?The Ravenlock Dojo..?

Softly the words came forth, as he smiled faintly. Seemingly he stared at the old wooden sign, that still hung over the main doors to the old hall. Even with the missing letters, there was no mistaking whatsoever. The building, exactly as it was all that time ago.. Same as it was when he, Jewell and Alex, last met there, just a few short years ago, as well. Weathered, and worn, it was still the same, strong building, it had always been, and in his eyes, would always be..

The local however, was a tad different.

?Mister Ravenlock, how nice to see you again!?

The voice drew his attention, as he glanced back to see a young lady approaching him, with a pair of children in tow. They made their way from the main building, across the lot, and waved as they approached. All three wearing navy blue shirts with white lettering on the upper right chest that read ?JRC?, the little ones, adding their own touch to the shirts as well, in the form of ? Well bedazzle gone wild? Yeah, something like that. It made Brian chuckle, a tad as he thought to his girls, who were with their mother today. Waving back to the trio, as the approached he replied.

?Miss Renton, a pleasure as always. You look very nice today, and so do these two. I love those shirts guys, any chance, I can get one??

His question drew a chuckle from the young lady, as she looked to the children. ?Well, Reyna? Quinton? What do you think??

Reyna, looked to her shirt a moment. She then looked to Quinton?s, as she smiled, nodding softly. No word spoken, as she then looked to Miss Renton, and then to Brian. Quinton, looked between the adults and gave a most inquisitive expression, as he spoke.

?Well, Sir. We can do it, but I don?t think you?ll look as good as us, but dun worry, hardly anybody else does, cause these are originals!?

This caused Bri to chuckle indeed, as he took a knee before the pair, and smiled to them. ?Is that so? Well then, Quinton, I am sure whatever you two come up with, will be a sharp improvement to what I have on right now, yeah? I look forward to it, and can?t wait to show it off.?

Quinton huffed lightly, replying with a simple, ?I know.?

Miss Renton chuckled, patting the children gently on their heads, as she spoke once more. ?Alright children, it?s near time to meet Kerri and her kids, for the kickball game, so you two head on over, and I?ll catch up.?

Quinton needed no other incentive, than ?Kerri? and ?kickball?, as he nodded to everyone, and then took off towards the far end of the field. A quick glance back to Reyna, as he did so.

?Come on, Reyna! I want us to get on Kerri?s team!?

Reyna nodded in reply, and then looked to Brian, who was still on his knee. With a faint smile, she spoke. ?Well make it really nice for you, you?ll see.?

That said, she turned and took off after Quinton, leaving Miss Renton with Brian.

?It?s been a while Mist??

Gently, cutting her off as he stood, he offered a smile to the young lady, yet again. ?Now we are a bit past that, aren?t we Daphne? I mean how many years has it been now? ten, maybe twelve or so??

?It?s been long enough, Raven.. Still, we have appearances and what not. Besides, I am still young for my kind, and you are??

?Don?t even finish that with the word old, ? replied Bri, with a raised brow.

Daphne chuckled, and nodded softly. Looking to the building as well, she came to stand beside him.

?It seems like yesterday, when you all first opened this, you know? So much time has gone by, since then. Honestly, Laike and I had a running bet in regards to each of you, back when. Personally, I gave you all, a few years before you kicked each other in the rear, and went packing, never to return. Laike? He said you would all go the distance, and more than likely end up going out in a blaze of glory taking half the city with you.. Most likely ending up in one of those large mushroom clouds you terrans are so fond of.. Well some of you, at the very least.?

Brian chuckled softly, and nodded to the lady, as he replied. "You know, a bit ago, I would have pegged you right, all along.. I mean, I did leave. And more so, for quite a long time, y'know? But in the end, we all come home, don't we?"

"Yes, we do, Raven. In the end, we all come home.. Well as best as we can. Just ask Laike. You and Alex came and went, like leaves upon the wind, and Jewell. Well, she was that constant for you two, was she not? Ah yes, the power of woman, indeed. Still, as much as I hate to admit it, my father and I were both correct."

"You were, how so?"

"Well, Raven. You all kicked each other in the arse, more times than you will ever really admit. You all came and went, and always returned. As to the blaze of glory, and mass damage, we won't need to go there, yeah?"

Nodding softly, Brian smiled to her warmly.. "Yes, it was a grand was it not, Daphne? I mean, it really was, a good run. And here we are all these years later, still standing.. And more so, we still have family, and even the children are eager to take their places.. Granted, it will be a great deal different this time, I promise. This time, they will be more ready, than we ever were. They will be whatever they wish, and we will-- well, we will do all we can for them. Always."

"You sound like my father you know, Raven.. He once said the same things about you all, and yet.. You all were the most head strong.. Resilient, stub-- you get the idea. Gods, how that man loved you, boys.. And more so, each of you. Never once, did you all cease to amaze him, back when, and even now when we speak, he is ever surprised. Especially with how you turned out.. Family man, public servant, and more so.. The last one standing."

T'was that part that struck him.. His eyes lifting to the heavens, as he smiled faintly.. A moment more so, as his eyes then panned to Daphne, as he then moved to the door, key in hand.

"If you had asked me, years ago.. If I would have been here, like this, with all that I have, and more so, without my brother, and sister.. I would have laughed in your face, and more than likely, would have grabbed the nearest wench, for a night of sheer debauchery."

Slowly, he opened the door. A step taken back, as dust erupted forth, a bit. Darkness of the interior gave way to the light outside, as he smiled, a bit more so. Turning to the lady, he nodded softly.

"Yet, here we are. A larger family, all around.. Extended and more so. So many others.. Icer, Wyheree, Jade, Dark and Tech.. Woodrow and more so. And even when I step down, someone else will make sure, that we are still, as we are. Together, and a family. And I am more than alright with that."

A glance around, as he checked his watch.

"She should be here soon."

"Who, Raven."

"The new owner of this building, Daphne. A young lady, by the name of Katt.. As of today, the Ravenlock Dojo, is passed on."

Daphne's eyes widened, as she seemed wordless indeed for the moment..

Her arrival was felt immediately, as he smiled to the Daphne.. Turning to see the approaching Katt, as he spoke once more, ?An there she is, Daphne.?

Daphne turned as well, as she watched the young girl, whom she had never heard of until, this very morn. Looking to Bri once more, she offered a soft smile, ?She is a pretty one, Raven.?

Nodding in reply, Brian answered, ?Indeed she is, and from today on, this all belongs to her.?

?But why, would you do that? Not that I am questioning you, or anything. It is yours to do with as you please, but.. Why??

As Katt neared, Brian recalled days past with his own family.. Jewell, Alexander.. Link and Megan, Whisper, and Faera.. Lisa, Alanna and Amy.. Acade and more so. Each of them so very different, so very independent.. Wandering from place to place, akin to the leaves upon the wind..

That was until, they came upon Rhy?Din. More so, until they came upon one another. T?was then, that things changed so much so, for each of them and for so many others.. What began with Brian, Jewell and Alexander, grew into something that none of them would ever have imagined then, and something each of them could never imagine themselves without, in the here and now..

This place, is a testament to that, and so much more..

?Why?? Well.. Because it is time, Daphne, that?s why. This place has sat here, for so long, and I believe Katt can do a great deal of good with it.. More so.. I know she can. This place was always a place that was a sanctuary of sorts.. And it is time to see that once more. I believe it can start here. She is a good person, and has good friends.. A good heart, and more. It just feels right.?

Daphne nodded softly, smiling at the response to her question.

?Well, Raven. The sounds about as good as it can get, yeah??

?That?s right, Daphne?

A warm smile offered to Katt, as Bri nodded softly.

?Katt, you look lovely, as always. I?m glad we could meet, and no worries about the time and what not. After what?s been going on, I am just glad you are here to even meet with me.?

Daphne offered a bow to the pair, as she took her leave, making her way across the field, back towards the ?JRC?. Bri motioned to the doorway, as he smiled once more.

?Well, this is it. I cannot wait to see what you can do with it.?

A chuckle escaped him, as listened to Katt. A warm smile took form, as he responded in kind.

"Actually, you look very lovely, and that is fact. So believe it, and as to Daphne there, you did not scare her off, I promise."

Turning with her, as the pair now faced the building.. His eyes sweeping back and forth, as he pondered her question. After a moment or three, he smiled once more and shook his head to her softly.

"Katt, I do not expect you to open this, as it once was. Not in any way, shape or form.. Granted this place is a very special place, and holds a great deal of memories within it's walls. It was a school, a home, a sanctuary and more to many people.. There is history here.. However in the end, it is a building, and what it was, was what we made it.."

A bit of a nod, as he paused a moment..

"And now, Katt. It is yours to do with as you see fit. Anything you see fit, to do. And I mean that, no strings attached what so ever."

A grin took form, as he nodded to her yet again..

"Also, let's get rid of the Lord stuff.. Truth be told, I hate that."

A wink followed, as he looked to the buiding once more.

"So whatcha think?"

Brian listened.. Even if it seemed he was a thousand miles away, the boy was insanely attentive.. He felt the reservations, and more so.. He felt, the wariness, and wait for a hammer to literally drop, in the midst of this.. After all, it was how he felt, when he first was given this building way back when.. How any of the ?Lockes? felt at one time or another, when something was given.. Nodding softly, he turned to Katt, his eyes to her own, as he replied.

?A home sounds lovely, Katt.. And you deserve one. One that is yours, and more so, one that is yours do to with.. To protect, to tend to.. To grown in, and grow with. Your own home.?

A glance to the building once more, as he took a step closer towards it. A hand lifting, as fingers brushed the weathered exterior.

?You?re right.. I do not know you, that well.. You very well could be a devil incarnate.. But you know what? Someone hardly knew me back when, as well.. And they offered me a chance.. Someone hardly knew me, and they gave this to me.. To us, back when.. And I was one hundred percent.. A devil incarnate. Very much so. A lot has changed since then, Katt.. A lot of people helped me in ways, I would never fathom. Even when I did not know it, and even if I felt I never needed it. And it all began with a random act..?

A nod to himself, a bit.

?So? You?re not family to me, or mine.. However, that matters little to me.. I want to give this place to you, and here is a little secret.. Other than the children, any of us have.. No Ravenlock is blood related.. Not one.. Jewell, Alex and I? Complete strangers.. Jewell and I met, when we had a bloodied brawl against each other in the middle the Red Dragon Inn, itself. We beat the hell out of each other.. And Alex and I.. We made what Jewell and I did, look tame. However.. Each of us gave freely, to ourselves and to so many more.. And in turn, others gave to us. And that includes each Ravenlock, from Jewell, Alex and I, to all of those who came after, as well.?

His eyes once more settled to her, as he continued.

?With no strings attached.?

?So Katt.. This place if you want it, is in fact yours. Deed an all, if you want it.. What you make of it, is up to you, and yours.. Free and clear, no expectations, no obligations. This is just a random act that I feel like doing. And honestly, I want to do this.. Like that night we first met in the market place, with the cake? It was because I wanted to, not for pity or anything else. I think you will do wonderful things with this place, Katt.. And I honestly, want you to have it. Just like someone once thought the same of me, and more so did to me. Perhaps, one day you may do the same, as well. Who knows.. However, this is yours.. If you want it.?

A smile of assurance, as he looked to the building once more..

Many would tell you, that nothing in life is free.. However, just as many would tell you, some of the best things in life, are exactly that..

Free.

His eyes watched her, as a smile grew.. He was sincerely happy for her, more so, that she seemed accepting of his offer, and honestly, he could not wait to see what she made of this place..

Answering her softly, he looked to the building once more, in kind. "You are right.. I am damned fortunate to have the family I have.. The ones who passed, and the ones here now.. Those of the new generation, as well.. Friends too.. And even some enemies.. I am very fortunate to have all of that, and more so.. Because every bit of that, good and bad dear..

Lead me here, to this city.. This very building, so long ago.. And once again, after all these years, I am returned to it, and personally get to see it's transition, yet again. Personally, I would not be here, had it not been for so many people, and I never forget that.. There is so much I can do on my own, you know.. But with them.. I can do anything, and everything, time and again."

A smile, as he heard her words once more.. A soft nod in kind, as he motioned to the door.. As he did so, the lighting inside began to activate, revealing the reception area, and from the double doors within that, the main hall, could be seen somewhat.

"As to a rare soul, that is a debate we will have to argue upon another time, Katt. I am just m'self, and honestly, there are times, I still have trouble seein' myself in any light. But that's just a personal issue y'know?"

A soft chuckle followed, as he offered a somewhat bow to the lady.

"So let us tour, you and I, Katt.. Shall we?"

A smile took form, as he knew this was right.. She was right for this place, she and her own.. They would take care of this place, and in turn, it would take care of them.. Just as it had looked after the Ravenlocks, and more so. Yes, this is indeed what was called for..

He knew it, from the time they had first met, those months past, that this woman was special, and those around her, were blessed by her mere presence.. A star of Destiny, if Brian ever saw one, and a star that would shape, and reshape the world about her, even if she did not know it.

..Suikoden...