Disclaimer: Still don't own…

Chapter 1

It is early morning at Mia's house and almost everyone is up and moving. Cye is busy at the stove cooking sausage, eggs, and bacon while Mia is setting the table.

As Mia set the last plate both she and Cye heard footsteps descending the stairs. They both looked at each other with a look of 'oh crap' on their faces. "Good morning people," cheered Kento.

"Good morning to you too, but your not getting any food no matter how cheerful you act," Mia stated.

"Just because I say good morning you automatically think that I'm only here to get some early bits of food."

Both Cye and Mia blankly looked at him. "Just what woke you up Kento, Ryo or Sage or the smell of the cooking?" Cye asked.

Kento put his hand behind his head and looked down at the floor. "The smell," he mumbled "But can't I have just a taste?"

"Not unless you want to get heartworms from raw sausage."

"What about the eggs?"

"Salmonella," Mia replied. "They still need to be cooked."

"Bacon?"

"In the pan now," Cye answered.

Kento sighed; he moved over to a chair lazily flopped down in defeat.

Cye and Mia smiled. Every morning he would try something new. The only times when Cye let Kento get any early bites was when he was cooking something new and needed a taste tester.

A couple minutes of silence passed and Kento was desperate to break the silence. "Did you two sleep well?"

"Rather well actually," Mia replied. "You?"

"Like a baby," Kento said with a smile imitating a baby.

"What about you, Cye?" Mia asked.

"You kidding me? Mr. Lumberjack over there was cutting down trees all night."

"You told me that you didn't mind that I snore!" Kento said in shock.

"I don't on some nights, but then there are those when you are so loud. Last night was one of those nights."

Cye grabbed the bowl that was holding the beaten eggs and poured them into a pan. "Will one of you go get Rowen up? Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes."

"I'll go. It'll give me some time to kill while waiting." Kento said standing up and walking out the door. He then proceeded up the stairs and to the bedroom door. He walked into the bedroom and approached the side of the bed. "Hey Rowen, get up." Kento called shaking Rowen's shoulder a little bit, "Breakfast is ready."

Rowen moaned and rolled over pulling part of his pillow over head. "Get up." Kento called nudging his shoulder again.

"Leave me alone. I'll eat later."

"But then it'll be cold."

"I'll heat it in the microwave."

"But food doesn't taste as good when it's heated in the microwave." Kento waited a few seconds and pulled his pillow from under his head. "Get up!" he said louder before hitting him in the head with his pillow.

"Okay! I'm up; just let me put on my clothes."

Kento picked his house clothes off of the floor and tossed them on top Rowen's face "Good."

Kento exited the room and descended the stairs once more. Upon entering the kitchen he saw that Cye was finishing breakfast and Mia was setting what was finished on the table. She looked up and saw Kento walk through the door way and asked "Can you go tell Ryo and Sage that breakfast is ready?"

"Sure. Where are they?" Kento asked.

"Ryo is down by the lake with White Blaze, and I think Sage is still in the woods meditating." With that being said Kento left to fetch Ryo.

Ryo lay on his side propped up with his elbow, head resting in his hand. His other hand was by stroking the soft fur from White Blaze's neck to his shoulder. White Blaze was lying in front of him while making low rumble in his throat. His eyes were closed and his tail was twitching with pleasure with each stroke of Ryo's hand.

Ryo breathed deeply as a soft breeze blew by. 'It's so peaceful out here' he thought. One of Ryo's favorite things to do was to be outside in the morning and just be away from everything; to absorb the tranquility of nature. "You ready to go boy?" Ryo asked to White Blaze "It's about time for breakfast."

Both Ryo and White Blaze stood; they turned around and saw Kento approaching them. "Breakfast about ready Kento?" Ryo asked as he and White Blaze walked toward him.

"Yep, and Mia said for you to go get Sage," he replied.

Ryo narrowed his eyes and cocked an eyebrow. "Did she really say that, or do you just not want to go so you can get some food?"

"No man, she really said that," Kento was struggling not to smile.

Ryo stared at him for a moment. "I don't believe you."

Kento's mouth dropped. "Come on man, it's not like any of us know where he usually goes to meditate."

"I know." Ryo said through his teeth staring coldly, "Come on White Blaze."

Kento turned and started heading back toward the house with a smile radiating from his face.

Sage sat in an Indian style on a large rock in the forest. He was clearing his mind of all of his thoughts and just letting all of his worries and stress float away. 'Clear your mind. Listen to the forest in all it's beauty.' he thought to himself. He breathed deeply and opened his eyes. He felt so relaxed; like he had just been given a spiritual massage. He looked up through the swaying trees as the winds blew them back and forth.

He heard a twig snap and looked down a small path. He saw Ryo and White Blaze slowly approaching. Sage gave them a half smile and slid then jumped off of the rock. "You don't have to be scared to get my attention." Sage said.

"I know, but I hate to disturb you while you are meditating."

Ryo turned around and he and Sage started back toward the house with White Blaze trailing. "What's for breakfast?" Sage asked.

"Um…" Ryo said looking up and contorting his face, "I don't know. Kento didn't tell me."

"He probably just wanted to beat us to it."

"Not if Mia as anything to say about it. She likes the family dinner type of setting."

"I guess you could say that. We're all like one big happy family."

"One big happy family that kicks major Dynasty butt."

Sage smiled. "My family away from family."

A few minutes passed and they were at the edge of the woods. They could see the house and Ryo and Sage looked at each other. "Want to race?" Ryo asked.

"You want to lose?" Sage replied.

"On three?" that was more of a statement than a question from Ryo.

"GO!"

They both suddenly ran as fast as they could toward the house with White Blaze in tow playing along. White Blaze all the sudden decided that he would take "drastic" measures to win. With one swipe of his paw he tripped Sage who grabbed Ryo's arm and took him down with him. Sage started to push himself up but was quickly pushed back down hard as White Blaze jumped on top of him, then quickly jumped on top of Ryo and proceeded towards the house. White Blaze never did slow down.

Ryo and Sage both heard hysterical laughing and looked up and saw Rowen leaning on the porch banister. Sage and Ryo stood up and dusted themselves off and decided to walk to the house since they were too close to run again. As they stood on the porch White Blaze looked up at both of them. If a tiger could smile, that was you would have seen on his face.

Everyone was now sitting around the dinner table enjoying their breakfast. There was a lot of commotion and laughter at times and at others there was just one or two people talking.

A few minutes and everyone put their dishes in the sink to wash later that evening. They were all now sitting around the television letting their food digest. "You nervous about the martial arts tournament tomorrow Sage?" asked Rowen

"Not too much. But that can't be helped," Sage replied.

"What if I tell you that I'm going to compete?" Ryo added smirking.

Sage narrowed his eyes, and glared at Ryo sideways. "Relax; I'm not going to." Ryo paused a couple seconds "I wouldn't want to take the trophy away from you." The last sentence was follow by some laughter.

"I would," Kento added sending more laughter into the room. Sage could only glare at Kento.

A minute or two passed in silence as everyone settled. "You ready to go train some more?" asked Ryo.

"Yep, let's go," Sage answered as he stood up. Both he and Ryo left to go change into their training clothes; soon they were in the yard stretching.

Back inside the living room everyone else continued to watch television. "I hope he does well tomorrow," said Mia.

"We all do." said Cye stating the obvious.

A couple minutes passed and they could hear the shouts, grunts, and the sound of hands and feet connecting with each other.

An Hour Later

Rowen, Kento and Cye were all sitting outside on the porch carrying conversations and watching both Ryo and Sage train for the upcoming tournament. "Oooo" the three of them gasped. Sage delivered a swift kick to the side of Ryo's ribs and having his other leg swept from under him and landing on his shoulder.

"Did I hurt you?" asked Sage trying to catch his breath.

"No, you just knocked the wind out of me a bit. You?" Ryo answered.

"Same here."

Mia, who was now sitting beside Cye on the porch swing, yelled "Why don't you guys take a break? I brought out some water." Both Sage and Ryo took her up on her offer and joined them on the porch.

A couple minutes later the telephone rang. "I'll get it." called Rowen who was closest to the door. "Hello Mia Koji's residence." he said upon picking up the receiver.

"Hello Rowen. Is my son home?">

"Oh, hello Ms. Date. Hold on just one sec and I'll go get him."

"Thanks.">

"Sage, telephone," Rowen said. "It's you mother"

Sage continued to sit for a couple seconds. He then stood up and proceeded to the phone. "Why does he still get nervous when his family calls him?" Kento asked once Sage was out of hearing range.

"He's been like that since the first war with Talpa," Rowen answered.

"Well, can you blame him? I just don't think that the wants the Dynasty to know who his family is" Ryo stated.

"But why? The Dynasty is gone," Kento added.

"I guess it is because he doesn't want the Dynasty to use him family against him. You know like as hostages or a human shield," Mia commented.

"Or for bribing," Rowen said.

"But the Dynasty's gone, we beat Talpa, and Kayura took our armors away," Kento continued.

"We know," answered Cye. "But if they got a hold of one our family members…"

"That's the sure-fire way to get one of us to bend towards their wills. I have no doubt in my mind that our opponents would use any advantage they could against us," Ryo finished.

"Hey mom. What's up?" Sage asked.

"Nothing much, just thought that I would give you a call and check up on things before I go to work.">

"Well I'm glad you did."

"Me too. Satsuki's going crazy over here wanting to see her big brother.">

Sage tensed a bit. He loved and missed seeing his family, but was still afraid the Dynasty might be out somewhere plotting their revenge. "Awe that's sweet. Hey before I forget I'm competing in a martial arts tournament tomorrow."

"That's wonderful we'll have to try to come by.">

Sage winced. "Well you don't have to make any special arrangements just for me. I would feel bad about ruining your plans."

"Now what vile being has possessed you to think such thoughts? You know you could never ruin our plans.">

"I know."

"If it makes you feel any better I do have to work tomorrow."> There was a momentary silence between the two. "Listen; one of the many reasons why I was calling you is I wanted you to take Satsuki to the new aquarium today."> Sage's eyes got wide. "I thought it might be something nice for you two to do.">

Sage went silent. He wanted to tell her no, but didn't have the heart. He also didn't want to break his little sister's heart. "Sure," he choked

"Good. I'll take her to the hospital with me and you pick her up there.">

"Is it okay if one of the guys comes too? I think Cye will want to go; he's been dying to go since it opened a week ago."

"Suretake as many as you want.">

"Okay. I'll pick her up at the hospital, but I might be a little late. I just finished training with Ryo and need to take a shower."

"Okay. I'll tell her. Love you Sage.">

"Love you too, mom." he finished hanging up the receiver.

In A Dark Cell Chamber (In the Dynasty No Less)

Kayura faded in and out consciousness mostly only long enough realize that she was shackled upright on large wooden platform. "Armors of Wildfire, Halo, Torrent, Hardrock, and Strata… hear my plea. Go back to the Ronin Warriors so that they may once again fight to destroy this new evil that has threatened us." Kayura once again lost consciousness.

Author's Note: I know this chapter was longer than the other one but probably less interesting for those of you who like a lot of action. I also know that this chapter was mostly talk; however, this is probably one of the most important chapters in my fic. At least three chapters will be brought off of this one. I don't know if any of you caught it, but there was a bit of foreshadowing as well. I hate to use the word "foreshadowing" because I really suck at it, but this is the best way I can describe it.

Reviews:

Thanks to Firestorm, Isabel Night, and Carline for review my fic and giving me some pointers. I hope to not disappoint you all as well as any other readers. I will take your suggestion seriously and try to make my story better.

Also thanks to Isabel for correcting me on my timeline. I just changed it to their summer break after Talpa's defeat, and thanks for the welcome.

Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming.