Hey readers: Song in this story belongs to S Club 7. It's called, Never Had A Dream Come True. I love this song, and I really thought it explained how Ryo feels in the one part. Standard disclaimers apply. Lyrics belong to S Club 7. Plus, William is just a character I made up, hope you like him. I no own the Ronins. Oh and please stay with me, there are a lot of names changes. – Alkvingiel
Ninja Family Problems
"Hey Guys, what are we going to do for Ryo's birthday this year?" Mea asked seeing Ryo wasn't with them.
"We don't know, he hasn't said anything he's wanted to do or anything he wants," Rowen answered.
"Maybe Ryo doesn't want a party," Cye said quietly.
"What are you talking about, Cye? Of course he wants a party! Any person in their right mind wants a birthday party!" Kento asked amazed that he'd said that in the first place.
"Ryo keeps to himself a lot. Maybe the reason he doesn't tell us anything is because he's happy with the way things are," Cye explained.
"Maybe Cye's right." Sage told them. Kento just shook his head in disagreement.
"Where is Ryo anyway? I haven't seen him all morning, have you?" Mea asked. Cye stood and opened the curtain and pointed to a figure lying in the grass. Cye sat back down and they watched Ryo lay there not moving.
"Man, he's lazy. Look at him, he's asleep!" Kento whined.
"He has a right to sleep, Ryo must be tried. At least he's a zookeeper that's a hard working job, Kento!" Sage yelled at him with a smile.
"You saying I don't work!" Kento yelled back.
"You better believe that's what I'm saying!" Sage yelled standing, with a laugh in his voice. Kento stood ready to have a playful fight with Sage.
"Guys… not inside! Please!" Mea begged. They didn't hear her and started pushing each other, laughing the whole time. Mea smiled and buried her face in her hands. Cye and Rowen smiled but turned their attention back to the outside. Back outside Ryo enjoyed the warm sunshine in his face and the birds singing beautiful songs.
Suddenly something shifted in the shadows of the trees. Ryo sat up quickly trying to focus on what had moved. The shadow moved again quicker than before. Ryo jumped up ready to fight. "What's he doing?" Rowen asked seeing Ryo jump up. Sage and Kento looked up from where they had rolled on the floor; Mea lifted her face out of her hands.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Ryo yelled to the shadow. A man stepped forth and walked toward Ryo. By now they were all looking out there window, watching Ryo an this stranger ready to help if Ryo needed it. The man had a mask over his mouth; a red bandana was tied around his forehead. A sword rested at his side, in one hand he carried a scroll. "What do you want here?" Ryo asked.
"I have traveled far to find you, Ryo Sanada. I must see your father it is of great importance," The masked Samurai told him.
"My father died many years ago. What did you want with him?" Ryo answered.
"That is truly sad. Well it looks like you will have to take his place. Even if your father left us he was part of our ninja family and so are you. You must come with me Ryo Sanada," The Samurai explained.
"Like Hell I have to come with you! I might be the prince but evil is not my way to go!" Ryo yelled.
The Samurai just shook his head with a smile on his face. He took the scroll he carried an unraveled it quickly. Ryo's eye's grew wide, he bowed his head an did a fancy hand movement then kneeled before the Samurai with his eyes closed. "I thought evil wasn't your way to go," The Samurai smirked.
"Even if it's not, I can't go against what I've been taught to honor." Ryo growled. Sage, Cye, Kento an Rowen ran out of the house and stood behind him in their sub-armor.
"So you still have your bodyguards I see, You may stand," The Samurai told Ryo. Ryo stood but did not meet his eyes.
"Body guards? What's up with this guy Ryo? Who is he?" Kento asked.
"He's a member of the old ninja clan that my family used to be part of. Something is wrong and he says they need my help. He wants me to go with him. But I've refused," Ryo explained walking behind them.
"You will come in the end Ryo Sanada. That I promise you," The Samurai laughed as smoke went up around him and he disappeared.
"Guys…" Ryo started and they turned around to face him.
"What is it?" They all asked.
"You know how you've been asking what I want for my birthday… well the best thing for all of us is to keep that guy away from me. It's the best for everyone," Ryo told them in a low voice walking away. They tried to get him to explain, but Ryo refused an changed the subject quickly. He told them it was for their own safety.
2 days later, the Samurai hadn't returned yet but Ryo was a nervous wreck. One morning Sage walked into the kitchen, he saw Rowen and Cye putting a jigsaw puzzle together and Kento was pouring some cereal. Ryo was reaching up to get a glass in the cabinet. "Hey Ryo. How are you this morning?" He asked. Ryo almost dropped the glass he had picked to use, but he caught it just in time. "What is wrong with you Ryo? Ever since we meet that Samurai you've been jumpier than a frog?" Sage questioned him.
"No I haven't, and it's nothing. I promise. Just leave me alone," Ryo lied sounding annoyed.
"Really?" Sage asked giving Kento a look. Kento came up behind Ryo and tapped him on the shoulder. Ryo almost jumped out of his skin. "And you say nothing's bothering you, right! Ha! Come on Ryo; tell us what's the deal with that Samurai," Sage told him sarcastically.
"Maybe I should tell them. No! It will just put them in more danger!" Ryo yelled at himself.
"Well…" Kento started.
"No… I can't… I just can't!" Ryo yelled running out of the house, White Blaze at his heels.
"Mea… is there any way you can tell us about the ninja clan Ryo's family came from?" Rowen asked as they all walked into the library where she was working.
"I'll try but Ryo's background is tough, I never could get much info on it. Rowen and Cye look through those books on the first 2 shelves. Sage, help me on the computer and Kento go through those boxes with Ryo's name on them," Mea answered. Kento was the first to find something about Ryo that could be useful.
"Hey! I didn't know Ryo could draw this good!" He exclaimed flipping through a old sketch book. They all came over to see and were amazed by how good the drawings were. Cye reached into the box an pulled out a book that read on the front, Works of Ryo Sanada. Cye opened the book and found works of music.
"Dude! This music is good! I wish we had a piano so Ryo could play these for us!" Cye told them.
Mea looked at the music and said to Cye, "Come with me!" The guys stayed and looked through the box, but Cye followed Mea into her lab.
"What is it you want to show me?" Cye asked. Mea didn't answer; she just pulled on a bookshelf until it slowly opened. Behind it was a door. She turned the knob and the door opened with dust falling from it. Cye followed her down some old creaky steps. He saw a big thing in the middle of the small room covered by a thick blanket. He helped Mea through it off, under the thick blanket was a practically brand new Grand piano.
"It was my Grandfathers. He rarely played it but still he had it. You know Cye; this would be a great birthday present for Ryo. It'll be from you but I'll help you clean this place up. What do you think?" Mea asked.
"That would be great! Hey what's this?" Cye asked opening some boxes sitting by the piano.
"Oh, that's just music my grandfather collected over the years," Mea answered.
"Some collection! Look at this! Beethoven's, Moonlight Sonata. Mozart, Handle, Bach! Wow! I wish I could have known your grandfather," Cye told her excited.
Mea smiled and then with a sigh she said, "I wish you all could have known him. Anyway let's get to work,"
Seeing Ryo's art made Sage think, "I know I'll get him a professional art set!" Sage explained Rowen and Kento his plan. "Take over this search on the computer," Sage told Rowen walking out of the room. Sage drove into the city to get his present for Ryo. None of them were worried about Ryo yet. He could take care of himself, but if he needed their help some kind of sign would tell them, wouldn't it? Plus White Blaze was with him. Rowen found some info so he printed it out.
"Holy Shit! Rowen, take a look at this!" Kento yelled to him looking at something in a small black box.
"What is it, Kento?" Rowen asked walking over to him. Kento was speechless.
"Well, What is it?" Rowen demanded. Slowly Kento pulled a gold locket out of the box. Rowen got to his knees to have a better look. The chain sparkled brightly; a heart charm was hooked to it. Ryo's name was engraved onto the front and small rubies lined the edge. Kento tried to open it but it wouldn't open. "Why do you think something this beautiful would be in a box?" Rowen asked.
"I have no clue. But I do know one thing if I had something like this, I would be wearing it and showing it off," Kento answered.
"I think it might be a present from his parents. He put it away hoping the pain of remembering would be locked away with it." Rowen explained.
"Well, I think you should give it to him as a birthday present. It's time he got over losing them," Kento told him flipping through the sketchbook.
"Are you crazy! Ryo is depressed enough as it is! If I give this to him, we might walk into his room 1 morning and find that he committed suicide. I know you agree, but that I don't want to see. But I'll save it for him; it shouldn't just sit in this box collecting rust," Rowen explained.
"Why is he so up tight about his parents? I mean I would be over it in a second?" Kento questioned.
"You say that, but you still have both your parents. You'll see what it feels like someday when it happens to you," Rowen told him as he stood and put the locket in his pocket, "I'm going to find Mea and Cye to show them what I found. You should come to; everybody needs to know this," He finished picking up the papers. By this time Mea had dusted and Cye was making plans on what it would look like. Cye showed Mea his list when he was finished.
"The only things I don't have are the, dark silk and the bookshelf," Mea told him.
"I can get first rate stuff real cheep, I have a friend in the business. Where's the wood and paint, I'll get Kento to help. This is going to be so great!" Cye told her with a smile.
"Mea!" Kento yelled. Mea ran up the steps and brought then down.
"Whoa! This is cool!" Cye heard Kento say as the came down. "Hey guys! This is going to be my present to Ryo. But if you don't mind I could use some help,"
"What do you need us to do?" Rowen asked handing the papers he'd printed to Mea.
"Okay, let me see. Kento and I will go out in the shed to get wood a paint. Then when we come back Kento can replace the rotten wood of those steps. And Rowen, you and I can paint these walls. Wait a minute, where's Sage?" Cye asked.
"Oh, he went into town to get Ryo a pro paint set," Rowen told him, "He should be back any minute,"
"Okay, Mea we'll be right back," Cye told her as he and Kento walked up the steps and went outside. Mea didn't answer; she was reading the pages Rowen had given her. Sage came back just as Cye an Kento were walking to the front door. Sage held open the door for them and then as he closed it he told them, "I'm going to go up to my room to wrap an hide this. Then I'll come down and join you guys,"
"All right!" Kento yelled and then he whispered, "That'll be in a hour," Cye chuckled knowing Sage's wrapping wasn't worth crap.
Meanwhile Ryo and White Blaze had covered much ground and they stopped to rest. "Why do the guys have to press on and on about this, I told them as much as I could. White Blaze… you don't even know about this part of my past. For one thing I only remember a few things about it. All I remember is;
****Flashback****
One day I was with my mother in our garden. She was reading to me, holding me in her arms. Suddenly 5 figures appeared; "Hand over the Prince to us and you won't be harmed," One of them told her.
She stood and held me tight in her arms, "Why do you want the Prince?" She asked.
"Just hand him over now!" Another said.
"No! You can't have my Prince!" She yelled turning to run. But as she did they grabbed her and tore me from her arms.
"Mommy!" I screamed as they ran with me. One of them hit me in my head and everything went black. The next thing I knew I was laying on some kind of table or alter.
"We must drain him now! I'm sure the King knows and is on his way here!" A new voice said.
"What do you want with me?" I asked tears flowing from my eyes.
"We don't want you; we just want the special powers you hold!" The one who had first spoken to my mother told me. They held me down and I felt myself getting weak. Just as I was about to past out I heard my fathers voice.
"What the Hell! Do you think your doing with my son!" He yelled.
"Daddy… please daddy, get me out of here," I begged and then my world went black.
****End Flashback****
"When I woke up we were in our car driving very fast. I was in my mother's arms, after that I never found out what took place after I pasted out. All I know is that my parents never called me Prince Ryo-chan in public again but they continued when we were home alone. I never could quite remember why they called me that but they did. I didn't remember anything at first, but as I got older it came back little by little," Ryo explained sliding down the trunk of a tree. White Blaze rubbed his face against Ryo's and he purred. Ryo smiled and buried his face in the tiger's soft white fur. "Thanks, White Blaze. You have always been a true friend to me, loyal to the end," Ryo told him.
"So sad… all alone and no place to go, No bodyguards to protect you? This surprises me!" The Samurai questioned appearing in front of Ryo. Ryo's eyes grew wide with fear. White Blaze sensed danger and stood in front of Ryo growling. The Samurai smiled and then chanted something. White Blaze was lifted out of the way and then set aside, held back by a force field.
Ryo jumped up and tried to get to him, "White Blaze!" He screamed. The Samurai chanted something else and this power through Ryo back against a tree. The force knocked Ryo out but the power held him against the tree.
The Samurai smiled to himself and thought, "This will be easier than I thought," Slowly he took off his bandana and then through it at Ryo. The bandana rapped around Ryo's head and glowed. "It won't be long until the bandana has drained all of his power, and then we will take over this world!" The Samurai thought. Suddenly the bandana stopped glowing and looked as if something was pulling at it. Ryo's symbol of Virtue flashed brightly under it. The bandana flew back to the Samurai's hand. "What is this!" The Samurai yelled.
"My friends aren't the only things that protect me, you bastard! I'm protected by a greater power! The power of Virtue!" Ryo yelled, still the power held him.
"I will return to finish you! And then with the help of your power, we will take over the world!" The Samurai yelled disappearing. The power holding Ryo and White Blaze vanished with him.
"Ugh…" Ryo groaned pasting out as he fell. White Blaze ran over and caught him. Knowing his master needed help, White Blaze ran as fast as he could back to Mea's. All the way back Ryo's symbol flashed.
Sage was walking down the stairs when he heard White Blaze scratching at the door. Sage ran to the door and opened it. White Blaze growled as he walked in. "Ryo! White Blaze! What happened!" Sage asked taking Ryo off his back. White Blaze just looked at him then back at Ryo, his eyes full of worry. Sage took Ryo and laid him on the couch. "Wake up! Ryo, please wake up!" Sage begged shaking him lightly.
"Sage…" Ryo said opening his eyes.
"White Blaze watch him, I'll be right back," Sage told him running to Mea's lab. Ryo's face stayed in his mind, many questions were running through his mind.
"Why was Ryo's symbol flashing? What had happened? Why hadn't something told them he needed help?" When he ran into the lab and saw the bookshelf door, after he had looked around he yelled down, "Mea!"
Mea looked up from the papers and yelled back, "What!" The others put down whatever they were doing to here what Sage had to say.
"It's Ryo! Hurry!" Sage yelled. Mea didn't waste any time on getting up stairs. Cye, Kento, and Rowen were at her heels. When they came back White Blaze was staring at the window growling. Ryo's eyes had fear written in them as his eyes locked on the same window.
They all stood around him feeling a evil presence. Kento put one arm over White Blaze's neck, "What is it boy? What's there?" He asked looking at the window. Kento looked back at the window and saw two red eyes glow then faded. "Ahh!" Kento yelped falling back.
"What is it Kento?" Sage asked.
"Eyes… red… glowing… somebody's out there!" Kento stammered out his words. They all watched the window and the eyes glowed again. Mea saw Ryo's symbol flashing and wondered why.
"Mea stay with Ryo don't take your eyes off him," Cye told her. They opened the door and White Blaze ran out, they followed. Keeping his mind on Ryo the Samurai didn't hear White Blaze. The tiger pounced on him and tried to hold him down but when the Samurai heard the guys coming he used his magic and vanished.
"Where is he White Blaze?" Rowen asked. White Blaze looked at him with eyes that were confused as his were.
"Well… he's not here so we should go back inside and make sure Ryo's okay," Sage told them walking back to the front door. The others took one more look around and then followed him inside.
"Come on Ryo, tell me what happened," Mea was saying when they came back in. They hung back knowing if anybody could get Ryo to say something it would be Mea.
"He stole some of my power…" Ryo told her.
"Your power? What power Ryo?" Mea asked.
"Magic," Ryo said struggling to sit up.
"What Magic?" Each of them were wondering.
"Shin, Gi, Jin, Chie, and Inochi," Ryo chanted and a rose appeared standing in his hand.
"Wow! How'd you do that? And what's so special about this power?" Mea asked.
"That's nothing, that Samurai wants my true power. If he got a hold of me you could kiss this world good bye. I'm so scared… please don't let him get me. They'll kill me," Ryo begged creating more flowers, each the color of the guy's armor, then he looked toward the door even through he couldn't see over the top of the couch.
"He knows you're there guys," Mea said with a laugh in her voice. His eyes closed and made the roses fly to them. They watched in awe as the roses hooked themselves somewhere on their clothes. Ryo was still holding the first rose he had made and was looking at it.
Mea watched it also, it was just a bud, "what could this rose do to help them?" She wondered.
"Mea… this rose is for you. By doing what I'm getting ready to do, you will always know if I'm okay. Even if I'm far away," Ryo told her putting his finger to it.
"How? How will this flower know?" Mea asked.
"I can't explain it. But my… my father did this for my mother when he went away. When I'm well it will bloom so beautifully it will take your breath away. But if something happens to me it will wilt and die if I die," A blue flash went through the flower and it bloomed. "Ugh…" Ryo groaned and his eyes rolled back. Mea caught the flower as it was about to fall then she went and a washcloth to wipe the sweat off of Ryo's face.
"How does he have power without his armor?" Kento asked.
"I think I might know, well at least from those pages Rowen printed out for me," Mea said picking up the pages.
"Really? Tell us," They all said at the same time.
"Well according to this, the ninja's of Ryo's family grained magical powers a few generations before he was born. The Sanada family is mentioned in here quite a few times as the most powerful ever. Whenever the Sanada family is mentioned Ryo is the main focus. It says that he was trained since he was real little to be a great leader and warrior. In fact his name means, little prince. He was always real serious when training and this says when he powered up his hair would spike up and some parts would start to turn gold. But as soon as they did they would disappear and he would pass out. There were many traitors in the clan and one day they kidnapped Ryo. They were hungry for his power and after Ryo's father found out what happened he killed them all. And then the Sanada family disappeared from the ninja clan forever," Mea explained.
"So what does all this mean? And what's this power you're talking about?" Sage asked.
"This Samurai is after Ryo's hidden powers. And if he got a hold of him nothing could stop them from taking over our world. Guys, this Samurai is serious news. He's stronger than Talpa could ever dream to be, but it's up to you guys to stop him. I don't think Ryo is up to it right now," Mea told them looking at Ryo who was sleeping peacefully for the time being.
"But Mea, Ryo is the only one who could ever beat Talpa, and if this Samurai is stronger than Talpa we don't have a chance," Kento countered.
"That's true, but if you use the new powers Ryo gave you the last time, an if Anubis and the other warlords came back you might have a chance." Mea told him getting up and changing the washcloth on Ryo's forehead. (Sadly Anubis and the other warlords don't come back to help) She leaned down and scratched White Blaze behind his ears. White Blaze yawned and purred.
2 days later, Ryo still hadn't woken up but Mea said this was a good thing. He'd had so much energy drained that the more rest he got the better. White Blaze jumped up one afternoon and roared for the others to follow. In the clearing were they trained the Samurai awaited them. "Where is the Prince Ryo?" He questioned.
"Like we'd tell you," Cye said crossing his arms.
"No need, I see him asleep. Resting for the battle he will fight in the end," The Samurai said smiling at them. The guys fists clenched and they got into their fighting position.
"You'll never get to Ryo before you go through us!" They all yelled.
"Then let's do it! You're wasting my time!" The Samurai yelled pulling out his sword.
They each tried their best but none of their moves put a dent in him. Ryo woke and sat up, Mea ran up to him and asked, "Ryo what's wrong?"
"The guys need my help against that Samurai," Ryo told her trying to stand. Mea put an arm around him just in time before he fell. Ryo's knees buckled under him and if it wasn't for Mea he would have fell.
"No you don't Ryo. Your still weak from your last run in with that Samurai," Mea told him as he leaned on her.
"No Mea, the guys will die if I don't. I can't let my friends down," Ryo told her standing on his own and then walking toward the door.
"But if you go now… you'll be the one who dies," Mea thought.
"Don't think that Mea. If I die then that is the price I pay for the ones I love lives. Goodbye Mea, until the next time me meet," Ryo told her walking out the door.
"Goodbye Ryo, keep safe forever," Mea whispered to the empty space where he had just been. Mea had put his flower in the kitchen; it sat in a crystal vase. She didn't know it just then but the flower dropped 2 petals. The guys lay in pain on the ground from the Samurai's shots at them. They hadn't even had a chance to use their powers. Sage pushed himself up and then to standing. "You will never get to Ryo. I would throw my life away before I would let you get to him!" Sage yelled.
"That time will come sooner than you think because here he comes now," The Samurai told him with a smile looking the way Ryo was coming.
"Get out of here, Ryo!" Sage screamed. But Ryo just continued walking calmly toward them. The Samurai smiled and started circling his sword, Sage saw him getting ready to use the power that had put them all out of the fight. Sage ran to protect his friend and leader.
"Ahh!" Sage screamed as the power hit him and he covered Ryo.
"No! Sage!" Ryo screamed as he watched Sage block the beam for him.
"You ok Ryo?" Sage asked as he raised himself off Ryo.
"Thanks to you," Ryo answered sitting up. Sage smiled but he was weak and fell back to the ground. Ryo was kneeling and put his hand on Sage's shoulder, and then he stood and used his power to move things to move the guys so they wouldn't be in the way of the fight. "Rest in Peace for the time being," Ryo told them slowly waving his hand over their bodies.
"So I see you've discovered all of your powers. The 5 most special are yours powers to heal, give life, destroy, death, and create," The Samurai told him.
"Yes, now prepare to die," Ryo answered.
"Don't you think there's a reason that I took out your friends before you?" The Samurai asked.
"Of course, and I'll kill you for it," Ryo told him.
The Samurai just smiled and then yelled, "Destruction Wave!" And a huge power shot out of his sword and headed straight for Ryo. Ryo just stood there eyes closed, before the wave hit him his eyes opened, fixed on the wave a few inches from his face it exploded. "Impossible!" The Samurai screamed. After the dust settled the Samurai's face of confidence disappeared and was replaced with one of fear.
"I told you that I'll kill you for what you did to my friends. Now you might want to start begging for mercy but I'll tell you now that I won't give you any. Still I would love to here your pleas," Ryo told him with a smile powering up. Ryo's tiger blue eyes turned pale as the color of ice and his hair started to spike up a few thick strands changed to gold.
"No! It can't be! He's got the power! He's become Esper'ance! The most powerful member of our Ninja clan has finally shown himself!" The Samurai screamed backing away.
"Say goodbye!" Ryo screamed forming a ball of energy in front of him self. Ryo chanted something throwing the ball of energy that he had created at the Samurai.
"No! This should be the other way around!" The Samurai screamed as he was destroyed. After the dust had settled Ryo leaned down and healed the earth that had been damaged between his and the Samurai's battle. Then he walked over to where he'd put his friends. For a minute he just looked at his friends dead bodies then threw his hands out beside himself. Gold strings of light left his fingers and went into his friend's bodies. After a few seconds they sat up and looked amazed at Ryo.
"This is the power I was speaking of. Please take good care of White Blaze and Mea, after I finish telling you this I'll be very weak. And I'll probably be out for awhile," Ryo told them. Then his eyes turned back to tiger blue and the gold strands left his hair, Ryo pitched forward. Sage jumped out to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Man he is weak," Sage said. Rowen came to help him and they took Ryo back to the house.
Ryo's birthday was August 15th but since he hadn't woken up they planned to have his party right after he woke up. Mea went out and bought a beautiful frame to put the picture of Ryo and his parents in, then she wrapped it up. Cye and Kento's music room was looking really good. They went out and bought three small coffee tables, around them they put down sitting mats. Kento got one of his friends to fix the lights so they could dim and brighten them. Cye showed them the whole effect of the wild colored walls with the dark blue curtains and the lights dimmed. "Dude! This is so cool!" Rowen complemented.
"All agree?" Mea asked.
"You better believe it!" They answered at the same time.
"Now all we need is the 17-year-old," Cye said.
"Well I hope he wakes soon, it's been 3 months to the day. I mean the battle with the Samurai was on June 13th and it's now October 13th. Well White Blaze will tell us if there's any change. And his flower is growing and wilting the same time," Mea explained walking back up the stairs. She had assigned the job of watching Ryo to White Blaze because she knew nothing could make him leave his master unprotected. She had started feeding him up in Ryo's room because he wouldn't leave him.
****Dream****
"What do you want with me?" Ryo asked in his dream.
"We don't want you, just the power you hold," One of them explained.
"What in the Hell are you doing with my son!" Ryo's father yelled.
"Please help me daddy, please…" Ryo begged and then his world went black.
****End Dream****
Suddenly Ryo shot up in his bed, his breaths coming out in heavy gasps. White Blaze raised his head then got up and licked Ryo's hand. "White Blaze? Where am I?" Ryo asked looking around. White Blaze purred. "Oh my room in Mea's house. White Blaze how much time has passed?" Ryo asked him swinging his feet over the side of his bed. White Blaze gave three low growls. "Three months?" Ryo asked surprised. White Blaze nodded. "Dang, I didn't think it would be that long," Ryo told him pulling some jeans on and then pulled on a T-shirt. "Lets go see what the guys and Mea are up to," Ryo told him walking out his bedroom door. White Blaze walked ahead of him and laid down on his mat beside the fireplace. Ryo sat down on the couch and started to read a magazine.
"Are you sure he'll like it…" Ryo heard Kento ask.
"If you're talking about something to do with my birthday you might want to talk a little quitter," Ryo said over his shoulder not looking up.
"What? Ryo!" They yelled.
"What's up?" Ryo asked with a smile.
"You're awake!" They yelled.
"Duh, I'm sitting here aren't I?" Ryo said sarcastically.
"Sage! Rowen! Mea!" Cye and Kento yelled.
"What is it?" They asked running into the living room.
"Hey guys, guess you missed me huh?" Ryo asked leaning over the back of the couch.
"Ryo!" They yelled.
"Guess that answers my question," Ryo told himself.
"I thought you were never going to wake up!" Kento told him with a huge smile.
"Of course we missed you!" Mea told him.
"How do you feel?" Rowen asked.
"Fine, I slept a lot and that makes me feel a lot better. How have you guys been?" Ryo asked.
"We do just fine," They told him.
"Cool, but I guess I ruined whatever you guys had planned for my birthday. I'm sorry," Ryo told them with a sigh.
"No way! Hey if you feel all right we'll have things ready in three hours!" They told him excited.
"Come on Ryo, we'll go into the city and let the guys get everything ready," Mea told him pulling him out of the house.
"Cye bake the cake, Kento make sure everything's ready. Rowen put up the decorations, and I'll get the money together that we planned to give to him," Sage explained.
Ryo made Mea let him drive. He took her shopping. "You shouldn't have done this, Ryo. It's your birthday not mine," Mea complained.
"So? I like doing things for others, even on my birthday," Ryo told her looking in the windows.
"Still I don't feel right about it," Mea said.
"Wow! Mea look at that dress!" Ryo yelped looking at a beautiful silver dress in a window.
"Your right Ryo, it is beautiful. And silver does look good on you," Mea said with a giggle.
"Thanks but I don't think I have the figure for it. You on the other hand, you would look beautiful in it," Ryo explained with a sly smile.
"I guess you want me to try it on?" Mea asked.
"You bet, and by the time your done it will be time to head home," Ryo told her sitting down. She sighed and walked in the store. 20 minutes later she came out in the dress, Ryo was reading a paper and he looked up when he heard awes and people around stopping walking to look. Mea walked out of the store the dress on. Ryo put the paper down and watched in awe as she walked slowly towards him. The silver dress clung to her slim body. The fabric made little sound as it rubbed together. A pearl studded string rapped around her neck, holding the dress up.
"What do you think?" Mea asked.
"You look beautiful, go ahead spin around and show off your beauty to all these on lookers," Ryo told her. The storeowner came out and asked Ryo what he thought. "I'll buy it for her."
"Sir, its 1000 dollars," The storeowner answered.
"I can give you 500 now and the other half in 2 months," Ryo explained.
"Deal, good luck with your love sir," The storeowner wished him walking back into the store with the 500 dollars.
"My love?" Ryo asked himself and he looked back at Mea then as he watched her he thought, "The store owner is right, I do love her."
Mea changed back into her old clothes and they left with the dress. "Thank you Ryo. I don't know how I can ever repay you," Mea thanked him as he drove back to the mansion.
"You don't have to; it's enough to know that you let me stay in the mansion. Without your kindness I would have no place to go, I'd be just another bum on the street. The kind that no one ever pays any attention to. And you know that's the way it would be because you know I have no other family. Their all dead… when I was 13 I wanted to be with them so bad that I had actually tried to commit suicide. But Sage saved me and showed me that I wasn't alone. He told me that even if I didn't have any of my family left I did have my friends. And his parents took care of me until a woman came forth and clamed to be my Aunt. The judge ruled in her favor and when I was 15 I ran away, she didn't even look for me. That's when I knew she had lied, she wasn't my real Aunt. So I should really be thanking you not you thanking me," Ryo explained acting as if he wasn't talking to anyone. Mea was quiet then because she knew all the things he said where true. His words got her thinking and she was quiet all the way back to the house.
When they walked in and the guys yelled, "Happy Birthday Ryo!" Ryo smiled and small tears formed in his eyes, but he blinked them away.
They ate the great cake Cye had baked and talked for awhile then Kento said, "Hey Cye! Let's show him our present!" Mea jumped up and got a blind fold and tied it around his eyes so he couldn't see.
They lead him to the library and as they pulled him along he asked, "You guys aren't going to throw me off a cliff are you?"
"Oh come on! How could we put a cliff in the house?" Mea asked with a laugh.
"You can be surprised what people can do in 3 month's time with so much money," Ryo answered with a smile. Carefully they lead him down the steps and then Mea took off the blind fold.
"Surprise!" Cye and Kento yelled. Ryo looked around with a confused look on his face, but then he broke out in a smile.
"How in the world did you guys find out I could play?" Ryo asked.
"We looked through the boxes in Mea's lab that had your name on it. And we found works of music that was really good," Cye explained as Ryo looked around.
"You thought those works were good? I just wrote them when I was 12 and when I lived with White Blaze in the Himalayas," Ryo explained fingering the keys.
"Will you play this for us Ryo?" Mea asked handing him Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Ryo took it from her and looked over it.
"Sure, I can play this," Ryo answered sitting down at the piano. The rest of them had a seat on the floor mats to listen. Ryo began playing; there was no fault in it. Sage took a closer look at his face, there was a smile on his lips and his eyes were closed.
"Guys… he's playing with his eyes closed!" Sage whispered to them. Slowly the music slowed and then stopped. Ryo turned to them and his eyes asked the question.
"You played great!" They cheered.
"Thanks, I didn't think I still had it," Ryo told them.
"Well you do! Kento and I are glad you like it," Cye said.
"Here Ryo, this is my present to you. Happy Birthday," Sage told him handing him his wrapped present. Ryo unwrapped it and his eyes grew wide when he saw the pro art set.
"Thanks!" Ryo thanked him.
"You're welcome, so what will you're first drawing be?" Sage asked.
"A portrait drawing of my family," Ryo answered. They looked at each other and then back at him.
"You guys." Ryo said seeing the looks on their faces.
"Oh, hey cool. We'll wait until Uley gets here so he can be in it to," Rowen told him.
"Yeah, he'll get mad if he's not in it," Ryo said with a laugh.
Just then they heard the front door slam and Uley yelled, "Ryo! Where are you!" And then heard the pounding of his feet as he ran around looking for Ryo.
"Ha Ha, We'll be up in a minute Ulee's!" Ryo yelled up the stairs and he stared up the stairs, with the rest of them following. Uley met them at the top of the stairs.
"Happy Birthday Ryo!" Uley yelled handing him a present.
"Thanks, wow a brush for White Blaze, why do I get the feeling that you'll be using this more than I will?" Ryo asked with a smile.
"Maybe because I spend more time with him than you do," Uley answered with a smile.
"I think you're right, let's go show it to White Blaze. I'm sure he'll like it," Ryo told him as they walked into the living room where White Blaze was still laying on his mat. White Blaze came over and sat at Ryo's feet after he'd sat down on the couch. Ryo started brushing White Blaze with his new brush. White Blaze purred. Mea pulled her present out from the place she had hide it.
"Ryo… this is my present to you. I hope you like it," Mea said handing it to him over the back of the couch. He looked up at her and then opened it. Ryo didn't say a word as he looked at the picture. Tears formed in his eyes and 2 fell onto the glass of the picture, he tried to blink them away but they wouldn't stop.
Ryo cleared his throat and then said, "Please excuse me," Then he got up and walked toward the door.
"Ryo wait! Whats wrong?" Mea asked.
"I just need to be alone for a little while," Ryo told her and he looked her in the eyes as he said it. Mea saw the tears mixed with pain and sadness. Ryo then turned a walked out the door, after he was outside he broke into a run and disappeared into the woods.
Mea turned around to them and said, "I think I hurt his feelings real bad this time guys. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to give him that picture," She sighed and sat on the couch. They didn't answer but sat with her to wait for Ryo to come back.
Ryo ran about a mile into the woods until he came to a clearing then he leaned against a tree and slowly sank to the ground. Tears flowed from his eyes, down his cheeks, and they fell off his chin. "Mom… Dad… I wish you could be here. It's so hard; I miss you so much. Please if you can hear me… help me," Ryo begged to no one.
"So you are the promised one, the one who destroyed the one before us?" Some voices asked from behind him. Ryo jumped up and turned to face 5 Samurai. Ryo backed up against the tree looking at each of their cruelly smiling faces.
"Guys! If you can here my thoughts! Help! 5 Samurai attacking in a clearing about 1 mile into the woods! Please hurry!" Ryo thought. Theirs heads jerked up as they heard his pleads.
"Who's ready to kick some Samurai ass?" Kento asked.
"Let's do it!" They yelled running out the door to help Ryo. The 5 Samurai were just starting to advance on Ryo when the guys ran in front of him.
"Thanks guys," Ryo said getting into his fighting position.
"No prob, just guard yourself!" Cye yelled as they each took a Samurai to fight. Ryo watched as they each fought. Ryo looked around and saw 1 of them who wasn't fighting disappear into the woods; he was heading for the house. Ryo closed his eyes and saw Mea and Uley standing outside.
"No…" Ryo whispered as he ran after him.
"I hear something Mea. Maybe it's Ryo and the guys," Uley told her pointing to a place in the woods. Before she could say anything the Samurai flipped out and landed in front of them his sword drawn.
"I will weaken the promised one by killing the most important to him first," He laughed.
"I don't think so!" Ryo screamed as he used Rowen's double kick to get the Samurai away from Mea and Uley. The Samurai flew off the ground about ten feet and then he got up. "I will never let you touch any one of my family!" Ryo yelled standing in front of Mea and Uley.
"No matter, theirs lives are not important. It is yours that we want!" The Samurai told him.
"Mea, Uley get in the house, NOW!" Ryo yelled to them. Mea rushed inside with Uley.
"Come now Prince Ryo-chan! Show me this great power!" He screamed.
"All right! And I'll use it to kick your ass!" Ryo yelled back. Then he started powering up, the few thick strands of hair turned to gold and all his hair spiked up. His eyes turned to the palest of blue then the transformation was complete.
"Flame swipe!" The Samurai yelled sending fire out of his sword. Ryo held out his hand and blocked the shot with ease.
Ryo started forming a ball in his hands and then chanted a counter spell, he shot the ball of energy at the Samurai; he didn't have a chance. The energy killed him and he disappeared. Ryo stood there until after the dust cleared then the gold in his hair disappeared and it fell back to resting on his shoulders, his eyes returned to their normal tiger blue and he fell to the ground. Mea ran out to help him, she held him up tears in her eyes.
"Ryo! Are you okay?" She asked.
"Mea… I'm really tried. I think I'll just take a little nap, don't worry though I'll wake up sooner than last time," Ryo explained and then he pasted out.
"Ryo! Wake up! Please!" Uley begged.
"It's okay Uley; he just needs to rest. That transformation really takes it out of him," Mea explained as she held Ryo in her lap. Meanwhile as the guys battled the other Samurai… Kento and Rowen killed the one they were fighting and they moved over to help Cye and Sage. Soon enough they were both dead, but before the one Sage had been fighting died Kento jerked him up and asked what they wanted with Ryo.
"Doesn't matter now… he's either dead or dying as we speak," He laughed.
"What!" They yelled.
"Look around yourselves, is Prince Ryo-chan among you? No, he isn't while we kept you warriors busy the 5th one of us went after the girl and young boy. Prince Ryo-can saw him and went after him; you can guess what happens next," The Samurai finished with a wicked smile.
"No!" Kento growled and gave the final blow.
"Let's go you guys! Ryo might need our help!" Rowen yelled as they ran through the woods toward the house. They ran out of the woods and saw Mea with Ryo's head in her lap.
"Ryo!" They yelled picking up their pace. Mea looked up at them as they ran up.
"It's okay guys, he just pasted out. He transformed again and it totally wiped him out," Mea explained. They all sighed out a sigh of relief. Sage and Rowen picked him up and took him to his room. Rowen took the locket out of his pocket and laid on the table beside Ryo's bed, as he walked out he looked back at Ryo and then the locket.
"What great secret does that locket hold to your past Ryo? Please tell us so we can help you. I want to keep you safe; you're my best friend. I'll protect you no matter what." Rowen thought then he turned out the light and closed the door to where it was open just a crack.
Two days later, Mea, Sage, Kento and Cye headed into the city to get some food and other stuff they needed. Rowen volunteered to stay home and watch Uley; he wanted someone to be there if something happened. Mea had promised to bring him some books back from the library. "Bye you guys! Have fun!" Uley yelled as he waved to Mea and the guys.
"See ya later! Have fun with Rowen!" Kento yelled as they drove off.
"What you want to do first Uley?" Rowen asked.
"I gotta work on my skatebroad; my wheel broke off yesterday," Uley explained.
"Okay I'll be in the living room if you need me," Rowen answered sitting on the couch. Uley didn't answer; he just walked up to his room and started working on his skatebroad. Up in Ryo's room he stirred, the nightmare was horrible.
****Dream****
Many voices spoke at once but the one that came most often was a voice saying, " We are coming… and when we do… you and your friends will meet their end. Be ready!"
****End Dream****
He woke with start, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps. After claming down he got out of bed walked down stairs; after changing.
"Rowen? Where are the guys?" Ryo asked.
"Ryo! You're up!" Rowen said jumping up.
"Yeah, it's good to see you to. Are the guys here? We have to get ready. They're coming," Ryo explained pacing.
"What? Who's coming? Clam down! Explain more!" Rowen told him.
"My dreams, they're in my dreams. They're coming, they told me so; first their going to kill me and steal my power then they'll kill you guys so no one will try and stop them from taking over our world, or maybe the other way around. The Samurai won't let me kill myself cause if I do then the power will pass on and this whole thing will start over again," Ryo explained stopping in the middle of the room.
