Inari was just boiling a large pot of what look like a bunch of twigs and herbs stirred well in the bottom like tapiocas. When the mixture, a soft green in colour started bubbling, she ladled out into four equal cups into matching porcelain tea cups and brought it into the living room, where three guys were sitting around the long wooden table on soft beanbags. The forth, Eric Marsters, had went out to get some groceries while heading back to see he could salvage whatever he could find at the debris of his shop. On the table, there’s already an opened bottle of sake.
“Here, drink this. It looks like you guys need it.” She passed the cups around and they murmured their thanks.
Currently, they are now in Inari’s shrine, one of the many Shinto shrines that is built in areas of Japan to worship the goddess Inari, The shrine that they are in right now is known as the Namiyoke Inari Shrine in Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo. This shrine was built on the water’s edge after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1957. The name Namiyoke literally means “protection from the waves”.
Lloyd took a large gulp of the tea. It’s bitter, but somehow refreshing and calming, soothing his nerves. “Thank you.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” Inari winked, flirtatiously. “I heard from these two that the dear child in blue is taken by a red-headed boy.”
“Brainwashed, not taken.” Francis corrected.
“Hey, Inari-san, ” Glenn said. “You wouldn’t have happened to see him around, do you?”
“Well,” Inari is now setting a tray full of rice balls. “I did hear a few rumours, but I’m not too sure about the boy in red. But I’ll keep an ear out for you handsome gentlemen.” She then passed around the rice balls. “You all looked worn-out. Haven’t you all eaten anything since yesterday?”
“We only had sushi.” Francis said, biting into one of the rice balls.
“Sushi? Where are you all staying at?” Inari asked, throwing back her head and drinking one shot of sake, her golden cyan-tipped hair tumbling back over her shoulders.
“Tokyo Hotel.” Glenn replied, stuffing his rice ball into his mouth while trying to help Francis with his dressings.
“That explains it.” Inari said, stretching her legs. “Tell you what, how about you handsome gents use my place? I got a lot of rooms to spare.”
“We left our things back at the hotel.” Lloyd said, looking sullen.
“No problem.” Inari said, clicking her fingers. “I’ll get my little kitsunes to get your stuff. Does that suits you, Lloyd-kun?”
Lloyd gave her a smile while trying to stuff the rice ball down his throat. It’s not exactly his kind of food, but no matter how the food is, raw or cooked, he’s going to need to keep his strength up.
Reo was staring aimlessly at his old room ceiling. Everything is exactly the same before he left for Manhattan. The untouched Gundam models on the shelves, faded posters of Hagino Takashi taped on one wall, his old tatami mattress with the faded azure blue quilt, all exactly the same.
He never wanted to return here, but what other choice he had? Dario knew all along that he’s from the Kanagawa Prefecture, he had given his personal particulars when he was interviewed by him, but really, he never thought his Obaasan actually allowed him back here, especially when he left without saying goodbye. The others had insisted on coming here because due to a mistake between the hotel bookings, Dario had asked him, “What about your place?”
Allen had turned, looking interested. “You live here?”
Revarie had given him a cuff on the head. “He’s a Japanese, kid.”
After a heated argument in the airport, Reo had finally given in, hailed a cab, and here they are.
“Doushitanou, Reo-kun?”
That sweet old comforting voice, soft and rickety, nearly startled him off his mattress. For three years, he had left Obaasan without even saying goodbye, no note or anything, he just packed up, withdraw his savings and left. He thought she would be furious with him for leaving her. But instead, she just greeted him with her usual gentle manner. Time haven’t seemed to touch her. Obaasan Minamio, otherwise known as Ohime, is still the same as how he had remembered her. Her straight dark hair, now with grey streaks, is tied back into a long ponytail, her eyes jewel blue. Her skin has turned brown and not as smooth as before, but her warm touch is still the same.
“Nothing, Obaasan.”
“Your friends are waiting for you, chop chop.” She said, her eyes twinkling, but with the beginning of pencil lines around them.
Reo got up and went down to the living room. There they are, his allies, companions, all sitting around Obaasan’s table, all on their best behavior. Obaasan doesn’t know much about them, but as far as Reo is concerned, it’s better this way. He only fed her a few snippets of the whole truth, Dario is his employer, head of Twilight Inc., Revarie is from Italy, hired as Dario’s assistant, he in turn is hired as a secretary, and Alen, is well, the errand boy. Enough said.
“Would anyone like a cup of tea?” Obaasan asked in English.
“Yes, please…” Alen said, beaming at her. Despite the fact that he has eye shadows due from his lack of sleep, his innocent boyish features always helps him out of trouble.
“Oh, such a sweet boy.” Obaasan said in Japanese, pinching his cheeks.
“Obaasan, could please leave us for a moment?” Reo asked quietly in Japanese.
“Alright, I’ll be outside if you need me…”
“She’s a very good lady.” Alen said, sipping his cup of tea.
“Any news on Guy yet?” Revarie asked.
Dario drew out his cellphone and checked the screen. “No, he did not call or leave a message.” He then turned to Alen, “What did you find?”
Instead of Alen answering, Mind’s Shadow loomed over and said, “There’s not much to salvage. But just to let you know, I saw that Marsters boy poking around the rubbles. But enough of that, I found out something interesting…”
“What is it?” Revarie said, tending to his burns, which are glowing a blister red.
“It seems that that Marsters boy had told them something… About Guy and that girl, in Suruga Bay…”
Dario glanced at each of them in turn. “ Gentlemen, I think we know where we are heading next.”
Reo went over to an ancient cabinet and brought out a huge roll of paper, it looks like it at first, but then as he unrolls it, it’s actually a map of Japan, with details of the road and tracks of the train routes.
“Suruga Bay is at the South.” Reo said, tracing the route. “We can use the Shinkansen to head there.”
Dario nodded and went up to pack the equipments that they will be needing. Looks like this’ll be a long journey.
And, the thought makes him smile, he might be able to see little brother again…
“Those freaks thrashed my shop.”
Eric had come back, dumping whatever he could salvage from the debris. Some photos that are still alright, though they need to be dried because they’re very wet from the water, some Eric Clapton’s vinyl CDs, a very old vintage camera, and miracles of miracles, a photo album, which is bound in worn out leather and peeling gold letterings.
“What’s that?” Lloyd asked, his interest piqued.
“That? That’s my dad’s photo album.” Eric picked it up and shook it hard. “It’s a miracle it managed to survive in the debris. Otherwise, Dad would’ve haunted me.”
“May I?”
Eric shrugged. ”Suit yourself. I’m going to dry the photos… Just don’t tear it apart, it’s very old. Is there any place where I can dry the photos, Inari-sama?”
“There’s a room in the back that you’re welcome to use.” She said, gesturing at the back, drinking her fifth shot of sake, not even looking drunk at all.
Lloyd held the photo album in his hands, which feels very fragile in his hands. He flicked the album open, with Glenn and Francis beside him. The photos are many years old. Each of them have a description scribbled beside them, all in English and Japanese. Nearly all of them are boring, but it was the last one which caused Glenn to go, “Hey, wait a minute!”
Lloyd looked up and Glenn jabbed a finger at the last photo. It’s a photo of a very familiar looking face peering out at them. The description besides reads, KAGEROU TAISHII .
“Is that what I think it is?” Francis said, looking awed.
“Suruga Bay.”
Eric had came back out of the room, taking a sip of his cold green tea.
“Er…What?”
“Suruga Bay.” Eric repeated. “The old army base is there. The Japanese Army, I mean. My dad went was there. He managed to take a shot of Taishii, but he also claimed,” His gaze met theirs. “He saw a devilishly pair murdering all of the soldiers in mere minutes, not one was even left alive, both sides suffered a major loss. I thought he was making a wise crack joke before you guys came along with that video and the girl’s photo.”
“I’m going.” Lloyd nodded, making his decision.
“Say what?” Francis yelped. “We are?”
“Of course.” Lloyd was suddenly determined, all weariness and relaxation had wore off. “At least, that’s where Guy might’ve headed. And if we’re lucky, we might run into Dario and his allies.”
“And just how are you going to take them on?” Eric asked, calmly sipping his tea. “You got those pair to worry about with their crazy killer hair, and now you got those freaks on your back as well. Muri desu.”
“Well, what about you?” Lloyd said, glaring directly at him. He don’t need a translator to understand what’s muri means. His expression says it all. “You just sit back sipping your tea while Guy and V.V. are heading further and further with Guy leading the killing spree.”
Eric put his cup on the table and stood up, jabbing Lloyd’s forehead with two fingers hard. It was enough to cause him to stumble back.
“Baka, you’re just going to rush in there without a plan?” Eric said, his voice deadly serious. “Let me tell you something, my dad was a war correspondent for that war, I was one of the witnesses who saw that incident. I was only a kid at that time but I remembered it.” He pulled back the sleeve of the shirt he was wearing to reveal a large scar on his forearm, the shape of a crescent moon. “I got cut by the boy, you know. He nearly got my arm back then, if a soldier haven’t sacrificed himself to save me, I would’ve lost this arm.”
Lloyd looked away, fuming with frustration.
“He’s right, you know.” A girlish voice said. Inari is lying down on the wood floor, circling the rim of her tea cup. “You can’t rush in there without a plan, those boys might rip you before you even find the dear child.”
“I asked you this before, but I’m going to ask you again.” Eric locked gaze with him. “Do you think you can save her from that killer state?”
“And my answer is still the same, I will save her from that state, I have to try.” Lloyd said. “Sometimes, you don’t need a plan of action. You just have to go with the flow.”
Glenn and Francis stood in between, their expression nervous. No one dared to breathe, no one dared to spoke.
A girlish silvery laughter broke the silence, they all turned to see Inari laughing so hard, tears of laughter streaming her eyes.
“Why bother to ask, he’s a real man alright. Oishii.” She giggled, throwing back her hair and straightening her kimono. “Fine, I’ll take you there myself.”
Eric gave a sigh and said, “Looks like you win, Anderson. So, when do we leave?”
**********************
Far away in the sea, a ship set sail for its destination, looking like any perfectly normal ship, except there is something wrong, terribly wrong. The deck looks quiet, and the usually noisy atmosphere is eerily silent.
A figure appeared on board, wearing a blood red hakama which matched his hair. He’s carrying the body of a dead man as though he’s lightweight, despite the fact that he’s just a teenager. Looking unconcerned, he flung the dead man’s body overboard, which went crashing into the sea with an almighty crash.
“That looks boring…” Guy said, staring at the sea below. “I thought the body would be crushed by the water pressure, not just drop like a dead weight.”
He turned, staring at the mangled bodies all over the deck, all covered in blood. Some limbswere cut off, some had deep cuts and slashes, and some had injuries that made the corpse unrecognizable. They are all the old crew of the Japanese Army, all about to set sail to the sea for a short cruise trip when the boy in red suddenly launched himself onboard with his hair and-
Guy turned back to the sea, the wind blowing his hair. Their creator wasn’t among the dead though, all the dead men had pleaded for their life but none of them could tell where did Professor Taishii went, nor had they heard any news about him ever since he ran off.
Whatever, he shrugged. It’s actually all thanks to him that he was given the ability to be alive… Humanity for the demon essence that now stirs in him.
A shadowy blur suddenly whooshed past him, causing him to look up jerkily.
“What was that?”
A pine cone-like object rolled near his feet. At first, he couldn’t recognize it, then as his eyes widened-
BOOM!!!!
An explosion of orange fireball appeared.
**********************
Inari the fox soared in the air, carrying Lloyd, Glenn, Francis and Eric on her back. It was Eric who had threw the hand-grenade with pin-point accuracy at the kid in red, whom Lloyd had explained, “That’s him, the psychopath kid.”
Eric tucked his revolver and a long katana in his waist belt, saying, “Do we jump, or what?”
Lloyd strapped his Zanmato safely and said, “We jump.”
Glenn checked his Sauer one last time before tucking it back into his waist band. Besides that, he had armed himself with stakes, sharpened to a point so that it looks like a spear, and strapped to his back, the revolver which belonged to the late Erica Giovanni . The special blessed holy bullets are still in them, but there’s only enough for 5 shots. He cannot waste them. “You do realize that if we jump we might not make it back alive?”
“Don’t say that.” Lloyd said, gritting his teeth. “We got to think positive.”
“If we do not make it alive though, then we’ll set history in Columbia-U, right, Glenn?” Francis pocketed bottles of holy water into his pockets, some stakes which he slipped into his back pocket, and some of them strap to a spring mechanism in his arms, which is hidden by his long sleeved coat, but his most deadly weapon, his bare fists and legs.
“If you all do die though,” Inari said, circling lower the ship. “Then you’re all welcome to be my fox spirits.”
“Gee, that’s comforting.” Lloyd said sarcastically.
From the thick smoke, long red hair-like serpents emerged out from all directions, each tip like a snake’s head, all wide open to reveal jagged fangs. Without even hesitating, Inari’s nine tails glowed and blasted nine huge blue fireballs at the hair serpents. Some of them caught on fire and burned, while others evade as quick as a serpent.
“Jump, now!” Lloyd shouted.
They needed no more orders, they all leapt into the air and onto the deck, with Inari landing gracefully beside the guys in her human form, but with her fox ears and nine tails glowing brightly in gold and cyan, brimming with ancient magic.
“I should’ve know it was you guys again….”
The smoke had cleared and Guy looked unharmed , except there’s dirt and soot on his clothes and slightly charred hair where the fireballs had burned them.
“We’re here to take back V.V., Guy Moon.” Lloyd said, Zanmato out.
“Heh, why don’t you just ask her yourself?”
The soft sounds of bare feet walking towards them made him turn and he felt his heart plummet.
There she is, wearing a plain white yukata robe, her face looks deadpan, but she looks the same as ever. Her face made no recognization even as she saw them.
“V.V…..” He whispered.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Supernatural Demon Slayers : Chapter 30 - On That Day... ( その日の... )
Lloyd woke up from the flat tatami mattress he was using as a bed, still jet-lagged. Mind still groggy, he sat up and saw Glenn and Francis sleeping on either side of him like sardines.
Staring at the Japanese characters on the wall, he then realized. Oh, oh yeah. We’re in Japan now.
Japan….
Lloyd got up and walked to the window. The sky was tranquil, and Mt. Fuji seemed so picturesque from here, piercing through the fluffy clouds. Even it is so far away, it looked so near, yet so far.
A yawn cause him to turn to find Francis stretching on his tatami mattress, his hair ruffled and sticking out in tufts.
“You’re up early…” He commented.
“I never been outside of the States before…” Lloyd shrugged, “Japan is so…peaceful.”
“But of course.” Francis said, getting up, adjusting his dressings. “It’s a very quiet peaceful country. What do you expect?”
Lloyd shrugged and went to the bathroom, which is so much bigger than the one in their apartment, because it came fully equipped with a shower and a bath tub. It’s traditional for Japanese to have a cold shower then douse themselves in the tub, filled with warm water for cleansing. Undressing himself, he was about to take off the entire thin robe he was wearing when he caught sight of his reflection on the small framed mirror.
My hair had grew out? Lloyd thought, staring at his hair which is now touching his shoulders. I never noticed. Then again, I never had a haircut for weeks now. Pushing his fringe away from his eyes, he caught sight of his face which does, in fact resembles him. He had never noticed, how much they both really do resemble.
Shaking his head, he ignored the mirror until he was fresh and up in a black V-collared T-shirt and pale grey pants when Glenn barged in.
“You done yet?” He asked drowsily. “I want to bathe too. Francis’s needs to clean his wounds with the medicine that the hospital gave so let me through.”
He made his way out as Glenn slid the door shut. Francis had already undressed most if his dressings to reveal the deep cuts and the holes in his palms where Guy had brutally nailed him on his palms. The skin is already mending but it will never be the same ever again.
“It’ll be fine.” Francis said, catching his eye. “Besides, shouldn’t you be looking for O. Marsters?”
“I guess.” Lloyd sighed, going over to the thick phone directory book. It’s all in Japanese which makes him groaned, luckily Francis came to his rescue.
“This one, I’ll do it…”
It became apparent that Francis’s Japanese is quite... amateur, but better than him, he couldn’t even speak, let alone understand as Francis jabbered non-stop on the phone, it reminds him of Inari when she was shrieking non-stop at him to break traffic laws. But in the end, Francis had managed to pry the information out of the operator and brandish the small piece of paper to him.
“All done. There’s only one Marsters who specialized in photography and videos. He lives in Shibuya. Not too far from here.”
“Thanks. Take care of Glenn for me, okay?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. Just go.”
Lloyd stood outside the small studio, with his blade wrapped tightly in its cloth and case and consulting his address. Yep, Marster’s Magic Photos, Your One Stop Shop for Photos and Videos.
Lloyd stepped into the shop. It seemed so cut off from the outside world. The shop is rather cramped and antique, with frames and frames of old photos hung in every inch of available space. Stacks of CDs, vinyl record players, video players, CD players and many others are stacked on the desk behind the glass counter, where there’s a display of photos in which you could choose your own designs. Somewhere behind the shop, there’s a music playing Eric Clapton.
This, is one seriously weird place.
“Dare?”
A figure emerged out of a door that leads to a back room. He is about a few years older than he is, tall and lanky, with short reddish brown hair, brown almond-shaped eyes and slightly tanned skin. Definitely a foreigner.
“Ahm, is O. Marsters here?” Lloyd had wanted to try to use Japanese but he decides better against it. It was already bad enough that few people snickered when he tried to buy ticket on the bus and the driver couldn’t even understand a single word of English. None of the passengers were even helpful except to watch this American struggle until he pointed at the ticket machine, where the driver understood him.
“You’re American, I couldn’t tell.” The man said, switching to English.
“Geez, that’s kind of sad. Anyway, is O. Marsters around?”
“I think you meant my father, Oliver.” The man said clicking the music off. “Sorry, he’s dead few years back. I’m his son, Eric.”
“My sincerest apologies.”
“It’s alright, what business do you have with my father anyway?”
Lloyd brought out a flash drive and said, “The Russia-Japan war.”
“What about it?”
“Do you have a desktop or a USB port somewhere? It’s going to be a long day.”
“I know what you mean. Come on in…”
“Where did Lloyd went?” Glenn asked.
“He went to Shibuya to find that Marsters guy.”
“He can’t go out alone, he can’t even speak Japanese, let alone understand it, what the heck is he thinking?” Glenn snatched his coat up from the rack and went for the door. “I’m going after him.”
He had only taken two strides when a big black shadow swooped down on him, slamming him onto the floor.
“I see you had arrived as well.” Revarie sneered, holding him down.
“Oh man, you too?” Francis groaned, staring at Alen, who was holding him into place with Mind’s Shadow. How did he get here that fast?
“We’re one short.” Revarie prodded Glenn hard on the forehead. “Hey, retard, where’s your boss?”
“Now what makes you think I would tell to someone with the likes of you?” Glenn spat.
“Oh, you are going to tell me if you want your Jewish friend alive.” He shook him hard. “Now, where’s your boss?”
“I don’t know.”
“He says don’t know, don’t we all know it is just a trick?” Revarie said to Mind’s Shadow, who laughed. He swooped down upon them, clinging with his dark tendrils and into their minds, exposing all of their darkest deepest thoughts to him.
“Interesting.” Mind’s Shadow said softly, stretching back to Alen. “They found about Guy and V.V…. Their boss is heading to Shibuya, trying to get help from someone.”
“Brillante.” Revarie yanked Glenn by the collar. “I will not drink your blood, but I’ll snap your neck. That way, my family tree will be pruned.” His hands tightened around his throat and he started to squeeze hard.
He never even gone that far, that’s because a gold blue blur rushed past all of them like a wind, flinging Revarie off Glenn, knocking him onto a wooden dresser which stabbed him painfully in the arm.
“What???’
The gold blue blur slowed down and gave a silvery and light, girlish yet child-like laughter, revealing a familiar tall, slender figurine with golden blonde hair with fiery blue coloured tips, with nine-tails fanned out behind her.
“Inari!” Glenn sighed with relief.
Inari gave another child-like laughter. “The tall one is not here? Amai.”
“Get lost, kitsune.” Revarie snarled.
“I dislike that term. I am Inari.” Inari rushed towards Revarie and hurl him out of the window. He gave a yell as sunlight came into contact with him, burning his flesh. He hurriedly pulled up his thick hood and scampered for safety in the shadowed alleys, cursing in Italian.
“We’ll be back in another day, Kitsune Witch.” Mind’s Shadow warned. “We already got what we wanted anyway.” Allen then leapt over the balcony railing and ran off.
Inari was busy giggling like a delighted child. “Oh, it is such a rare sight to see all of you again. Especially in my own homeland. Where’s dear Lloyd?”
“He went to Shibuya, didn’t you hear?” Francis said.
“It seems a lot have happened when I was gone.” Inari remarked, sitting on the floor in the lotus position. “Where’s that aisuru ko – dear child, V.V.?”
“It’s very long story, Inari-san.” Glenn said.
“Oooh, could you get me some sake and rice then?” Inari said, moving gracefully and sitting in the traditional Japanese way, with her legs tucked beneath her on a cushion.
“Well,” Francis shrugged. “We can ask for room service, or we could just go down and get it from the convenience store.”
“No can do, Frances. They might be going after Lloyd.” Glenn yanked his coat from the floor and ran for the door. “I’ll be right back!” He shouted over his shoulder.
Eric watched the entire video clip in silence with Lloyd standing beside him in front of an old Macintosh computer. Even though he had already seen the video, it still gave him the chill when he saw V.V’s crazed face. Blood splashing all over her as she killed soldiers one after another, completely oblivious to the screams and cries of mercy. It’s very obvious that Guy’s enjoying himself as he cut down one after another.
“Well, that’s a very interesting clip you found, Mr Anderson.” Eric remarked softly as the clip ended.
“It was your dad who took the clip. Speaking of that scientist, my partner managed to translate some of his findings. ” Lloyd brought out a sheaf of papers. “Listen to this….”
“1st March 1904 –The Russian are keeping us at bay. The Empire is asking me to hurry it up with my experiment. I’m already trying my best, but most of my experiments failed. I spent the hours of dusk burying all of the bodies to dispose of the evidence. I can’t seem to find anyone compatible to the demon essence of Kagami and Morphix. ”
“5th March 1904 – The odds are still not in our favour, but the Empire had threw in a couple of children from the Russian military. I have no interest in them but left them to my assistant, who is in charge of giving them their basic needs. ”
“Well, this guy must’ve been a crackpot.” Eric shrugged, taking out a cigarette and lighting it with a silver lighter. He sure kept that quiet.
“Wait, there’s more.” Lloyd said, pulling out a small note. “This is probably before the Russian ambushed him.”
“15th May 1904 – It has been months since those two children had been with me. Both had blossomed into their 16 years of age. My assistant discreetly told me that they seem compatible for the experiment. Giving me a report of their progress, I agreed. Maybe they are compatible.
I called the boy and the girl into my lab. I then gave them sleeping drought and huge dose of painkillers before I set to work on them… Indeed, most of my experiments had never made it pass the compatible stage but to my surprise, they both are compatible. ”
“21st June 1904 – The demonic essence of Kaphix (my term for combining Kagami and Morphix) is finally inserted into both of them, but both of them are still in deep slumber. However, I had already made a scan on both of them and discovered, B.B.(The boy) succeeded, but to a side effect. It seems that it had drove part of his mentality insane. V.V (The girl) succeeded, a masterpiece. When she wakes up, I will be able to train her into the perfect weapon against the Russian. It’ll take a while for these two to wake up again, though B.B. is considered as a failure, nevertheless he’ll be useful in the battle. At least I’m glad that I won’t have to bury another couple of bodies.”
“Well, you obviously done your research.” Eric said. “Sorry, I can’t help you much. But why don’t you try looking at the old army base?”
“Is anybody home?” A voice called out.
“Glenn?” Lloyd turned. Eric dropped his cigarette and brought out a katana from a wooden cabinet. An orochi blade, to be exact. “Don’t worry, he’s my partner.”
“Oh, you’re here.” Glenn said, his head peeping out of the doorway. “Is that him, O. Marsters?”
“No, this is his son, Eric.” Lloyd said, Eric lowered the orochi blade a few inches, but his guard is still up. “What brings you here, Glenn?”
“Lloyd, Dario’s pals are here. We just got a visit from the vampire and the shadower.”
Lloyd inhaled sharply. Looks like Dario is also making his move.
“Got it.” Lloyd said, looking alert. “What do you mean the old army base?”
“Well, the base had died out but maybe you can find some clues there. It’s in S-”
He stopped just as they hear a small clink. All three of them looked down to find a metallic object rolled into the room. Shaped like a small pine cone and-
“DOWN!!!” Lloyd shouted as the grenade exploded. Chunks of concretes flew everywhere. The framed photos shattered like showers of ice and the photos were charred in places. As the grey smoke cleared, they all tried to get up but bullets went soaring above their heads. If they stood up a second faster, they would’ve been killed.
“Looks like we been found.” Glenn said, his vamp enhanced sight allowed him to see through the smoke to find Reo standing in the doorway like a hitman.
“Revarie and Alen told me… Now come on out.” He said coolly, gunblades armed in hands.
“Darn, that vampire ratted us out.” Glenn said, taking out his Sauer.
Eric, meanwhile, armed with his revolver, crawled across the room and shoved a bookcase aside. At first, they couldn’t understand why is he shoving a bookcase aside, since the noise it made will alert Reo that something’s up. But then they saw it.
A door, completely hidden by the bookshelf, but now it’s exposed for all to see.
“Get over here, quickly.” He hissed, slowly pulling the door open. Crashes and glasses tinkling are alerting them that Reo is making his way towards the room.
Without hesitating, Lloyd boosted himself forward, passed the debris and mess. Glenn managed to make it safely by using his vamp strength. He seems to be getting used to the perks of having half-vampire.
Eric waited till they’re both safely passed through before he stood up and slammed the door shut, locking it with a number of padlocks, bolts and chains, all which slide into place easily. Then, he grabbed some worn out furnitures and started barricading the door, with Glenn helping him.
Meanwhile, Lloyd took in their surroundings by switching on the naked lightbulb. They seemed to be in the dark room, where the photographs are all processed. The equipments and chemicals all lay neatly in a row, looking just like any other normal room, except there’s another door that leads outside. Even though it’s only noon, the temperature seemed to have dropped into zero degrees.
A photograph on the table caught his eye. He went over and felt his heart gave out.
A photo of V.V., but not the V.V. he knew. This V.V. have yards and yards of hair grown out in extreme length, with bangs covering part of her face, forming blades that are stained with blood, her hands too became sickle blades, her eyes a wild look. From what he could see in the background, hundreds of dead soldiers, all killed in the most gruesome manner. Some of the eyes are glazed and wide opened, staring into nothingness, some face were crushed, or even worse. It made him sick to think that this is actually the V.V. he knew. Except…..it’s not really her anymore, is it?
Whoa, where did that thought come from?
“Yeah, my dad managed to get a snapshot of that.” Eric had came over and turned the photo over for him to see the date behind, written in Japanese, but it’s recognizable for him. The Fourth of July…
7月4曰1904年
“He wouldn’t tell me the exact numbers, but I can tell you that she alone had took out 100 soldiers in 5 minutes.”
“100 soldiers in 5 minutes?” Lloyd choked out.
“That’s right. It was a long time before both party realized sent out their special military to subdue them. ” He fished out another photo from among the stacks. “This one is taken before they’re hauled off.”
This picture is rather peaceful looking. This one shows a very-tired looking V.V. being strapped onto a metal stretcher and bound in chains and belts as she’s hauled away to – from what he could see –A steel military truck.
“How-” His throat dry. “Did they subdue her?”
“That, I don’t know.” Eric shrugged. “But let me ask you one thing, do you think she could still be saved from that?”
Lloyd stood very still. Images of V.V. flashed past his mind. The first time he met her right outside Stellar Inc. –her face and Serenity’s look alike, except with the slight differences-how innocent looking she was, but with a stubborn personality. The first time he brought her 1901 hotdog at the vendor. How she usually try to hide her pain through her tough façade. The times they spent together hunting down the supernaturals and demons that are threatening Manhattan…
Lloyd snapped himself out of the visions and stood steadily, back straight like a knight going out for war, straight into Eric’s unconcerned gaze. “She’s not that V.V. anymore. I’ll save her. I don’t know how but I will save her. ”
“Um, Lloyd,” Glenn piped up from the corner. “I don’t mean to interrupt but Reo seemed to be channeling water.”
They stood still for a few moment and there’s the sound of the waves sloshing outside the door. The naked lightbulb, their only source of light suddenly dimmed, plunging them into darkness.
Eric nodded and kicked the other door open. And without further ado, clambered outside, the revolver strapped onto his back. They followed him and they were shocked to find themselves on the balcony, with no way out.
But Eric only grinned. “I been wanting to do this for a long time.” He reached into his pocket, brought something to his teeth and flung it into the dark room. Then he gestured at a long steel ladder that leads up. Hurriedly, they both head up, following his lead. Just as they reached the rooftop, there was a loud deafening explosion, in bellowing orange and red.
Glenn stared at him in amazement. “A hand grenade?”
The pin is still in his teeth. “Nitrostarch, my own creation.”
But that is as far as he get because the familiar thick-hooded figure charged towards them, grabbing Lloyd by the neck and dashing him onto the ground. Even as they stood, the building suddenly shook violently like a rocket and a huge fountain of water erupted, making a hole and Reo emerged, shooting at Glenn who ran zig-zag. Allen overcome gravity by levitating himself up and smiling serenely, levitated wooden crates and hurled them like huge dices towards Eric, who didn’t even blink but just brought out his revolver and shoot them into pieces.
Soon, they were locked into a sort of tag match. Lloyd against Revarie, Glenn against Reo and Eric against Alen. Revarie had snatched up a long metal bar and is swinging it violently at him, intending to take his head off, sparks contracting as the metals meet. Glenn and Reo were locked in hand-to-hand combat. And Alen was throwing objects after objects against Eric, who is just standing in one position and just pulling the trigger.
“Stop that, kid.” He muttered as he blasted another object apart.
“This is fun, don’tcha think?” Alen giggled, hurling a metal garbage bin towards him. This one, he can’t shoot, but he could duck. Big mistake. A large crate went slamming into his abdomen and he went flying, nearly dropping over the roof edge.
“You found out about Guy, but you know what, Dario don’t really care.” Revarie said, the metal bar crashing into his Zanmato. “He just wanted us to slow you down so that they could deal with their matters.”
“V.V., she’s with him, isn’t she?” The metal bar went flying into the air and clanged loudly on the rooftop.
“Funny you should ask, but they are like a single unit.” Revarie yanked him by the hair, shoved his Zanmato aside and said, “I’ll have your blood, after that, your friends are next.”
As the fangs were about to tear into his neck, someone went stabbing Revarie on the back, causing him to harmlessly cut into Lloyd’s neck but thankfully, not severing any arteries to let the blood gush out.
“Lloyd-kun…”
Lloyd turned to see the slender fox in gold and fiery blue tips staring at him. Her eyes twinkling with mischievousness. The nine tails fuelling with power. On her back, a very petrified Francis clung onto her tight as he whimpered, “Never again am I going to sit on a fox’s back.”
“K-Kitsune???”
“Kitsune? It’s Inari!” She huffed, giving him a playful cuff on the head with her paw. “How could you have forgotten me that soon?”
“Kitsune Witch, you dare to interfere again?” Revarie shouted, keeping his hood tucked to prevent himself from burning.
“I-Inari-san!” Glenn sighed. “Thank you, Frances.” He managed to give a mock-salute before Reo went striking him with a knife-hand jab on the arm, which stings very painfully.
“Come on, Glenn, let’s go!” Frances managed to call out. Lloyd gestured at Eric, who nodded and ran.
Moments later, they’re soaring in the sky on Inari’s back, away from all of the riot.
Staring at the Japanese characters on the wall, he then realized. Oh, oh yeah. We’re in Japan now.
Japan….
Lloyd got up and walked to the window. The sky was tranquil, and Mt. Fuji seemed so picturesque from here, piercing through the fluffy clouds. Even it is so far away, it looked so near, yet so far.
A yawn cause him to turn to find Francis stretching on his tatami mattress, his hair ruffled and sticking out in tufts.
“You’re up early…” He commented.
“I never been outside of the States before…” Lloyd shrugged, “Japan is so…peaceful.”
“But of course.” Francis said, getting up, adjusting his dressings. “It’s a very quiet peaceful country. What do you expect?”
Lloyd shrugged and went to the bathroom, which is so much bigger than the one in their apartment, because it came fully equipped with a shower and a bath tub. It’s traditional for Japanese to have a cold shower then douse themselves in the tub, filled with warm water for cleansing. Undressing himself, he was about to take off the entire thin robe he was wearing when he caught sight of his reflection on the small framed mirror.
My hair had grew out? Lloyd thought, staring at his hair which is now touching his shoulders. I never noticed. Then again, I never had a haircut for weeks now. Pushing his fringe away from his eyes, he caught sight of his face which does, in fact resembles him. He had never noticed, how much they both really do resemble.
Shaking his head, he ignored the mirror until he was fresh and up in a black V-collared T-shirt and pale grey pants when Glenn barged in.
“You done yet?” He asked drowsily. “I want to bathe too. Francis’s needs to clean his wounds with the medicine that the hospital gave so let me through.”
He made his way out as Glenn slid the door shut. Francis had already undressed most if his dressings to reveal the deep cuts and the holes in his palms where Guy had brutally nailed him on his palms. The skin is already mending but it will never be the same ever again.
“It’ll be fine.” Francis said, catching his eye. “Besides, shouldn’t you be looking for O. Marsters?”
“I guess.” Lloyd sighed, going over to the thick phone directory book. It’s all in Japanese which makes him groaned, luckily Francis came to his rescue.
“This one, I’ll do it…”
It became apparent that Francis’s Japanese is quite... amateur, but better than him, he couldn’t even speak, let alone understand as Francis jabbered non-stop on the phone, it reminds him of Inari when she was shrieking non-stop at him to break traffic laws. But in the end, Francis had managed to pry the information out of the operator and brandish the small piece of paper to him.
“All done. There’s only one Marsters who specialized in photography and videos. He lives in Shibuya. Not too far from here.”
“Thanks. Take care of Glenn for me, okay?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. Just go.”
Lloyd stood outside the small studio, with his blade wrapped tightly in its cloth and case and consulting his address. Yep, Marster’s Magic Photos, Your One Stop Shop for Photos and Videos.
Lloyd stepped into the shop. It seemed so cut off from the outside world. The shop is rather cramped and antique, with frames and frames of old photos hung in every inch of available space. Stacks of CDs, vinyl record players, video players, CD players and many others are stacked on the desk behind the glass counter, where there’s a display of photos in which you could choose your own designs. Somewhere behind the shop, there’s a music playing Eric Clapton.
This, is one seriously weird place.
“Dare?”
A figure emerged out of a door that leads to a back room. He is about a few years older than he is, tall and lanky, with short reddish brown hair, brown almond-shaped eyes and slightly tanned skin. Definitely a foreigner.
“Ahm, is O. Marsters here?” Lloyd had wanted to try to use Japanese but he decides better against it. It was already bad enough that few people snickered when he tried to buy ticket on the bus and the driver couldn’t even understand a single word of English. None of the passengers were even helpful except to watch this American struggle until he pointed at the ticket machine, where the driver understood him.
“You’re American, I couldn’t tell.” The man said, switching to English.
“Geez, that’s kind of sad. Anyway, is O. Marsters around?”
“I think you meant my father, Oliver.” The man said clicking the music off. “Sorry, he’s dead few years back. I’m his son, Eric.”
“My sincerest apologies.”
“It’s alright, what business do you have with my father anyway?”
Lloyd brought out a flash drive and said, “The Russia-Japan war.”
“What about it?”
“Do you have a desktop or a USB port somewhere? It’s going to be a long day.”
“I know what you mean. Come on in…”
“Where did Lloyd went?” Glenn asked.
“He went to Shibuya to find that Marsters guy.”
“He can’t go out alone, he can’t even speak Japanese, let alone understand it, what the heck is he thinking?” Glenn snatched his coat up from the rack and went for the door. “I’m going after him.”
He had only taken two strides when a big black shadow swooped down on him, slamming him onto the floor.
“I see you had arrived as well.” Revarie sneered, holding him down.
“Oh man, you too?” Francis groaned, staring at Alen, who was holding him into place with Mind’s Shadow. How did he get here that fast?
“We’re one short.” Revarie prodded Glenn hard on the forehead. “Hey, retard, where’s your boss?”
“Now what makes you think I would tell to someone with the likes of you?” Glenn spat.
“Oh, you are going to tell me if you want your Jewish friend alive.” He shook him hard. “Now, where’s your boss?”
“I don’t know.”
“He says don’t know, don’t we all know it is just a trick?” Revarie said to Mind’s Shadow, who laughed. He swooped down upon them, clinging with his dark tendrils and into their minds, exposing all of their darkest deepest thoughts to him.
“Interesting.” Mind’s Shadow said softly, stretching back to Alen. “They found about Guy and V.V…. Their boss is heading to Shibuya, trying to get help from someone.”
“Brillante.” Revarie yanked Glenn by the collar. “I will not drink your blood, but I’ll snap your neck. That way, my family tree will be pruned.” His hands tightened around his throat and he started to squeeze hard.
He never even gone that far, that’s because a gold blue blur rushed past all of them like a wind, flinging Revarie off Glenn, knocking him onto a wooden dresser which stabbed him painfully in the arm.
“What???’
The gold blue blur slowed down and gave a silvery and light, girlish yet child-like laughter, revealing a familiar tall, slender figurine with golden blonde hair with fiery blue coloured tips, with nine-tails fanned out behind her.
“Inari!” Glenn sighed with relief.
Inari gave another child-like laughter. “The tall one is not here? Amai.”
“Get lost, kitsune.” Revarie snarled.
“I dislike that term. I am Inari.” Inari rushed towards Revarie and hurl him out of the window. He gave a yell as sunlight came into contact with him, burning his flesh. He hurriedly pulled up his thick hood and scampered for safety in the shadowed alleys, cursing in Italian.
“We’ll be back in another day, Kitsune Witch.” Mind’s Shadow warned. “We already got what we wanted anyway.” Allen then leapt over the balcony railing and ran off.
Inari was busy giggling like a delighted child. “Oh, it is such a rare sight to see all of you again. Especially in my own homeland. Where’s dear Lloyd?”
“He went to Shibuya, didn’t you hear?” Francis said.
“It seems a lot have happened when I was gone.” Inari remarked, sitting on the floor in the lotus position. “Where’s that aisuru ko – dear child, V.V.?”
“It’s very long story, Inari-san.” Glenn said.
“Oooh, could you get me some sake and rice then?” Inari said, moving gracefully and sitting in the traditional Japanese way, with her legs tucked beneath her on a cushion.
“Well,” Francis shrugged. “We can ask for room service, or we could just go down and get it from the convenience store.”
“No can do, Frances. They might be going after Lloyd.” Glenn yanked his coat from the floor and ran for the door. “I’ll be right back!” He shouted over his shoulder.
Eric watched the entire video clip in silence with Lloyd standing beside him in front of an old Macintosh computer. Even though he had already seen the video, it still gave him the chill when he saw V.V’s crazed face. Blood splashing all over her as she killed soldiers one after another, completely oblivious to the screams and cries of mercy. It’s very obvious that Guy’s enjoying himself as he cut down one after another.
“Well, that’s a very interesting clip you found, Mr Anderson.” Eric remarked softly as the clip ended.
“It was your dad who took the clip. Speaking of that scientist, my partner managed to translate some of his findings. ” Lloyd brought out a sheaf of papers. “Listen to this….”
“1st March 1904 –The Russian are keeping us at bay. The Empire is asking me to hurry it up with my experiment. I’m already trying my best, but most of my experiments failed. I spent the hours of dusk burying all of the bodies to dispose of the evidence. I can’t seem to find anyone compatible to the demon essence of Kagami and Morphix. ”
“5th March 1904 – The odds are still not in our favour, but the Empire had threw in a couple of children from the Russian military. I have no interest in them but left them to my assistant, who is in charge of giving them their basic needs. ”
“Well, this guy must’ve been a crackpot.” Eric shrugged, taking out a cigarette and lighting it with a silver lighter. He sure kept that quiet.
“Wait, there’s more.” Lloyd said, pulling out a small note. “This is probably before the Russian ambushed him.”
“15th May 1904 – It has been months since those two children had been with me. Both had blossomed into their 16 years of age. My assistant discreetly told me that they seem compatible for the experiment. Giving me a report of their progress, I agreed. Maybe they are compatible.
I called the boy and the girl into my lab. I then gave them sleeping drought and huge dose of painkillers before I set to work on them… Indeed, most of my experiments had never made it pass the compatible stage but to my surprise, they both are compatible. ”
“21st June 1904 – The demonic essence of Kaphix (my term for combining Kagami and Morphix) is finally inserted into both of them, but both of them are still in deep slumber. However, I had already made a scan on both of them and discovered, B.B.(The boy) succeeded, but to a side effect. It seems that it had drove part of his mentality insane. V.V (The girl) succeeded, a masterpiece. When she wakes up, I will be able to train her into the perfect weapon against the Russian. It’ll take a while for these two to wake up again, though B.B. is considered as a failure, nevertheless he’ll be useful in the battle. At least I’m glad that I won’t have to bury another couple of bodies.”
“Well, you obviously done your research.” Eric said. “Sorry, I can’t help you much. But why don’t you try looking at the old army base?”
“Is anybody home?” A voice called out.
“Glenn?” Lloyd turned. Eric dropped his cigarette and brought out a katana from a wooden cabinet. An orochi blade, to be exact. “Don’t worry, he’s my partner.”
“Oh, you’re here.” Glenn said, his head peeping out of the doorway. “Is that him, O. Marsters?”
“No, this is his son, Eric.” Lloyd said, Eric lowered the orochi blade a few inches, but his guard is still up. “What brings you here, Glenn?”
“Lloyd, Dario’s pals are here. We just got a visit from the vampire and the shadower.”
Lloyd inhaled sharply. Looks like Dario is also making his move.
“Got it.” Lloyd said, looking alert. “What do you mean the old army base?”
“Well, the base had died out but maybe you can find some clues there. It’s in S-”
He stopped just as they hear a small clink. All three of them looked down to find a metallic object rolled into the room. Shaped like a small pine cone and-
“DOWN!!!” Lloyd shouted as the grenade exploded. Chunks of concretes flew everywhere. The framed photos shattered like showers of ice and the photos were charred in places. As the grey smoke cleared, they all tried to get up but bullets went soaring above their heads. If they stood up a second faster, they would’ve been killed.
“Looks like we been found.” Glenn said, his vamp enhanced sight allowed him to see through the smoke to find Reo standing in the doorway like a hitman.
“Revarie and Alen told me… Now come on out.” He said coolly, gunblades armed in hands.
“Darn, that vampire ratted us out.” Glenn said, taking out his Sauer.
Eric, meanwhile, armed with his revolver, crawled across the room and shoved a bookcase aside. At first, they couldn’t understand why is he shoving a bookcase aside, since the noise it made will alert Reo that something’s up. But then they saw it.
A door, completely hidden by the bookshelf, but now it’s exposed for all to see.
“Get over here, quickly.” He hissed, slowly pulling the door open. Crashes and glasses tinkling are alerting them that Reo is making his way towards the room.
Without hesitating, Lloyd boosted himself forward, passed the debris and mess. Glenn managed to make it safely by using his vamp strength. He seems to be getting used to the perks of having half-vampire.
Eric waited till they’re both safely passed through before he stood up and slammed the door shut, locking it with a number of padlocks, bolts and chains, all which slide into place easily. Then, he grabbed some worn out furnitures and started barricading the door, with Glenn helping him.
Meanwhile, Lloyd took in their surroundings by switching on the naked lightbulb. They seemed to be in the dark room, where the photographs are all processed. The equipments and chemicals all lay neatly in a row, looking just like any other normal room, except there’s another door that leads outside. Even though it’s only noon, the temperature seemed to have dropped into zero degrees.
A photograph on the table caught his eye. He went over and felt his heart gave out.
A photo of V.V., but not the V.V. he knew. This V.V. have yards and yards of hair grown out in extreme length, with bangs covering part of her face, forming blades that are stained with blood, her hands too became sickle blades, her eyes a wild look. From what he could see in the background, hundreds of dead soldiers, all killed in the most gruesome manner. Some of the eyes are glazed and wide opened, staring into nothingness, some face were crushed, or even worse. It made him sick to think that this is actually the V.V. he knew. Except…..it’s not really her anymore, is it?
Whoa, where did that thought come from?
“Yeah, my dad managed to get a snapshot of that.” Eric had came over and turned the photo over for him to see the date behind, written in Japanese, but it’s recognizable for him. The Fourth of July…
7月4曰1904年
“He wouldn’t tell me the exact numbers, but I can tell you that she alone had took out 100 soldiers in 5 minutes.”
“100 soldiers in 5 minutes?” Lloyd choked out.
“That’s right. It was a long time before both party realized sent out their special military to subdue them. ” He fished out another photo from among the stacks. “This one is taken before they’re hauled off.”
This picture is rather peaceful looking. This one shows a very-tired looking V.V. being strapped onto a metal stretcher and bound in chains and belts as she’s hauled away to – from what he could see –A steel military truck.
“How-” His throat dry. “Did they subdue her?”
“That, I don’t know.” Eric shrugged. “But let me ask you one thing, do you think she could still be saved from that?”
Lloyd stood very still. Images of V.V. flashed past his mind. The first time he met her right outside Stellar Inc. –her face and Serenity’s look alike, except with the slight differences-how innocent looking she was, but with a stubborn personality. The first time he brought her 1901 hotdog at the vendor. How she usually try to hide her pain through her tough façade. The times they spent together hunting down the supernaturals and demons that are threatening Manhattan…
Lloyd snapped himself out of the visions and stood steadily, back straight like a knight going out for war, straight into Eric’s unconcerned gaze. “She’s not that V.V. anymore. I’ll save her. I don’t know how but I will save her. ”
“Um, Lloyd,” Glenn piped up from the corner. “I don’t mean to interrupt but Reo seemed to be channeling water.”
They stood still for a few moment and there’s the sound of the waves sloshing outside the door. The naked lightbulb, their only source of light suddenly dimmed, plunging them into darkness.
Eric nodded and kicked the other door open. And without further ado, clambered outside, the revolver strapped onto his back. They followed him and they were shocked to find themselves on the balcony, with no way out.
But Eric only grinned. “I been wanting to do this for a long time.” He reached into his pocket, brought something to his teeth and flung it into the dark room. Then he gestured at a long steel ladder that leads up. Hurriedly, they both head up, following his lead. Just as they reached the rooftop, there was a loud deafening explosion, in bellowing orange and red.
Glenn stared at him in amazement. “A hand grenade?”
The pin is still in his teeth. “Nitrostarch, my own creation.”
But that is as far as he get because the familiar thick-hooded figure charged towards them, grabbing Lloyd by the neck and dashing him onto the ground. Even as they stood, the building suddenly shook violently like a rocket and a huge fountain of water erupted, making a hole and Reo emerged, shooting at Glenn who ran zig-zag. Allen overcome gravity by levitating himself up and smiling serenely, levitated wooden crates and hurled them like huge dices towards Eric, who didn’t even blink but just brought out his revolver and shoot them into pieces.
Soon, they were locked into a sort of tag match. Lloyd against Revarie, Glenn against Reo and Eric against Alen. Revarie had snatched up a long metal bar and is swinging it violently at him, intending to take his head off, sparks contracting as the metals meet. Glenn and Reo were locked in hand-to-hand combat. And Alen was throwing objects after objects against Eric, who is just standing in one position and just pulling the trigger.
“Stop that, kid.” He muttered as he blasted another object apart.
“This is fun, don’tcha think?” Alen giggled, hurling a metal garbage bin towards him. This one, he can’t shoot, but he could duck. Big mistake. A large crate went slamming into his abdomen and he went flying, nearly dropping over the roof edge.
“You found out about Guy, but you know what, Dario don’t really care.” Revarie said, the metal bar crashing into his Zanmato. “He just wanted us to slow you down so that they could deal with their matters.”
“V.V., she’s with him, isn’t she?” The metal bar went flying into the air and clanged loudly on the rooftop.
“Funny you should ask, but they are like a single unit.” Revarie yanked him by the hair, shoved his Zanmato aside and said, “I’ll have your blood, after that, your friends are next.”
As the fangs were about to tear into his neck, someone went stabbing Revarie on the back, causing him to harmlessly cut into Lloyd’s neck but thankfully, not severing any arteries to let the blood gush out.
“Lloyd-kun…”
Lloyd turned to see the slender fox in gold and fiery blue tips staring at him. Her eyes twinkling with mischievousness. The nine tails fuelling with power. On her back, a very petrified Francis clung onto her tight as he whimpered, “Never again am I going to sit on a fox’s back.”
“K-Kitsune???”
“Kitsune? It’s Inari!” She huffed, giving him a playful cuff on the head with her paw. “How could you have forgotten me that soon?”
“Kitsune Witch, you dare to interfere again?” Revarie shouted, keeping his hood tucked to prevent himself from burning.
“I-Inari-san!” Glenn sighed. “Thank you, Frances.” He managed to give a mock-salute before Reo went striking him with a knife-hand jab on the arm, which stings very painfully.
“Come on, Glenn, let’s go!” Frances managed to call out. Lloyd gestured at Eric, who nodded and ran.
Moments later, they’re soaring in the sky on Inari’s back, away from all of the riot.
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