Part VI
Ryo sat at Ikari's side, neither of them speaking. It should've been a joyous occasion, he
should've given her a big hug, told her how much he was worried about her and that he had never
been so happy to see her. None of that happened. Part of him wanted to yell at her for using
magic, such a thing was forbidden by the Sanada clan. It didn't matter that she was adopted, she
was apart of the clan and had to obey its laws. Another part of him wanted to cry, to tell her that
he couldn't finish the job with her and beg for her forgiveness. He couldn't bring himself to do
either of them. Ryo would hate to yell at her and would hate it even more to disappoint her.
His emotions were still on the edge. Shin had kissed him, him of all people. Blood would
rush to his face just thinking of how those soft lips felt on his cheek. Ryo wondered what Shin
would've said after that if the monk didn't come rushing in to tell them that Ikari was awake.
Right when he was done with Ikari, he had to talk to Shin and ask him if he had any feelings for
him. Ryo hoped that Shin wouldn't reject him, the more and more he thought about it, the more
he was convinced that Shin was worth giving up his family. It would be difficult to break the ties
with the Sanada clan, but it could be done. He was glad that Shin wasn't there with him then, he
didn't think he could handle breaking the news to Ikari with him there.
"Ryo," Ikari broke the silence.
"Yes?"
"The boy, Touma, he's the person we have to kidnap."
He couldn't say anything to his friend, he didn't know how to break it to her that he
couldn't continue as a ninja anymore.
"You're a much better fighter than I am," Ikari went on, taking Ryo's hand. "You have to
be quick, physically, Touma is nothing compared to you, you can take him down easily. Just
don't let him summon Tenku, he's packs quite a punch with that damned spirit. We have to finish
this, please don't let me down."
"Ikari, I don't think," Ryo paused, not sure if he could go on. "I don't think, I mean, I
can't do this," the last words were hardly even a whisper.
Ikari's eyes widened, she didn't know if she heard him right. "What did you say?"
"I can't be a ninja anymore, Ikari, I'm going to break the ties to my family."
"Why?" Ikari was wondering if Ryo had hit his head or something when he was in the
river, there was no way that this was the boy she looked up to as a brother, there was no way.
That was a good question that Ikari had asked and Ryo only had one answer. "Because I
think I'm in love."
He hoped this wasn't becoming a habit. When Seiji woke up, Touma was gone again. At
least this time he didn't have the strange impression that Touma was in any danger, so he didn't
panic, just kind of surprised that he left without waking up Seiji first. He didn't feel comfortable
about Touma wandering around by himself with that bitch Kayura after him and that Ikari girl,
she was a threat too. Leaving the room, he didn't have to go far before he spotted Touma walking
down the hall. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder, his hair falling into his face in an
adorable way. Seiji was about to go over to him when all of a sudden he stopped. The blond
looked intensely at the boy in front of him. This wasn't right.
"Who the hell are you?" Seiji demanded, his eyes turned from violet to an icy blue.
The boy lifted an eyebrow in question, as if he didn't know what Seiji was talking about.
"Don't act all innocent! You aren't my Touma, so who the hell are you?!" He couldn't
figure out what was going on, could it be that there was another spirit in Touma? That could be
it, but it certainty wasn't Tenku. He knew Tenku would've said something to him by now. The
way the person stood was too stiff to be Touma and he kept on brushing away the lock of hair
between his eyes, as if he wasn't used to it being there.
"I didn't think I could fool you," the boy said. A young looking man with white hair and
only one eye took the place of the boy who looked like Touma.
Seiji's hand went right to where his sword would've been, if he hadn't left it in the room
he and Touma had been using. "It was an illusion. Did you use magic? Or just a ninja trick?"
"I assure you that I have nothing to do with ninjas."
"Oh! Who're you?" Nausti had walked into the foyer, staring at the new person.
"Nausti-san! Get the hell out of here!" Seiji yelled at her, it was too late. The man
grabbed her by the hair and held a sword up to her neck.
"This is nice, a hostage that walks right into my hands," the man grinned. "If you don't
want to see the girl get hurt, you'll come with me- OWWW!" he cried out in pain as Nausti
managed to hit him in the ribs and got out of his grasp.
"What do you think I am? Some poor defenseless girl who can't hold her own!? Sorry
mister, but you aren't the sister to a thief if you don't learn anything. And this is for tugging my
hair!" Nausti punched him right across the face, causing the man to fall flat on his ass.
"Damn, that was pretty cool, Nausti-san."
"I know. So, who are you and why do you want Seiji? Yes, he is a fine piece of man, but
I'd hate to break it to you, he isn't good enough to threaten someone's life over!"
"Thanks, Nausti-san," Seiji mumbled. What would she know?! They didn't even know
each other for a day and she was already commenting about him in that way! What was she
trying to suggest anyway?!
"What the fuck is going on here?" Shu was surprised to see a stranger spiraled on the
floor with Nausti standing over him and Seiji behind of her. Touma was just as startled, though
he was more shocked to see the man, who was no stranger to him.
"No, no, no, dear boy, I'm not after you," the man chuckled at Touma's expression. "I'm
after your boyfriend!" He then shoved Nausti aside and grabbed Seiji.
"TOUMA!"
Touma sprang forward and snatched the sleeve of Seiji's shirt, hoping that he could tear
the blond out of the man's grasp before it was too late. He felt a numbing pain in his heart as the
man teleported out of the temple with Seiji. In his hand was a scrap of fabric from the blond's
sleeve that got torn off as the man left with his love. For the next couple of seconds, all anyone
could do was stare at the spot where the two men just were. Touma then fell to his knees,
clutching the piece of fabric to his chest and sobbed.
//No, no, NO!// Touma screamed in his mind. //Seiji . . . I'm so sorry . . . I would've
never even asked you for help if I thought that she might go after you instead of just me. Rajura,
you bastard! I'll get you and Kayura for this! I'm not going to let Seiji go through what I did!
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, KAYURA!//
"What happened?" Shin asked softly, noticing Touma on the ground crying.
"The blond, Seiji-san, has been kidnapped," Nausti informed her younger brother.
"Don't worry, Touma-kun, we'll get him back," Shu tried to reassure his friend as he
tried to pull him in for a hug, Touma just pushed him away.
Standing up, Touma wiped his eyes and ran to the room they had been using. Slamming
the door behind him, he tore off his clothes and put on a fresh set. Snatching his boots, he tugged
them on and then he put on Seiji's cuirass. It was a bit big, but his own leather armor only went
down to his chest. The scrape of cloth from Seiji's shirt was tucked safely in his pants pocket and
he strapped Seiji's sword to his back, almost falling over, not expecting it to be that heavy. He
slipped on his robe over all of that and slung his pouch over his shoulder. Double checking to
make sure that he had his dagger and everything he needed. Going back out into the halls, he got
his staff back from Shu and stormed off towards the nearest exit. Seiji had always protected him
from the first day they met, now Touma had to save him and protect him.
"Touma-san, where are you going!? Do you even know where Seiji-san is?" Nausti
questioned.
Touma ignored her, he didn't want anyone else to get involved in this. The sound of a
door slamming echoed as Touma left.
"Touma-san!"
"Just leave him, Nausti-san," Shu told her. "I'll go after him in awhile, I know where
he's going."
Nausti took his hand and squeezed it. "You're such a good friend to Touma-san. I'll go
with you, it'd be better to have a group of people go find Seiji-san instead of just two people."
"Nausti, this will be very dangerous," Shu was worried that something might happen to
her if she went.
"I can take care of myself, you won't have to worry about me."
"Don't I have a say in this?!" cried Shin, he didn't want his sister going out into the
unknown.
"Of course not, you're the younger sibling," she smiled at her brother sweetly.
"I'm coming with you."
"If you're going, then I'm going too."
"Ryo . . ."
There was darkness everywhere, there wasn't a single window in the dungeon
underneath the castle. It was damp and cold, the silence was almost maddening, the musty smell
of old blood filled the dungeon. The cells were fairly big, they were made so that the prisoner
could be beaten inside their own cell by a number of people. On the ceiling there was a large
ring, where the chain was supposed to go through and on the other end, the prisoner would be
bound, dangling painfully a good foot above the stone floor. Right under the ring on the ceiling,
there was another on the floor, that would be used for the same purpose, except it was for their
feet. Outside of the cells, by the entrance to the dungeon, there was an assortment of black
leather whips, blades of all sorts, beating clubs and other weapons that could be used against any
poor soul that was unfortunate enough to be in the one of the cells. The doors to the small
chambers were made of heavy wood, five inches thick and held tightly in place by three different
locks. There only way air got in to the cell was by a small vent near the ceiling and a hole cut
into the doors that was barred. In all the history of that castle, there was only one person to ever
escape the dungeons, a boy who had no name and couldn't speak. Somehow his intelligent mind
was able to form a plan in which to escape and it succeeded.
In the very cell where Touma was held for years, a new occupant was staying there.
Blood trickled down the side of his face, making it itch like hell, but he couldn't move his hands
to wipe it away. His whole body hurt, especially his arms. Large bruises marred smooth, pale
skin and his hair hung limply in his face. He had been stripped of his shirt, socks and boots,
leaving him only in his pants. He was freezing, unused to the darkness that surrounded him from
all sides. Even though he had been in there for what seemed like hours, he couldn't get his eyes
to adjust to the pitch black, it was unnerving not know what was in front of you.
//Touma, where are you? I need you.// Seiji thought to himself. He wondered if this is
what Touma went through. He hadn't been there for as nearly as long as Touma had, but he
already understood why his love hated this place so much. As he hung there, he let his mind
wander off to more pleasant thoughts. Seiji remembered back to three years ago when he met
Touma. Had it been anyone else, he probably wouldn't have let them travel around with him, but
it had been love at first sight for the blond. As he went through old memories, he found that
something didn't make sense. For sure, there was someone trying to kill Touma, but who?
Kayura wanted him alive and no doubt she hired the Sanada clan to get him. So, who wanted him
dead?
There was a small flicker of light from a match and then the small lamp in the cell was
lit, casting an eerie glow.
"You're awake, I wonder if you recognize me."
"How could I forget, Yami?" Seiji glared at the man, then smirked, "I see that you still
have scars from our last encounter."
"You will pay for that," Anubis hissed. The thin strap of the whip lashed out and flew
across Seiji's chest, leaving a bloody line on the pale skin.
The blond's smirk only got bigger, "This is the only way you can defeat me, by killing
me when I'm all chained up." He threw his head back and laughed. "This is great! The all mighty
warrior can't get rid of a mere boy, so he has to kill him when he can't even move!"
"SILENCE!" The whip went back across his chest, only this time it was much harder.
Seiji didn't give an inch, he refused to cry out in pain. Anubis smiled evilly, "You're a lot
tougher than your little friend, he started crying right away, it's a pity we couldn't hear him."
"And how old was he!? He was a child when you people destroyed his home and his life.
What kind of sick person enjoys the sight of a child crying?!" Seiji had never felt so angry in his
life. If Touma had been there for years and escaped when he was eleven . . . he must've been just
a small boy.
"For your information, it was Kayura who tortured your friend while he was here. God
forbid, we certainty not allowed to touch her favorite 'pet'. Had it been us, then he probably
wouldn't have had it too bad. He was six years old when he was brought here and he was ten
when Kayura became more than just amused by him. His last year down here must've been pure
hell," a man with long, red hair said from the doorway of the cell.
"AAAAHHHH! GHOST!" Anubis yelled, looking at the man.
"Who are you?" the blond growled.
"I am Shuten and no, Anubis, I'm not a fucking ghost. Rajura just didn't kill me like
Kayura wanted and Naaza isn't dead either, he was brought down here just like me. Kayura
never comes down here, she claims the dampness makes her hair frizzy, or in other words, she
won't come down to the dungeons unless her pet is here."
"Why didn't Rajura tell me?!"
"Because you sucked at keeping secrets, it's a good thing that Rajura taught you to keep
your mouth shut," snapped Shuten.
Anubis winced, a certain part of his body always got sore at THOSE memories. "Why
are you over here anyway? It's my job to take care of him!"
"Because I thought that the boy had been recaptured again, I see that this certainly isn't
him."
"The blond here is bait, Kayura's pet will be coming for him any minute now."
"Kayura's?! What do you mean he's Kayura's!? By all means he's MINE!" Seiji
corrected. "I didn't spend three years protecting and making love to him not to get any credit!"
Shuten covered his ears, "Too much information! We don't need to know that!"
"I'm just getting the facts straightened out. And don't call him 'pet', his name is
Touma!"
"I thought his name was Rowen, that's what they were calling him back at that temple,"
Anubis said out loud.
"It's TOUMA!!! Rowen is a HORRIBLE name!!!!"
"Touchy, touchy."
"Shut up! No one asked for your opinion!"
"Hey! You're the one held captive here!"
"I said shut up! You're voice is annoying."
Shuten grinned, "He does have a point."
Anubis dropped his whip and threw his hands up into the air, "I give up, I'll come back
to beat you later." He then stormed out of the room.
Shuten sighed heavily. "See what I mean, Touma was much more clever than you and
you just avoided a beating by Anubis and he hates you. Had it been Kayura, you'd be unable to
talk for the next month."
"Do you think you could let me down? My arms hurt like hell."
He shrugged, "Sure, why not?" After grabbing the keys, he unlocked the chains that
bound Seiji's hands and the blond fell to the ground with a thud, landing painstakingly on his
bottom. "I'm keeping the chains on your feet, I'm not that nice." Picking up Anubis' abandoned
whip, he was about to walk out of the cell, before Seiji stopped him.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I want some answers. There's someone trying to kill Touma, do you guys have anything
to do about it?
Shuten sighed again. "Kayura wanted him dead at first, she was furious that he escaped.
Then she got the idea to get him back, so now instead of trying to have him killed, she wants him
back in his cell. Oh yeah, don't think you're out of the woods yet, Anubis will be back and he
won't show any mercy."
Seiji could only stare as Shuten shut and locked the door. He noticed that they didn't
bother to blow out the little flame in the lamp, providing Seiji with light. It bewildered him that
Shuten had actually let him down, even though it wasn't the nicest landing he ever had. Weren't
these guys supposed to be cruel? And that Anubis didn't beat the shit out him for talking back.
He was the same man who killed his family, right? How come there seemed to be more to these
men than they were letting on? Did Kayura know or was she too much on the ditzy side to even
realize it? Did Touma ever notice this? Could it be possible that Touma got their help to escape?
Seiji groaned in confusion and laid down on the chilly floor. Gazing up at the ceiling, he thought
of Touma.
Looking at the tracks carefully, Ryo determined that they were indeed Touma's. There
were also some other marks at one side, probably from the staff he carried. It was easy for him to
follow, from all his years of training. Touma either didn't know how to cover his trail or he was
too much in a rush to even care. They couldn't be that far behind the boy, the tracks didn't look
old, although something told him that Touma wasn't going to rest that night and if they wanted to
catch up with him, they couldn't either. Though this was extremely stupid of the boy, going off
like that without a thought about what to do, Ryo knew he'd do the same thing if it was Shin who
had been taken. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked back at the group behind of him. He was
leading them, since he was the only one who could read Touma's tracks. Shu was helping Nausti
up the hill, even though she kept insisting that she didn't need help and Shin kept his focus
forward and smiled at Ryo when he turned his head.
"Do you see any sign of him?" Shin asked as he caught up to Ryo and started walking at
his side.
"No, we might have to go all night. All I know is that we have to catch up with him soon,
before his trail gets harder to read. I don't understand why he didn't just travel on the road, it
would've been easier if he did."
"Well, Shu-san told me that he broke out from this place, so he's probably reusing the
pathway he took when he was escaping, it wouldn't be smart of him to use the road if he were on
the run."
"That does make sense." Ryo looked over his shoulder again, making sure that Nausti
and Shu were out of earshot. "Shin, why did you kiss me on the cheek earlier?"
Shin's cheeks turned a bright red. "I-I guess cause . . ." he mumbled something under his
breath, low enough so Ryo couldn't hear.
"What did you say?" he was eager to know what Shin had said.
"I said, cause I was happy with your decision and cause you're beautiful." Shin's cheeks
and ears were now about the same color of his hair.
"Really?"
"Yeah, so, what do you think about it?" he looked shyly over at Ryo.
"I think I couldn't be happier," Ryo clasped Shin's hand and kissed him on the lips.
Nausti giggled and whispered to Shu, "Isn't that so adorable?"
Shu could only nod and tighten his own clasp on Nausti's hand.
Kayura laughed happily. She now had the blond, her pet will come any day now to save
him and that's when she'd strike. Even with the powers of Tenku with him, he was no match for
her, he would be easily recaptured. Once she had no more use for the blond, she'd have Anubis
kill him right in front of her pet, to teach him what happens when someone defies her. After that,
she'd give her pet a long lesson in obedience. The grin on her face widened, her pet was no
longer a little boy with large, sad eyes, skinny limbs and long hair. He was now a young man,
though his eyes were the same, his hair was much shorter, his muscles had filled out and he was
absolutely stunning. She had kept a close eye on him all this time and now it was time for him to
return home. Right when her pet has learned to be obedient and to behave properly, she would
force him into her bed and this time there would be no escape.
Clouds covered the sky, threatening to rain and nippy winds made branches sway. The
tall trees acted as a blanket, blocking out much of the light of day in the forest. There was a
creepy feeling to this place, not many ventured into it. But it was a short cut to the castle on top
of a towering hill. Right beyond the forest, there was a dead looking field to be crossed and it led
right to the castle.
Touma wiped the sweat out of his face, he was both physically and emotionally tired. He
had been hiking at a frantic pace for over thirty hours straight and every step forced him to think
back five years ago, when he was running through this forest in the opposite direction. Weary, he
leaned against a tree, Touma only rested for a minute, if he had stayed there any longer he
would've fallen asleep. He had a death grip on his staff, needing it more than ever just to keep
himself on his feet. As he walked, he cursed Kayura, he cursed Rajura, everyone that had toyed
with his life. In another hour, he couldn't take another step, his legs gave out. He was pushing
himself too much, if he kept this up, then he'd be too worn out to save Seiji. He could always
summon Tenku, but Tenku would need a well rested body to use. Looking ahead of him, he
could see the edge of the forest. Grasping his staff, he used it to push himself back on his feet, it
took him five agonizing minutes just to go ten feet. Just as the forest ended, he fell back down
and lifted his head to observe his surroundings. In front of him was a lifeless field and off in the
distance he could see the castle. A mixture of triumph and horror filled him. Memories which he
had suppressed for years came back up at the simple sight of his prison.
He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, trying to push the images from his mind. //Oh
gods, Seiji could be going through what I did. Damn you, Kayura, for every mark on my Seiji's
body, you'll pay ten fold. Seiji, don't worry, I'll free you, even if it means sacrificing
everything.//
It was a struggle just to sit up, he was very tired, but he didn't want to rest. While he was
sitting there, Seiji could be going through the worst torture imaginable. Shaking his head, he
knew he had to think logically, he would be no use to his love if he was too fatigued to fight.
Reaching into his pouch, he rummaged through his things looking for something to eat. His
fingers brushed across something that felt like a package, so he snatched it up, thinking that it
might be food. It was a bag of tea, he couldn't help smiling at it. It was Seiji's tea. He put it back
in his pouch, keeping in mind that he'd have to make Seiji some tea once they get out of that hell
hole together. Seiji always like his tea very hot, with a little bit of honey or sugar in it to get rid
of the bitterness, only Touma could make it just the way Seiji liked it. Touma's lightened spirits
dropped, he realized that even though Seiji was going to make it out of there, he might be stuck
there again. If it came down to it, he might have to make a deal with Kayura and trace places
with the blond. Touma didn't want to think about, however the thoughts of it still lingered in his
mind. It twisted his heart painfully to think that he may never get to touch Seiji again, never get
to kiss him again, never get to make love to him again. Sighing sadly, he looked for some food
again and only found a few pieces of candy left over from the small bag that Seiji had bought
him while he was still in the hotel recovering. Munching on the candy, he thought of a way to get
in the castle. Well, he did manage to get out by using a certain route, so he might as well use it
again.
//Maybe I should get some sleep before I cross that field. Maybe I could sleep the rest of
the day and go during the night, all I have to worry about is Yami then.// Touma got as
comfortable as he could against a tree and shut his eyes. In one hand he clutched the piece of
fabric from Seiji's shirt and in the other was the reed flute he used to summon Tenku. //Tenku,
I'm going to need you now more than ever, please, don't abandon me.//
There was a sickening silence in the cell that the prisoner was currently being held.
Rajura leaned against the wall, listening to slaps of leather hitting flesh. He knew that the blond
must be covered with blood and bruises by now, not once though, has he cried out in pain.
Peeking inside the cell, he saw his lover looking very frustrated at the blond, who was hanging
limply by the chains. This time he punched the boy right in the ribs, still he got no response.
Anubis stepped back and then a slow grin appeared on his face, he knew how to make the boy
react.
"Your dear little Touma had the most delightful look on his face when he was in pain."
His grin got wider as Seiji's eyes filled with hatred. "His sobs were the most interesting thing to
hear though, it made you wonder what Kayura was doing to him when she wouldn't allow us to
watch."
"You're lying, Touma can't make a sound," Seiji said shakily.
"Maybe not with his voice, but with his mind he can." Anubis tapped his head with a
finger, "It's all up here, people with magic can communicate with something we call mind
speech."
"Leave Touma out of this."
Anubis didn't stop, "The whip made such a great smack on his flesh, much better than
yours, maybe because he was so young."
"Leave him out of this!"
"We all know that your Touma is coming for you right this second. We've prepared for
his homecoming, this time he won't get away. It's kind of sad, a delicate little thing like Touma
trying to save someone who should've been able to defend himself. It's a shame that he's never
going to get to see his Seiji one last time, he'll become the property of Kayura again. And to
think, it'll be all your fault that Touma suffers."
"I SAID LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!!!!" Seiji was on the verge of tears. He didn't
want to hear this, he didn't want to know the horrors of Touma's stay here from the man who
killed his family and who was also mocking his love's pain and suffering. He would learn about
this when Touma was strong enough to face the demons of his past. And he certainly didn't want
to hear about what might happen if Touma got caught again. Anubis would be right then, it
would be his fault. Yami might've been merciful the other day, however today he wasn't holding
anything back, he the cruel man Seiji had known in his past once more. Anubis was hitting him
where it hurt most, in the heart. The whip lashed across his chest and stomach again, it was
nothing to what he was feeling inside of him.
All of a sudden, his almost hissed in pain as the blade of a sword left a deep gash in his
upper thigh. His eyes were shut tight, the sword biting into his flesh over and over again, digging
deep into it each time. He could feel his blood pouring out of the wounds and the sharp pain of
the whip lashing over them. It was almost too much for him to take, his lip started bleeding from
biting down on it so hard. He would not cry out, he refused to make a sound. Seiji tried to
distract himself by thinking of something other than the pain. The strikes became harder, as
Anubis did his best to make the blond cry out. There was a strained look on the blond's face, he
was making sure that he didn't make a sound, he didn't want Yami to have the pleasure of
hearing his screams.
"You're very stubborn," Anubis growled. Seiji was taking all the fun out of this for him.
"I try," Seiji grinned weakly.
Anubis punched him right across the face before blowing out the little flame in the lamp
and walking out of the cell. Seiji took in an unsteady breath, trying desperately to ignore the
burning pain that shot through his entire body. He had to admit that he was a proud bastard, he
wouldn't bring shame to himself by crying. Anubis' words stung worse more than anything else.
//Touma, I'm sorry, it is my fault. I'd never forgive myself if you get captured by these
bastards. I don't even want to think about what might happen to you . . .// He was unable to
control himself as tears slipped down his face. //How many times have you cried in here, love?
Please forgive me, I'm trying to be strong for you. Touma, you're all I have in the world, I've
tried to keep you safe and happy, but now I've managed to bring your nightmares to life. I know
you too well, you're going to come, I just hope that trying to save me won't become your doom.
Tenku told me that Kourin would be at my side when I needed him, well, right now I need him to
help Touma and I. I beg of you, help us.// Seiji sighed softly as he felt the pain of his wounds
ease and the next thing he knew it, he was laying on the ground, the horrible ache in his arms was
gone.
"Kourin . . . ?" Seiji weakly asked before he fell into a deep, blissful slumber.
Everyone was tired, though that didn't make them stop to rest. The only timed they
stopped to rest was at night, when they really needed to stop. Shu was surprised that they hadn't
caught up with Touma yet, for all they knew Touma was already at the castle. They had been
informed by Ryo that they would be reaching the end of the forest soon, what lie beyond that was
unknown. The sun had sunk down into the west and the stars were starting to appear in the
darkened sky. Shin had an arm wrapped securely around Ryo's waist, Shin didn't want Ryo to
come, he was still weak from his previous injuries and he should've been in bed instead of trying
to save someone they hardly knew. Then again, they probably would've been lost without him,
and Ryo was trying to take it easy, not wanting to worry Shin too much. Shin had to smile every
time he replayed their kiss in his mind. He felt honored to have such a beautiful creature to call
his own. To his surprise, Ryo stopped in his tracks, causing everyone else to stop.
"What's wrong, Ryo? Do you need to rest?"
"No, look, Shin. There's someone ahead of us, I think it's Touma," Ryo pointed out.
Shu looked over in that direction. "He's right, it's Touma!" They ran the rest of the way
to where Touma was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to get here," a flat voice said to them.
All of them nearly jumped back in shock and Shu timidly asked, "Tenku?"
Tenku stood up, his gaze was over at the field. "You don't have to come. Touma
wouldn't want any of you to come risk your lives if you didn't want to. None of you really know
Seiji, so you can all go back if you like. The ninja is hurt too, I suggest that you take him back."
"Hey, listen, Tenku! We all came because we wanted to help. It doesn't matter that we
don't know Seiji, but his life is in danger right now and if we didn't care, we wouldn't be here
right now," Ryo snapped at him.
"Bold words for a Sanada ninja, especially one who was trying to bring harm to Touma."
Tenku shot back, his voice dripping with bitterness.
"I'm trying to change, I know my job was to capture Touma, it isn't anymore. I'm going
to make it up to him and this is the only way I can. I don't blame him for what happened to Ikari,
because that was your doing."
There was an awkward smile on Tenku's face, then he threw his head back and laughed.
"Humans are very complex and amusing. Very well, ninja, you and your friends can help only if
you want to. You spoke the right words, I would've killed you if you tried to hurt Touma."
Getting to his feet, he pointed to the castle in the distance. "Crossing the field won't be some
picnic, Anubis will be able to see us, even in the dark. I know a way in the castle, after we rescue
Seiji, I want you to get him out of here, I have some unsettled business with Kayura."
"Wait, maybe you have unsettled business with her, but Touma doesn't. He would want
to get away from there as soon as possible. Why risk his life too?" questioned Shu, he didn't like
this plan Tenku was thinking of.
"Because, we both don't want something like this to ever happen again. Kayura is
already over four hundred years old and she's still has a long way to go. It's best to destroy her
now, before she becomes too powerful. I'm not going to let her harm anyone ever again."
"You're planning a kamikaze mission, aren't you?" Shu felt his temper rising.
Tenku stared at him coldly. "I wouldn't intend to kill him like that, I plan on both of us
coming out alive."
What the hell was I on while writing this? When will there be more action between Shu and
Nausti? How will Tenku get rid of Kayura? Will Kourin end up helping them? How could I stand
hurting our favorite blond, Seiji? Will Shin and Ryo be able to maintain a good relationship?
Will we ever get to see them in bed in this story? What is better, chocolate or strawberry flavored
Pocky? Why am I asking this now? And why the hell is my tea bitter even though I put honey in
it? Find out in Part VII and many other parts of "The Paths We Take".
Ryo sat at Ikari's side, neither of them speaking. It should've been a joyous occasion, he
should've given her a big hug, told her how much he was worried about her and that he had never
been so happy to see her. None of that happened. Part of him wanted to yell at her for using
magic, such a thing was forbidden by the Sanada clan. It didn't matter that she was adopted, she
was apart of the clan and had to obey its laws. Another part of him wanted to cry, to tell her that
he couldn't finish the job with her and beg for her forgiveness. He couldn't bring himself to do
either of them. Ryo would hate to yell at her and would hate it even more to disappoint her.
His emotions were still on the edge. Shin had kissed him, him of all people. Blood would
rush to his face just thinking of how those soft lips felt on his cheek. Ryo wondered what Shin
would've said after that if the monk didn't come rushing in to tell them that Ikari was awake.
Right when he was done with Ikari, he had to talk to Shin and ask him if he had any feelings for
him. Ryo hoped that Shin wouldn't reject him, the more and more he thought about it, the more
he was convinced that Shin was worth giving up his family. It would be difficult to break the ties
with the Sanada clan, but it could be done. He was glad that Shin wasn't there with him then, he
didn't think he could handle breaking the news to Ikari with him there.
"Ryo," Ikari broke the silence.
"Yes?"
"The boy, Touma, he's the person we have to kidnap."
He couldn't say anything to his friend, he didn't know how to break it to her that he
couldn't continue as a ninja anymore.
"You're a much better fighter than I am," Ikari went on, taking Ryo's hand. "You have to
be quick, physically, Touma is nothing compared to you, you can take him down easily. Just
don't let him summon Tenku, he's packs quite a punch with that damned spirit. We have to finish
this, please don't let me down."
"Ikari, I don't think," Ryo paused, not sure if he could go on. "I don't think, I mean, I
can't do this," the last words were hardly even a whisper.
Ikari's eyes widened, she didn't know if she heard him right. "What did you say?"
"I can't be a ninja anymore, Ikari, I'm going to break the ties to my family."
"Why?" Ikari was wondering if Ryo had hit his head or something when he was in the
river, there was no way that this was the boy she looked up to as a brother, there was no way.
That was a good question that Ikari had asked and Ryo only had one answer. "Because I
think I'm in love."
He hoped this wasn't becoming a habit. When Seiji woke up, Touma was gone again. At
least this time he didn't have the strange impression that Touma was in any danger, so he didn't
panic, just kind of surprised that he left without waking up Seiji first. He didn't feel comfortable
about Touma wandering around by himself with that bitch Kayura after him and that Ikari girl,
she was a threat too. Leaving the room, he didn't have to go far before he spotted Touma walking
down the hall. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder, his hair falling into his face in an
adorable way. Seiji was about to go over to him when all of a sudden he stopped. The blond
looked intensely at the boy in front of him. This wasn't right.
"Who the hell are you?" Seiji demanded, his eyes turned from violet to an icy blue.
The boy lifted an eyebrow in question, as if he didn't know what Seiji was talking about.
"Don't act all innocent! You aren't my Touma, so who the hell are you?!" He couldn't
figure out what was going on, could it be that there was another spirit in Touma? That could be
it, but it certainty wasn't Tenku. He knew Tenku would've said something to him by now. The
way the person stood was too stiff to be Touma and he kept on brushing away the lock of hair
between his eyes, as if he wasn't used to it being there.
"I didn't think I could fool you," the boy said. A young looking man with white hair and
only one eye took the place of the boy who looked like Touma.
Seiji's hand went right to where his sword would've been, if he hadn't left it in the room
he and Touma had been using. "It was an illusion. Did you use magic? Or just a ninja trick?"
"I assure you that I have nothing to do with ninjas."
"Oh! Who're you?" Nausti had walked into the foyer, staring at the new person.
"Nausti-san! Get the hell out of here!" Seiji yelled at her, it was too late. The man
grabbed her by the hair and held a sword up to her neck.
"This is nice, a hostage that walks right into my hands," the man grinned. "If you don't
want to see the girl get hurt, you'll come with me- OWWW!" he cried out in pain as Nausti
managed to hit him in the ribs and got out of his grasp.
"What do you think I am? Some poor defenseless girl who can't hold her own!? Sorry
mister, but you aren't the sister to a thief if you don't learn anything. And this is for tugging my
hair!" Nausti punched him right across the face, causing the man to fall flat on his ass.
"Damn, that was pretty cool, Nausti-san."
"I know. So, who are you and why do you want Seiji? Yes, he is a fine piece of man, but
I'd hate to break it to you, he isn't good enough to threaten someone's life over!"
"Thanks, Nausti-san," Seiji mumbled. What would she know?! They didn't even know
each other for a day and she was already commenting about him in that way! What was she
trying to suggest anyway?!
"What the fuck is going on here?" Shu was surprised to see a stranger spiraled on the
floor with Nausti standing over him and Seiji behind of her. Touma was just as startled, though
he was more shocked to see the man, who was no stranger to him.
"No, no, no, dear boy, I'm not after you," the man chuckled at Touma's expression. "I'm
after your boyfriend!" He then shoved Nausti aside and grabbed Seiji.
"TOUMA!"
Touma sprang forward and snatched the sleeve of Seiji's shirt, hoping that he could tear
the blond out of the man's grasp before it was too late. He felt a numbing pain in his heart as the
man teleported out of the temple with Seiji. In his hand was a scrap of fabric from the blond's
sleeve that got torn off as the man left with his love. For the next couple of seconds, all anyone
could do was stare at the spot where the two men just were. Touma then fell to his knees,
clutching the piece of fabric to his chest and sobbed.
//No, no, NO!// Touma screamed in his mind. //Seiji . . . I'm so sorry . . . I would've
never even asked you for help if I thought that she might go after you instead of just me. Rajura,
you bastard! I'll get you and Kayura for this! I'm not going to let Seiji go through what I did!
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, KAYURA!//
"What happened?" Shin asked softly, noticing Touma on the ground crying.
"The blond, Seiji-san, has been kidnapped," Nausti informed her younger brother.
"Don't worry, Touma-kun, we'll get him back," Shu tried to reassure his friend as he
tried to pull him in for a hug, Touma just pushed him away.
Standing up, Touma wiped his eyes and ran to the room they had been using. Slamming
the door behind him, he tore off his clothes and put on a fresh set. Snatching his boots, he tugged
them on and then he put on Seiji's cuirass. It was a bit big, but his own leather armor only went
down to his chest. The scrape of cloth from Seiji's shirt was tucked safely in his pants pocket and
he strapped Seiji's sword to his back, almost falling over, not expecting it to be that heavy. He
slipped on his robe over all of that and slung his pouch over his shoulder. Double checking to
make sure that he had his dagger and everything he needed. Going back out into the halls, he got
his staff back from Shu and stormed off towards the nearest exit. Seiji had always protected him
from the first day they met, now Touma had to save him and protect him.
"Touma-san, where are you going!? Do you even know where Seiji-san is?" Nausti
questioned.
Touma ignored her, he didn't want anyone else to get involved in this. The sound of a
door slamming echoed as Touma left.
"Touma-san!"
"Just leave him, Nausti-san," Shu told her. "I'll go after him in awhile, I know where
he's going."
Nausti took his hand and squeezed it. "You're such a good friend to Touma-san. I'll go
with you, it'd be better to have a group of people go find Seiji-san instead of just two people."
"Nausti, this will be very dangerous," Shu was worried that something might happen to
her if she went.
"I can take care of myself, you won't have to worry about me."
"Don't I have a say in this?!" cried Shin, he didn't want his sister going out into the
unknown.
"Of course not, you're the younger sibling," she smiled at her brother sweetly.
"I'm coming with you."
"If you're going, then I'm going too."
"Ryo . . ."
There was darkness everywhere, there wasn't a single window in the dungeon
underneath the castle. It was damp and cold, the silence was almost maddening, the musty smell
of old blood filled the dungeon. The cells were fairly big, they were made so that the prisoner
could be beaten inside their own cell by a number of people. On the ceiling there was a large
ring, where the chain was supposed to go through and on the other end, the prisoner would be
bound, dangling painfully a good foot above the stone floor. Right under the ring on the ceiling,
there was another on the floor, that would be used for the same purpose, except it was for their
feet. Outside of the cells, by the entrance to the dungeon, there was an assortment of black
leather whips, blades of all sorts, beating clubs and other weapons that could be used against any
poor soul that was unfortunate enough to be in the one of the cells. The doors to the small
chambers were made of heavy wood, five inches thick and held tightly in place by three different
locks. There only way air got in to the cell was by a small vent near the ceiling and a hole cut
into the doors that was barred. In all the history of that castle, there was only one person to ever
escape the dungeons, a boy who had no name and couldn't speak. Somehow his intelligent mind
was able to form a plan in which to escape and it succeeded.
In the very cell where Touma was held for years, a new occupant was staying there.
Blood trickled down the side of his face, making it itch like hell, but he couldn't move his hands
to wipe it away. His whole body hurt, especially his arms. Large bruises marred smooth, pale
skin and his hair hung limply in his face. He had been stripped of his shirt, socks and boots,
leaving him only in his pants. He was freezing, unused to the darkness that surrounded him from
all sides. Even though he had been in there for what seemed like hours, he couldn't get his eyes
to adjust to the pitch black, it was unnerving not know what was in front of you.
//Touma, where are you? I need you.// Seiji thought to himself. He wondered if this is
what Touma went through. He hadn't been there for as nearly as long as Touma had, but he
already understood why his love hated this place so much. As he hung there, he let his mind
wander off to more pleasant thoughts. Seiji remembered back to three years ago when he met
Touma. Had it been anyone else, he probably wouldn't have let them travel around with him, but
it had been love at first sight for the blond. As he went through old memories, he found that
something didn't make sense. For sure, there was someone trying to kill Touma, but who?
Kayura wanted him alive and no doubt she hired the Sanada clan to get him. So, who wanted him
dead?
There was a small flicker of light from a match and then the small lamp in the cell was
lit, casting an eerie glow.
"You're awake, I wonder if you recognize me."
"How could I forget, Yami?" Seiji glared at the man, then smirked, "I see that you still
have scars from our last encounter."
"You will pay for that," Anubis hissed. The thin strap of the whip lashed out and flew
across Seiji's chest, leaving a bloody line on the pale skin.
The blond's smirk only got bigger, "This is the only way you can defeat me, by killing
me when I'm all chained up." He threw his head back and laughed. "This is great! The all mighty
warrior can't get rid of a mere boy, so he has to kill him when he can't even move!"
"SILENCE!" The whip went back across his chest, only this time it was much harder.
Seiji didn't give an inch, he refused to cry out in pain. Anubis smiled evilly, "You're a lot
tougher than your little friend, he started crying right away, it's a pity we couldn't hear him."
"And how old was he!? He was a child when you people destroyed his home and his life.
What kind of sick person enjoys the sight of a child crying?!" Seiji had never felt so angry in his
life. If Touma had been there for years and escaped when he was eleven . . . he must've been just
a small boy.
"For your information, it was Kayura who tortured your friend while he was here. God
forbid, we certainty not allowed to touch her favorite 'pet'. Had it been us, then he probably
wouldn't have had it too bad. He was six years old when he was brought here and he was ten
when Kayura became more than just amused by him. His last year down here must've been pure
hell," a man with long, red hair said from the doorway of the cell.
"AAAAHHHH! GHOST!" Anubis yelled, looking at the man.
"Who are you?" the blond growled.
"I am Shuten and no, Anubis, I'm not a fucking ghost. Rajura just didn't kill me like
Kayura wanted and Naaza isn't dead either, he was brought down here just like me. Kayura
never comes down here, she claims the dampness makes her hair frizzy, or in other words, she
won't come down to the dungeons unless her pet is here."
"Why didn't Rajura tell me?!"
"Because you sucked at keeping secrets, it's a good thing that Rajura taught you to keep
your mouth shut," snapped Shuten.
Anubis winced, a certain part of his body always got sore at THOSE memories. "Why
are you over here anyway? It's my job to take care of him!"
"Because I thought that the boy had been recaptured again, I see that this certainly isn't
him."
"The blond here is bait, Kayura's pet will be coming for him any minute now."
"Kayura's?! What do you mean he's Kayura's!? By all means he's MINE!" Seiji
corrected. "I didn't spend three years protecting and making love to him not to get any credit!"
Shuten covered his ears, "Too much information! We don't need to know that!"
"I'm just getting the facts straightened out. And don't call him 'pet', his name is
Touma!"
"I thought his name was Rowen, that's what they were calling him back at that temple,"
Anubis said out loud.
"It's TOUMA!!! Rowen is a HORRIBLE name!!!!"
"Touchy, touchy."
"Shut up! No one asked for your opinion!"
"Hey! You're the one held captive here!"
"I said shut up! You're voice is annoying."
Shuten grinned, "He does have a point."
Anubis dropped his whip and threw his hands up into the air, "I give up, I'll come back
to beat you later." He then stormed out of the room.
Shuten sighed heavily. "See what I mean, Touma was much more clever than you and
you just avoided a beating by Anubis and he hates you. Had it been Kayura, you'd be unable to
talk for the next month."
"Do you think you could let me down? My arms hurt like hell."
He shrugged, "Sure, why not?" After grabbing the keys, he unlocked the chains that
bound Seiji's hands and the blond fell to the ground with a thud, landing painstakingly on his
bottom. "I'm keeping the chains on your feet, I'm not that nice." Picking up Anubis' abandoned
whip, he was about to walk out of the cell, before Seiji stopped him.
"Wait."
"What?"
"I want some answers. There's someone trying to kill Touma, do you guys have anything
to do about it?
Shuten sighed again. "Kayura wanted him dead at first, she was furious that he escaped.
Then she got the idea to get him back, so now instead of trying to have him killed, she wants him
back in his cell. Oh yeah, don't think you're out of the woods yet, Anubis will be back and he
won't show any mercy."
Seiji could only stare as Shuten shut and locked the door. He noticed that they didn't
bother to blow out the little flame in the lamp, providing Seiji with light. It bewildered him that
Shuten had actually let him down, even though it wasn't the nicest landing he ever had. Weren't
these guys supposed to be cruel? And that Anubis didn't beat the shit out him for talking back.
He was the same man who killed his family, right? How come there seemed to be more to these
men than they were letting on? Did Kayura know or was she too much on the ditzy side to even
realize it? Did Touma ever notice this? Could it be possible that Touma got their help to escape?
Seiji groaned in confusion and laid down on the chilly floor. Gazing up at the ceiling, he thought
of Touma.
Looking at the tracks carefully, Ryo determined that they were indeed Touma's. There
were also some other marks at one side, probably from the staff he carried. It was easy for him to
follow, from all his years of training. Touma either didn't know how to cover his trail or he was
too much in a rush to even care. They couldn't be that far behind the boy, the tracks didn't look
old, although something told him that Touma wasn't going to rest that night and if they wanted to
catch up with him, they couldn't either. Though this was extremely stupid of the boy, going off
like that without a thought about what to do, Ryo knew he'd do the same thing if it was Shin who
had been taken. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked back at the group behind of him. He was
leading them, since he was the only one who could read Touma's tracks. Shu was helping Nausti
up the hill, even though she kept insisting that she didn't need help and Shin kept his focus
forward and smiled at Ryo when he turned his head.
"Do you see any sign of him?" Shin asked as he caught up to Ryo and started walking at
his side.
"No, we might have to go all night. All I know is that we have to catch up with him soon,
before his trail gets harder to read. I don't understand why he didn't just travel on the road, it
would've been easier if he did."
"Well, Shu-san told me that he broke out from this place, so he's probably reusing the
pathway he took when he was escaping, it wouldn't be smart of him to use the road if he were on
the run."
"That does make sense." Ryo looked over his shoulder again, making sure that Nausti
and Shu were out of earshot. "Shin, why did you kiss me on the cheek earlier?"
Shin's cheeks turned a bright red. "I-I guess cause . . ." he mumbled something under his
breath, low enough so Ryo couldn't hear.
"What did you say?" he was eager to know what Shin had said.
"I said, cause I was happy with your decision and cause you're beautiful." Shin's cheeks
and ears were now about the same color of his hair.
"Really?"
"Yeah, so, what do you think about it?" he looked shyly over at Ryo.
"I think I couldn't be happier," Ryo clasped Shin's hand and kissed him on the lips.
Nausti giggled and whispered to Shu, "Isn't that so adorable?"
Shu could only nod and tighten his own clasp on Nausti's hand.
Kayura laughed happily. She now had the blond, her pet will come any day now to save
him and that's when she'd strike. Even with the powers of Tenku with him, he was no match for
her, he would be easily recaptured. Once she had no more use for the blond, she'd have Anubis
kill him right in front of her pet, to teach him what happens when someone defies her. After that,
she'd give her pet a long lesson in obedience. The grin on her face widened, her pet was no
longer a little boy with large, sad eyes, skinny limbs and long hair. He was now a young man,
though his eyes were the same, his hair was much shorter, his muscles had filled out and he was
absolutely stunning. She had kept a close eye on him all this time and now it was time for him to
return home. Right when her pet has learned to be obedient and to behave properly, she would
force him into her bed and this time there would be no escape.
Clouds covered the sky, threatening to rain and nippy winds made branches sway. The
tall trees acted as a blanket, blocking out much of the light of day in the forest. There was a
creepy feeling to this place, not many ventured into it. But it was a short cut to the castle on top
of a towering hill. Right beyond the forest, there was a dead looking field to be crossed and it led
right to the castle.
Touma wiped the sweat out of his face, he was both physically and emotionally tired. He
had been hiking at a frantic pace for over thirty hours straight and every step forced him to think
back five years ago, when he was running through this forest in the opposite direction. Weary, he
leaned against a tree, Touma only rested for a minute, if he had stayed there any longer he
would've fallen asleep. He had a death grip on his staff, needing it more than ever just to keep
himself on his feet. As he walked, he cursed Kayura, he cursed Rajura, everyone that had toyed
with his life. In another hour, he couldn't take another step, his legs gave out. He was pushing
himself too much, if he kept this up, then he'd be too worn out to save Seiji. He could always
summon Tenku, but Tenku would need a well rested body to use. Looking ahead of him, he
could see the edge of the forest. Grasping his staff, he used it to push himself back on his feet, it
took him five agonizing minutes just to go ten feet. Just as the forest ended, he fell back down
and lifted his head to observe his surroundings. In front of him was a lifeless field and off in the
distance he could see the castle. A mixture of triumph and horror filled him. Memories which he
had suppressed for years came back up at the simple sight of his prison.
He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, trying to push the images from his mind. //Oh
gods, Seiji could be going through what I did. Damn you, Kayura, for every mark on my Seiji's
body, you'll pay ten fold. Seiji, don't worry, I'll free you, even if it means sacrificing
everything.//
It was a struggle just to sit up, he was very tired, but he didn't want to rest. While he was
sitting there, Seiji could be going through the worst torture imaginable. Shaking his head, he
knew he had to think logically, he would be no use to his love if he was too fatigued to fight.
Reaching into his pouch, he rummaged through his things looking for something to eat. His
fingers brushed across something that felt like a package, so he snatched it up, thinking that it
might be food. It was a bag of tea, he couldn't help smiling at it. It was Seiji's tea. He put it back
in his pouch, keeping in mind that he'd have to make Seiji some tea once they get out of that hell
hole together. Seiji always like his tea very hot, with a little bit of honey or sugar in it to get rid
of the bitterness, only Touma could make it just the way Seiji liked it. Touma's lightened spirits
dropped, he realized that even though Seiji was going to make it out of there, he might be stuck
there again. If it came down to it, he might have to make a deal with Kayura and trace places
with the blond. Touma didn't want to think about, however the thoughts of it still lingered in his
mind. It twisted his heart painfully to think that he may never get to touch Seiji again, never get
to kiss him again, never get to make love to him again. Sighing sadly, he looked for some food
again and only found a few pieces of candy left over from the small bag that Seiji had bought
him while he was still in the hotel recovering. Munching on the candy, he thought of a way to get
in the castle. Well, he did manage to get out by using a certain route, so he might as well use it
again.
//Maybe I should get some sleep before I cross that field. Maybe I could sleep the rest of
the day and go during the night, all I have to worry about is Yami then.// Touma got as
comfortable as he could against a tree and shut his eyes. In one hand he clutched the piece of
fabric from Seiji's shirt and in the other was the reed flute he used to summon Tenku. //Tenku,
I'm going to need you now more than ever, please, don't abandon me.//
There was a sickening silence in the cell that the prisoner was currently being held.
Rajura leaned against the wall, listening to slaps of leather hitting flesh. He knew that the blond
must be covered with blood and bruises by now, not once though, has he cried out in pain.
Peeking inside the cell, he saw his lover looking very frustrated at the blond, who was hanging
limply by the chains. This time he punched the boy right in the ribs, still he got no response.
Anubis stepped back and then a slow grin appeared on his face, he knew how to make the boy
react.
"Your dear little Touma had the most delightful look on his face when he was in pain."
His grin got wider as Seiji's eyes filled with hatred. "His sobs were the most interesting thing to
hear though, it made you wonder what Kayura was doing to him when she wouldn't allow us to
watch."
"You're lying, Touma can't make a sound," Seiji said shakily.
"Maybe not with his voice, but with his mind he can." Anubis tapped his head with a
finger, "It's all up here, people with magic can communicate with something we call mind
speech."
"Leave Touma out of this."
Anubis didn't stop, "The whip made such a great smack on his flesh, much better than
yours, maybe because he was so young."
"Leave him out of this!"
"We all know that your Touma is coming for you right this second. We've prepared for
his homecoming, this time he won't get away. It's kind of sad, a delicate little thing like Touma
trying to save someone who should've been able to defend himself. It's a shame that he's never
going to get to see his Seiji one last time, he'll become the property of Kayura again. And to
think, it'll be all your fault that Touma suffers."
"I SAID LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!!!!" Seiji was on the verge of tears. He didn't
want to hear this, he didn't want to know the horrors of Touma's stay here from the man who
killed his family and who was also mocking his love's pain and suffering. He would learn about
this when Touma was strong enough to face the demons of his past. And he certainly didn't want
to hear about what might happen if Touma got caught again. Anubis would be right then, it
would be his fault. Yami might've been merciful the other day, however today he wasn't holding
anything back, he the cruel man Seiji had known in his past once more. Anubis was hitting him
where it hurt most, in the heart. The whip lashed across his chest and stomach again, it was
nothing to what he was feeling inside of him.
All of a sudden, his almost hissed in pain as the blade of a sword left a deep gash in his
upper thigh. His eyes were shut tight, the sword biting into his flesh over and over again, digging
deep into it each time. He could feel his blood pouring out of the wounds and the sharp pain of
the whip lashing over them. It was almost too much for him to take, his lip started bleeding from
biting down on it so hard. He would not cry out, he refused to make a sound. Seiji tried to
distract himself by thinking of something other than the pain. The strikes became harder, as
Anubis did his best to make the blond cry out. There was a strained look on the blond's face, he
was making sure that he didn't make a sound, he didn't want Yami to have the pleasure of
hearing his screams.
"You're very stubborn," Anubis growled. Seiji was taking all the fun out of this for him.
"I try," Seiji grinned weakly.
Anubis punched him right across the face before blowing out the little flame in the lamp
and walking out of the cell. Seiji took in an unsteady breath, trying desperately to ignore the
burning pain that shot through his entire body. He had to admit that he was a proud bastard, he
wouldn't bring shame to himself by crying. Anubis' words stung worse more than anything else.
//Touma, I'm sorry, it is my fault. I'd never forgive myself if you get captured by these
bastards. I don't even want to think about what might happen to you . . .// He was unable to
control himself as tears slipped down his face. //How many times have you cried in here, love?
Please forgive me, I'm trying to be strong for you. Touma, you're all I have in the world, I've
tried to keep you safe and happy, but now I've managed to bring your nightmares to life. I know
you too well, you're going to come, I just hope that trying to save me won't become your doom.
Tenku told me that Kourin would be at my side when I needed him, well, right now I need him to
help Touma and I. I beg of you, help us.// Seiji sighed softly as he felt the pain of his wounds
ease and the next thing he knew it, he was laying on the ground, the horrible ache in his arms was
gone.
"Kourin . . . ?" Seiji weakly asked before he fell into a deep, blissful slumber.
Everyone was tired, though that didn't make them stop to rest. The only timed they
stopped to rest was at night, when they really needed to stop. Shu was surprised that they hadn't
caught up with Touma yet, for all they knew Touma was already at the castle. They had been
informed by Ryo that they would be reaching the end of the forest soon, what lie beyond that was
unknown. The sun had sunk down into the west and the stars were starting to appear in the
darkened sky. Shin had an arm wrapped securely around Ryo's waist, Shin didn't want Ryo to
come, he was still weak from his previous injuries and he should've been in bed instead of trying
to save someone they hardly knew. Then again, they probably would've been lost without him,
and Ryo was trying to take it easy, not wanting to worry Shin too much. Shin had to smile every
time he replayed their kiss in his mind. He felt honored to have such a beautiful creature to call
his own. To his surprise, Ryo stopped in his tracks, causing everyone else to stop.
"What's wrong, Ryo? Do you need to rest?"
"No, look, Shin. There's someone ahead of us, I think it's Touma," Ryo pointed out.
Shu looked over in that direction. "He's right, it's Touma!" They ran the rest of the way
to where Touma was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to get here," a flat voice said to them.
All of them nearly jumped back in shock and Shu timidly asked, "Tenku?"
Tenku stood up, his gaze was over at the field. "You don't have to come. Touma
wouldn't want any of you to come risk your lives if you didn't want to. None of you really know
Seiji, so you can all go back if you like. The ninja is hurt too, I suggest that you take him back."
"Hey, listen, Tenku! We all came because we wanted to help. It doesn't matter that we
don't know Seiji, but his life is in danger right now and if we didn't care, we wouldn't be here
right now," Ryo snapped at him.
"Bold words for a Sanada ninja, especially one who was trying to bring harm to Touma."
Tenku shot back, his voice dripping with bitterness.
"I'm trying to change, I know my job was to capture Touma, it isn't anymore. I'm going
to make it up to him and this is the only way I can. I don't blame him for what happened to Ikari,
because that was your doing."
There was an awkward smile on Tenku's face, then he threw his head back and laughed.
"Humans are very complex and amusing. Very well, ninja, you and your friends can help only if
you want to. You spoke the right words, I would've killed you if you tried to hurt Touma."
Getting to his feet, he pointed to the castle in the distance. "Crossing the field won't be some
picnic, Anubis will be able to see us, even in the dark. I know a way in the castle, after we rescue
Seiji, I want you to get him out of here, I have some unsettled business with Kayura."
"Wait, maybe you have unsettled business with her, but Touma doesn't. He would want
to get away from there as soon as possible. Why risk his life too?" questioned Shu, he didn't like
this plan Tenku was thinking of.
"Because, we both don't want something like this to ever happen again. Kayura is
already over four hundred years old and she's still has a long way to go. It's best to destroy her
now, before she becomes too powerful. I'm not going to let her harm anyone ever again."
"You're planning a kamikaze mission, aren't you?" Shu felt his temper rising.
Tenku stared at him coldly. "I wouldn't intend to kill him like that, I plan on both of us
coming out alive."
What the hell was I on while writing this? When will there be more action between Shu and
Nausti? How will Tenku get rid of Kayura? Will Kourin end up helping them? How could I stand
hurting our favorite blond, Seiji? Will Shin and Ryo be able to maintain a good relationship?
Will we ever get to see them in bed in this story? What is better, chocolate or strawberry flavored
Pocky? Why am I asking this now? And why the hell is my tea bitter even though I put honey in
it? Find out in Part VII and many other parts of "The Paths We Take".