Chapter four

Seeing that Rhiannon was distressed, Onyx slid up the bed to rest her head on her mistress’ lap. White Blaze put his head back down and went back to sleep; knowing that there was nothing he could do to console his Lady.

"I know, Onyx. We’ve been through this a thousand times. I just can’t seem to get over it. Maybe it’s because we’re so close this time. Talpa’s made his reentrance into this world. The boys have already met each other. There is a very real chance that we could destroy him this time. We could get them back and I can go on with my life. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? No more searching, moving and then disappointment. We could settle down. Yes, I know I’ll never be happy without him but maybe things will change. Maybe we won’t have to destroy him. It’s just wishful thinking but I can’t help myself. It’s been too long."

"Arff."

"Fine, if you don’t want to listen to me anymore then I just won’t care."

"Arff."

"I know you don’t mean anything by it. And I know that you’ve always been there to listen to me."

"Arff."

"Ok, we can go back to bed now. Apparently White Blaze has the right idea."

Onyx laid her head back down next to Rhiannon as the human slid back under the covers into a, mercifully, dreamless sleep.

Rhiannon awoke to the sun streaming in the window and across her bed. Onyx and White Blaze were both still asleep at the foot of her bed. She sat up and stretched, her movements drawing lazy growls and snarls from her bedmates.

"Come on, you two. It’s time to get up." She looked at her watch, "Hmm, only seven thirty, well, maybe we can con Sai into letting us help with breakfast." Rhiannon rose, slipped into the sea green silk robe left in her room an examined her reflection. "Well, we can’t go down looking like that. They really will think I’m Kayura if I go down like this." Rhiannon looked down at the dresser; it appeared Mia had thought of everything. All of the things Rhiannon would need for the morning were left out in neat little rows. She then proceeded to unbraid her hair. The river of red cascaded down her back and nicely hugged her slim hips. She set to brushing out the mass of waves and then pulled it up into a loose chignon at the nape of her neck. "I promised him I’d never cut it and I never have," she said glancing at Onyx. Onyx just arffed in reply. White Blaze found the tassels of the comforter rather amusing and was otherwise engaged in cat behavior to respond to Rhiannon’s remark. "All right, I’m ready. Let’s get going." Rhiannon walked out of her bedroom, followed closely by Onyx and White Blaze.

Sai stood in the kitchen wearing only his light gray sweatpants, deeply engrossed in making breakfast. He hummed a meaningless little ditty as he stirred the batter.

"I’ve been meaning to apologize," Rhiannon said as she entered the kitchen. "I think we got off on the wrong foot."

Sai turned around, startled by Rhiannon’s entrance. He turned as red as Rhiannon’s hair from the roots of his hair to his very visible collarbones. "I-I’m s-so-sorry. I usually don’t dress until I’m done making breakfast. No one in this house is up until at least 8:30, so I don’t worry about offending anyone’s sensibilities. I completely forgot that you were staying. I didn’t even think that you might be an early bird."

"You can relax. I’m not offended. I’m a doctor, remember? I’ve seen lots of guys with less clothing on than you have now. But if you’re that uncomfortable, you can have my robe if you’d like," Rhiannon offered.

Sai could just picture what she’d look like minus that bulky robe and he didn’t want to risk it. "If you don’t mind, then I’d kind of rather like to stay the way I am. I always make breakfast this way."

"Not a problem. I’m really sorry I keep doing things like this. It seems as if we’ll never get off on the right foot."

"I’d be ok if you’d stop startling me," he said with what resembled a smile.

"I’m really sorry. I want you all to know that I mean you know harm, no matter who I look like."

"Well, I am the warrior of trust so I guess I’ll forgive you."

"I’d appreciate it," Rhiannon said. Onyx growled at her side. "I assume you don’t have dog food hanging around?"

"I don’t think so. White Blaze never eats in the house so I don’t even have any idea of what to feed him and I don’t think Mia has ever had a dog."

"That’s ok. I’ll just send back to my apartment for some for her. Mia asked me to stay here for a while and I’ll need some of my own things anyway. Do you need a hand?"

"Can you cook?"

"Some, mostly breakfast. I tend to burn the rest of my meals. Do you want me to set the table for you?"

"That would be a great help. I’m always rushing to get that done. I never have time since I have to cook so much just to keep Kento. . ." Sai faltered.

"Satisfied?" Rhiannon suggested.

"From not eating the legs off of the table is more like it."

Rhiannon laughed, a pure and golden laugh, the first one she had enjoyed in years. Sai smiled a genuine smile back at her and they went about their respective tasks. By the time the others had stumbled down the stairs, breakfast was served and waiting on the table and Rhiannon and Sai were becoming close friends.

Kento, as always, was the first to come tearing down the stairs at the first sent of pancakes. He came barreling down the stairs and into the dining room wearing only a pair of orange striped boxers. Rhiannon glanced at Sai, "The rest of the crew is usually a little more dressed," he said. "They at least wear robes. Kento feels that if he’s not the first one down here the guys will eat everything. He’s the only one I’ve ever seen eat everything." Rhiannon smiled her thanks at Sai’s explanation.

Uli was next, looking very cute in his footie pajamas. Sage followed, immaculately groomed as always, wearing a green flannel sleep set. Rhiannon raised an eyebrow at Sai and he just shook his head. Mia and Ryo walked down the steps together, discussing something that concerned only them. Mia wore a robe identical to the one Rhiannon had on, only hers was a most becoming shade of pink. Ryo was synching the belt on his bright red dressing gown as he sat down to breakfast between Mia and Uli. Rhiannon and Sai went back into the kitchen to bring out another serving of pancakes for the rest of the table since Kento had eaten the whole first serving.

"Where’s Rowen?" Rhiannon asked.

"Oh, he usually sleeps until at least ten or eleven. I always save him breakfast so he doesn’t have to make his own. He and Ryo are terrors in the kitchen but at least Ryo hasn’t blown anything up. . .yet."

Rhiannon laughed again as she and Sai headed out to enjoy their own breakfast.

"You two finally make friends?" Kento asked, his mouth full of pancakes.

"Kento, Mia says it’s not polite to talk with your mouth full," Uli said, looking up from his plate.

"Yeah, Kento," Sage said, goading him on. "We want to be polite for our company. We don’t want her to think we’re barbarians, now do we?"

"’Zat why you conveniently forgot to wear your robe down this morning?" Ryo asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I don’t always wear my robe," Sage said in his own defense.

"I’ve never seen you come down without that robe and I’m always the first one up and the last one to dress for the day," Sai said, joining in the fray.

"Guys!" Rhiannon said, sounding slightly distressed. "Can we change the topic of conversation, please?"

"Having problems coping with all of the male attention flung your way?" Mia asked.

"It’s just…well…men are a sensitive subject with me."

"Oh," Sai said. "Care to share?" he asked gently.

"I was engaged before Talpa’s attack."

"Don’t worry," Ryo said. "We’ll defeat Talpa and get your fiancé back for you."

"I fear that’s impossible," she said softly.

"Nothing’s impossible for the Ronin Warriors," Ryo stated boldly.

"We shall see," Rhiannon said as she rose and headed for the kitchen to snag another serving of pancakes for the table. Mia and Sai rose at the same time, both planning on following her.

"Let me," Sai said. "I need to make more pancakes anyway." Mia nodded and sat back down as Sai left for the kitchen.

"Rhi?" he asked. She turned towards him, tears in her eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, I’ll be fine. I don’t know what came over me." ‘Yes, you do,’ a little voice told her. ‘The dream was just too fresh,’ she shot back. ‘Great, now I’m having conversations with myself. Just terrific.’ "I just need a little time."

"Then why don’t you give me a hand with the rest of the pancakes."

"What’s up with Sai and Rhiannon?" Ryo asked.

"Who knows," Kento said. "We need more pancakes."

"Kento, calm down. This is a major development. If the Warrior of Trust can trust her, I think we can definitely trust her," Mia said.

The warriors and Mia continued to talk amongst themselves as Uli left to watch TV and Sai and Rhiannon made fresh pancakes for Kento and Rowen, who was still in bed.

"Why have you not left?"

"My lord, I wish to first observe her habits before I go to interact with her."

"You imbecile! I’m sending you to create illusion, not to get to know her! You’re down there to kill her, I have an idea of who she might be."

"Really?" Dais asked. "Would you care to enlighten me, master?"

"Do you remember the last village we raided before that monk trapped me in this retched form?"

"How could I forget?" Dais mumbled to himself. "It’s where we picked up warlord number four."

"There was a girl there. She was to serve as Avatar for that witch Etheria. Apparently her fiancé and sister were lost in the attack."

"Wonderful, more casualties."

"Do not interrupt me!" Talpa’s head boomed. "Have you not yet learned your lesson?"

"Forgive me, master."

"Well, the girl begged Etheria to allow her to live to see her loved ones returned to her. Apparently Etheria granted her desire. This girl has devoted every moment of her life to the soul cause of getting her fiancé and sister back."

"Her dedication is admirable. Perhaps we could convince her to join us and dedicate herself to helping us garner the world for your domain. Do you know who the people she’s looking for are?"
"Not exactly. They are most likely immortal slaves for the spirit priests."

"Do you know her name?"

"There was no record of it. All records of who she was before she became avatar were destroyed and there is nothing about her miraculous powers written after. And why am I answering your questions?! Enough," Talpa said, effectively cutting Dais off. "Go and destroy this girl!" And Talpa was gone.

Dais mused for a few moments before exiting the audience chambers. "Perhaps warlord number four could give us some information regarding this Avatar. And if not, well, then, I’ll just have to kill him for obstructing my mission," Dais said to himself. He teleported out of the chamber with and evil grin on his visage.

By the time Rhiannon and Sai returned with fresh pancakes only Kento, Mia, and Ryo were left at the table. Kento was still eating and Ryo and Mia were just enjoying conversation.

"Do either of you two know where White Blaze is now or was last night?" Ryo asked. "I already asked the others, but they didn’t have any idea."

"He was with me last night," Rhiannon said. "Onyx and I were getting ready for bed when he scratched at my door. I let him in and he and Onyx slept at the foot of my bed all night. I left the door open but when I woke up this morning they were both still there. Right now, I’d assume they’re both outside ‘chatting.’"

"Oh," Ryo said. "I was just wondering. Usually he sleeps with me. I kind of missed him last night; it was cold."

"Just toast yourself an afghan, Fire Boy," Mia said, playfully swatting Ryo’s shoulder. "Come on, it’s our day to do the dishes." She rose and began clearing off the table, much to Kento’s frustration.

"How come they still get to eat?" he whined.

"Because they spent all morning making breakfast, not eating it." Mia said.

"Let’s go, Kento. If you eat any more you’ll explode. And I for one don’t want to have to clean up Kento goo." Ryo began removing dishes and Kento got up to follow him, whining all the way. Rhiannon rose also to help clear the table. "Sit," Ryo said. "Every morning Sai makes breakfast and two of us take turns cleaning up. This morning Sai had help, but we’re still cleaning."

"Sit back down and enjoy your breakfast. Ryo and I can handle things on our own," Mia said, ushering Ryo into the kitchen.

"What’s up with them?" Rhiannon asked Sai when they were alone in the dining room.

"Ryo and Kento?" Sai asked with a smile.

"No, Fish Boy, Ryo and Mia."

"We’re not exactly sure. They seem to like each other but then, they kind of shy away whenever someone mentions it."

"That’s the way I was with my fiancé before we got engaged. We’d been friends since we were babies but we never really went any further. The day we got engaged, he told me he had loved me forever, but never thought our parents would approve of the match."

"He sounds like a wonderful guy."

"He was. I just hope he’s the same when I find him."

"Why do you think he’ll be anything other then the way you left him?"

"Well…sometimes trauma changes people and I don’t know what he’ll be like."

"Trust me, it’ll be ok."

"Somehow, I can’t help but do just that," Rhiannon said as she and Sai carried their empty dishes out to the kitchen.