Part Two: Excuse From Pain

"The Heart asks Pleasure - first -
And then - Excuse from Pain -
And then - those little Anodynes
That deaden suffering -
And then - to go to sleep -
And then - if it should be
The will of its Inquisitor
The privilege to die - "
--Emily Dickinson

Mia's House, Outside Toyama, Japan

      He sighed as he looked out the window, leaning against the sill. I hate waiting. It's so... boring. And time always goes by so slowly... Kento tapped his fingers lightly on the wood before a soft snicker hit his ears. He turned back to look into the living room. "What are you laughing at?" he demanded irately.
      "Nothing," Ryo responded, walking up to stand next to him. His headache was finally fading away, and he had never been gladder to get rid of one. "Just wondering what you were waiting for more: your girlfriend or the groceries."
      "Very funny," he responded. "I just… haven't seen her in a long time, is all. And I kinda want to be able to have fun before we have to fight again, you know?"
      Again, again, again. Dammit! His friend frowned thoughtfully, only his eyes betraying his true anxiety. "So, you think so too."
      Kento turned to lean against the wall. "Yeah. I mean, I wish I could be like Cye, and believe that we got Talpa for good… but I just can't."
      "I think even Cye knows better than that."
      There was a pause before he replied quietly, "Yeah."
      For a long time there was only silence, and Ryo, sensing the mood in the air, thought it best not to talk anymore. He went over to the couch and flopped down on it, wincing as the movement sent a fresh spear of pain through his head. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness show him the memories of that battle. The pain he had felt when, one by one, his friends were absorbed by Talpa. He'd thought they were dead… how glad he was when he was proved wrong…
      "Hey… Ryo, you okay?" Kento said from above him.
      Ryo opened crystalline blue eyes to look up at him, blinking. Oh... man, are my eyes wet? Dammit. "Just fine," he said, sitting up hastily. "Headache's coming back again," he lied, scrubbing at his eyes in pretense of rubbing away sleep. He couldn't talk about how he felt; that was so… so sissy. And besides, it's not like they'll even understand what I mean anyway... they don't even remember being in Talpa's spirit...
      The other boy gave him a look that clearly said 'bullshit'. However, he just nodded and turned back to the window. After a minute's silence, he said, "They're home."
      "Wanna go call the others to bring in the groceries?" he asked, standing wearily. "I'll go out and get started." Kento nodded and walked toward the stairs while Ryo trudged toward the doorway, slipping on his shoes as he went.
      Smiling at Mia as she cut the engine and opened her door, he approached the car, yawning. It was then that he noticed the apprehensive look on her face, one matched on Sage's. As he walked around the car on Mia's side, Sage opened his door and hopped out.
      "Ryo," he said immediately, "something happened while we were out."
      His heart dipped to the ground in response. "A Dynasty attack?"
      Mia shook her head vehemently. "Help her out of the car, Sage?" she asked, glancing over at the blonde. "I don't think she knows what to do."
      "Her?" he asked as the screen door banged open, Kento appearing on the step. Cye wasn't far behind.
      Kento ambled towards them. "Rowen's sleeping, so we decided not to wake him up." He chuckled. "Not as if he doesn't sleep in till noon every day anyhow, but I guess you need a nap now and then."
      His best friend frowned at the group around the car. "What's going on?" He watched as Sage leaned into the car, obviously offering his hand to the person inside.
      Suddenly, one bare foot and then another slid out of the car, visible underneath the open passenger-side door. As the red-haired woman stepped forward Sage shut the door, and she winced at the noise. Then her attention was caught by the three young men standing in the driveway, and she looked at them just as curiously as they were regarding her. She was almost as tall as Sage, with large brown eyes seemingly permanently fixed in a childlike expression of wonder.
      "This is Kintami Taia," he said, almost as if he were presenting her for inspection.
      There was silence for a moment. "Um… Mia?" Ryo asked, looking over at her. She raised an eyebrow in response, blue-green eyes questioning. "Why's she covered in blood?"
      The Ronin historian glanced down quickly. "She… killed someone," she said in an undertone. It had not been quiet enough, however, that the other two couldn't hear.
      "What?" Kento burst. "Then what is she doing here?"
      Cye nodded in agreement. "Shouldn't you have called the police or something, you guys?" he asked incredulously.
      The sudden strange voice silenced them, as the woman spoke up. "Look," she said to Sage, some kind of excitement in her eyes, "they're the Ronin Warriors!" This really was good luck! I didn't have to search for them at all!
      "I know," he replied, turning to give Ryo a look. "That's why," he said, near tonelessly.
      "But isn't one missing?" she asked, gazing at them askance.
      "He's… inside," Cye said weakly, turning to their unofficial leader to wordlessly ask him what they were supposed to do now.
      Mia scowled at the Ronins. "Let's not stand out in the driveway, ne?" she said sternly. "Bring in the groceries, and we'll talk after they're put away, all right?"
      "Sure thing, Mia." Kento nodded, moving toward the car to harvest it of its food. The woman helped Taia towards the house, and all four of them found that they couldn't help giving her weird looks as she went by. She never seemed to notice, taking in her surroundings with interest.
      They were quiet as they loaded bags onto their arms. Kento quickly slammed down the trunk door and turned to Sage as they went up the walk. "So, where'd you pick her up?"
      He ignored the hint of teasing, responding, "In a car on the side of a road." He stopped for a moment to look back at the other three. "Guys, there was hardly anything left of him…"
      "Sage…" Cye said comfortingly, looking as if he would put his hand on the other's shoulder if he wasn't carrying so many bags.
      The blonde boy shook his head, starting to walk again. "It's all right."
      "I want to know how she knows about us," Ryo hissed, trying to keep his voice down as they passed the living room where the women were.
      "I don't know. She just looked at me, and said 'You're a Ronin Warrior'."
      "Maybe she could sense your armor somehow," Kento offered, pulling out packages of soba and handing them to Cye to put in the cupboard.
      I hate to even think this, but... "Is she Dynasty?" he asked them all, taking the noodles from his friend and tucking them on the shelf. "This could be just… some kind of elaborate ruse, or trick…"
      The Ronin of Wisdom shook his head slowly. "If it is, I don't think Taia knows anything about it. I get the feeling she'd just… tell us. I mean…"
      "She's just like a little kid," Ryo finished, closing the refrigerator with finality.
      A little kid that exploded a man into - He reined in his thoughts, forcing those particular ones away. Well, even if she did that... Sage nodded in agreement. "It's like she needs to be protected."
      Kento sighed. "So should we go find out what's up?" He looked around at the others, who all nodded. The Ronins made their way down the hall and back to the living room.
      Mia was sitting next to Taia on one of the couches and dabbing at the blood on her face with a tissue. She glanced up as they crowded into the doorway, looking in hesitantly. "Well?" she asked, and they carefully came into the room and sat down in chairs or on the other sofa, almost as if they were trying not to spark the strange woman into a murderous rage.
      "Introductions first," she said as they settled in. "Taia, these three are Ryo, Cye and Kento. Rowen is the fifth Ronin, and he's upstairs asleep."
      After murmuring their hellos, the other guys looked over at their leader, and he sighed to himself. "Umm…" Ryo began, slightly resentful that he had to speak first. He reached up and ran a hand through his dark hair as she blinked at him curiously. "How did you know we were Ronins?" he asked finally. It was the question that was on all their minds, he knew. He'd wanted to ask Mia to get her cleaned up instead, but they shouldn't take the chance that she was Dynasty, and let her get an easy hold on them.
      "I heard you," she said.
      "Huh?" Ryo replied, looking confused. "What do you mean?"
      She raised her eyebrows. "Your music sounds like fire, all crackly and warm. That one," she pointed at Cye, "sounds like water on the beach. Sage feels like a forest when it's spring, and you," she looked over to Kento, "you're kinda… peaceful. Music like the earth."
      Cye leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "So, you're saying that you hear us, kind of like a musical… aura? And that's how you knew we were Ronins?"
      The woman nodded eagerly. At least they weren't yelling at her or anything. That was a good sign. "Yes, you sound like things. Other people just have Songs."
      "What do I sound like?" Mia asked, curious, placing her hand just below her neck.
      Taia's brows knitted in thought as she listened. Instead of a description, she began singing in a soprano tone, a wordless mix of notes that was almost classical sounding. If it had been instruments instead of a voice, Sage could easily imagine it being played to the emperor a thousand years ago.
      She stopped almost in mid-note, smiling tentatively. "Wow," Mia said finally, "that's really very nice."
      Cye smiled in an attempt to make her feel more at ease. "You have a lovely voice." She blushed slightly, momentarily shy with the praise.
      Ryo nodded in agreement, shifting in his seat, still on guard as always. This had better not be some kind of a trick, he thought darkly. It had better not, so help me...
      "It really fits you, Mia," Kento said suddenly in approval, as if sensing the roil of distrust coming off of Ryo and trying to cover it up somehow.
      "It's her Song," Taia said, a rather wistful note in her voice.
      She was seeming more animated now, more… normal. For a moment Sage just sat and looked at her. She was still a mess, but he could see a glimmer, of, perhaps, the way she had been before. "What is your Song, Taia?" he asked in a soft voice.
      She didn't look at him, gently swinging her feet back and forth below the coffee table. "I don't have a Song. I hear them and I sing them, but I don't have one. I hear music forever. Forever and ever…"
      "M'sorry," he mumbled, slightly embarrassed for bringing it up.
      She glanced down at the table, her eyes catching on an old travel magazine. She snatched it up, holding it close to see the pictures, turning the pages with such quick, impulsive gestures it reminded Mia of a character in a play she'd seen on television once. Helen something? Suppressing a sigh, she gently slid the magazine from Taia's fingers and turned it right-side up.
      As the girl-woman flipped the pages, seemingly unaware of anything else, the other five in the room met each others' eyes. This was going to take a lot of getting used to.

Approaching Mia's House, Outside Toyama, Japan

      "All right, now," Yui said officiously as the car sped its way down the small road leading out into the countryside, "I'll come pick you up tomorrow on my way back from work."
      Megumi laughed. "Unless she calls you, Yui, to say, 'forget it, we're getting married and having ten kids, so don't bother picking me up'."
      Sadako made an exasperated noise, knowing that much more would just egg her best friend on. "You can plan on it, please," she said, "although I will call you if things change."
      As Yui nodded, the other girl in the front seat made kissy noises, slowly finishing off her frenchfries. They'd stopped to eat earlier, and although she really wasn't hungry, being anxious and a little guilty at lying to her parents, she'd agreed. After some silence mixed with the warbling of the radio, Megumi licked salt from her lips and burst into laughter.
      "What now?" her sister asked, rolling her eyes.
      She flapped a hand in front of her face, controlling herself. "Ah, nothing, just remembering Blonde Bush Boy in the car behind us on the highway… remember? I swear he had a bush on his head…"
      "Megumi, grow up!" Yui snapped. "You're the reason they pulled over."
      Actually, it was to help that car on the side of the road, Sadako corrected silently, but there was no use in pointing that out. She looked out the window at the warm, sunset-lit scenery, the majority of the light fading in the west.
      And then suddenly there it was, looming straight ahead. The outline of a huge white mansion sat nestled in front of a small forest, and Yui hit the brakes as they neared, slowing down to look at it. "Holy shit, Sadako, is your boyfriend some millionaire or something?" she said in disbelief.
      "Kento? Hardly," Megumi said, "though it's not like he's poor or anything, with that restaurant."
      "He's staying here with friends," she explained a little sheepishly. He had told her that it was a big house, but she hadn't expected anything like this.
      Yui whistled in a low tone. "If I had friends like this, I wouldn't be dancing for a living."
      "Oh, you know you like it."
      The little car pulled up onto the smooth driveway. Sadako swallowed nervously, extracting her backpack from the floor and clutching her brown paper sack tightly. "Thank you very much for driving me," she told Yui as the woman opened the door, exited the car, and pushed forward the seat so she could get out.
      "I," her best friend said loudly, "am coming with you next time."
      "No problem," Yui said with a wink, ignoring her sister.
      Sadako inhaled to steel her nerves, smiling with false confidence. "See you soon."
      Lunging toward her over the driver's seat, Megumi called, "Hey, Sadako! The trick is to keep breathing, huh? You'll be fine!"
      She dipped in a slight bow. "I'll keep that in mind," she muttered, hearing the car rev up and back down the driveway. Well, here goes nothing. She walked up to the large door, paused slightly, and knocked.
      A horrified screech of "Crap!" came ringing through the house, heard faintly through the thick wood of the front door.
      Kento's voice. Sadako frowned slightly. That can't be good.
      And then the door was flung open, and all those thoughts washed away as her eyes caught on the figure in the doorway. For a moment the two just stared at each other. It had been only a few weeks since they had last seen each other, but of course it had seemed like years. He's changed, she thought briefly. It was nothing physical; he still had the same ash-blue hair, the same strength in his movements. There was just something around the eyes, like weariness.
      "Sadako!" he said happily, the tiredness melting away into his large smile. She couldn't help but smile back, just looking at him. "So you could make it after all!" Seeing her there reminded him why they were fighting, suddenly making all the struggle worthwhile.
      She looked away for a moment, her face warm with a sudden unexplainable blush. "Ah, yes… thanks to Megumi and Yui. We pretended she was having a sleepover at their apartment and they took me here instead."
      Kento held the screen door open for her, gesturing her inside. Clutching her bag in a death-grip, she stepped into the hall, gazing about in wonder at the inside of the place. "Their parents let them do that?" he asked quizzically as he turned to her, leaving the front door open to let the warm summer air in.
      "What? Their parents are dead, in the car accident, remember? Gosh, it's been over a year now."
      What the hell? he thought momentarily, confused. They'd sure seemed alive when he'd seen them as chaperones at the year-end dance. But he decided to humor her, not wanting to ruin their reunion. "Oh, yeah," he said weakly. I am going to have to figure this out later.
      She turned around slowly to get a good look, and then turning back said, "So, where's everyone else?"
      He ran a hand through his hair momentarily. "Um, I have to warn you about something. Right before you got here, we got a surprise visit from… ah… Cye's, er, cousin. And she's a little…" Kento motioned in a circle next to his ear. "Not right in the head."
      "I see," she said. "How sad."
      Clearing his throat, he told her, "Well, why don't I go introduce you now? And we'll find a place for your things."
      "All right. Oh!" Sadako raised the brown paper sack, offering it to Kento. "I brought this for you. And some for our host too, as a visiting gift."
      He opened it, peering inside and inhaling deeply. "Oh, Sadako, you are the greatest. I love your cooking! And I'm sure Mia will too."
      She blushed and opened her mouth to thank him, but was interrupted by the sound of a woman's voice from another nearby room. "Kento? Who was at the door?"
      Oh... oh no, I forgot to tell her! Crap! Well, too late now... "C'mon," he said, bravely leading the way into the living room.
      Peering around his arm, she saw arranged on the couches in a haphazard tableau three boys her age, and two females who looked a few years older. At first her eyes caught on the blonde and, somewhat surprised, she immediately recognized him as Megumi's 'Blonde Bush Boy'. Wouldn't she just get a kick out of that, she mused, also remembering the redhead vaguely as Cye. He went to their school, but was quiet enough that she had never noticed him. There was also an athletic-looking boy in a red sweater, who smiled slyly at Kento.
      As he introduced everyone, Kento could feel the slow burn of Mia's glare on him. He knew he'd get a lecture about inviting Sadako over, but that would come later. Right now he would just think about having fun, and forget about Talpa and the Dynasty, if only for a while.
      Perceiving that he was not quite in favor at the moment, she went over to where Mia was sitting and presented her with a container of food, thanking her for letting her stay. The older woman relaxed somewhat, looking grateful. "I'm sorry that I didn't bring enough for the rest of you," Sadako apologized, looking around at everyone.
      Before anyone could respond, Rowen stumbled into the room, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He yawned, and then jumped in surprise when he saw the two new people in the room. "What the hell?" he muttered before remembering the conversation earlier that day.
      "The wind in the trees… you're the sky one!" Taia cried suddenly, jumping to her feet. "All five are together now!" She beamed, hugging herself and spinning momentarily as the Ronin of Life paled. Oh, they'll be able to defeat Talpa, I know it! "Fire, water, earth, sky and spirit… Sky, fire, water, spirit, earth…" As she continued on both Rowen and Sadako stared at her in curious disbelief, the rest in unison flushing a bright red.
      Who is this girl, and how the hell does she know this? Rowen thought, glancing quickly at the dark-haired girl standing near the other females, looking almost scared. I don't think we should give away we're Ronins, even to Kento's girlfriend.
      Sadako blinked in alarm. What the heck is that stuff all over her? I've never met a crazy person before...
      Mia stood in an attempt to calm Taia down, but just as she reached out to her the telephone rang. "Oh, crap," she said suddenly. "I'll be right back…" Sliding out from behind the table, she sprinted toward the source of the loud ringing.
      "Um…" Kento said awkwardly, looking around at everyone before returning his gaze to the red-haired girl's exuberant dance.
      "Gosh," Sadako finished a few moments later, her storm-cloud eyes wide.
      As the others merely stared at her in horror, hoping she wouldn't give anything away, Taia finished jumping and spinning about, stumbling over near where Ryo and Sage sat on the couch. Turning to face them, she laughed, and Sage was struck by the actual joy in it. So she knows how to be happy, he thought. "Taia, shouldn't you sit down?" he said gently.
      "Yessir," she said immediately, hanging her head and plopping onto her knees on the floor in front of him. Sage's one visible eye widened in surprise at the sudden change. The Ronins exchanged looks that said volumes, without words. What were they going to do about Taia?
      Mia's voice rose in volume from the kitchen as she hollered upstairs, "Yulie, get ready! Your mom's coming to get you now!" The boy hollered back an affirmation, and as the auburn-haired woman came back to the living room they could hear a pounding on the stairs.
      Several poundings on the stairs.
      Sadako screamed as White Blaze ambled into the room, Yulie on his back. She flung herself backward against a wall, looking about frantically for some kind of escape or a high ledge to hide on. Kento immediately spun to go to her aid, explaining that White Blaze was Ryo's pet in soft soothing tones. "I'm sorry I forgot to warn you!" he said, patting her shoulder.
      She nodded weakly, staring over his shoulder at the apparently tame tiger. "I… really wish you had!" A tiger, gods, who would have thought there'd be a tiger...!
      "It's you!" Taia yelled at the same time, also scrambling backwards. "I am not going to see that old man ever again! I hate him!"
      The boy looked around, startled. "Why didn't you tell me there were new people here, guys?" he whined.
      Ryo sighed at that complaint; even though he was flattered that the boy looked up to him so much, he wasn't used to kids and their lack of maturity. After all, he had been mature even as a kid, having lived on his own a lot when his father was away on a wildlife photography shoot.
      At the sound of Yulie's voice, Taia's eyes went from the tiger to his rider, and she lurched up from her sprawled position on the floor and toward him. "Kiirvri, why didn't you tell me you were here? How did you escape the guards?"
      "Wha? Hey, go away… M-Mia!" he whimpered, sliding off White Blaze's back on the other side and using the patient cat as his shield.
      "Kiirvri?" She reached out to touch his face, and he yelped and jumped away, running back to clutch onto Mia's shorts. Taia frowned. "No, you're not him, but you look like him. Maybe a relative. The tiger, though…"
      "Okay, this is getting really weird," Cye said, shaking his head. Always a peacemaker, he wanted to calm everyone down, but since they weren't exactly fighting he wasn't sure what to do.
      Mia put her hands on her hips. "All right, enough of this," she said sharply. Although her voice was not loud, its effect served to immediately silence the commotion. "I'm not going to have you all tied in knots before Yulie's mom gets here." She looked down at Taia and then walked toward her, hauling the young woman to her feet. "I'm going to get her cleaned up," she said, "so would you guys get dinner started? Don't make Cye do everything, either, all right?"
      "Sure thing, Mia," Rowen replied, giving the other Ronins a look that clearly read 'and then you all will explain things to me'.
      Sadako took a few steps forward. "I'll help out, too."
      "Me too, Ryo!" Yulie cried, running over to his hero. "I wanna help too!"
      Mia turned to look at her, shaking her head. "Oh no, you're our guest. There's no need for you to have to help with dinner." Then she gazed over at Yulie and scowled. "And we don't need you in the kitchen getting dirty before your mother comes."
      "But…" she protested softly, just as the boy made a whining noise of disappointment.
      Kento waved Mia off toward the stairs. "Don't worry, we'll take care of things here," he said.
      She gave him a piercing stare a moment before moving toward the stairs. Taia looked as if she had just been hit over the head, eyebrows knitted together in thought. As the two disappeared, Ryo let out a huge sigh.
      "Well, that was interesting," Cye commented, leaning back against the sofa wearily.
      Sadako looked toward Kento. "Is it always this exciting here?"
      He chuckled. "Well… yeah. You could say that…"

      Upstairs, Mia led the redheaded woman down the hall toward the large bathroom. The first order of business was to get her cleaned up and looking normal. She was really mad at Kento at the moment for inviting his girlfriend over. What does he think this is? A party house? We're not even sure if the Dynasty's really been defeated yet, and he goes and brings an innocent girl into a potentially dangerous situation! And what if the other guys decide to go invite... oh, let's not think about that, Mia!
      She glanced over at Taia and sighed, swinging open the bathroom door. And then there was this problem. Mia had to admit that people with less than average intelligence tended to make her nervous, although she attempted not to show it. However, there was something about her that suggested she wasn't usually so… crazy. But how would they be able to do anything about it? None of them were psychologists, and a real one would definitely not be able to believe the truth.
      Mia leaned over into the deep bathtub, picking up several sodden washcloths and tossing them over the faucet to dry a bit. She turned on the water, letting it fill up, and opened the under-sink cabinet to retrieve some bubble bath.
      Taia looked intrigued, kneeling to peer into the tub. "All this, to wash with?" she asked, looking over at the other woman.
      "Yep," she replied. "What, haven't you ever had a bath before?"
      "No, we just wash with a cloth and a basin. Only the Warlords and important people get baths."
      The Warlords... Mia thought warily. She had to live with them... whatever could that have been like? I wonder if she'd know if they... and Talpa are still alive... this isn't the time to ask, though. "Well, anyone can have one here," she told her, gently and cautiously reaching out to her. "You can get in now, it shouldn't be too hot. Can I have your clothes?"
      Taia nodded, standing and untying her sash. She slipped the rough robe off her shoulders, handing it to Mia. As she stepped into the tub, she noticed the scars and remnants of bruises mottling the woman's skin, not to mention the dirt and blood. There were so many questions to ask… hopefully she would be able to answer them.
      "Smells nice," she said, sitting amidst the bubbles. "Like flowers. Flowers are nice. There aren't many in the Netherworld. Not ones I like, anyhow."
      Mia dumped the robe into the hamper, wondering which of her own clothes to lend to her until they could get to a store. "How did you end up there in the first place, Taia?" she asked, searching for some shampoo and a washcloth the guys hadn't shot all to hell. Male housemates could be really disgusting sometimes.
      She shrugged, picking up some bubbles in her palms and blowing them off, laughing as they drifted back down to the surface of the water. Mia turned off the water, handing her the washcloth. She just held it, splashing around a little. "I don't remember," she said suddenly. "It was a long time ago. Very, very, long."
      The auburn-haired woman frowned, sitting on the edge of the bathtub. She took the washcloth back and began to clean her back, pausing briefly to twist the other girl's hair up onto her head, fastening it with a clip. "At least you're not there anymore," she commented, tipping up her head to efficiently wash her neck. Urg, I feel like a mother doing this. It's insane.
      There was silence for a while as Taia took over the washcloth and began scrubbing the blood from her fingers, slowly and methodically. Mia slid to the floor, leaning her chin against the side of the tub. It was nice to have some other girls in the house, she decided, even if she knew neither one very well. Sadako seemed nice enough, if rather shy and quiet, but she probably wouldn't be around long enough for them to get to know her too well.
      "Have you ever liked someone, and felt kind of… stupid about it?" Mia asked, looking up at Taia. There was a blank look in her face, her brown eyes wide. "No, you probably wouldn't have," she finished, sighing. "Well, I shouldn't even bother, he's much too young for me anyhow. And he won't wait till we're older, when that doesn't matter… why should he? I'm sure there are plenty of girls falling for Ryo right and left…"
      "I think Sage is pretty," she said, proffering the dirty washcloth.
      Mia took it, unfolding her long legs to stand and dump it in the sink, rinsing it out. She chuckled softly, pulling the stopper from the drain and running the water again. Unfastening the clip from her hair, she said, "Here, put your head under the faucet." Taia got to her knees, obeying. The water ran a little dirty even without soap. She sat up and Mia plopped some shampoo onto her head, lathering it up. "Sage…" she said amusedly. "Sage is pretty, I agree. He seems a little cold at times, though. But he has saved my life, I'll give him that."
      She looked up cross-eyed at the suds on her forehead. "He's not a bad pretty, I can tell. His Song is nice. But he's a Ronin Warrior, he couldn't be mean."
      "That's right," she agreed, rinsing the shampoo out. When she was satisfied the other woman was entirely clean, she helped her stand, wrapping a thick towel around her body and tossing a smaller one over her dripping hair. "We're going to my room now," she said, "and getting you some clothes."
      As they stepped out into the hallway, the savory smell of some kind of stir-fry wafted through the air. "Cye's done it again," Mia said, smiling gratefully.
      "I'm hungry," Taia said, clutching at her stomach briefly. "When can we eat?"
      "Soon," she replied, pushing open her door to let them in and closing it behind them. Waning summer light filled the master bedroom from the large open window, giving it a warm, comforting feel. The gauzy white curtains billowed gently in the breeze. Pulling out the stool from underneath her vanity table, she gestured for her to sit down in front of the mirror.
      As the girl caught sight of herself in the mirror, however, she shrieked and backpedaled, slamming back against the door. "It's her again!" she gasped. "I saw her in the water-wastes! What do you want from me?"
      Mia's eyes widened as she looked around quickly, sure there was some kind of Dynasty creep invading her room. Seeing nothing, however, she turned back to Taia. "Where?" she asked urgently.
      "There, in the glass!" she cried, pointing at the mirror. Her reflection pointed back, and she scowled. "Don't do that, I mean it!"
      She looked at her, her shoulders slumping a little helplessly. "Taia… that's you. It's a mirror… that's your reflection."
      Jumping away from the door, she spun away quickly. "What?" Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw that the image was doing the same thing. Curiously she approached it, turning this way and that as she walked. That's me? That's... me? She picked up the end of the towel on her head, flipping it behind her shoulder. She looked at herself in the mirror from as many angles as she could, blinking in amazement. A little swaying dance and the woman in the mirror did the same thing. "That's me!" she told Mia excitedly, looking over her shoulder with a grin.
      "That's you," she said with a soft sadness. With gentle hands on her shoulders, she made her sit on the stool, taking the towel from her hair. Picking up a comb, she began to run it through the bright red strands, carefully working out the tangles. It looked like fire in the golden sunset-light.
      Taia sat and stared off into space as the other woman continued to comb her hair. There was something very familiar about this, but she couldn't place why. In her vision, the large round mirror seemed to shrink until she was holding it in her hands. Mia behind her shifted, her hair turning brighter, her face changing…
      "There, much better," she said, placing down her comb and lifting the little tinny mirror so she could look into it.
      "Oh, Mother, I can't believe it," she breathed, turning her head from side to side to attempt to see as much of her hair as she could in the cloudy glass. She liked the way it framed her face, such a strange color, but beautiful too. It was because of their powers that she and her mother had such pretty hair.
      Mia started, looking at Taia's enraptured face in the reflection. "What did you call me?" she asked quizzically.
      Turning on her stool, she looked up at her, her face troubled and confused. Her lower lip trembling, she threw her arms around Mia's waist, a gigantic sob escaping. She hesitated a moment before putting her arms around her, patting her back.
      "I'm so scared," she whispered. "And I don't know why…"
      "It's okay," Mia said quietly. "Everything's going to be okay."

Palace Grounds, Talpa's Dynasty

      It's too damn quiet here, Cale thought, running his hand along the rail of the bridge as he stood, staring down into the golden, sparkling water below. The silk sleeve of his kimono rested on his hand, soft against his skin. He knew they were still regrouping after that embarrassing defeat at the last minute by Wildfire, but he still itched for action just the same.
      Continuing on to the other side, he wandered near some large, arching trees, feeling generally depressed. The other Warlords were no better, either - Sekhmet was brooding because his favorite prisoner had escaped, or something, and Dayus would rather take off anyone's head lately rather than look at them, all because of Kayura.
      He spat in disgust. How weak, to let a woman dominate you like that. He had never let himself be attached and chained down. They were all the same in the dark, anyhow. And I am much the better for it without the distraction.
      Cale sat down in the shade of a tree, leaning back on his hands and closing his eyes. There was still a remnant of a headache left over from being absorbed by his master that he couldn't get rid of, but the outside air was helping. Just a little longer, and then they would join the fight again…
      A few minutes passed quietly, in the solitude of the castle grounds. And then, abrupt unconscious reflexes took over and he leaned back, almost laying down on the ground. His hair ruffled in the breeze caused by the blade whipping by overhead, several blue strands severed in its passing. Heart pounding in sudden surprise, he rolled to his feet, taking a defensive position and sizing up his opponent.
      The man standing there seemed familiar in a vague way, holding his sword with an easy grace. He appeared to be in his thirties, with dark hair and flashing eyes. "Quick as usual, I see," he remarked. "Then again, the skills of the ninja always seemed to suit you, Cale."
      "Who the hell are you?" he snapped, slowly reaching for the armor orb stored in his sleeve. "Stop pretending to know me - it won't give you an advantage."
      "Oh, but I do know you." Almost in the span of a single blink, the man disappeared, reappearing suddenly behind him and slashing with the sword. He ducked, springing forward on his hands and flipping away from him. There was a sudden tearing noise as the tip of the blade ripped open the back of his robe. "But of course you can't remember, for Talpa would never allow it."
      Cale reached into his sleeve, his hand closing around his armor orb. He held it out, a dark shadow engulfing him and fading away to reveal his intimidating, spiked armor. "Forget it, I don't care who you are. You're going to pay for attacking me on my master's grounds."
      The man smirked, ready for the attack. "And I thought you'd vowed never to serve any master."
      "Shut up!" He unsheathed his lethal nodatchi, bracing it with the clawed portion of his gauntlet. Leaping forward, he lunged for the seemingly unprotected man's throat. His figure blurred, separating in many afterimages to the side, which tore like fabric and dissipated as he ran his sword through them. "Damn you, fight me!"
      "Oh, but I am. Don't you remember these techniques? They saved you from many a noble samurai and his honor. Just… like…"
      He disappeared suddenly, and Cale fought to discover where he was. It should have been so easy! He knew the ways of teleportation like the back of his hand. And yet, he couldn't detect this infuriating man.
      "This." Cale felt a pain in his throat, where the armor left it bare. He blinked to find the man standing in front of him, the sword up against his neck. One slight move and it would slit him open… "You've never had to rely on your armor before, but Talpa's safeguards have taken this from you." He pulled back the sword enough to let him talk, but he knew there was no way he'd be able to fight back without a sudden, painful death.
      He gasped, clenching the hilt of his sword angrily. "How were you able to beat me?" he snarled, almost shaking with the extent of his rage.
      "Because I taught you."
      "But I don't--" He cut himself off, his mind suddenly whirring. Of course he didn't know this man, if he was truly from his past. He couldn't remember much of his past, and had never really wanted to, sure that there was nothing he really needed from it. But still, the warrior's story intrigued him. "How could that be possible?" he asked. "I am over four hundred years old!"
      He chuckled. "As am I. I have been working for Master Talpa all this time." He paused as if to judge his reaction, but Cale gave him none. "Of course this means nothing to you… a pity. I do enjoy a shocking revelation. Well, I have always disagreed with the master on the subject of his servants' memories, but no matter. You disappoint me sorely."
      "Fuck you."
      "That's a bit harsh, wouldn't you say? I made you what you are. I molded you to fit that armor that is your life, that you use and abuse, and this is the thanks you give me?"
      Cale felt his eyebrows knitting together, a deep frown etching his features. "You lie! I made myself!"
      He laughed, long and low. "What a fool you've become. To think I let you father my grandson… of course, you promptly failed him, so why am I surprised?"
      "Who are you?" he screamed, gradually raising his nodatchi whether the man would shove his sword through his neck or not.
      "You don't deserve to know." Making a dismissive gesture, the man disappeared for a final time.
      Cale waited to see if he would return, on guard, but nothing happened. Slowly he felt his weapon dropping from his fingers, falling forward onto hands and knees, sweat dripping down his face with the relief of the tension. What was he talking about? My memories... they don't matter... do they? No... what's going on? What does he mean about my abusing my armor...? What... who am I?

Mia's House, Outside Toyama, Japan

      Curling up in his bed, Rowen muffled a groan with his pillow, hands clutching his stomach under the waistband of his pajama bottoms. It somehow seemed to help the stomachache, though not by much. Should have listened to Cye, he thought, wishing he could sleep. But it hurt so badly… it just seemed like he was laying there waiting for the next time he would throw up.
      By the time night had rolled around, his general feeling of illness had developed into a full-blown case of food poisoning, caused by the bad sushi. He had excused himself directly after dinner to 'study', really meaning to go lay down, and hadn't gotten up since except once to get into the pajamas, and several more times to puke. It had been a while since he had done that, though, and he hoped the worst was over.
      He hadn't been able to eat much at dinner anyway, but had stayed out of courtesy to their guests. Sadako was a nice, polite girl, but he didn't know what to think of the other one. She seemed to be an enigma to everybody, possibly even herself. Sage had explained to him what she was doing there, and so finally he didn't feel like he was missing out on something.
      Rowen glanced over at his friend who was peacefully asleep in the other bed, across the room. He hadn't told the others that he was sick, more out of embarrassment that he'd actually gotten food poisoning than out of not wanting to worry them. All evening he'd lain awake listening to their laughter downstairs as they played cards around the table and as Taia exclaimed over the wonder that was television.
      Not that he wanted to admit it, but he was jealous of Kento and Sadako, just a little. He'd always been rather shy around girls, not in Sage's attractive, aloof way, but more with the worry of what they'd think about him. Rowen was a certifiable genius, and intelligence tended to intimidate a lot of people, especially the girls he was attracted to. Kento, on the other hand, didn't really care much what people thought about him, and so he could easily walk up to a girl and ask her out.
      His stomach cramped painfully, and he grimaced, trying to rub the pain away. It didn't work, and feeling a sudden overpowering nauseous wave, he flipped aside the covers and raced for the bathroom, past the room where Yulie slept, when he was there, although the two girls now slumbered there on cots. There was motion within, but he didn't notice in his mad rush for the toilet.
      Flipping up its lid hastily, he knelt and gagged, rewarded with a sudden rush of old food and bile. He retched again, this time nothing coming. But he still felt awful, desperately trying to finish vomiting. There was always a certain relief afterwards; a short time when he would feel better and maybe get to sleep and wake up well, but it wasn't coming up…!
      Gasping, Rowen tried again, clutching the sides of the bowl and heaving up nothing with a painful intense clenching of his stomach muscles. There was sudden motion behind him, and he looked to the side to see a female figure silhouetted in the faint glow that came from the night-light in the hall. Mia? he thought, quickly turning back as he felt his stomach turn violently.
      It wasn't Mia, however, though it strangely smelled like her, the familiar scent of her shampoo in the air as she knelt next to him. Taia stroked his back comfortingly, brushing the sweat-damp blue hair from his forehead as he retched, too in pain to be embarrassed. Finally he felt that he was finished, sitting back and wiping his mouth exhaustedly. Tearing off some toilet paper and cleaning the edge off before reaching up to flush, he turned to look up quizzically, surprised at her actions.
      The odd girl appeared almost motherly, continuing to rub his back. She helped him stand and totter over to the sink so he could wash his mouth out, trying not to swallow too much. Water never helped when you had a stomachache. Wordlessly, she took his hand and led him back to bed where he flopped down, stretching out. As he knew would happen, he felt momentarily wonderful, and very tired. He knew he could probably sleep now, and if he managed that he would be all right in the morning.
      She tucked the covers up around him, patting his head before turning and leaving as quietly as she had come, red braid bouncing on her back and her borrowed pastel blue nightgown swirling around her legs. He wondered at her for a moment, watching the doorway long after she had gone. The others had told him it was the Dynasty's abuse that had made her crazy, and so she could perhaps become normal again. He had known a person like her once, when he was young. He'd always wished he could help that boy somehow, but they had moved away and he had forgotten.
      Rowen's last conscious thought before he drifted off to sleep was the decision to see what he could do to help Taia regain herself again…

Dayus's chambers, Talpa's Dynasty

      There was peace in the darkness that night, quiet stillness helping to lend serenity to his thoughts and mind. It wasn't good for his fighting skills when he was angry, as he had been lately. Oh, and it was all her fault. Kayura invaded his mind like a vicious disease, eating away his dignity and laughing at him.
      But the truth was that he missed her, at least a little. Or maybe he missed her presence there… he'd grown accustomed to her being there for so long. Back when he had been a victorious warrior, not one who was continually beaten by small boys…
      Maybe she's right, Dayus thought, maybe she'll be the one to rip them to shreds. But I'll be damned if I ever tell her that...
      His skin felt chilly suddenly, just vaguely outside the realm of his meditating mind. Maybe the shoulder of his loose robe had fallen off - he didn't care. He was alone in his room, and intended to stay that way. The important thing now was to calm down, clear his mind. She would not be able to control his emotions like that…
      And then, the darkness and stillness exploded inward; consumed in the sudden flame of intense sexual energy. Something hot, and wet, pulling at him, licking…
      Gasping, Dayus's good eye flew open, and he sat up very straight, immediately looking down. His robe was open, and kneeling there over his crossed legs… What the hell... Kayura! "You…!" he gritted, moving as if to push her away. But his hand felt slow to respond, the mental command lost in the rush of pleasure.
      She looked up at him and grinned crookedly, the pressure building in his loins letting up slightly. "Your body isn't mad at me," she said in a low, husky tone, sitting up on her knees and running her hands up his body toward his chest. She pushed him down to the rumpled blankets of his bed, her tongue following her fingers. So hot against his pale skin, so good. Her long hair covered her back like a curtain, running down her sides and onto him.
      "You… stop this," he growled, feeling her lips on his neck now, gently sucking, her hands entwining in his wavy white hair, leaning his head back. Her nipples were hard as she pressed her breasts against him, using her entire body as a weapon to enchain him. Yes, Hell had apparently frozen over.
      "No," she murmured against his throat, feeling his pulse with her tongue. She straddled his stomach and he felt a wetness there, realizing that she was naked except for that medallion of hers. Its metal was discordantly cold, and he reached to take it off her. She caught his hands, pinning them up above his head and pulling away slightly to stare down at him.
      He shook his head, scowling. "So no one else would have you, hmm?" he asked angrily, disappointed in himself for his reaction. He would have thought he'd had more control than that; looking at her smug face now reminded him of just how furious she'd made him.
      "On the contrary," she purred. "I'm just proving a point… you can't do without me." She leaned down, kissing him fiercely, and almost automatically he responded, opening his mouth as she thrust her tongue against his lips. Her hips rose as she moved back a little, skin sliding across skin, slowly bringing herself down onto him.
      Dayus cried out softly, jerking his hands out of her grip. Kayura made a soft moaning sound, arching her back as she eased him into her, a little at a time, intentionally teasing and drawing it out. He reached up and grabbed her to him, crushing her slender body to his and rolling over, pinning her beneath him.
      "You always were that way," she muttered, putting her arms around his neck, her legs around his back. He ignored her comments, ignored everything but the throbbing sensation inside as he thrust hard into her, again and again, violently, angrily.
      Her fingernails tore his skin, her teeth making marks on his shoulder. He threw his whole body into the motion, pushing harder and harder, bracing with his bare feet, not caring if it hurt her or not. There was nothing tender about it, nothing resembling caring or love as they moved together like mating animals, pulled along by the drive and the need, and nothing more.
      Her gasps and screams mingled with his own cries as she climaxed and began again, the tension inside him building until he could take it no more. He shuddered, releasing into her body, uncaring, for nothing would come of it. The immortality they had been given and the nature of the Netherworld had stopped certain body functions, rendering her infertile, at least here, and now.
      Kayura was still pressed firmly against him, her eyes staring over his shoulder even darker with lust. She clutched him to her until her own release came, letting her legs slowly drift down to the mat below them until her feet touched down. Immediately he tried to pull away from her, but she merely let him roll over to the side, holding on tightly.
      "Let me go," he said in an approximation of calm. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"
      She sat up slightly, letting him pull out of her. "I suppose this was a farewell present," she said, trying to catch her breath. "I shall have a Ronin in my bed next, before I slit his throat, of course. Which one should I have, Dayus? How about their leader, Ryo?"
      "He'd fall on his sword first, rather than look at you," he told her. "Just as I should have, now that I think about it."
      "You poor deluded fool," she declaimed. "How did you ever think you would get over me? You were mine for the taking the moment we met, and I just proved that beyond a doubt, wouldn't you say?"
      "I… hate you," he said, almost surprised at himself for saying it. But he did… he hated her. Their past together was nothing. She was a heartless bitch, and he hated her.
      Her eyes narrowed as she attempted to decide if there was anything else behind that remark, any emotion that would alter the cruel coldness of it. But there was nothing beyond the words, at all.
      He waved his hand dismissively, turning over and pulling a sheet over himself. "You can leave now," he said, trying to salvage some of the dignity she'd robbed from him.
      Kayura fumed, seeing red. She was not his little slave girl! How dare he try to act like that was the reason! She reached under the edge of the futon for the needle she'd hidden there earlier. She had come to his room with the intention of doing what she had, but this had been something she wasn't sure she would end up using. Looks like my instincts were right after all.
      He felt a sudden prick in his neck and jerked upright, his hand flying to the spot. It came away with blood on it, and he glared at her with murder in his eyes. "What… was… that?" he asked, slowly, dangerously.
      She held up the needle for him to see, smirking. "I think you need a little enforced relaxation, don't you? Aren't you sleepy, Dayus?" It was true; his thoughts were growing fuzzier by the moment and his head was suddenly getting hard to hold up. "Oh, oops," she continued, "look at the time it must be! Talpa's going to be calling a meeting soon! I guess you'll just have to miss it…"
      His hand shot out, grabbing a large handful of her hair and yanking her close to him. His other hand closed around her neck, putting pressure on her windpipe. "You're dead!" he bellowed as she gagged and clawed at his arms, doing his best to choke her before he passed out. "You've played… with me for the last…" Dammit, no! he thought, enraged as he felt his hands weaken and slip away. He fell back to the mat heavily, his hair landing arrayed around him like a fan.
      Kayura gasped softly, feeling air return to her lungs, rubbing her neck a little. "But how could I give up my favorite toy?" she asked his sleeping form rhetorically. That was a bit... dangerous, there. But then again, she thrived on danger. Still, she was asking for it if she tried anything again for a while…

Mia's Lake, Outside Toyama, Japan

      The water was calm, and very blue with the reflection of the sky. It was a beautiful morning that didn't go unappreciated by the two who were out by the lake, enjoying the warmth of the sun on their shoulders.
      Kento smiled at the girl walking by his side, admiring the scenery. It was shaping up to be a wonderful day. They'd gone out for a walk after a large breakfast, one that Rowen as usual missed out on. Sadako seemed to be comfortable around the other Ronins, not hanging back as he was worried she might have. So far, despite Mia's being furious at him, he didn't regret inviting her at all.
      She talked about what was going on with the people at home, filling him in on the friends he'd had to leave behind when he'd gotten the call to come to Toyama. She hadn't asked him why he'd left in the first place, probably just assuming it was a summer vacation trip. He hated not being able to tell the truth.
      "I think it's wonderful that your friend has such a beautiful home," Sadako commented as they passed through the shade of a stand of trees that overhung the path. "She must really enjoy it here."
      He nodded, smiling. "I bet she does. But I think she'd probably be lonely here in such a huge place without all of us around to bug her."
      "How did you all happen to meet?" she asked, feeling her hand brush against his as they walked.
      "Well…" he paused, trying to decide how to phrase it with as much of the truth as possible. "Something just brought us together, I guess. We all met in Toyama."
      She flicked her gray-black bangs from her eyes, looking up as a squirrel ran up the tree next to her. It had been so long since she had been out in the countryside. It was so relaxing, and she needed that after a while. Her father was so strict and oppressive sometimes, and there was a great exhilaration in sneaking out and breaking rules. "You all are such good friends already. I wish I could make friends that easily."
      Taking a chance, the next time their hands brushed he grabbed hers, holding it gently. He was afraid of scaring her by coming on too fast, knowing of her sheltered background. He didn't want to give her the impression that he'd asked her out to a mansion in the middle of nowhere just to get laid or anything. Not that he would have minded, but he was definitely not under the delusion that she'd do that anyway.
      She blushed a little but didn't pull away, rather just curling her fingers around his. I know just holding hands shouldn't be an exciting thing, but I feel like it is...
      "Anyone who knew you would like you," he said. "You're just shy is all, and they don't get to know you."
      "I know," she sighed. "It's hard not to be shy, even though you might think so." She laughed a little. "You don't even know the meaning of shy, Kento!"
      He chuckled in response. "True, true." They came out of the small stand of trees and ambled toward the shore of the lake, and the small dock there. "Heh, this is Cye's favorite place here. I'm almost surprised he's not here now." Except for the fact that I told him I'd kick his ass if he was... "He really likes fish and water and that kind of thing."
      "I bet he'll make a really good marine biologist someday."
      "Oh, that or a cook," he said, swinging their entwined hands as they walked. "He's just about as good as you!"
      Sadako giggled, shaking her head. "I'm not that good. I just enjoy it, that's all." She poked him slightly, teasing, "I bet that's why you hang around us, huh? So we can feed you."
      He reached up to scratch the back of his head sheepishly. "Nah, that's just a side perk!" They arrived at the wooden dock, walking out onto the planks. "Hey… Sadako?"
      "Yeah?" she asked, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle in her jeans.
      He gestured to the small rowboat tied to the side of the dock. "Wanna go out on the lake?"
      She eyed the boat a little warily. "It's okay?"
      "Of course." He let go of her hand to walk over to the side and hop in. It rocked a bit, but he managed to keep his balance, arms out as if he was surfing. "It's perfectly safe!" She looked a little skeptical, and he gave her a huge, cheesy grin, holding out his hand to her.
      Well, it's not as if he's going to let anything happen to me. "I've never been in a boat before." Slowly she reached out for him, her breath catching a little as her feet left the dock and he pulled her into the craft, his strong arms easily supporting her weight. Sadako leaned against him momentarily, clutching his shoulder as the small rowboat bobbed on the water.
      He smiled down at her, twisting the end of her braid around the fingers of his free hand. She flushed as she looked up into his eyes, quickly turning her gaze away when it got too intense. Gods, she didn't know what to do in such a situation. Best to delay it until she was calmer…
      Wondering at her reaction, Kento let her go as they sat down in each end of the rowboat. He reached up and untied the rope fastening it to the dock, coiling it up next to him. As she grabbed onto the side nervously, he took up the oars, and a couple of strong strokes brought them away from shore and further out onto the lake.

Yoshio Park, Toyama, Japan

      Yulie wandered disconsolately into the park from the adjacent sidewalk, dragging the stick he'd found along the way. He hated having to go home after being at Mia's house. All the excitement of fighting the Dynasty, and then what? It was just back to regular, boring everyday life. Nothing had ever happened to him before that fateful day when he'd been separated from his parents in downtown Toyama…
      Well, at least they still let him go see Mia and the Ronins sometimes. The Yamanos had been very grateful to Mia for watching their son after he'd been 'lost' - they, like the rest of the people taken to the Dynasty, didn't remember what exactly had happened. He hadn't wanted to leave his new friends, though, so they let her baby-sit him sometimes, reimbursing her for her trouble. But today he couldn't go over there, and he was feeling incredibly bored.
      The gravel of the playground crunched under his sneakers as he dragged his feet, whacking at a dandelion. There were several other children playing on the equipment, especially the swings. He scowled. He wanted to use the swing. Spinning around, Yulie noticed a stuffed toy sitting on the bench on the edge of the play area, and went over to look at it, first looking over his shoulder to make sure some kid wouldn't notice and stop him.
      It was frankly the oddest toy he had ever seen. It looked like a cross between a cat and a teddy bear, with a red doll's body and ruffles. A cigarette burn decorated the white tail. He frowned, poking it with his stick. Probably a girl's toy. Things like this were abandoned in the park all the time, and no one would care if he messed with it, he decided, reaching out for it.
      "No touch Sharra's Joyce!" came the shriek from behind him, followed by a whoosh of air and a sharp pain in the back of his head.
      "Ouch!" Yulie yelled, clutching the hurting spot and spinning around to confront his attacker. A girl his age stood before him, a long stick in her hand, her round face smeared with dirt and framed by stringy blonde hair. The shirt she wore was white with blue sleeves and bore the legend 'Neko Neko' across its front. It and her checkered green and orange shorts were muddy as well, to match her hands and bare feet. Either she loved to play in the dirt, or she hadn't washed too recently.
      It was the scowl on her face, however, that really frightened him. She was just a skinny girl, but he was completely convinced that she would beat the snot out of him any moment now. He dropped his own stick and raised his hands up, backing away. She glared at him and stepped forward, grabbing the toy from the bench and cradling it against her. "Stupid big-headed boy no touch Joycey!"
      "Man, you talk weird," he complained. "Where are you from, anyway?"
      She thought a moment, finally replying, "America."
      Yulie frowned, still rubbing his head. "I guess that explains it." She continued to glower at him, and he gulped. "Um, I'm sorry for touching your… cat?" She didn't answer, and he said again, very slowly, "I'm sorry!"
      She raised the stick, swinging at him again. "Sharra not stupid!"
      "Yikes, okay, okay!" He jumped backwards, waving his hands to ward her off. Man, she's almost as bad as Dynasty soldiers! "Let's start over, okay? My name is Yulie. My family name is Yamano, but we say it first here usually. What's your name?"
      "Sharra Ro… Sharra. Only Sharra," she sniffed, looking disinterested.
      "Then who's Joyce?"
      She lifted up the cat-doll, displaying it proudly. "Joyce."
      "Oh." He thought for a moment, wondering what to say. He'd never met a real American before. "Do you live around here?" he asked hopefully. She was probably just visiting, but he could always hope. Despite the thwack on the head she'd given him, he thought it would be nice to have a friend his age around, as there weren't very many kids in his neighborhood at all.
      She didn't answer at first, and he wondered if she understood him. Finally she replied, "There," pointing over beyond some rather run-down apartment-like buildings in the distance.
      "So are you visiting?" he asked, kicking a rock around. Sharra was rocking Joyce in her arms, wandering over toward the playground and the now-empty swings. He followed her, partly out of curiosity and partly out of a lack of anything better to do.
      The girl hopped up on a swing, holding the cat in her lap. "Push?" she asked, and he shrugged, giving her a shove as she pumped her legs to gain altitude.
      When she was swinging high enough he ran out of the way and flopped on the other swing on his stomach, swinging forward. "I'm flying!" he cried as she snickered at him, sticking out her tongue mockingly.
      She soon got tired of that, however, and Sharra slowed down her swinging enough so she could jump off, landing hard on her feet in the gravel. She winced and ran off into the grass, and Yulie got up to follow her again. She looked back to see if he really was following before continuing across the width of the park.
      As she approached the fence, he stopped. "Hey, where are you going?" he cried to her.
      "A place," she retorted, hand on hip.
      "Where is it?" he asked, suddenly hurrying to catch up with her. "I can't leave the park, my mom said."
      She rolled her eyes, tucking Joyce under her arm and crossing the fence, walking along the street on the other side of it. "Afraid?" she taunted, turning away from him.
      He fidgeted. How was it that she could barely speak Japanese and yet still insult him so well? "No way," he yelled, climbing over the fence to get ahead of her. "My friend has a tiger and I'm not afraid of him! I bet you'd be scared of a tiger!"
      "Stupid big-headed boy tells dumb story."
      "I am not telling a story! And I'm not stupid! Stupid American girl!"
      With only a smug smile, she pointed across the street, looked both ways, and crossed, then standing at the edge and patiently waiting for him to follow suit. When he didn't, she began to look a little annoyed. "Afraid!" she yelled at him, sticking out her tongue again and turning away.
      He paused, looking up and down the street although no cars were coming. "I was thrown into Mount Fuji!" he hollered at her. "I'm not afraid of crossing the street!" I'm afraid of getting in trouble with my mom! Biting his lip, he looked again for cars and then bolted to the other side.
      Sharra didn't look up as he fell into step next to her. She led him behind a group of townhomes, pushing back a board in a tall wooden fence and crawling through. By the time he had squeezed under the horizontal supporting board, she was already standing impatiently in the middle of a shallow creek. "Shoes!" she commanded, and he immediately sat on the thick grass and pulled his off, tucking his socks in and tying them together.
      Yulie wondered, not for the first time, where she was taking him, but every time he tried to ask her about it she ignored him or pretended not to understand. He knew she was pretending, but there was no way he could prove it. The dark-haired boy dipped his foot in the water and pulled it out, wincing. "Man, that's cold!" he said, but since she was already slogging up the creek he couldn't back out now. Gritting his teeth and jumping in, he ran as quickly as he could up to her.
      The two children passed under a fence that crossed the water, one they wouldn't have been able to get past otherwise. He thought they would have been able to get back on shore afterwards, but she continued on a short way until they reached what looked like a small island in the middle of the water. A thick clump of bushes covered most of its surface, and the edge of it sloped downward until it formed a kind of tiny muddy beach. This was where she got out of the water, pulling a branch away from the stand of foliage and gesturing him inside.
      She watched and waited for his approval as he looked around the leafy cave. A great assortment of plastic, brightly colored horses decorated the interior, some looking like real equines but most in shades of pink and purple and other unlikely colors. They were wedged into forks of branches and hung by their nylon tails from the overhanging limbs. All in all, it was a rather striking display, and he couldn't manage to say anything at all.
      She smiled crookedly and squatted down, placing Joyce on a tuft of grass and dragging a battered tape player from under the vines surrounding a small tree. She hit it sharply a couple of times and pressed 'play'. Several women's voices began singing a happy song in English, something sounding like it came from a cartoon. She sang along in her strange language before looking at him and waving around grandly.
      "It's… a really neat secret place, Sharra," he said, bobbing his head agreeably.
      "Mine, Yulie," she said sternly.
      He nodded even more. "Yours, it's all yours."
      She beamed at him, this time without any sarcasm in the expression, handing him a horse. He looked at it a little warily before playing along with her, making an approximation of a neighing sound.
      She made a plastic horse trot in little jumps around her hand. His horse leapt over hers in a great arc. "Super horse!" he cried, flying it around. She giggled, twisting hers around in the air with accompanying airplane noises.
      "You should come to my house sometime," he told her. "I can show you all my skateboards! I have a lot." The blonde girl nodded, suddenly sitting up straight and turning as if to listen for something. He paused, straining to hear, and she hit 'stop' on her tape. There was a male voice coming from somewhere outside, calling her name. "Your dad?"
      She shook her head emphatically. "Older brother." She swept Joyce into her arm and picked up the tape player, standing and shoving the concealing branch away.
      "Hey, wait, where are you going?" He grabbed for his shoes and rushed after her.
      "Home!" she called back, splashing through the creek. She ran along the edge of the water, past people's backyards, and he heard the strangely accented voice call her name again. Yulie ran with her until she stopped at a half-size chain-link fence, tossing her things to the other side and climbing over it into a backyard bare of all grass. "Sean!" she said suddenly to the person standing there, gathering her toys. Yulie grabbed the metal chains of the fence, looking over it cautiously.
      This 'Sean' was probably around Mia's age. He had dark blonde, wavy hair, and was tall, but still looked rather skinny despite his big build. There were weary circles under his eyes, and he looked more tired than Yulie's father ever did coming home from work. Sean spoke angrily in English, pointing at the boy, and she responded in an apologetic rush.
      Turning around, Sharra told him, "Go home."
      "What?"
      "Go home, Yulie, Sean wants."
      He pouted in disappointment. "Can I see you again?"
      "Maybe," she replied, looking up as her brother said something again and turned to go back in the small house. The back door slammed against its frame and bounced outward again.
      "Can I come here?" he asked, leaning against the fence.
      She shook her head violently, her hair whipping around her face. "No! The secret place. No tell!"
      He nodded to show he understood. "I promise!" he yelled back.
      "Sharra!" came another voice from inside, this time a female one.
      She turned and ran in without another word, and he blinked, staring after her. How weird that was! I hope I get to see her again, he thought, quickly spinning around to hurry back to the park. Hopefully his mother hadn't come to get him yet…

Children's Dungeon, Talpa's Dynasty

      The small dungeon was cleaner than most, free of the usual dampness and gloominess associated with such places. Sekhmet stood on the steps leading into it, behind the locked grate that was really just a formality. All of the children kept in the lower reaches of the castle wouldn't run away; rather, they lived to serve Talpa and his Dynasty.
      All of the children but one, that is. The green-haired Warlord continued to look into the large cavern-like room, scanning the trainees within for a certain one. Despite keeping the form of a child for hundreds of years, the boys and girls had grown up mentally - a fact Talpa had, undeniably, overlooked. However, his intention had been realized, which was what mattered. They were loyal, and ready to fight for his favor.
      There was another problem, however. Talpa had forgotten about the children he had collected over the years, now that the Ronins had appeared among the mortals and challenged them. And so fruitlessly they trained, gaining lethal proficiency in their weapons and in their myriad powers that had earned them the immortality of the Netherworld in the first place.
      He observed their parries, their attacks, approving. They would never amount to much, except to lead the armies that would rule this world once the Ronins were destroyed, but they were excellent fighters, even with their small size. And then Sekhmet saw, at the other end of the cavern, the boy he was looking for. His name was Kiirvri, his power unknown, really. They'd only known he had magic in him, but it was nothing like the others'. He will know what I wish to, why Taia has become what she is. He must know.
      The child somewhat resembled that brat that hung around the Ronins, he noticed, but his eyes were much, much different. They spoke of the wisdom and pain of an adult mind trapped within. His sword swipes could almost have been taken for the usual play-acting, except for the perfect form and stance he displayed. Despite the air of obedience around him, Kiirvri's iron collar marked him irrevocably as a resister. Just like her.
      With a wave of his hand, the grate in front of him flew open, allowing him entrance to the practice cave. Tamely, perfectly, the children didn't pause in their sparring with the soldiers that trained them and practiced with him, ignoring him as if he weren't even there. It's not as if I need to be stared at, or answer questions, even though I know they're wanting to ask them. He stared only straight ahead at Kiirvri, his goal. No, no one was getting promoted today; this they knew.
      The boy drew away from his soldier-trainer as the Warlord approached, raising his sword in an almost mock-deference. Sekhmet wasn't worried about being attacked, although the little dark-haired warrior's expression suggested he would in a heartbeat. After all, he could use that collar against him, just like Taia's cuffs, the ones he had thrown away. "What do you want, demon?" Kiirvri spit out, turning the sword blade just enough to reflect his own face back at him. Proof enough that the epithet was true, but he had long since gone past caring.
      Even so, he raised his subarmored hand as if to activate the pain of the iron collar, but just as suddenly halted and dropped it. "Why is Taia like she is?" he asked, straight to the point. "She is the opposite of you now - a child in a woman's body. But she wasn't always that way."
      "You shouldn't say her name," he retorted. "It's because of your master, and you know it. It was his punishment that ruined her mind."
      "He is your master too," Sekhmet responded, seriously, just stating the fact.
      Kiirvri bristled and held back another comment in that line of discussion. "Talpa killed her mind. That's all, there is no more. There's nothing you can do about it, anyway. Why don't you leave her alone?"
      "I think you had something to do with it."
      "Me?" He frowned up at the Warlord, lowering the sword a little. "What could I have done? And, more importantly, why would I do something like that to Taia? She was like my mother, since you and your master stole me away from mine."
      He narrowed his eyes. It was just a feeling he had, true, but the boy was hiding something. He didn't know quite how to say what he meant, however. "There is a reason," he muttered under his breath.
      The sword dropped from Kiirvri's fingers, clattering onto the stones with a metallic tonal ring. He ignored it as if it were merely a pin dropping. "Doesn't matter, anyway, does it? She's escaped, or at least that's what you'd have her think."
      He looked up, startled at his perception. Oh, it was easy to underestimate this one, looking so innocent and small. But he knew a lot more than he let on… perhaps it was dangerous to even let him live. It was not as if he was a valuable ally… hell, they didn't even know what his powers were supposed to do! At least the woman could be made to use her voice against the Ronins… what could this child do that any other soldier could not?
      "But she'll be back," he continued. "And nothing will have changed. You can do nothing. The Ronins can do nothing."
      "She'll be back," he agreed. "But I think something may have changed."
      He shook his head obstinately. "What could they possibly do for her? Taia still won't remember anything, and still won't fight. Is that what you want her to do, Warlord? Do you want her to rage uselessly against Talpa so you can laugh at her?"
      Sekhmet crossed his arms, frowning. "And when did I allow you to do the questioning?" he asked. "You - somehow - made her like a child so you would be the protector, so you could protect her from herself."
      The statement rolled off him like so much background noise, and he continued as if he hadn't heard, "Or is it more than that? Do you want her to fight you as you bed her? She'd not be much good for that now, would she?" He grabbed at his own hair, growling in a low tone in frustration. "If that was all you wanted you should have done it sooner, shouldn't play with her like this… should have just had your fun and forgotten about her like anyone else."
      He pondered this for a moment, oddly surprised at the thought as it hadn't really occurred to him before. "You're right, I could have done that, easily," he murmured, half to himself. "But I did not…"
      Kiirvri's eyes went wide suddenly, as if he had just gained an unexpected revelation. "Oh… I see now. You care because she reminds you of the one you lost. Or at least she did."
      Sekhmet scowled. "I don't know what you're talking about. Don't be a fool. I don't care about anyone, including Taia. I'm just asking to satisfy a curiosity." I don't know why I even want her, why it matters whether or not she regains her spirit, her fight. But still... "I am interested for my own reasons, none of which involve you."
      The childlike form slumped to its knees in apparent deference to the Warlord standing above him. He rubbed his eyes wearily, shaking his head as if to empty it. "Oh, if you only knew…"
      "Knew what?" he asked, growing rather tired of the boy and his theatrics. Let him talk in riddles and pretend he was privy to the secrets of the universe. It wouldn't matter in the end. He was definitely going to recommend to the master that Kiirvri should be terminated. What a useless waste of air.
      Dark eyes flashed angrily, and he clenched his fists. "Do what you will, as if I could stop you anyway. But she won't ever… she's never going to be all right again. I'm going to make sure you don't get what you want. So just leave her alone, Warlord."
      He regarded this strange person for a moment, deciding what should be done. "As I expected." Slowly he raised his hand, making a quick twitching motion with his first two fingers. The collar around the child's neck burst into a momentary halo, and his screams tore through the air, rending it like the cut of a knife.
      But nobody cared to listen anymore.

      Hiy'all, there's the second chapter for ya. The character of Sharra is of course our lovely and talented She-Ronin, and she will be making many, many more appearances in fics yet to come. Yes, this includes "Ragnarok" too, and there are only three more chapters of this left to go before I can write that one. Thanks to her for her dialogue help, and to Rogue Moonstar for giving me ideas a month or two ago when I was stuck early on in this chapter.
      I wrote the majority of this in three days, and messed up my wrist doing it, too. Oh well, when inspiration calls, you answer. Well, the chapters are long because I do only want five of 'em... congrats on making it through another twenty-five pages of my junk!

Part Three