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9: Finding Satsuki
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(Authors note: Okay AnmiegirlH. This chapter starts off with Cye and a special for-legged creature we either all hate or all love at the same time... White blaze!)
Cye's Kanji of trust fought to wake him as his memories implanted themselves inside of his mind. Above him, the armor of Torrent watched his bearer as the dawn came to greet the world once again. //Torrent, return to me at once// Came Une's voice echoing through the morning sky
Torrent nodded before looking down at the prone figure of his master and teleported back to Hong Kong. The Kanji's light died down as the English-accented boy began to rouse from his unconscious state. The first thing that came to Cye's mind was Mina's hand reached out shattering the darkness that surrounded him pulling his body into the light, and she disappeared from sight leaving him on the road to consciousness.
His robin blue eyes snapped open in an instant remembering where he was exactly; the lightrail. Cye pushed himself up onto his knees sitting in an up right position, his bones ached with pain as he tried to stand up straight. The place was a disaster area, but where were the others?
"Ry-o?" He moaned before falling forward his body fast approaching the ground when a blurred figure came out of nowhere catching him. Cye felt himself slump over against something huge and soft, he used all his strength just to open one eye to see who or what it was until he felt a soft rumbling vibrating through him. A cat! But it was too huge to be just a cat, it had to be...
"White-blaze, is that you?" Cye moaned as the creature took off running down the street. The tiger roared in confirmation, White blaze had come to the lightrail area because he had sensed his master was in trouble.
Cye clung to the tiger tightly as it jumped over a parked car landing on it's feet gracefully; The 16-year old didn't know exactly where the tiger was going to and he hoped whatever had given back his memories wasn't the cause of the disappearance of rest of his friends.
Une would pay for taking his friends, he just needed some help from Sage if he was still around that is. "White blaze, head over to Sage's house," Cye managed to say before falling unconscious again. White blaze glance at the boy on his back hoping he would get the rest he needed the most at the moment. Fixing his brown eyes on the road ahead of him White blaze continued onward praying Ryo was all right.
We're together again, and Talpa's gonna feel the power of the Ronin warriors. "Uhh..," Rowen moaned turning on his side.
"I think he's waking up Okassan!"
"Really?"
"Hai!"
"Rowen-san, Rowen, wake up! Seiji has gone missing!"
Rowen's brow furrowed in confusion as it became clear that he was not dreaming at all. The void in his mind had been filed, his memories returned to him but something was missing ... or rather a number of someones were missing. Rowen raised his hand that was clasped in another's to his forehead slowly opening his eyes as the mental fog rose from his confused mind.
"Yayoi... Mrs. Date?" Rowen moaned pushing himself up after hearing a sigh of relief followed by a giggle. Yayoi watched the blue haired boy stop for a moment probably feeling dizzy, the black haired girl's mind was on other things besides the welfare of teen in front of her, she was a lot more worried about the whereabouts of her brother and sister.
Mrs. Date stood over the hurting young man that laid on the floor near the stairs with a worried expression shadowing her young features, thank goodness her husband was working at the station. Rowen gripped both of Yayoi's hands causing her to blush as she helped him to his feet.
This is no time for your crush Yayoi! She scolded herself before she felt the boy's head against her shoulder. "Ohhh my head," Rowen groaned lifting it up to meet Yayoi's gaze. Mrs. Date's worried expression soon turned into a suspicious and protective one, she placed her hands on Rowen's broad shoulders and stood up him, the blue haired boy stared at the mother giving her a look of thanks before his stomach began to roar loudly.
A sweatdrop formed on all three heads as Rowen laughed nervously while Mrs. Date shook her head unamused. "Hehehe... I'm sorry about that. I guess all the action made me hungry," He said sheepishly. Yayoi snorted at that gesturing toward the destroyed kitchen. "You can go scavenge for food if there's any left," She uttered before walking away.
Rowen sighed closing his eyes trying to pinpoint his friends aura's through their bond. Mrs. Date sensed a strong power emitting from the boy beside her, knowing that her son's meeting with him was not coincidental at the least. C'mon, Sage, Ryo... where are you guys? Answer me! He cried hoping somebody ... anybody would hear.
R-Rowen..? Came a faint reply. Rowen almost jumped out of his skin in sheer joy when the melodic voice of Sage. Sage buddie! Where are you?! The blue-haired boy asked quickly feeling Sage's presence fading quickly. Not in Japan.... Kong..Satsuki.... Sage's voice was becoming fainter. Kong, what's Kong? Sage answer me please! Rowen cried desperately.
//I'M SORRY, BUT MR. SAGE ISN'T IN THE OFFICE CAN YOU LEAVE A MESSAGE?// Boomed an unknown voice, that gave the bearer of Strata a headache. Rowen stumbled backward managing to keep his balance. Who are you?! And what did you do with Sage!? He demanded.
//That's for me to know, not for you or Mouri to find out// The woman hissed, knocking Rowen off his feet before leaving his mind laughing. Rowen groaned clutching his head as he climbed onto his feet again growling. It had to be Michi, she was the only principal he knew that would use that stupid figure of speech.
Stepping out of the corner near the stairs Rowen stepped over the destroyed parts of the hardwood floor heading out side the house, they were going to need a lot of money to renovate this house back to the way it was before Halo appeared. "Ryo, Kento, Sage, Cye... where are you guys?" He mummered gazing upwards into the cloud-free sky watching the birds soar through the air.
Rowen was beginning to wish he had his Kanji ball with him ... he could probably search the area of Tokyo in the sky with his armor. The 17-year-old was brought of his thoughts when a distant war reached his ears startling him. Rowen looked down from the sky making out a four legged animal carrying someone on it's back, his midnight blue eyes widened considerably when he realized who it was.
White blaze and Cye! They were okay! Rowen could barely contain his happiness when the tiger stopped in front of him, he noticed something shinning between his sharp teeth. Rowen kneeled down the tiger's level inspecting the objects: It was none other than his and Cye's kanji-balls. Rowen wrapped his arms around the purring tiger smiling. "Your a lifesaver White blaze---- what happened to Cye, is he all right?" Rowen felt the tiger brush his cold nose across his cheek giving the him a chill.
Rowen patted the tiger before rising to his feet to help Cye's body off White blaze he bent over tucking his arms around the brown-haired boy before he heard a moan of protest. "Cye are ya' awake?" He uttered pulling him of the tiger, Cye's weight brought him crashing onto the damp grass. "Oof!" Rowen grunted shutting his eyes.
"S-s-sorry mate," Cye opened his eyes sleepily as White blaze placed the small orb in his hand, the boy clamped his hand over the orb as it began to glow healing his injuries instantly. A smile spead across Rowen's face as the English-accented boy wriggled out of his hold on him standing up quickly. "Bloody hell! I'm- I'm healed!" Cye cired in awe scanning sub-armored his body.
White blaze dropped Rowen's Kanji-ball into his hand as the blue-haired boy rose to his feet dusting himself off, the tiger nudged his leg sticking close to him. Cye breathed a sigh of happiness turning to his genius-friend with tears in his eyes, Rowen blinked rapidly in confusion before he felt Cye embrace him sobbing on his shoulders.
"Its' so good to see you Rowen!" He cried into his shoulder. He felt Rowen's body shaking with laughter before he pulled himself from his friends embrace looking a bit embarrassed. "I wasn't laughin' at you Cye, I couldn't agree with you more! I missed all you guys!" He said. Cye's embarrassed face faltered changing into a confused one. "E-even Kento?" He asked.
Rowen nodded chuckling before he ceased his laughing completely, his expression changed into a serious one. "What exactly happened to you Cye? And where are the others?" He asked tapping his foot. "I'll explain everything to you Rowen, not to worry," Cye said before Rowen could open his mouth again. The blue haired boy raised a finger sputtering as White blaze ushered him across the lawn with his head toward the house followed by Cye who couldn't help but smile despite the situation.
"Oi Cye," Rowen said.
"Hai?" Cye replied quietly.
"Any idea what Kong is budddie?"
"No idea, Why?"
"I'll tell you later,"
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Satsuki stood amongst thousands of people inside a shopping center holding the hand of her brother who dragged her along as he made his way through the crowd grumbling. The little blonde hummed a happy tune with her eyes closed, she didn't have to worry about losing her way when her brother had her hand clasped within his, Sage would never let anything happen to her.
As the crowd became thicker the 7-year-old found it hard to keep her hand in Sage's grip, her hand was beginning to feel moist as Sage's hand became looser around hers to the extent that Satsuki's hand fell from his grasp. The bodies of many separated her from the violet-eyed boy pushing her further and further away from Sage while he stood in the same place unnoticed by them.
"Onii-san!" She cried reaching for him. Sage's gaze turned to meet hers with an emotionless look before turning his back to her, Satsuki forced herself not to cry as she fought her way through the crowd to get back to her brother that seemingly deserted her.
That's when she saw it; the green armor that haunted her for days on end, it hovered over Sage with it's sword's tip pointing downward. Satsuki wished all of these people would get out of her way so she warn her brother of the danger above him.
"Onii-san! Look out!" She shouted as loud as she could. It did no good, Sage's back was still turned to her and he stood there unmoving as the green armor raised it's sword conducting bolts of thunder into it's longsword. Light engulfed the entire area as the green armor's sword released the thunder onto everyone.
Satsuki braced herself for the worse when someone brought her down onto the floor shielding her with their body. Satsuki placed her hands over her ears shutting her eyes wanting the horrible sound of electricity to stop immediately, she never did like thunder and being this close to it made her feel queasy.
After a moment the green armor ceased it's attack floating over to the girl landing behind her, Satsuki opened her eyes slowly gazing upon her savior: She gasped in horror blinking her eyes several times to see if they weren't playing tricks on her at all.
Sage stared at her with lifeless eyes with blood running down from his head in all directions on his face, Satsuki fought the ever-present urge to cry on her big brother's shoulders as a smile appeared across his face. "Y-your safe...," He moaned slumping against her. Satsuki cried out pushing the dead body off her crawling away from it before being stopped by the strong legs of the green armor.
Satsuki looked up trembling in fear as the armor's mask slid up into the helmet revealing the face of her brother who laid not too far away from her. "Wha.. Onii-san," She muttered turning around to face him. Sage rammed the sword into ground as he kneeled down to her level with a sincere smile and gleam in his eyes, Satsuki flinched at the touch of his hand against her cheek. "Please don't hurt me Onii-san," The blonde girl whimpered as Sage pulled her against him. Satsuki rested her hands on his armored shoulders feeling awkward in his embrace, she hopped this wasn't all a trick to gain her to trust right before he plunges a sword into her heart.
"I won't harm you Satsuki.... I won't let anyone hurt you now that I'm here," Sage whispered into her ear causing it to twitch. "This is of course just a dream, but I'm here with you now and I won't that woman hurt you. She'll have to get through me first." Satsuki relaxed into his embrace with a sigh. "I believe you Onii-san," She muttered as her eyelids became heavy with sleep. She let sleep claim her as her brother's form vanish from sight, but not before she saw an image of the nightsky and a shooting star the color blue.
Ryo watched as Une leaped out of the portal with the armor of Halo following close behind; the only problem was that there was a person occupying it strangely enough. "Hey Kento, you awake?" He groaned hardly feeling like himself anymore with his energy drained. Kento cursed in response glaring upward, he could only see the inside of his prison which made his blood boil with rage. "Man this sucks beyond my compre.... uh...hension!" He uttered shifting his bound wrists. Ryo scoffed rolling his eyes, his grandmother was probably worried sick about him by now.
Une looked straight at the shrine smirking at her current success, she had captured Halo's bearer the only person left now was Rowen Hashiba which would prove to be a difficult capture since he was brains of their operation, coming up with strategies and attack plans. She turned to Sage who was obviously unaware of what was going on trapped within his own mind at the moment. "Lord Taku, come forth," Une demanded raising her scythe over her head.
The ghastly figure appeared above the shrine in a mediating position with his eyes closed, Une rolled her eyes at the spirit wishing he would find something else to do with his time besides mediate. "Yes, lady Une?" Taku said without looking at her. Une tapped her foot in annoyance before pointing to Sage."I've got some more energy for you to take for me," She said leaving the teen's side heading toward her throne. "Drain him at once. I have big plans for him."
Lord Taku bowed in confirmation directing his hands toward the armored Sage, he uttered the incantation spreading his arms out like a bird as electricity surged through his body before surrounding Sage. The blonde suddenly left frozen in his place as negative energy lifted him two inches from the ground, his legs began to kick wildly in the air he tried desperately to touch the ground once more before the electricity enter his body draining him of his energy. Sage fought back an upcoming scream as he felt himself growing weaker by the minute.
"Hey isn't that Casanova-Sage, Kento?" Ryo asked gesturing toward the floating boy. Kento shrugged spitting his saliva onto the ground glowering at the armor of Hardrock. "Ya' go me, I can't see anything 'cept the armor," He explained dryly. Ryo nodded before he felt his stomach churn in a nauseating motion, he knew what that meant; that spirit Taku was coming after his and Kento's energy. Taku brought the bearer of Halo to the shrine chaining him inside the gargoyle mouth next to Ryo as he began to made ready to drain them of all their energy. The tiger-blue eyed boy's gaze shifted toward the blonde teen beside him who struggled to fight against the draining incantation, before pain engulfed his entire being.
Satsuki groaned as the world came rushing back to her, the last thing she remembered before she was abducted was a title wave rushing through the school after her and armor hovering above her as she fell through the portal. "Onii-san?" She mumbled raising her chin from her chest. "Whose your Onii-san?" Came a small voice. Satsuki's gray eyes shifted toward a boy about the same size as she was, beside the boy were two women who had yet to awaken. "Sage is, who are you?" She asked cocking an eyebrow at the boy.
"Yulie Yamano, and your brother wouldn't happen to be the same Sage Date who won the current kendo tournament would he?" Yulie asked. Satsuki beamed proudly nodding, Yulie stared at her in awe, this little girl was Sage Date's sister? Sagewas someone he longed to meet since his mother banned him fron kendo practice saying he was too little to learn and he might hack someone in two with the sword.
"I'm Satsuki Date, nice to meet you Yuli----," Satsuki was abruptly interrupted by three screams of agony she had been faintly hearing since they had waken. "What do you think this woman want's with us?" Yulie whimpered clenching his firsts. Satsuki shook her head unsure herself of what this woman wanted with them or what she had instore for them as well. They'd probably go through the same torture as the boys being held in that shrine. Onii-san... where are you? She thought looking down as Ryo, Sage and Kento's scream's continued on.
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Outside the Date house, Cye stood by Rowen and explained the entire situation that happened earlier to him, as the genius chewed unconsciously on a candy bar he found lying on the ground near the Dojo, the brown haired boy watched his friend as he slowly lost all interest in listening to what he was telling him. Cye cleared his throat, causing Rowen to almost choke on a hunk of candy.
"Do you have any idea where they might be Rowen-san?" Cye asked drumming his fingers against his arm. Rowen looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully, remembering what he partly heard from Sage before looking down at Cye. "Na," He paused. "Sage said he wasn't in Japan... I think he mentioned something about Kong. But I don't know where Kong is!" Rowen slammed his hand onto an oak tree.
Cye sighed shaking his head, there was no way they were going to find their friends in time, they needed a location to be able to get to them before Une did any serious damage to them. "Rowen," Cye whispered shifting his gaze from his friend to the semi-morning sun lit sky.
"I have a theory that Une captured Sage, Kento, and Ryo because she though they were the most elemental out of all of us and she could use their powers to her advantage, and out of all the times she's attacked she could have taken me or you, but she didn't." Rowen nodded partly understanding what the English-accented boy had told him, just because she hadn't captured Cye or himself didn't mean she didn't plan on doing so.
Rowen bit into his candy bar scowling, when Cye's exclamation of "AHAH!" startled him, he almost choked again. Cye gave him an apologetic look patting him on the back, Rowen scowled at the 16-year-old before regaining his posture covering his mouth while coughing. "Sorry about that mate, but I just found out where she might have taken them," Cye said sheepishly.
Rowen's midnight blue eyes brightened a bit though they still showed a hint of disbelief and hopelessness. The 17-year-old cocked his eyebrows at the boy indicating he wanted to hear what Cye had to say, the brown-haired boy's eyes widened in realization grinning stupidly, a sweatdrop form in the back of Rowen's head.
"I think they might be in Hong Kong Ro," He said finally. A question mark appeared above the boy's head, Hong Kong?! "Cye," He muttered as his eyes dimming considerably. "Hong Kong is a bit out of our way if you know what I mean. Where are we gonna get the money for the airplane tickets?" Cye shrugged folded his arms across his chest, Rowen did have a point, it did cost a lot to get to Hong Kong.
Rowen shrugged placing his hand on his hip scowling once more, they were getting nowhere fast. Cye sighed scratching his head praying for an idea to hit him soon. "We could always bum some money off of Mrs. Date," He said cocking an eyebrow at the blue-haired boy. "Their family has to be loaded with pounds of it." Rowen scoffed shaking his head as White blaze came trotting out of the house with a tired expression.
"I suppose we could ask for some money, but they'd be needing half of that money to rebuild the house if ya' hadn't noticed," Rowen pointed shifting his weight on one leg. Cye growled inwardly wishing two billion yen would fall from the sky as an answer to their desperateness. White blaze came up to Rowen brushing his face across the teen's leg repeatedly for attention.
The 17-year-old smirked placing his hand behind the tiger's ear scratching it affectionally. Cye could tell the tiger was extremely worried about Ryo, and wanted to do all he could to help them. "We might as well, try and ask her for some money to get to Hong Kong," Rowen sighed staring at the oversized pet. "If we tell her it's were Sage is, she'll probably oblige." Cye nodded in agreement yawning, White blaze gaze the two warriors a questioning look setting down beside Rowen.
Cye uttered something under his breath before nodding in his friend's direction. "Alright then, Rowen you handle the money problem while I make reservations in a 4-star Hong Kong hotel when I find a phone!" Cye said winking, giving Rowen a sudden uneasy feeling. Despite that, Rowen obliged and headed off to the house while Cye stayed behind with White blaze who gave him an inquiring look. "Your a very odd tiger, White blaze," He pointed out of the obvious. White blaze roared in protest before leaving the bearer of Torrent's side in a huff. Injustice! The tiger though angrily.
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Sage felt someone nudging him endlessly in the upper part of his body near his right arm, he ignored them thinking it was his sister Yayoi trying to drag him out of the bed on a sleep-in weekend, of course he thought this before realizing he wasn't at home. Instead he had to bring himself to remembering he was not in the comfort of his bed, instead he was held prisoner inside a dim and damp unknown area with two other boys he had seen frequently in high-school.
The blonde realized one of the two boys were nudging him somehow or other. He opened his violet colored eyes glancing to his right peering at a raven haired boy who scowled at his relentless of ignoring him. "What?" Sage groaned blinking. A funny sound of overwhelming joy coming from Ryo, startled the blonde completely out of his sleeping state. "Hey-hey, Casanova your awake finally," Came a mocking voice.
Sage mentally made a note to personally shoot whomever gave him that nickname. The raven haired boy chuckled softly rolling his eyes before returning his attention back to Sage. "I'm Ryo Sanada, and the guy you heard is named Kento Rei Faun, nice to meet ya Sage," The tiger-blue eyed boy introduced himself and the other teen.
Sage snorted shaking his head, Kento was in his Kendo club, and Ryo... he had seen trying to take his place as High-school pretty boy just because he was on the soccer team and yet he couldn't help but sense two strong aura's radiating off these teenagers like had sensed from Rwoen. "I know you two thank-you verymuch," Sage replied heatedly biting his lip. Ryo winced at the boy's tone of voice, he wasn't charming as all the girls made him out to be, Sage was more like a rattle snake towards Kento and himself.
"Yeesh, ya' don't have to get all touchy about it," Ryo muttered a bit hurt. Sage grumbled something inaudible concerning his sister while staring into the dimly lit room, when the sound of snapping chains caught his attention. "Wha..?" Ryo blinked his eyes in confusion before he gazed upon the large figure of Kento blocking his view of the Wildfire armor. The ash-haired boy wrapped his hands around the chains that held his friend using all his strength to snap them.
Ryo yelped when he hit the ground on his knees totally forgetting his ankles were chained, Kento kneeled down to his friend's level breaking the chairs on his ankles as well before helping him up. "Thanks buddie," Ryo said rubbing his wrists. Kento gave him a thumbs up before walking passed him toward Sage who had his eyes closed Kento cocked an eyebrow at the boy his breathing pattern was that of a person sleeping but he couldn't be sleep, he had just heard him talking a minute ago to Ryo!
That's when Sage opened his eyes. Kento stepped back startled; Sage's eyes were open but his breathing pattern was still that of a sleeping one. Sage's frozen expression didn't shift as he yanked the chain out of the gargoyle's mouth destroying it in the process landing halfway outside of the shrine, his chest rested on the statues fangs. Ryo was unable to keep himself from applauding the blonde for performing such a feat while draping Sage's arm over his shoulder while Kento broke his ankles free of their restraints.
"What's going on?" Sage asked dumbfounded, as Kento draped his other arm over his shoulder. "We're bustin' outa here buddie," Kento proclaimed taking a step forward stumbling. Ryo almost fell over from the weight of the Halo armor but managed to keep his footing. Damn this armor is heavy. The raven-haired boy thought wearily wishing he had more energy. Sage placed his feet firmly on the ground causing the three of them to fall to their knees rather painfully.
Kento hissed a cruse through clenched teeth turning to glare at the blonde who was surprised from the abrupt stop. "Wait--," Sage breathed. "If we're gonna get outa here ... could get my sister?" Ryo shrugged at the boy's request. "We would if we knew where she and our friends are being held," He replied. Sage's spirit's fell as did his all of his hopes of ever finding her. Kento cocked an eyebrow at the blonde confused, if he wasn't incorrect Sage got himself captured to save his sister?!
"Well, since the Biyach and casper ain't here I guess we could search for the them, whadya say Kento-san?" Kento stared at Ryo, then at Sage before groaning out of frustration at the entire ordeal at hand. "Yeah, yeah," He muttered rising to his feet with Ryo quickly following suite. Sage tried to stand of his legs that were at the moment feeling like Jell-O, Ryo held his wrist tight within his grasp making sure he wouldn't fall on his ass. The three teens walked in the opposite direction of Une's throne toward the area where they had previously seen their friends hopping Taku wasn't watching them from someplace they couldn't see him.
"Maybe, you guys should sit me down someplace for the moment eh?" Sage yawned flexing his wrist. Ryo and Kento loved the sound of that idea and let go of Sage's wrist, the blonde fell on his bottom painfully watching the two boys walk away from him. "Eh? On the floor?!" He cried. Ryo turned around smirking. "Well, duh," Ryo replied. "Just call it payback for being suck a stuck-up ... person in the beginning!"
Kento snickered following after Ryo who rushed passed him, Sage pouted on the ground with his arms folded across his chest wondering why he ever tried to be nice to them in the first place, when a moaning sound was brought to his attention. The blonde looked around slightly frightened while trying to climb to his wobbly legs. He stood bent over slowing lifting himself in an upright position.
He stood up a little too fast, nausea rushed over him causing Sage to fight to keep his balance; he felt as if his legs had los their solid form and his bones had given out on him completely. What else could go wrong? He thought irritably before he felt something cold, wet and sticky drip onto his head in a rhythmic tapping way. It drizzled down his face and underneath his armor giving him the chills and not in a cold way mind you.
"Me and my big mouth," He uttered as the ground became drenched in the gray-blue liquid. He noticed this so called water began shaping itself into a small mole hills that grew higher and higher until arms shot of from the sides, several of the hills-with-arms chest's swelled froming small brests while others didn't and last but not least, demonic humanoid faces all cackling and smile wickedly at Sage. Knowing he was surrounded by the goo, Sage did the only thing he could do hoping they wouldn't stop him: Run. They watched the young man dash off in the direction toward the rest of his friends and they eagerly followed him at the command of their master lord Taku.
Author's note: MMKAY. I've Finally done chapter nine! *Cheers* It took me so long to finish this, with school work and everything in my way if you catch my meanin' here people *winks* So, I'm sorry if this is boring or anything else (mainly grammatical errors spelling stuff like that). Auidos! Chapter ten is coming soon, and there shall be action! Sakura123~: PS: I never knew I was capable of creating a cliffhanger. *Sinfs* I'm so proud of myself!