Summary:  Set directly after the events in A Stitch In Time.  With such drastic changes comes the inevitable repercussion...  The extreme price that must be paid is more than they can afford.  Will the troopers be able to endure the consequences of their actions?

Ryo/Seiji shounen ai drama R

Rated R for violence, strong language and sexual situations.

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

Plea:  Please read and review, oh wise and generous readers! 

*Any* comments or suggestions are welcome.

Comments are happily received at: [email protected]

Reciprocal Motion

Epilogue: afterwards  

Shin reached them first, not hesitating to step through the blood muddying the earth to get to them.  The front of Seiji's subarmor glistened with a gruesome stain that had unmistakably come from a wound at his abdomen.  Ryo had firm hold of him, and Shin was not sure if Seiji could even stand on his own.  With Seiji's blood smeared across his chest, Ryo looked haggard, but composed.

"Ryo!  Seiji—"

Shifting his bleary gaze towards him, Seiji struggled to make his eyes focus.  Shin was saying something— his face was creased with concern, and his mouth was moving, creating unintelligible syllables to Seiji's ears.  Unable to concentrate, Seiji felt his consciousness slipping into grayness.  Too exhausted to be concerned, he leaned into Ryo's strength, pressing his head against his shoulder.

"Easy," Ryo whispered to him, as he felt Seiji's fortitude waver.  He realized that Seiji was plummeting into shock as his body readjusted to life.

Shin was asking him a multitude of questions regarding their well being, but Ryo's eyes were trained on Touma, whose face twisted with quiet ire. Ryo knew he was going to ask what they had been doing, why they had been kissing...

"We're fine-- really." Ryo said quickly. "But no more questions right now. We'll discuss it in the morning."

"But Ryo--."  Before Shin could finish, Ryo brushed past him with Seiji firmly in his grasp.

"We'll talk about it later." Ryo promised, glancing over his shoulder at him. 

Shin stood helplessly on the grass with Touma, Shuu and Nasuti, watching them disappear into the evening shadows. 

Touma shook his head angrily and stalked after them.

"Touma, no!" Shin shouted, cutting in front of him.  He placed his hand on Touma's shoulders.  "Please, let it go."

"He can't do that!" Touma fumed.  "We all helped to get Seiji back, and Ryo just— just—."

"I know." Shin said.  "But you have to calm down.  We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Angrily, Touma balled his hands into fists by his sides, but said nothing more.  He sighed heavily, conceding to Shin's request.  The depth of his rage unnerved Shin a little, made him take pause to reconsider the situation.

"Come on, guys," Shuu said.  "There's nothing else for us to do tonight, but sleep." 

Touma, Shin and Nasuti followed Shuu back towards the house, each lost in private deliberation.    

*******************

The troopers disbanded for the rest of the night, retreating to their rooms.  Drained after having spent the past twenty-four hours essentially awake, Ryo didn't care what the others thought as he led Seiji to his bedroom.

"Ryo?"  Seiji asked wearily as he recognized the closed door as not his own.  "I-I'm so tired…" 

Clasping his hand gently, Ryo whispered, "I know."  He lowered his eyelashes and whispered, "Please stay with me."  With his free hand he turned the doorknob and murmured, "I need you with me tonight…"
           

They slept together that first night. Nothing happened between them-- completely exhausted, they merely fell asleep sharing the same bed. Ryo knew he would not have slept soundly without the quiet sound of Seiji's breathing, and the insurance of his body beside him.

The room was filled with sweet sunlight when Ryo woke, the late morning rays stinging his skin with its glaring heat.  Awareness slowly returned to his senses.  His head pounded and his body ached all over, but it could not suppress the warmth that swelled his heart as Ryo found his arm slung protectively over Seiji's torso, and Seiji curled closely beside him.

Ryo lifted his chin from the pillow and slowly turned his head to study the sleeping form beside him. Seiji looked at ease, his cares gone in sleep.  Ryo smiled as he watched the steady rise and fall of his chest.  He was so thankful for that simple movement, so slight and yet so significant. 
       

Carefully, Ryo disentangled himself from the sheets. Seiji stirred fleetingly, but did not wake.  Leaving the room as quietly as he could, Ryo left Seiji to rest. 

************************

Having resisted the urge to run upstairs and crawl back into bed with Seiji, Ryo couldn't stand waiting any longer, and wandered back to his bedroom a few hours later to check on him.

Peering into the room from the hallway. Ryo noted that the bed was made, but there were no signs of Seiji.  A pang of nervousness tore through him, but was quickly subsided when he took two steps into the room and saw the blond standing by the window. 

"Hey," Ryo said, trying to sound casual as he leaned against the doorframe. 

Seiji turned his head briefly, and acknowledged Ryo's presence, but returned his gaze towards the window.  Ryo came up behind him and gently placed his hands on Seiji's shoulders. "How you feeling?"

He was silent for a while, letting Ryo's question hang in the air. 

"I feel empty inside." Seiji shifted to face him.

Ryo noted that he looked better-- life was slowly embracing him once again. Seiji's eyes were returning to their normal color, but there was a dejectedness glistening in his violet depths.  Ryo opened his mouth to speak, but Seiji cut him off. 

"I need something to fill the void." He whispered. "Or perhaps, someone."  Seiji looked up at Ryo, his eyes expressing his need for refuge.

A slight smile upturned Ryo's lips as he touched them to Seiji's in a gesture of ineffable affection.  He broke away from the kiss and enfolded Seiji in his arms, enjoying the new privilege of unchecked touch. Physical contact with Seiji before had been nearly impossible, his demeanor demanded that people stay at a distance, and small touches had to be stolen in moments of distraction.

Ryo loved the feel of him, of the strength retained in his toned body, of his warmth that at a distance was lost.

He shifted, grasping Seiji from behind, holding him closer, tighter, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. Ryo felt Seiji's throat tremble when he kissed it, the blond laughing quietly.

       

"What are we?" Seiji asked after a moment.
       

"What do you mean?" Ryo asked him in reply, avoiding a direct answer.
       

Seiji pulled from his reach to look at him. "Are we friends-- who kiss occasionally, who sometimes share the same bed? Are we more than that? Are we less?"
       

"I thought..." Ryo started. "I thought we were more than that... at least you're more than a friend to me..." He watched Seiji carefully, trying to decipher his stoic expression.

"That's it, then." Seiji whispered. "It's finished."
       

"It's over?" Ryo asked in disbelief.
       

Seiji nodded gravely. "Our friendship is, lover."
        

Ryo's heart constricted for just a moment until he considered what had been said. "Wait-- what did you just call me?"

Seiji out right laughed at his bewilderment.  Approaching him gently, Seiji cupped Ryo's face between his hands.  "Ryo, there is no one else I would rather be with." 

"You tease!" Ryo chuckled.  "How could you do that to me?" He didn't think Seiji had it in him to joke— he was glad.  Did that mean things were getting back to normal?  "You must be feeling better."

Seiji's eyes glittered with mischief as a smile played at his lips.  "You were asking for it. Don't think I didn't notice you copping a feel."

"What?!" Ryo shouted. "Oh, I'll feel you up." He lunged forward as Seiji ducked his grasp, but did not quite get away from the tackle. They went crashing to the floor, a tangle of limbs. Helpless laughter ensued at their folly.  "How romantic, Ryo." Seiji quipped. 

After lying there for a while, Ryo lifted his head from Seiji's chest and said, "I suppose we should go downstairs soon."

"We have some explaining to do, don't we?"

"Yeah, I've been dodging the others all day waiting for you." Ryo grinned.  "There was no way in hell I'd be facing the firing squad alone!"

"Come on then," Seiji said, attempting to sit. "Let's not keep them waiting."

********************************

Nasuti heard the door to Ryo's room open as they exited, lightheartedly.

Flopping on her bed, she scowled in disgust. She'd heard Ryo and Seiji laughing together. They'd probably been laughing at her.

Nasuti could not believe this was happening. She had wept bitterly, when she saw Ryo lead Seiji into his bedroom last night.

Ryo was hers. They were supposed to be together-- it was their destiny. Five years of careful planning was down the drain because of one stupid kiss. And she hadn't seen it coming. Of all things, Nasuti had never considered that any of the boys were a threat to her future with Ryo.

Nasuti rose from her bed. She had to go downstairs-- they might suspect something if she didn't.

"Ryo and I are meant to be together." She said suddenly. If Seiji couldn't see that then she'd have to make him see.

"I'll get him back," Nasuti said darkly. "One way or another."

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Hi everyone.  Thanks for the comments and support throughout the duration of this story.

This is only the beginning—there is much, much more to my Samurai Troopers *world*.  I have another story in the works—visit my web page soon for a sneak peak at the next story arc (http://thedragonflysleeps.tripod.com)

Thanks again, see you soon,

Li