Chapter Eight - Three Love
Sekhmet was traveling east, spreading his venom into every drop of life he passed. Everything still lived but it was filled with poison and corruption. Soon he would reach the center-most point and would wait for his next commands. He truly did not know what he was waiting for, but he followed orders blindly as the dark spirits consumed his soul. Somewhere in his mind, however, was still pure and untainted by the dark spirits. It was the only escape for his true self as his body was simply overpowered by spirits increasing his bloodlust, greed and sinistry a thousandfold.
I must fight still; if I lose this speck of my sanity I shall have completely lost. Talpa has not won until he has my entire spirit at his palm. I cannot let that happen as long as I breathe. Why am I here? There must be some connection, and when I find out what it is I will destroy it!
I can feel this fire flowing within me, it's making me stronger... there must be a battle to come... The Ronins! That evil rodent! He will stop at nothing to get the armors! And with my body and armor strengthened to lengths beyond measure, this will not be an easy fight. Is that what Talpa wants? For me to have my armor gain tremendous power so he can take it from me again? I shall not have it! As long as my thoughts are my own he shall not win!
Sekhmet's monologue continued as for if he stopped, he would lose every shred of himself to the Nether spirits. His mind raced on thoughts and actions yet his body remained as still as a tree, unwavering. He couldn't control his own muscles, he couldn't control the movement of his own eyes. All he had left was that secluded and neglected corner of his mind, but as long as he still had it, he would fight.
Mina and Sage were still in each other's arms, letting the moment get the best of them. Soon they both released from their embrace and simply stared at one another. "I... I shouldn't have..." Mina stated worriedly.
"He betrayed both of us..." Sage replied, trying to comfort her.
"But... " She was cut off by Sage putting his hands to her face.
"It's all going to work out," he smiled.
"I'm, uh... I should... I need some air..." Mina walked off slowly.
Sage watched her leave and shut the door behind her as she left and as soon as he no longer felt her presence, a great feeling of guilt overwhelmed him. "My God, what have I done?!" he screeched with one wide eye. He put his face to his hands as if checking if it was really him. He leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together the situation. "What happened? Why did I do that? I have more respect for Ryo than that... why did it happen?"
Sage was still studying the ceiling as a light British accent interrupted his monologue. "I'd like to know that myself!"
Sage looked up in surprise to see Sai standing at the corner with one hand on the wall and the other limp at his side, eyes wide in surprise as well. Sage was getting a welling of nervousness in his stomach. He figuratively had his hand caught in the cookie jar. "Sai?" he asked for lack of a better word to say.
"Sage, please tell me I didn't see what I think I saw," he stated as calmly as possible.
"I wish I could tell you something, Sai, anything! But I don't know what happened myself." Sage looked at the ceiling again but shut his eyes tightly trying again to recall the situation. "I was sitting here and she came in to apologize. My ribs were still sore, so she fixed up the tape. We got to talking and I was telling her about how I got my armor, then... we were all over each other."
Sai looked up at him, a bit confused. "So it was an equal decison?" he asked.
Sage seemed a little surprised at the question. "You think I forced myself on her?"
Sai immediately retracted his question. "No no no! Nothing like that! It just seemed a little odd to me. You and Ryo are close, he and Mina are even closer. It just seemed so out of place."
"Hey, I was shocked too!" Sage replied, trying to rationalize. "We just got caught up in the moment. We kissed, then, well we kissed a whole lot more," he finished.
Sai looked at him despondantly as he walked into the room and sat down in the armchair. "So... what do you think?" he asked, eying Sage.
"What does that mean?" he shot back.
"Calm down. I just want to know, are we going to have Halo and Wildfire at each other's throats, or do you both agree that it was a mistake?"
Sage seemed to examine the question word by word. "I don't know, but in any case, let's keep this from Ryo, okay?"
Sai looked down; he knew this was wrong but something told him that it would be better for now. He agreed.
However, it was a pointless argument. Ryo, he was sitting at the top of the steps with a bouqet of white lilies wrapped in a white cloth and a red ribbon clutched tightly in his hand. He stared down at them coldly and sorrowfully. The setting sun through the window would have emphasized tears, if he would shed any.
For some reason, Ryo was cold and unmoving. He had no emotions other than sorrow but it seemed he was in shock as well. His hand clutched tighter and tighter at the stems. He stood up and walked into his former room and went to the window he had used to exit and enter the house without anyones knowing. He again looked at the lilies and threw them out, watching them land gracefully in the wind to the ground. "Not like this," he said in a whisper. "If it has to happen... it won't be like this."
He immediately jumped out the window landing on his feet, however, his left foot crushing the lilies as he landed. He didn't seem to care, however, as he took off into the bright orange sunlight. Following the dirt path he was sure Mina had taken, he began to quicken his pace trying to catch up with her.
He eventually found her by the lake. She was standing and had her arms wrapped around herself as her small blue jacket wasn't doing well against the winds of the night. Ryo walked up behind her and draped his jacket over her shoulders. She turned in surprise to it but she didn't take it off.
Mina noticed a certain sterness in Ryo's glare as he looked at her, almost as if he was trying to hide his emotions. She held onto the upper siding of the jacket holding it on as she brushed some hair out of her face from the slight breeze. She looked to the ground and said "Thank you," and returned to gazing at the lake.
"I just want to protect you, Mina," he said in a monotone manner.
"How?" she asked simply.
Ryo took a breath before he started to explain. "The Ronins and I, we always lived with this fear. The fear that the Dynasty was going to come back and threaten the world. I didn't want you to have to look over your shoulder every day as well," he explained.
She still looked at the lake. "Is that the only reason?"
Ryo seemed to snap out of his somberness. He should have known Mina would bring out more than he would have liked. She knew him too well. "...and because I was... afraid." He paused a moment, hoping that that would satisfy her.
"What could a mighty Ronin Warrior be afraid of?" she asked harshly.
Ryo walked up beside her and put his hand to her shoulder as he joined in gazing over the lake. "I'm afraid of losing you."
Mina looked down. Whatever Ryo said always made her melt. She was beginning to feel even worse about what happened a few moments ago. She tried to make herself feel better by exaggerating what Ryo had done. "I could have been killed today," she said quietly.
"That is my fault, but I will always protect you, no matter what."
Mina looked away again. She was losing her composure; she wanted to wrap herself in his arms again but she just couldn't. "Ryo, I can't... it was wrong..." Mina didn't know whether she meant the battle, or Sage.
Ryo turned her to face him and took her in his arms, pulling her close to him. "No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says or does, I will always love you. Please, say it's okay for me to love you."
Mina fell into tears as Ryo held her tighter. If she only knew what he meant. He began to stroke her hair as he had done before, but Mina pulled out. She looked at him with tears freely flowing, her face showing her sorrow. She stepped back and said, "Ryo I... I'm sorry, I just can't!" with her emotions filling her voice. She turned to run off and Ryo didn't stop her.
"But for which reason?" he whispered to himself.
He watched her run over the hill with his jacket flowing over her shoulders. He stood watching that very same hill for hours and hours. He didn't even realize the sun had set. What finally broke his concentration was a rattling off in the distance. It sounded familar but he couldn't quiet place it just yet. A figure approached over the same hill he was staring at and there stood Anubis, with the Staff in hand and in his ceremonious garb, he looked like he had been through much on his travels. "Anubis?!" Ryo shouted in shock. After all, Anubis was dead the last time Ryo saw him.
"Greetings, Wildfire, I had hoped you'd be the first I would find," he greeted.
"H-How?!" was all Ryo could manage to stutter. Anubis smirked and triumphantly held forward the staff as if it was an answer-all.
Ryo seemed to be trying to calm himself as Anubis came further towards him. He eventually smiled in greeting as an old friend had returned. It was good to see a friendly face amongst all this, even if it was only temporary. The shock was still there, but it was overwhelmed by relief.
"I'm afraid we cannot reminisce of old times, my friend; there is much to do," Anubis stated as his face turned to a grimace.
"I noticed the Dynasty is back in action. It's causing more problems than usual," he said.
Anubis raised a brow. "Is there more in this realm?" he asked.
Ryo shook his head. "No, nothing like that. C'mon, all the guys are at the mansion, it's best if we get the explanation all at once."
Mina entered the house, wiping her eyes slightly as she put Ryo's jacket on the coat rack by the door. Sage smiled as he got up from the couch very carefully. He buttoned up his dress shirt and walked over to Mina, who was taking her time hanging up Ryo's coat. She felt a warm embrace around her shoulders. She knew it was Sage and wanted to escape his arms quickly, but she felt something. She didn't know what it was exactly, but the last time she felt like this was in Ryo's arms after he had taken care of her injuries.
"So, beautiful, feeling better?" he asked. Mina was stuck with a loss for words. He kissed her cheek lightly. "What's wrong?" he asked, knowing full well. He was acting like he was Ryo, like he was in love with her for seven years, took care of her and cherished her all those years.
But he's not Ryo... she thought to herself. Yet this feels so right... she went on.
"Hey, are you okay? You haven't said anything since you got in." Sage broke her concentration. Mina was fingering the creases in Ryo's jacket and that was an answer to Sage. "Mina, please, don't worry about him. He's always saying he's fine. Let him be, he'll understand. He knows he was wrong," he explained.
"I know, I should forgive him... shouldn't I?"
Sage held her tighter. "That's up to you, but whether or not you can trust him ever again is another issue," he warned.
He's right; if Ryo has this secret, what else could he be hiding? I still haven't accepted it; if I do, what else will come out?"
Sage again broke her train of thought with a kiss. He turned her around and looked her deep in the eyes. "It's all going to be okay," he said simply and hugged her again. He winced slighty at his sore ribs, but his smile never left. Ryo didn't know what he had. Poor guy, losing something as wonderful as this... Sage's mind echoed.
Mina raised her hands to Sage's arms around her. "My mind says it's wrong... but..." she began. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, still holding Sage's arms.
"What does your heart say?"
Mina raised her head and looked at the ceiling as if Sage was there. "It says, that if I'm with Ryo, I will never be lonely." Sage loosened his hug and began to withdraw, but to his surprise Mina clasped tighter. "But it says that I will be protected if I'm with you."
And at that, Sage laughed under his breath and continued his embrace. "I'll make sure you're never alone."
Just then there was a turn of the knob and they immediately released hold of each other. Sage tried best he could to get out of the way and Mina bolted into the hallway into the living room.
"Ryo? I did't know you were outside," Sage said, trying to hide his nerves.
"There's a lot of things about me you don't know," he remarked coldly and walked in. Sage seemed to pick up the eerie chill as he began to close the door. Ryo quickly shot out his arm to stop it. "Sage, we have a guest."
Ryo let go of the door and walked into the kitchen as Sage looked out the door, seeing no one out there. "The guy's going crazy." Nonetheless, he left the door open and Ryo was walking around the house gathering the other Ronins. Yuli and Mia as well gathered in front of the open door and the crowd caught Mina's attention as she bashfully walked to the back of the crowd.
They filed outside and looked up at the starry night trying to piece together what on Earth Ryo was doing. "What's going on, Ryo? Why are we out here?" Mia asked.
Ryo walked forward into the shadows. "This may be surprising, but don't be too alarmed." And he started to walk back, but it seemed someone was with him. He came into the light from the windows of the house and they all gasped in shock. Shocked calls and questions of his name were heard throughout the six of them. Mina just looked on at the oddly-dressed man.
Sage seemed to pick up on it. "That's Anubis, but, he died years ago," he explained as calmly as possible.
"Who is he?" Mina looked up with her blue eyes asking.
"He is one who tried to follow the teaching of the Ancient. Rowen should have said something. He was the former Warlord of Cruelty that turned to our side."
Mina immediately turned to look at the former Warlord, who seemed to delight in their surprise. "That's him?! From what I thought, he would be over five hundred years old! He looks about twenty-eight!" she yelled in a whisper.
"Please, be calm. There is much I must impart to you," Anubis stated calmly.
They all took positions in the area. Kento sat on a nearby rock, Cye and Rowen leaned against the house. Sage stood by the door and Mina stood rather close to him. Ryo stood still and folded his arms as Mia stood with him. Yuli sat on the ground at Ryo's feet. They were in a close circle and seemingly tensing themselves for a shocking story.
Anubis faced Mia directly. "Have you ever heard of the Flame of Damnation?" he asked.
Mia looked around and all eyes were on her. "It's supposed to be one of the seven flames of hell. It's more than a flame, really, it's more like a living entity of a demon," she explained.
"Yes, it is a demon entity, but it is more than that. It is a servant of those who can cause great cruelty. Only those as dark as Satan himself..."
Ryo looked up and spoke in a stern face. "Talpa..."
Anubis turned his attention to Ryo. "Exactly. Talpa has returned from the depths of hell with the flame and he is using it too deviously. The more time we waste the stronger it will become."
Rowen got off the wall and seemed to have concern hidden somewhere in him. "What is the situation exactly?" he asked.
"Talpa has separated the flame among the Dark Warlords..." he began.
"Hey! I thought that the Warlords were on our side now!" Kento interrupted.
"They were of pure spirit earlier this very week, but Talpa's Nether Spirits seemed to have strengthened upon his return."
Sai looked down and seemed to talk to himself. "So the Warlords are taken control of by nether spirits. We are going to have to battle them again."
Anubis nodded as if Sai could see he was addressing him. Sage spoke up next. "What does this flame do?"
Anubis took a breath and removed his straw hat and held it at his side. "The Blue Flame of Damnation. It gives power as it also draws it from the one it posseses. It grows stronger with every act of cruelty and evil the host does. Talpa has instilled it into the armors. With each cruel battle they will fight, they will grow in power beyond measure. If he absords the armor with the flames, he could become even more powerful than the Inferno armor itself."
Kento leaped off his seat. "No way! Nothing is stronger than the Inferno! Ryo can toast anybody and anything with it!"
Kento's defense of the white armor was interrupted by the others. "Kento, would you sit down! It may be a possibility, but to think the Inferno armor is unstoppable is a misjudgement that could end up getting us killed!" Ryo protested.
Kento looked surprised at Ryo. Usually he was overconfident in his White Armor's abilities. Kento would have argued more but he sat back down instead, knowing Ryo was troubled by something.
There was another long silence then Anubis spoke up again. "Kayura," was all he said.
"Oh, man! This is not good! If they have her too, we're in trouble!" Rowen exclaimed, unfondly remembering his near-death trials with Kayura. Anubis began to explain how Kayura was recaptured and Rowen drifted off in the back of his mind. This is too much. Blue Flame of Damnation, the Warlords. It's too damn much. And with Mina and Ryo it's going to be more difficult than ever, he finished. He came back to reality with Anubis explaining how Kayura received the largest part of the evil flame.
Kento jutted in with his own wise crack. "All this stuff about evil fire from hell. If worse comes to worse, Ryo will absorb it and blow Talpa back to hell where he came from," he stated with a chuckle, again trying to keep things light.
Anubis's eyes widened. Sai seemed a bit disgruntled at Kento's comment. "Get serious, Kento! It's not as easy with a simple wisecrack!"
Anubis immediately interjected, "No. He may be right about this." All eyes turned to Anubis and confusion was the main expression. "The Wildfire Armor wouldn't be enough to hold that evil power, but the Inferno, the Inferno may have the capacity and Virtue it would take to control a flame that evil."
Ryo seemed to get a little antsy at what was going on. He didn't like to be talked about especially when they knew he was in vicinity. "What exactly are you going to have me do?" he interjected, making sure they knew he had a say in this.
Anubis looked at him and saw that he wasn't very willing to do this. "Before Talpa can claim full power, the flames must burn in unison with the host, thus making a great inferno that equals a portion of Hell. Your armor being of Wildfire and its greater counterpart, the Inferno, can absorb and strengthen from all heat and flame."
Ryo didn't look up from his scrutiny of the ground but he kept his concious on the conversation. "So you want me to absorb the Flame of Damnation into the Inferno armor? Sounds feasible..." he drifted.
"But don't you think there is a great risk that follows it?" Mia spoke up from behind him.
"The risks are great indeed, much too many to mention, but it's even a greater risk to let this evil go unchecked."
Ryo looked up to Anubis finally and with a look of determination he asked, "What is the worst possibility with the greatest chance of happening?"
The group gasped. They didn't expect Ryo to take this right out. "Ryo, dude, you can't be serious!" Kento exclaimed. Ryo didn't budge, he waited for Anubis to answer.
"The worst that could happen is that you would become a demon of Hell," he stated bluntly.
"You say that like there's more," Rowen inserted.
"Yes, there is more. That is the worst that could happen, but it's not the most likely. What is most likely is that the absorbtion of the Flame of Damnation will overstock the Armor and Ryo with tremendous power."
Kento looked around at the sterness of everyone. He didn't understand what Anubis was saying, to him; you couldn't get enough power. "Hey, what's so bad about being the biggest, baddest dude in the universe?" he asked, knowing it was a foolish question, but he just had to know.
"Imagine filling up a water balloon," Sai started.
"Yeah? And?" he asked, trying to piece the analogy together.
"Imagine filling it too much," Sage finished.
The group fell quiet. "There is more," Anubis broke in. "There is also a threat to those who give their power to the Inferno. If there is too much power and the White Armor breaks down, the powers will be sent back to the original armors with such momentum and evil spirit it will destroy them utterly." He had expected the Ronins to react harshly to the revelation but they simply stood silent. They are not ready for this battle, but they are ready to die, Anubis thought to himself.
"Well, let's get to it," Ryo said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Wait. It's not so simple, Ronins. The Warlords' strength has grown stronger beyond measure and it grows with each passing second," he stated.
"So, then, what are we waiting for?!" Kento exclaimed, pulling out his armor orb.
"You will not stand a chance as it stands now, not even as a collective five you would barely survive. Not to mention the time it would take to defeat one of them would increase the strength of the others."
And again the group fell silent. "So what do you suggest?" Rowen asked, seemingly growing tired.
"One week. Go to your places of your armors' strength and obtain as much power as possible. We cannot afford more than one week. Strengthen your armors, remember the Ancient's teachings. But for now, rest."
"Amen to that," Rowen stated, rubbing the back of his head.
They quietly filed into the mansion, but Sage stayed behind and Mina stayed with him. Not so much as to be with Sage but to find out more from this man that seemed to know all the answers. "Hey, Anubis, I have something really importnant to ask you," Sage said, putting his hand to Anubis's shoulder.
"Yes?"
Sage rubbed the back of his head and seemed to get a little embarassed but had a large amount of worry written on his face. "Those powers of Damnation, they increase someone's hatred, right?" he asked with light eyes.
"To a large extent, yes. Why do you ask?" Anubis looked as he removed his straw hat.
"Wait, I have one more. What if these armors are possessed by some one who is upset with another person. What then?"
Anubis looked at Sage awkwardly. The answer was not one Sage would like to hear, but Anubis knew from past experience that Sage could handle such truths. "That person would be on a path with a fate worse than Hell," he answered frankly.
Sage gulped and stepped back. "Uh, thanks," he stuttered.
"May I inquire as to why you ask me this?" Anubis asked curiously.
"Oh, uh, no reason, so I'll see you in the morning." And with that Sage walked off to the doorway where Mina was waiting. "I don't think it would be a good idea to tell Ryo about us right now." Mina nodded in agreement as she had overheard the words. Sage turned to say a farewell to Anubis only to find he was already gone.
"What's going to happen now?" Mina asked from behind.
Sage turned and saw Mina standing there in the cold night wind. He wrapped his arms around her trying to keep her warm. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. The Ronin Warriors are going to save the world again and absolutely nothing will change."
Mina snuggled in close to him. "It already has," she whispered. What am I doing? I don't love him, do I? she began to ask herself. He automatically assumed it to be a full-blown relationship after one long kiss. I don't want to think about this anymore, he feels so warm and comforting... like Ryo... used to be?
Sekhmet was traveling east, spreading his venom into every drop of life he passed. Everything still lived but it was filled with poison and corruption. Soon he would reach the center-most point and would wait for his next commands. He truly did not know what he was waiting for, but he followed orders blindly as the dark spirits consumed his soul. Somewhere in his mind, however, was still pure and untainted by the dark spirits. It was the only escape for his true self as his body was simply overpowered by spirits increasing his bloodlust, greed and sinistry a thousandfold.
I must fight still; if I lose this speck of my sanity I shall have completely lost. Talpa has not won until he has my entire spirit at his palm. I cannot let that happen as long as I breathe. Why am I here? There must be some connection, and when I find out what it is I will destroy it!
I can feel this fire flowing within me, it's making me stronger... there must be a battle to come... The Ronins! That evil rodent! He will stop at nothing to get the armors! And with my body and armor strengthened to lengths beyond measure, this will not be an easy fight. Is that what Talpa wants? For me to have my armor gain tremendous power so he can take it from me again? I shall not have it! As long as my thoughts are my own he shall not win!
Sekhmet's monologue continued as for if he stopped, he would lose every shred of himself to the Nether spirits. His mind raced on thoughts and actions yet his body remained as still as a tree, unwavering. He couldn't control his own muscles, he couldn't control the movement of his own eyes. All he had left was that secluded and neglected corner of his mind, but as long as he still had it, he would fight.
Mina and Sage were still in each other's arms, letting the moment get the best of them. Soon they both released from their embrace and simply stared at one another. "I... I shouldn't have..." Mina stated worriedly.
"He betrayed both of us..." Sage replied, trying to comfort her.
"But... " She was cut off by Sage putting his hands to her face.
"It's all going to work out," he smiled.
"I'm, uh... I should... I need some air..." Mina walked off slowly.
Sage watched her leave and shut the door behind her as she left and as soon as he no longer felt her presence, a great feeling of guilt overwhelmed him. "My God, what have I done?!" he screeched with one wide eye. He put his face to his hands as if checking if it was really him. He leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together the situation. "What happened? Why did I do that? I have more respect for Ryo than that... why did it happen?"
Sage was still studying the ceiling as a light British accent interrupted his monologue. "I'd like to know that myself!"
Sage looked up in surprise to see Sai standing at the corner with one hand on the wall and the other limp at his side, eyes wide in surprise as well. Sage was getting a welling of nervousness in his stomach. He figuratively had his hand caught in the cookie jar. "Sai?" he asked for lack of a better word to say.
"Sage, please tell me I didn't see what I think I saw," he stated as calmly as possible.
"I wish I could tell you something, Sai, anything! But I don't know what happened myself." Sage looked at the ceiling again but shut his eyes tightly trying again to recall the situation. "I was sitting here and she came in to apologize. My ribs were still sore, so she fixed up the tape. We got to talking and I was telling her about how I got my armor, then... we were all over each other."
Sai looked up at him, a bit confused. "So it was an equal decison?" he asked.
Sage seemed a little surprised at the question. "You think I forced myself on her?"
Sai immediately retracted his question. "No no no! Nothing like that! It just seemed a little odd to me. You and Ryo are close, he and Mina are even closer. It just seemed so out of place."
"Hey, I was shocked too!" Sage replied, trying to rationalize. "We just got caught up in the moment. We kissed, then, well we kissed a whole lot more," he finished.
Sai looked at him despondantly as he walked into the room and sat down in the armchair. "So... what do you think?" he asked, eying Sage.
"What does that mean?" he shot back.
"Calm down. I just want to know, are we going to have Halo and Wildfire at each other's throats, or do you both agree that it was a mistake?"
Sage seemed to examine the question word by word. "I don't know, but in any case, let's keep this from Ryo, okay?"
Sai looked down; he knew this was wrong but something told him that it would be better for now. He agreed.
However, it was a pointless argument. Ryo, he was sitting at the top of the steps with a bouqet of white lilies wrapped in a white cloth and a red ribbon clutched tightly in his hand. He stared down at them coldly and sorrowfully. The setting sun through the window would have emphasized tears, if he would shed any.
For some reason, Ryo was cold and unmoving. He had no emotions other than sorrow but it seemed he was in shock as well. His hand clutched tighter and tighter at the stems. He stood up and walked into his former room and went to the window he had used to exit and enter the house without anyones knowing. He again looked at the lilies and threw them out, watching them land gracefully in the wind to the ground. "Not like this," he said in a whisper. "If it has to happen... it won't be like this."
He immediately jumped out the window landing on his feet, however, his left foot crushing the lilies as he landed. He didn't seem to care, however, as he took off into the bright orange sunlight. Following the dirt path he was sure Mina had taken, he began to quicken his pace trying to catch up with her.
He eventually found her by the lake. She was standing and had her arms wrapped around herself as her small blue jacket wasn't doing well against the winds of the night. Ryo walked up behind her and draped his jacket over her shoulders. She turned in surprise to it but she didn't take it off.
Mina noticed a certain sterness in Ryo's glare as he looked at her, almost as if he was trying to hide his emotions. She held onto the upper siding of the jacket holding it on as she brushed some hair out of her face from the slight breeze. She looked to the ground and said "Thank you," and returned to gazing at the lake.
"I just want to protect you, Mina," he said in a monotone manner.
"How?" she asked simply.
Ryo took a breath before he started to explain. "The Ronins and I, we always lived with this fear. The fear that the Dynasty was going to come back and threaten the world. I didn't want you to have to look over your shoulder every day as well," he explained.
She still looked at the lake. "Is that the only reason?"
Ryo seemed to snap out of his somberness. He should have known Mina would bring out more than he would have liked. She knew him too well. "...and because I was... afraid." He paused a moment, hoping that that would satisfy her.
"What could a mighty Ronin Warrior be afraid of?" she asked harshly.
Ryo walked up beside her and put his hand to her shoulder as he joined in gazing over the lake. "I'm afraid of losing you."
Mina looked down. Whatever Ryo said always made her melt. She was beginning to feel even worse about what happened a few moments ago. She tried to make herself feel better by exaggerating what Ryo had done. "I could have been killed today," she said quietly.
"That is my fault, but I will always protect you, no matter what."
Mina looked away again. She was losing her composure; she wanted to wrap herself in his arms again but she just couldn't. "Ryo, I can't... it was wrong..." Mina didn't know whether she meant the battle, or Sage.
Ryo turned her to face him and took her in his arms, pulling her close to him. "No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says or does, I will always love you. Please, say it's okay for me to love you."
Mina fell into tears as Ryo held her tighter. If she only knew what he meant. He began to stroke her hair as he had done before, but Mina pulled out. She looked at him with tears freely flowing, her face showing her sorrow. She stepped back and said, "Ryo I... I'm sorry, I just can't!" with her emotions filling her voice. She turned to run off and Ryo didn't stop her.
"But for which reason?" he whispered to himself.
He watched her run over the hill with his jacket flowing over her shoulders. He stood watching that very same hill for hours and hours. He didn't even realize the sun had set. What finally broke his concentration was a rattling off in the distance. It sounded familar but he couldn't quiet place it just yet. A figure approached over the same hill he was staring at and there stood Anubis, with the Staff in hand and in his ceremonious garb, he looked like he had been through much on his travels. "Anubis?!" Ryo shouted in shock. After all, Anubis was dead the last time Ryo saw him.
"Greetings, Wildfire, I had hoped you'd be the first I would find," he greeted.
"H-How?!" was all Ryo could manage to stutter. Anubis smirked and triumphantly held forward the staff as if it was an answer-all.
Ryo seemed to be trying to calm himself as Anubis came further towards him. He eventually smiled in greeting as an old friend had returned. It was good to see a friendly face amongst all this, even if it was only temporary. The shock was still there, but it was overwhelmed by relief.
"I'm afraid we cannot reminisce of old times, my friend; there is much to do," Anubis stated as his face turned to a grimace.
"I noticed the Dynasty is back in action. It's causing more problems than usual," he said.
Anubis raised a brow. "Is there more in this realm?" he asked.
Ryo shook his head. "No, nothing like that. C'mon, all the guys are at the mansion, it's best if we get the explanation all at once."
Mina entered the house, wiping her eyes slightly as she put Ryo's jacket on the coat rack by the door. Sage smiled as he got up from the couch very carefully. He buttoned up his dress shirt and walked over to Mina, who was taking her time hanging up Ryo's coat. She felt a warm embrace around her shoulders. She knew it was Sage and wanted to escape his arms quickly, but she felt something. She didn't know what it was exactly, but the last time she felt like this was in Ryo's arms after he had taken care of her injuries.
"So, beautiful, feeling better?" he asked. Mina was stuck with a loss for words. He kissed her cheek lightly. "What's wrong?" he asked, knowing full well. He was acting like he was Ryo, like he was in love with her for seven years, took care of her and cherished her all those years.
But he's not Ryo... she thought to herself. Yet this feels so right... she went on.
"Hey, are you okay? You haven't said anything since you got in." Sage broke her concentration. Mina was fingering the creases in Ryo's jacket and that was an answer to Sage. "Mina, please, don't worry about him. He's always saying he's fine. Let him be, he'll understand. He knows he was wrong," he explained.
"I know, I should forgive him... shouldn't I?"
Sage held her tighter. "That's up to you, but whether or not you can trust him ever again is another issue," he warned.
He's right; if Ryo has this secret, what else could he be hiding? I still haven't accepted it; if I do, what else will come out?"
Sage again broke her train of thought with a kiss. He turned her around and looked her deep in the eyes. "It's all going to be okay," he said simply and hugged her again. He winced slighty at his sore ribs, but his smile never left. Ryo didn't know what he had. Poor guy, losing something as wonderful as this... Sage's mind echoed.
Mina raised her hands to Sage's arms around her. "My mind says it's wrong... but..." she began. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, still holding Sage's arms.
"What does your heart say?"
Mina raised her head and looked at the ceiling as if Sage was there. "It says, that if I'm with Ryo, I will never be lonely." Sage loosened his hug and began to withdraw, but to his surprise Mina clasped tighter. "But it says that I will be protected if I'm with you."
And at that, Sage laughed under his breath and continued his embrace. "I'll make sure you're never alone."
Just then there was a turn of the knob and they immediately released hold of each other. Sage tried best he could to get out of the way and Mina bolted into the hallway into the living room.
"Ryo? I did't know you were outside," Sage said, trying to hide his nerves.
"There's a lot of things about me you don't know," he remarked coldly and walked in. Sage seemed to pick up the eerie chill as he began to close the door. Ryo quickly shot out his arm to stop it. "Sage, we have a guest."
Ryo let go of the door and walked into the kitchen as Sage looked out the door, seeing no one out there. "The guy's going crazy." Nonetheless, he left the door open and Ryo was walking around the house gathering the other Ronins. Yuli and Mia as well gathered in front of the open door and the crowd caught Mina's attention as she bashfully walked to the back of the crowd.
They filed outside and looked up at the starry night trying to piece together what on Earth Ryo was doing. "What's going on, Ryo? Why are we out here?" Mia asked.
Ryo walked forward into the shadows. "This may be surprising, but don't be too alarmed." And he started to walk back, but it seemed someone was with him. He came into the light from the windows of the house and they all gasped in shock. Shocked calls and questions of his name were heard throughout the six of them. Mina just looked on at the oddly-dressed man.
Sage seemed to pick up on it. "That's Anubis, but, he died years ago," he explained as calmly as possible.
"Who is he?" Mina looked up with her blue eyes asking.
"He is one who tried to follow the teaching of the Ancient. Rowen should have said something. He was the former Warlord of Cruelty that turned to our side."
Mina immediately turned to look at the former Warlord, who seemed to delight in their surprise. "That's him?! From what I thought, he would be over five hundred years old! He looks about twenty-eight!" she yelled in a whisper.
"Please, be calm. There is much I must impart to you," Anubis stated calmly.
They all took positions in the area. Kento sat on a nearby rock, Cye and Rowen leaned against the house. Sage stood by the door and Mina stood rather close to him. Ryo stood still and folded his arms as Mia stood with him. Yuli sat on the ground at Ryo's feet. They were in a close circle and seemingly tensing themselves for a shocking story.
Anubis faced Mia directly. "Have you ever heard of the Flame of Damnation?" he asked.
Mia looked around and all eyes were on her. "It's supposed to be one of the seven flames of hell. It's more than a flame, really, it's more like a living entity of a demon," she explained.
"Yes, it is a demon entity, but it is more than that. It is a servant of those who can cause great cruelty. Only those as dark as Satan himself..."
Ryo looked up and spoke in a stern face. "Talpa..."
Anubis turned his attention to Ryo. "Exactly. Talpa has returned from the depths of hell with the flame and he is using it too deviously. The more time we waste the stronger it will become."
Rowen got off the wall and seemed to have concern hidden somewhere in him. "What is the situation exactly?" he asked.
"Talpa has separated the flame among the Dark Warlords..." he began.
"Hey! I thought that the Warlords were on our side now!" Kento interrupted.
"They were of pure spirit earlier this very week, but Talpa's Nether Spirits seemed to have strengthened upon his return."
Sai looked down and seemed to talk to himself. "So the Warlords are taken control of by nether spirits. We are going to have to battle them again."
Anubis nodded as if Sai could see he was addressing him. Sage spoke up next. "What does this flame do?"
Anubis took a breath and removed his straw hat and held it at his side. "The Blue Flame of Damnation. It gives power as it also draws it from the one it posseses. It grows stronger with every act of cruelty and evil the host does. Talpa has instilled it into the armors. With each cruel battle they will fight, they will grow in power beyond measure. If he absords the armor with the flames, he could become even more powerful than the Inferno armor itself."
Kento leaped off his seat. "No way! Nothing is stronger than the Inferno! Ryo can toast anybody and anything with it!"
Kento's defense of the white armor was interrupted by the others. "Kento, would you sit down! It may be a possibility, but to think the Inferno armor is unstoppable is a misjudgement that could end up getting us killed!" Ryo protested.
Kento looked surprised at Ryo. Usually he was overconfident in his White Armor's abilities. Kento would have argued more but he sat back down instead, knowing Ryo was troubled by something.
There was another long silence then Anubis spoke up again. "Kayura," was all he said.
"Oh, man! This is not good! If they have her too, we're in trouble!" Rowen exclaimed, unfondly remembering his near-death trials with Kayura. Anubis began to explain how Kayura was recaptured and Rowen drifted off in the back of his mind. This is too much. Blue Flame of Damnation, the Warlords. It's too damn much. And with Mina and Ryo it's going to be more difficult than ever, he finished. He came back to reality with Anubis explaining how Kayura received the largest part of the evil flame.
Kento jutted in with his own wise crack. "All this stuff about evil fire from hell. If worse comes to worse, Ryo will absorb it and blow Talpa back to hell where he came from," he stated with a chuckle, again trying to keep things light.
Anubis's eyes widened. Sai seemed a bit disgruntled at Kento's comment. "Get serious, Kento! It's not as easy with a simple wisecrack!"
Anubis immediately interjected, "No. He may be right about this." All eyes turned to Anubis and confusion was the main expression. "The Wildfire Armor wouldn't be enough to hold that evil power, but the Inferno, the Inferno may have the capacity and Virtue it would take to control a flame that evil."
Ryo seemed to get a little antsy at what was going on. He didn't like to be talked about especially when they knew he was in vicinity. "What exactly are you going to have me do?" he interjected, making sure they knew he had a say in this.
Anubis looked at him and saw that he wasn't very willing to do this. "Before Talpa can claim full power, the flames must burn in unison with the host, thus making a great inferno that equals a portion of Hell. Your armor being of Wildfire and its greater counterpart, the Inferno, can absorb and strengthen from all heat and flame."
Ryo didn't look up from his scrutiny of the ground but he kept his concious on the conversation. "So you want me to absorb the Flame of Damnation into the Inferno armor? Sounds feasible..." he drifted.
"But don't you think there is a great risk that follows it?" Mia spoke up from behind him.
"The risks are great indeed, much too many to mention, but it's even a greater risk to let this evil go unchecked."
Ryo looked up to Anubis finally and with a look of determination he asked, "What is the worst possibility with the greatest chance of happening?"
The group gasped. They didn't expect Ryo to take this right out. "Ryo, dude, you can't be serious!" Kento exclaimed. Ryo didn't budge, he waited for Anubis to answer.
"The worst that could happen is that you would become a demon of Hell," he stated bluntly.
"You say that like there's more," Rowen inserted.
"Yes, there is more. That is the worst that could happen, but it's not the most likely. What is most likely is that the absorbtion of the Flame of Damnation will overstock the Armor and Ryo with tremendous power."
Kento looked around at the sterness of everyone. He didn't understand what Anubis was saying, to him; you couldn't get enough power. "Hey, what's so bad about being the biggest, baddest dude in the universe?" he asked, knowing it was a foolish question, but he just had to know.
"Imagine filling up a water balloon," Sai started.
"Yeah? And?" he asked, trying to piece the analogy together.
"Imagine filling it too much," Sage finished.
The group fell quiet. "There is more," Anubis broke in. "There is also a threat to those who give their power to the Inferno. If there is too much power and the White Armor breaks down, the powers will be sent back to the original armors with such momentum and evil spirit it will destroy them utterly." He had expected the Ronins to react harshly to the revelation but they simply stood silent. They are not ready for this battle, but they are ready to die, Anubis thought to himself.
"Well, let's get to it," Ryo said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Wait. It's not so simple, Ronins. The Warlords' strength has grown stronger beyond measure and it grows with each passing second," he stated.
"So, then, what are we waiting for?!" Kento exclaimed, pulling out his armor orb.
"You will not stand a chance as it stands now, not even as a collective five you would barely survive. Not to mention the time it would take to defeat one of them would increase the strength of the others."
And again the group fell silent. "So what do you suggest?" Rowen asked, seemingly growing tired.
"One week. Go to your places of your armors' strength and obtain as much power as possible. We cannot afford more than one week. Strengthen your armors, remember the Ancient's teachings. But for now, rest."
"Amen to that," Rowen stated, rubbing the back of his head.
They quietly filed into the mansion, but Sage stayed behind and Mina stayed with him. Not so much as to be with Sage but to find out more from this man that seemed to know all the answers. "Hey, Anubis, I have something really importnant to ask you," Sage said, putting his hand to Anubis's shoulder.
"Yes?"
Sage rubbed the back of his head and seemed to get a little embarassed but had a large amount of worry written on his face. "Those powers of Damnation, they increase someone's hatred, right?" he asked with light eyes.
"To a large extent, yes. Why do you ask?" Anubis looked as he removed his straw hat.
"Wait, I have one more. What if these armors are possessed by some one who is upset with another person. What then?"
Anubis looked at Sage awkwardly. The answer was not one Sage would like to hear, but Anubis knew from past experience that Sage could handle such truths. "That person would be on a path with a fate worse than Hell," he answered frankly.
Sage gulped and stepped back. "Uh, thanks," he stuttered.
"May I inquire as to why you ask me this?" Anubis asked curiously.
"Oh, uh, no reason, so I'll see you in the morning." And with that Sage walked off to the doorway where Mina was waiting. "I don't think it would be a good idea to tell Ryo about us right now." Mina nodded in agreement as she had overheard the words. Sage turned to say a farewell to Anubis only to find he was already gone.
"What's going to happen now?" Mina asked from behind.
Sage turned and saw Mina standing there in the cold night wind. He wrapped his arms around her trying to keep her warm. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. The Ronin Warriors are going to save the world again and absolutely nothing will change."
Mina snuggled in close to him. "It already has," she whispered. What am I doing? I don't love him, do I? she began to ask herself. He automatically assumed it to be a full-blown relationship after one long kiss. I don't want to think about this anymore, he feels so warm and comforting... like Ryo... used to be?
