Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Ronin Warriors Neo: The Faith Saga ❯ Have a Litte Faith in Me ( Prologue )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Ronin Warriors Neo: Faith Saga
Prologue: Have a Little Faith in Me
Rating: PG
Author: Sanada Usako


"Grandfather! Grandfather!" A young boy called running through the house. He had unkempt black hair that hung to his shoulders. His eyes were a frightening shade of lavender and across his left cheek was a a cross shaped scar. Once again he stopped and called out "Grandfather!" The young boy appeared to be around 16 and he was in a pair of bright red of boxer shorts obviously he had just been sleeping. "Grandfather!" He cried again and stopped frustration clear on his face.

*

In a large bedroom two figures stand by the window. The taller figure is a man his loose night shirt blowing in the wind. He is of a lean and muscular build and he has unkempt black hair only beginning to be streaked with gray and it hangs to his shoulder. His eyes are tiger blue and they look ancient.

The second shorter figure is a woman, her nightgown also blowing in the wind. She is thin and athletic, her black hair, just starting to be streaked with gray, reaches her mid back, her bangs are unkempt. Her eyes are a light shade of lavender. She is the first to speak. "You felt it too, Ryo?" She asks in her soft voice, lilting but with the American accent that stamped all foreigners voices.

"Yes, I don't believe after all this time he's back. Talpa has returned. I really thought we at last killed him. You and me Hana." He said his voice harsher but still soft, deeply accented from his country childhood.

"Yes, he's back. It is as Anubis warned us. Our suffering has not been in vain I guess." Hana said quietly as she turned to the man called Ryo and at one time Ryo of the Wildfire. His face was contorted in fear and anger. "Ryo-chan?" She asked softly reaching out a hand to touch his arm.

"Why is this happening! This isn't fair to them! They shouldn't have to experience this!" Ryo said in anger slamming his fist against the wall. His face was a contorted fasad of anger and pain.

"Ryo, don't do this to yourself. Your only making it worse you know." Hana said coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him, holding him close.

"...Oh I guess your right. But its still the same. Why is this happening now when nothing has happened in 52 damn years? Why is this starting now when they're finally happy?" Ryo sighed as he let Hana guide him back to the bed. He sat heavily and sighed again.

"I know it has been a long time hasn't it? But I still remember it like it was yesterday." Hana said sitting close to him and resting her head on his shoulder gazing up at him.

"Your right it seems like it was just yesterday..." Ryo said drifting off into thought.

**Flash Back

The six Ronin Warriors stood together on a road in Shinjuku watching as Kayura and the Warlords disappeared into the sky. Ryo's arm was around Hana, who in turn was leaning against him. She smiled up at him when he turned to look at her. A moment passed before they noticed anything else. As far as they were concerned the world was perfect. Safe from Talpa and his minions forever. When the four warriors disappeared into the sky the six warriors turned back towards the city which was once again bustling with life and then turned again down the road towards what was home to them.

>>>

"Isn't there some way she doesn't have to die?!" Rowen cried out in pain as they all stared at the Ancient on a cliff. Before them was a lovely princess dressed in battel gear with her sword pointed straight at them. She was once known as the princess of the center of the universe Meyana but was now totally possessed by the spirit that had been possessing Hana, Meyana's host body that had been forced upon her by the Demon King.

"No, Rowen of the Heavenstrike. She must die, until she does no new family of the universe can be formed. And without a ruling family this universe would collapse. She is to far gone from us now. Both the princess and Hana of the Starfire are lost to you, beyond your reach. The evil spirit within has grown to strong." The Ancient said with a sad look in his eyes.

"But all she did was want to be happy with the one she loved. Why does she have to die!!" Sai screamed out tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"It is the way of this universe." The Ancient said simply.

"DIE!! Ronin Princes!!" Meyana yelled as she let another blast out at them. Rowen barely manages to make his protective barrier in time. But this too is destroyed in the blast at they are knocked against some of the stone from the masacred castle.

Then once again the image of the princess flashed before they're eyes. "Please! I will be gone soon and only this rage will be left. If that happens I am sure to use my power to destroy this universe. I love my people! Do not let me destroy them!" She cried out to them as lightning flashed in the sky.

"Ronin Princes listen to Princess Meyana's true wish." The Ancient plead them his eyes ever hidden by his hat.

"Please Ronin Princes, listen to my wish. Let me go to my mother. This will be my last wish for myself. To be happy with one I love and wait for my prince to return to me once again. Please let me go," the princess cried out once more.

All of the Ronin close there eyes, they know what they must do. Tears begin to run down their faces. They know it will kill a kind and good heart and dear friend and comrade but they know in their hearts they must do it.

Only Ryo remains unmoved. "There must be another way. She can't be gone forever! I wont let them do it, it'll kill Hana to! I wont let them kill her!!" He cries silently to himself his own face streaked with tears. But as this thought crosses his mind Rowen lets out a yell and Ryo turns to see the other Ronin opening there eyes.

Each of them screams and turns into colored lights flying up into the sky to merge together. "NO! YOU CAN'T!" Ryo screams at them remaining on the rock "Don't do it please!"

The four remaining Ronin Starbright armors merge into one glistening silver armor. At this Meyana once again flies at them her sword aiming to pierce their hearts. The Silver armor twisted its arm to the side forming a ball of white light. Meyana drew nearer and the ball grew brighter. Ryo then knows what he must do he flies up into the sky at top speed 'I must stop them! I will save her if it costs me my life!' He makes it between the figures just as the silver armor releases its energy. Ryo is now directly in the path of it. Meyana stops short as the ball hits him while he screams "NO!!"

The ball dissipates and Ryo falls in front of her, still hovering in the air seemingly dead. In her mind flashes images of a man dressed in the armor of a prince falling similarly before her. The other Ronin have become separate again and are in shock as to what they had just done. They had killed their leader! They turn to see Meyana her eyes wide in shock shaking her head repeating "No its not true" over and over. She screeches out "RYONO-OUJII!!!" And grabs her head and begins to cry out in sadness and pain. She stays like that for a while but she suddenly throws her arms down to her side and threw her head back screeching "IIE!!!!!!!!" When they could see her face again a strange symbol had appeared on her forehead and she was back in the gowns of a princess. She turned to a dark figure standing behind her and holds her hands out charging a ball of silver energy in front of her.

"No, it can't be. She was mine! How did she break free of that evil spirit!? It can't be!" The figure cries like mad trying to get away.

Before he can the princess screams "This ones for Ryono you bastard!!" And she lets loose the ball of energy. A bright light fills the sky with the screams of the dark figure. When the Ronin can see again the princess is hovering in the sky behind the fallen Ryo. Her body was glowing a silver color.

"Ronin Princes. You did as you said, You saved your world. And you helped defeat the Demon King." She says quietly her eyes once again soft and gentle. Her eyes become tender as she sees Ryo's still body. She kneels down beside him and touches his face. Immediately his body begins to glow red. She caresses his cheek and then looks up at the others and says softly "Take care of him. My prince, Ryono, my love." Then with a flash of light they are back on the river bank which they stood when Hana was captured and they were summoned. Kento is holding a not dead Ryo. And Rowen is supporting...Hana on the ground! She is a fast asleep but with a smile on her face.

Ryo is awake but very weak and the boys are huddled around him and Hana. "The first thing out of Ryo's mouth was "Hana? Is she all right?" He barely managed this but there was a look of determination on his face.

Rowen looks up to tell him "Yes Ryo, she's fine." Ryo smiles and the drifts off the sleep as well. Not long after Mia and Hanas friend Pluto (who was staying with Mia) found them and helped them back to the house.

>>>

The night was seemingly perfect as the two young lovers climbed the hill. A cool evening breeze was in the air, but yet it was not cold enough to warrant a jacket. They reached the top of the hill and looked out over the city below them. Ryo's blue eyes sparkled in the light of the city below. Hana looked up at him smiling "Ryo..." She drifted off back into thought.

"Meia, finally its all over. We can be together now..." Ryo said and then he to drifted off into silence. As they gazed out around them a funny glow began to form in the sky. It continued to grow until it took the shape of a man in a monk's robe. The glow stopped until only rimmed the body of the man.

"Ryo of the Wildfire, Hana of the Guardian Starfire..." He said in a booming voice. Ryo and Hana both stared at him, just then Meia noted the red-brown hair.

"Anubis..?" Hana said quietly. The man shifted his head so they could see his face. It was most definitely Anubis.

"Yes, Hana of Starfire. It is I. I have come to warn you two against what you are planning." He said in that emotionless voice of is. "The two of you must not unite."

Hana stepped back in shock and her grip around Ryo's midriff tightened. "What do you mean Anubis?" Ryo asked also tightening his grip.

"Exactly what you think I mean Ryo. I know of the plans you two have made and I am sad to inform you they must not happen." Anubis said quietly. He felt for the young lovers who must be torn apart because of the powers inside them. "It must be so, heed my words Guardian Starfire and Wildfire..." With that he faded away.

Hana clung to Ryo with almost a desperate strength. He was the first thing in her awful life that made her feel whole, now she was being asked to forsake even that?

Ryo was in a similar state of shock a resorted to just holding her close as she wished. How could this be happening now? After all they had been through together, and not a word! How could he do this to us!

>>>Back to the Present

"Grandfather?!" The young boy yelled still looking for his grandfather and 'Great Aunt'. A door on the hallway he was on opening to revealing a young girl, also around 16, wearing a long nightshirt. She was rubbing her eyes a brushing her red hair out of her face.

"What is it Shinji?" she said yawning opening her big tiger blue eyes for the first time. Her hair flowed down to her shoulders in an unusually disheveled state.

Shinji heaved a sigh of relief as she spoke. "I just can't find grandfather that's all, you can go back to bed Meg."

"If it's only that then why are you running around in your boxers?" Meg asked as she further awakened.

Shinji looks down for the first time and truly realizes his state of dress. He blushed bright red to match his boxers. His girlfriend was definitely not supposed to be seeing him like this. "Ohhh yeah that...I kinda had a weird dream and...can I borrow like a plain white shirt from you?" He said still very embarrassed. Meg retreated into her room and returned with a large white tee-shirt that wouldn't look too unnatural on him. She tossed it too him and he grabbed it. Shinji quickly put it on, luckily it was long enough to cover part of his boxers.

She pulled on a robe she had for herself and said softly "I'll help you, he's probably with Sobo." When she too could not find her their respective grandparents she began to panic a little. "Shinji what's going on?" she whimpered. Shinji was torn between emotions, he felt for her in two very different ways. He cared for as a brother might care for his sister, a strong protecting urge. But he also cared for her as a young man, the strong loving care a boyfriend has for his girl. Not knowing what else to do he hugged her close. At that moment Sanada Ryo and Hoshi Hana decided to reenter the house from the back porch, coming from the general direction of the lake.

"Shinji, Megami? What are you doing up so late?" Hana questioned as the pair entered the room. Meg was the first to react to her grandmother's voice. She broke the embrace and turned to her Sobo.

"Sobo, Shinji was running about the house looking from 'Great Uncle' Ryo. I woke up and decided to help him? Where have you been?" Meg questioned. Hana looked strangely at the pair. The only light in the room was the light of the full moon coming from outside.

"We were out at the lake dear. Nothing to worry about." Hana finally said with a strange finality in her voice. Meg dared not ask any more questions.

"Grandfather, can I talk to you alone?" Shinji asked breaking the silence at last. His grandfather looked at him with a face that was nearly a mirror image of his own. Ryo nodded and motioned for Shinji to follow him into his study.

Meg started to follow but Hana caught her arm "Back too bed with you, you have swim practice early tomorrow." Again that strange tone of finality was in her voice. Meg threw one more glance at the pair entering the study and then headed back upstairs.

Shinji and Ryo entered the study. Ryo sat down in his arm chair motioning for Shinji to sit down in the other one. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about, " Ryo looked unusually relaxed, as if he knew what Shinji was going to say.

"Well, you see I keep having this strange dream. At the beginning I think I see you, only your a lot younger, fighting this other man in a weird armor. What's strange is you also have a weird armor on only red. And then theirs 'Auntie' Hana lying on the ground behind you looking stunned. She jumps up and says some words and theirs this huge flash of light." Shinji takes a breath and looks at his grandfather, then decides to continue. "After that I just see you for a while, not in that armor any more. You look awful sad about something. And then again but your getting married or something. Everyone's really happy except for this one woman who really looks like 'Auntie' Hana in the back, she looks awfully sad. Then I saw you and papa, only papa was a little boy. And then again I saw papa only older with mama. And then I see...myself, younger with papa and mama. Then I somehow end up in this ring of fire. This huge flame becomes that armor you were wearing at the beginning, but it's empty. And there are five figures in the fire around me. One's really close and it's a girl but I can't see her face. The kanji Jin flashes on the helmet of the armor. And then I wake up."

Ryo sighs as his grandson tells him of his dream. The orb had been reacting for weeks, it was time for him to face the truth. "Shinji, what I am about to tell you will not be easy for either of us. For me it means the end of my own long journey, but for you it is, unfortunately, only the beginning of yours." Ryo had a very sad look in his eyes.

"Grandfather? What is it?" Shinji's voice held infinite concern for his grandfather.

"Shinji, do you remember the story your father and I told you when you were a little boy. Then one about the Ronin Warriors?" Ryo asked him his eyes nearly tearful.

"Yes, Grandfather but what does that have to do with my dream?" Shinji asked Ryo confused.

Ryo moved to his desk and took out a small clear orb. But what was strange about it was that a red kanji glowed in its center, the kanji Jin. "Shinji, that wasn't a story, it's true. The man called Wildfire in the story was me when I was 17. The others, Starfire, Strata, Hardrock, Halo, and Torrent. Those were your 'Aunt' Hana, Rowen, Kento, Sage, and Sai. Its what happened to us when we were young."

Again Shinji was left in puzzlement. "I still don't see what this has to do with me?"

Ryo sighed and stepped forward kneeling down before the boy "Shinji, those armors and power can only be passed down genetically. Only someone with my blood in them can bear the armor of Wildfire. Shinji, Talpa has returned. I can no longer fight him. The armor has chosen its new keeper. Shinji, the armor has chosen you."