Okay, this chapter is finally finished! Wai! Wai! I could not believe I posted such a crummy draft, yuck. There's some part re-written in the beginning but most of the stuff that's been changed is toward the end and there has been more added as well.
Disclaimer: yes I disclaim them.
Warnings: A steamy kiss and Shuten gets a cheap thrill off Yuki (PG-13 worthy).
Japanese words: get a dictionary, I'm too lazy to tell you what they mean.
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"This is my last gift to you Konoyuki." Her father whispered as he kissed her forehead. "Treasure it, as I have."
Yuki reached desperately for his hand, holding it in her grip as he made to move away from where she sat, to disappear into that nothingness, that stark whiteness that now surrounded them. He stopped and smiled at her, his fingers tightening around hers.
"Onegai Otousan." She pleaded with him. "Can't I stay with you a little longer?"
"Konoyuki…" He brushed her cheek with his fingers. "You have been here long enough, this place is not for you, not yet. You have a great many things to accomplish before your life is over."
"Demo… Otousan." She shook her head refusing to accept what he said.
"Can't you hear him Konoyuki?" Her father smiled as he lifted his head, she grew silent, trying to hear what he was talking about. She made out a very faint sound but could not distinguish what it was. "Listen!"
She shook her head, still unable to hear exactly what it was that her father could hear.
"Your brother is calling you." He told her. "He wants you to come home."
'…san. …neesan. Oneesan please wake up. Please Oneesan, wake up.'
"He needs your strength Konoyuki." Her father put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face up to meet his eyes. "They all will, remember what I told you."
Yuki looked down at the small orb glowing green in the palm of her hand. She didn't want this gift her father had given her, she did not want to accept that she had to be alone again, without her father, without her mother, if she stayed here they could always be together.
'Oneesan.' She heard her brother's voice again and turned in the direction from where it came, echoing throughout the emptiness.
But what about him? He would be completely alone and hadn't she promised herself, her father, her mother that she would be there for him. That she would protect him from feeling the pain that the loss of their parent's brought, ever again.
"Hiko-kun." She whispered her hand tightening around the orb.
"Yes… Hiko would be so lost without you." Her father's voice confirmed her thoughts and she turned back to look at him. He was silent and contemplative, his brows coming together in a frown before he spoke again, urgency in his voice. "Your brother is special Konoyuki, he will be able to endure a great deal but unlike you and the others his strength is not a virtue and you must be there to guide him."
"Otousan?" She whispered, wondering what could make him warn her to be cautious in regards to her brother, he was by far the most sensitive, sweet-tempered person she knew. "What do you mean?"
"Ask Shuten." Her father advised his smile returning. "He will tell you everything you need to know, he will help you."
"Shuten doji-san?" She sounded incredulous and wanted to blurt out what an infuriating ass she thought he was but knew better than to speak in such a manner in front of her father. It seemed she didn't need to say anything at all as he started to chuckle.
"He's an arrogant ass, isn't he?" Her father shocked her with words she would have never expected to hear from his mouth. There was never any doubt when her father took a disliking to someone, however for him to voice such a comment was unheard of, even if she did agree with him. A slow smile spread across her mouth and she nodded slowly making him laugh further before he spoke again. "I have known him many years and although I could not always say so I trust him completely. He can teach you a great many things, as can Anubis. They will prove to be your allies in the trouble that lies ahead, trust them and work with them."
"Anubis-san maybe but Shuten doji-san…?" She sounded doubtful. "I don't know Otousan, he is what you say."
Her father laughed again and pulled her to her feet while talking to her, 'he did carry you to the house the other night and has sat by your side nearly every moment since you got sick.' He smiled at her shocked expression as they walked along, where they were headed she did not know, there was no sense of direction, no horizon, they just moved through the obscure white.
"Chotto matte." She stopped walking as something only just now hit her. "Sick? I've been sick?"
"Yes Konoyuki." Her father resumed their walking as he explained. "You fell very ill the other night, your brother and your friends are very worried, as am I."
"You're worried?" She asked confused.
"Hai." He nodded. "You need to go back, to live, for your brother, for everyone and yes, even for your mother and I."
"He's right Yuki-chan." Her eyes widened and she turned toward the quiet voice of her mother behind her. "You need to go back."
"Okaasan!" She flung herself into her mother's arms unable to stop the fresh tears as she felt her mothers comforting arms around her. "Okaasan… Okaasan…"
She could say nothing more merely weep as she clung to her mother, her father's arms closed around them making her feel so warm, so loved. She turned and lay her cheek upon her father's chest, hearing the beating of his heart, his hands stroking her hair while she sobbed.
"Don't let go." She mumbled through her tears. "Please, just stay with me."
"We are always watching you Konoyuki." She heard her father whisper, clinging tighter to the front of his shirt as his voice was growing dim. She would not let go, she vowed shaking her head against his chest, she would never let go. "Always."
---
Shuten climbed the stairs with heavy steps, it seemed to be a struggle to even put one foot in front of the other these days. He was exhausted but he knew that the young boy who sat and watched diligently over his sister was even more so and for this reason he put his selfish concern aside and moved with a new energy. Toyohiko was a dedicated young man, his family, or what was left of it and maybe for that very reason, meant more to him than anything and Shuten marveled at his devotion. Nasuti certainly had nothing to worry about with her young son being corrupted; his sense of loyalty rivaled even Shuten's own.
He cleared the top step and halted at the sound of Toyohiko's voice, he was calling her, willing her to wake up and Shuten waited politely for the young man to finish before he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The blonde head that reminded him so much of Korin did not turn as he entered, although he most certainly was aware of Shuten having entered. He moved forward and rest his hand on the boy's shoulder, giving a gentle reassuring squeeze before removing his hand and moving to stand beside him.
"Any change?" He asked as he joined in the observation of the fragile girl lying in the bed where he had placed her several days ago. The doctor had recommended that she be moved to a hospital, Rekka's wife, also a doctor had spoke out against it, they would be able to do no more for her there, she simply needed rest as she was suffering from exhaustion and a fever brought on by the latter.
"Iie." Shuten turned to watch Toyohiko rub his eyes tiredly, he was going to end up in the same condition as his sister if he did not take care of himself. "I keep calling her and calling her but she doesn't hear me."
"Toyohiko." Shuten waited for the young man to turn his attention toward him. "Sayuri and her father are holding dinner for you. Why don't you join them downstairs, I'll watch over your sister for the time being."
"I really don't want to…" He began.
"Do you know what I'll have to listen to when she wakes up if you get sick?" Shuten interrupted him. Toyohiko looked momentarily perplexed and then the smile Shuten had been hoping for emerged as he no doubt visualized his sister giving him the verbal hammering of the century, which was sadly not far from the truth. She would-as she often liked to eloquently threaten-'kick his ass' if anything happened to her brother.
"Wakatta." He nodded his head as he climbed to his feet and moved around the chair and moved to the door.
Shuten retrieved the small basin next to the chair and carried it through the doorway to the attached bathroom. Shuten heard the door close behind Toyohiko as he filled the basin with fresh, cool water, carrying it back and setting it atop the small table next to her bed. Doing his best not to disturb her he sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed the excess water from the cloth inside the basin. He lay the wet cloth gently across her forehead, letting it do its best to cool her fever. He watched her for any reaction but she remained still and silent and he could not help but worry over how helpless she looked. He longed to have her sneer at him, to see her eyes flashing angrily at his mere presence. Shuten smiled as he brushed back a stray lock of her hair, thinking that it was just as unruly as she was.
"Dooshite Konoyuki Date?" He whispered quietly to her silent form. "Can't you hear your brother calling you?"
He pulled the cloth from her forehead and dipped it into the basin, starting his routine over again. Squeezing the excess water and turning back to the helpless girl only to gasp in surprise as he could see tears spilling out from under her closed eyelids and slipping down her cheeks. Shuten dropped the cloth and placed both of his hands on her shoulders giving her a slight shake. He sat back not knowing what to do as choked sobs soon joined her tears and moments later and apparently still not aware of what she was doing she was clinging to his chest, her hands fisted in his shirt as she continued to cry. Almost of their own volition Shuten's arms closed around her, his hand gently stroking her hair as she wept. Her fists began twisting and pulling in his shirt as she whispered incoherently through her tears, his arms tightened around her instinctively as she gave her head a slight shake. He could barely make out the words as she mumbled into his chest, 'please… just… stay…'
He remembered with perfect clarity the devastation that Nasuti felt at the death of her young friend so many years ago and although he had been sympathetic to her feelings it was at a time when he did not know how or was not willing to empathize with such emotions. His resolution or the help he had offered her mother had simply been to make her forget. He now realized his mistake in doing so, the pain was waiting for Nasuti when she did remember and she was forced to relive it once she had. This child was different from her mother; she would never wish the pain away, she would carry it with her forever, as a tribute to those she loved. Certainly it would lessen and dull over time but Konoyuki would never stop feeling it. Shuten suspected that, although he did not know him personally, Korin would be much like his daughter in the same situation, or rather she was like him. Except in temper, he had seen Korin often enough to know how cool-headed he was, except where Nasuti was concerned but even then he was more often than not controlled. His daughter seemed to be the opposite, she could claim the same abilities as her father in a fight, fast, precise and graceful, her temper however, was quite another matter and he'd been on the receiving end of her having reached the limits of it.
'Do you know why I fight so hard… because niichan would suffer…' he recalled her words from a few nights ago and wondered how much of her temper was merely a defense mechanism. Seeing her as she was now and that night when he'd found her outside and carried her in to the house made him think differently about her defiance, her anger and rudeness toward him. He could often see her at odds with her behavior, as if she was fighting against herself or a deeply ingrained politeness that her parents had taught her. He could recall the gentleness she showed her brother, how she protected him and how Shuten came to realize that what appeared to him as laziness and a lack of consideration for others was quite the opposite. The reason she slept so late in the morning was simply because she was exhausted having stayed up with her brother, comforting him, drying his tears. Tears Shuten himself had heard and often thought of drying himself except that he knew the tears would stop, without realizing that the reason they stopped was because his sister, the one now crying in his arms would go to her brother's room each night and quiet them. Shuten felt something akin to shame at having misjudged her so badly.
Toyohiko had been easy to like, Shuten was drawn to him most likely because his nature was more that of his mother. Shuten often marveled at how much he was like her, sentimental, kind and incredibly intelligent; he possessed his mother's gentle eyes as well. Quite often however Shuten found himself drawn to Konoyuki, drawn in a way that was disturbing. Disturbing in that he did not understand it. She was beautiful but he could resist beauty, there was something else that he could not or rather, would not put his finger on. He'd felt it the other night when she'd been at the police station. His reaction was certainly out of line, not to mention out of character. He had refused to examine his reaction then just as he refused to examine or acknowledge the way his heart was stirring now. Once again reassuring himself that he was only concerned with her brother's well being and right now her brother's well being was dependent upon her getting better.
Don't be an ass Shuten. He could almost hear Nasuti's voice dripping with incredulous sarcasm. His brows drawing together in a deep frown as he looked down at the golden chestnut hair, a perfect blend of her mother and fathers, at the tear-stained cheek that showed through the strands that he pushed back from her face, at the small fist clinging tightly to his chest. He could not deny her beauty, even in such a state as she was in now she was breathtaking but he had long ago gained control over his emotions; he could always, even in the face of such beauty, turn his heart away. He had done it before.
As if she could hear his thoughts and sought to protest, her eyes fluttered opened and left him drowning in their soft gray depths. All his resolve, everything that he'd been so certain of only moments before was gone, washed away in the face of her soul piercing eyes. He swallowed hard; his breath caught in his throat as he realized he could not turn away, not his heart and not his soul.
"Shuten doji-san?" She whispered confused her eyes holding him captive until she blinked.
His eyes wide he could do no more than nod at her whispered question. He noticed another tear trickling down her cheek and drew his thumb across it, erasing it from her skin. His fingers brushed lightly at the strands of hair that clung to the side of her face. She gasped at the gesture and his eyes moved once again to hers and once again he was unable to look away from their wide, pale, depths.
What the hell was he thinking? She was merely a child! His thoughts rushed about his head, as their gazes remained locked. She was no child, she was a woman and this acknowledgment made him realize another… that he was afraid, he had lost his heart once before to one who was so much like this one; a piece of his heart remained with her still. No, it was not even this that frightened him. What truly frightened him was that he somehow knew that if he lost his heart to this one, it would be gone forever. She would not merely keep a piece of it she would own it all until he breathed his last and beyond. Somehow he knew that she could command him beyond what Arago had all those years ago.
How is this possible? He wondered. How could he not have seen this happening? But he realized that he had seen it happening. He had seen it long ago in his dreams of a young queen fighting by his side in the Youjukai, a young queen he had believed to be the mother of the very one he now held in his arms. The words of one who was wise beyond worlds when Shuten had not the strength to stand 'She is your future, but first you must fight.'
That damned monk! Shuten thought to himself. I could kill him if he weren't already dead!
"Where is Hiko?" Her soft voice brought Shuten's attention back from his reverie and he helped her to lie back on the bed as she began to fidget in his embrace, growing uncomfortable with their closeness.
"He's eating dinner." Shuten explained as he climbed to his feet and moved away from her bed. "I will go get him, he's been anxious for you to wake up."
She was silent for several moments before continuing.
"I heard him calling me." She smiled.
Shuten gasped, his eyes widening as her smile slammed into him like a powerful fist. Mumbling an incoherent excuse he quickly escaped, making his way hurriedly downstairs.
---
Konoyuki was thankful Shuten left the room, she was by no means up to a battle of wills with him just now, not to mention the fact that she was too shocked at finding herself in his arms when she woke up. The whole time with her father and mother had been a dream; the warm arms of her father that held her were actually those of Shuten doji's. She flung her fist down into the blankets of her bed only then realizing the cool, heavy feel of something clutched tightly in her hand. Her eyes widened as she opened her fingers and stared at what she'd dreamed her father had given her. 'This is my final gift to you Konoyuki' is what he had told her. But that was just a dream wasn't it. She frowned in confusion. It couldn't' have been a dream and produced something tangible, it must have been real.
She stared at the iridescent orb, glowing green in the palm of her hand. It was as if it were alive, pulsing like a heartbeat in her palm. It felt powerful, like it held inside it the power to burn hotter than the sun and it seemed to grow warmer as she held it, the heartbeat pulsing louder and stronger and suddenly it was gone… wait, not gone, merely in time with her own. What had her father given her, she wondered as she stared nearly mesmerized by it? He had told her to ask Shuten that he would know, but how could he know what it is, how could Anubis know? Her father trusted them? How long had they known each other? Yuki's head started to ache and deciding to wait for another day she slipped the small orb into the small jewelry box resting atop the nearby table, closing the lid just in time to hear footsteps bounding up the stairs.
"Oneesan!" She heard her brother exclaim and could not help the smile forming on her face as he burst through the door and launched himself at her. His arms going around her waist, his head in her lap, clinging to her desperately as she stroked his hair and rubbed his back. Smiling at Sayuri and her father as they filed into the room at a slower pace than her brother did.
"I heard you calling me Hiko." She whispered as she leaned forward and kissed the back of his head. He raised his eyes to her and smiled through the tears he struggled not to show.
"I'm so relieved." He grabbed her hands and squeezed them, then dropped them in favor of wrapping his arms around her once more. "I am so very relieved."
"I'm sorry I worried you Hiko." She brushed his hair back from his face again.
"You worried us all." Came Sayuri's voice from across the room, she and Hiko both turned as her friend made her way to her bedside. "You'd better not do it again, you're poor brother would hardly leave your side, Shuten doji-san as well. I had to come here and drag them off to eat something and you know with Otousan cooking it wasn't an easy thing to convince them to do."
"Oi! Sayuri-chan!" She heard her uncle call from the doorway, grumbling about ungrateful children and the like.
Yuki smiled at them all as they broke into laughter, she searched the faces among those present, surprised to see Shuten wasn't among them as their teasing laughter lifted the tension of the last few days from everyone in the room. Shuten would not leave her side? Her brother she suspected but Shuten… this was surprising news.
He probably felt guilty for being such ass the other night. She thought as she dismissed his presence during her illness as concern. Still, the feel of his arms around her… she could, even now recall the warmth and strength of those arms as he held her gently against his chest. Pushing the memory aside she gave herself a mental shake, feeling resentment over the knowledge that later she would have to thank him for his kindness toward her. Damn it.
---
"Yuki dooshite?" She heard Anubis' voice break through her already over-crowded brain. She turned to look at him sharply a confused frown creasing her brow.
"Nothing…" She replied absently. "Why do you ask Anubis-san?"
She noted him rolling his eyes in exasperation and shaking his head. Yuki had to chuckle at him, she knew that she'd not been paying attention, that her abilities were not being displayed to their best advantage as she wandered through kendo practice absently.
"You have barely managed to stop me three times in a row using a technique that one with your abilities should be laughing at." He informed her, inviting her to lead the way to a seat. "I suspect you have a good reason for your behavior."
He wanted an explanation she realized and there was only one she could give. It had been several weeks since her recovery; she had been taking better care of herself, hardly avoidable as her little brother watched her like an over-protective mother. She had finally worked up the much needed energy or calm -she couldn't decide which she needed more- to thank Shuten for his care during her incapacitation. He had stared at her with incredulity, no doubt wondering what the hell had gotten into her to make her behave nice toward him. She was a little surprised but had half expected his animosity, as it had always been present between them; what he said next however, nearly had her contemplating ripping his head off. He had told her, rather disdainfully, that she should not have expected anything less, he was concerned for her brother and would do anything, no matter how loathsome to help him. Her anger had boiled over and she had called him every vile name and even made up a few before she was finished, stomping off angrily after he yelled a few of his own. She had sat and meditated for hours, once she had calmed down she began to rationally analyze his behavior, frowning as she could not for the life of her understand why he would say such a thing. He had never intentionally been hurtful; he had said things to her in front of the police station but had not felt they were without warrant. Why would he do so now?
"Feh… Shuten." Anubis' disgusted tone as she relayed that bit of information to him made Yuki look up, turning to see Anubis shake his head a wistful caste to his eyes. She waited silently for him to continue. "He really is an ass."
"That seems to be the consensus." She laughed catching his twinkling eyes as he laughed with her. "You, me, my father… we all agree."
"Did… did you just say…" Anubis asked after several moments of silence, frowning with disbelief. "Your father…?"
She lowered her gaze, only then realizing how stupid that must have sounded to him. Not sure what else to do she looked back and nodded at his inquisitive eyes, watching as they widened in surprise. Yuki decided to summarize the 'visit' she had with her father when she'd been ill, telling him about the orb, everything. When she was done silence filled the air and she fidgeted and picked at an imaginary speck on her hakama, waiting for Anubis to laugh at her or haul her off to a nut house for seeing and hearing dead people.
"And your mother?" He asked with something akin to urgency. "Did she visit you as well?"
Yuki nodded and was surprised to see a small smile curve up the corners of his mouth, sitting in silence for several minutes before he asked her what they spoke of. Yuki went on to explain that her parents were worried about her being sick and that she needed to return, that her brother was calling for her. She told him that her father was proud of her and that he had a gift to give to her.
"That's how I knew it wasn't just a dream Anubis-san." She explained to him. "When I woke up in my room… the gift that my father had given me... "
"Yes." Anubis prompted her.
"I was clutching it in my hand." She finished.
He was silent for several minutes and Yuki watched as he processed everything that she had told him. At last he climbed to his feet and stood in front of her holding his hand out to her he hauled her to her feet when she placed hers in its grasp. He hauled her along behind him outside through the shoji and into her mother's garden. He stopped abruptly when they reached a small bench and he sat down, pulling her down beside him.
"Do you know of Korin?" Anubis' voice suddenly serious made Yuki look sharply at him. She knew of the legend, her father had told her and Hiko about it many times; Korin and the other legends.
"Yes." She replied
"It cannot have slipped your notice that Shuten, Naaza and I have often referred to your father by this name." He stated matter-of-factly, there was no question to it. As she shook her head he slowly nodded his and pausing, perhaps to search for the right words, he lowered his gaze to the gravel walkway then raised them to gaze into her eyes again. "Your father is… was… Korin. Korin no Seiji."
She waited for the laughter, for the teasing hint that always filled Anubis' voice when he joked playfully with her but it never came. She didn't understand, how could her father have been this… thing and she not known. If what Anubis said was true then that meant that her father was one of those responsible for ending the war, it was in all the history books as she'd grown up… The Yoroiden Samurai Troopers; boys who became men and saved not only this world but countless others then disappeared into obscurity, never to be heard from again, the amour they each wore had vanished as peace returned to the land and they were no longer needed.
Korin no Seiji. Otousan. She wrestled with what Anubis was telling her somehow knowing that it was true but still unable to fathom its reality.
"Anubis-san?" She queried as something odd struck her. "How is it that you know all of this? How did you know my father as Korin when you are hardly of an age?"
He stared at her with those bottomless eyes of his that held so much of the world within them and without hesitation, without blinking told her the impossible, 'I am over four-hundred years old Konoyuki Date. I left the Ningenkai and joined forces with the enemy of this world in the Youjukai. I fought against your father during the war and nearly killed him, would have killed him if not for your mother.'
Yuki could feel her eyes grow wide as saucers as she stared into his steadfast gaze and each word he spoke sank into her, settling in her head, settling in her heart. …would have killed him if not for your mother. He was her father's enemy? But he was so kind to her, her brother. He had said so many nice things to her about both of her parents. She knew he respected her father, he had said so and she could see the truth in his eyes as he told her this.
"Wait a minute!" She gasped something only just then sinking in. "Did you say you were over four hundred years old?"
"Hai." Anubis inclined his head as he answered. "All three of us were part of the same destructive force that nearly tore apart this world and many others."
All three of us… Naaza and… Shuten! 'I was never your father's friend.' Shuten had once said to her, she'd thought it an odd thing to say back then but now it made sense. Could Anubis show her how to use the orb? She wondered growing excited at the idea of becoming some super hero type that one only read about in books. Like her father!
"Yuki?" She felt a tap on her shoulder as Anubis called her name. She spun on her heal and surprised him with an enthusiastic smile.
"Anubis!" She clasped his hand and began to drag him along with her through the dojo and into the house. "Come with me!"
"I don't think I have much of a choice." He mumbled as he reluctantly allowed her to lead him through the house and up the stairs. He hesitated when she flung the doors wide and he saw that it was her bedroom but she pulled incessantly and he staggered in along with her, his eyes darting nervously about her room. "I don't think it's right for me to be in here with you alone."
"Don't be ridiculous!" She chided him as she shook her head. "There have been many occasions that I've been alone in here with Makoto, Shiro, Mizuko, it's nothing new."
"Shikashi Yuki…" He still wasn't sure that it was proper. "Those boys are all the sons of your father's closest friends, they're more like brothers to you than anything else."
"Is that what Makoto is thinking when he tries to climb all over me, that he's my brother?" She scoffed as she made her way to the small box on the bedside table. "Here I thought he was just a pervert!"
"Well you might be right with him." Anubis blushed a little at her candid remark then gave up his old-fashioned notion and stepped into the room. "But Suiki and Rekka are definitely more like your brothers."
He did not notice the stiffening of her shoulders as he moved closer, trying to see around her and get a glimpse of what she was doing. He did not miss the frown in her eyes as she slowly turned around to face him however and wondered what it was that he had said to cause it.
"What did you just say?" She asked, her voice quiet and fierce. She knew those names he had used; they were in the history books right next to the name that he'd used for her father, Korin. At the mention of those two names it dawned on her that it could not be any mere coincidence that he, Shuten and Naaza had appeared at her parent's funeral and decided to stick around and train them so hard out of some weird funeral rite or something. She did not like things being hidden from her and she certainly didn't like the feeling that she'd been manipulated, along with her friends and family. Her father had mentioned something about 'the trouble ahead' when he'd visited her in that strange dream when she was sick, what did he foresee? The Samurai Troopers had not gained their power until just before they were called upon to fight and once the fighting was over their power was not seen again but now it appeared that power was about to be resurrected, in the children of those who donned it before. She wanted some answers and she wanted them now.
"Why are the three of you here Anubis-san?" She took a step toward him as she spoke, her clear gray eyes piercing into his soul. "Why the sudden urgency in our training? Me, Sayuri, Makoto, Mizuko, Shiro and my brother, what are you getting us ready for?"
"For war, Konoyuki Date." She and Anubis both turned to the door at the sound of Shuten's voice. "The Yoroiden Samurai Troopers are needed again."
She had not been this close or spoken to Shuten since their last confrontation after she had gone to thank him. Something in his eyes held her captive, a softness that he could not immediately mask with his normal arrogance before she got a chance to see it. She did not like the warmth spreading through her at that look, it suggested something that she refused to think about and she pulled her gaze away from him to look at Anubis once more. His eyes were filled with obvious regret and she turned back to Shuten, her eyes narrowing angrily at his now disdainful and arrogant look.
"Tell me what this is!" She demanded extending her hand for him to see the orb that grew warm and began to glow. She watched Shuten and Anubis look at each other knowingly sparking her anger further and the orb began to pulse as if it were alive.
"The yori no Korin." Shuten answered her as if he were talking to a dimwitted child. "Can't you feel it?"
She could feel something, it was like a distant song calling to her, lulling her into its soft melody the sound growing louder and louder until it was no longer just sound. Brilliant light was surrounding her, a cool brightness that could light up the sky at midnight and then indescribable power was coursing through her and voices, so many voices…
"Konoyuki!" Everything vanished at the sound of Shuten doji shouting her name and she found herself standing in her room, the orb still in her extended hand with him and Anubis staring at her. "Don't be so foolish as to let that happen again! You could have leveled this house!"
She scowled at Shuten not sure if what she'd felt a few moments ago was what he was referring to. Was that Korin? She wondered, barely convinced if what she'd just felt really happened at all.
"You stupid girl!" Shuten took a menacing step toward her and made to reach for the orb in her hand as he mumbled. "What the hell was your father thinking giving that to you?"
"He was probably thinking of my kicking your ass!" Yuki snapped at him as she pulled her hand out of his reach and stepped back.
"Yuki…" Anubis warned with a sigh.
"You know." Shuten began, his voice laced with animosity and barely concealed rage. "No matter how hard I look and I do look, daily, for your brother's sake, I cannot find one redeemable quality about you. You should be glad your parents are not here to see what type of person you've become."
"Shuten!" Anubis angrily cut him off before he could say anymore. "What the hell is wrong with you? That was completely un-called for! You were the one to come in here and provoke her!"
"Forget it Anubis-san." Both of them turned at the sound of her quiet voice, her eyes meeting Shuten's unwavering. "It's not as if I care enough about his opinion of me to get upset over anything he says."
She could tell that what she said stung Shuten, just as what he'd said had stung her. She half expected him to come back at her with more scathing remarks or at the very least a look that could freeze the rain in summer. She certainly wasn't prepared for the confusion in his eyes or the sudden appearance of what she could only call… desperation? She could feel that same wave of warmth wash over her, could feel her own resolve softening as his had earlier.
"Forgive me Konoyuki." Shuten offered a quiet apology, she could see the remorse in his eyes and knew that he meant it, still she refused to think about it. "I should not have said…"
She raised her hand to stop him a small smirk appearing on her mouth as she spoke, 'don't bother Shuten doji-san, as I said, it's not as if I care about your opinion of me.'
"Of course." He replied after several minutes of silence. He inclined his head once and then turned at the door and spoke again. "I would ask that you not mention this to the others, I would like to tell them myself and will do so soon."
With that he turned and left and with him all the fight in her left as well. Her mind a whirlwind as all that he'd said, all that she now realized weighed heavily on her.
"Yuki." Anubis' softly calling her name made her start a little as she'd forgotten he was still present. "I know it cannot be easy hearing what Shuten told you… would you like to talk about it? I know a lot about your father's… about your… uh… about Korin."
Yuki laughed a little at his stuttering and felt her mood lighten some but it was hard to ignore the seriousness for long and her thoughts soon turned grim once more. If there was to be a war and it was the kind that would require such extreme measures as the return of the Samurai Troopers she wanted to be as ready a warrior as she could be to ensure that her friends and her brother were kept safe.
"How do I call it?" She asked him holding the small orb out to him.
"I think you already know." He answered her confirming that what she had felt earlier was indeed Korin coming to her. At the smile spreading across her face in anticipation Anubis quickly added. "That is not to say that you should call it now however."
She frowned at him, not understanding why he would wish to discourage her. To her it seemed as if the sooner she learned to harness Korin the better for the world in general and so she asked him, 'why?'
"As I've said to you often Yuki, you are a lot like your father." He paused and she waited impatiently for him to continue. "You do not have his calm however, the inner peace your father possessed was possibly his most formidable asset, it made him nearly unbeatable and until you possess the same I would not recommend calling Korin."
----
Yuki lay on the forest floor, exhausted from kendo practice with Anubis earlier and frustrated at her failed attempts at meditation, she just could not achieve that state of calm she'd so often heard others speak of. After each training session, her body spent she would retreat to a place of quiet solitude and meditate, looking for that place her father had found, looking for whatever it was that made him that nearly perfect, nearly unbeatable warrior that Anubis spoke of. Each attempt ended in frustration as she searched and searched and could not find it, she was beginning to think that it was unobtainable. Maybe she was not so much like her father as she'd always believed herself to be, maybe this place her father had found did not exist for her, maybe she needed to find her own place.
She stared up at the canopy of tall trees above her. The different shades of green against the brightness of the sky were all changed to one in silhouette; every so often a light breeze would waft by and make them shimmer like silver as they fluttered. It was by far the most relaxed she'd felt in weeks, too often focused on what was too come as they all were, having been told by Shuten, Naaza and Anubis what lay ahead for them. She would never forget being witness to the saddest expressions of fathers who watched the dismayed looks of their sons and daughters as they confirmed everything they were told, wishing that some miracle would happen to avoid their children having to experience the same things they had. She felt for them all, her uncles, their children who were her closest friends and her brother, whom she could tell, was quite hurt at being excluded from it all. She did try to include Hiko as much as she could in everything that was happening to her, to all of them, they had sat and talked about it at great length on several occasions. Yuki had encouraged him to hold the glowing orb himself after explaining to him how it glowed and grew warm and often pulsed in her hand when her emotions were high. She could feel his disappointment herself when the orb remained cool and even appeared to darken in color while he held it in his own hand, speculating that it must only be when the bearer held the orb that this happened. Despite his exclusion from the Samurai Troopers Hiko did not stop his training, if anything he trained harder telling her that he had promised himself he would become stronger so that she didn't have to worry over him, so that he could protect her and Sayuri. She had meant to tell him that she felt he was already strong enough to do so but her attention had been pulled away by something else and she'd never gotten the chance to do so. She was actually glad that her brother would not be involved in this, he was too sensitive and the warning from her father about Hiko kept nagging at the back of her mind. Surely as Korin she would be able to keep her brother safe; as if on cue she could feel the pulse of the orb in her pocket. It was strange how when she had the orb with her and felt some emotion strongly the orb would then pulse, as if it sensed her feelings. Reaching down into her jeans pocket she pulled the small orb out holding it lightly in her fingers above her head watching its glimmering surface.
"When?" She whispered a strange longing building in her; it was almost as if a part of her were missing. The orb pulsed, a moment later it pulsed again and then again, it was matching her heartbeat and before long she could not distinguish between the two as she lay there watching it glow warm in her hand. She could hear the faint beginnings of a distant humming, the humming grew louder and louder until it was almost screaming in her ear and then light, blinding bright light enveloping her entire body. Power exploded to life inside her, power like she'd never felt before coursed through every part of her. The blinding light faded and she looked around from where she stood, not recalling climbing to her feet at all. She lifted her hand to look at the orb and was shocked to find it gone and even more shocked to find that she held the hilt of the largest, most incredible sword she'd ever seen in her armored hand. She looked down at herself, holding her hands out so that she could see, opening and closing her empty hand not believing what her eyes could see and just to make certain she brought her hand up to touch her face, also covered in armor.
"Korin!" She gasped lowering her hand, her other hand tightened around the hilt of the sword. It looked too big for her to be able to lift and she gasped when she was able to do so with surprising ease, watching a cool, trail of light follow in the path of the blade. She laughed at her dizzying strength, spinning as she turned her face up to the sky feeling the power coursing through her; she was convinced that no one could possibly beat her. Like her father she was unstoppable, unbeatable, she would destroy anyone who attempted to best her.
"Konoyuki!" It was the sound of her father's angry voice cutting through her. "Do not let yourself be seduced by Korin's power! Reign in this desire to conquer!"
Yuki fought to concentrate on what her father said but Korin was pulling at her, threatening to swallow her with its power, she struggled against it but the whispers of a thousand warriors who had donned Korin before her caressed her mind. Korin can bring the world to its knees for you; everything will fall in the wake of your power.
"This is not your will Konoyuki." Her father's voice, this time quiet and calm called to her again. "You are stronger than this."
Yuki squeezed her eyes shut tight, both hands clenched around the hilt of the sword and she fought against the burning brightness of Korin, against the chaotic swirl of so many voices who bid her seek out her enemies and lay waste to them this very moment. No! I will not let you! She thought as the light flashed and burned through her body, fighting against being contained as she slowly pulled it back into her, feeling it seeping from every fiber of her being back into the orb that she could suddenly feel within the palm of her hand once more.
I did it Otousan. She thought in triumph as the lightness of the armor disappeared and darkness began to surround her. The effort to contain Korin drained her of all her energy and she began to sink toward the forest floor unconscious.
Yes. She heard her father's voice again before the darkness claimed her completely. Yes you did.
----
Hiko, for the third time attempted to avoid the fist that Shuten threw at him and again he failed, fighting back the desire to knock that stupid smile off his face at having outwitted him again. Hiko knew that his thoughts were unkind, Shuten didn't have to take the time out to train him, he wasn't like his sister or Shiro or the others. Still Shuten did not treat him any differently, his training appeared to be just as important as any of those lucky enough to receive the right to call themselves Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. Hiko was thankful for Shuten's training but he was frustrated at not being able to advance sooner, he knew he had gotten stronger but still, he was not strong enough.
He turned his gaze to Sayuri who was currently sparring with Makoto under the watchful eye of Anubis, he felt his hackles rise slightly as Makoto managed to tag her in the shoulder. He knew it was practice, even so he couldn't bear to see her get hurt.
Klonk! Hiko winced and rubbed his head, seeing Shuten's stern gaze after having gained his attention by hammering him on the head with his fist. He turned and fixed Shiro who snickered beside him with an icy glare before turning back to Shuten.
"Pay attention Toyohiko!" Shuten reprimanded him. "Women are for warriors to enjoy after the fight."
Hiko's eyes widened at Shuten's words thinking that if his sister would have heard that there would be hell to pay. It appeared that the same idea came to Shuten's mind as Hiko watched his sensei look about him cautiously before mumbling an apology. Hiko thought the apology was probably just in case she had overheard him, it seemed Shuten was getting smarter where she was concerned.
"Are you ready to try it again Toyohiko?" Shuten asked and without waiting he threw his fist at him once again.
Hiko waited, watching the older man's fist coming straight at him, as before, he moved only when he didn't have to over extend himself. He swung his arm down hard upon Shuten's wrist and side stepped out of its path, then brought the fist of his other hand up and swung at Shuten. At the last minute, almost as an afterthought Shuten moved out of the way and it wasn't until then that Hiko realized he had managed to block him. He didn't feel deserving of his accomplishment for long as he noticed how distracted Shuten was, turning away from his students to gaze up at the trees in the forest behind the house a deep frown furrowing his eyebrows.
He looked at Shiro who frowned and shrugged his shoulders, not understanding what he was doing either. He then noticed that not only Shuten but also Anubis and Naaza were looking in the same direction, also wearing the same disturbed faces.
Hiko was about to ask them what was going on when a sharp, bright pain exploded in his head bringing him to his knees. Although he'd never experienced anything like it before, Hiko's instinct told him what it was, his sister, she was in trouble. The pain was gone almost immediately and with the help of Shuten, he climbed to his feet.
"Oneesan." He whispered in response to Shuten's questioning gaze, shaking his head to clear it and almost falling again before Shiro could catch him to take the place of Shuten who at the mention of his sister took off at a dead run for the forest. Hiko was instantly alert and followed Shuten, as did everyone else. It was immediately apparent that something was strange about the forest, there was an eerie glow that grew brighter the deeper into the woods he got. Hiko at first feared that there was a fire but soon dismissed this, as he realized that no fire ever cooled the air when it blazed so brightly.
"Shimatta!" He heard Shuten's voice up ahead and Hiko was awestruck and could not move when he saw her. The image of his sister fully cloaked in the armor of Korin that first time would stay with him forever. Green and white armor that formed to her perfectly, in her hand a no-dachi and all around her a brilliant light, like that reflected off the snow in winter, so bright it hurt to look at and you were forced to shelter your eyes. He could feel how powerful she was and despite Shuten's warning to get back, that she was out of control he moved closer, captivated by her, by how powerful she was.
"Don't get any closer Toyohiko." Naaza spoke from directly behind him. "It's too dangerous."
Suddenly the light began to dim and when it was gone completely the armor and sword were likewise. Hiko stared at his sister who stood in the clearing, everything around her silent and still, he watched as she opened her outstretched hand and something fell to the ground landing at her feet. Her eyes were open but he didn't think she could see him, he didn't think she could see any of them. Then, as if in slow motion she began to fall backwards, Shuten reached her just in time to keep her from hitting the ground full force.
"Oneesan!" He shouted and started forward only to be stopped by Naaza who held him back assuring him that she would be fine, that she was merely overwhelmed the first time as happened to all of them, himself included. In his distraction Naaza failed to notice the sharp look that Hiko gave him at his confession.
----
Shuten worked quickly to unbutton first the girl's sweater and then the top buttons of her blouse, trying to make it easier for her to breath as she struggled to do so. She was choking and gasping for air, one of her hands clutched and grabbed for something to hold onto and finding only empty air; he placed his hand in hers and felt her grip tighten painfully about his fingers. Shuten frowned, it had been so long since he'd gone through this that he could not recall how long it took him to begin to relax and recover.
"Come on Konoyuki." He whispered brushing her hair back from her face with one hand; the other still locked in the tight grip of her fingers. As if she had heard him she sat straight up, took one long gasping breath and then collapsed again. He caught her before she could fall backwards and held her against his chest, sighing in relief as her breathing became normal.
He turned back and was surprised to see Hiko and Sayuri not far away with Naaza, watching everything; the others were further back with Anubis watching nervously from a distance. The young boy shifted his gaze to Shuten; he offered the young man who cared so deeply for his sister a reassuring smile.
"She'll be fine Toyohiko." Shuten spoke softly as he shifted onto one knee. "She needs a few minutes to catch her breath, why don't you go back with Sayuri and have some tea prepared, I'll help her back to the house."
Touma's daughter knew what Shuten was doing and stepped up from where she stood behind Naaza. Taking the boy's hand she led him away, back to the house with Naaza following close behind them. Shuten watched them disappear and then turned back to the girl in his arms, lying her gently back on the bed of moss and dried leaves that blanketed the forest floor.
"Unnnngh…" He saw her brows furrow as she moaned in pain. He knew she would be feeling it for a while, the first charge up was always the hardest on the body.
"Stupid girl." He whispered as he again brushed her hair back from her face, his fingers lingering on the soft skin of her cheek. Her skin was so pale, like moonlight or fine white porcelain, the dark sweep of her eyelashes and the deep rose of her full mouth stood out in deep contrast against the lightness of her skin. He let his fingertips trail lightly over her soft mouth and across one pale cheek marveling at its softness, at how beautiful she was. As if he could not help himself and before he even realized his own actions Shuten leaned forward and touched his mouth to hers, his eyes drifting closed as he felt the impression of her lips against his. Shuten felt almost dizzy, shimmering light spread throughout his entire body and suddenly… exploded painfully in his head. He winced and pulled back, clutching at his temple, his eyes flew open as he suddenly realized why it hurt so much and looked into pale gray depths filled with murderous outrage; her hand still balled into the fist that she had slammed into the side of his head.
"owwww." He complained rubbing at his temple and meeting her scowl with one of his own.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She shouted all signs of her earlier infirmity gone as she struggled to sit up, wincing in pain as she did so.
"Lay back down." Shuten commanded placing a hand on her shoulder and forcing her onto her back once more, wanting to laugh at the fire that leapt into her eyes. "Rest here for a moment."
"Why so you can force yourself on me some more!?" She yelled while taking another swing at him. He caught her fist easily in his own and held it, catching her other hand when she angrily swung at him again. "Let go of me you four-hundred year old pervert!"
His eyes narrowed as he stared down at her, watching the fire continue to blaze in her eyes; always unwavering, always steadfast and always so beautiful. How many times had he gazed into her eyes and been met by this same look? Too many to count, he realized, everywhere he went he saw her eyes blazing as they were now, even haunting his dreams. He was tired of her haunting his dreams, he was tired of having to fight the urge to give in and allow his every move to be dictated by her whim, her desires, but most of all, he was tired of denying himself the feel, the taste of her mouth.
"Is that really what you want me to do Konoyuki…" He whispered smoothly as he leaned forward and pinned her captured hands to the ground above her head. He noticed her eyes widening as he continued his question. "To let you go?"
She did not utter a word merely stared back at him her eyes growing even wider and Shuten made a mental note to himself that he might just have found a way to finally get the last word in. He could feel her pulse racing against his fingers where he held her wrists.
"I think you really want me to do…" His voice dropping even lower as he leaned ever closer, his lips only a hair's breadth away from hers. "Is this."
He felt her sharp inhale as his lips brushed against hers and the warm breath that escaped her mouth as she exhaled slowly while he stroked her soft lips with his own. He kissed the corner of her mouth softly, his eyes holding hers as she continued to stare at him as his lips continued their tribute to hers he could feel her begin to relax, her struggle to break free of his hold ceased, still he held them.
It was like heaven when he felt her trembling mouth moving against his, slowly, hesitantly at first but moving, encouraging and irresistible. He felt the light scrape of her teeth on his bottom lip and her tongue darting out to tease his, he answered her call and she moaned at the feel of his tongue in her mouth. He loosed his hold on her pinned arms, his hands moving slowly, exploring the length of her arms, his fingers lightly tracing the outline of her jaw, his hands rest gently on each side of her face, their kiss deepening when her own fingers found purchase in his hair. His fingers explored further, traveling lightly to the sensitive skin of her neck, his lips abandoning hers followed the same path. He brushed aside the collar of her blouse and pressed his lips against the hollow of her throat, the moan she elicited encouraged him further and he trailed kisses along the deep V of bare skin where he'd unbuttoned her blouse earlier. His hands slid down the front of her blouse cupped her breasts through the thin fabric; he was elated when she reacted by arching her back beneath him, pressing herself into his hands.
"Shuten doji." Hearing her whisper his name was like a drug and his mouth returned to hers once more, her kiss as fierce as his own and driving him over the edge of reason. He slipped his hand inside the opening of her shirt, his fingers on fire as he now cupped her naked breast in his hand, eliciting the same reaction out of her as he had earlier. She felt, as he knew she would, soft and athletic, delicate and strong, she was a contradiction of herself and with each part of her he touched it only made him want more of her. His free hand made quick work of the remaining buttons on her blouse and he quickly brushed aside the fabric of her shirt, his hands slipping around and underneath her lifting her toward his seeking mouth. She gasped as his mouth closed over her breast, her fingers clutching in his hair, pulling at it almost painfully.
"Shuten doji." She whispered his name next to his ear, he moaned his pleasure at hearing it but continued to explore with his mouth.
"Shuten doji!" The insistent pull on his hair accompanied by her sharp tone made him lift his head, she looked regretful and unsatisfied and it made him want to pleasure her beyond reason. He brought his hand over her shoulder and trailed his fingers lightly across her collarbone smiling as she shivered, he leaned forward and brushed his lips over the same spot.
"What is it Konoyuki?" He whispered feeling her shiver again as his breath tickled her skin. "Do you want me to stop?"
He continued to kiss her throat as she failed to speak for several moments.
"Yes." She finally whispered. "And no."
"Which is it Konoyuki." He teased her laughing lightly. "You can't have it both ways."
"I want you to stop." She whispered with what sounded to Shuten like embarrassment and as she started to scoot away from him he grabbed her hands preventing her from doing so.
"If that's what you want Konoyuki." He assured her, his fingers lifting to button the front of her shirt, he climbed to his knees and straightened her collar and then pulled her sweater back over her shoulders and buttoned it as well. He looked into her over bright eyes that stared up at him, not understanding the confusion and fear in their depths but feeling the need to comfort her. He brushed her hair back from her face and leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek, his hand slipped into her hair, his fingers caressing the back of her neck as he whispered near her ear. "I hope I haven't made you do anything you didn't want."
"Iie." She shook her head, her voice breathless and her fingers clenching in the fabric of his shirt at his shoulders. "It's not that I didn't want to, it's just that…"
"Yes?" He urged her to continue when she paused.
"It's just that," her hands slid down to his chest and pushed him away from her, climbing to her feet as she did so, grimacing at the ache in her body from Korin's surfacing. "Despite what you think… this is more than I'm used to… and more than I'm ready for."
She stared down at him for several minutes, an uncomfortable smile appearing on her mouth as he frowned in confusion unable to guess at what she was hinting. 'Despite what he thought', what the hell did that mean? He wondered dragging his eyes away from hers so he could think. And what did she mean by 'more than I'm used to'? They had hardly done anything at all…
Like a ton of bricks it hit him and it was fortunate that he was already on the ground because he might have fallen down if he'd been standing. She couldn't possibly be… he returned his eyes, wide with shock to hers and she knew he had guessed and guessed correctly he surmised as she nodded her head at the question in his eyes. She held his eyes a moment longer and then he noticed an embarrassed blush covering her cheeks and she turned away. As if that wasn't enough of a shock he noticed her open her hand and the small orb that held Korin within it lifted from the ground and into her hand. He blinked and gave his head a slight shake as if to clear it of the delusion he was experiencing, he'd never seen anyone do that, even he couldn't do that; just how strong was she? He sighed in resignation as he climbed to his feet and made to follow her, the feel of her was forever branded upon him now, she owned him until he death, beyond that even.
"Damn you." He growled fixing the sky with a gimlet eye as he thought of the monk then quickly made to catch up with Konoyuki.
---
Hiko could do no more than gape openly at the small glowing orb laying on the white silk padding of the box that Shuten doji had given him so many months ago. He picked the orb up and held it in the palm of his hand marveling at how it grew warm and glowed brighter, it was just like his sisters only instead of green this one had a purple hue to it.
What did it mean? He wondered. He knew there were only five Yoroiden Samurai Troopers and therefore he could not be one of them. He recalled something Naaza had said while they'd stood and watched his sister collapse after she had called Korin, '…as happened to all of them, himself included.' Could it be that just like his sister, Naaza, Anubis and Shuten doji all had armor? Yori that was separate from that of the Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, separate but the same? His eyes widened further as the orb grew momentarily brighter.
All this time, he'd continued to work so hard to become stronger, knowing that he could never be as strong as those he wanted to protect, his sister, Sayuri, Shiro and the others; all this time the power to surpass them lay within his reach. If he'd only opened the box back then, when Shuten doji had first given it to him, just after his parents had… he swallowed hard hating the memory of that day and finished the thought… after the funeral.
He gasped as the orb pulsed in the palm of his hand, just as his sister described Korin doing. When her emotions were running high she had said and he now understood exactly what she meant. It pulsed again and again and soon it was in time with the beating of his heart. He could hear a soft wail in the distance, the sound seeming to grow louder, like a great crescendo as it surrounded him. He could feel wind whipping about him as if he were in the center of a great storm, powerful beyond measure, offering itself up to him.
Is this what you seek? It whispered to him seductively.
Yes. He answered silently smiling as he felt the power caressing him. Yes.
"Hiko!" His eyes snapped open to stare into the wide disbelieving gaze of his sister who stood before him. He looked quickly to his hand and he heard her gasp as she too gazed at the small orb he held. He lifted his eyes to meet hers, now filled with worry and something else, something he could not quite put his finger on; sorrow maybe? Before he could decide she was moving closer to him, her arms going about him as she held him in a light embrace.
"Hiko." She whispered softly almost sympathetic and still clearly worried.
"Oneesan?" He questioned her reaction but when she failed to say anything more and merely held him he put his arms around her waist and returned the embrace. He didn't know why she would be worried; he could understand her shock and surprise but why would she be worried? He gripped the orb tightly in his hand, knowing that he would become as strong as she with his own armor and make certain that she never had to worry about him again.
A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth as a word suddenly drifted to life in his thoughts. Nin.
==================================================================
Can you believe that cliffhanger? I'm terrible I know, maybe not, I doubt if anyone's even reading this old thing anymore. Next chapter is going to be filled with lots more Hiko, I'm going to enjoy toying with him like I did with Nasuti in Betrayal. Bwah ha ha ha. I'm evil I know.
Maybe I'll even let Shuten get a little more action with Yuki. I might get them to the Youjukai by next chapter as well, who knows.
Oh, sorry about that almost 'chipper' Anubis, yuck, I don't know what got into me. I got rid of him however and I think I can live with myself now that I have.
For Shin's son's name I kind of made a little pun, Mizuko (water kid) Mizu = water, Ko = kid. Ah well, I thought it was funny.
As always, comments are welcome.