General Gijutsu walked down the hall once again toward the throne room of the palace in the cliffs. His men, those who had remained uninjured from their first trip to the other world, had gathered before the portal room awaiting the command to once again go into battle. This time, however, Ginjutsu had told them that he was going by himself. A few argued with him, but they knew that his word was final. They waited for him and when he reemerged from the portal they cheered. He was not happy by the greeting and yelled at them, told them all to go home. A few remained, hiding in the corners of the palace waiting for when he would change his mind and call them to protect their world again.

           

Gijutsu slammed the doors open and bowed to his queen, moving no father in than he needed to. The queen looked up from her maps and stared at her general in shock.

 

            “What is it? Have you failed again?”

 

            “No, my Queen, I was successful once again.”

 

            “Then those six warriors are dead?”

 

            Gijutsu looked up in shock at the Queen’s words, “No, but they are weakened to the point that they cannot fight.”

 

            “That is not good enough! If they are left alive then the chance of them retaliating is still there!” She yelled slamming her fists on the table.

 

            “But, my Queen, I have sworn to follow all your orders in order to defend and protect. I will not kill if there are other options.”

 

            “Gijutsu, you must look at the bigger picture,” The Queen walked over to him and took his arm forcing him to stand, “By killing those boys you are protecting this world, and that is what you have sworn to do right?”

 

            “But, my Queen, it is not in my nature…”

 

            “Did you rise through the ranks of the army by spouting nonsense about the nature of your being? No! You rose by obeying orders!” The Queen let go of his arm and flung her arms into the air, “I am your Queen, and I am doing what I must to save our world! Will you be the one who brings doom to our people, or will you obey your queen and help to save them?!”

 

            “I will obey you, of course, my Queen.” Gijutsu kneeled once again and then stood and left the room. Just in the short time since this project had begun he had seen changes in the Queen that he did not like, but what was he to do about it? He saw a shadow dash behind one of the tapestries that hung on the walls as he turned the corner and stopped. “I told you all to go home.” He announced with annoyance. His men were loyal but at this time it was the last thing he wanted from them, he would have been happier leading a bunch of cowards. The tapestry moved a bit and he pulled it aside to revile the hiding figure. “Kashikoi, did the Queen send for you?”

 

            “No, General, she did not…” Kashikoi bowed but stayed in the corner as if it would protect him from something.

 

            “Were you listening in?” Gijutsu raised an eyebrow at the young solider, an idea forming in his head.

 

            “Y…yes sir, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Gijutsu looked around them, the hall was empty so he leaned forward and whispered,

 

            “Tell me, what is your opinion of this plan. What you say will not go past the edge of this tapestry. I swear it on the Queen I knew.”

 

            “I… I do not like it. She has changed, she is not the Queen she was before.”

 

            “Then I need you to follow me,” Gijutsu was pleased that the boy caught his wording easily, “I want you to do something. It will be quite dangerous, but I think you may be the only one that could do it properly.

 

----

 

            Magma was sitting on the couch that sat off to one side in the dining room with her knees to her chest. Touma, Seiji, and Shu had just spent the past couple of hours telling her everything about them, while Ryo pouted in the corner. She, of course knew most of it and a little more, but did her best in acting like it was the first time she had heard it. The guys sat at the table talking about what they were to do next when they heard the door shut above them. Nasuti emerged from their room with an arm full of things.

 

            “How is she, Nasuti?” Shu asked looking up at her.

 

            “The wound on her leg is pretty bad. We are going to have to keep an eye on it, though I hope that there is enough power left in her armor to heal it on its own,” Nasuti sighed and started down the stairs.

 

            “What about Shin?” Magma stood as she emerged from the staircase and took some of the things from her arms.

 

            “His temperature is down for the moment, but he is still asleep.”

 

            “This is great! How are we supposed to fight when we are two troopers down?” Shu growled in frustration.

 

            “I think Magma was right about what she said earlier,” Seiji spoke up calmly, “This soldier does not wish us dead. Though that does not mean that he won’t be forced to kill us anyways.”

 

            “If you are right,” Ryo muttered from the end of the table where he sat, “Maybe it is best if we do give up. Let them have this world. Maybe they will spare the people and let us live along side them.”

 

            “Ryo, you can’t be serious,” Touma looked at their defacto leader wide eyed.

 

            “The more we fight the worse we end up. If we are unable to protect Katie and Shin, how can we even expect to be able to protect Magma or Nasuit? Let alone the rest of the world”

 

            “I know!” Shu announced slapping the table in excitement, “If we go to their world and see if there isn’t a way to stop what is happening there, that would in turn save ours. Right?”

 

            “Shu,” Touma couldn’t help but smile at the warrior of strength, “That might be possible if we knew of a way to travel dimensions.”

 

            “We may not, but they do. Next time they show up, before their portals disappear we just run into them!”

 

            “And right into the center of their military headquarters?” Seiji asked shaking his head.

 

            “Well fine then, you guys can just join Ryo and give up. I am not!” Shu banged his fist into the table and then stalked out of the room. A few seconds later they heard the slam of the front door behind him.

 

            “Do you think someone needs to go after him?” Magma asked as she watched Shu disappear into the forest.

 

            “He just needs to blow off some steam. He does this on occasion,” Nasuti put her hand on Magma’s shoulder, “However, I think someone else could use some help.” Magma followed Nasuti’s gaze to the empty chair that Ryo had been sitting in.

 

            Magma searched the house and eventually found Ryo sitting alone outside the house with his head in his knees. She walked up to him and sat down next to him. She didn’t say anything at first but leaned against him, laying her head on his shoulder.

 

            “I’m sorry for dragging you into this,” He mumbled through the sleeves of his shirt.

 

            “You didn’t drag me into anything. I dragged myself here,” Magma humphed, “Seiji did try to get me to go back to Sendai, but I wanted to be with you guys.”

 

            “And now your life is in danger every day you stay.”

 

            “There is no guarantee that I would have been safer in Sendai than I am here. I mean Nasuti seems to have survived your friendship so far.”

 

            “She had to learn how to stay out of the way and she wasn’t always successful.”

 

            “And so will I. I’m pretty good at saying out of trouble,” Magma smiled and bumped Ryo a bit trying to get him to look at her.

 

            “You were about crushed by the roof,” Ryo leveled a look at her.

 

            “And I survived. Not a scratch just caught my shirt. Anyways, it was more shingles than actual roof,” Magma smiled down at him but he had turned his head back into his arms. “Look, Ryo. People are going to get involved regardless of how hard you try to keep them safe. That doesn’t mean that you are less of a hero.”

 

            “It’s not so much about involving random strangers into everything. Nasuti was a stranger at first, but she was also a huge help. The research her and her grandfather did helped us a lot. And the people in the city, they know well enough to run, and they normally don’t even remember what happened later. It’s involving you and Katie, that I hate.”

 

            “But Katie has an armor, she’s one of you isn’t she?”

 

            “Only because we were not powerful enough on our own to protect her. She had to accept her armor in order to survive,” Ryo looked up at Magma his eyes red from crying, but the tears long dried up, “I don’t mind that you know about the armors, I’m kind of glad you do really. I just don’t want you to fight.”

 

            “Why would I fight?” Magma asked trying her best to hide a nervous giggle.

 

            “Just promise me, if we go down you run. Don’t try to save us or take revenge, just run.”

 

            “Ryo… I…” She wanted to promise him anything, but she knew that if she did she would eventually have to break that promise, “I can’t. I can’t promise something like that. I care too much about you to just run away.”

 

            “But you could get hurt yourself, or even die,” Ryo had grasped her wrist holding it tight pleading with her. Magma hated that look in his eyes. It was that little lost puppy dog look.

 

            Magma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Ryo… I don’t care.”

 

           “But I do,” He let go of her wrist and pulled her into a tight embrace, “I don’t want you to die, Magma, Please.” Magma wrapped her own arms around him and nodded.

 

            “I’ll try.”

 

-----

 

            There had been natural disasters occurring all over the world, but for this small country on the edge of the ring of fire, nothing was happening at all. The city was as busy as ever, if not more so. People were out and about trying to make up for a lost day, when a young man emerged from an alleyway. A few people looked at him curiously, but did not stop to ask him who he was, or where he was from. His dress he knew was strange to them, he feared wearing his armor, as that would cause people to be frightened of him even though he wished no harm to anyone. Instead he wore his normal clothes. They were peasant clothing of his world made of rough homespun thread and fabric. They were of drab colors and had holes in the elbows.  He pushed his golden brown hair from his face and looked up at the sun, it hung in a cloudless sky shinning brightly on the people below, it seemed only he knew the danger that was upon this world. He pulled out a small map he had been given just before he stepped through the portal, they knew that he would not be able to appear right where he needed to be, that area was under strict watch, so they set the coordinates for a nearby city and he would walk to his destination. He only hoped he would reach them in time.  

 

------

 

            Magma rolled over in her bed glanced at the chair that sat between their beds. She sat up suddenly and looked again. She could have sworn Shu had been sitting there at some point, she remembered feeling some relief that he had finally returned, but the seat was empty. This troubled Magma. The warrior of justice had not returned since he had stormed out of the dining room that afternoon and Magma had wanted to go look for him but the others refused. They said that this was normal for him, to give him some time and he would come back. She closed her eyes and searched her memory of the night, had it been just a dream, a wish that he was there that she had seen him? No, she was sure he had been there. It was a desk chair and it hadn’t been sitting there when she had gone to bed. She racked her brains again and even laid down trying to imitate the movement she thought she had made when she thought she had seen him. Then she saw it, in her mind, she saw the memory she was looking for. It wasn’t a dream, she was sure of it. It was the sound of the chair moving that had awoken Magma. Shu had set it down without regard to the noise he had made and sat down in it. He was leaning on his knees looking down at Katie. At first she didn’t see it as too odd, they were friends, good friends. Heck, sometimes she even thought that they were better friends than even Shu was to Shin… she shook her head, stopping that thought process right there. There was no way that could be. Katie and Shin were together, Shu was their friend, and well she thought he might. But why had he come back home then, and why did he sit by her side? Magma got up and quietly crept through the house, looking in all the bedrooms and other rooms to see if Shu was still around, but there was no sign of him. She didn’t like this, it just felt wrong.

 

            “Magma? You’re up early,” Seiji was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a hot cup of tea in his hand.

 

            “Have you seen Shu?”

 

            “No, not since yesterday, why?”

 

            “I really think we need to look for him. I’ve… I’ve got a bad feeling,” Magma wasn’t sure how else to put it.

 

            “I know you’re worried, but if he were in trouble we would know. Remember about the link we have with each other?” He led her into the kitchen and fixed her a cup of tea hoping it would calm her down some, “How is Katie doing this morning?”

 

            “Better. How about Shin?”

 

            “He woke up last night and we filled him in. Touma said he took him into your room to see Katie, you didn’t see him?”

 

            Magma racked her brain but then shook her head, “Did he by chance move the chair in the room?”

 

            “I don’t think so. Touma said that he just went in, knelt by the bed and mumbled something to Katie and kissed her forehead.” Seiji watched his cousin intently for a moment and then sipped his tea, “Did someone else move the chair?”

 

            “Shu, I think. It almost seemed dream like, but I’m sure it was him.”

 

            “So he did come home.”

 

            “But he’s not here now, I’ve looked everywhere.”

 

            “Shu does not do good in situations where we don’t know what to do next. He has a hard time just sitting and waiting. Used to, he would complain and try and make jokes or try and get us to play games or work out. We’ve all realized that it was more for his sake rather than ours that he did that. The last few times he has taken to disappearing, going out into the woods and using trees or even cliffs as punching bags,” Seiji glanced out of the kitchen window to the line of trees outside, “He has tried to solve problems himself, but so have Shin and Ryo. Like I said before, if he does get into trouble we will know.”

 

            “That’s part of the mystery of the armors, huh?” Magma too knew the feeling that Seiji spoke of. She knew what it would feel like the moment Shu would need help. The problem was, she was feeling something a bit different, something she wasn’t familiar with and she didn’t know what to do.

 

            Shin came walking into the kitchen a few moments later with Ryo right behind him to catch him should he fall.

 

            “Shin, Ryo, are you both okay?” Magma stood up and reached out for Shin who seemed to be the most unsteady of the two.

 

            “I just needed a bit of rest, Shin, though needs a bit more,” Ryo tried to joke as he pulled a chair over for Shin to sit in.

 

            “I need to walk around, laying in bed is giving me cramps,” Shin complained as he stretched his legs out before him, “How are you adjusting to all the information you have been getting, Magma?”

 

            “Oh, fine for now. I’m just pretending this is some wild dream. I’ll let it sink in when I have time to properly freak out,” Magma sat down next to Ryo who took her hand in his. A wave of goose bumps rippled up her arm, but it was a good feeling and she squeezed his hand back and smiled at him. Shin looked from one to the other and then leaned back in his chair and smiled.

 

            Seiji was busy making a small breakfast when another joined their company. She was slow, and hopping on just her one good leg, but made it to the table before completely losing her balance and falling into one of the chairs. Shin scooted his chair next to hers and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. Katie blushed a bit, but Magma thought that she didn’t look overly pleased about this show of affection. Shin started poking her leg and a bit of red started to show through the bandage.

 

            “It’s still bleeding?” Shin gasped as he pulled a nearby stool over so she could put her leg up.

 

            “It wasn’t when I got up,” Katie defended herself clearly annoyed at the attention Shin was showing her.

 

            “Well, it is now. What were you thinking coming all the way down here?”

 

            “I could ask you the same, I’m sure you still have a bit of a fever too.” 

 

            “She must have re-opened the wound a bit,” Nasuti announced coming down the stairs ending the argument before it got too heated, “I was just about to come check on both of you.” She was holding some supplies clearly prepared for a house call. Katie and Shin sat submissively and let Nasuti do what she needed to do.  Shin kept an eye on Katie as he held a thermometer in his mouth, and Katie concentrated on her leg as Nasuti unwound the bandage and bandaged it with clean cotton that had some antibiotics soaked into it. Magma looked over at Seiji and tried to read his thoughts about how the two were acting when the doorbell suddenly rang. They all looked at each other in shock. Nasuti stood up and made her way to the front door while everyone else stayed quiet and listened as hard as they could.

 

            “May I help you?” They could hear Nasuti ask once she had opened the door.

 

            “I am looking for six warriors,” A small voice announced, “They protect this world I am told.” The five sitting in the dinning room looked at each other wide eyed.

 

            “Would the enemy really knock on the door and ask you to come out and play?” Magma whispered, but was shushed when the small voice started again.

 

            “Please, I come in peace, I do not wish to fight, only to talk to them.”

 

            “I suppose that is okay…” Nasuti was hesitant but they soon saw her come around the corner leading the guest, “I’ll go wake up Touma.” She looked from those already in the room to the new comer and then disappeared up the stairs.

 

            Everyone sat in silence for a moment not sure what to do or say. The enemy was in their house and wanted to talk. “I am not very high in the hierarchy of my world. I am only a lowly foot soldier in the army, and one that has yet to see battle. My name is Kashikoi, a loyal subordinate to the Queen I once knew.”

 

            “The Queen you once knew?” Touma asked looking down from the balcony and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

 

            “Yes, she has changed in the past few months, and many of us are afraid of these changes.” Kashikoi explained, “It was General Gijitsu that sent me. He said you had offered to help our world, and we would like to take you up on your offer.”

 

            “Who is General Gijitsu?” Katie asked eyeing the young man closely.

 

            “Who? He is the one you have been fighting. I am in the presence of those who call themselves the Samurai Troopers, yes?”

 

            “Yes, you are. The General had never given us his name,” Ryo explained

 

            “I see, I think I would have done the same. I mean, who would want their name associated with the destruction of a whole world?” Kashikoi lowered his head.

 

            “What are you wanting us to do?” Shin asked.

 

            “I need you to come with me, to our world. I will show you what is happening and maybe you can help us solve the problem.” Everyone eyed the young solider wearily.

 

            “Even if we would agree to this, Katie and Shin are still out of action at the moment,” Seiji replied motioning to the two, Katie’s bandaged leg out for display and Shin still had the thermometer in his mouth.

 

            “That is no problem, I am a healer,” Kashikoi took a couple of steps toward the two but Ryo and Seiji quickly stood between them, “Please, let me help.”

 

            “Let him try,” Shin had taken out the thermometer and lay it down on the table, “If he doesn’t help, we’ll just be in the same situation as before.” Seiji nodded and pulled a more reluctant Ryo from his protective stance. Kashikoi walked up to Katie first and knelt down next to her leg. She looked around at everyone, not sure what to do or say clearly a little scared as to what was going to happen. Kashikoi laid his hands on top of the bandage and closed his eyes. They could hear him mumbling, but could not tell exactly what he was saying or if it was even in a language they could understand. Katie closed her eyes and covered her face hoping that if she didn’t see it she wouldn’t feel it either. However when the pain faded and nothing else happened she cracked her eye and looked down at her leg. The young soldier was still kneeling next to her but there was a soft green glow coming from his hands. After a moment the glow disappeared and he stood and looked down at Katie. Katie blinked and reached down to feel her leg. Slowly she undid the fresh bandage Nasuti had just put on to find a smooth expanse of skin, not even a scar was left where the spear had pierced her just a couple of days ago. Kashikoi walked over to Shin and he nodded and closed his eyes. The young soldier laid his hands on Shin’s head and once again muttered his incantation. The green glow lit up Shin’s hair for a moment and then disappeared. Shin opened his eyes and felt his own head and then stood up and walked around a bit clearly feeling as good as new.

 

            Ryo was still eyeing the soldier un-trustfully and once again stood between him and his friends once he had done what he had promised to do, “I thank you for healing them, but we are still one member short.”

 

            “One? But there are six warriors here…” Kashikoi looked around the room and stopped for a moment on Magma who was staring at him intently and very slightly shaking her head from side to side. Ryo followed his gaze and blocked his line of site between the two, “She is not a warrior. She is only a friend who came to visit and got dragged into this.”

 

            “Does anyone know where Shu is?” Touma asked pushing off of the wall he had been leaning on as he watched the confrontation.

 

            “Magma said she saw him last night, but he isn’t here now,” Seiji explained keeping the whereabouts of the sighting out of the conversation.

 

            “If you are to come, there is no time to search for your comrade. There are arrangements that must be kept,” Kashikoi urged them frantic to move on with his mission.

 

            “We can’t go without him,” Ryo argued.

 

            “He would kill us if we did,” Katie smiled, “but then if he were still here and this favor was in fact a trap…”

 

            “Shu would be the one to try and save us, or take revenge, whichever is needed,” Touma nodded returning Katie’s smile.

 

            “Hopefully the first and not the second,” Katie stood her smile widening.

 

            “Are you guys really suggesting we go with him?” Ryo asked looking between Katie and Touma.

 

            “We really have no other plan, and with Shu left behind that is at least a chance that if it is a trap we can get out of it,” Seiji nodded.

 

            “Alright then, the five of us will go,” Ryo sighed but then straightened up, the decision made.

 

            “NO! There must be six warriors,” Kashikoi exclaimed clearly panicked, “Any less and the plan will not work.”

 

            “But you just said that we don’t have time to find Shu,” Ryo argued getting a little fed up with the young soldier.

 

            “I’ll go,” Magma stepped forward and took Ryo’s hand in hers.

 

            “No!” Ryo took his hand from hers and took her shoulders instead, “No, you will not go with us, I don’t want you to get into danger.”

 

            “Ryo, we’ve been through this. It’s just as dangerous here as it is with you. As soon as things get risky I’ll go hide.”

 

            “Ryo, she is a Date, even if not by name. She can protect herself if she needs to.”

 

            “If anything happens to her…” Ryo growled tightening his fists.

 

            “Then it is settled, the six of you will come?”

 

            “Yes, we will,” Touma nodded walking over to where the others stood, “Nasuti, you’re in charge of Shu when he returns.”

 

            “Oh boy, I get to tell the grumpy rash warrior of justice that he just missed the opportunity to go rushing into battle. I think I may be the one in danger, not Magma,” Nasuti smiled at them and they returned the smile.

 

            “We will use one of the portals that are left open. We will have to sneak through it though; there will be quite a few guards. If we fight the plan is naught so do not be seen,” Kashikoi explained as he led them deep into the forest, “Once through the portal we will be at the heart of the palace and we will need to get out as fast as possible. I will claim that I am following the Queen’s orders and hope that will be good enough for most of the soldiers hanging around.”

 

            “Why don’t we just go to the Queen and state our intentions to help?” Ryo asked ducking under a branch.

 

            “I fear she would be deaf to your offer. As I have said, she has changed for the worse. It is best if we try and solve the problem without involving her.” Kashikoi raised a finger to his lips and hushed any more questions. They kneeled down behind a bush and looked out into a small clearing. There was a green oval of swirling energy in the middle but nothing else, “Something is wrong. There should be at least two guards on duty.”

 

            “Touma, Shin, scout the area,” Ryo nodded to his two friends who turned to leave.

 

            “Remember, do not do anything to them, just get their locations,” Kashikoi warned. Shin and Touma nodded and took off in a blur of blue. They were gone only a couple of minutes and when they reappeared they stopped in the middle of the clearing feet from the portal. Those in hiding held their breath as they waited for something to happen, but nothing did.

 

            “There’s no one here, we searched a one kilometer radius area and nothing, no one,” Touma announced toward those hidden. Slowly they crept out of their hiding spot and joined the two in the clearing.

 

            “Something is horribly wrong,” Kashikoi muttered.

 

            “Should we abandon and go home?” Katie asked still a little weary of being out in the open like they were.

 

            “No, this is our only chance, we must keep going,” Kashikoi squared his shoulders and walked through the portal. The Troopers looked at each other unsure, but Magma seemed unaffected by the uneasiness and followed Kashikoi without a second thought. Ryo, a little annoyed at Magma followed and soon the others did too and the clearing was once again empty.

 

            On the other side of the portal the troopers, Magma, and Kashikoi were emerging from the clearing and looking around waiting for something to happen. They were in a fairly large room with similar portals spaced around the perimeter, though the one they had come through was the only one open it seemed. Kashikoi ran to the door that stood open in one wall and looked out into the hallway.

 

            “Something has happened. This room should be full of soldiers,” His voice shook and he looked around at the others clearly wondering what they should do.

 

            “Get us out of this castle, then we can figure out what to do after that,” Touma had joined Kashikoi by the door and glanced out at it. The hallway was empty, but it was apparent that something had happened. Tapestries that hung on the walls were torn partially pulled down. Tables and decorative accessories were broken and smashed on the floor. The wall themselves had been damaged as well, and Touma frowned as he studied them.

 

            “Shin, those marks in the wall…” Katie had noticed them too and pointed them out to Shin who nodded. On one side there were three holes fairly close together, while on the other a long slash of a blade. These markings were repeated multiple times down the hallway as they walked in silence. Kashikoi glanced around every corner, but the palace seemed to be completely devoid of life. They had made it down two floors when suddenly they came upon what seemed like the entire army. Kashikoi looked around frantically for someone he could talk to, but before he could find anyone, they had been surrounded.

 

            “Kashikoi, what is the meaning of bringing these people here?” General Gijitsu boomed from behind them, “Are you trying to help them defeat us?” Kashikoi turned around to face the General, his eyes wide and his whole body trembling in fear and confusion.

 

            “Take them to the dungeons!” The general commanded and several of the soldiers rushed forward to grab at them. Ryo shook a few of the gaurds off and moved to where he could call upon his undergear, but Touma stopped him.

 

            “Ryo, let them take you.” Ryo looked over to see that the others were being held, unresisting by the soldiers. Shocked he didn’t even notice when two more of the soldiers hesitantly took hold of him. Seiji nodded in agreement and Ryo allowed himself to be pushed forward after his friends and to the dungeon.

 

            The cell they were put into was a large one, more than enough room for all of them. There was moldy hay on the floor with a few blankets thrown into one of the corners. Three small windows lined the wall high up letting in what little light was left of the day. Ryo rushed the young soldier and grabbed him by his collar holding him up against one of the walls,

 

            “This was a trap,” He growled holding the soldier in such a way so as to block his airway, but not enough to completely black him out.

 

            “Ryo, stop it,” Magma pulled on his arm trying to get him to stop, but did not seem to have the strength to oppose the rage filled Rekka.

 

            “Ryo!” Shin pushed Ryo away from Kashikoi, and Katie took his other arm and between her and Magma pulled him to the other side of the cell.

 

            “Ryo, it wasn’t a trap. It was Shu,” Katie tried to explain.

 

            “He dragged us in here under false pretenses, and took us right into the waiting army… wait, Shu?”

 

            “Didn’t you notice the walls?” Touma asked, “They had gouges in them that could only have come from Shu’s weapon.”

 

            “There was one column where you could still see the impression of the chains as he used it as a pivot point to get around the corner,” Seiji continued as he stood on his toes to try and look out the small window in the door.

 

            “That was the sixth warrior… why is he here?” Kashikoi looked shocked and shook his head, “I thought we could trust you!”

 

            “You can trust us, Shu wandered off on his own. We had no idea where he was or that he had even left our world,” Magma tried to explain.

 

            “But he did have the idea to charge into one of the portals,” Shin pointed out.

 

            “But none of us though that he would do that alone,” Katie argued.

 

            “Does it surprise any of us that he did do that?” Touma asked walking back and forth as he thought. He glanced up and no one had anything to say against his question.

 

            “Well, then, what do we do now?” Ryo asked sitting down on some hay.

 

            “We wait. Assuming that this was not a trap, someone should come with a message soon for Kashikoi,” Touma explained.

 

            “Do you really think so? Even after what your friend did?” Kashikoi asked his hopes rose just a bit.

 

            “I do. Even if it is a private message for you alone, I am sure it will come.” They all settled down, sitting here and there throughout the cell and waited for a message that they all hoped would indeed come.