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

Chapter Fourteen - Comes the Dawn

When the smoke cleared, Robyn found herself standing in the middle of a large warehouse. White Blaze was by her side. The first thing she noticed was the three familiar young men standing with their arms chained above their heads in front of her. "Kento! Ryo! Rowen!"
"There you are!" Robyn looked over to see Derek glaring at her. Sheila was behind him with a hateful expression on her face. "I'm going to get you for making us chase you halfway around the planet," she growled.
A large white tiger jumped in between them, startling the two teens who, apparently, didn't notice him before. "Sic 'em, White Blaze," Robyn called.
"I hate Japan," Derek whimpered.
The large cat leapt snarling into the air. It very much appeared that the two teens were going to be kitty litter when a blast of dark energy knocked the tiger away in mid air from his would-be victims. White Blaze was thrown against the nearest wall from the blast. He fell to the ground with what appeared to be a dark net which effectively held the growling tiger down.
Robyn gasped when she saw Kortez come up behind Derek and Sheila. She was badly outnumbered now. She tried to run, but the second she turned around, Jason was in her face. He grabbed her wrist in a vise-like grip. "I'm sick of chasing you all over," he told her before shoving her head into the wall a mere three feet away.
Robyn didn't even have time to cry out before her head collided forcefully and she slumped over unconscious. Jason wordlessly picked up the limp body and draped her over his shoulder.
"Robyn!" both Kento and Ryo cried.
"That's the guy!" Derek suddenly exclaimed. No one had time to comment before he ran over and gave a solid punch to Rowen's face. Rowen could feel the muscles in his neck snap back in protest to the sudden force. He scarcely had time to realize what happened before he was clocked by Derek's other fist as well.
"Stop it!" Ryo demanded.
"Yeah, you little coward," Kento added. "If you're too afraid to take on someone who isn't chained up, then why don't you try me?" Derek glared at the other two Ronins before laying a good placed kick up the side of Rowen's head again.
"Knock it off, Derek!" Sheila ordered. "You're acting like such a spoiled little kid. Besides, they'll be dead in a few hours anyway. Leave them alone."
Derek clenched his fists. He looked like he was going to hit Rowen again. But instead, he only made a sound of disgust and stalked away. Rowen was hanging limply from his chains now, trying desperately to stop his vision from swimming. Half of his face was already starting to swell and blood trickled from both his nose and his lip.
"Hang in there, Rowen," Ryo told him confidently. "Sage is still out there. He'll come for us."
Rowen coughed and spit out some blood before he replied. "Ryo, I don't know if we can depend on Sage this time."
"Huh? What are you talking about, Rowen? I know he'll come."
"Yeah, but you didn't see what I saw, Ryo." Rowen lifted his head. One of his eyes was already starting to swell shut. "I had never seen Sage so terrified in my life. I don't know if he could come whether he wanted to or not."
Any argument Ryo had stayed silent as Kortez approached them. "So, we're still missing one," he said. "No matter, four out of five isn't bad." He stretched forth his palm and soon, like the others, the power of Strata was his. Behind them, Jason set Robyn's light body on the ground and began tying her wrists to a thick pole which connected from the floor to the ceiling. No sooner had he finished tying the rope than Robyn began to stir back into consciousness.
"Oooh, my head," was the first thing she moaned as she sat up. She instantly noticed her wrists were bound when she tried to feel the new lump forming at the back of her skull. She gasped when she noticed Jason's hulking form still crouched over her. He was different than she remembered him when she first left America. He was considerably larger and older-looking. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes that wasn't there before.
"I never could understand you, Red," Jason said as he looked into her face. "You had the chance to do things - to have powers regular people never even dreamed of. But instead you ran away. That's going to be the biggest mistake of your life. Not to mention your last," he added with smirk. Robyn's stubborn expression never faltered at his remark. "Still, I got to hand it to you," Jason went on. "I never thought you would come back with anything like these guys. But you still lost. Now you're going to die with them. Too bad. You and I together - we could have been unstoppable."
Robyn gave him a calm, humorless smile. "I'd gladly die a death for every one of them before blindly giving my soul away to a madman like you did."
She didn't even see it coming before Jason hit her hard across the face as his anger suddenly flared. "Idiot!" he accused as he angrily stood. "You're crazy not to want this! What were you thinking?! Did you think you'd be better off with that skinny little wimp you were with tonight?" He forcefully grabbed Robyn's arm to make her look at him. "DID YOU?? Well you're out of luck, Princess, because he's dead. Do you hear me - DEAD!"
Robyn's face paled as her eyes grew wide. "Cye's dead?" she repeated softly. "No..."
"Yes," Jason spat back. "Thanks to you."
From where they were chained, the three Ronins could hear everything. "Ryo, he's not telling the truth, is he?" Rowen worried.
Kento lowered his head, not saying a word. Ryo didn't look at him. "He is," the bearer of Wildfire whispered. "Cye's gone."
Rowen's face was full of shock and hurt. "No, he - he can't be. I..." I never really knew him.
Robyn remained kneeling on the warehouse floor. She pressed her forehead against the cold metal bar she was tied to. It wasn't as cold as the chill she felt on the inside. Her eyes stayed open and she didn't mutter a word or a sob. But the tears were still streaming down her cheeks. Cye was dead and it was all her fault. She had brought this evil and pain upon him. She had messed up his life the second she walked into it. And where was she when he needed her the most? I never let him know how I felt. I didn't even get to tell him I was sorry...
Ryo watched her from across the room and his heart tore in half. He couldn't bear to see her like that. Even if he was feeling the same grief himself. He heavily cursed the chains holding him back from going to comfort her. A glimpse at the other two Ronins' faces told him they felt the same way.
"It's time," Kortez suddenly announced with a hint of urgency in his voice. The trio of Shadow Walkers instantly gave him their full attention. The three Ronins watched on helplessly as Kortez brought in the hideous black statue from the other room and placed it in front of them. Then he knelt before it and started chanting in some bizarre tongue.
"Oh man, Ryo, we gotta do something," Kento said as he once again tried to break the chains that held him.
"I'm open to any suggestions right now," Ryo announced.
From her front-row seat of the ceremony, Robyn didn't bother to look up or even move. It didn't matter anymore. Whatever happened to her from now on; she didn't care. There was no point to it. The last thing she ever lived for was gone.
A storm began to gather outside. Lightning flashed while clouds swirled around over the warehouse. Fierce winds cut at and disturbed the once calm bay. Inside, black clouds formed over the statue, perfectly mimicking the large storm outside. White Blaze roared in frustration as he continued to fight with the net holding him down. A swift wind created inside the building whipped around as within the smoke, a dark humanistic figure began to form.
"Yes!" Kortez cried in triumph. "His Majesty, Lord Nago has returned!"
The dark, humanistic creature formed burning red eyes and looked down at his servants. It spoke with a deep, unearthly voice. "Bring forth the four that will help me gain passage into this world." The three Shadow Walkers stepped forward obediently. Robyn, who was still tied tight to the pole, could only look on and try to struggle free as her grief was now replaced with fear.
"Lord Nago," Jason was the first to speak. "I vow to serve you faithfully for the rest of my days."
The intangible form floated over to him. "Indeed, you will."
Without warning, Nago's apparition formed a large, gluttonous mouth and swallowed Jason's head. Jason screamed as he was enveloped by the darkness. His body and soul were sucked dry of his life essence until there was no more to give.
Sheila and Derek looked on in complete horror as their friend was reduced to nothing more than a stiff, black skeleton. When the creature of darkness next turned its hungry eyes on them, they tried to run. They didn't get far before the black smoke that made up the creature pounced on them and their cries of terror echoed through the building.
Stuck on her knees with her hands tied fast, Robyn could only watch in petrified horror as the black skeletons of the other two teens fell to the ground, forever frozen in grotesque poses of fright. Nago's form, considerably more solid now, turned to look at her and Robyn could feel her blood freeze in her veins.
She pulled feebly at the ropes, but the look in that monster's eyes kept her frozen to the spot. In the back of her mind she could hear her friends desperately crying her name. But it was all in vain; they could not help her. Nago stalked slowly toward her. Kortez could be seen smirking with triumph in the background. Robyn closed her eyes as a black claw snaked out to grab her.
There was a flash of steel and light. Suddenly, Nago's last victim was nowhere to be found.
"Over here, Ugly!" came a defiant voice.
Both Prince of Demons and his priest looked in outrage to where a young man in green armor held a large blade in one hand, and a very startled Robyn in the other.
"Sage?" Robyn asked in a shaky voice. "You came. I - I thought you were too afraid."
Sage managed to give her a weak smile. "I'm... working in it."
Nago gave a cry of demonic rage to the night. He only had a few seconds left before the time of his passing would be over. He would be cast back into banishment if he did not get a fourth victim in time.
"NO!" Kortez screamed at them. "You can't do this! Lord Nago will be free!"
Sage moved his blade stubbornly between them and their demon advasaries. "If Nago thinks he can get past me, then let him try!"
Robyn held tightly to the green clad warrior and stared at his face in awe. She could feel how much Sage was must be fighting his fear, even now. Though his stance stayed strong, Robyn could feel his body trembling beneath his armor.
Nago roared again. His plans could very well be ruined if he didn't get one last victim of darkness for his purpose.
"Lord Nago," Kortez cried as he ran before his master. "Please forgive me, I could not find a fourth willing servant for you."
Nago's slightly more human face twisted into a smile. "Oh, but you have."
Before Kortez could even ask, the Prince of Demons was upon him, sucking the life out of the last victim he needed. Robyn looked away and hugged Sage tighter as the old man suffered the same fate as the others. Sage backed away slightly from the display while the other Ronins were still helpless to do anything but hang there.
Once the last skeleton fell to the ground, it shattered. The ever-materializing form of Nago stepped forward. The blackness melted away to produce pale greyish skin. His face formed that of a man's. Middle-aged with a heavy jaw, dark eyes slightly sunk in, and a long forehead sprouting black hair down to his shoulders. He was dressed in a heavy black armor similar to those worn during ancient European times.
His footsteps were now heavy and solid as he approached Sage and Robyn. The bearer of Halo stepped forward as well, keeping himself between the dark prince and the young girl. He brandished his sword, ready to do his surekill when Nago stretched out his hand. A thick ball of darkness shot out and caught Sage right in the middle. It threw him back to the far wall and swallowed him up in a nightmarish black world.
Robyn gasped as she watched him frantically fight the black orb that now held him prisoner. His frantic cries in his frenzy to escape the darkness echoed in her ears.
"SAGE!" Robyn cried. But she stopped herself from running to him and, instead, clenched her fists at her side. She gave a long, heavy breath as she turned around to face the tall, dark demon. Nago walked right up to her, his height and girth towering over her small form. But Robyn stared him down. "So, you're Nago," she said evenly.
"I am," he said in a deep and hollow voice.
Robyn lifted her hand and promptly slapped the Prince of Demons across the face. "That was for the people you just murdered so you could come here," she informed him. Next, she balled up her fist and punched the taller figure right in the nose. "That was for Cye."
Nago's head jerked back from the hit; but other than that it didn't seem to hurt him. Instead he growled and grabbed her wrist in a grip so hard Robyn gave a yelp of pain. "Foolish girl," he growled at her. "If you only knew what I-"
He paused and the expression on his face suddenly looked like he had eaten something that didn't agree with him. He made a choking noise and went through the motions similar to a cat coughing up a fur ball. Finally, he spat out four glowing orbs into his free hand. Nago growled when he saw them there. "I told him to get rid of these," he hissed.
Robyn gave a cry of surprise when she was yanked over to where the other three Ronins were still chained. "You let her go right now," Ryo demanded. "So help me, I'll kill you myself."
"Not if I get to him first, Ryo," Kento promised.
"Count me in," Rowen added.
Nago just grinned at the threat. "You don't know what you're saying, boy. This girl is mine. You could never realize her full potential. She is one of us - a part of the dark side - whether she likes it or not. She is completely unique among your kind. I can use my powers to turn her into whatever I wish."
Robyn gasped as her whole being was filled with fear. She knew what it was like to feel that darkness inside of you. To have it swallow you up and suck your soul dry. She would rather die than live in such a way. With that horrible feeling inside her forever.
Ryo couldn't stand it anymore. He seethed in place as he felt his anger growing inside him. His emotions kept him from noticing at the time, but there was a heat and a power gathering in his body from somewhere. As his anger grew, so did the heat inside him until he was giving off abnormal temperatures.
Nago looked down at the orbs he still held in his other fist. The red one was beginning to glow and react. Ryo closed his eyes and managed to will his subarmor back onto his body, though the orb itself - now seeming a bit more transparent - still remained in Nago's hand.
"So, even from here you're still somewhat connected to these powers of yours," Nago said with amusement in his voice. He noted that the chains binding Ryo's wrists were beginning to glow red from the heat of Wildfire's power. "But," Nago continued with an evil, taunting tone. "Do you still want your powers back?" With his grip still tight on Robyn's wrist, he pressed her hand up against the chest of Ryo's subarmor. Robyn screamed as the scalding hot metal burned into her flesh. She tried to jerk away but Nago held her fast.
"Stop it!" Ryo cried, also trying his best to get away. But the chains, too, held him there.
"This is what your powers do," Nago spoke over Robyn's screams. "Is this what you fought so hard to keep?"
Tears were streaming freely down Robyn's cheeks and she couldn't stop crying out in pain. Rowen and Kento were too mortified by the scene to make any kind of protest. Ryo was on the verge of tears himself. He didn't want to hurt her. Why couldn't he make his armor stop? Hearing her cry was slowly killing him on the inside. This was far worse than any battle with any Warlord or Dynasty master.
"Stop it!" Ryo pleaded. "Please stop it! I'll do anything!"
Nago finally tore the severely burned hand away and threw Robyn's light form aside. She hit the floor and stayed curled up where she was, still sobbing heavily. Nago walked right up to Ryo and stared into his watery blue pools with his black, unfeeling eyes. "You'll do anything?" he pressed.
"Anything," Ryo whispered. "Just don't hurt her anymore."
Nago narrowed his eyes at him. "I want you to die," he hissed, clutching the armor orbs still in his possession. "I want you all to disappear from the face of this world. Starting with these." He clenched his powerful fist on intent of destroying the magical orbs.
From his prison in the black orb, Sage was using all his strength to keep the darkness from invading him. His powers of light kept a forcefield around him so Sage could concentrate on what was going on outside. No, the armors! He'll destroy us all and this world! I can't let him win!
Sage tuned his mind, body, and soul into fighting the darkness that held him. He had to get free. He had to save his friends. His mind and soul reached out to contact the other Ronins, to help wake their powers as well. His armor's power came as it was bidden and Sage felt that familiar searing light growing within him until it spilled from his armor and smothered the darkness around him.
Wisdom
Kento clenched his fists in frustration as he could feel Nago's powers smothering his connection with his armor. He wouldn't let that happen. His friends counted on his strength. They needed him to pull them through this. There was no way he was going down without a fight.
Justice
Rowen closed his eyes painfully. This couldn't be happening. They had survived all their battles together just so it could end like this? And if they failed this time, Robyn would be doomed to a life more horrible than any death they would experience. He couldn't let that happen. For Cye's sake, he would give it all to protect her. Everything he had.
Life
Nago cried out in rage and surprise. The orbs were no longer solid objects in his hand. They melted into liquid light and slipped through his fingertips. Ryo's face became one of determination as he felt his own power fully returning to him.
Virtue
The building was all aglow as the Ronins' subarmors returned to their bodies, the ever-faithful kanjis glowing on their foreheads. The black orb which held Sage shattered and the net covering White Blaze disappeared. And just then, the back wall began to shudder and bend as a light and a power from outside spilled in through the cracks.
Trust
The wall exploded and in stepped a figure wielding a long, triple-bladed staff. He was clad in a light blue armor which radiated a glow that was all its own. Nago turned to look at the new intruder as the armored warrior pointed his yari at the demon prince. "SUPER WAVE SMASHER!"
Nago howled like an enraged animal when he caught the full force of Torrent's surekill and was thrown right through the opposite wall. Cye marched slowly inside while all his friends watched with surprise and relief.
"Cye!" Kento exclaimed. "You - you're alive."
"Thank goodness," Rowen added. "You really had us all worried there." Sage said nothing as he used his no-datchi to cut down his three friends. Ryo rushed over to help Rowen, who still didn't look too sturdy on his feet.
Robyn was still curled up on the floor when a shadow fell over her. She looked up with eyes red from crying and full of fear as the armored figure knelt next to her.
"Cye?" Robyn asked weakly. She looked at the face beneath the helmet and saw those familiar trusting green eyes. "Oh, Cye!" She flung her arms around him, ignoring her burned hand completely. The pain didn't matter anymore. He was the only thing that mattered. Cye wrapped his arms around her.
"Robyn...." He had barely managed to whisper her name before Robyn felt his body go limp against her. Robyn gave a startled cry as his heavily armored body started to slump forward. She didn't have the strength to hold him up. Kento ran to her aid and pulled Cye's weakened form to his feet, draping one arm around his neck to hold him up. Cye's head rested limply against his chest as he was pulled up, causing his helmet to clank on the floor and letting his thick hair fall about his face.
"Hey, buddy," Kento said gently. "Sorry I doubted you. I should have known you'd pull through." Cye managed to give his friend a weak smile. Robyn moved to drape his other arm around her shoulders.
"INFIDELS!" an enraged voice echoed through the building. "YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR THIS MOCKERY!"
"Uh oh, guess who's back," Kento commented. "Man, and he sounds royally pissed off."
"Ryo," Cye called weakly. The bearer of Wildfire heard him and approached with Sage and a more steadier Rowen at his side. "Ryo," Cye continued. "The priest said only the flames of virtue can stop Nago once and for all."
"Woa, he really said it like that?" Kento exclaimed.
Cye nodded. "I heard him say it. We can beat him."
"Let's do it then," Rowen announced. "Let's combine our armors before he comes back for round two."
The look on Ryo's face told them he was ready to go with it. "You think you're up to it, Cye?" he asked.
"Yeah, my armor still has power enough. We have to stop that monster and we have to do it now. No matter what." The others nodded. Robyn only watched them all without a clue as to what they were talking about.
"Then let's do it," Ryo announced.
Despite the fact only two of the five Ronins were armored up, each was still fully capable of giving up their powers as they were. Robyn watched in awe as each one began to glow brightly in their respective colors. The four glowing energy balls of dark blue, green, light blue, and orange suddenly took on a life of their own and shot into Ryo's body. Robyn hid her face in Cye's shoulder as she was blinded by a white fire that turned Ryo's subarmor black. Another type of fire - bright orange and red - covered him next, leaving an imposing white armor over his body. White Blaze, who was consumed in the mixed powers as well, also bore a similar styled white armor though the great fires had left his fur now a dark grey.
Black Blaze roared with the power that surged through him while Ryo expertly drew the double swords he was carrying. No sooner had the display ended than almost half of the entire building was torn away without warning. A seething black monster, almost as tall as the building itself, stalked angrily towards them.
Everyone gasped at the frightening sight - except Cye who was out cold by now. The winds howled fiercely outside and lightning seemed to almost rain down from the heavens. Ryo stepped forward bravely to meet the atrocity on behalf of his comrades.
"Everyone, get out of here," Ryo ordered over his shoulder. "I'll take care of this myself. Black Blaze," he looked down at his faithful companion. "Go with them. Make sure Cye and Robyn get out of here safely, okay?"
The tiger whined, reluctant to leave his master's side, but did as he wished. Ryo moved to meet the demon half way while Kento set Robyn on Black Blaze's back. Cye's unconscious body was draped across the tiger's shoulders in front of her.
"Okay, let's go," Sage announced and the group hastened to evacuate the doomed building.
"So, you think you're going to stop me by yourself," Nago's demon form huffed at the puny, armored body at his feet.
"Just watch," Ryo said as he crouched for his surekill. Nago didn't give him any time before sending out a choking black smoke that was strangely solid enough to wrap around the warrior and lift him off the ground. Ryo fought viciously against the choking hold, but how does one fight against a black cloud? As a last resort, he reached inside him to his inner powers and the armor flared up in a bright light. The black fog retreated while Nago howled and shielded his eyes from the glare.
Without wasting the opportunity given him, Ryo jumped into action. "RAGE OF INFERNO!"
The screams of a tortured soul could be heard from those waiting at a safe distance outside. The building and everything surrounding it was fully engulfed in a white hot ball of fire. The on-lookers had to shield their eyes from the brightness. And from even where they were, they could still feel the heat of the attack.
When the blast subsided and the night once again went dark, there was nothing left of the entire area but a large, black crater. A figure in white armor hiked slowly up to his friends, dragging his swords along the ground as he went.
"It's finished," Ryo announced tiredly as he dropped his swords to the ground. They disappeared at once as well as Ryo's and White Blaze's Inferno armor. Now once again clad in his sub armor, Ryo gave a sigh of fatigue and sat heavily on the ground. He was totally spent from his battle. "So," he then said, still slightly out of breath. "What do you guys wanna do now?"

*****

The entire group went back to Mia's place for recovery. None of them dared show their faces at home with the shape they were currently in. It was easy to imagine the kind of look Mia had on her face when they all appeared, beat up and exhausted, on her doorstep.
Cye was immediately put to bed. Drained more physically and spiritually than any of the others had been, he was still unconscious and also developing a small fever now. Mia was demanding details from everyone while Sage attended to those who had injuries they couldn't take home with them without raising anyone's suspicions.
Pretty soon, things had calmed down as everyone involved took to recovering from the night's battle in their own way. After hearing all anyone would tell her about what happened, Mia moved to the kitchen to prepare some hot chocolate for whoever wanted some. Robyn took note of where she was and decidedly stayed away from that part of the house. She already knew this was all her fault. She didn't need any of Mia's accusing glares to remind her of that.
Sneaking past the kitchen, Robyn stumbled upon Sage. He was curled up on the couch fast asleep. Even more than just asleep - he looked dead asleep. Their battle with Nago had left all the Ronins' powers weak. Sage had used the last of the energy he had to heal their wounds. Robyn looked down at the hand that was burned. It was as good as new now, thanks to him. She wished he wasn't asleep right then. There was so much she wanted to tell him; to thank him, to apologize to him. But it would all have to wait.
Robyn looked around the room and managed to find a nice, warm blanket. She draped it slowly over the sleeping blonde, making sure he was wrapped up in the soft material completely before she was satisfied with her chore. She took a few more moments to watch him sleep. Kneeling next to him to better study his face, she thought he had never looked so peaceful. Robyn lightly brushed a few stray strands of golden hair from his face before standing up again.
"Hey," Rowen greeted quietly as he walked into the room. The bearer of Strata's face was now healed as well. He was dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a thick sweater. He had been in the shower for almost an hour previous. The Ronin boys always kept a few pairs of clothes at Mia's house. One never knew when they would need them. He had a small towel draped around his neck as he dabbed at his still damp bangs. "What are you doing in here?"
"Oh, just putting the kids to bed," Robyn replied lightly, motioning to the sleeping figure on the couch.
"How about yourself?" Rowen asked as he came up closer to her. "You look like you could use some sleep."
Robyn shrugged. "Maybe in a little bit. I'll be fine for now."
She turned to go when Rowen suddenly grabbed her and held her against him. "It's okay, you know," he whispered to her. "It's over now. We took care of it. You don't have to worry anymore."
Robyn closed her eyes and allowed herself the luxury of enjoying the embrace. The soft material of his sweater felt comforting against her cheek. And Rowen smelled so good from the scented soap Mia always kept in her bathrooms. She clutched his sleeve tightly as he held her. "I know," she replied into his shoulder. "But it's hard to get used to. To know it's finally over after so long. Without that fear, I don't know what to feel anymore."
Robyn's eyes popped open in surprise when she felt Rowen's lips brush against her forehead. "Feel safe," he said softly. Robyn, who suddenly found herself at a loss for words, only nodded weakly. "Go get some rest," Rowen then told her. And with thus said, he moved off to the kitchen to answer the alluring smell of hot chocolate calling to him.
Robyn watched him go into the other room before turning in the opposite direction. She headed for the stairs and the bedrooms, but paused on the first step when she noticed a light down the hall. Curious, she went to investigate and found a small practice room with Ryo sitting cross legged in the middle of it. The dark-haired youth had his eyes shut tightly and his palms out on his lap. His brows were furrowed in heavy concentration. Robyn didn't dare make a sound as she peaked in the doorway. He looked almost mad sitting there.
Robyn remembered when she got her first taste of Ryo's temper back at Rowen's house. She never would have guessed he was like that. He always seemed too happy and light hearted to her. Ryo had a certain fight in him that he kept locked away for such occasions. And now that Robyn had seen it, she wasn't about to chance giving it a reason to resurface.
"Robyn?"
She jumped when Ryo said her name. She didn't realize he had noticed her there. She stepped guiltily in the doorway but didn't come in the room. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you," she mumbled.
"It's all right," Ryo said casually as he stood up. His feet were bare and he was dressed in khaki green sweat pants and a tight black tank top. Robyn always thought he looked good in black. "I wasn't really doing much. You can come in if you like."
Robyn took a few timid steps inside. She looked around the small bare room, hands clasped behind her back. Her right hand tugged at the hem of her left sleeve agitatedly. She felt out of place here with him just now. She had no reason to be there.
Ryo rubbed the dark skin of his bare shoulder in the silence. Inside he felt the urge to say something to her. But truthfully, he didn't know what it was that he was feeling impressed to say. Little did he realize, Robyn was feeling the same thing.
"Ryo, you were... I mean, I really just - thank you, Ryo," she finally said as she looked sincerely into his face. "Thank you for doing that for me."
Ryo nodded. "Hey, it's my job," he said with a small smile. "So how about you? You look kind of flushed, are you feeling okay?" He reached out to check her forehead for a fever but was surprised when Robyn reflexively jumped back from his touch. Robyn was hardly aware what she had done either. It was more like an automatic reflex than anything. Her mind instantly reverted back to earlier that night where she could feel her own flesh burning away when she was forced to touch his chest. Her newly healed hand pulsated with a dull pain as she remembered how much it had hurt. Without realizing it, she stared warily at Ryo's chest while he looked on in confusion.
When Ryo finally did figure out what was going on he looked hurt. Because of that monster, she was afraid of him now. He could never live with that. Before Robyn could pull away a second time, Ryo reached out and caught her wrist. He looked into her eyes reassuringly as he gently placed her hand on his chest right above his heart. She flinched when she touched him, but relaxed when she felt the usual soothing warmth he radiated.
"I'm sorry for what happened," Ryo said to her. "I would never ever purposefully hurt you. I don't want you to be afraid of me."
Robyn looked into his deep blue eyes and saw the hurt and the pleading in them. She knew he was sincere and she felt bad for making him feel that way. Robyn removed her hand and nodded. A small smile graced her lips. "I know." Ryo smiled back in relief. "I'm going to go upstairs now," Robyn then announced. "I'll see you later, Ryo."
Ryo nodded as she left and headed up the stairs. There were several open vacant rooms she could choose from where she could rest. But Robyn went straight to the bedroom whose door was already closed. Easing the door open, she slipped inside as quietly as possible. Cye's body was resting peacefully in the bed covered by a thick quilt. There was a cold cloth on his forehead for his fever. The only light given off in the dark room was by a few candles placed on the nightstand.
In a chair by the bed sat Kento, slumped over with his elbows resting on his knees. Robyn smiled gently at him. Cye was so lucky. He really did have one of the best friends in the world. Kento never left his side since they got here and had been nursing his fever all night. He looked up when he heard someone enter the room. Robyn put a hand on his shoulder as she looked down at him. "Would you mind if I stayed with Cye for a while? You look like you could use a break."
Kento looked at Cye and then up at her. He really didn't want to leave his best friend alone. But the look on Robyn's face told him that perhaps this is what she needed more than him. "Yeah, you can watch him," Kento agreed as he stood up.
Robyn smiled her thanks. "Mia's making hot chocolate downstairs if you want some."
"Oh, sounds good," Kento said as he headed for the door. "I'll come back and check on you guys in a little while."
Robyn nodded as he left. Now alone with a sleeping Cye, she sad down in the wooden chair, still warm from Kento's body heat. With arms folded in her lap, she watched his peaceful face in the candle light. The soft light bounced off his pale skin and a few strands of hair fell over his eyes.
Robyn's mind wondered back and remembered how close she came to losing him. That horrible feeling she felt when she thought he was dead. At that point, Robyn couldn't hold it in anymore. She broke down and, finally, cried. Her hands went up to cover her face as silent sobs wracked her body. She was so confused with how she felt. It was over now, everyone was safe. Why did it still hurt so bad inside? Her tears soaked her palms as she continued to cry quietly in the darkness.
Robyn's head jerked up when she felt somebody touch her. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw Cye, wide awake now and reaching for her. His chest was bare with his blankets pooled around his waist. In the candlelight, he was the most beautiful thing Robyn had ever seen. "Cye," she choked out.
"Robyn," was his simple reply. Without another word, Robyn flung herself at him, practically curling up into his lap as she hugged him tight and cried openly onto his shoulder. Cye closed his eyes and hugged her sobbing form tightly while he stroked her hair. "It's okay," he whispered softly. "Please don't cry, Robyn." He could handle Dynasty torture and demons ripping out his soul, but his heart just couldn't stand seeing her hurt like that. She pulled away and attempted to dry her face on her sleeve, the last of the sobs dying down as she fought to compose herself. Then she looked right into his eyes, begging him to listen to what she had to say next.
"Cye, I want to tell you how sorry I am." Cye tried to ask why but Robyn kept going without giving him a chance. "I've treated you so bad ly sometimes and you haven't deserved any of it. All you've ever done is put up with me. You were always so kind and giving and to pay you back I treated you like crap. And then I put your life in danger. I never meant to do that Cye, I don't want anything to happen to you." Despite all her efforts not to, the tears were beginning to spill freely again. "When I thought you were dead I just wanted to die. You're the only thing in this world I have left. I don't ever want to lose you. I'm so sorry, Cye! Please forgive me."
Cye smiled kindly down at her and gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks. "It's okay, Robyn. There's nothing to forgive."
Robyn sighed in frustration as she leaned into his touch. "There's so many things I still need to tell you. I already told the others what happened. I wish you could have been the first to hear it."
Cye gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. "It's all right. You can tell me whenever you're ready."
Robyn moved away from him and sat on the edge of the bed, dangling her feet onto the floor. There was a slight smile on her face now. "Well, I've got horrible judgement when it comes to picking out boyfriends, I'll tell you that right now."
Cye blinked. "You mean that Jason guy, you and him...?"
"Kinda," Robyn shrugged. "I think he was more attached to what I was than who I was. He kept trying to push the relationship, but I wouldn't let him." She chuckled humorlessly. "Heck, I wouldn't even let him kiss me. And I think it's a good thing I didn't, too. To be honest, I was starting to like him. But for a long time I always wanted my first kiss to be special. I didn't want it to be from him."
"You never kissed anyone before?" Cye asked.
When Robyn shook her head, Cye looked at her dubiously. "Rowen doesn't count!" Robyn insisted. "That wasn't a real kiss! He just did it to tick you off." She sighed heavily and rested her face in her hands. "Sometimes I think I'm doomed to a life of poorly chosen men and meaningless relationships."
There was a span of silence in which Robyn was left to meditate on all the bad choices she had made throughout her life.
"Robyn?"
She looked up to see Cye staring intently into her face. His eyes held an emotion she had never seen in them before as he reached out to gently cradle her face in one hand. He leaned in closer. Robyn could feel his breath on her mouth before he touched his lips ever so softly to hers. He closed his eyes; she kept hers open from surprise. There were no sparks of electricity nor a sudden burning desire flaming up between them. But there was emotion; love. And the spiritual bond that existed between them grew stronger from this.
Robyn's eyes were still opened when he pulled away. There was a slight twinkle of amusement in Cye's eyes when he looked at her. "Does that count as a real first kiss?" he asked. Robyn nodded dumbly. "It was mine, too," Cye admitted.
Robyn raised an eyebrow at him when Kento peeked into the room. "Cye? CYE!" Kento flung the door wide open. "Cye, you're awake! You're all right!" He cupped his mouth with one hand and yelled down the stairs. "Hey, everyone! Cye's awake!"
There was a series of startled thumps from down stairs, followed by the rumbling of many skittering feet. Kento, for his part, practically pounced on Cye's smaller form and gave his best friend a big bear hug. "Cye, you scared me half to death!" the Warrior of Strength exclaimed. "Don't ever do that to me again!"
Cye chuckled through the embrace, but his expression changed when he saw Robyn over Kento's shoulder. She was still sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor awkwardly. Cye couldn't believe the pink hue that blossomed on her cheeks. Was Robyn blushing? Cye used to think there wasn't a single thing in the world that could make such a blunt person like Robyn be embarrassed. He had never seen her blush before in his life. What was it that finally caused her to do so?
"Cye!" Ryo cried as he appeared in the doorway. He was almost pushed out of the way by a hasty Rowen who was right at his heels. A yawning Sage slowly brought up the rear as the rest of the boys all filed inside. Robyn gave up her seat and stood aside as the Ronins all gathered around their companion, each expressing their concern and relief he was back. Whatever happened in the past didn't mean a thing. They were all back together again and that was all that mattered.
Sage had crawled onto the other side of Cye's bed and looked like he was ready to go back to sleep. Ryo sat crosslegged at the foot of the bed and bounced excitedly. Rowen took the chair in front of the bed while Kento stayed sitting at the bedside next to Cye. Each member seemed to want to take a turn in roughing up the bearer of Torrent's hair while they all talked at once about their recent adventure.
Robyn smiled at the warm scene before she slipped unnoticed out the door. On her journey down the stairs she could still hear the happy voices exclaiming how they were the best and that no one could beat them. Robyn chuckled to herself; they sounded like a high school sports team that had just won that night's game.
With all the main noise-makers upstairs, the house was very quiet now. Robyn wasn't sure what to do with herself at that point. She ended up wandering out to the front porch and sitting on the steps. She watched the sky as the first rays of sunlight were just barely starting to peek over the treetops. It was a very peaceful scene. Everything Robyn knew in the world was good. But she still felt a bit... lonely.
"Hot chocolate?"
Robyn looked up to see Mia, of all people, standing over her and offering a steaming mug. Robyn took it gratefully and sipped at the warm contents while Mia took a seat beside her and drank from her own cup.
"I know how you feel," the tall brunette said simply.
Robyn raised an eyebrow at her. "Feel about what?"
Mia continued to watch the ever brightening horizon. "You want so much to be a part of them. To be what they are; to share in their goodness. We can help them, we can be there for them when they need us. But there's a bond that connects those five that runs deeper than our understanding. We can never be a part of that."
Robyn nodded slowly. Who knew, Mia did realize what she was thinking.
"Still," Mia continued. "I find comfort in knowing that as long as they're together, everything feels right in this world. And I am just thankful I was able to be a part of their lives."
Robyn smiled reflectively into her mug. "Very well said," she admitted. "A toast then. To the best thing in both our lives. May that, at least, never change."
"I can drink to that," Mia smiled. They clanked their glasses together and continued to watch the rising sun in silence. Above them, the happy conversations of the five young men could be heard slightly from the window upstairs. In that moment right then, everything indeed felt right with the world.