I've already posted this story on one or two other sites, but I was wondering to try my hand here. It's been ten years since I've posted anything on here, so we'll see how things go.

Disclaimer: Standards apply. I do not own Yoroiden Samurai Troopers/Ronin Warriors and any recognizable characters or creations related thereof. The plot is my own, along with any OCs.

~Jensea

Her staff clanged as she concentrated her power into it. The fire that she used to meditate by blazed as the gold rings on the priceless, powerful rod clanged louder. Her lips softly murmured a chant in ancient words that had been long since dead. Her deep blue hair flared around her, picking up off of the floor along with small flaps of her multi-colored, flowing kimono. She kept her hands in position in front of her, with her pale-skinned fingers laced into one another. Her deep-colored eyes remained closed as her lips were the only things of flesh that moved that made a human sound.

Behind her, three warriors knelt on one knee, their base armors protecting them from the intense heat of the flame. The one furthest to her left had pale, almost silver hair, and his only visible eye was closed, like the mistress in front of him. A patch covered his other deep-toned eye; for what reason, no one knew. His brown under gear had no reflection other than a dull luster from the flame.

The one directly behind the praying girl was clad in deep-green subarmor. His matching green hair had sweat pouring from it due to the radiant heat that the burning fire put off. His eyes, which resembled that of a snake, were closed, just like the others. He, like the warrior beside him, made no sound.

The final of the three was tiring from sitting so long. It did not seem that they had been kneeling for five hours, but rather they had been kneeling for eternity. This warrior was clad in pale orange-red body armor and had blue hair. A scar cast over his left blue eye was clearly visible as he had them closed. He internally begged the gods above for the chanting to end.

As if the final of the noted warrior's prayer to be able to move had been answered, the fire slowly died into the old, worn basin that it was in, and the reverberating sound of the clanging staff stopped. The gold rings ceased to move, hanging limply from either side of the top of the staff, supported in the air by dark blue, almost black trident-like rods jutting out from the sides of the rod. The girl slowly stood, her voice having stopped with the staff. She then took her ancient stave in her hand and faced her comrades as they opened their eyes the moment that she did and looked at her.

In her soft, young voice, she whispered, "The time has come to reawaken the armors… Evil dwells near."

"Kayura, do you think that is such a good idea?"

Her eyes focused on the silver-haired warrior as a soft smile of reassurance crept over her face. "Rajura, we have no other choice."

"But . . . their young lives–"

"The five warriors will understand. We cannot control the power growing within our own ranks for much longer. They will need to be armed incase battle breaks beyond our barriers." Her voice remained calm, containing wisdom far beyond the years evident in her physical appearance. As a warrior herself, she understood the importance of readiness for war.

The green-haired warrior sighed. "You are best to do so as quickly as possible, then."

"Naaza, not one of us enjoys the fact that we are ruining their lives once again," the third warrior stated after placing a hand on his comrade's shoulder. "However, we are fighting alongside them this time, not against them."

"Unfortunately," Rajura chimed," I do not believe that reasoning will be enough to gain their forgiveness, Anubis. Not only are their bodies healed, their minds are finally starting to move on as well."

"No," Kayura whispered, more to herself than to any of the warriors. She looked down at the staff in her hands, one of the few remaining artifacts that she had possession of to link her physically back to the family and clan that she'd been forced to forsake so many centuries ago. "Their hearts are understanding enough to appreciate what we tried to do without them thus far. They may even be offended that we did not seek their aid sooner."

Silence met her statement. Closing her eyes, she gripped the staff a little harder for a moment before casting it out over the empty flames that she prayed to a moment before. "Samurai . . . Awaken your hearts!"

Five spheres of energy formed, each taking on a specific color all their own. Midnight blue, earthy orange, lightening green, sea-swell blue, and volcanic red. The air hummed with the clanging of her staff once more.

Before Kayura could scatter the five orbs of power to a realm beyond, the floor beneath her feet began to tremble. Anubis cursed and spun on his heal to face the door at their backs. "Not now!"

"We're all that's left on this side . . . We have to give the five armors time to seek the others!" Naaza's voice was sharp as he posed to draw upon his own armor's power. Before his partners could follow suit, the doorway gave and wind rushed in, carrying with it darkness unlike they had witnessed from their enemy before.

"We must have underestimated them!" Anubis exclaimed as they burst into battle, energy coursing through their veins and calling forth armor to their bodies.

The hall began to fill with warriors that once had been under their command that once had been loyal to their cause some time ago. Each of the four warriors dedicated their bodies and minds to the fight, working both as individuals and as a team throughout the fight despite being vastly outnumbered and overpowered.

"How long could they have been planning this?"

"It doesn't matter!" Kayura hissed as she landed near the altar again a moment later, barely able to breathe as a continual flood of energy and enemies entered the sacred chamber.

A second wave of energy gathered at the entrance with a flash of purple light. "You've attempted this pathetic tactic far too late, MaSho!"

Naaza landed before Kayura, a pose ready to defend his lady taking solid control of his body. "Who in the hell–"

"Tamashi. The Soul-seeker. It's been awakened . . . !" she screamed, panic thudding through her veins.

The purple light exploded through the room, forcing all of the youja to disappear as the armor before the four warriors devoured their power within its own. Then, focus of the attack shifted toward the four defending warriors as chaotic laughter reverberated through their ears.

"It wants us, too!"

"Don't . . . Give in!" Rajura braced Anubis as his body began to weaken under the sheer drainage they both experienced from the continual blast of hot, choking darkness.

Screaming with the agony that rocketed through her body, Kayura's hand reached for the five power orbs that began to disappear into the darkness. Despite her energy being quickly drained from her, she managed to conjure one, single blast of energy and aimed it toward the colored spheres, sending them soaring through the slim dimensional barrier separating the Youjakai and the human realm.

In the wake of her blast, the purple light ceased, taking with it the darkness attempting to smother and destroy them. However, a form at the entrance way remained. Heaving in pain and breathlessness, a female form collapsed to the floor in a simple kimono of black, silver, and violet. All four warriors watched quietly as their own bodies fought for composure.

A male figure appeared above the shuddering female in the entry way, a cold, hard smirk illuminated in the harsh shadows. "Welcome to my little game, MaSho."

Kayura struggled to her knees, using her shakujo as support for her all-too-tired body. "You . . . You can't be!"

"I am, Lady, and this time, I will not be gotten rid of so easily."

-*-*-*-*-*-

Author Notes:

Yes, I am using the Japanese names. So, do not confuse Anubis as Shuten Douji, who may or may not appear in this story since it is post season 2. Still deciding if I want him in here, but if he does make an appearance, you can bet that he will end up with a certain redheaded female, lol.

Youjakai refers to the name of the demon world.

Shakujo is the type of staff belonging to Kaos that is later wielded by Shuten Douji and Kayura.