The morning sun began its journey across the sky as a plump woman shuffled her way around the compound in search of something.  She had checked through all of the servant’s quarters with no luck, she had even searched through the main house, but he was nowhere to be found.  She was worried that her son had gone off somewhere.  It worried her even more that he had gone off to do something stupid, one of his favorite things to do it seemed.  Just as she believed that there was nowhere else to look, she turned the corner near the kitchen and about tripped over her him.  He lay silently on the dirt, his chest rising and falling in sleep.
      “Lei Fuan!” Mama called, shaking him roughly.  He mumbled something in Chinese and attempted to bat her hand away, “Lei Fuan, wake up!”  Shu rolled from his side to his back and looked up into his mother’s worried and stressed eyes.
      “What do you want?” Shu grunted as she pushed himself up, looking away from his mother.
     “Shin… um, well, he ordered for you to come see him,” Mama stood and backed away from her son, knowing full well what was coming.  Shu raised an eyebrow and looked at his mother wondering if he had heard her correctly.
      “Shin ordered me to see him!?” Shu repeated expecting Mama to give him a weird look.
      “That’s what I was told,” Mama sighed as she averted her gaze from her son.  She knew that this order was very unusual.
      “I’m sure you heard wrong then.”
      “The messenger was very specific.  I’m sure there is no mistake.”  Shu slowly stood and looked his mother in the face.
      “Why are you so sure?”
      “It was Sayako-san.”  Shu’s face fell. Without a word he turned away and walked around the other side of the kitchen.  Mama watched as he disappeared her mind fearing what the future had in store.
 
      Shu stormed through the halls of the main house, his footsteps echoed like thunder.  Servants appeared from doors through out watching as he made his way toward their lord.  Reaching the door to Shin’s main room he slammed it open breaking the frame with a large crack.
      “You called for me?” Shu growled.
      “That was two days ago,” Shin sighed.
      “Well, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to deal with people for the past couple of days,” Shu grumbled.
      “We need to talk Shu.”
      “No kidding.”
      “So, you’ve thought of some solution?” Shin asked looking up at his friend, “I’ll take that as a no.”  Shin looked out at the garden and sipped from a small saucer filled with sake.
      “And what, you do??”
      “It’s the only thing we can do, Shu.”
      “Huh? What are you talking about?” Shu watched as Shin continued to gaze at a bee as it buzzed from flower to flower.
      “Take Mei Lynn as your wife Shu.  She understands the situation, she has agreed to it.”
      “WHAT?!!” Shu exclaimed as he soon realized that Shin had made up his mind, “You haven’t.  She’s a only a CHILD!!”
      “Ne-san said it.  Children grow up much faster in this time.”
      “But we aren’t from this time! This isn’t our world!!” Shu screamed, not caring who heard him.
      “No, this isn’t our world.  We lost our world when we failed to protect it.”
      “We did not fail! We are the Samurai Troopers! We are not supposed to fail!!” Shu’s hands were clenched at his sides, shaking with rage.
      “Open your eyes Shu! Our friends are dead! The Demon has control, there is NOTHING WE CAN DO!!” Shin stood his eyes as fierce as a wild typhoon.
      “You’re wrong.  You’ve given up too soon, Shin.  I’ll prove it,” an orange aura erupted around the enraged Kongo wielder as the symbol of his yoroi appeared on his chest and spread to form the black under gear.  With a final glare toward Shin, Shu disappeared.
      “Damn it,” Shin cursed
 
      The sun was at its highest, but could not be seen.  Dark murky clouds had filled the sky over the grand Mt. Fuji. An armored warrior stood at the base of the mighty volcano, his orange yoroi of the earth had a shadowed gleam to it. His niganata stood sticking from the ground, it’s silver blades shimmered in the sunless light.
      “We seem a bit restless, Kongo no Shu,” A man sat on a nearby bolder with his chin in his hand and his elbow on his knee.  He wore silk hakama and kimono with the shoguns seal upon the shoulder and back.  His face was aged but showed power no mortal would ever know.
      “YOU!” Shu spun on his heel to face the demon upon the rock.
      “I guess no introductions are needed.  I must say, that new yoroi of yours is quite impressive,” The demon stood from the rock a whiskery grin on his face, “but I’m sure you’re aware that it’s still not enough power to defeat me.”
      “You’re wrong.  I have plenty of power to defeat you,” Shu growled.
      “Do you?  That’s funny, I could have sworn I had killed three of you, and that your friend has given up,” The demons eyes grew thinner, his smile wider.  Shu pulled his niganata from the ground and held it in an offensive position.  “Well, it looks like I get to teach you a lesson.  And I won’t even need to draw a sword to do it.”  
 
      An armed guard stood before the aging Chinese woman arguing with her.  Her hands were crossed; her eyes firm as if she was speaking to one of her own children.
      “I understand that this is your duty, but it is imperative that I speak to your Lord.”
      “He is your Lord as well, Ma’am.  He has asked to be left alone.  Not even his wife has been allowed to see him,” The guard stated for the hundredth time, “I’m sorry Ma’am but you are not even supposed to be in this part of the house as is.  Please just leave and no harm will come to you.”
      “I didn’t want to do this, but I have no choice,” Mama sighed as she looked up at the guard before her, “you are only doing your job.”  Before the guard could question her meaning Mama had punched him in the stomach and chopped him in the back of the neck.  “Unfortunately for you, Lei Fuan got his skill from me.”  Mama apologized to the limp form on the ground before she opened the bandaged door into Shin’s main room.
      “Your son is not here,” a low voice stated from behind a small screen that sat in the middle of the room.
      “Then where is he? He doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the compound,” Mama asked in a very short voice.
      “He’s out of town,” the voice replied nonchalantly.  Mama swiftly made her way to the other side of the screen and looked down upon the warrior of water who lay on his side.
      “I understand that you have accepted your fate.  I understand that Lei Fuan has not. But this is the time when he needs the only friend he had left!”
      “Shu’s a big boy.  He can take care of himself.”
      “You know as well as I do, that now is when he can’t take care of himself,” Mama stated in a scolding voice.
      “And you know just as well, that when Shu makes up his mind there is no way to change it,” Shin returned finally turning to look up at Mama. Mama met his eyes and she realized what Shu had gone off to do.
      “How… how could you have let him?!” She exclaimed, “He has no chance against him!”
      “There was no way I could stop him. Like I said, his mind was made up.”
      “But he could be killed!!” Mama screeched as the fear of losing her son donned on her.
      “Then that is his choice!” Shin stood and walked out onto the veranda.  Mama watched Shin’s back as he stood before her.  She wiped the tears from her face and set herself.
      “Our world is gone.  Your friends are dead.  There is nothing left for this generation of Samurai Troopers to do.”
      “Don’t you think I know that!?” Shin turned to face Mama their eyes locking.
      “You have accepted this fate.  You have accepted that our story needs to be passed down, and you have accepted that you have to make sure that your story and your armor is passed down.  That is your fate now,” Mama stepped toward Shin, her eyes firm, “But you cannot do it alone, and you know it.  You need Lei Fuan.” They stood looking at each other for several moments.  Mama was right and Shin knew it.  He needed Shu there if any hope was to be had for the future.  Shin took a deep breath and let it out through his nose.  Without another word Shin passed by Mama and walked out the door.
      “Shin!”
      “I’ll bring him back.  If he’s still alive.”
     “Thank you, Shin.”
      “I’m only doing this, because too many families have seen too many loses,” Shin didn’t look back and closed the door behind him leaving Mama alone.
     
      Shu’s body slumped against the large boulder the demon had first appeared on.  Blood ran down his forehead, and dripped from his nose.  He clenched his hand around his niganata and pulled it toward him.  He leaned heavily on it, as he stood, unable to put all of his weight on his right leg.
      “Have you had enough?” The demon laughed as he crossed his arms, his sword still safely in its sheath, “Or would you like me to end your suffering?”
      “I will never give up!” Shu growled as he wiped the blood that had dripped into his eyes.
      “Maybe in your next life you’ll be able to think of better lines!” The demon cackled as he raised his hand toward Shu.  Taking a deep breath Shu steadied himself on his bad leg and held his niganata up to try and block the coming blow.  With his eyes closed he waited, but the blow never came.  Slowly he opened his right eye and looked past his raised weapon.  A warrior in a dark cyan armor stood before him, his yari raised.
      “Shin!?”
      “It’s time to leave Shu,” Shin stated flatly, his back still toward Shu.
      “I can’t leave! Not till he’s dead!”
      “You Jack Ass! Can’t you see that he’s too strong for you! He’ll kill you!”
      “I will not give up.  I will never give up!” Shu exclaimed as he pushed Shin aside and limped forward.  Shin’s eyes widened as he watched Shu.  His yoroi was darker than it should have been and there was no sign of Justice.
      “WHY? Why won’t you give up!?” Shin begged stepping in front of Shu once again, this time facing his friend.
      “As long as I live, and as long as I have this yoroi, I will not stop fighting,” Shu stated his eyes locked on the demon.
      “I won’t let you do this!”
      “That choice is not yours to make,” Shu growled.
      “I’ll make it mine,” Shin growled right back.  Their eyes met, one set as hard as a rock, and the other as fierce as the sea.  Shu held his niganata tight shifting it to his right hand, pulling it back behind him.  Shin took the defense, pulling his yari out in front of him.
      “I’m warning you Shin!”
      “And I’m warning you.”  Shu began to spin his niganata behind him, engulfing him in a shadowy orange aura. Shin tightened his grip on his yari.  He had been on the receiving end of the Sou En Zan once and had hoped to never repeat the experience.  Shu’s niganata began to rise above his head, and there was only one thing Shin could think of doing.  He pulled his yari back, the words of his sure kill slipped over his lips like a waterfall.  Shu pulled his niganata down in front of him to block Shin’s sudden attack.  Both sure kills fired knocking both warriors down.  Shin looked up at the dark clouds above him, his mind set.  A blurry figure appeared above him, a wicked grin on its face.
      “Maybe I’ll keep you around a little bit longer, it might be fun.”
 
      The sun peeked through the wooden slats of the thin walls.  Shu lifted his hand to his face and felt the bandage that partially blocked his sight.  He moved his head to the side, but a sharp pain through his head kept him from moving it much.  He could hear someone move around outside.  Slowly the slatted door was pushed open.  A shadowed figure entered the room and shut the door.  The figure walked over to Shu and sat down beside him.
      “So, You’ve woken up,” Nasuti stated softly.
      “How long…”
      “2 weeks,” Nasuti replied quickly as she gently lifted his head and began to undo his bandage, “Do you remember what happened?” Shu looked away.  The event that had taken place at the base of Mt. Fuji had been playing over and over in his head, never ceasing.
      “I lost control of Kongo,” Shu stated bluntly.  Nasuti paused and looked in to his indigo eyes.  They were no longer bright, but cloudy and angry, “It will not happen again.”
      Nasuti dropped the roll of bandages in her hand, and her eyes went wide.  Was Shu so proud of a man that he would rather die then admit defeat? She knew that if Shu went to fight the demon again, Shin would not help him.
      “I lost.  Our world is lost,” Shu growled.  Nasuti realized and picked up the roll of bandages, “I will not let my family, nor any of you that were dragged into this suffer because of my failure.  I will protect you all.  And when I can no longer can, I will make sure someone will be able to.”
      Nasuti finished replacing the bandage and leaned back on her heals, “Where will you go now?”
      “Where ever my family is.”
      “The Shu family was ordered to return to Hagi.  They are no longer welcome in Edo, by order of the Shogun,” Nasuti informed him.
      “Then I too shall go to Hagi.”
      “And Meilynn?”
      “She can do what she chooses,” Nasuti hesitated asking her next question, not knowing how Shu would react.
      “Shin?”
      “Let him do what he wants, no matter how pointless it may be!” Shu exclaimed in a low growl.
              “I see,” Nasuti sighed as she stood and turned toward the door, “Get some rest.” Shu watched as Nasuti disappeared into the setting sun.  He lay there for a moment watching the orange and red shadows danced on the wall and ceiling before he fell back asleep.  The battle with the demon and his friends’ betrayal played clearly in his mind.