Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ To Remember ❯ Home ( Chapter 4 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Cousin D 
The Trooper boys make ready to go home.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.09.2005 | Updated On: 07.04.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 7.3K | Visits: 335 | Status: Completed
The Trooper boys make ready to go home.
Anime/Manga: Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Fantasy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.09.2005 | Updated On: 07.04.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 7.3K | Visits: 335 | Status: Completed
CHAPTER 4: Home
Ningen Sekai-
Ryou-
In his dream, Ryou ran as fast as he could, so fast that his chest hurt and he felt like falling down in exhaustion. Someone was chasing him and Ryou hated being chased. It made him feel like prey with a sharp toothed predator closing in behind. He wanted to be the one doing the chasing.
FIND HIM, KUJUUROU. DREAMING WON’T HELP, BUT, FOR NOW, CATCH HIM. HE’S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Who was Kujuurou and who was speaking? Ryou knew the voice but he couldn’t think who it belonged to. When the voice spoke, whoever was chasing Ryou drew closer and Ryou could feel an icy wind tickle at the back of his neck. Then he was seized in powerful arms and the voice spoke when the person pulled Ryou against his chest.
GRAB HIM! DON‘T LET HIM GO!
Whoever he was needn’t have yelled. Ryou didn’t so much as struggle. The urge to run vanished as soon as his pursuer touched him. He felt safe. Protected in the cool arms held Ryou as him and Ryou could hear a faint heartbeat against his ear. It was a very comfortable feeling. Sometimes, he felt like he was the one who did all the protecting and it was nice to have large, strong arms wrapped around him. So long as the arms held him, Ryou knew nothing could hurt him.
It was just a dream, but in that dream Ryou felt protected. He felt safe. It was a luxury he hadn’t felt in a very long time, not since before the war had begun, before his granma had died…come to think of it, Ryou hadn’t felt safe since he and his granma had left the mountains. It had been years. If the only place he could find such simple joy was in a dream, in the arms of a faceless man he felt he should remember, then Ryou would wallow in that dream for as long as possible.
"Where are you?" Ryou asked, not looking up to see the person who was holding him. He knew he wouldn‘t be able to see the face. "I need you."
"I can't find you." The person's voice was very familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember. It was a long forgotten memory, just out of reach, sleeping in Ryou's mind. "I'm so cold. Let me hold you just a moment. You’re always so warm. Lava just under your skin.”
Ryou lay still for a moment, not wanting to disturb the quiet moment. There were so many questions, but none of them seemed important while the arms were around him or while that heartbeat echoed in his head. He just wanted to stay right where he was and never move again. "I’m right here. Why can’t you find me?”
"I don't know. You’re so far away." The arms tightened around Ryou. "You make me feel warmer. Don't leave me."
But if he stayed in the dream, what about the others? Seiji and Xiu, Touma and Shin? They needed him as much as Ryou needed them. He couldn‘t just never go back to them. It was unthinkable. "I have to. Everyone's waiting for me.”
The man sighed. "I know. My brothers are waiting for me, too." But they stayed like that, still and safe, together until a physical touch tore Ryou away from the arms.
"Ryou, wake up." A soft shaking made Ryou open his eyes and he saw Seiji looking down at him. For just a moment, he hated Seiji. That petty feeling faded when he saw the tightness around Seiji’s thin lips and the worry that tinted his thoughts when he’d touched Ryou’s mind to wake him.
Seiji-
“Will you just go to sleep?”
“Can’t. Ryou’s nightmare’s too strong.” Seiji didn’t like blocking Ryou out, even though that would put an end to his sleepless night. He’d always had a nagging fear that something awful would happen to Ryou if he were left alone too long. “It’s that one he always has. The one about…”
“Don’t tell me. He doesn’t want you to know and he doesn’t want me to know. Block him out. You know he doesn’t like you peeking in on him, anyway.”
Seiji scowled at Xiu, but inched a little closer. He liked sleeping with Xiu. It wasn’t just the sex, although that was fantastic. Seiji just like being so close to Xiu, the intimacy. He’d always like how big Xiu was. He felt like he could almost wrap himself around Xiu and just lose himself in the warmth. “You know I’m not doing it maliciously. Stop hogging the blanket.”
“Of course I know you aren’t, but make an effort. Malicious or not, he won’t like it. We need a bigger blanket. I’ve got a birthday coming up. You think Nasty will buy us one?”
Seiji closed the curtains around his mind a little tighter, but let himself stay open to the basic emotions coming from Ryou. “If you want a blanket, I’ll buy you one tomorrow. You don’t have to go begging Nasty.” Frankly, Seiji rather liked the small blanket. It gave him a good excuse for cuddling. Not that he ever really needed an excuse. “It’s not just Ryou’s nightmare. Touma and Shin are bickering. You know how upset Shin can get.”
“I know I wouldn’t stand between those two.” Xiu yawned and pulled the blanket up to his chin. “I gotta agree with Touma, though. I wanna go home, too. Just for a visit. I haven’t even seen the new restaurant. Mama and papa don’t know why I left in the first place.”
“You never told them?”
“I told them about Kongo, but not that the war had started. Why worry them when there was nothing they could do about it? Besides, it started so suddenly. There wasn’t any time.” He fell silent a moment, but Seiji could see well enough to see that Xiu was still awake and staring at the ceiling of their room. “I think they’re worried. Shin never told his moms, you know. Said he didn’t want to worry them. Ryou didn’t tell anyone that I know of. Did he tell your grampa?”
“No. I told grandfather about Korin and I, but I thought it was Ryou’s business to tell people if he wanted them to know. All grandfather knows about Ryou, right now, is that I’ve taken him away to a quite house in the country so he can live in peace. If Ryou’s going to tell him about Rekka, then it’s Ryou’s decision. Not mine.” Seiji had always felt very strongly about that. From what he knew about Ryou, all of his life, decisions had been made for him. Ryou hadn’t really lived, he’d just accepted what fate gave him. It was time, Seiji had decided, for Ryou to decide what he was going to do with his life. And Ryou had, for his own reasons, decided that he was going back to Sendai with Touma. “I think he’ll tell grandfather, but not right now. He’s just too private.”
“Yeah, but he and grandpa are family now. That should make a difference.” Grandfather Date was Ryou’s grandfather, too. As strange of a coincidence as it was, grandfather Date was Seiji’s paternal grandfather and it turned out that Seiji’s dad hadn’t been the most faithful of men. He’d cheated on Seiji’s mom with Ryou’s mom, using a different name when he did. His double life had ended when he’d gone mad and had to be admitted to a mental institute. It turned out that Ryou and his mom were living in the mountains back then and they’d thought that Ryou’s dad had just abandoned them when he never came back. So Ryou was Seiji’s half-brother.
“Should, but I don’t know if it does to Ryou. We’ll see. He wants to go back, so maybe that’s what he’s planning to do. I think grandfather suspects, anyway.”
“Do you think that’s what caused the nightmare?”
“What? Going home? Don’t know. Maybe. Bad things happened back then. Not just about that whole thing about Ryou…you know. Doing THAT. The other stuff, too.” Stuff like Ryou turning tricks on the streets. Like people dying. Seiji becoming a murderer Becoming an orphan. Xiu’s mood darkened and it was no surprise. Xiu’s little sister and Seiji’s mom had been murdered by Seiji and Ryou’s father whom Seiji had, in turn, killed. Touma’s dad attacking Shin and Touma nearly killing his dad. Seiji had killed his dad. “How did your dad do that, anyway?”
“Hmm? Do what?” The question was enough to bring Xiu out of his dark thoughts and, for that, Seiji was glad.
“How did he get me off the hook. Not that I’m not grateful, but it was kind of odd, wasn’t it? Since when did your dad have that kind of clout with judges?” When Seiji had spoken up at the end of Touma’s trial for assaulting his dad and confessed that he was the one who’d killed his dad, lopping off his head with Korin’s no-datchi. “Not that I’m not grateful, but you never did explain. I understand that your papa did it because he didn’t want to fight with you anymore and he thought that helping me would patch things up a bit. I get that. But how?”
“I never explained because I haven’t got the foggiest how he did it. I didn’t even know papa knew any judges, but that one sure knew papa. I’ll ask him tomorrow, alright?”
The argument got louder from Shin and Touma, so heated was their argument that Seiji strengthened his shields. “Those two are going to be exhausted in the morning.”
“Good. They’ll sleep the whole way. If you don’t get to sleep, you won’t be able to drive. You really want me or Ryou driving your car?”
“Not in your wildest dreams.”
“My dreams can get pretty wild and not a single one of them involves your car. Well…maybe one.”
“Keep sex out of my car. I just had it cleaned.”
“You’re no fun. Now, go to sleep. I’m going to have a hard enough time dragging those two out of bed without worrying about you, too.” Xiu grimaced, tensed, and then relaxed.
Seiji felt it, too. Ryou‘s terrifying nightmare dissolved into cool comfort, like the smell of peppermint. Seiji completely shielded himself from Ryou’s happiness and from Shin and Touma‘s tension. It wasn’t the first time that Ryou had suffered from the same nightmare, but this was the first time it had turned so pleasant. Seiji had always suspected that the nightmares were because of what had happened just before the war and then the stress of the war. After all, he was pretty sure that Ryou didn’t have these nightmares before they’d all gotten their yoroi. Maybe he had and just didn’t tell anyone. Why would he tell people about his nightmares? With the life Ryou had lived, it would have been a miracle if he didn’t have nightmares. Who wouldn’t have nightmares of the Ma-Sho chasing them? Or of what Ryou had done? Seiji didn’t even like thinking about it and he hadn’t lived it.
“Good.” Xiu sighed. “All that angst was starting to wear on my nerves.”
“At least Ryou will be rested tomorrow.” With that, Seiji settled down next to Xiu and closed his eyes. The war was over. Everything was back to normal, or as close to normal as it would ever get. Touma was the one who’d brought up the subject of going home, but Seiji smiled at the thought, no matter how much Shin was objecting to it. Seemed like it had been ages since he’d seen grandfather Date.
Grandfather Date had lived alone now for more than a year, ever since Seiji had left home to be with his friends. Not since the war had started. After they’d all gotten the little marble-like orbs and discovered the magic that allowed them to become warriors the likes of which were only seen in legends and manga, everything had been normal and ordinary for a while before Seiji had the sudden knowledge that he had to leave. Something bad was coming and Seiji had to fight it. More frightening than Seiji’s sudden insight was that Ryou had felt the same thing and was so upset by it that he’d spent a whole night pacing in the back garden. Xiu had come running over to talk to Seiji about the disturbing feeling. Shin and Touma had shown up a short while later. They only lasted about a day before the compulsion to find the approaching threat got to be too much and they all left together. That was how they’d ended up in Toyama and met Nasutei and fought Arago’s soldiers.
The rest was history.
Now, after the war, they still stayed in Nasutei’s home and Seiji felt no need to leave. True, he did want to go back to grandfather Date and take care of the last of his family, but it felt right and comfortable to be with the other’s. There just wasn't enough room at the dojo for everyone to live there and Seiji wouldn’t think of asking such a thing from his grandfather. It would be too much of an imposition. Nasutei’s mansion held everyone nicely with plenty of space for everyone to stretch out.
“Of course you can stay.” Nasutei had told them with her warm smile. “You’re all my boys. I’d hate to see any of you leave. There’s really no reason for you to go anywhere, is there? My family has businesses all over the world. Money isn’t really an issue. After all you’ve done to save the world, I think you deserve a bit of pampering.” She’d said it all so lightly when Touma had brought up the subject of going home, but she hadn’t tired to dissuade them. She was keeping Jun as her heir, but had never really explained what Jun’s parents thought about it. Seiji supposed that they must have agreed to it, for whatever reason. Nasty was a lady, she wasn’t the type to kidnap a child.
‘But why? Jun’s a good kid. Why would his parents give him up? He doesn’t seem unhappy about the whole situation. Quite the contrary. He’s as happy as ever. Maybe they died and Nasty didn’t tell us. No. She’d have told Jun and he hasn’t been at all sad or angry. I’ll talk to Nasty in the morning.’ He’d meant to talk to her about Jun several other times, but every time he tired to start the conversation, she’d managed to change the subject.
Still, Seiji couldn’t fall asleep. Even without Ryou’s nightmare and the argument between Touma and Shin, he couldn’t seem to rest his mind. There was something tickling at the back of his mind, like he was trying to remind himself of something. When Xiu finally slipped into sleep, snoring softly, Seiji got out of bed.
He thought only to get a drink, but when he passed Ryou’s room, the door was open and Seiji couldn’t help but look in. There, at the side of Ryou’s bed, was a figure standing in the darkness. “Hey!” Seiji barked
The person looked at him sharply, but the room was so dark that Seiji couldn’t make out the person’s face. In fact, he couldn’t quite tell if it was a man or a woman. The way the person was standing was odd to say the least. Tall and muscular, the person was slightly hunched over with legs that seemed to bend the wrong way, like the back legs of a horse they bent forward instead of backwards. The shape of the head looked entirely wrong the way it moved when it looked at Seiji.
‘Danger.’ Seiji’s instinct warned him. ‘Not human. Dangerous.’ Whatever it was, wasn’t a demon or anything from the Youja Kai. It was natural, a creature of Earth. But Seiji felt nearly frozen just looking at it’s silhouette against the moonlit window. Fear. He was afraid. ‘Get away. Have to get away.’ But Ryou was laying there, helplessly asleep. He couldn’t abandon Ryou.
“You shouldn’t be here.” The creature said in a whispered voice. There was something wrong about the way it spoke. As if the mouth weren’t made for speaking any human language. “He’s alright. You don’t have to worry for him so much. I take care of him.”
“Who are you?”
“Ah. I forgot. You wouldn’t recognize me like this.” The figure bent down and reach one very long arm out to touch Ryou’s head. “It’s better that way. Easier.” Again, the figure turned its head to look at Seiji. “I must go speak with Rajura, soon. When it’s all arranged, you’ll understand better.”
“What are you talking about?” Seiji opened his mind, thinking that he could wake Ryou and get him out of reach of whatever that thing was. In just a heartbeat, he could wake the others and…there was a flash of darkness and the figure was gone. “Damn it!” Seiji flipped on the light but it made no difference. The room was empty except for Ryou, still blissfully unaware of his visitor, and Byakuen was sleeping soundly at the foot of Ryou’s bed. Seiji frowned and looked around. His eyes went to Byakuen. “Some watch cat you are.” But Byakuen didn’t so much as twitch a whisker.
Xiu prodded at Seiji’s mind. WHAT’S WRONG? YOU’RE AWFUL UPSET.
SOMEONE WAS IN RYOU’S ROOM. IT WASN’T HUMAN. IT’S GONE NOW, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE.
Xiu didn’t respond, but Seiji knew he had jumped out of bed and was pausing only to tell Touma and Shin what had happened.
“Ryou, wake up.” Seiji shook Ryou’s shoulder. He felt badly about waking Ryou out of the first good dream he’d had in a long while, but not badly enough that he’d put Ryou in danger. Who knew what kind of creature this was or how long it had been lurking around Ryou. “Come on. Ryou, wake up.”
“What?” Ryou rubbed his eyes and sat up. “It’s not time to leave, is it? It‘s still dark out.”
“No. Not yet. Ryou,” Seiji paused when he realized Xiu, Touma, and Shin were in the doorway behind him. “Did you know there was someone in here with you?”
Ryou’s puzzled, then shocked expression said it all. He hadn’t known. Touma and Xiu, without being asked, left the house to search the grounds. If the creature was anywhere nearby, they would find him. Shin quietly slipped away to search the house and make sure Jun and Nasty were alright.
“Are you alright? It didn’t hurt you?” Seiji sat at Ryou’s side and looked at him closely, but didn’t see anything wrong.
“I’m fine. Are you sure? Yaku-chan would have woken me up. You know how he gets.”
“Your cat might as well have been a rock. He slept through it all.” Of course, Seiji hadn’t actually seen Byakuen, but he’d been busy watching the stranger. Byakuen must have been sleeping while it had been going on. “Whatever it was wasn’t human. It said something about talking to Rajura. It’s connected to the Youja Kai.”
Ryou took that in grimly. “Rajura’s not our enemy anymore, right? Maybe it didn’t mean any harm.”
“Anyone who sneaks into your bedroom at night and just watches you doesn’t mean any good.” Ryou knew that, Seiji was sure. Ryou knew the darker side of humanity better than almost anyone. It was just wishful thinking that had made him say what he had. If Rajura was working against them, then it could very well mean that the wars would start again.
“But it didn’t do anything?”
“It said I shouldn’t worry so much. It said it takes care of you.”
The creature was not found that night. Touma and Xiu returned a few hours later and reported that they’d seen nothing. No tracks or signs that anything unusual had been near the house. Shin didn’t find anything in the house to show that the stranger had broken in, no broken windows or locks. The idea of leaving Jun and Nasty alone for a week became much less appealing.
“We’ll be fine.” Nasutei assured Seiji when everyone had gathered uneasily in Ryou’s bedroom. Nasutei sat on Ryou’s bed with Jun on her lap and though she looked worried, Seiji had thought that she would be more worried to know there had been a demon - or whatever it was - in her home. Maybe she was getting used to paranormal visitors. “Whatever it is seems to be interested in Ryou, so, if anything, it’ll follow him.” She bit her bottom lip and frowned at Ryou. “Will you think I’m a coward if I say Jun and I should stay here?”
“Of course not. That’s smart.” Ryou went to the window and looked out again for the upteenth time. “You’d be in more danger if you went with us.”
“They can’t stay here alone. What if it’s some kind of trick. The demon could come back and find them all alone and vulnerable.” Touma protested. “One of us should stay.”
Jun burst out, “We won’t be alone! Yaku-chan can stay and protect us!” He waved his fist in the air and grinned bravely. “I’ll protect neesan, too!” How like him to want to play hero at the first chance.
Ryou, though, seemed satisfied and agreed that Byakuen would be the best protection he could give Nasutei and Jun. When the thing returned, if it returned, they would be ready for it.
‘The trip home looks more dangerous, now. We’ll all be separated and Xiu’s going to be all alone. Maybe we should cancel this vacation.’ Seiji was distinctly unhappy with the way things were working out. “Slight change of plans, guys.” Seiji said in what he hoped was a no nonsense kind of voice. “We’ll all go visit our families, but we get back together at night. I don’t like this. Everyone can come to grandfather’s place. There’s plenty of room to sleep in the dojo and its in walking distance from both Shin’s place and the Phoenix Rising.”
With thoughts of the elusive, skulking thing fresh in their minds, no one argued.
They all went back to bed though, for safety’s sake, Ryou went to spend the night on the floor of the room Touma and Shin shared. If nothing else, Seiji reflected, it should stop them from arguing all night long. Nasutei went back to her room and Xiu went to make sure everything was locked up. It left Seiji alone in the hallway with Jun.
“You don‘t look happy.” There was something about Jun’s eyes that struck Seiji as being wrong, but he couldn‘t pinpoint what it was. “Are you scared of the thing watching Ryou?”
“A little. I’d just like to know what it was and why they were watching him. Don’t worry too much. You’ll be safe with Byakuen.” Seiji smiled and held a hand out to Jun which the boy took without hesitation. “Nasty’s going to be upset if you don’t get enough sleep. Are you afraid to sleep on your own?”
Jun didn’t answer for a moment. He looked at Seiji with such a serious expression that it looked far out of place on his face. Seiji thought that it must have been the war that did it to Jun. War had such a terrible effect on anyone, but an impressionable, vulnerable child like Jun having to go through not only a war, but a war involving demons. After a moment, the grim expression was replaced by a smile. “It’s okay. I’m not afraid and I’m not very tired. Do you really think it was a demon? Will the war start again?”
“I hope not. It was hard enough the first time around. Let’s get you back to bed, though. Wouldn’t want to worry Nasty.”
They walked back to Jun’s room, hand-in-hand, and Seiji went in to tuck him into bed. He remembered being Jun’s age and liking it when someone would tuck him in. Back then, it had been his father who’d tucked him in and read him stories at night. That thought made Seiji hesitate. ‘Gone. It’s better this way. He wasn’t going to get better. And I’m NOT going to go mad. It won’t happen to me.’
Jun’s room was strangely empty. If it weren’t for the skateboard in the corner, one wouldn’t guess that a child lived there. It wasn’t that Jun was especially tidy, but the war had only ended two days ago. Jun had nothing and what he did have was probably still at his parent’s house. Would they be sending it to him or would Nasty just buy him new things? Come to think of it, how had Nasutei arranged all that in just two days? One day, really. She’d told them about taking custody of Jun the day before.
“Sit with me. What are you thinking?” When Seiji sat, Jun stroked the back of Seiji’s hand where it rested on Seiji’s lap. His little hands were cold so Seiji folded Jun’s hands up in his own.
“About you.” When Seiji bent over to give Jun a kiss goodnight the wooden pentacle he always wore fell out from under his pajama shirt, just missing Jun’s face by an inch or so.
“Why do you wear that?” Jun asked, after getting his kiss on the forehead. He gestured to the pentacle, but didn’t touch it.
“Because.”
“That’s not a real answer.”
“It’s good enough for me and I’m the one wearing it. Jun, can you tell me something?”
“Sure.”
It was with great trepidation that Seiji spoke. He wasn’t even sure he should be talking to Jun about this sort of thing with Jun. “Why aren’t you going home to your parents? I know you like Nasty, but you must want to go home. All this time in the war, you stayed with us to find them.”
“I love Nasty. I want to always stay with her. I want to stay here and my parents think it’s fine. They trust oneesan. That’s something you shouldn’t worry about. Don’t even think about it anymore.”
And he didn’t. Seiji shook his head. He had the strange feeling that he was forgetting something, but he didn’t know what.
“You’re sure you’re coming back, right?”
Seiji thought it was cute how worried Jun looked and immediately dismissed the idea that he was forgetting something. If it was important, he’d remember it later. “Right. Nasty’s going to let us rent out our rooms and there’s a good high school not too far from here.” That had been a major decision made by Seiji and Xiu for the sake of the others. Going back to high school at Hana high was out of the question. Touma and Shin had a horrible reputation ever since the day when Shin had been arrested and then Touma had stood trial for what had happened to his dad. They didn’t need to have everyone whispering behind their backs and staring. As for Ryou, he’d had enough troubles, especially with Akira. He’d told Seiji all about that time when Akira and his little cronies had ganged up and surrounded him just outside the school. That was the day that Xiu had carried Ryou back to Seiji’s house because…
Because what? Ryou hadn’t been beaten. In fact, Akira hadn’t even been around when Seiji had found Ryou. Ryou’s neck had been hurt. There had been a lot of blood.
“You look like you’re thinking hard.” Jun put both hands around Seiji’s wrist and the grim look was there, again. “Is it about me, again?”
“No. About Ryou. It’s nothing you should worry about. Just…” Just pieces of the puzzle not fitting together properly. Akira hadn’t been there. It was someone else who’d hurt Ryou. But the wound had healed up over night, a wound that should have needed care at a hospital. He should have at least needed stitches. The other man…Seiji had been angry. He was sure…he’d done something bad to Ryou. He’d hurt Ryou. Seiji had gone into Ryou’s mind and fought…there had been someone else there and Seiji had fought a battle inside Ryou’s fragile mind. How much damage had he done?
“It’s alright.” Jun looked at Seiji when he spoke with something very un-child-like in his voice. “You mustn’t worry. Everything’s okay.”
And it was.
Seiji smiled back. He couldn’t even remember what it was that he’d been worrying about.
He went back to the room he and Xiu shared, fully expecting to get a few good hours of sleep in before morning. He didn’t expect to find Shin sitting on his bed having a little heart to heart with Xiu. Shin stopped talking the moment he realized Seiji was in the room
There was a moment when no one said anything. Shin was scowling at the world around him and Xiu shrugged, apologetically. Seiji sighed and turned around. “I think I’ll go see Touma and Ryou for a minute. Let me know when you’re done.” He didn’t begrudge Xiu and Shin their friendship, they’d known each other much longer than Seiji had known either of them. Still, if Shin needed someone to gripe to, he wished it could wait till morning.
HE DOESN’T DO IT OFTEN. Xiu said, keeping his mental voice focused enough so only Seiji would hear him. IT’S IMPORTANT. GO TALK TO TOUMA AND TRY TO CALM HIM DOWN.
THAT’S WHERE I WAS GOING, ANYWAY. He found Touma in bed, covered up to his chin and seemingly sound asleep. Ryou was curled up on the floor on a pile of spare blankets facing the wall. He, too, was awake, but determined to interfere in what Seiji was going to do. DID YOU TALK TO HIM?
I TRIED. Ryou answered. YOU’RE BETTER AT THIS THAN I AM. HE WOULDN’T TALK TO ME.
Seiji flipped on the light switch on and sat on Shin’s bed. “At least open your eyes. You know I’m here.”
“Go away.”
“Nope. My bed’s occupied, so I’m borrowing Shin’s. Talk.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Do it anyway. Your spat’s keeping me from sleep, at least tell me what it’s all about.”
SHIN‘S BEING HIS NORMAL, OVER PROTECTIVE SELF, THAT‘S ALL. He opened his eyes and looked ready to fight. “I’m going back to Sendai. I want to visit dad. When I told Shin, he…well, you know how he gets.”
Seiji rolled his eyes, imagining the scene. If Shin hadn’t started yelling, it would have been a miracle. “Have you called Shin’s moms? You‘ll need an adult to let you into the hospital. I know that from experience. Not that I ever tried to go on my own, but they give you a big list of rules every time you visit.”
“Shin’s mom called us, just before you said you wanted to go back and visit your grandfather. It’s the perfect opportunity. Shin can visit his moms and I can take a bus to the hospital. I know he wants to go home, he told me so. It’s not like he has to go to the hospital with me.”
Shin walked in and sat beside Seiji. “Sorry. I’m done with Xiu. What time did you want to leave in the morning? We have lots to do in Sendai. Business to take care of.” He smiled sweetly at Touma. It was a peace offering, clearly enough. Whatever Xiu had said to Shin had worked.
Touma looked at Shin suspiciously, as if he expected Shin to be trying to trick him, but ended up smiling back. “Maybe we can pick up a present for your moms before we get there. It’s been a long while since we’ve seen them.” And the peace offering was accepted.
“We’re leaving sharp at eight.” Seiji reminded them. “Get up on time or I’ll have Xiu drag you out.” THINK YOU CAN SLEEP NOW, RYOU?
YUP. HOW DID YOU DO THAT? HE WOULDN’T EVEN OPEN HIS MOUTH WHEN I TRIED.
IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO NICE. YOU ASK. I DEMAND. IN THE END, TOUMA WOULD RATHER NOT TELL US HIS TROUBLES, ANYWAY. HE’D RATHER TELL SHIN, BUT THAT’S A LITTLE HARD WHEN THE PROBLEM IS SHIN. GOOD NIGHT.
NIGHT.
The next morning-
Ryou-
The only one who’d had to be woken up was Ryou and even then he complained that they’d waken him out of another fantastic dream, though he wouldn’t tell them any details and blushed when Touma had asked. He wasn’t about to tell them that the best dream he’d ever had was of a mysterious man chasing him down and catching him. It was just too private to tell anyone. After Seiji had woken him up in the middle of the night, Ryou had gotten back to sleep easily enough and dreamed again. It wasn’t the same dream and wasn’t nearly so vivid, but the arms holding him and the voice were the same.
Xiu had no sympathy for him. “Come on. We leave in a half an hour. If you want breakfast, better get moving. Seiji hates being late, so he might not even wait for you. You’ll be walking to Sendai.”
There was really only one important thing Ryou needed to take with him and that was already around his neck. The silver chain with the little silver crucifix sister Jo had given him. Ryou never took it off and, besides the sword, Ryoken, it was his most valuable possession.
The Ryoken was safely hidden under Ryou’s bed Ryou had used when he’d lived at Seiji’s house. That was his main reason for going back to Sendai. Well, that and to visit Seiji’s grandfather. ‘My granpa, too.’ That was a weird thought. Ryou had never really considered having a grandfather before, let alone one like grandfather Date. The stiff, formal old man was as dignified a gentleman as Ryou had ever met. Where else could Ryou have left the Ryoken but at grandfather Date‘s house? He couldn‘t bring the precious thing into battle, after all. ‘I’ll have to start looking for its mate.’ Ryou thought as he got dressed. He hadn’t even looked at the Ryoken since the war had started and had only just started thinking that he should try honoring the wishes of his mom and granma - to find the other Ryoken.
Fully dressed and ready for the day, Ryou slipped the crucifix under his t-shirt and stopped a moment to scratch Byakuen’s head. “You be good, okay? Look after Nasty and Jun.” The intruder from the previous night was heavy on everyone’s mind, though no one had mentioned it. For the first time in his life, Ryou found himself hoping that the thing would follow him. After all, he wouldn’t want Byakuen have to fight it all alone.
While everyone finished packing the rest of the things they’d need, Ryou spoke to Nasty about the stubborn tiger. He found her outside with the others around Seiji’s car, double checking that they had everything. “Do you mind? I think Yaku-chan wants to stay here. He won‘t be any trouble. He’ll hunt in the forest and he’s house trained.”
Nasty laughed. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. Well, I think that’s everything.” She put a bag of snacks and drinks in the backseat and looked at the packed car critically. “Do you think you’ll be gone longer than a week?”
“Shouldn’t be.” Seiji ran a hand through his hair and looked around. “We’ll call when we get there, so you don’t have to worry. I can‘t think of anything we’ve forgotten.”
It went on like this with people running in and out of the house for this or that or taking things out of the car that they’d decided they really didn’t need after all. Ryou found himself sitting on the front step with Nasty and only realized after a moment that Nasty was looking at him strangely. There was something odd in her eyes.
“You aren’t mad that we’re leaving, are you? You can come with us if you like.” The last thing he wanted her to think was that she was unwanted. She’d done so much for them, if she wanted to come along, he figured that she deserved it. “Maybe it will be safer. If the demon doesn’t follow me, then it might come back here and we won’t be close enough to help you. If you come, we can be sure you’ll be protected.”
“That’s sweet.” The something odd in Nasty’s eyes vanished when she spoke and she was just the same as she’d always been. “But I don’t think Seiji’s car will hold more than five people. No. I’ll stay here with Jun. Now that we don’t have to worry about the war, there are a few things that need to get done. Someone I need to talk to.”
“And Jun? You think he’s okay with this? You know he likes to tag along.”
Nasty found that so funny that she laughed, again. “I think he’ll be just fine. There’s something he wants to do, too.”
“Yeah, what?”
“Oh, probably just wants to collect pollywogs at the lake. You know boys.”
“Are you sure?” Ryou asked, doubtfully.
Nasutei smiled cheerfully. “Of course I’m sure. Jun has a pile of homework to catch up on, if nothing else, and you boys need a vacation without us around. I’m sure you’d like to see your families without Jun underfoot or trying to explain why you’re living with an older woman.”
“They already know about that.” Seiji, passing by with a suitcase in his hands, answered, “That’s already explained. You’re the landlady and Jun’s your nephew. Grandfather doesn’t believe me, of course, but at least he doesn’t ask too many questions.”
“Mom and kaasan don’t believe it either, but they ask plenty of questions. I think kaasan’s afraid you’re some kind of loose woman trying to corrupt me and Touma.” Shin winked at Nasutei at the nasty little joke. “Living with an older woman…oh! How scandalous!”
Xiu came out of the house carrying three suitcases. “Mama and papa bought it hook, line, and sinker. Mama wants to meet you, though, Nasty. Don’t let papa talk you into any kind of match-making scheme. He SAYS he‘s okay with me and Seiji, but you know how it is…”
“Yes, yes. I know. Seiji’s jealous at the best of times and you’d rip out your own heart before you’d leave him.” Nasutei gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. “I’ve heard it all before and I won’t let your papa talk me into anything. Have you got everything? Toothbrushes?”
“It’s only a week. We’ll be back before you can sit down to finish that book you’ve been wanting to read for the past year.” Seiji loaded his suitcase into the trunk of his car and looked at it critically before taking it out. He took out Shin’s and Touma’s bags and then put his on the bottom with Ryou’s on the very top went Xiu’s bag. “That should make it easier.”
“You’re getting anal in your old age.” Ryou told him, lightly.
“It’s not anal, it’s logic. Xiu’s getting dropped off first, then Shin and Touma. Last is us. This way we don’t have to go digging though everything.” Not that any of their bags were very heavy. They hadn’t had the chance to get anything before the war started. “I think we’re ready. Let’s go.”
To be continued…
Ningen Sekai-
Ryou-
In his dream, Ryou ran as fast as he could, so fast that his chest hurt and he felt like falling down in exhaustion. Someone was chasing him and Ryou hated being chased. It made him feel like prey with a sharp toothed predator closing in behind. He wanted to be the one doing the chasing.
FIND HIM, KUJUUROU. DREAMING WON’T HELP, BUT, FOR NOW, CATCH HIM. HE’S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Who was Kujuurou and who was speaking? Ryou knew the voice but he couldn’t think who it belonged to. When the voice spoke, whoever was chasing Ryou drew closer and Ryou could feel an icy wind tickle at the back of his neck. Then he was seized in powerful arms and the voice spoke when the person pulled Ryou against his chest.
GRAB HIM! DON‘T LET HIM GO!
Whoever he was needn’t have yelled. Ryou didn’t so much as struggle. The urge to run vanished as soon as his pursuer touched him. He felt safe. Protected in the cool arms held Ryou as him and Ryou could hear a faint heartbeat against his ear. It was a very comfortable feeling. Sometimes, he felt like he was the one who did all the protecting and it was nice to have large, strong arms wrapped around him. So long as the arms held him, Ryou knew nothing could hurt him.
It was just a dream, but in that dream Ryou felt protected. He felt safe. It was a luxury he hadn’t felt in a very long time, not since before the war had begun, before his granma had died…come to think of it, Ryou hadn’t felt safe since he and his granma had left the mountains. It had been years. If the only place he could find such simple joy was in a dream, in the arms of a faceless man he felt he should remember, then Ryou would wallow in that dream for as long as possible.
"Where are you?" Ryou asked, not looking up to see the person who was holding him. He knew he wouldn‘t be able to see the face. "I need you."
"I can't find you." The person's voice was very familiar, but he couldn’t quite remember. It was a long forgotten memory, just out of reach, sleeping in Ryou's mind. "I'm so cold. Let me hold you just a moment. You’re always so warm. Lava just under your skin.”
Ryou lay still for a moment, not wanting to disturb the quiet moment. There were so many questions, but none of them seemed important while the arms were around him or while that heartbeat echoed in his head. He just wanted to stay right where he was and never move again. "I’m right here. Why can’t you find me?”
"I don't know. You’re so far away." The arms tightened around Ryou. "You make me feel warmer. Don't leave me."
But if he stayed in the dream, what about the others? Seiji and Xiu, Touma and Shin? They needed him as much as Ryou needed them. He couldn‘t just never go back to them. It was unthinkable. "I have to. Everyone's waiting for me.”
The man sighed. "I know. My brothers are waiting for me, too." But they stayed like that, still and safe, together until a physical touch tore Ryou away from the arms.
"Ryou, wake up." A soft shaking made Ryou open his eyes and he saw Seiji looking down at him. For just a moment, he hated Seiji. That petty feeling faded when he saw the tightness around Seiji’s thin lips and the worry that tinted his thoughts when he’d touched Ryou’s mind to wake him.
Seiji-
“Will you just go to sleep?”
“Can’t. Ryou’s nightmare’s too strong.” Seiji didn’t like blocking Ryou out, even though that would put an end to his sleepless night. He’d always had a nagging fear that something awful would happen to Ryou if he were left alone too long. “It’s that one he always has. The one about…”
“Don’t tell me. He doesn’t want you to know and he doesn’t want me to know. Block him out. You know he doesn’t like you peeking in on him, anyway.”
Seiji scowled at Xiu, but inched a little closer. He liked sleeping with Xiu. It wasn’t just the sex, although that was fantastic. Seiji just like being so close to Xiu, the intimacy. He’d always like how big Xiu was. He felt like he could almost wrap himself around Xiu and just lose himself in the warmth. “You know I’m not doing it maliciously. Stop hogging the blanket.”
“Of course I know you aren’t, but make an effort. Malicious or not, he won’t like it. We need a bigger blanket. I’ve got a birthday coming up. You think Nasty will buy us one?”
Seiji closed the curtains around his mind a little tighter, but let himself stay open to the basic emotions coming from Ryou. “If you want a blanket, I’ll buy you one tomorrow. You don’t have to go begging Nasty.” Frankly, Seiji rather liked the small blanket. It gave him a good excuse for cuddling. Not that he ever really needed an excuse. “It’s not just Ryou’s nightmare. Touma and Shin are bickering. You know how upset Shin can get.”
“I know I wouldn’t stand between those two.” Xiu yawned and pulled the blanket up to his chin. “I gotta agree with Touma, though. I wanna go home, too. Just for a visit. I haven’t even seen the new restaurant. Mama and papa don’t know why I left in the first place.”
“You never told them?”
“I told them about Kongo, but not that the war had started. Why worry them when there was nothing they could do about it? Besides, it started so suddenly. There wasn’t any time.” He fell silent a moment, but Seiji could see well enough to see that Xiu was still awake and staring at the ceiling of their room. “I think they’re worried. Shin never told his moms, you know. Said he didn’t want to worry them. Ryou didn’t tell anyone that I know of. Did he tell your grampa?”
“No. I told grandfather about Korin and I, but I thought it was Ryou’s business to tell people if he wanted them to know. All grandfather knows about Ryou, right now, is that I’ve taken him away to a quite house in the country so he can live in peace. If Ryou’s going to tell him about Rekka, then it’s Ryou’s decision. Not mine.” Seiji had always felt very strongly about that. From what he knew about Ryou, all of his life, decisions had been made for him. Ryou hadn’t really lived, he’d just accepted what fate gave him. It was time, Seiji had decided, for Ryou to decide what he was going to do with his life. And Ryou had, for his own reasons, decided that he was going back to Sendai with Touma. “I think he’ll tell grandfather, but not right now. He’s just too private.”
“Yeah, but he and grandpa are family now. That should make a difference.” Grandfather Date was Ryou’s grandfather, too. As strange of a coincidence as it was, grandfather Date was Seiji’s paternal grandfather and it turned out that Seiji’s dad hadn’t been the most faithful of men. He’d cheated on Seiji’s mom with Ryou’s mom, using a different name when he did. His double life had ended when he’d gone mad and had to be admitted to a mental institute. It turned out that Ryou and his mom were living in the mountains back then and they’d thought that Ryou’s dad had just abandoned them when he never came back. So Ryou was Seiji’s half-brother.
“Should, but I don’t know if it does to Ryou. We’ll see. He wants to go back, so maybe that’s what he’s planning to do. I think grandfather suspects, anyway.”
“Do you think that’s what caused the nightmare?”
“What? Going home? Don’t know. Maybe. Bad things happened back then. Not just about that whole thing about Ryou…you know. Doing THAT. The other stuff, too.” Stuff like Ryou turning tricks on the streets. Like people dying. Seiji becoming a murderer Becoming an orphan. Xiu’s mood darkened and it was no surprise. Xiu’s little sister and Seiji’s mom had been murdered by Seiji and Ryou’s father whom Seiji had, in turn, killed. Touma’s dad attacking Shin and Touma nearly killing his dad. Seiji had killed his dad. “How did your dad do that, anyway?”
“Hmm? Do what?” The question was enough to bring Xiu out of his dark thoughts and, for that, Seiji was glad.
“How did he get me off the hook. Not that I’m not grateful, but it was kind of odd, wasn’t it? Since when did your dad have that kind of clout with judges?” When Seiji had spoken up at the end of Touma’s trial for assaulting his dad and confessed that he was the one who’d killed his dad, lopping off his head with Korin’s no-datchi. “Not that I’m not grateful, but you never did explain. I understand that your papa did it because he didn’t want to fight with you anymore and he thought that helping me would patch things up a bit. I get that. But how?”
“I never explained because I haven’t got the foggiest how he did it. I didn’t even know papa knew any judges, but that one sure knew papa. I’ll ask him tomorrow, alright?”
The argument got louder from Shin and Touma, so heated was their argument that Seiji strengthened his shields. “Those two are going to be exhausted in the morning.”
“Good. They’ll sleep the whole way. If you don’t get to sleep, you won’t be able to drive. You really want me or Ryou driving your car?”
“Not in your wildest dreams.”
“My dreams can get pretty wild and not a single one of them involves your car. Well…maybe one.”
“Keep sex out of my car. I just had it cleaned.”
“You’re no fun. Now, go to sleep. I’m going to have a hard enough time dragging those two out of bed without worrying about you, too.” Xiu grimaced, tensed, and then relaxed.
Seiji felt it, too. Ryou‘s terrifying nightmare dissolved into cool comfort, like the smell of peppermint. Seiji completely shielded himself from Ryou’s happiness and from Shin and Touma‘s tension. It wasn’t the first time that Ryou had suffered from the same nightmare, but this was the first time it had turned so pleasant. Seiji had always suspected that the nightmares were because of what had happened just before the war and then the stress of the war. After all, he was pretty sure that Ryou didn’t have these nightmares before they’d all gotten their yoroi. Maybe he had and just didn’t tell anyone. Why would he tell people about his nightmares? With the life Ryou had lived, it would have been a miracle if he didn’t have nightmares. Who wouldn’t have nightmares of the Ma-Sho chasing them? Or of what Ryou had done? Seiji didn’t even like thinking about it and he hadn’t lived it.
“Good.” Xiu sighed. “All that angst was starting to wear on my nerves.”
“At least Ryou will be rested tomorrow.” With that, Seiji settled down next to Xiu and closed his eyes. The war was over. Everything was back to normal, or as close to normal as it would ever get. Touma was the one who’d brought up the subject of going home, but Seiji smiled at the thought, no matter how much Shin was objecting to it. Seemed like it had been ages since he’d seen grandfather Date.
Grandfather Date had lived alone now for more than a year, ever since Seiji had left home to be with his friends. Not since the war had started. After they’d all gotten the little marble-like orbs and discovered the magic that allowed them to become warriors the likes of which were only seen in legends and manga, everything had been normal and ordinary for a while before Seiji had the sudden knowledge that he had to leave. Something bad was coming and Seiji had to fight it. More frightening than Seiji’s sudden insight was that Ryou had felt the same thing and was so upset by it that he’d spent a whole night pacing in the back garden. Xiu had come running over to talk to Seiji about the disturbing feeling. Shin and Touma had shown up a short while later. They only lasted about a day before the compulsion to find the approaching threat got to be too much and they all left together. That was how they’d ended up in Toyama and met Nasutei and fought Arago’s soldiers.
The rest was history.
Now, after the war, they still stayed in Nasutei’s home and Seiji felt no need to leave. True, he did want to go back to grandfather Date and take care of the last of his family, but it felt right and comfortable to be with the other’s. There just wasn't enough room at the dojo for everyone to live there and Seiji wouldn’t think of asking such a thing from his grandfather. It would be too much of an imposition. Nasutei’s mansion held everyone nicely with plenty of space for everyone to stretch out.
“Of course you can stay.” Nasutei had told them with her warm smile. “You’re all my boys. I’d hate to see any of you leave. There’s really no reason for you to go anywhere, is there? My family has businesses all over the world. Money isn’t really an issue. After all you’ve done to save the world, I think you deserve a bit of pampering.” She’d said it all so lightly when Touma had brought up the subject of going home, but she hadn’t tired to dissuade them. She was keeping Jun as her heir, but had never really explained what Jun’s parents thought about it. Seiji supposed that they must have agreed to it, for whatever reason. Nasty was a lady, she wasn’t the type to kidnap a child.
‘But why? Jun’s a good kid. Why would his parents give him up? He doesn’t seem unhappy about the whole situation. Quite the contrary. He’s as happy as ever. Maybe they died and Nasty didn’t tell us. No. She’d have told Jun and he hasn’t been at all sad or angry. I’ll talk to Nasty in the morning.’ He’d meant to talk to her about Jun several other times, but every time he tired to start the conversation, she’d managed to change the subject.
Still, Seiji couldn’t fall asleep. Even without Ryou’s nightmare and the argument between Touma and Shin, he couldn’t seem to rest his mind. There was something tickling at the back of his mind, like he was trying to remind himself of something. When Xiu finally slipped into sleep, snoring softly, Seiji got out of bed.
He thought only to get a drink, but when he passed Ryou’s room, the door was open and Seiji couldn’t help but look in. There, at the side of Ryou’s bed, was a figure standing in the darkness. “Hey!” Seiji barked
The person looked at him sharply, but the room was so dark that Seiji couldn’t make out the person’s face. In fact, he couldn’t quite tell if it was a man or a woman. The way the person was standing was odd to say the least. Tall and muscular, the person was slightly hunched over with legs that seemed to bend the wrong way, like the back legs of a horse they bent forward instead of backwards. The shape of the head looked entirely wrong the way it moved when it looked at Seiji.
‘Danger.’ Seiji’s instinct warned him. ‘Not human. Dangerous.’ Whatever it was, wasn’t a demon or anything from the Youja Kai. It was natural, a creature of Earth. But Seiji felt nearly frozen just looking at it’s silhouette against the moonlit window. Fear. He was afraid. ‘Get away. Have to get away.’ But Ryou was laying there, helplessly asleep. He couldn’t abandon Ryou.
“You shouldn’t be here.” The creature said in a whispered voice. There was something wrong about the way it spoke. As if the mouth weren’t made for speaking any human language. “He’s alright. You don’t have to worry for him so much. I take care of him.”
“Who are you?”
“Ah. I forgot. You wouldn’t recognize me like this.” The figure bent down and reach one very long arm out to touch Ryou’s head. “It’s better that way. Easier.” Again, the figure turned its head to look at Seiji. “I must go speak with Rajura, soon. When it’s all arranged, you’ll understand better.”
“What are you talking about?” Seiji opened his mind, thinking that he could wake Ryou and get him out of reach of whatever that thing was. In just a heartbeat, he could wake the others and…there was a flash of darkness and the figure was gone. “Damn it!” Seiji flipped on the light but it made no difference. The room was empty except for Ryou, still blissfully unaware of his visitor, and Byakuen was sleeping soundly at the foot of Ryou’s bed. Seiji frowned and looked around. His eyes went to Byakuen. “Some watch cat you are.” But Byakuen didn’t so much as twitch a whisker.
Xiu prodded at Seiji’s mind. WHAT’S WRONG? YOU’RE AWFUL UPSET.
SOMEONE WAS IN RYOU’S ROOM. IT WASN’T HUMAN. IT’S GONE NOW, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE.
Xiu didn’t respond, but Seiji knew he had jumped out of bed and was pausing only to tell Touma and Shin what had happened.
“Ryou, wake up.” Seiji shook Ryou’s shoulder. He felt badly about waking Ryou out of the first good dream he’d had in a long while, but not badly enough that he’d put Ryou in danger. Who knew what kind of creature this was or how long it had been lurking around Ryou. “Come on. Ryou, wake up.”
“What?” Ryou rubbed his eyes and sat up. “It’s not time to leave, is it? It‘s still dark out.”
“No. Not yet. Ryou,” Seiji paused when he realized Xiu, Touma, and Shin were in the doorway behind him. “Did you know there was someone in here with you?”
Ryou’s puzzled, then shocked expression said it all. He hadn’t known. Touma and Xiu, without being asked, left the house to search the grounds. If the creature was anywhere nearby, they would find him. Shin quietly slipped away to search the house and make sure Jun and Nasty were alright.
“Are you alright? It didn’t hurt you?” Seiji sat at Ryou’s side and looked at him closely, but didn’t see anything wrong.
“I’m fine. Are you sure? Yaku-chan would have woken me up. You know how he gets.”
“Your cat might as well have been a rock. He slept through it all.” Of course, Seiji hadn’t actually seen Byakuen, but he’d been busy watching the stranger. Byakuen must have been sleeping while it had been going on. “Whatever it was wasn’t human. It said something about talking to Rajura. It’s connected to the Youja Kai.”
Ryou took that in grimly. “Rajura’s not our enemy anymore, right? Maybe it didn’t mean any harm.”
“Anyone who sneaks into your bedroom at night and just watches you doesn’t mean any good.” Ryou knew that, Seiji was sure. Ryou knew the darker side of humanity better than almost anyone. It was just wishful thinking that had made him say what he had. If Rajura was working against them, then it could very well mean that the wars would start again.
“But it didn’t do anything?”
“It said I shouldn’t worry so much. It said it takes care of you.”
The creature was not found that night. Touma and Xiu returned a few hours later and reported that they’d seen nothing. No tracks or signs that anything unusual had been near the house. Shin didn’t find anything in the house to show that the stranger had broken in, no broken windows or locks. The idea of leaving Jun and Nasty alone for a week became much less appealing.
“We’ll be fine.” Nasutei assured Seiji when everyone had gathered uneasily in Ryou’s bedroom. Nasutei sat on Ryou’s bed with Jun on her lap and though she looked worried, Seiji had thought that she would be more worried to know there had been a demon - or whatever it was - in her home. Maybe she was getting used to paranormal visitors. “Whatever it is seems to be interested in Ryou, so, if anything, it’ll follow him.” She bit her bottom lip and frowned at Ryou. “Will you think I’m a coward if I say Jun and I should stay here?”
“Of course not. That’s smart.” Ryou went to the window and looked out again for the upteenth time. “You’d be in more danger if you went with us.”
“They can’t stay here alone. What if it’s some kind of trick. The demon could come back and find them all alone and vulnerable.” Touma protested. “One of us should stay.”
Jun burst out, “We won’t be alone! Yaku-chan can stay and protect us!” He waved his fist in the air and grinned bravely. “I’ll protect neesan, too!” How like him to want to play hero at the first chance.
Ryou, though, seemed satisfied and agreed that Byakuen would be the best protection he could give Nasutei and Jun. When the thing returned, if it returned, they would be ready for it.
‘The trip home looks more dangerous, now. We’ll all be separated and Xiu’s going to be all alone. Maybe we should cancel this vacation.’ Seiji was distinctly unhappy with the way things were working out. “Slight change of plans, guys.” Seiji said in what he hoped was a no nonsense kind of voice. “We’ll all go visit our families, but we get back together at night. I don’t like this. Everyone can come to grandfather’s place. There’s plenty of room to sleep in the dojo and its in walking distance from both Shin’s place and the Phoenix Rising.”
With thoughts of the elusive, skulking thing fresh in their minds, no one argued.
They all went back to bed though, for safety’s sake, Ryou went to spend the night on the floor of the room Touma and Shin shared. If nothing else, Seiji reflected, it should stop them from arguing all night long. Nasutei went back to her room and Xiu went to make sure everything was locked up. It left Seiji alone in the hallway with Jun.
“You don‘t look happy.” There was something about Jun’s eyes that struck Seiji as being wrong, but he couldn‘t pinpoint what it was. “Are you scared of the thing watching Ryou?”
“A little. I’d just like to know what it was and why they were watching him. Don’t worry too much. You’ll be safe with Byakuen.” Seiji smiled and held a hand out to Jun which the boy took without hesitation. “Nasty’s going to be upset if you don’t get enough sleep. Are you afraid to sleep on your own?”
Jun didn’t answer for a moment. He looked at Seiji with such a serious expression that it looked far out of place on his face. Seiji thought that it must have been the war that did it to Jun. War had such a terrible effect on anyone, but an impressionable, vulnerable child like Jun having to go through not only a war, but a war involving demons. After a moment, the grim expression was replaced by a smile. “It’s okay. I’m not afraid and I’m not very tired. Do you really think it was a demon? Will the war start again?”
“I hope not. It was hard enough the first time around. Let’s get you back to bed, though. Wouldn’t want to worry Nasty.”
They walked back to Jun’s room, hand-in-hand, and Seiji went in to tuck him into bed. He remembered being Jun’s age and liking it when someone would tuck him in. Back then, it had been his father who’d tucked him in and read him stories at night. That thought made Seiji hesitate. ‘Gone. It’s better this way. He wasn’t going to get better. And I’m NOT going to go mad. It won’t happen to me.’
Jun’s room was strangely empty. If it weren’t for the skateboard in the corner, one wouldn’t guess that a child lived there. It wasn’t that Jun was especially tidy, but the war had only ended two days ago. Jun had nothing and what he did have was probably still at his parent’s house. Would they be sending it to him or would Nasty just buy him new things? Come to think of it, how had Nasutei arranged all that in just two days? One day, really. She’d told them about taking custody of Jun the day before.
“Sit with me. What are you thinking?” When Seiji sat, Jun stroked the back of Seiji’s hand where it rested on Seiji’s lap. His little hands were cold so Seiji folded Jun’s hands up in his own.
“About you.” When Seiji bent over to give Jun a kiss goodnight the wooden pentacle he always wore fell out from under his pajama shirt, just missing Jun’s face by an inch or so.
“Why do you wear that?” Jun asked, after getting his kiss on the forehead. He gestured to the pentacle, but didn’t touch it.
“Because.”
“That’s not a real answer.”
“It’s good enough for me and I’m the one wearing it. Jun, can you tell me something?”
“Sure.”
It was with great trepidation that Seiji spoke. He wasn’t even sure he should be talking to Jun about this sort of thing with Jun. “Why aren’t you going home to your parents? I know you like Nasty, but you must want to go home. All this time in the war, you stayed with us to find them.”
“I love Nasty. I want to always stay with her. I want to stay here and my parents think it’s fine. They trust oneesan. That’s something you shouldn’t worry about. Don’t even think about it anymore.”
And he didn’t. Seiji shook his head. He had the strange feeling that he was forgetting something, but he didn’t know what.
“You’re sure you’re coming back, right?”
Seiji thought it was cute how worried Jun looked and immediately dismissed the idea that he was forgetting something. If it was important, he’d remember it later. “Right. Nasty’s going to let us rent out our rooms and there’s a good high school not too far from here.” That had been a major decision made by Seiji and Xiu for the sake of the others. Going back to high school at Hana high was out of the question. Touma and Shin had a horrible reputation ever since the day when Shin had been arrested and then Touma had stood trial for what had happened to his dad. They didn’t need to have everyone whispering behind their backs and staring. As for Ryou, he’d had enough troubles, especially with Akira. He’d told Seiji all about that time when Akira and his little cronies had ganged up and surrounded him just outside the school. That was the day that Xiu had carried Ryou back to Seiji’s house because…
Because what? Ryou hadn’t been beaten. In fact, Akira hadn’t even been around when Seiji had found Ryou. Ryou’s neck had been hurt. There had been a lot of blood.
“You look like you’re thinking hard.” Jun put both hands around Seiji’s wrist and the grim look was there, again. “Is it about me, again?”
“No. About Ryou. It’s nothing you should worry about. Just…” Just pieces of the puzzle not fitting together properly. Akira hadn’t been there. It was someone else who’d hurt Ryou. But the wound had healed up over night, a wound that should have needed care at a hospital. He should have at least needed stitches. The other man…Seiji had been angry. He was sure…he’d done something bad to Ryou. He’d hurt Ryou. Seiji had gone into Ryou’s mind and fought…there had been someone else there and Seiji had fought a battle inside Ryou’s fragile mind. How much damage had he done?
“It’s alright.” Jun looked at Seiji when he spoke with something very un-child-like in his voice. “You mustn’t worry. Everything’s okay.”
And it was.
Seiji smiled back. He couldn’t even remember what it was that he’d been worrying about.
He went back to the room he and Xiu shared, fully expecting to get a few good hours of sleep in before morning. He didn’t expect to find Shin sitting on his bed having a little heart to heart with Xiu. Shin stopped talking the moment he realized Seiji was in the room
There was a moment when no one said anything. Shin was scowling at the world around him and Xiu shrugged, apologetically. Seiji sighed and turned around. “I think I’ll go see Touma and Ryou for a minute. Let me know when you’re done.” He didn’t begrudge Xiu and Shin their friendship, they’d known each other much longer than Seiji had known either of them. Still, if Shin needed someone to gripe to, he wished it could wait till morning.
HE DOESN’T DO IT OFTEN. Xiu said, keeping his mental voice focused enough so only Seiji would hear him. IT’S IMPORTANT. GO TALK TO TOUMA AND TRY TO CALM HIM DOWN.
THAT’S WHERE I WAS GOING, ANYWAY. He found Touma in bed, covered up to his chin and seemingly sound asleep. Ryou was curled up on the floor on a pile of spare blankets facing the wall. He, too, was awake, but determined to interfere in what Seiji was going to do. DID YOU TALK TO HIM?
I TRIED. Ryou answered. YOU’RE BETTER AT THIS THAN I AM. HE WOULDN’T TALK TO ME.
Seiji flipped on the light switch on and sat on Shin’s bed. “At least open your eyes. You know I’m here.”
“Go away.”
“Nope. My bed’s occupied, so I’m borrowing Shin’s. Talk.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Do it anyway. Your spat’s keeping me from sleep, at least tell me what it’s all about.”
SHIN‘S BEING HIS NORMAL, OVER PROTECTIVE SELF, THAT‘S ALL. He opened his eyes and looked ready to fight. “I’m going back to Sendai. I want to visit dad. When I told Shin, he…well, you know how he gets.”
Seiji rolled his eyes, imagining the scene. If Shin hadn’t started yelling, it would have been a miracle. “Have you called Shin’s moms? You‘ll need an adult to let you into the hospital. I know that from experience. Not that I ever tried to go on my own, but they give you a big list of rules every time you visit.”
“Shin’s mom called us, just before you said you wanted to go back and visit your grandfather. It’s the perfect opportunity. Shin can visit his moms and I can take a bus to the hospital. I know he wants to go home, he told me so. It’s not like he has to go to the hospital with me.”
Shin walked in and sat beside Seiji. “Sorry. I’m done with Xiu. What time did you want to leave in the morning? We have lots to do in Sendai. Business to take care of.” He smiled sweetly at Touma. It was a peace offering, clearly enough. Whatever Xiu had said to Shin had worked.
Touma looked at Shin suspiciously, as if he expected Shin to be trying to trick him, but ended up smiling back. “Maybe we can pick up a present for your moms before we get there. It’s been a long while since we’ve seen them.” And the peace offering was accepted.
“We’re leaving sharp at eight.” Seiji reminded them. “Get up on time or I’ll have Xiu drag you out.” THINK YOU CAN SLEEP NOW, RYOU?
YUP. HOW DID YOU DO THAT? HE WOULDN’T EVEN OPEN HIS MOUTH WHEN I TRIED.
IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO NICE. YOU ASK. I DEMAND. IN THE END, TOUMA WOULD RATHER NOT TELL US HIS TROUBLES, ANYWAY. HE’D RATHER TELL SHIN, BUT THAT’S A LITTLE HARD WHEN THE PROBLEM IS SHIN. GOOD NIGHT.
NIGHT.
The next morning-
Ryou-
The only one who’d had to be woken up was Ryou and even then he complained that they’d waken him out of another fantastic dream, though he wouldn’t tell them any details and blushed when Touma had asked. He wasn’t about to tell them that the best dream he’d ever had was of a mysterious man chasing him down and catching him. It was just too private to tell anyone. After Seiji had woken him up in the middle of the night, Ryou had gotten back to sleep easily enough and dreamed again. It wasn’t the same dream and wasn’t nearly so vivid, but the arms holding him and the voice were the same.
Xiu had no sympathy for him. “Come on. We leave in a half an hour. If you want breakfast, better get moving. Seiji hates being late, so he might not even wait for you. You’ll be walking to Sendai.”
There was really only one important thing Ryou needed to take with him and that was already around his neck. The silver chain with the little silver crucifix sister Jo had given him. Ryou never took it off and, besides the sword, Ryoken, it was his most valuable possession.
The Ryoken was safely hidden under Ryou’s bed Ryou had used when he’d lived at Seiji’s house. That was his main reason for going back to Sendai. Well, that and to visit Seiji’s grandfather. ‘My granpa, too.’ That was a weird thought. Ryou had never really considered having a grandfather before, let alone one like grandfather Date. The stiff, formal old man was as dignified a gentleman as Ryou had ever met. Where else could Ryou have left the Ryoken but at grandfather Date‘s house? He couldn‘t bring the precious thing into battle, after all. ‘I’ll have to start looking for its mate.’ Ryou thought as he got dressed. He hadn’t even looked at the Ryoken since the war had started and had only just started thinking that he should try honoring the wishes of his mom and granma - to find the other Ryoken.
Fully dressed and ready for the day, Ryou slipped the crucifix under his t-shirt and stopped a moment to scratch Byakuen’s head. “You be good, okay? Look after Nasty and Jun.” The intruder from the previous night was heavy on everyone’s mind, though no one had mentioned it. For the first time in his life, Ryou found himself hoping that the thing would follow him. After all, he wouldn’t want Byakuen have to fight it all alone.
While everyone finished packing the rest of the things they’d need, Ryou spoke to Nasty about the stubborn tiger. He found her outside with the others around Seiji’s car, double checking that they had everything. “Do you mind? I think Yaku-chan wants to stay here. He won‘t be any trouble. He’ll hunt in the forest and he’s house trained.”
Nasty laughed. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. Well, I think that’s everything.” She put a bag of snacks and drinks in the backseat and looked at the packed car critically. “Do you think you’ll be gone longer than a week?”
“Shouldn’t be.” Seiji ran a hand through his hair and looked around. “We’ll call when we get there, so you don’t have to worry. I can‘t think of anything we’ve forgotten.”
It went on like this with people running in and out of the house for this or that or taking things out of the car that they’d decided they really didn’t need after all. Ryou found himself sitting on the front step with Nasty and only realized after a moment that Nasty was looking at him strangely. There was something odd in her eyes.
“You aren’t mad that we’re leaving, are you? You can come with us if you like.” The last thing he wanted her to think was that she was unwanted. She’d done so much for them, if she wanted to come along, he figured that she deserved it. “Maybe it will be safer. If the demon doesn’t follow me, then it might come back here and we won’t be close enough to help you. If you come, we can be sure you’ll be protected.”
“That’s sweet.” The something odd in Nasty’s eyes vanished when she spoke and she was just the same as she’d always been. “But I don’t think Seiji’s car will hold more than five people. No. I’ll stay here with Jun. Now that we don’t have to worry about the war, there are a few things that need to get done. Someone I need to talk to.”
“And Jun? You think he’s okay with this? You know he likes to tag along.”
Nasty found that so funny that she laughed, again. “I think he’ll be just fine. There’s something he wants to do, too.”
“Yeah, what?”
“Oh, probably just wants to collect pollywogs at the lake. You know boys.”
“Are you sure?” Ryou asked, doubtfully.
Nasutei smiled cheerfully. “Of course I’m sure. Jun has a pile of homework to catch up on, if nothing else, and you boys need a vacation without us around. I’m sure you’d like to see your families without Jun underfoot or trying to explain why you’re living with an older woman.”
“They already know about that.” Seiji, passing by with a suitcase in his hands, answered, “That’s already explained. You’re the landlady and Jun’s your nephew. Grandfather doesn’t believe me, of course, but at least he doesn’t ask too many questions.”
“Mom and kaasan don’t believe it either, but they ask plenty of questions. I think kaasan’s afraid you’re some kind of loose woman trying to corrupt me and Touma.” Shin winked at Nasutei at the nasty little joke. “Living with an older woman…oh! How scandalous!”
Xiu came out of the house carrying three suitcases. “Mama and papa bought it hook, line, and sinker. Mama wants to meet you, though, Nasty. Don’t let papa talk you into any kind of match-making scheme. He SAYS he‘s okay with me and Seiji, but you know how it is…”
“Yes, yes. I know. Seiji’s jealous at the best of times and you’d rip out your own heart before you’d leave him.” Nasutei gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek. “I’ve heard it all before and I won’t let your papa talk me into anything. Have you got everything? Toothbrushes?”
“It’s only a week. We’ll be back before you can sit down to finish that book you’ve been wanting to read for the past year.” Seiji loaded his suitcase into the trunk of his car and looked at it critically before taking it out. He took out Shin’s and Touma’s bags and then put his on the bottom with Ryou’s on the very top went Xiu’s bag. “That should make it easier.”
“You’re getting anal in your old age.” Ryou told him, lightly.
“It’s not anal, it’s logic. Xiu’s getting dropped off first, then Shin and Touma. Last is us. This way we don’t have to go digging though everything.” Not that any of their bags were very heavy. They hadn’t had the chance to get anything before the war started. “I think we’re ready. Let’s go.”
To be continued…