Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Kenbukyou ( Chapter 24 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 23: KENBUKYOU

Ningen-Sekai-
Nasty-


Nasty and Noin smiled when they heard the faint, yet very recognizable, sounds coming from behind the door of Trieze's bedroom. With identical smiles, the two girls gave each other triumphant high-fives.

"Yes!" Noin shouted. "I knew Zechs had it in him, or rather Millardo had it in him."

Nasty was smiling smugly. "It's about time, too. Trieze needs someone like Zechs and Millardo. Now he can take care of Zechs and feel needed and have Millardo take care of him."

"Well," Noin said as she started walking toward the door Wufei had left open. "I should go home. I've got some important...er... errands to run."

Nasty, hearing something odd in her friend's voice, gave Noin a concerned look. "Is everything alright?"

Noin hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll fill you in later, alright?" Noin's eyes darkened for a moment, but she didn't elaborate. With a forced smile, Noin asked, "What are you going to do? I presume you don't want to get in their way." Noin gestured toward the closed door where Trieze and Millardo currently were.

Nasty smiled sweetly, allowing Noin to change the subject. For the time being, at least. "I don't want to be here when they come out, if that's what you mean. Trieze will be all embarrassed, if I know him. I'll give him a few hours to get control of himself." Her eyes narrowed at Noin. "Now I've answered your question, you answer mine. Are you in some kind of trouble? You know we can help. There’s not much Trieze and myself can’t do.”

"Please, don't worry about it. I just found something out about my brother and I have to take care of it." Noin tried to smile lightly, as if it were nothing to worry about, but Nasty didn't believe it.

"I've known you for far too long, Lucy." Nasty reminded her pointedly, using her childhood nickname for emphasis. "You've never been a very good liar. I'm going to assume that this is all about whoever kidnapped him all those years ago." Nasty held up a hand before Noin could say anything more. "I won't interfere if you're just researching, but I'm not going to let you put yourself in danger."

Noin nodded with a little half smile. "You're just like your brother, you know that? You're far too overprotective. I won't put myself in danger, I promise. I'm just going to track down someone." Nasty seemed to accept this so Noin continued, "Do you want to come back to my place while you wait for those two to come out?"

Nasty thought for a minute. "No, I think I'll go track down Wufei. He said something about a family emergency. Maybe I can help."

"How are you going to track him down?"

Nasty gave Noin an almost insulted look. "My dear friend, please don't underestimate the power of technology." Nasty gestured toward her computer. Nasty proved her point when, a few minutes later, she tracked down Chang Wufei to a small restaurant in China Town. "His guardian is his aunt, Fan Xiaoli. She is his foster mother since his parents died on colony A0206. Most of his family, the children of Fan Xiaoli, died on A0206. His favorite food is watermelon and he tends to talk in his sleep."

Nasty smiled and turned to look at Noin who was leaning over her shoulder. "I have a sudden craving for Chinese food. See you later." With that, Nasty ran out of the house.


Noin-


Noin laughed and shook her head. Again, Nasty proved how much like Trieze she was. She saw something she wanted and she went after it, or rather, him. As she tried to ignore the sounds coming from Trieze's bedroom, Noin turned off Nasty's computer and headed out to her car.

Noin drove, but kept thinking about her latest visitors and wondered if Seiji were home yet. 'Fighting demons and God knows what else.' Noin thought to herself. 'I wish I could understand what was going on a little better. But so long as he comes home safely, I'll be happy.'

The worry that Seiji might, again, vanish from her life was almost too much to bear. Then, there were also those guys who had gone with Seiji. The young men she'd met had shown so much power, unexplainable and impossible power. That blue haired man with the intriguing scar on his cheek seemed to linger on the edge of Noin's mind.

As she got closer to her home, Noin's thoughts drifted away from the mysterious, dangerous strangers and back to the current obsession of her life. All that mattered was that she had the image of the guy who'd hurt Seiji.

A slow smile spread across Noin's face and she gripped the steering wheel tighter. With the image of the old man in her mind, Noin started laughing softly. Nasty wasn't the only one with a talent for computers.

It was only a matter of time, now.

Youja-Kai-
Rajura-


Duo came back to the camp fire smiling from ear to ear with tears dried on his cheeks. Heero walked slightly behind Duo, watching him carefully. Duo smiled broadly and was talking up a storm, as usual, but Rajura had known Duo for long enough that he knew it was a mask. Unfortunately, there was nothing to do until the mask cracked on it's own.

"There's no point in trying to hide anymore." Rajura said grimly. Sh'ten trusted him to take care of everyone, so that's what he would do. "Arago will be looking for us." He closed his eyes and willed his yoroi to come to him.

Anubisu did the same as did the younger warriors. "You shouldn't be here unarmed." Rajura said to Heero and Duo. He thought for a moment before producing a scythe out of thin air. Rajura's illusions were good enough that he could create weapons that actually could kill.

"All right!" Duo took the scythe joyfully and gave it a swing. "It's perfect, 'Jura-san!" Well, at least Rajura knew Duo wasn't play-acting when he's happy about this. Rajura remember Duo's prized possession being the scythe that he used while he was practicing battle technique with his brothers.

"Of course it is. Now," Rajura turned to Heero. "What to do with you? I don't suppose you actually know how to use a weapon, do you?"

Heero pulled out his gun, useless in the Youja-Kai, and Rajura scowled. "I meant a REAL weapon. That thing's no good to us here. Oh, I'll just give you a sword." He created a lightweight sword, somewhat smaller than one of Ryou's katanas, hoping it wouldn't be to heavy for Heero's slight frame.

Ryou was a decent weight with plenty of muscles to swing his twin katanas. Duo was far thinner than Ryou and had never been able to develop the muscles that Ryou had. In fact, Rajura never could figure out how Duo had the strength to even lift the heavy scythe, let alone use it. Heero was probably the smallest fighter Rajura had ever seen. The boy was nothing but skin and bones. What few muscles he did have were lean and well used, but still, Rajura didn't feel quite right giving Heero any kind of weapon. The boy looked like he would snap in half if he were pushed just the slightest bit.


Duo-


Kenbukyou didn't have a city, like Arago, but ruled his people from a castle. More like the European style of castle, all stone with soaring towers and thick walls. There was even a moat around the castle, but whatever was in the moat, Duo couldn't guess. The orange slime, bubbling and hissing, certainly wasn't water! The castle was smaller than Arago's palace city, but it was impressive, nonetheless.

Xiu was having a hard time dealing with the fact that Rajura was having them all just sit around instead of going on the offensive. He seemed to be Duo's sort of guy, much preferring the straight forward approach to sneaking around and the restraint on his energy was taxing him.

"Why don't we just go in?" Xiu demanded finally as they sat low in the tall grass. Xiu held his naginata on his lap and was running his gauntleted hands over the black metal shaft almost unconsciously. "We're strong, stronger than them, I'll bet!"

"Don't be arrogant. You don't know their strength, so you have no reason to say such things. It is wise to think before one speaks with Kenbukyou. He is most dangerous and making him angry without reason won't help Kay. Trying to barge our way into his castle won't serve any purpose. We want his help, not have him try to kill us."

"But if he's holding Kay captive," Xiu reasoned, "he's not going to just tell us. He'll probably tell us he doesn't know a thing and that we should go attack that other guy, Saranbo. In the meantime, he's got the poor kid locked up in back room and we kill his enemy for him. If he's going to be our enemy anyway, we may as well go in and get the first blows. Maybe we can surprise them."

Anubisu chuckled darkly. "There will be no surprise on our part, Xiu. Kenbukyou already knows we are here."

Xiu's eyes widened and he looked around, seeing nothing but the empty grasslands and the castle in the distance.

"Don't bother looking." Rajura said, waving his hand negligently. "You won't see them. Kenbukyou's people have lived in this land for near to eternity. They know how to conceal themselves when they wish to. They are all around us and we are trying to convey a non-threatening, yet respectable image."

Anubisu hadn't been talking much and seemed to be paying very little attention to the conversation, but his eyes were darting from side to side in a way that Duo recognized all to well. Anubisu was on guard, listening for anyone.

Rajura was putting the finishing touches on an illusion to get them all inside the city without having to fight. Part of that illusion was to put Heero and Duo in armor and make them look similar to the others. Duo admired his black armor with a smile and Heero seemed to accept his gray armor without reaction. Heero's, for some reason, had tiny wings on the wrists, like those of a dove. Duo's armor sported a black cape. The cape, though, was split down the middle and strangely seemed to resemble wings. Well, it looked that way to Duo, anyway.

Duo asked, "Rajura, this might sound silly, but I rather thought you'd give Heero white armor seeing as how I got black. It just seems if one of us has black the other should have white."

Rajura seemed nervous and looked as if he didn't want to talk. "There is already a white yoroi. I don't want Kenbukyou to make any mistakes when he sees us."

"This sounds important." Seiji spoke up. "Should we be worried about this white yoroi? Is it an enemy?"

"No, not exactly an enemy." Rajura said simply, but he quickly changed the subject. "You'll have to look like warriors before Kenbukyou will give you any respect. He won't deal with anyone if he doesn't respect them and he doesn't respect anyone who doesn't fight."

It was at exactly that moment when Anubisu's head snapped to the side and he
said, "We've got company."

The warriors came up from the grass, appearing as if from nowhere, and had them surrounded. Kenbukyou's people rose out of the grasses like tall trees suddenly sprouting from the earth.

Everyone kept their eyes on the inhuman warriors and slowly looked around. These people were tall, though not so heavily muscled as the Ma-Sho. Kenbukyou's people were intimidating. They were dressed in dusty, earthy colors and held long spears for the most part, though some of them also had swords belted to their waists.

"We come to parley with your lord." Rajura said haughtily to one of the gray skinned soldiers. "Inform Kenbukyou that the Gen Ma-Sho (illusion warlord) has come to speak with him on a matter of mutual interest and benefit."

"You may tell him yourself, Gen Ma-Sho. Kenbukyou-sama has been informed of your trespass onto his land and wishes to see those who would dare invade." The warrior's voice was soft and reedy, and Duo decided that he didn't like the voice.

Duo felt one of the spear-armed soldiers prod him in the back and so they were led, under guard, to the grand palace. He had a distinctly sinking feeling about the whole situation.







Kenbukyou was a most impressive looking...person. Duo couldn't exactly call this person a man as he wasn't human, really. Kenbukyou was covered head-to-toe in armor, so not a single part of him was visible. Duo didn't know exactly what Kenbukyou was, but he wasn't tall enough to be one of the gray skinned warriors he ruled.

The people who stood at Kenbukyou's sides were definitely not human, though they all bore strong resemblance to humans. Two arm and two legs, two eyes, a mouth, and a nose. The similarities pretty much stopped there. Duo couldn't even tell if these people were male or female, they all looked alike to him. Every one of them was tall, with faintly gray skin, and they were completely hairless. They all seemed to be sex-less, androgynous people.

Duo couldn't remember ever seeing anyone like them before in his travels around the Youja-Kai. In fact, he'd never seen anyone other than his brothers and the foot soldiers of Arago. He'd heard of Kenbukyou, naturally. His brothers had told him and Ryou all about the two other great lords of the Youja-Kai.

Kenbukyou, with his empire of the plains, was a powerful and noble lord.

Not a good person, of course, but honorable. Kenbukyou was from the Youja-Kai and very few good things ever came from the Youja-Kai. Kenbukyou, from what Duo remembered, ruled a warrior people known as Hwhils. They were a savage and fiercely independent people. Independent to such an extent that they had nearly committed mass suicide when Arago came close to conquering them. It was Kenbukyou who saved them from themselves and now controlled one of the greatest fighting forces that has ever existed.

Saranbo, living in his mountain kingdom, was another, less admirable lord. He was without honor and lived only for power. He vied with Kenbukyou for power. Both lords were planning to revolt and attempt to overthrow Arago.

Kenbukyou sat, not on a throne, but on a stool covered in some kind of animal hide. It didn't seem to be a throne room, either, but a dining hall where many warriors were hungrily eating something Duo would prefer not to even think about. His swords were on his back, in easy reach, and all of his soldiers were armed to the teeth, as if they were expecting to go into battle at any moment.

Kenbukyou spoke, breaking an awkward silence as they were presented before him. "Why have Arago's lap dogs come to my castle?" His voice was low and almost mocking, a tone Duo didn't expect to hear. "Has your master grown so foolish that he sends his minions into my lands with nothing but children to guard them?"

Lap dogs?! Duo opened his mouth to say something rather impolite, but Heero stopped him with a slight touch to his elbow.

Kenbukyou's gaze shifted to Heero and Duo. "I see you've brought Ningen pets to my table." Then he looked at Seiji, Xiu, and Ryou. "Along with more Yoroi bearers. I am truly honored by this show of strength."

Rajura stepped forward, taking the lead, as was his place as eldest. He didn't bow or do anything to show subservience to Kenbukyou. "Greetings, Kenbukyou. We come offering alliance." Rajura said simply, coming straight to the point, which was unusual for him.

Kenbukyou chuckled behind his mask. "Alliance? Why should I ally myself with Arago? I have no reason to and I have the power to ignore him if I wish."

That was true, Duo thought. Kenbukyou was one of the very few creatures with the power that he didn't have to do what Arago told him to do.

"I said WE offer an alliance." Rajura clarified significantly. "I said nothing about Arago."

There was a very quite, very tense moment. "A coup, Rajura?"

"One we have been planning it for quite a while, but only recently do we have the power." Rajura cast a look over his shoulder at Ryou, Seiji, and Xiu.

Kenbukyou leaned forward eagerly, suddenly very interested. "You have the other two bearers, as well?"

Rajura nodded slowly. "The bearers have, at last, all been discovered."

Duo would have almost sworn that Kenbukyou was smiling behind his mask. "Then you have..."

"No." Rajura interrupted quickly. "We are lessened in number. Sh'ten has been taken from us and we are weakened by our loss." Rajura couldn't help the slight cracking of his voice as he said this.

"I was wondering where your general was and if he'd perhaps decided to side with Arago against you."

Anubisu stepped forward and spoke coldly. "Arago killed him. Sh'ten would never have sided against us, not for anything."

Kenbukyou barely acknowledged Anubisu's anger. "I will never understand you humans or your need to form attachments to one another." The lord remarked. "It is simpler without such hindrances." He shook his head. "You truly do not belong in this world, Ma-Sho. So, will you hide and wait for the next yoroi bearer to be chosen by the Cruelty yoroi?"

Duo wanted to smack Kenbukyou for being so callous about Sh'ten, but, again, Heero gave the merest touch to Duo's arm and Duo held his temper. He glanced at Heero's perfectly calm face and wondered how Heero stayed so calm. Still, Heero seemed to know what he was doing and his face was an expressionless mask.

"There is no time. Arago is aware of our plans and will kill us if we do not attack first. We will fight without Sh'ten." Rajura spoke calmly, as if he didn't notice how angry everyone was getting at Kenbukyou's attitude. "Arago has taken another of our family, a young girl, Kayura, though she will be calling herself Kay. Has she been seen in your land?"

Kenbukyou didn't stir. "I have seen no Ningen children other than those who stand before me. It is likely that your missing child is to be found with Saranbo."

Duo wanted to swear, but he knew it would be better to keep silent. He heard Xiu snort and mutter darkly under his breath and realized that this was what Xiu had predicted.

Kenbukyou continued, either not hearing Xiu or not caring. "My warriors have reported a new fighter in Saranbo's army. A girl, with long dark hair and her face painted with red. She fights with two slim swords and is a devastating force. Many of my people have been destroyed by her. My people have thought that she was just a small person, but she could be a child."

Anubisu swore softly under his breath. "Damn! Should have known Arago wouldn't make it easy on us."

"I do not know Arago other than from Ryou's memory, but I have a question." Seiji asked loud enough for everyone to hear. His eye traveled around the room from Rajura to Anubisu and even to Kenbukyou. "Why would Arago give Kay to one of his enemies?"

"What do you mean?" Anubisu asked.

"He means," Heero answered for Seiji. "That there is no tactical reason for one to give an enemy an advantage. Why would Arago give Saranbo anything let alone one of his people who could fight so well? It would have been easier to just kill her, wouldn't it?"

"He's got a point." Duo said. "It doesn't make any sense to send Kay away when he could have saved himself trouble and just kill her." Duo tried not to cringe at the thought of Kay dying.

Rajura answered, "Arago's not quite what you'd call a great tactician. He's sometimes a little vague about why he does things."

"Don't be polite about him." Anubisu grumbled, running a hand through his now shoulder length blue hair. Anubisu's hair had grown nearly five inches in the last couple of hours. "Arago's about as bright as a snail that's had a lobotomy. He probably didn't think to have her killed and didn't know what else to do with her."

The curtain behind Kenbukyou moved slightly and all eyes went there. A large form was moving behind the curtain. Anubisu sniffed at the air and smiled slightly at whatever it was that he smelled. "So," Anubisu said out loud as he watched the curtain rustle around. "This is where you've been all this time. You missed all the excitement."

"Huh?" Duo frowned at Anubisu. "What are you talking about?"

At the sound of Duo's voice a great roar came from the curtain. Duo stared at the curtain with his mouth wide open. "It can't be..."

A giant black tiger leapt through the curtain at Kenbukyou's side and charged Duo. Duo smiled widely. "Ko-chan!!!" The tiger tackled Duo, bringing Duo to the ground, as he purred loudly. Duo ran his fingers through the soft fur of Kokuen-Oh. "Oh, I thought I'd never see you again! Byakuen is back on Earth with Seiji's sister, you know. Everyone's safe, we think, but we still have to find Kay." Duo chattered happily.

Kokuen-Ko licked Duo's face lovingly and seemed to find something there. He suddenly stopped purring and turned his great head on Heero, obviously catching
Heero's scent on Duo.

Duo reassured the big cat. "That's my Heero. I'm sure you'll like him." Despite what Duo said, Kokuen-Oh stepped closer to Heero and examined him. Then he sniffed disdainfully and gave his attention back to Duo.

Kenbukyou was, if anything, impatient with the greetings. "I'm pleased you're happy, Kokuen-Oh, but we're having a discussion here. If Arago has formed an alliance with Saranbo, and the child was a sort of good will token, we may all be in danger. I am at a stalemate with Saranbo, but if Arago sends his foot soldiers against me, also, I do not know if my people will be able to defend themselves."

"And Saranbo's army would add greatly to Arago's force, when he comes after us." Anubisu added. "You're right. We are in trouble."

"But that only makes an alliance with us more valuable." Rajura continued to Kenbukyou. "We, alone, can't defeat our mutual enemies, but together I'm certain that not only can we survive, but we will triumph." Rajura had always been a very convincing speaker.

Kenbukyou seemed to scan the room, moving his helmeted head only slightly. "You have three other warriors who are not here?"

"Yes, eight all together. The others are in the Ningen-Sekai, but we don't have a way to get to them right now. Arago gave us the power to open the gateways, but he's not likely to give us anything at the moment."

Kenbukyou waved away the thought. "I am able to open the gateways. Tell your other warriors to be ready and I will bring them here. My people will show you to a chamber where you may rest while you wait for them. I would speak to you further on this matter, Rajura."


Rajura-


Kenbukyou was a gracious host, giving them all a room to rest in and food that was, if not recognizable to Seiji, Heero, and Xiu, edible. Duo and Ryou, along with the Ma-Sho, dove into the feast of odd looking food. As they didn't seem to find anything wrong with it, the others soon started eating, too.

While the boys rested on thin mats that had been provided for them Anubisu brought up an issue he'd been thinking about for quite a while. "I don't think we should bring them into battle." Anubisu whispered, glancing over his shoulder at the younger boys. "They have no experience and they'll only hinder us."

Rajura followed Anubisu's gaze and had to admit Anubisu did have a point. In the one room they'd been granted by Kenbukyou, Duo and Ryou were already asleep, looking as innocent as they had when they were far younger. Seiji and Heero were in a corner of the room talking in whispers and occasionally looking out the window at the endless twilight of the Youja-Kai. Ko-chan was between Ryou and Duo, with one large paw on Duo's chest. Ko-chan wasn't asleep, but he kept glaring at Anubisu.

"Is he angry about something?" Rajura asked.

Anubisu blushed slightly. "He can smell Yaku-chan's blood on me. I tried to explain, but he doesn't quite believe me. I'll have Yaku-chan explain everything when they meet up again. Don't try to change the subject. What about the kids?"

"We'll keep them safe in the battle, but we have to let them fight if they want to. You know Ryou and Duo will want to fight, Kay is their sister too. From what I've seen of Seiji and Heero, they will follow their loves into battle. We'll just form up around them and keep the heavy stuff away from them."

Anubisu shook his head. "That might be good enough for the other yoroi bearers, but Duo and Heero? They're only ningen. They will be killed the moment they walk onto the battle field."

Rajura turned away slightly, but Anubisu took his arm, stopping him. "You know I'm right. Kenbukyou has already said he will open the gateway to get Naaza and the other children here, just send Duo and Heero back when the gate is open."

"We raised Duo as a warrior so he could fight beside us with pride, not be send away like an infant. It would kill him to have us deliberately send him away. He would feel like a fool and that we didn't trust him."

Anubisu growled, something he seemed to be doing more of lately. "So, for the sake of his pride, you will let Duo be killed? Our brother? Our son?"

"Since when have we ever lived for anything other than pride?" Rajura countered. "Pride and honor are all we have and it's all we have to offer our children. When we brought them here, we knew it would be hard for them, especially for Duo. We've taught them both to value their honor, which it is their most valuable treasure."

Anubisu's grip on Rajura's arm tightened until Rajura winced in pain and Anubisu grumbled angrily. "Family is more important than honor! You will kill Duo!"

Rajura gave him a calm look and jerked his arm away from Anubisu. "Will you be the one to tell Duo he is too weak to fight for his sister?"

Anubisu glared at him for a moment and then turned away.

WHAT ARE YOU TWO FIGHTING ABOUT THIS TIME? Naaza asked through their link.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING, WE'RE DISCUSSING. Rajura answered. I WANT TO GIVE THE CHILDREN A LITTLE WHILE TO REST BEFORE WE START OUT. WE HAD A LONG TREK TO GET HERE. KENBUKYOU IS READYING HIS ARMY AND HAS TOLD US TO LET HIM KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY TO COME OVER HERE.

THEN GO GET HIM. Naaza replied. OUR LITTLE ERRAND HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND I'M ITCHING FOR A WAY TO RELIEVE STRESS. Naaza clearly projected a sense of wanting to fight. Just to fight anyone for any reason. Anything to get his mind away from Sh'ten.

I'LL GO TELL KENBUKYOU TO OPEN THE GATEWAY. Anubisu said, but he looked at Rajura hard. SH'TEN LEFT YOU AS OUR LEADER, SO I WILL FOLLOW ORDERS, BUT BE SURE THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO. Anubisu looked sharply to where Ryou and Duo were sleeping. BE VERY, VERY SURE.

With that, Anubisu turned abruptly and left the room.

Rajura leaned against one of the stone walls and suddenly felt very old and very tired. 'I'm no leader.' Rajura thought. 'I can't do this. What if they die? I don't think any of us can handle another death so soon after Sh'ten. I'm not supposed to be the leader.'

"Hey." Rajura looked up to find Xiu staring at him. Strange. For a boy who was so large and normally so loud, Xiu had been quiet for quite a while. So quiet Rajura had almost forgotten he was here.

"Yes?"

Xiu stood next to Rajura, where Anubisu had been. "Anubisu is wrong."

"What?" Rajura hadn't even realized Xiu was listening. Maybe there was more to Xiu than met the eye.

"He's wrong about not wanting Heero and Duo to fight. Seiji, Ryou, and I will protect them in the battle, so you won't have to worry about them. We already know you're planning to take the lead in the fight and not let us do any real fighting." This was said with a hint of bitterness, but before Rajura could say anything Xiu said, "I know, I know, it's for our own good. You're right about us having no experience. The only fights I've ever been in were with school bullies, and they weren't exactly life or death experiences. But how are we going to get any experience if you don't let us get any?"

Rajura had to admit the boy had a good point.

"And," Xiu continued. "If I heard what Kenbukyou and you were talking about properly, he's expecting all of us to fight, not just you guys. Right? He might not appreciate you changing the deal at the last minute. You DID say we needed his help, so we have to make sure we keep our end of the bargain."

Rajura allowed himself a slight smile. "You're smarter than you look, boy."

"I'm not an idiot!" Shu frowned. "Don't call me boy. It makes me sound like a little kid or something."

"Compared to me, you are a little kid."

At that moment, Rajura could feel the gateway open, and from Xiu’s tense reaction, so could he. A quick glance to Seiji told Rajura that the young blonde also felt something different.

The door of the room suddenly burst open and Xiu broke out into a smile. "Shin! Touma!" Xiu cried, running away from Rajura and to his friends. The three hugged, happy to be together, and Ryou instantly woke. Ryou smiled to see that they were all together again. Seiji stepped away from Heero and looked like he almost smiled.

Behind the enthusiastic boys walked Naaza next to Anubisu. Naaza had the dark look Rajura had expected and just looked at the floor, letting his long hair hide his face. Anubisu put his arms around Naaza's shoulders, but Naaza remained as still as stone.

NAAZA...

LEAVE ME ALONE.

PLEASE...

GO AWAY. With that, Naaza pulled away from Anubisu and separated his mind from their collective mind. Anubisu let Naaza go, they both watched him go lay down on an empty mat Naaza rolled onto his side, facing the wall.

Anubisu looked at Rajura, worried, but Rajura shook his head. HE'LL TALK WHEN HE'S READY.

Xiu suddenly headed for the door and Rajura called out, "Where are you going?"

"I gotta take a leak." Xiu replied with a sheepish grin. "I'll be right back."

"Come straight back." Rajura insisted. "It's not safe to wander these halls alone."

Xiu rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother. Geeze, even when I'm in another dimension I get babied." Xiu let the door swing closed behind him.


Xiu-


Xiu had finished up his business, after a long search to find a private place, and was going back to the room they'd been given when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. A swirl of red and Xiu turned his head just in time to see Kenbukyou turn a corner, his long red cloak billowing behind him like it was caught in a breeze.

'I really shouldn't.' Xiu thought to himself. He considered, for a moment contacting the others, but figured there was little or no point. Kenbukyou hadn't threatened them in anyway. In fact, he'd been very hospitable. 'Rajura's gonna be pissed.' Xiu thought as he started to follow the demon lord. 'Well, he'll get over it.'

Xiu followed Kenbukyou through the winding passages of the castle, lit with candlelight and tried to keep as quiet as he possibly could. Finally, Kenbukyou stopped in a small room and Xiu hid just outside the room and peered around the corner.

The room was sparsely furnished, with nothing but a chair, a mirror, and a window. The chair was at the window, set so whoever sat there could see out onto the landscape of the Youja-Kai. The mirror was large enough it showed Kenbukyou's head and down to his waist.

For a moment, the demon stood in front of the mirror, contemplating himself. Then, slowly, he reached up and pulled off the sleek helmet. Xiu couldn't help the gasp when he saw Kenbukyou's face reflected in the mirror.

Kenbukyou was a man.

A man who was indescribably beautiful with a stern, hard face. His hair, although short, was a shade of blonde so pale it was almost white. One lock of the white gold hair just barely fell over his left eye, much like Seiji's hair or Trowa's. The demon's skin was pale, as if he never saw the light of day.

"Come out." Kenbukyou ordered in his deep, regal voice. "I can hear you."

Xiu guiltily showed himself, figuring it was best not to risk getting himself in any further trouble with their host.

Kenbukyou turned and raised an eyebrow when he saw Xiu. "I am surprised. I hadn't thought that the Gen Ma-Sho would allow you to wander about unsupervised. Surely, he hasn't sent you to spy on me. For that, he'd have sent the Yami Ma-Sho. Why are you here, boy?"

At first, Xiu was going to play stupid and say that he'd gotten lost, but somehow, looking at Kenbukyou's gem hard eyes, Xiu knew it wouldn't work. "I saw you and I followed."

"Why?" Kenbukyou went to the solid wooden chair and sat heavily, not bothering to remove his armor. His gaze went to the scenery surrounding his castle. "Are you so eager for death that you would pester a demon?"

"No. I..." Xiu wanted to say this without offending the demon lord, but he couldn't think of a way so he just asked bluntly, "Are you telling the truth? About not knowing where Kay is, I mean."

Kenbukyou's eyes turned slightly back to Xiu and narrowed his ice eyes. "Are you questioning my honor?"

Xiu wanted to run from that voice and he prayed he'd never have to fight Kenbukyou, but he couldn't back down. There was too much at stake. "Yes, I am. Rajura said you're trustworthy, but you ARE a demon. Demons lie all the time and I don't want that little girl to get hurt. I need to know if you're telling the truth."

Kenbukyou looked again out the window. "If I tell you that I am telling the truth, what good would it do? I could be lying still."

Xiu shrugged, still awkwardly standing. "I don't know. I just have to hear it again. I have to know if you're telling the truth."

"I have never lied." Kenbukyou's voice was quieter this time, almost soft. "In my great, long life I have done things so monstrous you would not believe me if I told you. I have killed. I have brought proud warriors to their knees. I have ruined civilizations. But not once have I ever lied." He turned, just then, and looked Xiu straight in the eye, and, though he didn't know why, Xiu believed Kenbukyou.

Xiu nodded, showing he understood. Kenbukyou turned back to the window, once again, and Xiu started to leave the room. Still, there was one last question. "Just one more thing," Xiu said. "Are you really a demon?"

Kenbukyou chuckled. "You amuse me, boy. You have just said that I was a demon, a few moments ago."

"Only because Rajura told me you were one. But, well, you don't look like I thought a demon would look like. You look like a human."

Kenbukyou stood and took a few steps toward Xiu. Then, like magic, Kenbukyou smiled. Not a big smile, but it was enough to curve his lips upward. It was not exactly a nice smile, but it didn't make Xiu afraid, either. He came closer and closer to Xiu, gliding easily across the hard stone floor, until they were inches apart. "Do I truly look human?"

Xiu took in the full beauty of Kenbukyou and his breath caught. So beautiful, but...there was power behind his eyes. A terrible, dark power that wanted to reach out of Kenbukyou and seize whatever it could. "No." Xiu shook his head, unable to tear his eyes away from Kenbukyou.

Kenbukyou turned quickly when Xiu answered and went back to his chair and sat, turning his face fully away from Xiu. "You had best go back to your companions. They will become worried about you."

Xiu did as Kenbukyou said, but not without one last look at the back of Kenbukyou's head. There was such deep sadness in Kenbukyou's voice. Xiu wondered if he should do anything. In the end there was nothing he could do.

Xiu quietly left the room and went back to where the others were waiting. It wasn't until he was nearly asleep in Touma and Shin's arms that Xiu realized Kenbukyou never answered his question.

Was Kenbukyou really a demon?


Sh'ten-


'So, this is what it's like to be dead. Weird.'

Sh'ten watched his brothers and the younger boys as they all settled in for some sleep before the coming battle. He watched as Duo snuggled into Heero's side (With Ko-chan on Duo's other side) and Ryou curled around Seiji. Anubisu and Rajura spoke for a while about battle plans, but soon let themselves drift off. Only Naaza was left awake, still laying on the floor and at the wall in front of his face.

Sh'ten walked to Naaza and crouched down next to him. Sh'ten tried to put his hand on Naaza's beautiful green hair, but his hand passed through Naaza's hair as if it wasn't there.

'No,' Sh'ten told himself. 'As if I'm not here.' Sh'ten looked down at his hand and noticed that he could see right though it. All day, Sh'ten had been trying to communicate with someone, anyone, but it wasn't working. No one could hear him, except the tigers. Yaku-chan had heard him and, earlier, Ko-chan had watched him without any surprise or comment.

Naaza let out a choked sob and Sh'ten felt his heart break with the sound.

'Damn. Damn. Damn. DAMN!! If only I could talk to him. Just once more.' But he couldn't. The link he shared with his brothers was severed and Sh'ten felt terribly alone in his mind without anyone else there. At least Sh'ten had the comfort of knowing that Naaza wasn't alone in his pain, he would have Rajura and Anubisu to take care of him.

Sh'ten leaned over Naaza just as Naaza started to cry and then stopped himself again. His eyes were tightly closed and he held his fists under his chin, shaking slightly, like a child in the midst of a nightmare.

'Oh, my 'Za-chan. My dearest Naotoki.' Sh'ten said, using Naaza's original, human name. 'I'm so sorry. I wish I didn't have to cause you pain.'

Another hand reached out a touched Naaza's head. A hand that Naaza could actually feel.

"Leave me alone." Naaza whimpered.

Rajura didn't pay any attention and kissed Naaza's cheek. "It's alright. You can cry. The children are all asleep and they won't hear you."

"I am NOT crying. Go away." Naaza turned his face away more, so he was almost looking at the floor, but Rajura lay down beside Naaza, cuddling close.

"No, I don't think I will."

Anubisu now sat with his back to the wall next to Naaza's head. "We all miss him, 'Za, but we won't let you be alone." He ran his hand through Naaza's hair gently. "Not now, not ever."

Naaza broke down into heart wrenching sobs.

Sh'ten stood and started to walk away. Now that he knew they would be alright with out him, Sh'ten didn't know what to do with himself.

Was this all there was to being dead? Maybe this limbo was punishment from his life of evil. To forever watch your loved ones but not be able to do anything, that was certainly a hell.


Xiu-


They'd all woken up some time ago, to find Kenbukyou waiting for them with his army poised for battle. Kenbukyou, on a magnificent black war-horse, waited at the head of his army while Rajura took command of his people. They were at the head of the army, also, but it was understood that they were working with Kenbukyou, not taking orders from him.

With all of them in their yoroi or illusion armor, they stood in front of Kenbukyou's army. Dust rising in the distance showed Saranbo's army was on the move, supposedly marching straight for them.

The Ma-Sho took up positions in front of the boys, set to guard them from any real danger.

"The girl is supposed to be in Saranbo's army, right?" Naaza asked, all hint of his breakdown gone with war looming so close. "We should attempt to capture her. If she's not Kay, we can keep her as a hostage. If she is Kay..."

"What would she be doing fighting for our enemy if she's Kay?" Ryou asked from behind them. He had his two swords drawn and was impatiently pacing, as if he couldn't wait for this whole thing to start.

CALM DOWN. Seiji told Ryou and Ryou stopped pacing.

"Arago wiped our memories of you, remember?" Naaza pointed out. "It's possible that he did something similar to Kay. We'll figure out some way to get her memory back if she is Kay."

Duo licked his lips nervously and kept looking at Heero who stood very calm with his sword still belted at his waist. Heero just watched the upcoming army like any seasoned soldier. "How can you be so calm?" Duo asked, running one hand up and down the handle of his scythe.

"The mission has been accepted, there are only two possible outcomes. Why get upset?"

Duo gave him a strange look. "Mission? What are you talking about? What outcomes?"

Heero didn't answer him, but Xiu looked at Seiji. Seiji seemed to have an understanding with Heero, though Seiji wouldn't tell Xiu everything. WHAT'S HEERO TALKING ABOUT? Xiu asked Seiji.

Seiji, still at Ryou's side, answered as he looked at Xiu with his one uncovered eye. IF WE WIN, WE WIN. IF WE FAIL, WE MUST KILL OURSELVES. He said this in a perfectly calm tone, as if it didn't bother him at all.

Xiu spluttered at Seiji. WHAT?

Shin and Touma, alerted by their Xiu's horror, added into the conversation.

WHAT'S GOING ON? Touma asked.

Xiu pointed at Seiji with disbelief. HE SAYS WE HAVE TO KILL OURSELVES IF WE LOSE!

Touma scowled at Seiji. NOT BLOODY LIKELY!

Shin send worried thoughts at Seiji. WHATEVER GAVE YOU THAT IDEA? SEIJI, IF
WE DIE HERE, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT WE CAN'T KILL OURSELVES!

Seiji frowned. WHY NOT? THIS IS A MISSION. WE HAVE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY AND CAPTURE THE GIRL. IF WE FAIL, WE CAN NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE CAPTURE AND POSSIBLY INTERROGATED. WE MUST DESTROY OURSELVES. ISN'T THAT HOW ALL BATTLES ARE
FOUGHT?

Ryou held up his swords, inches from Seiji's face. NOW LOOK, YOU! MY LITTLE SISTER'S BEEN KIDNAPPED AND BRAINWASHED INTO TRYING TO KILL US. MY MAMA WAS JUST MURDERED. WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT A HORDE OF INHUMAN CREATURE AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND KILL AND UN-KILLABLE DEMON. I HAVE ENOUGH STRESS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT
WORRYING ABOUT YOU KILLING YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE! GOT IT!?

Seiji blinked at the unexpected display of temper. GOT IT. He answered. I WILL NOT KILL MYSELF DURING THE BATTLE. I WILL KILL MYSELF ONLY IF WE ARE DEFEATED.

Xiu wanted to slap himself on the forehead. He couldn't believe that Seiji was being so casual about killing himself.

In the background, they all heard Duo exclaim, "What do you mean, you're going to self-destruct if we fail?! Don't you fuckin' dare!"

Seiji and Heero exchanged a look that clearly said, 'Civilians. What do they know?'


Heero-


"Heero,"

"Yes?" Heero turned to look at Duo and found Duo holding a necklace of some kind. It was a necklace Heero recognized, as the one Duo always seemed to have hanging off his neck. It was made of string with a shining "T" shaped object hanging off it. Duo held out the necklace out to Heero.

"I want you to wear this in the battle." Duo held it out with a warm smile.

Heero took the necklace and examined it, judging it to be steel and plated in gold. "Why?" Heero asked, puzzled.

Duo's smile grew sad. "Sister Helen gave it to me when I first came to the orphanage. She told me that if I wore it I would always be safe. I want you to be safe, so you wear it now."

'How can this thing keep me safe?' Heero wondered. "What is it?"

"It's called a crucifix." Duo told him. "It’s powerful magic."

Heero scowled at the crucifix, dangling in front of his eyes. "There is no such thing as magic."

Duo laughed then and gestured around him. "What do you call all this? Now, you take care of it." Duo instructed Heero. "That's my favorite thing in the whole world and if it gets lost on the battle field...what are you doing?"

Heero put the necklace back over Duo's head. "I don't need it."

Duo said, slightly hurt, "But I want you to be safe!"

"I don't care if I die." Heero responded with a shrug. "I will fight with my own hands and I will live or die by my own skill. I don't want your magic."

"But..."

"But," Heero continued, not looking at Duo. "I DO care if you die."

Duo blushed and was left speechless by Heero's rare show of emotion.


Xiu-


The enemy army came closer and closer until Xiu could hear the beating of their feet on the ground and the clanging of their armor as they marched. Xiu readied his naginata and braced himself to fight. Xiu knew he could do this because there was a little girl on the other side of that army who needed to be rescued. He could sense the determination in the others, especially in Ryou, who was enraged and ready to attack the first thing that came in sight.

"No one use your sure kill's until we've found Kay." Rajura ordered. "We have to get her off the battle field or she'll be killed."

It was Shin who worried Xiu the most. He'd felt it the other day when Shin had killed for the first time and nearly had a nervous breakdown. Shin held his yari with an expressionless face, but it was easy to feel his churning emotions. Luckily, Shin understood how important the battle was and he wasn't about to let any poor little girl get hurt when he could help save her.

WE'LL WORRY ABOUT HIS STATE OF MIND AS SOON AS WE GET OUT OF HERE. Touma said as he and Xiu shared a worried look. LET'S JUST SAVE THE KID AND GET OURSELVES HOME.

GOOD IDEA.

Suddenly, the enemy was upon them!

The Ma-Sho all moved to attack, but something unexpected happened. Before anyone else could even raise a weapon, Duo dashed between them and raced into the middle of the enemy horde.

"Duo! Stop!" Rajura called, but Duo didn't hear.

Duo laughed as the enemy swarmed around him. He swung his heavy scythe and, with a maniacal glee in his eyes and his crucifix shining at his throat, Duo laughed as the enemy fell around him. Xiu had only a moment to stare before he, and the rest of them, were surrounded and fighting for their lives.

Even through the clashing of swords and screams of the wounded, Xiu could hear Duo laughing happily. Duo literally mowed down the enemy and, when Xiu risked a glance at the braided boy, he saw that Duo was actually foaming at the mouth. Thick, white foam dripped from Duo's mouth while he laughed and brought all around him to their deaths.

The battle was terrible. Even with Kenbukyou's army fighting with them, it was hard to even make a dent in Saranbo's army. It seemed to take hours to find the warrior they were looking for. Then, there she was.

With twin jitte she fought. Killing with such ease, the girl looked barely older than Kwan had, before she'd died. She had very long black hair and, as Kenbukyou had told them, her face was painted with red markings.

Once Rajura saw her, he raced toward her. Right after him were Naaza and Anubisu, followed closely by Ryou. Duo was still in berserk mode. Through Ryou's mind, Xiu warrior as a sweet child playing with dolls and playing practical jokes on her brothers.

Although the girl fought well against Kenbukyou's people, easily killing all those who faced her, she was no match for the experienced Ma-Sho. Naaza confronted Kay, using only two of his swords to block her, while Anubisu was a distraction. He kept her just off balance enough that she couldn't see Rajura coming at her from behind.

"Kay!" Anubisu shouted over the din of the battle raging around them. "Kay, don't you remember us?"

"I am Lady Kayura! Don't try to trick me!" The girl yelled back. The look in her eyes clearly said that she really didn't remember them at all. "Saranbo-sama has told me of your lies and tricks. I will kill you all in his name!" Coming from a twelve-year-old, this should have sounded absurd, but the way she was holding her own against Naaza and Anubisu made her skill and power all to clear.

Rajura, using not his scythes, but the nun chucks to slam into her back, was Kay's undoing. When the nun-chucks struck the middle of her back, she cried out in pain and stumbled. Naaza, with his incredible reflexes, managed to catch her before she fell to the ground. Kay recovered quickly and started to struggle, but Anubisu came over quickly and disarmed her.

Kay spit at Anubisu. "Let me go! Saranbo-sama will rip out your hearts for this insult!" She continued to kick and swear at them, her face contorted in a mask of hate.

Anubisu tried to calm her, but she would have none of it. Finally, when it became obvious that they couldn't contain her and fight the battle around them, Naaza bit Kay on one of her wrists. Whatever he put into her worked because she slumped into his arms, fast asleep.

Rajura went to where Shin was fighting beside Xiu and killed Shin's opponent for him. "Go find Naaza. He's got the girl we were looking for. Get her off the battle field if you can."

Shin nodded and ran off.

"Well?" Xiu asked, turning back to the battle. "What are we going to do now?"

Rajura watched until Shin had taken Kay to safety and then smiled at Xiu. "We're going to decimate the enemy."

All at once, at some prearranged signal that Rajura must have arranged, Kenbukyou's forces fled the battle field. This left Saranbo's people confused, but still on the field where they'd been fighting. Everyone knew Kenbukyou's people didn't run away, after all.

"Use your sure kill's!" Rajura bellowed to those who remained on the battle field. "Destroy the enemy!"

Xiu turned and saw Ryou's face light up like a bonfire. With an easy spin, Ryou twirled his katanas around and hit them together at the hilt. The two swords suddenly became one and Ryou cried out, "So En Zan!" A fierce fire erupted from his swords and engulfed the battle field.

It wasn't long before Touma pulled back on his bow and let an arrow fly, carving a wide canyon out of the field with the comet that his arrow had become.

Seiji and Anubisu, at the same time, pointed their long no-datchi's up to the sky and released terrible lightening targeting the enemy.

Xiu grinned and whirled his naginata over his head before slamming it to the ground. The world shook like the greatest earthquake ever felt.

Even Shin with his hatred of battle, shouted out his own attack phrase and the magical words opened up the power of Suiko. Though there seemed to be no water to use, from the yari itself poured forth a great and terrible wave that swept across the battlefield.

After such a devastating onslaught, the few remaining enemy ran from the
battle field.

Rajura surveyed the carnage with a pleased smile. "A good day's work."

A short while after the battle had ended, they found Duo calmed down, but only just. He was limping beside Heero, but assured everyone he was fine. In fact, he didn't even remember the battle.

Anubisu laughed, wiping blood and sweat from his face then leaned forward to do the same to Duo’s face. "Who would have guessed that we have a berserk in our family? You took out half Saranbo's people yourself, Duo. We should be calling you the Shi no Kami.

Everyone laughed weakly, grateful for some relief from all the death, except Duo Slowly, Duo smiled as he thought about the name. "I like it."


Continued....