Time
By Quiet Chaos
Chapter Seven
A/N: Hey there. Well, the fan art has long since been taken down, as was scheduled in the last chapter. If you missed it and really, really, really want to see it, keep on reviewing! As of this update, only thirteen more reviews to go before the next fan art installment is posted, and if people want the old fan art, that will be reposted. Well, on to the story. Oh wait, before I forget, a reminder that I'm going by the Ronin Warriors universe names and am using the all-knowing wikipedia as a resource for weapon names and armor attributes. On to the story!
The remaining soldiers retreated from the gateway as the newcomers came onto the field. The Ronins took the opportunity to greet their five emerging allies.
"Couldn't have timed it better myself," Rowen said, giving Kayura and the former warlords a welcoming smile. Kayura wore the blue and white monk clothes of the Ancient and carried the glimmering gold shakujo that was just beginning to power down. She stood in the throng of her four fully armor comrades.
Sage gave Anubis a quick nod. "Welcome back."
"It's good to be back." The former warlord of Cruelty bore his full armor, including his helmet but minus the red mask. The other ex-warlords wore their armors similarly.
"I thought you were dead," Cye interrupted as he looked them over.
Anubis laughed. "I was dead. The Ancient saw to my return." He nodded towards Kayura who quickly turned away.
"Mind telling us what's going on?" Sage gestured at the ruined city. "What happened in the Netherworld?"
"It's my fault." Kayura sheepishly turned to the blonde, but she avoided his intense gaze. "After the destruction of Talpa, we returned to the Nether Realm and began rebuilding. I'd hoped to resurrect Anubis and start over. With the Ancient's guidance I learned the spell to call him back, but I didn't realize that the spell would recall other nearby spirits." She paused to see what the Ronins' reactions were.
Anubis tried to comfort her. "It is not your fault; you didn't know."
"It is my fault!" Kayura snapped, pulling away from him and ignoring the others' worried looks. "If I hadn't been so selfish, none of this would be happening." Her shoulders drooped shamefully. "I've put everything we fought so hard for in jeopardy."
"That doesn't matter," Sage authoritatively said as he stepped into the argument. "Blaming yourself doesn't solve the current problem. What matters now is that the something you resurrected along with Anubis is now wreaking havoc in this world, and we have to work together to stop it."
"Well said, Halo," Cale snickered. "Except that the thing she brought back is older and more powerful than Talpa ever was."
"Elaborate for us," Rowen sternly rebuked. "What exactly is it we're up against?"
Before they could answer a blast of energy erupted in the distance, the force of the explosion, though far away, was enough to knock them all down.
"What was that?" Sekhmet grunted as he regained his footing.
"It came from outside the city," Dais said as he helped Kayura to stand.
"Where are all the soldiers?" Cye held his yari ready as he looked around, glancing behind in case of a sneak-attack. "The gate's disappeared!" Everyone turned to see that the portal between the worlds had indeed vanished sometime during their conversations, leaving only the warriors behind in the smoldering city.
"Never mind that." Halo turned to Strata. "Rowen, take Kayura and head towards that explosion. We'll follow on foot."
Just as they started to carry out Sage's commands, a distinct primal battle roar trumpeted through the streets. Recognizing the voice, they hurried with greater speed.
xxxxx
Kento nearly jumped out of his skin as the night's second wave of Dynasty energy rolled over the area, causing the whole house to shudder. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, wishing he knew how his friends were fairing.
A moment later Hardrock got another scare as Ryo jerked awake.
"WHITE BLAZE!"
Kento leapt across the room and grabbed hold of the slighter boy, concern written all over his face. "Ryo!"
"Kento, where's White Blaze? What's going on?" he demanded as he threw off the heavier boy and bed sheets and turned on the lights.
"Uh," he hesitated. Sage had told him that Ryo shouldn't be fighting in his condition, and knowing the wielder of Wildfire, anything he said would provoke that unwanted situation.
Ryo saw the worry in Kento's eyes and pulled the bulkier boy up. "Kento. I'm fine. Tell me what's going on."
"Well, White Blaze wasn't here when I came in to watch you, and just a little while ago Mia found out that that assassin girl has disappeared, but before that Sage, Cye, and Rowen wenttocheckonablastofDynastypowerthatwokeusup." He smiled meekly as he watched Ryo struggle to decipher the last sentence.
He figured it out quickly. "Kento, we have to go. Now!"
"But Sage said you shouldn't fight in your condition!" He trailed after Ryo, who had transformed into his under-gear and was sprinting down the stairs. Kento had to change in order to keep up with him as they bolted out of the house. "Ryo, wait!"
xxxxx
Kurari hit the ground and rolled. Her ears were buzzing from the shock of the explosion, but nothing else felt hurt. She quickly regained her footing and turned to see that in place of the black tiger was a blazing bonfire. The silver armor stood laughing behind the flames.
Without thinking Kurari charged the armor with her broken blade. Caught off guard, the demon merely stopped laughing and held his ground. He had good reason not to worry for as soon as Kurari rammed the sword into his chest plate, the blade shattered like glass, making no impression on the silver metal. Reflexively she spun and reversed her footing in an effort to rebound away from a counter attack. But he was fast and lithe, easily reaching out and wrapping his claws firmly around her slender waist.
"Shit!" she cursed as she struggled to pull free of his death grip.
"Impressive," he hissed, pulling her face-to-face with his mask. "Who would've thought that the hired hand would turn out so…exquisite?"
She glanced over her shoulder as the meaning of his words took hold. "You're the customer?"
"Yes." The grin was obvious in his tone. "My spirits possessed Kurata to get closer to you, supposedly the best the Mortal Realm had to offer." Mockingly, he flipped her upside down, but kept their eyes level. "When we first met, you had the potential to serve me, but I wanted to be absolutely sure that there was no mistake in my choice or your skills." He whipped her upright and leaned in even closer. "You have not disappointed me."
Suddenly a deafening roar erupted behind her, and they turned to see an explosion of fire blazing wildly. The flames spiraled and dispersed, revealing the black tiger, unscathed, and now dressed in gleaming gold-trimmed white plates of armor. On his back were two matching sheathed swords. With a second howl of rage, the beast reared at the silver armor, biting and swiping at the exposed ethereal joints. His jaws caught hold of the cloak and tore it off. The demon retreated from the cat, dropping Kurari. "Vile beast!"
The black tiger quickly repositioned himself between her and the silver armor, growling and snarling his anger. She stood unsteadily, using the tiger for support as several new silver armored figures surrounded them.
"Take the girl and kill the tiger!" the gold mask bellowed.
Instinctively Kurari threw the last chunk of her sword at the nearest charging soldier, clocking him square in the faceplate and stalling him. She and the tiger moved in unison, meeting the soldiers head on.
The first soldier went down quickly as she dodged his sword and then reversed his momentum with a throw that sent him face first into the dirt. Behind her the tiger was doing well to hold his ground, slashing at the vulnerable joints and slipping through blades.
Three soldiers converged on her with their deadly weapons aimed. As she dodged the first soldier's spear thrust, she spun and slammed a kick into the second soldier's stomach. But the third soldier struck before she could regain her full footing. His sword dug deeply into her left shoulder, pushing her back. She stumbled away from him, gasping and squeezing the bleeding wound.
A blast of red lightning slammed into the soldier from behind, incinerating him and knocking her to the cold ground. The silver soldiers froze and turned to their leader, whose fist was clenched in rage and his foggy essence blazed crimson. "Idiots! I want her unharmed!"
Seeing her chance, she quickly kicked off the ground and snatched the disintegrated soldier's fallen sword. It was heavier than she'd anticipated, and she struggled to lift it with just her right hand. Using her momentum, she swung the blade. The two soldiers, caught off guard, found their legs severed. Kurari beheaded the nearest soldier and winced as green-gray smoke fizzled out of the hollow armor.
From the ground the second fallen soldier threw his kusari-gama, ensnaring her ankles. He yanked on the chain, pulling her legs out from under her. Rolling off the dirt, she raised the sword high enough to let gravity finish the soldier with a stab through his eye.
The first soldier that'd been hit with her broken sword grabbed her from behind and pulled her into an arm lock before she could untangle the chain. As soon as he heard her struggling, the black tiger sprinted out of the crowd of soldiers he'd been brawling with and charged, viciously roaring. But he was cut off as the leader blindsided the beast with hard backhand to the head. The demon then stomped on his exposed stomach, driving out breath and fight from the big cat.
Out of nowhere a golden arrow shot through the capturer's helmet, killing the demon and freeing Kurari. The leader jerked round just in time to block a swift kick from Kayura. He pushed her off, and she landed gracefully, holding her shakujo threateningly. A moment later Rowen landed just a few feet from where Kurari was pulling off the chains.
"Fah!" he spat, his ethereal essence taking on its calmer gray color. "Do not interfere, heir of the Ancients. I have claim to that girl."
"Not so, demon. She's under our protection, and you have no right to take her against her will." Kayura edged the staff closer, jangling the rings for emphasis.
"Watch your tongue, mortal!" He angrily flashed crimson. "I am no mere demon! I was the first born in the Nether Realm and am its true master, Jidai."
"Jidai? 'Age'?" Kayura flinched as she murmured the name's meaning.
Seeing her distraction, he rushed in and punched her, knocking her several yards away before skidding to a rest on the ground.
"Kayura!" Rowen angrily fired off a succession of energized arrows, forcing Jidai away from where Kayura lay unconscious. "Get away from her!"
Seeing through the distraction, the demon charged Strata with terrifying speed that enabled him to easily zigzag through the onslaught of arrows. The fog of his right hand shifted to a deep red. Not seeing the demon powering up, Rowen kept firing, stubbornly holding his ground.
"Look out!"
Kurari rammed the blue haired boy just as Jidai released his attack, knocking him out of harms way. The demon shifted at the last second, redirecting the crimson bolt into the air, missing her by inches and knocking her to the ground. Growling, Jidai rushed towards Kurari as she staggered to stand.
A flash of red and white collided with the silver demon, knocking him off balance. He whirled around in time to receive a vicious kick to the golden faceplate by an orange boot. Enraged, he thrashed his bludgeon-like arms, narrowly missing the fully armored Ronins, who quickly pulled back out of reach.
"Ryo?" Rowen yelled as he pulled Kurari up and stared incredulously at his friend. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting." He glanced at Kento, looking for an explanation, but Hardrock merely shrugged.
"I can't rest while my friends are in danger," Ryo yelled back over his shoulder, sternly eying Kurari. He quickly turned away as their eyes met. "Thanks for protecting Rowen," he mumbled over his shoulder guard.
Jidai growled, returning their attention to him. The demon was glaring off in the distance at the approaching Ronins and warlords. Behind him Kayura and Black Blaze had regained consciousness and were poised for attack. He was outnumbered twelve to one.
He laughed.
"Ryo, Kento, what are you guys doing here?" Cye exclaimed from across the park. He and Sage circled the demon while the warlords shielded Kayura. "What's she doing here?" the warrior of trust unintentionally yelled as he suddenly noticed Kurari leaning against Rowen for support.
He didn't get any answers as Jidai bellowed his laughter. "So you have all come!" He mockingly bowed to Kayura. "In return for awakening me, I spare you and your comrades of my wrath." He stood to his full height, and menacingly towered over them. "But I will not be denied that which is mine." He turned to Kurari, whose eyes were closed in pain as she tightly gripped her bleeding shoulder.
Before anyone could react, Jidai drew out the clear orb and held it before Kurari. His ethereal form rapidly shifted through the color spectrum and sparks of matching energy rippled over the crystal, causing it to glow.
Gasping, Kurari dropped to her knees and groaned as a new burning pain rolled over her. Confused, Rowen held on to her. "What's wrong?"
"Stop it!" Ryo yelled; springing at Jidai, he angrily slashed at the demon. Sage, Cye, Kento, and Black Blaze rushed in to attack, but it was just as the demon hoped. He spun, lashing out a whip of crimson energy that easily knocked them to the ground in one hit. He then released the power as a bolt of lightning that exploded in front of the warlords, blowing them out of the fight.
In the passing dust he loomed over Rowen and Kurari. The stunned archer was thrown several feet from a swift backhand to his blue chest.
Groaning, the warriors recovered just in time to see Jidai triumphantly laughing and dangling Kurari by her right arm. She reached out to them with her free blood-covered hand. "Ryo…" she whispered heavily.
And they were gone.
A/N: Ahh…aren't cliffhangers fun? Thankfully the chapters are getting easier to write because I'm finally at the point where the story collides with my concepts of the armor world. Stay tuned for more action and new surprises coming at you February first!
Oh, and remember: just thirteen reviews to go until the next Ronin Warriors fan art/fic art posting!
TeahLeafs: Glad you liked the fan art. It was just something I whipped up for fun right after the holidays. Originally I had White Blaze wearing reindeer antlers, but at the last second I scrapped the idea. That's why he looks rather…exasperated. Oh, and thanks for the PM. I'll try to keep more in touch with that feature about your progressing art skills. And of course, thanks for the kind words and continued support. You get a smily:D
MorganRay: Already said this in a PM, but I'll repeat anyway: glad you found the artwork. In my original document I had the link written up, but when I posted the chapter, the text got all messed up. I had to replace the chapter four times before deciding on the current method of just posting the link in my author info page. Oh well. Again and again, thank you so much for your encouragement and feedback. I'm also happy that the revisions have worked out. As I said, the story is finally to the point where I can just write and not worry too much about setting up the scene or describing characters. The only trouble I know I'm going to have is trying to write the warlords' dialogue. They were so evil in the series that writing them as good while maintaining their individual personalities as reformed warriors will be very challenging. Oh well. Hope you like however I handle it! Smily to you too:D