Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ At a Glance ❯ Dark Auras and Skis ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: Ohhh…I left off the italics this time, just to tell you I don't own the Ronin's or their series.

Well, that was fun. Anyways here is the next chapter. I wanted crazy, but I need to get on with the fun, the forecasting, and everything else that I have going. I suppose… (sigh) I have to limit myself… (Darn it). Oh well! Hehehe!

At a Glance

Chapter 6: Dark Auras and Skis

“Crap! They just disappeared?” Kayura shrieked, looking at the warlords in front of her. Each took her anger in stride…they had to. The problem this time was simple, yet complicated in its own right. By now means should this have happened, it just didn't make sense. Dais, Kale and even Sehkmet and Kayura were stumped by the one fact that was as true to them as another of any being.

The demons they had been watching in the mortal realms had disappeared.

“Have you checked everything yet? The caves, waters, volcanoes…even those who can be in human guise?” Kayura said, her voice becoming slightly panicked as she thought over the possibilities.

“We did search. And one more thing, evil energy is starting to surge in one spot at the area that Lena currently lives in. We aren't sure what it is, but it isn't in their vicinity directly,” Kale said, his eyes serious as he placed an armored hand behind his head. He glanced at Dais, who had just scuffed a foot on the wooden floor of the main palace meeting room.

“Is that for certain?” Kayura asked.

“Yes,” Dais said, nodding. Kayura looked up, grimed faced, “Well, there isn't anything we can do. Unless the spirits are alerting Lena, we shouldn't say anything. We have to try to handle it ourselves.”

“That's just it, Lady Kayura,” Sehkmet said, “The spirits can't.”

“Why not?” Kayura glanced at the Venom Warlord.

“Simply put? Those who haven't been captured in that area have been destroyed. We haven't a clue as to how many are to either, and despite the fact that the dead are considered spirits in their own right, they had been chased away from this spot as well,” Sehkmet said, confirming his own report he had given earlier.

“Damn…this isn't good…not good at all,” Kayura said, and then glanced at them, “Monitor that area. I don't know what's going on, but we should be ready for this.”

The warlords nodded as they headed off to their individual places to hold on for watch. The demons had disappeared, but they had not.

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“Ok and you move forward like this,” the instructor demonstrated, using the girls in the class as examples. Mia was the next one the instructor had reached for when he glimpsed a particular male in the group glinting angry glaring eyes his way. Hastily, he chose another young girl in the group.

Mia blinked slightly as she heard snickers behind her, glancing at Kento and Rowen who were currently teasing and trying to calm down the already angry Ryo. Mia pushed herself over to where the heated warrior stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, “Hey. You alright?”

Ryo's cheeks pinkened quite a bit more as he nodded vigorously at her, “Yea, fine.”

“Good. Cause we don't need more problems. I can barely stay balanced on these, “Lena said, her voice wry as she pushed herself to where the guys were; her face a mask of concentration.

“Just like training, eh?” Kento quipped, laughing at Lena's grimace as the others smiled brightly. Cat slid up behind Kento, demanding, “What in the world do you mean? I won't be left out! MRAH!”

Kento turned to look at the shorter girl as Rowen spoke up, enjoying Lena's embarrassment, “Well, here, it's like this. As you know, we trained her in self defense, right?” He waited until he saw her nod carefully, “Well, she couldn't balance worth crap at that time. Always falling over, kicks causing her to trip, over balances to the blocks…things like that. Let's just say we didn't dare give her the weapons yet…”

Cat smiled slightly, imagining Lena hitting one of them in the head on accident with a shinai before accidentally tripping and running into a rock or falling on her rear, “Ahhh…nice image…”

“NO! It is not!” Lena yelled as Cat darted away, shouting on her snow board. Lena just cursed, “Damn that girl, and her snowboard junk!”

That was when the spirits spoke to her, a smirk hidden in their voice as she listened to the spirits that held fast in the trees around them, reminding her of everlasting years and pine.

You really are a klutz! Watch out! We don't want you running into our tree bases!

`Oh…shut up!'Lena frowned, her face scrunching up a bit.

“What is it?” Cye asked.

“Tree spirits. They always have to put in a word to humiliate you…” Lena grumbled as she thought about making a particular tree into a pair of skis as it retorted at her.

The guys laughed as the lesson progressed without anymore interruptions as they listened intently. This was going to be one heck of a trip.

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“This is all there is to it? WHOOO!” Kento cried, rushing down the slope, Rowen and Cye not far behind. A bit further back, Mia was helping Ryo ski along. Apparently, the Warrior of Wildfire didn't do to well in the snow. Go figure.

Sage laughed at Lena's attempt to make a controlled slide down the slopes as she zigzagged in ways that skis really ought not to be used. Yet, there she was, desperately dodging one tree and then another as she watched the guys stop at one point in the hill. Planning a halt of her own, she saw a small streak of black and silver wiz by on a snow board as a lob of snow hit Kento in the head, causing him to fall down.

“HEY!” Kento said, pulling himself up as he watched Cat dash by, shouting at him, “MRAAAH!”

Everyone just blinked as Rowen shook his head, “I think there is something wrong with the girl…don't you?”

Kento sighed, “I have no idea…oh…wait! CRAP! That stupid horse's name! Aww man…”

Cye laughed, “It's alright buddy.”

Sage laughed as he stopped next to Cye, “Yup. Besides, at least you aren't as bad at this as Lena is!”

Everyone looked up to see her still wildly dodging the trees. They all laughed as they shook their heads. Mia asked them all, “Shouldn't we help her?”

“I don't think she'd take it!” Ryo said, laughing as he sat down, the others copying him.

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Lena looked ahead of her, seeing the guys laughing at her. Fine! They could. She'd just figure out how to do this better, like she did with self defense. This wasn't like swimming; she didn't just get it right off after all. Either way, she was closing in. Sighing to herself…almost there…almost there. Her concentration was so focused on one thing that it shattered as she heard the next.

Demons! Demons! Watch out! They are here!

She started, glancing up with widened eyes as she felt a burst of heat from the jewel she still kept about her neck. The thing scorched her flesh, as she thanked her stars that it was under her clothing and hidden from sight as she lost her balance and fell to the ground, tumbling head over heels, crashing towards the guys with a shriek of fright.

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Cat stood by the guys, hiding a grin as she looked at each of them. Lena was making a funny site. Wide zigzags, and sloppy turns, bad balance and all, it was still amusing, and as such, Kento forgot about her throwing the snowball at him.

The guys chuckled when Rowen's sharp eyes were the first to realize something, “Guys. Something's not right!”

“What?” Mia asked, looking over his shoulder as Cat did hers. Ryo and the others did the same just in time to feel a surge of energy burst out and Lena suddenly tumble towards them like a maniac unable to control herself. Gasping suddenly, Rowen lunged forward, reaching out to catch the girl before she could really get hurt. Grunting, he felt Ryo and Cye brace him as she made impact with him, her skis narrowly missing his head as he held the panting, frightened girl to him as a way to steady them both.

“You ok?” Cat asked, walking up to her and poking her shoulder. Mia reached over to grab Lena's head as she nodded, panting. Her normally pale skin was almost white under the star contrast of the purple suit she wore. Glancing at the guys, she quickly sent the message along the mind link, not trusting herself to speak.

“Something's wrong. The spirits are crying that there is a demon in the forest. The jewel is reacting violently. It hurts…”

“Are you sure?” Sage asked sharply in concern as his question was seconded.

“Why lie to you guys?” Lena asked, glancing tiredly at Cat with a reassuring grin as Rowen held her on her feet.

“You wouldn't. We know that. But we have to get Mia and Cat back to where Yulie is at the lodge.” Cye said with a sigh, “Lena will have to guide us, since we aren't picking up on this thing, and the spirits are.”

“Good point,” Ryo said with a nod, before turning to Cat and Mia, “We'll get her back to the lodge. Can you two go ahead and get some hot drinks ready and such like that?”

Mia's eyes widened as he made contact with them, giving her a small nod. She instantly knew and turned to Cat, “Come on. The guys can handle Lena. Let's get the drinks! Race you down?”

Cat, always up for a race, hurriedly agreed as she slid down, shouting one final phrase, “HAIL!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“This way…I think…” Lena said, listening to the faint voices of the wind. She couldn't place it, but for some reason the spirits seemed weaker in this area as she looked over her shoulder at the guys, who already wore subarmor. Obligingly, Kento had her riding on his back, piggy back style. Neither of the guys would let her walk after the tumble she had gotten down the slope. She chalked it to brotherly worry, the kind they always pulled on her.

Silently, they walked that way as Cye looked up at her, “You think?”

“It's hard to tell, but for some reason the spirits are getting weaker. I know it sounds crazy, but it almost feels like death…but spirits can't die, can they?” Lena asked, looking over at Cye, then Rowen and Sage, who each shrugged.

“Whatever it is, we have to be on guard and careful. And let's try to hurry at this,” Ryo said softly as Rowen began to tease.

“Why? Is it true you have a date with Mia then?” Ryo's face scrunched up in annoyance as Rowen just laughed, causing all the others to shake their heads. They were sure the statement was true; it just didn't do to antagonize Ryo.

“You guys…shut up. We are on the prowl, remember. WHOA!” Sage yelled, darting back to where the others were as a monster lumbered into view. Kento slid Lena off his shoulders, placing her to the side as she scrambled the rest of the way.

“You are the rats! Those who lumbered into my territory!” The creature said. Standing over seven feet in height, the intimidating thing was covered in bristling black fur. Its mouth was elongated into a muzzle like thing as the rest of its muscular body stood on two legs. Its yellow eyes caused shivers to run down their backs. The creature had the color eyes of Lethias, the Demon lord they had defeated.

That was when Lena saw it, the aura around the thing. The others began to notice it, and understand why they hadn't sensed it. The spirits were dying because of this thing. This demon was one of legend. Its soul sucking abilities were only part of something on a grander scale. This thing destroyed life and death, leaving it in oblivion. This thing was a Sakiri, a spirit eating monster.

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Author's note: I thought I would leave it there, with the introduction of the Sakiri. The word itself, I made up, or so I hope. So if anyone knows the real meaning of the word, then in that case, please let me know. I hope not to insult anyone with it, if that happens. Anyways, yea, here is the next chapter. I expect about two more chapters, three counting the epilogue. I am not gonna let this get all that long, since it is just a bridge story between the one coming after this. Well, that's all I have to say for now!

Hikaru

Reviews: Thank you all!

Meira Evanstar: Well thanks! I'm glad you agree with me! I didn't see the whole thing as his fault either, so that makes two of us! And well, I will update as soon as I can, like I always do! Just have stupid work in the way.

Inda: Hehehe, I will have a Ryo/Mia moment come up soon, just because you requested it! That and I feel that Ryo and Mia need to have their relationship before any of the others! : P Thanks for always being there to review, I appreciate it a lot! The encouragement really helps!

1TheScorpian2: The relationship thing I thought fit. As for how it expands, probably not much more for it in this story. Maybe in the next one4, but I'm not sure. There will be some Ryo/Mia coming up, since I really like that pairing, and I don't see an issue, since I go by the Japanese ages, where Cye is oldest and Mia is only about two to three years older then all the other guys.