Kitty-chan: Yay! Chapter nine! This one took longer than I expected, but not as long as chapter eight. Whoo! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I really like it. Uh... I don't own Samurai Troopers. They are property of Sunrise Inc. Uh... yeah. Oh! Just really quick, thanks for all the reviews! I love hearing feedback. Keep it up! Love ya!
Character Names
Sanada Ryo: Ryo Sanada (Duh)
Hashiba Toma: Rowen Hashiba
Date Seiji: Sage Date
Mouri Shin: Cye Mouri
Rei Faun Shu: Kento Lei Faun
Yagyu Naste: Mia Koji
Byakuen: White Blaze
Yamano Jun: Yuli Yamano
Armor Names
Rekka: Wildfire
Tenku: Heavens/ Strata
Korin: Nimbus/ Halo
Suiko: Torrent
Kongo: Stone/ Hardrock
Kikoutei: Inferno
Go Retsu Ken: Soul Swords of Fervor
Enjoy! The stuff with ( ) next to it is translated at the end of the chapter.
"He got closer this time." Seiji commented through the steam coming off his tea.
"Hmm?" Toma looked up and raised an eyebrow. "What are we talking about here?"
"Ryo. The Kikoutei got him closer this time. Last time, he merely reacted to Toma attacking him. This time, he looked ready to kill everyone in sight." Seiji continued. "That thing will eat his will alive if we don't figure out how to control it soon."
"Eat his will? What do you mean?" Naste wondered, seating herself at the table and pouring herself a cup of orange juice.
"If he doesn't figure out how to control that armor, it will completely destroy his will, and he will become a mindless puppet, unwilling and unable to do anything other than what others tell him to do. He'll lose his will completely." Seiji predicted.
"But how does he learen to control something that takes away his will to oppose it?" Shin inquired immediately.
"He has to learn how to make his will stronger. He has to learn how to keep Kikoutei's will from affecting his." Seiji answered quietly, as if thinking about his own answer. But how can he learn to do that? Whenever the Kikoutei is put on, it destroys his view of things. It forces him to see things as they are not. It completely takes away his perspective. Wait… Perspective! That's it!
"Mind if I cut in on the conversation?" asked a voice from the kitchen doorway. Four heads turned and smiles lit up faces as Shu sauntered into the kitchen, smiling gently. "Ohayo, everyone."
"Shu! How are you?" Shin called excitedly, standing.
"I feel fine, actually. A bit sore, though. I don't remember much of yesterday." Shu's face lost its light and he sent a remorseful look to Shin. "Did I do anything horribly wrong?"
Toma smiled. "Don't worry about that. We're all fine, and you're back. That's really all that matters now." Shu didn't look too encouraged, but his face relaxed and he looked around. "Where's Ryo? He not up yet?"
"No. Kikoutei really did a number on him. He's probably still asleep." Toma predicted. He looked to Naste, who nodded and headed upstairs.
"Oh yeah… right… Kikoutei. I can only remember giving my power to him a few times. What's the deal with that thing?"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Ryo?" Naste gently called, quietly entering the bedroom and heading over to the bed. Finding it vacant, she looked to the open balcony window. Ryo was standing on the balcony, staring out at the sun that reflected off the lake's glassy surface. A blanket was hung loosely about his shoulders, and he was swaying ever-so-slightly, as if he had just woken up. "Ryo? Are you alright?"
"What do I do now, Naste? We're at a dead end. I can't use Kikoutei, and Takai's still out there." Ryo's voice lacked force, and was slightly hoarse.
"Well, you got Shu back, didn't you?" Naste walked up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "That's a step in the right direction, isn't it? Now you can spend more time concentrating on how to deal with Kikoutei, rather than worry about Takai's use of Shu."
"I know. But it's so dangerous to use the armor in the first place. How am I supposed to master it like that?" Ryo asked of her, though he wasn't really expecting an answer. Naste sighed. What kind of answer could she give him? She wasn't sure she was the right person to mention Seiji's earlier comment to him, though she was tempted to. Just to warn him.
… it will completely destroy his will, and he will become a mindless puppet, unwilling and unable to do anything other than what others tell him to do. He'll lose his will completely.
But right now, Ryo didn't need warnings. He had enough physical warnings as it was. She figured the toll the armor was taking on his body was enough of a warning to him as it was. It seemed to hit Naste again the severity of their situation. They needed Kikoutei. It was vital to Takai's defeat based simply on the amount of power Takai posessed. No one yoroi of the Samurai could stand up to him and stand a chance of winning. But if they used Kikoutei, Ryo could lose himself completely. And completely losing his will could be worse than death. So, what could they do?
She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. She couldn't really explain what she was feeling at the moment. She knew as much as the burning desire to comfort him, but other than that, the only thing she could feel was the heavy thumping of her heart at the intimate moment. After a long pause, she gave a heavy sigh and smiled. "You'll be alright. I've never seen you fail at anything Ryo. As long as you have all your friends around you, you'll get the hang of it. I just know it." Ryo looked away and sighed.
"I wish I could believe that, but it's so hard. The Kikoutei is so… overwhelming. I just can't understand how I can even begin to match its strength."
"I know it's hard, but…" Naste placed her hand on his cheek and pulled his face to look at her. "I don't think you need to match its power, just it's will power. And there is no doubt in my mind that you can do it." She smiled and nodded.
Ryo couldn't help but smile. He nodded back to her and reached up to take her hand. He halted as a male voice came from the doorway. "Ryo." The two moved apart a bit, a blush coloring Naste's face. Ryo seemed a bit too distracted to notice the fact that they had been caught at an intimate moment. The other four stood in his doorway, Seiji having spoken.
"What's up, minna?" Ryo shed his blanket, leaving him in a red shirt and jeans, dropping it onto the bed.
"It's time to work on getting Kikoutei under control." Toma continued, his voice dead serious.
"What!" Ryo cried, taking a step back. "Are you kidding?"
"No, Ryo. If we don't figure out how to control Kikoutei, you could lose yourself and we could lose the world." Toma stated sternly. "The Kikoutei is key. If we have no control over it, not only will it fail to help us in any way, but it will also hinder us by assisting Takai. With its nature the way it is, Takai's cause, according to the armor, would be sensible and worth joining."
"But I couldn't control myself in the city, how am I supposed to control it now?" Ryo demanded. He really didn't want to put the armor on unless he had no other choice.
"Seiji says he's come up with a way that may help you get a handle on it." Shin pointed out. Seiji nodded in agreement.
Ryo sighed. What else could he do? He didn't have much choice in the matter. He either learned how to control Kikoutei's powerful will, or he'd die in the fight with Takai. He could feel the final conflict creeping up on him. The time would soon come when they'd make their final stand against Takai's entire force. They didn't have much time to prepare. They needed to use their time wisely. He nodded to their ideas, and the six made their way down the stairs, and finally came to the backyard. Naste seated herself on the porch, and the boys subarmors appeared on their bodies.
"What about you guys and Naste? I'm gonna try and kill you if this doesn't work. I'll have the power to do it, too." Ryo looked around uncertainly.
"That's why Seiji called some help." Toma motioned to the left as a woman with long, dark blue hair appeared from behind a grouping of trees.
"Kayura!" Ryo cried, recognizing her immediately. Kayura smiled and waved. "What are you doing here?"
"Her Oni Masho yoroi might come in handy." Seiji answered for her. She nodded, and Seiji turned his attention on Shu. "Shu, you sure you're up to this?"
"Ah. I'm fine." Shu assured him, nodding firmly.
Seiji nodded. Ryo was placed in the center of the yard as Toma, Shu, and Shin took positions surrounding him at some distance. There was a gap in the circle surrounding Ryo for Seiji to occupy soon, but now he stood in front of Ryo. Ryo looked uncertain, but determined at the same time. Seiji began to slowly walk around Ryo. "Close your eyes, Ryo." Ryo obeyed and braced himself for whatever Seiji was planning. "I don't want anything to distract you. This commands your full attention." There was a brief pause before he continued. "Now, we must first understand what it is we are trying to do. Tell me what it is that you are trying to do with these exercises, Ryo."
"I need to control and harness Kikoutei's power without allowing my will to be seduced by Kikoutei's." Ryo stated evenly. Maybe this wouldn't be a tough as he thought.
"Good. Now, in order to do this, you must first understand what it is you are fighting. In your own words, who or what is your enemy in this case?"
Ryo was silent for a long time. "My enemy… is Kikoutei." He blurted out. Seiji was silent, signaling that he wanted Ryo to rethink that answer. Ryo thought hard. What exactly was his enemy, if not the Kikoutei itself?
Seiji spoke after afew silent minutes, understanding that Ryo needed a hint. "If your enemy was Kikoutei as a whole, you'd never want to use it. The Kikoutei is precious."
Ryo was silent for a moment more before Seiji's words clicked in his mind. "My enemy… is not the armor itself… but the armor's hateful nature."
Seiji smiled. "There you go. Now, tell me what it does to you. I don't want to know the results of its actions, just tell me the actions themselves."
"Uh… it molds my will to fit its own, and then I desire to do its bidding." Ryo answered, gaining a small amount of confidence.
"Exactly. I want you to now tell me the results of that molding of your will. What does Kikoutei do to you?" Ryo seemed to struggle. He gritted his teeth as the unwanted memory of the burning hatred flooded his mind. Seiji's voice was stern and strong as he next spoke. "Ryo, you have to know what it does to you in order to fight it. You need to know your enemy! Tell me what it does to you!" Ryo seemed to flinch at his outburst, but he obeyed and began to timidly speak.
"I feel… nothing. There is nothing at first. Then, the weight of the armor seems to lift away. Then, there's a burning, almost like that of Rekka, in my body. I have this burning desire… this all-consuming need to create… a void."
"A void? What does that mean?"
"Everything must vanish. I have this desire for an empty world. I want a world devoid of all life, and all feeling. No hate, no love, no sadness, no joy, no… nothing. It's truly what I want." Ryo answered, his voice low and stern. His voice turned suddenly timid. "Then there's the anger. A burning hatred for everything I see. I want to destroy everything so badly… it hurts."
"Really?" It was more of a statement than a question. Seiji stroked his chin. "Is that all?"
"No… there's a voice."
"A voice? Who's voice?"
"Well, it sounds like mine. But I know it's not. It's like this… inhuman echo that backgrounds and guides everything I say. It whispers things in my ear and in my subconscious, and my mind, in turn agrees with it and drives me foreward."
"I see. And I suppose that everything it says is absolutely logical and rational." Seiji predicted, getting the gist of what made this yoroi so dangerous.
"Well, the things it says do sound logical at the time, but looking back on it, everything it's said in the past are pretty rediculous." Ryo shrugged.
"I see. Well, step one is complete. Now, we need to try out my theory. The way to control Kikoutei is to keep your will to yourself and to keep things in perspective. If you can keep those things in mind, you should be able to control it. I'm going to ask you some questions, and I want you to focus on answering the same way while you are in your civilian clothes, and then when you are wearing your armor. Are you ready?"
"Shoot."
"Alright. Who are you?"
Ryo thought the question a bit odd, but he answered. "Sanada Ryo."
"What armor do you wear?"
"Rekka."
"What element do you rule?"
"Fire."
"Good. Now it'll be a bit tougher to answer these next few questions the same way both times. Tell me your family members' names."
Again, Ryo thought it to be an odd question. "My father, Sanada Hirai, and I suppose Byakuen."
"Your mother?"
"I never knew her."
"Oh. Gomen. Name your closest friends."
"Byakuen, Naste, Jun, Seiji, Toma, Shin and Shu."
"Say all of those names again." Ryo listed them. "Once more." Ryo rolled hidden eyes and repeated the names. "Good. Tell me who your allies in war are." He quickly added, "Their titles, please."
"Korin no Seiji, Tenku no Toma, Suiko no Shin, and Kongo no Shu."
Seiji had him repeat this list three times before asking the next question. "Who are your enemies in war?"
"Takai and the Emperors of the Yami no Sekai." This was also repeated three times.
"Now, Ryo, tell me why you have the armor!" Seiji cried, force in his voice.
Ryo paused. " I… have the armor to protect this world and its inhabitants from the Netherworld."
"Say it again, Ryo." Ryo obeyed. He was ordered to say it four more times before he was permitted to open his eyes. " That is the most important thing for you to remember when you put on the armor. You must remember why you have the armor. Because Kikoutei is going to try and tell you that its purpose is to create that void thing. The minute you feel that desire, you need to remember the things you told me. Especially the things I had you repeat. Alright?"
"Ah." Ryo stated sternly.
Seiji took his place in the circle around Ryo. "Kayura-dono! Stand ready!"
"Hm!" Kayura's armor clamped itself onto her subarmor and her chain and cursi-gama materialized into her fists.
"Samurai Troopers!" Seiji yelled, holding his hands out. "To arms!"
"Busso… Kongo!
"Busso… Tenku!"
"Busso… Suiko!"
"Busso… Korin!"
Ryo took a deep breath. "Busso… Rekka!"
Immediately after the lights of the individual transformations died down, the armors began to resonate, sending a deep thump through the air. They began to glow brightly and the lights soon separated from the armors and sped into Ryo's body. "Here it comes, Ryo!" Seiji warned.
"Busso… Kikoutei!"
White lightning from the sky struck Ryo's body, his Rekka Armor dashing into blossoms, and flames danced upward from his feet. The fire engulfed him, thenvanished, leaving Ryo standing in the yard, shaking and panting.
"Ryo? Can you hear me?" Toma inquired, taking a few cautious steps foreward.
"Kayura!" Seiji cried as Ryo lunged at Toma, his hands balled into fists. Red chains coiled about Ryo's body and locked him in place. Seiji ran up to him. "Ryo! Remember what you told me! Who are you?" He looked at Ryo's face. His cold blue eyes narrowed a bit before flashing their normal tiger blue for a moment. Seiji gripped Ryo's shoulders and shook him. "You have to remember who you are! Who are you?"
Something seemed to click in the back of Ryo's mind. "I am…" He gave a few heavy breaths, his tense body relaxing somewhat. "I am… Sanada Ryo."
"Good! Now, what armor do you have?" Seiji cried, ceasing to shake him, and simply kept his firm grip on Ryo's shoulders.
"I have… Kik- no. I have… Rekka!" Ryo answered, his eyes slowly, but surely, heading back to their normal tiger blue.
"Good job, now tell me who your friends are! Tell me what I had you repeat!"
Stop this! I have things to do! You are disrupting my perfect void! Everything has to be destroyed! I have to destroy everything that has feeling!
""Tell me, Ryo!" Seiji yelled.
"My friends are… Naste… Jun, Bayakuen… Seiji…"
No...
"Shin…"
No!
"Toma…"
No!
"Shu!"
NO!
"Great! Keep it up, Ryo! Who are your allies?"
"Korin no Seiji! Suiko no Shin!" Ryo's hesitations were becoming shorter and less frequent as the voice that seemed to echo his own warped thoughts began to slowly fade away until it was nothing more than an annoying buzz. He could still feel the armor inject his mind with the deadly hatred, and the weight of the armor was settling down on him, making his legs shake with effort, but the haze of his anger began to lift. It was almost as if a physical mist had been brushed away by a breeze, allowing him to see more clearly. He took a long pause and a deep breath before speaking again. "Tenku no Toma! Kongo no Shu!"
"Yes! Now, tell me who your enemies are!" Seiji urged, his excitement flaring. His methods were actually making a difference. If they could get Ryo to the point that he could have this kind of concentration in battle, they might be able to safely use the Kikoutei.
"Seiji!" Ryo suddenly cried. He felt the armor surge with energy and he could feel his awareness begin to fade. The foggy haze seemed to suddenly start creeping back into his vision. "I can't do it!"
"Yes you can! Tell me your enemies!" Seiji called back.
"Seiji! It's coming back! I can't… it's not…" Ryo groaned and dropped to his knees.
"Ryo! Don't concentrate on the armor's power! Concentrate only on what you are feeling and thinking! Concentrate all of your energy on your memory! Remember everything you told me!" Seiji pushed.
Ryo looked timidly up at Seiji. "I can't… remember. Who… are…?"
"Who are your enemies, Ryo?" Seiji demanded. He stared into Ryo's timid eyes, a stern, steely look in his own. "Remember the pain you've felt in the past, and then think back to the cause of that pain!"
Ryo concentrated his memory. Who had caused him pain?
"To put it simply, yes. But you know, you wouldn't have to die if you would accept Master Takai as your Lord. You'd live and gain unimaginable power. It's good offer, really." Kuri suddenly twisted her daggers to rest right under the hilts of his swords. With a powerful flick of her wrists, his swords were sent flying out of his grasp. She rushed foreward and grabbed Ryo's shoulder. She quickly spun him around and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, crossing her daggers in front of his throat and pressing the edges to his skin. "And I think I can get a good word in for you."
"In your dreams, lady." Ryo grunted, gritting his teeth.
Kuri put more pressure on the knives. "You sure about that, Rekka no Ryo? Say no, and I'll be forced to end your life right here." Ryo growled and narrowed his eyes.
"That ninja girl… Kuri!" Ryo growled, his eyes flashing pale, cold blue. Hesearched his mind for another enemy before looking angrily up at Shu. "Shu!"
Shu smirked and Ryo suddenly screamed as huge surges of dark energy flowed through the spear and into Ryo's body.
Ryo was still unable to get off his knees due to the immense amount of power that had electrified his body. Ryo looked up when Shu stood in front of him, and immediately began to try and get up. Before he could get to his feet, Shu let out an arrogant chuckle and smashed his Bo into Ryo's back, forcing him back to the floor with a loud yelp of pain.
"We're losing him, Seiji!" Toma cried from behind him.
Seiji's eyes narrowed in determination. "No! You just said that Shu was your ally!"
"He… caused me pain!" Ryo yelled angrily, his eyes turning colder.
"Shut up!" Shin yelled back. "This has only to do with Rekka no Ryo and I." Suddenly, Shin was gone and stood behind Ryo. He pulled the dagger from the wall and pressed the handle of the yari across Ryo's shoulders, holding him in place. The blade of the dagger went to Ryo's neck and Shin gave a smile. "Not so tough now, eh Rekka?"
Ryo growled at Shin. "Shin!"
"Ryo, stop!" Seiji yelled. Ryo's eyes turned to tiger blue briefly, and he looked up at Seiji. "Stop it! Just tell me why you have the armor! Please, remember!"
"Why do I… have the armor?" Ryo inquired, more of himself than of Seiji. "Why do I…?"
A void. A lifeless and sterile earth. That is what I want! That is why I have this armor! That is the armor's only purpose!
"Why do you have the armor, Ryo? What is the armor's purpose?" Seiji urged, taking hold of his shoulders and jerking him around again.
"The armor's purpose…? What is…?" Ryo closed his eyes and thought hard. The armor was created to…
Create a void! I want a void, empty of all things that feel. All things that have feelings must vanish! Everything has to die!
"No… the armor was created… to create…" Ryo's voice was slowly getting weaker, and his words more slurred.
"We're losing him again, Seiji!" Shu yelled. "Take the armor off. He's reached his limits!"
"Kikoutei requires him to reach beyond his limits. If he wants to control it, he needs to cross his boundaries!" Seiji reasoned. "We can't let him quit yet!"
"Seiji! It's going to kill him! Get it off!"
Seiji looked to Shin, then to Ryo, who's eyes were flashing light blue, then going back to tiger blue before doing it again. "Everytime he puts Kikoutei on, the armor's will gains more and more control over his own!" Toma continued. "It's strong enough now that he can't overtake it! Take it off!"
"If we take it off now, it'll be even more dangerous and more powerful next time! It's weaker than it ever will be again!" Seiji yelled back, not once taking his eyes off of Ryo.
The Kikoutei was made to create a void. Suzanagi made the armor to destroy all feeling on the earth. But I have the armor for a different reason. I use it for a purpose other than that for which it was created. But what is that purpose?
"Ryo's had enough! He was able to answer most of the questions! That should be enough for now!" Shin reasoned.
"If he gives up now, he won't survive it next time!" Seiji yelled.
"… to protect this world!" Ryo suddenly screamed, shooting to his feet and sending a burst of energy out, throwing the chains off. He stood in the yard, his entire body shaking, his breaths coming in short gasps.
"Ryo…" Seiji whispered. The four other Samurai were currently staring at him in awe. Though the Kikoutei was overpowering him, Ryo had broken through.
"I have… the armor… to protect this world!" Ryo repeated, his heavy gasps breaking his speech. His hands slowly traveled upward until they gripped his helmet. He pulled it off and the armor brust into sakura blossoms. His red armor was laft, until t too, disintigrated into many cherry blossoms. He smirked a bit before his heavy body dropped to the ground with a dull thud. Seiji and the others surrounded him.
"You fought off the armor's will, and you even managed to take it off of your own power." Toma whispered. "Sugoi…"
't make me… wear it again." Ryo begged, his eyes watering with tears. "Don't make me… please."
"It's alright, my friend." Seiji smiled. "You're done for now." Ryo smiled weakly before closing his eyes, one tear trailing down his cheek, and his body falling into a shallow sleep. Shu scooped Ryo up, and headed for the house. Seiji stood and smiled at the woman who was aimlessly wandering toward the yard. "Thanks for your help, Kayura."
Kayura nodded as her armor melted into her multi-colored kimono. "No problem." She gave him a serious look before speaking. "Let me bring the Sanmasho here. We'll help you out."
Seiji held up his hand. "No, Kayura."
"Why? Takai is immensely powerful, and though Kikoutei could probably match his power, you are still a long way before you will be able to depend on it for a battle. You need the help." Kayura continued.
"Maybe so, but you have to understand the nature of this war. You must understand what we have gone through so far. He tried to use our own friends to destroy us and turned the world against us. No offense, but we want to take him down by ourselves. With the attacks to the minds of Shu and Shin, it's become a personal matter. Besides, you all have enough to worry about in the Hikari no Sekai. Just worry about that, and we'll take care of Takai." Seiji smiled and headed in.
Kayura smiled and shook her head. Maybe it is pride that keeps them from accepting my help, but I admire their courage. However, if they continue down the path their currently following, they'll lose their lives in the ensuing battle.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Toma!" Naste called as the Troopers returned to the house after the Kikoutei training.
"Eh?" Toma called back.
"You have some visitors." She answered slowly. The five entered the livingroom to see an older man in a suit and tie standing in the livingroom. To the left of the man stood a black-haired woman. Toma froze.
"D-D-Dad! What are you doing here!" he cried. His gaze shifted to the woman. "And Mom! What the heck are you two doing here… and at the same time!"
"Toma, these are your parents!" Shu cried suddenly.
"Ah. Mama, I thought you were in Russia." Toma whispered, looking anywhere in the room except for directly at her.
"Yes, I was. But I flew home immediately when I heard the news." She answered sternly.
"What… news?" Toma asked weakly, afraid that he already knew the answer.
"News that our son is running around like a madman in a Samurai getup, claiming to be saving the world." His father answered for her.
"Claiming? So you don't believe that I'm a Samurai Trooper?" Toma growled sternly.
"Shut up, Toma! Don't you talk to me that way!" his father yelled.
"I'm no child! I live my own life, and I am no longer required to listen to your every word!" Toma yelled back, walking to get in his father's face.
A hard punch landed on Toma's cheek. "Shut up! You may be a man now, but I will still not tolerate disrespect from you!" the man yelled back. Toma wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth.
"Oi!" Shin cried, running up to step between Toma and his father. "Stop this! We have enough violence in our lives without throwing punches in a petty argument!"
"Stay out of this, kid." Hashiba-san growled, pushing Shin away and back onto the couch. "Toma, you are coming home with us this instant, and we will not revisit this subject. I will not have my son cause panic in Shinjuku."
"I'm not going anywhere. Wheather you believe me or not, I have a job to do here!" Toma countered, planting his feet and crossing his arms.
"Yes, you are coming with us. This whole thing is rediculous. You will not tarnish the Hashiba's good name like this."
"Tarnish? I'm honoring the family by wearing Tenku!" Toma cried, waving his arm around.
The ring of the phone sounded, calling Naste into the kitchen to answer it. The ring roused Ryo from his light sleep. Shu smiled. "Minna! Ryo's come to!" The other three, including Toma, ignored the two unwelcomed guests, and gathered around. "Ryo? How do you feel?"
"Numb." Ryo laughed weakly.
"Numb? What do you mean?" Shin raised an eyebrow.
"Well, Kikoutei almost killed you." Toma pointed out. "We were ready to pull you out, but Seiji believed you could do it."
"You didn't let me down, Ryo. You did good." Seiji smiled.
Ryo returned it, though his held less life. "Thanks. But I still have a ways to go. I could just bearly control it. With all the distractions of battle, at this point, I wouldn't survive."
"Oh, come on. You're not on your deathbed. Quit with the dark talk." Shu smirked as he lay Ryo on the couch. "Just relax for a bit."
"Shu…?" Naste called hesitantly.
"Ah?"
"You have a phone call." She answered, walking in with the receiver, her palm pressed to the mouthpiece. "I think it's your mother."
"Eh!" Shu jumped a bit. "What's with the family assults!"
"The reports on the Samurai Troopers left Japan to the rest of the world today, remember?" Toma's mother growled. Toma stood and glared at his parents.
"Put it on speaker phone, Naste." Shu commanded since the cord wouldn't reach him. Naste obeyed and Shu called, "Moshi moshi… Mama."
"Shu! Are you alright!" cried his mother from the other end.
"Ah. I'm fine. Why?" Shu was surprised at the amount of relief in his own voice. At least she wasn't angry.
"Oh! You nearly gave me a heart attack, Shu-chan!" She continued. She sounded like she was just this side of hysterical.
Chan? A vein ticked in Shu's temple, but he dismissed it. "What do you need, Mama?"
"I need my son back! Those reports looked dangerous! What did I always tell you about-!"
"Shuni-chan!" cried two young voices.
"Mei-ryu? Ro-chan?" Shu cried, recognizing his younger twin brothers' voices. "Hey, guys. How are ya?"
"Shuni-chan! You were so awesome! I saw that orange suit you wore! It's so cool! Can you get me one and bring it back when you come home from Japan?" Mei-ryu cried excitedly.
"Mei-ryu, Ro-chan, come on. Get off the other line. Mama's talking." His mother commanded gently.
"Hey!" Cried another voice on the same line as the twins. "I wanna talk to the ham, too!"
"Jeezu, Shu. How many siblings do you have?" Toma raised an eyebrow.
"I have a big family." Shu sweatdropped and spoke to the new voice. "Hi, Dande."
"Hey!" The young male voice cried again. "What do you think you're doing out there, ya pinhead! You're supposed to be in school, like us!"
"Dande, I'm 20." Shu sighed, smiling weakly.
"College, then!" Dande cried back.
"Uh…" Shu stumbled a bit as fighting erupted between Dande and the twins over posession of the phone. "Minna…" The group was staring suspiciously at the phone base, as a third line was picked up.
"Ototo?"
"Hey, Tori. You still living at home?" Shu sighed. It was all he could do to understand her over the ruckus of his brothers.
"Of course. Can't let Mama and Papa handle the restaurant and a family by them selves, can I?" She paused seriously. "Are you really okay, Shu?"
Shu nodded, though he knew she couldn't see him. "I'm fine, Tori. This is truly what I feel I need to be doing."
"But… you're so young." His mother chimed in.
"I know. It's fine, though. Really." Shu closed his eyes and smiled.
"Alright! That's enough, you three!" cried an adult male voice on the qarreling line. The noise was cut soon after as the line was hung up.
Shu sighed. "How's Papa taking it?"
"He's alright. Worried as I am, maybe more, but he'll be fine." The mother answered quietly.
"I see."
"Look out, Tori." The same male voice said calmly on the oldest's line.
"But Papa… I just…!" She was silent and soon the line was handed to her father.
"Shu-chan?" he called into the phone.
"I'm not a chan." Shu grumbled quietly.
"Huh?" His mother quipped.
"Nothing. How are you, Papa?" Shu's voice was gentle, as if he were breaking some horrible news to his father.
The man was silent for a short moment. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't upset. But at this point, I don't really think I can do anything about it, can I?"
Shu smiled, then hastily asked, "You're not going to try and make me come home, are you?"
They could almost hear his mother smile. "No. We'd prefer it if you did, but judging by the nature of this problem, we doubt you'd come anyway. Besides, you are an adult. You need to make your own decisions."
"Thank you, Mama. Papa?"
"Ah?"
"I promise you all I'll survive this… one way or the other."
"There we go." His father's spirits seemed to have brightened. "I was hoping to hear some kind of promise from you."
"Oh! Shu-chan! Chichi wants to talk to you!" his mother suddenly cried.
"Not a chan…" he grumbled again.
"Is Chichi your girlfriend or something?" Seiji giggled.
"You've got a one-track mind!" Shu growled.
"Oh my! Am I on speaker phone?" his mother cried suddenly, hearing Seiji speak.
"Yeah." Shu giggled.
"Oh. Hi everyone." Her grin was obviousl even through the phone.
"Konnichiwa, Rei Faun-san." Shin said respectively.
"Here's Chichi." His mom continued, passing the phone off.
"Hi, Chichi!" Shu cried in a gentle voice.
"Shu!" Cried a very young voice. "You been 'way for a long time! I 'growed' up!"
Shu laughed. "You sure did. Last time I saw you, you were just learning to talk."
"Yeah! I k'n talk now! I k'n talk fruently!" She cried, bubbling.
"How old are you now?"
"I'm tree!" she proclaimed.
"Wow. You really are grown up, aren't you?"
"Bruder?"
"Hm?"
"Why you wear funny clothes and play with people in black?"
A small wave of laughter fell over the Troopers at the young one's innocence. Shu shook his head. "Don't you worry about that, right now, Chichi-chan. How have you been?"
"It's been fun, Bruder! I k'n test Papa's foods!"
"I see."
"It's lots of fun and he cooks really good!"
"Cool."
"Come on, Chichi." His mother interrupted, her voice seeming distant in the background. "Brother has things to do."
"Okay. Bye Bruder!"
"Bye, Chichi!"
"Shu?" His mother's voice got serious.
"Eh?"
"Promise us you'll be careful." His father finished for her.
"I promise."
"Well, we need to be going. The restaurant is still open, and our chefs are calling." His mother gave a laugh.
"We both love you, Shu." The man said quietly. "We'll see you when you get home."
"Love ya, Minna!" The phones were hung up and Toma rounded on his parents.
"Why is it such a big deal for you? The Rei Faun family is honorable and reasonable enough to allow Shu to make his own decision. Why can't you at least be that honorable?"
"That works for the Rei Faun family!" The man cried back. "We are not willing to let our son lose his life for those he doesn't know. The Rei Fauns' lack of responsibility has nothing to do with my personal decision!"
"Hey!" Shu's eyes blazed at Toma's father. "Don't you dare insult my family! I don't care who you are, no one talks badly of them around me!"
Toma's father gave a disgusted look at Shu before turning his nose up at him and returning his gaze to Toma. "I will not make such a sacrifice."
"Sacrifice? What do you know about sacrifice! Would it really be anything of a sacrifice for you if I died in battle!" Toma demanded angrily, his past memories intensifying his anger. "Would you really care!"
The group paused at Toma's tone, as well as his words themselves. What exactly was he saying? Toma's father seemed to get a bit anxious. Surely his son would not drag up old memories, which they would both rather forget. He made his face stoic and covered for himself. "Of course I would care! You are my son!"
"Really? I'm your son now, am I? It seems to me that up until a short while ago, I was simply a punching bag. And besides, do father's normally give their sons badges such as these?" He rolled up his sleeve to display a deep scar stretched across his bicep. He held it up for his father to see. "Do you remember this, dad?" The father remained silent. The woman next to him seemed surprised suddenly as she stared at the healed wound. The group stood still. His father had done such a thing to him? He seemed to be slightly abusive, considering he had punched Toma in the face earlier for simply striking an unpleasant tone, but was he really a severely abusive parent? Toma's confidence was swelling as he stared his father down. "You don't, do you? I was a Thursday, a little past midnight. You came home for a party with your buddies completely wasted. You had on beer bottle left. I came down to see what all the noise was about and you started yelling at me. You broke your empty bottle over the table and drew one of the edges across my arm for being 'lazy'." He pulled his sleeve back over the scar and stepped back. "I thought it was normal then, but then I met these guys, and they showed me what a relationship between any two people should include… and exclude. At this point, I don't really consider you enough of a father to obey your request. No real father would do such a thing to his son. I know that now. And that knowledge was probably why you didn't want me to come here in the first place, huh?"
"Toma, I thought we had moved past all that." Toma turned away and headed upstairs to his room. "I thought we had put all that behind us."
Toma stopped on the stairs and sent a glare at his father. "Perhaps we still can. But we cannot move past anything until you learn to deal with and accept your problems."
"What? I did! I did understand my problems! Why is it so impossible for you to forgive me for that?" The man didn't seem quite remorseful, though guilt was in there, but rather as if he had been wronged in some way.
"It's not." Toma's tone had softened considerably. "But you've never asked me to." With that last poingiant sentence stated, Toma disappeared up the stairs and they could hear his bedroom door open and close a few minutes later.
Toma's father stared after his son. He refused to be remorseful. He and his son had put this behind them years ago. If Toma wanted to drag it back up, it was his own fault. He would not play Toma's little mind game. Ryo turned angry eyes on Toma's father. "What the hell was that about?"
"Shut up. What on earth makes you think that you have any part of this! You don't even know what's happened!" He angrily countered, taking an intimidating step foreward.
"I know enough! Don't you think the slash on Toma's arm tells me all I need to know? It doesn't take a genius to figure it out!" Ryo sat up, much to the disapproval of his body and his friends. But he did not waver. He anger toward Toma's father seemed to temporarily be blocking out the other pain.
"What does this have to do with you anyway? This is a family issue!"
"Exactly!" Ryo stood up. "Toma and the others in this room are my only family! I have no others! If you mistreat one of my brothers, you deal with me!"
"Ryo, sit down." Naste grabbed his shoulders and pulled ham back onto the couch to sit next to her. "You need to stay calm. You'll put stress on your wounds." She stood and pushed his shoulders back so he lay down.
"I'm fine, Naste." Ryo insisted. He closed his eyes and sighed, attempting to release some frustration.
"Come on, Ania." Toma's father grabbed his wife's hand and they headed out the door. There was a long silence that followed their exit, until Shin turned to Seiji.
"Oi, Seiji. You've known Toma since you were kids, right?"
"Ah. We went to the same elementary and junior high school." Seiji explained.
"Did you know about this?" Shu continued.
Seiji looked at the floor. "Not really. I suspected that something was wrong, but there were only rare times that I suspected Toma's father. I thought that maybe he was involved in a gang and got beat up a lot, because he always seemed to be hurt. His clothes were always ratty… and he never had a lunch. I'd always pack two lunches because he never seemed to have food. We never got together at his house. Always at my house. There were times that I suspected his father, but then, the next day, he'd come in with a wound that looked like he had gotten it in a gang fight, like a black eye or something."
"I see. So the abuse thing had been going on for years on end." Naste pointed out.
"Yeah. I wish there was something I could do to help him." Seiji looked up.
Ryo shrugged. "I think he just needs a brother, right now."
Seiji nodded. "Yeah. You're right."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Toma?" Seiji sat up, pushing the blankets away from his body. He could see Toma's empty bed and the sillhouette of his friend as he stared out the large window. Seiji hopped out of bed and cautiously walked up to stand behind his friend. "Toma? You alright?"
"I can't believe I did it, Seiji." Toma began weakly.
"Did what?" Seiji asked with equaly gentleness. He had a sneaking suspicion of what it was.
"I rejected my father. I got in his face and told him off for what he's done."
Seiji stared at Toma's bare back. Long and short, large and small, circle and stripe, faded scars could be seen all across his back and shoulders. His bceps held few and his forearms hald little to none. Seiji could understand why Toma rarely ever wore sleeveless or shortsleeved shirts. The scars were not really noticable, but the fact was, Toma knew they were there, and that was enough. Seiji placed a hand on his shoulder. "It had to be done, Toma. Your father needs to realize fully what he did to you, and he needs to make amends. What better motivation to do so than his son's rejection?"
"Yeah… but… it still hurts." Toma heaved a heavy sigh and dropped his head.
"I know. Turning your father down like he was some kind of street punk has got to be agony. You're brave in doing it, because I don't think I'd have the guts to." Seiji smiled.
"Thanks Seiji." Toma's voice didn't hold too much relief, but it was enough to slightly ease Seiji's concern.
"Anytime, and I think I actually owe you an apology." Seiji's hand left his shoulder and Toma turned to face him.
"An apology for what?" Toma raised an eyebrow.
Seiji shrugged. "For not realizing what was happening to you sooner. I mean, we grew up together, and I never figured out what was causing the problem."
Toma clapped him on the back. "Don't worry about it, my friend. It's not your fault my father's like he is. And I did everything in my power to keep you from finding out. You can blame yourself for not knowing."
Seiji shrugged. "Either way. I'm sorry."
"No problem."
Seiji gave a yawn and headed to his bed. "Anyway, let's get some sleep. We have more work to do on the Kikoutei tomorrow." He lay down and pulled the covers over his shoulders.
Toma sat down on the edge of his won bed and stared at the back of Seiji's head. After a few minutes, Seiji felt Toma's gaze boring into the back of his mind and he looked up, giving him a questioning look. "Do you think it's wise," Toma began. "To have Ryo doing this? We almost lost him today."
"I know. But Ryo can handle it. He's been through death on more than one occasion. But no matter the circumstances, Ryo has to do it. It's a life and death matter. If Ryo doesn't get a handle on Kikoutei, none of us will survive the final battle with Takai. And I'm sure you, as well as all the others, feel that last battle coming up, don't you? I sure do. But if we don't survive that battle, the world's toast." Seiji sat up as well, looking down at his intertwined hands. "I don't want to lose Ryo any more than you all do. But I know what has to be done. And right now, what has to be done is that Ryo needs to master Kikoutei. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Toma nodded slowly. "Yes, but Seiji, don't you think it's unwise, and perhaps cruel, that we force him to do it again tomorrow?"
"Toma, it's cruel that Ryo has to do this in the first place. But this is what life has handed us. We can either be true warriors and face it and deal with it, or we can run from it. And I'll tell you one thing, running from it won't beat Takai."
"But why consecutive days? Ryo won't hold out if we continue doing this for long."
"Toma, time is precious. We don't know what Takai will attack next. Takai knows how much trouble Ryo has with Kikoutei and he's going to use that against us in the next fight. 'We weren't ready' won't fly when Takai attacks and begins to kill us because we refuse to summon Kikoutei." Seiji lay back down and sighed.
"But still… this is Ryo's life we're talking about here." Toma lay down as well, partially accepting Seiji's reasoning.
"I know. But I promise you one thing. I, personally, won't let Ryo die." Seiji gave Toma a long look before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep. Toma smiled gently and soon followed.
Kitty-chan: Yay! Toma's parents have shown up! Well, maybe not yay... but... maybe... woo? Whatever. What yoo think? Tell meee! lol. Okay, I'm hyper. On to the preview!
So... what was it about Ryo that put her in limbo between lover and sister?
"We are looking for Mouri Shin. He lives here, doesn't he?" The younger woman inquired weakly.
"Shin, I can't wear ancient yoroi and I can't weild a weapon. But what I can do is help heal the wounded. It's clear that you are hurt. But I can't heal you if you don't let me know what the problem is." She put a hand to his face. "Please, Shin. I want to help."
Woo! Alright, so review, and I should have the next chapter up soon! Love ya!