Unforeseen Circumstance
The Dance of Fire and Ice
(Day 21)
By: Little Ucchan
Wait.
That's all they could do now. Wait till they arrived in Yokohama. Wait until they can get in contact with Ryo and Sage. Wait to hear if their friends were alive or not.
…Waiting sucked.
Cye fiddled with the chain around his neck, absently running the back of his fingers against the cool metal, hearing the soft clang of each link as it hit his fingernails. It was soothing him, for the moment. It was nice, to not think of anything but the ring of metal. Maybe if he didn't think, time would pass faster…
Alas, he couldn't keep his mind blank. It wandered; touched different memories, thoughts, fears… It was restless; needed to focus despite the boy's adamant refusal to do so.
And so, it focused on the chain… traveled down to the locket… back to that night… and the rain.
It felt so long ago… The day he met Nancy; the girl who loved the rain.
He smiled unwittingly at the memory. She was so in tuned with the element. With the natural world, in fact. He could see it in her eyes; feel it within her spirit. The girl was special. Different. …Gifted.
She was definitely gifted. He just wasn't able to determine how.
Pulling the locket up to his face, Cye marveled at the silverwork before pushing down on the latch, the lid springing forward with a squeak. He gazed at the smooth gemstone for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, trying to figure out the hidden secret behind the brilliant aquamarine jewel. Once again, he felt a strange sense of calm when gazing at the face of the stone, as if it were trying to wash away his worries and placate his mind. He smiled again, then closed the locket, tucking it back in his shirt.
Sighing to himself, Cye reclined back in his seat, placing his hands behind his head. He had done those things. The invisible barrier wall… The defeat of the demon assassin… That was all his doing. But as far as his knowledge about the armors went, he couldn't create shields like that with his bare hands. And he most definitely could not kill a demon as a civilian.
That power I felt during the battle… Was it really Torrent's or… He closed his eyes. It couldn't possibly be me. If anyone, he'd have thought Sage would be the first to develop supernatural powers if it were possible. True, he had a sixth sense of some sort when it came to emotions, but his gift wasn't that great compared to a true empath.
Maybe it is Torrent, Cye thought as he felt his conscious slip, the compound stress and the rocking motion of the train pulling him deeper and deeper into sleep. Or maybe I'm just… over analyzing things…
His thoughts were soon lost. Abandoned in favor of nothingness.
The locket around Cye's neck glowed a light aquamarine, as if content with the quiet peace of mind of its wearer.
***
Laura eyed the locket suspiciously when she returned to her seat, looking at Cye's sleeping form, then the glowing silver charm. The boy stirred, as if sensing scrutinizing eyes on him, but did not wake up. Laura sat down across from him and leaned over. The aura that seemed to have surrounded the locket had disappeared.
She frowned. There's something weird about that locket. She'd have to remember to ask Cye about it when all of this was over.
Pulling her knapsack onto her lap, Laura fished out the cloth from the demon's ninja gi, trying to get a feel for how long they had left.
Her eyes widened, clutching the fabric close to her chest. There was only a little piece left, and it was quickly deteriorating.
Not much longer. She looked at her watch, reading the time. 12:56. Just a few more minutes and the battle would begin.
***
The lake was very calm when the messenger had arrived. The first sign that there was something amiss. Miss Yume?
The /optib/ blinked its eye, twitching its flimsy wings as it flew around the area, searching for the young demon-girl. Miss Yume? it called out again, but like before, got no response.
This was not good. The demon-girl had already gone off on her own. For what reason she had to leave was unclear. It was known that Yume was upset about the whole ordeal, but it never came to mind that her fear would turn into bravado and that she'd travel to the Mortal realm to confront the assassin that had threatened her herself. This was definitely not good.
The demon blinked its eye again, fluttering nervously back to the castle. Lord Tajhinn would not be pleased.
***
Ryo was sitting by the bank, arms folded over his chest with the river to his back and his two katanas laid out in front of his crossed feet. He had gotten White Blaze's warning while he was training at one of his usual spots.
A warning of a pending demon attack.
He sighed to himself. He was tired, hungry, and rather annoyed. But Ryo stayed put at his post. Judging by the tiger's stance, the attack would come soon. He wouldn't have to wait long. Any minute now.
There was a rustling in the bushes just ahead of him. A man, garbed in a black ninja gi, stepped into the clearing. He took one look at his target, fierce blue eyes riveted on his own, before a smirk formed beneath the facemask. You were waiting.
Ryo smirked as well, standing up. "I had a tip."
The assassin leaned forward, arms reaching for the twin katanas strapped on his back. Knowing won't make a bit of difference.
Without warning, he charged. Swords drawn in preparation to slice through the Ronin leader, the ninja was taken aback when a deafening roar exploded in his ears, followed by a white and black blur colliding into him.
"White Blaze!" The tiger jumped back upon his master's call, narrowly avoiding an attack that would have cut through the feline's underbelly.
The ninja rolled back onto his feet, taking a moment to assess his enemies. A huge white tiger stood protectively next to his target, the boy now garbed in a red and white body armor. The katanas that had been resting on the grass were in his hands, drawn in a cross formation as he stared at his opponent with hard, set eyes.
The assassin's own had narrowed.
You're different. They began to circle each other, taking step after slow step to see who's nerves would break first.
Ryo frowned at the comment. I'm different? Compared to what? "Who are you?" he demanded.
Your death.
The ninja charged again. And this time, Ryo stepped up to the challenge.
Unbeknown to him, a figure was watching the Ronin's battle carefully from within the shadows of the nearby foliage. Watching every move, debating whether or not to assist his brethren in this battle. His hand clenched, and three claw-like blades extended beyond his own fingers' reach, each poised evenly between his knuckles. The tension in his muscles involuntarily triggered the release mechanism in his glove.
The third assassin smiled upon seeing the blades shine in flawless splendor, calling him to bathe it in blood. Clenching his other fist to draw out the other claw, he waited for an opening.
A sound from somewhere behind him brought his attention away from the battle.
The ninja backed deeper into the shadows, eyes roving over the scenery to spot out movement not so far ahead. His eyes narrowed at the sight of shocking pink hair. The water sprite…
With a feral grin, he retracted his claws and headed in Yume's direction.
***
She had been sneaking around the forest for an hour now, keeping an eye out for the demon assassin that appeared to her the night before. She had assumed the same thing Maki had, after her initial shock. There's something here that they want. That I'm not supposed to know about.
That notion had driven her to leave her home and return back to the woods in hopes to find some clue, or the ninja, or both.
What am I doing? Lord Tajhinn would be seriously displeased with her. But she ventured out into the Mortal realm of her own free will on several occasions. It's not as if she was doing anything the Demon Lord had forbid. Still… Tajhinn-sama will be upset.
Yume frowned, stopping in her search to rest against a nearby tree. Maybe I should head back.
That thought was suddenly a dire wish she wanted to come true.
Yume took an unconscious step back. "It's you."
The assassin stood only several yards away from the girl, eyes empty. Just like before.
I warned you.
"What do you want here?" she forced out, keeping her voice as steady as possible. "What don't you want me to interfere in?"
The claws were released from their clasps, sliding out from underneath his gloves.
"Is it a secret mission?" Yume pressed on, even as the demon took a threatening step towards her. "Something Tajhinn-sama…"
The dark assassin stopped his approach, scoffing at the mention of the Demon Lord's name. I don't care to serve such a weakling.
Yume's heart skipped a beat. "Traitor…"
Heh. He laughed sardonically. I prefer 'rebel' myself.
Yume gritted her teeth, taking up a fighting stance. "Whatever you're planning, it won't work!!" she cried. "You can't win against Tajhinn-sama!" Whatever fears that had clouded her mind before were gone now. Her first battle. Her first real chance to prove herself to her liege against an enemy that wanted nothing more than to see him fall… To see the Demon Lord fail his people… She wouldn't allow it!
The assassin smirked. So naïve.
And you will stop me? He took another step forward. You? A lowly hybrid female? Her declaration was absurd. You don't even have the true powers of a demon.
"No, I don't," she admitted, her hands gliding across air. "But I do have the blood of an Element coursing through my veins." Yume smiled when he backed up in alarm, her arms crossing over her chest as the power within her began to gather. "I'll give you one hint. It's not water."
Yume's arms shot forward, spreading out to her sides as ice stemmed from where she stood and froze the battlefield. The demon ninja leaped out of the way of the advancing ice, cursing under his breath. An ice mage!? He had suspected that the girl's ancestry crossed into the Elementals of Ashkra but… A rare Element. No wonder Tajhinn kept her!
However interesting this discover was, the assassin had no more time to dwell on it, almost slipping on the ice covered ground. Spike-like grips appeared out at the base of his shoes, cutting into the ice to steady his footing. He cursed again, looking around for the girl Element, finding her to be nowhere in sight. Fighting one of Tajhinn's forces isn't part of the mission objective.
What's going on over there? The other assassin had noticed the commotion in the woods by then, sending a telepathic message to the demon while continuing his battle with Ryo. We have a job to do. Stop screwing around.
I have one of Tajhinn's lackeys after my hide, the ninja grounded out, dodging a barrage of ice spears that came from somewhere to his left. Yume was using the frosty setting as camouflage. Just kill the target and get over here!
***
Clang! Clang! Slash! The sounds of metal against metal and the occasional whoosh of air carried into the sky, each fighter dodging and parrying, shifting and moving in accordance to the other, hoping that in one instant of indecision an opening would present itself. Ryo blocked an attempt at his right side, coming down with his free hand only to have his attacker parry his move.
Not bad, he absently thought as he blocked another attack, using the weight against his swords to momentarily disengage himself from the assassin. We're even. He needed the added power boost from his armor in order to defeat him. But to get enough time to call upon Wildfire…
He didn't have time to formulate a decent plot, seeing that his assailant had unexplainably shifted his eyes in the direction of the forest. An opening!
Ryo charged. It was only a stroke of luck that the assassin was able to see it in time. All four blades locked in a crisscross of swords, entangled metal screeching under increasing weight; a contest of strength. But instead of the blank expression that the ninja had carried so far throughout their battle, he saw the cloth of the facemask twitch again, the demon leaning in further so that he was right in Ryo's face.
You're a fool, he breathed, grinning at the boy's confusion. Do you really think that you can defeat me with ordinary swords?
The ninja suddenly forced their katanas apart, raising one of his own for an overhead strike. Ryo raised his sword above his head, but to his horror, the blade cut through his own. He narrowly avoided being sliced in half, pitching his body back as his other hand came up to stop the incoming sword. Katanas clashed, Ryo sorely off balanced and in a dire situation until he mustered enough strength to force the demon back.
The Ronin rushed him while he still had the chance. But as he approached, he saw the assassin's blades glow, having had missed it the first time, and before he could retract his decision, his katana collided with his opponent's, the second blade breaking upon impact.
Ryo jumped away from a straight thrust, avoiding the sword by a narrow margin as the demon raised his other arm. I have you!
In a final attempt to defend himself, Ryo took what remained of his sword and threw it at the assassin.
He snapped his arm to the side, blocking the projectile with his blade, then driving in, thinking that he had won against the boy. That's when the ninja realized that he had not thrown both swords.
Before the assassin could realize his error, the Ronin had snaked under his katana's reach, his other broken sword coming down against the ninja's arm, severing it completely.
Ryo blinked, stunned for a second before he immediately backed away, gawking at the demon as his arm fell lifelessly to the floor. There was no blood. Not even a body part. The glove and cut sleeve that had been covering the ninja's arm laid in the grass, nothing inside of it or around. What am I doing?? Fighting clothes?!
"What the hell are you?!" Ryo cried, unable to sort out what he just saw.
The ninja raised his severed arm, looking down the empty sleeve before turning his glare towards Ryo. Malicious eyes narrowed into slits. You've crossed a dangerous line, boy.
The ninja raised his arm, and before Ryo could make out what he was doing, black energy formed into solidified tendrils and struck out at the Ronin.
Like a battering ram, they slammed squarely into his chest, throwing him off his feet and wrenching the katana hilt from his hand. Ryo hardly had any time to react as one of the energy tendrils wrapped itself around his neck, then his arms. The forward motion of the attack had him disoriented and falling backwards, momentarily stunned when his back struck something solid. Ryo thought he had hit the ground, but when water rushed over his body did he realize he had been forced underwater.
He held his breath, the tendrils pinning him against the river bottom as he struggled to get free. But the force holding him was strong. It was like having a rock sitting on his chest. And aside from the crushing weight, he had one of the tendrils wrapped around his neck, chocking what little air he had left as the water started to invade his lungs.
Shit! He couldn't hold out much longer! I've got to—! Ryo blinked, the pressure around his neck suddenly becoming slack. What…? A roar from above, slightly muffled by the surrounding water, gave him his answer.
***
Let go! the assassin growled, attempting the shake the meddlesome tiger off of his arm. But White Blaze would not release the prize in his jaws, a jerk from the large cat almost sending the demon ninja flying headfirst into the ground.
Annoying beast! He grabbed hold of his katana, thrusting at the tiger's face. But White Blaze released the ninja's upper arm in time, taking a moment to evade the attack before butting his head into the assassin's gut. This time, the ninja did fall onto the floor, consequently releasing Ryo from the tendrils' hold.
The Ronin leader emerged from the river, climbing onto the bank coughing and gagging. But despite the lack of breath, sodden hair, and the water clogging his ears, he rose to his feet, glaring at the demon with a power beyond comprehension.
The power driven by a pissed off Ronin.
"Armor of Wildfire!!" His hand reached for the sky, the other sweeping across the horizon. "Dao Jin!!!"
Within seconds, the wall scrolls shot up around him, bursting into glowing cherry blossom petals that swirled and enveloped his body, transforming the boy into the wearer of the blazing red armor of Wildfire.
Ryo reached back, unsheathing his twin katanas, blades glistening in the sun. He grinned nastily, watching how the ninja backed away from him. "These aren't 'ordinary' swords."
The battle was underway again. But this time, the victor was obvious.
Ryo evaded the ninja's energy tendrils, the attack not going to catch him a second time. He blazed forward, both swords drawn back low as he practically streaked towards his enemy. Swords clashed. But two on one was hardly even and the assassin was thrown back by the sheer power behind Ryo's attack.
Without missing a beat, Ryo connected his swords together, focusing on the heat and flames that empowered his armor. His entire body glowing red, he raised his arms and shouted out his surekill. "Flare… up… now!!!!"
The giant pillar of fire struck the assassin with the full force of Wildfire's fury, the demon howling in agony as the flames consumed him, eating away at his body until nothing was left but ashes.
After he was certain that the demon was no more, Ryo sank down to his knees, exhausted. It wasn't that the actual battle was taxing, but from the moment that he had armored up to when the demon died, adrenaline had been driving him forward too hard too fast. And now that there was no more threat, the rush of events, his hunger from before, plus his sore lungs all hit him at once, leaving the Ronin breathless.
He looked up from his position on the floor, viewing the scorched earth where the ninja was standing, blackened to cinders with small fires burning around, only now starting to die down.
He felt something butt against him, White Blaze staring at his master with those sharp brown eyes. They shifted to the mound of ashes at the surekill's epicenter, one lone eyebrow arching at the sight. He snorted loudly.
"Hey, I toned it down," Ryo stated defensively.
White Blaze took one more good look at the remains of the demon before looking at his master pointedly.
"Okay!" He waved his hands, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Maybe I overdid it a little. But I didn't think he'd be such a pushover." Despite all the trouble the demon had put him through, it wasn't that hard to beat him with his armor.
"C'mon, boy." Ryo got up, sheathing his swords and willing away his armor. "Let's head home."
White Blaze was ready to comply, feeling the beginning effects of prolonged hunger along with his master when his ears perked up, stopping in mid-stride to stare into the forest.
"White Blaze?" he heard Ryo call, but he ignored it. He heard something. Battle. And a voice. Hauntingly familiar…
The tiger bolted into the foliage without prior warning, again ignoring his master's calls as he rushed deeper into the forest in the direction of another battle.
***
His eyes kept moving, always on the watch for his adversary's next move. The winter wonderland that Yume had created made his battle difficult. He couldn't even launch a decent attack, the Element favoring the coverage of the surrounding tree trunks and bushes over open combat.
The ninja probed the battlefield again, this time his search being more successful as a tuft of pink hair could be seen peeking over the foliage. I'm impressed by your battle tactics, crossbreed. He smirked, slowly pulled out a few throwing stars from his gi. But you've made one mistake with choosing this setting. Diving to the left, he drew his hand back and let the shurikens fly. That hair of yours will always give away your position!
He gave a start when the throwing stars struck their target, the projectile weapons smashing through the ice sculpture of the girl. A decoy?!
The assassin cried out in pain as another barrage of ice darts came at him from behind, a few cutting his arms and legs while one lodged itself into his side. He stumbled to the ground, black mist seeping out of his new wounds.
Yume stepped out into the open, arms crossed over her chest as she glared down at her enemy. "I'm afraid that you're the one who's made the mistake of assuming that I'm an amateur fighter."
He laughed, removing the shard of ice that was buried in his side. Oh, but that's the funny part, the ninja chuckled, rising up to his feet. You are an amateur.
She growled. "What did you say?"
You could have easily killed me with that last attack, he pointed out, a dark smile forming beneath the facemask when Yume visibly tensed. Tell me little girl… Have you ever gone to sleep with the stain of blood on your hands?
"Shut up!!" she screamed, forming an ice lance in her hands. This act only made him laugh even harder.
Do you actually have the stomach to drive that through my chest? the assassin taunted, taking a step towards Yume. Or maybe my head? Yes… A quick death.
"I said shut up!!" She leveled the lance at the ninja, but instead of backing off like she thought he would, the demon stepped up the weapon, pressing the tip against his throat.
C'mon, he pushed forward, watching as Yume trembled under the pressure. Can't you kill your own kind? Even for the sake of your lord?
She paused.
Hesitation was a deadly fault. She didn't even see the small hand grenade hidden in his hand.
The bomb went off before Yume realized it, propelling her back several feet before she collided with a tree trunk. She screamed in pain, her entire body screaming along with her, each cut crying for attention. Biting down on her tongue, she refused to let her voice ring free. Don't think about the pain. Don't think about it, damn it!! The battle. She needed to focus on the battle. Ruby eyes shifted left and right, searching through the smoke. God damn it! Where is he??
Hahaha! She could sense the smile on his lips, laughing, taunting. Do you really hold onto that silly decree of not killing your own blood?? Honor among demons… There is no such thing!!
The ninja appeared right before Yume's eyes, emerging from the cloud of smoke with his metal claws raised to strike. The demon-girl dived to the side, but the surprise attack had caught her unprepared.
She fell to the ground, clutching at her upper arm where the assassin's claws had ripped through her skin, creating three deep gashes that blared bright red against her pale complexion. Lips trembled as blood dripped down her arm, sticking to her fingers. Never in her life had she felt this much physical pain before. The stench of blood… The throbbing, stinging soreness… All of it made her vision sway and her stomach churn in gut-wrenching sickness.
The demon assassin grinned madly. Not only was he causing Yume great pain, but he had the delightful opportunity to attack the girl's precious beliefs. Her naivety and steadfast dedication to her lord will be her death. He raised his claws, prepping himself for the final blow.
A tiger's roar made him stop his assault.
Tch. He lowered his claws disdainfully, feeling the presence of one of the targets and his companion rushing towards them. The bastard couldn't even kill one of them.
He glanced back at Yume, then the approaching duo. The smile was back again.
Quickly, he leaped up into the trees and was out of sight.
***
"White Blaze!" Ryo called again, chasing after the tiger as he desperately cut through the forest to get to his destination. That was the only way to describe White Blaze's movements. For ever since the war with their new foes began, White Blaze only moved this fast once. And that was to warn him of today's demon attack.
White Blaze… What's gotten you so riled up?
Another roar, closer than the last, made him stop. And it was good thing he did. Any faster and he would have surely slipped on the icy ground. Ice? A section of the forest was completely frozen. What's going on here???
He got his answer when he spotted White Blaze, the tiger hovering worriedly over a small, petite figure with disturbingly familiar pink hair. "Yume…"
The name was whispered. Even if he had wanted to scream, he couldn't, finding that his voice had become weak at the sight of her bloodied form hunched over in agony. Ryo took a drunken step forward, then another as his strength returned in the form of sheer panic. "YUME!!"
The girl's head shot up, startled by the call but even more so by the sight of White Blaze. And when she turned her head, she saw Ryo rushing towards her.
"Ryo…?" she whispered, then stiffened in shock at the empty battlefield. The assassin!! Her eyes search wildly for the demon ninja. Where is he?!
Her attention was suddenly directed upwards, the assassin jumping out of his hiding place with claws drawn, dropping down on his unsuspecting victim.
"RYO LOOK OUT!!"
Yume's shriek and White Blaze's accompanying roar made him turn, but it was already too late. The steel claws were mere seconds away from crashing down on the Ronin's face. And the abrupt appearance of the other assassin had stalled Ryo's reaction time.
Given the circumstance, he should have died.
But midway through the ninja's descent, he had gasped as if someone had punched him in the stomach, and instead of falling through with the attack, he had hit the floor, dead.
Ryo watched in a sort of daze as the ninja's body 'shrank' like a deflating balloon, his clothes lying at the boy's feet, the only sign that he had been there.
Once the threat had passed, Yume sank to the floor, dropping the ice dart she held in her hand. As much as she was confused by what happened—her attempt to do anything clearly having had been too late—she was more relieved by the stroke of luck that Ryo was spared than the mysteries that surrounded the close save.
Tears started to form at the brim of her eyes as Ryo ran towards her, asking if she was alright. He's okay. She nodded blankly, unable to tear her gaze away or keep the tears from spilling down her face. He's…
Yume gave a start when she felt his hand brush against her face, wiping away her tears. "Are you sure?" he asked again. "Your injuries…"
"I'm fine," she murmured, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. "I'm just…" She looked into his face, saw his concern, and whatever control she had managed over her emotions at that point was gone within the second.
"Oh, Ryo!" Yume wrapped her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably. "I thought that—! I thought that he would—!"
The boy smiled shakily, hardly able to steady his own emotions. When he first saw her lying there, he had thought the worse. But it appeared that her injuries were less serious than what he had first thought. Her clothes were soiled, cuts marring her skin. But they were only shallow scratches. And the wound across her arm, the one that concerned him the most, didn't appear to be a problem. Judging by how strong her grip around his waist was, Ryo was correct to assume that it no longer bothered her as much.
He embraced her gently, rubbing her back to soothe her cries, even though she wasn't exactly weeping in distress. "It's alright, Yume. It's okay." He smoothed out her hair. "I'm fine now. You don't have to cry. I'm fine."
***
Some time had passed before Yume's tears stopped. Both Ryo and White Blaze had tried their best to calm the petite demon-girl, but in the end, they had to wait till she tired herself out. And when that time came, he was glad that he was heading home.
After a minor dispute about her injuries, Yume insisting that she was fine, Ryo finally convinced her to get some rest at his house while he bandaged up her arm. Now she was riding on White Blaze's back, all three of them about to return to Ryo's cabin for some food and some needed rest. The battle had worn on him, still not used to fighting and all the anxiety that came with it after over six months of inactivity. But he was really glad he was heading home.
Before completely leaving the battlefield, Ryo slowed down his pace, looking around the area one last time. Tiger blue eyes fell upon the clothes of their latest adversary. He still didn't understand what had transpired. It all happened so fast. What he did recall was a slight whoosh of air zip by him before the assassin doubled over. His first thoughts were that someone had intervened and killed him. But Yume wasn't the one. And she, White Blaze, and himself were the only presences he felt when he probed the area with his senses. So what exactly happened?
He was about to turn away, fearing that he'd never get the answer to that question when he stopped. A few feet away from the ninja's garments, towards the fallen assassin's back, was a peculiar crack in the ice. Ryo approached it, thinking it to be an unusual sight in the torn up battlefield. It didn't fit any of the weapon marks from either Yume or the ninja. And when he crouched down, examining the splintered ice, he understood why.
It took a moment for Ryo to pull out the unusual item wedged deep in the frosty earth. He blinked, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. A toothpick?
He looked down at the cracked ice, then at the seemingly perfect toothpick in his hand, thinking it to be impossible. He slid the pick back in the hole it had made in the ice, tilting his head to try and get the angle of the throw. He remembered how high up the ninja was, and gauging the distance from the toothpick to where his body had fallen… No way.
Ryo picked up the toothpick again, holding the piece of wood up to his face. A toothpick killed him. The thought sounded absurd, but looking back at the damage it did to the ice, he wasn't so certain anymore. The precision's something else. Whoever threw it had to have one killer arm to slay a demon without splintering the wood.
He got up, eyes following the possible trajectory of the toothpick to a high tree branch across the battlefield. There was no signs of anyone being there, but he just wasn't too sure anymore. Taking another step forward, Ryo was about to investigate when a call from behind pulled his attention away.
It was Yume and White Blaze.
"Ryo, what are you still doing here?" Yume asked, still atop White Blaze's back as the large feline approached his master. "I thought you were right behind us."
"Yeah, well—" He stuffed the toothpick in his back pocket. "—I guess I got distracted by everything." Ryo looked around again, emphasizing the point. "I didn't know your powers went this far."
Yume blushed, slightly embarrassed by the damage she caused. "I didn't mean to…"
"It's alright," he smiled, leading the girl and While Blaze away. "I'm just glad you're safe."
He glanced over his shoulder as he exited the field, his gaze trained on the tree branch he had singled out earlier. Still, no one there.
With a sigh, Ryo turned away, not knowing that up above, someone had exhaled in relief.
Maki sweatdropped, rubbing the back of his head as he watched the trio move away. Geez, he's sharp! If he hadn't had the foresight to hike up a good six feet from his previous position, he would have been spotted. That's the last time I use lower branches to do my reconnaissance.
Taking out a toothpick from his breast pocket, the boy spy removed the plastic wrapping and placed the tip of the fashioned wood in between his teeth, chewing habitually. So much to report back. So much to edit out. Maki grimaced, almost snapping the toothpick in half. He had recognized the raven-haired boy that was with Yume to be the same one from Kanaji. The one that had been wearing the red mystical armor.
Tch. I knew I should have screened all her dates! Even if there was a strong indication that neither of them knew of the other's involvement, the fact that the demon-girl was seeing Ryo would not go well. The Boss may be lenient, but this is definitely something that he doesn't need right now! Not with all this shit with the rebels going down.
He should have just let the boy die. But then again, Yume would have been heartbroken. And with her emotions as intense as they were, he knew where it would have lead.
Kin slayer.
The toothpick shifted to the other side of his mouth, teeth gnawing absently into the wood. There's a high price to pay for manslaughter. Even if the demon was a traitor, she attacked first and without prior orders… He figured even Lord Tajhinn would have trouble getting her out of a bind that deep.
Sheesh, Yume!! And just for this guy?? He didn't understand her attachment to the boy. But he also didn't understand why he had waited till the ninja attacked Ryo to act. And the big million dollar question—why he wasn't upset about the pairing in the first place—was beyond his comprehension. You must be something special, kid. …To throw me off.
Maki sighed. I guess I can let Yume have her way, for now. It was a known fact that he couldn't deny that girl anything. Better keep an eye on her. He swung his legs over the tree branch he was sitting on, deciding a moment later that her 'boyfriend' needed watching as well. Lots of watching. Oh yeah. I'll be on him like a hawk tracking his prey. And if he hurts her… he's a dead man. Boss's orders or not.
With his hands tucked in his pockets, Maki dropped down from the tree, landing deftly on the ground below. Casually, he approached what remained of the demon assassin, smirking the entire way. Looks like I got to kill the bastard after all.
Maki. The boy stopped in front of the demon's 'body' as the telepathic link snapped to life. What's your position?
The forest northwest of Tokyo's city limits. He prodded the garments with his foot, frowning at the dust that billowed up with every jab. Sup, Boss. Not like you to check up on me.
I need to know the status of the demon you reported.
Dead, Maki replied, crouching down to inspect the gi further. A grin crept up to his face at the silence on the other end. He could almost imagine Tajhinn's mind ticking with that piece of news.
On what grounds? the Demon Lord demanded.
The grin disappeared. Treason and assault on a civilian demon.
The phrase 'civilian demon' made the line grow quiet again. Was it Yume?
Yes… But she's fine, Maki reassured him, picking up one of the articles of clothing. She'll need some medical attention when she returns. Nothing serious. Holding the garment with both of his hands, he yanked on the cloth, testing its durability. It ripped easily.
With a muffled curse, he threw the gi on the floor, placing his hands roughly on his hips as he stood. Tajh, we've got a problem.
Oh? One I'm not already aware of, I suppose?
The dry sarcasm made the boy flinch. Apparently, things weren't going well on the home front either. The demon was part of some assassination group that follows a reverse pecking order. There's a timer. Apparently the next assassin is waiting on standby till he gets the signal.
Ritari Gemun.
Maki blinked. What?
Ritari Gemun, Tajhinn repeated. It's an old tactic from the revolution. Kayeda told me about it once. …The targets?
My guess is one of the rune bearer's allies. Though I'm not sure which they'll go for. Nor did he know the reason why they'd attack them in the first place, that question irritating him more than not knowing his enemies' whereabouts. Should I pursue? It's a given that they're members of the faction. It was also a given that, since they were now identified as rebels, Maki had license to kill them.
Be careful of using your abilities in public, he warned. Watch the situation first before deciding to act.
Aw c'mon, Tajh! Every demon knows that I'm an assassin.
Yes, but no one knows of your involvement in the rune project as a spy. He emphasized that last part rather clearly. The remaining confidentiality of that fact is what gives you your edge. Be mindful of that.
Yes, Boss, he replied before the line went dead, Maki pondering what could be going on at the castle that would have Tajhinn so wound up to risk a long distance communication with him.
He spat out the toothpick, suddenly glad that he was just a hit man. Politics are such a pain in the ass.
***
He didn't know how he was going to pull this off. Granted that he wasn't thinking straight to begin with…
"Yume, do you have your necklace?"
"Yes… But it's not going to work." As if to prove it, the demon-girl slipped on the silver charm. Nothing happened.
Ryo sighed. It had taken close to half an hour before the illusion kicked in last time, and she had only created a snow cone, not turned a portion of the forest into a frozen haven. He should have known.
"Wait here." Ryo climbed up the porch steps, disappearing into the cabin.
Yume produced a sigh of her own as she and White Blaze waited out in the front yard for Ryo to return. I should have just gone home. The pain in her left arm had been reduced to a low throbbing, her resilience to the pain largely due to her mixed blood. Demons were tough. But Ice Elements were hard. Her body had already blocked most of the area from her keen senses, like ice numbing the skin. All was left was to bandage the wound.
And clean myself up. Yume almost dropped down to the floor with a whine, her unexplained shift earning a curious stare from the white tiger by her side. How am I going to slip this past Maki?? She could just imagine him freaking out and confining her to the lake. He'd probably get one of his friends to guard me like I'm some kind of prisoner. After that morbid thought, Yume ruled against her previous wish. She didn't want to go home.
A soft, if not insistent tug on her armband made her look down. White Blaze stared at her, reminiscent of the first time she came to Ryo's place, before trotting away towards the back of the cabin. Yume followed after him, but unlike before, the window was open, and Ryo was leaning out of it, urging them both to hurry along.
"Do you think you can get in?" he asked, referring to the square opening that led into his room. "My Grandpa's in the living room so we can't exactly use the front door."
Yume smiled, as if the challenge had brought her energies up, and motioned for Ryo to stand away from the window. She took in breath, prepping herself momentarily before reaching out with her good arm and snagging the top ledge of the window. Jumping simultaneously, she shot her legs through the opening followed by the rest of her body as she slid into the room.
Ryo raised an eyebrow, impressed by the fluidity of the move until Yume stumbled forward, miscalculating her landing. "Easy there." He moved to steady her, careful not to add any pressure to her wounds when the touch of her skin made him shiver. "You're freezing!"
She smiled weakly. "It's alright. It's… a normal reaction that happens whenever I'm injured."
He wasn't thoroughly convinced. His hands were still holding her arms. But the expressing on his face had relaxed. "Normal?" Ryo echoed, leading her over to sit at the edge of his bed. Yume nodded.
"My body sort of freezes where I'm injured. It numbs the pain and stops the blood flow."
"Doesn't that…" He looked at her, now more curious that worried. "Hurt? I mean, your body temperature drops, right? Isn't that bad?"
"I'm an Ikh-Ela."
His eyebrows creased. "Is that a type of demon?"
"No," she laughed. "Ikh-Ela, in the ancient tongue, means Ice Element." Ryo looked more confused. It made her smile widen. "I'm not a full demon, Ryo. I'm a hybrid."
"Mixed blood?"
"Mm-hmm."
"So you're half demon…" His eyes still held that puzzled look as he prepared to clean her wounds, dipping the cloth in his hand in the bowl of water he had prepared earlier. "And the other half is an, Ice Element? What exactly is that?"
The girl blinked, unresponsive for a second before she realized she had mistakenly assumed that Ryo knew what an Element was. "Well…" How can I put this? "Remember when I told you I live in an alternate dimension sort of thing?"
Ryo raised an eyebrow, indicating that he remembered, but didn't say a thing, wanting Yume to continue. "Well…" She paused again, obviously having a hard time of it while Ryo wiped away the dried blood on her arm. "There's two realms that I'm aware of."
She didn't notice how Ryo's hand faltered at his work. The Nether… She's from—!
"No, three actually," Yume corrected herself, making Ryo abandon his previous thought, but grow more confused, and a bit worried as her words. Three?
"But, my ancestry is only involved in two. Well, actually…" She shook her head, laughing apologetically. "It's really complicated. But basically, I live between two realms; this realm, and a place called Ashkra. The place where I live, is sort of more in Ashkra than here, but anyway… In Ashkra, there's this race called Ela, and they're further broken down into groups, like Ikh-Ela, Goru-Ela, Hiabejkor-Ela, though they just prefer to be called Hiabejkor." He must have looked dumbstruck because Yume paused in her explanation. "Am I going too fast?"
"Oh no!" he bowed sheepishly, setting down the wash cloth in favor of the bandage roll. "It's just all of this is so new to me. Ashkra, you say?" He started to roll the tape around her arm. "What's this realm like? Is it similar to this one?"
Her expression had grown solemn, and Ryo wondered if he had asked something he shouldn't have. "I… don't really know," Yume confessed. "I've only been there as a child and… I'm sure it's beautiful. I've heard many stories from other hybrids who trace their heritage there. They always describe the natural beauty of the countryside or the festivals…"
Ryo nodded, deciding not to push the matter. Despite what she said, it did not seem like her experience there was memorable. "And Ice Elements. Ikh-Elas," he pressed on, diverting the subject, to Yume's relief.
"Each 'Ela' is so named by the element its people embodies. Ikh-Elas can use ice magic, for one. Or they might be the actual element itself, like a Yesho. They're a class of Ikh-Ela, and their bodies are completely made of ice."
"Wow." He couldn't help but smile at what Yume was telling him. Another world, so different from his own. "And you? What class do you belong to?"
"I'm not sure," she replied, uttering a soft 'thank you' when Ryo had finished bandaging her wound. "It's hard to trace my heritage to a specific class. I have none of the distinguishing features that most Ikh-Elas have, other than my magical abilities. No one would guess I'm related to them unless they saw me use my powers."
"So… You don't know your parents, do you?"
He didn't know what had possessed him to ask such a question. And the way Yume's lips trembled made him want to take it back. "Yume, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's…" She reigned in a sob, wiping at the tears that were starting to form. "I guess I'm just not ready to talk about it. I've never had to before." She smiled, hoping that it would counteract the sudden sadness that had settled over her. "Everyone I know knows of what happened. Tajhinn-sama and Kayeda-san… they've taken care of me since I was little."
"Tajhinn… sama? Kayeda-san?" Ryo asked, curious as to why she'd add those suffixes to their names.
"Tajhinn-sama… He's sort of my guardian. Though I wouldn't call him an uncle, since he's still rather young. More like an elder brother, but he's always so busy. So is Kayeda-san. They work, nonstop. I rarely see them now." Yume sighed as the words left her mouth. She had missed being with them, Tajhinn the most. Ever since he was sworn in as the new Demon Lord, he hasn't been by much. She had hoped, by participating in the rune project, she'd be able to spend more time with him and Kayeda. Like old times. Now, after this debacle, she'd probably be placed back on reserve again.
"It must be rough," Ryo said, pulling Yume out of her reverie. "Not seeing someone you consider family all the time."
"Well, it's not that bad. I—" Her response was cut off by the sound of a knock on the door.
Both teenagers tensed, Ryo muttering a panicked curse, the worst scenario ever possible already playing in his mind like an alarm bell that was set off a minute too late. He only managed to rise to his feet when Sanada-san opened the door, his head peeking in a moment later.
"Ryo. There's someone on the phone for you," he announced, then gave his grandson a peculiar look. "Are you alright, my boy? You look a little flustered."
"I—" He allowed a quick glance behind him, caught sight of a wall of black and white fur, and turned back around. "I'm fine. Just… fine. Hehe. I'll be there in a minute, Grandpa."
Sanada-san's eyebrows creased together, even more confused. "Why don't you just use the phone by your bed? That'd be easier for you."
"Ah—No!" he cried, moving to leave the room in hopes that this will stop his grandfather from staying any longer. "I mean… It's kinda hot in here." He looked back to his bed, wondering when exactly did White Blaze slip into his room but thanking the heavens for the tiger's impeccable timing.
"I'll take it in the living room," Ryo told his grandfather, the last part of his sentence being cut off by the sound of the door closing behind him.
Yume exhaled in relief, leaning her head back against the bed as the tension slowly left her body. She was grateful that she had chosen to sit on the right side of the bed, facing away from the door. It only took her a moment to slide down to the floor, using the height of the bed as cover while White Blaze concealed whatever she had not been able to hide with his large, striped body.
She looked up at the tiger, taking a moment to rub the feline's neck. "You're such a clever boy," she laughed, White Blaze settling in comfortably on Ryo's bed as Yume stroked his fur. "Thanks."
***
He could feel that his palms were sweating, the aftermath of that narrow save still in Ryo's system when he picked up the phone. He took a deep breath and exhaled before saying hello. The immediate, if not uncalled for response on the other end, had him holding the receiver away from his ear while trying to still the suddenly racing heart that he had been trying to calm just a minute before.
"Ryo!! God!! Where the hell have you been!! We've been calling you since nine this morning!!"
"Laura?? Lower your voice, okay?" He brought the phone a little bit closer to his ear, frowning at the noise buzzing in the background. "Where are you?"
"Yokohama," was her response. She sighed, considerably calmer than three seconds ago. "Listen, I don't have much time so pay attention. Were you attacked by a demon around 1:00?"
Ryo blinked. "Yeah… How did you—?"
"No time for questions, Ryo. How many were there?"
"Two."
"And are they dead?"
"Yes, but one of them—"
"When?"
Ryo sighed, not liking how she'd always cut in, but not arguing about it. He realized that something was wrong. The urgency and sharpness of her voice was a clear indication. "I'm not exactly sure. But it was well over an hour ago."
"Over an hour…" The pause in her speech told him she was thinking about something. "You wouldn't happen to have the assassins' clothes, would you?"
"No," he lowered his voice, not wanting his grandfather to overhear. "I used my surekill on one—"
He was cut off once again.
"Your surekill??" Laura shrieked. "You incinerated the bastard?? Jeez, why couldn't you have done slow torture or something!!"
"I didn't know that was an option," Ryo gritted, having had enough of this type of conversation. "Laura! What the hell is going on??"
"There's too much to explain. But there are four demons in the city, three right by Sage's house. And I have a very strong feeling that they're going to attack… in twenty minutes. Ryo, you've got to get there and warn Sage. He's still at his house! …Ryo? …Ryo??"
To her surprise, he wasn't on the other end. The panic that had overwhelmed him made him act without thinking, and he was out the door before Sanada-san realized that his grandson was no longer standing in the living room.
***
Laura hung up the phone with a heavy sigh. Ryo's sudden departure only relieved some of her stress. The rest was wound up in tight knots on her back and shoulders. She couldn't stand this kind of anticipation. The time… Not knowing… It ate away at her, ebbing slowly, anxiety so unbearable that she almost wished something decisive would happen, even if it were news that one of them had been killed, just to be rid of the endless, gruesome possibilities churning in her mind. This is insane! She took in breath. We can't even get there in time.
Laura gave a start. Cye's hand was on her shoulder, a settling weight that brought her back to her senses. "We're going to be too late," she said.
"Since when were you this pessimistic?"
"Have I ever been cheerful?" Laura exhaled sharply. "Two demons attacked him. And there's three around Sage. I've studied this pattern before. The reaction time between the second and third attacks are shorter than the first. Almost by half."
Cye checked his watch. "2:50."
"We'll get there by 3:45." That meant they'd be a half hour too late.
Cye tried to smile, leading Laura back over to the platform. "Sage'll be fine. He's a tough fighter."
"I know that," she insisted. "What I'm worried about is where he is."
"You really think that he's still at home?"
She didn't respond to this.
Cye shook his head. "Kento's been calling his house nonstop since we left Nagoya. I'm sure he's reached him by now."
***
Riing! Riing! The phone blared constantly, each ring, one after another, stressing the urgency of the call. Still, there was no answer.
Farther away, at a place separate from the main household, a blend of sounds, shouting, movement, wood, combined in the air, creating a symphony familiar to the Date dojo.
Time ticked away.
Satsuki yelped, shaking her hand before sucking at her pricked finger. Sewing was harder than she remembered, but she was delighted at her progress.
Time ticked away.
Sammy sat back down for the fifth time, attention constantly shifting to Satsuki's work on her hakama and the show that was taking place at the dojo's center floor.
Time ticked away.
Sage wiped the sweat from his brow, listening to his grandfather's words on how to better improve his form. A warrior trained in the Bushido code. Yet he was unaware of the threat that lied beyond his own walls.
And time still continued to tick away.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
^^;; Oh, God you guys really want to kill me now. Two and a half weeks. Still beat the one-month-update monster, though it was distinctly tougher this time around. It's feeding… It's growing stronger!! AAHHHHH!!!! ^^;;
In other news, I've got this really hot picture of Takeru up on my website. ^-^ By request, since there's a lack of Takeru-age. I've also got other images up. If you really want to keep up with me and what I'm doing, which I suggest while waiting for the next update, then go to the site and check out the homepage. The site's listed in my author's bio. I tell you the progress of my chapters and when I'm most likely to update, plus some other things I'm doing for this fic.
The reason why I say keep checking the updates on the homepage is because I won't be working on anything after this for a week or more. I struck a deal with my mother. If I clean out my room and all the crap I don't want, I get a Japanese dictionary and my For Dummies guide to learning Japanese. ^_^ It's close to a $60 value because this dictionary is as big as Webster's, so I'm willing to labor for a week. The homepage will update you on my progress, and when I actually start writing again. It's the quickest way to find out what the hell I'm doing to not update instead of waiting on ff.net.
And I know I have more stuff to say but right now, in fear of punishment by the fierce being known as 'mother' I will sign off for now. ^^;;