Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Bird from the Flames ❯ Ashes to Ashes ( Chapter 4 )

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

Bird From the Flames

Disclaimer: I do not own the Ronin Warriors so do not bother to sue me.

Last chapter: The orgin of Julie and Ryo's special 'connection' was revealed.
Now where will their relationship go from here? What is the
deal with Shadow and Sage? And what does Lady Sunset plan
to do? All this and more in ' Bird From the Flames.'

Chapter 5: Ashes to Ashes

Sitting on the back porch of Mia's mansion, I watched the other four
Ronin's spar. 'They sure have been gone a long time. It's almost midnight,' I thought.
I noticed that their excercises had stopped and they were walking over to me. Kento
yawned. " It's almost midnight. Ryo and Julie aren't back from the volcano yet?," he
asked. I shook my head 'no'. " Probably lead them to their deaths," Sage said.

We looked in his direction. " Why would you say that mate?," Cye asked.
Sage hesitated a moment as he glanced in my direction. My breaths caught in my throat.
'He might tell them the truth,' I thought paniced. " Sage...," Rowen said putting his hand
on his shoulder. Sage shook him off. " Never mind. Forget I said anything," he said as
he rushed into the house. They stared after him baffled. " What's eating him?," Kento
asked. " Who knows. He's been acting funny ever since the first night Julie got here. Do
you think she did something to him?," Rowen asked.

They were silent a moment contemplating that possibility. " It's not her," I said.
Rowen gave me a questioning glance. " And how would you know Shadow?," he inquired.
I stood streching out my paws. Letting my green eyes look into his dark blue pools I explained.
" He's upset with me," I confessed. Cye chuckled a bit. " And what would he have to be upset
with you for love?," he asked. I lowered my gaze a bit. " He found out that I was human," I said.
The outside grew silent. " Wait, wait, but you're a panther now. Are you a shapeshifter or
somethin'?," he asked. I nodded. He whistled. " Now that's some shit," he commented.

Looking over at Rowen, I noticed he still had a perplexed expression plastered on his
face. " But, why would he be upset at all unless he...," he started glancing at me. " Felt something
for me," I finished. They grinned. " Never thought ol' blondie would fall in love. It's not in his
character. I'll tell you what it is, he's embarrassed. Little punk ass," Kento said. " Or he could be
ashamed of his feelings and thought to use suspicion as a way to cover his feelings," Cye interjected.
They agreed.

" But that still doesn't deter from the fact he said you were trying to get them killed. Shadow,
what exactly did you send them into?," Rowen asked. I walked down the porch steps and into the forest.
They got the hint to follow me. When I reached Cye's lake I stopped. I transformed from a panther to a
human once more. My paws slowly retracted forming hands, my fur began to dissapear revealing a outfit
just as shiny and slick, my facial structure started to form that of a human woman, but my eyes were the
same.

The Ronins stood in awe at my new form. " I can see why Sage would be upset," Kento said
softly but loud enough for me to hear. I walked over to the water waving my hand over it. An image
appeared of the Phoenix kingdom, but it looked as if it were under attack. The Ronin's watched in horror
as countless soldiers crys went unheard in the heat of battle. " What's going on?," Cye asked finally.

" This is the Phoenix kingdom before it was destroyed. This is what I sent them to see. Partially," I
said. They watched as five young warriors, the only soldiers still alive, fight valiently to save their kingdom. I
know they noted the similarities in their armors. " Why do they have armor like us?," Rowen asked. " Because
they are you. In a past life of course," I replied. Their eyes widened with the sudden realization. " Did we die?," Cye
asked. " No. The Phoenix saved you but did not win the battle. She merely postponed it. Your spirits were
reincarnated 10,000 years later to finish it," I explained. " So, Julie saved us?," Kento asked. " No, Queen Flare
did. Julie wasn't strong enough then," I said.

They stayed silent letting the new information sink in. Waving my hand back over the pool, the image
dissapeared. " I know this is a lot to accept, but you had to know. They had to know," I said referring to Julie
and Ryo. Rowen was about to reply, but they heard a car pull into the driveway. Every one thought the same thing,
Ryo's back.

Everyone ran back to the house to see them emerge. We stopped short as we saw him exit the car.
His deep blue pools locked with mine almost chilling me to death. He was different and I'm sure the others
sensed it too. He went into the back seat lifting Julie out of the car. She had an ethereal glow to her skin when
compared to Ryo's. No words were exchanged as we watched him take her into the house without us moving.
When the door shut we relaxed again. Exchanging glances and nods, we followed the pair into the house.

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

I broke out of my meditation to see Ryo carrying Julie upstairs. I was going to ask him what happened,
but something warned me not to. As soon as he went up the stairs the others came in. My heart beat faster when
I saw Shadow in her human form again. Ever since that night I longed to have her. To feel the fire that our lips
started. To feel her body pressed against mine igniting my need for more.

The others gave me a quick smile before heading upstairs to go to sleep. 'She told them,' I thought.
Soon just me and Shadow were the only one's up. " We need to talk," she started. " That we do," I said. She
grinned a bit as she sat beside me on the floor. " I didn't mean to hide this from you guys," she said softly. I
smiled at her. " You didn't owe us any explanations. We never actually did research on your species. If we did
we would've known. But why hide?," I asked. She frowned. " Because humans are weak. They have stupid
emotions that end up getting them in trouble. As a panther I am oblivious to such things. As a human I am not.
Like that night Sage, you caught me off guard. I was weak and I refuse to feel that way again," she said as she
stood.

I pulled her back down causing her to fall into my lap. A faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks. " You're
being selfish Shadow. You don't know the toll you've had on me. I can't forget, nor do I want to forget," I said staring
into her green eyes. She lowered her gaze. " If only I could Sage. I can't," she whispered. I lifted her chin so I could
look into her eyes once more. " You can Shadow. Let me be the key to unlock your heart," he said. A silent tear
fell down her cheek. " No," she said. She got out of my lap and started to head upstairs without looking back.

I sat by the fireplace listening to it's melody. My heart is slowly being broken. The only woman I ever
wanted doesn't want me back. I can't help but think that something else has a hold on her. She isn't giving us the
whole story on herself even though she can tell us ours.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I layed Julie on my bed softly to not disturb her slumber. Whiteblaze stayed beside me studing me. He
sensed I was different as did everyone else. Opening my balcony doors I let a soft breeze enter the room. Whiteblaze
nudged my knee so I could rub him. I massaged the giant tiger's head gently. He purred in satisfaction. Glancing
over at the sleeping Goddess, I thought about the events of today. She is the Phoenix therefore, we are linked. She
is my power, my strenth, my lover.

I disregarded the tiger for a moment to study the sleeping girl. She looked like anyone else but she wasn't.
I let my finger trace her jawline. The feeling was still there. Heated ecstasy traveled from my finger to my whole
body. She stirred a bit but didn't wake up. The revealation that she was mine created a new feeling to run through
my body when she was around. She knew all along, but I was too simple minded to realize it.

Letting my finger trail down her neck I caused her to moan softly. I kissed her neck trying to wake her
up. We had to talk. Her eyes slowly opened. As she began to focus a smile formed on her lips. " Was it a dream?," she
asked. " No. It was real. I think I know what this means but how do we explain to the others?," I asked. She sat up
patting the spot next to her. I sat down waiting for her answer. " We can only tell them what we know and feel. We
are connected to each other and all we feel is love for one another. It was like that all along," She said caressing
my face. I shivered as the contact started a new fire to burn inside me. Not of ecstasy but of desire. I saw a spark
flicker in her emerald pools. She feels it too. " Where do we go from here?," I asked even though I knew the answer.

She kissed me softly as a reply. The fire that started within us was burning hot. It burned through our
clothes and through our bodies as we made love that night. We were pushed to the extreme as moans of pleasure
escaped us and extinguished as our pleasure waves crashed. Laying in each other's arms we felt safe, loved,
completed.

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

I gazed through Wilfire's window. His sleeping form was intertwined with the Phoenix. 'If I can't get her I'll
do the next best thing,' I thought. I climbed over his railing and stood in front of his balcony doors. " Can Wildfire
come out and play?," I called to him so only he could hear. His eyes opened as he sat up. He was careful not to
wake the girl as he climbed out of bed. I jumped back over to the tree as he stepped out onto the balcony. His eyes
locked with mine. " Who are you?," he asked with a frown gracing his handsome features. " My name is Lady Sunset.
I've come to kill you," I stated bluntly. Smiling he transformed into his subarmor. " Really? I think you're going to
have a hard time with that one," he said.

I grinned at his immaturity. 'He has no idea who he is dealing with,' I thought. " I propose a duel. No help
from your little Ronin friends," I said. " Why? Worried we could beat you?," he asked. " No. I just don't won't to
kill them so fast. Where's the fun in that?," I said. " Fine. Let's go to Cye's lake," he said. I nodded then transported
us there. We stood four feet apart. " Ready when you are," I said. " Armor of the Wildfire, dao chi!!," he called.
Pieces of chinese silk wrapped around the young warrior then bursted in to cherry blossom petals forming his armor.
When he stood in his armor I smiled. " Let the battle begin," I said.


to be continued.......


End chapter 5. Didn't mean to end it so short, but hey. I appreciate the reviews I got but if a slump like that happens
again, I don't know. I know we have people who are too lazy to review, ( me sometimes), but it really helps the author
to have the motivation to continue with the story. Think about that next time you hit the 'back' button. Like always,
please review and no flames cause who knows. Maybe I'll find your story.*evil grin*
~LS~