So we're up to chapter 3. From now on updates are once a week - or at least I'll try to keep that schedule. We'll see how that goes...

Chapter 3

The drive to Dresden's home wasn't long, but a very quiet one and somewhat awkward, at least to Sai's mind. The man parked the car by the street and led the boy to a big old wooden house. He went down a few steps to a basement door, and stopped there.

"Wait a minute," he muttered.

"What?" Hikaru asked after a moment.

"Done. Had to take down the wards." He gave the boy a sharp look. "Listen, kid: don't walk through this door on your own, okay? It's got wards on it that'd be enough to blast something dozen times your size all the way to Mozambique." He paused. "Slight exaggeration, maybe. The Mozambique part. …alright, please come in. Both of you."

"O-kay," Hikaru said slowly. He didn't sound quite convinced. Sai made a mental note to make sure the boy wouldn't approach the door on his own.

Having entered, he paused to take a look at the room. The place was small, but much tidier than he had expected. The furniture seemed old but comfy, the floor was covered with different rugs and the walls with bookshelves – and a Star Wars poster. There was a small kitchenette, a door to another room, and a fireplace, by which was lying…

Something huge suddenly ran past him, dodging him in passing, and headed out of the door before he could register no more than a long grey tail.

Oh!

"That was a big cat!" Hikaru said with a laugh. "Gave you a scare, Sai? It went out, is that ok?" he asked Dresden.

"Yeah, it's fine. He'll come back when he's done with confirming the order in his realm. Just close the door, would you?"

"Okay," Hikaru said, just as hesitantly as before, probably wondering if the man had been joking or not.

Sai was about to say something about cats and their arrogant nature, when the thing at the fireplace drew his attention again. He froze, staring at it. It was huge, wooly, grey, and standing up it came up to Sai's waist.

"Wow." Hikaru breathed, following his gaze. "Is that a dog?"

The creature let out a vibrating growl that was more questioning than threatening, but still made the boy and the ghost alike to back a step.

"Oh, that's Mouse," Dresden said. "It's ok, boy, they're friends." The huge dog's tail thumped twice at this, hitting against the wall. The sound reminded Sai of Hikaru's mother beating carpets.

"Mouse?" Hikaru asked. "As in, his name is Mouse?"

"Yeah. As for his breed, he's half a woolen mammoth, half a rhino."

"Can I pet him?" Hikaru asked carefully. The dog gave a bark before Dresden could say anything, and sat down raising one of his paws while his tail thumped against the floor with such fervor it wouldn't have taken long to clean even a large carpet.

"Wow, you're amazing!" Hikaru exclaimed quietly as he crouched down in front of the dog, scratching with both hands behind the ears.

Dresden snorted. "Don't praise him too much. He already imagines he's smarter than most people. Which of course is true, but let's not get into that," he added under his breath.

Sai was staring at the dog with widening eyes. He wasn't sure of what he was seeing, in fact he didn't have any idea if what he thought he was seeing actually could somehow be real, or if he really had lost it, but… this dog…

Komainu, he breathed, and the dog's eyes turned to look straight at him. How can there be a real living komainu here?

"What?" Hikaru gave him a questioning look with raised eyebrows. "You mean, like those lion dog guardian statues at the temples? What are you talking about?"

Sai was too stunned to answer. His knees felt weak, and he slid slowly down to sit on the floor in seiza. Or maybe to kneel, he wasn't quite certain.

Now he had the dog's full attention. He could have sworn this… Mouse? was watching him. Hikaru noticed this too.

"What, can the dog see him?" he asked, disbelieving.

Dresden looked at them from the kitchen where he had been rummaging for a drink and blinked. "Can you, boy?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

The dog barked, the tail gave one thump! and then he was suddenly in front of Sai, tail wagging, one paw on the ghost's shoulder, and very large and very wet dog tongue running all over his face.

O…oh, hey, c'mon, you… Sai spluttered, falling backwards, and Mouse followed him with an excited bark. A moment it seemed like the dog was attempting to sit on his lap. Oh, you, you're much too big, come, now… Sai made a feeble attempt to push the dog aside and managed in the end to sit up.

Oh gods, he breathed, as Mouse sat down next to him, leaning against him heavily as he rubbed the dog's side. Leaning. Against him. Heavily. Oh gods, Sai repeated, and felt like crying. In fact, he probably was, but couldn't care less. I can touch him! Hikaru, I can… I can really… oh gods! He hugged the dog who gave a happy grunt.

"Wow," Hikaru said, very quietly. Sai looked up, blinking tears from his eyes, and saw the boy staring at him with wide eyes from the fireplace where he was still crouching on the floor. He glanced toward Dresden who was standing in the kitchen a coke in each hand, with an expression that was so similar to Hikaru's that he couldn't help laughing out loud.

I can touch him! Sai exclaimed happily, scratched the dog behind his ears and rubbed then fervently his tummy as the dog rolled on his back. Mouse, huh? Yes, you are a good boy!

"Well, that was interesting," Dresden stated flatly. "Coke?" He offered one of the cans to Hikaru. "Say, can you see all ghosts?"

Hikaru opened his mouth as if to answer, but Mouse gave a loud bark before he could say anything.

"And can they all touch you?" Dresden went on. Now the dog (and Hikaru as well) was quiet, just tilted his head a bit. "Okay, I'll ask Bob about that." He took a long a swig of the coke and wiped his mouth. "Alright. You wait here. I," he bent down, dragged a rug aside, and opened a trapdoor, "go to check some things. Don't come down here, ok?" He gave Hikaru a look that made the boy swallow. "Got it? Under any circumstances. Promise you stay up here."

It wasn't a question. "I… promise," Hikaru said quietly. The man nodded and disappeared somewhere in the cellar, closing the trapdoor after himself. Hikaru watched the trapdoor thoughtfully a moment, but came then to Sai and Mouse and also started rubbing the dog's belly.

"I wonder what he's doing down there," he pondered aloud after a while had passed.

Onmyouji things, Sai said strictly. Better not to get involved.

Yes, but… Hikaru licked his lips.

No¸ Sai said. Whatever you're thinking about, no.

Hikaru turned to look at him, pausing from the dog belly rubbing. You could go take a peek.

No! Absolutely not! No more of this 'just taking a peek' nonsense. It could be dangerous!

Just a quick look, how's that…

Mouse gave a whining sound and whacked softly at the boy's arm. He started rubbing the dog again, absentmindedly.

Sai, please. We need to know if we can trust him, right?

Sai gave him a wry look. Why wouldn't you trust him?

What do we even know about him! He could be fake or something! Okay, so, he sees you and has that shiny staff… and a funny dog… the boy paused and glanced down at Mouse who met his gaze with big sad dog eyes. But what has he done so far? Drew a circle on the ground and then walked around and found nothing. Just… go to take a peek on what he's really doing down there?

Sai paused, considering the boy's words. He could understand Hikaru's point, though he personally had no doubt that Dresden was exactly what he claimed to be. The man had an aura unlike any other he had ever seen. Besides, he had felt the release of energy back when Dresden had broken his circle. Something had been happening there, whether or not they saw it.

So. Dresden was an onmyouji, a wizard, as they said in this part of the world. And onmyouji were… dangerous. They knew the old lore, measured the heavens and divided the fortune, and… banished spirits.

You… promised, he still tried, a bit weakly.

I did! You didn't! Please, just a quick peek? He doesn't even see you all the time, he won't notice.

Sai wasn't quite convinced, but nodded still. Mouse heaved out a great sigh, rolled over and laid his head down on his front paws. Sai gave the dog a guilty glance. I'll… be very careful, okay? If he's… doing something, I'll get right up again. I'm not going to disrupt any, uh, rituals, or, what… ever he might be doing.

Mouse sighed again and just watched him with that sad look all dogs master.

How do I let him talk myself into these things, Sai muttered to himself as he floated down through the trapdoor.

The cellar was more what Sai would have expected from an onmyouji's residence. There was a long table in the middle of the room and other tables along the walls. Over the tables there were shelves full of things: cages, boxes, jars, all kinds of cans and containers, many old books and a long row of notebooks, plus a peculiar looking pair of antlers. On one side of the floor there was a brass circle laid out on the cement, held down with bolts.

Dresden was sitting by one of the tables, unmoving – dressed in a bathrobe. Sai froze for a moment, but as the man didn't seem to react to his presence nor be doing anything that looked like it might explode or unleash demons or anything such, he moved carefully a bit closer.

There was some kind of a model of a city on the table, Sai noted with a little frown. A very finely made model, complete with trees and bushes and even the little paths, but whatever use could an onmyouji have for something like that? Besides…. He looked at Dresden and his frown deepened. Was the man asleep? Or… perhaps he was meditating? Though this didn't look like any meditation Sai knew about, the way he was slumped there by the table.

He took another step closer.

"Well!" a voice exclaimed, and Sai gave a little yelp, jumping to look back. There was no one in the room. "He never said the ghost was such a looker!"

Sai blinked. He glanced frantically around, but still couldn't see anyone. Though… there was a skull on the shelf, next to a candle and some old books, and its eyes were emitting an orange light.

Sai gulped and edged toward the stairs.

"What a lucky guy, the boy you're haunting!" the voice went on. "How did…" A funny thing happened: the skull's eye sockets seemed to widen a bit. "Wait. You're not female."

What? Sai exclaimed, his fear suddenly forgotten. Of course I'm not! He suddenly remembered Dresden's comment from when they first met, 'at least I assume that's a guy'. Are you people all blind?!

There was a strange sound, as if someone blew out air through tight lips, and Sai paused to wonder how a skull would make such a sound.

"Heian era, right?" Now that Sai was watching the skull he could locate the source of the voice there. "You've got to know your… appearance is quite unorthodox. Did you really look like that when you were living? Why? Are you somehow, you know, 'different'?" The skull seemed to be winking at him.

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about¸ Sai said, feeling genuinely disturbed. What do you know about my time, anyway? It was over a thousand years ago on the other side of the world! A skull in a cellar in Chicago…

"Hey, I'm a spirit of intellect! I know, okay? The skull gave a sigh. "Oh well. Here I thought my luck was turning, that for once a hot chick – though with way too much clothing – was coming down here, but no, of course not."

A spirit of… intellect? Sai gave the skull an incredulous look.

"Exactly." The skull's voice was quite flat. "My name is Bob."

…Bob.

"Yes. What? It's a fine name! A name of my own, that's, that's…" The skull huffed. "And if you don't like it, complain to him." The light in the eyes flicked toward the still unmoving form by the table. "He gave it to me."

Oh, it's a fine name, of course it is, Sai said hurriedly. I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I am Fujiwara no Sai.

"Pleased to meet you, by all means. And what would you be doing down here?"

Oh, I, Sai shifted nervously. I was just checking, you know, we don't really, that is, know him that well, and… He glanced at the man, still slumping by the table. What is he doing, anyway?

"Something quite dangerous. I'd suggest you stay apart. There's enough energy loaded into that thing to…"

Sai had moved closer, curious, and bending over the model city he suddenly could feel the energy the spirit was talking about. It made his scalp tickle.

"Hey! Are you listening to me? Stay away!"

Sai jerked back, flustered. Oh, I'm sorry, I just, wanted to see…

"See if you could blow the whole building to hell? I told you, there's a strong spell at work there, don't disrupt it with any outside energies."

Sai sniffed, a little offended. I wasn't going to disrupt anything. No need to yell.

"Right, Rapunzel. You can stay here, but only if you behave. Otherwise, get back up."

Sai sniffed again at the sharp tone. Maybe I will go. He turned and started climbing up the stairs.

"Hey, don't be such a baby," came the voice from the skull. "I'm just doing my job. Got to look over the boss while he's… away."

Sai paused. He had come down to see what was going on. If he now returned up to report to Hikaru that Dresden seemed to be napping by a table, that wouldn't really help.

Away? He came back down. What is he doing?

The skull was quiet for a long moment, then apparently decided there was no harm in explaining. "That's a model of the city, covering almost two miles from Burnham Harbor in every direction. It's damn good work, even if I say it myself – don't think he could have made it without my help. And it's got pieces of real buildings and trees in it, so it's thaumaturgically connected to the city."

Thaumaturgically?

"You know, like Harry was using that hair to track the kid's parents? A little piece is connected to the bigger piece it came from."

Alright. Sai considered this a moment. You still didn't tell me what he is doing.

"Exploring the city in spirit form through this model Chicago."

Sai's eyes widened. Really? That's incredible.

"Isn't it?" The skull sounded smug.

How long will he be gone?

"Hopefully not too long." Somehow Sai got an impression of a frown. "It's quite trying. Takes a lot of energy, and he cannot feel when his body runs out of it when he's in Little Chicago."

Oh. Sai was watching the slumped form with new respect. But what is he doing there? Does he have a lead?

"Perhaps." A shrug. "But what about you? How long have you been with the boy?"

A couple of years.

"Really?" The skull sounded surprised. "And there's been no trouble?"

…no. None, Sai replied, and suppressed a shiver of apprehension. Why would there be trouble.

It wasn't a question, and Bob didn't answer it, but said instead, "Hey… how come you're walking here on your own in daytime? What's your sanctum?"

Sai blinked. My what?

"You know, where you reside during sunlight hours? Your vessel?" When Sai just stared at the skull, uncomprehending, he again got the feeling of widening eye sockets. It was slightly disturbing. "The boy himself? Really?"

What do you mean? Sai asked, a little uncomfortable.

The skull whistled. Sai decided to stop paying so much attention to all these impossible sounds and effects. "So when he goes out, you go out? You can walk out there? In the sun? Neat!"

You mean you can't?

"A spirit needs to have a sanctum to return to during daytime, or it will dissolve. Surely you're aware of that? Not? Seriously, how have you spent a thousand years as a ghost, and don't know anything! …okay, okay, don't get all puffy again! That's just, like, the basic-most info for any new spirit. Where did you stay before you got to this boy? Surely you've not been just jumping from human to human, all this time?"

No. I remained in a go board.

"A go board?" The tone was genuinely surprised, and Sai straightened his back, ready to defend his beloved game. "Oh, yeah, Harry did mention something about you wanting just to play go when he told me about you. Kind of funny." Sai frowned. The tone made the choice of words sound more like 'funny' as in 'interesting', rather than 'funny' as in 'amusing', and he wasn't quite certain if it was too early to take offense or not.

"So, are you good?" Bob asked.

I would dare to say so. I used to be the emperor's go tutor. I am striving to attain the Divine Move.

"Oh? Well, that's something. And you've got to have a fair deal of passion for the game, if it was enough to make a ghost. I'd invite you in for a game if I didn't need to keep an eye on boss… maybe some time later?"

Sai's eyes widened. You play go?

The skull snorted. "Spirit of intellect, remember? Of course I play go."

That's, that's… wonderful! Sai practically flew to the shelf and placed his hands on the skull, would have picked it up in his eagerness if he could. Oh, we do have to play! I have never played against a spirit before, only humans! That would be so exciting, so, so… oh, I can't wait! Can't we have a game right away? Just a little one, speed go or something? Please?

"Oh," Bob said, as Sai kept on staring at the skull with a beaming, hopeful look. "Uh. That is, I…" The lights in the skull's eyes blinked. "Are you sure you're not female?" he then asked.

Sai blinked as well and let go of the skull. Of course.

"Because if that's true, then I'm having a sexual identity crisis."

Sai blinked again and backed away a bit. What?

"Bloody hell," Bob muttered. "Now, don't tell Harry. He'll be a jerk about it, especially after I teased him about him and Thomas."

I… most definitely won't, Sai said slowly. You… how can you even have a sexual identity, you're a skull!

"I'm no more a skull than you were a go board when you were in it!" Bob exclaimed.

"What," a voice cut in, "are you talking about?"

"Nothing," said Sai and Bob at the same time.

"Sounded like it," Dresden muttered, sitting up by the table, rubbing his temples. "Who was a go board?"

"No one," Bob answered. "But…" He paused, lights in the eyes flicking briefly to Sai. "Oh, boss, you can't see him now, right? The ghost is here. And he wasn't a go board, he was sealed into one. …and I still feel it's just wrong to say 'he'."

"The ghost is here? Hell…" Dresden looked up, there was again that short flash of light Sai remembered from the pub, and the man's eyes stopped on him. "I think I told you to stay up there!"

Umm, you told Hikaru, to be exact, Sai said, feeling a little guilty. I just… came to take a look. To… be sure of everything. And I haven't touched anything, just had a discussion with your, your… He glanced at the skull, wondering what would be the best way to describe it.

"His loyal spiritual guide, irreplaceable adviser, inexhaustible source of ancient wisdom," Bob said.

"My pain-in-the-ass pervert of a spirit, more like it," Dresden said, and the skull hissed.

"See what I've got to work with?" he said to Sai. "I who have been the aide to countless great wizards since the Dark Ages! And this is where I end up! No respect at all. He doesn't even bring any girls down here to lighten my days, doesn't make a single love potion…"

"Bob, please," Dresden said, hand again on his temple. "Shut up."

The skull huffed but said nothing.

So, did you find anything? Sai asked carefully, deciding to ignore the other spirit for now. He was still moderately excited about the potential go game, but was beginning to suspect it might be safer to pass it, no matter how disappointing that thought was.

"Possibly," Dresden said. "The boy's upstairs, right? It's faster to tell this to you both at the same time."

He started heading up, and Sai followed him. "What about me?" came Bob's voice from behind them.

"Take a nap, I'll talk to you later," Dresden replied.

"No respect at all," Sai still heard Bob muttering as he left the cellar after the man.

"Well." Dresden had paused after reaching the ground floor and stood in the middle of the room watching something. Sai hurried to his side and stopped too.

Hikaru had curled up next to Mouse, half lying over the dog. The boy was fast asleep. Mouse raised his head a little, glancing at them, sniffed then at the boy's hand before lowering his head again, letting out a soft sigh. Sai walked to Hikaru and knelt down next to him. It seemed to him there were tear streaks on the boy's face. He sighed too, and patted softly Mouse's head. The dog's tail gave a single quiet thump against the floor.

Could we let him sleep a little? he asked Dresden. He didn't sleep much at all last night…

Dresden sighed in his turn. "I'd hoped to talk to you through him, so I wouldn't need to keep the Sight open all the time… but I guess." He gave the dog and the sleeping boy a long look, an unreadable expression on his face. "That dog… really is something."

Mouse wagged his tail softly again, and shortly a wide doggy grin flashed on his face.

Dresden sat down, taking of his bathrobe and throwing it on the back of the couch. "It's cold down there," he said, a little defensively, seeing how Sai was eyeing the piece of clothing. He gestured to Sai to take a seat too. After short consideration the ghost settled down on a rug on the floor. If you don't mind, he said. I'm more used to this.

Dresden just shrugged. "Suit yourself." He sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Truth to be told, I don't have much. I did in fact get something there in the Undertown, but I'm still not even sure if that was connected to your case or not. There was some residual magic there. Someone's performed a spell there, a pretty strong one, but I'm not sure about its nature. But it might have been a couple of days ago, so the timing's about right. And given that that's where the trail ended…"

Sai nodded. It could very well be connected. What were you doing now in that model of the city?

"Tried to track that residual magic to its caster. Had to do it right away, it won't last for long anymore. One more sunrise, and the last remainders of it will most likely be wiped away."

And did you have any luck?

"Some, I think. Do you remember seeing a middle-aged woman, possibly of Polynesian origin or such?"

Sai considered, shook then his head. Not that I'd be sure what someone 'possibly of Polynesian origin' looks like.

"Black hair, brown skin? She was meeting a heavily tattooed young man at a restaurant. That ring any bells? They spoke in a language I didn't understand, but I'd place it around there. The man was scared about something… and perhaps of her. Anyway, she was the one who performed the spell in that Undertown hall."

You are sure of that?

"Yeah. For what it helps. I didn't get as much as I'd have liked. I don't know what they were talking about, or even who they were. But at least I've got a face now. I can ask around, someone like her shouldn't be hard to find. She has some real skill too, as she was able to notice me spying on her. Had to retreat pretty hastily…"

So next you will… Sai started to say, but right then the phone rang. Dresden rose to answer it, Hikaru raised his head up on the floor.

"Dresden."

Sai got up and walked to Hikaru. How are you?

The boy yawned, shrugged. Didn't reply. "Did I sleep long?"

Not really. But Hikaru, there is no doubt. This man is a real onmyouji, and a strong one. He had sent his spirit out to explore the city when I went down.

"Really?" the boy whispered, eyes widening. Then he frowned. "How do you know that? Did you see his spirit?"

No, but…

So how do you know he wasn't faking it?

Hikaru. Sai gave the boy a level look. He is real. I can feel his power. In addition, he has down there a spirit that is serving him, possibly some kind of a shikigami. A spirit at least as old as I am.

"Okay, okay. I believe you. Maybe he is the real thing." Hikaru didn't still sound quite convinced.

Mouse gave a quiet affirmative woof, and poked Hikaru with a paw. The boy smiled and scratched the dog's head. "What, you say he's the real thing too?"

"Whuff," Mouse replied, very seriously and with a little nod of his head, and Hikaru paused a moment from his scratching.

"…okay."

"Thanks, Murph," Dresden was saying. "See you."

Sai and Hikaru both looked at him as he finished the call.

"That was your police friend?" Hikaru hazarded a guess.

Dresden nodded. "Yep. And she had some interesting info."

The boy straightened his back. "Yes?"

"There's been a peak in tourists going missing here in the last few days. From all over the world. Norway, India and…" he glanced down at his notes, frowning. "Gabon? That's in West Africa. What the hell are all these people doing here, anyway? But as it is, there's been altogether four cases, so far. All couples."

Hikaru was full of attention. "So what does that mean?"

"Don't know yet. But… I don't really believe in coincidences. It's time for you to return to the hotel. I've got some serious snooping to be done. Though…" He glanced at his watch. "Are you hungry? It's soon 3 pm and I've not eaten today."

"Oh, I… I'm not really…"

Hikaru, you've not eaten today either, barely had anything at the breakfast. You should eat something, whether you're hungry or not.

"Burger King ok? On me, this time." Dresden grasped his coat and threw it on. "Murph's going to get me at least a day's pay for this case."

Hikaru shrugged. "It's fine."

Thank you for reading! And a big thank you for the reviews and favs. All comments are always appreciated.

...there were so many typos in this chapter. "You could go tale a pee." Sai sitting in a seiza on the wall. (I'd want to see that. As a ghost, he probably could, though?) Also, the first version mentioned thresholds, and it turns out Harry has a trashhold. Maybe I wrote this chapter a bit too fast, and didn't quite control my fingers. Or my mind. xD I hope I caught them all.