"Lord Arago." Badamon drifted towards the throne, ever penitent.

"Badamon. Good news, I hope."

"Interesting news. I have observed the captured Yoroi Senshi as they battle in their prisons and have come to some conclusions on their powers and their connection to the Shiroi Kikotei."

"I love to be reminded of tasks I send my underlings out on, Badamon," Arago drolly replied. "In case I should forget anything."

Badamon swallowed, fighting the urge to vanish. It would only make Arago angrier. "Forgive me, my lord. The Yoroi Senshi exhibit no unusual power. In fact, they seem almost weaker than the Demon Mashou. This is not surprising, given the greater experience of the Demon Mashou, as well as the latter's longer exposure to demonic energy. As there is nothing truly remarkable about them, I have to wonder if anything remarkable is actually required to create the Shiroi Kikotei."

"This does not seem to be valuable information Badamon."

"On its own, no. But I believe that the armors are rather interchangeable. If five of them can summon the Shiroi Kikotei, perhaps any five of the armors could be used to do so. It may simply be a guiding will that pulls them together. According to my investigations, that would be the Rekka armor's bearer, so we just need to gather the Demon Mashou around him and force him to summon it. If the armor is summoned using the Demon Mashou, the extra demonic corruption might enable us to control it. Or at least keep its bearer out of play long enough for me to study it and get better control over it, or even learn how to remove it for your use."

"…So you need the Rekka armor first."

"Yes, my lord. And if five is the required number to summon the armor, either Shutendoji or the Tenku armor need to be nearby."

"And you have no idea how to actually summon it yet?"

"I believe that the Yoroi Senshi summon it when they are in grave danger. Simply lead them into a situation where they might be overwhelmed, and I believe they will summon it. Kayura stated that Shutendoji channeled power to form it the last time, but if we can distract Shutendoji, we should be able to replace his power with the Demon Mashou."

"Have you considered the fact that Shutendoji might keep the Demon Mashou at bay?" Arago replied. "After all, he held off Kayura."

"She went alone, Lord Arago. If she went with the Demon Mashou, I imagine our remaining enemies would be hard-pressed to keep all of them at bay."

"And if this succeeds? If the Shiroi Kikotei is summoned? What happens if your theory fails and the Yoroi Senshi keep control of the armor and blast their way through everything?"

"I strongly believe that will not happen. I will even use the Nether Spirits to further confuse the human. But my lord, we must try. If nothing else, we need to capture the Rekka and Tenku armors to fully harness your power so that you can take over the human realm. On their own, the three rogue armors are unable to summon the Shiroi Kikotei, or combine with the Demon Mashou to form it."

"Kayura reported that Shutendoji, Rekka, and Tenku summoned it rather easily last time," Arago replied. "What happens if they summon it before you and the Demon Mashou can interfere?"

"Yes," Kayura said as she stepped out of the shadows behind the throne. "All they needed was Shutendoji's shakujo and its extra power, and they had the armor to base it on."

"By my calculations," Badamon replied, "It is no easy feat to summon the armor. If you, Kayura, are present to keep Shutendoji distracted, while the Demon Mashou keep the Tenku and Rekka armors busy, there should be no problem. And if there is, well… we'll get to see how the Shiroi Kikotei fares against the three Demon Mashou and you, together."

"You speak as though Kayura is cannon fodder to throw at the Yoroi Senshi, Badamon." Arago's eyes turned a brighter red. "Know your place."

Badamon bowed his hand, reconsidering turning invisible. "Of course, my lord."

"I am up for the challenge, my lord," Kayura said, turning to face Arago and bowing to him. "I'll face the Yoroi Senshi again, even the Shiroi Kikotei. Whatever it takes."

Arago looked at her. "Eager to make up for your earlier failing, eh?"

Badamon lowered his head and smiled.

Kayura's hands tightened into fists. "This time, I know who I am fighting." She looked pointedly at Badamon, who snorted.

"There will be no surprises," Badamon said.

Arago laughed. "Very well. But we'll need to find the wandering fools first. They've vanished from the human realm. Doubtless they're coming after us here, as they did the first time. To rescue their friends."

"I'll increase the patrols to find them," Kayura said.

"No. Keep them as they are."

"My Lord?"

"We don't want them to know we're aware of them, yet. Let them think that we haven't discovered their absence and guessed their intentions. It will give them a false sense of security, and it will make things more shocking when we pounce on them."

Kayura bowed her head.

"Badamon," Arago turned to the other demon. "Find a way to remove the necessity of keeping the Demon Mashou as guards, while keeping the Yoroi Senshi caged. I don't want them breaking out and creating problems."

"Of course, Lord."

"And keep an eye out for the Yoroi Senshi. Kayura, you are in charge of this mission. Take the Demon Mashou and bring me back the Shiroi Kikotei." Arago settled back in his throne, a clear dismissal.

His two servants bowed themselves out.


"We're a long way from the castle," Touma commented as they sat by the fire in their small camp. Ryo was lying down nearby with his head against Byakuen's side, trying to rest up. Tsuri sat a distance away with her back to the fire, glaring at the castle off in the distance. The demon realm was even creepier at night, a feat Touma had not considered possible. "We were right there last time."

"Kaos didn't send you through a tear in the walls between realms," Shutendoji replied, seated across from the senshi. "He was far more powerful than I. I took you by what route I could."

"I'm sorry," Touma said. "It wasn't meant as an insult. I just… how long can the others last if we have to travel so far to get to them?"

"Hopefully the trek won't be too long," Shutendoji replied. "No more than a day or two. We'll have more problems when we face the labyrinth of the castle. It shifts frequently and is filled with Youja. We should be there tomorrow." He eyed Ryo. "Hopefully."

Touma looked at Ryo, who was staring up at the sky. "You okay, buddy?"

"A bit dizzy. This place is awful. I just feel… heavy. But I think I'll be fine otherwise."

"You can take a nap if you want. We'll rest for a short while before we move on." Shutendoji looked at Tsuri. "We'll need it."

"I should go ahead," Tsuri said, standing up.

"What? Why?"

"We're moving too slowly and we're too large a party. I can get in through the labyrinth on my own and find the trapped Yoroi Senshi myself. Then I can quickly guide you to them. Or even free them."

"You're overestimating yourself," Shutendoji replied. "I know you're strong, but even you cannot take the Demon Mashou alone. And who knows what spells are being used to trap the other Yoroi Senshi here?"

"I'm not saying I will free them. But I can help clear your way. They won't find me."

Shutendoji bowed his head. "If you wish to go, then go. I won't stop you."

"Try not to take too long," she said before running on, vanishing into the dark.

"Not much of a team player," Touma said.

"She's not a fan of Arago," Shutendoji replied. "And we remind her of him."

"What?!"

Shutendoji smiled. "It's the armors. They still have some of his power. Plus, Ryo has the Shiroi Kikotei, which is worse than any of the individual armors. She also hates waiting. Demons don't need as much rest as humans. If you weren't here, we'd already be at the castle."

"Sorry for my mortality."

"Don't take it personally. She's risking a lot coming back here and helping us. All my allies are."

Touma looked at the ground. "What happens if we fail?"

"If we're captured or if we die?"

"Either scenario."

"If we fail… I doubt Arago will kill us immediately. Doubtless he will figure out a way to once more subvert the armors to his will, especially the Shiroi Kikotei. He'll send us back to the human world to unleash destruction across the globe. It will be havoc on a level you've never seen. It will make human wars look like child's play."

"And once he rules everything and your world is a broken, bleeding, burning mess of lost and dying souls… Perhaps he'll move on to other worlds."

"Other worlds?"

"Yes. There are others out there, and ways to get there. Their inhabitants typically stay away from us and we from them, but if Arago had enough power and was sufficiently bored, I imagine he would work his way to them and repeat the process over and over into eternity. If we weren't dead at that point, we'd probably be on the front lines. The armors give long life, and being around a constant supply of demonic energy only aids the process. It would be an eternal nightmare."

"That's cheery," Touma said.

"You asked."

"And if we win?"

"If we defeat Arago forever… There will be a lot of work to do. The demon realm may begin to revert to what it used to be. Life will return to this mostly barren place. Changes will doubtless begin in the human realm, as more demons return to the wild."

"Wait, the invasion won't be over?"

"It won't be an invasion. Simply a return to the natural order of things. There are creatures that simply guard parts of the world, like the trees and the mountains and bodies of water. It is how they are. They will not bother humans if humans do not bother them. Of course there are some who will be problems that we'll have to take care of. Now that the armors exist apart from Arago, they should survive his destruction, and their work will not be finished. I may stay here a while to see that things return to normal, but once I am done here, I shall return and help you. I will attempt to find others to train in Kaos' path, and join together the forces he left behind."

"Will there be anyone to replace us?" Touma asked.

Shutendoji raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Not that I believe. The armors go to new bearers after the old are dead. They are not given away. That is why Arago tried to take them by force."

"But we have lives!" Touma demanded. "We have families and school and… we're not some legendary warriors ready to drop all that at a moment's notice for all this! It's summer break now, but after that's over…"

"What would you do with your life after all this?" Shutendoji asked. "After standing in space? Fighting creatures of nightmare? Wielding more power than you've ever imagined? Saved your whole world from destruction?"

"Besides the fact that maybe I've been more scared than awed by all this, there's more than one way to help people."

"You would help more by carrying out the task set before you. Your life is different now, with the armor. It will be even more different when Arago is defeated. You will see."

"So we will have to give up everything for them…"

"No, not everything. Not your families. Not your homes. But I doubt anything else will satisfy. You'll always feel the call."

"Our families have to be supported. Back home you need money to live, which means that you need a job. We can't just subsist on whatever for all eternity."

"As I understand it, you must attend schools to learn a profession. Your armors will still draw the demons to you, and there will be trouble. What will you do when demons attack one of your schools? When you're at work and your co-workers come under fire?"

"You act like we'll have to abandon everything human. What about our homes? They'll come under attack."

"You have to live somewhere. I imagine you'd find a way to protect yourselves at home. It should be easier than it is now, with mostly weaker demons than the ones Arago uses. Stronger demons will simply protect their territories."

"You're talking in circles."

"The only answer I can give you that will satisfy, is that you must wait and see. Would knowing what you will live with this burden forever change your mind about defeating Arago? Perhaps some insight on how to change this will come to you during the upcoming battles. Perhaps the armors will vanish then, and you can return to your mortal existence. I don't know everything Kaos knew, after all."

"Pleasant as all this is," Ryo said, "Could the both of you shut up for a couple minutes so I could fall asleep?"

"Sorry, Ryo."

"Sorry."


Ryo was better in the morning. He had an easier time walking, although he stayed quiet. The armor often pressured him to summon the Shiroi Kikotei, gravitating towards Shutendoji's bright, powerful aura and the thick air of demonic energy constantly moving around them. Ryo was getting tired of telling it to quiet down, but he did not stop. He knew something bad would happen if he did.

Their trip to the castle's edge was uneventful, but long. The day was already darkening by the time they caught sight of the tall walls. They saw few inhabitants on the journey, and those they did vanished before they came close.

The gates to the castle were open, but guarded. Shutendoji kept walking even after seeing the guards, although Ryo and Touma became more nervous and hesitated. When they realized that their guide was not slowing down, they sped up to catch up with him. Touma walked up to the former Demon Mashou and asked, quietly, "Don't you think we should come up with a plan?"

"We may have to fight our way through. " Shutendoji kept his eyes ahead. "There will be no hiding out here. I will attempt to speak with at least some of them and see if anyone can be converted to our cause. Tsuri may have already come through here. Otherwise… just follow my lead, and say as little as possible."

The guards raised their weapons as the group approached. Byakuen's hackles were up, but he stayed by Ryo's side. They all stopped and Shutendoji bowed his head to them. "Who is in charge here?" he asked.

The two guards glanced at each other, and the one on the right replied, "Dara is in charge of this area now."

"May we speak to him?"

"He does not speak to strangers. Or rebels."

Shutendoji nodded. "I come to make him an offer."

Touma looked further in. He could see a gathering of warriors eyeing them. It didn't look like visitors were a common occurrence for the place. Wait… there's something powerful approaching. Dammit, if we fight out here, we'll have to take on all these people, too!

"What kind of offer?" A large demon wearing brown armor and a red helmet with golden spikes approached the gate. On his chest was a green and yellow circle. His eyes glowed green.

Shutendoji looked up at him. "I would offer you the chance to help unseat Arago, Dara. I know he grates on you."

Dara laughed. "You, Shutendoji? You could barely hold off the Nether Spirits! Is your plan to offer me as a sacrifice to get back into Arago's good graces?"

"You know each other?" Touma whispered.

Dara eyed the two senshi. "You made new friends, Shutendoji. How unlike you."

"People change."

Dara turned his gaze back to Shutendoji. "What are you up to, Shutendoji? You can't possibly be planning to overthrow Arago, weak as you are."

"I have power on my side. Power to make Arago tremble. It's why he's set you to look for us if we appear. Or has he not done so?"

Dara looked around at his warriors. "He has so ordered."

"So what will your choice be?"

Dara looked back at his people, who waited patiently for his orders. Ryo and Touma looked over them all as well. There were so many. At first glance, they had only seen the ones that were dressed like Youja, but now it was easy to spot the vast array of fighters there. It was a menacing assembly of fangs, claws, long arms, no arms, tails, many eyes, armor and weapons. Some glowed different colors and others had objects floating around their heads. There was a tension in the air like everyone was holding their breath, waiting.

"You could be master of your own domain again," Shutendoji said into that silence. "No Arago to keep you and your people caged here, fighting battles you care nothing for. None of your people sent off to die in his wars."

"Yes, we would only have to listen to you," Dara replied. "You and your arrogance. You put on one of Arago's precious armors and think you own everyone else, even though you're just another one of his pets with the best leash."

Shutendoji didn't look away from the demon's gaze, but his lips tightened.

"We wouldn't command you," Touma said, stepping forward and drawing everyone's attention. "All we need is to get to Arago, kill him, and you're back on your own again."

Dara eyed him thoughtfully. "More humans coming into our realm. Wonderful."

"Trust me," Ryo said, "We don't like it any more than you do."

Dara looked at him and said, "You feel odd, human. What are you?"

"An ally against Arago," Shutendoji replied before Ryo could answer. "And I still have no answer from you."

Dara turned his gaze back and replied, "Very well. I like the idea of messing with Arago, at the least. He's gone too far lately, ordering me and mine around like dogs at his beck and call. What would you have us do?" A sigh went through the area, like everyone breathed at once.

"Attack him in the areas nearby; keep him distracted while we make our way inward. Move like you're defending us in a different direction, or perhaps multiple directions if you can manage it. Keep them confused and off our trail."

"A fight! But not with Arago himself. A pity. Still, a chance to fight the mindless wraiths and power-mad fools he takes for his foot soldiers. Go then, we'll have your backs." He turned to his people and started ordering them in different directions and arranging them for battle.

Shutendoji led his group onward, keeping his eyes away from the still-curious soldiers. When they were out of the area, he began running, and the others followed suit. "The hunt is on now. We must get away while we can."

Cries sounded behind him as the noise of battle filled the air.

"I'm amazed Arago is keeping it together when so many are willing to turn against him," Ryo said.

"It hasn't been like this," Shutendoji replied. "Most have been too cowed to fight Arago openly. Plus, before I was a Demon Mashou and interested only in serving Arago. I had no interest in usurping his power, and took pleasure in crushing the egos of anyone who felt they could stand up to him. It helps that they know me. Much as they mock, they know I have a sizable power to draw on. And they could sense your power, close as you were. Their diversion will hopefully be good enough to keep Arago and his forces out of our way until we find the others." Shutendoji darted around corners ahead of them.

"You do know your way out of here, right?" Touma asked. "We're not just running in circles?"

"Why don't we just jump up onto the top of the walls and run along up there?" Ryo asked. "It's not that high."

"There are guards up there," Shutendoji replied. "And we'll be easier to spot from a distance. I know my way around because I can sense the presence of the armors and I have a general idea of where we're heading. Once we get closer, Tsuri should be able to find me and we'll rescue the others and deal with things from there."

"So we're going straight to the castle?"

"No. We're going to get a bit closer and find a place to rest. After that, we'll head to the castle. We need all our strength to face Arago, and we may very well be doing that with the next sunrise."


"I called my father before we left, you know," Touma said. They were hidden in the empty space under building, with an easy lookout post for guards. Most of the ones they had seen were headed to Dara and his mischief, so they had been alone for a while. Shutendoji was lying down to the side and taking a nap. Ryo was seated and leaning back on Byakuen's side. The tiger had his head down and his eyes shut. Touma sat nearby, with his knees up to his chest and his arms crossed over his legs.

"I told him I was okay, but… I had to go do something important. Save people. I might be in danger, but I'd come back. He wasn't happy, but he wished me luck. He told me to be sure to keep my promise, or he'd come find me himself. I called my mother and she said to stay safe."

"I tried to call my father," Ryo said in the ensuing silence. "But he was away or busy. He often is. So I just left him a similar message."

"I'm sorry. At least I got to talk to my parents."

"Well it's not like he'd like what I've been up to, anyway. It would probably remind him of his family too much."

"Your father's family was into this stuff?"

"No, it's… complicated." Ryo went silent and stayed that way.

"All right." Touma looked around, thinking about how to change the subject. "We're here and we could be facing death at any moment and all I can think about is anything but. Home, my friends… They're going to hot springs or traveling or studying or training for sports or going to concerts or shopping… How do I explain that this is what I did for my summer?"

Ryo looked out to the empty path. He smiled. "It's a prolonged camping trip."

Touma blinked and stifled a laugh beneath his hand. "A sightseeing hike!"

"A trip to the zoo."

"A tour of the local shrines, to rediscover our ancestry, or research something for class."

"Meeting the oddest of friends in the oddest of places." Ryo looked pointedly at Shutendoji.

"Good friends," Touma put his hand on Ryo's shoulder, smiling.

Ryo smiled back before the look faded. "Touma, we have to use the armor against Arago again. This time we have to destroy him. With what happened last time… how do we know we'd survive that, even assuming we succeed? What if the armors just take everything from us that we have to give?"

"But we'll have Shutendoji with us, and we're a lot stronger than we used to be."

"Arago is a lot stronger, too. Plus he has Kayura and this Badamon guy. And apparently he's not planning to absorb us this time around, so we won't be fighting him while he's disoriented."

Touma squeezed his friend's shoulder reassuringly. The blue-haired senshi's gaze was hard, but he smiled. "We have to trust in each other. If we lose that, we've already lost. As long as we fight together, I believe that we can pull through."

Ryo bowed his head and smiled lightly. "I… I know, Touma. I believe in everyone, I do."

"Then what's really bothering you?"

"The Shiroi Kikotei. It's… it's different here. The armor is almost humming, like it can't wait to be used. I don't know how it will react if I activate it in here. The first time I did it, I don't remember being in control at all. It just saw Arago as a challenge and took it. Sure, I've gained some control over it since then, but that was in our world. Not here. What if… what if I lose control? Or what if it does the same thing it did back then, but this time… this time I don't… I don't wake up."

"That won't happen!" Touma looked around in alarm, realizing that he'd raised his voice. No guards approached. They seemed to be in the clear. After a while, he looked back at Ryo, who pulled away and leaned back onto Byakuen, shutting his eyes.

"Let's just relax, Touma. Shutendoji was right, earlier. There's no point in worrying about what we can't change and plan on doing anyway now."

"We should set a watch."

"Shutendoji isn't really sleeping, and my armor hasn't been letting me sleep fully since I got here. But I can at least shut my eyes and rest a little. You should do the same."