The Consequences of Fallibility

Part I - Attraction

    She closed her fingers around the corner of the stone building, her breath catching in her throat every time the door to the building swung open.  Was he coming out now?  However, each time she was disappointed and once again felt foolish for even being there.  As the caretaker of the Nether Realm there was no reason she should be in the Mortal Realm, at least no reason anyone else would understand.  Kayura sighed and leaned against the building, ending her nervous staring around the corner.  All of those lonely days in the Dynasty, she could do nothing but think of him.  With only Seckmet, Kale, and Dais for company she would often find herself distracted, daydreaming of a Toyama apartment building and the young man who lived there.  The three former Dark Warlords just thought she was preoccupied with the task of keeping evil from infiltrating to the heart of the Dynasty, and easily left her alone with her thoughts.  She could easily watch him from her new home, as the Dynasty was made for spying, and she often did, but there was nothing like seeing him in person, the Dynasty screens could be no substitute for sharing the same air, the same sky, the same wind with him.  And so once again she told the Warlords she was busy, to not disturb her, and had slipped out.  She was beginning to feel guilty, she was not working as hard as she should on keeping the peace in the Dynasty, yet the part of her that Talpa had never influenced, her true heart, needed to be here.

            She heard the door of the building squeak as it opened and quickly looked around the corner.  Her heart leapt with joy as she saw him exit.  His blue hair moved idly in the slight wind, pulling at the khakis and black dress shirt he was wearing.  She watched him, filled with longing.  If only she could reach out to him, if only he loved her as she loved him.  She knew he would never return her love, never fulfill the need within her.  Yet she could not tear her eyes from him.  And she knew no man would fill her with joy and make her feel all human, and all alive the way he did.  Because he was Rowen Hashiba, and no one else could ever rival him.  She watched him walk to the bus stop, leaning up against a telephone pole.  She tried to take in all of him, how his chin jutted out at a striking angle from his face, the contours of his muscles beneath his shirt, the way the wind played with his headband-less hair.  He pulled his hand through the dark blue mass, and Kayura felt the desperate need to touch him, to feel that same fine hair beneath her palms.  But as she tried to control her desire fate intervened, the bus pulled up, Rowen stepped onto it, and then he was gone, gone.

            “Kayura, you must have been very busy this morning,” Kale said as Kayura busied herself applying make-up around her eyes.  “You did not even come out of your room once.”

            “Well, it’s hard to keep order in the Demon Realm Kale,” Kayura replied sharply, in truth that morning she had spied on Rowen, and since her return done nothing but contemplate him, and where he was going so dressed up.

Kale was taken aback by her retort and so changed the subject.  “Kayura, are you ready for the meeting tonight?” Kale asked softly. 

            “Yes Kale, though I think the warriors are becoming bored with these updates,” Kayura responded with a sigh. 

            “Well, it’s important, and if they can’t see that…” Kale began harshly.

            “Kale, please stop.”  Kale still felt resentment towards the Ronin Warriors, though especially towards Sage for inflicting so many humiliating defeats on him.  He would never befriend the chosen five.

            Kayura viewed her appearance in the large mirror in her small inhabitance.  She wore a deep blue kimono.  The same color as Rowen’s armor, she sighed to herself.  She had never taken to western clothes, and as she spent most of her time in the Dynasty it was of no consequence.  Kayura smoothed her hair down once more, and fixed the gold tiara in front.  She had chosen to leave it down, attempting to look nothing like her warrior self.  “Alright, I am ready now.  I will see you when I get back,” Kayura said vaguely to Kale, then she disappeared in a flash of gold.

            Mia hurriedly set the long dining room table.  Kayura would be arriving soon, and she wanted to be done by then.  She paused as the scent of sesame oil caught her nose.  Sai, bless him, had volunteered to cook dinner, which nearly assured that there would be no food disputes, one less thing to worry about.  Mia looked at the table, she had set seven places, but now worried where each Ronin should sit.  As Kayura would need to talk to each Ronin she sat her at the head of the table, putting Ryo and Sai on opposite sides at her end, followed by herself next to Ryo, Kento next to Sai, and then Sage next to Kento, with Rowen next to her so she could keep a stern eye on him.  Rowen’s hatred for Kayura was not a secret to anyone, but she did not want him to say anything inappropriate to her, as he had at the last meeting, resulting in disaster.  One thing the Dynasty had done for Rowen was make him less quiet, though he was still known to say absolutely nothing for long stretches of time he was now characterized with sudden bouts of anger resulting in outbursts from him that made everyone uncomfortable.  As Mia turned to walk into the kitchen and check on Sai’s progress a sudden burst of light heralded the arrival of Kayura.  Mia’s immediate thought was of how beautiful Kayura looked.  However, something about her kimono caught Mia’s eye.  It was a deep blue, with gold trim.  Immediately an image of the blue and gold Strata armor popped into Mia’s mind, and she sighed at how Kayura was trying to make concessions to the warrior of air.

            “Hello Kayura,” Mia said with cheeriness. 

            “Hello Mia,” Kayura replied uncomfortably.  She instinctively looked around the empty room.

            “Sai’s the only one here so far,” Mia said.  “Kento should be by soon though, and Ryo went with Sage to pick up Rowen.”

            Kayura’s heart jumped at the mention of Rowen, and her face flushed as she thought of seeing him again.  Even though he was often mean to her at these meetings, it was the only time he focused on her, and spoke to her, and she cherished that.

            Thankfully, Mia mistook Kayura’s blushing for embarrassment at what trouble Rowen caused during these meetings.  “Sage and Ryo are going to talk to him, and we discussed it a lot after last time, everything should go fine tonight.”  Kayura nodded.  Then the door swung open and eventually Kento walked into the dining room.

            “Smells like Sai’s cooking!” Kento exclaimed with delight, salivating as he thought of his dinner.  “Hello Kayura, hello Mia,” Kento added, food was always first in his mind.  “What are we all standing around for?  Why don’t we sit down and wait for dinner?” Kento asked.

            “I was just going to see if Sai needed some help,” Mia responded, and then turned and left the dining room.  Kento gestured to the head of the table and Kayura sat down.

            “Bet you’re glad to get out of the Dynasty,” Kento said.  “Must be real boring with only the Warlords to keep you company.”  Having rarely faced Kayura in battle, and a firm believer that her actions were not her fault, Kento harbored no dislike towards the newest Ancient.  The Warlords however, were another story.  He did not want to buddy up with Dais any time soon.

            “It’s not so bad, there’s a lot to be done,” Kayura answered.  Then three voices were heard from the foyer.

            “I’m just saying Rowen, you always overreact,” Sage said.

            “He’s right you know,” Ryo added.  “There’s nothing to be angry about.”  They were referring to his anger against Kayura.  Rowen was incredulous, how could they say that?  They never seemed to understand.

            Upon hearing their voices, Kayura and Kento looked around the corner and watched their bickering.  Kayura felt warm and happy inside as she saw Rowen, but as she understood what their conversation was about she immediately felt embarrassed and horrified.

            “Nothing to be angry about?” Rowen responded angrily.  “Nothing?!”  He instinctively drew his right hand up to his chest, where her crossed swords had left a permanent impression in his skin.  Kayura felt a pang of guilt as she watched Rowen, unbidden the images of their fight that day came to her mind.  She forced them away as Sage spoke.

            “You have to get over it Rowen, she’s on our side now,” Sage said quietly.

            “You could never understand Sage, you weren’t there,” Rowen retorted.  “You have no idea what it was like.  I will never be friends with Kayura.”

            “Just be civil for once,” Ryo said.  Then the three caught sight of Kayura and Kento.  As Rowen’s eyes met hers he instantly felt a wave of dread pass over him, and in his mind he heard her cold voice, “You’re sacrificing yourself, oh how gallant.”  He immediately stiffened. 

            “Rowen, what’s with the spiffy outfit?” Kento asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.  Rowen looked down at his black dress shirt and khakis.

            “Oh, I went to this science thing with my dad this morning,” Rowen responded, his cheeks turning pink.  Kayura however, was taken aback, he was lying, his father had not left with him.

            “Oh, sounds like fun,” Kento responded sarcastically.  Rowen rolled his eyes. 

            “Hey Kayura,” Ryo said with a smile, breaking her intense gaze on Rowen.  “That’s a gorgeous kimono you’re wearing by the way.”  Kayura looked down quickly at herself, she had wanted to hear those words, but not from Ryo.

            “Oh, thank you,” she responded, flushing as Rowen turned his piercing gaze to her. 

            “Food’s ready!” an Australian voice called from the dining room.  Kento took charge and led the others to the dining room with haste.  Kayura sat at the head of the table, and Rowen moved toward the seat nearest her, keeping a close eye on her always first in his mind.  Mia quickly grabbed Rowen’s shoulder to stop him. 

            “Actually Rowen, I want you to sit here this time,” she said motioning towards the last seat on that side.  Rowen opened his mouth to defend his right to sit wherever he wanted, but a stern glare from Sage stopped him.  However as he sat down Mia heard him grumble something that sounded like “I’m not a child”.

            After normal polite conversation Kayura finally began to speak of the Dynasty. 

            “There have been some minor breaks of rebellion from elder warlords in the eastern lands of the Nether Realm,” she said.  “But nothing that the staff could not contain,” she hastily added as the others seemed concerned. 

            “So everything is pretty much under control then?” Sage asked.  

            Kayura nodded.  “Most of the Dynasty has been forced to recognize my power and control.  It will only be a matter of time until the whole of the Nether Realm is thoroughly under allegiance to the staff.”  At that comment Rowen, who had not spoken at all during dinner quickly looked up from the spring roll he was about to eat. 

He set it down and then said, “Power and control, allegiance to the staff?  Kayura, you’re there to keep peace in the Dynasty, to extinguish the evil, not to build your own personal kingdom!  Are you just doing this to claim control of the Dynasty and then lead another attack on the Mortal Realm?”  Kayura carefully watched him, feeling blissfully queasy as his eyes became stormy and dangerous, their anger directed at her.

‘That’s right, say all you need to say, let out your anger so you can love me…’ Kayura thought.

“Rowen!” Ryo shouted angrily.

“What Ryo, it’s just a question, let’s see what this…. this new Ancient has to say for herself,” Rowen responded.  Kayura felt her heart leap with joy, he had called her ‘this new Ancient’ as if finally accepting her status.

“Rowen you are so out of line,” Ryo seethed.

“Well if I am, then Kayura should be able to answer shouldn’t she?” Rowen retorted.

“Rowen…” Kayura lingered on his name before continuing, “I have absolutely no desire to rule the Nether Realm, or attack the Mortal Realm.  But you have to understand, these Warlords are not going to turn good, it just won’t happen, they need to be controlled.”

Rowen was about to make another retort when his cell phone rang.  “Hold on,” he said menacingly at Kayura and then left the room to answer his phone.  “Hello,” they heard him say from the hall.  “Yes this is Rowen Hashiba.”  Pause.  “What?”  Pause.  “Oh… where is he?”  Pause.  “Alright, I’ll go, no it’s fine, I’ll go.  If you talk to her tell her not to worry about it okay?”  Pause.  “Probably not.  Thank you, goodbye.”  Rowen poked his head back into the dining room.  “Mia, something came up, I have to go.” 

“Wait, where are you going?  Do you need a ride?” Sage asked.

“I’ll just take the subway thanks, bye.”  With that Rowen strode quickly out of the house.

The remaining four warriors and Mia exchanged significant glances, Rowen had pulled his mysterious leaving trick again.  “Sorry, Kayura,” Sai said, in reference to Rowen’s anger, facing her.  “Um, is there anything else you wanted to tell us?”

“Um, well there is a Warlord who is gaining power in the northwestern part of the Dynasty.  He had led rebellions against Talpa in the past, but he was never much of a threat.  However, it’s rumored that he has a team of warriors on his side.  But, I am not worried, he is not stronger than the power of the staff.”  The others nodded.  Kayura however, had not even listened to what she had told them, she kept thinking about Rowen’s phone call; who it could have been from, and what it could have been about.  “I… I should be getting back to the Dynasty now!” Kayura suddenly said. 

“Kayura, you don’t have to go so soon,” Ryo protested.

“No, no, I have to, goodbye.”  In a flash of light she disappeared.  She reappeared outside of the subway station, in time to see Rowen running down the concrete stairs.  She waited to see which train he entered and then disappeared again.  She reappeared with the staff in her hand in the worst section of downtown Toyama.  She concentrated and the staff emitted a silver light, the light covered her, and then caused her to become invisible.  Kayura waited with bated breath for the subway to arrive.  She knew if Rowen left in the middle of an argument with her that it must be important.  Her heart ached for him, thinking of what could possibly drag him out to the worst section of Toyama.  Then she saw him walk up the concrete steps, his determined resolve faltering as he surveyed his surroundings.  The buildings were old and crumbling, and tacked with neon signs that read things like “Beer, cheap”, “Hot Babes”, “Discount Pleasure”, etc.  Rowen’s deep blue eyes looked around some more, clearly at a loss.  Then an American man who looked as if he had not showered in weeks stumbled over to Rowen.

“You lost kid?” he asked, leering at Rowen and standing way too close for comfort.  Kayura tightened her grip on her staff angrily, willing to hurt the man if he so much as touched Rowen.  Rowen took a step back, but stared directly into the man’s eyes, emanating strength and determination.

“Perhaps you could tell me where I might find the ‘Crash House’?” Rowen asked with an edge of attitude in his voice. 

“Hey now buddy, I didn’t mean to offend you or nothin’,” the man said, slurring his speech.  “It’s jus’ over that way on Dean Street, but you wanna be careful, ain’t no place for kids,” the man added.

“Thanks, and I can take care of myself,” Rowen retorted brushing past the man.  Kayura quickly and quietly followed.

The “Crash House” was a large deteriorated building, something akin to the trashy bars in movies about big cities.  Rowen paused just outside of the door to the bar, took a deep breath and then yanked the door open.  The bar was dark and dingy, tobacco smoke hung in the room.  The bartender eyed Rowen warily, and Rowen quickly realized why.  He was wearing khakis and a dress shirt, while most of the men in there were in dirty, ragged jeans, and decorated with tattoos.  The room felt greasy, and Rowen decided he wanted to be out of there as soon as possible.  He scanned the crowd through the dark and tainted air, and finally found him.  His father was quite easy to pick out of the crowd in his dark suit.  Rowen inhaled deeply, then coughed as the dirty air entered his lungs.  He stood up tall and walked over to the man who was hunched over a small table in the back, surrounded by shot glasses.  Rowen looked around nervously, the eyes of the bartender focused on him.  Rowen placed his hands on his father’s shoulders and shook him lightly.

“Father,” he whispered to him.  Genichirou Hashiba’s response was a low growl.  Rowen sighed and pulled him out of the chair.  Genichirou seemed dazed and so followed Rowen’s lead.  However, as Rowen reached the door the bartender walked over and tossed his arm out to stop them.

“He didn’t pay for all of his drinks,” the bartender said.

“Oh…” Rowen responded, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet.  “How much does he owe you?”

“Fifty dollars,” the bartender replied.

“FIFTY?!?!” Rowen exclaimed.  “What are you serving here, liquid gold?” he added quietly as he counted the bills in his wallet.  He handed the bartender most of its contents.  “That should cover it.”  With that Rowen walked out into the darkening evening, shoving his father along in front of him.  Rowen faced his father and shook him.  He was still in a drunken daze.  Rowen exhaled with irritation and then pulled his hand back and slapped his father.  This had the desired effect of pulling Genichirou out of his stupor, however the first thing he did was punch Rowen’s face.

“Aw, what the hell!” Rowen exclaimed putting a hand to his eye and pulling it back bloody.

“Why the hell did you hit me?” he replied in a slurred tone.

“Because you’re drunk!” Rowen retorted.  Kayura watched the pair closely, holding her staff close to her.  Then Rowen’s cell phone began to ring.  “Hold on,” he said to his father as he pulled out the phone.  “Hello.”

“ROWEN-KUN!” the shout was audible to all within a fifteen mile radius of Rowen.

“Hey Mom,” Rowen responded.

“Did you find your father?” she asked a little quieter.

“Yes, and he’s drunk, and there’s no way I can get him all the way back to the apartment.”

“Oh that’s okay, your father’s been so stressed lately, the poor dear, his co-workers are waiting for him at the Hilton on 9^th street, can you get him there?”