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He pulled his deep blue,
early eighties' model firebird to the front of
the house. As he got out of the car, he looked at his surroundings.
Things
hadn't changed very much in the past year. Spring was in the
air and
everything was beginning to bloom. He looked over to see Mia's
jeep parked
in the driveway. The smile that came across his lips couldn't
be resisted.
He took a deep breath and walked towards the
door.
''I'm gonna kick your ass
this time, Ryo.''
''No way Kento! This game
is mine!''
The two were on the floor
playing one of their numerous video games when
the doorbell rang.
Cye was watching them, while
Rowen and Sage sat on one of the couches,
playing cards.
''Cye, could you get that?''
Kento asked.
''Yeah, yeah. Always me.
Maybe I'd like to sit and relax once in a ...''
he mumbled as walked towards the door and opened it.
''Hello, Torrent,'' the
familiar voice said.
''Holy shit!'' Cye exclaimed.
This brought the other four
boys running. They stared at the figure in
the doorway, jaws dropped, not believing their eyes.
''Anubis?!'' Ryo said.
He looked pretty much the
same. But, he didn't. He had the same
shoulder length crimson hair. His green eyes still flashed with
untold
knowledge. He stood with that same sense of pride. Yet, seeing
him in a
white dress shirt with black jeans and boots, he looked like a
regular guy.
No one would guess in a thousand years that he was actually around
300 years
old. The former wielder of the Armor of Cruelty and prodigy of
the Ancients.
''Actually, it's Alex now.
May I come in?''
''Yes, yes, of course,''
Cye said. ''C'mon, guys, get out of the way.''
They moved to the side,
still staring awestruck. Anubis walked into the
living room where the paused game still sat. He seemed to be
looking for
something. Or someone. Sage noticed this.
''Mia isn't here right now,''
he said.
Anubis nodded. ''I suppose
you are all wondering what I'm doing here.''
''Actually, we're all wonderin'
what ya doin' alive,'' Rowen blurted out.
''Yeah, man. You fell.
Mia and Yuli said you died. What happened?''
Kento asked.
''Please, come sit. I'll
explain everything.''
The Ronins gathered around
Anubis and listened intently as he told his
tale. Questions were asked and answered. By the end, they were
all laughing
and joking, like old friends. But one question still remained.
Ryo asked, ''But Anu...,
uh, Alex, why did you decide to come here? Why
didn't you stay with Kayura and the Warlords and help them rebuild
the
Dynasty?''
''Well, I...''
They heard a car pull up
outside.
''Sounds like Mia's back
from her date with (sigh) Bobby,'' Cye said,
fluttering his lashes in mock admiration.
No one noticed Anubis' eyebrows
furrow. Am I too late!
''Lo-oo-ser!'' Kento and
Rowan both said, their fingers in the shape of
''L'''s on their foreheads.
Anubis smiled. Perhaps not.
''Why the hell is she still
with him?'' Sage asked.
''Maybe he's good in bed,''
Kento said.
''Eww, man, that's gross.
Anyway, they haven't gone that far.''
''How do you know, Ryo?''
''Kento, didn't ya know
the Wildfire is see all know all,'' Rowen chided.
''Shut up, Rowen. They
just have similar interests.''
''Legends and history can
only take you so far. What's the point if you
don't click when reality and the present rear their heads?''
Sage asked.
The question hung in the
air as the door opened.
''Whose car is that?''
''I don't know. Maybe the
boys have a friend over.''
''Those kids are all here
again aren't they? And this time with a
friend. I swear, Mia. Kick them out! Make them find their own
place to
live!''
''I'll say it again, Bobby.
I will not! They're family to me. We all
get along just fine.'' They walked into the kitchen.
''Yeah, well, just once
I'd like to come back to your place and find it
empty. I don't understand why we don't go back to my place.''
''Because, Bobby, you're
a slob.''
''So, help me clean up a
little, it'd be fun,'' he went to put his arms
around her.
''What! Now I'm your housekeeper.
Bobby....''
''Mia.'' Cye walked into
the room.
She let out a sigh and turned
to him, ''Yes, Cye.''
''Sorry to interrupt but
there's someone here who'd like to see you.''
''Really? Who?''
Cye just smiled and led
her into the living room.
As she turned the corner,
her eyes flew wide open. Her hand sprung to
her mouth as she let out a loud gasp. Was that really him standing
there?
''Hello, Mia.''
''Anubis,'' she whispered.
She flew to him and threw
her arms around his neck. His automatically
went around her waist. The Ronins looked at one another and they
all smiled.
Mia pulled back to look
up at him.
''How, why, what are you
doing here?''
''It's kind of a long story,''
he replied, wiping the tears from her
cheeks.
''You have time, right.
I mean you're not going anywhere, are you?''
''No. You don't have to
worry about that,'' he smiled.
Mia smiled back at him.
''Ahem. Hello! Boyfriend
here.''
Mia realized she and Anubis
were still holding eachother. She went to
pull away but he wouldn't let her. The look he gave Bobby nearly
made the
creep jump out of his skin.
''Uh, Bobby...''
The boys came to her rescue,
once again.
''See, Bobby. Alex is an
old frienda ours,'' Rowen started,
''Yeah, he's been out of
town for almost six months now,'' Cye said.
''He kinda surprised us,
but we were hoping we could catch up on old times
together,'' Ryo said as he grinned.
Mia turned to look at Bobby.
''How 'bout I call you tomorrow?''
''Well, why don't I...''
'' You heard the lady.
Time to go, Bobby,'' Kento said as he walked
towards him.
''Now, wait a minute...''
''Look, dude, don't make
me throw you out. Cause it won't be on your
ass, it'll be on your head.''
Kento stared down Bobby.
He may have been a little taller than Kento,
but there was no way he could beat that strength. He looked at
them all in
turn, then stomped out of the house, slamming the door behind
him.
Mia looked back at Anubis.
''Alex?''
''Mia, will you take a walk
with me?''
''I think that's a good
idea.''
Anubis held out his arm
to allow Mia to go first. As they walked towards
the door, he turned back
to the boys.
''Don't wait up,'' he said.