"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Twenty-Two: "The He-Man Women Haters Club"… sorta.
Nasake looked behind her as Dais was following more slowly up the path to the house. She slipped off of Tenku. It was then she noticed he was limping slightly on his ankle. "Dais? Can you make it back to the house?"
"Huh? What?"
"Your ankle… Tenku can carry you-"
"I'm not a horse," he grumbled. Nasake frowned.
"No, you're a really big kitty that might as well BE a horse! It's only up the path!" Dais chuckled. "I'm fine just…" He frowned darkly at the arrow, "very… preoccupied at the moment. When was the last time you saw, Anubis?"
"Um, in the bathroom. Lady Kayura was talking to him about something serious… I feel bad for him." Dais scoffed and disappeared in a flash of dark fuchsia light. Nasake looked around and frowned. "I hate it when they do that…"
*****
Anubis unwrapped his arm and smiled slightly in approval. The burn mark was gone. He tossed the bandage in the waist basket of the hall bathroom as he exited. An arrow lodged itself in the wall, barely grazing his cheek before he even cleared the doorway. "DAH!" He gaped wide-eyed at the rather long arrow still settling in the drywall. Dais stood with his arms folded. He was still in his sub armor. "GODS!… What happened to you?!" Anubis exclaimed when he saw the slightly battered condition of his armor and the cut on his right cheek. "When did you plan on telling the rest of us that Zeal was here?" he demanded and opened his angry ice eye. Anubis pulled the arrow from the wall with a glare. "I don't know what you mean-"
"Lying was never your strong suit, Anubis. Might I suggest you don't try to prove that fact wrong or you shall wind up a very unpleasant man," Dais snapped. Anubis was silent for a moment. Dais began to circle his younger comrade slowly. "You know I was wondering how you had gotten loose. Only Kayura or one of us could have released you. No one is confessing to it… The only other person who could have was here, in this house, is Zeal… She is a damned warlord!!"
"She had my armor! What was I supposed to do?!" he snapped.
"Gods, I dunno… How about CALL FOR HELP?" Anubis started down the hall.
"She would have killed Tori if I didn't talk to her. She didn't come to fight." Dais snatched his arm up with the arrow. "Right. Then tell me how this arrow found it's way into Lady Mia's shoulder?!" he demanded. Anubis froze. "That's right. Your little chickadee thought Mia was Rekka. And while you were hoping for her to get into bed with you, she used you to drop your guard!! You're lucky she didn't kill Tenku and I," Dais warned, "or for your sake, Mia… I was lucky young Tenku was there!" Anubis wrenched his arm away angrily.
"You're lying."
"Why would I have reason to!?" he shouted. "See for yourself if you don't believe me!" He presented the note that had been attached to the arrow. Anubis read it and stayed silent. "You know her script like the features on her face… Zeal is evil and she won't stop until she's killed you and everyone else…"
"Hey… What's all the yelling about? I'm trying to take a nap…" Tori mumbled and poked her head out of her room. She glared at the two men sleepily. She noticed the arrow and stepped out. "Okay, what's all this about? I kept hearing my name." Dais snatched the arrow from Anubis. "Mia was attacked by Zeal this morning. She thought Mia was you."
"Is she okay?!" she exclaimed.
"She's fine." Tori breathed a sigh and yawned again.
"Why… me? She think I'm some chick who stole her man?" she asked nonchalantly. Dais cleared his throat. "… It's very likely. She's extremely possessive." Tori blinked with a heavy blush. "I was SERIOUSLY kidding, Dais…" She finally noticed the cut on his cheek. "Did she do that?!" He colored at her concern and covered it.
"I'm fine. Your friend, Tenku was there… Very impressed, although she had me worried for a little while…" He paused and passed a glance at Anubis. "Anyway, please be careful."
"Sure… I'm awake now." Anubis grabbed Dais by the shoulder and turned him to face him. "Are you done interrogating me?"
"I'm serious, Anubis. Any more of this and you'll get us all killed. I know you feel bad about Kaos, but seeking comfort from the enemy is no excuse." Tori's eyes widened.
"Wait! Whaaaat?!" Anubis glared at Dais and turned on his heel, walking away. "Anubis!!" Dais held her back.
"Let him be."
"But…" She sighed. Dais peered at her closely.
"You seem to be feeling better." Tori flushed and lowered her eyes.
"Not really… It's getting easier somehow. I can feel the difference from yesterday."
"Must be your guardian's doing."
"Maybe."
"Have you talked to him recently?" Tori shook her head.
"… N-no. I-I can't."
"Why?"
"He reminds me too much of 'Jiisan and Anubis. I can't help but feel angry at him." Dais laid a hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't Anubis' fault. If you're going to be angry, then you should hate all four of us. We all were there…" She didn't reply. Dais smiled softly. "He went down fighting, Rekka." She looked up in slight shock, then nodded tearfully.
*****
Kento frowned at Ryo as he watched Megami cheer happily when the snow finally was cleared, for the most part. "Yaaay! Go Ryoo!" she beamed and kissed the boy on the cheek. Ryo flushed and eyed a dangerously silent Hardrock nervously. "Heh, heh… No problem, Megami…" he gasped and doubled over to catch his breath. All the way to the road… Ten miles and back… Fun. NOT…
"C'mon Kento-kun! That food's not gettin' any fresher!" and hopped into the car. Kento followed her after mentally pounding Ryo into the ground. Ryo waved nervously as he pulled away. "I'm so dead…" he groaned with a smile. He turned to go back into the house, but stopped as he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Ohh, great… A surprisingly warm breeze blew from behind and he whipped around quickly. There, perched on the wooden fence, was the Warlord of Hatred herself. "YOU!"
"Good morning, Wildfire," she began smugly and hopped down from the fence. Ryo armed himself with his Wildfire swords. "Stay back!"
"Why do you hesitate, boy?" she chuckled. Ryo swallowed hard in recollection of what he knew happened between Managi and Sekhmet. The man swore he wouldn't let any harm befall her, but then again, he couldn't just let her beat the fire out of him. However before he could even decide, she threw her whip far aside and towards Wildfire. "Hey lady, what the crap are ya doin'?!" Ryo sputtered, quite confused. This was not quite the same babe that nearly crushed him several weeks ago. "I bring you a warning. Leave. Leave this house! Leave this valley! Take the children and the girls far away from here…" she pleaded. Ryo kept his swords up as she approached him, her hands up defensively. "Wildfire please…"
"Why? What's Talpa planning?" he demanded. "Why are you helping us? You're a freaking warlord! Why should I believe anything you say?!"
"Are you willing to risk the lives that cannot even protect themselves? I do not see any reason why you shouldn't listen especially after what happened to Kaos-"
"SHUT UP!!" he roared, still thoroughly pissed off that she had been telling the truth but offered no other help to try and save him. Her words were just empty to him.
"I take a great risk coming to you," she frowned.
"Yes, but WHY? Is it because of Sekhmet?" She stepped back slightly and lowered her eyes. "… I have warned you, Wildfire. Please. Take heed to it."
"Wait a minute! Do you want to talk to Sekhmet? What-"
"… Soon," she whispered and disappeared in a whirlwind of blood red petals. Ryo lowered his swords and hung his head. "Dammit…" He sheathed the Swords of Wildfire and spotted something in the snow.
*****
"Eww! Noooo!" Kiku whined and covered her mouth with her hands, glaring up at Cale. He sighed heavily. "Kiku, come on! Mia says it's good for you!"
"You eat it!" she snapped. Cale frowned.
"If I do will you eat it?" Kiku nodded slowly, her hands still over her mouth. Cale peered inside the jar of mashed carrots and took a decent size spoonful in his mouth. He wished he hadn't.
Oh, how he hadn't… Kiku began to giggle at the strange face Cale was making in complete disgust. He swallowed and peered at the jar again. How can these humans eat this?! These are NOT carrots. Strata's cooking is more digestible than… eeeeyugh.
"See! It's yucky!" Cale nodded and tossed the jar in the trash.
"I agree, little one!"
Mia entered the kitchen with Rowen in his over protective mode on high. "Mia! You should not be walking around!" he ordered. "Go back to bed!"
"Rowen! Leave me alone! I'm fine!" she snapped and snatched her apron from the hook by the pantry. Cale stood slowly. "Strata, what happened to her?"
"Someone from the Dynasty shot her in the chest with an arrow!" he exclaimed.
"That's not true Rowen and you know it!"
"WHAT?" Cale gaped. "Gods, are you all right?!" Mia moaned in agitation.
"I'm FINE! And I was hit in the shoulder. Look!" She began to open her shirt, making Cale blush upon him seeing an ample chest laced in black silk. Hello- NO! Ack, dammit, it's beneath you, beneath you, Mia beneath-AHH! Cale snatched the blouse shut and looked away. "Y-yes. Right, right!" he mumbled quickly.
"Look! I'm just worried about you, Mia. Remember how ya fainted a few weeks ago? You've been looking sick for a while too." Rowen's voice was sounding quite concerned. Upon Strata's mention of the word 'sick', Cale had noticed her flinch very subtly and grow pale. She then frowned. "What about you, Cale? Just yesterday you were bedridden with a blistering fever-"
"I've completely recovered from that, my lady," he interjected with a raise of his eyebrow, "and don't change the subject. I've survived at least ten plagues. I don't think a fever will finish me." Mia's face darkened.
"You're not going to let me cook today, are you?" Handsome smiles greeted her an answer. "Nope!" She tossed her apron aside.
"Fine. Be sure to tell Sai-" She stopped. She had finally taken notice of the messy kitchen. "What happened in here?" Cale laughed nervously.
"Uh, Torrent and Suiko were in the middle of making dinner this morning to help ease everyone," he began.
"And?"
"Well, Sekhmet and I sort of… walked in on them in the middle of a little 'moment'." Rowen gasped with a grin.
"Sai? We're talking about shy little Sai and Sakura??" Cale nodded.
"Uh, yes… Suiko ran off. Poor thing. Must have embarrassed the hell out of her!" Mia frowned.
"Cale!"
"WHAT? We didn't do it on purpose!! Anyway he ran off after her about an hour ago." Mia crossed her arms and sighed. "Tell them to clean this up!" she ordered and left the kitchen. Rowen still had a smile on his face. "How long were you two there?"
"Good ten or fifteen seconds. Why-oohhhh. STRATA!" he snapped. "They were kissing that's all!" Rowen's face fell.
"Oh."
"I swear. Sometimes you are worse than Hardrock!"
"You flatter me!" he chuckled. There was a crash in the pantry. Cale and Rowen jumped and opened the door. Kiku was on the floor of the pantry with her arm buried in the cereal box. Her face was smeared with cookie crumbs from the now empty bag. Rowen picked it up. "Aw, man! Kiku!" he scolded. "This was the last bag!" Cale picked the child up. She had started to cry. "I'm hungry!!"
"Well, you're not supposed to have these until after dinner. Man, Sai's gonna freak!" Kiku hid her face in Cale's neck.
"Strata!" he hissed. "Lord. You're acting like there's no more food!"
"She ate an entire bag of cookies, Cale!"
"So she takes after Hardrock! She's barely out of diapers! She doesn't know any better," he frowned. Rowen frowned back.
"Cale, she's turning you soft, man."
He froze on his way out of the pantry. He suddenly felt very possessive of the small child in his arms. "Well, someone's got to be a father for this child. I don't see you jumping for the responsibility!"
"No. I'm busy making sure I can be one later on in my older years by kicking Talpa's ass!" Kiku hiccupped and sniffled.
"Come on, little one. Let's clean you up," he said softly. He left the kitchen without another word to Strata. He was rather disturbed by his cold behavior especially towards a little girl. However, he did strangely feel a need to clutch the little girl to him as he carried her to the bathroom.
*****
Sai leaned his head on the door of her bathroom. He had been at this for an hour. "Sakura… please come out and talk to me. I'm sorry that I made you feel uncomfortable. C'mon, love." He banged his head gently and slid to the floor. What is she? Asleep? The water that had been running on the other side for a good twenty minutes suddenly stopped. He sighed. "Sakura-sama… At least come and help me finish dinner. I can't do it all by meself." The door opened slowly and Sai scrambled to his feet in record time. Sakura's head was low as she approached him. "… A-are you feeling better?" he murmured. She nodded.
"I'm sorry… I… shouldn't have… kissed you. Masaki-san's death as screwed up my thinking," she mumbled. "Forget about that…"
"I'm not angry!" he chuckled lightly. "I'm just concerned whether or not you like me," he admitted softly. He sighed when she did not answer. "Look… I'll be honest with you. I like you. A lot in fact, but I'm not going to ask you to do anything f'me. It's out in the open for you to think about. We're not getting any younger here and future plans have just been blow all to hell. I'm here if you need me, love… I think that's what everyone needs. Some-" Sakura wrapped her arms around his chest slowly and hugged him tightly. "-love."
"… Thanks, Sai. I feel better," she murmured.
"… Torrent? Suiko?" Cale called from the doorway. Kiku was cuddled in his neck, asleep. Sai pulled away from Sakura with a blush. Cale looked a little bothered. "Lady Mia was injured today… It's a long story, but she says you two better clean up the kitchen before all hell breaks loose," he said, then realized the tragic play on words. Sai frowned slightly. Cale sighed. "You know what I mean, Torrent…"
"Something wrong, Cale?" she asked. "You look upset…"
"Hm? Uh, no… I'm fine. I'm going to put her to bed. Have you seen Halo, Wildfire, and Sekhmet?"
"I haven't seen Sage all day, but Ryo passed by here on the way to Sekhmet's room a little while ago. Why?"
"I think it would be a wise idea to look around a little before something happens again." He paused and sighed. "… About earlier, I-"
"Don't worry about it, Cale," Sakura smiled. "Come on, Sai, before Mia goes Talpa on our asses."
"Talpa Vs Mia… Scary," Sai chuckled.
*****
Ryo pulled his knee up to his chest as he sat on Sekhmet's trunk at the foot of the bed. He stared silently at the thorned whip in Sekhmet's shaking hands. He hadn't uttered a word since Wildfire presented the weapon to him. He sat down slowly. "… She was here?" he asked. Ryo nodded silently.
"I cleared the road for Meg and Kento. They left and she appeared after. She gave me a warning about getting the girls and the kids outta here. I still don't know if I can believe her, but she was right about the Ancient being targeted." Sekhmet sighed heavily. "What do ya think we should do?" Ryo asked after more silence. Sekhmet stood and motioned him to follow. "Hold a meeting. There's not much we can do at this point. Don't tell the girls just yet. I don't want to scare them anymore than they all ready are…"
"Then why are they here?" Ryo asked, halting the former warlord halfway through the door. "Just get the other guys. We'll tell the girls later. I don't need them fretting about nothing if it comes to it. That's just more headaches we have to deal with."
"I guess you're right."
*****
Rowen stared intently at the mass of random junk that was spread across Nasake's carpet. He picked up something that looked like it was from way before his time. "'Sake?… What the hell is this??" She looked up quickly and took it in her hands.
"Dunno. Looks old though. Where did you find it?"
"Box." He tossed her the thin cardboard box, not looking up from the mass of things. "EeeW!!" she squealed and tossed both back at them!
"Ow! What's yer problem?!" he snapped and rubbed his forehead. Her face was stained bright red. "D-d-d-didn't you read the box?!"
"I can't read French, 'Sake!" She showed him the translation and blushed further as he read aloud. "… Manual operated…" he froze and blew the dust off the box's picture. "Oh my god…" he flushed. "This is… OLD," he laughed. "Nineteen sixty one…" He casually pushed them aside with his foot and pulled the box over to him. Nasake peered over his shoulder as they looked inside. "… 'Property of… Koji' I can't read the first name," he read on the side of the storage box's flap. Nasake tapped his shoulder nervously. "What?"
"… Um, I think we should put these back. I think these are… Mia's grandpa's things," she blushed. Rowen looked around them and sighed.
"Yep. We are sitting in a big, dirty, dusty pile of Granpa Koji's-"
"Don't say it, Rowen!! Have you no respect for the dead?!" she hissed softly quickly returning the obscene items to the box. Rowen turned his head to her and smirked. "I've got pleeeenty of new respect for Gramps…" Rowen picked up another 'relic' from the past. "Hey 'Sake… I got an idea…" he smiled.
"What?…….. Rowen. NO." He just chuckled to himself.
"I… need to have a long talk with Sekhmet later. He'll get a kick out of this."
"Strata?" Sekhmet poked his head into the bedroom. He opened his mouth to continue when he saw a very… suggestive object in his hands. "What is that?" he asked. Rowen hid it behind his back. "N-nothing!!… What's up?" Sekhmet raised his eyebrow.
"… Right. Anyway. Meeting. Study. Now." Sekhmet saw the embarrassed blush drain from his face and be replaced with concern. "What's wrong?" he demanded. Nasake stood slowly. Sekhmet eyed her quickly. "… Not here."
"Sekkie?"
"… Uh, we need to discuss the matter with the others. You and the girls won't be sitting in," he said. Nasake frowned.
"What? Why?" Sekhmet started down the hall.
"Strata, help me find the others…" Rowen glanced back at Nasake who just stood there with her arms folded looking very pissed. "Sorry 'Sake-"
"Save it, Rowen… Just go," she said flatly and snatched it away from Rowen, tossing it back in the box. She grabbed it and carried it back to the attic, very angry.
*****
Domo wiped her eyes from all the laughing. Yuli was grinning on the floor quite pleased with himself and his storytelling. "Aw! He really-? Hahahaha!!"
"Yeah! Dais and Kento! Sage has got Polaroids of them somewhere. Wanna go look? I think they're in his room." Domo crawled under the giant bridge, shimmied around three four-foot buildings and over a small suburb of Legos®. "Yeah, I guess so… Damn kid. You gotta have at least twenty thousand pieces of this stuff!"
"Lots of relatives…" he sighed. "I've got more at my old house, but me and Mia haven't been back there since Talpa first attacked. Mom and Dad were killed that day so, the house is probably gone now."
"… That's awful, Yuli," Domo murmured. Yuli brushed off his blue jeans and stretched. "S'okay. Let's go find those pics before Sage catches us." There was a knock at the door. "Domo! Open up!" Tori called. "C'mon!"
"God, what?" she snapped and opened the door. Tori looked kinda pissed so did Nasake, Sakura, and Lady Kayura who stood behind her. "W-what's wrong?"
"The boy scouts are having a secret meeting and we can't go," Nasake grumbled.
"Yeah, Ronins only. Pshh…"
"I hate it when they do this to me!" Kayura snapped.
*****
"You did what?!" Sekhmet exclaimed. "What the hell were you thinking, Anubis?! She could have killed her!!" Ryo attempted to stop the closing space between Anubis and Sekhmet. "Yo! Easy, Sekh! Cool it! Let him explain-" He shoved him away angrily.
"There is nothing else to explain, Wildfire! His libido will get us all killed!"
"That's a first out of your mouth, Sekhmet," Cale miffed.
"Shut up!"
"Nothing happened!!!" Anubis shouted back. Sekhmet laughed bitterly.
"Of course nothing happened… Nothing ever happened between you two," he finished with a cruel smirk. With an inarticulate snarl, Anubis delivered a hard punch onto his mouth, sending him to the floor. Sage and Cale snatched Anubis by the arms, holding him back. "What the fuck are you doing?!" Rowen demanded. Sekhmet got up from the floor and wiped the dark blood from his lips with a threatening glare before lunging at him landing a punch right back at him. Dais and Ryo tore him off of Anubis and pinned him to the rug. Anubis thrashed inside Halo and Cale's grip. "… You son of a-"
"Easy, easy!" Cale snapped. Dais twisted Sekhmet's arm around his back and snagged his hair roughly. "Let it go!" he snapped.
"Get off of me you, bastard!" Sekhmet shouted.
"Cool it, man!!" Ryo ordered.
"Jesus! Are you two insane!?" Rowen exclaimed. Anubis spat blood and glared down at Sekhmet. "We'll let you two go if you settle down!" Cale suggested. Anubis jerked angrily and snarled. Cale responded and snagged his hair roughly. "All right! Grh!" Cale shoved him away. Anubis retreated to the far end of the study and punched the wall before sitting down next to Torrent. He wiped his mouth again, still bleeding. Dais and Ryo let Sekhmet up a moment later. "Now, Anubis… Why did you let Zeal into the house aware to the fact that you could have endangered everyone, including the children, around you?" Dais asked. Anubis folded his arms and turned his head to look out the window. "… I didn't let her in. I was chained to my bed. Remember? I don't know how she got inside my room! She was the one who freed me, okay?! Nothing happened! She tried convincing me to return with her. When I told her no, she made a threat… She wants to kill Tori because she is under the impression that I was unfaithful to her with Tori…. She left after that," he finished softly. "I couldn't call for help because she had drugged Tori with something. I had no way of knowing that she hadn't done it to the entire household! She had my armor as well… That's all that happened!" he exclaimed. "And what does this have to do with anything?! Wildfire was talking to Managi but an hour ago!!"
"Wildfire isn't infatuated with the enemy!" Sekhmet snapped.
"Oh and you aren't?! Who was the one that made a vow not even a month ago that he would kill anyone friend or foe if he did harm to Managi?! "
"All right, all right!!" Ryo shouted, "That is enough!! This isn't why we pulled everyone in here! Yes, I did talk to her, but she gave me a warning to get the girls and the kids out of here fast. I don't know if she's telling the truth, but I don't know if we can not believe her. She was right about the Ancient One after all and he's dead."
"Well, we can't leave. The barrier will weaken enough for Talpa to let loose his forces again," Sai said. "Then they can follow us to where ever we go! Managi knows that."
"So what do we do?" Sage asked. "They've taken the runes, which the reason why is still unknown, they've targeted the Ancients… Maybe they both are connected somehow?"
"Kaos used the runes to help create the armors and to seal Talpa. Maybe destroying them and killing Kaos will break it," Dais thought aloud. Ryo sighed heavily,
"But Kayura didn't have anything to do with that. What would killing her do?"
"No more Ancients, means no more barrier," Sai answered. Rowen shook his head. "Nah. Talpa tried that all ready and he had three of the nine armors' help. Now he has none. He wouldn't stand a chance…" Ryo sighed.
"… Kurai," Anubis murmured.
"What about him?" Dais asked.
"We are going to have to assume that when Talpa stole the runes, that he had in his possession the missing darkness rune. Otherwise, how could he have known about them in the first place? Talpa may not be just trying to free himself this time… I think that killing the Ancients and destroying the runes will free him and Kurai."
"But how does Lady Kayura fit into the puzzle? Just because she's the Ancient now doesn't mean that she needs to die," Sai said softly.
"Unfortunately, that is exactly why she may need to die. It's the staff that gives them power."
"Then why not destroy the staff?" Sage asked. Anubis shook his head and stood up with a sigh. "Could you ever destroy the sun? Or how about the fabric of time? You can't. However, if you kill the only thing that can control it-"
"- then no one can use it against you. I see," Ryo finished. "But you can use it can't you?" Anubis stared at his sharp teal eyes in the reflection of the mirror on the wall.
"… True. Unfortunately… I am not completely human, nor completely demon. I am the only one of my kind. The Ancient acted through me during the last battle…"
"So lemme get this straight: Kaos and Talpa fought a really long time ago. Talpa lost and Kaos broke up his armor making ours with the runes. The darkness rune went awol so he had to use himself in place of it, along with the other runes to seal Talpa away. Now he's back, he knows about them and he's gonna free Kurai by breaking them and killing them both. And the honies that Kaos brought are supposed to seal Kurai away if that happens. Is that right?"
"In a nutshell," Anubis replied. Rowen breathed.
"Some damn nutshell… So all we gotta do is keep her safe or get the runes back?"
"Easier said than done," Sai groaned. "I say we don't just lie an' wait for 'em like we've been doing. Let's just see if we can get the runes back ourselves."
"Impossible. The negative energy would turn you or drive you insane trying to fight it," Sekhmet said.
"What if we ask the Guardians what to do?" Dais suggested. "I was speaking to Tenku just before Mia was hurt."
*****
Tori pressed her ear against the sliding wall of the study along with Domo, Nasake, Sakura, and Lady Kayura.
"…Why did you let Zeal into the house aware to the fact that you could have endangered everyone, including the children, around you?" Dais asked.
"… I didn't let her in. I was chained to my bed. Remember? I don't know how she got inside my room! She was the one who freed me, okay?! Nothing happened! She tried getting me to return with her. When I told her no, she made a threat… She wants to kill Tori because she is under the impression that I was unfaithful to her with Tori…. She left after that… I couldn't call for help because she had drugged Tori with something. I had no way of knowing that she hadn't done it to the entire household! She had my armor as well… That's all that happened! And what does this have to do with anything?! Wildfire was talking to Managi but an hour ago!!"
"Wildfire isn't infatuated with the enemy!" Sekhmet snapped.
"Oh and you aren't?! Who was the one that made a vow not even a month ago that he would kill anyone friend or foe if he did harm to Managi?! "
"All right, all right!!" Ryo shouted.
"What the crap is going on in there?" Domo hissed softly. Kayura shrugged and put her finger to her lips. "Be quiet and maybe we can find out!" Sakura pulled away from the thin door. "Maybe we shouldn't be doing this? I mean, if they are having a meeting that excludes us, maybe it's better if we don't." Tori scoffed.
"Tch. Right, Sakura. If someone was withholding info from you about some terminal illness wouldn't you wanna know about it first before they started barking out weird treatments and crap?"
"That's different, Tori and you know it. I just think that they may want to discuss the best way to go about this whole thing. Maybe they don't want us to worry."
"And maybe I'll get married to Anubis and have twelve kids. Get real, man," Tori whispered angrily and tried to listen.
"In a nutshell," Anubis replied. Rowen breathed.
"Some damn nutshell… So all we gotta do is keep her safe or get the runes back?"
"Easier said than done," Sai groaned.
Nasake frowned. "Man, we missed it!" she mumbled.
"Way to go, you two," Domo grumbled. Tori and Sakura frowned and stayed silent. Kayura sighed heavily. The three girls watched her stand and move away from the door. She wrung her hands nervously. "Lady Kayura?" Nasake began. "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yes… I'm a little paranoid. If Talpa ordered the death of Kaos… I'm next. I'm just…" She crouched onto the ground and covered her head with her arms. "I'm afraid, Tenku!" she whimpered.
"Come on. I'll make you some hot tea, okay?" she murmured and helped her to her feet. Sakura followed. "I think we're out. I'll help look though." She turned to Tori and Domo who were still listening intently. "Are you two going to be there all day?"
"Probably," Tori replied.
"… I think I got a right to know if we're all doomed. Maybe I can get a half decent lay before I go," Domo murmured and brushed Sakura away quickly. Tori turned to her.
"Domo! What about Ryu?" she hissed.
"… I was kidding."
"Riiight. You're so pervy."
"I am not!" she snapped. Tori shook her head and listened again.
"So that's it, huh?" Sai groaned. "Sitting ducks… Bloody hell…"
"What else can we do?" Anubis asked. "If we leave, there's no where to go. If we stay… I just don't want any of them to get hurt again. I want to at least salvage what little trust Tori has in me from what happened. Sekhmet over there wants to tear my head off-"
"Oh, you wish, you little bastard," he chuckled.
"- and to top it all off: Kayura is in serious danger. I feel safer here. That way we don't have to worry about the rest of the world. We can't handle it," Anubis finished.
"… Well, then… I suppose doing another patrol wouldn't hurt," Cale suggested. "Anyone up to join me? I can' t sit here and do nothing."
"Me 'n' Sage are free," Ryo murmured.
"Good. Sekhmet?"
"… No… I've got something I just remembered I had to do. Besides, someone has to look after the girls here."
"Anubis?"
"… I… I can't." A silence fell over the room.
"It got really quiet," Tori whispered.
"You're quick."
"… Bite me."
"I dunno where you've been."
"Pervy elf."
"You know it…" Tori punched Domo playfully in the arm.
"Dork." Domo frowned and rubbed her arm.
"Skank," and hit her back.
"Oh, it's on now, ho."
*****
"Good. Sekhmet?"
"… No… I've got something I just remembered I had to do. Besides, someone has to look after the girls here."
"Anubis?"
"… I… I can't," he mumbled and stood quickly. He grimaced slightly as his head began to pound.
"Anubis?" Dais began. "What's wrong?"
"… Nothing. Headache… I've had it all day."
"Dork."
A thump was heard. Sage lifted his eyes to the door.
"Oh, it's on now, ho."
Ryo raised his eyebrow and slid the sliding door open. Tori and Domo rough housing in the middle of the hall. Domo had Tori in a chokehold and Tori had snagged Domo's long hair. "Ow! Dirty fighter!"
"Ack… Leggo!" Tori coughed. She elbowed Domo and pinned her to the hardwood floor. They finally noticed the boys standing over them. Anubis, Sai, and Cale looked a little annoyed. Domo knocked Tori on the head and gestured to all of their spectators. "Ow! What?!"
She looked up and realized the very suggestive position they were in. She colored and swallowed hard. "Oops…"
"Damn. Where's the mud when you need it?" Rowen smiled. Sage frowned and slugged him in the arm. Domo smirked. "Hey fellas."
"Don't 'hey fellas' us," Cale snapped.
"Just how long where you there?" Sai demanded. Tori slipped off of Domo and stood slowly. She then realized how tiny she seemed among the circle. "Uh…"
"Cool it, Sai. We didn't hear anything important. I'm bored. Cale when are we leaving to patrol?" A bit surprised, Cale momentarily forgot the words.
"I… uh, now?"
"Great! Later guys… Oh, Sage! You owe me twenty bucks."
"For what?!" he demanded.
"Unless you don't want to find yourself at the mercy of Strata's dastardly revenge-"
"Fine!"
"What is he talking about, Sage?" Ryo asked.
"Nothing!" Sage and Rowen exclaimed. Tori swallowed nervously.
"Am I in trouble? Cause I wanna go practice some more…"
"… Need a sparring partner?" Anubis asked suddenly. Tori turned to him in shock. She pushed past Sage and Rowen swiftly. "Do what you want. I could care less…" She disappeared down the hall.
Domo saw the sudden hurt in Anubis' stature before he masked it quickly and gracefully retreated down the hall. … Poor guy.
"Korin?" Dais asked before she joined Cale, Sage, and Ryo down the hall.
"What?"
"Where is your friend, Tenku?"
"You mean 'Sake?" Rowen laughed on his way into the study.
"Get used it, baby!" Dais cleared his throat.
"Um… yes."
"Kitchen with Lady Kay. Kay was really upset about the whole death certificate on her forehead…" Dais nodded and disappeared down the hall without a word. Riiiight.
"Korin! Hurry up!" Cale ordered.
"Ah, go freeze someone in a kiddie pool…"
"What was that!?"
"Nothing, Caaaale!" she sang.
Can't you just picture all of the Ronins in a little clubhouse and having one of those: NO GIRLS ALLOWED signs out front? I think that would be just too cute. Especially that whole soapbox derby they had in the "Little Rascals" movie! Eee! But don't worry. Our Ronins just LOOOVE us girls. ^ ^ I use the term HEAVILY. Tee hee!