Disclaimer: I don't own Yoroiden Samurai Troopers/Ronin Warriors. ^.^' I would like to thank maryd for reviewing my first chapter! And, yeah…it is whom you think. My favorite couple!

To Find Love Chapter Two: Changes Come, Warlords Go

Shuten swallowed hard, had she just called him 'traitor'? No, she couldn't have…could she? His eyes met hers again. The beautiful eyes seemed to stare right through him, at some unknown person who he couldn't see.

"Me, a traitor?" he laughed mercilessly at her, "Girl, believe me you have the wrong man. I do not know you, the first time I met you was when Arago had me kidnap you!"

"I know you." She said, standing up and taking slow steps toward him. "I know you very well…Shuten Douji." The warlord backed up, panicking.

"Tell me, how did you know my name? Tell me, girl!" Shuten looked about him. The walls seemed to get closer as he felt an unbearable weight being pressed on his mind.

"Traitor!!" she screamed as she launched herself at him; trying her hardest to pin him down. Shuten screamed as he felt the weight engulf him, the last thing he saw was a pair of wild blue eyes full of hatred.

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Shuu pressed with all his might against the gate, inch by inch it moved. Slowly at first, but it became easier as they swung open. Touma peered through them, but only saw more flatlands.

"I don't understand. Seiji, do you know?" Shin said, voicing the question the others were about to ask.

"For all I knew, the gates were to be a direct link to the fortress. That is what Kaos had said in his teachings." Seiji sighed, "I wish he were here. He would know what to do." The others nodded agreement.

Leaving the gate behind them, they trudged on towards the forests. Byakuen took the job of scouting, finding nothing for miles he returned to the companions.

"Nothing, Byakuen? Hmm, well then I guess we should just stay on our guard then." Ryo knew the tiger was the best partner that he could have. He had been with him for a long time, and they were acute to each other's thoughts.

Seiji looked to the sky, then back to the forest. "We should make it to the forest by sunrise. There we won't have to worry about the sun as much, the trees are great protectors…from both the heat and from other enemies."

"Do you think that Arago's Youja soldiers will come?" Shuu and Shin asked in unison, something they did often enough.

"I don't know…Arago may send them, he may not." Touma spoke up after awhile. "Come on! We've got to reach that forest!!!" at Touma's word, they took off running for the woods.

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Anubis paced the training grounds within the fortress walls. Naaza and Rajura were trying to teach the Youja soldiers some new skills, but to no avail. Silence over shrouded the grounds; the Youja seemed to disappear completely.

"We attack tomorrow!" Anubis broke the silence; it was starting to wear thin on his nerves. Which were already thin from the result of the search for Shuten.

Naaza laughed, "Pitiful, really. Shuten cannot be found, poor fool." Rajura growled low, Naaza caught the hint and stopped his laughing.

"I do not want to hear his name. If he can't be found, that's his problem. I don't care!" Anubis snapped, causing Naaza to swallow hard. "Those lands will be Master Arago's!"

"Hail, Master Arago!" Naaza and Rajura cried out in salute. A smile appeared on Anubis' face once more, this was truly going to be grand.

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Sitting under a giant tree, the companions rested after their long run. It was so peaceful just sitting there, feeling the spirits of the forest all around them. Some would have just stayed there, but not Touma. She was too important for that; she meant everything to him. Even though she didn't know how much, he had never got the chance to tell her. The five of them had been on a journey to the south when she was taken, and it had been weeks before Touma was even able to face her parents.

Shuu started to hum as they worked with their respective weapons. Shin, Seiji, Ryo and Touma joined in when they recognized the song. It almost brought tears to Touma's eyes as he sang Hoshi No Rarabai. The lyrics rolled off his tongue, remembering when Kayura would sing it as she skipped around the village. Touma's head turned quickly as he heard a sound in the distance. The other's sat quietly and they too could hear the sound of rustling underbrush.

"Show yourself!" Touma called out. The response he got was quite unexpected, as a woman stepped out from behind a tree with a young boy. "Who are you?"

The woman seemed to shift her weight nervously before answering. "M-my name is Nasuti Yagyu; th-this is Jun Yamano. I-I'm his teacher, we got lost in the forest and…." Nasuti's voice trailed off before finishing. The five companions let out a sigh of relief and Byakuen went back to sleep.

"I am sorry, miss. We're here on a journey to find my friend, she's being held captive by Arago." Touma bowed apologetically. "It's not safe here, we'll protect you as long as we can until we have to fight Arago."

Jun walked over to Byakuen and poked his ear. The white tiger opened one eye, looking straight at him. "Aaaah!" he ran as fast as he could behind Nasuti's legs. Ryo tapped Byakuen on the head, smiling apologetically.

"Byakuen can be scary. I'm terribly sorry, I should have warned you." Ryo said, keeping his hand on Byakuen's head.

"It's all right, I shouldn't have let Jun-chan do that." Nasuti replied. "But…you said that you're friend was being held captive by Arago?"

Touma nodded solemnly, "Yes, she was taken from our village when the five of us were away. I told her parents I would not stop until I had her back, and that it what I plan to do."

"If there is anything I can do, please feel free to ask." Nasuti smiled at them, "I heard singing, I take it that was the five of you?"

Seiji laughed, "Yes, that was us. It was a song our friend used to sing, so it reminds us of what we're here for."

Byakuen kept a constant vigil over the group that night, which now included Nasuti and Jun. Ryo woke a few times to help Byakuen watch over them. The night went by peacefully. Little did they know it wouldn't be as peaceful when they awoke.

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Shuten awoke suddenly, finding himself outside of that girl's prison cell. How'd I get here? He thought. The last thing I remember was being with that girl and then-! Shuten let out a low growl. How could such a young girl have overcome him? There was no logical explanation. He stood up and dusted himself off; he needed plenty time to sort things out. Shuten had barely reached his room when there came a knock on his door.

He flung his door open to find a Youja soldier standing there, "What do you want?" Shuten's voice dripped with venom.

"On authority from Master Arago I have been sent here to notify you of your orders." The Youja soldier said, "You are to report to Master Arago immediately."

"Fine, just get out of my way!" Shuten growled, pushing past the soldier, heading down the corridor towards Arago's throne room.

When he arrived, Shuten lowered into a bow that didn't have the loyalty behind it that Arago expected of all his soldiers. Arago kept silent, which angered Shuten considerable.

"Master Arago," Shuten sarcastic tone did not escape Arago's ears, "You summoned me, Lord?"

"Shuten, I sent word for you to come hours ago!" Arago yelled, "Now I see that your demotion was the proper course for me to follow."

"Demotion?" Shuten gritted his teeth and stood, "What demotion?"

"Silence, insolent fool! You are mine to control and command as I see fit!" Arago eyes bore on him threateningly. "You will do very well to remember that. Dismissed."

Shuten bowed again, half-heartedly. "As you wish, master."

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Overlooking the vale where the young heroes slept was a silent and ominous figure. He was neither imposing nor passive. He was Kaos. A warrior monk long since thought dead. He had an interest in their quest as well. Two, to be exact. One by the name of Kayura Tengoku, the other was the Oni Masho: Shuten Douji. How odd it seemed to Kaos that both of them ended up in the same place. Something was troubling him though. There was something terribly wrong with Kayura; she shouldn't be giving off this much power. He would have to watch closely these young warriors. They were inadvertently entering a war, which has been going on for centuries. Kayura and Shuten had to be saved at all costs.