Kitty-chan: AHH! I wrote a Samurai Troopers fic? OMFG! I've been working on this for months now. It's fully handwritten and it's over 220 pages long. I know, really long. There are only like... eleven chapters, plus the Epilogue. But I've been working so hard on this one, I hope y'all like it! I do not own any of the characters in this story except Takai and his minions. All the others are copyrighted characters of Sunrise. There is Japanese spoken, but not too much. Oh yeah! This is a Samurai Troopers fic, not Ronin Warriors! (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers is the Japanese Version and the Ronin Warriors is what it was changed to when it came to America. I don't really understand that, by the way... the guys aren't even Ronins! Because... they're alive, aren't they?) Sorry! Mini rant. Here are a few key translations to all those who haven't had the chance to master the name changes between the the Troopers and the Ronins.
Character Names
Sanada Ryo: Ryo Sanada (Duh)
Hashiba Toma: Rowen Hashiba
Date Seiji: Sage Date
Mouri Shin: Cye Mouri
Rei Faun Shu: Kento Lei Faun
Yagyu Naste: Mia Koji
Armor Names
Rekka: Wildfire
Tenku: Heavens/ Strata
Korin: Nimbus/ Halo
Suiko: Torrent
Kongo: Stone/ Hardrock
Enjoy! The stuffwith () next to it is translated at the end of the chapter.
Naste rubbed her temples as a headache pounded in her brain. She was dead tired, and the only thing on her mind was sleep. "Yagyu-san?" the female reporter sitting across from her pulled her from her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, gomen.(1)" Naste dropped her hands, folding them professionally in her lap.
"It's alright. We can edit that out later." The reporter fiddled with her own microphone for a moment before turning back to her pen and pad. "As I was saying, when did you first realize you wanted to be an ancient legends and mythology expert and techer?"
"Well, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. But my love of legends and mythology came from my late grandfather when he introduced me to my first and favorite legend." Maste answered, feigning alertness.
"And what legend was that?" she wondered, jotting notes and quotes in her notepad.
"The legend of the Samurai Troopers. These Troopers were to be five men with powerful ancient samurai armor. They were to appear when a dark shadow covered the earth." Naste smiled proudly.
"Wow. That does sound intriguing. Do you believe that it could be more than just a legend?"
Naste was silent for a moment. She then smiled and waved her hand. "It's not for me to judge, but it's a good story."
"Indeed. So, is this what started your career?"
"Yes. It was this extremely interesting story and poem that my grandfather used to tell me when I was a little girl that sparked my interest in legends. I guess it's in the genes, since my grandfather was into the same things." She paused as a voice filtered into the room.
"Stop! We're getting near Naste's house!" cried an English accented voice.
"Nani o?" Naste whispered to herself.
Not quite hearing her, the reporter leaned in a bit. "Sumimasen (2), Yagyu-san?"
Naste looked at her, but didn't say anything. A voice from out in the backyard, directly to their left stopped anything she was about to say. "It's not fair to get her mixed up in this again!"
"Yagyu-san? Are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh! Yes! Gomen!" Naste sighed. "Just… lost my train of thought there." Am I just hearing their voices, or are they…?
"No! Get away from him!"
"Look out!"
"AHH!"
The lights in the room flickered and died, leaving only the light on the top part of the news camera to illuminate the living room. The reporter cast her eyes about the room, and Naste heard her breathe, "What the hell?" And then, "Can you hear that, Yagyu-san?"
"Yeah. You mean you can hear it too?" Naste stared at her.
"Yeah. Those voices?"
Naste nodded. "Where are they coming from?"
"It seems to be coming from outside."
"Catch him!"
"Got him!"
"It's not enough!"
"I'm coming!"
"Watch out, you guys! The house!"
In an explosion of glass and brick, three colored figures flew through the wall near where Naste and the reporter were sitting. "What the hell?" the reporter screamed again, standing, but still firmly clutching her pen and pad. A red figure flew through in, followed immediately by green and light blue ones. They all hit the far wall, and dropped into a multi-colored pile on the floor. The light blue one immediately stood, but the green one simply sat up and began looking over the red one, which hadn't moved.
"Naste!" The light blue one yelled, looking around the room. "Are you here?"
Naste paused for a moment. Better not use his name… reporters… "Suiko!" Naste cried. "Is that you?"
"Naste!" Suiko cried in return. He spun around to face her but scowled when he caught sight of the news crew. Plates of shiny gray metal slid over his face, concealing everything except for his eyes and his mouth. "Korin!"
"Eh?" The green figure looked up.
"Mask! Now!" Suiko answered. In response, steely plates slid over Korin's face as he continued to check the red figure over. Suiko turned back to Naste and the reporter. "Naste! You need to get out of here now!" He motioned to the front door with the spear clutched firmly in his right hand.
Naste didn't recognize the armor that stood before her, but there was no doubt in her mind whose face hid behind the metal plates. The reporter suddenly grabbed her forearm and gave her a wide-eyed stare. "Yagyu-san! Do you know this… thing? Is this a Samurai Trooper?" She motioned to the armor-clad warrior and the man holding the camera turned the light onto Suiko. The light shone brightly, causing Suiko's left hand to come up to shade his eyes.
Suiko stepped foreword a bit. "First off, I am not a thing! I'm a person. Second of all, you're not going to be much of anything if you don't get out of here now!" He cried, waving his spear around again.
Naste pulled at the reporter's arm. "Ikimasho!(3)"
"Iie! This is newsworthy!" The woman answered, planting her feet.
"I'm telling you to get out of here! Suiko yelled. "Don't you-!" Before he could continue, long metallic-looking tentacles shot through the hole in the wall and coiled about Suiko's body. His arms, legs and neck were bound and he began to futily jerk his body left and right, trying to free himself, but the tentacles held tight.
"Suiko!" Naste was about to leap in to do whatever she could when Suiko yelled at her.
"Iie-o, Naste! Stay there! One touch of these things could kill you!" Naste stopped and looked on in mounting horror as his teeth gritted and a growl of pain issued from his throat.
"Suiko!" Korin jumped up to help, but two more tentacles flew into the room and slammed him against the wall, one tentacle piercing his armor and pressing into his shoulder. He grunted in pain but could do nothing as Suiko's growl turned into a full-throated yell.
Relief came in the form of a golden arrow. It landed in the center of the room, emitting a brilliant golden light. The tentacles seemed to squirm for a moment before releasing their captives and retreating back out the hole. Suiko dropped limply to the ground, his armor beginning to glow a soft blue color. Korin dropped to his knees, gripping his shoulder. His eyes widened as he looked up at Suiko. "Kongo! Get Suiko! His armor's retreating!"
In a flash of orange, Suiko was gone, being carried in Kongo's strong arms. Sakura blossoms floated to the ground in their wake. Kongo ran outside and launched himself onto the roof. He laid the wounded warrior on the shingles before swinging himself back onto the ground and landing in the side yard. In the yard stood a large creature, about seven feet in height. Kongo glared at it before rushing foreword, throwing his fists and feet at it, missing entirely, no matter how well he aimed. After a few tense minutes, the creature threw Kongo backward. The warrior did a flip in the air to land on his feet next to the house. The crew and Naste were emerging from the hole in the side of the house now.
Naste's eyes widened as she got a good look at the enemy. Not... Arago! She calmed as she realized... it wasn't Arago. It certainly looked similar, but this creature was golden and black, rather than red and black. Where Arago had had large swords fanning behind his back, this monster has tentacles that swam around behind him. Kongo growled.
"You messed with the wrong guys, Octopus!" He raised his arms, intertwining his fingers, pulling his hands into a fist and slamming it into the earth. The earth shook and growled as a large fissure began opening up before Kongo's hands. It opened up beneath the enemy, ready to swallow him up. The creature didn't fall, however. He remained suspended in the air. He gave a chuckle before throwing a burst of energy at Kongo. The energy hit him square in the stomach, doubling him over as the enemy vanished. Kongo stood up straight, an armored hand resting on his middle. After a few tense seconds, satisfied that the enemy was gone, Kongo turned and a smile appeared on his lips. The only parts of his face that were visible were his shaded eyes and his mouth and chin. "Naste, long time no see."
"Hi, Kongo." Naste gave a nervous smile.
"Yagyu-san! Are these really the Samurai Troopers?" the reporter cried excitedly.
Naste gave the woman an odd look before turning back to the orange-clad creature. "Kongo, where'd you all get these new armors? You all look so different."
Kongo sighed heavily. "It's a long story." He looked at the news crew, which was staring intently at him, holding their breath to hear his "long story". He flicked his metal-covered hands at them. "Get lost."
"No way. I need at least one interview." she pushed, whipping out her notepad and pen.
"Not now!" The warrior in bark blue appeared between the reporter and Kongo. He folded a golden weapon up and snapped it onto his back. "We need to make sure the youja are all gone. We did leave home in a hurry."
"Sounds like a plan, Tenku!" Kongo agreed, giving thumbs up. Korin then exited the house through the hole in the wall, the one in red slung limply over his shoulder. Kongo paused, as he was about to jump into a tree. "How's Rekka?"
"He'll be alright." Korin answered. "I haven't gotten a chance to heal him yet, but I think he's got a few broken ribs."
"Should we leave him here?" Tenku inquired.
"Yes!" The reporter cried, knowing that if they left the wounded warrior there, she would probably be able to drag a few answers out of him.
"Iie, you shouldn't." Rekka answered hoarsely, fidgeting.
"You're awake!" Korin smiled and lowered the leader to the ground, allowing him to stand on his own. "How's your chest?"
"It hurts, but I'll live." Rekka sighed and bowed his head to Naste. "Hi, Naste-san."
Naste bowed respectfully. "Good to see you again, Rekka-san."
"Ah." Rekka's mouth became a thin line and he launched himself into a tree. "Let's go, guys!" The words were barely out of his mouth and the group had already taken off.
"Yagyu-san!" the reporter rounded on the college teacher. "I want the full story! How did you come to know the Samurai? Who are they?"
Naste sighed. How would she get herself out of this one?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Naste regarded the hole in the wall with reminiscent annoyance, but smiled and let out a deep respiration. "What am I going to do with those guys?" She cried to the empty house.
Indeed the news crew had finally left her. She had decided to tell them that the Samurai Troopers had saved her, on more than one occasion. In reality, that wasn't entirely false. She had just… omitted a few things. She not only knew them well, but they had saved her more times than she could count.
She headed upstairs to call a contractor when a weak voice called to her. "Naste?"
"Shin? Is that you?" She called back, recognizing the English-lilted voice immediately. "Where are you?"
"Roof." It stated simply.
Naste raced upstairs into her bedroom, where she pulled a flight of stairs from the ceiling. She ran into the attic before climbing out onto the roof through a small window. There, she saw the English man face down on the tiles. "Shin! Are you alright?"
"Ah… Where are the others?" he inquired immediately, attempting, and failing, to get up. Naste dashed to his side and pulled on his arm to help him to his feet.
"They went to check to see if there were anymore youja around. They said you guys left in a hurry. Left from where?" She pulled his arm over her shoulder to allow him to lean on her as they began their unsteady trek back into the house.
"We came here from the apartment complex we were staying in. We all came back to Shinjuku when youja attacked Ryo not far from his house in Sendai. We've been staying in a few small apartment buildings since we came back." He answered sleepily.
Naste smiled. "Well, no need to worry about those apartments anymore. You guys can stay with me again. It'll be just like the old days."
"Thank you for your offer, but we can't trouble you. This is a war after all." Shin gave a weak laugh.
Naste shook her head. "It is, but you would only trouble me if you didn't stay with me. You guys have a huge job to do, and I want to help in any way I can." Shin gave a grateful smile.
"You're sure you want to keep us around?"
"Of course! I'm dead serious. You guys have to stay here. We haven't talked in almost four years. You don't think I'm gonna let you guys get away that easily, do you?" Shin couldn't help but smile at her kindness. They made it carefully down the ladder, through Naste's room, and into the room that Shin and Shu had shared during their first war. Shin lay on his bed and gave a heavy sigh, allowing his eyelids to shut themselves. His body felt unbelievably heavy, and he could feel a burning in his chest that he did not wish to identify. Something was wrong. Takai had done something to him when he drained him. But what was it? He couldn't sense Takai anywhere around, so what was wrong? He had no more time to ponder this anomaly, when Naste's voice broke what little concentration he had. "Shin?"
"Ah?"
"Arago and the Empire were destroyed. Who was attacking you earlier today?"
Shin gave a weighted sigh. "His name is Takai. He's an Emporer from the Netherworld." His words held no enthusiasm or energy whatsoever. He was physicaly tired and mentally exhausted from fighting.
"Shin, the Empire was destroyed!" she repeated. "How can there be another Emporer?"
"Naste… Wakarimasu nai ka. The Empire and the Emporers of the Netherworld will never be destroyed. The work of the Samurai Troopers will never be done." His voice, this time, held a heavy tint of grief.
"What do you mean?" Naste wondered, sympathy and a small amount of fear growing in her throat.
"The Netherworld draws on the evil in the human spirit, correct?" Naste nodded. "Evil is a permanent part of human nature. We can never be rid of the evil in people." He paused. "It's difficult to explain. There are two realms other than that of the mortal realm. There is the Yami no Sekai (4), and the Hikari no Sekai (5). The Yami no Sekai is also known as the Netherworld. This is where Arago and all the youja dwell. The Hikari no Sekai is the polar opposite of the Yami no Sekai. The Hikari no Sekai is a world where all things good reign. This is where Kayura and the Sanmasho (6)live. Whenever someone does anything, as in a deed, a creature is created in one of these two worlds. If someone does a good deed, a diety is created in the Hikari no Sekai. But if someone does a bad deed, a demon is created in the Yami no Sekai. Emporers like Arago come into play simply by representing all the different evil deeds that have ever been done. There is a different Emporer for every evil notion and thought. In other words, there is an unlimited supply of emporers in the Yami no Sekai. Depending on what deed created them, the demons will serve different Emporers. For instance, Takai is the Emporer of Corruption. All the demons that have been created by deeds that have to do with corruption serve him." Shin cast his eyes to the ceiling. "Arago was the Emporer of Power lust. That's why he came to our world." Shin sighed and closed his eyes, his remaining energy spent.
"Why is Takai here, then? What's he after?"
"We're not sure. He might be out for revenge on us for killing Arago, but that doesn't make sense. At least not to me." His eyes remained closed, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away. He was about to go into a long and deep sleep. He knew that, but what scared him was what was going to happen while he was asleep. Not only in the outside world, but also, how would his mind react to this drain?
Naste sighed and smiled gently before leaning down and wrapping her arms around Shin's chest. "At any rate, it's good to have you back, Shin." When he didn't return her embrace, she looked up. Shin was already fast asleep. She sighed and pulled his shoes off before covering him with a blanket and fondly touching his hair. "Get some good sleep, my friend. You deserve it."
"Naste!" Called a familiar voice from outside. Naste smiled with anticipation and raced downstairs. She flung open the front door to greet the remaining four Troopers.
"Ah! Toma! Seiji! Shu! Ryo!" She cried, throwing her arms around Toma's neck. "It's so good to see you!"
"Ah, Naste. It's good to see you too. It's been a while." Seiji nodded as she also embraced him.
Ryo was leaning on Shu's shoulder as Naste embraced Shu. She then gently wrapped her arms around Ryo, remembering that Seiji had said that his ribs were broken. "Ryo, How do you feel?"
"I'm okay. Just my ribs." Ryo gingerly put a hand to his chest.
"Oh! I'll get some bandages, then!" Naste rushed upstairs and into the bathroom, shouting, "Make yourselves comfortable!"
Shu sat Ryo on the couch before plopping onto the floor. "Whew!"
Toma smiled. "Thank Kami for Naste, huh?"
"Ah." Seiji nodded, smiling as well. "She doesn't realize how much of a Trooper she is."
"Yeah. She's a lifesaver." Shu agreed.
"Why, because she has a fridge?" Toma snickered.
Shu snorted indignantly. "Partly."
Seiji laughed. "Arigitou (7), Shu. I needed that."
"Nani?" Shu cocked his head.
"I just needed a laugh." Seiji casually tossed his head a bit. "The human garbage disposal is good at that."
"Hey!" Shu cried. He huffed a bit and placed his elbow on his folded knew, resting his chin in his palm. "Flirt King." He breathed.
"None of that, now." Naste giggled, decending the steps with a first aid kit in her hands.
Shu growled and looked up at Ryo. "What's up, Ryo? Why so quiet?"
Ryo shrugged. "No reason. You're all just so entertaining. No need for me to break up the brotherly love." Shu shrugged as Naste sat down on the couch. "You really don't need to provide bandages, Naste. We really just came here to pick up Shin and head home." Naste ignored him and requested that he removed his shirt. He sighed and complied. "Really, Naste. We don't plan on troubling you again.
Naste sighed patiently. "Then stay here with me. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't offer you my services. After all, you guys save the world. The very least I can do to help is give you a nice place to stay."
"Are you sure, Naste? This war could prove to be far worse than the last time. We don't know what's going to happen." Toma informed her seriously.
Naste turned and winked at him. "No worries. I know what I'm getting myself into. I'm positive this is what I want to do."
Ryo smiled. "Domo arigitou, Naste."
Naste smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing, really." She began studying Ryo's chest, but Ryo's bones happened to be the last thing on Shu's mind.
"Naste?"
"Eh?" She grunted distractedly, examining Ryo's built chest, checking for bone deformities and such.
"When do we… uh… eat?" Shu was answered by a slap in the back of the head, courtesy of Seiji. "Oi… you…" Shu grumbled.
Naste held her index finger out to Shu, telling him to wait a moment. Her hands went to Ryo's sides and she began aplying pressure at different points. "Now, tell me when you feel any pain."
"OW!" Ryo screamed. "Right there." He said, a smile on his face, but his eyes watering.
"Gomen." Naste smiled weakly. "I'll start dinner soon, Shu." She began to apply her wrap. "I'm not the chef Shin is, but I'll do my best."
"Speaking of Shin, he's here, right?" Toma spoke up.
"Ah. However, one must wonder why you left him on the roof." Naste raised an eyebrow at Shu, who had left him there.
Shu shrugged. "Well, the reporters were around and taking him with us would have put him in danger during the battle. If we didn't put him somewhere out of sight, the reporter might try and question him. Maybe even expose him."
"I meant to ask you about that. I figured you'd want me to keep your names to myself, but why do it in the first place? You guys saved the world. Why should you have to hide like that?"
"Nah." Seiji waved his hand. "No point. It would only cause more trouble for us and more trouble for you. You know how people are with the supernatural. It's best to keep to ourselves."
"That's how it's always been, right from the first day we got the armors." Toma added.
"You mean your families don't even know?" Naste exclaimed.
Shu waved his hands around. "Especially not them!" Naste gave him a look. "Do you realize how badly they'd freak out if they knew? They'd be worried sick 24 hours a day!"
Naste sighed. That's so lonely, though. She finally shook her head and pointed up the staircase as she tied off Ryo's wrap. "You might want to go check on Shin, Seiji. He didn't look too good when I brought him down. He couldn't even walk on his own."
Seiji nodded. "Sure thing."
Kitty-chan: What yoo think? This is only the first of many days. It's gonna be a while before I can get the whole story up, but I'll try and stay consistant. Alright! First order of closing the chapter business, translations!
1 gomen: Sorry
2 Sumimansen: Excuse me (polite form)
3 Ikimasho: Let's go
4 Yami no Sekai: World of Darkness
5 Hikari no Sekai: World of Light
6 Sanmasho: Three Warlords (Referring to Naaza, Rajura, and Anubis)
7 Arigitou: Thank you
Alright! Next is preview of next chapter! Here goes!
Shu's eyes widened. "Are you nuts? That's suicide!"
"Those knives give me a bad feeling! Don't let one touch you!"
"So... are they after Shin?"
Woo! Come back to read next chapter everyone!