Chapter 1.5: Fangs, Blades, Claws

"But, how?" Rin gasped. That animal…it seems familiar to me. Kyuuseishu thought. The weapon in the wolf's mouth became rock and crumbled into aura. It walked over to the three.

"Is that you, Kiba?" Emiko asked cautiously as she approached the animal.

"Yeah, it's me." The wolf, Kiba, spoke.

"Did that wolf just…talk?" Kyuuseishu asked, still shocked.

"Sure did!" Emiko smiled while petting Kiba.

"He probably doesn't recognize me in this form." Kiba said. He began to walk towards where Kyuuseishu and Rin were standing. Wait…I know him? How could I or do I know him? Kyuuseishu thought.

"What do you mean by 'form'?" Rin asked.

"I'm really human, like the rest of you." Kiba began to change. Fur became skin. Paws became hands and feet (well-shoes). Fangs shrank into teeth. His eye color changed. Where the wolf had stood was a boy with straight black hair that spiked a little in the front and onyx eyes wearing the same uniform as Kyuuseishu. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of glasses. When he put them on, he said,

"Recognize me now, Shu?"

"Not really." Shu said.

"Then," Kiba sneered, "we have a problem." He drew his sword and attacked Shu, who blocked the attack, but was sent flying down the street. The girls followed the two boys fighting.

"Who is this guy?" Rin asked while they were running.

"Kiba Yamainu." Emiko replied.

"Is he friend or foe?"

"He's…" she was cut off from a gust of wind that blew them back.

Kiba and Shu continued fighting. Kiba sent a boulder towards Shu, which he barely dodged. It ended up creating a massive hole in a building. Shu sends two wisps of air at him, causing Kiba to lower his guard. Shu attacks from above, but Kiba recovers in time to block the attack.

"I see you've remembered how to fight." He says.

"I don't even know how I learned in the first place!" Shu charges at Kiba. As their weapons clash, he thinks, Yeah. I'm fighting through my instincts. I feel like I should fight this guy, but at the same time, I feel off. It's like my mind and body are not in sync. More memories surfaced. I'm beginning to remember this 'Kiba' person. He is…

A younger Shu and Emiko are in a playground. Both appear around eight.

"I still don't see why you keep following me, Emiko." Kyuuseishu says.

"It's because I want to make sure you're OK after…you know…" Emiko explains. A younger Kiba approaches them. Kyuuseishu steps forward, his fists balled and eyes filled with malice.

"What do you want, Kiba?" he growls.

"I think our fights are stupid. I just came here because I want to be friends." His mind moves to a new memory:

An older Kyuuseishu and Kiba are fighting atop a waterfall. Kiba charges and they fall down. Kyuuseishu's eyes are fully green instead of only half. Instead of his usual onyx, Kiba's eyes are blood-red and he appears partially transformed. The image of the man with red eyes resurfaces.

By then, Kyuuseishu was gripping the side of his head as held onto his now-planted sword for support.

"It seems you are remembering." Kiba said. "Do you remember me now?"

"Yeah, I remember you." Kyuuseishu said, picking up his sword. "You are…the enemy I must defeat, no matter the cost!" He charges at Kiba.