Chapter Two - The Mystery Girl

Ryo was running his fingers vigorously through his hair, trying to force the shampoo into every inch of his scalp. His mind wasn't on that task, however, but on the embarrassing situation that occurred that morning. He put his hand to the side of the shower wall as if holding himself up, and let the water wash out the shampoo. His head beat hard with his heavy thoughts of his friends stumbling onto something he had hoped to keep a secret.

His thoughts ran away from his mind as he felt a cold hand on his shoulder. He snapped up a little as anyone would, feeling another presence. He turned to see a concerned smile on Mina's face as she closed the curtain when she stepped in. Ryo smiled back at her and put his head under the shower again. She began to massage his back and shoulders, for she always knew when Ryo was nervous about something.

"Don't kick yourself over it. I know that isn't the best way to bring things up, but it would have come up eventually," she said in her light and cheery voice.

"Yeah, but I would have rather had some control over it instead of it just falling out the way it did," he responded.

"Well, there is one thing that you always told me, when I was younger, to make me feel better." She put her arms around his neck, getting closer to his ear. "You always said 'No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says or does, I will always love you', and I still believe that to this day."

Ryo felt himself laugh a little as he lowered his head to allow the longer strands of hair to be washed. "Yeah, but you realize that I didn't know what those words meant until the past few days."

Mina started to run her fingers through Ryo's hair. "Now that you understand them, do you still mean them?" she asked lightly.

Ryo turned slowly and put his arms around her, pulling her close. "I know now more than ever that I will say those words and mean them... as I have always meant them," he said with his arms seemingly holding her tighter, but not too tight.

Mina smiled and felt so overwhelmed at his words. She put her arms around him as well and they let each other grasp this moment. Neither of them truly wanted to let go, but it was getting late and the steam was getting to be a little too much. Mina wrapped herself in a towel, as did Ryo. They played a little as they dried each other's hair and had a conversation on whose hair was better. Mina's, being perfectly well kept, adding to her already stunning looks, or Ryo, who seemed to do only what was necessary to keep it clean and how he was unbearably attractive with it. Eventually it ended in a draw and them in each other's arms again as they got dressed for the long trip to Mia's.

Mina was wearing a nice white skirt with a button-down blouse and a blue jacket that ended just above her waist and left open. Ryo wore his usual blue jeans and white tee-shirt with some odd logo on it. "I wish I had brought some formal clothes. I didn't know I was going to this big fancy meeting," she said, readjusting her buttons.

"Don't worry about it. It's not like it's a banquet or anything, just a couple of people getting together," Ryo reassured her.

"I still can't believe that Mia just let you guys live there because you were all going to the same school. You met them all just like that?" she asked, trying to piece together the old story.

Every time she asked, Ryo cringed. He hated lying to her, but would she believe the truth? Was it really necessary to make her live her life looking over her shoulder as the other Ronins? Ryo didn't believe so. "We just met on a whim. Mia was in a car crash, and all five of us just happened to be there to help her out. We recognized each other from school and she just couldn't thank us enough. It just sort of happened."

Ryo couldn't face her whenever he explained that story to her constantly, but now a new worry filled his mind. What if she asks the others about it? The guys might back him up on it, but Mia probably wouldn't, especially considering the circumstance. Ryo felt like kicking himself, for he knew getting tangled into a web of lies was the worst thing to do.

He snapped out of his trance when Mina jumped on his back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well, then I'm set to go! How about you, handsome?" she said with a smile.

Ryo began to blush a little, then he let Mina off his back. "Are you sure you're ready for such a long trip on White Blaze's back?" And before Ryo was finished his white tiger was scratching at the door to be let out, knowing their destination already.

"Quit stalling! I want to meet those guys without having to think up excuses!" she said, almost irritated.

Ryo looked at her and smiled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you like them better than you like me," he said with a smirk.

Mina stuttered for a moment, as Ryo knew she would. "No! I... never, Ryo! You're... I love you!"

She was still stuttering as Ryo approached and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I know, Mina, I know." Mina seemed to look on, still entranced, but Ryo just held her tighter, smiling.

"White Blaze! Ready to go, boy? It's a long trip," Ryo said, kneeling down beside his tiger and scratching him behind his ears. He let out as close to a purr as he could, but, after all, he was a Himalayan white tiger. Ryo mounted and Mina got on behind him. Before White Blaze began to run, Mina wrapped her arms tightly around Ryo's waist and pressed the side of her face to his back.

"You know, you don't have to grab so tightly. White Blaze is careful, he won't throw you off," Ryo said, looking over his shoulder.

Mina didn't budge, though. "I know, I just like to take every chance I can to hug you this tight." She giggled, and Ryo just smiled as White Blaze took off down the mountain path with amazing speed. About fifteen minutes into the trip, Ryo put his hand on Mina's folded at his stomach. The wind was blowing so violently in their ears that it was hard to hear one another, but no words were needed between these two.

Elsewhere, the others were just entering Mia's mansion. Speaking in a whisper, afraid that Mia might hear, they continued their conversation. "You know, neither of them said they actually did anything. Maybe we just came in at an awkward moment," Sai said, seemingly almost defending Ryo.

"I don't think so, Sai. I mean, come on! She had no pants on! And was walking out of Ryo's bedroom!" Sage stated, defying Sai's comments.

"Shh! Would you keep it down! Mia might hear you!" Rowen scolded in a harsh whisper.

"Is that who I think it is?" a light, older female voice sounded from the hallway. The guys smiled as they heard her footsteps coming towards them. Mia finally met them in the hallway, and they all just threw their arms up, saying each others' names.

They exchanged hugs and greetings, and finally little footsteps were heard running through the halls. The small, pesky, somewhat annoying little Yuli almost crashed into a flowerpot rushing towards the crowd. "Guys!" he yelped as his mouth couldn't form the words because of his tremendous smile.

"Hey, little buddy! We missed ya!" Kento almost yelled across the hall. Yuli again began his charge towards them and was met by Kento's massive hands picking him up and putting him on his shoulder.

Little Yuli surveyed the people and gave each of them his own special welcome, but he couldn't help but ask the same question that Mia was thinking. "Hey, where's Ryo?"

At the question, the guys seemed to blush a little. Mia didn't hesitate a second in asking them why. "Why are you all turning red? Where is Ryo?" she asked, smiling in anticipation.

"Um... Ryo is bringing his girlfriend, so he's going to be a little late," Sage managed to throw out.

Mia smiled wildly, and Yuli's jaw dropped as he and Mia both asked at once, "Ryo has a girlfriend?!"

They all just laughed at it. "He would be here with us if Kento had called, so we were surprised at it too when we heard about it," Sai stated.

"Yeah, way more surprised," Sage whispered to his friends.

"Ryo has a girlfriend! That is so... cute!" Mia exclaimed, throwing up her hands.

"That's not cute, that's disgusting!" Yuli rebutted.

"Cute?" Rowen asked at Mia.

"Disgusting?!" Sage hollered at Yuli.

It didn't take Mia long to topple them with questions. As each of them were about to explain how little they really knew, she asked one more. Eventually she remembered that there was food on the stove that would burn. Relieved a little, the four went into the small livingroom area and plopped down on the couches. Yuli took a seat on the floor by Kento's feet. "Do you think Ryo thinks we told her?" Rowen asked, seemingly ignoring Yuli's presence.

"I think he'll be able to tell when Mia greets him with a hug instead of a slap in the face," Kento replied.

"When is Ryo going to get here?" Yuli asked, nearly complaining.

The four looked at each other as if that was a question of some personal stature. "He should be here any second, Yuli. White Blaze is much faster than Mia's jeep," Sai said. Yuli seemed to fondly remember playing with White Blaze when he was still living with Ryo at Mia's mansion.

Outside the mansion, the tiger was reacquainting himself with all the old and familiar scents of the area. Ryo was about to knock on the door when Mina grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she said with shaky blue eyes.

Ryo stared at her confused. "What do you mean? How can what be a good idea?"

She looked at him then down at the ground. "This is your little circle, Ryo, not mine. I don't want to intrude on it. These are your friends, and it probably wouldn't be such a good thing for me to be there after this morning," she calmly explained.

Ryo also looked a little perplexed, but it gradually became a smile. "They asked me to come, Mina, and when they ask me to go anywhere, you are coming too, no matter what," he said almost proudly. Mina looked up at him, trying to piece together what he just said. "You are a part of me, a big part, and I can't be me without you. So you see, there isn't any way you're not invited to anywhere I am," Ryo explained further.

Mina didn't seem to buy it. She was still a little red in the face and looking at the ground. Ryo now looked sad himself. He put one of his arms around her and kissed her temple. She still blushed, but she was smiling. "All right, let's go," she said, still smiling at the ground.

"Don't worry, they won't be upset at you. They want to see those sexy legs again," Ryo said in a nonchalant manner.

"Ryo!" Mina whined as she laughed. Ryo, still with his arm around her and his hand rubbing her shoulder, knocked on the door. After a few minutes, the door was heard unlocking, and Mina's nervousness returned. Mia peeked her head out and her face erupted into a huge smile as she saw Ryo at the door. She ushered them in and gave Ryo a huge hug.

"Hey, I'm taken now, Mia!" Ryo said with a small smile.

Mia just laughed and rolled her eyes. "And who might this be, the wife, perhaps?"

Mina blushed as Ryo looked at her and once again put his arm around her. "Maybe someday, you never know," he said with a growing smile. Now Mina's face was really turning red. Ryo just pulled her closer yet. "Mia, this is a very good friend of mine, Mina Aino. Mina, this is Mia Koji. She's the one that let the guys and me stay here a while." Mina bowed slightly and Mia was all too pleased to see her. After planning a day with a house full of rowdy boys grown up, a female face was pleasant to see.

"I really don't mean to impose, Ryo insisted I come," she stated humbly.

"Oh, don't be so worried about it! I'm glad you could come! A new face is always a treat," Mia replied, waving it off. "The guys are in the living room waiting for you, I'll be out in a minute with breakfast." Mia went on, seemingly overzealously proud at just about everything. Before anything else could be said, she dashed off to the kitchen.

Ryo shrugged as Mina gave him a look that seemed to ask a question. They entered the living room and the only one who made a sound was Yuli. "Ryo! You're here!" he said as he jumped up from his seat and bull-rushed Ryo. Ryo picked him up as Kento had and had one of his usual big-brother talks with him. He played a little, asked him some questions about school and so on.

Mina looked on admiringly. For someone that has grown up without a full and traditional family around him, he certainly has great parenting skills, she thought to herself quietly.

Eventually Yuli had to ask where White Blaze was, and Ryo let him off his shoulder to go outside and greet him. "Poor White Blaze, he's going to drive him nuts again," Rowen sniggered.

"I don't know, White Blaze seems to like having annoying little boys around him. Must remind him of his earlier years," Sage said, shooting a smart-mouth look towards Ryo. Ryo just smirked. He usually would fight back with his own quick wit, but he shrugged it off like it was nothing. The only one to notice that was Sage, who seemed to give a disappointed look that said he wanted a long drawn-out battle of words.

Ryo took a seat on the only remaining armchair, and Mina sat down on the arm with her hand on his shoulder supporting herself. "So," Ryo said, trying to find the right words to ask the question on his mind.

"No one said anything about this morning, man," Kento said, almost winking and giving a thumbs up.

Both Mina and Ryo simultaneously took in a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief. "You know, that does bring up an interesting prospect, guys," Rowen stated with an almost sinister smirk on his face as he looked at Sage. Ryo, sensing that something he didn't want to hear was going to be said, picked up his head.

"That's right, blackmail!" Sage responded evilly.

Ryo's jaw dropped, and Mina's face blushed a heavy red. "You guys wouldn't!" Ryo protested.

"Yeah, you're right, we owe you too much, buddy," Kento assured, trying to soothe Ryo's flying nerves.

"You see what happens when you rush into things and get in too deep?" Sai lectured, almost teacher-like.

Ryo just looked down and shook his head. He put a hand on Mina's knee and looked up at her, smiling. "But it was and forever will be worth it." Mina blushed a heavy crimson hue, but she smiled.

This short moment was interrupted by some strange noises. "Hack! Cough! Wheeze! Gag! Good Lord! Too much sappy, lovey-dovey in the room! Can't breathe! Ugh!" Kento said with his hands at his own throat. Ryo quickly pulled the pillow out from behind him and threw it, hitting Kento dead between the eyes. The group laughed at the sound of Kento thumping to the floor. Kento pulled himself up by the coffee table and had a smile on his face, but his eyes were slanted. His face returned to normal and he leaned on the couch. "Seriously, Ryo, you really have gotten soft. What's going to happen if the Dyn - yeowch!" Kento was cut off by Rowen giving him a forceful smack in the back of the head. "Dude! I'm getting hit way too much today!"

"Hey, Mina, why don't I show you around this place a little? We're going to be here a while, so you might as well know where everything is," Sai said as he stood up and waved his hand. Mina looked at Ryo with a face that was asking permission, and Ryo returned a glance that seemed to ask, 'What are you looking at me for?'.

The unspoken conversation ended, and Mina rose from the arm of the chair as Sai began to lead Mina ever so slowly around the immense household. As soon as they left, all eyes focused on Ryo dead-on. "Does she know about us?" Rowen finally asked with a narrow face.

"No, I didn't tell her anything about the Dynasty or us," Ryo responded solemnly.

Sage looked at him with a crooked glance. "You think it's a good idea to lie to her?"

Kento immediately attacked the question. "Sage, this isn't something that we easily talk about!"

Rowen looked at the coffee table in thought and finally spoke up. "You know, it's not like our armor is our secret identity. We are the Ronin Warriors with or without it, we have proven that. But the situation has never come up as to where we had to hide it from others." Rowen snapped out of his train of thought and saw that Sage, Ryo and Kento were all deeply intrigued by his words. "Well, it's true. It's not like the Dynasty doesn't know who we are, or at least one can assume. It really is a difficult question, to say the least. Ryo, I would have to say this decision is up to you entirely, unless one of us has an objection to it," Rowen finished. He had now turned all cards to Ryo. Deep in thought, he didn't seem like he was going to respond quickly.

"I think you should tell her, Ryo, get everything out in the open. It just leads to a larger circle of lies," Sage preached.

Kento seemed to well with anger at every word. "You can't just go around babbling this out to everyone you meet! Our armor is not a way to pick up girls!" he shouted, quiet enough for only the four to hear.

"Why you miserable...!" Sage trailed off. He was getting angrier by the second. The two stood as if ready to fight, before Ryo stood up.

"Enough guys! I agree that this isn't a comic book superhero thing, and that we don't need to keep everything a secret... but, I have decided that the Dynasty is gone, there is no need for her to worry about it as we do, no need to be constantly be afraid that in any split second the world could be taken from us." Ryo sat back down in the armchair with his eyes shut. He really hated talking about this, he felt he was always betraying Mina.

"So, what did you tell her?" Sage asked almost disappointed.

Ryo looked up, his heart wrenched again. "I told her that one day, Mia got in a car crash. We were there to help her out and in return she gave us a place to stay. It's simple enough," Ryo said, looking around for acceptance.

"That doesn't sound very realistic," Kento scolded.

"Well, excuse me, but I am not very fond of lying to her! I am not someone who makes a practice of it!" Ryo shot back.

"Easy there, buddy!" Rowen tried to calm Ryo. "Considering the circumstance, we can't really be upset. We know you only had her intentions in mind, so we'll go along with it."

After a few moments of silence, Sai, Mina, and Mia all came into the living room and were a little surprised to see how solemn the four were. Sai, however, knew why. "So, are we ready to eat?" Mia announced, breaking everyone out of their quiet mood, Kento especially.

"All right! Food, sweet food! How I have missed the smell!" he versed as he almost tackled the others trying to get to the diningroom.

"You would have thought he hadn't eaten for years, the way he acts," Sai smiled.

Ryo, as usual, let everyone go ahead of him, and there was Mina waiting for him. He put his arm to the small of her back and led her to the dining room, as if Sai had not shown her where it was already.