Destiny Chapter Nine, a ronin warriors fanfic

Destiny (Ronin/Witchblade Crossover)
By: Yin-Yang & JanimeLee

~Chapter Nine~

Monday came all too soon for the families but it was there and the girls were getting ready for school. Dini had once again crammed for her homework but had finished it all in due time. Delia opted to take the girls to school and would try to pick them up unless they had after school activities. She looked up from where she was setting the table and said good morning to Zenida who came down in her school uniform. After she had come home they both had a long talk and she looked better.

The young girl kept constantly tugging on the short shirt and sat down. "Why do these things have to be so short?" Zenida asked to no one in particular, leaving her hair loose and nodded a morning to her parents.

"Be glad you're getting an education," Anubis said, turning the page of the newspaper in his hands. "Back then girls weren't permitted to read unless they were of the higher society."

"They joys of living in modern times," Zenida grumbled as she ate her cereal.

"If you want, honey, I could make an adjustment to your uniform skirts sometime this week," said Delia. "I'm off from work until Thursday."

"Alright," Zenida nodded. She glanced at her left wrist, the ogre bracelet still there. Well, I should be glad that he doesn't say anything while I'm in the shower or anything else private, she thought. The gemstone seemed to glow just a bit before dying out. They ate breakfast in silence before they finished and got ready. "See you later dad." Zenida kissed his cheek and grabbing her books headed out the door. Her mother also hugged him good-bye and got in the car, driving to pick the girls up. The first one to get was Dini.

"DAD!!" Dini yelled as she tried to look for her shoes but only found one. "Have you seen my other shoe??"

She hopped around her messy room, throwing her books in her bag and trying to brush her hair all at the same time. She practically tripped over a rubber chicken and hopped out of her room. "Why are shoes so hard to find when I'm in a hurry? It's too early!" she whined.

"Did you look under your bed?" Dais yelled back from the kitchen.

"Yes!"

"Your desk?"

"Yes!"

"Your closet?"

"Yes!"

"How about underneath your recliner?"

Dini quickly slid across the hardwood floor on her knees and peeked under the suggested area. Sure enough, the missing article was there. "Why can't mom ever do that with her keys?" Dini said as she grabbed her other shoe and book bag, and raced to the kitchen.

Dais had already finished making scrambled eggs and toast for both of them; he handed the food-filled plate to his daughter.

"Thanks." She smiled as she shoveled it into her mouth and tried to make sure she had everything. "How come you didn't wake me up earlier?"

"I did and you said you would wake up every time," he countered gently and began eating at a slower pace.

"And you believed me?" She stomped her feet to make sure the shoes were on firmly and tucked her blouse into her skirt before pulling the vest on. Just as she finished she heard the honking car outside and smiled.

"Bye dad! Love you and see you after school." She hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek and dashed off, dragging her books after her as she always did. Eating sugar certain paid off by giving her an extra boost of energy when she was in a hurry. Dais could only smile.

"I'd get you an alarm clock for your birthday," Megumi said as her daughter flung herself into the passenger seat, "but I know for a fact you'd never use it."

"Too true," Dini grunted as she pulled her seatbelt across. She looked down at the spider bracelet on her left wrist. Thankfully, he hadn't been making himself know to her family unless he considered it important. Dini's one fear was that he would say something while sitting on the toilet; she smiled, pretty sure that her friends felt the same way.

"Next stop, Lupia's place." She pulled out of the driveway and headed down the street where the other girls lived. It was almost amazing how close they lived yet you still needed to drive to get to each other's home. She didn't mind since these four were closer than she had ever seen. From the moment they were barely a year old and meet at Day Care they formed a tight bond that no one seemed to understand. And now with the bracelets on... well, you could never out run destiny.

Lupia was barely half dressed and still in bed with her pillow over her head. Her left arm was hanging off her bed, making her oblivious to the world. She hated mornings, they were too early and bright. Something nudged her hand but she ignored it and pulled the black blanket over her head as well.

"Five more minutes..." she yawned and snuggled in more. That when her world literally came crashing down as something yanked the blanket clean off and pulled her to the floor with a loud thump. Angrily she sat up and glared at the thing that woke her up. "What's the big idea?!"

In case you've forgotten you have school and the others are on their way to pick you up, the wolf commented dryly. Of all the bracelets he appeared more in the real world. That and his newest charge kept them both awake by asking endless amount of questions about the bracelet and his life.

"I don't do mornings," Lupia grunted as she finally got to her feet and glared at the huge wolf standing in front of her.

Nor did I, he said. Get going.

"Alright, alright," Lupia said as she walked into the bathroom. "And don't you dare come in."

I always respect a lady's privacy.

Lupia showered and changed as quickly as possible, and was in the kitchen before either of her parents was ready to call her. Liana had spent the night and, if Lupia had been in a better mood, she would have noticed the happier air around her parents.

"He pulled me off the bed," Lupia mumbled as she filled her bowl with cereal.

"At least you got out of bed," Cale grinned, which received him a glare from his daughter.

"Don't start and here. Maybe if you had woken up earlier you wouldn't have to go through that." Liana handed her daughter a glass of grapefruit juice, brushing her hair of soft blue from her eyes as she sat down. "You have all your books and homework?"

"Yep." She swallowed her mouthful and gestured with her head to the leather pack on the sofa. "Wolfie kept bugging me to get it done."

And it didn't take you all night like you complained, the wolf commented and silently entered the room, nodding a polite morning to the parents. He flattened his ears to his skull a bit when he looked at Lupia. Don't call me Wolfie.

She smirked and looked at him. "Why? Wolfie suits you better then Puppy or Dog."

He snorted and looked at Cale, cocking an ear at him. Is she always like this?

"Afraid so," the warlord answered.

"Hardy har," Lupia stuck her tongue out as she took the plate from her mother.

"I know I said no pets," Liana spoke, "but you can keep him."

~What does she mean? ~ The large wolf tilted his head to the left.

"I don't have to feed you, take you for a walk, or clean up after you," Lupia stated.

"And he's out of the way," Cale said.

Wolfie--as he was so charmingly named--just growled softly and flattened his ears to his skull. A car honked outside and after looking through the window revealed it to be the girls. "Gotta jet! Bye mom, bye dad, c'mon Wolfie," she laughed as she hugged both her parents and grabbed her books. Wolfie sighed deeply but return to the bracelet to keep better look out for his newest charge

Cale smiled as he watched his only daughter run out to greet her friends and headed to school. He smiled at Liana and took her hand, letting her sit in his lap and softly kissed her. "Have I told you how much I love you lately?" he asked with a smile.

"No," she responded with a seductive smile, "and you haven't showed me, either."

Cale grinned back at his wife, seeing where this was leading. "I don't have plans today," he said walking his fingers up her arm. "Do you?"

"None at all," she whispered then leaned over and kissed him.

Cale broke away. "As much as I would love to bring new meaning to the phrase, 'cooking in the kitchen'," he said, and motioned his eyes back to the bedroom.

Liana looked at him with an insulted expression, and then slapped his arm playfully. "You're it!" she said and took off down to the bedroom with Cale giving chase.

He just smiled and took off after her, catching up with her and playfully began to tickly her. He enjoyed making her laugh and knew that he would never stop loving her or Lupia. They were his family always. The both of them landed on the bed and he softly kissed her, showing just how much she meant to him in that simple gesture.

Naomi hopped down the living room while trying to adjust her stockings. Her hair was done in a French braid and it fell about an inch past her shoulders and sighed as she entered the dining room. "Morning everyone."

"Morning, hon. What do you want for breakfast?" Abigail asked fro the stove.

"Just my pop tarts; not that hungry." she shrugged her shoulder and popped the pastries into the toaster and hopped onto the counter. "So how'd everyone sleep last night?"

"Pretty good," Sekhmet answered in a casual tone. Abigail smiled, grateful that her back was turned to her daughter as she reached for a small plate from the cabinet.

"Are you coming straight home?" Sekhmet asked. "Or are you going out with the girls?"

"We'll be at Zenida's house after school," Naomi said, grabbing her now toasted pop tarts from the toaster. "Delia had the pictures from her sister's wedding developed."

"That's nice," said Abigail, taking a chair next to Sekhmet. Naomi noticed the closeness. Are you two together again or what? Naomi couldn't help thinking, but decided to stay quiet.

At that moment Ineisha entered the warm atmosphere wearing a thick robe. She nodded her head to them. "Konnichiwa."

"Morning grandma," the teenager smiled and gave her a wave as she tried to eat her breakfast without burning her fingertips.

The older woman took in her attire and the remarkable short skirt. "You're wearing that today?"

"School uniform. Makes me feel like I'm in some Catholic school."

"Except they wear plaid," her mother smiled and led Ineisha to sit at the table and set a warm cup of tea for her. "Is there anything you would like to eat?"

"I'm not sure," Ineisha scratched her neck. "I really don't remember having a decent meal in a long time."

Sekhmet turned his gaze to his mother, letting Ineisha see the look on his face that was pleading with her to say that Reficul at least fed her something while in the dungeon. Noticing her son's worried look, Ineisha touched his arm, comfortingly. "It's nothing like that; I had food in the Dynasty." This seemed to make Sekhmet relax a little and he nodded.

"That's good," was all Naomi trusted herself to say. She chewed on her breakfast and looked out the window to see a champagne color van pull up. "Right on time. Gotta go, bye mom. Dad. Grandma." She gave each of them a hug before heading out with her bag slung over a shoulder. She waved as she made her way over and climbed inside.

Abigail saw Megumi watched from the driver side and drove off before turning to her husband and mother-in-law. "So what shall we do today?" she asked.

"How about when you two are remarrying," Ineisha said.

Abigail paled and Sekhmet gagged on his coffee. "How did you know?" he coughed.

"You can't hide much from me," his mother smiled. "Bonds are so useful."

"Please tell me you didn't-"

"Never with personal and private matters. I would never pry on something like that, my son. But I do know you are back together as Naomi wanted to ask this morning."

"You can hear her mind too?" Sekhmet asked.

"Wearing the bracelet has given you both an extra sense so to speak. Being so new at it she has yet to learn how to shield her mind. Given time and practice she will learn how to protect her own thoughts and read others as well," she explained. "She will be able to talk with the girls in their minds too."

"As long as no one else finds out about it," said Abigail.

"Sometime after school we'll teach her. It can also protect her from picking up any unwanted thoughts that may be directed at her..." Sekhmet said in a low voice, hoping the psychic connection wasn't that strong just yet.

"As long as she doesn't use it to cheat on her exams and homework," Abigail said with a slight smile and sat down at the table, keeping her hands wrapped around her mug of coffee.

The morning went by smoothly, and the girls met up for lunch outside under the sakura tree near the school door.

"So what are we going to do about these guys?" Dini whispered as she tapped the bracelet.

"As long as we're not going swimming in gym class," said Zenida, "I believe we'll be okay."

~Why would that be a problem? ~ asked the ogre.

"We're supposed to take off all jewelry before going into the pool," Naomi said. "So the filter pump doesn't jam."

~No need to worry about us, ~ said the spider, and then the four bracelets disappeared.

"Hey!" Dini blurted. "Where did you-" she stopped as they reappeared.

"Nice trick, Wolfie," Lupia said.

~Don't call me Wolfie! ~ The bracelet almost growled.

The girl just smiled proudly. "He likes it."

"So after school you all can see my mom's pictures of aunt Cookie's wedding," Zenida said as she began to smile. "She said it was great, I just wish I could've been there."

"Hey! When you get married you can have a wedding just like that!" Dini said excitedly. "And before I forget... tada!!" She pulled out a flyer from her book bag and showed them.

"Not the talent show again," Naomi groaned running a hand down her face. "You remember last time?"

"I'm surprised you didn't turn claustrophobic after being locked in that trunk for six hours, Zenida," said Lupia.

"Yeah," the other girl smiled, "good thing that dad taught me that meditation trance."

"And I still can't believe you forgot the keys," Naomi said.

"I said I was sorry," Dini sighed. "Besides, this year I'm not going anywhere near the magic acts."

"Thank you, Buddha," Zenida placed her hands together and looked skyward.

Dini rolled her eyes. "I was thinking of the four of us doing a small act from a play. Mom can make the costumes."

"That doesn't sound too bad. Which play are we talking?"

"My favorite one from Shakespeare. 'A Midsummer's Dream'!"

"Isn't that one with the fairies and Avalon stuff?" Naomi said as she slowly rubbed her neck. Her next class was so boring she ended up drawing in her notebook most of the time.

"Yeah! I was thinking we do one from the part where Queen Titania and is talking with Puck. It's a really cool play!" Dini said excitedly, brushing her bright pink hair past her shoulders.

"Dini... did you have any sugar candy?" Zenida asked as she watched her almost hop in place.

"'Course not!" Everyone sighed. Then she upturned her pack and out tumbled a large amount of pudding cups. Half were empty. "I brought banana pudding!!"

"Oh brother," Naomi groaned. "What class do you have next?"

"Chemistry!"

"I'll be over by the emergency exit door," Lupia stood up as the bell rang, "on the other side of the school."

"Hey that's wasn't funny!" Dini huffed as she put the remainder of her pudding in her pack.

"Neither was the time you almost burned Mr. Kazanton's mustache off." Zenida smiled and stood up as well.

"Good luck in class guys. Ja ne." Naomi waved to her friends as she headed to her class. ~Math, ick. Why do they have to make so many stupid formulas for it?~ she thought to herself.

She made her way to the dreaded classroom and dropped into her seat, sighing lightly. Turning her head left to the window, Naomi found herself looking at a reddish-brown haired boy sitting in the once vacant seat. "Hi," she said.

The boy turned to face her. "Hello," he said and smiled.

Naomi returned the smile. Cute eyes… she thought, cute smile… CUTE PERIOD! "I'm Naomi Yamanouchi."

"Cye Mouri," he answered and bowed his head. "This is my first day here."

"How do you like it?"

"It's okay."

"All right, students," Mr. Pan walked into the room, followed by several low groans--one belonging to Naomi.

Please don't let us have a pop quiz. I hate those! she thought to herself.

"Today we're going to learn about graphs but we also have a new student. If you would come up here Mr. Mouri?" he gestured to him and stepped back as the young boy stood before the class.

"Um hello. My name is Cye Mouri and I'm new here. I was originally going to another school but transferred down here. I enjoy swimming and I hope to have a good year here," he smiled and bowed some.

"Dork," the boy sitting in back of Naomi muttered, which caused Naomi to clench her teeth.

Cye returned to his seat and Mr. Pan began his lecture on graphs. Naomi opened her notebook and started to draw.

"Having problems?" Cye asked quietly.

Naomi nodded. "Math was never my strong subject, especially with the way he teaches."

Cye scooted his desk closer to Naomi's. Mr. Pan looked over his shoulder, but when he saw Cye explaining to Naomi, he decided to leave them be. After the low grades Naomi had received on the past two tests, she could use all the help she could get.

By the end of class she actually was beginning to understand. She smiled and kept thanking Cye. The young boy just smiled and was glad he made a friend here and wondered how his friends were fairing.

Dini was literally having fun as she was ready to mix the chemicals in class together, wearing a lap coat and goggles. "So what do I pour next?" she asked her lap partner who happened to be a new student here.

However, the rest of the class was watching her warily, knowing she had too much sugar for lunch again.

"I think…" the new boy, also wearing a lab coat and goggles, checked the book and picked up the bottle containing red liquid. "This one; I'll pour."

Dini frowned as he took the eyedropper and placed three drops of the red in with the orange in the glass beaker. "Is it supposed to turn green?" she asked. The other students immediately ducked behind the safety of their lap table stations.

"Yes, it is," said Mr. Kazanton. He looked at the beaker. "Very good, Kento. And Dini, thank you for letting him have a turn."

Dini smiled at her teacher then gave a dirty to his back when he went on to the others.

"I take it that you did something last time that was a bit overdone?" Kento asked.

"Let's just say that Mr. Kazanton wouldn't have to shave for a while."

It took a while for him to think about it but he stifled a laugh behind his hand and looked at their lab sheets. "Okay... now we just write down the reactions to it and move to the next step."

She just nodded and picked her pen up, scribbling and looked at the book. "Okay... now it says to add something else..." she tried to read the word out loud but instead settled for reading the labels and held up a beaker filled with yellowish liquid. "This stuff. Looks more like lemonade," she frowned and peered at it.

"Yeah, just don't drink it. It's acid."

"Hey I may not be good in this class but I'm not that careless!" she argued and settled the beaker rather hard on the counter. A few drops splashed out and landed on her hand, making her skin burn and actually made a dark stain on the lab coat's sleeve but her bracelet remained unharmed. Biting her lip she thrusted her hand in her pocket, wishing the pain would stop.

"Wash your hand off!" Kento turned on the faucet and Dini stuck her hand under the blessed cool water.

"What happened?" Mr. Kazanton appeared next to them.

"It splashed on me," Dini whimpered.

"The good news is that you'll keep your skin," her teacher looked at her hand. "The bad news is that you're going to have a nasty mark for a couple weeks. Kento, take her down to the nurse and have that cleaned."

"Yes sir," Kento nodded and led Dini out of the classroom.

"I hate that class... why do we have to have it?" she whined softly, watching as the spots were turning red and wondered how her parents would react.

"Just do. Here lemme see." He stopped them in the middle of the hallway and held her hand gently in his own. His touch was gently yet firm all at the same time. "Does it still hurt?"

"Some...thanks Kento. Sorry about that thought," she smiled weakly. "I... have this bad habit of being clumsy when I have too much sugar."

"So do I," he smiled, "but it's with food in general. I eat a lot."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I can put away enough food for a family dinner."

"Wow," Dini couldn't help smiling. "Good thing my mom cooks a lot."

Zenida didn't know what was worse: Writing long papers or reading them out loud. If there was anything she would not do in front of people.

Sitting in front of her was a new student by the name of Rowen Hashiba. Rumor had it that he was a total nerd who always scored A's in all subjects. But the young girl couldn't help but think he was cute as she tried to smooth imaginary creases from her paper. They all had to do a page essay about one thing they cared about more in the world. Needless to say she picked her parents and friends. Seems no matter what trouble one of gets into the others jump in it as well.

We're a crazy bunch but I wouldn't trade any of it for the world, she smiled to herself. She was deep in thought she jumped when her name was called. "Um yes, ma'am?"

Before Mrs. Shiniko could say to Zenida to read her paper, one of the secretaries from the main office opened the door.

"Mrs. Shiniko," the young woman said, "your son is on the phone."

The older teacher's face brightened and she all but sprinted out of the room, yelling over her shoulder at her students to behave. If Zenida was lucky and the phone call was that important, she wouldn't have to read.

Sighing a little, Zenida glanced at her classmates who had gathered into small groups and talking about their weekend. Her eyes stopped on Rowen, who was reading a book and now wearing glasses.

Must be reading glasses, Zenida thought. Seeing that he didn't know anyone and she didn't particularly care for the conversations with the other present students, Zenida stood up and walked over to the new boy's desk. "Hello."

Rowen looked up and took the glasses off. "Hi."

"I'm Zenida Koma."

"Rowen Hashiba." He nodded to her and looked around the class before looking back at her. "Do you want a seat? I'm not sure what Mrs. Shiniko will be back."

"Not for a while I'm sure," she smiled some and pulled the desk next to his closer and gestured to the book. "Can I ask what you're reading?" He smiled and showed it to her, it was about Zen Archery. "You're in Zen as well?" she asked, eyes widening a bit. Most of the students at the school didn't even know what it meant and her friends knew a bit about it just so they had something to talk about on boring days.

Zenida and Rowen talked about everything. Zenida, of course, left out certain parts that had been discovered over the weekend. Not too long after, Mrs. Shiniko entered the room wiping tears away from her eyes.

"Back to your seats," she said. "I'm sorry about leaving like that but I want to announce that I now have a grandson." The entire class started clapping. "Thank you very much," their teacher smiled. "We still have some time left. Zenida, would you please read your paper."

"Yes, ma'am," Zenida stood up from her desk, holding her paper a little tightly in her right hand as she walked to the front of the class. She ran her eyes along her fellow students, stopping once again on Rowen. He smiled and winked at her. Smiling a little, Zenida began to read.

"I did my paper on my parents and my three closet friends since they are the most important people to me. My parents have always been there for me through everything and always will be because they love me. My dad has always been my hero because I can see him as powerful and that nothing could ever hurt him. He was there to comfort me when I had nightmares and reassured that he would always protect me no matter what.

"My mom makes time for us with her busy work schedule and she tries her best in everything she does. I love all the pictures she takes, either at home or at the studio but I'm not as good as her but she teaches me all she can. She's also a great cook and sometimes we spend hours just talking about our day and watch the stars come out.

"I have four friends who are the greatest friends I could have but I admit we are a crazy bunch. One of them may seem like she's tough and doesn't care for anything but I know the truth. She has her own way of doing things and has this strength that at times I admire her for it. Another friend of mine is a night owl and kind of loud but that's her way of showing how active she is, showing that nothing can stop her from enjoying life to the fullest. Another friend of mine is almost childlike in appearance and attitude and loves jokes but that's her way of expression her great sense of humor. She may act like a child a lot of the times but she just wants to share her love of humor with everyone.

"They mean the world to me and more. I know they would do the best they could to help me and I would return the favor without hesitation. I don't know what would happen if something happen to them but... I can only hope and pray that nothing does happen." She looked up from her paper and nodded a bit, lowering the paper down as she sighed deeply and went to her seat.

"Very nice, Zenida," Mrs. Shiniko nodded to her. "Akira Koboyashi, you're next."

As the next victim--er, student walked to the front of the classroom, Rowen turned around and gave Zenida thumbs up. She smiled and winked.

Okay, he's cute, but sheesh! Give me a break! Lupia watched all the other girls just about flock to Sage Date's desk when Miss Odei said to choose a partner for the geography assignment. Well, I do have to admit, I wouldn't mind traveling the world with him, Lupia smiled a little and looked at Sage.

The poor boy had just been introduced to the class--and that was when the feminine hormones kicked in. from the look on Sage's face, one would think he was about to be eaten alive. Unlike her female classmates, Lupia managed to keep hers in check.

Miss Odei loudly cleared her throat, catching everyone's attention. "Perhaps it would be better if I made the pairings," she said. A few moments later she finished her list and read off the names, the occasional disappointed groan from a girl who wasn't paired with Sage was heard. "Lupia Sasaki and Sage Date."

Lupia felt her heart speed up a little and she could feel the deadly glares from the other girls on her.

Sage looked over the girl who was to be his partner and smiled, gratefully to see that maybe this girl wasn't all over him like the others. He got up to sit next to her, nodding his head as the students did the same when she called out the rest of the pairings. "So do you have anything in mind for our assignment?" he asked as he already opened his book.

"Um not really but let's pick an easy country. I need to get at the least a C on this to pick up my grade," she admitted and looked at her book. Me and my big mouth, she complied and flipped through the pages. I get nervous or flustered and I can't shut up. Now he probably thinks I'm a gossip.

"How about Hawaii?" Sage asked. Lupia turned and looked into his violet eye; a patch of blonde hair covered his right one. "I've never been there," he continued.

"Me neither," Lupia smiled. The next twenty minutes the two partners gathered as much information their textbooks provided about the volcano island.

"Alright, class," Miss Odei said. "You have three weeks to write out a three-page report on your chosen country, and you must prepare for an oral and demonstrative speech."

Load groans filled the classroom. "I can't believe she's doing this to us," Lupia said quietly.

"Preparing us for college more likely," the blonde explained as he began to gather his stuff together. "It'll get easier in the long run."

"I hope so... oh here." She handed him a slip of paper with some numbers and a street address scribed on it. "That's my number and address so we can meet and continue our project," she leaned closer and gestured to the swarm of girls that was rapidly forming as soon as the bell was to ring, "without the MOB Squad."

Sage took it and smiled his thanks. He looked up as the bell rang but before the girls could advance on him once again his partner stood up and pointed out the window.

"Hey! I think I saw the mascot get caught in the tree again!" The reaction was just what she wanted as most of the class crowed at the window. She grabbed his arm and ran out, heading for the front gate now that school was over.

"What was that about??" he asked, a bit bewildered as he ran at her pace, wondering if she was in track because she was running so fast.

"Only excitement we usually have around here is when the jocks or bullies get the school mascot either stuck in a tree, shoved into trash can, or have their pants being pulled down in the middle of the courtyard about once a week..." She winked; glad she had her books for homework already in her bag.

~End of Chapter Nine~