Part 2 - Separation

A warm silence surrounded him. The pale light that flooded from above gave the room a friendly aura so to speak. Lining the walls of the room were numerous shelves filled with an infinite number of books. At one of the many chairs that surrounded the few tables a head of disheveled blue hair sat buried within the binding of a thick book. Sky blue eyes swiftly passed over the print that had been placed upon the pages. Every minute or so a soft rustling of paper sounded as his hand lifted a page and moved it so as to read the next. Other than this minor disturbance silence surrounded him like a thick bubble. Soon the silence was disrupted by the entry of another blue-haired boy, only this one was darker in color, and a black-haired boy.

"Hey, Touma?" the darker blue questioned.

He was answered by nothing as the light blue continued to stare into the pages of the book, captured by it's writing.

Waving a hand in front of his face the black tried his luck, "Yo, earth to Touma? Come back from the Youjakai!"

This broke his reading trance and caused Touma to look up at the two visitors. "Oh, hi Ryo, Shuu. What are you guys doing here?"

"We wanted to know if you're coming to the movies tonight. Well? Are ya?" Shuu questioned.

"What time?"

"I thought we told you yesterday?" a mocking tone came from Ryo's mouth.

"Oh yeah, hold on a sec..." his hands went to the book bag at his side and dug through its recesses. Pulling out a small book he opened it and scanned the page for a second. "Yeah, I can make it."

"Cool," Shuu commented. "Meet us outside the theater ok? Shin and Seiji are coming too."

"All right"

"Well, Ja ne!" Ryo called back as he left with Shuu.

"Yeah, bye," turning his eyes back to the book Touma resumed his silenced state.

Not more than a moment after the two had left his eyes went wide as he looked up from the book. Something was tugging at the back of his mind. It pulled on him so hard he felt as if there was another person inside his head.

Faintly he could hear cries of pain. The screams echoed in his mind. A blurry image began to develop in front of his eyes. The image of the library before him faded. All that he could see was black. In the void there were two glowing spots, growing dimmer by the second. One was an emerald green and the other shone with the pale blue of the ocean. Touma recognized them at once.

So caught up in the vision he whispered their names aloud, "Seiji, Shin...no!"

His voice broke the silence of the library and got him a few stares from the students in it. As quickly as the vision had came it left him. Blinking a few times to get over his initial shock Touma glanced around the room. Noticing the stares from multiple directions he picked up his things and started to leave.

On his way out a flurry of thoughts were running through his head. "What happened to them? I hope they're okay...but like hoping's gonna help anything. Shit, I've gotta tell Ryo and Shuu about this." Making his way out of school Touma started on the road towards home.

The halls that they walked through were like those of any high school. Packed with students all the time and, in general, a total traffic jam. Ryo and Shuu didn't really mind it too much. They just let the mass drag them along and then pulled off at an empty spot in the corner. Standing there surveying the crowd the two started up a light hearted conversation.

"Ya know one day I think Touma's gonna wish he didn't read as much." Shuu remarked.

"Maybe, but you gotta remember he's got an IQ of 250."

"What does that have to do with it?"

"It means he's smart. Smart people like to read I guess."

"Yeah, but why would you spend all your time reading? There are so many other things to do! In my opinion reading is probably the last thing I'd do for fun..."

"Well, that's just your opinion Shuu, not everyone thinks that way."

"So? That doesn't stop me from doing it!"

"I guess so..."

"Hey where was Seiji today? I didn't see him at lunch."

"Dunno, I think he missed school. He was sick or something."

"Well, that's odd... And where did Shin run off to? After school was out he just ran to his locker and left! What's up with that?"

"He probably had something to do. Shuu there are such things as after school activities."

"Yeah, but Shin's not in any of those!"

"How do you know?"

"I'm his best bud! He tells me those kinda things."

"Whatever, let's get going." Ryo stepped forward from his spot on the wall into the less dense hallway ahead.

"Ok, sure. Why not?" Shuu followed him as the two walked off.

Halfway down the hall Shuu stopped mid-stride. His eyes flared wide open and his body stood stiff. Noticing his friend's halt Ryo turned to face him.

"Hey, Shuu? You ok?" He gained no response from his petrified friend. Ryo tried to grab the still forms attention and waved his hand before Shuu's face. "Shuu! You there?"

At the mention of his named a second time Shuu's face jolted to life. His eyes flicked open and shut a few times.

"Ryo...did you...feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"That...that thing...it was here. It was horrible."

"Shuu? Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he drew a long breath into his deprived lungs. "I'll be ok."

"Ya sure? You had phased out pretty bad back there..."

"I know, I'm ok. I'm fine..."

"Well, if you're sure...come on we've gotta get goin'. I still need to head home before the movies."

"Yeah, me too." The two paced off down the hallway. Once they had exited the school they split ways and headed for their separate houses.

"Dad? You home?" Touma called into the echoing walls of the house.

His shout gained him silence as a response and he shrugged it off as his father simply had to work late. Tossing his book bag onto the nearby couch he moved straight to the phone in the kitchen.

"I better call Seiji and Shin to see if they're ok..."

Hoisting the phone from its resting spot on the receiver Touma dialed up the Mouri house. The dull tone repeated into his ear a good few times before it was answered.

"Mouri residence, how may I help you?" a light female voice answered.

"Yeah, may I speak to Shin?"

"I'm sorry Shin's not here at the time. Can I take a message?"

"No, that's ok."

"Who is this?"

"It's Touma."

"Oh, hi Touma. I was wondering where Shin went. So you don't know either?"

"No, he left school as early as he could. He said he had to go somewhere."

"That's right, he told me he was going to Seiji's house after school. Seiji called him this morning about it."

"Oh, well thank you for your time, Ms. Mouri."

"You're welcome, goodbye."

"Bye," with a sigh the phone returned to its spot on the receiver.

Turning to his bedroom Touma retreated into its depths. Collapsing onto his bed he lifted his hand to cradle his dull throbbing head.

"Shin went to Seiji's and now I feel like something bad's happened to both of them. This doesn't seem good. I really hope those two are ok. What could've caused a mental disturbance like that?"

Figuring he had some time for a short nap before he needed to call Ryo and Shuu, Touma let the small urge of sleep that was tugging at the back of his mind overcome him as he slipped into a blissful oblivion.

It was darkness again. The horrid presence sucking at his very being. He hated the darkness. It was a curse upon the world. Still at this point there was nothing he could do to stop it. He had long since given up struggling against the void's oppressive hold on his body and mind. Pain covered him in an odd sort of cover but he didn't care, couldn't care. The burning feelings had sent all his nerves into a dulled state.

Far on the horizon of the black a small speck of light shone. Paying it no heed for it was no doubt his enemy taunting him once again his mind slipped again towards the emptiness. Growing closer the light shone with a brilliant blaze. Once there was a time which he had enjoyed the light and used it for power. Now it was different. Now the light brought only pain and suffering. He hated it. He hated all of it. Every little thing on the planet. All that he wished for was death, a swift and painless death. It was horrible.

Slowly the violet eyes blinked open. Before the prone form a void of darkness sat. From its depth a chilling laugh emanated.

"So you finally decided to wake up? What do you say to my offer now?"

On the pale face the thin lips parted but no sound escaped from them. Letting his head sink once again the figure went limp.

"Not so fast, Korin no Date Seiji."

The void spoke as a small spear of magic shot into the body on the wall. Again the violet circles showed themselves to the darkness.

This time a harsh whisper escaped the open lips, "I...will never...help...you."

A taunting laugh blasted from the center of the emptiness before him, "Defiant still? You want me to push you farther? Let's see how you friend Suiko is doing cause of your resistance."

Another piercing laugh echoed throughout the small room. The space before Seiji rippled like a pond floating in midair as the image of another boy chained to the wall showed.

His once pale face was marred with bruises and blood and one eye had been forced shut by a festering cut above it. Various cut and gashes covered his form and some had large sacs of puss forming upon them cause of the lack of care. Realizing he was being watched his one able eye opened to look straight to Seiji. The sea green reflected a plead for death. A plead for all that was happening to stop so he could be in pain no longer.

Seiji's own violet eyes clamped shut as he turned his head aside so as not to stare at the horrid picture before him. Despite his own effort an invisible hand pushed his face back and a great force pried his eyes open again, compelling him to watch the tortured Shin before him. Realizing who was watching him a small smile crept onto his tattered face.

A small thought crept through a bond that the two imprisoned friends and echoed through Seiji's torn mind, "Don't give up. We'll get through this. The guys'll come. They'll--"

The thought ended abruptly as Shin's broken form flailed on the wall and a horrid scream forced its was out of his lips. These convulsions tore open some of the skin that had formed over the wounds. Red blood poured forth, stained the once clean body with horrid crimson streaks. Seiji's eyes finally broke the power that held them as he clenched them shut letting warm tears slowly wind their way down his face.

"Stop it. Just stop it! You're killing him!" the cracked sound of his voice broke free in a choked yell.

Before him the empty space seemed to chuckle at his misfortune, "That's the entire point, Korin. If you surrender to me I'll let your friend go. He's suffering because of your defiance. You're bringing this upon him. It's all your fault. It's not me, you're killing him."

"Lair!" another scream projected.

As soon as its sound hit the walls of the room a wash of pain spread over his slackened body. Another undefined cry of pain echoed from his mouth only moments before his mind slipped into a bed of unconscious.

Rising from his bed Touma felt worse after the nap than he had before it. For the short period of time that he had rested his mind was plagued with images of Seiji and Shin in pain. The pain was just so horrible he almost felt it himself. His mind was covered in worry for what had happened to his two friends.

"I wonder who could do such a thing? Maybe Arago came back..."

Shaking the thoughts from his head Touma moved to the kitchen and dialed Ryo's number. The repetitive ring of the phone managed to soothe his mind somewhat but it really had no large effect. It was halted when Ryo answered the phone.

"Hello, Sanada residence."

"Hi, Ryo?"

"Yeah?"

"This is Touma. Umm about the movies tonight?"

"You still comin'?"

"Well, actually there's something wrong, really wrong."

"What is it Touma? You sound worried."

"It's Seiji and Shin, I think they're missing."

"Oh. Shuu was saying something about them being in trouble earlier. I wasn't quite sure what he was trying to get at though."

"Shuu felt something too?"

"I think so, we were walking down the hall and he just zoned out. Said something about feeling something or someone. I dunno."

"Shuu felt it too? Then maybe I'm not daydreaming. I sure hope those two are ok..."

"Touma, you still there?"

"Yeah, hey Ryo, instead of movies we've gotta meet at Nasuti's house."

"Nasuti's house? Why?"

"There's something going on, Ryo. I don't know exactly what but I think that Arago might be back or something."

"Arago?! Back again?"

"I'm not sure but we need to get together and talk about this. If we don't take action something really bad could happen."

"Ok, what should I do?"

"You call Shuu and tell him to go to Nasuti's, I'll call Nasuti and tell her we're coming over."

"All right."

"Until then..."

"Yeah, Ja ne."

Abruptly the conversation ended and Touma put the phone down. Letting himself rest for a moment or two he again picked up the phone and called Nasuti.

About a half an hour later the three boys had gathered at Nasuti's house. Touma was not looking very up to the weather and his eyes were mainly focused on the table before him. Ryo wasn't really affected by any of this but was fretting because of his nervous feelings for how Shuu and Touma were acting, Shuu in particular. Ever since the incident that afternoon Shuu hadn't been his normal self. He was avoiding any food offered to him and was always talking in a near whisper. Nasuti had fixed them all some sandwiches and Shuu's only showed a few slight nibbles on the edges. The four of them sat around the table in the kitchen. A cup of tea was before Nasuti as she drank for it occasionally.

"So," she started, "Why are we all here."

Touma turned his chin up just a fraction of an inch and began to speak in a low and somber tone, "Well, I've got a feeling that something's happened to Seiji and Shin. They're not at their homes and Seiji had stayed home from school today. Plus Shin never got home from school. I think they've been kidnapped. Possibly by Arago..."

"What do you mean Arago?! I thought we killed that bastard! And what the hell does he want with Seiji and Shin?! Didn't he want all the armors?! Damn, why would he go after those two?! It doesn't make any sense!" Shuu declared as he pounded his fists onto the table before him.

"Shuu calm down!" Ryo spoke, "It's gonna be ok. We'll find a way to get them back. We'll think of something"

"What the hell are you talking about Ryo? Think? We don't have time to think! Shin and Seiji are in trouble! We've gotta help them! If we sit around here thinking then they're gonna...they're gonna..." he couldn't take it any more. After realizing what was probably going to happen the Samurai Trooper of Kongo dropped his head to the table and broke out in tears. "Shin...and Seiji...damn! Theyre proabaly already..."

"Now Shuu we don't know that they're actually dead. If Touma and you can still sense them then they're probably ok." Nasuti attempted to reassure the angered trooper.

"But Nasuti...they're...they're..." his words were broken off by choked sobs as he cried into the table. Calmly Ryo moved to his side to comfort the saddened trooper.

"We've gotta think of some way to save them. We have to find out where they are," Touma's shaking voice mentioned.

"But how are we going to do that? We don't even know who took them? It's hopeless..." Ryo's words of truth broke in.

"Wait, if Shuu and Touma can sense that Seiji and Shin are missing shouldn't there be some way for them to find out where they are?" Nasuti questioned.

"How would we do that? I don't even know how I sensed them... Damn! It's hopeless! Ryo's right. They're gonna die...we can't help them..." Once again Shuu broke down into tears on the table. His loud wailing was heard over the soft cursing he was uttering under his breath.

"I remember Seiji telling me something. One time when we were meditating. He said something about our yoroi giving us some kind of mental link. I don't recall how he said we do it, but it had something to do with separating your mind from body. I could try it, but it'd be really hard..."

"You mean that you knew how to find them all along and you didn't tell us? Why didn't you say something earlier Touma?! We might be too late!" Shuu shouted at the down turned blue head.

"Shuu, calm down! Touma, do you think you can try to locate them?" Nasuti suggested.

"I might be able to do it, I'll try." Upon saying that his eyes sank shut and his breathing slowed.

Touma slipped into a state of meditation and all the others could do was watch. Bit by bit he gradually moved his mind from it's casing in his body. Leaving a small trail that he used to keep his mind linked he rose high above the house.

Viewing the surroundings he saw light flickers that indicated the minds of animals and the occasional person. Turning around Touma looked towards the city. There would be a trace to where Seiji and Shin went coming from Seiji's house for sure. Looking deep into the city he sighted Seiji's home.

Sure enough a small green thread and a small blue one indicated where Seiji and Shin had gone. Following it Touma was lead to a small cave at the base of Mt. Daisetsu. Taking a second to survey the scene he took a deep breath and headed inside.

Sitting in his dark dungeon that he had carved from the rock of the mountain Kyukyoku Aku smiled at the two he held captive. The one called Suiko he had never meant to take, but still his capture had come to Kyukyoku's advantage. By torturing Suiko he was able to speed up the mind control methods he was using on Korin.

"Yes, Korin." he thought to himself as he turned to look at the pale form that was chained to the nearby wall.

Seiji's skin was covered in a cold sweat as his body burned. His blonde hair which he had kept so well was now just a mass of tangles upon his head. Bags had gathered under the violet eyes for Korin's sleep was now haunted by the wicked dreams of Kyukyoku Aku. But there was no physical scarring on the light form. The task that Korin's body was going to accomplish for Kyukyoku required it to be in near prefect physical condition. Therefore he used his brutal methods of bodily torment on Suiko, forcing Korin to watch every second of it.

Slightly he laughed to himself, "You Korin are a stubborn one. But I shall soon break your will. None can resist my powers of mind control."

As the words escaped his lips Kyukyoku Aku felt a small presence brush his mind. Reacting with the speed of a battle ready panther he grabbed the mind of the one who had scanned him with his magic.

"So," he thought to the person whose mind he had caught, "You wish to save your friends? Ha! It shall not be that easy. No one crosses me, Kyukyoku Aku, and lives to tell the tale."

With his final word he severed the thread that linked the mind to its physical body and focused the mind into a small crystal he had grabbed from a nearby cabinet. Once the mind had been forced in he sealed it there. The crystal now glowed a blue color as the once clear center was clouded with the presence of the mind. Grinning to himself Kyukyoku decided on another method which he could use to sway Korin.

Sending a jolt of magic forward that would surely wake the unconscious boy he held the sphere up to the violet eyes.

"Anyone you know?" he mocked in his most sinister tone.

At the sight of the blue within the crystal Seiji's eyes widened in surprise and fear.

Opening his thin lips the slightest bit his voice spoke, "No, Touma! What have you done to him?!"

Kyukyoku didn't answer the boy, he simply laughed at the misfortune of the two and returned Korin to his state of helpless unconsciousness, but not after sending him a mental image of Suikos battered form.

At Nasuti's house Touma's body went into a fit of convulsions. His arms and legs were flailing madly as Shuu and Ryo tried to hold him down in order to keep him from hurting himself. As the two struggled against their friend's fit they could only wonder what had gone wrong. Then it stopped. It all stopped. Touma's body went still. His breath was a mere trickle in and out as his heart beat with a frail tone that sounded as if it might die any second. Shuu, Ryo, and Nasuti could only stare in awe and weep at the loss of another trooper to the new evil.