Vamps and Ronins

Chapter Nine: Misconception of Man

Written by: Tiasha

~

Frantic, faction, focus

The world breathes

And out forms this misconception we call man

But I don't know him

No, I don't know him

Because he lies

Creed, "Say I"

~

Robyn stared in confusion at the unfamiliar ceiling. Where was she? Who was muttering? And God why didn't they stop? A headache was pounding at the back of her skull and she whimpered. The muttering, she realized as her hearing focused, was more like chanting, and the dark decorum did nothing to ease her anxiety of where she was. Had they finally caught her?

Allowing her eyes to wander, she spied a familiar figure and called out to him.

"Scott? What's going on?" she asked but felt her heart sink when she saw the grimace and look of guilt in his eyes. His sunglasses were off, she noted with slight surprise. Now was the first time she had ever seen him without his sunglasses on and the amount of emotion in them astounded her, enough to believe that shades were what allowed him to maintain his impassiveness.

"No…" she whispered in defeat. She went back to staring at the ceiling, having lost all hope in being rescued. She had trusted the psivamp…and this was where it had gotten her.

Guess I didn't know him as well as I thought I did, she thought to herself as the muttering continued. No, it was not muttering it was chanting, but why was the person chanting?

Another figure appeared in her line of vision. He was a young Chinese man in his mid-twenties with black eyes and hair as black as Ryo's, spiked up with gel. The young man whispered an apology to her and Robyn dumbly wondered why. She did not know the young man…and yet he was sorry.

"Mother of Darkness…Mother of Evil…demons arise from the flesh of the void…death ensues upon your birth, oh great Emperor…sacrifice the flesh, bring forth terror and chaos…oh great Emperor…grow………grow………grow… ………" the chanting continued and Robyn suddenly retched as her stomach turned violently.

Attempting to roll over onto her hands and knees, Robyn felt her head go light and found herself chained to a large black marble slab. If she were not in such pain and agony she would have struggled against the bondages but her stomach felt as if it was being ripped apart. No, more like her soul…

Demons arise from the flesh of the void, the words filtered into her mind and a scream escaped her lips. Evil, pure evil was going to live inside of her?

"No!" she screamed, now attempting to struggle against the chains.

The chanting continued and the pain grew more intense, her soul tearing apart. Unbeknownst to her, her soul was indeed being torn apart. Battling with an unknown evil, and in doing so, her soul was in such agony that her mind was close to shattering her sanity.

CYE!!!

---

Cye stumbled backwards and grabbed hold of the kitchen counter with one hand while gripping his chest with the other. Something was wrong and his armor was reacting to it…but what?

CYE!!!

The mental scream crashed against his mind and Cye felt himself grow sick with recognition. He knew who was calling him; he'd know that voice, mental or vocal, anywhere.

"Robyn…" he whispered in a strained voice. "In the name of Anubis…"

The phone ringing shrilly in its cradle startled him and Cye hastily grabbed it.

"Hello?" he asked slowly, dreading what he knew would come.

"Hello, Mr. Mouri?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

"Yes?"

"There seems to have been an accident at the hospital and-" The man's explanation was cut off by Mariko's mental message being sent through his armor suddenly.

Ronins…group at ToyamaHospital…Robyn's been kidnapped…

Cye bit back a cry of frustration and abruptly said to the man that he would be at the hospital as soon as he could. Slamming the phone back into its cradle, he locked the house and donned his sub-armor, planning to travel the fastest way possible.

---

Ryo raced out of the front door, not even bothering to grab his jacket and leapt off the porch. He was halfway across the lawn when he heard his grandmother calling him. He paused and turned to see her waving his jacket at him. Groaning, he raced back up the porch and took the jacket out of his grandmother's hand. She was giving him an expectant look and Ryo sighed.

"Look, uh…I gotta go meet the guys at the hospital real quick, Grandma. I know it's late but I've just got this bad feeling," he explained hurriedly and smiled as his grandmother merely nodded.

"All right, just don't stay out too late," was all she said as she turned back inside. Ryo blinked and chuckled. Yeah, his grandma had to be the coolest.

Once again running off the porch, Ryo took off down the street and quickly changed into his sub-armor as White Blaze joined him. Worry gripped his heart as he remembered Mariko's message.

Robyn's been kidnapped… Those were never comforting words. Ryo frowned, hadn't she been through enough?

---

Sage frowned as he raced across the rooftops of Toyama in the direction of the hospital. He had sensed that something had been wrong and then Robyn's mental cry had startled him…especially since it had been for Cye.

Sage! her mental voice cried again now, Ryo…Kento…Rowen! Anybody! Make it stop…make it stop…it hurts! I don't want…I don't want it! Don't……don't please………make it stop! Make it stop-

Her cries ceased abruptly and Sage found himself traveling even faster than he had before, pushing himself as fast he dared try. She had to be all right, she just had to be! Because he wanted to apologize to her, apologize for not telling her that he would support her like the others.

The dream that had been reoccurring for the past week suddenly came to mind and Sage was filled with an unpleasant emotion that he normally refused to feel…fear.

Robyn, hold on please, his mind begged, please hold on…

---

Kento quickly placed his armor orb in his pocket before leaving his room and walking past Chun Fa in the hall.

"Where ya goin'?" she asked, following him down the hall and watched as he pulled his jacket from the closet. He shrugged it on and headed into the kitchen, scribbling a note on a piece of paper for his parents. They were probably going to yell at him when he got home again but by then he could explain things a bit better. Robyn was in trouble and she needed his help.

Rinfi walked into the kitchen just then and frowned at his older brother, "Where are you going?"

"To the hospital. Something came up and the guys need me."

"I didn't hear the phone."

"So? Look it's urgent. Just tell mom and dad that this note is for them, 'kay?" Kento explained, heading towards the front door and ruffling Chun Fa's hair reassuringly as he passed her.

Rinfi nodded, taken aback. He could not remember a time when his older brother had looked so distraught for the life of him. How could he say no? "Uh…sure thing."

---

Rowen watched Cody try to console her pacing sister but to no avail. The older twin was too worked up to even pause her pacing and acknowledge Ryo and Mia as the two arrived. The doctors were refusing to explain anything to anyone until Cye arrived. And that was not sitting well with Mariko.

The young woman was pacing like a caged beast, cursing every now and then. For what reason she would not say, merely that the others had better arrive soon…for Robyn's sake.

Ryo looked to Rowen, expecting an answer for the bearer of Phoenix's behavior and Rowen merely shrugged his shoulders in reply. Ryo frowned at that and also watched Cody attempt to comfort her distressed sister again. There was something that the newer Ronin was not telling them and it beginning to upset the bearer of Wildfire and Strata greatly. If Robyn was in immediate danger then they should know about it.

"Hey Mariko," Ryo said after a while and the young woman glanced at him, not even bothering to pause her pacing. It reminded him of Cye when Robyn had first arrived at the hospital. Only then, Cye was not as frantic as the young woman was now.

"Yes?"

"Phoebus is a God right?" Ryo asked and Rowen gave him a confused look. What did that have to do with Robyn being kidnapped?

"Yes, it is a Roman God, the Roman God of the Sun-" Mariko halted suddenly, raising a hand to hush her sister's comment. Phoenix gave the bearer of Wildfire a long, hard glance. "What are you getting at Wildfire?"

"God of the Sun? Is it the same as this Apollo God?"

Mariko nodded, a few of her forest green bangs falling into her ice blue eyes. "Yes, the same. Why?"

"There's a kid who moved in next door to me and there's just something about him that-I don't know…but he said he had a nickname once. And it was Phoebus 'cause he's from Italy."

"Mari! He could be the bearer of Apollo!" Cody exclaimed excitedly.

Rowen found it amazing that no one was even paying attention to them, considering all the shouts and pacing and odd name-calling that was going on in their little corner of the waiting room. He heard the sliding doors open and turned to see Kento entering with Sage, both a little wind-blown too. They all had come by the quickest means possible obviously. And it seemed that Cye was the only left.

"Hey guys," Kento greeted, "Where's Matt?"

"Hunting…" Mariko said absent-mindedly, as if trying to search her memory for something.

"Hunting what? Oh yeah, never mind," Kento said, but his comment was drowned out by Cody's sudden exclamation.

"Mari! If we find this kid that Ryo is talking about and get the armor to accept him then Dragon will have no need for Robyn and let her go!" Cody reasoned with her sister. The younger twin was showing much more emotion than before and Rowen wondered what had gotten the young woman to open up so.

"Urusai Cody-chan!" the older twin suddenly shouted, causing all of them to look at her startled. "We do not even know if this child is the one! Not only that but I fear that our assumptions were inaccurate and that they had wanted Robyn all along! Apollo was no doubt a distraction! Now because of me, she will die!"

Fear gripped Rowen and he was dimly aware that the sliding door had opened during Mariko's little fit. It was not until an equally upset shout countered the bearer of Phoenix's that heralded the arrival of Cye. Rowen turned to see Cye with his fists clenched at his sides, shaking with anger. The bearer of Torrent was shaking with suppressed frustration that was beginning to turn to rage.

"What do you mean die?!" Cye asked, voice quavering slightly with anger and Rowen suppressed the urge to shudder. The anger Cye was displaying was about as bad as Ryo's temper and Rowen had no desire to see either at the moment. For both made him feel uneasy and somewhat useless in consoling.

Phoenixtook up her pacing once again but paused only a moment as the soul-gaki Joshua appeared from somewhere. The two seemed to have a silent conversation for a moment before the gaki nodded his head and left.

"What the bloody Hell did you mean?!" Cye shouted at Mariko once more and the latter bowed her head in shame.

"I-I-I know what they were doing to her…when she screamed for you twenty-minutes ago. I-I-I'm so sorry! If I had known I would have killed Dragon a long time ago! I would have destroyed the altar and everything else! I just didn't think anyone else could handle-could handle such-such-such evil and possibly survive…"

"What are you talking about? What evil? What did they do to Robyn?!"

"There is a legend and I have yet to decipher it all…but it is said that a great evil will rise once again from a seed planted within a void. Dragon was always impatient and had no intention of discovering the meaning of the legend. So he used me as the vessel for this seed of evil. I swear I don't think I could bear-to have my soul-the pain-I'm so sorry Cye!"

"Why would they want Robyn then?" Sage interjected immediately. Mariko seemed startled by his question as if Halo should have already known the answer.

"You mean…you five have never felt-Halo surely you have seen her aura!" At Sage's nod Mariko continued, flabbergasted at them all. "She was born with a void! There is a constant darkness inside of her! I am surprised that she was never corrupted by-my God…she's it."

"Robyn? She's what? What is she Mariko?" Ryo asked, narrowing his eyes at the young woman.

"She is the one…she has to be…she has to be the void in which the seed would be planted in. Oh, Cye! I am so sorry!"

Joshua suddenly returned with a grim expression on his face and Rowen half-noticed that Cody had come to stand next to him, hands in her jean pockets. From the half-hidden expression on her face, Rowen assumed that she felt somewhat useless in this situation and he had to agree. They all did and until they could figure out what exactly was going on, there was nothing to counter-act that feeling.

"It was him all right, the bastard! He's been in league with Dragon this whole time!" the soul-gaki spat venomously. The gaki's gold eyes sparked with a suppressed hunger and Rowen shuddered involuntarily. That was definitely not a look he trusted.

"Who?" Kento questioned and Mariko's eyes narrowed to slits.

"Scott…a nurse was found outside of Robyn's room and none of the doctor's can figure out what is wrong with the woman. She's breathing normally, vital signs normal, but her mind seems to be lost. No spark of will to live exists in her now…that's Scott's doing. I hope he enjoyed that meal too, for it will be his last once I find him," Mariko explained and then heaved a tired sigh.

"Cye go take care of what ever the police are going to want and when you are done, we will all go and pay Dragon a little visit."

The bearer of Torrent made as if to argue but thought better of it and did as suggested. They all saw the urgency in this matter now. They had to get Robyn out of the enemy's grasp soon.

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

There was something extremely soft and smooth underneath her, and was cool to the touch. Forcing the continuous throb in her head aside, Robyn cracked her eyes open slightly, cautious as to not alert her captors that she was awake. The room was dim and a dull rhythmic bass was muffled by the walls of the room as colors splashed across the walls of the muted and dim room.

"I know you're awake wench," a smooth, cultured and melodious voice resonated about the room. Robyn sat up and glared at the source of the voice, only to find the face cast into the shadows of the room and the person was sitting in an expensive-looking, high-back leather business chair. All she could make off the person were his leather-gloved hands and embroidered leather vest. The embroidery she found to be two green Chinese dragons.

"And just where do you get off calling me a wench?! Not that I'm not flattered, I always did like the European Renaissance," she quipped, raising her head in indignation. Glancing about her, she found that she was lying on a large bed covered in deep green satin sheets and fur blankets. She was no longer bound at the wrists or ankles and was free to move around; the skin around her wrists and ankles however, seemed to be nearly rubbed raw. Not only that but she had a headache the size of the U.S. to add to the package! And her stomach was hurting so badly…

The man merely chuckled at her, stood, moved into what little light there was and bowed mockingly.

Robyn's breath hitched in her throat at the sight of him. He was absolutely gorgeous! His amber-colored hair fell about his face and eyes much like Rowen's, without the long forelock, and framed a pair of intense lavender eyes. The eyes were what had her captivated for a moment for they reminded her a great deal of Sage's eyes. Intense and calculative, but only Sage's held a genuine warmth of friendship and protectiveness, whereas this stranger's held none of that warmth.

"Because wench…I now control your destiny and therefore I now control you. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Richard Tregarde."

Robyn laughed at that, "Man, you must really be off your rocker. I don't know what makes you so sure of yourself but I can bet you that the police are already looking for me and no doubt my friends will have told them that you have been after me for the past week."

It was the stranger's turn to laugh and his laugh was more like a rumble, a deep rumble across a barren land. In fact, it sounded very similar to how a dragon would laugh, if such creatures existed. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as Robyn truly realized who and what this man was. Yes, she had assumed that this man was Dragon, the man Mariko had mentioned frequently during the past week, but she never would have guessed how true to his armor name he was.

No wonder the armor chose him…everything we have characterized dragons as he fits perfectly, she thought to herself as she stood up off the satin covered bed.

"Now, since you are quite done with your pathetic little comebacks, I will begin to explain the rules you are to follow. First, you stay out of the club floors below. I do not wish to come searching for you should someone sneak you out of here. I will be most displeased should I have to do so and will immediately terminate the collaborator on site. I'm sure that you do not wish for any unnecessary deaths am I right? And most importantly wench, do not put yourself in danger. It would be most disappointing to lose a compatible vessel and it will then be even longer until our Dark Emperor can be reborn."

"Whoa! Hold it! Reborn? You mean to tell me that you put some evil bastard inside of me?!" Robyn screamed in shock, fear and anger. No wonder it had hurt so badly before, and why her stomach was still hurting now. She shuddered at the mere thought of carrying some evil spawn inside of her.

"No, not some bastard…the Dark Emperor…which would make you the Dark Mother Empress. Has a nice ring to it doesn't it pet…" Dragon purred maliciously.

Robyn felt dizzy. This was NOT happening! This could not be happening! Why was it that she could not just start over and live a calm, peaceful life with her childhood best friend and his friends? Why was she always putting her closest friends in danger? And all because of her too?! It was not fair!

Robyn clenched her fists and glared at Dragon. "I hope you burn in the deepest part of Hell!" she hissed at him, preparing to make a dash for the door she had spotted when she had first assessed the room a few moments earlier. It would be right behind her and there were no guards inside the room and if there were any outside, she would hopefully have the element of surprise on her side.

Turning suddenly, she raced for the door only to collide with a solid barrier. Falling backwards on her rump, Robyn looked up into the vibrant violet eyes of Scott Masters. He wore a grim expression on his face before looking past her at Dragon.

"They're coming and they know it was me. I left a calling card," Scott informed the atarashii Ronin of Dragon. "I'd also like to speak with Red for a moment, if that settles all right with you."

"Of course, how else shall I repay you for your good service?" Dragon chuckled and swiftly, but gracefully, left the room. He did not even spare a glance at her as he passed. Obviously he trusted Scott enough to not even ask what it was Scott wanted to discuss with her.

"What do you want," she asked quietly, preparing to stand up but paused to look at the silently offered hand. Looking up, she saw an infinite deal of remorse in the psi-vamp's eyes and Robyn took it without hesitation. As she stood, she noticed that she was wearing a black and gold kimono, quite a change from her jeans and short-sleeved top. However she did not feel like contemplating how she was in something different and just let the knowledge that someone had changed her sink in.

She hugged herself involuntarily and looked at Scott, watching as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his black leather jacket. She could feel the regretful vibes emanating from him and sympathy seeped into Robyn's heart. He seemed so lost and confused…much like that day when he had explained a little bit about psi-vamps to her.

~~~~~

When she was stuck in bed and it was Scott's shift, one of Dragon's men had entered the hospital and foolishly attempted to kidnap her. Scott had been there and stopped him without moving a muscle or saying a word. The lackey had stood still for so long Robyn had grown worried and suddenly, the lackey had turned, headed out the door, down the hall and exited the hospital.

Robyn had inquired what had happened and Scott shrugged his shoulders and said that he had told the man to go home.

"But how? You didn't even say a thing!" she had stated, eyeing him incredulously.

The psi-vamp had once again shrugged, a little smirk on his face. "Didn't have to. Told him with my mind. Psi-vamps have that ability, controlling people's minds…and that's how we feed."

The smirk had died from his lips then and he had hung his head, almost afraid that he had frightened her with that truth. Robyn had only smiled and told him should not be ashamed of what he was. He was what he was and that was that.

"No use crying over spilt milk, right?" she had teased lightly and Scott had looked at her then with what she could only describe as utter relief. She had known that he had feared she would judge him without reason and so she had given him the benefit of a doubt.

~~~~~

"You okay Red?" Scott's voice asked quietly and Robyn snapped to attention instantly. He was looking at her with concern and Robyn swallowed her parched throat. He was trying to tell her that he was sorry, she could tell.

"I'm fine…or I will be as soon as I get out of here," she stated, smiling lightly. "Just don't try to stop me, please?"

"Wouldn't dream of it Red. If I did, you'd probably send your little Ronin posse after me, right?" he joked and Robyn smiled. It was apparent that Scott knew how fragile their trust was and Robyn dared not tell him that she had lost all trust in him. Well, not ALL trust…but it certainly was fragile.

"You've changed Scott, not that I really knew you but-I can tell some how…" she whispered sadly.

Scott frowned and poked her stomach, "That's how. I heard Tregarde saying that the two of you are now linked. Don't ask, I have no clue what it means."

She nodded slowly, turning away from him. "I guess I better hurry and go, huh?"

"Yeah, you better. Tregarde will be busy with Mariko and the others. But my advice Red, don't even bother trying to find them when they're here. It'll be too easy for Tregarde to spot you."

She nodded again and looked back at him. Smiling, she gave him a brief hug and then proceeded to gather the accursed yards of fabric that was called a kimono. Scott chuckled for a moment before smiling sadly, brushing some strands of her red hair out of her face. She noted with surprise that not only was her clothing different but so was her hair. It was now pulled back in to tight sausage curls.

"Good-bye Red. This is the last time we'll ever see each other."

Robyn jerked her head in his direction, which she immediately regretted due to the headache she still had. "What-why?"

"Just is…that's the way it's gotta be. Now go!"

Robyn bit her lower lip, nodded and slipped out the door. There were no guards on the outside of the room either and that surprised her greatly. Perhaps Scott had made sure that no one would stop her at this point in the game? Or was Dragon so confident that she would not try and escape after he had laid down the rules?

Man, this guy must really be dense…she thought as she moved down the halls as quickly and quietly as she could.

---

Mariko frowned as she approached Dragon's little 25+ Club. It brought back some memories, both good and bad…some of her friends, some of Karasu, some of Cody and some of Julien. She bit her lip and turned to the others, sighing heavily as she saw the skeptical looks on their faces, at least on some of the Ronins. While compared to some, Cody was no stranger to sex and drugs but she was much more innocent than her elder sister. Josh on the other hand…

"Okay, a few rules before we go in," she began, ignoring the protests that were about to be made. "Do not accept an open drink from anyone unless you see them make the drink, though I still recommend that you don't. Rule two; do not take anything from anyone. If you end up with a handful of pills, for Anubis's sake, CRUSH 'em and get rid of 'em! You'll be saving a lot of people a few more hours of life, trust me. Rule three, if anyone asks if you're 'rollin' say yes and walk away OR say no and somehow mention my name in that same sentence. They'll leave you alone if they do."

"Why would they leave us alone if we do?" Kento asked curiously.

Mariko sent the Ronin of Hardrock a lop-sided smile. "Because I have quite a reputation in there. Anyone messes with my friends or family, I'm on their ass in a moment's pass. They usually never come back if I do too."

"That's a twenty-five and over club, Phoenix," Sage stated, crossing his arms defiantly. Mariko sighed in exasperation. She should have known he was going to act like this.

"Uh, your point being Halo?" she asked him sarcastically and then shook her head. "Don't worry about getting in…I've got connections, remember?"

"All right! We're getting in to a 25+ club, Ro! This is so cool!" Kento announced excitedly, wrapping an arm around Rowen's neck. Rowen grinned in agreement.

The others still did not seem convinced but they were wasting time and the longer she stood around trying to convince them, the longer Robyn was in Dragon's clutches and Mariko knew just how sharp Dragon's talons could be.

"Just remember what I told you and stay close. He's probably expecting us, anyway."

With that she headed toward the entrance of the club and nodded at the bouncer. He nodded back and threw a friendly smile at her, allowing her and the others in. She should have remembered that Takeshi worked on this night and that he would allow her in without a second thought.

It has been awhile, I've forgotten how much all these people meant to me…

Once inside, Mariko turned to Cye slightly, surveying the room and noted that Josh had branched away from them. No major problem there, he could take care of himself. She strained to see the business corner but to no avail, there were too many people. As she turned to look back at Cye, she noted the puzzled yet blank look on Ryo's face. Following Wildfire's gaze, Mariko found what had caught his attention. Shaking her head, she came up next to Ryo and waved a hand in front of his face. He looked her then back at the couple of males in one of the darken alcoves, and then back at her.

"Mariko, dare I want to ask what those guys are doing?" he questioned cautiously.

Mariko truly sympathized with the bearer of Wildfire, virtuous in probably everything. "No, Ryo, you don't. Just ignore and avoid the dark corners." He gave her a questioning look and Mariko shook her head firmly. "Dark corners bad! Dark corners VERY bad! Stay away from the dark corners!"

He nodded his head slowly, still not truly comprehending why. Rowen suddenly whispered something into the bearer of Wildfire's ear. A disgusted look of realization appeared on Ryo's face and looked warily at the dark corners and alcoves while Strata proceeded to laugh at Ryo's expression. Cody immediately smacked the bearer of Strata on the arm, demanding to know what exactly he had said to Ryo.

"Only that he should know when two guys are making out," Rowen wheezed, still laughing. Mariko shook her head and patted Ryo on the shoulder comfortingly. The poor boy was having a major culture shock but there was nothing she could really do for him.

"Well, how would you know Strata? Are you an expert on gay make-outs?" Cody goaded and Rowen ceased to laugh but gawked at her like she had grown a second head.

"And just what are you implying?!" he yelled.

"Oh nothing much sugar. Just that I'm surprised you would actually know, since you don't strike me as the type to hang around places like this."

"Well, neither do you! So how would you know?"

"Jon," Cody said simply. Mariko had to laugh at that. Yeah, sometimes a gay guy could be the bestest friend a girl could hope for.

---

Sage surveyed the room with displeasure. The smoky haze of the room unnerved him and the strobe/multi-colored lights did not ease his discomfort either. The mass of bodies out on the dance floor were moving, he noticed with great discomfort, to an erotic beat and rhythm…and knowing his luck, he'd probably be dragged into it one way or another. Curse his looks!

He turned his gaze to the bar area and tables next. Most of the women were wearing revealing clothing and some of the people were wearing sunglasses! Sunglasses at night?! That sent the warning bells off in his head.

Sage grimaced as a stoned looking young woman passed by him, giving him an approving look. She winked as she walked by, arm draped around another girl who looked just about as equally stoned.

He quickly avoided their gazes by looking at the other Ronins to find Ryo still harboring that disgusted look, Kento just have the greatest time he could have hoped to have, Cody and Rowen still arguing over the comment the latter had made to Ryo, Cye looking as uncomfortable as he and Mariko…she was looking at him with her head cocked to the side, a lop-sided grin on her face.

He glared at her, "What?"

"Geez Casanova, I would have thought you'd be enjoying this," she teased. He glowered at her and crossed his arms. Oh, she knew how to push the right buttons, just like Robyn. The thought made him tune out the rest of the club and focus on the redhead for a moment. He looked back up at Mariko, his eyes almost begging her to get on with the search. Mariko seemed to read his message loud and clear, nodding as she turned to the others.

---

Mariko cleared her throat and clapped her hands a few times to gain everyone's attention, snapping her fingers in front of Kento's face however. He blinked and looked at her questioningly.

"You can ogle at the girls later Kento. We have a mission to accomplish, remember?" she announced. She noticed that everyone seemed to sober at that comment.

She was surprised, however, to feel a pair of arms wrap around her shoulders enticingly. She stiffened and turned her head in the direction of the weight on her shoulder. Selena waggled her eyebrows at her and Mariko groaned. Why now?

Ignoring the female, Mariko turned back to the others, shrugging at the looks they were throwing in her direction. "Okay, here's the jest. What we're going to do is find Dragon and extract some information from him, then find Robyn and get out of here. That is after I get the lesbian off me," she growled at Selena.

Selena huffed diffidently and removed her arms, "Mari-chan, I'm insulted! You know I'm bi!"

Mariko chuckled as Cody shook her head and Rowen cleared his throat. "Hai, I know that, and you know that I'm straight…so get over it."

Selena shrugged her shoulders, "No biggie, there are others who would be more than happy to oblige me." Mariko watched as Selena's gaze shifted towards the Ronins and Cody. Rowen was looking at the newcomer strangely, not sure whether to be amused, cautious or indifferent; the expression was quite funny actually, for Cody was smothering her laughter rather poorly.

"Oi, the guys are off limits Selen' so don't even try. Oh and if you see Jon, tell him that too," Mariko announced, snapping at the young woman with two-toned hair.

"Okay, if I see him…and what about her…she straight?" Selena smiled lazily, looking at Cody.

"She's off limits!" Mariko hissed at her friend and ex-co-worker. The young woman seemed taken aback, flipping some of her black and orange hair over her bare shoulder.

"Oh, so you did turn bi! I'm so proud!" chided Selena.

"She's my sister…" Mariko warned.

"Oh…oh! Yikes, sorry 'bout that! It's too dark to see the resemblance and Cody, girl! You look different! Nice different too."

Mariko shook her head, why this? Why now? God, this is one thing I would not have wished the Ronins to witness… "Selena," she said, gaining the attention of the other young woman. "Where's Tregarde?"

The young woman shrugged, "Probably busy with his new toy, though I don't know where he picked her up."

"Robyn?" Cye inquired and Mariko saw the look of horror in the bearer of Torrent's eyes.

"Oh, so that's Red's name…hmm, American name but looks Irish, ah well. Yeah, he's probably in his office with her," Selena rambled carelessly. "Nothin' new…whoa! You-Scott told me-whoa, uh yeah…never mind. Tregarde is definitely NOT in office then!"

"Where is Tregarde, Selena?" Mariko growled, narrowing her eyes and reaching slowly for a dagger she had hid in the folds of her cloak. She and Cody always wore their cloaks in this place for it made it difficult for drug dealers to slip them something with all those yards of cloth surrounding them.

"Uh-I don't know! How am I supposed to know where the bastard is?" Selena stuttered, backing away slightly as if she had been caught with her hand caught in the figurative cookie jar.

As quickly as Cody could warn the young woman, Mariko had grabbed her by her shoulders, pulled the girl to her and placed the dagger against the small of her back. She heard Selena's gasp of surprise and the young woman's voice quivered with fear, when Selena whispered why. Yes, Mariko understood why Selena questioned her, for in the past she would never have done this to her. Never, but that was the past and more was at stake than just their friendship.

"Now, I will ask one more time Selena, dear. Where is Tregarde?" Mariko hissed in the young woman's ear.

"He-he's at his table…waiting for you…I guess…" Selena's voice squeaked. Mariko growled as she pushed Selena away and quickly hid her dagger once more.

Mariko turned to Cye and gave him a pleading gaze when he frowned disapprovingly at her. He sighed and nodded his head at her unspoken question. He knew that they had wasted enough time.

"Why Mariko? You broke your pact with us, you know that right! No harm comes to our own family!" Selena cried out angrily.

"I know," Mariko said as she urged Cye and the others towards the business corner of the club. "But I felt it was necessary, since I'm trying to save your life."

With that, she turned away from Selena and walked past Cody, who seemed highly agitated. She was yanking on Rowen's arm muttering something about "come on Strata, we're leaving the nice lady now."

"I can take care of myself, sister," the younger twin stated testily, shoving Rowen in front of her and towards the others.

"I know, but you're my baby sister. I get to protect you every once in a while, and in here, imotou…you are quite innocent and naïve." Mariko ruffled her younger sister's hair and Cody growled annoyingly at the gesture.

---

He was assessing her, by the way she walked, spoke, and gestured. He was trying to figure out if there were any new skills she possessed. And his mere presence unnerved her.

"Tregarde," Mariko said calmly and politely.

"Ah, Phoenix…" Tregarde responded in kind. "It's a pleasure to see you again, pet."

"I'm sure it is you bastard," Cody spat at the man sitting with his hands steepled on the table. He calmly looked in the younger twin's direction and smiled rather seductively at the bearer of Gaea.

"Ah, I see you've brought those pathetic orijinarus with you Phoenix, as well as your sister. Who has changed quite enticingly might I add," Tregarde purred, eyeing Cody.

Cody growled in response, "I'll slit your throat before you even get a chance Dragon. Besides, we have business to discuss."

"Business? How so?"

"Robyn! Where is she?" Cye interjected before Mariko could even breathe a word. Torrent's voice was laced with anger and worry and Mariko put a hand on his shoulder as he began to move past her. He glanced at her and she pleaded with him silently to let her handle the situation.

I know him better than you Cye…please, let me do this… she sent to him directly through the armor souls. He seemed only a bit angry at her but more towards Dragon and rightfully so. He nodded after a moment but did not move from where he now stood next to her.

"Who?" Tregarde questioned, raising an amber eyebrow at the young man.

"The redhead you kidnapped, idiot," Cody hissed. Mariko groaned in dismay…this was not at all how she had planned for this meeting to be!

"Watch your tongue wench! You are on my property, my turf, and my rules! Do take time to remember that, pet."

"Yeah, well you obviously don't know us very well. You have Robyn and we want her back. Simple as that. Where is she?" Ryo growled, slamming his fists on the table. Mariko watched as he ignored Tregarde's bodyguards moving towards the inside of their coats. Not only that but Wildfire also seemed to ignore Dragon waving his hand in dismissal to his bodyguards; his eyes were locked with Dragon's lavender ones.

Mariko pulled Ryo away from the table, gently urging him to listen to reason. She flinched when he turned his glare on her and realized how thin the ice had suddenly become. She did not know much about Wildfire but from what Robyn had informed her, his temper was almost impossible to subdue.

"Ryo, please…I know you are probably going to disagree with me here but, I know him. I know how he works and I know how he thinks. Please, let me handle this," she begged him silently.

"Ryo, she's right. We have no idea how this guy works," Sage agreed.

"We didn't know Talpa and we beat him," Ryo argued.

"Yeah but Ryo, this is way out of our league here. Talpa wouldn't even negotiate. This guy might," Rowen interjected.

"Please Ryo. This may be Robyn's only chance," Cye added.

Mariko watched as Wildfire looked to the bearer of Hardrock and Gaea for support but found none. He slowly relented, continuing to glare at Dragon. Mariko breathed a silent sigh of relief and turned back to Dragon, smiling apologetically.

"Yes, it is the redhead we seek, Tregarde. Now, please, where is she?" Mariko inquired calmly.

"She is in my keeping and will stay in my keeping, Phoenix."

Mariko frowned and glared at the atarashii ronin across from her. Oh, he was a cunning one…that he was. "Yes, she will stay in your keeping Dragon, but that is until we take her from you."

Tregarde chuckled, "Very unlikely, for you see Mariko…you are too late. The seed has already been sown. And I will be taking her to the Nether Realm very shortly. The Emperor will be safer there, than here in the Mortal Realm."

"Over my dead body," Cye grounded out from next to Mariko and she once again placed a hand on his shoulder to warn him. She spared a glance at Wildfire and saw his fists clenched tightly at his sided.

"Fine then. We will see you in the Nether Realm, Tregarde. Until then, sayonara." Mariko turned and motioned for the others to follow but Cye and the others did not comply immediately.

"What the bloody Hell do you mean?!" Cye shouted at her, catching up with her and Mariko winced at the tone, pausing with only having moved a few paces from the table. He was nearing the breaking point and if she did not explain the reasoning soon he would snap as well as Ryo…and it would most likely be her neck they would both try to snap in the process too.

"They will not harm her in any way, Torrent. Please, it is for the best right now," she said aloud, then whispered to him, "We are out-numbered, have the disadvantage and we know have new information to take into account. It will do Robyn no good if you are dead!"

He nodded at the last part, "You're right, it won't do her any good if we're dead."

"Good, then let us leave and-"

A distant rumble fell upon their ears and grew in volume, quickly accompanied by the floor shaking and the rafters and beams rattling. The clubbers immediately began screaming as pieces of concrete and sheetrock fell from above, crumbling and breaking as it hit the concrete floor.

Mariko watched as one of Tregarde's lackeys came running up to him, panting and with a fearful look in his eyes. "Sir! She-she-she's out! She's out and-and we can't stop her! She's blasting us with-with some kind of-energy or something!" the lackey yelled over the screaming chaos.

"What?!" Tregarde roared.

"She's free and she's on the roof sir!"

Mariko quickly shoved the Ronins outside, "she's on the roof and I have a feeling she's not going to be the Robyn you know."

"What do you mean by that?" Sage asked as they passed through doors with the rest of the clubbers.

"She's causing all of this chaos, Halo!"