You're really reading chapter 2? WOW!! ^.^;; You make a poor author so happy.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
The Casting of Shadows
By Phoenix Cubed
Chapter 2 -- Introducing...
*^*^*
Professor Naiso was a teacher of strong tradition. Students should sit quietly at their desk; no speaking unless spoken to; and always respectful. Atop of that, every new pupil should be introduced to the class with full and proper introductions, and as far as he was concerned, there would be no alternatives. However, the three students that came into his office that day clearly showed the teacher there would be exceptions.
"Greetings, wise professor."
The aging man looked up from his papers, a boy with hair the color of clearing mud was standing across his desk. Behind him stood two others, but his attention focused on the anointed speaker.
"Good morning to you." Professor Naiso replied. He had work to do, and did not need the distractions of students that he would surely meet when class started. "I'm rather busy at the moment, you may come to the class at the start of class, I will introduce you all, and you may tell address your fellow students. You are dismissed."
But the boy didn't leave.
"I said you were dismissed."
"That's a wonderful observation, Professor, but one I care not to observe."
Professor Naiso's eyes narrowed at his student. "Disobedience is not something I take lightly, young man."
Brown eyes regarded the professor coolly. "Orders from a lower rank are not something I take at all."
"You dare--" Before the aging teacher could finish, he found himself forcibly taken from his chair and slammed against the nearest wall, staring into the cruelest set of black eyes he had seen in ages.
"Oh, I'll dare. And I'll dare quite a bit, Naiso. Just because you're in retirement doesn't mean you'll escape your duties." The boy suddenly smiled, and in that instant the professor found his doom. This wasn't just any boy; this was Jamten, first General to Cromier the Wicked. Naiso suddenly realized his position was very grave. He had served Jamten in his youth in the vast military of Fate, but had pulled out of the service after the Battle of Mindu and the horrific events that had come after. Naiso knew the cretin well; an immortal that took the form of a young man, but his heart was of a hardened monster, with no pity, and no conscience.
"My Lord," he choked, "how may I serve you?"
"How good of you to remember." Jamten murmured, slowly lowering the aging professor to the tiled floor. "First, I have a question to ask that only you can answer."
"Anything, great sir."
The professor's eyes shifted to the girl that stood behind the boy who had accompanied Jamten. Naiso recognized the boy as Norban, a soul just as twisted as Jamten's. But the girl he could fit with no name. Dull blonde hair hung lifelessly to frail shoulders, her head was hung low, as if resigned to Fate.
"Lift your head, Pigeon," Jamten commanded the quiet girl. She did as she was bidden, though very slowly. Resignation was firmly stamped upon her pale face, but in her eyes a spark flickered, radiating a half attempt at defiance. Norban's expression flared slightly, the girl winced, and spark died as suddenly as it had come.
Jamten's tone was satisfactory. "Much better. Now, Professor, do you recognize this girl at all? Tell the truth quickly, your life depends on it."
"N-no, my Lord." Naiso stammered his words as quickly as he could manage. "Her face looks vaguely familiar, but it is possible that she may only remind me of a former student."
"Good, now listen carefully, Naiso. We want to become students of this school, can you arrange that for us?"
Naiso's face became confused. "It is possible my Lord, but it would take time. This school is strict. You need to take special tests, have documents signed-there is much paperwork."
The smile on Jamten's face wiped downwards into a frown. "You know that I despise that sort of thing Naiso. I just want to enter a few others and myself into the classes, today. Arrange that however you can, but get it done."
Professor Naiso found himself doing something he hadn't done in years, he whimpered. "But sir, I -"
"Do it!" With a brutish shove, Jamten had thrown Naiso's back forcibly onto the wall once more. "You've been reassigned into active duty, Lieutenant, and you've received your orders. Carry them out. I don't believe that frail, aging body of yours would care for the consequences of failure."
Naiso closed his eyes, "yes, sir." The grip that kept him suspended was released and he dropped to the floor, gasping. Naiso's old body wasn't used to such stresses, he was no longer as flexible as he had been in his youth. He raised his head to look at his masters, but they had gone. Only the girl was left.
She looked at him sorrowfully. "I am very sorry sir, the masters are cruel, but there is little I can do."
He picked himself up with a small shred of dignity. "Your masters? Tell me, how did you fall into their service?"
"I do not know sir, I am simply told what to do, and I do."
A wave of pity washed over Naiso. The poor wretch that stood before her was worse off than he was. "I suppose they have told you to stay here?"
"Yes, sir."
The professor sighed. "Then stay, I will arrange your classes and come back, you may bring the schedules to your them when I return."
"I will, sir." Blonde hair fell slightly forward as the girl bowed her head in acknowledgement to her assigned task. Naiso shook his head and walked from the room. Whoever this child was, she did not belong in the company of those monstrous lords.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
It was the beginning of the month, and new students would soon flood the classes. It was rumored that twenty new students would be adding themselves to the three grades attending the high school. That was quite a few, and no one was completely sure how that number could be handled in an already over crowded district. Very few classes went by that someone did not obtain a new classmate.
Cye's first class would receive three new students. It was an early morning chemistry class, so she was rather surprised when three students had volunteered to take it. An empty desk was across from the auburn haired girl, so it was inevitable that she would be meeting at least one right away. Cye wondered what the students would be like. Quiet and studious perhaps, like Rowen? Or would they hold that mysterious aura that Sage wrapped himself in? The more she thought of it, the more excited Cye became about meeting the new arrivals.
The bell rang, and all the students quietly turned to face the front. Their teacher entered slowly, his eyes tired and his face etched with uncertainty, a new emotion Cye had never seen on her teacher before. The three new students walked in behind him, two boys and a girl. A boy led the trio, with short cropped, muddy hair and coarse brown eyes. Cye prayed that he would not sit next to her; he didn't look friendly at all. Next in the line was a girl, but her head was bowed and covered by an unusual shade of blonde hair. She walked carefully, but Cye owed her gait to her not wanting to collide with the boys that accompanied her. She stopped momentarily, but the last in line shoved her forward, a sneer hovering about his tanned face. Brownish black hair fell into cold hazel eyes, which he turned to face the class, sweeping them over each student appraisingly. For an instant, his gaze fell on Cye, and the bearer of Torrent shuddered. There was nothing in those eyes; they were devoid of all emotion. A thought came into Cye's mind--one that she had never truly experienced before--these people couldn't be trusted.
"Good morning class, we have three new," Professor Naiso faltered, "students, today. I expect you to be respectful and help them along." The professor cast a glance to the new arrivals, desperately trying to keep his voice from quavering; he motioned them to find empty seats so that class could begin.
"That's odd." Cye looked about for the only other Ronin in her class and caught Ryo's eye. He looked as perplexed as she felt. The Professor always introduced the new students. Though he acted almost afraid of these new ones. Her leader shot her a questioning look, but she shook her head and shrugged her shoulder. Ryo frowned, but quickly turned his attention to the front of the room as Professor Naiso started to speak. Cye was turning towards the front, but a movement caught the corner of her eye. The new girl had slid into the seat next to her. She looked fully at her new table partner and gave her a welcoming smile. The girl looked at her, slightly shocked, then quickly turned to face the teacher.
Cye felt rather hurt that her efforts would be shrugged off in such a way. No matter, she would try again later.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Rowen wasn't paying attention to his lesson. It was redundant anyhow; he had learned algebraic equations when he was seven. Right now, there were more important matters to think of.
Matters like the Fire.
Why was she coming back? With his pencil, he began to sketch out the magnificent bird in his dreams. The Fire had a habit of communicating with him like that, wandering through his mind and intruding into his dreams. However, she always appeared human to him. The natural form of the Phoenix was reserved for desperate times or tumultuous battles. The Fire's subordinates had told him often enough that the natural beauty of the mystical Phoenix should not, and would not, be wasted on a simple human. So why had he seen her? Why had she come into his dreams in such a way? For an entity that could destroy whole stars just by a thought, she had appeared extremely vulnerable. It wasn't like the Lady of Fire to show weakness.
A feeling began to seep into Rowen's awareness. What she had done was completely out of character. If she wanted to talk, why didn't she just come out right and talk? He began to sketch out the fiery tale; color was needed to do the picture justice. What was stopping her? The pencil stopped mid sketch as the images of the ravenous hyenas and swooping birds flashed before his eyes once more. Something was stopping her, keeping her away. That was what the dream meant!
A frown curved his mouth. Something, or possibly someone, was stopping the Fire from coming to them. Was it a good thing that she was being kept away? Rowen certainly didn't want to see the silver haired girl. But what was this feeling? After all the things that she had put him through, she didn't deserved to be worried over. Worry? For the Fire? Rowen shook his head; he would have to talk to Sage about this.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
English class, what could be more boring than English? Sage sighed once more and dropped his jaw against his hand. A chorus of sighs sang out from a few of his female class attendants, but they were largely ignored. Often it was fun to tease his little fan club, leading on a few of the prettier ones to pass the time. But today, they were about as interesting as the lecture he was receiving by the monotone Ms. Darone. A speck of dust fell from the circulation vent overhead and lazily drifted down to his desk, spiraling in slow circles. Even dust particles were more interesting than English. How he wished that the new students would arrive soon to relieve him of this boredom.
The door opened, and the principal trooped in, followed closely by his relief. Sage lifted his head to take a better look at his new classmates. A sandy haired boy and a pale, blonde girl took their places at the front of the room. The principal began to speak, his usual speech coming out in a voice as emotional as Ms. Darone's.
"Today class, you are being given the privilege of two new students. I'd like you to give a polite welcome to Fillip and Pidge. I am expecting you all to behave properly and help them with any needs they may have." The principal looked to the teacher, "Ms. Darone will be your third hour teacher for English. She will also be your advisor, if you have problems or when a student meeting is called, you will come here. Good day to you."
The principal gave a nod to the students and left, leaving the two new students standing awkwardly in front of thirty already present. However, to Sage, they didn't seem very awkward. The boy stood with an air of self-confidence, his eyes gazing at the class in a critical fashion. Steely gray eyes turned from critical to contemptuous, and Sage felt a sudden flash of the future. This one would cause problems.
The girl merely stood behind the boy, quiet and unassuming. Her blue eyes avoided meeting anyone's gaze, often hiding behind dull blonde locks of hair. Sage squinted carefully at the girl, his one visible eye scrutinizing the newcomer. There was something familiar about her, something he felt he should recognize, but didn't. He'd seen her before, but then, he hadn't.
The teacher directed the students to empty desks on opposite sides of the room. For a moment, the boy's air of self-confidence waned, and his eyes flickered to catch the girl's. She looked up at him, but continued over to her appointed desk, four behind Sage. This seemed to annoy Fillip for some reason, as the emotion had passed briefly across his features. But as the look passed, a new one came to his face. He flashed a smile to the girls in the class and gave a florid bow, introducing himself formally. The young ladies seemed stunned at first, but within moments, they had opened up to the sandy haired boy and were laughing with him as if he was an old friend. But the new girl simply sat at her desk, content to ignore the class and all of her surroundings. A few minutes later, the teacher called for attention and continued her lecture. The talking stopped, and Sage replaced his jaw onto his hand, no longer bored, but still not able to do anything.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
The bell rang, and Ryo slowly headed out the classroom door and to his locker. Today had been rather interesting with the new students. Two girls, twins in fact. Two very smart girls. Ryo had a hard time deciding which was worse, the fact that he couldn't tell the two apart, or that they had managed to stump the smartest teacher in school. Professor Faung was incredibly intelligent, but those twins had reduced him down to a bumbling idiot. He'd be gone for the next week or so. Not that he minded, but he felt sorry for the new students who would be struggling without their regular teacher to guide them. Speaking of students, Ryo shut his locker to see Rowen trying to shove his chemistry, biology, and psychology books into a locker shelf. With the micro spaces provided to students, he wasn't succeeding very well. The scene was rather humorous, but Ryo didn't have time to help his friend out with his troubles. His own psychology class was starting, and he didn't want to be late. The teacher was a real stickler about the little things. He started down the crowded hallway, but a shoulder pushed him roughly aside and into the locker wall. Quick reflexes and years of training saved Ryo from any painful or embarrassing situations. Swiftly adjusting his books, the blue-eyed boy was able to catch a glimpse of his rough hall-mate. Mud brown hair fell from the guilty party's head, looking very much like his own cut, but slightly shorter. With a quick assessment of his assailant, it was no wonder the boy had knocked him! He was knocking nearly everyone in the hall aside, and no excuses were given. Anger began to slowly make its way through Ryo's veins, but he ruthlessly squashed the feeling. This was not a war zone, this was a hallway. Just some brutish kid that thought he could muscle his way through life, and nothing to be upset about. Still, however, his anger boiled deep within him, fueled by the ancient fire of his armored spirit. With a deep breath, Ryo continued down the hall, shaking his head and letting out a disgusted sigh. Why was he so angry at a simple shove? That pushy kid wasn't an enemy...at least, he hoped not.
Ryo was so busy in thinking that he failed to notice his slowed step until the final bell rang, indicating the start of classes. With a quiet oath, Ryo quickly picked up the pace, heading to class as fast as his feet would allow him. Rounding the corner, Ryo's speed took him into a head on collision with another student. Heads knocked, books went flying, and both bodies landed on the ground, groaning. Recovering first, Ryo picked himself up and immediately began to apologize to the unfortunate person. He looked up and discovered that it was a girl who he hit. Pale and slender hands tenderly rubbed a dull blonde head and her eyes were closed as if to ward off the world in some way. She groaned lightly then retracted her lids, revealing pale, watery blue eyes that in some way looked unfitting for her face.
Ryo continued his string of apologies. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to take that corner so fast, are you alright? Here, let me help you..."
Ryo put his hand out to offer assistance, but the girl just waved him away and backed up. "No sir, thank you, I will manage. I am fine."
The blue-eyed boy bit his lip. The girl didn't look fine. She was still holding her head with one hand while trying to sort out her papers and books with the other. She had moved to her knees, but something told Ryo that if she stood up, gravity would take her right down again. Shaking his head slightly, Ryo bent down to help her. "At least allow me to help you with your books."
"I thank you again, sir, but it is not necessary."
"I insist," said Ryo with finality. His tone cut off the girl's arguments abruptly, and she accepted his assistance in silence. Ryo became curious, the girl's accent and manner were strangely familiar, though he was sure that he had never seen the girl before. Curious, he decided to ask. "You're new here, right?"
The girl nodded and continued to sort her papers from his.
"That's what I thought. So what's your name?"
"They call me Pigeon, sir, or Pidge."
Ryo was a bit confused as to why she continued to call him 'sir,' but owed it to the fact that she didn't know his name. "Pidge? That's a unique name, I'm Ryo."
The girl stopped her movement, "Ryo," she whispered quietly, and for the first time, looked at him directly. Her watery cerulean eyes locked onto his fiery, tiger blues. For a moment, Ryo was surprised that one so shy was daring enough to look a stranger in the eye, but that thought was soon forgotten when he returned her gaze. The Pigeon's face looked sad and lost, but her gaze were piercing, and seemed to search every corner of his soul. A sense of loss swirled over him; it was a feeling akin to the sense when he put out a blazing fire that would plunge him into darkness.
Then, without warning, a wrenching feeling came forth, and the girl was back to picking up her books. "I am sorry, sir for inconveniencing you. You are late for class, and I have made you even more so."
Ryo blinked. "Call me Ryo, sir sounds rather formal. Don't you have class?"
Pidge nodded, "Yes, but I seem to have lost it."
A grin split the boy's face. "I've heard of failing classes and skipping classes, but I've never heard of someone saying they've lost their class."
The girl blushed slightly and ducked her head. Gathering the last of her things, she slowly began to stand, but tottered slightly under the weight and her sudden lack of balance. Instinctively, Ryo reached out to support and help the girl, balancing the load until she could maintain it herself. A reaction came that he wasn't expecting. His quick movement seemed to scare the girl, and she ducked away from him as if Ryo intended to hit her. Seeing the confusion on his face, she gave a hasty apology, managing at the last moment to replace the 'sir' with his name.
The confusion once more became a grin. "Can I help you find your class?"
"But you'll be in trouble, I wouldn't want a person to be that way because of me."
"I'm already in trouble," Ryo argued. "A few more minutes isn't going to make that much of a difference. Where's your class?"
Pidge handed her impromptu helper a slip of paper that held her schedule. Ryo glanced at it and smiled, "no wonder. History rooms are on the other side of the school. Come on, I'll give you a tour as we go."
The girl began to thank him again and tried to ask him to just direct her to the classroom, but Ryo wouldn't hear of it. Courtesy would not allow him to simply send off a new student into an unknown place. She thought through his statement, as if looking for some way to deny his help. Finally, she nodded her head, and Ryo began to lead the way.
It was a strange tour that Ryo gave. Pidge seemed to listen attentively to everything he said, paying attention to whatever he deemed worthy for her to know. But his attempts to be social with the quiet new comer were positively fruitless. Any conversation he tried to initiate was met with quiet agreements. She never looked straight at him, and never disagreed with him. By the time he walked to her to her room, he was feeling quite frustrated, but managed to put a sincere looking smile on his face and wished her a happy class time.
The girl nodded and walked slowly into her classroom, shutting the door behind her. Ryo winced as the door clicked into its lock, the sound particularly ominous in the silent hall.
The smile left Ryo's face as he stared after the girl. "Huh, you're welcome."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Hey Cye, if you're not going to eat those--"
Blue eyes didn't even blink as Cye absently dumped half her lunch into the awaiting arms of Kento. With a happy cry and a quick thank you, the husky teen tore into his new portion.
Sage looked over to his friend, "what's a matter, Cye? You don't seem like your chipper self." No answer came. Sage moved his hand over in front of Cye's face and did a rapid series of snaps. "Cye, hey, Cye!" Still, there was no response.
Ryo grinned slightly, "Do you think she's mooning over someone?"
That remark managed to tear Kento from his lunch. Looking up, he growled at the occupants of the table. "She better not be."
Chuckles came from around the lunch table, even Rowen. It was well known that Kento and Cye were together, and probably always would be. They had been hardly acquaintances before claiming their armors, always bickering and at each other's throats. But when the Dynasty had come, the two had pulled together and became inseparable. It was an odd match; Kento was loud and belligerent, often pushy and always stubborn. Cye was quiet and caring, making friends with anyone she came across, and always ready with a smile and an encouraging word.
Rowen thoughtfully chewed on a french-fry, "you'd better make her snap out of it, Kento. Her eyes will dry that way, and as much as she likes fish, I doubt she wants to look like one."
It was Kento's turn to smile. With a slight wink, he got up and carefully crept to Cye's other side. Quietly leaning into her ear, he shouted one word. "TALPA!"
The reaction was instantaneous. Cye shot from her sitting position, the chair that she had been occupying flew from under her and straight into Kento. The hefty Ronin gave a low grunt and toppled backwards at the unexpected force that was behind the chair, knocking into a student who had been innocently walking by the Ronin table at the time.
What followed became legendary in the high school for years to come. The tray that the student had been carrying went from his hands and curved into a graceful arc before landing with a volcanic splat in the middle of wily group of unruly teens. The food that had once occupied the tray was now splattered in intricate patterns about the astonished clique. With a wild look in her eye, one of the victims of the escaped tray stood up with a very large quantity of meatballs in her hand. She let out a screech and an oath of vengeance and hurled her weapon at the astonished Ronins. Had the meatballs landed on table that Ryo and the others were occupying, the events that came next might have never happened. As it was, only instinct saved them and allowed them to duck in time to dodge the sauce-covered projectiles. Unfortunately, though the shot was aimed poorly, there was such a force behind the offending meatballs that they continued on a path straight passed the table and right into the unwary face of school's most prized athlete.
All became still in the mess hall.
With great deliverance and care, Shondon wiped the goo from his eyes and picked the meatball from his head, tossing it lightly to estimate its weight. Pushing back his chair, he stood, the rest of his table following his ever action.
The table exploded in a counter barrage of flinging buffet food as every athletes slung out their revenge. Of course, none of them knew who to throw the retaliation at, so it happened that seven other parties became involved in the impromptu food fight. Instantly, the air filled with a buffet of food-minus the trays. Spaghetti was poured on top of heads like boiling pitch; kiwis and other fruits were hurled with deadly accuracy. Meatballs flew through the air and exploded on tables and bodies. Spilled drinks made for slippery going as people ran for cover. One poor girl, her hair streaming with noodles and assorted chunks of unidentifiable substances, slipped in a puddle of spilled milk, fell to the floor, and continued on a course straight through the swinging kitchen doors. Hardly a moment later a concert series of shrieks and ringing crashes rose over the din created by the ever-escalating food war.
Sage cautiously peeked his head over the side of an upturned table. Several others had been flipped in same way, and the other Ronins had taken refuge there. Food still whipped through the air, and only Sage's heightened senses kept him safe from the barrage of the food littering the cafeteria. He was looking for an exit, and to find that he needed a clearing through the war that raged beyond his cover. A small jolt of electricity went through him, and he ducked his head back behind the barrier just in time to see a half-peeled banana fly passed him. With a sigh, he sank back down and shook his head at the four that had gathered with him. "We'll have to wait a few minutes more, they're all still pretty excited out there."
Cye glared at Kento, "well, isn't this just peachy."
"Hey," Kento held up his hands to ward off her icy look. "This isn't all my fault, you shoved the chair into me!"
"You startled me!"
"You were ignoring me!"
Rowen rolled his eyes skyward, "children."
Ryo looked at his two bickering friends. "You know, I always thought that the arguments came after the marriage."
Kento broke off his glare from Cye to look at Ryo. "I'll get you for that one."
The black haired boy smirked, "you mean you'll try."
Only Sage's intervention saved his leader from a solid fist connecting with his eye. "Down boys, you can play later. Right now I think we should try to find a way out of here."
Cye chuckled a bit. "You know, you said the exact same thing when we were all hanging in Talpa's stronghold a few months back. Odd how you don't sound any less serious now than you did back then. Does food frighten you that much, Sage?"
Rowen started snorking behind his hand, trying without success to hide his reaction from Sage's cool, one-eyed glare. Then the glare let up after a moment, but Sage continued to stare in Rowen's direction. Curious, Ryo followed Sage's sight line until he came across what the blonde boy was looking at.
In the far corner of the lunchroom sat a small group of students gathered around one table. The corner was free of food save what the students were eating. That was not the strangest thing however. There were at least six of them, and all new students. Five stood out prominently, Ryo recognized the pair of twins and two of the boys, and he had a feeling that the other Ronins recognized the rest of them as well. The students were sitting in their quiet corner, talking to each other and observing the food exchange with either expressions of indifference or unconcealed disdain.
"That's odd," murmured Ryo.
Cye nodded, "they're just sitting there. All the other students are participating."
We're not," Rowen pointed out. "They probably just don't want to get in trouble, are they new here? I haven't seen them before."
"It's the beginning of the month Rowen, almost all classes get new students."
"I haven't received any in mine."
Kento made a face. "That's because there aren't a whole lot of people who are smart enough to jump straight into your Einstein classes."
An Einstein class, or EC, was Kento's referral to most of Rowen's advanced placement classes. When they had first enrolled into the school, each of them had been required to take a test determining their academic strengths and weaknesses. None of them had ever gone to an actual school before, so when the attendant had told them to do their best, the statement had been taken seriously, not fully understanding what the tests meant. While the other Ronins' tests were certainly not of average scores, Rowen had done so well that the school almost hadn't accepted him. The principal had tried to persuade the boy to skip a few grades and head straight into college exams. Rowen, however, insisted that he attend the same school as the other four. He had never given a straight reason for wanting to stay, but the school accepted him and quickly enrolled him into some of the more complex classes they had to offer. The classes were difficult for even the most gifted senior student, but Rowen was apparently very happy with his schedule. He was often subject to merciless teasing, but his friends stuck by him nonetheless.
"You never know, Kento. They might have refused." Cye replied for Rowen, who had only responded with a shrug to no one in particular.
Kento snorted, "why? Everyone jumps at the chance to get into EC's."
"I don't think they want to attract any attention to themselves." Sage was still watching them quietly, though only one eye was visible. "They're hiding something. Something very important that many people want to get their hands on."
Ryo became curious and thoughtful. "Really? Can you feel what it is they're hiding?"
"I don't think I want to." His empathic abilities had suddenly flared, giving Sage insights and strange feelings. With a grimace, he placed his head in his hands and concentrated on subduing the emotions that were flowing through him. It wouldn't pay to be keen on this level today, he'd be exhausted by the time he reached home, and there was practice at the Dojo that night.
Rowen gave his friend a sympathetic look; "just take it easy there, Sage. It's probably nothing serious. Don't wear yourself out."
"Yeah, sure." Sage nodded and lifted his head from his hands. "Shall we see if we can't escape from this new Stronghold of Talpa yet?"
Kento laughed. "I got an idea, follow me guys!" Standing up, but being careful to stay low, Kento moved over to the protecting table and slowly lifted it up and began to move towards the exit that led into the main hallway. With careful steps, he moved the table along, keeping himself between it and the wall, while the others moved alongside of him. When they were within a few feet of the door, he set the table down and motioned the others to move along.
Cye gave him a satisfactory smile when he joined them in the hall a few minutes later. "That was well done, Kento. I'm glad to see that Talpa didn't take all of your mind."
The big Ronin grinned and gave his friend a broad wink. "Impressive, am I not?"
She rolled her eyes, "whatever Kento. Did any of you recognize the sixth one?"
"Sixth one what, Cye?" Ryo asked while inspecting his books for stray food particles.
"There were six people at that table with all the new people at it."
"Oh."
"Wasn't she that quiet girl that came in with the two in our Chemistry class?"
Cye looked thoughtful, "that's what I thought, but I don't see why she'd willingly associate herself with those two."
Sage looked at Cye, "is that a unfriendly comment coming from our little Cye, the Unprejudiced One?"
"Quiet, Sage, and yes, it was." Cye pursed her lips, her sea green eyes looking thoughtful, "there's something not quite right about those three in our class, Ryo."
"I'm thinking the same thing about all of those people. Especially after what Sage said."
Rowen was listening to his friends with only half interest. Things had finally settled down since Talpa had been defeated, they hadn't heard from Kayara and the Warlords in months. The food fight in the cafeteria had stirred them all up a bit, and now old excitements were playing with their minds. "Calm down guys, you're going to end up chasing shadows soon. If you really want some excitement, go with Sage to the Dojo, spend some of that energy your conjuring up."
"Interesting advice coming from someone who's spent the last twelve hours consorting in his sleep with a ten thousand year old Firebird."
Normally passive eyes suddenly flared and became a deep and threatening blue as Rowen turned on Kento, an angry flush rising to his face. Kento let out a startled squeak and ducked behind Ryo, who took a step back in astonishment. Rowen usually didn't lose his temper that fast, if at all. Sage was again obliged to step in and stop a very promising fistfight from taking place. "Easy now, Rowen. Killing Kento won't solve anything."
"No, but it would make me feel better. Come on over here, Kento, so you and I can consort."
"Why don't you and I head to class, Kento?" Cye came up and took a firm hold of Kento's arm, towing him away from the smoldering Rowen, calling over her shoulder. "We'll see you guys after class!"
For a moment Rowen kept his angry posture, still charged with energy, but then he took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "It's just not worth it anymore," he sighed, then walked away to his next class.
"Poor Rowen. Kinda makes you wonder about all that pent up animosity." Ryo said, watching the boy go.
Sage nodded, "Wonder about how he got so much of it. He didn't seem overly concerned with those dreams or new kids."
"I think he's given up, he doesn't care anymore. Anything concerning the Fire he tunes out." Ryo shook his head. "Poor Rowen."
"Poor us if we don't get to class. Meet you at Mia's Ryo."
"Have fun at practice, Sage."
Good-byes said, the two friends parted ways.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Comments! I love them! Please?
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
The Casting of Shadows
By Phoenix Cubed
Chapter 2 -- Introducing...
*^*^*
Professor Naiso was a teacher of strong tradition. Students should sit quietly at their desk; no speaking unless spoken to; and always respectful. Atop of that, every new pupil should be introduced to the class with full and proper introductions, and as far as he was concerned, there would be no alternatives. However, the three students that came into his office that day clearly showed the teacher there would be exceptions.
"Greetings, wise professor."
The aging man looked up from his papers, a boy with hair the color of clearing mud was standing across his desk. Behind him stood two others, but his attention focused on the anointed speaker.
"Good morning to you." Professor Naiso replied. He had work to do, and did not need the distractions of students that he would surely meet when class started. "I'm rather busy at the moment, you may come to the class at the start of class, I will introduce you all, and you may tell address your fellow students. You are dismissed."
But the boy didn't leave.
"I said you were dismissed."
"That's a wonderful observation, Professor, but one I care not to observe."
Professor Naiso's eyes narrowed at his student. "Disobedience is not something I take lightly, young man."
Brown eyes regarded the professor coolly. "Orders from a lower rank are not something I take at all."
"You dare--" Before the aging teacher could finish, he found himself forcibly taken from his chair and slammed against the nearest wall, staring into the cruelest set of black eyes he had seen in ages.
"Oh, I'll dare. And I'll dare quite a bit, Naiso. Just because you're in retirement doesn't mean you'll escape your duties." The boy suddenly smiled, and in that instant the professor found his doom. This wasn't just any boy; this was Jamten, first General to Cromier the Wicked. Naiso suddenly realized his position was very grave. He had served Jamten in his youth in the vast military of Fate, but had pulled out of the service after the Battle of Mindu and the horrific events that had come after. Naiso knew the cretin well; an immortal that took the form of a young man, but his heart was of a hardened monster, with no pity, and no conscience.
"My Lord," he choked, "how may I serve you?"
"How good of you to remember." Jamten murmured, slowly lowering the aging professor to the tiled floor. "First, I have a question to ask that only you can answer."
"Anything, great sir."
The professor's eyes shifted to the girl that stood behind the boy who had accompanied Jamten. Naiso recognized the boy as Norban, a soul just as twisted as Jamten's. But the girl he could fit with no name. Dull blonde hair hung lifelessly to frail shoulders, her head was hung low, as if resigned to Fate.
"Lift your head, Pigeon," Jamten commanded the quiet girl. She did as she was bidden, though very slowly. Resignation was firmly stamped upon her pale face, but in her eyes a spark flickered, radiating a half attempt at defiance. Norban's expression flared slightly, the girl winced, and spark died as suddenly as it had come.
Jamten's tone was satisfactory. "Much better. Now, Professor, do you recognize this girl at all? Tell the truth quickly, your life depends on it."
"N-no, my Lord." Naiso stammered his words as quickly as he could manage. "Her face looks vaguely familiar, but it is possible that she may only remind me of a former student."
"Good, now listen carefully, Naiso. We want to become students of this school, can you arrange that for us?"
Naiso's face became confused. "It is possible my Lord, but it would take time. This school is strict. You need to take special tests, have documents signed-there is much paperwork."
The smile on Jamten's face wiped downwards into a frown. "You know that I despise that sort of thing Naiso. I just want to enter a few others and myself into the classes, today. Arrange that however you can, but get it done."
Professor Naiso found himself doing something he hadn't done in years, he whimpered. "But sir, I -"
"Do it!" With a brutish shove, Jamten had thrown Naiso's back forcibly onto the wall once more. "You've been reassigned into active duty, Lieutenant, and you've received your orders. Carry them out. I don't believe that frail, aging body of yours would care for the consequences of failure."
Naiso closed his eyes, "yes, sir." The grip that kept him suspended was released and he dropped to the floor, gasping. Naiso's old body wasn't used to such stresses, he was no longer as flexible as he had been in his youth. He raised his head to look at his masters, but they had gone. Only the girl was left.
She looked at him sorrowfully. "I am very sorry sir, the masters are cruel, but there is little I can do."
He picked himself up with a small shred of dignity. "Your masters? Tell me, how did you fall into their service?"
"I do not know sir, I am simply told what to do, and I do."
A wave of pity washed over Naiso. The poor wretch that stood before her was worse off than he was. "I suppose they have told you to stay here?"
"Yes, sir."
The professor sighed. "Then stay, I will arrange your classes and come back, you may bring the schedules to your them when I return."
"I will, sir." Blonde hair fell slightly forward as the girl bowed her head in acknowledgement to her assigned task. Naiso shook his head and walked from the room. Whoever this child was, she did not belong in the company of those monstrous lords.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
It was the beginning of the month, and new students would soon flood the classes. It was rumored that twenty new students would be adding themselves to the three grades attending the high school. That was quite a few, and no one was completely sure how that number could be handled in an already over crowded district. Very few classes went by that someone did not obtain a new classmate.
Cye's first class would receive three new students. It was an early morning chemistry class, so she was rather surprised when three students had volunteered to take it. An empty desk was across from the auburn haired girl, so it was inevitable that she would be meeting at least one right away. Cye wondered what the students would be like. Quiet and studious perhaps, like Rowen? Or would they hold that mysterious aura that Sage wrapped himself in? The more she thought of it, the more excited Cye became about meeting the new arrivals.
The bell rang, and all the students quietly turned to face the front. Their teacher entered slowly, his eyes tired and his face etched with uncertainty, a new emotion Cye had never seen on her teacher before. The three new students walked in behind him, two boys and a girl. A boy led the trio, with short cropped, muddy hair and coarse brown eyes. Cye prayed that he would not sit next to her; he didn't look friendly at all. Next in the line was a girl, but her head was bowed and covered by an unusual shade of blonde hair. She walked carefully, but Cye owed her gait to her not wanting to collide with the boys that accompanied her. She stopped momentarily, but the last in line shoved her forward, a sneer hovering about his tanned face. Brownish black hair fell into cold hazel eyes, which he turned to face the class, sweeping them over each student appraisingly. For an instant, his gaze fell on Cye, and the bearer of Torrent shuddered. There was nothing in those eyes; they were devoid of all emotion. A thought came into Cye's mind--one that she had never truly experienced before--these people couldn't be trusted.
"Good morning class, we have three new," Professor Naiso faltered, "students, today. I expect you to be respectful and help them along." The professor cast a glance to the new arrivals, desperately trying to keep his voice from quavering; he motioned them to find empty seats so that class could begin.
"That's odd." Cye looked about for the only other Ronin in her class and caught Ryo's eye. He looked as perplexed as she felt. The Professor always introduced the new students. Though he acted almost afraid of these new ones. Her leader shot her a questioning look, but she shook her head and shrugged her shoulder. Ryo frowned, but quickly turned his attention to the front of the room as Professor Naiso started to speak. Cye was turning towards the front, but a movement caught the corner of her eye. The new girl had slid into the seat next to her. She looked fully at her new table partner and gave her a welcoming smile. The girl looked at her, slightly shocked, then quickly turned to face the teacher.
Cye felt rather hurt that her efforts would be shrugged off in such a way. No matter, she would try again later.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Rowen wasn't paying attention to his lesson. It was redundant anyhow; he had learned algebraic equations when he was seven. Right now, there were more important matters to think of.
Matters like the Fire.
Why was she coming back? With his pencil, he began to sketch out the magnificent bird in his dreams. The Fire had a habit of communicating with him like that, wandering through his mind and intruding into his dreams. However, she always appeared human to him. The natural form of the Phoenix was reserved for desperate times or tumultuous battles. The Fire's subordinates had told him often enough that the natural beauty of the mystical Phoenix should not, and would not, be wasted on a simple human. So why had he seen her? Why had she come into his dreams in such a way? For an entity that could destroy whole stars just by a thought, she had appeared extremely vulnerable. It wasn't like the Lady of Fire to show weakness.
A feeling began to seep into Rowen's awareness. What she had done was completely out of character. If she wanted to talk, why didn't she just come out right and talk? He began to sketch out the fiery tale; color was needed to do the picture justice. What was stopping her? The pencil stopped mid sketch as the images of the ravenous hyenas and swooping birds flashed before his eyes once more. Something was stopping her, keeping her away. That was what the dream meant!
A frown curved his mouth. Something, or possibly someone, was stopping the Fire from coming to them. Was it a good thing that she was being kept away? Rowen certainly didn't want to see the silver haired girl. But what was this feeling? After all the things that she had put him through, she didn't deserved to be worried over. Worry? For the Fire? Rowen shook his head; he would have to talk to Sage about this.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
English class, what could be more boring than English? Sage sighed once more and dropped his jaw against his hand. A chorus of sighs sang out from a few of his female class attendants, but they were largely ignored. Often it was fun to tease his little fan club, leading on a few of the prettier ones to pass the time. But today, they were about as interesting as the lecture he was receiving by the monotone Ms. Darone. A speck of dust fell from the circulation vent overhead and lazily drifted down to his desk, spiraling in slow circles. Even dust particles were more interesting than English. How he wished that the new students would arrive soon to relieve him of this boredom.
The door opened, and the principal trooped in, followed closely by his relief. Sage lifted his head to take a better look at his new classmates. A sandy haired boy and a pale, blonde girl took their places at the front of the room. The principal began to speak, his usual speech coming out in a voice as emotional as Ms. Darone's.
"Today class, you are being given the privilege of two new students. I'd like you to give a polite welcome to Fillip and Pidge. I am expecting you all to behave properly and help them with any needs they may have." The principal looked to the teacher, "Ms. Darone will be your third hour teacher for English. She will also be your advisor, if you have problems or when a student meeting is called, you will come here. Good day to you."
The principal gave a nod to the students and left, leaving the two new students standing awkwardly in front of thirty already present. However, to Sage, they didn't seem very awkward. The boy stood with an air of self-confidence, his eyes gazing at the class in a critical fashion. Steely gray eyes turned from critical to contemptuous, and Sage felt a sudden flash of the future. This one would cause problems.
The girl merely stood behind the boy, quiet and unassuming. Her blue eyes avoided meeting anyone's gaze, often hiding behind dull blonde locks of hair. Sage squinted carefully at the girl, his one visible eye scrutinizing the newcomer. There was something familiar about her, something he felt he should recognize, but didn't. He'd seen her before, but then, he hadn't.
The teacher directed the students to empty desks on opposite sides of the room. For a moment, the boy's air of self-confidence waned, and his eyes flickered to catch the girl's. She looked up at him, but continued over to her appointed desk, four behind Sage. This seemed to annoy Fillip for some reason, as the emotion had passed briefly across his features. But as the look passed, a new one came to his face. He flashed a smile to the girls in the class and gave a florid bow, introducing himself formally. The young ladies seemed stunned at first, but within moments, they had opened up to the sandy haired boy and were laughing with him as if he was an old friend. But the new girl simply sat at her desk, content to ignore the class and all of her surroundings. A few minutes later, the teacher called for attention and continued her lecture. The talking stopped, and Sage replaced his jaw onto his hand, no longer bored, but still not able to do anything.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
The bell rang, and Ryo slowly headed out the classroom door and to his locker. Today had been rather interesting with the new students. Two girls, twins in fact. Two very smart girls. Ryo had a hard time deciding which was worse, the fact that he couldn't tell the two apart, or that they had managed to stump the smartest teacher in school. Professor Faung was incredibly intelligent, but those twins had reduced him down to a bumbling idiot. He'd be gone for the next week or so. Not that he minded, but he felt sorry for the new students who would be struggling without their regular teacher to guide them. Speaking of students, Ryo shut his locker to see Rowen trying to shove his chemistry, biology, and psychology books into a locker shelf. With the micro spaces provided to students, he wasn't succeeding very well. The scene was rather humorous, but Ryo didn't have time to help his friend out with his troubles. His own psychology class was starting, and he didn't want to be late. The teacher was a real stickler about the little things. He started down the crowded hallway, but a shoulder pushed him roughly aside and into the locker wall. Quick reflexes and years of training saved Ryo from any painful or embarrassing situations. Swiftly adjusting his books, the blue-eyed boy was able to catch a glimpse of his rough hall-mate. Mud brown hair fell from the guilty party's head, looking very much like his own cut, but slightly shorter. With a quick assessment of his assailant, it was no wonder the boy had knocked him! He was knocking nearly everyone in the hall aside, and no excuses were given. Anger began to slowly make its way through Ryo's veins, but he ruthlessly squashed the feeling. This was not a war zone, this was a hallway. Just some brutish kid that thought he could muscle his way through life, and nothing to be upset about. Still, however, his anger boiled deep within him, fueled by the ancient fire of his armored spirit. With a deep breath, Ryo continued down the hall, shaking his head and letting out a disgusted sigh. Why was he so angry at a simple shove? That pushy kid wasn't an enemy...at least, he hoped not.
Ryo was so busy in thinking that he failed to notice his slowed step until the final bell rang, indicating the start of classes. With a quiet oath, Ryo quickly picked up the pace, heading to class as fast as his feet would allow him. Rounding the corner, Ryo's speed took him into a head on collision with another student. Heads knocked, books went flying, and both bodies landed on the ground, groaning. Recovering first, Ryo picked himself up and immediately began to apologize to the unfortunate person. He looked up and discovered that it was a girl who he hit. Pale and slender hands tenderly rubbed a dull blonde head and her eyes were closed as if to ward off the world in some way. She groaned lightly then retracted her lids, revealing pale, watery blue eyes that in some way looked unfitting for her face.
Ryo continued his string of apologies. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to take that corner so fast, are you alright? Here, let me help you..."
Ryo put his hand out to offer assistance, but the girl just waved him away and backed up. "No sir, thank you, I will manage. I am fine."
The blue-eyed boy bit his lip. The girl didn't look fine. She was still holding her head with one hand while trying to sort out her papers and books with the other. She had moved to her knees, but something told Ryo that if she stood up, gravity would take her right down again. Shaking his head slightly, Ryo bent down to help her. "At least allow me to help you with your books."
"I thank you again, sir, but it is not necessary."
"I insist," said Ryo with finality. His tone cut off the girl's arguments abruptly, and she accepted his assistance in silence. Ryo became curious, the girl's accent and manner were strangely familiar, though he was sure that he had never seen the girl before. Curious, he decided to ask. "You're new here, right?"
The girl nodded and continued to sort her papers from his.
"That's what I thought. So what's your name?"
"They call me Pigeon, sir, or Pidge."
Ryo was a bit confused as to why she continued to call him 'sir,' but owed it to the fact that she didn't know his name. "Pidge? That's a unique name, I'm Ryo."
The girl stopped her movement, "Ryo," she whispered quietly, and for the first time, looked at him directly. Her watery cerulean eyes locked onto his fiery, tiger blues. For a moment, Ryo was surprised that one so shy was daring enough to look a stranger in the eye, but that thought was soon forgotten when he returned her gaze. The Pigeon's face looked sad and lost, but her gaze were piercing, and seemed to search every corner of his soul. A sense of loss swirled over him; it was a feeling akin to the sense when he put out a blazing fire that would plunge him into darkness.
Then, without warning, a wrenching feeling came forth, and the girl was back to picking up her books. "I am sorry, sir for inconveniencing you. You are late for class, and I have made you even more so."
Ryo blinked. "Call me Ryo, sir sounds rather formal. Don't you have class?"
Pidge nodded, "Yes, but I seem to have lost it."
A grin split the boy's face. "I've heard of failing classes and skipping classes, but I've never heard of someone saying they've lost their class."
The girl blushed slightly and ducked her head. Gathering the last of her things, she slowly began to stand, but tottered slightly under the weight and her sudden lack of balance. Instinctively, Ryo reached out to support and help the girl, balancing the load until she could maintain it herself. A reaction came that he wasn't expecting. His quick movement seemed to scare the girl, and she ducked away from him as if Ryo intended to hit her. Seeing the confusion on his face, she gave a hasty apology, managing at the last moment to replace the 'sir' with his name.
The confusion once more became a grin. "Can I help you find your class?"
"But you'll be in trouble, I wouldn't want a person to be that way because of me."
"I'm already in trouble," Ryo argued. "A few more minutes isn't going to make that much of a difference. Where's your class?"
Pidge handed her impromptu helper a slip of paper that held her schedule. Ryo glanced at it and smiled, "no wonder. History rooms are on the other side of the school. Come on, I'll give you a tour as we go."
The girl began to thank him again and tried to ask him to just direct her to the classroom, but Ryo wouldn't hear of it. Courtesy would not allow him to simply send off a new student into an unknown place. She thought through his statement, as if looking for some way to deny his help. Finally, she nodded her head, and Ryo began to lead the way.
It was a strange tour that Ryo gave. Pidge seemed to listen attentively to everything he said, paying attention to whatever he deemed worthy for her to know. But his attempts to be social with the quiet new comer were positively fruitless. Any conversation he tried to initiate was met with quiet agreements. She never looked straight at him, and never disagreed with him. By the time he walked to her to her room, he was feeling quite frustrated, but managed to put a sincere looking smile on his face and wished her a happy class time.
The girl nodded and walked slowly into her classroom, shutting the door behind her. Ryo winced as the door clicked into its lock, the sound particularly ominous in the silent hall.
The smile left Ryo's face as he stared after the girl. "Huh, you're welcome."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Hey Cye, if you're not going to eat those--"
Blue eyes didn't even blink as Cye absently dumped half her lunch into the awaiting arms of Kento. With a happy cry and a quick thank you, the husky teen tore into his new portion.
Sage looked over to his friend, "what's a matter, Cye? You don't seem like your chipper self." No answer came. Sage moved his hand over in front of Cye's face and did a rapid series of snaps. "Cye, hey, Cye!" Still, there was no response.
Ryo grinned slightly, "Do you think she's mooning over someone?"
That remark managed to tear Kento from his lunch. Looking up, he growled at the occupants of the table. "She better not be."
Chuckles came from around the lunch table, even Rowen. It was well known that Kento and Cye were together, and probably always would be. They had been hardly acquaintances before claiming their armors, always bickering and at each other's throats. But when the Dynasty had come, the two had pulled together and became inseparable. It was an odd match; Kento was loud and belligerent, often pushy and always stubborn. Cye was quiet and caring, making friends with anyone she came across, and always ready with a smile and an encouraging word.
Rowen thoughtfully chewed on a french-fry, "you'd better make her snap out of it, Kento. Her eyes will dry that way, and as much as she likes fish, I doubt she wants to look like one."
It was Kento's turn to smile. With a slight wink, he got up and carefully crept to Cye's other side. Quietly leaning into her ear, he shouted one word. "TALPA!"
The reaction was instantaneous. Cye shot from her sitting position, the chair that she had been occupying flew from under her and straight into Kento. The hefty Ronin gave a low grunt and toppled backwards at the unexpected force that was behind the chair, knocking into a student who had been innocently walking by the Ronin table at the time.
What followed became legendary in the high school for years to come. The tray that the student had been carrying went from his hands and curved into a graceful arc before landing with a volcanic splat in the middle of wily group of unruly teens. The food that had once occupied the tray was now splattered in intricate patterns about the astonished clique. With a wild look in her eye, one of the victims of the escaped tray stood up with a very large quantity of meatballs in her hand. She let out a screech and an oath of vengeance and hurled her weapon at the astonished Ronins. Had the meatballs landed on table that Ryo and the others were occupying, the events that came next might have never happened. As it was, only instinct saved them and allowed them to duck in time to dodge the sauce-covered projectiles. Unfortunately, though the shot was aimed poorly, there was such a force behind the offending meatballs that they continued on a path straight passed the table and right into the unwary face of school's most prized athlete.
All became still in the mess hall.
With great deliverance and care, Shondon wiped the goo from his eyes and picked the meatball from his head, tossing it lightly to estimate its weight. Pushing back his chair, he stood, the rest of his table following his ever action.
The table exploded in a counter barrage of flinging buffet food as every athletes slung out their revenge. Of course, none of them knew who to throw the retaliation at, so it happened that seven other parties became involved in the impromptu food fight. Instantly, the air filled with a buffet of food-minus the trays. Spaghetti was poured on top of heads like boiling pitch; kiwis and other fruits were hurled with deadly accuracy. Meatballs flew through the air and exploded on tables and bodies. Spilled drinks made for slippery going as people ran for cover. One poor girl, her hair streaming with noodles and assorted chunks of unidentifiable substances, slipped in a puddle of spilled milk, fell to the floor, and continued on a course straight through the swinging kitchen doors. Hardly a moment later a concert series of shrieks and ringing crashes rose over the din created by the ever-escalating food war.
Sage cautiously peeked his head over the side of an upturned table. Several others had been flipped in same way, and the other Ronins had taken refuge there. Food still whipped through the air, and only Sage's heightened senses kept him safe from the barrage of the food littering the cafeteria. He was looking for an exit, and to find that he needed a clearing through the war that raged beyond his cover. A small jolt of electricity went through him, and he ducked his head back behind the barrier just in time to see a half-peeled banana fly passed him. With a sigh, he sank back down and shook his head at the four that had gathered with him. "We'll have to wait a few minutes more, they're all still pretty excited out there."
Cye glared at Kento, "well, isn't this just peachy."
"Hey," Kento held up his hands to ward off her icy look. "This isn't all my fault, you shoved the chair into me!"
"You startled me!"
"You were ignoring me!"
Rowen rolled his eyes skyward, "children."
Ryo looked at his two bickering friends. "You know, I always thought that the arguments came after the marriage."
Kento broke off his glare from Cye to look at Ryo. "I'll get you for that one."
The black haired boy smirked, "you mean you'll try."
Only Sage's intervention saved his leader from a solid fist connecting with his eye. "Down boys, you can play later. Right now I think we should try to find a way out of here."
Cye chuckled a bit. "You know, you said the exact same thing when we were all hanging in Talpa's stronghold a few months back. Odd how you don't sound any less serious now than you did back then. Does food frighten you that much, Sage?"
Rowen started snorking behind his hand, trying without success to hide his reaction from Sage's cool, one-eyed glare. Then the glare let up after a moment, but Sage continued to stare in Rowen's direction. Curious, Ryo followed Sage's sight line until he came across what the blonde boy was looking at.
In the far corner of the lunchroom sat a small group of students gathered around one table. The corner was free of food save what the students were eating. That was not the strangest thing however. There were at least six of them, and all new students. Five stood out prominently, Ryo recognized the pair of twins and two of the boys, and he had a feeling that the other Ronins recognized the rest of them as well. The students were sitting in their quiet corner, talking to each other and observing the food exchange with either expressions of indifference or unconcealed disdain.
"That's odd," murmured Ryo.
Cye nodded, "they're just sitting there. All the other students are participating."
We're not," Rowen pointed out. "They probably just don't want to get in trouble, are they new here? I haven't seen them before."
"It's the beginning of the month Rowen, almost all classes get new students."
"I haven't received any in mine."
Kento made a face. "That's because there aren't a whole lot of people who are smart enough to jump straight into your Einstein classes."
An Einstein class, or EC, was Kento's referral to most of Rowen's advanced placement classes. When they had first enrolled into the school, each of them had been required to take a test determining their academic strengths and weaknesses. None of them had ever gone to an actual school before, so when the attendant had told them to do their best, the statement had been taken seriously, not fully understanding what the tests meant. While the other Ronins' tests were certainly not of average scores, Rowen had done so well that the school almost hadn't accepted him. The principal had tried to persuade the boy to skip a few grades and head straight into college exams. Rowen, however, insisted that he attend the same school as the other four. He had never given a straight reason for wanting to stay, but the school accepted him and quickly enrolled him into some of the more complex classes they had to offer. The classes were difficult for even the most gifted senior student, but Rowen was apparently very happy with his schedule. He was often subject to merciless teasing, but his friends stuck by him nonetheless.
"You never know, Kento. They might have refused." Cye replied for Rowen, who had only responded with a shrug to no one in particular.
Kento snorted, "why? Everyone jumps at the chance to get into EC's."
"I don't think they want to attract any attention to themselves." Sage was still watching them quietly, though only one eye was visible. "They're hiding something. Something very important that many people want to get their hands on."
Ryo became curious and thoughtful. "Really? Can you feel what it is they're hiding?"
"I don't think I want to." His empathic abilities had suddenly flared, giving Sage insights and strange feelings. With a grimace, he placed his head in his hands and concentrated on subduing the emotions that were flowing through him. It wouldn't pay to be keen on this level today, he'd be exhausted by the time he reached home, and there was practice at the Dojo that night.
Rowen gave his friend a sympathetic look; "just take it easy there, Sage. It's probably nothing serious. Don't wear yourself out."
"Yeah, sure." Sage nodded and lifted his head from his hands. "Shall we see if we can't escape from this new Stronghold of Talpa yet?"
Kento laughed. "I got an idea, follow me guys!" Standing up, but being careful to stay low, Kento moved over to the protecting table and slowly lifted it up and began to move towards the exit that led into the main hallway. With careful steps, he moved the table along, keeping himself between it and the wall, while the others moved alongside of him. When they were within a few feet of the door, he set the table down and motioned the others to move along.
Cye gave him a satisfactory smile when he joined them in the hall a few minutes later. "That was well done, Kento. I'm glad to see that Talpa didn't take all of your mind."
The big Ronin grinned and gave his friend a broad wink. "Impressive, am I not?"
She rolled her eyes, "whatever Kento. Did any of you recognize the sixth one?"
"Sixth one what, Cye?" Ryo asked while inspecting his books for stray food particles.
"There were six people at that table with all the new people at it."
"Oh."
"Wasn't she that quiet girl that came in with the two in our Chemistry class?"
Cye looked thoughtful, "that's what I thought, but I don't see why she'd willingly associate herself with those two."
Sage looked at Cye, "is that a unfriendly comment coming from our little Cye, the Unprejudiced One?"
"Quiet, Sage, and yes, it was." Cye pursed her lips, her sea green eyes looking thoughtful, "there's something not quite right about those three in our class, Ryo."
"I'm thinking the same thing about all of those people. Especially after what Sage said."
Rowen was listening to his friends with only half interest. Things had finally settled down since Talpa had been defeated, they hadn't heard from Kayara and the Warlords in months. The food fight in the cafeteria had stirred them all up a bit, and now old excitements were playing with their minds. "Calm down guys, you're going to end up chasing shadows soon. If you really want some excitement, go with Sage to the Dojo, spend some of that energy your conjuring up."
"Interesting advice coming from someone who's spent the last twelve hours consorting in his sleep with a ten thousand year old Firebird."
Normally passive eyes suddenly flared and became a deep and threatening blue as Rowen turned on Kento, an angry flush rising to his face. Kento let out a startled squeak and ducked behind Ryo, who took a step back in astonishment. Rowen usually didn't lose his temper that fast, if at all. Sage was again obliged to step in and stop a very promising fistfight from taking place. "Easy now, Rowen. Killing Kento won't solve anything."
"No, but it would make me feel better. Come on over here, Kento, so you and I can consort."
"Why don't you and I head to class, Kento?" Cye came up and took a firm hold of Kento's arm, towing him away from the smoldering Rowen, calling over her shoulder. "We'll see you guys after class!"
For a moment Rowen kept his angry posture, still charged with energy, but then he took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. "It's just not worth it anymore," he sighed, then walked away to his next class.
"Poor Rowen. Kinda makes you wonder about all that pent up animosity." Ryo said, watching the boy go.
Sage nodded, "Wonder about how he got so much of it. He didn't seem overly concerned with those dreams or new kids."
"I think he's given up, he doesn't care anymore. Anything concerning the Fire he tunes out." Ryo shook his head. "Poor Rowen."
"Poor us if we don't get to class. Meet you at Mia's Ryo."
"Have fun at practice, Sage."
Good-byes said, the two friends parted ways.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Comments! I love them! Please?