Disclaimer: I don't own the Ronin Warriors or any of the characters that I've added into this story.

Chapter Four: Warrior of the Armors



Morisato stared in disbelief at the woman. He blinked several times before asking, "How... how is it possible?"

"Ha ha ha ha! Yes, you do deserve an explanation for my being a woman. Well then. When the Ancient defeated Talpa I saw everything. After banishing Talpa back to the Dynasty the Ancient's tiger, who was faithful White Blaze here," Herial petted White Blaze. Blaze purred lightly with pleasure. "found me. I was a child then, merely seven years old."

"Just like Kagome is seven."

"Yes. It took the Ancient only three years to create the armors. He gave the Armor of Wildfire," Herial then held up the new crystal she had. It gave off a soft red glow. "to me for protection. When I turned 17 I meet with the bearers of the other eight armors. Each of them had heard of me, but thought I was a man. I went to the Ancient to ask his help in hiding my identity as a woman.

The nine of us fought for months, traveling many lands. Over the time I was able to hide my true identity. Until my final battle."

"What happened?" Morisato was getting agitated with excitement.

"It happened in my home village. The Ancient greeted us with praise. A feast was held in our honor. My family gave us the blessing of a peaceful life, but the celebrating stopped when my little brother recognized me. The warriors took a closer look and found me out. I was afraid of what they might do so I ran away. I ran to the far edge of the forest near my village. There I ran into Sarenbou."

"Did the others come to help? How was it your final battle?"

"The others did help. The battle was very fierce. When all seemed hopeless, the others' wish to keep me alive created the Armor of Inferno. Only I..."

Morisato's eyes widen waiting for Herial to go on.

"I couldn't handle the energy pulsating through my body. After Sarenbou was banished back to the Dynasty I collapsed. My armor left me and formed an orb like you see now. My last request was to give my armor to whomever the Ancient decided." White Blaze growled in agony. "I do not know what the other warriors thought of me afterwards." Herial closed her eyes to hold back the tears.

"Well, I know just what I think of the Great Herial now." Morisato smiled. "You are quite a lovely young woman and you handled the power of the Darkness Crystal well."

Herial opened her eyes and saw Morisato smiling. She smiled as well. Then the Wildfire Crystal and Kale's sword glowed and became jewelry on Herial. The Wildfire Crystal was a ruby ring with a silver band on her middle right finger. Then Herial faded to Kagome. The child blinked and rubbed her eyes.

"What happened?" Kagome looked around. "Where am I?"

"You don't remember...anything?"

"Remember what?"

Morisato opened his mouth to tell her, then decided against it. "Kagome, it's time you learn to control the power of the armors."

"Why?"

"I will train you to become Herial at will." He paused when he saw Kagome's eyes widen. Then continued, "Until then you will have to find all of them in order to enter the Dynasty when the gates appear. Speaking of which-"

"When will they appear?"

"What?"

"The gates. When will they appear?"

"Hmmm. If I remember correctly they appeared early in the summer. Sometime in May."

Kagome gasped and her eyes were twice the size of saucers. "That's only three months! That's not enough time!"

"It is enough time. You still have that book with maps do you not?"

Kagome nodded.

"Then you need only to find the rest of the crystals that way. We will continue our search in the morning."

White Blaze gave both Kagome and Morisato a ride back to the small town. The three arrived at an inn. White Blaze stayed outside not to stir trouble. Morisato stayed up the night as Kagome dreamed of home.

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A large black panther paced back and forth, growling constantly. Hanging upside-down on the ceiling in a corner Zachary hung undisturbed. The panther looked at Zachary with golden firey eyes, "How can you be so calm when they're not heading for the next crystal?!"

Zachary opened his eyes lazily, "I'm watching them. That's why. The child has discovered a little magic of the crystals."

The panther transformed into Toxicor. "What magic would that be?"

"She can use their powers and become Herial, who turns out to have been a woman."

"Herial, a woman?!! How's that possible?!!!"

"Be calm." Zachary said as he floated down to the floor and turned to stand up right. "If you wish you can go after her this time."

Toxicor's intrest sparked to life like candle.

"I will let you know when they start to move."

The leader of the Warlords smiled menacingly. 'That sounds like a clever plan. It should be fun to keep my shapeshifting sharp.' Toxicor chuckled deeply in his throat as Zachary smiled at his leader's cooperation.

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A/N: Please review and flamers are accepted. Sorry it took a while to get this up but I was too busy since other ideas came into my already cluttered head. Not to mention cramming for finals.