Unforeseen Circumstance
Phone Record
(Day 18-19)
By: Little Ucchan
"Wow… This is where we're staying?" His eyes roved over the one story establishment, taking in the neighborhood and the surrounding sea of sand. A summerhouse by the beach. What more could he ask for?
"Yup," Laura answered offhandedly, fiddling with something at the door. "A family friend owns the property."
"And they said we could stay here without any adults? That's very trusting of them." He stopped his wandering when he didn't get a response for the girl. Eyeing her curiously, Cye approached her back. "Laura?"
He heard her grunt, followed by a shake and a click as the door opened, only to stop two inches in, the door colliding with a chain lock. Laura cursed under her breath, sliding her fingers in between the gap to the other keyhole. That's when Cye noticed the small pick in her hand.
"W-What are you doing??"
"Cye, do you mind staying quiet for two seconds?" Unbeknown to him at the time, his voice had risen considerably when he spoke. "I need to get through this lock before the alarm sounds."
"What?!"
Another click was hear, the chain dropping against the door with a clang! Laura pushed open the door and flicked on the lights, rushing to the automated alarm system on the left side of the entrance hall. She pressed the button that was labeled 'disarm' and proceeded to dial in the four digit code, which her aunt had given her written on a slip of paper in her back pocket. There were a few beeps before the red light turned to green, the word 'Welcome!' scrolling across the small display monitor.
"Phew!" She wiped the perspiration from her forehead with the back of her sleeve. "That was close." She blinked, finally noticing that Cye was out on the front porch, gawking at her openly. "What?"
"You just broke in here!"
Geez, can you say it any louder? "I had to," she stated as a matter of fact. "Remember, I planned this trip within the last 48 hours. Do you think I actually had time to get a key?"
Laura grabbed her bag, taking one look at Cye's shocked-stiff form before she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. "Don't fret. The owners know that we're here. And my aunt will be here tomorrow. Just relax, okay?" She smiled, taking off her shoes and walking into the living room. "Just think of it as a little vacation. We're not going to work the entire time we're here."
That thought succeeded in easing his mind just long enough for him to realize how tired he was. Cye yawned, just making it to the couch before he fell, his face buried in the soft cushions. "I'm about ready to go to bed."
She looked at the boy sympathetically. After all that she'd put him through today, his stress level must be off the scale. "All the rooms are down that hall." She pointed to her right. "There's three of them. Two singles and a master bedroom."
"I think I'll take a single." Cye rose from the couch, stopping in front of the hall for a moment. "What time are we supposed to meet your aunt?"
"11:00 for brunch."
"So we're going into the city?"
"Pretty much. Why?"
"I just wanted to know what time I should get up." He smiled cheerfully. "I want to look around the beach first before we leave."
She tilted her head inquiringly at his enthusiasm. "Do you like the sea?"
Cye chuckled. "If any of the guys heard that, they'd think it was a stupid question."
Laura smiled as he left, giggling at the implication. A lover of water… Funny how that'd suit him perfectly. She glanced around the room again before heading down the same hall to the other vacant single. I guess I should go to bed as well. She stretched her arms, dropping her bag by the foot of her bed. The train ride had worn on her. Between conducting her research on the armors, nursing a killer headache, and spilling her beans to Cye, she was very tired. And its all his fault.
She felt her anger rise, but it soon simmered to a quiet sizzle, dying out completely in a matter of seconds. With an exasperated sigh, Laura fell back on her bed, arms sprawled out across the sheets as she stared up at the ceiling.
"He said for you to have a good trip. And that he was sorry for teasing you earlier. He didn't mean to offend you…"
Tch. How can I possibly have a good trip if he leaves me with that kind of parting? She frowned. I feel guilty already.
She hadn't meant to blow up at him like that. But he had placed her on the defensive from the outset. Okay… maybe I was already defensive, even before he came. Why had she been on edge? Why, out of all the times, did she choose that moment to be sensitive?
"C'mon." he opened the car door, getting inside. "I'll give you a lift."
"I'm not getting in a car with you!"
"You'll be late for your train."
"Damn." Laura covered her eyes with the back of her hand. She didn't know how she could have missed it before. Blinded by anger and pride, she had missed his outstretched hand.
I feel like such a fool.
Okay, there. She'd admit it. She was wrong. But now that she knew this, what was she going to do. Wait till they returned to Tokyo or…
Or what? Laura demanded. Call him? She scoffed, that being her most ridiculous idea yet. Right. She sat up, drawing her legs up. Me, call Sage. She hugged her knees and looked at the phone on the nightstand before shaking her head, turning away.
What's wrong with me? I've been acting so strange today… Is it really because of him? She could hardly believe that one boy could have this much of an effect on her. Rather, her confrontation with Sage had triggered something else. Something that left her dazed, tired, and confused. A lost of direction.
With worn, vulnerable eyes, Laura gazed at the phone again. Somehow, the idea didn't seem so ludicrous anymore.
***
…Riing!
…Riing!
Satsuki picked up the cordless, chewing on some popcorn before answering the phone. "Hello? Date residence… This is she. Who's calling?"
She straightened up from her position on the floor, leaning her back against the coffee table. "Oh! Hi Laura! Man, why didn't you say you were leaving? I wanted to thank you for lunch. …Ah, I see. So how's Naruto?" She laughed at her reply. "That late?? You must be tired. So what can I do for ya? …Okay, I'll tell Mom that you got there safely. …No, she's in her room right now. …Sammy? …She's with me. We're watching a movie but, haha, I take it she's not used to staying up late?"
Satsuki blinked. "She is?? …Well she fell asleep on the couch. I was gonna move her in a bit… She's okay. Misses you though." She laughed again. "Don't worry. I'll keep the little munchkin busy."
There was a pause in the conversation, the late night movie droning in the background. "Sage…?" She raised an eyebrow. "He's in his room, asleep no doubt… Yeah, he's still grounded. You wanna talk to him? …I know he's grounded! …But you want to talk to him right? …Don't lie! I can tell!" Satsuki giggled. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. …Uh huh. He won't get in trouble. Trust me. Just call back later tonight, okay? …Alright then …Okay. Ja ne!"
Click!
***
…Riing! Riing!
…Riing! Riing!
The phone was an annoying disturbance in the middle of the night, making Sage cringe at the blaring noise by his bedside. He blinked blearily at the ceiling, roused out of his sleep for a moment before he rolled over, pulling the blankets over him to drown out the sound.
The ringing continued. He didn't know for how long. But when he awoke again the phone was still at it. No one had bothered to pick it up. Don't tell me no one can hear it.
"Tch." His hand shot out in the darkness, groping the top of the nightstand for the phone. They ban me from doing anything and then expect me to answer the phone. He finally found it, and picked up the receiver. Why am I not surprised. "Hello?"
He must have been more tired than he thought, for it took him a full minute to realize who had spoken on the other end. "Laura…?" Sage rubbed his eyes, turning slightly to catch a glimpse of the time. "It's one thirty in the morning," he groaned still half asleep. "Why are you calling so late?"
'Why are you calling at all?' was the other question that buzzed at the back of his mind, but he didn't voice it.
"Sorry," she heard her say after a moment. "I woke you, didn't I?"
There was something in her tone. Something that made him hold his tongue, reigning in any sarcastic remarks that had come to mind at her reply. "No," he answered softly, sitting up in his bed. "It's alright. …What's up?"
It was silent on the other end. He waited.
"Can we… talk?" she asked. "I… I know you're tired but… Do you think…? I mean, do you mind if… we talk for a bit?"
It was his turn to be silent. The request… Well it wasn't just the request that surprised him. It was the honestly behind it. She was letting her defenses down, just to talk to him.
Sage leaned forward, eyes glancing at the crack underneath his door. The lights were still out. No one was awake. "Sure… Okay."
***
At the summerhouse, Laura was fiddling with the phone cord, wrapping and unwrapping the coils around her fingers. Her request had sounded pitiful. If she had been in a normal state of mind, she would have slapped herself for sounding so weak. But with how tense she was when she had asked, it was expected. And when he had said yes, she had unconsciously breathed a silent sigh of relief.
In reality, when she had called, she didn't know why she did it. Her reason escaped her. In fact, all rational thoughts were a jumbled mess within the closet of her mind.
Solace. She needed solace. And it wasn't going to come easy, for what ailed her did not just spawn from what happened that day.
But for Sage to be the one who could clear her mind…
"You know, this is quite uncharacteristic of you," he commented from the other end. "Calling a guy in the middle of the night." She recognized the remark as an attempt to loosen her up.
Laura laughed, despite herself. "Sorry, but my more charming character traits have turned in for the night."
"Not all of them," he pointed out. "Your humor's still awake."
She smiled. "So it is."
So strange… I feel a little better already. Her fingers continued to play with the cord. How easy it was to be comfortable around him… She didn't recall it being this simple before.
"Cye said that the two of you talked before he came aboard," she began. "He told me that he wasn't able to tell you the reasons behind the whole trip."
"Yeah, I figured that it might take a while to explain."
"I know." But Cye wasn't the only person you could have asked. "Sage, you were with me for a good half hour. Why didn't you ask me?"
"Would you have told me?" he asked in turn.
"That's not the point." She sighed. "You let me go without question. Without even a suspicious look and… And I don't understand it." His actions bemused her. She thought for certain that he was going to get in her way. But when he didn't… You've lost me, Sage. She shook her head. You've completely lost me.
It was quiet on the other end. Laura wished she knew what he was thinking. She wished she was able to see his face, to read his expressions, to have some sort of hint to his reaction other than this deafening silence. But that was the blessing and the curse of the telephone. She couldn't judge, and neither could he.
Maybe, I should have waited till Sunday. But would she have been able to talk to him the way she was now?
"Laura, why have you been taking care of me for the past two days?"
She blinked, startled by the abrupt question. She didn't see the point to it, but didn't comment, instead thinking about what he had asked. Why was I taking care of him…? Why did I even bother to watch over him…?
"To help your mother."
"Is that the only reason?"
"I wanted to—" Laura stopped mid-sentence. What was she going to say? She had started speaking, but found that she had no answer. Nothing to complete her sentence. That is until she realized that the sentence was complete within itself. It was as simple as that.
"I wanted to."
She noticed, for some reason, she could now single out when Sage smiled just by hearing his voice. Not even. She realized that she didn't have to hear him. She could feel it… Somehow, she could feel it…
And he was smiling right now.
"Isn't that reason enough?" he asked after a moment.
Is it reason enough…?
Yes.
"It is." She nodded to herself, knowing everything she needed to know at that moment. "Yes it is. Sorry."
"Don't apologize," he spoke gently. "Were you really expecting a rebuke from us?"
Laura didn't respond. He took her silence as a positive answer.
"Why?"
Fingers glided over the phone cord distractedly before she sighed, forcing herself to stop. "I didn't think you guys trusted me enough to let me do this."
"What reason would we have not to trust you?"
She laughed bitterly. "Oh gee, I wonder!"
"Laura…"
"I've done a lot of things, Sage. Many I'm not proud of."
"Now," he pointed out. "But at the time, they were good, solid decisions, done for the right reasons."
The right reasons? Laura shook her head. "How can you say that when the 'right reasons' lead me to attack you and the other guys?"
"It wasn't an attempt on our lives."
"And that's good enough for you??"
"When every other enemy I've faced has tried to kill me… yes."
Laura sat back on her bed, eyes wandering, but unable to focus. His words had struck her. Robbed her of her own voice. …It was okay. She was okay with all of them. As much as it showed through their actions, Laura had a hard time believing it till now. Sage didn't know how much of an impact he just had on her.
"Do you always doubt your friends like this?"
"It's hard for me to trust."
"Yourself?"
No answer.
"Laura, you're a good person… Although some people might not see it. And I might have a hard time seeing it—" She laughed at that. "—You're a good person. Sammy wouldn't love you so much if you weren't."
"Thanks Sage. …I appreciate you telling me that."
"Yet you don't believe me."
Laura blinked, taken aback. "I do believe you."
"Then what's wrong?"
She stopped. Sage had sensed it. She didn't know how but he somehow knew that this was deeper than what happened that afternoon… Deeper than the issue of trust. For a demon hunter like herself to lose her confidence and become as vulnerable as the day of her clan's demise… there had to be something more. And he had demanded to know what it was. But did she realize herself what was bothering her when it had eluded her all day?
At that moment, because of him, she did. And it wasn't something Sage needed to hear.
"It's my problem. I don't think that—"
"Oh, I don't think so," he cut her off. "You're in a little too deep to back out now. You woke me up. You're telling me."
Laura unwittingly smiled at his persistence. Then her lips slowly pulled downward, as if weighed by gravity. "It's not something I can say so easily." To admit and to confess her vulnerability was something she adamantly avoided throughout her life. Confessing to someone she considered a rival was something she also wished to avoid. But the very nature of rivals was to challenge and improve. And Laura was not so blind as to overlook the value of a good talk.
"I'm lost," she said quietly. "You threw me off at the station, and I guess my confusion opened up something that I wasn't willing to face." She paused, licking lips that had gone dry. Even her words sounded like a jumbled mess. She couldn't properly choose what to say. So she let her words flow, hoping that somehow the message would come across.
"I don't know what to do. …I've been busying myself with things to do so maybe I'd have some semblance of direction but… I really don't know what I'm doing anymore. I just… don't. I think I've been going through life on the edge of my seat and it gets tiring sometimes. I don't know what I want to accomplish. I don't know what my goals are. What I expect. I don't even know if revenge is what I'm really after. And Kanaji… just that entire fiasco, just—" She took in a deep breath and let out a frustrated sigh, at a loss once again.
"…Just made you feel like, everything you've built up and held onto was suddenly taken away from you."
The way Sage had quietly finished her sentence, voicing the very thoughts that she was trying so hard to say… Those knowing words had actually calmed her and turned her attention to the young man speaking on the other end. His tone… "Shinjuku, one year ago."
"Yeah," he confirmed.
"…How do you deal?"
"Just… take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand," Sage replied after a moment of thought. "There's not much room for anything else. And if you make room, well… in my situation that kind of thought can be more of a hindrance than a help."
"So, you mean to say, get lost in the moment," Laura demanded, taking his silence as a definite yes. "That's the same as running."
"Sometimes, it's good to run." She stayed quiet, listening. "Sometimes its good to be preoccupied with the here and now. Answers to your questions, especially about your life, don't come to you in a day's time. Sometimes the only thing you can do is move forward. Even if you can't see the far-off goal, at least you're moving. And eventually, you'll see your answers."
"That's very sound advice."
"It's practiced advice," Sage said.
Laura nodded, sitting back in her bed. Just stay focused… He was right. Pensive thoughts can cloud the mind. Don't dwell on the past, or the future. Just the present, for now.
"You going to be alright?" Sage asked.
"Yeah. I'm good," she nodded to herself again. "Thanks Sage."
"Don't worry yourself about it. You just do what you have to do."
"Right."
They hung up after that. No 'goodbyes' or 'good nights.' That's not how their relationship was. But within it existed understanding, and respect. And that's how rivals should be.
***
"Sweetheart?"
Mrs. Date opened her eyes to the early morning sunlight and her husband's face crouching over her with a pleasant smile.
"I'm leaving now," he whispered softly, kissing her briefly on the lips. Mr. Date always took the time to announce his departure to his wife before leaving for work.
"Okay," she answered back, snuggling back into the warmth of the comforters. She'd be up and about in another half hour.
He was about to leave, but turned back suddenly, an inquisitive look crossing his features as he regarded his wife. "Miyoko, did you turn off the ringer on the phone last night?"
She looked confused, eyebrows furrowing at the odd question. "No. Why?"
"Oh just," he smiled gently, bending down to kiss her on the forehead, smoothing out her long black hair. "Nothing. Go back to bed."
***
Cye stretched his arms over his head, relishing the feel of the warm sun on his exposed skin after a cool swim in the ocean. That felt great. He had gotten up early, much more early than he thought he would, and instead of just exploring the shore before they departed, he had ended up taking a dive into the water. It's been a while since I've been at the beach.
He walked back up to the summerhouse, entering from the back. Laura was sitting on one of the kitchen stools, eating a light breakfast.
"Have a good time?" she inquired cheerfully.
"Of course!" Cye smiled. He noticed the girl's chipper mood compared to the other day, but kept his thoughts to himself. I guess all she needed was a good night's sleep. "I'm going to take a quick shower," he announced.
"We're leaving in half an hour." Cye nodded at that.
Pulling out a fresh towel and the clothes he was going to wear for the day, Cye entered the bathroom, thinking to himself. They had gone on this trip to find out a way to reconnect and strengthen the armor bond he and the other four Ronin warriors shared. And the way they were going to do that was to meet Laura's aunt, Krysta Lao, who should have arrived at the Naruto Airport that morning.
A master of utsubotsu, specializing in potions and spell casting… She should know how to fix the side effects of Laura's spell. That's what they were hoping for, at least. Unfortunately, things never went the way they planned. And unfortunately for Cye, as of late everything that didn't go their way somehow involved him.
He sighed to himself, letting the water from the showerhead beat relentlessly down his face. If only things could be easy for them, just once.
Finishing his shower in the next ten minutes, Cye quickly toweled off, changing into a clean shirt and slacks. He blow-dried his hair so the auburn locks wouldn't leave wet spots on his shirt, and then brushed his teeth for good measure. He wasn't like Sage when it came to grooming, but he did care about his looks, always wanting to look presentable, especially when it came to meeting new people. When he felt he was ready, Cye left the bathroom, grabbed his wallet, and met Laura out in the living room.
"My, aren't we sharp today."
Cye looked down at his feet, trying to hide the blush on his face. "I'm not that dressed up."
"No, I guess not." She smiled. "Shall we?"
***
The restaurant was within the city, but still close enough to the sea to get a taste of the cool ocean breeze. Cye smiled when he entered. A buffet… Kento would die of happiness if he was here.
The set up was very impressive. A lot of different foods lined up the buffet table, varying from seafood to traditional dishes to even western style cuisine. A style of cooking he'd learn to appreciate. Mia used to cook western style.
"Cye." A hand tapped his shoulder, Laura motioning for him to follow her.
He looked around, confused that they'd be seated so early when there were still more people waiting. "Did you make reservations?"
She shook her head. "My aunt got here before us."
Cye nodded, eyes automatically searching the crowd of diners before he remembered that he didn't know what Krysta looked like. "Anything I should know about your aunt before meeting her?"
"Yeah. She might think that you're my boyfriend."
Cye stopped. "Huh??"
"I'm just kidding," Laura giggled. "C'mon," she pulled him along. "Just relax. We're mainly going to talk about the armors, so you don't have to worry about small talk."
"Kino-chan!"
Laura turned, alert for a moment before her face brightened, a smile forming on her lips.
Cye followed her gaze, spotting a woman with sheen black hair rising out of her seat to wave to them. He raised an eyebrow at Laura, who only smiled back at him, an indication that this was her aunt. He did his best to hide his surprise as they walked towards their table. He had every right to be. Laura had told him that her aunt was 37. But this woman… She looked twenty-five!! He bet she could pass off as a college student at one of the universities if she tried.
"It's good to see you again, Kino," Krysta hugged her niece, kissing her gently on the forehead before turning to the young gentleman that had accompanied her. "And you must be Cye."
"Ah." He fumbled for a response, but found out too late that he was tongue-tied.
"Is he alright?" she whispered to her niece.
"He's stunned by your beauty," Laura whispered back, but the response was loud enough for Cye to hear. She found herself on the receiving end of a very nasty glare.
"Gomen," he bowed, finally recomposing himself. "Hai, I'm Cye Mouri. It's a pleasure to meet you, Krysta-san."
The elder woman smiled. "My, how polite." She then whispered something to Laura in Chinese, laughing skittishly behind her hand.
"Krysta!" Laura hissed, turning red.
"Excuse me if I'm being too bold," the woman began, ignoring her niece's embarrassment. "But what is your involvement with Kino? If you know her well enough as I think you do, then you're aware of the 'activities' that she and I are involved in." Her insight was sharp; a talent to admire. Truly a skilled demon hunter, like her niece.
Cye nodded once, becoming serious, as she was, in getting to the heart of the matter. "I don't know how much Laura has been able to tell you. But we came to reverse the effects of a dissolving spell that your clan practiced. And as for my involvement, I possess one of the armors that have been affected by this spell."
Krysta had turned to Laura for confirmation, and the girl nodded in reply. "Hmm. I see. You possess…" She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him from a distance. "A water element, correct?" Cye nodded, once again amazed at her abilities.
"Well, before we get started…" She clapped her hands together, looking at the both of them with a bright smile. "Let's get something to eat."
***
They had spent their lunch retelling the past weeks' events in between eating their meals, Krysta absorbing all the information that the two teenagers had to offer her.
"That's very strange," the woman noted, chewing on a slice of watermelon. "You've placed yourself in quite a predicament, Kino-chan."
"Why do you say that?" Cye asked curiously.
"Well, spells and incantations don't always follow a set formula," Krysta explained, waving her fork around absently. "They don't always have to be read out of a spell book and the effects can vary from user to user."
Cye frowned slightly. "Are you saying that the counter spell doesn't exist because of this?"
"Oh no," she shook her head. "There's always a counter spell. Only, it might not get rid of all of the side effects. Like your idea to go back to your armors places of origin. That would null the original spell."
"Only…" he prodded.
"Only my darling niece didn't cast any ordinary spell on you and your friends." She raised her eyebrow at Laura, and the girl looked down at her plate, pretending to be preoccupied with eating her food. "She crossed utsubotsu magic with an ittou youjutsu sword technique: the sesshoku no kyuuketsuki."
Cye's eyes widened at the reference. The Vampire's Touch??
"The principle behind the move is theft. The nature: energy. But with the type of concentration required to study utsubotsu, the sesshoku no kyuuketsuki can also be used to steal someone's more 'enchanted' abilities. Even mystical armor off their wearer's back." Krysta then shot Laura a look that made her slump down in her seat. "It is forbidden to mix both styles."
Cye's attention shifted to Laura, who did not meet his gaze. She just kept her head respectively low, eyes only shifting upwards to meet her aunt's before they looked down again. He had noticed the change that had come over her the minute they started talking seriously about their situation in Tokyo. She had become more reserved and quiet compared to the assertive and direct girl he had known since they'd first met.
"Forbidden, you say?" he prompted casually, folding his hands on top of the table.
"It's dangerous to combine the two," Krysta answered. "On its own, each style requires a large amount of chi energy to learn and execute. Joining them together, although the result is a very powerful technique, is hazardous and can cost a hunter her life."
"But that kind of warning doesn't apply to me," Laura finally spoke up in her defense. "The rune provides me with the energy that I need. It's not a risk."
"I suppose not." Krysta's gaze did not soften. "Using that rune is more of a risk than anything else."
"Krysta—"
"You do not know the true nature of that rune. Nor do you know the full extent and limitations of its power. Such an error almost cost you your life, Kino. Pushing yourself with stronger, wilder spells will only get you killed."
The argument ended. Laura leaned back in her seat and didn't say anything more.
Cye watched her out of the corner of his eye, not wanting to say anything while tension still existed between the two. He had the nagging impression that they've crossed swords on this subject before.
"I'll help you as best as I can." Krysta spoke first, her words directed mainly towards Cye. "Restoring your armors' power is the first step. And, as I understand it, that's being taken care of." The boy nodded. "But from what you've told me, you'll need that mental connection with the other four Ronins in order for you to reach your full potential. I'm sure we'll find a way to restore that bond. We'll start working once we get back to the summerhouse."
Cye bowed once, grateful for her assistance. "Thank you, Krysta-san." The woman bowed back in acknowledgment.
Laura did not move.
***
A soft chuckle immersed the dark chamber, the only sound that could be heard. And the only thing that could be seen was a dark energy sphere, glowing and shifting from one image to another. First it would be a young blonde walking home from school. Then a black-haired boy, accompanying one of his friends at the train station. Then a pair of teenagers, a boy with auburn hair and green eyes and his female companion. He chuckled again.
"You have your assignment."
The air shifted, the light from the orb expanding its range and illuminating a larger portion of the room. A shadowed figure was kneeling on the ground before the energy sphere. His features were not discernable.
"Is there any method you prefer?" he asked.
"Just make sure your choice is… discreet."
"As you wish." The light shifted, and the shadow was gone.
The other man smirked, turning back to the swirling energy hovering in front of him. The images of the three boys would fall in and out of focus till they stopped on one particular event: the night at Kanaji where each had worn their respective armors and revealed themselves to the ones that hated them the most.
To think that they would appear here in this day and age. His smirk grew with malicious delight.
"You are fools," the man announced, golden hair reflecting the dim glow of the orb. "Siding with her gives us one more reason to kill you."
***
"Ja ne!"
Ryo waved goodbye, watching as Rowen boarded the train headed for Amanohashidate. He dug his hands into his pockets, deciding to linger a bit till the train got on its way. Well, I guess all we can do now is hope for the best.
He'd be the first to admit that he didn't like the idea of spreading out their forces so thin. But this trip was an absolute necessity. All the armors had to be in top condition for their next battle. We need to be prepared. He turned away from the platform, walking solemnly down the stairs. We need to start training.
Ryo stopped dead in his tracks, stunned for a second before his head snapped upwards to scan a nearby rooftop. His eyes narrowed, glaring at the tree beside the building's edge, casting shadows along the side that shifted with the wind.
Nothing.
He frowned, nonetheless, and continued watching, a staring contest between him and the shadows beyond. Finally, he averted his gaze and walked away.
Moments later, when the area was clear of onlookers, the shadows shifted again. And at the ledge of the small building, a figure arose from the darkness. Covered in a heavy velvet cloak, all that can be discerned from the man was the mask he wore, concealing his whole face behind a wall of white.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself, gazing down at the spot where he had locked glares with the raven-haired youth.
A gloved hand rose, and the shadows shifted, seven warriors rising out of darkness, as if stepping out of a portal connected right to the underworld. Each assassin, garbed in a ninja's garments and controlled by the will of their master, stood at the edge of the rooftop, eyes also focused on the spot their target once stood. Without any outward signal, they departed, traveling in groups or alone, each in search of their prey.
A chuckle arose deep within the man's throat; the laugh of a heartless demon. And after standing on top of the building, alone, the shadows fell over where he stood, and he vanished into darkness.
***
"You serious??"
"Yeah," Ryo nodded, face grim as he walked around his room, pacing back and forth. "Someone was watching me. You can bet that they're going to pull something real soon."
"Hey, thanks for the warning, Ry. And don't worry. If any of those demon assholes swing my way, you can bet that they're going to be reeling from the encounter."
"Watch your back, okay?"
Kento scoffed. "Always."
Ryo hung up the phone, then turned the dial on again, this time calling the number Rowen had given him. He had rushed home the instant he felt that presence watching him, going straight to his room to call up and warn the rest of the guys. He did not like how everything was turning out. The instant the last Ronin left, their demon foes had made their presence known to him. And the fact that they didn't attack him upfront… I really don't like this.
"Uh, yes. There's going to be a Rowen Hashiba arriving tonight from Tokyo," he said, speaking to the front desk lady at the hotel in Amanohashidate. "I was just wondering if you could relay him a message the moment he gets there. …Uh huh. Yeah. Tell him that he needs to call Ryo Sanada. It's urgent business. …Yes, that's all. Thanks."
The next person on his list was Cye.
"Hello? Yeah, how can I get connected to one of the rooms? …Cye Mouri, please." Ryo's eyes widened moments later. "Really? …He's not staying there. …Well, do you know which hotel he switched to? …No? Alright. …Thanks anyway."
He hung up the phone and stopped pacing, staring at the cordless for a second before he dialed in another phone number. "Hello, Satsuki? …Can I talk to your brother? …Ah. Right I forgot. Can I talk to Laura then?"
Ryo blinked, his brain stalling for a second time as he listened to Satsuki on the other end. "…What??"
***
Sage stopped his trek up the stairs. He was going to turn in early for the night, but caught a snippet of his sister's conversation with someone on the phone. Curiosity taking over, he waiting on one of the steps till she hung up.
"Satsuki, who was that?"
"Oh," the girl shrugged her shoulders casually. "Just Ryo. He was looking for Laura."
If it was possible, Sage's jaw would have dropped down to the floor. "He… was looking for Laura?" His sister nodded. "And what did you tell him?"
"That she was in Naruto."
Sage closed his eyes, a hand coming up to massage his temples.
Satsuki looked at her brother inquiringly. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"No, not really."
"Good," she chirped, heading back into the living room. "Because Ryo said he really needed to talk to her about something important so I gave him the phone number to the summerhouse she's staying at." This time, Sage visibly winced.
"Satsuki…"
She poked her head back into the hallway. "Yes, Nii-chan?"
"Can you do me a favor and call Laura in a few minutes? You're not sleeping anytime soon right?"
"No, I'll be up for a while." Satsuki's eyebrows furrowed at the request. "Why?"
"Because Cye's with her and… Well, let's just say that Ryo's mad at Cye at the moment—" Or going to be mad, he corrected privately. "—and I just want to make sure that he's okay."
"Ah, I see." Satsuki nodded. "He did sound pretty upset."
Oh great. He sighed to himself. And he was hoping they could have at least held out till Sunday.
"He's also mad at you, by the way."
Sage blinked, turning astonished lavender eyes back at his sister. "What??"
"Oh yeah," she nodded again to confirm. "It was strange. He asked me if you knew about her leaving. And I said yeah. I mean, you drove her to the station." The way that the blonde moved his head from side to side with his hand covering a good portion of his face made Satsuki's eyebrows rise. "Ryo didn't know Laura left with Cye, did he?"
"Well, Ryo doesn't know a lot of things at the moment," he admitted with a constrained laugh. But he will very soon.
"Is there anything specific you want me to tell them?" Satsuki asked.
"Just tell them that I'm checking up on them because of Ryo," Sage replied. "They'll know what I'm talking about."
"Okay. I'll tell you all the details later."
"Thanks."
***
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A blonde eyebrow rose, regarding the time on his clock.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Shit."
Sage hauled himself out of bed, flinging the covers off of him and trudging towards his window, the source of the annoying tapping sound. With one deft movement, he undid the latch and slip open the glass window. Ryo was perched on the slanted roof ledge just outside of his room.
"Ryo," Sage sighed, regarding his leader levelly. "Regardless of how angry you are about the whole Naruto thing, couldn't this have waited till morning??" He knew it was only a matter of time before he was dealt his own death sentence for playing a part in this entire charade. But he didn't think that the boy would come and deliver it personally. At one in the morning, no less.
The Ronin shook his head, his expression strangely calm given the situation. "Actually, I didn't come to talk about that," he confessed, putting the blonde slightly at ease, if not more confused. "But while we're on the subject, I'm not mad anymore. Cye and I had a long talk. And I understand why you guys kept it a secret."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his head. "I was acting… well—"
"You don't have to explain," he said quietly. "I know how you get sometimes."
Ryo nodded his thanks.
"So what did you come here for?" Sage asked.
"Demons were watching me when I took Rowen to the station."
Sage's demeanor changed, as did Ryo's. "Demons, huh?"
"They're going to move in the next few days. While we're all separated, they're going to attack. I'm sure of it."
Sage nodded. "I'll keep my eyes open."
Ryo nodded back. "We just need to pray that we're ready."
"Did you warn everyone?"
"Ye—" He stopped and cursed under his breath. "Crap! I forgot to tell Cye. I was so worked up when I talked to him that… Damn it."
"Don't worry, I'll call him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It'll take too long for you to call from your house. I'll do it from here."
"Thanks." Ryo was about to jump off the roof, but turned back towards the blonde. "You ready for this?"
He smirked. "I've been ready." Sage held out his hand. "They're going to regret crossing us."
Ryo grabbed his hand firmly, grinning. "Payback's a bitch."
***
…Riing!
…Riing! Click!
"Hello…?" asked a groggy voice in the darkness. "Hey Sage, what's—" There was a pause. Then sheets rustled and the light in the room came on, a wide-eyed Cye sitting up in his bed. "What? …Oh geez, I'm glad you told me. …Does he know how many? …I see. Well I'll tell Laura. …Right. You be careful too."
The receiver was placed back on its hook, the startled young man staring across his room for an indefinable moment as what he just learned started to sink in. Demons.
Quickly, he got out of bed and walked the short distance from his room to Laura's. Cye raised his hand to knock on the door, but stopped short, hearing voices within the room. It must be Krysta-san.
He was going to come back later, when they were done talking, but the pitch of the conversation had elevated to a dangerous tone, and Cye found himself listening in as the tension behind the door mounted.
"You're battling demons, and you're raising your sister on your own. This is too much, even for you."
"I'm not alone," Laura insisted. "I have friends who—"
"Friends??" Krysta cut in. "Those boys in mystical armor? Tell me, Kino. Why are they helping you?"
"Why??" She sounded appalled. "What kind of question—!"
"Answer me, Kino. Tell me why a group of strangers would place their lives in jeopardy just to help you? You know very well that they don't have to. They could turn their backs on you in a heartbeat."
"I know that, but—"
"Then why trust them?" Krysta demanded. "Why place your life and the life of your sister in their hands when you know that I, as with the rest of the Xiang-Quon, will fight beside you without question? Continue on this path, and incidents like that one at Kanaji will only happen again." Her voice softened, pleading to her niece one last time. "Please, Kino. Come back home with me."
"I…" There was a pause. "I-I can't. Krysta, you don't understand. This is where I—"
"Kino, listen to yourself! Do you hear what you're saying??"
"I do!" Laura shouted. "Loud and clear! You're the one who's not—!!"
"You're my sister's daughter, Kino," Krysta reminded her. "I can't have you continue to risk your life unnecessarily."
"Why are you doing this??" Laura demanded. "You're the one who helped me return to Japan! Why are you doing this to me now?!"
"Because I cannot have you die like everyone else! Not while I can prevent it this time." The room grew still. And Laura had nothing to counter that with.
"I had let you go because I didn't think it would escalate to something this serious," Krysta explained. "I thought you could handle it. But now I see this is beyond your control."
Footsteps moved towards the door, and Cye backed up, turning a corner into the living room just as Krysta stepped out. She stopped. "I will help you restore the armors back to their original state, like I promised. But after that, I'm taking you and Sammy back to China."
There was no reply. One wasn't expected. And Krysta walked back into her room on the far end of the hall, closing the door behind her.
Cye stepped out of his hiding place after a moment, looking down the empty hall, then to Laura's open room. He quietly stepped into the doorframe and found the girl sitting on the floor, her hands clenched, head held low.
Laura was trying to stop herself from crying.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
^^;; A month. Old habits die hard I guess. Anyway, ^_^ as always, drop a review to tell me how mean I am or something like that. ::Puts on hard helmet:: ^-^ I'm ready.
My website dedicated to this fanfiction is also up, although I'm mainly working on the biographies and my pictures. Not a whole lot is up yet, maybe just to entertain you for five minutes. Also, if you guys bother to look at the disclaimer (since no one looks at it), there's a nice image of Laura and two other not-yet-so-well-known characters, Rika Lansdale and Nancy Amaye for you to see. Laura is obviously the brunette. Rika's the blonde. And Nancy is the shy one in front. If anyone would like to suggest any pairings, groups, or whatnot that they'd like to see in future artwork, feel free to drop me a line.
Next chapter is the same deal like last time. I don't know when, but it's most likely a month (even if I don't intend it to be). Be prepared for some reoccurring faces and a little bit of light romance. ^_^ Ja ne people!!