Summary:  Set directly after the events in A Stitch In Time.  With such drastic changes comes the inevitable repercussion...  The extreme price that must be paid is more than they can afford.  Will the troopers be able to endure the consequences of their actions?

Ryo/Seiji shounen ai drama R

Warning: This story contains shounen ai, which implies male/male love. Please do not read if such ideas upset you. Please use your good judgment. This fiction also contains character death.
Rated R for violence, strong language and sexual situations.

Disclaimer: "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers" does not belong to me. I am but a lowly slug.
Any comments or suggestions are welcome as long as they are constructive. Heck, if you just want to chat samurai troopers, feel free to drop me a line.
Comments can be made at: Li_bell_ule@yahoo.com

Note: For those of you who haven't read A Stitch In Time, you may want to check it out.  It's not too long, only five chapters.  I don't think it's necessary though. 

Happy Reading!!

Reciprocal Motion
Chapter One: Retrospective 

Leaning back into the plush sofa of her expansive vacation home, Nasuti stared vaguely into space, her attentiveness ceasing as she mulled over the careful words Ryo had said to her.
        Ryo sat on the floor with Byakuen, mildly stroking his striped fur as if he hadn't just told her that she had been murdered five years ago.
        That was completely preposterous-- even though none of the others contested it. They simply listened intently as Ryo and Seiji told their twisted tale, and were asking their questions now.
            According to Ryo, Seiji had died too-- for Ryo and herself-- and that's why she was here at this very moment.
        Her eyes drifted to the blond sitting across from her in one of the large armchairs that matched the lavish sofa.
         He sacrificed his life? She thought.
            Premeditating and exacting, Seiji was not someone to take risks. Nasuti never would have thought him capable of something so undetermined.
        That probably wasn't a fair assessment, for Nasuti didn't really know Seiji all that well.  She smiled slightly, trying prudently to keep it back. 
        It was true that Nasuti had toyed with him when they were younger. She knew that Seiji had had something of a crush on her, and there were those times that she would smile and lower her eyelashes coyly before asking a favor. Sometimes she would flirt with him just to see that beautiful smile of his.
        She had disappointed him, though, as her heart belonged to another. From the moment Ryo charged into her life, Nasuti had wanted him. He had only been fourteen when they had first met, and so Nasuti had to be patient as she for him crawl into maturity.
        Over the years she had slowly tried to wedge herself into a special place in his heart, but found that she held a place equal to that of the other troopers. After all this time she was nothing more to Ryo than a sister.
        But this summer will be different, Nasuti told herself. This summer he will love me.

        Her thoughts returned from her daydream to the present moment as she realized that five pairs of eyes were set on her.
            "What?" Nasuti asked, sweeping her eyes over the group.
        "Do you remember anything from that day?" Ryo repeated.
        She thought for a moment before replying. "I'm sorry. I know that day changed your lives, but I don't remember it."
        If what they said were true, then Nasuti would have remembered being rescued. But she recalled nothing of the sort. There was some unpleasantness in New York and even a trip to Africa with the discovery of Kuroi Kikoutei, but mostly good times from the past five years. She knew nothing of time traveling and murdered warriors.
         Ryo was studying her, so Nasuti smiled sweetly and turned her attention back to the conversation.


        "I can understand that Arago wanted the armor," Shuu began from his position on the couch, "but how did he do this? How did he originally get free?"
        "I don't know how," Seiji said quietly. He was very subdued, not having said much of anything since departing the forest. Ryo, while trying not to be obvious, watched him like a hawk, trying to figure out what was running through Seiji's mind.
         "With time travel, you never know," Touma was explaining. "In theory, Arago could even be set free somehow in the future."
         "Not bloody likely." Shin muttered in his British lilt. "Who would do such a thing?"
        The inquiry went unanswered.
        "Can I ask you a question?" Touma implored, his blue eyes falling on Seiji. "Do you remember dying?"
            Holding his breath as he watched Seiji become still, Ryo detected the glittering panic in Seiji's eyes before they hardened.
        "Yes." Seiji admitted in a whisper.
        "Isn't it strange how you remember your death, but Nasuti has no recollection of hers at all?" Touma probed. "Why do you suppose that is?"
            Brazenly showing his distaste, Ryo scowled at the blue haired warrior, growling, "That's enough. All that matters now is that he is here with us."
            Undeterred, Touma glared back at him, though decided that it would be wiser to remain silent. In the aftermath of such an ordeal, a bit of protectiveness on Ryo's part was to be expected-- his feelings of guilt were clearly written up and down his face. And, perhaps it was too soon to be asking Seiji those kinds of questions.

         "So, just to get this straight," Shuu said, attempting to lighten the mood, a grin spreading across his face, "you guys don't remember the poker game we played last night?"
        Seiji raised a tacit eyebrow and Ryo, with a smile tugging at his lips, answered plainly, "No."
        "You owe me a hundred bucks, then," Shuu beamed. "Each."
            "Shuu!" Shin exclaimed. "You are incorrigible."
            "What? Can't blame a guy for trying!" He said with an impish grin.

         Nasuti smiled at Shuu's attempt at humor, but her mind began to wander again. Absently she played with the bracelet around her wrist, twisting the metal hoop back and forth, as she tried to remember that infamous day.
            Something was nagging at her, making her research her memory. Perhaps she did know more about this...
            "Excuse me fellas," Nasuti said rising to her feet. "If you guys don't mind, I'd like to turn in for the night."
        The guys had no objections, so Nasuti left them to their discussion.


        She gripped the banister tightly as she ascended the stairs to the upper floor of the house.
        Nasuti ran to her closet, parting the clothes on hangers to reach to the shelf behind them. She threw the clothes folded there haphazardly behind her until she came to a package still wrapped from the dry cleaners. Ripping the white paper off, she lifted her blood stained winter coat with trembling hands.
         "I can't believe it..." She murmured to herself as the old coat jarred her memory. "It is true."

        Only she remembered it as a dream... an event that she'd convinced herself hadn't actually taken place.
        It made sense to her now. 

Those five years ago, when she had woken up after fainting in the snow, she had grilled the boys on what had happened. Ryo and Seiji told Nasuti that there had been an explosion-- they were unsure what had exploded-- but she had been knocked to the ground, unconscious. They had been really concerned at first because her winter parka had spots of blood on it, but when they took off her jacket, they discovered that she was not bleeding.
        When she had tried to tell them what she saw, they told her that she must have dreamed it. Ryo had not seen any warlord, and Seiji was certainly not dead-- not even scratched.
        Nasuti, Ryo and Seiji had not spoken of it since that day, but she never completely forgot what she had witnessed.
        She remembered this massive warrior shrieking her death into the sky. Then out of nowhere, Seiji was in front of her, standing between herself and the warlord. His blood ran off the sword protruding out his back to ruin her winter coat and then everything went black.

        It all made perfect sense to her as she gripped the stained coat until her knuckles where white. Ryo and Seiji had not known what she was talking about because the Ryo and Seiji who were there that day had only returned now.
        And they both claimed that she had been killed.
Nasuti started to shake because despite the absurdity of their story, she knew it was true.

* * * * *

It was late, much later than Ryo would have liked. He paced anxiously in his room, glancing out his window to the backyard every few minutes.
            Byakuen had not come back yet. Ryo had been hesitant to let him out. The last time he had, Byakuen had been killed. Though Ryo was fairly certain that things were different now-- this reality was not as sinister-- there was still an underlying fear that plagued him.
            Deciding that he had better go out and search for his tiger, Ryo left his room, and hastened down the stairs.

        At the sound of hurried footsteps coming in a rush down the stairs, "Is everything okay, Ryo?" Seiji asked, as he sat cross-legged on the floor absently petting Byakuen's striped fur. The large tiger purred softly at the tender, repetitive motion. Byakuen lifted his head from Seiji's lap and lethargically gazed up at his master.
        "Hey." Ryo said to Seiji, coming up beside him.
        He looked down at Byakuen and chided, "I was looking for you." The tiger yawned, pushed himself up and rubbed his head against Ryo's leg, purring.
        Ryo smiled and stooped to his knees, hugging the tiger. "I missed you."
            "Byakuen came in about a half hour ago," Seiji began. "I should have sent him up to you. I didn't mean to make you worry."
        "It's all right, Seiji." Ryo said. "It's just hard to forget..."
        Seiji nodded, letting out a heavy sigh.

        Ryo titled his head to one side and studied his friend. His skin was pale with dark circles boldly visible under his eyes. A certain weariness was obvious in his very presence-- as if it took extra effort just to hold his head up.
            Settling beside him, Ryo asked, "How are you holding up?"
        "I'm just tired, Ryo." Seiji insisted. "It's been a long day for us."
            "Yeah..." Ryo agreed. "Seiji, this afternoon--." He stopped abruptly as if rethinking whether he should ask or not.
        Seiji turned to him, waiting patiently for Ryo to make up his mind.
         "When Touma asked you if you remember..." Ryo paused, braving to look into Seiji's eyes. "What do you remember?"
        "I don't..." He faltered. "I'm not sure..."
         "Can't you try?" Ryo pressed.

        They sat in silence for a long time, Ryo regretting his inquiry, until Seiji said softly, "I remember you... your touch, your eyes, y-your voice..."
        He closed his eyes tightly and his breath quickened with the memory. "It's so intense... like fire..." Seiji gasped, strangling a moan in his throat. "...it-it hurts... endless, it will never stop-- it will never--."
        When Ryo realized that Seiji was reliving his death in vivid detail, he quickly grabbed him by the shoulders, jolting Seiji from the memory. Sucking in a shuddering breath, Seiji drew away from Ryo, veering to compose himself.

        Sitting morosely beside him, watching Seiji's trembling back, Ryo murmured, "Seiji, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you."
        "Then what did you intend?" Seiji said harshly. "What did you think would come of asking me such a question?"
            Lowering his head in shame, Ryo stammered, "I-I'm sorry."
            "You've said that already," Seiji retorted, as he suppressed another tremor.
        "I-I shouldn't have--." Ryo began, standing hastily, ready to bolt from the room, but not before Seiji caught the look of hurt on his face.
        "Ryo, wait." Seiji said quickly. "I didn't mean... I just--."
            Byakuen rose to his feet swiftly and blocked Ryo's exit. The tiger stared up at him stubbornly, refusing to let his master leave in haste.
        "Don't go," Seiji pleaded. "Would you just-- sit with me? Please, Ryo..."
            Turning, he looked down at Seiji and was stuck by how vulnerable he seemed slouched there on the floor. Suddenly, Byakuen nudged the back of Ryo's legs, forcing him to stumble forward, obviously knowing where Ryo should be.
            Folding to his knees, he crouched beside Seiji. Very slowly, he touched him, gently trailing his fingers along Seiji's wrist, and up his arm, and suddenly he was holding him closely in his arms, guiding Seiji's head to his shoulder.
        With a tremendous feeling of peace, they sat together into sleep.

*****

        She was unable to sleep. Having tossed and turned for over an hour now, Nasuti threw back the covers, and got up out of bed.
        I need something to settle my nerves, she thought, pulling her robe out from the closet, and slipping it on quickly.
        At first she didn't see them. Her mind was occupied with which type of tea would help her sleep, and which would keep her up for the remainder of the night. As she turned from the kitchen cabinet to the sink to fill the kettle with water, she saw through the doorway Ryo and Seiji asleep on the floor in the living room. They were curled together against the base of the couch, with Byakuen at their feet.
        She put the kettle down deliberately, and stared, her vision turning black and red. An unbridled, savage rage blind sided her.
        What the hell does he think he's doing with my Ryo? She thought curtly. Nasuti suddenly wanted to rush over there and rip them apart, she wanted to smack Seiji hard, she wanted to see his blood vessels break beneath his pale skin into a deep purple bruise, that's what she wanted--
        Nasuti held onto the edge of the counter tightly, absolutely startled by the violence of her thoughts.
            They've just been through a lot, Nasuti insisted, countering her irrationality. They're tired. They fell asleep. It means nothing.
        But still, that sinister anger inside of her scared her as she thought darkly, It better mean nothing, or Seiji is going to be dearly sorry he ever laid eyes on my Ryo.

Continued in Chapter two: Soulless

Note: I know, what a terrible place to end it!  *grins* There are several chapters in this story, which I hope to get out to you all fairly regularly.  If you would like to read Chapter Two soon, then please visit my web site: http://thedragonflysleeps.tripod.com

It will be in the fiction section once tripod starts to work properly again… hopefully no later than Monday!  Also, please take a look at my artwork.  I have a few ryo/seiji pieces up, including an illustration from chapter four of A Stitch In Time (or at least it will be up when tripod gets its act together!). 

Comments are happily received at: Li_bell_ule@yahoo.com

Thanks,

~Li