Chapter 1: Baby Dragon's

Dragons are eternal. Once born into existence they can not, not exist any longer. The first, and consequently the oldest of them all was Ouryuu. He was broad and tall, with golden scales upon his back and silvery white ones on his chest and belly. Wings as big as he was tall. Two gold horns upon his head, bright blue eyes and a beard upon his chin. He was around for a millennia before another of his kind was born into existence. The golden dragon watched with apt anticipation as a blue and white serpentine dragon came into existence. It's eyes were closed, but the deep breaths it gave told him that his new companion was very much alive. Something was off with this new dragon though. He had tiny wings that were just too small to be used for flight. This confused Ouryuu. How could a dragon fly without wings as large and as long as it's body? It didn't make sense to him. Then his new companion opened it's eyes. Golden reptilian eyes looked into his blues and suddenly the fact that his new companion, his brother, had small wings no longer mattered.

"Seiryuu." He announced his brother's name in an instant.

Recognition appeared in the golden eyes of the blue dragon. Even though he had only just been born, Seiryuu knew who this gold and silvery white chested dragon in front of him was. "Ouryuu." He answered back. His voice was light and feathery as he spoke, but held wisdom in it that was hard not to recognize.

The two become close very quickly. Ouryuu's gentle nature helped balance out Seiryuu's protective one out. Where one could teach, the other would learn. However, after a century then two, they both began to feel as if something was missing. Neither had the courage to voice this fact, so at night when they slept, their dreams were filled with longing in having more to their family.

Then one morning as the sun came over the heavens and brightened the home of dragon's with it's warm glow, Ouryuu and Seiryuu woke up to a bright glow appearing in the midst. As the glow brightened and grew to the size of a dragon's form, both began to get excited. What would this new dragon look like? Would it be different like Seiryuu who used the winds to float into the clouds? Would it have wings like Ouryuu? What color would it's scales be? Would they have another brother? Or would it be a sister? Their excitement grew as they watched the body twist and turn in the cocoon of the glow when suddenly one tail, then a second was seen as the light began to fade from the body.

The confusion didn't last between the two brothers as two separate beings came into existence. Twins. The first had the deepest green scale upon it's back and the brightest gold scales upon it's chest and belly. Large slender wings and a deep green long mustache that hung from under it's nose and came around it's mouth. This gave this young dragon the look of a wise elder. The second was pure white with silver highlighting it's fringe upon it's head. It looked exactly like it's counterpart with a long body and large slender wings; but it held an air of true beauty that clung to it's twin as well.

As the two opened their eyes, one with icy blues, the other with emerald color. "Ryokuryuu." Ouryuu said calling out the green dragons name.

"Hakuryuu." Seiryuu spoke softly, gently as to not startle the white dragon.

Both looked upon the two elder ones with sparkling eyes. Even though their bodies were much smaller than Ouryuu or Seiryuu's bodies, they were faster; as the two elder ones quickly found out when the two smaller dragons flew out of their nest and slammed into their older brothers forms. Joyous laughter filled the hall of dragons as the younger ones flew off and the elders gave chase.

Years passed with Ryokuryuu and Hakuryuu causing mischief upon the land below the heavens. Ryokuryuu created land and tore it apart with deep canyons forming wherever he crash landed. Hakuryuu created lakes, rivers and great oceans as he flew after his twin. The two could create storms, cause mountains to crumble under the shear pressure of their energy or cause fire spewing from the mountains if they got angry with each other. When Seiryuu would join their play, his energy would mingle in with theirs causing plants to grow, animals to appear and beauty beyond imagination to grow out of nowhere. If something got destroyed from their play or their anger, Ouryuu would mingle his energy into the destroyed ground below and all would be made like new.

As a millennia passed for them, they began to feel restless. As if, once again, something was missing from their brotherhood. So after a thousand years and no new dragon had been born, the four began to think that their family may just be finished and they'd have to live with the feeling of incompleteness.

One night, after a rare storm had passed through the home of dragons and as dawn was just breaking over the horizon, a faint glow formed in the dragon nest. The four brothers moved quickly to give room for the newest member of their family. Excitement grew as the light grew brighter and brighter, before long it grew hot. Then suddenly fire exploded in their midst. It didn't harm them, but it did give them a scare. As the flames vanished and dawn had fully come, a bright red dragon stepped out of the smoke causing a gasp come from the twins. True beauty had never been seen until now. Bright violet eyes looked upon them as the large red dragon stepped forward. It's chest a bright golden color as it's fringe on it's head was a deep glistening red color. Another brother had come into being. And though he was larger than the twins and Seiryuu, he was still much smaller than Ouryuu.

"He's beautiful!" Ryokuryuu gasped with shock appearing upon his visage.

Wide icy eyes stared with amazement. "His eyes, they're..." Hakuryuu began only for Seiryuu to finish for him.

"Breathtaking." The blue dragon stated with awe.

"Hiryuu." Ouryuu said causing the red dragon to look up at him in acknowledgement of his name being spoken.

"Brothers." Hiryuu said with a gentle tone as he rubbed himself against them.

Ouryuu bent his long neck down and rubbed his face against his new brothers fringe as Ryokuryuu and Hakuryuu began nuzzling Hiryuu's neck. Seiryuu bumped his forehead against Hiryuu's in a loving gesture. Warmth filled them all as finally they felt completed. Their family was whole and they were truly happy.

They're happiness last several thousand years. Their bonds increased as brotherly love blossomed between them. They neither fought with each other nor argued any longer. Sated and relaxed the four elder were happy to just exist as they were, but the youngest could not help it as his curiosity began to bloom.

Hiryuu loved sneaking away from his brothers to his favorite glade and watching from the heavens above as the beings called humans carved a life out upon the earth that his brothers had created so long ago. He watched them share their joys with each other and he saw them cause pain to one another. War. He hated the death that came with it. He wanted to help stop this pain that seemed to curse these beings, these humans. His heart ached for them. Then suddenly a thought came to him, what if he went down and helped them himself? It could be done, couldn't it?

That night he had the worst argument with his brothers than any other. Ryokuryuu cursed the humans for even existing. Seiryuu began to cry. Hakuryuu hugged his body to his and openly wept that he'd even think of leaving them. Ouryuu, however, surprised everyone. "If you love them, you wish wish to ease they're suffering; then we will not stop you." He spoke, holding his own grief in check. Holding a clawed palm out he infused his power into a ball. The others joining him in what he was doing. A golden pendant with a dragon appeared in their midst with blue beads. It appeared around Hiryuu's neck. The red dragon looked down upon it. "With this, we will always be with you." That night everyone cried as they slept together in their dragon pile. As morning came, the youngest said his good-byes.

The four watched their brother become human. They watched him start life out as an infant in a temple. The monks there had found him, knew who and what he was. His brothers were surprised to learn that there were those that worshiped them as Kami. They watched him grow and then meet a boy named Guen who became his first friend who later taught him how to use the sword to fight and defend himself. The bow to hunt for food. Then hand to hand combat incase he ever was caught without a weapon. They were both relieved and frightened as they watched him train until he was eighteen, by human standards.

Then the battles began. Seiryuu could see the enemy come before they arrived. Ryokuryuu would snarl as they watched Hiryuu fight. Hakuryuu would bite his claws in nervous anticipation as the big bad leaders would come challenge Hiryuu. Ouryuu sat in silence and waited.

One night Ouryuu heard a young voice praying for Hiryuu. Looking down he saw a seventeen year old boy sitting on the cold ground. His stomach empty. His face bruised from being beaten. Soft sandy locks and gentle blue eyes looked heavenward as he prayed not for food or protection but for another who needed help. Ouryuu felt a softness grow for this lad and filed it away for another time.

The betrayal came shortly after Hiryuu freed a bunch of slaves from a labor camp. A man named Shuten, a mercenary, had helped Hiryuu and protected him throughout the campaign. A noble named Abi, had paid for the men and weapons for Hiryuu's battle against the slavers and drive them out of the newly formed country of Kouka; but a General betrayed their brother for some gold and two slave woman, who in the end killed him anyways. The four brothers came down with all their fury wanting kill every last human for this deceit. Even upon his knees, hand tied and a noose around his next Hiryuu pleaded with his brothers for if they killed every human they would have to kill him too because he was no human as well.

Four warriors were chosen to protect their youngest brother. Guen for his protective nature. Shuten because he was a battle laidened warrior who could stop any sword from harming Hiryuu. Abi for his wisdom and connections to those of noble blood. Zeno for his gentle nature and hidden capabilities. With them chosen his brothers left earth and swore to continue to watch through their chosen ones. No one knew of the implications this would bring to future generations after Hiryuu's death. Neither did they realize how long it would take their brother to return to their chosen ones.

In the end it was all seen by the Kami who knew this would happen from the very beginning. The dragons were created for a purpose and now that purpose was showing itself in ways that even the Kami hadn't truly foreseen and the consequences of the decisions made by them would be everlasting.

M-Angel: I really need to stop creating new projects for myself, but I can't help it. So what did everyone think? There sill be more chapters to this. Each will be a one-shot, but may contain things from previous chapters. Also, I'm curious to know if anybody would be interested in a chapter where the original warriors (Guen, Abi & Shuten) were learning to take care of their own kids? How shocked they were when they saw their powers being transferred to the next generation