This is a story about a group of people forced to come together to continue the fight that their fathers started. Along the way they have to over come obstacles such as ill health, past mistakes, prejudice, pride, etc to do it. Again I mean no offense especially when it may come to some of the exchanges between Rachel and Takeo-none of those beliefs are my own they just make for good drama in the story. I didn't set out to stereotype anyone certain characters just evolved the way they are and I hope that no one will take offense from anything that I write.
I corrected my description of the demoness Yuriko's staff several chapters ago to match the wallpaper graphic I made of it. Follow the link to my art page listed in my profile and in the Gallery look in my Ronin Warriors folder to view it. There are two versions really-one nice Rachel oriented one and one more suited to her past life as demoness Yuriko. There are graphics for all the kids and I used a face making program from a game to get as close as possible to how I imagine them to look.
It also occurs to me that I neglected to mention that even though the kid genius Takeo has never been to Japan he does speak the language and numerous others for that matter. I cut the part that was mentioned in out and didn't bring it up somewhere else. So just to be clear Daisuke and Rachel aren't the only ones that understand TV reports and stuff like that. Seamus nor Luigi know Japanese. Hence the last chapter why those two were clueless as to how to call on the armor-but Takeo knew what Rachel was talking about and told Luigi what to say.
Being a nether realm demon I figured that Yuriko would have had her own attack. After designing her waning moon staff I came up with a few ideas and my Cousin Amanda helped me narrow those down and pick the best-what it is...I will leave that for later in this chapter and explain how it came about at the end. Big thanks to my cousin!
Some major editing has taken place to the beginning and ending of this chapter since it was first posted online.
***Chapter 6***
June 9th 2029
-6-
Arago looks from Nasuti and Jun to Kent. "I asked you to bring me the Jewel of Life and you bring me these two troublemakers?"
"They claim not to know where it is."
Arago turns back to Nasuti and Jun. "Is that so?"
Jun steps up defiantly. "Do what you want to me-but let Nasuti go."
"You are in no position to make demands." Arago sits back on his throne. "Perhaps you really don't know where the jewel is but now that I have you I can't let you go back to help the children the way you did their fathers." He turns to the soldiers. "Take them to the dungeon." He waits until they are gone before turning to Kent.
"The jewel is still out there somewhere and I want it."
"He did say the jewel disappeared from his possession a month ago. Perhaps the kids or even one of those tigers took it."
"The only one near the jewel at that time would have been wildfire. He wouldn't have taken it. Too much honor in him to resort to petty thievery...but the tigers-it could be possible they had something to do with this."
"Shall I go out and track them down?"
"Not now. If they have it with them they will be expecting us to take it. Keep and eye on them and see where they go when they are not with the children and then take it from them and dispose of them."
"As you wish master."
Arago looks up as Kent leaves and another approaches. "Lord Deravon."
"Forgive me Master Arago but I am not worthy of being called Lord of the Nether spirits."
"You have served me well thus far Deravon, even better than your predecessor Badamon. Now tell me what it is that really troubles you."
"I sense that even with the two humans in our clutches the children have help."
"Their fathers." Arago remains silent for sometime. "The cult of Yuriko served my purposes in disposing of those troublesome samurai. Perhaps not disposing of the cult as well at the time was a mistake."
"I do not follow you master."
"The daughter of Torrent is the water witch Yuriko reborn. It is those powers that allow the girl to communicate with her father and his friends. They must be stopped before they can lead the children against us. Go Deravon and take revenge upon them for your Lord Badamon."
"Yes Master Arago, but it will take some time to prepare the necessary incantations." As he leaves he wonders if he heard right. Did someone else play a role in the deaths of the samurai that long plagued the Master?"
-6-
He pulls out the family history box from a file cabinet in his office. Opening the box he takes out the lineage document and skims over it to the end. His father Elian Redford had three sons. The politician Fulton-the crazy cult leader kook Aldrick-and himself university professor Trevelyan. Only he had children and he never seemed to get around to entering them or his grandchildren on the list. He does that now-wondering if this is the end of the family's long history. His daughter Jenna married Touma Hashiba and they had Takeo Zane Hashiba. Jayden and Shin Mouri had Rachel Yuriko-he stops lingering over Rachel's middle name. He is sure he noticed that name somewhere else on the list. He quickly looks back only to find that name to be the very first. Yuriko and Rajura followed by a son Yukio. All Japanese names he realizes but why would that show up in Britten over 1000 years ago. He picks up a notebook in the bottom of the box. As he opens it he realizes that this is his father's handwriting. He doesn't realize he speaks aloud as he reads it. "As told to me in a letter written by my mother before she died in childbirth with me. The curse placed upon Yuriko by Rajura's family still haunts all female descendants to this day. They were disturbed because he had fallen into the cult of a powerful water goddess Yuriko. They never believed she was anything other than a con at first. They had hired numerous people to kill her to save their son from the wrong path. She had been poisoned-stabbed-beaten-drowned-sealed inside her temple which was set on fire-nothing could kill the woman. They came to believe she was not a goddess but a demon-so they did the only thing that might get rid of her. Curse her to perish with the death of her bastard baby. Rajura took the baby and fled Japan settling in what is now present day Britten." He stops pausing he certainly understands why his father had been so persistent Jenna have a c-section. He had always thought that was some inherited genetic weakness since it would pass from a father to his daughter. Now he finds himself having serious doubts about that after his brother's phone call earlier. He glances back at the chart-why sacrifice Jayden only to save Jenna? "They had to make sure little Rachel was who they wanted her to be-they still had plans for Jenna if she wasn't." He shivers having answered his own question before turning back to the notebook. "Yukio's descendants should have been immortal but it is said after remaining a 20 something young man while his father and others he cared for grew old before his eyes he used his own powers to take that away from his offspring so no one else would ever know the pain he felt. He disappeared soon after and was never seen again. With what has happened in Tokyo it is clear that the end is near and we as descendants of Yuriko and leaders of her cult believe that she is the only one who can save us. All attempts to locate Yukio have failed but we did find the moon staff once belonging to his mother left to him in Japan. Like the legend of the sword in the stone no one has been able to move it from where it stands after all this time. We intend to bring back Yuriko-and shall know her by the birthmark carried by the goddess and known only to her lover Rajura. I leave that task to Fulton and Aldrick. I have faith they will do what is necessary to see the goddess rise once more. I have not told this to Trevelyan because even if he believed it I do not feel that he would go along and ultimately try to keep his twin daughters from us. Jayden has been out of his reach living with her mother and she is our logical choice. Cult members have followed the samurai boys who used their armor to defeat the demons unleashed over Tokyo. We believe it only fitting that the warrior of torrent should be the father of the goddess his armor power that may well one day be hers will only increase her power. I caution as a back-up Jenna and the warrior of heavens should be introduced and persuaded together also." Trevelyan puts the notebook down. "Touma and Shin-armor-that's how they died. Were all those stories Touma tried to tell Takeo real?" One thing is clear to him if those stories were real and possibly even some warning to prepare Takeo for some future he might face then the cult may be doing more harm than good. Through his ancient mythological studies he knows that 1000 years ago when this Yuriko goddess appeared and their family history began was also the first recorded other worldly siege in Japan. Rajura's parents may not have been that far off in thinking her a demon-and hadn't he heard Touma use the name Rajura in his stories? Is he still around waiting to verify or has he already verified Rachel is the one they want? If Takeo and Rachel are still alive in Japan they could be in a great deal of danger. Aldrick is messing with forces well beyond his comprehension and could put the entire world in even more danger than it is if all this armor business is starting again.
"Who were you talking to a few minutes ago?"
Trevelyan looks up startled at Jenna in the doorway. "Sorry I must have been reading out loud again. Aldrick called earlier and suggested I look at some things."
She looks down at the papers on the desk. "Isn't this the family tree?"
"Yes."
Jenna picks it up and looks at it-lingering on the freshly inked names. "Interesting. It starts with Japanese names and both Jayden and I married Japanese guys. I was always sort of scared to tell you before-but I guess it doesn't really matter anymore." She looks up at her father. "I met Jayden once. She came to university for a semester." Jenna pauses a few moments before continuing. "If it weren't for her Touma and I would have never gotten together."
"You mean she set the two of you up?"
"That's putting it mildly. Everyone always said we looked alike but I thought it was hard to believe. She was so-well pretty."
"You are beautiful Jenna. And in case you didn't notice the two of you were identical."
"I meant she was into make-up fixing her hair-things like that. She wasn't embarrassed by her odd hair color either. She flaunted it. She was so upbeat and outgoing-everything I wasn't but always wanted to be. We were roommates. I can't even remember how it came up but we were talking about the new guy. It was hard to miss him in a place like that his blue hair stuck out as much as our red. I did maybe have the tiniest crush on him. The next thing I know Jayden tells me that she pretended to be me and asked him out. I was mad at first-got talked out of canceling a dozen times but I went and the rest is history."
"It eases my mind in some ways that you did get to meet her. Your mother and I should have never split the two of you up that way. It wasn't right."
"Please don't blame yourself. It doesn't help believe me I know." She puts down the family tree and goes over to the window. "I used to blame myself for letting Touma go off to Japan when he died-even though I knew he wouldn't have wanted me to do that." She is quiet for some time before she speaks again. "I heard the rumors they're repeating on the news. How all those kids that died were the children of Touma and his friends and their deaths may have been some trick to keep everyone from finding out they have something to do with what is going on in Tokyo now." She turns back to her father with tears in her eyes. "I wish that were true because it would mean Takeo isn't out there in space dying some slow horrible lonely death. He's alive! I can feel that!"
Trevelyan is at first dumbfounded by her saying she believes Takeo is alive. Space suits are more advanced than what they once were but any re-breather techs carbon dioxide filter would have ceased to work by now and poisoned the boy to death. He gets up-rushes over to his daughter and pulls her into his arms. He can't stop himself from saying what is on is mind. "Maybe the rumors really are true."
Jenna pulls back from her father and looks up at him. He has been the most grounded person she has ever known aside from her son. "What would make you think a thing like that? Do you hear yourself? You sound like Uncle Aldrick."
"There is something in the family history that I think you should see."
-6-
With all the kids busy and no immediate danger in sight Touma slips off to check on his wife Jenna. He is sure all this can't be easy for her. He only wishes he had some way to let her know that Takeo is okay.
-6-
"Are you sure Uncle Aldrick didn't write this himself?"
"No-Jenna. That is my father's handwriting."
"I guess that explains where Uncle Aldrick got his kookiness from."
"Jenna just listen to me for a second please. Those last lines about his cult following those samurai boys intending to use them to bring this Yuriko back. You remember all those stories Touma used to tell Takeo-what if they were real and he was this warrior of the heavens? Jayden may have set the two of you up on purpose and then gone off to tempt the warrior of torrent."
Touma thinks maybe he should have come back a little sooner as he moves into the room where his wife and father-in-law are.
"Let me get this straight. You are saying that Jayden was in Uncle's cult?"
"After reading that it can't be a coincidence that all five kids that disappeared were offspring of these mysterious samurai found dead in Japan several years ago. You know Touma he wouldn't have been off in some role playing game gone awry. It had to be real. You just said you could feel Takeo is alive. I'm saying I think this armor took the kids to finish what their fathers couldn't. If what my father said in his notes is true then I think that Aldrick's cult business puts them-Takeo and Rachel especially in danger. I can't explain exactly why but I have a very bad feeling about this. We need to find them and warn them before Aldrick gets to them and uses Rachel to bring back this Demoness Yuriko."
"Demoness Yuriko ?" Touma looks down at the notebook Jenna is holding. "What is going on here?"
"I'm sorry Dad but I think you've lost it." She drops the notebook and rushes upstairs.
"Jenna!"
Touma looks down at the notebook on the floor as his Father-in-law follows Jenna. "Is this what the tigers are hiding from Rachel?" He catches sight of the family tree. It does start with a Yuriko and ends with Rachel Yuriko. Another name catches his eye. "Rajura-could it be? I've got to tell the others." He looks up-unable to just leave things as he found them here. He finds Jenna locked in the bathroom in the middle of a crying fit. He looks at the steaming hot water from the tap used to wet a wash cloth she holds over her face now. The steam is fogging up the mirror. That gives him an idea but he wonders if he really should try it. Heart wins out over reason and he reaches up to the mirror.
Trevelyan knocks on the door. "Jenna please open up."
She pulls the cloth away from her face and looks toward the door. "Leave me a-" She stops when she glances at the mirror. "-Oh my!-"
"Jenna? What's wrong?"
Jenna quickly turns off the water to keep the mirror from fogging completely over as she stares at it. "Touma?-is that-are you here?"
"Touma? Jenna what's going on in there?" When Jenna opens the door Trevelyan catches sight of the mirror for a moment he is speechless. "Good heavens!"
"That's Touma's writing!"
"I can see that." He looks at the simple message again. "They're alive."
Jenna looks up at her father. "Takeo is alive! We have to go find him!"
They don't need to get mixed up in this but what can he say to stop them? Touma realizes maybe this wasn't the best idea after all. Something else quickly comes to him and he adds it. "Call Nasuti."
If anyone can convince them not to go chasing after the kids or this cult business then its Nasuti He should get back now and tell the others what he found out.
"Who is Nasuti?"
Jenna looks back at the mirror. "Nasuti Yagyu. A friend of Touma's from Japan. I have her number somewhere." She rushes into her room to find the number.
Trevelyan just stands there staring at the mirror wondering why Touma would leave them a message now and not when this happened.
-6-
Seamus' Great Uncle Chin gets off a plane as close to Tokyo as air traffic can fly. He volunteered to come here not just to spare the boy's mother this trip-but because he knows it is possible that the boy may well be alive. He looks around the terminal before stepping up to the bank of pay phones. He dials Nasuti's number but there is still no answer and he dare not leave a message. The same thing happens with Jun. One thing he is certain of as he heads to baggage claim is that after what happened in New York and Los Angeles the governments have kept their eye on his nephew his friends and their families. And they may well believe the rumors being sensationalized by the press that the kids are alive and involved in what is happening here. He had hoped to meet with Nasuti and Jun in secret to find out what is going on this time.
-6-
The scientist sits in his new lab analyzing the armor. He had gotten out of the city as Kent and Drake took it just before everything technological had shut down. This is different not like the original armor that the kids now bare at all-but it still could prove useful to him. He can't wait to get his hands on the real thing again. He shudders in anticipation of gleaning the secrets that they hold.
"That computer tell ya anything?"
He looks up from the screen to Kent. "Not as much as I had hoped-but then this isn't the real armor-merely an imperfect stand-in. Something on your mind Kent?"
"Those tigers. Master Arago thinks they may know where this jewel of life thing he wants is."
"It could be possible I suppose."
"They're smart-just ask Drake. What I want to know is how to get close enough to watch them like the Master says without tipping them off that I'm there."
"Yes I see your concern. Pity that no tech works inside the clouds." He glances out a window they are several miles from Tokyo the cloud cover doesn't reach here so he can see Venus the misnomered evening star come out as the sun begins to set-which gives him and idea. "Perhaps low tech is the answer."
"I don't follow you."
"You know where they are at least. Try a telescope or binoculars. Somehow I doubt they will leave the kids to go anywhere-but if the master wants them watched..."
"Yeah I gotcha good idea mate."
Todd watches Kent leave. "That one isn't very bright."
"Indeed."
"Did you believe in the paranormal before all this armor stuff started happening?"
He pauses recalling the very first time that he ever met Kent when his armored mermaid made an appearance in Australia causing quite a splash in the scientific community trying to discover the source of the oceanic disturbances she caused. "I've been a believer for a very long time now."
"Ghosts?"
"Mermaids and mystical armors at first...then later sorcerers...and most recently spirits from another realm. What makes you ask?"
"I think those kids dads are helping them. That girl was in no shape to do what she did with the armor. When she spoke the attack I could hear a male's voice too and it looked like someone was holding her up and helping her aim that spear."
"Interesting. That is a development I didn't expect. It clearly gives the children an advantage and that is something we cannot allow them to have."
"Anything we can do to stop it? Torrent clearly wasn't at her best but just imagine what she might be coaxed into doing if she is."
"Perhaps I can be of assistance."
Both Todd and the scientist turn to see a spirit in the room with them.
"I am Deravon-new Lord of the Nether spirits. Master Arago is aware that the fathers can speak to Torrent. I have a plan to stop them but I will need someone the lure the fathers away and not tip off the children once my spirits are ready. We must not risk any interference until the fathers have been disposed of."
Todd glances back at the scientist. "What did you have in mind?"
-6-
White Blaze and Black Blaze have found an indoor swimming pool inside the hotel and stand staring at each other as they silently debate whether or not it might help Rachel heal faster or just help her realize what she really is. Black Blaze reasons the swim this morning didn't hurt her. White Blaze doesn't like the way she acted with the soldier and thinks water could draw out more abilities she doesn't need to know she has right now.
Daisuke wanders around the building to be alone with his thoughts. He stops at a top floor window when he sees the group of people approaching the building. He quickly rushes down as a bad feeling settles in the pit of his stomach.
Takeo practices some jabs and punches that Seamus demonstrated earlier.
Seamus and Luigi are in the hotel lounge. Seamus tosses back yet another drink.
"Next to Daisuke, you are our best fighter. Is it really a good idea for you to get drunk?"
"I'm far from drunk lad."
Rachel dreams that she is watching herself on a sea cliff dressed in some ancient era Japanese kimono dress. Her long red hair billows behind her in the breeze. In her hand is some sort of moon staff. She knows the torrent armor attack means Wave Crusher-but in the dream what is said as the staff is pointed out to sea means Lunar Tidal Falls. She looks out to see a fishing boat just visible on the horizon casting nets. She watches in horror as the rush of power unleashed upon the water sinks the vessel. She doesn't like it either but there was no sense in killing those on board.
The tigers stop their debate and race up to the lobby as they sense danger.
The others are watching the approaching cult as Touma returns. "Looks like my father-in-law was right."
Ryo glances at Touma. "About what?"
"I went to see Jenna and her father was telling her about a cult her uncle is in." He glances over at Rachel. "I think that has something to do with what the tigers don't want Rachel to know."
Shin turns to Touma. "Why would they be after Rachel?"
"That might take awhile to explain. Right now we should find some way to warn the kids."
"Where are White Blaze and Black Blaze?" Seiji looks around.
"I think they were headed downstairs." Ryo watches as Shu heads off to the lounge where Seamus and Luigi are.
Shu waves his arms as Seamus downs another drink.
When Seamus looks up in the mirror he spits out the drink.
Luigi looks up at Seamus who jumps up and leans toward the mirror behind the bar. "What's wrong?"
"I could have sworn I just saw me da-" Seamus quickly turns around as he sees people filing into the building and heading toward Rachel. "-what the bloody hell?"
Luigi turns to look at the group. "Looks like they're heading for Rachel."
"Lets go!"
Takeo totally absorbed in perfecting his new moves looks up when Seamus and Luigi rush past.
Daisuke takes a leap down off the balcony cutting the group off from Rachel. He is quickly joined by both Black Blaze and White Blaze who roar menacingly to warn the group to stay back as Daisuke realizes this looks like the group of people from his dream earlier.
"Stand aside you foolish children. We come for the goddess."
"The lass is easy on the eyes but I doubt she would appreciate you talking about her like that."
Rachel begins to stir as Seamus' voice booms close by.
"Don't make me tell you brats again-"
"-Uncle Aldrick?"
Luigi looks over at Takeo. "You know this guy?"
The man in the lead turns to Takeo. "I am glad to see the reports of your demise were greatly exaggerated. Surely nephew you must realize the importance of why we are all here."
"No you sound as nuts as ever."
"If you side with them I will not hesitate to fight you boy."
Rachel tries to get up but she is still in much pain and has been laying here for too long. She keeps quiet listening to what is going on.
"Fight me for what?"
"Pity your Grandfather never told you just how special your cousin is-then again I doubt even he knows the truth."
"My cousin?" Takeo looks back at Rachel. "You think Rachel and I are-"
"-Yuriko's mother and your mother are twin sisters boy. Surely that shouldn't be too hard for someone of your intelligence to comprehend. Now stand aside the goddess has much to learn she has no time for your foolish games."
"If you want Rachel you'll have to go through us."
Both tigers roar loudly to back up Seamus comment.
"So be it." Aldrick motions forward
As the cult members rush forward all the guys feel some strange rush of energy surge through them.
Seamus draws his hand into a fist only to find a good sized boulder from an indoor Zen rock garden flies up and then crashes down where it blocks the path of some of the cult members. "Whoa! Did I just do that?"
Daisuke looks down at his hands in which he holds fireballs that don't burn him.
Luigi could swear electricity courses through his veins and in response lights in the building pulse on and off without any power.
Seamus looks at Luigi and Daisuke then back to the cult leader. "Still want to take us on?"
Aldrick looks around at the all the guys lined up before him. "Your tricks do not scare us."
Takeo backs up closer to Rachel. He isn't really mentally prepared to find he can do something similar to the other three guys. He looks down startled as Rachel grabs onto his arm-he could swear he feels some force of energy leave her body and enter his at her touch. He walks around the sofa and helps her up.
Rachel finds herself suddenly able to move a bit much more freely now than she should after resting for awhile as her hand she used to grasp Takeo's arm tingles a bit.
The cult is about to rush forward again but stops when they see Rachel. They all quickly bow to her.
"Any idea what's going on here?"
Rachel looks over at Takeo. "No." She looks over at Black Blaze a few moments as the tiger stares at her. She speaks in a deeper more authoritative and slightly menacing voice as the tiger instructed. "Get up."
The cult members look around at each other in confusion before scrambling up.
"Goddess Yuriko-"
Rachel turns to the a fore mentioned Uncle. "-Shut Up!"
The man shrinks back at the tone of her voice.
"You will not come here and tell me what to do! It is I who command you-is that understood!?"
The guys watch bewildered as all of the cult proclaim to do Rachel's bidding.
"Leave the city now-your presence is not needed. I will handle things as I choose to do so and I choose to work with the Samurai Troopers. Try to interfere in any way and you will pay the price. Have I made myself clear?"
"But-"
She holds up her hand toward the man. "-do not force me to repeat myself!"
He staggers back from the shock as it feels like the water is about to be ripped from his very body. "Of course we do as you command."
"Then go! I do not want to see any of you until this is over-or else!" Controlling the water within the man's body she does force him back toward the others.
Takeo can tell his great uncle is none too happy with Rachel's reaction as the cult bows again before filing out.
Aldrick turns to his nephew first then looks at the other guys. "Watch over her or you will have us to answer to."
"They will answer to no one and it will be you that will pay the price if any of them are ever harmed!" Rachel glares at the man until he finally retreats with the others. When they are gone Rachel speaks normally as she looks over at Black Blaze. "Why in the Bloody Hell did you tell me to order them away like that?"
Black Blaze stares up at Rachel.
"Because they would listen to me isn't much of an answer mate."
Touma looks on stunned. "Jenna's father was right."
White Blaze looks toward the dads and shakes his head. If they intend to talk about this he doesn't want it done with in earshot of Rachel.
"And why did they think I was some goddess named Yuriko?" She waits as the tiger continues to stare at her. "Yes-I think you do know Kokuen. I had some dream about some bloke calling himself Kenbukyo that felt very real before we even set out and he was calling me Yuriko too and I doubt it was just because that is my middle name."
"And what was with their hair? It was like they were all trying to imitate yours-lass."
After the look Black Blaze gives Seamus-Daisuke doesn't dare mention his own dream about a similar group after Rachel. He wonders despite her commands if they have seen the last of that group.
"No I don't think the bloke had me confused with someone else."
Black Blaze groans before stalking off but turns one last time before leaving the room to look at Rachel.
She turns to Takeo. "He says you should go hit something its okay to break."
Takeo looks down at his hands remembering that feeling when Rachel touched him. "I'm not sure I want to find out why."
Luigi glances over at a frustrated Rachel. "Who is Kenbukyo? That name sounds familiar."
"That was the demon my dad had to fight to get the fervor swords for the Inferno armor." Daisuke looks down at his own hands as the fire dies away. "What just happened to us? No one ever mentioned that before."
"Because it never happened to us." Ryo looks at the others. "At least they have some protection until they get their armors."
"I have no idea what that was." Seamus looks at the boulder even with the added strength from the sub-armor he can barely push it around the floor. He looks up suddenly recalling the stories about the inferno armor. "Think we're going to have to use the inferno armor to stop this Empire of Doom?"
"No!"
They all turn to look at Rachel. At her sudden outburst.
Rachel glances around at the others. "That was what the dream with Kenbukyo was about. He warned that we could never unleash that armor."
"No offense but why didn't this guy tell us all that?"
Rachel looks over at Luigi. There was more to the dream but the part about the Fervor swords seems best kept to herself. She only shrugs her shoulders in response only to immediately regret doing so because of the flair up of pain.
Takeo catches that brief grimace of pain before he goes outside. He makes sure the cult is moving away before he looks for something to hit like Black Blaze said to. He settles for a piece of rubble that he is sure must have been blown here when Rachel unleashed the Torrent armor Wave Crusher attack. He punches at it just like Seamus taught him only to have it shatter to pieces. "What the Bloody Hell indeed."
Ryo, Touma, Shin, Shu, and Seiji gather outside away from Rachel. White Blaze follows to see just what Touma knows.
"So what's the deal? Were those people some sort of cult?"
Shin looks over at Shu. "They looked a lot like the group of people we met on a beach when I brought Rachel here after her accident. Strange things used to happen to her even before that. Anytime she got really upset around the water-it was like the waves were responding to her. I always thought it might be because of me wielding the armor somehow came to affect her. I never had the nerve to ask the rest of you if it happened to your sons as well. Is that why those people were after her?"
"All I know is what I overheard Jenna and her father talk about." He turns to Shin. "He knew about the two of us and the armor. I think he was scared the cult were going to get their hands on Rachel who they think is some reincarnated goddess. There was a notebook I saw him looking at-I think his father wrote it before he died. This goddess Yuriko took a mortal lover-only the parents of that man feared she was something worse."
"Worse how?"
Touma looks at Seiji before glancing at Shin. "A demoness. That's why the lover's parents cursed her to die baring the child from her union with their son. The lover fled to what is now Britten with the son-who took the immortality from the family. Every woman since has apparently also died in childbirth."
"That sounds like more like some legend than family history to me." Shu looks around to see if the cult is gone. "Could they just be trying to make Rachel think she is this Yuriko for some reason?"
Touma isn't sure if he should say anything or not-in case it really does pertain to Rachel-but he guesses it is best to have it all out in the open. "The notes I saw said they would know their goddess when she arrived by some sort of birthmark."
Shin turns away from the others at that news. "And what did it say about that?"
Touma looks around nervously at the others. "Only that it was something that the goddess' lover would have seen."
"Rachel's Nana was so fussy over her when she was born. Every little sneeze or sniffle she had to run her to the doctor. She ended up taking Rachel to three before she was finally convinced it was a birthmark and not some sign of cancer or strange rash that wouldn't clear up-known only to a lover-or anyone who diapered her as a baby."
White Blaze looks up at Shin then back inside toward Rachel. He thinks she might not want that last part ever repeated again. He does look up at Shin again.
Shin looks down at White Blaze thinking of some incidents that happened with Rachel as a child that he didn't mention. "Yes I think we can understand why you don't want Rachel to find that out."
*6*
Several hours later after reported news of the soldiers that have started to turn up dead in Tokyo eldest Redford brother Fulton slips out of the council meeting and storms into the bathroom. He checks to make sure all the stalls are empty before he takes out his cell phone and makes a call. "Aldrick-what the bloody hell is going on over there?" He stares at his cell phone for a moment as he listens to his brother ramble on. "Don't give me that crap about protecting Yuriko. Soldiers found dead as they fled the city clearly did not intend to harm her. Thanks to you it is her that everyone here is blaming for those deaths. I can't fix something like that." He turns to see the U. S. aide enter the bathroom. "What do you mean she ordered you away when you found her?" He twirls his finger around his temple to let the young man know who he is talking to.
The U. S. aide merely nods in understanding.
"If she gave you an order then you must obey it. I don't care if you think some tiger is controlling her-this is Yuriko we are talking about. No one could ever control her." He listens angered as his brother continues. "No you will not go back and take her by force. There is nothing more I can do here. Stay where you are until I get there-or you can forget the goddess' threats I will have your head myself." Fulton turns to the U. S. Aide as he ends the call. "We must get to Japan. It appears my brother is no longer fit to lead."
"I've already made the necessary arrangements. The flight leaves in an hour."
"Very well. Who else do we have contact with inside the cult? Someone needs to keep an eye on Aldrick until we get there and dispose of him if need be."
-6-
Aldrick hangs up the phone-he doesn't know who to be more upset with Yuriko or his older brother. Something is wrong with the goddess. Those tigers-the boys-between them she has become corrupted. Or maybe its even the armor changing her. What ever it is he is determined to eliminate it. As he slips away he has no idea that someone else in the cult has just gotten a call and is following him.
-6-
After everyone has calmed down Takeo finally checks out Rachel. He does his best not to scare her and the tigers are staying right beside her. "No sign of broken bones. If you had internal bleeding-at this point-I really don't think we would be having a conversation right now. I know the armor is supposed to protect us-but still I don't get it."
"I wasn't wearing the armor at the time."
"Like I said I don't get it. You shouldn't have survived that."
"Yeah-in any case I'm feeling a lot better now."
"Not according to that pain you couldn't quite hide earlier."
"So I'm still a little sore." Rachel looks over at Takeo. His uncle brought up a subject impossible to ignore. "So that Uncle of yours-thinks our Mother's were sisters?"
"Great Uncle. You can't always believe anything he says. As you put it earlier he has a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock. But-given that my Grandfather had a problem with Aussie's and your Nana the same with British guys when they both drank it could be possible I suppose-assuming they split up their daughters that is."
"Sounds like something out of a movie. You think our fathers would have known if they married sisters. That kooky bloke sure sounded like he knew what he was talking about." Rachel pauses for a few moments. After the dream she had prior to waking up the group of people this great uncle was leading gives her the creeps. Rather than focus on it anymore she changes the subject. "So give it to me straight doc-despite my seemingly impossible survival am I going to live?"
"I'm not that sort of doctor-but I think with some rest you'll be fine."
Seamus watches from across the room. "It really pisses me off that someone could do that to another human being."
Luigi looks up at Seamus and then over at Rachel. "You mean that she was-"
"-yeah that. I would really like to meet up with the guy that did that to her and show him what happens when someone messes with my friends."
Friends? Luigi thinks that they all barely know each other. He looks up at Takeo who joins them. "Is she okay?"
"I'm not a medical doctor-I just have EMT training. As far as I can tell she just took a very bad beating and is going to be very sore for awhile."
"The armor is supposed to protect and even heal us from stuff like that-or at least that is what I was told. Maybe she shed it a little too soon." Daisuke looks up as White Blaze comes over to them and appears to mull that thought over in his head.
"I can tell you that despite the front she puts up-mentally she is not so okay and I'm not sure she ever will be." Takeo watches as she starts to get up and Black Blaze pushes her back down on the sofa.
Rachel tries to get back up but Black Blaze holds her down. "I think I've had enough rest for a little while if that's where you're thinking."
Black Blaze looks Rachel up and down giving her a going over himself-something is off about her. Takeo was right even in the sub-armor she should have been hurt a lot worse than what she was.
"Watch where you're sticking that nose mate-don't go getting fresh with me if you know what's good for you."
Black Blaze looks up at her annoyed for a moment-that act might have scared the cult but it doesn't phase him.
"Are you finished now? Or did you have something else in mind?"
For now Black Blaze leaves her alone as Daisuke comes over.
"Everything okay?"
"Aside from him acting like he's putting in an application for boyfriend-I reckon so." She looks up at Daisuke. "That was a joke-and not a very good one I admit." She laughs as Black Blaze seems to turn and stick his tongue out at her. She quickly settles down as her stomach begins to feel queasy again. "Something on your mind?"
"Several things but only one you might have an answer to."
"The armor?" Rachel looks down at her armor crystal and its character. "Trust-I think I know what your question is. But I'm not so sure it has anything to do with what you may be thinking. Sure I had-still have some trust issues to deal with-but this is not the first time that we have crossed paths and even as a kid I could tell there was no one more suited to the Wildfire's virtue of Jin than you."
"Then how do you think you got the armor?"
"I think that I had to prove myself worthy of wielding it-sure in the process when I came back I embraced the virtue. That may be a part of it but I don't think that is all of it. Ever hear the one about Stone losing faith in his armor and not being able to use it?"
"Yeah."
"I think you're having a similar issue mate. But what you need is to have confidence in yourself and your ability to take charge."
"Confidence huh?"
"That's why you're so good at your martial arts-it brings that out in you."
"I can understand that...but still..." Daisuke looks down at his hands.
"...You have trouble being confident in any thing else. I saw something earlier when that cult was in here that you may not even be aware of."
"What was that?"
"The fire burning within you...giving you strength to do what you need to. I'm guessing you've felt it and just didn't know what it was."
He looks back up at Rachel. "At the volcano when I knew that's where I needed to be."
"Now I think you're starting to get it mate. Ever tried mediation? Maybe just a simple little visualization will help you when the time is right."
"I've dabbled a time or two but never took it up regularly."
"Start by visualizing the embers that are with in you. Once you find them fan them until you have a roaring fire and feed from its strength. Let it burn away all self doubt and fear of failing and fill you with courage and confidence."
"You make it sound so easy."
"My dad taught me after the accident to help when I got frustrated. Well not with a fire visual. Water has always been my thing." She smirks. "You can trust me I know what I'm talking about."
"Being that trust is your virtue I don't have much of a choice now do I? I'll have to rely on my innate sense of the virtue of Jin for now and search for that inner fire."
"Find it-fan it-feed off it. Meditate on that for awhile and maybe next time you need the armor it will respond to you. And...one more thing. You should stop blaming all this on yourself. This didn't happen just because you heard some stories as a kid and wanted to wield the armor someday."
Daisuke finds himself shocked. Sure he feels that but never said it. "Is it that obvious?"
"All of us were bound to feel that way at some point or another. Kids dream things like that-well then again maybe not Takeo."
They both burst out laughing over that remark.
Seamus looks over at Daisuke and Rachel. "What's so funny over there?"
Chapter 6 Play-list
Rachel: I Can't Stand the Rain-Tina Turner
Daisuke: Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
Luigi: Lights-Journey
Seamus: 99 Bottles-Zane Williams
Takeo: Blue Sky-Hanson
White Blaze and Black Blaze: Dreaming About the Lions Again-Ryan Adcock
Ryo, Touma, Seiji, Shin, Shu: If God Will Send His Angels-U2
Grandfather of Takeo and Rachel: Grandpa-The Judds
Yuriko's cult: Open Eyes-Live
One gleaming error my editor keeps pointing out is the track for Black Blaze and White Blaze in this chapter's play-list. I happened upon the track referencing large cats. Like I said I don't have a lot of songs about cats. I used the song I did to represent the frustration that the tigers feel about the situation with the kids who aren't prepared for what they are about to face and one that grows ever closer to learning about a dark past that they feel should be kept secret. There was just so much in the last chapter that I needed to cut it in half and therefore chopped up my original play-list because not every song was relevant to both chapters and more stuff got added that needed to be with all the changes from the original. This one is all over the place style wise.
As promised a note on Yuriko's attack phrase-Lunar Tidal Falls. First off if anyone can translate that to phonetic Japanese I would appreciate it since Yuriko would have spoken Japanese. I wanted it to be based on both the moon and the water-thus how Lunar and Tidal part came about. Those sort of just went together since the moon affects tides. That just didn't seem complete and there were several options to go with it some of which I scrapped before posing the best ones to my cousin Amanda-because she is good at figuring out these things. Her reasoning was that tidal was a powerful water reference that went with another one which was falls and we both liked the ring of that one. Falls has a special connotation to me because I love waterfalls-that's what part of my name-Lynn means and it enforces the Lunar part that would elude to Yuriko's powers not being of the Earth-if you think of it as power from the Moon falling to Earth. Wave may have been the best option but I hesitated to use it for a few reasons-one being it just seemed to be in bad taste after what happened in Japan following the earthquake and the other being that wave was used several times in the series.
One other note I want to make here. I see names spelled different ways. Touma/Toma Mouri/Mouri Shu/Shuu etc-I got my spellings from subtitles that may not have been 100% accurate but I'm sticking to them because I am old and set in my ways. The same goes for most of the translations. I get those from subtitles too. I have been informed 'Jin' is really benevolence rather than righteousness-most people I'm around on a daily basis thinks benevolence has negative connotations for some odd reason known only to them. I have looked up those terms and either way you're dealing with an all around good guy that keeps either ideal in his heart. Same situation arises with 'shin' being faith and not trust-its not that big of a deal to me on that one since those terms are interchangeable-trust is also a more politically correct term these days. So-I'm just sticking with subtitles even if they aren't 100% accurate-they're at least in the ballpark so to speak.
Also about the word demoness. My word processor keeps screaming at me that is a misspelling. I'm at least mildly (so far) OCD and one of the things I get OCD about is woman getting referred to by masculine titles. To me it should be actress-mistress-goddess-demoness, etc-so on and so forth and that is how I refer to them in my writing. Its not a woman's lib thing (if that is even an issue there in that respect) with me-just the OCD kicking in-maybe my own brand of insanity based political correctness to boot. So that's the reasoning behind me continually referring to Yuriko as a demoness-if anyone out there is wondering.