Firestorm – Flame of Recca After War

War of the Ancient World

In the few moments that the assassin staggered, Kaoru carried Miyu away from danger. No time for pleasantries. Kaoru quickly returned next to the attacker. They stared at each other, sizing up the skills the other carries. There was a long pause… and another clash.

Episode 8 – Moral Choices

The attacker made his first move, driving his fist towards Kaoru. The Oni is vital in enhancing one's hand to hand combat capabilities. Without it activated, the bearer is nothing more than a human being. Any unsuspecting foe careless enough to hit the bearer thrice is up for a surprise. There are many instances where wounded animals are the most dangerous. When Oni transforms a man to a demon, the overall physical capabilities are multiplied exponentially. Kaoru quickly avoided the attack and unleashed a counter attack of his own. Gripping the now stretched arm of his foe, Kaoru used it as a leverage to land another kick to the face. As soon as his kick hits, he used it as another leverage to pull himself away. Jumping back on his feet, he surveyed the damage.

"He doesn't look like he's hurt at all."

In the third Urabutou Satsujin, Kaoru remembered being among the crowd watching the match between Recca and Kukkai. When Kukkai turned into the demon, he quickly dismantled Recca. If Kukkai really wanted to win back then, Recca would've been torn to pieces in a matter of seconds.

Kaoru suddenly felt the wind change behind him. He's fast! His attacker's arm sliced horizontally from the back, targeting the soft muscles of the neck. Instinctively, Kaoru ducked. Would he be a split second late, the battle would've been over. Kaoru sends his feet unto the chin the second time, again using the force of the kick to push himself back. "Distance is the key. If I get hit even once, I'm in trouble."

Miyu was still clenching her throat. With the crushing hands of the enemy, she nurses on what's left of her damaged neck. Every moment that passes added upkeep to her breathing. As she gasped for air, she could hear the battle rage between Kaoru and the enemy. Kaoru continued to land blows, all of which appears to have little effect. "At this rate, he's just waiting for me to exhaust myself." Think.

Kurei found himself walking away from a great assembly. As he clutched the Eikai Gyoku, a shadowy image of a city was emanating from the ball. He had just attended the final meeting of the army he is serving under. "Two days…" he murmured, now holding the madougu close to her face. "In two days, the Hokage will fight for their last stand." Kurei now understands that what comes ahead will be an all out war. The fall of Hokage village was half of the story. The other half, he has yet to participate. As he takes his time walking along the halls of their stronghold, he studied the soldiers spending the night in the quadrangle. it was beyond his mathematical capability to count. "An entire army against a small village?" Kurei couldn't help to nod his head. "When Nobunaga destroyed the Hokage village, he had an army about this size."

Kurei paused for a while. Inhaling deeply, and whispered, "this is overkill."

Kaoru staggered on his feet, now clutching his shoulder. He can feel himself beginning to slow down as exhaustion creeps in. Kaoru attempted to avoid a fist thrown unto him. Unable to dodge it completely, he used his shoulder as a shield. As Miyu still struggled from her crushed throat, she knew for a fact that the tables are favoring the enemy. She moved her head around, looking for the Kougan Anki she dropped. Apparently, Kaoru hadn't notice the weapon. The tall blades of grass obstructed the view, and with his face permanently screwed to look above because of height difference, that which could have summarized the battle remains hidden. It wasn't long before the weapon and the eye connected. Miyu crawled towards the Adamantine Blade. "Hang in there, Kaoru."

The battle grows more intense. Kaoru who was once on the offensive has slowed down considerably. The attacker is fully aware of the fatigue and is using it as a leverage. He slammed both his feet to the ground, causing rocks to fly out from the epicenter. Smoke begins to build. Kaoru was momentarily stunned by the size of the impact. Almost instinctively, he used both arms to cover the gathering dust. It was however, an opening that his attacker was hoping for. From the clouded smokescreen, a hand emerged, grabbing Kaoru's right arm and pulling him into the fog.

Kaoru's eyes grew wide. "No…"

His attacker answered with a huge grin in his face. "Now it's my turn to return the favor of your blows."

From the chaos, Miyu could hear several body shots echoing from within the still foggy wreck. Her hand now in range of the abandoned blade.

Kaoru crashed to the ground, face first, breathing heavily after a beating. He struggled to get up as he pushed himself from the ground. For a moment, he coughed a mouthful of blood. Flashbacks from Recca's fight with Kukkai began flowing through his mind.

Recca was bloodied. His body is devastated with the beating. Still, Recca found a way to stand on his feet, refusing to accept defeat. Kaoru recalled Recca releasing Homura to turn the tides. With one shot, that which seemed hopeless was reversed. Kaoru realized that his position is nowhere near Recca's. Recca has untapped powers. He is had nothing but a normal human body. Is there no way for me to stop this guy?

"So that's about it." Mocked the attacker. He grabbed Kaoru and wrapped his arms around him. A bear hug. "All your efforts to save those important to you will come to a close tonight." The attacker tightened the grip, and Kaoru screamed in pain.

Present day…

2:13 AM. "THAT dream again…" Raiha turned on the lights. He looked pale and was sweating. "What on earth is happening?" Neon was laying on the other side of the bed. Raiha had never told Neon about his weird dreams lately. Yet he knows there was something that is upsetting the balance of the world. Raiha took his sword and teleported away.

Kaoru is beginning to lose his breath. Still in the grips of the brute, his small body is racked in pain. Numbness begins to creep in. In a short while, he knows he'll pass out.

From behind, Miyu speared the Kougan Anki to the back of the attacker. For the first time, he felt pain. Blood begins to dash down his injured back. He dropped Kaoru to the ground and like a wounded animal, rampaged to where Miyu was struggling to keep herself standing. Kaoru was half conscious. His body was still numb to the pain, and he could hardly move. At the very least, he could only stare. As he looked at the monster turning away, he saw the blade still pierced into the wounded back.

Kougan Anki!

Kaoru struggled to get up. His will was strong, yet his body resigns. Come on… get up! The distance was closing in. Miyu is in danger and Kaoru didn't have much time. In moments where seconds are crucial, these are the times men wished time was on their side.

"I won't make it…" Kaoru thought in his mind as he pushes himself up with all that's left of his strength. "Noooooooo!" Kaoru shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping to lure the animal away from Miyu.

No response. The attacker was keen on taking a life. Miyu would be the first. Miyu was motionless, waiting for the end to draw itself close. Poised to strike, the attacker had his fist aimed at Miyu's face. One shot, and it would crush her skull. "DIE!"

From inside the house, a sudden flash of lightning came forth. It was aimed at the attacker. Just before his fist lands on Miyu's face, the bolts of lightning blew him away. There was a massive crash. Everyone's eyes are now fixed at the source of the attack.

Raiha had the Raijin on his right hand.

"What power…" Kaoru looked at Raiha in utter surprise. He was now had one knee up and the other bent. His body beginning to recover from the numbness. "For a kid that young… no wonder he was the strongest of the Jyushinshuu."

For the first time in his life, Kaoru had seen Raijin in action. No wonder why it would take a Fuujin to seal it. Such destructive force can only be subdued by something that equals its power.

From the cloud of dust that remains, the attacker was back on his feet. His eyes now on Raiha. "How dare you shoot me!" He rampaged with all his strength to Raiha.

Kaoru is watching closely. If he could marshal the last strength of his body, he could grab the Kougan Anki. The battle can still be salvaged. At the moment the attacker went past him and runs towards Raiha, Kaoru quickly jumped to the back of the attacker. With accuracy, he caught the handle of the adamantine blade.

The attacker paused. Realizing the danger he's in. He reached both arms to his back to remove the blade.

Too late.

His vision begins to blur. Blood. Abundant blood. His head is now detached. Kill or be killed. At a time when danger is what governs time, man fights for his life. 0.4 seconds is all that Kaoru needed to transform the Kougan Anki to the third form - Kyoku. With speed, he had to cut off the head. There are no more second chances. Should he fail, everyone else will die.

Kaoru released his grip from the blade. His body now completely wasted. "It's over." He thought. He dropped to the ground face up and closed his eyes. Rest… how much I long for it.

Killing is seen as wrong by many. Yet in truth, there are certain conditions where killing is a necessary recipe for the greater good. Some wars are established to orchestrate the killings. Others are made to stop it. Some lives have to be released from this world to stop further damages. That is why when government officials declare war on terrorism, they are in effect, spearheading a battle - conscious that some lives will be lost. Yet it is through these losses that the safety of the greater masses can be ensured. Man makes moral choices every day. Some of them are not popular, yet they had to be made. In a similar manner, God's Son had to die for the salvation of all men. Each man all make moral choices everyday. To save a life, there are instances where someone else has to pay with his.

3:46 A.M. Present Day

Raiha was standing at the abandoned city of SODOM. In a rare occasion of stress and panic, Raiha had his hands on his head. "Master Kurei… you've made a terrible, terrible mistake."

End of Episode 8.

Author's note: Please drop a review. Merry Christmas. :)