In a place far from what we know as the earth there existed a peaceful realm known for its natural beauty. The people lived off of the land and respected it for what it gave them and for the dangers that were held within it. They lived in small communities, no bigger than what we would call villages, and the only structure of any significance was the palace. The palace had been carved from the side of a cliff in the very center of the realm. It looked out and down to the eastern, western, and southern parts of the country able to see all that went on in their world. Only the north was not visible from the palace, but no one dared to live in the northern part of the world. Not only was it unbearably cold to the north, but there were dangers that they could not, nor would not, even attempt to face. In this world magic was abundant and was taught to children much as we would teach our children how to add or subtract, however even their magic was not strong enough to face this dangerous land and its evils.

 

            Unfortunately all in this realm was not good. It had started months ago, a dark shadow was cast upon their home and no matter what they tried no one was able to do anything, not even the queen. She was the strongest of all the magic users in the country and was a descendent of the king who had first established their realm in this place of beauty. To the south, east, and west the green of the forests started to face and turn brown; the blue sparkling waters of the lakes and rivers started to dry up, and worst of all, the magic that came to them so easily was weakening and dying out.

 

            The queen sat in her throne room, a tall wide room used mostly for ceremony; she found the light that came in through its tall windows adequate for reading the messages and maps that were spread out before her. Before it would have been nothing to light the entire room with just a sprinkling of magic, but not even she could waste her remaining power on that. She was bent over a map, making a thick black line etching out the new boarder where the land had completely died, she had just received a report detailing the damages had broken the quill she was holding as she read it. The illness had started in the east and west at almost the same time, and traveled around the borders of the country to the south before turning inland and toward the center. The people who had lived in the afflicted areas had been moved to safety but the means to feed and house these people were causing even more strain on the country.

 

            She was deep in thought when she heard someone cough. She looked up and saw a young soldier standing hesitantly in the large doorway that led into the room. She closed her eyes and tried to force her worries to the side for the moment. She disliked having to deal with these young soldiers, they were too young, but so many had died trying to find a solution to the country’s sickness that they had been forced to recruit younger and younger soldiers. She knew this soldier, but that didn’t make it any easier. He was the only son of her own nannie, and though they did not grow up together, he had been born long after her nannie had left the castle’s employ, she couldn’t help but feel protective over him.

 

            “Kashikoi? Is there something you need?” She watched as he took a few more steps into the room and bowed to her.

 

            “I have been sent to inform your highness that the plan has been put into motion,” He had his hand resting on the sword at his side and the Queen could see his hand shake with nerves.

 

            “I see. There is no turning back then.” She sighed and leaned back in her chair. Kashikoi remained bowing but she could see him looking up at her through his golden brown hair, “Was there something else?”

 

            “I do not have the right to question you…”

           

            “I listen to everyone, what are your concerns?”

           

            “I just do not think this plan is wise. If we continue…”

 

            “Yes, I know. I wish there were another way,” She firmed her shoulders and straightened up, “However, we are running out of time and this is the only solution any one as come up with. It will have to do.”

 

            “But you highness…”

 

            “Kashikoi, no amount of begging is going to change things. As you said, it has started and once it has started there is no way to stop it.” Kashikoi lowered his head and deepened his bow before straightening up himself and turning to leave, shutting the door behind him. The queen slouched again and closed her eyes,

 

            “If this does not work, we are doomed.”

 

------

 

            “This is going to be an awesome year!” Shu Lei Fuan, resident bottomless pit, announced as he pounced on his friends who sat waiting at the train station.

 

            “Why? Because you may actually pass some of your tests this year?” Hashiba Touma, resident smart-ass and genius, smirked poking the heavier boy in the side.

 

            “For your information, I passed over half my tests last year!” Shu challenged glaring at his blue haired friend.

 

            “Only because you kept calling me at three in the morning asking for help.”

 

            “It’s not like you were asleep.”

 

            “No, but I was working on other things.”

 

            “Will you two stop it?” Mouri Shin stepped between the two to stop their bickering. He ran his hand through his red brown hair and sighed, “If you two keep that up it is going to be a very nerve racking year.”

 

            “Don’t worry, Shin, Touma can tutor you too.” Shu laid his arm around Shin’s shoulder with a wide smile.

 

            “You guys are a year behind me, remember. If anything I should be tutoring you.”

 

            “Not if I don’t end up in some of your classes,” Touma replied smugly, “I am scheduled for some advanced placement tests today. They may put me up to the next grade if I do well.”

 

            “Good lord I hope not.”

 

            “Oh, are you afraid of being out done in your on class?” Touma smirked again; he just loved ruffling Shin’s feathers.

 

            “No, I just don’t want to have to deal with you.”

 

            “Guys, will you stop it!” Sanada Ryo, default leader, stood up and pulled Touma away from the other two pushing him down onto the bench where he had been sitting, “Your making a scene.” They were in face making quite the scene. The train station was crowded with early morning traffic and several of the people passing had stopped to give the group of four students disapproving looks. Shin lowered his head, ashamed of himself. He usually wasn’t like that but Touma knew just how to push his buttons, though he did his fair share as well and he knew it. Shu just laughed and slapped Ryo firmly between the shoulder blades.

 

            “Come on, Ryo, we’re just messing with each other!”

 

            “I know, but we are bothering other people.” Ryo rolled his shoulders and stretched his back to try and get the sting of the slap to dissipate quicker.

     

            “Speaking of other people, where is Seiji?” Touma stood and looked through the mass of heads for their fifth. The others joined, stretching to their toes and Shu even got up onto the bench to get a better view.

 

            “There they are,” Shu was the first to see them. Date Seiji, the prim and proper one, was heading towards them with two girls in tow behind him.

“Look at you two!” Shu whistled at the girls, which got them even more stares from the crowds passing by. The girls both blushed and hid a bit behind Seiji. “Come on, what’s the problem?”

 

            “I don’t like skirts,” One of them replied pulling down on the hem of her skirt that was already to her knees. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear and kept her eyes on the ground.

 

             “You wore one last year…”

 

             “And the school let me wear shorts under it last year. This school is more strict.” She glanced up at Shu and frowned at him.

 

             “And it’s a better school,” Touma replied and pulled her out from behind Seiji. The blond haired boy stepped aside and pushed the other one forward too.

 

            “What’s your excuse Magma?” Shin asked.

 

            “I don’t mind the skirt, but we look like sailor moon,” Magma pouted tugging on the red scarf that decorated her sailor styled shirt. Both girls wore the very traditional uniforms complete with pleated skirts.

 

            “At least you don’t have something choking you all day,” Shu laughed as he tugged on the stiff collar of his own black military styled uniform.

 

            “He does have a point,” Katie nodded glancing over to Magma, “I am glad that we were able to get our short sleeved tops already. I don’t care if we get in trouble there is no way I am going to wear long sleeves on a day like today.”

 

            “They said the high was supposed to only get to sixteen, but the screen over there says its almost twenty-four degrees.” Ryo stated still staring over at the television that was embedded in the wall spouting off recent news and weather for the commuters.

 

            “Twenty-four… let’s see, thirty-two equals zero… so…umm. How hot does that make it?”

 

            “Hotter than it should be,” Shu laughed and ruffled Katie’s hair a little.

 

            “Haven’t you gotten used to calculating Celsius yet?” Shin asked pushing Shu away and straightening her hair a little.

 

            “No…” Katie sighed in resignation, “I know the formula I just can’t do it in my head.”

 

            “Don’t worry, we’ll work on it.”

 

            “Yeah, you’re going to need it to pass your tests.” Shu laughed prodding Katie’s other side.

 

            “Personally I think it feels quite nice out here.” Magma announced taking a deep breath and letting it out.

 

            “Either way, we need to catch this next train, or we will be late to school” Seiji suddenly announced as he pushed his way through the group and headed to the train that was just stopping on the tracks. The others quickly gathered their things and followed suit. They road the train for the next fifteen minutes discussing little more about the weather, and really having no room to discuss anything. Magma and Katie had made their way toward a clear space in front of the opposite door and the boys had taken position in front of that giving the two girls a bit of space in the overly crowded train.

 

            Katie stood and looked out of the window at the passing scenery of the city center doing what she did best, worry. She had always been the type to worry about everything. Even after meeting the boys and gaining her own armor and quite a bit of self confidence she still found herself worrying over everything. On this day, there were a couple of things that her mind was troubled over. The first was the new school. She hated starting anything new, especially a school. Shin and her were in the same grade, unfortunately they were not placed in the same homeroom so she would have to go alone and meet new people, which she was no good at. The other thing she was worrying about was an odd feeling she had when she woke up that morning. It was as if something was off balance or something. She wanted to talk to Shin about it, but not in front of the others. She hoped that there would be time between classes to get him alone and talk to him about it. Otherwise she would just try and push it to the back of her mind and worry about the more imminent aspect of meeting new people.

 

            Magma stood and watched her friend. Everyone they met thought they were sisters, really they looked nothing alike, but to the untrained Japanese eye neither of them were Japanese and they both had brown hair so of course they must be related. Of course Magma was more Japanese than anyone, why she didn’t look Japanese was anyone’s guess. Regardless just in the short time she had known Katie she knew she did not make friends easily. Even their friendship had a slow start. She had first met Katie when she had come down to Tokyo with Seiji, her cousin. As far as their families knew she had decided to tag along with her cousin and go to school in Tokyo, bored of small town living in Sendai.  Seiji had at first objected, but reconsidered when she made a sly comment about wanting an excuse to know Ryo a bit better. Katie had been chatting with the boys when they had approached but had quieted down once she had joined them. She tried to get her to talk, but it only got her short replies. At first Magma thought she was uptight or even a bit of a snob, but Seiji soon explained her problem meeting new people and once Magma stopped trying so hard Katie finally started to talk to her and soon they were friends.

 

            They were rooming together for the time being next door to Seiji’s apartment. It had all started when the boys had all decided to move to Tokyo and attend the same high school for Shin’s last year. Ryo had thought it would be a good chance for them to bond even more and would lead to less time in assembling should another demon invade their world. Of course Magma didn’t know this officially. As far as they knew she didn’t know about the armors or the battles or the demons. She was just Seiji’s cousin who had a bit of a crush on Ryo. It had been decided that Magma and Katie would live together in order to save some money and that they could live close to one of the other guys. In the end, since Magma was Seiji’s cousin they decided on an apartment near his. Touma ended up sharing this apartment with Seiji and Ryo and Shin got their own in another part of town. Housing being hard to find it was impossible for them to find apartments close to each other. Shu, instead of dealing with the search for an apartment, decided to commute from Yokohama everyday. Magma was happy that all five of the Troopers had decided to move closer together, because that meant that the armors were there as well which just made her feel better overall. She wasn’t sure what it was about the black haired Trooper, but something about him caused her heart to flutter. Of course the fact that he wielded the armor of Rekka didn’t hurt either.

 

            They disembarked at their station and walked the last ten minutes to their school. It was an old, but traditional school three stories tall -- one floor for each grade -- with a gym to one side and a pool to the other, and the multi-use field in the back. None of which were big enough to official sporting use. They split up as they entered the building, Katie and Shin would remain on the first floor while the others mounted the stairs and went to the second. Shin walked next to Katie to her room, they were only a room apart and he would check on her between classes, but he knew how nervous she got in these new situations.

 

            “Are you going to be okay?” he asked as they stood in front her room.

 

            “Yeah, I will. I always do get through it, but…”

 

            “I know.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly on her forehead. There was the noise of someone clearing their throat behind them and Shin spun around. One of their teachers was standing there with his arms crossed. Shin bowed and apologized while pushing Katie into the room. She jumped at the chance and claimed a chair in the back of the room. She could see Shin continue to bow as the teacher waved a finger at him. Katie wished she could do something, but just slid down in her chair a bit.

 

            Magma was much luckier when it came to their room assignments. Ryo, Shu, and herself had been assigned to the same room and immediately got seats next to each other. Seiji was in the next class over and Touma was tentatively in that class as well. Their teacher arrived after the bell had rung and the class was called to order. Right off the bat she wasn’t sure if she was going to like this teacher at all. He started off lecturing the class about all kinds of rules and regulations, especially about there being no form of public displays of affection on school grounds. He even muttered about the seniors knowing better and shook his head. As part of this firmness on this matter he rearranged the class. Magma found herself next to the windows while Ryo and Shu were on the opposite side of the room, Shu to the front and Ryo in the back. They all glanced at each other and sighed, the year was not starting off as good as they had hoped.

 

            Time was ticking much slower than any of them had hoped. All of them had been asked to stand and introduce themselves, Katie could only be thankful that she only had to do this once unlike American schools which would have had her do it at least seven times. The classes on the first day were shorter than normal and they were handed out the schedules for the rest of the year showing them when they would have their various classes and Katie could only marvel at the complexity.

 

            “Why don’t they just schedule the same class at the same time everyday?” Katie complained as they sat and ate lunch in the small yard between the school and the field, “I have math first thing on Mondays, not at all on Tuesdays, third period on Wednesdays, fifth of Thursday, and first again on Friday.”

 

            “Maybe it’s their way of keeping you on your toes?” Magma suggested as she stretched and walked out into the sunshine, “At least your teacher didn’t spend half an hour explaining why PDA is not allowed.”

 

            “PDA?” Touma asked raising one of his eyebrows.

 

            “Public Displays of Affection. Apparently he caught some seniors kissing,” Shu explained in a scandalous whisper. Katie turned beat read and Shin groaned, “It was you!” Shu jumped to his feet his face beaming with excitement.

 

            “I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead! That was it!” Shin tried to explain. Katie just shrunk down in her seat hoping that none of the other students nearby heard.

 

            “Don’t worry, I’ve heard some of the girls talk and it sounds like there is at least one couple that gets caught doing a lot worse each year,” Magma patted Katie on the shoulder and then walking back out into the sun.

 

            “How can you stand it out there in the sun Magma?” Seiji asked fanning himself with one of his worksheets. Magma stared at him and then at the others, they were all doing something of the sort. Shu had grabbed the top of the bento box Shin had brought and was using that as a fan, while the others were using various pieces of paper.

 

            “It’s not that hot, is it?”

 

            “You have always been impervious to heat,” Seiji sighed and shook his head.

 

            “Does anyone know what the temperature is? I know the teachers all retreated to their lounge as soon as the bell rang…” Shu asked looking around and then settling on Ryo.

 

            “My guess would be around twenty-nine,” The warrior of fire mused as he closed his eyes and concentrated.

 

            “Don’t forget the humidity,” Shin put in, “It is unusually high for this time of year which is making it feel a lot hotter.”

 

            “Speaking of that,” Shu leaned in so that his voice wouldn’t travel to Magma who was out in he sun soaking up all that heat, “Do you guys feel anything strange?”

 

            “I do. So does Shin,” Katie nodded, “We were talking about it this morning between classes.”

 

            “You do know that won’t help the rumors about you two if you keep meeting like that.” Shu snickered.

 

            “Shut-up, Shu,” Katie and Shin chorused.

 

            “Can you guys pin point your feeling?” Seiji asked leaning forward as well.

 

            “No. It’s like a scratching in your throat that you just can get to go away no matter how much you drink or clear it.” Katie explained.

 

            “Well, keep us updated to anything new,” Seiji nodded and then leaned back and looked over at Touma, “You’re being awfully quiet.”

 

            “Yeah, that’s Seiji’s job.” Shu laughed and scooted over to make room for Magma to sit next to Ryo.

 

            “Huh? Oh, just thinking about the next round of tests I’ll be taking this afternoon,” Touma sighed and bit into the sandwich he was eating.

 

            “How are the tests going?”

 

            “Not too good. On the application parts I’m doing fine, but there are so much that rely on knowing nothing but information. What year was the formula proving the such and such mathematical theory discovered? Who cares and what does that matter? I know the formula and can use it to prove that the theory is correct, but I don’t know when it was discovered,” Touma sighed.

 

            “That’s the problem with Japanese schools,” Katie nodded, “They don’t care so much about you being able to apply the knowledge, just to be able to store it all.”

 

            “What’s wrong with that?” Shin, Touma, Ryo, Seiji, and Shu all asked looking at her.

 

            “Oh, I don’t know.” Katie shrugged not really wanting to get into that argument.

 

            “Don’t worry, Katie, I agree with you,” Magma nodded, “We already have a list of formula to memorize, and while we have to know how to use the formula I have no idea why we have to memorize it at all. I mean, when in our lives are we going to have to find an imaginary number?”

 

            The bell for the end of lunch rang much to early for them and they trudged back to their rooms to suffer through the rest of the day. When the last bell rang Katie had her bag packed and ready to leave, but the teacher called her to the front of the class. They had had homeroom one last time at the end of the day to summarize what the rest of the term would be like, which turned into a very boring and slow end to the day. Katie walked up slowly with her things in her hand so that she could escape as soon as she could. She had hoped the teacher was just reminding her of a few things that, as a foreigner, she might not know. She was not that lucky.

 

            “Miss. We know that you are not new to Japanese schools, but you should know full well that schools in general frown upon displays of affection on school grounds.”

 

            “I didn’t do anything, he was the one that kissed me,” She tried to defend herself, though after she had said it she realized that the statement could possible get Shin into more trouble.

 

            “You let him though, didn’t you? The teacher that caught you said that you seemed quite pleased about it.” Katie just looked down. Shin hadn’t kissed her all that much and she was still a bit nervous around him even though they were supposed to be going out. “Since it is the first day of school we will let it pass but be warned that next time you will not be let off so easily.”

 

            “Yes, ma’am, I promise.” Katie turned to leave, but the teacher called her back.

 

            “I am not done yet. You are fully aware that you are on thin ice as it is. Your scores were not that good on your entrance exams and you were let into the school only because of your scholarship and the relationship we have with Sengoku University. However, if you do not improve your grades and keep them up we may be forced to let you go.”

 

            “Yes ma’am, I understand.” Katie hung her head and nodded listening to the lecture. She knew full well that we was only there because of Nasuti and hated having had to rely on the young woman to help her stay in the country. Once the teacher was done, she left the room dragging her feet. She didn’t see Shin standing next to the door and jumped when he cleared his throat.

 

            “And you were going to keep this all a secret?” He asked, his arms crossed.

 

            “Please don’t tell the others. I don’t want them to think I’m stupid.” Katie pleaded.

 

            “They don’t think your stupid,” Shin argued.

 

            “Touma does.”

 

            “Touma thinks everyone is stupid.”

 

            “Still, I would rather them think I made it into this school on my own, and not because of Nasuti.”

 

            “I’m not going to lie to them.”

 

            “I’m not asking you to. Just don’t tell them. If they find out than they do, but until then…”

 

            “Are you guys coming?” Magma popped her head around the corner of the stairwell and looked at the two standing in the hall.

 

            “Ah, Magma, they were going to have another moment,” Shu cooed popping out below her. Shin growled and ran toward his friend his bag in the air ready to bash him in the head but Shu was quick despite his bulk and was already down the stairs and stuffing his feet into his shoes to run outside. Shin wasn’t quite as fast in changing from his school slippers to his street shoes and Shu was already out the front gate by the time Shin was out the door chasing after him. Magma and Katie exited the school a little slower and was joined by the other three as they headed home.

 

            The trip home was quiet, the temperatures had risen another few degrees, and by the time they had caught up to Shin and Shu they had collapsed on the ground in sweaty heaps. Touma and Seiji went to get them some water while the others helped their friends to their feet and the rest of the way to the station. Nobody was out and about, other than those who were trying their best to get home and into the air conditioning there. The train station and the department store that was attached to it were filled with people who couldn’t afford the luxury of air. The group made their way to the platform and waited in sullen silence for their train. The only ones that didn’t seem as bothered by the heat were Magma and Ryo who were discussing their teachers and homework they had already been assigned as they waited for their train. At the next station they split off to go their separate ways and the even Magma fell quiet among the company of Katie, Seiji, and Touma.  

           

            The next day, the phone rang quite early in the morning and Katie dragged herself out of the bed and down the hall to where the phone was plugged in. She answered it and was immediately awake, it was her homeroom teacher, at first she feared the worst even though nothing had happened since their talk the day before, but in the end school had been cancelled. She hung up the phone and blinked a little suddenly noticing how hot it was in the living room. They had turned the air conditioner in that room off before they had went to bed, but she picked up the small remote that sat on the table next to the phone and pushed the power button before retreating to the air-conditioned bedroom. Between the two of them, they could not afford a two-bedroom apartment so they shared one small room. Katie went over to Magma to let her know about school, but couldn’t help but wonder about their difference in how they slept. Katie had convinced Magma to let her keep the air on all night, but in return had bought her a heated blanket. Katie had woken up with her blankets thrown off sweating and Magma was curled up with her blanket on high. Katie shook her head decided to just let Magma sleep and turned off the alarm clock they shared. Now awake she went ahead and dressed, but didn’t bother with brushing her hair and just pulled it up into a messy ponytail. She left a note, taped to the clock, letting Magma know that school had been canceled and then grabbed her key and headed for Seiji and Touma’s apartment.

 

            She ran into Seiji on the street, he was coming from some morning workout at a local dojo he found and she explained her errand to him.

 

            “Touma will be glad to hear that,” Seiji commented as they boarded the small elevator in their building.

 

            “Touma? Why? He loves school… unless…”

 

            “He didn’t get a high enough score on his tests. He’s stuck in the lower levels with me.”

 

            “His words I take it?”

 

            “Of course.” They walked in silence down the walkway to their door. Katie looked out over asphalt as it heated up with the rising sun.

 

            “This isn’t just going to go away is it?” She asked turning to look into the pale blue eyes of her friend, “That tickle in my throat is starting to make me cough.”

 

            “Something is very wrong,” The voice came from inside the door and Seiji and Katie both looked in shock at the blue haired thing that sat in front of the computer in the living room.

 

            “It only took us a couple of minutes to walk here, right?” Katie asked as she shut the door behind her and kicked off her shoes.

 

            “I couldn’t sleep in this heat. Even the air wasn’t doing good enough,” Touma explained as he typed away.

 

            “I couldn’t sleep that is for sure. You’d think since I have a bit of Rekka in me that I would be more used to the heat, but nope. Almost the opposite.”

 

            “Rekka is just a small part of you, so just a little bit of heat wouldn’t be a big deal. This is not just a little bit of heat. The temperature is already up to forty-three and the sun isn’t even up all the way.” Touma explained as he continued to type away, “Nobody seems to have an answer to it, scientists the world over are trying to find the cause, and most of the population is blaming global warming.” Touma rolled his eyes and shook his head.

 

            “We might need to make a small trip to Nasuti’s. It would be best if we were out of the city if something wants to pick on us,” Seiji suggested.

 

            “Let me call Shin and the others and make sure they are doing okay,” Katie reached for the phone as Seiji nodded. The other three Troopers were staying firmly in their cool apartment though Ryo didn’t think it was too bad for him yet. They did agree that they should head out of the city though, best to be prepared for whatever might show itself.

 

            “What about Magma?” Katie asked as they headed back to her apartment so she could get some things to take with them.

 

            “What about her? We’ll just tell her that we are taking a little trip,” Touma suggested shrugging his shoulders.

 

            “You honestly think she is just going to say okay and stay in Tokyo all by herself?”

 

            “I will try to convince her to go back to Sendai to be with her family,” Seiji announced. When they reached their apartment Magma was up and cooking breakfast. The air was still on, thankfully, but the room was still rather hot from the heat of the stove.

 

            “Just in time, want some breakfast?” Magma asked as she turned, “Or rather a snack in Touma’s case.”

 

            “Magma,” Seiji started as he walked over to his cousin, “There is something going on with the weather. I am going with Touma to see if we can’t figure out what might be going on. I think it would be best if you were to return to Sendai for the time being and be with your family.”

 

            “And what do you think you can accomplish that those experts cannot?” Magma asked waving a spatula at the TV that was displaying constant news about the weather and the theories related to it. Touma had sat down in front of it and was listening intently.

 

            “We are going to Nasuti’s…” Seiji started, he looked around but Katie had already disappeared into her room to get her things and he knew Touma was not going to be any help, “She knows people and Touma is smart enough he might come across something.”

 

            “What about Katie? I’m not going to leave her here alone,” Magma argued. She knew full well that the Troopers were regrouping, Katie included, and was not going to be left behind. However, she was not ready to disclose all her information and had to find a way to convince Seiji to let her tag along.

 

            “Katie is coming with us.”

 

            “How come she gets to go and I don’t?”

 

            “She doesn’t have family here. You do.”

 

            “So do you. Why do you have to go? What about Ryo, Shin, and Shu? Are they going as well?”

 

            “Well, yes, they are. But they are going to help…”

 

            “Shu help? What can Shu do that I can’t? Shin, sure he can help cook, but Shu… Shu can’t do anything.” Magma felt bad taking on that argument. She knew that it was a sore spot for Shu. He wasn’t as handy or as smart as the others and often felt as if he held them back.

 

            “Magma…” Seiji tried again, but knew that he had probably lost.

 

            “No, I am going too. There is no reason for me to go home.” She stamped her foot on the floor to emphasize her statement.

 

            “Fine, you can go too,” Seiji sighed. The others weren’t going to be happy, but what else was he going to do.

 

            “I went ahead and packed a bag for you Magma,” Katie announced coming out of their room with two bags on her shoulder.

 

            “Did you remember my bathing suit? I bet Nasuti’s house is a perfect spot to get some sun!”

 

            “Magma,” Touma stated slowly, “The earth is literally baking itself. Nobody is going outside unless they absolutely have to. They are even cutting down the number of trains to conserve energy. Right now, there are no Shinkansen’s running. We are going to have to take the local trains to Odawara.”

 

            “How long is that going to take?”

 

            “Assuming we can get connecting trains right away, over an hour and a half.”

 

            “That’s not too bad,” Katie shrugged, “Its about that long to go somewhere decent to shop back in the states.”

 

            “That’s only cause you lived in the middle of nowhere,” Touma tried to joke.

 

            “And that is exactly where Nasuti lives, so it’s about the same.” Touma opened his mouth to try and counter her remark but was unable to think of anything and just shook his head.

 

            “Are we meeting Shu at the station?” Magma asked as she gulped down her breakfast.

 

            “We have to go through Yokohama station so we’ll collect him there,” Seiji explained. Magma finished her meal and the four of them left heading for Naka-Meguro station. Ryo and Shin were waiting on them and had their tickets already purchased. The next train was leaving within the minute; they ran to catch it and were squeezing through the doors as they closed. Once they reached Yokohama they had to wait on Shu and Shin had to even call his home once to make sure he had left. Stuck on the phone with Shu’s mother, Shin was still talking when Shu arrived and felt bad when he had to hang up on her so they could catch the train that was just about to leave. They arrived in Odawara, Kanagawa just before noon. The station was small and only the small booths the attendants were in was air-conditioned. Nasuti was sitting in her small red jeep with the engine running waiting on them. It took them a moment to figure out how they would squeeze everyone into the jeep, and got a few strange looks out of some onlooker, but in the end Magma and Katie squeezed into the front with Nasuti while Touma, Seiji and Ryo sat in the back seat.  Shu and Shin crowded into the small storage area behind the back seats.

 

            “It seems like every time we try to cram into this car it gets smaller and smaller,” Shu complained from the back.

 

            “That’s probably because the past few times we have had more and more people to cram into it,” Nasuti laughed and then turned to Magma, “I’m glad you could come. It gets a little nerve wracking being the only girl in the house.”

 

            “What about me?” Katie asked leaning around Magma to glare at Nasuti.

 

            “You have to admit, you’re not very girly,” Nasuti smiled at Katie. Katie frowned but couldn’t really deny the fact. She wasn’t the type to gossip or talk about hair, make-up, or fashion, “Though I imagine we might have some good late night chats about guys.” That brought a smile and a blush to Katie and Magma’s faces as Nasuti took off. It took them another half hour to get into the mountains and to Nasuti’s house but Nasuti stopped and got some food so that Touma and Shu would survive the journey.

 

            They fell out of the jeep as the doors opened and with a look, Katie took Magma and their bags into the house to show her where they would sleep. While they were gone, the guy filled in Nasuti to what had, and had not happened.

 

            “The fact that Katie is feeling uneasy is something to worry about. Shin you too have had that feeling?” Nasuti asked as they slowly unloaded the rest of the bags.

 

            “Yeah, like Katie said it’s like a scratchy throat that you can’t sooth. I have been drinking water like crazy, but it hasn’t helped.”

 

            “At first the humidity was high which made it feel hotter. Just within the day I think it has gone down, but the dew point has risen,” Touma explained looking up into the sky, “I wouldn’t be surprised if it started to rain.”

 

            “Maybe the temperature will go down if it does,” Shu suggested as he held the door open for the others. They hadn’t even gotten into the house when they heard a familiar cry from the woods. Ryo dropped his bag and ran to the back of the house the others following. Katie and Magma stood on the balcony looking out over the land. In the distance the sky had darkened and the clouds were swirling around themselves over a single point in the sky.

 

            “That almost looks like a tornado is forming,” Katie announced over the rush of wind that started up. Rain started to pitter patter on the wood next to her and she felt Magma shift on her feet, “Nasuti, did you remember to get… what I asked you to get from town?”

 

            “What?” Nasuti looked up at her in confusion and saw Katie lean her head toward Magma. She looked back at the others and they were all tense but well aware of the innocent among them. “OH! I completely forgot. Magma, why don’t you come with me? We can have a girl chat.”

 

            “Are you going to come, Katie?” Magma asked looking over at her friend. She was staring out into the distance barely aware of her presence. They were going to investigate and she wanted so much to go with them, but she also knew that Ryo, especially, would not want extra baggage in a potentially dangerous situation. Without getting a response from Katie, Magma nodded to Nasuti and headed back inside the house to meet her at the jeep.

 

            As soon as the Magma was out of sight, Katie jumped from the balcony to join her companions. It felt like a ripple had hit them, she had called upon her under armor as she fell through the air, and as she hit the grass the others called upon theirs. They took off through the trees, and Katie noticed Byakuen emerging and setting pace next to Ryo. They did not talk as they ran, but concentrated on the clouds in the sky. As they got closer the rain poured harder and harder to the point they could barely see anything. Ryo slowed down and Shin took the point position being able to see through the downpour easier. The center of the storm was farther away than they had thought and it took them a good ten minutes to reach the epicenter of activity. In the very center the ground was dry and an armored soldier stood holding a sphere of some sort. In the sphere they could see a reflection of the clouds above them.

 

            Touma had silently called his bow to his hand and shot an arrow at the soldier’s feet to get his attention. The soldier looked up and his eyes widened at the sight of the five, sorry, six warriors.

 

            “Who are you?” The soldier asked looking from one trooper to the next.

 

            “We are the protectors of this world, and you are harming it. Cease your activities at once or face our wrath!” Katie exchanged a look with Shu, Ryo had been practicing his speeches it seemed.

 

            “Oh? This world has protectors? This was not in our reports. Unfortunately, I cannot stop what I have already begun.” The soldier raised one of his hands and brought it down as if commanding an army. Portals suddenly opened behind him and more soldiers ran from the swirling green and into the clearing the soldier had made with his cloud funnel.

 

            “Armor up!” Ryo commanded as he raised his arm, “Busoo Rekka!”

 

            The sky and everything around them disappeared as they were enveloped in the blackness of the void the armors existed in. The only light was from their armor spheres as they called upon the power.

 

            “Busoo Korin!”

 

            “Busoo Suiko!”

 

            “Busoo Kongo!”

 

            “Busoo Tenku!”

 

            “Busoo Chikyuu!” Pink light shone from the darkness and grew as the rolls of silk erupted around them and surrounded them shattering into light and power. Suddenly the armors appeared before them, red, green, cyan, orange, blue, and brown and then broke apart in a flurry of cherry blossoms. The pink shining light clung to them, their arms, their torsos, and their legs and formed the armor they would use to fight. They each held out their hands and the last of the cherry blossoms formed their helmets. Firmly placing the helmets onto their heads they reached behind them and unsheathed their weapons using the sharp blades to cut at the blackness and bring them back into the world.

 

            As soon as they were back in their world, not a second had passed and they attacked the soldiers that were attacking them. They cut and slashed at the forms without abandon until Ryo called at them to stop their attacks.

 

            “We have to stop,” Ryo gasped in horror as he looked down and saw red on his swords. The others did the same and the few they had slain were bleeding the last of their lives out onto the land.

 

            “We can’t just stop,” Katie argued, “What happened to showing them our wrath?”

 

            “We have never had to fight against living creatures before,” Shin stuttered shaking his head.

 

            “Then don’t kill them. Just knock them unconscious,” Shu argued.

 

            “That’s easier for you, you aren’t fighting with a single blade,” Seiji shook his head.

 

            “Katie, I am hoping that you have a plan,” Touma shot a few more arrows, aiming at the soldier’s feet to keep them at bay, and then turned to look at their newest member.

 

            “We use our attacks.”

 

            “We’ll kill them!” Shu gasped waving his hand about, “I’m all for going all out but…”

 

            “Not at full power. I don’t think I could do it at full power right now anyways.”

 

            “Katie may be right. None of us are at full power, our attacks probably wouldn’t kill them, just injure them,” Touma mused as he pulled an arrow from his quiver

 

            “Touma, you can’t be serious!” Ryo cried pushing Touma off center stopping him from continuing with his plan.

 

            “Ryo, don’t aim right at them, aim between them,” Katie had pulled him away allowing Touma to fire off his attack.

 

            “Shin Ku Ha!” He called as he let his arrow fly hitting the ground in the midst of the soldiers. The soldiers cried out as they were blasted away by the golden light.

 

            “Rai Kou Zan!” Seiji was next, his lighting hit the same spot as Touma’s arrow had, causing those that had risen to fall again.

 

            “Chou Ryuu Ha!” Shin’s attack washed the soldiers back toward the portals they had emerged from.

 

            “Gan Tessai!” Shu swung his niginata in an arc above his head and slammed it into the ground, but instead of leaving it there he swung it along the ground forcing a rock wall to emerge and encase the soldiers inside of it.

 

            “Ryo, seal them in. They will have no choice but to go back through their portals,” Katie begged him as she let go of his arms. Ryo wiped his face and looked at the work of his friends. He snapped the hilt of his swords together and jumped into the air,

 

            “Sou En Zan!” The blast of flames cooked the earth and sealed the soldiers into the dome. Ryo landed and the Troopers turned toward the original soldier who still held the sphere before him.

 

            “Very interesting. I shall retreat for now, but you have not seen the last of us. We have a mission that we must complete, and you will not stand in our way.” Another green portal appeared behind him and stepped into it taking the sphere with him.

 

            As soon as the soldier was gone the clouds above them cleared up and the rain stopped. The troopers stood in the clearing looking at each other in puzzlement.

 

            “So, did we win?” Shu asked leaning on his niginata.

 

            “If we did, they must be strong because that took a lot out of me,” Shin shook his head and sat down on the ground.

 

            “They weren’t particular strong,” Seiji announced, “We have just grown weak.”

 

            “It’s because of the weather,” Katie nodded, “That scratching throat thing is quite a bit stronger now.

 

            “Ah, I imagine we are all about at half power,” Touma confirmed, “If he continues to mess with our elements we may lose our power altogether.”

 

            “Katie, why didn’t you attack?” Ryo looked up at her, the only one standing without aid, “You could have done all that yourself, why make us?”

 

            “I honestly don’t think I could have. My power relies on the elements being in balance with each other. Right now they are far from it. If I had tried, I don’t think anything would have happened.” Shin studied her face as she spoke, she was lying he was sure of it. He was also sure the others noticed as well, Ryo might have been the only one to have bought her lie. What she didn’t say, the thought that may be true for them all, was that if she had tried to use her attack with the elements as unbalanced as they were, she wouldn’t have been able to control them and done much more harm. Not only to the enemy, but to herself, and possible them as well.