Yorodien Samurai Troopers:
Another Story

Nasuti remembered watching both the sunrise and sunset when she was just a little girl. It helped comfort her, helped forget all about her troubles, and for a while, forget who she truly was. Alas, moments like these only lasted for a minute, if not a second.

Finally, it was all over with. The sun vanished behind the mountains and trees, taking with it is warm rays of light. The surface of the lake had lost its beauty and the playful rays have now quieted down, becoming calm and serene for the evening. The skies, once the color of sugar pink, was slowly turning into a light shade of violet. It wouldn't be long before darkness would settle and the skies would be blanketed with millions of twinkling stars, standing out before its soon to be black background.

Someone lightly tapped Nasuti on the shoulder. Without turning around, she greeted them. "Hey, Ryo. What's wrong?"

Ryo stood over by her side and shoved his hands into his pocket. "Nothing. Just wondering why you were all alone over here. You like looking at the sun?"

Nasuti nodded. "Yeah, it's really something. I just wish I had more time to see it."

"Well, join the club," Ryo said with a silly grin. "Anyway, Shin's in the kitchen preparing snacks and Touma's setting the table with Shu's help."

"That's good." Nasuti turned to him and said, "Thanks again for coming over for dinner. It's been a while since we all got together like this."

Ryo chuckled, "Yeah, I know. Seems like only yesterday when we were all living together. Hey, when is Seiji going to get here?"

He looked about the area and scratched his head. "He's going to be--"

"Fashionably late," a voice spoke from the front door. Seiji entered the mansion, holding his jacket behind him with one finger, wearing a tired expression on his face. "Sorry, but I had a few things to take care of at home."

"Oh? Is everything all right?" Nasuti asked as she went over to take his jacket.

Seiji flashed her a smile that could melt an iceberg. "Of course. Nothing to worry about." He eyed her for a few moments and purred, "Nice outfit, Nasuti. Makes you look outstanding."

Nasuti felt her cheeks burn a bright shade of red. Indeed, the outfit she wore was something that she wouldn't normally wear: a soft white blouse and a black skirt that fell short a few inches above her knees. She wore black satin ankle-length boots on her feet and gold earrings. "Seiji, I... thank you. You look nice yourself..."

Over by the table, Shu make some gagging noises. "Oh, please! I think I'm gonna lose my dinner before I had any of it to eat!" Then in a lower voice, he mumbled to himself, "Thought he didn't like talking to girls..."

Everyone laughed at this. It was good to see and feel joy among friends again, Nasuti thought to herself as she went over and placed Seiji's jacket in the closet.

"Get ready for snacks!" Shin announced from the kitchen.

Touma placed the napkins down and said, "I'll help you out there, Shin."

"W-Wait!" Shu hollered. "Lemme help out in the kitchen!"

"Oh no you don't," said Seiji as he and Ryo took their seats over by the couches. "We want to eat too, you know."

Shu made a face at them then proceeded to follow Touma to the kitchen. Nasuti was over at the table for a quick inspection. Byakuen was sleeping over by the stairway, snoozing away soundly with his tail thumping up and down on the floor. Yes, everything seemed to be back to normal. Just the way they liked it. No more fighting, no more worries, no more yoroi.

***

Ripping. Tearing. Burning. Screaming. Pleading. Images crash, thoughts race, reality perceptions twisting slowly, slowly into place. Blood dripped down the walls like a waterfall in slow motion, flooding the entire floor in crimson waters, and crawling up her body like a parasite. She could no longer see anything. Her world was crashing down before her, an apocalypse raining down upon her. However, she was enjoying every minute of it in a sick, warped sort of way.

Suddenly, she blinked and she found herself in her throne room. It was dark and gloomy with a hint of light penetrating through the glass ceiling. Her vision was a bit hazy but there was no blood on any of the walls nor anywhere else. The room consisted of dusty black marble, perfected so that the walls were smooth and clean -- no blood, much to her disappointment.

Her pupil-less eyes sparkled with hatred. She sat up from her black, majestic throne and her vision adjusted until she could see clearly once more. She drew her knees to her chest and a pair of smooth, muscular arms wrapped around them. Moments later, another pair of arms wrapped around her knees, on top of the first pair. Then another pair of arms did the same, placing themselves on top of the first pair. So six arms held her knees as she stared outward into the nothingness. Stringy white hair fell from her large, silver helmet and onto her shoulders. Ruby red lips curled from a frown into a feral smile.

"Hee hee hee, looks like I'm still here," she whispered to herself. "Trapped... forever and ever and ever... no way to get out. HE showed me the way but I don't know how to get out..."

"Sachiriku-sama."

A mysterious robed figure materialized before the throne, wearing a strange golden mask. He bowed graciously, strands of black hair falling in front of his mask. "My lady, we have located five of the nine wearers of the mystical armors."

Sachiriku narrowed her eyes. "I will kill him, Kaijin. The yoroi I must have, yes. Once I get all nine, I will kill him. Slowly. Painfully. With the powers he had bestowed upon me, I... will... kill him. Hee hee hee...!"

"Does my lady forget that Arago has been dead for quite some time now?" Kaijin sighed and shook his head.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Sachiriku unraveled all six of her arms from her knees and slammed them onto the armstands of her throne. The entire area seemed to shake and then all was silent. "Arago IS alive!" she protested. "He haunts me, teases me, he is everywhere! Don't you see him, Kaijin-san?! Oh, look! He's right behind you!"

Sachiriku lunged out of her seat and dove past Kaijin, who didn't bother moving from his spot. Instead, Kaijin stood and listened to the sound of rock being shattered. Behind him, Sachiriku was clawing ferociously at one of the marble pillars with two pairs of her arms while the last pair, which wielded samurai swords, was slashing away at its base. "Die, die, die--!" she shrieked.

Kaijin shook his head in commiseration. Turning around, he suggested, "Perhaps I should prepare the Shadowlings for our journey to the--"

"N-no, wait!" Sachiriku lowered her arms and dropped her swords onto the ground. They clattered onto the smooth marble floor before vanishing into thin air. She fell to her knees and leaned her head against the pillar, which suffered quite a bit of structural damage. A trail of tears streamed down her cheeks and she coughed violently.

"Wh--What's wrong with me, Kaijin-san?" Sachiriku wept, her face twisted in anguish.

She felt a pair of hands gently rest on her shoulders. Kaijin squeezed them and said to her gently, "My lady, may I suggest you get some rest in your room? I will deal with the armors."

"No, not the armors, Arago!" Sachiriku objected. She shook her head and groaned. "Go on... leave me be. Alone. Alone in the throne room. Without anyone to talk to..."

A dark cloud swirled around her body and soon Sachiriku had vanished, leaving Kaijin alone. He turned around and floated over until he stood in the middle of the throne room. Raising a fist into the air, he growled, "Curse you, Arago. It is because of you that my lady has gone insane. True, she was a fool to ask for power, but it was wrong of you to do what you did. Maybe I owe those Troopers for destroying you, but I will please my lady in gathering your old armor if it will help gain her sanity back."

Kaijin raised his arms into the air and a crackle of energy swirled about his body. Closing his eyes and lowering his head, he began to concentrate.

***

Most of the Troopers were settled in the living room, spending some time catching up on what each of them was doing. Shin and Nasuti had served them drinks and was also busying making sure that dinner would be fully prepared by the time their other guests would arrive.

Ryo took a sip of his drink and sighed. "Man, it feels nice to relax for once, huh?"

"You said it," Touma mumbled lazily as he leaned back into the couch. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the cool evening breezes which flowed from the opened windows.

Shin came out from the kitchen and joined his fellow friends in the living room. Taking a seat next to Seiji, he smiled jauntily at the others. "I'm telling you guys, the food Nasuti and I have ready in there is enough to feed an army!"

With that comment, the guys glanced over in Shu's direction. Shu, who was finishing off his fifth glass, caught everyone's eye and yelled, "WHAT!?"

"Oh, nothing," Touma murmured, running a hand through his blue hair.

"You'd just better contain yourself until Kayura and the others get here."

Shu snorted. "Yeah, well, if they don't get here soon enough, I'll just have to eat their portion of the dinner. Can't let it go to waste after poor Shin and Nasuti practically slaved all day fixing it up for me -- um, I mean for us."

"Shu, it only took us a few hours," Shin pointed out. "Stop trying to give yourself sympathy points, because it's not working."

Nasuti walked towards the guys and placing her hands on her hips she announced, "Everything's fixed and now all we have to do is wait. Say, how are Kayura, Anubis, Naza, and Rajura going to get here?"

"I think Kayura mentioned something about Anubis driving them here," Seiji replied with a hint of laughter in his voice.

The rest of the group groaned. They remember when the former demon generals wanted their help in learning about the modern world. Anubis especially wanted to learn how to drive an automobile so Nasuti and Seiji offered to help him out. Unfortunately it ended up disastrous when they borrowed a car that belonged to one of Nasuti's friends and drove around Tokyo (Anubis was driving, Nasuti was in the passenger seat, and Seiji was in the back seat).

Upon taking it out of the driveway, Anubis backed up into a couple of garbage cans. Then out on the road, he made a sharp turn left turn on a right turn only street, nearly slamming into the people on the sidewalk. Seiji and Nasuti were screaming out instructions while Anubis tried to listen and avoid crashing into other cars. At the end of the day, the three of them looked like nervous wrecks.

Seiji shuddered at the memory. "Well, at least he, Naza, and Rajura went to a professional driving school; hopefully that did the trick."

The group chuckled. Ryo sat back comfortably in his seat when he felt a twitch of pain in his head. He sighed and began to rub his temples, hoping to get rid of the tension before dinner. Seconds later, he started to feel hot all over. Shin noticed Ryo's discomfort so he went over and took a seat next to him.

"Hey, are you okay, Ryo?" he asked.

"I-I don't know," Ryo muttered through clenched teeth. His eyes were now squeezed shut as he lowered his head moaning. "S-Something's wrong... with... m-me... argh!"

"Ryo! What's the ma--ugh!" Shin held his head in his hands as he felt a surge of pain electrocute throughout his body. "Wha... What is this pain!?"

Touma, Shu, Seiji, and Nasuti immediately rushed over to aid their two friends. Seiji placed his arm around Ryo to try to steady him. "What's wrong with them? Why are they acting like this?"

"How the heck are we suppose to know!" Shu snapped as he held Shin by the shoulders. He tried to look into his eyes but they were squeezed shut like Ryo's.

Touma and Nasuti looked at each other with worried expressions. Nasuti stood up, swallowing dryly. "I'll go get some aspirin, and maybe that'll..." Her voice trailed off and she turned around and quickly rushed into the kitchen.

Touma knelt beside Seiji and tried to talk to Ryo and Shin. "Guys, hold on. Nasuti's gonna--argh!"

All of a sudden, Touma gasped in pain and fell onto his side onto the floor. Shu and Seiji cried out to him when they too felt extreme pain and fell down onto the ground. Now all five were feeling the pain running throughout their bodies, with no idea what was causing this.

In the kitchen, Nasuti was rummaging through the cabinets looking for the aspirins when she heard screams from the living room. Omigosh! What's happening in there? She scrambled out of the room and dashed towards her friends. "Guys! What's hap--aaahhh!"

Nasuti was bounced back by some invisible force field that enclosed the Troopers and her living room. She was thrown back by an incredible power, slammed against the back wall hard, and fell to her hands and knees. Lifting her head weakly, she watched helplessly as Ryo, Touma, Shu, Shin, and Seiji faded in and out, one by one, until they completely disappeared.

A wisp of reddish-brown hair fell in front of her face. Nasuti's face was contorted in agony. "Ryo... Seiji... what... happened...?"

Her vision failed and she collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.

Ryo groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. He got to his knees and held his head in his hands, feeling as though it was about to blow apart. Surrounding him was a world filled with twisted, distorted colors. It was not a room but not exactly a "place" either; there was no sky, no wall, nor a ground. It was like he was in a strange, twisted plane.

"What... what's going on...?" he mumbled. "Where am I?"

"Ryo?"

Lifting his head, Ryo found Touma staggering towards him, holding the side of his head. "Hey, Ryo, you okay?"

Ryo nodded stiffly. "Kinda. Head hurts, though."

Touma helped him to his feet and were soon joined by Shu, Shin, and Seiji. "Would somebody mind explaining to me what's going on?" Shu asked with a touch of annoyance in his voice.

"Gladly," a voice boomed from behind.

The Troopers turned around to discover a robed figure wearing a gold mask standing there. Eerie winds blew by, ruffling his short black hair and red robe. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience -- it seems as though you humans cannot handle the teleportation used by my people."

"Your people?" Seiji interjected. "Just who are you, and why did you bring us here?"

"My name is Kaijin. I have brought you here to the Paradox so that we may speak privately."

Ryo glared at him. "What do you mean?"

Kaijin shook his head. "I know you are all filled with questions. I promise to make this short: give me your armors and I will grant you a quick and painless death."

Shin winced at the tone of Kaijin's voice. Quickly regaining his composure, he shouted, "We don't have any armors to give you! Why can't you demons just leave us alone! All we want to be are normal human beings!"

Ryo, Touma, Shu, and Seiji were all taken back by Shin's outburst. They were aware of the fact that Shin did not like to fight and had plainly stated that during their adventures in Africa, battling Mukara and Kuroi Kikoutei.

"You make a mistake lying to me, Suiko no Shin-san," Kaijin said, his voice carrying an edge of indignation. "First of all, you all realize that you were never normal human beings and you never will be. Second of all, I can feel the essence of the armors' powers within each of you. Perhaps you do not realize it, but I do. Allow me to demonstrate."

With that, Kaijin raised his arms into the air and instantly, the Troopers found themselves wearing their armors and bearing their weapons. Ryo, Touma, Shu, Shin, and Seiji contained looks of shock -- the armors were here, but weren't they supposed to be destroyed?! But suddenly the armors and weapons vanished in a puff of smoke.

Kaijin lowered his arms, his eyes narrowed with contempt. "Now then," he said. "Shall we continue? As I was saying before, I must have your armors. I need to have the armor wearers to do this, so if you will come with me..."

"No, this isn't what we want," Shu whispered, tears forming in his eyes. "We thought the nightmare would be over once we got rid of the yoroi."

"Listen up, Kaijin," said Ryo in a defiant voice. "You're tricking us, because we no longer have any armors to give you, so I suggest you take us back, or--"

"Or what? Beat me senseless?" Kaijin teased lightly. "I think not. You humans may have gained power from the armors but you will not have any luck going up against a warrior of the Youjakai."

Ryo and the others took fighting stances while Kaijin levitated a few inches off the ground. Waving a hand in the air, a couple of shadow creatures slipped from the ground and without warning, grabbed hold of each Trooper. Their strength was incredible and not even Shu could break free from their grasp.

"What are these things?" Touma gasped, his eyes widening with alarm.

"They are called Shadowlings, not 'things'," Kaijin explained in a dull voice. "Now, shall we be... leaving...?"

A giant portal appeared before Kaijin. Stepping out from the portal was a strange looking woman who had six arms. The portal closed behind her and she made her way past Kaijin to take at the captives.

Ryo gave a start of surprise. "Check it out!"

Kaijin cleared his throat and announced, "May I introduce to you, Troopers... the lovely Sachiriku. My mistress."

Sachiriku narrowed her eyes at the five boys. "What's the matter?" she asked, giving the Troopers a look of uneasy puzzlement. "Never seen a person with six arms before... well, of course you haven't, have you? Silly humans always expect a fellow friend to have just a pair of arms, but no! Not me! Thanks to HIM, I've now got three pairs of them that get in my way all the time! Ha ha ha ha ha heh! Ack! Ahem..."

Ryo, Touma, Shu, Shin, and Seiji exchanged riot looks with one another. They quickly turned their attention back to Sachiriku, who had reached out and grabbed one of the Shadowlings by the neck. With one squeeze, she snapped its neck. A horrible screech was heard and then Shadowling fell to the ground, releasing Shin from its grasp. It fell to the floor like a piece of paper and then disappeared.

Kaijin was startled by this and took a few steps back. Meanwhile, Shin quickly got to his feet to help his friends when suddenly, Sachiriku grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him high into the air.

"Shin--NO!" Shu cried frantically. "Leave him alone, witch!"

Suddenly from out of no where, Byakuen appeared and lunged at Sachiriku. He scratched at the arm which held Shin, but a wound did not produce, nor did blood come gushing out. Instead, the white tiger was thrown back as the amazon backhanded him as if he was a fly. He landed on all fours near Ryo, regarding his opponent with a scorching look. Just as he was about to attack once again, a Shadowling slipped from behind and wrapped its arms around him, keeping him captive.

Sachiriku started laughing hysterically. "The power, Kaijin, the POWER! It is in them! Arago, you stubborn fool, now you will die!"

"My lady, wait a moment!" Kaijin exclaimed.

He flew over to the amazon's side and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He was greeted by an elbow to the gut, sending him sprawling across the ground. Sachiriku squeezed Shin's neck, causing him to gasp and for him to try and pry her fingers off.

Did she say Arago? Ryo thought in horror. What does he have to do with this? Isn't he supposed to be dead? So why's she talking about killing him?

While holding Shin with one arm, Sachiriku drew out three of her other arms at aimed them over towards the Troopers. A blast of dark energy was hurled from them. Ryo, Touma, Shu, and Seiji tried to move out of the way but the Shadowlings' grips were fasten tight around them like iron. To their surprise, the blast was not meant for them but for the Shadowlings. Once hit, they had quickly released the Troopers and Byakuen. They fell to the ground like their former comrade, dead.

As fast as quicksilver, Touma and Seiji got to their feet, teamed-up and rammed themselves into Sachiriku's stomach. Sachiriku cried out and she let go of Shin and stumbled back a bit, her six arms flailing about. Ryo and Shu swiftly went to the aid of their fallen friend with Byakuen at their side.

"Shin! You okay?" Ryo asked as he helped Shin to his feet. Byakuen licked the side of his face, hoping to help him recover.

Shin nodded, his voice a bit shaky. "I-I think so... Ryo, that Sachiriku woman... is radiating incredible power. When she touched me, it f-felt as though my very life was being drained out of my body!"

Touma and Seiji stepped back to join their friends, ready to attack once again when Sachiriku staggered to her feet and growled at them, bearing pearl-white fangs. Her red lips were turning into an uncanny, vicious smile.

"Hee hee hee... that was good... very good, boys. Arago's doing, ne?"

"What are you talking about?" said Touma, his eyes never leaving Sachiriku's. "Arago was destroyed a long time ago. What do you want with us, anyway? That Kaijin guy said it was for our armors -- which we don't have -- and clearly, you have other intentions, like killing Arago."

Sachiriku recoiled at the statement, as though she had been physically slapped across the face. Biting her lower lip, she murmured, "You don't say... but... but I need those armors... so if you will stop your lying and give them to me..."

"We told you already!" Seiji snapped. "We don't have any armors! Leave us alone!"

"Fine. So be it."

The woman's eyes were glaring at the Troopers, her arms clasped firmly behind her back. The Troopers immediately felt a wave of uneasiness wash over them. Byakuen gave a low growl, his fur starting to rise.

Kaijin had gotten to his feet and was slowly drifting towards the group. "Sachiriku-sama, do not listen to them... they are merely trying to trick you--"

"Shut up," Sachiriku hissed. "I know, I know. Arago told them to lie so he can run away like a frightened little kitten. Not today, though. Today, he will DIE!"

Before anyone could blink, Sachiriku had extended her six arms out and magically, six samurai swords appeared in each. The blades were nearly five feet in length, not to mention razor sharp and neatly polished. She waved them about wildly as though they were merely toys. "So, go on," Sachiriku taunted, "keep on lying! I will eventually get the truth out of out -- by ripping your bodies into little itty bitty pieces! Hee hee hee!"

"N-no way! This lady is totally off her rocker!" Shu wailed.

Ryo nodded. "We're telling you guys the truth! We don't have any armor! They were destroyed in Africa!"

Shin added, "You must believe us!"

Normally, the five wouldn't be afraid, but now that they had no armor or weapons, they wouldn't stand a chance -- especially against a woman who would kill her own soldiers to get what she wanted (and the six arms didn't help either).

Sachiriku swung her swords and asked in a hysterical voice, "Do you want to see how sharp these things are? They can slice through your body like a piece of paper! Tee hee hee ha! You know, I like to cut nice, soft creatures... bunnies, horses, humans -- the usual."

Kaijin folded his arms across his chest and said in a brisk, business-like tone, "She does not lie, Troopers. Give us the armors now, and--"

"WE DON'T HAVE ANY ARMORS!" Ryo screamed at the top of his lungs. His eyes stung with tears that threatened his vision. "How many times do we have to tell you that!"

"Think these guys need a reality check," Touma murmured underneath his breath as he changed his fighting stance.

Sachiriku frowned and she lowered her arms. The six swords fell to the floor and soon so did she. Falling to her knees, Sachiriku was now gasping. "No... no... no! Kaijin-san... you said... you said that... they were the ones..." Suddenly, she lifted her head and had a wicked smile on her face. "I've got it! If they can't give us the armors, I will just--" She produced a giant steel bladed sword that was seven feet tall and held it over her head. "I just have to chop it out of them! Bwahahahahaha! So, who wants to go first?!"

"Ahhh, no! It can't be!" Ryo's eyes were wide with fear as he found his body glowing a bright red and a familiar suit of armor began to appear.

***

"I think she's coming around..." a feminine voice spoke from the darkness. "Nasuti...?"

"Ooohhh, my back..." Nasuti felt a massive headache, not to mention a terrible backache. She slowly lifted her heavy eyelids and the darkness quickly faded. The light broke free and Nasuti found herself staring up at the ceiling. She soon realized that she was lying on her back -- more so, she was lying on the couch in the living room. Nasuti stiffly sat up and to her surprise, she found Kayura sitting next to her.

Kayura placed a hand on the younger woman's shoulder and sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're okay. How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," Nasuti muttered, rubbing her backside. She scowled, but then remembered her friends. "Ryo! Touma! Where... where are they all?"

"We were hoping you'd answer that question for us," a dark voice spoke out. Nasuti and Kayura turned to find Anubis walking into the room, his expression grim. "You okay, Nasuti? You must've been thrown pretty hard."

"H-How did you know?" Nasuti asked.

Anubis jerked a thumb behind him and Nasuti's eyes wandered to where he pointed. There was a huge crack plastered on the wall near the table. "We found the front door unlocked and once inside, we found you lying by the wall out cold. Nobody else was around. Something bad must've happened... it's a good thing we arrived in time."

Kayura stood straight up and mumbled, "No thanks to your driving."

"What was that?" Anubis asked, his brows rising in suspicion.

"I can feel a dark presence around here," Kayura continued softly, more to herself. "Who or whatever it is, it has transported the Troopers to some other realm. Kaos' staff was reacting strangely only a few days ago. Perhaps this is what is causing it."

By now, Naza and Rajura entered the room, wearing their body armors. They smiled and nodded at Nasuti's direction before turning their attention to Kayura. She was holding the shakujo firmly in her grasp, her fingers wrapped around it until her knuckles turned white. The staff emitted a faint purple glow from its top that lit the entire living room.

"What's it doing?" Naza asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

Kayura studied the magical object for a few moments before closing her eyes. "I think it knows where the Troopers are located. We should be on our guard from this moment on."

A loud silence was exchanged between the group. Nobody would dare speak or move. Everyone's eyes were focused on the staff. Suddenly, a bright flare engulfed them all, sending them falling through an uncanny funnel. The colors were like tie-dye affects swirling around them. Anubis and Nasuti were flailing their arms and Naza was falling head first, unable to move himself right side up.

"Impossible!" Rajura yelled, his facial expression calm. "Where is it taking us!?"

Kayura was falling beside him, her long blue-hair flowing all around her. She held Kaos' staff close to her body. "I believe it is taking us to the Troopers. Hold on!"

There was nothing anybody could do, only hope and pray that Kayura was right and that they would find the Troopers in time.

Just as they fell deeper and deeper, a pair of eyes watched them from afar. The eyes narrowed and regarded the group crudely. ::They dare intrude in these tunnels? There are far too many souls coming here. I will get rid of them, all of them. First the six-armed woman and her accomplice, then the mortal boys and their tiger, and now this. Well, neither mortal nor youja can stop me from performing my duties as guardian of these tunnels.::

The eyes vanished, and a vile laughter could be heard.

"No! It can't be!" Ryo cried out.

Glancing down at his body, he discovered that he was now wearing the Rekka yoroi. Lifting his hands in view, he found himself holding the two swords that went along with the armor. Touma gasped as he found himself in his Tenku armor and wielding his bow and arrows. It was the same for the rest of the Troopers: Shu retained Kongo, Shin with Suiko, and Seiji with Korin. Sachiriku stared at them all quizzically.

"H-How did you do that?" she asked innocently. "Arago, you are clever, having your soldiers show me your armors. Now it will be easier to take away."

Ryo sighed in defeat. "Well, if we must have the armors once more, it'll only be used to destroy you."

The Samurai Troopers took their fighting stances once more, brandishing their weapons at Sachiriku, whose giant sword disappeared, only to have her six swords in her grasp once more.

"Are those arms for real?" Seiji wondered aloud. His blue eyes studying her acutely.

Touma shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe they aren't, though."

Shu threw his blue-haired teammate a questionable glance. "What're you saying?"

"I'm saying is that maybe Sachiriku's arms aren't real -- an illusion."

Ryo's face brightened upon the thought. "Yeah, maybe she's just moving them really fast. Y'know, like Naza does!"

"Well then, let's get to it!" Shin shouted with a look of determination on his face.

Touma started the rally by firing his arrows at Sachiriku, but was disappointed when all of them bounced off of her as if she was made of steel. Shu and Shin attacked from behind, hoping to strike her down their weapons. Sachiriku blocked both attacks, using one of her free arms to hold them at bay. Ryo and Seiji swung their swords and amazingly, she was also able to fend them off with two of her arms. Byakuen, who was holding back his attack, leaped and clamped his teeth on one of her free hands.

Finally, after a while of holding the Troopers off, Sachiriku barked, "Get away from me... NOW!" Suddenly, a surge of energy burst exploded forth and sent the Troopers and Byakuen flying off. They slammed into the ground but quickly got back to their feet.

Meanwhile from afar, Kaijin regarded the scene with cool glowing red eyes. This is indeed strange, he thought. I was already aware that the Troopers did not have their armor, but what is this then? A trick, no doubt, to harm Sachiriku-sama.

Just as Kaijin was about to assist his mistress, a dark figure appeared silently before him. ::Intruders, you shall pay. All of you.:: The voice sounded rather "metallic" -- like a talking machine.

Wordlessly, Kaijin whirled around and attacked the stranger with a magic spell, only to have it repel back at him. He crumpled to the floor and the figure held up a single hand. A huge black portal appeared and Kaijin fell into it, vanishing from the area. The portal closed shut and the stranger felt a smile creep upon her lips.

::Now, to take care of--::

"Ryo!"

The stranger hissed in dismay as she witnessed the group she had seen earlier appear from above. Leading them was a woman with blue hair and wearing the Oni armor. In her possession was the legendary shakujo of Kaos. Ah, to have such a treasure, and to bring it herein. I shall see what they can do in such a place as this.

She faded into the background just as Kayura, Nasuti, and the Masho came upon the scene. Pointing the staff at Sachiriku, Kayura shouted, "Who're you?!"

Sachiriku turned and started giggling like a school girl. "Oh, goody! They're all here! The nine armors are all here! Now they will be mine!"

Suddenly, Kongo no Shu attacked from behind and swung his staff at Sachiriku. However, it did no damage as she merely dismissed it. She lashed out at him with three of her fists and sent the warrior crashing into his fellow teammates. Sachiriku then took a mighty leap into the air and began to weave what looked as though a dance. Her arms twirled magically, her eyes were closed as if listening to a melody being played.

While she did this, Kayura and the others went over to where the Troopers were. Looking at Ryo, she asked sternly, "Ryo! Are you all right? Who is that woman? Is she the one who brought you five here?"

Ryo nodded weakly. "She's called Sachiriku and she's the one who brought us here. Actually, her servant, Kaijin, was the one who teleported us here, but he seems to have disappeared and--"

"Duck!" Seiji yelled.

A rain of black lightning struck the area near the Troopers. Everyone scrambled out of the way, each narrowly getting hit. Apparently, Sachiriku had recovered from her haze and was striking at the group, giggling aloud. Her laughter was like someone scratching their nails down a chalkboard -- not very pleasant.

"Arago, you did this to me!" Sachiriku screamed at no one in particular. "Now once I have your armors, your screaming in pain will be music to my ears! Hahahaha!"

Ryo placed his swords together at their ends. Staring hard at Sachiriku, he muttered, "You're going down." Lifting his joined swords, Ryo shouted, "SO EN ZAN!" He unleashed his special attack power at Sachiriku, having not forgotten what it was like. Everything around him turned into a white haze.

The sheer blast screamed towards Sachiriku, whom by now was holding out all six of her arms. Snarling, the amazon managed to create a protective barrier and absorb the attack.

The Troopers were in awe. Ryo growled in frustration. "How'd she do that!?"

"You're mine!" Sachiriku shrieked. She extended her arms and unleashed Ryo's special attack back at them with an extreme force that created a violent tempest all about.

Kayura lifted Kaos' staff and a shield was created for the Troopers, the Masho, Nasuti, Byakuen, and herself. The attack collided into the shield, and it was like a super nova slamming into a star. Everybody covered their eyes, as well as Sachiriku. She cried out but her screams could not be heard.

All of a sudden, the light was drained and a voice louder than the explosion said, ::STOP.::

Shin opened his eyes and he hollered, "Look! Over there!"

The entire group turned their attention in front of them. There stood a single woman, wearing a sleek silver body suit that covered everything but her face. Her face wore a blank expression, like a beautiful china doll but one that was not smiling. Her eyes were pure white with no iris, almost like Sachiriku's.

::You are ALL trespassing in the Demon's Gate. You shall be punished severely.::

Nasuti's face went pale and her heart beat rapidly. She could somehow sense the power that this woman had within her. Taking a step back, she summoned up enough of her courage to ask, "W-who are you...?"

::I have no name, for I am a being far advanced than any creature known to man. However if you wish to identify me, child, then you may call me Kiyemon.::

"Demon's Gate?" Sachiriku inquired, still levitating in mid-air. "I-I thought Kaijin said this was a dimension of something, something, or other."

Kiyemon narrowed her eyes at Sachiriku. ::Your mind has been plagued by that of the infinite power. You know nothing because you ARE nothing.::

You are nothing... you are nothing... These three words echoed throughout Sachiriku's mind. She found herself remembering Arago as he held her in a death grip, telling her that she was nothing... she did not like that. Not at all. No, she would never again allow herself to fall into a position of weakness ever.

"RRRAAAGGGHHH!"

At incredible speed, Sachiriku armed her six hands with swords and dove straight for Kiyemon. The Troopers had a hard time following her but what shocked them was that the woman called Kiyemon was even faster. She had reached out and grabbed Sachiriku by the throat, her slender fingers wrapping around it. Sachiriku felt as though her entire body was made of jelly. Her arms sagged to her sides and her swords vanished.

::I need not waste my powers on a woman of your status. Be gone back to your realm of nightmare. Choose revenge for the dead one another time, but never here.:: With that, Kiyemon threw Sachiriku straight up into the skies and watched as she vanished into thin air. Then lowering her head, her white eyes focused upon the Troopers. ::You are the ones remaining. You shall be punished.::

"But we haven't done anything!" Touma protested.

::You are trespassing.::

"It isn't our fault!" cried Shu. "That guy in the mask took us here -- and the others came using the staff, I think."

Kayura nodded in agreement. "That's right. You have no right to judge the innocent."

Kiyemon raised her brow in question. ::Who are you to say what is innocent, Kayura? You yourself have that to prove still -- hmm?::

Glancing over her shoulder, Kiyemon's eyes began to glow. All around, a fierce wind began to howl. Up in the skies, strange dark clouds were forming, almost like some kind of storm. ::A paradox storm? Here?:: Kiyemon's brows rose in question; the first possible facial expression she had shown. ::Impossible. Then again, with the disturbances going on...::

"What's happening!" Ryo demanded. He couldn't hear his own voice, but he knew that he was heard. "Hey, look at that!" Pointing with one of his swords, he watched as a huge tornado-like storm thundered towards them. Suddenly a single sword sliced through the eye of the storm, dissipating it. Then out came Sachiriku, her face showing that of anger and resentment. Her eyes were glowing bright with fury. She flew out of the cyclone, her six hands wielding swords, and landed a few yards away.

"Die, Arago spawns!" Sachiriku screamed. She twirled her swords in the air and aiming them at the Troopers, black bolts of lightning blasted forth.

One of the black bolts flew towards Kayura but she blocked the attack using Kaos' staff. However, the other bolts whipped past Kayura and struck the unsuspecting Troopers. Byakuen tried to help Ryo by grabbing his sleeve with his teeth and tugging. Suddenly he too was caught in a blast of black lightning.

"Help them!" Nasuti screamed frantically, her voice barely audible in the howling winds.

Nevertheless, Anubis drew out his sword and shouted, "We're on it, Nasuti!"

Naza whipped out his swords while Rajura reached for his weapon from his back. Kayura banished Kaos' staff and replaced it with a kusari-gama. Kiyemon frowned in dismay and shook her head.

::I will not have any more fighting,:: she announced firmly. Raising her hand, Kiyemon closed her fingers into a fist and a single spark was produced. Suddenly, the Masho found themselves paralyzed in their spots. Nasuti tried to reach out to them, but she found her legs frozen in place.

What is she going to do to us? the young woman thought. She began to panic as she looked about the place hopelessly; she felt butterflies in her stomach.

Nasuti watched as Kiyemon floated towards the Masho, her facial expression blank once more. ::I will have no more fighting in the Paradox,:: the woman announced. ::This must stop now.::

Oh no! She's going to kill them! But to Nasuti's surprise, Kiyemon turned and blasted Sachiriku with some kind of energy beam. Sachiriku was flung back a bit but regained her balance.

"No! I'm supposed to win!" Sachiriku roared. "I have Arago's armors! They're mine! Mine, mine, mine!" She started flailing her arms about like a spoiled child.

Kiyemon waved an arm in the air and one of her eyes began to sparkle. Suddenly, Sachiriku screamed as a strange force pushed her back into a large portal which opened up behind her. Once inside, the portal closed and she was gone. For now.

Kiyemon turned her attention back to the Troopers. A gleam in her eye sparkled and suddenly, the Troopers and Byakuen fell to the ground unconscious. The Masho fell forward as they regained control of their bodies. Nasuti gasped as she stumbled back a bit, also regaining control of her body.

"What was that all about!?" Anubis snapped furiously. His eyes were clouded with fury.

"Not that we're not grateful for you getting rid of Sachiriku," Kayura said calmly, hoping to defuse a future conflict between Anubis and Kiyemon, "but why did you stop us?"

::The Demon's Gate can only sustain a certain amount of beings at once,:: Kiyemon explained. ::It cannot stand the different powers being erupted within its walls. That is why I stopped you and that is why the Gate was created; the Paradox recognizes my powers since I have been its keeper for a millennium.:: Kiyemon threw what looked like a sideglance over at the fallen Troopers. ::Come, your friends are dying.::

"What!?" Kayura and the Masho exclaimed in unison.

"They can't be," Nasuti whispered, placing a hand over her mouth.

Kiyemon raised her arms up into the air. A soft hue was seen around each of the Troopers' bodies. Soon each of them were encased inside a small bubble; Byakuen was inside a bubble as well. Turning to the group, Kiyemon announced, ::We must leave now.:: Everyone was amazed as a flash of light blinded them momentarily, but soon found themselves back in Nasuti's house.

With Byakuen floating in front of her, Kiyemon turned to Nasuti and asked, "Do you have a spare room we can accommodate your companions in?"

Her voice was more "normal" sounding than it did in the Paradox, but her presence still send chills down one's spine. Nasuti cleared her throat and said, "It's upstairs. I'll show you."

Quickly, the young woman slipped past Kiyemon and led everyone up the stairs. It wasn't long before Nasuti opened a door near the end of the hallway. Inside, Kiyemon used her powers to lower Byakuen onto the rug as gently as she could. Meanwhile, the Masho carried the Troopers over to the spare beds, carefully laying them down so as not to hurt them.

Once doing so, Kiyemon floated towards Ryo's bed and gazed down upon him like he was some kind of filthy animal. "They are dying," she stated.

"We already know that," Rajura said sternly, his face hardened. "Stand aside and allow us to take care of them."

"No."

"What did you say?!" Rajura was starting to feel intimidated by this uncanny woman.

Kiyemon shook her head. "Not even your healing abilities can save them. However, I can save them."

"You?" Naza inquired. He raised a brow in question, folding his arms across his chest. "How so?"

"If you give me your dark armors and powers, I will be able to--"

"Give you our armors? You are insane!" Naza shouted angrily.

Kiyemon sighed. "What if you were not to give me the armors? Sachiriku would be able to quickly find you and slaughter you all here. She can track your armors down anytime she wished. As I was about to explain, if you give me the armors, it will be harder for Sachiriku to be able to teleport to your destinations."

Nasuti stepped forth and asked, "What about our friends? You said you were able to heal them?"

"I never said I would heal them -- save them, yes." Kiyemon folded her arms across her chest as she remained floating a few inches off of the ground. "In order to save their lives," she explained, "I must use my powers to alter their forms into ones which can sustain them for some time."

"What do you mean?" Anubis asked impatiently.

"Watch."

Anubis, Naza, Rajura, Kayura, and Nasuti gathered around her and witnessed as Kiyemon's powers came to life. Raising her hand, a soft pink glow was emitted. Bringing it down upon Ryo's forehead, she snapped her fingers and suddenly something odd happened -- Ryo started shrinking! Or rather, he was aging backwards!

The Masho's eyes grew wide with interest while Kayura and Nasuti wore expressions of discomfort. Moments later, Ryo was no longer a teenage boy but a six year old child wearing his Rekka yoroi, which was miniaturized as well.

Anubis, Naza, and Rajura studied Chibi Ryo for a few more seconds before breaking out into uncontrollable laughter. They were literally on the floor cracking up. Kiyemon stared at them with her brows furrowed.

Kayura scowled, "Knock it off, you three! Honestly, I never knew you could act like such, such..."

"Jerks?" Nasuti offered sarcastically.

Naza sat up and shouted, "Hey! We're just... savoring the moment."

Rajura nodded. "Sure, I mean, it's been a while since the Troopers have suffered humiliation... hmm, I wonder Rekka will think when he wakes up?"

"The Troopers will have no memory of their former existence," Kiyemon stated. She glanced over at the other four Troopers who were still out cold; apparently, the laughter did not awake them. Waving a hand up in the air, a pink glow covered their bodies and soon they too were reverted to little children, each wearing their respective armors.

With the other hand, Kiyemon waved it over at the Masho. Suddenly, they found their armors fading and fading until they simply disappeared, leaving them in their dinner clothes. Kiyemo lifted her palm and smiled as she found four glowing orbs. They quickly vanished into thin air and she turned her attention back to the warriors.

"What are you going to do with the armors?" Kayura asked cautiously.

"I will keep them until you find Sachiriku and have her reverse the effect of her magic that she has caused upon the Troopers," said Kiyemon. "Her powers have been tampered with, and the only way to save your friends' lives is to have her undo the poison she has given them."

"Poison?" Nasuti inquired. Her breaths were becoming shallow and she felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest. "I-I thought she just hit them with some kind of spell... are you saying that they're going to die?"

Kiyemon lowered her head and nodded. "I am afraid you are correct, child. You all must realize that I am a sort of watcher over what happens in time. Every millennium, I and two other beings watch through the Demon's Gate the course of time which flows upon the earth. I have witnessed the cause of Sachiriku's behavior and I will sum it all with one word: Arago."

"Kuso!" Anubis cursed under his breath. "I should've recognized her. She is the one who demanded more power from him. She must've been the one we all saw... that charred body... and here I thought they just had the same name..."

Nasuti turned to him and asked, "What happened?"

Anubis lowered his eyes and murmured, "Sachiriku was a warrior like us, fighting for Arago. She was a bit power-hungry when Arago first recruited her. Nevertheless, she was a good, skilled fighter. Could've become something more, until she was seen entering Arago's throne room. None of us ever saw her again until soldiers displayed her body before the army. They then threw her into the dungeons where she was left to rot. However, it was said that her body vanished without a trace. There wasn't much controversy about it since we were all busy getting ready to invade the Mortal Realm."

"How awful," Kayura whispered. She glanced over at Kiyemon and said, "What will you do in the meantime, besides keep our armors? How do we know this isn't some kind of trick?"

The uncanny woman turned and faced Kayura with pure white eyes. "Believe me, Kayura-san, this is no trick. I do not normally 'distrupt' the events which occur during the timewaves, but Sachriku is not only a threat to you, but to the Demon's Gate as well. She can easily come back anytime she wanted, but with your armors, I am able to create a barrier so she cannot come back or find the Troopers anytime soon."

"You mean she can still find them?" said Naza.

Kiyemon nodded. "Yes. You must now protect the Troopers AND find Sachiriku before it is too late. Do not tell the Troopers of what is happening." Turning to Kayura, she said, "You must come with me."

"What?" Kayura blinked in confusion. "Why?"

"You are the descendant of Kaos-sama, are you not? I and the others need your help in finding Sachiriku -- to aid the rest of you. The power within the staff is almighty and fierce. In the past, it would have had enough power to heal your friends, but as time went by and as new people came to wield the power..."

"I am not powerful enough, am I?" Kayura proclaimed softly. She lowered her head and sighed. After a few moments, she lifted her head and nodded. "All right, I'll do it."

Rajura sighed in frustration. This was getting confusing, and normally HE was the one who'd confuse people. "If you must, take her. We will watch over the Troopers, I suppose. How long will this take?"

Kiyemon shook her head and said, "I honestly do not know. You must guard the Troopers with your lives, though. If Sachiriku is to find them, she will consume not only their armors but their souls as well, making her into the most powerful creature in the world."

Nasuti gasped as a bright light shone around Kiyemon. She and the others closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, the strange woman was gone, along with Kayura.

"Great, this is just great," Anubis mumbled. "I can't believe we fell for her lies just like that."

Nasuti didn't say anything. She wrapped her arms around herself and sighed. Just then, she noticed something move out of the corners of her eyes. Turning, her eyes widened as she discovered a man lying on the carpet. She gave out a startled cry.

Anubis, Naza, and Rajura rushed over to where Nasuti was. Anubis stood protectively in front of the young woman and narrowed his eyes at the man. He was pretty tall and lean, with short white hair, tan skin, and was wearing white armor with black stripes on the sides. "What the...?" Anubis cursed under his breath as he watch the man slowly got to his knees. Lifting his head, the man flashed deep brown eyes at the group. Groaning, he asked, "Where... am I?" The man then nearly freaked out as he looked about the room from side to side. "W-where... where am I? How come... I can talk...?"

"It can't be!" Naza objected. He strained his eyes to get a better look at the strange man. "Byakuen?"|

The others threw Naza a strange look but then quickly turned their attention back to the man.

"Minna..." Byakuen struggled to stand on his own two feet but sank to his knees. They fell like a jello and his upper body felt heavy. Luckily, Anubis and Rajura were able to catch him before he fell flat on his face. Byakuen felt himself blushing furiously. "Gomen, I'm not used to walking on just two feet... what's happening?"

"This is ridiculous," Rajura muttered. "Both Sachiriku AND Kiyemon will pay for what they're putting us through."

"Hmph," Anubis added grumpily. He shot a harsh glance over at Byakuen. "What happened with him? Kiyemon changed the Troopers so that they were younger, to sustain their injuries, right? What about the tiger? Isn't he supposed to be a cub or something?"

"Um, Anubis?" It was Nasuti and she sounded a bit nervous.

"What is it?" he asked gently.

Nasuti tugged on his arm and pointed towards the beds. "They're awake."

Leaving Byakuen in Rajura's care, Anubis rose to his feet and looked over at where Nasuti was pointing. To his horror, he discovered all five Troopers awake and jumping up and down on one of the beds. They stopped and smiled at him cutesy-like.

Waving at him, they all shouted, "Anubis-san! It's time to play!"

***end of Chapter One

Chapter Two