Heart Chapter 6, a ronin warriors fanfic

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. This is mine and cannot be used without permission.

Chapter 6

Inside of Catelyn…

Princess Catelyn found herself back in the void, heading back for the wall with a door. She knew she had to get in there-she never had any part of her soul blocked from her. She wanted her answers and she was going to get them.

Catelyn walked up to Kenishen, and when he opened his mouth to speak, she punched him in the face, right at his nose, like Dais had taught her. The demon slumped down, unconscious. Determined to know what was being hidden within her, she went to the door and blew it off the hinges with a kick. What she found startled her. "Who…who are you!"

The girl trapped within the green goo opened her eyes and lift her head slowly. Catelyn gasped as she seen the girl's eyes. They had the same haunted eyes. "I'm…I'm Katie. Katie Date." Her voice was a thread of sound. Being locked away had stolen most of her strength. The green goo wasn't helping any.

Catelyn ran up to the girl. "That's not possible! My family and the Dates have been at war for centuries!" she cried. "I'll admit I don't know why but you can't be here! You mustn't be here!"

"Your father has committed the ultimate sin-this is my body, my armor that you're using." Katie's voice was faint with weakness. "Don't you know you died?"

"You're lying!" Catelyn slapped Katie's face. "He wouldn't do that!" Please don't let it be true, she had thought to herself.

Katie forced her head back up. "Try you shadow necromancer powers on me. As your soul lights up, your body should have no problem with you sucking in your powers," she dared.

"You want to see it! You got it!" Fuming, Catelyn closed her eyes. Her spirit glowed a bright red as she focused on her powers.

And waited…

When it was obvious that nothing was going to happen, she opened her eyes. "This doesn't mean this is your body!" she said defiantly, as if trying to convince herself.

"Free me then. I'll show you," Katie challenged.

Catelyn touched the green goo that trapped Katie and it evaporated, allowing the small girl to fall forward. Catelyn caught her and helped her to a wall to prop her up.

"Arigato."

"So…do I trust a Date to tell me the truth?"

"I'm not going to comment because I know your soul, princess. You're not nearly as evil as you want others to believe." A small smile came to Katie's face. She kept her eyes open and focused on the other girl. Her soul brightened to a golden hue, her kanji flaring brightly.

Heart…

Suddenly, waves of power came toward her, making her blindly-lit.

"Enough!" came Catelyn's voice and the light show ended. She faced the young girl, shame in her eyes. "He defied the moral laws of life and death. My own father…I thought he loved me…" Tears sprang to her eyes and spilled over. Catelyn went to her knees.

Katie sat next to the weeping Catelyn, the small 10-year-old girl that had learned the most horrible truth. She stared back at Kenishen, to make sure he was still out cold. She wasn't sure how to fix the whole situation. She had no idea how the young girl managed to get passed such a demon when she couldn't, not in her three years of being his captive. Well, except that one time…The girl freed her from the goo that held her powers separate from her spirit. Now they were coming back to her.

Catelyn lift her head up, her eyes red from crying. "What do I do now?" she said in a small voice. "If I leave your body, he'll know. You'll be destroyed. And you don't deserve that."

"I thank you for your worry but I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"My brother , Hariel, use to say the same thing. Now he's gone…" Catelyn looked about her in sadness. "I just don't understand…"

"I'm sure we'll figure something out," Katie replied calmly.

"No, not that." The small princess pushed back some of her white hair. "Why my father would keep in his line the person that assassinated me?"

"You were assassinated? Do…do you know who it was?" Katie asked Catelyn.

"As a matter of fact…I do…" Catelyn stared at Katie, her eyes going wide as she gave Katie access to her memories…and that of her brother Dais' after she died…

There was blood everywhere…and ten-year-old Princess Catelyn walked into the room, not knowing that her entire team of servants had been murdered. Until she saw the heads. Bodiless heads scattered all around the large room…She screamed. She screamed in fear and terror. Her screams were heard throughout the castle.

Four relaxed Warlords were by the streams near the palace when they heard the cries. "Catelyn!" cried Dais as he changed into his sub armor. Anubis, Sehkmet and Cale did not hesitate to follow-after all, it had been nearly 6 months since the death of Prince Lai.

Meanwhile, a shadow fell onto Catelyn as she walked deeper into the room, her stomach demanding to be emptied. She didn't though-she kept looking for some clue as to what happened. A small sound came from behind her, and as she turned, a knife came into view and she screamed as pain filled all of her senses…and red clouded her vision…her scream became gurgled…and as she fell back onto the floor, she caught the face of the person who had stabbed her. The shadow loomed over her as she tried to call out, but blood choked her.

Seconds later…

"Princess!" cried Anubis. He reached the child first. He kneeled down. "By the gods, who did this!"

Catelyn tried to tell him, but coughed more blood.

Cale tapped Sehkmet. "We'll get Master Talpa and the healers!" They were gone, leaving Dais to sit next to his sister. He was fearful for her. "Catelyn?"

"D-Dais…"she whispered. "Cold…"

"Take her," said Anubis. "I'll get a blanket." The Warlord of Cruelty handed the girl to Dais and went off to find a blanket.

"I-I'm scared," she whispered to Dais.

"Don't be. You'll be okay, sis. Anubis and I will take care of you." Catelyn shivered as she coughed up more blood. "Don't leave me here alone, Catelyn. You mustn't!" Dais cried.

"Is…is the Ill-u-sions…Master…afraid of…loneliness?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," he admitted to her. "You are the only family I have left."

"Anubis is…family, too. You'll…never be alone…"

Gratefully, Anubis returned and draped a blanket onto the girl. "Catelyn, please hold on."

"Keep…Dais safe…Anubis. Please?" Catelyn asked.

"I will, little one," Anubis promised.

Catelyn looked to her brother and saw the tears fall from his eye. "I…love you…onii-chan." She then gasped, more blood leaving her mouth…and her head fell back, her last breath taken.

"NOOOOOO!" screamed Dais shaking her fiercely.

She never woke up.

"NOOO! I WILL FIND YOU, ASSASSIN! THIS I VOW!" he screamed. "YOU WILL DIE BY MY HANDS!"

Katie stood up from where she had been sitting. "She's the one trying to kill you again!"

"How do you know?" Catelyn asked her.

"DO you not feel the pain this body is in?" Katie asked. "I think…I think we're bleeding out…"

Kento stood outside on the porch, looking out at the night sky. He had the ribbon in his hands. He fingered the duplicated kanji over and over again. He was deep in thought, and it was about Catelyn.

He was conflicted. Catelyn was an enemy, Talpa's kid. But Dais was too. If Dais became a good guy, couldn't she? She battled him, but when it came down to a death blow, she only injured him more. He knew she was holding back. He wanted to know why.

Then, to confuse him more, she left him a scroll on her own armor. He suspected that it was her. But the ribbon fascinated him the most. The kanji alone shocked him. Heart. How could anyone in the Dynasty have such an important kanji like that? Then the message for him had warmed his heart.

Cye stepped out onto the porch, staring at Kento. He knew his best friend well. Kento's mind was on girls again. And it was focused on one girl in particular. He was beginning to think Kento was going to give up. But he should have known better. Not his best friend. "Um…Kento?"

Kento shook his head to clear it. "Yeah Cye?"

Cye braced himself against the porch railing. "You like Catelyn," he said quietly. "But I think it's going beyond that now…"

His eyes were wide with shock. Kento started to say something but stopped. Waiting a few seconds, he opened his mouth a second time, only to close it again. He sighed in defeat. No way he could lie to Cye. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to me." Cye took a few steps toward Kento. "And after I read the message on that ribbon." He saw Kento flush in response. "You do realize that she gutted you."

"I know," he said, almost subdued.

"So is it because she can hold her own against you? That she isn't a girly-girl afraid of your strength?" Cye pressed. Cye knew that had been the main issue with Kento's other girlfriends.

"That and more, Cye." His finger never stopped moving over the ribbon. It was something Cye noticed as well.

"And Dais is her brother, don't forget that. You don't like him."

"So?"

"She's the enemy!" Cye hissed. Was Kento really this dense?

"And it's not her fault that Talpa is their sperm donor! Dais is a decent guy!" Kento interjected. Then he paused. "I can't believe I just said that."

Cye shook his head. "I'm not sure if you knew this but your kanji glowed when you two battled. I know a little about your kanji of justice. It lights up when your armor encounters an injustice."

"I felt it." Kento sat on the steps and Cye sat next to him. "I think she's trying to help us."

"How? By giving us the ability to destroy her armor?" Cye asked, being doubtful.

"Yeah. She knows something we don't. And she can't come out and say it because she's being watched."

"Are you looking for a reason not to consider her an enemy?" Cye asked. He knew that if Kento's mind is on a girl, all he can see is the good in her. Never mind that this girl was the Dynasty Princess. All he got as a response was Kento shrugging his shoulders.

A roar got their attention. Both boys stood at the bottom of the steps. Out at the forest edge was a pair of topaz-colored eyes. Slowly, the pair of eyes moved forward to reveal a pale blue lioness. The feline carefully made its way to the boys. Catching their eyes, the lioness beckoned them to follow her. She did it several times.

"I think we should follow her," Kento whispered.

"Why? Because she belongs to Catelyn?" Cye asked, being sarcastic.

"Exactly." Kento went to the cat without question.

Cye sighed, knowing that going was inviting trouble. But he followed his best friend. Best friends watched each other's backs, being each other's confidant. And he wasn't going to tell anyone that Kento was in love with Catelyn. That wouldn't end well.

Back in the Dynasty, Cale noted the bustling of activity going on at the secondary palace. As he made his way to the meeting with Battletrex, he noted where everyone was heading. He was then bumped into by none other than Leigha-Shae!

Matriatrix's daughter wore a leather body suit with thigh-high boots and a red collar. Her multi-colored hair was pulled into a ponytail. She glared at Cale with seething hatred, as if she knew all his secrets. "Careful, Cale. You could wind up a victim of circumstance." The loathing in her voice was pliable.

"And you, child, need to curb your tongue." His stinging response was met with a 'humph' and he walked on, ignoring the spoiled woman.

But he took her warning to heart anyway.

Sapphire slowed down as she, Kento, and Cye neared the temporary campsite of the New Warlords. The lioness crouched down low to the ground and crawled to the bushes. She glanced back and saw the two Ronins do the same. The pale blue animal slowly poked her head through the bushes, enough for her to see but so not to alert anyone. Cye was on the feline's left and Kento was on her right.

The campfire had been bright and hungry as more logs were thrown on it. Several long logs were strategically placed around it, as if guarding the site. There were a few sleeping bags rolled up against one of the longer logs. There were a few people wondering around, three of them in nasty-looking armor. One looked like an armadillo's skin, and the guy wearing it looked pass his expiration date. Ice blue eyes were sunken in, his skin looking stretched over his skull-

'Those assholes!' Kento's biting statement came over the private mental pathway Cye had with Kento. 'I'm going to massacre them. That's a promise.' The bearer of the Torrent armor followed his friend's line of vision to something that would haunt him for decades to come.

Princess Catelyn was hanging from a thick tree branch by a rope with her arms over her head, feet never touching the ground. Her sub-armor, which had to have been her makeshift one, was nearly gone. What little remained hung from her in bloody, twisted metal. Her braid was nearly undone, bits of it hung in her face with dried blood. Her one knee looked twisted as blood still dripped from it. Bruises marred her skin, some very dark. Neither of them knew what was worse-the fact that nearly all the blood was dry or that the slight movement of her breasts and stomach told what little time she had left.

It was also obvious that it was no where near a fair fight on her end, but at least Dais' sister held her own at some point, for a few of the others looked like they were almost handed their own asses. Kento scanned the campsite for the leader, just to see who he was up against.

"Leigha-Shae." That came from the armadillo-looking man. As the daughter of the dreaded Matriatrix came into view, the others stood. "If Talpa discovers our deceit, we will suffer more than death."

The dominatrix-wearing warrior waved him off without worry. "Battletrex, this is all part of my master plan to capture Dais and Kayura."

"The ends doesn't justify the means," he commented. "Talpa holds her in high regard. There was no reason to injure her so."

"She still lives." Leigha-Shae went over to the unconscious girl and nudged her head. The girl hanging there moaned softly. "And Dais would never allow his sister to die."

'They are monsters,' Kento thought to Cye. 'She's not good in long fights.'

'Kento, going up against them is suicide,' Cye thought to his best friend. 'You saw what that Leigha-Shae did to Sage and Ro.' On that thought was what Kento said to him about her. 'How did he know that about her?'

'We don't have a choice. Catelyn will die if we don't help!' Kento felt the kanji of Justice burning on his forehead. The entire scenario felt wrong in his soul. As connected as he was to Cye, Kento of Hard Rock felt something pull at his soul.

Sapphire crept away from the two Ronins slowly and moved several yards away, as to not alert Talpa's forces. The blue lioness found an open spot and roared into the night sky, and golden-blue flames imploded from the animal. A golden metal sheen covered the lioness, snuffing out the blue flames. The cat's armor glistened in the moonlight, the carved kanji of Heart on its breastplate. There were other drawing on the armor, but no one had the time to interpret the pictographs. The lioness charged the camp, getting the attention of Leigh-Shae, Battletrex, Ka'Ishiaria Druxton and Angelus. Carefully avoided blasts from the seasoned warriors, the lioness ripped a blade away from Angelus and tossed it by the mouth to the rope that kept Catelyn dangling from the tree. The sharp blade found its mark, and the animal protector of the Dynasty Princess raced over to catch the falling girl before she had hit the ground.

Realizing the danger it was in, Sapphire turned around and backed up toward the bush the Ronins were hiding in. The animal watched all of the warriors present deliberately step toward her, menace and anger in their eyes.

"Why don't you be a good kitty and leave your mistress here with us?" Ka'Ishiaria cooed.

Sapphire bared her teeth, growling.

Druxton took a step toward the lioness.

"You're not getting Catelyn!" cried Kento as he and Cye ran over to flank Sapphire, one on each side decked out in full armor.

"You'll have to get passed us first!" Cye added. In thought, Cye reached out to the others, 'Guys we need you! Kento and I stumbled on a trap meant for Dais. Catelyn's badly hurt. We're going to hold them off.' The bearer of Torrent aimed his trident at the Warlords.

Leigha-Shae chuckled, as if the entire scenario was laughable. "So the weakest and strongest Ronins think they can take us on?" She slid from her belt twin jitte, the blades a dark metallic color. "I'd like to see you two try."

"Crescent Ring Shot!" A brightly lit gold ring flew between Kento and Cye, broke into four complete but smaller rings and struck all of the Warlords but Leigha-Shae. The others were thrown back several feet, their weapons and armors showing sun damage, as if they had been exposed to the sun itself. In the middle of the night, no less.

Kento and Cye turned their heads slightly and was greeted with a fully healed Princess Catelyn, minus her makeshift armor. She stood between then, another ring in one hand and the other caught the second ring as it returned to its owner. "Your call, Leigha-Shae. I'm ready for round two. Luring me to the courtyard for an ambush was smart but it lacked follow-thru."

Leigha-Shae was furious. Her eyes flashed red. "You're going to die slowly, princess This I vow." She backed away slowly, eyes boring into the Dynasty Princess.

Catelyn never backed down. She even took a step forward in aggression, just to spite Matriatrix's daughter. Leigha-Shae backed-peddled even more and she raised her arms to the sky. She muttled a few words and they were gone. All of the Warlords were gone, leaving behind two stunned Ronin Warriors.

"I don't believe it," replied Cye.

"Why did you help us?" Kento asked, looking at Catelyn.

"Because Leigha-Shae is no joke. The others, you two could handle. Her…not even on your best day." Catelyn wobbled on her feet. Both warriors steadied her. "I…I need to sit." All around her, there was a shift in her appearance, and her flawless skin changed back to her damaged body. All of the cuts, bruises and injuries reappeared. Her left knee was indeed dislocated. Deep, claw-like gashes ran dry-blooded on her right side. There were tears in her clothes and her left hand looked broken. She leaned more into them, her strength waning.

"You conned them to save us," Cye admonished.

Kento grinned. "You really are Dais' sister."

Catelyn looked up at Kento, and smiled, revealing a split lip. "And a dead one if I can't get to a healer."

His mind made up, Kento didn't hesitate to put away his nagata. He lifted her into his arms carefully. "Cye, be my lookout. Tell the others we're on our way back, with her." He didn't wait for a response. He ran back toward the house, trying his best not to jar her too much.

At Yulie's home just a few miles away from the Koji Manor, Yulie lay in his bed, feeling weak from some odd reason. He had been out in the morning playing, the morning air chilly to his exposed skin. The young lad that had been protected by the Ronin Warriors in the first war with Talpa and the Dynasty wanted to visit the warriors but he had been warned to stay away, for his own protection.

He didn't like that.

But he developed a fever just a short time ago and was ordered to bed. So he was playing his Game Boy in his bed, waiting until he could leave it.

He heard his parents downstairs talking. And because of the heating vent in his room, their words were clear.

They were wondering how he developed a fever so quickly.

And for that matter, Yulie wanted to know too.

Cale found the room he had been looking for-Matriatrix's spell room. It took some doing to lose his goon squad, for every time he wanted to explore, he had a group with him. He knew it was Talpa's way to ensure that he was legit.

He was appalled by his own behavior.

Sehkmet was going to kick his ass when he got free.

He slipped into the room quickly and quietly. The last thing he needed was for someone to be in that room. He did a quick scan of the room and he located what he was looking for-the Ancient Armor that the old witch found.

He ran to it, and placed an armored hand on the sphere that protected the lapis-lazuli colored crystal-looking orb. He knew right away that it wasn't Halo's Ancient Armor. Talpa never knew that he knew something of the Ancient Armors. He knew that they were colored according to who they were meant for. Anyone with decent eye sight could clearly see that the orb belonged to Strata. "You need to go to the true Ronin." He knew that despite her age, Matriatrix would have known that Sage wasn't its owner.

Which meant a double-cross was coming from her end.

Cale chuckled. 'Talpa is about to get another taste of betrayal.' Cale's hand began to glow black, with blue electrical currents weaving in the glow. "By the power of the Forbidden One, return this armor to its correct owner."

The sphere pulsed at the sudden rush of power. Then it vanished, leaving Cale alone in the ever-present evil magic. He smiled, for he knew that whatever the witch's plan was, it involved capturing Sage of the Halo.

The Bearer of the Jackal Armor quickly vanished himself, not wanting to be caught.

Not just yet.

"Where is my daughter!" Talpa demanded. He was seated on the throne that was meant for the Dynasty Princess. He looked at all of his Warlords present. But his eyes lingered on Leigha-Shae a few seconds longer than the others.

"Master Talpa, it is rumored that the Ronin Warriors had ambushed her and she is their prisoner," said Gregoran, with a hint of sadness. "If this is true, I will bring her back myself my lord."

"I will take you up on that offer, Gregoran. I want to know why my daughter did not have any protection in the ningenkai!" He was an angry Emperor.

"Lord Talpa, if I may?" Alia stepped forward with a piece of paper. "This was sent to the princess. Her servants handed it to me when she did not return." Alia handed it off to Talpa.

He scanned the paper and fury marked his features. "It seems that I have traitor among you."

"It must be Cale, my lord," Angelus piped in.

"It would be too obvious," said Alia. "Our focus must be retrieving our beloved princess."

"Alia is correct. My daughter must be brought back here. Angelus, ready my army. Alia, Treyon, Vaeyon, Kornic and Rikshiran, you will lead this army. Battletrex, I need a battle plan. One that will be followed to the letter. I want maximum damage to the meager forces of the Ronin Warriors, capture Sage of the Halo, rescue my daughter and if possible, destroy Dais. Is that understood!"

"Yes, Lord Talpa!" all of his Warlords present said in unison.

Leigha-Shae stole a glance at Alia. The succubus was going to be a problem. Which meant someone else had to die by her blade. It would be one she would enjoy doing. But she had to report to her mother first.

Talpa could be on to them. All thanks to a succubus.