dis-claim'er, noun: a denial or disavowal of legal claim: relinquishment of or formal refusal to accept an interest or estate; b: a writing that embodies a legal disclaimer; c: a statement made to save one's own ass.

A Small Battle

This really sucks!

Rekino expertly weaved between the three lizard men as they attacked her simultaneously. She did her best to notice their patterns, but it's as if they were attacking her by an already pre-formed battle plan. Their tactic did revolve around three main moves: the sword wielder would move in to engage, while the halberd user attacked from a distance while she was entangled with the first one. Then, the third would try and attack her blindside. Dodging all three was insanely difficult, but she was using all of her ninja knowledge right now. All she had managed to do was dodge.

"You are quite annoying," the first one hissed.

Rekino put some distance between them and her, "And you're ugly, but you don't hear me complaining."

"You mussst realizze that thisss battle is futile," the third stood on his feet shoulder length apart, moving back and forth.

She had seen that one hit the ground with enough force to shatter the Earth. While they all had immense strength, she knew taking a hit from him would be damaging. The sword wielder switched hands while the halberd users twirled his weapon expertly.

I've got to draw them all in towards me. So far, only the third one comes close quarters…

Rekino clapped her hands together loudly and dropped back down into a fighting stance, "I'm not running."

Just as she predicted, the sword wielder attacked her first. As it came at her, Rekino burst forward with the forward body arch, stopping his attack by taking both of her firsts and hitting – hard – the insides of his upper arm. She then rolled her fists delivering five full punches to his center mass while pushing him back.

The second one came at her from the left. She swiftly dodged to the outside of the halberd, grabbing it about half way down. She positioned her arm along the weapon and locked it, using all her strength and moving her body in a circle. Her opponent only had two options: continue to hold on and be pulled around or drop his weapon. He did the latter. Rekino quickly picked up the halberd and brought the end of it up onto the creature's chin. She twirled it around and quickly stabbed it into the open part of the creature's leg where the armor didn't cover.

She felt the air shift from behind her. Letting go of the halberd, Rekino lept forward, rolling on the ground, and turning around just as the third let his punch go into the Earth. Damn. Was he getting stronger? She put her weight on the balls of her feet and shot forward. Her small body covered at least ten feet in an instant. As she readied her body for the onslaught, she didn't expect it to dodge to the side. It caught her with a knee to the chest. Her lithe body flying backwards farther than the ground she had covered.

Rekino landed on her back and rolled onto her stomach. Fuck. She coughed several times from the loss of air. She looked at the ground stained red. His attack had penetrated the sub-armor and injured her from the inside. She looked up in astonishment and bewilderment. How did it do that?

"We will asssk you one lassst time, little girl," the first one hissed. "Where isss the Balance and the Power Cryssstal?"

"And for the lassst time, I don't know what you're talking about!" She mimicked them as she stood up. It was painful, but she showed no weakness. "Also, don't call me little. It's insulting."

The third one made a sound almost as if it was snarling at her, "We aren't entertained by your gamesss."

"Then allow me to get serious, Godzilla knock-offs!" She lifted her arms up. This was risky. She was told by Kayura to never summon her armor unless she was given the okay.

But life and death situations over rule her commands.

"Armor of the Lady Wildfire! Dao Jin!"

In downtown Shinjuku, Hana felt power rush over her. Her armor orb was vibrating in her pocket. She spun in a circle, trying to find what was going on.Lady Halo, what are you trying to tell me?!

As if to answer her question, a golden trail of sparkles appeared in front of her. Hana wasted no time in putting on her dark green sub-armor and following the trail. The direction it was headed in was Mt. Fuji. She used the speed and power of her sub-armor to increase her movement. It had to be Rekino.

Hold on, bestie. I'm coming.

Across town, Josephine had felt the same urge of energy just as Amaya shot up and let out a scream. She was lucky she had moved otherwise the French woman would have head butted her.

"Amaya!" Nefertiti said. "Are you okay?"

"I-" Amaya stammered for a response. "Something is wrong."

Fiona knelt beside the two Lady Guardians. She put her hands on Amaya's wrist to check her pulse. "What did you see when our patient touched you?"

The French woman shook her head, her shoulder length chestnut brown hair moving with her movements, "Death. Horrible images of destruction. Monsters. Hell fire raining down on the city. Two men standing side-by-side almost like mirror images of one another. Two women in armor I've never seen before."

Rubi came over slowly, "You dropped this in the room."

Amaya gratefully took the rosary. It had been passed down in her family from first born female to first born female for four generations. She sat up slowly, mindful of how close Josephine was. She locked eyes with her roommate.

"Something is wrong."

Jo nodded in agreement, "You felt it, too? Then we better get going."

The two stood up as the Lady Seasonals gathered around them.

Anayis held out her hand, "Do you feel something we don't?"

The Chinese descendant nodded her head, "I know we are all Guardians, but I don't know if it's because we are grouped differently or what, but someone is in trouble."

Fiona nodded, "Then go. We will watch things on this side of town."

The two Lady Guardians sub-armored up and hastily left the clinic.

Mia was in the shower when she felt the surge of power. She landed on her knees as the water cascaded over her body. What was going on? She knew the feeling. One of the Lady Guardians had summoned her armor. Who was it?

She heard Ryo shouting from the other room. Turning off the shower, she quickly got out and wrapped herself in her dark blue robe leaving the bathroom. She ran down the stairs and into the gigantic sitting area of her family home.

"Ryo!"

Rowen, who had not left yet, emerged from the dining area with her fiance. Seeing her clothed state, Rowen blushed and turned his gaze away. Ryo almost looked thankful.

"Why are you shouting?"

Rowen, with his back turned, said hastily, "We felt this unknown power surge from our armors-"

"Then Cye and Kento called. Said they saw some flashes of light coming from Mt. Fuji. We're going to meet up with the others and check it out."

He leaned down to press his lips to hers. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Then…"

Mia blushed when she realized his gaze was traveling up and down her body. She pushed him in the shoulder, "Just go. And be careful!"

As the two left, Mia ran upstairs to get her armor orb. Once in her hand, she tried to use their connection to reach out and warn the others. They had never tested how far apart they had to be for the telepathic connection to work or fail. Nevertheless, she had to try.

I don't know what's going on, but Ryo and Rowen just left my house headed towards Mt. Fuji!

Rekino screamed in pain as she was tossed across the battlefield. Despite using the power of her armor, it seemed like these three creatures had gotten stronger and faster. No matter what she did she couldn't counter their moves, which was unlike her. Was the armor preventing her from performing at par?

Their physical attacks were also able to penetrate her armor's defenses and attack her from within. She could feel some of her internal organs had been damaged, but because of the small healing ability her armor possessed, she could feel it wasn't life threatening. If only she could get past them and go lava swimming.

"Thisss isss your end!" the sword wielder said menacingly as he jumped in the air with his weapon drawn. Rekino tried to stand up, but a pain shot through her left leg. Was it broken?

A flash of light and a female scream resounded in the area as the creature was thrown backwards from the surprise attack. Rekino looked up to see Hana standing in front of her protectively in full Lady Halo regalia.

"Bestie!"

Hana turned to her, "Why are you always getting into trouble?"

"You know me," Rekino yelped in pain when she tried to stand up. Hana knelt beside her.

"What's wrong?"

"My left leg is busted. I don't know how."

A hissing sound drew their attention away. The golden warrior stepped forward, "The appearanccce of your friend makesss no differenccce."

"Then make that two more, ugly!"

Josephine and Amaya landed from the sky. They were positioned across from the other two groups as if forming a triangle.

"Amaya!" Rekino said happily, her eyes shining. She had failed her friend; she was here and in full battle gear.

The French woman twirled her yari above her head, "What in the name of the Lord are they?"

"Ugly for one," Jo slammed the end of her naginata on the ground before positioning it for battle.

Hana looked up at the sky. A full moon. Perfect. The special ability of Lady Halo allowed her to heal, but only when their was sunlight or a full moon. She could draw the power of the light of the moon and heal Rekino, but only if they were given the time to do so. The blonde leaned down and positioned her no-datchi in the moonlight.

"Jo, Amaya! Back me up," she screamed.

The Guardians of Torrent and Hardrock threw themselves at the three lizard like creatures. Hana closed her eyes and concentrated, opening up the power of the Guardian Armor of Halo. Rekino fidgeted.

"Stop moving! I'm trying to heal you!"

"Look out!" Rekino pushed Hana aside as she rolled to safety. The silver warrior brought his sword down right where the two Lady Guardians would have been. Lady Wildfire kept rolling until she almost went off the side of the volcano, stopping herself by slamming one of her katanas into the ground. Shit! That fall really would have sucked.

"You cannot defeat usss," the silver warrior said. "We come from a placcce where we have defeated foesss ten timesss ssstronger than you."

Hana got to her feet, "Funny that you haven't defeated us yet."

"You have jusssted joined the battle. Your friend isss almossst defeated."

Rekino got to her feet despite the pain in her left leg. Hana's healing power had managed to quell some of the pain. "I ain't dead yet, you sumbitch."

Across the battlefield, Josephine twirled her naginata and pointed the end of it at the ground. "Iron Stone Kinesis!" As she lifted her weapon, several boulders came up out of the Earth. Using her staff like a baseball bat, she hit the giant rocks towards the gold and black warrior. The lizard creatures dodged the onslaught of pieces of Earth.

Amaya spun her body in circles along with her yari. In the air, water started to appear in a trail behind her. "Deep Fathom Sphere!" The water formed into a giant bubble that shot across and towards the two enemies. They suddenly became encased within it the attack. Amaya shoved the tip of her yari into the ground, throwing out her hands to control the water. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated on controlling the pressure inside the sphere. The two within the water struggled with no hopes of getting out. Amaya clinched her fists together as the pressure inside the sphere of water crushed their bodies. Lady Torrent dissipated the water as the creatures fell to the ground.

Hana smirked at the silver warrior, "Not looking too good there, buddy."

"Ssstupid Earthling!"

It lunged forward for an attack, but Rekino appeared in the air behind him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him from behind.

"You wanted me, now you got me!"

The special ability of Lady Wildfire allowed her to heat her body up to around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, but she could only hold this ability for about five minutes before her cells started to liquefy. It also causes severe energy depletion. Her armor started to glow as it started to burn away at the lizard creature. It screamed out in pain. Rekino locked eyes with Hana.

"Do it!"

The Guardian of Lady Halo hesitated for a moment, but trusted her comrade's judgment. She grabbed the end of her no-datchi and held it out in front of her longways. The light from the moon illuminated her body as a bolt of lighting came down from above. The energy gathered into her sword.

"Sunspot fury!" She pointed her no-datchi at the creature that was already screaming in pain. Lighting shot from her sword into the chest of the reptilian adversary. Rekino jumped off its back just as Hana's lighting punched a hole in its chest. The creature fell over. Hana ran to her friend that was laying on the ground.

"Gurl" the blonde breathed. "Don't ever do that again."

Lady Wildfire grinned, "I trusted you."

As the four Lady Guardians gathered, a voice resounded in their heads.

"You hear that?" Jo asked.

It was Mia. The guys are on their way! I don't know what's going on, but get somewhere safe.

Rekino stood up as quick as she could, "I guess it's time to pull up our skirts and run."

"But," Jo looked confused, "we don't wear skirts."

"It was a euphemism!" Hana supported Rekino's weight.

Lady Wildfire laughed, "Scatter and meet back home!"

The four disappeared into the night.

"What in the hell happened here?!" Kento screamed.

The five Ronin Warriors landed on top of Mt. Fuji to see the results of a battle. Three bodies littered the battleground. Sage and Rowen immediately searched the area for any clues while Kento and Cye checked out the two bodies surrounded by water.

"Something isn't right, guys," Rowen said informatively. He knelt down and ran his fingers over the ground. "It doesn't rain on this volcano."

Ryo walked across the rocks. His tiger blue eyes took in everything. There were scorch marks on the ground, "Something heavy went down here, but what?"

A gurgling cough was heard. All five warriors dropped into a fighting stance before finding the source of the noise. It was one of the creatures. He had a hole through his chest that seemed to have missed his heart. He coughed up what looked like blood, but it was green.

"Who are you?" Kento demanded. He leapt across the landscape to land next to the dying thing.

Cye was next to him, "It appears to be dying. I don't think you will get much out of it."

"Fe...female war...riorrsss…"

Sage raised an eyebrow at the creature. Did it just say female warriors? Did this have something to do with the dream he had a week ago?

Ryo reached down to grab the front of the things armor and lift it up, "What do you mean?"

"Mo...ore will c-come," it hissed, spitting green blood on the front of Ryo's undergear. "You wi...ll all...per-perish…"

With those last words the creature went limp. Ryo released the armor and let the body go to the ground. The five watched as the body hardened, then turn to dust. They all exchanged quizzical looks.

What had just happened?

Mia paced the living room of her home still in her robe. She had received word that the Guardians were okay, but had no idea about the condition of her husband-to-be. She was about to call him when she heard the front door open. She rounded the corner just as Ryo shut the door behind him.

"What happened?!" She ran to him. Knowing the situation benefited both sides of her position as a helper to the Ronin Warriors and as a member of the Lady Guardians. "Are there new enemies?"

She was answered by Ryo's kissing her. His hot lips moved against her own, coaxing them open. She threw her arms around his neck, pulling him in closer.

He moved away slowly, licking her bottom lip as he did so. "I don't want to talk about anything right now except how much I want you."

Mia hummed, smirking as playfulness filled her green eyes, "What's stopping you, Wildfire?"

"Oh?" He reached down and picked her up effortlessly. Mia's laugh was filled with mirth. "Nothing."

"It seems your warriors failed."

On top of Tokyo Tower, three figures were shrouded in darkness. As the clouds moved, it revealed two female armored figures. One was in a wearing a white, prismatic armor that refracted all of the light in the area. A rope dart was strapped to her side. She stood to the left of the other armored female whose armor was black and grey with a war maul standing upright to her right. This armor seemed to refract no light.

In front of them stood a man of well over six feet. His arms were crossed over his chest. His long, black hair reached down to the middle of his back. He was tapping one of his fingers on his upper arm as he gaze down on the city.

"My lord," the white armored female spoke, "the Zendlar were weak. I was just using them so we could get a judge of power."

"Hm," the man didn't seem amused.

The female in the black armor approached, "Sho Ahka, allow me to use my followers to destroy them."

"Do I want to destroy them?" the being known as Sho Ahka turned around to face his generals. "What I want is for The Balance to appear so I can destroy him. We are just using those armored warriors as bait."

"But he did not appear to save them this time."

"Ah, Acheron," Sho Ahka looked at the white armored clad female. "You seem to not see the bigger picture. As you said, the Zendlar were weak. Maybe someone or something stronger would appeal to his sense of justice."

The black warrior chuckled at her comrade's failure.

"Novarian," Sho Ahka turned towards his other general. His red eyes narrowing. "Go and gather your forces, but both of you continue with the side mission."

"Sir!"

The two females disappeared as they jumped in the air. The black hair being turned and let his gaze return to the bustling city below.

"You will come out, eventually."

Next chapter: An Unplanned Reunion

Name: Rubi Mercado (Ru-bee Mer-ca-doh)
Category: Lawful neutral
Age: 26
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 134lbs
Hair Color: Black (cut in layers, breast length)
Eye Color: Brown
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican
Birthdate: April 22nd
Birthplace: Puerto Rico
Astrological sign: Taurus
Blood Type: AB+
Favorite Sport: Soccer, archery
Martial Art: None
Interests: Writing, reading, stickers, waterfalls
Dislikes: People with short tempers, beans, rudeness
Language: Spanish, English, Japanese
Armor: Armor of the Spider/Summer
Virtue: Serenity
Weapon: Six scythes on her back
Profile: Works in a clinic as a licensed psychologist and uses her powers of illusions to bring ease to people who suffer from multiple personality disorder, extreme psychosis, paranoia, and other illnesses that cause people to become "broken" with reality.
Armor of the Spider: Uses the armor's ability to shroud herself and up to four people from an enemy's sight.
Rubi's Closet: Despite her Catholic upbringing, Rubi enjoys wearing clothes that cling to her figure. Her favorite shades are all shades of purple, dark red, and gold. She likes to wear things that shimmer. While at the clinic she dresses appropriately, but at home she likes to lounge around in Under Armor or Nike sports clothes. She has a variety of shoes ranging from cleats to stilettos to leather platform knee high boots. It doesn't matter if she's going to pay her power bill or hit the club, Rubi dresses to impress. She likes to sparkle and shine.