CH 5

Sitting on the major highway to the east, Lhasa was ordered by Beijing to protect the supply route to the Chinese army engaging the Indians. They also received a request from a representative of Fang-Fang to make sure no Chinese government forces crossed that river. In city council meeting with their top military officials, they decided what to do.

When the Government army send a ten mile long line of troops, equipment and supplies, Room was made for them in to store their supplies and house the troops in hotels and even in community centers to make them 'feel at home'. While the troops enjoyed the hospitality and slept in good accommodations, their supplies were taken by the new city forces. Yokai visited the sleeping men and convinced them that Fang-Fang was the true Emperor. Those who resisted received a snapped neck and were carried out.

By the time the government Military officers who had not been poisoned discovered what was happening, it was too late. A few brief battles later, and Fang-Fang's forces grew another 45,000 men and everything those men had brought with them. The river was covered for a hundred miles to either side of the city, barring crossings to anyone who was not dedicated to Fang-Fang.

Yang tried to convince Fang-Fang to get rid of the government forces at 'their back'. Fang-Fang didn't like that idea, but he did extend his line down the river to meet the friendly forces from Lhasa, cutting the Chinese in the east completely off from any reinforcement. He also sent a pair of local vampires down to talk to the Chinese generals to get them to surrender to him, instead of the Indians. Every soldier had the choice to become a prisoner of war, or join the NRC.

Two days later, the generals capitulated to him. When the Indian general returned to agree to his terms, Fang-Fang told him of the new developments, and kindly asked them to leave Chinese territory, for the Pakistani army was indeed gathering on their northern border.

A whole section of eastern China was now in the hands of the New China Republic. There were only a few thousand prisoners to take care of, and another 72,000 soldiers for the NRC.

.

Detective Reynolds asked Tsukune Aono to come to his office, and if possible, please bring Kurumu with him so she could autograph a picture for his daughter. His kids loved the Flying yokai. He hadn't thought his ruse would work. In case it did, he had a photo of Kurumu on his desk in a manila envelope, and his oldest daughter, who was a young rookie, standing by.

Fortunately, in the afternoon Tsukune arrived with Kurumu. He met them coming in.

"Mr. Aono, thank you for coming," Detective Reynolds said and shook his hand. "Mrs. Aono thank you for coming also. Ever since my daughter found out I saw you she had been making my life miserable, bugging me to ask for your autograph. Please, come in and have a seat."

Reynolds returned to his chair, and motioned to the envelope. "The photo is there. Thank you very much for doing this. Now I'll be my daughter's hero and not the Ogre." he told Kurumu with a grin.

"My pleasure," Kuurmu said.

"Oh, pen's on the table," Reynolds said, pointing out the pen. He then focused on Tsukune. Pulling out paperwork, Reynolds explained what he'd called Tsukune in for.

"Mr. Aono, what I have here is a bail modification form that Miss Welsh, Akemi's attorney, filed for. Bail was set with monetary and geographical limits. The geographical limits stated Akemi could not leave the town. Due to the danger of another attack, Miss Welsh petitioned the court to remove the geographical limits of the bail agreement…"

As Reynolds took the longest time he possibly could in explaining why the bail modification was done, and the new 'limit' of he had to monitor Akemi in her undisclosed, protected environment within the laws of the witness protection program, since one of the attackers was also up on charges, he watched Kurumu sign her photograph and put it back in the envelope. "… so you see, Mr. Aono, If you agree, I can designate your home as the place where Akemi will be staying. Of course this…"

"She's here!" the rookie cried, interrupting him as she walked into the office.

Reynolds quickly slid another paper over the bail modification. "You're suppose to knock," Reynolds said, frowning at her.

"Sorry, but, she's here!" his daughter cried.

Kurumu beamed her a smile and gave her the envelope. "Here you go, sweetie."

"Thank you!" the girl gushed and hugged Kurumu. When she pulled back, her 'engagement' ring caught a bit of Kurumu's hair as she pulled back. Shaking her hand free the rookie cried, "I'm sorry!"

Reynolds glared at her. "Honey, you are interrupting a meeting, and embarrassing me. I will see you later," he said sternly.

"Sorry, so sorry, Kurumu," the girl said again. Hurrying out she called back, "Thank you!" She then left and raced down to the forensics lab.

Reynolds shook his head and left out a huff of relief. It had worked perfectly. "Sorry for the interruption, Mr. Aono," he offered.

Tsukune cracked a grin. "Understandable, I have kids too."

"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, this authorizes your home as Akemi's safe place. She has to stay nearby, within an hour's distance in any direction, and you have to sign for accepting responsibility to make sure she meets all her legal meetings. Once you sign, I'll get copies for you, Akemi, Miss Walsh and one for the file. Is this agreeable to you?"

"It is," Tsukune said. Reynolds slid the paper over to him and watched him sign.

"Christi?" Reynolds called.

The secretary came in. "Yes, Detective?"

He held up the paper to her. "Three copies, please."

"Yes, sir," she said, took the paper and left.

"What about Daniel Collins?' Tsukune asked.

Reynolds shrugged. "He hasn't been charged with anything. He can come and go as he pleases. In our security surveillance, to ensure no one tries to do harm to Akemi, we have noticed that neither one has left their apartment for over a week. That is no way to live. If they don't go stir crazy and kill each other, it will be a miracle. Miss Welsh claims Akemi is afraid to go out, fearing another altercation. I agree."

"Thank Miss Welsh for me," Tsukune said. "I will feel much better having her home, and I know the rest of our family will also."

Reynolds looked out the door. "As soon as we get those copies, you can go tell Akemi the good news." He knew the copies were going to come back after the fingerprint and hair sample analysis Kurumu had unwittingly provided, matched the hair and prints they had found in the DA's office. Right side up, a match. Upside down, no match. He wished the hell they'd hurry.

"How old is your daughter?" Kurumu asked.

"Twenty one," Reynolds said proudly. "For all the grief she gave us during her teenage years, I have to say the light bulb has come on and she's doing good now."

Tsukune roared our a laugh. "I can relate," he agreed.

"What does she do?' Kurumu asked.

"She's a rookie here, first year," Reynolds told her. "She had more college to go, but she has good grades and passed her tests so she can work and go to school." With a crooked grin, he added, "I just hope our boy lives though his teenage years. He's 15 going on 25."

Tsukune 's face took on a serious look. "Detective, what do you think is going to happen with Akemi?"

"It's hard to say," he said honestly. "Since someone died the DA must look at the evidence and submit it to a Grand Jury to see if there is cause to take it to trial. That doesn't mean she's guilty. We had one case where a burglar broke into a home. He had a pistol. The woman there shot him dead. She had every right to do so. Still, we had to investigate, then the DA had to had to look at the eveidence and take it to the Grand Jury. They deemed it self defense, case closed. What complicates Akemi's case, somewhat, is the fact the DA was murdered. Now I don't believe Akemi had anything to do with it. Her location at the time was known, and that wasn't the only case he had going on at the time. Still, we do need to clear up who the culprit is before Akemi's case goes to the Grand Jury."

"Do you have any idea who it was?" Kurumu asked.

"We have a theory we're working on," he told her. "So far, we are still collecting evidence."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Tsukune asked.

"Detective, here are your copies," the secretary said, coming in.

"Thank you," he told her. The copies were face up. He gave Tsukune two copies and said, "These are for you and Akemi. Actually, there is something you can do to help with the DA case," Reynolds said.

'Name it," Tsukune said immediately.

Reynolds turned to Kurumu. "Mrs. Aono, did you see the one who killed the DA?"

Kurumu paused, open mouthed.

"I know you were there," Reynolds told her. "Your fingerprints were on the floor, with the DA's blood on them. We also found a hair of yours on the floor, with a bit of non-human blood. Most likely yours. On the cover of the air duct, we found a bit of the DA's blood, again, with a partial fingerprint, and searching the duct, we found more evidence that you were there."

Tsukune face palmed. Kurumu turned a bit pale.

"I know you didn't do it," Reynolds said firmly. "But you were in the room, sitting down, facing him. The Perp raced in, Knocked you down - maybe out, killed the DA and fled. Trapped, you escaped the room through the air duct just before the officers entered."

"How do you know that?" Kurumu asked weakly.

"Like I said, we have your fingerprints and hair samples along your trail. Is there anything you can tell me about the perp? Anything at all."

Kurumu swallowed. "I didn't go there to hurt anyone," she said.

"No, you probably went to plead Akemi's innocence, which is not against the law. Whoever came in, hit you and killed the DA is the one I want to find. Most likely, the perp didn't kill you to set you up to take the fall."

"She was a succubus," Kurumu said. "She felt evil. I didn't see her come in, she was too fast. I did feel her again when I was up in the duct. She knew I was there and told me it was safe to leave, and she was going to be found dead. All I saw of her was blond hair."

"Blond? Was it bleached, or was that her natural hair color?" Reynolds asked intently.

Kurumu shrugged. "I don't know."

"She did say she was going to be found dead?"

"Yes."

"And she was a yokai?"

"NO. By her feel, she was a demon," Kurumu said.

"What's the difference?"

"Demons are evil, we're not."

"We do know there are demons making trouble around the world," Tsukune said. "Everything from spreading hate to causing wars. We've been desperate to stop them."

Reynolds though for a moment then said, "Yes, it fits. This demon incites a boy to put up a hate web page and gather a group and attack Akemi, knowing they will most likely get killed. Then kills the DA to further incite hatred against Akemi."

"I'd say so," Tsukune agreed.

"How do we find this demon?" Reynolds asked.

"You're not going to arrest her. You'll get your men killed, or turned against you trying," Tsukune stated. "Right now in the US I have four teams searching for these demons and the hole they are crawling out of. The closest to you is a man named Harry Dresden. He is a private detective and a wizard. He's good, too. I'll have him contact you. If anyone can find this demon, he can."

"I'd appreciate that, Mr. Aono."

.

Fang-Fang was disturbed. All he'd wanted to do was keep the government from driving out the yokai in his territory. Now a sizable portion of eastern China was 'his', with 200,000 yokai and human soldiers split into three armies, and another 250,000 recruits being trained, and plenty of captured and repaired equipment and supplies for them. Messages and reports were coming to 'Emperor Fang-Fang'. The worst news was Pakistan had declared war on him and India to help their Chinese allies.

Like he had predicted, India had to pull troops out to reinforce their northern border. Pakistan had control of the northern most part of India, which was directly at his back. There was also another large wave of Chinese reinforcements coming at him from the west.

The huge Chinese army coming at him was being delayed by yokai to the west working in small groups to destroy bridges and setting traps for the long columns. The Chinese air force was now 'out in force', doing their best to strafe and bomb his forces. His dragons and missiles had downed many Chinese aircraft, but their air bases were now too well defended, and too far away to risk attacking them.

Meeting with his generals, two of which now were human, Fang-Fang listened to their advice and send a large force of Yokai into Northern India to drive the Pakistani out before the Chinese got close to his now-far extended territory. An upside to this was one goal was that India was eager for him to 'soften up' Pakistan for invasion from behind.

One of his generals was now Liang. Besides his own pack of werewolves, other packs had joined him as well as a few other species of Yokai. He sent Liang and his now 4000 warriors into the tip of northern India along with 40,000 human troops to strike lower in Northern India and meet Liang to batter the Pakistan army in India. All of them having modern weapons as well as their natural skills Liang had a powerful force. To help hobble the massive Chinese war machine, he send word out for loyal yokai to sabotage Chinese factories and military installations.

Tibet then sent a request for Emperor Fang-Fang to help them drive the Chinese communist out.

Fang-Fang was cursing those demons for starting this!

.

Akemi was happy to be going home, a place where she didn't have to fear doing something as simple as walking outside. Upon Tsukune and Kurumu bringing her and Daniel home, they were hugged and greeted by the whole family.

Tsukune left the happy reunion, promising to be back for the welcome home dinner party, and went to see Father Tappan. He stopped by Yukari's magic room, then went over to see Ruby and Mariko. Five possible places had been marked by Matsu. As of yet, nothing had been found. The biggest success so far was by Sir John and Ageha. They had found a demon and sent it back to the Abyss.

They seriously needed to do better than that.

Tsukune went down to the church to find Nana and their girls in the garden outside. Inside, Tsukune found Chris Tappan in his office looking worn.

"How is it going?" Tsukune asked as he came in.

Chris shook his head sadly and said, "It's not. I have prayed for guidance, tried to sense where a portal might be, tried everything I can think of. I'm getting nothing."

"We are looking for a needle in a haystack the size of the world," Tsukune reminded him.

"It's not just that," Chris said in a huff. "It's almost like God doesn't want us to find the opening to the Abyss! I'm beginning to doubt my faith."

"No, Chris, never doubt yourself, or your faith," Tsukune said evenly. "We have a gigantic task before us. We will find that portal, it may just take time."

"More are being drawn into conflicts," Chris said sadly. "India, Pakistan, the US, Russia is staying out of it for the moment, but they are lining their borders with troops. I heard today China asked Taiwan to send troops and Taiwan refused, so now they are making bigger threats against Taiwan. Japan is arming up, sure that sooner or later, we will get drawn into this … madness!"

Tsukune nodded in agreement. Those demons were spreading madness around the world. The chaos was growing and they were making very little progress on stopping it. It was frustrating.

.

In Chicago, a panel a talk show aired. The announcer said, "Welcome to Chicago Today with our host, Chelsea Norton!"

The woman facing four other people smiled and waved. "Welcome back. I'm Chelsea Norton, and with me today are George Minor, a professor of archeology. Detective Connie Murphy of the Chicago Police Department. Alice Walker, a local business woman, and Doctor Rodney Jackson from the Presbyterian seminary."

Turning to the people, Chelsea said, "Recently in the news, there has been a controversy since the non human beings of our world, the yokai, have presented themselves. Although they have been around as long as humans have, the shrinking of our world had forced them to come forth to be recognized. George, have you had any contact with these yokai?"

"Myself, no. Or, at least I don't think so," George said. "One thing I can say is that since these Yokai have come forth, there is much rethinking to be done about our history. Supposedly, vampires were myth. Now we know they exist. The stories of giants that lived in North America, sasquach, swamp men, lizard men, these things that were once considered folklore, can no longer be dismissed as wild tales. We've seen them. They are not just mindless beasts either, but intelligent beings."

Alice looked over at him and cast him a smirk. "Hello, George," she said in a musical tone as she waved.

George looked over at the brunette. "Hello," he said tentatively.

"Now, you have met a yokai," she said with a grin.

George knitted his eyebrows in confusion. He took in her pretty face and nice form.

"I am a yokai, a vampire," Alice told him.

"You? I never would have guessed," he said.

Murphy grinned and let out a snort. "You'd be surprised," she said. Motioning to Alice, she said, "I can tell you Alice is who she says. George, I can guarantee that you have met yokai of one type or another almost every day of your life."

"That is rather unsettling," Rodney said as he shifted in his seat.

"Why?" Alice asked with a raised eyebrow. "What have I ever done to you?"

"I don't even know you," Rodney said, "But the idea of … creatures in our midst …"

"Whoa, whoa," Alice said holding up a hand to interrupt him. " This is one BIG mistake you're making. We are all creatures, even you. Humans do not have the corner on intelligence, nor are you the pinnacle race of the planet. In fact you can be skittish, panicky creatures if the truth be told. Why do you think every other race on this planet worked so hard for so long to avoid you? You're unpredictable and warlike. Only humans hunt other species for fun. Only humans are greedy enough to want everything for themselves. I hate to tell you, but you are not the top of the pile like you think you are."

Chastened, Rodney said, "It's just we are the strongest and most advance race," he said defensively.

"Tell that to Azami Aono," Murphy said with a chuckle.

"Detective," Chelsea asked, "Can you tell us about Azami Aono, the real girl and not the movie version?"

Murphy did. "When Azami came here as an exchange student, my ex was kind enough to sign up to accept her, then went on a business trip and dumped her at my house," she said with a smirk. "At one time, I took it for granted, like Rodney there, that humans were the top life form on Earth. It was rather humbling to find out there's more out there who are stronger, faster and do much less harm to the environment than we do. Azami is a Shinso Vampire, and at first she did things that were rather … frightening, until I got more or less used to her. Azami is a good kid with a good set of values. So is her family. I will admit, they are enough to make your head spin, but if you run into trouble, there's no one else I can think of I'd rather have by my side."

Pointing over at Rodney, Murphy added, "As far as being advanced, I'd say they are way ahead of us. I've seen the Aono's home. It's gorgeous as well as made from natural materials that do not impact the environment. Can we say that? They have at least as advanced math and culture and more sciences that we do. If I called up Moka right now, she could get me to Japan in the blink of an eye. Can we do that? Can we make a synthetic fuel that takes carbon out of the atmosphere? For a very long time, Chicago had a bad crime problem. Azami came, and in less than a year, crime rates dropped tremendously, over two thirds of the previous numbers. Azami and her family came her to reduce crime for US. Have we ever truly done that anywhere?"

"Have you ever seen any of these yokai serve God?" Rodney asked in a challenge.

"Chris Tappan," Murphy stated. "He's the Father of the Catholic church in the town of Witch Hill. And yes, he is a spell casting Witch. I've met him. He's a very devout man, and a very good one. Mother Angela, bless her soul, was raised to Sainthood for initially bringing the Church to Witch Hill and ministering to a congregation."

"I take it you don't believe in demons?" Rodney asked.

"Oh I do, all right," Murphy told him. "We had a problem with them a while back, but Azami and her family got rid of them. Demons do come from the Abyss, and it's people like Azami and her family who send them back."

"The ancient ruins," George said absently. "Gobekli Tepe, Asurka Nara, Olmec, Teoitihuacan, the ancient mega structures we marvel at that were made with such precision. Is it possible they were built by yokai?" he asked.

Murphy turned to him. "Seeing the Aono's home, I'd say that's possible. Big blocks of stone set perfectly in place. No mortar, no concrete, and very impressive looking."

Chelsea asked, "So Detective Murphy, you are saying yokai are beneficial?"

"Many are," Murphy agreed. "Alice here has helped us on cases before. Harry Dresden, a wizard here, has been very helpful to our department. Overall, from what I've seen, they are pretty much like us. Most are good honest people that go to work and take care of their families just like anyone else. True, they may seem a bit strange, but they only want the same things we do. Yes, there are some bad ones out there, just like there's bad humans. That does not make them any worse than we are."

"If there are truly bad yokai, there's usually a reason behind it," Alice said. "Much of the time, the source can be traced back to the devil sending demons into our world. I'm not talking about the vampire that goes around killing people, though why that happens is closely being looked at. Yes, that does happen, and if we find them, we get rid of them because we don't want people coming after us. What is far worse is these demons' ability to lure people into doing bad things. I can tell you right now, there are demons in the world, and they are being searched for. Events from the current civil war in China, down to that incident at Harvard where those kids got killed, is the work of demons. It has been proven demons caused the trouble by coaxing others to do evil things, and working to manipulate events."

"How was it proven?" Chelsea asked.

"They were either sensed, or discovered by magic," Alice said. "There is a reason for the ten commandments, and teachings like 'turn the other cheek', and 'Do unto others as you've have them do unto you.' Evil does beget evil. Unfortunately, humans are very susceptible to demons because the demons play up to negative feelings like fear, greed and revenge."

"I suppose this Azami Aono is not tempted by evil?" Rodney asked.

Murphy eyed him. "No, she tore them apart," she said. "I was there for a couple she destroyed." With a frown, she added, "The first one, I was terrified, I accidentally shot Azami in the back trying to kill it. It didn't even slow her down. The next one, I just stayed back and let her take care of it."

"True demons are non-corporeal," Rodney stated.

Murphy eyed him. "Tell that to the SWAT team that were killed by one," she stated heavily. "You might not see it, or only see a shadow or a flicker of light that you dismiss, but they are real. They can also get into your mind, or look like just another person walking down the street. They can also duplicate others, and make you think you're talking to your friend. THAT is what makes them so dangerous. Like Alice said, their best trick is to get us to do harm to others."

"You shot her?" Chelsea asked.

"Accidentally. I felt horrible about that," Murphy said. "I didn't want to believe that really happened, but I found the evidence that it did. Azami wasn't even angry at me. She knew it was a mistake and forgave me."

"Was she hurt badly?" Chelsea asked.

"No. She got home before I did. If I hadn't found her shirt with the hole in it and the bullet in the trash, I never would have known it really happened," Murphy explained. "I had her show me the wound. It was all but healed by the time I saw it, and that was only hours after it happened."

"It takes a lot to hurt a Shinso," Alice said in agreement. "And their power is … off the scale. I can tell you something else too. I don't know what happened at Harvard, but I know that if Akemi Aono did kill someone, they had it coming. She was defending herself or someone else. People should learn to wait for facts and not believe those who spout their opinion as fact."

"You don't believe she attacked anyone?" Chelsea asked.

"I believe she was attacked," Alice stated. "And it was violent enough that she felt she had to defend herself. They do not just strike out at whoever they please. I can tell you, if that was the case, Detective Murphy were would be dead. One punch from Azami after Murphy shot her would shatter Murphy's skull. I will also say that it takes a real idiot, or someone who's been compelled, to attempt to take on a Shinso."

Murphy grew a slight grin and said, "One day Azami came home and being angry at her boyfriend, she punched a rock in the back yard that shook the whole neighborhood." Her grin faded as she said, "When her boyfriend's father killed him, we had him arrested and in jail. We were afraid when Azami found out what he did, she'd come to kill him. She didn't though. True, the walls were cracked in the house from her screams of rage, but she let us taken care of processing him. I think that alone shows her restraint."

"It almost sounds as if any human police would have no hope of stopping one of these Shinso."

"We wouldn't," Murphy said flatly. "That is why if we think there is going to be a non-human problem, we contact Harry, or Alice here to help out. In some areas, yokai are in the police department just in case. They are also great for solving hostage situations and standoffs. Frankly, I'm glad to have them around."

.

Tyrana frowned at the show. She had tried to rise up an anti-yokai sentiment in and around Chicago, and had failed. She was beginning to see why. Even one of the men who she had charmed was on the show, and he wasn't rattling anyone's opinion of yokai. Instead of wasting time her, she decided to move on. Detroit was a good place to drum up hate and fear. She decided that was her next target.

.

Since it was early in the College year, with a little help Akemi and Daniel got into Tokyo university. Harvard claimed they had no records, but Jade managed to retrieve them. The first year since Akemi was under protection and could not go to Tokyo, Akemi and Daniel had to do internet studies, but it was a way for them to progress and gain some credits.

When not working on their studies, Daniel and Akemi cruised the internet, looking for possible places where this portal might be. Akemi did as Matsu did, looking for abandoned churches. Daniel took a different route, and searched for abandoned and 'spooky' places.

Daniel knew the place that was being looked for had to meet some conditions. Never sanctified, most likely concealed, never visited, and not a haunted place that drew paranormal investigators or so old it drew archeologists. The restrictions seemed tight, but when searching world wide, he was coming up with a long list of possible places a portal might be that would never be found.

Ending up with a list of over a hundred places that might hold a portal. Daniel showed his list to Tsukune, who praised his efforts, sent him to give Matsu his list and check it against what she had come up with to make one big list of possibilities.

.

Kurt's people got a break. Cycling through Beijing as tourists and some as common street workers, they had discovered a pattern of places demonic presences were discovered. Keeping track of every 'sensing' event, date, time and location, they had worked out the route of at least one demon who'd fallen into a routine.

Mapping out the demon's route, they stationed people along the route on the expected day. At the residence side, workers swept the floors and tended bushes . At the Government buildings end a few tourists took many pictures and asked questions of the tour guide to pause the tour long enough to get a glow on their gems that had been made to detect a demonic presence. That night they compare notes and pictures.

They had him. It was one of the high level Party members. Sharing their information with Fang-Fang's operatives, they formed a combined plan to get rid of this demon.

A smoke spirit went into the residence and choked the standing guards to death, then let in Kurt's men who made sure the guards were dead, then stole their clothes and hid the bodies. Just inside the entrance to a study that looked to be where this demon did his business dealings, they made their trap.

While a bucket over the door full of water was a cheap trick, those buckets filled with holy water was no prank. One man hid in the room with a silenced pistol loaded with Frank's water filled rounds. Two others took the guard posts inside the house. A gardener began tending to bushes a short time before the demon was expected back.

When the black car pulled up and the gardener's gem glowed, he called on his hidden mic and warned those within the house. The demon went in, paying no attention to the gardener, but to the younger boy with him.

Passing the standing guard, the demon took the boy upstairs. The guards relayed the demon's movements. Once he was upstairs, they drifted over to the stairway. The demon went down the hall, they went up the stairs.

All smiles at the boy, the demon ushered him into his study. Halfway through the door the buckets above the door tipped and splashed both. The boy recoiled, the demon screamed out and transformed into it's true succubus form, steaming with burns. The boy screamed in fear at seeing it. Kurt's man inside aimed and shot the flailing demon in the head. Once, a miss, then another hit. The demon wailed out and with a burst of fire, crumbled to dust. Kurt's man then shot the boy, killing him. He got up and walked out.

The three men left out the back, scoring one demon kill.

.

Cruella, who had moved on to France to stir up and arm the radicals there, got a visit from her master. She had just assigned jobs for the 'Jihad' leaders to wipe out the people attending a concert tonight when he appeared before her.

"And here I thought you were smarter than this," The devil said with sad look.

Cruella tipped her head slightly and asked, "What do you mean? If even half those men overtake the guards and get in, it will be hundreds dead."

"Not your activities, those of your helpers. We lost one in California, which was going to be a very important election for us, and now, another in Beijing!" he said flinging his arms up. "Did you teach them nothing?"

"I did," she aid firmly. "All is going as planned."

"It's not now," he countered. "Cruella, your demons are being hunted. You seem to have forgotten there are rebel vampires after you. They have many allies, and now they know you're slut squad is here, they will be hunting for you harder. Don't plant any more in one place! Keep them moving. You should know this," he chided.

Cruella spat out a curse. "I will," she said roughly. I was going to stay and enjoy the carnage tonight, but it seems I have work to do."

"Indeed, you do. Once you get your demons moving it's time to visit the White Horseman. Don't make me come remind you of your responsibility again," he said firmly and disappeared.

.

Fang-Fang's forces in northern India had met. The Pakistani soldiers were not expecting to be attacked from the west, or have their supply bases behind the lines destroyed. Liang drove into the middle of the area and working mostly sabotage and small attacks, forced Pakistan to pull a large number of soldiers off the line. When India attacked, their line collapsed. By the time the Pakistani army had regrouped, they were miles inside Pakistan. Having done his job, Liang was returning.

It was a good thing too. Five hundred thousand Chinese government troops were closing in on Lhasa to retake the city. Fang-Fang had them scried out. Having digested the eastern army, Fang-Fang put his own troops on the move. To the north of Lhasa, he had one army under a shroud of concealment while another dug in to face the onslaught. On the line, 300,000 NCR troops waited for the attacks with the city itself was under a shield.

While the NCR troops were dug in and protected by a shield barrier, the attacking Chinese were not. The artillery barrages and air strikes did manage to wound a few people. That was it. Returning fire from the NCR did do significant damage. When the Chinese drove forward, again they met a much stronger resistance than they had bargained for. NCR traps slowed them down and counter attacks drove the Chinese back with heavy losses. From the North, NCR yokai followed by human troops got behind the line and devastated Government forces. The Chinese were driven back in a retreat to reform their lines. Encircled government troops trapped near Lhasa were given the choice to surrender or die.

By the time the government troops that were still able to fight managed to put up a good defense line, they had been driven back 50 miles, and again, lost most of their equipment and supplies as well as over half their troops. The generals, fearing mass encirclement, pulled back farther to a more defensible position and waited for additional help. Even there, yokai sneaked though their defenses to kill, burn and cause havoc.

Up near Fang-Fang's original territory, raids behind the lines made those government troops back further away. Not having reinforcements and low on supplies, they didn't risk loosing more men and equipment to a large battle. They backed away another 50 miles.

When word of these disasters reached Beijing, and with no demon prodding them to destroy the rebel army, they began to consider a truce and start negotiations while they still had control of the bulk of China.