Chapter 17: Life for a life
I must be dreaming but if it is a dream don't wake me up. I thought as I returned the kiss but then I heard someone enter. "Uh oh ... hello ....um ... Sage." I said Sage stared in shock at both me and Ryo, then he reliazed what was going on. " You two? I can't believe it! I came in here to tell you both it time to eat and ..." He stared in disbelif. Ryo turned toward Sage, and gave him a look that would put Talpa on ice.
"If you so much as breath a word of this to anyone ... well, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, when Serenea and I catch up with you, if you get my drift." said the Ronin leader. Sage stoped staring and getting what Ryo said left. " What should we do about the others? Kayura is suspecting." I said. " We deny everything untill we're ready to tell them." Ryo said, I smiled up at him and we both walked out of the tent separtly.
"What happen? Sage came tearing out of the tent like there was no tommorw." Rowen asked me after I came out about five mintues after Ryo. " Oh I don't know." I said hoping my voice my sounded normal. "Well, maybe I should have a chat with him, and find out what the problem is." said the Ronin of Life. " Is there something going on between the two of you that we should know about?" Cale asked. "Not that I know of. Ryo is there something going on between us that they should know?" I asked. " Nope, nothing going on that they should know about." Ryo said and gave me a small smile I didn't think the others saw it.
Cale took off, muttering to himself, while Ryo gave me a look that said: We need to be careful until we are ready to tell the rest. I nodded then something came to my mind. " Harry where did you buried Corin?" I asked choking slighty on the lump in my thoart, Harry told me and I left to go there. As I left for the gravesite, I was followed by my mentor and friend. She shouldn't be going there alone. Something like this should be shared with a friend. And that young man was someone who needed friends. he thought to himself as he followed me to the gravesite.
I kneeled infront of the grave when I came to it. " I came to do as I promised you years ago. I have fallen in love and the feeling is the same with Ryo. I miss you already my friend and I swear I will defeat the Dynasty even if it kills me." I said wiping a few tears away from my eyes. I then saw someone coming, it Harry, I paryed he didn't hear what I said as he walk over to me. "You ok Serenea? I saw you crying by Corin's gravesite, and I thought that if you need a friend, I'm here for you, if you need me." he said, offering his support to his young protegee. I smiled sadly. " I'm okay. It just.... Why?" I let my question hang in the air but it clear. Why did he have to died?
"Sometimes, we can't save the ones that we love. We try to, but we just can't. I could tell that Corin was a close friend, and that you wanted to save him, but sometimes fate won't let us choose what we want to do. He left the Dynasty and died happy, knowing that he had set his life back on the path of goodness. I think that is what he wanted to do." said Harry, in a philosophical state of mind. I shook my head. " But he had so much going for him when he saw the light of his ways. Harry I was the reason he turned to the Dynasty in the first place. My ' death ' was the reason."
"There was nothing you could have done Serenea. He had no way of knowing that you survived the fire at the orphanage. Even if he had known, it would have been hard for the two of you to make a go of it! I know his death hurts, but it would have been a lot harder for the two of you if you had know that each one survived." He said. " What do you mean?" I asked. "If Arco had known you was also an armor bearer like Corin, you both would have been targets for attacks by the Dynasty and at that young age you might have fallen for their tricks. In a way, it was better that neither one of you knew that other was alive." remarked Harry.
I nodded and stood to say goodbye and leave. "If you wish, I would be glad to accompany you back to camp." Harry offered, trying to be supportive of me, I nodded. "Goodbye Corin. Say hi to Kat for me." I said and with tears in my eyes I walked back to camp with Harry. " Now, my young protegee, we need to check on Ryo, and start planning our next move, now that we know that the Dynasty has no plans for fighting fair." said Harry, as the headed back to camp.
When they get back to camp Kento rushed over and whispered something to Harry. Harry's eyes widen and he nodded then followed Kento. "You ok Serenea?" Ryo asked, as he came over to me and held me next to him. "Yes, just a little bit down after seeing Corin's grave site, thats all." I replied. While holding on to Ryo, I noticed that Ryo was manuvering me away from an area of the camp. "Ryo, are you trying to keep me from seeing?" I asked, Ryo looked nervous. " Um no." He said but Ryo is a treibble liar. I tried to move over to the others who were sourrounding something but Ryo stopped me. "It's best that you don't see this Serenea. All it will do is get you more upset than you already are!" Ryo exclaimed.
I wasn't listening, I slipped out of Ryo's grasp to see Harry, Saber, Kento and the Seasonal warriors at the far end of the camp with what looked like one of the Warlords tied up. Koga was bleeding from wounds inflicted by the Seasonals: Anubis had hit him with a fist, Dais had used morning stars, Cale had used his sure kill as had Sheckmet. Kento was using his bo to inflict even more, as I heard them say: "You caused pain to Serenea, and caused the death of Corin! For that, you must pay!"
But they all heard someone yell: What in the name of the mortal world?! And saw me, my anger and hate fulled eyes was on Koga. " I thought you wouldn't let her see him Wildfire!" Cale yelled. "She had differnt plans." Ryo yelled back I was about to help the others but something Corin told me once stopped me. Taking a deep breath to not let my emotions get the best of me, I rushed up. "You can't kill him. That would make us no better than the warlords!" I said and stepped infornt of Koga. "Guys calm down! I want vengence as much as you do, but I don't want to harm Serenea just to take out a warlord!" replied Harry.
I looked at the warlord with digust and haterd but I knew to not act on it. "He's scum and he desevres to died but... if we kill him we are no better then the Dynasty, " I said to the others. "Do what you will with him but don't kill him, I won't let you stoop to the warlords or the Dynasty's level." I said clamly as I could. They all nodded and I stepped out of the way to let them deliver Koga's punshiment, Kento stepped up first. "You caused Serenea a great deal of pain. For that, you will suffer!" Kento raised his fist and punched Koga in the stomach. I wacthed showing no expression or emoition as long as they didn't kill him I didn't care, I just won't let them stoop to Koga's level.
I looked in the dircetion of Corin's grave and I bit down the anger and sadness I felt. Corin I know you would do the same thing so I won't let them kill him. But he will suffer for his crimes. After Kento, Anubis stepped up. "Honor would normally require a life for a life, but for Serenea's sake, I will hold off on killing you." Anubis sent a punch into the temple area of the Koga's head. I looked up at Anubis and without a word thanked him, Sheckmet was next. He didn't say anything, but just laid a blow to the rib area. I wacthed and winced slighty knowing that had to hurt, I knew that personally.
Cale was next, he summoned his darkness, and said. " This is what you would be experiencing if I had my way. Think about that before you go out and hurt anyone else!" he snarled as his foot hit Koga's stocmach. Maybe the guys was right in not want me to wacth this. I thought as I wacthed feeling sick to my stomach. Was it digust for Koga? Or sadness for Corin? I decied digust for Koga as the darkness started to fade. The next one up was Dais. "Be grateful that we don't kill for sport, otherwise you would have been hunted down like the dog you are!" And with that, he hit the left rib area. Harry stepped up next. "As a medical doctor, I know my way around the human body. I could do any number of things to hurt you. As it is, I would suggest that you think on that before I turn you over to Serenea." said my mentor. I look up at this, I wanted to beat the living daylight out of this guy I was afaird my anger may get out of contorl and I might kill him. But I kept this to myself and waited.
Then when Harry steped back I stepped up. "You killed my dearest friend. You caused me grief and anguish. For that, you should die, but for Corin I won't kill you. Instead, I'll just let you know why you don't mess with a Ronin!" I said as I deliverd a swift kick to Koga to the place where no man likes to be hit! I backed up, and did a spin kick, with my foot hitting Koga in the stomach. As I punch Koga sqaure in the jaw, Anubis turned to Saber beside him. "That really had to hurt. I remember when she punched me and that was on accident it really has to hurt on purpose." He said wacthing.
Saber nodded. "I've rarely seen her this mad at anyone. Koga is going to be very sore and very depressed, if we allow this to continue." "Of course we allow it so. It is his punshiment and Serenea has the right to." Anubis said wacthing him kick Koga in the face causeing him to spit blood. "Yes, but we might want to leave him alive to send a message back to his master, that we don't take kindly to those who break their word to us." "Good point but let her contiune, she will stop when it is time." Anubis said as I laid in multiple kicks and punches to Koga until I was starting to tired out.
I was shaking with anger and I slapped Koga hard enough to draw blood. "Remeber this Koga, I kept you alive because I nor the rest of the Ronin are like you. Remember this well Koga." I hissed and before I lost it, I left Koga tied and step out of the cricle. " Send him back to the Dynasty, Arco will deal with him for failing and the other warlords will give it too him." I said and walked qiuckly away before anyone could say a word to me or follow me. Cye looked at Harry who shook his head and motion for Cye to let me go. As I walked my thought dwelled on Corin and Koga. He desreves to die but Corin if you was alive you won't have let me kill him. I thought as I walked into the training area without knowing I had gone that far. I was at the edge of the training grounds when I sat down for a while to rest and to think.
Kento looked at Koga with disgust as I left. "You just better be glad that Serenea knows better then to act on all her emotions. Otherwise you would be deader than dead." A look of horror came from Koga buit he qiuckly hid it with confident. "You Ronins are foolish she will surrend her armor to the Dynasty sooner or later...." All he saw was a red blur and Ryo hit him so hard Koga was nearly knocked out. But a moment later, Koga was let go and he teleported back to the Dynasty. I had pulled a disappering act, while the rest of the team began to prepare strategy for the upcoming battle. The team was torn apart, Harry and the Seasonals were arguing about whether to go after the Warlords on their turf, while the guys were still opposed to an all out assault on the Dynasty's home turf.
When I came to the camp and heard the agureing I tried to ingore it but it got too much so I went to find Kaurya. "Oh boy I wish I knew what to do. Maybe Kaurya knows but if she doesn't Ancient help us." I said. The noise finally got loud enough to disturb Kayura. What are they arguing about? She thought to herself, as she headed toward the argument and I met her. When I told her about Koga and what was happening now, she nodded thinking. "Kayura what do you think we should do?" I asked her. "Both sides are correct." She said after giving it some thought. "While we cannot hope to defeat the Dynasty on its own home turf, we cannot stand back and allow them to run roughshod over us. We need to start doing hit and run tactics on them." she said.
"Hit and run tactics?" I asked I wasn't a expert of fighting tactics but I knew enough to suvirve. "By that, I mean that we attack them, and then return here. It will take them some time to gather the resources to enter this realm. Once we have that figured out, we can attack them at that point." she said, I nodded. "Just make sure none of us get caught. What about Mia and Yuli?" I asked, I didn't want anymore of my friends dieing. Yuli was like a little brother to me while Mia was a friend. Harry stood up and came over to us. " It would be best to send them someplace that the Dynasty has never been to before, where they can be safe, in case anything goes wrong." he suggested. "But where?" Kayura asked but then after a moment's hestaint I spoke up. "I think I know of place. It is protected from the Dynasty, that was made sure a long time ago. If we fail or something goes wrong the Dynasty won't be able to get them."
Ryo turned toward me, intrigued by my suggestion. "What is this place that you have in mind Serenea?" He gently urged. "It's a old temple. I discovered once and my armor started reacting when I approched it. It protected from the Dynasty by gaurds. Believe me, they nearly killed me when they saw my armor but luckly they saw I was a Ronin and allowed me in. I think Mia and Yuli maybe able to hide there." Kayura nodded. "That sounds like a good place for them to hide at. We can even use it as a base of operations for our strikes against the Dynasty." she said. I nodded and sighing in relief. I didn't want them to ask why I haven't told then before hand or how I found this temple.
As the meeting broke up, Harry moved over to me. "How did you find this temple? And how come you never mentioned it until now?" he politely asked me. I sighed too soon. I thought. "Well, I had to swear not to tell you guys unless it was a serious matter. And I found one day when I was expoling." I said truthfully. "Was this temple somehow involved with, " and Harry dropped his voice before continuing " The Ancient?" he asked. " I'm not sure. I'll tell you one thing my armor reacted big time to it. And I got this weird feeling." "What sort of weird feeling?" Harry asked, trying to figure out what was going on. " I felt like some part of me belonged there. Like I been there before." I said a bit bewildered.
"But you know so little about Japan before you and your father left for Chiago and you were sent to the orphanage. How could this temple mean so much to you?" asked Harry, with wonder and astonishment in his voice. "How should I know? I told you I felt like it but I never atucally been there before. It was weird because the night before I had a dream, the temple was in it. I think someone or something wanted me to find it." I said.
"Maybe you should describe this temple to Kayura. With her knowledge, and the staff, she might be able to shed some light on the subject, if you know what I mean, kiddo." he responded, trying to lighten the mood in the tent a little. "Don't call me kiddo, oh fearless one, you're not that old." I smiled slighty. Harry laughed, and I looked at him suprised. To get him to laugh was something very rare, and something to be appreciated. "OK, Serenea, you got me there. It just seems that I am so much older than you at times." he said, smiling.
"Yea but the Seasonal are alot older the you, me and the rest of the Ronins combind." I said and looked over my shoulder to make sure none of them was in hearing range remembering what happen last time I said something like that. "True. If you don't feel comfortable talking to Kayura about it, why not ask one of the other Seasonals, Maybe they know something about it?" Harry suggested, his face taking on its usual serious look. "Yea right. I'll talk to Kayura." I said but I frowned. I wasn't comfortable talking about it period, but I had no choice.
"Hey, if you want, I'll come along with you. That way you won't have to talk to her by yourself, and maybe I can help draw out some details that might help." Harry offered seeing the look on my face. "Thanks. Let go before something else happens." I said as we walked to where Kaurya was. Kayura was in one of the tents, changing into some more comfortable modren clothing compared to the robes that she normally wore, when the two of us knocked on the tent to request entrence. When she was done dressing she let the two in. I shifted my weight nrevously. "Kayura it's about the temple I told you about." I said, she nodded and I thought of a way to explain something I didn't even understand then a idea came to me. "Kayura, is there any way that we can establish a link between the three of us? That way I can draw a picture of the temple in the air, and answer questions a lot easier than if I have to answer them out loud all the time?" I suggested.
Kaurya bit her lip. " Maybe but we need one more person. Your armor is a Counterpart of a leadering armor so I think we need another preson in here so things don't go wrong." "You want to bring Ryo in on this? I don't think so Kayura. I'd rather have Harry, Sage, or even one of the others in on this than Ryo." I said to the last member of the Ancient clan. I was afraid that if Ryo and I start working in close range like that, our feelings for each other will interfere with the work that we need to do with Kayura.
"I disagree Serenea. If your armor and Ryo's are connected, maybe the power of those two armors, combined with the ancient staff, might help things out. Now stop being so stubborn, ok?" suggested Harry, I nodded relantutly knowing I wasn't getting out of this one. Kayura called Ryo in there and got ready to establish a link. Ryo arrived a few minutes later. "Why did you ask to see me Kayura?" he politely inquired. "Serenea and Harry suggested that a link be established to help draw out what this temple looked like. Since it reacted to her armor so powerfully, she was hoping that I might be able to identify it from the image drawn out by the power of the armors." she answered.
Ryo thought for a moment. " Okay." He said and Kaurya got ready to establish the link. As the link was established, the three other people in the tent could see the temple from my viewpoint: There was columns and the stairs leading up to the main enterence of the temple. The temple was old, a thousands years maybe more but looked in very good shape other then the plants that grew on the sides of the and a few cracks in walls. As I stepped up to the doorway the eyes of two stone gaurds lit up and wacthed me as they raised their weapons. But they paused and seeing I was a Ronin allowed me to enter. There was a hallway, the walls was made of stone with a few cracks in them and along the walls was more gaurds but these was in armor, they also wacthed me but did not move. There was two gaint rooms both made of stone, in one was scrolls in an anicent languge.
Harry was amazed at the sight of the temple. "That place is amazing! I've seen pictures of many places around the world, but I've never seen anything like this before." he said. I nodded feeling out of breath. " Yep I know. It was so much like the dream I thought I was dreaming or something. I think someone or something wanted me to find that temple."
"But who would want you to find that place?" asked Harry. "Perhaps the Ancient meant for you to find it." suggested Ryo, Kayura nodded. "It is possible. There are many things that the Ancient kept to himself." she quietly stated. "Kayura did the armors have other bearers before us? I think I remember you telling me Hairel was the frist wearer of Wildfire and Inferno. Did my armor also had a bearer before me?" "Yes there was. Your armor was the only one of the Counterparts that showed up to help the Ronins fight Talpa. Right before Kima the frist wearer of the armor died she said ' My succeor will find both of them and contorl the armors.' I think she meant the armor of Icefire but said two armors instead of one like there really is." "Then perhaps, there is another armor besides the Icefire armor!" exclaimed Harry, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I doubt it. I would have found it or it found me if there was." I said remembering the armor of Icefire had found me.
"If there is another armor, perhaps there is something at the temple that may point the way." stated Kayura. "Until we arrive there, we won't know. Could you please show us more, Serenea?" asked the last of the Ancient clan. I nodded and focused on the temple again but this time with diffcultly. "What's wrong Serenea?" asked Harry noticing that I was having trouble bringing the image into focus. "I don't know, hold on." Harry and Kayura both waited patiently, while Ryo looked on with worry. What's wrong with her? Could something be blocking her from remembering what she saw there?
Someone wacthed me. " No Icefire this time you can't do it alone." The woman wacthed me try again. "Did you heard me!? You can't do it alone! You know damm well Wildfire is the only one who can help you! Now stop being so stubbron!" "Yikes!" I jerked back at the voice yelling at me " What the %$^ was that?" I asked suprised. Kayura's head snapped up. "Someone or something is trying to block your memories Serenea. Perhaps if you combined your power with either Ryo or Harry, we can break the barrier and find the answers that we seek." stated the bearer of the ancient staff.
I nodded. "Maybe." I gave Ryo a worried glance, I didn't want what was blocking the memory was getting really anger while he also in the link. Ryo moved closer to me, while Harry moved closer to Kayura. "I'm going to keep an eye on things. I have a hunch that things are about to get nasty and I want to be ready just in case." he said, keeping an eye open for trouble. I nodded parying it won't get as bad as I think it would, I tried again on my own but agian it didn't work. "Stubbron child, she's too much like me." Said the woman to the Anceint who was also wacthing from the spirit realm as they wacthed us get ready to combind our power. Kayura was shocked! " The Ancient is trying to block us from finding out! I don't know why, but he is." she said, as she motioned the two Ronins together.
Ryo and I moved together to try and break the barrier. Suddenly, a flash of light occured, and a mixture of fire and ice flared out from between the two of us. I could see the memory again but it was hard. Why are they blocking it. Wait they? Yes there is two blocking the memory. I thought and almost had a heart attack when I heard another voice. I know Serenea. Wait! You heard me? Ryo how can you hear me? I guess it because of the combinding of our powers. He said then the memory came to me compeltely with other memories, it was memories I wish I didn't see, Ryo's memories. I saw the battles with the rest of the Ronin Warriors against Talpa, including the first use of the Inferno Armor, and the stress that leadership weighed upon Ryo.
Then I was back in the temple I looked at the scroll trying to read it but then a flash of light caught my eye. "What the?" I asked and moved to where the flash came from. Then I saw a black head woman with shocking green eyes. She was in the armor of Icefire! She was battleing the warlords winning many of her battles agansit them but when the Ronins showed up she left, she didn't want them to know her. But later she met and fought along side the Ronins, she stay around Hairel but then when he died and Talpa left she kept on fighting but she was never the same since Hairel died. "Oh no." I said coming out of the link and sat down qiuck as a fit of dizziness came over me.
"I saw little too much this time." I said qiuetly. "Who was that woman?" asked Ryo, although he had a hunch who it was. "Was it who I think it was Kayura? Was that Kima, the original bearer of the Icefire Armor?" I asked in a hushed voice. "Yes. Kima, Hariel's sister." Kayura said I gulpped taking a few deep breaths to steady my nevres I saw everything about Kima, her family, her life before and after she recived her armor, her death and I saw Ryo's battles, fears, everything he felt and faced in the Dynasty Wars. In other ways, I saw way too much.
"Hariel had a sister?!" said Ryo, in a voice that held both question and wonder. "Yes, he did. Why do you ask?" said Kayura. "Because if Hariel could use two armors, Wildfire and Inferno, there could be a correlation between Icefire and the Inferno armor: perhaps another armor that is hidden in the temple or mentioned in those scrolls." mused Ryo. " Then perhaps there is another armor out there." said Kayura. "And if it is out there, we need to find it before the Dynasty does." said a grim faced Harry, almost reading the minds of all those in the tent. I felt sick to my stomach at that. If there another armor and if it anything like Inferno I was in deep trouble. "If it's in the temple Arco and the Dynasty won't be able to get it. It safe so we could sit up a base camp there." I said qiuetly thinking. "Why do you say that?" asked Harry and Ryo. "Those gaurds almost tore me limb from limb. And I a feeling the Ancient and Kima made sure no one from the Dynasty could get in it. I'm willing to bet there some spells there."
"That sounds interesting Serenea. I feel that this temple would make a good base to strike against the Dynasty. And with the staff of the Ancient, we should be allowed to enter and leave the temple without worry." Kayura said. "I have one question Kayura: How are we going to get there?" asked Harry, his question based on practicallity. "I'll lead you guys there." I said looking away outside the tent. Everyone looked at me with surprise. "YOU know how to get to that temple? I thought that you said the last time you were there, you almost got torn limb from limb. What makes you so sure that we will get there in one piece?" asked a worried Harry. " I tripped a few booby traps. But other then that and the gaurds I think we'll be able to get in. I know what to wacth out for so we won't trip the same tarps and the gaurds already seem to know who I am so I'll probaly be able to get in easy."
That calmed Harry down. "We do have one other problem: How to get there. I know that Kayura can teleport us with the staff, but how many can she take at one time, and what about all of our gear? We need some transport, and we need to arrange it as soon as possible if we are going to that temple." stated my mentor. " We could always walk it's not too far from here." I said to them. "Considering the shape of the team, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for Serenea to take one or two others to the site. That way they can prepare for the others to arrive, and help get things ready in case we have any Warlord trouble between now and our arrival there." said Kayura. "Yea but if I see Koga ..... " Ryo made a violent motion in the air. "You and me both." I muttered as we all went to tell the others.
As we exited the tent, Harry moved next to me. "You're sure that you can get us to that temple in one piece? And what's going on with you and Ryo. The two of you seem awfully friendly lately." he said. "No we haven't been. And I'm sure I'll get you guys there in one piece because I'm going first to set off the booby traps if there any new ones." I said "OK, OK, just don't get yourself in an uproar Serenea. I just worry about you that's all. You're my protegee." And like a daugter to me. He thought as he walked to the rest of the team. " Thanks fath.... I mean Harry." Did I almost call him my father!? Oh boy, he'ld have a heart attack if I called him that. Even if he is like a father to me.
"He also suspecting?" Ryo asked moving closer to me but we both moved out of the sight of the team. "Yep. Let me guess Kaurya asked what was going on between us?" Ryo nodded. "Then we had better tell them, or else they are going to blab to the entire camp. And we can't have that." suggested Ryo. "Don't worry I don't think they will tell for a while anyway. By then we may be ready to tell the others." I said looking up at Ryo from where I had just sat. Ryo nodded, and then we proceeded to pick out those that would acompany us on the first trip to the temple: Sage, Rowen, Sheckmet, Cale and Anubis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Icefire here, frist thing I like to say I don't own Ronin Warriors. Seacond I like to say this story isn't just mine, it aslo belongs to my friend and panter Harry since he and I are cowriting this story. Harry helping me alot in this story so he desevre the cerdit too. Tell us what you think about the story.
I almost feel sorry for Koga after Serenea and the others was done with him .... almost. Serenea gave her last goodbyes to Corin and the others find out about the temple Serenea found during the time Ryo was gone. But what else is she hiding? And why did it take both Ryo's and Serenea's power to competle the memory? It looks like you have to find out in Chapter 18: Kima
My partner's email adress is harryV3rd@hotmail.com but I ask any flames will be directed towards me, my adress is icefire_lady_warrior_of_hope@yahoo.com
I must be dreaming but if it is a dream don't wake me up. I thought as I returned the kiss but then I heard someone enter. "Uh oh ... hello ....um ... Sage." I said Sage stared in shock at both me and Ryo, then he reliazed what was going on. " You two? I can't believe it! I came in here to tell you both it time to eat and ..." He stared in disbelif. Ryo turned toward Sage, and gave him a look that would put Talpa on ice.
"If you so much as breath a word of this to anyone ... well, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, when Serenea and I catch up with you, if you get my drift." said the Ronin leader. Sage stoped staring and getting what Ryo said left. " What should we do about the others? Kayura is suspecting." I said. " We deny everything untill we're ready to tell them." Ryo said, I smiled up at him and we both walked out of the tent separtly.
"What happen? Sage came tearing out of the tent like there was no tommorw." Rowen asked me after I came out about five mintues after Ryo. " Oh I don't know." I said hoping my voice my sounded normal. "Well, maybe I should have a chat with him, and find out what the problem is." said the Ronin of Life. " Is there something going on between the two of you that we should know about?" Cale asked. "Not that I know of. Ryo is there something going on between us that they should know?" I asked. " Nope, nothing going on that they should know about." Ryo said and gave me a small smile I didn't think the others saw it.
Cale took off, muttering to himself, while Ryo gave me a look that said: We need to be careful until we are ready to tell the rest. I nodded then something came to my mind. " Harry where did you buried Corin?" I asked choking slighty on the lump in my thoart, Harry told me and I left to go there. As I left for the gravesite, I was followed by my mentor and friend. She shouldn't be going there alone. Something like this should be shared with a friend. And that young man was someone who needed friends. he thought to himself as he followed me to the gravesite.
I kneeled infront of the grave when I came to it. " I came to do as I promised you years ago. I have fallen in love and the feeling is the same with Ryo. I miss you already my friend and I swear I will defeat the Dynasty even if it kills me." I said wiping a few tears away from my eyes. I then saw someone coming, it Harry, I paryed he didn't hear what I said as he walk over to me. "You ok Serenea? I saw you crying by Corin's gravesite, and I thought that if you need a friend, I'm here for you, if you need me." he said, offering his support to his young protegee. I smiled sadly. " I'm okay. It just.... Why?" I let my question hang in the air but it clear. Why did he have to died?
"Sometimes, we can't save the ones that we love. We try to, but we just can't. I could tell that Corin was a close friend, and that you wanted to save him, but sometimes fate won't let us choose what we want to do. He left the Dynasty and died happy, knowing that he had set his life back on the path of goodness. I think that is what he wanted to do." said Harry, in a philosophical state of mind. I shook my head. " But he had so much going for him when he saw the light of his ways. Harry I was the reason he turned to the Dynasty in the first place. My ' death ' was the reason."
"There was nothing you could have done Serenea. He had no way of knowing that you survived the fire at the orphanage. Even if he had known, it would have been hard for the two of you to make a go of it! I know his death hurts, but it would have been a lot harder for the two of you if you had know that each one survived." He said. " What do you mean?" I asked. "If Arco had known you was also an armor bearer like Corin, you both would have been targets for attacks by the Dynasty and at that young age you might have fallen for their tricks. In a way, it was better that neither one of you knew that other was alive." remarked Harry.
I nodded and stood to say goodbye and leave. "If you wish, I would be glad to accompany you back to camp." Harry offered, trying to be supportive of me, I nodded. "Goodbye Corin. Say hi to Kat for me." I said and with tears in my eyes I walked back to camp with Harry. " Now, my young protegee, we need to check on Ryo, and start planning our next move, now that we know that the Dynasty has no plans for fighting fair." said Harry, as the headed back to camp.
When they get back to camp Kento rushed over and whispered something to Harry. Harry's eyes widen and he nodded then followed Kento. "You ok Serenea?" Ryo asked, as he came over to me and held me next to him. "Yes, just a little bit down after seeing Corin's grave site, thats all." I replied. While holding on to Ryo, I noticed that Ryo was manuvering me away from an area of the camp. "Ryo, are you trying to keep me from seeing?" I asked, Ryo looked nervous. " Um no." He said but Ryo is a treibble liar. I tried to move over to the others who were sourrounding something but Ryo stopped me. "It's best that you don't see this Serenea. All it will do is get you more upset than you already are!" Ryo exclaimed.
I wasn't listening, I slipped out of Ryo's grasp to see Harry, Saber, Kento and the Seasonal warriors at the far end of the camp with what looked like one of the Warlords tied up. Koga was bleeding from wounds inflicted by the Seasonals: Anubis had hit him with a fist, Dais had used morning stars, Cale had used his sure kill as had Sheckmet. Kento was using his bo to inflict even more, as I heard them say: "You caused pain to Serenea, and caused the death of Corin! For that, you must pay!"
But they all heard someone yell: What in the name of the mortal world?! And saw me, my anger and hate fulled eyes was on Koga. " I thought you wouldn't let her see him Wildfire!" Cale yelled. "She had differnt plans." Ryo yelled back I was about to help the others but something Corin told me once stopped me. Taking a deep breath to not let my emotions get the best of me, I rushed up. "You can't kill him. That would make us no better than the warlords!" I said and stepped infornt of Koga. "Guys calm down! I want vengence as much as you do, but I don't want to harm Serenea just to take out a warlord!" replied Harry.
I looked at the warlord with digust and haterd but I knew to not act on it. "He's scum and he desevres to died but... if we kill him we are no better then the Dynasty, " I said to the others. "Do what you will with him but don't kill him, I won't let you stoop to the warlords or the Dynasty's level." I said clamly as I could. They all nodded and I stepped out of the way to let them deliver Koga's punshiment, Kento stepped up first. "You caused Serenea a great deal of pain. For that, you will suffer!" Kento raised his fist and punched Koga in the stomach. I wacthed showing no expression or emoition as long as they didn't kill him I didn't care, I just won't let them stoop to Koga's level.
I looked in the dircetion of Corin's grave and I bit down the anger and sadness I felt. Corin I know you would do the same thing so I won't let them kill him. But he will suffer for his crimes. After Kento, Anubis stepped up. "Honor would normally require a life for a life, but for Serenea's sake, I will hold off on killing you." Anubis sent a punch into the temple area of the Koga's head. I looked up at Anubis and without a word thanked him, Sheckmet was next. He didn't say anything, but just laid a blow to the rib area. I wacthed and winced slighty knowing that had to hurt, I knew that personally.
Cale was next, he summoned his darkness, and said. " This is what you would be experiencing if I had my way. Think about that before you go out and hurt anyone else!" he snarled as his foot hit Koga's stocmach. Maybe the guys was right in not want me to wacth this. I thought as I wacthed feeling sick to my stomach. Was it digust for Koga? Or sadness for Corin? I decied digust for Koga as the darkness started to fade. The next one up was Dais. "Be grateful that we don't kill for sport, otherwise you would have been hunted down like the dog you are!" And with that, he hit the left rib area. Harry stepped up next. "As a medical doctor, I know my way around the human body. I could do any number of things to hurt you. As it is, I would suggest that you think on that before I turn you over to Serenea." said my mentor. I look up at this, I wanted to beat the living daylight out of this guy I was afaird my anger may get out of contorl and I might kill him. But I kept this to myself and waited.
Then when Harry steped back I stepped up. "You killed my dearest friend. You caused me grief and anguish. For that, you should die, but for Corin I won't kill you. Instead, I'll just let you know why you don't mess with a Ronin!" I said as I deliverd a swift kick to Koga to the place where no man likes to be hit! I backed up, and did a spin kick, with my foot hitting Koga in the stomach. As I punch Koga sqaure in the jaw, Anubis turned to Saber beside him. "That really had to hurt. I remember when she punched me and that was on accident it really has to hurt on purpose." He said wacthing.
Saber nodded. "I've rarely seen her this mad at anyone. Koga is going to be very sore and very depressed, if we allow this to continue." "Of course we allow it so. It is his punshiment and Serenea has the right to." Anubis said wacthing him kick Koga in the face causeing him to spit blood. "Yes, but we might want to leave him alive to send a message back to his master, that we don't take kindly to those who break their word to us." "Good point but let her contiune, she will stop when it is time." Anubis said as I laid in multiple kicks and punches to Koga until I was starting to tired out.
I was shaking with anger and I slapped Koga hard enough to draw blood. "Remeber this Koga, I kept you alive because I nor the rest of the Ronin are like you. Remember this well Koga." I hissed and before I lost it, I left Koga tied and step out of the cricle. " Send him back to the Dynasty, Arco will deal with him for failing and the other warlords will give it too him." I said and walked qiuckly away before anyone could say a word to me or follow me. Cye looked at Harry who shook his head and motion for Cye to let me go. As I walked my thought dwelled on Corin and Koga. He desreves to die but Corin if you was alive you won't have let me kill him. I thought as I walked into the training area without knowing I had gone that far. I was at the edge of the training grounds when I sat down for a while to rest and to think.
Kento looked at Koga with disgust as I left. "You just better be glad that Serenea knows better then to act on all her emotions. Otherwise you would be deader than dead." A look of horror came from Koga buit he qiuckly hid it with confident. "You Ronins are foolish she will surrend her armor to the Dynasty sooner or later...." All he saw was a red blur and Ryo hit him so hard Koga was nearly knocked out. But a moment later, Koga was let go and he teleported back to the Dynasty. I had pulled a disappering act, while the rest of the team began to prepare strategy for the upcoming battle. The team was torn apart, Harry and the Seasonals were arguing about whether to go after the Warlords on their turf, while the guys were still opposed to an all out assault on the Dynasty's home turf.
When I came to the camp and heard the agureing I tried to ingore it but it got too much so I went to find Kaurya. "Oh boy I wish I knew what to do. Maybe Kaurya knows but if she doesn't Ancient help us." I said. The noise finally got loud enough to disturb Kayura. What are they arguing about? She thought to herself, as she headed toward the argument and I met her. When I told her about Koga and what was happening now, she nodded thinking. "Kayura what do you think we should do?" I asked her. "Both sides are correct." She said after giving it some thought. "While we cannot hope to defeat the Dynasty on its own home turf, we cannot stand back and allow them to run roughshod over us. We need to start doing hit and run tactics on them." she said.
"Hit and run tactics?" I asked I wasn't a expert of fighting tactics but I knew enough to suvirve. "By that, I mean that we attack them, and then return here. It will take them some time to gather the resources to enter this realm. Once we have that figured out, we can attack them at that point." she said, I nodded. "Just make sure none of us get caught. What about Mia and Yuli?" I asked, I didn't want anymore of my friends dieing. Yuli was like a little brother to me while Mia was a friend. Harry stood up and came over to us. " It would be best to send them someplace that the Dynasty has never been to before, where they can be safe, in case anything goes wrong." he suggested. "But where?" Kayura asked but then after a moment's hestaint I spoke up. "I think I know of place. It is protected from the Dynasty, that was made sure a long time ago. If we fail or something goes wrong the Dynasty won't be able to get them."
Ryo turned toward me, intrigued by my suggestion. "What is this place that you have in mind Serenea?" He gently urged. "It's a old temple. I discovered once and my armor started reacting when I approched it. It protected from the Dynasty by gaurds. Believe me, they nearly killed me when they saw my armor but luckly they saw I was a Ronin and allowed me in. I think Mia and Yuli maybe able to hide there." Kayura nodded. "That sounds like a good place for them to hide at. We can even use it as a base of operations for our strikes against the Dynasty." she said. I nodded and sighing in relief. I didn't want them to ask why I haven't told then before hand or how I found this temple.
As the meeting broke up, Harry moved over to me. "How did you find this temple? And how come you never mentioned it until now?" he politely asked me. I sighed too soon. I thought. "Well, I had to swear not to tell you guys unless it was a serious matter. And I found one day when I was expoling." I said truthfully. "Was this temple somehow involved with, " and Harry dropped his voice before continuing " The Ancient?" he asked. " I'm not sure. I'll tell you one thing my armor reacted big time to it. And I got this weird feeling." "What sort of weird feeling?" Harry asked, trying to figure out what was going on. " I felt like some part of me belonged there. Like I been there before." I said a bit bewildered.
"But you know so little about Japan before you and your father left for Chiago and you were sent to the orphanage. How could this temple mean so much to you?" asked Harry, with wonder and astonishment in his voice. "How should I know? I told you I felt like it but I never atucally been there before. It was weird because the night before I had a dream, the temple was in it. I think someone or something wanted me to find it." I said.
"Maybe you should describe this temple to Kayura. With her knowledge, and the staff, she might be able to shed some light on the subject, if you know what I mean, kiddo." he responded, trying to lighten the mood in the tent a little. "Don't call me kiddo, oh fearless one, you're not that old." I smiled slighty. Harry laughed, and I looked at him suprised. To get him to laugh was something very rare, and something to be appreciated. "OK, Serenea, you got me there. It just seems that I am so much older than you at times." he said, smiling.
"Yea but the Seasonal are alot older the you, me and the rest of the Ronins combind." I said and looked over my shoulder to make sure none of them was in hearing range remembering what happen last time I said something like that. "True. If you don't feel comfortable talking to Kayura about it, why not ask one of the other Seasonals, Maybe they know something about it?" Harry suggested, his face taking on its usual serious look. "Yea right. I'll talk to Kayura." I said but I frowned. I wasn't comfortable talking about it period, but I had no choice.
"Hey, if you want, I'll come along with you. That way you won't have to talk to her by yourself, and maybe I can help draw out some details that might help." Harry offered seeing the look on my face. "Thanks. Let go before something else happens." I said as we walked to where Kaurya was. Kayura was in one of the tents, changing into some more comfortable modren clothing compared to the robes that she normally wore, when the two of us knocked on the tent to request entrence. When she was done dressing she let the two in. I shifted my weight nrevously. "Kayura it's about the temple I told you about." I said, she nodded and I thought of a way to explain something I didn't even understand then a idea came to me. "Kayura, is there any way that we can establish a link between the three of us? That way I can draw a picture of the temple in the air, and answer questions a lot easier than if I have to answer them out loud all the time?" I suggested.
Kaurya bit her lip. " Maybe but we need one more person. Your armor is a Counterpart of a leadering armor so I think we need another preson in here so things don't go wrong." "You want to bring Ryo in on this? I don't think so Kayura. I'd rather have Harry, Sage, or even one of the others in on this than Ryo." I said to the last member of the Ancient clan. I was afraid that if Ryo and I start working in close range like that, our feelings for each other will interfere with the work that we need to do with Kayura.
"I disagree Serenea. If your armor and Ryo's are connected, maybe the power of those two armors, combined with the ancient staff, might help things out. Now stop being so stubborn, ok?" suggested Harry, I nodded relantutly knowing I wasn't getting out of this one. Kayura called Ryo in there and got ready to establish a link. Ryo arrived a few minutes later. "Why did you ask to see me Kayura?" he politely inquired. "Serenea and Harry suggested that a link be established to help draw out what this temple looked like. Since it reacted to her armor so powerfully, she was hoping that I might be able to identify it from the image drawn out by the power of the armors." she answered.
Ryo thought for a moment. " Okay." He said and Kaurya got ready to establish the link. As the link was established, the three other people in the tent could see the temple from my viewpoint: There was columns and the stairs leading up to the main enterence of the temple. The temple was old, a thousands years maybe more but looked in very good shape other then the plants that grew on the sides of the and a few cracks in walls. As I stepped up to the doorway the eyes of two stone gaurds lit up and wacthed me as they raised their weapons. But they paused and seeing I was a Ronin allowed me to enter. There was a hallway, the walls was made of stone with a few cracks in them and along the walls was more gaurds but these was in armor, they also wacthed me but did not move. There was two gaint rooms both made of stone, in one was scrolls in an anicent languge.
Harry was amazed at the sight of the temple. "That place is amazing! I've seen pictures of many places around the world, but I've never seen anything like this before." he said. I nodded feeling out of breath. " Yep I know. It was so much like the dream I thought I was dreaming or something. I think someone or something wanted me to find that temple."
"But who would want you to find that place?" asked Harry. "Perhaps the Ancient meant for you to find it." suggested Ryo, Kayura nodded. "It is possible. There are many things that the Ancient kept to himself." she quietly stated. "Kayura did the armors have other bearers before us? I think I remember you telling me Hairel was the frist wearer of Wildfire and Inferno. Did my armor also had a bearer before me?" "Yes there was. Your armor was the only one of the Counterparts that showed up to help the Ronins fight Talpa. Right before Kima the frist wearer of the armor died she said ' My succeor will find both of them and contorl the armors.' I think she meant the armor of Icefire but said two armors instead of one like there really is." "Then perhaps, there is another armor besides the Icefire armor!" exclaimed Harry, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I doubt it. I would have found it or it found me if there was." I said remembering the armor of Icefire had found me.
"If there is another armor, perhaps there is something at the temple that may point the way." stated Kayura. "Until we arrive there, we won't know. Could you please show us more, Serenea?" asked the last of the Ancient clan. I nodded and focused on the temple again but this time with diffcultly. "What's wrong Serenea?" asked Harry noticing that I was having trouble bringing the image into focus. "I don't know, hold on." Harry and Kayura both waited patiently, while Ryo looked on with worry. What's wrong with her? Could something be blocking her from remembering what she saw there?
Someone wacthed me. " No Icefire this time you can't do it alone." The woman wacthed me try again. "Did you heard me!? You can't do it alone! You know damm well Wildfire is the only one who can help you! Now stop being so stubbron!" "Yikes!" I jerked back at the voice yelling at me " What the %$^ was that?" I asked suprised. Kayura's head snapped up. "Someone or something is trying to block your memories Serenea. Perhaps if you combined your power with either Ryo or Harry, we can break the barrier and find the answers that we seek." stated the bearer of the ancient staff.
I nodded. "Maybe." I gave Ryo a worried glance, I didn't want what was blocking the memory was getting really anger while he also in the link. Ryo moved closer to me, while Harry moved closer to Kayura. "I'm going to keep an eye on things. I have a hunch that things are about to get nasty and I want to be ready just in case." he said, keeping an eye open for trouble. I nodded parying it won't get as bad as I think it would, I tried again on my own but agian it didn't work. "Stubbron child, she's too much like me." Said the woman to the Anceint who was also wacthing from the spirit realm as they wacthed us get ready to combind our power. Kayura was shocked! " The Ancient is trying to block us from finding out! I don't know why, but he is." she said, as she motioned the two Ronins together.
Ryo and I moved together to try and break the barrier. Suddenly, a flash of light occured, and a mixture of fire and ice flared out from between the two of us. I could see the memory again but it was hard. Why are they blocking it. Wait they? Yes there is two blocking the memory. I thought and almost had a heart attack when I heard another voice. I know Serenea. Wait! You heard me? Ryo how can you hear me? I guess it because of the combinding of our powers. He said then the memory came to me compeltely with other memories, it was memories I wish I didn't see, Ryo's memories. I saw the battles with the rest of the Ronin Warriors against Talpa, including the first use of the Inferno Armor, and the stress that leadership weighed upon Ryo.
Then I was back in the temple I looked at the scroll trying to read it but then a flash of light caught my eye. "What the?" I asked and moved to where the flash came from. Then I saw a black head woman with shocking green eyes. She was in the armor of Icefire! She was battleing the warlords winning many of her battles agansit them but when the Ronins showed up she left, she didn't want them to know her. But later she met and fought along side the Ronins, she stay around Hairel but then when he died and Talpa left she kept on fighting but she was never the same since Hairel died. "Oh no." I said coming out of the link and sat down qiuck as a fit of dizziness came over me.
"I saw little too much this time." I said qiuetly. "Who was that woman?" asked Ryo, although he had a hunch who it was. "Was it who I think it was Kayura? Was that Kima, the original bearer of the Icefire Armor?" I asked in a hushed voice. "Yes. Kima, Hariel's sister." Kayura said I gulpped taking a few deep breaths to steady my nevres I saw everything about Kima, her family, her life before and after she recived her armor, her death and I saw Ryo's battles, fears, everything he felt and faced in the Dynasty Wars. In other ways, I saw way too much.
"Hariel had a sister?!" said Ryo, in a voice that held both question and wonder. "Yes, he did. Why do you ask?" said Kayura. "Because if Hariel could use two armors, Wildfire and Inferno, there could be a correlation between Icefire and the Inferno armor: perhaps another armor that is hidden in the temple or mentioned in those scrolls." mused Ryo. " Then perhaps there is another armor out there." said Kayura. "And if it is out there, we need to find it before the Dynasty does." said a grim faced Harry, almost reading the minds of all those in the tent. I felt sick to my stomach at that. If there another armor and if it anything like Inferno I was in deep trouble. "If it's in the temple Arco and the Dynasty won't be able to get it. It safe so we could sit up a base camp there." I said qiuetly thinking. "Why do you say that?" asked Harry and Ryo. "Those gaurds almost tore me limb from limb. And I a feeling the Ancient and Kima made sure no one from the Dynasty could get in it. I'm willing to bet there some spells there."
"That sounds interesting Serenea. I feel that this temple would make a good base to strike against the Dynasty. And with the staff of the Ancient, we should be allowed to enter and leave the temple without worry." Kayura said. "I have one question Kayura: How are we going to get there?" asked Harry, his question based on practicallity. "I'll lead you guys there." I said looking away outside the tent. Everyone looked at me with surprise. "YOU know how to get to that temple? I thought that you said the last time you were there, you almost got torn limb from limb. What makes you so sure that we will get there in one piece?" asked a worried Harry. " I tripped a few booby traps. But other then that and the gaurds I think we'll be able to get in. I know what to wacth out for so we won't trip the same tarps and the gaurds already seem to know who I am so I'll probaly be able to get in easy."
That calmed Harry down. "We do have one other problem: How to get there. I know that Kayura can teleport us with the staff, but how many can she take at one time, and what about all of our gear? We need some transport, and we need to arrange it as soon as possible if we are going to that temple." stated my mentor. " We could always walk it's not too far from here." I said to them. "Considering the shape of the team, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for Serenea to take one or two others to the site. That way they can prepare for the others to arrive, and help get things ready in case we have any Warlord trouble between now and our arrival there." said Kayura. "Yea but if I see Koga ..... " Ryo made a violent motion in the air. "You and me both." I muttered as we all went to tell the others.
As we exited the tent, Harry moved next to me. "You're sure that you can get us to that temple in one piece? And what's going on with you and Ryo. The two of you seem awfully friendly lately." he said. "No we haven't been. And I'm sure I'll get you guys there in one piece because I'm going first to set off the booby traps if there any new ones." I said "OK, OK, just don't get yourself in an uproar Serenea. I just worry about you that's all. You're my protegee." And like a daugter to me. He thought as he walked to the rest of the team. " Thanks fath.... I mean Harry." Did I almost call him my father!? Oh boy, he'ld have a heart attack if I called him that. Even if he is like a father to me.
"He also suspecting?" Ryo asked moving closer to me but we both moved out of the sight of the team. "Yep. Let me guess Kaurya asked what was going on between us?" Ryo nodded. "Then we had better tell them, or else they are going to blab to the entire camp. And we can't have that." suggested Ryo. "Don't worry I don't think they will tell for a while anyway. By then we may be ready to tell the others." I said looking up at Ryo from where I had just sat. Ryo nodded, and then we proceeded to pick out those that would acompany us on the first trip to the temple: Sage, Rowen, Sheckmet, Cale and Anubis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Icefire here, frist thing I like to say I don't own Ronin Warriors. Seacond I like to say this story isn't just mine, it aslo belongs to my friend and panter Harry since he and I are cowriting this story. Harry helping me alot in this story so he desevre the cerdit too. Tell us what you think about the story.
I almost feel sorry for Koga after Serenea and the others was done with him .... almost. Serenea gave her last goodbyes to Corin and the others find out about the temple Serenea found during the time Ryo was gone. But what else is she hiding? And why did it take both Ryo's and Serenea's power to competle the memory? It looks like you have to find out in Chapter 18: Kima
My partner's email adress is harryV3rd@hotmail.com but I ask any flames will be directed towards me, my adress is icefire_lady_warrior_of_hope@yahoo.com