Hi there folks! *ducks as missiles are launched at her* Heh, yeah, I saw
that some people were wondering just when I planned to continue this. Truly
sorry, school, go figure. This picks up where the teaser left off and goes
on from there. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I had this dream where I owned Samurai Troopers, and then I woke up to the reality where I don't.
Chapter 8 or Meet the new evil dude!
"Yes!" the happy cry caused several faces to turn and look at the boy who was now jumping for joy in front of a shelf of books in the New Age section. In his hand was a blue book with symbols in gold sprinkled on its face. Leaping with joy inside, the boy raced to the cash register to pay for his find.
The lady behind the counter did little to show her disapproval for his choice. "Yes, how may I help you, young man?" she asked.
"I'm ready to make my purchase, ma'am."
"Are you sure you want to buy that book? We have things much more suitable for a person your age."
"No, thank you, but this book is the one I was looking for."
The store clerk rang up his purchase, but not without a muttered. "Younglings these days." The young boy replied with a false grin and paid for his book. As he turned to leave, the lady called out. "Ya know, in my day, young folks listened when their elders suggested reading material for them. They didn't go around reading trash like that. I wonder about what your parents have taught you." The boy froze in his tracks. People could say all they wanted about him and his interests, but no one talked badly about his parents. His parents were picture perfect and very open minded. Who did this lady think she was? As the boy's anger grew, so did the rhythm of the power's pulse. It grew in strength and rhythm until it formed a shadow around the boy; cloaked him in darkness. It finally hit a breaking point and flared out to blast through the windows of the shop, spewing glass five feet across the mall.
The darkness inside of him eagerly waited. "Yes, make him angrier. Make him rage!" The boy's anger grew in time with the pulse until the cloaking around him formed a miniature version of Argo's floating head. The other customers in the store ran from the store in a rush, tripping over each other and crying out in fear. People outside the store had already cleared away when the windows had first burst outwards. The floating head smiled at the chaos he had caused as he slowly took over the boy's movements.
"NO!" The boy cried in his mind. "What are you doing? Stop!"
The darkness chuckled. "You wanted to hurt her for insulting your parents, didn't you? I'm just helping you out. After we're through with her, she will learn to watch her damned mouth." Shutting out the sounds of the boy's outraged cries, the floating head advanced on the now cowering sales clerk. A disemboweled hand reached out towards her throat. The clerk had begun to see her life flash before her eyes when it encountered a sword-A sword that was in the hands of a very pissed off Kayura.
"I don't know who the hell you are-" Kayura began. "No, wait, I have a good idea who you are, but that's beside the point. You, bastard, have just ruined a perfectly refreshing shopping trip." Jumping away from the confused (but relieved) sales clerk, Kayura faced the floating head. "I am Lady Kayura, last of the Ancients. I'm assuming you are the boy who took Arago's power?"
The floating head silently looked her over as if trying to remember who Argo was. "Ah yes, you were our prized pupil." A croaked grin spread across its face. "Do us the honor of joining us. With this new vessel, we will make this world a better place. Where there is no sorrow or pain. We only want to do good things. Please help us?" Kayura had taken a step back. She was trying to buy some time for Nasuti who was creeping towards the store clerk. Armor bearer she may now be, Nasuti only had some training in the jitte, and none in the kasuri-gama. Now was not the time for her to be engaged in battle. She tried to peek at her friend from the corner of her eye. Just a few more seconds.Where in the hell were the rest of the armor bearers when they were TRULY needed?
Nasuti prayed to every god and goddess she had ever heard about as she crept to the sobbing woman a few feet away. Kayura's entrance had distracted the floating head's attention, but it was only a matter of for how long.
"Just a bit further.There!" she whispered to herself as she finally came to hide behind the counter with the clerk. Touching her sleeve gently, Nasuti put a finger to her lips and motioned to the woman to follow her. It had the makings of a perfect escape.meant to fail. Nasuti poked her head form behind the counter to see Kayura and the head locked in a glaring contest separated by their interlocked swords-swords? Where had the head gotten swords? Shaking her head, Nasuti decided it would be better to worry about that AFTER she got the clerk to safety. The words she had said before became a repeated mantra in her head 'Just a bit. Just a bit.Just a b-' Nasuti's thoughts were cut off by the blade that now sat deeply embedded in the shelf in front of her. Turning her head, her eyes met the gapping smile of the floating head.
"Dare I actually believe it? On of the armors has dropped into my lap so easily?" The floating head turned back to Kayura who was climbing to her feet. A broken display behind her revealed how the head had lost interest in the distraction. "You truly thought you could hide this one from me, didn't you? You silly fool! I was once a part of Arago. I can sense the armors just as he could. I AM the reason he could sense them as he could." Turning back to Nasuti, it flicked its gaze over to the trembling clerk. "I guess I could be kind since you have actually done some good in your narrow- mindedness. Run now, before I change my mind." The clerk needed no further incentive and ran off as if the floating head HAD changed its mind. Returning to the matter at hand, the head regarded the two prizes that could help or ruin his plans. Kayura would have to be brainwashed again for it to work. In truth, it sounded like too much trouble if there was no way of knowing whether she could be turned back again. However, this new bearer of the Armor of Loyalty.she could be easily brainwashed and a worthy tool to use against the others. No one would want to hurt the fair Nasuti. Maybe it was a good thing the Masho had failed to kill her before. Still, that left Kayura as a problem.No matter, she would just have to be disposed of. Decision made, the head unleashed a healthy jolt of Black lightening at Kayura, knocking her back into the display. Before she could raise her hand, the head was on her, pumping more lightening bolts into her. Nasuti watched in horror as each jolt caused the Ancient to jerk in pain. Not a sound came from her lips, but Nasuti could see a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of her closed lips and knew Kayura was biting her cheek to keep from crying out.
"I can't just sit here and let Kayura take the brunt of it all." She thought worriedly to herself. "But what can I do? I have no training and I might just get in the way.Snap out of it Nasty! You're sounding like Ryo on a bad day." Nasuti took a deep breath. She might not have much training with her armor's weapon, but she had some training with Kayura's weapon. In addition, she could at least keep the head away from her and buy her some time to call the others. Making a dash, she scooped up the Star Swords. The head had not even moved. It just sat there, staring at her with interest.
"You, who barely know your powers, would attempt to take me on?" It asked incredulously. "You, Yagyu Nasuti, who I am even now trying to puzzle out how you got the armor away from Kayura, would fight against me? And for what? Join me. We can build a world that does not need the troopers. They will all be able to live normal lives, without worry or care. We can wipe out the stain Arago visited upon this realm." A disembodied hand reached out to her. "Think of it." the voice whispered seductively. Nasuti shook her head, a short, quick jerk form side to side. The head grew angry. "Have it your way, regardless, you will help me help this boy!" With that, the head seemed to grow. It filled the store with shadows that took on the shape of youma. "Get me that girl!" the head screamed.
"Naste! Throw me your weapon!" Kayura called from her side. Looking over, Nasuti saw that Kayura had gotten to her feet and was now standing beside her, hand held out. "You know how to fight with my weapon and I've fought with yours before. I'd say that about evens the odds, don't you think?" Nasuti nodded but still looked confused. Kayura had no time to instruct her on how to call just her weapon because a youma choose that time to attack. Kicking it in the face, Kayura called out to her. "Throw your hand up and think of your weapon being there." Nasuti did as she was told, then tossed it to Kayura. The Ancient grabbed it out of the air and met a charging youma with the blade. Kayura would have preferred that Nasuti not fight this battle but it appeared they had been given no choice. Even without Arago to guide it, his power seemed to have a life of its own. Well, now was not the time to ponder it as the youma had wasted no time in following the head's orders. Nasuti had already taken down two without her help. Kayura allowed herself a split second of pride in her accomplishments before directing her own attention to her opponents.
The last of the youma were dispatched in swift time leaving the two once again facing the floating head. Grinning down at them it spoke again.
"So, little Nasuti is not so weak anymore. That is good; it means you will make a fine warrior. I have no place for weaklings. Now! Return to me, my armor!" Nasuti screamed as a red glow surrounded her. She began to rise in the air, still screaming, and move towards the head. Kayura jumped after her and grabbed onto Nasuti's foot only to let go when her hand was burned. Calling in her staff, she slammed it against the floor, sending the rings clanging.
Back at the Yagyu estate, the guys' feelings of unease had taken a different turn. What had started as unease over how many bags the girls would be bringing home had morphed into something akin to eating Shu's cooking.
"I say we should call their cell phones and check on them." Shu said.
"Yeah, and what will you say when Kayura chews you out for interrupting their shopping spree because we got paranoid?" Touma tossed back. The others nodded. If nothing was wrong, they would find themselves wishing Arago had succeeded in his quest once Kayura and Nasuti got done with them. But if something were wrong.The stress of worrying caused even Seiji to get agitated. The young swordsman had since gone outside to meditate; hoping it would relax him. Shin, on the other hand, took a very unShin-like route. He had beaten the air out of a nearby basketball and was now beating the snot out of tree in the back yard. Naaza was grumbling and pacing. So was Ryo. They went on like this for a bit before a thud in the living room sent them dashing for the stairs. Shuten glared at them from the floor where he struggled to break free of his bindings. Unfortunately for him, they had been made by his comrades and meant that he would not get free unless he called his armor or they set him free. The gag had been worked loose, though, and he screamed obscenities at them.
"Get these fucking things off of me! Nasuti is in trouble! We have to get to the mall!" The tension levels in the room grew. Footsteps rushing towards the door grabbed their attention as a one. But when the door crashed open, it was Seiji who stood their, panting and haggard.
"They're still gone." It was a statement, flatly said by a voice devoid of emotion, only tiredness. Shuten growled form the floor, bringing their attention back to his words.
"Untie him so he can explain." Ryo said. Rajura and Anubis let him loose, earning snarls from Shuten as he rubbed the circulation back into his wrists.
"As I was saying before Seiji burst in here," Shuten snapped. "Nasuti and Kayura are in trouble. We have to get to this mall."
Before the others could respond, Seiji made a choking sound. "Naaza, your forehead." Sure enough, Naaza's kanji was glowing as were those of Rajura and Anubis.
"Arago's call." Anubis said quietly. Shuten nodded. The others looked confused so Anubis continued. "He is calling one of us. I can't tell who though. If it's a general call, then we can withstand it, we're stronger now. Plus we're all here and accounted f-" Anubis cut off as the blood drained from eight other faces. Yes, three of the Season armors were accounted for. But one was not, and the bearer was untrained.
"Shit! Naste!" Rajura said. They were in the cars faster than Byakuen catching squirrels in the woods.
It was on route to the mall that the next cause of unease happened. Kayura's had soon joined Nasuti's screams of agony. The young Ancient's screams mingled with those of Nasuti, as she attempted to fight the power holding her friend. What had at first appeared to be a break in the spell had spilled down the staff to knock into Kayura where she held on. Tendrils separated from Nasuti to cloak Kayura as well sending both women into crushing pain. Their friends were now feeling the combined force of both. All except Shuten who sat in horror and watched as his fellow Ex-Masho and the Troopers withered on the floor of the car.
DISCLAIMER: I had this dream where I owned Samurai Troopers, and then I woke up to the reality where I don't.
Chapter 8 or Meet the new evil dude!
"Yes!" the happy cry caused several faces to turn and look at the boy who was now jumping for joy in front of a shelf of books in the New Age section. In his hand was a blue book with symbols in gold sprinkled on its face. Leaping with joy inside, the boy raced to the cash register to pay for his find.
The lady behind the counter did little to show her disapproval for his choice. "Yes, how may I help you, young man?" she asked.
"I'm ready to make my purchase, ma'am."
"Are you sure you want to buy that book? We have things much more suitable for a person your age."
"No, thank you, but this book is the one I was looking for."
The store clerk rang up his purchase, but not without a muttered. "Younglings these days." The young boy replied with a false grin and paid for his book. As he turned to leave, the lady called out. "Ya know, in my day, young folks listened when their elders suggested reading material for them. They didn't go around reading trash like that. I wonder about what your parents have taught you." The boy froze in his tracks. People could say all they wanted about him and his interests, but no one talked badly about his parents. His parents were picture perfect and very open minded. Who did this lady think she was? As the boy's anger grew, so did the rhythm of the power's pulse. It grew in strength and rhythm until it formed a shadow around the boy; cloaked him in darkness. It finally hit a breaking point and flared out to blast through the windows of the shop, spewing glass five feet across the mall.
The darkness inside of him eagerly waited. "Yes, make him angrier. Make him rage!" The boy's anger grew in time with the pulse until the cloaking around him formed a miniature version of Argo's floating head. The other customers in the store ran from the store in a rush, tripping over each other and crying out in fear. People outside the store had already cleared away when the windows had first burst outwards. The floating head smiled at the chaos he had caused as he slowly took over the boy's movements.
"NO!" The boy cried in his mind. "What are you doing? Stop!"
The darkness chuckled. "You wanted to hurt her for insulting your parents, didn't you? I'm just helping you out. After we're through with her, she will learn to watch her damned mouth." Shutting out the sounds of the boy's outraged cries, the floating head advanced on the now cowering sales clerk. A disemboweled hand reached out towards her throat. The clerk had begun to see her life flash before her eyes when it encountered a sword-A sword that was in the hands of a very pissed off Kayura.
"I don't know who the hell you are-" Kayura began. "No, wait, I have a good idea who you are, but that's beside the point. You, bastard, have just ruined a perfectly refreshing shopping trip." Jumping away from the confused (but relieved) sales clerk, Kayura faced the floating head. "I am Lady Kayura, last of the Ancients. I'm assuming you are the boy who took Arago's power?"
The floating head silently looked her over as if trying to remember who Argo was. "Ah yes, you were our prized pupil." A croaked grin spread across its face. "Do us the honor of joining us. With this new vessel, we will make this world a better place. Where there is no sorrow or pain. We only want to do good things. Please help us?" Kayura had taken a step back. She was trying to buy some time for Nasuti who was creeping towards the store clerk. Armor bearer she may now be, Nasuti only had some training in the jitte, and none in the kasuri-gama. Now was not the time for her to be engaged in battle. She tried to peek at her friend from the corner of her eye. Just a few more seconds.Where in the hell were the rest of the armor bearers when they were TRULY needed?
Nasuti prayed to every god and goddess she had ever heard about as she crept to the sobbing woman a few feet away. Kayura's entrance had distracted the floating head's attention, but it was only a matter of for how long.
"Just a bit further.There!" she whispered to herself as she finally came to hide behind the counter with the clerk. Touching her sleeve gently, Nasuti put a finger to her lips and motioned to the woman to follow her. It had the makings of a perfect escape.meant to fail. Nasuti poked her head form behind the counter to see Kayura and the head locked in a glaring contest separated by their interlocked swords-swords? Where had the head gotten swords? Shaking her head, Nasuti decided it would be better to worry about that AFTER she got the clerk to safety. The words she had said before became a repeated mantra in her head 'Just a bit. Just a bit.Just a b-' Nasuti's thoughts were cut off by the blade that now sat deeply embedded in the shelf in front of her. Turning her head, her eyes met the gapping smile of the floating head.
"Dare I actually believe it? On of the armors has dropped into my lap so easily?" The floating head turned back to Kayura who was climbing to her feet. A broken display behind her revealed how the head had lost interest in the distraction. "You truly thought you could hide this one from me, didn't you? You silly fool! I was once a part of Arago. I can sense the armors just as he could. I AM the reason he could sense them as he could." Turning back to Nasuti, it flicked its gaze over to the trembling clerk. "I guess I could be kind since you have actually done some good in your narrow- mindedness. Run now, before I change my mind." The clerk needed no further incentive and ran off as if the floating head HAD changed its mind. Returning to the matter at hand, the head regarded the two prizes that could help or ruin his plans. Kayura would have to be brainwashed again for it to work. In truth, it sounded like too much trouble if there was no way of knowing whether she could be turned back again. However, this new bearer of the Armor of Loyalty.she could be easily brainwashed and a worthy tool to use against the others. No one would want to hurt the fair Nasuti. Maybe it was a good thing the Masho had failed to kill her before. Still, that left Kayura as a problem.No matter, she would just have to be disposed of. Decision made, the head unleashed a healthy jolt of Black lightening at Kayura, knocking her back into the display. Before she could raise her hand, the head was on her, pumping more lightening bolts into her. Nasuti watched in horror as each jolt caused the Ancient to jerk in pain. Not a sound came from her lips, but Nasuti could see a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of her closed lips and knew Kayura was biting her cheek to keep from crying out.
"I can't just sit here and let Kayura take the brunt of it all." She thought worriedly to herself. "But what can I do? I have no training and I might just get in the way.Snap out of it Nasty! You're sounding like Ryo on a bad day." Nasuti took a deep breath. She might not have much training with her armor's weapon, but she had some training with Kayura's weapon. In addition, she could at least keep the head away from her and buy her some time to call the others. Making a dash, she scooped up the Star Swords. The head had not even moved. It just sat there, staring at her with interest.
"You, who barely know your powers, would attempt to take me on?" It asked incredulously. "You, Yagyu Nasuti, who I am even now trying to puzzle out how you got the armor away from Kayura, would fight against me? And for what? Join me. We can build a world that does not need the troopers. They will all be able to live normal lives, without worry or care. We can wipe out the stain Arago visited upon this realm." A disembodied hand reached out to her. "Think of it." the voice whispered seductively. Nasuti shook her head, a short, quick jerk form side to side. The head grew angry. "Have it your way, regardless, you will help me help this boy!" With that, the head seemed to grow. It filled the store with shadows that took on the shape of youma. "Get me that girl!" the head screamed.
"Naste! Throw me your weapon!" Kayura called from her side. Looking over, Nasuti saw that Kayura had gotten to her feet and was now standing beside her, hand held out. "You know how to fight with my weapon and I've fought with yours before. I'd say that about evens the odds, don't you think?" Nasuti nodded but still looked confused. Kayura had no time to instruct her on how to call just her weapon because a youma choose that time to attack. Kicking it in the face, Kayura called out to her. "Throw your hand up and think of your weapon being there." Nasuti did as she was told, then tossed it to Kayura. The Ancient grabbed it out of the air and met a charging youma with the blade. Kayura would have preferred that Nasuti not fight this battle but it appeared they had been given no choice. Even without Arago to guide it, his power seemed to have a life of its own. Well, now was not the time to ponder it as the youma had wasted no time in following the head's orders. Nasuti had already taken down two without her help. Kayura allowed herself a split second of pride in her accomplishments before directing her own attention to her opponents.
The last of the youma were dispatched in swift time leaving the two once again facing the floating head. Grinning down at them it spoke again.
"So, little Nasuti is not so weak anymore. That is good; it means you will make a fine warrior. I have no place for weaklings. Now! Return to me, my armor!" Nasuti screamed as a red glow surrounded her. She began to rise in the air, still screaming, and move towards the head. Kayura jumped after her and grabbed onto Nasuti's foot only to let go when her hand was burned. Calling in her staff, she slammed it against the floor, sending the rings clanging.
Back at the Yagyu estate, the guys' feelings of unease had taken a different turn. What had started as unease over how many bags the girls would be bringing home had morphed into something akin to eating Shu's cooking.
"I say we should call their cell phones and check on them." Shu said.
"Yeah, and what will you say when Kayura chews you out for interrupting their shopping spree because we got paranoid?" Touma tossed back. The others nodded. If nothing was wrong, they would find themselves wishing Arago had succeeded in his quest once Kayura and Nasuti got done with them. But if something were wrong.The stress of worrying caused even Seiji to get agitated. The young swordsman had since gone outside to meditate; hoping it would relax him. Shin, on the other hand, took a very unShin-like route. He had beaten the air out of a nearby basketball and was now beating the snot out of tree in the back yard. Naaza was grumbling and pacing. So was Ryo. They went on like this for a bit before a thud in the living room sent them dashing for the stairs. Shuten glared at them from the floor where he struggled to break free of his bindings. Unfortunately for him, they had been made by his comrades and meant that he would not get free unless he called his armor or they set him free. The gag had been worked loose, though, and he screamed obscenities at them.
"Get these fucking things off of me! Nasuti is in trouble! We have to get to the mall!" The tension levels in the room grew. Footsteps rushing towards the door grabbed their attention as a one. But when the door crashed open, it was Seiji who stood their, panting and haggard.
"They're still gone." It was a statement, flatly said by a voice devoid of emotion, only tiredness. Shuten growled form the floor, bringing their attention back to his words.
"Untie him so he can explain." Ryo said. Rajura and Anubis let him loose, earning snarls from Shuten as he rubbed the circulation back into his wrists.
"As I was saying before Seiji burst in here," Shuten snapped. "Nasuti and Kayura are in trouble. We have to get to this mall."
Before the others could respond, Seiji made a choking sound. "Naaza, your forehead." Sure enough, Naaza's kanji was glowing as were those of Rajura and Anubis.
"Arago's call." Anubis said quietly. Shuten nodded. The others looked confused so Anubis continued. "He is calling one of us. I can't tell who though. If it's a general call, then we can withstand it, we're stronger now. Plus we're all here and accounted f-" Anubis cut off as the blood drained from eight other faces. Yes, three of the Season armors were accounted for. But one was not, and the bearer was untrained.
"Shit! Naste!" Rajura said. They were in the cars faster than Byakuen catching squirrels in the woods.
It was on route to the mall that the next cause of unease happened. Kayura's had soon joined Nasuti's screams of agony. The young Ancient's screams mingled with those of Nasuti, as she attempted to fight the power holding her friend. What had at first appeared to be a break in the spell had spilled down the staff to knock into Kayura where she held on. Tendrils separated from Nasuti to cloak Kayura as well sending both women into crushing pain. Their friends were now feeling the combined force of both. All except Shuten who sat in horror and watched as his fellow Ex-Masho and the Troopers withered on the floor of the car.
