Kuro was standing in the middle of a room with the producer and Kegome. She could tell by the black suits they had on that she was back in the Matrix.
"What the hell?" she asked. "I thought I did my job the last time I was here."
"Your job isn't over until this war is over," the producer said.
Kuro frowned. "What war?"
"This isn't the time for games," Kegome said. "We must find the Key Maker."
"I know I'll regret this," Kuro said, "but who is the Key Maker?"
"He is the program that will get you to the Source."
"The Source?" Kuro asked.
"Once you reach the Source, the war will end," Kegome said.
"So when I reach the source," Kuro said, "I can finally go home? Great! Where's the Key Maker?"
"First," the producer said, "you must speak with Seraph."
"Who?"
"He is the program that is assigned to watch after the Oracle," Kegome said.
"Oh no," Kuro muttered. "Do I have to go see psycho-lady again?"
"Possibly," the producer said. "Seraph will be at his teashop in China Town."
"How do I get there?" Kuro asked.
"You are already there," Kegome said.
"No I'm not," Kuro said, looking round. "I'm standing in a room with you and—"
She closed her eyes as she sneezed, violently. She rubbed her eyes and when she opened them again, she was standing in front of an ornate building with "Seraph's Teashop. Welcome." in blue letters.
"Damn," Kuro muttered. "They're good."
Carefully, Kuro went up to the door and knocked. Then she pushed the door open and walked in. Inside were several tables. Across the room she saw Miroku sitting on a table, cross-legged.
"Miroku?"
He got up and began to walk towards Kuro, speaking.
"I know what you seek," he said. "I can take you to her." He stopped several feet from her. "But first, I must apologize."
That eminent sense of foreboding began to rise in Kuro again.
"For what?" she asked.
"For this."
With that, Miroku shot his fist out, trying to strike Kuro in the chest. She blocked the strike and the two of them began to fight. They exchanged blows for several minutes before Miroku put his hand up.
"Stop," he said. "Good."
"What the hell was that for?" Kuro asked.
"I had to make sure it was you," Miroku said.
"You couldn't have just asked?" Kuro asked.
"No," Miroku said plainly. "Because when one asks, they leave themselves open to deceit. Only when you fight someone do you truly know them."
Kuro was silent for a moment. "That doesn't seem like the best way to meet people."
"Come," Miroku said. "We must go."
He went to the door and closed it, locked it. When he opened it again, it led out into a small park. Kuro could see a park bench. She followed Miroku through the door and up to the bench. But when she got to it, she didn't see Kikio. It was Songo.
"I thought I was going to see the Oracle," Kuro said.
"I am the Oracle," Songo said.
"No," Kuro said. "Kikio is the Oracle."
"You must be confused by my new appearance," Songo said.
"No shit."
"I had to change form some time ago," Songo explained.
"Why?" Kuro asked. Before Songo could answer," Kuro held up a hand to stop her. "Wait. Scratch that. I don't really care. Where the hell's the Key Maker?"
"Have a seat," Songo said.
"If I'm getting this right," Kuro said, "Then you should already know if I'm going to sit or not, correct?"
"Wouldn't be much of an Oracle if I didn't."
"So how can it be my choice if do or not?" Kuro asked.
"Be cause you already made that choice."
"When?" Kuro demanded. "I don't remember ever thinking to myself, 'Hey. If I'm ever in a park when some creepy version of Songo asks me to sit, I think I will.'" With that, she sat down. "Where's the Key Maker?"
"A very dangerous program, called Merovingian is holding him," Songo said. "A Trafficker of Information. You must get him out."
Kuro let out a sigh. "And where do I find this Trafficker?"
Songo handed Kuro a piece of paper. "Be there at that exact time."
Miroku came up out from the shadows.
"We must go," he said.
Songo and Miroku left through the same door, leaving Kuro alone on the bench, thinking and looking at the paper. She looked up when she heard a noise. It was Naraku.
"At last I have you alone, Mr. Anderson," he said.
"Naraku," Kuro said desperately. "What the hell is going on? This is sixth time I've been here."
"This will be your last," Naraku said with an evil smile. "I have turned a great deal of others in the Matrix into copies of me. They will soon be here and we will kill you."
He ran at Kuro, planning to attack him. But Kuro dropped under the punch and delivered her own punch to Naraku's stomach. He fell sideways and she got him in a headlock. There was a flash and she was back in the forest, gripping Naraku in a headlock. She let go hurriedly.
"Oops," she said. "Sorry, dear."