The morning sun had risen, lighting up the darkness that covered the camp in which Tenjia, Ritsu, Namui and Kikaito and made, Tenjia was still asleep, Ritsu beside him inside the tent and waited for him to wake, staring at his hand, she hesitated to take hold of it before she looked away and stared out the tent. Namui and Kikaito were with the merchant that spent the night with them, she closed the passage way before she turned to look at Tenjia before she scooted over and leaned in, slowly nearing his lips before a finger was pressed against her lips.
"Not yet." Tenjia said quietly and she blushed intensely, sitting up, he stretched and patted her head, "Not until my feelings are sorted out…..not until you're completely safe…" He told her and hugged her, she hugged back and nodded.
"Okay…" She told him and felt him plant his gentle kiss on her head he always gave her throughout there life.
"If you both finished your romance," Namui said looking inside, "Breakfast is ready." He said and went back outside, Ritsu watching him from over Tenjia's shoulder with a slight irritated glare before Tenjia grumbled something rude about him before he walked outside the tent followed by her.
Kikaito gave her a smug look, only being responded with a huff as she sat beside him and hit his arm. Namui laughed and looked at Tenjia before he handed him his bowl. The contents were vegetables and meat in broth, Tenjia had a problem with vegetables, but since this had potatoes and meat, he began to eat, ignoring the greens before Ritsu nudged him and had a spoonful of vegetables for him.
"Eat…" She said and opened her mouth, "Ahh." He stared at her and ate the spoonful before he did the same to her.
"I can't wait to see your children." Namui said before both Kikaito and Tenjia punched his stomach. "Double-Team." He said and leaned forward, placing his bowl aside and clutching his stomach.
"Stop teasing you idiot." Kikaito said and lifted his head before planting a kiss on his lips. Tenjia was too busy eating to notice but Ritsu watched them before turning her attention to Tenjia.
"Not yet.." He reminded her before looking at her, his face having his usual emotionless look but with a hint of slight embarrassment in them. "Just wait." He told her. She nodded and ate the rest before putting her empty bowl away.
After the pot had been emptied out due to everyone eating. Tenjia and Namui put away the tent and Ritsu walked inside the chariot, followed by Zao and Kikaito and Namui. Namui hit the wall twice before Tenjia made the horse move forward. He gently patted it back leg, sitting up straight, he watched as the sun began to give the water a orange-yellow like coloring, almost as if it was touching it.
Turning his attention to the dirt path and yawned a bit as he leaned back, his head pressing against the sturdy wood of the chariot and watched the horse pull them through the path and towards a day's worth of travel to a marketplace. He felt movement behind him and looked to his side and watched Ritsu sit beside him and leaned forward and felt the wind hit her face, her hair move with the wind slightly before closing her eyes. He watched her and looked away.
She opened her eyes moments later and looked at him and tilted her head and blinked before she looked ahead and smiled faintly and moved her bangs away from her face before she sat back straight and leaned against Tenjia who sat straight for her before giving her his usual kiss on the head. She blushed faintly and looked to her side and saw that the tree were becoming scarce and they were reaching the plains.
Ritsu looked away and began to doze off, slowly while trying to fight it but she was failing before falling asleep. Tenjia looked at her and shrugged before letting her rest, continuing their way through the path.
Zao had placed his things beside him and looked over to Namui, who had been fighting with Kikaito, the usual pinching the cheek and flicking the forehead. He tilted his head at their antics before Namui looked at him.
"Yes, he's my lover, and vice versa." He said pointed at Tenjia and Ritsu, "The princess is in love with her guard, though i'm not sure she would like Tenjia, I've known him for sometime during training, but i've never seen anything that would attract a girl." He said and sighed before uncovering a window. "He's an emotionless little guy most of the time."
"But you do realize he nearly died for her, multiple times." Kikaito said. "The first time in the abandoned home, when he got poisoned with a dart, when rebels tried to destroy the carriage she was in as a statement for war." He explained. Zao took it all in and nodded.
"But why doesn't he love her back?" The merchant asked.
"Maybe he doesn't see like that." Namui said.
"Idiot, because he might be rejected by the Emperor...who I hope is still alive." Kikaito said and sighed.
"The emperor would love to see Tenjia marry Ritsu actually." Namui said and the two looked at him confused. "He was thinking of asking Tenjia marry her, he trusted Tenjia enough to nearly ask him."
Tenjia was listening and looked at Ritsu, the way she slept was actually kind of cute, the way she was breathing softly, her chest rising and falling gently, they way some of her hair fell onto her face was pretty cute. His cheeks began to redden very faintly, but his eyes face forward and spotted a fork in the road, stopping the horse, he called toward Namui.
"Which way do we turn." He said and Namui grabbed his map and opened it before staring at it. "Well?"
"Says….to take a left." He said
"My map points to the right." Zao said and pulled his map out and looked at it. Tenjia cursed slightly and looked over to the paths.
"We'll have to just choose one….We can't split up…" Tenjia said and sighed. Ritsu woke up and looked over to the path and heard Tenjia, Namui and Zao.
"We can split up…" She said, "You and me can go right, Zao and Namui can go left, Kikaito can stay with chariot." She suggested. Kikaito was hesitant but nodded, he looked over to Namui and smiled.
"Very well," Tenjia said and looked around, looking for a place to tie the horse, getting of the chariot, Tenjia grabbed the reins and walked over to a single tree, with very few leaves still clinging to the branches, Tenjia began to tie the reins around a branch.
"Take care Namui." Kikaito said and they both kissed before the merchant and Namui walked away. Kikaito looked over to Ritsu and hugged her before going inside the chariot to sleep. Ritus ran over to Tenjia before they both began to walk their path.
"Will they all be okay." She asked and hugged his arm. "Kikaito is alone and defenceless….what if…"
"Nothing will happen." He said and looked at her and smiled. "I promise." He stated and felt her hand grab his tightly and she nodded before looking ahead.
"A day long travel." She mumbled and Tenjia simply patted her head and nodded, "Hopefully we can find something." Ritsu said and watched the sight of the plains pass by slowly, the trail was heading towards some green hills, who knew what lived there. It frightened her slightly before she looked over to Tenjia and clenched her other fist, she had to get him to love her.
Namui walked with Zao who was reading the map and tilted his head, it looked off for a moment and turned it around multiple ways before he looked behind him, the chariot couldn't be seen and he looked forward when he saw the hills before he looked at the map and turned it over before he stopped.
"What?" Namui said and Zao hit his head. "You okay."
"I read it wrong, the town was on the right path….Tenjia and Ritsu are heading to the town." He said and Namui sighed, "Well….I'll have to do something now.."
"Yeah…..Let's go back and try to find Ritsu and Tenjia before something happens to them." Namui said and turned around and began to walk.
"Sure," Zao said and walked behind Namui. "What will we do when we get to the chariot?" He asked.
"Kikaito will start to yell." He said and chuckled.
"How did you meet?" Zao asked, "You and Kikaito."
"Long story, but i'll shorten it, you see, I've had him a secret for a long time, i'd leave training for some time to see him." Namui continued, "But, Tenjia found out and when that happens, He can be very persuasive, and by that, he told Sensei, but he didn't much care as long as I maintained my training regime day by day, which I did, under strict watch from Tenjia."
"So, Tenjia is very through with his assignment?"
"Yeah, but he's terrifying when Ritsu's life is on the line….he becomes something, not even the Emperor or Sensei could control, he's known as….The Demon of the Empire."
"I've heard stories of the Demon….Was it true that he slaughtered an entire clan of Assassins that nearly killed Ritsu by himself."
"He wasn't alone, me and some other Elite Guards were there….That...wasn't the Tenjia I knew and taunted….No…" Namui said and shook his head, "It was as if something had taken Tenjia….and snapped his mind."
Zao nodded and closed his mind to envision the sight, he couldn't think of anything but when he took a look at Namui, his face said it all, when it came to Ritsu, Tenjia would change.
"So….does Tenjia love her?" He asked, "I mean if that's how he reacts, than he must have feelings for her."
"He does…" Namui explained, "He can't express them though, he does love her, but it's hard for him, especially when her life is on the line, when he goes on a rage, we have to make sure there are no survivors, if not, he'll just continue to kill with hesitation, even if Ritsu is in front of him, that's why we had to show him all the bodies before Ritsu was freed, his reaction to seeing her run….changed him, he hugged her and since that day, for a whole week, Tenjia didn't leave her room."
"What happened in the room?" Zao asked.
"He just held Ritsu in his arms, they ate together, slept together, and when she bathed, Tenjia would wait outside the room." He said, "But didn't allow anyone in."
Tenjia continued to walk with her a small ball rolled across them. He looked at it and quickly grabbed Ritsu and pulled out his Katana and looked around as the ball burst into a cloud of smoke. He circled with her and when he saw a hand reach for her, he grabbed it and bent it at an awkward angle before he kicked the body away. She gasped when the smoke appeared and stayed behind him.
After a minute, the smoke faded and thieves were circling them, one attending the injured thief. Tenjia watched them, ready to kill if they tried anything, one tried to get Ritsu but his hand was cut off cleanly before his head was removed from his body, Tenjia had Ritsu in his arm and his eyes almost changed color as the blood went in to the air, connecting to his blade as he watched the body fall to the ground.
"Don't….touch….her….." Tenjia spoke in a warning tone before the thieves backed away but kept their ground, they really wanted to steal their possessions. "Or...you'll meet the same fate as him." He said and they all rushed at him, Tenjia simply got into a stance, holding onto her before he parred some of their striked before he kicked one in the stomach and cut one's chest, the blade going deep enough to kill before he saw a knife nearly touch Ritsu, and his mind snapped, the knife was broken by his blade, Tenjia moved to almost that he was in a blur, the man's leg were removed and Tenjia turned to the last three.
Ritsu felt that Tenjia wasn't holding her and when she looked up, a man was screaming bloody murder and Tenjia was facing three men, she ran up and hugged him from behind. Tenjia felt his emotions soon fade and when he saw her arms around him he looked back to the thieves, he only stared and they grabbed their wounded and ran away.
She was shaking, but she felt that Tenjia turned and hugged her, she looked at him, ready for his usual kiss, she felt his lips gently touch her head, his katana hanging in his hand, drenched in blood, she saw that he flicked his wrist and most of the blood was cleaned off before he wiped the rest off on a corpse.
For what felt a time, Tenjia and Ritsu came across a town and when Tenjia looked at his map, it was only a three hour walk from the path.
"Let's go to a tavern and rest.." Tenjia said as Ritsu nodded before holding his hand, and continued to walk. After a couple minutes, Tenjia found a hotel, it was quite big in fact and when he walked in, he looked at the barn before walking to the barkeep, "Here, enough for two rooms, there will be a carriage with three or two people, tell them Tenjia got you guys a room…"
"Got it...Demon of the Empire." He said and Tenjia was shocked and watched the keep get two keys and gave them one. "Here."
Simply walking away, both Ritsu and Tenjia haven't heard that name in twelve years. He shook his head and when he entered the room, Tenjia placed his weapons away and looked at her, she smiled and walked out.
"I'll be back…" She said and he nodded and looked at the window and saw that it was near the night. He shrugged and heard the door close, Ritsu looked around the hall when she saw some girls signal her over.
She walked over and they pulled her in the room.
"We saw that stud, and listen, just by that look, we're going to help." A blonde girl said, with a western accent, where was she from?
"How?" She said and crossed her arms. "How can you help." She began, her misanthropist side began to show and another girl came behind her and sat her down.
"Let us do the work." She said and with that they began to work on Ritsu.
Tenjia woke up from his nap and saw that it was dark outside, he lit some candles and closed the blinds before he heard the door open, he turned around and saw that Ritsu had changed, she wore some clothes that exposed her legs and stomach, her top had sleeves that didn't cover her shoulders, some of her chest had been exposed, it had golden frills that had been at the end in her sleeves and down to her chest, her top had a blue belt that had a brown band underneath. Her skirt had brown frills at the bottom along with a blue belt at the top, she had leggings that stopped above her knee and down to her ankle, a white cloth had been gently wrapped around the bottom, her nails had been painted a scarlet coloring.
"Ritsu…" He began but she had locked the door and walked over to him, placing her finger on his lips, she shook her head and he sat down on the bed, thanks to her. Noticing the cloth color around her neck that was brown and white, along with floral center piece that was hanging above her stomach, attached to her top.
"No…" She said and before she could say anything, Tenjia sighed. "What…"
"Ritsu...I love you but not yet….not unti-" He was caught off when she pressed her lips against his, she closed her eyes and he did the same, his hand was going to push her off gently, but she moved it to her hip, taking hold his other hand and placing her hand on his chest. She pulled back slightly and looked down at him, hair hair falling, covering both their faces in a cloak, he moved his hand up and placed it against her cheek.
"Please…." She asked and Tenjia didn't answer, he just kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, sitting on his lap, she pressed herself against him, Tenjia placing his hands on her hips, their kiss was passionate, but with a different emotion that kept them from seperating, that was before Namui had picked the lock and opened it before staring at the two and slowly exited, quietly closing the door.
After what seemed for a long time, Ritsu pulled away and stared at him before she looked at her hand, it seemed clear, but still solid, Tenjia looked at it and sat up straight, he tried to hold her hand but, it went through.
"I'm out of time...Tenjia….you're in a coma…" She said, "I….somehow found myself in your memories…..and now….I have to go and pass on….I'm sorry."
"What do you mean." He asked, slightly shocked before the walls fell, around him, everything was dark, he looked around and reached for his blade but saw it vanish, he quickly turned to look at Ritsu and when he hugged her, she went through him.
"Don't worry…." She said, "Everyone you know will be waiting for you….but things will be different…" She said and Tenjia found himself standing on the floor, his looks had changed, he looked of the age of 18, his hair was a teal coloring, his bangs were a black color. His eyes became violet, he looked behind him as felt Ritsu's transparent arms wrap around him.
"Wh...what do you mean, Ritsu…" He said and looked at her frightened,"What's happening." He said but she planted her lips on him and before she finally vanished, Tenjia heard just but a few words.
"I love you…" She said and was gone. Tenjia looked around frantically for her and ran forward, getting no where.
"Ritsu!" He yelled out and felt an emotion he never felt, sadness and pain, falling to his knees, he stared up, tears falling down his face before his eyes closed.
He woke up in a white room and gasped, panting for air and sat up straight, he looked around and saw a female working on a device before looking at him and grabbed his shoulders, trying to calm him.
"It's okay Tenjia...nothing is going to happen, you're woke up from a coma." She explained, he grabbed her arms weakly and stared at her, tears forming before he spoke for the first time in this strange world.
"Where am I? Where's Ritsu!?" He asked, before he got up and walked over quickly to a nearby window and ripped open the blinds and saw a city, something he never saw before, there were tall and large buildings in the distance, it was night due to the many lights, looking down to the street, he saw strange contraptions that had wheels at the bottom, people walked on side of rock, or so he thought, paths.
"You're in Tokyo...2030." She stated and he turned and looked at her. "You've been asleep for nearly two months."
He stood there, shocked, before placing his hand on his face, where was Ritsu, Namui and Kikaito. He looked back out the window and stared out at the city in surprise, fear and shock.
"H-How….I….no." He said before he looked at wires sticking out his hand, connected to something, he stared at it and a doctor came over and calmly took his hand, he watche as the man removed the wires.
"Your brothers will be coming to pick you up." He said.
"I have no brothers...I was an orphan, taken in by the Emperor…" He stated and grabbed his hip and didn't feel his blade. "Wh-What…" He looked over to them.
"There hasn't been an emperor in over hundreds of years."
"Hu...Hundreds…." Tenjia said and slowly sat against the wall and covered his face before he stared at the ground.
After an hour or so, a red and black haired male, about the age of 19, followed by a lime green but with some yellow highlights haired boy, who seemed to take on the age of 17, walked into the hospital.
"Ranji, why drag me along, I have a date with Gumi later you hipster." The boy said only to be bonked by his brother.
"That can wait, remember, we're here for Tenjia, who we haven't seen for two months, now quit yapping Yukia." Ranji grumbled and went to the receptionist, she walked them to the room where the doctor greeted them.
"How is he doc." Ranji said and the doctor gave a sigh of confusion.
"He keeps calling himself an Elite Guard, who was sworn to protect Ritsu." The man said and gave him the release forms. "Just sign and he's free to go." Ranji nodded and signed before entering the room to where Tenjia sat on a chair, his back facing them.
"Tenjia? Bro?" He said and walked over before Tenjia looked over his shoulder.
"Who are you….."
"I'm Ranji Kazatzani, this brat is Yukia Kazatzani….there's more of us, but the others are waiting…" He said, "We're your siblings."
"Yeah, you know? I'm the pomegranate addict, Ranji the strawberry lover?" He said, "You called us these names." Yukia said.
Tenjia looked back at the city before standing. He touched the window, before he turned and faced them.
"...I don't remember much, but help me look for someone I love…." He said.
"Sure." The both stated.
"Where's….Namine Ritsu…"
Ranji and Yukia looked away before Yukia stepped forward.
"Um….she's married.."
"W-what…" Tenjia said before Ranji hit Yukia's head.
"Yeah...She's married to Ted Kasane...but why...ask now."
"No….we've….She…" He looked at the ground and his emotions faded before he looked up at the two. "Take me home.." He said and walked forward, just past them. Yukia and Ranji looked at each other before walking after him.
During a long drive back to the city, Tenjia looked out the rear window and to all the sights, one thought on his mind, where was Ritsu, who was this...Ted Kasane. He needed answers, and he needed them now.
He felt the machine stop and he looked forward to a large house. He watched Yukia and Ranji get out, he looked at the door and pulled a lever and got out before closing the door and when they entered the house, many people greeted him.
He saw many who gave their names, Kaito, Rin and Len, Teto, Ruko, Tei, Miku, Kiku, Luka, Meiko, Mikuo, Luki, Teiru, Kaiko, Lenka and Rinto, and more of his, 'siblings' stated their names.
"I'm Renji." Stated a white and scarlet haired male, who was hugged by multiple girls, he huffed and tried to get away, but they held on tight.
"The name, Yukio, Yukia's twin." Said a yellow haired teen but with lime green highlights. Tenjia blinked as he looked over to Yukia and Ranji, they nodded.
He sighed and with all eyes on him he walked to the center before stating the same question.
"Where's Ritsu Namine…" He said before the girl named Teto walked over, "...Teto…" He said remembering her name.
"Yep, and i'm her best friend….well she's married to my big brother…" She stated, "Why?" She asked before Tenjia told them everything, the day they first met, to the very end when she vanished. They all stared at him shocked, Tenjia scanned them all before he simply shook his head and walked upstairs.
"Which is my room.." He asked and with being told, Tenjia walked into it and opened his closet and looked at the clothes before changing, wearing some black pants, he went with a shirt and sweater, before staring at a scarf and wrapped it around his neck before he walked back downstairs.
"Where you going?" Rin asked and Tenjia opened the front door.
"If you people won't help." He began before VY2 Yuma walked over and stared at him, "I'm going to look for her."
"Don't, you'll only get hurt." The male said and Tenjia stared at him and noticed the katana on his hip before a girl with brown hair in yukata walked over, "I can understand."
"As a samurai and a swordswoman, you both should know when one has a duty, it must be carried through." Tenjia said and closed the door behind and walked into the jungle known as Tokyo.
Tenjia took in the sights as he looked around the many building and watched the hundreds of people walking around before he looked around, scanning every face in hopes of seeing the one he knew. To his dismay, he didn't find her, so he sat down on a bus bench and noticed his supposed brother Yukia, walking with a green haired girl, she had on some shorts and a strange top, they both seemed to have a happy conversation, looking away he continued to scan before a large machine parked in front of him.
He stood up and looked around before walking to the end of the bus and looked for Ritsu before he saw Yukia and Gumi kiss and go their separate way, taking the chance he walked off and took the easiest route and stopped Yukia.
"You...do you know the whereabouts for Namine Ritsu." He asked and Yukia blinked before he nodded.
"Uhh, yeah, I think, see those hills, theres some houses, if you ask around, you bound to run into her, I think." He said and before he could say more, Tenjia was gone and away, "Uhhh…" He pulled out his phone and called Renji to tell him what happened.
Tenjia later found himself looking at a few homes before he walked over to the first one and shook the gate a bit before looking at a button and pressed on it before a elderly woman walked out.
"Sorry to bother, but do you know a Namine Ritsu." He asked and the lady simply smiled and told him, he was no bother, but she didn't know anyone named Ritsu. He nodded and walked away away before heading to the next house, and the next, and after a few hours, he stared at the ocean from a hill, hands in his pockets, and before he gave up and turned to leave, he saw something he thought he'd never see, scarlet golden hair that reached the lower back, soft lips and skin, he took a step closer away from the edge of the hill and towards the one he loved, the violet golden eyes he always remembered back when they were kids, his heart skipped a beat at what he saw before speaking.
"...Ritsu…."