Disclaimer: this story is a sequel to 'Trouble Island' and still, I'll have to say that Ushio & Tora and company are a (c) to Kazuhiro Fujita... the rest of the beasts are mine...

'Trouble Island' was my first fiction here ever, and this isn't the second because I made a few more stories in between... this story starts to carry the end of my old story... in other words, where my first story ended, this will be it's start of my sequel, so R&R people... here, Ann and Jiaaku are still kids, so please bare with me, I'm confusing some times, I like jumping from past to present and back...

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Chapter one: the new problem...

Running through the forest on the back of a furry, soft like silk beast, and as fast as the soaring wind, some thing as light as a feather, yet as fast as a flying bird in the sky, sun in your face, the silky colors flickering with quick flashing shimmers of sunlight reflections, cool sweet mountain breeze in your chest, and a darn loud cursing of an orange ancient beast chasing after you, as you ride on the back of another beast, that Tora so just happened to be tagging along with...

"Dammit BRAT!!!!" growled the ancient beast "why are we going in such a hurry for?" Tora whined...
"Tora, no one forced you on coming with us you know!" scolded the boy as the beast ran next to the boy, side by side running next to the light brown female whom Ushio sat on her back...
"I go where I want, and I'm not going to let some female take you some where with out me!!!" the beast stated glaring the female ignoring him and concentrated on running "besides! If she attends to eat you, I don't want to be left out of the fun!!!" he concluded...
"Listen Tora!" Kage stated mostly annoyed "I am NOT going to eat Ushio, and I told you that I am going to take good care of him while he's with me, I need nor you or the spear, all I need is him!!!" she barely gazed sideways only to get a mere blink of the beast "now would you please take a hike?" she growled, and then she sped up trying to get the beast off her tail...
"Hey!!!" shouted the beast, understanding her sudden given speed, he gave a chuckle "think your so good, eh female?!" he frowned and crackled thunder "LETS SEE HOW GOOD!!!!" kicking up to high speed, Tora did his best to catch up to the female, who was awful fast even for Tora, and the amazed temple boy on her back...
"Whoa!!!" breathed Ushio, as he held on tighter on the female's mane...

Gripping the crimson mane tight with one hand, and the spear in the other, Ushio couldn't help but dig his heels in the females waist for balance support, and to make sure he doesn't get blown off, cause she was really going fast... although it hurt her, Kage held in the yelp as Ushio's tennis shoes were nasty against her skin... Tora eyed her as he ran as fast as he can, wondering how a female could get to be so fast... remembering how they first met back at the island, she wasn't this fast, was she?! Maybe she wasn't because she was wearing those heavy metal cuffs!? Although their marks still scared her wrists, Well... what ever changed, it really made him feel pissed off, only by the fact that a female was 'faster' than he was... he only felt like pouncing on her right at that moment and pin her down, if only he could catch up to her... but with the temple boy on her back, that would be considered a bad idea...

"The forest is going to get thicker with trees soon Ushio, so keep your head down so you wont crash your face in any thing, okay?"
"Thanks for the warning, I'll keep a look out..."
"Hey Tora!!!" the female shouted yet not looking back, the beast a few feet back perked his ears and blinked at her as he ran "be careful okay? This part of the lands ain't no picnic!"
"Sh**!!! You just had to tell me!!!"
"Be grateful a** h***! We could've just forgot that you were even with us and didn't tell you! Now keep running and shut up... slow-moo!!" the boy snickered the last words...
"I heard that!!!!" thunder crackled...
"Would you two mind!!! I'm trying to concentrate on my feet here!! This place is full of hunter traps!!"
"Sorry Kage!"
"What ever..."

Frowning and cursing under her breath, the light brown female couldn't help but pant, so she thought she'd slow down a bit and catch her breath, but only ended up to be followed by the ancient orange chuckling beast... whom had a nasty chuckle and an ear to ear smile... running side by side again, Tora knew she was getting tired, so he thought he'd be mean and bother her, he tried to ram the female by brushing his shoulder into hers as they ran, gasping for balance, the female cursed him and they both tried to push each other out of each others path... their heads bonked like two coconuts but still cheek to cheek they tried to ram each other away... the temple boy tried to hold into balance, pushing the orange beast with one foot, trying to part Tora's side from brushing into the female... annoyed, irritated and angry he shifted the spear aside and raised it up attending to swat them both... only to feel him self suddenly jerking back and forth, flying and falling flat on the face...

"*GASP*" blinking eyes wide open, Ushio found him-self thrown off the female and fell right on his face in a grassy meadow, a few flowers and grass rested on his head, a butterfly stood on his nose, puffing at it, it flew away, standing up then dusting him self, he craned around, only to see the female and the ancient beast twisting, turning, cursing, swearing, hissing and clawing each other with crackling thunder, specks of fire shooting around every now and then... it was a bit too dangerous even for the boy to go too close to... why were they fighting? Why were they together any way? And where were they going?

~*~*~* Flash Back *~*~*~

"So... let me get this straight Kage... your saying a bunch of humans are blowing up your home... and you want me to stop them?!" T.0
"Yes! Ushio, please you're the only one who could help us!!" /:(
"Well then, Listen female, why don't you just eat the humans and get it over with!" -u_u-
"I'm not fond of eating humans... they taste awful!" =r.r=
"Says who?? They taste awesome! You should try the brat here for a sample!" -^__^-
"Oh yeah Tora?!" a_a X
"Yeah! (BO--@.@--NK) OW!! -#.#- Dammit! What was that for??" -C.C-
"Any way... can you help?" =Q.Q=
"Sure we can help!" ^___^
"We?? I'm not participating brat!" -F_F- X
"That's good!" =U___U=
"It is?" -O.o-?
"Yes! Cause all I need is Ushio! We need nor the spear or fuzz ball!" =~.o=
"Hey! You're not going any where with out me!" -T___T- X
"Says who?" L.L?
"Says me!!!" -T.T-
"Oh yeah?' T_T X
"Yeah!" -T__T- X
"Oh YEAH?" T___T X
"YEAH!" -T____T- X!!
"Grrr..." (Many X's pop out!)
"GRRR!!!" (More than just X's!)
"Humph..."
"Humph!!!"
"I give up..." =~.~=

Asako, Mayuko and the priest were not in the conversation because they weren't around... so, thinking that it would be better to go hunt with out them, cause things could get ugly... Ushio left a note for his father telling him that he and Tora went hunting some thing and may not be back for a week or so, asking him not to worry... Tora was simply in no mood to travel with the female in any way, and was not interested in traveling all the way up her home, that happened to be all the way up a mountain... so Kage and Ushio, along with the spear of course, decided to go alone with out Tora, but shortly after, Tora just didn't feel like being left behind in the temple by him self, so he found him self forced on following the temple boy who went hunting with the female instead of with him... if only they would stay a clear way far from each other!!!

~*~*~* Flash back gone *~*~*~

"What do I have to do to make them stop fighting?" the boy breathed to him self in irritation... Tora has been fighting with Kage more than with him... and Ushio actually started missing the fight with the orange fuzz ball...

"F***ing Sh**ing Bit**ing God-damn mold wiggling hag!!!!"
"OH yeah??! You F***ing mere sh**ing A** h***ed son and a wretched Bit***!!!"
"Oh yeah bit**?"
"Yeah a** h***!"

Still twisting and turning, the two beast were as close as ever to slaughter each other... only did swatting them with the spear brake them apart... Ushio really didn't want to hit Kage, but he had too, only so the beast wont say he wasn't fare...

"I have had it with you two!" the boy shouted scolding...
"Ow! You didn't have to hit so hard did you?" whined the female in pain "I think I've got a headache!"
"Bare with it female, as long as you're with the brat, you'll get swatted all the time!"
"Hey! I don't usually swat females! I only swat evil spirits and orange thunder beasts!"
"Grrr..."
"Next time Ushio, if you wanna stop me from fighting... you could just ask!" the female painfully stated feeling her scull...
"Sorry Kage, didn't know it would hurt you so bad! I mean... I swat Tora all the time, but it didn't seem to hurt him at all... it only seems to make his scull grow stronger!"
"Not funny brat!"
"Who said it had to be funny?"
"..."

"Mother!!" a faint voice in the distant called, as a young golden little female hurried to her elder female... Kage turned around with a smile and spread her arms wide open embracing in her leaping daughter...
"WHOA!!!" rolling around a few times, the mother and daughter were sent back into the grassy meadow as the flowers and grass were brushed against as they laughed and giggled... though Kage still had a headache...
"HEY Mom!!!" the little female cheered giggling, "what took you so long?" she almost sounded as if whining...
"Aw-I'm sorry dear! But Tora and I got a bit carried away!"
"Uncle Tora?" the female smiled, then looking back, the ancient beast only pouted... Ann knew how much Tora hated the title 'uncle' but she thought it fit's him just fine any way...
"Hey Ann!" greeted the temple boy as he cuddled her head, silver locks between his fingers...
"Hi Ushio!" the female smiled, "so, are you here to help us save our home?" she hopefully asked...
"Well... sure I will... if only I could get a better shoot on what you want me to help you in exactly!!" the boy shrugged...
"Ushio, dear, I think it's about time I had to tell you some thing..."
"Um, what is it Kage?"
"Well... it's... it's about my home... you see, Muma, Ann and I live in a group with three other members..."
"You do? Why didn't you ever mention that?"
"Well, now I have too... you see, there is Yami, she is a dear friend of mine and she likes humans, so don't worry, she doesn't like to eat them either!"
"Oh! Good..."
"Then there is Jiaaku!"
"You mean Jerk-o, right mom!"
"Ann!!!" Kage scolded...
"Sorry..."
"Jerk-o?" the beast chuckled...
"Any way, the leader of our group is Kyofu, he's a bit like Tora, a hot headed stubborn beast..."
"Hey!!!"
"But the problem is, he hates humans so much, he can't stand even looking at them... so... you see..."
"Is that why you asked me to come as beast-lance-user form?"
"Yeah... I don't want Kyofu to slaughter you!"
"Yeah! That's my job!"
"Shut up Tora..."
"You shut up you lousy brat..."

"Is it just me, or is a conversation I hear is too recognizable!!" a merry voice chuckled as the dark brown beast paced softly towards the group, nuzzled his mate then turned to the two partners, "I'm glad you could make it... there isn't much time before the humans begin their work!" Muma stated...
"Who?"
"The humans! Didn't Kage tell you?"
"Oh, she did tell me it's just that... well... I'm still lost here!"
"Oh! Well then, I'll explain it briefly all right?"
"Go ahead and Shoot!"
"Well... about two or three days ago, a few humans came along and started walking around the territory... it wasn't easy to stop Kyofu from killing them, but any way, that's not my point... the humans camped here for two days then left... so we thought they were just goofing around..."
"But before we knew it..." the female continued "the mountains down north started rumbling as the humans placed this thing they call T.N.T with red sticks and sizzling flames all around..."
"They blew up the northern side of our home! And if we don't stop them, who knows what could happen!"

"You know" the orange beast stated, "You could've just killed them!"
"What? And get those humans with the funny clothing and creepy flashing balls all over the place? No thank you!" growled the red headed female...
"Um, their called news-reporters Kage! And the flashing balls are called cameras!" the boy stated...
"Well... what ever they are, I don't like them!!" she slurred...

"Kage!!!" a young voice called from the distant as the red headed female craned around...
"Who's that?" the orange beast asked...
"That's Jiaaku dear..."
"Don't you dare call me that again!!!" Tora growled, mostly embarrassed...
"Oh, sorry!" Kage smiled, and then craned to the chuckling temple boy "I think you should transform now Ushio, Kyofu and Yami might be close behind!"
"Um, all right, gimmy a minute!" the boy walked behind a tree and held the spear tight... concentrating...
"Okay, while Ushio transforms, let's stall Jiaaku..." the dark brown beast stated...

"Kage!!!" a light brown young beast, about as half as tall as Muma, yet older than Ann walked in... he had an orange-red mane with five silver locks dancing in the middle of his forelock in front of his sight... the young beast hurried to the beasts, but suddenly jerked back freezing as he blinked the huge ancient orange beast eyeing him...
"What's the matter jerk-o?"
"Ann!!!" Kage scolded again...
"What!!!!!" Ann stated...
"What is it Jiaaku?" Muma started...
"Who... the heck... is HIM??"
"Jiaaku! Mind your manners! This is Tora!" the female stated, and then craned to the beast only to see him pouting, "what is it?"
"Don't you think that you should've said 'Lord Nagatobimaru' perhaps?"
"But I thought you hate that name!"
"......" tail only flickered "what ever..."
"NaGa who?" the young beast asked, then gave a slight chuckle "Geez, Tora was much easier!" he concluded, sitting back on his hunches and with his tail flickering...
"!!" Tora eyed Ann; she only blinked confused and cocked her head to one side "say, can the two of us call him jerk-o?"
"Tora!!!" scolded the red headed female as the young male only pouted...
"What??" innocently whined the beast, then eyed the golden female "I didn't say any thing wrong did I?" he asked...
"Not as far as I know!" Ann smirked...

Then, from out of no where, a small pebble hit Ann's head from the side... yelping then turning around, she only saw Jiaaku with an evil grin and another pebble in his clawed hand...

"Jiaaku!!!" growled Kage grabbing his wrist, then reaching out for her daughters, placing their hands together she scolded "now, either you two shake and be friends, or your really gonna be asking for it!!!"
"But mother!!!!"
"But Kage!!!"
"NOW!!!"
"Dad!!!!" Ann eyed her father...
"Hey!!!" Muma shrugged rising his flat hands up like a surrendering bad guy "keep me outta this!!!"
"Cowered!" slurred the little light brown male...

"Kage?" a soft female voice called "Okay, what did they do this time?"
"Huh?" craning around, Kage and Tora saw a tanned female with her mane also in tan, but with a red color starting from her forelock and spreading back taking only the front side of her mane, tails middle with red as well, and this dark brown over her neck, shoulders and bosom, as she walked on four with a smile, Kage smiled back "Hey! Yami! Glad you made it!" she smiled...
"It's good to have you back! Ever since you said you were going to that human city I was a bit worried!" with a pause, the tanned female eyed the ancient orange beast, and her eyes slightly widened... creeping her head a bit closer to the other female, she whispered lightly, but nothing Tora couldn't hear, "who's the handsome fellow?" she asked with a shy smile...
"Oh, that?" Kage lightly giggled, then craned to the startled beast that happened to hear the question "Yami, this is Tora... (Slurring more to her self that to her friend) although he used to be known as Lord Nagatobimaru through the last five-hundred years but not any more (Back talking normal) Tora, this is my friend Yami!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you Tora!" the tanned female smiled lightly bowing her head...
"Um... it's an honor to meet you as well..." Tora couldn't help feeling oddly stupid around the females... all though he just didn't know why...

"Yo, Tora what's..." the beast-lance-user froze as his eyes locked with the tanned female...
"Uhh!!!!!" Yami startled and in fright jilted back a few steps with a frightened breath... eyeing that long cloud of black hair shimmering in the sunlight... cat-slitted eyes in purplish-green... and the spear in his clutch in a grip strong enough to crack stones...
"Yami!!" Kage called "it's all right! He's a friend!!!"
"F... friend??" the tanned female breathed...
"Yes, friend, don't worry!"
"Don't worry??? The BEAST LANCE USER is HERE!!! And yours asking me NOT TO WORRY???" the female hollered...

"Hey!" As soft as possible, Ushio tried to make the female feel safe "I am not going to hurt you, don't worry!" Yami only glared lightly, seems that she does not believe him "listen... Kage asked me to come here to help you, and here I am! Why should I hurt you if I actually came here to help you?"
"..." Doubtful, the tanned female sat back on her hunches gazing at that young stiff hunter... Ushio seemed like a well grown male, muscular, good looking, strong and brave... that made the female feel a little safe, yet, she felt odd about the orange ancient beast...
"I'm Aotsuki Ushio..." the boy though that maybe introducing him self would make the female feel better...
"I'm Yami... and, it's an honor to meet you, Beast barrier!" she lightly smiled...

"(Yawn)" Tora felt fed up... every thing was going as slow as a sea slug of a beast... he needed some action... sadly he couldn't think of any thing...
"Well then..." the dark brown beast spoke again "Yami, where's Kyofu?"
"Kyofu said that he was going to the northern side to check on the humans..."
"What? And you left him there?"
"Don't worry... there is no one there right now... it's noon and their taking their lunch break!"
"Good! We should get moving then!" Kage stated, then walked to the temple boy on four feet, standing in frowned of him she gave a sign for him to get on her back "the road from here to the mountain isn't easy, you'd better get on my back!" she reasoned...
"C'mon! We shouldn't lose any time!" the temple boy went over the females back and was about to start moving...
"Hey! What do you think your doing brat?" the beast hollered...
"Huh? What do you mean Tora?"
"Kage!" the beast whined, she only blinked "please don't tell me you actually 'like' having this little pip-squeak on your back!" he asked...
"???" Braking in a chuckle, the female eyed the beast oddly...
"What's so funny?" Tora growled, feeling offended...
"Do 'you' wanna let him ride on your back?"
"........." Pouting as he craned around "no..."
"Why are you complaining then?"
"I'm NOT complaining!" the beast cried growling... the boy only laughed...
"Sure your not... C'mon Kage, let's make tracks!"
"You got it!!!"
"HEY!!!" the beast shouted as he ran after them... Ann, Jiaaku, Muma and Yami eyed them only, shrugging to each other they just followed...

Beast-beholder on the female beast's back, as swift as the morning breeze soaring through the trees and grass... Ushio actually felt good ridding on the female's back... Kage was much softer, more comfortable, even nicer than Tora... at least 'she' didn't want to eat him no matter what the cause was... after a short thought, Ushio wondered... how would his life be like if 'Kage' was the one pinned to a rock in his basement instead of Tora??? "Heh!!! At least it would be better then Tora! And the girls would have some one to hang out with!" the boy thought to him self lightly chuckling...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tora, on the other hand, was on the edge of blowing up like a rumbling volcano... he really-Really-REALLY felt like slaughtering the boy now, and maybe the female as well... he hated Kage more than ever now... he didn't know why, the only thing he could think of is that she was keeping him a 'long' distant from getting a chance to eat the boy... although some how... it felt empty in a way... with out the boy riding on 'his' back, he's ridding on some one 'else' who isn't as good as he is in fights... Kage might be a beast, but still, she's a female...

"Once a female, always a female!!!" the beast mumbled to him self... Tora felt if like... Kage wants Ushio to be with her... it was clear, even for the boy and him self, that the light brown female cared about the temple boy if like she was his mother or some thing... the only thing drawing a chuckle into the beasts chest was the fact of Kage 'mothering' the temple boy... he remembered the while when she and her family stayed at the temple before heading back to their home...

Kage kept on scolding Ushio for keeping his room in such a mess, never cleaning after he'd finished any of his art works, never doing his homework, that got stacked after going to the island, Asako was scolded as well cause both of them were gone for a few days and missed many lessons, Mayuko was suppose to be in America, so she was out of the red light zone... never looking after himself after battling the beast, always scaring or cutting him self, cursing all the time... she even tried washing his mouth with custard-oil... Ushio vomited after that one... it even happened that once Kage and Ushio had such a fight, Kage ended up chasing the boy all around the temple, when the female finally got him after a few laps, she dragged him to his room, shut close every thinkable escape rout, kneeled him over her hunch/knee, pulled down his pants, and with her single flat hand, the brat got one hell of a spanking down his soft naked tender part... the orange beast really enjoyed 'that' one!! Then there was the spear... then Shigure... then the temple it's self... then the ancient beast... the beasts chuckle morphed into an embarrassed groan as he remembered the awful things the female used to do to him while she was around... scolding him from keeping his mane in such a mess, teaching the boy all the bad-language words and all, picking fights and trying to eat Ushio, never leaving Ushio's meals alone, braking the furniture... "Geez, females are such a pain in the ass!!! Thank-god I'm still single!!!" Tora slurred to him self as he ran after them...

~*~*~*~*~*~
Somewhere else...
*~*~*~*~*~*

Over the hill near by stood a black beast... fur pitch black with a red-dark orange mane, and a scared eye, the other was fine, in a fine glow of a yellow shining glow... tail in dark orange, flickering and lashing like an angry cat... growling at the things scattered around his land... cement trucks, tar smelling black stuff, and heat that only god knows who could stand... with red metal bars that are really huge and a few humans holding a big thing with one of them tracing some thing for another man next to him... one was wearing a business out-fit, the other like some construction specialist...

The humans were blowing up a few parts of the near by mountain with a path being cleared to be some sort of path... it was going somehow around the place and in the other side, was a flat land with tractors clearing up a huge space for some reason... what ever the reason was, the old black beast was awful up-set of these humans polluting his lands and destroying the creation of god to replace it with some thing that is so odd and disgusting... that had him thinking... this thing that they want to put here... why was is it meant to be here? Is it for other humans? Or is it just for them selves? Muzzle twitching with a growling rumble in his chest, the beast silently crept down towards the nearest human he could find... he hated humans... and nothing could stop him from killing them to protect his land...

~*~*~*~*~
...............!!!!
~*~*~*~*~

Ridding fast... this was getting to be really fun... the young boy never felt so light! Although he was on the female, he hardly even felt her... she was running fast, still on her back, it was as if like she wasn't there... Ushio was laying against her back, with her crimson locks in his face, brushing them back, he couldn't help the feeling of the sensation resting there on her back... Ushio closed his eyes, wanting nothing but to feel this... he didn't know why... he just felt like doing so...

~*~*~*~

Feeling him there on her back, the female felt the boy shifting his weight a bit back and spread him self over her... not paying much attention to that at any case, she kept her thoughts on her running and footage... but then... oddly... she felt this heat, seeping into her... slowing down a bit in her tracks, she moved the corner of her head to eye the boy... his eyes were closed, a faint blushing smile on his face as he snuggled his face into her back... her heart thumped as she couldn't help the smile... trying to concentrate on her running... she found her self actually, and slowly, stopping, yet still standing on her four feet...

She just stood there... eyes closed, and the boy didn't move, in barrier form, laying on her back... his black cloud of hair resting like a feather on her back, mixing with her crimson tail... the heat... that was the odd part... why was she feeling it? Why does this feel so good? Why is it that this is the feeling she can't get enough of? Thoughts jammed up her mind... her heart slowly pounded normally... the boy slowly opened his eyes, only to see the female, with sleepy eyes and a passionate smile as she turned her head around, good enough to nuzzle him lightly... Ushio couldn't help but stretch out his arm and hug her head a little... it felt good, and both felt the need to have more of it... why... neither one of them knew...

Eyeing them doing that... frozen silent, standing within the shady trees of the forest... the ancient orange beast felt this cold lonely feeling down his chest... he really felt like having some one that would care about him, but as a male, he would never admit it, not even to him self...but to no avail... he always though of him self as a loner that no creature on earth wants to be around... but his bond with the human temple boy... it wasn't his fault! It was the boy's fault!! Why? He didn't know... it was the boy's fault, and he didn't know why he thought so... what did the boy do to make it his fault?

Closing his eyes then growling to him self, he shot his silver eyes wide open and slowly walked towards the two hugging creatures... with no idea but to break them apart, the ancient orange beast found no other way but the crackle thunder... and he gave no damn care to what the boy's reaction could be...

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey!!"
"Eek!!"
"You two make me SICK!!!"
"Hey! Your such a jerk Tora!" growled the boy... when Ushio attended to jump off the female to thwack the beast, the female started moving slowly again making him clutch her fur...
"Hold on Ushio, we shouldn't waste out time on things like this!" she eyed the beast as she growled... with a single spring, Kage ran again with the boy...

"........." The beast froze... breathing was getting hard... he felt chocked... if like... some thing was holding his chest in a tight squeeze... flat hands into fists, closed eyes shot with the silver rage, shark teeth growling and hissing as specks of fire seemed to form... he crackled thunder, and clawed every single tree in front of his sight as he emptied his rage...

=====================================================

"WHAT???" Asako whined "Ushio and Kage???"
"Oji-san, are you sure??"
"Yes girls, I'm afraid so! According to the note, it might be some time before he and Tora come back!"
"Well... didn't he tell why Kage needed him for?"
"No I'm afraid she didn't!"
"Nuts... well... any idea where they went?"
"(Just shakes his head shrugging)"
"Sigh... I was hoping maybe we could join them..."
"Well, when Ushio comes back, please tell him they we dropped by for a visit!"
"Of course..."
"Bye Oji-san!"
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye girls!"

As the priest went back into the temple, the girls walked down the street and each toward her home... but I guess each was thinking of some thing...

"Do you think Ushio and Kage actually mix together?"
"What do you mean Asako?"
"Well I dunno... I kind 'a like Kage... at least she's not as nasty as Tora!"
"Well... Tora is nice and warmhearted when you get to know him better!"
"Tora?!?!?! (A laugh filling her words) Nice and Warm-Hearted???" Asako broke into a loud chuckling laugh with tears lightly seeping down her face...
"I don't think that was funny Asako!" Mayuko was scolding...
"Oh I'm sorry... but... I can never imagine TORA nice!!!"
"Well... give him a chance and you'll see how nice he could get!"
"Mayuko! The way I see it, in Tora's point of view, to show you how nice he is, is done only by riding you out of your life!" the girl snickered as she split up with her friend heading back home "well, at any case, I'd better be going now, see you tomorrow!"
"Sigh... see you tomorrow!"

Mayuko watched her friend as she walked away... with a faint sigh she eyed the great blue sky and wondered what her beast friend was doing... she actually felt worried about him... Mayuko and Tora shared a bond, it was stronger than the beasts bond with the boy, it was a sacred bond... but neither admit it... wouldn't... couldn't... just... didn't know how... clearing her throat, Mayuko just prayed and went back walking toward her home... silently thinking...

~*~*~*~*~

Then there was the priest... Shigure sat silently in the living room reading one his books --again-- and then gave a bored breath... placing the book aside, he stood up, folded his arms over his chest, then walked out side after sliding the door open... eyeing the sky... it was blue and clear, there was also a breeze... blinking once slowly, then priest looked down at the back yard of him home... wondering what his son and the beast are doing with the company of the female...

=====================================================

Sitting there on a tree trunk... Tora had his eyes closed, frowning, hands cupping his face silently and slowly breathing trying his best to clear his head and rest his angry soul... counting many times and thinking of any thing that might accrue, the beast was able to maintain him self and relax... eyes opened barely a crack, wanting to make sure he hadn't fallen a sleep... only to eye the creature in front of him... eyes shooting wide open, the beast saw it... standing there on it's two feet, black cloud of black hair, the mystic greenish-purple eyes and the spear clutched in it's hand, with this worried gaze on it's face...

"Are... you all right Tora?" the boy asked, voice soft and calm... the beast did nothing but widen his eyes a little, hands still cupping his face, but then, they drew a little down and fisted under his chin...
"Why haven't you left yet?" the beast softly growled...
"Well... when Kage and I saw that you weren't following us any more, we thought that some thing may've gone wrong and..."
"And??"
"Well... we just..."
"We were just wondering if you were all right!" the female walked in, "are you all right Tora? Your not up set at us, are you?"
"..."
"Tora... I'm sorry if I offended you in any way!" the female stated, voice soft and worried...
"Aw-C'mon fuzz ball!" the temple boy smiled as he smacked a flat hand on the beasts shoulder "no hard feelings?"

Tora eyed them... they came back... for him?? Why? The cold empty feeling in his chest slowly shimmered with heat... it felt good... yet, he didn't want to show it... still, he couldn't help the faint smile from showing on his stripped face...

"If you want me to forgive you brat, I'll have to eat you!"
"!!!!"
"Tora!" the female scolded with a smile...
"(Slightly chuckled) what ever..." standing on his hind legs "might as well get this over with, I don't have all day!"
"Yeah your right!" Kage smiled, and then paced a few steps front "the others are waiting for us back home, C'mon! This way!"
"All right!" the boy smiled... Ushio was just about to climb over the females back, when he saw the beast eyeing him oddly...
"!!" The boy cocked an eyebrow at him, so the beast shifted his sights to any thing else; sadly there was nothing to look at...
"Um, Tora?"
"What do you want brat?"
"Mind if I ride on your back?"
"Why? You have the female!"
"Well... I kind 'a miss ridding on your back!"
"Yeah right... I miss it as much as I miss that damn spear and those darn shoes of yours!!" the beast growled...
"I'll be careful!"
"No-way brat!"
"Aw C'mon Tora!"
"It's all right Ushio! I don't think Tora is in a good mode now, you'll travel riding on my back for now!"
"Good luck female!" the beast smirked...

Pouting, the boy climbed on the females back as the ancient orange beast ran after them, just like before... but this time, the boy was the one feeling bothered... Tora was either acting odd, or he was up-set at him... with a sigh "it's not like I care... it just doesn't feel right!" the boy thought to him self... Tora was acting a bit different ever since they left home, and they still haven't known what their quest is yet!!

"Kage?" asked the boy lying on the female's back as she ran...
"Yes dear?"
"?" Blushing for the word 'dear' Ushio cleared his throat "um, I just wanted to ask... do you have any idea 'why' the humans are blowing up your home?"
"Wish I knew dear... wish I knew!"
"Well... I have this question, I just don't know if I should ask!"
"Go ahead dear! I don't think it could do any harm!" she smiled...
"Well... if... if I failed in helping you..."
"And I'm sure you wont!" she scolded, "You just need to believe in your self and in your abilities more!"
"I know that... what I wanted to say was... what will you and your group do if you lost your home?"
"Well now, certainly not move into the temple if that's what you're worried about!"
"WHAT?? That wasn't what I meant!"
"(Giggling) I know dear! I was just kidding! Lighten 'up!"
"Well (mumbling) I don't think it was funny!"
"Sorry dear!"
"Kage!!!"
"What is it dear?"
"Would you 'please' stop calling me dear? It's embarrassing!"
"Oh? I'm so sorry de-uhh-heh!" lightly chuckling "some habits are hard to brake!"
"........." Lightly blushing...

Still there on her back, heart thumping fast, heat burning his cheeks, the spear clutched tight in his hand... brushing back a few of the black and crimson mixed locks from his face, Ushio eyed the path they were going through, as sun light came shining in the end... only a few minutes and they reached their destination...

"Whoa!" breathed the boy as he saw his female friends home... it was a huge clearing with ruins of a few ancient buildings/caves here and there circling around it, two paths one going upwards to the top of a near by mountain, the other was the one they came by, the clearing had a dead camp fire in the middle with a few logs circling it as seats... a broken dry fountain... Muma was sprawling in front one of the dens entrances/door with Ann sitting next to him, as Yami and Jiaaku laid at the entrance of another den/building... there was a den/building in the middle with the largest entrance... seemed to be for the one member, their leader, who seems to be still missing...

The beasts' home was actually an abandoned city! Walls, doors, hallways, pillars and windows decorated with many-many drawings and designs... it was absolutely fascinating to the boy... if the humans that were blowing up the home saw this, they might change their mind, yet, if they knew about it, the beasts in both ways would have to leave! What if treasure hunters came here and stole what ever it is in there? Well... what ever the cause was... the only thing Ushio could concentrate on right at that moment was "I wonder what's in there!"

"Mother!!!" cheered the golden female running to her mother...
"(Just smiled)"
"Whoa! This is where you live?" the boy asked at he slowly stepped off the females back...
"Yes, it's not much, but it's worth calling home!" Kage stated... then eyed her mate who seemed to have fallen asleep in front of their home, giggling, the female walked to him and nuzzled him lightly with a singing voice "Muma! Dear... get up! This is no time for an afternoon nap!"
"Uh-huh?" eyeing his smiling mate, the dark brown beast stretched out wards yawning "oh-I'm sorry... must've dozed off!" stretching again then scratching the back of his head "what took you so long?"
"Oh I took the long path around!"
"The long path? Why?"
"Let's just say... I wanted to show Ushio around before starting with the problem!"
"I can see that!" the dark brown beast slurred...
"Huh?" not understanding, the light brown female craned around only to see the boy tracing his fingers over one of the drawing, mouth opened a crack, eyes wide and this amazed gaze with a faint smile drawing on his lips... then, the sight of the ancient orange beast eyeing the walls as well caught her attention... Tora's face seemed confused... as if... he knew this place!
"God! Have you ever seen any thing so amazing?" softly breathed the boy to him self...

"The ruins?" the ancient orange beast whispered to him self, and no one heard it... Tora eyed the boy, Ushio couldn't get his eyes of it... it looks like he even forgot why they came here in the first place... eyeing the buildings again, the ancient beast walked up to the female silently pacing, "how long have you lived here?"
"Here? Well... Muma and I moved to live here with Kyofu and Yami a short while before Ann was born..." the light brown female said as she thought back "Ann is about 150 yes old, so I guess we've been here for a while!" he smiled...
"Why do you ask Tora?" the dark brown beast asked curiously...
"Well... last time I came here, which was over 500 years ago, this place was roaming with humans! Now... I never thought it could be so... empty!" the beast slurred... "Hmm... I wonder if it's still back there!" the beast thought to him self eyeing the top of one of the buildings...
"Well, when we came to live here, it was always like this!" the tanned female stated as she walked near her light brown friend... Yami still didn't feel safe with the being of the orange beast and his 'odd' looking spear-holding friend...
"Well I think it's much better this way!" the young light brown beast stated with a smile "humans are nothing but trouble!"
"Yeah! Just like you!" the golden female smiled as she growled...
"Now kids!" Yami scolded as Ann and Jiaaku growled at each other...
"Talking about humans, what's wrong with Ushio?" Muma questioned...
"Huh? Oh, that? The brat has a hobby to do art! Don't mind him, he always zones out when he gets his mind on some thing!" the orange beast stated, then eyed the boy standing in front of an entrance... frowning he hollered "HEY BRAT!! You know better than to walk into some one else's home with out asking! Especially if it was a beast!"
"........." The temple boy only gazed at his beast partner, then gazed back at the darkness of the den, silently thinking...

"Ushio!" Kage called softly...
"??"
"Would you like to go in?"
"What?" hollered the orange beast...
"C-can I?"
"Sure you can! But be careful! The center parts of the floor aren't stable! They might fall and squash you!!"
"I'll keep that in mind!" the boy smiled as he slowly walked into the ancient building, spear clutched in both hands...
"Wha~??" the beast eyed the female with a confused look...
"Don't worry! There is nothing in there! Besides! What could a boy in his age want more than exploring the unknown?" the female smiled "let him have what he wants!" she concluded...
"I guess!" the beast said as he craned around again to eye the boy...
"Tora!"
"?!" craning around to her...
"You can join him if you want! You know! Just to make sure he doesn't get him self hurt?" she stated asking...
"Well... I wouldn't care if the whole stone roof fell on his head! It's more his fault than mine!" Tora stated...
"Fine!" shrugged the female...

"Kage!?" a harsh dry voice called...
"??" Craning around, the light brown female saw the pitch-black beast with his orange-red mane shine reflecting the sunlight... his single yellow glowing eye blinked once, as his scared eye was closed with the light purple line of the scare sealing it shut...
"!!" Tora eyed him silently... there was some thing about that black beast that gave him a prickly feeling crawling down his spine... it was creepy!
"Kyofu! Welcome back!" the female smiled...
"How many times do I have to remind you female!" the beast growled "WE NEED NO ONE!!!"
"Hey!" Muma stood in front of his mate, parting her from their leader...
"Muma!" stated the beast "stay out of this!"
"Kage is my mate Kyofu! If you need to argue about some thing, then I'll might as well let it be with me!"
"You crazy child!" the black beast mocked with a smile "you actually think your mate's way of thinking could 'actually' solve some thing? HAH!!! Don't make me laugh!!! Those humans are meant to die! And I'll get rid of them 'and' protect my lands with out your ignorant mate's help!"
"X" Muma was angry, as he couldn't stand any one talking about his mate like that...
"Muma!" Kage softly whispered... he calmed down only a little...
"Now then..." the black beast stated, then gazed at the orange beast "what kind of help did you think of this time?"
"Kyofu! This is..." pausing, she smiled wickedly "Lord Nagatobimaru!" she stated...
"?!?!?!?" the black beast's eyes shot wide open at that name... eyeing the beast again he scanned him slowly...
"Is some thing the matter?" the ancient orange beast wickedly smiled as what seemed to be worry and fear surrounded the black beast... Tora actually begun to like this!
"Uh, no! Nothing is wrong Lord Nagatobimaru! I've heard much of you from other beasts, and I must say that it is an honor to actually meet you!" the black beast bowed his head with respect...
"?!?!?!?" Kage and Muma eyed each other confused...
"Gee! I never thought you were that important!" the female stated to the ancient orange beast...
"Well... you never knew me to know how much I'm worth!" proudly said the beast all full of him self...

"What ever! I still don't know who he is!!" Jiaaku growled as he stated to the tanned female...
"Jiaaku!" the tanned female scolded "I'll explain every thing for you later!"
"But mom! I thought Uncle Tora hated that name!" Ann questioned...
"!!!" Kage and Muma snapped their eyes wide open... their daughter had blown their cover...
"Tora?" the black beast asked, voice doubtful, as if he figured out that he was tricked or some thing...
"Lord Nagatobimaru was my past name!" the ancient orange beast stated "but now, my name is Tora!"
"Prove to me that you're Lord Nagatobimaru!"
"You want proof?" the beast growled lightly "does 'the creation of White Face' ring a bell?"
"!!!!" Frozen solid, the black beast lowed his head as it sunk between his shoulders "forgive me my Lord!" the beast stated in fright...
"That's all right!" Tora had all the hot air up his head... being feared was some thing he really missed...

"WHOA!!!!" an echo hummed though the empty building with the sound of a falling stone house...
"Oh-My-God... USHIO!!!!" Kage quickly ran into the doorway the boy went through earlier and in trace of his sent...
"Ushio?" the black beast questioned "how many beasts did you ask help from?"
"Um... one is To-Uhh... Lord Nagatobimaru! The other is Ushio... and Ushio isn't completely beast!"
"Isn't completely?"
"Dad! Ushio isn't a beast! He's the..."
"HUSH!"
"Geez... that stupid brat sure does like to get him-self hurt and in trouble!" the ancient beast stated annoyed "I wonder what he's still doing in there!" he concluded...

~*~*~*~

Inside the building... Kage softly and carefully tracked Ushio's sent as she walked cat-footed on the solid ground... the hallway she was walking through was awful dark and full with spider-webs and bugs... and Kage had had enough of bugs ever since the island... disgusted and frazzled, she eyed her surroundings... where she was, was the part of their home that she never had a chance to check out... but now, she already got the chance... there were a few cracks in the walls seeping sunlight inside, so it really wasn't that dark...

"Moan..."
"??" Hearing that, the female walked a few steps front-wards "Ushio?"
"Uh-Kage?" the sound of rolling rocks came by from near ahead...
"Kage! Down here!" the boy hollered...
"Hush!" she scolded, "You might make the roof fall on both of us!" she said as she kept on walking "where are you?"
"Down a hole as far as I can tell! And my back is killing me! I can hardly move... OUCH!!!"
"Uhh..." Kage eyed her surroundings and saw this odd thing in the floor, walking towards it, it was the hole, and she found her-self stepping on some thing...
"Ouch! Hey! Watch the hair!"
"Huh?" looking at her claws, Ushio's hair was tangled among a few bushes strangling him and his hair, as dirt, rocks and stones rested all over him... a rather huge rock was resting on his legs "Ushio, Darling! Are you all right? Does any thing hurt?" she asked...
"Just my legs! I don't even know if they're still there or not!" the boy moaned in pain...
"How did this happen?"
"Easy! I was minding my own self exploring, when this thing sprung in front of me, I was so startled, I wanted to swat it, but ended up hitting the floor and, well... here I am!"
"You crazy child! Don't move!" Kage slowly held to the edge of the hole and slowly climbed down slowly, and as she reached the bottom, she held the stone as good as she can "Okay, if it hurts, tell me!"
"Uh, okay!"
"One... two... HEAVE!!!" pulling it up, Kage was able to flip it over, showing the boys scared up shins... "Eww!" was all she said...
"You can say that again!" painfully, the boy pulled back his feet...
"Are you okay now?"
"No! Not until I get back the spear!"
"Huh? You lost it?"
"No! The thing that jumped me took it!"
"Oh-great!"
"Ugh... man, they hurt too much!" the boy whined, feeling his shins as they lightly bled...
"I don't think you can walk, hold still!" the light brown female hunched down and licked the boys wounds...
"Ow! Ouch! Kage stop it! That hurts!"
"Quit your whining! Might as well clean it for now before it gets dirty!!"
"Uhh!!!" squirming in pain, the boy held it back for a few minutes until the female was done... somehow, her licking did make it feel better! It stopped snapping and that what mattered! "Thanks Kage!" the boy said...
"Don't mention it dear!" she smiled slightly nuzzling him... he blushed and she felt the heat of his face seep into her, "sorry! Didn't mean to embarrass you!" she said...
"It's... okay!" Ushio rubbed the back of his neck as he blushed...
"C'mon! Let's get you out of this hell-hole!"
"..." Climbing on her back, it was merely a single leap as she made it out of the hole... eyeing the boy, it seemed that losing the spear made him shift back to normal, and all his hair was stick down the branches in the hole...

"I don't think we should go out now! We gotta get the spear first!"
"Why?"
"Kyofu is out side now dear! And I don't think it's a good idea to let you meet him as human!"
"Oh!"
"Do you remember which way the thing went with the spear?"
"Up-wards as far as I could remember!"
"Up?? Hmm, now this is a tough one!"

"Eek!!"
"Oop!!!"
"Ack!!"
"Chee!!"
"Huh??" O.o?
"What?" =O.O=!

The temple boy and the light brown female looked up, only to see this scrawny little white monkey, with three others holding the spear and shrieking in laughter... they quickly ran into a small gap in the wall where sun light was clear for every one to see... eyeing each other, then the gap, Kage and Ushio went after the troubling monkeys and with no intention but to get back the spear...

"Oh-when I get my claws on those dirty little..."
"Oh-no you don't! Not before I do! Those pesky monkeys have been bothering us for months... and now, we're finally gonna find out where they hide... those lowly little maggots!"

Stepping into the open space behind the broken wall, Ushio and Kage both froze at the sight of the most wonderful place they had ever laid eyes on... a garden with trees, flowers, roses, fruits, in different shapes, colors and scents, a small lake running in the middle with a small bridge built over it, grass as green as Greenland, sky as clear as crystal blue, and the unmatched beauty...

"........." Kage was frozen silent...
"Whoa..." breathed the boy... then eyed the stunned female "Kage? You okay?"
"Oh... it's so... magnificent!" she breathed... the female was out of this world...
"Kage?" the boy asked again as he stepped off her back...
"Not now Ushio!" she said with a dreamy voice, slowly walking towards the waters... clearing her throat she gazed at it... "GASP!!!!!!" her eyes shot wide open...
"Kage what is it?"
"N... nothing!" she whispered "C'mon! The spear should be around here! Let's find it and get the hells out of here" she concluded in a hurry...

"Eek!!"
"Oop!!"
"Ack!!"
"Chee!!"

The four monkeys cheered in happiness, they were up the many trees, as their branches morphed into each other, wanting the two creatures to follow them as they ran off with the spear... annoyed and in no mood for playing, the temple boy started cursing them one by one... of course, it didn't seem like they were any other monkeys than the four ones here...

"Hey! Come back here with that spear!" shouted the temple boy as he chased after them cursing and swearing infinite destruction...
"..." After the boy was out of her sight, gazing back at the waters, Kage saw a red headed human woman, with green ivy eyes, bloody red lips, and milky-tanned skin gazing back at her "Serena..." she sadly whispered to her self... shaking the thought out of her mind, she ran after the boy to help him with this stupid problem... she knew that the monkeys were more a problem than they looked like...

~*~*~*~

"COME back here you dirty little white maggot!!!" cried the boy, sliding on his stomach missing by a hair grabbing one of the monkey's by the tail "F***!!!!" he growled... looking up at the trees, the monkey's were making fun of him, swinging and goofing around with the spear... the spear hummed softly, but still, the monkeys didn't let go, instead, it seemed to actually catch their interest!
"Let Go Of IT-Raaaaaggghhh!!!!" shouted the female as she zoomed by the boy darting the surprised monkeys...
"Eeeeek!!!!" one of the monkeys screamed in terror and the female darted him, her clawed hand rested harshly on his chest pining him to the grassy ground...

"(Shrieking and screaming)" the three other monkeys seemed alarmed about this attack, with the three of them holding the spear still...
"Okay fur-balls! You want your friend to come back safe and in one piece, give us back that spear!!" the female growled with a wicked ear-to-ear smile, tail flickering... her claws lightly shifting outwards, almost cutting the monkey's skin...
"Eeek!" in self-defend, the monkey bit the female beast in her hand, between the thumb and the index finger...
"Ow!!!!" she squeaked as she flicked him over...
"(Making fun of her as it climbed next to it's friends after doing a run for it)"
"..." Licking her hand, it had teeth marks...
"Are you all right?" the boy asked, dusting him self...
"Yeah, but I'm warning ya! These damn things bite hard!" she whined and went back to licking/nursing her hand like a huge cat...
"X" angry, the boy craned to the four monkeys and thought for a second... scanning around, he saw a banana tree, so... how typical can it get?"
"Ushio! Your not gonna try and get them with the banana trick are you? I mean... I really don't think that they're 'that' dumb!"
"Oh-C'mon Kage! It's worth a try!"
"Yeah, like a one in a million chance it might work!"
"..." Walking to the tree then plucking out a banana, Ushio walked back to the silent monkeys and swung it for them to see "Monkey wanna banana?"
"Oh-brother..." whined the female, hand cupping her face...
"Here-monkey-monkey-monkey!!"
"Ushio! How stupid can you get! Their not gonna fall for that!!!" she growled in annoyance...

"O-gimmy a minute here!" scolded the boy, then craned to the tree again... the monkeys were all gone "Sh**??? Where did they go??"
"Dunno!" suddenly an apple thwacked the female's head from the back "OW!!! Dammit!" craning around, she got gifted with another on the forehead "Ouch!!!" the monkeys kept on throwing fruits at them till the tree they were on was dead empty...
"Kage!" thwacked with an orange, the temple boy cursed and ran to the monkeys who were making fun of them as they swung on another tree behind them, with the spear still, sadly he missed grabbing one of them and fell sprawling on his face... one of the monkeys took that chance and spanked the boy as hard as he can once on the tender-part with the flat side of the spear "OUCH!!!!" jilting in pain, the boy stood up cursing them...
"I-am-really-Really-REALLY-beginning-to-HATE-this!!!" the female whispered slurring to the temple boy rubbing his butt next to her...
"God-damn little..." feeling his rear, the boy craned to the cursing female "are you gonna try and get them??" he asked with a wicked smile...
"Oh-You can bet your soft tushy I will!!" she smiled widely...

Ignoring her answer with a blush, the temple boy sprung as fast as he can towards the nearest tree and climbed towards the monkeys... Kage, on the other hand, simply darted a thunder-bold towards a near by tree, cutting the monkeys escape rout... screaming and sensing danger, the four monkeys gathered together in fright and worry as the boy walked to them... well, more like crawling on the tree branch!

"Okay you dirty little runts! I'm gonna teach you not to try and take away the spear from me!" he reached out a hand to grab the spear...
"Eek!" one of them smiled wickedly as it communicated with its friends...
"??" Not understanding what the monkey was saying to its friends, the only thing Ushio knew, they were planning something against him, and it doesn't seem to be a very nice one!
"Ushio!" called the female "what are you waiting for? Grab it!"
"Uh, okay!" craning back to the monkeys... the four of them were holding up the spear vertically "uh-Oh!!!" the boy whispered to him self...
"*(BO--@.@--NK)*"
"Ushio!!!" cried the female as the boy passed out and fell right into her arms... she was able to grab him before he hit the ground...
"Oww..." dizzy and with a nasty bump on his scull, the birds and stars flew away scared...
"Ushio! Dear!" she cupped his face passionately "are you all right?"
"Ow-F***! Now I know why Tora hates it when I hit him with the spear... it-HURTS!!!" the boy whined in pain as a single line of crimson drew it's warm salty-sweet sent on his forehead...
"Oh-my!!!" the female stated as the sent snapped her mind... Kage never did like to eat humans, yet... the smell of blood... that was something she couldn't stop her self from tasting... as licking it of his forehead...
"Ow! Kage! What 'cha doin'?" dizzy and with a headache, the temple boy left the female clean his blood stain... still there in her arms as she sat back on her hunches... somehow, it felt good... when Tora licks some thing, he usually leaves his drool all over, but Kage... when she licks, her tong feels moist, yet, it leaves no drool! It was like a mop, cleans yet dry...

"(One of the monkey's mimicked them as another sat in its lap as if it was Ushio! The other kissed his forehead as if Kage)"

"I hate them!" stated the light brown female... thunder crackled...
"Me too!" the boy blushed hissing...
"Shall we kick some asses?"
"You can bet on that!"

Stepping out of the females arms, the temple boy felt his heavy head and focused on his stand... Kage walked around the place where the monkeys sat on the tree, then she stood on her hind legs next to the boy and shrugged, having no idea how to get it back... still goofing with the spear, one of the monkeys felt it's tattered red silk, then drew it's fingers on the metal head... in amusement, the three other monkeys gathered around the metal head as it hummed softly, feeling it and touching all over it... Ushio eyed it oddly; as it never acted so calmly... then the humming went loud, as if annoyed from the scrolling hands all over it...

"CRACK-KA-BOOOOOOOM!!!!"

Every thing was enveloped in light; the temple boy and the light brown female beast closed their eyes in protection...after a short pause, the female and the boy opened their eyes a crack, only to see this ugly creature with it's huge furry arms, four tails, eight arms, two huge muscular legs, with the most ear-popping shrieking--like--scream sound any one could hear... long sharp shark like teeth and with longer fangs, and the spear in one of it's hands, humming dangerously... it had one head, but four faces!!! Each face resembled an emotion... one was happy, the other was sad, then angry, and then, last but not least, sleepy...

"*Gulp* Oh-crap!"
"You can say that again boy!"
"RUN!!!"
"WHOA!!!!!!"

Quickly zooming out of the gap in the wall, the temple boy climbed on the females back and they went as fast as possible, the huge beast followed them as it held the spear in it's clutch, crashing thought he wall as the angry face growled...

~*~*~*~*~
Near by, somewhere ahead...
~*~*~*~*~

"Do you think we should go in? It's been some time!" the dark brown beast questioned...
"Relax Muma!" the tanned female stated...
"But Yami! Do you think Mother and Ushio are all right? They might need help in there!" the golden female worriedly asked...
"Ann!" the ancient orange beast called "I know Ushio-brat! He'll come back in one peace! Besides! He probably got him self in some sort of mischief or why else had he taken so long!"
"Shouldn't we go and help then?" Muma asked...
"Why bother!" Tora chuckled "Your mother is with him! I'm sure she'll make sure he'll be all right!"
"Aren't you worried about him?" Jiaaku wondered...
"Why should I? He's better off dead as far as I care!!"
"..." Kyofu was silent sitting back on his hunches a few feet away from the ancient beast... the black beast was up-set to know a human was on his territory, and that he couldn't kill him cause he was the beast-lance-user...

"CLEAR THE WAY!!!!!!" the temple boy cried as he, on the females back still, zoomed past the dark brown beast, the tanned female and the young golden female who were waiting at the entrance of the building, knocking them over... Jiaaku was sitting a few feet away...
"F***?" the ancient orange beast asked as he stood from his perch on top a tree... eyeing the boy in human still, yet with out the spear...
"Hey!" cried the golden female in pain "watch it!!!" she rubbed her head...
"Kage!" Muma stated feeling his head "what is it? What's wrong?"
"Muma! I'm sorry we were in such a hurry, we..."

The ground under them started rumbling like an earthquake... yet sounding more like footsteps!!

"Oh-Sh**!! It's coming after us!!!" the boy hissed "Tora! Come over here quick you idiot! I need your help in this one!"
"You baka brat! What kind of mischief did you do this time?"
"Believe me, it wasn't my fault!"
"Sure it hasn't!!!"

"(A loud shriek came echoing across the empty hallway)"
"Ow!!!" blocking their ears, every one eyed the human boy and the light brown female for an explanation...
"uhhhhhhh..." the light brown female slurred, then eyed the temple boy...
"Um, Tora!" the boy called...
"??"
"Would you believe me if I said... a beast took away the spear from me?"
"!!!!!!" The beast widened his eyes, the orange beast crept his cold stripped face towards the boy a little and whispered with his rumbling hissing voice "you............ what?" hot breath blew against the boys face, the beast was fuming, and it was clear from his silver glowing slit eyes, showing shark teeth and rumbling growl in his chest, crackling thunder, specks of fire sizzling out of his mouth, puffy mane going all fuzzy... clearing his throat, the boy smiled sheepishly...

"(Screaming)" the beast with the spear smashed it's way through the door and howled as it eyed them all... but it had it's eyes fixed on the light brown female... probably the memory of the monkey Kage pounced on earlier...
"Oh-F***!" the ancient beast cursed, "What did you do to piss it off?"
"Nothing! I just wanted to get back the spear from a bunch of trouble making monkeys, but instead, I found my self with 'this' thing!"

"This is no time for talking!" the black beast growled, "We must destroy it!"
"Now that's my style!" the orange beast smirked as he and the black beast ran towards the furry monkey-like looking beast...
"Yami!" the dark brown beast hollered, "Get the kids outta here!"
"All right!" grabbing the two young beasts in its embrace, the tanned female ran towards the path that was going upwards...
"No! I wanna stay!! Mother!!!" Ann cried reaching for her mother...
"..." Eyeing her chilled being taken some where safe, Kage cleared her thoughts and eyed the monkey beast, then looked at the temple boy, who was still holding to her short furry shoulder... "Ushio!"
"???"
"You should go with Yami! With out the spear, you can't do any help, this'll be too dangerous!"
"F***? No way! I'm staying here and I'm gonna help!"
"Ushio!" the dark brown beast growled, "you can-not help in this one! GO!!"
"But Muma!!!"
"I said-GO!!!!" the beast hissed an anger "Kage! Take him to the back side and stay there!"
"What! I'm helping!"
"Oh-you have done enough help Kage! Get the boy out!"
"But Muma!"
"KAGE! GO!!"
"..." With a sigh "yes Muma..." grabbing the boy from the waist, flipping him over her shoulder, the boy tried to brake free but couldn't...
"Kage! Don't! Urgh... KA-GE!!!" the boy growled as the female ran up with him, eyeing the last glimpse of the dark brown beast eyeing them leave, as in the background, the ancient orange beast and the black beast battled the monkey beast... the boy couldn't help but cry out loud "TORAAaaa....!!"
"?!" craning around, Tora couldn't help but eye where the female went with the boy... shaking the thought out of his head, Tora growled then crackled thunder and shot a bolt to the monkey beasts chest...

"TORA!!! Look out!" the dark brown beast cried...
"??" Eyeing the beast, then dodging a fisted punch, Tora was able to escape a punch, but was too late to escape the lashing tail...
"Oomph!!!" slamming into a wall, it broke and fell covering the orange beast whole...
"TORA!" Muma cried, and was just about to go dig the beast out when the black beast cried in pain as the monkey beast chocked him grabbing him by the throat...
"Uck--Ack!!!!" the black beast gagged trying to breathe...
"KYOFU!" the dark brown beast cried, then jumped towards the monkey right towards the sad face and sacred up the cheeks...
"!!!" With a shrike of pain, the beast grabbed Muma by the hind legs and lifted him up high... then pulling him down quick slamming him to the stone ground, leaving him in the hole he made from his crash...
"Moan..." Muma couldn't move...
"RRrrraaaaAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" Tora blew up the remains from over him, and with a single leap, the ancient beast made an electric bolt so huge; it blew up one of the monkey beast's arms, splattering blood and flesh all over... the ancient orange beast was enjoying him self, so he thought he'd blow up a few more limbs...
"*Gasp*" eye shot wide open, gasping for air, the black beast dragged him self back to get a better shot at the beast whom almost killed him...
"Muma?" the orange beast eyed the dark brown beast sprawling in pain, trying to get up "idiot! You should've been more careful!"
"Easy for you to say!" the dark brown beast mocked, eyeing the orange beast looking at him up-side down... then eyed the monkey beast in pain as it squealed in pain and threw away the spear...
"The spear!" the ancient beast cried...

A quick shadow leaped high and with a single hand, gripped the spear tight, as the mystic eyes shot in the haze of purplish-green, teeth to fangs, and the black cloud of the user hair... Ushio chuckled nastily and charged up a huge thunderbolt sending it to the monkey beasts face, blowing its head to kingdom-choom! Landing a triple 10 score, the boy was glad it was over...

"What took you so long?" the ancient orange beast chuckled mockingly...
"You can't keep me out of a battle fuzz ball!" the beast barrier answered...
"Ushio!" the light brown female shouted, anger filling her voice...
"Huh?" craning around, the boy saw the female walking towards him, brushing back her arms fur as if pushing up her sleeves "Uh-Oh!" he mumbled, "hide me!" then quickly scooted behind the dark brown beast...
"Ushio! You come over here right now and get what's coming to you!" Kage growled as she thumped her foot in anger, arms folded...
"But Kage!!!" the boy whined...
"..." Silently, Tora held in a chuckle and simply sat back on his hunches, as he knew the boy was in trouble... deep trouble...

~*~*~*~*~
Some time later... by sunset...
~*~*~*~*~

"Ow-my butt is killing me!" stated the boy as he sat slowly on a dead bed of grass, feeling his rear that was flaming hot...
"That's what you get for messing with mom Ushio! You should've stayed put like she told you!" Ann stated, "I know how it feels to get spanked, it hurts!" she shyly stated feeling her tushy...
"Yo' I'm Aotsuki Ushio! I 'don't' stay put! (Standing up quickly, his tender part snapped) Ow! Tch... well... maybe just for now!" he shallowly whined as he sat down again, feeling the spear that was now in his hands, the pain didn't matter as long as he still had it, although it didn't make his ass feel any better...
"Hey brat!" the ancient beast called...
"What is it Tora?"
"We're heading down to see the construction ground... can your tushy take the ride, or would you rather walk it?" the beast mocked...
"..." Blushing, the boy thwacked the beast one on the noggin...
"OW-F***! That hurts Dammit!"
"I know! And I've got the bump to prove it!"
"Yeay! We're going out!!" the golden female stated in joy...
"Oh-no your not!" the tanned female stated as she walked towards them "you, Jiaaku and I are staying here, Kyofu, Kage, Muma and Tora along with the lance user are the only ones going..."
"Aw-but Ya-mi!!!!"
"Quit your whining girl!"
"Fudge!"
"Who wants to see a bunch of humans working any way?" the light brown young male questioned as it sprawled bored on top of a flat rock, tail flickering...
"I do!" Ann answered...
"What ever..." the young male recalled...

"Any ways lets move!" Tora stated as the boy slowly and as careful as possible, sat on his back ready to go "Geez brat! I can feel your rear's heat from here!"
"Shut up and start running a** h***!" the boy growled, spanking the beast one on 'his' rear with the flat side of the spear...
"Ouch!" jilting as he took a small leap running out towards the forest... growling, the beast ignored the boys cursing and darted to a near by path...

~*~*~*~*~
By night fall...
~*~*~*~*~

"About... over 50 men as far as I could tell!"
"Any ideas how to make them leave?"
"Nope... this might need a strategy!"
"Oh..."
"........."
"Ushio..."
"Yeah Kage?"
"Sorry about spanking you earlier!!"
"... (Blush) forget about it!"
"Hey brat!" the beast called a few feet away as he sat next to the dark brown beast and the black beast "get your F***ing ass over here!" he snickered...
"Oh*sh**! Now what does he want!?"
"I dunno!"

~*~*~*~*~

There were two men with blue prints, one was showing the other some thing, and from the construction set, it seemed that they were getting ready to build a shopping mall of some sort! Ether that or a rather huge motel! What better place to build such places than the wide-open space of nature?? But then, some thing caught the temple boy's eyes... it was a little girl, about 5-7 years old... she had a doll in her hands as she sat on a chair, silently gazing at nothing... then, one of the men walked towards her and simply did nothing but place a water bottle next to her... the man seemed to talk to her, but she gave no respond, and when the man walked away, he seemed angry... after a pause, she stepped off the chair and walked towards the forest... Ushio eyed Kage, and the female eyed him back... both quickly attended to follow the little girl...

"Kage!" the dark brown beast whined, "please, not again!"
"Sorry dear!" the light brown female smiled as she and the temple boy went down a path...
"Well then..." the black beast growled lightly "I guess we'll never get this done!"
"Females are such a pain!" the orange beast slurred...
"Not really!" Muma stated, and then craned around towards the other two beasts "it's just that Kage can't help it when around young children! As a mother, it's only natural!"
"..." Tora said nothing and just flicked his tail once...
"It is not my problem that your mate thinks more with her emotions and heart than with her head!" the black beast murmured...
"Well, its not our fault your heart is made of stone either!" hissed the dark brown beast before pacing away...
"..." Tora said nothing... should he join the other two beasts, or should he follow the temple boy and the female...

=====================================================
A/N: chapter two is gonna come really slow like... forgive me, I've got so many fic's I wanna finish them all at first... but I just cant help but upload another before finishing a previous one...