Chapter 7 Dreams and escape

It was Saturday and everyone, but Mia and Yulie, were sitting in the living room. Some point Friday night they had all woke up feeling that something was terribly wrong. They weren't sure what it was. Kento was of the opinion that it had something do with Talpa. Sage thought that it might have had something to do with Ryo and Cye agreed. Rowen just wasn't sure what he thought. None of them could go back to sleep. They had finished most of the party preparations just to pass the time and take their minds off the strange feeling that something was wrong. It took them awhile to notice that something was missing.

It had actually been Kento who noticed it. Whiteblaze had disappeared and so had Ryo's travel bag and armor orb. The last anyone had seen him was early Friday afternoon and then he just disappeared. This is what had convinced Cye that whatever was wrong had to do with Ryo. Cye knew that Whiteblaze was a strange tiger. He always seemed to know when Ryo needed him. Cye had wanted to talk to Ryo about it but had never found the right moment to bring it up. He knew that Sage's reasoning for thinking that it was Ryo had been because of his gift, but even he wasn't a hundred percent for sure.

"If Ryo doesn't come tomorrow we are going to have to go to his house and look for him." Cye didn't even have to look up to see who it was that was talking. Rowen had only said this twenty times since he woke up.

"How do we know that he is even at his house? I mean its not like he told us anything." This would be Kento. Cye had heard this conversation already, and more than once.

"He is at his house. We all know it. We don't know how but we all do. So stop repeating this stupid conversation. I'm getting tired of it." And that would be Sage. Cye couldn't help but think that for someone who was tired of the conversation he was quite willing to finish it every time it started.

"I just hope Ryo is alright." This would be Rowen again. Cye just rolled his eyes. He just wanted Ryo to come back, even if he wasn't any better than before, it would be better than this constant worry…

Ryo POV

Ryo was slowly pulling himself back to consciousness. He didn't know how much time had passed since he had blacked out, but it felt like a long time. He smiled when he remembered that his hands were untied and could be moved again. Maybe that meant that the door was unlocked as well. He went stand up and the pain reminded him what had caused him to black out in the first place. He lifted his shirt to look and see how bad the damage was, what he saw didn't surprise him. His chest was covered in black bruises and he knew that he had a few cracked or broken ribs, but it wasn't anything that he couldn't live with.

Ryo slowly stood up. His arm went reflexively to protect his ribs and Ryo began his way up the stairs. He had to stop a few times to catch his breath. His ribs were causing him to take very small breaths. The light that was coming under the door showed it to be early afternoon. He almost laughed at his good luck. Lydia wasn't going to be home for another two hours. If he had been unconscious any longer he would have missed his chance. All that was left was to see if the door was unlocked.

This part was what worried Ryo because he couldn't remember if he had finished with his dad or not. The door could still be locked. He slowly reached out his hand and turned the knob. It opened. Ryo was going to escape.

He wasn't real sure what he was going to do now that he was free. He didn't know how he was going to get back to Mia's house. He didn't have any money for a bus ticket and he didn't think anyone was going to buy his ticket this time.

"One step at a time. First I got to get out of the house." Ryo said out loud to himself.

He moved quietly through the house, even though he knew that there was nobody in it. He felt safer being quiet. He was almost to the front door when he heard the voice.

Ryo? Can you hear me?

He didn't recognize this voice. It had a growlish sound to it but it felt familiar.

Who are you? How did you get in my head?

Ahh so you have finally awakened. Think Ryo. You know who I am.

Ryo knew that he should know who the voice belonged too. He remembered hearing it when he was younger and having bad dreams. The voice had comforted him. But who was it?

Not who Ryo. Think

Ryo recognized it now. The voice in his dreams hadn't started till sometime after Whiteblaze had come.

Whiteblaze is that you?

Yes Ryo.

How can you talk to me like this? Where did you come from? Why are you here?

I'll answer your questions later. Right now you need to get out of this house. I'll give you directions to where I am. Hurry Ryo you don't have much time.

Ryo nodded his head, not even thinking about the fact that Whiteblaze couldn't see the motion. He left the house and began following Whiteblazes instructions. They led him to a nearby park that ran into a forest area. By the time Ryo reached the forest he had used all of his energy, but he tried to keep going anyway. He made it a few more steps before collapsing.

"Whiteblaze?" Ryo wasn't sure if he had said it out loud or using his mind. He was too tired to tell.

Don't worry Ryo. I'll come the rest of the way.

Ryo tried to tell him thank you but he wasn't sure if it had gotten through. He could feel himself falling asleep.

Ryo, wake up. Ryo just moaned and rolled over. Come on Ryo I need you to wake up. You can sleep later. Ryo barely opened his eyes.

"Whiteblaze that you?"

Yes Ryo. I need you to get on my back. I'll take you the rest of the way. But you have to get on my back. I don't want to have to drag you.

Ryo forced himself to stand. He felt worse than he had ever felt in his life. Everything hurt. He tried to walk to Whiteblaze and get on like he had so many times before but his legs just wouldn't work. He felt himself falling and then he felt himself fall onto Whiteblaze. He was asleep again in minutes.

Ryo wake up we're here

Ryo opened his eyes. He felt better than he had earlier now that he had slept some and judging by the sun he had slept most of the afternoon. He looked around trying to figure out where they were. There was a small pool next to him, which on closer inspection revealed itself to be a hot spring. Trees surrounded him so he knew that he had to be deep in the forest. What caught his eye next was a red bag leaning against a tree. It was his travel bag. He always kept one filled with a set of clothes, some food, and bath items.

"Why did you bring me here and how did my bag get here?"

I brought your bag. I knew you would need it. Your armor orb is in there as well. As to why I brought you here, that should be obvious. You need hot water for a bath.

"I could use a bath. I haven't had one since I left"

I noticed.

"Whiteblaze you're a smart ass you know." With that Ryo walked over and got his bag. He started to take off his shirt when he heard a roar behind him.

Who did this Ryo? Who attacked you?

Ryo could feel the anger behind Whiteblaze's thoughts. His head was starting to hurt again. "My dad and Lydia. They did this before and I…"

They did this to you. That was not supposed to happen. He…

Whiteblaze was yelling inside Ryo's head and roaring out load he was so angry with Togoro and Lydia. Suddenly he stopped and looked at Ryo. Ryo eyes were glazed and he was shaking. Whiteblaze's acute hearing could just make out that Ryo was saying something.

"Please Whiteblaze stop you're hurting me. Stop."

Whiteblaze shook himself in an effort to calm down before speaking again to Ryo.

I'm sorry Ryo I didn't mean to hurt you. I forgot that your more sensitive than I am.

Ryo stopped shaking and his eyes returned to normal. He still stood there trying to clear his head for a few moments more, before talking to Whiteblaze.

"What do you mean that it wasn't supposed to be this way?"

Go take your bath and I'll answer all your questions later. Give me some more time to calm down. If you need me, just call.

Ryo nodded his head and stripped down to his boxers. He could feel Whiteblazes anger building again as he saw what condition Ryo was in. Apparently Whiteblaze realized that Ryo could sense him because he stood up and began walking into the forest.

Ryo turned and went into the water.

It was hot water, very hot water. Ryo was glad though. Cold water always had a way of drawing out all his strength. If he stayed in hot water to long it would do the same. Water and fire just don't mix that well. Ryo sank into the water and allowed the water to loosen all of his muscles. After relaxing for a while he cleaned himself off and got out of the pool. It was only then that he realized how long he had been in the water. It was almost dark. The sun was setting behind the trees. Whiteblaze still was not back.

Ryo grabbed his bag and started looking through it. He thought that there might have been a first aid kit in the bag somewhere and he was right. It was a small one but it had everything he needed. Ryo set about wrapping his ribs. It would have been easier if he had some help, but since no one else was there he did his best to do it on his own. It wasn't a great job but it would do for now. He thought he felt someone behind him watching him.

Ryo turned around to find that it was only Whiteblaze. Whiteblaze had killed a few rabbits as well.

I brought you something to eat. I figured you would be hungry.

Ryo thanked him and hungrily grabbed the rabbits. He dug through his bag until he had his skinning knife and started skinning them.

You don't look like you have eaten a good meal since before you left.

"I haven't. I don't think I have eaten a good meal since before this gift of mine showed up." Ryo didn't stop his work of preparing the rabbits. He hadn't realized how desperately hungry he was until he had seen the rabbits. He grabbed his orb and held his hand over the rabbits. Ryo and the rabbits glowed red for a few seconds and when the glow disappeared the rabbits were cooked.

They would have been better if you let them cook slowly in a fire instead of roasting them from the inside out.

"Oh shut up, I'm hungry." Ryo ate the two rabbits like they were the best things he had ever had. He didn't even talk to Whiteblaze until after he had finished. He was still hungry but not as hungry as before. He knew that if he was going to talk to Whiteblaze he was going to have to do it fast. He could feel sleep pulling at him already.

"Whiteblaze what did you mean that this was not supposed to happen?"

Let me start in the beginning Ryo. That away you will understand everything. One of your first questions was where I came from. I am going to answer that first. I come from the same place you do. You don't remember much from your time spent in the mountains with what was left of your tribe, but I have seen in the little that you do remember that you know about the elder. When you were born the elder knew that you had great power. He could sense a pureness in your soul that very few have. He told your mother and it was agreed that she would stay in the mountain village so that you could receive training.

The elder himself trained you, because you learned things so quickly that you could not stay in classes with children your age. You would have remained under his tutelage until you were eighteen but your mother's death changed things. Your father convinced the elder that the best thing for you was a move to the city. He said it was so you could get away from the memory of your mother's death. The elder agreed on two conditions: The house that you were moved into had to have a basement that he could prepare for when your powers manifested. He placed a seal in the basement that would keep the thoughts of others from reaching you while your father trained you. The other condition was that when you turned ten a legendary tiger, that could talk to you, be allowed to bond with you. I am that Tiger Ryo.

Ryo had sat quietly and listened to Whiteblaze. He thought he understood what Whiteblaze was saying and even believed it. Sleep was pulling at him even stronger now but he refused to sleep. Not until he had heard the entire story.

I came to you when you were ten. The elder had chosen me to become your companion. I was given instructions on what I was to do for you. At Ryo's inquisitive look he added I cannot tell you all that he said at this moment. Many of things were for when you are older. I was told that you would have already developed your telepathic powers or at least would be a very strong empath. I was sent to find you. You were not at the house that the elder said you should be. I had to look for you. I finally found you on a farm. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that you did not have your powers at all and that you had actually built a wall around them to keep them from developing. You did not make my job easy for me Ryo.

Ryo looked at the ground sheepishly until he felt Whiteblaze laughing in his head. It was strange hearing the tiger laugh. Like his voice, it sounded like growling but also laughter at the same time. Ryo could feel his eyes trying to close.

Ryo don't go to sleep yet, there will be plenty of time for that later. Whiteblaze waited until he saw Ryo's eyes open again before continuing. When your powers did start developing I was to make sure that you were at your house with your father. When I realized that you were beginning to hear the other Ronins' thoughts, I had to make sure that you went back home. I affected how they felt. I made sure that everyone felt angry towards you and ignored the signs that said something was wrong with you. When Cye started yelling at you I told him that he wanted you to leave and I kept the rest of the Ronins from trying to find you.

Ryo was awake now. He could feel his anger building. How could Whiteblaze do that? Make his friends want him to leave all so he would go back to his abusive father. Everything that had happened was all Whiteblaze's fault. Something wet dropped onto his hand, a tear. His tear. Ryo was crying.

Ryo please understand I didn't know about your parents. I didn't know what they would do. When I did what I did, I was doing it for you. I thought in the end I was helping you. Please Ryo, please say that you forgive me?

Ryo could feel the guilt behind Whiteblaze's words. He knew that Whiteblaze hadn't known what would happen. He knew he would forgive Whiteblaze.

"I don't blame you Whiteblaze. It's just so much has happened to me and now this I…I…" Ryo was really crying now. Memories of everything that had happened were rushing through his mind. Whiteblaze was seeing them too. Whiteblaze stood up and moved closer to Ryo. Ryo instinctively buried his head into Whiteblaze's fur. He heard in his head the same comforting voice he had heard when he was younger. Ryo remained this way until he finally fell asleep.

Wake up Ryo, its morning. We have a long way to go if we are going to get to Mia's in time.

Whiteblaze was nudging Ryo with his nose. Ryo had fallen asleep using him as a pillow the night before. Ryo wasn't waking up. Whiteblaze gave up trying to wake him up by nudging him and stood up. As soon as Ryo hit the ground he jumped up looking around trying to figure out what had happened. He could feel Whiteblaze laughing at him.

"What did you do that for?" Ryo was not happy at having been woken up so suddenly.

You wouldn't wake up and we need to get going if we are going to be at Mia's in time.

"What do you mean be at Mia's in time? What's going on?" Ryo was trying to ignore the laughter that was still echoing in his head.

I can't tell you. It's a secret. Ryo glared at him but Whiteblaze still refused to tell him. We're going to be late if you don't stop arguing with me. Ryo stopped arguing out loud but Whiteblaze could still feel the Ryo's indignation at him keeping a secret. You're going to have to ride. I don't think we could make it otherwise. Ryo wasn't happy about this arrangement but after Whiteblaze's next statement Ryo was perfectly happy to ride. You could sleep while you ride. I won't let you fall. It's either that or your going to have to walk the whole way.

Ryo got on and was asleep before they had traveled a mile.