Dragon Soldiers:: The New Guy

We finished off at the end of the war. The teenagers then grew up, matured and betrothed. When the day of their death came, Nanashi's spell awoke and in the future year of 2003 the Soldiers' destinies did so also.

"Aaaiiiiii!" Miya screamed as she awoke from her small comfortable bed.

A boy on the single bed to the far right of her's became startled and fell off onto his back, "What the hell?!"

"Kazuki, I had that dream again!" Miya shouted in a whisper to her brother.

"Is that all? Jeez, you'd think it wouldn't bother you anymore," the young, blonde haired boy massaged the back of his sore neck.

"But every time it just becomes more and more realistic," Miya gently placed her hands over her mouth. The feeling of someone's lips over hers was so real. As if...it wasn't part of the dream.

"Sis, it's not real, it's only a freaky nightmare now go back to sleep," Kazuki arose and got back into his bed.

"Fine, I'll see you in the morning then," she wrapped herself back into her white sheets and fell asleep once more.

"Good," Kazuki covered himself in his light yellow sheets and did the same.

"Huh?" Miya woke up alarmed by the sounds coming from outside of the room. She rose to her feet and got a robe to cover up her Hello Kitty bed clothes.

It was already past morning and she must've slept in because her brother always woke up at least two hours after her. When she stepped out of her quarters she feared what she witnessed next.

"Let go of me! Grrr! I said let me go! Aaaah! Get your freakin' hands off of me! I don't want to be here! I said I want to be with my parents! Godammit!" A boy her age, about 14 years old was fighting off some of the orphanage's best security. It looked as if he was being taken into the orphan's home.

DOOM The boy realized that he had a spectator. His head spun around to face Miya's lightning fast. As she looked deep into his eyes she thought she could see rings of fire billowing and raging inside of them. Miya was, needless to say, horror stricken and ran back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Back outside of the room the young man was still fighting off the officers. What Miya failed to witness was the sight of her brother verbally trying to get the guy to settle down, "Hey, calm down. I said calm down man! Stop trying to fight them off, they're never gonna let you go." Kazuki spoke openly.

"Grrr," the other boy replied. "I don't want any of your stinkin' pity. I just want to be with my parents! Now let me GO!!" He grabbed the security men's arms and dragged them down. The boy had almost reached doors of the orphanage when someone took him headlong to the floor.

"So what is your huge problem that is so freakin' bad that you have to bring down two body guards to set it straight? Huh?" Ken Masuko chuckled as he sat on the boy's back binding his hands, rendering the struggling teen helpless. Ken suavely brushed his fingers through his dark brown disorderly hair.

"Get the hell off me!" The violent teenager snarled.

"Yeah, fine, whatever, just as long as you don't try to 'escape'. Or is this too much to ask you?" Ken asked as he slowly rose.

"Yeah sure," The other guy stood to his feet. And as soon as he did so, the young man went for the doors again but he was found disappointed when he didn't even make it two steps without being thrown down again.

Don't you ever get tired of this?" Kazuki asked, this time on top of him just as Ken was seconds ago.

"Hmph," The boy huffed into the floor boards. He had finally given up his fight.

Meanwhile, Miya was sitting on her bed wondering what was going on.

"God, who was that?" She asked herself.

"Hmph," the boy sat on his new bed.

"So, I guess we're gonna have too introduce ourselves if we're gonna be roomies, huh?" Ken asked his new and less than eager roommate.

"Shut up!" The boy lay on his bed.

"Cummon! At least tell me your name," Ken urged on, though he knew he shouldn't.

"Ryu Kasai, happy?!" The boy, Ryu, huffed in annoyance, "Now leave me the hell alone."

"Sure," Ken shot a smirk and gave Ryu a thumbs up.

(Miya and Kazuki's Room)

"That was you!!" Miya shouted, her face was blood-red and swollen with anger.

"Calm down Miya, I'm fine, so you can close this case," Kazuki backed up with his hands up in surrender. He chuckled a little, expecting this to happen. "The guy is cool, he just has a little...attitude problem."

"Just a little?! Okay, that boy needs to be sedated!! You said that he brought down two freakin' body guards?! He should be at REHAB! Not at an orphanage! Has he been checked for steroids?!" Miya scolded Kazuki.

"Sorry Miya, I didn't think you'd care this much. I don't call the shots though. But if it's any condolence, he had lost his parents in a car crash just last night. From the sound of Mr. Nori's voice it was a really bad one," Kazuki lowered his eyes. (Mr. Nori is the head of the orphanage, the kind of guy who loves kids but can't tolerate it when they break rules.)

"Really, what did you hear about it?" Miya put on her best curious cat face. (with the little ears and everything)

"I couldn't hear much, but it was the tone of his voice that got me," he replied. "You could talk to the guy yourself you know. You have that way with people. You listen closely and they will open up they're darkest secrets to you," Kazuki smiled freely.

"Yeah right! Like I would really put myself in that sort of situation. He could kill me! What's his name?!"

"Ryu Kasai, I think," Kazuki shrugged.

"Oh yeah, right! Do you realize that his first name means dragon! Oh yeah, that sounds real promising," Miya chuckled to herself.

Well it's a thought. If you ever change your mind, go for it," Kazuki shrugged once more.

"I'm goin' over to Oki's house for lunch, and then we're going to the park later. You're welcome to come if you want," Miya offered.

"No thanks, I'm gonna hang out with Ken. He's got some new video games sent to him from the community center. Tell Oki I said hi though." Kazuki tossed his hand side to side in reply.

"Fine, your loss," Miya picked up her CD player and case and walked out the room.

Oki's home was not too far from the orphanage. Oki's house was more like a temple home instead of the regular buildings in Tokyo. The place was so peaceful during the day. The landscaping around the house was made up of oriental gardens, small ponds full of blooming water lilies and large, shady trees, perfect to just sit and read underneath on a calm, summer morning.

Miya rode her bike up to Oki's sidewalk and got off. Her bike squeaked in reply The wind sweetly breezed through her blonde locks of hair. Miya took it as a compliment from the wind spirits and smiled. She walked her bike up to the side of the house and went to knock on the door. A very petite woman answered. Her raven black hair was formally pulled back into a bun with hairpins coming out each side. The small woman was wearing a salmon pink kimono with the designs of wisteria branches here and there.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Minami, is Oki-san home?" Miya greeted Oki's mother respectively.

Ms. Minami replied with a soft smile and a simple nod and showed Miya into the house. Mrs. Minami then scurried off to retrieve Oki from her room.

Inside of the house were many potted plants and fragile items. Everything in the Minami household was done on the floor. Eating, sleeping, sitting and reading or watching television. There were pillows and cushions almost everywhere, but the house still remained tidy. Miya was almost dulled from the fact of how orderly it always was here. Some days she expected the house to be even a little disorderly, but Miya was always giving her hopes up because it was just as it always was.

Miya heard footsteps coming down the hallway so she stood up straight. It was Oki in shorts and a blue tanktop. Her very long, baby blue hair flowed with her as she walked over to Miya.

"Hello Miya, mom's almost done with lunch and wants us to go ahead and sit at the table," Oki gave a sweet welcoming smile to Miya.

"Oki, what are we having?" Miya could feel her mouth starting to water. Oki's mother made the best cooking.

"Ooh I'll tell you when we sit down. Come, let's go!" She grabbed Miya's wrist and pulled her into the dining room.

Miya sat on a red cushion in front of her friend at the table.

"So, Oki, why is it that you are so energetic this morning?" Miya asked her normally very solemn and silent comrade.

"Oh, I am? I hadn't noticed. How about you, Miya-san, why do you look so lost?" Oki sent Miya a worried gaze.

"Well, there's a new guy at the orphanage and he's a little...well...over the top," Miya looked down at her hands in which her fingers were entwined together on her lap.

"After we have eaten would you like to talk more about this 'new guy' at the park?" Oki smiled.

"Sure...why not?" Miya gave an unsure grin in reply.

A few moments later Oki's mother brought in some sushi, onigiri, and miso ramen. Miya's eyes grew bigger and bigger as what she considered 'real food' was brought in (she considers the food Oki's mother serves as 'real food' because of the terrible food at the orphanage's lunchroom). Miya's baby blue eyes glittered in anxiousness, she couldn't wait to dig in.

A gracious smile appeared on Mrs. Minami's previously blank face, "Enjoy!" She exclaimed, then shuffled back into the kitchen.

"Mmm, yum, hmm," Miya tasted everything on her plate, "delishish," she muffled, her mouth full of ramen. Oki could only giggled at the site of Miya with her mouth full of noodles. Miya started choking on her food, but quickly swallowed it down.

Miya-san, control yourself. I'm sure you wouldn't want to die at a dinner table," Oki laughed aloud.

Miya sipped her tea, "Yeah, well you weren't on the traumatized end of the situation now were you?"

"That's true," Oki giggled again.

"Lord, I'm stuffed Oki!" Miya slumped in her cushion.

"Well, now that you know your limits, you wonna go to the park?" Oki suggested.

"Why not?" Miya smiled, "But I may need some help getting up," she chuckled to herself.

Oki rose from her cushion and took hold of Miya's delicate wrist and pulled the bloated girl to her feet.

"That's better," Miya brushed off her shorts, "Thanks."

"Hm? Oh, no problem," Oki tilted her head to one side with a bright smile on her face.

Oki sat on the end of the park's pond and looked down to be faced by little frantically swimming fish.

"Hmm, hello there," she hummed to them. A cute smile crept along her face.

Miya came from behind Oki and sat next to her, "Look at how much they are attracted to you, you're like a fish magnet!" Miya giggled, but tried to keep the fish from swimming away.

"It's always so beautiful out here. The fish are so care free and roam around the pond as if they think that they own it," Oki's smile soon went from broad smirk to a downhearted frown.

"So, what's with that? Why are you all of a sudden so upset?" A worried look reflected from Miya's soft face.

"I do envy them," was all that Oki said.

"Oki-sama, I don't know what's going on in that strange mind of yours, I just hope it's nothing you'll regret later on," Miya wrapped her arm around her blue haired buddy.

"Forget about it, I'm fine. I was only thinking." Oki smiled again at her friend.

Miya's expression was the very opposite. She still felt a little weird about her friend's choice of words. But nevertheless she managed to smile back.

"So what about this new boy?" Oki turned on her haunches to face Miya.

"Well, what do you need to know?" Miya laid back on the soft ground.

"Everything," Oki replied.

"Well he's about my age and his name is Ryu," she began. "He was really violent when I first saw him........." Miya told the whole story and everything about this new kid, Ryu. "Anyway, it seems he had lost his parents in a car crash and has no other place to go. Kazuki had the nerve to ask me to talk to him. I just really don't think I should," she finished.

"Well, here's my opinion on this whole thing. If something that traumatizing happened presently to yourself, you may not want to talk to anyone about it or you may. Nevertheless, you will always need to. To have someone there to help you heal, a friend, it would mean more than any kind of special treatment. Remember Miya-san, in every beast there is a peaceful spirit longing to be free," Oki let her wise words rein over Miya.

"Oki, I'm a little scared," Miya sat up and brought her knees to her chest. She then cradled her head on them.

"You do not have to do it of you feel this much pressure and fear inside you." Oki put her hand on Miya's shoulder. A reassuring touch that would later on motivate Miya to do the right thing.

Miya brought herself back together, "I should be going now." Miya remembered she had to be back for chamber inspection early, "I forgot all about bedroom overview for today!"

"That's fine Miya," Oki smiled and waved, "I will see you later." They gave each other a friendly hug.

"Thanks for listening and for the good advice," Miya shouted and waved as she ran off.

Little did both of the girls realize that they had been watched by a mysterious stranger in a tree throughout their conversation. The stranger did not move from his spot but intently watched the blue haired girl talk to the fish.

'How strange, the auras exposed from those two girls' bodies. Could they be...no, they couldn't...but, there is a possibility.' He thought to himself. He had pale, cream colored skin, and his dark hair swayed in the breeze. Then, with the swiftest of speeds he jumped the trees of the park without anyone noticing until he was out of the range of sight.

"Hey, Kazuki! I'm back!" Miya barged into her room. But Kazuki wasn't there. "Kazuki?" She walked around the empty bedroom. Seeing that Kazuki wasn't there she walked out of the room and ran into Ken's. As she rushed out of the room Miya ran straight into Ryu causing them both to topple over onto the hard wood floor (A/N: OUCH!!). Ryu narrowed his eyes at the blonde then unexpectedly softened them and arose. Miya sweatdropped and she felt her face getting warmer. She scratched the back of her neck and looked up to the taller of them both. "Heh, I-I-I'm sorry bout that," she laughed nervously.

Ryu put out his hand to help her up. Miya cringed, thinking that he was about to hit her. Looking puzzled, she took hold of Ryu's firm hand. Time stopped for Miya, and stars and glitter seemed to surround the atmosphere. Ryu's grip guided Miya back to her feet. He then turned and walked away without a word.

"Thank you," Miya said to his back. Ryu didn't answer. "Hello! I said thank you! The least you could do is say your welcome!" Miya shouted.

"Clumsy fool," he whispered under his breath.

"What was that?" Miya's face turned red. "You all of a sudden have manners, and I say thank you and then you say 'clumsy fool', what's wrong with you?"

"You're a real bitch, you know that?" Ryu turned around. Words couldn't describe the expression on his face. His eyes burned with fury and his lids were so narrow that you could say he looked like a demon.

Miya was hesitant on how to retort his comment but something told her she needed to put him in his place. She rose her hand to slap him, but as she swung her palm it was caught mid-air by Ryu's firm clutch. "Don't you dare try, GIRL," was all he said in a low, raspy voice. Then he threw her arm down to her side violently and walked away without another word.

Miya's eye twitched in disbelief. 'What the hell just happened? Who does he think he is to tell me off like that! And where is Kazuki?!! GRRR!!' She walked to the orphan home's bulletin board to check and see if her brother had left a note for her. He had, and it read:

Hey Miya,

Well, you weren't here to hear it but room checks have been postponed until tomorrow! (Miya face falters)So Ken's friend's brother has taken us to the mall to check out some girls...I mean, some video games. (Miya sweatdrops) If no one is at the orphanage then Mr. N has taken them to the movies sticks tongue out at you. Too bad you missed out! Ken and I will be back by 8:00 and Mr. N and everyone are s'posed to be back by 6:45, okay? Don't get yourself in trouble!

Your best bro-

Kazuki

P.S. Why don't you try talkin' to that Ryu guy?

'Why that little son of a-! He knew Ryu would be the only one here when I got back!! Oh, he's gonna get it!' Then someone walked from behind her.

"Huh?" She turned and watched as Ryu paced his way to the back porch and sat down on a bench. Miya's big sapphire blue eyes took a quick glance at the clock on the wall next to her. "6:00," she said to herself. Afterwards, she turned to look back at Ryu on the bench staring at the stone floor. 'No Miya, don't you dare!' She thought to herself, 'Ohhh! I can't believe I'm gonna do this!'

Miya walked over to the back door and slid it open. Ryu didn't even move a muscle. She didn't want to say anything to him just yet. Miya feared what his response would be if she did.

Drip Something moist hit the paved floor. Drip Drip There were two more. Miya couldn't believe it! 'Mr. Tough Guy' was actually crying!! She felt pity for him and slowly, but cautiously walked over to him. She knelt down on the floor beside the bench at Ryu's level. "Are you okay?" Miya put a hand to his shoulder, but Ryu only removed his shoulder from underneath it.

"Go away," he sniffed drip.

"What's wrong?" Miya's eyes trembled in the slowly dimming light.

"GO AWAY!!" Ryu shouted aggressively.

"...No..." Miya looked up and down his features. Ryu had long, well built legs, a slim upper body and clean-cut, shapely arms. Miya thought he looked like one of those skateboarders or surfers that she often saw on television.

"Why?" Ryu squeezed his eyes shut to get rid of the tears. Drip Drip Drip.

"Because...I care about a lot of people in this orphanage...including...you," she succeeded this time at putting her hand on his shoulder. "Now may I sit next to you?"

"Do I have a choice?" Ryu finally looked up and out to the sunset.

"Not really," Miya wandered over to the other side of Ryu and sat by him.

"Why do you care so much about others? You barely know me, and aren't you a bit young to be acting so mature?" Ryu wiped the tears from his eyes quickly.

"Why do you ask so many questions? The truth is that I don't know you. And second thing is, you don't know me. So how do you know how mature anybody is unless you get to know them first?" Miya retorted.

"It's just...why would anyone ever want to know a bastard like me. I don't want to put up with the stress of having friends. I don't want to be here at all! Things weren't supposed to happen this way!! I...I just...I just wonna..." Ryu tried to hold back his tears.

Miya tried to get a good look in his eyes, "You just want to be with your parents right now, huh?"

Ryu ripped himself away from her gaze, it was too much for him. He flung his head to the side and tears started flowing again.

"I know exactly how you feel..." Miya diverted her gaze from the grieving boy and faced the afternoon sky. "Except...I never knew my parents. Mr. Nori used to tell my brother and I that they were running from someone or something terrible...Drip. They were in a hurry to sign the papers and didn't leave any contact information...Drip Drip...Mr. Nori says that my mother left a note and a pair of charm necklaces for Kazuki and I...but...Drip...he said he must have misplaced it sometime ago.

So you see, you're lucky enough to have shared most of your life with your parents." Miya concluded. Then, all at once, Miya couldn't hold in her emotions and began sobbing. She put her head down between her knees, she felt as if she could vomit right there.

"Well," Ryu began, "I guess its only fair, after all of that, to tell you my story." He veered his face back to Miya, "That is, if you really wanna listen."

"Why not?" Miya, gradually calming herself, propped her chin upon her upright arm. She attempted a smile. "I'm willing to listen, only if you're willing to confess."

"Fine," Ryu nodded. "My parents," he chuckled to hold back his tears, "They always showed how much they cared about me in the strangest of ways." Ryu, paused, "Mom and Dad were so tough, so strict...But when it came to parties, they could barely control themselves. It was almost sickening..." He looked down; his long, thick, red tipped hair covered his expression. "Last night...they crashed a nearby party that they had heard about from a close friend. I had no place to stay that night while they were gone; and much like many nights before, I went with them to the party.

It was a big house. There was a pool in the back with a hot tub full of women in." Ryu's face reddened slightly.

Miya grimaced, 'Disgusting' she thought to herself.

"And of course there was drinking, lots and lots of drinking. My parents' favorite part of the affair. They grabbed some shot glasses and began gulping down one after the other until they were drunken fools. The music was loud and booming, so much so that the house shook. I wanted to go someplace where I would not be asked another time for a martini or some sake. I can't stand the stuff...I went upstairs, bad idea on my part because there were two people sharing a...ah...um intimate moment," Ryu shook his head to remove the thought from his mind. "Not the highlight of the party, let me tell you. I finally found haven in my parents car after I found out that ALL of the rooms upstairs, including the bedrooms and guestrooms, the bathrooms and even the closets in 'use'. 'Finally some quiet' I said to myself, although I could still hear the racket coming from the house." He took a breath.

"Then, all of a sudden my parents came stumbling out of the building. They seemed in a hurry. I instinctively got into the front driver's seat and turned on the vehicle. They had come out of the residence without a designated driver, and I certainly wasn't going to let them drive," Ryu paused for Miya to retort.

"But you're too young to drive, right?" She asked aloud.

"Yeah, but with a party full of lush guests, do you think any of them would be sober enough to be a designated driver? This wasn't the first party that I had needed to drive them home from. But this house was further away from our place than any other house party we had been to. We were well on our way home when my mother and father decided to...uh, let's just say nothing they had to drink settled in them. It...caught all of my attention and I...wasn't watching the road," Ryu looked down.

Miya saw what she thought was a new tear rolling down his face, 'Oh no,' she thought.

"Our car shifted to the left into the other lane...The other car must've seen us too late and tried to turn out of the way. But...it didn't make it, and missed my side of the car by chance. The car hit the right passenger seats that sat my father and mother. I had minor cuts and bruises because my air bags worked. However, my parents...weren't as lucky. They died last night, my mother at 12:58 and my father about 1:32. And it's all...my fault..." Ryu shuddered, "My mother and father never kept contact with my family. I never saw them or even knew if I had any and I had no real friends that I could stay with so...here I am. With nothing and no-one." He leaned himself forward and rested his head on his folded arms overlaying his lap. Miya could tell that he was desperately trying to hold back his tears in front of a girl. Although he'd done a pretty bad job at it so far.

She folded her arms in front of her chest in a contemplative fashion, "You should know by now that it doesn't matter if you cry in front of me. You've done it before." But there was no reply. Miya put her hand on Ryu's shoulder. "Hey, you have yourself, your life, a shelter, and," she hesitated, "a new friend."

Ryu wiped his eyes and stared into Miya's, "You don't mean that. I know you don't."

"Oh please, don't give me the melodrama. Believe it or not, I used to be like you and playing the victim doesn't get you any where. Accept it, I want to be your friend. Whether you like it or not, I care about you as an individual. You're just like all of us in this orphanage. You may not have a family's warmth, but you still need a friend's shoulder to lean on. You're not without a friend as long as you live here. Do you understand?"

Ryu was shocked, stunned, bewildered, dazed...(okay you get the point). His eyes were wide, he had never had someone ask him...tell him that they were his friend and actually meant it. And he could tell, just by the look in Miya's eyes, that she truly meant it. He had a friend, a piece of family that he had never had before. "A friend," he uttered the words and Miya nodded in response.

"Yes, a friend." She passed an affectionate smile.

Ryu placed his hand on Miya's and said, "Good."