- . -;; Ah, the correct Chapter 7. My my, what will I think of next?
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The Casting of Shadows
By Phoenix Cubed
Chapter 7 - Of Lies and Lemonade
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The sun beat down hard on the backs of the armored teens. The Warlords
had offered t play a game of five-on-three with the Ronins. The offer,
of course, had been met with great enthusiasm. And now, in their sub armors,
they pummeled each other into exhaustion, but enjoyed every moment of it.
Mia sat in a lawn chair under the porch awning, sipping a cool glass of
lemonade she had made for them once the tired of their play. Several more
glasses filled with ice and the bittersweet liquid sat beside her, keeping
the guardian company on her amused vigil in the backyard. White Blaze had
slept by her feet for a time, but then he too had joined in the foray, creating
a game of five-on-three-on-one in the expansive lawn of the Koji estates.
"It's a little uneven looking, isn't it?"
Mia didn't bother startling at the sudden voice. Kayara nearly always came
and went in that fashion. So the guardian simply smiled and nodded her head,
letting her moistening hair bob with her. "But only in numbers, I think each
party can hold their own."
Kayara watched the game for a moment before pulling a chair back from the
garden table and settling down next to Mia. "Since their freedom from Tulpa,
the Warlords have finally begun to balance out the Ronin's abilities with
their own. It is a pleasant sight to see after so much hardship and
bitterness."
"And how are you doing, Kayara?"
The Ancient descendent laughed, a sound that was rich with every emotion.
"You make such a wonderful guardian and guide, Mia, its no wonder Destiny
has protected your path."
Mia was perplexed at the response her seemingly simple question had evoked.
Kayara saw this and her laughter died down, but the amusement never left her
eyes. "I apologize, Mia. I forget sometimes. But in answer to both your
questions, I am doing well, Anubis's gift is not wasted."
The red head looked shocked, "that's not what I--"
"Its all right Mia. I'm a wise-woman in training; I'm able to detect things
that not even your own self would be aware of. And this, my friend," Kayara
said, emphasizing her words with a shake of the ancient staff, "is one of them."
For a very long time Mia was silent, not trusting herself to speak. But
then, she looked up and at Kayara with a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"I'm so sorry Kayara, its just...I miss him. And as happy as I am that
you're free and so alive, I only with that, that Anubis could have been the
same. There are nights that I stay up to think and think that if I had tried
a little harder, or known a little more, he wouldn't have had to sacrifice
himself like that. Then he could still be here today; he could be running
about out there with the rest of them, or sitting next to us and talking. We
talked so much those last few days..." With that Mia went quiet again. Then
she stood and quickly excused herself, saying she needed to work on some
programs on her computer.
Kayara watched her go, making no effort to stop her. Even in her possessed
state under the amulet, Kayara had noticed the bond that had been slowly
developing between the former leader of the Warlords and the strong guide of
the Ronins. What had happened to Anubis was tragic, and had affected everyone
deeply, but no one so much as Mia, though she hid it well. Perhaps, if Anubis
had lived-no. It was better not to think along such lines. She was not the
dictator of time to change the past, nor was she the ruler of death to change
the future. Both of those beings had disappeared centuries ago. Kayara doubted
they still answered the call of her not so adolescent world anymore.
A sudden crack and a high yelp drew Kayara's attention back to the "game"
taking place in the expansive lawn. Kento was hopping about the yard, holding
his foot and yelling loud enough to be heard over the holy fires of hell.
Sekhmet and Sage stood there, grinning foolishly while Ryo and Dais scratched
the back of their heads with sheepish expressions on their faces. Cye, Cale,
and Rowen simply sat back a few feet away, shaking their heads.
"That," Cye remarked, "was pathetic."
Cale and Rowen nodded, "agreed."
In an instant less than a moment, Kayara was beside the now stationary group
trying to decipher what, exactly, had caused the scene. She stood there
expectantly, her eyes briefly flickering to Kento, who was now sitting on
the ground, trying to suck on a swelling big toe, before sweeping her gaze
over the standing spectators. "Do I dare ask?"
"We'd prefer you not to, but you can try."
"Quiet Sekhmet, I want straight answers, not riddles."
The four Ronins stopped their various reactions and moved to surround Kento.
Cye sat down next to her friend and shook her head, "baby. It couldn't have
hurt that much."
Kento shot her a nasty look, "let's see your toe get attacked by a five ton
boulder and not have it hurt."
Kayara raised an eyebrow at Dais. "As I see no large boulders in the general
vicinity, assume that you had something to do with this."
The Warlord of Illusion tried very hard to wipe the guilty expression off
his face, only to have it replaced by another grin when he heard Halo chuckling
quietly beside the cursing Hardrock. "Not entirely, Kayara," defended Dais,
"it is as much Halo's fault as it is mine."
Blue eyes flicked to the blonde Ronin, "well?"
Ever the smooth talker, Sage failed that time as he plastered a disarming
grin on his face, "for future reference, never let Kento believe he can jump
wet boulders while it rains both water and rocks."
Ryo and Sekhmet cracked up, falling against each other and easing themselves
to the ground as tears fell from their eyes and stained their cheeks with
mirth. Kayara's brows slowly raised to her hairline. She didn't catch the
humor, and she was beginning to believe that it was best kept that way. A look
to Rowen and Cale, who were still shaking their heads, confirmed this. With a
deep sigh, she turned and began to walk back to the porch. "Why don't you
children take a break. Mia brought you out some lemonade."
Kento pouted and tried to stand, "does no one care about my poor toe?" He asked
mournfully.
Cye smiled quietly and kissed his cheek, "better?"
The warrior of justice flushed red before donning a great happy grin. "It'll do."
"Righto, then. Let's go have some lemonade."
They sat together under the awning, sipping the cool beverage of leisure and
enjoying a rare moment of peace in the lives of warriors. The sun was only
beginning its descent to the horizon, keeping the world bright with full sun
and its casted shadows. The nine of them together lounged in each other's
presence, feeling the gentle radiation of mutual energy and basking in
comfortable companionship.
Presently though, Ryo stretched out and yawned. "Great day," he sighed, "and it
definitely beats school."
Kento gave a rather enthusiastic agreement to that between gulps of his rapidly
vanishing drink. "Definitely. No books, no teachers, no stupid pushy kids that
think they're better than the all mighty Hardrock. Just good old rest and
re-lax-ation."
Dais donned an expression of both amusement and disbelief, "the mighty Ronin
Warriors are still in school?"
Cale shook his head and sipped his drink, "the disgrace of it all."
"Price of youth, I suppose." Sekhmet chuckled, "not even a pardon from
school after saving the mortal realm."
Rowen gave the warlords a level look. "pardon us if we keep our youthful looks
for a few more centuries before aging into the more venerable, but intelligent,
forms of you."
Kayara laughed so hard she nearly toppled backwards. Thankfully, White Blaze
had been dozing comfortably behind her, so the chair she sat in tipped only a
few inches before coming to rest on his broad back. With a startled snort the
tiger woke and looked at the girl, giving her a look of surprise and wonder.
Ryo looked at his feline friend and collapsed into helpless giggles and refreshed
tears of glee. Sekhmet, who had still been sipping his lemonade, began to blow
bubbles into the sour liquid. Snorking heavily, he accidentally inhaled his
lemonade, sending it straight up into his tender sinus cavities.
"Argh!" He cried out and clutched his nose, scrubbing it furiously with his
finger. "It burns! What's in this stuff, anyway?"
Cye laughed silently, "lemons!"
Sage shook his head and tried to hide his smile as he pushed Kayara's chair
back to its rightful position and handed Sekhmet a napkin. "Thanks for that
extensive list, Torrent."
She winked at him, "no prob."
"Rowen, no more jokes."
The level look never leaving his face, Rowen crossed his arms and stared coolly
at Ryo, "what makes you think I was joking?"
"Because you love us, Row!" Kento reached over and gave his sullen friend a hug
worthy of any bear's embrace. The warrior of strength squeezed hard and smiled
teasingly, "say it Row, say how much you love us or I get to love you and get
to hug you forever, and maybe even call you George!"
"Kento, I can't breathe!"
Cale leaned over to Dais and whispered in his ear, "why would he call him George?"
"Must be a Ronin thing."
"Right."
"Say it!"
"All right! All right! I love you, just let go, I need air!"
Laughingly, Kento released his friend, "doncha feel better now?"
"Immensely, I can breathe."
Kayara rolled her eyes skyward, "must the geniuses always be so serious?"
Rowen smirked, "that's a nature-nurture issue subject to eternal debate, Lady."
"Only an eternity? Then we shall take it up again later, Rowen, we have time."
Something very close to a genuine smiled flickered across Strata's face, "lookin'
forward to it, Kayara. Though you'd probably concede your argument after you meet
the maternal equivalent to my upbringing."
The Ancient Lady's eyes became curious, "and who would that be?"
Rowen spread his hands wide, "why, the Phoenix, of course."
Four heads became suddenly, extremely fixed onto the Ronin of Life. "The *Phoenix*
is your *mother?*"
"No, I said she is my maternal equivalent, which could mean any female taking on a
parenting roll. Think of her more as an adoptive aunt."
Cale shrunk down in his seat, "I'd prefer not to think of her at all, if you
don't mind."
The blue-haired youth raised his glass in a toast-like gesture before taking a
long swig, "amen to that."
Kayara, to say the least, was very surprised. But she felt oddly upset about the
way the boy seemed to brush off such a unique phenomenon the way he did. Seeking
guidance, she turned to Sage, questioning with her eyes.
But Sage merely shook his head and shut his eyes. Though a moment later, a voice
echoed silently within her head. *The Phoenix doesn't have the greatest track
record with Rowen. Tread carefully, this is a tender subject for him.*
She nodded almost imperceptibly before forming her next question. "So tell me
Ronins, what was it last night that you came to such a firm resolution about?"
Sage mentally slapped himself. Rowen groaned and plopped his chin into his
hands.
"How did you know about that?" Cye asked.
"I have my ways."
Cye and Ryo looked at each other before turning their eyes on Sage, who put
his hands up quickly in defense. "I didn't say a thing!"
"I don't think you had to."
Ryo reached behind him and began to idly scratch White Blaze's hindquarter,
which was the nearest part available to him; there was so much of it. "Right.
Anyway. How much do you guys know of the current situation?"
Kayara shook her head. "Enough to know that there is one, but not much beyond
that."
Sage leaned back into his chair and settled in, "might as well start at the
beginning, then."
Wildfire blew out long sigh through his nose, "any volunteers? No? Great. I
guess I get to play story teller, then."
"We'll fill in what you miss, Ryo."
"As long as there's back up. Well, to make a short story shorter, it kinda
started with Rowen..." For the next hour, the five Ronins attempted to bring
their seasoned fellow-warriors up to date on everything they knew. The process
was slow and many questions were asked. And as Ryo's story drew to closure and
the light of understanding gleamed in everyone's eyes, the Ronins also noticed a
different emotion dwelling within Warlords: fear. What could disturb hardened
warriors of many centuries so much?
"Captured?" Whispered Sekhmet, his eyes dark with an emotion he had not
experienced since before the fall of Talpa.
"This is a darker time than even I would like to live in," the Warlord of Darkness
sat tall in his seat, but his eyes shifted constantly, scanning the horizons for
a sudden, unknown danger.
Kayara looked at her companions, "so what happens now?"
"We see if we can't locate the Fire and help her. Meanwhile, we've got to find a
way to contact this Tieran Yaw dude and tell him what's going on. Maybe he's the
one that sent that message globe and he's coming already, maybe he's not. We can't
count on it. The longer this threat goes on, the worst Rowen's dreams get. I'm not
gonna take the chance that one night they're going to be so bad that he won't wake
up again." Ryo slammed his fist down on the table, "someone's toying with us,
dammit. And stronger than us or not, this has to end!"
Cye looked to Ryo with a dreamy expression, "I knew there was a reason we made you
lead."
Ryo blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, "uh, thanks Cye, I think."
Rowen looked to the company, "so what do you think?"
For a moment, everything was silent save the sound of the wind dancing in the
trees to the sweet music piped by the local populace of birds.
"I believe," spoke the Lady Kayara very slowly, "I do believe that we may be able
to help. There is a ceremony that dates back a very long time. It's older than even
the original, unified armor, if I remember correctly. The story sings that our
ancestors used it quite frequently even before the world divided and the mortal realm
came to be." She looked to the Warlords, "it'll take some time, even with the four of
us to perform it. But, if we're successful, it shall be very worth it."
Kayara stood suddenly, "yes. We'll go now, Ronin Warriors. The sooner we start the
better."
Sage watched them all stand, "what is it you're going to do?"
"If everything goes well, we're going to make a phone call, the way it used to be
done."
The Warlords stood and looked to the Ronins. "We're more useful this way. Good
luck to you, we'll return as soon as we can."
And as suddenly as a cat could blink, they were gone. With nothing to show of
their former existence but the empty glasses that decorated the tasteful awning
table on the Koji house's backyard porch.
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The halls were empty and the corridors dark. In the after hours of school, a
person could be very surprised to see how desolate a place the future generations of
the human race learned in. Janitors were few and far between in the three-story
high school, and Naiso found it the perfect time and place to finish his duties.
Located on the very top floor in a classroom office tucked into the very furthest
corner, the Chemistry Professor could enjoy a solitary sense of peace that was nearly
impossible to achieve anywhere else. Since coming to this backwater planet two years
less than a decade ago, he had been lost as soldier and inept as a human. The terran
mass that floated through space was primitive and only in its adolescent stages of
a new civilization. Naiso had discovered that the evolved and dominant species of
the tiny planetary mass was little more than a group overgrown toddlers that had
found a new and frighteningly advanced toy to play with, but no parent to take it
away from them. Or at least, show them how to use it. But Naiso knew he hadn't
been much better. Everywhere he looked he had seen justification for the horrible
atrocities his master had committed, and every night he went to bed praying that
Master Fate would descend quickly from the stars and take control of the chaos
Destiny had allowed to run so rampantly.
But time had different plans for him. And soon, away from the constant influence
of the other path, Naiso had come to see a quaint beauty in the way the planet
revolved. The humans were backward and often made the most imbecilic of mistakes.
But they always managed to take responsibility and straighten themselves out in the
most bizarre of ways. No matter how terrible the situation ever became or how
disastrous the event, the humans would make it through and end up much the wiser for
it. Somewhat of a scientist, the former soldier could not for the life of him
figure out how their actions and reactions balanced out.
Then *he* struck. The demon lord of a plane Naiso hadn't even known existed
exploded onto the scene and captured the small island he had settled on. Using
what little ability he had left, Naiso hid from the monster and protected himself
while the rest of the populace disappeared. Emerging from his hiding place a few
days later, he was surprised to see five youths outfitted in styles of armor he had
not seen since the Era 3 Wars. They fought against the demon and his hordes with
grace and fluidity, expertly using the weapons they wielded. And the power they
emitted was incredible, nothing that could have come from the terran world they
fought for. It wasn't, however, until he saw the crimson decked leader cast flames
from his fiery aura and the dark boy shoot an arrow from an infinite quiver that
Naiso understood what he was seeing. The warriors that so bravely vanquished evil
in his midst were invested with the power of Light and Night. The Phoenix and the
Tieran Yaw had at some point in their five lives' blessed them and given them the
abilities he saw before him.
The former soldier followed them throughout their campaign, watching them progress.
It confused him greatly when he witnessed the "Ronins" fight the "Warlords." As
far as he could tell, they were the same. Identical factions were not supposed
to war on each other. It took many days for him to see the differences--they
were so subtle. Both fought in darkness and in light, using techniques spawned
from the same mold. And then there was the aging man with the staff, who sat
around and watched the battles from afar. Why did he not step in and end it?
Naiso knew he could. But the ancient looking priest was content to watch from
afar, stepping in only just before the youths were to meet their maker. Naiso was
annoyed with the man until one day he turned around and the white haired priest
was not a foot from where he stood.
"Do you really need to watch the mirror so much," spoke the old man, "to see your
reflection?"
The ancient sacrificed himself the next day, and the Ronins disappeared for nearly
a week. Naiso spent the entire time silently brooding in his home, trying to decipher
what the dead man's words meant. It wasn't until the end of the Ronin's final
battle where he watched the tiger steal the glowing ball and cavort in circles about
his human companions that the soldier became the true former soldier, finally
understanding. It wasn't *what* the battle was, it was *why* the battle was. The
monk, as well as the Ronins, had understood that and had persevered; while the Demon
Talpa had not, and had been vanquished for his misconceptions on why there was life
and death. Naiso now understood why the Lady of Light and the Lord of Night fought
side by side so well. Opposites came in intentions--not innate ways of being.
The world went back to being the way it was, and Naiso settled down as a professor
in the school where the gallant knights had decided to attend. The now aging man
was content in his new position, teaching the age that he had at one point been
himself for nearly a thousand years. It was a bit of an irony for him, having never
respected his own mentors. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable occupation, and it kept
him close to the Ronins.
And now, with the masters having come back, this was a fact that would both destroy
and save him.
Professor Naiso's red ink pen was poised over two of his students' papers, ready to
correct mistakes once made. This time, however, they were not his students', but his
own.
"Ryo of the Wildfire," he whispered into the darkening depths of the room, "Cye of the
Torrent. Please help us, no one deserves such Fate."
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More to come! Review me! ^.^;;
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The Casting of Shadows
By Phoenix Cubed
Chapter 7 - Of Lies and Lemonade
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The sun beat down hard on the backs of the armored teens. The Warlords
had offered t play a game of five-on-three with the Ronins. The offer,
of course, had been met with great enthusiasm. And now, in their sub armors,
they pummeled each other into exhaustion, but enjoyed every moment of it.
Mia sat in a lawn chair under the porch awning, sipping a cool glass of
lemonade she had made for them once the tired of their play. Several more
glasses filled with ice and the bittersweet liquid sat beside her, keeping
the guardian company on her amused vigil in the backyard. White Blaze had
slept by her feet for a time, but then he too had joined in the foray, creating
a game of five-on-three-on-one in the expansive lawn of the Koji estates.
"It's a little uneven looking, isn't it?"
Mia didn't bother startling at the sudden voice. Kayara nearly always came
and went in that fashion. So the guardian simply smiled and nodded her head,
letting her moistening hair bob with her. "But only in numbers, I think each
party can hold their own."
Kayara watched the game for a moment before pulling a chair back from the
garden table and settling down next to Mia. "Since their freedom from Tulpa,
the Warlords have finally begun to balance out the Ronin's abilities with
their own. It is a pleasant sight to see after so much hardship and
bitterness."
"And how are you doing, Kayara?"
The Ancient descendent laughed, a sound that was rich with every emotion.
"You make such a wonderful guardian and guide, Mia, its no wonder Destiny
has protected your path."
Mia was perplexed at the response her seemingly simple question had evoked.
Kayara saw this and her laughter died down, but the amusement never left her
eyes. "I apologize, Mia. I forget sometimes. But in answer to both your
questions, I am doing well, Anubis's gift is not wasted."
The red head looked shocked, "that's not what I--"
"Its all right Mia. I'm a wise-woman in training; I'm able to detect things
that not even your own self would be aware of. And this, my friend," Kayara
said, emphasizing her words with a shake of the ancient staff, "is one of them."
For a very long time Mia was silent, not trusting herself to speak. But
then, she looked up and at Kayara with a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"I'm so sorry Kayara, its just...I miss him. And as happy as I am that
you're free and so alive, I only with that, that Anubis could have been the
same. There are nights that I stay up to think and think that if I had tried
a little harder, or known a little more, he wouldn't have had to sacrifice
himself like that. Then he could still be here today; he could be running
about out there with the rest of them, or sitting next to us and talking. We
talked so much those last few days..." With that Mia went quiet again. Then
she stood and quickly excused herself, saying she needed to work on some
programs on her computer.
Kayara watched her go, making no effort to stop her. Even in her possessed
state under the amulet, Kayara had noticed the bond that had been slowly
developing between the former leader of the Warlords and the strong guide of
the Ronins. What had happened to Anubis was tragic, and had affected everyone
deeply, but no one so much as Mia, though she hid it well. Perhaps, if Anubis
had lived-no. It was better not to think along such lines. She was not the
dictator of time to change the past, nor was she the ruler of death to change
the future. Both of those beings had disappeared centuries ago. Kayara doubted
they still answered the call of her not so adolescent world anymore.
A sudden crack and a high yelp drew Kayara's attention back to the "game"
taking place in the expansive lawn. Kento was hopping about the yard, holding
his foot and yelling loud enough to be heard over the holy fires of hell.
Sekhmet and Sage stood there, grinning foolishly while Ryo and Dais scratched
the back of their heads with sheepish expressions on their faces. Cye, Cale,
and Rowen simply sat back a few feet away, shaking their heads.
"That," Cye remarked, "was pathetic."
Cale and Rowen nodded, "agreed."
In an instant less than a moment, Kayara was beside the now stationary group
trying to decipher what, exactly, had caused the scene. She stood there
expectantly, her eyes briefly flickering to Kento, who was now sitting on
the ground, trying to suck on a swelling big toe, before sweeping her gaze
over the standing spectators. "Do I dare ask?"
"We'd prefer you not to, but you can try."
"Quiet Sekhmet, I want straight answers, not riddles."
The four Ronins stopped their various reactions and moved to surround Kento.
Cye sat down next to her friend and shook her head, "baby. It couldn't have
hurt that much."
Kento shot her a nasty look, "let's see your toe get attacked by a five ton
boulder and not have it hurt."
Kayara raised an eyebrow at Dais. "As I see no large boulders in the general
vicinity, assume that you had something to do with this."
The Warlord of Illusion tried very hard to wipe the guilty expression off
his face, only to have it replaced by another grin when he heard Halo chuckling
quietly beside the cursing Hardrock. "Not entirely, Kayara," defended Dais,
"it is as much Halo's fault as it is mine."
Blue eyes flicked to the blonde Ronin, "well?"
Ever the smooth talker, Sage failed that time as he plastered a disarming
grin on his face, "for future reference, never let Kento believe he can jump
wet boulders while it rains both water and rocks."
Ryo and Sekhmet cracked up, falling against each other and easing themselves
to the ground as tears fell from their eyes and stained their cheeks with
mirth. Kayara's brows slowly raised to her hairline. She didn't catch the
humor, and she was beginning to believe that it was best kept that way. A look
to Rowen and Cale, who were still shaking their heads, confirmed this. With a
deep sigh, she turned and began to walk back to the porch. "Why don't you
children take a break. Mia brought you out some lemonade."
Kento pouted and tried to stand, "does no one care about my poor toe?" He asked
mournfully.
Cye smiled quietly and kissed his cheek, "better?"
The warrior of justice flushed red before donning a great happy grin. "It'll do."
"Righto, then. Let's go have some lemonade."
They sat together under the awning, sipping the cool beverage of leisure and
enjoying a rare moment of peace in the lives of warriors. The sun was only
beginning its descent to the horizon, keeping the world bright with full sun
and its casted shadows. The nine of them together lounged in each other's
presence, feeling the gentle radiation of mutual energy and basking in
comfortable companionship.
Presently though, Ryo stretched out and yawned. "Great day," he sighed, "and it
definitely beats school."
Kento gave a rather enthusiastic agreement to that between gulps of his rapidly
vanishing drink. "Definitely. No books, no teachers, no stupid pushy kids that
think they're better than the all mighty Hardrock. Just good old rest and
re-lax-ation."
Dais donned an expression of both amusement and disbelief, "the mighty Ronin
Warriors are still in school?"
Cale shook his head and sipped his drink, "the disgrace of it all."
"Price of youth, I suppose." Sekhmet chuckled, "not even a pardon from
school after saving the mortal realm."
Rowen gave the warlords a level look. "pardon us if we keep our youthful looks
for a few more centuries before aging into the more venerable, but intelligent,
forms of you."
Kayara laughed so hard she nearly toppled backwards. Thankfully, White Blaze
had been dozing comfortably behind her, so the chair she sat in tipped only a
few inches before coming to rest on his broad back. With a startled snort the
tiger woke and looked at the girl, giving her a look of surprise and wonder.
Ryo looked at his feline friend and collapsed into helpless giggles and refreshed
tears of glee. Sekhmet, who had still been sipping his lemonade, began to blow
bubbles into the sour liquid. Snorking heavily, he accidentally inhaled his
lemonade, sending it straight up into his tender sinus cavities.
"Argh!" He cried out and clutched his nose, scrubbing it furiously with his
finger. "It burns! What's in this stuff, anyway?"
Cye laughed silently, "lemons!"
Sage shook his head and tried to hide his smile as he pushed Kayara's chair
back to its rightful position and handed Sekhmet a napkin. "Thanks for that
extensive list, Torrent."
She winked at him, "no prob."
"Rowen, no more jokes."
The level look never leaving his face, Rowen crossed his arms and stared coolly
at Ryo, "what makes you think I was joking?"
"Because you love us, Row!" Kento reached over and gave his sullen friend a hug
worthy of any bear's embrace. The warrior of strength squeezed hard and smiled
teasingly, "say it Row, say how much you love us or I get to love you and get
to hug you forever, and maybe even call you George!"
"Kento, I can't breathe!"
Cale leaned over to Dais and whispered in his ear, "why would he call him George?"
"Must be a Ronin thing."
"Right."
"Say it!"
"All right! All right! I love you, just let go, I need air!"
Laughingly, Kento released his friend, "doncha feel better now?"
"Immensely, I can breathe."
Kayara rolled her eyes skyward, "must the geniuses always be so serious?"
Rowen smirked, "that's a nature-nurture issue subject to eternal debate, Lady."
"Only an eternity? Then we shall take it up again later, Rowen, we have time."
Something very close to a genuine smiled flickered across Strata's face, "lookin'
forward to it, Kayara. Though you'd probably concede your argument after you meet
the maternal equivalent to my upbringing."
The Ancient Lady's eyes became curious, "and who would that be?"
Rowen spread his hands wide, "why, the Phoenix, of course."
Four heads became suddenly, extremely fixed onto the Ronin of Life. "The *Phoenix*
is your *mother?*"
"No, I said she is my maternal equivalent, which could mean any female taking on a
parenting roll. Think of her more as an adoptive aunt."
Cale shrunk down in his seat, "I'd prefer not to think of her at all, if you
don't mind."
The blue-haired youth raised his glass in a toast-like gesture before taking a
long swig, "amen to that."
Kayara, to say the least, was very surprised. But she felt oddly upset about the
way the boy seemed to brush off such a unique phenomenon the way he did. Seeking
guidance, she turned to Sage, questioning with her eyes.
But Sage merely shook his head and shut his eyes. Though a moment later, a voice
echoed silently within her head. *The Phoenix doesn't have the greatest track
record with Rowen. Tread carefully, this is a tender subject for him.*
She nodded almost imperceptibly before forming her next question. "So tell me
Ronins, what was it last night that you came to such a firm resolution about?"
Sage mentally slapped himself. Rowen groaned and plopped his chin into his
hands.
"How did you know about that?" Cye asked.
"I have my ways."
Cye and Ryo looked at each other before turning their eyes on Sage, who put
his hands up quickly in defense. "I didn't say a thing!"
"I don't think you had to."
Ryo reached behind him and began to idly scratch White Blaze's hindquarter,
which was the nearest part available to him; there was so much of it. "Right.
Anyway. How much do you guys know of the current situation?"
Kayara shook her head. "Enough to know that there is one, but not much beyond
that."
Sage leaned back into his chair and settled in, "might as well start at the
beginning, then."
Wildfire blew out long sigh through his nose, "any volunteers? No? Great. I
guess I get to play story teller, then."
"We'll fill in what you miss, Ryo."
"As long as there's back up. Well, to make a short story shorter, it kinda
started with Rowen..." For the next hour, the five Ronins attempted to bring
their seasoned fellow-warriors up to date on everything they knew. The process
was slow and many questions were asked. And as Ryo's story drew to closure and
the light of understanding gleamed in everyone's eyes, the Ronins also noticed a
different emotion dwelling within Warlords: fear. What could disturb hardened
warriors of many centuries so much?
"Captured?" Whispered Sekhmet, his eyes dark with an emotion he had not
experienced since before the fall of Talpa.
"This is a darker time than even I would like to live in," the Warlord of Darkness
sat tall in his seat, but his eyes shifted constantly, scanning the horizons for
a sudden, unknown danger.
Kayara looked at her companions, "so what happens now?"
"We see if we can't locate the Fire and help her. Meanwhile, we've got to find a
way to contact this Tieran Yaw dude and tell him what's going on. Maybe he's the
one that sent that message globe and he's coming already, maybe he's not. We can't
count on it. The longer this threat goes on, the worst Rowen's dreams get. I'm not
gonna take the chance that one night they're going to be so bad that he won't wake
up again." Ryo slammed his fist down on the table, "someone's toying with us,
dammit. And stronger than us or not, this has to end!"
Cye looked to Ryo with a dreamy expression, "I knew there was a reason we made you
lead."
Ryo blushed and rubbed the back of his neck, "uh, thanks Cye, I think."
Rowen looked to the company, "so what do you think?"
For a moment, everything was silent save the sound of the wind dancing in the
trees to the sweet music piped by the local populace of birds.
"I believe," spoke the Lady Kayara very slowly, "I do believe that we may be able
to help. There is a ceremony that dates back a very long time. It's older than even
the original, unified armor, if I remember correctly. The story sings that our
ancestors used it quite frequently even before the world divided and the mortal realm
came to be." She looked to the Warlords, "it'll take some time, even with the four of
us to perform it. But, if we're successful, it shall be very worth it."
Kayara stood suddenly, "yes. We'll go now, Ronin Warriors. The sooner we start the
better."
Sage watched them all stand, "what is it you're going to do?"
"If everything goes well, we're going to make a phone call, the way it used to be
done."
The Warlords stood and looked to the Ronins. "We're more useful this way. Good
luck to you, we'll return as soon as we can."
And as suddenly as a cat could blink, they were gone. With nothing to show of
their former existence but the empty glasses that decorated the tasteful awning
table on the Koji house's backyard porch.
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The halls were empty and the corridors dark. In the after hours of school, a
person could be very surprised to see how desolate a place the future generations of
the human race learned in. Janitors were few and far between in the three-story
high school, and Naiso found it the perfect time and place to finish his duties.
Located on the very top floor in a classroom office tucked into the very furthest
corner, the Chemistry Professor could enjoy a solitary sense of peace that was nearly
impossible to achieve anywhere else. Since coming to this backwater planet two years
less than a decade ago, he had been lost as soldier and inept as a human. The terran
mass that floated through space was primitive and only in its adolescent stages of
a new civilization. Naiso had discovered that the evolved and dominant species of
the tiny planetary mass was little more than a group overgrown toddlers that had
found a new and frighteningly advanced toy to play with, but no parent to take it
away from them. Or at least, show them how to use it. But Naiso knew he hadn't
been much better. Everywhere he looked he had seen justification for the horrible
atrocities his master had committed, and every night he went to bed praying that
Master Fate would descend quickly from the stars and take control of the chaos
Destiny had allowed to run so rampantly.
But time had different plans for him. And soon, away from the constant influence
of the other path, Naiso had come to see a quaint beauty in the way the planet
revolved. The humans were backward and often made the most imbecilic of mistakes.
But they always managed to take responsibility and straighten themselves out in the
most bizarre of ways. No matter how terrible the situation ever became or how
disastrous the event, the humans would make it through and end up much the wiser for
it. Somewhat of a scientist, the former soldier could not for the life of him
figure out how their actions and reactions balanced out.
Then *he* struck. The demon lord of a plane Naiso hadn't even known existed
exploded onto the scene and captured the small island he had settled on. Using
what little ability he had left, Naiso hid from the monster and protected himself
while the rest of the populace disappeared. Emerging from his hiding place a few
days later, he was surprised to see five youths outfitted in styles of armor he had
not seen since the Era 3 Wars. They fought against the demon and his hordes with
grace and fluidity, expertly using the weapons they wielded. And the power they
emitted was incredible, nothing that could have come from the terran world they
fought for. It wasn't, however, until he saw the crimson decked leader cast flames
from his fiery aura and the dark boy shoot an arrow from an infinite quiver that
Naiso understood what he was seeing. The warriors that so bravely vanquished evil
in his midst were invested with the power of Light and Night. The Phoenix and the
Tieran Yaw had at some point in their five lives' blessed them and given them the
abilities he saw before him.
The former soldier followed them throughout their campaign, watching them progress.
It confused him greatly when he witnessed the "Ronins" fight the "Warlords." As
far as he could tell, they were the same. Identical factions were not supposed
to war on each other. It took many days for him to see the differences--they
were so subtle. Both fought in darkness and in light, using techniques spawned
from the same mold. And then there was the aging man with the staff, who sat
around and watched the battles from afar. Why did he not step in and end it?
Naiso knew he could. But the ancient looking priest was content to watch from
afar, stepping in only just before the youths were to meet their maker. Naiso was
annoyed with the man until one day he turned around and the white haired priest
was not a foot from where he stood.
"Do you really need to watch the mirror so much," spoke the old man, "to see your
reflection?"
The ancient sacrificed himself the next day, and the Ronins disappeared for nearly
a week. Naiso spent the entire time silently brooding in his home, trying to decipher
what the dead man's words meant. It wasn't until the end of the Ronin's final
battle where he watched the tiger steal the glowing ball and cavort in circles about
his human companions that the soldier became the true former soldier, finally
understanding. It wasn't *what* the battle was, it was *why* the battle was. The
monk, as well as the Ronins, had understood that and had persevered; while the Demon
Talpa had not, and had been vanquished for his misconceptions on why there was life
and death. Naiso now understood why the Lady of Light and the Lord of Night fought
side by side so well. Opposites came in intentions--not innate ways of being.
The world went back to being the way it was, and Naiso settled down as a professor
in the school where the gallant knights had decided to attend. The now aging man
was content in his new position, teaching the age that he had at one point been
himself for nearly a thousand years. It was a bit of an irony for him, having never
respected his own mentors. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable occupation, and it kept
him close to the Ronins.
And now, with the masters having come back, this was a fact that would both destroy
and save him.
Professor Naiso's red ink pen was poised over two of his students' papers, ready to
correct mistakes once made. This time, however, they were not his students', but his
own.
"Ryo of the Wildfire," he whispered into the darkening depths of the room, "Cye of the
Torrent. Please help us, no one deserves such Fate."
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More to come! Review me! ^.^;;