Torn

(A/N:This Chapter will be longer than the rest since it's the battle and epilouge.)
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Ryo had the others split up once they were in the castle and currently he was walking what look like the dungeon. "Hey you." came from one of the cells. Ryo looked and saw a young boy chained to the wall.
"Yeah you are you one of the ronin warriors?" he asked. Ryo raised an eyebrow. "depends on whose asking." he replied. " I'm Sam.I helped a young girl get out of this place not too long ago.I'm just wondering if she got to you in time." he said. Ryo relaxed. "Yeah i'm one of the ronin warriors and yeah she made it to us. just hang on." he said as he set to work to unlock the lock. Once he got it open he stepped into the cell and went to free him. "Why are you helping me? You should go after Sekement. He wants to kill Jennifer now." He said.
Ryo looked at him. "You helped Jennifer, now I'm helping you."Ryo replied. Sam felt his arm fall to his side while Ryo tried to unlock his other hand. Once Ryo freed his other hand Sam nearly collasped to the ground had Ryo not caught him.
"Easy there. You probably have no feeling in your legs right now, I see Sekement did a number on you too." Ryo said easing Sam onto the ground. Sam nodded."He would hit me if I refused to tell him where Jennifer was. I kept my mouth shut the entire time,but I guess it did no good, he found her anyway and brought her back." Sam said. Ryo looked confused.
"What are you talking about? She's back at where we live." he said. sam shook his head.
"No, she's not, that person at your house is a clone. The real Jennifer is here in the main room with Sekement waiting for Talpa to tell him how to kill her." Sam said. Ryo's eyes went wide and he stood. "Hey Sam, to get out of here go this way and got to the back. Run to the woods and go get the last two Ronin warriors we're going to need them." Ryo said before dissappearing.

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Ryo ran for all his worth to the main room. He burst through the doors and stopped dead. There on the floor was Jennifer still passed out and she had blood coming from her head. "How nice of you to finally join us Wildfire." came a voice from behind him. He turned and saw Sekement with his swords out and aimed at Ryo. Ryo glared at Sekement and pulled out his own swords. Sekement laughed when he saw the hatred in Ryo's eyes. "Awwww...Does the ronin warrior have feelings for the little girl? Is she more important to you than your friends?" He asked. Ryo stiffened. "My friends can take care of themselves they don't need me. As for the girl, I made a promise to someone and I intend to keep it." He said. Sekement smirked evilly. "Then let's get to it then." he said before attacking Ryo.

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Sam managed to get out of the house but was jumped by a tiger when he got to the outside. "Hey call him off!" He said. "Sam?" he heard. He looked up and saw "Sage? Can you get this animal off of me please." Sam said. Sage pulled His boyfriend's tiger off the boy and helped him up. "What are you doing here Sage?" Sam asked then noticed his armour. " Uhh...nevermind.Listen Wildfire is by himself fighting Sekement. As soon as I told him that Jennifer was there he sped out of the room." He said. Sage placed a hand on Sam shoulder. "Calm down Sam. I'm sure Ryo told you were to go, now go there's one more ronin warrior to get,I have to find the others before I help Ryo. Now go!" Sage said lightly pushhing the boy toward where he had come from before running to the house with White Blaze right at his heels. Sam watched him go and whispered. "Good luck guys your going to need it." before disappearing into the woods.

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Ryo fell to the ground and held his side. Sekement had managed to land a few blows and he was now barely standing due to the blood loss but he refused to give in until the others came. "Give up yet Wildfire. You won't last much longer if you continue with the way you are now." he said laughing. Ryo spit to the side. "In your dreams Sekement. As long as I'm still breathing you will go down by my blade." he said before going after Sekement again. They locked swords and were pushing against each other now. "Give up boy. Your as good as dead as well as that girl." Sekement said. Ryo glared at him not noticeing Sekement's other hand reaching for a small dagger. "Never Sekement." He replied. He heard the doors open and took a quick glance to see Cye,Kanto,and Sage burst through the doors. That's all Sekement needed to stab Ryo in the stomach. Ryo gasped and looked at Sekement. "Die Wildfire." He said before pushing Ryo away from him. Ryo rolled on the floor and stopped close to where Jennifer lay. "RYO!" He heard dimmly as he clutched his wound. He felt himself being lifted up and stared into Sage's grey eyes. "Just rest Ryo leave the rest to us." Sage said as he set to work closing Ryo's wounds. Sage saw Ryo close his eyes."NO! Ryo don't close your eyes. You've lost to much blood, if you close your eyes now you won't wake up." He said frantically trying to keep him awake."Alright babe, I won't close my eyes. Now stop worrying about me and finish him." Ryo said. Sage nodded and let Ryo lean agaisnt one of the pillars in the room and then set Jennifer next to him. Ryo watched as his friends fought and saw they too were getting nowhere, when he remembered the white armour. 'I wonder if I could transfer that to one of the others since I'm too weak to do it.'

(A/N: Okay I know ryo can't really do this in the anime but let's pretend he can)

He started to meditate and he started to glow along with the rest of them. Sage noticed he was glowing white and looked at Ryo. He nodded and gave the final blow to Sekement. "NO! How is this possible? How could you defeat me? " Sekement said as black smoke came out of his mouth. The boys stepped back when they saw it was Talpa that came out of Sekement. Sekement collasped and Talpa disappeared. Sage turned back around and saw Ryo could no longer fight to stay awake and saw him unconscouis next to Jennifer."Come on we have to get them to a hospital and fast. Sage lifted Ryo and Cye lifted Jennifer and they made their way out of the house not seeing two figures with smiles on their faces watching them leave, nor did they hear what they said. "Thank you, Ronin Warriors for watching our daughter." before they vanished to the afterlife.

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Sage,Cye and Kanto were in the waiting room for news about Ryo and Jennifer when Rowen and Mia walked into the hospital. Rowen stayed back afraid of what they may say to him. "Rowen?" asked a voice in front of him. It was Cye. "I'm sorry guys, I should have been there to hemmph." he said rambling. Cye rolled his eyes and shut him up the only way he knew how. He kissed him. Rowen's eyes grew wide. Cye smiled " I knew there was a way to shut you up when you started to ramble." he said. Sage chuckled and smiled. "Rowen." He called. Rowen looked over to him. " There's nothing you could have done. The same thing would have happened. Ryo would have still been injured and Jennifer would have still been knocked out." he said. Rowen nodded and turned to Cye."What was that about?" he asked.
"What what was about?" Cye asked in reply.
"The kiss." Rowne said rolling his eyes. Sage chuckled. "Now Rowen surely your not that dense. If Cye kissed you that could only mean one thing." he said. Rowen blushed and looked back at Cye. Cye nodded. Rowen smiled and threw an arm around Cye's waist and whispered in his ear."Me too." He sat down with Cye next to him and joined the rest of them in waiting for news. They waited a few more minutes before the doctor came in with Jennifer following behind him. Sage got up and hugged Jennifer then turned to the doctor. "What about the other one we brought in?" He asked. "He'll be fine. You got him here in time that's for sure. Now young lady, Stay away from hitting your head anymore." He instructed. She nodded. "May I see Ryo please?" she asked him. He nodded and motioned for her to follow him. She got out of Sage's embrace but not before telling him she would tell him where his room was when she return. She followed the doctor to Ryo's room and saw him awake. "You should be asleep young man." The nurse was telling him as she checked his vitals. "Well I can't sleep." He grumbled. "Maybe I can help." Jennifer said stepping into the room. Ryo looked over to her and gave a sigh of relief. "Thank God your okay." he said. Jennifer sat on the edge of his bed. " That's more I can say about you." she said taking his hand.The nurse stepped out of the room and left the door open for the young man leaning outside in the hall who was hearing everyhting."Hey I kept my promise though to both you and Sage." he said. Jennifer shook her head. "Yes,you did but what would have Sage done if he lost you? I understand that you care about me like a sister Ryo just like Sage does but if it meant your life then I don't want that kind of protection." she said. Ryo rolled his eyes. " I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't do somethng to protect you, Sage feels the same way. I guess I should have waited before I started fighting him, but I saw you on the ground unconscouis and I guess I lost it." He said. "You scared him you know." she said softly. RYo nodded. "You can come in now Sage." she called out. Sage entered the room and looked at Ryo with unshed tears in his eyes. Jennifer got up from her place and gently pushed Sage toward Ryo. Sage sat heavily on the bed and pulled Ryo into a tight embrace and RYo clung just as tight to him. Niether one of them heard Jennifer leaving the room and going to the roof to watch the sun rise over the city nor did they hear her song that was slowly floating in the wind for everyone to hear.

Listen as the wind blows from across the great divide
voices trapped in yearning, memories trapped in time
the night is my companion, and solitude my guide
would I spend forever here and not be satisfied?
and I would be the one
to hold you down
kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
and after, I'd wipe away the tears
just close your eyes dear
Through this world I've stumbled
so many times betrayed
trying to find an honest word to find
the truth enslaved
oh you speak to me in riddles
and you speak to me in rhymes
my body aches to breathe your breath
your words keep me alive
And I would be the one
to hold you down
kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
and after, I'd wipe away the tears
just close your eyes dear
Into this night I wander
it's morning that I dread
another day of knowing of
the path I fear to tread
oh into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride
nothing stands between us here
and I won't be denied
and I would be the one
to hold you down
kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
and after, I'd wipe away the tears
just close your eyes...