AN:

NDZ: Mmmmmm.. go myself some candy (3 muskateers, twix…) listenin to Dragonball MegaRemix, writin my fic. Hope ya like it.

To everyone who's reviewed so far: Thnx for all the reviews, I really do appreciate all the critique and feedback you all give me. Helps me to develop the story more and gives me new ideas. At first, I was thinkin about not postin more than 3 chapters cuz nobody was reviewin it, but that all changed, and its all goin for the better!! Thnx again, and here's ur new chapter!

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11: Howl of the Wolf

The moon looks so full tonight… I wonder what she's thinking.

Staring up at the endless void called night, a wolf pondered at the universe and its complexities, wondering what life would be like if he had never been a zoanthrope, and if he would have ever had met all the wonderful and interesting people he knew now.

All the stars in the sky, they remind me of all the bright smiles I get from everyone I see. All their bright smiles lighting up my life. All so special to me, yet somehow, so far away…

Breathing into the cold autumn night, he reminisced about his past and wondered about his future. Fatigued and slightly cold, he found himself alone in the world, sitting calmly on a lone park bench.

A slight rustle of leaves awoke him from his daze, drawing his attention to a shadowed figure kneeling in a tall elm tree. Laughing slightly at this sight, he slowly sobered up, knowing that only two people knew that he spent quiet nights like this in the park.

"So where ya been Kenji?" he asked softly.

Head bowed down, eyes closed, the young ninja said naught. Sensitive ears picked up small drops of liquid splashing with the pavement, making multiple contact points with the cool cement. Yugo could only speculate that these were the young boy's tears. Opening his eyes, he found the ninja now quivering in the tall tree, his head swaying back and forth as if in denial. The elder wondered what could be so horribly traumatizing to this young soul as to make him quiver and shake in sadness.

"What's wrong Kenji?" The wolf couldn't help but raise himself from the bench and raise his arms towards the young one, quietly asking him to retreat from the oak before he tumbled out from loss of balance.

Now shivering from the cold that relentlessly attacked his body, the mole had nothing to say to his elder. Taking off his jacket, Yugo gently placed it on his brother's shoulders. The mole gave his thanks in a voice barely audible, but the wolf heard it nonetheless.

Something's wrong. He's never broken down like this since I first took him in… Did something like that happen to him again? NO!! I don't want to have him go through that horrible experience again! I refuse to have him turn back into that robot, that drone… But what can I do? He looks so lonely and depressed…

Looking down at the boy, he gave a small smile, for he felt that somehow this was a good experience for him. Though I know it's wrong, I still think that he has to experience this type of pain sometime in his life, because, somehow, I know this is pain of heart. He'll need time to get used to it, but he'll learn from it, I know it…

Placing his strong arm on the mole's shoulder, he lead him home to where he would find some means of peace for his younger sibling…

* * *

"Is he OK?" a voice asked, her tone a little frantic.

"Yea, yea, he's OK. He still won't answer my questions, but at least he's acting semi-normal. Can you think of anything else I can try?" the other end asked.

"Well…" she started, hesitating at first; trying to think of how to break it to Uriko. "I'd have to see him, see what he's going through. I'm no psychologist, but from what your saying, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out…"

"Thanks Alice." Yugo answered, sounding somewhat relieved. "Whenever you get time just come on over. I'll be sure to keep close watch on him."

From the way he ended his last sentence, it seemed to Alice that he was looking at the young boy, seeing if he was all right. She could only imagine how he looked just then…

Tightening her loose grip on the receiver, knuckles turning white, she moistened her dry lips.

"Sure thing Yugo. I'll try to stop by later on tonight."

Heavy breathing ensued her words, and she could only imagine the wolf's eyes thanking heaven for a friend such as her.

"Thank you so much Alice, you don't know how much this means to me… I'll see you later then. Take care."

Hearing the familiar click of the other end hanging up, accompanied with the sound of a dead dial tone, she quietly replaced the phone, allowing her now dead weight to fall onto the nearby couch.

I really hope Kenji will be okay…

* * *

A mass of emotions clouded the young boys mind, leaving his to sort out the complexities of life all alone. No one was there to help him, to guide him. Solitude. That was the only word worth meaning in his life at that moment. Isolation. Loneliness. All these words meant the same thing to him.

But to what end would they serve? When would they reveal their design to him? Unleash their answers? This he could not sort out. His hardened persona became even harder, encasing him in its midst, leaving him only a shell of a man.

Can anyone help me? Pull me out of this darkness? Rescue me from this torture? He wondered, feeling scared and confused.

Though his eyes were wide open in shock and confusion, the young boy showed no motion or feeling, keeping his head bowed, his gaze fixated upon the brown stained carpet beneath him.

I hope I can help him again, help him rid himself of these dark thoughts. I want the old Kenji back, not this robot… Come on Kenji, pull yourself together!! Yugo thought, his fist moving as he desperately cheered.

The bright light of a nearby lamp shone its radiance to the two, its filament on its last breath, drawing what little power it had left to try and drive away the dark shadows that loomed overhead.

* * *

Oooooo… How much longer do I have to go through with this? the rabbit wondered, aching to run to Kenji's aide, to help the boy through troubled times. Can't they help themselves? They're not paralyzed or anything… Ooooo, what am I thinking?!? I'm here to help them, not let them fend for themselves… Why am I acting like this??

Inwardly she cursed herself, for she was becoming too stingy in her work, becoming too impatient, not paying enough attention to those who sought her aide.

Only two more hours left…

Replacing the IV back into its respective spot, she made sure the patient she was currently working with was all right, if he needed anything. After giving his thanks and shooing her out of the room, she looked back at the old man. Tube in his nose and barely any hair, the gowned man barely moved at all, merely watching others pass by or watching the news on the TV. She noted the humble way he acted around her, as if at peace somehow, though she couldn't figure out why a man such as he in a place such as this could be at peace at all.

I guess I'll never figure out the world or its people. They're all different and unique and somehow they all have a place in my heart. I'll gladly serve anyone willing to allow me to help them, if in any way I can help them achieve a peace such as his.

Nodding her head slightly, she turned away from the man, who had somehow fallen asleep at her last glance, a smile gracing his frail features. Moving down the crowded hall, she made her way through the mess of doctors, nurses, gurneys, and wheelchairs, trying desperately to find her next designated station.

* * *

That branch is half-cracked, but why? Curiosity crept into the feline's mind, pushing all other thoughts aside. It wasn't raining or anything last night, so why is it cracked? Rolling the thought around in her nitrous fueled mind, she couldn't come up with a single reason.

Throwing aside the bothersome problem, she disappeared down the stairs to find a note on the table.

Dear Uriko,

Yugo's having some problems right now and wants my help, so I'll be going over there after work. You can fix something up in the fridge, so just help yourself. Just remember to leave us something left and to go to bed at an appropriate time. Be good, I'll call you later.

Alice

Hmm… Guess I got the house to myself. Yay!! Leaping onto the couch not far off, she grabbed the remote and proceeded to flip through the miscellaneous channels on their somewhat ancient TV.

If nothings on, I guess I'll try my luck with Kenji again. Hopefully he'll decide to come over and do something other than sit and play Mr. Dark…

Leaning her head back, hearing her neck crack a few times, she stared up at the ceiling, wondering what might be going on through the mole's mind.

* * *

Come on Kenji, do something! Respond! Anything! Punch me in the face, I don't care, just do something!! Yugo shouted inwardly.

The boy still sat on the couch, head bowed, not saying a word. It had been over six hours now, and Yugo was beginning to feel rage build up within him. Though he had contained it the first couple times it had surfaced, his hold upon it was now loose, and it was taking advantage of that, taking furious blows against the brick wall.

The boy was having some inward problems as well. His inner voices began surfacing from their containment he had sent them to so long ago. They surfaced slowly, giving him time to think to himself, but with each passing moment, their strength grew. Attacking his mind and soul, they tortured the boy, giving him the hellish torture he had not experienced since Busuzima reprogrammed him.

Why do you think of the world as a joyous place? It is only filled hate and death, bloodshed and anger. It has no place for you. Succumb to us, let us bring you back to how you once were, the merciless killer who had a reason to be. That is your only reason for living. You are the perfect killer, assigned because of your advanced skills.

No!! Stop this torture! Get away from me! I don't want to hear any more from you! Just leave me alone!!

But we can't leave you alone, Bakuryu, we are a part of you. You cannot escape us, it will only take time until you give in to your dark desires once more. We will prevail, whether you like it or not.

Just stop it!! I am no longer Bakuryu, the dark assassin you speak of. I am Kenji Ohgami, brother of Yugo Ohgami, and I do have people who love and care for me… Or do they? He became hesitant at that thought, for mere seconds questioning if they were truly caring and loving towards him, or if it was just some cruel joke.

Yes, see? You doubt yourself. You do not know if they love and care for you or not. You are hesitant. You don't know the real answer do you? No. You can't, it's impossible for someone to love a murderous machine such as yourself.

Grasping his head in anguish, he knew what they said to be true. Yugo ran to his side, furiously asking the boy to answer his questions, pleading with him to give some response.

None. Removing his hands from his head and placing them on his thighs, the boy slowly raised himself. Yugo stared in disbelief. Have I finally gotten through to him?

"Are you okay Kenji?" He asked, his voice cracking from the lump that had formed in his throat.

The boy turned slowly, staring the wolf in the face. Dark eyes, raging with a hate-fueled inferno, gave him his answer. His face showed no emotion, showed not even the slightest of movement. From the sight of his eyes alone, Yugo knew what had happened.

Oh no… Not again. No!! He can't become that again!

"No!! Come on Kenji, snap out of it! I don't wanna have to change you back again! It was too much stress and work, and…. I guess… I…" He fell silent, leaving his words to trail off. I guess I really do love you as if you were my true brother.

The dark assassin hesitated for a moment, and Yugo thought that maybe Kenji was fighting this new demon, trying to break free from the bonds once again. But his hope was shattered when he swiftly moved towards the door, opened it, and flew effortlessly into the welcome night, drawing in its power once more…