The second demon world tournament. Fourth round. Facing Yusuke, in his sleeveless pearl-colored vest, green belt, and sky gray drawstring pants. Myself in my usual white attire with my yellow jerkin vest-apron with blue trim. The vast plains of the lands around Mervania, the distant jagged mountains, the bare trees, the fields of thorned red poppy, the river to my left, half a kilometer away, leading to the tall valley to the left and past Yusuke. The squared, chessboard patterned arena, devoid of any barriers, holds us two and no others…the Leviathan demon Juri serving as the commentator from a high aerial vantage point, aided by one of Yomi's hovering camera drones and a rotor-propelled platform the width and length of a compact car. The sky…a wash of red and purple…streaks of yellow. Ominous clouds. The first instance that Yusuke and I have been slated to fight in these sorts of tournaments. I hear Juri shout over us "And for a matchup that would have been considered impossible, the legendary former Bandit King of Gandara, Yoko Kurama, and the once heir to the Tourin throne, the Son of Raizen Yusuke Urameshi!" Yusuke…

I blink and I find myself standing at the starboard side of the flagship hexareme, men surrounding me, adorned in Roman armor, lorica hamata chainmail, rounded helmets with neck and cheek guards, holding oval scutum shields, with short swords holstered on their belts, javelins tied to their backs. I myself wear a more ornate iron lorica musculata armor, with floral reliefs on the armor's 'torso'. We are out at sea, the shore a few hundred meters away. A large walled stone city on the left, rich and beautiful, its stone columned rouge-roofed brick temple dominating the far hill on the left, a towering lighthouse on the nearer left, on a thin peninsula jutting from the city proper, under the blistering sunlight.

Before us, a sandy shore with a lone dock, and a small boat slowly approaching the dock, with three men in armor similar to the warriors I am flanked by, and a fourth man, with a noticeable bald spot, wearing a gray toga. Tall with muscular arms and a rather large gut. Light brown hair with a widow's peak. Yusuke. I do not know why but I know the man to be him. One of the three armored warriors on the rowboat…appears to be Suzaku, the former Saint Beast leader, albeit with short black hair and a slight tan, rowing one of the oars. The other two…one I do not recognize…has a groomed mustache and tanned skin, appears to be eating sausages on a skewer, the other, long black hair and a chin beard, fair skinned, with a crooked nose, does not appear as anyone I recognize either, rowing the other oar.

I look to my right…one of the marines on the hexareme, a gray hood replacing his helmet, a quiver full of arrows replacing his spears, a dark-skinned man, perhaps a Nabatean recruit. He holds a bow and stares at the boat, an anxious expression on his face. I look left…a third boat, small as the second, occupied by a figure holding a trident…Keiko? Albeit with lighter brown hair…and this intricate armor, a lorica hamata chainmail with netting around the torso and shoulders…her hair flowing long and through the netting on her shoulders.

I look toward the shore and the rowing boat again…finding two figures on the shore. Jin, dressed in a sleeveless red tunic with purple trim, over a dark red pallium cloak, the Finngualan sporting a bushy red beard and missing his horn. To his right, a young adult, perhaps even a child, adorned in a gold cuirass and leather pteruges, wearing a cobra shaped headdress and…it seems there is black eyeliner on his eyes.

The boat nearly reaches the dock, and Yusuke rises to his feet…Suzaku rises to his feet as well…a glint of metal…no…NO! He plunges his dagger into Yusuke's back, and the man with the sausage skewer tosses the skewer overboard and draws his dagger, the third assassin following suit. The archer to my right shouts in anguish and hurriedly reaches for an arrow, cutting his left hand on an arrowhead. Yusuke shoves Suzaku back, stumbles to the boat edge, and falls overboard, a dark red coloring the turquoise water. I look left, and Keiko is gritting her teeth, clutching her trident. I look back to shore, Jin and the cobra-wearing boy staring in silence. Yusuke barely reaches the shore, rising to his knees, the water up to his waist, his toga stained red. Suzaku leaps off the boat and into chest high water, followed by the two other assassins. The archer at my right fires off an arrow, the arrow falling meters short of the boat. Yusuke pulls his toga over his face, as Suzaku draws a falcata short sword, raises it in the air…I turn my gaze away and clench my fists, the archer uttering a violent screech. I look toward Keiko, who fires a large beam of red energy toward the heavens, with her right eye. Turning her back to the shore, she slams the shaft of her trident on her boat, grasps the spear with both hands, and leaps into the water. The seawater rumbles, and a wall of seawater shoots toward the sky.

I turn my back to the shore, blink…and I am back in the arena again. Yusuke speaks "Waiting on you foxboy." I hear Juri speak overhead "A cagey start to this highly anticipated battle! Kurama hasn't moved an inch for nearly twenty minutes!" I make no sound, utter no words, offer no hints to betray my thoughts. I simply turn around and step out of the arena. I do not hear Yusuke say anything. I simply face the field of thorned red poppies. I hear Juri shout overhead "A stunning turn of events! It appears that Kurama has refused to fight his compatriot Yusuke, and has forfeited the match! Yusuke advances to the quarterfinals against Mukuro!"

I hear the breeze, watch the poppy plants sway. I blink…Botan stands before me, dressed in a grey stola, covering her blue hair, a purple box in her hands. She extends her arms, presenting the box to me. I walk toward her, remove the lid…hn! I grit my teeth, rub my forehead, grimace at what I see. Yusuke's head, severed, bloody, eyes closed, the color of the flesh long departed. I recoil in disgust and turn away once again…and I find myself back on the ship. Yusuke's headless body floating on the shore. I turn away, nowhere to turn to. Jin…Jin is on board. He, who watched this all unfold. Jin extends his wet right hand, and presents…a golden ring…with Raizen's seal on it. I cradle the ring in my hands…and my eyes flood with tears. I shout "What hands are responsible for this?!"

Botan speaks "They are cradling the herald at this very moment." I fear my tears will drown me quicker than the depths of the sea around us. I fall to my knees in grief, and I hear Jin speak "Rejoice, you have achieved what you sought. The world, and all within it, they are yours at last and once again, fit to be reshaped in your image. In any image you desire. The trajectory of life and its march to Kali Yuga, that is now yours to control." Jin pauses as I sink in my grief. He continues "March always forward, taking comfort in one's immortal soul." My tears blind my eyes as I feel the presence of someone at my left. I hear Botan whisper into my ear "Remember, you are merely immortal. Beware the Ides of March."

My eyes open, my mouth dry and my head throbbing, my forehead sweating. I'm back in Tourin…that nightmare again, that…Yusuke is here…did last night happen? Was that a fevered fantasy…no…no…I recall. I recall well…is he…? Well as they say, in vino veritas…don't kid yourself…perhaps a matter of curiosity and…Yusuke is fully dressed and sitting on the floor, against the wall, burying his face in his knees, his eyes sunken and his right hand rubbing his forehead. Elvira and Fiona have put their clothes on and are powdering their noses and cheeks in the mirror. I fight my urge to urinate and my painful and quite familiar headache, asking "Yusuke, are you well?" He shrugs his shoulders and morosely mutters "I guess."

Fiona faux laughs and speaks "Oh the poor dear, he conquered that patch of wall and floor and occupied it for almost an hour. Just shooed us away when we offered to cheer him up." Oh. Elvira adds "Oh I recall that he has a lady-in-waiting back in human world. The poor thing, we gave her horns." Fiona offers a genuine mocking laugh and adds "Perhaps she will turn into a demon, ha!" Yusuke raises his head and reveals his eyes, burning with anger. At the whores, at least at this moment. I speak "I believe we have enjoyed your company long enough. You may leave." Fiona and Elvira return to powdering their cheeks, the latter speaking "Oh don't worry a thing. We haven't properly sampled the palace cuisine yet." I clench my right fist under the sheets, and I coldly speak with sufficient threat "That was a request, not an offer. I suggest you collect your things and depart."

Fiona and Elvira freeze on the spot, the latter turning around to meet my bitter gaze. She coldly replies "Understood." Putting away her cosmetics with due pace, Elvira shuts her small brown leather purse, with Fiona following suit. She turns toward the door and leaves, with Fiona following behind, offering a quick, cold glance at us two, wordlessly exiting as well. The door shut, and I sigh and take stock in the destruction I wrought. Fiona and Elvira gone, Yusuke has returned to burying his head in his knees. I shift from the bed, revealing my naked body, and I reach down for the pile of clothes I left on the left side of the bed, grabbing my boxers first.

Fully clothing myself, I walk toward the large half-empty glass vase-shaped container of water, and I drink directly from the container, wetting my dry throat. Yusuke still hasn't spoken again, occasionally sighing. I speak "I'll not utter a word unless you wish me to." Yusuke tiredly replies "Yeah, I know." "I…if you have a story to tell Keiko, please keep me aware so I can 'collaborate' it." Yusuke looks up at me and sighs again, saying "Telling stories huh? So we doing that now?" I rest my left elbow on the long cabinet desk with the libations, and I speak "Just to remind you, so we are not put in an awkward situation." Yusuke weakly allows a single laugh and replies "A bit too late for that."

Silence, and I break it by saying "You consumed an excessive amount of alcohol and succumbed to outside influences that clouded your mortal judgment." Influences such as myself. Damn you Kurama, see what you have done. Be proud of yourself, you bastard. Yusuke shakes his head and yawns, speaking "Sorry man, but that stuff doesn't work on me. I…" I know. He appears to fight tears, shielding his eyes with his right hand. Rubbing the corners of his eyes, he continues "I…I gotta look her in the eye eventually. Talk to her. Listen to her laugh. Kiss her lips. Fuck her. And I'll have last night's shit hanging over my head."

I struggle to find something to say…loud knocking on the door. I shout "I made it clear that you have outstayed your welcome!" A male voice replies in accented Arabic "Yoko Kurama? Are you there? This is Shariv of Arrapka. I am here on behalf of Lady Kokou." Kokou? Shariv the Tourin emissary is here? I speak through the door "Yes, this is Kurama. How is Kokou?" "You may inquire yourself…she is waiting in the chieftain's quarters. She seeks your attendance." Kokou? Yusuke looks up and rises to his feet, speaking "Hey Shariv, I'm here too. What's up?" "Greetings, Lord Urameshi, and I know. Lady Kokou presently does not require your attendance." I inquire "How have you decided that we are situated in this room?" Shariv replies "We inquired from the courtesans departing the palace. The last two notified us. The Finngualan and the Rokurokubi." Of course.

I turn to Yusuke, and he speaks "Go ahead, I'll be fine. I need a smoke break anyway." I nod and reply to Shariv "Very well. I humbly ask Kokou for patience…I recently arose. I will see her within thirty minutes." An extended pause, and Shariv replies "Very well. I will let my Lady know of your eventual arrival." I frown to myself and resolve to address my increasing need to urinate. I nod at Yusuke once again and approach the door.

Entering the American-style diner by…is this Pandacan? Think so. Sky is looking like dawn is about to break. I'm in blue trackpants and a long sleeve sky blue and white plaid buttoned down shirt. Diner is shaped like a silver oil drum. I enter through the front door…empty booths…nah, there is Kazemaru, in a yellow Puma tracksuit, in the corner booth on the far left. His bald head shining under the grainy ceiling tube-shaped lights. Looks like he's chowing on some chicken and waffles with mashed potatoes and gravy. Rafiq is sitting to his right, wearing a green shirt and brown cargo shorts, eating rice and a pork chop, and across from them are the Singh brothers Narinder and Deepinder, both bearded, wearing blue and orange collared dress shirts and blue and orange turbans, respectively, along with dark blue jeans, each of them with cups of coffee or tea, can't tell, and Deepinder has a plate of French fries, aggressively trying to push ketchup from an empty glass Heinz bottle, failing. Jukebox on the left of the counter, right of Kazemaru's booth, by the left wall. Shaped like a giant iPod. It's playing "When I Met You" by APO Hiking Society. One their songs that's in English.

"You gave me a reason for my beinnng." I don't bother to call out to them, approaching the diner counter. A young Filipina behind the counter, dressed in a western retro light pink waitress uniform, with the short, wide skirts, and the mini apron. She's wearing round glasses with thin frames, and has her hair tied into a short bun. "And I love what I'm feeeelinnng." I seat myself on the red cushioned barstool seat and look at the menu. She asks in Tagalog "Anything to drink? Coffee?" I reply "Pineapple juice for now." She wordlessly nods and reaches for a glass, while the fluorescent lighting flickers overhead. "You gave me a reason to my liiiiife yes, I've gone beyond existinnng. And it all began…when I met youuu."

The menu…should I get the Romanian steak? What Kazemaru got? Maybe an omelet…I watch the waitress pour my pineapple juice, the gaping hole in the back of her head slowly leaking blood onto her uniform. She finishes pouring my drink and returns to me, and I now get a whiff of her, reeking like the Pasig river. I speak "I'll have a cheeseburger, medium, with bacon and avocado." She blankly replies "We're out of beef. We only got seafood now, for you." Hm. I pause, and then say "I'll have a pot of mussels then. With Thai lemongrass broth." "Done, I'll put your order in." She turns toward a computer to my left, walking toward it, slowly dripping blood onto the floor. Drip. Drip. Drip. I look toward the kitchen across from me…a young Filipino wearing a white shirt and an orange and purple LA Lakers cap brings a pot to a boil. Blood dripping onto his white shirt, blood from his slit neck.

The sound of her typing, hum of the stove flame, Deepinder's smacks against the empty ketchup bottle…a flickering TV on the ceiling to my right. News report in Tagalog, finishing up a piece on old president Estrada and his whole corruption and impeachment circus. Shinobu Sensui in a dark pinstripe suit wrapping up the presentation, now moving onto a report on the 95 Kuratong Baleleng rubout. When our fellow contractors in uniform rubbed out eleven of my bosses' guys. Heads facing the walls, execution style.

Hear the door open…I instinctively reach for my Beretta 92 holstered under my shirt and look back. It's my sister, Chisato. I move my right hand back onto the counter, leaving my pistol holstered. She's wearing a horizontally-striped lime green, white, and sky blue shirt, and acid-washed gray jeans. Seating herself to my right, she asks the waitress "One coffee, with honey. No milk, no cream." I add "You can put it on my bill." The waitress, still typing on her computer, nods without saying a word.

I ask her in Japanese "How's the house? Still have problems with the giant bats? Just be more careful with throwing out fruit. They are like giant-ass flies." She doesn't respond, just stares blankly into the distance. The hell? I speak "Hey, Chisato, what's eating you?" She continues to stare blankly. I lean forward and! Chisato?! Her eyes appear…vacant. I hear glass shattering. I turn left and find Deepinder smacking the table, the shattered ketchup bottle on his feet, him yelling in a North Indian accent "Can I get some ketchup already?! Madarchod!" Kazemaru himself climbs over Rafiq and walks toward the iPod jukebox, jingling piso in his right hand. He leans back against the jukebox, presses buttons to scroll through the catalog, the pages flipping, and then presses a button to scroll back two pages. He inserts coins into a slot on his right and presses three more buttons, ending the APO Hiking Society song abruptly. "Run To You" by Bryan Adams starts playing, and Kazemaru turns toward me, snaps the fingers on his right hand, and points his right hand at me, shaping it like a pistol. He clicks his left cheek, pretending to shoot me.

"Sheeeee says her love for me, could never die. But that'd change if she ever found out about you and I…" Kazemaru seats himself to my left and places his FN Five-seveN pistol on the counter, as if it's a hat. "Ohhhh but her love is cold." He pats my left shoulder like he's my lost uncle, as I turn to look at Chisato. "Wouldn't hurt her if she didn't know, 'cause…" I can't see her face, like…her face is missing. The flickering TV shows the wilderness outside Saitama…shows me and Yusuke facing off…Hiei holding his sword to my chest. "When it gets too much…I need to feel your touch…I'm gonna run to you!"

Kazemaru says in Japanese "That's the thing…I was raised a Buddhist. We believed that animals have the same kind of souls as us people-people. And that we shouldn't kill them, like we shouldn't kill people. And I guess maybe demons too, when you think about it real hard. And then, when you look at history…I mean…take a look at the Romans. Biggest and most badass kingdom the Euros set up…empire, republic, whatever you want to call it. Center of culture, technology, medicine, trade, philosophy. Absorbed everything around them like an unstoppable sponge. They believed that their founders, their Emperor Jimmu…Romulus and Remus, that the two brothers were rescued from the fall of Troy, and raised by this giant she-wolf. That the wolf would feed them milk, raise them. Raised…by wolves." "I got my mind made up." Kazemaru swallows presumably saliva and reaches over the counter for a cup and an English Breakfast teabag. "I need to feel your touch... I'm gonna run to you!"

He continues "And what does an empire raised by wolves do when they find a half-crazy Jew making the blind see and the lame walk? They eat him…not because they were scared of him, of what he represented. But because they were raised by wolves…that they never forgot that they are animals. That we are all animals. And there are no miracles in the animal kingdom. No saints. No sinners. No judgment. No karma. No mandates of heaven. No imperial lines descended from the Gods themselves. Just the hunters and the prey."

The front door opens. I turn around, drawing my Beretta…it's Bianca…in the doorway, staring at me. In disgust? Judgment? Sorrow? Or just staring. "OHHHHHHH! I'm gonna run to you! YEAAAAH! I'm gonna run to you!" I look in my right hand…my pistol holding right hand…I'm holding the spoon of a grenade. "'Cause when the feelin' is right, I'm gonna stay all night, I'm gonna run to you!" I look down, the grenade bounces once.

Panting, sweat down my forehead, my heart beating fast. It's darkish, some sunlight poking through the blinds…I'm in my bed, in my boxers, under the thin sheets. Ceiling fan blowing overhead. Bianca on my left, her long hair covering her face. She starts moving, turning to my side. Her left boob is poking through her beige tank top. She speaks in Tagalog "Uh baby, what's wrong?" She appears to already be half-awake, and now smirking at me. Biting her lip, she says "Want sex? Or just have trouble sleeping?" You know I'm not the morning person in this relationship. She gives that sexy smile of hers and arcs her back, resting her head on her right hand. Moving her eyebrows up, tilting her head toward me a bit. I smirk and say "Nah, just a bad dream." I look at the alarm clock on the drawer. Almost seven AM. Might as well. I say "Go back to bed if you want. I think I'm up." She pouts her lip at me and turns to sleep on her stomach again. I say "I'll wake you up for breakfast. Anything you want?" Her face in the pillow, she mumbles out "Hm…pork tocino with fried rice and a poached egg. And calamansi juice." Easy enough. I get out of bed, scratch my ass through my boxers, and say "Done, I'll wake you up when it's almost ready."

Having already properly cleaned my teeth, relieved myself, and enjoyed a glass of squeezed juice, I slowly climb the stairs to the chieftain's quarters…the fourth floor, the walls adorned with tapestries of modernist styled displays of fabled battles and tales of the Muki demon mythos. As if Vasily Kandinsky himself designed the pieces…I rather despise this style of art. Much prefer something in the manner of Botticeli. Though I have my doubts that Kokou is interested in my art critiques. At last a debriefing of yesterday's events can be conducted and I can return to addressing another of my horrific mistakes.

A Rakshasa in western Tourin military attire, the lightly-armored variant, one of my soldiers from the battle perhaps, he appears to hold a large scroll in his arms, standing at the top of the stairs. A message for myself? The tiger demon speaks, his posture stiff "My good sir Lord Yoko Kurama, I trust your morning has been pleasant?" Well-mannered too, perhaps from a more educated and wealthy lineage. I reply "That is neither here nor there, but thank you. What tidings do you bring? Is that a message from Kokou? I am about to meet with her, as I assured Shariv earlier." He stares and mumbles incoherently under his breath, appears unsure. I add "You haven't a fathomable idea of what I just said." The Rakshasa sheepishly nods and replies "I…err, Kokou did not send me. We recalled Lord Urameshi's order back at the battle to seek this portrait of 'Spiderman', and…well, we visited the bazaar and found this. Perhaps this is to Lord Urameshi's likening?" Oh dear, I nod at the Rakshasa and brim with hidden amusement.

He unfurls the painting…a watercolor portrait of a dark grey spider demon in northern Alaric cavalry armor, fur-covered steel pauldrons and all, feeding fruit to a brown demon horse, with Mukuro's heavily fortified capital city Dayngyus in the background. A slight overly tundra environment, perhaps too much artistic creativity…wait…the painter even included the horse's droppings in the foreground! This is absurd. I fight back my urge to laugh, as the Rakshasa speaks "Well? What is your opinion?" I inspect the signature at the bottom left…this fine piece was created by a Selik of Mervania. I reply "You did well. Present it to Yusuke, and first make him aware that this is the 'Spiderman' picture he requested." The Rakshasa nods, beaming with accomplishment that he successfully curried favor with his commanding officer. He departs down the same stairs I climbed, and I allow myself to laugh for a spell before proceeding onward.

The archway to the quarters in sight, flanked by granite columns, the archway displaying the Incan gods that the Muki people worship…not familiar with this particular pantheon. Two robed Muki men armed with obsidian axes flank each side of the arch, and I push the sinking emotion of self-disgust and anguish into the navel of my soul as I approach the archway. Pausing by the Muki demons, I speak in English "Kokou sent for me…Kurama." The Muki demon on the left bellows in Incan-accented English "We know who you are. Proceed."

I do just so, entering the Muki chieftain quarters proper, finding a marble dining table in the center, with one marble round seat on each end. The two guardsmen shutter the doors behind me. Looking back to the room, a large curtained bed on the right, flanked by dark red wooden drawers and chests. More modernist paintings adorning the walls, one particularly large one of Kollazuyu chieftain Kopakati chasing an Aizbadin raiding party down a steep hill. I have my doubts that such a battle ever occurred. Below the large painting, more drawers, wooden shelves, a map of demon world, and Kokou, facing the map, her back to me.

I can see she is adorned in functional Tourin clothing…a sleeveless burgundy shirt, a red sleeveless leather vest, and dark blue trousers. Not quite a royal attire for greeting dignitaries. I wager that the plain functional clothing is meant to portray herself as a military ruler rather than a noblewoman. One that scoffs at luxury, or at least pretends to for the sake of public image. Enki may have inherited Raizen's policies, but Kokou certainly inherited his mannerisms and way of thinking. I speak in English "Morning Kokou. I take it the journey was brisk and pleasant?" She replies "Let's skip the small talk. Have a seat." I cannot quite discern yet from her tone how she regards my attendance.

Seating myself at the table, I observe the generous spread, consisting of Tourin's version of coffee, in a brown clay pot, almost identical to the human variant albeit with a slight numbing sensation for the mouth, an assortment of what passes for pastries, some spiced with what passes for anise, some spiced with human cinnamon, a couple of cornbread 'muffins' with red berries, and a platter of smoked white fish, deboned and descaled. I reach for the clay pot and motion at Kokou if she wishes to have some. She replies "I'll pour it myself." Hm…not the most welcoming reaction. I pour lukewarm coffee into my dark green clay mug, and watch as Kokou does the same with her dark green mug. I imbibe a sip and reach for a silver two-pronged fork to skewer the smoked fish. Kokou reaches for a golden flask resting at her right and pours clear liquid into her mug. She speaks "Want? Or did you already have enough of drinking my gold away on an orgy?"

Well, that explains her mood. I calmly wave her offer away and reply "It was a strenuous battle and…well it was a rare decisive victory over the Aizbadin caravanners. It felt appropriate to reward them. Some of the spoils from the battle were used to defray the costs, after all." Kokou laughs sarcastically as I fork the salty slice of fish into my mouth. Chewing, I watch her reply "Hey genius, that was Tourin's spoils. This ain't fucking Gandara, and you ain't the dick-swinging Bandit King anymore." She pauses and adds "I mean, that's what you've been saying all this time." Hm?! I smile bashfully and reply "Kokou, I don't quite understand." She offers a crossed look and curtly replies "What's your angle here?"

Angle? I…now I truly am perplexed. I speak "You tasked me with a command force and directed me to recover Sidura, subdue the Aizbadins, and bring them to heel…" Kokou cuts me off at the trail end of my sentence and angrily replies "Nah, not quite exactly being honest there. I said specifically 'Bring Sidura back alive, and bring back as many hostages as you can'. And instead I find out that you promised a couple hundred of the towel-wearing sand bathers their own patch of land…IN MY KINGDOM!" I hide my annoyance and resentment and reply "Kokou, I found a means to end the conflict with minimal bloodshed. Furthermore, I was able to preserve critical intel on Supaku and Mareecha, intel that likely would have been lost had we traded blows in the bowels of that quarry."

Kokou gulps down her coffee and throws her mug at the wall in a fit of rage, shattering it. She yells "I wanted hostages and my dumbass nephew back! Now I find out I have to babysit these stags?! What use do I have for them?!" I grit my teeth and reply "They are skilled cavalry and expert scouts. That makes them useful in the upcoming invasion to come. Or have you forgotten how we both were held at the end of a noose?" Kokou angrily laughs and replies "Cute, very cute. You know, it might be because King Yama's goon squad took out your old body and made you gestate in a human for…what, a couple of years? Yeah, well since that time when you played child, these assholes have continued what they've been doing for centuries…raiding and raping and slaving."

I offer a crossed look of my own at Kokou and reply "I'm surprised by the sudden expression of morality. As I recall, don't your forces do the same as well?" "There's the difference, red. Enki and I have the keys to the cities…these sand fuckers don't. And now a large band of them gets to breathe MY AIR, use MY SOIL?! While their neighboring villages have to wonder when their children get snatched out of their beds by these deer fucks?!" I hide my anger by aggressively devouring a muffin, resisting the urge to crush it in my grasp. Swallowing coffee, I calmly but coldly ask "Do you know your ancient human history, Kokou? Ancient Roman history? I may explain the concept of the foederati in great detail." Kokou offers an exasperate laugh and speaks "Foederati? Yeah, I know my human history. Didn't those assholes carve up the Roman lands for themselves in the end?"

Sighing and wrestling with my painful hangover, I ask "I assimilated these very same stag demons in Gandara, when they numbered in the high tens of thousands, nearly a hundred thousand strong. Is Tourin in such poor condition that she cannot assimilate two hundred of their descendants?" "C'mon Yoko, Shuichi, Fancy-Words-Prick, whatever you like calling yourself. You've been in my seat before, you know how things that look bad eventually become things that are bad. And this looks like shit. I can't disallow any of this, because I gave you my seal, and if I say that you did what you did independently…"

So this is the matter at hand. My anger dissipating, I speak "Kokou, I assure you that I have no designs on ruling any kingdom, much less yours. I desire a simpler life this time around." Kokou glares at me and replies "Could have had me fooled, the way I hear your guys wrecking the place like you owned it, having your own little victory parade, and putting the damage on my tab. You know Kopakati is expecting a lot of favors after the mess you made of her house. I gotta honor those favors, and I don't like owing favors." I repeat myself "Once again Kokou, I assure you that I am not aspiring to be more than what I am now." That is a lie. I sure certainly had to do what I did to Yusuke…idiot. Kurama…you damned fool. No…not the time to dwell on that. I add "All celebrations were spontaneous…I simply reverted to how I would respond as Yoko."

Kokou points at me and says "See, that's the problem. Enki won the first demon world tournament, but Yomi beat him clean in the second, remember? Let's be real, Yomi should have gotten the reigns for a few years, as was promised. But remember how King Yama promised to back Enki and I if we would reneg and take Tourin back for ourselves? The people didn't forget that, and Mithradata sure as hell didn't waste a chance to tell them how tied to the hip we are to Spirit World. And the people don't like that. And now I got Aizbadins living on my land, swinging their dicks around like my dumbass nephew. For all our sakes, they better pay their taxes without making a fuss. See where I'm going with this? Your little outside-the-box idea gummed up the works. So…we need something to clean the gears. We need restitution."

Restitution? I bite into a croissant-shaped anise spiced pastry and ask "Restitution from the Aizbadins?" "Restitution from Spirit World." Oh…oh! I…I think I understand what Kokou is seeking here. This…this is unorthodox. I inquiry "You wish for me to convince King Yama to pay fiscal reparations to Tourin?" Kokou shakes her head and replies "Not good enough. Land, Yoko. We need land back. And Quinametzin. Those western ogres. We want some of them freed to work the lands we get back. We need the public relations boost, something to spin for the people. Something substantial." This…this is lunacy. I incredulously speak "You wish for me to negotiate with King Yama and Koenma…to have them relinquish land AND liberate an unspecified number of ogre slaves, and have them 'repatriated' to Tourin? I am sure you understand how insane a proposal that would be. Even if I was Koenma himself, I would not be able to convince King Yama to agree to such terms."

Kokou taps her fingers together, and then drinks from her flask of unspecified alcohol. She has hardly touched her food, only now consuming a few slices of smoked fish. Nodding to herself, she speaks "You know what happens if this all goes to shit. You know it, I know it, Koenma and King Yama know it. Now, I'm not too worried for myself, neither is Enki. We're not doing this for the perks, although the high living is nice…but we doing this to keep Tourin from falling to shit. I don't think King Yama himself appreciates how much he owed Raizen for keeping this all together. Maybe he wanted Tourin to fragment so he could gobble it up piece by piece…but we know what's going to happen when those guys beyond the Seliyan invade. It's going to get ugly. Enki and I, we will handle ourselves. We can find a nice place to carve out and lay low. How will King Yama handle a million angry demons marching on his lands with the backing of an invading army? And maybe even Mukuro or Yomi coming along for the ride? I don't like those odds. So…I want you to use your classic Yoko charm, and I want you to let King Yama know that it's in his best interest to say yes. We can work out a number later. Hell, tell him Enki and I will threaten to abdicate if he doesn't say yes. Put someone like Sidura on the throne…see how comfortable he will be with that."

This…this is fascinating and frightening all at once. I did not realize Tourin has reached such a state…Kokou hasn't lately included us in political endeavors aside from occasionally seeking my council. I speak "Very well, you raise salient points. If I do this, will the costs I incurred be regarded as wiped clean?" She nods and says "Yeah, goes without saying." Hm. Very well. I speak "I agree to act as your emissary in this manner. I will seek an audience with King Yama and Koenma at our next visit." "Which is today, cause we got some SDF guys waiting to take you home. They arrived in the morning."

What?! I speak "SDF? Who?" "Sempronius and Thabang." Thabang, the South African holy mercenary who fight alongside me in Romania last year…against Mirko. Slain by Viorica, offered a post in the SDF. I haven't spoken to him in months. He talked my ear off concerning his training…to the concern and annoyance of his superiors. I ask "What is the nature of this? Did they say why they are here?" "Something about a renegade psychic on the run, woman you ran into last year. They didn't provide specifics for obvious reasons." Viorica…they found Viorica.

Spitting into the sink after finishing brushing my teeth, I place my brush into the red plastic cup and grab a beige hand towel to wipe my wet face down. Still in my boxers…I put the towel on my left shoulder and put on my black and yellow striped Adidas sweatpants. Bianca can probably leave now if she has an emergency. Still should stay in for a couple more days on the safe side. Good alibi. 'Where were you on the day Ramon Garcia was shot?' Oh, I was at home with my girlfriend, enjoying Lebanese food, local soap operas, watched Die Hard on my old VHS player, she even helped me tune up my blue motorcycle. No sir, the motorcycle was always blue. You may see my license plate, registered four years ago in Misamis Occidental. Yes sir, she can collaborate my statement. Would you wish for me to describe how I made love to her?

The first forty-eight hours. If no police knock on the door by forty-eight hours, I would call it enough time elapsed for me to breathe easy. Where is my fake ID and alternate passport again…in my hiking boots shoebox. Okay, okay. Payment should be wired by now. Three and a half million piso. Should be enough for Chisato and Francisco. Need to get used to calling him my brother-in-law. Maybe a return to Ozamiz is in the cards? It's been a while. Once the heat dies down. First that.

"Baby, your cellphone is ringing," Bianca announces from the dining room. I put my towel away and exit the bathroom, walking through the beige hallway toward her sitting by the red and white checkered tablecloth-covered dining table, eating a slice of watermelon, more slices in the sky blue ceramic bowl. She's wearing her tank top, her bra still off, and short thin green shorts. My flip phone ringing on the dining table, I lean over and kiss her on the lips, saying "You got some on your cheek." She grabs a napkin from the steel napkin holder and cleans her lips and cheeks with her left hand. I take the cell phone…caller ID unknown. Hm. I open the phone and ask in Tagalog "Hello?"

"Listen, I'm calling from a phone booth. Call me back with number 4," Kazemaru replies in Japanese. Shit. Wait, number 4?! I reply "Number 4 was used up last time. I'm on number 5." I hear a truck horn blast from his end of the line. He speaks to someone on his end…probably Rafiq "Shit! Alright…one second, hey check the trunk! What numbers are there?! 3 is there?! Damn, that's why…" I hear him more clearly "Alright, call number 3 with your number 5. That should fix everything." That explains why he went out of order. I reply "Hey, if you need help counting to ten, I can grab some building blocks for toddlers." "Very funny asshole. Just call me. I'm waiting." He hangs up the receiver. Bianca asks "Business?" "Yeah," I reply. She knew early not to ask for details. No need to make her an accessory after the fact.

I grab a watermelon slice from the bowl with my left hand and walk into my bedroom, opening the lowest drawer shelve…there they are. Disposal burner cellphones, numbered with yellow sticky notes. My idea. I grab the old model burner phone with the number 5 note, activate it…dial the only number in the address book. I take a bite of the watermelon slice, chew, swallow, and wait…there we go. Kazemaru speaks "Alright Kaname, any heat in the area?" I say "Quiet enough. What's the matter?" "Our boss liked the rum, and I had a taste myself. Really good stuff." "You are using a number just to tell me that? Kazemaru, what the hell?!" "I was making small talk! Take it easy. Anyway, our boss is having us outsourced to some new friends." Outsourced?! I ask "Outsourced? Are you sure you are using that word right?" "Kaname, what is this, a sitcom? You know what I meant. Listen, they want us to hit this place by the Mabini bridge. Good pay, and boss says we don't need to kick anything up to him."

Work already? We just rubbed a guy out yesterday! Forty-eight hours haven't passed yet…and then I had that dream again. I don't answer immediately…taking another bite from my slice…dripping watermelon juice on the wooden floor. Kazemaru speaks "You hearing me?" I sigh and lie "Yea but I gotta pass. Feeling a bit under the weather." I hear him laugh. He says "You calling in sick? This ain't a union job." I lie and shout "You want me throwing up all over the place?! Fucking Lebanese, I've been puking and having diarrhea out the ass! Want a picture?! It's getting bloody now, like I'm a bitch on her period." "Alright! Alright! Spare me the details. Take it easy, I let them know you can't make it. Remember, you ain't getting a cut for the days you miss." "Yea, no shit," I reply. He adds "Now I'll leave you to your bodily excretions." He hangs up, and I do the same.

Walking back into the dining room, I ask Bianca "Can I get a plate?" She walks into the kitchen and opens the upper shelves, taking out a white ceramic plate. Placing it on the dining table, she steps back as I place my watermelon slice on it and walk toward the kitchen's trash can. Opening the can with my right slipper-wearing foot, I take my burner phone and snap it in half with my hands, dropping it into the trash. I turn to Bianca and say "Called in sick."

Through the backdoor portal from Spirit World, both of us carrying our stuff in gym duffle bags. In our normal clothes, so we don't freak out the people smoking outside the laundromat we're now in. Well, the basement of that laundromat, in Minato ward. Even has a 7-Eleven next door. Well, back in the land of the more-or-less normal. And a meetup with Keiko that…I'm keeping in the back of my head…fucking shit…don't think about it now…focus on work. Yeah. Had some Tourin hashish before we left for Spirit World…that helped calm me down a bit. Though now my clothes smell of it. Keiko won't be happy about that…

The 'Spiderman' painting was freaking hilarious…took it along here. Might even frame it. Really like how detailed the artist made the horse turds. The guy actually took effort to do that. Yeah…and then…rode along with the jumbo horses with that Thabang guy that Kurama met in Romania, and this cagey old Roman guy Sempronius. Gave a rundown on the situation, on Viorica…something, can't remember her last name, Kurama filled in some of the missing details. Didn't even get a chance to see the pacifier of pacifiers, was told he's busy. Kurama was relieved about that, and he told me about Kokou's little plan. That's getting delayed for now…like Kurama is right, what the hell does she expect King Yama to say?

Rudy Altamirano. Philippine Spirit World detective. Can shoot energy blasts that turn the faucet off of demon energy. Not bad, wonder where the hell he was when we were up against Toguro. Koenma buzzed me on my watch thing just before we passed the portal. He's sending someone over to Kurama's with the airline tickets to Manila. No special Spirit World portal for us, jerks. Apparently they only got two through the Philippines, and one leads to the top of an active volcano in the middle of nowhere in the north, and the other leads to a bathroom in a compound run by this Muslim terrorist revolutionary group in the south of the country. So the old fashioned way it is. At least the flight will be a lot shorter than the one to Iran last year.

It's…kinda awkward between us now. Like we both being careful with our words. I mean, as awkward as it can get with two guys who are really good friends and had their dicks more than touch in a drunken fourway with some hookers, and one of those friends thinks the other is straight, and that friend is also in a long term relationship that…that is admittedly not going anywhere. Pretty awkward, to say the least. "Have everything?" Kurama asks. Not really making eye contact, I say "Nah, I think I forgot to flush back in Spirit World. Let's go back." "Ha," he says…not making much eye contact either. Hasn't brought up what happened last night, aside from reminding me a hundred times that he will keep his mouth shut and that we should keep our stories straight. So far we settled on saying everything that happened aside from the hookers and everything involving them. Just people having drinks and eating themselves sick.

Guess I gotta look her in the eye soon. I nod to myself, and say "Alright, let's get out of here. Think those stairs lead to the back entrance and the alley. I'll catch up later. Maybe see how Kuwabara and Hiei are doing." Kurama looks at me briefly and says "Drinks at the bar by Miyashita park?" The bar by…I ask "The one where Hiei thought the dry ice sculptures were appetizers?" "The very same." I shrug my shoulders and say "Sure…why not." I look at Kurama's eyes briefly.

Almost home, almost at the apartment building…there's my Nissan, parked on the right side of the lot. I walk up to my grey sedan, looks fine…huh?! The hell is that on the back seat?! That's…is that blood?! What the hell?! A bit faded and looks wet…like someone tried to wash it off. The hell is going on? I adjust my duffle bag strap on my right shoulder and head to the front entrance of my apartment building. Nearing the doorway…my heart starts to sink. Guess I have to look her in the face now.

Keys in the lock, twist the knob, pull the keys out…there's Keiko, in a sleeveless gray shirt and sky blue shorts. Sitting on the couch, watching the news. She has two bowls on the table in front of her, one with a lot of fat green olives, one with a bunch of pits. I drop my duffle bag on the floor and close the door behind me, locking it. Turning around, I look her in the eyes, my chest feeling hollowed out, my throat feeling like I just threw up and have a nasty lingering taste. I say "Hey Keiko, uh…what the hell's with the car?" "What ya mean?" she asks, blank look on her face as she finishes off another olive, tossing the pit into the bowl. I take a deep breath, trying to block out the thoughts of what happened last night. I say "I took a peek at the car and saw blood on the backseats. You okay? What happened?"

She gives an annoyed look and replies "Yea don't worry about it, it's boar blood. From the compound." Okay, Genkai's compound. Hiei bagged another one. He's good with that, hunting and cutting them up, boars, deer. Saved us a bundle on meat. Maybe I can cook. She likes it when I cook. I nod and say "Got it. Hiei bagged another one? Sweet, I can go cook them up once I get settled in." She shakes her head a bit, still looking annoyed, and says "Nah, wasn't Hiei. I went hunting today. Cut it up, left most back in the compound meat locker, took some home. Got sloppy with the packaging, my bad."

She…she went out hunting? And ain't today a workday? She…is she serious here?! I do all my hard work to keep her alive and-and-and…she got shot in the freaking head last year! She almost died! She even said how she had that near-death experience thing! And she's out hunting boar?! With what?! That spirit laser eye thing she got when she woke up after getting shot?! That's not going to save her from getting gored in the middle of nowhere!

I rub my forehead and say "So, let me get this straight. You were supposed to be at work today, right? And instead you went hunting, a freaking boar of all things, and it hasn't even been a year since you got shot in the head. Why are you doing this to me?" She frowns at me and says "The hell does that mean? I felt like getting some exercise in, felt like being productive." She's starting to raise her voice.

I shout "You think getting gored by these hairy assholes is productive?!" "I know what I was doing, relax." "Relax? I don't want to come back from demon world and find you being forest chow! How the hell you even know how to cut up a boar?!" She shouts even louder, waving her arms around "I looked it up online, it ain't that hard!"

I get into the bigger question and ask "Why the hell aren't you at work?!" She opens her mouth as if I offended her, shouting back "Oh really? That's cute. You asking me that when you haven't had a job since Mithradata wrecked the old car dealership?!" Now she's bring that up?! I lower my voice a bit and say "Hey, you said to me back then, that I don't have to be some, and I quote, 'salaryman with a stick up his ass'. You want me to go get a job, stop going to demon world, just say the word." My stomach feels like it's about to empty out…my nerves are getting all haywire. Like I'm on autopilot…like I'm saying words that I don't want to say, saying words faster than I think.

She lowers her voice a bit but still yells "Nah, not happening Yusuke, ya want me to give ya a reason to start hating yerself again or something?! 'Oh woe is me, my fiancé says I gotta have a normal job so I can't train or fight or do whatever the fuck I do in demon world no more, oh boo hoo how shitty she makes my life'. Nah, I ain't playing that game. Ya wanna keep doing this adventure stuff, I'm not saying no. And if ya gotta know, I called in sick today. And yesterday. Kinda had insomnia today." She's calling me out on my bullshit. She's been doing that a lot more since she got shot in the head…since her personality went into new places. Or past-life places, according to her. I don't want to do this.

I again push the thoughts of last night away and ask "Insomnia? Are you trying to get fired from your job?" She holds her right hand in a fist and yells "If I wanna be done with my job, I'd quit. I'm not like how ya turned out lately, where ya gotta find th-th-this little e-e-excuse here or b-b-bullshit there to psychoanalyze your brain into doing something, or invent some rational or whatever! And if ya wanna know, I got suspended for a week without pay, okay?!" I'm…I'm getting really pissed off here…did she just say she got suspended for a week?! With no pay?! I hold my arms out because I don't know what else to do with them, and I yell "Suspend?! How the hell are we supposed to pay for rent, pay for utilities, pay for fucking anything if you get suspended?! You want to live like Hiei in Genkai's compound?! All away from any freaking civilization?!"

She angrily laughs and says "Funny ya bring that up Yusuke, about the whole money angle. Didn't ya say back last year, after I got shot, that ya could always go find something from demon world to sell here, like gold or diamonds or some weird stuff that a pawn shop might like, and that we wouldn't have to worry about money again? Ya said that a bunch of times…whatever happened to that?" Fuck…she brought that up. I…I mean, in the back of my head, I know her working in IT will keep her busy enough to not get killed trying to be like me. It's…damnit. I can't even look at her now…and now I'm trying really hard to get last night out of my head. My nerves are everywhere…I think my hands are shaking from the stress. I force myself to say "Look, if you really want me to go that route…just…" The look on her face, her mouth open in shock and disgust, like I just took a shit on her olives.

She angrily half-yells "Ya never want to do that, Yusuke. Ya want me to stay working at my job." The way she finished that last sentence…the way her voice just trailed off. I say "Yeah? No shit, I do. How is that a bad…" "Ya worried that without something tying me down, nothing will stop me from trying to do the things ya do. Training, fighting, these detective cases, these crazy adventures. These little odysseys ya go on. Ya wanted me stuck answering emails about people forgetting their passwords." I glare at her, burning inside. Empty and disgusted with myself and pissed off at her in ways I never thought possible. She even smiles at me, like she's getting some payback from seeing me like this.

She says "Ya wanna know why I got suspended from work? Pretended to call in sick yesterday, went with Yukina to go shopping in Kabukicho. Three assholes, probably purse snatchers, maybe they had something sick in mind, they stalked us for a bit. Talked about us going with them for modeling. One asshole pulled out a knife. Wanna know what happened to them?" I just stand and process what she just said. I blurt out "What?" She beams like she just learned a new language and says "Ask them yerself in the hospital. Course, my boss' wife was in the crowd and saw me, and that's how I got caught. Ya see, I ain't some delicate flower like before, I can handle myself. One more time, hear me out. Let. Me. Fight. With. Ya."

I just look away and say "I don't got energy for this crap. I-I, I gotta take a call from Koenma…something came up." Her eyes light up and it's like she flipped a switch, now looking all excited. She says "Came up? What? I'm free for a week. He got a case for you?" I clench my fist and get ready to punch myself in the ribs for catharsis, shouting "For the last fucking time Keiko! You are not coming along!" She switches back to looking pissed off and yells "Well screw you, asshole!" I turn around and stomp my way to the bedroom, fuming. Hear her yell "Don't get ya weed smelling clothes on the bed!" I shout "ARGH, FINE!" and slam the bedroom door behind me, just enough to make a loud fuss without breaking it.

I walk toward our bed, get around to the far side, and sit down on the floor between our bed and the wall. Holding my knees, I…I…I keep as quiet as I can while I cry into my left hand. I…I can't…I can't keep doing this. Doing this to her. I love her…I mean…I...we were young. Still kids. I thought it made sense. And even through all the bullshit I put her through, she waited at the end. Was my final warning, but she waited. And…is it worse to stay out of obligation than to let her know that we wasted so many years of our lives building a castle made out of sand. And the tides coming in. Came last night. Came last year in Iran. Came so many times that it's just a pile of mud. It's just…washed away.

I can't tell her today that I cheated on her, not with my assignment with Koenma and Kurama. Leaving her alone to stew while I go on hunting down Viorica with Kurama. With Kurama…oh hell, they're good friends too. And the living arrangements, everything…and then word will get around to Kuwabara and Botan and Shizuru and Yukina and Hiei. It's going to turn Kurama into a pariah…me too but who the hell cares about that at this point? No…not today. This has to end…but not today. I have to set her free, I can't keep torturing her like this. My first real friend.

I pretend to speak to Koenma, stopping my crying. Drying my eyes, I speak nonsense at nothing, quiet enough so no one can hear exactly what I'm saying.

Exiting the bedroom, now in just my boxers, calm enough, I find Keiko smoking a cig, knocking ash into her black tray. I lie "Koenma just confirmed it with me and fox boy. I'm heading out tomorrow morning with Kurama, new case. They found her." "Who?" "The bitch from Romania that stabbed Kurama in the back. Their former spirit detective, Viorica. It's a personal thing with Kurama and I'm backing him up. Sorry, I really think it ain't a good idea to bring you along. Again, it's a personal thing."

She frowns and shakes her head a bit, looking very disappointed in hearing that. She asks "Where ya going?" I wipe sweat off my chest and answer "The Philippines. Manila. Koenma already sending someone to Kurama's place with the airline tickets. One way. We are meeting up with the Philippine spirit detective, this guy named Rudy Altamirano. I don't know when I'll be back. Sorry." She looks down and says "No, go ahead. Do what you gotta do." She crushes her cig in the tray. I…I walk over to her and lean down. She looks up, and I kiss her on the lips, and she leans into me and pokes her tongue through and I fight the urge to cry again. I let it go on for some time…feel her tongue against mine…and I break our kiss. Probably for the last time. I ask "Feeling hungry? Want me to cook you something?" She slowly nods and replies "Yeah, pork katsu, Kanazawa-style." Good thing we have boar meat, then. I say "Consider it done."

Passing the Pasig river, jogging across the Mabini bridge, I sidestep around an old man, my headphones almost caught by his wayward left hand. It's dark, a bit after 10 PM last I checked…what the hell is going on here? I called Rudy and got no answer…he probably felt the demon energy spike like I did. Had to walk all the way here…and my period cramps aren't helping me much. Should have borrowed a bike from Uncle…don't want to get him involved.

Wearing an orange and red plaid buttoned shirt, old acid-washed jeans that I don't mind getting stained if my period flows through my pads, gray running shoes, and an orange Nike tracksuit top with a hoodie, my iPod in my right tracksuit top pocket and currently on pause. Almost passed the river to the north side of the bridge…seeing that red brick warehouse to the left of the bridge. Almost at the edge, by the water. Six floors high, a lot of thick trees in between the warehouse and the bridge. Brick wall fence with razor wire…might be able to use the trees to climb over…nope, there is a street below me, running under the bridge to the east.

I look left, look right…no pedestrians looking at me. Just cars and people on bikes going along the roadway. No one paying attention. Okay…okay…I quickly climb onto the grey metal railing by the three-pronged lamppost…and I jump below…landing on my feet. Okay…what do I have to work with here…small parking lot behind me, under the bridge. Small homeless camp, two bony old men playing cards, using a flashlight to see. One of them flashes the light at me, and asks in Tagalog "Hey, where you come from?" I dryly reply in Tagalog "The primordial void." The other vagrant laughs at my response, while I turn back toward the warehouse, walk to the right and out of view of the vagrants, and fall on my left knee. I lift my right jean up, unsheathe my trusted bronze rod, and walk ahead…there…an alleyway to the left. And a white van parked by the wall, perfect.

I climb onto the van's hood carefully, doing my best to not activate any car alarms. Slowly and carefully climbing toward the van's roof, I turn and jump…catch the fire escape ladder, and pull myself up. Climbing onto the fire escape itself, I look through the large warehouse window…cannot see much of anything…too dark. I remove the right earbud and stuff it in my tracksuit pocket, reach for my iPod, and hit play. It goes to 'Chikku Bukku Rayile', from the 'Gentleman' movie. Good choice, iPod gods. Rahman always the safe bet.

Stuffing my iPod back into my tracksuit, I shatter the window with my rod, knock off the jagged glass shards that remained attached, and carefully crawl through the window. Channeling a bit of my energy, I use my bronze rod as a makeshift flare and look around. What do we have here…boxes…lots of crates, definitely a warehouse. Pitch black on this floor…see a stairway on the far right corner heading both up and down, snaking around an elevator shaft. Demon energy still faint but still there, still upstairs…feeling a bunch of other energy too. Psychics…is it that Romanian fugitive? And she has friends? I know I was told to stay away, but hey, can't unbreak the window. Now what do these crates have to tell me…

"Chikku bukku, chikku bukku rayileh, kalakkuthu paar iva styleh. Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayileh, iva okay-na adi dhooleh (Oh train, look at her amazing style. Hey Peacock, I'll be happy if you say 'yes')."

I hold my bronze rod like a flashlight…this one has a shipping manifest on it…in English. Came in through Manila South Harbor on the CS Favorita…Panamanian registration. Past port of call in Penang, Malaysia…prior one before in Melbourne, Australia, and then the trail stops in…this Lázaro Cárdenas. This place called Michoacan…okay it says Mexico. This is where at least some of these crates originated from. Manifest details several tons of dried…'charales', whatever that is. Crates themselves show the logo of an anchor with an eel snaked around it. Says 'Mariscos Aguilar'. Smaller print says 'Producto de México'. Nothing unusual, so far. I use my bronze rod to pop open the cover of the crate.

"Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayileh, iva okay-na adi dhooleh (Hey Peacock, I'll be happy if you say 'yes')." Let's see here…flat plastic packets of dried small fish…I stick my left arm into the fish pile…wait a second. "Chinna ponnu iva padippathu Ethiraja (Are these teen girls studying at Ethiraja)?" I grab onto a bulky plastic package…pull it out…heavy, shaped like a brick, in plastic cellophane. "Manasai ellam salavai seiyum (They're washing away our heart)." I weigh it again and pull open the packaging. "Sottu neelam iva paarvaiyil uruvacha (Have they shown brightness in their eyes)?" Unwrapped…a light brown brick of…powder. Is this heroin?! "Vayasu pasangala vizhiyila pudicha (And it's flattering the youth)." I toss the brick of presumed heroin to the floor and wipe my left hand against my jeans.

I stick my hand into the crate and feel around…more of these cellophane wrapped bricks. I grab another sealed one…uncle might be able to know more about this. I haven't seen it since Madras…heroin, in the Philippines?! Not the first time I've seen demons latch onto drug traffickers or criminal syndicates, but from what I know, this is not a product expected to sell well here. More of a crystal meth country. Stuffing the brick of heroin in an inside pocket of my tracksuit jacket, I proceed toward the stairs, slowly. Energy readings above remaining consistent, and I do not hear anything aside from honking traffic outside. Okay, here are the stairs. Here we go.

At the end of the stairs…more of the same, except a platform on the right, jutting out from the open right side of the floor. The middle part of a large crane, probably where they haul crates up to the upper floors. Didn't see any boats from the Mabini, so I'd guess that they were done offloading. Wait…wait…wait…that copper smell. I shine my bronze rod forward…bodies. Three of them…no…two more in the back. I approach, slowly…is that a Japanese ninja star? Embedded in the guy's forehead…guy looks Latin American. Clean-shaven, young, slightly tanned, average build. Wearing a red and grey plaid buttoned shirt tucked in blue jeans and a brown belt with an ugly eagle belt buckle. Clean shaven, some tattoo work poking through the collar and sleeves. 'Chikku Bukku Rayile' ends…next song is 'Urvasi Urvasi' from the movie 'Kadhalan'.

I check his pulse…dead but still warm…well, warmish. "Marhabaa (Welcome)! Marhabaa (Welcome)!" Flies only starting to have their dinner. I shine my bronze rod at the other bodies again, all look similar. Mexicans I'm guessing. Part of the crew? I check his left pant pocket…just a lighter with a naked woman with a skull head. "Urvasi…Urvasi. Take it easy, Urvasi." Setting the lighter on his dead chest, I check his right pocket…leather wallet. Opening it, American money, Philippine piso, and…red and yellow bank notes…'Banco De Mexico'. Checking the cards…he's collecting fortune cookies for some reason…ach…almost cut my finger on a razor blade hidden in one of the slots…there we go.

"Oosi pola udambirundha, thevayilla pharmacy (If you are thin as a needle, you don't need a pharmacy)." Driver's license. 'Estados Unidos Mexicanos'…'Michoacán De Ocampo'…'Licencia De Automovilista'…this guy's name is…was…Héctor Escudero. I set his driver's license on his dead chest and poke around more…small packet of white powder. I'm guessing cocaine…personal use. I check his back…pistol tucked in his pants like an amateur. CZ 75…safety still on. This guy didn't have a chance to react. "Vazhkayil vellave, take it easy policy (To be successful, need a 'take it easy' policy)."

I check the other bodies, all four of them in similar shape. Either a ninja star embedded in the head or neck, or two gunshot wounds to the head. Whoever killed these men did it fast and efficiently. Likely the people upstairs. Wait…blood splatter. Something doesn't add up…I shine my light source on the floor…Escudero's checks out, normal blood splatter pattern. "Pesadi, rathiye rathiye (Please talk to me, Rathi, Rathi)." These two guys on the right…there's gaps in the blood splatter. Someone got close before they killed them. And the lights…the lights are off, and they definitely would be on when these five were standing here. "Tamizhil varthaigal moondru laksham (There are around three hundred thousand words in Tamil)." The people that killed them knew them, and were on at least speaking terms with them. This was a stab in the back, not an ambush. "Neeyadi gadhiye gadhiye, rendu solladi kuraintha patcham (Please Rathi, speak at least two words)."

Hm…weird splatter by the body on the left, near the row of crates…large gap. Someone was standing next to this guy when he joined the great majority…the crates and floor have a human-sized gap…and here…a handgun on the ground. Someone actually drew their gun…but no body. Looks like a…a Ruger P90. Chrome-tinted barrel. Two spent casings on the ground…what the hell was that? Did I just hear a cough? From the crate in front of me?! I…I can't feel any spirit or demon energy. Maybe someone hid from the executions? But…if they heard him fire…and then they just let him hide in the crates?! What is going on here?!

I slowly approach the crate, reaching with my left hand for the crate's lid. Another 'Mariscos Aguilar' shipment. With more than dried fish and powdered poison. Carefully trying to lift it…it's not nailed in, okay, okay. An inch up, two…shine the light in…"Hola puta." Shit! Asshole just headbutted me, shooting out the crate like those wind-up toys. I land on my rear, feel my period pads slightly cushion my fall, and realize that my bronze rod has fallen from my grasp and is now rolling away out of reach. The Mexican man lands on his feet, mustached and reddish skinned, with a fat nose, slightly Asiatic eyes, and a boxy jaw, dressed in a lime green buttoned collared long-sleeve shirt, brown slacks, snakeskin shoes, a brown belt with a snake head steel belt buckle, and a beige cowboy hat with a folded brim. His shirt has a hole in it…no blood visible. I think my nose is bleeding. He shouts "Valió madres!" and turns toward the right wall, running…he leaps off…and I hear a loud splash. Must having jumped in the Pasig river. Now he has multiple STDs and a disease modern medicine has yet to discover.

I turn and grab the P90 pistol he left behind, and I then move toward my bronze rod, before the energy fades and I'm stuck in darkness. I hear whistling, clapping. I quickly grab the rod and activate my spirit kattai, in defensive mode. Rising to my feet and preparing for battle, I pause my iPod, put my other earbud away, aim the gun with my left hand and ready my kattai…the lights are turning on. Someone is walking down the stairs from the upper floor…two people…I'm feeling three energy readings. All human…more human and demonic energy readings remaining upstairs. Much more prominent now…they were holding back. I see the legs, and I shout in Tagalog "Ready on you! Come if you find living a bore!"

A mustached Filipino man wearing sunglasses, wearing blue jeans, blue sneakers, and a gold-yellow buttoned shirt that shows a black bow and a black sword crossed to form the shape of an X. Gold crucifix around his neck. Behind the man…behind…RUDY?! The mustached man…yes it is Rudy! He is holding both his Beretta pistols in his hands, and he is followed by a tall bald brown-eyed East Asian man dressed in professional black shoes, black suit pants, a light-red undershirt, and a charcoal-colored vest. Armed with ninja stars in his right hand and a pistol in his left. To Rudy's right…a European woman with dark brown hair that is cut just around her neck, full, high cheeks, a rounded jaw, blue eyes, bushy eyebrows, dressed in dark gray running shoes, worn gray jeans, and a short-sleeve black shirt with a printed image of a drooling wolf with its head twisted to face the heavens, as if it has gone insane. She is wielding a stiletto knife in each of her hands.

The European woman speaks first, in English, emotionlessly and with an Eastern European accent "I do not understand several of your actions, Mr. Altamirano." The bald East Asian man asks in English, in an accent vaguely similar to the Japanese cartoons my cousin Ganesan watches "The asshole is getting away. Should I have someone fish him out? Or drown him?" Rudy shakes his head slightly, keeping supposed eye-contact with me, can't tell with the sunglasses. He speaks in English "No need. We can let the city eat him alive…no pun intended." The overhead ornery lighting causes their shadows to cast against the right wall, large and imposing. Demonic almost. What is going on here?!

I speak in English "Rudy, what the hell is this? Is that Viorica? She surrendered?" The woman coldly interjects "I have not. I find the act repulsive." So that is Viorica…and from what I know of her powers…I aim my pistol at her head, shouting "Move an inch and I will end your life immediately!" She…smiles slightly, unnervingly, as if the threat amuses her. I shout "Rudy?! Help me out here! I've known you for almost a decade." The presumably Japanese man speaks "Just say when. I'm not getting paid by the hour here." Rudy ignores him and takes a step closer. He uses his right knuckle to nudge his sunglasses to his forehead, looking me in the eyes for a second, no more. He quickly pulls his sunglasses back down.

Without smiling or frowning, he calmly speaks in English "Then by Sampati's counsel led, brave Hanuman, who mocked at dread, sprang at one wild tremendous leap, two hundred leagues across the deep." Is…is he reciting the Ramayana?! He continues "To Lanka's town he urged his way, where Ravana held his royal sway." He pauses…blinks, sighs, and continues "There pensive beneath Ashoka boughs, he found poor Sita, Rama's spouse. He gave the hapless girl a ring, a token from her lord and king. A pledge from her fair hand he bore; then battered down the garden door. Five captains of the host he slew, seven sons of councilors overthrew; crushed youthful Aksha on the field, then to his captors chose to yield. Soon from their bonds his limbs were free, but honoring the high decree, which Brahma had pronounced of yore."

I speak "I don't understand, are you going to explain yourself or recite verses?" I move my left index finger to the trigger, readying myself to eliminate the Romanian threat. I shout "Is she controlling you?! Help me here Rudy!" Viorica simply stares blankly, and the Japanese man grows increasingly restless. Rudy just responds "When Ravana, dreaded warrior, knew, the slaughter of his giant crew: Ravana, the king, whose name of fear, Earth, hell, and heaven all shook to hear, he bade the fiend Mareecha aid, the vengeful plot his fury laid. In vain the wise Mareecha tried, to turn him from his course aside: Not Ravana's self, he said, might hope, with Rama and his strength to cope. Impelled by fate and blind with rage, he came to Rama's hermitage. There, by Mareecha's magic art, he wiled the princely youths apart, the vulture slew, and bore away, the wife of Rama as his prey."

Rudy raises his pistols at me…and my bronze rod…flickers? I…I find it more difficult to maintain my spirit energy levels…has he shot me with his sealing darts already?! How?! I would have felt it immediately! The Japanese man readies his ninja stars…this is going to happen. This is insane. I blink and shoot out the ceiling light. Rudy recoils from the falling glass, and Viorica leaps and lunges with her knives. I twist and lean back, one of her knives cutting some of the fabric on my tracksuit jacket. I plant my right foot back for support and shove my flickering kattai into Viorica's chest, shoving her back, sending her to the floor. I prepare to shoot at the fugitive psychic, damn the ninja stars! I knock one back, dodge the other…they can home in on me?! I turn and run in a zig-zag pattern, firing gunshots behind me for cover, the Japanese man firing back with his pistol…argh! One of the stars cut my left ear, and just broke through the window I am running toward. My kattai barely active, flickering, I run forward, fire two shots into the window, and use my kattai as a ram to shatter it fully, jumping…falling…on my left…ARGH!

Landed on my left shoulder, in the alleyway with the van from earlier, near a dumpster and several trash cans. My shoulder feels dislocated, I can barely lift my arm to shoot the gun. And more ninja stars coming my way! I drop the gun and grab a metal trashcan lid, turn onto my back, and…whew! The stars embed in the lid…I toss the lid into the dumpster itself, get to my feet, and run. As fast as I can.

Still running, at least several blocks away. No one in pursuit…I think. Hear police sirens…I turn and dart into an alleyway, see a sign pointing toward a nearby Catholic seminary. I hide behind a discarded brown sofa and peek over to see the police cars drive past me. Catching my breath…I still have the brick of heroin with me. Uncle could maybe look into it. Rudy…Rudy brainwashed by Viorica?! But…Viorica herself questioned his actions. I don't understand this. Any of this. The assassin with him, the dead Mexican smugglers, him reciting the verses of the Ramayana, I don't understand!

I grip my trusted bronze rod, my kattai already deactivated. I try to channel my energy into it…barely anything. Nothing more than a glorified flare.

What…what's next…our…no, my colleagues from Japan. They are certainly coming. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week. But they will be here. I need make contact when they do. I need to be ready for them. Before the shadows eat them alive.