Note: I'd just like to state on the record that the new character in this part, Rei Kasuta, was not created by me. She was created by someone who gave me a request to add in her character. (Side note to Rei's creator: Hey if ya like what I did, e-mail me at unacera@hotmail.com and I'll put your name up. That way everyone knows you agree with this use of your character.) Hope you enjoy! I did the best I could.
Also I learned that Japanese introduce themselves last name first and first name last. So that's what I use in these stories from now on.
Cherry Blossom Seasons
Part 2 - Old Friends
by
Archdruid Unacera
"So how did it go?" Unacera just sat quietly, keeping her back to the man. "Uh I know the silent treatment and it never works forever." He sat on the desk and looked down on her.
"You planned this through and through didn't you?" The man grinned. "You placed me in classes that the Ronins were in."
"Glad you approve."
Unacera turned back to her homework. She swatted a piece of the man's white hair aside from her gaze. "If you want to help you'll let me finish this or help me do it."
"Hey it's your homework."
"You got me in that school in the first place." She shot back.
The man chuckled lowly. "All right. I'll leave. You know where to find me." He teased at her.
"Yeah whatever." Unacera turned back to her homework on the desk. As she worked, she forgot to notice the passage of time.
"Unacera. Dinner is ready." A familiar voice came from behind the door.
"Come in Cale."
The man smiled as he opened the door, closing it as he finished entering the bedroom. There was one lone light on top the desk on, trying helplessly to banish the darkness elsewhere as well. The man walked up to where she was sitting. On a spontaneous thought, he grabbed her from behind in a hug. He regarded the paper thoughtfully. "Will you be done soon?"
"Just finishing up this last problem." She smiled as she leaned her head back to see him. "Miss me?"
He smiled back. "You're the kind who's hard to forget about." She tried to push him away from her seat. The Warlord just laughed. "I've got you at a disadvantage." She just huffed and struggled more in reply. Finally she succeeded in freeing a hand a little and reaching back with it. Furiously she tickled him. He laughed again. "I.. haha.. should have never.. haha.. told you my weak spot.. hahaha.."
"Let me go villain or I shall torture you!" Unacera teased.
"All right.. hahaha.. all right." She stopped and he took a few steps back. The Warlord took deep breaths to stop his laughter, and wiped away a few of his tears. "May I assort you to your table madam?" He held out an arm.
"Oh please!" She stood up, walked to Cale, reached in, and tickled him again.
"Mercy!" He pleaded. "I give!"
"Mercy?! I do not know such a word!" The woman teased as she pushed him against the wall, tickling harder.
"Whatever I did.." He laughed, ".. I'm sorry."
She stopped and walked to the door, looking like nothing happened. "Come on let's go eat."
"I'll be there in a moment." Cale said, wiping tears and their evidence away from his blue-green eyes.
Her hand made perfect contact with the ball, as usual. It sailed over a net. Someone in back scrambled and hit it with locked arms. Then someone in front spiked it over the net. The woman who served the ball forced herself to stay in place. She wanted to slam that ball right back. Only her logic told her to remain where she was. It paid off when the ball was accidentally tipped her way. She locked arms and hit it hard. The ball flew back over the net. A boy on the other side scrambled for it. Instead he tripped and fell. The ball landed inside the lines.
"Man I thought volleyball would be fun." The blue-haired boy grumbled as he got up, straightening his yellow bandanna.
"All right Rei!" The other side cheered at the girl. She merely brushed away her purple hair and her sweat. Then she took the ball and prepared another serve.
The game continued until a whistle blew. Everyone stopped and picked up as they headed out to the locker rooms.
"Great game Rei," one of the girls who was on her side congratulated her.
"Domo arigato." She grabbed her towel as she reached the girls locker room. Her fingers went to unzip her bag and change. The last piece of her uniform, her shoes, were just on her feet as the bell rang. She rushed to her next class.
He remembered the past again.
His body was so tired. He tried to stay conscious, but he was failing fast. Suddenly his vision blurred as shock flooded his body. Strong hands became limp. He was barely aware of himself falling. Did I hit the water, or unconsciousness, first? I... don't remember. Memories of that exact moment became more fuzzy.
Then there was a cry, a cry his ears couldn't have possibly heard. A glimmer of light appeared, a sparkle on a red seed shaped jewel. A wish, one singular wish from an old animal mind. Brown cat eyes focused on the man lying face down in the water. A wish....
These memories can't be my own.
The same cat focused on the jewel as a young black-haired boy held it. Soon the boy raced on the cat up a long set of circular red stairs. He raised the jewel with his small hand, but nothing happened. How could it, it was too busy fulfilling a wish. Soldiers, empty suits of armor with spirits to guide them but not souls, charged up the stairs. The cat roared, and the boy fell and panicked. The soldiers came closer around the intruders.
The man's green eyes widened in horror. His mind grasped for something, anything! No! Yuli! The jewel burst into a bright light and reached out to the surrounding towers. As it hit one of them, the jewel also fulfilled the white tiger's wish.
A strong deep gasp echoed in the room. The man breathed deeply for several moments. He then looked at himself. He was wearing his old armor from his youth in Japan again. "Where am I?" He looked at the tower. "How can this be? I was at the bridge fighting Badamon." His hands reached to remove his helm. A helm he thought lost in an old battle before Talpa called to him to join his Dynasty. Straight medium length red hair floated to its place obediently. His mind still raced, trying to comprehend the situation. Was it a dream or some sort of trick? Did I fail? Then he turned to find his ancients garb lying on the floor behind him. He changed quickly and raced down the stairs. When the light hit his green eyes, he squinted and looked around. His legs then carried him back to the bridge. The man's heart pounded as he gazed in disbelief.
Then he saw it, the eclipse. The Ronins! I must help, but I have no staff! Kayura must have it. The man sat cross-legged to meditate. If I can't be there physically, I'll help mental and spiritually. His mind searched for someone. Images of this person's physical features helped. Ryo... of the Wildfire. Can you hear me? Wildfire!
Rei sat down at lunch, eating what appeared to be editable food. She stuck her chopsticks in it. After that game, she could practically eat anything. She looked up toward where that blue-haired boy from gym sat. As she guess, he was eating anything. It wasn't him that caught her eye the most. No it was someone else. "Ryo," she sighed. Rei reached for the fortune cookie she got. Usually she didn't get any, but for some reason today she felt like it. She broke it in half and pulled out the paper fortune. "Probably the usual wise saying." The woman unfolded it and read.
"Konnichiwa Miss Kasuta. You don't know me but I know your family. Perhaps you've heard my family name mentioned... Douji."
Rei blinked. Couldn't be.. could it? She read it again. How the heck?! .. Douji.. yes I've heard of that family name. My parents said that a person with the family name of Douji helped my ancestors long ago. Is this just a joke or something? Still, to print so small to fit it on takes time to do. This is weird. She stuffed it in her uniform pocket for safe keeping for now. Whatever it was could wait. The woman finished her food up a little more uneasily than usual.
"Let's see. Do I have everything? Math book? Check. History? Check." Rei looked through her bookbag as she stood before her locker. Then there was a sound and she jumped. "Ah.. Oh.. Unacera-San you startled me."
"You don't have to use the suffix ya know. If we're gonna work together on that History project, I'd hope we can be friends."
Rei smiled. "All right Unacera. I won't."
"Is something wrong Rei?"
"Wrong? Uh. No. Just one of those days." She smiled weakly.
Then they both heard the sound of a locker and looked behind them to see Sage leaning on one. "Can I walk with you again Unacera?"
"Uh. Sure. I guess. I don't see anything wrong with it."
The teen smiled. "Good."
"Your house again though, okay? I want to see that dojo attachment to your home."
"No problem. Maybe I'll introduce you to my dad."
"Okay." She turned to the other woman again. "So Rei when do you think we can meet?"
"I'm.. busy tonight. But tomorrow's Friday. We can meet during the afternoon. I have a great place to study. I'll tell ya 'bout it tomorrow."
"All right. Sounds good to me. Bye Rei!" Unacera waved as she walked down the hall with Sage following.
"Jaa ne Unacera," the woman waved back with a smile. Then she looked back to her bookbag. She zipped it up and carried it over her shoulder as she started her walk out of school. Rei walked to the parking lot and her blue Dodge Viper. She was one of the few students who had a car. It was no surprise though, everyone knew her family was semi-wealthy. People teased that she was spoiled, but Rei didn't agree. All she wanted to do is become friends with her peers, regardless of income status. Was that so much to ask? The woman sighed as she unlocked the door. Her eyes caught a reflection in the door window. She gasped and spun around to see a man standing behind her.
"Konnichiwa. Miss Kasuta right?"
"How.. How do you know who I am." She turned stern and thought about how to handle this situation.
The man chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I'm not that kind of person. I need your help."
"Who are you, " she demanded.
"My name is Douji Anubis.
"Here we are.. again." Sage tried to sound as cheerful as possible but it wasn't working well.
Unacera smiled. "So can I see the dojo now?"
"Sure." Sage walked to the side of the house to the entrance that lead to the dojo. I'm sure dad will love to see me early.
For once the dojo was actually quiet. It even puzzled Sage. Calm before the storm. His father came out from behind a screen, wiping of sweat with a towel. "Hello Sage-Kun."
"Dad. I wish you'd really wouldn't use that suffix. I'm not a kid anymore."
"You're still my son." He paused. "And who is this? Latest girlfriend?"
"This is my new friend Unacera." She stepped forward and bowed in respect.
Sage's father returned the bow. "How courteous." He then turned to his son. "You're just in time to meet the student I've told you about before. He's washing up right now." Just then footsteps were heard. "Ah and here he comes."
A man walked out from behind a screen, at first with a towel over his hair. Blue-green eyes regarded Sage with a familiar scar over one of them. He took off the towel, revealing a bit messy blue hair. "Konnichiwa Sage-San."
"CALE?!"
"You know him?" Sage's father looked surprised between his new student and his son. "Mr. Matsuyama. Do you know my son?"
"Yes I do. I'm sorry I did not tell you before, but you never raised the question."
"Ah what a surprise!" Mr. Date bowed. "If you excuse me, I'm going to get a drink." He left the room.
Cale walked up to Sage and Unacera while grinning. "Who's your friend? I didn't hear her name."
"Uh.. Cale this is Unacera, Unacera, Cale." Sage introduced a little uneasily.
"Unacera-San." Cale bowed in respect with a smile. "Doesn't that name mean 'one night' in Italian?"
"Well I wouldn't know since I'm not Italian. I'm American with Irish descent." Unacera smiled back and blushed.
"Ah. Well it is a pleasure to meet you Unacera-San."
"Please. Call me Una."
"Una," Cale repeated.
Funny. She never told me to call her 'Una'. Sage thought to himself.
"Well I think I shall get a drink too. Do you want to come Una?"
"Sure," she smiled.
Cale and Unacera walked out of the room together. Sage just looked on, stunned. He closed his blue-violet eyes. Please tell me this isn't happening! Please tell me this is just a bad nightmare!
Cale popped his head back in the doorway. "Do you want a drink Sage?"
Sage opened his eyes. "Uh... sure."
"Okay." Cale walked out again.
Sage rolled his fingers into fists and looked up at the ceiling. He shouted to the empty room, "There is no God!"
To Be Continued...