Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ I Will Remain ❯ I will remain 01 ( Prologue )

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Troopers nor the song.
Song: The Highwayman
Sang by: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson

I Will Remain
by: wingsofsakon

I was a highwayman ... along the coach roads I did ride
with sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade.
Many a soldier lost his lifeblood on my blade.
The bastards hung me in the spring of '25

The bathroom was still as Shin sat in the full tub. Lying back with one hand draped over the side; razor cradled in slender fingers. His mind had gone blank and his feelings had run numb. He didn't notice that the water was slowly turning cold. In fact, he didn't notice much at all. Neither the time nor the dripping faucet caught his eye or made their way into his mind.

It had been a month since he left him. The words he remembered became a feeling more than words now. They ate away at his soul and now there wasn't much left to salvage.

Shin closed his eyes and let a breath out. He could see it vividly yet. It had started out great that day. He was so happy with the one he loved. The sparkle in his eyes and the smile had shown brightly that his love felt the same way.

Or… at least that's what he had thought anyway. The sparkle in his eyes changed and showed there was something bothering him.

"I just had to ask… didn't I." Shin stated as he let the razor fall to the floor.

He could hear knocking through the house from the front door. He just lay there. Hoping that who ever it was. Would just give up and go away. He turned his head and faced the white wall that seemed to dimly reflect the light from the ceiling.

But I am still alive.

"Shin?" A voice kept yelling accompanying the pounding. "Shin are you home?"

He blocked out the repeating pounding and ignored his name being called. He didn't notice when it stopped and who ever it was came in. He stayed quiet letting them roam and search the house. That was only short lived.

"Shin." It was Touma and he had found him. "W… What are you doing?" He asked angrily as he grabbed a towel and pulled the plug from the drain.

"Shin?" He asked again as he tried to maneuver around the pale figure. "Shin!"

"What?" Shin asked as he pulled away from the shaking frenzy.

"I asked you a question. What are you doing in here?" He asked as he fought with a limp body.

Although it seemed that no matter what he tried. Shin managed to slip back into the draining tub with out effort.

"Taking a bath." It was a simple answer, but he didn't want to get into it about it with him.

"Don't give me that nonsense, Shin." Touma scolded as he found a dry wash clothe. Since he knew Shin wasn't going to get out any time soon with out force. "Give me your hand." He demanded.

Shin didn't move a muscle in response. So, Touma grabbed it and wrapped the cloth around it. Using his headband to tie it firmly around his wrist. Giving it back to him he covered him up with the towel.

"Now, do I need to get Seiji over here or are you going to get out on your own?"

"Did I call you?" Shin asked as stared at the archer.

"No… " He answered wondering what the question had to do with what he asked.

"Then go away." Shin stated coldly as he faced back to the wall.

"I don't think so." Touma said as he got up grabbing the razor as he did. "Don't get any ideas while I'm gone either. I'm just going to be in the living room." He added as he left the bathroom and got the blond on the phone.

"Blah blah blah… " Shin muttered as he over heard Touma on the phone.

The warm towel was quite different than the cool nearly freezing water. It coaxed his eyes shut and soon he could hear the slamming of the front door. 'Here already?' He thought. Knowing full well of who it was that had came in.

"He's still in here." He heard as the footsteps got closer.

I was a sailor; I was born upon the tide
with the sea I did abide
I sailed a schooner round the horn of Mexico
I went aloft to 'furl the mainsail in a 'blow
and when the yards broke off they said that I got killed

"Shin… " Seiji said as he sat on the edge of the bathtub. "Shin, are you awake?"

"He hasn't been answering to anything, Seiji. I think we better just get him out of there."

"Good idea. You grab his shoulders." Seiji said as he found his ankles under the towel.

"Funny, I always thought he'd be light." Touma said as they carried him into his room.

"Why don't you just leave me alone… " Shin said as he rolled over in bed.

"Can't do that. You're our friend." Touma said as he dug through his drawers for some thing for him to sleep in. "You need us like we need you." He added as he threw an oversized shirt to Seiji.

"Do you have any idea what Shuu or Ryo would say if they knew?" Seiji said as he unbuttoned the shirt.

"I didn't plan on it." Shin softly chuckled.

"Well, you will." Seiji added to the comment as he dressed him.

"Oh, that's great. Some friends you two are."

"You should be in a hospital, Shin. Don't encourage us." Touma said as he laid the towel on the chair. "Why, Shin?" He added.

"Let me be." Came an answer as frustration suddenly flowed through him.

"We will after you're dressed, but we don't plan on leaving you here alone." Seiji told him.

Shin growled as Seiji buttoned the last button and tried to look at his wrist.

"Just let me look at it." He said sternly as he grasped it.

"Well, you certainly did a good job on yourself little one. It already needs a new bandage."

"I'll look around to see what he has." Touma said as he left the room.

Seiji looked down at his friend. He could see that he needed help from the look behind his eyes. He was a far cry from the Shin he knew. He used to have so much life that sparkled from those emerald eyes. His skin was a glowing pinkish white that now looked stretchy and paler than the moon light at dawn. His once feathery and silken hair was now a dull brown: as if it had lost the auburn highlights and now lay limp. His breathing was very light and he stared off into nothing.

But I am living still.

"Shin, what's wrong?" He asked softly as he stroked the damp hair from his face.

"This is all he had." Touma said as he entered the room.

"That'll do." He said as he opened a gauze package and held on the wound.

"Here… " Touma said he opened an ace bandage and started to wrap as the blond held the bandage in place.

Seiji rested his hand on his chest as he saw the broken warrior was asleep.

"I don't understand, why." Touma whispered.

"Neither do I."

"I thought he was doing fine on his own."

"So, did I. Ever since he started a new job in this town. He seemed happy."

"What are we going to do, Seiji. We can't leave him alone like this."

"Bring him home I guess. If he's this bad off, then he more than likely lost his job to."

"I'll call home to tell them he's on his way."

"Don't tell them what happened." Seiji said as he covered him up.

"Are you kidding, Seiji? You know they'll want to know what's up."

"Just divert the question. You're good at that."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Seiji. Although, they'll insisted on knowing."

"Let him deal with that part later. For now let's just get him back home."

"Alright, I'll call. You can pack some of his clothes."

"No, problem." Seiji said as he started to dig in the closet for suitcases.