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.
Second Note: I am soo sorry for the long wait. I was able to get to a comp with USB drivers so I can download the last of the finished chapters. I was working on chapter 14 and I have that half way done. Due to my love for Young Justice, I will slowly work to get the remaining chapters done but there will be long updates.
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 12
Kento glanced back at Katie. She was expending loads of energy as she tried to heal those sun spots on Sage's armor. He knew she was a Date (he felt it in his bones), and if Sage was any indication, she would be just as strong. Just as stubborn. Just as bright as the Phoenix' flames. Not liking where his thoughts were taking him, he turned to the mouth of the cave. He watched the outside carefully. He was the only one able to protect them all. Kento sighed. This was not his week.
He heard the distant fighting, as if the fight was drawing closer to them. He wanted to go out there and lend a hand-but he was the only thing standing in the way of Matriatrix's total victory. He heard a soft moan and he turned around.
Katie leaned up against the wall behind her, the healing glow gone. She was very pale, almost sick-looking. The healing glow was still around Sage, but it was weak. She managed to open her eyes and he saw how tired and exhausted she was.
Kento went to her quickly. "You okay?" he asked, concerned.
"I pushed his natural healing powers to continue. It was too much for me. I'm so tired, Kento." She looked over at her sais, which she lay aside to try and heal her brother.
Kento immediately put the sais into her small hands. "Just rest. I got your back." He stood up and turned to the mouth of the cave. "Ah, fuck!" he cried.
Seven Dynasty soldiers seemed to be heading for the cave, as if they just spotted him. Kento stood at the mouth of the cave, waited impatiently to see if they did spot him.
Yep.
They did.
"Fuck me," he said quietly as he stepped out of the cave. He took one glance back and saw that Katie had her eyes closed. So he bravely stepped further away from the cave to engage the soldiers. The soldiers ran in earnest to him and the fight began. It was an easy fight for Kento-he was already pissed off so the seven went down in less than three minutes.
Then he heard the patter of a cat's paws. Kento looked to his left and White Blaze rode at him hard, with Cale on his back. The large cat stopped just a few feet from him, heaving as Cale quickly slid off of him. "Cale?"
"Kento!?" he asked almost frantically.
Kento had to jog up to him as he ran to the cave. "Wait!" He caught up to him and grabbed his arm. When he turned his head to see him, he said, "Catelyn's dead."
"Good." Cale saw the look in his eyes. He didn't care at the moment. He didn't mean it like he was happy she was gone. Dais wouldn't be. But he'd morn later. Cale stopped in her tracks fast when he saw Katie on her feet, sais hooked through the belt loops on torn jeans. "Who are you!?" he asked suddenly. "Wait-are you Sage's twin!?"
Katie looked at the newcomer and saw Cale's eyes. Despite being tired, Katie smiled. But before she could answer, the cave was rocked with some sort of blast and pebbles rained on them all. "Um, how about I get back to you on that, 'kay?"
"I don't think so," Cale said suspiciously, pulling out his sword slowly, as if that would be his only warning. But before he could do anything else, the cave rocked again with more force, followed by several grunts. Everyone was shaken a bit. "We'll talk…later." It was a warning to the new girl.
The cave jerked a third time and chunks of rock fell from the ceiling. Katie stepped around Sage's unconscious form and raised an arm up, hand in a fist. It glowed gold and a shield came over them as the rocks rained down. "I think we better get out of here. White Blaze, come!" Katie waited for the cat to move over and he kneeled the front half of his body down and Katie lifted Sage awkwardly onto his back. Cale went over and helped her. He noted that the unknown girl had some healing skill because Sage looked as if he had some healing. But several sun-spots remained. It was important to get him back home, to be tended to.
Kento raced out and met the first soldier with anger. He dispatched the soldier quickly, and the next two as he fought a path to Ryo and the others. Cale came out with White Blaze as they raced behind Kento.
"Any last words or requests?" Matriatrix asked.
"Yeah, how about you drop dead!" said Rowen.
"You first, Ronin."
"Empress!" cried Angelus. He pointed at someone that was behind him.
Cale leaped at Angelus and with one solid punch, knocked out Angelus. White Blaze roared and leaped down toward the others, Sage's body draped over his back. As the others ran to check on Sage, Kento leaped down as well, Cale right behind him.
"Cale, you fuckin' asshole! Wait until I get my hands on you!" cried Sehkmet and Kento had to hold him back.
"How touching!" said Leigha-Shae with fake kindness. "So Cale…you never joined us in the first place. How shrewd."
"You'll get yours soon enough, bitch!" cried Cale.
Leigha-Shae looked confused.
Until she caught the gleam of a blade above Matriatrix.
"MOTHER!" Leigha-Shae pushed Matriatrix aside and used her bow to catch the blade, which she realized was a ring.
A golden ring.
Katie Date pressed her advantage, trying to overpower the older girl. But Leigha-Shae threw her back with sheer strength. Katie saw that the other Warlords were heading right for her so she leaped back, landing perfectly next to the Ronins. She threw her ring up above them and a golden shield came down like a dome over them, protecting them from Matriatrix's forces. "Kayura, hurry and open the portal!"
"By the powers of the Ancients, to light our path home, I call on you! Open the Gate!" The staff once again flared up in an iridescent silver light, and Kayura brought the staff down forcefully. As it struck the ground, a bright light shot out, casting a large silver portal of light several feet away. "Okay, get going! This portal will only last so long," Kayura said urgently.
Kento went through first. Then Cye, Cale and Sehkmet followed.
Dais reached Kayura, Sage in his arms. White Blaze went through the portal. Katie raised her hand and a lightning bolt hit the ground, taking out Druxton, Treyon and Vaeyon.
Rowen, Ryo and Katie still had to go through. Katie removed her helmet.
Rowen's jaw fell to the ground. "KATIE!?"
"Nice to see you too, Ro," she said in a strained voice. The Warlords were beating on the shield and it was draining her. "You two, get going while I still have some power left!"
"What the hell is going on here!?" Ryo demanded.
"Ryo…this is Sage's twin. I promise I'll explain later. Just go first!" Rowen trained his arrow on Leigha-Shae as she was determined to break through Katie's shield.
"Ro, you go too. I'll cover Kayura," Katie slowly removed the bo staff at her other hip and extended it.
"NO! We lost you once to the Dynasty-I refuse to let history repeat itself!"
"Wildfire…I'm asking you to take the bookworm with you." Her voice was soft, full of regret for what was going to happen once the shield went down.
"No." It was defiant. "You are not sacrificing yourself!"
Katie swore in Mayan, then she glared at Wildfire. "Jodete!"
Ryo paused. "Huh?"
The small girl pushed Wildfire back. The shock of it had Ryo trip over a rock and he fell into the portal.
Rowen shook his head. "No era para tanto. Si se da decuenta de la que had dicha te rompera la cara." He let loose his arrow and it struck Angelus as it went through the shield, and it threw him back.
"Rowen, ya vete! Yo ya ehaprendido a cuidarme a mi migma." She went to one knee, her shield weakening.
"Perdon, Kaite. Me perdonaras luego." Rowen punched her in the jaw, which crumpled her in her weakened state. "Kayura, let's go!" And he hauled ass into the portal with Katie in tow.
Just as Kayura entered the portal, the ring vanished and the shield dropped.
"Well, well, well. Looks like we have two Dates to deal with." Matriatrix seemed amused by the actions that took place.
"Mother, she's dangerous to have alive!" Leigha-Shae reminded her.
"But right now she's weak. And she helped us deal with her brother. In one mortal day, we finish this in their world. Come, Warlords. Let us celebrate…"
After putting Sage to bed and Katie on the couch, Kayura pushed her reserves to heal Sage's wounds. Afterwards, Alecto and the others showed up. After a brief reunion with Mia with Ryo and Amari with Sehkmet, everyone went outside, as to not to disturb Katie.
Ryo wasn't going to be subtle. "What the hell did she say to me!?"
"Um…" Rowen squirmed under Ryo's gaze. He didn't want to really answer.
"It was Spanish," Kayura answered for him. "You're fluent in Spanish?"
"Yeah, Ro speaks like a hundred languages," Kento piped in.
"No, not really. Just a few," Rowen blushed when Dais raised his brow at him in surprise.
"So…." Ryo was impatient.
"She…okay, there's not a nice way of saying this. She swore at you."
"Damn, that was bold," Dais had said.
"What for!?" asked Ryo.
"You told her no. That wasn't what she wanted to hear."
"She is NOT the boss of me! Where does she get off thinking that swearing at me was going to help!?"
"I think she just wanted you safe," Rowen reasoned.
"So she gets to push me whenever she gets mad!"
"No, and I did tell her you were going to kick her ass when you found out!"
"So you warned her what I was going to do!?"
"Ryo, stop this. This isn't going to help us," replied Cye, rather exhausted at the whole mess. "We all need rest. I suggest we all take a nap and then maybe one of them will wake up."
"You're dead!" Sehkmet punched Cale in the face and the other warrior went down. He didn't try to defend himself as punch after punch rained on him. "You made me think you betrayed us all! For what?! A dumb armor!?"
"I got this. This'll take a while," Dais commented.
His eyes opened.
Suddenly. Painfully.
Loads and shit loads of pain greeted Sage upon consciousness. He groaned softly. Moving his protesting muscles was like crawling through drying cement. He really didn't want to see the damage done to his body.
He was probably the only person in history to have had survive an encounter with the mythical Phoenix. The burns on his body were his evidence. As he slowly sat up, he went back to that moment, when Ka'Lisse stood over him, eyes wide with bloodlust. In those evil eyes, he saw Katie's soul fading away. He had failed her. Again. His own twin.
Sage slowly tried to leave the bed and a set of hands held him off at the shoulders. "Easy, Sage."
He felt weak and groggy. He had never experienced such a thing. It was something he didn't like.
"Kayura was able to heal the most severe of your injuries but you need to rest," Cye continued.
Sage lay back against the bed, trying to remember what he did. Then it came to him. The Phoenix. Excruciating burning pain that tore through him. He turned his head over to Rowen's bed. It was empty. Which meant he was okay.
"Kento saved your life." Cye sat closer to Sage's waist. "How do you feel?"
"Stupid. Kento of all people had to rescue me." He did feel like a failure at that moment. Kento was tempered and headstrong. For him to literally save him from death and to kill Ka'Lisse? He owed the Warrior of Justice much.
"I know who Katie is. I've met her."
Sage shot up in his bed, looking at Cye. He stared at him in disbelief. "No you didn't."
"Yes, I did. When Kento killed Catelyn, he inadvertently rescued her. She tried to heal you but I guess she isn't a strong healer. It drained her."
Sage got up from his bed, knocking Cye back and ignoring Cye's protests, he ran out of the room.
"SAGE! You shouldn't be up!" Cye ran after him.
The Bearer of Halo raced down the stairs, blowing Ryo and Cale aside, and went to the couch. He walked around to the other side. He couldn't believe it.
Katie laid on her side on the couch, sleeping. She looked pale and her clothes torn. Her left wrist had a bracelet. He saw the armor orb and the gold color that gleamed off of it. "The Crescent Sun Armor." He reached out to touch her face, to tell himself that she was truly there.
"She just needs rest, Sage," Kayura assured him. "And so do you."
It was the verbal reminder of his own injuries. But he didn't care. Not at that moment.
"She's home." His voice wasn't his own-it was full of emotion. Emotions that he kept deep within were flowing out of him. He didn't even feel the tears that ran down his face until it left his face to fall onto his bare feet. Kayura looked surprised at such a display.
The house was quiet.
Sage sat on the arm of the couch, holding his ribs. He reached out to a few strands of loose hair and brushed it back carefully. "I-I don't understand. Her soul was dying. I saw it. I felt it."
"Talpa used your sister's body to bring Catelyn back. It could mean one thing; he needed her power." Kayura looked behind her and Dais stood at the kitchen entrance. "But Matriatrix will look to destroy her. I say we take her out before she has the chance."
Sage glared at Dais with contempt. "You think I'll help you? You knew about my sister; you didn't have the courage to tell me!" Sage stood up, anger in his eyes. "You knew all this and said nothing. I will destroy her, Dais. But with my bare hands."
"Sage, be reasonable. Your sister is mortal. I did not think she was still within her own body." Dais watched as Sage closed the distance between them. "The spell needed to do such a thing is beyond my own comprehension."
"Bullshit," came Sage's answer. "You knew what was up from the moment Catelyn came here."
"But I didn't know your sister was still alive!" snapped Dais.
"She's a Date! Of course she would be! We are not weaklings!" retorted Sage.
Kayura quickly got between the two before they threw fists. "Both of you, calm down. The important thing is that you have your sister back, Sage. We're going to need her to stop Matriatrix. If she plans to execute Talpa's original plan, we will need her."
"I'm not going to let her near that witch!" cried Sage. "I refuse to."
Ryo came back down the stairs and gently ushered him to the side. "Look Sage, your emotions are running amuck. This isn't you. I know this. We will keep her safe. I promise."
Sage's eyes were stormy. He fought to control his emotions. After several minutes, he regained control. He nodded at Ryo and left the house, closing the door gently behind him.
Rowen slowly opened his eyes. He felt groggy. The house seemed unnaturally quiet. He sat up in the bed, his muscles crying in protest of the movement. His new armor took something out of him. It was a good thing Cye recommended the nap. He had no clue he was so tired. He threw the sheets back and slowly got to his feet. The grogginess was in his bones. And he saw how neat the room he was in was. It wasn't his room.
He patted his way to the door and opened it. The voices were louder like they were coming from the other room. He let them be-it sounded serious to him and he wasn't in the mood.
Speaking of moods, the air in the house was different. He didn't know a house could feel different but for some reason he felt it. It was…full of hope. Of love. Rowen made his way down the steps. He saw a small body on the couch and ran to it, ignoring the protest of his muscles. "My…god…" he whispered.
His eyes had to be playing a trick, he had told himself. He had to have imagined the last several hours. He convinced himself of it.
It wasn't possible.
Never could Sage be so lucky.
Katerina Date.
Sleeping on the couch.
Not possible.
Katie moaned and shifted in her sleep.
He saw the torn clothes. The paleness in her skin, which was more transparent that Sage's. He kneeled down to her, studying her with such tenderness. His other best friend. He tentatively reached a hand out to her, hesitating in touching her. Rowen took a deep breath. He reached out to her face.
A hand caught his wrist.
He gasped.
Katie's eyes were open.
Eyes that glittered with lightning bolts. And a hint of flame.
"Katie?" he whispered hoarsely, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "It's really you. You, using Spanish and all reckless."
"Hi, Ro-in." She sat up slowly, looking almost happy to see him. "Is it really you?" she asked softly.
Rowen laughed. He threw his arms around her, laughing happily as he cried. "You're okay," he managed.
Katie put her arms around Rowen and held him close. "You are so silly, sometimes." Her voice was soft, but tired. As if she wasn't fully recovered.
Rowen pulled away gently. "Sorry. I-I just can't believe it's you. After all these years…My other best friend is home."
Katie giggled; and her giggle warmed him. Peace seeped into his soul. He knew now where the peaceful feelings that filled the house came from…it was her. "I'd think the height would have been a dead giveaway." Her eyes then got serious. "Is Seiji okay? I hurt him, Ro-in. I tried to stop but I couldn't-"
"I'm right behind you."
Katie turned to see her brother. He was much taller than her. So strong. She got up off the couch and ran those few steps into him, holding him tightly to her. "I'm sorry," her voice was full of tears against him. "I'm so sorry…"
Sage held her against him. He never wanted to let go of her. "It's okay. I survived it." After holding each other for several more minutes, they parted. The height difference was so apparent. Sage was easily six foot tall while Katie was only about five-foot-one.
Rowen merely smiled.
Katie had always been touchy about her height difference when compared to anyone. She looked like an eight-year-old, height-wise. But she looked every bit the teenage girl with much too-old eyes. She had seen far too much for someone so young. She grinned suddenly, arms crossed. "I thought you two were suppose to rescue me? What happened?"
Sage looked shocked. Rowen smiled, understanding how she wanted to break up the sudden tension. "We got held up in the cross-dimensional line. Lost our luggage, tickets and stuff. And the food sucked."
Katie tried not to laugh but failed. She burst out laughing, shaking her head at Rowen's answer. "You…you haven't changed!" she managed to get out.
Sage gave Katie an incredulous look. Who was this girl? What happened to his timid little sister?
After she calmed some, she stared at Sage. "Gee, bro. Get a sense of humor. I was just kidding!" She padded Rowen on the back. "You didn't help with his sense of humor."
"I tried. You didn't leave instructions," Rowen countered, a smile on his face.
"Um…Katie?" said Sage gently. "Etou…what's with the humor? I mean, it's a nice change in you but…"
"You know…some things haven't changed. Like you being an ass!" Her eyes grew dark and her hands were fisted and glowing.
Kento's gentle hand came to her shoulder from behind. She turned around but calmed when she saw who touched her shoulder. "Hey, give him a break. He's not use to a confident you."
Her eyes went wide for several seconds, then she relaxed as she understood. He was the serious twin, her the cowardly twin. But now she had confidence and the power to back herself up. "Fine!" She moved away from Kento and threw open the door. Stepping outside, she slammed the door closed behind her.
After the house rattles slightly, the five Ronin Warriors stood around the couch, bewildered. At first, no one says a word. They were trying to figure out how to deal with a female Ronin.
It was Cye who says something. "Sage, your sister is…interesting."
"I'm not sure I like the new her," he said. "She's too quick to anger, and she likes to be bossy."
"Hey, just like Ryo. We can deal with that," said Cye, and that earned him a smack in the head by Ryo.
There were voices outside and the five boys moved to the window to listen in. They knew they shouldn't do it but they wanted to know what was being said. Especially Ryo.
"Hey there, kitten."
A voice so familiar, Katie smiled before jumping off the porch and hugging Alecto tightly. He held her just as tightly. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
He pulled back. "Don't you dare apologize for something you had no control over. You weren't you, kitten. I knew it at the end." He saw the sadness in her eyes. "Talk to me, girl. Something's got to you. Was it the boys? I'll go in and tell them something."
"Um, that would result in a fist-for-all. You'd be out-numbered." Her sad eyes began to shine a bit. "Unless Hariel and Sabre-Stryke were with you."
"You got me there." Alecto motioned her to sit and so they did. "Now, tell me what got you all sad."
Katie folded her arms on top of her knees and rested her head on them. Nothing was said for many minutes. Alecto said nothing, wanting her to have this time to herself, if that was what she needed. Just when he thought she was going to said nothing, she uttered something. "He hates me."
"Who? Your twin? What did he say? I'll knock some sense into him."
Katie looked at Alecto, knowing that the older teen would indeed say something just so Katie would feel better. "Don't. Like Kento told me, he's not use to a confident me."
"That boy has more brains then the others guys give him credit for. I know Ro will take care of you." He had a guilty flush. "I, uh…talked to him."
Katie started to move away but Alecto grabbed her arm gently.
"Not like that. I told him you needed him. And that the others need to understand your need for space. It may not be ideal but you need to give them a fair shake. Okay? They're not me, or Hariel or Sabre-Stryke."
Katie didn't answer him. Instead she said, "Our psychic link is reconnecting. He's trying to pry."
"So soon?" Alecto was truly concerned. He knew it had to be overwhelming for her. "I thought you had weeks, months even. Are you okay?"
Katie shook her head no. Alecto seemed pissed. "I know you want to say something. Don't. He's just trying to fix everything."
"Katie, you and I both know that it isn't possible. I'll knock it into him. Just say so." Alecto stood up, and Katie quickly followed, grabbing his arm tightly.
"No."
Alecto seemed to want to press his advantage and go talk to Sage. Seeing that Katie didn't want to start anything, he backed down. "Whatever you want to do, kitten."
"I want time. I want Sapphire."
And just as if she made a wish, slinking from the forest was Sapphire. Her blue fur was ruffled, and there were a few cuts. She moved forward to Katie, sniffing the air as she normally did.
Katie jumped off the porch without any warning, knocking Alecto aside. Not even thinking about any danger, she ran for her cat. She heard Alecto yelling for her but she refused to slow down. She went to her knees in the middle of the yard and Sapphire leaped into the girl, knocking her down onto her back. The large lioness licked away at her charge's face and Katie's laughter had the male Ronins outside in seconds.
Alecto smiled as Katie tried to push away the large cat but Sapphire refused to be denied. He went over to the two of them and pat the cat on her head and Sapphire finally moved away from a cat-style bath. He held out a hand to Katie and she took it, getting to her feet rather quickly. "Looks like someone was missed."
Katie blushed, even as the others ran up to them. "It's okay, Sapphire." She heard the growl in her mind, and she placed a gentle hand on her head to steady her.
"She's so big," Ryo commented. "Are her and White Blaze from the same place?"
Katie shrugged her shoulders. She looked down at Sapphire and then replied, "Not really. They are magic-infused. That's it."
"You speak to her?" Rowen asked.
"Duh! You speak to Oliver?" she countered.
"Who's Oliver?" asked Cye.
"His owl. His Spirit Animal," she answered.
Kayura and Dais seemed confused. "Short explanation is that each Ronin Warrior, when they reach the power level needed to master their armors, are entitled to a guide. An animal that is aligned with mostly elements. To help, basically." Katie then yawned. "I'm tired. Hey Sapphire, how about a ride to the house?"
Sapphire immediately slinked under the small girl and gently rose up, and Katie giggled, remembering all the times she asked such a thing. 'You owe me, princess.'
"Night, boys." Sapphire gently led the girl back to house.
"Things are going to be interesting around here," Kento mused.
That got a glare from Sage.
Translations:
Jodete- F***
Etou- Umm…