Scene 24 ------------------------------------------- The Next Day

When Dasan enters Kichiro's office he is on the phone.

Kichiro- I don't care about the price... A lot... Look, just see that he gets me a
s---load of the junk down here and fast... I have a new slut that needs it... Fine.

Kichiro slams the phone down grumbling.

Kichiro- (Mumbled) That d--- goat's people can be so nosy...

Kichiro looks up at Dasan.

Kichiro- You got the ring ready?
Dasan- Yes, Boss.

Dasan moves closer to give Kichiro a plain, round earring.

Dasan- I have other news, as well. Mikyo's scouting group has returned.

They leave the office.

Kichiro- Not empty-handed, I hope... Or at least with something better than the last group... That d--- annoying brat...
Dasan- Well, Mikyo says they caught this one hiding in a tree. When they pulled him out he started squawking about looking for some demon named.. Hiyo... No, that wasn't...

Kichiro stops walking and turns to face his older mage. Dasan scratches his head.

Dasan- Well, it was some name like that...
Kichiro- Hiei?
Dasan- Yeah! That was it! You heard of that guy?

Kichiro shakes his head.

Kichiro- No, Dasan. And neither have you.
Dasan- Nope, I never did.

Kichiro rolls his eyes and turns to continue toward the stairs.

Dasan- There's more, Boss.
Kichiro- Then tell me and quit annoying me, Das. I have to get up there and seal Shi.
Dasan- The imp is a rare one... A male Banshee.

Kichiro pauses then turns to look at the skinny mage again.

Kichiro- A... male... Banshee? Do those even exist??
Dasan- As soon as I heard Mikyo's report I went to see for myself. I've only ever seen one other one in my lifetime, Boss.
Kichiro- So, you're serious? We got us a male Banshee??
Dasan- (Nods) Yep. He's a genuine, full-blooded Banshee... He's being kept in his imp form right now in a warded cage...
Kichiro- Is the legend I've heard true, Dasan? About the offspring of a male Banshee being an A-Class at birth?
Dasan- Yes, but there's a stipulation, of course... Which is why male Banshee's choose their mates or partners carefully.
Kichiro- Stipulation?
Dasan- Yes. They have to mate or.. be bred to a demon that matches their present class or higher.

Dasan scratches one of his elfin ears nervously when he watches Kichiro begin to smile.

Dasan- Sorry, Boss. This Banshee's already past your...

Dasan shuts up when Kichiro scowls back at him.

Kichiro- Then... what class is he?

Dasan lowers his gaze.

Dasan- (Quietly) S.

For a couple moments Kichiro stares incredulously at his mage.

Kichiro- S?

Dasan nods.

Kichiro- And how the bloody h--- did that D-Class moron, Mikyo, get ahold of...?
Dasan- Well, that's kinda the best part, Boss... It seems that this Banshee is a day away from going into his high heat stage.

Again Kichiro just stares at Dasan a couple moments, his brain processing the information.

Kichiro- An S-Class male Banshee in heat... Am I dreaming, Das?
Dasan- No, Boss. You're wide awake... It took every ounce of control Mikyo could maintain to keep his guys from jumping the poor imp...

Kichiro rubs his chin, then glances up the stairs trying to decide whether he should continue up to see Hiei or go check out this new acquisition. Then the idea hits Kichiro hard.

Kichiro- Oh, Das... This timing couldn't be better... Do you realize that our new slut, Shiyounin, is an S-Class?
Dasan- Yeah. You're lucky you caught him when you did...

Dasan gives a snorting laugh until Kichiro gives him a shove.

Kichiro- Go get the Banshee and bring him up to Shi's room.
Dasan- You plan on putting Shi to him?
Kichiro- Yeah... I'll need a powerful new trainee to replace you if you ever lose your head.

Dasan laughs briefly until Kichiro looks back at him seriously.

Dasan- I'll go get the Imp, Boss.
Kichiro- Wait in the hall up there until I let you in.

Kichiro chuckles happily as he continues up the stairs. Dasan hurries to go get the imp.

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Hmmm. Now I wonder who this imp could be:o ?