ShadowDancer and SunSinger
Chapter 12
"Rocky" Oberlin

Disclaimer: I have no rights to the Ronin Warriors or ShadowDancer and SunSinger.

Tulpa did try to find his quarry. He threw many soldiers at the Singers and Dancers that would draw them out. But the people were kept safe and he couldn't find where any of the Singers or Dancers disappeared to. This made his all ready short temper even shorter, causing the four head warriors to kneel before him and receive his wrath. They took it quietly and all the while they were belittled and abused, they planned their defeat of the tyrant.

"You weaklings are dismissed," roared the infuriated emperor.

The four men bowed before leaving the throne room. Near by Lady Kayura smirked at their dressing down and counted the days before she would be called to take care of the problem.

"He is getting worse and worse," complained Seckmet as he eased into a chair. "It took him two hours before he let us go."

"Try being within reach," came back Anubis. "Dais and I almost got punched a few times when he was waving his arms around."

"We have to get the plan started," said Cale. "Any more of this and Tulpa will send out Lady Kayura."

"Then one of us better give the Singers and Dancers a warning," said Dais.

"Who's going to go?" asked Anubis. "Tulpa is already watching Cale."

"How about Seckmet?" suggested Dais. "I could hide him in an illusion and no one would know that he even left."

"And I would be doing this because..?"

"Because we have been to the Mortal Realm too many times. You won't be as suspicious as we would," said Cale. "I know you can find Mia just as well as we can. May be the EarthSinger won't be as suspicious of you as he is of us."

"No," drawled Seckmet. "He'll just want to squash me flat for even coming near them. I don't think he will like me."

Anubis sighed. "Just go. Our sister needs to be warned and our allies need to know that we will be started our attacks."

"If he does try I will be saying 'I told you so'," muttered Seckmet. He looked at Dais and gave a jerk of his head as he left the room. Dais followed the snake warrior out to a gate. They had to do this quickly and quietly; Dais cast his illusions around his friend as he traveled to the Mortal Realm.

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

Cye was next to his lake when Seckmet appeared through the gate. He rose from his sitting position to look at the green haired man. He wasn't like Ryo or Sage. He was gentler because of his extra gift. Right at that moment he wasn't sure if this was one of the warriors that Mia called brother or if he should be on guard.

"Are you one of the men that fight with Mia?"

Cye took a more defensive stance, but didn't fall into one that would provoke an attack. "That depends on who's asking," said the WaterDancer.

"I need to talk to her," said the stranger. "It's about our plans to defeat Tulpa."

Cye was more trusting then his opposite. "Follow me. Mia will be happy to see a friend again."

"And I'm sure that your EarthSinger friend will be happy to see me," muttered Seckmet.

Cye cast a look back at the warrior as he led him to where Mia was. "I'm sure that Anubis told you all about how Kento acts towards him."

"Anubis isn't the only one," said Seckmet. "Dais and Cale told me all about how 'trusting' he is. He has all but accused us of trying to kill you."

Cye nodded. He was trusting, but he wasn't a fool; he knew that Ryo or Sage would feel him 'calling'. He had started his 'call' when the warrior first asked about him and Mia. They would bring Mia to a safe place where the unknown warrior wouldn't be too close to where they lived. He felt guilty, but he knew it was necessary.

He was right. Ryo and Sage had heard his 'call' and brought Mia with them. She stayed hidden with Ryo as Sage approached Cye and the new visitor. When she got a look at the green hair, she knew that her brothers needed to tell her something. She turned to her protective friend and said, "He's safe. That's Seckmet; he is the last brother that tried to protect me in the Nether Realm."

"Are you sure?" asked Ryo.

"Yes."

Ryo sighed and started to his two friends and the new warrior walking towards the clearing near them. "She says that he is one of her brothers."

"Is she sure that he won't betray us?" asked Sage.

"I'm sure, Sage." She smiled at her green haired brother. "It's nice to see you again, Seckmet." She closed the gap between them and hugged the last of her protectors.

"It's nice to see you too, Mia, but we have a problem. Cale and the others wanted me to warn you and the other Singers and Dancers about Tulpa. We will have to start on our plans; he's getting too unstable and will probably send Lady Kayura soon. We have been listening to him berate us about not finding you and the SunSinger ever since you left. He is getting impatient and that may be the best way to defeat the tyrant."

"An impatient leader is a reckless leader," quoted Mia. "And a reckless leader makes mistakes."

Seckmet smiled at his little sister. "I'm glad you remembered. I was afraid that you weren't paying attention to what I was teaching you."

Mia pulled a hurt look on her face before letting it lift into a smile that dazzled the three boys watching the "siblings" converse. "I always listened. I just didn't look like it."

"You had me fooled," snorted Seckmet.

"Shall we take this someplace else?" asked Sage. "I don't think you want to be caught with us by one of Tulpa's soldiers and I think that everyone will want to hear what you have to say."

He led the group through the woods towards the house they were staying in. Rowen looked up when they trooped into the kitchen where he was reading and pointed into the living room where Kento was resting. Ryo nodded and went into the room to wake up the slumbering EarthSinger.

"Oh, great, another one," grumped the heavier boy.

"I'm here to make sure that Mia is safe and out of respect for our similar goals. You don't have to like me to tolerate my presence," snapped Seckmet.

Kento drew back with a scowl, but remember the blow that little Mia gave him over their last visitor. He kept his mouth shut and earned a nod from Cye. He didn't like the fact that these strange warriors were in their home, but everyone else seemed to trust them.

"What is going on that Cale sent you?" asked Mia.

Seckmet sighed. "We are going to start our plans. Tulpa is getting worse and we are getting worried. Like I said, he may send Lady Kayura out and we might not be able to get there in time to help you against her."

"Mia did fairly well against her before," protested Rowen.

"That was due to the fact that Lady Kayura didn't know that Mia knew how to fight. She also didn't know that Mia as a ShadowDancer. Now she knows both and will be more ready. We may lose Mia if they meet again in battle."

Ryo and Rowen looked at each other. Cye traded a look with them, and then looked at Sage. They knew that even with him not admitting to his own feeling, losing Mia would kill him. Ryo could see the bond between the two; it tied them together and would kill the other if one were to die. The thought chilled him.

"What are your plans right at this moment?" asked Rowen.

"We are going to leave on Tulpa's orders, but we aren't going to come back. We will start our offensive after that."

"Let us know when you do," said Ryo. "We will try to help you any way we can."

"We will start within the week. I would say to look for us in the night hours. Darkness is Cale's element and he can hide us better at night then in the day. Tulpa won't look for us until we are gone longer then a day. That is when all of us will be in danger."

"We will keep an eye out for you," promised Sage. "Try to send us a message when you leave. Cale said that Mia could send shadows to him with messages, may be it can work with him, too."

"Cale did it before," said Mia. "It would be best if the shadows are sent again. They won't be as noticed as one of you leaving the Nether Realm."

"I'll pass it along to Cale, Mia," promised Seckmet. "You be careful yourself. We would be lost without you."

Mia laughed. "You just say that because you want me to cook for you again. I'm surprised that you haven't poisoned yourselves with your cooking."

Seckmet gave a cheesy grin. "You've got me. We want you back for your cooking." His face sobered. "Just be careful, Mia. We don't want to lose you."

"I'll be careful, but you have to be too. You aren't out of the Nether Realm yet and there are plenty of spies who could report you to Tulpa," warned Mia.

"We are the epitome of careful," protested Seckmet. "You can't get more careful than us."

He bowed to the other Singers and Dancers before leaving their home. He returned to the gate that lead to his home; the shadows converged around him as he entered the Nether Realm. Cale had them keep watch until he came back. Seckmet didn't know if what he had was good news or not, but he wanted to let his friends know.

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

Mia sat by the window and watched the day pass. Sage noticed the troubled look on her face and the worried silence that surrounded her. He knew that everyone else thought he didn't know his feelings for the ShadowDancer, but he did. He knew that he wanted to be with her for as long as he was able. He just had to say it out loud.

He must have made a noise because Mia turned her head sharply to look at him. The troubled look didn't leave her face even as she smiled at the one that held her heart.

"Are you okay?" asked Sage quietly.

Mia shrugged. "As well as to be expected. I'm afraid for my brothers. I'm afraid that they will be found out before they can get out of the Nether Realm."

Sage wondered what to do. He didn't know if he should hold her in his arms or let her stand on her own. A silent push from Cye urged him to hug the auburn haired woman close and try to give her comfort. He moved closer to his love and smiled at the worried woman.

"I'm sure they will be fine. They lived for a long time hiding from Tulpa and hiding you. They should be able to protect themselves for a little while longer." He reached out to the ShadowDancer and she took the last step. He folded her in his arms and held her close.

Ryo, Cye, and Rowen looked on the two that held each other. "I hope that they will have a long life together," said Ryo.

"If we can rid the two Realms of Tulpa, then they should," said Cye. "Until then, we will have to support them."

"And try to help Kento accept her and her brothers," added Rowen.

Ryo sighed. "That will be the toughest battle. He is as stubborn as we are."

"We have to be," said Rowen. "We survive because of it."