Here's the next one. Enjoy.
"So now what?"
It was the question on everyone's mind; just Shu was the first one to vocalize it.
"He's expecting us to come and listen to a deal." Ryo said, "I don't think it'll be one we like."
"Of course it isn't." Rajura spoke, holding his disappointment of the day, "It's going to be one he wants and we'll suffer the consequences."
"So we should just go get him." Anubisu said, not holding his anger back, "He's toyed with us long enough."
"We don't know what he can do with the armor of Venom." Seiji spoke softer.
"Nothing has changed." The warrior of darkness said, slamming his fist onto the table, "It's not like the new armors. It's the same one from Arago. We know what power to expect of it. That's why we need to go get him before he learns everything."
"I agree." Shu said. Ryo also nodded his head.
"Charging into his part of the Demon World isn't wise though." Rajura argued back, "Like what has been said before, the land itself can harm us."
"So we burn everything in our path." Anubisu said, "Rekka's good about that."
"Yeah because that sounds like a logical, thought out plan." Touma coughed.
"Do you have anything better?"
"Guys," Ryo sighed, "Shin, Kayura; you've both been quiet."
Shin sighed, "I agree with Shu and Anubisu. I've had a personal vendetta against him for a year now since the helicopter incident. He's caused me enough pain. We need to go soon."
"'In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior.'"
Touma gave Seiji a blank stare, "Did you really just quote the man who founded the scientific method?"
"Yes," Seiji didn't smile, "I did, and it would be wise if some of us took it to heart. We all want to stop him, but it should not be because of what he's done to us personally but because of duty."
Kayura sat quietly. She didn't have any knowledge about Masafumi. It was clear to her that he knew how to enter the Human World and quickly escape back into the Demon World. He also knew how to attack when they were not expecting him.
"We must go, assuming he wants us to listen and that means all of us. We all know it will be a trap." She finally spoke, "It won't be easy. Our emotions are running wild, and we will be on his ground. But it is our job to go and try to stop him."
"I still don't like it." Seiji said.
"Sometimes being too careful means nothing will be done." Kayura sighed, "But we must be mentally ready to go."
"I'm ready." Ryo said, "Let's get this done."
"I'm ready to bash a few skulls in." Shu added.
The remaining Masho nodded their heads in agreement, while Seiji let out a grunt.
"I didn't fly twelve hours to sit here." Touma said with a grin.
"Shin?" Kayura said, awaiting his answer.
"Yeah, let's go."
"We'll meet outside then." She said.
Watching everyone walk out, she turned to the warrior of water.
"Shin, what's on your mind?"
"It's nothing."
He watched her face change as he lied, "Is it really nothing?"
"Yes."
"Revenge is a normal emotion you know, although, I wasn't expecting it to come from you."
"That's nothing new."
"Come on Shin," she took to a lighter tone, "If where we're going is where I think it is, you'll enjoy it."
"I thought the land was deadly?"
"It is, but you'll see when we get there. When all of this is done, I'll give you time to enjoy it. Trust me."
"I trust you."
"Come on slow pokes!" the heard Shu from outside.
After taking longer to bring everyone into the Demon World, Touma stopped to look at the place. The gears in his brain were starting.
"It looks the same." Seiji said softly, "Like a few years didn't even pass."
"Yeah." Ryo added, staring at the place.
"I'll bring horses out. We'll get there faster." Kayura said.
"Hey Seiji," Touma was rubbing his chin, "Have you ever been to one of those Warring State Period reenactments?"
"A few times. Why?"
"Because I want to reenact a large battle using the Youja." Touma smiled.
"We don't have time for you to start these little projects of yours." Seiji sighed.
There was a moment of silence.
Rajura broke it up when he laughed, "I understand your plan."
"Phew, I'm glad someone picked up on it."
"Attack him with the Youja." Ryo joined Rajura's laughter, "Touma, you're a genius."
"So I've heard. How long will it take to get everything together?"
"Minutes." Anubisu said.
"Good. We'll bring them. Rajura can 'hide' them and then when the trap pops open, we'll have our own trick."
"You think it will work?" Seiji asked.
"If it doesn't, we still have thousands of spirit soldiers to attack with." Touma's smile kept getting larger, "It can be our Sekigahara."
"Or we can just pretend that we're fighting snake-men." Shin quickly said. Ryo nodded.
"Oh yeah, clans from the losing side. There goes my plan." Touma sighed.
Seiji laughed, "They don't understand what happens when a Date and a Hashiba work together."
"I don't get it." Shu said.
"Don't worry about it Shu. It's nothing important." Shin said.
After spending an hour listening to Touma narrate their march to the battlefield, Shin stopped to grab a couple of flowers to stuff in his ears. It didn't help that Seiji egged him on with information. Anubisu and Kayura were silently laughing at Touma's version of 'leading the men' to the fight. Ryo and Shu were in the rear, talking quietly. Byauken was by Ryo's side. Known to them, Rajura's hidden army was right behind them all, quietly following as planned.
Kayura said something about heading in the right direction when they hit dry solid land. Shin didn't hear what Ryo said next, because of his new earplugs, but he guessed it had something to do with the strange bluish trees. Minutes later he saw what he assumed Kayura talked about before. Being surrounded by purplish palm trees was a crystal clear lake.
"Wow, that's some still water." Touma said, seeing that nothing was disturbing it, "It's so clear."
"Is this the place?" Shin asked Kayura.
"It is." She smiled, "I thought you'd enjoy it."
It didn't take long until Shin jumped into the water.
"There's something calming about it." He said after floating on the surface, "I could stay here forever."
"We have a crazy man with the armor of venom running around, remember." Ryo reminded him.
"I do." He sighed, then stopped noticing a dark spot in the water, "Hey, there's something over there."
"Well don't swim to it." Touma said, not that the warrior of water took the advice.
After diving to check it out, Shin came back up, "It's a cave. It looks like it runs pretty deep."
"And we're swimming into cave entrances again." Shu sighed.
"Hopefully this one doesn't have Hero Statues." Ryo added.
"I was going to let Fish-boy check it out. No need to follow him yet." Anubisu said.
Then they heard the tiger growl.
Following the cave, Shin realized that it was really deep into the ground. He had to call Suiko on to continue which made it harder to navigate the small areas he was getting into. By the end of the tunnel, he had taken the armor off. Catching his breath, he noticed a man sitting in front of him. Shin's eyes grew large.
"You're supposed to be in prison." He said in English.
"Surprised to see me?" the Irishman said with a grin, "One thing about working with Masafumi is that he doesn't leave his fellow snakes behind to rot in a human prison. He's a good lad."
"You were going to shoot me in the head. Why didn't you?"
"Oh I was. Your damn armor wouldn't let me, but I left my mark on you. You're a lucky one too. I heard the other guy died." He smiled.
"This is a trap isn't it?" Shin said, hearing a loud noise from above.
"No, your friends are in a middle of a trap. You and I have some unfinished business to take care of." The sounds of a hammer being pulled back filled the cave.
Being aware of it this time, Shin was able to take cover to call his armor back. He then leaped over the cover with his trident ready to take the man out. Seeing the armor, the Irishman threw his gun, hitting Shin in the head and started running in the opposite direction. It was futile as Shin ran faster, and knocked him into the ground.
"You should have kept the gun." Shin growled, hitting him once in the face before throwing him into the water filled tunnel.
The sounds of fighting were getting louder. Shin knew he had to get back up there quickly. Bringing the faceplate together, he pointed his weapon towards the roof and blasted it with water. The tunnel was quickly filled with water, letting Shin swim up. He soon noticed that the Youja were not hidden. It was definitely the trap they were expecting. It was like watching a terribly written movie filled with samurai, ninjas, and snakes. If it wasn't for the fact his friends were getting beaten up, he'd laugh.
He was getting out of the hole when Shu was thrown into him. The both heard a loud crack. Realizing that it wasn't from either of them, but the wooden they hit, they helped each other up.
"Yo Shin, you got hit bad." Shu said looking at the cut above Shin's left eyebrow.
"You too. Your cheek's bleeding."
"Nothing a little dirt won't help with." Shu smiled, "Careful around the tree roots. They like throwing things."
"Got it." Shin said, wiping his eyebrow.
Soon Touma was thrown at their feet.
"Is the party here?" he mumbled.
"No, you flew a bit much." Shin laughed.
"Remind me to never take Tree Root Airlines again."
"Is Masafumi here?" Shin asked.
"Yeah, he and Ryo are near the lake at the moment." Touma responded, "The others are busy fighting snakes and ninjas in the forest."
"So we go to Ryo?" Shin hinted.
"Yeah, or he'll come to us." Touma said, before the warrior of fire landed in the water.
Bringing their weapons up, the trio saw Masafumi in the armor of venom charge them.
"Shin, grab Ryo." Touma yelled.
Nodding, the warrior of water dove into the lake to grab their unconscious leader. Feeling his ankle jerk back, Shin's chin caught a tree root.
"This fish isn't getting into the water." Masafumi said with a laugh.
Notching an arrow, Touma aimed it towards the enemy.
"Dude, he has Shin in his hands."
"Yes, we are going to play the hostage game." The new bearer of venom said, "And I'll make it more interesting."
He brought a sword up to the cut on Suiko's face. Looking at the weapon with his clear eye, Shin could see the poison roll to the tip. Not knowing what else to go, he started blowing the poison away from him. Seeing that the poison wasn't going away, he looked towards the water. Ryo was watching from the water, waiting for the right moment.
"Touma, shoot." Shin let out.
"Did he say shoot?" Shu asked.
"I think he did."
Masafumi laughed, "You three are funny. I could use comedians to entertain me when I take the Demon World over."
Touma's arrow started to gain power.
"Are you really going to?" Shu asked worried.
"Yep."
Taking the chance, Ryo jumped up with his swords. At the same time, Touma was about to let go until Shu used his spear to force the arrow into the sky.
"No!" Touma screamed watching the arrow fly into the sky.
Masafumi's hold on Shin loosened as Ryo got closer, allowing Shin to move, but not stop the sword going towards Ryo. The warrior of fire caught the blade in the chest.
"Aw shit." Shu let out.
Trying to counter, Shin went for the kill, bringing his trident into the armor. Letting out a yell, Masafumi elbowed Shin in the face. Then the sword in Masafumi's right hand went into the warrior's torso. Watching both of their friends fall, Shu started twisting his spear. Masafumi was struggling to stand, knowing that his time was also to end.
"Shu, you'll-" Touma's call of concern fell on deaf ears by Shu's power attack.
Touma instead dove into the hole that Shin created.
Hearing tons of earth moving, Seiji looked back towards where the lake was. The three Masho gave him a look of concern.
"Go," Kayura said, "We'll be fine here."
Seiji nodded. Byauken took off as soon as Korin got on. As he came to the edge of the lake, he saw Shu on his knees. Touma was seen trying to stop bleeding on Ryo's chest.
"What happened?" Seiji asked.
"I killed them both." Shu let out, "How was I so stupid?"
Touma stopped to wipe his brow, "Seiji, they're both gone."
"Where's Masafumi?"
"In the bottom of this crater somewhere with Shin." Touma answered softly.
"Dude, I fucked this one up badly." Shu said, "I thought you were going to blow Shin and Masafumi up at the same time. I didn't even see Ryo come up."
"Shu," Seiji said, putting a hand onto Shu's shoulder, "It's going to be fine."
"No man, I got them both killed."
The blonde sighed, and looked to Touma for the answer. Touma's face indeed gave him the grave news about their friends. Looking into the water filled crater, Seiji ran down into it. It took a moment to look for what he needed, but he came up with Suiko's body. Taking the sword out, he turned.
"What are you doing?" Touma asked.
"Nasuti said that the armor of venom can be used to heal. It's supposed to be better than Korin's."
"They're dead. You can't heal them."
"Shut up, Touma."
Seiji kneeled by Ryo first. He tried to focus on the sword's power.
"Come on, give me something." Nothing happened, "Fuck."
"Now what?" Shu asked.
"Nothing. I can't do anything." Seiji sighed in defeat, throwing the sword into the water, "Dammit."
The three Masho came to the scene slowly. They didn't have to ask to know what had happened.