Disclaimer: I don't own them. If I did, the anime would have run for a LOT longer.

A/N: This is my Masho/Warlord story that earned itself one chapter in 2006, and that I have just recently put time and effort into finishing. "Wait and See" explores the lives of the Masho/Warlords & Kayura after the fall of Arago/Talpa. This story, well not all the chapters take place directly after the one proceeding it. When time has changed it will be noted somewhere in the chapter. This will not be a long story, think of it as companion to "The Storm's Weathered" because that's how long it is. Unlike, TSW "Wait and See" ties more closely into "The Gathering of the Legends" but it can still stand by itself. Enjoy. This story was written mainly because the baddies need love too.

-LG

Summary: Exactly what is life like for the Warlords and the Lady Kayura now that Talpa is gone? With a ruined realm to see to, and four hundred years of suppressed memories to deal with…There's never a dull day.

"Wait and See"

By: LG

Masho/Warlord fic

Prologue

Blood and death, two things that after all this time had remained the only constants in his life. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how far ahead he got…Those two things continued to follow him.

It was as though he was cursed. Doomed for all eternity to be hounded by what he considered to be adversaries. The darkness that now encroached around him brought no comfort. Where had the light gone? Where had hope vanished to? Why did this have to happen, and what could he possibly do to make things right?

The wind whipped by, tossing his hair every which way…Eyes as blue as ice regarded the surroundings with a slight amount of disheartenment. So much had changed, and yet so much had remained untouched by time…Like that of his own existence. Four…They had been a team of four, yet now only three remained. Many things had been lost, with no hope of ever gaining them back.

Things were going to be hard now; the Youjakai needed to be rebuilt. He would not forget all the sacrifices that had been made up til now, he could not allow that to happen…It would dishonor the memory of the person they had lost. He might still be alive, if it were not for their own foolishness. Of course he put more of the blame on himself than the other two, he should have listened. There was no telling how much could have been changed if he had just been willing to listen. There was nothing he could do now, what was in the past was in the past and could never be changed.

The man sighed heavily through his nose, and surveyed the landscape one more time before stepping back into his room to prepare for the day ahead.

Chapter One

The young woman tossed and turned in her futon. Her eyes were moving rapidly behind closed lids. Dark-blue hair spilled endlessly about her, and sweat dripped from her brow.

Suddenly, she shot up with a startled gasp, hand latching onto her jitte that was kept underneath her pillow and bringing it up before her. Deep-cobalt blue eyes scanned the room warily.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she lowered the weapon and slowly let out the breath she had been holding.

"Dream again," she muttered darkly under her breath, knowing, once again, she would get no more sleep.

With a forced sigh she hauled herself to her feet, and rolled up the sleeping mat before putting it away. She then dressed for the day ahead, and once she finished she sat in the middle of her room, as if to meditate.

Instead, she pushed on the floorboard directly in front of her, moving it aside to reveal a secret treasure trove of sorts. She pulled out a quill, ink well, and leather-bound book. Once that was done, she used the removed floorboard as a small desk, opening up the book to a blank page, and then she began to write.

Day 60 post Talpa

Here I am once more. Awake in the middle of the night, due to haunted sleep. The Warlords, while they have said nothing, I know are going through the same ordeal. Talpa saw fit to wipe out their memories so often, I wonder if they'll ever truly remember their past?

As for myself, I have little to remember. A mere eight-years-old when taken…I suspect the trauma of that alone has made my memories harder to attain. But, I do have nightmares of it…That, and the Ronin of all things.'

She paused, a frown forming on her face as she tried to decide whether or not to continue. After a moment, she returned the quill pen to the paper.

'Still fighting them…Still causing them harm. And, I'm appalled that the person in my dreams enjoys what she is doing. Strata…The fights with him are the ones I see the most, and I inwardly cringe every time I think about it.'

She closed her eyes and let out an un easy breath, 'I wonder how he is? Does he have nightmares like I do? Does he continue to struggle in those nightmares as though they were real? Those questions, and others like them, bother me often. But, I do not dwell on them when I keep busy.

Running a ruined realm is not easy. The demons were not thrilled to learn they were stuck with human leaders…But, the Warlords were quick to set them straight.'

Here she paused to snigger, it had certainly been a sight to behold.

'But, I digress. Free of Talpa's influence, one would think the Warlords would drastically change…That really has not happened. They are different though. Sekhmet is much calmer, having lost the 'mad genius' aspect of his personality. Though, he remains very much a genius.

He's become rather talkative. He seeks me out during the day, and we will have tea and simply talk. From important matters, to the ridiculous, as in what snake would best suite his personality. Cale heard that, and remarked that a Japanese mamushi would suite him perfectly…Sekhmet did not appreciate that.'

'Dais,´ she frowned and thought it over for a moment. 'Continues to prove he is a clever spider. He has a real mischevious streak, and much enjoys pulling pranks on Cale and Sekhmet. Sekhmet, being the way he is, rather enjoys whatever the white-haired man puts out. While, Cale looks ready to kill him.'

She snorted and rolled her cobalt-blue eyes, that was how he always looked.

'Cale and I…Clash often. Silent he may be, but hot-tempered he is also. It's almost like he's an exact mirror of Halo's bearer…Better not tell him that to his face though. Not only would he avidly deny it, he'd get so-Wait, I will definitely be telling him that in the near future. At any rate, he and I argue and then Dais steps in the middle and prevents me from throttling Yami to death.

I don't know why Dais has to take the fun out of everything, but he does. Sekhmet merely sniggers and walks away during those disputes. He seems to understand Dais well enough to know to stay out of his way. Wish Cale would stay out of my way.

If he makes one more comment about me not hitting puberty,' a feral grin crossed her lips. 'Well, it won't be pretty.'

'As for myself,' Kayura rubbed at her eyes with her free hand, 'I continue to try and follow the ways of my clan…The path Anubis opened up for me. It was not easy to try and communicate with the Ancient. The first few attempts and successes were rather brief. How Anubis ever managed to meditate long enough to talk at length with the Ancient is beyond me. The bearer of Oni had the patience of a Saint.'

Kayura put down her quill pen, and closed her eyes once more. She staid this way for several minutes with a somber expression on her face. It almost looked as though she were done writing, but she picked up her pen and dipped it in the ink.

'In a way, he was. He sacrificed his life for mine…He turned his back on Talpa and picked up the will of the Ancient for the other Warlords. I only know this because Sekhmet told me, that when they brought Anubis back before Talpa, Dais questioned him.

How could Anubis believe the lies he had just been told, how could he have been bought so easily? Anubis replied that it was the truth, and that he would try and show them himself.'

'In the end, he did manage to show them the truth…Though, it ultimately cost him his life. They say nothing, but I know they miss him. Talpa did whatever he could to cause dissent amongst them, words the demon told me himself.

But, before the invasion of earth, Sekhmet says he recalls that the four of them were always doing things together; training, studying, or just lounging around on days when they had nothing to do. After that, he cannot remember what happened.

I guess, Talpa made them all forget those things…Lest they band against him later. Well, they did anyway. Much to his chagrin. But, back on the topic of Anubis.

I feel the most responsible for his death. As such, I cannot understand why the three Warlords accept me. Cale surprised us all, after I made that comment, and he merely chuckled and pat me on the head. He said, it was Badamon's fault, and in a way Talpa's…But if anyone else deserved the blame, it was him. For failing to listen.'

She moved to dip her pen again, the conversation echoing in her thoughts…

"No," Dais broke in shaking his head, "I'm as much…"

"We share equal blame," Sekhmet cut in, "We were jealous of his position under Talpa…We were angered when he got more priveledges than we did…And we felt betrayed when he left, because he left us. He walked away, or that is what we felt, and as such we would not listen to what he said. The blame, if there is any to be had, falls on the three of us."

Cale gave a nod to this, understanding he could not argue, "It is as you say, then."

"The blame and guilt falls on us," Dais agreed, smiling at Kayura, "So please, do not worry yourself over it any further."

Kayura shook her head as she came out of the memory…That had been what, ten days ago? Well, whenever it had been, it had changed the atmosphere around the palace a great deal. Outwardly, the Warlords were nothing more than cordially, behind closed doors?

They were always making some form of ruckus. She couldn't help but snicker. Sekhmet had a slight excuse, he was still seventeen physically, but Dais and Cale were in their twenties! It just went to show…Men could be over four hundred years old mentally, and still incapable of growing up.

Kayura summarized the remained of her thoughts and put them down on paper. She then put the pen, inkwell, and journal back into the hole in the floor and covered it up with the floorboard once more.

A knock at her door caused the Lady Ancient to pick up her head, and softly say, "Enter."

A familiar head of green-hair poked in after the door slightly opened, and then Sekhmet completely entered the room with a bow of his head. The form of respect she was quick to return, and then she waited on him to speak.

"Am I disturbing you?" he queried as he tilted his head to look at her.

"Of course not, only because you'd take immense enjoyment if you were disturbing me," Kayura lilted, querying, "What brings you here at this time of morning?"

"Ah, you know me too well," he sounded slightly disappointed at hearing her first comment, and then answered, "Couldn't sleep, I'm restless."

He sat down on the floor, "I was wandering the palace, and decided to drop in here to see if you were awake. Dais and Cale are sound asleep. And both are practical nightmares to wake-up."

Kayura's sides shook with laughter, "If Cale didn't insist on staying up until the sun starts to light the sky, then he wouldn't have a problem. Dais, I have no idea why he is such a pain to wake."

"Yes that is true…And, I'm still working on an answer to that question," Sekhmet said with a nod, before he inquired, "We have already seen changes to our world because of the merging. What others do you think there will be?"

"I am unsure," the Lady Ancient admitted, eyes straying to her window…She had moved out of her original place and into the palace. It was not that it was damaged beyond repair, she simply did not feel comfortable there anymore.

"A matter of waiting and seeing, huh?" Sekhmet offered.

Kayura gave a soft smile, "Yes, that is it exactly."

A/N: The comment about Anubis 'trying to show them himself' is from the sub version, Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, not Ronin Warriors…And the information in the preceeding sentence is a little embellished. Call it an artistic license.