TSM - Warlord of Forest

Chapter One – Rising Tides

Elowin frowned as loose clumps of grey earth shifted beneath her boots. The stagnant pools of yellow water, which liberally dotted the barren landscape, gave off an odor unpleasantly similar to that of rotten eggs.

Scrunching her nose, Elowin gathered her brown traveler's cloak tighter around her body and set off through the maze of water. In the distance Elowin could see the top of the tall pagoda of the Youja-kai palace, the home of Empress Kayura and her Masho. Kayura had succeeded to the throne after the fall of her previous master, Emperor Arago. She was a far more benevolent rule than he had been and, given time, would undoubtedly make the Youja-kai into a far grander and more powerful nation than it could ever have been under its former tyrant.

However, as many Youja still believed Kayura to be a naïve child, the Youja-kai was at its weakest point in over a thousand years. Kayura could easily be overthrown if Morion's plan came to pass.

After an undeterminable time, complete with having sunk a foot into two of the cesspools, Elowin approached the palace. Standing at guard in front of the palace gates were two Youja, formless demons bound to a suit of grey samurai armor. Both raised their weapons as Elowin neared, brandishing them menacingly in her direction.

"I bring urgent and troubling news for the Lady of the House. Please, let me pass." The Youja exchanged a swift glance before one turned and walked quickly through the gates, the other keeping his staff trained on the red-head. After a moment the Youja returned, but not alone. With him was a tall man with long white hair and a patch over his left eye. He wore a thin, dark green armor and stared at Elowin critically with his one pale blue eye. He nodded and the Youja relaxed their weapons and returned to their posts.

"Follow me," he said shortly, and turned to walk towards the palace with a quick stride. Elowin ran to keep pace with him, taking two steps to each of his.

The palace itself was a maze of yellow streams and long pavilion-style buildings. The pair crossed many bridges and, to Elowin's surprise passes several large gardens before reaching the palace's main entrance hall. The armored man lead Elowin past dozens of stony stairways, both ascending and descending, and past more Youja than she could count before bringing her to a closed pair of giant doors with two Youja posted on either side.

The Youja pulled the doors open as the two approached and the white haired man lead Elowin into an enormous candle-lit chamber. At the end of the hall, sitting on a great stone throne, was a young girl who appeared to be in her early teens. However, Elowin knew of the rumors that surrounded the Empress of the Youja-kai. It was commonly believed that she was several hundred years old. Kayura had long dark hair which fell loose about her shoulders and, instead of wearing the normal attire of royalty, she wore simple robes of blue and white. On the wall beside her was propped a golden shakujo.

Her guide stopped several yards from the throne and said in a deep voice, "Empress, Elowin Phereledh of the Eldar kingdom Tathóre claims to bring urgent and, what was the word . . . ah yes, troubling news." Elowin started, she had never mentioned her name.

"Thank you, Rajura." Kayura said with a forceful voice that was obviously a dismissal. Rajura turned and walked towards the nearest wall, seeming to melt into it upon contact and leaving Elowin alone with the child-like Empress.

"Rajura is my General of Intelligence; there is very little he does not know." Kayura stated, seeming to read Elowin's mind. The Empress smiled as she stood from her throne and retrieved the shakujo before coming to stand before her. "So, what is this important news that you bring me?"

Elowin told Kayura the speech she had over heard the day before in the courtyard of Gloselin, and of Milien's calls for assistance from the Youja-kai. When she was done Kayura frowned, turning to look back towards the throne in silence. After a while she spoke softly, "We have known that the new ruler of the Dark Kingdom was just as evil as his predecessor, but I wasn't expecting this. Not yet."

Abruptly, Kayura turned back towards the chamber entrance where two of the Youja guards stood at attention. "Summon my Masho!" No soon than the Youja had left the room did Rajura melt back into view with a curt, "You called?" Moments later two other men entered through the main doors. The first wore crimson armor similar to Rajura's; he had short dark hair and an angry cross-shaped scar over his left eye. The second wore dark brown armor, but his appearance was much more alarming. His tousled green hair and hooded black eyes reminded Elowin eerily of an overly large snake.

"Empress?" The scarred man questioned respectfully before narrowing his dark blue eyes at Elowin in contemplation. The taller, snake-like man just observed Elowin with interest.

"Anubis. Naaza. Rajura. It seems war is upon our doorstep, and," she glanced at Elowin, "The doorstep of our allies." Elowin felt the flush of relief across the tips of her ears as Kayura continued. "Rajura has informed me of the power of Morion's Youma army, it is doubtful that we could defeat him in a frontal assault. Therefore," turning to the green-haired man she smiled, "I have an important job for you Naaza. Go to the Ningen-kai, bring the Troopers here." Naaza looked a bit started at this information but bowed nevertheless and exited.

Then Kayura turned to look at each of the other three in turn, "The rest of us will plan our attack on the Dark Kingdom. Send word to Milien that her plea has been answered."

-.-.-.-.-

It was a beautiful Sunday morning as Tsukino Usagi and her friends made their way out of the crowded streets of Shinjuku and into a less populated district of Tokyo. Laden with shopping bags, the five girls were chattering pleasantly on their way to Juubangai district and the Crown Game Center.

"You girls wouldn't mind answering a question would you?" As one, the Senshi turned to face Naaza; now wearing worn blue jeans, a brown sweatshirt, and a sheepish grin, he had his hands stuffed into his pockets as he leaned slightly in their direction. His normal clothing and wild hair served to make him appear only a few years over seventeen.

"What is it?" Hino Rei replied, her intense, dark eyes narrowing in suspicion. Naaza's grin brightened and he straightened."How would I get to Hana High School? I have a few friends that go there, but I'm afraid I don't know where it is."

The Senshi exchanged amused glances, before Ami piped up in her mild voice, "Hana High is in Odawara. It's a few miles outside of Tokyo. Though I doubt you'd find your friends if you went there. Today's Sunday, school's closed." Naaza nodded and mumbled to himself in a voice he obviously thought they couldn't hear, "I see, then they must be at the Yagyu woman's mansion." Then, in a louder voice, he said "Much appreciated," before he turned and walked off down the street.

The majority of the Senshi stared after him with varying degrees of curiosity, all but one. Kino Makoto was no longer paying attention to the strange green haired youth. She had noticed an odd movement in the trees across the street. Glancing at her friends to make sure they were still occupied, Mako-chan crossed the street to stand under the tree in question.

In the branches was a young man, who appeared to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. Dressed in all black robes, he was staring down at her out of startling red eyes. She blinked in surprise, but he was gone.

"Mako-chan!" She jumped and turned back towards her friends. "H-Hai! Gomen . . ." she stuttered as she hurried back across the street.

-.-.-.-.-

Walking down the street, an aging man watched the five girls closely as they started to walk. His eyes particularly following the pigtailed blonde, Usagi, and the tall brunette, Makoto. As they drifted further away his gaze shifted to the large tree in which Mako-chan had seen the red eyed boy. He smiled and leaned heavily on his walking stick before following the same path as Naaza and heading towards Odawara.

Notes

1- In the Yoroiden Samurai Trooper's Universe this is set a year after the Gaiden OVA, but before Kikoutei Densetsu, so the second and third movies never happened. (The main characters are 17). TSM enters the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon universe after the Sailor Moon Stars series. (Most of the characters are 17). TSM enters the Yuu Yuu Hakusho universe two years after the second-to-last episode of the series. The last episode never happened. In other words, Yusuke didn't stay in the Makai for three years after the Tournament. I am, however, including information from the second movie (the one with Hinageshi). (Yusuke and Kuwabara are 17, Kurama is 18).

2- I know Kayura did not actually become Empress in canon, but it is a popular theme in fanon and it fits my purposes, so I've invoked my Author's license.

3- Shakujo – "A staff with ring shaped chimes set atop it," The staff of Kaosu (The Ancient One).

4- Naaza is taller than Anubis. The heights of the Yoroiden from tallest to shortest: Touma – 178cm, Rajura - 176cm, Ryo – 176cm, Seiji – 175cm, Shin – 174cm, Shuten – 173cm, Naaza – 172cm, Anubis – 170cm, Shuu – 170cm, Nasuti – 168cm, Kayura – 158cm, Jun – 118cm. (Heights for the Troopers from the Message OVA, let's say their the same).

5- Shinjuku, downtown Tokyo, is the site of most of the Trooper's battles. As Sailor Moon is also set in Tokyo, and Yuu Yuu Hakusho lacks defined setting, most of my stories will be set in Tokyo or the surrounding areas (unless they're at Genkai's. XD)

6- I'm using Odawara (-where Nasuti's mansion is-) as the setting of Hana High (-where the troopers go to high school, not sure if that's right but I'm doing it anyway). Please correct me if you have other information.

7- Hai – Yes

Gomen – Sorry (short for Gomen Nasai)

A.N. This has now been beta-ed, thank you for your patience.