Chapter 10: Sono Higeki no Hogosha Samurai
(The Tragedy of the Guardian Samurai)
My friends forgive me, but I've got to do this. I need time alone to sort things out Clara thought as she ran through the pouring rain, not even stopping to look back. Suddenly, her foot slipped and she fell down on her face and began sobbing hysterically.
"Is something wrong?" spoke a soft voice beside her and slowly she looked up to see Cye standing next to her as well as Ryo, Sage, Kento and Rowen.
"I thought you had a train to catch." Rowen said teasingly as he helped pull her to her feet. "Sage what is it?" he asked as the blonde stared off into space.
"Clara look out!" Sage cried as he shoved her out of the path of an oncoming energy blast and took the blast that was meant for her.
"I've come for my revenge Guardian Samurai." Discord said in a low threatening voice as the others stepped protectively in front of Clara and powered up.
"You will never have Clara or this world for your own demon!" Rowen yelled as he sent his arrow shockwave at the cat-like creature and jumped to avoid an oncoming attack.
"You'll see!" Discord shrieked as hordes of demon warriors began attacking them.
Clara could only watch in horror as her friends repeatedly rose and fell with the onslaught of their attackers. Then one of the soldiers came at her with a sword, ready to run her through when Rowen covered her with his body at the last minute taking the hit that was meant for her.
"Oh, Rowen! Why…why did you do such a thing?" she sobbed as she held Rowen's body close to hers and cradled him like a small child.
"Because, I love you. And I couldn't bear to watch you die, not when I could've done something to save you." Rowen said softly as he slowly reached up and brushed the tears away from her face. "It's now up to Cye to protect you, love him as you once loved me." Here he fell silent and said no more.
"ROWEN!!!" Clara sobbed in anguish as she hugged his lifeless body to her own. "That's it!! I can't stand any more of this! I'm the one you want!" she screamed loudly into the air, "Fight me!"
"CLARA NO!!" the others cried a Clara's body glowed with a silver light and slowly began walking toward Discord.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!! This is no longer your fight anymore!" she yelled at the top of her voice as the boys stared at her in wonder, clearly this was a side of Clara they'd never seen before and they didn't dare interfere. "You killed my friend Discord! You will pay for that with your life!"
"I don't think so…" the demon softly chuckled as he reached out and touched her forehead. "Clara Ann Rishii from this point on whenever you use your powers so shall you be as the mountains of stone. Goodbye Guardian Samurai!" and as he finished speaking, he caught the five young warriors up in a bubble that rose into the air and exploded, cackling madly as he disappeared into the night sky.
"No Ryo, Sage, Cye, Kento, Rowen…don't go, I need you…" she whispered as she fell to her knees and hot tears of silent rage and grief fell down her cheeks as Kayla came running up behind her.
"What happened? Where are the guys?" she panted, out of breath, then fell silent as she noticed her friend's sobbing.
"I don't know…but I will find you. Wherever you are…" she vowed as she watched the stars come out in silence.