The Tale of a Tamer and His Dog God
Chapter Six
Halloween
-
On a nice fall day, three dog gods sit outside an apartment building.
"So, what should we do?" Kaoru asks.
"I don't know. There's nothing exciting happening," Katsu comments, earning a sigh from all three.
"What are you three doing out here?" The three look up all to see the landlord of the house with a bag of groceries.
"We're bored," Kaoru states.
"I see."
"Is something wrong Miss Tae?" Kamatari asks.
"We're having some issues with this year's haunted house. We didn't make as much as we wanted to last year, and the person who usually organizes things had to leave to go tend to a sick relative. At this point, we're not really sure what's going to happen to it. We may have to cancel it."
"That's no good. I loved the haunted house, even if it was cheesy," Katsu says. Suddenly, Kaoru pops up from her position with an idea.
"We can do it."
"What?" the two other dog gods ask.
"We can organize it. I mean, the haunted house is geared to the younger generation, so we should know what needs to be included. Leave it to us Miss Tae. It will be the best haunted house ever."
"How can you possibly organize a haunted house in a week?" Tae asks. Kaoru looks at her two companions, large grins appearing on their faces.
"Trust us. We're more than meets the eye."
-
"Look at those two. Ah young love," Megumi says from her spot at the lunch table she shares with Kaoru and Sano. They watch Kenshin and Tomoe at another table, sharing lunch with some of her friends.
"You're kidding right? They've only started going out. They can't possibly be in love," Sano comments.
"Love is a strange thing. You can never predict when it happens."
"Do dog gods fall in love like humans do?" Sano asks Kaoru, who has been silent for a while.
"I'm not really sure. I was a rogue, so I'm probably not the best to ask."
"Well then, what are you going to do this weekend for Halloween?" Sano asks.
"Go to the haunted house of course," Megumi answers.
"I'm probably gonna go off and cause some mischief. That's what Halloween is all about right?" Kaoru states, earning a look from the two others.
"Does Kenshin know this?" Megumi asks.
"Of course not. Knowing him, he'll go out with Tomoe and I'll be all by myself. Don't worry, I'm sure Katsu and Kamatari will keep me in line." The two humans look at each other and with a shrug, continue eating.
-
"So this is what we have to work with?" Kaoru asks as she, Katsu, and Kamatari look at the large room that will be turned into the house, supplies scattered everywhere.
"Miss Tae also gave us a list of stuff they already have to work off of," Kamatari says, re-reading the list.
"With that and our special abilities, we'll make this a haunted house to remember. Now, this is what I see."
-
As Kenshin sits in his apartment, doing what looks like homework, someone knocks on the door. Stopping what he is doing, he heads towards the door and opens it, revealing Tae on the other end. "Kenshin, how are you today?"
"I'm fine Miss Tae. Can I help you with anything?"
"I was wondering if Kaoru was around?"
"I'm afraid not. In fact, I'm not really sure where she is," he says, scratching his head a bit in confusion and what he just realized.
"Well then, can you tell her that I stopped by and just wanted to ask her a few questions?"
"Sure thing," he says. 'What does she want to talk to Kaoru about?'
-
"I'm so excited Kenshin. The haunted house is my favorite part of Halloween. I do hope its better than last year though," Tomoe says as the two enter the center that is holding the event. As they approach the entrance, they overhear the conversation of some other teenagers in front of them.
"Dude. I heard that this is scariest thing ever. Even better then all those horror movies."
"I heard that someone screamed so loud and so much, that they lost their voice by the end of it."
"It looks like the house is a huge hit this year," Kenshin says as Tomoe nods her head in agreement.
"Hey Kenshin. Tomoe. You're heading towards the house?" Sano asks as he and Megumi heads towards the couple.
"Yeah. I couldn't call it Halloween if I didn't go through," Tomoe says.
"Mind if we join you then?" Sano asks, swinging his arm around Megumi, who then swats it off.
-
From another corner, Kamatari peaks out in a princess costume, walkie-talkie in hand. "Hey Kaoru. Kenshin, Sano, Megumi and that Tomoe girl are heading our way," Kamatari reports. Snickering is heard through the line before an answer is given.
"Alright then. Let's give them a scare they'll never forget. Operation Open Door is about to begin."
-
"This is definitely scarier than last year," Megumi comments, looking around the dark space.
"How did they get that bat to fly around like that? It really looked like it was going to attack me," Tomoe says, grabbing onto Kenshin's arm tighter. Suddenly the three tamers stop.
"Did you guys just feel that?" Sano asks.
"I think I did," Megumi comments, rubbing her arms for warmth. "Is it me, or did it just drop a few degrees in here?"
"I don't like the feeling I'm getting here. It's way too real."
"Let's just hope that we're near the end. There's something off about this place."
"Don't tell me you simple mortals are so willing to leave," a head on the floor says, rising, turning into a body covered in shadows, with bat like wings at full spread on either side.
"Wow. They're really putting out all the stops this year," Tomoe comments, her voice shaking a bit.
"Except for the fact that doesn't feel like a normal human," Kenshin says, the two other tamers coming to his side.
"I find it offensive that you would think of myself like one of you. I'll just have to prove that I'm not," the being says, disappearing only to appear behind Tomoe, taking out a claw and pricking her skin, before disappearing again.
"Ow. That thing just cut me," she says, feeling for the droplets of blood.
"This isn't good at all. This might just be a real demon."
"What do you think we should do fox lady? You're the one that usually comes up with the plans."
"We can't do anything with Tomoe here. Our best bet is to get in touch with the others." The unknown demon appears in front again, both hands flexing at its side, showing its claws.
"I grow tired of you. You're all just so boring. Maybe you'll be more fun in a couple of days."
"What are you talking about?" Megumi asks. At that point, a door opens beneath them, sending all of them into a downfall, the demon looking down on them. They all scream, waiting for the ground to meet them and trying to find a way to stop when suddenly, it feels like they stop. After looking around, they find themselves in the same spot they were in before it all happened.
"What just happened?" Kenshin asks as they all become confused.
"I have no idea."
"My cut is gone."
"How in the world did they get that type of illusion working? No wonder everyone has been so scared on their way out of here," Megumi comments. As they think about it, the image of a certain dog god comes to Kenshin's mind.
"Illusion? It better not be."
"What did you say Kenshin?" Tomoe asks.
"Nothing important. We should probably get a move on if we don't want to get trapped in something like that again.
-
"That was amazing Kaoru. You had them all freaked out. Their faces were priceless," Katsu says, laughing over the communication.
"I wish I could have seen it."
"I really am that good."
-
"I've never been so terrified in my life. I'm gonna find the restroom. I'll be right back," Tomoe says before giving Kenshin a kiss on the cheek and leaving.
"Alright."
"So Kenshin, what's the rush?" Sano asks.
"Three dog gods that's what. Kaoru, get out here right now. And bring the others with you." A few seconds later, three dog gods walk into the open, Katsu and Kaoru in all black as if they were part of the house.
"Hi Kenshin. Hey Sano, Megumi."
"You. Me. Now," he says, dragging Kaoru outside.
"What was that about?"
"What was what?" Kaoru asks, trying to play innocent.
"I know it was you. It was all of you. But mostly you playing all those tricks on all the visitors."
"Yeah so?"
"So, everyone is gonna wonder how those tricks were done and no one is gonna have an answer," Kenshin says, pacing back and forth in front of her.
"Actually, we do. We set up some computers with some software that Katsu likes to work with. Then we put up some smoke generators, mirrors, projectors, and speakers all hidden through the scenery so that no one would see them. The people who helped out seemed to be convinced that all the things happened because of strategic planning. See, I'm not that stupid," Kaoru comments, acting as she has the answers to everything.
"Still, you were careless and jeopardized your true identity."
"Give me a break. This is probably the one time I can be myself. Halloween is all about magic and tricks. And that's all anyone thought it was. Now if you excuse me, I have a haunted house to run." She turns around and heads back into the building, Kenshin following her not having finished the conversation.
"Kaoru, get back here. I'm not done talking with you."
"Well I'm done talking with you. See you at the apartment. Katsu. Kamatari."
"We need to get back to work. See you at home," Katsu says before running towards Kaoru. Kenshin returns to the group watching them leave.
"So it was missy? You really got yourself a partner man."
"What have I gotten myself into?"
-
"Hi Miss Tae. You haven't seen Kaoru around have you?" Kenshin asks as he, Sano and Megumi wait by the exit of the house. Kenshin had taken Tomoe home earlier saying that he needed to do something.
"I think she's helping with some of the cleanup. You here to pick her up?"
"Yeah."
"Those three are life savers. It really was a miracle that I saw them on the step that day," she comments, continuing to clean her section
"What are you talking about?" Megumi asks.
"The other day, I saw Kaoru, Katsu and Kamatari on the stairs and after I told them the problem with no one being able to organize the haunted house, they volunteered and put together the best haunted house we've even had. I had never seen so much money from collections. We had to stop at one point and actually empty out the collection box so many people kept coming back in. And that's not even including the collections from the children's haunted house. The children's hospital is going to be so pleased."
"Hey Tae, we could use your help here if you're done," a woman shouts from a few feet down as she tries to pick up a large box.
"Coming."
"So what are you going to do now Kenshin? You can't really punish Kaoru for using her powers for good can you? Especially when her ideas raised such a large amount of money that going towards a children's hospital," Megumi says. "That would be setting a bad example."
"And no one was suspicious of what really happened. They all thought it was technology and stuff."
"Why does life have to be so complicated?"
"Are you here to escort me home? Afraid I'm going to do something wrong again?"
"Kaoru. I'm sorry for reacting like that. You actually did something good. I'm just scared that someone may past and find you doing something that they can't explain."
"I'm not stupid Kenshin. I can watch my own back thank you very much. You ready to head back? I'm ready to sleep for the next day or so. Playing tricks on humans is a lot of work."