I kind of wanted to start this chapter "A wizard, a ghost and a teenage go pro walked into a Burger King…" but didn't.

A bit shorter chapter... buuut at least there's action.

Chapter 4

Hikaru was eating his hamburger slowly, mechanically, one small bite at a time. He didn't seem to enjoy his meal much, or to be eager for chatting, and Dresden had soon given up any attempts, completely focusing on his own meal. Sai too was sitting in silence, watching them, idly wondering about what these burgers could possibly taste like. He knew that despite his current apathy Hikaru loved them, but apparently they were also to an onmyouji's taste, a fact that made him quite curious about them. Or perhaps that was just because the man was American? He wasn't sure, but he had a feeling that hamburgers were a very American thing.

He sighed, shaking his head. Why was he thinking about such trivial things at a time like this? He would have wanted to talk with Dresden, ask him more about what he planned next, but Hikaru had glumly ignored his first question, and the man had not been using this third eye thing out in the public – not wanting to take any chances, whatever he meant by that.

Sai shifted a little, sighed again, and Hikaru shot him an annoyed look out of the corner of his eye. He tried to sit more still, as if there was nothing on his mind, but apparently didn't succeed too well, for soon the boy rolled his eyes.

"Okay. What?"

Dresden looked up but seemed to realize Hikaru wasn't talking to him.

Oh, could you ask him exactly how he will find this woman he told me about?

Hikaru frowned. What woman?

I told you on the way! The woman he tracked in the miniature city, the one who had performed the spell in that underground place! How will he find her?

"Sai wants to know how you'll find the woman you were tracking," Hikaru said aloud, still frowning.

"Good question," Dresden mumbled, mouth full of hamburger. He swallowed. "I bet she's taken steps not to be easily found. I think I'll need to ask some friends for help."

Friends? Sai asked. What friends? Hikaru repeated his question.

Dresden took another bite of his burger and shook his head. "Sorry, can't tell you. They wouldn't like it."

How soon… Sai started to ask. Hikaru grimaced. "Can't you do that eye thing again so you can talk directly to Sai? It's tiring to have to repeat everything he says."

You tire easily, Sai said disapprovingly, but Dresden shrugged.

"I guess it's ok here. I doubt this place can be too horrid." A flash of light, and Sai blinked.

What is that light, really? he asked.

"What light?" Dresden had been about to take a sip of his coke but paused.

The light that always flashes when you open the Sight.

"There is a light? Really?" He sipped the coke. "No idea. Could ask Bob, if he knows."

Does he really know so many things? Sai asked. He wasn't completely convinced of the intellect status of the other spirit.

"Yeah." Dresden gave him a wry grin. "I know what he's like, trust me… but he's a good guy – for a skull – and he does have immense knowledge of… well. Pretty much anything, magic related."

How did you get him? Sai asked, curious, but Hikaru sighed.

"Is that really what you wanted to talk about?"

Sai blinked, and Dresden seemed just happy to skip answering that question.

Oh, yes, I… what was I going to ask… oh, that's it, how soon you think you might get help from these… friends?

"If they can find her, it will probably be pretty quick. But it all depends…" Suddenly the man froze in mid-sentence, staring somewhere behind Hikaru's back. Sai followed his gaze and saw nothing, just a couple of ordinary looking men entering the place.

"What is it?" Hikaru asked.

"Trouble. Don't look." Dresden stuffed the rest of his hamburger into his mouth and looked at the boy's tray. "You gonna finish that?"

Hikaru shrugged. Poked at his fries. "I'm not that hungry."

"Let's go then." Dresden stood up and grasped his tray. "Follow me."

They took the trays to the garbage cans. Dresden grasped Hikaru's leftover fries and munched them as he walked briskly on, toward the sign pointing at the toilets. Hikaru followed him without a word, Sai scurrying after them, shooting worried glances across the place, wondering what was going on. He saw one of the men walking after them while the other remained standing near the door. One of them is following us, he whispered.

As soon as they were behind the corner Dresden suddenly sprinted by the toilets, toward a door with the text "staff only". Hikaru hesitated for half a step but ran then after him. They ran through the kitchen, ignoring the startled shouts from the restaurant staff, hit another door and entered a corridor. Someone ran after them, telling them to stop, but they had already reached a backdoor which flung open in front of them at a command Dresden yelled out. He sprinted across the parking lot, reached his car and had the motor running, now on the first try, by the time Hikaru flung himself on the other seat.

"What is it?" the boy asked panting.

"Ghouls," Dresden muttered as he drove out of the parking lot, wheels screeching. "Of course, maybe they just came in for some Whoppers, but in general they like their meat less well-done."

Hikaru was twisting his neck, trying to look out through the back window. "Is that them?" he asked, and Dresden gave a glance at the rear mirror and swore. Two men had flung themselves on motorcycles and were driving after them. "They look like ordinary people," the boy went on.

"Yeah, well, good thing you were lazy and had me open the Sight, then."

"Can't you fight them?"

"I'd love to." The pure hate on the man's voice made Sai shudder. "…but I'd better not, in a public place like this."

They sped through a crossing right before the light turning red – or possibly slightly after. Sai glanced behind, hopeful, but the honking of horns told him the red light had barely slowed down their pursuers.

"Okay," Dresden muttered. "Beetle's tough, but no way can we shake off motorcycles. We need to— ah, that's it." He swerved suddenly to right, and then again, and they came to a smaller backstreet in an industrial area, with cars parked on the side but with practically no traffic. "Alright then… take the wheel, kid."

"What?!" Hikaru – and Sai – stared at the man with wide eyes.

"Take the wheel! C'mon, just see that we keep on going straight, that's all!" Dresden was already rolling down the window on his side. He shot a sharp look over his shoulder at Hikaru, snapped once more, "Take the damn wheel!" and the startled boy obeyed.

While Hikaru was holding the wheel he half climbed out of the window, taking something from under his coat, a wooden rod, with similar carvings as on his staff. Hanging out of the window he tried to get his balance, pointed the rod at their pursuers, and shouted "Fuego!" Fire blasted out of the rod, engulfing the leading motorcycle in flames.

Sai fell back on the backseat out of pure startlement. The car swerved as Hikaru glanced behind. "What? What happened?"

Eyes on the street Hikaru! Sai cried out, as Dresden let out a startled grunt and struggled to pull himself back into the car.

That was incredible! Sai exclaimed, turning again to look back. You got them both!

Hikaru was twisting around, staring out of the rear window at the flames they were quickly leaving behind. "Wow. Did you kill them?"

"Hardly," Dresden said. "That will just slow them down a bit."

Sai and Hikaru both shot him a look, and then glanced at each other.

"So… what are they?" the boy asked slowly, sitting again down on his seat, as Dresden again stepped on the accelerator and they sped away.

"Ghouls. Creatures of Nevernever." The boy gave him a blank look, and he frowned. "Uh, it's… you've heard of Faerie? Well, Faerie's part of it, but Nevernever's bigger. A lot bigger. And ghouls… are vicious. Let's leave it at that. Hopefully you won't have to see more of them." He glanced at the rear-view mirror.

Are we going back to your home? Sai asked, and Hikaru repeated the question, realizing Dresden apparently didn't hear Sai at the moment.

"Yeah. Just in case. I'm a bit worried about how quickly those ghouls turned up."

Maybe that woman sent them after you?

There was a moment's silence. Then Hikaru sighed. "Sai's asking if that woman possibly sent them after you. Look, can't you talk with him directly…"

"Not when I'm driving. And though that's technically possible, I doubt it. She sensed my presence, but it's unlikely she had time to find out who was spying on her. Also, even if she did know it was me, being able to track me this quickly with nothing serving as a link…" He shook his head. "Unlikely."

But if the ghouls came there because of us, and if they weren't chasing you, doesn't that mean… Sai fell silent.

"…they were after me?" Hikaru asked, very quietly.

Dresden grimaced. "Maybe they just did want those Whoppers, and us fleeing turned on their prey drive."

Hikaru shot him a look out of the corner of his eye. "Yeah right," he said flatly. "But they shouldn't be able to track me either, right?"

"Well…" Dresden fell quiet for a moment, as if considering what to say. "The thing is," he then went on, "if they are working for those who kidnapped your parents… they do have the means to track you. Your parents, that is," he added as the boy looked at him, uncomprehending. "You share their blood."

"Oh." The boy swallowed.

They drove in silence until Dresden turned to his home street. "Okay. Once we stop, get straight out of the car and run to the front door, got it?"

Hikaru nodded, tightlipped. He took a deep breath and jumped out of the car already before it had completely stopped. The boy started running toward the house, and Sai followed him. There came a slam of the car door from behind them, sound of quick footsteps – and then a growl, a snarl, and a loud call, "Ventas servitas!"

Sai spun around just in time to see a strong gust of wind throwing one of their followers through the air while the other jumped down from somewhere – Sai couldn't quite fathom from where, certainly not from the roof?

The man landed neatly on all fours… but man was not the correct word to describe this creature anymore. Sai swallowed and took a step back, hearing Hikaru gasp behind him as the ghoul turned to face them. Its body had deformed, its clothes partly stretching, partly ripping. It was tall, certainly taller than any normal man, its arms long, hanging down to its knees, ending with huge spade-like hands that had nails that could only be described as talons. But the face was the worst, jaws gaping unnaturally wide revealing huge teeth, sickly yellow bulging eyes staring unblinking from a grey face that had barely any relation left to human anymore.

The same instant the ghoul was on its feet it started rushing toward Hikaru. "Oh no you won't," Dresden gasped, still lying sprawled on the ground after the first ghoul's attack. He spun his staff toward the ghoul and shouted "Ventas cyclis!" and the wind rose again, this time in a cyclone that grasped the attacking ghoul and spun it across the street.

Dresden was back on his feet. "Catch!" he yelled, and threw something at Hikaru. "Open the door but don't go in!"

The boy caught the keys and turned to fumble with them at the door while Dresden spun around to get ready for the ghouls that were again approaching.

Hikaru got the door open and looked like he wanted nothing as much as rush in. The wards! Sai exclaimed, grabbing the boy. You can't enter!

"Mouse!" Dresden yelled the moment the door opened, but the dog was out already, flinging himself against one of the attacking ghouls with a growl that seemed to echo from the ground. Dresden faced the other ghoul, raising his arm to block the ghoul's blow. Sai wouldn't have believed it to help – the beast's talons alone were like small knives – but although the strength of the strike made the man stagger back and hit the wall with force, there appeared something like a shield of blueish light that seemed to block the worst of it.

"Forzare!" the man snarled with another spin of the staff, but this time he missed the ghoul as it rolled aside more nimbly than one would have believed of something so big. In the middle of its roll it targeted another swipe at the wizard, who just barely had his shield ready. This time the power of the swipe was aimed upward, and it caught the man with his shield and all, flinging him up in the air. He came crashing down on his car and lay a moment there, stunned, before sliding to the ground.

The ghoul made a move toward him, but right then the other ghoul let out an ear-splitting shriek of pain. Mouse had locked his teeth around the ghoul's arm, and with a powerful twist of his head tore the whole arm off. The dog let the ghoul fall back, still screaming its rage and pain, and flung himself on the back of the one approaching Dresden, all teeth and claws. The ghoul managed to throw the dog off, but this had given Dresden time to gather his wits.

"Fuego!"

Flames hit the ghoul, engulfing it. It did little to slow down the beast, but in a moment Mouse was back at Dresden's side, teeth bared in a growl. The ghoul paused, its clothes on fire, grey skin blistering, and shot a glance at its companion, and as one they dashed away as quickly as they had appeared.

Dresden heaved out a long breath and leaned heavily against his car, lowering his staff on his lap. The carvings in the staff were still glowing softly. Then he raised his other hand to scratch Mouse's side. "Good boy," he muttered. The dog turned to him shortly, gave him a quick lick on his face, before turning to look after the ghouls again.

"Uh." Hikaru shifted on his feet, mouth still open, eyes very wide. He had stood frozen on his place through the whole fight – which, Sai realized, couldn't have lasted longer than a couple of minutes, though it didn't feel like that. The boy seemed to be trying to say something, but couldn't find his tongue. Sai understood him very well.

He was going to ask if the man was alright, when another door in the building opened, and an old woman stepped out. Seeing Dresden still sitting on the ground, leaning against his car, she paused, a surprised expression spreading across her face.

"Oh, Mr. Dresden! Are you alright? What has happened to you?"

The man gasped. Managed a weak smile. "I just… slipped, Mrs. Spunkelcrief."

"Sipped? Sipped what? In the middle of the day? You haven't been driving, have you?" She clicked with her tongue. "Now, dear boy, this isn't like you. Do go home and don't give the youth a bad example." She smiled kindly at Hikaru, who nervously returned the smile, not understanding anything.

"Yes, of course," Dresden said in a very loud voice, gathering himself slowly up from the ground.

The woman looked at Mouse who was standing on the street, watching suspiciously toward the direction the ghouls had disappeared to. "Mr. Dresden, you do know you have to keep your dog on leash, don't you. He is such a gentle one, I know, but still."

"I will, Mrs. Spunkelcrief. Good day to you."

"Oh no, no need for that, thank you." She smiled at him sweetly. "Do take care of yourself now."

Dresden just nodded and returned her smile, and she went her way. Dresden's smile died away and turned into a grimace as he walked to his door, a little gingerly.

"Are you okay?" Hikaru asked.

"Yeah." He stopped at the door, stood a moment with his eyes closed, let then out a breath and stepped inside. "Just peachy." He walked to his couch, sank down on it and drew his phone to him.

"Who are you calling to?" Hikaru asked, coming in after him.

"Murphy," Dresden answered. "I can't be watching you, but you need protection."

"Are you sure cops can help?" Hikaru didn't sound convinced. "I mean… can they fight those things?"

"Enough bullets can stop them," Dresden said, but laid down the receiver nevertheless. "But I think I got an idea. I got to think about this." He stood up with a grunt and walked to the trapdoor. "This time, both of you wait here," he said as he went down.

He went down. Sai and Hikaru sat a moment in silence. Then Sai glanced at the boy.

Hikaru… I know this might sound strange, but… how about a round of blind speed go?

Hikaru blinked. "Seriously. Mom and dad have disappeared and we've just been attacked by a pair monsters, and you want to play go?"

Well… I just thought that it might help you to calm down. I know it would help me! And besides, Sai added, looking a little forlorn, we've not played soon for two days!

Hikaru leaned back and heaved out a sigh, closing his eyes. "Yeah, I guess. Okay. 4-4."

Sai's face broke into a grin, and the game was on.

Their timing was good, for they were already in endgame when Dresden came back up. Neither the boy nor the ghost noticed him, though, and he sat down to wait for them.

"Playing go?" he asked, when they were finished, and they both gave a start. "Who won?"

Hikaru grimaced. "Sai. As usual. But I'll beat him yet. In an even game."

Sai smiled brightly. You still have a long way to go – but you're on the right path. That tsuke you played was ingenious, you caught me by surprise there!

"Yeah, that was good, wasn't it?" Hikaru grinned. "Almost worked, too! Do you think I should have…"

Dresden cleared his throat, and the boy fell silent, his grin fading away. "Sorry to remind you of reality, but there isn't really time for this now… you can talk of your game later. Now, take this." He gave the boy a thin silver bracelet. "It will disrupt tracking spells, in case those ghouls really were after you. I've got its pair with me, so I can find you if needs be."

"Okay…" Hikaru slipped the bracelet round his wrist.

"I've got to make a couple of quick calls… first to Murphy, she'll have my head if I don't keep her updated. If she wants to send someone to your protection, I'm not telling her not to. Though I've got some plans of my own." He made the call, and after it another, while Hikaru and Sai waited in silence, understanding just a word here and another there.

"Okay." Having finished, Dresden grasped a piece of paper and a pen. "You're not going back to the hotel anymore. No, we're not having a discussion about this. Someone will go to get your stuff from there, think what you need and make a list. I've got a safe place in mind for you – and a spare one, in fact, if authorities don't accept the first one. Murphy's arranging that. And, I'll give you Murphy's number. Call her if anything happens."

"Does she speak Japanese too?" Hikaru asked, and Dresden paused, pen already touching the paper.

"Damn, I keep on forgetting…" He shook his head and scribbled down the number. "Call her in any case. Maybe there's someone who knows Japanese around. At least she'll know you need help. And give me your number too in case I need to reach you."

After they had exchanged the phone numbers, the man got up and started packing a backpack. Hikaru was fingering his new bracelet, but Sai watched him curiously as he stuffed a bag of dog food into it.

"Okay, let's go."

Hikaru looked up. "What if there's more ghouls waiting for us…?"

"Tough for them." Dresden grinned, a peculiarly wolfy look. "I'm prepared." He whistled at Mouse. "C'mon, Chewbacca. I'm assigning you guard duty. Mouse is coming with you," he said to Hikaru.

Hikaru gave him a questioning look. "Do they allow dogs where we're going…?"

"The place I've in mind definitely does," the man said, digging something out of a drawer. "Besides, I've got this."

"What is that?" Hikaru asked, as he stuffed the orange thing into the bag.

"A service dog apron," Dresden said. "Helps to get him to no-dogs places."

"Umm… why do you have… a service dog?"

Dresden shrugged and patted Mouse. "I've been told I'm diplomatically challenged. Mouse helps me out. Nothing's more diplomatic than a cute dog."

Mouse gave him a sideward look and then turned away with snort.

They left the apartment, Sai and Hikaru quite hesitantly, both of them shooting worried glances across the street. There was nothing out of the ordinary in view, though. Even the ghoul arm had disappeared from the street. Mouse took over the backseat of the car, moving a little to make room for Sai and then lowering his head on the ghost's lap. Sai buried his fingers into the thick fur of the dog, trying to calm down. He still didn't know where they were going to, but a safe place sounded good. He just wasn't quite sure if such a place really did exist.

A/N: Tyyypos. "Dresden's man died away." Just, what? Something going on in this story I'm not aware of? xD (It was supposed to be smile.)