Author: Deathangelgw

Disclaimer: They aren’t mine…yadda yadda…

Warnings: The same as the other two chapters, though a bit more tame in the yaoi.

Pairings: no concrete ones in this one, though they are all friends.

Rating: PG-13 in this part, though it will get up to R

Note: This is a flashback chapter. It’s based on some interesting pics of the boys in old Samurai armor and it got me wondering how they REALLY knew each other and were able to click so well together. This chapter flashes back to what I think were the first Troopers and looks at their connections to each other…and my OC.

Archive: http://dahaven.org

Feedback: Much appreciated!

‘thoughts’

~Kaos speaking~

*time passing/changing*

Nasuti stepped out of Genaisa’s room and faced six worried faces and one feline. She smiled slightly, and then sighed. “Her injuries were pretty bad, but her healing abilities have already kicked in,” she said softly.

Ryo stepped forward and asked quietly, “Can we see her?”

Nasuti nodded, then stated sternly, “But only for a little bit! You all need rest as much as she does!”

They grinned at her and nodded, then stepped into the room.  Allowing their eyes to adjust to the moonlight-filled room, they gazed upon the still figure in the lone bed.  Genaisa opened her eyes slowly and looked at them, smiling faintly. “Hey…you should be in bed,” she chided them softly.

They chuckled as they walked over and sat down on her bed, lightly touching her in some way. “Yea well, it takes one to know one,” Shu retorted as he winked at her.

She grinned back, leaning against the pillows with a very slight wince. “Well stop worrying about me. I’m fine,” she said firmly. She blinked as she felt fingers lace with her own and looked over at Ryo. Smiling gently at him, she added, “I will be fine. It’ll take more than that to kill me off.”

Ryo sighed softly and replied, “Genaisa…I know I had promised myself not to tell you what to do. But…I’m speaking for the guys too. That’s the third time we’ve nearly lost you because of your thinking that you need to put everything on the line for us in order to prove something! And…” He swallowed hard as he squeezed her fingers. “Genaisa…you have nothing that you need to prove because we already believe you. Don’t make our hearts die again in losing you…onegai,” he whispered softly.

Her eyes filled with tears as the holder of Reikon looked down. She leaned into Ryo as he held her and whispered, “I can’t make a promise to not put myself in danger…but I will try to be more careful.” She felt a kiss being pressed to her head and smiled as she snuggled closer. She was laid back onto the pillows and she smiled up at them. They each gave her a gentle kiss good night, then left the room.  Byakuen purred as they walked by him before he padded silently into Reikon’s room to sleep.

As each Trooper fell asleep, the mark of their yoroi’s soul glowed on their forehead as a soft familiar chiming rang through the air.  Outside of the house, a shimmering form appeared, the Staff of Kaos held tightly within a ghostly hand.  The spirit gazed silently at the cabin, and then began to glow gently. ~Samurai Troopers…your paths were destined long ago. Now, you have been given another chance to live the lives you were promised. But first…you must know why fate has given you this chance. Open your minds to the past…and see yourselves reborn. ~ The chiming increased as the glow flared, matching the lights of the yoroi souls.

* 1,010 years in the past *

“Genaaaisaaa! GENAAAISAAA!! Doko!?” A young boy’s voice floated over to the girl sitting by a patch of flowers. She looked up, curious violet eyes searching for the source as a five year old raven haired boy walked around the bend. She giggled and got up, waving.  Running over towards her, the young boy stopped and put his small fists on his hips as he gazed at her sternly. “Where have you been!? I’ve been looking all over!” he cried sternly, his blue eyes flashing.

Genaisa looked down guiltily, hands behind her back as she remorsefully toed the ground. “Gomen ne, aniki. I didn’t mean to worry you,” she murmured softly, looking up at her brother through her bangs timidly.

His face softened and he grinned. “Well then hurry it up! We’ve been looking all over for you!” he exclaimed, shaking his head. She giggled and hugged him adoringly, snuggling. “Aw c’mon Genaisa! You’re squeezing too hard!” he grumbled good-naturedly, hugging her back.

“Oi Ryo! Did you find her?” another young boy’s voice shouted as a smoky headed youth ran into the clearing. His face broke into a grin as he put his hands on his hips. “You know you are more trouble than you’re worth, Nai-chan,” he said while wagging his finger at her.

“Aw Shu-san, I didn’t mean to! You aren’t going to leave me, are you?” the little girl asked, looking suddenly scared.

“If he did that, we’d have to tell your okaasan and otousan why you’re crying,” a blond haired boy replied with a reproving look at Shu.

Two more boys, one a red head and the other blue haired, sauntered over, laughing. “We wouldn’t want that! No one makes our Nai-chan cry, Seiji,” the blue haired boy proclaimed as he hugged the little girl soothingly.

“Ne, Touma-san, Shin-san…I found those bellise orchids that you were looking for!” Genaisa exclaimed excitedly as she turned in Touma’s arms and clutched his nakata.

“Well why don’t you show us and we can get those herbs for Teirana-sensei,” Shin suggested indulgently as he looked at her over Touma’s shoulder.  Genaisa nodded excitedly and started tugging them along, giggling as they laughingly followed her.

The sun made its slow descent in the sky as the six children played and retrieved the needed herbs.  They had just finished dropping off the herbs and had started a game of tag when they were called.

“Shu! Dinner!”

“Shin! Come wash up! Dinner!”

“Seiji! Mom says to come in for dinner!”

“Ryo! Genaisa! Come inside and wash up!”

“Touma! Find your brother for dinner!”

The six children sighed, calling out assurances to their parents or siblings before looking at each other. “Same time to watch the stars tonight?” Shin asked as he kicked the ground lightly. They all nodded in agreement then waved as they ran to their respective homes.

* present time *

The six Troopers slept peacefully, their faces softened with smiles as they dreamed. Their kanjis pulsed softly as they slept, keeping them in the past.

* 1,007 years in the past *

Eight year old Genaisa hummed softly as she cut the blossoms off of a plant, placing it in a small basket next to her.  She gasped softly in surprise as her world suddenly went dark. A soft chuckle near her ear relaxed her slightly and she smiled. “Seiji…what are you doing?” she asked softly as she smiled and turned to him when he slid his hands from her face.

He grinned at her. “We got let out early by Turano-sensei and have been looking for you. Shesai-san said that Teirana-sensei had sent you to find some lily blossoms,” he replied as he flopped down next to her, eyeing her basket.

She nodded. “Hai. Sensei wants them before I go home. So I have to hurry,” she said as she went back to looking and cutting the delicate blooms. “Sensei says that the petals hold a special ingredient needed for childbirth,” she commented as she glanced over at Seiji.

He grinned at her. “That will be needed for Sosha-san, ne?” He smiled as she nodded, then asked, “Can I help?”

She smiled at him. “Hai! Clip just below the blossoms and clip only the half blooming ones,” she instructed excitedly as he brought out his dagger and started helping. Once the basket was full, they went back to the village. Having dropped off the blossoms, they then went in search of the others.

“Oniisama! Doko!?” Genaisa called out as she ran down the path to the river.  She giggled as Seiji tickled her, and then chased him to the river bank.  There, they found the rest of their group practicing what they had learned. “There you are! What are you doing?” Genaisa asked as she watched her brother and friends go through their katas.

“Training,” Ryo said lightly as he smiled at her and put down his practice sword.

Genaisa gazed at them wistfully. “Wish I could do that,” she mumbled as she sat down and wrapped her arms around her indrawn knees.

“You know you can’t, Nai-chan….it’s against our law for girls to do stuff they shouldn’t,” Shu reminded her as he smiled at her, trying to cheer her up. She pouted and sighed, nodding. “Aw don’t do that, Nai-chan…” Shu groaned sufferingly as she poked her toe slightly in the sand.

“Well….what if we just…happen to show her stuff when we practice?” Touma asked thoughtfully, a grin on his face as he saw her smile slowly.

“Yea…I mean…no one has to know, ne? And it’d be fun…and she could teach us about herbs and such!” Ryo added excitedly as he looked at his friends.

“Weeellll….” Shu hesitated, frowning in concern.

“Come on, Shu-san…it couldn’t hurt. And we’d all keep quiet,” Shin prodded encouragingly. Shu grinned and nodded.

“Honto ni!? WAI!!” Genaisa sprang to her feet joyfully and hugged them all, kissing them on the cheeks. They laughed as they began to teach her how to fight.

* 1,000 years in the past *

“You’re aiming too high, Genaisa. You don’t have to compensate…you’ve got a good eye.” Touma smiled as he helped Genaisa use his bow. He came up behind her and corrected her arms before pressing a kiss to her cheek.  “Just concentrate,” he said softly, encouragingly.

“Hai,” fifteen year old Genaisa replied softly as she focused her aim. She let her arrow fly and giggled as she hit the target. “I did it, Touma!” she cried, laughing as she hugged him tightly.

He chuckled as he hugged her back. “Hai, you did. How are you doing with your katanas and staff exercises?” he asked as she stepped back and ran to get the arrow from the tree. He smiled wistfully as he watched her, wishing not for the first time that he could ask her to marry him. But he and his friends had agreed to let her decide who she wished to be with. ‘It doesn’t help that she’s the most beautiful girl in the village,’ he thought to himself sadly.

She smiled as she came back, her cheeks flushed from excitement. “I’m doing fine…aniki and Seiji are very proud of my form in the swords and Shu and Shin are swearing that I’m cheating whenever I beat them,” she exclaimed, laughing.

Touma laughed with her. Since they had become fourteen years of age, the young men had been training in the weapon area that was the highest talent for them. For Touma, it was the bow and arrow. And they had each been teaching Genaisa privately since they had started to learn and were pleased at how well she listened to them.

It wasn’t one sided, though. They were also learning about the medicinal properties of most herbs from her in exchange.  They found, much to their surprise, that they needed most of that knowledge for their battles or time in the wilderness.

As they each learned from the other, the young men were finding that, outside of Ryo, they were falling even more in love with Genaisa, which had caused great concern between them all.

“I don’t want to lose any of you because I may want to marry Genaisa,” Shu had said solemnly when they had sat together while Genaisa had been away one day.

Touma sighed softly. ‘None of us want that…demo…how could we ever make her choose? We all love her…’ he thought to himself as they went towards the river where their group met every day.  He smiled reassuringly at Genaisa as she glanced at him in worry, then smiled sadly as she wrapped an arm around his waist and snuggled against him as they walked. ‘If only…’

“Konnichiwa, minna!” Genaisa called out cheerfully as she let Touma go and ran towards their friends.

“Oi, Nai-chan! Touma! There you are!” Shu called out as he and Shin put down their staffs and waved.

“Hai!! I got a bull's eye!” Genaisa cried gleefully as she glomped them both, giggling.

“Wow, honto ni? Sugoi!” Shin exclaimed softly as he pecked her on the cheek and grinned at her.

Shu chuckled softly as Touma came up. “Ne, Touma…you got competition afterall!” he teased as he poked his friend. Touma snickered and shook his head as he took his bow off.

“No, I don’t think so…” Genaisa proclaimed wisely as she nodded. “He still can shoot the clouds. I can’t do that,” she said with a grin.

“Sounds like Touma…his head is always in the clouds,” Seiji’s voice floated out teasingly as he and Ryo came from around the river bend.  Giggling, Genaisa hugged them both, accepting loving pecks on her cheek and forehead in greeting. “So you were able to get a good shot? Good job,” Seiji said warmly as he hugged her briefly.

Genaisa nodded and grinned, then gasped. “Oh no! I forgot that we were supposed to get some fubur root and I left my basket in the hut!” she exclaimed as she hit her head. “Oi I’m such a baka…” she muttered to herself.

“Go on and get it and we’ll help you,” Ryo commanded with a grin as he patted her butt to get her moving. She yipped and glared at him, then grinned and nodded, running back towards the village.

She ran to her family’s hut and grabbed her herb basket, then started out again for the river. All of a sudden, she screeched as she was pulled into an ally, her noise muffled by a hand over her mouth. She gasped and struggled as she was pinned, and then froze as a soft voice spoke in her ear. “Genaisa-kun…my father has told me that he has honored my request and has asked your father for your hand in marriage for me.”

She trembled as she was turned and faced a tall muscular young man the same age as her. He had long black hair that was pulled back into a tight ponytail and his chiseled face was drawn into a slight sneer as his green eyes roamed over her trembling body. He licked his lips as he brought his gaze back up to hers. “Soon, you will be mine, precious night-flower,” he whispered softly, his sneer growing into a leer.

Genaisa’s eyes narrowed in fearful anger as she began to struggle. “I will NEVER marry you, Sato! I could never love someone like you!” she cried angrily as she finally broke his hold. She stepped away from him as he stalked towards her.

He chuckled softly. “Love? Who said anything about love? I want you…and I always get what I want,” he said quietly. He cocked an eyebrow as he heard Ryo and Shu’s voices calling for her, then grinned at her again. “Ah well…till our wedding night,” he purred out with a wink and a wicked laugh before he sauntered away, leaving her trembling.

“Genaisa! Doko!?” Ryo called out as he came around the corner, and then smiled as he saw her standing before him. “Ah there you are! You were taking so long that we…began…what’s wrong?!” His smile dropped as he saw her trembling.

She turned to him and sobbed softly as she ran to his arms, cuddling close. “Sato said that his father asked ‘tousan for my hand in marriage!” she sobbed out as she clung to her brother and trembled.

“Nani?!” Ryo asked in shock, his face pale. ‘No…she was supposed to marry one of the guys…’ he thought to himself as he comforted her.

She nodded, sniffling as he soothingly rubbed her back. He looked up as he heard Shu, and then sighed softly as the other boy came over, gray blue eyes filled with concern. He shook his head as Genaisa leaned up, sniffling as she wiped her face. She took a deep breath and smiled at them. “Ah…we’d better hurry and get those roots or else Teirana-sensei will get mad!” she stated cheerfully, though they could tell she was forcing it. But they didn’t fight her and so, followed her back to the others to look for the roots before dinner.

Later that night, Ryo and Genaisa were eating dinner with their father and mother when they received news that changed everything. They looked up as their father put down his chopsticks and gazed at them solemnly. “I received an interesting offer today…for Genaisa’s hand. Gokuran-sama came to me and asked if I would give Genaisa’s hand to Sato-kun in marriage,” he informed them quietly.

Genaisa gasped softly and paled, her eyes wide. Ryo stood up as he touched her hand soothingly. “Onegai, ‘tousan…did you refuse?!” he pleaded softly as he gazed at his father.

“Why should I refuse our lord? His son will take good care of Genaisa,” their father replied sternly as he watched his son.

Shaking his head almost violently, Ryo clenched his hands. “Iiee, ‘tousan! Sato doesn’t love her! Don’t say yes!” he begged.

Frowning, their father glared at Ryo. “I will decide what her future is. Remember who the father is here!” he snapped angrily.

“I won’t do it! I won’t marry him!” Genaisa protested as she shook her head tearfully. “He just wants to sleep with me, nothing more! I don’t want him!” she sobbed out.

“You will obey my orders! I am the head of this household and you will obey!" their father snapped out quietly, his voice brittle and cold as he glared at his wayward children.

"Akira...you are being rather cruel," their mother protested softly as she placed her bowl down.

"She's just like her mother! That one was always so bull headed! It's why she's dead!" Akira snarled, and then stopped as a deathly silence fell over all of them. He looked at his wife in mute shock at what he had just said before looking at his children.

"'Tousan...what do you mean?" Ryo whispered hoarsely as he stared at his father. He glanced at his sister and instantly felt worry shoot through him as he saw her pale countenance.

"Akira...don't..." their mother whispered pleadingly, but Akira shook his head.

"It is for the best that they know," he murmured quietly before straightening and looking directly at Genaisa. "Yurino and I are not your blood parents, Genaisa. Your mother was Ayase, Yurino's sister. Your father was my best friend, Kino. They were only married for a couple of months before they found out that they were expecting,” he started as he watched her, feeling a pang in his chest as he saw her become almost sickly-looking. “Three days before your birth, Kino was killed in a hunting trip by a tiger...” he trailed off and swallowed hard, looking down as he clenched a fist around his chopsticks.

“Ayase was broken by his death. She went into labor after his body was returned, but didn’t survive her labor.  She died immediately after you were born and didn’t even name you. Akira named you after we took you in,” Yurino finished for him as she placed her hand on Genaisa’s hand. Genaisa looked at her tearfully, shaking, and the woman she had known as her mother for years smiled at her gently.  “I insisted on taking you in. Ryo had been born just a week earlier, so I was able to feed you and...we are family,” she added softly.

“B-But n-not-t as it-t should-d b-be,” Genaisa whispered as she sniffled tearfully. She sobbed and pulled away from Yurino, then stood up and ran from the house. Yurino and Akira called for her, but Ryo stared at them in shock.

“I told you we should not have told her!” Yurino cried as she covered her face with a shaking hand.

“She needed to know! And besides, it doesn’t matter now,” Akira replied quietly as he picked up his bowl and began to eat once more. “When she is married, she will have a new family,” he added after swallowing.

“Iiee, papa...please don’t make her do that,” Ryo suddenly whispered as he faced his father. “She hates him and he just wants to use her body and parade her because she is the most beautiful woman in our village. It would be a cold, loveless marriage...do you truly not love her to wish to subject her to that?” he demanded softly as he stared at his father as Akira stopped eating and gazed at the table.

Silence reigned over them for several moments before Akira looked up slightly. “Go find your sister, Ryo. She shouldn’t be left alone,” he murmured quietly and Ryo nodded sharply before standing quickly and leaving the room. Akira looked at his wife sadly, and then smiled. “Perhaps we should speak on what to do about our daughter,” he suggested, earning a small smile and nod from his wife before they returned to dinner.

*~~**~~*

Ryo ran through the woods, calling for his sister in rising panic. He was becoming more and more afraid that she was going to do something drastic after all that had happened. He stopped at a tree, panting heavily as he looked around the shadows frantically for his sister. “Imouto! Imouto, onegai!” he cried roughly, shaking.

“Ryo? What’s happened?” Touma’s voice floated out of the shadows as he appeared from the bushes, eyes wide with worry.

“’Tousan told us that Sato’s father has asked for Genaisa’s hand in marriage,” Ryo explained quietly, nodding as Touma growled lowly. “She and I protested and he...” Ryo stopped as he swallowed hard, and then shook his head, shaking. “We need to find her. I’m afraid for her,” he whispered as he looked up at his best friend.

Nodding in agreement, Touma gripped Ryo’s arm gently. “The others will be here shortly.”

“You always did eat faster than the rest of us,” Seiji commented as he arrived as well, followed by Shu and Shin.

“What’s happened?” Shin asked as he saw how upset Ryo was.

“Later...we need to find Genaisa now,” Ryo replied gruffly before he headed into the woods again, calling for his sister.

“Matte, Ryo...the river. You know she loves it there,” Seiji stated as he caught up with his friend and pointed.

“Ryo no baka! I forgot!” Ryo cried before racing towards the river, followed swiftly by his friends. They came around the bend out of the bushes and stopped as they saw a small curled up figure by the edge of the riverbed. “Imouto!” Ryo’s voice cracked with emotion as he ran to his sister and dropped down next to her, hugging her tightly. “You scared me so much, imouto...” he whispered as he held her and rocked her while the others ran towards her.

“Don’t call me that...I’m not your sister, remember?” she whispered tearfully as she sat in his hold, stunning the other four as they came over.

“Iyah! You are my sister in my heart if not in blood! I will always call you sister!” Ryo retorted angrily as he leaned back and shook her gently, making her look at him. He smiled gently and brushed away her tears. “I love you as my sister and always will, imouto,” he added lovingly before hugging her as she started crying again into his shoulder.

“What do you mean...not related? But you look alike,” Shu said quietly as they sat around the two siblings.

“’Tousan revealed to us that Genaisa is my cousin...not my sister. Her parents died when she was born,” Ryo explained as he rocked his sister, rubbing her back as he ran his fingers through her hair.

“You’re kidding...” Touma whispered in shock, looking as stunned as the others.

Shaking her head as she sat up and sniffled, Genaisa wiped her face and hiccupped. “He told me after telling me that I will be that...that pig headed arrogant man Sato’s wife,” she said hoarsely before sniffling again, hiccupping miserably.

“Nani?! That bastard?! He wouldn’t dare!” Shu growled out as he jumped up, cracking his knuckles before he was yanked back down by Shin.

“Let Akira-kun take care of it, Shu...he’ll do the right thing,” Seiji suggested softly as he rubbed Genaisa’s back soothingly.

“If he will,” Genaisa retorted bitterly, sniffling again as her lip quivered. She bit it and leaned into the gentle touch on her cheek.

“Shinjite, imouto. Papa will come through for us,” Ryo murmured assuredly before hugging her to him once more. They stayed together for a while before he gathered her up and carried her home, since she was sleeping. They parted at the village and all went home. Laying her down in her bedroll, Ryo smiled before he stood and went out of the room. He went to the main room and watched his parents as they sat together, sipping on some tea. “She’s sleeping now.”

“You always did take good care of her, Ryo. Arigato,” Yurino answered with a smile as she reached for her son, drawing him to them. “Your father wishes to tell you his decision.”

Ryo sat down and gazed at his father anxiously as Akira sat up. Clearing his throat, Akira sighed before smiling over at his son. “I will be seeing Gokuran-sama in the morning and informing him that I reject Sato’s request. I will not allow Genaisa to marry Sato-kun,” he stated firmly.

“Arigato, Otousan!” Ryo cried ecstatically before hugging his father impulsively. “Genaisa will be so happy!”

“I know. I just hope that you both marry soon. I don’t wish to marry you off,” Akira murmured as he returned the hug before releasing his son.

“I know, ‘tousan. I don’t know about me, demo, I...” Ryo stopped, biting his lip worriedly before smiling. “I know four who wish her hand that I approve of. Demo...”

“You are leaving it up to her. Oh how tense for them all,” Yurino observed sympathetically as she rubbed her son’s back. “You best go to bed now. You have an early day.”

“Hai, ‘kaasan. Oyasuminasai ‘tousan...’kaasan,” Ryo answered with a smile before kissing them each on the cheek and heading for bed. As he tucked himself in, he smiled happily. At least for now, things were going to be fine.

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