"Don't act so surprised, Anubis," answered the former Warlord of Darkness. "I know she told you I was coming."
      "Yeah, but we didn't expect you until the middle of next week," Mia answered back.
      "I didn't really have much choice in the matter." Cale let himself in. "She was planning the wedding and wanted everything to be perfect, which didn't include me."
      "But she kept Dais and Sekhmet?" Anubis asked.
      "That's what I was thinking. She wouldn't let me in on her secret and I'm the one that's marrying her."
      "Don't worry, my friend." Anubis put a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever she has planned, I'm sure you'll like it."
      "Well, I don't know about that."
      They started to walk towards the kitchen as some of the Ronins came out. They almost ran into each other until they all came face to face.
      "Cale?" Sage asked. He couldn't believe that his former rival was here.
      "Good morning Halo, Ronins." Cale gave them a short bow. "These are much better circumstances to meet upon."
      "I'd say," Kento answered. "Umm... what exactly are you doing here?"
      Cale stared at him then slowly turned to face Mia and Anubis. He gave them a look that asked if they knew about the news. Mia slowly shook her head no that the news was still very much a secret on this side. Cale's shoulder sagged a bit at the news and turned back to Kento.
      "Why don't you boys sit down and we'll get you updated on what's going on?" Anubis suggested. He let go of Mia's waist and went to the kitchen. Mia and Cale sort of stood awkwardly behind the furniture while the Ronins did sit down. Anubis came back with the girls and told them to sit down, too.
      "What's this all about, Mia?" Sage asked. They settled down as ten pairs of eyes focused on all three adults.
      "Well... we've got some news for you," she started. "Umm... I don't know how to tell this to you guys, but..."
      "I'm getting married," Cale finished for her.
      The news stunned them a little. Actually, it took them all by surprise. They looked around and found that they were the only ones that were really surprised. The girls acted like they already knew.
      "I take it this announcement was just for us," Rowen spoke up. "Everybody seems to know the news but us."
      "Yeah, what gives, Mia?" Ryo asked. He and the other Ronins cast a suspicious eye on the girls. Cye didn't since he had an idea on how they knew before they did.
      "Okay, I'll start from the beginning." Mia took a seat where everybody could see her. "Kayura came by yesterday and told us. I figured I'd tell you guys when you came over today."
      "Is that all?" Sage asked. "You didn't have to wait that long to tell us. We're happy for Cale."
      "Yeah, we all are." Ryo got up and shook the Warlord's hand. "Congratulations. Who's the lucky lady?"
      "Didn't you hear?" Cale shook the other Ronins' hands. "I'm marrying Kayura."
      The Ronins stopped again. Rowen stopped in mid-rise as he heard the news. Everybody recovered quickly and congratulated him again. Strata, however, stared out into space and sat down again without shaking his hand.
      "Are you okay, Strata?" Cale asked. He noticed the shocked expression a lot more on his face than any other. Rowen shook his head and got up.
      "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I wasn't expecting that really. Congratulations." He shook his hand rather vigorously.
      "Okay, not that we know the news," Kento started, "what exactly are you doing here?"
      "Kayura told me to come here so she could work on planning the wedding."
      "Then where are Dais and Sekhmet?" Ryo asked. "Don't tell me she kept them?"
      "Unfortunately Wildfire, yes she did, and kept me in the dark about everything."
      They all started to pile back into the kitchen as Cale tried to explain more about the way the two got together. Kishin noticed that Rowen wasn't with them. Mira noticed the same thing. Everybody left the living room but Cye and Reva.
      Cye sat back down without taking his eyes off her. There was always something new to discover about his girlfriend. Her hidden talents were unimaginable since she wouldn't do the same routine twice in a row. Her tongue, if you didn't watch it, came out quicker than her temper. Perhaps the biggest surprise he had found out about her was that she had pointed ears.
      Although you wouldn't notice it under all that hair, it was a bit pointed at the tip. On her left ear, and only on her left ear, she had three dangling earrings. One was a miniature dagger, its blade the stone garnet. There was also a miniature arrow and katana, the tip and blade of each made out of the same stone. Each one was connected by a thin chain of gold. That chain stretched up to almost the tip and was held there by a small clamp.
      Reva had explained that all of the girls had it, each with different stones matching the colors of their eyes. It was their mark. Whoever came to the mountain dojo to train under them were given the earrings to let everybody know who trained them. However, he just found another secret that she so conveniently left out.
      "You're Kayura's sister, aren't you?" Cye asked.
      "Now, how did I know that you were going to ask that?" Reva sat down next to him.
      "Then you are her sister."
      "Actually, I'm not." She swung her legs over his. "But there are others."
      "So, Kayura talked to you guys first then you told Mia."
      "That's basically how it went."
      "You know, you can talk about a bunch of nonsense but would never give me a straight answer about your past. Why is that?"
      "It's not that I don't trust you, honey." Her fingers played with his hair. "I can't tell you anything unless I get the sign from the all-powerful."
      "You've got to get lose from all of that. It's okay with the others but I know more about you than they do. It's driving me nuts over here."
      "I know it is, but I can't tell you anything more. You're just going to have to bear it with me."
      He finally nodded and gave up. If she hadn't already told him what he wanted to know in the first couple of minutes of their talk, she wasn't going to say anything else.
      "Any ideas on a Halloween costume?" Cye asked as he attempted to change the subject.

      Rowen left the group, still a little stunned by the news. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he actually had feelings for the bride-to-be. If the others had paid attention to how he was acting, then they would have noticed that something was wrong. His appetite was suddenly gone after that news.
      "Beautiful place she's got here, isn't it?" Rowen quickly turned around and found the girl with one eye standing at the door to the balcony.
      "Sure, whatever." He turned back around and continued to stare out to space. When she didn't make any moves to leave, he turned back to her. "What are you doing up here?"
      "I could ask you the same thing, but I won't. Something rattled you back there, huh?"
      "Way to state the obvious Ms. Know-it-all. I thought that was my job."
      "Aren't we a little cranky? Maybe you need to go sit down."
      "That's the last thing I need to do. Just leave before I say something I might regret." He waved his hand back as he turned away from her.
      "That's not a way to send me away. You need to really mean what you said."
      "Believe me, I meant what I said. Please, just leave me in peace."
      "I've heard that it helps to tell somebody."
      "Then hear what I have to say." He turned and came up to her face, his nose almost touching hers. "Leave me alone!"
      She didn't back down from him. His blue eyes gave away more than he wanted. She had an idea on how he actually felt but didn't tell him. His emotions were flaring around him and she could almost see it.
      "Fine." She turned away then turned back. "You know, I haven't even backed down from Royda, now I'm backing down from you?! I don't think so. We're talking!" She pushed him back until he fell down.
      "Hey!!" He landed on his backside. She tucked her feet under her, sat down in front of him, and watched him. "What do you want?"
      "I've already had to deal with one other person with that kind of attitude and I won't listen to it again." Her dark green eye narrowed down at him.
      "Kinda pushy aren't you?"
      "That's how I work best. Now, enough of this and just tell me what's bothering you."
      "Why should I? I don't know you."
      "Okay, then I'll tell you what I think. You liked, or still do like, Kayura, am I right?" She got up and walked to the railing. "No matter how hard you try to hide it, I can still see it. A lot of people say that Mira's the sensitive one and that she is. I just see it when I don't need it."
      "I still don't understand why you're doing this."
      "I have this urge to know everything. It drives Royda crazy since I try to find out everything about her." She leaned her back against the railing and watched him.
      "You already know more about me than I know about you. Can you leave me alone now?"
      "Not unless I'm fully satisfied on your answers."
      "On what grounds?" The wind picked up and played with the strand of hair that fell over his eyes.
      "Just answer them then you'll feel better." Kishin knelt in front of him and asked him a question. He couldn't say no.