A few more chapters after this one. I can't wait to finish this first season. Please enjoy this chapter.

-Malik Syv

Chapter 16: Beasts with Different Faces

"I wonder… How did things turn out like this?" Haru wondered. The lions that towered over her spoke to each other right in front of her but the noise from their mouths did not reach her ears. Only that singular question repeating itself over and over and over again. No answer came to mind for her. No comfort came from the question's existence.

"Hey! Can't you hear me?" Sony snapped his fingers. "We're telling you to strip so we can make sure you're pure white. So hurry up." Haru only looked back at the lion with empty eyes. Sony lost his patience and snatched Haru by her ears. "Are these ears just for show? I told you to strip."

"What are you doing? You're here to keep watch, not touch the rabbit unless necessary."

"The Boss ain't here, Ibuki. As far as I'm concerned she's-" A knife flew past Sony's face, stabbing the door behind him.

"Ibuki is second in command. While he is here then you do as he says." Dolph said. Sony reluctantly placed Haru back onto the ground.

"Damn Dolph, you've got one helluva arm!" Free complimented as he walked over to retrieve the knife. "You're gonna have to teach me how to throw like you."

"In due time." Haru sat on the ground, watching the scene unfold. The lions were totally calm, like she wasn't even there.

"I'm going to die." Haru caught the attention of the lions.

"Yes that is how it works isn't it? Carnivores used to eat herbivores back in the old days. Even now the same can be said. Times haven't really changed. Right, Boss?" Ibuki said as Nikushi entered from the door behind Haru. Her eyes became the depths of fear itself as the old lion who walked past her.

"There's a hole in the door? Why is that?" Nikushi asked.

"I threw a knife to stop Sony from getting too handsy. I ask your forgiveness, Boss." Dolph bowed his head.

"Raise your head. You have no need to apologize if you were protecting what is mine. As for you Sony, since you want to touch what is not yours, you'll be on night watch around the base. You'll be taking Agata's place. Please go and inform him."

"... Yes sir." Sony held his tongue as he left.

"The rest of you have prepared the bath, correct?" The three lions nodded. "Good. Please enjoy your time tonight."

"Don't gotta say it twice Boss!" Free said with a smirk as he left with Ibuki and Dolph. Nikushi turned his attention to Haru.

"I am not a lion of violence. I'd like to present myself as a beast who's been soaked in his beliefs. A beast who's lived a long life soaked in blood. I've lost allies, killed enemies and I've been betrayed by so many. However, with my life nearing its end I need to extend its longevity. You will be a part of that. Your white fur, its purity, will bless you with further life." Nikushi's soft voice spoke warm words with cold meaning. "I want to see your spotless fur. Take off all of your clothes." Haru looked up at the lion, frozen. He knelt down in front of her. "I will not ask again." Haru slowly removed her clothing. Thousands of times she's removed her clothing for several reasons. To bathe, to sleep, to change, to have sex. However, to be eaten, was a reason she never thought of. Nikushi inspected every aspect of her body. His hands were delicate as he moved each of her limbs around. Haru's heart pumped faster, pushing her blood to do the same. Her body trembled with each touch, each ogle.

"I've seen all I need." Nikushi wiped his mouth. "Excuse my manners. It seems I lost control of my hunger for a moment. Behind me there is a room with a bath. Bathe yourself in it for thirty minutes. Your time begins when you open that door, not a second sooner." Haru slowly got to her feet, walking over to a door behind the couch Nikushi sat upon. She pushed the door open to reveal a bathtub that smelled of flowers.

"Your time begins now." Haru shakily entered the bath. The shivers all over her body refused to fade even with the warmth of the water.

"Do you two understand the plan?" Bill and Legoshi. "Good, the two of you follow my lead. Do exactly what I tell you."

"...Okay." Legoshi responded shakily.

"You alright?" The wolf nodded at his friend. "How much longer are we gonna wait Doc? The girl could be getting eaten right now."

"No, Nikushi is particular about how he eats his meals. Especially nowadays. Those three cars left about fifteen minutes ago, so your friend should still be getting prepared."

"How do you know that?" Bill asked.

"I've been around the block a few times believe it or not. Focus up, we're about to go in." Legoshi and Bill braced themselves as they stepped from their cover into the cold rain. They entered through the Shishigumi's front entrance. Gravel crunched under their shoes as they walked toward a red bridge. Their hearts were beating in their ears as they reached the start of the bridge. Crossing it meant no turning back, even so, Legoshi took the first step forward.

"That's far enough." A lion with red glasses, an umbrella and a pistol stood on the bridge. "A tiger and wolf? That's pretty odd. I didn't think I would ever see that. Listen tiger, I get you're a subspecies of us lions, but you don't have to hang out with a slobbering mutt." The two boys silently held their hands up. "So what are you boys doing here anyway? This ain't no place for a field trip."

"We were just in the neighborhood looking for some meat." Bill said.

"I ain't no fool."

"Listen this is all just a misunderstanding why don't we leave and you forget you ever saw us." Sony shook his head.

"Not gonna happen. Honestly I'm not a fan of wolves or animals who hangout with them. I'm an old fashioned guy, you know? One less dog or dog lover in the world makes me feel a lot better, but seeing as you're both young I'll let you say your final words. I promise to remember them." Legoshi sniffed the air, catching a familiar scent.

"I want to say that I'm a fan of pandas." Sony gave the wolf a confused look as a chill crawled up his spine. It was not a chill from the rain, but a presence he had not felt in a long while. The barrel of his pistol ignited only to hit nothing. Gohin smacked the gun from Sony's hand into the water beneath them and quickly placed him into a choke hold. Sony clawed at the doctor's arms to to avail, his strength was fading.

"Gah- Gohin! We… had… a deal!" Sony choked out those words.

"Don't you understand? The deal's off." Gohin dropped the lion's unconscious body on the bridge. "So you're a fan of pandas, huh?"

"Just a little bit." Legoshi said.

"Both of you straighten up. Excluding the boss there's nine other lions here. This one right here should be the only one who had a gun, the others one are new, so they will be unarmed or have some sort of knife on them at worst. Bill, you and I make a way for Legoshi to get into their base. Legshi, Nikushi will be on the top floor. Get there as soon as you can, understand?" The nine lions showed up right as Gohin finished his instruction. The two boys felt their hearts beating in their ears louder than before and yet a twinge of excitement began boiling up inside them as well. Their instincts began to silently speak in both their minds. Legoshi's was particularly potent whilst Bill's remained somewhat in check.

"Let's go!" The two boys followed Gohin's lead. The panda took down two gangsters easily, Bill engaged another and Legoshi ran forward into the six others guarding the staircase to the entrance.

"Kill them." That impulse rang in the wolf's mind, freezing him in his tracks. Before he could control the urge inside him, a punch knocked him back to the present situation. He quickly recovered and stepped back up to a safe distance. He countered a strike from a different gangster with a punch to the throat, but two kicks countered him. Legoshi staggered backwards as an uppercut put him on his back. He recovered to see a wall of lions appeared right in front of him, ready to beat him to death. These lions were not just a band of criminals. They were trained to work as a pride when it came to fighting. If one fell, two others would take their place and Legoshi would not be able to handle even two lions at once given his current state. The fear of his instincts and death held him back, at this rate he was going to die.

"You're weak, so I'll take this chance to show our strength." A black mass appeared beside Legoshi, emptying the red of its eyes into his. The boost of strength flowed throughout Legoshi's body and he moved. The training he'd done showed itself, each coordinated attack done by the lions were futile in the face of the beast. He dispatched three within a few moments, the beast's body only grew faster and stronger. A smile sprawled across his face. The violence, the dominance. They were the mark of a true predator, a true carnivore. However, this moment of euphoria did not last long. The beast's assault stopped as it held its head in agony.

"Why are you fighting against me?! We are showing them our true strength!"

"You aren't me!" The beast screamed as the red eyes vanished and Legoshi returned. He took a moment to breathe but an attack soon came his way. However, Gohin stopped the attack and followed up accordingly, knocking the lion back. The panda then punched Legoshi with a good amount of his strength.

"If you want to save that girl then get your head outta your ass!" Gohin reprimanded the wolf who rubbed his head. "This is what you wanted isn't it?! Control that beast!" Legoshi's ears perked up at those words. He got to his feet in spite of another impulse surging through his mind. Gohin stood against the six young lions. He easily combated all of them without a hitch or fault in his technique. None of them posed even the slightest bit of a challenge to the veteran fighter. If anything he toyed with his opponents whose once effective formation fell to pieces within mere moments. Legoshi looked to Bill who was still fighting his battle. The tiger had sustained a black eye, yet his spirit stood strong as did his body. His teacher and friend who did not even start this rescue mission fought harder than he did. Time was ticking and they had given him the perfect opening. Legoshi ignored the voice in his mind and sprinted towards the pagoda's entrance, Gohin cleared a way for him. He shot his student with a look of faith which pushed the wolf to move faster.

"Are you prepared?" Haru shuddered without answering. "Good. Your fear makes your meat much more tender."

"Fear… makes my meat tender?" Haru's mind found the words Louis told her so long ago. "Never let fear chain your freedom, always fight no matter what." Haru felt a breath of life return to her body and she moved to kick the cane from under Nikushi. At least that was what she wanted to do, instead she stayed glued to the spot. Nikushi smirked one last time before opening his mouth wide. Haru closed her eyes and thought of her family. The runt is always the weakest, the first to die in the old days. Now would be no different. The runt slowly closed her eyes.

"Maybe things will be better on the side?" Haru waited for the cold embrace of death. It did not come. A yelp of pain and a loud crack of bone filled her ears. She opened her eyes to see a gray wolf standing in front of her.

"Are you okay?" Legoshi held his back to the girl behind him.

"Wh-why?"

"...Because I won't lose anyone else." Nikushi stood to his feet and wiped his mouth.

"I'm going to gnaw on your bones." The wolf shivered at those words.

"Let's gnaw at his first." Legoshi shook his head to the whisper in his ear.

"I'm leaving here alive." Tem flashed in the wolf's mind, he would not allow another friend to be devoured again. The wolf and lion bare their fangs at one another, ready to fight.