<Disclaimer> See previous chapters.

Flash sank to the ground, too weak to even stand up on her own. Her vision swam, her whole mechanism seemed like it was shutting down. Her eyes closed and she lost consciousness.

Rekino fell limp in the arms of the zombie that was holding her. Her last thoughts were, I hope everyone's okay.

*~*

Ryo woke up to a throbbing pain in his head. He tried to stand up, but his legs wouldn't allow it. He glanced around and saw his fellow Ronin Warriors asleep on the ground. He saw Thunder sitting Indian style. He moved forward but was thrown back by a force, "Thunder! What's going on?"

"Mesu's got us captured. Don't bother moving. He's trapped us," The Storm Warrior replied coolly.

"Dammit!" Ryo screamed and punched the ground. He saw the Lady Guardians and Flash were also unconscious.

He gathered enough strength to send a telepathic message to his sister, Rekino! Wake up!

Goat Rabbit! No wake up! Sleep good! Rekino rolled over to her other side and snored.

Ryo frowned deeply. They didn’t have time for this. What could Mesu be planning anyway? He had to get Rekino awakened and the others. So far only Thunder was awake, but he also looked weak. What were they going to do? And where was Mesu anyway?

Sis, wake up now! He got no answer and that worried him as he wondered just how much damage had been done to them. He looked toward Kento and knew he couldn’t go over and shake him. There had to be something he could do to wake them up but what?!

“How are we going to get out of this?”

Thunder frowned as he stared at the floor. “We’re not.. for a while.”

Ryo looked at him. “There has to be a way! I refuse to let myself and my sister and girlfriend be trapped here! As well as the rest of the Ronin Warriors and Lady Guardians!”

Thunder looked at him sadly. “Oh we’ll get out all right.. But it’s going to be difficult.”

“I don’t care!” EVERYONE WAKE UP!!”

Kento snapped awake eyes wide as he was startled. He expected to wake up in a nice warm bed, but found himself lying on a cold floor. “What?! Where are am?! What happened?!”

Cye woke up next and frowned as he looked around. “How.. never mind.. I think I know what happened..”

Sage, Hana, Amaya, Josephine, and Mia all woke next. Each of them were frowning as they all realized what had happened, and finding out they couldn’t move.

“So what do we do?” Sage asked. He glanced worriedly at Rekino, Rowen, and Flash who hadn’t awakened.

“I’m not sure. We have to wake up the other three,” Ryo said, “and figure a way out of this place.”

“Something tells me that’s not going to be easy,” Cye said with a deep frown.

“Don’t worry, we can handle it!” Josephine said. “We’re the powerful Ronins and Lady Guardians!”

“I hope so,” Amaya said softly. “I don’t think I could stand this place.”

“None of us can,” Mia said with a frown. She glanced toward her partner in arms, wishing he would wake up. Rekino was right beside Rowen in what seemed like a deep sleep. Flash was nearby, looking deathly pale. She frowned deeply. “What did Mesu do to her?”

“He drugged her,” Thunder said quietly as he stared at the floor.

The others looked at him.

“Drugged?” Kento echoed. “But why?”

Thunder uncrossed his legs and brought them up to his chin as he stared back at them. “Flash has weaknesses but some of those weaknesses don’t affect her unless she’s in armor. There is only one type of weakness that will affect her without her armor.”

“Drugging her severally?” Mia figured out.

Thunder nodded. “Yes.”

“Swell,” Ryo sighed.

“Will she be all right?”

“If it wears off yes, but she’ll be out for a few days. If I can somehow get to her side and touch her I can cleanse her of the drugs and she’ll fine sooner. But as you all learned, none of us can move.”

“Yeah, through the hard way,” Kento complained.

Sage was in deep thought as he gazed around their prison. “This is magical isn’t it?”

Thunder nodded.

“And isn’t Flash immune to magic?”

“Yes, she is, and I think that’s why Mesu drugged her up so much,” Thunder said. “He’s planning on something.”

“Like what?” Hana wondered. “Getting our armors.”

“He won’t get them!” Ryo said angrily. He took a deep breath and looked toward Rekino, connecting with her again. Sis, I need you to wake up.

YOU WHAT?! Rekino snapped awake and was ready to kill her brother, only to learn she couldn’t move. She growled and let out a stream of curse words. When she finally stopped, she looked toward Ryo, giving him one of her ‘I’m so pissed off the whole world will feel my wrath’ looks.

Ryo sighed. “See? This is why I tried to wake you up!”

Rekino said nothing but nodded, sizing up the situation. She looked toward her boyfriend and at Flash and frowned deeply. “This is not what I wanted at all. Damn, Mesu! He’ll pay for this!”

“Sure, Rekino. But in order to make him pay we have to wake up Rowen, get Flash up, find a way to escape, then make him pay,” Hana said.
“It can be done!” Rekino snapped. She realized how grouchy she was becoming and knew none of this was their fault. She was just so frustrated. Why couldn’t things go right for once?!

Rowen woke next and he blinked several times. When he realized where he was and that he couldn’t move at all, he frowned deeply. “So much for thinking of a nice warm bed,” he said.

“Are you okay?” Rekino asked worriedly.

“Not really, but I’ll survive.” Rowen frowned. “Let me rephrase that. I hope I’ll survive. I hope we all survive.”

“Well, on the brighter side,” Kento said, trying to cheer everyone’s spirits up. “If we get killed Thunder can bring us back, right?”

Thunder crossed his legs again. “Only if I can touch you. If I can’t make physical contact I can’t bring you back at all.”

Everyone frowned deeply.

“Total bummer,” Josephine said.

“Agreed,” Kento said.

“No one is going to be dying at all,” Ryo said.

Before anyone else had the chance to say anything Mesu appeared before them.

“Ah, you are all awake,” he cackled. He paused and looked toward Flash. “Hrm, I guess that drug was more powerful than I thought. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Now that I have all of you I can carry out my plans.”

“What plans?” Rekino asked suspiciously.

Mesu grinned wickedly. “You shall soon see.”

Mesu grinned wickedly. "You shall soon see," He grinned evilly and walked over to Mia's 'cage'. He let himself in free willed, "My, what a lovely pick you have here, Wildfire. I thought that Rekino and Flash were what I was really after, but seeing this now has changed my mind."

Ryo growled, "Touch her and I swear I'll break every bone in your body slowly and painfully!"

Mesu smiled, "Sounds like fun…but I have a much better idea in mind," He released Mia's cage and, by magic, made her power down out of subarmor. She appeared seconds later in her school uniform. He brought his hands to her hair and smelt of it, "Such a fresh scent."

"Hands off buddy!" Kento screamed and tried to lunge forward, but an elemental attack rendered him helpless, "Dammit!"

Mesu shook his hand, "Wrong move, Hardrock," He turned back to Mia, "Now, as for you…"

Mia gathered her strength and let her fist fly towards Mesu's face. She heard it make contact and, while he was distracted, ran towards her friends, "Ryo!" Mia screamed. She fell to her knees when Mesu shot an energy blast at her.

"Now now, Lady Strata, why did you go and hit me like that? I was only trying to get acquainted with you," Mesu disappeared and reappeared beside Mia. He raised his hand and she stood up, "Now, let's see what you have, shall we?" He snapped his fingers and Mia's clothing disappeared.

All of the other occupants in the room watched as Mia was stripped of her purity. They heard her screams out pain and resistance as the Dynasty Lord took her forcefully. Blood poured

from her legs from the harsh ways. Flash had regained some consciousness during the event and was startled by what was happening. When it was all over, Mesu left Mia on the ground. The only thing covering her bruised and battered body was a cloak. Ryo's blood was boiling inside his body. Rekino and the other Lady Guardian's let their tears fall for their companion, best friend, and…sister. They felt her pain.

Mesu grinned at his work. He turned towards the others and smirked, "That was awfully fun!" His eyes darted to Rekino's dark amethyst ones, "You're next, my Lady of Wildfire!"

Rekino stood up. She didn't give up when her anti-element was forced onto her, "Like hell I am!" Her eyes grew wider when Mesu started towards her, "Get away from me!"

Mesu only laughed as he grabbed Rekino forcefully, preventing her from moving anywhere. Rekino struggled as hard as she could, but she found she could barely move. She was so angry, and yet her anger couldn’t help her. There was no way she would let Mesu get away with this! But suddenly she felt herself getting stronger. She could feel energy coursing through her body as she felt incredible heat surrounding the area. What was going on?

Ryo blinked as he, too, could feel the powering heat. He looked around for the source, while the others sweated from the slowly building heat. His eyes came to Flash. She was standing up, and though she looked to be still pale, she was also enraged. And for a moment Ryo was afraid of her.

Mesu was about to kiss Rekino forcefully when he himself felt the heat as well. He looked up, wondering which of the brats could be doing this. Then suddenly it got too hot for him. He looked down at his feet and screamed as the inferno surrounded him. He quickly released Rekino and tried to stamp the fire out.

Cye’s eyes were wide as he could see the fury on Flash’s face. He was actually frightened, but then he remembered that she was on their side and he calmed down.

“F..Flash?” Ryo said, his mouth dropping.

Flash gave no answer, she only set a deadly look upon Mesu, continuing to build up more and more power.

Mesu glared at her as he forced the fire out of his feet. “Wretched girl! I’ll take your innocence away next, then I’ll kill you first!”

That suddenly did it. With one jerk of her head Mesu suddenly exploded into flames. His body fell and he continued to burn as everyone’s mouths dropped open. Flash wasn’t done though.

She turned her attention on the others’ cages and used her powers to rid the cages of the magic forces locking them in.

They begin to escape. Josephine and Ryo grabbed Mia. Mia sobbed into Ryo’s chest as they begin to make a beeline for the exit door.

Thunder ran right behind Cye and Kento who ran right behind Hana and Amaya. Flash was taking her time though. But for what reason?

Then soldiers appeared though, and suddenly begin shooting at them all.

“Duck!” Ryo shouted, trying to keep the unprotected Mia covered.

“Where?!” Rowen demanded. He was getting frustrated. They had to get out of this somehow.

Suddenly they heard another explosion and looked to see the soldiers exploding one by one. The remaining soldiers turned their fire on Flash, but it just seemed to bounce off her.

“Look!” Josephine shouted!

“What the.. How is that possible?!” Hana cried, watching as Flash made her way through the soldiers, their attacks bouncing off her like rubber, and then watching the soldiers become mere dust particles within moments.

“Never mind now!” Rekino shouted. “We have to get out of here!”

They all ran out the exit door and ran as far away from the castle as they could.

They made it to what looked like bushes and waited for Flash there. While they waited with deep worry and fear, Thunder healed Mia of her pain, then put her in a deep gentle sleep. Ryo thanked him and wiped away a tear, wishing he had been able to protect his girlfriend from that horrible ordeal.

“Ryo, it’s not your fault,” Rekino said as she sat down beside him.

“Maybe not, Rekino, but I still wish I could have protected her.”

“We all do, Ryo,” Cye said softly.

“It couldn’t be helped,” Amaya said, wiping her tears away.

“We just have to help Mia get through this. She’ll need your support,” Hana added.

Ryo nodded and gazed at Mia’s sleeping face.

“Here comes Flash,” Thunder said softly.

They all looked up and sure enough Flash was walking toward them. It took a few minutes for her to reach them though.

“Flash, are you okay?” Hana asked.

“What happened?” Josephine said.

“Is Mesu dead?” Rekino demanded.

“I’ll.. answer.. your…questions...later….” Flash managed. Then she passed out from the drugs still in her stream.

“Flash!” Rekino cried.

Thunder caught her, and begin to heal her. “She’ll be all right.”

Rekino nodded, frowning deeply.

“Let’s get out of here,” Ryo said.

It was agreed very quickly.

Thunder silently called out to Blaze and the wolf was able to bring them back where they could rest and heal and get their energy back. Though it would all take some time for them to recuperate after what had happened.

Once they arrived home, Ryo took Mia upstairs to her bedroom. He was followed by all of the Lady Guardians. Thunder took Flash upstairs also. Kento sat down on the couch to think. Rowen went to check the answering machine. Sage and Cye went into the kitchen to fix some tea for everyone.

Meanwhile, Rekino, Hana, Josephine, and Amaya all sat on the bed next to Mia watching her sleep in Ryo's arms. The Wildfire bearer was over the limit of pissed. He watched something terrible happen to his girlfriend. He wanted do that more than anything on their wedding night. He stroked her hair and kissed her gently on the forehead while placing her on the soft comforter. There was a slight knock at the door and Rowen came in the room.

"Rekino?" Rowen asked in the darkness. He saw her sitting on Mia's bed, "Doctor Kinomota's office left a message on the machine. You have an appointment tomorrow after school."

Rekino wiped the tears from her eyes, "Thanks," She grasped Mia's hand and held it tightly. She let this happen to her best friend. Not only that, but Mesu had wanted her too. She could still feel his hands on her. It made her stomach turn. Her face went pale at the thought of Mesu. Rekino put a hand to her mouth and ran out the room, past Rowen, and slammed the bathroom door. Rowen, Amaya, and Josephine went after her while Hana and Ryo stayed in the room with me.

Ryo's face showed no emotion. He let his tears fall freely, "I can't believe I let Mesu do that to Mia! He almost came close to taking my sister! I feel like such a failure!"

Hana put a hand on Ryo's shoulder, "I wasn't your fault, Ryo. I couldn't do anything to help her either! How do you think I feel! She's my best friend! I wish I could've helped her too! God, I wish more than anything!" She looked into Ryo's eyes, "Don't blame yourself. If anyone, blame Mesu."

"Oh, I do!" Ryo said sternly, "Believe me, he will pay. He will pay dearly. He won't get away with this," His eyes widened when Mia started to stir in her sleep. "Mia? Honey, are you awake?"

Mia opened her emerald green eyes. She stared at Ryo and saw the concern in them, but she was also afraid. What Mesu had done to her left her physically and emotionally scarred. Her eyes began to shimmer with fresh tears as she backed away from Ryo and closer to Hana, "Get away, Ryo."

Ryo moved closer to Mia, "But…Mia…"

"I said GET AWAY!" Mia slapped Ryo hard across the face and buried her head into Hana's shoulder.

Hana looked at Ryo sympathetically, "Do as she says, Ryo. I'll talk to her."

"Oh, I do!" Ryo said sternly, "Believe me, he will pay. He will pay dearly. He won't get away with this," His eyes widened when Mia started to stir in her sleep, "Mia? Honey, are you awake?"

Mia opened her emerald green eyes. She stared at Ryo and saw the concern in them, but she was also afraid. What Mesu had done to her left her physically and emotionally scarred. Her eyes began to shimmer with fresh tears as she backed away from Ryo and closer to Hana, "Get away, Ryo."

Ryo moved closer to Mia, "But…Mia…"

"I said GET AWAY!" Mia slapped Ryo hard across the face and buried her head into Hana's shoulder.

Hana looked at Ryo sympathetically, "Do as she says, Ryo. I'll talk to her."

Ryo gave Mia a sorrowful look before he left. Hana let Mia go and wiped her tears away, "Are you gonna be okay, Mia?"

"NO! I will never be okay!" She cried again, "but…I need to talk to Rekino. Where is she?"

"I'm right here," Rekino appeared by Mia's beside and hugged her tightly, "Oh Mia, I'm so sorry. There was nothing I could do!"

Mia hugged her friend closer, "Hana, give us some alone time, will ya?"

"Sure!" Hana hugged them both before leaving. Once she was out, Mia let go of Rekino and looked at her seriously.

"Tell the others what we learned today," Mia said sternly, "I don't think I'll be able to face Ryo for a while. I feel like it's my fault."

Rekino brushed a strand of hair out of Mia's face, "Shh, it's okay, Mia. Tell ya what; you wanna go to the doctor with me tomorrow after school? We can have you check on. Sound okay?"

"Sure!"

Rekino stood up, "I'll go and tell the guys. You get some rest," Rekino helped Mia into bed and kissed her, gently, on the forehead. A simple sign of affection between themselves, "Love ya girl," She never did notice that Mia was sound asleep. She smiled lightly and closed the door behind her. She sighed and made her way down to the living room where she saw all of the guys sitting around each other with the girls. Rekino cleared her throat loudly and everyone looked up at her, "Talk. Kitchen. Now!"

They all followed Rekino into the kitchen. Ryo, Josephine, Cye, and Kento
sat close to Rekino. Rowen sat down and smiled happily after Rekino took a
seat in his lap. Sage propped up against the wall beside Hana while Thunder
did the same. Amaya sat down in Kento’s lap. Flash came down second’s later
on shaky legs. Ryo got up and offered his seat to her. She smiled and took
the seat generously.
Sage looked at Rekino, “What’s going on?”
“How’s Mia?” Josephine asked.
“Are you feeling okay, Rekino?” Ryo asked.
“Too many questions!” Rekino screamed and laid her head down on the table.
She felt Rowen rubbing her back trying to calm her down. She rose her head
and looked at everyone, “Mia’s edgy. She won’t come around you guys anymore,
especially you, bro. It’s not that she doesn’t want to, but being raped is a
traumatic even. I’m feeling okay now. After I tossed my cookies.”
“I’d say,” Rowen remarked, “I thought that you were going to die!”
Rekino slapped him in the arm before continuing, “Mia told me to tell you
guys something that we found out today at school. I just don’t know how to
say it…”
“Well then, just tell us!” Josephine wined, “I wanna know!”
“Okay,” Rekino took in a deep breath, “Thunder?” She got up and walked over
to her companion. She put a hand on his should and he looked at her with his
beautiful blue eyes, “You’re…part of the royal family in Germany. In other
words, you’re a prince.”
Thunder’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this! Meanwhile, all of the
others were just staring at Rekino like she had gone crazy. Ryo couldn’t
believe what he had just heard. Rowen and Sage were just…gawking. Josephine
had taken a drink of her tea and abruptly spit it out all over Kento who
didn’t seem to notice. Amaya and Cye had exchanged glances and were just
blinking. Hana had practically passed out but Sage had caught her. Flash’s
eyes were as big as a saucer.
“You…you’re not serious, are you Rekino?” Rowen stuttered.
“I’m dead serious, honey,” Rekino said still looking at Thunder, “I’ll prove
it. He has a birthmark on his left shoulder in the shape of a two way axe
and cross. Coach Ware told me that his parents gave him up to a married
couple that raised him on a ship and then took him to military school. Flash
confirmed that for me before lunch,” She smiled smugly, “Am I right
Thunder?” She saw Thunder nod. Rekino smiled and slammed her hands down on
the table and looked at everyone, “I rest my damn case!”
At that moment, Hana woke up and took in her surroundings. She got out of
Sage’s arms and looked directly at Thunder, “You’re…You’re…a…PRINCE!” She saw
him nod and she passed out again.
“She seems to be related to royalty more so than Thunder,” Amaya commented.
Rekino smiled at all of her friends. She looked at the clock and started to
panic, “Oh no!”
“What?!” Everyone screamed.
Rekino’s eyes widened, “Mesu! Attack! School! Work!”
“In complete sentences please,” Rowen said.
Rekino shot an angry look at everyone, “When Mesu attacked up at school,
what happened to our BOOKS?! DID WE LEAVE THEM THERE?!”
“Uh oh…” Josephine muttered, “We’re dead! I think that we dropped them in
the schoolyard! Not that I care anyways.”
“But I do!” Rekino and Rowen shouted in unison. They both bolted out of the
kitchen and out of the door. All of the other’s heard a car crank and speed
off into the direction of the school.
“It’s good that Rowen rode to school with us this morning. He left his car
here!” Amaya said.
“Speak for yourself, my little French tartlet,” Kento said.
Rekino and Rowen returned shortly after that with everyone’s books.
Josephine and Kento had planned on locking them out but forgot that Rowen
had a key. The Hardrock warriors sighed. They couldn’t have a peaceful night
without something going wrong! After complains from those two, the Ronins
and Guardians got started on their homework. Amaya and Hana had taken Mia
her homework and something to snack on. Thunder had been having trouble with
his English. Rekino saw this and went over to assist him since she didn’t
have that much to do. She explained it to him in simple terms so that he
would understand and not be confused.
“Do you get it now?” Rekino asked, “A prepositional phrase always begins
with a preposition but never comes at the beginning of the sentence.”
“Yeah,” Thunder nodded. He finished his English over to close watch of his
friend. He turned to her after he was finished, “Thanks.”
Rekino smiled and hugged Thunder lightly. She was a little shocked to see
him hug her back, “It’s not a problem. I’m always here to help. If ya ever
need me, just call.”
After the homework was finished, Cye and Amaya had started to cook for the
others. Kento and Josephine sat in the living room watching a football game.
Rowen and Flash had relented on watching it with them since there wasn’t
anything else to do. Sage and Hana decided to take a walk together. Ryo had
disappeared into the woods. Thunder went to meditate.
Rekino had decided to go outside and sit on the porch. She had been thinking
a lot here lately about everything that was going on. She wished that she
could’ve helped Mia. Then, she thought about her parents. She missed them
dearly. She missed how her father would always take her and Ryo with him on
his trips. Most of all, she missed her mother. She took in a deep breath to
hold back her tears. Her mother had always been there for her while her dad
had been there for Ryo. Rekino turned her amethyst eyes into the sky and
started to stargaze.
“Darling, so there you are with that look on your face as if you're never
hurt as if you're never down shall I be the one for you Who pinches you
softly but sure if frown is shown then I will know that you are no dreamer,”
She sang softly. She gasped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked
up to see her brother. She smiled lightly, “Hey.”
“Hi. Mind if I sit down?” Ryo saw her nod and took a seat beside her, “Mom
use to sing that song to us when we were little. It always calmed us down,”
He looked up towards the stars with her, “I failed Mia. I wanted more than
anything to help her. Now, she won’t let me near her. I don’t know what I
would’ve done if Mesu had hurt you, Rekino. I almost lost you once and I
don’t want to lose you again. You’re the only family I have left, ya know.”
Rekino put her head on her brother’s shoulder, “I know how you feel,
oniichan. I wanted to help Mia too, but there was nothing I could do. I
tried to get out, but that stupid forcefield thing held me back. I’m the
leader and it’s my job to protect my fellow comrades; yet, I couldn’t do a
damn thing! I felt so powerless against him,” Rekino said and looked up at
Ryo, “Promise me one thing.”
“And what would that be?” Ryo asked lightly.
“Never leave me again, bro. Like you said, you’re my only family too. It was
hell not being able to see you for ten years. I couldn’t live with myself if
anything happened to you.”
Ryo kissed her lightly on the forehead, “I promise,” He stood up, “How about
we head on inside.”
“Okay,” Rekino said and stood up as well, “Besides, I owe you one for
pulling that stupid prank on me when we were in the Dynasty!” Rekino smiled
evilly.
Ryo back away off of the porch and into the front yard, “Uh Rekino, it was
just a joke. I really didn’t take your key chain collection! Honest!” Ryo
started to panic when Rekino got off of the porch. Soon, the two siblings
were engaged in a play fight.

*~*

He watched as Rekino pushed Ryo into the lake and jumped in after him. He
smiled to himself. His plan was going accordingly. He had one of the
warriors down. In the next couple of days, he would attack again. He had to
regain his strength. -I’ve got you right were I want you, armor bearers.
Now, all I have to do is get the rest of you to surrender.- He chuckled
evilly and disappeared into the night.