Underwater Savior

Chapter 10: Know Your Enemy

by LadyRainStarDragon

Not mine. I can only wish. If you've seen the movie, then you know which characters aren't in it. Hey, at least the plots in my stories are mine!

Inu and kitsune were natural enemies. Greed was out on another mission for his 'master' Chisen. So, of course when he smelt fox, Greed abandoned what he was currently digging up. Tracking the smell carefully, he smiled maliciously to himself at the sight. A she-fox was rushing through the forest. He had seen her before, and knew her as an enemy of his dysfunctional 'family'.

As he stepped out of his shelter, he spoke.

"So little Tsuni-sama, I see you are out of your fox-hole. Where are you running to this fine day, little one?"

'Kuso! I thought he had been exorcized ages ago. Why is that dog spirit still existent? Why?'

Tsukaimono put on a burst of speed, trying to get away from the demon. Darting through the underbrush and weaving a trail that only a fox could, she was dismayed when her tricks of evasion did not work. Finally, the dog spirit had her pinned on her back, though how she got like that she would never know. He lowered his muzzle to her ear.

"You were the only one of that family to hold my respect, giving my body a proper burial when you came upon it. It's too bad that you are mated now. The smell is human though, and very old. He is an old man now isn't he, and will be leaving you soon. Help me, and I will see to it that you remain well taken care of even after he is gone."

The golden eyes stared into her green ones, and she could see the lust that filled them. It seemed that Greed was not the only thing that had taken over the dog after his gruesome murder at the hand of his master. She could remember him as a puppy, filled with warmth, love, and devotion toward the family that he served. She never did understand why the Mahou coveted their responsibilities so badly. That covetousness had resulted in this monster now on top of her, suggesting horrendous things.

Greed saw the emotions in her eyes. Even she was going to spurn him, the one thing that had given him hope in other creatures at all. All he wanted was life, to no longer be caught between as a servant of an unskilled sorcerer. Her kindness by taking care of his body had led to his desire of her. It was the only unmalicious feeling in his body.

"I will remain faithful!"

The salt she threw from somewhere burned him, causing him to rear upward. The fox took advantage of this, and escaped. She would have to get another packet of sacred salt when she got to the Ogino Shrine. Oinari would understand why she would be carrying something from another Shrine.

As the dog howled in pain behind her, she raced for the daitoku's home. Relief filled her when she finally made it. Her hand burnt as she began rapping on the door, but she paid it no heed.

"Koji! Let me in! It's Tsukaimono! Please! I'm pursued!"

The priest heard the commotion made by the only youkai he would let into his home. 'Something must have really happened to cause her to come all the way here on a work day.' He opened the door, allowing his friend to barrel in.

"Tell me about it."

"It's an action and a he."

"Let me get some tea for us."

Akio and Chihiro were met at the car by Yuukio. Before the poor kid could escape, she was swept up in the tightest embrace she had ever imagined possible. It was almost as bad as having some distant relative pinch your cheek, but squeezing the very life from her bones. Or at least this was so in the child's active imagination.

The family went inside, Chihiro trudging in. The car ride had made her sleepy again. As growing girls need their rest, she was allowed to go back to sleep. She would no doubt wear herself out in time for bed time once she woke back up. She went up the stairs to tuck herself in.

Akio and Yuukio sat down at the table to discuss their day. Yuukio slid a piece of paper towards Akio.

"I found two job opportunities for you in the area."

Akio looked at the two possibilities with contact information written down, nodding. Standing and leaning forward, he hugged his wife.

"Good job. I'll call right away."

He went over to the phone as Yuukio decided to get an early start on making dinner. Akio had always wanted to work in construction, he loved being outdoors. He was getting rather soggy around the middle anyway, and if he could get a physical job, that would clear his problem up nicely. The pay at the medical facility was tempting, but really, he didn't want to be associated with that. The rumors were all bad. So instead, he dialed up Good Fortune Construction.

"Good Fortune Construction Company. This is Cheryl. How may I direct your call?"

"Arigato Cheryl-san. I was notified of possible job positions with your company, and I was calling for more information and an application."

"Hai, hai! I'll direct you to the company head, he will be most happy to talk with you! One moment please!"

Akio looked at the receiver in his hand in shock after some canned elevator music began playing while he was on hold. He hadn't expected such a fast and enthusiastic response.

"Hello, Ni speaking!"

Akio nearly choked on his tongue. He was expecting a big speech-type greeting like he always got from the company president in his old job.

"Hello. I was directed here to speak of job openings and the possibility of filing an application."

"Yes. That's me you want to talk to. Call me Tsuni-san please. Can you come to the office today and we can discuss in person your strengths and which department you would like to work in?"

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent, I will see you today then."

The phone was hung up with a click, leaving Akio to stand stunned.

"Well?"

"I'll be back dear. I have a job interview to get to."

With that, Akio got his things together and went out the door. Chihiro came back down the stairs as he left.

"Where's daddy going?"

"To a meeting."

Far below the river in an ancient cave system, a large white dragon was stretched out on a flat rock. Phosphorescent algae lighted the cave dimly, winking off of various crystal and mineral deposits. Here is where he hid his treasures, and this water guarded his secrets. Gazing morosely in the waters below, he let forth a sigh.

'What could be his game? For that matter, where did he come from?'

A sightless white fish rose to the surface as an equally sightless lizard came up to their master's side?

"What is the matter master? Is there something that we can do?"

The dragon regarded the other denizens of the grotto gravely. These two were the boldest of the others, and often would talk with him. They ran his household for him, as there were often times that he was too busy with what went on in the aboveground part of his river. Over the years, new treaties had to be worked out between the different kami above, as the uses of the waters in the area changed. He was lucky to have such trustworthy spirits to delegate the daily matters of his secret to.

"Above ground is a strange spirit with an even stranger agenda. This is what is worrying me at this time. There is a child in our family that requires more protection that usual as she likes to wander about without adults to protect her. I worry what this spirit may do to the child and all the other humans above."

"Abnormally malicious spirits don't usually cause you so much concern master. Usually you just crush them and have done with it. What is so special about this case?"

Kohakunushi shook his great head, stirring his mane back into life.

"I wish it were still that easy. Things have changed greatly above ground in the past several hundred years. A dragon can't just walk around up there and chew on some random menacing demon and expect everyone to cheer. No, they either think they've had too much sake, try to shoot you, or try to haul you off to be 'studied'."

"So how does this spirit get away with his real form up there?"

"He's a dog."

"Oh."

Silence filled the cave for a time as the three contemplated the problem. However the problem was solved, it would required stealth. That wasn't a problem for the river guardian, it was something he was really good at. The problem was trying to figure out what the dog was up to, and how to thwart it. The lizard cleared his throat.

"Master, perhaps some of the scrolls in your library could help. I remember dusting some lately that pertained to this sort of thing."

Kohakunushi nodded his head in acknowledgment. He watched as his two servants went back to their duties. Rising from his spot, he carefully made his way towards the grotto that held all of the scrolls that had been collected by himself and his ancestors. His line had always been preoccupied by the humans, and so had made a point to collect wisdom and resources for the rare human who was brave enough to ask for help. They were also just naturally curious. It often got them into trouble.

He stood before the great doors that closed off the library from the rest of his domain. Leaning his head against it, he pushed gently, and they swung open. As they did so, he resumed a human form, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the lights used in the room.

"I keep forgetting just how many scrolls are stored in here." A groan soon followed this statement as he realized he was going to have to use the indexing system.

"I really need to get this organized."

Tsukaimono knelt by the low table, sipping her tea. Her hysteria had calmed down by now. And she had successfully related to the priest what was going on. Including her brush with the Greed Spirit. She shuddered as she remembered his hot breath on her face.

"So you think that the buried and starved dog that you found that day is the one that is running around now."

"No, I know so. He told me as much."

"And your father has this crazy idea to 'temporarily' get rid of Kohakunushi's river in order to force him into the Spirit World long enough to get a mate."

"In a nutshell."

"For such a wise kitsune, I'm surprised he hasn't seen the two flaws in his plan."

"I pointed them out many times, but he just keeps going on. It's creepy."

"So, how much time do we have left now?"

"Not much. It's slated to begin within the next month since it's such a long process."

"And so we get to deal with a crazed greed spirit and fend off river destruction at the same time."

"Looks like somebody wished that we live in interesting times once to often."

"Well, I'll pass the information along. Who knows when he'll be up here again, probably only if my granddaughter puts herself in a bad spot again knowing him. He's probably busy trying to figure out a way of getting rid of the dog without breaking any rules. It chased them you know."

"Great. Now if we can only figure out how Chisen could stand to gain from whatever Greed is up to."

Koji's eyes narrowed.

"Chisen Mahou?"

The fox youkai looked at the human in surprise. Did he know whom she was talking about somehow?"

"Yes."

"I suggest that you step up your security. Chisen has always envied anyone wealthier than himself. I wouldn't put it past him to try to mess your father's 'project' up, he'll find some way to gain something that he wants here."

"It could be the deeds to the apartments then. With something like that, he could stand to make quite a bit of money."

Tsukaimono quickly drained the rest of her tea. She needed to warn her father. After thanking Koji for his hospitality, she was on her way.

A fox was seen running away from the home.

'I hope that I don't run into that THING again.'

hai - yes

arigato - thank you

kuso - hit, etc.