Emotions VS Power Ch 23

While the Ronins were running after the creature, Ryo looked back to see that they were still with him. "What do you want to bet that this is going to be a trap?" Sage asked while he carried Reann's dead body.

"What? You actually believe that he'll just hand over Cye and Katie when we get there?" Kento asked sarcastically as he glanced over at him.

"No, I don't, and Kento, don't be putting words in my mouth!" Sage shot back as they were getting closer to some kind of cave.

"Guys that's enough! We can't afford to be at each other's throats!" Rowen scolded as they finally made it to the mouth of the cave. "You both know that fighting amongst each other won't help anything!"

Kento and Sage looked at each other and then sighed. "Yeah, alright Rowen." Kento nodded, and then looked over towards Sage. "Hey, I'm sorry Sage, it's just…"

"Don't worry about it Kento, we're all worked up about the whole situation. Just save it for who really deserves it." Sage replied with a smirk. Kento nodded and smirked back.

Ryo looked inside, he could see that the creature was still holding Cye and Katie upside down and that Maguyser was standing close by. "Ok here's the deal, we're going to have to leave Kaye and Reann here while we go inside."

"What?! Ryo, no! I'm not leaving Kaye here! She hasn't woken up yet, she'll be defenseless!" Kento objected angrily.

"Kento, Kaye will be safer here than in there. Besides, we're going to need your help in taking them down, and you can't do that while you're holding her." Ryo replied, trying to be rational about this.

Kento looked over at Ryo and then down at his love that he still held in his arms. Kento sighed as he carefully kneeled down and propped her against the wall, just outside of the cave's mouth. He then gently moved some hair out of her face, and lightly kissed her forehead. "I'll come back for you, I promise." He slowly stood up, and kept his back at them.

"She'll be alright here Kento." Rowen reassured him as he put his hand onto Kento's shoulder.

Kento then turned around and nodded his head. "Yeah I know, so, why are we still here? Let's get this guy already."

Sage carefully propped Reann against the wall as well, and then smirked as he stood back up. "So, anyone have a plan on how we're going to do this?"

"We just can't rush in, this is what we know. That creature still has Cye and Katie, and Maguyser is wounded, but we're not sure to what extent." Rowen rationalized while he looked around at them.

"So basically what you're telling us, is that we're going in blind." Sage stated with a raised brow.

"Basically, um yeah." Rowen replied with a nod of his head.

"That's reassuring." Kento said under his breath with crossed arms.

"I wouldn't doubt that he knows we're here." Ryo stated while he looked around the inside of the cave.

"Then let's not disappoint him by making him wait too much longer." Kento replied as he got himself ready for the fight.

"Alright, but first we get Cye and Katie, then we'll take care of Maguyser and his creature." Ryo said as he took a quick look back. The others nodded and then carefully made their way inside with their weapons ready.

"It's about time, I was starting to get bored." Maguyser said in a mock bored tone as he watched them enter the cave.

"Give us our friends back Maguyser!" Ryo demanded angrily as he raised his katana.

Maguyser laughed as he tossed his head back. "You're in no position to be telling me what to do, Wildfire. But I'll tell you what I will do. I'll make a trade."

"Trade? What kind of trade? What are you up to?" Ryo asked in a non trusting tone while he kept his eyes on him.

"It'll be a two for two, you give me the Dream Walker and the dead traitor, and I'll give you your friends." Maguyser replied with narrowed eyes.

"What?! No way! There's no way you'll get Kaye! You'll have to go through me to get to her!" Kento roared back angrily, his eyes blazing.

"That can easily be arranged." Maguyser replied, his eyes flared angrily as his temper spiked.

"Hold on, what do you want them for? Reann can't do anything to you, she's dead, and Kaye's unconscious?" Rowen inquired, very curious to Maguyser's reasons.

"I can take the dead traitor's soul and absorb it into my own, making her powers and abilities my own. As for the Dream Walker, I'll just drain her completely dry of her life energy, and then when I'm done, they'll be tossed aside like yesterday's garbage." Maguyser replied with an evil laugh.

"You bastard!" Kento roared angrily, fists clenched, shaking them in anger.

"I'll tell you what you can do with your offer Maguyser! You can shove it, because we don't negotiate with demons! Phoenix Double Flare!" Ryo replied as his anger coursed his veins. He could feel the power of the Phoenix armor pulsate through him, going to the katana and then attack directly between the creature and Maguyser.

The creature gave a very loud and pierced shriek. The guys dropped their weapons and covered their ears. The shriek was so loud that it resonated through out the entire cave which made the walls and everything else inside and to the extent of the outside tremble. Kento's eyes snapped open as he whipped his head to look back. "Kaye!" As his eyes quickly darted over there, he sighed in relief to see that she was alright. Then Kento growled deep in his throat as he glared at them. He was more than ready to just go and pound the life right out of Maguyser.

While all of this was going on Cye and Katie finally started to wake up. Katie frowned deeply as her eyes finally could focus. "Cye, you alright?"

Cye looked over towards her, "Yeah, if you call being hung by your ankles from a very ugly creature alright, then yeah, I'm doing just fine."

Katie smirked, "I'd thought you'd say something like that. Now, how to get down from here?"

"Katie, earlier, you seemed like you remembered something about this thing. Can it be defeated?" Cye inquired curiously.

Katie frowned deeply in thought, "Yes, it can," She frowned deeper as she tried to recall on how. "That's it, Cye, the creature, it hates light and fire!"

Cye nodded as he finally got the chance to connect with Rowen. 'Hey Rowen, the creature, it hates light and fire. See if you can get Sage to deliver his sure kill at it, then maybe it'll drop us.'

'I got the idea Cye, alright, thanks.' Rowen replied telepathically and then looked over at the bearer of Halo. "Sage, do you think that you can deliver your sure kill at that thing?"

Sage frowned a bit, "Yeah, why? Oh, I see," He said as it finally hit him. "You want me to attack the creature and run interference while you and the others get Cye and Katie."

"Yeah, so you up to it or what?" Rowen asked curiously as he waited for an answer.

"Just make it fast, because I'm not sure what Maguyser will do when I'm distracting that thing." Sage replied back as he got ready.

"Ryo, Kento exactly when Sage attacks, make a break for Cye and Katie. I'm willing to bet that the creature will drop them when Sage's thunder bolt cut hits."

Rowen suggested to them. They nodded and got ready, Sage concentrated and then exactly at the same time when he delivered his sure kill, the other Ronins took off as soon as they saw Cye and Katie falling from the creature's grasp.

"Hey, nice of you to drop in." Kento joked with a smirk as he caught Cye.

"Funny Kento, real funny." Cye replied as he rolled his eyes and stood beside him.

Kento smirked, "Yeah, I thought so too."

"Katie, you alright?" Ryo asked as he looked worriedly at his sister.

"Yeah Ryo, I'm fine, now let's get rid of this thing and then we can finally get rid of Maguyser." Katie replied as she finally stood up on her own.

"Cye said something about that thing not liking light and heat, so maybe if Sage and the two of you attack that thing at the same time?" Rowen started to analyze the situation.

"That it'll be destroyed, so then let's do it already." Sage replied as he joined them. Katie shot a smile towards her amor, Sage shot one back and Ryo just shook his head.

"Can we just get this over with?" Ryo asked in slight annoyance as he got ready to attack.

Maguyser roared angrily, "How dare you!? You'll pay for this I swear it!" His eyes flared, and his power pulsated as it was driven towards them.

"Watch it!" Rowen warned while they dived out of the way, just barely missing the attack. "Ok, you three try and destroy that creature, Kento, Cye and I will try and Keep Maguyser busy." They nodded and went their separate directions. "Ready Kento?"

"Let's do this, I have a score to settle with that demon." Kento replied with narrowed eyes as he glared at Maguyser.

Maguyser smirked as he looked down at Kento and Rowen. "You honestly believe that the two of you alone will be able to defeat me?"

"Don't get cocky demon, we all know that you're wounded. So it won't be that hard to take you down!" Kento shot back angrily.

"I'd watch who you call cocky, Hardrock. As long as my creature still lives, none of you will be able to defeat me." Maguyser told them in an arrogant tone.

"Oh yeah, take a look for yourself. While you're fighting the three of us, the others are going to destroy your so called creature." Cye replied with a smirk as he raised his yari.

Maguyser glared at them and then looked over to where Katie, Sage, and Ryo were standing as they were ready to deliver their sure kills directly at the creature. "No, get away from my creature!"

"Ryo, Sage, Katie, do it!" Rowen called over to them as he, Cye and Kento got in Maguyser's way.

"Thunder bolt cut!" Sage called forth and delivered it right into the creature's eyes.

"Phoenix Double Flare!" Ryo and Katie called upon exactly at the same time and delivered it a split second after Sage's attack. The creature gave a loud, piercing shriek as it started to dissolve into nothing but a pile of bones.

"No! You destroyed my creature!" Maguyser said in a major rage.

"And now we're going to get rid of you once and for all!" Ryo replied as the three turned around, and then all of them came together and delivered their sure kills exactly at the same time. The attacks made direct contact with the demon. He shrieked from the very top of his lungs. His body started to dissolve into tiny bits of black and red shards. One by one, the shards burnt out and nothing was left of the demon except but a pile of ashes.

"It's finally over, he's actually gone!" Ryo exclaimed in a victorious tone as he plastered on a huge relieved smile on his face.

Katie walked over to the pile of ashes, and knelt down as she made them shift in her hand. "Yeah, he is actually gone. He won't hurt anyone ever again." She replied in what could have been a grief filled, but yet happy voice as she got up and walked back over to them.

"Not to be pushy, but maybe we should get out of here. Besides Katie, you said that you could wake Kaye once we're out of here." Kento reminded her as they started to walk over to the mouth of the cave.

Katie smirked, "Yeah I did, now that you mentioned it." They finally made it to where Kaye and Reann were propped up against the wall. Ryo picked up Reann while Kento picked up Kaye. Katie was a bit surprised by Ryo's action, but shook it off anyway and took the lead. It took some time, but finally they got out. "Put them down over there." Katie said as she motioned over towards an open spot under a tree. Ryo and Kento gave a nod, and did what Katie asked. She walked over towards Kaye and Reann and knelt down while the others made a semi circle around them.

"Katie?" Kento asked hopefully while he looked at her with concerned eyes.

"I need everyone to be quiet, this will take a lot of concentration." Katie replied as she closed her eyes. Everyone watched in anticipation while she frowned even harder in order to concentrate. Bringing back the dead wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do. Time passed, and then finally a phoenix made out entirely of fire went inside of Reann's body. The Ronins gasped in surprise, and then the rejuvenating powers of the mystical bird started to take effect. A surprising intake of air could be heard as Reann quickly snapped open her eyes, and sat up rather quickly. "Take it easy Reann, you're safe now." Katie replied as she saw her friend's reaction, and the phoenix went back inside of Katie.

"What…What's going on? Where am I?!" Reann asked in shock and confusion.

"Reann, just relax, Maguyser has finally been defeated, and Katie just brought you back." Ryo explained with a smile towards her.

Reann blinked in surprise, "You did?"

Katie nodded as she wrapped her arms around her friend and brought her into a fierce hug, "Yeah, and I'll tell you what, it wasn't easy. So whatever you do, don't die on me so soon ok."

Reann nodded and hugged her back as a light smile came to her face, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, now if you don't mind, I need to wake Kaye up." Katie replied while letting her go from the hug she had her in so she could focus her attention towards Kaye and frowns a bit. "Kento, kneel down here." Kento frowned but did so anyway. "Ok, here's what I need you to do, grab onto her hand and close your eyes. This will help in telling her that we're here, and then hopefully she'll wake up. You ready?" Katie asked as she looked over at him.

"Ready." Kento replied as he grabbed Kaye's hand and closed his eyes. Katie closed her eyes and started to concentrate. Both Katie and Kento frowned deeper, and then after some time, a white fire type phoenix came out and entered Kaye's body. Kaye jerked around a little and then finally opened her eyes, and the white phoenix came out of Kaye's body and back into Katie's.

"Kento?" Kaye asked quietly as she frowned a bit. "What's going on?"

Kento's eyes opened, and then he gave a relieved smile as he scooped her up into his arms. "Kaye." He then pulled back a little and smiled at her. "Katie woke you up from whatever Maguyser's demons did to you."

Kaye looked over towards Katie, "Thanks, are you alright though."

Katie grinned but the look in her eyes gave away how tired and drained she was feeling, "Yeah I'm fine, I'll be better when I get some sleep." She got up along with Reann and Kento as he helped Kaye to stand. "How about we go home?" Everyone nodded and then they did finally go home, and leaving the ash remains of Maguyser behind as the wind blew them across the land.

A few weeks later…

Sage and Katie were standing in front of the lake hand in hand, watching the sun set. A breeze blew by making Katie shiver a little. Sage glanced over towards her. "You cold?" he asked with a frown.

Katie grinned up at him and replied, "Maybe jus a little bit."

Sage nodded with a chuckle as he then took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. "Better?" he asked her with a smile.

"Much, mochas gracias, mi amor." Katie replied as she leaned up against him more, pulling his jacket around her to ward off the breeze that blew. Sage grinned as he wrapped his strong arms around her and held her close as they stood there and watched the rest of the sun set behind the trees.

Ryo stood on the porch watching them. A light smile curled around his lips at the sight before him. He was glad that his sister was happy now and might actually be able to live a normal and happy life without the constant reminder of her former life looming over her. The light breeze blew and ruffled his shaggy black hair, blowing his wild bangs into his eyes.

"Hey, Katie wouldn't like it if she knew you were spying on her Ryo." came Reann's soft, but mocking voice as she walked up right beside him and leaned her arms against the railing of the porch. Her brown eyes twinkled with laughter at him.

Ryo glanced over at her, startled by her voice. He hadn't even known she was there. "I wasn't spying, I was just watching the sun set." he said in his defense, blinking in insulted confusion at her accusation.

Reann laughed a bit as she shook her head and her black hair swung to either side. She looked back at him with a smug smile and said, "Sure you were."

"What? You don't believe me?" Ryo replied with an astonished smile spreading across his face. "I wasn't even paying any attention to those two. I swear."

"Whatever Ryo," Reann replied with a teasing smile while she poked him in his chest playfully. "I saw the way you were staring out there at them. You can't fool me."

Ryo chuckled at Reann's actions and his eyes danced with humor as he admitted shamefully, "Ok, ok, maybe I was watching them, but I wasn't spying on them. Honest."

"See, I told you. I knew you were," she replied with a playfully accusing index finger pointed up at him. Reann chuckled lightly, the smile still on her face as she turned her head to look at the two lovers who were now more engrossed in each other then the setting sun. Her smile grew more as she laid her head to the side and said, "Look at them. They look so happy together, don't they Ryo?"

Ryo wasn't looking at Katie and Sage anymore though. He was more interested in the dark haired beauty standing beside him. He blinked as a light blush rose to his cheeks once he realized he was staring at her and quickly he darted his gaze back to the couple before him. "Yeah, they sure do," he agreed quickly.

Reann eyed Ryo out of the corner of her eye with a smirk, knowing that he hadn't even been looking at them when she had said that. A soft smile came to her face as she turned her attention back out at the lake and her best friend. She wished she had something like her friend did. Wished she had someone to love and knew loved her back like the two by the lake or even like Kaye and Kento had. The breeze blew again and rustled her hair along with it. Reann wrapped her arms around herself, the nipping wind biting at her skin even through the sweater she wore.

Ryo looked back over at her once the silence had started between them again. He didn't know what to say to her but wanted to say at least something. "Look, about before, I just wanted…" Ryo said as he started to apologize, thinking it was better than not saying nothing at all.

"Ryo, don't, it's not needed," Reann replied immediately to his apologize while turning warm brown eyes up on him. "I'm sure that I would do and say the same if the roles were reversed. It's alright, honest." With a warm smile to him she brushed her hand down his arm and stopped at his hand. Ryo blushed a bit as he glanced down at her warm and awaiting hand that hovered next to his. A light blush rose to her cheeks as well and then Ryo did something that surprised them both, he took her hand into his and squeezed it gently. Reann looked up at him in slight confusion that turned into a smile when she saw the warm and inviting look on Ryo's handsome face. With a soft chuckle to herself she then leaned against his warm body, laying her head on his shoulder as Ryo wrapped an arm around her and they both looked out at the lake and setting sun.

Kaye was standing at the banister looking up at the multi painted sky. "Hey.." Kento said as he walked up next to her and brought her close into his arms.

Kaye smiles as she looked up towards him, "Hey yourself."

"Want to do something tonight?" Kento asked as he wrapped his arms around her tighter.

"Like what?" Kaye asked as she leaned back against him.

"I'm sure we'll figure something out." Kento replied with a grin.

Inside the house, Cye and Rowen were in the living room, they rolled their eyes as Rowen was flipping through the stations on the TV. "Cye, did you notice that we're the only two that don't have somebody?" the blue haired genius asked with a bit of sarcasm and humor etched into his deep voice.

Cye raised a brow at him in mirth, "Yeah, and does that bother you?"

Rowen frowned a bit at the auburn haired young man across from him, "No not really. You?"

Cye shook his head, "You know I'm sure we can find somebody if we go out to the clubs."

"Yeah, considering that Maguyser is gone finally, and we can actually get some kind of life." Rowen replied in agreement.

"You mean before the next one tries to take over the world or something like that?" Cye asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, something like that," Rowen chuckled. "Ok, clubbing?"

"Clubbing it is." Cye replied with a smirk as they grabbed their coats at the door and left to go do some clubbing and girl picking up.

Outside the sun had gone down now as the stars began to come out and twinkle in the dark sky. The gentle breeze blew, rustling the water in the lake and making small ripples. The leaves in the trees rustled as winds blew over them and made the branches sway. The moon hung low in the sky as it began its journey over the midnight sky. Katie looked up to the face of her love as she gently pushed his blond hair from his face. Gaining his attention she smiled as she said, "Why don't we go inside now."

Sage smiled back down at her as they turned and he wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked up to the back porch. Katie nudged him when she noticed Ryo and Reann on the porch and whispered to him, "Looks like a couple certain people I know are getting more and more cozy together."

Sage chuckled back in response to her words as they walked up the steps to the porch and smiled at Ryo and Reann. Ryo quickly let his arm drop from around Reann as he smiled nervously at his sister and her boyfriend. "Um, hey you two. Coming back in so soon?" he asked them.

Katie glanced up at Sage with a smirk who chuckled and looked away as she looked back at her brother, smiling she replied, "Yeah, its getting a little nippy out here. Thought we'd jus come inside and snuggle instead."

"Oh? Is that what we were going to do?" Sage asked, grinning down at the brown haired girl in his arms.

"Well, it was a thought," she replied sheepishly with a shrug.

Reann laughed at the pair as she flipped her black hair over her shoulder and stood beside Ryo, smiling at them. "I've got an idea. How about we all go inside and lay back in the front while we watch a movie?" she suggested to them all.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Ryo replied with a nod of his head. "How about you Sage?"

"Fine with me," the blond mumbled back as he nuzzled into Katie's neck.

Laughing she leaned away from him while pushing his face away from her with her hand, "Stop it Sage," she said to him with a smile still on her face and pulled the jacket he had given her closer around herself.

Sage just chuckled at her actions as an impish grin formed over his lips, "Ok, I'll behave."

Reann smiled at them as she said, "Ok great, why don't you two boys go ahead in and pick out a movie and me and Kate will be right in after you."

"Yeah, ok, I can do that," he replied and then with a smirk added to Sage. "You think you can pull yourself away from my sis for a few minutes blondie?"

"Oh no! I couldn't bare to be without her even for that long," the blond replied sarcastically as he dramatically latched his arms around Katie as if he wouldn't let her go no matter what.

Ryo rolled his tiger blue eyes at the blond and waved him off, "Whatever," he said simply and walked into the house, the screen door shutting behind him.

Katie laughed as she unlatched Sage's arms from around herself and pushed the blond back at arms length from her. "You drama queen, get out of here," she told him playfully as she gave him a peck on the lips and shoved him in the direction of the door. Sage chuckled at her actions as he walked into the house after Ryo, the silent shutting of the screen door signifying that he was gone.

Reann smiled as she sat down on the wooden swing that hung from the awing over the porch and laid her head against the back of it, placing her feet up on the wooden railing that enclosed the porch. Katie moved to sit down next to her best friend, pulling Sage's jacket tighter around herself as she copied what Reann had done. Silently the two ex-warriors sat there, just staring up at the stars and the night sky. Finally Reann broke the silence when she said, "You love him don't you, Kate?"

Katie glanced over at her best friend with a confused expression before chuckling softly and looking back out at the night sky. "Si, yes I do Ree," she replied with a fond smile, that turned to a wicked grin when she rolled her head back over to look at Reann who still gazed up at the night sky. "And you've taken quite the liking to mi hermano, haven't you Ree?"

Reann gaped at Katie with an opened mouth, silently just moving her lips as if she were trying to form the right words to say. Finally she smirked and turned her head back to look out at the sky as she said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Katie laughed at her, nudging her with a grin on her face. "Oh but I think you do. I saw you two. You looked very..... I guess I could say cozy, with him," she told her with a very pleased grin plastered on her face.

"Shut up!" Reann shouted back at her, giving her a light shove as her cheeks turned rosy red. This only made Katie laugh more. The dark haired girl's glare slowly melted into a smile as she found herself laughing along with the brown haired girl beside her. Soon their laughter died down to chuckles here or there as they wiped the tears from there eyes and looked back at the sky.

Silence fell over the two once again as they went back to their own thoughts. Reann glanced over at Katie, a frown coming over her features. "Kate?" she started to gain her attention, "Are you..... Are you glad Maguyser's finally dead? Like, do you feel at ease now? Like you could finally live your life in peace and forget what happened?"

Katie was silent for a moment as she thought over what Reann had asked her. She'd thought about that ever since they had finally killed the demon three weeks ago. "Yes and no," she replied finally and glanced over to look at Reann. "I'm glad that he's dead yes, but I will never be able to forget what happened while I was under his rule. Move on with my life yes. Try and live in peace, yes, I can try and do that, but I can never forget what I did no matter how hard I try."

Reann smiled softly at the girl she used to hold rank under. Those were the same answers she came up herself for those very same questions. Another question struck her that she'd been pondering over for a while now. "Kate," she said and Katie looked back over at her again. "Why.... Why did you bring me back? Why not just let me stay dead?"

Katie chuckled softly to herself as a warm smile spread across her face and she looked back up at Reann. "Because Ree, I love ya and I couldn't bare to live without ya," she replied with a bright smile to her. "You're my best friend and the closest thing to a sister I have."

Tears came to Reann's eyes at Katie's words. To hear her say that she loved her and thought of her as family, was heart warming to her. To think that she had someone who thought of her as their best friend and sister brought tears to Reann's eyes and made her feel like she was loved. Without even saying a word, she wrapped her arms around Katie and hugged her tight. "Thank you Kate, for always being there for me," she whispered to her as tears fell from her brown eyes.

Blinking in confusion at her, Katie hugged her back tightly. "Denada, Ree," she whispered back while silently hugging her friend back.

The screen door opened and Ryo popped his head out of it, a frown coming to his face at what he found. "Um," he said and both girls jumped at his voice. Smiling he said to them, "Movie's starting if you two were going to join us."

Katie smirked at her brother as Reann quickly wiped the tears from her face. "Ok, we'll be right in," she said to him and Ryo nodded as he pulled his head back in the screen door and it shut again. Turning back to Reann she smiled and said, "Come on, let's go watch the movie before they probably end up carrying us in."

Reann chuckled at her words as she sniffed and stood, stretching her arms out wide and breathing in the cool night air. Katie stood after her, pulling the jacket around her and smiling as she held her arm out to Reann. Curiously Reann looked at her arm and then back up at the smiling face of her friend before smiling as well and taking her arm in hers. Smiling, at feeling at ease inside finally, Reann and Katie walked arm in arm into the house to watch the movie ---the screen door shutting behind them and closing out the past they wanted to forget so badly.

The End ----or is it?