Okay, here's the next bit. Hope you like it.

Note : "" means someone's speaking, ''+ italics means they're thinking.

Note 2 : For the purposes of this fic, Anubis is alive. Don't ask me how, I'll probably explain it later on. If not, then hell, use your imagination.

Again with the disclaimer : I do not, repeat do not own the Ronin Warriors. Please don't sue me.

Chapter 1

Karala looked up at the mansion before her. This was going to be her home for the next two years. School started in three weeks time, so she had more than enough time to settle in before then. She sighed, thinking of her last home, in Tokyo, where she had lived all her life up till now, along with six brothers and sisters. Not that she had led a sheltered life by any means. Her father had been the most respected sensei in most of Japan for many years, and he had taught her everything, which had helped her more than once on the streets of Tokyo. She shook her head, getting rid of these sombre thoughts. She knew that inside, her family's death would hurt forever, but what was important was that no-one knew how much.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" The speaker was a boy about her own age, with tiger blue eyes and pitch black hair.

'Hey, he's cute. Maybe this won't be that bad' Karala thought, taking in the boy next to her in a glance.

"Uh, yeah, this is Ms. Koji's house, right? Only I'm the new boarder."

The boy smiled. "Yeah, this is Mia's house. I'm Ryo Sanada. What's your name?"

"My name's Karala Trinity."

The boy's eyes widened. She was a Trinity! Karala saw his expression and smiled ruefully. Her name always got that effect.

Ryo collected himself (i.e. he picked his jaw up off the ground)and picked up one of her suitcases for her. She shot him a grateful smile.

"Follow me", he said.

He led her into the house, where a couple more boys came to greet her. She smiled at their reactions to her name, realising that Ryo was probably quite good at hiding his feelings, judging from their reactions. It turned out that the blond one, Sage Date, had a father who ran a dojo in Toyama.

'Maybe I'll be able to go there for practice.' Karala thought hopefully.

A few minutes later, after having shown her her room, the boys (the other one was called Rowen) took her into the sitting room to meet the rest of the household.

Ryo cleared his throat. All the others looked up at him in curiosity.

"Okay, guys, this is Karala Trinity, the new boarder."

'Here we go again', thought Karala, watching in faint amusement as they all tried not to show how impressed they were. She took the opportunity to look around and take in all the other people. Ryo started making introductions. There were five of them that looked slightly different from the rest of them. Dais, Sekhmet, Anubis, Kale and Kayura all had a slightly different bearing than the others, more austere. In fact, they all had something about them that made them different from all her friends back home. Less innocent, less fragile. Not that her friends had been all that innocent.

Ryo suddenly looked a bit nervous.

"You don't mind cats, do you?" he asked.

Karala blinked. "No, I love cats, why?"

"Cause we've got quite a big one." said Kento. A huge white tiger walked into the room. Karala grinned.

"Does he mind other cats?" she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she ran to the front door and called:

"Flame!"

A new tiger bounded up to the porch that she was standing on, and on her command followed her inside.

"This is Flame." Karala said.

Ryo laughed. "I guess we're even. This is White Blaze."

The two tigers took each other's measure for a few minutes, then, mutually deciding they were friends, went back to their owners.

"She is tame, isn't she?" Mia asked, worried.

"Of course." Karala responded. She hesitated. "I'm going to take a walk round the lake and stuff. Just to get my bearings a bit, you know."

She set off, waiting until she and Flame were out of eyeshot and earshot of the house to discuss her new housemates with the tiger. She smiled suddenly, stretching her wings. Part of wearing the Ancient's armour was the gift of being able to sprout wings and fly. She took off, while Flame turned into an eagle and followed her.

So how was it? Good? Bad? Awful? Review and tell me. I'll try to get the next chapter up as quickly as possible.

Carline