Unreserved
Pain, unrelenting all-encompassing fiery pain assaulted Genma's senses. He writhed in agony and was dimly aware of voices around him.
"-dammit, soak him down! What do you mean with what? Bucket. Waterfall. Move it!"
"MEDIC! Wheres the frigging Medic!"
"Genma! Stay with us, old friend!"
"Tendo Soun, your friend won't have a chance if we don't finish..."
Genma thought he would hear better if some idiot would stop screaming. When he took a breath and the screaming stopped he realized he was that idiot. Try as he might to hold back the screams the agony was too much.
"Strange," Genma thought as he slipped into darkness. "Why am I feeling so cold if I'm on fire?"
"Flat-line! We're losing him!"
"Defib..."
[Whoops! That's not... Um mm... Ah... Let me just.…... hit... rewind...]
The house next door to the Saotomes was dark, but not uninhabited. A window curtain parted slightly and an eye peered through the gap. The neighbors had left their shade open and straining to see, the old woman could just make out the top of a man's head barely clearing the window sill. He had his head tilted and appeared to be...her eyes widening, she watched and listened.
Genma sat on the floor in front of the living room couch, while Nodoka sat on the couch with her legs over Genma's shoulders. The room was dimly lit by the TV and the late evening show was not really being watched by either. Nodoka clutched at Genma's hair and moaned softly, her face showing her pleasure.
"Yes, yes! Ah, you found just the right spot. Don't stop now! I'm almost...almost...AAAH!"
Genma glanced over his shoulder with a grin, while continuing to massage Nodoka's sore foot. She grinned back at him and they both raised their heads to look out the window to the neighboring house. They broke out laughing as the curtain twitched closed.
"Well, I believe we've entertained the lecher enough, don't you think, Dear?"
"Yes, I think we've provided her with enough fantasy for the evening. We don't want her to have a stroke or heart-attack, do we?"
Nodoka tousled Genma's hair with affection and sighed from his continuing ministrations. She played with his pigtail and then frowned slightly.
"Getting split-ends again. I'll have to give you a trim, can't have my husband looking scruffy for our students. In fact, I'll trim your beard too. Right now, all you need is a staff and that ratty old white gi to look like a wandering hermit monk. Speaking of which, when are you going to get rid of it?"
"That gi and I have been through a lot together," protested Genma, "Maybe I'll frame it like the baseball players do their retired shirts."
"Well, I'm gonna wash (and fumigate) it first, then you can frame and hang it. In the dojo."
"But..."
"In the dojo or in the trash," she said firmly.
"Dojo," said a resigned Genma.
BRRRRRRRING...BRING...BRRRRRRRING...BRING
They both gave a start as the telephone rang, it was late at night, but it was the way it rang that was troubling. They looked at each other with a worried expression.
"Aren't you on active reserve?"
"I thought I was," growled an annoyed Genma.
He rose and answered the phone.
"Saotome residence, Genma speaking...I'm on active reserve...what do you mean I'm...How big!...yes, sir...I'll be ready."
Nodoka had watched Genma answer the phone, as he spoke, her heart rose in her throat. He had spoken heatedly at first, but paled slightly and answered slowly as if dazed before hanging up. He gave a slight shake of his head, as of dismay, then turned to look at Nodoka.
"A demon is about to manifest somewhere near Tokyo. The locators can't pinpoint the emergence point because it seems to be huge and diffuse. Since the area to cover is so large, all Imperial martial artists have been called up...," he trailed off and gave a slight shrug.
Glancing at the clock, he started moving toward the bedroom, shedding shirt and jeans as he went. Nodoka followed slowly, picking up articles of clothing as she went. Laying out different articles of clothing, Genma started dressing for battle. He picked up the first article and grinned as he remembered how he learned a tip from a U.S. Navy SEAL. While participating in a training exercise with him, they had waded ashore and duck-walked to cover. Genma's wet pant legs had stuck to his legs and prevented him from moving as easily as the SEAL.
[Night exercise – Joint SDF/U.S. Navy]
(Whispered Conversation)
"*&%#!"
[Light breathy laughter]
"*&%#! You, and the ship you rode in on!"
"Geez, whats got your shorts in a wad, Genma?"
"You!"
"ME! What did I do?"
Genma chuckled softly.
"I'm supposed to be training your team in infiltration and I was the slowest and noisiest one of all of us."
"Oh."
"My shorts are in a wad, too."
[Light breathy laughter]
"Up yours!"
"No, it's up yours!"
"Yeah, don't remind me."
"Well, I'll let you in on our ultra-secret stealth technique, if you promise to never tell another soul. Promise?"
"To learn a new technique, of course I promise."
Here they are, two men hidden from sight, camouflaged, and still they look around to make sure no-one will hear. The SEAL puts his mouth right next to Genma's ear to say the secret. Genma looks at the Seal in shock.
"PANTY-HOSE!"
The SEAL looks around and makes shushing motions.
"Yeah, panty-hose. I know, I know, SEAL, macho, man among men, yadda, yadda, yadda, BUT, it's the best thing yet for infiltration. Light-weight, provides support, helps keep blood from pooling in legs during stake-outs, works as a scuba suit, and keeps wet clothes from sticking to you."
They both heard the clicker signal to move to their next objective.
"Just consider it as part of your battle gear."
[Back to present]
The first time he wore panty-hose, she had walked into the bedroom, took one look, and walked back out with a blank look on her face. It took him about an hour to convince her why he was wearing it. Of course, practical joker as he was, the next time he was dressing to go on neighborhood patrol, she walked in and saw him wearing a garter belt and hose. He couldn't patrol that night because, first, he was chased around the yard by a sword-wielding Nodoka, and second, he had to take Nodoka to the emergency room when she finally broke down laughing so hard she pulled a back muscle.
A couple of days later, she was looking through an athletic supply catalog and came across a selection of men-sized gymnastic leotards, unitards and body-suits. She ordered two unitards, one black and one gray. The next time Genma was changing for patrol, Nadoka handed him the black unitard.
"Ah, Nadoka, wheres my panty-hose?" asked Genma.
"Doesn't that sound strange to you?" asked Nadoka. "A man asking for panty-hose?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"Does that sound ….manly?"
"Well, no, but its for ….."
"This will be more suitable for your purposes. Unless there's another reason..."
"Noooooo, Okay. I'll wear it."
"Really, it will work better. It covers you better, tougher material, no runs..."
"Har Har."
After he used them for several patrols, Genma had to admit they were better than panty-hose.
Genma glanced at Nodoka as he put on his unitard, she had a faint smile on her face as she watched him. Finishing up dressing, he mentally ran over his checklist and put on his final part of battle gear.
Dressed, except for shoes, he stood in place for Nodoka to check to see if he was ready. Nodoka looked him over carefully and nodded, he appeared to be dressed like you would imagine a ninja would in dark clothing and mask. It was not the expected black but a curiously mottled cloth that made it difficult to see even in full light. Long ago, his clan had studied how people and demons 'see' what is in front of them. The cloth they came up with could be likened to a smeared kindergartener finger painting. It was not a camouflage pattern because patterns have an edge against the background that the eye can see. Colors seemed to swirl, climb over and under each other and fade in and out. Dim lighting or darkness rendered the wearer effectively invisible.
Genma's function was to be a combination of scout and lure. Basically, seek out the demon and bring it to Soun and the priests. His form of Aerial Anything- Goes was well suited for this as it very similar to his clan's school. Still, even though Anything-Goes was better, his clan had some secret techniques that were unique for demon attacks.
Looking at the clock, he slipped on his favorite footwear for patrol or battle: black sneakers. After giving Nadoka a kiss and hug that was both short but seemingly hours long, he strode out of the house and through the gate to await transport. Inside the house, Nadoka stoically knelt in front of the family altar, her family's sword at her side, to fulfill her role as defender of her children and her home.
Waiting for his ride, Genma took off the mask and shirt for two reasons: first, it was too damn hot and humid, second, the last time he was wearing it the driver didn't see him and damn near ran into him. Off in the distance, he noticed faint flashes.
"That's odd," He thought. "Don't hear any thunder. Forecast didn't mention any storms for tonight."
The faint sound of tires brought his attention back to his surroundings. Usually, his transportation consisted of SDF vehicles, this time his ride was somewhat unusual. Lips pursed in a silent whistle, he examined the black Rolls Royce limousine before him. He entered the opened back passenger door and before he was seated, the door silently closed and the vehicle began moving. He was surprised to see two forms dressed in armor of antique style. One of them removed the helmet to reveal Soun.
"So Genma," Soun said. "Surprised at our ride?"
"A bit. SDF motor-pool budget must be better than the Diet knows about."
"No, their budget is not affected.," said a hollow sounding voice. "I happened to be 'going your way' as it were. SDF was relieved that I would take you and Soun to our mutual destination, as it left them two more vehicles available for dispatch."
"Our mutual destination..." began Genma.
Soun placed a hand on Genma's arm and shook his head slightly. Genma looked at Soun in surprise. A slight clearing of a throat brought Genma's attention to a fourth person that was not present a moment before. Struggling not to show surprise, he sat against the seat-back and waited to see what was going on.
"My Lord," said the hollow voice. "We await your command."
"So formal." said the fourth person with a smile. "This isn't the 15th century, you know. Let's just be casual and relaxed while I brief you on tonight's operation."
He reached into a briefcase and withdrew a map, using the briefcase as an easel and a pen for a pointer, he began.
"This is your area of operation, the mountain area of western Saitama prefecture. You'll be initially centered on the Mitsumine Shrine but expect to be moving at a moments notice. Elements of the 1st Infantry Regiment and the 1st Reconnaissance unit will be supporting you. You probably noticed their flares earlier when we picked you up. Our locators have been tracking this entity all the way from Nagoya. They can't identify what it actually is, but whatever it is has been staying in the mountains. Up until an hour ago, we felt sure it was going to Mount Asama," He paused and tapped on the map. "Then it turned near Hokuto and began making a curved path that will take it through Tokyo and the Imperial Palace."
He placed the map and pen in the briefcase and latched it shut. It appeared he was finished and about to leave.
"What can you tell us of this 'entity'? Is it not an Oni?," asked the hollow voice.
"I'll answer that question, if you'll take off that helmet. You sound like Darth Vader."
Soun assisted with the removal of the helmet and Genma's eyebrows rose when he saw who it was. He switched his attention back to the briefer as he began to speak. The briefer, a slight frown on his face, spoke slowly.
"Usually an Oni is little more than a gathering of chi that has gained a semblance of a personality, a poltergeist is one example. The troubled person has no idea how to control their manifestation of chi and projects a personality onto it. Larger Oni are created by the belief of a group of people. Our long belief in their existence has actually created a self-sustaining personality. Normally, when the accumulated chi is dispersed, an Oni is destroyed. The Greater Oni drops out of our awareness until they accumulate enough chi to re-manifest. This one," he paused. " This one is nothing ILOCC has ever seen before. Instead of one, it seems to be thousands, diffuse but spread over a large area. Halfway here, it suddenly pulsed and seemed to double in strength and size. Now, it seems to be contracting into a single entity."
"Thank you, I believe we may be able to develop a plan with this further information," said Lord Kuno.
Genma glanced at Soun and Lord Kuno, when he looked back for the briefer, he was not surprised that he had disappeared. Lord Kuno lifted a phone handset and spoke to the driver. Placing the phone back into it's cradle, he looked at Soun and Genma.
"We have about an hour to come up with a plan," he said.