Author's Notes: This my first horror fic for anything so please bear with me. I have no idea where this will go or even what I'm doing, but it's safe to say there will be mature themes such as shounen ai/shoujo ai, probably yaoi/yuri, possible lemons, dirty language, maybe violence, possible character death. That summarizes it all, I think.

Disclaimers: Yoroiden Samurai Troopers is owned by Sunrise Inc. Ronin Warriors is owned by Graz Entertainment. Names, images, etc., are © of their respective creator(s). I'm only using them for entertainment but nonprofit purposes only. Just don't wanna be sued!! No cash! Thanks much.

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Time is best represented by mankind in the hourglass. Grain by grain, time slips away from us all. It takes exactly as long as it is suppose to without interruptions. When time runs out, you can always flip it back around and let the stream of sand run its course all over again. This is how life was meant to be...until you shatter it. Then the sand gets scattered by the swirling winds to new lands. Then chaos comes forth to rule over the timeless world...

Atop this snow-capped mountain I had waited. Never moving, never blinking and...never breathing. Just waiting loyally since the day I was commanded to stay. I waited for centuries, waiting for the return of my Master. To heed his commands when he desired my skills.

The falling snow does not cling to my black black fur, the color of water in the deepest part of a well. The snow flew into my eyes, but I ignored the burning sensations patiently.

I am the Hunter. I can see all, hear all, feel all, and...be all. When Death comes, there are only two colors that matter in this pitiful world. The crimson of your blood and the silver of my eyes.

The howling of the wind is Master's voice. He beckons to me to him. I've waited, Master. But no praise drops from your black lips. Just an order. "Come girl. Let a new Hunt begin."

The storm created by Master dimmed the normal human hearing but mine picked up the billions of splattering raindrops on this nasty black road the humans had built. Asphalt. A stupid name harsh sounding in my tongue. I am a black shadow upon this world. I had hunted through the streets, invisible to the blind eyes of ordinary humans.

The night was my cover, my safety, and world. None of beasts here smelled like the bearers of the mystical yorois Master desired to possess. Master commanded me first to find out where their den was.

The stench of wet asphalt, gasoline, and exhaust assaulted my sense of smell but through it all, I smelled the indescribable perfume of pure magic. It sang as it travelled through my body and I answered by lowering my head in an unseen bow to its power. Four human boys exited a brightly lit store. I kept to the dark alleys. They entered a red car parked near the store. As soon as they drove off, I followed swiftly.

The streets were slippery from the the heavy rains, the sewers overflowing from the excess waters, and the people hurried to their destination before the skies turned pitch black in the late night hours. The small hurricane brought along with it the high winds that screamed with vengeful fury. It blew hard, crushing people against buildings with its force. During this nightmarish night, few humans were out and a group drove home on the deserted streets.

{How in hell did I get convinced to drive them to the store?} Ryo wondered as Shuu, Touma and Shin were sitting in the backseat, splitting the food that the boys had bought from the store. {Shuu and his obsession with food is going to get us all killed tonight.} Ryo had the fog lights turned on and the windshield wipers going at their highest speed but they just couldn't keep up with the rain that came down in sheets in this ungodly hour.

"Ryo, want some?" Shin offered him a sandwich.

"No thanks." Ryo glanced at the three in the back seat using the rear view mirror.

Touma took the sandwich from Shin before Shuu could beat him to it.

"Hey!" Shin cried. "I was still going to eat if Ryo didn't!"

"Too late." Touma smiled, regretfully his mouth was full of sandwich.

"Swallow first, then talk Touma." Ryo smiled from his seat, sensing Touma's amusement of having beaten Shuu to the sandwich.

Ryo resumed ignoring the three in the back. This road was taking his full concentration and then some. He wasn't driving that fast, being afraid the tires might slip from all the water. It was late and they had school tomorrow. Ryo had a English test first period and he needed his rest badly. He had the most trouble with the foreign language. Whoever invented it did so just to torture him. Only Seiji had enough sense to remain home. He had sent the others out to do his shopping for him while he remained in the nice warm dry house with Nasuti. The headlights barely lit up the road in front them, allowing Ryo to see for maybe six feet in front of him. Everything further was lost in the haze of the unrelenting rain.

The three in the back had quieted down, their mouth too full of food to talk. Shin stared out his window, seeing nothing but the water sliding down the glass. The red jeep had reached the highway now, going back to Nasuti's mansion. The Troopers had remain living with her after the defeat of Arago while the Masho remained with Lady Kayura in the Youjakai to rebuild.

After their painful trip to New York to rescue Korin no Seiji, the Troopers returned back to Tokyo to try to live a normal life. But they all knew that one of these days, the world will need to call upon the Samurai Troopers once more. The trees and bushes swayed, tossed by the fury of the winds. It was late, already past midnight. Ryo relaxed slightly. Home was close now. Driving on the muddy road back through the forest surrounding Nasuti's property was a welcomed relief.

He glanced at the rear view mirror to check on his three friends. Touma was done eating and started to doze off in the backseat. Shin still was staring out the side window, lost in his own thoughts. Shuu was still eating quietly, finishing off half of the sandwich offered to Ryo.

{Be back in ten minutes. Be in bed in fifteen.} Ryo thought happily. A sudden sense of cold dread washed over his body as he drove. The hair on the arms and back of his neck rose slightly as goose bumps formed on his skin. Ryo started to shiver as invisible eyes never left the back of their car.

Close. Very close. My body was composed of dark magical elements, created by Master. It had an aura of power to protect me if the danger was too great. Those that came too close to me felt a unexplainable sense of primal fear. They would rather turn tail and run then stay to figure it out. I slowed down to let the glaring red lights drive further away before I resumed after them. The red jeep finally reached Nasuti's dark house. The engine died down as Ryo removed the key from the ignition.

"They're all sleeping." Ryo muttered as he looked at the three in the back. "Wake up!" Ryo shouted, smiling as Shin and Shuu jerked out of their slumber. Shuu dropped some of the sandwich on his lap and cursed under his breath. Shin proceeded to wake up Touma. Touma blinked his eye groggily as he sat up.

"Where am I?" Touma asked sleepily.

"Home, Touma." Shin shivered as Shuu had opened the car door. Shuu ran out, carrying the groceries with him. Shin made sure Touma was fully up before jumping out of the car and running towards the door. Touma pulled himself towards the car door and then got out. The cold rain immediately woke him up. Touma slammed the car door shut before he ran through the puddles to the house, closely followed by Ryo.

"Next time, we'll bring umbrellas." Shin remarked as Ryo opened the door for them.

"Next time I'm staying home, Seiji can drive." muttered Ryo as they all entered the house.

I watched the lower level lights turn on. I stayed near the tall trees. The boys have led to me to their den. It's large box with many openings for light. Two lights turned on upstairs and then a third one. Their shadows move against the curtains as they get ready to sleep. I waited for all the lights to be turned off before moving. I'm reminded of patience when one light remained on for a full twenty minutes before the two boys turned it off. Now I can move. I travelled to the red car. My paws sank deep into the soft mud but it does not cling to my fur. As soon as I lift my paws, the prints vanished. No more tracks. I raised my front paw to the car and touched front door where the black haired boy sat as he drove. My paw left a silver print on the metal door. My claws were contracted, leaving no scratches on the metal. I watched the print glow silver and then melt away, infusing the jeep with magical energy so Master could track its travels from his palace.

I turned towards their den. The door where they had entered was facing the car. A short journey. I touched the door as well, marking it with magic. Master it is done, I bowed my head towards him. The red jeep and large house glowed with silver light before wisps of black magic rose off the two objects. Soon, it returned back to normal.

"Return to me."

I turned and ran towards the large lake. A blue light was shining from the lake. Small waves were being created as the power converged into a portal for me. The circular portal grew, rimmed with silver. I leapt out into the middle of the lake and pass through. I'm going home.

The five Troopers, Nasuti, and Byakuen slept soundly that night, not knowing it was last night before their sense of peace and security would be shattered by magical forces beyond their control.

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Symbols:
<> Flashbacks
[ ] Visions/Dreams
{}Thoughts
" " speech
~~~ ~~~Time/Scene changes
* * Actions/Sound Effects