A mistake people often make about demons is thinking they are mindless killers. That they appear merely for the pleasure of hunting humans but that was one side of it. The other side was arguably more nefarious. Rather than consumption, they dealt in cooperation. Some amassing followers to gain power while others would cut deals. Sharing their power with humans to accomplish a goal of theirs. A demon was still a demon however, and their goals were rarely more than anarchy or claiming an area for themselves.

Currently P.T. was following a lead on one of them. All signs showing the demon in charge was electrical in nature. Fox was currently keeping an eye on it on a nearby rooftop until Skull arrived. Fox would then back him up and storm the hideout to take out the demon. However they needed more information on the group, and that's where Oracle came in.

"Oracle, anything yet?"

"Hmm I got a police report on the deaths of several gang members." Oracle recoils at some of the details. "Its… looking like the cause was electrocution. This has to be the Raijuu you were looking for. I'm seeing reports of some skirmishes between the deceased and some yakuza. I'm guessing the yakuza made them pact and… killed them."

Oracle couldn't help a shiver racing up her spine. It wasn't enough for the whole world to be flipped upside down but some people had to see a way to profit off it.

"I hate this."

Fox doesn't respond, the patter of rain hitting his ice umbrella are all that ring back.

"Can't people just… get along? I know, I know it's naïve but you'd think when monsters are crawling around we wouldn't be fighting over something so pointless."

"I concur."

The silence rings over them for a moment until Fox speaks up.

"Oracle how long until Skull arrives?"

"Um I think he still has personal stuff to do. I think he'll arrive in a hour or so."

Oracle can see Fox nodding through the corner of the closest local camera.

"It reminds me of those science fiction movies you were talking about. How humanity joins up to stop an alien menace. Like the one about vampires on the moon?"

There's a pause on the other end the a chuckle.

"You mean Lunar Fangs? That's werewolves. You got it mixed up with Venusian Vlads."

"Didn't you tell me they joined forces one time?"

"No no no they fought each other! Remember they both wanted the earth queen's blood as a prize and she played them against each other? Oh wait are you talking about-"

Oracle's voice starts shifting from earlier. Less serious and more giddy talking over her interests with him. Fox was only passingly curious about the movies but enjoyed lifting Oracle out of her dark musings more.

—

One of the yakuza pulls his gun out when Fox fires a Bufu, knocking it out of his hands and freezing it against the wall. The man looks away from the gun and back to Fox but he's already gone. He feels a kick against the back of his knee and he collapses. Fox cuffs him by the arms and by the legs. He gets up and scans around looking for anyone still a threat.

"Fox down!" Yells Oracle from his headpiece.

He hits the ground as a wave of Mazio goes over him.

"Skull end this!"

"Don't you think I'm trying! C'mon Captain Kidd! Assault Dive!"

Kidd rushes forward against Raijuu but it blinks away and Kidd plows into a wall. Raijuu doesn't have a moment to breathe however as Skull immediately smashes him with a steel pipe. The demon falls down hard. Skull clenches his mask as Captain Kidd reforms behind him, and by this time Fox is there too with Goemon.

"Let's go! Deathbound!"

"Goemon! Giant Slice!"

P.T.'s personal monsters run roughshod over Raijuu. After a few moments, it cries out and fades to smoke. Goemon and Kidd following suit. Fox's eyes flutter back and forth, waiting for another demon to spring out while Skull sighs deeply and falls against the nearest couch.

"Oracle, are the police on the way?"

"Hmmmm no. My scanner hasn't picked up a call for them. I guess the locals are minding their business over all the noise you guys made."

Satisfied with the answer and Fox sensing nothing, he too sits down on the couch. Skull slouches deeper and props his legs up on a broken table.

"Um how long are you guys planning to just chill there?"

"Hey lay off, there was so many Zio flying around my hair is on end! We can afford to chill for a second."

"Agreed. I think it struck you so hard your hair might have changed colors."

"Oh ha ha. Thats real funny Fox, you thinking of quitting your day job to become a comedian?"

"Day job implies he gets paid." Oracle pipes in.

Skull laughs as Fox for his part doesn't respond. He's squinting an eye, peering with the open one through his index fingers and thumbs set in a square. Staring at the TV in front of them, broken earlier in the fight.

"Fascinating… The way the shards have broken apart leaving the center exposing open and exposing the blackness within... What does this say about the people who spend so much time staring at one?"

Skull jumps out of his seat and rushes out of the hideout. "I'm out. See ya!"

As Skull's voice fades out, there's cannon fire as Captain Kidd is summoned. The Captain giving his master a ride home. Fox ignores him and turns to take in more of the ruined hideout, several goons still tied up.

"And this mess, a den of sin defiled! Is this a holy mess? Or! Or a violent mess cleaned up?"

"Mm-hm."

Oracle nods politely and starts fiddling with her computer over on her end.

'I'll give him five more minutes before I call it in.'