Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Flaring Light ❯ A Different Plane ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5:

Touma entered the bedroom from the connecting bath, towel drying his hair and immediately knew something was wrong. Seiji was still lying on the bed, but he was completely still, and Byakuen was urgently scratching at the main door trying to get inside the room. Opening the door, Touma was nearly bowled over by the impatient tiger who immediately pounced on top of Seiji's unconscious form. Growling, Byakuen began to nuzzle Seiji's cheek but he got no response. Letting out an inhuman roar, the inhabitants of the house could feel the tiger's grief in that roar.

In a flash, Touma was beside his love's side, feeling for a pulse. It was there but faint. Trying to shake Seiji's shoulder, he was surprised when his hand passed right through what should have been solid flesh. Alarmed, Touma drew back to see Seiji begin to flicker in and out of existence. "SEIJI!!!!" he screamed.

Ryo, Shu, Shin and Nasutei had heard Byakuen's roar and were heading upstairs when they heard Touma's scream. Running faster, the foursome skidded to a stop in front of Touma and Seiji's room. Peering in, they saw Touma in nothing more than a towel, with his hand over his mouth. His eyes were wide and focused on a point above Seiji's shoulder. Seiji was lying on the bed, unmoving. "Touma? What is it?" Nasutei asked.

Touma turned toward her voice and opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. He pointed mutely at Seiji's form which had once again began to flicker catching everyone's attention.

"What the Hell?" came Shu's stunned voice.

"The creatures, they are attacking him again."

Ryo whipped around to stare at Shin. "Shin, do you know what is going on?"he asked in a carefully controlled manner. He truly hated being left in the dark.

Sadly, Shin shook his head. "All I know is that Seiji has had terrible nightmares plaguing him for the last several weeks and last night was the worst one yet. He has been dreaming of Touma's death at the hands of these dog-like creatures. Last night Seiji, still caught up in the aftereffects of the nightmare, tried to kill himself because he thought that he had lost Touma, only that wasn't the case. Touma just barely managed to stop him."

"Yeah, but that's not all. Late last night we had a visitor." Touma looked away from Seiji's flickering form and at his other friends. "It was one of the creatures from Seiji's nightmares. I tried to grab it but it dissipated into thin air. Then Byakuen came in and noticed another one that I had not seen hovering above Seiji. He must have scared it away because it never bothered us the rest of the night. But I knew it would be back. Damn!! I should have let Byakuen back in when I went to get my shower."

Byakuen glanced at the archer. Now was definitely not the time for this. Seiji needed Touma if he was to survive. Byakuen could sense the darkness around Seiji's form. It had settled around the swordsman the moment that Touma had left him. He had tried to get into the room, leaving gouge marks in the wood, but the door had been sealed shut by some force. Only when Touma reentered the room did the bond break. Byakuen knew he had to act fast or they would lose Seiji to the spirit world. Jumping down from the bed, he rushed over to Touma and grabbed his arm in his mouth. Tugging the archer toward the pale figure on the bed, Byakuen raised baleful eyes at Touma.

"What is it, boy? What do you want me to do?"

Byakuen huffed, Touma sure was thickheaded at times. Praying to anyone who would listen, the tiger urged Touma to understand. 'Please let him figure this out. Seiji is almost gone.' The tiger knew that with their newfound connection, they should be able to hear each other's thoughts. And in doing so, Touma would be able to pull Seiji away from the brink. They would be able to save Seiji from the gathering darkness if the archer acted quickly but how to make him understand.

Byakuen raised his eyes to the most empathic of the group, Shin. 'Please let this work. Oh Kaoso give me the strength to reach them.' A flash of light illuminated the room in an unearthly glow, causing everyone to shield their eyes. When the light dissipated, the group realized that they were down by four. Shin, Touma, Seiji, and Byakuen had all disappeared with the light.

Shin opened his eyes to see nothing but an expanse of midnight blue surrounding him. Glancing around, he saw a young man sitting in front of him. The young man was dressed in a simple white flowing robe that brushed his ankles. He said nothing as Shin approached but there was something familiar about the man. The man was pale, almost albino with a mop of curly black hair. A black and white tail could be seen peeking out from under the hem of the robe. Pale blue eyes shined up at Shin as the young man smiled in welcome. A golden staff topped with iridescent wings rested by the young man's side.

Shin returned the smile, feeling safe and secure in the blue heaven. Glancing down at himself he saw that he too was clothed in a similar robe only his was light blue. A slight contrast to his surroundings. The symbol of Trust glowed faintly on his forehead. "Who are you?" Shin asked the young man.

"Oh, you know who I am Shin of Suiko. I am your guardian. I was sent by Kaoso to protect five young men from the evils of this world as well as from the misdeeds of other worlds. A great evil is threatening to consume Seiji of Korin and only you and Touma of Tenku can stop it. The dog like creatures that have been plaguing Seiji's dreams are called Wyverns. They feed on the insecurities of mortal men. Seiji was targeted because of his empathic abilities. He is not fully aware of them as you are, my friend. That is why you were not chosen. You are capable of driving them out, where as Seiji is still learning to control the brief flashes that he receives." The young man smiled at Shin's incredulous look.

"The Wyverns felt that Seiji would be easily swayed since he is insecure in his relationship with Touma. However, they had not counted on Touma and Seiji consummating their relationship this soon. This consummation will lead them to a greater understanding of each other. Tenku and Korin have always been and will always be a part of each other. Their strength increases the closer the two bearers are to one another. Much like your armor and Kongo's. Rekka's armor gains power from each of you and hence, does not need just one of you to increase its strength. Now that Seiji and Touma have consummated their relationship, their power will increase tenfold. They will be able to hear each other's thoughts and feelings. The Wyverns could not allow this to begin, because then they would lose their grip on Seiji. Thus, they took him immediately after Touma left this afternoon. They placed a magic lock on the door that denied me admittance. I was too late to stop them from taking over Seiji's body. He was tired mentally and physically and could no longer hold them at bay. I am sorry Shin that I have failed in my duty." The dark haired young man bowed his head in shame.

"Byakuen?" Shin asked tentatively. He was beginning to piece together the story and he felt sure that the young man before him was indeed the tiger that they knew and loved.

"Yes, it is I, Shin. Kaoso has granted me the power to speak to you since you are the most empathic of the group. I know you have wondered about the intelligence in my eyes, well that is because I too was once human a long time ago. Kaoso saved me from a fatal wound, but the only way to do so was to forever change me. I have been on this Earth longer than most mortal men, including the Masho. And I have been forever indebted to Kaoso. I have looked after each bearer of the armor including your group. But for some odd reason, I feel most at home with you five. Like you are a part of me, especially Rekka. That is why I can sense when he is in trouble and to a lesser extent when you four are in trouble." Byakuen grinned at Shin who still looked shell-shocked.

Cocking his head, Byakuen could feel Seiji's tenuous grasp on reality weakening. "We don't have much time. Seiji is losing his internal battle and Touma does not know how to help. Only you do. Look inside yourself Suiko. You will find the answers that you seek. Head west through the mists. I have brought Seiji and Touma to this plane in an effort to slow down the Wyverns advance. You will know what to do when you arrive. Farewell for now, my dear Shin." Byakuen faded from view, his energy spent. Leaving Shin to wonder if what he had seen was a dream or reality.

Shrugging his shoulders, Shin began to walk west through the mists. The murkiness of the midnight blue world parted like a curtain leaving Shin bathed in a bluish green glow. The glow emanated from the center of the room, where two figures were. One was lying prone on the ground, the other was kneeling beside the prone figure, tears coursing unchecked down his face. Both were clothed in the same simple robes that Shin and Byakuen had been but in their respective colors of green and dark blue. "Touma?" Shin called to the figure.

Touma whipped his head around to see Shin in a pale blue robe slowly approaching. Looking incredulous, Touma asked "Shin?"

"Yeah it's me. How is Seiji?"

Looking down at his friend and lover, Touma shook his head sadly. "Not so good, I'm afraid. I think I am losing him." Touma bowed his head, wanting nothing more than to save Seiji but he didn't know how to.

Shin placed his right hand on Touma's shoulder and felt a chaos of images coalesce into a semblance of order. Automatically, he knew what he needed to do. Placing his other hand on Seiji's forehead, he began to act as a conduit for the two lovers. Speaking softly to Touma, Shin said, "Touma, let Seiji feel your emotions. You two now have a connection that cannot be broken. I'll help guide your thoughts into contact with one another. He must feel secure in your love if the Wyverns are to leave him be. You must prove yourself to him, Touma. Listen to your heart and go where it leads you." Shin gathered his energy and began to focus on Touma's thoughts of Seiji. Listening to those thoughts, he touched his mind to Seiji's as well, becoming the necessary bridge that would allow the lovers' to connect. After a moment, Shin felt Seiji's mind begin to respond sluggishly to the guiding light that was Touma. He could tell that Seiji was struggling to break free from the Wyvern's hold. Focusing his strength, Shin sent an emphatic burst straight into the Wyvern's consciousness, causing it to loosen its grip on Seiji.

Seiji feeling the grip lessen, surged toward the blue light above him. He felt Touma's thoughts enter his mind and he echoed the sentiments back to the blue haired archer. Blinking his eyes open, Seiji realized that he was lying on the cold ground with Touma kneeling over him. Their lips were locked in a heavenly kiss that Seiji was loathed to break. Touma pulled away slightly, glad to see that Seiji was once again awake.

"Seiji" he breathed.

"Come on, you two. This thing isn't over yet. We've only delayed the Wyvern for now. But it is still wrapped around Seiji's form thought it is now closer to the surface. It will be easier to get rid of it, but in order to defeat it, we must leave this plane. So let's go." Shin grabbed Touma's right hand and Seiji's left hand, leaving the two of them to join hands as well. A flash of light consumed the three as the fell back into the mortal plain. The three were still locked in their tight circle when they reappeared in Touma and Seiji's room. The robes remained with the three boys. The others stood gaping as their friends reappeared with another flash of light.