped its jaws on his arm. Luckily, the thin, yet durable armor wasn't about to give way to its teeth. "Get out of here, NOW!"
Robyn cast one more frightened look at her struggling friend and then fled. She cried as she ran faster than she had ever ran in her life. The tears streamed down her face, blocking her vision as she left the most important person in her life to his fate. Fear took over all her other thoughts and emotions as she ran away.
The city seemed like one big, dark, merciless mass. There wasn't anyone anywhere that could help her. It felt like the world had turned its back on her when she needed it the most. Where could she go? What could she do? Fate seemed to smile on her right then and there as she suddenly recognized the neighborhood she was in. With her last bit of energy, Robyn charged up the familiar porch and started banging on the door with all her might.
"Rowen! Rowen! Answer the door!" Robyn cried frantically as she pounded away. "It's me Rowen! Cye needs help! He's gonna die! Rowen!"
About that time, the door opened and a concerned-looking Rowen peered out. Robyn instantly flung herself into his arms and hugged him as tight as she could. Rowen was taken a bit off guard but managed the wrap his arms around her shaking frame. "Robyn, what are you doing here? What happened?" he asked.
"Rowen, I'm so scared!" Robyn sobbed into his sweater. "It's out there and it's got Cye! We have to help him!"
Rowen pulled her back away from him. The blood covering her face easily gave him cause to believe her. He grabbed her quaking shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Easy, Robyn, it's going to be okay," he said in a soothing voice. "Now slow down and tell me what happened."

A few minutes later, Sage let himself into the Hashiba house. Since he only lived a mere block away it was easy to get over to Rowen's place in no time. Rowen was already up and met him half way into the kitchen. "What's going on?" Sage instantly demanded, as Rowen's explanation on the phone wasn't all that clear.
"A creature attacked Cye. It was a big monster or something," Rowen tried to explain. "Kento and Ryo are heading down there right now to check it out."
"Was it some demon from the Nether Realm?" Sage asked in a hushed voice.
"I don't know where it's from," Rowen replied. "Come in here and look at Robyn." Sage obediently followed him back into the kitchen where Robyn was sitting at one of the chairs by the table with a wet towel over most of her face. She still looked a bit shook up from her ordeal and watched Sage with a wary eye. "Show him," Rowen ordered her without explanation.
Robyn glanced from him back to Sage again and then reluctantly removed the towel. Sage bit back any interjection that was threatening to voice itself when he saw the three deep gashes going from left to right diagonally down her face. Her right eye was already swollen shut.
The two Ronins looked at each other and Sage finally nodded, as if reaching an unspoken agreement. He pulled up a chair in front of Robyn and sat down in it, getting as close to her as possible.
"What are you doing?" Robyn asked in a shaky voice.
"Hold still," Sage said, using a calm, reassuring tone. "I'm going to help you." He reached out and Robyn flinched in pain when he touched her. Sage took the liberty of gently moving the hair away from the right side of her face. "Now close your eyes," Sage directed softly.
Robyn obeyed. She felt his hands on her wounds and then she felt an undescribable warmth flow over her. Her breath stopped in her chest as a curious sensation filled her senses. She could feel something - a life energy - flowing into her. She felt disembodied and yet, whole at the same time. For one fleeting instant she was somebody else and in that moment Robyn understood what it was like to be Sage Date.
Sage removed his hands and the sensation vanished. Robyn's recollection was instantly muddy as if the clarity she felt was now only remembered like a dream. She looked a bit stunned as her hand traveled up to her face. And when she found the skin whole again, she looked even more stunned.
"What - it's gone!" Robyn exclaimed. She jumped up and looked into the nearest mirror. "No scars, no nothing." She turned to look at the two young men, her face becoming a bit frightened. "What's going on?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Rowen stepped forward and was about to reply when the door opened and in stepped Ryo and Kento. The two didn't look in the best spirits and White Blaze was behind them. Robyn gawked at the odd looking metal suits of red and orange they were wearing.
"Find anything?" Sage asked as he stood.
The two shook their heads. "We went to the place you told us," Kento started to explain. "We didn't see anything. But the second we got there, White Blaze started going berserk. He sure could smell something. Unfortunately, he couldn't find any trail. It was like whatever it was just vanished."
"And Cye?" Rowen pressed.
"Well, there wasn't any blood," Ryo answered. "So wherever he is, he's still in one piece."
"But if I find whatever it was has hurt my buddy, they're going to pay," Kento growled as he punched his fist into his palm. "There's some people in this world you just don't mess with!"
The four Ronins' attention was diverted as Robyn stepped up and touched the form-fitting metal on Ryo's arm experimentally. "Cye was wearing something like this - light blue - when he was fighting that monster." She looked up into Ryo's eyes sadly. "It seems like all our lives have been built on secrets."
Robyn turned her head as Kento grabbed her arms from behind. "And it ends now," he told her. "Come sit down, Robyn, have we got a story for you."

"So you fought with this Evil Dynasty for the fate of our world," Robyn repeated after the story was done.
"Yes," Ryo, who had told most of it, nodded.
"Here, in Toyama."
"More or less."
"And no one remembers it?"
"Bingo."
"Holy collective amnesia, Batman!"
"Hey, are you calling us liars?" Kento suddenly jumped to the defense. "Despite anything Rowen might have told you, we didn't just pick these things up at a local garage sale."
Robyn looked around at all of them. "But why did you guys wait until now to tell me?"
"Um, because you didn't ask?" Kento floundered.
"Oh, yeah, Kento, like I go up to everyone I meet and say 'Hey, do you have a mystical armor you use to fight the forces of evil with? Because I was just wondering'."
"Your sarcasm is not helping," Rowen informed her.
Robyn sighed heavily and slumped further onto the couch. Ryo and Kento were stationed on either side of her while Rowen was perched on the armrest beside Kento. Next to him, Sage had pulled up a chair so they were all close together. The four Ronins looked to Robyn for her next reaction. Ryo's expression turned to one of amusement when Robyn grabbed his wrist and poked at the strange metal covering his palm.
"So, let me get this straight," Robyn said as she continued to inspect Ryo's hand and arm. "All five of you has your own set of this metal underwear..."
"Subarmor," Rowen corrected. "It's called subarmor, Robyn. It protects our bodies when we fight while still being light enough for us to move around freely."
"Yeah," Kento added. "And when we need to use the big guns we call on our real armor. It's got some serious killer powers and stuff."
"Powers?" Robyn tried to clarify. "You mean like magic?"
"Of course," Rowen said. "How else do you think Sage healed your face? It sure wasn't with vanishing cream."
"Har har, Rowen."
"You see," Ryo then explained. "We were given the armors to defend the mortal world. Each has their own mystical powers which they get from different elements. Like mine is-"
"Let me guess, it's fire," Robyn interrupted. "And Cye's has to be water."
Ryo grinned. "A little obvious, huh? My armor is Wildfire, Cye's is called the armor of Torrent. And this is Kento of Hardrock, Rowen of Strata, and Sage of Halo."
"Halo?" Robyn reiterated. "What are you saying? He gets his power from angels or something?"
"Light, Robyn," Sage suddenly decided to say something. "My element is light."
"Ah, that makes sense," Robyn agreed. She leaned her head on the couch and looked up at the ceiling.
"You're sure taking this pretty well," Rowen commented.
"Eh," Robyn shrugged. "I've heard stranger."
"Yeah, right," Kento challenged.
After that it went quiet and Robyn suddenly realized that everyone was watching her. "It's my turn to spill, huh?"
"If you don't mind," Rowen said with an accusing tone. Kento managed to elbow him in the ribs while still looking innocent.
Robyn sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. The thin tendrils of red were moved from her face and then instantly fell back over her eyes. Where to even begin?
"Well, I... that is, when I was - see, there was this..." There were so many different places to start. What was she supposed to say? "It's my fault, okay?" Robyn suddenly blurted out. "That thing that attacked us was after me. It's my fault Cye's gone."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
"I didn't mean to get you guys involved," Robyn continued in a quieter voice as she gazed down at her lap. "They followed me all the way over here. I... I didn't think they would."
"Wait, wait. Hold on," Ryo interrupted. "Who followed you? From where?"
Robyn took a deep breath. "A long time ago, there lived a very powerful and evil man. Much like your Dynasty Master, he wanted to control everything. His lust for power caused him to turn towards the dark magics to help him conquer. He let the powers of darkness consume him until he was no longer a mortal man. Soon, he was the very essence of evil itself. It was said his darkness had no boundaries and that he could raise the very spirits from the dead. He was given the title Nago, the Prince of Demons.
"His followers were known as Shadow Walkers. They were given strength from Nago to be his elite army and had the power to turn into giant monsters. They terrified the people for many years - destroying those who would not convert to the ways of his dark powers. In a frantic attempt, a group of holy men managed to spirit the Prince of Demons from this world. But they still feared him. So much so that they erased his name from history, fearing that even the simple utterance of his name would entice him to return.
"I first heard of Nago from a group of friends I knew back in the United States-"
"Woa, woa," Kento blurted. "Are you trying to say you got into a bunch of devil worshiping voodoo magic and didn't tell us?! I thought I knew you better than that!"
Robyn moaned into her hands. She hadn't meant for it to sound like that. Rowen, who was still perched up on the armrest, was in the perfect position to grab Kento up in a headlock.
"See? This is what you get for giving us crap about our armors," Rowen said as Kento struggled to get loose.
"Sorry," Robyn replied. "It wasn't like that, really. I had no idea what it was when they first told it to me. I thought it was just a story they made up." She lowered her head as her spirits took a suddenly dive.
Ryo put an armored hand on her shoulder to gain her attention. "So what happened?" he asked sincerely.
"I found out it wasn't just a story," Robyn said frankly. "There were these three kids. One of them was named Jason. We started going out together and that kind of stuff. And Rowen already met Derek." The other Ronins looked at him, but Rowen only nodded and expected Robyn to go on.
"Then there was another girl," Robyn continued. "They told me the story of Nago one day, but I didn't believe them. Not until they took me to meet an old man named Kortez. They said he was Nago's high priest, that he had been alive since Nago's banishment - the dark powers kept him alive. He was now master of the evil powers until Nago's return. And they needed my help to bring him back."
A hundred questions flooded into the minds of the Ronins at that point. But none of them were able to find their voice as Robyn stood and started pacing the room as she continued with her story. "I knew what kind of people these guys were even before this time. But the way my life was going then - no home, no family, no place to go - I just didn't care. These guys were all I had at that time and I wanted to do whatever they were doing.
"The weakness of Nago's power is that he cannot corrupt the innocent or the pure in heart. He cannot create followers, they have to follow him of their own will. Of course, the reward of their loyalty is also being able to wield the dark powers. And that was what my friends did. They became part of the Shadow Walkers. They gave up their souls for the power of Nago. I doubt they're even human anymore."
"So that thing that got Cye was one of them?" Kento asked.
Robyn nodded. "I'm pretty sure it was. According to Lord Kortez, it will take the power of four willing holders of the dark powers to bring Nago back. The trick is, finding people who will actually believe the story enough to submit to them. He already has three - I am the fourth."
"But, you said Nago's power can't possess those who aren't willing," Sage insisted. "You're obviously not wanting to go through with it, so what use do they have with you?"
At this question, Robyn retreated to the opposite wall and leaned against it. She lowered her head and whispered her reply. "Lord Kortez said my soul was already tainted by my past and... other things. He said... there was a darkness that followed me wherever I go and that I was chosen from birth for this part," Robyn closed her eyes and hugged herself tightly. She couldn't bear to look at her friends as she shamefully recalled the rest. "They forced me through the ceremony in which the evil powers would become a part of me and I would be one of them." Robyn paused, fighting off tears that were threatening to come. She was not going to cry in front of them. She wouldn't allow it. Robyn stubbornly swallowed her emotions and continued.
"For a moment I felt it. I felt that evil essence in me. I felt it in my very soul, sucking it dry of everything good inside me." Sage clenched his fists where he still sat. From the months of terrifying dreams, he understood well what that felt like.
"I don't know how, but I managed to get away before the ceremony could be complete. And from that second on, I just kept running. I ran across the state, across the country, and across the ocean to finally stopping here. I didn't think they'd follow me. The full powers of the Shadow Walkers comes on their eighteenth year. I guess after my birthday they could sense where I was. Like how I can sense that evil when it's close ever since that day."
The last sentence was barely a whisper as Robyn held herself tighter. If only Cye were here. He was the person she really needed to tell this to. He was the one that mattered more than anything to her.
Robyn looked up when she felt strong, steady hands on her shoulders. Deep blue eyes looked into her sad green ones. Ryo smiled comfortingly at her. The other three were standing right behind her. "It will be okay, Robyn," Ryo assured her. "We'll protect you and find Cye and then we'll beat these guys."
Robyn looked up in amazement at all four of them. They were willing to put their lives on the line to help her. She was so filled with gratitude she just wanted to hug them all. But she didn't dare. At the same time she suddenly felt so far away from them. They seemed too pure and good to her - more now than ever. She had brought this evil into their lives. If any of them got hurt, or worse, from this ordeal, it would be all her fault.
"Thank you," was all she could manage to say.

*****

"Wake up time, sleeping beauty."
Cye was rudely brought back to consciousness by a gust of ice cold water. He sputtered and gasped as the chilly liquid bit into his skin. He shook out his hair and instantly regretted it. He could feel the large lump forming on the back of his head where he had been hit. The first thing about his predicament that he noticed was that he was in some sort of warehouse. His wrists were bound above his head by chains dangling from the ceiling.
Immediately after, Cye noticed the two teens staring dubiously at him. They both looked his age, perhaps slightly older. One was a girl with reddish brown hair and dark eyes. She was tall with a shapely body and quite beautiful facial features. The other was a stout young man with beady eyes and brown shaggy hair. He had a black eye that looked no more than a few days old.
"So, this is the guy that kicked your butt, Derek?" the girl asked as she eyed Cye up and down.
The young man shook his head. "Naw, he ain't it. It was somebody else."
"What do you mean?" another man stepped into the room. This one was taller, bulkier, and far more dangerous looking than the other two. He also looked older, with jet black hair and eyes so light blue they almost looked transparent. He had almost an animalistic air to him as he stalked up to the other two. "This guy put up quite a fight, even against me. How could it have not been him?" he demanded.
"I tell ya, Jason, it's not," Derek insisted. "It was some tall, blue-haired punk. Not this skinny little twerp. I told ya, Sheila," he then turned to the girl. "Everyone in Japan is like some kind of freaking ninja or something."
"And just who are you anyway?" Cye finally decided to speak up. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Woa, a Jap with an English accent," Derek taunted. "Crazy!"
"I don't know," Sheila purred as she stepped closer. "I think it's kind of sexy."
Cye tried to shy back as the strange girl reached out to run a finger down his armored chest. To Sheila's surprise, Jason's arm shot out and snatched her wrist. "Don't touch him," he ordered with a growl. "There's something not right about this guy. That suit just appeared on his body when I attacked him."
"YOU attacked me?" Cye sputtered. Jason turned and gave the bearer of Torrent a predatory grin. He ran his tongue over the sharp fangs protruding from his mouth. "You were that thing?" Cye whispered, incredulous.
"What is it?" came yet another voice. An older looking man - greying and wrinkled - dressed in strange clothes came down a dark stairway towards them. He had a dark, ornamented staff in his hands. "Did you get the girl?"
Jason stood stiff when the man arrived and turned to face him. "No, Lord Kortez, I didn't," he admitted. "This guy stopped me from being able to capture her. He seems to have some sort of powers of his own. See for yourself."
Kortez walked up to Cye with a curious expression on his face. The captured Ronin merely stared him down icily as the strange man looked him over. The ball in the end of his staff started to glow and he held it out towards Cye's chest. The subarmor instantly reacted, giving off a light of its own. Cye's captors stood back as his kanji of trust flared up on his forehead, causing them to shield their eyes. Only when the old man removed his staff did the light fade. The teens looked on in awe while the old man stared accusingly into Cye's ocean green eyes.
"What are you, boy?" he demanded in low tones.
"I'm not telling you anything," Cye growled back. "And whatever you're trying to do, my friends will find you and they will stop you."
"Geeze! You mean there are more of these guys out there?!" Derek exclaimed.
The old man was not intimidated. "We'll see," he responded. "Our business is not with you. We are just here for the girl. Tell us where she is and we will not bother you or your friends any further."
Cye couldn't hide the look of surprise on his face. They were after Robyn?! He narrowed his eyes at the old man. "You touch her, and I will kill you myself," he threatened.
Cye was instantly rewarded with a strong punch to the jaw. His head flung back from the impact and his vision instantly started swimming. "Watch what you say," Jason barked back at him. "We will do what we want. I'll drag her back here myself, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Cye made no other comment, but chose to brood quietly. But the threat remained clear on his face.
Lord Kortez made a sweeping motion for the three to follow him. The two young men instantly obeyed. The girl named Sheila stayed behind to give Cye a smile that sent shivers up his spine before following after them. "Yes, Lord Kortez?" Jason asked obediently once they were out of earshot from the captured Ronin.
"The capture of his boy changes nothing," Kortez said. "We still need that girl tonight. The spirits are at their strongest now. If we pass up his chance there may not be one for another lifetime. If that happens you will all lose your own powers and your spirits will no longer be able to exist in this world."
The trio all tensed as they were told of the possible fate that awaited them.
"You two," he motioned to Derek and Jason. "Go out there and find the girl. Bring her back at all costs. If anyone gets in your way, kill them. We cannot afford any more delays on Nago's coming." The two nodded. They looked once at each other and then raced off out of the building to destinations unknown.
"What shall I do, Lord Kortez?" Sheila asked.
"You will stay here and help me deal with this one until I know what powers we are up against."
Sheila looked back at the rusty-haired young man and grinned. "Fine by me. I wouldn't mind spending a bit more time with our guest. I don't suppose you could leave him to me after you're through with him. He's quite the catch. It would be a shame just to let him go."
The old man grunted at the request. Not often did he agree with Sheila's demented hobbies. But as long as she remained loyal to their cause he wasn't going to push the matter any. "Fine," he relented. "After I'm done with him, he's all yours."
"Excellent," Sheila grinned. "Did you hear that, sugar?" she asked as she sauntered up to the chained Ronin. "After Lord Kortez is done with you, you're all mine."
Cye tried to pull away from her touch as she reached out to run her finger lightly down his face. The bearer of Torrent could only guess at what she was planning and he didn't like the gleam in her eyes one bit. Cye hoped wherever his friends were, they would find him soon.

*****

"We've got to get out there now!" Kento exclaimed as he stared at the city heatedly from the window. "Who knows what those dark magic crazies are doing to him! So what are we waiting for?"
"Easy, Kento," Rowen said. He still hadn't moved from his perch on the couch's arm rest. "First, it would probably be wise if we came up with a plan of attack. Right, Sage? Sage?"
Sage didn't seem to be in earshot. He was leaning against the wall next to Robyn. The two seemed to be having their own conversation. "So, do you think my nightmares could have been caused by that?" Sage was asking quietly of the girl next to him.
"From what you've told me about this sixth sense of yours, I think it's possible," Robyn replied, copying Sage's infamous pose of leaning against the wall with arms crossed. "You said they started when I came. It makes sense. I'm sorry it happened."
Sage openly sighed. "It's okay," he whispered.
Ryo, who was nearby, didn't say anything. He had heard the whole conversation and was busy meditating on his own dream. Was this what his dream was talking about? Could this battle end up being his last?
"Is anyone listening to me??" Kento demanded. "If no one's going to help me find Cye then I'm going to go out there and rescue him myself!"
"You're right, Kento," Ryo spoke. "We have to go save Cye, no matter what."
Kento nodded, though he couldn't help but notice the strange tone of reluctance in his leader's voice.
"Yes," Robyn agreed. "I'm not leaving Cye out there with those guys. I'm coming, too."
Rowen looked dubious at her determined expression. "You'll have to ask Ryo. He calls the shots."
Robyn turned to the dark haired youth who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts yet again. "Ryo, I'm coming with you guys," she announced. When he didn't respond, Robyn grabbed his shoulders to catch his attention. "Ryo, let me come with you."
The bearer of Wildfire was about to respond when the most sickening feeling of deja vu washed over him. Suddenly, it was no longer Robyn that was begging him to come along, but a darker-skinned girl with long raven hair and big, dark eyes. "Luna....?"
"What?" Robyn said, causing Ryo's hallucination to fade. "What language are you speaking, Ryo? I said I'm coming with you guys to find Cye."
She was taken off guard when Ryo forcefully grabbed her arms. "No," he ordered. "You are going to stay here where it's safe. I am not going to let you go out there!"
"I'm going, Ryo," Robyn said stubbornly. "You can't stop me, you know."
Ryo clenched his fists. Why did she have to be so stubborn? Why couldn't she understand? With a cry of angry frustration, Ryo turned and punched the wall. Then he stalked off into the kitchen. Robyn watched him go with wide eyes. That was a side of Ryo she hadn't seen before.
"Uh, what just happened?" she asked the room in general. "Who's Luna?"
"She was a girl we met in New York last year," Kento offered. "Her brother was killed by this crazy old guy who wanted to control our armors' power. I think Ryo had a thing for her. She begged him to let her come with us so she could avenge her brother. She ended up dying because of it. I guess... Ryo's afraid it's going to happen again."
Robyn sighed as she gazed towards the kitchen. A look of regret crossed her features. Nevertheless, she bit her lip and stepped into the kitchen. She found Ryo in front of the sink, leaning over it with palms pressed flat on the counter. He was still breathing heavily and staring out the small kitchen window with a pained expression on his face. "Ryo?" Robyn asked quietly as she walked up to him. "They just told me what happened."
"I know," Ryo sighed, clenching his fists on the table top. "I heard. I just - I don't want to lose you the same way."
"Ryo," Robyn said, grabbing his shoulders to make him look at her. "It's not going to happen. I can understand how you feel; now understand how I feel. Cye has done so much for me I could spend the rest of my life trying to pay him back and it still wouldn't be enough. Please let me be there for him."
Ryo stared into her hopeful eyes, his heart torn between two decisions. "All right," he relented.
"Good," came a voice in the doorway. It was Rowen. Kento and Sage were at his side. "So let's get out there and look for Cye." Ryo nodded.
"Guys, I'm going solo," Kento announced. "We can cover more ground if we split up and I don't want anyone holding me back when I find these guys."
"But Kento-" Ryo protested.
"Let him, Ryo," Sage interrupted. "He's right. If we stay together we'll be searching the city all night."
"Fine," Ryo conceded. "Robyn, you'll come with me and White Blaze. Rowen, I want you to stay with Sage."
"Oh, come on, Ryo," Rowen argued. "You don't have to baby me. It's been over a month since the surgery. I can hold my own."
"Still," Ryo insisted. "You never know what might happen. We're going against powers we know nothing about. We should play it safe."
"But-"
"Come on, Rowen," Sage said, cutting him off. "Let's just go find Cye."
"Finally!" Kento said as he started for the door. "Let's get moving!" The others followed him outside. Kento didn't even bother to wait for everyone before he took off running into the city to search for his friend.
Sage and Rowen watched him go before each pulled out a glowing orb from their pockets - one green, one dark blue. For a moment they were covered in a blinding light. When it was gone, Rowen and Sage were dressed in the same kind of armors Kento and Ryo were wearing; with these bearing their respective colors.
Robyn managed to raise an eyebrow at them. That was something she didn't see every day.
"We'll signal you if we find anything," Sage called before he and Rowen suddenly jumped higher than was thought to be humanly possible. Robyn watched in awe as they rebounded off the sides of buildings before reaching the rooftops and then proceeding on their way from there.
"Holy smokes..." she murmured to herself. "What have I stumbled into?"
"Want a ride?"
Robyn turned to see Ryo now perched on top of White Blaze's back. Robyn gawked at him. "You can ride him?"
"Sure, it's faster than running," Ryo grinned, offering her an arm. Robyn allowed him to help her up on the tiger behind him. "Now pick a direction," Ryo said. "You said you can sense them, right?"
Robyn looked at the city around them. So many places they could be... "That way."
No sooner had she pointed, than White Blaze lurched in that direction. Robyn had to quickly hold onto Ryo's waist or risk falling off. "Hold on tight," Ryo grinned, responding to the young girl now clinging to him.
Robyn smirked at him. Then she turned her attention to the dark, vast city around them. Hang on, Cye, we'll find you...

*****

Cye was still doing his best to put on a brave face, even though on the inside he was quite afraid. That strange girl Sheila had been ordered to keep her distance for a while. That was one good thing. But the old man had been meditating in front of him for the last ten minutes. Needless to say, it made him very nervous. Cye almost jumped when the old priest finally moved.
"Now boy," Kortez said as he stood. "We will see what you really are." He once again raised his staff to Cye's armor, but this time, the staff itself started glowing. Sheila was instantly behind him. She wasn't going to miss this. Kortez closed his eyes and concentrated.
"Oh dark spirits," he chanted. "Show us the powers of those who are coming against us. Show your servants what we are to confront."
Cye closed his eyes as his sub armor grew bright again. The two servants of darkness stood back as an awesome light show displayed itself before them. An image projected itself as if on a movie screen between them and the captured Ronin. The place was filled with a loud roaring as the vission showed huge crashing waves. "The ocean?" Sheila wondered out loud.
The powerful, crashing water made way for a figure clad in light blue armor, wielding a tall staff as the very fury of the planet's most violent waves were at his command. The water dissolved to show another figure in orange armor which bore the strength of the mountains and which caused the very planet to shudder in his wake. Next appeared a warrior in deep blue armor whose arrows could fly clear to the heavens where the stars burned to give him power. Outshining the dark blue warrior came a warrior of light. He was dressed in green and wielded a great blade which called forth and harnessed the terrible lightning and brought his strength from all the majestic creatures on Earth.
The warrior of light faded away and a figure in red armor stepped forth with the anger of the mighty volcanos at his fingertips. The four other powers shown previous suddenly pounced on the fifth and the fire grew higher and brighter. So much that those watching thought the apparition would reach out and burn them. In the very brightest part of the fire stood an imposing figure in white and then the entire vission disappeared.
Sheila blinked in confusion in the sudden darkness. "What does this mean?" she finally asked.
Kortez did not look happy. "This is very bad," he said, turning away.
Sheila was quick to follow his retreat. "What is it?" she demanded. "What's going on?"
The old man did not pause until he was out of earshot of the still-stunned Ronin. "It is written in the books of time that only the fires of virtue can completely defeat the Prince of Demons. These five we have seen, with their powers combined, very well might be able to stop us." He suddenly whirled around and glared at Cye. "We must get rid of them before they get us," he announced loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cye stiffened as the old man started for him with purpose in his stride. Kortez did not hesitate as he reached out to Cye's chest. Cye barely had time to protest before his world was suddenly invaded by a searing white light followed by an intense pain.

*****

"White Blaze, stop," Ryo suddenly ordered.

"What is it?" Robyn wondered as the great tiger they were riding on paused in his tracks. Ryo dismounted and stared with wide eyes at the dark sky. "What's happening?" Robyn asked again.
And then she heard it - more with her senses than really her ears. The sound of ultimate suffering. The sound of a soul in unmeasurable pain.
"Cye..."

*****

Sheila plugged her ears in a vain attempt to block out the cries of the suffering occurring not ten feet away from her. The noise he made didn't even sound human any more as Kortez stretched his hand right through his being to the very heart of him.
Cye had never experienced such pain before in his life. Not even in the depths of Talpa's castle where he was tortured for hours on end did it hurt this much. That was just a physical pain. This was much worse. He could feel the claws ripping and tearing his very soul from his body until the light inside him was no longer there.
Kortez smiled to himself as he retracted his fist from his victim and Cye's body went limp. The old priest opened his hand to find a small, light blue orb glowing in the middle of it. The sub armor that once covered the young warrior's body was now replaced with his usual street clothes. Kortez paid him no mind. This boy's power was his now.
"You done with him yet?" Sheila said impatiently.
Kortez glared at her. "Yes, he's of no consequence any more. Do whatever you like with him."
Sheila grinned as she approached the pale, lifeless body still hanging from the chains that bound it. This was going to be fun.
Kortez grumbled under his breath as he walked away. If he didn't need that girl to bring back Nago he would have gotten rid of her. She never could keep her mind on what was most important.
"Lord Kortez," Sheila called to him.
"What is it now?" he growled with fading tolerance.
Sheila looked up from where she was pressing two fingers to Cye's throat. "There's no pulse. He - he's dead..."