An Unlikely Friendship

by SAW458

Part Two

A foghorn echoed through the night, adding an eerie element to the blackness. The warehouse where Yakasa and his gang resided stood on the end of a remote pier in the middle of nowhere. No doubt it would be torn down soon, but so far the city officials had been too lazy to get off their duffs and do it. A beat-up Dodge pulled up to the side of the warehouse and three teens exited. As they headed into the building, a pair of sea-green eyes watched from the shadows. They narrowed in anger as they caught sight of a duffel bag in the hands of a brown- haired youth.

The young man watching crouched back down behind the crate he was using as a vantage point. Okay Cye, he thought to himself, you've found their hiding place. Now what? Cye could only see one way to get his stuff back, and that was to sneak in. Wincing slightly, he rubbed a painful bruise on the back of his head. It was a rather embarrassing reminder of how he had fared when these guys had jumped him. Sneaking in wasn't the best way to approach this, considering the fact he was out numbered three to one. And there could be more of those jerks inside. Cye could have kicked himself for being so careless. To be caught off guard like that! He should have seen them coming, but he had been at a disadvantage at the time.

I should just call the police, he thought. But something in his mind told Cye that wasn't a good idea, though he couldn't for the life of him understand why. Leaning against the side of the crate, he sighed heavily. Cye lifted his head and looked up at the stars. "Ancient, where are you when I need your help?" He didn't get a response, but he hadn't been expecting one anyway. The Ancient hadn't spoken to him since he arrived in the city of Toyama, so Cye assumed he was on his own now. He wondered what his mother would have thought if she knew that this was happening. She might have hesitated to let him come here. But Cye would have probably come regardless. Well, this was fairly strange to begin with, Cye thought.

Cye stretched his legs, feeling the warm sun on his face. He shielded his eyes as the morning light glinted off the ocean's waves, the water lapping up around his shoulders. Today was the day. As the only male heir to his family, today was the day he would swim down to the sea bottom. It was a tradition that all the males in the Mouri family had undertaken as a rite of passage into manhood. Cye had looked forward to this task for a long time now and had trained hard for it. He wouldn't even need an air tank for the dive. Cye could hold his breath longer than most people could. This should be a snap, he thought with a chuckle.

He saw a familiar spout of water burst up near him and smiled. A beautiful orca whale surfaced and called out to Cye in a worried manner. The young man shook his head and put his hands on his hips as the whale swam up to him. "Relax, Suiki. I've prepared for this, you know." Suiki cooed anxiously, and Cye petted him reassuringly. "Don't worry! I'll be fine. And remember, no helping me, okay? You have to stay here."

The whale turned on his side and slapped his tail against the water playfully. Cye laughed, getting the message clearly. All the Mouri family had a deep connection to the sea and all its creatures, though none of them so much as Cye. His kinship with the ocean was like a close friendship that he alone was permitted to have. That's how he felt sometimes.

Suiki abruptly let out an impatient whine. Cye could almost hear the whale's soft thoughts echo through his mind. Come on, hurry up! Then we can go play!

"All right, all right! I understand. I'll be done in no time, I promise." Cye lifted his feet off the sand and swam front crawl for several minutes, watching the ground vanish beneath him as the depth got deeper and deeper. Once he was out far enough, he turned briefly back to the shore to give Suiki a confident wave. Then he dove beneath the surface.

He heard a soft pounding sound in his ears as he swam, due to the rhythmic ocean current and his heart beating. His body had no problem adjusting to the pressure as he got farther down. He quickly reached his destination and flipped himself around so he could head up. But he felt no rush to get to the surface just yet, and paused for a moment.

It was a wonderful sight, with underwater plants and sea anemones of all kinds and colors dotting the area. Fish darted around the black rocks and flitted up to him with curious expressions, perhaps wondering what he was doing there. Cye held out his hand and smiled as they brushed against his arm. He sighed inwardly, wishing he could stay down here with his little friends. But he was pushing his luck. It would take him a while to get back up for air and besides, Suiki would be worried if he didn't hurry.

Cye prepared to push off and head for the surface when something caught the corner of his eye. A blue light was glimmering from a small cove in one of the rocks. It pulsed brightly, beckoning to him. Trust........ Cye could hear the word in his mind, but couldn't figure out what it meant. Or more important, why he was hearing it in the first place. Either way, something told him he should go toward that blue glow. He swam over to the nook just as the light faded away. He could barely make out a small, sphere-like object nestled inside the crevice. Now beginning to feel the need for oxygen, he hurriedly snatched the orb from the rock and kicked hard for the surface.

Cye burst out of the water, filling his lungs with air. Breathing hard, he bobbed in the surf, suddenly feeling very exhausted. Suiki swam over to him, nudging him in a concerned way. "I'm all right," Cye said wearily, giving the orca a feeble smile. Suiki realized his friend was tired and swam under him, letting Cye rest on his broad back. Cye allowed the whale to carry him most of the way to shore. Once out of the water, he plopped onto the ground and sat for a good stretch of time. I shouldn't have stayed down for so long, he thought tiredly. Then Cye remembered the object he was holding on to.

He opened his palm and looked down at the glass orb in his hand. It was clear like a crystal, but in the center was a light blue symbol. It stood for Shin, or Trust. He let out a startled gasp as it suddenly glowed, lighting up like a movie screen. He could see pictures flowing past inside it. A light blue armor with a single blade on the helmet showed up. Then a weapon that looked like a trident appeared. Abruptly they faded away, leaving Cye bewildered. He wondered how this thing had gotten all the way down there, but he was too fatigued right then to find out. He staggered to his feet and headed home.

The sun was beginning to set when he reached his house. As he walked in the door, his mother greeted him. "So, how did it go?" she asked expectantly.

Cye just wanted to get some sleep, but he managed a triumphant grin for her. Of course, that was after he carefully hid the orb he found from view. "I did it!"

His mother clapped her hands and gave her son a hug. "That's wonderful!" she said, congratulating him. She pulled back and looked Cye in the eyes, her own eyes shining with joyful tears. "You have grown up to be such a strong, wonderful young man. And you've never, ever backed down from your responsibilities. You will be an excellent leader of the Mouri family. I am so proud of you. And your father would be too."

"I hope so," he replied as a tinge of sadness hit him. His father had died when Cye was young, so memories of their time together were few. He wished that his father had been here for this important moment in his life, but Cye knew that was impossible. Still, he often felt that somehow, his father was still watching over him.

"Congratulations, Cye!" another voice called from the top of the stairs. Cye looked up with a warm smile at the young woman standing there. His big sister Sayoko descended and also hugged him, despite the fact he was still a bit damp. "Looks like you're a man now!"

Cye chuckled at that declaration. "Thank you. That must mean I get to boss you around now."

"Think again!" she exclaimed, ruffling his already messed up hair. "I can still beat you in a fight, you know."

Taking on an expression of mock horror, Cye gasped. "Miss Mouri! That would not be very ladylike!"

Sayoko became thoughtful. "I suppose so. I guess you got off easy this time." She paused as Cye suddenly let out a yawn. "You look exhausted! Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest? You've had a busy day."

Cye had almost forgotten how tired he was. "Yeah, that's a good idea." He gave his mother and sister a kiss on the cheek and trudged up to his room. He immediately flopped onto his bed, not bothering to change out of his swim trunks. They were dry by then anyway. Cye took the orb he had concealed from his sister and mother and placed it on the dresser next to his bed. The dying sunlight coming in from the window shone on it, making the orb sparkle. It made him a little uneasy, but he was just too exhausted to move. Cye gazed at it intently until he drifted off to sleep. Strange, he thought as his eyes closed, I wonder what it is.................

Cye started suddenly and jolted into awareness. He blinked several times, confused that it was so dark. Was it night already? He shivered slightly, a strange feeling of apprehension hitting him. Like something was going to happen.

"Cye....." His ears leapt to the sound of his name. It echoed inside his head, softly calling him. At the same time, a state of tranquility washed over him. He felt no fear or anxiety, just an odd calmness.

"Who...who is it? What do you want?" Cye put a hand to his head, listening intently as if searching his mind for the source.

"Go to the ocean. I will explain then."

Cye nodded, standing up and heading for the door. He stopped and looked back at his dresser. Without really thinking about it, he grabbed the orb and walked out of his room. He tiptoed quietly past his sister's and mother's rooms so he wouldn't wake them. Suddenly he placed his foot down and a loud creak emitted from the floor. Cye froze, waiting nervously for the sound of someone waking up. After a while, when he hadn't heard anything, he breathed a silent sigh of relief. He slipped out the front door and then sprinted down toward the sea.

He never stopped to ask himself why he was doing this. Instead, he was acting on an inner sense that told him he must follow his instincts. And his instincts were telling him that something important was waiting for him at the shore. Something that would change his life in ways he couldn't imagine.

Cye hurried toward the water, kicking up sand as he raced across the beach. He reached the waterline and halted breathlessly. The moonlight lit up the waves in an incandescent glow as they crashed against the shore. The sea air blew gently across the water, sending a misty ocean spray against his face. Now that he was here, Cye wasn't sure what to expect.

"Thank you for coming." The voice said suddenly, startling Cye. He searched the beach for who had talked, but found no one. The noise seemed to come from all directions at once.

Cye was a little nervous, but the voice seemed friendly, so he took that as a good sign. He gave up looking for it and spoke into the night, not knowing where to direct his words. "Well, since I am here, perhaps you could tell me who you are," he inquired politely.

Cye heard a soft chuckle, almost sensing the voice smiling at his courteous manner. "I do not have a name, but you may call me the Ancient One."

"Um, all right. Why are you here?"

"I must ask you for your help. Mankind is in grave danger from an evil that will soon enter this world. You have been chosen to defend against it by bearing the armor of Torrent."

"Armor of Torrent?" Cye suddenly thought of something. "Is that what appeared in the orb before?"

"Yes. You were led to find the orb that holds the power of the armor. It chose you because you were best suited to wear it."

Cye nodded, amazed at what he was hearing. "I...I did feel something when I was down there. Like some force helped me to find it."

"Yes. The armor knew that you were ready to receive its power." The Ancient paused for a moment, apparently pondering something. "You have already trained with a weapon similar to the one that goes with the armor, have you not?"

"You mean that trident?" Cye asked, puzzled. As the next head of the Mouri clan, he had been taught to use a spear and staff since he was young. "Yes, I have."

"Good, then there is no time to waste," said the Ancient, speaking seriously. "Go quickly to the city of Toyama. Evil forces will converge there and you must fight them!"

"Fight?" Cye objected in dismay. "Wait, this is all happening too fast!"

"I'm sorry, but you must hurry. There is no telling when these demonic beings will come."

"But," Cye protested, speaking quietly, "I....I hate fighting." He closed his eyes and lowered his head, talking in a defeated tone. "I can't stand seeing people get hurt. I don't think I'm the right person for this."

The Ancient was understanding. "I know you dislike conflict. Your heart is gentle and kind, and you don't wish to see any undeserving person or creature harmed. But the armor does not choose just anyone. Look at the kanji on your orb," he said pointedly. Cye glanced down at the symbol, not comprehending what the voice was saying. Trust glowed warmly at him. "Your armor follows the emotion of trust. It is this trait that is centered deeply and firmly into your soul, heart, and mind. That is part of the reason you were chosen."

Lifting his head at that, he was still not sure and swallowed hard. "I can't just leave. My mother and sister need me here."

"You must go, for them as well as for many others so they will be safe. They need you to fight for their protection."

Cye's eyes began to shimmer with unseen tears. This was so overwhelming for him. He had gone from being a normal teenager to the savior of his world. His whole life had just been thrown in turmoil. "What if I can't do it?" he asked softly.

"Don't worry whether or not there might be someone better for this task. Just know that you are the one. And I believe you can succeed." The Ancient then asked the question Cye knew was coming, though he didn't want it to. "Will you fight, Cye of the Torrent?"

Say no, say no! That thought keep running through his mind, but it was overshadowed by another one. Of his mother, looking at him with such pride for her only son.

"You have grown up to be such a strong, wonderful young man. You've never, ever backed down from your responsibilities. You will be an excellent leader of the Mouri family. I am so proud of you. And your father would be too."

She was right. He never had backed down from anything, and he realized that he couldn't start now. This was a serious matter, but he decided he would do his best. And the Ancient seemed to believe in him. This mysterious person must have seen a hidden strength in Cye to give him such an important duty. And, he thought with a sudden clarity on this, it's what my father would do if he was in my place. Now determined, he raised his eyes and smiled faintly. "I will."

"Thank you, Cye of the Torrent," the voice said. Then it added, "There is one other thing I must ask of you."

"Yes?"

"In Toyama, there is a young man who needs your help right now. He is waiting for someone or something to find him, and give a reason as to where his life has gone and where it is going. You must find this person. I think he will be a valuable ally to you."

Cye was a little confused at this request, but he nodded. "Sure, I guess. How can I find this person?"

"You will know who he is. I will guide you to him." The voice grew more distant, disappearing into the night. "Go to Toyama. Good luck.....Ronin....Warrior....of......Trust..."

"Hey, wait!" Cye listened for a response, but the voice was gone. He was left alone with his troubled thoughts. Who was this person he was supposed to find? How was he supposed to use this armor? And most important, how would he explain this to his mother and sister? He could just leave and not tell them, but Cye couldn't think of doing that to his family. His mother in particular. Her health wasn't that good because of her weak heart, and he didn't want to do anything that might make it worse. And his disappearing suddenly without a word to her might be devastating. Cye then had another idea. Maybe this was all in his head. Maybe he was going crazy. Either way, he wasn't sure what to do now.

As it was though, he wouldn't have to worry about that. As he finally turned to head home, he caught sight of someone standing behind him a few yards away. The figure stepped out of the shadows, and Cye looked at her in alarm. "Sayoko?!" His tone was a mixture of surprise and dismay. She, in turn, had an anxious and fearful expression. It was the fear that bothered Cye. This was not good......

"Here Cye," Sayoko said, putting a woolen blanket on his bare shoulders.

"Thanks." He wrapped the cover around himself, shivering. He now wished he hadn't gone out in only his swim trunks. He sat on an armchair in the living room, trying to get rid of the chill that had settled in his bones. Watching her as she sat down on the couch across from him, he tried to think of what he should tell her. His sister must think he was insane standing out on the beach in the middle of the night, talking to some crazy voice that was in his mind. She was silent was a long time, until Cye couldn't stand the quiet any longer. "Sayoko?" Nothing. "Sayoko, say something!" he pleaded.

Finally, she spoke tentatively. "Cye, who was that?"

Cye nearly fell over in shock. "You....You heard it too?"

Sayoko looked at him incredulously. "Of course I heard it. How could I not?"

Sighing in relief, he let out the breath of air that he had been holding in. She didn't think he was nuts after all. But he noticed his sister was not sharing his feelings on this. "Sayoko, what were you doing out there?"

His sister placed her chin in her hands and leaned forward, closing her eyes. "I heard you leave and followed you to find out what was going on."

"But how......?" Then he stopped. The creaky part of the floor he had stepped on! His sister was an extremely light sleeper and he must have woken her up. I should have known better, he thought. "You heard all of it?"

She nodded slightly. "Yeah." She paused a moment, deep in thought. "So, what are you going to do?"

"What else can I do? Tomorrow, I'm going to travel to Toyama." Cye began calculating how much he would need to bring and where he should stay. "If I leave in the morning, I can hopefully get there before it gets dark. Then I can...." His words were halted as he glanced at Sayoko. In the corners of her eyes, tears were threatening to spill over onto her cheeks.

"You're just going to leave?" she asked softly, her voice trembling. Her tone put a lump in his throat.

"I....I have to. I'm needed to defeat whatever evil is coming."

Sayoko laughed dryly at that. "Well, that's just great. This Ancient, or however he is just decides to make you go off and fight against God knows what. Out of the millions of people in the world, he chooses you."

"He didn't choose me; the armor did."

"I don't care!" She stood up abruptly, wiping at her eyes angrily. "He has no right to take you away! What about your life? What about us? We need you here, Cye."

Cye was startled at her furious voice. "I know, but I think this may be more important."

"What?" she said, looking at him in stunned disbelief.

He went over to her and put his hands on her shoulders, trying to find the right words to explain and to comfort her. "Sayoko, this thing is bigger than you or me. I've been given a great responsibility and gift. I can't just pretend that it didn't happen. And according to him, you won't be safe from these evil forces if I don't battle them. I will fight to protect you, and to protect mother. I owe at least that much to you both."

Sayoko was crying now, because she had already realized that he was going to leave no matter what she said. "I don't want you to go," she whispered with a defeated expression. "Whatever this evil is, I don't want you to fight it. You could get hurt, or killed."

His own tears showing, Cye hugged his sister and swallowed a sob that threatened to emerge. He had to be strong for her. "I don't want to go either. But I swear to you, Sayoko, I will not die. I'll come back and things will be the way they were. I promise." He pulled back and smiled warmly. "Please don't worry. It'll be all right, so you don't have to cry."

Sayoko sniffed a little, but she managed a slight smile for him. "All right, Cye."

Cye returned that smile, then he had a troubling thought. "But what am I going to tell mother?" he pondered worriedly.

"We'll just tell her that you're leaving to stay in the city for a while." Sayoko gave him a confident look. "Don't worry. I'll back up your story."

"Thank you," Cye said.

"Are you sure you don't want to take anything else?"

Cye smiled at his mother as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. "Yes. It would be too much to take with me. When I find a place to stay in Toyama, you can send me whatever else I may need."

His mother wrung her hands anxiously. "I know, I'm just so nervous about you going off on your own all of a sudden. Couldn't you stay a while longer before rushing off?"

Feeling guilty, Cye hugged his mother comfortingly. He hated having to tell her of his abrupt departure plans. She had been surprised, but knew he had the right to do as he chose. To his shock, she'd even provided him with a large sum of money to take with him, at her insistence. "I'm sorry, but I must go."

She nodded, just a little bit sad. "Yes, of course. You're a man now. It's only natural you'd want to go off and see the world. Just please be careful out there."

"I will," he promised. For a moment, he wondered what she would think if she knew what he was really going to Toyama for. But he didn't dare tell her. He looked up as his sister came in. She smiled faintly as she embraced him tightly in farewell. Then she stepped back and met his eyes. There was a knowing glint in them about his little secret.

"Well, Cye, take care."

They were simple words, but they were almost more than he could stand. Oh, how he wished he didn't have to go! But he choked down his emotions as he nodded. "I'll miss you both," he said. Suddenly he heard a car honk from outside. His taxi had arrived. He gave them both one last hug before turning and racing out the door, for fear that if he looked back, he wouldn't be able to go through with this. He climbed inside the car and gave his directions to the driver. Settling himself into the seat, Cye saw his mother and sister waving at him as the taxi pulled away. He watched his home disappear through the trees as they drove off. Goodbye, dear mother, he thought. Goodbye, Sayoko. Thank you for everything. Ancient, no matter what happens, I will win this battle. For my family.....

That was how he had ended up here. Well, that wasn't the only reason. One other circumstance had contributed to his being in this particular situation. By the time he had arrived in Toyama, it had been dark. Though he should have known better, he had been walking around the city looking for a place to stay. He had passed a dark alley when someone had suddenly pulled him into it. It had been too dark to see who had done it. He'd barely gotten out three words of protest and anger when something had been slammed into the back of his skull. He had collapsed, his head ringing. He faintly recalled someone pulling the duffel bag off his shoulder and of a hand in his pocket. When he came to, he found to his horror that not only were his bag and money taken, but to his crystal orb was missing also. If it had just been the money and bag, Cye would have simply gone to the police. But the theft of the orb had insisted immediate action on his part.

Cye sucked in a sharp breath, the pain in his head sharpening. He really should have gone to see a doctor, but he couldn't waste time. However, he did feel lucky to be alive. The way he had been hit, Cye had a feeling the blow had been meant to kill him. That's probably why they had just left him, because they thought he was dead. He would have been if the person who struck him had aimed any lower.

He knew he had to get his orb back as soon as possible. There was too much at stake. Cye didn't really know how he had been able to find this place. As soon as he had been able to stand, something in his mind had told him to start running. So he had sprinted through the city until he came to this place. Then something else had made him wait here. He hadn't understood why, and then that car had pulled up.

Cye realized that everything had been quiet for a while, so he stood and crept up to the warehouse. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he knew that he wasn't leaving until he got his orb back. Even if he died trying. He just hoped that somehow, the Ancient would help him out in this situation, wherever he was.....

Hi again! I hope you enjoyed the second part. Hope Cye fans don't mind how he got clobbered. I have nothing against Cye, in fact he's my favorite character. So anyway, see ya again!