Storm Season
Prologue
The day was hot, depressingly hot. No one wanted to do anything except lay around all day. Not even Shin wanted to go swimming, the water was too hot anyway. Only Ryo was unaffected by the heat and the dark haired boy was bored. No one wanted to do anything and he was driving them crazy with his constant energy.
Seiji watched as Touma lay upside down on the couch, letting his blue hair hang out of his face for once. Seiji envied him, for once, as his own blonde mop drooped even lower into his face. On the floor, next to Mia's struggling air conditioner, Shuu let out a groan as Shin stumbled out of the kitchen only to sprawl out on the floor.
" That's it, I refuse to cook in this heat." He mumbled into the carpet.
" Why don't we go to the mall." Suggested Ryo," It's air conditioned and we can get something to eat." He hoped that they would want to go.
Touma lifted his head," I'm in, while we're out let's get a new air conditioner. This one's dead. There was only so much I could do with the duct tape.. I need to go to the bookstore too."
" We've gotta go!" cried Shuu," If we don't I'll starve."
" At least the van has good AC." Commented Shin dragging himself to his feet before offering a hand to his best friend. Once again, he startled his friends with his strength. It seemed odd to them that the second strongest of the nine armor bearers was also the smallest. Only the warrior of strength was stronger.
Without a second thought, everyone piled into Shuu's van and they cranked the to frost bite before someone put in Metallica. With Shuu driving and Shin in the passenger seat Ryo, Touma, and Seiji had the rest of the van to spread out in. The road into Toyama twisted along like a snake but they never saw another car along the way. As they got close to Toyama they passed the now completed Stormraven manor.
" Hey, look," said Touma gazing out the window," the new mansion is finished."
" Have you seen the one girl that lives there?" asked Shuu.
" No," was the unanimous reply.
" She's a real babe. She's a priestess for some Polynesian goddess. I ran into her once in the mall. It was weird, she just kept staring at me. It was like she was looking right into my soul."
Shin gave Shuu a glance before looking out the window again. He felt drawn to the small temple near the manor. Behind him, Touma also stared out at the temple. The two warriors knew that the new temple would be important to them soon but all thoughts fled as they entered the city. Once in the city traffic picked up and Shuu had to focus on watching the other cars and the road. Finally they pulled into the mall parking lot.
Once inside the mall they all relaxed as the oppressive head was defeated by the wonder of the air conditioning. Within moments, they were separating into groups and going different directions. Shuu made a beeline for the food court, Shin and Ryo went to the pet store, while Touma and Seiji went to the bookstore and crystal store. In no time at all they were all lost in their own thoughts.
*
Mariah walked respectfully behind her father, a place she rarely stayed. Next to her walked her mother, head held high, while behind them followed her very boisterous little sister. Mariah wasn't paying attention though. That morning, in temple, Gia sent her the two slave bracelets that she wore. In each one rested two tear shaped blue stones facing opposite directions. They were the same yet different. There was no explanation of what they were for and only her trust in her goddess convinced her to put them on, even if they did match her outfit.
As they passed the bookstore a trinket on one of the center booths caught her attention and she broke from etiquette to stop and look. Knowing that she would catch up, her family continued on without her. Mariah quickly bought the little carved dolphin and turned just in time to see the strange soldiers appear around her family.
*
Touma and Seiji were just walking out of the bookstore when a group of soldiers appeared out of nowhere grabbing a small family.
" Where is the priestess?" they asked the very startled family.
Touma jumped, startled, when a young woman's package hit the floor with a wooden thud. Just as he turned to look he saw strange sub-armor, much like his, appear on her. When he turned back to the scene playing out he heard the terrified reply from the family.
" What priestess? We know no priestess." Cried the woman clinging to her daughter.
Suddenly the guards pulled them apart and the leader spoke again," We don't need the family, destroy them. The priestess is here, find her when you're done."
Touma and Seiji found themselves propelled into action but it was too late to save the three lives. A mournful wail cut the air as the sub-armored girl flung herself at the soldiers. She hit them once and then it seemed as though time had stopped. Tears seemed to float from liquid brown eyes and she brought her hands together, as though she was praying. Over what seemed like a great distance they heard her tear filled voice cry out.
" Armor of Storms! Dao Gekido(wild fury)!"
Her armor seemed to emerge from her bracelets as the two toned armor formed exactly as the Trooper armors did. The armor was an exact replica of Shin, without the helmet, except where his was white her was gray blue and where his was light blue her was so dark blue that it looked almost black. In her hand she held a stylized glaive, in place of the dagger Shin carried she had an arrow shaped blade with a handle in the center. Seiji immediately identified it as an Amazon Arrow, also know as a dragons tooth.
" Murderer!" her strangely confident tone broke them from their trance as she started to spin the glaive above her head creating dark ominous clouds. The clouds grew until her voice, filled with pain, broke the silence," Gia's Fury!" She screamed releasing a torrent of wind and rain that tore the warriors, that killed her family, into disembodied shards of metal.
When it was over Touma and Seiji found that there were in full armor though neither remembered calling upon it. The crowds that had been in the mall were gone though a few people were starting to file in again. Across the hall Ryo, Shin, and Shuu also seemed dazed, as they were waking from a nightmare only to learn that it was real.
Shin was the first t move, falling to his knees and tears streaming from his eyes," We were too late."
A moment later they were all on their knees feeling as though they fought a great battle. Salty tears fell endlessly down their faces but brought no comfort. For the first time the five young warriors knew the faces of those that they couldn't protect.
The opening of a portal nearby brought the heart broken warriors back into awareness as Kayura and the Former Masho emerged.
" Troopers, we have a problem." Said Kayura before she saw the new armor," So, I was right, It has begun."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Ramblings of an insane author ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Soul- Konnichi Wa Minna-San! So, what do you think? Should I continue? I have more finished but I need Reviews before I'll post more.*opens up a large barrel filled with pixi stix and pulls out a few. Which are quickly torn open and eaten* I have plans (Be prepared for mucho Shin Angst. (*Breaks into song*Be Prepared for Coup of the century, Be Prepared for sensational news. Meticulous planning, Tenacity spanning...) Sorry too much Lion King) , and I can't wait to know what you think. Anything I forgot?
Touma- Flame if you want but remember we still have pyro boy over here.
Ryo- What do you mean by that Little Boy Blue.
Touma- Just say your line.
Ryo- *Sticks his tongue out at Touma* If you do flame Just leave your E-Mail so that we can reply.
Seiji- Hey Shin, how long do you think it will go on?
Touma- Stay out of this Goldie Locks, just say your line!
Seiji- Any Flame is subject to constructive criticism whether there is an E-Mail address or not.
Shin- I bet this goes on for a while.
Ryo- What was that Fish boy?
Shuu- *sheepish grin*We don't really like Flamers so we like to kick their...
Shin- Shuu!
Shuu- I mean we don't really care what they say.
Soul- * wrestles with Touma over the pixi stix* If you want more just say so if not don't bother reviewing unless you have something constructive to say. Ja Ne!