RECAP of chapters 1-7:

When we last left our heroes...

Ryo and Seiji's newly formed romantic relationship caused shock waves to ripple through the troopers home. No one was more affected than Nasuti, who thought that Ryo would someday marry her. She quickly set a sinister plot in motion to get Seiji out of the way, but her plan ends up going horribly awry when Shin also mysteriously disappears.

After awaking in a strange land, Seiji finds himself in a dangerous situation and with newly formed telepathic powers. He befriends a brave hearted woman, Mele, and her young charge, Iliki, both rebels in the fight for freedom of the small island from the insane tyrant, Akamu.

Shin and Seiji finally meet up while on the island, discovering new powers and new allies along the way. In the meantime, Ryo, Touma and Shuu work furiously through the few clues left behind, a bloody sword with a red jewel that acts as a portal between this world and who knows where else, and an inscrutable note, trying to figure out where their comrades have been whisked away to, if not already dead.

Nasuti shows little remorse for the troopers who have vanished, feeling that they are casualties in the war for Ryo's love.

After a confrontation with Anubis about Seiji's whereabouts, Ryo recklessly joins Seiji and Shin, not knowing if he'll pass through the portal safely or be killed.

Touma and Shuu are left to speculate who might have planted the sword...

And without further delay, I give you chapter eight...

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Summary: When unrequited love shifts jealousy into blind rage, Seiji finds himself displaced.

Ryo/Seiji Shounen ai Drama R

Warning: This story contains shounen ai, which implies male/male love. Please do not read if such ideas upset you. Please use your good judgment. This fiction also contains violence and implied non-con sex. Consider yourself forewarned.

Rated R for violence, strong language and sexual situations.

Disclaimer: "Yoroiden Samurai Troopers" does not belong to me. I am but a lowly slug.

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To Have and Have Not
by Libellule

Chapter Eight: All coming together

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She knew that something had to be done. Nasuti sat fretfully in her Grandfather's chair, tapping her foot impatiently against the floor. She twisted her hair around her fingers, a nervous habit carried through from childhood.

The longer she waited, the more danger Nasuti was in. Touma would figure it out if she kept denying information about the sword, especially since her Grandfather's research most likely would have covered such things as an ancient sword. The fact that his research about the yoroi actually had unearthed a number of other ancient artifacts, and had in actuality directly informed her of the blood sword's existence, did not bode well for her.

It was only a matter of time before Touma discovered her Grandfather's association to the sword, and ultimately, her own evolvement. She hadn't exactly been thinking straight when she pulled strings to get that sword, let alone thought to cover her tracks.

If Touma found out, he would surely tell Ryo, and that would certainly make Nasuti out to be some kind of monster. Not that Ryo wouldn't understand eventually. But right now he was very sick, poisoned by Seiji, and would not be able to appreciate the great lengths through which she had gone to save him.

She knew that no number of explanations would make they boys understand what had driven her to such extremes. She needed Ryo like she needed air. They surely would not deny her the very breath that she needed to live?

The problem of Touma remained. He was smart, almost a match for her own intelligence. She had to stop him somehow without arousing suspicion.

Kill him, she thought for a fleeting instant. Something inside of her recoiled and she quickly dismissed the idea. She only had to stop him from sticking his nose where it wasn't wanted.

In fact, she thought suddenly, if I give him what he is looking for, then he would stop looking... and Nasuti's secret would be safe.

Unlocking the metal filing cabinets in her Grandfather's study, she fingered through the files. Nasuti's records were immaculate, everything neat and labeled. She pulled a file folder out and skimmed through its contents.

Wouldn't want to make it too easy, she thought as she removed any information that would reveal her current involvement, leaving just the bare notes.

When she was satisfied that all incriminating evidence was hidden away in the locked cabinet, she hurried from the room calling, Touma, Look what I found!

Touma leaned back in his chair, massaging his forehead. He'd been going around in circles for hours trying to figure this quandary out. There were too many pieces missing.

The only thing that he knew for certain was that everything tied back to the sword, and who brought it to the house. It was only his gut instinct telling him that Arago had nothing to do with it, and that Anubis was above these games. Touma was beginning to suspect that someone who lived in the house had planted the sword-- or perhaps Seiji himself brought he sword into the house, not knowing exactly what he possessed.

The door opened, a bright path of light cutting across his face as Shuu's silhouetted from stood in the doorway.

We have a problem, Shuu said, glancing across the desk at Touma's weary face. Ryo's gone.

Touma retorted, feeling his anger rise. God damn it, Ryo, he cursed, just couldn't wait!

Shuu interrupted his rant. What do we do? he asked. He came around the side of the desk, leaning down to Touma's eye level. I say we go after them.

he said resolutely, shaking his head. They could be trapped where the are, unable to get home, or they could be dead.

Well we can't sit on our asses forever! Shuu retorted, throwing his hand up exasperated.

I have to find out where that sword came from first, Touma insisted. That's the source of all of this.

Look-- I'm sick of waiting, Shuu said. I'll take my chances with the portal.

Touma shouted after him. That's not fair.

I'm done-- tomorrow I'm finding out what happens when you touch that sword-- with or without you.

Touma sighed loudly. What a mess, he thought for a moment before he heard Nasuti calling his name.

She came bounding into the room, obviously very excited.

Touma said evenly. You'd better sit down.

Her cheery demeanor lessened slightly as she stopped before the desk. she asked with a forced smile.

There was no way to tell her gently so he said, Ryo's gone.

Her face darkened and her eyes slanted.

Both Touma and Shuu were taken aback. Nasuti never swore. Not once in all the time they had known her had she ever been so blunt with her language. Touma studied her carefully. She hadn't seemed quite herself since the moment Ryo had taken up with Seiji.

Nasuti seemed to realize what she'd said, and her face contorted with the onset of tears. I'm sorry, she murmured. I just-- i didn't expect that, she sobbed. Especially now that I've found what we're looking for.

You did? Touma asked, surprised, sitting up straight in his chair. She tossed the file on the desk. It was in my Grandfather's study all along.

We searched through everything-- Touma pressed.

Except the locked filing cabinet, she retorted, then smiled sweetly.

Well, what does it say? Shuu asked, twisting to look at the papers over Touma's shoulder.

Well, just that it's dangerous and people have disappeared before, Nasuti said casually.

Oh, big help, that, Shuu scowled, throwing his hand up. We know that already.

Nasuti folded her arms, clearly not amused by his lack of impress. It's called the irae, means the wrath of the gods. There's a piece of the sword missing-- there are grooves on the back of the blade--.

Yeah, yeah, but how do we get them back-- Shuu interrupted.

Hell if I know, Nasuti spat back. She paused to compose herself again. I'm sure you guys will find a way, she said sweetly. Even if you have to go there yourselves and get him back.

That's what I said, Shuu replied. Touma thinks we might not be able to come back.

That's nonsense, Nasuti said quickly. The sword had to get here somehow, most likely through another portal, which I'm sure you will find once you are there.

Touma was staring at Nasuti, engrossed in thought. His thoughts were racing and in a direction he didn't like.

Why wouldn't they have found it by now? Touma said finally. If there is a portal.

Well, maybe it takes something as powerful as Kikoutei, Nasuti said.

Oh, man, I'm going to get ready, Shuu said. Need to eat before we go through that portal-- want anything, Touma?

He shook his head. No, I'm going to sort through these papers.

I'll make you a sandwich, Shuu, Nasuti offered, suddenly quite chipper. And I'll make you one anyway, Touma. You'll need your strength to bring him back.

Touma watched them leave. That was twice now that Nasuti had referred to bringing back. Obviously she meant Ryo. There could be no doubt as to who occupied her thoughts.

Nasuti's behavior was grating on him. Touma picked up the folder, and leafed through the pages, curious to see what her Grandfather had written.

Most of the notes looked like they were typed on an old typewriter, but on closer inspection, Touma realized they had been printed using a font that imitated typewriter letters.

Why? he thought. He doubted that Nasuti's Grandfather had been interested in typefaces. He looked more carefully at the document, finding little handwritten notations on the back of a few sheets.

Something triggered in his brain-- Touma quickly rummaged through the desk drawers finally retrieving the note that had been left at the scene of the crim. The handwriting was different, but Touma knew they were written by the same hand, the letters had the same slope, and the i's forgotten dots.

These notes were supposed to be from Nasuti's grandfather, but if he'd died nearly six years ago, how could he have written that note to Seiji?

Touma sat very still. He didn't want to think it, but it was too late, he'd already figured it out.

Nasuti. She'd been acting strangely lately. After her tirade about Seiji being no better than a whore and Ryo enjoying a position of sexual domination, things had been clearly different. She had become bitter and scathing, no longer the sweet young woman who had generously opened her home to them. She was a different person now, and there was no denying her sinister intentions to hurt Seiji.

His options were limited. Shuu might do something rash with the information and if he confronted Nasuti about it, who knows how she'll react.

She had obviously gone insane, but Touma had no way of knowing to what degree.

If she's capable of hurting Seiji, she could turn on any of us, he thought. Better not give her reason.

Of course this was all wild speculation. He still had no concrete evidence to support his theory. There had to be another explanation, Touma just couldn't find it.

I have to keep this to myself, he thought. I'll need her help to get them back.

After examining everything in the folder for content, Touma called for Shuu and said, It's our turn to go.

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It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun setting in a stunning spectrum of fiery colors. The warm breeze caressed Seiji's skin as he walked down the beach. Iliki danced in front of him, stooping to collect various shells and tide-worn stones.

Mele was to his left and Shin to his right as they walked together along the shoreline.

So, let me get this straight, Shin began. Peheo ohe nana?

Mele laughed, throwing her head back and letting out a delighted cackle.

What did I say? Shin asked Seiji with a frown.

Smiling he said, You asked her, how are the microscopes?

That's not what I meant to say, Shin sighed.

Try again, Seiji encouraged. You really are getting much better.

Turning to Mele, Shin asked, Peheo oe?

Mele smiled brightly and clapped triumphantly.

I asked her how she was, right? Shin whispered to Seiji.

He nodded and added, She said she was just fine.

Communication had become somewhat of problem between Shin and the indigenous people. In the beginning he had to ask Seiji to translate, who had the benefit of understanding the language by skimming people's thoughts.

Seiji had suggested that he start to pick up phrases and keywords. Their daily walks on the beach had become a ritual language lesson. Mele sometimes joined them to test Shin's progress, and was oftentimes subjected to the most ridiculous statements she'd ever heard.

Shin was improving, the language not entirely different from Japanese, there were a few words here and there that he could recognize immediately. Now he was able to understand almost everything anyone said to him, but frequently had trouble saying what he meant.

Before you know it, you and Mele will be able to--. Seiji stopped short, feeling something scrape inside his mind.

Shin asked, steadying him with a hand at his shoulder. Are you all right?

A shock struck down through his soul and he looked up bewildered. he whispered.

Mele asked, glancing between Seiji and Shin.

He's here, Seiji whispered, looking to Shin who gently nodded in confirmation. My God, he's here...

Without further explanation Seiji surged ahead, a green blur of light, pausing for only a moment to allow Kourin to lead him towards Rekka.

His heart was pounding in his ears as Kourin guided him. He wasn't thinking about the last time they spoke, and the bad blood between them, or how he most likely recklessly charged ahead, having no regard for his own safety. Seiji's only thought was of Ryo. Just Ryo.

Precisely when he ws beginning to doubt the pangs around his heart, he spotted a figure lying on the shore, black hair, red shirt, unmistakably Ryo.

Lying on his back, the tide crashed up the beach, splashing against Ryo's unmoving body, tugging him back into the sea.

Seiji skidded to his knees, splashing through the tide, and pulled Ryo up into his lap shielding him from the clutches of the sea.

Seiji said, cupping his wet face. Ryo, open your eyes.

His brow furrowed, and he groaned, feeling the sharp pains of sword travel.

Open your eyes for me, Seiji commanded.

His eyes fluttered, slowly focusing on Seiji's face. He squinted and blinked as if unsure he was seeing properly.

Ryo whispered, uncertainly.

he nodded vigorously. Yes, I'm here. You're here with me-- we're together.

Suddenly Ryo shot up. Seiji sat back quickly just barely avoiding crashing heads with Ryo.

he gasped, clamping his hands on Seiji's shoulders. Thank God. Ryo crushed him into a fierce hug. Thank God, he repeated.

Then just as suddenly Ryo broke into a rush of words, Oh, Seiji-- I'm so sorry-- I didn't mean it-- everything that I said-- please forgive me-- I really didn't--.

Seiji said sharply, immediately silencing the Fire warrior, his blue eyes filled with worry.

Seiji smiled, pulling Ryo close once again. Shut up and kiss me.


To be continued....

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Author's Notes:

Well, there really isn't anything I can say other than, I'm sorry it took so long. Hopefully now I won't wait MONTHS between chapters, that things will come along smoothly.

I really hope somebody out there is reading this.

As always, feedback is appreciated (oh please let me know how I'm doing!!). Want to discuss? e-mail me please or visit my webjournal!

Since fanfiction dot net removes a lot of characters, I have to spell it out for you all.

Li underscore bell underscore ule at yahoo dot com

and

Libelluledate dot bravejournal dot com

They're both in my ff . net profile, see above.

Thanks everyone!

--Li