Once again, I'm not fortunate enough to own the Ronins… Or anything about the Ronins… By the way, if you 'd like to use my story, that's great! But, please don't take it and add your name to it, because I do have friends that will tell me about it, and I will become very upset. Other than that, thank's to the reviewers and readers! I've enjoyed your comments!

Now, on with the show!

So, What Would You Do?

'It's too quiet… I wonder what's going on in there.' Sage thought to himself as he pulled at a blade of grass from a crack in the sidewalk in front of him.

Suddenly, the door behind him creaked open, and he watched, dumbstruck as Rowen's mother hurried past him carrying two suitcases. He quickly looked away, trying to wish away this sudden feeling of anxiety. They didn't so much as exchange a glance as she glided past him. He watched sullenly as she placed her things in the back of the car, get in and speed away without a glance towards the house.

Sensing that his friend was in desperate need, Sage got up with a sigh and walked towards the door. He knocked loudly on it and poked his head in the door.

"Rowen?"

He waited quietly for a moment, and then came a reply, "I'm out on the porch, Sage."

Sage walked into the now empty house, and to the door leading to the side porch. He stood just inside, and tried to survey his friends' feelings. As he looked out the screen door, he saw that Rowen's back was to him; his long body perched on the railing. He was staring up at the clear blue sky, the morning sun now climbing high over them. Sage stepped out onto the porch, and sat in a rocking chair angled in Rowen's direction. Sage sat down tenderly, and sat back, letting the warm breeze push his body into the chair and rock him. He could tell that Rowen had some troublesome questions on his mind, but it wasn't his place to ask him about it… Or was it?

"I take it that you saw her leave?" Rowen asked without looking at Sage.

Sage sighed, and leaned back in the chair, "Yeah. What happened?"

The usual hardened look returned to Rowen's face, and he shrugged as he answered, "What usually happens. It wasn't good for her, so therefore, it couldn't work."

Sage stopped rocking the chair and stared up at his friend, "Where did she go?"

To this, Rowen blinked slowly and looked at the ground with a sigh, "I don't know."

Sage looked at his friend in confusion, "You don't know? What do you mean? Did she not tell you where she was going?"

Rowen shook his head slowly, and looked over at Sage, "Nope. And you know what? I'm not that upset about it."

Sage stared into Rowen's turquoise eyes for a moment, wondering if what he had said was true. It was rare for him to open up like this and let him know what he was thinking. He was wondering why Rowen had added that little tidbit about "not being upset".

Sage shrugged, and sat back, the rocking motion once more taking over, "I don't blame you. It's not like she ever cared about you anyway."

Rowen took in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and allowed for his legs to sway with the breeze, "Well, I'm not sure what to do now…"

"I know what you can do now." A feminine voice called from the door behind him.

Rowen quickly recognized the voice, and looked over his shoulder to see a silhouette of Kayura. He climbed over the railing, and stood face to face with her. He could hear Sage calling to him, but it sounded like he was on the other side of the world. Stars were twinkling behind her body, her skin radiating with each tiny pulse of light. She was dressed in a simple dark blue dress, her long raven hair cascading down her back.

Rowen surveyed his surroundings, and suddenly realized that he was back in the room that they had shared during their second encounter. He walked past Kayura in the center of the room, and sat in front of the fireplace. The fire in the fireplace felt warm on the side of this face, almost caressing his cheek. He shut his eyes and let his emotionally ravaged body take in the warmth.

He could hear the swishing of her gown as she approached his side. He looked up and watched as she sat down beside of him, her gown billowing out from the sides. He watched as she meticulously smoothed each fold, and then quietly folded her hands in her lap. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she looked at him, her dark eyes twinkling.

She only stared at him, a faint smile on her face. Rowen studied her for a moment, not quite sure what to expect. After all, this was the woman that was "Lady Kayura", and he could only picture his body, along with Ryo's, bloody and torn after each meeting with her. Finally, his inquisitive side gave in.

"What?" he whispered.

Kayura pulled a knee up to her chest and perched her cheek on it, the smile growing deeper. Rowen shook his head, suppressing a coy smile, and looked away. She may have been evil at one time, but he had to admit… she was very beautiful.

"I take it that I've finished your task if I'm here again." He said looking out of the corner of his eye.

Kayura giggled and scooted closer to him. Close enough that Rowen could feel the heat radiating from her body. Or was it the fire? Rowen shook his head to snap out of whatever daze that he was getting in… Did it look cloudy in here?

She gracefully lifted a hand, and began stroking his hair from his temple to his neck. He was about to ask her to stop when he felt her raise up, and lean so close that he could feel her lips against his ear, "You've done very well, Rowen of Strata. Now it's time for the hardest decision of your life."

As she pulled away, Rowen looked down at her suspiciously, "What would that be?"

At his question, Kayura got up from the cool floor and walked over to a table by the fire. She poured some sort of dark liquid into two goblets and carried them over to where he was sitting. She handed him one of the glasses as she strolled past him, the soft fabric of her dress running over his feet. He lifted the glass to his nose, taking a quick sniff, recognizing the smell of wine.

Rowen looked over at her, his eyebrows raised, "What are you trying to do? Get me drunk?"

Kayura laughed and lightly touched his hand, "Of course not. Just trying to get you to relax."

He took a sip, the warm liquid slowly crawling down his throat. He got up and joined her. She was sitting on a plush couch of red velvet. He leaned his head back against the plush pillows and closed his eyes, a sigh escaping his lips.

But just as quickly, Kayura's voice knocked him back into reality, "Rowen, you know that I'm the last of the clan of the Ancient's, right?"

Rowen looked over at her and nodded, "That's why Talpa wanted you."

Kayura looked down at her glass, and fingered the lip of it, "That's not the only reason why he wanted me."

Rowen raised the glass to his lips and took a drink as he asked, "What else did he want from you?"

"He wanted me to have a child that was raised on his evil."

Rowen almost choked on his drink. Kayura watched him closely for a moment before going on.

"But now that he's gone, and the Nether World is rebuilt, it still looks as if the Ancient's line will end with me." Kayura said as she took a sip of her drink and looked away.

Rowen stared at her as realization began to hit him like a ton of bricks. He began to shake his head.

"But I'm not of your clan." Rowen said wide-eyed.

Kayura touched his arm and looked into his eyes, "Maybe not, but you are a Ronin. You stand for a virtue of the Ancient One."

Rowen rubbed his face with his free hand and groaned, "Are you asking me to help you carry on the Ancient's line?"

Kayura pulled down his hand, staring into his eyes, "Yes."

"Oh my God." Rowen moaned, and downed the rest of his glass.

He got up and began pacing in front of the fire blazing in the stone fireplace. His hands went instinctively to his temples as his brow furrowed in concentration. 'This can NOT be happening.' He thought as his steps slowed and he stopped directly in front of the crackling flames. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared into the flame. He was concentrating so deeply that he didn't hear Kayura get up from her position on the floor and step behind him. He didn't even realize how close she was to him until her arms were wrapped around his waist.

There wasn't any possible way that he could do what she was asking. He was just out of high school! He wasn't ready for anything like she was asking.

But standing in front of the fire and feeling her warm body pressed into his, her hair cascading around the two of them, he couldn't help but feel tempted.

"What would happen if I took you up on your offer?" Rowen asked quietly as he rubbed her smooth arms.

"You don't seem to understand, Rowen."

He turned around to look down into her face, not quite sure of what he was seeing in her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been chosen, and you have passed all of my tests. The only way that you could have refused is if you would have failed any of my tests." She said, her eyes looking more sinister.

"Are you trying to tell me that I don't have a choice in the matter?" he asked a bit loudly as he began to back away from her.

The room was beginning to fade from its romantic appeal of before. Cold stones slowly replaced the starlit walls, and the fire was slowly beginning to fade. It was turning into the dungeons that Rowen knew all too well.

"Rowen, you made your decision when you decided to trust my word over the trust of your friends."

Rowen shook his blue head, refusing to believe it, "No." he whispered.

"You ran from the friends that you trusted the most. You believed in the things that you were seeing instead of what you were feeling with your heart!" she began as she moved closer to him.

Rowen backed away from her, "Stop it!"

"You wrote out all of your feelings, and allowed for your mother to slip away from you, letting her know that you HATED her!" she continued, a small tear streaming down her cheek.

"You tricked me into believing you!" he screamed as his back hit the wall.

"She didn't trick you, you pathetic Ronin. You tricked yourself." boomed a deep voice from the shadows behind Rowen.

Rowen twirled around to see the looming figure of Dais towering over him, a snarl across his face.

"No. This isn't true!" Rowen screamed as he backed away from Dais, feeling more and more like a trapped rat.

Kayura strolled up to him desperately grasping for his hands, "Why would you possible want to go home? Your mother has just walked out on you, leaving you behind forever! Your friends will begin to disappear into their own directions, abandoning you again! Why would you possibly want to do that to yourself! Why must you be alone!" she cried, fresh tears streaming down her face.

He desperately pulled his hands from hers, hearing the questions that he had asked himself earlier in the day. Why wouldn't he want to stay here with Kayura? If Kayura had indeed chosen him, he'd be somewhere that he was wanted. He would no longer be a burden on his friends or his family. He loved his friends,but he knew that all of the drama going on in his life wasn't making theirs any easier. Why didn't he stay with her?

Rowen slowly backed into the cool stone wall and slid down until he was squatting in the floor. He rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his face, trying to summon away the tears that were threatening to break through.

"Kayura, give him some time to think." Dais whispered as he walked past Rowen's slumped body.

Kayura slowly strolled over to Rowen as he quietly debated with himself. A soft hand touched the top of his head and stroked his hair. Her cool fingertips stroked his smooth cheek, and she nudged for him to look up at her. He locked her gaze, her face now soft and full of warmth.

"I know that you're wrestling with your feelings, and I know that you will need time to think this over."

"Kayura-" he began, but she shushed him and knelt down so that she could look him in the eyes.

"I'll come to you in your sleep. I know that this is a confusing time for you, but I trust that you'll make the right decision."

She stroked his cheek with her thumbs, and before he knew it, she had leaned in and brushed her lips with his. He stared at her for a moment, and then she got up and walked out of the small chamber. Dais began after her, but he looked over his shoulder and grinned down at Rowen, staring blankly after Kayura. Dais disappeared into the darkness of the doorway.

Rowen licked his lips, and was surprised to taste what seemed to be honey. He leaned back against the wall, feeling suddenly very groggy. As he was drifting off to sleep, a sudden peace came over him, and he smiled.

Maybe this wasn't going to be that hard of a decision after all…

Tah-Dah! I told you that I was going to make the next chapter longer! Well, what do you think? I'm thinking about letting the story end here, but I'm not sure. Email me or post ideas, and maybe we can work on it together!

Until then!

Aurora