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.

Chapter 5

"The conspiracy, as we call it, happened a little over 3 years ago," Kayura began. "A year before the Dynasty invaded this world, Prince Hariel and Sabre-Stryke were planning a rebellion to stop Talpa from invading the ningenkai. They had some help; a few providence lords and a few warriors from the ningenkai. One of them was Alecto Hashiba."

"Huh?" Ryo looked at Rowen. "Ro? Your family was part of the Dynasty?"

"I…Etou…Alecto was my older brother. He vanished years ago…" Rowen was at a loss for words. 'My own brother was in on this? Is that why he vanished?'

"Alecto was 15 years old when he was recruited into the Dynasty," Anubis explained. "I know because I was the one who took him. Alecto had the Strata Armor. Rowen, I believe, was about 5 when I came for Alecto. To save Rowen, he came willingly. Outwardly, he was a warrior, a knowledgeable one who had two duties-serve Talpa and protect Catelyn when she was resurrected.

"Alecto was quickly recruited by Hariel. Hariel knew his armor was a catalyst to an Ancient Armor and knew that with two armors, their rebellion would have some bite. Talpa had another Ancient Armor in his possession: The Crescent Sun Armor."

"The armor that Dais' sister is currently wearing," Kento commented. "But with such a name, it should be brighter, right?"

Anubis nodded, giving the strong warrior credit to his words. "Correct. Hariel feared that Talpa was going after the previous generation of Ronin Warriors to get access to the Ancient Armors. I confess, I don't know all of the Ancient Armors and neither does Talpa. Hariel wanted to strike before he entered the ningenkai again to capture the older generation of Ronin Warriors.

"However, in a battle before he was to strike, he was infected with a poison that effectively and slowly killed him. Talpa thought the conspiracy was over. It wasn't.

"Sabre-Stryke and Alecto attacked on the eve Talpa was suppose to attack the ningenkai. It was a slaughter. Their forces were too little and without Hariel and the Inferno Armor, they only lasted a day. Sabre-Stryke was able to get away. Alecto was captured…and later executed." Anubis stared at Rowen sorrowfully. He noted that all of the Ronins had tears that threatened to fall. Only Rowen's did. "I am sorry, Rowen. He willed Strata to you, to keep it away from Talpa. Talpa made his death slow and painful because of it. Without Strata, he could not get the Ancient Armor that dangled out of reach."

Rowen swallowed loudly. Then he found his voice. "Talpa wanted to make this personal. He succeeded." His voice was full of anger and hardened with an edge of revenge never heard from him before.

"There is even more," Anubis urged, seeing that the Ronins were determined to finish what Alecto, Hariel and Sabre-Stryke started. "There has always been an Hashiba and a Date in every generation of Ronin Warriors."

"Serious?" said Kento.

Anubis nodded. "For Rowen's bloodline, it was just the passing of the Strata from father to son, brother to brother. For Sage's line, it is much more. His ancestors were gifted with special powers that have the ability to destroy the Dynasty… or the ningenkai. Forever."

"So if Talpa gets Sage, it's the end of the world," Cye concluded. It made perfect sense now. Rowen knew that Sage was the key to Talpa winning. But had been nervous to reveal the fact. "But you mentioned that Talpa had the other half of the equation?"

"Sage's Ancient Armor. If the armor is bonded with him, no one can stop him. The ningenkai will fall."

"So how's Talpa finding these armors?" Ryo asked.

"Talpa had volumes of scrolls that his own scholars have interpreted. It is these scrolls that are leading him to the armors." Kayura watched Rowen and Sage glance at each other.

The two Ronins had a secret.

Rowen and Sage mentally sighed in relief.

It turned out Anubis didn't know everything.

Their secret was safe.

Meanwhile, in the Dynasty, Princess Catelyn readied herself to leave her suite. Upon the servants' return, a note came for the princess. Amari held the simple note that came for her charge and she had a bad feeling about it. "You mustn't go, princess. This isn't right. Even Master Talpa does not know why you're having these headaches. How would anyone else?"

"I don't know and I don't care. They are not merciful and I want to know the answer. Talpa is lying about something. Him and Matriatrix. I can't go to them for answers." Catelyn turned to Sapphire. "Sapphire, I want you to go to the mortal realm and watch the Ronins. I want to know if they plot anything against me." She saw the look the feline gave. "I will be okay. Trust me to handle myself without you. GO!" Catelyn watched the feline leap out of a window.

Ina helped Catelyn into her make-shift armor. "I have to agree with Amari. This isn't right. If you would give Amari and I time, we might be able to figure out some answers."

"It's just the courtyard. I can deal with it."

"Take Alia, princess," pleaded Amari. "Just so no one messes with you. I do not trust these new Warlords of Master Talpa's."

"Arigato, Amari. I admire your lack of trust in Talpa's new forces. I don't trust them fully either. But no one would dare fuck with this princess. Not without incurring his wrath." With that, Catelyn opened the door and closed it behind her.

Neither servant pointed out that Catelyn had not referred to Talpa as "father."

Cye and Kento were sparring outside, after hearing everything that the former Warlords had to say. Kento blocked all of Cye's punches and kicks, trying to become faster, fast enough to handle Catelyn. But even the smallest thought of revenge had gone out of his mind when his feelings got in the way. He wanted to be focused on taking her out. But the thought of doing so ached his heart. He didn't understand why Catelyn has such an affect on him. Other crushes had come and gone but her? The thought of her sent heat into his blood. It made no sense to him.

Cye threw another series of punches and Kento blocked him. But Cye kicked him in the stomach and Kento gasped, clutched his stomach and fell to one knee. "Kento!" Cye cried. He kneeled by his friend as Sage and Ryo ran out to them. "I'm sorry!"

"S'okay," Kento breathed. He saw Sage's glowing hand go to his stomach and allowed the warming glow fill him as the wound was re-healed again. Once Sage was done, his stomach was still sore, like before, but he was grateful for the assist. Kento got back to his feet. "That hurt." It lack his usual conviction.

"It wasn't on purpose, Kento. I didn't mean to," Cye explained. But he eyed Kento. "Are you okay?"

Kento waved away the apology. "I'm okay. I'm going to rest."

"Kento…what's up with you? Something's got you off your game. Is it Catelyn?" Cye had never seen his best friend like this.

He looked at Cye. "Let it go, Cye. Don't let it eat at you. If you do, you're no good in battle." With that bit of wisdom, Kento climbed the steps and went inside.

"Since when did Kento get a brain?" asked Sage.

"Ever since that fight with Catelyn, he's almost subdued," Ryo noted. "Something's not right."

"I think it's more than that. His pride must have been bruised," said Sage. "I wouldn't want it to be common knowledge that a girl kicked my ass."

"It's something else…" Cye tried to explain it away. "I think we should call it a night." Cye followed Kento's example and went inside.

"Sounds good to me," Ryo agreed and followed suit.

And on the edge of the forest, a pair of red-orange eyes, the color of flames, watched them all with worry.

Catelyn knew something was wrong. The courtyard was empty, void of all activity. Her ring was in her hand, eyes darting from side to side. She wished Sapphire was with her.

"Hello…Princess." Leigha-Shae walked out into the open courtyard from the side of the pillars. "How are you?" She had a small blade in her hand. She watched as Catelyn shifted her weight.

"Leigha-Shae. You may be Matriatrix's daughter but at this moment, I don't care. Go away." Her eyes wavered slightly.

"I'd watch that tone, princess. You are the precious heir to the Dynasty throne. You are beloved by all." As it was said in a mocking tone, Leigha-Shae watched the young girl gather some strength.

"I don't know why my father would see you as valuable when you've done nothing hide behind your mother," she snapped with wit.

"You know nothing about sorcery. I'd watch that tongue, girl. You could lose it." The veiled threat was there.

"Was that a threat, Leigh-Shae? When I rule, you're the first to go." Catelyn darted her eyes quickly from side-to-side before settling back on Leigha-Shae.

"That won't happen anytime soon. After all, you're just a mortal child."

"I am Talpa's mortal child. He'll kill anyone that disputes that," she chide Matriatrix's daughter. "I know you and your mother make plans behind his back. Stay out of my way or I will tell him everything."

Leigha-Shae chuckled. "I would never dispute such a thing. However…I know about your infatuation with Kento of Hard Rock. You've been spying on him." She noted the slightest of reactions and grinned. "Master Talpa does not see it yet because you've battled them all, as is the end result. But if you get in my way or cast a less than favorable light on me, I will hurt you more than those headaches you've been getting. You know nothing of pain and torture. I could show you. Better yet, I'll use you as bait to get Sage of the Halo here."

"You wish," Catelyn hissed quietly. A movement caught her eye and just as she turned, she was hit over the head-hard. She dropped to the ground like so much dead weight.

"I think I will take you out instead. You are too dangerous to allow to live. This'll be so much fun…I can make it look like the Ronins took you out…"

Kento was back in his room and went to his bed. As he sat down, he looked over at his nightstand and saw an old scroll tied with a red ribbon on it. He looked perplexed. His picked it up delicately because it looked old. He didn't even hear Cye come in; he was fixated on the scroll.

"Kento?" said Cye but he saw the look on his best friend's face as he stared at a tied paper. "What's that?"

"I..I don't know." Kento was really staring at it. He fingered the ribbon and felt a kanji etched in it. "There's…a kanji etched in the ribbon. And it repeats over and over again." Kento untied the ribbon and placing the scroll on the nightstand, he began to run his finger on the ribbon, reading the kanji on it. It was obvious that the message was meant for him. He blushed slightly when he read the message to himself.

"GUYS! Everyone, get up here! Kento's found something!" cried Cye.

Kento gave him a dirty look but everyone got to his room in record time before he could do something about it. "This was on my nightstand." He reached over to the scroll and picked it up for everyone to see. "Did any of you leave it?"

Kayura took it from Kento with care. "It wasn't me." She gently unrolled it and her eyes widened.

"Kayura?" said both Anubis and Dais.

"It…it's about the Crescent Sun Armor!" Kayura scanned it quickly. "Mia, do you think there is any info on the Crescent Sun Armor to the Maya?"

"The Maya?" asked Rowen. "Seriously?"

"This scroll is written in Mayan. I know enough Mayan to see that it is Mayan. But I can't tell you what it says," she clarified.

"Perhaps. Let me look at my grandfather's info." Mia quickly left the room.

The others began to file out, all but Kento and Cye.

As they filed out, a pair of red-orange eyes watched them leave.

Sage was the last one to leave. He felt something watching him and he turned. The eyes weren't there. He eyed the window suspiciously, stood there for a few extra minutes. Seeing nothing that would warrant such a feeling, he left.

The red-orange eyes returned, and eyed the scroll. Flames waved in those eyes and a small sigh escaped the owner of the eyes. Then, the eyes were gone.

Cye eyed Kento as he left the ribbon on his bed. Once he was out of sight, he rushed the bed and picked up the ribbon and ran his finger along it. His eyes widened in shock as he interpreted the kanji…it said:

I am sorry that I hurt you. I didn't want to kill you. I won't want to kill you. Use this scroll to help you. Do not go to the Dynasty. Sage will be his if you do. -Heart-

And Cye realized that the kanji of heart ran the rest of the length of the ribbon.

Catelyn found herself in a gray world. Her long hair was pulled into a crowned bun as she slowly walked toward a wall with a door. Her steps were silent as she headed for that wall with a door. She felt so much younger but that wasn't possible-she was sixteen years old. When she got to the door, a demon with white eyes and black armor met her. "Kenishen. Move aside."

"Princess Catelyn. You shouldn't be here."

"What's in that room, Kenishen?" Catelyn asked.

"You aren't allowed in, princess."

Catelyn placed her hands on her hips. "I am the Dynasty Princess. How dare you tell me what I can and cannot do!"

"I am denying you entrance on orders only," Kenishen explained.

"Who gave the order? Dais?"

Kenishen made a face at the mention of Dais' name but otherwise maintained his composure. "No. Your father."

Catelyn awoke slowly, groaning at the pain throbbing through her skull. She rose shakily and stiffened as she saw a shadow pass over her. She jumped to the right just in time to avoid the blast of a sure kill. She looked up. "Kuso!" Catelyn breathed as she saw the twins, Treyon and Vaeyon with Ka'Ishiaria above her, in the trees. She wished again for her feline companion mentally.

"Well, well, well. It seems that the princess isn't as strong as she first thought," Ka'Ishiaria said, allowing a whip to appear in her hands. She lashed out with it.

Catelyn leaped back as the whip's end hit the ground where she had been standing. "I'm not out of this fight!" she yelled at them. 'I've got to play a game of cat and mouse with them. Until Talpa hears the commotion.' "I think you three need to get your asses kicked."

"No, we will be doing the ass-kicking, child." Vaeyon leaped out of the tree, his sword out to strike her, just jumping back to avoid it. "Don't tell me the great Dynasty Princess is too scared to fight."

'Hardly,' she thought to herself as she avoided the next attack from Treyon. 'I wish my enemies were here to wipe the floor with them. But I can do this-I can last a couple of minutes.' If only her head didn't hurt so much.

Catelyn began to dodge and duck behind trees, using her infamous fog to cover her tracks. But after nearly 5 minutes of hiding, they were catching on to her. Catelyn ducked behind another tree as the one that she had been behind was destroyed. She was running out of hiding places.

"I found you, brat." Treyon said as he appeared beside her. She spun around to the other side of the tree, just missing getting her head taken off with his blade. She couldn't keep it up anymore. She was breathing hard; they hadn't given her any time to catch her breath. With great alarm, she knew she was no longer in the Dynasty. That forced a decision from her. 'I don't have a choice. I have to go to my armor.' She touched her orb. But before she could do anything more, Ka'Ishiaria appeared, raised her staff and slammed it into her, sending her back into a tree. Her back was hurting-she heard the crack of her make-shift armor. "Now I'm pissed!" she cried.

"Just keep it interesting until we kill you," Vaeyon said from her right. Treyon appeared to her left. She was surrounded and trapped against the tree. "Well…they want a fight. They're going to get one from me.' Catelyn launched a punch at Ka'Ishiaria. She knew the twins were harder to fight.

The brass color-haired Warlord leaped up, hoping to drive her staff into her back. She allowed herself to fall but missed Catelyn. Her sais greeted her upon landing. She caught Vaeyon from the corner of her eye and greeted him with a back kick to the stomach, throwing him backwards into a fallen tree.

Without warning, Treyon snuck in a punch to her stomach. She gasped and fell to one knee. She felt a power well up in her and she cried out, sending all three from her, as if a strange force came from within and burst out of her. Catelyn then stood up, angry that she was being singled out. On her forehead was a faint kanji. It was difficult to read for parts of it were missing. "After I kill you three, I will get Leigha-Shae," she commented.

Treyon was the first to recover. He charged her, twin short knives in his hands.

Catelyn turned to meet him and took one step forward-

A vine whipped out and caught her left wrist. Shocked, she turned to cut it but another one grabbed her right wrist, and pulled it away from her body. She was then lifted up slightly so her feet didn't touch the ground and more vines grabbed her legs and pulled them apart. She struggled against the vines.

"Awww….Where's that ass-kicking you promised us?" asked Vaeyon.

"Shimatta!" she cried and a fist slammed into her stomach again. She heard her ribs crack under the blow. She gasped hard.

"Such foul language," Treyon commented. He double-blinked his eyes and the vines pulled Catelyn's body taunt. "Dear little princess. You're about to be tortured now. Enjoy," he whispered sadistically as he drove one of his knives into her thigh.

Catelyn let out a blood-curling scream that chased away the animals nearby. She refused to cry tears in front of them. She glared at them, even as Treyon twisted the knife in her thigh and yanked it out without warning. He then sent the clean knife into her shoulder, breaking the make-shift armor there. She left out another scream of pain as her faint kanji flared slightly. He did the same thing and twisted the knife before pulling it out. She steeled herself for another stab.

"Now you understand what it means to side against Lady Leigha-Shae," Ka'Ishiaria replied unpleasantly. She took a few steps back and snapped her whip onto her arm, breaking the make-shift armor there. A second hit broke her skin. She watched her wince and bit her lip.

Vaeyon unsheathed his twin knives and went behind her. He tapped the make-shift armor on her back twice before slicing it, breaking it apart. It caught her skin, just at the surface. She jerked away as much as she could.

Grinning at her pain, they tightened their grip on their weapons. "You're going to learn what we do to people who side against Lady Leigha-Shae and Matriatrix!" And all three attacked her.

Kento sat in the window, looking out at the night sky. There was much on his mind, things he wasn't quite willing to talk about. The stars in the sky glittered brightly as his thoughts focused onto Catelyn.

There was something not quite right about the whole situation. He knew it. He felt it. He was lusting after Dais' sister. But it wasn't quite lust. It was as if…he knew her before. Or of her. Or…something. He felt a deeper connection with her. Almost like…well, she wasn't evil.

'Yeah right. Getting stabbed with a sai shows she cares…'

Kento sat upright suddenly. "Wait. What if it isn't Catelyn I'm lusting after?" he said to himself. He then shook his head at his own foolish thought and jumped out of the window and went to his door. He had to see Dais. As he left his room, he heard the hushed voices of Dais and Anubis. He crept to the stairs quietly-a hard feat when you out-weigh the rest of your team.

"Dais, you know a few things-more than me and Kayura. Things that only a privileged son would know. We cannot afford to keep any secrets from them."

"I know Battletrex and Ka'Ishiaria are involved. They were always hidden away from us. I think they are Talpa's scholars." Dais closed his eyes, thinking. "I think I know where they all are. Catelyn's castle."

"Dais…you and I know that palace better than Kayura. Are you suggesting we attack her palace?" Anubis watched Dais' face for a reaction.

"No. I can't bring myself to do damage to her castle. It is one of the few standing memories left of her."

"You better, Dais." Both former Warlords turned to watch Kento move away from the steps. He had managed to creep down the steps without them knowing it! "Because I'm convinced your sister isn't in this war."

"What are you talking about, Hard Rock?" Dais asked, opening his eye.

"Your sister was up close and personal with me, man, and she didn't take me out. Her sai never went to my heart or throat. I don't think she's on board with Talpa wanting the Ancient Armors. Maybe she knows something that we don't."

Anubis nodded. "If that is true, then we are poor warriors for not realizing that Talpa would already have another armor in his possession."

"If it looks that way, she'll be killed. Again." Dais looked helpless suddenly.

"Listen, Dais. You are her brother. If that was my sister, I'd be trying to contact her without Talpa noticing. To see why she didn't take me out. And I think she gave us that scroll for a reason."

"To take out an Ancient Armor should Talpa get Sage." Dais nodded. "That means, she's trying to give us an edge."

"The Dynasty is going for Sage soon. That is what she wants us to know."

Kento and Dais agreed with Anubis.

In the Spirit World…

Sabre-Stryke returned to the small hut that he and Hariel shared. "Hariel, the Ancient Armor is really Rowen of the Strata's. Not Halo's."

"That would mean that Alecto and Rowen are decedents of the Sky People. The armor must be Starjen." Hariel looked over to the stairs, not surprised when Alecto appeared. "Alecto."

"I have to go to Rowen. If they try to bond Sage with Starjen, he could die and the armor will truly be lost."

"Alecto, you being there will be challenging. I wanted to stay with Alia."

"That was because she was your wife, Sabre-Stryke. We wouldn't have been mad at you for that," Hariel explained. "But I agree-being with your brother might make you stay."

"I thought we were a team," Alecto began. "It is because of me that Sage lost his sister. It is one of many things I regret doing. I must do this. I must help them. Maybe even put Strata on long enough to get Starjen. I'll risk it all for Rowen. I owe him. He's blood."

Hariel sighed. "Your logic sometimes bothers me. But you're right."

Back in the Dynasty, Cale checked every corner of his new room to see or feel any spell that might have been cast in order to endure his loyalty. He was mentally kicking himself; Sehkmet thought he was a traitor. He hated to injure his old friend so severely, but he had to get free reign in the castle.

Talpa was planning something big; especially if Gregoran was in his ranks. He and the assassin were once close friends until Anubis turned his back in the Dynasty-many of his former students, like Rikshiran and Ka' Ishiaria, stopped training with him. In fear that they were be branded traitors.

He heard the rumors running amuck in the castle, and he wanted to see where Matriatrix was hiding the Ancient Armor that the new Warlords were excited about. The claim was that it belonged to Halo. He had to see for himself. Cale went to his door and slowly opened it. There were no guards there. He left his room, closing the door behind him and walked to the end of the hallway he was in and ran into four soldiers that were guarding the hall.

One turned to him and said, "Master Talpa says you cannot leave your hall without an escort."

Cale nodded, not wanting to arouse suspicion, and said, "Oh…Well I was heading to the courtyard." Cale walked on, and felt two of the soldiers follow him. He sighed mentally…his plan wasn't going to be smooth after all…

More Japanese translations:

Shimatta- similar to damn it

Etou- Umm…

Ningenkai-our world

Kuso- shit