Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ The New Game ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The
New Game



Disclaimer: I don't own Ronin
Warriors, (wish I did!) but I'm just using the idea of them for
my story. So don't sue me! As the joke goes, all you'd get was
the lint out of my pockets and a few CDs. However, I did make
Tysoni, Seidi, Teren, Jason, (I couldn't think of a better name,
if y'all really wanted to know) and Kasina, so don't steal them,
please. Then again, I'm not sure if anybody would want
to steal them . . .



Note: The story starts off with the
future Ronins in school. In this chapter you learn a little about
each kid's past, and how they got there. Also about the
relationships they have now. No action, sorry! You'll just have
to wait until the next chapter, now won't you?



Another Note: <<< and
>>> I put before and after the dream sequence at the
end.





Chapter
one

< br>
~**********~



"Yeah! That is, like, so cool..."
Went the air head ravings of Kasina's friends. I seriously don't
know why I put up with this sometimes. Well, gee, no wonder,
when your best friend is the most popular girl in school.. I
thought to myself. I thought about pulling out the book that we
were reading in language class. I usually hate assigned reading,
but it would be better company than this crowd. Kasina would
never notice.

I almost had done so when one of her
friends, Rene, turned to me. "What do you think?" She
asked, looking at me with eyes that seemed as if nothing was
behind them. That was one big difference, I knew, between Kasina
and her friends. While their eyes would most likely always be
just pretty and blank, Kasina's would always be these great,
lovely violet eyes. Well, only when she wanted them to be. She
had this way of changing her look from just mysterious and
passive to deep and piercing. When she did that, you felt as if
she could see strait into your soul. I was thankful she barely
ever did with me. She usually only did when she was mad, or if
she wanted you to tell her something you weren't going to
normally tell her.

"Well?" Rene said again, annoyed
I hadn't answered strait off.

I actually hadn't been listening. Usually
the group, with the exception of Kasina, wouldn't talk to me.
Usually.

"Umm.." I began brilliantly. The
bell rang. Thank goodness, I thought to myself. Saved
by the bell. "Come on, Kasina." I said aloud.
"Don't want to be late for math."

The crowd around the table dispersed.
Kasina smiled at me as she quickly grabbed her book bag.
"Not like they will notice if we're late or not." She
pointed out.

"You want to bet your last tardy on
that?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. We
started off down the hall. "You know, Seidi," she
began.

"What?"

"You could try a little harder to tune
in on what we talk about."

"Kas,"(My nickname for her)
"You didn't even notice I wasn't listening until the bell
rang, now did you?"

She looked guilty. "Well.."

I smiled. I didn't want her to feel bad.
"It's okay, Kas." I glanced at the clock on the wall.
Cutting it close. I quickened my pace.

Kasina jogged to keep up with me.
"Since when are you in such a hurry to math?" She
asked.

"Since we have a test today."
Anticipating her dead stop, I grabbed her arm and dragged her
along.

"The.. The test is today????" She
managed to choke out. We got to the room. Phew. I paused with my
hand on the door knob.

"Really, Kas, Sensei Sew has been
talking about it all week, not to mention I kept reminding you to
study."

"I didn't have time! What, with dad
making me work in the dojo and mom making me practice for that
play and Scott's first big baseball game coming up.."

"Don't tell me, tell Sew." I
said, pulling open the door and pushing her ahead of me.

She gulped.

I sighed and stepped in behind her, closing
the door behind me.



**********



I arrived at school completely out of
breath. Teren was waiting for me outside the front doors. He had
his arms crossed and was tapping his foot impatiently. I ran up
to him in time to hear him say: "Just in time for the bell,
Jason." As if on cue, the bell rang just then.

Teren shook his head and started inside. I
sighed and followed.

"How do you do that?" I asked
him.

Teren didn't answer, he only smiled and
winked at me. I thought occurred to me.

"You are aware we have a test today,
right?" I said.

He raised his eyebrows in mock surprise.
"With you announcing it everyday after school, how could I
forget?"

I knew him to well. "Yeah, but did you
study?"

"Now, that's a different matter
entirely." He smiled a coy smile.

We reached my first class. "'Study'
and 'me' do not belong in the same sentence." He continued,
"Besides, I've got time to work a little before I've got
math."

"You are impossible." I pulled
open the door. "I'll see ya later, alright?"

"Sure thing," he replied.



**********



Time passes...

Oh, darn, darn, darn.... My mind
kept repeating. What was I going to do? There was no reasoning
with my dad. And I so did not want to work in the dojo
today... Why hadn't I remembered to study? How could I have
possibly gotten a C+?

I guess my anxiety was a little obvious,
because Seidi paused and turned to me.

"Are you gonna be alright?" She
asked me, worried.

"Yeah, it's not that bad," I
said, more to convince myself. "It's just, you know, I
really didn't have time to study. My parents are always trying to
get me to do different things, and I don't have time for school.
When I try to tell them about it, they just act as if I'm making
up excuses." And I'm never good enough for them, I
added silently.

Seidi stopped and met my gaze. "Do you
want me to come with you? Maybe I can help out a little."

I sighed. She was so nice. "No,"
I began, "I'll be fine. But thanks for offering." I
knew inside that it wouldn't help; my dad wouldn't change. I
forced a smile on my face. "Besides, it wouldn't be fair for
you to be tortured too."

Seidi looked down. My act didn't fool her.
"I guess not." She looked about ready to say something
else, but right then we reached my street.

I took off down the street. "See you
later, Seidi!" I called over my shoulder.

She gazed after me with a sort of
disappointed look in her eyes. Then she turned and walked away
too.

I slowed my pace to a walk as I got closer
to home. I thought about tearing up the test, but thought better
of it. No, dad will want to see it. I don't know how he'll
know I even had a test, but he will.

I braced myself and pushed open the door.



**********



"How'd you do?"Jason wanted to
know the second I got out of school. I knew he was talking about
the test, but I decided to play dumb.

"How'd I do on what?" I asked
innocently.

Jason rolled his eyes. "On the test.
How did you do on the test?"

"And this test would be. . .?" I
began again, getting on his nerves.

"You know what test! The math test
today!" Jason said, getting annoyed at me.

I decided not to push him to far. I
actually hadn't done so bad. "Oh, that test! I got
a B-plus." I said it like it was no big deal.

Jason looked at me like I was the eighth
wonder of the world. He finally said, "I do not understand
you at all, Teren."

"And you never will. Now can we get
going? I'm getting hungry." I said, starting down the steps.


"Ok, one thing that will never change
is your appetite." He said, following me.

People always say I have a huge appetite. I
don't think that's true, I mean, they've never seen my dad eat.
But still, Jason says I eat a lot. And I think he doesn't eat
enough. We walked out of the school and down the sidewalk.

"So, what are you planning to do
later?" I asked, dis-liking the silence.

"Oh, probably nothing." He
paused, then added sarcastically, "You know the fun and
excitement of the Hashiba household." He rolled his eyes.

I laughed. I did know. "Maybe we can
hook up later?" I suggested.

"Yeah, possibly." He said in a
tone that meant: "probably not."

We reached his house. "I'll see you
tomorrow, then." I said.

"Yeah, bye." He called as he
started up his walk.



**********



I pulled the door shut behind me. The smell
of spaghetti sauce greeted me. "Hey dad, I'm home." I
called out in the house.

"Just in time." I heard him call
back from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready."

"I thought it was my turn to cook
dinner tonight?" I asked him, coming into the kitchen. I
found him leaning over the stove.

"It is." He replied. "But I
figured I'd just do it since you had that test today. You seemed
a little stressed this morning."

I smiled. "Was I that obvious?"

"A little. By the way, how did you
do?"

My smile grew as I proudly showed him my
test, with a huge 99% written across the top.

"Hey, Good job! See, no reason to
worry."

My smile faded a little when I thought of
Kasina. "Yeah, I guess so. Kasina didn't do to well,
though."

"Kasina Date?" He asked me. He
paused, as if remembering something. I suddenly remembered that
he had used to be friends with Kasina's dad.

"I'll be back down in a few minutes,
kay?" I said, turning out of the kitchen. "I want to
just put my stuff away."

Dad turned back to the stove. "Sure
thing."

I started up the stairs. I got to my room
and jumped strait back when I saw what was waiting for me. I was
surprised, to say the least. The entire room was completely
illuminated with this light blue aura. After standing in the
middle of the hallway a few moments, I cautiously stepped inside.
I then was able to identify the source as coming from a small orb
resting on my dresser. I blinked to make sure I wasn't seeing
things. No, it was definitely coming from that small marble.

How did it get there? I wondered
to myself.

I walked over and picked it up, trying to
see how it was doing that. The blue soaked through my fingers and
it didn't dull at all.

"What is going on?" I asked
aloud, surprisingly calm for all of this happening.

Without warning, the blue suddenly
diminished.

I jumped and dropped the ball. The blue
light was completely gone. Oh, no! What if it was radioactive
or something? I suddenly thought.

The calm I had felt was now gone. Relax,
I told myself, nothing is going to happen. I it was
radioactive I would be glowing blue right now.. Right?
I forced myself to take deep breaths. Not that it helped.

"Seidi? Dinner is ready!" My dad
called.

At the sudden sound of his voice, I jumped.
For the third time in less then a minute. Wait.. Had it only been
that long? I felt like I'd been there longer.

"Coming," I called back. My voice
came out a squeak. I cleared my throat and tried again.
"Coming!" Much better.

After a second of thought, I bent and
picked up the orb, placing it back on my dresser. "Don't do
anything weird till I get back." I told it, immediately
feeling stupid. Am I losing my mind? I wondered.
Probably. I turned and slowly walked out of the room.



**********



"Hey! Give it back!" My 12
year-old brother, Jeran, called the second I walked in the door.
He was chasing after Tara, my older sister.

"What, this?" She waved a thick
chapter book just out of reach of Jeren.

"Give it! It's mine!" He whined.

I sighed and just walked past. Well, tried
to. As I walked past Tara she lost all interest in the book.

"Back from school already?" She
asked, grabbing my arm from behind. The sudden pull made me drop
my book bag and my stuff came spilling out. Why does she
always have to pick on me? I wondered to myself. Every.
Single. Day...

Unfortunately, my test flew out and landed
on top of everything. Face-up.

"Oh, a B?" She asked, with a
mockingly sad face. "Too bad. Mom and dad aren't going to
like that, especially with Jeren and me getting A's all the
time." Her face changed to a mocking expression. "Well,
not like they notice you anyway." She reached out and
pinched my cheek. Hard.

I pulled back and narrowed my eyes. She
only laughed and walked out of the room. Jeren, who had been
watching the whole time, came forward and picked up his book.
"She is so mean." He said with a frown.

I sighed and didn't answer as I bent and
pushed the stuff back in my bag. I stopped at the test. I'm
smart. I know I am. But, for some reason, I could never get a really
good grade. Just slightly above average. I wondered if it had
anything to do with the fact I was the only one not related to my
'Mother'.

In fact, I had no idea who my real mother
was. My dad had never told me. But then, my dad was a genius
either way, so that couldn't be it. I stood up and walked to my
room.

There was a light coming from under he
door. Huh. Did I leave the light on?

I pulled open the door and was immediately
bathed in this dark, blue light. What was going on? My entire
room was covered with the light. It was like being under water. Or
floating in space... I'd always wondered what it would be
like to be in space. All of a sudden, I knew, it would be like
this.

What is going on? I wondered. Hey,
wait a sec, what is that?

There was a dark blue marble resting on my
night stand. After a moment I realized the light was coming from
it. I walked over and picked it up. I thought would burn, or
something, because of all the light. But no, it was just a very
bright marble. Cold, in fact. But that's impossible.. Isn't
it?

I sat down on the bed and turned the marble
around in my hand. Strange. Hey, wait, is that writing?
I began to inspect it closer, when I heard a knock.

"Jason," My stepmom's voice
called.

I jumped. Please don't open the.. Door!
I thought, just before the door was pulled open.

After about a second's thought, I buried my
hands, with the marble, under my pillow. Surprisingly, It dulled
the bright light. Weirder and weirder..

My stepmother pulled open the door.

"Hon?" She asked. I hated it when
she called me that. "Dinner is ready." She paused when
she saw my position.

"Um, ok, be down in a minute." I
smiled innocently.

Her expression was confused.
"Alright.. are you feeling ok?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" I was
trying my hardest not to bring my hands in front. I wasn't sure
why, but I didn't want her to see the orb. Wait, orb?
What made me think of that word?

My stepmother was still standing there.

"I'm coming!" I said again.

She nodded. She began to say something, but
I guess she thought better of it. Finally, she sighed and left.

I breathed a sigh of relief, (Phew...)
Just as the door was opened again.

"Jason?" My brother poked his
head in the door. I groaned.

"What?" I asked, exasperated. I
really wanted to inspect the little orb some more.

"Just that.. What are you doing?"
he said, raising his eyebrows to my position.

"Nothing." That was what he came
to tell me? "Can't a guy get some privacy?"

"O-K... Look, you got a phone
call." he still didn't leave.

"I'll be right there." I wasn't
trying to be rude, but it came out that way.

Jeren looked hurt. "Alright,
sorry." he turned and slowly walked out.

Now I felt bad. "Wait, Jeren..."
I began, too late. He was gone. "I didn't mean it that
way." I finished under my breath.

Oh, well. I pulled out the orb
from under my pillow and looked at it again. The blue light was
now completely gone. In fact, now the orb was clear, transparent
almost. The writing I couldn't find again either. I turned it
over and over in my hand, but still nothing. For some reason, my
thoughts started to drift over to my family. My dad had met my
stepmother when I was six. A year up until that point, my dad had
been taking care of me himself. I had vague memories from my
childhood, I could almost remember my mother, but she 'Left,'
(supposedly) When I was five. My father never talked about her,
no matter how hard I bugged him. Which was my bad luck, because I
would have liked to know her. I had a feeling my dad had loved
her very much. When he had met my stepmom, she had already had
Tara. Tara was two years older than me, and she used that to her
very best advantage.

I sighed and suddenly remembered someone
had called. I set the orb down and went to go answer the phone.



**********



I shut the door behind me as I walked
into the house. "I'm home!" I called out to the house.
On the bulletin board by the door, there was a note. I took it
down and scanned over it. My parents had gone out. Well, what
else was new? I thought.

"Hey, Teren!" My little
brother called, coming into the hall. "Mom and dad went out,
but they said they'd be back soon." He had a smile on his
face.

I sighed, inwardly. My 11 year old
brother could take anything smiling. For his sake, I smiled as
well.

"Great!" I said with forced
cheerfulness. "Well then, I guess you haven't eaten, now
have you?"

"Nope!" He shook his head,
that smile still plastered on his face.

"Alright, let me just put my stuff
in my room, and I'll make us some chow, kay?" I started off
down the hall.

"Kay!" My little brother's
voice followed me to my room.

I hate to admit that I didn't notice
the strange way my room was 'lighted'. I had other things on my
mind, so only after I had thrown my books on the floor and
started back out again did I freeze. What the.. My mind began as
I spun around. What in the world is that? I wondered, looked at
the orange,--Yes, orange,--Orb lying on my bedside table.

I was frozen in disbelief. The small
orb... thing was illuminating an orange glow around my room. In
my state of mind my most rational thought was: Why Orange?



**********



I practically dragged myself to my
room, exhausted. My grade had nothing to do with the workout at
the dojo. Just, for some reason, my father had it stuck in his
head that I would take over the Dojo if something ever happened
to him. I didn't get the big deal, I mean, that would be a long
way in coming, but I always had to work out in the dojo for an
hour after school. Ok, I didn't mind that much, it did keep me in
shape, but still, my heart just wasn't in it like it was my
father's. And whenever I tried to explain that to him, he would
just lengthen my sentence for the day.

I swear, my dad would not listen to my
words if I sat him down in a chair, locked the doors, and
screamed at him. Not that I would ever do that. Well, I had
thought about it, but that was as far as it ever went.

As I walked in to my room, I found a
soft green glow waiting for me. I guess the scary thing was that
I wasn't even scared. I pinpointed the source immediately. A
small marble on my dresser. Just lying there, innocently, as if
this was supposed to happen. I don't know, maybe it did. Needless
to say, I closed the door behind me and walked over to inspect
it.

Picking it up, I turned it over and
over in my hands. Maybe it was because I was very, very tired but
my mind couldn't figure out how the little thing was doing that.
It took a second to get used to the forest green glow in my room.
Maybe I should turn on a light..

I mentally thwapped myself for not
thinking of it sooner. I walked to the light switch by my door
and flipped it. Nothing happened. I flipped again, down. Again,
nothing.

"Is it doing that?" I
wondered aloud.

The green glow blinked, satisfied I
guess, and diminished. I was left in darkness. Without really
knowing why I reached over and flicked the light switch again.
Normal light bathed my room.

I looked back over at the orb, now
noting that it's color was now clear. I set it back down on my
dresser. Plopped into bed. I held back a laugh. Was I going
crazy? I knew those dojo sessions were getting to me.



**********



<<<Fire. Fire, all around. I
surrounded me, covering me, on all sides. And that voice, that
same voice, was speaking once again.

'Wildfire, It is time. You must find
the others now, to help you fight.'

"Why?" I called, my voice
swallowed up by the flame. "Why do I have to find them? And
fight who?"

'You are the leader, Wildfire. You must
find them, and lead them. Help them to find themselves. You can.
I know you can. Lead them. Find them, Wildfire. You must be
brave.. You all must be brave. Hard times and decision will
come.. Soon. Wildfire, it is time. You must. . .'

The voice repeated the same thing, over
and over. The words were jumbled together, and said fast. It was
hard to understand. But I knew the voice was saying the truth,
whatever it my be.

All of a sudden, the fire swelled and
consumed me, breaking off my vision, I couldn't see, couldn't
move, couldn't think...

'YOU MUST!' The voice called one last
time.>>>

"Yah!" I awoke, bolting strait
up. My breathing was coming through hard and fast. Calm down, I
told myself, Just a dream, calm down.

But I couldn't. The same dream, again.. No,
wait. This time, It was different. 'It was time?' what the heck
did that mean? My breathing finally slowed. I was the leader, I
knew that. It said that every time. But leader of what? And who
do I have to find?

That was what the voice never told me: Who
or what. It told me something would happen, but not what to do
about it. It told me to find someone, but not who. And half the
time I didn't even know what it meant. But I couldn't just ignore
it; the dreams had started ever since I was five.

When my father had disappeared.

I looked at the clock: 5:30. I
wasn't going to fall back asleep anytime soon.

I groaned. What a way to start
a day. Especially considering I started a new school today. I
wondered what it would be like. I looked at the clock again and
sighed. Well, might as well get up.





**********

Author Notes: Okay,
so? Comments? Anything? I'd love to hear whatever it is that's on
your mind. . . even if you're thinking about what you had for
dinner last night. Well, okay, maybe not that. . . just anything
even remotely related to what you just read. Come on. Please?