Chapter 27 - A Dangerous Plan
The next few days passed quietly. Dani settled into her new living space, and felt like Mia was slowly beginning to relax around her. She tried to be as helpful as possible, but also found herself retreating to her own space often. She wasn't used to being around so many people for so many hours of the day, and, while she liked them all, it became overwhelming at times.
Dani expected the warriors to want to jump back into battling soldiers immediately, but they seemed reluctant. She was sure it had something to do with her, though nobody said anything.
For the next two nights, she continued keeping watch with Sage. The hours passed quickly as they spoke of their families and their former lives, though no further kissing occurred. On the third night, Dani was assigned her own watch. She was glad, for it gave her some quiet time and it meant she was more trusted, but did miss the time with Sage. She sat out in the warm night air, watching the nearby streets for any activity. Once, she heard the distant sound of marching feet and tensed, but the noises did not come nearer.
The watch went by with surprising speed. It wasn't long before she heard the door to the stairwell open. She turned, expecting to see Kento, but was surprised to find Sage there instead.
"Hey," she said. "I thought Kento had next watch."
"He did," Sage responded. He walked over and stood next to her, leaning against the railing and looking outward. "I convinced him to trade."
Dani stifled a smile. "Why?"
Sage shrugged. "Thought it'd be nice to cross paths with you."
"Sage, we literally see each other all day long. We live together."
"Yeah, but I didn't want Kento to be the one to tell you goodnight." He turned and faced her, a half smile playing on his lips. She couldn't help but grin back.
"Well, good night, then," she said, standing up. She paused, though, not moving to go inside yet.
"Good night," he answered, stepping close to her. He leaned in, bringing his face in for a kiss, but stopped a few inches away. Dani closed the rest of the distance and laid a gentle kiss on his lips. She pulled away slowly, and smiled again.
"See you in the morning," she told him, and gave him a quick hug - or what she meant to be one. He wrapped his arms around her, and she suddenly didn't want to let go. Sage kissed the top of her head before finally releasing her.
"Go get some sleep." She nodded, told him good night one more time, and then headed to bed.
The next morning, it was beginning to become obvious that everyone was struggling from the length of time spent indoors. Since they had gone on very few patrols and engaged in no battles, many of the friends were becoming snappish with one another.
After listening to a drawn-out argument between Rowen and Kento about who had eaten the last cookie, Ryo announced it was time for a war meeting.
"Finally!" Kento cried. "Six Ronin versus four warlords and a couple of goons. I don't know why we've waited so long." Cye rolled his eyes.
"Right, Kento, because there's no discussion about the need for healing time or…" he glanced at Dani. "R&R."
"Well, whatever. I'm just happy it's time to go."
"So," Ryo said loudly, attempting to instill some order. "Anyone have any ideas of what we should do next? We do have a big advantage now." He nodded at Dani. "With six of us working together, I think we'll really be able to make some headway."
Rowen slapped Dani on the back and grinned at her. "We'll have this city freed in no time," he announced.
"Well, we do still need a plan," Ryo pointed out.
"My plan is to crush some skulls," Kento proclaimed.
"That's still not a plan," Sage told him. "We're here to make a plan, not continually announce our dominance. As a reminder, we tried it your way already. We lost."
"I mean, we didn't lose," Kento argued. "We just… didn't enjoy a crushing victory. I mean, nobody died."
"Barely," Rowen muttered.
"We can continue taking out patrols," suggested Cye, cutting off the previous discussion. "Eventually, he has to be weakened."
"That's not exactly been the case so far," Ryo pointed out. "Those soldiers seem endless. And the longer we drag this out, the longer people suffer."
"I may have an idea," Dani said quietly. All eyes turned to look at her. "But it'll be pretty dangerous."
"Danger? Ha! I laugh in the face of danger!" Kento cried out, leaping to his feet. Dani smirked in spite of herself. Ryo rolled his eyes, then turned back to the Tempest warrior.
"All right, Dani. We're listening. What's the plan?
Once again, the six warriors found them standing outside the palace. The streets were silent. It was the middle of the afternoon the next day, the cityscape brightly lit by the sun. No enemy warriors were to be seen, and they had not passed a single patrol on their way here. A few pieces of trash, blown free from cans across Toyama, blew gently down the road.
"Does anyone else have the creeps?" Rowen asked, looking around. He spoke at a murmur, clearly trying not to be heard.
"No. It just means they're on the east side of the city. I told you, this is the perfect time. It's between shift changes, and the time they work the other end." Dani said casually. Her voice, notably, was at a regular speaking volume.
"Are you sure about this? I'm with Cye. Something feels wrong." Cye added quietly, shooting a look at Dani.
"It's fine. Promise." Dani reached for the door in front of them. It wasn't the great front gate of the palace, but rather a smaller door - the same she had used to take Kento out. It opened for her, revealing a dark corridor.
"So this door is just… unlocked. And unguarded?" queried Ryo.
"I'm telling you, it's fine. They just don't expect us to come in this way. You guys normally make big, dramatic attacks rather than going on stealth missions." Dani stepped inside, still not lowering her voice. She took off to the right, obviously expecting to be followed.
The five male Ronin looked at each nervously. "This just seems weird," said Rowen."
"Look, I trust her," Sage told them confidently. "Let's go!" He took off after Dani, and the other four reluctantly followed.
Together, the six fully armored soldiers crept through the quiet halls. The only lighting came from torches set into the walls every few yards, sending flickering, dim light in pools that did not quite brighten all the corners. They saw no enemy soldiers. "We're almost there," Dani promised, again speaking louder than was strictly necessary.
"Dani," Sage whispered nervously. "Keep your voice down. Something's not right here."
"It's fine," Dani assured him. "Like I told you, everyone's elsewhere at this time. Besides, we're almost there." She turned a final corner, and the hall opened up into a wide atrium. The floor was covered in lush, red carpet, and the plain walls of the hall turned to richly decorated murals and paintings. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, brightly illuminating the large room. At one end stood two massive doors, the handles made of snaking, golden dragons. As with the other areas of the palace, the room stood empty, completely devoid of life other than the six Ronin.
"Okay, there's no way this is right," Cye whispered nervously.
"I promise, this is the way." Dani walked confidently across the room, her footfalls muffled by the carpet. Still, in the eerie silence of the atrium, it seemed grotesquely loud. "This leads to the gate to the Netherworld. If we move quick, we'll have a big headstart to freeing the citizens before Talpa realizes what we're up to.!" She grasped the golden dragon door handles, then looked over her shoulders. "Are you coming?"
Ryo took a deep breath. "Come on, guys. Let's do this."
Dani smiled at him, then pulled open the huge door. It swung open with a loud creak, but only darkness was visible beyond. "Hurry!" She rushed headlong into the darkness, and the five boys followed behind.
Cye squinted his eyes, but the room they entered had no windows. The only light crept in through the open door behind them. "Dani, I can't see anything. Are you sure this is the right way?"
"I'm sure," she said, and then the door swung shut with an ominous thud.