Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Twilight Sky ❯ Healing ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Twilight Sky



Chapter six
Healing


Anubis-




Rajura was furious.

He was always getting uptight about something, but this seemed a bit overdone.

They were in the public chamber of their living quarters, the common room where they were all free to go, unlike their private chambers where they had to be invited in. The public chamber had several sofa's in various colors, thick carpets, and paintings on the walls. Usually, it was a meeting place where they liked to lounge around, read, talk and do their day to day living. Today it was more like a hospital ward.

Anubis stood with his arms crossed in front of Rajura who was in full 'general' persona. Pulled up to his full height, Rajura glared at Anubis who was almost five full inches taller than his elder brother. "I can't believe you did that! You didn't even bother to shield your mind from us and you KNEW it was going to happen!" Rajura raged.

Naaza staggered out of their bathroom, looking even more green than usual. As he passed closed the door behind him, Naaza glared at Anubis. "I don't ever, EVER, want to get that close to a human again! I can't get the taste of him out of my mouth! Bleck!" Then he wandered to an empty sofa and lay down, laying his arm over his eyes as if he couldn't bear the dim light and still looking like he wanted to throw up. "Someone kill me now."

"Well?" Rajura said, putting his fists on his hips and giving Anubis the mental image of a mother scolding her child. He barely managed to bite back a smirk at the thought of Rajura in an apron. "Haven't you got anything to say for yourself? Sh'ten had to go grovel to Arago for your sake. He was still shaking from what you put us through when he did, too!" Rajura pointed angrily at the bed where Sh'ten was curled up in a ball on another sofa and sleeping off the over stimulation he'd gone through. As strong as he was, Sh'ten was more than a hundred years younger than any of them and he wasn't able to deal with the mental overload.

"What do you want me to say?" Anubis asked, keeping his eyes away from Rajura. "Do you want me to apologize for feeding? I have to live, too, and I can only take so much blood from the three of you. Do you want me to starve myself?" It was a stupid question, but Anubis' mind still felt raw from his battle with that blonde.

He did feel badly for what he'd unthinkingly done to Naaza and Sh'ten, but Anubis didn't know what else he could do. He simply couldn't resist Ryo.

Rajura's one eye widened furiously and blazed with icy fire. He reared back, raising his hand to strike Anubis. Anubis braced himself for the reprimand, steeling himself and unflinching. It would sting, but Anubis knew Rajura hated to actually hurt his brothers. He was more likely to punish Anubis with illusions than anything physical; the slap was more to show Anubis how unhappy Rajura was unhappy.

But Rajura stopped himself from hitting Anubis. It was a great effort, but Rajura lowered his hand to his side. "You do not need to ask such questions. You took blood from him once and you know we felt it. We did NOT like it and I though you understood that." His voice was now deceptively calm as he fought to control himself.

"I needed another taste." Anubis said cautiously.

"If you want to hurt yourself with his blood, then it's your choice. But you have no right to subject us to it! You know how Naaza feels about humans, he's gone through to much because of them. Sh'ten is responsible for reporting to Arago and if old baggy eyes calls for him now, he'll be punished because of the condition he's in. Sh'ten is far to young for so much stress."

Leave it to Rajura to think of someone nearly three and a half centuries old as young!

Then Rajura gave his final order. "You will not see that boy again."

"What?!" Anubis couldn't put into words how angry he was at that. "You can't!"

"I can!" Rajura said fiercely as he took a long step forward, putting him almost nose to nose with Anubis. "You will not endanger us with your appetite! I will NOT allow your foolishness to destroy us!'

Anubis knew the aggressive attitude wouldn't work in this situation, Rajura was far to angry. In his head, Anubis knew Rajura was right. They all depended on the good will of Arago for their power and for their lives in the Youja Kai. It was stupid of him to endanger them all just because he wanted one boy. But, despite what his head was telling him...

"I have to have him, Rajura." Anubis insisted, trying to keep calm. "Don't you understand? He's warm. Warm! I've never tasted anyone like him before. He is so beautiful and fragile. I need to be near him."

"You don't need anything." Rajura waved Anubis' pleas aside. "You want. There is a great difference."

"I have to have him!"

"Stop it!" Rajura snapped. "You're just being selfish!"

So Anubis did the only thing he could think of to convince Rajura how urgent it was that he get back to Ryo. He opened his mind and let Rajura feel exactly what this burning need was telling him to get back to Ryo. For a moment, he thought that it worked. Anubis could feel Rajura being to soften to his situation. Rajura's expression became gentler as he let Anubis' feelings wash over him.

"I see." Rajura put his hands on Anubis' shoulders and leaned forward to press their foreheads together. "I hadn't realized that it was this bad."

Anubis frowned. "Bad?"

"You're in love."

Anubis jerked away from Rajura and felt a blush creep up his neck, threatening to spread to his cheeks. "Don't be absurd!" He said, defensively. "I'm not in love with a breakable little mortal! I just want his blood!"

But Rajura ignored him. "You know you can't get emotionally involved with a human, Anubis. Arago would send you for a dip in that pink stuff he keeps in the dungeon. Do you really want that? He can't be worth the risk of Arago finding out."

"I AM NOT IN LOVE!"

"You're in denial. If you only wanted his blood, then you'd have drained him the first night you met him. Opening your mind to me was a mistake, Anubis. I saw that you liked the feel of his skin and his bright eyes. That isn't bloodlust you're feeling." Rajura took a deep breath. "Can you honestly tell me that you'll stay away from that boy?"

Rajura had a talent with lies that made it almost impossible to lie to him, so Anubis didn't bother. He knew he wasn't going to stay away from Ryo. There was no sense in pretending. "No."

"I thought not." Rajura, faster than Anubis could react, punched Anubis in the head as hard as he could.

Anubis fell to the ground hard. He couldn't remember Rajura ever having hit him so hard and the stars that danced in front of his eyes slowly melted into darkness. The last thing Anubis was aware of before he fell unconscious was Rajura's voice. "It's all for your own good."





Xiu-





"Here 's the homework." Xiu said, giving Shin a few papers.

"For whole week?" Shin asked, flipping through the few pages of work. "I thought would be more."

Shin was right, there should have been more work for both Shin and Touma, but, luckily, their teacher liked Touma. Xiu grinned. "The teacher said she doesn't believe for a minute that Touma would do anything so horrible as attacking his dad. She says she wants to go as easy on him as possible and she hopes to see you both back at school as soon as possible."

The trial had been delayed, because of red tape issues, but that didn't make things any easier on anyone. "So," Xiu continued. "How's Touma feeling?"

Shin shook his head sadly. "Is bad."

Bad was an understatement of epic proportions. For days, Touma had been in a deep depression because of what he'd done and Shin stuck to his side like glue. No one had even seen Shin in school since the whole mess had begun, because he didn't want to leave Touma alone at the house when his moms had to go to work. "Hey, do you think you can get Touma to come out today? I want to pick his brain."

"About what?" Shin asked. They were standing in the front garden of the Mouri home and Shin cast a glance up to his bedroom window where they both knew Touma was. The shades were all drawn because of the reporters who'd managed to get a hold of this story. Even as Xiu and Shin were talking, Xiu saw a man standing across the street with a small camera hanging around his neck. The stranger would keep glancing up to Shin's bedroom windows and then look away.

"I may have to hurt that man." Xiu grumbled. Why didn't they just leave poor Touma alone? As if the guy didn't have enough problems he sure as hell didn't need these nosy idiots poking their heads in.

"Do not bother." Shin glared across the street. "He work for major newspaper and get you in big trouble if you hurt him." Even as he said this, Shin reached under his thin jacket and shouted to the stranger, "GET THE FUCK AWAY BEFORE I...!" He never even finished the sentence before the stranger bolted.

"Before you what?" Xiu asked curiously, wondering if Shin had managed to get his knife back from his moms and if that was what he was holding under his jacket.

Shin smiled sweetly as an innocent babe. "What?" He blinked and pulled his empty hand back out. "I say nothing."

Xiu laughed. "You just threatened that guy! What about him getting you in trouble?"

"No." Shin clarified himself. "I not tell him I hurt him. I just say, 'Get the fuck away before I...' There was no threat. Besides, I am dangerous. Everyone think I am maniac who will fight and kill. Newspaper say that."

"Yeah, I read that one." There had been an article about Shin right next to a larger one about Touma. "Foreign boy brings violence to his school." Xiu looked at Shin who almost looked ashamed of himself. "Are they going to try to blame you for what Touma did? That's what it sounded like, in the article. They want people to think that you, you evil foreign devil, are a bad influence on us poor Japanese kids."

Shin looked away. "Maybe I am. Don't think so, but maybe." He smiled again, almost beaming with pride. "But my bad reputation is good for keeping nosy people away. They not bother Touma if they think I hurt them. So, you want Touma to come out? Is not a good idea, Xiu. People everywhere think he is bad for defending himself. Reporters everywhere."

It was at that very moment when Shin's okasan drove into the driveway and got out of her shining black car. Xiu smiled and felt himself blush, despite himself. She had to be the most beautiful woman on the face of the planet. Dressed in her elegant silk outfit and still wearing her ornate make up, Xiu knew she was probably the most popular geisha in town. "Good afternoon, boys." She smiled, walking over to them with gracefully slow steps.

"Hello, okasan." Shin smiled back when she put an arm around him. "I try to sneak Touma out today."

"Out?" His okasan asked. "Why?"

Since he hadn't told Shin why, Xiu figured it was his place to answer. "Ryo got hurt yesterday, ma'am." Shin and his okasan both gave Xiu a worried look. "He seems to be all right, I just thought it would cheer him up to have a visit from all his friends." It wasn't exactly a lie, but Xiu really didn't want to go around telling people Ryo had been attacked by a vampire. Besides, he could tell Shin and Touma the truth when no one else was around to hear.

"How are you going to get him out of the house and keep him away from the reporters?" Shin's okasan asked. "It wouldn't be fair for him to have to go though all that just to visit a friend."

"Well, I was thinking of using a disguise. If we can hide his blue hair and..." Xiu trailed off as he looked at Shin's okasan. He'd seen her a few times without her make up on so he knew what she really looked like. A brilliant idea hit him.






"No way!" Touma protested when Xiu told him his idea. "There is no way I'm going to let you two dress me up like some doll!" He was confident until Xiu grinned at him.

"Come on, Touma. It's for Ryo. You want to see him, don't you? He was hurt pretty bad and you know what a hard time he's been having." Xiu's grin widened and he held the ornate kimono towards Touma. "Come on. You know you want to."

Touma's glare blackened and he backed up until he found himself pressed against a wall. "No way! You'll have to kill me before you get me dressed up like a girl!"

With a dramatic sigh, Shin stepped between them. "Touma is right. I will not allow him do anything he does not want to do."

Touma's face brightened at Shin's defense, but the brightness left his face at Shin's next words.

Shin sniffed, holding up a hand to his face, as if he was about to cry. "If Touma not wish to help our friend, is his business. Our poor, hurt, frightened, lonely, crying Ryo! Oh, how tragic! Ryo all alone without a gentle smile or a soft hand to help him thought this pain! Oh, the humanity!" Shin suddenly fell down onto his knees, bawling hysterically with his face buried in his hands.

"What are you talking about?!" Touma demanded, looking at his friend, worried despite his outraged voice. "He's at Seiji's house and Xiu said Seiji hasn't left Ryo's side. He's not alone!"

Shin wailed louder and threw his head up to the ceiling. "And poor Ryo promised to come to trial, just for Touma! Oh, how sad! Ryo risk life to show friendship and Touma is to manly to visit Ryo!" Once again, Shin threw himself on the floor, this time beating the floor with one fist while he cried. "Won't wear one little dress for Ryo!"

"Shut up!" Touma shouted. "I know what you're doing Shin! You are not going to manipulate me into walking around the city in drag; my reputation is bad enough as it is! I am NOT going to fall for it!"

But Shin only cried harder and Xiu found himself witness to one of Shin's greatest talents: The Guilt Trip.

'I don't believe this.' Xiu thought, watching the scene play out. 'It's so obviously fake. Shin's not even making much of an effort to act.' Xiu made himself stay in the background, letting Shin work his magic with Touma. 'There's no one better at manipulation that Shin. Except maybe for my Sei-chan.'

Touma continued his protests over the sound on Shin's weeping. "No way! No how! Not going to do it, so you can turn off the tears! No, I don't want to listen to it, pack it up." Touma turned away from Shin. "Don't make that face! You know I hate it when you cry and I KNOW it's not real! You're not fooling me. You aren't. Stop it." Touma's protests were getting gradually less vehement as Shin wore him down. Finally, giving in, Touma sighed in defeat. "Oh...all right."



Only ten minutes later, Touma was sitting sourly on Shin's bed while Shin dabbed make up on his face. Touma tried very hard to retain his dignity, but Xiu knew it must be hard with Shin humming happily while he was getting Touma all dressed up. "When we done, no one will recognize you." Shin assured him.

"If anyone does," Touma said in a deadly quiet voice. "I will kill both of you. Very slowly and very painfully, I will kill you."

Shin patted his cheek pleasantly. "Trust me."

"Why does it make me nervous when you say that?"






It was easy once he was done up to look just like her. Touma was the right height and weight and actually looked rather good in the geisha costume. 'Not that I'm going to tell him that.' Xiu thought, wisely while they walked down the street and right passed the nosy photographer. 'I think I should get a picture of him like this. I wonder if Seiji will let me borrow his camera?'

The photographer that Shin had chased off earlier was there, again, staring intently at Shin's bedroom window and Shin's eyes got dark again at the sight of the man in a cheap looking green and brown plaid jacket. Apparently, though Shin's appearance was enough to scare off the press for a few minutes, they came back as quickly as he was gone. Luckily, the man was still watching Shin's bedroom window and not the backdoor where they'd all snuck out.

"Let's take the short cut." Touma whispered, keeping a weary eye on the photographer. "If we cut behind the houses and jump a few fences..."

"You get my okasan's kimono ripped." Shin said sharply. "Is very expensive." Then Shin looked at the photographer. "No reason to hide." He smiled sweetly. "I just out walking with my okasan, is nothing to hide."

Touma paled at the thought. "What if he recognizes me? I really don't want to be in the papers any more than a I all ready am."

Shin handed him a paper fan. "No one recognize you. Trust me."

"I really don't like it when you say that, Shin." But Touma opened the fan and hid his face behind it before he and Xiu followed Shin out the front sidewalk, directly in the path of the photographer.

Actually, they really didn't need Shin's bravado. Upon seeing Shin, the photographer got out of their way and let them pass without comment. He kept his eyes firmly glued to Shin and didn't even glance at the respectable looking woman who modestly hid her face with a fan. When passing the nervous photographer who'd all ready been threatened by Shin, Xiu couldn't help but give the man a spiteful grin. 'Serves him right.'





Seiji-





Se iji wasn't sure what had happened, but it all started only moments after Xiu had run out of the house, saying that he was going to fetch Shin and Touma so they could come and help cheer Ryo up.

Byakuen was sitting up at Ryo's bedside, staring at Ryo intently as Ryo jerked and tossed uncontrollably on the bed. Ryo's eyes rolled up into his skull, showing only the whites and there was white foam bubbling at his mouth which was clenched tightly. Every few seconds, Ryo's back would arch painfully and his legs and arms would spasms before his entire body would suddenly relax all at once and he'd fall back down on the bed.

'What's happening?!' Seiji thought, panicked, from where he sat helplessly with his back against the door. His fear wasn't entirely for Ryo's sake. As soon as Ryo's mysterious fits had started, Seiji had collapsed limply to the floor where he stood. 'I can't move. I feel so weak.' Seiji didn't feel strong enough to help himself, let alone Ryo. It was like, all of a sudden, he had no energy. 'I don't understand.'

Letting his eyes go from Ryo to Byakuen, Seiji couldn't suppress his surprise that Ryo's tiger friend was taking things so calmly. In fact, Byakuen seemed almost pleased by Ryo's convulsive fits.

Seiji trembled and stars danced before his eyes as a sudden lightheaded feeling overtook him for a moment. 'What's happening to me? I wish I wasn't alone.' Though Seiji could feel see Ryo and knew he wasn't really alone, there was nothing he wouldn't give to have his mom or his grandfather or Xiu with him. 'I'm not strong enough.' Seiji vision cleared slightly, just in time to see Ryo jerk again on the bed and Seiji's eyes drooped as he felt himself growing more and more tired.

'Don't fight, Seiji.' The mysterious voice returned, speaking softly to Seiji.

Seiji tried to reply, but he couldn't force words out of his mouth. 'What's going on?' Seiji asked, thinking the question.

'This won't hurt us. It's what we're meant to do.' The voice made a calming feeling against Seiji's mind, like a familiar touch.

As much as Seiji wanted to help Ryo, and as much as it hurt to see Ryo so badly hurt, Seiji was certain that this was not normal.

'You're just lending him a little of your life to get him through this. Part of him wants to die and we can't let that happen.' The voice told Seiji as if it was no big deal. 'Relax and let nature take its course.'

Seiji had no choice but to do what the voice told him. He couldn't move and there seemed little point in arguing when Seiji had the feeling that it would do no good. Now that Seiji thought about it, it did seem like someone was pulling the life out of him. Every time Ryo would spasm Seiji would feel another drain on his energy or spots would appear before his eyes again.

'I don't even know how this is going to effect Ryo when he wakes up. If this works, he might not even know that it happened. I don't even know if I want Ryo taking my life force. It's a pretty personal thing, after all.'

'Oh, don't be so childish.' The voice reprimanded Seiji. 'He isn't taking, you're giving. We're all ready bound to him; this isn't going to hurt him or us, so just calm down. You're negative energy is making this harder on everyone.'

'What's he mean, 'paired up with'? Instead of a what?' These questions and more battered around inside Seiji's head, but he did do as the voice asked him. He closed his eyes and tried to relax himself. It didn't help him feel much better, but at least Seiji didn't feel like he was fighting himself anymore.

A moment or two passed like this until Seiji felt something rough and wet drag across his face. Byakuen was there, looking at him with compassionate eyes, and Seiji could almost hear the tiger telling him, 'It'll be all right. Just a little more.' And Seiji didn't feel nearly so alone anymore.

Ryo's mouth suddenly opened he screamed like a banshee. "AYYAAAAAA!" Ryo's eyes popped open wide and at the exact moment that Ryo's eyes opened, every candle that Seiji had set out in the room and had allowed to die out, burst into flame. The room lit up brilliantly, the light growing brighter as Ryo's scream grew louder, until Seiji had to close his eyes again because it was to bright.

The world went black for Seiji as he passed out when one last great drain on his energy left him unable to stay away any longer.



Seiji woke up to Ryo gently slapping his face. "Seiji? S-Seiji, wake up."

Blinking, Seiji pried his eyes open and found Ryo looking down at him in concern. There was a difference in Ryo, even at first glance. His eyes seemed brighter, more alive. In fact, every part of Ryo looked more alive, even his skin and hair.

"Seiji? What h-happened? Are you all right?" Ryo helped Seiji to sit up, his face telling that he had no idea what was going on. "What..." Ryo looked at Seiji closely. "You d-don't look so good."

Seiji licked his dry lips and croaked out, "What do you remember?"

Ryo moved closer so Seiji could lean against him for support. "There were l-lots of things." Ryo said in a quiet voice, as if he wasn't sure he should talk about it. "Akira and his g-group were l-looking for a f-fight." Ryo blushed slightly and looked away from Seiji. "He said some t-things about you and X-Xiu. Calling you names. Bad names." Ryo obviously didn't want to repeat what Akira had said to him.

Seiji almost wanted to laughed. More than laugh, though, he wanted to strangle Akira. 'So, that's where the nickname came from were coming from. I'll have to go have a little chat with Akira.'

Ryo's eyes took on a far away look. "There was s-something else." But he didn't say anything, prompting Seiji to ask,

"What else? Did Akira hurt you?"

Ryo shook his head. "No."

"Someone else, then?"

Ryo bit his lip and his shaggy eyebrows scrunched up as he thought. He looked at Seiji and then up at the empty wall. "Can I tell you a s-secret?"

"Sure." Gradually, as he and Ryo spoke, Seiji could feel the life returning to him. He was getting stronger by the second. He sat up, moving slightly away so he could look at Ryo and give him his full attention. "But I think I all ready know what it is."

Ryo looked surprised and then looked away. "You s-saw him?"

"The scar faced guy? Yeah, Xiu and I saw him."

There was an uncomfortably tense moment while Seiji patiently waited for Ryo to continue the conversation. It would only embarrass Ryo and probably chase him away if Seiji started to demand explanations.

Instead of just telling Seiji, Ryo abruptly jumped up and started to pace the room, swinging his arms almost violently. To Seiji it looked like Ryo was working himself up to a fighting mindset. 'This must be very hard for him.' Seiji thought. Seiji decided to start the conversation. "We saw two guys actually."

Ryo stopped his pacing and looked at Seiji with wide eyes. "Two? But there was only Anubis."

'Anubis.' Seiji thought with some satisfaction. 'So, my enemy has a name. One of the many gods of death, how appropriate.' He answered Ryo. "There was a second man with long white hair and a missing eye." Seiji watched Ryo for any sign that Ryo might have seen the second man, but Ryo's face was blank so Seiji continued with what he knew Ryo had missed. "I don't know what his name was, but he was ordering Anubis around. He was the one who made Anubis leave, seemed angry at him. I don't think they were enemies, though."

Ryo's face scrunched up, but after a moment's thought, he shook his head. "I don't remember anything after..." He blushed and looked away from Seiji. "After Anubis..."

Seiji finished the sentence when Ryo didn't seem able to. "He was biting you when Xiu and I got there." Seiji had thought to shock Ryo with that, that perhaps Ryo had been drugged or something and hadn't known what was going on, but Ryo just nodded.

"Yes. He bit me.." This was said in a distant sort of voice, as if Ryo's mind was elsewhere.

'He's taking this to calmly.' Seiji thought, concerned. "Doesn't that worry you at all?"

"It s-should." Ryo's thoughts drifted away but it wasn't hard to guess what he was thinking about. "But it doesn't." Other than that, Ryo didn't seem inclined to say anything else.

Seiji was good at watching. At a very young age he'd learned to keep his mouth shut while he watched and listened and it was that watching that told Seiji a lot of what had just happened to Ryo. He wasn't so weak, for one thing. His body had filled out with lean muscles in the space of just a few minutes. 'It's not my imagination. I can't see his ribs anymore and I could yesterday.'

'Of course you can't.' The voice told Seiji. 'Our healing is powerful enough that it healed all of his physical problems. 'There would be no reason for us to leave him only half healed.'

'Well,' Seiji thought, watching as Ryo still stared into empty space. 'If he's stronger now, maybe I have a way to help him that he couldn't use before. I think I have all of my strength back.' He stood up and opened the door of Ryo's room. "Ryo, have you ever dueled before?"





Xiu-





The y arrived to find Seiji and Ryo in the middle of a sword fight in the dojo. Xiu's mouth fell open at the sight of Ryo swinging a wooden bokten with savage strength. 'What the...?'

"He looks fine to me." Touma said while they watched the dual from the doorway of the dojo. Seiji and Ryo didn't seem to notice that they had an audience and fought with no sign on anything resembling a civilized duel. "You said he was attacked?" He slowly turned to look at Xiu. "You made me dress up like this for no reason?"

"Hey," Xiu said, defensively. "Shin's the one who convinced you, not me."

"Don't be stupid." Touma scoffed. "Shin's my best friend. I forgive him."

Xiu shook his head in disbelief, looking back at Seiji and Ryo as they swung and blocked against each other. "I swear on my grandmother's soul, he looked like death warmed over about three hours ago. I...I honestly can't believe he's up like this!" Xiu fell silent and just watched, awed by the sight of Ryo moving so well. He was used to seeing Seiji fighting and, as usual, Seiji was grace and beauty incarnate. His body flowed with the practiced easy that showed off all the many years of practice. Xiu had even spared with Seiji often enough to know how powerful and skilled his boyfriend was.

But Ryo... 'He's so different.' Wearing one of Seiji's spare gi's, Ryo held one of Seiji's boktens (wooden practice sword) in his hand, with his other hand just hanging loosely at his side. Ryo's gaze was intense as he fought, swinging the bokten with as much force as he could. 'Seiji's actually having to work to keep Ryo away from him.'

"I didn't know Ryo could use a sword. He said he used to be able to use his Ryuken, but he also said he was to weak to lift it properly anymore." Touma commented. "Is it just my imagination or has Ryo gotten a bit more healthy looking since I last saw him?"

Xiu looked closer and saw that Touma was right. Ryo looked like he'd put on weight and he was obviously in better shape than he had been. "Yesterday, I wouldn't have believed that he could run a hundred yards, let alone keep up with Seiji in a sparing match." Something very strange was going on.






To be continued...