Destiny (Ronin/Witchblade
Crossover)
By: Yin-Yang & JanimeLee
~Chapter Three~
The sound of metal striking was heard above all the rest of the sounds of the battlefield being waged between four armored figures and an army of demonic creatures. It wasn't clear why they were battling but the four warriors were giving it all they could to stop the Army of Darkness. A figure in green and red armored that looked very snake-like hissed angrily, unleashing two of his six swords and watched as they sliced through some of their opponents. Another one in grayish-pink armor leapt into the arm, releasing six sharp blades at once. They immediately cut through all that strayed in the weapon's path before being pulled back. A large sickle secured to a thick chain tore up the ground, sending a shock wave of power through the army and tore them into even smaller groups. The figure wearing a type of cloak/jacket over his dark armor pulled it back, catching in easily and with a battle cry hurled the clawed end of a chain at another enemy. The fourth figure in his brownish armor with the black horns literally clawed his way through the heart of the army, the claws on his left hand leaving deep gashes in their wake, occasionally using a slim no-dachi attached to his back.
Dini walked along the ridge above the scene of carnage below. The bracelet on her left wrist glowed.
"What is this?" Dini couldn't help asking herself out loud. She looked at the spider that encircled her wrist and covered it with her other hand.
The strange gray-pink armored figure suddenly turned and looked up at her. He raised his hands and removed the helmet.
Dini's eyes grew wide when she saw his face. "Daddy?"
A spear went through his chest and Dini screamed as she watched her father collapse to the blood-soaked ground. The black-cloaked person looming over Dais' body turned to look up at Dini. He merely smiled and walked away as if he never did anything.
Dini stared down in horror at Dais' unmoving form. "DADDY!!!"
Zenida was in a similar predicament as she watched the one wielding the chain leapt up into the air but cried out a warning to him. A soldier managed to strike him from behind once he landed and the helmet went rolling along the ground. Her teal colored eyes widen ass he caught a glimpse of the dark red hair falling past the man's shoulders as she recognized him.
"...daddy...?"
The man managed to rake the sickle down the soldier's body so he fell to the ground in two pieces. He was breathing heavily but slowly turned and looked directly at her. It was indeed Anubis but he looked so different... so very different. As he turned to face forward he dropped his weapon and his hands flew to his throat. Slowly he dropped to his knees then the ground as his life's blood covered his hands.
The dark shadow pulled his sword back, looking at the terrified girl before giving a mock bow and left. Zenida stood there in shock, taking heavy steps to where her father's lifeless body laid. Shaking hands gripped her head tightly before she screamed out for him to come back.
"DADDY DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!!!"
Lupia whirled; looking all around her thinking she heard the cries of her friends but didn't see them. All she saw was the figure slash through the army once again, growling audible like some kind of wolf. She glanced at her wolf bracelet herself, watching at the black gem seem to pulse but her attention was pulled up to meet a horrible sight.
The man in armor was kneeling on one knee, looking at the man who was brought him down and spoke to him in a low voice. The stranger said something back to him, which seemed to make him more upset. He lashed out with his sword only to have it knocked away and had his helmet get severely damaged. Most of it fell to the ground in pieces but he refused to back down. Even as the enemy raised his hand, covered in spike and rammed his fist against the unprotected side of his head.
Lupia screamed in defiance, running to them but it was like she was moving through water. The faster she tried to run the slower it became. So she watched as the stranger left and saw her father's glazed eyes as blood ran from the puncture wounds in his temple mingled with the sweat and dirt on him.
"No... please no dad... No!!!" She shook her head, not wanting to believe this and screamed in defiance as she too fell to her knees. "DDDDDAAAADDDDDDYYYY!!!!!!!!"
Naomi ran through the battlefield, slipping a little from the bloody mud mixture. She didn't want to be here. She could feel the anguish, the lost, and the pain. And she could feel someone enjoying it, taking in every horrid thing that was happening. Up ahead she saw someone kneeling on the ground; she skidded to a halt.
The strange snake-like armored man was wiping his blades on the grass and placed them in their sheaths. He turned around and stared at Naomi. "What are you doing here?" he asked, rising up to his full height.
Naomi blinked at the voice. "Dad?"
Sekhmet removed his helmet. "This is what I wanted to protect you from, Naomi. Forever will blood stain my hands... I don't want it to stain you at all, my daughter."
"This... really happened then?" she asked in a weak voice, looking at the horrid mess of the battlefield. How could something this deadly happen? And over what? What could have possible been worth so much to cause the deaths of so many lives? She visible jumped when an armored hand gently touched her shoulder and just held onto her own father tightly, closing her eyes against the tears as he tried to sooth her fears.
"This is what myself and the others were trying to protect you girls from. You four should be able to live your lives as normal as possible and not go through what we had to," he whispered to her softly, stroking her hair and carefully tighten his arms around her. As he continued to help calm her down he failed to notice as the shadow that had been killing off his friends silently creep up behind them.
"What is worth all this suffering? Why did you have to be pulled into this?"
"Because of what I am wearing. My armor is much more than it appears to be and because of the power it and the others contain a dark force wants it. But... it seems that no matter what we did to try and hide them the armors found new people to wear them. Naomi..." he was going to tell her about the bracelet she wore but suddenly he stiffened and opened his eyes wide. Try as he might he couldn't seem to keep on his feet. He slumped forward a bit in his arms, dropping to his knees.
The shadow person seemed to laugh as he held up a blade covered in blood and lifted his sword high overhead to finish the job once and for all but Naomi screamed for him no and held onto her father tightly. At that moment all four of the bracelets issued a bight light, waking the girls from the nightmares and their fathers as well but it could do nothing as one by one they screamed for their parents, the nightmare still so fresh in their mind and the gems on the bracelets glowing.
"DADDY!"
Dais awoke to the sounds of his daughter's horrified scream. He quickly jumped out of bed and ran to Dini's room.
"Dini!" he ran to her and shook her awake. Crying, Dini hugged her father. Dais rocked her, telling her everything was all right. Dini hadn't woke up screaming from a nightmare since she was seven
The young girl continued to cling to him tightly, not wanting to let go. The spider continued to shine brightly in the now lit room before it slowly died down. Dais briefly noticed but continued to rock his daughter silently back and forth, whispering to her that everyone was all right and that he wouldn't leave her. He knew it was time she knew just what exactly that bracelet was.
Cale and Liana were both having a hard time trying to calm down their own daughter who couldn't seem to tell who was who. Finally as the light was turned on and she recognized just who was who she launched herself into her parents arms, crying and talking all at once about that nightmare of hers but she wasn't making much sense.
"Lupia here drink this." Cale helped her take a sip of water to hopefully calm her nerves. It helped her calm down but she still looked scared and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"It's okay hon we're here." the older woman spoke comfortly, letting her daughter rest her head on her shoulder and soothingly petted her hair. She looked at Cale who just nodded and wrapped the blanket around her. Looking down the hall h e herd the phone and went to go answer it. He was pretty sure he knew who was calling at this time of night.
"Hello?"
"How's Lupia?" Anubis asked.
"Her mother is calming her down," Cale answered. "Zenida?"
"Just got her to stop screaming a few minutes ago."
"Did you talk to anyone else?"
"I called Dais," Anubis said. "Dini too."
"Shit," Cale muttered under his breath.
"I think all of us can say that," said Anubis. "I'll call Sekhmet."
"No, I'll call him," Cale said. "You take care of Zenida."
"And you take care of Lupia. Be careful."
"You too." Cale pressed the button to disconnect, and then dialed Sekhmet's number.
"You saw me?"
Naomi nodded and sipped her tea. "I have no idea what you were wearing but I think it was some kind of armor."
"Just the two of us?" Sekhmet asked.
"No, I heard Zenida, Dini, and Lupia screaming for their fathers."
The phone rang and Sekhmet got up from the table and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"It's starting," Cale's voice greeted him.
"Damnit. This is something neither of us needs right now." he closed his eyes briefly, leaning against he wall and looked at her teenage daughter who didn't look at him. When he heard her scream he had never been so scared or worried for her safety like this. When she related the dream he wondered just why the hell the damn trinket decided to spring this on them and they didn't realize it until it was too late.
"How's Naomi taking it?" the dark one asked, glancing into his daughter's room and saw that she seemed calmer with her head resting in Liana's lap while she hummed to her softly.
"Okay so far. The others?"
"About the same I guess. I guess it's about time they realize just what this nightmare was all about."
"I agree. I guess tomorrow sometime in the afternoon..."
Naomi silently listened to the phone conversation as she kept her hands wrapped around her tea. No doubt he was talking to one of her uncles and for a moment wondered how her friends were doing. She sighed to herself softly, taking another sip and looked up as her father hung up the phone. "How are the others?"
Sekhmet looked surprised but sat down and took a deep breath. "Alright now that they're awake. Tomorrow all of us are going to help explain maybe why you all had the same dream-"
"Nightmare," she corrected.
"Nightmare." Reaching over he took her hand in his own and gave it a comforting squeeze. "You think you'll be able to sleep the rest of the night with no troubles?"
Naomi shook her head. "Can I stay in your room?" she pleaded with teary eyes.
"All right," Sekhmet nodded. "But if you start to snore-"
"I do not snore," Naomi glared at him. "You of all people should talk."
"I don't snore."
"Sawing fifty logs is what you do."
Sekhmet just shook his head. Naomi went into her room and grabbed her blankets before heading into her father's room.
Sekhmet was already settled in bed and Naomi lay down on the vacant side, wrapping herself in her blankets.
"You look like a cocooned caterpillar," said Sekhmet.
"I like being warm," Naomi said and soon fell asleep.
Silently he watched her sleep in the blankets, smiling he carefully leaned over and kissed her forehead before settling himself on the other side of the bed. The armors were coming back and no doubt with them would come another evil. Maybe even the same one they had fought because they never found the body of him/her. Sighing softly to himself and let his eyes close and was soon asleep.
Anubis stayed sitting up in bed, looking at the stars through the window as he continued to stroke his daughter's fine, lavender colored hair. He had managed to convince her to get some more sleep but she wouldn't unless he was there with her. Zenida took a shaky breath as she held onto a doll he gave her when she was a little girl in comfort.
He smiled softly at the sight, happy that she cherished the doll so much to still sleep with it after all these years. But when he caught sight of the bracelet he frowned. Why did they have to return? Couldn't he or the others get any peace? And why their daughters? They had enough just being teenagers rather then deal with these new sensations on top of it.
~But what about that nightmare? All of us fighting… but dying as well?~ He rubbed his forehead some in irritation and pulled the blanket more around the young girl's shoulders as he settled back. By now the others knew just what happened and they would meet tomorrow to explain just what this was all about. Then he would tell his wife; he wasn't sure if the others would do the same but she had to know. Meditating some he was soon calm enough to sleep the rest of the night away as well.
A silently yet dark figure watched the happening of the household and laughed. It was quiet at first but it continued to grow in volume and seemed to become more crazed as it spread throughout the dark room and seep out. In four homes the girls seemed to have felt this and clung tightly tot heir blankets and fathers, the bracelets growing warm against their skin and soothed comfort to them all.
Cale woke up and held his hand in front of his eyes, defending his vision from the bright early morning rays of the sun. He sat up, yawned and stretched. Then he looked at his wife and daughter, still asleep in the large bed.
Cale had opted to sleep on the couch while Lupia and Liana took his bed. However Lupia's nightmare had disturbed the poor girl so much that she wanted both parents. So all three stayed in the bed like they did when Lupia was a child. The "Sasaki Sandwich" was the name Lupia had said all those years ago.
Liana slowly began to stir and opens her own eyes slowly to adjust to the morning light. Carefully she sat up s not to disturb Lupia and looked over at Cale. "Sleep well?" she asked quietly, running a hand through her short hair so it was free from her face.
"Not really," Cale said, walking over to Liana. "You."
She shook her head. "I haven't been this worried about her in a long time."
"I know."
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure." Cale shook his head.
"You're lying."
"What?"
"Whenever you lie," Liana said, "you look away. That was one thing about you--I could always tell when you lied."
"Oh I'm in big trouble now," Cale grinned and his wife laughed. "Liana, our baby girl needs me. She needs you. She needs us."
"I know, Cale."
"Do you think we can work this out?" he asked hopefully.
Liana leaned over and kissed him. "I know we can," she said, kissing him again.
"You do know that I'm still here, right?" Lupia asked.
Cale laughed softly and leaned down to kiss her on top of her head. "It's something you'll have to get used to then."
She looked up at them and just curled up more under the covers to block out the light.
"You both get some rest while I get breakfast started," Liana smiled and got up but not without giving her family a hug and kiss. Wrapping a robe around herself she head to the kitchen. Lupia curled up against cale and sighed softly.
"Does this mean that the lawyer is not coming into the picture?" Lupia asked.
Cale looked down at his daughter in surprise. "How did you know about that?"
"Overheard you when I was in the bathroom." She looked up at her father. "The insulation there doesn't do much for heat or sound."
He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "If things go well then looks like we might be a family again," he said softly and deep down hoped that it would come true. He loved his family so much he didn't want to lose them again.
"I hope so too," she said and tucked her head under his chin, closing her eyes once more to take a quick nap before breakfast. Cale softly stroked her hair as he decided to stay awake and wonder just how to explain to the two ladies in his life about his dark past.
Delia sighed as she pulled out her house key and unlocked the front door. She was so happy to be home she settled her camera bag on the hallway table and set her bag on the floor before going in search of her much loved family.
She headed for Zenida's room, only to find it empty. Frowning, Delia headed for her bedroom. She smiled when she saw Anubis and Zenida sleeping peacefully; Zenida had hogged the covers leaving her poor father sleeping out in the open.
Not wanting to miss the chance of a memorial photo shot, Delia quickly grabbed her camera. There were a few shots left on the film and she decided that this was the best opportunity to use them.
The flashes from the camera woke her husband and daughter.
"MOM!!!" The older woman barely had time to brace herself as she was nearly tackled by a very happy teenager. Smiling she just hugged her back, happy to see her and hugged Anubis as he wrapped his arms around them also. "You're home! Oh I'm so glad!"
"And I'm glad to see you as well. Both of you." She smiled at them.
"I see you still have some film left," he smiled and gestured to the camera she was still holding.
"I can't resist cute pictures," Delia smiled.
"The wedding pictures?" Zenida asked.
"They're still packed, honey. I'll have then set after lunch."
"Speaking of eating," said Anubis. "How about breakfast?"
"Please," said Delia. "That meal they served us on the plane wasn't enough."
"Just like the food at the cafeteria," Zenida giggled some.
"Zenida why don't you help your mother unpack and I'll get breakfast ready," Anubis smiled and giving them a tight hug headed to the kitchen.
The young lady wordlessly helped her carry her bags to he room and helped her unpack while telling her about her weekend stay with Dini and the others. She had a good time and Delia was happy to her that but could sense that something else happened. Just looking in eh eyes told her that it wasn't good. Sitting next to her on the bed she took her hand in her own and asked if something was wrong.
"Come on," Zenida stood up and walked to the other side of the bed. "Mom, you're over acting."
"Oh no, I'm not." her mother stood up and faced her. "What is going on? Sweetheart, you know you can tell me."
"Not this time," Anubis said from the door. "There is an explanation but... you'll have to wait until this afternoon. We all have to explain."
"Anubis, what?" Delia looked at her husband with concern. "What is it that you have to explain?"
He remained quiet for a few moments, trying to find the words. "My past," said Anubis, and then he went back into the kitchen, leaving his wife and daughter in stunned silence.
Dini was eating a bowl of cereal, watching her Saturday morning cartoons as she was curled up on the sofa. She still remembered the nightmare and refused to talk about it. It was over with and she didn't want to have anything to do with it every again. Sighing she shook her hot pink hair from her face and ate her crunch berries.
Dais watched her and sighed to himself, knowing she wasn't going to like this but she and the others had to know about this. He went to answer the door when he heard someone knocking at the front door. He opened it and smiled as Megumi came in.
"Morning Dais. Brought Dini her books," she said as she set the bag on the floor and noted the worry look in his eye. "Something wrong?"
"Yes and no," Dais said. "We need to talk."
"Is it Dini?" Megumi asked quietly.
"And me."
"And you?"
"My past is catching up to me," Dais told her in a lowered voice. "I need to explain this to you. I'll call you in the afternoon and then you'll understand."
"No, Dais, tell me now," his ex-wife demanded.
"I can't now," he told her. "This afternoon when all of us are together."
"All of us?"
"Please, Megumi. For Dini's sake."
She looked at his face and saw that he was serious. "All right," said Megumi.
"Mom?" Dini walked into the foyer. "What are you doing here?"
"Dropping off your books," her mother nudged the bag with her right foot. "I don't want you rushing through your homework like you always do. And Dini, please clean under your bed."
"It's clean."
"There's a dust bunny factory under there."
Dini stuck her tongue out as she picked up her book bag and went to her room.
"You'll call me later, then?" Megumi looked at her ex-husband.
Dais nodded. "As soon as I talk to the others."
"Don't forget," she warned and on impulse softly kisses his cheek. She looked embarrassed as she stepped back and looked to the side. "I better get going. You can reach me on my cell when you're ready. I'll see you both later." Looking up at him she slowly turned and headed to her car before driving away. Dais stood there, amazed that she had kissed him and just smiled as he closed the door. So far so good.
At another home Naomi slowly opened her eyes and looked around, wondering why she was sleeping in her dad's room when she remembered the nightmare. Sighing to herself she carefully got up so not to disturb her dad and went to the bathroom to wash her face.
As she dried her face with the dark green towel, the phone rang. Naomi ran into the kitchen and answered it before her father would be disturbed. "Hello?"
"Hi, honey."
"Mom, hi, morning. Are you calling from work?"
"I took today off," said Abigail. "So, how was your weekend with your friends?"
As Naomi talked to her mother, Sekhmet walked into the kitchen. He raised his hand next to his ear as if holding a phone. Naomi signaled back it was her mother. Sekhmet nodded and let the two continue to talk.
He knew that Abigail and Naomi were having their share of problems--worse then the problems he had with Abigail when they were still married. But Sekhmet and Naomi were starting over in hopes of being an actually family. As for Abigail...
It won't work, Sekhmet thought. No matter how much you still love her...
"So what are you're plans for today?"
"Dunno maybe go out to the city for a bit and look around." She sat down on the table chair, running a hand through her hair and yawned a bit.
"Long night hon?"
"You have no idea mom," she sighed, resting her elbow on the table and glance at her dad, motioning if he wanted to talk to her some.
Sekhmet nodded.
"Dad wants to talk to you," Naomi handed her father the phone and went to take a shower.
"Morning," greeted Sekhmet
"And how are the two of you getting along?"
"So far, so good."
"Wish I could say the same when she was staying with me," said Abigail. "But she sounds better then the last time we talked.
"It's only a phase." Sekhmet heard the shower water start and then he became serious. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?" he asked.
"No, why?"
"I need to talk to you and Naomi."
"What is it?" Abigail became concerned.
"It's important," said Sekhmet. He called Anubis right after Naomi went to sleep. Anubis had said that he would call everyone to meet so that they could tell their families what the four of them had been involved with so long ago. The last thing any of them wanted was their daughters to be dragged into it.
The older woman stayed quiet for a long time before she could find her voice once more. "where should we meet and what time?"
"Somewhere we won't be disturbed or seen in public. But for now, I guess meet us at the park with the fountain. You... remember that place?"
She smiled a bit at he memory and nodded. "Yes I do. It'll be great to be there again. I take it everyone else will be there also?"
"Right. I'll talk to you later then. And..." he tried to say the words, tried to make them come out but all he could muster was "be careful. Please."
"I will, promise." Slowly they hung up the phones and there was nothing but silence between them.
"You okay?" Naomi asked as she came in with a towel over her head, dressed in a black muscle shirt with a dark green sports bra and stone wash jeans. she dried her hair some more and ran a hand through it to tame it down some as her hair fell past her shoulders.
"Yes and no," her father answered. "Your dream last night-"
"I don't want to remember," Naomi stopped him.
"I know what caused it."
She looked at him, eye wide in doubt and pulled out a chair and placed it before him. "Then tell me. What the hell is going on? ever since the others and I got these bracelets our lives have been turned upside down-" she blinked and looked at the snake bracelet then at him.
Silently he nodded and gestured to the trinket. "It's because of theses things that life hasn't been very kind to any of us." He looked as she suddenly lurched to her feet and looked at him a bit angrily.
"And you're just telling me this now?! Why is so special about these things?! This stupid--snake! killed a man just for robbing!"
"It can do more than kill one person," Sekhmet rose to his feet. "It can kill hundreds, even thousands! Fully armed soldiers cannot withstand its power! And the wearer is just as much as a victim, only an unknowing victim! We were sucked into darkness because of the power that was promised-" He stopped, realizing what he blurted out.
"You wore this thing... and never told me?" she said in a low, hurt tone. sniffing some she pulled the bracelet off and threw it on the table when it bounced a bit and rolled to the edge. "I don't want this power! I don't want to kill people I don't want that!" by now tears had build and were running down her face. "I don't want or ever want any of that I just want you and mom back together so we can be a family like everyone else!!" She clasped her hands to her mouth, surprised at her own words and looked at him with large, tear filled eyes.
Sekhmet looked at his daughter in shock. He guessed that any child whose parents were divorced would want them together, to have things the way they were. But Sekhmet never knew his own parents. They had abandoned him when he was still a baby. He turned from his daughter and looked at the bracelet lying on the table, the snake seemed to be enjoying the fight they were having. Sekhmet frowned at it. Part of him wanted to put the bracelet on, to feel the power he once had back in his control. The other part wanted to throw the damn thing out the window and out of his life. He swatted the mocking trinket off the table and felt mild satisfaction when he heard it hit the floor.
The young girl watched as it rolled under a chair and stopped, the accusing red eyes looking away them ad tried hard to stop the tears as they continued to fall. She grew startled when a hand reached up to brush the tears away and just wrapped her arms around him tightly, seeking comfort from him like she used to all those years ago.
Silently he held her tightly to him, stroking her hair to help calm her down and said nothing at the moment. What could he say in the first place except for one thing.
"I'm sorry... for never telling you this but... we prayed that none of you would ever have to experience what we did. Seems we can't stop destiny no matter how hard we try." He sighed softly and rested her chin on top of her head, rubbing small circles on her back.
Naomi sniffed some, wiping her nose on her hand and closed her eyes as she listen to his heartbeat. "Don't ever do that again. I don't think I could take it... And please." she looked up at him, her eyes a bit sore from the disuse of tears. "Don't tell mom?"
"She has to know."
"Dad, no-"
"Naomi, she must," said Sekhmet. "I want to protect you both from this. And if I'm going to, I have to tell her."
"...Okay." Naomi nodded then gasped.
Sekhmet looked at her and saw her frightened eyes staring at the table. He turned his head and jumped a bit. The bracelet was in the very spot where Naomi had thrown it as if Sekhmet had never pushed it off the table. Even as he pushed her behind him ht bracelet watched them with the ruby red eyes, studying them and letting them know he wasn't to be get rid of so easily.
~End of Chapter Three~