A/N: This is a YST fanfiction which begun as a flyby-idea I shared with Cousin D, my co-author, but developed into something more than we had imagined. Per Cousin D's preference, we will use the Japanese spelling for Xiu -still pronounced Shu (that's Kento for you RW dub fans). While creative liberties have been taken with the events in this story for the purpose of entertainment, it also sadly addresses real issues regarding child safety and abuse. Help Stop Child Abuse – Get involved!

A Families Love

Co-authored: Zorra Reed & Cousin D.
Moonrise Inn Publications

Dedicated to Destanie, 11yrs. R.I.P.

Chapter One: December of 1988

Ryo Sanada, age 15, leader of the infamous Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, bearer of the Wildfire and Kikoutei armors, defender of the Earth, champion of the Youjakai, and middle school Soccer Star…stood hesitating in the doorway of his best friend's bedroom with hand poised to knock, while uncertainty twisted his gut into a pit of bubbling lava. Biting hard upon his lower lip, now indented with worry marks, he again questioned the wisdom of his actions; knowing them for what they truly were, foolishness.

"I can't do this," he muttered to himself. Curling his fingers tightly he withdrew his hand, a sound of surrender passing his lips as he internally berated himself for his cowardliness, deciding it best to simply forget the whole affair.

Unfortunately, luck was not with him. As he turned, he came face to face with Shin's puzzled expression, the sandy redhead having come up silently behind him some minutes ago. Ryo jumped, startled.

"Is there something you need, Ryo?" Shin asked politely, a hint of concern bleeding into his words. After all, Ryo had been standing in his doorway for some time debating whether or not to announce himself. The fact that he was retreating after so much deliberation had Shin on alert. Clearly, something was consuming the teen's mind, enough so, he'd failed to notice a presence so close behind his person.

"Shin!" Ryo exclaimed. With a nervous laugh, he tried to slip by the older teen.

Shin would have none of it. He placed his palm against the door beside Ryo's head and leaned in, effectively cutting off the younger's retreat. Ryo stepped back but found himself cornered between the slab of wood and his friend's warm body. Cheeks flushing with embarrassment, he cast his eyes downward and found himself verbally stumbling as thought eluded him.

"N-no, n-n-not really," he murmured softly, following with an apology for his inattentiveness not a breath later, "sorry."

Shin allowed himself a faint triumphant smile, knowing he was only adding to Ryo's growing anxiety with his proximity. "I don't believe you," he cooed softly, his breath a tease against Ryo's burning cheek. Reaching his free hand forward, he slipped it beneath Ryo's own to twist the brass doorknob. Never one to leave well enough alone, he grabbed the arm of the youth and pulled him into the room after him. "You're a terrible liar, Ryo. You should practice more if you want to be any good at it. Consider who it is you're lying to." He ignored the shame he felt wash over his captive as he directed him towards the bed, waiting patiently for Ryo to situate himself before prompting further. "Now, tell me what is going on?"

Willing the color from his cheeks Ryo perched stiffly on the edge of the bed, ready to bolt at the first given opportunity. He gazed sidelong through the protective curtain of his overgrown bangs to the aquatic warrior of trust. "I was…" his tongue darted out to wet his lips even as his fingers twisted in the hem of his shirt, a nervous habit Shin was well acquainted with. "…bored, I guess."

Liar.

Shin frowned. "How nice to know you think so highly of me. You come to see me only when boredom wins out." Shin effected a hurt expression, one he knew that worked very well on his friends. "Well, then...if you have something more interesting to do, I'll just go wallow in my own lonely, dank little room. Would you mind leaving?"

Ryo bit his lip, his face pinching in agony as guilt overcame him. "Shin, I didn't mean it like that."

Shin laughed musically and threw an arm over Ryo's shoulders as he plopped down beside him. "You fool," he mocked. "Either that or you think I'm a fool. Tell me what's going on, or I'll tell Seiji you're sick and he'll force feed you some of that stuff he likes to make."

Ryo cringed at the thought of swallowing Seiji's magical brew. If tastes could kill, they'd all be long dead. Accept for Seiji, who never seemed to drink his own concoctions…. Curious. Pulling away from the arm pinning his shoulders, Ryo stood to his feet, dismayed when Shin followed and reclaimed his hold. "I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have come."

Shin released a heavy breath and tightened his grip. "You keep apologizing, but I don't know what for. This is your home, too. You have a right to wander about if you've a mind to do so."

"That's just it," Ryo caved, sidestepping Shin to reclaim his vacated spot with a heavy sigh. He sank down, Shin following beside him with a touch more grace. "This isn't my home anymore. I'm leaving."

Shin's expression wilted into something unreadable. "Oh?" he prompted, a light curiosity coloring his tone.

"This isn't my home," Ryo repeated, his voice barely more than a whisper. They fell into an uneasy silence, leaving Shin to wonder who Ryo was trying to convince with that statement, himself or Shin.

Certain his hurtful words would be taken as a betrayal and unable to bear the sight of Shin's gentle features twisting into a frightful expression at Ryo's ungratefulness, the raven-haired teen fixed his tearful gaze firmly upon his lap. When next he spoke, he was no better able to hide the fine tremor of his voice than he was the trembling of his clasped hands. "I'm going h-home, back to my p-parents."

"I see." Shin slowly dragged the words out thoughtfully. He couldn't account for the strange change in Ryo. What had caused this sudden need to run away? Was it something they could fix? "Have we done something to offend you? To make you want to leave us?"

Ryo shook his head vigorously. "No, this isn't about you guys, honest. You didn't do a-anything wrong." He chanced a glance over to Shin and tried to smile. "M-my Mom c-called and said that...that we're m-moving. That I have to c-come h-home."

Shin considered the veracity of that statement. He hadn't heard the phone ring that morning but perhaps he was mistaken. Ryo was devoted to his parents, as would be any dutiful child, of course he would return home once summoned. Shin crossed his legs and leaned back against his arms, sinking deeper onto the bed. "So, you're worried that we'll be upset at you for leaving at your parent's behest? Is that it?"

Ryo stiffened at Shin's words and bit back on the reply already on the tip of his tongue, his gaze shifting to the window, mournfully noting the approaching twilight. Touma would be able to see the stars soon; he and Seiji would be sitting on the back deck talking softly as the twinkling diamonds appeared one by one, much to the delight of the wind trooper. He was going to miss his friends. Allowing his tension to ebb away in the guise of a shuttering sigh, Ryo forced a small smile as he glanced over to the redhead.

"That's it," he agreed with a slow nod. "I don't want anyone upset with me."

No, that wasn't all, Shin was certain of it. He noticed the hesitation in Ryo's voice and filed it away for later use. Ryo was lying, again. 'Silly boy,' Shin thought. After all, Ryo only stuttered when he was extremely uneasy.

"Well," the elder youth sat up and swung around to face the younger, pretending he didn't suspect something was up by offering a bright smile. Ryo wasn't always the clearest of thinkers and Shin had no qualms about thrusting his help upon his friends, whether they wanted it or not. Maybe Ryo really was moving with his family and Shin's imagination was overreacting…. Not likely. "You shouldn't worry. No matter where you go, we'll always be with you. No matter what happens to you, we'll be there to back you up. All you need to do is decide that you want us to help. So, where are you moving to?"

Ryo stood with more force then he'd intended, causing himself to stumble. He offered a clueless shrug to help cover the action. "A-away somewhere, I didn't ask. I'll be changing schools, too, I imagine."

'Naturally,' Shin thought but kept the comment to himself. The troopers had enrolled in the same middle-school when they'd made the decision to stay together for the year. Each secretly worried there would be a third saga to the dynasty wars. While Shin himself attended a private high school on the other end of town he understood Ryo and others would miss attending classes together. On the matter of not knowing where his family would be moving to…

'How strange not to ask his parents.' It would have been the first question out of his mouth had he been in Ryo's shoes. "Will you be giving us your new address or shall we just hunt you down?" Shin asked. Though he smiled, he really wasn't joking. He didn't give Ryo a chance to dwell on that possibility, however. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever met your parents. Why don't I travel with you? I'll be good company on the train."

Blue eyes widening in alarm, Ryo raised his hands in defense and took several steps back, as though distance could protect him from Shin's inquiries. "Hang on now," he forced a strained laugh. Shin and the others were clueless when it came to his home life and past. Ryo intended for them to remain so. "I don't know where we're going exactly; a-and you remember, my p-parents don't have a phone." He pauses, calming enough to lower his hands, "I'll c-come b-back and visit, so please, don't w-worry so much."

"My friend, you ask the impossible." Shin settled back on his bed with a resigned sigh, putting his hands behind his head for lack of anything else to do with them as he stretched out. "I trust you so I'll do as you ask. Besides, as I just said," he looked intently at Ryo, "nothing can keep us apart. We're all connected. Death himself cannot separate us. Call the moment you need us, we'll all come running."

Ryo offered a weary smile, ignoring the fact that Shin was not-so-subtly letting him know that he was caught in his lies, but touched by his friend's misplaced devotion all the same. "Drama king," he accused with a not quite teasing tone. "I'm only m-moving out, Shin. Not going off to war. Again," he added almost as an afterthought. "P-people move all the time, it's no biggy, really. Anyway, I'd b-better go pack. I'll say good-bye b-before I leave t-tomorrow."

Another lie, but this one expected.

Shin's smile faded when Ryo turned his back. True, people moved out and grew apart all the time. It was a part of normal life and a part of growing up. 'But we aren't normal. I honestly don't think we are capable of growing apart. Not so long as we have the armors anyway. However, if this is really what Ryo wants…then I wish him all the luck.' He spoke before Ryo could retreat, "If you go to war, you'd better invite the rest of us. Xiu wouldn't forgive you, otherwise."

"I know," Ryo replied forlornly, which earned him an arched brow from the redhead. With a faint sound, Ryo quirked his lips upward into a true smile, not that Shin could see it with his back to the boy. "I'll miss them too." Padding softly from the room, Ryo crossed the hall to his own, his door closing behind him for the night.

"Can't get away from us, Ryo, no matter how much you might want to," Shin whispered to the ceiling once Ryo's footfalls faded from the hall. He'd made no move to stop the fire warrior or to go after him, though his impulse to do so was strong. He thought of his own life and what he'd been forced to give up for the sake of the armor; he'd given up his mother, his sister, his home by the sea, and so many other little things that were so important, yet so unnecessary. Every day he longed for his home far away, for his family whom he hadn't seen in months. He couldn't blame Ryo for wanting to get away if that was the true reason. It wouldn't work. The others had all tried, at one time or another, to run away from what they were. It never worked. Now it was Ryo's turn to try, and he'd learn the hard way, as they had, that the armors did not care to be parted.

"Good night, Ryo," Shin muttered. "Have pleasant dreams."

-TBC-