End of Pain .

Sage returned downstairs and joined the others in the living room. Rowen was telling them what had happened, and everyone was listening. Not even Kento interrupted.

"All I did was just cleaned the house," Rowen was saying. "But he didn't start beating on me until he saw that he was out of beer and had no money for it. And he just attacked me. He didn't come at me with the gun until I knocked him into the wall."

Ryo finally spoke, his voice calm and yet angry. "I'm glad you finally stood up to up him, Rowen. But I'm not glad that he tried to shoot you. No father would ever do that to their own child. It's bullshit."

Rowen looked down at the floor, and then back up. "Guys, I'm not going back there. I'm afraid he'll kill me."

"Who said you were going back?" Kento asked.

"Yeah," Cye said. He looked toward Mia. "Mia, would Rowen be able to stay here with Ryo and me?"

"I was just going to suggest it," Mia said. "In fact all of you are welcome to stay here as well."

Star and Firestorm glanced at one another. Did that apply to them too?

Rowen managed to smile. "Thanks, Mia."

Mia smiled at him and then looked at the two girls. "So Rowen, are you going to introduce us?"

Rowen gaped, and Kento added, "Yeah, who's your girlfriends?" The white haired girl blushed, while the brunette snorted.

Ryo suddenly spoke up. "Hey, you two go to our school!"

The girls nodded. "Yep. I'm Star, and this is my friend Firestorm."

"So that's your name," Cye said from the other side of the room.

Firestorm looked toward him and thought her heart would literally jump out of her chest. Damn, why did he have to be so cute for?

"Say aren't you that girl that does those poems?" Ryo suddenly asked. She silently breathed a sigh of relief. Boy are you a life saver!

"Yep," she answered, folding her arms behind her head.

"Those are hilarious!" Ryo blurted. "Where do you come up with them?"

"I make them up.

"Storm's always been a bit of poet," Star said. "Not to mention a great artist."

"What do you draw?" Sage asked, peering at her. He thought it was odd how this girl would have the same eye showing as he did, and there was something else about these two girls, but what? He couldn't put his finger on it.

"Just about anything I put my mind to," she replied. Sage nodded and glanced toward Rowen. "You going to be all right?"

"Yeah," Rowen replied. "I just hope my dad doesn't find me."

"No way!" Kento said. "You're safe here, dude."

Rowen nodded, then everyone heard scratching at Mia's door.

"That's odd," Ryo said. "White Blaze is inside.

Firestorm turned red. "Uh, that would be my pets. Shadow and Keisha."

"What kind of pets are they?"

"Shadow is a black golden retriever mix, and Keisha is a timber wolf."

The Ronins nodded, and Mia said, "Why don't you let them in?"

Firestorm was surprised. "Are you sure?"

The older girl nodded. "Of course."

Firestorm got up and opened the door, and two animals walked in.

"Oh, they're beautiful!" Mia exclaimed. The two animals looked around. Shadow laid down by Firestorm's feet, while Keisha went exploring.

Rowen suddenly yawed. "Mia, if it's alright with you, I'm going to take a nap in my old room."

Mia nodded, and Rowen got up and headed back up the stairs for some much needed sleep.

After learning that Rowen's father had been to the girls' house as well, Mia had insisted the two stayed there for the night. Star and Firestorm were surprised but readily accepted.

"Thank you, Mia," Star said with a bow of her head.

"Don't mention it. You two make yourselves at home, and one of the boys will show you the guestroom."

It also gives us a chance to know about you two, Sage thought quietly.

The two girls nodded gratefully. Star sat on the couch, worrying about Rowen. She felt so bad for him. What kind of father did that to their own child? Not a good one that was for sure.

She began to turn to her friend. "Hey, Storm...?" she stopped and frowned. "Where'd she go?"

Sage looked up and shrugged. And then there was a shriek coming from the kitchen. The four Ronins and Star ran there, where the found Firestorm clinging to White Blaze like a little kid.

"I didn't know you had a tiger!" she cried elatedly. The Ronins blinked as Firestorm took White Blaze's massive head in her eyes and sweet talked to him. "You are so beautiful, yes, you are. I wish I could have you, but I can't, so that's too bad."

White Blaze purred loudly, loving all the attention he was getting. He rubbed himself against Firestorm as she scratched his ears.

"Wow, he likes you," Ryo said with a laugh. "Normally he doesn't trust strangers at first."

Star chuckled. "Firestorm has a way with animals."

"I can see that," Ryo said.

"Hey, you ever get rid of him, let me know," Firestorm said. "I'll be glad to take him off your hands."

"Heh, heh, don't think so," Ryo said with a wry smile. Firestorm just grinned and continued to give the big cat affection.

Mia was working again at the computer, trying to find any new clues that would lead them to the new Ronins. All they had so far was the poem itself, and she was certain there was more than that. Twirling with a burst of fire. Gleaming with power in the nighttime sky.

Mia rubbed her temples and let out a sigh. She felt as if she would never figure this out. Who were the new Ronins? she wondered. And how would they find them?

Down the hall, Rowen tossed and turned through his sleep. He was sweaty, pale, and moaning softly. In reality he was safe in bed, but in his dream, he was running down the street in terror.

Instantly Rowen sat up in bed with a gasp, a hand to his chest. It was a dream, a horrible realistic dream.

It was later now. Ryo and Kento were playing a car racing video game, Sage sat in the recliner doing a crossword puzzle, Cye, Star, and Firestorm were watching Ryo and Kento play. Mia and Rowen were upstairs, White Blaze was sleeping by the fire, and Firestorm's dogs had already passed out behind the furniture.

"Hm," Sage said very quietly. "What's a three letter word for hog?"

"Pig," Firestorm said without looking away from the TV. Sage gaped at her and blinked. She heard him? He was surprised. There was something about these two, he kept telling himself. And he was going to find out.

"Ryo, I'm kicking your butt here, man!" Kento cried as he attacked the buttons on the controller.

"You and what army?" Ryo retorted.

"The Army of Kento Rei Faun!"

Ryo smirked, Firestorm rolled her eyes, Star smiled a little, Cye laughed, and Sage shook his head.

"I play winner!" Firestorm called.

The boys nodded without speaking.

"Ooooohwho!" Star said. "Do I feel sorry for you!"

"Why?" Ryo asked in confusion.

"Cause Firestorm will kick your butts," Star said with a smirk.

"Ha!" Kento laughed. "I'd like to see that!"

"Oh you will, sweetie," Firestorm said sweetly. "You will."

The game continued, with Kento winning. Ryo grunted but said nothing. He handed his controller to Firestorm. Firestorm sat down beside Kento and chose her car a black car with pink lightning bolts.

"Nice car," Kento commented with a smirk. "But you still won't beat me."

"You sure about that?" Firestorm retorted.

Cye shook his head at the two. "I say 100 yen that she will."

Kento glared at him. "Whose side you on?"

Cye just shrugged.

"I bet 500 yen, " Ryo said.

The game started. The cars took off like bats out of a cave. The others watched as the cars were maneuvered around mountains, poles, rocks, beer bottles, and other vehicles. They passed lap 1. Kento was in the lead. Lap 2. Kento was still in the lead.

"Ha! I'm beating ya!"

"Wanna bet?" With a sudden jerk of the button on her controller, Firestorm's car sped by Kento and passed the finishing line. Winner flashed across the screen.

Kento's mouth dropped open with disbelief. Ryo, Sage, Cye, and Star were all laughing. Firestorm just leaned back with her arms behind her head.

"You owe me 100 yen, Kento," Cye said.

"And you owe me 500," Ryo reminded him.

Kento grumbled as he fished the money out of his pocket and paid up. He looked at Firestorm. "I'm never playing with you again!"

"Aw, you hurt my feelings."

Kento frowned. Had he really? He shook his head. "How did you do that anyway?"

"It's a secret. If I told it wouldn't be a secret."

Kento shook his head again. "You are one crazy girl."

"Thank you. Glad someone noticed."

A little while later Cye showed the girls' the guestroom. It was large, nicely furnished with two beds, two dressers, two nightstands, and two lamps.

Firestorm wanted to talk with him, but everytime she started to, she froze.

"If there's anything you need, don't be afraid to ask, alright?" Cye told them.

"Thank you, Cye," Star said. Cye smiled and left them.

Star closed the door and turned to Firestorm who had claimed the bed on the right side of the room. "Hey, Storm?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you talk to Cye? I know you like him."

Firestorm sighed and blew her bangs out of her face, they fell back into place again.

Outside Sage was going past their room to go to bed, when he overheard their conversation. He stopped and listened.

"I want to talk to him," Firestorm was saying as she played with her bed sheet. "But everytime I get to like a guy and we go out, I always end up getting hurt."

Star nodded. "I know. I'm sorry, Storm."

"It's OK, Star. Let's go to bed. I'm tired."

The lights went out. Sage was frowning. Had the girl been that seriously hurt by men? If so that was sick. He might be a flirt, but you don't take advantage of girls in the wrong way. It just wasn't right. And he didn't know why, but for some reason, he wanted to find who had ever hurt the poor girl and seriously give them what they deserve. The silent promises of vengeance only stopped when he went to his room and went to bed.