Tio and Roan stared up at the building that had once been Ryudo's home. Roan stepped forward and ran a hand around the door frame. There were several small holes.
"Someone took down all the boards," said Tio, "Recently by the looks of it."
She looked in through a window.
"And it's clean," she said, "Strange for a supposedly abandoned home."
"Maybe someone else is living there now?" asked Roan.
"I don't think so," said Roan, pointing to where a backpack was lying on the floor, "That definitely looks familiar!"
Tio pushed the door open and walked in despite Roan's warnings. She bent down and picked up picked up the Backpack.
"It's Ryudo's backpack," she stated, confirming Roan's thoughts, "I think that the owner did not go far."
"I doubt Ryudo would just leave it here," agreed Roan, "Where do you think he'd go?"
Tio thought for a second.
"I'm not sure, perhaps if we wait here he will return." She said thoughtfully, sitting down.
"I hope so," said Roan, "I don't think it's polite for us to wait in his home without his permission."
"Ryudo wouldn't mind," said Tio.
Ryudo stepped into the sunlight.
"Come back soon Ryudo," said the village chief, "And I'll tell you if I hear anything about your friends."
"Thanks," said Ryudo, "I think I'll go see my brother, I won't go far."
The chief shut the door and Ryudo walked away around the corner, up the steps and headed for the graveyard. Once there he knelt in front of a tombstone with the large dark-bladed sword stock into the ground.
"Melfice?" said Ryudo, "I need your help. I wish I could talk to you again…"
The village chief had only just sat down when there was another knock at the door. He got up and walked over to the door, mumbling under his breath. He pulled the handle to see two girls standing at the door.
"Excuse me village chief," said Elena politely, "but I was wondering if you could tell us if Ryudo was in town."
"Ryudo?" asked the chief, "You wouldn't happen to be the friends he was here looking for would you?"
"Ryudo was here? When?" asked Millenia.
"Just a couple of minutes ago," said the chief, "He came by looking for his friends he was here with last time. Said he heard they were coming here."
"Where did he go?" asked Millenia.
"He said something about going to see his brother," muttered the chief distractedly as some people approached the house.
"His brother?" asked Elena, looking at Millenia.
"Melfice? But he's dead…" said Millenia, confused.
Elena thought for a second.
"I think I remember where his grave is," said Elena, "I would have his sword with it anyway."
"Well," said Millenia, "What you waiting for?"
Millenia began to run off.
"Millenia!" moaned Elena, "Wait up!"
Ryudo was sitting calmly beside Melfice's grave. He ran a hand along the sword and a sharp pain ran through his shoulder.
"Why did you have to go and infect me with the horns of Valmar?" asked Ryudo, rubbing his pounding shoulder.
He stood up and walked away from the grave, not looking back. He was tired of looking back. Melfice wasn't there, Elena wasn't there, Millenia wasn't there, Tio, Roan and Mareg weren't there. He couldn't just sit around waiting for something to bring them to him.
As he rounded a corner, two people walked up to the grave and knelt down.
Roan and Tio walked out Ryudo's house and headed to the inn.
"I can't believe he didn't show up." Said Roan.
"That doesn't mean that he's not here." Said Tio.
As they walked away, something circled down onto the ground in front of them.
"Skye?" asked Tio.
"Tio, Roan? What are you doing here?" asked Skye.
"We came looking for Ryudo, but we can't find him." Said Roan.
"He was at Melfice's grave when I left him." said Skye, "He wanted time on his own."
"Well lets head over there, we might found him there." Said Tio.
"Unless he doesn't want to se us," said Roan.
"Actually he's been looking for you, and Elena and Millenia," said Skye.
"Well come on!" said Roan, lifting Skye onto his shoulder.
Millenia and Elena walked quietly up to Melfice's grave and knelt down out of respect.
"Elena," said Millenia.
"Yes?" asked Elena, still looking at the grave.
"Why's there a dent in the ground?" she asked.
Elena looked where Millenia had just been kneeling. There were two long dents in the ground.
"Someone's been kneeling down here," said Elena, "Recently,"
"Look at the sword," said Millenia.
The blade was mostly coated in dirt from the grave, but there a few thin lines cleaned which looked like…
"Finger marks…" said Millenia, tracing the marks with her own fingers.
"No one from the village would come to this grave," said Elena, "Melfice killed the chief's daughter."
Millenia and Elena looked at each other and both spoke at the same time.
"Ryudo!"
Just then, a deafening screech rang throughout the village.
Tio and Roan were about to walk into the graveyard with Skye perched on Roan's shoulder. Just as they stepped past the gate, a screech sounded from the mountains. They looked up. A gigantic bird was perched at the base of the mountains ready to swoop into the village.
"We've got to stop it!" called Roan.
"Skye," said Tio, "Go find Ryudo, make sure he knows about the bird!"
"It's not exactly difficult to see!" said Skye, but he lifted off anyway and flew off.
Ryudo walked slowly around the mountain road, kicking the stones. Suddenly a loud screech sounded from up the mountain path. Ryudo looked up to see a gigantic bird, ready to swoop down on the village.
He began running up the path just as Skye swooped down and flew level with him.
"Ryudo," said Skye, "You've got to get up there and fight that bird…"
"No duh," said Ryudo, "Idiot bird!"
"Roan and Tio will be along shortly!" said Skye, before sailing up into the sky.
"Roan and Tio?" called Ryudo, "What about them?"
It was too late; Skye was already heading back towards the graveyard.
Millenia and Elena were heading up a mountain on the opposite side to the one they saw Skye flying towards them from.
"Skye?" asked Elena.
"What are you doing here?" asked Millenia.
"To tell you help is on it's was coming from two other directions! I saw you as I flew over the graveyard" said Skye, "Right now I've got to go help Ryudo!"
"Ryudo?" asked Elena, but Skye was already flying away.
"Told you he was here!" laughed Millenia as they drew up close to the bird and ran around it.
Roan and Tio positioned themselves around the bird. If only the bird wasn't so big, they might be able to see if Ryudo was around the other side.
"Get ready!" said Roan, summoning up all his strength.
Ryudo found himself alone next to the large bird. Skye landed on his shoulder.
"Where are the others?" he asked him.
"No time. Just kill it!" said Skye.
"I can't do it on my own!" said Ryudo.
"You're not alone," said Skye, "Now get on with it!"
As they fired, each of the people fighting the bird heard five voices all call at once. Not only that, but they knew the voices calling…
"Tenseiken Slash!"
"Impact bomb!"
"Arrow Shot!"
"Lotus Flower!"
"Golden Hammer!"
The bird fell down and as it did, all five of the people walked around to the front of the bird and fro what seemed like the first time in centuries, they looked into the faces of their friends.
"Hey guys," said Ryudo.
The other four opened their mouths, but the bird staggered to its feet again. All five of them looked at each other, smiled and prepared for battle…
THE END
(A/N) Kind of a cruddy ending, but tell me what you think anyway. I'm happy just to get feed back.
