Author's note: The last piece of fan art I commissioned is up on dokuga and on my deviantart page. I wanted to commission more because I had plenty more scenes to illustrate but I am paying for an MBA program so I have to be a bit thrifty. Perhaps after I finish my MBA program I will commission some more.

Chapter 46 Kouga versus Wei: Round Two

Initially ascendant over the forces of Wei, Kouga saw their forward drive stall before the second wall, as Wei, in all his incarnations, put up a hellish resistance to halt their advance. Wei's bodies were significantly less powerful than what Kouga had faced before, but they would not stay down. Ripping a head off meant very little when it would grow back after a few moments.

This isn't as far in as I wanted, but we are running out of time so it will just have to do. Kouga let out an ear splitting howl that dipped low and then rose in a specific pattern. We need to take that second line. Now.

Kouga was about to repeat the signal to bring in the second wave when he saw Sesshoumaru breaking off. Following Sesshoumaru's flight path to one of the upper levels, he immediately saw the strategic situation was about to shift against his pack as samurai attired Weis began to recapture the upper levels. Blood thundered in Kouga's veins as he saw Wei tear through his comrades with flames on one side and blades and spears on the other.

When Wei and Sesshoumaru engaged, Kouga froze for just a moment as their blades screamed against one another in a shower of sparks. The strength of their blows was enough to be audible across the entirety of the fortress even over the ferocious sound of battle.

As that Wei and Sesshoumaru raged against each other, Kouga spotted another one leap atop the wall-walk behind Sesshoumaru, just as he pulled a section of wall out to defend against the first Wei.

"The hell with that," Kouga said aloud and charged forward to assist Sesshoumaru. His progress was hindered by some of the lesser versions of Wei and he ended up on the wall just in time to hear Wei taunting Sesshoumaru and launching another fusillade of hungry flames at him.

As the flames leaped out at his ally, Kouga seized Wei's sword arm, crushing the armor encasing the bicep and ripped off the arm to send it flying into the night before Wei could do more than singe Sesshoumaru.

"I got this one," Kouga called out as he quickly flipped his Wei over and performed a pile driver off the wall-walk onto the ground below. Wei's head split open like a putrid crimson flower blossoming in a nightmare garden. Knowing that would not kill his opponent, Kouga grabbed Wei by the legs and spun him around and smashed him into and through the thick walls of the armory with a terrific crash.

A burst of pain exploded in Kouga's face as Wei's headless body used its remaining arm to deliver a solid right cross to his jaw. Kouga flung Wei to the opposite side of the room as the other arm, now reformed, started reaching for him.

"That was just blind luck you know," Wei said as he got up off the ground. His mouth apparently had no trouble working, even though the rest of his head was still regenerating. "I had no idea if I would hit you. Since I killed you earlier, the Tensaiga must be the reason you are here before me now. I am guessing Sesshoumaru must have felt you were worth the trouble to resurrect."

"Well congratulations you jackass," Kouga said, while rubbing his jaw and grabbing a shield off the wall. "But there are no prizes for winning guesses."

Wei laughed savagely. "How wrong you are. The prize is seeing this island and all its vile, treacherous, barbarous inhabitants eradicated."

"Let me tell you a secret Wei," Kouga said, as he feinted left and then spun around to bash his shield repeatedly into Wei's hateful face with a loud crunching sound. "There has only been one woman I've ever loved. I can't be with her, but I'd die if it would keep her safe."

Wei's bloody and mangled face smiled at Kouga hideously as he deflected one of the shield blows into a wall and delivered a knee to Kouga's stomach with sufficient force to nearly shatter his armor and break the wolf prince's ribs. Grabbing Kouga's hair, Wei twisted the youkai's face around and drove his thumb deep into Kouga's right eye, ruining it and causing Kouga to nearly pass out, as agony exploded from the socket.

"That is just so touching, I may just keep you alive so I can gang rape her in front of you." Wei sneered as he ripped out the eye with a soft sucking sound and a spray of red. "You won't need two eyes for that though."

Blood boiled in Kouga's veins and the pain exploding in his chest and face disappeared in an instant as rage filled him. Pistoning his arm forward faster than could be seen, Wei didn't even have time to react as Kouga's claws punched through his armored torso and seized hold of Wei's spine, twisting it and ripping out several vertebrae with a loud snap. Wei's legs consequently collapsed beneath him as the nerve signals failed to connect and he fell to his knees.

"I PROMISE YOU WEI," Kouga growled viciously, as he lifted Wei above his head and tore him in half in a shower of blood. "THAT SIMPLY ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN!"