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

Chapter 11

Tiffany sat in the food court, moving her food around with a fork. She ate some but she wasn't really hungry. She kept on thinking about what happened between her, Ryo, and the woman. Tiffany was also thinking about what Iris was doing to them right now. Was Iris helping the woman find a dress for her date? Did Iris yell at Ryo for the way he treated her?

Tiffany glanced around the food court as she absentmindedly moved her food around her plate, stopping her actions when she saw Mika walking into the food court. Mika looked upset, keeping her gaze downwards. She then looked up, meeting Tiffany's eyes. The two stared at each other and it was all the two could focus on. Mika diverted her attention away from Tiffany and walked over to a table and sat down. Tiffany kept her eyes on Mika, looking away when she looked back at her. Part of Tiffany really wanted to go over to Mika and start a fight with her but decided it wasn't really worth it.

Tiffany went back to her food, picking at her food again and only taking small bites. She didn't dare glance back up again, not wanting to meet Mika's eyes. Thinking about Mika and Ryo made Tiffany lose her appetite, and she didn't want to finish eating what was on her plate. Tiffany got up, threw away her food, and then started to walk back to the store, not looking at Mika as she walked past her.

Before Tiffany could leave the food court, Ryo walked in, stopping to stare at her. Tiffany only stared at him for a minute then she walked past him, stopping when Ryo grabbed her arm. "Tiffany-"

"Let me go," she said, her voice deathly low. Ryo released her arm and Tiffany continued on her way. Ryo watched her go and then turned around, noticing Mika sitting in the food court.

Mika stood up and smiled at him, but Ryo turned away from her and walked out of the food court. Mika watched him go, puzzled as to why he ignored her.

Cye sat in the library, quietly working on his homework. He glanced up from it, seeing Kento sitting at a table with Sage and Rowen at another table, far away from Kento. Cye released a sigh and went back to working on his homework.

"Cye." He looked up, startled to see Ryo standing next to him. "Ryo? I thought-"

"I need you and the others to be home tonight," Ryo interrupted.

"Why?" Cye turned away from him to go back to his homework. "Aren't you going to be with Mika?"

"No, I need you guys to stop fighting."

Cye quickly turned back to him. "How did you know we were fighting?"

"I was told, and it needs to stop."

"Ok, but good luck getting those three to come back." Cye gestured to Kento, Sage, and Rowen. "They haven't been back at the house in days."

Ryo nodded, walking over to Sage and Rowen's table, telling them what he told Cye. They were skeptical but agreed to come home. Kento was harder to convince but eventually agreed.

After classes, they all back to the house. They were currently sitting in the lounge. Sage, Rowen, and Cye sat on the couch, Kento sat in the recliner facing them, and Ryo sat in the other recliner. It was quiet in the room, no one spoke.

Kento decided to break the silence. "Isn't Mika waiting for you? Get on with it."

Ryo turned to glare at him before addressing everyone else. "I want to apologize for what I did, especially with how I acted."

"You shouldn't be telling us that," said Sage. "Tiffany is the one who deserves your apology."

"I know, but I need your guys' help."

"Why?" Cye asked.

"Yeah, you can apologize to her yourself," agreed Rowen.

"I want to make her happy again, and I would rather have this stupid fight over and done with before I can do that."

"You are going to have to talk with these two then." Kento gestured to Sage and Rowen. "They were siding with you and not Tiffany."

"You should actually check if someone said it or not before you go pointing fingers," stated Sage.

"I saw you two! Don't deny it!"

"Don't start," pleaded Cye.

A knock sounded at the door and Ryo went to get it, happy to see Iris on the other side. "You're just in time. There was going to be another argument again."

"You're a leader, you should be able to control them," Iris scolded, walking into the house. She walked into the lounge, smiling at everyone. "Hello. I'm Iris."

"Weren't you…" Sage started but Iris finished for him. "Yes, I used to be Ryo's nanny as well as yours." Iris placed a bag she brought with her on a table. "And I know you're the Ronin Warriors."

"How did you know?" Rowen asked.

"You think all of you becoming friends was a coincidence? I know all of you were going to become the Ronin Warriors, protectors of this earth. I had to get you all to meet so you would become comfortable with each other." Iris took out candles from the bag, lighting them and jasmine quickly filled the room. "Now." She turned to them, staring them down. "All of you do need to get over this stupid fight, especially how you're fighting over nothing."

"We were not-"

"Quiet, Hardrock!" Iris glared at him, earning silence from him. "Kaos picked you five for a reason and I don't intend to see you five falling apart over nothing." She gestured to Ryo. "What Ryo did over the past few days wasn't technically his fault, and before you argue, let me explain. Ryo had a spell on him, making him focus his attention on a woman and only on her. I don't know how or what had happened, but I was able to get him out of it. And this fight you're arguing about, it's not even worth it." Iris glanced at Kento. "You were tricked into believing your two friends were talking about Tiffany."

"But I saw them!"

"What you saw was only an illusion, and nothing more."

"And how would you know? You weren't there."

"It's true, but Kaos told me."

Silence filled the room, the guys shocked by Iris's statement. "How did you know the Ancient One?" Cye asked, breaking it.

A small smile spread across Iris's face. "He was my husband. We were together for many years. I lead Kaos's clan for a long time until he felt Talpa's presence in the world. He knew who the five Ronin Warriors would be, but asked me to get you five together so you would be familiar with each other. That's when I started working as a nanny and was able to get all of you together before Kaos started training you." Iris looked down at her lap, releasing a sigh. "I just wished I got to see him before he died."

"I'm sorry," Ryo said.

"It's all right." Iris patted his knee. "That's when I discovered I could communicate with him through meditation. When I noticed Tiffany wasn't her cheerful self and that Ryo wasn't coming by as often, I knew something was wrong. Through meditation, Kaos told me what was going on and what was causing all of this. That was when I took Ryo out of his spell, and to get you to stop fighting with one another."

Kento stared at Sage and Rowen and then let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I accused you of siding with Ryo. I should have known you two wouldn't do anything like that."

"It's fine," said Sage.

"Yeah, you're prone to act first, ask questions later," input Rowen.

"I understand that enemies want us to fight with one another, but why?" wondered Cye.

"Think about it," said Iris. "Why would an enemy want Ryo to be focused on someone else and the rest of you fighting with one another?"

Ryo froze, knowing exactly what this enemy wanted. "No," he whispered.

Tiffany got off the bus at her stop, wanting nothing more than to just go to her room and sit in the darkness when she saw Asami sitting at the bus stop. Asami smiled when she saw Tiffany and got up from her seat. Tiffany narrowed her eyes at her. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk," Asami answered, watching the bus drive away. "Where were you coming from?"

"Work."

"How was work?"

Tiffany was silent before answering, "It was fine."

Asami nodded. "How have you been?"

"What do you want, mother?"

"I…I just wanted to know if you changed your mind. If you wanted to come back to the village with me."

"I'm fine where I am." Tiffany forced a smile. "Perfectly happy." She whistled for Kalana to come to her.

"Are you sure? You look tired and your smile doesn't reach your eyes." Tiffany stared at her, trying to think of an excuse to tell Asami. "Tiffany, I'm your mother. You can tell me anything."

Tiffany sighed. "I've been having…issues back at home and it doesn't look like it's going to be fixed."

"Are you trying to get it fixed?"

"Don't you think I've tried!" Tiffany stared at Asami, her eyes burning with anger. "I have tried to get everything right, trying to get them to talk with one another or to get them to stay. Everything is falling apart and…and…" Tiffany stopped to cover her eyes with her hand. "I don't know what to do anymore." Her voice cracked at the end and she bit her lip to keep herself from crying. A soft nudge and a whine made Tiffany uncover her eyes, looking down to meet Kalana's golden eyes. Tiffany smiled at her friend and gently rubbed the wolf's head.

"Tiffany," Asami started, taking a step closer to her daughter. "I'm here for you. I want to be part of your life and to make your worries and stresses disappear." Tiffany glanced over at Asami, making the older woman smile at her. "Let me take you home. It won't be forever, only a few days. Let's spend some time together and get to know each other better."

Tiffany stared at Asami, wondering if she wanted to take her offer and to go to her home. It would be nice to get to know her true home and to know about where she came from. Tiffany looked back at Kalana, almost like wanting an answer from her. Kalana only stared back then closed her eyes and leaned her head on Tiffany's side. "Would it only be a few days?"

Asami kept her smile as she answered, "Of course. You can come back whenever you want." The lie came out smooth and she hoped Tiffany didn't detect anything.

"I-"

"Tiffany!"

Both women turned their attention to the Ronins running towards them. They stopped, staring at the two women. Tiffany was shocked to see the guys together and even more shocked that Iris was with them. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We wanted to make sure you were ok," answered Ryo.

"What are you talking about? Why are you worried-" Tiffany gasped, frozen in place at the feel of a sword pressed against her throat. Kalana growled at the intruder and went to attack but was kicked away from them. "Kalana!"

"It's very good to see you again," Karver said, pressing himself close to her. "I've missed you since our last time we were together."

The guys put on their sub-armors, getting into a fighting stance.

"Uh uh uh. I wouldn't do anything if I were you." Karver smiled at them. "You wouldn't want anything to happen to her right?"

"No, I don't," said Ryo. "But you don't want anything to happen to her either, especially if your master wants her alive."

Karver glared at Ryo. "I'm willing to take that chance."

"What?!" Asami screeched. "Karver, you know what Sephiran said!"

"Mom?" Tiffany slowly asked. "You're…you're with them?"

"I'm sorry, Tiffany; I had no choice. They threatened Mizuki."

Tiffany's anger rose. "How dare you." She winced at Karver tightening his grip on her.

"It's the cost of war, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that."

"I'll call you whatever I want." Karver leaned closer to her, whispering in her ear, "Sweetheart."

Iris stepped forward. "Let her go."

Karver laughed at her. "What are you going to do, old lady?"

Iris chuckled to herself, shaking her head. "Let me give you a piece of advice." Her eyes glowed white. "Don't call me old." A bright flash of light shot out, going through Tiffany and hitting Karver, sending him flying back a few feet. The light circled around Tiffany and pulled her closer to the guys. The light danced around Iris, tempting Karver to try and attack. Karver snarled at them, raising his nodaci but stopped when Asami stood in front of him. "What are you doing?"

"You can't fit her. It's designed to only hurt people with evil in their hearts." Asami turned to the group. "We'll be back." The two disappeared.

Iris's eyes turned back to its brown color and the light dispersed. She turned to Tiffany who was rubbing her neck. "Are you alright?"'

Tiffany nodded her head.

Ryo placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure?"

Tiffany glared at him then turned her glare to everyone else. "All of you, especially you Ryo, have some explaining to do."