Yorodien Samurai Troopers:
Another Story

Kokuen-Oh backhanded a Shadowling and sent another one crashing right through a nearby tree. He was momentarily surrounded by these creatures but he was making quick work of them. Suddenly as he turned around, he received a slap across his cheek and something taking hold of his arms from behind. Hysterical laughters were heard as one Shadowling held Kokuen-Oh from behind and another one drew its hand back, ready to strike again. Kokuen-Oh could not even struggle within their grasp and was ready to receive his beating when all of a sudden...

"SO EN ZAN!"

A small beam of heat and light flashed before the Shadowlings, causing them to shriek and cover their eyes. They released Kokuen-Oh and thus giving him the opportunity to fight back. He elbowed the Shadowling that held him and heard bones crack. He swiftly leapt into the treetops and watched as the light died down, a small armored figure stepped into the clearing. "Rekka!"

Chibi Rekka no Ryo beamed delightfully as he disconnected his swords' ends. "Kokuen-san, you've gotta help us! What's going on? Why're we so sick all of a sudden? An' what's wrong with Yaku-chan?"

Don't know and don't care, was what Kokuen-Oh wanted to say. Instead he kept his comments to himself and dropped down onto the ground. The other Shadowlings were about to regain their composer when mysteriously, they simply vanished into thin air.

"What's happening?" Chibi Rekka cried. "Where'd they go?"

Kokuen-Oh snarled, baring his teeth. "We've got company. Get ready, Rekka."

The sound of thunder was heard rumbling in the background. Up above, the skies were growing increasingly dark and obscure. Lighting flashed across the sky and Chibi Rekka cried out in fright and rushed over to Kokuen-Oh's side. Before Rekka and Kokuen-Oh, a familiar masked warrior appeared before them.

"Kaijin!" Kokuen-Oh barked. "I'm surprised that you're still alive! Sporting a new look with that mask?"

Chibi Rekka rubbed his eye and asked incoherent, "Who's Kaijin?"

Kaijin folded his arms across his chest, his eyes lustrous. "Hardly... Kokuen-Oh. I must say you look quite well for someone who has changed into another creature. How's Kenboukyou doing? Oh wait, I forgot--he's dead, isn't he?"

"Don't push me, Kaijin. Where's Sachiriku?"

"I'm afraid it was a sort of accident that I was able to find you here, otherwise, I would have brought my lady here. You know what I want, Kokuen-Oh -- the yoroi. Hand them over."

"Heh, I don't think so." Kokuen-Oh took a fighting stance and said, "If you want them, you'll have to get through me first." Just then, he felt someone tugging on his arm. Glancing down, he found Chibi Rekka holding onto him. "Rekka no baka! What're you doing?!"

"I-I have to go to the bathroom," Chibi Rekka whispered timidly.

"Nani? Right now?!"

Kaijin laughed intensely, his arms wrapped around his stomach. "Oh ho! This is rich! How the mighty have fallen! I have almost forgotten that your precious Samurai Troopers have been poisoned by Sachiriku-sama's magic, but this! This is unbelievable! This will definitely make my job much easier!" With that, he lifted his arm and a blast of energy was emitted.

Kokuen-Oh gathered Chibi Rekka into his arms and threw themselves out of harm's way. Tumbling across the grass, Kaijin took another opportunity to attack once more with a more incomparable blast.

Kokuen-Oh, still holding onto the boy, managed to vault off the ground just as the energy blast struck the ground. However as another blast screamed towards them, he couldn't get away fast enough.

Chibi Rekka, who had his eyes closed the entire time, opened them and gazed upward at Kokuen-Oh. The man-tiger's face was twisted in agony. From behind Chibi Rekka could see a effulgent blast slamming into his backside.

"Hey!" he screamed. "Leave Kokuen-san alone!!"

Using his extraordinary agility, Kokuen-Oh was able to land them safely on the ground, a few feet away from Kaijin. On his knees and panting heavily, he set Chibi Rekka on the grass. "Get... get out... of here," he gasped hoarsely.

Chibi Rekka shook his head stubbornly. "No! I can't leave you here! I've gotta help you!"

***

"Oh no," Nasuti said as she put the brakes onto her vehicle. All around her were cars trying to get into the city. There were police blocking the streets everywhere and creating a major traffic jam.

"What's going on?" Anubis asked as he stuck his head out of the passenger window. "Why aren't they letting anyone in?"

Nasuti called out to a nearby policeman and asked what was going on. "Some kind of strange activity is going on at the park," he told her, his face unyielding. "We're just taking precautions and have evacuated the residents out of the area."

"The... park?" Nasuti whispered in dismay. "Oh... oh no!" She whirled around and cried, "Guys! Byakuen! The Troopers!"

Rajura cursed under his breath, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. Naza leaned forward in his seat a bit and studied the skies. Narrowing his eyes, he mumbled something that nobody but he could hear. Suddenly, he unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door.

"Naza! What're you doing?" Nasuti exclaimed as she watched him walk away from the car.

"We have to do something," he told her abruptly. "We have to get into the city and in that park. The Troopers still might be in there." With that, he took a mighty leap and started jumping on top of the cars, making his way over the barriers.

"Hey! Stop that guy!" a policeman's voice shouted.

Anubis and Rajura followed suit with their friend and in the same manner. But just before they left, Anubis advised Nasuti to stay where she was. Nasuti was about to protest when he and Rajura left.

Sighing, she lowered her head and murmured, "Be careful, guys."

***

"CHARGE!!"

Chibi Rekka made a mad dash across the grass, his swords firmly in his hands, and heading strait towards Kaijin. He closed his eyes, lifted his swords, and took a swing at the masked warrior, only to find himself slashing through air. He kept on swinging his swords and shouting, "Yayayayaya! Take that! And that! And some of this!"

Meanwhile, Kaijn was holding the boy by his helmet with one hand and watched. Rekka-chan still had his eyes closed and swinging his weapons, the winds ruffling his robes a bit. After a few moments, Kaijin brought his elbow back and shoved Chibi Rekka onto the grass. Chibi Rekka rolled onto his backside and he opened his eyes.

"Did... did I get him?" he asked himself. He sat up and frowned. "Aw, nuts!"

"Come with me, child," Kaijin commanded quietly, stretching out his hand. "We shall leave this place and arrive at Sachiriku-sama's castle where you shall become part of the evolution of the world's destruction."

Chibi Rekka stood up and stuck his tongue out at him. "No! My mama and papa told me never to go with strangers!"

"Oh! Is that so!" Kaijin proceeded to make an advance towards the Chibi Trooper.

"Leave me alone!" Chibi Rekka warned, crossing his swords over his face. "I'll blast ya!"

"Try it."

Growling, Chibi Rekka placed the ends of his swords together and lifting them above his head, he shouted, "SO EN ZAN!" A blast of fiery energy was projected and it consumed Kaijin in a pure white light. However, before Chibi Rekka could celebrate, the blast was suddenly bounced away from Kaijin and over at Chibi Rekka.

The boy narrowly missed being fried and instead was sent flying across the sky and slamming against a nearby bench, knocking it over. He slumped onto the ground face first. His swords, which had slipped out of his hands, landed blade first into the grass beside him.

As Chibi Rekka slowly got to his knees, a few tears spilled down his cheeks but he wiped them away with the back of his hand. A tall, dark shadow loomed over his body. Turning around, Chibi Rekka gasped as he found Kaijin standing before him, unscathed by his attack power.

"Don't be foolish, child," he sneered. "Let us go now. Sachiriku-sama awaits."

Chibi Rekka closed his eyes and bit his lip, waiting for Kaijin to grab him and steal him away from his friends. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of battle cries from afar. Daring to open his eyes, he smiled and gasped as he found Anubis and Rajura coming out from the treetops. Anubis landed behind Kaijin and Rajura landed in front of Chibi Rekka with his back facing him.

"You okay?" Rajura asked.

Chibi Rekka nodded. "Hai!"

Kaijin spat in disgust. "Curse you, Masho! To think you are fighting FOR the mortals instead of against them. You traitors shall pay, as shall your master!"

"We don't serve any master," Anubis said acidly. "No longer are we being controlled. Now where's Sachiriku?"

Kaijin quickly levitated high into the air and retorted, "If you want to see Sachiriku-sama, you will have to deal with me first! I realize you don't have your armors, making it easier for me to dispatch you quickly!"

"Don't be so sure!" a voice announced.

Turning, Kaijin frowned as he discovered Byakuen coming out of the woods, with Naza supporting him. Behind them were the Chibi Troopers with harsh, determined looks on their small, chubby faces. They were also wearing their armors and wielding their weapons.

"Yaku-chan!" Chibi Rekka squealed in delight. "Minna! You're all here!"

"Yeah! We're gonna kick butt!" Chibi Kongo shouted triumphantly, bringing forth a smile on his face.

Kaijin shook his fists in rage. "NO! Sachiriku-sama's poison should have had you all down on your knees! Why aren't you dying?"

"The Troopers don't go down that easy," Byakuen said, his voice more louder and filled with determination. "Give it up, Kaijin, and change us back to the way we were! You're outnumbered!"

"Don't be too sure about that!" Kaijin snapped back. Waving a hand in the air, dark shadows slowly swirled about the group of heroes. Soon, they found themselves surrounded by Shadowlings, armed to the teeth with kusari-gamas and giant shruikens.

"Uh-oh," Chibi Tenku said. "This don't look good..."

"Let's fight!" Chibi Kongo hollered as he raced across the grass to attack his opponent.

Chibi Rekka, who had joined his friends' sides in the middle of the circle, nodded and shouted, "Chibi Troopers-- let's rumble!!"

Anubis, Naza, and Rajura couldn't help but admire the children's determination to win a battle. However, they weren't going to let them take all the glory in winning. They were determined to get some licks too.

It was a massive collision between good and evil. The Chibi Troopers were unusually able to fight, despite what they had just gone through. Chibi Rekka and Chibi Suiko teamed up by combining their elemental powers to trash a couple of Shadowlings at once.

Chibi Korin was making clean work against his foes by slicing the shadows in half with his no-datchi. Occasionally, he would call them nasty names, knowing that he wouldn't be scolded for doing so. Chibi Tenku was firing away his tiny arrows that created quite a distraction among the Shadowlings. And Chibi Kongo made his way through the thickest of the battle, whacking and smacking the creatures with little or no care. He was just having fun.

All the while, the Masho were nearby taking care of the Shadowlings they encountered. Even though they did not have their armors, their training of four-hundred years had certainly not gone to waste. In addition to battling using their hands, fists, and feet, they would sometimes use their powers in which they had inherited through their armors: Anubis with some bolts of black energy, Naza with his deadly venom, and Rajura with his phantom illusions and webs.

Soon, the park had transformed into a dangerous battlefield. And not too long after the clash had begun, it was ending rapidly. The Chibi Troopers were rather enjoying all of this, but were unaware of what was really going on and that worried the Masho to no end.

"Will their memories ever come back?" Naza asked as he kicked a Shadowling in the gut. He whirled around and elbowed it to the floor.

Rajura did a round-house kick on a couple of Shadowlings and replied, "Possibly, but we shouldn't be wasting our time with these creatures. We should find Sachiriku and get her to change everything back, because if she doesn't, the Troopers will die and we won't ever regain our armors!"

Anubis destroyed the last of his opponents and said, "Well? What're we waiting for? Let's get this Kaijin fellow to tell us where Sachiriku is!"

He and the other Masho took off into the sky with one giant leap. Kaijin, who had been watching the Chibi Troopers' battles, turned around and lifted an open palm. The Masho were suddenly caught inside of a tremendous energy force field bubble. Rajura drew back a fist and rammed it into the side of the bubble but nothing happened. Naza tried to use his venomous poison to possibly "melt" away the field, but that did no damage either.

"I don't think that will be necessary," Kaijin said smoothly. "How about you giving me your armors, hmm?"

Anubis growled, "Why are you so interested in the armors?" He balled up hi s fists and with a roar, unleashed a blast of darkness. Somehow, it managed to burst through the bubble and smash into Kaijin's mask. Kaijin drew back a few feet, still floating in the air. He was bent over, with his face in his hands. Crimson liquid was seen seeping through his fingers and dripping down onto the ground below.

"You... you fools..." Kaijin whispered hoarsely. "What... what have you done...?"

By now, the Chibi Troopers, Byakuen, and Kokuen-Oh (who had just recently rejoined them) had finished their fights and were now looking up at the commotion up in the sky. "Anubis-san! Naza-san! Rajura-san!" Chibi Rekka cried. "Don't worry! We'll get'cha down!"

Chibi Tenku held up his arrow, aiming it at the bubble. "Leave it to me! SHIN KU HA!"

"Wait!" Chibi Korin yelled, but it was too late. Chibi Tenku let loose his arrow and everyone watched as it grew huge with massive energy. The arrow screamed towards the bubble and to the group's surprise, the arrow didn't destroy the bubble but merely popped it.

Anubis, Naza, and Rajura fell onto the ground and landed gracefully on their feet. Chibi Tenku had a look of disappointment on his face. "Aw, geez! I thought it was gonna explode or something!"

"FOOLS!" Kaijin's voice boomed from above. Dark, thunderous clouds had began to swirl about the area. Lightning flashed in the horizon and a harsh, perilous wind began to howl. The Chibi Troopers quickly went over and hid behind the adults with their eyes closed and their bodies trembling in fear.

Tediously, Kaijin lifted his hands from his mask. He glared down at the group of heroes with gleaming scarlet eyes. Byakuen's jaw fell open as he saw Kaijn's mask had been cracked near the side and purplish-green shriveled skin was seen. Some blood oozed from the skin and dribbled down the side of his neck and onto his outfit.

"You nearly murdered me," the masked man seethed viciously. He placed a hand over the side of his exposed face and thought, I underestimated them with my foolish behavior. Oh, Sachiriku-sama, why do you torture me so? I must gather the armors here and now if I want to live and to regain your sanity. I am fearing the mask is starting to finally lose its power!

Chibi Rekka pointed the Rekka Ken at Kaijin and hollered, "Give it up, mister bad guy! The good guys always win!"

Kaijin moved his hand away and gave Chibi Rekka a loathsome smirk from underneath his mask. "Oh, you think so? Well, today I am going to break that rule and destroy you all! Then I'll just strip the armor off of your dead bodies!"

"Eeek!"

Suddenly, an affectionate voice spoke out from above. "No, you will do no such thing, Kaijin-san."

"Nani? Who's that?" Chibi Suiko asked softly as he dared to open his eyes and discovered a burnished figure floating before Kaijin. The entire group was in awe as they regarded this person with quaint stares. It was a woman with long, flowing silvery-white hair. Her eyes were empty, save for two tiny pink orbs in each of her sockets. Her skin was ashen and flush looking. She was garbed in a thin suit off light red, almost pinkish armor. She held out her hand as though she was beckoning to a child.

"Come, Kaijn-san, it is time to end this," the woman (angel?) said.

Kaijin snarled, "Who are you? I have no business of you! Are you with the Troopers?"

The woman sadly shook her head. "Indeed not, my old friend. I am not surprised you do not remember me. For as you may or may not know, I am here for myself."

"Bah! I do not have time for your riddles! Be gone!"

A wave of power was discharged from Kaijin's fists. All of it was effortless as it simply passed through the woman as though she was made of air. She lifted a hand and a blast of wind howled by once more, this time on Kaijin.

He fought against the wind but failed as he went flying around and around like he was caught in a tornado. The Chibi Troopers all laughed and cheered as this happened. The Masho wore disturbed demeanors as they watched the woman. Byakuen and Kokuen-Oh sensed something about her that told them to wait and see what would happen. Both of them looked at one another and nodded in a silent agreement. They would wait and see what else she would do before doing anything.

"That looks fun!" Chibi Shin shrieked, clapping his hands and jumping up and down.

Chibi Kongo wiped his runny nose with the back of his hand and said. "Yeah! I wonder if that lady'll let me go next?"

At last, the woman lowered her hand and Kaijin crashed onto the ground, face first. The Masho and Byakuen all stood protectively in front of the Chibi Troopers (much to their disappointment).

"Hey! Outta the way!" Chibi Kongo complained as he stomped his feet onto the ground. "I wanna see!"

The woman whirled around and vanished, before anyone could say or do anything. But they quickly focused their attention back to their enemy, who was now struggling to get to his feet.

"Chikuso..." Kaijin cursed under his breath. Pieces of his mask slowly fell apart and onto the ground. He covered his face with his hand and growled, "You will pay for my humiliation... but... ha ha ha...! I never thought it possible! Ha!"

Anubis, who was growing impatient, went over and grabbed Kaijin by the front of his robe. Hauling him to his feet, Anubis shouted, "Don't play games with us, Kaijin! Tell us where Sachiriku is now! Otherwise, you'll find yourself a new home buried six feet in the dirt!"

"Ha ha ha, you don't understand!" Kaijin exclaimed, sounding as though he was going to hyperventilate. "I can't thank you enough for do this to me! Don't you see? I'm going to be free! I'm... Huh? No! Now now, my lady! NOOO! Not now!"

Suddenly, Kaijin was yanked free from Anubis' grasp and was flying up towards the gray skies. The pieces of the broken mask were retrieved from the ground and flew up after him. A large portal was seen up above. All watched as Sachiriku was seen standing in the portal, her arms moving about in a sort of dance.

"I won't let you have him yet!" she cried. "I'm not done! Arago, you'll pay for what you're doing to me! Come back to the castle and play, Kaijin-san! And I'll see you guys later! Sayonara!"

Kaijin's body entered the portal and was gone. The portal closed and vanished into nothingness. The skies quickly turned back into its everclear blue sky colors. The sun appeared all of a sudden and beamed down happily upon the park as if nothing had happened.

"Just wonderful!" Kokuen-Oh huffed. "Now we have TWO insane people wanting to kill the Troopers! What now?"

Police sirens were heard screaming from afar and all around the park. The Masho took a defensive stance while Byakuen moved protectively in front of the Chibi Troopers. Chibi Rekka held onto his arm and trembled slightly. The others were a bit panicky as well.

"A-Are we gonna be arrested?" Chibi Kongo asked. "Are we goin' to jail?"

"We can't!" Chibi Korin objected. "We just can't! We just saved the world! ...Right?"

"These human defense forces won't think so," Kokuen-Oh answered dryly. "So let's move it before we're caught."

Everyone was in agreement. Anubis wordlessly collected Chibi Korin into his arms and took off with Naza, who had Chibi Tenku, and Rajura, who had Chibi Kongo, in their possessions. Byakuen gently lifted Chibi Rekka over his head and placed him on his shoulders. "Ready for a piggy back ride?" he asked in a cheerful voice.

Chibi Rekka, already forgetting about the present situation, laughed aloud and screamed, "Yeah! Go, horsey! Go!"

Instantly, Byakuen took off at super-human speed across the park, holding onto a carefree Chibi Rekka. In conclusion, this left Chibi Suiko and Kokuen-Oh. Holding out a hand, Kokuen-Oh asked harshly, "What're you waiting for? We've got to leave this place!"

Chibi Suiko jabbed his yari at him, his eyes fixed upon him. "No way! I know what you're gonna do! Y-You're gonna g-g-gobble me up, aren'tcha?!"

Kokuen-Oh felt like strangling the child with his bare hands, but he forced himself with all of his will to remain calm. Tigers killed fashionably, not messy. They took their time with their kill... "You know what...?" Kokuen-Oh inquired in a somewhat friendly tone.

Chibi Suiko trembled slightly at the knees. "W-What...?"

"I WILL EAT YOU IF YOU DON'T LET ME TAKE YOU HOME!!"

"WWWAAAHHH! Don't eat me!!" Chibi Suiko dropped his yari and started crying, covering his eyes. This gave Kokuen-Oh the opportunity to grab him with one arm. From there, he also picked up the weapon and rushed after the group who had long left the park.

Just after the two left, the police squad had made it to the area, only to find it devastated and deserted.

**end of chapter six

Chapter Seven