Chapter 7
Omoide
Memory
Ryo immediately knew something was wrong when he opened his eyes and saw red eyes peering back at him.
Nii-san is awake?
"Dare?" Ryo asked, sitting up, his yoroi clanking dully. The creature flitted backwards on translucent blood-red wings.
"Tira," she giggled, flicking back her long crimson hair. "Nii-san, daijoubu ka?"
Ryo nodded, standing.
A faerie.
Tira tilted her small head, her green ears twitching.
"Nii-san spoke, but it was not Nii-san. Tira thought Youjahei did not mind speak."
Ryo blinked. Youjahei? "Where am I?"
Tira blinked. "In Tira's home. Daiwaru forest. Is Youjahei-niisan lost?"
"Yeah, I'm very lost."
Tira wrinkled her nose. "Now Nii-san talks. Make up mind. Talk or speak."
Ryo didn't know youja talked on a regular basis. His blue eyes widened. If she thought he was a youja.
"This is the Youjakai?"
Tira giggled again. "Poor Nii-san!" She hugged his cheek guard. "Nii-san has amnesia?"
"Ah, um, er..." Ryo stuttered. He was still dumbfounded by the Youjakai. Where the hell had this come from? Last time he checked there was nothing beyond Arago's castle. Nothing but a lake and an endless field of wiry grass.
Where had these been hiding? These tall twisted trees would have certainly been noticeable. Right? He never was that good at geography. He'd have to remember to ask Shuu or Touma about it. Shuu, if at all possible since, last time he checked at least, his hobby was geography. Touma might know something about it what with all the books he used to read. Shuu? Touma! Feeling really stupid, Ryo looked around, searching for his friends.
"What's wrong Nii-san?" Tira slowly turned about, her gaze searching the shadows clinging to Ryo's helmet. The translucent wings stood motionless, but still she stayed afloat. As sweet as this unexpectedly friendly youja was, Ryo needed to find his friends. He could not stand around and admire the faerie's wings.
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"Who else?" the faerie asked, flitting out to face him.
"Any one like me?" he tapped his armored chest.
"Just like Nii-san? Youjahei don't come to Daiwaru very much."
They are very close
Tira wrinkled her petite nose, letting out and aggravted sigh. "Nii-san makes no sense. First talk, then speak, Nii-san says friends are close. Tira tell Nii-san what Tira thinks. Tira thinks Nii-san is crazy. Tira thinks there are two spirits in Nii-san's body."
"Ryo!"
Ryo turned, a smile lighting his face, even though they were still out of sight..
Tira shot up a few feet, her ears twitching.
"Humans!" she screeched, before Ryo could answer his friends. She zipped back down to Ryo, ducking behind his horns. "Nii-san protect Tira! Humans hurt Tira!" His helmet rattled as she shook against him, making his ears ring.
"Why would they hurt you?"
"Humans are evil! Humans work for Arago! Humans hurt Tira!"
Ryo staggered away from the faerie, his head spinning. He found himself on his knees, staring at the yellow grass beneath his armored hands.
"I'm sure not all humans are bad," he choked.
"Ryo!"
"All humans! Nii-san wait here. Tira found help! Tira bring Them!" The faerie disappeared, leaving the soft flutter of her wings, which quickly faded.
Ryo closed his eyes, holding back the tears threatening to break loose. The Masho. She had to be talking about the Masho. What other human could she have been talking about? But why did it bother him so much?
"Ryo, are you okay?" Shuu rested an arm across his shoulder.
Brother's Wearer, four voices breathed, embracing his mind.
Seiji's sharp pale eyes glanced about.
"Were you talking to someone, Ryo?" he asked.
"There was a.. I guess it was some sort of youjajin here." The other widened their eyes, paling. Seiji began to earnestly search the surrounding woods. "I think we've been mistaken this whole time. They're not all bad. This youjajin hated Arago."
Touma narrowed his eyes, thinking. "In human history there's always a faction that rebels or objects to any government, no matter how good it is. It would be reasonable to think that it's the same elsewhere, even here."
"Great! Then maybe it'll be willing to help us," Shuu commented, also looking around. "Where is it?"
Ryo stood suddenly, remembering. "She doesn't like humans either. She thinks we're going to hurt her. She left. She left to get help." As Ryo spoke, he became aware of a buzzing sound, resonating through his yoroi. A breeze stirred the yellow leaves of the surrounding trees, slowly growing stronger.
"Nii-san!" Tira cried, bravely swooping from over the treeline, swatting one hand at Shin as she passed, nicking his cheek. Shin winced, wiping the blood from his face. Her small green form hovered in front of Ryo, eyes and teeth flashing. Even the flutter of her wings held a threatening note.
"Tira," Ryo started, trying to sooth the agitated faerie.
"Don't worry Nii-san! Tira brought Him! Tira brought Stingers!"
Ryo's head shot up as he finally identified the odd noise. Insects. Somehow, he knew them to be giant wasps. The wind picked up, throwing the branches of the trees and bushes about.
The wasps came over the top of the trees, dozens of them. With a roar, the giant insects threw themselves at the Troopers.
Wearer, we can handle this! Brothers' Wearers summon my Brothers! They are needed!
The twin blades of Rekka appeared in his hands.
"Nii-san?" Tira squeaked, still clinging to his horn.
"Tira," Ryo said, managing a soft tone despite the rage building up, "if you don't stop those things, I will."
Confusion, and hurt filled her red eyes. "What does Nii-san mean. Tira doesn't know!"
The wasps howled, bearing down on the other Troopers, vulnerable as they were, summoning their yoroi.
Ryo cried out, lashing out at the first wasp that tried to pass. The wasp warbled as the blade bounced off, turning its head toward him. It did not see the firewave that hit it.
"Nii-san!" Tira screeched. The faerie appeared in front of his face, her wings fluttering in panic. "Nii-san, Stingers are Tira's friends. Stingers won't hurt Nii-san! Please, don't hurt Stingers!"
Ryo swung his sword in a wide arc. The wasps howled exploding.
"Nii-san!" Tira screamed.
"I have to protect my friends," he replied, turning angry eyes on her. She stared at him in shock.
Four other armored figures flew forward. The wasps screamed as blades bit into them. Tira flung herself away from Ryo. He ran a sword through another of the poor, stupid insects. She knew, he realized. She knew, he was human. A deep regret settled deep in his heart. Then he had no time to worry, for he had to kill the insects. Every one that got by him was one that could hurt his friends, all that he had left now. Every one he killed was one less that they had to deal with.
Ryo found himself alone, a circle of the fallen youja around him. Tira was caressing one of the fallen wasps. Ryo knelt down, next to the demon. At his touch, the wasp burbled. Tira looked up, tears running down her cheeks.
"What is Nii-san? Why? Why did Nii-san attack Tira's friends?"
"Tira, I'm sorry." He meant it. "I..."
"Why? Why? Nii-san is HUMAN!!" Tira screamed. Ryo staggered back again, this time at the power exploding from the faerie.
"Youja!" A long datchi swept down toward Tira.
"Seiji, no!" Ryo intercepted the larger sword with his two, throwing the datchi from Seiji's hand. It returned instantly. How convenient, Ryo thought sarcastically. The two friends faced off.
A great groan seemed to come from the ground. Movement in his peripheral vision made him turn and parry, crossing his swords over his face. A long wiry tentacle swept under his guard, slamming into his chest. The vine threw him into the melee his friends were involved in. The insect he had landed on sank its mandibles into his leg, buzzing angrily, its multi-faceted eye flashing red. Another vine zipped into sight, slapping him off the wasp.
"Ryo!" Shin cried, seeing the attack. The spear leveled itself at Ryo's assailant.
DIE, DEMON BASTARD!!
A stream of water exploded from the spear's tip, throwing Shin back, into Shuu who had come to guard his back.
A scream cut the sky, and the wasps retreated, flying high over the treetops.
The large tree in the center of the field writhed in agony, screaming. The vines which held Seiji threw him away in their paroxysms. Cat-like, he righted himself landing on his feet. The Troopers assumed defensive stances, ready to leap away at the first sigh of danger.
The ground moaned, as it had earlier. In the center of the tree trunk was a massive and jagged hole, courtesy of Shin's attack, leaving only two small strips to hold the weight of the branches. The leaves of the surrounding trees rustled in the still air. With a snap like thunder the top half collapsed to the the ground. The dying leaves seemed to crackle in amusement, the tree falling towards the five warriors.
"ABUNAI!!!" ABUNAI!!
The men leapt up and away from the path of the falling tree. One tentacle vine slapped itself around Ryo's leg. In wordless anger, Rekka retaliated. Fire lanced up the vine, reaching the host tree. The tree screamed like something possessed, bursting into flames instantly.
Seiji landed and immediately went on the defensive
"Something is not right!"
Brother Kourin is right, the trees are angry.
Ryo knew that the other yoroi had informed his friends. Just like he knew Rekka was right. He could feel the surrounding forest's anger.
The wind howled through the tree branches. The Troopers felt the attack before they saw it. One leap got them out of the way of the first attack. Right into the second.
Tentacle vines wrapped around them, encircling their torsos, binding their arms to their sides, shackling their legs. The Troopers found themselves entangled in midair, in a web as sinister as any spun by Rajura. The vines tightened themselves about the five men.
Shuu struggled to breathe, a vine wrapped about his throat. Suddenly he just snarled, tearing free of the vines. Upon landing he rolled, dodging the vines that whipped after him. He came to a stop on his knees, back in the clearing and facing the trees which held his friends.
Throwing his arms into the air, Shuu released a howl, bringing his staff down onto the ground.
The earth cracked before him, a long fissure extending either way from him. Rolling waves of earth followed shortly after, pounding at the roots and bases of the trees. One of the smaller ones howled toppling over. Shuu's yoroi began to flash, sending larger and larger waves to roll from Shuu's staff.
Brother Rekka, touch them with your flame! came a voice like Shuu's, but calm, despite the anger writ on his face. Brother Tenku and Brother Kourin, call down the skies' fury! Brother Suiko erode the ground that feeds them, drown them.
With wordless understanding and agreement, the Troopers reached deep within themselves.
Fire shot along the vines, sending the trees they were connected to into fits. A water bubble expanded from Shin's body, incinerating vines from its boiling heat. Lightning erupted from the cloudless sky, lighting more of the trees. The wind picked up, carrying the fire. Soon the entire forest was ablaze as the Troopers continued their assault. The trees howled in fury.
Shin stopped his higher attacks, as they only put out the fire, instead aiming for the roots that held the trees there. Trees toppled to the ground, screaming.
The five Troopers retreated to the clearing, covering their ears at the awful unearthly scream. The fire suddenly gathered together into one place, rearing up like some monster. Three glowing crimson eyes fell upon them as the fire's shadow crossed over them. The fire screamed, spitting at them.
Without moving his spear, Shin summoned a ball of water as Ryo threw up a shield. Ryo strained as fire met fire. One fiery foot landed on Ryo's shield. Ryo collapsed to his knees. Shuu, Touma and Seiji came up, supporting him, mentally and physically. Through him they added their own powers.The claws slid off the shield, and the opening they rent sealed itself.
Brother Suiko Wearer, cried Rekka's voice, greatly strained. Anytime soon would be nice.
I'm ready! came the snarled reply.
Shin suddenly leapt into the air, over the glowing red shield. Shin threw his hands out, the water ball he'd summoned flying at the giant demon. The demon yowled, steaming wherever the water touched it. One foot lashed out at the man in armor. Shuu shot up, his staff slamming into the demon's leg. Touma drew back his arrowless bow, levelling it at the demon's head, lowering his sight to the body.
Fire gave way to the vacuum that hit it. The demon howled as another water ball hit it, as large as the last one. Seiji raised his sword, his eyes glowing a green that matched his yoroi. Lightning struck the demon, throwing it to the ground. Within seconds it was nothing more than a spark and that vanished in a puff of smoke. Rekka hissed, disturbed, then quieted.
Shin and Shuu landed, breathing hard. Touma leaned against his bow. Seiji decided that sitting down would not be a bad idea.
"You guys look like shit," Shuu laughed. The other three glared at him as Ryo laughed.
"And you don't?" Seiji spat back.
"Yeah, you look like cow shit."
Shuu sniffed indignantly.
"Seiji, is it gone?" Touma asked.
Seiji stared about, nodding. Ryo frowned as Rekka hissed softly in his mind, but said nothing.
"Yes, I cannot feel it anymore."
"Of course not, Hiei was never one who could wait for anything." Water sloshed to the ground from a giant formless bubble creature.
"Even his own brothers." The wind gathered force once again, blowing dirt up to outline another demon creature.
The little faerie suddenly appeared, with a cry. The five Troopers turned, wondering what caused her excitement.
"He was so rude, he did not even speak to you."
"Akio-teiohsama!" she cried, darting over to the man who had appeared, sitting on what remained of the massive tree. The Troopers staggered back under the onslaught of the force of the three demons' power. The Troopers knew that man was not human.
Tira landed on his shoulder, clinging to his lavender hair. He reached up on dark-skinned hand, tenderly cupping the sobbing faerie. The wind and water demon creatures lowered their snouts to the faerie.
The Troopers, still recovering from the battle with the fire monster, and the force of the demons' power, stepped back back, hoping they would have a slight reprieve before the next attack. And that all three would not attack at once. The yoroi purred comfortingly, reassuringly into their minds, reminding their wearers that they were here to help. Telling them not to worry, they would handle it.
Tira turned her red eyes to the five humans resting by what remained of the forest. Tears formed in her eyes.
"They killed the forest," she cried. Akio stroked his finger along the petite figure even as water burbled forth to touch her and air brushed her hair.
"We know," all three demons said.
"Hiei-teiohsama," she sobbed.
"We know," they repeated.
Ryo turned from the little eyes glaring at them. He wished they hadn't done that.
Seiji stiffened, coming to his knees as the faerie darted towards them, vengeance in her eyes.
"Tira," the water bubbled, flicking out a red tongue.
Tira stopped, turning to face the three demons.
"Seiryu-teiohsama."
The water hunched itself.
"Why didn't any Teioh help the Stingers?, or the Gochavins. Tira thought Ningen was Youjahei. Did Teioh know?"
The wind raised its head, teal eyes glittering.
"We would be fools to not recognize Ningenjin dressed as Youjajin." The eyes turned to the faerie. "Do you think we are fools, fae?"
"No," she replied softly, flitting back to the demons.
"Who are you?" Ryo called, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Arago's brothers," all three replied.
The Troopers leapt to their feet, alarmed.
A smile spread across the man's dark face.
"There were five youja emperors. Arago was the emperor of the people. At his beck and call were the youjahei and the ChiJuuShuu." The smile faded. "He destroyed many citizens with his mad quest to conquer the Ningenkai.
The water seemed to take a definite shape then, claws began digging into the dark soil. Jaws parted exposing hardening fangs. Slitted sea green eyes glared out at them. A long, scaled tail uncurled from the sinuous body and short legs.
"As much as I did not approve of what he did, or his methods, he was still my brother. Seiryu does not forgive people who attack his brother and disgraces our family." The dragon lifted its mass into the air.
The dragon lunged forward, dodging the hastily shot arrow from Touma. Seiryu tore through Shin's water shield, snapping at the man. The dragon swung his head, tossing Shuu aside. Seiji leapt up, sword raised. A four-clawed foot caught him, slamming Seiji into the ground. The other claw smacked Touma's bow from his hnd. Seiji groaned as the dragon put all of its considerable weight on him. The massive head lunged at Ryo, snatching the Trooper into his jaws.
Ryo was startled at the dragon's speed and reflexes. He screamed, or rather, Rekka voiced itself through him, exploding in a ball of fire. Bits of the dragon's forequarters flew about splattering against the others' yoroi. The Troopers wiped the parts off of themselves in disgust. It was a futile gesture, doing nothing more than smearing the gore over the metal plates. The massive body collapsed, blood dripping from the missing front end. Ryo backed away from the corpse, wincing as the dents in his armor dug painfully into his sides. Seiji made his way to his friend.
Brother Rekka is your wearer all right? Kourin asked.
Itai, Rekka sniffed, But not as badly as when you ran me through, the red yoroi laughed.
Seiji froze, his face pale and eyes wide. Kourin fell silent, but regret filled that empty silence.
<Brother Rekka is joking and insensitive, Kongo said, soothing Kourin's grief. Brother Rekka knows you did not mean it. We know it was truly not yours or your Wearer's fault.
Shin suddenly stood at attention.
The fucking bastard's not dead yet! Suiko announced.
The watery pieces of the dragon slid across the ground, weaving between the clumps of burnt grass. As the Troopers turned their attention to this strange sight, the pieces turned to an almost quicksilver material, and slid their way over to the body. Shin twirled his spear, slamming it into one of the droplets. The water parted beneath the blade, but gathered together again, still speeding to the rest of its mass.
"How are we supposed to destroy it if the fucker keeps pulling itself back together?" Shuu glared at the other two demons, expecting them to attack. The wind demon seemed content to curl itself into a ball, teal eyes gazing out at them. Akio reclined against one of the burnt branches of the fallen tree. Upon noticing Shuu watching, he lifted a hand and waved in a friendly manner. A few feet away from Shuu, Touma whirled raising his arrowless bow.
Akio smiled at the Trooper of Wisdom, lifting his face from Kayura's shoulder-length hair. Touma snarled, drawing back the string. A clawed foot reached out, once again knocking the bow from the man's hands.
"Your fight is with me!" Seiryu shrieked, twisting about to snap at him. Touma kicked out, catching the dragon in the nostrils and successfully knocking the giant head away. Shuu took a step forward, hitting the dragon's hindleg with the ball on his staff. The dragon shrieked again, swinging his massive tail and sweeping Shuu off his feet.
Seiryu caught the Kongo wearer in his jaws, clamping down firmly. Shuu saw stars as the dragon shook him, jerking his limbs about. Shin acted, swinging his spear in a powerful arc. It slid through the dragon's neck, with little resistance, like a knife through jello.
Kongo-niisan hanase! the Suiko yoroi demanded, thrusting Shin's arm out. A jet of water shot out at the dragon.
Brother Suiko, don't be an idiot, Kourin softly scolded in Seiji's voice.
The dragon absorbed the attack, turning his laughing snake-eyes on Suiko's wearer. Shuu shrieked as the dragon bore down on the hard yoroi.
But it worked on Touryuuki! Remember! Suiko screamed.
"Do that again, please, water warrior," the dragon burbled through Shuu.
Your water warmed the icy Touryuuki, Brother Suiko. Remember, Kourin replied, an edge to it's thoughts.
Suiko screamed again, becoming a blue flame of water.
DON'T! Tenku cried, too late, as the power once again shot out. Shuu's cry filled the sulfuric air as Seiryu turned to face the assault. The water pounded into Shuu, bending the yoroi under its pressure.
Kongo, overwhelmed by it's wearer's pain snapped. Orange light exploded from Shuu,and the dragon, once again, lost it's forequarters. The hind end staggered back, collapsing to the ground. The force of the explosion threw Shuu into one of few standing trees. The tree snapped in half when the armored man hit it. Shuu collapsed to the ground, moaning.
Touma nocked an arrow, drawing back on the bowstring. Power built up on the tip. The dirt about Touma rose up, swirling about him. The arrow flew, whirring through the air at the dragon's hindquarters.
"Seiji," Touma called as Tenku relayed what it wanted Kourin to do. The long sword rose to the sky as Seiji summoned lightning, sending it to join the arrow
A howl filled the air, blood splashed onto their armors. The five men did not make the vain effort of wiping the gore off. Shin pulled Shuu to his feet, running his hands over the rents and dents in his armor. The yoroi slicked back over the openings, and smoothed the dents, molded by the water armor's power. Suiko offered a soft apology for not being able to heal Shuu's wounds as well. Shuu was about to respond with a question (How the hell did you know how to do that anyways?) when Touma suddenly lunged forward with a shriek.
Tenku responded to its wearer's rage, glowing brightly as the bow appeared in his hand. The yoroi lifted Touma up, allowing him to fly faster than he could run.
Akio smirked at the approaching Trooper. With his eyes on Tenku no Touma, he buried his nose deeper into Kayura's chest, his hand groping her. Wielding the bow like a sword, Touma swept the blade down, deadly intent in his eyes. Akio continued smirking, his eyes glinting from behind the long lavender bangs. Kayura remained unmoving, sprawled in the demon's lap, her blank eyes staring into the clouded sky. Touma's blade came down, he was commited. He wanted that demon's soul, or whatever it had. Wind shrieked past the horn on his helmet. Touma was slammed to a stop his bow mere inches from Akio's head.
The wind demon seemed to materialize beside Touma. One immense hand wrapped around Touma's waist.
"Fujin is your next opponent!" The demon snarled, pitching the Trooper into Shuu. Touma scrambled back to his feet, yanking Shuu to his own. Once again the Trooper of the heavens hurtled towards the lavender-haired fiend. An opposing wind rose up once again forcing Touma to a stop.
"If you wish to fight him, ningenjin, you must first defeat Fujin."
the demon emperor solidified into a humanoid form. Knife-like teeth glinted from his wedgeshaped head. The tall figure crouched in front of his brother, clawed fingers gripping the burnt ground.
"Out of my way! Touma threw out an arm, wrapping visible tendrils of swirling air around the lithe body. The demon huffed.
"Pathetic." The creature yanked its arm back. The air tentacles lashed back, wrapping around Touma's waist and tossed him into his friends, throwing them to the ground.
Ryo stood, brushing off his coat and snorted.
Time to end this, Wearer?
Ryo grunted his agreement, snapping both blades together at the hilts and began twirling in front of him. A ring of fire formed at the tips, gathering at the center to form a slowly growing sphere of burning flame. The fire roared towards the demon, howling for retribution.
Fujin's teal eyes flashed, and he huffed, blowing the approaching fire to a mere fizzle. Ice formed around the creature, cracking into frozen shrapnel.
"Please, I expect more from the ones who defeated my brother, is this it?" The shrapnel sliced through the air toward the bearer of Rekka. five arrows pierced the demon's hide.
"Stay out of my way you fucking demon!!" Touma snarled. Fujin cocked its wedge-shaped head, gently pulling at each of the five arrows Touma had put through him. With a mere toss of its hand the bladed arrows darted toward each of the five Troopers.
"I am not the fucking demon," Fujin turned his head, paying no attention to the sligh stir he caused with his retaliation. With one long, clawed finger her pointed to the humanoid and Touma's daughter.
"That's the fucking demon, I'm celibate."
Five split arrows lay on the ground in front of the Troopers. Shuu sighed. "That was a smart thing to say." Ryo nodded his agreement.
Touma howled, surrounded by the midnight color of his yoroi's power. "I'm going to shove one of these arrows up his shitty little ass. No one touches Hashiba Touma's daughter."
Fujin blinked. "Actually he'd probably enjoy that." This gave all of the Troopers pause. Touma, furious as he was, was the first to recover.
"Let him enjoy it! He'd just better take his fucking hands off my daughter."
Seiji stood from healing Ryo, and raised his no datchi to the yellow sky.
Go Brother Tenku. Kourin commanded, flashing.
Tenku roared to life, hurtling towards the demon. Seiji appeared at his side, the blade of his sword crackling with energy. Fujin sent a wind against them, slowing their progress.
"Is this all you've got?" Touma laughed.
Brother Kongo! Surround him.
Shuu dropped to his knees thrusting his fingers into the muddy soil. The ground quaked at his behest.
I hope you have a plan Brother Kourin
But of course. Trust me. Kourin triled.
Kongo snorted back, and returned its concentration to the trembling soil. The earth roared up, surrounding the demon. Fujin howled blasting the sediment apart. Kongo answered, calling forth more pillars.
Brother Suiko pull the moisture from the air around.
Suiko acted without hesitating. The Troopers' skin crawled as static built up around them. Fujin hissed at the sudden dryness. Suiko cycled the water it had absorbed through itself, keeping itself free of the static electricity. Tenku picked up speed, flattening the burnt grass with his wake. Fujin braced himself.
"Not him." Seiji stated, throwing himself at the demon, his coat flairing about him, crackling with power. The wind demon scream as Seiji's long sword sliced through him. The smell of burning ozone filled the air. Fujin twisted his slowly blackening neck to face the human. The narrow jaws opened, blue flames slithering out of his mouth.
Fire seared through the dry air. Fujin, unable to move from his cage of solid stone, howled in agony as the fire devoured the dry air and the electricity guided the flames to the demon's body.
Touma had not stopped his headlong rush. His eyes burned with murderous intent. Tenku echoed its wearer's fury. The object of his hate hovered over Kayura's bare body. The narrow green eyes peered slyly up at the fastly approaching Trooper. The dark lips placed one last kiss on the bared chest before the demon stood. He flipped back the lavender hair that had fallen forward, rubbing his fingers under his unbuttoned shirt. Tenku's weight slammed into him.
Touma's startled eyes stared up at the smirking face above him. The lean, but surprisingly strong arms wrapped about his waist. The green eyes sparkled with an unidentifiable emotion. Sorrow? Mischeviousness? It was then that Touma cursed his inability to read people's emotions like no other time.
"Tenku no Touma."
Touma stiffened in the demon's arms. Gods above, he sounded like Rajura! Confused by its wearer's confusion, Tenku retreated to the back of Touma's mind.
"Your daughter and wife have something to tell you. Would you like to hear them?"
Tears stung the man's eyes, and his heart shuddered. "Why should I listen to what you're forcing them to say?" he spat. "Don't think you'll fool me with that!"
The demon smiled, tightening his arms as Touma struggled to free himself. The dark lips brushed the tear tracks on Touma's cheeks.
"What I'm forcing them to say? You've got it all wrong, I'm forcing no one."
"But wasn't it you who summoned us out here?" Shin snapped, his sharp ears, made even more so by Suiko, having picked up the conversation.
Akio smiled brightly at Shin. "I? I am flattered. You give me so much credit. I'm sorry to say, that no, it was not I who summoned you here. I am no more powerful than Arago was. The one who called for you created Arago, myself and my other brothers whom you have all killed." His smile twisted slightly. "Apparently you were dropped here by accident when you were being delivered to That One. Once again you have disgraced and murdered my family. We have done nothing to you, but you attacked us."
"You exist," Seiji spat.
The brown demon cut his eyes to Seiji. "So do you, but you don't see me complaining, do you? And you call yourselves warriors of righteousness." Ryo flinched, remember the innocent wasps who were only trying to protect what they thought was one of their own.
"You were going to rape my daughter," Touma managed to choke out through his clogged throat.
A smirk spread across his face. "Is it really rape when she doesn't object."
Touma could not stop the tears from flowing down his cheek. "She's only ten years old! She doesn't know what you're doing!"
Resting his cheek on the top of the struggling Trooper's helmet, Akio peered at the woman he had earlier been caressing. "Does she look ten to you?"
The arms loosened just enough for Touma to turn and look at the well-developed body of his daughter. His face went red.
The lips rested against the helmet, close to Touma's ears. "I assure you Trooper, she is no ten year-old. Remember, she is also you're wife, she knows very well what it was I was doing."
Touma growled under his breath. "Then you were touching my wife..." his voice teetered off as the demon laughed huskily.
"Tell him what it is you wanted him to hear, Kayura-ko."
The girl sat up, flipping back her long blue-black hair. Her eyes settled on the man in the demon's arms. "Why Kayura?" Touma blinked in confusion. "Why did you name the child I died for after that despicable bitch who left you?" A smile, evil at odds with the girl's innocent appearance, touched her lips. "I was so happy to see that whore get what she deserved." The woman stood, her hair caressing her lithe body. "Was I not woman enough for you? You still wanted her, didn't you!" It was a statement, not a question. "Even after she had hurt you like that, you still longed for her in your bed. So tell me," Kayura curled one finger under his chin and jerked his head up, "how often was I the whore in her place?"
"Never," he whispered back.
"LIES!!"
Touma reeled back into the demon from the force of both the words and the blow that accompanied them. He could feel Tenku heat in anger, but at the same time hesitate. Its feelings were clear to his mind, it wanted to protect him, but protecting him would mean hurting his daughter and that would hurt him more. How he so badly wanted to tell her that they were not. Yes, he longed for Kayura, the unreachable star in his life, but he loved Nariko and his daughter more than anything, and they were there tangible before him. This man, no this demon had turned them against him. Had twisted all his love into hatred. This demon. Tenku suddenly snapped itself back into the front of his mind. This demon.
Touma focused suddenly clear eyes on the body of his daughter that bore the soul of his beloved wife. Tenku relayed its wishes to the other yoroi, and received tired answers.
"You're wrong, Nari, Kayura. I realized that I really loved Kayura as a sister. When I lost the love of my life, I wanted Kayura to live as my daughter, I wanted to love her, as I never could earlier in life." Tears freely flowed down his cheek. "I love you Nariko, I always have, and I still do, and I always will. Not even Kayura leaving hurt me as much as when you died."
Kayura stepped back, her eyes filled with confusion. "Touma," she whispered, one hand raised to her mouth, her eyes filled with tears.
Akio smiled. "You would tell her such lies."
Touma turned hateful eyes to the demon. "URUSAI OMAE!!!!"
Shuu appeared behind Akio, crushing the demon in a bear hug. Tenku flared up and the other three yoroi flashed in answering power ups. The Troopers had positioned themselves silently around the demon. Now they reached out, touching an armored glove to the demon's brown skin. Akio screamed in pain as their powers tore at him. Their powers engulfed themselves and those close to them. Lightning licked at the ground, water covered fire, fire devoured air, heat and lightning evaporated water, earth absorbed the water.
Touma suddenly focused on the screaming, outside of the demon's. Kayura! Nariko! He begged Tenku to protect them. Tenku softly replied that if it did that, it had no strength left to protect him, none of the other yoroi did. He didn't care. As Touma and his friends collapsed where the demon had once stood, he slid into blissful sleep where he knew his wife and daughter was unharmed.
Hikara brushed the tinged skin of the girl. The midnight blue eyes opened, meeting Hikara's own electric blue. Kayura stood, bowing respectfully to the priestess. Hikara grabbed the girl's jaw, forcing the other's eyes to meet her own once again. Disgusted with what she found she threw the girl back to the ground. Hikara glared down at the girl.
"Remove yourself to the training center," there was no argument in Hikara's hard voice.
Kayura bowed again, summoning forth her undergear and then the full armor. Her wings spread and she lifted off.
After assuring herself that the girl was headed in correct direction, the priestess turned to the five men on the ground. The strange cloth of their day and age replaced their elaborate yoroi.
"I take it everything went as planned?" she called to the thin air.
The ground rumbled, shaking ash from the dead forest. The wind caught the ash up playfully tossing it at Hikara, covering her ceremonial robes in it. Water pooled from the ground, gurgling as a fire leapt up within.
Hikara smiled. "Good, the Lord will be pleased to hear that."
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Author's Jibber: I would like to apologize to all my readers out there for taking so long to finish this chapter. Fight scenes are not my cup of tea. At this moment, I haven't put this through my beta reader, but it had been *counts* six months since I last updated (half a year?has it really been that long @.@ oroo gomen gomen!) and you deserve to read it. If any major changes are made by my beta reader-type person I will make notations of these changes. T'ank you Maryd for reviewing me story! In response to your comment about Touma and his roommate, he had only just gotten the apartment and car not too long after he first told Nariko of Heero's two-timing.
Next up? Seiji and Samantha's chapter. *prays it doesn't take another six months to get this out*