Akane never really understood why she turned into a lion or why Hajime wanted her and Nekomaru to stay in this old place to protect some shiny orb. So much time had passed since she first turned into this beast that her memory had become so foggy. Luckily Nekomaru was there to help her remember the important things like why they came to this island in the first place to reunite Hajime with his daughter. It was all so confusing even with some vague memories of her past, but she knew with every ounce of her being she wanted to live. Not just by herself, but alongside Nekomaru, her closest friend.
One day after the black fox came to stare at the orb then leave, Akane was itching for excitement. She turned to Nekomaru and tugged on his ear to get him to play.
"Hey I told you, we can't spar in here," Nekomaru said. "Hajime said so."
"But we haven't spared in like forever!" Akane groaned. "If we're animals, let's fight like em."
"Maybe later and outside," Nekomaru said.
"What happened to you?" Akane asked. "You used to always spar with me no matter where we were."
"We have to protect this orb and the door no matter what," Nekomaru said. "That's what Hajime asked us to do and it's the least we can do after all he's done for us."
"Whatever," Akane brushed him off. "I'll go find my own fun. Maybe one of those hyenas will spar with me."
"Don't go too far," Nekomaru said.
Akane rolled her eyes and ran outside. She could barely feel the wind on her thick stone armor, but the sunlight did heat it up a bit. Up on the roof of the shrine she looked out at the ocean. The scent of the sea breeze reminded her of all the times she and Nekomaru spared on the beach. Back then he held back always caring too much about not hurting her, that he'd just treat her like a kid. Even now he looked at her with concern and pity. It annoyed her.
Then she heard something down below at the entrance. It was soft like a person falling over, but her ears were still very keen. When she leapt down to the entrance she saw a little girl in a white dress had fallen unconscious. She had long curly pink hair that made Akane's heart stop. Carefully she approached the girl and sniffed her. It was so long ago, but she remembered this subtle scent.
"Hajime's kid!" Akane realized. "I found you!"
Without thinking, Akane delicately picked up the girl with her mouth making sure not to accidentally bite her. Excited, she rushed back up to Nekomaru. There she laid Kana on the altar.
"Old man, look!" Akane said. "I found Hajime's kid!"
"What?!" Nekomaru asked. "What is she doing here by herself and unconscious?"
"I don't know, maybe she was looking for her dad and got tired," Akane said. "But you know what this means? Hajime is going to see her again."
"Oh Akane," Nekomaru sighed. "Hajime already knew where she was, remember his double is taking care of her."
"Wait, Hajime has a twin?" Akane tilted her head.
"Never mind, we have to take her back," Nekomaru said.
"Whadaya mean?" Akane asked. "She belongs with Hajime right?"
"Yes but the other Hajime will come looking for her if we don't take her back," Nekomaru explained.
"Aaah," Akane groaned, rubbing her head with her paw. "I don't get it!"
"I'll take her back myself," Nekomaru said.
"Wait!" Akane said. "Someone's coming into this place!"
"It must be the other Hajime," Nekomaru said. "Stay calm, if we stand perfectly still he'll take Kana thinking we're statues."
"Got it," Akane nodded.
Suddenly a burst of light came out from the orb forming some kind of force field around Kana.
"What the hell?!" Akane asked. "Since when did it do that?"
"I don't know, but we have to stick to the plan," Nekomaru said. "Don't move unless I do."
"Okay," Akane said.
A few minutes later the other Hajime charged in. It was scary how similar he was to the old Hajime back when they were human. Yet one thing struck Akane as being very different. Deep in her gut she sensed something was off about him, but she couldn't say exactly what it was.
"Kana!" The other Hajime yelled.
Akane and Nekomaru watched as the other Hajime ran forward with his sword in an attempt to pierce the barrier only for it to propel him backward. Then took his sword and began to bash away at the ball. Suddenly the glass ball shattered with an explosion of white light and a small white object fell out. Akane couldn't quite make it out from the corner of her eye.
"Ugh," a masculin voice spoke. "What has led me to deserve such a rough awakening?"
Whatever was in that orb was now talking to the other Hajime. She had no idea what to do and looked like Nekomaru was in the same boat. After the other Hajime and the voice talked, he ran back to the magic barrier and tried again to slash it apart. The magic barrier forced him back into the small fox spirit. To make things more confusing, the hyena shades appeared ready to fight the other Hajime.
"I won't stop until I have my daughter back!" Hajime growled. "If that means I have to kill every last shade in this shrine so be it."
"Akane now!" Nekomaru moved. "We can't let him hurt the others and escape with that fox!"
"Does that mean we're fighting?" Akane asked.
"Yes, but be careful not to hurt him too much," Nekomaru advised.
"Got it," Akane said before swinging her paw towards Hajime.
The other Hajime looked behind him just in time to dodge her claws. Together Nekomaru and Akane moved close to the hyena shades to keep them safe. Yet since they couldn't speak it was hard to coordinate attacks with them.
The other Hajime charged ahead at Nekomaru. He raised his sword and swung it at one of his legs only for it to make one a tiny dent. Then the hyena shades tackled him, biting into his arm and legs. The other Hajime growled through the pain and managed to punch one in the nose before kicking the other two away. Before he could get up, Akane batted him into the wall to try and scare him off. Despite the pain, the other Hajime still got up and prepared to fight again until the strange little white fox jumped onto his shoulder. The two bickered again like before until the white fox leapt into the other Hajime's left eyes. Suddenly all the other Hajime's wounds swiftly healed followed by something large and white shooting out of his left eye. Nekomaru and Akane stepped back, seeing a much bigger fox with a long flowing tail standing before them.
"Yes you should be afraid," the fox said. "Allow me to extinguish your despair fueled souls!"
Like a lighting bolt, the fox shot forward and repeatedly pierced through the hyena shades causing shots of blood to squirt out everywhere. The fox returned to the other Hajime's side and admired his handiwork as the hyena shades faded away. Despite the blood bath, not a single drop stained the fox's glowing white coat.
"Get away!" Akane roared and charged towards the other Hajime.
"Akane!" Nekomaru followed her.
The other Hajime rolled away safely leaving the two lions to bash their armored heads into the wall. Angered, Akane tried to swipe at the other Hajime just for him to miss again. Soon he countered by swinging his sword at her again. Now he was really pissing her off.
"Come and get me you over glorified cats!" The other Hajime yelled.
Holding his sword down to the ground, the other Hajime ran with it and created an ear bleeding sound of metal scraping stone. The sound made Akane's whole head ring.
"That's it!" Akane roared and charged towards him.
"Akane, no!" Nekomaru ran past her to try and stop her
Then before she could process what was going on, a large lance pierced clean through Nekomaru's chest and into her. Nekomaru roared in pain.
"Nekomaru!" Akane roared in pain as well.
For the first time in so long she felt pain. Horrible agonizing pain that triggered memories of more pain. Not from when she was human, but when she first turned into a lion. When humans in white coats restrained and cut into her over and over. As she recalled the horrifying memories, both her and Nekomaru's bodies went limp as they fell on top of each other.
"Nekomaru?!" Akane panicked but was unable to move.
Before she could hear a response, she passed out.
...
When Akane woke up again, she noticed some rubble had fallen on top of her and Nekomaru. With a few shoves she was able to push it off, yet as she did parts of her armor cracked armor fell off.
"Weird," Akane felt her face where a piece of armor had cracked off. "I didn't think it could crack after all these years."
Shaking the rest of the dust off and stretching her legs, Akane turned over to Nekomaru lying in the rubble. It seemed parts of his armor cracked too.
"Hey, old man, get up," Akane nudged him with her paw. "Hey, I said get up."
She tried pulling on his ear like before only for the stone exterior to come right off.
"Nekomaru!" Akane dropped the ear.
Rushing to see his face, she saw the crimson glow of his eyes were gone. Inside the armor was completely hollow.
"No, no, no!" Akane gritted her fangs together. "You can't be dead!"
In desperation Akane pushed his armor in hopes she'd see his crimson eyes again. This only further separated the pieces of armor from one another.
"No!" Akane said, her tail drooping and curling to her side. "Damn it. You can't die again! Not because of me!"
Despite her sorrow, no tears were able to come out of her eyes. All she could do was mournfully roar to the heavens. For hours she roared and roared until her heart couldn't take it anymore. In defeat, she laid on top of Nekomaru's hollow armor.
"No, you can't stay dead," Akane said. "You came back alive two times already, so what's one more time?"
That's it. Even if he was dead now, he'd come back to life again somehow. Nekomaru was unkillable. Till then she would stay by his armor and wait for him to come back. He'd scold her for letting her anger get the best of her and rushing in without thinking. This time though she'd listen.
...
Time passed, how much exactly she had no idea. It was fine as long as she was by Nekomaru's armor. Then she'd be right there when he sprang back from the dead like before. She didn't even care what he looked like human, robot, lion, or something even crazier didn't matter to her as long as it was still Nekomaru.
As she laid there thinking about her friend, she heard someone enter the room. Instinctively she leapt up over Nekomaru's armor, snarling, ready to fight. Fortunately one look made her see the person was not a foe. It was just Hajime, the real Hajime. Although with those crimson eyes and long hair he looked more like that other scary dude. Standing beside him was that same black fox that always visited the shrine.
"Akane," Hajime said. "What happened here?"
"You, I mean the other you came in here," Akane explained. "He smashed that orb thingy and a white fox came out. Together they killed Nekomaru!"
"I'm sorry for your loss," Hajime said.
"It's alright, I know Nekomaru is coming back," Akane said. "I mean he's done it twice before. Three times if you count the future people catching us and turning us into animals."
"Akane…," Hajime sighed. "I hate to tell you this, but Nekomaru isn't coming back."
"What?! Why?!" Akane growled. "How do you know?!"
"Because once you die in this form there's no way to bring you back," Hajime explained. "Not even Kana can bring back souls."
"How do you know?!" Akane snapped at him. "Nekomaru is strong, he can come back on his own somehow!"
"He won't," Hajime said.
"Shut up!" Akane roared and lunged at him.
In her anger she sank her fangs into his arm.
"Hajime!" The black fox yelled.
Before the fox could intervene, Hajime raised a hand to make him stop.
"I'm sorry Akane," Hajime said. "I thought you two would be safe here, but I was wrong."
"I don't care if you're sorry!" Akane growled. "It's your plan that got Nekomaru killed! You're not a leader, you're a coward!"
"I know," Hajime said, only infuriating her more till she ripped his arm off.
The detached arm fell to the floor staining it with blood, yet Hajime didn't so much as wince in pain. Akane spat out the blood from her mouth before turning around to go back and lay on Nekomaru's armor.
"I'm done listening to you," Akane growled. "Don't ever show your face around me again, or next time I won't just rip off your arm."
"Fine," Hajime said, promptly leaving along with the black fox.
Akane continued to lay on Nekomaru's armor. She recalled being in a similar position. It was in a dark room only faintly illuminated by green light emanating from a pod. Inside, balancing between life and death was her friend.
"You'll come back," Akane said, repeating word for word what she said back then. "You gotta."
…
Her threat worked and Hajime never showed up again. Sonia still tried to fly in a few times to console her, but she chased her off every time till even the swan left her. Time passed and the world probably changed outside, but she didn't care. It felt like a year had passed, but she knew she could wait many years for Nekomaru to come back. Especially since she didn't need to sleep or eat in this form.
One day, while she was taking a nap, her ears perked up at the sound of footsteps. No doubt two of the others were trying to take a shot at consoling her to get over Nekomaru. Instinctively she lunged out from her slumber and pinned the trespassers down with her paws causing them to scream.
"I DONT WANT YOUR HELP!" Akane roared.
Then she realized the two she pinned down weren't her friends. They were just two small cats, one with spiky fur and the other with long fur.
"Please don't kill us!" The long furred one screamed. "I'm too cute to die!"
"Relax, i'll protect you!" The spiky furred one said as he tried to claw and wriggle out from under her
"Huh?" Akane tilted her head and backed off.
Based on their size and voices they were clearly kids.
"That's right you better back off!" The spiked one boasted. "Otherwise you're in for a world of hurt from Masaru Daimon!"
"Don't aggravate her!" The long furred one said.
"What are you two kids doing here?" Akane asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" The long furred one said. "We came here to hide from that scary guy with the fox."
"We didn't know this place was occupied," the spike furred one said.
"Eh it's big enough for two kittens," Akane said.
"Well actually it's not just us," the long furred cat explained. "We brought a bunch of other kids from the meadow with us."
"Fine," Akane said. "Just keep them out of this room."
"Thank you," the long furred cat said. "We promise."
"Why should we have to listen to an adult?" The spike furred cat asked.
"Masaru, shut up!" The long furred cat hissed at him before turning back to Akane with a smile. "Thank you for your hospitality, we'll get out of your hair now."
"Good," Akane said before mumbling, "weirdos."
She didn't know why, but something about the two cats' youthful spirit reminded her of something. Although what exactly she was reminded of she couldn't place. It was probably something from an extremely long time ago even before she met Nekomaru and the others. Whatever it was, just vaguely remembering it made her feel happy yet also sad.
…
Days passed, as she continued to lay on Nekomaru's armor. Every day now she could hear kids running around and playing in the shrine. Sometimes she heard them crying then one of the two cats from before would comfort them. She could've been annoyed by the noise, yet she found it strangely comforting. If it was dead quiet like before then it'd remind her too much of that cell. That cramped space completely cut off from the world except for when the white coats came for her. Had she not been able to talk to Nekomaru through the vents, there was no doubt she would have gone insane. Without his encouragement she wouldn't have formed her armor to protect herself from the white coat's cuts.
"Excuse me," a familiar little voice interrupted her memory.
Akane opened her eyes to see the long furred cat standing before her. Over at the entrance Masaru was standing with a bunch of cats and birds.
"What do you want?" Akane growled.
"The other kids were wondering what your name was," the long furred cat explained. "My name is Kotoko."
"It's leave me alone," Akane snarled.
"Please tell me your real name," Kotoko begged. "If you don't the other kids are gonna come up and bother you about it."
"Fine," Akane sighed. "It's Akane, now go away!"
"Okay," Kotoko said. "But… can I ask… who that lion you're laying ontop of is?"
"His name was Nekomaru, the strongest man alive," Akane said.
"Really?" Kotoko asked. "How strong was he?"
"Stronger than you and even me," Akane said. "Even though he was born with a weak heart he fought like hell to keep living. You couldn't even tell he had a weak heart he looked and acted so strong."
"Wow," Kotoko said
"How did he get so strong?" Masaru came up and asked.
"Well he trained everyday since he was ten, ate a bunch of healthy food, and never gave up on his routine," Akane said. "But he didn't just make himself strong, he made others strong by coaching them."
"Who?" Kotoko asked.
"Uh let's see, there's me but he also trained some sports teams I think and even my other friends who weren't even athletes," Akane explained. "It didn't really matter what you wanted to get better at, he'd train and support you!"
"Even if you wanted to be an actor?" Kotoko asked.
"Sure, he'd probably make you repeat your lines over and over again and have a good drink for your throat afterwards." Akane explained. "Before that he'd do a bunch of research on it so he knows what he's doing."
"So cool," Kotoko said.
"What did he look like?" One of the bird kids asked after coming closer.
"Oh well uh… he was big like an ox," Akane scratched her head, "and ugh short black hair and orange eyes that looked like they were electric."
"No wonder he was a lion," Masaru said. "He was super strong but also loyal to his friends just like the king of the jungle."
"Yeah, I guess that's right," Akane smiled.
"Does that mean you were his queen?" Kotoko asked.
"What?! No no," Akane shook her head embarrassedly. "We were just really close pals, like teammates."
"Aw," Kotoko said disappointedly.
"Why do you always have to bring romance into things?" Masaru asked. "It's gross."
"You're gross!" Kotoko huffed.
"Not as gross as two people kissing, yuck," Masaru said, making Akane and the other kids laugh.
Those constant stream of questions, the excitement over their littlest details, bickering, the laughter, it finally made her remember. She had siblings once. Many, each with their own personality, like, and dislike she memorized to take care of them. Back then she was their only protector against the cruel, deadly, and unjust world they lived in. Now these kids before her were in a similar situation with no guardians to look after them.
"Akane?" Kotoko asked. "What's wrong?"
"Ugh it's nothing," Akane shook her head.
"Sorry we disturbed you again," Kotoko said. "We'll go."
"Wait, I mean I can already hear you guys all the time downstairs, so you guys playing around in here wouldn't be too different," Akane said.
"You mean we can come in here whenever we want and you won't get mad at us?" Masaru asked.
"Sure," Akane said.
"Thank you Akane," Kotoko smiled.
"No big deal kid," Akane said.
"If we can stay, can you tell us more about the great Nekomaru?" One of the other kids asked.
"Sure," Akane smiled
…
Time suddenly moved by faster for Akane as each day she spent with the kids. She continued to tell stories of the great Nekomaru, but soon they wanted to know a lot more about her. So she told them as much as she could remember much to their glee. Pretty soon she found herself playing with the kids as well, chasing them around the shrine, playing hide and seek, and letting them crawl around on her like a jungle gym. Some days she was so busy playing with the kids she forgot all about Nekomaru's death and her longing to see him. Before she realized it, she had become these lost kid's guardian.
It seemed like they could stay this way forever, but over the years the cracks began to reveal themselves. The kids who cried and longed for their parents the most slowly devolved into more animalistic behavior. As much as Akane, Kotoko, and Masaru tried to help, there was just nothing they could really do to prevent the most vulnerable kids from turning. Eventually Akane just accepted it since at least they were still alive just in a different way. Thinking of it that way, she was able to carry on caring for the kids no problem. Fortunately, Kotoko and Masaru showed no signs of devolving, she wondered why.
"Hey, Kotoko, Masaru," Akane spoke up one day, "how come you two don't cry or miss your parents like the others?"
"Crying is for girls," Masaru said one to get a glare from Kotoko.
"I think it's cause we cried it all out in the past," Kotoko explained. "Our parents were both demons that hurt us so we just learned not to care about them at all."
"How were they demons?" Akane asked.
"Well…," Kotoko tucked her tail around her back leg. "My mom forced me to let a bunch of old guys touch me for money."
"That's normal though," Akane said.
"What?! No it's not!" Kotoko hissed. "A good parent would never let anybody touch their kid like that."
"Huh, guess I didn't have a good mom either," Akane said. "Can't really remember but I think yeah she brought a lot of guys home."
"That's disgusting!" Kotoko hissed. "Adults are the worst."
"Hey, relax," Masaru ran over and looked her in the eyes. "It's all in the past, and we're not helpless kids anymore."
"You're right," Kotoko breathed. "Still I just get so mad. Like what did we do to deserve such awful parents. Why couldn't they be loving like the other kid's parents?"
"It just is the way it is," Akane spoke up. "No matter how you're born you just gotta live with it or you're as good as dead."
"But it's not fair!" Kotoko yelled.
"Life ain't fair," Akane said. "But we learn to survive."
"I guess that's why we haven't turned," Kotoko said. "Because even though it hurts to live like this, it's better than when were humans living with our parents, the Junko, and then Monica."
"Junko," Akane growled, hit by a small feeling of dejavu.
"You know her?" Kotoko asked.
"Possibly, it's fuzzy," Akane said.
"It's better you don't," Masaru said. "She was really bad."
"Yeah you're probably right," Akane said. "But I'll let ya know, I would fight anyone for you kids."
"Really?" Kotoko asked.
"Yeah!" Akane said. "If anyone tries to touch you, I'll rip their hands off cause I know you don't like to be touched."
"Thanks," Kotoko smiled.
"Now," Akane said before getting up and stretching, "lets go play with the other kids and have some fun."
"Yeah!" Masaru leapt onto her back.
"Okay," Kotoko smiled and also leapt onto her back.
"Hold on tight," Akane grinned before bolting forward out of the room and to the other kids.
…
One day Akane laid under the dead tree in the main room of the shrine. Kotoko laid beside her while Masaru tugged and nipped at the mighty lion's tail. Now the two cats were the only kids that hadn't devolved and fused together. Suddenly, Akane's ears pricked up at the sound of screaming. Instinctively, she leapt to her feet to investigate. Kotoko and Masaru, also hearing the screams, quickly rushed to her side.
"What's going on?!" Kotoko asked.
"I'm not sure," Akane said. "Stay here, I'll check it out."
"But what if the thing that made the kids scream, comes up and kills us?" Kotoko asked.
"I can take em!" Masaru said.
"Yeah, you two stay close," Akane said. "If we run in to trouble I want you to run and hide."
"But-," Masaru complained.
"Do what I tell ya!" Akane snarled.
"Okay," Masaru fearfully nodded and leapt onto her back.
"I hope it's nothing bad," Kotoko said, also leaping onto Akane's back.
Swiftly Akane ran through the shrine, down into the basement. There she could hear a scarily familiar pair of voices along with two others she didn't recognize. Her body froze.
"Akane?" Masaru asked. "What's up?"
"It's nothing," Akane said.
Based on the sounds she could tell the other kids were already dead and gone. The direction of the sound of the group indicated they were heading to the secret altar room. There she could stop them.
"Alright kids," Akane breathed."I know where they're going. I'm going to stop them once and for all."
"We'll help!" Masaru said.
"No!" Akane snapped at him. "You and Kotoko are staying here. If something happens, run and hide."
"But-," Kotoko spoke up.
"I know you two are strong enough to survive and protect each other without me," Akane said. "Don't worry though, I can fight those guys easy."
Before either of them could argue, Akane ran ahead.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Akane roared as she slammed through the floor and down into the secret altar.
Landing on all fours, Akane stared down at the intruders. Some blonde girl and skeleton, but most importantly the other Hajime and his white fox companion.
"You," Akane glared and snarled at the man who killed her best friend. "I'm going to tear you apart limb from limb!"
The other Hajime raised his sword making her prepare for an attack. Suddenly, Kotoko and Masaru leapt down from the hole in the ceiling. They landed on all fours and charged at the other Hajime.
"Leave our big sis alone!" Masaru yelled.
"Masaru! Kotoko!" Akane reached out her paw.
In the blink of an eye, both kids were fatally slashed. Kotoko cute by the blonde woman's strange claws and Masaru by the other Hajime's sword. A miniscule amount of blood shot out from their wounds as they dropped to the floor motionless.
"No…," Akane said.
"We're… Sorry…" Kotoko tried to speak until she faded away alongside Masaru.
Akane froze, the other Hajime pointed his sword at her. No he wasn't just other Hajime. He was an absolute monster down to his core. The one that shattered what little hope she claimed in this confusing new world order. Images of Nekomaru, Kotoko, Masaru, and the kids flashed rapid fire in her mind. All of them slaughtered by one monster.
"RAWWWWWGHHHHHHH!!!" Akane roared in pure rage.
Blinded by rage, Akane charged the closest person. The blonde ran at her and slid under her stone covered torso trying to scratch it only to barely make a dent. Once the blonde got out from under her, she used her tail as a whip only to miss. The skeleton glided towards the blonde. Before she swatted it down, she heard the monster yell.
"Hey focus on me ugly!" The monster shouted as he lightly slashed her exposed front leg.
Snarling, Akane tried to swipe at the monster with her stone paw. Suddenly she felt her hind leg turn stiff like it was frozen. Then she felt a pair of claws cut it off. She roared and shook in pain, remembering the white coats doing a similar amputation one her. Even if she only had three legs, she refused to fall over and die to the monster. Flicking the skeleton and blonde away with her tail, she charged the monster. The fox she had completely forgotten about ran around her and pulled onto her tail, somehow managing to to flip her over onto her back. More pieces of her armor broke off from the impact. She desperately tried to pick herself up and manage to flip onto her side.
Then the monster stabbed her in the back of her head.
Pain unlike any other filled her head and moved through her body. She heard the blood shoot out from the back of her head followed by a cold numbness. Before she could apply pressure to her wound, the numbness forced her to collapse. The monster walked out from behind her head and stared down at her. He looked utterly disgusted by her as he raised his sword and stabbed her exposed forehead. Fortunately she was too numb to feel it. Blood streamed down into her left eye, her breaths became far more shallow. There was no doubt she was going to die very soon. If she had to die, then she would take the monster down with her. Thinking of Nekomaru, Kotoko, Masaru, and the kids, she gritted her fangs and summoned all her remaining strength to lunge forward and sink her fangs into the monster. The blonde noticed and pushed the monster out of the way taking on the full pain of Akane's anger fueled bite. It wasn't the monster, but then she realized killing his close companion might make him suffer like she had when he killed Nekomaru.For one brief and victorious moment, she held her prey up with her fangs as an offering to all her dead family.
Then it was over.
