"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Can I kill her now?"
"No."
"Hey Kale, where's everybody else?"
"Hmm?"
"Y'know, the other two Warlords?"
"They'll meet up with us on the way there."
"Oh."
Right on cue, they turned a corner and found a green haired individual leaning against the shadowy wall, waiting for them.
"Took you long enough."
* * *
Why why why WHY now?! Ryo thought as he walked to the door and grabbed the handle. He took a deep breath and prepared to open the door and slip quickly out. Who in the world would be coming over—
"Hello!" he squeaked, a huge smile lighting up his face as he saw who it was.
"Ry-O!" both Kento and Sai yelled at the top of their lungs, snapping him back into reality. He quickly shut the door behind him, hoping she hadn't seen.
"S-so, uh, Amber, whatcha doing over here?"
"I need to get some homework assignments from Katie."
"Oh. Well, uh, how- how come you walked over? Couldn't you just use the phone?"
"What, you don't like to see me?" she asked, looking up at him. His heart nearly shot out of his chest.
"O-oh, no, of c-course not! I mean, uh, I love seeing you and everything b-but, um, well, I just wish you hadn't wasted your energy 'cause neither of the girls are home right now and, uh…" His mind raced. Man, my brain isn't working right now! What's the matter with me? And what's with her? Especially those eyes. There's something different. Something weird.
"You don't know when they'll be home?"
"Huh?" Her question had startled him. "Oh, uh, no, not really. I'll tell Katie to call you when they get back, ok?"
Another odd look. "Alright. Thank you." She turned and started down the walkway towards the road.
"H-hey, Amber?"
She looked back over her shoulder. "Yes?"
"Y-you feelin' ok? You… look different."
"I'm fine."
Got that right, he found himself thinking, watching her walk away. He shook his head, bringing himself back to reality again. Why does she have that effect on me? He frowned. And what's affecting her? A sick, icy chill ran through him, and he shivered.
* * *
"So, what's the news?" Kale asked Sekhmet, once they had continued their walk.
"Everything appears to be quiet," replied the green-haired warrior.
"Good."
After a moment of silence, the two looked back at the group following them.
"Odd that they would not send Wildfire on such a mission," Sekhmet observed. "As the leader, wouldn't he be useful in making decisions?"
Kale shrugged. "Ask Kayura. She and Anubis were the ones who went to the Mortal Realm to get them."
Upon hearing her name mentioned, Kayura joined in the conversation. "What are we saying behind my back?"
"Nothing. Sekhie here," Sekhmet scowled at that, "wanted to know why Ryo hadn't come."
Kayura sighed. "Well, after a lot of yelling and arguing, this group was chosen for very specific reasons." She explained to them what the Ronins had told her.
Kale nodded. "Sounds like decent logic."
"But we aren't sure it is safe," Sekhmet reminded them. "I am not sure it was a wise idea to send the girls."
"Well, they're never going to get combat experience if we keep saying they can't go since they don't have any. It's a vicious cycle. Besides, they've got all of us here."
"Speaking of all of us," Anubis joined in, "where is Dais?"
"He should be here soon."
* * *
"You nearly blew it man!" Kento bellowed. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"I-I wasn't thinking," Ryo mumbled. I couldn't think…
"You've got that right," Kento snarled.
"Do you think she saw them?" Sai asked nervously.
"I-I don't know."
"Was she actin' weird or anything?"
Ryo swallowed. "Uh, no, um," he stuttered. "I didn't see her do anything weird, really."
Sai and Kento looked at each other out of the corners of their eyes. He was definitely covering something up. But was it important? They said nothing, just stared at him disapprovingly. He kept his eyes on the arm of his chair as he pulled out tiger hairs, avoiding their gazes.
* * *
Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch…
Rachel stopped suddenly. "Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Footsteps. Coming from behind us."
She turned around, and found herself face to chest with Dais. Squealing in fear, she leapt back.
"Don't do that!"
"Nice to see you too, my dear."
"And don't call me that!"
"Sorry honey."
"Agh! Dais, I am going to rip off your arm and beat you to death with it!"
"Alright you two," Sage said, stepping in between them. He put a hand on Rachel's shoulder and turned her away from the Warlord, shooting him a dirty look. He wasn't sure, but he could almost swear Dais gave him one right back. Must have been the bad lighting.
* * *
Ryo stood up and walked towards his room.
"Ryo," Kento said warningly. "We have to know. If she saw something, we have to be able to cover it up."
"I don't know if she saw anything and asking her would be stupid! What more do you want?!"
"Just chill out!" Kento snapped. "We asked if she acted weird and you wouldn't give us a straight answer! You act like yer hidin' somethin' and we need to know what it is.
"If she saw somethin' and we don't cover it up, we could be royally, royally screwed. We have to know. I don't care how much you like her. You can't cover for her! It's not like we'd go kill her if she saw anything."
"I know."
"So what's your problem?"
"You're my problem!" Ryo exploded. "Why don't you get off my back?!"
"Take it easy Ryo," Sai pleaded. "No reason to get mad. We're just trying to cover all the bases."
"Well what do you expect from me?! I'm not psychic! I can't tell what she was thinking!"
"Ryo, just—"
"Oh, drop it Sai. If he wants to put everyone at risk because he's a lovesick dog, let him."
Ryo scowled and felt his fists clench at his sides. Kento's did the same, and he turned to him angrily.
"I just hope for your sake that you're right and she didn't see anything. 'Cause if anything happens as a result of this, I am going to pound you into the sidewalk."
"Bring it on," Ryo sneered as Kento turned away. "You couldn't even land on a punch anyway. I'd have you decked before you could say Twinkie."
Without warning, Kento spun and his fist connected squarely with Ryo's gut, causing him to double over.
"That's IT!" Ryo lunged at his assailant, ramming his shoulder into his stomach and tackling him to the ground.
Sai could only stand and watch sadly as his two friends commenced with their inevitable brawl.
* * *
Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch…
"Hey."
"What is it?" Sage asked, turning to Rachel.
"I think I hear more footsteps."
They looked ahead. Everyone except Dais was there.
Sage growled under his breath. "Dais, cut the antics. Show yourself."
The Warlord appeared next to Rachel. "Geez, you could be a little more polite."
Rachel scooted away from him. "I think I still hear them." The three stopped.
Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch… Crunch…
"Is anyone else supposed to be down here?"
"No."
"Then we have a serious problem."
"Kale! Minna! Get back here!"
The troop quickly stopped and gathered around the trio.
"What is it?" Kale asked, confused.
"Can you see anything back there?"
The Warlord looked around. "No. Why?"
"Rachel thought she heard some footsteps."
"Well," Kale shrugged, "I don't see anything. But we might want to check it out just in case."
Kayura nodded. "Kale and I will go and see what is making these noises. You all stay here, and stay together. We should be back soon."
The two figures walked off, quickly swallowed up by the darkness.
*Author ranting*
Well, gomen nasai, minna. I really didn't mean to take so long getting the next part up. *bows profusely* I've just been so swamped lately… I know it gets tiring hearing that same excuse all the time, and I really am sorry to have done what I know irks me so often in taking forever. But hopefully, as fellow writers, you can understand.
Anyway, I hope those of you that have bothered to check back (thank you) for updates will be happy with what I have done. Please let me know either way! I'm always looking to improve! Thanks once again!
P.S. Sorry the last rant gave some false info as to the contents of this chapter; I ended up changing some stuff around…
