Secrets

Chapter Seven

By: Valandra

A/N: Are at the end of the chapter.

Testing the bo-staff's balance, Shin spun it between his hands and stepped back from the collection of practice weapons. He caught Ryo grinning at him as he joined the group; rolling his eyes, the red-head turned his attention to Touma. The bluenette had his practice bow and padded arrows, but was making a point of keeping himself out of the circle. "Not joining us?" he asked, curious.

Touma just smirked and shook his head. "Ya kidding me? Four moving, distracted targets, and ya expect me to be in the middle? This is too good of a chance to pass up. Besides," he checked his quiver, his tone going from eager to indifferent. "It'll be nice to not have Shu chasing me with that damn stick." Ignoring his friend's outcry, Touma looked up to share an innocent look with Shin.

Rolling his eyes once more, Shin just shook his head and moved to face off with Seiji, leaving Shu and Ryo to face off. Touma retreated further back, intent upon watching as the two pairs found their flow before he added his own distraction. 'Just as well,' Shin thought as he and Seiji squared off. 'Ryo didn't exactly give us much time once we made it back, to get changed and get down here. All three of 'em are fresh; the hell am I going to let us both buckle to either of them.' Violet eyes caught his, and as if reading his thoughts, Seiji shared a knowing smirk with him.

Shin shook his head and gave his staff a final balancing spin before slipping into his ready stance, his smirk lingering. Ryo barked the starting order, and each warrior launched at their partner. Within the first ten minutes, Shin found himself more centered and focused then he'd felt in weeks. Weapon's crossed with Seiji, he knew his expression mirrored the blonds' own; there was a joy, a peace to be found in this dance, and they both reveled in it.

They broke apart and Seiji muttered a broken curse before twisting his unguarded side to Shin. The red-head had just enough time to blink before he too spun and blocked Ryo's surprise assault through instinct alone. He had to lock his knees in place to keep the twin blades above him, and saw Seiji wasn't much better off against Shu. The sparring match had become a mock battle. Ryo and Shu broke off their sudden assault seconds before Touma's arrows joined the foray.

He and Seiji fought side-by-side against the joint assault, but quickly found themselves back-to-back. Touma didn't seem inclined to pick a side, though he did back off once Ryo and Shu had the two pinched. Shin caught the odd look Ryo shot over his head, and growled seconds later when his weapon was pinched and twisted from his grasp. Aqua eyes narrowed and, back pressed flush with Seiji, he felt the instant the same fate befell his partner.

Even as victory brightened Ryo's eyes in front of him, Shin grabbed Seiji from behind him and shoved the blond from their pincer attack. His own weapon was out of reach, but if he judged Seiji's defensive position, then the swords man's weapon should be…. Grunting, Shin staggered before he took a protective stance before his fallen partner; Seiji's practice weapon was weighed to match Korin's no-datchi. He met Ryo's incredulous gaze and Shu's amusement with a steady challenge.

Arrows fell, breaking the stand-still. Shin used Seiji's weapon to protect the both of them, while Shu flinched and Ryo dodged. Feeling his lips twist with a smirk, the red-head used the distraction to act. Pommel to Shu's gut, a spin and twist of his wrists disarmed the larger boy. Continuing with the fluid, practiced motions, Shin twisted and dropped his hands to press against the earth as a counter balance for his swiping leg. Fingers curled around the pommel, Shin pulled his legs in and launched himself back to his feet while Shu fell to his back behind him.

Aqua locked with surprised tiger-blue as the dual-bladed attack wasn't blocked but countered. Ryo wasn't anticipating a steady stance or immediate offense, and found himself retreating beneath Shin's assault. Over-head shoulder, left, right hip, over-head. Ryo grunted and fell to his left knee, his arms shaking above him beneath the weight of the borrowed weapon and the force applied to it.

Ryo had less then a heartbeat to wonder at Shin's sudden retreat and no time to block let alone dodge Touma's arrow. Sighing, he dropped his arms and stared down at the red chalk marking the killing blow on his shirt. He pulled himself to his feet and scanned the battle ground. Shu was sitting on the ground, surprise still in his expression as he watched Shin pull Seiji to his feet.

~Guess this round goes to you.~ Tiger-blue eyes sought out the archer even as his thoughts touched Touma's. ~I highly doubt he'd make it to you for a killing blow.~

"What the…?" Ryo blinked and looked to Shu, who'd made the exclamation. "Did you drop one of your arrows man?"

Snorting, Touma shook his head and made a bee-line for the spot Shin had let himself fall to the ground at. "I just want to know how the hell you managed to get that stone inside the head. I didn't even see you throw the damn thing!" Kneeling down, he picked one of his fired arrows, minus the blunt, chalked head. His other hand uncurled to reveal the missing cloth head, with a stone sticking out of the end rather then the wooden arrow shaft.

Smirking, Shin returned Seiji's weapon to him and shrugged. "Practice," he said simply. In spite of himself, Seiji felt a snort escape before he could stop himself. He arched a brow at the purely innocent look Shin gave him. Violet eyes narrowed but Seiji hesitated on calling Shin on that look, noticing the strain around clear, aqua eyes. 'Were his hands shaking a minute ago?' Seiji tried to recall. Their fingers had brushed when his weapon was returned….

Shaking his head, Ryo opened his mouth to ask what Seiji had hesitated to, only to be interrupted by a loud, thunderous and unrelenting noise. A noise that was growing louder as it drew closer to the house. "What on earth….?" Touma was already running around the side of the house. Shrugging, Ryo took off after him; Shu was already turning to do the same, and he had no doubt Seiji and Shin would be just behind him.

The group of five were catching their breath in front of the house when the source of the noise, a motorcycle, came into view. The engine noise drowned out sounds of surprise and curiosity alike, as well as a single, deep growl. The bike came to a stop in the drive-way, its only passenger kicking the stand down before he killed the engine.

Shin stepped forward as the driver stood and reached for his helmet. "That," Shin fairly growled, the others surprised by the honest anger in his voice. "Is my bike." The figure clad in the thick leather jacket chuckled darkly as he removed his helmet.

"And that," the revealed head of dark blue hair nodded towards the car on the other side of the bike. "Is mine." A dark brow arched over a scared eye. "You didn't leave me much of an option."

Shin just sniffed and turned towards the house. "At least I asked first."

"Shin?" Ryo's quiet question stopped the red-head, the level of concern it held earned him Shin's gaze. His relaxed expression eased Ryo's concern more then what the youth had to say.

"My way-word room-mate," Shin answered with a shrug, then smirked while Seiji chocked. "Not that one could tell. He hasn't stepped foot in the apartment in over a month now."

Helmet secured to the bike, Anubis laughed as he approached the group. He hooked his thumbs in his belt loops and shrugged. "What can I say, I've been busy." He laughed again when the red-head sniffed derisively.

"Whatever," Shin muttered. Turning away from the guys and Ryo's sudden frown, he rubbed a hand against his chest and started walking to the front door again. He hadn't fully regained his breath after running around the house, and now it was coming in shorter, sharper puffs. Spots of color danced around his peripheral vision; the spots refused to disappear even after he shook his head, causing his thoughts to take on a slightly panicked flavor as he reviewed the days events.

"Shin?" Seiji called after the boy, concerned when he saw the boy stumble before he even reached the porch. 'He's got every right to be exhausted after both runs and the practice, but…but it doesn't feel right.'

"Shit," Anubis cursed quietly. He closed the distance to Shin before any of the four could catch him, and scooped the red-head up bridal style. "You skipped today, didn't you," he accused. Without waiting for a response, he glared back at the quintet still behind him. "Where's his bag?" he demanded, fully intending to break the front door if one of the youths didn't get it open before he reached it.

He returned his darkened gaze to the trembling youth in his arms. "What about yesterday?" he questioned as Ryo ran past him, into the house and up the stairs. Shin shook his head before pressing it against Anubis' chest. Clutching the red-head against him, Anubis ran after Ryo, unwilling to wait for Ryo's return.

Seiji was hot on his heels, as Touma would have been, had he not noticed Shu rooted where he stood, a look of horror on his face. "Shu?" Touma questioned, uncertain and almost afraid; he'd never seen such a look on his child-hood friend's face.

"His hand," Shu whispered. Touma continued to stare at him in confusion. Through their bond, Touma could feel Shu's fear. He reached out to grab the older boy's shoulder, but before contact could be made, Shu was in motion, running after the group.

~I don't understand,~ Touma thought, following the older boy. ~What's wrong with his hand?~

~Nothing,~ Shu answered, far from assuring. ~But the left side of his chest….~

Touma thought his heart would stop.

ooOoo

Anubis sighed as the strain eased out of Shin's expression and the youth slipped into a peaceful sleep. Having been crouched beside the bed, he leaned back on his haunches and shared a relieved look across the bed with Seiji.

Ryo'd had enough sense to clear the room almost immediately; having all eyes on him wasn't going to do anything but stress Shin further. He'd let Seiji slip into the room more for their peace of mind then anything else. 'Healer the boy may be, but this is beyond his current capabilities. Still, it's more thought then I think you expected.'

"He'll be fine with a few hours rest," Anubis assured quietly, earning himself a frown. 'Guess I really shouldn't be surprised.' Sighing once more, this time more put-upon, Anubis stood and motioned for the blond to follow. "Any discussion will disturb him."

Seiji hesitated before nodding his agreement. Having already assured the others of Shin's well-being, he silently followed Anubis from the room. As much as he wanted to question the elder about his presence as soon as the door closed, his principles demanded otherwise. "Thank you."

Arching a scared brow, Anubis looked at the blond in surprise; he was further surprised to see that blond head bowed forward. "For what?" he asked, honestly at a loss.

Seiji felt his lips twitch as he straightened. "We wouldn't have known what to do if you weren't here. We're too far out for city help, and…even with Korin's aid, I wouldn't have known how to help."

Anubis ran a hand through his disheveled hair and leaned back against the wall. "This isn't the first time he's forgotten to take his medicine, but it is few and far between when it does happen. …I can't really say I'm surprised he didn't mention it."

Lips pressed, Seiji leaned against the opposite wall and glared over the elder's shoulder. "He hasn't mentioned a lot," he agreed.

Laughter escaped him before he could stop it. Anubis held a hand up to forestall the blonds' angry words as he struggled to calm himself. "For far longer then you realize," he agreed once his breath was his own. "However, that's not for me to tell. We should go down to your friends and see that there's something mild for him to eat. Two hours of rest, then he must eat or his stomach will turn ill."

Bighting his tongue, Seiji reluctantly agreed and pushed off the wall. He watched as Anubis did the same, his arms falling to his side as he stepped behind the blond; unfamiliar with the house's layout, he intended to follow rather then lead. Violet eyes blinked then narrowed in accusation and realization. "You taught him swordsmanship."

Navy blue eyes blinked stupidly before understanding brightened them and amusement bled from them. "What in the realms did he do to give that away?"

Seiji hesitated a moment, surprised by the lack of denial. "The pro-defensive stance he took over me," he admitted, the faintest of blushes staining his cheeks. "And his final assault against Ryo. We'd just finished a mock-battle when you arrived."

"Aa," Anubis sounded, lips twitching as he fought off a smirk.

ooOooOoo

He was on a bed, his head fuzzy with sleep; he was surrounded, but confusion muddled any fear that tried to rise. Long nailed-hands reached for him, but when he tried to flinch away, a cool pair held him in place from behind. Looking up, he realized Rajura was sitting up behind him, holding him in place. The man's grip tightened when he flinched from Naaza's touch; he'd forgotten the green-haired man was in front of him, reaching for his clothing.

Words were spoken, but all he could focus on were the nails trailing slightly desensitized flesh, and the loud buzzing in the back of his head. It was like his empathy on speed, too loud, too fast, and too flashy for him to make any sense of. 'I can't possibly still be dreaming…can I?' As fevered and confusing as his dreams had been of late…it was more then a possibility. It had to be.

"Shin…Shin…." He was being shaken…awareness was slipping through his fingers, only to reshape into dimly-lit darkness. 'A new dream…or have I finally woken up?' Blinking bleary eyes open, Shin frowned in blatant confusion when his aqua eyes focused on Ryo seated in a chair beside the bed in front of him. "Welcome back," the dark-haired youth greeted quietly; there was no disguising the relief in his tone.

Shin felt his cheeks heat, understanding what kind of scare he'd given the other…no doubt all of the Troopers. A disgruntled touch to his mind caused him to stiffen and look over his shoulder, despite already knowing who he'd see.

~The children aren't the only ones you scared, brat.~ The words weren't nearly as amused as they could have been. Shin's expression just tightened before he laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, ignoring the older man.

Both dark-haired males frowned, but before Ryo could say anything, Anubis leaned forward, his narrowed eyes not once leaving Shin's back. "Ryo, would you kindly give us a few minutes?" Ryo hesitated a moment, not missing the slight stiffening in Shin's spine. But the red-head gave no other sign of protest, and knowing what Shin had already confessed to him the night before, Ryo stood without protest.

"I'll just go get the stew Shu cooked, let it start cooling for him." It was as good an excuse as any, and would allow him to keep anyone from interrupting the two. Shin released a quiet breath once the door closed behind the Trooper leader, but still he didn't relax as the minutes drew out silently.

Finally, Anubis sighed and the bed dipped behind Shin. The sheets weren't pulled away, but he felt the elder's body line up behind him before an arm was curled over his chest. Shin sighed softly in spite of himself when said arm pulled him back against the elder's chest.

~How long have the dreams been plaguing you?~ A simple question, with a simple answer, were it not tangled up with emotion. Shin squirmed, but the arm around him kept him in place. In response to his escape attempt, Anubis flattened his hand over his chest and slid it up to rest over the red-head's heart. Jaw tight, Shin turned his head into the pillow, his eyes still closed.

~Just under a month now,~ was his clearly reluctant answer. He could feel Anubis' frown, and clamped down on the desire to squirm once more. He was just glad it had been one of the milder dreams this time. Shin flinched as the thought formed, knowing before he could silence it that Anubis had caught it as well. ~They're not so bad when I'm sleeping.~ His attempt at assurance failed. Utterly.

~They're coming to you while you're awake?~ Anubis demanded. When the boy refused to answer, going so far as to clamp down on his telling emotions, Anubis shifted and forced the youth onto his back so he could loom over Shin. "Open your eyes, boy," he growled.

Jaw tight and lips pressed, Shin refused to comply. He grunted and flinched when two hands pressed him down into the bed at his shoulders. The bed shifted again, but still he refused to open his eyes; he'd know what the man was up to soon enough. Seconds later Shin flinched upward, his lips peeled back in a sharp hiss as the leg that had settled between his own pressed the elder's weight down into him.

Biting back a curse, Shin's eyes snapped open and he jerked his upper body, only to have his balled fist caught mid swing. He growled and struggled as the hands that had been pushing his shoulders down instead caught and pinned both of his wrists. "Damn it Anubis, let me go!"

~Never.~

Shin froze and finally stared up at the elder. He was familiar enough with the ferocity he could see in the man, but the fear and pain he could read…he shied back and shielded his empathy once more. With a heavy exhale, the fight left the aquatic warrior, leaving him relaxed beneath the elder. Anubis eased his leg back, and Shin let his head lull to the side, feeling utterly exhausted once more. "Like you said…you were busy."

Navy eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. 'This sounds all too familiar.' But Shin was still lax beneath him, so Anubis forced his temper into check. After a few heartbeats, he stroked his thumb over the fairly steady pulse in Shin's wrist. "And you didn't trust us to be able to balance duty and need?" he asked, quiet voice taking most of the sting from his words. He wasn't the most eloquent of his brothers when it came to words, but the effort was there.

Blinking, Shin tipped his head enough to look up at the elder through lidded eyes. ~I trusted you to know before it became too much.~ Though they both knew the "you" was all-encompassing, Anubis still flinched as if being singled out.

Still pinning the youth's wrists, Anubis sighed and dropped his head to touch Shin's. ~You should have said something. I thought we got that through your head already. No secrets, no silence. You let your own brothers hurt you because of them, we will not tolerate the same!~

Shin released a quiet breath and twitched his head, causing their noses to brush. "You don't play fair," he murmured. He made a conscious effort to relax beneath the elder's tightened grip.

A dark, quiet chuckle preceded a small smirk above him. "That should be a given." Shin felt his own lips twitch, amused by the man's obvious pride in that statement, as well as his eased anger. A heart-beat latter, Anubis' lips and teeth found and renewed his still fresh mark on Shin's shoulder, causing the youth to gasp.

Head tipped to the side, Shin drew in a slow, careful breath. His skin was already deeply bruised in that spot, it wouldn't take much for Anubis to draw blood. "Careful old man," Shin murmured, his twitching lips almost ruining his serious tone; it wasn't a term he normally used for Anubis. He flinched up with a sharp breath an instant later; sharp teeth threatened to break flesh while Anubis' leg was pressed back into him.

Two heartbeats turned to five, but when his blood wasn't spilt, Shin chuckled carefully. "Seiji and Shu are both already worried I've got an abusive lover."

Another heartbeat, and his head filled with unexpected laughter as the teeth withdrew, allowing for a rough tongue to sooth reddened flesh. "I thought they still considered you…how did you phrase it? 'Jail bait'?"

Shin sighed softly and relaxed beneath the attention, Anubis' leg forgotten. "Yeah…though I hadn't intended to disabuse them of that notion by giving them a show. Which is exactly what'll happen if you don't…get…up…!" Straining once more, Shin tried to unbalance the older warrior and throw him off.

A combination of a groan and a whine escaped Shin as he collapsed back to the bed. He turned his head away to avoid Anubis' gloating expression, there-by missing the dark, possessive gleam growing in navy eyes. He shivered seconds later however, feeling as much in the elder's emotions a heartbeat before Anubis opened his mouth.

"Why not?" Anubis whispered, head lowered to nuzzle behind Shin's ear. "I can't think of a better way to drive home just how deeply they've lost you. They never had your Trust, nor you theirs'." Shin tensed and shifted beneath him, knowing what would come next; he didn't want to hear, but Anubis just leaned in harder. His tone wasn't hurtful, but it didn't have to be. "You were an acquaintance, neither friend nor brother. Your spirit wouldn't have been bleeding and isolated when we captured you otherwise.

"You would not have found the Trust your very core needs to survive with us, when you were dying in that dungeon. Your spirit would not have been able to bond with ours when we hid you from death, had your fellows already claimed you. Their loss is our gain, and your salvation."

Anubis paused for a moment then. He lifted his head enough to observe the youth trapped beneath him, a hint of concern cracking his otherwise expressionless gaze. Shin refused to look up at him, his eyes clinched as if to block out the painful words. It was a truth that, until then, had remained unspoken though not unfelt between their group. He had hoped this confrontation would have involved Rajura instead of himself. Their silver-haired elder brother was typically the first to talk sense into the boy.

Anubis bowed his head to brush his lips over the shell of Shin's ear, easing the younger's tension. "And we are done with this game of hiding." Were it not for his unnaturally sharp hearing, Anubis would have missed the sound of relief that escaped Shin against his will. Lips twitching to hide his own relief, Anubis bowed his lips back to Shin's throat. Fully intent upon keeping Shin's empathic and emotional attention focused on himself until sense returned to the young man standing in the hall just outside the room.

TBC

A/N: Updated before Shin's birthday, yiipie! What are the odds of finishing Secrets before then? …Well, on that note, we're looking at about only another chapter or two before this story's completed. And while I would love to turn my attention to my other not-completed stories, both Shin and Zorra insist upon a "back story." However, seeing as Zorra killed me almost immediately after reading this chapter, I don't know how feasible this is….

To my reviewers and PMer-s, I just want to say THANK YOU for your encouragement, questions and anticipation. I hope this chapter has met with your expectations; I look forward to hearing from ya'll. Hopefully, with the next chapter, I'll be able to address some of the more pointed questions/remarks left in ya'll's reviews without spoiling what's to come. Ya'll have no idea how utterly gleeful it makes me to see how many of the hints I've dropped aren't being missed, even if they're not yet understood. More next time, till then, later!