Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Tangled Web ❯ Prologue

Author's Note: I only own the characters of Jade and Rhia, this is strictly for fun. RW action/romance, het to start, yaoi in later chapters. Will eventually have pictures to accompany.

 

 

Love's Tangled Web

Prologue

 

“Oh! Oh, there she is! Rhia!”

 

Rhia blinked as she was glomped by the purple-haired girl. Grinning, she returned her best friend's hug. “Hi, Jade,” she replied, voice laced with exhaustion.

 

“I'm so glad you're here, I missed you so much! How was your flight?”

 

“The flight was long and boring. They played a couple of horrible chick flicks and I just couldn't sleep. I'm excited, but exhausted and ready to find a bed.”

 

“Poor thing. Home's not too far away. But… What's that?” Her gaze was fixed on a long, slender black bag that Rhia carried.

 

“Oh, this?” she said, hastily trying to hide it unsuccessfully behind her back. “It-it's nothing, really…”

 

“It's obviously something. What is it?” She managed to worm the thing out from behind Rhia's back. Holding it in both hands she looked up at her friend. “Do you know how to use this?”

 

“Well, no… I was hoping one of you could teach me…”

 

Jade exchanged a look with the man standing next to her, almost as though they shared a thought before both looked back at her, as though searching for something. That was a little weird.

 

“Well, I bought it on a whim right before I came out here. I don't know why, I just—”

 

“Kento can teach you. The naginata's his specialty, but he had to master the staff first.” She studied her friend a moment longer before handing the still-bagged staff back to her and turning to the blonde man standing beside her. She grinned.

 

“I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Rhianna Kua Hai, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Sage Date. Sage, this is my best friend from the States, Rhia.”

 

“Umm… Hi,” she said.

 

“Konnichi wa,” he replied, bowing.

 

She returned the bow. “Very nice to meet you finally. But do you mind if we go get my bags now? I'm ready to get out of here.”

 

Sage watched as the two girls chattered, strolling toward baggage claim, comparing the two of them. Jade Rei Faun was shorter than her friend, only 5'1”, with vibrant purple hair that hung to her waist. Her eyes were the color of emeralds, the glittering green of his armor. And despite being short like most Japanese women, she was excellently proportioned, amply curved and undoubtedly feminine.

 

Rhia was slightly taller, with stormy gray eyes and golden brown wavy hair that fell to her shoulder blades. She was also nicely curved, almost as beautiful as Jade, which, coming from him, was quite a compliment. No one compared to his Jade.

 

And she had a staff. Bought it right before she left. Now <I>that</I> was interesting. He reached out to touch her aura and a vibration thrilled through his armor link. Could she…?

 

When Anubis had died and gone to Otherworld with Kayura, he left his armor behind, splitting it into two new armors. Jade bore one-the armor of Starfire. The other hadn't yet resurfaced, but he had his suspicions.

 

Gathering luggage was annoying but easy, as always, and before long, the were in the car on the way home, Jade telling Rhia about Japan and Tokyo, Rhia listening interestedly and looking out the windows as she spoke.

 

She gasped as Sage turned into a driveway. “<I>This</I> is your house?!? It's huge!”

 

Jade grinned. “Six people live here, Rhia. Seven including you. We need space for that many people.” She noticed Rhia looked a little nervous. “Don't worry. You'll meet the guys when we get inside. You'll love them.”

 

Rhia looked at her warily, but said nothing.

 

The car was turned off, bags were retrieved from the trunk, and Jade led the way to the door.

 

“We're baaaaaack!!” she yelled as soon as she stepped across the threshold, toeing off her shoes.

 

Sage took the bags upstairs while Jade led Rhia into the living room. Opening the sliding glass door, she yelled outside to alert the two outside of her return.

 

“Geez, Jade, do you have to be so loud?” Rowen said from his chair next to the door.

 

“Only for you, Rowen.” She grinned.

 

Rowen returned the smile and shook his head. Soon all the ronins were gathered in the living room, save one.

 

“Where's Ryo?”

 

“He's coming,” Sage replied.

 

“Okay. Well, I'd like you all to meet Rhianna Kua Hai, my best friend from when I went to college in the U.S. Rhia, you've already met Sage, I'd like you also to meet my cousin, Kento Rei Faun, resident hard-head and trouble maker—”

 

“Hey! I am not!”

 

She grinned and mock whispered, “He's also our resident loudmouth.” She giggled as he cuffed her on the shoulder.

 

“I'll get you for that,” he replied good-naturedly.

 

“Moving right along, next is Sai Mori. His cooking is to die for. Trust me, after you try it, you'll be sure not to miss any meals. Especially once you see Kento eat.”

 

“Hey! You brat!”

 

“Come on, Jade, leave Kento alone…” Sai said, grinning.

 

“He's my cousin, I have to tease him. You wouldn't want me to neglect my cousinly duties, now would you? Now. Over by the door is Rowen Hashiba, astronomer and night owl. Thanks for staying up to meet Rhia by the way.”

 

“My pleasure. Gotta make a good first impression.”

 

Rhia glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing it was only 9 am. This was late for him?

 

“And lastly,” Jade looked around, “Where's—” She shrieked, fighting torturing, tickling fingers away from her ribs. “RYO!!”

 

Everyone was laughing as she turned to face him.

 

“I'm going to hurt you…” she growled.

 

“Oh, yea? And just what're you gonna do?” he challenged. Cobalt eyes were cool and confidant.

 

“This.” She grabbed his arms, attached to wrists she still held, and body slammed him into the nearest object, which happened to be the couch Rhia was sitting on. His head landed next to her leg, feet dangling off the end.

 

“And be happy I didn't throw you into the coffee table. I could've had you digging glass out of your ass for the next week. Now introduce yourself.”

 

Ryo grinned sheepishly up at Rhia. “Umm… Hi. I'm Ryo Sanada.”

 

Rhia looked down and was captivated by tiger blue eyes framed by tan skin and long, midnight black hair. Strong, broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist and hips, long muscular legs still hanging off the end of the couch.

 

“Um… H-hi,” she muttered, stunned and taking his proffered hand. Something large and furry pushed at her knee, demanding her attention, and the spell was broken as she looked down. Gasping, she jumped up onto the back of the couch.

 

Ryo frowned and looked over to see what had frightened her. Large brown eyes gazed back at him. Oh… Grinning, he sat up.

 

“Rhia, come down. This is White Blaze. He's my companion. Don't worry, he won't hurt you, I promise. He's really friendly.”

 

Rhia looked nervously at the tiger but climbed down, tentatively reaching a hand out to him. He paused, smelling it, then lavished it with a swipe of his tongue before rubbing against it. Rhia smiled and started scratching his chin.

 

“Hello, White Blaze,” she murmured before yawning abruptly. “Wow, I'm sorry. I guess it's time for bed. It was very nice to meet you all.” She stood up and followed Jade as she led the way up to her room.

 

“Is there anything I can help you with or do for you?”

 

“No, not really. I have to find my pajamas, and… well, could I ask you something?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Rhia started rooting through one of her suitcases. “I know it's kinda late for this now, but I'm starting to think that this wasn't such a good idea. I know you're here, but there's five guys living here and that kinda freaks me out.”

 

Jade sighed and wrapped her arms around her friend. “Hey, I wouldn't have had you come out here if I didn't think you'd be safe. These guys are nothing like that bastard ex-husband of yours. They are honorable, trustworthy and safe, every last one of them. You are my best friend, and because of that you are their friend as well, and they would fight to protect you and teach you to protect yourself. You're going to be taking lessons from Kento on how to use your staff, right? I know you're nervous. I know right now you're gun-shy. But just because one man was stupid enough to abuse you doesn't mean that all men are like that. Just give them a chance, Rhia. I've lived with them for most of the last four years, and look at me. I'm happy, I'm healthy, and I would trust any of them with my life. They taught me how to fight, how to defend myself, how to kick somebody's ass without them ever being able to land an attack of their own. And they'll teach you the same thing. Hell, after a while you'll be able to look at a man twice your size and say, `yea, I could take him down.'”

 

This remark elicited a giggle from Rhia, who was currently crying into Jade's shoulder. “Yea, right,” she said gloomily.

 

“I'm serious! Sage and Ryo were my two main teachers, being the sword masters, and on a good day I've kicked Ryo's ass all over the yard. Of course, on a bad day, he's also pounded my ass into the dirt…”

 

Rhia giggled again.

 

Jade reached over and plucked a couple of tissues off the nightstand, handing them to Rhia. “But do you see what I mean?”

 

Rhia nodded as she wiped her tears away.

 

“Just give it a chance, Rhia. I promise everything will be fine. Did I tell you how I met them?”

 

“Vaguely.”

 

Jade grinned and started pulling things out of Rhia's suitcase, hanging them up in the closet as she spoke. “Well you know I moved back to Tokyo the summer after graduation. I'd been back for about 3 months, just started my job, one night wandered into the club where Ryo works. I ordered a drink and watched him for a while, just because he's a nice piece of eye candy, you know what I mean?”

 

Rhia blushed and nodded, remembering bright cerulean eyes and inky black tresses. Needing something to do with her hands, she started helping Jade put things away, glad for the story and distraction of menial tasks.

 

“I noticed he was being run ragged. It was a Friday night, and he was the only one behind the bar. Found out his help had called in sick, and asked him if I could help him. Of course he wanted to know if I'd bartended before, blah, blah, told him I had in college, you remember that, right? Well, he finally said ok and I hopped over the bar and started helping him make drinks, and we hit it off; worked so well together it was like having one mind in two bodies, always knowing where the other was and what they were doing. We laughed and joked, flirted and teased, even though we both knew the other wasn't really interested. Well, before either of us knew it, it was last call. I helped him clean up and we chatted for a while, and he eventually invited me over. I decided sure, what the hell, and came over. We sat up for hours, talking, laughing, watched a movie, played video games.

 

“At some point I must have passed out on the couch cause next thing I knew, there was sun on my face and I was curled up on the couch covered by a blanket. I heard noises from the next room, and so got up and saw them all doing morning warm-up and katas. I was hooked. From then on I was over here every weekend, hanging out, training, just having a good time, getting to know Sage. And boy, was I surprised to see Kento! I knew he lived in a house with a few other guys, but didn't keep close contact with him.” She giggled. “He was so shocked to see me! It was a couple of months later that I found my—” she stopped abruptly. “That I started dating Sage and decided to move in, and I've been here ever since. Sometimes think back on it, if I hadn't accepted Ryo's invitation, trusted him, none of this might ever have happened. But I'm glad that I did.”

 

Rhia smiled. “Ok, point taken. Trust them. I'll try, but no promises. So Ryo still works at that bar? What does everyone else do?”

 

“Yea, he's head bartender there now. Pretty cool, actually. Everyone else? Well, Rowen's an astronomer, like I said. Thursdays and Fridays are his nights at the observatory, that's why 9 am on a Saturday is late for him. He's been up since 4 yesterday and hasn't been to bed yet. But he usually only works from 6 in the evening until 2 or 3 in the morning. I pretty much work from home, translating mangas. Sage teaches kendo classes twice a day in the dojo downstairs, --”

 

“You guys have a dojo in your house?” Rhia's eyes were wide and incredulous.

 

Jade grinned. “Yea. I'll take you on the grand tour later. Kento works construction, and Sai works at the aquarium downtown. Sai and I are the ones who pretty much run the house, though. I'm glad you came in today, though, cause this way you have the whole weekend to get to know the guys before we scatter back to work during the week.”

 

“I still can't believe you have a dojo in your house. How do you guys afford this place?”

 

“We all chip in. It's just like paying rent. The house is actually in Sai's name, but we all share the payments along with utilities and food. I actually have one credit card that's used only for groceries, and we just split the bill at the end of the month. Do you have any idea how much food six people eat in a month?”

 

Rhia grinned and shook her head. “Nope. No idea whatsoever.”

 

“It's a hell of a lot. I go down to the Japanese version of Sam's Club twice a month and nearly buy the damn place out…”

 

Rhia giggled. “Anything else I need to know?”

 

“Hmm… Well every morning we go down to the dojo and warm up for the day, stretching, meditating, working through katas. That's at 7. About 7:30 we eat breakfast, before scattering to our different jobs. Rowen and Ryo are exempted, because they work so late, but they usually get up around 1 or 2 and do the same thing. Sai and Kento are the only ones who have standard 9-5 jobs, and have to rush off to work in the morning. In the evenings we generally take turns making dinner so the rest of us can practice and spar. Dinner's usually around 7. Weekends are playtime. Sometimes we have free-for-alls just to see who's going to be the last one standing. Those are fun.”

 

Jade looked around. Nearly everything was put away, the pajamas Rhia had wanted laid out on the bed.

 

Rhia sighed, closing her suitcases. “Well, that's it. I'm gonna put these under the bed for now.” She shoved the empty bags out of sight and paused, noticing a small orb. Reaching under the bed to grab it, she pulled it into the light of the room. It was a little larger than a shooter marble, and seemed to swirl with gray storm clouds. But that was impossible, it had to be a trick of the light.

 

“Hey, Jade, what's this?”

 

Jade looked at the object in her friend's hand and froze. That… that was the last kanji ball! She sent that image surging through the armor link, alerting the other Ronins.

 

“That's the last kanji ball,” she replied softly, pulling her own out of her pocket.

 

“Kanji ball? What's that?” A ping radiated through both of them from the proximity of their two armors. “Whoa. Jade? What was that?”

 

“Go look in the mirror,” Jade said cryptically.

 

Rhia gave her a puzzled look before moving in front of the mirror. Shock and a glimmer of fear washed over her features. “Wh-what's that? What's it mean?” She reached up to touch the glowing symbol on her forehead.

 

“That's your armor's virtue. It means `honor'.”

 

By this time the others were crowded in the doorway, watching with awe.

 

Rhia looked at them. They all seemed to know what was going on, and weren't concerned, but she was confused, and more than a little freaked out. “Armor? Virtue? What is all this? Jade?”

 

“The last sacred armor has chosen a bearer. You. Look.”

 

Rhia looked down to see herself encased in white and gray sub-armor. She looked up to see they all wore it. White was the base of all, but the armored plates were different colors—Jade's were purple, Ryo's red, Rowen's dark blue, Kento's orange, Sage's green and Sai's light blue. “What…” she breathed.

 

“Call your armor, Rhia,” Jade encouraged softly.

 

Words she didn't know sprang to her mind and fell from her lips. She was wearing a full set of armor, gray as storm clouds, staff in her hand, and she knew. She knew of the battle between the Ronins and Talpa almost ten years ago, of the creation of her armor, of Jade's being chosen, of her own finding of her kanji ball.

 

She knew because they knew, and they shared this knowledge with her through some sort of mental link—the armor link, she was told. She opened her eyes and saw them all in full armor, pulsing with light; purple, red, green, orange, dark and light blues along with her own gray. She was astounded.

 

And with a flicker of thought, her armor was gone and she again held the kanji ball in her hand.

 

They had all banished their armors to hold pulsing kanji balls.

 

Jade smiled. “So, Rhia, when did you want to begin your training?”

 

 

And so months passed…

 

 

~owari prologue~