Chapter 9: Tragedy Slam-Off!!-Part I

The next morning was a doozy… a dizzy doozy. That argument was so intense last night, I woke up feeling like I drunk 16 bottles of vodka in an hour! I was too groggy to even get out of bed properly. I actually collasped onto the floor, making a loud body slamming THUD!!! That woke everybody up… one at a time, starting with Zakki.

"Kuni, you alright?" He asked me. I slowly lifted my head up and faced my pet fox with drowsy eyes.

"Ugh!" I groaned out in frustration. "I feel like… shit."

"Heh, heh, heh! Ya do?! That's the first!!"

"I know." I suddenly felt a stinging pain in my stomach and fell back down, holding it tightly. "Ohhhhhhhh, damn it! I don't feel so good. I didn't drink anything."

"That argument got you big time, Kuni. Maybe you should pay a visit to the bathroom."

"Good idea." After I said this, I quickly stood up and ran for the nearest bathroom and lifted the toilet seat, ready to vomit any minute. As I was knelt here before the cold toilet, I was in deep thought about what made me this ill in the first place. I mentally looked back to the argument and saw that the grip that Kaichi gave me… nearly squeezed the life out of my spinal cord, making my brain feel like I was overdrinking. Mainly, it was Kaichi's fault that I'm sick. After that thought haunted me, I finally vomited into the toilet for a good five minutes. After I finished, I felt better… luckily. I slowly stood up as I flushed the toilet and washed my face, mouth, and hands. When I was in the middle of washing my face, Dogatagi rolled through the door. He had powers, huh? Sweet!

"Kunimitsu? Are you okay?" He asked me. "I overheard you vomiting in here."

"I'm fine now." I replied, wiping my face with a washrag. "I woke up feeling drunk for some reason… and I figured out that reason before I became sick."

"I know, too." My eyes went wide.

"You do?"

"Yes. Kaichi's grip on your back, yes?"

"…yeah." I was surprised to hear that he guessed that right. I finished washing my face, mouth, and hands and faced the elder. "Does Kaichi know that he harmed me?"

"Yes. He already apologizes."

"I'll tell him that his apology is accepted."

"Good."

I exited the bathroom, feeling like my old self again. I then saw Taichi sitting on the right side of the bed, looking a bit quiet. I smiled as I approached him and sat next to him.

"You heard me fall out of bed, didn't you?" I started. He nodded.

"Yes, I did." Taichi replied in his sexy deep voice. I mentally purred sexually every time I heard it. "That's a drunken fall."

"I… wasn't necessarily drunk. Kaichi's grip on my spinal cord triggered my brain to think that and made me extremely nauseated and dizzy."

"Ah! I see. My brother has already apologized for his harmful grip and he wishes that you'll accept his apology."

"And I do. Where is he?"

"In the kitchen."

"Thanks." I gave my new boyfriend a kiss on the cheek before I headed for the kitchen. Kaichi was indeed in there, looking in the freezer for breakfast. "Kaichi?"

"Yeah, Kuni?" Kaichi asked me back.

"Your apology is accepted. You couldn't control your anger and… I understand that completely. I'm sure you didn't mean to give me that grip in the first place."

"I didn't, honestly." Kaichi closed the freezer door and faced me as he continued. "My anger just… backfired and I didn't know what else to do to make you see what how angered I was when you barely allowed the Manji Clan to kill my beloved brother."

"It's all over now, Kaichi. Just be thankful that Taichi is actually here, alive, and unharmed… physically and emotionally."

"Thanks, Kunimitsu. You made me feel better already."

"Kunimitsu, I'm curious." Dogatagi came in with Taichi close behind and Zakki at his feet. "That hotel you claimed as your first home… wasn't that where a elder named Jerrkiiko lived?"

"I was his only neighbor on the top floor of that old hotel." I replied expertly. "He felt so thankful for my presence. Why?"

"Well, I just received a letter from a fellow Tekken fighter… uh, Raven, I believe his name was. It's about Jerrkiiko."

"Oh, no…" I had a bad feeling in my thief fingers that something terrible happened to my favorite old man as Dogatagi handed me the folded letter. I opened it and it was written in Japanese, but thanks to my former nationality, I was able to read it in English. "This is from Raven?"

"Yes. Please read it aloud for us. It's… safer if you do so."

"You're serious?"

"Absolutely. Please read it."

"Okay." I reluctantly looked back down at the letter and read it aloud. It said:

"'Dear Kunimitsu,

Ever since you had to leave Jerrkiiko alone in the top floor of that old hotel, he's been depressed. With his companion pet, Kogatago, gone, he's gone mad. He's been excessively drinking illegal alcohol, taking unnecessary drugs, and he even comitted suicide several times, but never actually killed himself. He's at a dangerous position at this moment and he needs your help indefinitely. He suddenly stopped eating as well and, when I came to attempt to take him to a hospital, he was gone… but there were huge and disgusting sploshes of his blood everywhere in his hotel room, including some in his toilet and sinks. I checked the knives he held in his kitchen and they were amazingly unstained. Same for the towels held in the kitchen. It was impossible to see those two certain items unstained of his blood. That could mean one thing… something has haunted him internally and has taken his life… barely. He was nowhere to be seen, but there was a small message written on a wall with blood. It said:

ABANDONMENT HAUNTED MY LIFE,

AND TOOK AWAY MY KINDNESS!

NOW, I SEEK REVENGE…

…AGAINST ALL WHO CHALLENGE MY TOUGHNESS!

It was horrific to see and I scanned it onto my evidence device for further investigation. My agency is researching the culprit behind all this at this moment and so far, we've found nothing. You must meet me back in Jerrkiiko's room in one hour. I suggest you skip breakfast before then. Trust me… the blood stenches the room walls and the room itself. I suggest you wear your signature outfit… including the fox mask.

Please hurry. Bring one other friend with you.

Raven'"

We were all in silence after I finished that letter. I was crying silent tears. Something terrible has happened to Jerrkiiko and without another word, I hurriedly went to the changing room of the dojo and changed into my outfit Raven suggested. Luckily, I managed to take a shower before I actually went to complete sleep with Taichi last night. I grabbed my kunai, my foxen mask, and ran straight out in a puff of dust. Taichi did hear that one other person was needed and he immediately followed me as soon as I was out the door. He caught up with me pretty quickly for a dragon warrior, but I shrugged it off as we continued on our way.

30 minutes later…

Taichi and I arrived at the top floor and approached Jerrkiiko's room door. Taichi used his forked tougue to sniff the outside of the door and, when his tongue went back in, he cringed. I faced him, since he couldn't see my eyes through the thin slots of my fox mask.

"Damn!" He exclaimed with disgust. "Raven was right. Jerrkiiko's blood has unleashed an aroma that's sure to make you puke, if you take a good whiff of it. Good thing we did skip breakfast after all."

"I'm sure eating will have to wait until this whole situation is solved." I agreed. "In the meantime, let's see what's happening here."

As I said this, we both entered the room and was horrified by the huge blood stains all over the room and even in the kitchen! Raven was standing right in the middle of the living room with his back facing us. He knew we were here and he didn't need to turn around. He just simply spoke.

"Kunimitsu, Taichi… hello." Raven greeted coldly… as usual. "You came right on time."

"What's this shit about, Raven?" I asked him in a demanding tone of my deep voice. "I want a straight answer!"

"There's no straight answer for this mystery, Kunimitsu. You just have to cooperate until we do get to the straight answer."

"'Get to it'? How exactly are we supposed to do that?"

"Just do what I say and we'll be alright and out of harms way. As for Jerrkiiko, he's confessed so many things in this sucidal letter he recently wrote." Raven held up the blood stained letter as he said this. I stared at it with an intense stare. "All it said that he was very sorry for not giving Kogatago the proper care he needed and it was his fault that he died. Now, he figures that it's his turn to pay the price."

"So, he saying he should just give up and try to join in Death's office?" Taichi guessed expertly. Raven nodded.

"Yes." He finally turned around to face us. "So, we must help my agency solve this in any way possible. If you want to see the first clue I mentioned in the letter, it's over there." Raven pointed a finger to the wall with that same message I read on the letter earlier. The blood was dripping down the wall and it made the message seem threatening. I decided to ask about that description.

"Raven, does this message give you a brief guess that it's threatening in some way?" I asked him. He raised an eyebrow in question. "Whoever wrote this message… must be quite an evil spirit."

"Evil indeed." Raven approached the wall beside me while Taichi was sniffing around with his lizard tongue. "The suspects are going to be hard to find with a message as a clue. We need more evidence."

"OVER HERE!!" Taichi roared from the kitchen. We both turned our heads fast towards him and awaited him to finish. "THIS CLUE PROVES THAT THE KILLER HAS A DEFORMED BODY SOMEHOW!!"

"What?!" I nearly screamed as I teleported over to him. Raven did the same. "Which part of the body is deformed?"

"I'm guessing the hands. Look." Taichi pointed to a robotic-like artifical hand. It wasn't Yoshimitsu's because his spins. This one doesn't. "That's not Yoshimitsu's, is it?"

"No. I know him well enough to remember that his robo hand spins. By the looks of this hand, it doesn't. It's just a spare hand. It's no wonder the letters in the message on the wall looked very neat and precise… and yet, blood still drips."

"Raven, want me to collect this as another clue?"

"You must." Raven replied strictly. Taichi obeyed and took the robotic hand and placed it in his right pocket of his baggy jeans. "There's still more evidence and clues to find. Let's search this place."

At his command, Taichi and I continued to individually search the elder's room. I dared myself to check the bathroom. I slowly entered inside and damn! It was 80 percent more disgusting than the whole room by itself, excluding the kitchen! Blood was filled in the sink and the bathtub, nearly overflowing in both. I then checked the toilet. Blood was indeed unflushed and it was dark colored and fresh. I looked at the mirror and I gasped as I saw another threatening message neatly written in Jerrkiiko's blood with some dripping onto the counter. It said:

DEATH'S TOLL TAKES EFFECT

IN THE MOST DEFYING ASPECTS

…AND IF YOU DENY MY ACTIONS,

TAKE YOUR OWN LIFE OR RETREAT

Bad rhyming… but really good handwriting for someone who really pledges Death as the killer's general and commander. I turned towards the door and opened it, calling out to Taichi and Raven.

"Guys! Come in here! I found something else!" I screamed out. Both of them approached me and entered the bathroom, seeing that same message on the mirror. Taichi sniffed with his sensitive reptile tongue again and grew wide eyed when he finished.

"This blood is fresh." Taichi guessed. "Jerrkiiko was recently attacked in here!"

"But this second message…" Raven started as he stared at the written phrase in blood on the mirror. "…it's more threatening than the first. The killer is saying that if you deny his actions, you should either take your own life or retreat. Is he saying that he's being fair to any other victim that may face him?"

"Probably." I guessed as Raven scanned the message with his pocket computer. "Before that, it says that Death's toll takes effect… but he didn't say when Death's toll came."

"He making death seem like a person." Taichi predicted. "Why?"

"It's good personification, but I still want straight answers." I showed a determined and serious look behind my foxen mask. I wanted to avenge Jerrkiiko… whether he's dead or not. "Raven, where are all of Jerrkiiko's suicidal letters?"

"I've got them gathered in my evidence bag right here." Raven replied, patting his small duffle bag he just placed his pocket computer in. "We need the professionals to read those and figure out where Jerrkiiko was trying to accomplish… other than killing himself for Kogatago's safety."

"In the meantime, I'll search around the city myself."

"Alone?" Taichi asked me with worry.

"Don't worry, Taichi. I practically live in the city itself anyway. I'll be back." After that, I disappeared in seconds.

Outside the hotel…

I reappeared in the sidewalk, looking both ways before I gracefully lept for a bare flagpole and landed on it in my cat position. I began hopping around from building to building non-stop for the next 30 minutes, trying to get a straight answer to this whole thing. I memorized the two threatening messages that were written on Jerrkiiko's wall and bathroom mirror and 'pasted' them together mentally. I chanted it outloud in a low tone to myself as I continued hopping around.

"ABANDONMENT HAUNTED MY LIFE AND TOOK AWAY MY KINDNESS! NOW, I SEEK REVENGE …AGAINST ALL WHO CHALLENGE MY TOUGHNESS! DEATH'S TOLL TAKES EFFECT IN THE MOST DEFYING ASPECTS …AND IF YOU DENY MY ACTIONS, TAKE YOUR OWN LIFE OR RETREAT."

The keyword was 'abandonment'. I knew there was something behind this… but I didn't want to think that, for I knew that the killer… was once a good person, or better yet, a good pet! That could only mean one thing………… no, no, NO!! It couldn't be! I erased that thought and continued onward. When I arrived at an alley, I saw bloody footprints of a raptor that trailed up the street and turned the right corner. I followed the tracks in a determined pace. The tracks looked familiar and I was right about the killer not being Yoshimitsu. I killed him… remember? After ten minutes, I arrived at an abandoned Japanese steel factory. It was shut down for over 50 years and I was sure that the killer would claim santuary here. I pulled out my trademark kunai and headed for the entrance, which was chained shut by the handles. I expertly teleported inside and it was dark. I found a light switch and clicked it on, seeing rusty conveyor belts and broken machines all over the place. I looked down and saw the same bloody raptor prints. They led to a conveyor belt and disappeared. I approached the belt itself and…… there were no prints! This was bullshit now! These straight answer's are taking too long to approach me and I'm impatient when it comes to things like this. So, I wondered………

…what if some of the other Tekken combatants know about this?

Ten minutes later, at the Tekken Dojo…

"Jerrkiiko's missing?!" Christie asked me after I explained the whole scenario. "Since when?"

"I don't know." I replied. "Raven just said that he was recently attacked by some mysterious evil spirit. I think it's somebody alive."

"You mean, the attacker is still around town somewhere?"

"Yes. Raven, Taichi, and I are trying to gather enough evidence, but I want a straight answer rather than separate helpful hints. Did either of you get a description of the attacker?"

"Yeah! I did!" Julia replied. I walked over to the young brave as she continued. "The news just caught a glimpse of him and recorded him attacking another bypasser on his way to a factory. He actually ate the victim after he finished attacking."

"I noticed when I came within the path. Show me."

"Sure." Julia pulled out a tape and inserted it into the VCR and pressed 'play'. It did indeed show footage of the black cloaked killer. Even his face was blacked out by the darkness of his hooded cloak. One of the two long sleeves was missing a hand. That was the missing robo hand Raven, Taichi, and I found back at the hotel room of Jerrkiiko. He was attacking expertly with a very sharp Japanese blade drakesword. He also had metal spikes that were about 11 inches long sticking out of his back and he was abscent of a tail. I figured the killer was an animal of some sort. The tape was then cut off right when the creature bit down on the victim's head, ready to eat the person. Julia stopped the tape and faced my masked face. "Got your straight answer yet?"

"…………………………………" I remained silent for a long time. My mask didn't show my expression, but I was steaming mad inside. I knew who the creature was. I stormed out of the dojo in a flash, but then… I came back just as fast. Something wasn't right. "……………wait. That creature… did he come by here?"

"Huh?"

"I suspect his presence… somewhere."

"I don't know. Did he?"

I looked out onto the rest of the fighters. They look like they didn't know what I was saying either… especially Marduk. Then, I eyed Alex. He was looking a pretty pale green for a raptor.

"Alex?" I asked him. "What's wrong?"

"I know who that is." Alex replied slowly. I walked closer to him and showed my kunai to his face, demanding the answer. He gulped nervously before he spoke up. "……it's… Kogatago."

"……………fuck, no. It can't be."

"Yeah. He's been resurrected by……Goldixsyx and knew that Kogatago wanted to attack Jerrkiiko for being so careless."

"…I thought right, then. Where did the robotic hands come from, then?"

"I don't know."

"Damn! I have to tell Raven." After I said this, I disappeared towards Raven's agency. He expected me to arrive, due to his statue-like posture again. "Raven, I know who attacked Jerrkiiko."

"We just found out, too." Raven said. "It was his own pet, Kogatago."

"YES! How did you figure that out?"

"Taichi's impressive reptile instincts sensed that it was some form of a reptile or lizard attacking everyone other than his owner. Kogatago was resurrected from the grave by that Goldixsyx character and wanted to help him plot revenge."

"What did Jerrkiiko ever do to him?" I finally removed my mask this time. "I was wondering how he died."

"Jerrkiiko thought he was doing right, feeding the lizard whatever he pleases. Then, Kogatago became extremely ill. Jerrkiiko knew he would die of the illness soon, so he just killed him with a shotgun to make himself safe."

"Oh, no… no, no, no, no! This is all a lie! He would never do something like that!"

"But, he did anyway, baby." Taichi protested calmly, approaching me. "Kogatago had to do what was right for himself. Luckily, Jerrkiiko is just fine. We found him in an alley. He's in the hospital wing of this agency building. You can see him now, if you like."

"…………goddamn it." I sighed after that swear before I headed for the hospital wing and saw Jerrkiiko himself, laying in a bed with bandages and casts nearly everywhere on him… including one whole half of his head and neck. I grabbed a chair and sat down next to him. His heart was still beating, which was a good sign. "Jerrkiiko? Can you hear me? It's me, Kunimitsu." My voice made him stir slowly and he managed to open his free eye and smiled when he saw the face of mine he remembered.

"Kuni…?" He whispered, due to his larynx being attacked as well. "…is that… really…… you?"

"Yes, it's me. I'm here for you." I placed a gentle hand on his barely moving chest. "Why? Why did Kogatago swore to kill you?"

"My……unintended… care for him was at stake…… and his insurance couldn't…… ugh… pay for his… health since he… became sick."

"How did he get sick exactly?"

"His beg for…… everyday foods instead of……… his own, which should have been……… fish and…… and……… beef."

"He found those foods untasteful."

"Indeed. He was… jealous of me……… all over……… the food… I ate."

"Jealously…"

"Yes. Jealously was granted from his…………evil inner ego."

"I didn't think he even had an inner ego to begin with."

"Nobody did……… not even………… me."

"So, why the hell is he attacking you?!"

"He…… does have… a mind of his own."

"But, he didn't have to use that mind to swear revenge!"

"………… Kunimitsu, it… is in………… his animal instincts. He…… was the ego."

"He was controlled? Impossible!"

"It…… can, Kuni. It can."

"So, you're saying those messages he wrote on your wall and bathroom mirror were written not by Kogatago himself, but by his ego, right?"

"Ex… ex… actly."

"Shit!!! I knew those were too threatening to be Kogatago's words neatly written like that! Do you know where he is now?"

"It's… better off……… if you…… avoid him… for now."

"I don't want your life to remain at risk, Jerrkiiko! I want to kill him!"

"Don't!"

"…………………………………"

"I don't want you……… dying before…… your lover's eyes."

"…………but… ugh!"

"It's for the… better, Kunimitsu. Please…… remain safe from the dangerous ego……… until you are…… sure you are ready. You are ready, aren't…… you?"

"……………" I knew I wasn't ready to fight Kogatago just yet. I want to harm and kill his ego, not him. It was pretty risky of a chance to take and came to a second thought. "………no."

"Good. You still…… have training to do. Go back with Taichi………… and await your chance."

"… I will, Jerrkiiko. Thanks."

"No, Kunimitsu. Thank you……… for caring for… me and… Kogatago."

I made a small smile at that final statement before he fell back to his sleeping state. I stood up and solemnly exited the room and kept my head bowed with sadness. Taichi saw me and approached me, placing a strong hand on my left shoulder.

"You alright, baby?" He asked me sweetly. I looked at him with tears growing within my eyes. He frowned immediately. "Mm! Apparently not. I overheard. You don't want to kill Kogatago, right?"

"No. His ego's hard to target with a kunai. I really need a second thought over this."

"A good lunch should do it. I'll buy."

Four hours later, at a Japanese buffet…

I was sitting at the table with a frown written all over my face while Taichi was getting my food. Now that I found out that Kogatago was the one who attacked Jerrkiiko, I didn't know what the hell I could do at this point. Things just couldn't get anymore fucked up than what it already was.

"Kuni, you feelin' any better?" Taichi asked me as he settled down two plates of grilled shrimp and broccoli and a set of four chopsticks. I shook my head, keeping my eye contact away from him. "I figured that. Just eat, baby. You'll feel better in no time."

I remained silent as I grabbed my chopsticks and began eating. As I took my first bite, I automatically smiled. Taichi chuckled at me when he noticed this.

"You're smiling." He observed. "Feel better now?"

"Now that I came to a past thought." I finally spoke. "I remembered having a pet liger named Advance back when I was a younger woman."

"A liger? What the hell is that?"

"It's a mixed creature between a lion and a siberian tiger. I wonder where he is."

"You smiled because of the liger?"

"Not only him, but also a way to kill Kogatago's ego and not Kogatago himself. I figured that, if I used my animals to fight him instead of me and my kunai, then maybe… "

"They'll be able to kill Kogatago's ego."

"Because animals in Japan these days only attack internal evil."

"Ahhhhhh, ha, ha!! You smart kitty you!"

"Heh, heh, heh. Smart as I am, I was lucky to be the best in the Manji Clan."

"But, then you weren't so smart, stole for yourself, and made yourself another useless mercenary to Yoshimitsu. That's all that happened, right?"

"Ugh! Shut up! I was helping the clan out."

"Uh, huh… and you messed up."

"Taichi!"

"What?! Can I confess your own truth for you to keep yourself from embarrassment?"

"……damn. You got a point."

"Ha, ha! YES!!!"

"Pretty smart for a dragon-induced human."

"It pays off. Dragons are smarter than most people expect."

"Amazing."

"So, about that plan to attack Kogatago with your animals… you sure it's gonna work?"

"Could I ever be wrong? I know this plan will work. We just have to plan a perfect battle time and location."

"Mind me askin' though, who's keeping the liger?"

"………………oh! I know! He's an old friend of mine before I became a manji."

"... and before your name was Kunimitsu."

"Yeah! He may still call me Kunishi, since he never even knew that I joined in the Manji Clan."

"He never knew?!"

"He doesn't have a tv."

"Damn!"

Several minutes later…

Taichi and I arrived at a very well-known wild and domestic animal daycare center called Joviano Animal Refuge. I was a volunteer here until I turned 16. That's when the Manji Clan took me in. Anyway, the CEO and founder of the mansion, Joviano Yaotanashi, was about 57 years old ans still growing strong with all of his abandoned animals. Most of them are pretty much his pets… like Advance the Liger. I knocked on the door three times and the same old wrinkle faced elder opened it. He had this friendly smile and brillant brown eyes that always showed his kind nature everyday. He was extremely happy to see me.

"KUNISHI!!!" He cheered out before he gave me a huge embrace. Taichi smiled as he watched our long awaited reunion. "It's been years since we worked together. You still remember that hairball removal surgery?"

"I get a little nauseated every time I think about it." I replied with humor. Joviano chuckled at me.

"Hee, hee, hee, hee! Still have it in ya head, huh?"

"It never gets old."

"Luckily, Advance is still here and he's coughin' up his hairballs now."

"Good! I don't have to suffer."

"Heh, heh. Who's that behind ya?"

"This is my boyfriend, Taichi."

"Pleasure ta meet ya, Taichi."

"Likewise, Mr. Joviano." Taichi greeted back, shaking hands.

"Please just call me Joviano."

"Sure."

"Kunishi, why pay a visit over here, huh?"

"Two things." I started. "First, I wanna tell you before it's too late… I have an alternate name to call me by."

"Ya do? What is it?"

"Kunimitsu."

"Kunimitsu, huh? When did ya get that name?"

"When I left your mansion."

"What?! At 16 years old? That's crazy!"

"Yoshimitsu took me in and I had to get rid of my Japanese identity and change my name to Kunimitsu permanently."

"Wow. Some thangs I never know these days."

"Yeah. Anyway, the second reason why I'm here is because of another friend's life at a state of death any moment."

"What?"

"Yeah. His name is Jerrkiiko. I was his only neighbor on the top floor of an old hotel and we became good friends. His own pet, Kogatago, was resurrected by a demon spectre named Goldixsyx and he's Kogatago's ego."

"I've hoid of that Goldixsyx thing. He's an ego to any formerly good person or animal."

"Yes. He knows that Kogatago wants to swear revenge on Jerrkiiko for feeding him what he should be eating instead of feeding him what he shouldn't."

"The usual routine… but taken to the next level. A few animals should fix dat problem."

"Yea-wait! You already know that the animals was the solution?"

"Holy shit." Taichi muttered in a barely audible tone. Joviano nodded in response to my question as he escorted us inside. It still looked like what it was when I was younger. "Old people can be amazing, huh?"

"You said it." I whispered to Taichi in response. "Joviano, how did you figure it out?"

"What? Ya haven't hoid? Every Japanese citizen knows that the best way to kill a spectre that's an ego to one's pet is to use animals… domestic or wild. It doesn't matter."

"What I don't know is how can they sense an evil ego or spirit inside a living person or creature?" Joviano faced me with a serious look on his usual happy face. "It's quite baffling."

"Yeah, it is. But, let me tell ya somethin', Kunishi. There are tons of animals out there in the outskirts of Japan and in Japan itself that can sense even unseen forces. How they do it? They use their unseen sensors."

"'Unseen sensors'?"

"Yes. Take Advance for example. People think that his paws are only used for walkin', pouncin', scratchin', or even pressin' a button, but nope. That's not their only uses. Paws have these microscopic hairs between their toes. They can sense many things that we can't."

"Like our inner feelings?"

"Yep."

"Oh, I get it."

"Good. Speakin' of Advance, ya wanna see him? He misses ya."

"Awww, he does?"

"Ever since ya had to leave, he's been crying himself to sleep every night. He misses ya so much now, he won't even eat the food I give him."

"Awwww. Poor lil' guy." Taichi sang out sadly. I turned towards him in a sideglance at the sound of that.

"Taichi, he's not little… even though he's three years old right now." I corrected. Taichi gulped.

"He's not… little?"

"Mm-mm. Where is he, Joviano?"

"Upstairs, waitin' for more food that he won't eat. He's lucky he doesn't shrink down to skin and bones from starvin'." Joviano replied. I chuckled at that statement as I headed for the stairs with Taichi close behind… really close. I was annoyed as we proceeded up the staircase.

"Taichi, your dick is this close to touching my ass. Please recede."

"Naw, Kunimitsu! You said he wasn't small!" Taichi groaned, as if he was a child. I sighed in annoyance. "How big is he?"

"If I told you, your dick would end up in my ass! Get away from me and just follow me at a decent distance please!"

"Okay." Taichi obeyed and we continued up until we heard a barely audible groaning sound. It was Advance's crying. "Is that him?"

"Yes. He does miss me. Poor thing." We approached the top of the stairs and the sound was right in front of us. He was in the first room door to our left. I approached the door and opened it. I saw Advance after many years. The first time I met him was at his age of a year old. I was 12 and just getting out of middle school. He was a huge wildcat. The siberian tiger part was the size factor. He was as tall as up to my shoulders from his paws to his withers and he was nothing but a rounded creature, having his claws hidden within his huge toes. Taichi was shaking in his dragon legs, but I ignored that as I saw how sad Advance was. He was laying down in front of his feeding bowl in the middle of the room and he didn't notice me until I spoke. "Advance? It's me."

"Hmm?" Advance roared out as he faced me. He was extremely relieved to see me again as he quickly sat up and placed his giant head against my shoulder, purring deep within the back of his throat with love in his heart. I hugged his head back.

"This is… Advance?" Taichi asked nervously. I nodded.

"Yes, this is him. Cute, isn't he? He's only three years old, remember?" I replied. Taichi gulped again.

"Damn, he's a big cat! How in the hell can he fit in this house?!"

"It can be possible. He's well-trained to be a really good pet. Now, Advance… why aren't you eating?"

"Roarrrrroarro!" Advance replied to me. I chuckled.

"I see. You love my salmon cubes, huh?"

"Mm-hm!"

"Okay. I'll make you some. Come with us to the kitchen."

Minutes later, in the mansion's kitchen…

Joviano, Taichi, Advance, and I were in the kitchen, having me creating my famous pet treat: Salmon Cubes. They're very nutritious for any carnivorious or omnivorious creature… and they're just as gentle on your stomach as crackers. Taichi and Joviano watched me from behins while Advance was anxiously watching me from my right. The sound of his drool dripping onto the floor was a good sign.

"Damn! He loves your salmon cubes." Taichi commented. "Are they that good?" I chuckled at his question.

"They are, yeah." I replied with a little humor. "Advance loves the taste. I like the way it keeps his immune system healthy and running. I fed him these right after the clogged stomach surgery."

"What was it clogged with?"

"Hairballs." Joviano replied for me, seeing that really didn't want to discuss about it. I was focused on my cooking. Taichi shuddered.

"Hairballs, huh? What? He wasn't old enough to learn what to do with hairballs?"

"Yep. He was a year old and he didn't know nothin' about coughin' up hairballs. He swallowed them instead. Since his stomach could digest them, he became really sick. He couldn't eat, couldn't drink… he couldn't do anything."

"Damn. How long did he have that?"

"GUYS!" I nearly yelled out unexpectedly. "Can you… stop talking about that shit, please? You're making me lose my appitite."

"Sorry, Kunimitsu." Taichi and Joviano muttered with shame. I sighed with relief.

"Thank you." I finished my Salmon Cubes and Advance somehow sensed it when he frantically wagged his tail. Taichi was smiling at this whole moment and was impressed.

"Goddamn!" He commented. "Advance loves your food, huh?"

"His first time trying these was after his surgery. He loved them so much then. He still loves them today." I settled the plate before the giant cat and he gobbled it down, like he hasn't eaten in over a hundred years!! I smiled the whole time I watched him finally eat. Joviano was chuckling at Advance's behavior.

"Heh, heh, heh! So, he does like your treats, huh?" He said with humor.

"What can I say?" I asked back in the same manner. "When it comes to salmon, he likes it better in a set of mini cubes. He might as well live with Taichi and I."

"Might as well. He won't eat what I feed him."

"Understandable enough. I need him for another purpose beside a pet partner." I faced Joviano with a serious face. "Kogatago's ego needs to be attacked alone without hurting Kogatago himself. Advance will be perfect."

"Yep. Same for Alex, Gon, and…… the Blak Tiger."

"The Blak Tiger? He's literally black?"

"Yeah… black with white stripes, glowin' blood red eyes, and shiny golden claws. He'll attack anything. He's muscular and have sharp silver teeth, too."

"Where can I find him?"

"You'll have to ask Jin Kazama or Kazuya, whoever you approach first. They know about the Blak Tiger."

"Thanks."

So, now begins a desperate struggle. Jerrkiiko's been attacked by his own pet, but it was his ego that attacked him. Taichi, Advance, Alex, Gon, Zakki, and, hopefully, the Blak Tiger can help out in attacking the ego itself rather than Kogatago. As for me, I would attack… but gentle to Kogatago as I am, I'm actually scared. So, on part two of this event, you'll get to know if our success in attacking Kogatago's ego went just fine.

I just… only pray that my grandfather watches us with all the support we'll need.