Warrior Call

by Janime Lee

A trip to Japan is just the opportunity for American students. But when the Ronin Warriors become involved, they realize that they may have found more than just an overseas education.

12. Messages

Ronin Warriors

Warrior Call

By Janime

Part Eleven - Messages
**********

"Jessie. Jessie."
"How is she?"
"She's alive. Jessie, come on. Wake up."
The two voices sounded fuzzy to Jessie. She groaned, opened her eyes, and saw Sekhmet crouched next to her and Cale standing behind him. Both Warlords had taken their helmets off.
"Are you okay?" asked Cale.
"Depends," said Jessie groggily. "What's your definition of 'okay'?"
"You're breathing, conscious, and talking," Sekhmet said.
"Then I guess I'm okay," Jessie grinned.
The two Warlords helped her sit up. Worried expressions came across their faces as they watched Jessie's face pale.
"I thought my stomach was bad before," she said.
"Are you gonna be sick?" asked Sekhmet.
"Give me your helmet if you want to find out."
Cale started to laugh as Sekhmet protectively clutched his helmet.
Jessie looked at her friends. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Gwen nodded. She was sitting between Cye and Kento, Joana was sitting next to Cye, and Casey was standing next to Joana. Twyla was standing on the other side of Kento.
"I don't know what you did, Jessie," said Twyla, "but thanks."
"You're welcome," Jessie said. "If I knew what I did, I'd tell you."
"Whatever you did," said Kayura, walking over to her. "It worked. The Nether Spirits didn't come back with them." She put her hand on Jessie's head and whispered a chant. "Better?"
"Except for the headache, yes," Jessie answered.
White Blaze walked over to her, licked her face, and then settled down next to her.
Kayura paced back and forth. "The four of you couldn't get into the Caverns," she said, "and Nether Spirits got into the Stream somehow. Did the five of you have any enemies in the Stream?"
"The ones we had, Michael took care of," Twyla said. "But if there were others after them, Michael never told us."
"You know, it would be nice if he opened his mouth once in a while to talk rather than just for eating, drinking, and breathing," Jessie remarked.
"But how did the Nether Spirits get into the Stream?" asked Casey.
Kayura shook her head. "I don't know. Whoever sent the Nether Spirits into the Stream is probably the same one that's playing with us here."
"Other than Talpa," said Dayus, "Badamon was the only other one who could control the Nether Spirits."
"But Ryo destroyed Badamon," said Cye.
"Yeah," said Kento, "Ryo blew a three foot hole through him."
The group remained quiet for some time. Jessie looked around the room and noticed that Joana was a little pale. "Are you okay, sis?" Jessie asked.
"I don't feel too well," Joana said, covering her mouth.
"Don't puke on me!" said Casey and she ran over to Twyla.
"I wouldn't want to-" Joana fell over.
Gwen and Cye moved to support her. Gwen jerked back, but before she could say anything, Joana opened her eyes and pulled away.
"Your majesty!" she exclaimed, and knelt before Kayura. "I am so sorry for my failure!"
Kayura raised an eyebrow and called the staff, ignoring the looks on everyone's faces.
"That," she said, "is NOT Joana."
"DUH!" said Twyla and Casey in unison.
"Of course not!" said Gwen in a voice that, like Joana now, was hers, but wasn't. Everyone turned to her now, not having noticed that she had quietly passed out against a wall. 'Gwen moved beside 'Joana. "Do you remember us, your majesty? We have a message for you."
"Remember you?" asked Kayura. "From where?"
"She knows," said 'Joana, pointing at Jessie. "She has come to us. She has a message that is far more important and now she must impart it."
"You mean my dream?" asked Jessie.
"Yes, Daughter of Callisto," said 'Gwen.
Jessie blinked.
"Wait a minute," said Sekhmet. "The Nether Soldiers have been calling her 'Callisto', and now you're calling her the 'Daughter of Callisto'. Which one is she?"
"She is both," said 'Joana.
Jessie groaned and covered her eyes as confused looks crossed the other eight faces.
"I'm lost," said Cale.
"You're lost?!" Jessie hissed.
"She is both," 'Joana repeated, "and more. Callisto, Daughter of Callisto."
"Callisto's Chosen," supplied 'Gwen. "Heiress of Titan, Daughter of the Dragon."
"The Dragon Child-"
"I get the point!" Jessie snapped. She stood up and walked over to them. "Are you two Gwen and Joana or not?"
"We are," said 'Joana as she stood up,
"And we are not," said 'Gwen.
Jessie sighed, frustrated. "You mean that part of you are Gwen and Joana, but you're also personalities that are from a past life?"
"Correct," said 'Gwen. "From your dream that was once a memory to all."
"Now it is time to impart your message," said 'Joana.
"Who am I supposed to tell?" Jessie asked. "I couldn't tell Ryo for some reason."
"The message was not intended for your Guardian to hear," said 'Gwen.
"Guardian?" everyone echoed.
"What do you mean 'Guardian'?" Dayus asked.
'Joana looked at him. "Wildfire is the Dragon Child's Guardian. He is to protect her and keep her safe until the time comes for her to take her place."
"What place?" asked Kayura.
"It is not time for her yet," said 'Gwen, "but you will see." She turned to Jessie. "Your message, Daughter of Callisto."
"You said the message wasn't for Ryo," Jessie said, "and in a way I knew it wasn't for him, that's why I couldn't tell him. Who do I have to tell?"
"You know," said 'Gwen. "Since the day you met, you knew."
Jessie was about to ask how when the realization struck her. "Kayura," she said, "I have to tell you."
"Tell me what?" Kayura asked.
Jessie almost started to explain, but stopped herself and looked at the others. "Does it matter if they hear it, too?" she asked 'Gwen and 'Joana.
"Yes," said 'Gwen.
"It is not time for them to hear yet," said 'Joana.
"That's what I thought." Jessie grabbed Kayura's arm. "We'll be right back." She dragged Kayura into another tunnel.
"What's the matter with you?" Kayura asked.
"Keep your voice down." Jessie said quietly. "Last month when I watched you perform the ceremony on Ryo, and blood appeared on me in a nine-pointed star, that night after you sent us home, I had a dream I was back in the marble palace where I was dancing with Sage."
"Okay…" said Kayura. "What happened?"
Jessie told her about how the palace was demolished, the bodies lying about, the figures that appeared and what they said to her.
"So it was us?" Kayura asked.
"You, the other Warlords, the Ronins, Mia, my friends, and me," Jessie said. "I don't know who the other five were, but I do know them. Am I making any sense?"
"I understand," Kayura said.
"What's got me is that I just told you the whole dream. I couldn't tell Ryo what was said to me."
"Maybe we all knew each other in a life before the one we're living now."
"Well, 'Joana and 'Gwen calling you 'your majesty' does give a rather large hint," Jessie said. "And speaking of them, I think we should go back."
"You can feel the strain from here." Kayura smiled.
"Feel nothing. We'll be lucky if we can walk through it!"
They walked back to the others.
"You know," said Sekhmet, "things just get weirder and weirder."
"Why is that?" Kayura asked.
"They know their powers," Cye said.
Jessie turned to 'Gwen and 'Joana. "You do?"
"Yes," said 'Joana. "Our powers have awakened."
"And we have you to thank, Daughter of Callisto," 'Gwen said.
"Me?" Jessie asked.
'Joana nodded. "It was you who awakened our powers. When the Nether Spirits attacked us in the Stream, it was your power that awakened ours. I am a Seer. I can see truth."
Jessie grinned slightly. "So this is why I can barely lie to you."
"It may be so," said 'Gwen. "I am a Shield. Like Twyla with her Twanging, I can also be an Anchor to hold onto."
Twyla got up and stretched. "This is getting to be too much. And again I must ask, how do you guys live in these things?"
Kento shrugged. "You get used to it. So Gwen is an Anchor. But to what?"
'Gwen looked at him with a rather despairing look. "Whatever she needs to be! That is who I am! And you have a powerful Seer, Healer, Tracker, and an Antenna to make them all more so. I do not see why you do not wish to take advantage of this!"
"Our magic is blocked here," said Kayura tiredly. "What would we do?"
"You have choices," 'Joana said quietly. "There are always choices. Wildfire had the idea. And Halo and Strata made choices as well."
"We noticed," Twyla snorted.
"And great choices they were, I'm sure!" said Casey. "Twy's the only one that can fight anywhere close to the three of them, and I happen to believe in strength in numbers."
"Wait!" said Cye. "You still haven't given us your message."
"Once they do, they'll go back," said Jessie. She shook her head as the two nodded. "What did I just say?"
"Not important," said Cale, looking at her strangely. He wished he knew where all the mysticism was coming from with these young Americans.
"But what about your message?" Kento asked.
"We have already given it," said 'Gwen.
'Joana smiled. "We can address both together!"
"You know how to fight!" said 'Gwen. "Michael has taught you!"
"And now he is trapped," finished 'Joana, "in the Caverns. As soon as you got stuck in these caves-"
"He became trapped in his own." 'Gwen grasped her friend's hands and they seemed to shimmer in and out of solidity.
"Did you see that?!" hissed Casey.
"Good trick," mused Dayus.
Gwen and Joana looked at each other; hands clenched and eyes wide. They looked around the circle and then screamed. Kento and Cye ran to them, and pulled them apart.
"Joana," said Cye, "calm down."
"It's all right," Kento said to Gwen.
"Are you two okay?" Jessie asked.
"Jessie!" cried Gwen.
"Sis!" Joana shrieked happily.
Both hysterical girls ran to Jessie and hugged her. Jessie looked at them confused and then at the rest of the group who had the same lost expression, including White Blaze.
"Okay," said Jessie, "before I get the wrong idea…" She eased herself out her friends' hold. "What is the matter with you two?"
"You're alive!" Gwen blurted out.
Shock spread throughout the room and the Warlords looked at each other.
Jessie took a deep breath and swallowed hard. "I hope so, because the last time I checked I was."
"We saw you," Joana said. "You were standing on a hill wearing a real pretty dress, you looked so happy…" Tears started to roll down her cheeks. "And then it changed. You had a dark outfit on… th-there were bodies everywhere and y-you were covered in blood… and…" She started to sob. Cye walked over to her and pulled her into his arms.
"What?" Jessie asked.
Gwen looked at her with tears. "You said that you had to pay for your sins and then you cut your stomach open."
Jessie made gagging noises and hugged her belly.
"Hara-kiri?" Kento asked, standing next to Gwen.
"Seppuku," said Dayus.
"I don't care what you call it! I gutted myself!" Jessie shouted.
"At least it's an honorable death," said Cale.
Jessie glared at him. "That's not very comforting at this moment, considering our situation."
"Sorry."
"We better get moving," said Sekhmet. "If we want to find Ryo, Sage, and Rowen, and get out of here."
"Pity that someone can't Track," said Twyla.
"Will you shut up about that!" Jessie hissed. "I admit it, I screwed up. Now will drop it?"
"I'm beginning to agree with her," said Kayura. "It's getting ridiculous."
"Did anybody ask you?" Twyla snapped.
"Twyla, knock it off!" Jessie ordered. "Stop it."
White Blaze growled as he looked down the tunnel from which they came.
"As if things couldn't get any worse." Casey said.
The seven Armor wearers put their helmets on.
"Perimeter sweep," said Sekhmet.
Kayura stayed with Gwen and Joana as everyone else divided up.

"I wonder how high Ryo's blood-pressure was six years ago." Jessie said.
"A lot higher that mine was," said Kento.
"No doubt about that," said Jessie and then she became serious. "Kento, I want you to do me a favor."
"Sure," he said. "What is it?"
Jessie took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, do not give your Hardrock Armor to Gwen."
Kento looked at her in surprise. "Why would-"
"Please, Kento." Jessie begged. "I don't know why, but I shouldn't have let Rowen and Sage give their Armors to Twyla and Casey. I don't know how I know, but promise me that you won't give Hardrock to Gwen."
Kento looked at Jessie for a moment and nodded. "All right, I promise. Ronin Honor."
"Thanks, Kento." Jessie smiled.

Twyla looked around to make certain she had cornered Cye.
"Okay, buddy," she hissed. "Before you go around getting any bright ideas like your friends did, DON'T EVEN THINK of giving Joana-"
She was interrupted by Cale's cry of alarm, and Cye rushed back to the group.
"-Your Armor, since she's afraid of the water…" Twyla finished to herself. "I would know."
Then she followed him into the melee, praying that she would be able to restrict herself to hand-to-hand.
If she had to use an arrow…

Sekhmet cut down a Nether Soldier that was trying to make Cale shorter by a head.
"I owe you one," Cale said, getting to his feet.
"We've lived this long," grinned Sekhmet, "I'm not worried about you paying it off soon."
"Enough of who's in debt," said Dayus. "Let's get out of here!"
Everyone ran down the tunnel. Dayus turned around and took the scythes off his back.
"WEB OF DECEPTION!"
The scythes extended and hit the floor, walls, and the ceiling. Webbing shot out and completely sealed off the tunnel.
Dayus put the scythed on his back. "That'll hold them for a while."
"Yeah, but for how long?" asked Casey.
"Long enough for us to get away from here," Kayura said.
They continued running down the tunnel and arrived at a large pool of water at the end. Sekhmet put his sword into the water. "I'll check it out," he said and disappeared beneath the water. A few moments later he surfaced. "I think there's another room at he end of this."
"Please tell me," said Joana, "we are not going in there."
"We don't have much of a choice," Sekhmet said. "Is there a problem?"
"Well, the two of us are still wearing kimonos," said Gwen, "and Joana can't swim."
Kayura sighed. "Anything else we should know about?"
"I don't particularly care for spiders," said Twyla. "No offense, Dayus."
"We have another problem," said Kento. "The four of us won't be able to breathe underwater.'
"Just the four of you?" Casey asked. "What about us?"
"You can breathe underwater with the Armors," said Cale.
"And in outer space," Jessie commented.
"Even if Kento and I could breathe underwater with just our sub-armors," said Cye, "Joana and Gwen would still be in the same predicament."
"Don't forget White Blaze," Joana said. "He can't breathe underwater either."
Everyone looked at the tiger.
"Could he breathe with his Armor on?" asked Cale.
"I'm not sure," said Kayura. "He might, but most of the time White Blaze only wore his Armor when Ryo summoned the Inferno."
"So does this mean Jessie has wear Inferno to get White Blaze out of here with us?" Dayus asked.
"Possibly," replied Kayura.
"If I have to," said Jessie, "I have to." She hugged White Blaze. "Anything to keep him safe. I love this cat. If I could, I'd take him home with me, but Ryo would kick my butt. So how do I summon Inferno?"
"Actually it only appears during a grave situation," said Kayura.
"Wouldn't this be considered grave?"
"Well, I-" Kayura stopped as a shimmery light surrounded White Blaze's head and then the helmet from his Armor appeared.
"Why you sneaky…" Cale grinned.
"Now all we have to do is worry about the four of you," said Twyla.
"How long is it?" Dayus looked at Sekhmet.
"I don't know," answered Sekhmet. "I'll find out."
"I'll go with you." Jessie volunteered and waded into the water.
"Sis," Joana said, "maybe you shouldn't."
"And why not?"
"Well, you haven't been acting like yourself," said Twyla.
"Have any of us?" Jessie asked. She looked at Sekhmet. They dove under the water and started to swim.
"One thousand-one, one thousand-two, one thousand-three, one thousand-four-"
"What are you doing?" Sekhmet asked.
"Counting," said Jessie. "One thousand-seven-"
"Why?"
"To know how long they'll have to hold their breaths. One thousand-ten, one thousand-eleven…" Jessie continued to count until the reached the other side and surfaced.
"Good, there's another tunnel here," Sekhmet said. He looked at Jessie. "How long?"
"Forty, forty-five seconds," she said. "I skipped a couple numbers when we were talking."
"Kento and Cye will have no problem," said Sekhmet.
"But Gwen and Joana…" Jessie didn't finish.
Sekhmet knew what she was asking. "Just hope that they'll be able to hold it that long."
Jessie sighed and they started to swim back. Poor Sis, Jessie thought, she's gonna freak.

"I think they've been gone too long," Casey said.
"Relax, it's only been a couple minutes," said Cale. "Sekhmet can take care of Jessie."
"That's what bothers me," muttered Cye.
"Please," whispered Joana, placing her hand on his arm. "Not now."
Cye looked at her and covered her hand with his. Jessie and Sekhmet surfaced.
"There's another tunnel at the end of this," said Sekhmet.
"How long?" Kento asked. "Can we make it?"
"Depends," said Jessie. "How long can you hold your breaths?"
"I can hold mine for about three minutes," said Cye. "I'm a good swimmer."
"Joana, stay with Cye." Jessie looked seriously at the four. "About forty, forty-five seconds."
"You've got to be kidding," said Gwen.
"I'm afraid not," Sekhmet said.
Joana groaned and she looked pale.
Cye put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll hold onto you," he said, "I promise."
"And I'll be right behind you, sis," Jessie said.
"Let's go," said Dayus. "The webbing won't hold the Nether Soldiers forever."
Everyone waded into the water. Joana held onto Cye very tightly.
"I'll hold you," said Cye. "Don't worry."
Joana squeezed his hand. "I trust you."
Cye looked at Kento and Gwen. "Take three deep breaths," he said, "and hold the last one."
Kento and Gwen did as Cye told them and they dove underwater with Twyla, Sekhmet, Cale, and White Blaze.
"Ready?" Cye asked Joana. She shook her head.
"Joana, I'll be right here," Casey swam next to her.
"You'll be fine, sis," Jessie said. "Okay?"
"Okay," said Joana. She took three deep breaths along with Cye and they dove underwater.
Dayus swam in front; Cye, Joana, and Casey swam behind him; and Jessie and Kayura were in back.
"This is almost like Scuba-diving," said Casey.
"But you don't have to worry about your tank running low." Jessie said. "We're about halfway through. How are you holding up, sis?"
Joana gave her the thumbs up.
"As soon as we get out of here we'll seal this off," said Kayura.
"Good idea," Casey said. "The last thing we need is Nether Soldiers chasing us."
A spear went by her, nearly missing her head. Kayura and Jessie turned around and looked at the Nether Soldiers swimming towards them.
"Swim for it!" Jessie shouted.
"Get out of here!" shouted Kayura.
The others started to swim faster. One Nether Soldier fired an arrow at Jessie. She dodged it and it continued to sail through the water. "Casey, look out!" Jessie shouted.
Casey turned and the arrow pierced her upper right arm. She screamed, letting go of Joana and grabbed her wounded arm. Dayus turned around and grabbed Casey's waist.
"Come on!" said Dayus and held out his other hand to Joana.
Both Cye and Joana shook their heads. They pointed to Casey and motioned for Dayus to continue on. Dayus held Casey tightly and started swimming.
"No," Casey said painfully. "Joana, Jessie."
"They'll be all right," said Dayus. "Your arm needs to be treated. Let's go." And they continued to swim.

"This sucks!" Jessie said, deflecting arrows with her swords. "There's gotta be a way to beat these things without hurting the others!"
"If either of us tried using our powers," Kayura said, "we'd be propelled backwards. If only I had something to use the Staff on…"
Jessie looked around quickly and noticed a few stalactites above her. She swam up to them, flipped upside-down, and cut one of the stalactites at the base, creating a deep gash. Jessie put the sword ends into the crack and started to pull, using the twin katanas as levers.
"Kayura!" she shouted. "Get ready!"
"Gotcha!" Kayura swam back a little.
Please, swords don't break, Jessie thought as she put more pressure on them.
The stalactite cracked and broke free from the ceiling. Kayura held out the Staff and a beam of light hit the stalactite, creating dozens of little rocks shooting at the Nether Soldiers, killing them.
"Jessie, let's go!" Kayura said.
"Nice shot," Jessie commented. She pushed herself away from the ceiling and swam next to Kayura. "Look." She pointed to Cye and Joana.
"They're in trouble," said Kayura.
"Sis, hold on!" Jessie shouted and they started to swim faster.

"Cye and Joana watched Dayus help Casey swim towards the end. They looked at each other quickly and continued behind them.
I hope that Casey will be okay, Joana thought. And be careful, sis.
A sudden shock went through the water, knocking the air out of Joana's lungs and she inhaled water. Cye looked at her in alarm. Joana pointed to her throat. Cye glanced at the exit and back at Joana. She wasn't going to make it.
I'm sorry, Joana, Cye thought. Despite Twyla's threat and your fear of water… He took Joana's hands, interlocking his fingers with hers.

"Are there any Nether Soldiers following us?" Jessie asked.
Kayura turned around. "No, they aren't," she said and continued to swim backwards.
Hold on you two, Jessie thought at Cye and Joana. Fear went through her as she watched Cye hold Joana's hands. "Cye! Don't! Stop!" she screamed.
Sorry, Jessie, Cye thought as he closed his eyes. Trust.
A bright light filled the area and moments later faded. Joana was now wearing the full Torrent Armor and she was also unconscious from lack of oxygen. Cye, despite that he was naked, was holding Joana and his kanji was glowing. He smiled at Jessie, faded to a light blue outline and disappeared. Joana started to sink and Jessie caught her before she sank any deeper.
"Sis, wake up!" Jessie cried, shaking her. "Come on, Jo-Jo! Please!"
"Jo-Jo?" Kayura asked as she turned around and swan next to Jessie.
"It's her other nickname." Jessie explained. She looked back at Joana. "Please, Sis."
"Sis?" Joana opened her eyes and blinked at Jessie. "How did…" Realization struck her. "I am not!"
"Yes you are, Jo-Jo," said Kayura.
"You told her my nickname? None of you have called me that since my birthday."
"It slipped," said Jessie. "Sorry."
"Don't make an issue of it now," said Kayura. "Let's go."
Jessie and Kayura held Joana's arms, and they swam for the exit.

Sekhmet, Cale, Twyla, Gwen, Kento, and White Blaze surfaced and walked out of the water.
"Me without my hairbrush," Gwen coughed.
"I hear ya," said Twyla as she took off her helmet.
"Forget about your hair," said Cale. "Be glad that you're still alive."
White Blaze's helmet disappeared and he shook off the water, spraying everyone.
"White Blaze," scolded Gwen. "We're soaked enough as it is."
"You are," said Twyla. "Not us. I got an idea. Why don't you have Jessie dry you off with Wildfire."
"Wildfire is an Armor," said Sekhmet. "Not a clothes dryer."
"But look at her!" Kento protested and motioned to Gwen. "She's soaking wet. She might catch pneumonia."
Dayus surfaced with Casey.
"Get this thing out of my arm!" Casey hissed.
"What happened?" Sekhmet asked.
"Nether Soldiers," said Dayus. He helped Casey out of the water and the others saw the arrow in her arm.
"Casey!" Twyla ran over to her friend. "Oh God."
"Twyla," Casey said painfully. "I take back all the bad things I said about your healing spells and Twanging."
"And how long will that last?"
"About thirty minutes."
"That's what I thought," Twyla smiled. She led Casey over to a vacant spot and they both sat down.
"Let me have a look," said Cale, removing his helmet. He crouched next to Casey and examined her arm. "I don't think that it went in too deep." He looked at Twyla. "How strong is your healing power?"
"Well, it is pretty good," Twyla said. "And Kayura did say that Strata might have boosted it. Jessie even said that it was strong when I healed her before. I could try healing Casey's arm."
"It's your choice, Casey," said Cale. "You can allow Twyla to heal your arm now or you can wait for Kayura."
"Now," Casey whimpered. "It hurts."
"It's going to hurt a lot more." Cale held Casey's arm tightly and grasped the arrow. "Brace yourself." He waited a few moments, and when Casey started to breathe in, Cale quickly pulled the arrow out of her arm. Casey screamed.
Twyla put her hands on the wound and the bleeding stopped. "How's your arm?" she asked.
"It hurts," Casey sobbed.
Cale took her helmet off and wiped away her tears with the end of his cape. Twyla looked at him suspiciously, but didn't say anything.
Dayus was looking at the water when Sekhmet walked next to him and asked, "What?"
"They should have been here by now," said Dayus. "This is taking them too long. I'm going back."
"I'll go with you," Sekhmet said.
Before the two Warlords walked into the water, three Armored figures surfaced and walked until they were in knee-deep water.
"Like the waterslides at Blizzard Beach." Jessie said.
"Blizzard Beach?" asked Kayura.
"I'll tell you later."
"Uh… Cye shrank," said Kento, pointing at the tiny Torrent standing between Jessie and Kayura.
"No, Kento." Jessie took the Torrent helmet off Joana's head. "Cye didn't."
"Joana?!" exclaimed Casey.
"I hate water," Joana gagged.
"Oh, you poor thing," said Gwen. She walked over to them and helped Joana out of the water.
"He is a dead man," Twyla said. "If he's not already."
"This is just our lucky day, isn't it?" Sekhmet said. "Now four Ronins are gone."
"Uh, sis?" said Joana. "I was unconscious. Was Cye…"
"Yes," said Jessie, "Cye was naked. Wasn't he, Kayura?"
"I wouldn't know," Kayura answered. "I had my back turned, remember?"
"Sure you did," Dayus said.
"I did!" said Kayura. "There's only one man I want to see naked and that's you!"
"Is it really necessary for us to hear that?" Cale muttered.
"Dayus," Jessie called. "Come here, please."
He walked over to her. "What?"
Jessie wagged her finger at him. Dayus took his helmet off and leaned closer to her. Jessie cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered in his ear. "Believe Kayura," she said. "She loves you and would never do anything to hurt you. But if you keep giving her a hard time, I will be forced to tell her of a little conversation you had with Ryo about a certain female lifeguard that's blessed with a big bust, known to the Ronins as 'Beach Bunny'."
"You wouldn't," Dayus looked at her horrified.
"Try me," Jessie grinned evilly. "They say 'Look, but don't touch'. And Kayura wants that eye of yours looking only at her. Besides, she did have her back turned. She was making sure that there weren't any more Nether Soldiers following us."
"All right, I believe you." Dayus put his helmet back on. "And I believe Kayura. It's not often that I get the chance to torture her, if you know what I mean."
"I'll bet," winked Jessie.
Dayus walked over to his wife. "I believe you," he said. "Casey's arm needs to be healed."
Kayura nodded and started walking towards Casey. She stopped, looked at Jessie, and whispered, "What did you say to him?"
"Look up the term 'blackmail' when we get home," Jessie smiled.
Kayura looked at her with a slightly confused expression, then walked over to Casey.
Jessie walked over to Gwen. "How are you?"
"Soaked to the bone," said Gwen. "And I'm starting to get cold."
Jessie took Gwen's hands and closed her eyes. A warm feeling went through Gwen and then she was completely dry from head to toe including her kimono.
"How did you do that?" Gwen asked.
Jessie shrugged. "I don't know. Ask Wildfire."
"Forget about that," said Kayura, now finished healing Casey's arm. "Let's go. Kento's the only Ronin left. We better find the others fast."
"Just one good question," said Kento. "How are we gonna find them?"
…Do what…
Jessie hissed painfully, put her hands on the sides of her head, and fell to her knees. Gwen and Sekhmet hurried to her. Sekhmet at her left, Gwen at her right.
"My headache is getting worse," Jessie said through clenched teeth.
"Still don't know what's causing it," Sekhmet said. He put Jessie's arm around his shoulders and, with help from Gwen, helped Jessie to her feet.
"Sis?" Joana asked in a worried voice.
"I'll be all right, Joana," said Jessie.
"Let's move," said Kayura. "Dayus."
Her husband walked over to the water and took the scythes off his back. Kayura made the sickle and chain appear. Together, husband and wife aimed their weapons at the ceiling and caused several large rocks to fall and cover the water hole. The sickle disappeared and the scythes back in place, Dayus and Kayura continued on after their companions.

They walked for quite some time, always glancing at Jessie still being supported by Sekhmet and White Blaze never leaving her side. Despite what was happening, Jessie found a comforting feeling. It was as if Wildfire was allowing her to know that the other eight Armor wearers were worried about her. Jessie stumbled but Sekhmet's hold prevented her from falling.
"I believe we need a break," said Sekhmet.
"This will be the first time I agree with you," said Kento as he leaned against the wall.
Sekhmet helped Jessie sit down and he crouched next to her.
"How are you?" Sekhmet asked. "Any better?"
Jessie shook her head. "I have a bad feeling that it's only going to get worse." She looked straight into the Warlord's eyes. "And I don't just mean my headache."
"Sekhmet," a voice said quietly.
He turned around and looked at Cale who motioned towards Dayus and Kayura standing a little farther down the tunnel, just out of hearing range. Sekhmet nodded and turned back to Jessie. "Meeting," he said.
"It's about me, isn't it?" Jessie asked, leaning back.
"Possibly." He patted her arm. "Get some rest."
Jessie nodded and closed her eyes. Sekhmet stood up and walked with Cale over to the married couple.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Gwen asked.
"Beats me," said Kento. "But they've been yapping for a while now."
"Do you think it's important?" asked Casey.
"If it is," said Joana, "don't you think that they should be sharing it with us?"
Twyla looked at the Warlords. "Gwen, Kento, you two stay with Jessie," she said. "The three of us are going to have a little chat with four certain centuries old people."
Kento and Gwen watched the three Armored girls walk towards the Warlords. White Blaze snorted.
"Twyla's acting… different." Gwen finally said.
"Yeah, she is." Kento said slowly. Acting like Rowen…

"All right," said Twyla and the Warlords looked at her. "What's going on? And don't even try giving us any crap."
The Warlords took their helmets off. "What do you mean?" Dayus asked.
"For starters," Casey removed her helmet. "When the four of you walk away without even telling us, we do intend to get a little suspicious."
"What's wrong with Jessie?" asked Joana.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Cale said.
"There must be some clue," Twyla said. "Jessie's our friend. We want to help her."
"You have been helping her," said Sekhmet. "In a way."
"What?" chorused the three Americans.
"Think about it," said Kayura. "Jessie was fine when Ryo gave her Wildfire. But when Rowen gave Strata to Twyla that's when her headache started. Then after Sage gave Casey the Halo Armor, her headache got worse. And Joana, now that Cye has given you Torrent, Jessie can barely manage to walk without help."
Casey stared at her helmet as Joana and Twyla took theirs off and looked at them.
"We're causing her headache?" asked Joana.
"Not entirely," said Dayus. "We think there's a connection between the Ronins giving their Armors to you and Jessie's memory lapse from when Ryo said 'Virtue' to when she woke up and then found us."
"And if that is the case," Kayura said, "perish the thought, if Kento does give the Hardrock Armor to Gwen, I hate to see what will happen to Jessie."

"They better have a good explanation," said Kento as he paced back and forth.
"I hope so," Gwen said. She sat next to Jessie and watched her friend sleep. If only she could remember what happened to Ryo.
Jessie stirred and opened her eyes. "Hey," she said tiredly. "Where is everyone?"
"They're having a little discussion," Kento answered. "I wish they'd hurry up and tell us."
Gwen sighed and looked at Jessie. "How's your headache, Jess? Better or worse?"
"Neither," Jessie replied. "Usually a nap got rid of them. But, then again, this headache's not normal."
White Blaze rubbed his head against Jessie's arm. She smiled a little and affectionately scratched the tiger's ears. Suddenly White Blaze's head shot up and he growled, looking down the tunnel.
"They just love to pick the most inconvenient times, don't they?" asked Gwen, sarcastically.
"Oh yes, they do," said Kento. "Believe me." He helped Gwen get Jessie to her feet.
"The four of you, come on!" called Sekhmet. "Let's move!"
"Go," said Jessie. "I'll be all right."
"But Jessie," protested Kento.
"We can't leave you like this!" Gwen said. "You can barely walk!"
"I'll be fine. Go on!"
They saw the fire in her eyes. Kento and Gwen quickly walked to the others, White Blaze ran ahead of them, and Jessie trailed behind. Jessie leaned against the wall; her headache was becoming unbearable.
Kento turned around. "Jessie, come on!"
"I'll be right there," she said.
Kento noted the pain in her voice and decided that if Jessie moved from the wall, she would collapse. Kento started walking back to her. Something light hit his shoulder and he looked up. Pieces of the ceiling fell towards him.
"KENTO!" screamed Gwen. She ran and shoved him out of the way and looked up. Her scream was cut off as the falling rocks sealed off the tunnel. White Blaze's roar echoed though the area. He ran to the rock pile and started to dig. Everyone dropped their helmets and began to tear away at the rocks.

Jessie coughed and dragged herself to her knees. "Kento?" she called. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," he grunted. "Gwen pushed me out… Oh no! GWEN!"
They looked at the rock pile and saw Gwen lying on her back; the lower half of her body was buried under the rocks.
"Oh my God!" Jessie cried and rushed to her friend's side with Kento.
"Gwen!" Kento touched her face. "Gwen, wake up, please! Don't do this to me!"
Gwen's eyes opened slightly. "Kento…" she said weakly. "You're…safe…" Her eyes closed again and she coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Jessie pressed her fingers against Gwen's throat and felt her pulse getting weaker. "We're losing her."
"Jess," said Kento. "I know I promised that I wouldn't-"
"I know what I made you promise, Kento." Jessie looked at him with tears. "And if I try stopping you…"
She was releasing him from his promise.
Kento nodded and took Gwen's hands in his, fingers interlocked. On impulse, Jessie grabbed his arm to stop him, but Kento pushed her away, took Gwen's hands again and closed his eyes.
"Kento!"
"Justice."
The area was filled with a bright and Jessie closed her eyes. The light disappeared. Jessie opened her eyes and quickly closed them again. "Oh, for crying out loud," she muttered. "Why me?"
"Hey Jessie," said Kento.
Jessie raised her arm and when she opened her eyes, she could only see Kento from the waist up.
Kento smiled at her. "You'll do fine." His kanji started glowing. He faded into an orange outline, then disappeared.
Jessie lowered her arm and crawled over to Gwen. She was now free from the rock pile, due to Kento giving her the Hardrock Armor.
"Gwen," Jessie shook her gently. "Come on, Gwen. Wake up." She sighed as Gwen's eyes slowly opened, blinked a few times, and looked at Jessie.
"Jess?" Gwen asked and she sat up. "Where's Ken…to…?" She looked down at herself, then took the Hardrock helmet off and stared at it.
"Before you start screaming at me," Jessie said, "it was either to let Kento disappear or let you die. In my opinion, the latter is worse. But I did try stopping him from giving you Hardrock." She patted Gwen's shoulder. "Just sit for a while." Jessie stood up, walked over to the rock pile, pulled out her katanas, and started slashing at the rocks.

"Please be okay. Please be okay." Joana prayed as everyone continued to tear at the rock pile.
Dayus was now beyond frustration and he punched the rock pile so hard, his fist went through. Quickly, Dayus pulled his hand back and cautiously peeked through the hole. "Jessie?" he called.
"Dayus, that better be you." On the other side, Jessie used her katana like a mirror and held it near the hole. She sighed as Dayus' reflection appeared on the blade. Jessie put her swords back in their sheaths and slowly moved her hand through the hole.
Joana caught her hand. "Sis?"
"We're fine," said Jessie. "Be even better if we were on your side."
"Then let's not waste time," Cale said.
The two adopted sisters let go of the other's hand and everyone started digging again. When enough of the debris was cleared away, Jessie walked through to join her friends.
"Are you all right?" Sekhmet asked.
"Best as can be expected," Jessie answered.
"Jessie," said Kayura. "Judging by the look on your face, I already know the answer. But I have to ask this question anyway. Where's Kento?"
Jessie smiled falsely. "Naked Kento went bye-bye."
"Did we really need to hear that?" Dayus groaned.
"Dayus, unlike me, you didn't have to see him."
"Kento's gone," Twyla said quietly. "Oh man."
"Gwen?" Joana called.
"I would just like to say," came Gwen's voice. "That only a thick-head like Kento could possibly be expected to wear this and not be too heavy!"
"You would know," muttered Casey.
"I heard that!" Gwen said, coming into the room, still holding the helmet. "Just because I refuse to give in to peer pressure doesn't mean that- never mind. Would you look at the horns on this stupid thing! It's lopsided! How does he keep his balance wearing this?!"
"That's because his brain is only on the side with the smaller horn, so it kinda evens out," Casey said, then slapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide in shock at what she just said.
Kayura, Gwen, Joana, and Twyla just stared at Casey. Sekhmet cleared his throat and looked at the ceiling. Cale started to whistle and turned his head to the side. Dayus, however, couldn't help but laugh. He turned away from the group and when he saw Jessie, stopped laughing. Her face was extremely pale and she was breathing a little hard.
"Jess, are you okay?" Dayus asked. The worried tone in his voice caught everyone's attention.
"Sis?" asked Joana, nervously.
Jessie didn't say anything. She shakily raised her hand and dropped it. Her breathing started to turn into gasps. White Blaze nudged her hand and gave a mournful groan.
Gwen looked at Kayura, then asked, "Now what?"
…I did.
The pain from inside Jessie's head increased so fast that she screamed out loud. Her hands flew to the sides of her head and she staggered away from the wall.
"Jessie!" Twyla cried in alarm. She tried to go to her friend, but Kayura held out the Staff, blocking her.
"Don't," said Kayura. "Let her go."
They watched Jessie as she tore the Wildfire helmet from her head, as if it was crushing her skull, and slammed it into the ground, then bounced over to where the other helmets rested.
Jessie's eyes were shut tight and tears flowed down her cheeks. Inside her mind, different colors swirled together. Within the mixture appeared an image of-

Ryo looked at her with beseeching eyes. "Don't let them do what I did."

"Oh God! Ryo, I'm sorry!" Jessie cried. She looked at her friends and then to the Warlords. "THIS WASN'T SUPOSSED TO HAPPEN!" She threw her head back and screamed, falling to her knees.
Dayus and Kayura ran to her. Dayus pulled Jessie's hands away from her head and held her arms down.
"Ryo, I'm sorry!" Jessie sobbed.
"Jessie, sleep!" Kayura put her hands on the frantic girl's head. "Sleep."
"I'm sorry, Ryo. Ryo…I'm sorry…Ryo…"
Kayura removed her hands. She caught a glimpse of something on Jessie's forehead. The Virtue kanji? If it was, then why did it appear gold instead of red?
Dayus looked from Jessie to his wife. He didn't bother to ask any questions by the look on her face.
Kayura looked at the others, then back to Jessie.
Casey spoke up. "Is Jessie…"
"She's asleep," said Kayura. "She has to know what happened. It's the only explanation." She looked at the hole in the rock pile. "Seal that off."
"Right," said Cale and he and Sekhmet started to bury the opening.
Dayus held Jessie in his arms and stood up.
Kayura picked up her helmet and her husband's. "You can hold on to Jessie's if you want to," she said to the girls.
"I'll take it for now," said Twyla, picking it up along with hers.
Everyone picked up their helmets and the walked further down into this cave maze they were led into.
Kayura looked at the sleeping girl in her husband's arms. Jessie, she thought, why can't you remember?

8/28/1999

Arigato, Squeaky for typing most of this for me. And arigato to both Squeaky and Kyanite for helping me with this part's plot. You two are my best friends and I appreciate your help.

-Coming Soon- Warrior Call Part 12: Shichou soshite Gakuto (If I translated this right, it means "Teachers and Students"). The Warlords have their hands full. They now have to train the girls to fight and teach them how to use their special attacks… if they don't kill each other first.