"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Thirteen: Damage
Ryo's eyes stung as the heat and ashes from the scorching woods around him gusted into his face. He and Anubis had cleared the cliff easily, however locating Tori in the inferno proved more difficult. Anubis bashed at a burning branched with the side of his arm to clear a path. "By the gods! What happened?!" Anubis hissed and stood still beside Ryo. He attempted to protect his eyes from the burning cinders floating in the breeze with his arm. "How the hell should I know?! Ah, geez... Can you see Tori anywhere? She couldn't have gotten far whatever happened to her." He squinted his eyes to see through the thick smoke. With each moment, it became more dense. So dense that burned and stung at their eyes. Anubis snarled and wiped at his eyes roughly.
"I can't see anything in this ember screen... How can an entire section of forest go up in flames in an instant!?" He felt the cause was obvious. He just wished for another reasonable explanation. Rekka fluttered from Anubis' shoulder to Ryo's. As passed by, his wings emitted a strange ruby-colored dust that settled upon their eyes. Both men found that the stinging had stopped and the pain ceased. Ryo blinked his eyes easily. "Huh? Hey what-"
"It's only temporary..." Rekka paused and studied the flaming surroundings carefully. His head stopped in the direction in front of them and he narrowed his eyes. "My rune is not where I left it..." Rekka twisted his head sharply from left to right as if his senses had been dulled. Anubis frowned. "'Not where you left it?'... What do you mean by that?!"
"...It means that Tori is in danger as are the rest of the young lady summoners..." Ryo punched a nearby tree angrily and faced Anubis. "Dammit! If you hadn't pissed her off, you jerk, we wouldn't be looking for her!" he snarled.
"ME?!" Anubis sputtered. "She's always had the urge to wander off! She is like a damned child: you have to watch her every move!" What is his problem? I know that she's in danger, but his behavior isn't making sense!
"Don't blame this on her! God, if anything happens... Kaos is going to fucking kill us!!" A sudden crash of falling wood startled him and snarled as he spun on his heels towards. "Tori!?" He saw nothing but fire. I need to calm down… Deep breath Wildfire...
"Wildfire, relax! We'll find her! Don't panic!" Anubis ordered while shaking the younger man gently by the arms. Rekka chirped harshly with an angry flap of his large wings. "He is right. I know you are concerned with her, but losing your head will only worsen things." Ryo snarled again his cheeks heating slightly with anger. What was wrong with him? He had never before lost his temper so quickly. Sure he was hotheaded, however he was nothing like Kento or Rowen.
A scream loud enough to split stone shot through the air and sent Wildfire into another frenzy. "That was Tori!" Rekka then suddenly collapsed just as Ryo took off toward the sound without a word. "Wildfire! Don't go alone!! Damn it!" Anubis followed after lifted Rekka carefully into his arms. As soon as Ryo was out of sight, the flames vanished and the forest was restored. Anubis stopped abruptly. "An... illusion??" Not even Dais can create an illusion of this magnitude… Who is doing this?… Raiko…
The heat increased significantly as Ryo reached the sounds of the screams. The walls of fire seemed to reach to the heavens and cover the sky from his eyes. His armor was scorching, yet he felt no additional power. I don't feel any more powerful… It's gotta be at least a thousand degrees! It's almost hotter that Fuji!! He shook the sweat from his hair, wishing he could take off his helmet, as it had grown heavier.
A clamor from what sounded like laughter met his ears and he stopped still and unmoving when he found its source.
Rekka's summoner laid thrashing and writhing on the burning grass pinned and choking from the toxic fumes of the demonic smoke emanating from the fires. A black creature in tattered shrouds leered over her, speaking in a gurgled tongue. Its ghastly white claws bore into her chest, ripping and shredding the flesh out of her. It was digging inside her, smashing the bones and other vitals that were in its way. The sound of bone crunching and the shredding of flesh met his ears as others crept around them in an excited carnal manner that frightened Ryo. Finally it screeched horribly in triumph as it tore the still beating heart from her chest, raising it high above its head for the others to witness. "Tor... Oh G-god..." Ryo's widened eyes narrowed darkly and seized his twin katanas, almost ripping the sheaths from his armor. "Bastard!!" The wraith like figures' heads shot up sharply and shrieked as they took to the air and shot at Ryo like arrows. He slashed at them wildly, cleaving them as if they were simply cloth. The one that had taken her heart took to the air and simply hovered and held the dripping, spastic beating piece of flesh in its mangled hands. The shadow that was its face suddenly was adorned with two bright, deep blue glowing eyes. It gave a shrill cry and the shadows stopped abruptly. Before they were vicious creatures, now they just hovered like rags in mid air. Slowly they floated up towards the leader and began to murmur in a whispered voice, speaking demonic litanies of some kind of spell. The chanting became louder and the ground exploded around Ryo, then runs of black fire began to rip across the ground to form a shape beneath Tori and Ryo. He immediately dodged one and tumbled to Tori who lay lifeless with dead blue eyes. The flames vanished and the forest was as normal. "... I-illusion???" he stammered. The forest was silent and Ryo reached to touch her face.
Suddenly the chanting ceased and as soon as Ryo moved he was engulfed inside a flaming prison. The fire sapped his mortal and immortal strength quickly. How can I be weakened by fire?
"... I still do not see how Lord Talpa was defeated by this... boy. He can't even break out of a prison of his own element! How pathetic…" Ryo opened his eyes and saw Raiko leering over him. He had a fairly good idea of which warlord it was from the description that the others had given him. "... Damn... it! I'm... not a... child!!" Ryo spat and struggled to lift himself from the scorched ground. The heat was becoming unbearable which worried Wildfire. Why hadn't his armor absorbed the energy? Raiko laughed and beckoned his shadow warriors to him. He took the heart from the leader and held it in a crushing grip. The fire rune slid outward with a sickening, squelching noise. The shadows watched his hands eagerly, the scent of human blood driving them insane. Raiko held it to his lips and lapped the red fluid from the stone. "... Humans... they taste so sweet. Especially the women... Like ripe fruit..." Ryo snarled at him as the field vanished. He looked over at Tori behind the warrior and felt tears approaching. "Oh, how sweet... Are you going to cry over her? Pheh… You humans and your emotions…" Raiko sneered and tossed the mauled flesh to his minions. They leapt upon it greedily, shrieking and snarling like wild birds. The sounds of teeth shredding the flesh made Wildfire's stomach twist into convulsing knots. He was going to be sick.
"Massster? Shall we waittt for Zealll?" one of the wraiths whispered. Ryo was surprised that they could speak. "If not can we… eat the human?" another pleaded.
"Flesshh!!"
Raiko's tail twitched in thought. He turned his head to Tori's limp body. I thought for sure that he would be here…This isn't much fun if he isn't here… Maybe Badamon can resurrect her… I tire of Zeal and Managi… Raiko thought with a smile. He lifted her into his arms and was well aware of his hungry underlings' ravenous hissing.
"Quake with Fear!!" Raiko dodged the hurling chains and crouched on the ground as Anubis rushed toward him slashing the air just shy of the demon's face. Rekka landed between the shadow creatures and Ryo. His size had increased to a monstrous juggernaut. He shrieked at them in warning, tongue now a stream of flame and his wings unfurling to the rival the span of the very large clearing. "... You. I should have killed you..." Raiko snarled and eyed the very large phoenix carefully. He felt the bite of the mystical metal of the kusari-gama on his neck as soon as he removed his eyes from Anubis. "Shut up," he ordered. "Put her down… NOW." Raiko grimaced as the blade drew blood and carefully set Tori to the ground. He and backed towards the angry creatures. Rekka kept them at bay. "Move and you shall wish the flames of Hell would consume you lest you feel the wrath of mine!!" He snapped his beak at one and cleaved it in two. Ryo stumbled towards his armored friend and fell to his knees groaning loudly. Anubis removed Ryo's helmet. "Good Gods, Wildfire! You could have been killed!! Are you all right?!" Wildfire struggled to sit up he pointed at Tori, gaze and words lost in shock. Anubis had not quite noticed the hole in her chest. He looked at the lifeless form of the girl and made a small cry. "... D-dear me... Gods! She's... her... oh...." he fell backwards in shock, thoroughly sickened as the blood pool grew until all three were residing in it. Her eyes were an empty, dead blue, yet her cheeks were still warm and red as if no blood had left them at all. Anubis touched the young woman's cheek carefully. "... Tori??" he heard himself call. Ryo was reduced to silence and just stared at her.
A gust of frigid wind blew across the clearing as it gathered at a point where blue flames were appearing. Zeal stepped merrily out of it towards her comrade. "Raikooo! Did you get the other- what the hell is HE doing here?!?!" she demanded dodging Rekka's razor-like beak.
"Zeal... My dear... Did you manage to get the other stones?" Raiko asked and cautiously sidestepped the great bird to her. "Tsk. Need you ask? You know me Raiko, I…" Zeal stopped abruptly and saw Ryo and Anubis looking over Tori.
Anubis lifted her body gently and brushed the bloody hair from her face. "An-Anubis… Kaos can help her… right?" Ryo asked.
"I… I don't know, Wildfire," he said softly.
"… Anubis…" Zeal breathed. All the anger from her face faded and she approached him slowly. He looked up with tear-brimmed eyes. Ryo took Tori from his arms as Anubis stood. "… Y-you… You're supposed to be dead!" he cried, pushing down the sorrow in his throat. He raised his hand above him and his weapon flew to him and pointed it at Zeal. "Is this another one of your tricks, Raiko?" he snarled.
"Me? Oh no! Even I cannot conjure something so entertaining," he chuckled. Rekka snapped at him. "Silence, demon before I crush your skull in my beak!" Zeal stepped closer to Anubis. "A-Anubis please… I'm alive again… Master Talpa gave me life once more." He halted her movement with his weapon.
"… You are no illusion?" he whispered. His arm shook unable to bear the psychological stress of the situation. Zeal nodded tearfully and smiled. "I came back for you… I'm so sorry for all that has happened…" He lowered his weapon and let it fall to the charred ground. "Truly?" he asked as she approached him slowly. Zeal reached upward and held his dirt-streaked cheek in her armored hand. "They told me you were dead…" he whispered. Tears blurred his vision and he lowered his face to hide his tears. "There now… It will be over soon, my love…" she whispered and pulled herself against him.
"Fool! Anubis!!" Rekka screeched snatched the Ronin in his beak. Zeal fell to the ground. "NO! Damned beast! I will not be lead astray from my revenge!" she shrieked and launched a ball of flames at the phoenix. Rekka was struck in the side of the skull and crashed to the ground beside Wildfire with Anubis. "Rekka! Anubis!"
"The A-ancient One…" Rekka warned and passed out, disappearing into a cloud of ruby-colored dust. Anubis sat up and shook the dizziness from his head. He felt the cold heat of Zeal's anger as she approached them. "… I almost had you," she murmured, her eyes and voice dark and dim, the light gone from them. "Zeal? What are you-"
"Silence!" she ordered and thrust the tip of her spear at him. "How dare you ask me? You have no right after what you did to me all those years ago."
"… 'What I did'? I don't-"
"It does not matter anymore. I have gotten what I wanted," she said and held up Rekka's rune along with the others. "She is dead now and you will get what you deserve when Kurai is summoned…" She glared darkly at Ryo who held Tori's limp body so close to his. "I know not how she survived all those years ago… but now she is gone and my dreams are no longer things I despise."
"Zeal? Why do you have so much hate? What has happened to you? How have you come to be this bitter?" Anubis asked, hoping for a reasonable explanation to her actions. Zeal spared him no glance. She merely turned her back. "Because of the way you treated me. Raiko… Our time is spent. The emperor wanted these by sunset…" she said softly. Raiko touched the younger woman's cheek gently. She brushed it away swiftly and hid her face from him.
"Are you sure you want to leave this unfinished?" he asked eyeing the two confused and stunned Ronins. Zeal looked back at a thunderstruck Anubis and a lifeless woman in silence. She crouched onto the ground and disappeared in a slow wisp of blue flames. Raiko shrugged and he and the rest vanished in black fire.
Anubis sat completely bewildered on the ground. Tears escaping down his shocked face. He stood slowly and moved to the center of the clearing. He glanced around hastily utterly speechless and lost. He ran his hand through his hair roughly before collapsing to his knees in a loud roar. Wildfire jumped as he heard the ogrish blood in Loyalty's veins consume his sorrow as he howled into the sky. Very quickly, Anubis fell silent and just sat in the midst of young blood, the charred earth where Zeal had stood, and the carved ground of some ancient spell he knew nothing of. Ryo stood carefully with Tori in his arms. "… Hey… We need to get home…" he whispered softly. Anubis gathered himself to his feet and turned around silently. His eyes flooded with tears though his face was as still as stone. "The others might be in danger too…" he added. Anubis started ahead of him without a word. Ryo dismissed his armor after he did and stopped for a moment. "Anubis?" The older man turned and gave him the saddest look. "… I-I'm sorry … about… her…" Anubis turned his back and continued. "Don't worry about it, Wildfire…"
*****
"KAOS!!" Kento cried and fell to the marble floor of the hallway with Sakura limp in his arms. "Sage, Mia, Sekhmet, ANYBODY!!!!" he shrieked. He returned his worried eyes to Sakura as the rampaging of footsteps thundered down the stairs. He thought he heard the Ancient's voice and Mia's cry of shock and utter terror, but wasn't sure. All he could think about was how close he was to saving her from those... things, then being ripped away alongside Dais by more of them. All he could do was watch as Suiko screamed in agony while Sakura's heart was being torn from her. If only he had been quicker, more alert he could have saved her.
He was knocked back into reality as Dais delivered a hard slap across his face. He stared up at him in silent shock. Sakura was gone. Taken to her room no doubt to be saved... by someone else other than him. "... Dais?" The oldest Ronin studied Hardrock carefully as he sat like a stone on the hard floor, looking up at him with eyes as frightened and upset as a young child. It was then that he realized that they were still just mere children from where he came. So little they actually knew of how hard and unforgiving life was. He attempted to think of something to console the young warrior.
He knew this would happen, but Kento had been right. ... "You know you can't stop something like that, man. When it happens it happens and you can't reverse it, or prevent it, or nothing!" there was nothing he could have done then or now to help Hardrock. Dais extended his hand to help the frozen Ronin to his feet; he was surprised that he took it. "... Koas-sama can help her, right?" he suddenly asked. Dais glanced up at the stairs briefly. Instead of giving him a negative answer, he felt unknown words form on his tongue as if someone or something was telling him exactly what would happen. "... Of course she'll be all right. Suiko will help her." Kento felt a small wave of relief rush over him and he smiled. "Y-yeah... she-she'll be fine."
*****
Sage leaned on the hilt of his no-dachi, breathing heavily. He coughed and dropped to his knees as the clouds of dust settled around them. After catching his breath and making sure that Zeal and the other creatures had fled, he crawled toward a very lifeless Domo. His vision was a bit blinded by the haze of dust that still lingered, however his hands met with moist, almost soaked earth. He lifted his hand to his face and peered at the blood dripping off his fingers. Finally he was able to see her face clearly. Her eyes stared wide into the cloudy sky; they were a sickly, pale green. Sage swallowed hard and attempted to collect his nerves that had just been shattered by the dead woman he liked so much. He fell backwards against a large stone and tried to keep from losing it. As many armored demons he had slaughtered and the wounds he had healed, he had never actually known anyone that had died in such a gruesome way. With a shaky hand he reached over and closed her eyes gently. He froze once he felt the warmth of her cheek. How is this possible? Her face should be as cold as stone by now! "Korin!! Korin where are you?! Answer me, please, Korin!" he shouted around him. He received no answer except for the stormy winds in the trees. He shivered slightly and banished the Halo armor before picking Domo up into his arms and starting towards the house.
"Halo!!" Sage turned his head as it started to rain. Cale met him quickly from some nearby brush. The larger man started to ask what had happened but refrained when he saw Domo lifeless in Halo's arms. Sage looked away and swallowed his rising anger and sorrow. He gave Cale a calm reply to his unasked question. "… One of Talpa's new warlords surprised us… They were after Domo and Korin's rune. I was powerless to help her and I can't find Korin anywhere…" Cale saw the large blood stain growing on his friend's shirt and was silent for a moment. The rain pummeled the earth harder and Sage sneezed. "… I was surprised from behind. It was probably one of Talpa's warriors who struck me in the back of the head. I was asleep so I didn't see. I was out until just a few moments ago…" he said and rubbed the back of his skull. "… Let's return to the house… and see what we can do about her…" Sage nodded silently and followed him down the rainy path, holding Domo's body close to his.
As they returned they found several of the other Ronins in the living room still in their sub-armor. Anubis, Sekhmet, and Dais were not present. Lady Kayura and Mia were missing as well. Sai lifted his head as they entered. He saw the limp body in his friend's arms and returned his head in his arms once more, heaving a shuddering sigh. Kento rubbed his best friend's back for comfort in silence. Ryo looked over from the window at them. "… They got to the others too… Wound to the heart?" he asked. Sage nodded slowly as Cale took Domo in his arms. "Aye… I'll take her to the Ancient…" he said and headed for the stairs.
"… Damn," Rowen snarled softly and punched the wall causing Sage and Sai to jump from their spots. "… How the hell are we gonna beat Talpa now?!"
"The same damn way we did last time! Pull out the ol' white armor and nuke his ass…" Kento muttered. Ryo sighed heavily and returned to the window beside Whiteblaze. "I don't think it'll work like that Kento… I wish it could, but then he could just come back again like last time." Sage sat beside Sai and shivered.
"What do you think Talpa wants with them?" Sai asked after lifting his head. He sat somewhat huddled and sniffled loudly before knocking back a shot of hard liquor from the tiny glass in front of him. "… Zeal had said something about Kurai… Maybe they need the runes to free him or something…" Sage said softly as he remembered what she had said. Kento lifted the bottle of liquor to take a drink but found it empty. He frowned and tossed it to the ground, eyeing a very drunk and upset Sai. "… We should ask Kaos about the runes. Like if there is some kind of spell to free Kurai or something…"
"Whatever we decide to do, we'll have to wait until he tells us what we're gonna do next," Ryo stated and stood slowly.
"I just hope the girls are okay," Rowen murmured and sighed.
"I wish Mia's grandpa was still alive," Kento began, "then maybe he could tell us what those black robed freaks were… I thought they were just an eviler kind of Dark Priests, but… there is just something about them that makes them different besides of what they were wearing."
"Whatever they were… They didn't come from the Dynasty. I think that there is a darker presence we must face," Ryo said.
"That's a bloody understatement!" Sai grumbled and looked in his empty glass drunkenly.
"Miia…" Yuli poked his head into the living room with Kiku behind him. "Hey guys, have you seen Mia anywhere?"
"Mi-san make cookies!" she smiled. Kiku toddled over to Sage and sat next to him. "Seiji-kun? Are you cold? You're shaky…" she said and held him with her tiny arms. "Yuli-san! Get Seiji-kun a blankie…" she said. Yuli looked at Ryo then dashed for the closet. He returned with one and covered him with it. "Aw man, Sage! You got blood on your shirt,"
"I… I know Yuli… I'm fine…"
*****
Kaos sat quietly by his granddaughter's bedside, as she lay there unmoving. Sage and Kayura had used the power of the Ancient's staff and the Halo armor to repair the physical damage to their bodies; however without a heart, they could not be revived.
Talpa has all the runes now… It's only a matter of time before he figures out how to free Kurai… he thought. Kaos picked up the staff that he had given to Anubis, who then had entrusted it to Lady Kayura. "… This is all that we have left of it…" he sighed heavily.
Kaos glanced over at his older brother silently as they sat beside one another awaiting their judgment of the Leader of the Ancients. The temple was empty of people and all was silent outside as well. Kaos turned to his brother. "Talpa? How do you think Shakujo knows who to choose to protect the Earth?"
"Shakujo is just an object. The councilmen decide who will be Leader…" he answered bitterly. Kaos was shocked by his brother's harsh voice and his answer. "You don't believe Shakujo has powers? How can you say that?! We were born from it!" His older brother did not answer him directly. "I believe Shakujo has power, just no will of its own." Kaos gasped.
"You only want Shakujo for its physical power! You don't care about the well being of the clan or the Mortal Realm! We were born in order to keep the balance in this world and the next! We're not supposed to use it for personal gain!" he snapped.
"Oh, spare me! Our worlds are slowly becoming more and more consumed with hate and evil. I am going to use Shakujo to stop these demons with force. That is the only way to protect the Mortal Realm… even though Man does not deserve it…"
"You're lying! I can see it in your eyes that you-"
The Elder entered the temple with Shakujo in his hands, silencing Kaos. Both men stood quickly. "… The Shakujo staff of the Ancients is ready for you both. If you can hold Shakujo firmly in your grasp, then it had chosen you to serve as the Guardian of the Mortal Realm. If it rejects you… then of course you are not worthy of its power," the old man explained. He turned to Talpa and presented Shakujo. The younger man stepped up and reached for it slowly. Instantly the staff sparked and blasted the younger man onto his back. The rings clanged loudly and furiously. Talpa clamped his hands down over his ears and screamed as the rings split his hearing. Kaos knelt down at his older brother's side and attempted to still him. "Talpa! What is the matter!" he cried.
The clanging ceased and the rings stilled. Kaos aided Talpa to his feet as he calmed. "Brother, are you all right?" he asked calmly. Talpa frowned and jerked away from him. "I am fine…"
"Kaos?" the Elder called. The younger man turned slowly and approached the staff. "It is your turn to try, young man… If Shakujo rejects you as well, then it is not yet time for a new Ancient." Kaos glanced over at his older brother Talpa silently. He then reached for the staff and grasped it firmly into his hands…
Kaos set the staff aside once more and looked outside. He could see Talpa's castle clearly on the horizon. … He fled after that. He was so angry…
"It's your fault Shakujo rejected me! You were born of light and I darkness! I didn't have the choice!… Damn you Kaos! You and the Mortal Realm shall pay for this!"
Kurai found him… and gave him a magic armor. In return, Talpa sold his soul to Kurai… He then attacked the Mortal Realm… I thought I had sealed him for good and destroyed the evilness in his armor… But the Darkness rune was lost and must have created a gap in-between dimensions…Kaos stood and balled his fists in rage. If only I had been more careful and not lost it! Then I wouldn't have had to bind myself to Talpa's seal… Damn.
"Ancient?" Anubis called from Tori's bedroom door. Kaos turned slowly as he entered. "Are… are you all right?" he asked softly. Kaos nodded silently and sat at Tori's bedside once more. He had noticed the slightly puffiness underneath the young man's eyes as Anubis sat on Tori's bed. "I think the question is: are you all right?" Kaos murmured. Anubis shrugged and pretended to be occupied with something else. The Ancient One stood slowly. "Anubis?"
"Hm?"
"… I will be leaving soon to find some answers to questions I have had… I need for you to watch over Tori for me…" Anubis sprang up quickly.
"Me? Why me? Why not Wildfire or Sekhmet? Surely you cannot trust me to-"
"I trust you Anubis because you are the only level headed one of the group that isn't controlled by his libido," Kaos chuckled. "And besides… you are like a son to me. I truly feel that you have the strength and wisdom to aid her as I would…" Anubis flushed at the older man's praise. The Ancient placed a hand upon his shoulder and looked at him closely. "… Maybe by protecting her you may learn to not hate yourself for what happened to you and Zeal so long ago," he said softly. Anubis looked at him wide-eyed, but said nothing. "Aye, I know about what happened today…" Anubis looked away in silence and shame as Kaos continued. "… I know that you won't let what happen to Zeal happen to Tori… I am counting on you, Anubis…" Anubis glanced down at Tori and sighed. "… I do not know if I can protect her like you think I can. I couldn't today and look what happened!"
"… Anubis you cannot protect her from fate… but you can from evil… All of you can…"
Tori then gasped loudly, drawing in a large breath. Her body was enveloped in a soft, faint ruby light as she settled back on to the mattress seemingly asleep. Dais then burst into the room. "Ancient, the girls they…"
"I know Dais… They will be fine in a few days. For now … let them rest and get some yourself. The road ahead will be very hard and difficult for you all…" Kaos started to follow him out of the room when he noticed Anubis sit down beside Tori and watch her silently. "Ancient?"
"Yes?"
"… When will you leave?"
"… I do not know for certain… Just know that it could be within the next five minutes or a few weeks from now. I will return, rest assure…"
"What about Kiku?" Anubis looked up for an answer but the Ancient had all ready left down the hall. He looked back down at Tori. For some reason he felt the sorrow from earlier return to him as he watched her sleep. Her sleeping face comforted him; however at the same time it tore his heart to pieces.