The city of Edo is a magnificent sight.  Crowded with wooden homes and businesses, it is the most populated city in the world.  This was a great feat of course in the true time of Edo, but even more so in the present time of Edo.  It was now, the only wooden city among the more modern metal and glass cities of the world.  It was also never supposed to be.
      On September first, the eighteenth birthday of Kongo no Shu, a mysterious demon attacked the Samurai Troopers.  However Kongo no Shu and Suiko no Shin had just disappeared moments before, as did Rekka, Tenku, and Korin.  The tree remaining Troopers fought valiantly, but without their yoroi they had no chance.  On that day the three Samurai Troopers of fire, air, and light died.
      This demon that had won the battle was able to drain their bodies of what power remained of the yoroi.  With this power he found an interesting use.  The demon found he was now able to travel to the past, to the year 1853.  Commodore Perry, an American Navel officer was due to arrive in Edo harbor.  History states that he would then threaten Japan to open their doors to trade or risk his wrath and that of his black ships.  However the demon willed this event to never happen.  Perry’s ships were caught in a devastating storm, which no one survived.  History also states that it was because of the sudden appearance of the foreign barbarians that sparked the flame of the Bakumatsu, or the Meiji Revolution.  Again, the demon took sides.  He gave his power to the current Tokugawa Shogun, allowing his samurai to win against the opposing Chouwa and Satsuma armies.  With the demon on the side of the Shogunate, its rule was guaranteed to last.
      With the country at a forced peace, the demon disguised himself and took the position as head of the council of elders that guided the decisions of the current shogun and in the end were the ones that truly ruled the land.  Even with his place in history certain, the demon took a few more precautions.  No foreign ship would make it close enough to the islands of Japan, they would always encounter storms that would force them away or destroy them.  The demon also forced out the Portuguese from Nagasaki forbidding their return.  Many would have said his actions dangerous, but the demon knew what he was doing.  There would of course be exceptions to this.  When textiles, and other modern knowledge and technology were needed the demon would allow a well chosen ship to land on the coasts of Japan.  Of course the crew would have died, and the contents of the ship taken by the government for their use, but this allowed the country to keep it’s current path of modernization while keeping the modern world away from the power he had always deserved and finally received.   
 
      In the city of Edo were the two estates of the Mouri and Date families.  These estates are where the women of the families lived.  They did not live there by choice, but where hostages to the shogun, his shield against any of his daimyo who might think to attack the city, for they would attack their families as well.  The two estates where located as far from each other as was possible, but the demon could not prohibit the common visitation of the women to each others homes.
      “What’s taking them so long?” Sayako sighed as she pulled at the layers of kimono she wore.
      “They have to pass through the checkpoint into the city, Sayako-san,” A younger woman with bright blond hair and equally bright blue eyes explained, “Considering there’s over a thousand servants and soldiers traveling with them it’s going to take a while.”
      “Satsuki-chan, are you sure about this?” Sayako looked at the younger girl.
      “Knowing my sister, her minds made up,” A third woman laughed pushing her black hair behind her ears to reveal clear blue eyes.
      “Yayoi-san this is a serious matter,” Sayako exclaimed looking at the two sisters.
      “I have grown up watching my older brother fight, wishing for any way to help.  I always wanted him to be proud of me.”
      “And you think he will be proud of you for doing this?” Sayako asked in disbelief.
      “Well, after he got over being an over protective brother, yes.”
      “I can assure you, Shin will be a lot harder to convince,” Sayako looked toward the main gate of the compound where the first of Lord Mouri’s party entered.
 
      The night was creeping up on the group that sat in a small simple room off of a beautifully manicured garden.  They had been served their meals on trays and sat on the their knees before them picking at the meager servings.
      “You want me to do WHAT?!” Shin exploded knocking his tray over.
      “That’s my little brother.  Predictable as ever,” Sayako mused over he cup of tea.
      “This wasn’t your idea was it?” Shin turned toward his sister.
      “You can leave me out of this,” Sayako hid behind her sleeve.
      “Shin-san, this was my idea and mine alone!” Satsuki stared sternly at Shin would could only look taken aback.
      “Satsuki-chan, Seiji would freak if he knew,” Shu leaned toward her pushing his food aside forgotten.
      “That is true, but in the end he would understand and accept my decision,” Satsuki replied calmly.
      “Maybe so, but he still wouldn’t like it,” Shu continued to protest.
      “Brother is not my keeper, no is he here to argue it.  This is my decision and you must admit it is the best hope we have!”
      “I cannot agree with you quite yet,” Shin sighed crossing his arms.
      “Do you have other plans then?” Yayoi asked as she poked her fried fish with her chopsticks.
      “I’m just saying we should hold out on this idea at the moment,” Shin looked out into the darkening garden.
      “Give us time to think, who knows, we may find an alternate solution,” Shu added running his hand through his hair.
      “I suggest that we not put it off too long,” Satsuki continued, “If I am to give birth to the next Suiko and possible the next Tenku or Rekka wielder, we cannot hesitate or it will be too late!”   Shin refused to meet her eyes again, but she could tell they had turned as cold as the ocean.
      “Satsuki-chan, Let’s leave it be for now,” Yayoi stated softly laying her hand on Satsuki’s tense arm.
      “But Sister!”
      “Let him think about it, you did kinda throw it at him suddenly.”
      “I…suppose.”
      “Come lets take a bath. You don’t mind do you Sayako-san?” At her approval the two sisters stood, gathering the ends of their kimono’s and left the room.
      “I bet her grandfather put her up to it,” Shu growled.
      “You’re wrong there.  Even he tried to convince her to change her mind,” Sayako mocked seemingly enjoying the reaction her brother was having.
      “They may just be right Shu,” Shin whispered.
      “Shin?! What are you talking about? We’ll think of other options!” Shu’s eyes widened in shock.
      “We’ve been thinking of other options for over a month now, and we haven’t had any good ideas,” Shin stood and walked out onto the veranda.
      “But Satsuki is still a child!”
      “Children become adults a lot faster in this world,” Sayako stated as she stood and walked over to her brother, “You don’t have to make a decision now.  Take your time to think about it.  You as well, Shu-san.”
      “Wha? Me?”
      “Mama and Grandfather Shu have already picked a wife for you,” Sayako slipped from the room before Shu could say anything in reply.
      “The more we put it off, the stronger the demon will become,” Shin stepped down into the garden and walked into the night leaving Shu alone.
 
      Shu left the abandoned room growling.  He didn’t like the attitude Shin had left with.  They were the Samurai Troopers, they were the good guys, they aren’t supposed to just give up and accept defeat.  Shu tried to shove his hands into his pockets, but since he was now dressing in the clothing of the era, there weren’t any pockets in his hakuma for him to shove his hands into.  He crossed his arms to keep him from punching every beam and wall in sight.  He walked down the dark wooded hall heading for the servants quarters.  Even through he held a high position within the house of Mouri he was still Chinese, and was required to sleep in these less than comfortable quarters while in Edo, where the daimyo had little control, even in their own homes.
     
      Shu stepped down from the veranda of the main house, slipping into a pair of straw sandals.  He made his way through the dirt covered area at the back of the compound.  With a bit more force than was necessary, Shu slimmed the door open to the servants’ house.  Heads popped from their sleeping cubicles as Shu passed.  Most of the heads that appeared were Japanese, but the farther Shu walked into the building the more Chinese that appeared, all from his own family who had been left in Tokyo when the time changed.  Shu walked down the dirt covered floor and stopped before his own sleeping cubical.  As a temporary resident of the house and of his status within the house, Shu was at least given some privacy, however, his little bit of privacy was currently being intruded on.
     
      In his sleeping quarters sat a woman with long silky black hair that was twisted up into a bun.  She had deep violet eyes that bordered on blue and distinct features that were common among the women of the Shu family.   
      “I’m not in the mood to deal with you,” Lei Fuan Shu growled at his slightly older cousin, “Shouldn’t you be looking after my siblings?”
      “Mama has the night off, she’s looking after her children tonight,” The young woman replied sternly refusing to look Shu in the eye.
      “I said I’m…”
      “Not in the mood.  I heard you the first time.”
      “Then why are you still here?” Shu stood stock still refusing to back down.
      “Because I’m acting under Grandfathers orders.” Shu’s forehead crinkled in confusion.  Nobody in the clan was allowed to go against Grandfather Shu or risk expulsion from the clan.  There was only one exception to this, Lei Fuan had been given permission by Grandfather to live his life as he wished since it would forever be guided by the yoroi.  So why was Mei Lynn sitting in his cubical? What order had Grandfather given her that caused her to be here?
      “I’m outside of his orders, you know that.”
      “Things have changed, Lei Fuan.  You no longer have a normal life to try and live outside of his authority,” Mei Lynn glanced up at Shu her eyes cold.
      “Can’t this wait till tomorrow?” Shu sighed rubbing his eyes.
      “We need to find a new wielder for Kongo.”
      Shu looked down at Mei Lynn, “What business is it to you?”
      “Grandfather wishes for me to give birth to the next wielder of Kongo.” Shu locked eyes with Mei Lynn, her eyes firm.
      “This is ridiculous! MAMA!!” Shu yelled as he turned and headed toward his immediate families’ room.
      “Yes, Lei Fuan?” Mama replied hesitantly peeking from the room she shared with her husband and four other children.
      “Tell me…”
      “Everything she said is true,” Mama interrupted avoiding the uncomfortable questions Shu was about to ask.
      “Since when has my choice in anything mattered, cause it would have been nice to know about it,” Shu growled.
      “Lei Fuan,” Mama searched for something to say, but for once she couldn’t seem to find anything.  Shu gave her a disapproving look, and turned to walk away.
 
      Twice Shin had tried to leave the fate of the yoroi.  The first was by abandonment, and second by death.  However, he never fully followed through on either of these attempts. At the last second a hope of being able to live or get rid of the yoroi kept him from following them through.  And just like the first time the hope disappeared.  No longer would Suiko rule and control his life, but the other three yoroi would.
     
      Shin sat alone on the tatami floor of his room.  He searched his mind for any other options that would allow him not to involve innocent children.  No ideas were coming to him.  Deep down Shin realized that the option given to him by Kentarou and Satsuki was the best chance they would have.
      “She’s only a child,” Shin whispered, as tears fell freely, “I can’t do that!”  A hand was laid lightly on Shin’s shoulder; he recoiled from the touch and spun around to face the person who had snuck up on him.  Clear blue eyes locked with his.  They were stern and almost icy, “Seiji…”
      “Shin-san.”
      “Satsuki…chan,” Shin hesitated, he could have sworn he had just seen Seiji’s disapproving gaze a second ago, but now Satsuki’s bright eyes had returned.  Shin turned from her, he didn’t want to look in those eyes again. Satsuki scooted to his side, pulled out her handkerchief, and wiped the tears that remained on his cheeks.
      “I…I’ll find someone else,” Shin mumbled.
      “Someone else?” Satsuki questioned as she attempted to see into Shin’s eyes, attempting to read his thoughts.
      “Maybe you’re right, maybe bringing children into the world and training them to wield the yoroi is our only hope,” Shin sighed and turned his head farther away, “I just can’t ask it of you.”
      “There is no one else, Shin-san.”
      “Of course there’s someone else.  There has to be someone else,” Shin shook his head, turning his back toward Satsuki.
      “No one would understand, let alone believe in why it would need to be done!” Satsuki argued as she crawled around to sit in front of him.  Shin glanced at her, and turned away once again, the same blue eyes that reminded him of Seiji were there again.
      “You can still live a life here.  You don’t need to be dragged into the fate of the yoroi.”
      “So, you’d rather drag in some innocent woman who had never even heard of the yoroi before?”
      “That’s not what I meant!” Shin exclaimed.
      “Shin-san, my world has already been destroyed by the yoroi, I was dragged into their destiny the second my brother accepted to wield it.”
      “No, that’s not true.  You had nothing to do with Korin,” Shin jerked his head back to look at Satsuki.
      “You should know, Shin-san, the beliefs of the Date house.  Just because my brother was the one that fought, didn’t mean he was the only one involved.  He would and always will be supported and backed by our family.  Whenever he would need help, we would be there.  Even if it meant taking up arms and fighting to protect him and Korin,” Satsuki met eyes with Shin again, and Shin saw the cold firm eyes that he knew all too well.  It was the look Seiji gave any of them whenever they showed weakness of heart.  She lifted her hands and placed them on either side of his jaw, her face drawing closer to his, “I know you understand Shin-san.  You know that there isn’t anyone else that can take up this destiny.  Don’t worry.  I promise, I’ll take care of you.”