Warning, there's lots of drinking in this chapter. Enjoy!
The jeep had stopped off the side of the road. Shu and Ryo had spent a few minutes arguing as to where they were before Shu pulled over so Touma could look at the map. Starring at it for a long time, Touma sighed, and put it down.
"You two had the map upside-down."
"What," Ryo glanced at it, "I swear it was upright."
Touma grinned, "I'm teasing. We're right here."
He was pointing to a place near Mt. Fuji. Ryo gave him a look, before turning to Shu and showing him.
"Sweet," Shu said, "Is Seiji buckled in?"
"He is." Shin responded.
Shu then took the old jeep onto a dirt road. The jeep spun around at the end of the road, tossing everyone around before stopping right as the grass turned into beach.
"Lake party, here we come."
"Speaking of lake parties," Touma said getting out of the jeep. He headed straight towards an unsuspecting Shin and threw him into the water.
"Swim little fishy." Touma laughed.
Shin came back up coughing up water, "You always throw me in."
"Are you guys going to untie me?" Seiji asked, finally getting the tape off his mouth.
Ryo laughed, as he undid the knots. Seiji rubbed his arms real quick before pushing Shin back into the water as he was climbing the bank.
Coming up coughing again, Shin then yelled, "What was that for?"
"Ruining my new counter tops and tying me up." Seiji said before giving him a grin.
Shin snorted as he attempted to climb the bank again. He was stopped short by Shu.
"Sorry, everyone else did it." Shu laughed as Shin cursed at him.
Ryo lend his hand to help Shin up.
"What?" Ryo asked when Shin was hesitant about taking it, "You think I want you to give me a wet hug?"
"They seem to forget that that's what happens next." Shin laughed. He then took off to shake the water off of him and onto the other three.
Ryo shook his head as Touma became melodramatic with Shin hugging him.
"Help, I'm getting raped by a wet man. He tried to kill me earlier with scissors."
"Touma, I can't say that you didn't deserve it." Ryo said.
"I'm impressed that Shin shook himself like a dog to get the water off." Seiji said, trying to push the wet warrior away, "You smell like wet dog."
As Shin went to give Shu the same punishment, he got a surprise instead. Shu grabbed his head and gave him a kiss and held him there. Shin threw up his arms in protest to push himself away.
"Our 'cheer up Seiji' party just turned gay." Ryo sighed.
Touma nodded, "We haven't even opened the beer yet."
Seiji sighed, "We brought alcohol?"
"Yep." Touma smiled holding a bottle, "He's going to need this to clean his mouth with."
Gladly taking the bottle, Shin gave Shu a nasty look before chugging it down quickly.
"Shu, what did you eat?" Shin said, before opening another.
"Kimchi." Shu grinned, "Tastes wonderful doesn't it?"
Shin still had a disgusted look on his face, "You ate something else."
Shu paused, "I did have that bean dip and chips. Oh, and the jerky and pickles."
The other three headed back towards the jeep as Shin turned a shade of green. He heard Touma yell something about drinking the two beers and wasting them if he threw up.
"Shin, you going to be okay?" he heard Ryo call out.
Now on his knees, Shin gave Ryo a thumbs-up. After a bit, Shin stood up and gave Shu another look before getting a fire going. Minutes later, Shin turned the cooking over to Shu. He changed his clothes before returning to the campsite. Then he flopped to the ground, listening to everyone else talk about the plans they had for the next day.
"Yeah, if I get Byauken to show up, I'll hide the flag." Ryo said, "But until then, it may just be a fight until everyone quits."
"So wait," Seiji frowned, "The plan tonight is to get so drunk that we all have hangovers so bad that trying to make plans to ambush each other becomes a difficult task?"
"Yep." Touma smiled, "Simulates body and mind stress."
"Sounds dumb." Seiji shook his head, "We might as well not eat tonight."
"Not eat?" Shu yelled, "You sir, are crazy."
"I second that." Shin added, putting a hand up in the air.
"Here buddy," Touma laughed, "You need another."
Shin felt the bottle hit him, "It's all shaken up."
"Better chug it then."
"I hate you guys. Why am I the only one drinking?"
"Because once you jump into the water, you'll feel better." Touma said, "So drink up. We're teammates tomorrow."
"So how is having a bad hangover and fighting each other a 'cheering Seiji up' party?" Seiji looked at Touma and Ryo.
"Simple." Touma said, opening a bottle for him and Ryo, then they hit each others, "Cheers. Seiji, you'll enjoy tonight if you just go with the plan."
"Go with the flow." Shin added.
"You all are immature fools." Seiji sighed.
"Et vous êtes un imbécile coincé." The red head responded.
"Shin," Shu poked him, "Japanese please. We don't understand that language."
"Stop giving me beer."
"Here's another." Touma smirked.
"Thanks." Shin sitting up, "Hey."
"Drink up, lightweight."
"I am not!"
Seiji spent the next few hours watching Shin, Touma and Shu make fools out of themselves. Ryo was simply listening to their odd topics, while trying to think of what to say to Seiji to get him to lighten up. But he didn't have to when Seiji spoke.
"Whose idea was it again to come out here?"
"Shu suggested it." Ryo said, "We've all just noticed a few things about that we're worried about."
Seiji snorted, "Like what?"
"Picking a fight with Shin when it was uncalled for."
"He gave the world our names. Do you know how many people are constantly bothering me about the armor?"
"Don't you think we all get bothered?" Ryo said shifting around to face his friend, "But this isn't about what happened. This is about making sure you're fine."
"I'm out in the woods with three drunken men and one with a broken leg. Of course I'm not fine."
"Years ago, you were a drunken teen with four other drunken teens."
"We grew up and had families. This is ridiculous."
"Is it really? Touma told me that you and Nasuti are fighting."
Seiji turned his head, "Her work takes her away a lot, so I'm stuck at home taking care of everything and the dojo. Soon I'll have a child to take care of as well. Yayoi's moved away, and Satsuki is about to leave now that she's done with school."
They both heard snoring coming from where Shu was. Touma was also passed out and Shin seemed to be close, as he was quietly singing to himself.
"Shin, are you awake?"
"J'ai besoin d'crier que je t'aime" he was mumbling some song.
"He'll be out in a few minutes." Seiji said.
"Yep." Ryo then went back to what he was meaning to ask, "Have you asked Nasuti if you can go with her on her trips?"
"Ryo, what are you getting at?"
"I'm just making sure you're fine."
Seiji took at glance at the stars above, "No. I'm not fine. I'm guessing that you want me to tell you why."
Ryo nodded.
"Well, here it goes then." Seiji paused, "I don't want to work at the dojo anymore. I see that everyone has gone somewhere and doing what they want to do instead of what their family wants them to do. When Shin joined the Maritime Agency, I wanted to go with him because it was something he wanted to do. No one pressured him. He was happy jumping out of helicopters and dating my sister. And then Touma went to California. I wanted to go there too. He became a wild child, not caring about anything but school and things that he wouldn't have done here."
"You would have smoked marijuana with Touma?"
"Hell yeah I would have if I had the chance." Seiji said, "But I'm stuck with the damn dojo."
"You gave him a lecture every time he talked about it."
"Because I wasn't having fun listening to him." Seiji sighed, "I went to one of your games when you played in Sendai."
"You did?"
"Yeah, it was fun watching it. The next day though, my grandfather was angry with me. I cleaned the entire place until he was happy with it."
"So what do you want to do?" Ryo asked.
"I want to buy a damn rally car and race it." Seiji smiled, "With Touma's help, we could build a good one."
"So do it already!" they heard someone say.
Ryo and Seiji gave each other a look.
"Was that Touma?" Ryo asked.
"I have no idea." Seiji sat up to look.
Sure enough, Touma was sitting up, looking at the bottles lying around him.
"Get a damn rally car." Touma continued before laying back down, "Or I swear, I'll throw you into the lake. This whole 'I have a dojo killing me' excuse is getting old."
"Someone didn't drink enough." Seiji smiled.
"Someone isn't drinking. You think that I'm going to have a hangover if you don't? Shin and I are going to win this, and you and Shu are going to drinking lake water."
"Ha." Seiji laughed, "Let's see which one of them walks in the morning. Shin drank more and he's skinny. Shu's fatness will help me tomorrow."
"Only if he can go without eating tomorrow."
Ryo gave them both a look, "So you're going to compete?"
Staring at his friend, Seiji smirked, "Yeah I am. Hand me a beer. I'm supposed to be having fun."
Touma grinned as he opened another one for himself.
When Shin felt his side being kicked, he opened his eyes. Touma was already in his armor, ready to duke it out against Seiji and Shu.
"Come on Fish-boy, we have a flag to find."
"My head's ringing."
"Your ears will be too, if we lose." Touma dropped something on Shin's head, "Eat that and armor up."
Looking around, Shin noticed they were not by the lake at all. Grabbing the piece of jerky that was dropped on his head, he took one sniff of it and had to go throw up.
"Hmm, can't have you throwing up as you look for the flag." Touma said, before pulling something out, "Here, drink this."
"Are you trying to kill me?" Shin asked, "It's vodka."
"Drink it. You're not sober anyways."
Shin took a sip before coughing. Although he didn't like it, it did lessen the headache. He wrapped the string of the flask around his shoulder.
"Now eat the jerky and armor up."
"Why am I looking for the flag?"
"Because knowing Seiji, he and Shu are going to be close together." Touma smiled, "I'll be following you in some undisclosed distance."
"That makes me feel better."
"Hey, you just have to handle Seiji and Shu long enough for me to sneak up on them."
Shin was a bit skeptical about his plan, because Touma had always used him as bait every time they were paired together. And sometimes, Shin knew that Touma would be late to come into the fight. Putting his armor on, Shin started in the direction Touma pointed. On the way, Shin decided to cover his armor with mud. Light blue and silver stuck out in the woods and from the training he had years ago, being seen was not what he wanted.
Stopping for a quick drink at a stream, Shin could hear someone curse from his left. He knew it was Shu, and knowing Seiji, he wasn't far behind.
"Damn drinking games, damn hangover, damn hungry stomach." Shu continued cursing everything, "What does this flag look like?"
"It's checkered." Shin heard Seiji off to his right.
Sticking his trident into the ground, Shin prepared to move the water from the stream. Watching Seiji, Shin heard Shu trip. Using that moment, Shin attacked with the stream at Seiji. Caught unprepared, Seiji was pushed back, allowing Shin to sneak up on Shu.
"Shu, Shin's around." Seiji yelled out, looking for the warrior of water.
He knew that Touma was probably going after the flag like the sneaky, greedy bastard he was. But now, he had to worry about Shin, who he couldn't see until Shu jumped up and collided with him.
"Shin, you sneaky bastard." Shu said, having a strength match against Shin, "You covered your armor in mud."
Breaking out of the match, Shin spun the weapon around to trip Shu, before swinging at the incoming Seiji. The warrior of light jumped over his attack, and swung at him as he landed. Shin fell forward onto Shu who pushed him back towards Seiji. Levering his trident into Shu's spear, he was able to push himself back, kicking Seiji with his feet, before throwing Shu into the warrior of light.
"Shu get off." Seiji yelled, pushing him off.
"Sorry."
Getting up, Shin was nowhere in sight. Cursing to himself, he closed his eyes to listen for him instead. Behind him, Shu was throwing up whatever was left in his stomach. The fight and last night's drinking were beating him.
Feeling the effects of the night before, Shin took the chance to gather his breath and stomach contents. With the headache coming back, Shin wasn't feeling good either. Grabbing the flask, Shin was grateful for Touma's odd choice in liquor, but he still needed to drink some water to fully sober up. But that was delayed by an attacking Seiji. Missing the sword, Shin was caught in the face by a clothes line. Finally recovering, Shu came sprinting over.
"Where's Touma?" Seiji asked.
"I don't know; he's probably grabbing the flag." Shin sighed.
"You don't know how right you are." They heard Touma.
The warrior of air was in a tree waving the flag around.
"You dirty son of a bitch." Shu yelled.
Seiji sighed as Shin let his head fall to the ground. He knew that he was the bait, again.
"Smell you two later," Touma said, "I have a flag to return."
He then headed off into another direction. Shu and Seiji began to chase after him. Swinging his trident around, Shin caught them both in the ankles tripping them. He then got up to follow his teammate. Seiji and Shu spent the next ten minutes chasing them until they both crashed into a stopped Shin. Looking up, all three were looking at a tourist bus that had stopped to view Mt. Fiji. With both parties having a stare down, neither knew what to do next until one tourist took a picture of them. Then a wave of flashes followed along with conversations of seeing the men with the magical armor. Getting up, Seiji turned around to head back down the hill. Shin gave them a smile and a wave before being dragged off by Shu.
Now lost, the trio stopped for a break. They were in their underarmor, sitting under the trees talking about what they were going to do to Touma when they saw him next.
"Did you know that Touma named his girl after the Pink Power Ranger?" Seiji said, arms crossed and eyes closed.
"What?" Shu smirked.
"Think about it." Seiji started, "Her name is Kimberly Amy Hashiba. The actress isn't even that pretty."
Shu spat out, "Are you blind? She's a babe."
"Swing!"
"Thanks Shin."
"No problem."
Seiji shook his head, "That's not the point."
Shu shrugged him off, "Touma's a smart guy, it's just when it comes to being creative he lacks something."
"Right?" Shin added, "He did the same plan we used last time we did these games and we still won."
Shin received a face full of dirt from Seiji.
"He used you."
"I'm used to being used."
Shu grinned, "Then get over here, you big slut. I have a headache you can get rid of."
"No thanks." Shin gave him a look, before looking at the flask, "Here; if he abandoned us, we can at least drink all of his vodka."
"Nothing like more alcohol for breakfast." Seiji added.
Shu snorted, "You're not hung-over."
"Neither is Shin." Seiji threw back.
"What are you talking about?" Shin grinned, "I'm still drunk from last night. Suiko's the one that is sober."
"Suiko doesn't control you."
"And I'm grateful for that, but Suiko does a good job of controlling the liquor."
Shu then thought of a nasty idea, "So if Suiko keeps you sober, you could drink all of that and still make it back to camp."
"If you think I'm going to finish this flask, you're crazy."
"Lightweight." Shu sang.
Shin thought about it for a moment. He knew that it was a bad idea, but hey, they were on a crazy camping trip right?
"Fine." Shin grinned, "I finish this flask, and if I can get back to camp without you two carrying me, you two get to jump into the lake after the sun goes down."
"And if you can't?" Shu asked.
"He admits that he's a lying, lightweight slut to Touma." Seiji said, "That is, after you kiss him with Suiko on."
Shu grinned, "He's not going to do it."
"Come on Shin," Seiji egged him on, "Drink the vodka."
Shin swallowed his pride, "My liver is going to hate me."
Uncapping the flask, Shin plugged his nose. Seiji had to turn away because while he was chugging it, Shin started to go pale. Shu's headache became worse watching it. Shin finished, throwing the flask to the ground.
"What did they teach you in France?" Shu asked.
Coughing, Shin tried to answer, but couldn't stop the fit to. He felt like throwing his guts out, but he didn't want to lose this one.
"Shin, you okay?" Seiji asked, sounding worried.
"Yeah." Shin finally got out, "Vodka's not really something to chug."
"Okay then," Shu said getting up, "Let's try to find our way back to camp."
As part of the deal, Shin put Suiko back on. Seiji offered to carry the weapon, but Shin shook his head.
It was about noon when Touma, Ryo and Byauken found the trio. Ryo and Touma gave Shin a strange look.
"What's wrong with you?" Touma asked.
Seiji responded by throwing the flask at him.
"That was expensive." Touma shouted, "You guys, that was supposed to last me until the flight home."
"Well, now Shin is seeing if Suiko can stop the effects of alcohol." Seiji grinned, "How you feeling Shin?"
"Someone kill me, please?" he was using his weapon to lean on.
"I give him another minute until he passes out." Seiji said, "Then we'll have to find a body of water to throw him in so he doesn't get poisoned from the alcohol."
"That's kinda pushing the power of the armors." Ryo added, then turned to Shin, "Dude, just puke it out."
"Come on Shin," Shu grinned, "Do it."
Nodding, Shin stuck his finger down his throat.
"I hate you all." Shin spat out.
Grabbing a bottle of water, Ryo hobbled over to hand it to him. Shin gladly took it.
"Do it Shin, you lost our bet." Shu shouted.
Shin gave him the finger before saying what he was supposed to. Then doing what Shu did the day before, grabbed Touma's face. Ryo sighed, knowing very well that everyone was a bit crazy.
"Oh Shin!" Touma reacted, "I didn't think you could make me shiver all over!"
Touma gave him the same treatment. Shin then hit him in the face.
Later that night after everyone was calm and more sober, Ryo made a speech about the ten years they've known each other and how their bond wasn't going to break even if they moved away from each other. Then Touma proposed that Seiji needed to take Nasuti out on a date when they got back.
"Haircut." Shu added.
"Why?" Seiji asked.
"Because you have had that same style forever." Shin spoke, "Try something new."
"Yeah," Touma grinned, "If you can give her the same feeling Shin gave me earlier, the two of you will be fine taking care of each other and the baby. The haircut will just add to it."
Touma then felt a rock hit him in the head.
Seiji crossed his arms, "I look fine."
"Ten years ago."
"Shut up Touma. Your hair styles haven't looked good in a long time."
After a long argument, Seiji gave up. He would let them cut his hair, and after seeing Shin pull the scissors out of the jeep, he felt scared. Like they were going to do it whether he liked it or not.