Chapter 14
By LirinStar

Lirin woke up the next afternoon to find herself back in her bed at the Koji mansion. "Ohhhh.," she groaned, "I feel like I’ve just been run over by a freight train!" She got up and got dressed into some jeans and a white short sleeve shirt with a thin green jacket over the shirt. She stuck her hair in a bun, not feeling like messing with it, and walked stiffly and gingerly downstairs. She found everyone in Mia’s study, with Mia looking up something on the computer.

        When Kento saw her coming through the doorway he ran towards her and gave her a big bear hug. He, Mia, and the guys had been really worried about her, and were relieved to see her up and about.

        "Ouch! Owe! Ah! Kento, let go!" she said wincing in pain.

        Kento immediately let go of her. "Sorry, Lirin."

        "That’s okay, Kento." she smiled at him. "Normally I loved to be hugged. In fact, I’m a huggy person, but just not when I’ve got a thousand bruises all over my body." The guys and Mia chuckled and Kento smiled sheepishly.

        "So, I guess you’re feelin’ better?" Rowen asked.

        "Yeah, just a really bad headache, being really sore, and the bruises. I’ll live."

        "There’s some Advil in the kitchen if you need some." Mia told her.

        "Thanks Mia, but I’ll manage without them. I have this thing against pills." She said, shrugging of her shoulders.

        "You know, you’ve got some explaining to do, Lirin." Rowen said, changing the subject.

        "Yeah, like what was that power of yours that you used?" asked Sage.

        "And why do you seem to know more than the rest of us about that new armor?" asked Ryo.

        "And why don’t you get absorbed with the others when Ryo wears the armor?" asked Mia.

        Lirin sighed. "Okay, okay. I’ll tell you what I know. Sage, you asked what the power I used was. Well, you all might have recognized it from when the Ancient’s staff was used. Am I right?" They nodded and she continued. "The fact is that it’s the same power, only not quite as powerful since I’ve never been trained on how to use it, and the blood has thinned down the line as my ancestor’s married non magic-users. Actually, I didn’t even know that I had it until that monster thing got me really angry. I just felt it come to me and build up inside of me. It must be yet another ‘gift’ from my father’s family."

        "Your father’s family?" Sai asked.

        "Yes, the clan of the Ancients." she stated and they all gasped. "My brother and I are the last of the clan, as far as I know anyway; but I get the feeling that there is still one more out there."

        "You’re related to the Ancient?" asked Kento in awe.

        "Yes, Kento. I call him Grandfather instead of Ancient." She told him. "Because I’m related to him, I can sense things, like people’s thoughts for example, and have visions, among other things. Those ‘gifts’ come from Grandfather’s line and not the Lady of Cosmos’s line." Lirin explained. "As for the second question, I know a little about Hariel’s Armor of Inferno because of my family’s books of history. All I know is that it has unfathomable powers and that it is created by combining the powers of at least four of the mystical armors into the Armor of Wildfire."

        "And, why aren’t your powers absorbed with the others?" asked Mia again. "Both times Ryo has used the Inferno Armor, the boys’ powers were absorbed, but not your own."

        "This is because my Armor of Cosmos is the sister armor to the Armor of Inferno. You might have noticed how similar my armor looked compared to the Inferno Armor. Anyway, my armor was meant to fight beside the Armor of Inferno, just like my ancestor, the first Lady of Cosmos, fought beside Hariel. Although, in times of great need, my armor can be absorbed with one of the other armors if for some reason say the other three armors were not around. But in doing so, I would be drained three times at much as the other person because I would be taking the place of three armors." She paused. "Did I say that so you understood what I was saying? I have a tendency to confuse people sometimes."

        "No, I got it. It makes sense." said Rowen.

        "Kind of. I think I got it." Ryo continued.

        "Well, it just flew right over my head." Kento grumbled.

        "Okay, Kento, here’s an example." Lirin started. "Say that Rowen, Sage, and Sai are captured and there’s no way that you can give your powers to Ryo. Since my armor is equal to about three armors, I could give my powers to Ryo because of substitution (everyone groan if you’ve taken geometry! God, I HATED that course!). But because I’m only one person taking the place of what would normally take three people, I would get drained three times as much compared to a person who’s powers would be absorbed with the normal four people. That’s really the only way I know how to put it, I can’t really word it to make it simpler." she apologized.

        "I think I got it now." Kento told her.

        "Okay, now it’s my turn to ask some questions." Lirin announced. "Who the heck was that monster, what did he want, what happened after I was knocked out, and what are you guys looking up on the computer?"

        "The monster’s name was Taros." Rowen began. "Apparently your ancestor, the Lady of Cosmos, had imprisoned him in a black hole in space. He had escaped and had come to get revenge. Thinking you were your ancestor, he went after you. We told him who you were, and then he figured it would still be okay with him if he killed you since he couldn’t do anything about your ancestor. Ryo used the Inferno Armor to defeat him after you told us to form the armor."

        "And, we were looking up information about the Inferno Armor in my grandfather’s data." Mia finished. "So far I haven’t really found out anything about it that you haven’t told us."

        "Oh." Lirin said simply. "I wish I could help you find out more info about the armor, but that’s all the information I have in my family’s records." She paused. "Speaking of which, I had probably type in the passages where Taros comes in to play." She excused herself to go to her own computer, but then decided to make a quick detour to the kitchen.

        "Man, am I starved! Now, let’s see, what do we have to munch on? Hmm, looks like Kento got here before me." She said talking aloud to herself. "Not much in here. OH! I know what would hit the spot! One of my famous, incredibly nummy, irresistible, to die for ice cream pies. (one of my teachers makes these things and they really are to die for! The crust is made up of coconut and mashed Cornflakes along with some other stuff and then the middle of the pie is ice cream. No words could possibly describe how good these things are!) Now…hopefully Mia’s got the ingredients that I need." Lirin fumbled around the pantry and fridge. "WAHOO! She does!" she exclaimed in ecstasy and hurriedly began to make the crust. Once that was done she compacted it in the form of a pie crust and then poured the ice cream into it. (I think it’s melted and then you pour it in to get it smooth and level). She made about three of the pies and then stuck them in the freezer to freeze and set her watch. "Now what?" she asked, talking to herself again. "I can’t just leave them here defenseless! What if Kento comes in? But, I don’t want to stick around here doing nothing while I wait for them to freeze. I know, I’ll just go grab a book and read in here. That way I can make sure no one eats them!" She ran to her room to grab a book and then ran back into the kitchen as fast as she could, on the way, grabbing a chair to sit on.

        She looked in the kitchen and saw that no one had gone into it while she was gone. She set the chair right in front of the freezer, sat down, opened her book, and proceeded to ‘guard’ the pies. After about 15 minutes she looked at the pies in the freezer, knowing full well that they wouldn’t be nearly hardened enough, but she couldn’t help but take a peak. She sighed. This was the part where she wished there was a Ronin Warrior of Ice to help speed up the process. Waiting for these things to be ready just about killed her. She sat down again and opened her book to continue reading.

        Sai walked in and saw her sitting there in front of the freezer. "Uh, Lirin, what are you doing?"

        She sighed and looked at the freezer wistfully. "Waiting for the most scrumptious thing in the world to freeze and harden."

        "Why don’t you just read in the living room then? I’m sure it’d be a lot more comfortable than sitting here by the freezer."

        "And leave my pies to Kento’s mercy!" she said, standing up. "NEVER!" she proclaimed, sitting down again.

        Sai looked at her as if she had totally gone bonkers. "Um, I think you must have hit your head pretty badly when Taros threw you across that restaurant."

        "You’ll see why I’m guarding these things when you taste them." she replied knowingly, turning the page of her book. "Why are you in here anyway? Kento bugging you again?"

        "Yes." Sai sighed, slumping his shoulders. Kento had finally annoyed him enough into making something for the ever-hungry Ronin.

        "You won’t find anything to make. I was lucky I found the items I needed for my pies. I’ll have to go shopping today."

        Sai looked through the pantry and fridge and agreed with Lirin. "Yeah, look’s like your right. Kento’s totally cleaned the place out…again."

        "I don’t mind going, but I’m gonna wait until the pies are finished. Why don’t you ask if anyone else wants to go with me."

        "Alright." Sai replied and left the room to find the others.

        Lirin check the pies again. "Hmm. Maybe about another half hour."

        A few minutes later, Sai came back. He said that Rowen would come with her.

        Lirin was delighted to here that Rowen would be coming. She tried to hide her joy from Sai, but her eyes betrayed her.

        Sai had noticed the way she always lit up when Rowen was around and had been suspicious. Now that they knew each other a little better, he decided to find out whether or not his suspicions where right. "You like Rowen, don’t you?" he asked her.

        "Course! I like all of you." she replied, knowing full well that he meant as more than a friend, but only pretending that she thought he meant like him as a friend, hoping he wouldn’t ask anything more. She flipped another page of her book.

        Sure enough, he did continue. "You know that wasn’t what I meant. I see the way you light up when he around. Your in love huh?" he asked casually sitting on the counter top beside her.

        She sighed. "I won’t lie to you Sai. Yes, it’s true, I do love Rowen. But, PLEASE don’t tell anyone!!" she begged him.

        He smiled at her. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep it between just the two of us." He got down off the counter and walked towards the door and stopped as he got near it. "You know, I think he feels the same way about you. Maybe you should tell him how you feel." he suggested and walked out before she could say anything.

        Lirin closed her book. ‘Should I tell him how I feel?’ she asked herself. ‘But, what if he doesn’t love me in return? Although Sai seems to think so. Is it better to find out that he doesn’t, or not to know about it?’ She asked herself a million questions, analyzing the pros and cons of each.

        Lirin started when her watch alarm went off. "Yea! My pies are ready! She reached in the freezer and looked at them to be sure. Sure enough, they were ready. She sprinkled the left over crust mixture on top of the pies and then cut two of them into three pieces. One she left whole. The put the six pieces onto small plates and set them, along with 7 forks and the other whole pie, on a tray and went to find everyone. She found Mia and Ryo in Mia’s study still searching for info on Hariel’s White Armor of Inferno. She handed them each one of the pieces of pie along with a fork, then went to find the remaining Ronins. Sai and Kento were outside sparing. She handed them their pieces. Kento was especially happy to have something to munch on. Sage she found sitting on the back porch, meditating. She handed him his piece. She asked him where Rowen was, so she could give him his piece of ice cream pie. He said that he was up in his room reading last time he checked, so Lirin headed there.

She knocked on the door to Rowen’s room. "You in there, Rowen?" No answer. She opened the door a crack to peak in. She saw him sitting on his bed, engrossed in a large book. She smiled and shook her head. She had learned from the guys that when Rowen was reading, he wouldn’t notice a nuclear explosion if it happened right in front of him.

        She walked into the room, Rowen still not looking up from his book. She set the tray down on his desk and picked up the last piece of pie and a fork. She held it right in front of his nose and said, "Here you are: the most delicious thing you will ever have the privilege of eating!"

        Rowen was startled when he saw the piece of ice cream pie suddenly appear right in front of his face. "Lirin! I didn’t hear you even come in!"

        She chuckled. "I know. I did knock though." She turned to leave, grabbing the tray with the whole pie and one fork left on it. "Oh, we can leave to go grocery shopping right after I finish my share." she said with a huge grin, looking at her pie.

        Rowen’s eyes got huge. "Don’t tell me your going to eat that whole thing!"

        "Are you kidding? I could eat three of these things without even trying and still want more! I don’t make them that often, just for that reason. I’d be a blimp in no time!" she smiled at him and walked out of the door, into her room and started to devour her pie. "Mmmm, pure nummyness!"

After she had eaten the entire ice cream pie, she took the tray and used plate and fork to the kitchen. After sticking the plate and fork in the dishwasher and putting the tray away, Lirin noticed she had a heck of a lot of energy. ‘Maybe one of the guys would spar with me?’ she thought to herself. ‘I’m not nearly as stiff and sore now, and I’m really juiced!’ With a smile, she skipped out of the kitchen. Everyone was in the living room, relaxing. Mia and Ryo had had it with the computer, Kento and Sai had finished their sparing match, and even Sage and Rowen had decided to join the group.

        They all looked at her strangely when they saw her skipping.

        "Hehe, what? Haven’t you ever seen a girl skip before?" she smiled at them.

        "Are you sure you didn’t hit your head too hard when Taros through you?" Sai asked her.

        She stuck her tongue out at him. "Hey, I don’t suppose any of you would like to spar with me real quick? I really need to burn off some energy, otherwise poor Rowen is gonna be in for one heck of a car ride to the grocery store." she grinned.

        "Ugh, not me. I just spared with Sai." Kento groaned.

        "Yeah, no more sparing for me for today." Sai agreed, slumping further down on the couch.

        "Ryo, Sage, Rowen? Or, maybe I could give you a martial arts lesson, Mia?" she asked, her grin getting bigger.

        "Hey! Now, there’s an idea!" Mia laughed, kidding. Then she added seriously, but still smiling,         "Actually, someone already beet you to the instructor’s position. Ryo’s giving me lessons."

        "Reeeaaaally." Drawled out Sage, grinning. "How very interesting."

        "Yes indeed! So, when had you planned on telling us about this little development Ryo?" Rowen interrogated, also grinning.

        ‘Oh, okay, I’ll be nice this once and save Ryo from answering any questions.’ Lirin said to herself. "Uh, guys! My problem! Who’s gonna spar with me!"

        Ryo gave her a thankful smile. ‘Well, since she saved me from further interrogation from the guys, I might as well do her a favor.’ he thought to himself. "I’ll spar with you if you want."

        "Great! Meet you out back!" she called, doing flips and summersaults all the way to the backdoor.

        "Why do I get the feeling that this wasn’t such a good idea?" Ryo muttered after seeing her dramatic exit. He transformed into his red sub-armor and walked out the backdoor.

        Lirin was in her silver sub-armor warming up with a few powerful kicks, then started hopping from one foot to the other, throwing a couple of fast punches. She saw Ryo and stopped hopping around. "Ready?" she asked, smiling. He nodded and walked towards her. They bowed and took up defensive stances. She grinned and leaned forward towards him, moving her hand to the side of her mouth so the others couldn’t see her lips move. Then said in a voice low enough so where only he could hear her, "Now’s the time to show Mia what kind of fighter her teacher is." She laughed as she jumped back as Ryo through a punch at her. "Hmm, that must have hit a nerve." She jumped sideways as another punch came flying her way. She laughed again. She loved being a pest!

        "Don’t look now, Ryo, but Mia’s watching!" Lirin told him.

        He looked to see Mia along with the rest of the boys watching. Suddenly he felt something hit his stomach hard, it was Lirin’s foot.

        She laughed. "I told you not to look!"

        ‘Okay, focus, Ryo!’ he yelled at himself. ‘She likes to play games with the people she spars with, so far we’ve seen that. She’s also really fast, so it’ll be hard to get a shot on her. I’ve just got to outplay and outsmart her.’

        Lirin saw him calm down and focus. "Alright! This might turn out to be a relatively decent sparing match! Maybe I’ll be able to burn some energy off after all!" she exclaimed in delight. She studied her opponent and could practically see the wheels turn in his head. ‘Ah, so he’s gonna try to outsmart me.’ she thought to herself. She grinned wickedly. ‘Good luck.’

        Ryo lunged at her with his fist out. It was his right fist, so he expected her to dodge to his left. At the last moment, when she would start to move to his left, he would send out a kick with his left leg. He was immensely surprised when she moved to the right and kicked his feet out from under him.

She laughed at the look of surprise on his face. "You can’t outsmart me, Ryo! I can be pretty cunning when I want."

        Rowen was impressed. He had seen what Ryo was gonna do, but didn’t know if she would. ‘Well, she’s no dumb blond.’ he smiled, crossing his arms. ‘This one uses her head.’

        Ryo groaned. This was gonna be harder than he thought. ‘Well, at least she plays around, so that’ll give me a little time to think of something else.’ he thought.

        Eh, wrong!

        ‘I’m not gonna give him time to concoct up anther plan. So far, I bet the guys think that I just like to play around, well, I like being unpredictable. I’ll play rough now.’ She lashed out with a barrage of hard punches so fast that Ryo barely had time enough to dodge them, then she sent out of couple of kicks, one of which hit him in the chest and sent him flying backwards. Timing it just right, Lirin jumped on her hands and started hand-walking towards him in extremely fast tiny circles, with her legs lowered so she was doing the splits. This was her special move, one that had taken her a while to perfect. (It’s really basically the same thing as Chung Lee’s upside down circular kick thing in Street Fighter.) Ryo got up just to see her come at him like a spinning propeller. He didn’t even have time to dodge the attack. As a result, he was sent flying again.

        ‘So much for her playing around.’ he groaned. "I give. Your match."

        She nodded to show she had heard him and walked over to him to give him a hand up, which he accepted. They bowed to each other once again. "I hope I didn’t hurt you to much with that last move. I didn’t spin as fast as I usually do because I can really cause some damage with it."

        "Nothing an ice pack won’t handle." he said.

        "Along with Mia’s first aid administrations." She whispered into his ear. Then she ran off, now in civie cloths, laughing as he glared at her. She grabbed Rowen’s arm and hauled him towards her car for that grocery shopping.