Summary: When unrequited love shifts jealousy into blind rage, Seiji finds himself displaced.

Ryo/Seiji shounen ai Drama R

Warning: This story contains shounen ai which is male/male love. Please do not read if such ideas upset you. Please use your good judgment. This fiction also contains violence and foul play. Consider yourself warned.

Rated R for violence, strong language and sexual situations.

Disclaimer: "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers" does not belong to me. God, how I wish it did...





To Have And Have Not
by Libellule

Chapter three: The Arrival



A strong gust of wind blew as Nasuti stepped out of the jeep. Placing her hand atop her head to keep her sun hat from escaping, she looked up at her large summer home.

She remembered the day she had opened it to her five new friends. It had been out of respect to her grandfather and of a greater responsibility-- the world had been at stake. Without a cent to their names and no roof over their heads, the five Samurai Troopers, with the responsibility of centuries weighing on their young shoulders, had no place to go. The absurdity of the situation was highly amusing to her now. She had willingly and foolishly played Maid Marian to Robin Hood and his band of merry men.

She couldn't help but feel bitterness. Where would they be without Nasuti's help? How many times had she given support and insight to Ryo? If not for her, they surely would have failed. They did not know of the armors legends. They were foolish young boys, hardly having the maturity for the task.

Where would they be-- where would Ryo be?

Dead. She thought bitterly. Dead, if not for me. Ryo owed her-- and owed her big.


Two weeks had gone by quickly, but it had been enough time to set her plan in motion. Nasuti had not finished unpacking her suitcases when the doorbell rang. A pang of nervous excitement twisted her stomach. Her package had arrived.

It had taken Nasuti the entire two weeks to locate and had cost six hundred and ten English pounds, but it had finally come. In a long, heavy box, it had been hand delivered by a skittish, young man. Scribbling her signature on his clipboard, she grabbed the package, slammed the door, and whisked upstairs to her room before anyone saw her.

Tearing away the brown paper marked with a multitude of stamps and stickers, Nasuti carefully unlatched the solid wooden box to stare upon its contents.

It was a broad sword, beautifully crafted and polished to a silver shine. She cautiously lifted the heavy weapon. A red, refined gem embedded in the blade just above the intricately designed handle, glistened brightly in the sunlight.

She shivered as she stared into the jewel-- what secrets it must know. Quickly, Nasuti replaced it in its case. She knew better than to hold the sword longer than a few minutes.

On a plain card, in the neutral script that she had practiced, Nasuti wrote a quick message, and attached it to the top of the case.

Peering cautiously into the hallway to make sure her route was clear, she walked purposefully down the corridor, wooden box in tow.

Nasuti smiled. In a few hours, nothing would stand between herself and her Ryo.


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The stairs seemed steeper than usual, Seiji thought as he ascended them, his aching muscles and joints protesting after such a grueling training session. He'd gotten lazy, no longer waking with the sun to begin his day with katas and meditation.

Pausing at Ryo's closed door, Seiji knew he was still out. He had heard him leave the house early this morning with Byakuen to avoid a confrontation. No one knew that they had had a fight last night. It wasn't so much a fight as a misunderstanding. Everything would be fine right now if only Ryo would have listened to him.

Rash and possessive, Ryo had jumped to his own unreasonable conclusions when he had found him with Anubis. To think that he would ever be involved with Anubis was completely ludicrous.

Seiji sighed as he entered the room he shared with Touma. He couldn't explain his relationship with Anubis. They weren't exactly friends, but they were close-- their armors were inescapably linked. Always knowing when Anubis was near, it was with a despised anticipation that Seiji awaited the darkness.

He should have ignored him last night. He should have walked away and gone back into the house where Ryo had been waiting for him with a warm bed. But there was something in the way Anubis had looked at him, something in his tone that rooted Seiji to his spot.

Seiji was not afraid of him, so he knew that it was not fear that had made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.


He doesn't suit you. Anubis had whispered as he stepped out from the shadows.

That's funny. I don't remember asking you.

He's too inept to be with someone of your grace. He replied. It would be unfortunate if something were to happen...

Seiji turned his head slightly, not missing the underlying threat. Be very careful what you choose to say, Anubis. Seiji warned.

Anubis smiled wryly. Or you'll what?

Darting forward, Seiji was on him, hand around his throat, before Anubis had chance to move.

I'll make you regret you were ever born.

Very good, Kourin. He chuckled. Just testing your... reflexes.

Seiji stepped back and glared at him. If you even think of touching Ryo, so help me--.

Relax. I would not dream of it. Anubis said raising his hands in a surrendering gesture. He is your lover and I would not dare to hurt one close to you.

Seiji did not like his tone. Look, I don't know what you think there is between us--.

The warlord of darkness strode forward. Don't you feel the attraction? Anubis asked, caressing his cheek.

Seiji batted his hand away. Don't touch me.

How can you deny me? Can you really claim that there is nothing between us?

Seiji hissed. We are bound by our armor, not by our choice.

Angrily, he gripped Seiji by the shoulders. Is that why you come out here at nightfall? Because your armor tells you so?

Let go of me before I make you let go.

His hold did not loosen as he snarled, Admit it, Seiji.

Take your hands off me. His voice was even, but his eyes were ablaze.

Suddenly Anubis pulled him forward, crushing his mouth with a bruising kiss.

Seiji struggled to free himself, writhing awkwardly. Anubis seized his jaw, holding Seiji firmly in his iron grip. A rush of violent shock waves surged through them, like opposite forces colliding, welding the two together.

To say that a kiss was not what Seiji expected, was an understatement. What was even more unexpected, was the startled gasp of a spectator.


Ryo stood, aghast. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

Seiji had been gone a long time, it was late, after dark. Ryo had been worried that something had happened, so he went out in search of him. And this is what he had found.

Shaking his head with disgust, Ryo turned and stalked away.


Oh shit, did this look bad. Seiji wrenched himself away with a quick, forward push, ramming the heel of his hand into Anubis' collarbone. Staggering backward, Anubis clutched his chest, a gritty laugh sputtering deep in his throat.


Ryo--, Seiji chased after him, Ryo, it's not what you think.

You caught us, Ryo! Anubis sneered.

Don't listen to him. Seiji said, falling into step with Ryo. Please, let me explain--. He laid a hand on his shoulder.

Don't you touch me! Ryo shouted, shrugging off his touch. Not after-- him. And I don't want to hear it.



I saw you, Seiji! Ryo blurted out angrily. With my own eyes, I saw you kissing him!

Calm down, Ryo. Will you not let me explain? Seiji asked.

What is there to explain? He retorted hotly.

Seiji felt himself becoming exasperated. Don't overreact. You don't understand, he--.

I don't want to hear what you and he did together. Ryo shot back. His anger was a palpable thing that Seiji could feel raging around him, burning his rationale to a cinder.

Ryo gripped Seiji's face, roughly caressing his jaw with his thumb.

Look at this. He said as he probed the mark on his lips. How long have you been with him? Ryo asked him, his voice caustic. Or should I say, how many times?


Resisting the urge to slap him, Seiji stepped back from Ryo, his mouth drawn to a thin line of resentment.

Fuck you.

You'd like that wouldn't you? Ryo brushed past him, Just stay the hell away from me.



Seiji watched Ryo retreat towards the house before turning back to Anubis.

You son of a bitch. Seiji murmured, wiping his mouth. There would be a bruise tomorrow. Omae o korosu. I'll kill you.

Anubis smiled sardonically. I now know the answer, he whispered cryptically.

Seiji asked irritated.

I can wait. Anubis had said fading into his darkness, leaving Seiji cold in the black night. The outcome will be the same.


Seiji burned with the memory-- he was so angry with Anubis, he could not be held accountable for his actions the next time that they met. It had all been too convenient.

Anubis had set the whole thing up-- waiting for just the right moment to strike, when Ryo was sure to find them at just the wrong moment. And like fools, they had both fallen into it. Exactly what was Anubis up to?


And Ryo. How the hell could he think that Seiji had been with Anubis? That was completely insane-- preposterous. Seiji could not deny that Ryo's accusation pained him. Ryo knew him better than anyone else on this earth-- how could he be so callous?

Of course, Seiji had known that Ryo harbored resentment towards Anubis. It was hard for Ryo to deal with the fact that Anubis would always be lurking somewhere, however faint, as long as Seiji had Kourin. Ryo was a lot of things-- reckless, stubborn, jealous-- but Seiji loved him and only wanted to be with him.

Ryo was very possessive, even in the short time that they had been dating. It drove him to the point of insanity to know that someone else-- especially Anubis-- could be intimately connected with Seiji and that he couldn't do a thing about it. This was something Seiji would have to address later.

Seiji knew that Ryo would come back once he calmed down and then they would talk. Everything would be fine. But this knowledge did not stop the feeling of restlessness nagging at him.



Lifting his sweat soaked t-shirt over his head, Seiji was too tired to care, and he tossed the shirt aside. He couldn't wait to take a shower, a nice, long, relaxing one.

As he turned towards the closet to get his robe, he noticed a long, wooden box at the foot of his bed.

A gift? Who would just give him something? A very faint smile curved his lips.

Perhaps... just maybe...

Curious, he ran his hands along the case, resting his fingertips at the the folded card on the top.


Seiji, just because--


It was not signed and he did not recognize the hand writing.

The smile disappeared and the short lived hopefulness was replaced with disappointment.

Something wasn't right.

He stared at the box for a full minute trying to figure it out.

Ryo was not home yet and Seiji expected him to be gone most of the day. Suspicious, he left his room and knocked on Ryo's door before opening it wide. The room was empty as he anticipated.

Who would be giving him something aside from Ryo?

Wandering back into his room, he reread the script trying to match the handwriting. It had to be from somebody in the house for this to have ended up on his bed.

Or somebody who could get into the house, Seiji thought. Anubis? But even that didn't seem right.

Intrigue winning over his fears, he decided to open the box.


Seiji was astounded by how beautiful the sword was. Though Seiji knew many kinds of swords, he did not recognize this one. It didn't look Japanese, but medieval-- something straight out of Arthurian legend.

Drawn to it, attracted by its beautiful symmetry, he lifted the sword-- against his better judgment-- mesmerized by the jewel. It sang to him, like a siren luring a sailor to crash his ship against the rocks.

Quite lovely, remarkably powerful, truly alluring--

Seiji was brought back to the present by stinging pain. Blood welled in his palm. He'd cut his hand against the blade-- on purpose. Running freely down the cold metal, his blood collected around the gem, the cut deeper than a mere scratch.

Bewildered, Seiji dropped the sword. It clattered to the floor, sliding under his bed.

What sort of trickery is this? He whispered.


The air suddenly became electric. Tiny fluxes invaded his lungs, scorching the oxygen from them. Knees giving out, he collapsed to the floor, marking the wood with a bloody hand print. Shocks of white danced before his eyes as he succumbed to unconsciousness.

Bolts of electric light swam around his body, then Seiji vanished-- completely disappearing without a trace.


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By the time Ryo reached the edge of the property, he was running so fast that he could hardly breathe. Why had he gone so far?

Ryo had only wanted some time alone to clear his head and had meandered farther and farther away, anger blind siding his reason. Byakuen walked compliantly by his side as Ryo mulled over his current situation. Ryo couldn't really believe that Seiji would deceive him-- things had been going so well between them. That forced him to think about it and he realized that if he had given Seiji that chance to explain he wouldn't be wondering about it now. The first thing he was going to do was find Seiji and talk to him-- what he should have done in the first place.

Ryo was more than halfway home when he felt something painful flicker inside him. Staggering, he nearly lost his balance.

Oh, god--. He gasped, gripping the white tiger's striped back to steady himself.

The pain lasted for only a fleeting second, but the hole it gouged in Ryo was still there.

What was that-- what the hell was that? Ryo panicked, wrapping his arms around himself tightly.

He had to get home. Right fucking now.


Breaking into a run, the feeling growing worse the closer he got, Ryo was convinced that something terrible had happened.


Touma looked up sharply as Ryo burst into the house.

...wh...what's... h...happened? Ryo asked, breathing hard.

Frowning, Touma replied, What do you mean?

I felt it when I was out-- something snapped.

Touma began calmly, Everything is fine.

Growling from the doorway, Byakuen whined impatiently, diverting Ryo's attention. The white tiger paced back and forth in the hallway, stopping every few seconds to paw at the first step of the stairs.


No, no, no, no, no--

Almost inaudibly, Ryo asked, Where's Seiji?

He noticed Touma's eyes harden as he responded curtly,


Taking the steps two at a time, Ryo rushed the staircase. His racing heart beat thunderously in his chest.

Please, please...

The door was slightly ajar as Ryo stumbled against it, heaving it open all the way.


Touma listened at the foot of the stairs. It was silent. Too silent. Byakuen nudged his hand, imploring him to pursue Ryo.

A pang of fear stabbed at his gut.

Sprinting after him, Touma found Ryo alone in the shared bedroom, sitting dejectedly on the floor, head stooped.

Nothing remained of Seiji save for a bloody palm print on the floor.

To be continued in chapter four...



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Author's note:

This story gets more and more difficult to write the longer it gets! Please, please send some comments my way-- it is always greatly appreciated. I feel that this story is going to get darker as it continues to grow.

Also, if you want to see my progress, please visit my update blog: