Ch 16
Ryo and Sage quickly shifted into defensive positions since they weren't sure of what's going to happen.
The dragon blinked and then pulled back, still keeping his eyes on them. "Wildfire, Halo, I was wondering when you would come."
The two ronins looked at each other as they were clearly confused. "What, whoa, wait a minute. You knew that we were coming but how?" Ryo asked in bewilderment.
"I knew of the ronin mystical armors would someday come, and I also know why you two are here and what's going on in the spirit nexus." the dragon replied with a swish of his tail.
"Then you'll help us to figure out a way to get our friends' souls back?" Sage asked as he watched him carefully. "We need the pearl of life, we need to take it to so Shen and Jia Li…"
"If you believe that Shen and Jia Li will help you get your two friends back, then you are seriously mistaken. They'll never help you, because they're the ones that stole it in the first place." the dragon growled as smoke smoldered from his nostrils.
"What! So then because of what they did, you're refusing to help us!" Ryo shot back in disbelief as his eyes burned with anger. "I made a promise that I would bring their souls back! I was the one that took their lives! So, I have to bring them back that's why I need the pearl! I'll do whatever it takes to bring them back."
The dragon's eyes and Ryo's met, they stared each other down. It was like they were somehow reading into each other's souls. A low growl emitted from his throat. "I can see the desire that burns within. I can also see your intentions are pure, alright, I will give you the pearl of life. But there is a condition."
Sage frowned deeply as he looked between the dragon and Ryo. "Figures isn't there always. Alright, what's this condition?"
The dragon settled back and took a few moments before he told them. "Once I give you the pearl of life, you only have one chance to make it work for what you want. Also, make sure that Shen and Jia Li don't ever get a hold of it."
Ryo nodded as his determination burned even more. "You can count on us. We won't allow those two to get even close to the pearl."
"You still haven't told us on how we are to use it." Sage pointed out as he was starting to feel a bit anxious. He knows they've been gone for way too long, he was concerned on how things were going back with Cye and Rowen.
"To use the pearl, it can't just be from the ones that want your friends back, but the will also has to come from the ones that have been lost. Once the rightful souls are reunited to their bodies, the pearl has to be destroyed completely." the dragon explained.
"How can the pearl be destroyed?" Ryo asked curiously as he too was starting to become a bit restless as well.
"The destruction of the pearl of life can only be done by the power from the Rei Faun family line. Anyone that's from that line blood or brought in by marriage has to call upon the ancestors and then when that has been done, they'll know what to do when the time comes." the dragon explained as his claw started to glow.
Ryo and Sage looked towards each other and nodded, then the light from the dragon's claw caught their attention just as the dragon reached into his chest and pulled out the pearl of life. The two ronins were shocked at the sight to say the least. Once it was out, the pearl started to glow and then floated towards them. Then Ryo held out his hands and the pearl landed onto his palms.
The two ronins were about to thank the dragon but then he started to fade. "Wait! What's going on?" Sage asked urgently.
"My time here is done, I have delivered the pearl of life to the right ones. I can do one more thing before I leave this world." the dragon replied as he spoke an ancient language.
Sage and Ryo closed their eyes and then when they opened them they found themselves right back at Kento's aunt's home.
Nubia quickly turned around, narrowed her eyes and shifted into battle ready position.
"Nubia, wait they're our friends." Rowen informed her as he went in front of her.
"Ryo, Sage! You're back! Did you get it?" Cye asked as he felt somewhat relieved.
"Yea, we got the pearl, we'll tell you all about it later, but right now we need to concentrate on the task of getting Kento and Kaye back from the spirit nexus." Ryo replied with a nod as he showed it to them.
"Who's she?" Sage asked as he raised his brow in curiosity.
"My name, as your friend said is Nubia. I'm what you humans would call a bounty hunter. I'm after the souls of Shen and Jia Li. I've been tracking them for centuries and I finally found them in your friends bodies. The only problem is, I can't get to those two spirits without hurting the vessels they're residing." Nubia explained as she sheathed her weapon.
Ryo could see that Rowen was about to ask questions on how'd they got the pearl, but he shook his head. "Like I said, we'll fill you all in once this whole thing is over."
Rowen nodded, "Fair enough, so you said something about concentrating on getting them back from where they are. How do we do that?"
"The one that gave us the pearl said that we have to concentrate on them, and somehow Kento and Kaye have to hear us in order to concentrate on the pearl so they can get back to their bodies." Ryo explained as he continued to hold the pearl.
"Alright, so then why when I see your expressions that you haven't told us everything?" Cye asked as he felt a bit unnerved about this.
"You're right Cye, you see…" Sage replied as he relayed what the dragon told them just before they were somehow brought back.
"We should have expected something like this would happen. So then what are we waiting for, let's just get them back. Kento and Kaye have been in the spirit nexus for way too long." Cye declared as his eyes showed a new determination.
"I'll be keeping watch for any demons, you just put your full concentration on what you need to do." Nubia informed them as they circled around Kento's and Kaye's bodies.
Ryo nodded and then the pearl floated up above and the ronins closed their eyes and concentrated hard on their two friends.
In the spirit nexus, within the confines of the Dark Harpy's holding den. Kento and Kaye are still trapped. Quite a bit of time passed, and the Dark Harpy still hasn't came back. They were beginning to wonder where she went, but then again wondering at the same time of how they're going to escape.
A bit more time passed and then finally she entered. "So, have the two of you came to the right decision and give me your powers?"
Kento growled as his eyes narrowed, "No matter what you do, neither of us will ever give you our new powers."
The Dark Harpy smirked and gave a slight laugh, "That's what I thought you'd say. So, I decided to try one more way of persuasion."
"What do you mean?" Kaye asked as she and Kento got an uneasy feeling.
"Since somehow your husband destroyed my interrogators, then that leaves me with only one option." Dark Harpy replied as she came over and took out a small vile enough for one.
"What are you going to do with that?" Kento asked in an untrusting tone.
"You're going to watch helplessly as the love of your life is changed right before your eyes into a dark harpy like me." the Dark Harpy replied with an evil smile as she grabbed onto Kaye's throat and brought the vile towards her mouth.
"No!" Kaye exclaimed as she tried to pull away.
"Leave her alone! Don't you dare pour that down her throat! I'll make you pay for even trying!" Kento warned angrily as he thrashed around while trying to break free.
The Dark Harpy laughed as she moved the vile closer. "I'll give you one last chance to save your love's fate…Give me your powers or lose her forever. Which will it be?"
Kaye's eyes caught Kento's as they pleaded for him not to give into her demands.
Kento kept pulling at his constraints, he watched as she started to tip the small opening of the vile towards Kaye. "Get away from her!"
"Not until you surrender your powers to me." Dark Harpy insisted as she started to squeeze Kaye's throat.
'Kento, please don't give her your powers.' Kaye pleaded to him mentally.
'I have to do something, I won't let her turn you into a creature like her.' Kento replied back.
Right at that moment, Kento and Kaye heard the voices of their friends in their minds. They caught each other's glances and then closed their eyes and dug deep inside of themselves in order to finally be able to break free and escape their prison.
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AN: I'm so sorry...I know I've been away from this particular fic for so long...Now finally, another chapter as you can see is up and running...Enjoy ...