A/N: This chapter is fully revised.

The Elementals

Chapter 3

Brought down so easily. Seiji sighed trying to block out the apprehension in the room. It was too thick and would soon make him sick if he continued to allow it to absorb into him. They understood why all their enemies went after their leader. It was simple really. They were all like brothers, bonds stronger then any mortal could imagine. Ryo was what started the circle, what brought them closer, what somehow forced them to open up. Bonds so close that they could sense what each other are thinking sometimes. It had to be a 'loud' thought however. Which usually were curses.

The little amount of demons leftover from the war with Arago showed them exactly how closely bonded they were. Shinwas caught in the middle of a swarm of demons. Seiji didn't know what compelled the others or him but they summoned a fury of attacks on the petty demons, their worry clearly ringing through the bond and their faces. When the energy clashed in a mad explosion and debris subsided, Shin stared dumbfounded at his friends. It would only take one of their sure kills.

Seiji could still see the expression of Suiko. His bugged out eyes mouth parted in astonishment and his Yari held limply in his hand. Held in a way that was insulting to warriors, but hell Shin just witnessed his friend's tempers! So why, Seiji continually prodded his thoughts, didn't they feel anything! Oh, yes he was very pissed off. His body stiff with rage and his chin resting on his palm.

He was a tad worried about Shu. Well, not really, he could sense the fury in the room and knew Shu was going to snap anytime. The bearer of Kongo was extremely protective of his friends, and seeing Ryo like that… They didn't feel anything! It was just when the fireplace suddenly went out that they thought Ryo was doing that just to cause trouble. Get a few whacks on the head and to flee to his room, where his striped tiger would protect him.

It was Touma who thought differently. Touma who most likely saved Ryo's life. They didn't mind the silence in the streets, months like that made you used to it. It wouldn't matter if there were crowds of people; no one could see them. They ran too fast for a mortal eye to perceive. They still couldn't sense Ryo and it was beginning to worry Seiji, but Touma led them not explaining how or what he knew. Seiji concluded it was because of the night. How Touma could see anything and anywhere the night rests on.

Even if they wanted to reach out to their friend they could not. Touma's mind was too far away for them to contact while his body simply followed. It would be dangerous for all of them to try to reach him telepathically and end up permanently screwing up his head. An insane Tenku wouldn't really be useful in fighting when he was blabbering about stars.

As they neared something began to feel wrong, something deep inside of him that felt like it was ripped out. He didn't expect anything bad at first. Maybe Ryo was lost and bored out of his mind. He wasn't used to the city anyway. Rekka was more of the forest person.

Touma stopped, shaking his head as he came back to himself.

To bad there wasn't any bad guys around, cause if there was they would have shredded the guy's hide apart.

Seiji was first to react, Touma still dazed and looking around as if wondering how he got here. Nothing to worry about, Touma would figure it out in a few minutes.

There the bearer of Rekka lay. Alone on the deserted streets, waiting for the last strike that will kill him. He gingerly kneeled down beside the trooper not caring of the blood soaking into his jeans. He noticed just then the tiny crumbled shards of Ryo's yoroi crystal. The crystal that was suppose to be unbreakable-bearing the heart of each samurai trooper. It was left there in mocking of what had been accomplished. Your leader is dead, and now the Samurai Troopers will crumble.

"Oh my gawd." Shin whispered coming up behind Seiji following his gaze to the shattered remains of their leader's crystal. What happen? What happen to Ryo? How in the hells didn't they sense anything! Dammit! They sense when one of them collide into the wall stumbling to the bathroom!

He's not dead, Ryo's strong. Shu brushed by his shoulder knocking him back to his senses and that this wasn't just a search for a bored samurai trooper. Why is it Ryo? Why do they always have to hurt Ryo? He sighed inwardly the marking of a new enemy. They were due for one anyway; peace can never last forever.

"Well don't just sit there! Do something!" Shu yelled stomping and dragging the perplexed Tenku behind him by the arm, not so sure to leave him behind when he was in this state.

Seiji struggled to find something that would give him the slightest sense of his friend, but found nothing. He took a breath bringing out his own yoroi crystal that dimmed by the second. There was blood, lots of blood in a crimson puddle surrounding their leader. He couldn't tell if Ryo was breathing because he didn't see his chest rise and fall.

His skin was visibly pale beyond white, not the bronze tan skin that would allow itself to roast in the sun. His wrist looked swollen and broken. Gawd, so much blood. Seiji had to study every injury, every deep stab wound that made the skin around it inflamed and too tender to touch. He couldn't rely on Rekka to help him as it usually shows him what Ryo needs. Another problem too. He never healed this way and he was afraid of what might happen.

"Oh hell." Touma breathed, Shu releasing his arm once sure he was back. "S-Seiji can you help him?" Touma's voice was pleading for hope. Ryo looked dead. All that blood, how can he still be alive? He looked so horrible… like… like he was dead. Like there was nothing left for them to do. That Ryo's spirit was already gone and all what was left was an empty shell.

"Shh." Seiji placed his hand gently on Ryo's chest, barely feeling it move. Ryo was dying, hanging between life and death. As he started to heal what very little he could he realized just how much he relied on their bond to heal.

Too add to that their yoroi were weakening from the loss of a fellow trooper. He couldn't seal any of the wounds, but helped some of the infection and stopped the repetitive bleeding. To put in the best words he was healing blind. He gave Ryo some strength to pull through and heal himself from whatever happened. He hoped he didn't miss something that wasn't mortal wounds. That could be worse than just wounds.

After exhausting himself and with the assistance of Shin to rise up he blinked away tears. Tears, yes, tears and if anyone has a problem with that they can shove it up their ass. If they met Ryo they would understand. If you had your best friend's presence in the back of your mind then it was suddenly wrenched away from you, you would understand. One who saved your ass and wouldn't give a second thought of giving their life for you. One who would tear themselves from the inside out at the thought of it being their fault you're hurt. It wasn't Ryo's fault. He just had virtuous heart. And he'll be damned if anyone dare take that away from him.

"I barely did anything." He said gloomily.

"Natsuti will help. We should go back." Shin spoke softly pulling Seiji's limp arm over his shoulder and throwing an arm around his waist. Seiji's eyes kept drifting shut and Shin had a feeling he was going to have to carry the blonde their. Obviously he couldn't run. Seiji shouldn't be this exhausted.

Shu as gently as he possibly could lifted the half-dead form in his arms. Shu may be the brute of them all but he was as gentle as Shin when need be. He was exceptionally gentle with Shin and Ryo, somehow viewing them as easily broken porcelain dolls.

The walked for a little while keeping a steady pace, the lifeless city adding to their melancholy. When it became apparent Ryo needed to get home they took off running. Seiji felt the numb emotions in the air. When they would block out anything else and just leave the knowledge of emergency.

Natsuti was in the doorway biting on her bottom lip still in her white coat and nametag hanging on her left breast pocket. There were glad for once that she took day shifts instead of night shifts. They didn't like not seeing her since she was gone during the day and when she would arrive home they were either sleeping or waiting for Touma to get done with his stargazing and force him back inside.

"What happen?" She was wonderful. Housing five immature male teenagers and using all the yen she got to pay for the loads of food they eat due to the demand of their yoroi. They got jobs, well the ones that were slightly mature enough to. Shu recently got fired for using the fast food kitchen as a sports arena between him and Ryo. Shu took the blame and shoved Ryo into the closet.

"We don't know." Touma said flatly opening the door for his friends.

Seiji eyes locked on the raven-haired male lying motionless on the couch. A bandage wrapped securely around his head the others hidden beneath the layer of blankets. They got panicky when the boy's normal temperature never returned and were hoping that wasn't from him losing Rekka.

Rekka usually kept a warm fire burning fire inside Ryo and though it was what strengthened him it made him susceptible to the cold and a funny unliking of cold water and winter. They always teased him over it but now it seemed like they took advantage of it and now Ryo was never going to be Ryo again.

What did you think they were going to abandon him because he's no loner a samurai trooper? He is, and he always will be. But Rekka was a part of Ryo, the flame that ignited into Kikotei.

He thought it's been about two days, he slept straight for he doesn't know how many days. Sleeping was on and off and was hard to tell how long he slept each time he nodded off or Shin would come up behind him and send him off into a doze with his weakening powers of Suiko.

Shu had to have snapped by now. Seiji was half expecting his Kanji to come to life, and take control. The bond had only got worse, and continued to nag at the back of their mind, preventing restful sleep.

Yes, he understood why their enemy went after their leader. It was quite easy to crush the Samurai Troopers.

Shin was staring sadly at Ryo knowing he could do nothing but wait. Wait for his revenge. They already knew it had to be a new enemy. A mortal couldn't do this to Ryo unless he purposely let them. That wouldn't explain the flaw of the bond anyway because if Ryo blocked himself they would know. Their minds would meet a fiery impenetrable wall.

Natsuti changed his bandages before she left not saying a word but giving a weak smile. Seiji's saw it before. When she would have a patient that had a grim outcome and try to offer comfort to family members. Seiji had an unjustly urge to tell her off and explain Ryo wouldn't be defeated so easily.

He should've known. He felt the uneasiness slipping through the bond towards him. Ryo's been having nightmares for a week. The guy seemed to have some kind of psychic thing going on. They were skeptical at first when he told them he had a dream about Arago. The dreams kept coming though, making Ryo audibly and clearly restless in his sleep and leaving him with loads of overdue sleep. So why didn't he just force it out of the male? Ryo's dreams of the future were not to be taken lightly. Ryo and his leader antics.

"Have you checked him?" Touma asked from the overstuffed chair.

Seiji rubbed his temples; somehow he had become the one everyone looked to for answers. It was okay with Ryo, gawd if Ryo kept all that on his shoulders he would snap. But the negative emotions were giving him a headache and making him irritable. He needed to meditate, though he doubted he would find the sense of balance with this entire shit happening.

"No," he held up his shadowy yoroi crystal, "I don't have enough energy left. If whatever hurt Ryo came back I'll need some to fight back." Who was he kidding? If they did that to Ryo did they honestly think…

"Won't you rest up Seiji? You haven't got much sleep."

"I'm not tired Shin." He nearly chewed Shin's head off in the process of replying.

"It's been three days, none of use have got much sleep."

Seiji finally complied thinking it would be better alone in his room anyway.

Shu was born with a lack of patience. He knew it, when he knew his friends were in trouble he wanted to get on with it and help them. The rest of the group was used to calming his temper. Sounded much like Ryo actually. They should know better. He wields the Kanji of Justice. And right now it's burning and telling him to go out there and teach whoever hurt Ryo like that a lesson. Ryo lay downstairs half dead under the watchful eyes of his anxious friends.

He heard the door next to his and Shin's room shut informing him either Touma or Seiji were vainly attempting to get some rest. How could they? It's like the bond has been cracked and ready to crumble into peices, it has, he knew. Obviously their enemies weren't very intent on the Samurai Troopers' yoroi. He was getting sick of waiting. Not doing anything in revenge for what they did to Ryo. His yoroi crystal was in his right hand twirling around his fingers absently.

Seiji groaned even more annoyed. Finally once he drifted off into a 'non feeling the bond is destroyed' dream till it rang with trouble.

"Shu, I'll kill you." He gazed sleepily over at Touma's bed. The blue-haired trooper was tangled up in his covers and snoring softly. Touma was completely out of it and after pricking around Suiko he found the water trooper was also fast asleep. One time Shu, just one time can you not be yourself. We don't need anymore of us ending up like Ryo. We could still talk with Kayura!

Fumbling for his yoroi crystal he pocketed it and headed downstairs. Shin was slumped in the chair just asking for a stiff and achy neck in the morning or night he hasn't checked. Man, was his biological clock messed up He checked Ryo with his little regained energy from sleep. He was healing slowly but still healing. He has yet to wake up once or shift around. Finished with Ryo he went over to his other friend. Kicking the lever back the chair reclined and he was careful to hold the brit so he wouldn't wake up.

Most likely if Shin found out he was sneaking out he would get his ass royally chewed out. Whether to go save Shu's hide or not. It was worse than sneaking out of your own house, especially if the punisher was Shin, who cooks, and was highly crafted in blackmail. He never told any secrets though what were entrusted to him. To Shin, that violates everything about him. He threw a spare blanket over the boy then followed Shu keeping his mind open to Shu's moving light.

Shu. He tried to call out but was nearly blown away when the entire bond suddenly jerked at the lack of stability. So now, clutching his aching head, he trudged through the forest officially pissed off.

Shu fell to his knees heavily panting and grinding his teeth to keep from yelling in pain. Why did this so much remind him of Kayura? Oh yah, cause he was getting the shit beat out of him by a girl with a little pink dagger. He could faintly sense Korin nearing as his head roared with fainting.

She was successful in unarming him on her first strike leaving him helpless. How anyone could be that strong he had no idea, not even Kayura was that strong. The pressure on his knee was killing him and he would have liked to sit back. Yup, he got himself into this. He refused to let this bitch take his yoroi. It was his. His spirit. Everything that was him.

His arm was considerably painful while his other was bloody. Soon he would become dizzy, it would take longer, but he knew he had no hope. He had to get away from Seiji. He couldn't let Seiji get hurt. Seiji had to heal Ryo. It was a bit hard to breathe, he had numerous broken ribs and he tasted the familiar coppery taste telling him that there was a very good explanation for the lack of air.

Ugh, can't Seiji not run? I know he's pissed off, why is he running? He painfully rose, his injured leg wobbling from beneath him. Instead of running farther away he was thrown against a nearby van his head slamming into the window and shattering it bringing bright lights in front of his eyes.

"Where were you going my little Kongo?" she cooed. "You're very cute you know? That yoroi makes you look all bulky," she smiled. "But just in mortal clothing you're actually quite thin. Similar to Rekka." She sheathed her dagger and grabbed his wrist that held his yoroi. "I would keep you as a pet if master let me." She sighed sadly. "But I have to kill you."

Shu's eyes widened at the thought of this being the person who hurt Ryo and left him to die. But his mind was occupied with which wrist this bitch held. The fact this "thing" liked him made him want to sick up. A woman finally likes him and she's a twisted demon slave that wants to kill him. He refused to bend under the pressure and instead tried desperately to tell Seiji to go away. He was met with a wave of nausea. The bond was way too unstable. He coughed up blood his eyes glazing over threatening to lure him into unconsciousness. If it wasn't for his inner wound and his lack of air he would probably be able to stay conscious.

"I'm also ordered to do this." She twisted the wrist in her hand watching Kongo reluctantly give in and release his yoroi crystal. Just for good measure she drove her elbow as hard as she could in the trooper's abdomen. She heard the air leave his lungs coughing fitfully as he slumped to the ground.

S-Seiji he weakly called out but was only berated by the bond. Don't you dare come any closer! You got that blondie?

"One of your friends are here?" she asked sweetly, tossing the crystal up and down in her hand and looking around. "Ah, yes, I sense him now. Korin is it? I will finish up with you then." She snatched his chin in her hand forcing him to look at her and smiled devilishly.

"Now watch my sweet Kongo as your world shatters." Her fist closed around the dim orange crystal threateningly. Shu tried to stop her, but found his whole body numb and a weak moan emitted from his mouth. He watched horrified as something was suddenly ripped from inside him causing his body to jerk. The shards fell to the ground settling by his injured leg. Shu thought he heard Seiji's voice but it was too far away from the darkness surrounding him.