Chapter 5

 

A knock on her door startled her out of sleep.  Kayura wasn’t there, so she slept lightly, for fear someone would try to come and get her again.  Looking at the clock, she saw that it was three in the morning.  Monica’s mind quickly did a flashback.  She had remembered that the guys had all left to recharge their armors.  Monica didn’t want to be left alone, but Kayura had tried to explain that it was imperative that Rowen go alone.  Rowen had told her that he needed to focus all his attention on getting his armor back to full power.  Monica wanted to know where they had to go, but no one would give her a clear answer.  Frankly, they didn’t know where they were going.

Rowen didn’t want to leave her alone, but since they’d all be separated, they were more vulnerable.  He didn’t want her to get hurt.  Kayura offered to stay with her, not only to keep her company, but to provide a measure of protection lest the Dynasty attack while the guys were gone.  She appreciated it but she still didn’t like it.  They had been gone three days.  They had told her they wouldn’t be gone long.

She had half expected to see Kayura sleeping on the sofa, where she’d made her bed while the guys where gone.  She remembered that they guys were supposed to be back soon.  Kayura knew Monica would want to be alone with Rowen if he came by.  Monica hoped it was him.

She looked through the peephole.  It was Rowen.  She threw the door open.  He took her in his arms, inviting himself in.  She couldn’t be more happier to see him.  the way he kissed and touched her that night was evident as to how much he missed her.

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She screamed with surprise.  There was a thud as the phone landed on the carpeted floor.  She tried to back away.  She tripped over a shoe in the middle of her floor.  She held her arms out, trying in vain to ward off her attacker in vain  but he kept coming closer.

“Oh, God.  Please.  Please, don’t hurt me,” she whimpered.

A bellowing laugh filled her ears.  “Don’t worry, my dear,” the deep masculine voice answered.  “Your friend will be joining you soon.”

All she saw were two beady eyes and a psychotic grin.  He was wearing some sort of armor.  He pulled a sword from his back, holding it in the air.  A red cloud filled the room.  She started choking.  Someone called her name.

Her head ached.  She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t move.  Blackness was starting to consume her.  She tried to scream, but nothing came out.  She couldn’t even gasp a breath.  Her muscles paralyzed.  She was helpless.  Her lungs hurt from lack of air.

What did I do?  I didn’t do anything to anyone.  I don’t hardly know anyone.  What did I do to deserve this?  Ryo…I’m sorry…I love you…

That was the last thought to cross her mind…

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Monica bolted upright in the bed.  Fear gripped her as she frantically looked around her, expecting the man from her dreams to be standing over her.  She buried her face in her hands, crying.  An arm reached for her.  She reflexively withdrew.  Rowen’s familiar baritone calmed her in the darkness.

“It’s okay, baby, I’m here,” he told her.

He reached out to her again.  This time, she didn’t resist.  He kept reassuring her that everything was alright.  It took her a while to calm down, but she couldn’t go back to sleep.  She lay there until 5:30.  Rowen had fallen asleep again and was dead to the world.  She got up, sliding her nightgown back on.  She left him to sleep as she made some coffee.

It was Cameron.  She remembered the scream, the sound of the phone dropping to the floor, and the voice of the man who was her attacker.  In her dream, she was shown Cameron’s death, but from Cameron’s point of view.  She tried to force her mind from the dream, but it was haunting her.  The man with the beady eyes and the armor in her dream seemed to stare right at her, his laughter echoed in her mind.  What was that armor he was wearing and why did he kill Cameron?  Just more unanswered questions.  He told Cammy that Monica would be next.  She didn’t know when, why, where, or how.  All she knew was what and that fact, so far, had her freaked.  Maybe he was bluffing.  She snorted to herself.

Ha, she thought.  He killed Cameron.  He’s not bluffing.

Monica showered and cleaned her already spotless apartment.  Sitting on the sofa, she stared down into her cup of coffee.  She thought about the dream that was already plaguing her mind.

First Cameron, now me.  There has to be a connection.  Sure, we were friends, but we hadn’t crossed anyone to bring this upon us.  At least, I don’t think so.  Think, Monica.  Cameron’s attacker wore an armor.  The man who kidnapped me also wore an armor.  Rowen and Ryo wore armors, I am Rowen’s girlfriend.  Cameron was Ryo’s girlfriend.  I was abducted by the Dynasty, Cameron must have been killed by the Dynasty.  That would explain the armor.  If they killed Cameron and want to kill me, or use me, then…that could mean…oh, God.  I’m endangering Rowen and the other guys.  I can’t be with Rowen.  At least, not right now.  I need to leave.  He won’t like and I don’t want to go, but I have to.  It’s for the best.

It was nearly two in the afternoon when Rowen woke up.  Monica was on the sofa, nursing her fifth cup of coffee.  She was mulling over how she was going to tell Rowen that she was leaving without breaking his heart.  There wasn’t a way to sugar-coat it.  It didn’t need to be sugar-coated.  He greeted her with a kiss and sat beside her.

“Did you get any sleep after you woke up?”

“No,” she said softly.  “I’ve been up since.”

“Is everything alright?”

She hesitated.  “Yeah.  It was just a bad dream.”

There was silence.  He waited for her to elaborate.  When no other information came, he asked, “Want to talk about it?”

She kept her gaze down in her coffee.  After a moment, she decided to go for it.  “Rowen, I think we shouldn’t see each other for a while.”

She dared herself to look at him.  The confusion was clear as sunshine on his face.

“It would only be temporary,” she continued.  “I’ll go to my grandmother’s.  She’s been after me to visit since I’ve graduated from college.”

“Wh-what brought this on?” he stammered.  He was completely taken aback.

She got up.  Being so close to him was trying to make her change her mind.  For the safety of the both of them, they needed as much space between them as they could get.

“Rowen, I…”

“Is it me?  Is it something I’ve said or done?” he inquired.

“No!  Of course not,” she paced a bit, restlessly.  “I’m just a distraction.  If I leave, you can concentrate on fighting and saving the world.  You won’t have to worry about me.”  Monica paused.  “I saw Cameron in my dreams last night.  I saw how she died.”

“Oh, no!  That’s terrible!”

“It’s not just that.  I saw it through her eyes.  There was a man.  A man in an armor.  He said that I would be joining Cameron soon.  Rowen, I think she was killed by the Dynasty and they’re going to come after me next.  They abducted me already.  Next time, I may not be that lucky.”

He got up and approached her.  “All the more reason for you to stay with me.”

Monica turned away.  “I know you see the connection.  You’re smarter than I am.  You have to see it.”

He did see it.  The Dynasty would try to come for their girlfriends.  What better way to cripple the Ronins than to take the lives of the two women they would risk all to protect?  As long as Monica was around, Rowen and the other Ronin Warriors, not to mention the mortal world, were in danger.  He did see the connection, but he still didn’t want her to go.  He knew it was for the best.  She realized this and knew what she had to do.

He went in the room and changed into a change of clothes he brought this time.  After giving her a kiss, he left.  He felt like she was dumping him.

No, he thought to himself, she just caught it before I did.  I’m relying on my emotions to think for me.  I must be slipping.

Rowen arrived at the apartment, avoiding eyes and smirks from the other guys.  Their journeys had worn all of them out.  He closed the door to his room and turned to lie down.  As soon as his head hit the pillow, the door opened.  It was Sage.

“Hey, man, was she too much for you last night?”  he asked, smiling.

Rowen turned on his side, his back facing Sage.  Sage had a right to be in the room.  After all, he did share it with him.  Sometimes, Sage just didn’t get a subtle hint when he wanted to be left alone.  Maybe it was because he didn’t care.

“Hmm, that bad, huh?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Rowen mumbled.

“She didn’t dump you, did she?”

“Not technically.”

Sage wasn’t satisfied.  He sat on the edge of Rowen’s bed, forcing him to move over.  “What does that mean?  I didn’t know there was a technicality involved.  Either she did or she didn’t.”

Rowen sighed.  There was just no avoiding it.  Granted, Sage was his best friend out of the other four, but the guy could really irk him when he wanted to.  Sage knew that.  That’s probably why he was bugging the crap out of him now.  Sitting up, Rowen related what Monica said.  He told Sage about the dream, her waking up in the middle of the night, and the “dump.”

Sage knitted his eyebrows in thought.  “You’re right.  She didn’t technically dump you.”

“I’m always right,” Rowen teased, despite his mood.  He wasn’t exactly depressed.  He just longed to be with Monica.  He lay back down, thinking about her.  It hadn’t even been an hour since he left her apartment but it already felt like forever since he’d been with her.  How was he going to manage when she went away?  He had to remember that it was for the safety of the team that she decided it.  He smiled to himself.  He thinking as if they were married.  He certainly loved her enough, if not more.  He allowed his thoughts to wander.

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The doorbell rang as Monica started the dryer.  She prayed it wasn’t Rowen trying to convince her to change her mind.  If it was him, she’d probably would.  Monica stepped around one of three suitcases that were on the floor.  She looked through the peephole.  It was Kayura.

To open or not to open.  That, my dear friends, is the question.

The doorbell rang twice more.  Monica decided to open it.

“Kayura!  Hi!”

Monica invited her in, begging her to excuse the mess.  Kayura followed Monica through the maze of suitcases.

“I thought I’d stop by, see how you were doing,” Kayura said.  She eyed the mess on the floor.  “I take it you’re going somewhere,” Kayura asked.  “Are you and Rowen going to break for a vacation?”  Kayura smiled.

“Well, not exactly.  I’m going to stay with my grandmother for a while.”

“I hope everything is alright.”

“Yeah, everything is fine.  It’s just…”  Monica hesitated.  “It’s nothing.”

“Is it because of Rowen?”

Monica sat down.  “Sort of.  I feel like I’m putting the Ronin Warriors in danger by my being here.  I think it’s best if I go.”

“Why would you think that?”

Monica related the dream and her interpretation.  Kayura didn’t say anything.  Monica had a lot weighing on her heart and mind and now that her friend is dead, she was relieved to have a woman companion to talk to.  When Monica finished.  Kayura smiled.

“I was going to make the exact conclusion.  I understand your fear for your life and for Rowen, but he needs you right now.  They all do.”

“But, Kayura, if I stay, they Dynasty could finish what they started before you all rescued me.  I don’t want to take that chance.”

Kayura took her hand.  “You must realize you are important to them, not just Rowen.  They need someone to support them.  Without you there, they could lose the battle.  Even though they have each other, they lose sight of what they are fighting for, especially since they thought the fight was over.  You can help them.  Help them by giving them a reason for fighting again.”

Monica thought about it.  She didn’t think about that.  Kayura was right.  She needed to be there for all five of them.  They would need her emotional support if things…no, not if, when things, got really bad.

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Rowen was aware of the bedroom door opening.  He didn’t turn around, figuring it was Sage again.  Sage had been in and out during the past two hours, trying to get specifics of his night with Monica.  Rowen was unmovable.  He hadn’t told a single thing and wouldn’t.  He didn’t care if Sage whined like a girl.  What startled him was the hand that touched his shoulder.  Turning, he saw Monica.  He sat up.

“You’re not leaving?” he asked, filled with hope.

She shook her head no.  “You all need me here, so I decided to stay.  I want to help in anyway I can.”

He opened his arms out to her, inviting her to come to him.  She straddled his hips to where she could rest her head on his shoulder.  Neither spoke.  Monica’s eyes grew heavy from fatigue.  She started to drift off to sleep in his arms.  Rowen spoke.

“Monica?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think about children?”

She sat up and regarded him.  “Children?  You mean miniature versions of humans?”

He laughed.  “Yeah.”

Monica shrugged.  “I guess it depends.  I love children, but they can be pains in the ass sometimes.”

“Would you want one?  Or two or three?”

“Yeah.  Not right now, but I definitely do want them.”

“Me, too.”

He got fidgety as he explained that the other guys joke around, saying he doesn’t seem like the guy to settle down and marry, maybe have a couple of kids.  He related how his parents loved each other, but they loved their jobs more.  That was why they divorced.  He said that he had always sworn that he would wait for the right woman so he would never be like that.  He didn’t look at her the whole time.

Monica thought to herself.  What brought this up and where is it going?  If it was leading up to what I think it is, he doesn’t have anything to worry about.  I’ll say yes.

They were interrupted by the door opening.  Sage stuck his head in, but excused himself when he realized that he caught Rowen and Monica in a compromising position.  Rowen called Sage back.  Monica dismounted from his lap, just as embarrassed as Sage.  She sat beside Rowen.

“You can come in,” Rowen told Sage.  “We were just talking.”

“I won’t be long.  I just wanted to grab a book.”  Sage caught a glimpse of his camera on his bookshelf.  “Hey, can I take a couple of pictures of you two?”

Rowen and Monica shrugged.

“Sure,” Monica said.

Sage pulled out his camera and snapped a few.  He told them that when the fighting was over, he would get them developed and give each of them a picture.  A noise from outside brought all of them to their feet.  Rowen and Sage transformed into the undergear of their armors.  At that instant, Kento burst into the room.

“Guys, we got trouble!” he announced.

The four of them ran outside, where Cye, Ryo, and Kayura were.  A troop of soldiers had appeared.  Rowen barked to Kayura to keep her safe.  The guys armored up and an intense battle ensued.  Even with their freshly charged armors, they were having difficulty against the soldiers.  While they were fighting, the warlords appeared…all three of them.  Monica recognized Dais and the one from her dreams.  She studied the latter one.  He was wearing a green and red armor.  Two swords were on his back and two were on each hip.  He turned to look at her, locking his beady eyes with hers.  He gave her the psychotic grin that was burned in her memory.

Suddenly, the soldiers disappeared.  Before the Ronins could even catch their breaths, the warlords attacked.  They were strong and fast.  The green and red warlord crossed his swords, causing a red smoke to appear.  He aimed it at Cye, who barely managed to leap out of the way.  The warlord turned and walked off.

Rowen and Kento were trying to hold of Dais.  Ryo and Sage were battling the third warlord named Kale.  Rowen paused.  He saw Sekhmet approach Monica and Kayura.  Kayura tried to hold her ground, but Sekhmet was too strong for her.  She couldn’t hold him off alone.  Rowen looked away.  Kento was swinging away at Dais.  Rowen had to jump back to avoid getting accidentally hit.  The next time he looked, he saw Kayura on the ground and Cye between Sekhmet and Monica.  Kento saw it, too.

“I’ll take care of Dais,” he offered.  “You go after Sekhmet.”

“Alright.  I’m on it.”

Rowen abandoned Kento and went to where Sekhmet was.  As soon Rowen arrived, Sekhmet turned his attention to him.  Rowen was barely able to get his bow in the air to block a volley of strikes from Sekhmet’s swords.  He and Cye fought hard with Sekhmet.  The other Ronins weren’t having much better luck.  Just as the warlords were about to guarantee their victory, they stopped and left.  The Ronins regrouped.  Sage scratched his head.

“Man!  Talk about the Dynasty being different,” Sage said.

Cye added, “I agree.  Those guys were tough.”

“What did they leave for?  They must have been scared that we were going to kick their butts,” Kento said.

“I don’t know,” Ryo replied, “but we need to look alive.  We don’t know what kind of cheap tricks they’ve got hidden in their helmets.”

All was quiet on the western front for a little while.  Kayura wasn’t injured when she was knocked to the ground.  Monica was shaky, but alright.  The guys were worn out.  As soon as they attempted to heave a sigh of relief, they were hit with a swift, sudden attack by soldiers.  Surprisingly, though, they weren’t that tough.

Kayura had transformed into an armor, too, and helped the guys fight.  Monica didn’t know she was such a good fighter.  Monica wanted to help fight, too.  She felt like she was in the way, just an extra liability.  Monica was so busy watching, she didn’t notice the figure looming over her.

 

 

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