Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Emperor ( Chapter 28 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Cousin D 
Noin runs from Zero.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 03.05.2005 | Updated On: 07.20.2006 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 405 | Status: Completed
Noin runs from Zero.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 03.05.2005 | Updated On: 07.20.2006 | Pages: 5 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 405 | Status: Completed
Chapter 27: The Emperor
Zero-
Mental synchronization… complete.
Vocal use… activated.
Motor ability… activated.
Merger… complete.
Quatre/Zero opened their eyes to see four men in white coats aiming guns at them. Protective measures had to be taken. Quatre’s mind the part that still belonged to him alone - was sluggish and distant. He tired to focus on their surroundings and Zero obligingly helped, easily steadying his other half.
'The doctors.' Quatre thought, seeing them at the same time Zero did. Zero knew them through Quatre’s memories, knew what they had done and what Quatre though they had done. Zero knew they were a threat to Quatre which meant they were a threat to Zero.
Zero felt Quatre try to speak, but held him in check. Unfortunately, when Quatre realized he wasn't able to control his own body, he started to panic. 'Why can't I talk? What's going on?'
'I am in control, Quatre. Don't panic.' Zero reassured him. ‘You must not provoke them while they are armed.’
'Who are you?' Quatre's voice asked hesitantly. 'Are you that thing that was talking to me? Zero?'
'Yes, I am Zero.' They looked around, seeing out of Quatre's eyes. 'We are one and I will protect us, Quatre. I have told you this already. Self-preservation is my primary directive.'
Quatre was silent in his own mind for a moment. 'What is your secondary directive?' He sounded worried, even to Zero.
'Kill.'
Quatre was desperately trying to take control of the body they shared, but Zero held Quatre firmly. 'You are not emotionally suited for this situation and your judgment currently is flawed by stress of the merger. I will do this.'
'Get out of my mind!' Quatre was starting to panic and fight against Zero, even though that was rather foolish as he was nowhere near strong enough. Perhaps he would be at a later time, but at the moment he was too tired. 'I'm not you!'
'We are one. There is no separation, no going back.' Zero stood up, feeling for the first time cold, hard metal under Quatre's bare feet. Cold. Sensation… it was all so new. Cold air. Bright lights. The smell of Quatre’s sweat. So much information to store. It made Zero want to smile. Life.
Quatre didn't understand and was scared. Images of people Quatre knew kept flashing across Zero's mind, distracting It from It's purpose. He saw four boys, a particularly clear image of a green eyed boy with a grave expression, and others. There were two men, one immensely large and the other rather small. There was a blue haired boy. Family. They were Quatre’s family.
'Do not think of them.' Zero told Quatre. 'They can not help us.' To be honest, Zero was confused. Why would Quatre be wishing for help from others when Zero was right with him? Zero, with Quatre’s strong body, would easily protect them from any threat.
The doctors moved closer to Quatre/Zero with their guns still poised to fire. Zero blacked out the thoughts Quatre was trying to concentrate on, thoughts of the people that Zero didn't know, so It could focus better.
Though Quatre was a fighter and killer, he was under a great psychological strain. Zero decided that it would be best to let Quatre get some rest. 'Sleep.' Zero gently pushed the Quatre into a safe corner where he wouldn't be aware of what was going on. 'This will not take long.'
Quatre protested, even as he was dragged away and he was falling into sleep, 'No! That’s my body! You can’t have it! It’s mine!’
Zero drowned out Quatre's voice, forcing him into a deep sleep. There was no reason to get Quatre more upset about than necessity. It would be easiest on him to spend his time unaware. Zero would let Quatre have control of their body once the threat was taken away.
It killed the doctors. The ones with the guns were easily killed. There was nothing else that could be done. They had to die for the sake of Quatre/Zero’s life. While It worked on killing the doctor's, noting that Quatre's body was fast and strong. Quatre's body was both useful and expected. When It had been programmed, Zero had been given the knowledge that It would be working with a well-trained counterpart.
The doctors died efficiently with a minimum of effort on Zero's part. 'Killing will become easier,' Zero realized, 'When I learn to properly control this body.' After all the men with guns had been dispatched, Zero looked at the remaining one, the one Quatre knew as Doctor J and saw that the man was unarmed.
Non-threat.
It was at that pointed when doctor J called out to a living being who had been hidden in the room. This one was...female. Yes, Zero scanned all of It's knowledge and decided that this one must be female as opposed to Quatre's male.
"I wasn't expecting you, young lady, but it's so nice to have visitors." Doctor J spoke to the girl, an unknown factor, as he stepped over the now dead bodies of his former associates. Doctor J kept his eyes focused on the girl, though he did keep his hands in plain sight for Zero to see, just so Zero would know that he wasn't armed.
Zero examined the girl who emerged from behind the computers and It's eyes were instantly focused on the small, military issue gun in her hands. Male or female, guns were threats just as were those who wielded the guns were threats. This one would be eliminated, too.
The girl seemed afraid, her eyes darting from Zero to Doctor J. She was pale and sweating slightly, but she wasn't shaking. Her gun was aimed at the floor, not threatening, yet. Zero would wait and see what the intentions of the girl were.
Doctor J was very confident and, though Zero had not yet seen the doctor with any kind of weapons, It knew the man was dangerous. Quatre knew of Doctor J's intelligence, and therefore, Doctor J was dangerous to them. Intelligence was also a threat and so was the fact that Quatre believed Doctor J was helping to kill innocent people. The man was old, but his strength had been enhanced by the biotechnological additions to his body. Though he didn't look dangerous, he was, perhaps even more so than the unknown factor of the dark haired girl.
"How could you do that to a child?" The girl demanded, not looking at Zero, but at Doctor J. She waved her arm in Zero's general direction. "You may as well have killed him! How could you infect him with a system like that?"
Doctor J's eyes widened slightly. "So you saw and understood the Zero System? How interesting, not everyone can. However, that changes nothing, really." Doctor J answered blissfully. He went to stand next to Zero. In all probability, he didn't understand that he was still under observation until Zero determined where or not to kill the man. It wasn't likely that any sane human would come near Zero if they understood that they were being examined.
'I won't let anyone hurt Quatre.' Zero thought calmly. The merger had brought it as close to Quatre as any thing could be to another. It was now apart of Quatre and would, as It's nature dictated, protect Itself at all costs. 'Self preservation is utmost in priorities.'
The girl tensed at Doctor J's words and the grip on her gun tightened, turning her knuckles white. Zero took note of the look in her eyes. She was no innocent in the way of killing. She'd done it before and would do it again. She had the means to kill and hate in her eyes when she looked at Doctor J. When she looked at Zero, the emotion changed to one of disgust and pity. Humans killed what they hated or didn't like. She didn't like Doctor J, so she would kill him. She didn't like Zero, so she would kill him.
Logic dictated the girl was the enemy. Reality had yet to prove that logic. Zero would wait until reality and logic agreed.
Noin-
'Dear God, that boy was looking at me!' Noin didn't like the look in Quatre's eyes, sort of blank and cold. Noin started to tighten her grip on her gun, ignoring her sweating hands, she wanted to kill Doctor J. So badly that it burned in her brain, nearly blocking out all other thoughts, including how dangerous the blond kid was. This was the man who'd hurt Seiji and he deserved to die.
"Be careful, my dear." Doctor J warned with his smile growing by the second. "Zero was designed to destroy threats against it. Little Quatre now has the same objective and will kill you as easily as he killed my dolt assistants. Those fools underestimated the impact Zero System would have on the test subject. He is no longer just a boy, but a programmed killing weapon."
"Test subject? Weapon?" Noin said, outraged. "He's a child!" Damn, he almost looked younger than Seiji.
Doctor J started to laugh. "He is a killer. A perfect system designed for nothing but killing and I've given a very well conditioned body for Zero System to use. Oh, this is beautiful, simply beautiful." He turned to look at Quatre for a moment before bringing his mechanical, clawed hand up to Quatre's face and caressing it gently. "Quatre will rival even my sweet Heero in his perfection." There was a definite note of lust in Doctor J's voice and Noin felt sick while she watched him fondle the Quatre’s face.
For his own part, Quatre didn't seem to notice, let alone care, what Doctor J was doing to him. He simply stood there, arms at his sides and still holding the gun he'd used to kill the four other doctors. Quatre's eyes kept shifting from Noin and then to Doctor J, and Noin got the distinct feeling that she was being judged.
Noin started backing up, towards the door. Doctor J wasn't just insane, he was evil. Sweet Heero? Heero as in the cold-faced friend Seiji brought home the other day along with that boy, Duo? The skinny blue eyed kid that was covered in scars and seemed so angry? It wasn't impossible. Heero did act very much like Seiji at times.
'How far does this stretch? How many other children did this monster tamper with? What's he done?' The thought hit Noin like a brick between the eyes. 'That could be Seiji.' Noin thought watching Doctor J molest Quatre's unfeeling face. 'My little brother could have been...what if that pervert DID touched Seiji?' Something told her that the man wouldn't hesitate for an instant if he'd wanted Seiji, not if he'd decided that he'd wanted Seiji.
"Do start running, won't you, miss?" Doctor J suggested, turning to look at her with an easy confidence. "Zero is going to attack you if you raise your weapon an inch and you saw how easily he killed these worthless things." He waved an arm to the fallen men. "It would be easier if you just walked away, I suppose, but then you'd go and report to...who is it? Ah, General Kushranada. Well, we can't have that. After Une's unfortunate death, we had to come up with another plan that involves him. Can't have him getting suspicious at the moment, I'm afraid."
"What?" Noin asked, unable to keep the shock out of her voice. "What about Trieze? Who's working with you?" Damn, she'll have to get a hold of Trieze and Zechs!
Doctor J waved her question asked with a wave of his free hand. "Oh, it's nothing you need to worry about." Doctor J looked at Quatre. "Kill her."
Noin felt her heart stop for a minute and she stared at Quatre. She knew, deep inside, that no matter how good she was, she was no match for the programmed boy. She'd seen him in action and he would be able to kill her easily. But she froze. Instead of running or shooting or something, she froze like a damned deer caught in headlights! Noin would later yell at herself for being so stupid, she was trained for that sort of situation, she should be able to handle it!
"Unacceptable."
Noin managed to breathe when the boy spoke and was more than a little relieved to see Doctor J's stunned face.
"I gave you an order, Quatre." Doctor J frowned at his creation. "You must obey."
Quatre turned his cold eyes on Doctor J. "Quatre is sleeping at the moment. I am in control. Your order is unacceptable. We take no orders." Quatre turned away from Doctor J and started to walk to the door, which happen to be right behind Noin. "Only threats will be eliminated. She has made no threats, she will not be eliminated."
Noin backed away from Quatre - or whomever was talking - and watched him walk passed her towards the door. He walked with an odd stiffness, as if he wasn't used to doing it. Just as Quatre passed her, Noin saw Doctor J move quickly, out of the corner of her eyes, and she turned to look at him.
Doctor J pulled his gun out of the inside of his lab coat and fired off one, purposely miss-aimed shot at Quatre, then slipped the gun back under his lab coat. The bullet went into the wall a few feet away from Quatre who turned around furiously. Apparently, he was starting to lose the icy coldness.
"Threat." He said in a hissing voice, looking directly at Noin who still held her gun.
‘He thought I shot at him!' Without thinking, Noin did the only thing she could possibly do to save her life. She jumped though a window and fell two stories to the street below. Noin hit the ground hard, and she cried out when something pierced her back, most likely some broken bottle or other such garbage, but momentum kept her rolling until she rolled right onto the sidewalk. The glass from the window had shattered when she'd gone though it and she was bleeding badly on her arms where the glass had sliced her, but there was no pain. She couldn't feel anything because of the overwhelming terror. She knew Quatre was right behind her and she knew she couldn’t kill him. That would be as if she were shooting Seiji.
'Run!' Her mind screamed and she obeyed, not even looking to see if Quatre were even following. She didn't need to look. Noin ran into the city, reverently wishing she had some way to contact Zechs or Trieze.
Zero-
Zero watched the girl jump out the window and followed without hesitation, ignoring the mad cackling of Doctor J behind It. The flight suit protected It from the broken glass and his own skill and strength protected It from the fall. By the time Zero was on the ground, the girl was all ready running down the street. There was blood on the ground, proving she had been injured, so it shouldn't be hard to follow her. Zero ran after the girl, easily keeping up with her, but not overtaking her, yet. If It were to kill the girl in public, innocents would become involved and that was not acceptable. Better to capture her in a more private area.
There were people out on the streets and they gave Zero funny looks as It ran down the street. Zero heard people muttering and pointing at some poor girl who looked like she'd been hurt. Some of them were wondering about calling the police. Zero decided It would have to find the girl before the police did. Police might interfere with It and Quatre would be endangered. That was not acceptable.
Zero followed the girl into a construction area where It had seen her jump over a tall fence. She must have believed that it would offer her some safety, or she would not have spent the energy she had left to get here. Zero knew that with all the blood she'd lost, the girl must be weakening, and this pleased It. It wouldn't have to work so hard to kill her.
There was no one in the construction yard. A half-built building shadowed the area, like a skeleton without it's skin. The morning fog was heavy, making visibility difficult, but Zero knew It could operate in such conditions. It didn't bother calling out for the girl. There was no need. It would find her and then kill her. There was no escape.
Youja-Kai-
Shin-
Shin was just glad it was over. More than glad, really. He was overjoyed that the nightmare had ended, finally, and just wished he could find the energy to open his eyes. Cathy would be waiting for him to practice and God knows the ringmaster didn't like it when his people were lazy. Trowa would probably already be doing his warm-ups and wondering when Shin was going to join him.
"Get up, buddy."
That wasn't Cathy's voice, nor was it Trowa's. It certainly wasn't the ringmaster.
"Come on, Shin." IT'S ALL OVER. WE WON.
Shin blinked at the familiar voice, better able to recognize it now that it was in his mind, and saw that the nightmare hadn't ended, despite what Xiu told him. The reddish sky overhead, dull with ash, proved that he was still in the nightmare. 'I thought it was a dream.'
Large, rough hands slipped under Shin's shoulders and pulled him into a sitting-up position, letting him rest against something strong and stable. Shin blinked again, trying to stop the world from spinning and he felt Xiu sitting next to him, touching his mind softly. YOU OKAY?
I WILL BE. Shin wanted to cry, he'd been so sure that it had been a dream.
Dust and ash from the fallen palace was still drifting down and the air still smelled of smoke, so Shin knew he hadn't been out of it all that long. There was also the smell of sweat and blood lingering in the air. He let himself sink into the warmth of Xiu's arms.
Shin huddled against Xiu when a hand touched his own. I'M HERE, TOO. Touma's sardonic voice tickled Shin's mind.
I KNOW. EVERYONE'S SAFE, RIGHT? Shin asked, tightening his fingers around Touma's. Shin just felt so cold, deep in his bones, but Xiu and Touma made him feel just a bit warmer. On Xiu's other side, Shin knew Touma was sitting in much the same position, leaning against Xiu's side with one of Xiu's arms draped around him. 'Sort of like a Xiu sandwich.' Shin though absently.
YEAH. I THINK WE KILLED THAT THING. Touma said. AT LEAST, I THINK RYOU DID. Touma's mind-voice seemed to shake with the memory of what had happened to them all, the wrenching agony of being pulled out of their bodies and the joy at being fused together. Then they all lost consciousness and...a blank spot in their memories where something must have happened, before being thrust back into their bodies with the same pain as when they'd been taken.
Shin rubbed against Touma's mind, calming him even as Xiu rubbed their blue-haired friend's back. Shin knew he had to be strong. He just had to make sure they all made it out of here in one piece.
He'd seen them all, then, for just a split second, and knew them all with more intimacy than even the moment of their first touch. Even Seiji who was so cold and distant, his mind had been flung open against his will, and he had become apart of them. Shin saw, heard, and felt all of the pain from Seiji's life. And, though it all grew distant, Shin knew he'd never forget any of it, any of them. Shin didn't know if he liked it or not, but he knew he could never live without them again.
'I won't let any of them go.' Shin thought harshly. 'I'll never let any of them get hurt.'
Shin realized he should make sure he knew where everyone else was, though he knew without a doubt that Seiji and Ryou were alive and well, he wanted to see them. The Ma-Sho's weren't paying them any attention and were, instead, digging though the remains of the palace. Seiji was just starting to wake up, making no sound at all as he fought his way awake. Standing a few yards away from them, Shin saw Ryou and...
Uh-oh.
Kenbukyou was holding Ryou in his arms, doing nothing but standing there and holding Ryou like one would hold a baby. Ryou wasn't awake and showed no signs of waking up any time soon.
Seiji took immediate exception upon finding Ryou in Kenbukyou's arms. Of course, Shin didn't know Seiji well, but he did know that Seiji had an overpowering love for Ryou. He'd seen in when they'd all joined together and knew that Seiji was also very protective of Ryou. Still, Seiji had seemed to be a cool, controlled person which made his reaction even more startling.
Staggering to his feet, Seiji leveled an icy glare at Kenbukyou while he breathed hard. Seiji stalked over to Kenbukyou, his arms and legs seeming very stiff, like he was having trouble controlling them, and stopped just a few feet away from the demon lord. "Mine."
Kenbukyou apparently understood and handed Ryou to Seiji without a word. Even though Ryou was still wearing his yoroi, Seiji took him without complaint of the weight and carried him to where Shin was sitting with Xiu and Touma.
"When will he wake up?" Shin asked as Seiji sat in front of them with Ryou half-laying on his lap. Ryou didn't look good. He was pale and completely limp, sweat drying on his skin and he was covered in bruises and cuts. Then again, none of them looked very good. All minor injuries, but still they'd all taken quite a bit of punishment.
"Soon, I think." Touma spoke for the first time. "I'm not sure about this, but I think Ryou took our power and used it to increase his own. It must have exhausted him terribly." Touma groaned and started to push himself away from Xiu. "Let me look at him."
Seiji drew Ryou in closer to him and glared at Touma for a minute. He was quite reluctant to give Ryou up, but Shin knew Touma could help. They'd all seen Touma and his life. They all knew Touma knew about injuries and how to best treat them. He'd had some kind of training by a very large man and Shin almost thought it was training in some kind of military. Shin knew he'd feel much the same as Seiji did if it had been Touma or Xiu who'd been hurt so badly.
"I'll give him right back." Touma promised, very seriously. HE LET ME LOOK IN HIS MIND SO HE COULD GET A LOOK AT ME, Touma told Shin and Xiu. HE JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT I WOULDN'T HURT HIM.
Seiji must have been satisfied with what he saw in Touma's mind because he gave up Ryou without any further delay. Laying Ryou down between the two of them, Seiji sat back and let Touma take a closer look. I'M A HEALER, Seiji told all of them, opening his mind slightly. BUT I CAN'T HEAL HIM. HE'S NOT HURT, JUST TIRED.
"I think you're right." Touma answered, peeling back one of Ryou's eyelids to get a look at the eye.
While that was going on, Shin leaned closer into Xiu, finding comfort there. Touma didn't look well, though he'd managed to get through the battle without getting too bloody. Touma slipped off his tall, conical helmet with the two horns on either side, and set it down beside him. His hair was matted with sweat and his skin was white. Shin could feel through their link that Touma was very close to falling asleep on the spot.
Xiu took the cue from Touma and reached up to take off his own helmet. For the first time, it seemed heavy, though Shin knew the helmets and yoroi weighed next to nothing. Xiu grunted and strained to lift the helmet off and put it down with a sign of relief. Shin could see dark circles under Xiu’s eyes and how pale, he was like Touma.
"I'm so tired." Xiu confessed, looking down at Shin. "I just want to roll over and die on the spot." Xiu ran his fingers though Shin's hair and Shin cuddled into Xiu's side, half-burying his face in Xiu's neck. It felt so natural to do it that Shin didn't even think about it.
Only then did Shin look at what the Ma-Sho were doing. They hadn't stopped their search for...whatever it was they were looking for. Though Shin couldn't feel them like he could his friends, just looking at them told Shin that they were as badly off as Xiu, Touma, and Seiji.
The three Ma-Sho were still wearing all their yoroi, now dusty and filthy with the grime of battle. Anubisu's bright red cape was tattered and hanging in shreds, Naaza had lost several of his swords, and Rajura's gauntlets were missing.
Silently, the Ma-Sho struggled with the huge stone blocks, almost zombie-like in their efforts. A kind of sadness had settled over all of them, but they showed no signs of stopping. Not one of them attempted any of their amazing sure-kill’s to clear the rubble. They worked carefully and slowly.
Rajura, the smallest of the Ma-Sho, stumbled once under the burden of one of the stones, but got back up again and went for another block. Still, not a single word was uttered. At least, not out loud. They could be mind-speaking for all Shin knew.
Shin watched them for the longest time, wishing there was something he could do to help someone. Touma and Seiji had decided that there was nothing to do for Ryou, but to let him sleep himself out and Xiu was determined not to move an inch. Shin wanted to help the Ma-Sho, but he really didn't know what he could do. He wasn't as strong as they were and he didn't even know what they were looking for.
Naaza broke down, suddenly, falling to leaned on one of the stone piles he'd already searched through. "I have to find him.” He wasn’t crying. He, like the rest of them, seemed tired and numb, but the despair in his voice was heart-breaking.
Shin pushed away from Xiu and pulled himself to his feet. "What?" he asked, making his way to Naaza. The other Ma-Sho hadn't stopped their digging, but Shin was certain they were in contact with Naaza through their own mental link.
Naaza lowered his head and said in anguish, "I won't leave Sh'ten buried under Arago's damned palace!"
'Oh, God!' Shin felt terrible. 'How could I have forgotten?' He'd managed to get through the battle without losing anyone close to him, but the Ma-Sho had lost their leader, someone they'd been bonded to for hundreds of years. Naaza had had to survive Sh'ten death, not once, but twice. Once at the actual death and now losing him this second time. If Shin lost one of his friends he didn't know what he'd do. It would be like cutting out a part of his heart.
"Let me help." Shin offered, knowing perfectly well that there was almost nothing he could do. Naaza looked at Shin with pink-tinted tears in his eyes, and nodded slightly. Shin started to work on the smaller stones, knowing that anything he did was better than nothing. Soon, Shin was aware of Xiu standing and coming to work next to him.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TIRED? Shin asked, though he didn't pause when Xiu began lifting stone that was far too heavy for Shin to manage.
I'LL BE FINE. Xiu looked at Shin and gave him a soft smile. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT.
They found Sh'ten eventually, after moving more than three tons of stone. Sh’ten’s body had managed to get out of the palace with the rest of them, before Ryou had taken their power to make that super yoroi, or whatever it was, but it hadn't woken up afterwards and a large wall had fallen down upon it.
Sh'ten's body was no longer the frozen perfection it had been left at the moment of his death. His corpse had been mangled, leaving it a bloody parody of what the human body should look like. As gently as he could, Anubisu lifted Sh'ten's body out of the rubble and carried it to a clear spot near where Ryou had been resting.
Shin slipped an arm around Naaza who was quietly crying, but Naaza shrugged him off roughly. "Leave me alone!"
Shin said nothing, at first, but put his arm around Naaza again. "You don't need to be alone."
"I'm NOT alone! I have them." Naaza snapped, irritably gesturing to Rajura and Anubisu who were watching him carefully.
"I know. I just wanted you to remember that." Shin walked away from Naaza and back towards his friends. Touma met him there and hugged him, needing a touch of reassurance in all this mess.
Naaza stared after Shin, but didn't fight when Rajura pulled him into a hug. "I will create a beautiful resting place for him." Rajura promised. "A tree in full bloom and a field of flowers. A bright blue sky and larks singing will mark his resting place."
Ryou-
Ryou woke with a pounding headache and an ache in his chest. Everything hurt "Whaaa...?" It came out more like a moan, but Ryou felt hands on him and the wonderfully familiar presence of his friends touching his mind. Seiji's was first in his mind, a protective, strong mind. His mind was shielded, as usual, but after they'd joined together so tightly, Seiji's shield wasn't as strong as it had been. Then came the others. They were all around him and, after a moment's thought, Ryou realized it was them who were touching his body and he relaxed into the caresses, knowing that he was perfectly safe.
Shin's voice came through the haze and Ryou struggled to focus on it. "Ryou? Ryou, are you alright?" Reaching out to touch Ryou's mind with his own reinforced Shin's voice and Ryou responded by returning the caress and reaching out to the others, as well.
Seiji was terribly worried and opened his mind slightly to Ryou, letting him feel how glad Seiji was that he was finally waking up. Touma and Xiu were equally happy and Ryou knew Xiu, always emotional, was close to tears.
"What happened?" Ryou finally opened his eyes and found his four friends looking down at him. Over head, he could see the smoky reddish sky of the Youja-Kai and dust settling in the air. He couldn't seem to remember properly and everything he could remember seemed a bit fuzzy around the edges. It came crashing painfully back to him and Ryou sat bolt upright.
"MAMA!" He cried and looked around, even though his brain was desperately telling his body to lay back down, least he faint. He'd seen Mama Sh'ten walking and fighting! He'd seen it with his own two eyes!
No one said anything, and Ryou felt a wash of sadness from everyone. Touma looked away and Shin's eyes misted over with unshed tears. Xiu put his hands on Shin and Touma's shoulders, giving them his support and they leaned into him. Seiji showed nothing, just sat there and watched Ryou. Everyone moved slightly apart so Ryou could see behind them to where his big brothers were kneeling on the ground a short distance away. This time, no one was crying or having hysterics, but Ryou reached out and still, Mama Sh'ten's presence was missing. He was still dead.
Ryou tried to pushed himself to his feet, but he was feeling so weak. "Seiji?" Ryou reached out his hand and Seiji helped him to his feet without hesitation. Ryou gasped slightly when the pain hit him again and his head swam for a minute, but Seiji held Ryou tightly and didn't let him fall. Ryou staggered over to his brothers, leaning heavily on Seiji, while Rowen, Xiu, and Shin followed closely. They didn't seem willing to let him out of their sight.
Rajura had his arms wrapped around himself with his head bowed. Anubisu was shaking while he stroked Rajura's hair with his large hands. Naaza held mama Sh'ten's body on his lap and stared blankly ahead. Ryou could feel, as he knew his friends could, his brothers reaching out to find mama Sh'ten mind, as if they were waiting for him to wake again. There was nothing to find. Like trying to fish in a dead lake, there was simply nothing there to find.
Mama Sh'ten remained still and pale, though on his face he wore a smile as if he knew that he'd finally accomplished his mission, destroying the demon Arago, and was well pleased, even in death. He'd freed the ones he cared about the most.
Ryou sagged slightly into Seiji and put his other arm around Seiji's waist. He wanted to cry, scream, throw up, and faint all at the same time. But...it didn't feel right. 'I knew mama was dead. I knew...I knew we'd only find his body. But he was alive, I saw him walking and fighting. I felt his power when...what whatever that was happened. His power went into me, just like the others did. He was here.'
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. Ryou looked at Touma, who'd spoken in his mind. I KNOW IT HURTS, BUT...WELL...YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT TO. Touma sounded awkward and looked it right then. He still wasn't used to or comfortable sharing emotions like this. Shin and Xiu shared Touma's sentiment and Seiji put his arms tighter around Ryou.
Ryou smiled gratefully, but he'd done his grieving. Mama Sh'ten wouldn't want him to do anymore, Ryou was sure. Instead, he pushed back the tears and tried to focus on how happy he was that almost everyone had made it out of this thing alive.
Rajura was the first one of them to recover. He un-wrapped his arms from around himself and stood up shakily. "We should get you all home." Rajura stood up, keeping his face calm. He was in charge again. "There's business to take care of here and then we have to see that Kay's alright."
"What kind of business?" Xiu asked, coming to stand next to Seiji. "If the bad guy's been killed, what's left to do?" WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT AGAIN, DO WE? The thought was directed at Ryou, not at Rajura, who couldn't have heard Xiu's mind voice, anyway.
"What makes you think Arago's been killed?" Rajura asked darkly. "Arago is a demon and, therefore, not alive. Something that is not alive can not be killed."
Touma sounded tired when he said, "We went through all that for nothing?"
Shin's eyes grew wide when Rajura's meaning sunk in. "You...you mean he's still around here? We have to fight him again?" He sounded sick at the very thought and Touma put a hand on Shin's arm. Ryou heard Touma thought the link,
IT'S ALRIGHT, SHIN.
IT'S NOT ALRIGHT! I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT! Shin looked like he wanted to bolt, yet he held his ground. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!
Rajura's answer calmed Shin quickly. "No, we won't have to fight Arago, at least not any time soon. He's lost most of his power in the battle with Kikoutei and he couldn't control one spirit, let alone the entire Youja-Kai. There's going to be a new Emperor and we've promised him our support ruling."
"Who?" Shin asked.
"Me."
Everyone turned to see Kenbukyou standing nearby, exactly where he had been before. His army was nowhere to be seen, but Kenbukyou stood there as calmly as if nothing had happened. "I am next in the power line and therefore I will take over. It is my place." Kenbukyou raised one armored hand and pointed it to where Arago's palace had been.
For a moment, nothing happened. Slowly, though, the remains of Arago's palace faded away into nothing-ness, leaving a large empty field behind. A slow turn of Kenbukyou's hand, from down to up, and reality changed, again. The thing sprouted from the ground, like a giant animal poking its head up and then kept growing. It was a castle, they all realized after a minute. It was Kenbukyou's castle from the grasslands, now sitting proudly where Arago had once had his palace. When it was finished, Kenbukyou lowered his hand and admired his work.
"What about Saranbo?" Anubisu asked. The growth of the castle didn't seem to surprise him at all, but then, he'd lived here for so long, maybe he was used to this sort of thing. "He'll challenge your claim to the throne the minute your back is turned."
Kenbukyou only shrugged. "It is of no matter. Saranbo is a coward and should he chose to face me, I will smite him. With Arago gone, I can claim much of his power." Indeed, at his words, spirits that had formerly served Arago now floated out of the castle and bowed before Kenbukyou. Behind him, the gray skinned warriors who followed him, arrived.
The warriors lined up in formation before raising a fisted hand in salute to Kenbukyou. "I will have little difficulties with Saranbo." Again, Kenbukyou raised his hand. Everyone was suddenly in a room with nothing in it but a large stone block.
"This is the center room of my castle." Kenbukyou told them, walking to the stone block. "It will also be Sh'ten's resting place, if you will so honor me." Kenbukyou, so proud and arrogant, did something very unexpected. He bowed low, at the waist, to Rajura. "Without your aid and Sh'ten's sacrifice, I would never have been able to achieve this. I will be honored if you would allow my home to be his resting-place. There is no one would who desecrate his body in this place."
Rajura's eyes went distant for a minute, and Ryou knew he was talking to Anubisu and Naaza. When he came back to himself, Rajura nodded. "It is we who are honored." He looked around at the plain room and then the walls, ceiling and floor all vanished. They were replaced by a garden. A bright blue sky over head and lush green grass under their feet along with flowers of every shape and kind were in this illusion of Rajura's. There was even a tree with purple leaves where the stone block had been and it was under this that they lay Mama Sh'ten's body.
Anubisu stood next to Rajura, but Naaza sat on the illusion ground next to Sh'ten's ruined body. "Rajura?" Naaza ran his finger down the side of Sh'ten's bloodied face. "He hated it when people saw him… less than pretty.”
Rajura nodded and instantly Sh'ten changed, returning to his natural beauty and Naaza almost smiled. "Thank you." Naaza didn't stand up, though. "I want to stay with him." Naaza lay his head on Sh'ten's, took Sh'ten's hand in his own, and sighed. "I want to stay here, Rajura."
"Only for a little while, Naaza." Rajura waved his hand and all of them, were suddenly back in the plain stone chamber Kenbukyou had offered as Sh'ten's resting-place. Sh'ten was on the stone block, laid out just as Rajura had put him in the illusion. Naaza was sitting on the floor next to Sh'ten, his hand clasped around love's. His eyes were closed and he was barely breathing.
"Will he be alright?" Ryou asked, worried.
Rajura ran a hand through Naaza's messy green hair. "I don't know. Let's just give him a minute alone with Sh'ten, though. It might help."
Kenbukyou, apparently impatient with the mortal niceties, said, "I will return with you to the Ningen-Sekai. I must look for someone."
Ryou got a strong feeling of unease and distrust from his friends when Kenbukyou said this. THIS GUY'S A DEMON, RIGHT? Touma asked. HE CAN'T COME TO OUR WORLD. THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT HE'D DO.
BUT HE HELPED FIGHT ARAGO. Shin said in the demon's defense, though even he didn't sound quite convinced. WE CAN'T JUST ASSUME HE'S AN EVIL CREATURE.
KENBUKYOU HELPED US TO HELP HIMSELF. THAT IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF KINDNESS, MERELY GOOD STRATEGY. Seiji added in.
I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A CHANCE. Everyone looked at Xiu, a little surprised by his attitude. WELL, Xiu defended himself, I JUST THINK THERE'S MORE TO HIM THAN MEETS THE EYE, THAT'S ALL. He seemed to be more than a little self-conscious about his choice, but didn't change his mind. Ryou got a brief image in his mind from Xiu of some guy with wavy white hair, but Xiu quickly squashed the image and blocked off that part of his mind. He was hiding something, but Ryou knew it wasn't anything that would hurt them.
"What do you want with the ningen's?" Anubisu asked, still at Sh'ten's side. "Why should they interest you? You don't gain power from them as Arago did."
"I don't have any interest in them, as a rule. But...that child, I do want to see her again." Kenbukyou's voice took on a kind of anxious tone, like that of a child sent into a candy shop with a pocket full of coins.
"What child?" Rajura asked and then his eyes widen in realization. "You mean Kay? What do you want with her?" His voice lowered dangerously and both he and Anubisu tensed, ready to attack if the demon lord suggested anything...un-gentlemanly about their little sister. Ryou stiffened in Seiji's arms and reached for his sword, putting a hand on it, but not drawing it quite yet.
"Be at ease." Kenbukyou said, sensing their tension, probably. "My attention span isn't long and I will not wish to be emperor for eternity. Perhaps a couple of hundred years. After that, I will give the Youja-Kai over to someone else. That girl...she has potential." Again, there was a strange tone to his voice.
"She's human." Ryou reminded Kenbukyou. "Not a demon. How can she become empress? She won't even live long enough for you to grow tired of being emperor."
"No one who comes to the Youja-Kai remains untouched by it's power. She will live a very long life, more than long enough to rule after me." Kenbukyou waved the comment aside. "As for her being a human, training can overcome that defect. She will, I believe, become a great empress one day." Kenbukyou raised a hand and the world changed around them, again. This time they were all, including Sh'ten's body and the stone block he had been laid on, on the top of the castle.
Kenbukyou strode over to the edge of the wall and looked down. As soon as he'd done this, a thunderous cheer rose up from below. Rajura couldn't help himself and went over to see what was going on. Below, standing on the still smoking battlefield, was Kenbukyou's army. Thousands of gray skinned people with their weapons raised over their heads and they cheered for their new emperor.
"All right." Rajura said reluctantly, not looking up from the people below. "You can see her, but she's not doing anything without our permission." He stepped closer to Kenbukyou. "Don't try to take her and think that I won't notice. My family has been hurt enough and I won't allow any more."
Kenbukyou's voice was amused. "You won't allow? You don't have the power to stand against me, Ma-Sho. Without the oni Ma-Sho, you can't bring forth the Kikoutei. How would you plan to fight me?"
"I don't know. But don't test me. Kay is precious and she's suffered enough. I won't have anyone hurting her." His voice made it very clear that he would back up his threat.
Slowly, Kenbukyou nodded.
Elsewhere-
A single bullet to the back of the head and grandfather Yagiyu died instantly.
He crashed to the floor of his living room and his murderer watched his still body for just a moment to make sure he was dead. When she was certain the old man was dead, the murderer turned and coldly walked away.
"One down and two to go." She said with a smile in her voice.
To be continued...
Zero-
Mental synchronization… complete.
Vocal use… activated.
Motor ability… activated.
Merger… complete.
Quatre/Zero opened their eyes to see four men in white coats aiming guns at them. Protective measures had to be taken. Quatre’s mind the part that still belonged to him alone - was sluggish and distant. He tired to focus on their surroundings and Zero obligingly helped, easily steadying his other half.
'The doctors.' Quatre thought, seeing them at the same time Zero did. Zero knew them through Quatre’s memories, knew what they had done and what Quatre though they had done. Zero knew they were a threat to Quatre which meant they were a threat to Zero.
Zero felt Quatre try to speak, but held him in check. Unfortunately, when Quatre realized he wasn't able to control his own body, he started to panic. 'Why can't I talk? What's going on?'
'I am in control, Quatre. Don't panic.' Zero reassured him. ‘You must not provoke them while they are armed.’
'Who are you?' Quatre's voice asked hesitantly. 'Are you that thing that was talking to me? Zero?'
'Yes, I am Zero.' They looked around, seeing out of Quatre's eyes. 'We are one and I will protect us, Quatre. I have told you this already. Self-preservation is my primary directive.'
Quatre was silent in his own mind for a moment. 'What is your secondary directive?' He sounded worried, even to Zero.
'Kill.'
Quatre was desperately trying to take control of the body they shared, but Zero held Quatre firmly. 'You are not emotionally suited for this situation and your judgment currently is flawed by stress of the merger. I will do this.'
'Get out of my mind!' Quatre was starting to panic and fight against Zero, even though that was rather foolish as he was nowhere near strong enough. Perhaps he would be at a later time, but at the moment he was too tired. 'I'm not you!'
'We are one. There is no separation, no going back.' Zero stood up, feeling for the first time cold, hard metal under Quatre's bare feet. Cold. Sensation… it was all so new. Cold air. Bright lights. The smell of Quatre’s sweat. So much information to store. It made Zero want to smile. Life.
Quatre didn't understand and was scared. Images of people Quatre knew kept flashing across Zero's mind, distracting It from It's purpose. He saw four boys, a particularly clear image of a green eyed boy with a grave expression, and others. There were two men, one immensely large and the other rather small. There was a blue haired boy. Family. They were Quatre’s family.
'Do not think of them.' Zero told Quatre. 'They can not help us.' To be honest, Zero was confused. Why would Quatre be wishing for help from others when Zero was right with him? Zero, with Quatre’s strong body, would easily protect them from any threat.
The doctors moved closer to Quatre/Zero with their guns still poised to fire. Zero blacked out the thoughts Quatre was trying to concentrate on, thoughts of the people that Zero didn't know, so It could focus better.
Though Quatre was a fighter and killer, he was under a great psychological strain. Zero decided that it would be best to let Quatre get some rest. 'Sleep.' Zero gently pushed the Quatre into a safe corner where he wouldn't be aware of what was going on. 'This will not take long.'
Quatre protested, even as he was dragged away and he was falling into sleep, 'No! That’s my body! You can’t have it! It’s mine!’
Zero drowned out Quatre's voice, forcing him into a deep sleep. There was no reason to get Quatre more upset about than necessity. It would be easiest on him to spend his time unaware. Zero would let Quatre have control of their body once the threat was taken away.
It killed the doctors. The ones with the guns were easily killed. There was nothing else that could be done. They had to die for the sake of Quatre/Zero’s life. While It worked on killing the doctor's, noting that Quatre's body was fast and strong. Quatre's body was both useful and expected. When It had been programmed, Zero had been given the knowledge that It would be working with a well-trained counterpart.
The doctors died efficiently with a minimum of effort on Zero's part. 'Killing will become easier,' Zero realized, 'When I learn to properly control this body.' After all the men with guns had been dispatched, Zero looked at the remaining one, the one Quatre knew as Doctor J and saw that the man was unarmed.
Non-threat.
It was at that pointed when doctor J called out to a living being who had been hidden in the room. This one was...female. Yes, Zero scanned all of It's knowledge and decided that this one must be female as opposed to Quatre's male.
"I wasn't expecting you, young lady, but it's so nice to have visitors." Doctor J spoke to the girl, an unknown factor, as he stepped over the now dead bodies of his former associates. Doctor J kept his eyes focused on the girl, though he did keep his hands in plain sight for Zero to see, just so Zero would know that he wasn't armed.
Zero examined the girl who emerged from behind the computers and It's eyes were instantly focused on the small, military issue gun in her hands. Male or female, guns were threats just as were those who wielded the guns were threats. This one would be eliminated, too.
The girl seemed afraid, her eyes darting from Zero to Doctor J. She was pale and sweating slightly, but she wasn't shaking. Her gun was aimed at the floor, not threatening, yet. Zero would wait and see what the intentions of the girl were.
Doctor J was very confident and, though Zero had not yet seen the doctor with any kind of weapons, It knew the man was dangerous. Quatre knew of Doctor J's intelligence, and therefore, Doctor J was dangerous to them. Intelligence was also a threat and so was the fact that Quatre believed Doctor J was helping to kill innocent people. The man was old, but his strength had been enhanced by the biotechnological additions to his body. Though he didn't look dangerous, he was, perhaps even more so than the unknown factor of the dark haired girl.
"How could you do that to a child?" The girl demanded, not looking at Zero, but at Doctor J. She waved her arm in Zero's general direction. "You may as well have killed him! How could you infect him with a system like that?"
Doctor J's eyes widened slightly. "So you saw and understood the Zero System? How interesting, not everyone can. However, that changes nothing, really." Doctor J answered blissfully. He went to stand next to Zero. In all probability, he didn't understand that he was still under observation until Zero determined where or not to kill the man. It wasn't likely that any sane human would come near Zero if they understood that they were being examined.
'I won't let anyone hurt Quatre.' Zero thought calmly. The merger had brought it as close to Quatre as any thing could be to another. It was now apart of Quatre and would, as It's nature dictated, protect Itself at all costs. 'Self preservation is utmost in priorities.'
The girl tensed at Doctor J's words and the grip on her gun tightened, turning her knuckles white. Zero took note of the look in her eyes. She was no innocent in the way of killing. She'd done it before and would do it again. She had the means to kill and hate in her eyes when she looked at Doctor J. When she looked at Zero, the emotion changed to one of disgust and pity. Humans killed what they hated or didn't like. She didn't like Doctor J, so she would kill him. She didn't like Zero, so she would kill him.
Logic dictated the girl was the enemy. Reality had yet to prove that logic. Zero would wait until reality and logic agreed.
Noin-
'Dear God, that boy was looking at me!' Noin didn't like the look in Quatre's eyes, sort of blank and cold. Noin started to tighten her grip on her gun, ignoring her sweating hands, she wanted to kill Doctor J. So badly that it burned in her brain, nearly blocking out all other thoughts, including how dangerous the blond kid was. This was the man who'd hurt Seiji and he deserved to die.
"Be careful, my dear." Doctor J warned with his smile growing by the second. "Zero was designed to destroy threats against it. Little Quatre now has the same objective and will kill you as easily as he killed my dolt assistants. Those fools underestimated the impact Zero System would have on the test subject. He is no longer just a boy, but a programmed killing weapon."
"Test subject? Weapon?" Noin said, outraged. "He's a child!" Damn, he almost looked younger than Seiji.
Doctor J started to laugh. "He is a killer. A perfect system designed for nothing but killing and I've given a very well conditioned body for Zero System to use. Oh, this is beautiful, simply beautiful." He turned to look at Quatre for a moment before bringing his mechanical, clawed hand up to Quatre's face and caressing it gently. "Quatre will rival even my sweet Heero in his perfection." There was a definite note of lust in Doctor J's voice and Noin felt sick while she watched him fondle the Quatre’s face.
For his own part, Quatre didn't seem to notice, let alone care, what Doctor J was doing to him. He simply stood there, arms at his sides and still holding the gun he'd used to kill the four other doctors. Quatre's eyes kept shifting from Noin and then to Doctor J, and Noin got the distinct feeling that she was being judged.
Noin started backing up, towards the door. Doctor J wasn't just insane, he was evil. Sweet Heero? Heero as in the cold-faced friend Seiji brought home the other day along with that boy, Duo? The skinny blue eyed kid that was covered in scars and seemed so angry? It wasn't impossible. Heero did act very much like Seiji at times.
'How far does this stretch? How many other children did this monster tamper with? What's he done?' The thought hit Noin like a brick between the eyes. 'That could be Seiji.' Noin thought watching Doctor J molest Quatre's unfeeling face. 'My little brother could have been...what if that pervert DID touched Seiji?' Something told her that the man wouldn't hesitate for an instant if he'd wanted Seiji, not if he'd decided that he'd wanted Seiji.
"Do start running, won't you, miss?" Doctor J suggested, turning to look at her with an easy confidence. "Zero is going to attack you if you raise your weapon an inch and you saw how easily he killed these worthless things." He waved an arm to the fallen men. "It would be easier if you just walked away, I suppose, but then you'd go and report to...who is it? Ah, General Kushranada. Well, we can't have that. After Une's unfortunate death, we had to come up with another plan that involves him. Can't have him getting suspicious at the moment, I'm afraid."
"What?" Noin asked, unable to keep the shock out of her voice. "What about Trieze? Who's working with you?" Damn, she'll have to get a hold of Trieze and Zechs!
Doctor J waved her question asked with a wave of his free hand. "Oh, it's nothing you need to worry about." Doctor J looked at Quatre. "Kill her."
Noin felt her heart stop for a minute and she stared at Quatre. She knew, deep inside, that no matter how good she was, she was no match for the programmed boy. She'd seen him in action and he would be able to kill her easily. But she froze. Instead of running or shooting or something, she froze like a damned deer caught in headlights! Noin would later yell at herself for being so stupid, she was trained for that sort of situation, she should be able to handle it!
"Unacceptable."
Noin managed to breathe when the boy spoke and was more than a little relieved to see Doctor J's stunned face.
"I gave you an order, Quatre." Doctor J frowned at his creation. "You must obey."
Quatre turned his cold eyes on Doctor J. "Quatre is sleeping at the moment. I am in control. Your order is unacceptable. We take no orders." Quatre turned away from Doctor J and started to walk to the door, which happen to be right behind Noin. "Only threats will be eliminated. She has made no threats, she will not be eliminated."
Noin backed away from Quatre - or whomever was talking - and watched him walk passed her towards the door. He walked with an odd stiffness, as if he wasn't used to doing it. Just as Quatre passed her, Noin saw Doctor J move quickly, out of the corner of her eyes, and she turned to look at him.
Doctor J pulled his gun out of the inside of his lab coat and fired off one, purposely miss-aimed shot at Quatre, then slipped the gun back under his lab coat. The bullet went into the wall a few feet away from Quatre who turned around furiously. Apparently, he was starting to lose the icy coldness.
"Threat." He said in a hissing voice, looking directly at Noin who still held her gun.
‘He thought I shot at him!' Without thinking, Noin did the only thing she could possibly do to save her life. She jumped though a window and fell two stories to the street below. Noin hit the ground hard, and she cried out when something pierced her back, most likely some broken bottle or other such garbage, but momentum kept her rolling until she rolled right onto the sidewalk. The glass from the window had shattered when she'd gone though it and she was bleeding badly on her arms where the glass had sliced her, but there was no pain. She couldn't feel anything because of the overwhelming terror. She knew Quatre was right behind her and she knew she couldn’t kill him. That would be as if she were shooting Seiji.
'Run!' Her mind screamed and she obeyed, not even looking to see if Quatre were even following. She didn't need to look. Noin ran into the city, reverently wishing she had some way to contact Zechs or Trieze.
Zero-
Zero watched the girl jump out the window and followed without hesitation, ignoring the mad cackling of Doctor J behind It. The flight suit protected It from the broken glass and his own skill and strength protected It from the fall. By the time Zero was on the ground, the girl was all ready running down the street. There was blood on the ground, proving she had been injured, so it shouldn't be hard to follow her. Zero ran after the girl, easily keeping up with her, but not overtaking her, yet. If It were to kill the girl in public, innocents would become involved and that was not acceptable. Better to capture her in a more private area.
There were people out on the streets and they gave Zero funny looks as It ran down the street. Zero heard people muttering and pointing at some poor girl who looked like she'd been hurt. Some of them were wondering about calling the police. Zero decided It would have to find the girl before the police did. Police might interfere with It and Quatre would be endangered. That was not acceptable.
Zero followed the girl into a construction area where It had seen her jump over a tall fence. She must have believed that it would offer her some safety, or she would not have spent the energy she had left to get here. Zero knew that with all the blood she'd lost, the girl must be weakening, and this pleased It. It wouldn't have to work so hard to kill her.
There was no one in the construction yard. A half-built building shadowed the area, like a skeleton without it's skin. The morning fog was heavy, making visibility difficult, but Zero knew It could operate in such conditions. It didn't bother calling out for the girl. There was no need. It would find her and then kill her. There was no escape.
Youja-Kai-
Shin-
Shin was just glad it was over. More than glad, really. He was overjoyed that the nightmare had ended, finally, and just wished he could find the energy to open his eyes. Cathy would be waiting for him to practice and God knows the ringmaster didn't like it when his people were lazy. Trowa would probably already be doing his warm-ups and wondering when Shin was going to join him.
"Get up, buddy."
That wasn't Cathy's voice, nor was it Trowa's. It certainly wasn't the ringmaster.
"Come on, Shin." IT'S ALL OVER. WE WON.
Shin blinked at the familiar voice, better able to recognize it now that it was in his mind, and saw that the nightmare hadn't ended, despite what Xiu told him. The reddish sky overhead, dull with ash, proved that he was still in the nightmare. 'I thought it was a dream.'
Large, rough hands slipped under Shin's shoulders and pulled him into a sitting-up position, letting him rest against something strong and stable. Shin blinked again, trying to stop the world from spinning and he felt Xiu sitting next to him, touching his mind softly. YOU OKAY?
I WILL BE. Shin wanted to cry, he'd been so sure that it had been a dream.
Dust and ash from the fallen palace was still drifting down and the air still smelled of smoke, so Shin knew he hadn't been out of it all that long. There was also the smell of sweat and blood lingering in the air. He let himself sink into the warmth of Xiu's arms.
Shin huddled against Xiu when a hand touched his own. I'M HERE, TOO. Touma's sardonic voice tickled Shin's mind.
I KNOW. EVERYONE'S SAFE, RIGHT? Shin asked, tightening his fingers around Touma's. Shin just felt so cold, deep in his bones, but Xiu and Touma made him feel just a bit warmer. On Xiu's other side, Shin knew Touma was sitting in much the same position, leaning against Xiu's side with one of Xiu's arms draped around him. 'Sort of like a Xiu sandwich.' Shin though absently.
YEAH. I THINK WE KILLED THAT THING. Touma said. AT LEAST, I THINK RYOU DID. Touma's mind-voice seemed to shake with the memory of what had happened to them all, the wrenching agony of being pulled out of their bodies and the joy at being fused together. Then they all lost consciousness and...a blank spot in their memories where something must have happened, before being thrust back into their bodies with the same pain as when they'd been taken.
Shin rubbed against Touma's mind, calming him even as Xiu rubbed their blue-haired friend's back. Shin knew he had to be strong. He just had to make sure they all made it out of here in one piece.
He'd seen them all, then, for just a split second, and knew them all with more intimacy than even the moment of their first touch. Even Seiji who was so cold and distant, his mind had been flung open against his will, and he had become apart of them. Shin saw, heard, and felt all of the pain from Seiji's life. And, though it all grew distant, Shin knew he'd never forget any of it, any of them. Shin didn't know if he liked it or not, but he knew he could never live without them again.
'I won't let any of them go.' Shin thought harshly. 'I'll never let any of them get hurt.'
Shin realized he should make sure he knew where everyone else was, though he knew without a doubt that Seiji and Ryou were alive and well, he wanted to see them. The Ma-Sho's weren't paying them any attention and were, instead, digging though the remains of the palace. Seiji was just starting to wake up, making no sound at all as he fought his way awake. Standing a few yards away from them, Shin saw Ryou and...
Uh-oh.
Kenbukyou was holding Ryou in his arms, doing nothing but standing there and holding Ryou like one would hold a baby. Ryou wasn't awake and showed no signs of waking up any time soon.
Seiji took immediate exception upon finding Ryou in Kenbukyou's arms. Of course, Shin didn't know Seiji well, but he did know that Seiji had an overpowering love for Ryou. He'd seen in when they'd all joined together and knew that Seiji was also very protective of Ryou. Still, Seiji had seemed to be a cool, controlled person which made his reaction even more startling.
Staggering to his feet, Seiji leveled an icy glare at Kenbukyou while he breathed hard. Seiji stalked over to Kenbukyou, his arms and legs seeming very stiff, like he was having trouble controlling them, and stopped just a few feet away from the demon lord. "Mine."
Kenbukyou apparently understood and handed Ryou to Seiji without a word. Even though Ryou was still wearing his yoroi, Seiji took him without complaint of the weight and carried him to where Shin was sitting with Xiu and Touma.
"When will he wake up?" Shin asked as Seiji sat in front of them with Ryou half-laying on his lap. Ryou didn't look good. He was pale and completely limp, sweat drying on his skin and he was covered in bruises and cuts. Then again, none of them looked very good. All minor injuries, but still they'd all taken quite a bit of punishment.
"Soon, I think." Touma spoke for the first time. "I'm not sure about this, but I think Ryou took our power and used it to increase his own. It must have exhausted him terribly." Touma groaned and started to push himself away from Xiu. "Let me look at him."
Seiji drew Ryou in closer to him and glared at Touma for a minute. He was quite reluctant to give Ryou up, but Shin knew Touma could help. They'd all seen Touma and his life. They all knew Touma knew about injuries and how to best treat them. He'd had some kind of training by a very large man and Shin almost thought it was training in some kind of military. Shin knew he'd feel much the same as Seiji did if it had been Touma or Xiu who'd been hurt so badly.
"I'll give him right back." Touma promised, very seriously. HE LET ME LOOK IN HIS MIND SO HE COULD GET A LOOK AT ME, Touma told Shin and Xiu. HE JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT I WOULDN'T HURT HIM.
Seiji must have been satisfied with what he saw in Touma's mind because he gave up Ryou without any further delay. Laying Ryou down between the two of them, Seiji sat back and let Touma take a closer look. I'M A HEALER, Seiji told all of them, opening his mind slightly. BUT I CAN'T HEAL HIM. HE'S NOT HURT, JUST TIRED.
"I think you're right." Touma answered, peeling back one of Ryou's eyelids to get a look at the eye.
While that was going on, Shin leaned closer into Xiu, finding comfort there. Touma didn't look well, though he'd managed to get through the battle without getting too bloody. Touma slipped off his tall, conical helmet with the two horns on either side, and set it down beside him. His hair was matted with sweat and his skin was white. Shin could feel through their link that Touma was very close to falling asleep on the spot.
Xiu took the cue from Touma and reached up to take off his own helmet. For the first time, it seemed heavy, though Shin knew the helmets and yoroi weighed next to nothing. Xiu grunted and strained to lift the helmet off and put it down with a sign of relief. Shin could see dark circles under Xiu’s eyes and how pale, he was like Touma.
"I'm so tired." Xiu confessed, looking down at Shin. "I just want to roll over and die on the spot." Xiu ran his fingers though Shin's hair and Shin cuddled into Xiu's side, half-burying his face in Xiu's neck. It felt so natural to do it that Shin didn't even think about it.
Only then did Shin look at what the Ma-Sho were doing. They hadn't stopped their search for...whatever it was they were looking for. Though Shin couldn't feel them like he could his friends, just looking at them told Shin that they were as badly off as Xiu, Touma, and Seiji.
The three Ma-Sho were still wearing all their yoroi, now dusty and filthy with the grime of battle. Anubisu's bright red cape was tattered and hanging in shreds, Naaza had lost several of his swords, and Rajura's gauntlets were missing.
Silently, the Ma-Sho struggled with the huge stone blocks, almost zombie-like in their efforts. A kind of sadness had settled over all of them, but they showed no signs of stopping. Not one of them attempted any of their amazing sure-kill’s to clear the rubble. They worked carefully and slowly.
Rajura, the smallest of the Ma-Sho, stumbled once under the burden of one of the stones, but got back up again and went for another block. Still, not a single word was uttered. At least, not out loud. They could be mind-speaking for all Shin knew.
Shin watched them for the longest time, wishing there was something he could do to help someone. Touma and Seiji had decided that there was nothing to do for Ryou, but to let him sleep himself out and Xiu was determined not to move an inch. Shin wanted to help the Ma-Sho, but he really didn't know what he could do. He wasn't as strong as they were and he didn't even know what they were looking for.
Naaza broke down, suddenly, falling to leaned on one of the stone piles he'd already searched through. "I have to find him.” He wasn’t crying. He, like the rest of them, seemed tired and numb, but the despair in his voice was heart-breaking.
Shin pushed away from Xiu and pulled himself to his feet. "What?" he asked, making his way to Naaza. The other Ma-Sho hadn't stopped their digging, but Shin was certain they were in contact with Naaza through their own mental link.
Naaza lowered his head and said in anguish, "I won't leave Sh'ten buried under Arago's damned palace!"
'Oh, God!' Shin felt terrible. 'How could I have forgotten?' He'd managed to get through the battle without losing anyone close to him, but the Ma-Sho had lost their leader, someone they'd been bonded to for hundreds of years. Naaza had had to survive Sh'ten death, not once, but twice. Once at the actual death and now losing him this second time. If Shin lost one of his friends he didn't know what he'd do. It would be like cutting out a part of his heart.
"Let me help." Shin offered, knowing perfectly well that there was almost nothing he could do. Naaza looked at Shin with pink-tinted tears in his eyes, and nodded slightly. Shin started to work on the smaller stones, knowing that anything he did was better than nothing. Soon, Shin was aware of Xiu standing and coming to work next to him.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TIRED? Shin asked, though he didn't pause when Xiu began lifting stone that was far too heavy for Shin to manage.
I'LL BE FINE. Xiu looked at Shin and gave him a soft smile. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT.
They found Sh'ten eventually, after moving more than three tons of stone. Sh’ten’s body had managed to get out of the palace with the rest of them, before Ryou had taken their power to make that super yoroi, or whatever it was, but it hadn't woken up afterwards and a large wall had fallen down upon it.
Sh'ten's body was no longer the frozen perfection it had been left at the moment of his death. His corpse had been mangled, leaving it a bloody parody of what the human body should look like. As gently as he could, Anubisu lifted Sh'ten's body out of the rubble and carried it to a clear spot near where Ryou had been resting.
Shin slipped an arm around Naaza who was quietly crying, but Naaza shrugged him off roughly. "Leave me alone!"
Shin said nothing, at first, but put his arm around Naaza again. "You don't need to be alone."
"I'm NOT alone! I have them." Naaza snapped, irritably gesturing to Rajura and Anubisu who were watching him carefully.
"I know. I just wanted you to remember that." Shin walked away from Naaza and back towards his friends. Touma met him there and hugged him, needing a touch of reassurance in all this mess.
Naaza stared after Shin, but didn't fight when Rajura pulled him into a hug. "I will create a beautiful resting place for him." Rajura promised. "A tree in full bloom and a field of flowers. A bright blue sky and larks singing will mark his resting place."
Ryou-
Ryou woke with a pounding headache and an ache in his chest. Everything hurt "Whaaa...?" It came out more like a moan, but Ryou felt hands on him and the wonderfully familiar presence of his friends touching his mind. Seiji's was first in his mind, a protective, strong mind. His mind was shielded, as usual, but after they'd joined together so tightly, Seiji's shield wasn't as strong as it had been. Then came the others. They were all around him and, after a moment's thought, Ryou realized it was them who were touching his body and he relaxed into the caresses, knowing that he was perfectly safe.
Shin's voice came through the haze and Ryou struggled to focus on it. "Ryou? Ryou, are you alright?" Reaching out to touch Ryou's mind with his own reinforced Shin's voice and Ryou responded by returning the caress and reaching out to the others, as well.
Seiji was terribly worried and opened his mind slightly to Ryou, letting him feel how glad Seiji was that he was finally waking up. Touma and Xiu were equally happy and Ryou knew Xiu, always emotional, was close to tears.
"What happened?" Ryou finally opened his eyes and found his four friends looking down at him. Over head, he could see the smoky reddish sky of the Youja-Kai and dust settling in the air. He couldn't seem to remember properly and everything he could remember seemed a bit fuzzy around the edges. It came crashing painfully back to him and Ryou sat bolt upright.
"MAMA!" He cried and looked around, even though his brain was desperately telling his body to lay back down, least he faint. He'd seen Mama Sh'ten walking and fighting! He'd seen it with his own two eyes!
No one said anything, and Ryou felt a wash of sadness from everyone. Touma looked away and Shin's eyes misted over with unshed tears. Xiu put his hands on Shin and Touma's shoulders, giving them his support and they leaned into him. Seiji showed nothing, just sat there and watched Ryou. Everyone moved slightly apart so Ryou could see behind them to where his big brothers were kneeling on the ground a short distance away. This time, no one was crying or having hysterics, but Ryou reached out and still, Mama Sh'ten's presence was missing. He was still dead.
Ryou tried to pushed himself to his feet, but he was feeling so weak. "Seiji?" Ryou reached out his hand and Seiji helped him to his feet without hesitation. Ryou gasped slightly when the pain hit him again and his head swam for a minute, but Seiji held Ryou tightly and didn't let him fall. Ryou staggered over to his brothers, leaning heavily on Seiji, while Rowen, Xiu, and Shin followed closely. They didn't seem willing to let him out of their sight.
Rajura had his arms wrapped around himself with his head bowed. Anubisu was shaking while he stroked Rajura's hair with his large hands. Naaza held mama Sh'ten's body on his lap and stared blankly ahead. Ryou could feel, as he knew his friends could, his brothers reaching out to find mama Sh'ten mind, as if they were waiting for him to wake again. There was nothing to find. Like trying to fish in a dead lake, there was simply nothing there to find.
Mama Sh'ten remained still and pale, though on his face he wore a smile as if he knew that he'd finally accomplished his mission, destroying the demon Arago, and was well pleased, even in death. He'd freed the ones he cared about the most.
Ryou sagged slightly into Seiji and put his other arm around Seiji's waist. He wanted to cry, scream, throw up, and faint all at the same time. But...it didn't feel right. 'I knew mama was dead. I knew...I knew we'd only find his body. But he was alive, I saw him walking and fighting. I felt his power when...what whatever that was happened. His power went into me, just like the others did. He was here.'
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. Ryou looked at Touma, who'd spoken in his mind. I KNOW IT HURTS, BUT...WELL...YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT TO. Touma sounded awkward and looked it right then. He still wasn't used to or comfortable sharing emotions like this. Shin and Xiu shared Touma's sentiment and Seiji put his arms tighter around Ryou.
Ryou smiled gratefully, but he'd done his grieving. Mama Sh'ten wouldn't want him to do anymore, Ryou was sure. Instead, he pushed back the tears and tried to focus on how happy he was that almost everyone had made it out of this thing alive.
Rajura was the first one of them to recover. He un-wrapped his arms from around himself and stood up shakily. "We should get you all home." Rajura stood up, keeping his face calm. He was in charge again. "There's business to take care of here and then we have to see that Kay's alright."
"What kind of business?" Xiu asked, coming to stand next to Seiji. "If the bad guy's been killed, what's left to do?" WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT AGAIN, DO WE? The thought was directed at Ryou, not at Rajura, who couldn't have heard Xiu's mind voice, anyway.
"What makes you think Arago's been killed?" Rajura asked darkly. "Arago is a demon and, therefore, not alive. Something that is not alive can not be killed."
Touma sounded tired when he said, "We went through all that for nothing?"
Shin's eyes grew wide when Rajura's meaning sunk in. "You...you mean he's still around here? We have to fight him again?" He sounded sick at the very thought and Touma put a hand on Shin's arm. Ryou heard Touma thought the link,
IT'S ALRIGHT, SHIN.
IT'S NOT ALRIGHT! I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT! Shin looked like he wanted to bolt, yet he held his ground. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!
Rajura's answer calmed Shin quickly. "No, we won't have to fight Arago, at least not any time soon. He's lost most of his power in the battle with Kikoutei and he couldn't control one spirit, let alone the entire Youja-Kai. There's going to be a new Emperor and we've promised him our support ruling."
"Who?" Shin asked.
"Me."
Everyone turned to see Kenbukyou standing nearby, exactly where he had been before. His army was nowhere to be seen, but Kenbukyou stood there as calmly as if nothing had happened. "I am next in the power line and therefore I will take over. It is my place." Kenbukyou raised one armored hand and pointed it to where Arago's palace had been.
For a moment, nothing happened. Slowly, though, the remains of Arago's palace faded away into nothing-ness, leaving a large empty field behind. A slow turn of Kenbukyou's hand, from down to up, and reality changed, again. The thing sprouted from the ground, like a giant animal poking its head up and then kept growing. It was a castle, they all realized after a minute. It was Kenbukyou's castle from the grasslands, now sitting proudly where Arago had once had his palace. When it was finished, Kenbukyou lowered his hand and admired his work.
"What about Saranbo?" Anubisu asked. The growth of the castle didn't seem to surprise him at all, but then, he'd lived here for so long, maybe he was used to this sort of thing. "He'll challenge your claim to the throne the minute your back is turned."
Kenbukyou only shrugged. "It is of no matter. Saranbo is a coward and should he chose to face me, I will smite him. With Arago gone, I can claim much of his power." Indeed, at his words, spirits that had formerly served Arago now floated out of the castle and bowed before Kenbukyou. Behind him, the gray skinned warriors who followed him, arrived.
The warriors lined up in formation before raising a fisted hand in salute to Kenbukyou. "I will have little difficulties with Saranbo." Again, Kenbukyou raised his hand. Everyone was suddenly in a room with nothing in it but a large stone block.
"This is the center room of my castle." Kenbukyou told them, walking to the stone block. "It will also be Sh'ten's resting place, if you will so honor me." Kenbukyou, so proud and arrogant, did something very unexpected. He bowed low, at the waist, to Rajura. "Without your aid and Sh'ten's sacrifice, I would never have been able to achieve this. I will be honored if you would allow my home to be his resting-place. There is no one would who desecrate his body in this place."
Rajura's eyes went distant for a minute, and Ryou knew he was talking to Anubisu and Naaza. When he came back to himself, Rajura nodded. "It is we who are honored." He looked around at the plain room and then the walls, ceiling and floor all vanished. They were replaced by a garden. A bright blue sky over head and lush green grass under their feet along with flowers of every shape and kind were in this illusion of Rajura's. There was even a tree with purple leaves where the stone block had been and it was under this that they lay Mama Sh'ten's body.
Anubisu stood next to Rajura, but Naaza sat on the illusion ground next to Sh'ten's ruined body. "Rajura?" Naaza ran his finger down the side of Sh'ten's bloodied face. "He hated it when people saw him… less than pretty.”
Rajura nodded and instantly Sh'ten changed, returning to his natural beauty and Naaza almost smiled. "Thank you." Naaza didn't stand up, though. "I want to stay with him." Naaza lay his head on Sh'ten's, took Sh'ten's hand in his own, and sighed. "I want to stay here, Rajura."
"Only for a little while, Naaza." Rajura waved his hand and all of them, were suddenly back in the plain stone chamber Kenbukyou had offered as Sh'ten's resting-place. Sh'ten was on the stone block, laid out just as Rajura had put him in the illusion. Naaza was sitting on the floor next to Sh'ten, his hand clasped around love's. His eyes were closed and he was barely breathing.
"Will he be alright?" Ryou asked, worried.
Rajura ran a hand through Naaza's messy green hair. "I don't know. Let's just give him a minute alone with Sh'ten, though. It might help."
Kenbukyou, apparently impatient with the mortal niceties, said, "I will return with you to the Ningen-Sekai. I must look for someone."
Ryou got a strong feeling of unease and distrust from his friends when Kenbukyou said this. THIS GUY'S A DEMON, RIGHT? Touma asked. HE CAN'T COME TO OUR WORLD. THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT HE'D DO.
BUT HE HELPED FIGHT ARAGO. Shin said in the demon's defense, though even he didn't sound quite convinced. WE CAN'T JUST ASSUME HE'S AN EVIL CREATURE.
KENBUKYOU HELPED US TO HELP HIMSELF. THAT IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF KINDNESS, MERELY GOOD STRATEGY. Seiji added in.
I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE HIM A CHANCE. Everyone looked at Xiu, a little surprised by his attitude. WELL, Xiu defended himself, I JUST THINK THERE'S MORE TO HIM THAN MEETS THE EYE, THAT'S ALL. He seemed to be more than a little self-conscious about his choice, but didn't change his mind. Ryou got a brief image in his mind from Xiu of some guy with wavy white hair, but Xiu quickly squashed the image and blocked off that part of his mind. He was hiding something, but Ryou knew it wasn't anything that would hurt them.
"What do you want with the ningen's?" Anubisu asked, still at Sh'ten's side. "Why should they interest you? You don't gain power from them as Arago did."
"I don't have any interest in them, as a rule. But...that child, I do want to see her again." Kenbukyou's voice took on a kind of anxious tone, like that of a child sent into a candy shop with a pocket full of coins.
"What child?" Rajura asked and then his eyes widen in realization. "You mean Kay? What do you want with her?" His voice lowered dangerously and both he and Anubisu tensed, ready to attack if the demon lord suggested anything...un-gentlemanly about their little sister. Ryou stiffened in Seiji's arms and reached for his sword, putting a hand on it, but not drawing it quite yet.
"Be at ease." Kenbukyou said, sensing their tension, probably. "My attention span isn't long and I will not wish to be emperor for eternity. Perhaps a couple of hundred years. After that, I will give the Youja-Kai over to someone else. That girl...she has potential." Again, there was a strange tone to his voice.
"She's human." Ryou reminded Kenbukyou. "Not a demon. How can she become empress? She won't even live long enough for you to grow tired of being emperor."
"No one who comes to the Youja-Kai remains untouched by it's power. She will live a very long life, more than long enough to rule after me." Kenbukyou waved the comment aside. "As for her being a human, training can overcome that defect. She will, I believe, become a great empress one day." Kenbukyou raised a hand and the world changed around them, again. This time they were all, including Sh'ten's body and the stone block he had been laid on, on the top of the castle.
Kenbukyou strode over to the edge of the wall and looked down. As soon as he'd done this, a thunderous cheer rose up from below. Rajura couldn't help himself and went over to see what was going on. Below, standing on the still smoking battlefield, was Kenbukyou's army. Thousands of gray skinned people with their weapons raised over their heads and they cheered for their new emperor.
"All right." Rajura said reluctantly, not looking up from the people below. "You can see her, but she's not doing anything without our permission." He stepped closer to Kenbukyou. "Don't try to take her and think that I won't notice. My family has been hurt enough and I won't allow any more."
Kenbukyou's voice was amused. "You won't allow? You don't have the power to stand against me, Ma-Sho. Without the oni Ma-Sho, you can't bring forth the Kikoutei. How would you plan to fight me?"
"I don't know. But don't test me. Kay is precious and she's suffered enough. I won't have anyone hurting her." His voice made it very clear that he would back up his threat.
Slowly, Kenbukyou nodded.
Elsewhere-
A single bullet to the back of the head and grandfather Yagiyu died instantly.
He crashed to the floor of his living room and his murderer watched his still body for just a moment to make sure he was dead. When she was certain the old man was dead, the murderer turned and coldly walked away.
"One down and two to go." She said with a smile in her voice.
To be continued...