Disclaimer: I do not own Godzilla or Pop Tarts. Wish I had some of that
pastry goodness though. Buuut I can't. Mom says I'm fat. Aren't mommies
SO nice?! ::grumbles::
"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Twenty-Nine: A Small Measure of Peace
"So... Kiku and the Ancient were the same person," Mia realized, lowering her eyes. "It is no wonder Tori can't recall the first three years very well." Anubis nodded.
"No, my lady. Kiku and Kaos were separate being, but their souls shared the same power... He told me... long ago that he saved a young girl from the raid four years ago. Her parents were dead on the spot... He buried her memories and used a lock of her own hair and the power of Shakujo to create Kiku. She is Tori's sister in a sense..."
"Why do you suppose he did that?"
"I suppose he thought that Talpa would never suspect a baby as part of that seal Kaos trapped him with..."
"How did Tori take the news?" Mia asked as she continued to fold the laundry.
"... She all ready knew that her parents were dead... That part she remembered on her own... She didn't say anything when I told her about Kiku." Anubis fell silent and stopped folding, arms growing tense.
"... You care about her a lot, don't you?" she asked. Anubis flushed heavily.
"... I just... Her resemblance to Zeal is frightening. My body doesn't know whether to hate her or..."
"Just remember that she's not Zeal... She deserves at least that..."
"Just what are you trying to say, my lady?" Mia lifted the basket with a smile.
"You're a man, Anubis... I don't have to say anything..." Anubis felt his cheeks grow hot.
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"Wildfire, no," Sekhmet replied flatly. Ryo frowned.
"Why the hell not?!" he demanded.
"Do I really have to tell you?" Sekhmet asked in an annoyed tone. Ryo frowned again.
"Yes!!" Cale rolled his eyes.
"It's obvious, boy... Kurai is free. What the hell are we supposed to do if he starts playing Godzilla in Tokyo Bay? If we separate at any time now, we'll be, as you say: 'sitting ducks'..." Rowen blinked.
"No more Godzilla for you, man..."
"He's right," Dais agreed. "Talpa did it." Sai finished loading the dishwasher.
"But he can't be at full strength right now. He's been trapped since th' dawn of humanity. I think we should get some kind of R&R before he unzips Hell upon us," he suggested.
"Yeah," Sage interjected. "We haven't had any kind of rest since we all arrived here. It's been training morning, noon, and night. If we don't calm down for awhile, it won't be just Hell that gets unzipped."
"I dunno, man... He is 'the man'," Kento said. "He could turn us all into worm food with a blink of an eye... Or worse!"
"Like destroying the universe?" Rowen pointed out. "Hey I thought you were all for this?!" Kento waved off his comment.
"No, no Pop Tarts! Those were the only things keeping me going when we fought Talpa! I AM with you guys. I'm just saying that what Cale 'n' Dais say makes sense."
"Pop Tarts?" Rowen repeated.
"You retard..." Ryo laughed.
"Come on, Kento! Don't you want to live a little before it's too late?" Rowen baited. Kento looked thoughtful.
"Well, maybe... but splitting up? Nah, I think I'll have to go with Magic Man on this one. Sorry Blue-boy. I'll go, you guys are lost without me anyway... And I'm NOT retarded!!" he snapped.
"Okay... What happens when we unload the power of the gods and they freak out? We're going to need level heads from everyone in order to put Kurai back in his hole," Sage said, "and I think some of the others are pretty shaky upstairs if you catch my meaning," he added.
"Might as well go out with a big bang, huh?" Kayura murmured, growing to like the idea. Dais growled.
"Okay, that's four for 'nay' and five for 'yay'..." Sage sighed.
"I know you guys don't think it's a smart idea, but... you're right. It IS important that we stick together on this, but Ryo and the others have a point: we need to chill for a little bit." Kayura hugged Sai from behind and ran her hands across his slender yet broad chest.
"You just wanna little kissy-kissy time with Korin, don't you?" Sage's face reddened and he scrambled away from her.
"Hey! I'm not Rowen, you know!" Kayura giggled and grabbed the front of his belt. "What? Is your libido broken, or something? Why not?!" she asked.
"Yeah, man... Babe gave me a semi when she came out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel this mornin'. Hot damn," Kento grinned.
"Kento!" Sai hissed.
"Whaat?" he laughed. Sage tore Kayura's hand away from him.
"My libido is fine, thank you," he snipped.
"Oh, so you do think she's hot?" Ryo grinned.
"What? No! I mean-- I don't know what I mean! Stop turning my words around!"
"Dude! Your face is so freaking red, man!" Kento laughed.
"It is not!" Sage flustered. He slammed his fist down on the counter. Silence. Sage rarely ever lost his temper. He sat slowly and cleared his throat. "... Look. I agree that she's cute, but she's involved."
"And?!" Sekhmet laughed. Sage growled and stood quickly.
"When are you people going to get it through your heads that I am not like that?!" he snapped, leaving the room soon after. Kayura sighed dreamily.
"Oh dear... I think our little Halo is in love!"
The door to the kitchen opened and Mia entered. Dais and Cale straightened almost immediately. "What's wrong with Sage?"
"He's in loooooooove!" Rowen grinned, leaning on the back of the kitchen chair.
"Ah, Domo again," Mia replied, not in the least bit surprised.
"Again?!" Ryo and Rowen sputtered. Mia nodded.
"Yes, again. And that's all I'm saying," she snapped. "It's bad enough you all hound the poor guy because he's more... proper than the rest of you! He's a gentleman compared to some of you! You all should take notes. You two especially." She indicated to Rowen and Kento.
"US!?"
"Yes, you..." She started pulling out things from the freezer for dinner. "Just leave him alone from now on, okay? It's bad enough for him that she's got a boyfriend."
"Dude, man. That's gotta suck. Not being able to tell her, wondering if she'll even give him a second glance... One-sided love sucks..." Kento said softly. "... Glad I don't have that problem!" Kento suddenly beamed.
"KENTO!" Mia hissed. Ryo rolled his eyes.
"I'd say you got a five letter problem."
"What?"
"D-A-D-D-Y," Ryo spelled.
"... Ah, crap."
"Cale?" Kayura began. "What's the matter? You've gotten all quiet." Cale's cheeks heated faintly as he glanced at Mia.
"Dais!! Stop it!" Mia laughed, trying to retrieve the box of recipes from him. He kept making it disappear behind his back, literally. Mia frowned. "Dais, so help me, you'll be living off a strict diet of cat food if you don't give me back my box!" she snapped playfully.
"But, my lady... it's been behind you the whole time," he replied innocently, with a sly smirk. Mia looked over her shoulder and frowned.
"I hate it when you do that," she said with an embarrassed blush.
Cale's midnight eyes narrowed. "Nothing, Kayura... I've got work to do."
"Cale! Wait a minute! I'm not done talking to you!"
"Go talk to a wall," he growled and pushed the kitchen door open with a slam. Mia jumped.
"What was that all about?" she asked. Kayura frowned giving her no reply. She and Cale would talk later. Of course, there was going to be a little less talking and more throwing of punches. And she had just finished her nails too.
"Want me to go tell the loves? Sakura's gonna be so happy!" Sai exclaimed with a smile. He couldn't believe that they were actually going to go.
"Yeah, go ahead," Dais grinned. Sai nearly jumped out of the stool.
"Hey, buddy!" Kento called. Sai caught himself in the door way before falling flat on his face. Kento grinned mischievously.
"Our bathroom, medicine cabinet, top shelf, right hand side," Kento directed. A mahogany eyebrow piqued in slight confusion. Kento sighed. "Hey man, unless you want little versions of you and or Sakura running around here in about nine months you should take the proper precautions." Sai's cheeks flared before frowning darkly.
"You're so crude, sometimes."
"ME?! Who found the hole in the fence in the baths out back?! AND refused to tell us about it for a month!?" Kayura's head snapped up from flipping through the cards of recipes. Sai wisely escaped...
"WHAT HOLE?" she demanded. Kento froze... along with the other non- females in the room. Kento turned. Many (plus one half) pairs of eyes glared darkly at him. He eyed the spatula in Mia's hand carefully, but Kento was more worried about the large knife block that Kayura had spotted.
"Um... Ah shit."
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"You're leaving?!" Anubis exclaimed. Tori nodded silently as she folded her clothes into her suitcase. "For how long?"
"... Three days," she whispered. "It's Ryo's idea. Please don't be angry-"
"I'm NOT!" he snapped. Tori flinched. Anubis turned away. "It's not safe. What if Zeal comes after you again? I'm not going to be there to-"
"I'm not a child, Anubis!" Tori shouted. Anubis jumped. It was the first time she had raised her voice in a week. "I didn't ask for you to watch over me!! I don't care if she comes after me... I 'hope' she does," she finished inside a growl. She flounced over to her dresser and snatched the jeweled kansashi. She fingered the sharp pointed accessory with a glare before pinning her hair back with it. "The next time I see her I-"
"Let me take care of Zeal."
"Why should I?! She didn't rip your sister apart and paint the walls with her insides!!" she screamed.
"She'll kill you!" he shouted back, snatching her wrist a little too roughly.
"I don't care!!!" she screamed back. "Better than staying here!!" She let out a soft sob as she yanked free her wrist and went back to packing. She stopped and another wave of tears came. Anubis felt a stab of guilt.
"... Little one," he began softly, "she is deadlier than Kayura... I don't want you getting hurt again. Your grandfather would turn over in his grave if I let you charge into the mouth of Hell because that's what you'll be doing if you think you can defeat her!" he exclaimed. Tori felt a strong hand on her shoulder. The calming effect it should have had was not present. "I'll avenge Kiku for both of us..." he added in a less than threatening voice. He moved against her back and slipped his arms around her shaking form. "Shh..." She turned slowly and gripped his shirt, crying softly.
"... She was only four..."
"Shh. I know..." He buried his nose into her hair. The familiar scent of jasmine tickled his nose and he breathed a shuddering sigh at the memory.
= "Anubis!! NO!" Dais exclaimed, blocking the man from entering through the sliding chamber door. "You... you do not want to go in there," Dais whispered softly.
"Let me pass! Where is she!?" Anubis shouted.
"She's DEAD, Anubis!!" he shouted. Anubis stiffened eyes wide. He shook his head.
"N-no. Y-you're lying..."
"She's dead, Anubis..."Cale interjected.
"NO!" Anubis shoved Cale aside and delivered a punch to Dais' cheek before tearing the door open. He stopped dead. Zeal lay limp on her bed with one arm draped over the side and a shattered vile of poison on the stone floor. Her eyes were open and empty. Blood seeped from her lips like a slow fountain. It trickled out over her chin and pooled in the hollowed the area above her collarbone and then soaking into the soft feather mattress that he and she shared. A path of blood led from the baths and on to the bed where she had collapsed. Anubis stooped over to her beside and lifted the woman into his arms, cradling her gently. Tears started from his lashes as he buried his face into her hair sobbing softly. "... My little one... shh... Everything will be all right, Zeal... "=
"Shh... Everything will be all right, Zeal..." he whispered aloud, tears threatening to fall again. He felt Tori rip herself away from him.
"W-what did you call me?" she demanded. His eyes widened as soon as he realized the name that left his lips.
"I... I called you, Tori." With an angry cry she backhanded him. Angry bronze eyes stared up at him sadly and full of shock.
"... You bastard... How DARE you mistake me for that... that demon- witch!?!" she shouted. She tore her eyes away and shoved past him. "Good GOD! Can you at least for one SECOND not think about HER?! My sister is DEAD!! And all you can think about is..." she stopped, too angry to even finish.
"Tori, I-" His speech was cut off as Tori ripped the kansashi out of her hair and threw it at him. It grazed his cheek, drawing a long slit of blood before it stilled in the now shattered mirror of her vanity. "Next time I won't miss... Ju-just... s-stay away from me..." she snarled and left the room, slamming the door behind her. She broke off into a run down the hall, bumping into Ryo as he climbed the stairs.
"Huh? Tori, what's wrong?!" he called.
"Nothing!!" she cried. Looked back to her room as he heard the door open. Anubis stepped out. Ryo pivoted on his heel and ran after her, finally catching up to her in the empty living room. He snatched her wrist. "What happened?!" he demanded. Tori's knees buckled and she fell against his chest sobbing.
"I'm not Zeal... I'm not Z-zeal... I'm no-o-oot," she fell into sobs. Ryo's eyes widened as he folded his arms around her, figuring out what might have happened.
"It's okay... I know you're not..." he told her over and over.
He sighed heavily realizing that three days may not be enough...
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Domo set down her bags as she looked inside of Kiku and Yuli's old room. For now, the boy would be staying in Kaos' old room until it was safer. Cale was still at work pulling up the carpet. That was ruined, but the hardwood floor beneath it was all right with the exception of a few spots where they had been ripped up. She knocked on the doorframe. He looked up and stood straight. "Something you need, my lady?"
"We're leaving soon... Need anything from the outside world?"
"Some decent saké wouldn't hurt," he grunted pulling back more of the carpet. Domo smirked.
"I'll get you some... I know a guy. Got some great stuff..." Cale's eyebrows rose.
"I never took you as a drinker, Korin."
"... I'm not that bad. I know when to stop. It calms me down. Is there anything else you need?" Cale shook his head.
"Nothing that you can buy, Korin..." he said softly. Domo saw his eyes tear again and touched his arm. She leaned up and kissed his cheek gently. Cale's eyes widened. "What was that for?"
"... Kiku. She... I know you really cared about her like she needed." Cale looked away.
"Just trying to right a wrong from so many years ago..."
"Huh?"
"... I lost something precious to me once... Kiku reminded me of that. Now that she's gone I... feel like I've failed them again," he murmured. Domo peered at him closely. "W-what?"
"Nothing. You just... remind me of Sage." Cale frowned.
"Why?"
"Oh, you're offended?" she laughed. "Your eyes... They're hard and cold, but I can tell that you both have a deep compassion for life. It's weird. He's like your alter ego..." Cale rolled his eyes.
"He's the lighter side... The girls tend to favor the darker," he smirked.
"Oh?" Domo cocked an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
"Bring back that saké and I'll show you," he smirked darkly. Domo's eyes widened.
"... I thought you liked Mia." Cale blushed heavily, his dark grin turning into a look of embarrassment that was all too cute.
"How can you tell?!"
"Oh, gee I dunno... Maybe it's the way you call her Lady Mia? Or why you are ALWAYS volunteering to do dishes when she's in the kitchen doing them, and then there's that look you get when she's just had a shower and you get all 'booby booby, YAY!' when she's in a towel looking for her clothes in the laundry room."
"Okay, okay!! I was just kidding about that saké crack..."
"Well, does she know you love her?"
"N-no..."
"Tell her!"
"HOW?" he frowned. Domo shrugged and turned to go.
"Use that dark charm of yours... If I wasn't taken all ready, I may have just taken you up on that offer..." Cale's mouth dropped open as she slinked out of the room.
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Nasake pulled the zipper of her duffel bag closed and hefted it over her shoulder. She was thankful that they weren't driving back and that Dais was nice enough to let them use a portal to have enough time to try and relax. Although after what happened earlier with Tori and Anubis, three days may not even be enough to even crack the tip of the iceberg. There was a soft knock at her door.
"Want some help?" Rowen asked. Nasake turned to look at him, then turned back to packing.
"No. I'm done," she whispered with a soft blush. Rowen ignored her reply and lifted the heavier bag full of books. "Rowen! I said I got it!" she frowned as he started out the door. He stopped and turned to look over his shoulder.
"I know... But I don't feel so useless now," he whispered, tears blinding his vision. His eyes were still red from crying. His own family was all ready split from death, and he had been helpless to stop it. Now he felt that it was happening all over again. The signs... He should have realized who Kiku really was when she had been displaying all sorts of weird powers: her slight healing, the intelligence of this child, the resemblance to Kaos...
Nasake lowered her eyes and met Rowen at the door. She slipped her arms around him and pulled him close. He let the bag drop as she buried her face into his jacket. His arms folded around her slowly. The scent of strawberries tickled his nose and found himself reaching up to touch the soft sapphire strands. Nasake gasped. "S-sorry," she breathed and pulled away sharply as she felt his hands in her hair. Rowen sniffled and nodded sadly.
"S'okay... Let's get you home," he whispered. He picked up her bag and followed her. His mind kept replaying that moment over and over in his head. Her actions were strange, like she was afraid of being touched.
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"Do you all have everything you need?" Dais asked. They all nodded silently. Ryo set his bag down as he saw Yuli leading Whiteblaze to them. His eyes misted as he embraced the beast gently. "Keep them safe, 'Blaze. I'm counting on you. We'll find a way to restore your sight..." A low whine left Whiteblaze and he licked his face.
"Come back soon, Ryo," Yuli said.
"We'll be back as soon as we can, guys," Ryo replied.
"Yeah," Sakura said as she gave everyone a farewell hug. "We really appreciate it," she added. She stepped to Sekhmet. He was still angry. "... Don't worry, Sekkie. Suiko tells me that it'll get hot soon... We'll be back prancing around in bikinis for you soon!" she beamed, blushing slightly. She heard Sai sputter in disgust. Sekhmet continued to frown, refusing to look at her. Usually that would have made him laugh. Sakura sighed heavily and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
Again Sai sputtered.
The warrior frowned further, but a light blush stained his pale cheeks. He gave her a hard glare, then suddenly winked slyly with a smirk. She smiled and returned to Sai to calm him down.
Mia came rushing outside with a small handful. "Wait a minute!" she breathed. "Tori? Can you get these developed for me?"
"Huh? S-sure, Mia."
"Be careful with them. They're all the pictures I've taken since you have started living here," Mia smiled sadly. Tori nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Anubis approaching her. "... Tori?" he began. She frowned. The blush of shame stained his cheeks and did not meet her eyes. "I... I'm sorry..." he whispered. Tori stayed silent and looked away, eyes misting slightly from anger and hurt. She stiffened and blushed heavily as he cupped her cheeks in his hands and pulled himself close. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. He ignored the smart remarks from the others. "Come back safely," he whispered against her ear and turned quickly back to the others. Lifting her bag she retreated to the side, not saying another word to anyone. Domo went over to her, but Tori turned away, wanting to be alone.
"Ryo?" Kayura began shyly. He tore his eyes from Tori.
"Oh, hey..."
"... Watch your back," she murmured.
"Huh?"
"... I have a bad feeling about this." She lowered her eyes. "Just be careful. Please?" Ryo smiled softly.
"Sure..." Kayura looked up at him briefly before clutching his shoulders gently and giving him a soft kiss. His eyes went wide and he blushed furiously. Again the smart remarks followed. Kayura pulled away with a heavy blush and retreated to Anubis' side. Ryo swallowed hard. Dais rolled his eyes.
"Are there any more sweet goodbyes?" he laughed. He opened a portal. "Hurry. Get to the other side. I don't want any sudden rifts between dimensions if you get lost in there. " One by one they entered the gateway. Tori turned to look back at them. Yuli waved happily. She saw Anubis' sad eyes and stopped.
"C'mon, Tori... We need to go," Ryo said. Tori nodded wordlessly before they disappeared.
Kayura clutched the staff in her hands as she watched the portal close behind them. She felt Whiteblaze nudge her arm with a low whine. She reached down and stroked the fur behind his ears. She stared into the now open space where the Ronins and the others disappeared. "I know, old friend... I hope so too," she whispered. Anubis put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with a most knowing look. She reached up and touched the slash over his left cheekbone. "... It doesn't hurt," he said to her.
"She was really upset, you know," she said. Anubis sighed. "Would you assist me with this?" she asked, gesturing to the staff. Anubis gripped it in his hands, feeling the familiar power return to him. "... I would be honored," he whispered.
"Think they'll be all right, Cale?" Mia asked as he placed an arm around her. He sighed.
"I hope so, my lady..."
"How is the room going?" she asked as she watched Anubis and Lady Kayura concentrating on the barrier spell.
"... Fine, but... It needs a woman's touch," he smirked. Mia blushed lightly.
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Zeal peered into the throne room from the doors with a few soldiers at her side. Word spread around quickly that Fou-Lu was actually Kurai. What was even more interesting was that Talpa wasn't exactly in charge anymore.
"... Master Kurai, you are still weary from your transformation. Please rest and I shall keep an eye on the Ronins for you. They are heading back into their precious city, you know..." Kurai leaned back against the throne tiredly. Talpa was right. It was even hard to breathe. His body had not yet grown accustomed to his dark powers. He was practically gasping for air. "N- no..." he heaved and lifted his hand to send him away, but passed out from exhaustion. Talpa smirked.
(So much for the great Kurai... This was a waste of my time...) He stooped over and lifted the Guardian of Darkness into his arms. "Badamon!!"
A gust of wind shot through the giant chamber and in a wisp of dark flames, the old priest appeared.
"You summoned me?"
"Take Master Kurai. See that he regains his strength..." Badamon bowed slowly.
"At once..." The two vanished and Talpa sighed.
A deep chuckle rose from the shadows. "Shall I go for you, sire?"
"Yes, go... He won't be awake for a good while... Don't forget what I told you!" he snapped, touching the newest scar on his chest.
"Of course not..." Talpa closed his eyes and when he opened them he appeared inside a smaller chamber. A frail figure sat at the window, just staring out at the deep purple sea several miles away. He removed his mask and tossed it on the bed. "... Well, you got what you wanted..." she said softly.
"Yes... I suppose," he murmured and kissed her hair. She flinched at it.
"I want no more part in this. I want to return to my home," she said sternly.
"Your home is nothing but a pile of rubble," he spat. "I am all you have, Managi." Managi's gold eyes narrowed and she tore herself from the window.
"Get out."
"You 'dare' order me around?" he chuckled. Managi snarled.
"Why not? You're no longer Emperor... I do as I please," she hissed, disrobing and her armored body forming around her. Talpa snatched her by the hair.
"I gave you life again. I can easily take it from you."
"You should save face and do the honorable thing and take your own life. You think you frighten me now? I welcome death as much as you fear it," she hissed. Talpa's bleak blue eyes flashed red.
"Do not tempt me, my love." Managi snarled and rammed a hidden dagger into his side. Talpa released her and hissed, ripping the blade out. When he looked up she was gone. He snarled and shattered the mirror on the other side of the room. Soon a deep chuckle filled the room and echoed loudly through the corridors.
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Mia frowned with a sigh. She should have asked some of the girls to go shopping for bedroom designs and new furniture while they were out. She closed the linen closet after removing two sets of white sheets. "I guess these will have to do for now," she sighed and made her way to the bedroom to help Cale. He had just finished relaying the floor with parts of it from the veranda. The porch could wait for now. Mia cocked her head. "... We'll just cover up the wood with a rug or something," she said. Mahogany colored pine lay side by side with a pale blue. It was an interesting combination to say the least.
"I needed the wood... Sekhmet says that the porch will take weeks to fix." Mia sat on one of the new beds that Dais had repaired. The other, Kiku's, had to be replaced entirely. Mia was lucky that she still had the small bed she used to sleep in as a little girl down stairs in the cellar. She sighed heavily. "I remember my father and grandfather building that porch... I was only about five or six... We used to have parties out on that porch. My sister and her husband were married out in the garden here... 'Jiisan said that it would last a million marriage parties..." She sighed heavily. Cale fell silent. He didn't know what to say. It then came to him. He sat beside her and touched her hair.
"... When I was a boy of about... eight, I remember a little dock that my father and grandfather were building. When it was finished, my little brother and I would spend the day fishing from it or just jumping into the lake... We did that for the longest time... One day... I was now... eighteen... our village was attacked by an invading army."
"Talpa?"
"... No... Not yet anyway... That army destroyed everything... my home, some of my friends, and that dock... They left the next morning... I was truly upset that they burned just one dock out of several... of course I was more upset about loosing the ones I cared about too, but it was that dock that stuck in my mind... And then my grandfather told me something I will never forget: '... Things burn, people die... but it is the memory of them that makes them last forever. Rebuild the dock... Neither the fish nor you will care about the difference... you'll be too busy making new memories...'... So you see... what material things you have may be gone, but not what you have here and here, my lady," Cale smiled, indicating to her forehead and heart with a gentle touch of this hand. Mia smiled tearfully.
"... That makes me feel better, Cale," she smiled. "Thank you." She stood smiling and lifted a sheet to start dressing the bed. "Come on and help me put this on!" she smiled. Cale nodded and silently helped her spread the sheet evenly across the mattress. He glanced up at her and swallowed.
"My lady... I ... need to tell you something," he murmured. Mia didn't look up from covering the pillows with their new cases.
"What, Cale? Did you break something?"
"N-no!" He stepped around the bed and stopped her from her work. "Just listen... please..." Mia nodded slowly, realizing the closeness of him. She swallowed hard. "... When we were out there a few days ago, Zeal told us that she killed one of you three here... and... all I could think about was... if she had meant you and what I was feeling..." He lifted her eyes. "... I have never been more scared in my entire life... When I learned that it was Kiku, I... it broke my heart... I don't know what I would do if you had been killed too," he whispered. "... I want to tell you this before it's too late and Zeal comes after you again..." He leaned down and gently closed his mouth over Mia's pale pink mouth. He stiffened slightly, waiting for a sharp blow that was to come... It didn't. Instead soft, slender fingers slid their way up his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt helplessly. A soft whimper escaped some how from her throat as she parted her mouth, timidly returning the notion. Sword calloused hands cradled her face gently as he slid his tongue past her lips to meet with her own. Another moan rose to her lips before Cale swallowed it. He slid one strong arm around her waist just before she fell weak at the knees. He held her against him as he lifted his head. Dark midnight eyes looked lovingly into almost frightened and shy teal ones. He reached up with his free hand and stroked her rosy cheek with the back of it. "... I love you, my lady," he whispered softly. Teal eyes went wide as he released her. He slid his hands down her arms and to hers. She didn't look at him, she just stared the ridiculously colored floor. He leaned his lips against her ear.
"Please, say something," he begged in a whisper.
"... I... that makes me happy, Cale," she began softly. "I... no one's every told that to me before," she finished.
"Then you won't mind if I say it again?" he asked still against her ear. Mia said nothing. She looked up at him, tears threatening to fall. "Oh, my lady," he smiled, "please don't cry. I am sorry if I offended you," he said softly, disappointment in his voice. He dried her cheeks with his thumbs. She shook her head quickly. "I-It's not that... I..." She lowered her eyes and tried to stop herself from crying. She promised herself a year ago that she wouldn't let it upset her again... That promise fell to the floor and splashed to nothing. Cale felt a deep-rooted pain suddenly surface from within her. He could always sense what others were feeling. It was a gift that his clan had long ago...
He could sense love, hate, desire, anger, and fear among other emotions... His heart ripped when he sensed overwhelming fear from her... because of him. He released his touch immediately and backed away slightly. "... Forgive me," he said softly. "I did not mean to scare you... I... won't say it ever again, if it does." Mia looked up quickly.
"... N-no... It's not you at all... I... Someone hurt me a long time ago..." Cale nodded slowly. Her trust had been shattered along with her heart. "... It made me feel better, Cale," she added softly. "But, I-"
"Lady Mia? I need your assis... tance," Sekhmet started, but stopped in the doorway. He saw Mia's tears, growing concerned. Women in distress. His only weakness. "My lady? Are you all right?" he asked. Mia dried her eyes quickly and nodded.
"What do you need help with, Sekhmet?"
"I... uh... the oven is emitting a dark cloud... U-um-" A loud shrill beep filled the house.
"SEKHMET, YOU IDIOT!" Kayura shouted, coughing.
"WHO PUT POTHOLDERS IN THE OVEN?!" Anubis exclaimed. Sekhmet scratched the back of his head as Mia rushed out of the room.
"Why did you put potholders in the oven?" Cale asked.
"They got wet. I was trying to dry them off." Cale just shook his head. Sekhmet ignored the angry snarls from Kayura and blinked. "You TOLD her, didn't you?" The warrior of darkness slumped his shoulders.
"Is it THAT fucking obvious?"
"... I had my suspicions... Everything came into place when I sensed heavy... 'emotion' radiating from the two of you... like you've both been-"
"Yes, I kissed her!" Cale snapped. His face fell. "... But..."
"But what?"
"I don't know if you have noticed, but... there is something very wrong with her. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I know that someone broke her heart long ago and I think I just made her feel worse." Sekhmet nodded slowly.
"She has been a little out of sorts since our last trip into the city... Listen, I'd better head downstairs and-"
"SEKHMET!!" Kayura yelled.
"I hate cooking," Sekhmet groaned. He turned on his heel and left before Cale started asking all the wrong questions. The man was too damn close to the truth. Torrent and Hardrock would kill him if he opened his mouth, but that didn't compare to the repercussions of what would happen if he did.
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A/N: Sage is in looove. Cale's in loooove. What's Ronin to do? Thanks so much for the review! (You know who you are!) Ja na!
"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Twenty-Nine: A Small Measure of Peace
"So... Kiku and the Ancient were the same person," Mia realized, lowering her eyes. "It is no wonder Tori can't recall the first three years very well." Anubis nodded.
"No, my lady. Kiku and Kaos were separate being, but their souls shared the same power... He told me... long ago that he saved a young girl from the raid four years ago. Her parents were dead on the spot... He buried her memories and used a lock of her own hair and the power of Shakujo to create Kiku. She is Tori's sister in a sense..."
"Why do you suppose he did that?"
"I suppose he thought that Talpa would never suspect a baby as part of that seal Kaos trapped him with..."
"How did Tori take the news?" Mia asked as she continued to fold the laundry.
"... She all ready knew that her parents were dead... That part she remembered on her own... She didn't say anything when I told her about Kiku." Anubis fell silent and stopped folding, arms growing tense.
"... You care about her a lot, don't you?" she asked. Anubis flushed heavily.
"... I just... Her resemblance to Zeal is frightening. My body doesn't know whether to hate her or..."
"Just remember that she's not Zeal... She deserves at least that..."
"Just what are you trying to say, my lady?" Mia lifted the basket with a smile.
"You're a man, Anubis... I don't have to say anything..." Anubis felt his cheeks grow hot.
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"Wildfire, no," Sekhmet replied flatly. Ryo frowned.
"Why the hell not?!" he demanded.
"Do I really have to tell you?" Sekhmet asked in an annoyed tone. Ryo frowned again.
"Yes!!" Cale rolled his eyes.
"It's obvious, boy... Kurai is free. What the hell are we supposed to do if he starts playing Godzilla in Tokyo Bay? If we separate at any time now, we'll be, as you say: 'sitting ducks'..." Rowen blinked.
"No more Godzilla for you, man..."
"He's right," Dais agreed. "Talpa did it." Sai finished loading the dishwasher.
"But he can't be at full strength right now. He's been trapped since th' dawn of humanity. I think we should get some kind of R&R before he unzips Hell upon us," he suggested.
"Yeah," Sage interjected. "We haven't had any kind of rest since we all arrived here. It's been training morning, noon, and night. If we don't calm down for awhile, it won't be just Hell that gets unzipped."
"I dunno, man... He is 'the man'," Kento said. "He could turn us all into worm food with a blink of an eye... Or worse!"
"Like destroying the universe?" Rowen pointed out. "Hey I thought you were all for this?!" Kento waved off his comment.
"No, no Pop Tarts! Those were the only things keeping me going when we fought Talpa! I AM with you guys. I'm just saying that what Cale 'n' Dais say makes sense."
"Pop Tarts?" Rowen repeated.
"You retard..." Ryo laughed.
"Come on, Kento! Don't you want to live a little before it's too late?" Rowen baited. Kento looked thoughtful.
"Well, maybe... but splitting up? Nah, I think I'll have to go with Magic Man on this one. Sorry Blue-boy. I'll go, you guys are lost without me anyway... And I'm NOT retarded!!" he snapped.
"Okay... What happens when we unload the power of the gods and they freak out? We're going to need level heads from everyone in order to put Kurai back in his hole," Sage said, "and I think some of the others are pretty shaky upstairs if you catch my meaning," he added.
"Might as well go out with a big bang, huh?" Kayura murmured, growing to like the idea. Dais growled.
"Okay, that's four for 'nay' and five for 'yay'..." Sage sighed.
"I know you guys don't think it's a smart idea, but... you're right. It IS important that we stick together on this, but Ryo and the others have a point: we need to chill for a little bit." Kayura hugged Sai from behind and ran her hands across his slender yet broad chest.
"You just wanna little kissy-kissy time with Korin, don't you?" Sage's face reddened and he scrambled away from her.
"Hey! I'm not Rowen, you know!" Kayura giggled and grabbed the front of his belt. "What? Is your libido broken, or something? Why not?!" she asked.
"Yeah, man... Babe gave me a semi when she came out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel this mornin'. Hot damn," Kento grinned.
"Kento!" Sai hissed.
"Whaat?" he laughed. Sage tore Kayura's hand away from him.
"My libido is fine, thank you," he snipped.
"Oh, so you do think she's hot?" Ryo grinned.
"What? No! I mean-- I don't know what I mean! Stop turning my words around!"
"Dude! Your face is so freaking red, man!" Kento laughed.
"It is not!" Sage flustered. He slammed his fist down on the counter. Silence. Sage rarely ever lost his temper. He sat slowly and cleared his throat. "... Look. I agree that she's cute, but she's involved."
"And?!" Sekhmet laughed. Sage growled and stood quickly.
"When are you people going to get it through your heads that I am not like that?!" he snapped, leaving the room soon after. Kayura sighed dreamily.
"Oh dear... I think our little Halo is in love!"
The door to the kitchen opened and Mia entered. Dais and Cale straightened almost immediately. "What's wrong with Sage?"
"He's in loooooooove!" Rowen grinned, leaning on the back of the kitchen chair.
"Ah, Domo again," Mia replied, not in the least bit surprised.
"Again?!" Ryo and Rowen sputtered. Mia nodded.
"Yes, again. And that's all I'm saying," she snapped. "It's bad enough you all hound the poor guy because he's more... proper than the rest of you! He's a gentleman compared to some of you! You all should take notes. You two especially." She indicated to Rowen and Kento.
"US!?"
"Yes, you..." She started pulling out things from the freezer for dinner. "Just leave him alone from now on, okay? It's bad enough for him that she's got a boyfriend."
"Dude, man. That's gotta suck. Not being able to tell her, wondering if she'll even give him a second glance... One-sided love sucks..." Kento said softly. "... Glad I don't have that problem!" Kento suddenly beamed.
"KENTO!" Mia hissed. Ryo rolled his eyes.
"I'd say you got a five letter problem."
"What?"
"D-A-D-D-Y," Ryo spelled.
"... Ah, crap."
"Cale?" Kayura began. "What's the matter? You've gotten all quiet." Cale's cheeks heated faintly as he glanced at Mia.
"Dais!! Stop it!" Mia laughed, trying to retrieve the box of recipes from him. He kept making it disappear behind his back, literally. Mia frowned. "Dais, so help me, you'll be living off a strict diet of cat food if you don't give me back my box!" she snapped playfully.
"But, my lady... it's been behind you the whole time," he replied innocently, with a sly smirk. Mia looked over her shoulder and frowned.
"I hate it when you do that," she said with an embarrassed blush.
Cale's midnight eyes narrowed. "Nothing, Kayura... I've got work to do."
"Cale! Wait a minute! I'm not done talking to you!"
"Go talk to a wall," he growled and pushed the kitchen door open with a slam. Mia jumped.
"What was that all about?" she asked. Kayura frowned giving her no reply. She and Cale would talk later. Of course, there was going to be a little less talking and more throwing of punches. And she had just finished her nails too.
"Want me to go tell the loves? Sakura's gonna be so happy!" Sai exclaimed with a smile. He couldn't believe that they were actually going to go.
"Yeah, go ahead," Dais grinned. Sai nearly jumped out of the stool.
"Hey, buddy!" Kento called. Sai caught himself in the door way before falling flat on his face. Kento grinned mischievously.
"Our bathroom, medicine cabinet, top shelf, right hand side," Kento directed. A mahogany eyebrow piqued in slight confusion. Kento sighed. "Hey man, unless you want little versions of you and or Sakura running around here in about nine months you should take the proper precautions." Sai's cheeks flared before frowning darkly.
"You're so crude, sometimes."
"ME?! Who found the hole in the fence in the baths out back?! AND refused to tell us about it for a month!?" Kayura's head snapped up from flipping through the cards of recipes. Sai wisely escaped...
"WHAT HOLE?" she demanded. Kento froze... along with the other non- females in the room. Kento turned. Many (plus one half) pairs of eyes glared darkly at him. He eyed the spatula in Mia's hand carefully, but Kento was more worried about the large knife block that Kayura had spotted.
"Um... Ah shit."
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"You're leaving?!" Anubis exclaimed. Tori nodded silently as she folded her clothes into her suitcase. "For how long?"
"... Three days," she whispered. "It's Ryo's idea. Please don't be angry-"
"I'm NOT!" he snapped. Tori flinched. Anubis turned away. "It's not safe. What if Zeal comes after you again? I'm not going to be there to-"
"I'm not a child, Anubis!" Tori shouted. Anubis jumped. It was the first time she had raised her voice in a week. "I didn't ask for you to watch over me!! I don't care if she comes after me... I 'hope' she does," she finished inside a growl. She flounced over to her dresser and snatched the jeweled kansashi. She fingered the sharp pointed accessory with a glare before pinning her hair back with it. "The next time I see her I-"
"Let me take care of Zeal."
"Why should I?! She didn't rip your sister apart and paint the walls with her insides!!" she screamed.
"She'll kill you!" he shouted back, snatching her wrist a little too roughly.
"I don't care!!!" she screamed back. "Better than staying here!!" She let out a soft sob as she yanked free her wrist and went back to packing. She stopped and another wave of tears came. Anubis felt a stab of guilt.
"... Little one," he began softly, "she is deadlier than Kayura... I don't want you getting hurt again. Your grandfather would turn over in his grave if I let you charge into the mouth of Hell because that's what you'll be doing if you think you can defeat her!" he exclaimed. Tori felt a strong hand on her shoulder. The calming effect it should have had was not present. "I'll avenge Kiku for both of us..." he added in a less than threatening voice. He moved against her back and slipped his arms around her shaking form. "Shh..." She turned slowly and gripped his shirt, crying softly.
"... She was only four..."
"Shh. I know..." He buried his nose into her hair. The familiar scent of jasmine tickled his nose and he breathed a shuddering sigh at the memory.
= "Anubis!! NO!" Dais exclaimed, blocking the man from entering through the sliding chamber door. "You... you do not want to go in there," Dais whispered softly.
"Let me pass! Where is she!?" Anubis shouted.
"She's DEAD, Anubis!!" he shouted. Anubis stiffened eyes wide. He shook his head.
"N-no. Y-you're lying..."
"She's dead, Anubis..."Cale interjected.
"NO!" Anubis shoved Cale aside and delivered a punch to Dais' cheek before tearing the door open. He stopped dead. Zeal lay limp on her bed with one arm draped over the side and a shattered vile of poison on the stone floor. Her eyes were open and empty. Blood seeped from her lips like a slow fountain. It trickled out over her chin and pooled in the hollowed the area above her collarbone and then soaking into the soft feather mattress that he and she shared. A path of blood led from the baths and on to the bed where she had collapsed. Anubis stooped over to her beside and lifted the woman into his arms, cradling her gently. Tears started from his lashes as he buried his face into her hair sobbing softly. "... My little one... shh... Everything will be all right, Zeal... "=
"Shh... Everything will be all right, Zeal..." he whispered aloud, tears threatening to fall again. He felt Tori rip herself away from him.
"W-what did you call me?" she demanded. His eyes widened as soon as he realized the name that left his lips.
"I... I called you, Tori." With an angry cry she backhanded him. Angry bronze eyes stared up at him sadly and full of shock.
"... You bastard... How DARE you mistake me for that... that demon- witch!?!" she shouted. She tore her eyes away and shoved past him. "Good GOD! Can you at least for one SECOND not think about HER?! My sister is DEAD!! And all you can think about is..." she stopped, too angry to even finish.
"Tori, I-" His speech was cut off as Tori ripped the kansashi out of her hair and threw it at him. It grazed his cheek, drawing a long slit of blood before it stilled in the now shattered mirror of her vanity. "Next time I won't miss... Ju-just... s-stay away from me..." she snarled and left the room, slamming the door behind her. She broke off into a run down the hall, bumping into Ryo as he climbed the stairs.
"Huh? Tori, what's wrong?!" he called.
"Nothing!!" she cried. Looked back to her room as he heard the door open. Anubis stepped out. Ryo pivoted on his heel and ran after her, finally catching up to her in the empty living room. He snatched her wrist. "What happened?!" he demanded. Tori's knees buckled and she fell against his chest sobbing.
"I'm not Zeal... I'm not Z-zeal... I'm no-o-oot," she fell into sobs. Ryo's eyes widened as he folded his arms around her, figuring out what might have happened.
"It's okay... I know you're not..." he told her over and over.
He sighed heavily realizing that three days may not be enough...
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Domo set down her bags as she looked inside of Kiku and Yuli's old room. For now, the boy would be staying in Kaos' old room until it was safer. Cale was still at work pulling up the carpet. That was ruined, but the hardwood floor beneath it was all right with the exception of a few spots where they had been ripped up. She knocked on the doorframe. He looked up and stood straight. "Something you need, my lady?"
"We're leaving soon... Need anything from the outside world?"
"Some decent saké wouldn't hurt," he grunted pulling back more of the carpet. Domo smirked.
"I'll get you some... I know a guy. Got some great stuff..." Cale's eyebrows rose.
"I never took you as a drinker, Korin."
"... I'm not that bad. I know when to stop. It calms me down. Is there anything else you need?" Cale shook his head.
"Nothing that you can buy, Korin..." he said softly. Domo saw his eyes tear again and touched his arm. She leaned up and kissed his cheek gently. Cale's eyes widened. "What was that for?"
"... Kiku. She... I know you really cared about her like she needed." Cale looked away.
"Just trying to right a wrong from so many years ago..."
"Huh?"
"... I lost something precious to me once... Kiku reminded me of that. Now that she's gone I... feel like I've failed them again," he murmured. Domo peered at him closely. "W-what?"
"Nothing. You just... remind me of Sage." Cale frowned.
"Why?"
"Oh, you're offended?" she laughed. "Your eyes... They're hard and cold, but I can tell that you both have a deep compassion for life. It's weird. He's like your alter ego..." Cale rolled his eyes.
"He's the lighter side... The girls tend to favor the darker," he smirked.
"Oh?" Domo cocked an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
"Bring back that saké and I'll show you," he smirked darkly. Domo's eyes widened.
"... I thought you liked Mia." Cale blushed heavily, his dark grin turning into a look of embarrassment that was all too cute.
"How can you tell?!"
"Oh, gee I dunno... Maybe it's the way you call her Lady Mia? Or why you are ALWAYS volunteering to do dishes when she's in the kitchen doing them, and then there's that look you get when she's just had a shower and you get all 'booby booby, YAY!' when she's in a towel looking for her clothes in the laundry room."
"Okay, okay!! I was just kidding about that saké crack..."
"Well, does she know you love her?"
"N-no..."
"Tell her!"
"HOW?" he frowned. Domo shrugged and turned to go.
"Use that dark charm of yours... If I wasn't taken all ready, I may have just taken you up on that offer..." Cale's mouth dropped open as she slinked out of the room.
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Nasake pulled the zipper of her duffel bag closed and hefted it over her shoulder. She was thankful that they weren't driving back and that Dais was nice enough to let them use a portal to have enough time to try and relax. Although after what happened earlier with Tori and Anubis, three days may not even be enough to even crack the tip of the iceberg. There was a soft knock at her door.
"Want some help?" Rowen asked. Nasake turned to look at him, then turned back to packing.
"No. I'm done," she whispered with a soft blush. Rowen ignored her reply and lifted the heavier bag full of books. "Rowen! I said I got it!" she frowned as he started out the door. He stopped and turned to look over his shoulder.
"I know... But I don't feel so useless now," he whispered, tears blinding his vision. His eyes were still red from crying. His own family was all ready split from death, and he had been helpless to stop it. Now he felt that it was happening all over again. The signs... He should have realized who Kiku really was when she had been displaying all sorts of weird powers: her slight healing, the intelligence of this child, the resemblance to Kaos...
Nasake lowered her eyes and met Rowen at the door. She slipped her arms around him and pulled him close. He let the bag drop as she buried her face into his jacket. His arms folded around her slowly. The scent of strawberries tickled his nose and found himself reaching up to touch the soft sapphire strands. Nasake gasped. "S-sorry," she breathed and pulled away sharply as she felt his hands in her hair. Rowen sniffled and nodded sadly.
"S'okay... Let's get you home," he whispered. He picked up her bag and followed her. His mind kept replaying that moment over and over in his head. Her actions were strange, like she was afraid of being touched.
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"Do you all have everything you need?" Dais asked. They all nodded silently. Ryo set his bag down as he saw Yuli leading Whiteblaze to them. His eyes misted as he embraced the beast gently. "Keep them safe, 'Blaze. I'm counting on you. We'll find a way to restore your sight..." A low whine left Whiteblaze and he licked his face.
"Come back soon, Ryo," Yuli said.
"We'll be back as soon as we can, guys," Ryo replied.
"Yeah," Sakura said as she gave everyone a farewell hug. "We really appreciate it," she added. She stepped to Sekhmet. He was still angry. "... Don't worry, Sekkie. Suiko tells me that it'll get hot soon... We'll be back prancing around in bikinis for you soon!" she beamed, blushing slightly. She heard Sai sputter in disgust. Sekhmet continued to frown, refusing to look at her. Usually that would have made him laugh. Sakura sighed heavily and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
Again Sai sputtered.
The warrior frowned further, but a light blush stained his pale cheeks. He gave her a hard glare, then suddenly winked slyly with a smirk. She smiled and returned to Sai to calm him down.
Mia came rushing outside with a small handful. "Wait a minute!" she breathed. "Tori? Can you get these developed for me?"
"Huh? S-sure, Mia."
"Be careful with them. They're all the pictures I've taken since you have started living here," Mia smiled sadly. Tori nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Anubis approaching her. "... Tori?" he began. She frowned. The blush of shame stained his cheeks and did not meet her eyes. "I... I'm sorry..." he whispered. Tori stayed silent and looked away, eyes misting slightly from anger and hurt. She stiffened and blushed heavily as he cupped her cheeks in his hands and pulled himself close. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. He ignored the smart remarks from the others. "Come back safely," he whispered against her ear and turned quickly back to the others. Lifting her bag she retreated to the side, not saying another word to anyone. Domo went over to her, but Tori turned away, wanting to be alone.
"Ryo?" Kayura began shyly. He tore his eyes from Tori.
"Oh, hey..."
"... Watch your back," she murmured.
"Huh?"
"... I have a bad feeling about this." She lowered her eyes. "Just be careful. Please?" Ryo smiled softly.
"Sure..." Kayura looked up at him briefly before clutching his shoulders gently and giving him a soft kiss. His eyes went wide and he blushed furiously. Again the smart remarks followed. Kayura pulled away with a heavy blush and retreated to Anubis' side. Ryo swallowed hard. Dais rolled his eyes.
"Are there any more sweet goodbyes?" he laughed. He opened a portal. "Hurry. Get to the other side. I don't want any sudden rifts between dimensions if you get lost in there. " One by one they entered the gateway. Tori turned to look back at them. Yuli waved happily. She saw Anubis' sad eyes and stopped.
"C'mon, Tori... We need to go," Ryo said. Tori nodded wordlessly before they disappeared.
Kayura clutched the staff in her hands as she watched the portal close behind them. She felt Whiteblaze nudge her arm with a low whine. She reached down and stroked the fur behind his ears. She stared into the now open space where the Ronins and the others disappeared. "I know, old friend... I hope so too," she whispered. Anubis put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him with a most knowing look. She reached up and touched the slash over his left cheekbone. "... It doesn't hurt," he said to her.
"She was really upset, you know," she said. Anubis sighed. "Would you assist me with this?" she asked, gesturing to the staff. Anubis gripped it in his hands, feeling the familiar power return to him. "... I would be honored," he whispered.
"Think they'll be all right, Cale?" Mia asked as he placed an arm around her. He sighed.
"I hope so, my lady..."
"How is the room going?" she asked as she watched Anubis and Lady Kayura concentrating on the barrier spell.
"... Fine, but... It needs a woman's touch," he smirked. Mia blushed lightly.
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Zeal peered into the throne room from the doors with a few soldiers at her side. Word spread around quickly that Fou-Lu was actually Kurai. What was even more interesting was that Talpa wasn't exactly in charge anymore.
"... Master Kurai, you are still weary from your transformation. Please rest and I shall keep an eye on the Ronins for you. They are heading back into their precious city, you know..." Kurai leaned back against the throne tiredly. Talpa was right. It was even hard to breathe. His body had not yet grown accustomed to his dark powers. He was practically gasping for air. "N- no..." he heaved and lifted his hand to send him away, but passed out from exhaustion. Talpa smirked.
(So much for the great Kurai... This was a waste of my time...) He stooped over and lifted the Guardian of Darkness into his arms. "Badamon!!"
A gust of wind shot through the giant chamber and in a wisp of dark flames, the old priest appeared.
"You summoned me?"
"Take Master Kurai. See that he regains his strength..." Badamon bowed slowly.
"At once..." The two vanished and Talpa sighed.
A deep chuckle rose from the shadows. "Shall I go for you, sire?"
"Yes, go... He won't be awake for a good while... Don't forget what I told you!" he snapped, touching the newest scar on his chest.
"Of course not..." Talpa closed his eyes and when he opened them he appeared inside a smaller chamber. A frail figure sat at the window, just staring out at the deep purple sea several miles away. He removed his mask and tossed it on the bed. "... Well, you got what you wanted..." she said softly.
"Yes... I suppose," he murmured and kissed her hair. She flinched at it.
"I want no more part in this. I want to return to my home," she said sternly.
"Your home is nothing but a pile of rubble," he spat. "I am all you have, Managi." Managi's gold eyes narrowed and she tore herself from the window.
"Get out."
"You 'dare' order me around?" he chuckled. Managi snarled.
"Why not? You're no longer Emperor... I do as I please," she hissed, disrobing and her armored body forming around her. Talpa snatched her by the hair.
"I gave you life again. I can easily take it from you."
"You should save face and do the honorable thing and take your own life. You think you frighten me now? I welcome death as much as you fear it," she hissed. Talpa's bleak blue eyes flashed red.
"Do not tempt me, my love." Managi snarled and rammed a hidden dagger into his side. Talpa released her and hissed, ripping the blade out. When he looked up she was gone. He snarled and shattered the mirror on the other side of the room. Soon a deep chuckle filled the room and echoed loudly through the corridors.
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Mia frowned with a sigh. She should have asked some of the girls to go shopping for bedroom designs and new furniture while they were out. She closed the linen closet after removing two sets of white sheets. "I guess these will have to do for now," she sighed and made her way to the bedroom to help Cale. He had just finished relaying the floor with parts of it from the veranda. The porch could wait for now. Mia cocked her head. "... We'll just cover up the wood with a rug or something," she said. Mahogany colored pine lay side by side with a pale blue. It was an interesting combination to say the least.
"I needed the wood... Sekhmet says that the porch will take weeks to fix." Mia sat on one of the new beds that Dais had repaired. The other, Kiku's, had to be replaced entirely. Mia was lucky that she still had the small bed she used to sleep in as a little girl down stairs in the cellar. She sighed heavily. "I remember my father and grandfather building that porch... I was only about five or six... We used to have parties out on that porch. My sister and her husband were married out in the garden here... 'Jiisan said that it would last a million marriage parties..." She sighed heavily. Cale fell silent. He didn't know what to say. It then came to him. He sat beside her and touched her hair.
"... When I was a boy of about... eight, I remember a little dock that my father and grandfather were building. When it was finished, my little brother and I would spend the day fishing from it or just jumping into the lake... We did that for the longest time... One day... I was now... eighteen... our village was attacked by an invading army."
"Talpa?"
"... No... Not yet anyway... That army destroyed everything... my home, some of my friends, and that dock... They left the next morning... I was truly upset that they burned just one dock out of several... of course I was more upset about loosing the ones I cared about too, but it was that dock that stuck in my mind... And then my grandfather told me something I will never forget: '... Things burn, people die... but it is the memory of them that makes them last forever. Rebuild the dock... Neither the fish nor you will care about the difference... you'll be too busy making new memories...'... So you see... what material things you have may be gone, but not what you have here and here, my lady," Cale smiled, indicating to her forehead and heart with a gentle touch of this hand. Mia smiled tearfully.
"... That makes me feel better, Cale," she smiled. "Thank you." She stood smiling and lifted a sheet to start dressing the bed. "Come on and help me put this on!" she smiled. Cale nodded and silently helped her spread the sheet evenly across the mattress. He glanced up at her and swallowed.
"My lady... I ... need to tell you something," he murmured. Mia didn't look up from covering the pillows with their new cases.
"What, Cale? Did you break something?"
"N-no!" He stepped around the bed and stopped her from her work. "Just listen... please..." Mia nodded slowly, realizing the closeness of him. She swallowed hard. "... When we were out there a few days ago, Zeal told us that she killed one of you three here... and... all I could think about was... if she had meant you and what I was feeling..." He lifted her eyes. "... I have never been more scared in my entire life... When I learned that it was Kiku, I... it broke my heart... I don't know what I would do if you had been killed too," he whispered. "... I want to tell you this before it's too late and Zeal comes after you again..." He leaned down and gently closed his mouth over Mia's pale pink mouth. He stiffened slightly, waiting for a sharp blow that was to come... It didn't. Instead soft, slender fingers slid their way up his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt helplessly. A soft whimper escaped some how from her throat as she parted her mouth, timidly returning the notion. Sword calloused hands cradled her face gently as he slid his tongue past her lips to meet with her own. Another moan rose to her lips before Cale swallowed it. He slid one strong arm around her waist just before she fell weak at the knees. He held her against him as he lifted his head. Dark midnight eyes looked lovingly into almost frightened and shy teal ones. He reached up with his free hand and stroked her rosy cheek with the back of it. "... I love you, my lady," he whispered softly. Teal eyes went wide as he released her. He slid his hands down her arms and to hers. She didn't look at him, she just stared the ridiculously colored floor. He leaned his lips against her ear.
"Please, say something," he begged in a whisper.
"... I... that makes me happy, Cale," she began softly. "I... no one's every told that to me before," she finished.
"Then you won't mind if I say it again?" he asked still against her ear. Mia said nothing. She looked up at him, tears threatening to fall. "Oh, my lady," he smiled, "please don't cry. I am sorry if I offended you," he said softly, disappointment in his voice. He dried her cheeks with his thumbs. She shook her head quickly. "I-It's not that... I..." She lowered her eyes and tried to stop herself from crying. She promised herself a year ago that she wouldn't let it upset her again... That promise fell to the floor and splashed to nothing. Cale felt a deep-rooted pain suddenly surface from within her. He could always sense what others were feeling. It was a gift that his clan had long ago...
He could sense love, hate, desire, anger, and fear among other emotions... His heart ripped when he sensed overwhelming fear from her... because of him. He released his touch immediately and backed away slightly. "... Forgive me," he said softly. "I did not mean to scare you... I... won't say it ever again, if it does." Mia looked up quickly.
"... N-no... It's not you at all... I... Someone hurt me a long time ago..." Cale nodded slowly. Her trust had been shattered along with her heart. "... It made me feel better, Cale," she added softly. "But, I-"
"Lady Mia? I need your assis... tance," Sekhmet started, but stopped in the doorway. He saw Mia's tears, growing concerned. Women in distress. His only weakness. "My lady? Are you all right?" he asked. Mia dried her eyes quickly and nodded.
"What do you need help with, Sekhmet?"
"I... uh... the oven is emitting a dark cloud... U-um-" A loud shrill beep filled the house.
"SEKHMET, YOU IDIOT!" Kayura shouted, coughing.
"WHO PUT POTHOLDERS IN THE OVEN?!" Anubis exclaimed. Sekhmet scratched the back of his head as Mia rushed out of the room.
"Why did you put potholders in the oven?" Cale asked.
"They got wet. I was trying to dry them off." Cale just shook his head. Sekhmet ignored the angry snarls from Kayura and blinked. "You TOLD her, didn't you?" The warrior of darkness slumped his shoulders.
"Is it THAT fucking obvious?"
"... I had my suspicions... Everything came into place when I sensed heavy... 'emotion' radiating from the two of you... like you've both been-"
"Yes, I kissed her!" Cale snapped. His face fell. "... But..."
"But what?"
"I don't know if you have noticed, but... there is something very wrong with her. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but I know that someone broke her heart long ago and I think I just made her feel worse." Sekhmet nodded slowly.
"She has been a little out of sorts since our last trip into the city... Listen, I'd better head downstairs and-"
"SEKHMET!!" Kayura yelled.
"I hate cooking," Sekhmet groaned. He turned on his heel and left before Cale started asking all the wrong questions. The man was too damn close to the truth. Torrent and Hardrock would kill him if he opened his mouth, but that didn't compare to the repercussions of what would happen if he did.
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A/N: Sage is in looove. Cale's in loooove. What's Ronin to do? Thanks so much for the review! (You know who you are!) Ja na!