Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Christmas Eve: The Past Returns ❯ Part 3 ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Firestar 
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.30.2001 | Pages: 3 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 372 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.30.2001 | Pages: 3 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 372 | Status: Completed
Christmas Eve: The Past Returns
Firestar
Part 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors, never have, never will. But man, I sure wish I did.
*************
7:30 New Years Eve
The Ronins had finished there New Years Eve dinner and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. Ryo
was joking around with Kento, teasing him about his appetite, but Rowen still seemed troubled.
"What's wrong, Ro?" Sage kept his voice low so as not to draw the others' attention.
Rowen looked up at him, wanting so badly to tell Sage what bothered him, but he didn't think Ryo
would forgive him if he found out. He hadn't been sworn to secrecy or anything, but he still couldn't
force himself to get the words out. "Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking."
Sage looked at him doubtfully, but let it go, not willing to spoil the party.
"Hey Ryo, we've got a suprise for ya!" Kento shouted gleefully, after looking at the other's for
permission to spill the secret.
Ryo looked at him in mock suspicion. "What kinda suprise?"
The guys took it as their signal to pull wrapped packages out of various hiding places. "Merry Christmas!"
Ryo looked at them like they'd hit their heads. "Guy's, Christmas is over. Has been for a few days."
Cye smiled, "we know, but we didn't get the chance to celebrate it with you, so we figured we'd give
you your presents now. Make tonight kind of a Christmas and New Years all rolled into one."
Looking down for a moment, Ryo seemed to be holding back tears, but when he met their gazes he had
a huge smile on his face. "Thanks guys, it means a lot to me."
His friends all handed him his gifts one by one, giving him plenty of time to open each. The first
was from Kento. The wrapping paper was a bit wrinkled and torn in a few places, but Ryo didn't
seem to mind. He opened it carefully, not wanting to ruin whatever was inside. Then a huge grin
lit up his face. "Just what I've been needing Kento." He held up a huge tin of cookies.
Ryo opened all the rest of the packages with just as much care. From Cye he got a pocket knife and
Sage a cd produced by his favorite band. The last gift he opened was from Rowen. Inside was a simple
frame made of silver and engraved with the words "friends forever." The frame held a picture of all
the guys together, in regular street clothes, during one of their happiest moments.
Everyone took a moment to remember that day. Talpa had been defeated just a week before and they'd
all been giddy with elation, relief, and a fierce pride. They had saved the world, and even if no
one else ever knew it, they were heros. Wanting to preserve that happiness forever, Rowen had set
up a camera and gotten all the guys to stand together for the photo.
Kento was the first to come back to himself and brought the others all snapping out of their reveries.
"C'mon guys, lets get the show on the road."
They stayed up all night, waiting for the new year to roll in. The Ronins turned their stereo up
loud and rambled from one activity to another, not really caring what they did, as long as it was
done together.
Then Sage glanced at his watch. "Hey guys, it's almost midnight!" He silently watched the seconds
tick by and then he held up his hand. "10, 9, 8" The other's joined in as well. "7, 6, 5, 4, 3,
2, ONE!" "Happy New Year!"
1:30 a.m. January 1, 2001
This charade was grinding on him. He was trying so hard to be strong for his friends, but he didn't
know how long he could keep it up. It was all bottled up inside of him, threatening to explode
outwards at any moment. All he wanted to do was go up to his room and be left in peace, but at the
same time he was afraid of falling asleep. Afraid of the nightmares it would bring. What if he cried
out this time? He had come so close to spilling everything to Rowen, but had just barely managed to
hold it in. Ryo didn't want Rowen to hate him, or pity him, or be disgusted by what he had let happen
to him. Ryo's anguished thoughts went unnoticed by his friends. He was very good at
keeping his feelings to himself. He'd been hiding them for years.
But when he finally returned his attention to the party, he found that he would finally get his respite.
The others were getting ready to turn in.
"Hey Ryo, ya ready to go to bed?" Rowen asked solicitously. When Ryo nodded, he bent down and lifted
Ryo the way he would a sleeping child, or a lover. The other's looked on, their curiousity aroused,
but kept their thoughts to themselves.
Rowen headed upstairs, careful not to jounce Ryo and aggravate his wounds. Ryo leaned his head against
Rowen's chest tiredly, reveling in their closeness, but not noticing the feelings he aroused in the
one he did it to.
Cye watched Rowen carry Ryo up the stairs. When he was sure they were both out of earshot, he turned
to face Sage and Kento. "Guys, I'm worried about Ryo. There was something just...off about him
tonight. He's hiding something from us."
Kento nodded soberly. "Yeah, I know what ya mean. Every time he thought we weren't paying attention,
he'd let that fake smile of his slide off his face. He looks so sad."
Sage remained silent and Kento and Cye waited expectantly. He was the expert on emotions
as far as they were concerned. Finally, he sighed with frustration. "We need to get him to talk
about what happened. It's not good for him to keep it inside like he has."
Cye and Kento looked just as frustrated. "But how do we get him to do that," Cye asked. "We can't
force him to talk."
"The only thing we can do right now is wait. I think Rowen is our best chance of helping Ryo. If
he'll open up to anyone, it'll be to him."
Kento didn't like the thought of waiting, but he reluctantly agreed along with Cye. "You're right Sage,"
he sighed, "but I hate waiting. You know that."
"Yeah, but we don't have any choice."
*He was trying desperately to get away, to fight against his captor, but he was too little. The man's
strong hands wrenched Ryo's thin arms behind his back, practically pulling them out of their sockets.
Ryo tried to cry out, to yell for help, but the gag stifled his screams. Tears streamed down his
young face, and he was trembling with fear. The man tore Ryo's shirt away and began to unbutton his
pants. Ryo struggled harder, but it was no use. He was forced to his knees. The man's foul breath
wafted across Ryo's face as he placed his mouth by Ryo's ear. "It's no use fighting boy, you belong
to me." Then he caressed Ryo, his hands working their way lower and lower, finally reaching..."*
Rowen was jolted out of sleep by Ryo's scream. Scrambling frantically for a light, he leaped out of
bed and headed towards Ryo. Ryo flailing around in his bed, still caught up in his nightmare. Sweat
soaked his form and tears ran freely from his closed eyes. Rowen grabbed his shoulder's and shook him,
trying to get him to wake up. "Ryo! Come on man, wake up! Wake up Ryo!"
Suddenly, Ryo's struggling ceased and he seemed to collapse in on himself, curling up in a fetal postion.
Sobs wracked his lean body. Rowen reached out to him and pulled him close, cradling him like a baby.
"It's all right, Ryo. Everything's all right. I won't let anything hurt you, I promise. It's all
right," Rowen soothed, stroking Ryo's sweat soaked hair.
Just then, Sage, Cye, and Kento all burst into the room, frantic with worry. "What's wrong, what
happened?!" Cye gasped.
Rowen didn't look up as he continued to comfort Ryo. Sage watched them both for a few moments, and
then placed a hand on Cye's shoulder. "Let's leave them alone right now. We can discuss this in the
morning." He headed for the door, motioning for Kento to follow.
Sage sat on his bed, wrapped in thought.
If I tried to get him to talk, he'd just push me away. I don't have the bond with him that Rowen does,
I just hope that Rowen realizes how much Ryo needs him.>
Rowen sat holding Ryo in his arms, rocking him back and forth. "Ryo, tell me what's wrong. Tell me
what happened."
Ryo started to look up at him, but couldn't meet his gaze. "I can't."
"Why?"
Ryo still refused to answer.
"Why can't you tell me, Ryo?"
Ryo pulled away from Rowen, hugging his arms tight to himself. "You'll hate me, you'll think I'm
filthy and horrible."
"Why would I do that Ryo? I'm your friend, remember?" Rowen was starting to get worried inside.
What had happened to Ryo that would make him think so little of himself?
"Because I let it happen. I wasn't strong enough to stop him. I should've fought harder. Every
time I let it happen." Ryo's voice rose hysterically and was filled shame and guilt.
Rowen pulled Ryo close to him again, letting him cry into his chest. "Shh, Ryo, I know you. You
did everything you could to stop what was happening. You're the strongest person I know, and I'm
sure you fought with everything you had in you. Sometimes it just isn't enough, but it isn't your
fault. None of what happened is your fault."
"You don't know that! You weren't there, you couldn't possibly know!"
"Then tell me what happened, so that I do know," Rowen pleaded.
Ryo shook his head violently. "You'll hate me," he repeated.
Rowen closed his eyes, praying for strength, and then reached deep down inside himself. "Ryo, I could
never hate you. I promise, know matter what happened, I'll never feel any differently about you
than I do right now." Then he took a deep breath, hoping he was doing the right thing, hoping for
acceptance. "Ryo, I...I love you. I have for a long time."
Firestar
Part 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors, never have, never will. But man, I sure wish I did.
*************
7:30 New Years Eve
The Ronins had finished there New Years Eve dinner and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. Ryo
was joking around with Kento, teasing him about his appetite, but Rowen still seemed troubled.
"What's wrong, Ro?" Sage kept his voice low so as not to draw the others' attention.
Rowen looked up at him, wanting so badly to tell Sage what bothered him, but he didn't think Ryo
would forgive him if he found out. He hadn't been sworn to secrecy or anything, but he still couldn't
force himself to get the words out. "Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking."
Sage looked at him doubtfully, but let it go, not willing to spoil the party.
"Hey Ryo, we've got a suprise for ya!" Kento shouted gleefully, after looking at the other's for
permission to spill the secret.
Ryo looked at him in mock suspicion. "What kinda suprise?"
The guys took it as their signal to pull wrapped packages out of various hiding places. "Merry Christmas!"
Ryo looked at them like they'd hit their heads. "Guy's, Christmas is over. Has been for a few days."
Cye smiled, "we know, but we didn't get the chance to celebrate it with you, so we figured we'd give
you your presents now. Make tonight kind of a Christmas and New Years all rolled into one."
Looking down for a moment, Ryo seemed to be holding back tears, but when he met their gazes he had
a huge smile on his face. "Thanks guys, it means a lot to me."
His friends all handed him his gifts one by one, giving him plenty of time to open each. The first
was from Kento. The wrapping paper was a bit wrinkled and torn in a few places, but Ryo didn't
seem to mind. He opened it carefully, not wanting to ruin whatever was inside. Then a huge grin
lit up his face. "Just what I've been needing Kento." He held up a huge tin of cookies.
Ryo opened all the rest of the packages with just as much care. From Cye he got a pocket knife and
Sage a cd produced by his favorite band. The last gift he opened was from Rowen. Inside was a simple
frame made of silver and engraved with the words "friends forever." The frame held a picture of all
the guys together, in regular street clothes, during one of their happiest moments.
Everyone took a moment to remember that day. Talpa had been defeated just a week before and they'd
all been giddy with elation, relief, and a fierce pride. They had saved the world, and even if no
one else ever knew it, they were heros. Wanting to preserve that happiness forever, Rowen had set
up a camera and gotten all the guys to stand together for the photo.
Kento was the first to come back to himself and brought the others all snapping out of their reveries.
"C'mon guys, lets get the show on the road."
They stayed up all night, waiting for the new year to roll in. The Ronins turned their stereo up
loud and rambled from one activity to another, not really caring what they did, as long as it was
done together.
Then Sage glanced at his watch. "Hey guys, it's almost midnight!" He silently watched the seconds
tick by and then he held up his hand. "10, 9, 8" The other's joined in as well. "7, 6, 5, 4, 3,
2, ONE!" "Happy New Year!"
1:30 a.m. January 1, 2001
This charade was grinding on him. He was trying so hard to be strong for his friends, but he didn't
know how long he could keep it up. It was all bottled up inside of him, threatening to explode
outwards at any moment. All he wanted to do was go up to his room and be left in peace, but at the
same time he was afraid of falling asleep. Afraid of the nightmares it would bring. What if he cried
out this time? He had come so close to spilling everything to Rowen, but had just barely managed to
hold it in. Ryo didn't want Rowen to hate him, or pity him, or be disgusted by what he had let happen
to him. Ryo's anguished thoughts went unnoticed by his friends. He was very good at
keeping his feelings to himself. He'd been hiding them for years.
But when he finally returned his attention to the party, he found that he would finally get his respite.
The others were getting ready to turn in.
"Hey Ryo, ya ready to go to bed?" Rowen asked solicitously. When Ryo nodded, he bent down and lifted
Ryo the way he would a sleeping child, or a lover. The other's looked on, their curiousity aroused,
but kept their thoughts to themselves.
Rowen headed upstairs, careful not to jounce Ryo and aggravate his wounds. Ryo leaned his head against
Rowen's chest tiredly, reveling in their closeness, but not noticing the feelings he aroused in the
one he did it to.
Cye watched Rowen carry Ryo up the stairs. When he was sure they were both out of earshot, he turned
to face Sage and Kento. "Guys, I'm worried about Ryo. There was something just...off about him
tonight. He's hiding something from us."
Kento nodded soberly. "Yeah, I know what ya mean. Every time he thought we weren't paying attention,
he'd let that fake smile of his slide off his face. He looks so sad."
Sage remained silent and Kento and Cye waited expectantly. He was the expert on emotions
as far as they were concerned. Finally, he sighed with frustration. "We need to get him to talk
about what happened. It's not good for him to keep it inside like he has."
Cye and Kento looked just as frustrated. "But how do we get him to do that," Cye asked. "We can't
force him to talk."
"The only thing we can do right now is wait. I think Rowen is our best chance of helping Ryo. If
he'll open up to anyone, it'll be to him."
Kento didn't like the thought of waiting, but he reluctantly agreed along with Cye. "You're right Sage,"
he sighed, "but I hate waiting. You know that."
"Yeah, but we don't have any choice."
*He was trying desperately to get away, to fight against his captor, but he was too little. The man's
strong hands wrenched Ryo's thin arms behind his back, practically pulling them out of their sockets.
Ryo tried to cry out, to yell for help, but the gag stifled his screams. Tears streamed down his
young face, and he was trembling with fear. The man tore Ryo's shirt away and began to unbutton his
pants. Ryo struggled harder, but it was no use. He was forced to his knees. The man's foul breath
wafted across Ryo's face as he placed his mouth by Ryo's ear. "It's no use fighting boy, you belong
to me." Then he caressed Ryo, his hands working their way lower and lower, finally reaching..."*
Rowen was jolted out of sleep by Ryo's scream. Scrambling frantically for a light, he leaped out of
bed and headed towards Ryo. Ryo flailing around in his bed, still caught up in his nightmare. Sweat
soaked his form and tears ran freely from his closed eyes. Rowen grabbed his shoulder's and shook him,
trying to get him to wake up. "Ryo! Come on man, wake up! Wake up Ryo!"
Suddenly, Ryo's struggling ceased and he seemed to collapse in on himself, curling up in a fetal postion.
Sobs wracked his lean body. Rowen reached out to him and pulled him close, cradling him like a baby.
"It's all right, Ryo. Everything's all right. I won't let anything hurt you, I promise. It's all
right," Rowen soothed, stroking Ryo's sweat soaked hair.
Just then, Sage, Cye, and Kento all burst into the room, frantic with worry. "What's wrong, what
happened?!" Cye gasped.
Rowen didn't look up as he continued to comfort Ryo. Sage watched them both for a few moments, and
then placed a hand on Cye's shoulder. "Let's leave them alone right now. We can discuss this in the
morning." He headed for the door, motioning for Kento to follow.
Sage sat on his bed, wrapped in thought.
If I tried to get him to talk, he'd just push me away. I don't have the bond with him that Rowen does,
I just hope that Rowen realizes how much Ryo needs him.>
Rowen sat holding Ryo in his arms, rocking him back and forth. "Ryo, tell me what's wrong. Tell me
what happened."
Ryo started to look up at him, but couldn't meet his gaze. "I can't."
"Why?"
Ryo still refused to answer.
"Why can't you tell me, Ryo?"
Ryo pulled away from Rowen, hugging his arms tight to himself. "You'll hate me, you'll think I'm
filthy and horrible."
"Why would I do that Ryo? I'm your friend, remember?" Rowen was starting to get worried inside.
What had happened to Ryo that would make him think so little of himself?
"Because I let it happen. I wasn't strong enough to stop him. I should've fought harder. Every
time I let it happen." Ryo's voice rose hysterically and was filled shame and guilt.
Rowen pulled Ryo close to him again, letting him cry into his chest. "Shh, Ryo, I know you. You
did everything you could to stop what was happening. You're the strongest person I know, and I'm
sure you fought with everything you had in you. Sometimes it just isn't enough, but it isn't your
fault. None of what happened is your fault."
"You don't know that! You weren't there, you couldn't possibly know!"
"Then tell me what happened, so that I do know," Rowen pleaded.
Ryo shook his head violently. "You'll hate me," he repeated.
Rowen closed his eyes, praying for strength, and then reached deep down inside himself. "Ryo, I could
never hate you. I promise, know matter what happened, I'll never feel any differently about you
than I do right now." Then he took a deep breath, hoping he was doing the right thing, hoping for
acceptance. "Ryo, I...I love you. I have for a long time."