Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimer. I don't own Samurai Troopers, though I wish I did. Do not sue me, cuz I'm dead broke, and you won't squeeze nothin' outta me. ^^

This fic is Shounen-ai, as in gay, homosexual, yaoi, whatever you call it. Do not flame me because you don't like this. As many wise people have said, if you don't like, don't read it. R & R please!

Character Names (for those who don't know Samurai Troopers)

Ryo = Ryo

Rowen = Touma

Sage = Seiji

Kento = Shuu

Cye = Shin

Back  to the story!

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Too Late

By Sanada Mirako

Chapter 2: Eruption

            It's been a week since Ryo and I had our little 'talk', and it's been raining steadily since then. Weather reports say that there'll be a typhoon sometime around next week. That's the least of my problems.

            Ryo's physical and mental health have been deteriorating since that day; as Shuu would call it, Ryo's suffering from a bad case of the blues. None of us know why Ryo suddenly became so depressed, why he would lock himself up in his room for hours on end, or why he'd never eat anymore. But I have a feeling that its my fault.

            " Touma? I made some food for Ryo. He must be hungry, he's been up there all day. I would go give it to him, but I have to clean up the kitchen. Could you…?" Shin offered me a tray laden with juice, noodles, and Ryo's favorite, hamburgers.

            " Of course, Shin." I took the food, and headed upstairs, knocking hesitantly on the door.

            " Ryo?"

            After half a minute, Ryo's voice came from behind the thick oak door, " Shuu, if that's you again…I'm gonna seriously kill you."

            I opened the door slightly, " No, Ryo. It's me, with some dinner."

            " Oh, thanks." He took the tray, and waited for me to leave. When I did not do so, Ryo cleared his throat pointedly, and said quietly, " Uh…Touma, would you mind if you just went away? I wanna be alone right now."

            I smiled thinly, worried sick but to afraid to show it, because he might take it another way, " Okay, Ryo. If it makes you happy." I ruffled Ryo's wild, untamed hair, " Just don't starve yourself or do something drastic, okay? I don't know what would happen if I lost you." Realizing what I said too late, I hurried out of the room. Gods, what an idiot I'm being.

            But he looked so sad, I'm sure you brightened up his day with your caring.

            No! I shouted to my inner voice, two men can't fall in love; it's not natural, this isn't love!

            Then what is it, it taunted me, lust?

            Yes!....no…wait a minute! No! It's me, treasuring the friend I love most in a platonic sense of mind.

            But he's so sad, because you refuse to accept your feelings –

            It's not that I refuse to! They do not exist!

            You saw him, didn't you? You saw what you are causing

            Yes, I saw it; his eyes were red and bloodshot from crying. His skin was pale from staying in all day, and lack of food. He was so skinny; a shadow of what he was before, and it was only a week. Touma bent his head in a small sign of defeat He has accepted this sexuality, although it is wrong. Although my heart tells me to embrace this sexuality, my head cannot.

            A clash of opinions between the head and the heart. This is a difficult situation your logic has place you into.

            If it stops him from going to hell for this, I will restrain myself. I will not let this get any stronger! Although it's slowly killing me inside, I'll stop this relationship from going any further, to keep Ryo away from the fiery infernos of hell, Touma thought about that for a moment, no, I'll keep him from the endless pain, and torture there. Then at least, we can both be in heaven together. Touma clenched his teeth together, waiting for some smart retort that would leave him doubting his decision again. When it did not come, he shouted to his inner voice, I do not love Ryo Sanada any more than I do Shuu Rei Fuan, my best friend!

            The rain continued to pour heavily down; the flowerbeds had turned into puddles of mud. I was sitting on the couch, next to Seiji, reading a book. Shin sat on the floor, watching Shuu and Jun battle it out on Mortal Kombat. The atmosphere was tense, and dark; it had been two more days, and Ryo still hadn't come down. Tense minutes passed, and then we heard footsteps climbing carefully down the stairs; we all turned and stared, seeing Ryo come down after over a week. He was pale, and thin, but for the first time, he had a small smile on his face, " Hey guys, you look like you've seen a ghost." There was something wrong with him though, as his eyes raked us, as if he was turning us inside and out, rattling us and seeing all our innermost secrets. I know that when he looked at me, I suddenly felt so vulnerable, and thanked the Good Lord that I was sitting down, or I would've fallen down embarrassingly, my knees were shaking. Ryo seemed too tense, as if he was ready for an onslaught of some type, as if he were testing himself, or about to go into a fight. When he looked at me, in his eyes I saw a flame burning, not of life, but of love. Ryo suddenly cringed in self-hatred, and in a tight voice said, " I'm going out." before walking into the storm.

            "  Wait! Ryo, it's raining cats and dogs outside!" Shin yelled to Ryo's retreating back.

 I distinctly heard him mutter softly, " All the better."

The door slammed shut; all of us were quiet for a minute.

" So…" Shuu asked softly, " Do one of us go out there to talk to him?"

" I'll go," I instantly volunteered, and walked out into the storm. Of all the people, I knew exactly where he'd be. I walked out to that very same hill that we were at little more than a week ago, and found him lying down, like before, in the wet mud, in his favorite jeans, inky strands of silky hair full of mud, and dirt.

" Do you know, Touma," Ryo asked, " How much pain you cause me?"

I sat down next to the Japanese boy, " Yes, I think I do. And I'm sorry."

In a whirl, Ryo pinned me to the ground, and he was on top of me, holding me still while he glared into my eyes. " I have spent the last two years wanting something I could never have. I know you're going to hate me, Tou, but I have to do this for my own sanity. And fuck you if you hate me after this!" He growled out, " I love you, Tou. I love you more than anything! I'll do whatever you want, even sacrifice myself and the world to make you happy!" He kissed me then. All love and passion and fire of the boy I always wanted. I even kissed him back, and opened my mouth, as our tongues intertwined in a dance. When we finally ended it for lack of air, the only thing that stopped me from kissing him again, for the rest of my life, was the thought of Ryo, in the darkest bowels of hell, tortured for eternity.

" No, Ryo…We can't do this." I murmured slowly as I ran my hands through his soft silky hair one more time, " It's wrong; when we die, we'll be punished for it beyond comprehension. I don't want you to have to endure hell because of me." I pressed a finger to his lips to stop him from interrupting, " I know you're going to say that you'd be willing to endure hell for us to be together," Ryo pouted; he knew that I had guessed correctly, " but I don't want you to go to hell just because of me."

" But…" Ryo opened his arms helplessly, " why does this have to be wrong?"

" Nature never intended for two men to fall in love! It's wrong because its unnatural; nothing will follow us but misfortune!"

" But how can it be wrong," Ryo contradicted, " when it feels so right?! Admit it!" his voice grew louder, " You enjoyed that kiss. You wanted it as much as me!"

" It was a mistake, Ryo! I should never have let you do that!" I stood up, my eyes blazing with all the intensity of the stars, " Don't you see, Ryo? This is going to lead us to a life of disasters, and problems. After that, we'll both rot in hell! Is that what you want to live your life? Is it?!"

Ryo stood up as well, more composed than I, " I will be willing to go through that, Touma," he stated, " If I will only be by your side. I'll face the controversy, and the prejudice with a grin, because I know that I have something they never will. And when I go to Hell," Ryo's sapphire eyes glinted with tears; I could not tell if he was crying or not, because of the rain already streaming down his face, " I'll go there happy, because I know that I lived the best life any man could have!"

" I…I can't, Ryo." I said helplessly.

" What do you mean you can't?! I'm willing to go through every hardship there is, and you're saying you can't? Or are you saying that you don't love me enough to do this as well?"

" No, Ryo! It's not that!" God, I thought, I'd be willing to go through everything to be with you, Ryo. I love you more than that! But to have to see you suffer, because I know you will, HE makes sure all do, is too much. I won't let you go through that! See that I care through the sacrifice I'm making! See that if we do this now, at least we'll be in Heaven. Together. Forever.

" Then what is it? My God, Touma," Ryo was crying, selflessly, unselfconsciously, as he offered everything he had to me, and was refused, " You should never have told me. Now, the pain is all the worse, because I know that you love me, but are unwilling to face it." He curled himself into a little ball; his sobs were heard even through the torrential rain. I reached out to comfort him, and he shrugged me away. Knowing all I did was make this worse, for myself, and him, I turned and walked back to the house. God, I prayed, Please let him see that what I'm doing is for the best.

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So, whaddya think of the next chapter of Too Late? Up to par? Above? Below? (God, I hope not). Anywayz, this chapter was quite a bit longer than the last one, ne? R & R, kudasai!

~Sanada Mirako~