The warrior leaned on the railing of the roof of a department store. He looked sleepy and satisfied as he watched the Ronins approach. His smile was of malign good humor as the doors opened and closed. He turned, wrapping shadows around him, disappearing.

Ryo froze, staring.

"What's the matter?" Shu asked, and forced his way around Ryo. He looked around and gasped. Shin, Toma, Seiji and Shu walked forward cautiously. It had been quiet for a while. They assumed that this was HIS fault, but they looked for anything else that might give a hint of some other explination. Strong hands pulled Ryo close to an armored body. Ryo gasped and tried to alert the others, but found his voice had left him.

"Hello again, my little flame," the warrior whispered in Ryo's ear, making Ryo shiver. The warrior kept Ryo close as the others fanned out, searching the store. Ryo was alarmed to see himself helping when he was sure that he was trapped in the warrior's embrace. He felt the metal digging into his back, after all.

"Have you missed me?"

Ryo shuddered at the smooth, musical tenor caressed his senses and dulled his ability to think. He gasped as he felt ice enter his veins.

"What are you doing?" he managed to whisper.

"Tell me, Ryo of the Wildfire. Have your friends truly done anything for you?"

"Of course!"

"Really? When you were separated after your first encounter with Talpa, you were the one that searched for them. You are the one who shoulders the burden of the Inferno armor, whose body and mind receive the most damage. When Talpa captured Seiji, Shu, and Shin you were the one who went after them."

"Toma helped!"

"Did he? How much could he really do? He didn't, still doesn't, have the strength of body, mind and soul that you do. that you do. You did all the fighting. You get hurt the most. Everyone depends on you to 'save the world'. Only you. Don't you wish that you didn't have all this responsibility? Don't you wish to be free of an obligations?"

"The guys would do everything for me that I did for them…"

The warrior's eyes flashed in triumph. He didn't sound sure.

"Why stay in a place where you are unappreciated and overworked?"

"I care for my friends…and this world! They appreciate me…"

"Hmph. This world is cruel. It doesn't care if you live or your body and mind are crushed. And your friends? Don't you think they should have noticed my illusion by now? Face it, Ryo. They don't care enough to notice."

"NO!"

Ryo struggled and the warrior let him go, amusement in his dark eyes. The shadow within Ryo had been strengthened. It needed only a little more time to grow, to work its way free of the confines Ryo placed on himself.

Ryo's eyes blazed and he called on the power of his armor, and attacked. The warrior blocked with his scythe and fluidly reposed. The Ronins were unaware of the fight until one of Ryo's swords embedded itself in a pillar. Stunned, they looked at the illusion-Ryo who smiled wickedly and disappeared.

"Shit!"

Seiji pulled out Ryo's sword and they armored up as they ran to help their friend. They arrived just in time to have Ryo thrown at them, smaking into Seiji and Toma. The warrior stood there, lazily leaning on his scythe.

"What kept you?" his voice was cold, cruel, and beautiful, and his eyes sparkled in deadly amusement that threatened to engulf their souls.

Shu shook his head, snarled, and charged. An arrow whizzed past the warrior, opening a shallow cut in his cheek. The warrior ducked under Shu's strike and uppercut him, and he fell to the ground with a crash. The warrior used Shu's torso as a springboard, slaming his scythe into Seiji. Shin collected himself and unleashed his ultimate attack. The warrior smiled and the power swiftly turned from blue/white to black/silver and was reflected back onto Shin. The warrior looked at Seiji calmly. Seiji screamed and fell to his knees, holding his head. The warrior raised his scythe and flawlessly performed Seiji's ultimate attack on Toma. He smiled and gasped when Ryo's sword poked through his chest. He stared for a moment and Ryo withdrew it. Ryo smiled grimly as the warrior fell to his knees.

"Not so all-powerful, are we?"

"Not entirely, no."

Ryo was stunned to hear him answer. The warrior slowly stood again, using his scythe as a staff.

"You should be dead!"

The warrior smiled calmly, almost in pity, and tsked, shaking his head.

"Poor little Ronin Warrior…"

Ryo gasped as the warrior roughly pulled him close.

"Listen, my little firebug. I will not die until I make you mine. Mind, soul, power…and body."

Ryo shivered, not liking that last suggestion.

The warrior lightly kissed Ryo's forehead before calling in dark, unforgiving energy into Ryo who screamed in pain, panic, fear, and a feeling of joy within him unfurled. As suddenly as it appeared, it, the power, and the warrior, were gone.