A/N: This Chapter? All Yamcha.

Enjoy!

The Werewolf Inside

Everything was pitch dark and soundless; it was so dark in fact, that he couldn't even see his hands when he held them up to his face. Then again, did he even have a physical form where he was? Was he dead? No, that can't be because last he remembered, Snake Way was rather on the Brightside. Perhaps he was in Hell? No, that can't be either, as Goku had told him he had fallen down by accident and that it was-what he said- more colorful than he thought it'd be.

So if it's neither of those things, then where the hell was he? The last thing he could recall was that he felt a gut-wrenching shock blazing throughout his body, every hair from all of his pours standing erect as he grasped the halt of Kogu's sword. It was one of, if not the worse pain he had ever felt in his entire life; his death by the Saibamen nor Dr. Gero's chest piercing attack where nowhere near as bad as this, and that was saying a lot since the first experience had killed him while the latter nearly had him bleeding to death.

You are in the Void of the Chosen.

The booming voice startled Yamcha, as did the hundreds upon hundreds of images that materialized before his eyes…or more surrounded him seeing as how no matter what direction he turned to, he saw more. The images, which looked like monitor screens, consisted of living beings that were not of this world, their appearance ranging from weird fish and bug creatures to rock and lanky beasts that honestly he couldn't categorize with any of the living things on Earth. One thing did stand out to him though, and that was that all of these creatures were wielding Kogu's Sword. What is all this? I guess I can try to get some answers from the voice I heard…

"The Void of the Chosen?!" He repeated. "Where is that and why am I here!?"

Do you see all the images surrounding you?

Yamcha rolled his eyes. "Kinda of hard to miss don't you think?"

If the former bandit didn't know any better, he swore he heard a slight chuckle from the voice.

Those creatures or as you humans say, "aliens", were Chosen one's that had once wielded Alastor, but had ultimately died do to mistreatment of the sword.

"Alastor..." Yamcha murmured, likely the sword's given name. "Surprised it has a name. Out of curiosity, who forged it?

Yamcha blinked when vivid images of a young man with pale skin and a deep red mohawk came into view.

A mighty righteous warrior that goes by the name Tapion. Originally he was just a young man who forged weapons for a living. That all changed when his home planet, Konats, fell into great jeopardy by a malicious wizard named Hoi, who through the use of pure dark magic had created a demon, Hirudegarn.

Yamcha cringed when he saw a humongous goldish-yellow and brown insect-like creature roaring in front of him, blasting beams after beams of energy from its large razor sharp maw.

The beast was gargantuan, easily crushing dozens' of buildings with just merely one of his foot, killing thousands of soldiers and innocent people. The Hirudegarn war is what they called it, as all of Konat's special forces had gone to battle with the demon, only to get slaughter before they could even ready an attack. Then, when the population was reduced close to extinction, Tapion, who was an in training swordsman, took a stand. Of course, it was stupid as with a swipe of the monster's clawed hand, the boy was sent in a collision course towards the ground.

However, to everyone's surprise, the boy had special abilities such as flight and energy based attacks, so he was able to stop mid-flight. It was most shocking because the people of Konats had never seen powers of that nature before. Unfortunately, his second attempt at battle with Hirudegarn not only ended up in failure, but also put him in a coma that lasted for a few days.

The former bandit couldn't help but be impressed at the young man's strength. In one particular scene, he had witnessed the warrior slam into the monster's scaly stomach, making it stagger back, though you'd have to really focus to see it. Sadness filled his eyes when he saw the broken form of Tapion. He looked so fragile and small, so unlike the brave warrior that had been fighting the demon.

"Why did this evil wizard decide to wreak havoc on their planet in the first place?" he asked the voice.

Hoi was a being from the planet Kashvar. The people of that planet have had an ongoing feud for about fifteen years; you see, the Kashvarsian wanted to migrate with the Konatsian because their own planet was dying. At first, the Konatsian had welcomed them with open arms, but when they found out that the Kashvarsian enjoyed toying with dark magic they immediately changed their mind, wanting nothing to do with them; and for good reason since their constant experimentation with dark magic is what caused the plant's core to succumb to a poison so powerful, that the planet would decay entirely within less than fifteen years. With just five months remaining, desperation took over the minds of the Kashvarsian, so they acted rashly and foolishly used magic on this untested beast of a subject that had been made by Hoi, so that they could take the planet by force. Hoi was the most corrupted of them all and also the most powerful wizard they had. Once their monstrous weapon was pumped with one of the darkest magic known, it came alive. It went out of control, killing everyone who had helped create such a creature…well all except Hoi.

More scenes flash before him, showing Konatsians arguing with the ever persistent Kashvarsians, berating them for their constant use of dark magic. The last image was of Hirudegarn's first awakening and it losing control, murdering all its creators except Hoi.

To stop the demon from accelerating the planet's inevitable demise, Hoi had managed to conjure a small metallic box and cast a spell on Hirudegarn, sealing the beast in the box. Knowing that he had only moments before the beast would break the seal and regain its freedom, Hoi used his magic to teleport himself to planet Konats and the instant his foot touched the ground, Hirudegarn exploded from its prison.

Fast forwarding three days later, Tapion was up for another bout with Hirudegarn, the only difference was that he was now equipped with Alastor, which he had been a project weapon that he had been working on for months. Bidding his people farewell, as he believed they wouldn't be seeing him again, he stopped when he saw the old village wizard, Yuusha. Unlike Hoi, he was a wielder of pure white magic.

Yamcha held back a laugh. The old wizard looked strikingly like Master Roshi, except he was rocking a hardcore red mohawk and a strange white wooden cane. I wouldn't be surprised if he's as much as a pervert as him too…

The former bandit groaned as he saw this Yuusha fellow grope a woman's bottom before he engaged in a brief conversation with Tapion. He snorted when he saw the young man fist the back of the old coot's head, causing a large pulsing lump to appear there.

"Why are you showing me this scene?"

I can only show you the memories of both Tapion and Hoi. I can project a third person view of them as well, so as long as either both or one of them is within the image. Yuusha was present here which is why his eccentric antics were shown.

To continue, Yuusha had blocked Tapion's path to inform him that he had seen the future and that if he went out and fought the demon again, he'd die and so would all of their people, including the planet. He had explained to him that Hirudegarn was too powerful to be tamed, even for Hoi. Hoi would die by the demon's hand when he tries to reseal it and the Kashvarsian and their planet would perish four months later, making the race extinct.

Despite Yuusha's warning, he demanded him to step aside, saying that he didn't believe him and that he would prove him wrong. The wizard nodded with a smile and held out his hand. He asked Tapion for his sword, saying that if he was going to go through with this, he would use the remainder of his magic to strengthen the sword to its fullest potential; the only catch was that in order to fully strengthen the sword, he'd have to use all the magic he had within him at once. At his old age, that would obviously end his life.

Tapion was torn. Yuusha had raised him as a child when his parents pasted at a young age and to witness him give his life away to increase the strength of a sword that might prove to be useless in the battle would break him. When Tapion heard screaming outside, which indicated that the demon had returned to the city, the wizard acted quickly, pulled out Tapion's sword and mumbled a series of words. By the time the young warrior caught on, it was too late. Yuusha's form had lit up and burst into specks of energy that had rained all over Alastor, infusing with it.

Tapion didn't have the time to grieve. He whispered a small thanks to Yuusha, promising that his death would not be in vain. Stepping outside, Tapion heaved Alastor high into the air, making it release a thunderous roar when a bolt of lightning crashed into its peak. Hirudegarn, having likely heard and felt Alastor's power, rushed towards the wielder and thus the final bout began.

Yamcha was amazing at the battle that took place. It was vastly different than the previous two short fights, if you can even call it that, that Tapion had with the uncontrollable beast. His moves were lighting fast yet smooth and elegant. It was like he had just gotten years' worth of training the moment he touched the sword. After what appeared to be a long gruesome battle that was summarized into only less than a few minutes, Tapion was standing over Hirudegarn carcass, which was disintegrating at a rapid pace. Hoi was then seen running to his demon's decaying form, grasping the dirt as if it would bring it back to life.

Yamcha took note on the fact that the voice had stopped talking and had apparently decided to let him watch what remained of the tale. Just then, it was like the volume was unmuted because no longer were the images silent.

"It's over Hoi. Get off my planet and never return again!" Tapion spat, kicking the wicked Kashvarsian from the dust that was once Hirudegarn.

"B-but my people need another planet to move to or else we will all face extinction!" Hoi cried out, crawling back to Tapion's feet and pathetically bowing to him.

Konatsian angrily responded by kicking him yet again, this time harder. "Go find another!"

"This planet is the only habitable one known other than ours! Who knows how long it would take to find other planets that you can breathe in! Four months is all we have-"

"I don't care!" Tapion shouted, wedging Alastor between Hoi's feet, making him yelp in fear. "If we let you all migrate here, this planet will end up just like yours! I won't let that happen! You Kashvarsian are all scum, especially you!"

"I'm telling you I swear we won't-"

Unbeknownst to Tapion, their argument had been a ruse, just a distraction for Hoi to conjure two last going away present.

Getting tired of the fruitless bickering, Tapion griped his sword tightly, decided that if Hoi wasn't going to leave, he was going to have him join Hirudegarn in Hell; too bad fate had different plans.

The moment that Tapion grabbed Alastor, Hoi latched his hand on the side of the sword, sliding his palm down it, causing his blood to escape from his wound and coat Alastor; The effects where immediate. The Konatsian's body fell into a state of total paralysis. As he watched a deep crimson color consume the blade of the sword, excluding the halt, his eyes shifted towards Hoi, who wore a weak victorious smirk.

"Wh-what did y-you do?!" He stuttered out, trying to break free from whatever spell was cast on him.

Hoi laughed lowly at first, but that soon changed into a full belly manically laughter.

"Tell me what you did!"

"Hehehe! In less than twenty seconds, not only will you and I will switch bodies, but my old body will be imprisoned within your precious sword forever! Hehehehe! Hahahaha!"

"No! You're lying!" Tapion said, feeling dread crawling all over his skin.

"Fifteen seconds!" Hoi sang joyfully. "And once I have your body, I will personally slaughter everyone you love and care about, along with the rest of the Konatsian trash on this planet. My people will move here and my race shall live on! Ten seconds!"

It was when their bodies started to glow that Tapion finally believed that Hoi wasn't lying. It just six seconds, he was going to lose his body. All his people were going to get massacred by the very two hands that were meant to protect them.

He failed Yuusha

"Four! Three!"

He failed them all.

"Two! One!"

I'm sorry…

Yamcha jumped in surprised when all the monitors disappeared, leaving him in the dark again.

That's when he put two and two together.

"You're Tapion aren't you?" He asked, his voice filled with sympathy.

Tapion laughed, his voice a far cry from that of the young warrior's. But that's a given, seeing as how he was still in the body of the old evil wizard...whose body is trapped within the sword forever.

"What happened after?"

It is… all unclear. Once I was imprisoned, I was left in pure darkness for a very long time. It could have been days, months or even years, going perhaps past centuries. It wasn't until people started to wield Alastor that I began to 'see' again. All the people that you saw before I began my tale were ones that had wielded Alastor.

"Oh…wait…why wasn't what's his face…OH! Kogu here?"

Because he's not dead…yet.

Yamcha suddenly felt alarmed. "Yet?! What do you mean yet? You say that like every person who has held this sword has died!"

They have.

"Ah! Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have listened to that woman!"

But I don't think you will. For some reason, I feel like you are unlike the others that had wielded Alastor, as you have yet to block out my presences from your mind. In fact, I'm most certain that if you stay in the path of righteousness, listen and follow all the rules I've set to fully utilize Alastor to its utmost potential, you will not only remain alive and sane, but always have me by your side.

Now then, before I give you control of Alastor, you must know that even though my mind and soul reside within Hoi's body, I'm still a being of absolute positive energy. However, my positive energy alone is not able to compete with Hoi's dark magic; you saw that before he imprisoned me inside Alastor, he had polluted it with his malicious magic. That magic still roams here which means that a white magic wielder needs to be present in order to have balance in the Void of the Chosen.

Yamcha's snapped his fingers. "The perverted old man!"

A sigh reverberated loudly. I really wish you wouldn't call him that. I know he was a…strange man, but he did raise me well until I was mature enough to be on my own. And yes, his sacrifice is what bestowed me with the strength to defeat Hirudegarn. His magic had also prevented me from being consumed by Hoi's curse.

Yamcha suddenly paused, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. "Tapion? Just exactly how much time has passed? If what you said was true, that you basically can't tell the length of time that has passed while in here, then the battle with Bojack could have finished! My friends could all be dead and-"

Fret not Chosen one. Recall that I had specifically informed you that the first person that had gotten ahold of Alastor had inadvertently aided me to regain my sight, thus giving me the ability to see beyond my prison. Time works differently here; a minute in here is just seconds out there. Right at this moment, your soul is inside Alastor while your body remains precisely where it was…awkwardly bent in a fetal positon.

Yamcha laughed forcefully. "What's happening out there?"

I can see that the current wielder of Alastor-

"Current? I thought I was now-"

Not yet. You must accept me and Alastor as your servant first and then we can bond with you, making you the new owner of Alastor.

"Servant? I'm not Kami Tapion. I'd rather offer you my friendship." Yamcha said, smiling.

Friendship…

A long silence followed, so long in fact that the former bandit began to worry that he shouldn't have said what he said.

"Tapion?"

…

"Tapion!"

My Apologize Chosen One-

"Please call me Yamcha. My friends don't usually call me 'chosen one'" Yamcha said, sarcastically.

As you wish, Yamcha. Did he actually snap back? I must send you back earlier then I had wanted to. The one known as Zangya is in critical condition and needs to be helped immediately.

The former bandit snorted. "Why should I care? You've probably been tagging along with Kogu long enough to know that she is no better than the others. I'm sure she has some kind of selfish reason as to why she is betraying her comrades."

Are you certain of that? Wasn't she the one that had urged you to grab ahold of Alastor? Yes, she might have selfish reasons for rebelling against Bojack, but right now, she is putting her life on the line, just so you could attain more power than you can ever imagine. Trust me, as your friend, that there is more to Zangya than meets the eye.

"Oh great, just made a new friend and he's alright pulling the friend card."

Tapion laughed, truly feeling joy for the first time in who knows how long.

"One more question before you send me back…Hoi, do you have any idea what happened to him and how he lost Alastor? He wasn't in the slideshow of past wielders."

No…but I do hope he was stopped. An evil being such as him shouldn't be left to roam about, causing havoc to the innocent.

Are you ready?

"I'm ready!"

Oh, a fair warning that as soon as your soul is returned to your body, you will feel a sharp pain travel through you. I mean a lightning bolt is going to strike you.

"Wait! what?!"

Farewell, friend Yamcha…

Yamcha blacked out.

DBZDBZDBZDBZxxxxxSPECIALxxxxDBZDBZDBZDBZ

A soundless scream flew from her mouth as Kogu slammed on top of her midsection, the furious Hera-seijin then proceeding to repeatedly collide his thick fists against her face, making it blotch and swell up, ruining the beauty of it. Her head whipped left to right with every strike that made contact with her, the hulking Kogu enjoying the crimson fluid that splashed and spitted from her bruised lips.

"I won't stop until you beg for me to release you!" Kogu's deep voice said, not letting up his brutal assault even while speaking.

"G-Go to H-h-hell!" Zangya amazing managed to gurgle out, the rapid amount of blood accumulating in her throating starting to drown her.

This didn't settle well with Kogu. "Stubborn as always huh? I'm not surprised, I mean Master Bojack only allows who he thinks is best to join our crew! However, in my personal opinion, the Master made a major mistake with you. I knew you couldn't be trusted from the moment we met you! You weren't like the rest of us! We were born to be space pirates, elite warriors!"

Miraculously, Zangya somehow was able to cough out the wades of blood that was blocking her oxygen entry way, Kogu growling with annoyance when the fluid smeared against his green face; he frowned with disgust as a silver of the female Hera-seijin's blood had slipped inside his mouth.

This only made him punch her harder, making her consciousness slip from her that much faster. Her world was spinning, her assailant become nothing more than a smudge, her ears barely able to pick up on the evil laughter that echoed through it.

Kogu grinned with triumph when he saw tears rising from her lower eye lids; whether it was from emotional or physical pain he doesn't know nor does he care. Tears are tears to him and the mere fact that he was the one that had caused her to produce them excited him.

"You are still that poor street brat the Master found on Planet Hera-seijin!" He shouted.

Relenting his pounding, he smashed his palm against her battered features, pushing it into the ground so roughly, that Zangya actually began to scream, but to Kogu's disappointment, it was only brief as she quickly suppressed it back form where it came.

"Hahaha! I can feel it! You are so close to cracking!"

Too bad that was far from the truth. Zangya had suffered worst beatings from Bojack than this. However, the difference between Bojack's beating and the one she was getting now was that Kogu was really trying to kill her. And honestly, if something miracle didn't happen soon-

That's when both the Hera-seijins heard a thunderous bolt of lightning rip through the sky, followed by a bestial howl of a wolf.

Kogu instantly turned around, scanning for the source of the animalistic cry. Zangya could have taken this chance to thrust her former comrade from her person, but she was much to hurt to move.

Kogu's broad form leaned forward, shadowing Zangya when he felt long sharp claws swipe against his bare back, making him scream. Another set of claws came next, this one tearing across the left. Growling with anger and confusion, Kogu removed himself from Zangya's stomach, whipped around to see-

"No…" The space pirate gasped, taking a couple steps back.

Zangya's busted lips lifted into a tiny smile, her half lidded eyes drooping closed as her head rolled to the side. Please defeat him, help free me from himshe thought, her mind in a delirious state from the inflicted injuries.

Yellow wolf-like eyes stared into Kogu's soul, sending fear down his spine. His long dark hair, which was tied in a ponytail, had broken free from its confines and shifted to a sliver-white hue. It danced radiantly in the air, each strand spread apart and highlighted in bright blue as was the rest of his body. Kogu almost fell when he noticed what looked like a luminescent ghost of a beast hovering behind Yamcha, its claws bathed, dripping and glistening with his own blood. And then the final nail on the coffin was seeing the sword being held by someone other than himself.

Watching Yamcha gritting his teeth while struggling to keep his hold on the sword's halt, he unknowingly had taken another step back when the pointed end was aimed towards him. White lightning twirled and weaved all over the sword, taking Kogu back to when he first synchronized with it…except it looked different. Usually, the user is surrounded in a crimson aura, just like his predecessor was; he knew this because his comrades had told him personally while they trained, but only when he actually drew power from the sword. The red color hadn't been present during their whole fight because he felt that it would have been ridiculous, completely unnecessary to bother wasting energy on such a weak being.

But why should he care about the appearance of this human? That sword has all his rapidly depleting power, so he had to get it back, even if it was the last thing he did.

With a mighty yell, Kogu exploded, releasing all the strength he had stored within him, which wasn't much at this point. He had long stopped training because his sword had done that for him. All he had to do was basically…well nothing and he grew in strength just like he would if he called one of his comrades out for a training session; Master Bojack would not stand to have a weak person as a solider on his team.

Now at his maximum, the beefed Hera-seijin broken into a run, the Earth shaking with every step he took. Arriving in front of him, he threw back his fist before launching it forwards, aiming to punch the sword from him, but just as he connected with it a violent shock coursed through him, stunning him. His yellow orbs shining with mirth, Yamcha gave a fanged grin and jumped back, his feet touching the ground momentarily as he then vanished from Kogu's sight.

Sensing the former bandit behind him, he spun towards his direction, but found that he was gone. From the back came Yamcha, his foot extended and ready for a strike. However, instead of scoring a hit, he phased through him, surprising Kogu when he saw his foe landing with his back facing him, his former sword imbedded into the ground.

A venomous howl rung into his ears, his back suddenly feeling like a flog laced with white hot flames had been slapped against him, tearing through his skin.

Kogu held back the pain filled scream that was begging to be released, the translucent bestial being that had manifested behind Yamcha having been the culprit of the attack. Watching it return to shadowing the former bandit, he squeezed his hands tightly in anger, trying to comprehend what the hell that thing is.

Then it disappeared, Yamcha's altered appearance going with it.

Kogu grinned.

DBZDBZDBZDBZxxxxxSPECIALxxxxDBZDBZDBZDBZ

Yamcha cocked his head in confusion, not understanding what he did wrong. Looking at Alastor wedge into the ground, he nearly slapped his forehead when he put together that by relinquishing his hold on the sword, he'd lose all the power it granted him with.

Imagine his shock when he grabbed ahold of Alastor and received no power at all. "Huh? Okay, maybe I have to lift it up."

Doing just that, he was let down again. "The hell?!"

Slowly eyeing Kogu, he gulped when he saw the biggest and nastiest grin he's given him all day plastered on his face.

"Well, well, well! Looks like the tables have turned again, back to how it should be!" Not letting the opportunity go to waste, he cupped his hands together in front of him and began to charge up a large orange energy ball.

"Damn it! What happened?! I have the sword in my hands and I'm still normal and as weak as I was before!"

Once fully synchronized with Alastor, you will not lose its power even if you don't have it in hand. And when I say you, I mean specifically you. You are fully synched with Alastor, while the others were only partially.

"I don't have time for another story Tapion! If I don't do something now, I'm going to die! Now what the hell did I do wrong?! Everything was going great less than a minute ago!" Yamcha shouted, his palms starting to sweat do to the anxiety he was feeling as he watched Kogu's ball of ki increase in size.

You know, you can speak by using your mind and I will still hear you.

Stop being a smart ass and help me!

Quite simple really. At the beginning of the fight, you wanted to protect Zangya. But suddenly, you just disregarded her, wanting to defeat Kogu and journey back to your friends to aid them.

The energy ball grew bigger.

Yamcha, wanting to protect someone you care about so much that it becomes a need is what activates Alastor's white magic power. On the contrary, wanting to commit deeds such as hurting and killing the innocent, wanting vengeance and revenge to the point that evil becomes a need is what brings out its dark magic.

What do I need to do! I'm running out of time!

I've told you, want the need to protect.

And I do. I wan-need to protect my friends! By defeating this brute, I'll inadvertently save Zangya.

Your friends are fine. Protect her Yamcha. Being synchronized with you lets me feel what you are feeling. And no, I will only do it when necessary, so rest assured that I won't be invading your privacy.

Okay, I care! But that doesn't mean I have feelings for her!

I'm sure you know that you can care about someone platonically.

But I can't make myself want or need to protect someone!

Tapion actually had the audacity to laugh in a moment such as this, where his life is on the line.

Chop-chop Chosen One, the faster you learn how too, the faster you can reactivate Alastor's power.

Yamcha didn't know how, but he knew if he called out to Tapion he wouldn't get a response.

"Time to die!" Kogu cried out, firing the huge energy ball that would surely kill Yamcha if it made contact with him.

Yamcha wiped the sweat seeping from his pours, his dark orbs fretfully switching from the closing in killer energy ball and Zangya, who laid sprawl on the earth soil. She looked so small and weak, a complete contrast to the beautiful yet fearsome woman that had trapped him by twisting his arm behind his back.

How can I truly let myself care about someone that had most likely done more atrocious things in their life than can be counted? She's probably killed thousands, perhaps without remorse. It doesn't matter that she did such actions for survival purposes, to live another day and buy her more time to find a way to rebel against Bojack. But shouldn't I anyways? Look at Vegeta and what he had done under Frieza's ruling. It wasn't any different. From the little of what Goku and Bulma told me, it's the exact same, wasn't it?

Please defeat him, help free me from him…

Yamcha's orbs widened, flickering yellow as Kogu's energy ball crashed into him.

Kogu jaw dropped when he heard a familiar howling sound reverberate through one ear and out the other. A bolt of white lightning struck his ki ball, making it burst harmlessly in the sky. The Hera-seijin groaned weakly and fell from the sky, his energy now too depleted to maintain flight. The moment he touched the ground, he felt something grab his throat and hoist him up in the air. Forcing his squinting eyes open, he saw the blue beast giving him a dark fanged grin, its large clawed hand crushing his throat with so much strength that it crushed his windpipe completely. Reeling its other hand back, it threw it forwards, penetrating Kogu's stomach. The beast howled victoriously, a disturbing wolfish grin appearing on its face as it admired the blood leaking from its limp prey.

That's when its blue color warped into a malicious red.

From the sky came Yamcha, with his sword raised into the air and his eyes bloodshot and shining with mirth at the corpse of his opponent. Alastor's dark magic was as clear as day, its wielder plummeting down until the sword connected with the top of Kogu's head. Yamcha felt bone resistance as he tore through his skull, most likely to not having gotten enough momentum when he dropped from the sky; he ignited his red aura to slice through him like a hot knife through butter until he landed on the terrain, the dissected form of Kogu flopping down in opposite directions.

"H-hey a-ass-wipe, calm yourself…he's dead…"

The effect her voice had on him was instant. Lifting his head revealed that his eyes were dark again and so was his hair. Finally, as he spotted Zangya swaying drunkenly towards him, the transparent beast, which resembled the upper body of a werewolf, vanished. Yamcha jammed the sword into the ground to make room for the collapsing female Hera-seijin.

"Y-yo-you'd become no better than him…and m-me if continue to kill like that…" She mumbled, nesting comfortably within the former bandit's arms. He almost dropped her when he felt her slender hand trace his left cheek. "Douchebag…"

Though he blushed at her out of the blue affectionate behavior (he ignored the insult), he was concerned about her. Her turquoise orbs were glazed over and unfocused, probably meaning that she had a concussion. Damn that bastard.

I had a feeling you were going to lose control in this fight.

Then why didn't you help me?

I can't help you with everything or else you wouldn't learn from your mistakes. There is much I have to teach you Yamcha, but that will have to wait. You must go and aid your friends. I feel the worse has yet to come.

"Yamcha." He said, gently grasping and placing her hand down. "My name is Yamcha."

"Yamcha…" She echoed, her face scrunching up thoughtfully. She then snorted. "Nah, I think asshole suits you better…"

Placing her down briefly, he made his way back to the dissected body of Kogu to retrieve his scabbard. He gaged with revulsion at what he had done, but nevertheless reached out and pulled the sheath from his corpse. Heading back to Zangya, it saddened him to see her staring off space, her disarrayed hair whipping to and fro from the cool blowing wind.

See-

Don't say it.

I told you, you care about her.

Shut up.

A/N: This chapter with the whole Tapion stuff almost killed me, so I seriously hope its a good tale...and that I hadn't already mentioned him in this story so far. I know I did in my spin-off, "Bound to Another Time", but here? Not sure. If I did, pretend that that was another Tapion ^_^;

Now, to my inspiration for this chapter.

Considering my profile image, I hope it isn't hard to tell that I'm a Devil May Cry fan (Whoo hoo for DMC5 in March 2019!) lol

1. Alastor was a sword that Dante wielded in DMC1.

2. Nero's DMC4 devil trigger inspired the beast shadowing behind Yamcha (alternately, character Unknown from Tekken Tag 1 had a werewolf-like monster shadowing her back.)

Well, that's it!

I'll make sure to look for more grammar/spelling/typo issues later on.

Later!

(Posted: 9/2/18)

~Gater~