I don't own Ronin Warriors. OCs are mine.

Chapter 10

Ryo sat at the library, massaging his temple with his fingertips. His head was throbbing like someone was pounding a jackhammer inside his head. He didn't know why he was feeling this way nor did he know how to get rid of it.

A hand was placed on his shoulder and, when he looked up, saw Mika standing next to him. She smiled and then sat down. "How are you doing?"

"I'm ok," Ryo answered her.

"Are you sure? You don't look so good."

"My head is killing me." Ryo winced as the pounding got worse in his head. "I really have no idea why it hurts so much."

"Here." Mika reached into her bag, taking out two water bottles. "Have some water." She gave him one of them and Ryo opened it, taking a sip. His headache instantly went away, feeling relieved from it. "This really helped me, thank you."

Mika smiled at him. "You're welcome." She scooched herself closer to him, wrapping her arms around his. "What are you working on?"

"Just some homework. I would like to finish it before I go home, but someone," Ryo gave Mika a pointed look. "won't let me work on it."

"Ok, I get it." Mika stood up, smiling down at Ryo. "I'll leave you to do your homework. See you later." She gave him a hug and then left the library. As Mika walked around campus, she saw Naga and Fuzen walking towards her. She hurried over to them, checking to make sure the Ronins weren't around. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to trick the temptress."

"That was the plan," started Fuzen. "But something happened. We're going to try something else, and we need your help."

"With what?" Mika asked.

"We're going to play a little trick on the Ronins, to get them against one another," answered Naga.

"What?!" Mika shook her head. "No, I won't be part of this plan."

"We don't want to do this either, but it's the only way to get the Ronins off the temptress's spell," reasoned Fuzen.

Mika stared at him before slowly nodding her head. "Ok, what do you have in mind?"

Kento was walking to the cafeteria to get lunch when he spotted Sage and Rowen talking amongst themselves. He jogged over to them, opening his mouth to call out their names. "I can't believe Tiffany is overdramatic about this." Kento stopped and then moved behind a pillar to listen in on their conversation.

"I agree. So what if Ryo is hanging out with another woman? It's not like he's cheating on her or anything."

Kento shook his head in disbelief; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Were his friends defending Ryo instead of Tiffany? Did they not remember how Ryo treated them? How Ryo treated Tiffany? Kento scoffed at them and walked away from his hiding spot.

Fuzen and Naga watched him go and then smiled at each other.

Kento sat in the cafeteria, staring at his food. He kept pushing the food around with his fork as he thought over what Sage and Rowen had said.

"No appetite, Kento?" He looked up and saw Cye standing there, with Sage and Rowen close behind. The three sat down at the table. "Everything ok?"

"No, it's not ok," grumbled Kento, glaring at Sage and Rowen.

"What's wrong?" Rowen asked.

"Are you seriously asking me that question?" Kento stood up, grabbing his plate. "Some friends you are." He then walked away, leaving Sage, Rowen, and Cye confused.

Tiffany walked into the house but stopped when she heard yelling coming from the kitchen. She hurried over to see the guys arguing with one another. "Hey, hey, what's going on?" demanded Tiffany, staring at everyone.

"Why don't you tell her, traitors?" said Kento.

"We don't know what you're talking about!" Rowen yelled.

"Wait, why are they traitors?" Tiffany asked Kento.

Sage turned to Tiffany. "He accused Rowen and me on siding with Ryo and not with you."

"Sides? There's no-"

"I heard you!" exclaimed Kento. "I heard what you two said! You claimed Tiffany was being overdramatic and that Ryo was fine where he was!"

"We never said that!" Sage yelled.

The trio started arguing again.

"Guys, please stop arguing," pleaded Cye.

"Cye, how can you be siding with them?" asked Kento.

"I'm not claiming sides. I'm only trying to get you three to stop fighting."

"Well, I'm not going to stay here and listen to him calling us traitors," said Sage. "I'm going to spend the night at my parents' house." He walked over to the stairs to go up and pack his stuff.

"Can you give me a lift to my parents' place, too?" Rowen asked him. "I don't want to be here either." Rowen followed him up to pack his stuff as well.

"Fine, leave. It just proves you're guilty," said Kento.

"Kento!" scolded Tiffany, glaring at him. She ran up the stairs to Sage and Rowen's room to try and reason with them.

The door opened then and Ryo walked in. "Well look who it is," exclaimed Kento. "The man that started it all."

"Shut up, Kento," ordered Ryo.

Kento ran up to him, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and threw him against the wall, holding him there. "I'm not the one screwing with some girl behind Tiffany's back."

"I said shut up!" Ryo threw a punch at Kento, hitting the other man's cheek and throwing Kento off him. Kento held his cheek and glared at Ryo. He got ready to throw his own punch when Cye stood in between them, his hands on each of his friends' chests to keep them separated.

"Stop it!" he yelled at them. "This isn't right!"

"No, it's not," agreed Kento. "I'm not staying in the same house with a man that doesn't respect his woman." Kento walked away to go upstairs and pack his stuff.

Ryo left the kitchen to go upstairs as well, leaving Cye alone in the kitchen.

Tiffany left Sage and Rowen's room, unsuccessful in changing their minds. She saw Kento coming up the stairs, a bruise forming on his face. "Kento, what-"

"I'm going to my parents' for the night," is all he said, walking into the room.

Tiffany stared at him in disbelief then saw Ryo walking upstairs and into the guest room, slamming the door shut. Tiffany stood in the hallway for a moment then walked over to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She leaned against the door, staring at the floor as tears welled in her eyes. She shut them tight but couldn't prevent them from escaping. Tiffany slid down to the floor, bringing her legs to her chest and laying her head on her knees. She wrapped her arms around her legs as her body wracked with sobs. A few days ago, everything was fine but now, everything was falling apart.

Sephiran watched the event with Tiffany and the Ronins, happy with how everything turned out.

"Very good, my generals," praised Sephiran. "It won't be long now."

"I hate this," declared Mika. "I don't like the guys fighting amongst themselves."

"It is hard, my dear," agreed Kai. "But in order to help them, we must get their attention off the temptress. Them fighting with each other diverts their attention on each other instead of the temptress, making it easy for us to stop her without the Ronins helping her."

Mika nodded, bringing her arms up to hug herself. Even after Kai's explanation, she thought something felt off like something wasn't off.

Days passed and life got darker for Tiffany. Kento, Sage, and Rowen haven't come back after their fight leaving only her and Cye. Ryo spent most of his time with Mika, coming back only late at night and straight to his room. It's like he wasn't there anymore. She missed everyone and it was too quiet in the house. The gazebo wasn't helping her anymore and going to bed was lonely without Ryo's arms around her. Tiffany kept on going through the day like it wasn't bothering her, but she would break down at night in the darkness of her bedroom.

Cye wasn't doing so well either. Three of his friends wouldn't acknowledge each other at college. He would watch as they would walk right past each other without looking at the other. Ryo was pretty much non-existent and he could see how it was affecting Tiffany. She was becoming distant, only offering Cye small talk and nothing else. He could tell she was breaking but Tiffany had put up a good act, making it look like it wasn't bothering her. Cye could tell, though; and it hurt him that he couldn't do anything to help. He hated that his friends were fighting with each other and that they were too stubborn to talk about it.

Mika kept Ryo around her little finger, making sure he kept on drinking the water to keep him enchanted with her. She loved that Ryo never brings up Tiffany during their conversations, but Mika decided to put him to the test; to make sure he was done with Tiffany for good.

One day, before their lunch break, Mika turned to Ryo and said, "Let's go somewhere else for lunch."

Ryo smiled at her. "Sure, anything you want."

At the mall, Tiffany was walking over to the food court to get lunch when she saw Mika and Ryo there. They were smiling at each other with Mika wrapping her arms around Ryo's. Tiffany was stunned when Mika kissed Ryo's cheek and Ryo just smiled down at her. Tiffany remained where she was, shocked that Ryo would let that woman kiss his cheek without pushing her away. She chuckled to herself, the tears forming in her eyes. Maybe I should have left with Asami, that way I wouldn't see this, Tiffany thought to herself. She turned around and started walking back to the store, wiping her eyes to keep herself from crying. No, I'm not crying over him anymore. I'm done. She walked into the store and Iris was walking around. Iris looked up and smiled at Tiffany, but the smile instantly went away when she Tiffany's tear brimmed eyes. "What's wrong, my child?" Iris asked, stopping Tiffany in her tracks.

"We're through," answered Tiffany. "Ryo and I are done."

"What? Why?"

Before Tiffany could respond, she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. She turned around, frozen in place when she saw Mika and Ryo walking towards them. Mika was smirking while her arms were snaked around Ryo's arm. "Hello," Mika greeted when they were closer to her. "I'm looking for a dress to wear tonight for our dinner date." Mika gestured to herself and Ryo. "Ryo is taking me out to a fancy restaurant." Mika looked up at Ryo and said, "Right, Ryo?"

Ryo smiled down at her. "Yes."

Tiffany put on a smile even though she wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. "We have many different styles of dresses, miss. Are you looking for an evening dress?"

"Yes, and something that's…eye-catching."

Tiffany raised a hand over to a rack of dresses against the wall. "We have evening cocktail dresses on the side here, in a variety of styles and colors."

"Could you help me pick out one? You are probably the expert in this field, and Ryo says I look great in anything. Isn't that right, Ryo?"

"Yeah, it is."

Iris observed this exchange and she hated what she was seeing right now. She could tell Tiffany was trying to keep it together but was pissed at Ryo for doing this in front of Tiffany.

Before Tiffany could walk over to the dresses, Iris grabbed hold of her, pushing her back. "Tiffany, I don't think you got lunch. Why don't you go out and grab something to eat and I'll deal with these two?"

"But-" Tiffany stopped when she saw Iris's stern look gazed toward her. "Ok." She walked out of the store and, once she was gone, Iris turned back to the two.

"Now, you said you were looking for an evening dress to go out with Ryo, right?" Iris confirmed, smiling at Mika nodding her head. "Ok, good, good." Iris suddenly slapped Ryo across the face, earning shocked gasps from the people in the store. "What is wrong with you?!"

Ryo stared at her, a hand on his cheek. "What-"

"Don't even try to defend yourself! You are with Tiffany and now you're with this…woman!"

"Excuse me, but-"

Iris turned to Mika. "Shut up! How could you do this to someone?! Taking a man away from his loved one!"

"I was only trying to help him!" defended Mika. "He was in an unhealthy relationship. You didn't know what this woman was doing to him!"

Iris walked up to her, looking her dead in the eye. "I've known Tiffany for two years now, and I know what she is like. I don't know what you're trying to do, but you need to stop." She shook her head at Mika. "You should be ashamed of yourself and so should your parents."

Mika flinched, casting her eyes downward. She swallowed a lump in her throat and then looked back up, giving Iris a hard stare. "Tiffany is not who she says she is. She is only using Ryo and the others for her own desires. I'm only helping them see it." She glanced up at Ryo. "Aren't you happier with me than that witch?"

Smack. Mika raised a hand to her cheek, staring at Iris in disbelief. Before she could say anything, Iris leaned closer to her and whispered, "Don't try and play this game, Maria." Mika widened her eyes. "I don't think you want Ryo to know who you really are, right?"

"No," Mika squeaked out.

"Good." Iris straightened up, keeping the death glare on her. "Get out of my store before I call security, and never show your face here again."

Mika nodded, pulling Ryo along with her.

"No, he's staying." Iris placed a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "We need to have a little talk."

Mika glanced back and forth between Iris and Ryo before setting her eyes on Ryo. "I'll be waiting at the food court, ok?"

"Yeah, sure," Ryo answered, giving her a smile. Mika smiled back and then walked out of the store. Once she was gone, Iris released a breath and then gripped Ryo's arm. "You, mister, are in deep trouble." She turned and dragged Ryo behind her, making Ryo stumble on his feet to keep up with Iris. As they went to the backroom, Iris pulled a girl aside, "I need to have a talk with this boy. No one comes into the backroom. Take over as assistant manager until I get back."

"Yes, Iris."

Iris walked into the backroom, and into an office area. After pulling Ryo in, she closed the door and locked it behind her. Iris turned towards her desk, rummaging around. "Sit down, Ryo."

"I'm fine standing."

Iris turned to glare at Ryo. "I said sit." Ryo sat down on the chair across from her. Iris turned back to what she was doing, taking out some candles. "I'm very disappointed in you, Ryo." She placed the candles on her desk, using a match to light them. "Being with another woman while you're with Tiffany. I can't believe you would do that."

"I didn't-"

"Quiet!" Iris blew out the match, the smell of jasmine filling the room. She stood behind her desk, staring at Ryo as the scent got stronger. She noticed Ryo fidgeting in his seat and his hands were gripping the seat of his chair, his knuckles turning white. Iris hummed at this then turned to the cabinet against the wall, opening it. She took out a teapot and placed it on the counter next to the cabinet. She walked towards the back of the room where a small kettle was there with a sink right next to it. She filled the pot with water and then placed it on the kettle, turning it on.

"What are you doing?" Ryo asked, releasing a cough he'd been trying to hold in.

"Don't talk," Iris ordered, taking out two small jars. "Just breathe."

"At least burn out the candles." Ryo coughed more. "The smell is overwhelming."

Iris turned back to him. "Good, that means it's working." She walked towards the back, placing the two jars on the counter. She reached towards the cupboards over the sink and opened them, taking out two teacups and a spoon. Iris opened the jars, taking out a stem of rosemary from one of them. Starting at the end, Iris ran her fingers down the stem, pushing the seeds out to land in the teacup. She poured the hot water into the teacup and, from the other jar, put in a spoonful of clary sage. Iris mixed the herbs together and then poured the water into another cup but added mint to this one. Placing both cups on a tray, she walked over to Ryo, giving him the cup with the herbs while keeping the mint one for herself. "Drink." Iris sat down in her chair, holding the cup in her hands. "It will make you feel better." She took a sip, sighing as the minty liquid ran down her throat.

Ryo stared at Iris then down at the bright green liquid, a powerful smile coming from it. He didn't want to drink it, but Iris said it would help him. Deciding it was better to do this than upset her again, Ryo took a sip of the liquid. Ryo violently coughed, almost dropping the cup in his hands. The smell of jasmine and the taste of rosemary and clary sage were too overwhelming for him. His eyes watered as he continued to cough, his chest tightening and his head spinning and pounding. "Drink all of it," came Iris's voice, it sounded closer, like she was right next to him. "I promise, the pain will go away."

Ryo shakily brought the cup to his lips, drinking the rest of the liquid. Swallowing the last bit, Ryo released a shaky breath and noticed the pain was gone and the smell wasn't as bad. Ryo looked up to see the candles were still lit but Iris wasn't there. A hand on his shoulder made him turn to his left. Iris stood there, a blank look on her face. She knelt beside him to look him in the eye. "How do you feel?"

"I…I feel…" Ryo trailed off, trying to think of the right word.

"Clean?" Iris offered.

"Yeah."

"Good." She patted Ryo's knee, taking the cup out of his hand and walking it over to the back. Iris walked back over to her desk, slapping Ryo upside the head when she passed him.

"Ow!" Ryo rubbed the back of his head. "What was that for?!"

"That was for what you put Tiffany through!"

Ryo froze, staring at Iris with wide eyes. "What do you mean? What did I do?"

Iris stared back at him. "Before I answer that, I want you to answer something for me." At Ryo's nod, Iris continued, "What was the last thing you remember?"

Ryo looked down at the floor, racking his brain for the answer. His eyes narrowed as he tried to remember everything that had happened, but his brain was fuzzy. "The only thing I remember is meeting Mika. After that, everything got foggy, and when it started to clear, my head would start pounding. It was only after I drank what Mika had offered me that the fog appeared again."

"I see. That's what I thought." Iris sat down, grabbing hold of her chin as she sat in silence. "But how did she got hold of something like that?"

"What do you mean? What happened."

Iris glanced back up at him. "You were under a spell, a trance that made you focus on Mika and Mika alone. Because of that, you…" Iris hesitated to tell Ryo what he did to Tiffany.

"What did I do?" Ryo thought back to what Iris told him earlier, and his eyes widen. "No…please don't tell I hurt Tiffany."

"I wish that weren't the case, but you did. From what Tiffany had told me, you ignored her, spending all of your time with Mika. You gave all your attention to her, setting your sights on her. And today, you were flirting with Mika right in front of Tiffany!"

"What?!" Ryo shook his head. "No, I would never hurt her. I…I didn't…" Ryo put his head in his hands, not believing what he had heard. "She probably hates me and never wants to see me again."

"Yes, but I can help you." Ryo looked up and watched as Iris stood back up and walked over to him. "However, there is something else we've got to do first."

"What's that?"

"We need to help your friends for they are victims of a spell as well."