"Kento, get out!!" Cye threw a bottle at his best friend.
      "All right, all right," answered Kento. He quickly ducked out of the kitchen.
      "We told you not to go in there," said Ryo.
      He and the rest of the guys were lounging around the living room. Rowen and Sage were playing a game of cards on the coffee table. Ryo sat next to White Blaze, brushing him down.
      "Is it my fault that Cye can cook as good as my mom?" asked Kento.
      "You know that food is for Mia's party," Rowen said, not looking up from his game. "All seven of them."
      "I don't know why Mia had to bring those girls with her." Kento slumped down in a chair. "She'd have been here earlier."
      "Not to mention that we are out of a house-sitting job," added Sage.
      "Sage!!" shouted Cye from the kitchen. "What time did Mia say she was coming?"
      "Around noon, why?"
      "It's ten o'clock right now. Why don't you guys help out?"
      "Like what?"
      "Like cleaning that living room and helping me with all this stuff."
      "Fine."
      Sage left to help Cye with the cooking while the rest went about cleaning the house. Food and dust had accumulated behind chairs and on top tables.
      "I hope Mia appreciates this," said Kento, "and that she is going to lose her most dependable and reliable people for her house."
      "How would you know that those girls she mentioned aren't good?" asked Rowen.
      "She's only known them for two weeks," answered Kento. "We've known Mia longer than that."
      "She did tell Sage that the girls helped her out a lot," interjected Ryo.
      "So? That doesn't show that they deserve this. They better be drop-dead gorgeous to replace us."
      "Why do they have to be gorgeous to look after the house?" asked Rowen from behind a couch. "You sound like Sage."
      "So we could come here with an excuse."
      Ryo looked at Rowen and shrugged. Who would have thought that Kento was thinking ahead?

      "No, no, no, Sage," Cye said frantically. He pulled the bowl away from him and demonstrated. "Like this."
      "Geez, Cye," Sage said as he backed off from his friend. "It doesn't have to be perfect."
      "Easy for you to say." He grabbed a few more ingredients and mixed them in the bowl.
      "She knows it's going to be good because you made it."
      "I know that. But those guests she's bringing don't know me and I want to make a good impression."
      Sage stared at the boy. He smiled and shook his head.
      "Didn't know that you felt that way about them, Cye." He looked up and say the other boy blush.
      "W... what do you mean?"
      "Don't worry." Sage put an arm around Cye's shoulder and shook him. "With a look like that, they'll fall for you instantly."
      Before Cye could say anything, a crash from the living room interrupted him. Both he and Sage rushed out and found Ryo, Rowen, and Kento involved in a pseudo-food fight. Popcorn and articles of clothing were flying from one side of the room to the other. Just when they were about to stop them, the front door opened and Mia stepped in.
      "Hey guys!" she shouted and stopped in mid-wave as the commotion was finally registering in her head.
      The three boys in the living room quickly got up and faced the door. Mia's surprised face and wide eyes were all they needed to know that her homecoming didn't start out good. They looked around and found that the hour or so of cleaning went down the tube with just a few minutes or roughhousing.
      "Hey, Mia," said Kento.
      "What are you guys doing?" asked Mia.
      "They were cleaning," answered Sage. "I don't know about now."
      She was clearly upset and was about to tell them just how upset she was when a hand settled on her shoulder, calming her down. The body and head attached to the arm came up behind her and whispered something to her ear. The familiar red hair seemed to have snapped them out of their daze.
      "Anubis," said Ryo, running up to them. He stopped just in front of them. The others followed shortly.
      "Hello, Ronins," Anubis said, smiling. "It's good to finally meet you under better circumstances."
      Each of them shook his hand and practically froze when he and Mia walked passed them to sit down. They shook their head and rubbed their eyes. There must be something wrong. They were seeing five Kayuras.
      "Those are the girls that helps us," explained Anubis, breaking their trance. "Come in girls. We'll do the introductions inside."
      One by one took a suitcase by their feet and walked single-file into the door. They picked a cleaner side of the room and put down their bags with not intention to sit. The Ronins followed them and stood directly opposite them with Mia sitting in between.
      Introductions were given and the guys slowly realized the differences between the girls and Kayura. Reva had brown eyes and the characterized long blue-black hair of Kayura. Kala's lime green eyes was the only other difference between them. Kishin's hair and dark green eyes made her appearance the most varied of all.
      The last two were a little harder to distinguish. Though she was shorter than the Kayura they knew, Mira looked like a spitting image of the last Ancient's descendant. As for Royda, she was as tall as the Ronins but had none of the awe her other two look-alikes seemed to possess.
      "What really happened up there, Mia?" asked Ryo after a few moments of silence.
      "Yeah, Mia," added Sage, "you said you'll explain when you get back."
      Everybody turned to the woman sitting on the couch. Her initial anger on the situation of her house was gone and was replaced by an uncertainty. She looked around her and settled on Anubis. He gave her shoulder a squeeze then she gave a heavy sigh.
      "It started with a dream," she began. Words seem to just come to her and the story unfolded on the Ronins. They discovered the deception of the Warlords and one reason why Anubis was back, how the girls brought them all together, albeit with as less explanation as possible, and how Kayura explained the growing interest of this New Dynasty on Mia.
      She had left out the parts where the girls were using their powers. She had also left out the other reason why Anubis was reborn. However, she didn't spare any detail on how powerful the New Dynasty could be.
      "Wow," breathed Kento. "So, I take it she's also after us, huh?"
      The Ronins turned to him with a surprised expression. Though not slated as the smartest of the group, Kento had stated an underlying motive.
      "She had mentioned you killing her father at one time or another," answered Mia.
      "She must really have it in for us," Ryo said.
      "Maybe not." They all turned to Rowen and found the boy staring at the girls. "She wouldn't have gone to all that trouble just to get revenge on us. I got to admit that Mia's new powers could have persuaded her to go that far, but I don't think so. She knows that Mia's powers are unpredictable and would take time to master, so, there's got to be another reason. Besides, what would merit their appearances if there wasn't something else at stake?"
      The guys looked at the girls for an explanation. The girls looked amongst each other while Royda continued to stare at them like nothing was wrong.
      >Who would have thought that the Ronins had a brain to think of that?< Kala mentally said.
      >Maybe that's just it,< added Reva, >they only have one brain for thinking.<
      Both of them started giggling. The other girls didn't pay them any attention while the rest of the room looked at them as if they had grown another head. This was suppose to be an interrogation, not a laughing matter.
      Royda sharply turned her head and looked at the two from the corner of her eye. Without even saying a word, Reva and Kala quickly shut up. But before anybody could say anything, Anubis acted as mediator.
      "We should talk more," he said, "but after lunch."
      Anubis stood up with Mia and headed for the kitchen. Each group stared at each other in open confrontation.
      "Everybody better be in here for lunch," Anubis demanded from the kitchen, "or there will be no lunch."
      The Ronins looked at each other then raced for the door. The girls simultaneously shook their heads.
      "No discipline at all," Royda said.
      "I bet you'd like to take them all down," Reva added, "starting with... who was that?" She turned to Kala.
      "Kento?" she suggested.
      "Is that the big guy?"
      "Yeah."
      "Kento then."
      "Reva?" Kishin asked. "Is there something in the air that's making you more cynical than usual?"
      "I'm just stating the facts."
      "Give it a rest, willya?" asked Mira. "We could at least give some respect and go in there."
      Reva was about to say another piece of her mind when they witnessed Royda heading for the kitchen. They all shrugged and followed her.
      As they entered the room, they could see that everybody was already seated. Five empty seats were at one end of the table and Royda took the one on the edge. Everybody else took a seat near her.
      "I'm glad that you joined us," Anubis greeted.
      Royda gave a nod and acknowledged but didn't say anything. They started eating and conversation began to flow.
      The girls didn't say much. When the meal ended, they started to clear the table.
      "You don't have to do that," said Cye. Everybody turned to him. The Ronins couldn't believe that he would talk out to them.
      Mia and Anubis herded the girls upstairs so they could settle down already. The guys stayed behind.
      "I didn't know you could talk to girls, Cye," said Kento, "outside of your mother and sister that is."
      "Say what you want. I think they're great."
      "You know that by just meeting them a few moments ago?" asked Ryo.
      "Well, you do have to understand who you're talking to," answered Rowen.
      "He's right. The Ronin Warrior of Trust would like anybody," added Sage.
      "You know what guys?" Cye asked as he turned to the dishes. "I don't think those girls are telling the whole truth. But I trust them all the same. Whatever you have to tell me won't change my mind about them."

      Kento woke up to the sweet smell of bacon and eggs in the morning. His head popped out of the covers and he almost sleepwalked down to the kitchen. He peeked in and saw one of the girls at the stove. When he glanced at the wall clock, he was surprised to see that it was just past 5:30 in the morning!
      The girl at the stove started to hum and slowly moved from side to side. Kento went over to her and looked at what she had cooked. There were omelets, pancakes, bacons, sausages, and other morning goodies that Cye didn't have time to prepare. His mouth watered at the sight.
      "Will you marry me?" he asked, still dazed. The girl whirled around and almost dropped the spatula while the pan was help defensively in front of her. "Whoa!! I was just joking!!"
      "You should know better than to sneak up on people," she said.
      "You know, Cye says the same thing."
      "Maybe you should listen to him."
      He still couldn't figure out which of the girls this was. He knew for sure that this wasn't Kishin because she didn't have half her face covered. He was also sure that this wasn't one of the sisters. He made sure that he knew who they were first. So, that left either Reva and Kala. Somehow, he knew that they would be outspoken.
      "My name is Reva, okay?" she said as if she was reading his mind. "You had that look."
      Kento looked at her dumb-founded. She started to take food from the counter and started setting up the table. By the time she was finished, the rest of the girls were coming in from outside. They stopped when they saw him.
      "May we help you?" asked the one in the front. He guessed that to be Royda.
      "Not really. I was just about to sit down and have breakfast." Kento had a wide grin on his face as he sat down. It was now the girls' turn to stare at him.
      He had sat down before Royda did, and she was doing nothing about it. The four girls shifted their focus from Kento to their leader. Her dark blue eyes looked at him with a passive look.
      "Are you guys going to just stand there?" He wolfed down some pancakes and drenched them with syrup.
      "Kento, what are you...?" Another figure appeared at the door. Everybody turned and saw Cye, stripped down to this pajama bottoms.
      They didn't avert their eyes and Cye suddenly noticed he was half-naked in front of guests. He turned a couple of shades brighter than his hair and quickly left the kitchen.
      "You shouldn't take offense by that," Kento defended. "He's not used to all these people. Don't worry, he'll be back."
      >I would hope so,< Reva said mentally.
      >Oh no. Don't tell me you're going to go after him?< Kala asked. Reva turned to her and grinned.
      "You girls sure are quiet," said Kento. He could hear suppressed laughter and looked up. Reva was glaring at the girls behind her.
      "I don't know what you're talking about." She haughtily lifted her head and crossed her arms.
      Kento shrugged and kept on eating. After awhile of staring, the girls turned to Royda. She slowly walked to the other end of the table and sat directly in front of him. Her eyes never left him.
      The rest of the girls looked amongst themselves and shrugged. If this was okay with her, then it was okay with them. They sat near Royda and just watched him.
      He had polished off a stack of pancakes about a foot tall in on time. The next nearest food was the egg omelet. With his strong appetite, the girls lost theirs.
      "Good morning girls, Kento," said Mia as she came down the stairs. She headed for a pot on the stove and poured herself some hot tea. Anubis eventually followed her.
      The girls continued to stare at Kento while he puzzled over Mia and Anubis' behavior. Anubis wasn't roomed with one of the guys since they all had rooms downstairs. The couch was definitely out of the question since he passed it before getting to the kitchen. The guests had the rooms upstairs and he didn't think there was another spare room up there, no matter how big the mansion was. That only left Mia's room and her office.
      "Uh, Mia?" The couple turned away from the pot. "I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but where did Anubis sleep?"
      Mia and Anubis looked at each other then started to blush a bit. Before they could answer, voices were heard from the living room. The rest of the guys came in.
      "What was wrong with Cye?" asked Rowen.
      "Yeah," added Ryo, "he was red as a beet when he ran past us."
      "He came in here with a little less on than normal," answered Kento. "They were already here and he got caught."
      "And of course, you're here," Sage chided.
      "So? She can cook good." Kento pointed at Reva.
      The guys started to sit down and eat along with him. Kento's question was lost in the busy morning. The girls finally started to eat. Royda looked up to Mia and Anubis, still not touching her plate.
      Mia turned away blushing while Anubis looked at her innocently. She gave them a small nod indicating she wouldn't tell the secret. In truth, they just slept in each others arms since they were all exhausted.
      After breakfast, everybody accumulated in the living room. The girls still kept to themselves. Cye finally came back, fully clothed this time. He wasn't able to see the girls eye to eye though.
      The conversation went back to what they were talking about before dinner last night. Most of the girls listened in on the conversation. Reva started to shift and move in her chair. Her eyes kept drifting outside to the porch.
      "Do you want to go outside, Reva?" asked Mia. The girl looked at her then at Royda.
      "No, not really. It's just that I've never really stopped and looked at fall before." Reva's eyes never left Royda's
      "That's okay. I think a little walk would do us all a little good." Mia got up with Anubis not far behind. The guys looked at each other and shrugged. The girls looked at Reva like she had just signed their death sentence.
      "It's not my fault I prefer the outdoors more than being cooped up inside. You know how I hate being confined."
      When Anubis and Mia got back, everybody stood up and followed them out to the back porch. They toured the grounds of the mansion. As it neared lunch, they all decided to go back to the house and prepare for it.

      "Have you guys noticed that there's only four of them out there?" asked Sage. Since the girls made breakfast, the guys volunteered to make lunch.
      "Only you would notice that, Sage," answered Rowen.
      "No, I'm serious. There were five of them when we left the house, right? But when we came back, I saw only four."
      "Maybe one of them wanted a longer walk," suggested Kento. He picked up another plate to take to the table.
      Cye thought about it and decided they were all wrong. There was another reason there were just four of them. He slipped past his friends and to the woods.

      He could hear a voice in the distance. The distinct Kansai accent told him that Reva was out there. His steps became even more cautious. As he approached her, he could see that she had sat down but was still talking to herself. He got even closer.
      "You can stop that now," she said. Cye froze in place just a few feet behind her. She turned to face him. "You are very noisy."
      "But... how...?" he stammered.
      "Don't worry about it. You didn't just come out here to let me bust you, right?"
      "Well... actually, I... I wanted to know why you didn't come back to the house with us?"
      "If you must know, I'm dead if I go back to that house."
      "Why?"
      "Because of Royda." After a moment of silence, she finally figured out that he didn't know Royda. "Sorry about that. I should have known that you didn't know her. I meant to say that I shouldn't have been staring outside."
      "And how would that be a problem? I liked your suggestion."
      "At least somebody does. Definitely not Royda. She thinks we're imposing on you guys."
      "No you're not. Mia loves suggestions."
      "Tell that to Royda."
      "She's that tough, huh?"
      "And more. You haven't even begun to see how tough she can get. You especially don't want to see her angry."
      "She has a temper, too?"
      "Does she ever! You have not seen mad until you've seen her lose it. She's come close to losing it once but I never got to see where it ended since I ran way from her."
      "Anger management? The guys could really take a lesson from her."
      "I don't think they'll last, though."
      "Why? Too hard?"
      "No, she doesn't have the patience to teach. She was born to lead, not to be a teacher."
      "Kind of like Ryo, huh?"
      "I guess. I haven't seen anything like her my whole life and I've lived long."
      "How come? You can't be older than I am, right?"
      "Oh, yeah, that's right." She looked away from him. "Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be the shy one?"
      "Now, how would you know that?"
      "Umm... Mia told me." Reva paused to see if he would catch on. She was revealing more about herself that she thought.
      "Really? I thought the guys would have blabbed something about me." He sat down next to her and she almost jumped up.
      "You trust them, don't you?" She looked at him to make sure. This is Torrent, right? she thought.
      "It's not a matter of trust, it's a matter of what they're willing to say. And they are willing to say anything."
      "Oh. Well, at least I don't have to sorry about that. The only person that can blab anything would be me. If you guys ever find out that we're as old as Anubis, I would be the source."
      She was oblivious to what she said. Cye, however, caught it. Was she telling the truth? He could already see that she was very active from the way she jumped from subject to subject. Her every expression showed up on her face. She was very upfront about everything she talked about and that made it easier to trust her.
      "You're not kidding, are you?" He laid back and rested his head on his arms. Her head looked down at him, brown eyes wide.
      "Kidding about what?"
      "About what you just said. You being as old as Anubis?"
      "Oh!! You heard that?" He nodded. "You believe it too, don't you?" He nodded. She quickly got to her knees. "Please don't tell anybody else. I'm already in a lot of trouble with Royda as it is and this won't make her day any happier."
      "Why would I tell?" his eyes showing amusement.
      "Well, lots of reasons. Get back at us for almost disrespecting you for lunch yesterday, get back at us for turning you red today..." She stopped. The scene came to her and she started laughing.
      He propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her. Her hand covered her mouth as she suppressed her laugh. Brown eyes danced as they looked at him. He shook his head at her.
      "Hey, you have to admit, you looked pretty good with just pajama bottoms on," she added. He blushed.
      "You're changing the subject now," he warned.
      "Okay. But I am counting on you not to tell anybody about what I said. She'll fry me alive if she finds out."
      "I wasn't planning on doing that. I like you guys."
      "Thanks. I like you guys, too."
      They sat there for awhile and looked up to the sky. A slight breeze blew and rustled multi-colored leaves around. Fall was coming rapidly and unnoticed.
      "I think we better go back now," Cye suggested. "We don't want more people coming out here looking for us."
      She nodded and got up with him. Their walk back to the house was rather uneventful, other than a small encounter with a phantom sprite.
      "So, you're one of the Ancient's Warriors, huh?" it asked, floating just a few feet away from them. "You don't look like much."
      "Uh, excuse me?" Cye cut in, "but aren't you suppose to be talking to me?"
      "I'll deal with you later, Ronin." The sprite never stopped looking at Reva.
      "No, we'll deal with this right now." Cye quickly put on his subarmor.
      Reva was about to do the same thing when he held his arm out in front of her. She stopped and was about to protest when he cut her off.
      "Stay back," he commanded. For once in her life, Reva actually did what she was told by another person other than Royda.
      "You don't know about sprites, Cye," she said. "They're more dangerous than anything you've encountered before."
      He was about to ask how she knew about these things when it suddenly lunged. Without a sound, it became airborne, heading for them. Reva was about to step forward and catch the attack when Cye suddenly stood in front of her, blocking it. He fell onto her with the impact.
      The sprite hovered over them. It was not bigger than them, but the blow almost took Cye's breath away. Reva carefully watched the sprite as she made sure he was okay.
      "That little thing packs a punch," Cye said softly, slowly regaining his breath.
      "I told you they were dangerous."
      "Enough talk, warrior," the sprite announced. "I didn't come for the Ronin. The Empress wants you."
      "Really?" Reva got up with Cye slowly. "I thought she liked Royda better."
      "Insolent brat." The sprite started to throw fire their way. Before Reva could do anything to counter, Cye stepped in again.
      This time, instead of falling to the ground, Cye was thrown deeper into the forest as well as Reva. They were stopped by trees and was momentarily out. The sprite ventured in, seeking her prey.
      Reva shook her head vigorously. She looked around and found Cye not far from her. Slowly, she made her way to him, careful to make as little sound as possible.
      "Are you okay?" she asked as he opened his eyes.
      "I think so." He sat up against the tree.
      "Nobody listens to me, do you know that?"
      "I have to go back and stop that thing."
      "Oh no, you're not." She held his shoulders against the tree.
      "Let go of me. That thing is dangerous."
      "That's what I've been saying. Leave the sprite to me." She turned to get up and felt his hand on her wrist.
      "What are you going to do? Reason with her?" His sea-green eyes looking up at her with concern.
      "I..." she stopped. She couldn't tell him she could get rid of the thing in less than a second. That would blow their cover more and Royda would definitely feel her put her armor on.
      "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" the sprite shouted through the forest. Reva turned to the sound of the voice and figured she wasn't too far.
      She looked down at the Ronin in front of her, still looking at her with stern eyes. Her solemn face suddenly gave way to a smile that startled Cye. She kissed him full on the lips just as the sprite came up behind her.
      "Oh, isn't this sweet? A last kiss before I take you." The sprite didn't wait until they finished the kiss. A beam came out of its hand and shot her on the back.

      Cye's eyes grew wide as she kissed him. He thought she was impulsive but this was ridiculous! He didn't notice that the sprite was right behind her. He wasn't even aware that the thing said anything. All he could feel were soft lips and energy surging in to him. He was finally aware that the sprite had found them.
      "Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds," the sprite mockingly apologized, "but I need to get that Warrior back to my Empress." She took a step forward.
      Somehow, Cye gently lifted Reva and set her aside. He looked like he was in a daze as he got up and looked at the sprite. Energy crackled around him.
      "I see that she's helping you anyway. No matter, I'm still taking her." She took another step forward.
      "I don't think so," Cye quietly said. His armor suddenly appeared around him without the usual fanfare.
      "Ohhh, I'm so afraid."
      The sprite attacked and Torrent countered every one of them. He unconsciously moved away from where Reva was lying and noticed a sudden weakening. He pushed the sprite away and jumped as close to Reva as possible. His yari was held ready as he prepared to fire.
      "Super Wave Smasher!!"
      "Yoww!!" the sprite shouted. It jumped up, barely avoiding the attack. When it got back down, one arm was steaming from the blast. It snarled at him one last time before disappearing.
      Suddenly, the power Cye felt left him. He fell to his hands and knees as his armor and subarmor reverted back to his civilian clothes without his command. The sudden power drain left him a little weak.
      He looked around to try to get a baring on things and found Reva still lying unconscious where he left her. Slowly, he made his way to her and carefully shook her.
      "Reva?" No response. He looked around again to make sure nobody was going to attack then lifted her.
      The other Ronins were there shortly. They felt the fight but got there too late. All they found was Cye carrying Reva and not much of an explanation. They didn't ask much, certain that their friend would explain when the time comes. Three of them decided to look around first to make sure that whoever attacked didn't come back.

      "Can I go in and see her now?" Cye asked just outside the girls' rooms.
      It was close to getting dark already. He brought Reva in to that room just after noon. Nobody wanted to let him see her until she was perfectly okay or at least conscious. He just about pushed aside Rowen when he was guarding the door. He just wanted to know how she was doing. Now, Kento was guarding so he can't exactly push him aside.
      "Sorry buddy," apologized Kento. "Can't do that until they say okay."
      "When's that going to be? Next fall?"
      "Geez Cye." Kento regarded his best friend with surprise. "If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you like her."
      "And if I do? She saved my life Kento. I want to know if I saved hers."
      Kento was surprised at his answer. Cye was his best friend, the one that thought things out, the one that would always try to find logic in everything. Right now though, the Cye he knew was hidden by another. His answer was definitely on a whim. The old Cye wouldn't have said anything like that. Kento was about to tell him when they door opened behind him.
      "You can go now," said a voice who happened to be Mira.
      Kento reluctantly left and tried to take Cye with him but that didn't work. Even though Kento was twice his size, Cye was able to slip out of his grasp and stand in front of the girl.
      "Can I...?" he asked, motioning to go in.
      Mira looked back in and confirmed something. She nodded once and turned back to him. Light blue eyes looked up to him and smiled.
      "Why not?" She opened the door wider and let him in. She didn't move from the door, only stood by it as the rest of the girls moved away from the bed. He watched them all head for the door. Royda glanced back once and he almost froze with the look she gave him. The door closed but he still didn't move.
      "Earth to Cye, come in Cye?" The voice brought him out of his paralysis. He turned to the voice and found Reva. "Hey!"
      She seems okay, he thought. But how could she be smiling like nothing was wrong when only a few hours ago, she was unconscious?
      "I heal fast, okay?" She smiled at him.
      "How...?"
      "Are you just going to stand there or were you planning on getting closer?"
      "Uhh, yeah." He moved and sat at the edge of her bed.
      "Come on, Cye. You know that I don't bite. Well, maybe just a little."
      "Reva?"
      "Fine. I'll shut up now."
      He moved a little closer to her. She was right when she said she healed fast. There were no scratches on her and she didn't seem to have lost any of her humor. She started to fidget and look around, mouth still closed. She was biting her lower lip and her checks but couldn't stop moving. Then her fingers started to tap her knee. Cye finally realized what she was supposed to do.
      "You can talk now." She let out a deep exhale.
      "About time. I thought I was going to stay like that."
      "You want to tell me something?"
      "What would that be?"
      "What happened out there today?" Her gaze dropped and her mouth shut. "Oh, now you decide to stay quiet. I can't have that. I already know too much. And since you look very alive, I guess you didn't tell Royda what happened."
      "You're going to blackmail me? To my own leader?"
      "If that's what it takes, yeah. You scared me out there when you didn't wake up."
      She thought for a second. He watched her and a thought came to him. She had only been there for a total of two days and he was more worried over her than the other Ronins. Her brash way of talking reminded him of Kento. She definitely didn't have any problem talking about anything, but until it came to her.
      "Okay, Cye," she started, "I'm just going to say this once and then never again. I trust you, okay. If you know me, you'd realize what a privilege this is. Even Royda had never heard that from me. You have to promise that what ever I say to you, you keep it to yourself."
      "I promise, but what do you have to say that's so...?" She stopped him.
      "Remember when I let it slip that I was as old as Anubis?" He nodded. "It's a long and drawn out story that I would love to tell you some other day but not right now. What happened today was the real me." He looked at her, confused. "How do I explain this? Umm... well, I was brought up by the Ancient One if that helps?"
      He slowly shook his head. Maybe it was just the way she talked, but he couldn't understand what she was trying to say. What did she mean that was the "real" her?
      "I'm just confusing you more, huh?" He nodded. "Well, that's the best I can do without telling you everything."
      "But where did that power come from?"
      She cautiously looked around first and listened. When she was sure that nobody was there, she leaned forward.
      "It came from me. I transferred some of my power to you so you can go up against that sprite. I knew that you would need a lot of power and I wasn't really concerned for myself. If you did okay against that sprite, I wasn't worried at all."
      "How could you do that? I thought my trust bordered on irrational, but that's way out there."
      "Tell me about it. Right now, I trust you more than Royda."
      "That's why you didn't get up then? Because you were drained?"
      "Basically. Her shooting didn't help any either."
      "All that for what?"
      "I don't know. Maybe this trust stuff rubs off."
      "If it does, you're going to have to hang around me for awhile to really appreciate it."
      She could hear a different tone to his voice. He was a little excited and a little afraid about what she might say. She regarded him for awhile and finally spoke up, a big smile on her face.
      "I'd like to appreciate trust more. Are you sure you're going to have time for it?"
      "I'll make time." He leaned towards her and kissed her lightly on the lips. When he moved back, her brown eyes sparkled even more. He slowly got up and headed for the door as Reva quietly sank back down to the bed.
      Maybe trust isn't such a bad thing, she thought. Especially with him around.
      She smiled at the thought and closed her eyes as the door closed behind him. He smiled too at the look on her face.