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

~Chapter Thirteen~

            Kayura's head tossed from side to side on the sweat-drenched pillow. Ryo watched from the doorway as Mia did her best to wipe the sleeping Ancient's face.

            ~What is it that she is seeing? ~ Ryo asked himself. He knew that whatever the vision was, it must be terrible for the Ancient to be this way.

            The young woman tried talking to her but it was no good. "Please Kayura, tell us what wrong," she said softly, dabbing at her brow with the wet cloth once more. This was scaring her a lot.

            "The darkness... is coming...!" she gasped out, barely audible and reached out blindly for something. "Help them... stop!"

            "Lady Kayura!" Mia managed to catch her hands and looked at her worriedly. "Ryo! I have the feeling the others are in trouble!"

            Ryo left the room and quickly went to his own. He walked over to a large wooden box and removed the lid
            'Swear that you will never use it.'
            He reached inside and pulled out a large gray-colored stone bowl, symbols of a language long forgotten to the world, but as clear as day to him.
            'The moment you do, the dark emperor will know how to find you.'
            "Father, mother," Ryo whispered, "Forgive me." He poured water into the bowl and recited the words engraved on the stone.

            Once the words had been said a bright light issued from the bowl, looking to the world as a beacon. At the club Reficul stiffen as he felt the dark master shift in his body and knew something was up. He had an urge to follow and did so but not before issuing a command...

            "Soldiers attack!"

            Once the words spilled from his lips the disguised soldiers lunged at their targets and held tightly. The bracelets all flickered, the stones glowing and knew danger was too close for their own good.

            "Hey-no!!" Dini protested as she held onto Kento's hand tightly with both her own as the two people tried to pull them apart. "Let go of us you jerk!!"

            "What's the big idea?!" the larger youth asked but received no answer.  They had to get free but he didn't want to let go of his girlfriends either.  But no matter how hard they held the two strangers pulled harder, their hands slipping free from each other. "No!! Damnit let me go!!" With a small roar he brought he arm back and rammed his elbow as hard as he could into the stranger's head, watching in disbelief as it fell to the ground only to reveal a helmet. In fact, the stranger seemed to have grown a few inches taller and the guise melted away to reveal armored limbs holding him away. People yelled in panic and tried to find a way out.

            "Dini?" Naomi looked up, hearing yelling going on and with a yell grabbed the arm that went about her neck and hurled the stranger into the wall. She watched wide-eyed as smoke billowed out and the human guise fell to reveal a dark green suit of old armor. "What the…?

            ~Dynasty soldiers!~ the bracelet yelled in her mind, making her jump a bit. ~He knows you're here!~

            ~No need to know who he is,~ she thought bad and watched as Cye dodged the guy who tried to grab him without hurting. Hissing angrily she  stood behind him and rammed her fist into the guy's back. It stumbled but turned around and looked at her, sunglasses falling to the ground to reveal pupil-less eyes.

            Kento elbowed the one holding him right in the chest. The grip lessened and he managed to break away. "Dini!"

            "I think that the party is over," Sage said.

            Lupia titled her head up to him. "What do you mean?" Then she saw the two men coming straight towards them.

            Sage moved so that Lupia was behind him. When the two were in close, Sage immediately jumped and did a spin kick, striking both in their heads, knocking them to the ground. Their outside visages disappeared, leaving only darkish colored armor beings. They began to stand up.

            "Let's go!" Sage grabbed Lupia's hand, running towards the exit.

            "Sage wait! My friends-" looks around but she couldn't see them, the spotlights were spinning around rapidly and they place was getting crowded fast. The bouncers tried to direct everyone out and just held Sage's hand tighter as the press of bodies was trying to separate them. Right now she was scared. ~Wolfie! What's going on?~

            ~Dynasty soldiers are here and they here not just for you and the others,~ he growled in her mind, not liking this one bit.

            The bouncer that had let Lupia and the others in tried to stop on of the soldiers but he was thrown into the bar and fell over the side. In fact, anyone who stood in their way was knocked aside.

            Not in public, Rowen thought as he tried keeping himself between the two Soldiers and Zenida. People cannot see our powers or armors. If they do… there goes hundreds of years of family secrecy.

            One of the Soldiers rushed at the couple, but Rowen quickly maneuvered Zenida to the left and kicked the Soldier in the middle of his back, sending him into an unoccupied table. The Illusion faded and revealed the horrid metal monstrosity.

            ~Can't these things ever leave us alone? ~ Zenida asked mentally.

            ~In the beginning, ~ her Guardian responded, ~I'm afraid not. ~

            ~Beginning? Oh I don't like the way you said that,~ she said worriedly. "Rowen watch it!!" Without thinking twice about it she picked up an ashtray and hurls it like a discus. The young man ducked and watched as it knocked the sunglasses off to reveal white, pupil less eyes before the human guise fell.

            Holding his hand in a tight fist and launched it with his body as he lunged up, ramming it under the soldier's chin and sent it crashing back. Once it touched the ground it dispelled in a  flash of dark smoke. "Zenida we have to get outta here!"

            "Wait the others!" Her eyes widen as she tried to look around the darken area.

            Naomi looked around silently. So far it had gotten eerily quiet. Bites her lip as she looks over at Cye. "I don't hear anything. And I don't here any of the girls either," she said softly.

            "Hey everything is gonna be all right," he said softly and smiled gently, reaching up to gently touch her cheek. "Don't worry, the guys will take care of her."

            She nodded and leaned into it, holding it tightly. "I don't think I've been this scared... no wait, I take it back. Think we should try and look for the others now?"

            "Okay." Cye took Naomi's hand in his, holding tightly. Quietly, the two snuck out from their hiding place behind the overturned table, keeping an eye out for the Dynasty Soldiers.

Suddenly, the two pounced and knocked Cye to the ground, pinning him.

            "Cye!" Naomi grabbed a chair and brought it down on the two holding him. One of the Soldiers stood up and advanced on Naomi. She backed away, bumping into the wall and no way out.

            "No!" Cye yelled. Holding up his left hand, Cye called his sub-armor. He threw the Soldier on top of him through the wall. "Torrent!" An enormous wave of water appeared in front of him, and crashed into the Soldier, sending it reeling away from Naomi, leaving her unharmed.

            Slowly, Naomi turned her eyes to Cye and saw what he was wearing. "Oh… my… God…"

            The young warrior made his way over to her and gently took her into his arms. "C'mon! I'm getting you out of here before any more of them try and attack."  She could only nod and held onto him as tight as she dared but she had a million questions running through her head.

            Outside the girls were all looking around nervously for Cye and Naomi but so far nothing. However, the ladies all looked down at their bracelets and look up as they came out. They wordlessly started at Cye's light blue sub-armor and then at their dates. They were all asking the silent question 'what the hell was going on?!' in their eyes.

            "Look, we'll explain everything but not in the open," Sage said and nodded to the car. Everyone just agreed but however, the bracelet had something else on mind.

            ~Naomi!~ the snake shifted on her wrist to catch her attention. ~Reficul is heading away from the area but there is one more armor bearer missing.~

            ~Which one?~

            ~Wildfire.~

            "Who's Wildfire?"

            Sage almost drove off the road. "How did you-"

            Naomi held up her wrist. "He just told me."

            "Hello, Venom," Cye inclined his head to the bracelet.

            ~Greetings, Chosen, ~ the Guardian responded. ~Torrent, how have you been? ~

            ~Can't complain, ~ the Water Guardian answered.

            "Enough of the formalities!" Lupia shouted. "What the hell is going on?!"

            "The four of you are Chosen," Sage held up his left wrist briefly, showing a metallic bracelet with a lightning bolt insignia. "So are we."

            ~It's been a long time since all nine of us were together, hasn't it, Darkness? ~ Halo asked.

            Lupia looked at her bracelet. "Darkness?"

            ~It's a lot better than 'Wolfie', ~ the Guardian growled.

            "I am still going to call you that."

            ~Sage, drive to their house, ~ Halo instructed. ~We must speak with the Warlords. Hardrock and Strata have already told Kento and Rowen to go there as well. ~

            "But what about Ryo?" Cye asked.

            "If he's smart, he left and he's on his way there too," said Sage.

            "I don't believe this... I do not believe this!" Naomi stated as she looked up at the ceiling of the car and ran a hand through her hair. "I take it you didn't tell us for obvious reasons like we didn't tell you."

            "We didn't want anyone to get hurt, like our loved ones," he said softly and took her hand in his own, squeezing it tightly. "We were actually hoping it wouldn't come to this."

            "Same here."

            Lupia sighed and rubbed her temple but didn't say anything. Some birthday today. "Sage?"

            "Yeah?" he looked over at her but kept his eye out on the road.

            "I don't know what Reficul had planned but I love you no matter what." He could only smile, taking her hand in his own and softly kissed it.

            "I love you too."

            On the outskirts of Toyama there stood a large house with a set of woods and lake on the property. It was a lovely sight but Reficul was here to see the house. The sudden burst of light came from here and he knew it. It could only meet that the missing Ronin was here but he didn't want to hurt him.

            "I can't do this," he said quietly but knew that his Dark Lord was listening and getting impatient. "I can't take the chance that there are innocent people inside with the boy."

            ~This is war and in it there are no innocents,~ Talpa snapped at him, making him winced as the pressure increased. ~Remember our agreement.~

            "How can I forget? You keep reminding me every second that passes." He sighed deeply as he looked down at the demonic helmet in his hands. Had someone told him this was what he'd be doing with his life in the future... he would've laughed until he cried. Now he just felt like crying. Closing his eyes he pulled the helmet on and flexed his hand on the large black broadsword. Taking a deep breath he began to summon the power but prayed as well. Please... let no one be inside, he prayed and prepared to unleash all the negative energies.

            "He's here…"

            "Let's go," Ryo gathered Kayura into his arms and Mia took the Staff, wrapping a cloth around the top to prevent the rings from jingling.

            They quickly went through a hidden exit; Ryo set up a barrier to hold against Reficul so that the trio could escape into the forest.

            A sudden quake nearly sent them to their knees but Ryo managed to stand through it and Mia leaned against the wall, clutching the staff tighter. She looked up fearfully, biting her bottom lip and follow her husband. She could only hope that they would make it out in one piece.

            ~You missed!!~

            "Of course I missed! Unlike you I do not care for destruction so back off!" he yelled at the voice, and looked at the damage he did. He did tear up the ground at the side of the house instead of going down the middle but at the end pulled to the side. That and he swore that he had heard something but it was quiet. Too quiet. "No one's here."

            ~What?! Of course he's here!~

            "And I'm telling you no one is here," he said in a forced calm tone. "Had he been here he would have come out and challenged me but he isn't. Even the tiger hasn't come out." He smirked silently when the voice was quiet but cried out in pain. "What are you doing to me?!"

            ~No one makes a fool of me and lives!!~ the dark lord yelled, ignoring his servant and took full control of his mind. Eyes glowed red behind the faceplate and the sword was sheathed with the others on his back. "He will join with the others and when he does, I'll be waiting. The armors will be mine once again!"

            ~Leave my family out of this Talpa!~ Reficul yelled at him but he was locked within his own mind. Now he was just along for the ride.

            The tiger arrived at Ryo's short whistle. He set Kayura on White Blaze's back and Mia also sat on the tiger, holding the other woman. She looked at Ryo.

            "Go," he said.

            "What about you?" his wife looked at him.

            "I have to go talk to the Warlords. Reficul won't be able to catch up to me for a while. Both of you must hide someplace safe."

            "I know where to go," Kayura said, "I'll contact you after we arrive."

            He just nodded and looked at his faithful friend since he was a child. "You take care of them, Blaze." He growled deeply, showing that he would do so.

            "Ryo, you be careful," she said softly and shared a soft kiss with him and told herself she wouldn't cry. Once settled she held on White Blaze and Kayura as he took off like a shot. The young Ronin waited a few moments to make sure they were out of sight and looked at the bracelet on his own wrist. He actually felt comforted by the red stone and flame design on it.

            ~Wildfire?~

            ~Yes?~

            ~Do you think... that they'll be okay?~

            The bracelet seemed to chuckle dryly but it helped him ease a bit. ~They will be fine. Your wife is one determined woman as is Lady Kayura. Blaze will give his life to make sure they stay safe.~

            ~Yeah, you're right.~ He smiled some and took a deep breath. ~Well, this is gonna be the reunion of a lifetime.~ The spirit chuckled and gave him the energy he needed to go to the located where he knew the others spirits were at.

            "I knew there was something about you."

            "Daddy, please," Naomi said.

            Her father glanced at her then returned his eyes it Cye. "So you are Torrent's Chosen."

            "Yes," the boy answered.

            ~None of us wanted to be so secretive about this, ~ the Water Guardian said, ~but we cannot change the paths that are placed before us. ~

            "You're telling me," Cale muttered under his breathe. When they had all arrived back at the large home and told what had happened the mothers/wives were worried as well as upset that this had happened. Identities were revealed once more and now they were all trying to figure out what to do.

            "So now Reficul will try to retrieve all the bracelets once again and what better chance than now," Sage said quietly and looked up at the large group. "He's been watching. Or should I say Talpa's been watching and told him when to strike."

            "And now what?" Megumi asked and looked at Dini worriedly. She was quiet, sitting on one end of the sofa next to Kento.

            "We wait. Ryo's still out there along with Mia and Kayura," Sage said quietly.

            Anubis looked up sharply as the mention of the name. "Kayura? Why do I have a feeling that this revolves around her," he said in a not to pleased tone.

            The Ronin looked at each other but it was the bracelet of Strata who spoke up. ~She's dying.~

            "Dying?" Cale said. "She's an Ancient. How can she be dying?"

            ~Kayura has lived longer than you know, ~ Hardrock spoke up.

            "Who's Kayura?" asked Abigail.

            "And what's an Ancient?" Naomi asked.

            "There was a great people who were blessed by the gods a very long time ago," Ineisha began. "Some legends say they were blessed at the dawn of human civilization. They had unique abilities and were very strong in magic and fighting. As the centuries passed, they were referred to as Ancients because of the power that was given to them. The Ancients were the protectors of the Mortal Realm but… there was a terrible war and so many had lost their lives. I heard my mother say that Kaosu had never been the same afterwards."

            "Kaosu was one of the original Ancients," said Rowen. "Kayura is his granddaughter. She is one of the last of the Ancients' bloodline."

            ~So that was the disturbance we felt,~ Venom said in a soft hissing sort of tone.

            At that moment nearly everyone jumped when they heard a knock on the door. Anubis slowly made his way, answering it before closing it and came back into the living room with a young man about the other Ronins' ages with ebony black hair and tiger blue eyes. On his left wrist was a silver bracelet like the others with the picture of flames along it.

            "Ryo! Wait, where's Mia and Kayura?" Kento asked worriedly.
            "With White Blaze. They're hiding," he explained simply and nodded his head to the former Warlords.
            ~Wildfire. Good to meet you once again,~ the spider spoke up.

            ~You as well,~ the bracelet stated in a  dry sort of tone.

            "You've grown up," Anubis said to Ryo.

            "You know him?" asked Zenida.

            "I owe my life to your fathers," Ryo said, "when I was a child, they saved mine."

            "You're Hariel's descendant," Dais stated. "We couldn't let anything happen to you. A promise is a promise."

            "Okay," Dini said, "We know, Kayura, Mia, Ryo. Now who is Hariel?

            "Hariel was the first Warlord to ever bear one of the armor back when we all first bore them. He was also the first to wear Inferno," Sekhmet explained briefly.

            "And before you ask Inferno is another armor," Cale said before any of the ladies could ask about it.

            "It's actually a combination of all our armors joining into one," Ryo said with a slight smile. "I also bear it at times but it takes a lot from us."

            "Oh wow... that is so cool!" Dini said enthusiastically. "Hey can we do that with ours?"

            "Sorry," Ryo shook his head, "just mine. Your armors only help power Inferno."

            "Thank heaven," said Lupia. "That's just what we need: Dini running around on a sugar high with armor five times as powerful as the one she has now."

            "Now that's what I call mayhem," Naomi chuckled.

            Dini narrowed her eyes at them. "Oh, and like you two should have another armor."

            "Well at least we wouldn't blow up Toyama like you did to the Chem. Lab."

            "it was an accident!"

            "Ladies please!" Liana and Megumi looked at their daughter sternly as they apologized.

            "So now what's gonna happen?" Delia asked a bit worriedly.

            "You all can give me what's rightfully mine." Everyone grew quite alarmed as Reficul just appeared in the middle of the room with glowing eyes. He didn't look like himself right now.

            "Talpa!"

            "Always hard to let go, isn't it, Sekhmet?" Talpa asked with a dark smirk. "Out of the four Warlords, you seem to carry the most guilt. A shame Hariel had to let himself be killed in order for you to leave the Dynasty." He tilted his head and looked at Ineisha. "I suppose the same could be said about you."

            The Nagashin woman held up her hands, making a glowing red ball appear. Would she kill him? Yes, she would. To free the man she once loved buried inside, she would.

            "Oh yes try to kill me. But just know that to do so you may as well kill everyone else here," he said with a  mock grin and spread his arms to the side, as if daring her to do so.

            "I'll rip your lungs out myself!" Lupia growled and lunged at him, the sudden weight sending him falling back and head snapped back as she rammed her armor-covered fist into his face.  Just as she was about to do it again an invisible force roughly shoved her away.  She crashed into the wall and slumped to the floor in a daze.  Luckily the sub-armor protected her from any serious broken bones but she was feeling light headed.

            "Lupia!!" Sage and Liana quickly went to her side as Cale stood before her protectively, growling angrily.

            "Is this what you're been reduced to, Talpa?!  Striking girls?!"  He just snorted, as if finding this very amusing.

            "You are a monster!" the blonde yelled at him, a bright light covered his body to reveal the emerald green sub-armor and looked ready for a fight as the other guys followed suit.  Soon the other girls were wearing the same sub-armors their fathers bore when they were young.

            ~I can't do this…~ Zenida thought.

            ~Yes, you can,~ her Guardian said.

            ~No, I don't want to fight! I don't want to turn into a monster!~

            ~A monster? That won't happen to you. Nothing like that has ever happened to a Chosen.~

            Talpa noticed Zenida's frightened look. Sending a surge of power, he knocked everyone in the room off balance, which gave him the opportunity to grab Zenida by her arm.

            "No!" Rowen shouted when he regained his ground. "Zenida!"

            "Rowen!" She turned fearful eyes to him, feeling so helpless at the moment and scared.

            "Hey let her go!" Dini yelled as she got to her feet and tried to aim a punch as Reficul but was throw off balance as her armored fist struck only air and she fell to the floor on her back side. "What-??" They were gone.

            "He took her," Ryo said to himself, a frown on his face and looked surprise as Anubis marched up to his, gripping him tightly by his shoulders. He did not look very happy.

            "What are you waiting for?! Go after him and get my daughter back!!" he yelled, growing furious at the fact that his only child was taken right before his eyes but no one was doing a thing to get her back.

            Zenida sat in a birdcage-like cell that hung from the ceiling in the throne room of the Dynasty palace. She watched Reficul/Talpa pace back and forth in front of the throne, as if determining what to do next. He was, literally, having an argument with himself.

            "I'm telling you bringing her back was a mistake!" the man yelled at the voice in his head.

            ~The children will come and get her,~ Talpa growled at him, ~when they do we'll use her as bait and get the armors.~

            "Are you dense?! You have tried to gather the armors back countless times and failed! The only thing you had all nine in your grasp was when Hariel's descendant was able to create Inferno and then the next time was when the former Warlords found out they were your puppets!"

            ~What harm could children do? I know how the Ronins think but the girls are still new to the armors. They have yet to call upon the full power of the bracelet.~
            "Kami are you blind?! The Guardians are not stupid, they aren't ready and I know they won't let them call upon the armors until they are ready mentally!"

            ~Silence!!~ the spirit roared, causing Zenida to flinch some as she heard him yell.  Talpa smirked as Reficul dropped to his knees, one hand going to his head and the other clutching her chest tightly. ~You belong to me now and remember, you may be immortal but you can still feel pain.~

            "So kill me!" Reficul hissed from the pain.

            ~Not yet, ~ the demon inside him replied, ~I am not going back to the underworld just yet. You may want to go now but you are not taking me with you. ~

            ~What does he mean? ~ Zenida thought.

            ~It seems that the binding spell that keeps Talpa inside him has a drawback, ~ Cruelty answered. ~Having Talpa share his body, if Reficul dies, Talpa will die with him. ~

            ~So to destroy Talpa... we have to destroy Naomi's grandfather...~ She closed her eyes tightly and rested her forehead against the bars. ~I can't do this.~

            ~You have to be strong not just for yourself but others as well,~ the spirit tried to reason with her but it was difficult.

            Zenida watched as Reficul managed to get to his feet and leave the room. Shutting her eyes, Zenida whispered one word. "Rowen…"

            "Sitting here is not going to get my daughter back," Anubis said, glaring at the five Ronins. "Open the Gate and I'll get her myself."

            "You'll be killed if you go alone without Cruelty," said Sage.

            "I don't care."

            "Please," Delia put her hand on her husband's shoulder. "Arguing like this isn't helping anyone."

            "It's better than me strangling them," he said tightly but reached up to cover her hand with his own.

            As they argued Rowen was growing more and more worried about Zenida.  He could only hope she was okay.

            "Rowen…"

            He started and looked around the large group but no one said his name. In fact, it sounded just like… ~Zenida?~

            Relief filled his mind along with worriment.  ~Rowen, this is a trap! Talpa is expecting you all to come and get me, he'll try to get your armors again.~
            ~When hasn't he tried that?~ he joked.

            ~I'm serious! Don't come!~

            ~I'll come alone. ~

            There was a long pause before Zenida shouted at him, ~ARE YOU CRAZY! ~

            ~Zenida, it's the only way, ~ Rowen said. ~I'll come after everyone falls asleep. ~

            ~Rowen, no! ~ Zenida pleaded; the last thing in the world she wanted was to see him hurt.

            ~Hey don't worry about me, you just hold tight okay?~ He smiled at her and pulled back from her mind, already putting his plan into action.

            ~Rowen no wait!~ But he was gone. She sighed and slumped against the bars. ~I don't want him to see him get hurt though. He can't do this!~

            ~He's showing how much he loves you,~ the ogre spirit spoke up, helping to help calm her down.

            ~And I love him but... I don't want him to get hurt...~ she sighed and pulled her knees to her chest, resisting the urge not to cry.

~End of Chapter Thirteen~