Rosario + a Gathering Storm CH 38
In the courtyard of a shrine, two middle aged men, one dressed in a dark brown business suit, and the other in the same shade of brown overcoat and wide brimmed hat that all but concealed his features, walked slowly as they talked.
"The police have nothing," the man in the business suit said. "Apparently, we are dealing with a vampire who has already gotten to public officials. As for this Akashiya Moka, I believe she is only a distraction to divert attention from the real threat."
"The car was studied for clues?" the man in the overcoat asked in his deep voice.
"At the scene. The photos are missing out of the evidence files, and the car vanished from the impound area. The original officer's report tell of deep foot imprints on the hood. The roof was torn off, the tires were deflated by punctures. One man was splattered all over the road and side of the car, the other inside the car. This means multiple attackers."
The man on the overcoat nodded, "Anything else?" he asked.
"Bits of colored plastic were found in the back seat. A water gun maybe?"
"I would say so. Holy water is a sure way to determine of someone is a vampire. Apparently, that vampire had guards," the man in the overcoat concluded. "Collect everyone together. I do mean every person we have. Those vampires are prepared to deal with trouble. We have to give them more trouble than they expect."
The other man gapped at him. "Sir, you are talking about an all-out attack? Won't that draw unwanted attention?"
"Unfortunate but true. We will also need spies for intelligence gathering. We have young people in school. Find at least two who will be seniors this year, and get them enrolled in Witch Hill Academy."
"Sir?"
"Do it! We are facing what may be a large den of evil. We need every bit of information we can find."
.
Shibayaku Ichi had no idea why he was being called to the head priest's private quarters. He ran through everything he had done the last few days, and saw no reason why he would be in trouble. He had been diligent in his chores, made it to every prayer on time, and hadn't left even the confines of the monastery in over a month to go sneak a soda.
Coming to the silk screened door of the head Priest's quarters, he announced, "Your Holiness, Shibayaku Ichi, reporting as you requested."
"Enter," came a terse reply.
Ichi went in with his head bowed respectfully. Going over to the mat in front where the old priest and another man sat, he knelt down and sat on his heels.
The old priest said, "Shibayaku, you have been a good student here. Do you have unshakable faith?"
The question seemed odd. "Yes, Your Holiness!" he answered firmly, which in his mind was the only way to answer.
"Do you fear evil?"
"No, Your Holiness."
"Even if you are surrounded by evil?" the old priest asked in a foreboding tone.
"No, Your Holiness."
"Are you aware of the place called Witch Hill?"
Ichi's hands tightened into fists at the name. "Yes, Your Holiness. It is said that there is evil there, that people have disappeared up on that hill," he replied. "It is a place infected by the devil himself."
"It is also the place where you will be going to school," the old priest said.
Ichi snapped his head up to stare at him. "What!" he asked in a gasp. "Me... go ... there?"
The old priest nodded. "Yes, there. We need a young man strong in faith to attend his senior year of high school there. There will be another present also. You will not know who it is. This is so if one of you are caught, you cannot betray the other."
"The other?" Ichi asked as his throat became dry.
"We need you to find out everything you can about what goes on, who the monsters are, and particularly who the vampires are. Mr. Iwasaki here will give you the details."
"There are vampires?" Ichi asked weakly.
"We need you to do this for humanity's sake. We cannot fail!"
In the back of his mind, Ichi knew it was not appropriate to stare at the head priest, but he couldn't help himself. Nor could he get his mouth to shut.
"Shibayaku! Can you do this to save our people!" The old priest asked firmly.
In his mind, Ichi saw every monster he had ever heard of and imagined with open maws dripping with saliva, waiting to attack him. It also got through to him he had to do this to save innocent people. He had to expose the monsters. It took all his willpower to say, "Yes, Your Holiness."
"You will not be sent into the lion's mouth unprepared," the old priest assured him. "Mr. Iwasaki will meet you in your quarters to help you prepare. Tell no one of this. You may be excused."
Ichi somehow got to his feet, bowed, and left. Dazed, he wandered along wondering how much longer he had to live. Most likely, he had until just after school started. He didn't believe he'd last a week once he stepped foot on that accursed hill.
...
Hands clasped behind his back, Mr. Kobayashi eyed the three robed figures that stood together to face him in the underground chamber. Although their faces were not visible in the weak torchlight cast by the thick wood and tar torches that hung in sconces on the walls, he knew each of them.
"Why is it 'beneficial," he asked, saying the word with contempt, "To not only allow humans to know we exist but also to let them know who we are?"
"Humans have left no place for us to exist. We must learn to live among them." the center figure said.
"Witch Hill is an experiment, to learn if this is possible." the figure on the left said.
Mr. Kobayashi eyed him. "Ahh, yes, Shuzen Issa. Your own daughter was attacked and the school has yet to even be opened." Pointing a finger at the dark lord, Mr. Kobayashi said, "The blame shall be on your shoulders if she befalls a disaster."
"I have faith in my daughter," Issa responded in a flat tone.
"As do I, or I would have ended this folly the moment I learned of it!" Mr. Kobayashi growled in return. "What are you thinking? Do you honestly believe you are going to change human behavior? Does a farmer tell his cows : Yes, you are all my food, I am going to eat you. But until then, we can be friends?" he asked as his voice raised. "Does a Shepard tell his sheep the true story of their worth? Do you think humans are just going to go along with knowing ANYTHING greater than themselves rule their lives?"
"They have seen Ashikaya Moka, and appear more curious that fearful. They have been accepting of her," the figure on the right said.
"They see something that dazzles their eyes, nothing more," Mr. Kobayashi retorted. "When the English arrived in the Americas, they did so stating religious freedom, then persecuted every Witch they could find, and burned not only a few Witches, but many innocents, a well as killed or displaced every native – which were humans as well!
Does anyone beside me remember that there are vampire hunters out there? What do you think will happen with this school of yours? Humans are like crows, they see something new and shiny and they want it. After the glitter fades, they begin to see the dark side, and will destroy your school along with every non-human thing they can get their hands on!" he said as he glared at them.
"You have handled humans well, perhaps you could help us," the middle figure said.
Mr. Kobayashi let out a snort and said, "Humans are best treated like sheep. Show them only what they need to know, and make sure they do not kill each other off before they are harvested! There is no need to sleep in the barn with your food stock."
"Humans are becoming very intelligent. They have devastating weapons. We must learn to deal with them," the center figure stated.
"I agree they are learning new things," Mr. Kobayashi said. "However, they are not becoming more intelligent, but less. Less intelligent, more dependent upon their machines they so enjoy making. They do use a portion of their brain, but their senses become more dulled. Unless they are to be turned, there is no reason they need to know anything beyond the fantasy that they are in sole control of their destiny. Once you shatter that fantasy, they will become violent. Then they will need to be put down. After that, there will be fewer humans to feed on, which will be bad for us."
"Eventually, we will have them willingly giving us their blood," Issa stated.
Mr. Kobayashi eyed him and asked, "How did you become so foolish, Issa?"
"It is foolish to think we can keep ruling from the dark," Issa countered.
Mr. Kobayashi scanned the men. "Have your little experiment. When it goes horribly wrong, I will step in and clean up the mess. The sheep will be taught not to bite the Shepard." Mr. Kobayashi said, then vanished.
Issa said tonelessly, "At least he didn't order us to stop the experiment."
"And what would happen if we refused?"
Issa eyed his fellow council members. "That has happened only once before. A family was going to take over and turn the war around after he told them not to. He arraigned punishment."
"What happened to them?"
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
...
In a warehouse, four men followed a tall, thickly build Caucasian man wrapped in black leather. The man opened one of the five crates, and waved to the pump shotguns within. Gesturing to them, he said, "Here they are, Fifty Remington 870's and five hundred rounds of number four shot cast out of silver, another five hundred wooden slugs with points on them. Just as you ordered." Turning back to the men, he asked, "You brought the money, yes?"
One Japanese man looked in the crate and nodded. "Pay him."
The two suitcases were raised up flat and opened for the man's inspection. He fingered through a few packs of cash, leafing through them, and nodded. They handed him the suitcases.
"Been good doing business with you," the black clad man said. He turned and walked out.
Outside the warehouse, he got into a waiting van. As the van pulled away, he got on his cell phone. "Yes, Gordon here. Tell Mr. K the merchandise was delivered, modified as he requested."