The Resurrection of Antiquity

by Wine

Chapter 1 - Hazed

Disclaimer:This story has nothing to do with my other fics. This story is mainly for my girl Riichan...who loves Cale/Mia fanfics. Thanks to Shydawg for helping me out and obviously I don’t own anything but the made up characters.

Mia wondered through the fair a bit more; bought herself a sweet cake and watched the plays out side of the tents. She waited impatiently outside the main tent the next morning, long before there was anyone there to take her name for the convention.

Would they check at her home? Could they finally accept her into the society after all these years. Being a woman was hard enough without having to hear about the society’s sexual arguments against the women speaking of Japanese history. She beamed with happiness when she thought how proud her grandfather would be. But she hoped deeply that they wouldn’t reject her or her studies.

Then she laughed at her own fears. Even if they had some magic that could cross leagues of country in a single day and bring that knowledge back, Why would they bother? There was nothing important about her. She was just another speaker at the trials. And even if she passed she would still remain a teacher.

The clerk took his time, filing his papers until Mia was ready to scream with impatience, before looking her up an down and asking her name.

“Mia Koji, Granddaughter of Professor Koji,” she stated. He no longer looked marginally interested in her and calmly said. “Take your place.”

She got to speak by midmorning, the words were simple and few, and the scenery gave her lots of scope for improvisation. The row of judges were solemn in their suits and a formidable audience. Their faces were alike; well-fed and very conscious of their own importance; you could see it in their eyes. As they sat below the platform and took unobtrusive notes, they seemed at least mildly impressed with her performance. Even more heartening, several of the men yet to perform looked satisfyingly worried when she finished.

She packed up her papers, stacking them in her briefcase; and betook herself briskly out-to find herself a corner of a wall to lean against as her knees sagged when the excitement that had sustained her wore off.

Once or twice she thought she glimpsed through the crowd spotting a familiar cobalt hair, but if it were a Ronin they were gone by the time she reached the spot where she had thought he’d been. She had begged them not to come and she hoped she would not find them there; she had to make them trust her.

Mia didn’t mind to carefully where she was wandering, until she noted that her steps had taken her from the well-traveled ways and into the rows reserved for the officials. Here she was distinctly out of place. She turned to retrace her steps, only to find her path blocked up.

He who blocked it was a darkly handsome man, as looks are so commonly judged-but his gray eyes had a cruel glint to them that Mia did not in the least like, the smile wore on his thin, hard lips was a prurient, and he wore the colors of a high official.

“Pardon me-” she made as if to step around him, but he moved like quicksilver, getting in front of her again.

“Stay a moment Miss Koji, a word if I may,” he spoke softly, his voice pitched soft and low as to sound enticing.

“You have no patron or “friend” to accompany you and you seem to be doing well in the competition, I want to offer myself in some capacity. I think we understand each other,” he said bowing graciously to her, keeping his eyes attached to hers..

Although Mia was long past innocence, the blood rose to her cheeks in response to his words, and the evil lascivious leer that lay thinly behind them. Just listening to them made her feel used; and that made her feel angry as well as a little frightened.

“I think we will not,” she retorted with a sharp sting in her voice, “You are an official and second I will not sell myself to someone such as you for caging. You can take your “friend” ship and offer it among the swine and sheep-for I’m sure there you’ll find bedmates to your liking in plenty”

She pushed past him, he flesh shrinking from the touch of his clothes, and stalked off with her head held high.

The Man clenched his jaw in rage and his face contorted with anger settling in to a mask of indifference. It was only a moment but it was long enough for someone else to see.

A plump bald man, oozing with good living and riches stepped from out of a shadowed tree. “Excuse me for intruding....but I cannot help think that we have an interest in common...”

“Kayura please come here,” said a stern unwavering voice. His appearance gave him the look of respect; clad in full warrior garment; golden staff in hand, fighting dress,

“Yes, Ancient?” she asked glancing around. Kayura hadn’t seen anyone today and was becoming worried, the Warlords never stayed away for long.

“I have sent them to do something, please do not worry... Do you know of the evil God?”

“Hai, I have heard of it, but it was just a childish legend. The village told it to use as children to scare us,” she said plainly.

“I wish it were as simple as that. Talpa wasn’t as crazy as he seemed; he may of wanted Earth but he led you on to believe other reasons. If he had resurrected that spirit at the time, I’m not sure we or the Ronins or the rest of the world for that fact would survive. That demon has been lying dormant on Earth...”

“It was said that he would kill all those in sight and burn the houses. He would only kill children if they were in his path, but he was ruthless killer non the less. The Great Kenji defeated him, but he too was destroyed in the process.”

“Yes that’s it. Well it seems his followers have spawned and they might be trying to revive him. A woman by the name of Kusinada and a man that we are not known of are trying to succeed and we can not let them.

Kayura heart wept at the sound of that name. It must have shown on her face for the ancient asked with soft quiet voice, “What’s wrong.” She did not want to bring the skeletons from out of the closet; so she just shrugged it off a made a quick change of the topic, “Nothing...what must we do to help?”

“We need to call all of the armor bearers together...and then we’ll have to go from there” said the ancient as he began pacing across the floor.

“Alright then, I’ll go get the Ronins first then we’ll wait for the warlords to come back,” she stated. The Ancient nodded in agreement as his mind was trying to contemplate on the future battle. Her thoughts too turned to the battle and the agony it was going to cause.

“Light another one,” came a steel feathery voice. A large strike was heard against the wall and a bright flicker of light appeared. A broad hand grasped the torch holding it overhead so the light was cast back against the stone walls.

“So Kusinada, where do we go now?” he finally asked. He saw she had changed into a light blue tunic with matching leggings, a tall pair of silver boots, and a sky blue cloak. Her hair flown freely from her usual hairstyle. A silver, dragon shaped handled sword lay at her side, next to a small belt pouch.

She never answered she merely continued down a damp hallway, the smell was stale and of mold as she walked farther into the tomb. He followed her in silence, doing nothing she hadn’t already asked of him.

“We have found it,” she declared as she turned around. She pushed the two heavy wooden door open as she waved the flying dust away from her nose. They entered quickly and found a room full of weapons; swords, bows and arrows, staffs, spears....covered in layer of thick dust.

“Noooo,” she yelled in frustration. She had tried so hard to get here and find what she needed and he had resisted her again to no avail. She calmly took a deep breath and gave a wiry grin. She would have her way yet, she could wait , she had 224 years; “what’s a few more weeks.”

He stared silently at her as he saw her anger rise, he waited for them to continue. But now he was in fear of her, she was silent, quiet and calculating her next move as though they were all pawns...he was afraid she succeed yet. “Come with me I have another plan,” she said breaking his thoughts into small images of the future and before he could blink they were gone.

“Come on guys, we’d promise Mia we wouldn’t come and aggravate her while she’s on her little trip. She’s still working you know,” declared Rowen, he of all people knew how Mia wanted to prove her knowledge of the world and how hard that could be with mystical warriors by your side.

“We won’t let her see us...I mean she’s one of the few women there. We’ll make sure she’s alright and leave,” stated Ryo. All the guys signaled in agreement with him. Rowen could see it was hopeless and sat in the chair.

Whiteblaze glanced hopelessly at the guys as he was confused in all the turmoil by the mixed emotion signals he was getting. Yuli was at home comfortably with his parents and visited often.

The kitchen was unusually quiet without Mia’s happy voice coming from somewhere in the house, even when she was yelling at them for something, she always made them feel welcome.

“Ronins...” All of them turn and unconsciously jumped into a fighters stance. They relaxed their muscles and stood naturally.

“Oh Kayura...what do you need?” asked Cye.

“It seems that we have another problem concerning us all...you must come with me to see the Ancient...this matter is very troubling.” she said with voice that left the Ronins puzzled. Kayura was always strong but she seemed as if she were going to break into a thousand pieces. They were smart enough not to question her now and continued.

“Okay but we need someone to look after Mia,” blurted Ryo. Rowen threw him a fast glance.

“I’m sure I can arrange something with someone to stay and keep after her...but I don’t know why she’s big girl.”

Mia held her purse closer to her side for safety as she made her way down the aisles of closed and darkened stalls to her tent. She began to think how she would divide her bill; one piece would go to Eric, with instructions to purchase her food for the company, and keep the remainder for himself. The rest would be put in her savings, Mia firmly believed in securing high ground on rainy days

With her mind on these matters, she did not see the dark shadow that followed her, mingling with the other shadows cast by the moon. Her sharp ears might have warned her of danger; but there were no sudden foot falls for her to hear. There was only a sudden wind of ice and fear that blew upon her from behind, and hard upon that, the darkness of oblivion.