Chapter 18
"Okay," Mia spoke as she was driving, "we found Ryo at Mt. Fuji. What does the next line of the poem say Brian?"
"Darkest prison sheds the light," Brian replied.
"Darkest prison sheds the light," Jazalyn mused.
"Do you think Sage could be in a cave?" Melody concluded.
"It's possible," Sarah replied.
Melissa looked up from her poetry, "there are so many caves in Japan. How are we going to find the right one?"
"Mia," Brian asked, "Can I use your laptop?"
"Sure," Mia replied.
As Brian looked through the data, Jazalyn began to write in her blank poetry book. 'Darkest prison sheds the light,' she thought, 'I wonder if Sage is in one of the caves on the Akiyoshi Plateau?'
As Brian searched through the data, Jazalyn looked up, "Brian, did you ever study the Nine Armors myth?"
"No," Brian replied.
"I think I read the myth when I was in High School." Jazalyn replied, "The myth talked about an armor being made by a warrior monk on the Akiyoshi Plateau."
Brian looked at the screen, "Why don't we try the name out."
When Brian entered the name, the Nine Armor myth appeared, "Bingo," he smiled.
"What?" Melody asked.
"It says the armor of Halo was created in Akiko Cave." Brian read, "A favorite place of refuge for various religious groups on the Akiyoshi Plateau."
"Then I guess we know where to go," Sarah smiled.
Melissa looked around, "I have a feeling that the Warlords will try again."
"We're going to have to expect that," Jazalyn replied flatly.
Sarah glared at Jazalyn, "you're taking this too lightly."
Jazalyn didn't look up from her poetry book, "it's the way the world works. We are the prey and the Warlords are the hunters."
Sarah got angry, "You think this is a game?"
"Of course," Jazalyn said flatly, nose still buried in her poetry book, "this is a very deadly game. To Talpa and the Dynasty, we are merely pawns."
"I hope you don't think your partner thinks of you as a pawn," Melissa said seriously.
"He does." Jazalyn replied, "He used me as a bargaining pawn. You guys remember the "I'll trade the Ronin Warriors for my partner" incident."
"I remember," Melody shuddered, "but do you have to say it like that?"
"It's the truth," Jazalyn replied, "And if we stick together, maybe we can outwit the Dynasty."
Sarah smiled, "I guess there is hope for us."
"Of course there is," Jazalyn smiled, "we've already proven to the Dyansty that we have teeth and claws."
"And in layman's terms," Melody asked.
"You five can fight back," Ryo smiled, startling the four girls.
"Can we not talk like this," Brian asked, "it's kind of creepy."
"Fine," Jazalyn smiled. "How far is it to Akiko Cave?" She asked Mia.
"You had better get comfortable," Mia smiled, "it's going to be a long ride."
Sekhmet looked at jeep heading toward Akiko Cave, 'they have led me to Sage of the Halo. This will be easier than I thought.'
Sekhmet followed the car; his mind was forming a plan. 'This time' he thought, 'I will kill Ryo of the Wildfire as well as Sage of the Halo.'
"Okay," Mia spoke as she was driving, "we found Ryo at Mt. Fuji. What does the next line of the poem say Brian?"
"Darkest prison sheds the light," Brian replied.
"Darkest prison sheds the light," Jazalyn mused.
"Do you think Sage could be in a cave?" Melody concluded.
"It's possible," Sarah replied.
Melissa looked up from her poetry, "there are so many caves in Japan. How are we going to find the right one?"
"Mia," Brian asked, "Can I use your laptop?"
"Sure," Mia replied.
As Brian looked through the data, Jazalyn began to write in her blank poetry book. 'Darkest prison sheds the light,' she thought, 'I wonder if Sage is in one of the caves on the Akiyoshi Plateau?'
As Brian searched through the data, Jazalyn looked up, "Brian, did you ever study the Nine Armors myth?"
"No," Brian replied.
"I think I read the myth when I was in High School." Jazalyn replied, "The myth talked about an armor being made by a warrior monk on the Akiyoshi Plateau."
Brian looked at the screen, "Why don't we try the name out."
When Brian entered the name, the Nine Armor myth appeared, "Bingo," he smiled.
"What?" Melody asked.
"It says the armor of Halo was created in Akiko Cave." Brian read, "A favorite place of refuge for various religious groups on the Akiyoshi Plateau."
"Then I guess we know where to go," Sarah smiled.
Melissa looked around, "I have a feeling that the Warlords will try again."
"We're going to have to expect that," Jazalyn replied flatly.
Sarah glared at Jazalyn, "you're taking this too lightly."
Jazalyn didn't look up from her poetry book, "it's the way the world works. We are the prey and the Warlords are the hunters."
Sarah got angry, "You think this is a game?"
"Of course," Jazalyn said flatly, nose still buried in her poetry book, "this is a very deadly game. To Talpa and the Dynasty, we are merely pawns."
"I hope you don't think your partner thinks of you as a pawn," Melissa said seriously.
"He does." Jazalyn replied, "He used me as a bargaining pawn. You guys remember the "I'll trade the Ronin Warriors for my partner" incident."
"I remember," Melody shuddered, "but do you have to say it like that?"
"It's the truth," Jazalyn replied, "And if we stick together, maybe we can outwit the Dynasty."
Sarah smiled, "I guess there is hope for us."
"Of course there is," Jazalyn smiled, "we've already proven to the Dyansty that we have teeth and claws."
"And in layman's terms," Melody asked.
"You five can fight back," Ryo smiled, startling the four girls.
"Can we not talk like this," Brian asked, "it's kind of creepy."
"Fine," Jazalyn smiled. "How far is it to Akiko Cave?" She asked Mia.
"You had better get comfortable," Mia smiled, "it's going to be a long ride."
Sekhmet looked at jeep heading toward Akiko Cave, 'they have led me to Sage of the Halo. This will be easier than I thought.'
Sekhmet followed the car; his mind was forming a plan. 'This time' he thought, 'I will kill Ryo of the Wildfire as well as Sage of the Halo.'