Chapter Seventeen: No Difference In Victory And Defeat

Ryo's cabin was just the same as it was when everyone left. Small, tidy and cozy, anyone who spent some time there could understand why it was such a nice place to live albeit that it was very solitary. Mina sat tiredly on Ryo's bed watching what remained of the sun go down through the windows. "Always so beautiful. This always has been the best place for watching the sunsets..."
Stretching out and laying back on the bed she fell onto something rather hard and uncomfortable. Rolling off the bed and pulling off the covers she found the protruding objects, two large thick photo albums. "Wow, these weren't here before... Ryo must have stopped here before he left," she thought to herself as she took one on her lap and began to flip through the pages.
The pictures were precisely in order of when they were taken following a time line of Ryo's life. "He was such a cute kid... he sure lost a lot growing up but he never lost that smile of his," she went on as the pictures showed Ryo aging. Until finally at age five the pictures jumped about six years, to one of he and Mina together on the school grounds. He was sitting on the ground and she was kneeling next to him with a hand to his shoulder giving the classic peace sign. Mina never noticed it before but as she looked at the two of them in their school uniforms, Ryo really was blushing a lot. Turning the pages she also found that he was often blushing when she was around, yet it seemed that the only pictures that were left in the album were of the two of them.
It went on that way far into the next album until Ryo was the age of sixteen. Finally other people started to enter the pictures, the Ronin Warriors, and after contemplating that for a bit Mina was a bit surprised at the revelation. "I was all Ryo had for half his life... there wasn't anyone else for him..." The statement stirred in her mind for a little bit but she shook it out, she had made her choice and was sure it was right, she didn't want to have to fight it off. "I can't stay with Ryo out of pity! It wouldn't be right for either of us!"
Looking down to the book she saw something that reassured her even further. It was a picture of Ryo and Sage at the Date Dojo wearing the classic kendo style uniform and each holding a bamboo kendo stick. They seemed pretty happy in the picture, almost like brothers. "Sage knows me well in such a short time, he would never betray my trust. I made the right decision... Ryo is strong, he'll endure, he always does..."

However enduring was something Ryo was doing at a very great strain. Battling in what could most likely be called a War of Armageddon, the carnage was of epic proportions. Despite Talpa being of at least twelve feet tall, he was just as swift as the smaller Ronin bearing the Inferno armor charged with the Flame of Damnation. Once again the others were forced to stand by and watch their unofficial leader fight for the sake of existence by himself. This time no one dared humor the thought of stepping in, for any way that Talpa's wrath would be turned to the drained warriors could instantly mean death. They had attained many injuries while awaiting Ryo's return to consciousness and defending the armor-less warlords.
"Man I hate this! It happens every time! Everything is left up to Ryo and we can't do jack to help him!" a disgruntled Kento protested as he watched the sparks fly from the clashing metal.
"I know how you must feel Hardrock but you must remember our spirit and faith in him does more than you might think. Believe in your fellow Ronin brother and you shall be in the fight with him." Anubis explained as he wearily held himself up with his staff.
Sage merely looked on as Ryo lost his footing and was being driven back by the Demon Emperor, the look in his eyes was plastered there as the battle went on, if Ryo was not to be victorious he surely would take the entire blame for it. "It's all my fault..." his mind echoed, "I ruined everything for him and at a time like this... I should be in there risking damnation, not Ryo! But what can I do now...?"
Ryo however for the first time in a while let his mind go of the soap opera of a life he was experiencing and focusing purely on the battle before him. He regained balance and started to fight back immediately. The battle couldn't go on like this equally, the immense power he acquired was driving his body past its limits and every step taken, every swing of the sword, all took their toll on the weary warrior. He leapt into the air and slammed down both his swords, which were blocked from above by the extensively large demon blade of Talpa's dark armor. Somehow Ryo kept balance up there as he continued to pour down his weight.
"What's the matter Wildfire? Is the flame of Damnation too much for a pitiful human? You seem to be tiring. There is no point in continuing your useless fight! Do the honorable thing and admit defeat to the stronger!"
"Shut up and die!" and with that, Ryo let out a fierce growl and his armor released a blazing inferno down onto the black armored devil. He leapt down and turned to the giant burning figure before him but he would not let that be the end of it, he charged and began to slash away like a mad man, as if this were his last chance to take victory. It very well might have been. Strike over strike, the armor searing and burning, watching Ryo take a very strong and perilous advantage was more than exhilarating to the on looking warriors.
"He's gonna do it guys! He's gonna do it!"
"C'mon Ryo! Just a little more! Don't give up! You got this one!"
Slashing with endless fervor, Ryo decided it was time for it and in an instant; he connected the handles of his swords, leaped back and charged up... "Rage.... Of... Inferno!"
Everything erupted into a burning tunnel of fire as all the fortitude in Ryo and his armor came out in an endless burning blaze striking the center of the worst evil this world has known. Pouring out the power, the other warriors had to cover their eyes from the blinding light but the feeling they had within them was overwhelming.
"He did it! Ryo did it! He did!" Kento cheered as he covered his face with his forearm.
"It is not over yet! Be prepared!" Anubis warned.
Ryo fired his deadly flare until it seemed he couldn't yell anymore and fell from his mid-air floating attack, landing on his feet and stumbling to the ground. However no cheers were shouted for the amazing feat or the overall will and strength of mind Ryo had shown... Talpa was still standing, steaming from the heat and tarnished unlike ever before. The Ronin of Virtue obviously dealt a devastating blow to his opponent but that paled to the fact that Talpa had survived a sure-kill.
The evil demon wobbled a bit but kept his towering balance, "Impressive Wildfire... you have managed to control some of the flame... but it was not enough. It will never be enough! You have taken on a battle you cannot possibly-"
"Shut up!" Ryo shouted with amazing zeal as he snapped to his feet and drove both fervor swords the stomach of the black armor. Talpa stammered back a bit but delivered a ferocious punch to Ryo's face knocking him a good thirty feet back, leaving the swords still rammed in his abdomen.
"Ryo gave him everything he had... and he's still standing... the Rage of Inferno is the ultimate attack but it didn't work!" Sai began to explain, mostly to himself.
"But Ryo is still fighting," Sekhmet interrupted, "Even though he executed a finishing technique that connected but still failed the appropriate goal, he still continues to fight. There is still hope."
"There is now hope where the was once none... may the heavens have mercy on this valiant warrior..." Dais whispered to the battlefield, watching Talpa storm over to the fallen Ronin, struggling to get to his feet with blood pouring out of his helmet.
Coughing up the dirt that escaped into his throat, Ryo was trying to quickly catch his breath before the battle would resume, but he couldn't move. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how hard he strained, it was as if his body weighed a thousand times more than ever before. "No... no I have to get up... it can't end like this... I... I have to..." but it was no use, his body was too worn out to cooperate. Talpa, however, decided to lend a helping hand as he grabbed the warrior by his throat and hoisted him in the air.
"You have objected to many of my comments during this battle Wildfire... perhaps I should do as you asked and simply kill you without a word," and with that ominous statement, he removed Ryo's damaged helmet revealing a large stream of blood flowing from his head but yet somehow still, Mina's red ribbon that she tied around his forehead lasted through the battle. "Perhaps I shall simply crush your skull and have no words about it!" he continued to taunt as he began moving his half way melted hand up to Ryo's head.
"It's no good! My body just won't work! I've got to think of something or everything we know will be doomed!" Ryo's mind raced.
"Wildfire! The power is within you! It is immense but do not fear its evil! Take hold and win this battle! Believe in yourself! Trust the Armor and believe!" Anubis shouted shakily while holding himself up with the staff.
"Silence undead traitor! There is no use in trying to give hope to the hopeless!"
"Don't listen to him Ryo! You can do this buddy! I know you can!" Rowen shouted out.
"Yeah man! You never let us down before and you won't do it this time either! Third times a charm! Send him to hell never to come back!" Kento followed.
"Don't do it for the world Ryo, don't do it for us or anyone! Do it for you! Prove to yourself you are the strongest warrior in existence!" Sai encouraged.
Sage looked on as Ryo was struggling to breathe, and he slowly, calmly said "We all believe in you Ryo... all of us. Believe in yourself and your armor and you can win this. The sun will rise tomorrow and our lives can go on, we can settle things between us anyway you want it... but tomorrow has to come."
Ryo opened one of his eyes and wearily turned his head to look over at his four best friends cheering him on. "They... they have faith in me... they have hope... for tomorrow... hope that I gave them..." his mind went on, "I... I won't... let them down!"
Suddenly Ryo began to tense up, his armor began to steam as the heat began to rise and Ryo started to growl. Talpa looked on in confusion, the growl turned into a roar as Ryo shot his arms up then slammed them and in the instant, he bellowed "Immortal Hell Fire!" and the entire area surrounding the two titans erupted into mountains of flames. Ryo continued to holler and tense his body despite the tremendous pressure, and as he went on, something began to form at his back. With one final blast of intensity, two large flaming wings came from his back breaking him free of Talpa's grasp. Picking up his head and looking directly at the Demon Emperor, his eyes were glowing an ill-fated red.
The others looked on in shock, even some in fear, as Ryo hovered there on wings of hell fire, surrounded by flames of damnation.
"What... what's happening?!" Sai asked with a yell, trying to be heard over the intense fire and explosions on the battlefield in front of them.
"He's taking full control of the Flame of Damnation! We can only pray he can maintain a pure heart and conscience!" Anubis explained equally as loud.
Taking hold of the handles of his fervor swords, Ryo charged them up before brutally ripping them out of Talpa. Shaken and a bit unnerved, Talpa actually backed down, but he still held up his sword. "No!" he growled, "That flame, that power was to be mine! You are not the one to wield it! It was to be my tool to bring all of your destruction! I will not accept such defeat!" and he charged at the demonic Ronin with all his might, but as he brought his sword down, Ryo gave a half hearted swing of his sword to block it and the demon blade was shattered to pieces.
No one felt the urge to celebrate the fact that Ryo had so easily topped Talpa like that, at this moment they were in point of fact more afraid of Ryo.
"No! This is not to be!" the black armored menace roared again but he would not have much chance to do anything else as Ryo flew in and immediately sliced off the right arm, not allowing it to regain one of it's many weapons. Talpa howled in agony but it was no deterrent from Ryo's onslaught as he swung around and removed Talpa's other arm. Without hesitation, Ryo followed up with an effortless slice to the waistline cutting the towering evil right in half. His torso fell off his legs into the ground howling in unbridled pain and suffering while the legs fell into a heap with the arms. "How is this possible?! How can a heart of virtue control such evil! I am the darkest being ever to exist! How can this come to be?!"
Ryo slowly floated to the ground and began to ominously walk toward the dismembered armor, not saying a word, red eyes beaming with fire. He stopped about ten feet away from his victim and once again connected his swords.
"This is it..." Anubis's mind warned.
Ryo began to spin the blades in a circle, unlike for the Rage of Inferno, and soon, a white-hot blazing circle mimicked the sun in front of him. Raising the revolving swords above him like a propeller, it appeared to be the final blow.
"Fatal... Rising ... Su~n!"
Ryo let loose the spinning wheel of inferno right for the jugular and all Talpa could do seeing death bearing down on him once more was scream out in anger and disgust. Swiftly and easily with the deadly precise nature of a ninja, the swords took the head of their target, and returned to Ryo's hand before it hit the ground.
Spreading the blazing wings once more Ryo slowly took to the air and as he did so, the flames around them seemed to die down lightly.
"He... he's an angel of death..." Sekhmet proclaimed at the demonic vision before him.
"I don't think he's finished yet..." Rowen said, keeping a sharp eye on the battlefield.
"What evil has been created this day?" Anubis questioned himself.
Ryo slowly raised his free hand above his head as he looked down hatefully at the dismembered corpse of his greatest foe. "To hell with you demon! And never to return again! May eternal agony be your rest!" and with insufferable vengeance, Ryo threw down his arm and five eruptions from the ground occurred, shocking all taking witness. From the pits of fire, unexpectedly, red demon claws emerged, reaching out, each taking a piece of the defeated dark emperor, and dragging it down to hell with them.
Finally, after all the ground had settled and the flames had died down, Ryo lowered himself to the ground once more. Sending away his blades in a wisp of fire, he began to walk towards the remaining warriors, who had no idea of what was to occur next. The Ronins stepped up first as they were still in armor but they didn't raise their weapons in a sign of trust.
Still no words spoken, Ryo pointed to Kayura, being faintly held in Dais's arms and made a gesture saying to bring her forward. The Ronins parted and allowed the former warlord to carry her up, albeit very hesitantly. Without so much as a sign, Ryo put a hand to her forehead and after a moment, she began to stir, much to the surprise of the others.
Opening her eyes little by little, then blinking at the new light, the first thing she saw was the blazing eyes of Ryo, which made her gasp is fear and nearly jump away from Dais, but he held her tight making sure not to drop her.
"W-Wildfire?" she stuttered wide-eyed and in question. Ryo simply smirked as he took a number of steps back and bowed.
"I thank you all for your assistance," a very deep and gothic voice said coming from Ryo's mouth. All were too stunned to speak so they just let him continue. "The battle has been won and all worlds are now free to continue living unhindered by such menacing evil. It was an honor to do battle with such noble warriors at my side."
And still, with no movement from anyone, smoke suddenly began to evaporate out of Ryo's eyes and mouth, as if the power was escaping him. When all was done, Ryo opened his eyes, the familiar tiger blue eyes everyone was accustomed to. His body became limp and barely able to stand as he looked up with a smile he had not shown in weeks and said, "Hey... I told you... I was going to ship him back to hell piece by piece... didn't I?" and at the punctuation of the sentence, Ryo collapsed to the ground flat on his back.
"Ryo!" they said almost simultaneously however it was Sage who made a rush to where he had landed. He picked his head up and let the blood stain his armor.
"Ryo! Oh God I'm so sorry! Come on Ryo don't give up on us! Please forgive me! Please! Say something! Come on Ryo! Say something!" the Ronin of Halo went on, practically in tears.
The weary Ronin of Wildfire looked up tiredly and tried to raise a sore hand. He only just managed to grab Sage by the collar of his armor, pulling him down to speak in his ear. The sound of Ryo swallowing his own blood to speak properly was the first thing he heard. Sage nervously leaned in closer, not knowing what to do or what was going to be said, but he prepared himself for whatever harsh words Ryo may say. Tired hot breath breezed the side of his face, these could possibly be his last words.

"Wh... White ... Lilies..."

Sage looked down, confused and puzzled, but Ryo weakly reached up letting go of his collar, while taking hold of his bandana, Mina's ribbon, and in another tired raspy voice he went on; "Her favorite... flower."
"Ryo I..." was all Sage could manage, but Ryo's shaky and weary hand silenced him in handing over the torn and tattered piece of bloody cloth. Although Sage had been apologizing for it the entire battle, he wasn't sure that Ryo knew the feel situation between he and Mina, but this proved it, it proved he knew everything. The dying Ronin handed over the ribbon, but Sage took his hand tightly, holding on for dear life.
"Just... make her... happy..."
Sage stared on in disbelief.
"And tell Mia... that ... I'm very sorry..."
And with those final comments, it seemed like all life within the Ronin Warrior of Virtue, had ceased to exist. With a final tired sigh; his hand fell from Sages, leaving the red ribbon between his fingers.
The others looked on, seeing his eyes closed, never to open, his chest fell in a final breath, never to breathe again, his voice silenced, never to be heard once more, and his heart, never again to drive him on to fight the valiant battle for the world...

And there was silence...

In that brief moment, it had all ended, no more than ten minutes ago had the world faced ultimate peril from the Dynasty, and now it was too quiet. Sage sat there with his fallen leader in one arm, and the ribbon of the woman he loved and sacrificed for in his hand, sitting there in silence, unable to contemplate a single thought in his head. The three remaining Ronin Warriors circled over to their long time ally and each let themselves fully grasp the situation.
"He... he gave up everything. He sacrificed himself for a world that gave him nothing but hardship... and no one will ever know about it," Rowen stated while wiping some blood off Ryo's face.
"It's as if it never happened... there is no one left in the Sanada family, the legacy died with him... and for what?" Sai went on, not being able to look down to Ryo.
"Don't say that man... There's got to be something we can do..." Kento said with a sniffle. "I mean... this, this isn't anything! We can't just let it end like this..."
"Why?! Why does this have to happen?! Ryo never hurt anyone! He was a good person! Why did he have to die?!" Sai broke out in a very tearful outburst, hit his knees and punched the ground. "Why does he have to die in obscurity?"
Another moment of silence came and the warlords respectably said nothing amongst this silent moment. However, Anubis stepped forward and picked up the Harial armor's helmet that was half buried in the ashes. Cradling it in his arms, he advanced on the mourning warriors. "He would have wanted it this way..." he said in a solemn manner.
All eyes turned to him slowly. "Ryo lived alone, he would want to die alone for the sake of everyone he loved. Ryo's entire life was a constant struggle, he would have wanted to die on the battlefield." The monk kneeled down next to Ryo's body and looked to Sage. "He would want all of us to be happy in the freedom and security he fought so hard to give us."
Another cold wind blew as Sage finally showed signs of life, laying Ryo out on the ground, respectively folding his hands to his chest in the traditional burial style of a samurai warrior. Anubis carefully placed the helmet on Ryo's head and stood with the others. Holding up the ancient staff, Ronin and Warlord alike gathered around in a circle, folded their hands and bowed their heads as Anubis performed the last rites.
Moments became hours as all continued to pray for the soul of this righteous warrior and finally, it was settled. It was time to go home...
"I... I still feel guilty just leaving him here," Sai said, rubbing his eye lightly.
"Do not worry yourself. From now, this land shall be considered hallowed grounds in the Dynasty, we shall protect its honor with our lives, rest assured," Cale explained with a hand to his shoulder.
Anubis let out a breath as he stepped up, "Are you prepared?"
"Not really, but we better leave before..."
"Before what?"
"I... don't know, but we should just get out of here as soon as possible."
"I understand... please gather close, I shall return you to your world."
"Are you coming with us?"
"No, my place is here. My reprieve from death is only temporary, I must return to my resting place."
There was an eerie state of silence among them all; this was strangely awkward albeit sad and sullen. Somehow, the aspect of one of them not returning home was foreign to them but it had always been a possibility, and now that is was reality, the entire aspect of death came under the microscope.
"Hey Anubis..." Rowen began as the four remaining Ronins gathered.
"Yes?"
"Do you think the way that you were revived... that it could work for Ryo as well?"
At that statement, all hopeful eyes turned to the undead monk who seemed to contemplate the question, "I apologize Strata, but I am afraid that even if the powers of the staff were to give life to Ryo once more, it would only be temporarily, such as myself."
"...I understand," the disappointed Ronin said with his head hung low.
"Come, let us leave this place."
Anubis slammed his staff into the ground one more time creating the beaming pillar of light, the bridge to the mortal world. Each gave one last goodbye to Ryo as he lay in the dust and ash, and then entered the pathway.

"Everyone says no one person can save the world... but that's because no one ever knows about it when it happens."

Mia had just put away the last of the dishes that had piled up in the dishwasher as a very melancholic song played on the CD player. It was almost nine o'clock at night and with the discrepancy between the nether realm and mortal realm it had almost been five full days since the Ronins left.
A large thunderclap stuck outside, startling Mia just a bit. "I don't remember anything about there being rain today," she said aloud calming herself while tidying up. Then something else caught her eye. Out the window, it seemed to be getting brighter, and at this late hour she knew exactly what is was.
Dropping everything she was doing she made a dash to the back where the lake was and where the pillar had struck down. In the light of the moon she beamed with a smile as she saw a number of figures being silhouetted of the reflected off the lake. "Hey!" she cheered, "Welcome Home!"
They turned slightly but no one was really giving her a greeting in response. She slowed her pace and came to a stop in front of them and seeing their saddened face, she immediately began to get nervous. "Guys? What's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked in a fearful voice.
Again no one offered a response, Rowen stepped up but as he was about to say something he stopped himself like the words were too painful to bear. Sai covered his face from his friends as his sorrow filled him once more and Kento clenched his fists tightly. Sage looked at the ribbon in his left hand then up to Mia as he paced forward.
"Mia..." he started, but couldn't find the rest of the words.
Mia began to look around and noticed that someone was missing. "W- Where is Ryo...?" It was obvious she didn't want to ask but still, she had to know.
"He... said to tell you he was sorry..."
And silence filled the air.
"No..."
"He fought to the last breath to save everything, never giving in."
"...No!"
"Mia I..."
"No! Shut up! I don't want to hear it! This is all your fault!" and she gave a forceful slap to his face. "You did this to him! You and that whore took everything away and broke his heart! It should have been you! You should have been the one to not come back! It's all your fault! You killed him you bastard! You killed him!"
During her tirade she tried to swing at him but he held her away by her wrists. The pain of the situation finally hit her as she then became weak in the knees and fell into him weakly. "My God ... I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."
"I know... I know... but you're right Mia, I am to blame for all of this. It should have been me."
"No Sage I was just..."
"It's alright..."
He held her there a moment and let his healing ability try to comfort her as best as it could but it could only do so much. After all, there isn't any cure for a broken heart.
"She's... she said she would wait for Ryo, at his cabin," Mia explained. "She's been waiting... you should go to her."
"C'mon, it's too cold out here," Rowen said as he gave a lending shoulder to Mia, leading her back to the house. Kento and Sai followed, each giving a quiet look back to Sage who stood solemn in the night.
"How can I possibly tell her?" his mind echoed in thought. "I know she was angry with Ryo before, but she isn't so heartless as to not care about his death." Other thoughts began to play out as he began to make the long walk up to the mountain cabin. "What if she decided she wanted to be with Ryo? I supposed having to be the one to tell her is another trial I got myself into."
It was in fact a three-hour walk up to the mountainside after the forty-five minute bus ride, but it all was a brief moment to Sage as the time was coming all too soon. "So much is happening so fast again, but probably to her it seems like an eternity." As he came to the top of the hill, he could see smoke coming from the chimney, at least he didn't have to worry about waking her.
Stopping a few feet away from the door he realized he had no idea whatsoever as to what he was going to tell her. He took one more look at the ribbon, and a traumatic flashback played through his mind. "White Lilies" chimed away in his mind and looking around, he noticed, all the flowers at the mountainside were white lilies. Without so much as a thought to it, he picked a few in a bouquet.
"What am I doing? I have no idea what to say to her... but... she has to know..."
"Sage?" a light feminine voice interrupted his thoughts. He stood up slowly and looked over to see Mina standing in the doorway in her pajamas and a roaring fire giving light behind her.
"Hello Mina..." he said for a lack of something better.
"Sage it is you! You came back!" she cheered as she ran out to him. Jumping up she put her arms around him and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "I guess you knew I'd pick you huh?" she smiled gleefully as she hugged him.
A look of surprise came across his face; that was actually the last thing on his mind. He took her by the shoulders to get her off him slightly. "Mina..."
"What's the matter? Aren't you happy about it?"
"No, that's not it, but... I have something important to tell you first."
"What? What is it?"
And once again the words just would not come.
"Sage?"
"These are for you..." he blurted out as he handed her the bouquet.
"Aw Sage you shouldn't have!" she gleamed as she took the flowers and smelled them lightly. "How did you know White Lilies were my favorite?"
"...Ryo told me."

Mina turned quick with a look of fear on her face, the comment didn't express anything but she obviously was a bit paranoid about it. Looking up to Sage, he had his eyes shut tightly and was biting his lip.
"What do you mean he told you? Like in conversation?"
"No Mina he knew... he knew all along and yet he still..."
"H-He knew?!... What happened?! He still what?!"
Sage shook his head with his eyes shut tightly.
"Mina I... I'm so sorry..." With that, Sage pulled out all that remained of Ryo in the mortal world and showed it to Mina, the foul stench of blood emanating from it still.
"I-I-Is that..." she drifted in her shock at the sight of her ribbon.
"He knew everything, probably from the start..." Sage began to sob lightly. "...and he still gave his life for us."
"Oh My God... Ryo..." Mina lightly put her fingers to her lips in disbelief as she stared into the distance.
"I'm so sorry Mina, I know how much he meant to you, and how confusing it must be right now."
Tears struggled from her eyes, as she stood paralyzed in guilty fear.
"It's important that you know that it's not your fault. And... that he said he wants us to be happy together," he consoled as he placed both hands on her shoulders. She brought her gaze back down to meet his eyes, then she let out all her emotions, embracing him tightly and letting her tears flow so freely.
"I know how you must feel right now... please, if there is anything I can do for you, anything it all, just name it," he comforted further.
She held him tighter and settled down a bit, but she didn't look at him.

"Please... don't leave me alone tonight."

Sage looked down a bit, saw how badly she was hurting. It was understandable how she might fear being by herself, especially in that cabin, blaming herself, thinking no one loves her anymore. He leaned down and kissed away her tears. Putting his hand under her chin, making her crying eyes meet his, he looked at her lovingly. "I promise I will never leave you," and he sealed the pledge with a deep kiss.
Picking up her weary body in his arms, he gently carried her into the cabin and right in front of the fireplace, where there was a small afghan on the floor and a pillow with Mina's diary sitting on it. Sage laid her down gently but Mina didn't let go of him. So there they stayed a moment, Mina lying on the floor with her arms around him, and they slowly moved up his body to his face. Pushing the fluff of hair that was always covering one of his eyes, she gazed at his light expression.
"I love you Sage..."
"Mina, you can't say that..."
"Please... tell me you love me... tell me you'll never leave me... no matter what happens, no matter what anyone says or does... you'll always ..."
"M-Mina..."
"Please..."
Sage quarreled with himself for a little while inside, he barely ever said such thing to family let alone anyone else. Once again he looked her over, staring at him pleadingly, deep in her tearful eyes...

"I... love you too..."

"No matter what happens?"
"No matter what happens."
"No matter what anyone says or does?"
"No matter what anyone says or does."
He stared at her again and he realized, he really did feel he meant every word she was making him say.
"Always Mina... Always..."
And he gave her a deep and passionate kiss once more.
"Thank you..." she whispered as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. As she lightly kissed away at his face and neck, Sage quietly pulled the afghan over them both, letting the heat from the fire warm their bodies to each other. And there, that night the blaze continued on through the night, undying, and ever vigilant through the night, watching over the two lovers. Though there was only enough kindle for a few hours, the fire continued to burn down to the very last ash, and even then, it refused to go out.
A fire blazing so wild, with nothing left to keep it going yet continued to burn...

THE END