Disclaimer:: No, I don't own the Ronin Warriors!!! ^_^

If I did, I'll tell you! LOL. Go on and read!!

It was a quiet night near the Hagi Sea… so quiet only the tidal waves made their creeping sound. Then finally, arousing footsteps were heard from a short distance. They were footsteps of four boys and a tiger. The four boys passed the huge wooden dock and went straight for the huge mansion that was surrounded by a pagoda shrine and the Hagi Sea. This land was a residency that had belonged to the Mori family line for many years. In fact, the whole land's buildings were created by many of Sai Mori's ancestors, one being his father. At a young age, his father created that pagoda shrine where Sai and his best pal, Kento Re Faun played and had their childhood together.

This was the warriors first time to actually visit the biggest of the Mori residency. They only went as far as the summerhouse and the regular house in the city where they had fun at. But never did they knew that the Mori had another... totally magnificent area. Sai always said they lived near the Hagi Sea... but really... were their residencies all

near the Hagi Sea? It seemed so now.

"Man," Ryo whispered in awe, "this is definitely not what I expected. His family must be rich."

Kento spoke up, "This family has had this land for quite some time. Sai once told me that his father was the one who built that small pagoda over there! That was where we use to play a lot

"An art of beauty... no wonder Sai loves the sea so much," commented Sage and then asked, "I guess the American's National Anthem is right about the marine world and its beauty. No kidding... say… was his father that general in the Civil War? That general that patrolled the marine areas?"

"You could have been more specific, Sage," Kento rolled his eyes. "But even if you were, I wouldn't have known. Sai never told me much of his father. In fact, he never told me anything. He only said that he was long gone when he was born."

"That's strange," Sage then suggested, "Maybe we could ask Mrs. Mouri about that."

"Eh, Sage," Ryo patted Sage on the back, "That wouldn't be necessary. I think they would rather be worried about their son than anything… right Rowen? Rowen?" The group turned to see Rowen with his face down and his hair drooping to the side. Rowen kept on walking… he kept walking right past them!

"Hey," Sage called and caught up to Rowen who was still piggybacking the youngest trooper, Sai Mouri, for the past hour or so. "Aren't you tired? Don't you need one of us to take him?"

Rowen, trying to act cheerful, answered, "It's okay. He ain't that heavy. I'll be able to last all the way." Rowen was tired but he dared not say. For some reason, he felt too responsible for what happened earlier (read Forever Suiko if you need to recall what happened).

"Hey bud," Kento hit Rowen gently against his arm with an elbow. "Is something wrong?"

"You still feel responsible for what has happened with Sai?" Ryo asked, knowingly.

"Huh?" Rowen said in a confused-but-really-not way.

"Rowen, you have got to let that go," Kento kept talking in an enthusiastic tone.

"Yeah! Kento's right!" Sage agreed with a positive attitude.

"I know," Rowen agreed lamely, "I know."

Silence passed between the Ronins. They kept going up the swerving path to when they were near the gates of the mansion. Well, it looked like a mansion. It was much bigger than any Japan houses. A statue of a dolphin stood on each side of the gate. It started to be a natural thing to see at any Mori residency.

"Then what is wrong with you?" Ryo demanded and stood in front of Rowen before he could take another step. Ryo was deeply concerned with his friend. Whiteblaze lit out a roar.

"I don't know, but that something must be awfully dark…” Sage began.

"Hey guys! Look here," Kento pointed out to a stoned inscription on the front wall of the gate.

"What does it say?" Ryo called out to him.

"It's a story… I'll tell you guys later. First, we need to find a way into this gate…" Kento recalled, "There is always security on this thing… especially when Sai is gone.”

"Oh great. Time to break a security code… who was it tested by anyway?" Ryo crossed his arms. "Some guy with light-colored hair?" His natural guess when it comes to gadget.

"Hey! Don't look at me!" Sage putted his hands up in the air.

"Actually… it was," a new voice answered.

"He… he… hi, Mrs. Mori…" Kento stuttered.

Mrs. Mori laughed and questioned, "What are you guys doing out here? It's late you know!" Whiteblaze nudged Mrs. Mori on the side and purred. "... well... you can all but talk!!"

The Ronins laughed together.

"It's Whiteblaze's way to say hello," Ryo spoke for Whiteblaze who went back to his master's side.

"Well, hope you don't mind. I'm a little starving. After all, we got a little messed up with some of Rowen's creations earlier," Kento grinned. "I couldn't eat "people". I'm no cannibalizing person."

Then Rowen became blank. What? "Kento… I WASN'T..."

Kento interrupted with a laugh, "Relax, Rowen. It's a joke...!"

"No, Kento," Rowen countered, "I wasn't the one who made that thing."

"YOU WHAT...?"

"You are telling us that… that thing came from somewhere else…?" Kento blurted.

"What?" Rowen insisted, "I didn't tell you I was the one behind it."

"Hey… let's get inside and talk," Mrs. Mori told them, "I don't think your friend Rowen there has the strength to hold my boy."

Sage teased Rowen, "Nah, let him have his workout. I think he's beginning to become a coat hanger." The guys had another laugh, but this one lasted short. When Mrs. Mori asked where they had been, they all

walked towards the place and were in the living room sitting by the time they were done.

Kento exaggerated, "… and WHOOM! Sai did it again! Jeez, it's too bad I didn't see everything. Oh yeah! There was that time..." RING!

Ryo nudged Kento at the ribs, "Well, I guess this is your coffee break, pal."

"The phone has been ringing off the hook, actually." Mrs. Mori slowly stood up to get the phone, "Hello? This is the Mori resident."

"I bet it is my mom," grumbled Sage who was turning redder by the minute.

Kento started to brag, "Hey, I'm glad that my Uncle Chu isn't that worried about me…"

"Hmm…? Oh HI… Mr. Chu!" Mrs. Mori laughed and looked at Kento.

"A little late with that, Kento buddy?" Rowen was shaken by laughter. It seemed to brighten his spirits… at least. But things still stir inside of him. But then again… at least he could take the stress away.

"Which reminds me, Mr. Date," Mrs. Mori informed, "Your… mother called me. She is very worried about you all… especially when I told her my son wasn't with me."

Sage waved his arms out as if he were surrendering, "I knew it. I'll call her when Kento is done with talking with his uncle."

"You said the phone was ringing off the hook…" Ryo then changed the subject, "… what you mean by that? Isn't it normal that it would…?"

"Well," Mrs. Mori paused and then looked down at the marble floor. "I really don't know if I should be telling you kids. It really has to do with the Mori family in general… especially with Sai. There has been a call that a huge transit crashed into the waters. And when they found out… it was my son… they started to flood in at the police station where I was at first. I went to Mrs. Date's house and the same issue happened. I soon went here so that they wouldn't bother us…"

"We shouldn't have been big mouth catfish out there," Ryo gritted his teeth, "We're sorry…"

"I know you kids get carried away with public but that isn't important. There was a different call," Mrs. Mori continued in a softer voice. "It was from the Marine forces of Japan. They wanted me to inform my son that he is needed in their forces in two weeks. But I don't know if

he's ready… after all this."

"Well… if that is what Sai wants, he can do it," Rowen nodded towards Sai.

"Two weeks?" Ryo exclaimed almost bewildered.

"Good grief! Do they think that someone can recover with such injuries… in TWO weeks?" Sage reasoned, "Even the best doctors can't have Sai fixed up… in two weeks! Can't you extend the dates?"

"With such urgency, I think not," Rowen told Sage. "You can't even cancel the duty."

"And you can even loose everything to go along with it," Mrs. Mori's voice echoed into their ears. These words chilled them. But the worse was coming. "And… we might even never discover the Mori's greatest treasures." Mrs. Mori stroked Sai on the hair and fluffed his blankets up.

"What great treasure, Mrs. Mori?" Rowen pushed on.

"And how could you loose everything?" Ryo added.

"One at a time…" Mrs. Mori smiled down at them. "You see, Ryo… it is a duty of the Mori family line to protect the Hagi Sea. It has been since our great ancestors came here."

"But haven't your family done enough? I don't think they could deny that!" Sage again tried to reason with Mrs. Mori. He started to have a rising-angry tone. "And haven't Sai been doing it since?"

"They believe that Sai should be formally trained as a soldier to fight," Mrs. Mori looked away.

"But he is for crying out loud!" growled Ryo. Whiteblaze started to growl himself.

"I don't get it, you guys," Sage shook his head, "First they want him in the forces. Then we hear the Mori family might loose everything because of it. Then the issue on the crashing transit into the waters. And then the persistent commands that "It is a duty" and "Need to

be trained as a real soldier". Is this some sort of threat?"

Everyone looked up at Sage. Silence once again overtook them.

"Such a rest," Kento groaned miserably, "Somehow, I wish I could swish our army. Here Sage… the phone is yours."