The next morning, a phone buried within the blankets and sheets of a queen-size bed rang, alerting and awakening it's owner, "Mm...Moshi Moshi?"

"Get to Aphrodisia...now," words from the club manager and owner.

"F-f-f-f-f-f-f-fuck my life," Kiyoni mumbled in her pillow.

By the time she arrived at the Kabukicho district, police, first responders, and media outlets were all over the place, taking pictures and statements, analyzing crime scenes, and collecting bodies.

"F-f-f-f-f-f-f-fuck my life," Kiyoni said in a surprising tone.

"Miss, I'm gonna have to ask you to step back please," a police officer suggested as another was creating a perimeter using crime scene tape.

"Wait," Kiyoni insisted, "I work in this area. My job is down that street."

"Hey," Aiko called, "She's with me. It's okay."

Aiko had just finished a cigarette and was already at the district gate. While she wore a designer boot on one foot, a medical shoe was on the other.

Kiyoni was allowed through but noticed Aiko's condition, "What the hell happened to you?"

"Let's just say that...whatever gods you pray to have been looking out for you. It was hell over here last night."

"Really?"

Aiko accompanied Kiyoni to the club, still limping, "Yes. We were raided. This whole, damn district was raided."

"How bad was the damage? I can see you got hurt."

"Kiyoni, this foot was the least of my concerns. Better yet, this happened before all of this," Aiko threw her hands over her head to emphasize the damage that took place, "Not only that but...Bakken was sent to the hospital."

"What?! Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack," Aiko sighed, "Kiyoni, you missed out on...a lot. Let's go."

Aiko and Kiyoni joined their fellow comrades in carnality in the main area of the club with their boss and owner, Risho, who was not pleased. Risho was a slender man of average height with a slightly pointed nose and a bob haircut that could rival Edna Mode of The Incredibles.

"I am not happy," he said as he paced back and forth in his earthtone business suit, "I am not happy and do you know why? Hm? C'mon. Take a wild guess. Anyone know?"

"Because of last night," an incubus volunteered to answer.

"No. Anyone else? No…? Okay, then. Well, I'm not happy because I leave you fuck monkeys to run the asylum for a few nights and what do I come back to? Hm? I COME BACK TO SEEING BLOOD ALL OVER THE STREETS OF KABUKICHO, MY BUSINESS ON THE VERGE OF GOING UNDER DUE TO AN INCOMPETENT PRISSY BOY, MY PRECIOUS LAMBORGHINI WITH SOME EXTRA MILES ON IT, AND NONE OF YOU SUCKING ANY DICKS OR EATING ANY ASS OR PUSSIES! ALL OF YOU ARE SEX INCARNATE AND YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT NOT ONE OF YOU IS CAPABLE OF KEEPING THIS BUSINESS ABOVE WATER?! WHAT IN THE ENTIRE FUCK DID I HIRE ANY OF YOU FOR?!"

Everyone sat in silence cueing Risho to start a new topic, "Now then. Let's play a game of Q&A, shall we? Who was responsible for the Lamborghini? Hm? Who took my precious ride out for an unauthorized spin?"

Kiyoni stood up, completely emotionless, "It was me."

"Ikeda? You," Risho stepped to Kiyoni dangling the car keys in her face, "You took the Lambo out?"

"Yes."

"Without my permission," Risho displayed a sadistic smile.

"Yes."

"Oh. Alright, then. You were the better driver. Fine," Risho stepped away but when he could get far enough, he gave Kiyoni a back hand to her face with the hand that held the car keys.

Everyone was shocked by the reaction, grimacing at the possible outcome.

Risho sighed as he twirled the keys around a finger, "Let that be a lesson to all of you. I don't care if I'm here, there, or anywhere. Never, and I mean, NEVER, take my Lamborghini out for a joyride without my permission. I remember the amount of miles that car had before I left. The difference between the miles then and the miles now is coming out of your next paycheck, Ikeda. I hope you're familiar with budgeting your money."

Kiyoni winced as she felt the large welt develop across her cheek no doubt caused by the car key. A couple of bloody spots on her fingers angered her even more.

"On to issue number two," Risho continued, "Word on the street is that the feared yokai fox, Kurama, has reappeared and was responsible for the melee that took place last night. And while no one, in here, was hurt, our dear Bakken was. He's currently in the hospital recovering from an intestinal injury caused by said fox. So, that means we're going to need a new security guard. Don't worry. I've already taken care of that. Oh, Bui?"

A very tall, muscular man entered the establishment wearing armor made of clay and stone and carrying a large ax. All of that extra weight on him nearly made foot imprints on the floor as he stepped inside. He didn't speak much, the only sound he made was of him breathing through his stone mask. Darth Vader was less intimidating.

"Everyone," Risho introduced, "meet Bui. Bui, meet everyone."

No words were exchanged, only stares. Bui was quite terrifying.

Risho wrapped up the meeting with a few more points, "Since it's the new year, I figured I'd let you all have the night off tonight. Better yet, I'm forced by the government to give you the night off even though none of you whores deserve it. In the meantime, I'll be going over the books to determine everyone's pay. Expect your payout the following week. Got it? Now get out of my fucking sight."

"That was the weirdest meeting I have ever been to," Aiko claimed while walking down a damp sidewalk. Temperatures were a little above seasonal averages and whatever snow that was on the ground melted.

"Same," Juri agreed.

"That new guy, though," Shishi hinted, "Bui? He's humongous!"

"And that could only count for one of two things," Aiko listed, "Either he's packing or that ax is the biggest thing he has."

"Kiyoni, what's gotten into you," Juri questioned.

"Yeah," Shishi added, "How's your cheek? Seeing you get hit like that was cringe worthy."

"Yeah and I liked how none of you bitches came to my rescue," Kiyoni stated, full of attitude about it, "Thanks a lot. Let me answer your question with one of my own. Who's Kurama?"

"Kiyoni, I asked the same thing," Aiko confessed, "Before I found out on my own."

"We told you so," Shishi and Juri teased.

"Matter of fact, Kiyoni, he stopped by looking for you."

Kiyoni pointed to herself, "Me? He came to see me?"

"Yeah. Said he wasn't going to waste his time with anyone else other than you. Then he nearly broke my foot."

"Why me? I've never met him before."

"But he knows of you. Honestly, Kiyoni, what the hell have you been doing lately?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's recap, shall we," Shishi recalled, "First, there's the red-headed, church cock-sucking virgin you've yet to bone. And now, you have one of the most feared yokai gunning for what's between your legs. You're chasing one man who's scared to fuck you while another man who wants to fuck you is chasing you. What's your secret?"

Juri pretended she was taking notes, "Yes. If you could share, please? That'll be most helpful."

Kiyoni dismissed it all, "Okay. Have all of you gone insane? I don't know who the hell this Kurama guy is, I've never met him, and unless he has access to social media, I have no idea how he knows of me."

"What about the flowers?"

"Flowers? What flowers?"

Shishi informed, "Oh, yeah. He did come in with some flowers to give to you. Right, Aiko?"

Aiko huffed, "Yeah, sure. After I told him that you took the night off, he said he got what he came for and took off. You didn't see him?"

"No," Kiyoni replied.

"Like, at all," Juri queried.

"Not at all."

"So you didn't see those flowers," Shishi incited.

Annoyed, Kiyoni answered, "What flowers?! Okay, I did receive some flowers last night but they were not from this Kurama person. Shuuichi decided it would be a good idea to scare the shit out of me and show up to my balcony just completely unannounced." She smiled like a little girl when she said, "But he made it up to me when he gave me some flowers…and something else."

Shishi declared, "That's it! We're going to Starbucks. I am not going to miss another serving of this tea called you and Shuuichi. Let's go."

"Oh, I could so go for a chocolate chunk scone right about now," Juri desired.

Kiyoni arrived at the church not long after her impromptu brunch. Despite the scarf wrapped around her face, she couldn't help but smile for the person she was about to see. Inside the church greenhouse, Shuuichi sat and listened to some music while in deep thought. His concentration broke when his phone vibrated.

"Hey, you [wink face]"

"Hey. Are you outside?"

"Approaching the door right now."

"Omw."

Kiyoni did one final check of her scarf before Shuuichi popped up, "Hi."

"Hi. Come in."

Kiyoni didn't show up to be friendly. Well, not to be too friendly, anyway. And considering the location of the pair, it would be fitting for Shuuichi to pop his cherry in an Eden-like atmosphere.

"Were you busy," she asked.

"No. Actually, I was meditating."

"You? Meditate?"

"Of course. Especially now since we're about to enter the new year. Been doing so since high school. Helps to relieve the jitters."

"Yeah, I...I do that too...at times."

"Aren't you going to take off your coat? It's warm enough here."

"Oh! Oh, no. No. I'm good."

Kiyoni went with a sunshine yellow peacoat this time. It really brightened up the red scarf she was using to hide her face.

"Kiyoni, that's unlike you. Every time you've visited this place, you've always treated it as if you're on vacation. Why change that now?"

Kiyoni took a step back and adjusted her scarf, "I said I'm good. Don't worry about it."

Shuuichi can easily sense Kiyoni's unease and offered one last time, "Kiyoni…"

Kiyoni turned her head away, hiding the wound, "Just drop it, okay?"

"No. Something happened to you. Kiyoni, you can tell me. There's no judgment here, remember?"

Kiyoni held back her tears, sighed, and mouthed the word, "fuck", all in one sitting.

Shuuichi extended a hand to grab one of Kiyoni's, "Hey. It's okay. Whatever it is. Tell me what happened."

Kiyoni sighed one more time before removing her scarf, showing off her scar, "This."

The mark was quite red against the honey brown skin of Kiyoni's face. The areas that bled were partially healed as well but only as a result of Kiyoni's constant fidgeting and the itch that her scarf gave.

Shocked, Shuuichi took action, gently cupping a hand around that wound, "Kiyoni…! Kiyoni, what…? What happened? Who did this to you?"

"My boss. My...asshole of a boss. Threw a fit at me because I took his precious, little ride out for a spin. That car hasn't been driven in months. He hasn't been around for weeks."

"I thought you said it was the company car."

"It might as well be since all it's done was collect dust! Then, he had the nerve, the audacity, the gall, the gumption to take money out of my paycheck based on the amount of miles I placed on that car. I don't know what's worse, Suu'chi. This scar or having him as a boss."

"He gave you that scar?"

Anger reduced to melancholy once again, "...Struck me with a backhanded slap, making sure the key to that car was involved."

Kurama wanted to jump out of Shuuichi's body, bitch slap Risho, and show him what it's like to be someone's bitch. If there was a good time to peel someone's muffin cap back blue, according to Kurama, it would be now.

Shuuichi, on the other hand, did nothing but console Kiyoni by holding her in his arms, "Kiyoni, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that happened to you. I think I may have something for that, though."

Kiyoni sniffled, "You do?"

"Aww. Please don't cry. Breaks my heart when you cry like that. And yes, I do."

"Ow," Kiyoni shrieked, "It stings!" While she wasn't a stranger to the doctor/patient fantasy, she momentarily hated the fact that she was a patient…sort of.

"Try not to move," Shuuichi directed as he played doctor, applying a topical scar treatment ointment using a combination of cannabinoids, aloe vera, coconut, tea tree, and carrot oil, and eucalyptus sap, "There. Use twice daily and that cheek of yours will be as kissably good as new in no time."

"Arigato, doctor."

"My pleasure. Now, I believe you said you were here for another reason?"

Smiling, Kiyoni headed off to an area away from Shuuichi's sight, "Yeah. You."

"I'm flattered. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"Last night."

"What about last night?"

"Ha. What about last night? Suu'chi...you! You surprised me last night. I don't know what was more shocking. The fact that you showed up on my balcony (I still don't know how you managed to find my apartment), the way you teased me with your fingers, or…"

"Or…?"

Kiyoni stepped back out, revealing a forest green bikini and a peony in her hair, smoothing over some coconut and cocoa butter lotion over her hands and arms, "The way your tongue felt inside me. Tell me. Did you like the taste?"

Shuuichi grew silent, blinking for a moment. Even his newly-developed ears stood at attention. Kiyoni did have an appealing "Eve" look to her.

"...Ooh…! Eh, what are you wearing?"

"What? You said it yourself, that it's like the Amazon, in here. Matter of fact, I can't even wear my hair straight because it's so humid here."

Shuuichi couldn't help but fantasize. Kiyoni was way too tempting. His first carnal thought was how Kiyoni would look with a few vines strategically placed on her body.

"...Fair enough. Wait-Timeout, timeout! I did...what?!"

"Suu'chi, you...ate me out last night," Kiyoni said in a nonchalant manner, "I don't know who or what taught you but damn, bro. That tongue was tonguing."

"Excuse me? Are you hearing yourself right now? You're saying that I stopped by your apartment and performed...oral sex on you?"

"Yep and it was damn good, too. Actually…" Kiyoni flirtatiously posed herself against a wall, "I'm wearing this to tease you into doing it again. It's not that hard to remove this…bikini bottom."

It was fortunate for Kiyoni to trim her lower area for her bikini was quite revealing. She teased Shuuichi even further by inserting a finger into one of the tied loops of her outfit, demonstrating just how simple it was to display the contents within.

Shuuichi could not believe what he was hearing, "Okay...tell me. What happened after that?"

"Well, don't you remember? You left saying you had a headache or something. I offered aspirin but you turned it down. Matter of fact, you didn't even call me and I swear I asked you to. What's up with that?"

Shuuichi took a deep breath and buried his face in prayer hands, "See, the thing about that is...I don't recall doing that. I don't remember doing any of that."

"What are you talking about? Yes, you do. You were right there in my apartment last night. I have a hole in my new onesie to prove it, thank you very much," Kiyoni mumbled, "I like Mickey Mouse."

"Kiyoni, you know about my policy regarding honesty. So believe me when I say...I don't remember seeing you at all last night."

"What do you mean you don't remember? You gave me flowers and everything. The one in my hair is one of them. We watched one of my OnlyFans videos–"

"I gave you flowers? OnlyFans?!"

"Yeah! You gave me flowers because you said you were clearing out your garden," Kiyoni looked around, "Wait. It looks like you didn't do much."

"That's because I was going to spend today clearing out this garden. If I've given you flowers, which ones did you receive?"

"Well, besides this one..." Kiyoni specified, pointing out the peonies and chrysanthemums, "There were two more, but I don't...see them here."

"Kiyoni...I never went to your place last night. Matter of fact, ever since you dropped me off, I never left these grounds. Are you sure it wasn't some elaborate dream?"

"It was no dream, I'm sure of that. It happened, we happened. We had a moment and you don't remember that?"

"Kiyoni, as memorable as you have been...that's one… I'm sorry."

Kiyoni grew confused, unsure of what went down last night. If she wasn't with Shuuichi, then who was she with?

"Suu'chi, if you don't remember seeing me yesterday, what did you do last night?"

"And there lies another mystery," Shuuichi grabbed a seat on the couch, "I don't remember much of anything from last night. It's like my mind went blank."

Kiyoni soon joined him, "What do you remember, then?"

"Honestly…the last thing I remember was Father Shinobu placing a necklace around my neck. He said some phrases and then…"

"And then…?"

"And then...I woke up in my bed this morning."

"So you don't remember coming over?"

"No."

"And seeing me in a onesie?"

"No."

"And the tea drinking and the video of me reciting a story butt naked and the make out session where you proceeded to give me the best oral I've had in years even though I didn't get a chance to bust a nut and your departure because you had a headache?"

Shuuichi shook his head, "No. You read stories in the nude?"

Kiyoni sheepishly wiggled, "They're the most popular videos…of my collection. But, shit, Suu'chi. If what you say is true and you weren't there last night, then who the hell-?"

The math finally mathed in Kiyoni's mind.

"What? What's going on?"

"It was him," she realized.

"I'm sorry?"

"...Shit," Kiyoni stood up and paced like she just had a bad sex night and may be worried that she's pregnant, "It was him. It had to have been. There was no one else."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Apparently, the Kabukicho district was raided last night. Some fox yokai named Kurama ran through the area killing and slashing anyone he could. At least that's what Shishi, Aiko, and Juri told me. They also said that he was looking for me. Thing is...I've never heard of him! I don't know who he is, I never met him. Yet, he knows of me. He showed up at Aphrodisia for me. I'm so confused right now."

"And you think he was the one who showed up at your apartment?"

"According to them, he left knowing where I lived. I have no idea how that could be possible. It's not like I've posted my address anywhere unnecessary. It was him. It was him...as you."

"Now, I'm just as confused as you are. I, too, have never heard of...Kurama. Other than Mount Kurama, I know nothing of the yokai version."

Kiyoni peeked over and noticed something familiar, "Hey. Are those my pomegranate arils?"

"Pomegranate arils," Shuuichi walked over to where the fruit seeds sat next to a young orange tree. They were the same arils Kiyoni used for her altar.

"How did they get here," he wondered.

"How did they get here? These are from my altar. I recognize this bowl. What are they doing here? Did you take them?"

"Kiyoni, I swear to you, I didn't. I'm just now noticing these with you. However…"

"However, what?"

Shuuichi lifted the bowl over his head, "Some of them are ready to be planted. They've taken in some of the water and are in the germination phase. Might as well leave them here. I'll figure something out."

Kiyoni's feelings shifted from confusion to creepiness, "Fine. This is spooky."

"I would have to agree."

"Okay, answer this. I asked your doppelganger if you-he had the opportunity to talk to Father and he said yes. Is that true?"

Shuuichi scratched his head, "Well, I guess that's where Kurama and I have a similar story because I did speak to Father Shinobu yesterday. That was when he gave me that necklace."

"Did you get any answers?"

"Some. Apparently, I was adopted as an infant and my parents left me that necklace to wear once I had reached a certain age."

"So where is it and why aren't you wearing it?"

"Father said it had too much negative energy. He wants it blessed before it becomes a permanent piece of property to me."

"Okay. I can see the logic in that. Where is it now?"

"In his possession, as I've said," Shuuichi changed the subject, "Kiyoni, I'm so so sorry for everything that happened to you."

"Yeah. So am I. It's like I was...orally raped last night."

"Don't you dare say that," Shuuichi boasted with conviction, "I would never cross that line!"

"Hm?"

Shuuichi was just as befuddled about that as Kiyoni was, "Why did I say that? I mean, that is a line I wouldn't cross but…where did that come from?"

"I respect your opinion but why did you say that? That was weird."

"Kiyoni, what's going on?"

"I have no idea. You and these changes, Kurama on the loose, and my involvement in it all. This sounds like a terrible movie or a weird-ass ecchi manga."

"Jokes aside, what a way to walk into the new year."

"Speaking of–"

"Yes. Actually, I wanted to invite you to tonight's service. We have another church coming in from a neighboring prefecture. That is...if you're not doing anything."

"Actually...I'd love to."

"Wait, really?"

"Apparently, my boss has a heart somewhere in that stick figure he calls a body. He gave us the night off. I'm not going there for redemption or anything but I just...wanna be around you."

"I appreciate that. I feel the same way. Service won't be too long so we could...stop by a few temples and make some new year wishes."

"And then what?"

Shuuichi shrugged, "I don't know. It's up to you, I guess?"

"Come over."

"What?"

"Come over. I'm inviting you to come over to my place...to ring in the new year. I tend to run a movie marathon if I'm not at the club or out with the girls."

"Does that mean we can watch…(what were they…) Brown Sugar and-?"

"Love Jones! Yes. Oh, we can totally do that. I'm surprised you remembered."

"Well, the bible says love is a wonderful thing. However, it's better if it is diversified so…"

"I get it. Mom used to say that black love is a beautiful thing once understood and that's why I used to watch those movies with her. She wanted me to understand that the Japanese aren't the only ones who could love me. That love is love no matter who it comes from. Ha. That's partially why I'm bisexual now."

"Your mother is a wise one."

"She is."

Shuuichi held Kiyoni's head and rested his forehead on it, careful as to not aggravate her wound, "May this new year bring about the positive changes and blessings that we so rightfully deserve. In the mighty names of our gods…amen."

Kiyoni gently grabbed the hands that held her face by the wrists, "...Amun."