The Masho Series:

Dreams And Tea

By Rekka-chan

Note: You all should know by now that there isn't really any action in these stories. Sorry if this disappoints some of you but hey, even these guys deserve a break from all the fighting they've been doing for four hundred years now! If you want some action then go read some other story. Otherwise... enjoy!

Disclaimer: The Masho and all other related materials are copyrights of Sunrise/Nagoya TV.

    Naaza gazed out at the bright, sunny skies through the living room window. He frowned slightly as he sipped his tea, thinking that it was too sunny outside. He knew that Anubisu wasn't too fond of nice days like this because the light always hurt his eyes. But lately after purchasing some sunglasses (the Samurai Troopers referred to them as "shades"), the blue-haired man enjoyed going outside during the day more, always wearing them. He turned his attention away from the window and over to his two friends sitting in the room with him.

    Rajura was sitting at one end of the couch, reading today's newspaper. His soft, curly white hair rested comfortably on his shoulders, his one sharp blue eye flying over the words in the articles. In one hand he held the newspaper while the other hand held a beautiful white teacup, half filled with green tea. He would read a few paragraphs, sip his tea, then read, sip, read, sip, and so forth.

    Sitting at the other end of the couch leaning back in his seat, Anubisu was watching TV. His short blue hair was a bit damp; he had taken a short shower earlier that morning then took a walk through the forest. The weather at that time was cool and crisp, as if threatening to promise a dark, stormy day. However, the sun burned through the dark clouds and blue skies took over.

    "I never knew the Mortalworld was filled with so many problems," Anubisu commented dryly as he watched the news. He reached over and took his teacup from the coffee table and took a long sip. He then placed it down and said, "Every time they have a world report, it seems like every other country has their fair shares of problems. No youja, but troubles bad enough to make it seem as big as that."

    "Rather depressing I should say," Rajura replied as he placed his newspaper down onto the coffee table along with his tea. "But you must have realized at one point that the Mortalworld is a vast realm with seven continents, grand oceans, billions of people and yet they all suffer from the environment, the economic, the government..."

    He rambled on and on for some time. Anubisu and Naaza exchanged looks with one another before shaking their heads. Naaza interrupted Rajura by shouting, "For god's sake, you sound like Tenku!"

    Rajura nearly fell out of his seat, a huge sweat drop over his head. "Excuse me?! I am not that bad!" he claimed as he sat back at his seat, somewhat jaded by the comment.

    The other two simply laughed. Rajura snorted before he picked up his newspaper and resumed his reading and drinking. Anubisu turned the TV off with the remote control then stood up. He dropped the remote onto his seat and stretched.

   "I'm bored," he announced, more to himself than to Naaza and Rajura.

    "Go outside then," Rajura replied, turning to the next page of the newspaper and sipping his eat. "It's not even noon so you'll have plenty to do."

   Naaza nodded. "Why not go to the city? There should be some activity going about there."

    Anubisu sighed heavily and collapsed onto the couch, his head tilted towards the ceiling of their quaint household. "My motorcycle's in the shop and I know you two wouldn't want to come with me. You'd rather stay here and read or drink tea."

    "And what is wrong with that?" Naaza asked, staring at the man who was now running a hand through his wild blue hair.

    "Nothing really... if you like being so quiet and all," Anubisu responded dully.

    Rajura shook his head and continued reading. The three men remained together like this in silence for quite some time, drinking tea and doing his own pastime. Outside a few birds flew out of the treetops and up into the wide, cloud streaked skies. Naaza found himself looking outside once again, his elbow propped on the windowsill while his one hand held his teacup.

    Finally, Rajura stood up from his seat and folded up his newspaper neatly. He finished his tea and placed it onto the saucer. "It's too damn stuffy in this house. I believe I'll go outside."

    "Want some company?" both Anubisu and Naaza asked. The two men looked at one another, annoyed that they said the same thing at the same time.

    The one-eyed man chuckled and shrugged. He placed his hands into his pockets and replied, "You two can do whatever you want."

    They watched as he strolled to the front door, opened it, and walked out. The two sat there for a few moments before they too, stood up and walked outside, forgetting to finish their tea.

    The weather was warm but not too hot. There was a casual breeze that was inviting to all. The leaves swayed in the wind, making some noises in the treetops. The flowers and thin blades of glass also moved along as the breeze rolled by. The three Masho stood outside the front of their house and stood there in utter stillness, enjoying the serenity and tranquillity that this place had to offer them.

    Stepping forward, with one hand in his pocket, Naaza said, "Come on. Let's all go over by the grass."

    Anubisu raised a brow. "Why?"

    "Just to relax. Haven't you done this before?" He turned and faced the other, a calm expression on his face. "Go outside, lay on the grass, and stare at the sky. Just to... think. To relax. To do whatever."

    "Well actually... I did that when I was a child, I think. God, it's been so long since I was able to just do something as simple as that." Anubisu smiled. "Let's go."

    Together the three walked over to a nice patch of fresh grass and took their places. They all laid down on the earth, the top of their heads touching each others, their tall bodies forming a giant Y. Each of them gazed up at the skies and watched as small, white cotton clouds calmly floated by. Anubisu, Naaza, and Rajura couldn't help but talk about how certain clouds resembled something. Anubisu said that one cloud looked like a wolf. Naaza pointed one that looked like a fish. Then of course, Rajura said that one cloud looked like the face of Kongo no Shu.

    After a while, Anubisu sighed in content and placed his hands behind his head. "This is really nice," he said as he closed his eyes. "I admit it, I really do like this."

    Naaza smirked as he folded his arms across his chest. "I knew you'd like this. What about you, Rajura?"

    Rajura chuckled as he placed a hand over his eye, shielding the bright, warm rays of the sun. "I agree. This is pleasant. And also so calm and peaceful. I never imagined I'd ever do something like this. I feel like a child again."

    "Hell, why not act young?" Anubisu asked dreamily. "We did lose part of our youth when we joined with Arago all those years ago."

    "It doesn't seem that long ago, really," Rajura said, "but then again, the aging process between the Mortalworld and the Netherworld is pretty uncanny. Four years in the Netherworld is four hundred here."

    "We missed out on a lot while in Netherworld."

    "Indeed."

    Naaza asked, "What do you look forward to when seeking a soulmate?"

    Rajura and Anubisu stared at their green-haired friend in bewilderment. Where the hell did that question come from? They found Naaza staring at the sky, his eyes looking meditative and thoughtful. He said, "Well? Answer my question if you wish."

    Anubisu coughed and rested his head back onto the grass, a smirk on his face. With his eyes closed, he began to speak. "My soulmate..." he began, "well, for one thing would have to be attractive. Outgoing and not afraid to try new things would be nice. Witty, charming, clever, daring... and I hope she would be understanding about my past."

    "You're going to tell her that you're over four hundred years old and that you once served an evil demon ruler from the Netherworld?" Naaza inquired softly.

    "Of course," the other replied simply. He sighed inward and said, "We hopefully would be together for a long while and she will be able to understand. We can understand each other's pain, our desires, our fears, our dreams..."

    "Sounds romantic," Rajura noted thoughtfully. "I never knew you had that in you, Yami."

    Anubisu grinned some. "That's just what I want. So what about you, Rajura? What do you look for in a soulmate?"

    The one-eyed man raised a brow. "Me? Well..."

    He slowly sat up and drew one knee to his chest. He wrapped one arm around his knee and rested his chin on top of it, gazing out at the forest, which were just a few yards away. He said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as one would say. I find what is inside very... exotic. But it would be nice if she were pretty on the outside as well. I'd like it if she were charming and flirtatious. That way, she could keep my attention and motivate me to give her whatever she desires. I would give her my love and affection to her and only her, no one else. I too, want her to understand what I had gone through ever since I was placed on this earth... four hundred years ago."

    "Your wish also sounds romantic," Anubisu said with a gentle smile on his face. "You've always been a romantic at heart, ne?"

    Rajura chuckled, "I believe so... What about you, Naaza? We have yet to hear from you."

    Naaza had his eyes closed and it looked as though he had fallen asleep. But he spoke in a clear, smooth tone. "Do you really want to know?"

    "Of course," Rajura replied as he brushed aside a smooth lock of white hair from his eye. He looked at him over his shoulder and said, "So go on with it."

    "Yeah Naaza, what do you look for in a soulmate?" Anubisu urged as he drew up one knee, still laying on the grass.

    A few minutes went by before Naaza opened his eyes and spoke to them. "All I want is for someone to accept me for me. To love me for who I am. It matters not what she looks like, as long as she loves me for who I am, both inside and out."

    He gradually sat up from the grass and drew both of his knees up to his chest, looking like a timid little boy. He smiled softly to himself and asked, "I wonder if there is such a person out there in this world?"

    A warm, gentle hand rested comfortably on his shoulder. Naaza smiled as he turned to find Anubisu beside him. Moments later, Rajura joined them, kneeling on the other side of him. "You think?" he asked them.

    "We think - no, we know so," Rajura answered with a smile.

    Anubisu nodded. "Yeah, three wonderful ladies out there waiting for us."

    Naaza laughed in gratification. The three of them have always been close, even back when they were demon generals in Arago's evil empire. They were comrades who shared a bond of friendship and deep understanding. Even through the hardships they went through, they were there for one another. They did not act like the best of friends then, but they had great respect for one another, even for Shuten (they would never have admitted it before). Now, after helping Kayura rebuild the Netherworld to a beautiful land, they were given the chance to start over in the Mortalworld, to live normal lives once again. Together, they would make it through and see that each of them had found his true happiness.

    "I wonder what the Samurai Troopers would think if they saw us doing this?" Naaza wondered aloud. "I mean acting like care free youths and talking about our dreams?"

    Rajura shrugs. "Who cares. We live our life the way we want, nobody can tell us otherwise."

    Anubisu added, "Besides, I think I'm happy right now knowing that we are given the chance to be normal people."

    Both Naaza and Rajura nodded. Together, the three Masho continued to gaze up at the promising skies, knowing that they would find their happiness and they would be friends for a very long time.

The End