The translucent ‘orb’ barely lit the dark hotel room, hovering like a
mischievous fairy as it showed images of a redheaded swordsman in battle……

“Is that him, Brother?”

The orb hovered to the ground, dwarfing the children sitting there. “Hai,” 
The
boy said with a smile. “That is Himura Kenshin.”

His sister twirled a lock of white hair around her finger. “Not what I
expected, but I can see the resemblance, Torashin.”

*Resemblance wasn’t the word….* Torashin mused. He was a ten-year-old 
version
of the man, except his skin was coffee complexioned and his hair dark. His 
twin
Yunomura had the infamous golden eyes, leaning more toward their mother….. 
“And
you have the eyes, Yuno, just like Momma said.”

“Speaking of which, you better shut that off. Momma will be pissed if she 
found
out…..”

*No more pissed than she will be at your language, young lady.*

Yunomura winced at the telepathic scolding, Torashin chuckling as her pale 
skin
went even paler. “So much for not getting caught.”

*I suppose this was your idea, Torashin.* Her dry voice responded. *You need 
to
be well rested for tomorrow, children, after all you two play a big part.*

“I know, Momma….We just wanted to see him, that’s all.”

There was a sigh. *I know, children. I miss him too. But after tomorrow you
won’t need that to see him anymore. Your father will be free and you’ll 
finally
be together again. Now go back to sleep, Momma will be home shortly.*

“Hai, Momma.”

*I love you….Good night.*

Ashura waited until they were asleep to cut the mindlink, 
uncharacteristically
smiling warmly to herself.

Premium Spirit Productions Presents...
A Rurouni Kenshin/Ninja Scroll Crossover Darkness before Dawn. By Sentora

Rurouni Kenshin and all it’s characters belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki, The 
great
guys at Sony and Jump magazine, I’m just borrowing them for this crazy fic. 
The
new ones, however, belong to me…So ask nicely if you want to use them, Kay? 
^_^

Part 5: The answers you seek…..

*So quiet…..*

Kenshin sighed in frustration, sitting down on the steps of the Jamison 
house’s
small Dojo. *Listen to me, upset because war hasn’t broke out…..yet. Or
maybe…..* His eyes darkened at the thought. *Ashura’s not the threat I’m 
really
worried about…..*

He glanced up at the library window, where Karou was reading the new books
Merlin had brought from Avalon. *Karou would kill me if she knew if I was
hiding my feelings again….But I don’t even understand what I’m going
through…..What ‘we’ are going through…..*

“Kenshin?”

Tomoe’s soft voice shook him out of his thoughts, Kenshin looking up to see 
her
walk up to him….Mild surprise turning to amusement when he saw her. “I don’t
see what’s so funny….” She scowled at him, making him grin even more. “The 
baby
got me again and this is all they had in my size….”

Kenshin tried hard not to laugh out loud, especially with the threatening 
look
on her face, but seeing Tomoe in a western style, red plaid shirt tucked 
into
snug overalls was too much. “Gomenasai…..” He said sheepishly as she sat 
down
beside him.

“Hard to believe with that grin plastered on your face….” She snorted in 
mock
contempt, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Mou, even you’re picking on me.”

Kenshin chuckled. “You started it last night, remember? Are you deliberately
trying to corrupt Karou?”

Her only answer was an evil grin. Kenshin sweatdropped.

“I take it back, Looks like Karou’s corrupting you…..”

They both chuckled over that one, Kenshin feeling a little more at ease now,
which was Tomoe’s original intention. One of her ‘gifts’ was the ability to
sense emotions since they affected Ki, and she decided to put to a better 
use
than seeking prey…. “I did mean what I said, you are a good catch.” Kenshin
blushed as she placed her hand on his shoulder, their eyes locking. “We both
know it…..”

The lust for life-force returned full force at that moment, Tomoe realizing
what she was doing….putting Kenshin into a trance like her victims before
she….*No! I can’t….* She found herself drawing close to Kenshin…..His aura
seeming to draw her in as he eyes glowed and she reached for him. *I can’t 
stop
it…..*

Kenshin’s hands tightened on her wrist before she grabbed his neck. “Tomoe.”
His voice was calm but commanding….snapping her out of it. She turned away,
ashamed to look at him. “Look at me, Tomoe….” She did as he asked….

And immediately regretted it.

“Your eyes!”

“What’s wrong, Tomoe?” The feral, softly glowing amber eyes were a stark
contrast to his warm smile. “Don’t you recognize your former husband?”

Tomoe was speechless for a moment. There was no mistaking the change, right
down to his aura, which despite colored with the warmth of his feelings for
her, had the same cold lethalness the Battousai was known for. “What….Did I
do this….?” She knew of Kenshin’s dual nature, but she thought the 
succession
technique merged the two according to Ashura…..

He took her hand in his. “No….You aren’t doing this….not intentionally 
anyway.”

“Not intentionally……?”

“I mean it’s related to whatever made you speak in that different voice.” He
added. “It’s feels like the same dark energies of Ashura I feel around
you…..yet different. Whatever they are, they’re…changing me….as if 
something’s
awaking within me……” His eyes darkened. “Something different than the 
Battousai
or Rurouni….”

“….A remembered dream….”

“…..Of a life once shared forever over the centuries…..” Kenshin finished,
sounding as dreamy as Tomoe when she said the first line. The two blinked 
back
into reality, staring at each other in confusion. “See what I mean Tomoe?”
Kenshin said quietly, and when he opened his eyes again Tomoe noted that his
right eye was the clear violet of the Rurouni while the left was the
Battousai’s amber…..Just as he saw Tomoe’s eyes turn silver blue…..

Upstairs, Karou impatiently (But carefully, seeing that the book was older 
than
her great great grandfather and Merlin would turn her into a real Tanuki 
girl
if she ripped it.) turned the pages of the fifth huge book of   Merlin’s. 
*Mou!
Not a blasted thing on this Triseoul whatzit.* She yawned. *Not that even 
with
this instant translation spell he cast on me, I’m much of a bookworm….*

A ‘Murrrooooowwww’ interrupted her thoughts, Karou staring at the white cat
that had somehow gotten in the room….hopping down on one of Merlin’s open
books. “Shoo!” She swatted the cat, which hopped off in with an indignant
yowl and alighted itself on a bookshelf, hissing.

“Dumb cat.” Karou stuck her tongue at it and was about go back to her book 
when
she saw the page that the book was open to, something about a dragon and a
sword maker that caught her interest. “What’s this?” She brought the book 
into
the light. “When the world was young and dragons still roamed the heavens,
their king grew curious of the humans below and sent a young female to spend
time among them disguised as a human. She spent a hundred years among them,
watching them change over time and enjoying her time among them not aware 
that
she was slowly becoming more and more human herself….”

Above her the cat sat down and watched with unusual interest….

“…Until the day she fell in love with a handsome swordsmith and he with her.
Unable to lie to him any longer she revealed the truth. Fortunately, the
swordsmith did not shun her as she feared, but still loved her. With the
permission of her king they married and soon had a son, The young dragon 
living
in perfect bliss….Until one day the townspeople somehow learned of her true
identity and attempted to kill her out of fear….her husband and their son
killed in the resulting fire.”

Karou felt a stab of pity as she continued. “The young dragon went mad at 
the
loss of her child and her husband and destroyed the entire town in a 
rage….All
of humanity swearing revenge on her and she upon them. The bloody battle 
that
resulted ended when her husband, who was actually just badly wounded in the
collapsed house and unconscious for days, managed to find her and restore 
her
sanity. The young dragon, horrified by her actions begged her husband to 
kill
her since only he had the knowledge how. Instead, her husband somehow 
s
hersoul in two, taking part within himself and merging the other half 
within a
young woman at the battle with the hope that some day their reincarnations 
will
find each other due to the soul they shared…..” Karou felt her heart warm at
the ending, which was interrupted by a disturbing thought.

*Could this have something in common with the…..*

The cat landed on the book at the moment, starling her right out the chair.
“Why you….” She stopped suddenly as she got a good look at the cat’s too 
human
sneer….the hisses sounding like laughter…. *That’s…..No ordinary cat……*

“You got that right, little girl…..”

The ‘cat’ started to swell and stretch into something much bigger….very 
human
laughter….Ashura’s laughter…echoing in the room as Karou found herself 
staring
down what seemed to be a horrifying cross between a White tiger and a black
panther where the harmless white cat once sat…..Wickedly curved claws 
snapping
out of their sheath and bearing her fangs in a sinister grin. “Oyasumi, 
Karou
dono….”

Karou took a step back, darting a glance at her Bokken sitting by the side 
of
the desk….in reach of those nasty claws. “Go ahead.” She taunted, tapping it
with a claw. “Just know that whatever move you make, Mine will be faster….”

Karou glared back at Ashura for what seemed to be an eternity….then ducked 
and
kicked the bookshelf beside her just right enough to make it pitch
forward…..The surprised Ashura unable to react in time to avoid the 
avalanche
of books as Karou rolled and snatched the bokken just barely out of reach of
Ashura’s swipe before she was buried….Karou immediately climbing up another
bookshelf and flipping over the top as Ashura THREW the bookshelf off her 
and
across the room with a howl….

The horrendous crash was enough to snap Kenshin and Tomoe out of it, along 
with
the gunfire that erupted on the south part of the house. “Wha….”Kenshin’s 
now
violet eyes widened as he saw the bookshelf smash through the wall and 
almost
land on them, Tomoe pushing them both out of the way just in time as it
splintered on impact. “Karou!”

“That’s the least of your problems, young man…..”

Mother appeared out of nowhere to stand before them, her face even more 
hideous
by the malicious grin she wore. Tomoe’s eyes widened in shock and before
Kenshin could react she heaved him into the Dojo like a rag doll before 
leaping
after him, slamming the door and blocking it with a large chunk of wood.
“Orrroooo….”Kenshin shook of the dizziness as he stood up. “Who was that…..”

“That’s Mother! We can’t face her head on!”

Outside Mother’s grin widened, the rags covering the hump on her back 
falling
away as it starts twitching and pulsing wildly…..tearing and peeling open…..

“Mother is the descendant of the original Echidna, the Greek mother of
monsters! We’ll have to go around…..” A skittering sound interrupted 
her…..Both
slowly turning to see a FLOOD of black widow spiders scutter under the door 
and
inside the dojo….Kenshin and Tomoe backing up as most of them swarmed over 
the
door and eat through most of the door enough to allow IT in….a horrifying
crossbreed of a spider and various insects that defied description and was 
the
size of a horse…. “That’s Mother?!” Kenshin gasped.

“No…Just one of her offspring….” Tomoe turned and smashed the wall out with 
her
fist, Kenshin oroing in shock. “Get to Karou and the others! I’ll handle 
this!”

“Tomoe!”

“Just…..” She grabbed his gi and flung him out. “GO!” Seeing him land safely
outside and sprint off she turned back to the charging creature…..

On the south side of the house……

The thirty henchmen Ashura had hired as backup stormed the house to find an
unusual scene. The Jamison women and Yahiko sitting in the kitchen, calmly
drinking tea.

“And you said things were too quiet, Auntie…” Micheala said calmly as she
sipped her tea.

“Silly me.”

“Aww, only thirty of you gentlemen?” Grandma pouted. “I was hoping for 
more….”

The men grinned at each other. Four helpless women and a brat, too 
easy…..”I’m
sure we can entertain ya ladies…..”

“Guess they’d have to do.” Moshi said with a bored tone, despite the 
dangerous
glint in her eyes.

The smartest of the thugs started to get nervous. “Aintcha scared?”

“No.” Yahiko said as he drew his bokken

“But you should be…..” Usagi grinned as she held up a two-barreled shotgun
bigger than she was.

“Because we’re going to show you gentlemen…..” Micheala drew a Six-shooter 
and
a lever action, short barreled shotgun .

“How we Jamisons…..” Moshi cracked her knuckles.

“Welcome uninvited guests…..” Grandma unfolded her cane into a set of three
stick Nunchaku with an evil grin.

The men barely had time to ‘eep’ before all hell broke loose…..

Upstairs, it was a deadly game of hide and seek between Ashura and
Karou….Stalking each other in the he library…..

“Nice trick there, Karou dono….” Ashura sneered as she padded through the
shelves, her nose flaring and claws clicking out occasionally in barely
restrained bloodlust. “Much better than I expected really.”

“I’m flattered.” Karou crept quietly along the top of the bookshelves while
Ashura searched below, thankful for that the place was so huge. *No way I   
can
go toe to toe with her like that….Must outsmart her….*

Ashura chuckled. “You should be….It’s not often I’m impressed….but it’ll
pass….” *Got your scent….*

Karou waited until Ashura was below….tossing a book in the opposite
direction….*Oh please fall for it….*

Ashura’s eyes narrowed at the sound…..*Stupid girl…..* She started to walk 
off
in the direction of the noise…..

Before springing up the bookcase right at her like a train….

Karou was waiting however, Ashura’s fangs chomping down the bokken instead 
of
her neck as she fell back and heaved back….using the added momentum sling
Ashura into the bookcase top behind her as she fell back…. a sickening 
crunch
heard as Ashura folded in half over it….Karou kicking down two more of the
shelves down on top of them and barely getting out to avoid getting crushed 
by
the heavy shelves. *That should hold her…..*

It did….for five seconds…..

Ashura literally exploded from the pile right at her, Tackling her and 
snapping
at her throat….Karou blocking her with the Bokken but paying for it as 
Ashura
reared back and flung her with a twist of her neck into another bookshelf 
even
as Karou refused to let go….repeating the maneuver twice before letting the
Bokken go and rolled her across the library in a heap. Karou climbed to her
feet shakily, fighting the dizziness enough to face her down. “Is…THAT ALL 
YOU
GOT?!!!!” She screamed.

Ashura grinned. “So you’re not the weakling I thought you was. Good girl….” 
She
shifted to human form, still on all fours as she stretched like a cat.   The
fur shifted as well to form a loose fitting pair of Chinese style shirt   
and
pants, Excailbron’s hilt slithering around her. “You’ve earned the honor 
dying
by Excailbron, Karou dono. You should be thrilled.”

“Just shut up and fight.”

Ashura grinned…..And sprang at her with speed rivaling Kenshin’s….Bokken and
Demon sword meeting with a clash…..

Outside, Kenshin was on the roof in two leaps, sprinting toward the library.
“Karou!!! I’m…..”

Something flashed out of the darkness and caught him with a viscous punch,
Kenshin bouncing across the roof and almost off before grabbing onto the 
roof’s
edge….barely hauling himself up before a large foot smashed the roof where 
he
was a second ago…..The attacker CATCHING the sakaba as Kenshin slashed out,
Kenshin getting a glimpse of the man’s empty eye sockets before he got 
kicked
across the roof again. “Out of my way!” Kenshin sprang back at him on the
impact…slashing him across the neck….To no effect and just missing getting
stomped into paste as he rolled away to examine his opponent…. “Kill….” The 
man
spoke in monotone past torn and rotted lips that parted in a grin that 
revealed
broken and decaying teeth and gums and much to Kenshin’s disgust, worms
spilling out. “Kill….you…..”

“Kami-sama…..” Judging from the raggedly pair of overalls he wore and 
condition
of his skin, MISSING in places to reveal bone, and unhealed wounds that no 
man
could survive, the acid burthat took his eyes, Kenshin 
realized
this thing was of the undead….

Just like Tomoe…..

##

“You bastard…..”

Shannon wagged a finger at Megumi. “Now, now, fair’s fair. I just tricked 
you
first. No need to swear.”

Megumi growled in bad temper. *Mou, that’ll teach me to follow one of that
baka’s plans.* “I don’t suppose you’re just going to hand over Excailber, 
ne?”

Shannon grinned at Arain. 

Megumi hid her grin. *Not so clever after all. He hasn’t figured out Arain
yet…..or my ace in the hole.* She winked at Arain and patted Soujirou’s 
hand,
who looked more relieved….

Below….

“You’re better than I expected, Chickenface.” Silk sneered. “But then 
again…”
She callously stepped on a man’s chest, Sano wincing at the audible crunch 
of
his ribs and the man’s strangled scream. “This trash isn’t much to go by.”

Ten of the recovering men growled at that. “We’ll show you trash!” They 
yelled
as they lunged at her….Silk yawning before causally punting the first one 
high
above her….slamming down the same leg with such force on the second’s
collarbone he seemed to fold like a bloody accordion before kicking out and
crushing the throats of two more….catch and rip the fifth’s arm out of it’s
socket and use it to bash the sixth brain in while sidestepping and snapping
the neck of the seventh as he zoomed by…toss the arm into the crowd (Where 
it
landed in the lap of one of the rich women, all fainting as one.) to grab 
eight
and nine and smash their bodies together with a sickening crunch and
halfheartedly flung the boneless corpses across the room before standing 
before
Sano with a cocky grin and arms spread wide…..Snapping up her knee as she
caught and broke the back of her first victim without even looking and 
dropped
him as she made a curtsy. “See what I mean?”

Not a single one had touched her with fist or blood. And it was over in a
minute.

*Shit squared…..* Sano mused.

Silk tossed off her coat as she walked up to Sano, who could help but gawk. 
She
was intimidating enough with it on, but without it she seemed even more
huge….one of her biceps alone was the size of his head at least! “I see 
you’re
in awe of my incredible physique…..” She cackled.

“Actually…..” Sano grinned, glancing at her chest since he was now eye level
with it. “I’m surprised you actually have breasts….”

He just barely ducked the punch she hurled at him, the wind of it almost
knocking him down as the battle started full swing….

Back upstairs Shannon’s eyes widened in disbelief. Megumi groaned as she
slapped a hand over her face. “Your boyfriend’s ether got balls of brass or
brains of cow dung.”

“You have no idea…..” Megumi replied. “I could say the same for you for
thinking of doublecrossing that freak below.”

“Even a elephant can be stopped by a bullet, dear Kitsune.” He motioned to 
the
balconies, Megumi noticing the two riflemen waiting above. There were 
several
more in the audience and two more came to flank Shannon. “I thought I’d let 
her
have a little fun then shoot the winner. That freak upstairs will also be 
taken
care of.” He smiled fiendishly. “I will not give Excailber over to 
ANYONE…..Not
that witch, and certainly not to you.”

Megumi smiled coyly, reaching out to take his hand. “Where does that leave 
me?”

Shannon grinned.

Below it was an all out war….Silk not caring if the cheering crowd got in 
her
way of squashing Sano, who was dancing and weaving around the slower (Though
not by much! Sano yelped as she hammered the floor where he just was.) Silk,
landing a couple hits and darting back out of the way….never stopping and
frustrating the giant. *Chikuso! This sucks but I can’t go toe to toe with 
her
now! Especially with Megumi at risk!*

Silk suddenly lunged at him….Sano rolling under her legs and leaping up to 
land
a spin kick in the back of her head that stumbled her a bit before she 
whirled
and landed a good one in his chest…Sano flying across the room and bowling
right through the crowd in a heap….Silk somehow there a second later to grab
him by the legs and literally wrap him around one of the statues before
slamming him down and booting him across the room again….The crowd around a
banquet table fleeing to safety as Sano slammed into it and broke it. 
*That’s a
another good reason….* Sano winced as he counted five broken ribs, grabbing 
two
of the heavy silver serving plates as he saw Silk dropping toward him and
rolled out of the way of her stomp, boxing her ears with a clang and then
smashing them down on her head hard enough to DENT them.

She just rolled her eyes at him. A Chibi Sano staring in disbelief. “Try
again?” She snorted before grabbing him by the head and causally tossed him
behind her into the air and into another table, Sano skidding across it and
landing in a heap of food and tangled tablecloth….Silk stalking toward him
slowly and reaching out to grab him again when he suddenly flung a bottle of
wine in her face, quickly snapping the tablesheet around her head and neck 
as
he flipped over her and planted his feet hard in her back, an maneuver that
would of broken an normal man’s neck instantly but instead slowly choking
Silk…..Sano riding her like a bull as she thrashed and bellowed and ran over
the idiots in the crowd before Sano finally heaved back with all his 
strength
and slung Silk to the ground with a massive WHAM that lifted everybody on 
the
floor off their feet. Sano slammed her again once more with a yell…..Silk
grabbing the sheet and uppercutting Sano off his feet again   and into the 
wall
as she ripped off the sheet. “Much better….” She chuckled. “Even though 
you’re
still holding back….” Sano’s eyes narrowed. “That’s ok….Me too.” Silk 
lowered
her voice with a sneer. “After all this is just for fun. When we dance for 
real
later it will be at full strength, and I promise there WILL be a later…..”

Sano’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean later?! Tell me what you’re up 
to!!?”

“Make me….” Silk grinned, Sano charging…..

Above….

Soujirou tensed slightly, flashing a ready look at Arain, who winked. 
Shannon,
however, was too ‘distracted’ by Megumi. So were the two guards alongside
Shannon. “Well….I can think of something….” He said slyly. “After all, you 
and
I have a lot in common. Mentally speaking, of course.”

“Hai….” Megumi lied through her teeth, moving her hand up along his arm, a 
very
seductive light in her eyes. “Imagine all the treasures we can loot with our
combined resources…..”

“And your boyfriend?”

She smiled, stroking his cheek. Downstairs Sano happened to look up at that
moment, his eyes going wide with disbelief before Silk punched the hell out 
of
him. Megumi snorted. “He’s just brawn, nothing more…..”

Shannon’s grin went from smug to pained as he found a blade suddenly 
pricking
his throat, Megumi’s eyes glinting dangerously. The two guards were stunned 
for
a second before raising their guns….Soujirou already snapping his sword out 
of
his ‘walking stick’, blunt edges out, and knocked both out before they even
knew it. “….But he’s still smarter than you, Morgan-san.” She sneered. “No
sudden moves now, the poison on this blade is quite deadly.”

“This is a surprise….” Shannon made a show of cockiness. “But you forgot
something…..”

But Arain had already acted, teleporting right behind the first sniper and
taking him out with a vicious kick to the groin, her fairies freezing the 
other
soild. Shannon’s eyes bugged out. “I didn’t.” Megumi said calmly. “If you 
were
so smart you should of figured out Arain’s from Avalon….” Her grin turned
sinister. “And doesn’t like you very much….”

Shannon snorted despite shaking slightly with fear. “Hmph, a standoff then.
You’re trapped by all of my guards….” The men hidden in the audience had now
noticed what was up and were now leveling their guns at them and the 
fighters,
the crowd too busy cheering and gambling on the fight to notice. Soujirou 
and
Arain tensed, ready to move. “And if they shoot you I’m dead. Interesting, 
no?”

Megumi’s smile was scary to behold. “We’ll figure something out, won’t we?
Ether way, You should be more worried about the redhead……”

As if she heard, Arain fixed Shannon with a glarthat spoke volumes of t
torture planned for him.

Meanwhile, upstairs…..

The battle had extended into Shannon’s huge trophy room, Jubei, Shuriken and
Daisho showing no respect for the ancient artifacts within…Tapestries, 
statues,
literature and the like were ether used as weapons or simply destroyed as 
they
fought hammer and tongs…..

“Should of known you bastards would have been here!” Jubei snarled as 
Daisho’s
Katana whooshed over his head and sliced a old looking portrait of a smiling
lady….Locking swords with the grinning freak. “Who tipped you off?!”

“Fool. Who do you think gave that idiot the means of getting Excailber in 
the
first place?” Daisho sneered. “Looks like we get the bonus of your heads as
well as the sword….”

“As if you two idiots could even lift it!” Shuriken yelled as she clashed 
with
the frenzied smaller twin Shuriken to claw, the battle actually even and
destroying more property than Jubei and the bigger brother. Excailber sat 
right
in the middle of the room, in a replica of the original stone, waiting for
whoever got it first….

“You little…!” The twin snarled, and with a toe curlingly disgusting 
slurping
sound he snapped his tongue out like a frog, smashing off a statue head as
Shuriken ducked, snapping at her rapid fire at her dodging form and barely
missing……Shuriken ducking and grabbing the tongue to knot it around a
pillar….the twin screeching as the tongue rubberbanded him right into the
pillar HARD. “Excuse me!” Shuriken kicked him as she dashed by him and 
grabbed
the sword. “Jubei!”

The larger twin was drowning Jubei in a ornate fountain. “Right….behind 
you!”
He sputtered before kicking back to nail Daisho in the groin, carrying the 
hilt
while she struggled with the blade. “Mou! How can Arain lift this thing?!”

“That’s none of your concern anymore…..”

Daisho suddenly flung something at them, Jubei snapping it out of the air.

And freaked when he saw it was a lit stick of dynamite….

The situation was getting grave downstairs, Sano obviously dizzy from 
bloodloss
yet still standing face to face with Silk, who seemed unhurt save for a ugly
bruise on her neck, the fight degenerating to a brainless slugout that Sano 
was
obviously getting the worse….Megumi wincing at every punch Silk landed to 
his
two and the hammer striking meat sound it made….. “Whatever miracle you’re
expecting better happen now,” Shannon sneered. “I doubt ‘Souzou’ will last 
much
longer….”

The words were barely out of his mouth when the roof suddenly blew apart in 
a
rain of rubble, treasures and three warriors…..The crowd panicking out of 
the
way as Sano and Silk looked up in surprise….Sano leapfrogging over the 
stunned
Silk before he was buried right along with her….Everybody staring at the 
rubble
and the dazed Jubei, Shuriken and Daisho sprawled on top in shock for a 
tense
moment.

“M-M-My T-trophies…..” Shannon sobbed. Megumi smirked.

Arain hopped down onto the rubble as Excailber started to glow….her dress
changing to her battle gear as she slowly drew it from the ‘stone’ and held 
it
up with a battle cry as it flared blindingly for a brief moment…..Arain 
raising
it to point it at Shannon with glowing eyes.

“You……”

“Don’t just stand there you idiots! Kill them!”

The guests had finally wised up enough get the hell out of there, panicking 
as
the hidden guards drew their guns and more men piled in….

##

At the same time…..

“Good thing I’m killing Alexander as well,” Ashura taunted. “He’ll be pissed 
to
see what you’ve done to his library…..”

“What I did?!!!”

It seemed the library was getting the worse of the battle at the moment,
Shelves knocked or thrown over, books everywhere….Ashura and Karou still 
going
at it hammer and tongs although Ashura seemed to be holding back. “Just 
between
us girls, I honestly can’t see what Kenshin sees in you.” Ashura continued 
as
she parried an angry thrust at her face and snapped the hilt at Karou who
likewise countered barely. “You don’t have a fraction of Tomoe’s or my good
looks….You can’t cook to save your life and you don’t have a feminine bone 
in
your entire body…..” She grinned at Karou as they locked swords again. 
“Unless
you’re not as ‘innocent’ as you appear…..”

“You sound jealous!” Karou pushed her off and slashed at her throat, Ashura
causally sidestepping and bringing down Excailbron in a viscous
downstroke…..Just as Karou intended, the younger girl flipping back to 
barely
dodge and catch Ashura solidly in the chin with her feet and knock her back 
a
bit….The snakesaya lunging at her just as Karou landed on her feet, sinking
it’s fangs into her arm. Karou yelped and yanked it off….The poison already 
in
effect from the dizziness and the two Ashura nursing her jaw as the 
snakesaya
slithered back up her shirt. “Oh, it won’t kill you, Karou dono….” She 
sneered
as Karou swayed. “Just weaken you long enough for this!”

Ashura lunged and kicked her with such force Karou flipped into the 
air….using
both saya and sword to slash repeatedly at her as Karou fell back down, the
force of the slashes creating a vacuum that kept her airborne and helpless 
as
the attacks shredded her clothes and soon into her arms, back and 
legs…Ashura
laughing as Karou’s blood literally rained on her and stopped long enough to
kick her across into another bookshelf as she fell, Karou plopping to the 
floor
in a ravaged heap. “One of my favorite techniques…..” Ashura cackled. 
“Tamashii
no Shuukakusha: Crimson rain. Aptly named, ne?” Karou staggered to her feet,
cut in a dozen different places and a mess, but now clear headed thanks to 
the
pain. “Still strong enough to fight? Good girl…..”

Ashura gave her very little time to respond, clearing the distance between 
them
in her next breath in a dash and roll….Karou putting all her strength in her
blow only to watch her bokken SHATTER as Ashura intercepted with her fist 
and
returned with a powerful slash that would of cut her in two like the 
bookshelf
behind her if Karou hadn’t ducked….Karou lunging up in a jumping uppercut 
that
caught Ashura off guard and followed with a dropkick that knocked her off 
her
feet…Ashura grinning wildly as she rolled to her feet. “Fair’s fair…..” She
sheathed Excailbron and threw it aside. “Crushing you on your own level will 
be
more entertaining!”

“Shut up and fight!” Karou screamed as she charged…..

Outside….

Kenshin’s fight had left the rooftops and continued in the field and around 
the
house, (mainly cause he was thrown off….) the zombie relentlessly attacking 
him
despite near collapse from rot and Kenshin’s attacks… *Che! I’ve hit this 
thing
enough to kill a normal man!* Kenshin ducked a punch that knocked in the 
wall,
immediately rising in a Ryu sho sen that tore the creature’s arm 
off….getting
backhanded for his trouble through the smashed wall before he touched
ground….the creature picking up it’s torn off arm and simply reattaching it 
as
it walked toward him….

And was blown off it’s feet by gunfire.

“Kenshin!” Usagi lowered the smoking shotgun as Yahiko and the rest of 
Jamison
women piled in….stunned as they recognized the zombie. “Gregor!”

“Our former farmhand before he sold us out to Ashura.” Grandma explained. 
“Even
a scumbag like him doesn’t deserve that….”

“KILLLLLLLYYYYOOOOOUUUUUU!” Gregor charged…..

##

All hell broke loose.

“MISS SHURIKEN!!!!!”

Megumi didn’t know what was scarier…..seeing the normally calm Soujirou go
berserk at the sight of the surrounded Shuriken or the awe inspiring visage 
of
Arain surrounded by a swarm of fairies and eyes glowing pure white as she
raised Excailber parallel to her eyes like Saitou’s Gatasou….ether way the
carnage that followed was staggering. Pieces of guns, clubs and even men 
flew
through the air as the two ripsawed through the mob to get to their
goals….Shannon taking advantage of her shock to swat her hand away and 
lunge,
knocking them both out of the chair as he started to strangle her….

“Megumi!” Sano jumped up to help her….only to be grabbed by the foot and
slammed back down…A brusied and pissed off Silk rising out of the debris….

Soujirou reached Shuriken just as she was waking up…..With a still dazed 
Daisho
sthis Katana down toward heheart and only hitting debris as 
Soujirou
scooped her up in the same second….Jubei also rising to his feet at the same
time to smash his saya in the larger man’s throat….Daisho collapsing with a
groan. “Miss Shuriken!!” Soujirou shook her. “Are you ok?!”

“Will the two of you stop yelling…..” Shuriken grumbled, eyes spiraling….

Upstairs Shannon was on top of the struggling Megumi, forcing down all his
weight on her throat. “I’ll show you to threaten me you little….”

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Shannon made unrecognizable noise and his eyes rolled into his head as 
Megumi
kicked him repeatedly and viscously someplace very sensitive until he 
staggered
off her…..Megumi kicking him again while he was down. “What were you going 
to
show me?!”

Arain was to the stairs now, finishing off the last of the guards and 
stalking
toward Shannon. “He’s mine, Megumi….”

Shannon made a strangled cry and started scuttling backwards the best he
could…..

Sano couldn’t help but grin as he saw Megumi was safe, Silk fuming. “Pay
Attention!” She bellowed as she swung and missed Sano, getting a two hitter 
in
reply that she shrugged off. “It’ll take more than that!”

The words were no sooner out her mouth when a piano pushed by Soujirou,
Shuriken and Jubei slammed her into the wall hard enough to crater it.

“How’s that?” Shuriken yelled.

A second passed, and then Silk slowly lifted it off her and into the air,
hurling it at them and missing badly. “…..A roof….A piano…..” She chuckled
stupidly, actually dazed. “Takes more than…..”

She didn’t even get to finish before Sano swung one of the statues like a
baseball bat right into her chin, Silk flying through the wall and
outside….Everybody watching her tumble a good three feet before bowling over 
a
carriage. “Home Run, Sano….” Shuriken grinned as Sano slumped unto Jubei. 
They
looked at her blankly. “Never mind.”

The place was now deathly quiet save for Arain’s footsteps toward Shannon, 
who
looked petrified at the raw anger ablaze in her eyes. “I’ll give you 
anything
you want, just let me live!”

“You beg?” That seemed to piss her off even more, the air now freezing. 
Shannon
yelped. “You DARE TO BEG?!!! LIKE YOUR VICTIMS DID?!!!” Her grip tightened 
on
the hilt, her knuckles whitening. ‘YOU WANT MERCY AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO MY
MENTOR?!” Tears came to her eyes as she raised the sword. ‘TO ZAN?!!!” She
brought Excailber down as she shrieked the last…..

An inch from his face.

Shannon pissed himself. Megumi wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“No…” She lowered the blade, her voice pure ice. “Killing you now would
dishonor Avalon and Excailber. I can’t think of a better justice than to let
you rot here with everything you cherished gone, like you left us. 
Sayonara!”
She punucated the last with a devastating kick to his jaw, leaving him a
crumpled, sobbing heap as she walked down the stairs. Megumi however, stayed 
to
say one last thing before she joined Arain.

“If you don’t want to waste her generosity, Morgan-san, you better leave 
now….”
Daisho and Silk won’t be so kind.”

Arain wiped her eyes and smiled as the others walked up to her. “This may be
rude, but you look like shit, Sano.” She commented.

Sano grinned weakly. “You should…..See the other guy…..” The grin faded when 
he
saw the fury on Megumi’s face as she got a good look at him, her fist 
clenching
so tightly her knuckles were white. Before he could say anything in his 
defense
however, he passed out just as her fist rocked his jaw.

##

“Tamashii no Shuukakusha: HELL EMBRACE!”

Ashura’s arms turned eellike as she caught Karou in a crushing bearhug,
grinning as Karou screamed at the pain and the surge of electricity she 
added
to it. “Come on, girl! Is that really all you got?!”

Karou answered by wrapping her arms around Ashura tightly….yelling as she
planted her weight and heaved back at the same time to back drop slam Ashura
and knock the wind out of her, refusing to let go even though it burned her
arms to lift and slam her repeatedly until Ashura finally let go….Karou 
rolling
atop her and unloading on her with everything she had until she was finally
flung off….Ashura rolling backwards to a crouch and springing at Karou as 
the
younger girl landed on her feet to grapple again hand to hand and pushing 
her
back….Karou realizing her intention too late as Ashura shifted into a bull 
and
rammed her into the shelf with an awful crack that could have been the shelf 
or
her ribs or both….sweeping Ashura’s legs from under her and rolling away
desperately as the bull crashed to the floor and shifted back to her real 
form.
Both girls slowly stood and glared at each other as they paused for
breath….Karou’s vision blurry from bloodloss but she could tell that she 
hurt
Ashura at least from the blood she spit on the floor and the faint bruises 
here
and there. “Ready to die, little girl?”

Karou mirrored her grin. “I…was about to ask the same thing…..”

Ashura laughed….then charged as Karou readied herself….drawing Excailbron a
second before reaching her in a scream and swung…..

Outside, Gregor was still somehow going despite the beating he/it was 
receiving
and giving it right back…although they could tell it was starting to slow 
down
as if it was running out of strength.

“Micheala! Usagi!”

Alexander appeared in the window above, hurling a glass container at the
creature. ‘SHOOT!”

They didn’t need to be told twice. All three guns fired as one at the moment 
it
reached the creature, the liquid catching flame as it shattered and engulfed
Gregor as it howled….the flames seeming to have no effect at first from the 
way
the burns were immediately healing…..then it suddenly slumped to the ground
with a moan, soon a shapeless and burning pyre. Everybody slumped in relief
until….

“Where’s Karou and Tomoe, Kenshin?” Yahiko asked, soon answered by her 
scream….

Upstairs….

“Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu: HADOME!”

Karou screamed as she crossed her wrists and caught Excailbron’s blade with 
the
back of her hands, screamed at the incredible cold BURNING her and in 
outrage
as she kicked Ashura with all her strength in her stomach, Ashura letting go 
in
surprise just enough for Karou to shove Excailbron’s blade back toward 
Ashura
and deep into her shoulder. “Bitch!” Ashura snarled and backhanding Karou 
right
across the library and THROUGH another shelf, Karou struggling to her feet 
as
Ashura advanced….her wound already starting to heal….

Stopping as Excailbron started to hum, glowing faintly. Ashura glanced at it
and grinned before sheathing it. “Heh, This round goes to you Karou-dono. 
I’m
really impressed you did so well against me at HALF strength, it’s an
achievement most men can’t claim to. Feel proud of your victory and look
forward to our next encounter….I will….” Laughing wildly she leapt out one 
of
the smashed windows, vanishing into the night just as the others came 
bursting
in. “KAROU!” She collapsed into Kenshin’s arms as he flickered to her side 
in
an instant, both horrified at her wounds and filled with rage at Ashura.

“….I’m fine….Kenshin….” She smiled weakly. “I….won….”

Moshi and Yahiko were trying to keep Alexander from jumping out the window.
“You need to get back in bed, Alex-san!” Yahiko said as he yanked on the
injured and swearing man.

“Bed, hell! I’m gonna take my shotgun and shove both barrels down her skinny
throat!”

Micheala, Usagi and Grandma returned from the dojo, Kenshin feeling worse 
when
he saw Tomoe wasn’t with them. “Is Tomoe….”

Grandma looked downcast. “The place was a mess….That thing you described
splattered all over the place, I’ve never seen anything like it….But no 
trace
of Tomoe, Ken-san.”

Kenshin looked out the smashed window and into the darkness….Karou thinking 
she
saw one of his eyes turn amber for a second.

“Where could she be……?”

##

Shannon didn’t get far.

Immediately after Arain had teleported them out of there, Shannon, idiot he
was, had immediately dashed to his emergency funds and whatever valuables he
could carry before fleeing….and was caught before he could even get out the
door by Daisho and Silk, who were waiting for him. The remaining guards and
thugsthat had survived the earlier onhadn’t learned ether, 
attempting
to save their boss in hope of a reward.

Daisho was happy to oblige their death wish.

“Don’t look so down, Mr. Morgan.” Silk said cheerfully as she leaned a 
little
harder on Shannon’s chest, enjoying his shrill scream. “At least we gave you
your wish.”

“You were using me all along, weren’t you?”

“He’s catching on, sis…..” Daisho chuckled as they flicked blood off their
claws and sword. “As if we were stupid enough to get Avalon pissed off at 
us.
You were on the other hand, nothing personal of course.”

“And it looks like we lost Excailber anyway, brother. All that work 
wasted….”

Daisho mirrored his sister’s sharklike smile. “Looks that way…..”

Shannon realized the truth then. “You wanted that bitch to get the sword 
back!
But why all that trouble to steal it…..” Silk choked off his question by
pressing harder.

“That’s no longer your concern, Mister Morgan.” She motioned behind her. 
“That
is.”

Shannon wasn’t aware of the huge front door being bashed in behind them 
until
then, craning his neck to see….and when he did his mind was too horrified to
comprehend what his eyes were telling him: Long, dark and bloodstained hair.
Glowing eyes in a mask of beauty. Razor sharp claws and fangs. ripped and
bloody shirt and overalls hanging on a female seeming but rapidly 
deteriorating
body….Silk looked even more amused by his terror. “See, here’s the deal. 
I’ll
give you a generous five-minute start, and if you can make it to your gate,
you’re free to go. If not….” She chuckled. “Feeding time.”

The thing dropped to a crouch, actually smiling at him like a child.

“Clock’s ticking, Mr. Morgan.” She released him…. “Let me HELP!” Then kicked
him in the side hard enough to send him flying over the creature’s head and
tumble a good two feet into the yard….Shannon too terrified feel his broken
ribs as he bolted for his life….His heart pounding too loudly to hear the
beastly howl behind him…..

He had just gripped the gate door when it caught him….Shannon only vaguely
aware of his arm still attached to the gate door as he was yanked
backwards…..Hearing a feral grunt followed by a SNAP that could of only been
his spine…..His last thought ironically thankful to it so he wouldn’t feel 
it
literally tears him apart….

Silk mock-winced at the sight, giggling like a schoolgirl. “That will ruin 
his
weekend…..” She said sagely before laughing at her cruel joke.

“You’re one sick puppy, Sister dear.” Daisho grumbled. Silk only grinned 
wider.

Outside the creature stood over the ravaged remains in a triumphant
roar…..Drinking in the stream of red mist that rose from it….the roar slowly
becoming a human scream as healthy pink flesh grew in place of damaged flesh
and claws and fangs shrank to normal…..The eyes losing their glow and a 
panting
and now very human Tomoe collapsing to her knees amidst the carnage…..

“Her first kill, Mother…..Oh, my baby’s all grown up…..”

Tomoe looked blankly at Ashura and Mother as they shimmered into existence
before her….First horrified as she realized what she’d done…..Then shaking 
in
growing anger as Ashura continued. “Feels like your first time with Kenshin,
Ne? The rush…the excitement….” She dodged Tomoe frantic lunge and tripped 
her
as she flew past. “Don’t be an ungrateful brat, Tomoe. Not only did he 
deserve
it, but look at yourself….”

Tomoe realized that she actually felt the sting of the impact instead of the
numbness she’d grown accustomed to….felt warm blood pump through her 
veins….the
feeling that she was actually alive again instead of the illusion of it.
“Yes…..” Mother sneered. “This is what you’ve been denying yourself, child,
because of your silly morals. Feels good, dosen’t it?”

“What….happened…..” She managed as she lowered her hands. “I remember….an 
awful
creature…..”

“Just one of Mother’s children, Tomoe.” Ashura said calmly. “Born for the 
sole
purpose of forcing your body to slip into beserker mode for survival. If you
hadn’t, you would have deteriorated from the strain of starving yourself for 
so
long. I even set up ‘dinner’.” She smirked. “Better that pig than Kenshin.”

“And I should feel grateful?” Tomoe shot back.

Ashura’s eyes grew hard. “Hmph. Listen to me, you stupid little girl. If it
wasn’t for me you would be wormfood these past ten years….And I can send you
right back in an instant. Don’t ever forget that.”

“You don’t scare me, Ashura….” Tomoe countered. “I’m no use to you dead, as
you’ve proven. But I’d gladly die than to be used by you to hurt him!”

“You hypocritical bitch…..” That one really riled Ashura, Excailbron out in 
an
instant to her throat. “How dare you accuse anyone of hurting him when it’s 
all
you’ve ever done to him?” Tomoe didn’t flinch at the blade, even as it 
pressed
against her neck enough draw blood. “You claim to love him so much yet all
you’ve done is ruin his life! I’ve loved him more than you ever have…..” She
grinned evilly. “And in more ways than you think….”

Tomoe just stared at her in disbelief as she understood. “You lie…..”

Ashura smirked. “You wish I were, don’t you?” Tomoe looked ill as she
continued. “It was during his wandering days….Coldest night of the year. He 
was
alone, wet, miserable and about to end it right there because of the damage
you’ve done. So I stopped him by pretending to be you and…..” Tomoe clenched
her fists as Ashura added the knockout blow with a nasty sneer. “I must 
admit
I’ve known pleasure in the arms of many men, however I must admit he was the
first I ever made love to….and it seemed it was his first time to be loved 
so
well….”

Tomoe cut her off with a scream of rage and threw a punch that Ashura easily
caught despite the strength behind it, slowly adding pressure that forced 
Tomoe
to her knees. “Liar….” Tomoe spat through clenched teeth. “I loved 
Kenshin…..He
knows I didn’t mean to hurt him so much…..I won’t let you convince me
otherwise!” There was pure hatred in her eyes as she glared at Ashura. “Nor
will I let you win!” With that she swiped at Ashura to make her let
go….springing away into the darkness. Ashura simply let her go with a smirk.

“That’s it, Run back to Kenshin…..” She sneered as she watched her vanish.
“Make up whatever little story you want and he’ll accept it of course.
Unfortunately I failed to mention that your little snack would only last for
twenty-four hours. And you’ll be even hungrier than before….”