Chapter Nine: Death and Renaissance

A/N: The smoke was thick. It seemed to engulf the small village within its hazy smog. The only thing that Kenshin could see besides smoke was the fire. It burned the villager's meager homes and shops to the ground. Fire is a very cruel being. It lives to cause destruction. It can not create anything whatsoever. All it can do is burn and burn until nothing is left but ashes. Kenshin's now extremely sensitive nose was nullified by the intense aroma of smog. He still managed to pick up the familiar trace of the humans he was living with for the past few days, though. He set off in the direction of their scent. It wasn't long before Kenshin caught up to Kina, Takiko, and Lynn. He followed them without being noticed.

Kina: (looks up ahead and smiles with tears of joy) Kenjii!

Lynn: Heike and Daddy too!

Takiko: We finally found them!

A/N: The women's happiness would soon be cut short. As the figures became clearer, they could see that both Heike and Futa were terribly injured, the shogun, looming over them. Kenjii was standing off to the side also injured. Just the sight of the shogun caused a deep rumble to swell in Kenshin's throat.

Futa: (out of breath) W-why are you doing this? What has our village done to deserve this!

Shoguns: (smirk)

Shogun #1: We're just rightfully taking back what those rebels that call themselves the imperialists stole from us.

Heike: You mean our village!

Shogun #2: Bingo.

Shogun #3: It's nothing personal. It's just routine.

Kenjii: (screaming bloody murder) YOU CALL BURNING VILLAGES AND KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE ROUTINE!

A/N: Though Kenjii's words were quite brave, his expression was anything but courageous. He was trembling with fear and was struggling to hold back tears of utter terror. All and all, the boy was quite pathetic.

Shogun #2: Insolent whelp! (kicks Kenjii in the chest) You should learn to hold your tongue in a warrior's presence.

Kenjii: (face down in the dirt) I would... but I see no warriors at the moment...

Shogun #2: What!

Shogun #3: Why you... (draws sword and holds it high preparing to strike the fallen boy)

A/N: It all seemed to happen in slow motion. The sheer look of horror on everyone's face, Heike trying to get up but failing to do so, Futa running towards Kenjii, all seemed to paint an image in what would be in some chaotic portrait. What happened next was awe inspiring. Futa succeeding in forcing Kenjii out of the way, substituting his own arm to feed the blade of the shogun's sword. It plummeted into his shoulder, past the muscles, bones, and tendons, digging into the very earth itself. It was a moment of abnormally long stillness. Kenshin felt something watching him from behind, and whirled around to see a smiling Aleena.

Aleena: Yo!

Kenshin: Uhh... hi?

Aleena: I knew a picked up the scent of another wolf! You must be a scout that my father sent to rescue me, right? Well then, no time to waste, let's go!

Kenshin: Wait! What about Futa and the others? They're in danger!

Aleena: Wow! You can remember human names! You must be one of my father's best scouts! C'mon we have to go now, before dawn.

A/N: Aleena began to run off.

Kenshin: Stop! Didn't you here me!

Aleena: (stops) Why are we stopping?

Kenshin: Your human family needs you! Don't they mean anything to you?

Aleena: (silent for a moment) Like I said, why are we stopping?

Kenshin: (shocked) What? You're willing to throw away a perfectly good human life! You'd have a mother and father and little brother...

Aleena: I have those already. Besides, they're just humans.

Kenshin: What do you mean 'just humans'?

Aleena: Humans can't compete with your real family. You can only love them like pets.

A/N: These last few words hurt Kenshin most of all...

Kenshin: Kenjii was right... you are a law against nature!

Aleena: Huh?

Kenshin: You can run away! I'm going to help them!

A/N: Kenshin turned to charge head-on into the Shogun, but saw in horror Kenjii with a sword through his middle being held up in the air by a Shogun. Aleena saw it too. Her usual blasé gaze was now vexed.

Aleena: Kenjii...

Shogun #3: I'd like all you villagers to realize the extent of the mighty Shoguns' mercy towards imperialists by witnessing this child's corpse!

A/N: In a flash the shogun's arm was ripped off. The shogun blinked a few times in shock and finally he felt a jolt of pain surge through his body. He began to roll on the dirt in pain. Everyone looked to see what had happened and they see Kenshin clasping the arm in his jaws and Aleena holding Kenjii's broken body. Kenshin dropped the arm with a thud, blood stained on his white fangs. Blood tasted strange to Kenshin. It tasted a bit metallic and sweet (if possible). The smell of it was indescribable. Kenshin felt a bit uneasy, what with the scent forcing itself into his sensitive nose, he began to have a light headache. He noticed Aleena stepping forward with Kenjii's body. She laid him on the ground in front of Kina. Kina sank to her knees, worn down and sobbing. No words can possibly describe the tears. Heike, extraordinarily, rose to his feet, furious. He charged to the shogun, steaming mad.

Heike: YOU BASTARDS!

A/N: Heike delivered a killer right-hook to one of the shogun. The unexpected blow caused him to stumble back, but he regained his footing and countered with a deadly uppercut that forced Heike flat on his back. The shogun drove his foot into Heike's diaphragm in an attempt to suffocate him. Kenshin tackled the shogun down, and began to clamp down on his neck. Blood sprayed into Kenshin's powerful jaws. When it ceased, so did his fierce grip... and the shogun's murderous life. The other shoguns were bewildered.

Shogun #4: I didn't know these villagers had mad wolves!

Shogun #1: That wolf ain't mad! That thing's possessed!

Shogun #5: Yeah, you're probably right. He came here with her, that devilish girl that runs with wolves.

Shogun #4: M-maybe it'd be best to retreat...

Shogun #1: No way! We're shogun for god's sake! We can dish out anything Heaven or Hell throws at us, including some bitch and her pet!

A/N: Had Aleena been listening to the conversation, the shogun wouldn't be standing at that moment. But no, Aleena was watching the three human females crying. Wolves don't cry. Since Aleena had never known tears, she had never shed them. She had heard tales about rivers flowing from human eyes, but had never really thought of such nonsense to be true. Seeing the sight now was quite amazing in her perspective. Millions of questions were arousing in her mind, such as, 'Is the water drinkable?', 'If so, then can I control it so that the pack won't have to worry about a water supply?', 'Does it hurt?', and 'Is it hard to make the water flow out of eyes?'

Shogun #5: So what now?

Shogun #1: We take care of the women, including the wolf girl, first.

Shogun #4: B-but how?

Shogun #1: Send in Gurro.

Shogun: GURRO!

A/N: From a dark, shadowy area of the destroyed village comes a giant 9 foot tall minimum Goliath! Slung over his shoulder is a wooden club. His body is protected by iron thick armor. His muscles seem to be as hard as stone. As he slowly made his way to his victims he seemed like something from a fairytale. Kenshin got in his way, though as Gurro came closer, Kenshin felt his ears lower, his tail fall between his legs, and a whimper escaped his throat. Gurro stepped over him, as though Kenshin wasn't worth his time. He readied his club to strike his unknowing victims.

Kenshin: Aleena! Look out!

A/N: Aleena turned her head around to see. Kenshin ran in front of Gurro and leaped to strike. Kenshin had underestimated him. Despite Gurro's heavy stature, he was swift. Kenshin was sent flying. Aleena stood up and growled at Gurro. Aleena saw Takiko and Lynn get out of Gurro's attack range, but Aleena could also see that Kina had no intention of letting her son's body be crushed under the monster's club. Aleena saw the club swooping down towards them.

Aleena: Kina get down!

A/N: Kina ducked and closed her eyes tightly. She screamed at the sound of the club flying through the air and hitting something. Hard! Kina slowly opened them and was horrified by what she saw. Aleena had taken the full force of the blow. She was lying on top of Kina, using only her elbows and forearms to stop Kina from being crushed. Gurro was still firmly pushing his club against Aleena's small body. Kina was amazed at Aleena's endurance and strength. But it was her eyes that Kina was starring into. Her eyes were so blue, but they had no child-like sparkle in them. They had no anger, sorrow, or happiness inside. Only worthlessness. Kina could see that the only thing Aleena had ever known was that she was useless. Kina had to divert her gaze what she saw made her feel guilty. Kenjii was off to the right and out of harm's way. Kina had put both herself and Aleena's life in danger over nothing. Kina began to cry again. She noticed Heike running to her side.

Heike: (lifts up Kenjii) I have Kenjii. Now let's go.

Kina: ...

Heike: Kina come on!

Kina: I-I'm sorry... but I... can't...

Heike: What? Why!

Kina: If I crawl out from under here, then Aleena will let herself die! I can't... I won't let that happen!

Heike: Kina! You'll just end up killing her and yourself!

Kina: I'd rather die than just abandon her!

A/N: Kenshin, whom had regained consciousness a few seconds ago began to chuckle.

Aleena: What's... so... funny?

Kenshin: Kina just said that she'd rather die than abandon you.

Aleena: Your... point is?

Kenshin: Only a few minutes ago, you were about to abandon her.

Aleena: ...

Kenshin: What made you risk your life for her?

Aleena: I... care about her...

Kenshin: So why desert her?

Aleena: Because I care... about her...

Kenshin: Ahhhh... so you don't like to care about humans, eh?

Aleena: Yeah... see where it's... gotten me...

Kenshin: So what now?

Aleena: I'm still... thinking...

Kenshin: You don't have a plan!

Aleena: Does it look like I have a plan?

Kenshin: Leave it to me!

A/N: Kenshin leapt up and sank his teeth into Gurro's arm. He was able to get passed the armor, but his flesh was tough! Kenshin couldn't even draw blood! Gurro shook him off. Kenshin landed on his feet and tried again, this time it was his wrist that was his target. Gurro yelped in pain and threw Kenshin into the sky. He then hit him like a baseball player with his club, releasing Aleena and Kina. Kenshin blacked out before he even hit the ground.

Aleena: Monster!

A/N: Aleena rushed into the battle. Gurro aimed for Aleena and heavily pulverized the earth with his club, Aleena hurdled up and out of the way, kicking Gurro twice in the chin and once with a brutal sidekick to his belly. The blow sent him airborne into a burning building. The remaining shogun were stunned.

Shogun #4: They killed Gurro...

Shogun #1: Retreat!

A/N: The shogun did just that.

Aleena: COWARDS!

A/N: A rumbling is heard from the building behind Aleena. It's the same building Gurro was in. Aleena slowly turned around and saw him. On fire, but still alive. He grabbed a piece of the roof of the building, his new weapon. He swung.

Gurro: DIE!

Aleena: Yow!

A/N: Aleena dodged, but the attack still singed her. She didn't have much time to recuperate, seeing as Gurro wasn't slowing down. Aleena tried desperately to find an opening, but to no avail. Then it happened. She was backed into a corner with Gurro's club descending upon her. Kina ran in front of Aleena to protect her. Aleena had only a millisecond to react; she knocked her down and they both meandered out of the club's path. When they both came to a rest Aleena whirled to see the entire building collapse under the magnitude of Gurro's power. She shuddered and then turned to throw Kina a detesting glare.

Aleena: Don't you ever try that again!

Kina: I-I was just trying to help-

Aleena: Help? You can help me by staying out of my way!

Kina: B-but-

Aleena: I don't want your help, nor do I need it!

Kina: (weakly) I'm sorry...

A/N: The club came their way a second time. Aleena hoisted up Kina and dodged.

Kina: (wipes tears from eyes)

Aleena: ...I'm not mad at you ok. I'm just-

A/N: Gurro wasn't giving them a break Aleena had to dodge three more times until they finally had time to breathe.

Aleena: (growling) I'm just frustrated! I can't find an opening with this guy!

Kina: (looks up and smiles) Takiko! Lynn!

A/N: Takiko and her daughter are standing on the roof holding many cannon balls and fireworks/gunpowder in their hands.

Heike: (gawks at the ammunition) Wait! Lemme get on the roof before you fire!

Kina: Heike's right; we had better get up there as well.

Aleena: Hmm? Why?

Kina: Because they have cannon balls!

Aleena: What're those?

Takiko: This! (throws cannon ball that lands a few yards away)

A/N: the cannon ball explodes into a huge inferno with a bang!

Aleena: (shocked) T-that little th-thing made thunder!

Kina: Which is why we'd better get a move on!

A/N: Aleena leaps onto the roof and places Kina on it. She turns to watch the two fire when she sees Kenshin still down there comatose. She jumps down and sprints over to him as the cannon balls explode. The group on the roof nervously watch and wait for the smoke to clear. Before it does, however, Aleena leaps back onto the roof with Kenshin safely in her arms. As more firearms begin to explode the more and more bright they are until finally one engulfs the entire village in a white-bright light for a few seconds. When everyone's eyes come back into focus, they see the village nearly obliterated, but they also see Aleena whom was peacefully getting a well disserved sleep.