"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Seven: The Snake and the Wolf
It was well past midnight, and once more he was finding no comfort in slumber. Sekhmet turned over with his back away from the door and tried to settle down again. He closed his eyes and sighed restlessly. He couldn't stop thinking about what Hardrock had told him earlier. As far as he knew, Managi was dead. She had died years ago, before Ryo had defeated Talpa, before he was the Warlord of Venom. It didn't make any sense. His eyes forced open again and he sat up, removing the gold chain around his neck. He stared at the ring which hung from it for a long while. As the moments passed, memories and feelings of long ago flowed back to mind...
The sound of swords clashing and the distant thundering of the collapsing castle filled the air. Naotoki snarled down at his bleeding arm as he caught it on one of the crumbling walls of his father's castle. He nearly stumbled over the fallen bodies of his empire's army as he sped toward his room. "Managi! Gods, where are you!?" he yelled as he dodged a flaming beam that now blocked his path. "Naotoki!... Here!" She had backed herself into a corner, trying desperately to avoid the flames. He looked around for a clear path, but found none. The beams in the room began to creak under the pressure and heat of the flames. Damn you, Talpa... "No!" he leapt into the wall of fire and snatched his bride in his arms, rolling out of the way just as the beams gave way. Managi coughed into his chest when he pulled her to her feet. "Can you stand?"
"Aye..." The flames had grown larger and hotter, making their retreat impossible.
"... Damn it..." Naotoki clutched Managi in his arms and leapt to the window, looking down at courtyard below. "It seems that there is no other way than to fight our way out of here..." Managi said and leapt out of the window, her great leathery wings unfurling and light rapier drawn. She came down on a soldier's head, cleaving him in two. He smirked wryly, mentally thanking his father for finding a woman capable of protecting herself along with being beautiful "So be it..."
Naotoki followed almost immediately after nearly slipping. He stumbled as he landed. "It's the Serpent King!" he heard someone cry, whose voice he would become all too familiar with very soon. The Warlord of Cruelty. He looked up too see a barrage of chains coming at him, binding him by the throat and arms. Laughter met his ears and Naotoki opened his eyes. "My, my! The great Serpent demon wed to a halfling!" Anubis sneered as he grasped her by the throat. "... And a very pretty halfling, indeed..." Managi cringed under the motion of his wandering hand.
"Don't touch her!!" Naotoki spat. He twisted himself free of the metal bondage, skin hardening into scales.
Snarling out in a language only Managi understood, Naotoki's body began to transform into a long, serpentine like body with sharp spikes protruding out of his back and claws and fangs that could cleave even the hardest of armors. "What in the seven hells is that?!" Anubis snarled, dropping Managi to the stone ground just in time to leap out of the way of the Serpent King's tail. Another sweep, Naotoki knocked the remaining soldiers dead, however more were still coming. "Managi," he began in a metallic and demonic voice. "Head for the throne room!"Managi scrambled to her feet. "What about you!? I cannot leave you alone to fight!"
"GO!!" he shrieked and spat out a stream of venom into another wave of armored samurai, reducing them to bubbling piles of melted armor and flesh. "Don't get killed!!" she ordered.
"I don't plan on it!!" He watched his empress turn and dash into the castle. He swiped at Anubis as he came towards him, he knocked the warlord to the ground and pinned him with his giant claw. He stooped over to snap the warlord's head off in his mouth. Anubis leered up at him, "Killing me will not stop Talpa from taking this empire... or your precious halfling..."
Suddenly there was a giant rumble and the great hall collapsed...
Sekhmet sighed heavily as he remembered he last days as Naotoki, the Serpent King and his first as Sekhmet, the Warlord of Venom. He hadn't forgotten that horrible day or his lovely wife of only a few months. For the longest time, he had hated Talpa and Anubis, but soon time turned hate into anger, anger to guilt, and finally, guilt to sorrow. There were times when he would lash out at Anubis for no reason other than to release the anger that had been suppressed over the years. The others had no idea what was the cause of his outbursts, but Anubis knew and usually let him have his way with him; it was the least he could do.
With a choked sigh, he replaced his wedding band back around his neck and slipped out of bed. I need some air... Sekhmet slowly opened the door to his room, poking his head out first, then quietly slipping down the hall. With everyone's nerves on end, he had to be silent. If he wasn't, Hardrock would chase after him with a baseball bat. Sekhmet rubbed the back of his head, he still had the bump from last time.
He passed by one of the girls' rooms. The door was opened slightly and he could see Nasake sleeping away. The old warrior raised an eyebrow at her sleeping form. Her body lay halfway off the bed, her feet dangling over one side, the blankets barely covering her somewhat exposed form, with pillows all around. This one has sleeping habits more unusual than Strata and Hardrock!... Yet she is so content among all of that...
Slowly he slipped into her room and attempted to fix the damage as best he could. Nasake murmured softly when he placed her back in the center of her bed, "... Mmm... ramen noodles..."
She sleeps like Hardrock... She dreams like Hardrock... Good thing she doesn't snore-
"ZzZzZ... zzzZ"
Nevermind. He fixed her shirt very carefully and pulled the blankets back over her. Nasake shifted and turned on her stomach. Something caught Sekhmet's eyes that shocked him. Right along her shoulder blades, two very large scars ran almost halfway down her back. What... could those be from?? Shaking his head after giving up, he left, but not before noticing that Domo was missing from her bed. Great... The stoic one is gone...
Sekhmet slipped down the stairs without so much as a sound and into the kitchen.
"... You are pretty noisy for a four hundred year old warrior."
"AH!... Gods, don't do that!" he whispered harshly at Domo. She sat at the kitchen table with a bottle of sake and a small glass and eyed the ancient king with a smirk. "... Scary when a novice in battle like me can pick up even your feet."
"I wasn't trying..." he defended with a slight blush. He sat down, sighing heavily.
"... Insomia's the only threat to you, I see." Sekhmet rolled his eyes,
"You don't know the half of it..." Gods is she sharp! "What are you doing up? You may not know this, but the wake up call is at six... Five if you made Anubis angry."
"... He'll have so much fun getting Tori's lazy ass outta bed. She's worse than Nasake..." Sekhmet remembered the young girl in her tangled mass of sheets and smirked. She's probably messed everything up again. "... You are going to make yourself ill if you drink too much... Aren't you a little young??"
"... Please. When you've lived the kind of life I have, this stuff's like orange juice," she laughed.
"... And what kind of life is that?"
"... No father, single-working mother that doesn't understand her kids, pain in the ass brother. This place is really, really nice compared to home. It's never this clean... My room's the exception. But... I suppose it can't be so bad. Mom tries really hard, Rei... is just doing what he's supposed to be doing, being annoying... Then there's Ryu... He's been great to me. I'm really surprised that he's stayed with me all this time, putting up with all my shit..." she paused and took a drink. "I guess I'm really lucky... Some people don't even have half the life I do... like Tori or Nasake. Tori's parents just... left one day. Masaki-san's been her only strength. And 'Sake... She doesn't even know her father. Her mom was a control freak, never let her date, and put ideas into her head. She died a little while ago. She's got her grandmother, but... she'll be gone soon too..."
"At least you are all somewhat prepared for what is ahead... Trust me, what will start to happen in a few days time, will only be the tip of the iceberg..."
"Hm?" Sekhmet poured himself another glassful of sake and knocked it back easily.
"... Death, destruction, hate, torture, pain... That is what will be all around us very soon. One or all of you will snap... Gods, what is Kaos thinking?!"
"It's gonna be that bad?"
"... Aye. Which is why you should get to bed... You will need all your strength for tomorrow. They are going to work you to death." Domo swallowed the last of her sake and stood.
"... Lovely... I haven't had a decent match in a long time."
"You sound so sure of yourself..." She replied with a chuckle.
"I'm not your ordinary school girl, Sekhmet... Hey, this may be a stupid question: anyone here use a sword?"
"... Halo, Wildfire, Lady Kayura and myself. The others have other weapons. Anubis and Dais have so many tricks that they amaze even me..."
"... Which one's Halo again?"
"Sage." Domo set her glass in the sink.
"He's that cute blonde, right?... Interesting..." She walked halfway out the door and stopped. "Oh, Sekhmet?"
"Aye?"
"... That woman, Managi."
"What about her?" he asked softly.
"... Where there's is one ring... there is always another..." Then she left, leaving the Ronin of Piety to his thoughts.
*****
"... Death, destruction, hate, torture, pain... That is what will be all around us very soon. One or all of you will snap..."
Domo leaned against the wall beside the kitchen door. Her hand involuntarily enclosed around the dark green shard she was advised to keep with her. How is this small, little piece of stained glass capable of sealing away the most evil creature in the world? There's hardly any power inside-
"Ow! Shit! Sage that was my shin! Aw, bloody hell..."
"Sai hush! Do you want to wake the whole house?!" Domo pocketed the rune in her robe and tip-toed toward the back of the house; the sliding glass door was left wide open, giving her an obstructed view of the two Ronins. She backed up against the wall and peered through the glass. Sai was kneeling on the ground, breathing hard, face twisted in pain. If he hadn't said anything at first, Domo could have guessed that the taller Ronin nailed Torrent right between his legs.
"Are you done whining? Talpa's not going to wait for you to get up to kill you, Sai..." The older boy glared darkly at Sage, saying nothing. "Get up... We've got only a few days before samurai start showing up..."
Domo made a small gasp, Days?! Is he fucking crazy?!
"I know that, Sage," Sai snapped angrily. "But the samurai are the least of our worries... If there's anything to worry about it's whatever the hell that demon is that we fought!"
"Sh! Keep your voice down, or someone-"
"Will hear you?" Domo stepped outside and toward the pair.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Sage asked, not expecting her to know. Domo leaned on the glass door. "... Don't care. Can't sleep, especially when we only have a few days to become hardened killing machines..."
"Which is why you need to rest all you can before tomorrow... I'm not sure what the Ancient One is planning, but it can't be an easy task." Sai rolled his eyes,
"Huh! When is it ever?"
"I'll be fine, so will the rest of us. We're not exactly normal girls..." She pulled out her shard and tossed it into the air, catching it several times as she circled them. "And you think we are?" Sage said, taking a stab at Domo's sarcasm; frankly he was getting irritated that she was taking this kind of thing so lightly. She replied with a cool smirk, "Not at all... Just a little over confident." Sai stood up, frowning,
"And what's that supposed t'mean?!" he snapped.
"Now, now... Don't get all defensive. I am only trying to make a point. Why exactly do you think that... 'the Ancient One' pulled us all the way out here? Because he is afraid that you are all too weak..." Sage crossed his arms,
"If I remember correctly, you were clueless to the power you hold when you got here. Now you're saying that you'll 'be fine'?!" Domo enclosed her hand over her rune. It began to pulse with a green light.
"I know more than you think, Sage..." she murmured as her eyes shut.
The tiki torches flickered sharply, their flames growing, then turning green. Almost immediately, she was engulfed in a soft green light, tendrils of power tapering off her glowing body. Both Ronins shielded their eyes and as the light subsided, she stood in a newer form. A dark, emerald cloak gathered at her shoulders, then seemed to fall like water down her slender now armored body. Onyx armor, mysteriously similar to Ronin sub-armor, protected her body, making her twice as light and swift. Her green eyes that peeked out from her cloak shimmered with a power that was all too familiar to Sage; they frightened him just slightly. At her feet, was an even more stunning sight. A wolf bearing the mark of the gods. It's coat was as white as untouched snow and it's ancient eyes sparked and glimmered with more wisdom and beauty than one could gather in ten thousand years. It sat still and silent at Domo's side; the eyes stared at Sage and seem to peer into his heart. For a moment, he thought that the beast grinned at him, but as late as it was it he was convinced that it was a trick of the light. "I am the keeper of Korin's rune," she said, pulling the clothed hood away from her head, revealing a small smile. "Before you stands the essence of Light Guardian Korin, the light bringer..."
"How... but... you..." Sai fumbled over words, absolutely speechless. Domo kneeled down and stroked the fur behind Korin's ears, "Korin was the first to come into this world... It's only fitting that it's keeper ascends to power before the others..." She glanced up at Sai, his face still blank in confusion.
"How long have you been able to do this?" he asked.
"... A few weeks. This little one came to me in a dream before Masaki-san gave me the rune. Thereafter, I have been slowly gaining power. I assume the others are having similar dreams such as mine..."
"Do they all have animals?" Sai asked, kneeling slowly in front of the wolf. He could only imagine what the other guardians looked like. After all, he had never really seen a minotaur up close, and was a bit weary. Domo laughed, "If what she says is true, then I would hate to be Megami and Sakura when they wake up!"
"'She'?" they queried in unison.
You Ronins are very amusing! Sai leapt back.
"It... talked!!"
Of course I can speak, you stupid boy! Do you think me so ignorant like the beasts of this realm?! Torrent frowned as a hurt blush stained his light cheeks..
"Personality's too similar," he murmured under his breath. He saw Korin's eyes flash and he flinched. "Sorry..." Domo yawned, "Well now! I'm going to bed... Good night." She turned her back and started to leave.
"Wait! Where're you going?!" Sage demanded in a harsh whisper. Domo's armor faded into her palm in a green mist as did Korin. "I'm tired of talking tonight..." she said in a yawn. "Mmm! Forgot I got tired after transforming... Nighty night!" Sage and Sai gaped after her as she smiled sweetly and shut the door.
"She remind you of someone?? " Sai asked.
"Yes. Give her a sword, dye her hair blue and she could be Kayura's evil twin sister."
"... That would be bad... Really, really, REALLY bad."
*****
Managi's eyes fluttered open weakly. The minimal light from the torches in the room was too much for her pounding head, resulting in a angry yet feeble groan. The last thing she remembered was collapsing onto the stone floor of the throne room and the scuffling of soldiers' feet toward her. A cool hand slipped against her cheek almost immediately. Managi ignored the stinging lights and forced her eyes open, struggling briefly to sit up. Strong, but surprisingly gentle hands pushed her shoulders back down. They were chilled, like stone marble. " Do not try to move... You are still quite weak, Milady..." said a familiar voice of a much older man. Managi ignored him, trying to rise again, angry that she could not sit up, that she had lost to a bunch of humans. When she began to struggle again, another set of hands forced her gently back to the mattress. "... I know you detest to listen to this old man, but... heh heh t'will be my head if you do not recover," the old man chuckled. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... reckless just like that Kayura," he sighed and placed a cool, damp cloth upon Managi's forehead which had been soaked in a scented oil. Managi raised her clawed hand to the cloth and grinned through the pain. "You dare compare me to that witch? You are lucky to have me bed ridden old man," she began, then cracked open one eye, "in any case otherwise you would be back burning in Hell where Cruelty sent you!"
"Oh, please do not mention that incident in my presence," another groaned, a woman.
"... Are you still angry about that? If it wasn't for him, you would still be dead, Milady Zeal."
"Stop your chattering, old man. I do not wish to hear of your failed attempts to destroy that traitor."
"Managi you speak so harshly of Lord Badamon! He was the one that kept you from going to Hell yourself!"
"... What are you doing here?" Managi demanded in a groan.
"Lord Fou-Lu was worried about you, my dear Managi..." she said lowly. The Warlord of Hatred froze and turned her head in her direction. "He-he was?"
"Aye... You are lucky. Milord Fou-Lu does not approve of the weak often," Badamon murmured, wiping the excess blood away from her arm. "Perhaps Milord is... lonely?? Hehehehe, hohohoho," he chuckled. Zeal rolled her eyes and laughed,
"Is that all you think about, old man? Although, I would not be surprised. He was in a lovely mood after leaving your room a few days ago..." she grinned. "He practically tore me in twine..." Managi flushed in response.
A cold draft blew through the room suddenly. "Careful Zeal... The walls hath ears." Badamon and Zeal lowered their eyes as the Warlord of Death stepped toward the bed. Managi swallowed hard as he bade them away. "Milord... She is quite frail from her battle earlier. She may be unavailable for combat for several days," Badamon informed. Fou-Lu nodded silently, then waved him away. Managi forced herself to sit up and greet him, "M-Milord... To whom do I owe the honor?" Fou-Lu smiled and sat down beside her battered form, slinking an arm around her bare body. "I came to congratulate thee on thine mission..." he said gently. Managi froze. This was not like him to be pleased by failure.
"Milord? I-I do not understand..." Fou-Lu eased her back onto the mattress and stroked her long silken hair.
"You hath accomplished in obtaining vital information about the Ronins. Master Talpa was quite pleased to know that they art as weak as kittens, and after that last battle, their strength hath been crippled."
"... What of those little girls with them?" Fou-Lu's lips pulled away from his teeth into a sly grin, a deep chuckle rising from his throat. "They have learned of the five Guardian's seal. It appears that those girls art the keys to unlocking Kurai from his prison... Lord Talpa is very pleased that they are all gathered in one spot and that the time of his revenge on the Gods and those pitiful humans is drawing near..." Managi gritted her teeth as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. Fou-Lu calmly slid his hand underneath the silken sheets and onto her tight abdomen. A cool pulse emitted from his hand and the pain stopped. "Thee must rest now... I hath matters of which I need to attend," he breathed into her ear. "I look forward to thine recovery... The night is growing colder and longer..." Managi turned her head weakly toward him and smiled sleepily; she felt his lips close over hers, and then sleep instantly claiming her. Fou-Lu stood and removed a dark, almost onyx stone from his robe. Lord Talpa needs only the other five... then the ascension shall begin.... Master Kurai will awaken from his long slumber...
Until next we meet...