Hi this is Benji Himura. I am now starting a new Sakura Taisen/Wars fanfic. Unlike my first one this one happens in the 1920s. I don't own Sakura Taisen or any of the characters. Some anime or manga characters might show up in the story I also don't own then. I own Benji Himura and others characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. In anyway enjoy the story.

Signed: Benji Himura.

Chapter nine: Fighting

July second 1924

In the theater the air is filled with tension and worry. Two of they members where missing and presumed in the hands of the enemy. Maria is keeping her usual mask to everyone. But alone the worry fills her face. They where summoned to the briefing room and as the others Maria is not happy to be there. In the large table there is a map showing the entire city. And there is a small light in a point of it. In one of the far edges of the city very deep in the woods that surround the imperial city. "Sir what are the information about the enemy attack?" Ogami asks in a professional tone. Kaede smile to the others surprise. "This my friends is not an enemy attack." Kaede says. "What? Then what is it?" Reni asks. "We programmed the computers to let us know when Benji or Orihime used they powers…" Yoneda is cutted by Kanna. "So it is then?!" Kanna shouts. "Yes. Kanna. That light shows where a huge energy burst happened. And it is from Benji." Yoneda says. Maria hides her happiness. "Wait that means that he is fighting?" Ogami asks. "That is right. He must be facing a hard enemy." Kaede says. "Go to the Shogei-maru and rescue then!" Yoneda orders. "Yes sir!" the entire hanagumi shouts running to the airship Kaede follow then carrying a travel bag. And the hanagumi leave the theater.

A half hour earlier.

Benji breaks the last crystal woman. Orihime is panting behind him who is also breathing hard. Benji wrap the whip around his waist and pick a sword that was with one of the women. It is made of some kind of crystal but seemed hard enough to be used. "This thing is too small." Benji says looking to what to the crystal women was a medium sword and that to him was a short sword. "Don't complain at least is better than the whip." Orihime says. Benji pick her up on his arms and walk over the crystal shards that break under his boots. Orihime hide her blush and appreciation for the consideration since she is with bare feet and stepping on the crystals would hurt her, not to mention slow then down. No words are traded when he places her on the floor after reach a clean area. Orihime picks another torch since she lost the other and she gives it to Benji and they keep walking. "I wonder if the reason of him insisting in use the theater showers instead of the common tub was to keep that tattoo a secret from us." Orihime think recalling that during they time forced together Benji refused to use the common tub like the girls did. Orihime complained over it just to complain since she was happy because the showers have dividers in each shower giving then some privacy.

As they move up the stairs the see light. Orihime smiles but Benji is serious. He has a bad feeling about what waits for then. And when they cross the door Benji curses in Portuguese. Orihime agrees with a curse in Italian. Benji fears where right. They where surrounded by an army of women. But not made of crystal but many demonesses with an odd earthly brown skin color and with them breasts and crotches covered in leaves. They are wearing wood armors. They are armed with swords like the one in Benji hand, spears, bows and shields. Benji don't give then time to attack, the bronze giant when comparing to his companion and the enemy dashes to the army of earthly women and begun to spread death and chaos among then.

Orihime is clearly surprised. Benji fierceness was a surprising. Because he got another sword that is on his left hand and he continues to kill. Orihime grabs a fallen sword and attacks. Under Benji feet begun to form a huge pile of corpses Orihime is trying to keep herself alive against the demonesses. Benji charges the last drop of energy that he has in his body. He gets close of Orihime. "Close your eyes and don't open then!" Benji shouts. Orihime obeys the order. In that moment Benji could have ordered her to get fully naked and get on his fours to him so he could bang her she would obey gladly and with hope of getting out of there alive. Benji eyes now red shine with the energy that he is gathering from himself and stealing from the air. "Ninho de Dragões!!" Benji shouts. He slams his right fist in the ground.

Uncountable metal blue energy dragons bust from the ground ripping they way from the bottom of the earth. The sound of they roars fills the air as they move in every direction destroying everything. Huge gushes appear on the ground in the places where the energy dragons passes demonesses are turned in nothing when touched by then. Then the dragons fly to the skies rising high in the air. Hundreds of energy dragons ascend to the heavens. Soon there is only silence on the air. Orihime opens her eyes and stare in a mix of shock and awe the mass destruction around her. She can see the holes from where the dragons risen, the gushes n the earth the half destroyed demonesses and constructions of what once was a part of a hidden castle. Besides her Benji is on his knees supporting himself in the sword on his left hand breathing hard. Orihime stares in surprise feeling for the first time all the vitality and energy that he had on himself totally gone. And she knew right there that he was fully drained. Even more than when he fought alone in the sewers.

She moves to him and passes his right arm over her shoulders and passes her left arm around his waist. She holds his right wrist and get up, she uses lots of strength to help Benji back on his feet. After that she helps him to walk trying to move as far as they can. Luckily for then is that Benji attack destroyed a large area and Orihime hopped deep on her heart is that when they found another group of enemy is that he is at least restored to fight then. She knows that Benji is her better chance of leaving that place alive and in one piece. Twenty minutes later Orihime is visually happy because Benji got strong enough to walk by himself. She looks at bit surprised noticing that his invisible aura of vitality and energy has returned. But just a tiny bit. She looks at him from behind, she is a bit surprised that he actually doesn't have as many scars that she thought that he would had. "His scars seem to be very recent. Or he is too good that he doesn't even been hurt before or he heals pretty well." Orihime muses. Soon they reach the borders of the destructed area. And as soon they leave they are engulfed by new wave of demonesses. Benji fight with fierceness Orihime gives her best to keep up. And she knows that he can't pull that trick now.

"Stop now Seiryu!" A female voice shouts. "If you don't surrender now your bitch sister will drown in her own blood!" Benji looks at the voice direction. A demoness is holding Orihime from behind, in the demoness hand there is a dagger and it is touching on Orihime throat. The others had stopped the weak attack that they were putting against him. "So you will surrender or you will let your sister die." She says. Benji can understand why she called Orihime of his sister. They are both tanned with black hair and they where half occidental. Orihime look at Benji eyes scared. She doesn't know what he will do. If he will give up and allow her to live and both will be probably executed or he will keep fighting to at least him get out of there alive.

A split second passed by since the demoness call and Benji response. He opens his hands dropping the swords on the ground. Orihime is shocked with that. She hoped that he would do that but she was not sure that he would. The others demonesses walk to him and tie his arms together with a strong vegetal fiber rope. They press tight against two metal bracelets the only remains of his gloves. And they tie his legs to cut his movement freedom. They do the same with Orihime. Four demonesses are surrounding Benji pointing they spears on him. The leader of then, the demoness that captured Orihime looks at him. "Humans are so pathetic because of them emotions. I thought that you Seiryu where different. A natural killer, someone worth of being on the nightmare of demons." She says. "My queen why we don't kill then now?" a demoness asks. "No. I have a better idea for then. We will give then to the Kurojima trees." She says. Benji and Orihime notice that the demonesses shiver in fear on hearing that. And they thoughts where the same. "What is the big deal about trees?"

Present time. The hanagumi

The Shogei-maru flies to the direction of the energy flare from Benji. "We will take about twenty more minutes to reach the point." Kaede says to the hanagumi "That is too much." Kanna says vocalizing Maria thoughts. "We can't move any faster. We are going against the wind." Kaede says. "I hope that we get there in time." Kohran says. The others nod agreeing. Maria is sited in a side. Her uniform is still missing the red ribbon that she used to bandage a wound on Benji arm. She is holding on the silver clip wrapping the jewel with her closed hand. "What is wrong Maria-san?" Sakura asks. "I am worried about then." Maria says trying to sound normal. Not as much worried as she really is. "I am sure that they are holding on just fine. Benji is an amazing fighter and Orihime-san is also good." Sakura says to Maria. "I know but have been two days." Maria says. "We need to hope for the best. I am sure that we will be all together." Sakura says. The brunet doesn't know how much her words comforted Maria. She takes a deep breath and places the clip on her pocket and move to her koubu.

Present time. Benji and Orihime.

Benji and Orihime are tied on a wood post standing on the middle of a small arena. "What they will do with us?" Orihime asks. Both of then have ropes tied around they necks tying then to the post. "It was not to admire princess. In the beginning I thought that we would fight but this place is too open, the stalls are in the ground level, there is no gates to the gladiators come out or cages to the beasts. This is not like any arena that I have ever been in." Benji says "But I wonder if those are the trees that they where talking about." Benji says looking to some odd looking trees with many kinds of skeletons by they roots. They have thick trunks that would need Benji and Kanna holding hands to wrap it in an embrace. They are twice taller than the Brazilian. And they have long and wide leaves with some kind of moisture forming thick drops on the surface.

There is a heavy silence when three demonesses walk to then and cut the ropes that are holding the couple in the post. "What they will do with us Benji?!" Orihime asks scared. Benji nothing answers, more used to the dangers and the horrors to dare a guess. He knows that no good will be done scare her more by anticipation. They make Benji and Orihime fall. Benji fall with his stomach down and Orihime fall on her back. Two of then drag Benji by his ankles near of the trees and they drag Orihime also by the ankles to there. "Courage. I will get you out of this." Benji says in an encouraging tone. But even with his words Benji is facing an inner battle trying to beat the despair and the fear of being defenseless in front of a terrifying end. "Try stay as far as you can from the trees I will stay closer so if anything happens I will go first." Benji whispers to her. "I will try. But what could…" Orihime whispers back to him she doesn't finish her sentence with fear of triggering whatever might happen. The cheering that was filling the air during the drag to the tree is replaced by a heavy silence of collective fear and apprehension. The silence lasts for longs minutes until Orihime breaks it with a shout. She is seeing four leaves from one of the many trees moving on Benji direction.

The Brazilian is in silence and he shiver when the first leaf touches his almost nude skin of his calves. He feels painful stings piercing his skin and another scream from the Italian takes his attention. Orihime taken by terror is also being wrapped by the huge leaves. Benji is not in condition of helping the young maiden since he can't even help himself. Years before while Benji was a hunter he heard from another hunter from a man eater palm trees from an oasis in the deserts of the northeast of Brazil that eated the thirsty riders and they rides. But since he never met one before Benji dismissed as the only one under the sun. Even thought he met other kinds of vegetable monstrosities. Until now Benji thought that it was nothing but a myth.

In the stalls by the leader many demonesses make bets. Over who would be the first to be eaten and the most common was that Benji would go first. And indeed the Brazilian is the first of then that is raised in the air by the leaves. The leaves burns against his skin and the hundreds of thin needles of the leaves inside his flesh make obvious to the hunter what will happen next. The tree would swallow him alive and the acids within it would digest him alive melting his skin, to when it is all over it would spit out his bones. Terror and repulse fills that fills his being gives to the hunter a new strength born in the despair of meeting such horrible end. Benji struggles trying to break free. Until he notices that the strong grip of the ropes has gotten a bit weaker. "Of course!" Benji thinks understanding what happened. "The leaves are soaking me with some kind of corrosive fluid. But it acts much faster in the vegetable fibers of the rope than in my skin!" With a last and stunning effort even bigger than ripping the bars few hours before Benji rips the ropes freeing one of his arms.

And that is more than enough to him rips from his face a leaf that was trying to wrap around his head. The intense pain of the needles leaving his flesh runs thru Benji. But instead of slowing him down make him goes faster. The pain means life and life means hope. With out stopping for a single instant Benji rips the leaves from his body and frees his legs ripping the ropes. In the stalls the silence is broken by the gasps of shock and surprise from the demonesses. That for sure never had happened before. Free Benji falls on the ground. But Benji is planning doing much more. He looks at Orihime who is few inches from being placed on the huge tree mouth that is located in the place where the leaves join with the trunk. Benji leaps to his feet ignoring the huge pain wave that runs thru him by the acid needles.

With an almost feline leap Benji grabs Orihime who is almost a green mummy, with only few parts of her tanned skin showing under the sick green of the leaves. The weight of the tall Brazilian added to Orihime weight is excessive to the plant used to lighter and non resisting victims. "Drop her your bastard!" Benji shouts the leaves rips under the couple weight. Benji lands first holding Orihime. "Brace yourself girl! This will hurt more in you than in me, but hold on…" Benji says beginning to rip the leaves from her. Benji sees Orihime squirm in pain while her so called barbarian frees her. Deep down Benji is proud of her. She is holding back the intense pain. "Nothing bad for a spoiled princess." Benji thinks. "She is up few points on my book." Orihime breaths in trouble. "Ready we are safe." Benji says to Orihime. "Here comes more trouble!" Benji shouts seeing the armed demonesses moving to then. "By the ancient gods! Why those bitches don't attack?!" Benji shouts. "They are far out numbering us and they are armed." Benji says. "But why stay far shaking the weapons like crazy?!" Benji says confused. Orihime is slowly getting up. "I know it!" Benji says. He looks back seeing the damaged trees. "They worship those things as gods…" Benji says Orihime looks confused. "They don't know what to do with someone who fought those things and won. I am not waiting for then making up they minds." Benji says.

Benji walks to the trees. Orihime looks in shock. "Let's see what will happen if I commit another sacrilege!" Benji shouts charging into a nearest undamaged tree. With violent tackles Benji tosses his huge form against the tree and the sound of fibers being ripped fills the air. With a lat titanic effort Benji grips the tree and pulls it hard from the ground ripping it on the ground level during the entire time the demon tree shaked her leaves as in pain. At the same time a silent scream of shock fills the air after so intense desecration.

To the Brazilian surprise the tree is much lighter that it seems being in the tops as heavy as him. He rests the huge trunk on his shoulder and using the tree as a deadly battering ram he charges to the demonesses. Orihime runs after him keeping a close distance of him and staying under the tree. By the sacrilege that they just witnessed or by pure shock the demonesses forget they advantages and run away shouting in intense terror. For Benji and Orihime the cause is not important. Benji laughs seeing the proud warriors running away screaming in fear running away from the wrath of they holy tree. And he laughs as he kill then using the tree as a huge club opening his way out of there. At sudden spears and arrows fly over then as a deadly rain. "The bitches regained the courage to attack at distance." Benji curses. "ORIHIME! Grab a spear quick!" Benji shouts to her. "Hai!" Orihime says obeying. "But I don't know it I will ne able to use it." She says. "It is better you learn it and fast!" Benji shouts "Follow me!" He shouts charging at the demonesses opening the path with the tree running to the stalls where the demonesses stomp each other trying to run away from the hungry jaws of the tree and the acid leaves.

As they pass the demonesses fall in pain thanks to the constant jets of acid that the tree spits over then. Near of the top Benji tosses the tree over the large mass of the demonesses and to they shock it explodes in flames. Benji smiles a bit before getting serious he knows that out there it has a huge army of demonesses waiting to slaughter them. But to the surprise of the hunter and of the dancer they see eight koubus attacking the hidden city. Forming a line keeping a tight formation, behind then the kazegumi are using large machine guns to help the hanagumi.

How the sounds of the battle have been suppressed Benji didn't know. But with the loud roar of the fire that is devouring the city it makes sense. "Let the god bless you Ogami the son of a Japanese stallion! You made it!" Benji shouts. Orihime is also happy but she is using must of her will to not pass out in pain because of the burns and the needles. The roar of the fire suppresses any answer for then. But a raised sword from the white koubu is the signal that they got the message. "Come princess." Benji says holding her by the waist. "If I can reach the others I can get myself a sword…" Benji begun to run carrying Orihime "And then I will go after that queen myself!" Benji shouts louder than the battle. Avoiding a rain of arrows and bullets Benji races thru the distance the separate then. He leaps over corpses and broken walls pressing Orihime chest in front of his, she holds him by the neck tight not wanting to fall. She knows that she is protected from the arrows covered by his wide chest.

She knows that her legs can be hitted. But are better the legs than her chest. At least in the leg she has more chance to survive. As the Brazilian runs with the Italian on his arms on his back the demonesses hold bravely under the intense attack of the hanagumi. Benji covers the final distance between then and the kazegumi leaping over a wall with his legs forward and his right arm extended as if reaching something. With a cat like agility he lands perfectly behind the kazegumi in safety. He places Orihime down. Kaede smiles at him. She hands to him a bag. "The manager had sent you this." She says. Benji opens and smiles. He removes from the a mail vest that he puts on. The chain mail covers his chest in a tight grip. He pulls from there a long European sword and a dagger. Benji swallows a odd looking herb from there and he leaps over the kazegumi running back to the battle now opening his way with five hundred years old Damascus steel. "Wait Benji!" Maria shouts in her external feed. But the Brazilian ignores her. His chain vest turns him practically invulnerable to the crystal weapons of the demonesses. Benji is now showing to the hanagumi why he was one of the best hunters. Benji sees his target over a house and he uses another demoness as leverage to leaps to her.

The queen doesn't have time to do anything when the heavy steel blade cuts her upside down from her shoulder. As she turns into a crystal dust the others follow in the same second. Benji returns to the place where the others are. Soon the hanagumi join then. "I can't believe that you leaped back in there." Orihime says. "You are a crazy barbarian." "So what princess? I have been saving your ass lots of times so far." Benji replies. But they tone show that they don't mean anything. "I knew that you where coming. And you got right in time." Benji says to Kaede. "By what I saw you were doing pretty well alone." Kaede says. "But is time to leave." Kaede says and they move to the Shogei-maru. "The most important is that we found you two alive after we got the power burst." Kaede says. "Not that you are hard to follow. After all you are always in the middle of a large fight taking the best even unarmed." Kaede says "Oi partner!" Kanna says leaving her koubu. "I am impressed with you. Doing all those amazing thinks. You need to teach me some one day." Kanna says placing one hand on Benji shoulder. "Some day." Benji says with a smile. "The hunters to the hard job and the others get the worse." Benji says. "It can be." Kanna say "But…" Kanna sentence is cutted by Ogami. "Orihime! Holy god! You need clothes!" Ogami says removing his jacket. "I…I was even forgotten about it Taisho." Orihime says shyly. "In the beginning I was embarrassed. But after all it is only skin." Ogami drapes the jacket over her shoulders. "In any way thank you. I must say that it is much better wear clothes." Orihime says. "Yes it is much better." Ogami says blushing. Sumire, Sakura, Kohran and Iris blushes at Benji. He is taking out the chain vest.

And since he is only wearing nothing much than boxers they blush deeply at his unconcern at it. But even blushing they look with attention at him. The tattoo calls the attention. Benji hair that was long enough to reach his waist was roughly cutted and it the shorter part of it was reaching the end of his shoulder blades. The red ribbon on his arm calls Maria attention. "He kept it." She thinks seeing the dirty and damaged ribbon. "You two need clothes." Kaede says blushing looking at the half naked duo specially Benji. Tsubaki is looking at him with intensive interest as well the other members of the kazegumi. For then that was the first time that they saw so much of a man.

Soon they reach the theater. And the tanned couple begins to show the signs of being exhausted. Benji walks to the showers followed by Orihime. The situation is a mirror of the time where they were forced to live together. Yoneda sigh but he knows that they must be tired. After a quick showers they move each one to the respective room put on a sleeping clothes and drop in the bed sleeping before even hit the mattress. Maria is happy because they are back specially Benji. But she is sad because she hadn't the to express it to Benji. She sighs sadly because it was her idea to keep them relationship in secret. Later in that night Maria is walking by the empty halls of the theater doing the night patrol, the theater feels longer and makes her feel very lonely with out Benji close to her so they could chat and make out after the patrol.

She turns a corner to her surprise there is a tall figure waiting for someone. She moves her flashlight to the figure. "Benji?!" she says surprised. "You were sleeping exhausted!" she says looking at him. "I was. But I wanted to expend time with you." Benji says in a casual tone. "After seeing Orihime half naked for hours I sure need to purify my mind." Benji adds in a teasing tone. Maria smiles knowing that it wasn't an entire joke. "And what you plan on doing?" Maria asks teasing. "Staying with you is far enough to clear my mind." Benji says in a serious one. Maria blushes and nods and she holds Benji hands and they do the patrol. Maria can see that his hair is still as it was before or really damaged. "You need a hair cut now." Maria says. "I guess so." Benji says. "Why you don't cut it?" Benji asks. "Why me?" Maria asks. "Because you are my girlfriend and you can style my hair in a way that you like it." Benji answers.

Maria blushes again as she runs few images of making him more attractive and not all of then where with his clothes on. "Okay." She says. Later Benji and Maria are in the blond room. They placed newspapers in the floor covering a small area. Benji sits in a chair and Maria is with a scissors standing behind him. "Are you sure of this? You can still change your mind." Maria says running her slender fingers by Benji loose hair. "I am sure." Benji says. Maria nods and using the shorter strand of hair as measure she begins to level his hair. The black hair falls in the paper covering with the long strands. Maria adjusts a bit the fringe that was not as damaged as the rest. And Maria sees the straight line of Benji hair covering his back and she give it a V cut. She combs his hair and she is humming a soft tune happy with that intimate moment. As the loose strands fall Maria picks Benji hair band and ties his hair in his usual way. Benji hair reaches now in the longer point to the half of his shoulder blades. "Well it is not as good as a barber or a beauty parlor work but it is not so bad." Maria says seeing the slight rough cut but she can't help in thinking that suits him. "It is good enough for me. And if you like it is okay." Benji says. "I like it." Maria says. She makes Benji sits on her bed so she can clean the room she tosses the papers and the hair in her trash bin. "Well I think that is time to you go back to you room." Maria says walking to her bed. "Benji?" She asks when she got no answer. The tanned man is sleeping sited in the bed leaning on the head rest. "Silly. You where trying hard to stay wake only to stay with me." Maria says with a small smile. She lays him in the bed and removes his shoes. She takes out her blazer and places on a chair and lays beside him over his left arm, she wrap his arm around her shoulders and rests her head on his chest and lay her left arm across his stomach. "I sure like this." Maria whispers hearing the soft but strong beat of Benji heart. The steady rhythm of his heart acts as a lullaby causing to the blonde falls quickly in sleep. Sharing warmth by being so close the couple doesn't have need for a sheet or blankets.

End of the chapter nine.

Glossary:

Ninho de Dragões: Means literally dragons nest in Portuguese. Benji is Brazilian so it would be only natural that some of his moves have names in Portuguese.

Benji walks to the stage. "Hi everyone. I am Benji Himura. Writer and character of the story." He makes a pause and pulls a note pad from his pocket and reads it on loud. "Well first I would like to thanks HaruNatsu and Kanna Kirishima for the reviews." He pauses and put the pad on his pocket. "Well this is all. Thank you for reading." Benji says before bow to the audience and walk away.