Chapter Five
'Wildfire?.......Wildfire?'
"Hn?"
'Wake up'
Ryo slowly opened his eyes to find himself not in the sterile white hospital room he fell asleep in, but a small dimly candle lit temple. What came as an even greater shock was when he focused on the two people standing over him, Kayra and Anubis.
"KAYRA?!ANUBIS?!!! WHAT THE HELL?" Ryo quickly sat up but suddenly wished he hadn't. His whole body still felt as though he had been hit by a semi. He hoped that the small wince of pain he had let through his mask had gone unnoticed but unfortunately it hadn't.
" Is something wrong Wildfire?" Anubis looked down at him with a concerned look on his face as he offered a hand to help the fallen warrior.
"No, I'm fine," he lied. "Just recovering from the shock." He bit his tongue as he took the former warlord's out stretched hand and pulled himself up onto his feet. He fought as hard as he could not to sway from the wave of dizziness that over took him, but didn't quite achieve what he wished. Luckily Kayra and Anubis didn't press any further.
"So, what's up? I assume it's nothing good because I don't see the tea and cookies any where."
Kayra stepped forward from her place beside Anubis. " I see you haven't changed much, which means I should quickly get to the problem at hand. As you may or may not know Talpa has once again risen to claim the mortal realm. We need the help of you and the other Ronins to stop him, this time for good." She paused for a moment as she reached to her side and untied a small, leather, drawstring pouch that hung from her armor. "When you wake, give these to the others then meet us at the clearing next to the lake at sundown. Things are getting desperate so please hurry."
Ryo nodded as he opened the small bag to find that it held his and the others armor orbs.
"Don't worry. We'll be there." With that, he closed his eyes and within a few seconds, his body began to slowly vanish until it was no more. An evil grin spread across Kayra and Anubis' faces as the temple slowly disintegrated around them, reveling that their actual location was truly in a large throne room. Off to one side, half hidden in the darkness, hanging from their wrists, were Kayra and the four warlords.
The imposter swiftly strode across the room and knelt before her master.
"Lord Talpa, the mission was a success. Wildfire dose not suspect a thing."
Talpa chuckled lightly, "Good. Good. Well, done Badamon. I knew that fool would fall for our little trick." Kayra's form suddenly melded into Badamon's as he slowly rose to his feet with his head bowed in respect.
"My Lord?"
"Yes."
"May I be permitted to ask a question?"
"You may."
"Why give the Ronins back their armors? Wouldn't it make things much more difficult for us?"
"Of course not you fool!" he snapped. " In order to take complete control of the armors they must be called forth from their orbs and only the true bearers can accomplish this."
Badamon quickly fell to his knees once more and began to grovel in front of the devilish being. "F..Forgive me Master, I meant no disrespect. I was just wondering why you chose to entrust them to Wildfire is all. Wouldn't he try to keep his comrades from getting in harms way?"
"Wildfire is a fool. He will give his friends their armors and then take off to face us alone. He thinks it is the only way to protect them. He has done this many times in previous battles and I am positive he will continue with this idiotic belief."
Badamon slowly nodded his head in understanding, thought in all truth he didn't. 'Hopefully Master is correct, or I'll be taking Wildfire's place.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryo dressed as carefully as he could so not to disturb the multiple wires that monitored his vital signs. He smiled mischievously as he hit the call button and hid behind the door. A few moments later a male nurse quietly walked into the room and scanned the area for the patient. Ryo suppressed a giggle as he snuck up behind the man and, using pressure points learned from Rowen, knocked the man unconscious. The young teen panted slightly from the effort of dragging the man to the hospital bed and carefully transferring the heart monitor wires to him. Ryo sighed slightly as he slipped out the window and slowly climbed down the rain gutter, landing on the ground with a soft thud. He took one last look at the hospital before taking off in the direction of the mansion. He had no intension of dragging the others in just yet. Yes, he would make sure they had their armors, but he wouldn't tell them something was wrong until he found out exactly what the problem was.
The raven-haired teen stealth fully sneaked into the woods behind the house and let out a high-pitched whistle that he knew only White Blaze could hear. Sure enough a few moments later, the giant white feline came bounding up to his master's hiding place and gave out a tremendous roar.
"Shhhhh... White Blaze, be quiet, or you'll blow my cover." A weak smile appeared on his face as he knelt down and with a shaking hand began to scratch his friend behind the ears. He pulled the pouch out from his jacket pocket and held it out so White Blaze could inspect it clearly.
" Hey boy, do me a favor. Make sure the guys get this, ok. It's really important."
The tiger stopped purring and looked up at his master with big, sad brown eyes. He could sense that something was troubling the human but couldn't quite figure out what. Without another moment's hesitation, the white feline gently took the pouch in his mouth and leapt off toward the house. Ryo sighed slightly in relief as he pulled out one of his medication bottles and swallowed several pills dry. He took one last look at the mansion before transforming into his sub-armor and heading deeper into the woods.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sage was reading a book in the study, when White Blaze suddenly bound into the room with something in his mouth. His eyes widened in shock as he opened the small pouch to have the four armor orbs of Torrent, Hardrock, Strata, and Halo roll out onto his palm.
'Wait a minute. Four? But where's?.Oh God!'
"SAGE!!!!" Rowen came sprinting into the study with a look of terror on his face. " That was the hospital. They say that Ryo escaped some how. He's gone!"
Sage looked down at the spheres in his hand before showing them to Rowen, causing his eyes, if it was possible, to widen even more.
"I think I know where he's headed."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Ryo neared the lake he could just barely sense that something was out of place. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but his subconscious still screamed at him that he should run. The feeling only seem to intensify as he joined Kayra and Anubis beside the moon lit lake.
"Sorry, I couldn't bring the others yet. Not until you tell me exactly what's going on."
"Stupid fool. If they're not here then who's going to save you?"
The warrior of virtue took a step back in shock as his companions slowly turned to face him. Their blood red eyes glowed dangerously through the darkness as their maniacal laughter reached the young man's ears. Then, before he could react, thick black chains suddenly appeared out of thin air and tightly bound themselves around Ryo's wrists, neck and ankles. He struggled with all his might to get free, but it seemed that the harder he fought, the tighter the chairs became. His breath came out in short, ragged gasps as the chains around his neck slowly began depriving him of much needed oxygen. Suddenly, stepping forth from the dense fog, Talpa materialized and smugly walked up to the captured warrior.
"I'm glad to see that you are comfortable Wildfire. I'd hate for anything unpleasant to happen to one of my guests. "
The demon laughed evilly as he snapped his fingers, sending bolts of crackling blue energy through the chains and into the warrior's body. As he gritted his teeth agenst the horrendous pain, the armor of Wildfire slowly began to fade in and out on Ryo's body, as it gradually began to meld into the Inferno.
"In just a few moments time, the Inferno will be mine, along with the only hope the mortal realm had left. Say good-bye Wildfire. It's a shame you won't be alive to witness me as I slaughter the rest of the Ronins."
At this Ryo's head shot up from his chest, revealing that his eyes were now glowing a solid, golden color.
His body shook with rage as he yelled, "YOU WILL NEVER LAY A FINGER ON MY FRIENDS AS LONG AS THERE IS BUT A SPARK OF LIFE LEFT IN MY BODY!"
Suddenly a brilliant, white light lit the surroundings, blinding all who witnessed it. When the flare finally dimmed, Talpa let out a roar of rage when he found that the chains that had once securely held his prisoner were now lying limp on the ground.
"BADAMON?! Where did he escape to!?"
He turned to his head to look at his minion, who had finally shifted back into his own form. His face held a look of complete shock as he lifted one trembling hand and pointed off in the distance. "Th..Th..There."
Talpa twisted around and let out a gasp at what he saw. There, gracefully walking atop the lake's placid surface, was Ryo, clad in the Inferno.
"W.what? How? Badamon, you imbecile, I thought you said that the great Inferno couldn't be formed with out the other armors present."
"I..I'm sorry Master. He might have been able to use his life energy to create it, but no one could be that foolish. The strain would kill him."
No sooner had those words passed his lips, Ryo ran running full force at them, waving the Sol Swords above his head as he leapt into the air and shouted, "RAGE OF INFERNO!"
As the flaming pillar shot toward the two demons, the four remaining Ronins sprinted out of the woods just in time to see Talpa and Badamon disappear and watch Ryo land on the ground with a soft thus. He looked over his shoulder and gave his friends a weary smile before the Inferno faded out, leaving the teen dressed only in his normal clothes, as he fell forward onto the ground. His comrades cried out in horror as they raced to get to their leader's fallen form. With shaking hands, Sage gently flipped Ryo over and pulled him onto his lap, supporting his head in the crook of his arm.
" Ryo? Come on buddy, not again. Don't do this to us again." Sage didn't even try to hide the fear that resided in his voice for he knew it would be utterly impossible.
Rowen knelt down beside his friends, tears silently streaming down his face, and placed a quivering hand on Sage's shoulder.
"Come on, let's try and get him back to the hospital. Maybe it's not too late."
"Ok. Let's."
"N..No.'" A sliver of tiger blue could be seen through Ryo's half opened eyes that stared up at them, seemingly not focused on anything. " P..Please. Don't take me back. Kayra. Anubis. We have to save.." Ryo's eyes glazed over before he could finish as he once again fell back into the darkness.
hey all sry it took me so long 2 get his up. Had some computer crashage that deleted EVERYTHING! Remember I LUVE REVIEWS! if u don't want 2 review then I would luv an email just as much. Get me at wither bubblegirlbob43@hotmail.com or rekkaboziegirl@yahoo.com Luv ta hear from ya
Ja Ne!
'Wildfire?.......Wildfire?'
"Hn?"
'Wake up'
Ryo slowly opened his eyes to find himself not in the sterile white hospital room he fell asleep in, but a small dimly candle lit temple. What came as an even greater shock was when he focused on the two people standing over him, Kayra and Anubis.
"KAYRA?!ANUBIS?!!! WHAT THE HELL?" Ryo quickly sat up but suddenly wished he hadn't. His whole body still felt as though he had been hit by a semi. He hoped that the small wince of pain he had let through his mask had gone unnoticed but unfortunately it hadn't.
" Is something wrong Wildfire?" Anubis looked down at him with a concerned look on his face as he offered a hand to help the fallen warrior.
"No, I'm fine," he lied. "Just recovering from the shock." He bit his tongue as he took the former warlord's out stretched hand and pulled himself up onto his feet. He fought as hard as he could not to sway from the wave of dizziness that over took him, but didn't quite achieve what he wished. Luckily Kayra and Anubis didn't press any further.
"So, what's up? I assume it's nothing good because I don't see the tea and cookies any where."
Kayra stepped forward from her place beside Anubis. " I see you haven't changed much, which means I should quickly get to the problem at hand. As you may or may not know Talpa has once again risen to claim the mortal realm. We need the help of you and the other Ronins to stop him, this time for good." She paused for a moment as she reached to her side and untied a small, leather, drawstring pouch that hung from her armor. "When you wake, give these to the others then meet us at the clearing next to the lake at sundown. Things are getting desperate so please hurry."
Ryo nodded as he opened the small bag to find that it held his and the others armor orbs.
"Don't worry. We'll be there." With that, he closed his eyes and within a few seconds, his body began to slowly vanish until it was no more. An evil grin spread across Kayra and Anubis' faces as the temple slowly disintegrated around them, reveling that their actual location was truly in a large throne room. Off to one side, half hidden in the darkness, hanging from their wrists, were Kayra and the four warlords.
The imposter swiftly strode across the room and knelt before her master.
"Lord Talpa, the mission was a success. Wildfire dose not suspect a thing."
Talpa chuckled lightly, "Good. Good. Well, done Badamon. I knew that fool would fall for our little trick." Kayra's form suddenly melded into Badamon's as he slowly rose to his feet with his head bowed in respect.
"My Lord?"
"Yes."
"May I be permitted to ask a question?"
"You may."
"Why give the Ronins back their armors? Wouldn't it make things much more difficult for us?"
"Of course not you fool!" he snapped. " In order to take complete control of the armors they must be called forth from their orbs and only the true bearers can accomplish this."
Badamon quickly fell to his knees once more and began to grovel in front of the devilish being. "F..Forgive me Master, I meant no disrespect. I was just wondering why you chose to entrust them to Wildfire is all. Wouldn't he try to keep his comrades from getting in harms way?"
"Wildfire is a fool. He will give his friends their armors and then take off to face us alone. He thinks it is the only way to protect them. He has done this many times in previous battles and I am positive he will continue with this idiotic belief."
Badamon slowly nodded his head in understanding, thought in all truth he didn't. 'Hopefully Master is correct, or I'll be taking Wildfire's place.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ryo dressed as carefully as he could so not to disturb the multiple wires that monitored his vital signs. He smiled mischievously as he hit the call button and hid behind the door. A few moments later a male nurse quietly walked into the room and scanned the area for the patient. Ryo suppressed a giggle as he snuck up behind the man and, using pressure points learned from Rowen, knocked the man unconscious. The young teen panted slightly from the effort of dragging the man to the hospital bed and carefully transferring the heart monitor wires to him. Ryo sighed slightly as he slipped out the window and slowly climbed down the rain gutter, landing on the ground with a soft thud. He took one last look at the hospital before taking off in the direction of the mansion. He had no intension of dragging the others in just yet. Yes, he would make sure they had their armors, but he wouldn't tell them something was wrong until he found out exactly what the problem was.
The raven-haired teen stealth fully sneaked into the woods behind the house and let out a high-pitched whistle that he knew only White Blaze could hear. Sure enough a few moments later, the giant white feline came bounding up to his master's hiding place and gave out a tremendous roar.
"Shhhhh... White Blaze, be quiet, or you'll blow my cover." A weak smile appeared on his face as he knelt down and with a shaking hand began to scratch his friend behind the ears. He pulled the pouch out from his jacket pocket and held it out so White Blaze could inspect it clearly.
" Hey boy, do me a favor. Make sure the guys get this, ok. It's really important."
The tiger stopped purring and looked up at his master with big, sad brown eyes. He could sense that something was troubling the human but couldn't quite figure out what. Without another moment's hesitation, the white feline gently took the pouch in his mouth and leapt off toward the house. Ryo sighed slightly in relief as he pulled out one of his medication bottles and swallowed several pills dry. He took one last look at the mansion before transforming into his sub-armor and heading deeper into the woods.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sage was reading a book in the study, when White Blaze suddenly bound into the room with something in his mouth. His eyes widened in shock as he opened the small pouch to have the four armor orbs of Torrent, Hardrock, Strata, and Halo roll out onto his palm.
'Wait a minute. Four? But where's?.Oh God!'
"SAGE!!!!" Rowen came sprinting into the study with a look of terror on his face. " That was the hospital. They say that Ryo escaped some how. He's gone!"
Sage looked down at the spheres in his hand before showing them to Rowen, causing his eyes, if it was possible, to widen even more.
"I think I know where he's headed."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Ryo neared the lake he could just barely sense that something was out of place. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but his subconscious still screamed at him that he should run. The feeling only seem to intensify as he joined Kayra and Anubis beside the moon lit lake.
"Sorry, I couldn't bring the others yet. Not until you tell me exactly what's going on."
"Stupid fool. If they're not here then who's going to save you?"
The warrior of virtue took a step back in shock as his companions slowly turned to face him. Their blood red eyes glowed dangerously through the darkness as their maniacal laughter reached the young man's ears. Then, before he could react, thick black chains suddenly appeared out of thin air and tightly bound themselves around Ryo's wrists, neck and ankles. He struggled with all his might to get free, but it seemed that the harder he fought, the tighter the chairs became. His breath came out in short, ragged gasps as the chains around his neck slowly began depriving him of much needed oxygen. Suddenly, stepping forth from the dense fog, Talpa materialized and smugly walked up to the captured warrior.
"I'm glad to see that you are comfortable Wildfire. I'd hate for anything unpleasant to happen to one of my guests. "
The demon laughed evilly as he snapped his fingers, sending bolts of crackling blue energy through the chains and into the warrior's body. As he gritted his teeth agenst the horrendous pain, the armor of Wildfire slowly began to fade in and out on Ryo's body, as it gradually began to meld into the Inferno.
"In just a few moments time, the Inferno will be mine, along with the only hope the mortal realm had left. Say good-bye Wildfire. It's a shame you won't be alive to witness me as I slaughter the rest of the Ronins."
At this Ryo's head shot up from his chest, revealing that his eyes were now glowing a solid, golden color.
His body shook with rage as he yelled, "YOU WILL NEVER LAY A FINGER ON MY FRIENDS AS LONG AS THERE IS BUT A SPARK OF LIFE LEFT IN MY BODY!"
Suddenly a brilliant, white light lit the surroundings, blinding all who witnessed it. When the flare finally dimmed, Talpa let out a roar of rage when he found that the chains that had once securely held his prisoner were now lying limp on the ground.
"BADAMON?! Where did he escape to!?"
He turned to his head to look at his minion, who had finally shifted back into his own form. His face held a look of complete shock as he lifted one trembling hand and pointed off in the distance. "Th..Th..There."
Talpa twisted around and let out a gasp at what he saw. There, gracefully walking atop the lake's placid surface, was Ryo, clad in the Inferno.
"W.what? How? Badamon, you imbecile, I thought you said that the great Inferno couldn't be formed with out the other armors present."
"I..I'm sorry Master. He might have been able to use his life energy to create it, but no one could be that foolish. The strain would kill him."
No sooner had those words passed his lips, Ryo ran running full force at them, waving the Sol Swords above his head as he leapt into the air and shouted, "RAGE OF INFERNO!"
As the flaming pillar shot toward the two demons, the four remaining Ronins sprinted out of the woods just in time to see Talpa and Badamon disappear and watch Ryo land on the ground with a soft thus. He looked over his shoulder and gave his friends a weary smile before the Inferno faded out, leaving the teen dressed only in his normal clothes, as he fell forward onto the ground. His comrades cried out in horror as they raced to get to their leader's fallen form. With shaking hands, Sage gently flipped Ryo over and pulled him onto his lap, supporting his head in the crook of his arm.
" Ryo? Come on buddy, not again. Don't do this to us again." Sage didn't even try to hide the fear that resided in his voice for he knew it would be utterly impossible.
Rowen knelt down beside his friends, tears silently streaming down his face, and placed a quivering hand on Sage's shoulder.
"Come on, let's try and get him back to the hospital. Maybe it's not too late."
"Ok. Let's."
"N..No.'" A sliver of tiger blue could be seen through Ryo's half opened eyes that stared up at them, seemingly not focused on anything. " P..Please. Don't take me back. Kayra. Anubis. We have to save.." Ryo's eyes glazed over before he could finish as he once again fell back into the darkness.
hey all sry it took me so long 2 get his up. Had some computer crashage that deleted EVERYTHING! Remember I LUVE REVIEWS! if u don't want 2 review then I would luv an email just as much. Get me at wither bubblegirlbob43@hotmail.com or rekkaboziegirl@yahoo.com Luv ta hear from ya
Ja Ne!