Secrets: Suiko's Captivity

Chapter One

By: Valandra

Beta: Zorra

A/N: Prequel to Secrets. Chapter starts off as a more Ma'Sho POV focus then I thought it would. But then again, I suppose I should have expected it, given Shin's current state... Enjoy my friends, I hope this story captures your hearts as much as Secrets did. I have a feeling it's going to be just as much fun as well.

Story Time-Line Notes (copied and pasted from Secrets) For anyone that hasn't read Secrets: YST world, though I've bumped the war to year 1990, instead of 1988, aging everyone by two years. Not something I usually do, but for the story's sake, I've taken to using my artistic license. This story opens up at the start of the Second War, mid-series. In keeping with Secret's history and time-line, this story should not stray too far from Cannon.

oOo

Naaza found himself drawn down to the Spirits' dungeons by a nag-like calling, a similar instinct that had once led him to Suiko's resting place beneath the waters, so long ago. 'Something isn't right. Arago hasn't shown anything but his pleasure for Suiko's capture, so what is it…. Badamon? …The spirits are restless.'

He entered the only active chamber and kept himself to the shadows as he observed, his thoughts silenced. ~He's been down here for two days now. He's no longer screaming. Do you truly think you'll be able to convert him?~

Naaza felt Rajura's mental shrug as a sense of neglect, before the elder's words filled his mind. ~The hollowness I sensed in him in the beginning has only grown as the war continues. I think we'll not have a second chance after this one. …You've withheld your own opinion on this matter, however. Whatever I do or do not sense, you know him better, brother. Your silence belies your doubt.~

A silent snort of a laugh escaped Naaza as he leaned back against the stone wall. Arms crossed before his chest and hidden by the shadows, black eyes observed Suiko's silent form as the spirits' spell danced around him like living energy. ~His heart. He's too compassionate at the worse times. Unless his very understanding is altered, he'll not swear allegiance. For one who stands so firm for Trust's banner, he is surprisingly leery of even his own brothers. I suspect he would keep us at an even greater distance.~

Rajura's amusement was derisive. ~By their very nature, a pack of Masterless Ronin are incapable of Trust. They each serve their own agenda, no matter how similar their individual goals may seem.~

A third, darker tenor joined their thoughts and drew a small smile to Naaza's thin lips. ~As reckless and foolhardy as they are, I'm surprised no Daimyo has ordered their deaths. They caused more damage then the invasion did, in the beginning. Even now, they continue to insult us by holding back in one-on-one combat. I think this has been the first honorable battle any of them have seen through to the end.~

Whereas Rajura's presence had been similarly derogatory towards the Ronin, it was now gentled to sooth the Yami Ma'Sho. There was more then injured pride and honor behind the warrior's attitude, buried beneath his anger and scars. ~They will each learn the err of their ways. Whether they find redemption with us, or perish once we have won. Either way, they'll not remain Ronin.~ It was scant comfort, but Anubis was in one of his better moods, and allowed himself to be consoled rather then rebel against his brother's words and wishes.

~And actually, it's been three days. You both have spent a day's worth of time asleep, though only one of you has an excuse.~ It was a mild rib at Rajura, one the silver-haired Ma'Sho bore stoically; or rather, he flat-out ignored it. As the topic of the remaining Ronins had been brought up, Anubis was about to broach the subject of the next one to be hunted, but instead he frowned where he lay in his chambers. ~Naaza?~ he prompted, sensing a shift in his brother's attention.

~…Suiko's outer and inner shell faded and reformed. The Spirits are more unsettled then when I entered. Something isn't right.~

~I had been curious as to where you'd wondered off to,~ Rajura's voice sounded mellow enough, but he couldn't hid the underlying concern from his brothers. ~It's too soon for the yoroi to be so drained. Theoretically there should be no signs for a few more weeks. Even then, the life and color, the very soul of the yoroi should fade to a shell, not vanish entirely.~

~Then I suggest you hurry,~ Naaza informed rather sharply, knowing the eldest Ma'Sho was already on his way down even as he himself moved from the shadows. ~I'm calling the Spirits off.~ He put word to action as the blue lights of the dungeon's torches gave ill light to his armorless approach. He wasn't halfway across the chamber before the spirits were gone and the only sound to reach the Doku Ma'Sho was a heavy rasping.

~Something's wrong.~ The sharpness of his tone drew Anubis from his chambers to join him. 'His breath's constrained,' the healer in him noted, stepping forward to access the situation as the warrior took a step back in difference. Naaza reached up to release the cuffs encasing Suiko's wrists, only to hiss when he caught sight of the youth's face. 'Pale, discolored lips. He's close to death by pallor alone, and his scent….'

He settled Suiko on the stone as gently as he could, though the youth was still jarred. Naaza however, was unrepentant as it caused Suiko to stir and show signs of life for the first time since he'd been observing. The healer knelt down near the youth's chest and hip, but before he could reach out to remove Suiko's helmet, a second pair of hands were already doing so.

Rajura, already knelt down at Suiko's head, set the youth's helmet aside and arched a brow when Suiko turned his sweat-damp cheek to the cool stone. 'He looks younger then Sh'ten,' he noticed absently, already reaching out to brush reddish hair aside. His breath caught sharply, drawing Naaza's attention as he pressed his fingers against Suiko's temples, turning the youth's head to do so; he ignored the youth's moaned protest. "He's burning up," Rajura explained, feeling the healer's demand even as he gently probed the ill Ronin. "This isn't the spirits' doing." Expression pinched, Rajura's violet eye twitched moments before Suiko's armor flared and faded to its dormant state.

Naaza frowned at the odd garment Suiko was dressed in, but paid it only a second's thought as he rolled the youth over onto his back. 'His breathing eased with Suiko's release, but it's still not right.' He took note of Anubis joining them even as he took Suiko's pulse. With a hiss, he released the youth's wrist and pressed his fingers over the boy's bare chest. "His hearts' beat is irregular," Naaza explained, his voice sharp with both anger and concern. He took the youth's wrist again and pricked a small vein to draw and taste his blood, though he suspected the cause already. Naaza was less then pleased to prove himself correct. "It's the venom," he hissed, his anger growing, with himself as much as with the fool laid out before him.

"I thought Suiko acted like a counter-agent to your venom," Anubis questioned as he knelt down on the fallen youth's free side. Though he was cautious with his tone, the temperamental healer still glared at him.

"Even a counter-agent can be overwhelmed. Suiko took all it could, and left the rest to human flesh. It's already filtered through his heart, I have to administer an anti-venom before it settles further. Then drain it off." The youth's death was assured, otherwise. Anubis suppressed a shiver; even a Ronin deserved better then an unintentional death. Or was he going soft?

Nails unnaturally sharp, Naaza was already cutting Suiko's chest open, there on the dungeon floor, when Anubis snapped himself from his contemplations. Whether it was because he was incapable or not, Suiko didn't scream. A sharp, pained cry escaped him before he started to flail and struggle between them. "Grab his arms!" Naaza ordered, black eyes lifted briefly to Anubis. "Hold him down! I don't want to draw any more blood then needed." He resumed his efforts, one hand to cut while his other pried the flesh open for his view. He had to strike the right spot, otherwise he would deliver instant death.

Muscle was shifted beneath bloodied fingers when the youth's body started to tremble. 'He can't be going into shock yet, I already gave him a calming agent.' Even so, Naaza's hands neither paused nor faltered in his work.

"His mind!" Rajura hissed, already monitoring Suiko's spirit. He flinched beneath the touch of said mind, having expected Suiko to lash out, and yet…. Fingers secure over the youth's temples, Rajura's violet eye closed before he could observe his brother's reactions to the redhead's touch. He bowed his head and followed the injured touch, gathered the fleeing spirit. ~He's already so scattered,~ his words were remorseful.

~Anubis!~ Naaza's sharp tone ordered, though for what Rajura could only guess. Suiko's spirit was more then hollow as he'd declared upon the Ronin's arrival. It was faded, weaker then even the Spirits' could be held accountable for. 'Why hasn't he called out to the other Ronins? We've seen no indication that any of them are aware of his situation.' Rajura wondered, even as he forced that shade of a spirit to remain. The mind about them was growing steadily brighter as Naaza progressed, a reflection of Suiko's pain.

~…There is no bond,~ Anubis breathed, mindful to keep his thoughts from disturbing Naaza's concentration. He felt Rajura's gratitude for his aid, as the nova-bright pain-filled mind dimmed to a tree-shaded afternoon. The two brothers worked together to calm Suiko's wounded mind and fleeing spirit, while Naaza fought to keep his weakened heart alive.

In the hour that passed, Rajura felt the fight lessen in Suiko's spirit, a grudging acceptance of his presence; that's not to say that he wasn't still fighting to escape. Anubis continued his role as a medium, his attention split between the Ronin's mental existence and his physical body. He did what he could to prevent either form from going into shock by providing the peace that only night's embrace could grant. Naaza, though he had administered the anti-venom correctly, still had a fight on his hands to keep the youth's heart beating. It had stopped twice before he felt enough of his anti-venom was absorbed.

With a heavy sigh, Naaza leaned back on his haunches and wiped his bloody hands over his yukata. ~Physically, he's ready to be moved,~ he informed Anubis, unwilling to distract Rajura. He'd felt Suiko's spirit along with Anubis…he wasn't certain how long ago it was, he'd been too focused on the Ronin's heart. 'I don't know what Rajura did to calm him after that, but I'm certainly not going to risk distracting him from it now. Suiko's not a quitter, so perhaps a compromise….'

With his attention no longer split between the two realms, Anubis turned his entire focus to Suiko's mind. He took form from the shadows and made certain those same shadows didn't fluctuate around them as he joined the two forms in their center. ~Naaza's ready to move him. Do you still need to anchor him?~ He stopped beside the knelt form of his brother, and was surprised by the sight he saw. Having felt what amounted to a wrestling match before Suiko had grudgingly settled down, he expected Rajura to be holding the youth down. What he saw was the shade of Suiko's spirit holding his brother's waist just as tightly, if not more-so.

Rajura released a heavy breath, though air and breathing were unnecessary in this realm. He brushed a hand over the bowed head pressed against his stomach before he looked up to his brother. ~I think that might be wise. He's injured by more then the venom. I shouldn't need the physical contact anymore.~ He paused in his explanation when, inexplicably the arms around him tightened, as if Suiko could hear them. Rajura petted the youth's head once more, a faint smile threatening his lips.

~I suppose that means I'll have to carry you,~ Anubis sighed as if put-upon. It earned him a laugh followed by a sense of gratitude. ~You're going to owe me for this.~ Even as he teased, he puzzled at the curious change in his eldest brother's aura. There was something disquieting about it…a remorseful fondness he himself was familiar with, but hadn't sensed in centuries. 'There's more then a simple puzzle here, if he's snared your attention so surely. I wonder what I missed?'

~Of that, I have no doubt,~ Rajura agreed.

Anubis sighed, then groaned as his awareness returned to the physical world. ~Let's get them moved before the spirits come poking around again. I've kept them at bay until now, but I'm tired.~

Unable to help himself, Naaza chuckled before he carefully gathered Suiko into his arms. ~You split your attention three ways. It's to be expected.~ Placating, rather then teasing. A rather telling sign that the healer was still in full control and concerned for his family. Anubis managed a wan smirk. He shared a sense of tired assurance with Naaza as he gathered Rajura into his own arms.

oOo

Seated at the foot of the bed, Anubis observed in silence as Naaza dealt with the final touches to his equipment. Although the anti-venom would remain in Suiko's heart for the time being and protect it, the venom itself still needed to be drained. Anubis had assisted with what he could, and now was more then ready to turn in for some rest of his own. However, seeing how small and pale Suiko was on the edge of the large bed, even with Rajura on the other side, reminded him of the scene inside the youth's psyche.

~A child,~ he thought, careless in his exhaustion and thus surprised when Naaza questioned him on it. Navy blue eyes blinked and focused on the healer. ~He reminds me of a child, the way his spirit was clinging to Rajura. I also don't understand how he could be such a shade of himself. That didn't happen in just three days.~

Naaza frowned and, with a final check on his equipment, moved to stand before Anubis. ~Come,~ his touch was gentle to the Yami's mind, even as cool fingers curled to brush his dark cheek. ~Let us retire for the night. Rajura will have more answers for us tomorrow.~

Anubis stood, and found himself strangely reluctant to leave the two alone. It took another prompting from Naaza to turn him away and follow from the room. 'A child…you know better then the rest of us, Dark One, that you are no longer a boy once you grow pass your mother's waist.'

TBC….

More A/N: Hi all! I felt this note fit better at the end rather then the beginning. Although this is the second time I've "published" any of my writing involving the Ma'Sho (Secrets being the first), this is far from the first time I have written any of them. As no one complained about them seeming OOC in Secrets, I'm not too worried about it happening here either. But again, I'm not really sure what the current "trends" are in the fandom for characterization. Regardless, I started writing them with both Zorra and Cousin D many years ago, so I'm as "old fashioned" with them as I am concerned with giving them just as much character as our Trooper boys. So even if you're not a big Ma'Sho fan, I hope you'll find something interesting here.