Byakuen released a cry from his hidden perch in the mountains as Touma leaned on the railing just outside of the dinning room over looking the surrounding mountains and the lake below.  It had taken all of Nasuti’s will and knowledge to convince the doctors and his mother, who knew nothing of the yoroi, to allow him out of the hospital.  Still it took a week before they finally gave in.  Touma’s mother canceled her latest trip abroad so she could be near her son.  Again, it took some time on Nasuti’s part to keep her from taking up residence in the Yagyu home, but she was not able to keep her from traveling from Osaka every other day much to Touma’s despair.
            “Touma-kun! What are you doing out here? Keep this up and you’ll kill yourself!” Touma rolled his eyes as he turned to face the slightly aged woman.  Her short black hair was held back by a bamboo headband, and her face was etched with motherly concern.
            “I’m not going to sit in my room for the rest of my life, Mother.”
            “But the doctor said…”
            “I don’t care what the doctor said!” Touma shook his head, “If I am to die, then that is my fate.”
            “Fate?”
            “You are always gone on some assignment.  You’ve never been there when I’ve needed you.  Why now are you so concerned with me?” Touma asked turning to face his mother.
            “Touma-kun…”
            “And will you stop using kun, it’s embarrassing.  You’re my mother not my peer.”
            “Hashiba-san, I think it may be time to go home,” Nasuti suggested softly as she emerged from the kitchen door where she had been standing, and listening.
            “Yes, I think you are right, Nasuti-san.  I’ll, I’ll call you and check up on him,” Touma’s mother whispered as she looked to the ground, unable to look her son in the eyes.  Slowly she turned and returned to the house to leave.  Touma turned his head and looked over his shoulder, down on the lawn he noticed Shu practicing his Chinese martial art he and his family were masters in. Nasuti remained on the balcony and searched for something to say.  After a moment, Touma pushed away from the railing and made his way into the house and toward his and Seiji’s room, just off of the dining room.  As he made his way inside, Nasuti noticed that he had placed his right hand on his chest.
            “What will happen if they have to fight?” Nasuti asked herself as she watched Shu workout below her, “Is this the beginning of the end? Ah, Nasuti, this is not the time to go pessimistic!” With one last look at Shu she returned to the kitchen to finish with her chores.
            Seiji closed the black notebook and looked up from the desk that sat in the room he shared with Touma.  Touma had stormed into the room not long before and had fallen asleep on the bed almost immediately.  Seiji was used to Touma’s irregular sleeping habits, staying up all hours of the night and sleeping in to noon was normal for him.  Now, he slept more than he was awake, and this deeply bothered Seiji.  Touma had first showed him the contents of the black notebook when Seiji arrived at Nasuti’s after Shin’s incident.  It was only one of several of his notes on the yoroi, but it was the one in which he believed the answer to their current problem existed.  Seiji had looked through the notebook several times trying to make heads or tails of its contents, but there were many mathematical equations trying to explain the yoroi’s existence, a level much above his own knowledge.  Even in his current state, while awake, Touma would read as much as he could and confer with Nasuti on possible explanations.  Deciding to let Touma sleep peacefully Seiji left the room without a sound like a cat sleeking about.  Seiji crossed the dinning room glancing outside as he did.  The day was bright and clear with crispness that signaled the coming of autumn.  He made his way to the kitchen and glanced inside.  Nasuti was busy cleaning up from Lunch and getting ready for Dinner.  Deciding not to make a comment about her western meals Seiji turned and headed outside, he’d ask for some pumpkin later.  Seiji knew that no matter how much he tried to read he would be no help to Touma and Nasuti.  He also knew that both Shu, Ryo, and Shin felt just as helpless.  Shu spent his time working out, preparing for whatever sort of battle they would be forced to fight.  Ryo spent his time with Byakuen doing whatever it was that he did, which most likely was angsting and worrying about everyone.  And Shin sat daily by the lake looking out over the water.  Not even Seiji could figure out exactly what it was that he thought about for so long.
            Seiji walked to the edge of the clearing on which the house was perched and sat in the shade of an ancient elm tree.  He was going to do the only thing he knew of, the one thing that he had been trained to do since he was old enough to sit up.  Closing his eyes he cleared his mind of all thoughts and feelings. Seiji used every part of him to see around him, he could feel the house, smell the lake, and even taste the air. He could even sense Shu across the yard as he preformed movements that had been engraved in his memory since he was a child. It was not these ordinary mundane things that Seiji was looking for.  He stretched his senses out, looking for something out of the ordinary, something that was not supposed to be there.  He felt a trickle on the side of his face as a bead of sweat fell, a sign that time had passed and that he was no longer in the shade of the elm.  A sharp pain shot through Seiji’s body as he was pulled from his meditate state and pushed into something unknown.  Seiji, with eyes still closed trying to gain control of what was happening to him, suddenly saw two slanted yellow eyes.  The eyes grew thinner as glowing red and orange specks began to fall like snow between him and the eyes.  A bony gray hand appeared, one finger pointed toward Seiji, and the yellow eyes widened in a silent laugh.  The red and orange flakes grew thicker as the green yoroi of light appeared before Seiji.  A sharp invisible wind sent the falling embers right into Seiji’s minds eye, and his own eyes began to burn.  As he struggled to keep his sight open Korin began to fade away, growing brighter and brighter till Seiji could not stand it any more.
            Seiji felt the cool grass against his cheek and could smell the freshness of late day air.  He pushed himself up and rubbed his eyes which still burned.  Leaning against the elm Seiji slowly opened his eyes.  At first everything was blurry, but instead of clearing up, it only got more blurry and soon it seemed as if his eyes had dilated, and even the light of the setting sun was too bright.  He tried to shade his eyes, but found that it did not aid him at all.  Taking a quick look to find his bearings he closed his eyes and stood up.  Holding his left hand over his eyes he made his way slowly toward the house.
            “Nasuti. Nasuti,” Seiji called toward the kitchen as he made his way into the house.
            “Seiji?” Nasuti walked from the kitchen a towel in her hand wiping the soap bubbles away.  She found Seiji clinging to the wall on the other side of the fireplace, “Seiji, what’s wrong?” Nasuti ran up to Seiji and took his hand leading him away from the wall toward the dinning room table.
            “I can no longer see.  No, that’s not correct, I can see, but my eyes seem to have become ultra sensitive to the light,” Seiji explained as he fluidly sat down into the chair.
            “Here, it’s a little damp, but it’ll help,” Nasuti quickly folded the dishcloth she had in her hand and tied it around Seiji’s eyes, “Was…was it the same?”
            “Yes, Korin disappeared, and like Touma the ‘embers’ burned my eyes.”
            “We should have you see a doctor.”
            “And what will the doctor say when yet another under your care appears in the hospital?”  Seiji asked as he adjusted the damp blindfold.
            “Well, it’s not like they’re injuries that were inflicted… they’re just…”
            “They just appeared?”
            “Well, yea.  I see what you mean.  They’ll ask too many questions,” Nasuti sighed as she sat down next to Seiji.
            “However I do agree that a doctor should be called.  Just in case,” Seiji whispered.  As swift and fluid as ever Seiji stood and began to walk toward his room, “Nasuti?”
            “Yes Seiji?”
            “Where’s the step?” Nasuti chuckled lightly as she stood and helped Seiji find the step that led up from the table and to his room.
                       
            Night fell upon the Yagyu house as Shu sat at the table and ate a silent dinner by himself.  Shin had just returned from the lake and went straight to their room.  Shu knew that he didn’t want to be bothered and that he’d come down when he was hungry.  Seiji and Touma have been cooped up in their room all evening.  When Shu invited them to come eat dinner they both declined.  Ryo had been out all day with Byakuen doing things only Ryo knew.  And Nasuti, Shu wasn’t sure where she had disappeared too.  She had left soon after Seiji announced that his eyes had suddenly become sensitive to the light and how they became that way.  She didn’t say where she was going, but not to worry about her.  So Shu sat at the large dinning room table alone, pushing around what was left of his chicken and potato’s with his fork.
            “I’m home,” Ryo announced as he and Byakuen made their way into the dinning room, “Sorry we’re late.”
            “Ah, Ryo, I have some more chicken in the kitchen, you hungry?” Shu asked as he dropped his fork onto the plate and quickly stood.
            “I’m not hungry,” Ryo replied as he took a seat in one of the chairs around the table, “Where is everyone?”
            “Shin’s upstairs, and Touma and Seiji are in their room, “Shu sighed and took a deep breath, “Seiji’s been affected now.
            “What?!” Ryo exclaimed his bright blue eyes growing wide.
            “It happened this afternoon.  He has to stay in a dark room now, his eyes are sensitive to the light,” Shu explained.
            “Did anyone take him to the hospital?”
            “He refused to be taken,” Shu replied as he sat back down in his chair.
            “Why?”
            “Too many questions would have been asked.  He is the third from this house to become suddenly and unexpectedly ill in the past month after all.”
            “But still, he should have someone check his eyes,” Ryo whispered.
            “You know Seiji.” Shu replied.  He picked up his fork and once again began to play with the potatoes on his plate, throwing some over to Byakuen who sat not far away.  Ryo knew what Shu meant and he wasn’t sure how to reply.
            “I spent all day at Mt. Fuji, thinking,” Ryo spoke up keeping his eyes down, “I’ve been wanting to see you all since we returned from Africa.  I was afraid this would happen.  I didn’t want it to happen.”
            “None of us did.  We all were afraid to meet again.  It took Touma showing up on my doorstep for me to acknowledge him.  Of course the fact that Mama hid his letters from me didn’t help,” Shu grumbled.
            “I wrote everyone, every week.  Only Touma responded.  It was good to hear of the things he and Nasuti were discovering.  I really didn’t think anyone would respond.  Of course Jun did, he even came out to see me in Shinshu a couple of times.”
            “Jun’s a good kid.  I’m just glad that he’s spending his vacation with an aunt away from Tokyo,” Shu nodded, “No body wants to fight.  Not even myself, though I’m sure anyone would think otherwise.  But I do like to prove that I can fight when I have to, no one is ever going to question my abilities.  You too Ryo, you should be proud of what we have accomplished.  We were blessed and cursed by these armors.  Our lives will forever be ruled by them, we should just do our job, prove that no one should question our strength to fight and to protect our world.”
            “I may not totally agree with you Shu, but you do have a point,” Ryo chuckled.
            “I’m home!” Nasuti exclaimed as she entered the house via the front door.  Ryo, Shu and even Byakuen looked up toward the entrance.  Nasuti walked around the corner with a large smile on her face, “Ah, Ryo, Shu I’m glad you’re here. I’d like to introduce you to someone.” Ryo and Shu looked at the man that had followed Nasuti into the house.  He was three inches taller than Nasuti and his brown hair was combed neatly and freshly cut. “This is Doctor Sakamoto.  He’s an old friend of mine from when I was in elementary school.”
            “Why did you bring him here?” Ryo asked standing from his chair.
            “From today he will be your personal physician,” Nasuti explained.
            “Y…you mean… you told him?!” Ryo exclaimed fire erupting in his eyes.
            “Well, you can’t quite expect him to help you out if he doesn’t know what happened,” Nasuti explained.
            “I can’t believe you didn’t discuss this with us!” Ryo yelled pounding his fists on the table, “It’s bad enough that you and Jun know about us, now we have to worry about them attacking him too!”
            “Ryo, settle down,” Nasuti stated soothingly.
            “No, Nasuti, he has a point.  You should have talked to them first,” Sakamoto spoke up from behind her.  Ryo glared at his tenacity to even speak and then dashed up the stairs and into his room.
            “I’m sorry you had to see that,” Nasuti sighed, “I guess I just didn’t think things through enough.”
            “Don’t worry about it Nasuti, it’s how he is,” Shu stated as he walked up to the two, “It’s nice to meet you Sakamoto-sensei.  I’m Shu Lei Fuan, you can just call me Shu.”
            “It’s nice to meet you, Shu.  Sorry for making all the trouble.”
            “Don’t take it too personally, that’s just how Ryo is.  He takes everything on his shoulders and blames himself,” Shu sighed and shook his head.
            “I can understand how he feels, but Nasuti did explain everything to me, and though I didn’t believe her at first I accepted any and all danger that may come to me because of it.”
            “I’m glad to hear that,” Shu smiled, “I’m sure we can also depend on you to protect Nasuti and to keep her out of trouble ne?”
            “And what is that supposed to mean?” Nasuti exclaimed planting her hands firmly on her hips glaring at Shu who only laughed as he disappeared up the stairs.
 
            Byakuen watched as his child stormed from the room and observed this newcomer who was to take care of his charges.  He kept an eye on him as Shu introduced himself and retreated to his own room, and he continued to watch as Nasuti led him to Seiji and Touma’s room so he could check up on Seiji.  Slowly Byakuen stood up and made his way up the stairs and to his child’s room.  He found Ryo laying face down on his bed yelling and crying into it.  Walking up next to the bed, Byakuen nuzzled Ryo’s arm.  Ryo wiped his eyes on his hand as he turned toward his tiger companion and allowed Byakuen to lick the salty tears from his hand,
            “Why did Nasuti do that?  I was so glad that Jun is elsewhere, that he wouldn’t be caught up in this.  But, now we have him to watch out for. I know we have no choice but to fight, I’ve accepted that.  I just wish there was a way to fight without having to worry about those around us getting caught in the midst of the battle.  I guess I’ll just have to rely on you more boy.  You’ll keep an eye on them won’t you?” Byakuen gave Ryo a small nod and Ryo accepted that as approval.  Byakuen would do anything for his child.