Chapter 8
RING
The lunch bell rang loudly through the halls of Han'a JuniorHigh as all the kids filed out of the classrooms and headed for the cafeteria. Rona walked into the lunchroom, spying her friends she glided over to the table they occupied taking a seat with an agitated huff. "I can't believe this," she grumbled out to no one in particular.
Keish flicked her blue eyed gaze over at the royal-blue-haired girl, a little perplexed by her attitude. "Nani?" she replied through bites of food.
Rona looked over at Keish, her purple-blue eyes sparkled with the anger she was feeling. "Lea's not here again!" she ranted loudly, making some of the kids at the table next to them look at her strangely.
"Well didn't we all expect Uncle Ryo to make her stay home again today?" Kami reasoned with her as she gave the kids who were still looking at them a smile of reassurance.
Rona sighed in frustration, trying to regain control of herself again. She ran a hand through her royal-blue-hair in aggravation before acknowledging they were correct, "Yeah, you're right."
"Yeah, well I say it's a good thing she's not here," Heather added as she searched the lunch room silently for a certain someone, trying to be discrete as well.
Keish glared at the pretty blond, not liking what she had said about her friend at all. "What was that, Date?" she asked her back, her blue eyes pointed in a glare at Heather.
"Heather, what are you doing?" Rona asked her crossly, obviously not liking the comment she had said about her cousin either.
Heather shook her blond head lightly and her hair swooshed to either side. "I'm just looking for that guy, Tadin. That's all," she replied nonchantly as she still searched the lunchroom.
"Oh, well I guess we won't bother you with our concerned chat about our friend then," Keish replied sarcastically and rather rudely to her.
"Keish," Kami reprimanded her wisecrack friend.
"Nani?" Keish replied innocently to Kami who only scowled at her more.
Heather let out a happy screech, startling the other three girls sitting around her as she began hitting Rona on the arm excitedly. "He's here! I knew he couldn't get enough of me," she giddily proclaimed.
Rona glared at her blond friend as she rubbed her sore arm where Heather had hit her in her moment of bliss, "Well, how nice."
Sure enough, Tadin strolled into the lunchroom and immediately walked over to the little group of four girls smiling brightly to them as the dingy blond neared the table. "Hi, you don't mind if I sit with you girls again, do you?" he asked them politely, already taking a seat between Keish and Kami.
Heather smiled flirtatiously at him, flipping her golden blond hair over her shoulder gracefully and then folded her hands on the table top. "Not at all. We'd love for you to join us," she replied for the rest of them.
Tadin smiled back at her. He knew Heather liked him and figured he could use that to his advantage sooner or later. "Thanks," he said as he took a seat at the table. "So um, how are all of you? Is your friend Rylea here today?"
Heather felt a stab of jealousy hit her at the thought that he was more concerned with where Rylea was, rather than talking to her or asking her out. Her smile faltered a bit, but she said nothing about it.
Rona sensed the change in her attitude and decided to speak before the blond could say anything. Shaking her head she replied, "No, Lea's not-"
"I'm not what?" came a voice from behind the royal-blue-haired teen before she could finish her sentence.
Rona's eyes went wide with realization of who the voice belonged to as she turned around, almost screaming with joy when she saw her cousin standing behind her with a bright smile on her face. "Lea, oh my gods!" she shouted and jumped up to envelope her surprised cousin in a tight hug.
"Gah," Rylea squeaked out. "Rona I can't breathe!"
Rona retracted her arms from around the smaller girl and smiled sheepishly at her. "Sorry," she muttered and then went right into the questioning. "Where were you today? Are you ok? How did you convince your father to let you come today?"
"Whoa," Rylea replied, holding her hands up as if to ward off her questions. "One question at a time please."
"Hey girl! Glad to see ya back," Keish exclaimed happily with a grin and wave of her hand.
"You sure you're feeling okay?" Kami asked her, concern evident in her sea green eyes.
"How nice to see you back," Heather added from behind gritted teeth with a strained smile.
"I'm happy to see you too, Heather. I'm fine, Kami, really. I'm glad to see ya too, Keish and I'll tell you later, Rona," Rylea said, replying and answering all of their questions.
Tadin smiled as he sized up the new girl in front of him. She was shorter than any of the other girls, except maybe Kami and was also darker skinned. He figured she wouldn't be much trouble for him. "So you must be this, Rylea they've been talking about," he put in after the other girls had finished saying what all they had to say to her.
Rylea looked over at the new voice that had added to the group. She blinked, thinking she had seen something different about him something almost evil looking. "Hai, and you would be?" she asked back, placing a hand on her hip in a challenging manner.
"I would be Tadin. Just transferred here about three days ago," he replied. Tadin smiled inwardly, he had seen her blink in confusion when she had looked over at him. She must be the girl. I can sense that demon aura about her already.
Rylea frowned at Tadin, something about this guy put her on edge. There was just something about the way he acted that she didn't quite trust. He unnerved her, but also attracted her to him all at the same time. "Well, Tadin, I'm Rylea and don't believe most of the things they said about me. I'm not all that bad," she told him with a mischievous smile, extending her right hand for him to shake.
Tadin smiled back seductively and took her hand, bringing it to his lips he kissed it softly. "I'll keep that in mind," he murmured back in reply.
Heather's light blue eyes went wide at the sight of him flirting with Rylea and she clutched her hands tightly into fists under the table to keep from ripping Rylea's hand away from him.
Rylea half smiled in a nervous fashion at him, retracting her hand from his as Tadin's smile grew more. Rona looked from Tadin to Rylea and then at Heather, who was giving Rylea the dirtiest looks, as Kami and Keish smirked at each other in silent understanding.
"Lea, come on and sit down," Rona said as she ushered her cousin to sit next to her, which happened to be across from Tadin but away from Heather.
"So how is everyone?" Keish asked suddenly to try and start a conversation, gaining a few chuckles from the others around her as she smiled.
Tadin ignored Keish's question as he stared at Rylea. He was lost in his own thoughts, too wrapped up in his new finding to even care what they were talking about. Now that I've found you, how am I going to convince you to come to our side? he pondered to himself as he stared at her, his eyes drifted over her, taking in her every feature. She's beautiful, but then again so are her friends. Those eyes of hers though, I've never seen someone with such vivid blue eyes like hers. They just seem to pull you in the longer you stare in them.
Tadin blinked in surprise when he felt another power surround her and this power wasn't evil in the least bit. Well now, what could this be? Examining her aura further, Tadin was awestruck when he found a strong, red, aura surrounding her. This feels familiar for some reason. Why do I feel like I've felt a power like this before? he asked himself as he let his eyes and senses drift over the four girls sitting around him. A feral grin curled around his lips as he found blue, green, light blue and orange auras surrounding the other four girls. Well now, what have I stumbled across here. Seems there's more to these girls than what meets the eye.
Rylea glanced over at Tadin when shebecame aware ofthe creepy feeling that someone was staring at her ---frowning when she found his steely blue gaze pointed on her. "You got a problem, Tadin?" she snapped at him irritably, not liking the fact that he was staring at her as if she had grown a second head or something.
"No," he replied calmly to her with a smile. "No, I don't."
"Then stop staring at me," Rylea retorted, her tiger blue eyes flashed dangerously with an inner fire.
Tadin smiled more at her, amused by Rylea's temper.
Keish looked between the two and then laughed, finding her friend and Tadin's behavior funny. "Hey, Lea, chill out. He jus' likes ya is why he's staring at ya," she stated with a wink over at Rylea who glared at her friend.
"Keish, say that again and I will-" Rylea started, but was cut off by the sounds of the lunch bell ringing loudly again, signaling that lunch time was over.
With much grumbling and complaining the five girls, along with Tadin, got up from the table they sat at, beginning to head for the exit and back to the teachers and work. Tadin thought quickly as they left the cafeteria for an excuse to see Rylea alone outside of school; grabbing her hand gently to stop her. "Hey Rylea," he said as she whirled around to look at him. "Could I um, see you sometime after school? You know, just to hang out or something. Maybe you could show me around so I can get to know this place better."
Rylea studied him for a moment before smirking with nothing short of amusement. "I don't know," she drawled out as if she were rethinking his offer. "You're not exactly the type of guy my Dad would like. Besides, who says I have the time to show new guys around?"
Tadin smiled at her comment, he was beginning to find her attitude more and more amusing. "Who said your father has to know?" he retorted, smiling enchantingly at her again.
Rylea laughed lightly as she pulled her hand from his and placed it on her hip in her usual stubborn way. "Don't let my Dad ever hear you say that or I can guarantee you that I won't be showing you around," she replied smugly. "If you really want to see me, you'll find me, Tadin." With one last smirk at him she turned on her heels and followed her friends down the hallway, leaving Tadin to stand alone.
Tadin smirked as he watched her walk away, disappearing down the hallway amongst the sea of kids and uniforms. "Playing hard to get are we. That's my favorite game," he mused to himself, his smirk slowly turning into a smile. I'll get you sooner or later, demon, he proclaimed silently to himself.
Deciding not to stay any longer in the school, Tadin waited for the hallway to clear of the kids still trying to get to class before turning into a shadow and leaving.
-
Ryo Sanada groaned at the stack of papers he had to go through. His headache was back now and the shower had done little for his aching muscles; he had problems both physically and mentally. Ryo sighed in frustration and glanced over at the stack of papers on his desk again, shuddering just at the thought of how long it was going to take him to get through it all.
His eyes drifted from the papers to the pictures that littered his desk, finding himself smiling even though his head was hurting him and his neck was aching. No matter how bad he was feeling, the pictures of his kids could always make him feel better.
Ryo chuckled as he gazed at the picture of Rylea's ninth birthday when Ryu had smeared cake all over her face. The nine year old Rylea in the picture was smiling and laughing even though she had vanilla cake on her face and even some in her hair. Ryo felt his self begin to become drawn into the pictures, almost reliving the moments over again as he examined them more. A small smile was beginning to form at the corners of his mouth as he looked over at the picture next to it.
This picture held an eight year old Ryu holding his then, four year old sister on his shoulders so she could see into the cages at the zoo better. Rylea was smiling her innocent, big smile and pointing at the monkeys in the cage. Ryo smiled sadly at the picture as he recounted the events of that day in his mind. Those were the good days. Back then she always had a smile on her face and never yelled at me like she does now, he thought dryly to himself and glanced over at the next picture.
This picture had been taken at the beach, not too long ago. Everyone had gone to the beach to hang for the day a couple summers ago when they had taken this picture. The picture was actually of all the girls. Keish was on the end to the right, Kami was next to her and Rona was in the middle with Heather on her other side. All four girls were hunched over Rylea who was lying on her side being her normal, goofy self and acting like she was posing for a swimsuit catalog or something.
She was smiling then too. Now I barely ever see that smile anymore, Ryo thought as he examined the picture, smiling at the memory the picture had conjured up. His trip into his happy memories was interrupted, though, by the sounds of the phone ringing on his desk; startling him back to the present.
Ryo sighed in annoyance as he picked up the ringing phone. "Hai?" he spoke into the receiver and placed the picture he had been looking at back amongst the others.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Sanada, but there is a Mr. Hiroshi here to see you. He says he has an appointment," a female's voice said from the other end.
Mr. Hiroshi? His mind reeled with the answer as to whom he was, but drew a blank. "If he says he does then send him in please," Ryo replied back to the woman on the other end as he rubbed his forehead.
"Sure thing, Mr. Sanada," the woman replied in that same practiced, cheerful voice.
"Thank you," he said and hung the phone up.
The door to Ryo's office opened as a traditional looking Japanese man cautiously walked in. He seemed to be in his mid thirties with brown hair and dark brown eyes. Ryo stood and greeted the man with a handshake and a smile. "Mr. Hiroshi, nice to see you," he said to him politely.
Mr. Hiroshi smiled back as he took Ryo's extended hand and shook it, "I hope I wasn't disturbing you."
Ryo smiled warmly as he shook his dark head. "No, no, I've just been busy lately and forgot I had an appointment with you today. Sit please," he replied, motioning for him to sit as he took his own seat behind the large oak desk.
"Thank you," Mr. Hiroshi said and sat in the leather chair Ryo had gestured for him to take.
Hiroshi scanned over the contents of Ryo's office silently, his eyes coming to rest last on the pictures that were placed on his desk. "These your kids?" he asked, looking over a picture of Ryu and Rylea.
Ryo glanced over at him, nodding with a smile when he noticed the picture he was looking at, "Hai, those would be my two kids Ryu and Rylea."
Hiroshi smiled kindly and replaced the picture on the desk where it had been sitting. He looked over the other pictures of them, "They seem like nice kids. Beautiful little girl you have, she looks just like you."
Ryo chuckled, everyone who saw the pictures or saw Rylea always said that to him. He was used to it by now and anticipated it, "Thanks, Lea will be fifteen July twenty-fifth."
Hiroshi blinked several times as if he had just been spoken to in a language that he didn't understand. "Fifteen, huh?" he repeated as if not hearing him right. "Well then, she's not a little girl anymore, is she?"
"No, she sure isn't," Ryo replied as he picked up a picture from the mass collection he had on the desk and handed it to him. "This is a more recent picture of her."
Hiroshi took the picture from Ryo and studied it with a smile. "Well, she may be older in this picture, but she still looks just like you," he said and handed the picture back to Ryo. "Are you positive she's turning fifteen, because she sure doesn't look it."
Ryo chuckled at his comment as he took the picture back, glancing at it briefly before replacing it back with the others. "Yeah, I'm sure. She doesn't look or act her age, but Lea will be fifteen."
Hiroshi nodded in acknowledgment, "I see."
Ryo cleared his throat and sat his folded hands on the top of his desk, getting back down to business, "Now then, what can I help you with Mr. Hiroshi?"
-
Sage Date strolled out of his office and headed in the direction of the receptionist's desk. Already he could see Saksai on the phone, busy doing what she got paid to do. Saksai was a plump woman in her forties with graying dark brown hair she always wore back in a bun and honeydew brown eyes. She was nice, widowed with no children of her own. Saksai had that sweet, grandmotherly way about her and could cheer you up with her sweet charm.
Sage smiled at Saksai as he watched her writing down things and talking out loud to herself, obviously either ignoring him or hadn't seen him yet. "Afternoon, Saksai love," he said to her sweetly with a grin plastered on his handsome face.
"You have no messages, no mail, an appointment at two and if your wife calls, I'll be sure and tell her you're in a meeting," she replied instantly without looking up at him, still busily writing down things.
Sage laughed at her, amused that she knew him that well. "Well thanks, but that's not what I had come over here for," he told her with the same cool smile.
Saksai glanced up at him from where she was writing down notes on a pad of paper, smirking when she saw his smiling face. "Then did you come over here to bug me, Sage?" she retorted with a sly smirk. "I'm busy at the moment and have no time to banter with you right now."
Sage's smile grew at her words, enjoying Saksai and his joking. "Well then, I guess you have no time to tell me if Ryo's in or not do you?" he asked her as he leaned over the counter of the desk to see what she had been writing.
"Ryo's here, he's in a meeting right now though," she replied, batting him away as if he were a pesky fly. "Now would you please find something to do, I have lots of work to do."
Sage chuckled, his smile never faltering as he backed away from the desk Saksai sat at with hands held up as if he were in a stick up. He knew he was starting to bother her and Sage was loving every minute of it. "Aw, now don't be like that, Saksai," he retorted while trying to look ashamed. "You know I would have married you if I had seen you first."
Saksai laughed at his statement, Sage's teasing was nothing new to her. She had been working with him and Ryo for about thirteen years now and nothing he did was a surprise to her. "Hai, but you would have had to fight with my husband, may he rest in peace, for me," she stated back to the blond with an all knowing smile of her own.
"I think I would have won," Sage replied with a playful wink at her. "You like younger men don't you, Saksai?"
Saksai stopped her typing at the computer she sat in front of to look up at Sage with a perplexed, almost amused smile. "I wonder what your wife would say if I told her that you were hitting on me," she said, letting the question hang in the air as if it were a threat.
Sage laughed and shook his blond head at the aging woman, "You're too much for me, Saksai."
"I know," Saksai replied nonchantly as she went back to her work, typing away at the computer she sat in front of.
Sage chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder at the opening of Ryo's door, Ryo and Hiroshi walked from it together. Hiroshi smiled kindly and shook Ryo's hand. "I'll be in touch," he said to Ryo. "And tell your daughter I said happy early birthday."
Ryo smiled and nodded to him in a friendly manner. "I will, thank you," he replied to him.
Hiroshi smiled again as he walked away from Ryo, nodding respectfully to Sage as he passed him. Ryo cracked his aching neck as he made his way over to where Sage and Saksai were. "Saksai, please tell me that was my last and only appointment for today," he asked her, almost pleading with her to make it so.
"Yes, it was," Saksai replied sweetly to him as if she were talking to one of her grand kids. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I've just had a couple bad days," Ryo replied as he rubbed his tired eyes, the headache he had had earlier was starting to subside now.
"Oh you poor dear. Is everything okay?" she asked him with concern. Saksai acted more like an older sister or Mother to Ryo at times.
"Hey now, you never ask me that," Sage scolded, seemingly offended by Saksai paying more attention to Ryo than him.
"Well, I like Sanada-san better than you Date-san," Saksai teased with a cheerful smile at the tall blond.
Ryo chuckled as Sage glowered at Saksai, he was used to their good natured bickering. "Oh yeah, well see if I get you anything this year," Sage told her with a smug smirk.
Saksai laughed lightly and patted Sage's arm softly, she knew he didn't mean what he said, but played along with it any way. "Now, now, you know I was just teasing you," she told him with a grin. "I like you both, but I would like you both more if you weren't here bothering me while I'm trying to work."
Sage smirked at her teasing as Ryo merely smiled at the woman's words. Ryo knew her comment was more so directed at Sage than himself, since Sage was the one who never left her alone. "I get it. We can take a hint. We know when we're not wanted. Come on Ryo," Sage said as he motioned with a nod of his head for Ryo to follow him.
Ryo shook his head at the blond with an amused smile at how childish he was acting. With a smile, he turned back to Saksai before he left, "Hold all my calls unless it's an emergency, please, Saksai."
"Sure thing," Saksai replied as she typed away at the computer.
Ryo gave her one last smile before he turned and followed after Sage who had now gone into his office. Now what does he want? Ryo thought in agitation as he went into his office and closed the door behind him.
-
RING
The last bell of the day rang out as all the students of Han'a JuniorHigh filed out of the classrooms and headed for the exit signs. The day was over and all the kids wanted to do was get out of the confinement of the schools doors and head for a fun spot. Rylea was among those kids who filed out of the doors of the school. She smiled as the warm sun hit her face as she walked down the stone steps that lead to the school's entrance.
The girldidn't see any of the others and thought it was best that she didn't, all she wanted was to be left alone to think over her problems and the events of that morning. Being badgered and pressured into spilling what was wrong with her by her friends, was not what she wanted to have to deal with today. Sure she liked their company and advice they gave her at times, but today was just one of those days where she wanted to be alone to think.
Not really feeling like home was the best place to be right then either, Rylea decided to go to one of her favorite places. Heading off from the school, she went in the direction of the city instead of her usual route home. She had some money in her pocket and time to kill,her father wouldn't be home for at least two hours and being home alone with Ryu was not sounding too pleasant to her at the moment.
Walking down the streets of Toyama, Rylea was surprised to find so many tourists were roaming about. Usually they stayed around Tokyo, the capital of Japan, rather than coming around these parts. Twice she had to stop to help a tourist who couldn't speak the language and had no idea as to where they were. The people seemed elated that Rylea spoke perfect english and could help them ---they didn't really care how she knew english, just happy that she could. They would thank her profusely before going off in the direction she had told them to go in.
Smiling, Rylea continued on her way until she came to a large building bustling with people coming and going. Walking through the glass doors, she rode the escalator up to the second floor where she came to the food court in the mall. This place was where she would come to get away from everything and just think.
Gliding through the mess of tables that were set up, Rylea came to her favorite spot by the window where she could look out at the city. Taking her seat, she slid down into the chair, glancing out the window at the glistening sun and buildings that seemed to go on forever. A young waitress came up to her a few moments later to take her order. Rylea smiled politely to the lady and told her all she wanted was a pop for right now. With a cheerful nod the waitress went off to fetch her pop, coming back a few moments later with it.
Sipping unconsciously at the pop, Rylea watched as the people passed by her on their shopping spree. Mothers and their daughters chatted and smiled as they carried large bags that signified the shopping that they had done earlier. Without knowing, Rylea felt herself glaring at them, hating the fact that they had life so easy and were enjoying their time together. People she didn't even know she was giving dirty looks to and wishing the worst things possible would happen to them.
Instead of being happy that the girls her age were spending quality time with their mothers and having a nice time, Rylea was hating them, mentally cursing them to no end. Realizing what she was doing, Rylea looked away from the laughing and chatting mothers and daughters to stare out the window. What am I doing? It's not their fault that my mother's dead and will never be able to do those things with me. Why should I hate them just because they have a privilege I don't?
Rylea sighed and sipped at her pop until the gurgling sounds that meant she was out of the sugary substance sounded and then her thoughts caught up to her again. Why do I hate them so much?
True, Rylea's mother was dead and had been gone for so long that she couldn't even remember her that well, but she still couldn't help but feel a sense of jealousy and longing to have that bond that kids had with their mothers. All she could see anymore when she looked at girls and their mothers was something that she would never have, something that she wanted desperately to have.
Without even knowing that she was doing it, Rylea would find herself glaring at them more and more often. I'm jealous of them is what it is. I hate them because they have a Mother, they have that bond that I wish I had. They have something that I will never have or get back no matter how much good I do or how much evil I take down. I can never have my Mother back.
An angry tear slipped down Rylea's cheek and she quickly wiped it away, not wanting anyone to see her crying over someone she couldn't even remember anymore. It had been so long ago and she couldn't even remember what had happened that night, not even when she tried to. All she knew was what she had been told by her father and brother. All they could tell her was that she had been found half dead in the woods with her mother's pendant dangling from around her neck and that no one knew what had happened that tragic night.
Her brother had been at a friend's house and her father had been working late. The only people who knew what had happened was her and her mother, but her mom was dead, that left only Rylea with the memory of that night. Why can't I remember it? I should know, but why can't I recall it?
Her mother's death had been a mystery and a shock to everyone who knew them. No one could come up with a reason or justification for the slaying of Luna Sanada and the almost death of Rylea. It had been so long since any of them had had to fight evil that they didn't suspect that it had been done by some supernatural force. Her murder had simply been written off as unsolved and forgotten about.
Without the recalling of the events from Rylea they had no evidence to go on and no suspects. No traces of anyone else besides Rylea and Luna could be found in the house or even in the crime areas where Luna had been stabbed and Rylea had been dumped to die. The whole thing had been one big puzzle that was missing numerous pieces to the police and quickly forgotten ---the only witness to the crime was a little girl who couldn't remember a thing and that wasn't a big help to them.
Rylea idly twirled the container her pop had once been in as her mind raged on with thoughts of her mother and that horrible night and the events of that morning with her father. She couldn't justify her actions towards her father as simply just loosing her inherited 'Sanada temper' because that just didn't seem right. Something had been pushing her that morning, urging her to go on. Wanting her to lose her temper and go off on him, even bring him physical harm.
This is getting out of hand. I have to tell him about what's been going on... But how? How am I going to explain this to him and him actually believe me? I don't even understand what's going on, so how am I going to make him understand? Maybe this is all just part of me coming to terms with my destiny. Maybe it has to do with getting my armor. Armor, oh gods training!
With the sudden remembrance that today was one of her training days, Rylea flew from her seat at the table and rushed for the exit. Rylea was late as it was and now she had to try and get there before she was extremely late. Leinto is going to kill me, she thought with a grimace while running down the sidewalk in the direction of the training area outside of the city limits.
People dodged out of her way and shouted angry protests at her mad dash down the sidewalk where they were walking, but Rylea ignored them and continued on ---their words meaning nothing to her, her mind was focused on getting to training as fast as she could.
-
A/N: Ok, here's chap 8, I hope you liked it. Some of you are starting to catch on very quickly as to who the new demon is and on a few other things. You'll just have to wait to find out if you're correct though. Anyway, special thanks to Sifirela, MorganRay and Rogue. Muchos gracias mi amigas! Thanks for reviewing and reading my story.