Together

Disclaimers: The original Ronin Warrior characters do not belong to me. Only Lionna, Kristy, Felicity, and Sonja do. Bunny is being used by permission of Bunny. ^_^

Gazing up at the stars, Lionna felt the cool breeze move her hair about her. For once she was wearing it down, letting the auburn strands tickle her waist. Without a sound she moved to climb up onto the roof from her balcony. Taking one last look inside the dark bedroom, she assured herself that Sage was soundly asleep.

From the roof Lionna found a glorious view of the surrounding area. She was able to look about over the forest, seeing the lake down a ways and then the road that winded along the countryside. Letting out a peaceful sigh, she let herself fall gently to her back as she watched the moon. 'Strange how I can find peace…' she trailed off in her thoughts before giving a crooked grin. 'Actually it makes sense. I'm of the Night armor and I find peace at night… well not in any dreams, but with this breeze… and those stars I can forget everything.'

Her eyes turned slowly across the night sky as she picked out and named the various constellations; what she hid from herself was that she wished someone was there with her. However, little did she know that her silent wish would be granted.

For an hour and a half Lionna let herself stay rested. She was determined not to let herself get worked up over all the problems occurring; So when the soft footsteps made their way to her ears, Lionna did not jump or turn to see who it was- did not reach out to sense her follower.

A hand reached out slowly and touched her cool cheek, causing Lionna to turn her head and see the silhouetted form of a Ronin. She smiled a little and sat up, "Why did you come out?"

Once again staring at the moon, Lionna replied, "Sage, you don't need to worry about me. I really won't try anything. Yet this can't be helped, can it? You're assigned to watch me at all times."

"That's not what's this is about," he replied softly, moving closer to her. "I came out here because I wanted to… because I wanted to be with you… don't turn me away," he whispered into her hair. Lionna opened her mouth in shock; getting even more of a surprise as Sage leaned over and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry… is this okay?"

In reply, Lionna turned to him and moved to his face only momentarily pausing before his lips. "You're fine," she told him in a hushed voice just before placing her lips on his own. It was Sage's turn to be shocked, but he excepted whole heartily. When they broke away Lionna kept her eyes shut for a few moments to savor the feel. "Again?" She asked, leaning forward to catch his lips again.

Sage let her have her way, enjoying the feel of her rose petal lips on his own. He hadn't ever thought that she would be so open, would accept him so eagerly. They broke away once again, this time Sage brought an arm around Lionna to bring her closer. "And where's my ever-so-cold Lionna?" He asked teasingly as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Leaning against him, Lionna muttered, "Couldn't ever let you know I loved you without being sure you'd accept. `Sides… following love is trouble, but for you I'll risk so very much. I already have…"

"When I was captured before… I… well I protected you as much as I could- sometimes hiding information about you more than I hid the information on Cye." Feeling his muscles twitch in confusion, Lionna moved away from him even though her body protested. She stood up and then faced him, the moon at her back. "As I have before mentioned, I had the job of studying you, the Ronins, when working for the Dynasty. I searched through memories, emotions, battle tactics… um…" she thought for an example. "Oh yeah, you remember when Kento had that strange run-in with Dais? Where he believed that he would turn to be a Dynasty minion if he used his armor? It was a fear I found… a piece of information I gave to Talpa. It was that, or reveal your fear…" she trailed off, letting a single tear fall from her face.

For a while Lionna just stood with her hair blowing about her, creating a dazzling effect with the moon in the background. "Lonni, I understand some of that… but you're leaving something out."

She nodded in reply, "Of course you're right. Took me months of studying all of you to realize how different and yet how the same all of you are. Automatically I hid much of the information I found on my brother, but as the months wore on… let's say half way through my time there, I began to fall in love with someone I never even met in person. That is… until I met him that day when he was tied with my brother to an oddly sculptured pillar. Even then it was I who talked, he only asking a simple question which I never answered."

Their eyes met and the gaze held for a few minutes until Sage moved to stand. When he faced Lionna once again he was smiling softly. "You don't have to worry about what he thinks about you. He loves you…" With that said, Sage embraced Lionna tightly and she responded warmly. The two stood locked together for a time as they enjoyed one another's warmth.

"When I first realized what I felt I kept on thinking, `but I'm the enemy to him… I've fallen in love with the enemy… how could I?' For ages I felt like that until finally you were able to defeat Talpa." Smiling against his chest, Lionna began to giggle.

Again they stood in silence; this time Lionna causing the distraction. She brought a finger up to trace Sage's lips until ever so slowly she moved down his chin and neck, tracing down his middle to stop just below his ribcage. Sighing contently, she leaned against him. Grinning wickedly, Sage ran a taunting hand along her back.

"That's the point," he replied plainly, planting a kiss on her nose. "You've tortured me enough by making me wait to be with you." She just smiled in reply and let out a small sigh of pleasure. Sage continued to hold her, wishing the night never to end. "Dawn will come soon, what do we do then?"

At the mention of the new day Lionna glanced up fearfully at him, causing Sage to move a little to see her. "No one wakes before dawn, right? Then we should be okay- just slip in our room at dawn and catch some extra sleep… waking later in the day. What does that matter, though?"

Lionna smiled back at him but sank down to sit with her legs in front of her. "I'm tired of standing, however. Sit." Obeying, Sage lay down beside her, studying her face as she glanced down at him, "Sit, not lay. How am I supposed to talk to you this way?"

"Simple…" Sage brought an arm up to snag around Lionna and brought her down beside him. "That better?" He received a glare in response and he just grinned innocently back. His hand reached out to caress her face and brush her hair behind her ear. Lionna shivered a little at the gentle touch, it was so caring and warm…

"Head back…" Sage finished, trailing off on the last word. Both sat up and exchanged glances for a while. "So what does this mean? What happens now that we know how we feel?"

Looking unsure, Lionna replied, "I really don't know. Cye will be so over-protective and all… and well… I'm not sure how other people will act. Many of them don't trust me…" Sage rested on hand on hers, giving a reassuring squeeze. "Plus… I'm not always sure how to act…"

Guilt entered her eyes as she looked up at him, but Sage cut her off. "I don't mind, over time things can change… for now I'll cherish this memory. Let's head in, sun's up and everyone will be coming awake soon…" He helped her to stand and the two headed towards their balcony.


	Lionna's Corner of Anime Fanfiction \| home Together "Together" By Lionna a.k.a. Eien no starlight Notes: A chapter or section that may be added into the `challenge friend and Ronins' fic. Disclaimers: The original Ronin Warrior characters do not belong to me. Only Lionna, Kristy, Felicity, and Sonja do. Bunny is being used by permission of Bunny. ^_^ Began and finished on: March 10, 2000 Gazing up at the stars, Lionna felt the cool breeze move her hair about her. For once she was wearing it down, letting the auburn strands tickle her waist. Without a sound she moved to climb up onto the roof from her balcony. Taking one last look inside the dark bedroom, she assured herself that Sage was soundly asleep. From the roof Lionna found a glorious view of the surrounding area. She was able to look about over the forest, seeing the lake down a ways and then the road that winded along the countryside. Letting out a peaceful sigh, she let herself fall gently to her back as she watched the moon. 'Strange how I can find peace…' she trailed off in her thoughts before giving a crooked grin. 'Actually it makes sense. I'm of the Night armor and I find peace at night… well not in any dreams, but with this breeze… and those stars I can forget everything.' Her eyes turned slowly across the night sky as she picked out and named the various constellations; what she hid from herself was that she wished someone was there with her. However, little did she know that her silent wish would be granted. For an hour and a half Lionna let herself stay rested. She was determined not to let herself get worked up over all the problems occurring; So when the soft footsteps made their way to her ears, Lionna did not jump or turn to see who it was- did not reach out to sense her follower. A hand reached out slowly and touched her cool cheek, causing Lionna to turn her head and see the silhouetted form of a Ronin. She smiled a little and sat up, "Why did you come out?" "I heard you get up," he replied, "but I also figured you wanted to be alone for some time. Almost two hours is long enough." Once again staring at the moon, Lionna replied, "Sage, you don't need to worry about me. I really won't try anything. Yet this can't be helped, can it? You're assigned to watch me at all times." "That's not what's this is about," he replied softly, moving closer to her. "I came out here because I wanted to… because I wanted to be with you… don't turn me away," he whispered into her hair. Lionna opened her mouth in shock; getting even more of a surprise as Sage leaned over and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry… is this okay?" In reply, Lionna turned to him and moved to his face only momentarily pausing before his lips. "You're fine," she told him in a hushed voice just before placing her lips on his own. It was Sage's turn to be shocked, but he excepted whole heartily. When they broke away Lionna kept her eyes shut for a few moments to savor the feel. "Again?" She asked, leaning forward to catch his lips again. Sage let her have her way, enjoying the feel of her rose petal lips on his own. He hadn't ever thought that she would be so open, would accept him so eagerly. They broke away once again, this time Sage brought an arm around Lionna to bring her closer. "And where's my ever-so-cold Lionna?" He asked teasingly as he ran his fingers through her hair. Leaning against him, Lionna muttered, "Couldn't ever let you know I loved you without being sure you'd accept. `Sides… following love is trouble, but for you I'll risk so very much. I already have…" Confused, the blond looked down at her, "What do you mean?" "When I was captured before… I… well I protected you as much as I could- sometimes hiding information about you more than I hid the information on Cye." Feeling his muscles twitch in confusion, Lionna moved away from him even though her body protested. She stood up and then faced him, the moon at her back. "As I have before mentioned, I had the job of studying you, the Ronins, when working for the Dynasty. I searched through memories, emotions, battle tactics… um…" she thought for an example. "Oh yeah, you remember when Kento had that strange run-in with Dais? Where he believed that he would turn to be a Dynasty minion if he used his armor? It was a fear I found… a piece of information I gave to Talpa. It was that, or reveal your fear…" she trailed off, letting a single tear fall from her face. For a while Lionna just stood with her hair blowing about her, creating a dazzling effect with the moon in the background. "Lonni, I understand some of that… but you're leaving something out." She nodded in reply, "Of course you're right. Took me months of studying all of you to realize how different and yet how the same all of you are. Automatically I hid much of the information I found on my brother, but as the months wore on… let's say half way through my time there, I began to fall in love with someone I never even met in person. That is… until I met him that day when he was tied with my brother to an oddly sculptured pillar. Even then it was I who talked, he only asking a simple question which I never answered." Their eyes met and the gaze held for a few minutes until Sage moved to stand. When he faced Lionna once again he was smiling softly. "You don't have to worry about what he thinks about you. He loves you…" With that said, Sage embraced Lionna tightly and she responded warmly. The two stood locked together for a time as they enjoyed one another's warmth. "When I first realized what I felt I kept on thinking, `but I'm the enemy to him… I've fallen in love with the enemy… how could I?' For ages I felt like that until finally you were able to defeat Talpa." Smiling against his chest, Lionna began to giggle. Looking at her with a strange light in his eyes, Sage asked, "What's so funny?" "Us," she stated simply. "Here we are, both clothed in out night shirts and shorts, standing barefoot, and on the roof no less!" He grinned at her, once again traveling his fingers through her hair, "You want that to change or something?" Eyes widening in surprise she cried out, "Hey! Don't go perverted on me!" Sage laughed softly at her, "So? You're just as `perverted' if you think that way." Lionna blushed a little, hitting his arm playfully. "Now, now…" Again they stood in silence; this time Lionna causing the distraction. She brought a finger up to trace Sage's lips until ever so slowly she moved down his chin and neck, tracing down his middle to stop just below his ribcage. Sighing contently, she leaned against him. Grinning wickedly, Sage ran a taunting hand along her back. Leaning further against him, Lionna placed a kiss on his jawbone as he continued massaging her back. "You're driving me nuts," she muttered. "That's the point," he replied plainly, planting a kiss on her nose. "You've tortured me enough by making me wait to be with you." She just smiled in reply and let out a small sigh of pleasure. Sage continued to hold her, wishing the night never to end. "Dawn will come soon, what do we do then?" At the mention of the new day Lionna glanced up fearfully at him, causing Sage to move a little to see her. "No one wakes before dawn, right? Then we should be okay- just slip in our room at dawn and catch some extra sleep… waking later in the day. What does that matter, though?" He smiled back at her, "A wonderful little planner, aren't you? Now I say we should enjoy our time." Lionna smiled back at him but sank down to sit with her legs in front of her. "I'm tired of standing, however. Sit." Obeying, Sage lay down beside her, studying her face as she glanced down at him, "Sit, not lay. How am I supposed to talk to you this way?" "Simple…" Sage brought an arm up to snag around Lionna and brought her down beside him. "That better?" He received a glare in response and he just grinned innocently back. His hand reached out to caress her face and brush her hair behind her ear. Lionna shivered a little at the gentle touch, it was so caring and warm… Not able to wait, she brought her lips to his once again. "I could get used to this," she commented upon ending their kiss. "Me too…" Sage murmured in response. A sudden unwelcome ray of light began to cross the roof, exposing the young couple laying next to one another. "We need to-" "Head back…" Sage finished, trailing off on the last word. Both sat up and exchanged glances for a while. "So what does this mean? What happens now that we know how we feel?" Looking unsure, Lionna replied, "I really don't know. Cye will be so over-protective and all… and well… I'm not sure how other people will act. Many of them don't trust me…" Sage rested on hand on hers, giving a reassuring squeeze. "Plus… I'm not always sure how to act…" Guilt entered her eyes as she looked up at him, but Sage cut her off. "I don't mind, over time things can change… for now I'll cherish this memory. Let's head in, sun's up and everyone will be coming awake soon…" He helped her to stand and the two headed towards their balcony. Return to normal story