Chapter 2: Thinning Air

 

“Shitsureshimasu!” Seiji called politely as he walked into the house in Kanagawa. He had not been there for close to two years and found it had not changed at all. This both pleased him and worried him. It reminded him of the few happy times they had, but more so of the battles they as troopers had been though

 

“Seiji, you came!” Shu dashed into the foyer to greet his friend but stopped when he saw him, “Seiji, you…”

 

“What’s the problem?” Seiji turned around after having put his shoes into the cabinet by the door. In the year and a half they’d been separated not too much had changed. He was a little taller, and his features had become just a little more mature. The biggest change, and the one that stopped Shu, was his hair. It had grown down to about his mid back, but the hair around his face hadn’t grown as much and hung limply over his right eye.

 

“You forgot to get your haircut! I knew you could be forgetful when you concentrated on kendo and stuff, but not this much,” Shu laughed.

 

“I didn’t forget. Yayoi convinced me to let it grow,” Seiji shook his head and a small chuckle escaped his lips. He had almost gotten it cut before he had come cause he knew it would cause some laughs, but his sister wouldn’t let him do it. “Is Ryo here yet?”

 

“You kidding, he showed up a couple hours after we told him about Shin.” Shu grabbed one of Seiji’s bags and headed into the house.

 

“Was it wise to tell him?”

 

“He was going to find out later. Anyways, we kept Touma a secret.” Shu led Seiji to the room he shared with Touma.

 

“How’s Shin handling it?”

 

“He’s going crazy. Ryo’s been babying him to death.” Shu laid Seiji’s bag on his bed.

 

“I can imagine.” The last comment was half-hearted, and they both fell into an odd silence.

 

“Have you seen it yet? Korin that is?”

 

“The other day after you called. It was quite a ways away so I’ve still got time.”

 

“Touma’s gone out for a run. You should probably tell him when he gets back.”

 

“Right. Um, Where’s Nasuti?”

 

“Kitchen I think. I’m going to go check on Shin.” Shu smiled and left the room. Seiji set his kendo equipment in the corner of the room, and unpacked his bag. Once his things were in the closet next to Touma’s he went looking for Nasuti. He walked through the dining room and into the kitchen, but instead of Nasuti, he found Ryo standing in the middle of the room. Seiji noticed that he hadn’t changed much, only that unlike himself; he had cut off the extra hair in the back.

 

“What are you doing?” Ryo spun around and looked at Seiji in the doorway.

 

“Ah, you’re here now. So that makes for six people,” Ryo counted on his fingers and then walked over to the pantry.

 

“You’re not thinking about cooking are you?” Seiji raised his visible eyebrow.

 

“Somebody has to. Shin’s sick, Nasuti and Touma are busy doing research, and your probably tired from traveling. It’s the least I can do,” he explained as he emerged from the pantry with a large bag of flour.

 

“What are you planning to make?”

 

“Well, since its so hot out I thought I’d made some cold noodles.”

 

“You know, Nasuti probably has some pre-made noodles somewhere.”

 

“But that wouldn’t be as much fun!” Ryo tossed the bag in the air a bit to get a better hold on it, but it slipped through his fingers. He grabbed at it pulling a corner that had previously been cut open. The opening tore wider and flour went flying out of the bag. By the time Ryo had gotten a good hold on the bag over half its contents had spilled out. Not only was the floor covered in flour but so were Ryo and Seiji.

 

“What is going on in here?” Ryo and Seiji turned to find Shin standing in the doorway.

 

“Shin, you should be in bed!” Ryo exclaimed shoving the bag of flour into Seiji’s hands and jumping over the pile on the floor.

 

“For the last time Ryo, I’m fine!” Shin seemed to be resisting the urge to strangle him. “You should worry about yourself. When Nasuti sees this she’s going to flip.”

 

“You’re probably right, she has been on edge lately. Oh, yea, she asked me to give Byakuen a bath. She said he stunk a bit. I’ll leave this to you Seiji.” Ryo darted out onto the balcony just just in time, a second later Nasuti walked in from the dining room followed by Shu.

 

“Seiji, I found N… Oh boy.”

 

“What happened?” Nasuti asked, her hands on her hips.

 

“Ask Seiji, I’m going to the lake.” Shin turned and walked past them.

 

“I’ll go with you. I don’t really want to be on the receiving end of this.” Shu laughed as he followed Shin leaving Seiji to fend for himself.

 

“Seiji?”

 

“It was Ryo.”

 

“Sure, blame it on someone who isn’t here.” Nasuti rubbed her eyes. “I don’t have the energy for this right now. Please clean this mess up and could you fix dinner?”

 

“Hai,” He replied quietly

 

“Oh, there’s going to be an extra person tonight as well.”

 

“Hai.”

 

Whenever he was stuck on a problem, especially when time was running out, Touma liked to run. He had seen Tenku again and it had gotten quite close. It had been in his room when he had woken up that morning. He ran up along the side of the lake and could see Nasuti’s cabin along the shore. He noticed Shu and Shin on the dock talking. Silently Touma wondered if Ryo had done something and hoped to god he wasn’t thinking of cooking again, he hadn’t entirely recovered from the last time. Parting from the lake he headed up hill toward the house. About halfway he had to stop and catch his breath. Usually Touma had no problem running his course without stopping. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes. A cool breeze drifted past him and he opened his eyes. Tenku was standing only a few steps from him.

 

“Wait, can’t you give me another day?” Touma tried to reason with the yoroi, but it just took a step forward. Stricken with panic Touma ran. He knew he could not collapse there, no one would be able to find him, and he had to get back to the house. Even then he wasn’t sure if he’d be okay. The closest hospital was a good hour away. He could see the house through the trees. He looked behind him, but nothing was there. When he looked forward again Tenku was there and he ran right into it. He felt the darkness trying to consume him but he had to fight it. He forced his legs to move as he broke through the last of the trees next to the house. He could see Ryo and Byakuen in the distance. He tried to call to them, but he had no air. It was like he was in a vacuum. He saw Ryo running towards him but could hear nothing and then there was nothing.

 

“Touma!” Ryo screamed as Touma fell limply to the ground. He ran up to him and turned him on to his back. “NASUTI!” He yelled toward the house as he bent down and picked Touma up and set him on Byakuen. Nasuti came out of her study on the balcony and when she saw the limp body on Byakuen she ran downstairs. Ryo laid Touma on the ground just outside the house. Nasuti kneeled down next to him putting her ear next to his mouth and nose.

 

“He’s not breathing,” She gasped. Tilting his head back she hoped to give him some air, but it didn’t seem to help. She bent down to do some mouth to mouth when a figure appeared across from her. He was fairly tall and was dressed properly in a suit and tie. His black hair was cut proper and a pair of round glasses sat on his nose. He carried a fairly large duffle bag with him and laid it down as he kneeled down on the other side of Touma.

 

“I’ve got it Nasuti, hold his head for me.” The man bent down to try and blow air into Touma’s lungs but it would not go. He looked into his mouth and saw that his throat was slowly closing up. Quickly he pulled a silver contraption from the bag and slipped it in. Then he pulled out a tube and slipped it smoothly down his throat. He removed the silver instrument and taped the tube to the side of Touma’s mouth. He then attached what looked like a large balloon to the tube and started pumping it. “Take it, keep the same pace.” Nasuti took the contraption with shaky hands and did as he said. “Does he have any allergies?” he looked over at Ryo, “DOES HE?!”

 

“No…not that we know of,” Ryo responded shakily holding tightly to Byakuen’s neck. They watched as he checked his pulse then pulled a needle and small bottle from the bag. He injected a small bit of the contents into Touma’s arm and then felt his pulse. He took the balloon from Nasuti and disconnected it. They sighed, they all could hear Touma breathing on his own.

 

“Let’s get him into his bed. Do you have anything solid to transport him on?”

 

“I’m afraid not,” Nasuti replied as she brushed that one piece of hair from Touma’s face.

 

“Alright, get a sheet and more of your friends, we’ll have to use that.” Ryo did as they were told and just as Shu and Shin had returned from the lake they, along with Seiji, had tucked Touma into bed.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me Touma had seen Tenku?” Ryo blew up at the two.

 

“Because it wouldn’t have changed anything if we had!” Shin yelled back.

 

“Will both of you shut up!” Shu bellowed loudest of all, “The fact is it happened and there’s three of us left. I haven’t seen Kongo yet.”

 

“I haven’t seen Rekka either.” Shin gave him an are you telling the truth look at the statement.

 

“Aren’t you supposed to trust people, Mr. Warrior of Trust?”

 

“Korin has gotten closer.” Seiji announced.

 

“How close is it?” Shin asked stepping in front of Ryo to stop him from saying or doing anything.

 

“Twenty or so feet.”

 

“We can’t let you leave the house, Seiji.” Ryo exclaimed.

 

“Damn it Ryo! I’ve been patient with you ever since we met, but I’ve hit my breaking point,” Shin turned around to face him, “We are adults now, Seiji and I are technically older than you. We are not babies. We are not you’re younger brothers. We are not helpless. We are your friends. You need to trust us. If we need your help we will ask for it, okay?” Ryo watched him uneasily, “Ryo!”

 

“Alright, I’ll stop bothering you.” Ryo lowered his head.

 

“I didn’t say you couldn’t worry, just don’t baby us.”

 

“Yea, I got it.” Ryo said in a bare whisper and backed away from Shin.

 

“Why is it I feel like I just killed his dog?” There was a moment of silence before someone cleared their throat. Everyone looked over to the stranger that was standing next to the bed.

 

“Right. Who are you?” Shu asked pointing toward the newcomer.

 

“Interesting thanks I get for saving your friends life.”

 

“I’m sure they are grateful for what you did. You just surprised them.” Nasuti lightly laid her hand on his arm. “Guys, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Sakamoto Kenichi. He runs the clinic in the village on the other side of the lake. We used to play together when I’d visit grandpa in the summer.”

 

“How much did you tell him?” Seiji asked eying this man who was suddenly so close to Nasuti.

 

“For him to be able to treat you I had to tell him everything. He knew half of it from Grandpa anyways.”

 

“Did it occur to you to ask us if we minded someone else becoming involved?”

 

“Do I have to get your permission to do everything? What was I going to do? Take you all to the hospital when it happened? By the second one I think they’d start to get a curious as to why I’m bringing in all these sick men. Then we’d have a lot more attention that we don’t need!” Nasuti’s voice slowly got louder as she said it, and her fists clenched a bit.

 

“Nasuti, settle down.” Kenichi put his arm around her, “Don’t be mad at her. She came to me wanting to learn some first aid. We got to talking and she let it slip. I’m the one that convinced her to let me come and take care of you.”

 

“It probably is a good idea for him to be here.” Shin sighed, “we don’t know what’s going to happen to us.”

 

“As for that, I was thinking,” Kenichi dared to speak up, “If this is what happens when you wait for the image of the yoroi to catch up to you, it can’t really get much worse if you went looking for it.”

 

“That would be foolish,” Seiji announced, “If this is what we get for waiting for it, then death would be what is waiting if we go looking for it.”

 

“I suppose that is true. Well, it was only a thought.” Kenichi shrugged and then turned back to Touma. Slowly, one by one, everyone left the room except Kenichi. He remained there and Seiji slept on the extra bed in Ryo’s room. Though, nobody could really sleep. Their thoughts kept going back to what was going on, and what was going to happen when finally all of them were effected by the power of the yoroi.