Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Punishment ( Chapter 10 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Cousin D 
Ryou meets Arago.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 02.15.2003 | Updated On: 01.23.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 560 | Status: Work In Progress
Ryou meets Arago.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy / Drama / Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 02.15.2003 | Updated On: 01.23.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 6.0K | Visits: 560 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 10: Punishment
Sh'ten-
The halls seemed quieter than ever before, but they couldn’t have been. It was just the tension of the situation that made it seem so. The five of them, the Ma-Sho and Ryou who would shortly join their proud ranks, walked down the stone halls that were their home, but not without trepidation.
Why the unease?
There was no better time for apprehension than when one was approaching Arago, the demon emperor. Even more disquieting was Ryou, and how they all feared he would react. He was only a child…they all knew he would react badly.
‘I’ve walked these halls so long, I can scarcely remember not living here. One day Ryou will think back on his life at that foundlings home and he will wonder if it was real or nothing more than a dream.’ The echo of footsteps and oppressive silence seemed worse than ever after that thought. Sh’ten wondered if, perhaps, it was guilt that made this simple walk seem so demanding. Sh’ten rarely felt guilt about anything he did but escorting Ryou into the service of a demon couldn‘t be a good thing.
Ryou walked nervously with his brothers surrounding him and, for the first time in many years, Duo wasn't by his side. Even to Sh’ten, it seemed odd to have Ryou away from Duo. The two seemed like a matched set, after so long together. Despite the immensity of the palace, the boys shared a room. It had been their choice when they’d first arrived and neither had ever wished for rooms apart. But…as the Ma-Sho all knew, this time, it couldn’t be helped. There was no reason to throw Duo into danger as well as Ryou.
Ryou fidgeted, biting his bottom lip and nervously looking over his shoulder as if he thought Duo might come running from around a corner, laughing. It wouldn’t happen. When Rajura put someone out, they stayed out as a general rule.
“When are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Ryou asked, not for the first time since they’d left Duo. “Why couldn’t Duo come?”
“You’ll find out soon.” Sh’ten told him. They walked in formation around Ryou and Sh’ten knew that Ryou must have realized it. Rajura took point, walking ahead of them all. Anubisu brought up the rear while Naaza and Sh’ten walked on either side of Ryou, effectively boxing him in. “Trust me. Duo wouldn’t want to come along, anyway.”
There was no doubt in Sh’ten’s mind that when the two boys got older they would become lovers. Why shouldn’t they? It made sense, in a terribly practical way. They were relatively the same age and neither one was in a position of authority over the other - though Ryou did respect Duo a great deal. There would be no worry about one of them being coerced into the relationship unwillingly and no need to guard them from outsiders.
Besides, the alternatives were unthinkable. Either they would have to bring in an outsider or two for the boys to share or - Sh’ten shuddered at the idea - one of the four older brothers would have to fill in that role. That, Sh’ten and his brothers had all agreed, would have been just too weird.
“They’re more like our sons than brothers.” Anubisu had said looking a bit green at the idea. “Ewww…”
Of course, none of them were related by blood, it wasn’t as if they were real brothers, but the distinction was close enough. It was one thing to call a man your brother and love him, but quite another to raise a boy from childhood and take advantage of his innocence. It wasn’t as if they could expect the boys to stay pure and virginal forever. Hormones were bound to take control sooner or later and the sooner something was planned out, the better.
It was for all these reasons that Ryou and Duo’s closeness weren’t just accepted, it was encouraged. The older brothers allowed them to sleep together, bathe together, and nearly anything else they pleased. So long as the family was happy.
“Why won’t you just tell me?” Ryou pressed. “Have I done something wrong? Is it this thing?” He made as if to reach into his pocket for the orb he’d found, but stopped at Sh’ten’s sharp look. “What is it? Just tell me!”
“You haven’t done anything wrong, but it’s time for you to meet our master.” Sh’ten regretted that they’d never made and effort to have the boys meet Arago before that moment. Ryou and Duo both knew that there was a lord of the palace whom the Ma-Sho served, but they’d both been told not to seek the lord out. Further explanations might have been helpful, but the right time had never appeared. "Do the fires still frighten you, Ryou?"
"No." Startled at the question, Ryou considered the torches where they hung on their usual places on the walls. Sh’ten didn't know what he saw in the depths of the flames, but he did know that there was none of the fear which has lurked in Ryou’s eyes for years. Overnight, Ryou has lost an almost debilitating fear. Even Ryou looked puzzled, his forehead scrunching up with his confusion. Obviously, Ryou didn't understand what was happening to him, but he would, very shortly.
Ryou’s loss of fear must have been the work of the orb and that was a signal that soon it would be time to start his intensive training to prepare him for the time when he would be expected to march beside his brothers into war against anyone Arago should take a dislike to.
IS THIS FOR THE BEST? Naaza asked though the shared link.
The question was a foolish one so Sh’ten didn't bother to answer. They all knew it wasn’t for the best. How could it possibly be for the best? They were basically giving Ryou to a demon. But, the alternative would be worse. They had to keep Ryou away from the enemy and, now that he'd found the yoroi orb he'd been destined for, he had to become a servant of Emperor Arago. It was as simple as destiny.
"When did you find the yoroi orb?" This came from Rajura, turning his head almost fully to look at Ryou out of his good eye. A very blunt question, but it was one that had to be asked. “Which one is it?”
Ryou stuck a hand in his pocket. "The..."
Anubisu grumbled, "You know what we're talking about, we've been able to feel it on you since you got home. It's the orb that gives you the connection with the enemy and we need to break that connection if you're going to stay with us."
"Break it?!" Ryou demanded with a look of shock on his face. “You can’t!”
Sh’ten sympathized, but there was no choice. He couldn’t be allowed to have a bond with the very people who would want to take him away from them. Perhaps, they would be able to find a way to change the link that would connect Ryou with his brothers instead of strangers. To reassure Ryou, he said, "We must break the connection. You don't want to be taken away from us, do you?" Sh’ten tried to sound casual about it, but the reality was quite frightening. Ryou was a part of their family and it would be heartbreaking to lose him to the enemy. “Which orb did you find? You didn’t answer Rajura.”
“It has the symbol for fire in it.”
“Ah. Rekka.”
"Here we are." Rajura announced as they came to a stop outside the large metal doors that led into Emperor Arago's throne room. “Backs straight, everyone. No slouching, Ryou.”
No one moved for a moment and Ryou inched closer to Sh’ten, his eyes narrowing at the doors. “I don’t like that door.”
“No.” Naaza put an arm over Ryou’s shoulders and gave him a quick, one-armed hug. “But you’ll get used to it. We all did. Now do as Rajura says and stand up straight.”
Sh’ten stepped ahead, changing places with Rajura, then pushed the doors of Arago’s throne room open. As he did, they all felt the power of the demon emperor flow out of the room like a wave upon the beach. Rajura, Naaza, and Anubisu all watched Ryou out of the corner of their eyes to see his reaction. Anubisu kept his position slightly behind Ryou, carefully watching to make sure the boy wouldn't bolt.
Ryou's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around himself, his face going pale when the wave of power hit him. He didn't run, but he did take a step backwards, bumping into Anubisu. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder, and whispered, "I don't want to go in there."
They could only pray that Arago hadn’t heard. “You mustn’t speak like that.” Anubisu put a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "This is your destiny. You belong here with us." Anubisu was being as comforting as he possibly could, though they all knew from experience that there was nothing they could say to soothe Ryou’s fear. I SWEAR IF ARAGO HURTS RYOU-CHAN, I'LL DISMANTLE THE CASTLE! Anubisu promised in the confines of their shared minds, the one place where Arago couldn't hear them.
AGREED. Rajura responded, keeping an eye on the open door. WE SHOULD GO IN NOW. WE’VE WAITED TOO LONG.
The ghostly form of Arago's mask faded into sight, between the two torches, the mask stared blankly back at them, though they all, including Ryou, could feel the pure power behind the mask. With an encouraging nudge from Naaza, Ryou went with them, though he couldn't quite bring himself to look at the mask. They all marched in with Ryou and knelt on one knee to their master as they always did. Ryou stood as if frozen until Rajura put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a push for encouragement.
After all the years in service to their great lord, even Sh’ten couldn’t get over the awe he felt at Arago’s power. Truly, Arago was a god in his own right. Still, he was only a god. Not family as Ryou and Duo were. If their master did dare to harm the children, it was clearly understood by the brothers that they would be forced take a stand. Family was far more important than Arago.
"My Lord," Sh’ten started, bowing his head nearly to the floor, "We present for your favor, bringing him into your service, Ryou no Rekka."
A short time later...
Ryou walked out stiffly after Emperor Arago had dismissed them with his deep, ominous voice. Sh’ten had to admit to being impressed with how well Ryou had handled himself. He didn't speak unless spoken to, kept his eyes on the floor where they belonged, and stayed perfectly still through out the interview. He was very good. Terrified, but well behaved.
Ryou was, however, still pale and, now that it was over, Sh’ten could see that Ryou was starting to shake. The doors closed by themselves behind them and as soon as they had clanked shut, Ryou burst into a run, dashing down the hall as fast as he could.
"Stop!" Naaza yelled after him and the four brothers all took after him, afraid of what Ryou might do at such a time. He was still unused to the new power awakening within himself, and one's first encounter with Arago tended to be unnerving at the very best.
Sh’ten had always been faster than the others, so it was he who’d caught up to Ryou first. Ryou showed no signs of slowing, running almost blindly in his rush to get as far from Arago as he could, so Sh’ten had to catch him by the collar and drag him to the floor. They fell together crashing to the floor, but when they hit the ground, Ryou stopped his struggling.
Sh’ten sat up slowly, not daring to let go of Ryou for fear that he would run again, but Ryou just lay on the floor. He let Sh’ten pull him into his arms, much as Sh’ten used to do when Ryou, as a child, would have nightmares and come crying to Sh’ten’s chambers. Sh’ten held Ryou and Ryou let him, for the first time in a long time, not thinking that he was too grown-up for such things. Ryou's arms slowly wound around Sh’ten’s neck.
"I was so afraid, mama Sh'ten." He whispered, not looking at Sh’ten. "I don't think I've ever been so afraid in all my life. Not even of the fire."
"It's all right, Ryou-chan." Sh’ten stroked Ryou’s hair gently, and saw the others finally catch up with them. They stopped a short distance away and let Sh’ten calm Ryou down. "Our master has great power and you felt it, that's all. You've never felt a power like his before, so it upset you."
Ryou looked up at Sh’ten, his eyes troubled. "Why do you follow him? He's a ghost."
"No. He is the Demon Emperor of our world, Ryou. He is very powerful and we will share in his glory once our war is ended."
Ryou scowled. "I don't want his glory! I don't like him, he makes my stomach hurt. I felt sick just looking at him!"
This time, Sh’ten put on his harshest face. "You must not say such things, Ryou! You will be punished for your disloyalty!"
Ryou pushed himself to his feet. "I want to talk to Duo. Can I? Why couldn't he come with us?"
Sh’ten stood next, and looked down on Ryou. He noticed, for the first time, that Ryou was nearly as tall as he was. Just two more inches and they would be the same height. Of course, now that the yoroi had claimed him, there would be no more growing for Ryou. "You were very frightened by Emperor Arago, Ryou. How would Duo have felt?"
"Duo's much braver than I am, he would have been okay."
Rajura stepped forward and spoke reasonably. "Perhaps, but Duo does not have power as you do, Ryou. He is mortal and that is all. We love him very much, but there is no point in subjecting him to Arago if we don't have to. Duo doesn't need that on his mind, does he?"
Ryou thought about this for a moment. "I guess you're right. Still, I want him to know about all of this. He'd never forgive me if I tried to keep it a secret."
Arago-
Rekka was weak. Arago could see the boy’s fear as he knelt before the demon. Arago could see his hands tremble at Arago’s words and, though he enjoyed the signs of terror his presence caused, Arago detested that his Ma-Sho should be so weak as to show their emotions so blatantly.
‘And mine, he is. Trained by my Ma-Sho, Rekka is as much mine as they are. He will fight beside them in the coming war. How dare he be so weak? There can be only one cause for my Ma-Sho have one indulgence. I should not have pampered them.’
Duo, the mortal boy. Worthless.
‘There is no power to that boy, he is nothing more than human. I have often heard his name being screamed by my Ma-Sho after some misbehavior and heard his laughter contaminating my realm. A simple boy who takes pleasure in the joys of life. I will not stand for it! My Ma-Sho have been spoiled by allowing them to keep the boy, but no longer!’
Ryou-
Ryou went with his brothers to get Duo and tell him what was going on, he wouldn‘t be swayed to let Duo stay ignorant about Arago. True, Duo wouldn't be allowed to meet the Emperor Arago, Sh’ten told Ryou, but that was fine. Ryou didn’t want Duo to have to go through that. He's just too sensitive. All Ryou wanted was for Duo to know what was happening around them.
The trouble began as soon as they reached the room where Rajura had left Duo. Ryou came to a stop just outside the door and stared at it, puzzled but slowly growing frightened. The room didn't feel right. Something really didn't feel right, it was the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, like when he had first seen...
"He's in there!" Ryou almost shouted. Looking around, Ryou saw that the others knew and they stared at the door grimly. "He's in there with Duo!"
Ryou threw open the door, no longer feeling the paralyzing fear as it was Duo who was in danger. Duo was still soundly asleep, innocently snoring away under the spell Rajura had put on him. Between Duo and the doorway where Ryou stood with the Ma-Sho behind him, there was the ghost mask of Emperor Arago, hovering in midair. The power was so great, much stronger that it had been in the throne room.
"What are you doing?" Ryou demanded, trying to ignore his brothers quiet protests for him to control himself.
"Ryou, don't address him like that!" Naaza hissed and Ryou could hear fear in his voice. "You'll be punished!"
"I don't care!” He turned back to the floating head and opened his mouth before he could think too much about what was going on. “Get away from Duo!"
The demon's mask slowly turned toward Ryou, showing him the fearsome pits of its eyes, empty, inhuman eyes. "Do not question me, Rekka! This weakness will be destroyed. I will not be defeated because my warriors are made vulnerable by a mere boy!" Power crackled around the mask, in bursts of red light.
Ryou knew Arago was going to kill Duo.
‘Not while I have breath he won't!’ Ryou dashed into the room, pulling away from Naaza, and threw himself over Duo's body. The spell Rajura had used must have been incredible, as Duo still slept. "I won't let you hurt him!" Ryou tried to pick Duo up, but could only get him up onto his lap. "You can't hurt Duo!"
The mask laughed, a horrible sound. "The boy will die and you will be my warrior, Rekka. You shall follow my will and none of you will remember the boy once I have purified you memories."
Sh'ten-
‘What?’ Sh’ten stared in disbelief. ‘He's going to make us forget Duo?’
I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN! Sh’ten looked at Rajura who'd spoken. Though there was no expression on his face, Rajura’s fists clenched at his sides. ARAGO CAN'T TAKE
DUO FROM US!
AGREED. Naaza said in a softer tone. WE WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN.
Anubisu said nothing but let a powerful protective urge sweep across his mind.
They watch as Ryou finally lifted up his head. There was fire in his eyes, blazing fury. His own power, the strength of his will causes the air around him to heat and his hair and clothes are lifted, as if blowing in a wind. The room grew heated and suddenly burst into flames.
They all had to jump back out of the way, but Sh’ten didn't think Ryou could even see anyone but Duo and Arago. The flames lick higher, setting fire to the ceiling now, but Arago didn’t care. He wasn’t mortal, after all.
"Insolent child!" The demon Emperor thunders. "You dare to set your power against me? You who have not yet worn Rekka even once?" Ryou hugged Duo closer at the same time as his eyes widened and the fire began to intensify.
THIS CAN'T GO ON. Sh’ten told the others. RYOU CAN'T CONTROL HIS POWER ENOUGH TO FIGHT, YET. I’M SENDING THEM AWAY. RAJURA, WAKE DUO NOW, BEFORE I START.
Rajura concentrated on Duo and simply whispered, "Wake."
Duo blinked and yawned until he saw what was going on. "What the...? Holy Hell." His eyes, naturally, fell on Arago first then on the fire surrounding both him and Ryou. Duo tried to stand, but Ryou was holding him too tightly and was too far into his rage to even see that Duo had woken up. Duo tried to talk to Ryou, but to no avail. "Ryou, make the fire go away." Even Duo, so proud of his bravery, was watching the fire and Arago alternatively as the fire came closer and Ryou didn't seem to hear him. "Ryou, wake up! Please, let me go!" Duo was struggling, there was fire just inches from him, but Ryou was stronger and held on tight. Duo's eyes fell on us, still in the doorway. "Mama Sh'ten, help! 'Jura-san, please, what's going on?" He was panicking, and rightfully so. Waking up to a room of fire, with an apparently insane brother, and a demon looking down on one was not easy to take in all at once.
Sh’ten held out his hands and used all the power he could dredge up. "Gate, open!" Sh’ten focused the power under Ryou and Duo, instead of on the wall - as he usually did. It left Ryou no choice. Aware of what was going on or not, Ryou would have to stop the senseless battle. A black void opened under the two boys Sh’ten loved as brothers, and they fell. "Gate, seal!" The black hole vanished, but not before Arago could send one blast of power through. There was nothing any of the Ma-Sho could have done to stop the attack. The floor reappeared just as it had before and Arago turned on his Ma-Sho. The fire vanished as soon as Ryou had, leaving the room charred and smoking.
"You shall suffer for this betrayal." Arago announced in a frighteningly cold voice. "I have made it so they will be separated, they will not have each other in the world you have send them to Sh'ten."
Sh’ten bowed his head. "Yes, my master." At least the boys were both alive. Sh’ten had suffered protecting the others in the past, so once more would do no harm. He was the leader, after all, so it was his responsibility. He wasn’t sorry for what he’d done. Later, he would find Ryou and Duo and they would work something out. At worst, he’d find Duo a place to live in the ningen sekai where he could be safe from Arago. Ryou, though, would have to be brought back. Arago would not suffer Ryou to live if he refused to serve him.
The others bowed with Sh’ten, unexpectedly, and he rather wished that they hadn't. They were signaling that they would take the punishment with Sh’ten. LEAVE. Sh’ten told them firmly. THIS IS MY PLACE, NOT YOURS.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, 'TEN-CHAN. Naaza told him and the others backed him up. It was too late to argue.
Arago began speaking and delivered upon them the most horrible of all possible punishments. "For your crime, you will lose your children."
They all stood up straight at this pronouncement. They'd expected something bad, but not so nightmarish! "My lord, please..." Naaza tried to plead, but they heard a high-pitched scream from out in the hall. Kayura!
Sh’ten turned to rush for her, but Arago's giant mask was suddenly between the door and himself, forcing Sh’ten to stop. "For this crime, Kayura will be taken from this palace and be trained as a warrior in another part of my world. You will not see her again unless it is in battle and even then you won’t know her, nor will she know you."
Anubisu was hyperventilating and Naaza hissed his distress, clutching at Sh’ten’s arm.
"Lord, great master," Rajura got on his knees. "Anything but that! Not Kay, she's still a baby!" Another terrified scream ripped though the air, then silence. “Please…”
Arago was heartless as ever. "Silence! She is no longer your concern. Further, for your betrayal and losing Rekka to the ningen sekai, the memories of your children are to be taken from you."
A sudden flash of pain in their minds and it was done.
Sh’ten blinked and looked at his brothers. They all knew what had happened, but not the details. They were being punished. Something precious had been taken from them because they'd disobeyed their master in some way, but they couldn’t remember what they’d done or what had been taken from them. There was something missing, wasn't there?
‘I’m with my three brothers, but...there is something, no, someone is missing, maybe more than just one person. Who?’ Sh’ten looked at the others and they look just as confused as Sh’ten felt. Something was very wrong.
"Master," Naaza asks, examining the burned room. "What's happened here? Did we have a fire?"
Without answering, Arago started to vanish. "Clean this room.” Then he was gone, leaving the Ma-Sho to puzzle over the strange absence of…something…and the burnt room.
Duo-
Duo could remember falling, but Ryou wasn't with him when he landed. He landed on a heap of rubble, like a building had been destroyed. Sitting up slowly and looked around, Duo realized that he’d been perfectly correct. It was a destroyed building.
‘Man, I'm so confused! There was nothing but fire and a weird ghost thing and Ryou had gone berserk. Then I'm falling and...how did I get here?’ Was Ryou still back home? It seemed reasonable, but Duo had been certain that Ryou had fallen with him.
There was something familiar about the place Duo had ended up. Duo stood up shakily and looked around. They were partly in a forest with a simple dirt road leading away from the now destroyed building.
"Ryou!" Duo called out. "Ryou, where are you?"
No answer.
With nothing better to do, Duo started to look around the destroyed building. He wondered what had happened here and what it building was, but as he look closer it becomes more and more uncomfortably familiar.
A swing set with red stripes on the metal supports was crushed, flattened to the ground. There was a wooden, picket fence surrounding the place, destroyed in parts, but some of it still standing for some reason. A red door on the building and...and...Duo realized how he knew the place.
Duo froze and stared at the red door. He felt like he couldn’t move, just stand and stare in shock at what had become of his childhood home. This was the orphanage, St. Maxwell's, where he and Ryou had first met and where Sister Helen had taught Duo to braid his hair. Duo swallowed hard. ‘This can't be. It can't.’ Duo took a few tentative steps, but he really don't know what could have caused such devastation.
"Duo?"
That voice Duo recognized. Sister Helen! The voice came from a short distance away and Duo found her with her long wimple all around her face on the ground and blood all over the place. She blinked up at Duo weakly and a tiny smile came to her face. "My dearest Duo. I've wanted to see you again for so long."
"Sister!" Duo ran to her side and tried to find the worst wound; maybe he could help her. Something...anything to save her. "Who did this?!" Why couldn’t he find the worst wound? She was bleeding from everywhere, it seemed. "Who hurt you?"
She raised a hand to Duo’s cheek. "We were so worried about you, Duo. I'm glad to see you, just one last time."
There was nothing Duo could do to help. Even if he could, she sounded like she was ready for death. Her hand was so cold. "I...I'll get a doctor!" But Duo knew even that was a worthless promise. No doctor could get there in time.
"The Alliance came here and destroyed everything." She made a harsh gasping sound, as if it were hard to breathe. “The children…all the children…lost.” The last word choked in her throat. “Oh, my babies.”
‘No. Please, God, if you want to prove you exist, don't take Sister. She's too good.’
"May you have God's blessings." With that final smiled prayer, Sister Helen died. Her eyes just closed and she was gone.
Duo sat on his knees and began wailing like a child. He hadn't cried in years. ‘God, you don't exist! No God would have taken Sister Helen, she...I...oh, please, I want to go home. I wanna go home!’ Duo must have sat by her body for nearly an hour before he could control himself again and when he could it was fury that made him think clearly.
His thoughts were bleak and filled with vengence. ‘So…the Alliance. We'll see about that. First that demon thing takes me away from Ryou and our brothers and now the Alliance takes Sister Helen away from me.’ Duo wanted to kill. For the first time ever, he really want to kill. ‘I’ll find whoever took sister's life and I will kill them. I will find the demon that took me away from my brothers and I will kill it. Nothing will stop the Shi no Kami (God of Death)!’
Ryou-
Ryou landed with a thud in the apartment he and Duo had used as a hiding spot for the gateway when they went to school. It was a rude awakening to his fury, shaking him out of the stupor he’d been in, letting the fire dance around him, and he pulled the fire back into his mind.
Ryou blinked and looked around at the empty apartment and the closet that he'd just been thrown out of. It was a closet and nothing more. No grand, red columns showing the way home. No feeling of safety, just an empty closet with a few wire coat hangers hanging on a metal rod. Ryou almost instantly forgot how angry he'd been and how the demon had almost killed Duo. He stood up and walked into the closet.
"It's gotta be here." Ryou said nervously, putting hand on the back of the closet wall. Nothing happened. He should have been able to pass right through the wall. He gave the wall another, harder push. "It's gotta be here! I want to go home. Please, I'm sorry," He shouted, begging at the empty air in hopes that someone was listening all the while pushing against the back wall with all his might. "I'll do whatever you want, please let me come home!" Just don't hurt Duo, Ryou added mentally. "Please, I want to go home."
Silence was the only answer he got.
"No!" Ryou's panicked quickly turned to anger and he snarled. "They didn't abandon me! They love me!" There were tears in Ryou's and he kept pounding on the wall. "They wouldn't leave me in this horrible place! They wouldn't leave me alone."
There was still no answer and Ryo was still alone. He stopped beating against the wall, wrapped his arms around himself, and sunk down onto the floor. He had not felt so alone since his granma had died. Duo was gone. They must have kept him, sending Ryou to ningen sekai alone. After all, it was Ryou who'd started the fire. He'd probably almost killed Duo and his other brothers, Ryou really couldn't remember what had happened clearly. What if he had killed them? What if he’d really hurt someone badly? But he had to protect Duo from the demon, right? Maybe mama Sh’ten had known another way to protect Duo and if Ryou had only waited they'd still be all together.
The only bright spot in all of this was that Duo wasn't there, so Ryou had to presume that Duo was safe at home. At least they hadn't punished Duo for Ryou's fire.
Ryou sniffed, trying very hard not to cry. All alone, again. The apartment was cold and Ryou saw snow falling outside the window, but he didn't care right now. The fire had, again, taken his family away. The first time in so many years he'd let the fire loose and it happened all over again. This time, though, it was no mere accident. He'd called the fire deliberately.
Ryou licked his dry lips, determined not to cry. He was strong; he could get through this trouble, just like his brothers had taught him to survive. Ryou let his head fall onto his knees and he started to shiver. It was so cold, but Ryou didn’t know what to do about it. There was no fireplace to start a fire. How did mortals keep warm? There were no blankets in the apartment and no food. Didn’t mama Sh’ten once say something about having to pay rent for the apartment?
Ryou didn't even know how to get money in the ningen sekai. Where would he go? What kind of job could he get? 'I can do this. I can be strong.' Ryou told himself. ‘But if Duo were here, it would be easier.’
Sh'ten-
The halls seemed quieter than ever before, but they couldn’t have been. It was just the tension of the situation that made it seem so. The five of them, the Ma-Sho and Ryou who would shortly join their proud ranks, walked down the stone halls that were their home, but not without trepidation.
Why the unease?
There was no better time for apprehension than when one was approaching Arago, the demon emperor. Even more disquieting was Ryou, and how they all feared he would react. He was only a child…they all knew he would react badly.
‘I’ve walked these halls so long, I can scarcely remember not living here. One day Ryou will think back on his life at that foundlings home and he will wonder if it was real or nothing more than a dream.’ The echo of footsteps and oppressive silence seemed worse than ever after that thought. Sh’ten wondered if, perhaps, it was guilt that made this simple walk seem so demanding. Sh’ten rarely felt guilt about anything he did but escorting Ryou into the service of a demon couldn‘t be a good thing.
Ryou walked nervously with his brothers surrounding him and, for the first time in many years, Duo wasn't by his side. Even to Sh’ten, it seemed odd to have Ryou away from Duo. The two seemed like a matched set, after so long together. Despite the immensity of the palace, the boys shared a room. It had been their choice when they’d first arrived and neither had ever wished for rooms apart. But…as the Ma-Sho all knew, this time, it couldn’t be helped. There was no reason to throw Duo into danger as well as Ryou.
Ryou fidgeted, biting his bottom lip and nervously looking over his shoulder as if he thought Duo might come running from around a corner, laughing. It wouldn’t happen. When Rajura put someone out, they stayed out as a general rule.
“When are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Ryou asked, not for the first time since they’d left Duo. “Why couldn’t Duo come?”
“You’ll find out soon.” Sh’ten told him. They walked in formation around Ryou and Sh’ten knew that Ryou must have realized it. Rajura took point, walking ahead of them all. Anubisu brought up the rear while Naaza and Sh’ten walked on either side of Ryou, effectively boxing him in. “Trust me. Duo wouldn’t want to come along, anyway.”
There was no doubt in Sh’ten’s mind that when the two boys got older they would become lovers. Why shouldn’t they? It made sense, in a terribly practical way. They were relatively the same age and neither one was in a position of authority over the other - though Ryou did respect Duo a great deal. There would be no worry about one of them being coerced into the relationship unwillingly and no need to guard them from outsiders.
Besides, the alternatives were unthinkable. Either they would have to bring in an outsider or two for the boys to share or - Sh’ten shuddered at the idea - one of the four older brothers would have to fill in that role. That, Sh’ten and his brothers had all agreed, would have been just too weird.
“They’re more like our sons than brothers.” Anubisu had said looking a bit green at the idea. “Ewww…”
Of course, none of them were related by blood, it wasn’t as if they were real brothers, but the distinction was close enough. It was one thing to call a man your brother and love him, but quite another to raise a boy from childhood and take advantage of his innocence. It wasn’t as if they could expect the boys to stay pure and virginal forever. Hormones were bound to take control sooner or later and the sooner something was planned out, the better.
It was for all these reasons that Ryou and Duo’s closeness weren’t just accepted, it was encouraged. The older brothers allowed them to sleep together, bathe together, and nearly anything else they pleased. So long as the family was happy.
“Why won’t you just tell me?” Ryou pressed. “Have I done something wrong? Is it this thing?” He made as if to reach into his pocket for the orb he’d found, but stopped at Sh’ten’s sharp look. “What is it? Just tell me!”
“You haven’t done anything wrong, but it’s time for you to meet our master.” Sh’ten regretted that they’d never made and effort to have the boys meet Arago before that moment. Ryou and Duo both knew that there was a lord of the palace whom the Ma-Sho served, but they’d both been told not to seek the lord out. Further explanations might have been helpful, but the right time had never appeared. "Do the fires still frighten you, Ryou?"
"No." Startled at the question, Ryou considered the torches where they hung on their usual places on the walls. Sh’ten didn't know what he saw in the depths of the flames, but he did know that there was none of the fear which has lurked in Ryou’s eyes for years. Overnight, Ryou has lost an almost debilitating fear. Even Ryou looked puzzled, his forehead scrunching up with his confusion. Obviously, Ryou didn't understand what was happening to him, but he would, very shortly.
Ryou’s loss of fear must have been the work of the orb and that was a signal that soon it would be time to start his intensive training to prepare him for the time when he would be expected to march beside his brothers into war against anyone Arago should take a dislike to.
IS THIS FOR THE BEST? Naaza asked though the shared link.
The question was a foolish one so Sh’ten didn't bother to answer. They all knew it wasn’t for the best. How could it possibly be for the best? They were basically giving Ryou to a demon. But, the alternative would be worse. They had to keep Ryou away from the enemy and, now that he'd found the yoroi orb he'd been destined for, he had to become a servant of Emperor Arago. It was as simple as destiny.
"When did you find the yoroi orb?" This came from Rajura, turning his head almost fully to look at Ryou out of his good eye. A very blunt question, but it was one that had to be asked. “Which one is it?”
Ryou stuck a hand in his pocket. "The..."
Anubisu grumbled, "You know what we're talking about, we've been able to feel it on you since you got home. It's the orb that gives you the connection with the enemy and we need to break that connection if you're going to stay with us."
"Break it?!" Ryou demanded with a look of shock on his face. “You can’t!”
Sh’ten sympathized, but there was no choice. He couldn’t be allowed to have a bond with the very people who would want to take him away from them. Perhaps, they would be able to find a way to change the link that would connect Ryou with his brothers instead of strangers. To reassure Ryou, he said, "We must break the connection. You don't want to be taken away from us, do you?" Sh’ten tried to sound casual about it, but the reality was quite frightening. Ryou was a part of their family and it would be heartbreaking to lose him to the enemy. “Which orb did you find? You didn’t answer Rajura.”
“It has the symbol for fire in it.”
“Ah. Rekka.”
"Here we are." Rajura announced as they came to a stop outside the large metal doors that led into Emperor Arago's throne room. “Backs straight, everyone. No slouching, Ryou.”
No one moved for a moment and Ryou inched closer to Sh’ten, his eyes narrowing at the doors. “I don’t like that door.”
“No.” Naaza put an arm over Ryou’s shoulders and gave him a quick, one-armed hug. “But you’ll get used to it. We all did. Now do as Rajura says and stand up straight.”
Sh’ten stepped ahead, changing places with Rajura, then pushed the doors of Arago’s throne room open. As he did, they all felt the power of the demon emperor flow out of the room like a wave upon the beach. Rajura, Naaza, and Anubisu all watched Ryou out of the corner of their eyes to see his reaction. Anubisu kept his position slightly behind Ryou, carefully watching to make sure the boy wouldn't bolt.
Ryou's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around himself, his face going pale when the wave of power hit him. He didn't run, but he did take a step backwards, bumping into Anubisu. He turned his head, looking over his shoulder, and whispered, "I don't want to go in there."
They could only pray that Arago hadn’t heard. “You mustn’t speak like that.” Anubisu put a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "This is your destiny. You belong here with us." Anubisu was being as comforting as he possibly could, though they all knew from experience that there was nothing they could say to soothe Ryou’s fear. I SWEAR IF ARAGO HURTS RYOU-CHAN, I'LL DISMANTLE THE CASTLE! Anubisu promised in the confines of their shared minds, the one place where Arago couldn't hear them.
AGREED. Rajura responded, keeping an eye on the open door. WE SHOULD GO IN NOW. WE’VE WAITED TOO LONG.
The ghostly form of Arago's mask faded into sight, between the two torches, the mask stared blankly back at them, though they all, including Ryou, could feel the pure power behind the mask. With an encouraging nudge from Naaza, Ryou went with them, though he couldn't quite bring himself to look at the mask. They all marched in with Ryou and knelt on one knee to their master as they always did. Ryou stood as if frozen until Rajura put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a push for encouragement.
After all the years in service to their great lord, even Sh’ten couldn’t get over the awe he felt at Arago’s power. Truly, Arago was a god in his own right. Still, he was only a god. Not family as Ryou and Duo were. If their master did dare to harm the children, it was clearly understood by the brothers that they would be forced take a stand. Family was far more important than Arago.
"My Lord," Sh’ten started, bowing his head nearly to the floor, "We present for your favor, bringing him into your service, Ryou no Rekka."
A short time later...
Ryou walked out stiffly after Emperor Arago had dismissed them with his deep, ominous voice. Sh’ten had to admit to being impressed with how well Ryou had handled himself. He didn't speak unless spoken to, kept his eyes on the floor where they belonged, and stayed perfectly still through out the interview. He was very good. Terrified, but well behaved.
Ryou was, however, still pale and, now that it was over, Sh’ten could see that Ryou was starting to shake. The doors closed by themselves behind them and as soon as they had clanked shut, Ryou burst into a run, dashing down the hall as fast as he could.
"Stop!" Naaza yelled after him and the four brothers all took after him, afraid of what Ryou might do at such a time. He was still unused to the new power awakening within himself, and one's first encounter with Arago tended to be unnerving at the very best.
Sh’ten had always been faster than the others, so it was he who’d caught up to Ryou first. Ryou showed no signs of slowing, running almost blindly in his rush to get as far from Arago as he could, so Sh’ten had to catch him by the collar and drag him to the floor. They fell together crashing to the floor, but when they hit the ground, Ryou stopped his struggling.
Sh’ten sat up slowly, not daring to let go of Ryou for fear that he would run again, but Ryou just lay on the floor. He let Sh’ten pull him into his arms, much as Sh’ten used to do when Ryou, as a child, would have nightmares and come crying to Sh’ten’s chambers. Sh’ten held Ryou and Ryou let him, for the first time in a long time, not thinking that he was too grown-up for such things. Ryou's arms slowly wound around Sh’ten’s neck.
"I was so afraid, mama Sh'ten." He whispered, not looking at Sh’ten. "I don't think I've ever been so afraid in all my life. Not even of the fire."
"It's all right, Ryou-chan." Sh’ten stroked Ryou’s hair gently, and saw the others finally catch up with them. They stopped a short distance away and let Sh’ten calm Ryou down. "Our master has great power and you felt it, that's all. You've never felt a power like his before, so it upset you."
Ryou looked up at Sh’ten, his eyes troubled. "Why do you follow him? He's a ghost."
"No. He is the Demon Emperor of our world, Ryou. He is very powerful and we will share in his glory once our war is ended."
Ryou scowled. "I don't want his glory! I don't like him, he makes my stomach hurt. I felt sick just looking at him!"
This time, Sh’ten put on his harshest face. "You must not say such things, Ryou! You will be punished for your disloyalty!"
Ryou pushed himself to his feet. "I want to talk to Duo. Can I? Why couldn't he come with us?"
Sh’ten stood next, and looked down on Ryou. He noticed, for the first time, that Ryou was nearly as tall as he was. Just two more inches and they would be the same height. Of course, now that the yoroi had claimed him, there would be no more growing for Ryou. "You were very frightened by Emperor Arago, Ryou. How would Duo have felt?"
"Duo's much braver than I am, he would have been okay."
Rajura stepped forward and spoke reasonably. "Perhaps, but Duo does not have power as you do, Ryou. He is mortal and that is all. We love him very much, but there is no point in subjecting him to Arago if we don't have to. Duo doesn't need that on his mind, does he?"
Ryou thought about this for a moment. "I guess you're right. Still, I want him to know about all of this. He'd never forgive me if I tried to keep it a secret."
Arago-
Rekka was weak. Arago could see the boy’s fear as he knelt before the demon. Arago could see his hands tremble at Arago’s words and, though he enjoyed the signs of terror his presence caused, Arago detested that his Ma-Sho should be so weak as to show their emotions so blatantly.
‘And mine, he is. Trained by my Ma-Sho, Rekka is as much mine as they are. He will fight beside them in the coming war. How dare he be so weak? There can be only one cause for my Ma-Sho have one indulgence. I should not have pampered them.’
Duo, the mortal boy. Worthless.
‘There is no power to that boy, he is nothing more than human. I have often heard his name being screamed by my Ma-Sho after some misbehavior and heard his laughter contaminating my realm. A simple boy who takes pleasure in the joys of life. I will not stand for it! My Ma-Sho have been spoiled by allowing them to keep the boy, but no longer!’
Ryou-
Ryou went with his brothers to get Duo and tell him what was going on, he wouldn‘t be swayed to let Duo stay ignorant about Arago. True, Duo wouldn't be allowed to meet the Emperor Arago, Sh’ten told Ryou, but that was fine. Ryou didn’t want Duo to have to go through that. He's just too sensitive. All Ryou wanted was for Duo to know what was happening around them.
The trouble began as soon as they reached the room where Rajura had left Duo. Ryou came to a stop just outside the door and stared at it, puzzled but slowly growing frightened. The room didn't feel right. Something really didn't feel right, it was the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, like when he had first seen...
"He's in there!" Ryou almost shouted. Looking around, Ryou saw that the others knew and they stared at the door grimly. "He's in there with Duo!"
Ryou threw open the door, no longer feeling the paralyzing fear as it was Duo who was in danger. Duo was still soundly asleep, innocently snoring away under the spell Rajura had put on him. Between Duo and the doorway where Ryou stood with the Ma-Sho behind him, there was the ghost mask of Emperor Arago, hovering in midair. The power was so great, much stronger that it had been in the throne room.
"What are you doing?" Ryou demanded, trying to ignore his brothers quiet protests for him to control himself.
"Ryou, don't address him like that!" Naaza hissed and Ryou could hear fear in his voice. "You'll be punished!"
"I don't care!” He turned back to the floating head and opened his mouth before he could think too much about what was going on. “Get away from Duo!"
The demon's mask slowly turned toward Ryou, showing him the fearsome pits of its eyes, empty, inhuman eyes. "Do not question me, Rekka! This weakness will be destroyed. I will not be defeated because my warriors are made vulnerable by a mere boy!" Power crackled around the mask, in bursts of red light.
Ryou knew Arago was going to kill Duo.
‘Not while I have breath he won't!’ Ryou dashed into the room, pulling away from Naaza, and threw himself over Duo's body. The spell Rajura had used must have been incredible, as Duo still slept. "I won't let you hurt him!" Ryou tried to pick Duo up, but could only get him up onto his lap. "You can't hurt Duo!"
The mask laughed, a horrible sound. "The boy will die and you will be my warrior, Rekka. You shall follow my will and none of you will remember the boy once I have purified you memories."
Sh'ten-
‘What?’ Sh’ten stared in disbelief. ‘He's going to make us forget Duo?’
I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN! Sh’ten looked at Rajura who'd spoken. Though there was no expression on his face, Rajura’s fists clenched at his sides. ARAGO CAN'T TAKE
DUO FROM US!
AGREED. Naaza said in a softer tone. WE WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN.
Anubisu said nothing but let a powerful protective urge sweep across his mind.
They watch as Ryou finally lifted up his head. There was fire in his eyes, blazing fury. His own power, the strength of his will causes the air around him to heat and his hair and clothes are lifted, as if blowing in a wind. The room grew heated and suddenly burst into flames.
They all had to jump back out of the way, but Sh’ten didn't think Ryou could even see anyone but Duo and Arago. The flames lick higher, setting fire to the ceiling now, but Arago didn’t care. He wasn’t mortal, after all.
"Insolent child!" The demon Emperor thunders. "You dare to set your power against me? You who have not yet worn Rekka even once?" Ryou hugged Duo closer at the same time as his eyes widened and the fire began to intensify.
THIS CAN'T GO ON. Sh’ten told the others. RYOU CAN'T CONTROL HIS POWER ENOUGH TO FIGHT, YET. I’M SENDING THEM AWAY. RAJURA, WAKE DUO NOW, BEFORE I START.
Rajura concentrated on Duo and simply whispered, "Wake."
Duo blinked and yawned until he saw what was going on. "What the...? Holy Hell." His eyes, naturally, fell on Arago first then on the fire surrounding both him and Ryou. Duo tried to stand, but Ryou was holding him too tightly and was too far into his rage to even see that Duo had woken up. Duo tried to talk to Ryou, but to no avail. "Ryou, make the fire go away." Even Duo, so proud of his bravery, was watching the fire and Arago alternatively as the fire came closer and Ryou didn't seem to hear him. "Ryou, wake up! Please, let me go!" Duo was struggling, there was fire just inches from him, but Ryou was stronger and held on tight. Duo's eyes fell on us, still in the doorway. "Mama Sh'ten, help! 'Jura-san, please, what's going on?" He was panicking, and rightfully so. Waking up to a room of fire, with an apparently insane brother, and a demon looking down on one was not easy to take in all at once.
Sh’ten held out his hands and used all the power he could dredge up. "Gate, open!" Sh’ten focused the power under Ryou and Duo, instead of on the wall - as he usually did. It left Ryou no choice. Aware of what was going on or not, Ryou would have to stop the senseless battle. A black void opened under the two boys Sh’ten loved as brothers, and they fell. "Gate, seal!" The black hole vanished, but not before Arago could send one blast of power through. There was nothing any of the Ma-Sho could have done to stop the attack. The floor reappeared just as it had before and Arago turned on his Ma-Sho. The fire vanished as soon as Ryou had, leaving the room charred and smoking.
"You shall suffer for this betrayal." Arago announced in a frighteningly cold voice. "I have made it so they will be separated, they will not have each other in the world you have send them to Sh'ten."
Sh’ten bowed his head. "Yes, my master." At least the boys were both alive. Sh’ten had suffered protecting the others in the past, so once more would do no harm. He was the leader, after all, so it was his responsibility. He wasn’t sorry for what he’d done. Later, he would find Ryou and Duo and they would work something out. At worst, he’d find Duo a place to live in the ningen sekai where he could be safe from Arago. Ryou, though, would have to be brought back. Arago would not suffer Ryou to live if he refused to serve him.
The others bowed with Sh’ten, unexpectedly, and he rather wished that they hadn't. They were signaling that they would take the punishment with Sh’ten. LEAVE. Sh’ten told them firmly. THIS IS MY PLACE, NOT YOURS.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, 'TEN-CHAN. Naaza told him and the others backed him up. It was too late to argue.
Arago began speaking and delivered upon them the most horrible of all possible punishments. "For your crime, you will lose your children."
They all stood up straight at this pronouncement. They'd expected something bad, but not so nightmarish! "My lord, please..." Naaza tried to plead, but they heard a high-pitched scream from out in the hall. Kayura!
Sh’ten turned to rush for her, but Arago's giant mask was suddenly between the door and himself, forcing Sh’ten to stop. "For this crime, Kayura will be taken from this palace and be trained as a warrior in another part of my world. You will not see her again unless it is in battle and even then you won’t know her, nor will she know you."
Anubisu was hyperventilating and Naaza hissed his distress, clutching at Sh’ten’s arm.
"Lord, great master," Rajura got on his knees. "Anything but that! Not Kay, she's still a baby!" Another terrified scream ripped though the air, then silence. “Please…”
Arago was heartless as ever. "Silence! She is no longer your concern. Further, for your betrayal and losing Rekka to the ningen sekai, the memories of your children are to be taken from you."
A sudden flash of pain in their minds and it was done.
Sh’ten blinked and looked at his brothers. They all knew what had happened, but not the details. They were being punished. Something precious had been taken from them because they'd disobeyed their master in some way, but they couldn’t remember what they’d done or what had been taken from them. There was something missing, wasn't there?
‘I’m with my three brothers, but...there is something, no, someone is missing, maybe more than just one person. Who?’ Sh’ten looked at the others and they look just as confused as Sh’ten felt. Something was very wrong.
"Master," Naaza asks, examining the burned room. "What's happened here? Did we have a fire?"
Without answering, Arago started to vanish. "Clean this room.” Then he was gone, leaving the Ma-Sho to puzzle over the strange absence of…something…and the burnt room.
Duo-
Duo could remember falling, but Ryou wasn't with him when he landed. He landed on a heap of rubble, like a building had been destroyed. Sitting up slowly and looked around, Duo realized that he’d been perfectly correct. It was a destroyed building.
‘Man, I'm so confused! There was nothing but fire and a weird ghost thing and Ryou had gone berserk. Then I'm falling and...how did I get here?’ Was Ryou still back home? It seemed reasonable, but Duo had been certain that Ryou had fallen with him.
There was something familiar about the place Duo had ended up. Duo stood up shakily and looked around. They were partly in a forest with a simple dirt road leading away from the now destroyed building.
"Ryou!" Duo called out. "Ryou, where are you?"
No answer.
With nothing better to do, Duo started to look around the destroyed building. He wondered what had happened here and what it building was, but as he look closer it becomes more and more uncomfortably familiar.
A swing set with red stripes on the metal supports was crushed, flattened to the ground. There was a wooden, picket fence surrounding the place, destroyed in parts, but some of it still standing for some reason. A red door on the building and...and...Duo realized how he knew the place.
Duo froze and stared at the red door. He felt like he couldn’t move, just stand and stare in shock at what had become of his childhood home. This was the orphanage, St. Maxwell's, where he and Ryou had first met and where Sister Helen had taught Duo to braid his hair. Duo swallowed hard. ‘This can't be. It can't.’ Duo took a few tentative steps, but he really don't know what could have caused such devastation.
"Duo?"
That voice Duo recognized. Sister Helen! The voice came from a short distance away and Duo found her with her long wimple all around her face on the ground and blood all over the place. She blinked up at Duo weakly and a tiny smile came to her face. "My dearest Duo. I've wanted to see you again for so long."
"Sister!" Duo ran to her side and tried to find the worst wound; maybe he could help her. Something...anything to save her. "Who did this?!" Why couldn’t he find the worst wound? She was bleeding from everywhere, it seemed. "Who hurt you?"
She raised a hand to Duo’s cheek. "We were so worried about you, Duo. I'm glad to see you, just one last time."
There was nothing Duo could do to help. Even if he could, she sounded like she was ready for death. Her hand was so cold. "I...I'll get a doctor!" But Duo knew even that was a worthless promise. No doctor could get there in time.
"The Alliance came here and destroyed everything." She made a harsh gasping sound, as if it were hard to breathe. “The children…all the children…lost.” The last word choked in her throat. “Oh, my babies.”
‘No. Please, God, if you want to prove you exist, don't take Sister. She's too good.’
"May you have God's blessings." With that final smiled prayer, Sister Helen died. Her eyes just closed and she was gone.
Duo sat on his knees and began wailing like a child. He hadn't cried in years. ‘God, you don't exist! No God would have taken Sister Helen, she...I...oh, please, I want to go home. I wanna go home!’ Duo must have sat by her body for nearly an hour before he could control himself again and when he could it was fury that made him think clearly.
His thoughts were bleak and filled with vengence. ‘So…the Alliance. We'll see about that. First that demon thing takes me away from Ryou and our brothers and now the Alliance takes Sister Helen away from me.’ Duo wanted to kill. For the first time ever, he really want to kill. ‘I’ll find whoever took sister's life and I will kill them. I will find the demon that took me away from my brothers and I will kill it. Nothing will stop the Shi no Kami (God of Death)!’
Ryou-
Ryou landed with a thud in the apartment he and Duo had used as a hiding spot for the gateway when they went to school. It was a rude awakening to his fury, shaking him out of the stupor he’d been in, letting the fire dance around him, and he pulled the fire back into his mind.
Ryou blinked and looked around at the empty apartment and the closet that he'd just been thrown out of. It was a closet and nothing more. No grand, red columns showing the way home. No feeling of safety, just an empty closet with a few wire coat hangers hanging on a metal rod. Ryou almost instantly forgot how angry he'd been and how the demon had almost killed Duo. He stood up and walked into the closet.
"It's gotta be here." Ryou said nervously, putting hand on the back of the closet wall. Nothing happened. He should have been able to pass right through the wall. He gave the wall another, harder push. "It's gotta be here! I want to go home. Please, I'm sorry," He shouted, begging at the empty air in hopes that someone was listening all the while pushing against the back wall with all his might. "I'll do whatever you want, please let me come home!" Just don't hurt Duo, Ryou added mentally. "Please, I want to go home."
Silence was the only answer he got.
"No!" Ryou's panicked quickly turned to anger and he snarled. "They didn't abandon me! They love me!" There were tears in Ryou's and he kept pounding on the wall. "They wouldn't leave me in this horrible place! They wouldn't leave me alone."
There was still no answer and Ryo was still alone. He stopped beating against the wall, wrapped his arms around himself, and sunk down onto the floor. He had not felt so alone since his granma had died. Duo was gone. They must have kept him, sending Ryou to ningen sekai alone. After all, it was Ryou who'd started the fire. He'd probably almost killed Duo and his other brothers, Ryou really couldn't remember what had happened clearly. What if he had killed them? What if he’d really hurt someone badly? But he had to protect Duo from the demon, right? Maybe mama Sh’ten had known another way to protect Duo and if Ryou had only waited they'd still be all together.
The only bright spot in all of this was that Duo wasn't there, so Ryou had to presume that Duo was safe at home. At least they hadn't punished Duo for Ryou's fire.
Ryou sniffed, trying very hard not to cry. All alone, again. The apartment was cold and Ryou saw snow falling outside the window, but he didn't care right now. The fire had, again, taken his family away. The first time in so many years he'd let the fire loose and it happened all over again. This time, though, it was no mere accident. He'd called the fire deliberately.
Ryou licked his dry lips, determined not to cry. He was strong; he could get through this trouble, just like his brothers had taught him to survive. Ryou let his head fall onto his knees and he started to shiver. It was so cold, but Ryou didn’t know what to do about it. There was no fireplace to start a fire. How did mortals keep warm? There were no blankets in the apartment and no food. Didn’t mama Sh’ten once say something about having to pay rent for the apartment?
Ryou didn't even know how to get money in the ningen sekai. Where would he go? What kind of job could he get? 'I can do this. I can be strong.' Ryou told himself. ‘But if Duo were here, it would be easier.’