Aftermath: Part I
By Soyokaze

He sat, and he watched. Or rather, he laid there and he watched. As he'd been doing until midnight for the past few nights. For the past week, as a matter of fact. It had been almost three months since Shikaisen's defeat, but mere days since the Kikoutei armor incident. All the troopers had been staying at Nasuti's, recuperating, preparing stories for concerned parents, and learning how to separate again. Every time they fought together, it became harder to let go, harder to realize they were letting their comrades out into a world that was safe, where they could live normally. Harder to believe the people they were closest to- each other- wouldn't be corpses with empty eyes the next time they met.

Touma suspected that anxiety had only increased as a result of their latest adventures. Being separated, not knowing what was happening to his comrades, those were the times he was having nightmares about. He had the feeling what was keeping Seiji awake was much different.

After Shikaisen's spirit dissipated under the Shiroi Kikoutei's flame, attention was immediately focused on Seiji. Touma remembered his own distress when Nasuti analyzed the fluid being pumped through Shikaisen's tubes into the pure, untainted embodiment of Grace that was the warrior of Korin as a hallucinogenic drug, and seeing Seiji collapse, and trembling expel his armor. Shin rushed forward and caught him, and they rushed him back to Shu's uncle's restaurant, where they could all rest. Seiji ate nothing, and drank only water for the next few days, trying desperately to purify his polluted body. Touma stayed with him the whole time, and took care of him, and reassured him that someone was there, that he wasn't alone.

They had all been very worried. After such torture, such mental anguish as none of them had ever felt before- Touma often found himself shamefully thankful Seiji was the one to be Shikaisen's victim. His mind was very strong, stronger than all the rest as a result of the training and meditative exercises his grandfather forced him through. Shin, Ryo, Shu, or even he would have buckled under the mental pressure.

As he watched Seiji in the bed next to his own, chest heaving as small breaths more like gasps escaped his lips, and his eyes shut tighter in pain or anger, he deeply regretted his thoughts. He remembered the previous morning.

--

"Where is Seiji?" Jun asked, bouncing up to the breakfast table. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence that went unnoticed by their young companion as the five occupants of the table considered who would answer. Ryo reasserted his role as the leader of the group by replying.

"Seiji is still sleeping, Jun," he said over a forkful of eggs, trying to be nonchalant. "He'll be up soon."

Jun looked puzzled. "Still sleeping? Seiji never sleeps this late!" The next second Jun became worried. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine, Jun," Touma interjected, a little too quickly. Shin looked up at him, trying to meet his eyes but not succeeding. "There's nothing wrong."

There was a moment of silence before Shin spoke up to cover it. "Shu, wasn't today the day you wanted to take Jun to visit his friend in Toyama?" he conveniently reminded his scatter-brained teammate. Shu looked up, stuffing his face before he stood. The look in his eyes told Shin he knew what the real purpose behind the statement was.

"That's right!" the wearer of Kongo exclaimed with well-contrived enthusiasm. "Come on, Jun, we better get going. Run upstairs and get your stuff."

Jun looked a little perturbed at having to leave again, especially in the midst of something he knew was important, but he brightened at the prospect of seeing a friend his age. He scampered around the corner and to the upper level of the house obediently. The second he was out of hearing range, Nasuti turned worriedly to Touma.

"How is he, Touma?" she asked in a low voice. Tenku's bearer turned his eyes to the table.

"Much worse." Faces fell around the table. "He has nightmares consistently, and I hear him cry out in his sleep for us, or cursing Shikaisen, or even for Luna. He can only rest peacefully while the sun is up."

"While his element can protect him," Shin affirmed, and Touma nodded silently. Everyone was suddenly startled as Ryo's fist slammed into the wooden table, making the china clatter. All eyes turned to him as he calmly removed his hand from the spot he flawed in anger and folded his hands in front of him. His body was shaking with rage, and the temperature in the room began to rise slightly before Ryo reigned his emotions in with the barest amount of control.

"I should go up and see him," he said, his voice trembling like his body. Shin put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ryo, none of us want him to be alone in this," the warrior of Trust began, "but if anyone can even begin

to speak to him about it, it should be Touma."

Ryo looked at his teammate for a moment as if he meant to argue, but realized Shin was right. He sat back down calmly. "Touma, do you think you can get him to talk about it?"

"You know Seiji. He'll deny everything." Touma rested his head on his hands. "I don't quite know how to-"

Nasuti suddenly coughed very loudly, and sure enough two sets of footsteps were heard tumbling down the staircase. A second later, Jun and a perfectly kept Seiji came laughing into view. Jun held up his small duffle.

"I'm ready, Shu!"

Shu put on a smile for their young friend. "Okay, Jun, let's head out. Nasuti, can we take the bicycles down to the station?"

"Sure, Shu," Nasuti said cheerfully. "Just don't crash like you did last time."

Everyone gave a chuckle at that comment, even Seiji. Ryo took the time to observe Seiji, and sure enough there were faint half-circles under his eyes and a laxity in his normally eloquent movements. His normally bright amethyst eyes were noticeably dark; the problem had advanced past Seiji's ability to conceal it. One of them had to bring it up, especially before Seiji returned to his family.

--

Before they were no longer able to do anything about it.

Touma watched, waiting, not making a sound. Seiji turned over, and his hallucinations seemed to cease for a moment, but he could see his friend's brow still knit with fear. Touma fully understood the strength of the warrior of Korin, but it didn't change the fact that he seemed like a delicate porcelain doll in the moonlight, or that he had gone to visit a university in France just a few weeks ago, and all his teammates had been worried sick. After Seiji's last international endeavor, Ryo, Touma, Shin, Shu, and Nasuti made it quite clear that they would follow him to Paris if he didn't call them every other day. He did so with a cheerful disposition, understanding their concern, and even appreciating it. When he returned, safe and sound and intact, the relief flooding the airport terminal was tangible.

Touma would have smiled at the memory had Seiji not jerked upright in his bed. His amethyst eyes were wide in fear, and his hands explored his bare arms; Touma suspected he was still expecting tubes invading his skin. Touma closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep as Seiji glanced about the room. Now in darkness, Touma found he was frustrated he couldn't see what was going on as he heard movement. Suddenly he heard the resounding click of the window opening, and felt a brief breeze. Then it shut again.

Touma practically leapt out of his bed and looked through the window to see where his friend had gone. He caught a glimpse of Seiji entering the forest, and slid the window back open. The warrior of Tenku stepped easily and nimbly out onto the shingled roof and shut the window behind him. He landed soundlessly on the lawn, taking quick, measured steps towards forest.

The trees, to Touma's amazement, seemed to soundlessly part for him. He imagined the forest knew its caretaker was in distress. Whether a trick of the wind or a trick of the element, Touma was glad because it let him reach Seiji all the faster.

He slowed as he recognized Seiji's figure. Through the other side of the forest the lake was visible, silvery, reflecting the moonlight. Seiji was standing beside a thick, aged tree which looked as if it had weathered more than its fair share of storms. Touma watched in shadow as his friend reached out a hand to touch the bark of the old tree, more as he would hold his hand out to a suffering friend. The wind blew softly through the branches of the trees, as if they were speaking. Seiji withdrew his hand, looking suddenly more distraught than he ever had in Touma's memory. Then Touma noticed the hilt of a knife protruding from the tree's trunk. Seiji wrapped his fingers around it resolutely, in a calculated manner, and pulled it out.

Then the warrior of Korin and his best friend placed the sharp tip of the dagger at his heart.

"Seiji!" Touma exclaimed as Seiji lifted the blade in preparation to bury it in his chest. Touma knocked the weapon away from his stunned friend. It was a moment of fury and panic on Touma's part, a movement made in haste and desperation in a heated state of mind, but which left only silent stillness as Seiji stared at Touma in shock and fear.

"T-Touma?" Seiji could only stammer as Touma took him by the shoulders and shook him with a bit more force than he should have.

"What are you doing, Seiji?" he shouted, in disbelief and anger. Seiji's eyes were full of a fear and a longing that scared his friend, and he was angry that he could not understand, that he could not make Seiji tell him what was wrong, and how he could help. Seiji's violet eyes widened, but then they narrowed, and for a moment Touma was frightened he was going to pass out. He fell to his knees, and it seemed as if his body was no longer supported by the strong spirit the Samurai knew so well. Touma fell with him, trying to hold him upright, and Seiji welcomed his companionship, seizing his arms as he trembled. Then Touma realized Seiji was crying.

"Why didn't you let me do it?" he sobbed, falling against Touma in utter hopelessness. "Why wouldn't you just let me do it, Touma?"

"Seiji!" he said, surprised, wrapping his arms around a body in which he could scarcely feel a will. Seiji was collapsing. "Seiji, please, we're here to help you. Just tell me what's wrong-"

"No, you can't," he interrupted softly. "None of you can help me this time."

Touma inhaled sharply. "Tell me what's wrong, Seiji. Please."

"It's useless. Please just let me do this, Touma-"

"I will not," Touma cut him off sharply. Seiji leaned into him, and for a moment Touma thought he really had lost consciousness. But then he spotted Seiji's pale hand reaching for the dagger a few inches away. He grabbed hold of his friend's wrist in alarm. "Stop it, Seiji!"

"Let go!" he shouted, and pulled away. "Touma, there's nothing you can do! I need to deal with the problem on my own!" The warrior of Wisdom took hold of his friend's wrists again, if only to prevent him from running off. "Let go of me!"

"Tell me what's wrong!"

"Shikaisen is inside me, Touma!" Seiji shouted hoarsely, meeting Touma's blue gaze with glassy eyes. "When Ryo burned him to death, he bound himself to me! Now he's eating out my heart, little by little, until he can use my body and Korin to kill you all!" Seiji relaxed suddenly, the calm after the storm, a new set of tears coming. "I won't let him, Touma. I won't." He paused. "But I can't fight him anymore."

Touma didn't know what to say. He had no experience battling with possessions; none of them had. They'd been lucky enough to avoid any spirits invading them, but Shikaisen could easily have used Korin to get to Seiji. Maybe the warlords-

"Kayura, Seiji!" he exclaimed, amazed the warrior of Grace had not thought of her before. "She drove out Badamon. She could be able to help you."

"Touma, Shuten died to save her from Badamon," Seiji replied in a heavy voice. "I will not have anyone die for me."

"We will not have you die."

Seiji looked up at him, grateful, as rain began to fall mistily from the sky. Touma wrapped an arm around Seiji's shoulders, urging him to stand up. "Let's go back to the house."

Instantly, Seiji protested. "No! I'll endanger everyone!"

"Seiji, we must tell the others-"

"No, Touma! You don't understand!"

"Seiji," Touma said with authority, silencing his comrade and coaxing him forward. "You are strong. You know that. Shikaisen won't overtake you."

"Touma-" the warrior of Korin began, but he never finished his sentence. Seiji froze, as if someone had just shot him through the middle with a gun.

"Seiji!" Touma said in horror as Seiji's eyes slid closed and he was forced to strengthen his grip to keep his friend from falling. "Seiji!" he called, but Seiji did not answer. "Seiji! Seiji!"

And a familiar evil laughter echoed in the trees that swayed around them.