Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Holiday Memories and Nightmares ❯ Awaiting Departure ( Chapter 3 )

A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL US!!!

Kathrine: We know this took a while, but we have a good reason.

JC: Our mom says that school is more important than our writing so we have only 2 hours to split between writing and the Internet a night.

Kathrine: Luckily, this only lasts until tomorrow night so we should be getting some real stuff done.

JC: Not to mention, we have other stories we've been working on lately so we've been splitting all our time between them.

Kathrine: Now in this chapter we just used of a kinda filler until the GOOD stuff in the next chapter. That's why it was hard to write. We wanted to skip it and get on with what was coming next.

JC: Now that our explanations are out of the way. Please reads the fic.

Disclaimer: Read Prologue. We're sick of these things. After all our stories people have definitely got the message.

Warnings: This chapter is pretty safe. Kinda angsty but other than that nothing is wrong.

Holiday Memories and Nightmares

By Jennifer and Kathrine

(No real editing done this time.)

Chapter 3 - Awaiting Departure

Nasuti walked down the stairs sleepily, the morning seeming so tranquil to her. It was quiet, no loud noises or the like, no enemies waiting around the corner to harm the brothers she had acquired. Oh yes, to her all the Troopers, and even little Jun, were like family, her little brothers. Well, she corrected herself. Ryo's not really my brother… She smiled at the thought of the one she'd left sleeping in their shared bed. Gods, she loved him so much.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and was hit with a strange draft, it felt very cold down there. Had they left a window open slightly the night before? She didn't believe they had, but that was the only explanation she could come up with. So she turned the corner of the stairs into the hallway, only to stop and gasp in confusion.

The door was open. A soft gentle wind was blowing through it and into the house, circulating the chilly air constantly. " What the…?" she didn't understand. Who had opened the door? She and Ryo had thought they'd made sure to lock all the doors before heading up to bed. Had Seiji done it?

No, she shook her head against the notion. Seiji wasn't one to do things like that. What has been going on with him lately though? She wondered. The blonde had been very good at avoiding both she and Ryo for the entire past two days. He didn't act like he was avoiding them, but did make sure that he stayed away from them as much as he could.

He's never acted like this before, she thought. Even with it being this time of year. Something has to be wrong. Walking nimbly across the ice cold tiled floor in the front hall, she shut the door and immediately locked it. They had probably just forgot to lock it and the wind had pushed it open. She then turned and walked to the kitchen, ready for daily pot of coffee. Tea wasn't strong enough to keep her awake on such a relaxing day.

She noticed then that Byakuen wasn't on either of his carpets, neither by the hearth of the fireplace nor the one by the stove. The tiger had been acting strangely since the morning before. She's awoke the next morning to find Seiji cooking a steak in the kitchen and not telling her why since he was the vegetarian of their household. Then he'd just given the steak to Byakuen and gone upstairs. After eating the steak in a matter of seconds, the over-sized white house cat had left, turning up in the blonde's room later on.

What was going on in her house? She'd been leaning towards the explanation that Seiji was missing Touma and not knowing how to deal with his feelings towards the archer, but she wasn't so sure now. He wouldn't be so withdrawn and just having mixed emotions wouldn't have Byakuen hovering over him in a way that would make 'Mother Hen' Shin proud.

She sighed as she fixed herself a cup of the finally brewed coffee and sat down at the table. I'll have to get Ryo to talk to him before we leave this afternoon, she decided. I can't just leave him here all alone when something is so clearly bothering him. This is one of the problems that she'd been coming back to for days. Everyone else was gone and she and Ryo wouldn't be back until Christmas night. Seiji would be in the big, lonely mansion all by himself.

Neither she nor Ryo wanted to just up and leave him all alone on Christmas Eve like that, but she knew he'd only decline an invitation to join them. Sometimes the blonde seemed like such a loner that you'd wonder how he ever managed to maintain a friendship with the other boys outside of their yoroi bond.

She knew it was just how he'd been raised, but she still felt that it was unhealthy to stay that locked inside of yourself. She didn't believe he'd fully recovered from the events in New York only a year before, he just acted like he was fine so he wouldn't seem like such a burden.

Oh it would seem like such a shock right then to think that she understood so much about the blonde. Truthfully, she didn't. She'd just watched how he acted and out of concern sought out both Touma and Shin. Each boy said the same thing. Shin knew because he was an empath and, even though the blonde could still keep his walls up towards him, could feel there was still pain residing in him.

Touma knew because he was the one who listened to the blonde when he was whimpering in his sleep and awoke in a cold sweat, the one who comforted him when Seiji would allow no other to do so. This was how she knew that Seiji had feelings for Touma, just because he let him in to a level that no one else could even think to reach. It was quite obvious that the archer had felt the same way from the cherishing way he spoke of the swordsman when she had brought up her concerns.

Sighing, she placed he cup down on the table for a moment. How am I going to get those to together? She asked herself. Seiji definitely needs someone he can talk to and to help him get out of his shell. Touma needs someone to give him the security that his real family couldn't and keep him grounded. They're perfect for each other…if only they'd realize it and quit running around the bush.

" Thinking about me?" a voice asked from the kitchen doorway.

" Sorry to disappoint you Ryo," she shook her head, a small smile coming to her lips.

" Ahhh," he pouted childishly as he walked over to her and sat in the chair besides her own. " That's a real dent to my ego."

" I'm just worried about Seiji being left here all alone on Christmas," she explained as she placed her hand on his own. " No one should be alone for Christmas."

" I asked him yesterday if he wanted to come with us," Ryo told her. " As usual he said no."

" We could always not go," Nasuti thought out loud, " but you haven't seen your grandfather for months."

" He would understand," Ryo stated. " And I could always visit him on New Years."

That's when their conversation was interrupted by the one person on their minds. " No," said person told them from the doorway.

" Seiji!" Nasuti jumped from her seat, startled by the blonde's manner of sneaking up on them.

" You two are going to visit Ryo's grandfather today," the swordsman continued, his voice showing no room for discussion. " I am not one that needs to be babied or worried about. I shall be fine here until you return tomorrow."

" But Seiji…" Ryo started.

" I know you believe that Christmas is time for family and friends to be together and celebrate Ryo," the blonde continued. " I was planning on visiting my family tomorrow as it was. I'll only be alone for one night."

" Christmas Eve?" Ryo questioned. He stared straight into his friend's one visible eye, trying to make out the hidden emotions he could see there. The blonde was indeed hiding something and yet it seemed that it had been there for so long.

" Believe me, it is not the big deal you make it out to be," he replied. " I shall be fine and you shall go visit your grandfather. Christmas should be spent with family after all." With that the blonde turned around and left the room, returning to his own sanctuary on the second floor.

" Leave it to Seiji to put my own beliefs back in my face," Ryo sighed.

" See?" Nasuti shook her head. " You have to talk to him and find out what's going on, whether he wants to tell you willingly or not."

" Don't worry," Ryo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, a gleam of determination in his eyes. " I will."

*****

It was just a little past noon when Ryo had finally come up with a plan to talk to Seiji. He knew that it would probably backfire on him, the blonde not one to be fooled easily, and hoped that it would still get his point across to his friend. With a strong resolve, the raven-haired warrior found the other in his room, Byakuen by his side as he'd been since the morning before.

" Hey Seiji," he called to him quietly, " Can I talk to you about something?"

The blonde looked up at him for a moment, Ryo believed it was out of confusion, before nodding, " Yes, what is it?"

" Well…" Ryo started, slowly forgetting how he was supposed to approach the situation.

" Hmmm?" the blonde made a sound telling him to go on.

" You see, I have this friend I met a while back," he began over. " I still talk to him and I noticed that he was having some problems. He seems to have a big crush on someone, I mean a BIG crush, but he's too afraid to tell her. He's too afraid to she won't like him the same way."

" He just has to take a chance," Seiji replied thoughtfully. " He's not gonna know if he's wasting his time unless he actually talks to her."

" But they're really close, like brother and sister, and he thinks all that will do is ruin their friendship," Ryo added.

Seiji was silent for a moment, not only thinking of Ryo's 'friend's' predicament with this girl, but his with Touma. That's why he hadn't told the archer anything. He was afraid that telling the other of how he felt would ruin their relationship as friends and comrades. But what good is that doing? He asked himself. It only makes it hurt more by leaving it as it is.

" Seiji?" Ryo gave him a worried stare at the far off look he had in his eyes.

" He has to tell her," the blonde stated finally. " He'll never know unless he talks to her one on one. Even if she doesn't feel the same way, their friendship wouldn't have to suffer."

" So that's what I should tell him?" Ryo asked.

" Hai," Seiji nodded. " It's only going to get worse if he doesn't." The swordsman knew something was up because he could tell that he was in for something. Ryo's questions had been too personal, too close to home. Why would he even ask Seiji? The blonde wasn't the person that people usually talk to about things like this. Was he a replacement while the other empath Shin was on vacation?

He usually wasn't one to pry into another person's emotions, but he couldn't help noticing that Ryo was waiting for something, dying to say something that he was holding off on. He looked at his former leader and decided he wouldn't beat around the bush. " What is it Ryo?" he asked.

" You have to tell Touma how you feel," he said in bluntest tone of voice.

" NANI??" Seiji stared at him in shock. He knew that Ryo would be asking him about having feelings for someone, but he didn't think he'd be so up front and to the point with it, definitely not so right on the mark. Rekka was one to usually say things bluntly but in the most polite and understanding way. He didn't understand how could act so straight forward about anything like this.

" Everyone in this house knows how you feel about him, Seiji, and it must be eating you up if I can tell something's wrong," Ryo looked him straight in his one visible eye. " Please take your own advice and tell him how you feel."

" Wha…" the blonde was at a loss for words. Everyone knew? Did that mean that Touma knew how he felt? If he did then why hadn't he said anything? How was he going to deny his feelings to Ryo when he hated lying to people like that, even over something like this?

" C'mon Blondie," Ryo gave him a grin. " The only person who doesn't know how bad you've got it for Touma is Touma himself. And as you told me to tell my 'friend', it will only get worse if you don't tell him."

Korin wanted to smile at how Ryo had turned his own words against him. Of course he'd known it would probably lead to something like this anyway, but it still lifted his spirits from where they'd been as of late. I should tell him…But what happens if he decides he doesn't feel the same way? Seiji knew it did no good to keep asking himself all the same questions because the uncertainty would always be there. He had to either decide to do nothing or actually put his heart on the line.

/ I meat it Seiji, you will be punished. /

What would Touma think if I told him about Jack? He wondered with a pang of fear in his chest. Would he hate me? Would he even care? He'd probably think it was my entire fault. After all it was MY fault…I pushed him to it, I was a bad boy…He was just punishing me…

" Seiji, ya still with me?" Ryo touched his shoulder. He was prepared for the blonde pulling away from him so quickly, or the look of total fear he could see in his eyes. " What happened? Did I do something?"

" N-no," Seiji shook his head quickly. " I guess I've been thinking too deeply about this. Gomen."

Ryo knew that wasn't true. Thinking about Touma wouldn't have caused that look of complete fear and pain he'd seen in the blonde's eyes even for a few moments. It had been something else. The question was, what?

" Ya know I'm here if ya need to talk Seiji," the raven-haired boy pointed out. " I know I'm not the best person to tell things to and you don't like telling anyone things you feel you should deal with on your own, but I am here if you need me."

Now at this Seiji did smile. It was so like Ryo to offer his assistance even if he thought it was unwanted and would be on unmarked ground. He was grateful for his friend's offer, but knew this wasn't something he was willing to tell anyone just yet. That was if he ever told anyone at all.

" Arigato, Ryo," the blonde placed a hand on his shoulder. " That means more that you realize." Then he stood stretching out his muscles from being in a sitting position on his bed for so long. " You should really finish getting ready to go. Nasuti's probably wondering what's taking you so long."

Rekka then grinned sheepishly, " Actually this was as much her idea as it was mine."

" I thought as much," the blonde nodded. " But you should get ready, a storm should be coming today and you don't want to be caught in it."

" Guess you're right," his friend agreed. He stood next to the other swordsman and gave him a reassuring smile. " I hope you decide to not avoid us until we leave."

Seiji's look turned to one of shame and a hint of embarrassment, " Gomen, it's just that I couldn't watch you two while…"

" I get the message," Ryo nodded. " I use to get that way from watching Shu and Shin before Nasty and I got around to blurting everything out in the open." He chuckled. " Sometimes I wanted to kill Shu, I was so jealous."

" If you want I could help you finish getting your things together," the blonde offered. " Call it making up for treating you like the plague."

" Okay, c'mon," he motioned towards the doors before exiting. Seiji could only follow after him, ready to forget the thoughts on his mind. Maybe, this will help get my head straight, he hoped. He knew that anything would be better than sitting with nothing but his worries right then.

*****

" Are ya-," Ryo couldn't even finish his sentence. Seiji had raised his hand quickly.

" I've already heard this song Ryo and it's getting rather irritating now," the blonde interrupted him. " I shall be fine alone for less than one day. You have no reason to worry about me."

" I think I could come up with a few," Ryo said under his breath.

" They still wouldn't be convincing," the blonde retorted, having heard him still.

I should have known he'd still hear me anyway, the bearer of Rekka sighed. " Well, will you at least call Ryo's grandfather's house tomorrow morning?" Nasty asked. " I don't feel right leaving you here all alone on Christmas Eve, Seiji."

" If it'll keep you from continuing to badger me," Seiji agreed. " I'll call between eight and ten, all right?"

" Hai," she beamed in triumph. " Now, there's enough food and, seeing as you and Shin are the only relative good cooks out of the five, I know you can find something out of it."

" Hey!" Ryo frowned indignantly.

" I still love you," she patted him on the arm like a mother would an ego-wounded child. " I guess that's all though."

" Be careful, the storm is getting worse and accidents are very likely in this weather," Seiji warned. True, the storm he'd predicted the day before was practically upon them. It was snowing, the flakes still soft but coming in a large abundance. He knew that it would only become harsher as the day went on. That's why he'd told Ryo and Nasuti to leave early, also beating the traffic that Christmas Eve would undoubtedly create.

" Yeah, we better be getting outta here," Ryo picked up his and his girlfriend's bags, walking towards the door. Nasuti followed after him, giving Seiji a warm smile before opening the door. They were greeted by a small gust of wind, bringing with it a large cluster of snowflakes that melted the instant they collided with the warm air that filled the hallway.

" I know you've heard it enough," Ryo gazed back at him briefly, " but just don't do nothing but sit around here alone until we get back. Try to relax, think of how to deal with that little 'problem' we talked about earlier."

" That's something I have to deal with on my own Ryo," Seiji told him. " Don't worry, I will figure something out."

" Good," Ryo seemed satisfied before walking out the door. Nasuti followed after him. Seiji watched as they walked to Nasuti's four-door SUV, she'd bought it when she realized that the jeep was too small, and put in their little amount of luggage. He was about to shut the door when Ryo came hurrying back up towards the house.

The blonde raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. Ryo looked somewhat embarrassed about something. " I can't believe I forgot," he sighed before calling out, " Byakuen!"

Seiji's eyes almost widened, but he hid it unspeakably well. Byakuen, the tiger had been his protection and stabilizer since the terrifying events of the day before. He'd guess that Ryo would probably take him, but had a strange prayer that he would leave him behind. Never in the years since the war against the youja emperor, Arago, had he thought he would need Byakuen the way he did then. But he couldn't ask him to leave him, not without giving away that something was indeed as wrong as his friends had suspected.

The white feline walked to the door at a leisurely pace, obviously not worried about beating the storm that was just over the horizon. Ryo snorted at him for his attitude and walked out the door, knowing that his long time companion would follow. Byakuen walked to the door but stopped at Seiji's side. He looked up into the blonde's one visible eye and he knew the question that lay there.

" I'll be fine, thank you for being with me," he scratched the blue-eyed feline behind the ears and Byakuen gave a small purr of contentment. He then pulled away and walked out the door. Once he was outside, Seiji could hear the starting of the SUV before it pulled away in the white blanket the outdoors had become. It was then that the blonde finally shut the door, rubbing his arms to generate the heat stolen from its extended time open. The silence fell upon him in the house and he realized the fears that came from the emptiness around him.

*****

" You sure he'll be okay?" Ryo asked Nasuti as they pulled onto the road and turned, driving towards the cabin where he had spent most of his life.

" Probably," the reddish brunette told him. " Seiji is very responsible and can take care of himself, unlike a certain other person I know."

" Hey…" Ryo started.

" I was talking about Shu, but I knew it'd get your feathers flustered," she smiled before giving him a kiss on the cheek and turning her eyes back to the road. Ryo grinned at her for that but it slowly died as he thought of his blonde friend. Christmas was not the time to be left alone, especially not when you seclude yourself as much as Seiji did already.

And then there was the strange way the blonde had spaced out and pulled away from Ryo earlier that day, the glimmer of fear he'd seen in his eyes for that brief second. What had that been about? Ryo wondered. What was he thinking about that would make him scared? Touma? That wouldn't make him pull away like that. It was almost like he was just scared from me touching him. His mind continued to think of this without coming to an explanation. With a sigh, he settled himself into his seat and prepared for the rest of the ride.

*****

HE watched the SUV drive with a smile on his lips. The woods around the house of his angel were thick and gave great cover during the storm. But he could still see the house and the happenings of the things in the driveway. He'd seen the black-haired boy and a brunette woman leave, the wretched tiger following after them on the road. He'd been concerned that the beast would keep him from his angel, but now it was gone and he knew his angel was all by himself in the large house. Everything would go just as he'd wanted. He would get his angel again…and punishment was to be dealt with pleasure.

A/N: See??? BIG THINGS IN NEXT CHAPTER!!!

JC: Hope ya can wait a little. We're still writing, but we're also getting into our other passion. Which, if you haven't realized it yet, is music.

Kathrine: We such at it, but we try so just be patient with us. School isn't so we hope yall will be.

JC: Now we'd like to know what ya thought about this. Send us a line or something. Suggestions on what you want to happen in other stories would be great. They help us get chapters done faster.

Kathrine: Oh and Evil Penguin and her five split personas. Ya know we'd love to meet ya sometime. Crazy people like us should have a club. The 'Five or more in One Club'. ^_^

JC: Well, please review. Hoped ya liked it.

Kathrine: Ja!