Nozomi o Taberu
(To Eat Hope)
Shuu sat up with a cry. His chest heaved as he peered about the room. Shin snored lightly on the other bed, the blankets tangled around him. The tv stood, blank and silent, even though he didn't recall either of them turning it off. Then again maybe he'd been fast asleep when Shin did. The movie they'd been watching wasn't there either. It had to have been Shin then, he was notorious for leaving things out. He yawned as he continued looking around. A breeze drew his eyes to the window. Closed. Maybe the door had been opened downstairs. Shuu nodded acceptance of that.
He lay back down, covering his eyes with his arms. His dreams had been disturbing to say the least. The most vivid was that she had been screaming at him. He shuddered at the memory of his gentle wife's face contorted in hate as she howled her loathing at him. Tears slid down his cheek as he recalled, as if it had been one of their regular arguments, one-sided as they were. This time, it was her side. Shuu's breath came out in sobs, and she was right, everything she had accused him of, he was guilty.
"Shu, daijoubu ka?" Shin's hand rested on his elbow.
"N-Nai Shu," he sobbed. Shin pulled his friend into his arms.
"Tell me," he prompted.
Shuu told him of his dream. Of Nai Shu. Shin listened, his eyes half-closed as he concentrated on what Shuu said.
"Does it still bother you? Shin asked after Shuu had finished. "Does the abuse still bother you?" He steadied his sea green eyes on Shuu. "And Ling?"
Shuu was silent a moment before answering. "It's always bothered me, Shin." He rubbed his face with the back of his hand. "To know that I could do that. I don't know what happened to Ling. She vanished. Not that I really care, or even looked." He shrugged it off. "Thanks again, Shin. If you hadn't talked to me..." Shin smiled, shaking his head.
"It's my duty as your friend to point out when you're being a dumbass."
Shuu snorted. "Thanks alot."
"You're welcome!" Shin beamed, then sobered. "You never did tell me what happened when you went home that day. Did she forgive you?"
"I kicked Ling out of the house. Whatever possessed me to take her in..." He shrugged again.
"I told you. Being a dumbass."
Shuu smiled a little, but it wasn't very sincere. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"Did Nai Shu forgive you?" Shuu glanced at Shin, wondering why he persisted on this.
"Yeah, after Ching Che was born, I think she did."
Shin smiled and pat his knee.
"Good. I'm off to start on breakfast." Shin paused at the threshold. "Right after you got home?"
"She was attacking Nai Shu," he replied. Shin nodded and left.
Shuu shook his head and began getting ready for the long trip back. He paused though, she had forgiven him. He knew it. So why did he dream of her screaming at him. Had he not forgiven himself. He thought back to the conversation with Shin. The blood smeared on her cheek. The absolute look of hurt and fear that had haunted her eyes since. How could he forgive himself?
****
Seiji paused on his way downstairs to gaze into Shuu's room. The Trooper of Justice sat on the edge of his bed, eyes focused on the floor. Seiji stepped into the room. He sat on the other bed, gazing at Shuu, nodding as Ryo passed.
"I never got to say goodbye. They don't even know how she died. there's no external wound. The doctors are going to perform an autopsy and tell me what they find." Shuu wiped at his eyes again. "I'll be alright Seiji. Thanks for checking up on me.
Seiji smiled and squeezed his shoulder before standing to leave.
"Of course. I am your friend, after all."
Ryo stood in front of his old room, it's door closed. His hands clenched into fists. He stared at the wooden door. Seiji came up beside him, leaning against the rail next to him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.
"She's gone Seiji. I can't.." he stepped forward, reaching out a hand to touch the door, "I can't feel her any more." Ryo's hand dropped to his side. He leaned his forehead against the door.
Seiji grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, not liking the way he was acting, or the paleness of his face.
"Who?" he snapped.
"Nasuti. Last night, I could feel her here. I could almost see her, smell her perfume..." his voice trailed off, but his eyes still shone with tears. His head sagged against Seiji's shoulder.
"Is that what it was all about? Last night?"
"Ah. Nasuti's been here all the time." Ryo gazed tearfully at the closed door.
"A ghost?" Seiji murmured.
"Ryo? Seiji? Daijob?" Shin's voice called. He appeared in front of Seiji and put his hands on Ryo's shoulders.
Seiji turned his lavender eyes to Shin. "Nasuti's ghost is in there."
"Spirit," Shin corrected softly. "It's not a ghost, but a piece of her spirit. Touma researched it." He murmured, breaking away from them. He headed downstairs.
Shin watched a moment before turning to Seiji. "I was coming up to get you for breakfast. Let me get Shuu and Touma and I'll join you."
Seiji smiled. "Samantha's down there?"
"Hai. Raring to eat, you'd better go supervise." As Seiji stepped past Shin, the older man's hand clamped onto Seiji's sleeve. "You will tell us about her and that wolf." Seiji blinked at the cold expression on Shin's face, and his equally cool tone before nodding. Warmth seeped back in as a smile split Shin's face.
"Yoshi." He released Seiji's sleeve allowing Seiji to leave. He cast one look at the door, before smartly turning on his heel and heading for Shuu's and his room.
****
"What are you doing?" The great red eyes glared at the dark form. "They are gaining power. One of them has awakened his yoroi completely, another is close to it." Flames flashed between his teeth.
"Without the five Samurai yoroi, a gate cannot be opened, my Lord."
"Then hurry, so that I may sink my teeth into them." The red eyes glowed fiercely. "Is that not your wish as well?"
"Yes, my Lord." The red eyes narrowed at the creatures.
"I almost think you're trying to save them," it hissed flashing white teeth.
"Never, my Lord. The Shinsei yoroi are unfamiliar with this realm, the Samurai and Masho are the only ones capable of creating a gate, and perhaps they can force them here as well. Please give me the time to gather the other three, my Lord."
"Three?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Very well, then, don't let them leave there."
"The monk is also present, my Lord."
"Is that where she disappeared to?" Laughter rumbled from the thick throat. "I do not want her to interfere."
"As you wish, my Lord." The dark form rose to leave.
"One more thing," the servant turned, "The White Sun Emperor? Why are you reviving it?"
"To help us, my Lord." was the reply. The red eyes blinked and the closed, a dismissal.
*****
"Has anyone seen Higa?" Touma asked as he came into the room, still cradling Kayura.
"He said he'd join us later," Shin informed him. Touma nodded as he set his daughter at the table.
"Good, it'll give us a chance to talk," Ryo said, unconsciously sliding back into the role of leader. "Things need to be explained." He settled a fiery glare on Touma and Seiji."
"After breakfast?" Shuu pleaded. Laughter bounced around the room as Ryo agreed.
Samantha approached Touma, kneeling by Kayura's inert body.
"What's wrong with her?" she asked softly. Jobi padded over, and nudged Kayura with her muzzle.
"This happens whenever an angry spirit touches you. She'll wake up in a bit," I hope, he added, silently.
Samantha nodded slowly, and went back to her place by Seiji. Jobi sat behind her and as they ate, Samantha passed tidbits to the giant white wolf. They made small talk as they ate, Jun commenting how much he missed Byakuen and would give anything to see him.
"Seiji, how did you meet Samantha, and what's the story with Jobi?" Ryo asked. Everyone turned to Seiji, expectantly. The table had been cleared and the dishes were in the dishwasher, getting cleaned. Now the Troopers were eager to hear the answer to this question, that had been tickling each of their minds.
Seiji took a deep breath, running his fingers through his short hair.
"She joined Jijisan's dojo and was put into my class. She made me realize how restricted I was under Jijisan, that was the first I knew of her. I only saw her during the classes." A smile touched his lips. "I was still shy with girls, at the time. After I moved to America and set up my dojo, I met her again. We started going out and I married her." Seiji fell silent, his eyes distant as he remembered.
"And Jobi?" Shin asked.
"I don't know where she came from," Samantha said, gently rubbing the wolf between the ears. "She came into my life when I was sixteen and has been a constant since then. My father tried moving to get away from her, but she followed where ever we went, even to America." She grinned at Seiji, who rolled his eyes.
"Jobi terrorized all her boyfriends. I can't figure out why she accepted me."
"What do you mean 'accepted?'" Ryo asked, eying the wolf.
"She literally chased my other boyfriends away. Barking, howling, she even bit one. Whe she met Seiji, she behaved." The couple shared a smile in remembrance of the fright it had been. For Seiji, how nervous he was when the white wolf had approached him. And Samantha, how she had dreaded losing yet another boyfriend.
"Were you scared when you met her, Samantha?" Jun spoke up.
"No, actually, I wasn't. My father was terrified by her, but she didn't bother me."
Unexpectedly, Ryo laughed. "Doesn't that sound familiar, Jun?" The younger man blinked at him, blankly before grinning.
"Like Byakuen," he giggled.
"Do you know what she wants?" Touma asked, quietly. Samantha paused, her fork poised over her plate as she thought.
"No, I never even asked her." She lay her fork down and turned to the wolf, making eye contact. "What do you want?" she murmured, almost to herself, reaching out a hand to brush the white fur.
The wolf's tongue lolled out in a wolfish grin, before it lashed out. Samantha laughed, rubbing at the now slobbery wet area. Jobi lay her head down, ignoring them.
"You can understand her?" Shin asked.
"Not in words, not really. It's like... it's like-" Samantha faltered, lost for words. Seiji kept silent as he washed the slobber away with a wet rag.
"Like you know what she's saying?" Ryo stared down at the white wolf. "You don't know how, but you just know."
Samantha blinked at him. "Yes, th-that's it."
Ryo smiled in understanding. "It was the same with Yaku."
The woman blinked and smiled before resuming her meal.
Shuu stopped eating long enough to ask Seiji. "Can you understand, Jobi?"
Seiji shook his head. "Outside of normal wolf behavior, no."
"What did she say her purpose was?" Shin asked.
"To protect me, for a while." Samantha shook her head. "It's been a long while."
"Maybe we should get going now?" Shuu said suddenly.
"Where?"
Everyone turned at the unfamiliarly familiar voice. In the door was a woman garbed in the robes of a monk. Her slim fingers curled around a shakujo which radiated a soft light. Her dark blue hair hung past her knees. The five Troopers rose to their feet, their eyes wide.
"Where are you going?" She suddenly turned on Shuu. "To your family?" The smaller monk strode forward, gripping Shuu's shoulder. "You mustn't! There's nothing there!" Shuu staggered, suddenly pale in, his large dark eyes standing out in contrast to his bloodless face.
"Iya..." he whimpered.
"Shuu, I wouldn't lie to you. Your house is gone." She took a deep breath and continued, in a steady voice. "Nothing at all." The shadow of her conical hat hid her face.
"You're lying!" he cried, his voice cracking. "You have to be! Please tell me, this is all a joke. Tell me Rajura is behind it! Anything! I'd believe it!" he fell to his hands and knees his head fell in despair. "Don't tell me that everything, I've worked so hard for has just vanished."
The girl reached up to remove her coolie hat. Tears ran down Kayura's cheeks. She knelt in front of Shuu and reached out to touch his cheek he jerked away, so fast and hard that he fell back. Shuu clenched his eyes shut, still unwilling to believe. Losing Nai Shu, his love, was bad enough, but not his children. They had to be there. Somewhere.
From the recesses of Shuu's mind, an awesome power rushed forth. It cradled Shuu in its arms, enveloping him. It probed his mind, questioning his grief. He was distantly aware of the familiar weight of the Kongo yoroi settle around him. He was most immediately aware of the ground beneath him. The yoroi's power reached. Nothing, there really was nothing.
A roar resounded through the room. Kayura whipped about, the shakujo glowing fiercely, its rings dancing and singing.
"You!" she cried.
Byakuen shuddered in the doorway, bellowing furiously. He pawed at the carpeted floor, his claws snagging heedlessly. Higa was behind him, his screams drowned by the tiger's roars as he writhed on the ground. Byakuen raised his massive head, releasing a piercing yowl.
Shuu looked up dazedly, the Kongo yoroi covering him glowing brightly. Everyone stood, rooted to the floor, or their seats. Unable to comprehend, or act.
Kayura drew one of her jitte, readying it in one hand, as the other clutched the staff.
A wolf's howl answered the tiger's roar. Jobi flew over the table knocking aside Ryo and Shin with a snarl of hatred. Her teeth found the shakujo, and broke it, as if it were wood. Darkness flooded back into the room as the source of light vanished. The sudden silence as loud as a bang.
Kayura gasped, staggering back, away from the wolf. The Troopers had time to cry out a warning, before teeth sank into her throat. Her cry turned into a gasp before her eyes closed. Byakuen tossed her away, lashing out with one clawed paw to add to her momentum. Her dead weight slammed into Touma, sending both of them crashing to the table. The sound of shattering glass and china broke the silence.
"Byakuen?" Ryo's voice froze in his throat as the tiger turned to him. The usually brown eyes glowed red, as if the blood on the muzzle was reflected in the eyes. Samantha covered her nose with a hand, collapsing onto the floor. The white wolf reached out and, with a few swipes of her long tongue, cleaned the bloody fur. The tiger snarled a protest, but didn't move away, his eyes once again brown.
Touma sat up, rubbing the knot on the back of his head. He eyed the body resting against his own, its blood soaking his shirt. He shoved it away without thinking, but the stench of blood and death still tormented his senses. He clamped his mouth shut, nauseated. Kayura's lifeless eyes stared at him, her torn throat staining the carpet.
"What was she doing here?" Higa sat down by the tiger, rubbing his eyes, still visibly shaken. The four Troopers turned to him, silently.
"She was right," Shuu suddenly sobbed. "It's gone. Everything, it's all gone."
Higa glanced at Shuu's shuddering form, his expression blank as he noted the robed yoroi covering him. "She told you, eh? Sensei found them like that, too. He came to tell you, but ou were asleep alread."
Shin stood as a thought occurred to him. "I should check up on Yumeko. Touma," he smiled apologetically at his friend. "Do you mind?"
Touma shook his head, taking his daughter from Shin. "Thanks for getting her." He then handed her right to Ryo, saying he needed to change his shirt as Shin dashed into the den, snatching up the phone.
Jun watched as Higa approached him, although he ws focused on the tiger watching them both. The younger boy smiled pleasantly and reached into his pocket, removing a yoroi orb, the kanji 'CHU' imprinted in it's center.
Jobi nudged Samantha's face as Seiji lifted her into his arms and onto his lap. She moaned and opened her eyes, gazing into the concerned faces of the wolf and her husband.
Ryo sat beside Shuu, one arm around the man's broad, still-armored shoulders, as he cradled the girl with the other. The tiger turned from watching Higa and Jun's conversation and strode over to them. He ignored his two older companions, to swipe his tongue along the girl's cheek. Midnight blue eyes opened dazedly, peering up into the tiger face, his brown eyes. A small smile settled on the the girl's lips as she reached up to scratch the cat's muzzle.
****
The telephone's incessant ringing broke the silence of the small house. The large black tiger raised his muzzle, dripping blood onto his victim, to snarl at the noisy interruption. He turned his attention back to the body before him. Slowly, an ice-blue sphere formed over them. When it was the size of a baseball, the tiger vanished with it.
The house stood silent. The screen door slammed against the porch, it's glass broken, it's screen torn. The actual door lay on the floor in pieces, as if some creaturehad slashed it into three sections. Blood was liberally smeared across the walls. Against one wall leaned a man's corpse, his legs and arms were thrown about the room. Blood flowed from a hole in his abdomen, as if someone had scooped out his insides.
The other, the one that had interested the tiger, was more intact, with
a single neat slice across her throat. Her glass-eyed gaze stared at the
horror it had seen before she died. Her red hair clung to a face frozen
in terror.