Heart: A Ronin Warriors Fanfic
By: Malaizjan De Jesus
Author's Notes: This story was inspired by a young woman only known as 'Aleksa.' No one seems to know what happened to this young woman except that others are claiming to be this woman, and I am assuming that this is a woman, and that is simply not true. I do not know who this person is but I have thought of writing such a thing and I hope that this is almost at the standard of the other author that I mentioned.
Story Notes: I an focusing on Sage of the Halo, or in the Japanese version, Kourin no Seiji. I will stick with the American version names and armor, except for Sage. I am using the name Seiji. However the other Ronins will call him Sage. Secondly, This is part of a concept that I came up with. There are others out there that are trying to use such a concept. This is mine and cannot be used without permission. The Ancient Armors, names and powers are mine. The names of the new characters are also mine. Ask for permission of use
**Sorry about the review. My much younger brother thought it would be nice to play around with my stuff. Next time, I won't leave the comp on while using the bathroom!**
Chapter 2
It was another day at school. Ten-year-olds Sage Date and Rowen Hashiba were entering the school yard together. Other kids ran pass them, and the two were conversing quietly. Neither one noticed that the sky was darkening quickly. Or that a shadow was looming at the entrance of the schoolyard.
Sage and Rowen happen to look up and saw the darkened sky. They both looked back at the entrance and saw nothing. So they continued on to the doors. But before they could go in, fireballs began to rain down on the schoolyard-
Rowen woke up. He sat up in his bed with a gasp. He looked over at Sage and the blond warrior was up as well. They stared at each other. Their eyes told the story. "It's all connected…" the blue-haired boy whispered.
The blond boy nodded, dread in his eyes.
Matriatrix had just finished lining her left set of shelves with many colored elixirs when Talpa's floating head made an appearance in her spell casting room. "Master Talpa," Matriatrix said calmly.
"Are you ready to battle the Ronins?" he asked her. "I cannot ill afford any mistakes this time around. The ningenkai must be mine."
"I am always prepared for battle, my lord."
"And my daughter?"
"She is settling in as we speak… Are you sure you want to involve your daughter in such a way?"
"I must. I have lost all of my sons, Matriatrix. She is the only one left that I can utilize."
One figure and one animal arrived at golden double doors. They were quickly opened and both entered.
Catelyn and Sapphire arrived in their suite. Sapphire was a blue-tinted lioness trained by the now deceased Lord Sabre-Stryke to protect the young girl. Her golden eyes were always alert as the feline surveyed the new area. Since she was coming from her secondary palace, which was located on the opposite end of the Dynasty, the girl brought along her best servants-Ina and Amari- to unpack her stuff.
And they did. The main entry room was decorated in gold and silver hues. Bolts of cloth covered the walls and windows, giving color to the blandish walls. A sitting area of very large pillows adorned one corner, low tables on both sides of the pillows. A painting made of her family hung next to a window. The painting was of her siblings-Hariel, Savron, Dais, Lai and her. On impulse, she went to it and touched the picture of Dais. His blue eyes shined happily. They were such a happy family. But time had changed all that. Hariel, Savron and Lai were dead. She was dead…wasn't she? Catelyn grabbed her head. It was so hard to remember anything from five years ago-an issue her father had said would go away as she aged. She was still impatiently waiting.
"Princess? Are you ill?" asked Ina as she came into the main room.
"No. I'm fine." Catelyn moved away from the painting and walked over to the servant. "You and Amari did well. Arigato." Catelyn saw that Sapphire went to the kitchen area.
"Lord Talpa has the royal guard posted on this floor for you, my princess," said Amari. "He has left specific orders that you are not to be alone in this castle."
"Arigato." Catelyn's voice was slightly rough. It sounded almost wrong to her ears but she sat on her stacked pillows that were gathered in a corner. The gold and silver hues bounced off of the walls in dancing color. "Bring me my drink."
"Yes, my princess," said Ina.
Meanwhile, Leigha-Shae walked into the vacant courtyard with her bo. She took a quick scan of the area and then picked her spot. Her electric blue hair was quickly pulled back, and she began her katas with deadly grace and purpose.
Matriatrix watched from her perch high above the courtyard. Her daughter went through each kata with deadly skill. Her daughter was a true treasure. She could not wait for the day that her daughter would darken every dimension with her evil. She had a few ideas as to keep her family high in favor with Lord Talpa.
There was one person in the way.
His daughter, Princess Catelyn.
His only daughter that she helped resurrect five years earlier. Three of his four sons were gone. One turned traitor.
It was just a matter of time before his two remaining children die as well…by her hands…and her daughter's.
Matriatrix smiled. 'This game will be most interesting…'
Morning had arrived in the ningenkai and for the Ronins at the Koji Manor, it was another day of training. What happened to Rowen and Sage had rattled them all enough to start training in earnest again.
As Sage made his way down the steps, the phone rang. He got it on the second ring. "Hello?" he said quietly, elegantly.
"Sage? It's your mother."
"Mom…hi. What's wrong?" he had asked, almost hesitantly.
There was a pause. "Sage, your grandfather had an accident. We need you here this weekend."
"Is he okay?" Sage asked, a slight worry in his voice.
"His misjudged the new steps we installed. He will be laid up for a few days. We need you here for the ceremony."
"Mom…you know about the trouble we ran into yesterday. Are you sure you want me there?"
"Yes. Your sisters will be here too. Please, Sage. You should be here."
Sage didn't sigh out loud. He knew his mother's tone. "I'll be there. Can Rowen come?"
"He is always welcomed here, my son. I will see you both tonight." She hung up the phone quietly.
Sage did the same, sighing. "Kuso."
"Sage? Was it for you?" Mia had asked as she left the kitchen.
"Yeah." Sage turned around and headed up the steps to his room. He said nothing to Rowen, who was reading, and began to pack a bag. As soon as he was packed, however, Rowen looked up. "So you're going home?"
"Have to. My grandfather got hurt. My parents want me there."
Rowen grinned. He reached under his bed and pulled out a bag himself. " I better tag along." He stood up.
Sage smiled, a rare smile that spoke volumes. "Might as well. Everyone will be there." He cringed.
Rowen laughed.
The two Ronins left their shared room, letting the others know that they were leaving…
Meanwhile, in the Dynasty…
Cale looked at Catelyn's old castle in the distance from his steed. He knew something felt wrong. The last two years hadn't prepared him for the wrongness he felt. And it was from that castle.
Sehkmet came upon him seconds later on horseback as well, looking at the castle. "Cale?" he asked.
"Something's in that castle. I can feel it."
"Want to take a look? Kayura and Dais will be back shortly." Sehkmet's green hair blew gently with the sudden breeze.
"Yeah. Let's go." Both Cale and Sehkmet put their helmets on and headed off to the old castle…
Talpa looked around at his new main throne room. It was slightly brighter than what he liked but he chose not to change a single thing. After all, this was his daughter's main palace. He stood in front of the throne, smiling at the sheer number of soldiers that stood in the throne room with him. "I want Treyon and Vaeyon here at once."
One of the soldiers left the room without a word, to do as his lord requested.
Angelus appeared suddenly in the throne room. "Forgive my intrusion, Lord Talpa, but I have spotted the traitors Cale and Sehkmet heading this way. What would you like done?"
Talpa raised an eye in surprise. "So…they are coming this way. Take Treyon and Vaeyon with you, Angelus." Talpa saw that the twin warriors were now in the throne room. "You three will capture Cale and Sehkmet for me. Put them in my special dungeon room for traitors. Together."
"What about Kayura and Dais?" asked Vaeyon in his raspy voice.
"They will come for their comrades soon enough…"
Cye was in the kitchen getting lunch ready when Rowen and Sage came down the back steps, both slinging bags. "Um, what's going on?" he asked carefully. They were somewhat on the edge as of late.
"My mom called. My grandfather got hurt. I have to go home for the weekend. Rowen's coming along," Sage explained.
"Does Ryo know?" Cye asked.
"Screw Ryo. My family called. I'm going home. End of story." Sage headed for the door.
"Don't you think Ryo should know you two are going to be gone?" Cye asked them. "I mean, so he doesn't send us all out looking for you two."
"Well, Cye has a point Sage," Rowen pointed out.
"Look, I'd rather not hear Ryo complain."
"I wouldn't." Cye, Rowen and Sage looked to the doorway and saw Ryo standing there, with Kento right behind him. "But I would have like to have known. So since I do, just watch your backs. This isn't even close to being over," Ryo cautioned.
Rowen and Sage nodded. They both left mere seconds later.
Cye stared at Ryo. "Wow. Look what a few years can do to change a man."
"I wanted to punch him, Cye. Don't make me a saint yet. Kento, let's get to that game."
"Oh yeah! And Cye, I'm getting starved!" Kento went to the game console.
"You're always starved, Kento!" Cye interjected but he sighed to himself.
Catelyn opened her battle chest that she kept with her at all times. She was alone in her suite now. Ina and Amari had gone to make dinner. Sapphire, her loyal companion, was napping in the main room. She rarely had such moments to herself. She pulled out a covered blade that was very long. She placed it in her lap and uncovered it. It was a golden No-Datchi blade, hand carved by the once master swordsman, Sabre-Stryke. There was a kanji etched on the blade closest to the hand guard on the weapon. In fact, there were three kanji on it. Sabre-Stryke had told her that someday she would understand the order of the kanji. She refused to accept that he had turned traitor. He never kept secret that he felt the Dynasty was going in the wrong direction. She had hoped that when she ruled, he would be the leader of her royal guard. But now, that was no long a possibility. She whispered the kanji words in reverie:
"Heart…Wisdom…Life…"
A sudden fear gripped her as she hastily covered the weapon and she put it away. As she placed the weapon carefully into the chest, she saw a thin ribbon on the side. She pulled it out.
It was a worn, pink ribbon. It was dirty. But a sudden memory came to her:
'You need to hang on to this ribbon, little one. It is a mark of innocence.'
Catelyn didn't know the woman's voice. It wasn't her mother's, that she knew. The young princess put the ribbon back and closed the chest lid. As she stood, she had the feeling of not being safe. Which was silly. Her father was there in the palace. Why wouldn't she be safe with her own father?
Catelyn tired of dealing with such silly notions and feelings…But she had the feeling that what she was feeling was not her own. And she was tired of that as well.
In the main room, Sapphire perked her head up and seemed surprise to see who was there, fading in and out.
The ghostly hand reached out to the nose of the animal and it went through it. "It is almost time, Sapphire. We cannot allow Talpa to win. He cannot have them both-the ningenkai will surely parish if he did." The ghost then heard steps coming its way and it faded away, as to keep from being discovered.
A knock came at the door.
Catelyn came out to the door just as Sapphire stood. "Who," came the girl's answer.
"Alia, my princess."
Catelyn cautiously opened the door. Alia stepped inside gingerly.
Alia was a succubus, a mid-level sorceress. Her wings were lavender in color and she had a seductive look in her midnight blue eyes. Her skin was flawless. So soft, so porcelain-looking. She wore red thigh-high stockings and a one-piece body suit. It began at her ample breasts and it was black. It covered her stomach and she wore elbow-length black gloves. She had on her knee-length black boots, every piece of black on her was shiny, as if just polished. Her lavender hair was pulled into a high ponytail. "I thought we could continue where we left off." She closed the door behind her.
"I…I'm not sure we should. After all, I have a mission to complete."
"I know. He wants you to spy on the Ronins. Your servants are off making sure no one poisons your food. I'm just here to service my princess." Alia's wings spanned out and curled around Catelyn suggestively. The wings pulled the reluctant princess to her. "Do you want to be serviced? You haven't blown off any steam in some time."
"I hate it when you do that." Catelyn smiled at the older woman. Alia was the youngest next to her but she was still over several hundred years old. But she looked no older than nineteen. Leigh-Shae was nearly 1900 years old. And Matriatrix was as old as dirt. Alia seemed to be the closest thing to a friend she had outside of Ina and Amari. "I would like to."
"Come to me, my princess Catelyn. Allow me to service you."
Catelyn reached up to Alia's head and smiled before pulling it down to kiss her.
Once their lips parted, Alia carried the young girl over to her "study" as Sapphire went to guard the doorway. The succubus lay the girl upon the empty table and she stepped back. "Are you ready?"
"Are you sure I'm not betraying any future husband by doing this?"
"No. You are a virgin still. That is to be given only to your husband. No one else." Alia went to undo the ties at Catelyn's shoulders. The princess offered no resistance as the ties were undone. "And I know what you like. Why should men get all the fun?"
Catelyn chuckled. "You're right, Alia."
Sapphire's ears curled to her head as Catelyn's soft cry of pleasure hit her. But her topaz-colored eyes stayed trained on the door.
Dais and Kayura entered the tower that was built for them when Talpa's Dynasty fell a few years ago. The two ancient warriors walked inside as the torches lit up one by one. The two quickly changed into their sub-armors. Because even in the Dynasty, there were still people trying to do harm to the fragile peace they worked hard to get.
"Dais, Cale and Sehkmet aren't here," she said. "Maybe we should go after them?"
"No. They will be back. They can handle themselves. You, on the other hand Kayura…" He guided her over to the fire that still roared in the fireplace and sat her on some soft cushions. "You got weak after healing Halo. You rest."
"Dais…something's not right. We both know Rikshiran. He's got a new master. I know it."
"We'll wait on Cale and Sehkmet to get back. Then the four of us will plan…I'm not about to let him roam free, terrorizing anyone he wants."
The Date home was fairly large for a family of their standing. The main home stood yards away, directly behind the Date dojo, which was the home of Masamunte Date. There was a driveway, which started on the left side of the dojo and led right up to the main house. Sage drove up the drive with ease, with Rowen in tow. They had decided on separate cars.
Sage parked the car next to a jeep on the right side of the house. As he and Rowen got out, Sara Date, Sage's mother, greeted them as she exited the door. "Seiji! Rowen!" She ran up to the boys and hugged each one eagerly. "I'm glad you two could come!"
"Thanks, mom." Sage smiled a little.
"Your sisters are here already." Sara Date ushered the two quickly into the house, giving them no chance to get their things.
One of Sage's older sisters, Amie, was in the kitchen, waiting by the oven. Her jet black hair was pulled into a long ponytail, and her violet eyes danced when she saw her brother. "Hi, Seiji-kun."
"No fancy clothes, Amie?" Rowen teased her as was his normal greeting for her.
"I can't if I'm baking, Rowen." Amie patted them on the shoulder. "I was able to get this weekend free this month. Goodness, Seiji! Your hair's a mess!" Amie pulled a comb from her pocket.
Sage held up his hands in surrender. "Don't touch the hair!"
Rowen chuckled.
"If you're looking for Raine, she's with grandfather." Amie then put on some oven gloves and opened the oven door.
Sage sighed as if defeated as he left the kitchen.
Rowen followed him into the living room area. The two Ronin Warriors watched as Raine's hands moved rapidly, conversing with their grandfather. He looked to another woman, one a bit older, who seemed to be talking. The two waited until Sage's grandfather wheeled himself away. Raine's shouldered slouched.
"Don't let him get to you," said Sage quietly.
The older lady moved her hands and Raine turned around. "Seiji! Rowen!" she said hoarsely. She ran to them both and hugged them fiercely.
When they parted, Raine smiled at them.
Rowen signed, "How's the implants going?"
Raine signed back, "I'm still getting use to hearing again."
Sage watched the translator. "I take it Grandpa refuses to sign."
The translator signed to Raine and she signed, "At least I wasn't born deaf."
Rowen told Sage and he nodded. Raine had gotten ill as a toddler. The doctors were able to save her but she lost her hearing. She learned sign language and their parents hired a translator. Six months ago, she got cortical implants. She could hear but often signed when the sounds around her overwhelmed her. Sage never really learned to sign but Rowen already knew the language. So Sage and Raine were never close.
"Where's dad?" Sage asked, talking slowly.
"Out back," came Raine's hoarse voice.
Both boys nodded and headed out back.
Daio saw the boys heading his way as he stood up from the oversized cherry blossom tree. The older Date pushed his mop of hair back from his face but a couple of strands fell back into his eyes. "Seiji, Rowen," he said quietly, his near-black eyes storming with lightning.
"Mister Date," said Rowen respectfully.
"Dad." Sage nodded to him in greeting.
"Seiji…you're being targeted," Daio had said directly.
"Ro and I figured that. Is it the armor?" Sage asked.
"It's far more than the armors. It is our family legacy." Daio watched Rowen's eyes squint in suspicion. "I'm afraid that the Ronin Warriors of this generation may not be strong enough to save the ningenkai."
"What do you mean?" Rowen asked. "You know we killed Talpa, right?"
"Yes, you stopped him. It is seven years to the day, boys. What happened the other night was deliberate."
"Dad…we already lost a few members of our family to the Dynasty. Are you saying I'm next?"
"If your team cannot find your hearts, then yes."
Sage's eyes widened, as if he understood the severity of the situation at hand. He looked at Rowen. He understood as well.
"NO offense, Mister Date, but we're not going to bow to the Dynasty. Not now…not ever." Rowen folded his arms seriously.
"None of this would be happening if Seiji had not lost our treasure!" boomed Sage's grandfather. He continued wheeling himself away, mumbling under his breath.
"Don't listen to my father, Seiji. You and the armor are safe. That's all that matters to your mother and I."
Sage sighed. "I know dad, but he has a point. Seven years ago, we lost so much more…Ro and I are going to spar. We'll be back by dinner." Sage hurried off, and Rowen began to follow.
"Rowen?" said Daio. "Watch his back…and yours."
"Always, Mister Date." Rowen hurried off to catch up to Sage.
Daio turned to watch the boys go. He did not envy them. For this current generation, Seiji and Rowen were the most powerful of the Ronin Warriors. He had been the most powerful of his generation before them, but only possessed ½ of the power his own son wielded.
However, unlike the current generation of Ronin Warriors, he knew one critical piece of info, and it involved the Ancient One's staff.
There are six rings on the staff.
Once upon a time…
There was suppose to be-
"Daio! I need your help!" cried his wife, Sara. "The roast is too heavy!"
Daio headed back to the house. He paused at the steps and looked back in the direction that Sage and Rowen took. Then his final thought returned.
Once upon a time, there was suppose to be six.
Six Ronin Warriors.
Cye entered the living room area with a tray full of sandwiches for Ryo and Kento, who had been playing video games all morning. He placed the tray on the coffee table and stepped away.
"Thanks Cye!" Kento said just before shoving the first sandwich into his mouth.
Ryo nodded his thanks. He didn't take a sandwich, however. He was focused on the game.
Cye decided to go outside. He quietly opened the door and closed it behind him. He stepped off the porch and looked toward the sky.
There were things that Cye wanted to know. He knew Sage and Rowen were hiding a secret. Something they knew but not the others. Considering that this new enemy was gunning for Sage, he understood that the others needed to know what they knew.
But they ran off to Sage's family home.
He was going to ask them out-right once they got back.
Unaware that he was being watched, a pair of red-orange eyes watched him from the edge of the forest. Waiting…
Sage sat on a large rock near the edge of the crystal blue waterfall on the Date property. He watched the water rush down rapidly. Rowen stood a few feet away, waiting.
"Do you remember this place, Ro?" Sage asked.
"Yeah. The hot summers swimming here…" Rowen trailed off.
"Ro…I hate to say it but the Dynasty's back."
"Sage, we took out Talpa. The Dynasty is dead," Rowen reasoned.
"The Dynasty attacked our school seven years ago and again two years ago. It's all connected. Whoever is in charge knows our secret."
"Sage…that would mean that this person, demon or whatever…knows about your other powers." Rowen whistled suddenly, realizing the scope of the situation. "When you got captured two years ago."
"I know I never spoke of it. I didn't think it was important to mention it." Sage turned to stare into Rowe's eyes. "There were others there. I didn't end up with Cye right away. We had never seen them before and I never saw them after. There were two females and one male. There were debating as to what to do with me. One of the females kicked me in my ribs over and over again…I think it was out of boredom. But then Talpa appeared and ordered them to place me with Cye."
Rowen nodded, as if to mull over the info.
"Ro…It was what she said before I blacked out that now got my attention…she said, 'You Dates are nothing but trouble.'"
Rowen's eyes widened. "You sure?"
"Yeah. It was plural. As if she had encountered other members of my family," Sage reasoned.
"And maybe not necessarily ones still alive." Rowen grabbed Sage's arm and yanked him off the rock hastily. "We need to talk to your dad. Now."
The two ran back toward Sage's home.
Catelyn sighed as Alia brushed her long hair with deliberate strokes of her hairbrush. Sapphire was taking a nap and Ina and Amari were preparing her bath. "Alia…?"
"Yes Princess?" Alia's seductive voice hitched slightly.
"I have been feeling…odd. As if there are two sets of memories within me. The dreams I experience are very odd. It's probably nothing but those headaches are now back."
Alia barely held in a gasp. "Perhaps I can take a peek inside and see if I can ease-"
"CATELYN! Report to the throne room!" boomed Talpa's voice.
Catelyn sighed. She stood up, and Alia stepped back. Sapphire was at her feet instantly. "Alia, accompany me to the throne room, please."
Ina and Amari looked at each other as the other three left the suite. Once they were gone, the two servants began to whisper among themselves..
"It's happening…"
"The spell's weakening…"
"If we wait too long, Talpa will notice."
"But we can't just start casting weakening spells. Matriatrix will know her spell was being tampered with…"
"I wish Master Sabre-Stryke was here. He'd know what to do…"
"Alia seems to know the truth…"
"Can she be trusted?"
Within the body of Princess Catelyn, a different battle was taking place. There was a room with a locked door. Inside the room was a wall. A wall of green, icky goo. There was a body trapped within the green gooey-looking wall. The knees poked out with torn jeans. The arms also poked out at various points, showing a torn, long sleeved white shirt. A head also poked out of the wall, two braided pigtails fell forward, one missing a pink ribbon. The bangs, which were long, were blonde. Her skin was pale but still had a slight brown tone to it.
Just on the inside of the locked room was Kenishen, a spirit demon whose job was to keep the girl quiet. Kenishen had kept the girl asleep for the most part. Every now and then, for the past five years, she woke up briefly. She tried to get free, managed it once two years ago and failed.
Kenishen smiled. He knew that Master Talpa wanted this girl guarded and suppressed until he called for the demon spirit. He remembered the day when Princess Catelyn was brought back to life and he was asked to keep the true owner of the princess' body quiet. It was utter chaos without the guidance of the young girl that the people of the Dynasty adored. Just like her mother before she, she was a treasured daughter.
This was his easiest job ever…
Within the Spirit Realm, several spirits looked on the events happening between the Dynasty and the ningenkai with worry.
"Anubis…perhaps you need to visit the Ronins first."
Anubis glanced at the second spirit, the one with blue hair, with apprehension. "If we interfere, anything can go wrong…"
"If we had done our job years ago, Catelyn would not be defying the moral laws of the universe. An innocent child would not be Talpa's sacrifice!" said the blue-haired spirit.
"Alecto is correct," said a third spirit. His torn cloak gave away his identity-The legendary Lord Sabre-Stryke. "If we had done our job, the Ronin Warriors would be whole right now."
"And should I return as a ghost, or as a person?" came Anibus' sarcastic attitude.
"Don't mock them, Anibus," came a forth spirit's voice. He came toward them, his long, black hair pulled into a ponytail. His tiger-blue eyes glared at Anubis. "I still hold some power here. I can make you alive again. But you would be without an armor. Unless Sabre-Stryke gives up his."
"If you think we should interfere, Hariel, then let us do this," came Sabre-Stryke's answer.
"Then, let's do this." Anubis stood ready before the three spirits-Sabre-Stryke, Alecto and Hariel. "We will help the Ronins become whole again. After all…"
"They are missing the heart of the team," finished Alecto.