"Ronin Warriors: The Final Victor"
By Onikage
Scroll Thirty-Six: Don't Drop the Soap, Boys!
Sekhmet dabbed gently at the cut of Lady Kayura's lower lip. She winced and pulled away. "Ow, Sekhmet!"
"Hold still, my lady. You battled all nine of us once and laughed about it! Now you're quibbling like a little girl!" Kayura frowned.
"Hmph, I never "quibbled" because you couldn't hit me! Ouch!"
"Any sign of Cale, Managi?" he asked as she returned from outside. He effectively dodged the arm that swung at his head. She sat and answered him with a silent shake of her head. Sekhmet sighed. "I knew he cared for her… but I never thought he would get this upset." Mia cleared her throat and carefully stitched Dais' brow. Dais touched her side.
"… He's never experienced heartache or real love for that matter. I think he knew deep down that perhaps it was the idea of her, rather than the love that he thought he felt. I do not mean to doubt Cale, that is the last thing I would do, but… if he truly cared for her, he would not have said such things about her," Dais said.
"Dais… he was angry. I don't think he really meant anything he said," Kayura reassured. Dais closed his eye and sighed.
"You do not know him like I do, my lady… He can be very vengeful and stubborn to a fault… This is going to take a very long time for him to begin to heal. For now we should all just stay out of his way and to pay no heed to his… outbursts."
A small patter of hurried footsteps drummed above them and down the stairs. Yuli skidded to a halt on the marble hall floor and caught himself on the side of the wall. "Th-they're… here!!" he exclaimed. "They're home!""Hey, hey!! Everybody's favorite person is back and ready for action!" Kento beamed, standing most triumphantly.
"Yeah, me!" Rowen replied with a wry grin. Kayura and Mia rushed past them and nearly pounced on Ryo. Kento and Rowen glared at their leader.
"Hey!!!" Ryo smiled nervously.
"Heh, heh… Hi girls," Ryo greeted.
"I'm so glad you guys are back safe and sound!" Mia cried and embraced everyone. Kayura greeted Ryo shyly.
"Welcome back, Wildfire," she said softly. She squeaked when he practically yanked her into his arms and held her tightly. Hoots and hollers made both of their faces flush brightly. "Miss me?" he grinned. Kayura nodded quickly. "How is Whiteblaze? Is his sight any better?" Kayura lowered her eyes.
"Sadly no…" Ryo hung his head with a sigh. "I've tried everything I could think of…
"… S'okay. You'll figure something out… I believe it." Kayura blushed.
"I know this may be a stupid question, but did anything happen while we were away?" Rowen asked setting down his bags. Sekhmet scratched the back of his head and smiled warily.
"Weeell, yes… a few things."
"That was kinda a rhetorical question… sort of," Rowen said, not liking the answer. Sekhmet sighed heavily and turned back to the house.
"Come out, my lady…"
A collective gasp fell across the group."No more sit ups until tomorrow when I can have a look at you again. I mean it!" Sage warned before shutting the door to Anubis' room. "Hey, don't give me that look!" He rolled his eyes. He stopped when he saw Tori standing by the door, waiting for him to come out. Tori's cheeks heated when they're eyes met. "… He okay?" she asked.
"He's fine. He's just a big baby. I'm sure you knew that though," he smirked. Tori made a small smile.
"I need to talk to him. Can I see him?" she asked, cheeks growing ever warmer. Sage smiled.
"He's still a little injured. I couldn't heal him to his full capacity. He took quite a beating from what Sekhmet said. No fighting, you hear me?" Tori rolled her eyes.
"Yes, mother. God, you're worse than Sai…"Anubis placed his hands behind his head as soon as Sage shut the door. "… 'No more sit ups until tomorrow'," he mocked and started the daily exercise, making up for yesterday. He closed his eyes. So, they're home now… Tori's home. "Sorry about the Zeal thing. It won't happen again."… No. "I was just kidding!" Peh, yeah right…
"I thought Sage said not to do sit ups," Tori reminded as she leaned against the door. Anubis, startled, fell back and banged the back of his skull on the headboard. He groaned and clutched the back of his head. "Mn. Not here an hour and all ready I have a headache from you," he chuckled. His smile faded when she did not. The same look was still apparent in her eyes from three days prior. "…I-I forgive me…" Tori stepped towards his bedside and sat. She stared at her socks.
"… Sekkie told us what happened… what you did," she said softly. She glanced over at him, and noticed the newer scars from a whip, more than likely, creeping over his collarbone from his backside. There was a larger mark upon his shoulder still healing where Sage's had stopped. Anubis caught her examining him silently. He rubbed his shoulder. "It doesn't hurt. I'm all right thanks to Halo. Don't worry-" Tori turned her eyes away quickly.
"I wasn't," her voice snapped, defensively. It rendered Anubis to a shameful silence. She was still rather… upset with him. He noticed a partially exposed scar on her shoulder that was not there before from under her tank top. He sat up slowly, without her taking notice. "How's--?" She blushed heavily when he took her shoulder and slid away the strap of her shirt and bra without a word.
"What happened?" he asked, tracing the fresh scar. Tori practically yanked herself away and returned her strap to her shoulder.
"Your girlfriend. She attacked Ryo and I. You should know, because you were there! I don't know how-"
"… Last night… I heard something call out to me." Anubis lifted his hand to her shoulder again. His virtue glowed a bright red upon his forehead as the golden light appeared on her arm. Tori gasped and Anubis held her still as she tried to pull away again. "… I had a feeling that something would happen. After that day in the woods when Fou-Lu tried to control us, I used my armor as a shield so he wouldn't try to do it to you too. I had never done it before and was worried that it wouldn't work at all… That's why I had Wildfire watch over you," he explained. He slid his hand from her arm and took hers in both of his. Tori remained silent. "… I… I am sorry," he finally whispered, meeting her eyes slowly. "… Zeal is… not you nor was she ever anything that comes even close. I… realize the error and do not ask your forgiveness." Tori lowered her eyes; he lifted them with his other hand. "I do ask you to trust me when I say that… I have put that past behind me now. I was wrong to hope that I could… get her back… You were right." Tori swallowed hard and sniffled. She touched his face and blinked.
"Are you feeling well? Do you have a fever or something, 'cause you just admitted that you were wrong," she sniffled. Anubis blinked before starting to laugh. Tori started to giggle softly before an awkward silence filled the room.
"Erm… Besides my former trying to kill you, how was your 'vacation'?" Tori cleared her throat.
"Well, Domo's boyfriend was… killed," she began softly. Anubis' face fell.
"O-oh… She must be heart broken. What happened?"
"Um, Raiko killed him, then posed as him… Sage didn't tell me everything and… I don't think that she'd want me telling everyone."
"Raiko?! But didn't Sekhmet kill him?"
"… We thought so too. I guess when they fought, something happened and a building got destroyed. About a thousand people were caught in the collapse… Sage reduced him to a pile of ash."
"My gods…"
"Rowen got shot-"
"Shot?"
"Y-yeah… Nasake's landlord did it. I don't really know what all happened. I just know that he threatened her somehow. Ro' went over to scare him… something went wrong and… Rowen got shot and he killed him in order to protect himself. Tenku managed to help him after he lost so much blood…" Anubis stared at her wide-eyed. "… Th-that's it…" Anubis leaned back against the headboard.
"… Gods." Tori nodded slowly.
"Y-yeah…" Anubis saw her sudden uneasiness.
"… Something else happened, didn't it?" Tori stood and nodded.
"Y-yeah, um…" She stopped, remembering what Zeal had told her. She felt Anubis take her hand and pull her back to sit. "… She'll be back. " She balled her fists in frustration. "I… was trying so hard to fight her and… I couldn't summon Rekka to help me! I can now, but then… I was so helpless! I was at her mercy." Anubis was silent, lowering his eyes.
"… Well, with a bit of training, perhaps-"
"I'm afraid of her," she admitted, "and she knows it," she whispered. Anubis was silent again before placing a strong hand on her head and smiling.
"I… have something for you," he announced, hoping to take her mind off of it. "It's in the trunk at the foot of the bed." Tori blinked before moving to the trunk. She kneeled in front of it and opened the lid with great caution, half expecting something to pop out and scare the crap out of her.
"Just open it," he laughed. Tori opened the lid and gasped.
Inside, on top of everything he owned, was Kiku's stuffed wolf, completely repaired. Tori picked it up and stared at Anubis in stupor. She sat beside him, dumbfounded. She started to hold back hard laughter. "Y-you… sew?!" she giggled. Anubis pouted, not happy with her reaction.
"Kayura helped," he said defensively. "My fingertips are sore from-" He was cut off by a very large hug from the younger woman.
"Th-thank you…" she whispered. Anubis was stunned briefly, before bringing his arms around her as tightly as he could manage.
"Rekka! Rekka!!" Sekhmet was calling for her down the hall. Tori pulled away slowly.
"Sekkie's probably going to ask me if Managi can use my clothes for a while. It's kinda weird that she's staying here now."
"Rekka!?" Tori and Anubis looked back at the door as it opened. "Oh, sorry… Rekka, may I speak with you?"
"Yeah, sure…" She looked back at Anubis. "Um… I'll let you sleep so Sage won't yell at you again. No sit-ups! You'll give yourself a hernia!" she warned.
"All right, my lady. You win," he laughed, and winced. He stiffened when she leaned over and kissed him shyly and quickly on the cheek. His cheeks heated as she looked back at him as she left the room. "G-good night, Anubis."
"R-right. 'N-night." Sekhmet watched Tori exit the room and turned back to Anubis. He raised his eyebrow with a smirk.
"Can I help you?!" Anubis grumbled.
"Yeah, bed her all ready for goodness sake!" Anubis flushed and hurled a pillow at the door just as it shut. He winced and held underneath his arm. "Ow… Damn him…"
He fell back against the pillows. His heart was still thudding inside his chest. He blinked several times and groaned. He covered his face. "… Ah, dammit..."Megami tossed away her towel as she relaxed into the heated waters of the backyard spring. It was kind of odd that Mia's house had it's own hot spring. Well, they did live near a volcano, so it wasn't that odd after all. She sighed happily. "Ahhh, this feels sooooo great you guys," she beamed.
"Yeah, if the boys can have their… he… uh, man… um woman haters… club," Nasake gruffed, fumbling over her words for a decent insult, "then we can too!!!" She kept her towel tightly hugged to her body as she waded over to Megami's side. She wasn't really used to being stark naked with a group of people. Mia sat on the edge and stuck her legs into the water. "Oh relax, Nasake. I've known them for a long time and used to be the only female in the house!" Domo and Tori just stared blankly at Mia. "W-what?"
"Oh, nothing… We were just trying to figure out what you were complaining about," Domo smirked. Mia flushed.
"So Managi!" Megami exclaimed, jumping up and hugging her from behind. Apparently, Megami had been one of those children when she was younger that often found the need for clothing rather… constricting. "How do ya like it here?!" Sakura joined in with the start of the bombardment of questions. Yesterday evening, everyone had gone to bed early on account of the severe strain on everyone's stamina from the coming and going inside "the inter-dimensional time block".
Yuli and Rowen watched way too many episodes of Star Trek…
With everyone in bed until, questions had been postponed for the Kongo summoner's spaz reserves to become fully operational.
WAY too many episodes…
"Yes! Tell us! Tell us everything about you!" Sakura added.
"E-everything?" she blinked.
"Yep!!" Megami beamed. Managi lowered her eyes.
"I wish I could, but… I can't remember very much… only what I learned from Talpa. I am sorry." Sakura and Megami sighed, before Megami became her bright and "energetic" self again.
"Well, we can help you answer then! Okay: Pandas or spiders?!"
"Uh… Pandas?" Managi answered unsurely, having no clue to what it was.
"Girls! Leave her alone! It's bad enough that Kento and Rowen are teaching her how to burp!" Mia scolded.
"So, Rekka?" Kayura began coolly and came up behind Tori. "Did you miss Anubis?" Tori glared at her and smirked knowing exactly what buttons to push.
"No, not really. I was having too much fun with 'Yo," she replied. Kayura mouth dropped open, then glared.
"Oooh, you'll pay for that, Rekka!"
"What? Me and Ryo just went on a couple of dates and stuff. It's not like we made out or anything. Besides you hang all over Anubis anyway."
"To get Wildfire's attention!" she snapped loudly.
"Shh! You want them to hear you?!" Nasake hissed. "It was bad enough that there had been holes in the wall! They're probably listening so be quiet!!"
"Speaking of quiet, I haven't seen Cale since we got back. Where is he?" Domo asked. Mia flushed and swallowed.
"Uh, well… We went out on a date-"
"Ooh, really?!" Megami smiled.
"Shh!"
"Y-yes… well, everything was fine until um… we were… um…"
"Go on, say it. You guy were making out!" Tori grinned. Mia flushed.
"… Um, making out and… then I realized that I didn't feel the same way he did… at least not about him," she said softly.
"Who?!" Tori and Kayura exclaimed.
"… D-dais."
"WHAAAAAT?"
"Oh, you figured it out, huh?" Megami said, not at all surprised.
"Figured it out? You knew?!" Mia gasped. Megami stretched.
"Mmnn, yeah… well, it was really obvious to me anyway. It was always 'my lady this' and 'my lady' that."
"Meg," Tori began. "He says it to all of us."
"Oh." Mia clutched her cheeks in embarrassment.
"Um… well, anyway. Cale found out and went a little ballistic. He was so hurt… and angry."
"What did he do to Dais?" Nasake asked. Mia glanced at Managi.
"He… did nothing. He has been isolating himself from everyone," Managi replied for her. Domo frowned.
"I'm going to see how he's doing…" Domo stepped out of the spring without another word.
"Oh wow… So you and…" Mia nodded with an embarrassed blush. Tori pouted. "Well, damn!"
"You sound disappointed, Rekka."
"Hell, yes! I owe Kento a thousand yen!"
"Why do you owe him money?!" Sakura asked. Tori crossed her arms and frowned.
"Well, having the pink armor and being the best dressed… kinda blipped on the gaydar," she whispered.
"You thought he was gay?!" everyone exclaimed. Tori winced.
"Thought! THOUGHT! Past tense of THINK! Sheesh, so I was a little off!" Kayura looked thoughtful.
"Well, now wait a moment… there was this one time with he, myself and Sekhmet…" Her voice trailed off when she saw the look on Managi's face. "OH! But we were all drunk… Very, very, VERY… drunk. I don't think they really remember it."
"But you do?" Sakura asked. Kayura winked.
"Get them drunk enough they'll do anything you ask. I had enough to be semi-coherent…" Managi's eyes were wide.
"… And I thought I had done terrible things. Two men I-"
"Don't be so judgmental… It's a… thing we humans have," Megami explained as delicately as she put it. "Lots of people do it! Well, I don't… and I don't think Kento-kun's into that-"
"Uh, Meg?" Sakura began.
"Huh?"
"Maybe it's best for you to NOT overwhelm her too much. She could phase out or something."
"Yeah like Meg," Tori laughed.
"HAY!"Rowen stretched delightedly as he leaned back against the heated rocks. Nasake had decided to form their own girls only club after she and the others were a bit miffed from the boys' own little 'Order of Manliness'. Rowen shook his head.
Dais was cool and all with the eye-patch and silent personality… but…
That name is so retarded!! he thought.
Poke.
"WAH!!!" Rowen squirmed and backed against the rocks when a small, yet sharp prod came to his chest. Sekhmet and Yuli stood in front of him just staring at his chest. "What the hell are you two doing?!" he demanded and turned away, covering himself.
He felt like a girl suddenly.
"Woaah! It went clean through his back too!!" Yuli awed.
Poke.
Stab. "OW!!! What-" He saw Sekhmet's sharp claw moving to poke him again, rather the bullet scar. Rowen squirmed away.
"Hm, interesting. So you are telling me, boy, that something the size of a 'push-pin' came out of a 'gun' and went right through him!?" he exclaimed, completely ignoring Rowen's protests and threats as he continued to poke and prod the poor Ronin.
"Yeah!"
"Will you two stop?!" Sekhmet ignored Rowen and frowned down at Yuli.
"Boy, you'd better not be lying to me…"
"With hands like those? N-no way!!" Sekhmet grabbed Rowen by the arm, despite his protesting and overlooking the fact that they were all naked.
"How many times did you say you were shot, Strata?" Sekhmet asked, feeling up the side of his rib cage and chest as if he were looking for something. Rowen's face turned bright red. "S-stop it!!!"
"Hey, Rowen? Could you stop moving? It's too hard to count if you're moving around…" Yuli attempted to count once more.
"I dare ya," Kento began. Sai frowned.
"I said no!"
"Chicken!"
"I am not!" Sai defended. "I don't want to!"
"You're afraid of boobies, aren't you?!" Sai became suddenly flustered.
"Listen, halfwit! I was the one who taught you how to "properly" cop a feel!" he snapped. Dais raised an eyebrow.
"There's a "proper" way?" Sage nudged Dais.
"The kind where you don't get hit," he answered with a grin.
"Oh." Kento rolled his eyes.
"So what?!"
"So you look over! You're the one that opened his big mouth and got the hole patched up!" Sai pointed out. Kento frowned.
"Hey, where's Cale? I haven't seen him since we left," Ryo asked. Anubis eased his way into the spring. It still hurt to move around.
"Ow… He's in his room, I think…" Sai noticed Kento starting to climb the rocks. With the right angle and the light just right, he really did kind of resemble an ape.
"Poor guy must still be upset about what happened to Kiku. I don't blame him either," he said as he pulled off his own towel, twirled it tightly, and whipped it at Kento. The towel cracked loudly against Hardrock's tender backside. Kento fell back into the water with a yelp. He sputtered as he surfaced. Thoroughly pissed as laughter rang in his ears. He glared at Sai before launching himself at him and dunking his head under the water. Sekhmet rolled over onto his stomach in the sunlight. He opened one eye.
"Gods, knock it off you two…" Sai finally let Kento up for some air.
"Plagh!! Geez! I was just going to scare them a little bit!" Sage stretched out onto one of the flat rocks beside Sekhmet. "Sure you were Kento."
"I was!" Dais crossed his arms.
"Gods, I swear. I bet if any of you looked over that fence right now, you'd all wet yourselves at the sight!" Anubis scoffed,
"Oh, and like you wouldn't, Dais. You haven't been laid since Lady Kayura kneed you in the groin before she took over as Talpa's second-in-command."
"Ooh! Charm not what it used to be, Dais?" he said coolly. Dais smirked.
"Hardly, rather I've gotten closer than you've ever been with her… Anyway, I can't look anymore," he said with a disappointed sigh.
"Why not?" Rowen said. "There's nothing wrong with lookin'," he grinned. Dais smiled coolly.
"Lady Mia wouldn't approve of me looking at anyone else besides her." Kento and Sai looked at each other warily. Ryo's eyes nearly bugged from his head.
"Holy crap! In three days you managed to score with Mia?! Dude!!" Dais shrugged.
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that, Wildfire. Nothing has happened as of yet… I'm doing this out of consideration for Cale."
"Cale?" Sage asked.
"He has… rather had feelings for Lady Mia. He did not take it very well when he found out," Sekhmet replied. "That's why he's been avoiding everyone for a while…"
"Man, that sucks," Kento murmured.
"It's something about red heads that I guess get a person going," Dais said. "Well, for me anyway. Wouldn't you agree, Anubis?" he asked coolly. Anubis frowned.
"I haven't the slightest idea of what you mean, Dais," he glared. Rowen grinned.
"Oh, bullshit, Anubis… You're not fooling anyone!"
"Yeah, Red!" Ryo laughed.
"Don't call me that!" Anubis demanded.
"Why not? It's cute!" Sai grinned.
"No it's not! It's annoying!" Anubis protested. "I hate it when you all call me that and I hate it when she calls me that! So stop it!" he snapped.
"My, my! Getting a little flustered, are we?" Sekhmet smirked.
"So you really don't like her?" Ryo began.
"I didn't say that-"
"Oh, so you do like her?" Sage asked. Anubis growled.
"N-no! Stop turning my words around!" Ryo folded his arms.
"All right, Red. I dare you to look over that wall and look at her and tell me she doesn't have any affect on you."
"Hm, that won't work, Ryo," Sai began. "He could lie and all…"
"Hey you're right, Sai. Okay, furthermore: no towel, no armor, just you and your naked self in the warm summer air!" Anubis growled.
"… Hn. Fine. You have to as well!" Ryo grinned and turned to climb the fence.
"Can't argue with that. I'll take a free show anytime!" Anubis met Ryo at the fence and yanked away Anubis' towel before they both started to climb. Sekhmet laughed as he saw Anubis.
"Well, well… You and Halo could be brothers!"
"Shut up, Sekhmet!" Sage and Anubis snapped. Anubis grimaced. This wasn't the wisest of ideas. He could barely climb the wall.
"On three okay? One, two," Ryo began.
A wolf-whistle rang out clearly and everyone's head shot up towards the top of the fence beside Anubis and Ryo. Five very satisfied females grinned down at them.
"Hello, hello!" Mia smiled.
"Is it hot enough for you guys?" Megami beamed.
"Too hot in fact! Hold this for me, Wildfire," Kayura asked and threw her towel in his face.
"My, my, my… Hey I need some extra help in my anatomy class, you guys," Tori began. "Think you could help out, Sage?" Sage quickly yanked a towel over his lap and flushed.
Someone neighed in the silence.
Sage glared. "God dammit, I'm not a horse!"
Sekhmet grinned and stretched sensually, not bothering to cover up from where he was laying as he basked in the sun. "Afternoon ladies…" he greeted with a dark smile. "Care to join us?"
"Sorry Sekkie… I don't think Managi'd like that," Megami said. "Would you?" Managi gave Sekhmet an icy glare. The man quickly slipped off the rock. Megami looked over the other side of the fence. "Whatcha doin' down there, Kento-kun? It's not like I haven't seen you naked before," she smiled. Kento sputtered.
"Wh-wh-whaaaat?"
"You boys aren't the only ones with spy holes," Kayura smirked. She looked over at Anubis. He appeared to be clinging desperately to the wall.
"Something wrong, Anubis? You look a little flushed."
"Well, of course I am, Kayura! I'm naked, hanging on a fence with a bunch of women staring! Gods!" he snapped. Kayura met him on her side of the wall.
"But wouldn't you want to show off?" she winked, and pounced on him, giving him a full-blown kiss.
"HEY!" Ryo snapped angrily. He went to clobber Anubis when the fence made a very loud creaking noise.
"Uh oh," Yuli mumbled just before the fence fell to pieces, sending everyone into the water.
"Look out!"
"Oh, shiit!"
"Anubis you said you fixed iiit!"
Kayura fell backward into her side of the baths, taking several pieces of wood with her. Tori plowed into Anubis after an attempt to hang onto something as everything was falling apart. Sekhmet had leapt forward and caught Managi just barely, sporting a blow to the back of the head as it hit the side of the rocks.
"Gods! Is everyone all right?!" Dais exclaimed as he waded over to where Mia had fallen. Mia's head bobbed up to the surface, laughing.
"Well, that was interesting!"
"Mia are you all right? You didn't break anything did you?" Dais asked softly as he pulled her to stand. Mia held her towel to her and nodded.
"I'm fine, Dais," she answered with a blush as he held her cheek gently.
"Looks like Dais is workin' on some ass!" Kento grinned. Mia shot him a glare.
"I'm going to be working your ass when I'm kicking it, Kento!" He held up his hands defensively with a sigh.
"Okay, okay…" He smiled when she wrapped her arms around Dais' neck in a tight hug. Sai gave Kento a thumbs up knowing that things finally worked out for Mia.
Anubis clutched the back of his head after it had connected with a rock. He winced as his head and abdomen began to throb. His ribs were still very bruised. He felt a set of hands touch his face gently. His eyes snapped open. Tori yanked her hands away. "Sorry! You're… bleeding," she pointed out and took a corner of her towel and pressed it against his temple. He held it there. "Ow… thank you."
"You shouldn't be climbing walls to look at young girls," she frowned.
"I wasn't!" he lied.
"You liar. We all heard you and Ryo's little argument, Red," she retorted. Anubis rolled his eyes.
"Why on earth would I want to look over the fence if you were on the other side?" he asked coolly. Tori punched him in the arm. "Ow!"
"The next one will really hurt!" She stopped and turned upon hearing muffled laughter behind them. Rowen managed to choke out.
"D-do you two need some… 'alone time'?" Tori snarled and whipped around forgetting that Anubis was holding the other of her towel to his head. The next thing she knew, she felt her bare body against his naked abdomen and his hands clamped down on her chest to keep the towel from slipping off any further.
Kento covered Sai's eyes. "Hey!!" Mia covered Yuli's.
"Ow, hey! Mia!! What are ya doing?!" he squirmed.
"Come along, Yuli. Time to do homework!"
"HOMEWORK?! I don't even GO to school now!!" Sekhmet, Rowen, and Dais finally were unable to hold in their laughter.
"Maybe you two DO need some time alone!" Dais laughed.
"Seems like she's quite the 'handful'!" Sekhmet added. Rowen was just leaning on Sekhmet trying to keep from falling over with laughter. Tori closed her eyes and grit her teeth before delivering a very hard slap across Anubis' cheek. She tied her towel back quickly and waded her way out of the water and into the house. In the instant that she hit him, everyone fell silent. Anubis just stayed where he had landed, stunned, silent, and trying to ignore his stinging cheek.Managi held the pajamas against her body. She eyed the garments carefully. "R-rekka?" she called. Tori poked her head out of her bathroom.
"Hmn?" Managi jumped upon seeing her foaming at the mouth. "Whaft?"
"Y-your… your…" She indicated to her mouth. Tori pulled out the toothbrush.
"O-oh…" She ducked back and emerged again wiping off her mouth. "I was brushing my teeth."
"P-pardon?"
"Oh… Sekkie didn't teach you that, huh? Well, I'll show you that later. Is there something wrong with your pajamas?" Managi held it out at arms length.
"Where is the rest of it?" Tori laughed.
"That's all there is! I can get you something that covers more, but… I had to think about Sekhmet too," he grinned. Managi blinked.
"Why?" Tori dropped her jaw.
"Attraction! What else!?" Managi blushed.
"Oh…"
"Go put it on! He'll be here any second!" She pushed her into the bathroom gently and shut the door.
"Rekka?"
"Yes?" There was a pause.
"… I am confused."
"About what? The clothes? Just pull them over your head."
"No… About you and Loyalty." Tori stiffened.
"Uh… w-what about it?" Managi emerged.
"I am… a little puzzled by your behavior. You are lovers, yes?" Tori backed away.
"WHAAAAAAAT?!?!" She shook her head quickly, flushing heavily. "N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-nooooooo way!!!!" Managi sat on Tori's bed.
"Oh."
"Why do you ask? I thought I clearly made that evident after hitting him today. My hand is all red too…"
"Well… He and the others told me about all of you. He was the most verbal on your part… The way he spoke of you, well… maybe it was because Naotoki and I are together again. Perhaps I jumped to conclusions… Forgive me."
"He… What did he say about me?" she asked softly.
"Well… He says that despite your aggressive predisposition, you are very kind and spirited. Out of all the students he's ever taught or trained, you are his most challenging and favorite…" Tori flushed.
"… Oh… He didn't say anything along the lines about Zeal or anything like that?" Managi paused.
"He did mention that he mad you very angry before you and the others traversed to the city. The last time he and I spoke, he was worried that you would never speak to him again… I don't blame him, Rekka… because you do resemble her… before she became jealous of other women that Loyalty courted. What happened to her after that was Talpa's doing, not her own."
"Managi… Did you ever loose someone close to you? I mean, besides Sekhmet? Like a sister?"
"… My baby," she replied softly.
"I did. Her name was Kiku. She was only about four when she died last week… Zeal deliberately slaughtered her pointlessly. Instead of just a quick death, she suffered through torture… and Zeal painted the walls with her blood… She did it because of me. I… can never forgive her. I know Sekhmet and Anubis and the other guys had done bad things, but that was war… This was a vendetta for amusement. She may have been born human, but Zeal is a demon!! No one human would be so cruel! And to be compared to something like that… it's… it hurts!" she sniffled. "It makes me sick that Anubis was in love with someone like that! It sickens me how someone as… sensible and… kindhearted as Anubis could actually… love her…" Tori sat beside her and dried her eyes. "I just can't believe he would make that mistake… It's as if I killed Kiku…" Managi touched Tori's hair gently and smiled softly.
"… Maybe you can help him see how different you both are. Let him see the better part of you." Tori blushed and remained silent. Managi dried her eyes.
"Th-thanks… You know I never thought that I would ever have this conversation with you."
"Neither I have I," Managi smiled.
"Hey, have you seen Ryo?"
"The last I saw, he was out on the porch with Whiteblaze." Tori stood.
"Thanks…" There was a knock at the door. Tori opened it and grinned when it was Sekhmet on the other side. "Hiiiii Sekkie," she sang. "Looking for someone?"
"Stop playing games. You told me to come up here remember?" he grumbled.
"Boo. What's got your panties in a wad?"
"I have a headache…" Tori sighed and opened the door letting him inside. He stopped dead upon seeing Managi in a deep green colored lingerie.
"Maybe Managi can help you with that," Tori smiled. "Oh and guys? Do it in your room, please."
"REKKA!!" they exclaimed. Tori had bolted.
Managi approached Sekhmet slowly with a satisfied smile. Such a clever human invention. "Does something bother you my lord?" she asked in a silken tone.
"Not. At. All." He grinned darkly.Cale lay on his bed, half dressed for bed. He held his yoroi crystal in his hand and stared at the rays of light running through the citrine orb. "Cale… you fool…"
There was a soft knock at his door.
"… Beat it," he snapped.
The knock came again. Cale growled getting up from his bed. He ripped open the door. "I said… K-korin?" he breathed, face softening. Domo gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Miss me?"
A/N: Question: Is it just me, or are Ryo and Kento kinda pervy?