Chapter 22. 

I was standing with a two-handed hold, Weaver stance, Browning pointed down the hallway. There was screaming coming from down that dark, hungry hallway. I didn't recognize the voice, but it was male. I walked steadily into the darkness, Browning following my eyes. That was a trick you had to teach yourself to do. If your gun isn't pointing the same way you are looking, often you can't get the gun around in time to shoot whatever it was you saw. It's sorta the opposite of teaching a new driver when you teach them to turn their head and look to the side, or behind them, without turning the whole car as well. Driving and shooting at the same time with any accuracy takes a bit of skill.

The screams were getting louder, and yet fainter at the same time. I was closer, and the person was getting weaker. Finally, I was pointing the Browning at a dark wooden door. The screams were fading to groans, groans of pain and a voice gone hoarse. I could smell the blood scent through the door. I took a deep breath and removed one hand from the gun to reach for the doorknob.

I turned the knob and kicked it open, hard, so it would strike the wall behind it. My free hand flew back to support the gun. The loud sound of the door slamming against the wall echoed in my head as I took in the scene before me.

It was familiar, that huge, dark thing before me. The way its darkness seemed to have no definite shape. Under it laid a pale body. Short, white-blonde hair spilled on the floor like a burning spark of light in all that darkness. The smell of blood was choking.

Pale, shining...things were held in extensions of darkness. My eyes followed them to see they led to the body. They were intestines. The victim, the man, had been torn open, and the darkness was feeding off him while he was still alive. The darkness tugged, and the intestines pulled free with a wet, ripping sound. The man groaned because he couldn't scream. His head tilted back, and brilliant blue eyes stared at me. Stared at me with total comprehension. Stared at me in total shock and betrayal. The darkness seemed to look up at me as well and two baleful, yellow lights like giant fireflies shone at me from amidst the black.

      Something grabbed my arm. I screamed.

      Someone screamed back. I flung myself away from whatever it was that had grabbed me, and my back met a wall. I pointed the Browning before I looked to find myself facing down Nathaniel. He was on his knees by the side of my futon, dressed in a loose and lavender-colored, Kung-fu or pajama style outfit. I also realized I didn't have a gun in my hands. My hands were clasped together like I should be holding one, but the gun wasn't there.

      Nathaniel had both hands clasped to his chest; his lilac eyes open wide and panicked. I took a deep, shuddering breath, my pulse still racing. I felt sore from last night's fighting, but it was nothing I couldn't bear. My left arm, my chin and my ribs hurt the most.

      "Nightmare?" Nathaniel asked in a tiny voice. "You were struggling in your sleep."

      "Yeah." I relaxed my hands to pull my hair back away from my face. My face was still a little sore too. I tried to think of who the man in the dream was. No one I recognized. Maybe the demon had rattled me more than I'd thought. I knew it was still out there somewhere. I'd have to warn Mother about it. Shaking it off, I looked back to Nathaniel. "Where's Cherry?"

      "In the woods." Nathaniel sat back on his behind to show me his bare feet. "She's hunting."

      I nodded as I crawled back onto the futon, looking around the room. "Have you seen the others?"

      "Youji's taking a bath, Ken's talking to Oka-san, Zane's hunting with Cherry, Jason and Kannon are around somewhere, Asher is undead in the other room and I'm here with you." He beamed at me as if proud he could provide a full report, then slunk onto the edge of the futon. Sitting on his knees, he tilted his head to look at my face, his hair pulled back into a ponytail.

      "I knew you would come and save us," he said, looking at me like an adoring puppy. I reached out and stroked the side of his face and he smiled.

      "Did you ever have any doubts?" I asked him, trying to sound suspicious.

      "Not once." He fell over to lay on his side and curled, looking up at me with a peaceful look. It was funny how a full-grown man could be so child and kitten-like. I wasn't sure whether to pet him, hug him, or kiss him. I'm sure all three would have been gladly accepted. I reached out to pet his hair and he closed his eyes.

      We sat like that a moment before there was a soft knock at the door.

      "Yes?" I asked, and Nathaniel looked to the door.

      "Anita, it's Kannon. It nears eight o'clock," was the reply through the door. His voice was back to normal, to my relief.

      Eight o'clock. What was important about that time?

      "Remind me, Kannon. What was I supposed to do at eight o'clock?" I asked as Nathaniel tried to curl himself closer around my legs.

      "We were supposed to meet Rune and the foreign wereleopards at Meiji Jingu."

      Oh shit! The revelation startled me so much that I kicked Nathaniel in the gut. After apologizing to him, I scrambled to get dressed.

      After checking on the, ahem, dead to the world Asher, we were on the move. Kannon was driving again. He was in rather good shape for having his throat torn open the night before. He was still as chipper and happy as ever.

      Jason had insisted on coming, saying he was my protection. Ken had also insisted on coming, saying he wanted to find some sign of his friend, Omi. The rest of the furballs had been left behind for their protection. I wasn't about to lead them into the Master of the City's lair. Youji had been left behind as I didn't think he was ready to deal with vampires just yet. I had been ready to leave Ken behind as well, until he'd flung himself against the car doors and refused to move unless we took him with us.

      We were late to Meiji Jingu, which was just a bad way to start out the day. I spotted the girl and Synne before the rest. They were just so bright. They were under the same tree as before. Synne was again dressed in white, slacks and a long overcoat closed up the front and with a high collar. Even his shoes were white. Again the silver bell was at his throat, with the same cross earring dangling from his right ear. He was sitting on the grass in the shade of the tree with a book in his hands. Clone three more versions of him and you'd get an albino boy band. Now there's a gimmick.

      The girl was in a tug of war for the end of her white and pink flowered kimono, which was held by the tow-headed male. Her hair was loose and flowing around her shoulders. A large bow of pink lace had been tied about her throat, spilling down the front of the kimono.

      The male was lying on his back on the grass, holding firmly onto a handful of the girl's kimono, making her laugh and struggle to free it. He was dressed in black today, the outfit looking very much like a Japanese school uniform. Gold buttons and a high collar with a white trim, white shirt sleeves peeking out the open sleeves of the outer jacket.

      Rune was leaning back against the tree trunk, hands folded behind his head with his eyes closed. He wore dark blue pants that clung to his legs and loosened only at his black boots. Small, metal bells, chains, and other dangles hung from random spots of the pants. He had no shirt, only a wine violet vest, with silver and gold bangles around his biceps. The open front of the vest revealed a large, raised and shiny scar that traveled from Rune's right collarbone to vanish towards his ribs behind the vest. They had obviously dressed to meet vampires.

      We'd tried our best. Kannon was dressed in a jet-black Japanese outfit that bared his arms to the shoulders. Jason had a similar outfit in dark blue with black pants. Ken had been packaged the same but in a dark green top. A matching set of three. I'd been put into a bright and blood red, Oriental style dress. Slits ran up the sides, the sleeves were barely there, and the collar was high. The short sleeves showed off the large, discolored bruise on my left arm. I had a large black sash wrapped about my waist. I'd used boots from a trunk I thought was Asher's, but turned out to be from Jean Claude. Now, I know Jean Claude used to swing both ways, or maybe that was just with Asher, but the man had too much fashion sense. And everything always fit.

      The boots were soft, supple, black leather, and encased my legs all the way up nearly to my groin. I'd folded down the tops to mid thigh. I'm certain the height of the boots and the resulting, occasional brushes against my groin had been fully intentional when they were made.

      The sash hid the Firestar at the small of my back, and the Browning was tucked into the front with an extra clip. It bulged a little, but not enough for the casual observer to notice. I was hiding it from the civilians, not the vampires. I had the knives strapped to my thighs just inside the tops of the boots so I could reach them through the slits in the dress. I left the machete behind because there was no way to hide it and still reach it.

      The girl was the first to spot us and announced our presence to the others. Rune got up and brushed off the seat of his pants, looking warily at us.

      "Sorry I'm late," I apologized hurriedly. Long night fighting monkeys and demons and all.

      Rune nodded, biting his lower lip. "We have agreed to see Sanesuke. Maybe he will leave us alone after this. But we will not stay with him."

      "Agreed," I said in relief. I felt a nudge to my back and turned to look at Kannon, the guilty party. He motioned with his head, and I followed his gaze to blink in surprise.

      Mr. Sunshine was standing in the midst of the people passing on the walk up to the temple, a good twenty feet from us. He was wearing blue jeans and a black V-necked shirt trimmed in white. People passed all around him, but his eyes were fixed on us. He didn't look happy at all. Big surprise.

      "Aya!" Ken called, dashing off to meet him.

      Well, he was still alive. That was pleasant news, I think. I wonder how he found us.

      "A friend?" Rune asked, having followed our gaze.

      "Sort of," I admitted. Ken was obviously rapidly filling his friend in on what had been happening, the redhead listening intently. Oh boy, I was just waiting for the reaction when he found out what had been happening to his friends.

      I looked to Kannon as Ken and Aya caught up on current events. "How far is it to Sanesuke's place?"

      "About fifteen minutes drive."

      "We can't fit everyone into our car."

      "We have a car," Rune spoke up. "We'll follow you."

      I smiled at him in appreciation. One thing had worked out today. It was hopeful. He smiled back, almost shyly, and looked back to his pard.

      "Synne, get the car."

      The albino sighed and got to his feet, closing his book, every movement screaming reluctance. He walked up to us, looked me in the eyes, and turned to face his Nimir-Raj.

      "Let me say I don't like this. Not one bit," he said blandly.

      "Noted. Now go get the car," Rune answered just as bland.

      I didn't see Synne's expression but Rune's hardened before the albino turned and shoved his way through the people down the walkway. He made it a point to drive a shoulder into the back of Ken's as he passed. The assassins paused to glare after him, and then looked back to me. I spread my hands and gave them the universal 'what?' look. Ken motioned at the redhead, and Aya grudgingly followed him back to me.

      "He's coming with us," Kannon translated for Ken. I gave Aya a skeptical look. He gave me a hostile look back. Ooo, touchy.

      Shortly, we were driving again, Aya in my car and burning two holes into the back of my headrest. I could feel it. Kannon was driving us through the Roppongi district, and the traffic was awful, as usual. I think the only place traffic in Tokyo wasn't awful, was outside of it.

      Kannon parked behind a club, squeezing the car into an alley with the pard's car pulling in close beside us. I had to get out on Kannon's side of the car. It was just too tight a fit. I don't think the Japanese believed in parking lots.

      The club looked high class and trendy from the front. It looked a lot like an ancient, Japanese castle. It had an outer wall, the top edge looking a lot like the roof of the temple Kannon's mother tended. The walls and roof of the building inside was tiered and colored in black and white. The doors in the wall were fashioned out of red painted wood in an arch, and you pulled on large, brass rings to open them. Just like an old castle. It was kind of neat.

      A sign hung above the door in some complex writing that Kannon called 'kanji', and explained the club was named 'The Rising Sun'. Walking past the outer wall, there was a beautiful and simple garden. We walked down a short gravel path, the small bit of yardage in either side wonderfully tended. The grass was short and one smooth color. Strangely shaped boulders had been strategically placed, each with a moat of white pebbles. There were those neat stone carvings that looked like little castles, and Kannon explained they were stone lanterns. Two, small, dark-trunked trees were the only plant life besides the grass. Both were missing leaves, but covered in pink blossoms.

      Two stone lions stood by each side of the door to the building itself, each with one paw lifted. Kannon stepped forward and lifted a ring on this door, pulling it open on soundless hinges.

      There was a man by the door, a rare tall and broad member of the Japanicus Kickassicus species. He was in a suit as expected. As Kannon negotiated with the bodyguard, I looked around the inside of the club. It was definitely one of your nicer ones. It had couches. Not just booths, but couches. Small, glass tables on brass legs sat by the couches, with rich draperies hanging off the walls. They framed old brush paintings, the ones with the occasional spot of red, pink, or white on them. There was a dance floor off to the far end of the large hall of the nightclub and a bar near the entrance. Fully stocked. The music playing was soft and relaxing, with some kind of harp and a flute. Definitely Japanese sounding.

      The people scattered through the club were in suits or more exotic clothes of black vinyl or leather. A kimono here and there. It was surprisingly quiet for a club, everyone lounging or quietly talking together. Daytime hours must be slow. Only one man stood out. He was in a business suit and sitting relaxedly on a couch along the wall, a newspaper hiding his face. His hair was short and blonde, marking him as the only noticeable foreigner.

      Kannon tapped my arm, and I turned back to him. There was another bodyguard approaching, but this one was familiar. The tora bodyguard. His face was expressionless as he bent slightly at the waist in a polite manner, and turned sideways to allow us to pass before him down the hallway he had been blocking.

      Off to see the Master, the vampire Master of Tokyo, because, because, because, because, we have to save an assassin. Well, that's my version.