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 and I am using it. This is mine and cannot be used without permission.

Chapter 7

Dais paced outside distractedly, impatiently waiting on Kento and Cye. He was nervous and for good reason. Catelyn had been bait for him. From what Cye relayed to them, she had been outnumbered. His sister was a decent fighter, but would have been out of a fight fast if she was outnumbered. He was convinced now that Leigha-Shae was the assassin that took out the rest of his family. There was no love lost for his elder brothers, Savron and Hariel. But his younger sibs, Lai and Catelyn, mattered. And if he was right…Leigha-Sahe was responsible for his lost vision.

Dais' thoughts were so deep, he never felt the gentle hand on his shoulder until it squeezed in sympathy. He threw the arm off of him and turned to strike. When he saw it was Kayura, his fist was instantly lowered. "Gomen."

Kayura took one of his hands. "I have to talk to you and Sage. After we fix Catelyn."

"Why?" Dais watched the last of the Ancient One's clan stare back at him with such hesitation.

"I'll explain when we have a private moment." Kayura saw Kento break through the trees, cradling Catelyn in his arms. When they got closer, Kayura saw a trickle of blood at one corner of Catelyn's mouth. "Kento-?" she started but Kento ran passed her. Hard Rock went inside, going by Dais as if he wasn't there. Both former Warlords ran in after him.

Kento lay Catelyn down gently in front of the fireplace. He then sat her up, cradling her upper half against him. "Catelyn has internal bleeding. Started up a few minutes ago."

Kayura kneeled next to the injured girl. "This is going to be a big job, Sage! Rowen! I need you!" She heard steps on the porch and turned to see Cye in the open doorway. "Cye, I need you too!"

Cye, who was now in sub-armor, nodded and came into the living room. Mia raced from the den into the living room, a first aid kit in tow.

Rowen, Sage and Ryo were all upstairs and they raced down when they heard Kayura call. However, only Sage stayed at the staircase when the other two rushed over to Kayura; Rowen on her left, Cye on her right. Ryo was by the doorway, just in case.

"Dais, take over for Kento. If we lay her down, she'll choke on her own blood." Kayura watched as the two warriors carefully traded places. Kento stood on the other side of the doorway, to back Ryo up. His eyes were on Catelyn. The look in those eyes caught Ryo attention.

Sage made his over to the couch but moved no further. "Why is she here?"

"Kento and Cye happened upon an ambush meant for Dais," Kayura explained. Trying to remain calm. "Cye did relay what happened. The four of us can heal her without truly draining any of us."

"Why should we? It's either a set up or she'll be back with an army to take us out!" He folded his arms in defiance.

"She's my sister!" Dais interjected.

"And both of you are Talpa's kids!" There was a keen anger in Sage's calm tone.

"If this was me, would you look at me with such contempt in your eyes, Halo? Do you think she's only here to destroy us? Because if you truly think so, then Hard Rock and Torrent should be dead by now. And they aren't so that alone should tell you something."

"Yeah, it tells me that if you former Warlords had done your job, we wouldn't be in this mess." Sage meant every word.

"Fine then! Don't help!"

Kayura closed her eyes, as did Dais, Rowen and Cye. The room was bathed in a multi-colored light, shifting every several seconds. Catelyn was being healed as the light show centered on the unconscious girl.

Looking around, Sage of the Halo realized that everyone had their eyes closed, even Mia. Everyone but him was focused on healing Catelyn.

He then was propelled forward into a forest-one from his childhood. It was darker than he remembered but that was nothing compared to who was there to greet him.

A tall girl with long brown-black pigtails stood several yards away, wearing a torn red and gray school uniform. There were bruises on her bared skin, showing the battles she endured. "Seiji…"

"Sis!" He took several steps forward but she backed up, waving him off.

"Seiji…it is time to stop looking for me. I am gone now. You are now the only one that can save this world. Catelyn must die in order to weaken Talpa. It will mean that Dais must lose her again. But she would be free of Talpa's interference for all time."

"But why must he? Can't she be saved?" Sage asked her.

"Killing her would mean peace to her soul-"

"SAGE!"

Sage Date snapped open his grey eyes, startled that he had gone to sleep. The again, the ghost of his sister talked to him only when he was sleeping. "Wha-?"

"You okay?" Rowen asked him. It alarmed him that upon the end of the healing session for Catelyn, Sage had fallen unconscious. It took several minutes before the Bearer of Halo came to.

"Yeah…" Sage saw that Catelyn was no where in sight. "Where is Catelyn?"

"In my room, resting," Mia answered.

Sage went straight to the door and wrenched it open. "Then I'm not staying. I'll be at the cabin." Then he was gone, giving no one a chance to stop him.

"Ro, what is going on with him!" cried Ryo.

"I wish I knew," Rowen told him, not wanting to spill Sage's secret.

"You're lying, Strata." Anubis appeared at the top of the steps. He slowly made his way down, telling them all the following, "Strata and Halo are keeping a secret from the rest of you. I had remained silent in hopes of them telling you what they knew. I know now that it will not happen." Anubis reached the bottom step and made his way to Dais. "Halo is jealous of you, Dais. Of you and your sister."

"I don't understand why-," Dais began but Anubis cut him off.

"Halo has been robbed of his twin these last seven years."

Cale made it back to his room just as the soldiers were looking for him there. He acted as if he'd been there the whole time when one of the soldiers said to him, "Master Talpa wishes to see you."

He nodded and stood from his bed.

"Mother…we may have a problem." Leigha-Shae whispered. She had found her mother in her spell room and wanted to speak to her privately.

Matriatrix looked up from an old volume of spells. "What problem, dear?"

"Talpa is aware of a traitor in his group of Warlords. It may not take him long to discover it's us." Leigha-Shae rubbed her hands nervously.

"Do not fret, my daughter." Matriatrix stepped away from her book to hug the multi-color haired woman. "I can easily pick another to be the traitor. By the time Talpa learns the truth, we would have taken over."

"Can we pin all this on Alia?" asked Leigha-Shae.

Her mother chuckled. "So this will finally end the feud between you two?"

Leigha-Shae nodded. "I hate that succubus. She was to be mine and mine only but she instead chose Sabre-Stryke. That…that man had no right to take what was mine! So if I can't have her, no one can!"

Matriatrix tsk her. "Sabre-Stryke is dead, dear."

"And I know she is touching Catelyn, despite the fact that the girl is a virgin. There are rumors. Rumors we can use to expose her."

And her mother nodded, understanding the need for her daughter to have her revenge.

Everyone looked at Rowen, shocked that such a thing was kept from them all. Rowen, looked as if he just got caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. "It wasn't my secret to tell," he finally said.

It was true. But no one wanted to admit such a thing to themselves. They looked expectantly at him. Nervously, Rowen Hashiba ran a hand through his hair. "Um…I guess you want to know how I know Sage and his twin."

"There is an easier way," Dais spoke up. He went to Rowen. "Just open your mind to me."

"Why?" asked Rowen.

"I am more than an 'illusion master'." Dais placed his hand on Rowen's shoulder. "I can show what memories you have. All or certain ones. Or I can twist them to something dark and sadistic."

"You are one scary former Warlord," Kento commented.

Dais just shrugged his shoulders. "Just close your eyes to me and open your mind. This isn't going to hurt you." He waited until Rowen complied before doing the same. With some effort on Dais' part, a window of sorts appeared above the two and the others present watched as Rowen's first memory of her and Sage came into focus.

Nine years ago…

"Umph!" Eight year old Rowen Hashiba was knocked to the ground by on the older kids. Another picked him up by the front of his school uniform shirt. "Let go!" he snapped, trying to pry loose the hand on his shirt.

"Oh look! The geek thinks he's tough," said the head bully, a teen known as Dikuo. The bully tossed Rowen up against the brick wall and held him there. "Time to die, Geek!"

"Hey!"

Dikuo and his gang turned to the other end of the alley, effectively dropping Rowen. At the other end were two more kids, walking toward them. When they came into view, Rowen made out a boy with blond hair pulled back from his face. The other was a girl with long dark brown hair pulled into pigtails. Both were pale-skinned, but truth to be told, the girl's skin was slightly darker. Dikuo spoke up. "I've got nothing with you Dates. Just leave."

"Can't do that, Dikuo." The blond smirked and he slipped off his backpack and handed it over to the girl. "Hold this." Sage stepped forward several steps.

Angry, Dikuo raced forward himself to punch Sage. The blond ducked and tackled the older boy to the ground. The other four members of the gang cheered on their leader.

The girl was able to sneak past the boys and ran to Rowen. She helped the blue-haired boy to his feet. "You okay?" Her voice was angelic and Rowen felt compelled to respond with a nod. "Then let's go."

His indigo eyes watched as the blond landed a solid kick to Dikuo's shoulder. "Who…who are you two?"

"I'm Katerina Date. But you can call me Katie. The blond is my twin, Seiji." She slipped Rowen's backpack on. "That eye looks bad. I better get you to our house. It's at the end of the street. You'll be safe there."

"What about your brother?" Rowen asked as he leaned against her, holding his ribs.

"He's the better war-um, fighter. He's got this." Katie placed and arm under the blue-haired boy's arm and began to walk him out of the alley.

"Who said you could leave?" There was a shove and Rowen's face hit the pavement. There was startled feminine cry of pain, followed by a crack of bone.

Rowen got to his hands and knees. He saw Katie holding her side, crying. "What the hell! She's a girl!" He got to his feet, and forgetting about his own injuries, he punched the nearest boy. Rowen then got punched back by another. It went on for several minutes. But a glancing temple blow sent Rowen flying into Sage, taking the blond down. After a brief struggle, two of the bully's gang each held the two eight-year-olds on their knees.

Dikuo grinned. "Looks like you bit off more than you could handle, geijan." The leader measured Sage up. "You Dates think you're all that. Now, I will be after I beat you!" He kicked Sage in the jaw, blood arcing from the blonde's mouth. Dikuo cocked his fists, ready to strike Sage again but a decent sized rock hit the side of the bully's face. "FUCK!" He looked over and Katie stood up, blood trickling from her nose. She had a bruise on her jaw and mini-tears in her school shirt. "Nadie dica que mi harmano e sun sato. A ti te van a lastimar…fatalmante."

"What she say!" Dikuo demanded.

Rowen chuckled. "You insulted her brother. You're so dead."

Katie rushed at them, her eyes golden red. She began to kick all of the bullies away from the two and then knocked them out with a series of kicks and punches that shocked Rowen because of the speed she delivered them. Afterward all the bullies were on the ground, unconscious, she heaved, her breath coming in and out of her mouth. It was almost…animal-like?

Sage, the blond, eased his hands upward in surrender. "Easy sis. It's over. You got them all. Calm down." His voice held a soothing tone, as to ease the tension that gripped her shoulders.

Katie closed her eyes and took several deep breathes. The blond boy moved closer to her carefully. He lightly placed a hand on her shoulder without fear. It seemed to Rowen that this had happened before. She opened her eyes gratefully, revealing the dark brown eyes. "I'm okay," she breathed.

Nodding, Sage went back to Rowen and helped him to his feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah." He eyed the twin wearily. "You two are the strangest set of twins I've ever met."

Katie looked horrified but Sage smirked. "Well, that's just us. You're the kid from America."

"Yeah. I'm Rowen Hashiba." The blue haired youth held out his hand.

Sage took the hand. "I'm Seiji but call me Sage. Do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Don't ever anger my sister."

Rowen nodded. "Then you two can call me Ro. And don't worry. After today, I know never to piss her off." The three youth left the bullies in the alley…

Dais pulled back a bit, stunned that the three of them would meet in such a violent way. "Why do I get the impression that for Katie, that was a rarity?"

"Katie was a crybaby normally. If you insulted me or Sage, she tended to get angry…and destructive."

"What was she like?" asked Kento. He never knew that there was a total opposite of Sage out there in the world. One that was very pretty and could handle herself if needed be. But his thoughts were going down a path he didn't seem to understand. Why did the sudden need to protect her rushed to his mind?

"She was a dual element. She was born with fire abilities, which I only saw once. She learned the powers of the light from Sage."

"So she can do all of Sage's things?" Cye asked.

"To a point." It was odd, talking about someone that vanished without a trace years ago. But to remember her, it brought such hope to his heart… "She's not a strong healer, like Sage. Healing major injuries tired her. She could summon lightning storms like him. But her fighting skills…she always seemed to be lagging in that department. Always several steps behind Sage and me."

"It didn't seem like that to me," Ryo said.

'So tired.'

Cale was trying his hardest to leave the Dynasty. But Talpa and Battletrex were plotting something for the Ronins to deal with. He understood that he had been branded a traitor. However, he was the only one able to stop the Dynasty now. There was no one left to save, no object left to steal, no towers to topple.

As he entered the throne room, he saw the smiled on the evil emperor's face. He then knew that what he did wasn't discovered yet.

The former Warlord of Corruption had one last mission to complete. Then he would be finished with this war…

The gentle wind.

It was the first thing that Alecto Hashiba was aware of. Standing on the edge of the forest, looking at the Ronin Manor in awe was a tall, thin boy of 17 years, wearing a royal blue school uniform, complete with a tie. His dark blue hair was shaven short, but a thin ponytail at the base of his neck remained, braided to the middle of his back.

The young man walked toward the house, nervous about seeing his younger brother again. But he wasn't willing the stay on the sidelines and allow he ningenkai to fall into Talpa's hands. The info he had wouldn't be welcomed. Hell, he expected his brother to kill him.

The door to the manor was thrown open. "SAGE!" cried a familiar voice as Rowen ran out to the steps. His eyes were in shock staring at his long-dead brother. Alecto stared at his little brother. Neither Hashiba made a move.

The others were also out on the porch, wondering why Rowen had stopped on the steps. What they saw shocked them. Near spit images of Rowen. One though was older. Anubis greeted the older Hashiba with a smile.

"Rowen…" Alecto said with a hint of emotion that was difficult to contain.

"Alecto…" An admired tone. Rowen made a mad dash to his older brother, grabbing Alecto into his arms and cried. He was suddenly five-years-old again, his older brother watching over him. "Alecto!" he cried.

"Oh nii-chan…" Alecto had tears spill from his eyes. "I've missed you…"

The others took their time to the obvious brothers, giving the two a chance to know that it was real. Rowen proudly placed an arm around Sage, who had mysteriously returned for this. Ro knew not to question Sage about his sudden reappearance. "Sage…this is Alecto, my older brother. Alecto, this is Sage, my best friend."

Alecto nodded to the blond. He was grateful that his little brother had someone that could look after him. As soon as all the intros were made, Alecto's expression grew serious. "I don't know how much time I have, but I need to talk to you all. What I have to say isn't going to be pleasant." Everyone went back to the house, wondering what was going on.

Once everyone was settled inside, Anubis nodded at the older boy. "Can Hariel and Sabre-Stryke sustain us?"

"For the short term. So I won't stay long." Alecto took a deep breath and let it slowly.

"Why'd you leave me?" Rowen asked, cutting to the chase, sorta speak. "Why didn't you try to see me?"

Alecto cringed. The pain of the child was so evident in Rowen's voice. He cleared his throat. "Talpa threatened your life, Ro. I had Strata. I knew I couldn't just hand the armor over to him. I made a deal to keep you safe. Once it was agreed on, I went with Anubis. And for the longest time, I thought you were safe." He looked over at Sage.

"Safe! Without you!" Rowen gave a sarcastic laugh. "Before I met Sage, I didn't understand why you disappeared on me-"

"You do mean Sage and Katie, don't you?" Alecto asked.

Sage's eyes narrowed. He only returned because he swore he sensed his twin back at the house but then he met Rowen's dead brother and now this dead brother was saying he knew something about Katie. His eyes went dangerously narrow. "How do you know about my twin?"

"Because she is still alive and in the Dynasty," Alecto answered.

"How long?" came Sage's quiet voice.

"The last six and a half years," Alecto replied sadly.

"How do you know that?" Cye asked him.

"Because…I'm the one who took her there."

Sage's eyes seethed with anger as he let out an agonizing cry of anguish. He jumped Alecto without warning and with a single punch, knocked Rowen's older brother down. Now on top of him, all of Sage's anger unleashed itself as he rained punches on Alecto. "You stole my sister!" he cried. "You took her from me!"

"Stop! Seiji…stop!" Alecto tried miserably to protect himself but Sage had strong punches and he couldn't stop them all.

Kento raced over to them and hauled Sage off of Alecto, but the Warrior of Light was still swinging his arms, looking to strike someone. He'd never seen such a sight from Sage in all the time he knew him and seeing him in such a way…Dais and Cye ran over to help him still Sage and calm him.

Rowen watched as Alecto stood up, wiping the corner of his mouth. "How could you do that to him-to us!" he cried. Rowen of the Strata looked ready to continue the beat down Sage began. "How could you hand her over to that monster?"

"Ro! Calm down! Don't you know she sacrificed herself for you two!" yelled Alecto, effectively stilling the struggling Sage.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Rowen of his brother.

"Talpa was after Sage the day she vanished! My orders were to bring Sage to him-alive preferably. Do you two remember that day? At your school?"

"Wait. You attacked them at their school?" asked Ryo. "When?"

"Nearly seven years ago," Alecto answered. "See, Talpa found out that Sage had an armor. He was being spied on for weeks before I made my move." He glared at Sage as the blond warrior stared back. "Sage told her to run but she hid instead. When I had defeated him-without him having his armor orb, I was questioning whether or not Talpa was even level. Ro tried to help but I had no choice but to knock him out too."

Rowen blinked, remembering that day. But he and Sage knew they weren't a match for the guy in the Strata armor (which Rowen learned later) but they tried anyway. Both failed. "I remember. I remember a shadow that stood behind you too before I passed out."

Sage thought long and hard and realized he remembered too. "I remember a voice telling you…you had the wrong sibling." His eyes welled up with tears. "No…she wouldn't have…"

"She did. She donned your armor, Sage. She nearly beat me."

"And me when I intervened," Anubis cut in. "Your sister was being the warrior that Talpa wanted."

Kayura cleared her thought. "I remember. I had to knock her out, which wasn't easy."

"When Talpa found out that she wasn't the true owner of Halo, he was angry. She sent the armor orb back to you. But I convinced him that you would follow us just to get her back."

"I would have," said Sage. "If I knew how to get to the Dynasty then."

"We still don't know all the details, Alecto," Kayura said quietly. "Perhaps you should start at the beginning."

Alia pushed her final spell book into her bag quickly, taking one last look at her quarters. With both the Dynasty and Mayan Princesses free of the spell, she felt now that she'd be safer in the ningenkai. She turned to the door to leave.

"Going somewhere, Alia?"

The succubus turned slowly, knowing the owner of he voice. "Leigha-Shae."

"None other." Leigha-Shae was flipping a blade between her fingers. "I see you're deserting the Dynasty."

"My place is with Princess Catelyn. And she's in the ningenkai."

"Aren't you going to bring her back?" asked the dark sorceress.

Alia shrugged her shoulders. "That would be her decision. Besides, I didn't sign up to die for a princess that already died once."

"I know. No one did." Leigha-Shae tossed her pink/orange/yellow hair over her shoulder. "But alas, she's dead."

"You don't sound so broken up over it," Alia commented.

"She was in the way…" Leigh-Shae took a step forward. "Just like you're in the way."

That lone statement has many meaning, especially for Alia. Leigha-Shae had some foreseeing powers and probably knew that Alia had been part of the conspiracy that nearly took down the Dynasty a few years back, even though there was no evidence left behind.

"The final battle is coming up." Alia felt the door handle dig into her back. She knew Leigha-Shae was up to something. She feared she would soon learn what it was.

"I know. At the moment, Princess Catelyn lives. But when that battle is over, my mother and I will be ruling."

"And Master Talpa?" Alia asked.

"He will be dealt with. Too bad you won't see that to its end…"