~*~

"How... How are they?" Naaza was extremely worried, as were Rajura and Anubis.

The three had gone to the hospital where the children were taken to but were stopped by the doctors and nurses. Because they were not relatives, they were forced to wait in the waiting room. It had been hours since the children were taken to treatment and all three men were impatient on what was happening. For the first time, in a long time, they feared the worst of the outcome. The fire nearly killed them and the children. The intensity of the fire probably did more damage to them than to the Masho.

The nurse, who was behind the desk, just shook her head for what seemed like the millionth time. She said to them, "The doctor will come out and tell you what is happening. But for now could you please just sit down?"

Anubis snorted and narrowed his eyes at the woman. He grumbled, "Easy for you to say, you old hag, considering you're not worried to death of three young lives..."

Beside him, Rajura shook his head slowly. "We can only wait."

"But it's been nearly three hours!" Anubis snapped. "What if something's happened to them?!"

"Then we've failed," Naaza replied. Despite what was happening, he kept his voice under control, refusing to allow any emotion to reveal itself in any form. He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. He closed his eyes and said, "No matter what, we will constantly be challenged by fate."

Anubis cursed and forced himself to calm down. He hated feeling useless. He was always doing something, even if that something was not necessary. He raked his fingers through his wild blue hair and sighed in frustration. Rajura was right - all they could do was wait...

Rajura was about to speak when the doctor walked into the room, carrying a clipboard and writing some notes. The three Masho gathered together and made their way to him. The doctor lifted his gaze and studied the men rather critically. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"You are the ones who saved the children from the fire," he stated. He didn't sound disappointed or angry or grateful for the matter.

"That's right," Rajura replied, keeping a firm grip on his emotions. "How are they doing?"

The doctor glanced down at his clipboard. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and read the names on the piece of paper. "Akio, Wakabi, and Taro... They've suffered some burns and some cuts but nothing too serious. It was a good thing you came along, otherwise who knows what would've happened to them."

Anubis, Rajura, and Naaza were immediately comforted by the doctor's words. Yet each of them were pondering the same question: why were they so disturbed by the fact that the children might have died? After all, they could've just ignored young Akio's plea for help and moved on with their lives. But then they would've remained the same, cold-hearted warriors they had been for the last 400 years. They had been given a chance to start over in the Ningenkai, to become normal people once more.

In the background, the sounds of shuffling feet scrubbing against the cold hospital floors echoed throughout the hallways. It wasn't a particularly busy night; the only action that happened were the children being rushed in for an emergency check up. Other than that, nothing else was happening.

"Can we see them now?" Anubis asked, meeting the doctor's gaze with his intense blue eyes.

"Well... Seeing as how they don't have any other known relatives... and you DID save their lives..." The doctor's voice was hesitant and this worried the others. They hadn't been informed of how the modern doctors performed their duties. According to from what they learned from the Troopers, some hospitals wouldn't allow those not related to the patients to see them.

At last, the doctor smiled. "I can't see why not. Please follow me, gentlemen."

Anubis, Naaza, and Rajura happily obliged.

He smiled as the three men followed him down the eerily silent hallways to where the children were. He knew that they could do it. Even if they didn't know it, they were heroes. In fact, they had been heroes for a very long time, they just didn't know it. Perhaps the message he had been sending was working after all.

~*~

Rajura gently brushed his hand along little Wakabi's forehead, pushing aside a smooth lock of hair. He pulled a seat over and sat beside her. Meanwhile Anubis had gone to be at Akio's side and Naaza at Taro's side. The doctor who had led them to the room left, saying he'd give them some privacy. The sound of the machines making strange beeping noises were the only things creating any sort of sound. It was already well past midnight and the lights had been dimmed at the request of the Masho.

The first of the siblings to awaken was Taro. He winced and Naaza was afraid he was in pain. He reached out to touch him but Taro's eyes flew open. Seeing Naaza, he whispered, "It's you..."

The green-haired man nodded. "Yes, Taro-kun, it's me. We're all here."

"My brother and sister... A-Are they...?"

"They're fine," Rajura spoke out as he stood up. Beside him, Wakabi was sitting up and wearing a smile on her cute little face.

Anubis nodded. "Both of them are, ne Akio-kun?"

Akio, who was also sitting up, nodded and giggled. "Ni-chan, I'm glad we're all okay! Anubis-tachi saved us!"

Taro lowered his head and clutched the bed sheets tight until his knuckles grew white. Naaza took note of this but kept silent. He could hear the other two children talking to Rajura and Anubis, thanking them countless of times for saving them and what not. Meanwhile Taro seemed rather upset, a look of helplessness on his face. His body was trembling and Naaza stiffened as he heard him choke on a sob.

"Taro-kun, what's the matter?" Naaza asked, slowly reaching out to him. "Are you hurt?"

Taro shook his head and answered, "I'm supposed to be the one taking care of my family... I should've done something about the fire... But... But I couldn't. I'm so weak... I wish had been stronger..."

His words flowed through all three Masho. Suddenly, memories of their past flooded before them. Back when they were simply young boys, wishing to change their lives.

Anubis: "I want to be all powerful, to wallow into the darkness..."

Rajura: "I want to hold all those in the palm of my hand..."

Naaza: "I want to show them that I'm not weak and to make them feel pain..."

"Ni-chan, you did your best."

Wakabi's gentle, sweet voice broke through the silence of the room. She took Rajura's hand and squeezed it lightly. "Ne, everyone has their limits. You will always be our protector though."

"Your sister is right," Anubis said after a while. He smiled faintly at Akio. "Don't sell yourself short. Everyone has their strength and weakness."

"You have everything you'd ever want right here," Rajura said, indicating both Akio and Wakabi. "Don't ever think of more." Don't make the mistake we made and allow your greed to lead your life, he thought to himself.

"I want to do lots of things for my brother and sister," Taro said as he loosened his grip on the bed sheets and relaxed his fingers. He sighed and added, "I'd do anything for them."

Naaza grinned. "I'm glad you say so."

"Naaza-san?"

"Yes?"

The young boy lifted his head and stared at him in admiration. He smiled and said, "Thank you. Thank you for saving our lives. We would've died if you hadn't followed my little brother..."

Rajura stood up and took his hand away from Wakabi's. He shoved them into his pockets and said, "Well... We couldn't let you children die now."

Anubis slowly rose to his feet and patted Akio's forehead. Akio smiled and touched the spot where Anubis had touched him fondly. He chuckled and hugged himself before laying back down into the pillows. Anubis turned away and said, "We better be going."

Akio immediately bolted up in bed but hissed in pain. Worried, Anubis reached over and lowered him gently back down. "Don't do that," he said to the child. "Your burns..."

"You'll come back, won't you?" Wakabi requested softly, her hands clasped together and gazing at the three. "Please come back soon."

Naaza scowled and pushed his chair back. He stood up and answered, "It's best if you didn't see us again. You'll only get yourselves into trouble."

Akio, Wakabi, and Taro were all in shock. Meanwhile Anubis and Rajura remained calm and taciturn. They knew what Naaza was referring too: their past. If the children had ever discovered what they were, they probably would never speak to them again. They'd be too disgusted by them and their former actions. They wanted to forever erase their past and start anew, yet they had stained their hearts and swords with the deaths of countless thousands. They didn't want innocent people to become involved with them, for they had shed their innocents long ago.

Taro shook his head and cried out, "Why? Why won't you visit us? Please tell us!"

"Yes, please," Akio pleaded, his big brown eyes filled with tears. "Do you not like us?"

Rajura winced at this implication. He turned away as did Anubis. Naaza made his way over to his companions silently and together they exited the room. In the background, they could hear Wakabi crying out to them. It was no use, however, as their footsteps drowned her cries along with Akio's and Taro's.

Anubis: Forget about us.

Naaza: Don't let the spoils of evil fill your youthful hearts.

Rajura: Good bye, children.

~*~

Nearly half a year passed since the fire incident. The Masho continued on with their lives as usual. Oddly enough they were not plagued with anymore dreams and yet they were not happy. Their lives were just not the same as they were when they had the nightmares. Something was missing, something fragile but very important. What was it?

Though one night changed everything.

Anubis and Rajura arrived at Naaza's apartment for the get togethers they did every other week. The two Masho wore crestfallen expressions on their faces as did Naaza. None of the three men uttered a single word as they sat together in the living room, staring at nothing. The only sounds that were heard came from outside. Tokyo was just as busy as ever but the Masho gave no mind to it.

After a long time, Naaza spoke out. "I'll... make us all some tea."

Neither Anubis nor Rajura said anything. The unsettling feeling hung about them like ghosts in a haunted house. Naaza rose to his feet and wandered towards the kitchen area. Yet before he could take one step onto the tile floors, a burst of light erupted, blinding him momentarily.

"What the hell?!" Rajura cried as he discovered what was happening.

He and Anubis bolted towards their friend when the light too blinded them. All three men were able to open their eyes and they were shocked to discover themselves standing in a dark, desolated area. Just like in their nightmares!

"Yami, Doku, Gen... Masho..." a deep but sickly sounding voice whispered. "Masho..."

Spinning around on his heels, Anubis growled, "Whoever you are, come on out!"

"The same as always... That is who you are, Anubis," the voice observed with a faint laugh at the end.

Naaza frowned. "That voice... can it... no!"

"Yes."

A faint, translucent figure materialized before the three Masho. It was a man with long red hair, fatigue teal colored eyes, and dressed as an un-sui (wandering monk). He greeted them with a small smile.

The Masho knew very well who this person was yet they were too shocked/hurt/angry to say or do anything. Shutendouji. The former Oni Masho. The former leader of Arago's demon generals.

"An... An illusion?" Naaza murmured, not wanting to believe what he was saying.

Rajura shook his head, his eye distant and tense. "No... Not an illusion. He's... He's..."

"I'm sorry," Shuten apologized softly.

"Why the hell are you apologizing?!" Anubis demanded, making fists at his side. "You didn't do anything wrong! It was we who did you harm! Because of us, you..."

Shuten closed his eyes. "Don't, Anubis. You didn't do anything wrong either. You saved the world along with the Samurai Troopers."

"Bah, they did most of the work," Naaza snapped, his old attitude towards Shuten beginning to rise. Just like in the old days. "Besides... How is it you are able to be here if you're dead?"

"I'm only here for a short time. I've sensed that the three of you are struggling through some emotion pain. Tell me... why do you let the past haunt you?"

"Don't think I don't understand what you are saying. I said the exact same things when I was chosen to 'replace' Kaosu and search for the last descend of his clan. How could someone as 'vile' as myself wield the shakujo? Well, it matters not what you have done in the past, but the true power of the shakujo comes from within--the heart." He placed a hand over his own chest and said, "I wanted to do good and be a good person once more and that is why I was able to do what I did. I watched the three of you and how you saved the lives of those children. You really did a good thing. Don't allow your past to destroy the happiness you have discovered."

"You... really mean that?" Anubis fixed his gaze upon the faded figure, trying to absorb the spoken words from their fallen friend.

Naaza appeared very uncomfortable. However he too, was contemplating the words Shuten had spoken. He opened his mouth and said, "What we did that one night... it can't make up for all of the horrible things we've done... but... it's a start I suppose."

Rajura tucked a lock of his white hair behind his ear and gazed up at the black skies. "I miss those kids... I wonder how they're doing..."

Shuten beamed with happiness. Yes, this is what he wanted. This was what he wanted to accomplish before he truly left... But if only he could tell them...

"Shuten."

Anubis held out his hand and grinned. "I know you're dead and all but... I just want to say... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all I've done to you in the past. I only hope you can forgive me." He glanced at Rajura and Naaza and added, "I hope you can forgive US for our poor treatment. You were one hell of a warrior, Shutendouji. We'll miss you."

"And I will miss you three." Shuten walked over and clasped hands with Anubis' and then with the other two Masho. Out of the three, Naaza was the one who didn't want to let go so soon. He felt extremely bad for the way he had treated Shuten in the past for he was the one who was most violent towards him. But after this day, he realized he wouldn't have to feel the same way anymore.

"Sayonara, Shutendouji," Naaza said as he finally released his grip on Shuten's hand.

The red-haired man nodded and his form finally dissipated until there was nothing left. The Masho closed their eyes and when they opened them, they were back in Naaza's apartment. They knew that the nightmares would return no more. But there was one more thing they had to do before they were truly content with themselves.

~*~

Anubis smiled in satisfaction as Taro parried his movement and was able to counter swiftly. The young boy was dressed in a practice gi as was Anubis. The two of them were outside of a small lakeside house and Anubis was teaching his new student basic karate techniques. Inside of the house, Naaza and Wakabi were playing video games. Wakabi laughed happily as she won in yet another street fighting game against Naaza. Naaza would yell at the TV and at his controller for his constant loss. Last but not least, Rajura and Akio were sitting out by the dock, side by side, gazing out at the calm surface of the lake. The sun's rays glistened along the surface of the water, making the lake sparkle.

"Rajura-san?"

Rajura glanced at the small boy beside him. "Yes, Akio-kun?"

Akio lifted his head and beamed at him. "Thank you. Thank you for saving our lives."

"Well I have to thank you for something too."

"Oh? What's that?"

Rajura placed a tender hand on top of Akio's head and said, "Thank you for being our friends."

Akio giggled and leaned his head against Rajura's arm. "No problem... No problem."

~*The End*~

End Notes: Took me long enough to finish this story, huh? Three years... Wow, was I lazy or what? ^^;