Chapter 3- The Weres and the Jusenkyo
A wolf ran again through the streets of MegaTokyo, with a glowing katana strapped across his back. The wolf smiled happily at the few 'Zillas, catgirls, and assorted other non-humans he passed with sharp enough eyesight to actually see the smile on a wolf running full-speed past them. As the wolf approached the local Ann Millers, he slowed to a walk and morphed into his half-wolf form. In this form, he maintained his fur, face, and tail, but his hind-paws became something more resembling human feet, and his forepaws became hand-like claws with opposable thumbs. Ah, the wonder of opposable thumbs. A silver pair of pants similar to those of his human form appeared on his lower half, and the sword strapped across his back moved to his hip (one of the handy enchantments on the katana's sheath). He switched to this form simply because he wanted a booth at Ann Miller's, and they steadfastly refused to give booths to the four-legged. Some called it plain and simple discrimination, but Tanetris looked at it simply that the booths weren't designed for four-legged occupants. Anyway, at least he didn't have to use fully-human form. He couldn't understand how humans were able to chew anything with those dull, flat teeth of theirs...
Tanetris was jarred out of his inner reverie by shouting coming from within. His keen wolf ears heard the owner of Ann Miller's calling someone "hoodlums" and throwing them out, and two humans ran out the door past him. They seemed rather lost as they stopped just outside That Building (insert scary music here), but Tanetris was too hungry to bother to warn them. At least school was still in session for the day...
The werewolf walked in and plonked down in a window booth, one of the few with seats to accommodate tails, and waited for the waitress to come. It wasn't long before one arrived, and Tanetris was happy to see who it was.
"Ah, konnichiwa, Kimiko-chan!"
"Konnichiwa, Tanetris-kun," she smiled at him. "Can I take your order?"
"Ah, yes, spaghetti and meatballs please, and could you tell the chef not to skimp on the meat this time?"
"Of course. It shouldn't take too long, and I'll bring you some coffee in the meantime."
"Arigato gozaimasu, Kimiko-chan," the werewolf smiled. Kimiko blanched slightly, still not used to all the sharp teeth of a wolf-smile, but walked over to place the order.
Such a nice girl, Tanetris thought, it's a shame she doesn't seem to have a boyfriend. At least she has Erika looking out for her...
The coffee arrived and Tanetris sipped it, thinking of how well the day had been turning out after a rocky start. Sure, one of those l33t-freaks had attacked him, causing quite a bit of damage in the duel, which of course the police blamed entirely on him since the l33t-freak was gone, but he had gotten off on a warning, and he had even made it in time for Kimiko's shift. She might be a furless human, but then again so was Almighty Pirogoeth, and she always made the day seem that much sunnier with her smile. Whatever else this day had in store, Tanetris was ready for it. Or would be, when his spaghetti arrived, anyway...
*******
Morning air is so cold. It always stings your skin, chilling it, making it feel almost dead, but in a nice way. Sean looked up at the tall building. Middle of downtown, wonder what it's for? Nobody knows I guess, unless they work there. The building had no signs, no means of identification, but it was just there. Sean couldn't shake the feeling that there was something horrible, something more evil then he'd ever imagined in there, it's as if the building itself was giving off some sort of negative vibe.
"Sean...."
One couldn't imagine what the building was used for...
"Sean."
Perhaps they are trying some genetic experiments... maybe this building is at the root of some of the strange things that have been going on recently.
"SEAN!"
"Wha!" Sean finally replied "What? What is it?"
MiMizu pointed at Sean's watch, beeping and blinking away.
"Oh Crap!" Sean hurriedly pressed a button on the upper left-hand side of the timepiece, and seemingly faded away....
Sitting at an oak desk in a large chamber sat a man with a rather dull look on his face. He had but 12 hairs on his head, none of them placed in an appealing manner. His jaw was lined with a full, though greying beard, and his cloths looked like that of a Judge, waiting for a hearing to begin. On his desk sat a large file, and his hands tapped irritantly on the desktop. In front of the desk lay an open floor, with several layers of rings, all different types of wood, all except the center circle, which was made of white granite.
A bright light glimmered on the granite for a fraction of a second, and then Sean was there, but not as he had appeared before, but with fluffy angelic like wings.
"Miniature Guidance Advisor #42887, Seanie Awatadashii?"
"That's me....er...what's going on, that button usually brings me to-"
"Your subject? Not anymore, you're being re-assigned."
"WHAT?!"
"Your efforts with Subject: 'Takumi Horoshi' have made little progress in the last several months, if you want to keep an assignment, you need to keep close watch on it."
"But we were really coming along! We were a team! I was always there when he needed me most!"
"Yes, but most of those times you were sleeping in his shirt pocket, or eating his lunch while he was in class!"
"Er...Maybe he didn't like Rice Balls..."
"You are dismissed from this case until further notice. You will receive a new assignment in two weeks, less if your lucky. In that time I suggest you shape up, get organized, and....for gods sake man, get a haircut! You look like a girl with hair that long!"
"Hey! Leave the hair out of this!"
"Dismissed!"
With a poof, Sean was gone, once again.
MiMizu sat on a bench in the park, waiting, as he always did. Slowly but surely, his friend faded back.
"What happened?"
"I lost Takumi..."
"Ouch. Now what?"
"I dunno..."
Poof! A piece of paper materialized into thin air, landing in Sean's lap.
"Warning: Your next assignment is your last chance! Screw this one up and you risk losing your human form permanently." Sean read.
"Ouch."
"Wait," Sean continued, "there's more: 'Furthermore, Agent Seraphim is currently located in MegaTokyo, any interference with Seraphim and her Subject could result in immediate termination. Check our network for locations to avoid in MegaTokyo.'"
Sean crumpled the note, and threw it somewhere. This sucked. He was just becoming rather fond of Takumi, and now he would have to watch where he traveled, less he get terminated for accidentally 'interfering' with somebody else's subject!
"Come'on." Sean said, grabbing his friends arm, "I need some lunch."
Suddenly a bright ring appeared in front of them on the ground. It was about this size of a human. Then suddenly it jumps into the air with a burst of energy. A man is now standing there driest in an Australian duster coat and hat with a pair of blue tinted sunglasses and a map in his hands.
"Excuse me do you know where MegaTokyo is," he said looking over at the boys.
*******
"Snoooreee!...."
That would be the sound SpacyRicochet was supposed to make in that moment, were it not that the phone was ringing and waking him instead...
Blasted phones, still can't figure their real use, always waking me up.
A second after picking up the phone, Spacy wished he hadn't.
"BAKA!!! YOU LAZY SORRY EXCUSE FOR A WEREWOLF... HOW DARE YOU MAKE MILADY WAKE ME UP FROM MY BEAUTY-NAP TO MAKE SURE YOU GET TO THAT SHIP IN TIME!!! GET YOUR SORRY ASS OVER THERE AND MAKE SURE I DON'T GET BUGGED AGAIN!!!"
*click* *ringtone*
Ah, and that would be his so called partner, thanks to His Lady... Oh well, I'm sure she knows what she's doing, although Spacy still doesn't get why His Lady refers to her as 'his significant other'. Oh well, better go check on that shipment. If he's not mistaken, not only were there a load of Xbox's coming, but Ed was on that ship too...
Running along the street still in his human form (Spacy found that is was a lot easier to relax while in his human form) he halts for a moment next to the Board of Werewolves building...
Heh, they're probably still are looking for me. I bet they're still mad at me for not joining.
He starts again with the running and recalls that day they approached him. He had politely turned the offer to join them down, preferring to live on his own. They didn't like that, since that never has happened.
Spacy's probably still being kept a secret from the community. Since no one knows he's a werewolf, he just sticks to that... his wolf-form is way to peculiar and would draw too much attention and that would invade on his relaxing time.
But he's still glad His Lady offered him a job a week after that. Apparently she saw something powerful in him, but he didn't care about that... His Lady was a good boss, so he took the job. The only drawback would be his partner, with her attitude. Jeez, just because she's human and able for magic doesn't mean she rules all.
Hey, I'm here already.
(He didn't notice all the heads turning at a human running at that speed. Especially the lycanthropes looked surprised)
Now to find that ship's docking bay. Bet you I can find it on top of one of those containers. So, a little jump did the trick. Ah, there it is. Seems I still have time befo... Hello, what's this? Pretty cat-girl down below.
That cat-girl being girl with jet-black hair and glowing (or is that burning) eyes. A bit smallish, but in a good way, casual clothing and some fake cat-ears... To throw off unsuspecting humans probably, but her scent is that of a werecat. Just as his scent would betray him being a werewolf. Still despite her being obviously a werecat, Spacy always seemed to refer to those as cat-girls, when they were pretty.
Hmm, but a bit in a bad mood it seems. Best to socialize later, perhaps with a full moon. ^^.
Now to find that ship. It'll probably be overloaded with werewolves, since the Board is managing the security of the ship. Meaning lots of paperwork for anyone even coming near the spot. Oh well, I'll just go down there and act annoying to them. I love annoying those uptight cubs. ^^
Little did he know the werecat with the flaring temper was heading the same way, when he decided to lay down in the middle of a major cross-road path in front of the ship, being a very big hindrance to everyone walking there.
*******
Two werewolves already, and a werecat...
I said there were Jusenkyo springs in MegaTokyo. But they called me mad. Mad! AH HA HA HA HA! I'm perfectly sane, and they'll find that out too, yes they will, yes, they will. I'll prove my theories CORRECT, ha ha ha ha...
Takahashi knew something, I'm sure of it. But what?
I'm sure I can find some volunteers... in the name of Science!!!
...Cola scrawled, stuffing the badly lit photograph that his incompetent minion had taken in his jacket pocket. He put on the final touch by re-underlining the word "science" and then leaped up onto the café railing, clutching his diary in one hand. The MegaTokyo wind tore at his face; he laughed defiantly at it. And, turning to go, he watched his diary catch the wind and slip out of my hands, falling to the street below.
"Eeeagh!" Cola stepped down onto the balcony, in trepidation, for in that book were his notes and all his researches, wherein were revealed the supreme secrets of Life, Death, and Salad. It was no loss to him, since due to my perfection of mind he could remember every word with no effort, but letting out such secrets simply could not be stood.
Cola could not persuade any of the waiters of His plight, and so was fatally delayed by having to pay the bill. When he dashed out into the street, it was empty but for a single young lady, who had found the diary and was looking through its secrets. "Stop," he shouted at her, and, being a sensible and polite Japanese girl confronted with such an obviously mad scientist as Cola himself, she fled in fear.
"O-hohoho," he laughed, savoring my terrible power over all humanity. "Wait!"
She disappeared behind a street corner, and Cola pursued only to see her boarding a train. He fumbled for his billfold, but - curse those avaricious cashiers! - He had not enough to afford a pass! He looked around for Piro, but he wasn't there. (He reminded myself that next time he should do this on Kichiouji line....)
Then, suddenly, Cola had a stroke of insight: he did not need to enter the train, merely to accompany it! In a matter of moments he was crouched beside the train-tracks, waiting for it to rumble past him, and with but a lunge he took position atop it. He pried open a window and slid inside, searching throughout the train for the curious lady; but she was not within. She appeared to have vanished, and she had taken with her his precious diary.
My... diary of darkness!
A wolf ran again through the streets of MegaTokyo, with a glowing katana strapped across his back. The wolf smiled happily at the few 'Zillas, catgirls, and assorted other non-humans he passed with sharp enough eyesight to actually see the smile on a wolf running full-speed past them. As the wolf approached the local Ann Millers, he slowed to a walk and morphed into his half-wolf form. In this form, he maintained his fur, face, and tail, but his hind-paws became something more resembling human feet, and his forepaws became hand-like claws with opposable thumbs. Ah, the wonder of opposable thumbs. A silver pair of pants similar to those of his human form appeared on his lower half, and the sword strapped across his back moved to his hip (one of the handy enchantments on the katana's sheath). He switched to this form simply because he wanted a booth at Ann Miller's, and they steadfastly refused to give booths to the four-legged. Some called it plain and simple discrimination, but Tanetris looked at it simply that the booths weren't designed for four-legged occupants. Anyway, at least he didn't have to use fully-human form. He couldn't understand how humans were able to chew anything with those dull, flat teeth of theirs...
Tanetris was jarred out of his inner reverie by shouting coming from within. His keen wolf ears heard the owner of Ann Miller's calling someone "hoodlums" and throwing them out, and two humans ran out the door past him. They seemed rather lost as they stopped just outside That Building (insert scary music here), but Tanetris was too hungry to bother to warn them. At least school was still in session for the day...
The werewolf walked in and plonked down in a window booth, one of the few with seats to accommodate tails, and waited for the waitress to come. It wasn't long before one arrived, and Tanetris was happy to see who it was.
"Ah, konnichiwa, Kimiko-chan!"
"Konnichiwa, Tanetris-kun," she smiled at him. "Can I take your order?"
"Ah, yes, spaghetti and meatballs please, and could you tell the chef not to skimp on the meat this time?"
"Of course. It shouldn't take too long, and I'll bring you some coffee in the meantime."
"Arigato gozaimasu, Kimiko-chan," the werewolf smiled. Kimiko blanched slightly, still not used to all the sharp teeth of a wolf-smile, but walked over to place the order.
Such a nice girl, Tanetris thought, it's a shame she doesn't seem to have a boyfriend. At least she has Erika looking out for her...
The coffee arrived and Tanetris sipped it, thinking of how well the day had been turning out after a rocky start. Sure, one of those l33t-freaks had attacked him, causing quite a bit of damage in the duel, which of course the police blamed entirely on him since the l33t-freak was gone, but he had gotten off on a warning, and he had even made it in time for Kimiko's shift. She might be a furless human, but then again so was Almighty Pirogoeth, and she always made the day seem that much sunnier with her smile. Whatever else this day had in store, Tanetris was ready for it. Or would be, when his spaghetti arrived, anyway...
"Sean...."
One couldn't imagine what the building was used for...
"Sean."
Perhaps they are trying some genetic experiments... maybe this building is at the root of some of the strange things that have been going on recently.
"SEAN!"
"Wha!" Sean finally replied "What? What is it?"
MiMizu pointed at Sean's watch, beeping and blinking away.
"Oh Crap!" Sean hurriedly pressed a button on the upper left-hand side of the timepiece, and seemingly faded away....
Sitting at an oak desk in a large chamber sat a man with a rather dull look on his face. He had but 12 hairs on his head, none of them placed in an appealing manner. His jaw was lined with a full, though greying beard, and his cloths looked like that of a Judge, waiting for a hearing to begin. On his desk sat a large file, and his hands tapped irritantly on the desktop. In front of the desk lay an open floor, with several layers of rings, all different types of wood, all except the center circle, which was made of white granite.
A bright light glimmered on the granite for a fraction of a second, and then Sean was there, but not as he had appeared before, but with fluffy angelic like wings.
"Miniature Guidance Advisor #42887, Seanie Awatadashii?"
"That's me....er...what's going on, that button usually brings me to-"
"Your subject? Not anymore, you're being re-assigned."
"WHAT?!"
"Your efforts with Subject: 'Takumi Horoshi' have made little progress in the last several months, if you want to keep an assignment, you need to keep close watch on it."
"But we were really coming along! We were a team! I was always there when he needed me most!"
"Yes, but most of those times you were sleeping in his shirt pocket, or eating his lunch while he was in class!"
"Er...Maybe he didn't like Rice Balls..."
"You are dismissed from this case until further notice. You will receive a new assignment in two weeks, less if your lucky. In that time I suggest you shape up, get organized, and....for gods sake man, get a haircut! You look like a girl with hair that long!"
"Hey! Leave the hair out of this!"
"Dismissed!"
With a poof, Sean was gone, once again.
MiMizu sat on a bench in the park, waiting, as he always did. Slowly but surely, his friend faded back.
"What happened?"
"I lost Takumi..."
"Ouch. Now what?"
"I dunno..."
Poof! A piece of paper materialized into thin air, landing in Sean's lap.
"Warning: Your next assignment is your last chance! Screw this one up and you risk losing your human form permanently." Sean read.
"Ouch."
"Wait," Sean continued, "there's more: 'Furthermore, Agent Seraphim is currently located in MegaTokyo, any interference with Seraphim and her Subject could result in immediate termination. Check our network for locations to avoid in MegaTokyo.'"
Sean crumpled the note, and threw it somewhere. This sucked. He was just becoming rather fond of Takumi, and now he would have to watch where he traveled, less he get terminated for accidentally 'interfering' with somebody else's subject!
"Come'on." Sean said, grabbing his friends arm, "I need some lunch."
Suddenly a bright ring appeared in front of them on the ground. It was about this size of a human. Then suddenly it jumps into the air with a burst of energy. A man is now standing there driest in an Australian duster coat and hat with a pair of blue tinted sunglasses and a map in his hands.
"Excuse me do you know where MegaTokyo is," he said looking over at the boys.
That would be the sound SpacyRicochet was supposed to make in that moment, were it not that the phone was ringing and waking him instead...
Blasted phones, still can't figure their real use, always waking me up.
A second after picking up the phone, Spacy wished he hadn't.
"BAKA!!! YOU LAZY SORRY EXCUSE FOR A WEREWOLF... HOW DARE YOU MAKE MILADY WAKE ME UP FROM MY BEAUTY-NAP TO MAKE SURE YOU GET TO THAT SHIP IN TIME!!! GET YOUR SORRY ASS OVER THERE AND MAKE SURE I DON'T GET BUGGED AGAIN!!!"
*click* *ringtone*
Ah, and that would be his so called partner, thanks to His Lady... Oh well, I'm sure she knows what she's doing, although Spacy still doesn't get why His Lady refers to her as 'his significant other'. Oh well, better go check on that shipment. If he's not mistaken, not only were there a load of Xbox's coming, but Ed was on that ship too...
Running along the street still in his human form (Spacy found that is was a lot easier to relax while in his human form) he halts for a moment next to the Board of Werewolves building...
Heh, they're probably still are looking for me. I bet they're still mad at me for not joining.
He starts again with the running and recalls that day they approached him. He had politely turned the offer to join them down, preferring to live on his own. They didn't like that, since that never has happened.
Spacy's probably still being kept a secret from the community. Since no one knows he's a werewolf, he just sticks to that... his wolf-form is way to peculiar and would draw too much attention and that would invade on his relaxing time.
But he's still glad His Lady offered him a job a week after that. Apparently she saw something powerful in him, but he didn't care about that... His Lady was a good boss, so he took the job. The only drawback would be his partner, with her attitude. Jeez, just because she's human and able for magic doesn't mean she rules all.
Hey, I'm here already.
(He didn't notice all the heads turning at a human running at that speed. Especially the lycanthropes looked surprised)
Now to find that ship's docking bay. Bet you I can find it on top of one of those containers. So, a little jump did the trick. Ah, there it is. Seems I still have time befo... Hello, what's this? Pretty cat-girl down below.
That cat-girl being girl with jet-black hair and glowing (or is that burning) eyes. A bit smallish, but in a good way, casual clothing and some fake cat-ears... To throw off unsuspecting humans probably, but her scent is that of a werecat. Just as his scent would betray him being a werewolf. Still despite her being obviously a werecat, Spacy always seemed to refer to those as cat-girls, when they were pretty.
Hmm, but a bit in a bad mood it seems. Best to socialize later, perhaps with a full moon. ^^.
Now to find that ship. It'll probably be overloaded with werewolves, since the Board is managing the security of the ship. Meaning lots of paperwork for anyone even coming near the spot. Oh well, I'll just go down there and act annoying to them. I love annoying those uptight cubs. ^^
Little did he know the werecat with the flaring temper was heading the same way, when he decided to lay down in the middle of a major cross-road path in front of the ship, being a very big hindrance to everyone walking there.
I said there were Jusenkyo springs in MegaTokyo. But they called me mad. Mad! AH HA HA HA HA! I'm perfectly sane, and they'll find that out too, yes they will, yes, they will. I'll prove my theories CORRECT, ha ha ha ha...
Takahashi knew something, I'm sure of it. But what?
I'm sure I can find some volunteers... in the name of Science!!!
...Cola scrawled, stuffing the badly lit photograph that his incompetent minion had taken in his jacket pocket. He put on the final touch by re-underlining the word "science" and then leaped up onto the café railing, clutching his diary in one hand. The MegaTokyo wind tore at his face; he laughed defiantly at it. And, turning to go, he watched his diary catch the wind and slip out of my hands, falling to the street below.
"Eeeagh!" Cola stepped down onto the balcony, in trepidation, for in that book were his notes and all his researches, wherein were revealed the supreme secrets of Life, Death, and Salad. It was no loss to him, since due to my perfection of mind he could remember every word with no effort, but letting out such secrets simply could not be stood.
Cola could not persuade any of the waiters of His plight, and so was fatally delayed by having to pay the bill. When he dashed out into the street, it was empty but for a single young lady, who had found the diary and was looking through its secrets. "Stop," he shouted at her, and, being a sensible and polite Japanese girl confronted with such an obviously mad scientist as Cola himself, she fled in fear.
"O-hohoho," he laughed, savoring my terrible power over all humanity. "Wait!"
She disappeared behind a street corner, and Cola pursued only to see her boarding a train. He fumbled for his billfold, but - curse those avaricious cashiers! - He had not enough to afford a pass! He looked around for Piro, but he wasn't there. (He reminded myself that next time he should do this on Kichiouji line....)
Then, suddenly, Cola had a stroke of insight: he did not need to enter the train, merely to accompany it! In a matter of moments he was crouched beside the train-tracks, waiting for it to rumble past him, and with but a lunge he took position atop it. He pried open a window and slid inside, searching throughout the train for the curious lady; but she was not within. She appeared to have vanished, and she had taken with her his precious diary.
My... diary of darkness!