*Note: I don't own any of these characters and this is an unauthorized fic so if you want to share it, that's fine but don't pass it off as anything legit. I also took a lot of liberties with this fic so if I butcher what you consider to be set, well rounded and fully realized characters and settings, I apologize. One more thing, this entire fic is done using a mixture of names from both the Japanese title (Samurai Troopers) and the English (Ronin Worriors.) Enjoy! ^-^
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To Kill A God
Part 1
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Sage stretched lazily and yawned, ignoring the complaints of his sore body, especially those of his throbbing head. Almost masochistically, he ran his fingers along the dark purple bruise that ran from the base of his jaw, up and across his cheek to his temple, the bruise that was the outward symbol of the concussion beneath. He winced, and a bit dizzily shifted his weight to look at Toma, who lay on his back, his eyes closed peacefully as he rested. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the window on the far wall, throwing soft shadows on Toma's smooth featured face. Still half asleep, Sage flung off the covers and levied himself to his feet before stumbling to the bathroom, nonchalantly scratching his crotch as he went. A gentle mental sweep told him the other Samurai Troopers were still asleep, he didn't blame them, the short trip to the bathroom had exhausted him. His strength was failing and the only thing that kept him from falling was his will alone. Finally he made it back to bed, though not his. He settled down beside Toma, one hand running across the other boy's lean muscled chest to come to rest over the heart which still beat a weakly and with an odd rhythm, a battle scar from their last war against the Dynasty.
* * *
Tokyo was once again leveled; debris scattered the fractured pavement as the steady drum of rain beat its way down from the sky. Lighting flared, bright flashes illuminating the darkness. The human embodiment of Tsukuru, the creator of the Dynasty glared down at the Troopers. He was an ancient god of evil; competent and secure in his own power. Tall and handsome, almost beautiful, he stood in a deceptively bored stance, twiddling the end of the feathery azure streak that had not been braided into his long, midnight blue hair. He would succeed where his humiliating minor lord Tulpa had failed. His personal guard, a hand picked assortment of demons from the nine hells ringed him, holding the pathetic children at bay. Tulpa had made the mistake of letting the bearers of the armor come to him, but Tsukuru was smarter than that. He had opted to meet them on their turf and by doing so had made it his own. The white tiger lay bleeding a few yards away from the boys, the creature's eyes dimming even as he watched. Tsukuru smiled, revealing even, white teeth, as he caught a glimpse of the insignificant human girl and the irritating brat in her care cowering behind what shelter a half-demolished restaurant offered. He was suddenly conscious of the passing time. With a flick of one slender fingered hand, he sent a raging shock ripping though the earth beneath the Samurai, cleaving asphalt and concrete alike. Pits yawned open, where there had once been miles of solid ground reaching to the depths of the earth skyscrapers were swallowed whole.
The Troopers struggled to keep from falling as the ground buckled and heaved beneath them. Each felt a moment of thought consuming panic as the images of their own deaths flashed, painfully bright, before their eyes. They had battled for two days, without food or sleep, against the evil deity's magically enhanced foot soldiers. Yet as Tsukuru continued to tear up the remains of the city they knew there would be no hope for a respite from battle as there had been multiple times with Tulpa. Ryo raised his swords and the other Troopers rallied around him, holding their ground as the world slowly ceased shaking and the dust kicked up by the first attack of the final confrontation settled in great clouds. Then the five armors began to glow and balls of searing raw energy shot towards Ryo of the Wildfire, the other worriors staggered as they felt their energies being sucked from them. Moments later the black haired boy emerged from blinding light, encased in the White Armor.
Tsukuru's shadowy servants attacked at once, laying into the weakened Troopers while the one called Ryo attempted to blast his way through the god's defenses. Tsukuru did not laugh as Tulpa had, however. He was smart enough to know one must always overestimate an enemy.
Shuu of the Hardrock roared in anger as Sai of the Torrent was driven to his knees beneath the weight of a large, many appendaged demon. With deadly calm Shuu modified his staff and sent it hurtling towards Sai's attacker. It hit the evil spawn in the head and blood, sickly and foul, spurted. 'At least we know they can bleed and that's a start', Shuu thought grimly as Sai trembling, managed to stand, just in time to shout a warning at Sage who was being rushed from three sides. With a bounding leap, Shuu recovered his weapon, changing it as he hit the decimated street at a roll, to regain his feet back to back with Sage, ready to fight.
Toma notched a bolt to his bow, covering Ryo as he bashed at the magical shields that were Tsukuru's ethereal defenses. Then he watched in horror as the leader of the Samurai Troopers was thrown with bone crushing force across the demolished freeway to land in a crumpled pile at the foot of what had once been an office building.
Somewhere Yuli cried out in concern and encouragement, his thin, wavering voice barely heard above the clamor of battle. Then when Ryo did not rise and make a useless jibe at the enemy, the boy began to nag at the fallen worrior. "Get up Ryo! You're not gonna let that sissy bishonnen make a fool out of you, are you? Why, he's not even nearly as big as Tulpa! Go ahead mumb memph mume…" his annoying besetments where cut short as Mia covered his mouth with her hand. Something was lerking in the shadows. Mia screamed in fear then in pain as a one of Tsukuru's fiends pounced on her and the boy.
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Shuu awoke to the sound of his stomach demanding his immediate attention. Rubbing sleep from his eyes he disengaged himself from Sai's embrace, careful so as not to disturb him, and made his way downstairs to the kitchen as noiselessly as he could. It was early evening and the rest of the house was silent as he looked in the fridge, which revealed itself to be completely empty but for something he couldn't identify, it could have been meat, but then it could have been cake. It must have been meat-cake. Wisely he decided not to touch it for fear it might jump up and bite him.
"Great!" He threw his hands in the air. "Mia forgot to go shopping again. It's not as if she's got anything better to do! Not to mention that she's more trouble than she's worth when it comes to the fighting." He grumbled as he pressed one strong hand to his aching side and checked the cupboards. All he found were some ancient instant ramen and a bag of stale cookies. He picked up the phone and ordered out.
With a sigh Shuu settled down on the couch to await the delivery guy, flicking on the TV. The only things on were cheap soap operas and golf. He settled for the golf and soon drifted back to a deep slumber.
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Toma shouted Ryo's name, and tried to raise him on the Trooper's shared telepathy conduit but got no response. Their leader was out of action, for the moment at least. With a silent prayer to the spirit of the Ancient he began to circle Tsukuru, his bow at the ready trying to buy himself some time. He had always known his armor was the weakest of the Samurai Troopers and now with Ryo down and the others fighting for their lives against nether world demons he felt like he was being suffocated under the pressure of his inadequacies. Angrily he shoved away his self-doubt to focus on the task at hand. But his concentration was shattered at the sheer pain that echoed across the telepathy conduit. It was Sai, trying desperately to rouse Shuu. A quick glance in their direction revealed all that had occurred. 'Damn! This is all happening too fast!' Toma thought.
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Sai lunged and pivoted at the nearest demon, harrying at it before thrusting with the blade tipped end of his staff. He felt sick as the weapon penetrated the misshapen thing's body, slurping though putrid smelling intestines and crunching though thick, white bones. Then, in the corner of his vision he felt, rather than saw the razor-like claws of yet another demon as it prepared to rip his vital organs from his still living body. He was like one paralyzed as he waited for death, it seemed as if the world had slowed to the sluggish consistency of glue. Then the familiar bulk that was Shuu stepped between them, he heard the larger boy grunt in pain as the thing cracked though the weakened Armor of Hardrock to rip into the flesh that lay beneath. Then it leapt back, a harsh cackling erupting from its throat, a sound that could only mean laughter. It mockingly licked Shuu's blood from its claws as he slumped to the ground with a gasp. Horrified and frightened for himself and his companions, Sage plunged his sword into the creature's back then recovered and sliced off its head, his fear and anger giving him strength.
No longer caring for his own life or the fate of the world Sai dropped to his knees with a hoarse cry and tenderly lifted Shuu's head into his lap. 'Komenasai,' he sent, tears running down his face to mingle with the layers of sweat and dirt. 'I'm so sorry.'
Shuu struggled to respond forcing his words past his pain constricted throat, he was hurting too much to use the conduit. "I'm gonna be fine, I prom. . ." he stopped to catch his breath and rethink what he had been about to say. He wanted so badly to tell Sai, his 'little fishy' that everything would turn out all right, but he realized it would be far worse if he made promises he couldn't keep. He didn't realize how long his pause had lasted until Sai's sobs took on a slightly hysterical edge and he began to shake Shuu's shoulder sending agony lancing though his side. "Hush, now," he whispered. "You still have some fighting to do. . . I'll just take a little. . . nap and wait for you, ne?"
"Iye! No don't sleep!" Sai rasped. "Just hold on while I try and heal you!" Shuu tried to protest but he lacked the strength. Sai knew he wasn't a healer, that was Sage's forte. Nevertheless, he knew Shuu would die before Sage could do anything, if Sage lived himself. Throwing caution to the wind Sai reached deep into the dregs of his armor's being, searching for the bright pocket of power that he kept reserved for emergencies. He hardly heard as Sage continued to fend of the monsters that swarmed around the three Troopers, which completely ignored the gaping holes that were beginning to form in their hideous ranks. He blocked out the sounds of Toma shouting his special attack commands as he powered up to blast their foe. His only concern was Shuu, whose breathing was ragged as tired old man's. Sage took a hit to the head and toppled over, grunting as he hit the remains of the city street. Seeing their chance the shadow demons converged to feed. . .
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It was pitch dark in his room when Ryo opened his eyes. The well-known walls and his dresser with his Godzilla collection scattered in well-loved disarray on top came into a bleary focus. A large poster of the Sailor Senshi stretched across the ceiling overhead stared down at him. Still half asleep he dangled one hand over the edge of the bed, fully expecting White Blaze to rub his great furry head against his palm. When there was no response, Ryo clucked softly, thinking the tiger might be dozing or in the other room. Still, not so much as a familiar rough tongue swiping across his knuckles announced the beast's presence. A bit distressed and more than a little annoyed that his constant companion since boyhood had so inconsiderately wandered off, he pushed himself into a sitting position, only to moan as he realized that every inch of him was hurting. And then it all came flooding back. White Blaze was dead. He and the other Samurai Troopers had nearly died as well. A single tear glistened as it slid down his shadowed cheek as he remembered.
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Mia, one arm slashed open, leaned against a crumbling support beam of an unrecognizable structure. Yuli trembled and clutched her leg. The demon that had come upon them had suddenly cocked its head to one side, as if listening to some voice only it could hear, then executed an abrupt about face (quite a feat considering the sheer weight of it) and ambled off to rejoin its fellows.
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Finally Sai reached the core of his being, grabbed the node of energy and sprang back towards his lover. No sooner had he surfaced than he felt the energy he had worked so hard to bring forth being sucked from his grasp. Angry, frightened for Shuu's life he tried to resist, but to no avail and then the force began to drain his very essence as well.
Shuu hissed in pain. Something whose intentions he could not fathom was drawing out the last of his armor's vigor. He grit his teeth and attempted to fight it, yet his strength flowed from him, though him, like sand though a sieve.
Ryo opened his eyes and tried to stand but only succeeded in pitching forward. Slowly, stiffly he made it to his hands and knees before he realized his swords were still gripped tightly in his fists. Planting them amongst the debris he used them as leverage. He heaved himself up just as an unknown force began to pull at his remaining power. He shook his head, thinking the sensation was just a result of the hit he had taken. 'That %@#* is going to get it! I'm gonna kill him for hurting White Blaze and the others!' With that he lunched himself to his feet, only to keel over to the pavement as the force washed away the last of his energy.
Sage cried out as something struck him the head, leaving a dent in his helm. He tried to roll clear of the flailing tangle of arms, legs and claws that threatened to tear him apart. He growled as he grappled with the remaining demons, but bright spots popped burst in his vision. Then something pinned him. Instinctively, he kicked and cried for help, knowing full well there was no one to help him. The Ancient was dead, as was Anubis and Kyra-Sama had not been seen for nearly a year. But he gave up all hope as the power of his armor was taken from him without an instant's notice. With a sigh of submission he stopped fighting and gave himself up to the nothingness that beckoned to him.
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Tsukuru watched as the Armor of Torrent began to shine a pulsing aqua blue, saw it spread to engulf the fallen Armor of Hardrock. He did not wish to wait for one of the stinging, yet formidable pests to recover and so he reached out to strike at them. But the one known as Toma stood in his way. Snarling Tsukuru brought the full force of his power down on the boy who stood between him and certain victory, intending to crush him in a single blow. But instead he met resistance such as he had never felt before.
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Just as Toma unleashed what he had considered to be his final assault on Tsukuru he found himself floating in darkness and wave of vertigo made his stomach churn. And then it was freezing cold, the cold of the endless emptiness of space. He watched as if from outside his body as his Armor of Firmament dissolved around him and something new began to clamp itself to his torso, arms and legs. The cold got worse and the darkness got darker. And then he emerged into the dim light cast by the waxing moon that shone eerily over the deserted, skeletal remains of Tokyo, sillouetting starkly against the knoby spine of which was Tokyo Tower. Confused, Toma stared down at his arms, they were encased in armor, but not his own. This armor was infinitely black and he felt as if a battery the size of a city block had recharged him. For a moment hesitation and uncertainty griped him a heavy pit in his stomach. Then he saw Ryo, more dead than alive, slumped in the rubble. Sai's slight form bent over Shuu's bloody body. Then he became aware of Sage, lying unconscious on the ground, as Tsukuru's demons tried to pry his armor from him, like one pries the shell from a boiled crab.
Enraged, Toma focused on Tsukuru. He had no hope of surviving the encounter, but he had to get vengeance, for himself and for his friends. Still, he would be the first one to admit it, he was afraid to die. In a little dark part of his soul he wanted nothing more than to retreat to some comforting place and nurse his wounds, to leave his friends and his boyfriend to die while he saved himself. Yet the others and, though the thought terrified him, the entire world, was depending on him to rescue them from the monster standing fifty feet from him. At least now he knew he had been given the power to bring the enemy down with him.
Tsukuru bared his deceptively charming smile to hide the fear that was creeping into him. A mere token of his demons was still alive, and most of those were damaged. Yet he refused to lower himself by becoming emotional. Being angry, he knew, would only cause him to be careless. Unlike some he was not one for snappy battle commentary or witty exchanges between opponents, it wasted the breath. He knew about the Black Armor of Firmament, a great worrior Shinto priest had created it back in the Haji period and used it to destroy half the nether world. It not only drew power from the five armors, as did the White Armor of Wildfire but also from the White Armor itself. As such it was twice as deadly to those who opposed it. But after the using the Black Armor, the worrior priest had died, his heart burst from the sheer force of will and strength of body it took to wield the armor. Tsukuru knew he could win, he would simply let the poor, unsuspecting boy be destroyed by his own armor. Almost smugly he ringed rainwater from his sopping clothing (an unfortunate part of being in a physical manifistation, naked avatars are never as respected as clothed ones) All he would have to do was survive and victory was his.
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Still uncertain of his new black armor's powers he brought his bow, which hummed as with a life of its own, to bear leveling it at Tsukuru's chest where his corrupted heart should lie. His decision had been made, he would bet everything on this one shot, if he missed. . .well, he wouldn't think about it. Summoning all the energy he could, from the strange armor, from his weapon, from himself, Toma shouted the first word that came to his lips, "Shi ne!" he cried as he drew back and let fly. With a twang the arrow flew like some elongated bullet.
Tsukuru crouched and prepared to dodge if the arrow got anywhere near his person. As it sped towards him, he felt himself to be in sufficient danger to make getting out of the projectile's path worthwhile. He darted to one side then crouched to launch himself across the expanse of rubble between himself and the bearer of the Black Armor of Firmament. At least he meant to.