-1In A Dream (my sequel to Samurai Troopers) Chapter 37

By: Mia Yagyu

Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Troopers…same as always….

Well, to their disappointment, the group landed in the same pool the original three had arrived in, "This doesn't look good," Touma commented, looking over at Seiji, who nodded in agreement.

Sora and Alana slowly looked over their shoulders, soon their own eyes widening, "Holy shit…" Sora muttered, scooting over by Touma, "What are we gonna do?"

"Oh, this is easy!" Mariko giggled, "They're just upset that their prey got away!"

Shin eyed his Spirit wearily, "Do I wanna know what is going through your mind?"

"Oh hush," Mariko told Shin, sticking out her tongue, "All we've gotta do is have a well planned out attack. Touma and Sora," The silver haired girl turned to the Tenkun couple, "You guys should stand on the gate. Sora, you focus on the bow wielding soldiers; Touma, you focus on the troops below."

"Right," The Tenkuns nodded, their dark blue bubbles surrounding them and lifting them up to the top of the gate.

"Shuu, Yolei, Seiji and Haven," Mariko turned to the Korin and Kongon couples, "The four of you will be the front lines. Shuu, is Yolei healed enough to fight?"

Yolei looked up from Shuu's arms, "I think I'll manage…no, I know I'll manage. I have to," The purple haired girl reassured the silver haired one.

Mari nodded, "Good. Cause, Ryo, Alana, Shin and I will be depending on you four. We'll be about a hundred meters away. Ryo and Alana will be the hand to hand force while Shin and I will be using our powers to knock out as much troops as we can."

"Hey, Mari, how did you devise this plan?" Alana asked, looking at the Suiko girl, a little curious.

Mariko giggled, "We learned about one of the wars in my last Feudal Japanese class, and they used this plan to defeat the enemy." The long range weapons stood at the top of something high and close, one section of the group working on the samurai below, confusing them; the second section working on the enemy's long range weapons. Then you put some hand to hand combat samurais, and then some magic users on the front lines to wipe out the charging forces on the front lines. The remaining samurai stood about a hundred to two hundred meters away, wiping out the ones who got passed.

Shuu chuckled, "Heh, Shin. I thought your woman was only computer smart," He teased after setting down Yolei. Shin blinked and Mariko glared at Shuu, "But, of course, I only know food…" Shuu retracted, looking away to see Yolei giggling at the scene, "Alright, then let's get this party started!"

"Right!" The rest agreed, taking their positions. Mariko looked over at Ryo, "Whatever you do, do not transform into the Inferno armor. Should you transform, it'll leave the four in front of us to be trampled on and this trip would have been a waste for you three."

Ryo's bright blue eyes widened, surprised at who this was coming from. He expected Alana to say something to that affect, but not Mariko…and in such a harsh tone, "R-right." He responded, still a little shocked, "I'll do my best to try and not-"

"Look, there isn't any trying. You will stop that monster of an armor!" Mariko's eyes were dangerously narrowed at the black haired boy, "Unless you don't care about-"

"That's enough, Mari," Alana returned the same hateful glare back towards the Suiko spirit, "He's got the point. If you want this plan to work, you better step back and take the position you gave yourself in this fight."

Shin frowned. This wasn't like his Mariko. She never voiced an opinion on the Inferno armor, especially a negative one. He placed a hand on Mariko's shoulder but looked at Alana, "This isn't the time nor place to fight about this. Let's get this over with and get back to Nastui's place."

"Yeah, I agree. Look, Mariko," Ryo turned to the silver haired girl, "It's never really my choice to wear that armor. It just likes to appear when things turn for the worse."

Mariko hung her head, "Right…" She breathed, unsure of why she reacted that way. The only thing that really came to mind was that she despised seeing Shin collapse, his power taken away from him. Mari knew that if provoked, Alana could probably summon Naomi and quickly take control of her, drawing Mari's own power right out of her own body. There wasn't any doubt that the Inferno couple were in doubt the two strongest in the group. But…it didn't mean that the others couldn't be just as strong, "Now, let's kick some ass!"

The fight seem to last forever. It felt like if one was knocked down, two more replaced that one. After about a few hours, the magic users resorted back to hand to hand, conserving their power. Mariko watched as her plan slowly began to fall apart. She tried to recall what exactly the unknown general of that army did once his troops began to fall in numbers. She saw Sora and Touma, struggling to stay on their feet. The Korins and Kongons weren't doing much better, and the four of them were struggling themselves.

"Look, Mari. It was a mistake to participate in this fight without finding a place for you guys to heal," Alana pointed out, the scythe in her arms getting heavier with each passing moment, "We need to summon at least Naomi and maybe the Inferno."

Ryo looked back at his Spirit, "Can you handle Naomi, 'Lana?" He asked, a worried tone hinting at his voice.

"I'm going to have to," Alana reassured Ryo, slicing down another Netherworld Samurai, "There isn't any other choice."

Mariko hung her head, her silver bangs shadowing out her pale ruby eyes, "Is there a way to protect the boys' bodies?"

Surprisingly, a smile played on Shin's face. Mariko was worried about him after the Inferno armor was summoned. He reached over, ruffling his armor clad fingers through her silver hair, "We'll be fine, Mariko. We've managed before."

Mariko nodded, "If it's the only way…" She breathed, looking over at Shin, a worried smile on her lips.

"Alright then," Alana smiled, "I just need some protection while I use the chant to draw out the two."

Ryo looked at his blonde counterpart and nodded, "Right, we'll do our best."

Alana folded her hands in prayer fashion as the melodious chant flowed out from her mouth. Eight shields shot up around the Samurais and Spirits, and the message quickly filling their minds. Sora turned around, her mismatched eyes dulling as she walked towards the edge of gate. Touma watched in awe as a dark blue wing protruded from Sora's right leg, the kanjis of Wisdom and Hope glowing a brilliant gold. Sora felt her body go limp as she fell down off of the gate, a white light surrounding her before she hit the ground. An orange wing appeared on Yolei's left arm and a dark green wing appeared on Haven's right arm, both embossed with the two golden kanjis respective to their names, "Let's do this, Alana," Mariko told her as a light blue wing appeared on her left leg, Peace's and Trust's kanjis glowing brilliantly. A purple wing and a red wing appeared on each side of Alana's head, each with its respective kanji.

The boys watched as the five women merged, a brilliant white fire surrounding Alana. The transformation was quick, but it was mesmerizing at the same time. Alana's long blonde hair braided itself into many braids, each strand woven with many colors. Her brown eyes turned to pure silver, and her dress shortened, armor covering her arms, legs, chest and waist. The scythe formed in her hand, while the bow and arrows, and the trident blade strapped themselves to her back. The Niganata was tied around her waist and the Korin sword strapped to the Nignata.

Shuu looked at Naomi, his jaw slightly dropped, "Wow, she's loaded…" Seiji quickly looked at the male beside him, narrowing his eyes. Shuu blinked, not realizing what he had said…then it hit him. He narrowed his eyes at the Korin male, "Wow, I didn't know Casablanca had perverted mind…"

"Shut up," Seiji responded, "And get ready."

Shuu sighed, "Yea yea, I hear ya…"

Those silver eyes looked at Ryo, "It's your turn," Her voice was a mixture of all the five girls, but it was clearly Alana behind the woman.

Ryo nodded, the armor's spirit flaring up in soul, the ends of his nerves dancing. It was a flare that had made the Rekka boy sick the first time it appeared. Before Ryo could react, the other powers from the four boys surrounded him. The armor quickly attached itself onto Ryo, the overwhelming power from all five armors filling up inside of him. As the four boys collapsed, a white rope surrounding them and drawing them together. A shield surrounded the boys' bodies, not allowing any attack from any of the enemy troops attacks get through.

The soul of the Inferno armor filled Ryo's mind. He wrapped an arm around Naomi's waist, pulling her close to him, "Didn't I tell you to stay out of my battles?" He asked her, his lips brushing against her neck.

Naomi leaned her head back, "No, you didn't," She pushed herself away from the Inferno armor, "And even if you did, I wouldn't listen."

"That's for sure," The Inferno Armor responded, chuckling, "Now, let me show you how it's done."

Naomi snorted, "Please," She responded, taking battle stance and quickly slashing through the army. The Inferno armor and Naomi slashed through the troops, finally reaching the end, where the executioners stood, waiting for them.

"So, we have a new opponent. Doesn't matter, we won't lose.." Bambi stood still, her eyes wide with rage.

"We'll never lose," Alix chimed in, gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Yeah, whatever," The Inferno armor responded, charging Alix, bringing his sword through the male executioner's body, "You two talk too much."

"No, Alix!" Bambi cried out, taking her eyes off of Naomi.

Naomi brought her scythe down on Bambi, the emerald haired girl crying out, "Didn't Arago tell you to never to take your eyes off of your opponent?" She asked the passing girl, "Don't underestimate us. We're the combined powers of the ten boys and girls you saw before."

"Shut up!" Alix responded, his body molding back together, "We will be victorious!" He exclaimed, charging at the Inferno armor.

"Oui vey, you two make me sick." Naomi and the Inferno armor looked up to see a taller male looming behind the other couple, "Arago-sama wishes your death anyways, so you might as well die," A long sword pierced through their bodies, Bambi's and Alix's remains burned into ashes, "Now," The stranger came out of the shadows, "I will be the opponent to the two greatest fighters in Netherworld history!"

Ending Comments: Okay, so this chapter doesn't hold too many goodies like the other ones have, but this chappie is just a prelude as to what's gonna happen in the upcoming chapters. Hopefully, they'll be up and going within the next weeks! Ja for now, and remember, R&R!

May your days be as evil as mine,

Mia Yagyu