1 Meet the Future

Ch.1



The fighting had stopped for one whole week; he was surprised, happy, and suspicious as to why.  The youja soldiers had never taken this long of a break from attacking. His ears accommodated to constant gunfire and explosions from the utter silence of the scouting area.

"Still quiet?"

He nodded numbly. "Too quiet. They have to be planning something."

"We know, but what?"

"That's the real problem." He sighed inwardly.  This was not the world he had envisioned when he was a teenager; not after all they had fought for, all they had sacrificed then. Their bodies had grown older and their souls more so.  He realized that no one was made to live this long and fight, then lose time after time.  There was so little for any of them to live for and the few things they could live for were sent out to risk their own lives. 

"Tenku and Korin will be back soon. We should go meet them."

Mouri Shin turned away from the bleak scenery, comfortably numb by now to the wasting of the world. "I need to do a few things before then but I will be there."

A light hand was planted firmly on Shin's shoulder. "Check on her."

"There's no difference."

Shu Rei Fuan was increasingly worried about Shin's reaction to his wife's sudden downfall in health.  The old warrior Kongo was still that warrior but changed in so many ways.  No longer hotheaded and not as eager to kill the enemy as he was years ago. He was filled with much loss in his life than gained.

Cool blue eyes met Kongo's then turned away. "I still have things I need to do,

I still have not seen my children since the week began." Shin shrugged the hand away. "I will be there, do not worry."

 

***



Diao Chan wasn't use to actually staying in a bath as long as this, if one could even consider it a bath.  The small area was no more than a few meters each way each wall. It was glazed over by heat and the pool itself was heated by one of the few, and scarce, uncontaminated natural springs. Normally, the water had to be made, filtered, or both.  The war had tainted almost all natural water supplies. Her mind couldn't even grasp the last time she had seen a fish without a third eye or an extra fin.

Her memory went back to the day her father had brought her up from the shelter. There were so many people: men, women, and children dead. There was so little food and nothing to drink unless you stole or had the resource to build the technology to help you. Many nights she went hungry just like the others and thirsty to the point of complete dehydration. Never the less her father always made sure she and the others were taken care of. 

Her mind drifted further back in her memory: seeing her father a firm, sturdy, and muscular man. He was still able to maintain his strength but he'd lost so much weight from sickness, and heartache.

The earth felt cold as she drew out her hand to retrieve a thin metal disc from her pant pocket. With a simple flip, a small hologram appeared. The hologram revealed a woman.  No, she thought, you're not going to put yourself through this again. Mother's dead and no matter want she's not coming back. You can't bring back a woman who died 500 years ago. 

Flipping the disc off, she tossed it back near her pile of clothing. She relaxed back in the pool and sighed wearily. She leaned her head back into the water, her hands grazing over her arms with a make shift washcloth.  The small scars that covered her body were washed over, neglected.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and sank beneath the warm water. The darkness, which surrounded her, made her feel like she was in a good refuge away from all of her troubles. Only after feeling as if her lungs were about to burst, did she emerge from the water, gasping for the humid and dry air that surrounded her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, leave me be." She hated when he just popped in, especially when she was troubled.

"Bullshit." He casually leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. There wasn't much hidden between anyone when it came to bodies and language. They had all been shot up, cut up, close to being blown up, and patched up - so seeing each other with little or no clothes was common.

"Do you want me to thrash you?" she growled, threatening him.

"No," he replied as he lifted the metal disc that she had thrown. He inspected it carefully for a few moments. "What's this?"

"Don't touch that if you want to keep your arm." Her gazed turned into a glare, if you could call it a glare. Sometimes it was hard to mask hurt with anger for her, especially from him.

"Relax," he said reassuringly as he tossed it over to her pile of clothes once more. "Look, me and Sanae were talking and we have a theory."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Uh-huh..."

"The place that you hit wasn't the place that we need to hit."

"Mmm."

"We all know that those bastards have been hiding something for the last six months. We have a plan to find out what IT is."

"Oh? How's that?"

He smiled. "You going to tell me what's wrong?"

"No."

"Then no."

"WHAT?!"

"Anyway are you all right?" he asked non-chalantly. They had not seen each other since the last mission.  They were constantly worried about each, but they could never show it. Too many people died every day. It was difficult to get attached because it hurt too much knowing that death was just around the corner.

"Yeah, course I am, baka." She raised an eyebrow at him yet again. "I've had worse and you know it."

"Maybe," he said and shrugged. He lifted himself from his crouching position.

"Later than, Diao Chan."

"Wait one damn minute!" she snapped. The dark haired girl lifted herself from the pool and narrowed her eyes at him. "You come down here, unload all that slag on me, then not explain yourself?"

"There's no rule says I have to." He gave her a faint. Even though she was the oldest of the Samurai Troopers offspring, there were certain people who didn't allow her age to push them around. Shinji was four years younger than she was and yet he got through to her more than most people.

Walking across the cavern, she fetched her clothes and hastily threw them on once more. She no inhibitions about doing this in front of him, yet with war going on you can afford only a few things to be shy about. She was proud of her body though sometimes she wondered what he thought of it.

"Just wait up," she growled.

He gave her a shallow grin. "Oh, now you're interested?"

"Look Shinji," she started flatly, "my brothers and I... Our lives were on the line the last time we went out and the times before that. Now you're saying that it was for nothing? Bet your skinny pale ass I want to know what you're up to."

Now dressed, she slipped on her boots and waited for him to say something, anything. He didn't.

Together they journeyed from the bathing house to an inner labyrinth junction before he even said something somewhat coherent. Muttering was definitely something he picked up from his mother.

"So what is it?" she asked as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her instincts kicked in to the unfamiliar place, noticing entrances, exits, dangers, and alternatives.

"Remember when I went out a few weeks ago?" he started. "Sanae, Tan, and I were by the outer ghost docks."

"Yeah, you went on patrol and were attacked." She shrugged. The ghost docks were empty harbors of what used to be shipyards in Japan. "What about it?"

"And that Tan didn't come back?"

"Yeah?"

Shinji frowned. "It was a lie."

"Excuse me?" Diao Chan gave him a very disconsolate expression. She placed her hands on her hips and barked, "You lied? About what?!"

Shinji ran his fingers through his hair and sighed heavily. "Look, we found... We found the jiryoushu hovering around this huge machine that was generating incredible energy. We had no idea what it was so Tan went out to investigate it. He gave us the details of what the machine looked like but before we could confirm what it really was, we lost transmission and we had to leave. The youja soldiers had found us and it was too late to go back for him. After my sister and I escaped them, we hid out over by the ruins of Tokyo Tower. We took the time to piece the puzzles together. From the information Tan gave us we figured it out. Stupid as it sounds... What the youja have created... Well, what we think is... Is a time machine."

Diao Chan simply stared at him for long moments, her dark eyes gazing deep into his. Her hands were at her sides, her fingers flexing slowly. He watched and soon enough, he saw that those relaxed hands turned into tight fists. He lifted his gaze and found that the young woman was seething.

"I do not believe you Mouri Shinji," Diao Chan hissed, her tone edged with ice.

"You didn't tell anyone? Not even our uncles? Not even your father? If you're right do you know what this means?"

"It means that we're all dead," a voice spoke from behind. Of course, Diao Chan realized, where there was one twin, there was almost always the other.

"Took ya long enough Sanae," she replied. Her eyes moved to look at Shinji's twin, but nothing else.

"We don't know if it is a time machine or not," Sanae said in a smooth, gentle voice, "but we're guessing it is. If it is, then we have to find out what they're going to use it for."

"Then we should tell everyone and get a plan together and destroy it!" Diao growled, "You don't just sit by and let those bastards get more time to move the thing or god knows what else!"

"If we're wrong," Shinji began, "then many people might die because of our mistake. I won't do that."

"I think we should investigate it ourselves," Sanae implied. She rubbed her arm absentmindedly and frowned slightly. "However, we can't tell father or the others. They will probably try to stop us and this is something we cannot afford to have halted."

Diao Chan leaned back against a steel beam, her hands behind her head. She made a face and for a moment, she looked like Kongo no Shu when he was annoyed or puzzled about something in particular. "Okay that's fine and all, Sana-chan, but you think your father would WANT you two to go along with this? You know how gung ho he is about these missions we go on."

"Mother's taken a turn for the worst..." The younger girl lowered her head some and her voice had softened. "And you know how father doesn't see her often. I... I mean he does still love her, perhaps overly so, but he's always gone on missions. We figured... By leaving, he won't have time to go after us. He'll go and stay with mother until..."

"Enough. We know," Shinji said, cutting his sister off from her sentence. He made a tight fist and grit his teeth some, baring them. He didn't want his sister to admit aloud that their mother was dying. He didn't want the realization to come anytime soon.

The daughter of Shu bit her lower lip then nodded. "Yeah I know what you mean.

I... I'm going with you two to investigate the machine. Jin Huan and Rei Tsun are staying. They're too young to go and they have to stay and help the surviving humans seek refugee underground. I figure, if it's just going to be the three of us, it'll be even more dangerous. Taking dad, Shin-san, or the others is out of the question, most definitely. The Samurai Troopers are constantly fighting for the sake of humanity. This god forsaken world does have a chance if the Troopers can destroy Neo Chaos and its cronies. But..."

She lowered her head and stared at the metal floors of the labyrinth and lowered her arms once more. "If we can figure out what the youja are going to do with the time machine, we can make a difference... We'll either be saving the world or destroying it. Either way, it seems to me that the outcome with all the be same: silence."





"You think it was wise not to tell the sense?" Sanae frowned having second thoughts. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't help but look like her father. The auburn tinted hair and dark sea blue eyes set off the young looking face even when she frowned; it was hard to tell that she was unhappy.

"Neither father or the others would let us do this," Shinji reminded her.

"Course not. It's completely slag thing to do." Diao smirked almost finding this so crazy it was fun. "Besides, I'm your guys' elders so technically you are with an adult, heh."

Shinji sweat dropped. "Yes, you only being four years older than us... Oh yay."

He immediately grew serious once more and gazed outward. "Look they're hiding something we know that much so that justifies it. The warehouse is down there and to the right, Midori."

Diao Chan took out a pair of viewers from her hip and peered down by the ancient dock area. She frowned. "There nothing down there. Are you sure about this?"

"It make sense," Shinji said to her, keeping his voice low in case there were soldiers nearby. "If you want to hide something would you put a hundred guards around it drawing attention to us? Or do you post few guards with a major general posted inside to keep a few stragglers out?"

"You're still saying that one of the Chaos's are here?"

"Yes, I'm almost sure of it."

Diao Chan sighed, "Then I guess we should go investigate no?"

"I... have to stay behind and keep watch for anyone coming in on you unexpected. They'll sense you if I go with you." Shinji traced his gun some, looking ashamed. "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Diao Chan assured him. None of the children could help with what they were inherited with. "Sanae and I will go in and take pictures and get more detailed information. We'll be back before you know it."

Sanae stepped to the edge of the building, making sure her gun was strapped securely. "I will go in first. You follow me; I have been here before."

"Be careful, sister," Shinji said, looking up at her from his position.

"May the spirits protect us." With that, Sanae leaped from the building. Her shadow could be seen as it hit the pavement then melt into the other shadows.

"I'll give her a three second start," Diao Chan stated as she quickly re-checked her weapons. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

"And who will take care of you then?"

Diao Chan didn't know how to answer Shinji's question. There was suddenly so much worry in his voice. No, she thought to herself, it couldn't have been for her. It had to be for Sanae. "I can take care of myself."

"There are others here who want to help," he began, "if you'd let them."

She felt suddenly uncomfortable. She hated when she couldn't figure out what he was saying exactly. Shinji was like another brother to her. She didn't know if she could allow anything more of that.

"All right I'm gone." She was about to jump when a hand grabbed hers for a brief moment.

"Just take care of yourselves."

"Look, no youja soldier has been able to take me yet. I'll be fine."

He watched her silently plunge down the building. His eyes never left her and he saw her take the same path as his sister. Now he had to watch himself... Wait and hope that two women he loved came back alive.



***



"How you feeling?"

"Tired."

"More than yesterday?"

"About the same."

Date Seiji slowly ran a washcloth along the suffering woman's head, removing any excess medicine from her forehead. "Then you're not getting worse."

"I'm not getting any better either."

"I thought you were the motivationalist of us?" He smiled faintly.

"I'm sorry," Yuri sighed. "Lately, the children are so sad."

Lifting himself from the bed, he began to put away the ointments and bottles he had used. "It's not easy on them, I'm sure." 

"They've all so grown so fast here, too fast. I can't help them as much anymore."

"It never stops you from trying, Yuri-san. Besides they all still need you. If they didn't, they all wouldn't come to you." 

He knew the reason for that too; it hurt to a point to admit it. When the war began and the children were still young, someone had to stay behind and protect them, to teach them. It was difficult trying to win a war and to be a parent, if not impossible. However they all tried their best to do so. 

At times, his own children seemed distant from him; well from his own view of how they should of grown up. Tanria was sometimes callous about so many things, and Shiko seemed seemingly lost in his role. His son and daughter raised themselves more than he would admit, more than he could let himself admit. Yuri saw more of them then he did, then and now.

"They need something more now then what I can give them." Yuri's voice was distant from the bed. 

Seiji grimaced. "What is that?"

"I don't know if I could tell you, for I don't know if anyone in this world really has it anymore."

"Seiji?" A questioning voice entered the room quietly.

"I was just leaving Shin." He frowned some. He wondered how to tell him, how to tell him that there was no change that her body was slowly running down and there was nothing they could do to stop it. How do you tell a friend that? How could you tell a friend that one of the ones they loved so dearly was dying?

"Is she awake?" Shin asked.

"Course I am," she said herself.

Seiji stood up and placed the washcloth onto the nightstand beside the bed.

"I will leave you two for now. See you later, Yuri-san."

"Be safe Seiji."

The bearer of the Korin no yoroi was already heading out the door, avoiding Shin's hopeful look, in fear of destroying it.

"I thought you were out?" Yuri suggested, her voice hoarse.

Shin placed his cap at the foot of their bed before going over and sitting next

to her. "I came back early, it's actually quiet out there. How are you today?"

"I'm fine, Shin. Please don't worry."

"Funny how you tell me to do that and yet can't find it in yourself not to worry about me." He brushed some of the hair from her vacant eyes while her hand traced his face slowly. He winced some not liking her going over the old scars that his face held, not liking the ugliness he thought he was becoming.

"You haven't been home for many days," she said softly.

He kissed her hand. "I know. I'm sorry"

"And you haven't been taking your rest shifts. I can feel the marks on your face." She gave him a frown of her own. "You have to sleep."

"So do you. I heard you've been very tired lately."

"Don't change the subject. I know I'm going to die."

"Yuri!" he growled. "Stop saying such things."

"Shin please, I am tired."

The war had taken her eyesight, her strength, and so much hope that she once had. Now war was taking her from him. 

"You're not going to die," he insisted. He took her hand and held it tight; she only sighed.

"I have to go talk to the others. You should rest. I'll be back in a hour I promise." He kissed her forehead lightly, avoiding the small scares from the burns.

"Have you seen the children?"

"Aikyo is with Tanria so she's is fine. I have not seen our twins and Shu cannot find

Diao Chan now."

"Shinji loves Diao Chan but he's scared."

"Of what?"

"Losing her, like you're losing me."

"Yuri please, no more." He sighed and held her petite body close to him. She had lost so much weight, but to him she was still beautiful. "Just rest I'll be here by time you wake up."

"All right, Shin." A sigh came out from her lips and she closed her eyes. 



***



Rei Tsun flipped through the book, his eyes swimming across the text and pictures. When not fighting, he was often found reading something. It helped him take away the pain, both physical and mental, from the battles. There were times that the only thing he indeed looked forward to after battle was not for a bath or food, but for a good book to curl up with.

Jin Huan was sitting next to his brother, his round eyes fixed on the device he held in his hands. Over the years he had watched Tenku no Touma tinker with vast amount of computers and machines. The blue haired genius would often teach the young twelve-year old how to take part or put together simple machinery. Jin was skilled enough to where he could make his own assault weapon if he desired.

The twins' father, Shu, was nearby sitting on an old couch, just watching them.

He sat there in full armor but without his helmet. His helmet was on top of the coffee table that was right in front of him. The three of them were inside one of the living quarters in their base. This was one rare opportunities in which Shu and his children could spend time together, not counting the battles they fought outside in Neo Tokyo. Shu ached for just a few hours of peace. Where he wouldn't have to listen to the sound of gunfire outside of their base, where he knew he wouldn't have to worry about being attacked by soldiers or spirits. The days of peace were long gone, now that the youja dominated both the Youjakai and Ningenkai.

Glancing out the window, Shu noticed the dark clouds that forever blanketed the skies. He often wondered if the sun, the huge flaming star, even existed anymore. He had been centuries since he had last seen sunlight. Odd... Centuries he'd say. He knew very well that none of them should be alive. They should have all died long ago. But because of the youja's influence, their dark magic had polluted the atmosphere, creating a chemical imbalance. All those who lived on the earth - their life spans increased ten fold, but only because the poison had contaminated their bodies. This was both a blessing and a curse.

The mystical armors also played a role in the life spans of the Troopers. Shu was aware of the power of the armors, the armors that were given to them by Suzunagi. The new generation of Samurai Troopers, the ones who wore the armors Kaosu created long ago, fought for humanity as well, but they were constantly at the front line so they did not interact with the old Troopers often.

"Dad, look what I made!"

Shu turned away from the window and found Jin standing before him. The young boy held out the device he had been working on. Shu silently took it and pressed the single button that was easily visible. He watched in awe as tiny holographic images of a figure appeared. It appeared to be a teenage boy--no, a girl. It was a teenage female wearing a Japanese school uniform for males. She was tall with pale skin; long dark hair tied back and dark brown eyes. She had a hand on her hip and a faint smile on her face.

"You like it, dad?" Jin asked hopefully. He placed his hands on Shu's knee and awaited for approval.

"It's wonderful, kiddo," Shu whispered, his eyes watering. "You really outdid yourself, Jin Huan... You really did. I love it."

Jin grinned and scratched his head. "Thanks. Glad you like it. Happy Birthday Dad."

His father drew him into his arms and embraced him, but not bring him too close for the armor might hurt him. Jin hugged him back but frowned inward. He and everyone else knew that Shu missed his wife. Even after five hundred years, it still hurt him. He endured in such heartache; it's a wonder if he would ever recover from the loss.