Thanks to demonprist for cat tips and beta-ing. Thanks also to Gengkotsuya for Muraki's car - a Ferrari 360 Spider.
And thanks so much to those who've commented so far! Some very intriguing thoughts and ideas! Some even more fascinating that what I've come up with. (If you'd like me to reply to you, please leave your email.)
I've chosen to spell Saaga's name as Saagatanus. Feel free to insert whatever spelling you prefer.
6/11/04 - Minor revisions made.
Warning: graphic violence.
Tsuzuki had never seen anything like it in his life.
Muraki's car was a low-slung two-door convertible, gleaming silver grey, with sleek curves and flowing lines. The front windscreen was steeply raked so its lines merged with the bonnet. The back was raised higher than the front to house the rear engine, giving the vehicle the illusion of powering forward even while stationary. With the black soft top up, the interior cabin was concealed from view.
Tsuzuki stared at it, fascinated. The car seemed to wear a menacing sneer. Maybe it was the headlights shaped like slanted eyes, much like its owner. He peered down to inspect the prancing horse badge, afraid to go too close in case he marred the bonnet with the fog of his breath. "Is this really yours?"
"Yes." Muraki took out his keys and opened the door. "This is mine." He placed the golf bag in the compartment behind the seats. "Please get in." He thrust the kitten at Tsuzuki. "And take care of this monster."
Gingerly Tsuzuki took hold of the animal. It looked up at him with big grey eyes and let out a plaintive meow.
The interior was fitted with a combination of soft black leather and grey aluminium trim - roomy and surprisingly comfortable despite being so low to the ground. Tsuzuki looked about in wonder - such vehicles were unknown during his lifetime. He had no idea of how automobiles worked, and his experience as a passenger was limited to the workmanlike Toyota used for group Shoukanka outings - a vehicle Tatsumi didn't entrust to any other Shinigami save himself.
"You don't have to drive. I can use a spell to get us there in an instant."
"True, but it wouldn't be half as entertaining, ne?" He grinned at Tsuzuki as he turned the ignition. "Sometimes the journey can be even more interesting than the final destination. But thank you for the offer."
The engine behind them rumbled into life, a mechanical purr that sent shivers along Tsuzuki's spine. Tsuzuki quickly put on his seatbelt. Even though he was a Shinigami, he suspected he was going to need it in a roadster like this.
"Listen. There is no other sound in the world like the engine of a Ferrari."
The kitten scrabbled up Tsuzuki's chest, digging its claws in his trenchcoat. Tsuzuki tried to prise it off. "How did you raise the money to buy this car?"
"I worked long hours and saved my money-"
"Did it come from the organ transplant racket you ran on the Queen Camellia?"
"Among other sources." Muraki put the car into reverse, looked behind him, and accelerated hard. The vehicle skidded sideways, wheels squealing on the concrete as it turned to face the garage doors.
"Hey! Slow down!"
The car lurched to a stop, the engine's roar muted to a soft purr.
"What do you mean? We haven't even started our journey yet. Don't tell me you're one of those annoying passengers who insist on giving instructions to the driver?"
Tsuzuki clutched the kitten, which had managed to bury itself under his trenchcoat. "Is this how you normally drive?"
"This is how the car is meant to be driven. For all its exterior beauty and creature comforts, it has the heart and soul of a racing car. To treat it as anything less would be an insult to its creators, and the vehicle itself." Muraki pressed a remote control wand, and the garage door slid open. "Do you distrust my driving skill already?"
"If I wasn't already dead I'd be worried, yes."
Muraki chuckled. "But I am in my element with objects of metal, whether it be scalpel, knife, gun...as you well know." He put the car into first gear. "This amazing piece of machinery is infinitely more complex, but it is of the same descent as the other instruments I have mastered. I am a mere human with no true magic of my own, so I must settle for mastery over inanimate objects such as this." His visible grey eye gleamed as he cast Tsuzuki a sidelong look. "I have seen your power - now I want to show you mine."
Tsuzuki felt something strange kick inside him. Power...speed...freedom...like watching his shikigami in action.
He looked at the open driveway leading outside. "Go on then. Have your fun." He gripped the door handle with one hand and the kitten with the other.
"I will." Muraki revved the engine, and the car roared off.
Strange how an inanimate object could remind him of his shikigami, but this vehicle was imbued with a personality of its own. With minimal effort it accelerated from zero to a speed that made him giddy and left other drivers looking on in awe. Muraki's movements were swift, but even that couldn't account for the vehicle's incredibly fast response time. It didn't cruise - it attacked the road as if it lived solely for this purpose.
At traffic lights, it would brake readily enough, but the persistent purr of the engine hinted at its impatience at being curbed. It would growl in triumph when the lights went green, and it was allowed free rein again.
On the open road, Muraki was free to let the engine loose. The speedometer needle rested ever so slightly above the speed limit, kept there more by Muraki's restraint than the engine's limitations. The ease with which it roared up inclines proved the car had much more in reserve, waiting to be tapped.
Muraki pressed a button on the dashboard, and the top folded behind them. Startled, Tsuzuki looked up at the bright blue sky, lifting his hand to protect his eyes against the sunlight. The kitten mewed and clambered its way out of the coat to lie on Tsuzuki's lap. It lifted its head and closed its eyes, enjoying the wind ruffling its fur.
"I wanted to do this earlier, but there were too many prying eyes. This vehicle always generates attention wherever it goes."
"Isn't that part of the appeal?" Tsuzuki had to raise his voice above the noise of the engine. "This vehicle is a symbol of wealth and status - the type of car you drive to show off your superiority over others."
"Not at all, Tsuzuki-san." Muraki made no attempt to raise his voice, yet Tsuzuki could still hear every word. There was something about the way the silky tenor of his voice glided above the engine's deep snarl. "A Mercedes-Benz or BMW would be a symbol of status - luxurious, well appointed, reliable. But a Ferrari is a work of art and an engineering marvel. The power, the performance, the look - to drive a vehicle like this is the closest most will get to a magical experience. Challenge it all you like, push it as far as you dare, but you will never reach its limits outside the racetrack. It is said you can never own a car like this - you merely enter into a commitment."
Tsuzuki took out his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. "Not an alliance? Or a covenant?"
Muraki's lips quirked. "The relationship is too unequal to warrant the title. Servicing, parts, fuel, tyres...the running costs are prohibitive. As for the rewards..." He glanced at Tsuzuki. "Why don't you tell me? Are you enjoying the ride? When you overcome your fear the speed becomes exhilarating, ne? All others can never compare."
"As long as it gets us from A to B, I have no complaints." Tsuzuki pulled out the list of demon names from his pocket. The kitten was sitting in his lap - there was nowhere it could hide. He may as well test them now. If Muraki was going to object, he'd find out soon enough. "Do you mind if I read?"
"Be my guest."
Tsuzuki held the papers in one hand, and memorised the first dozen names. With the other, he scratched the kitten behind the ears. It purred in reply. When he was ready, he shoved the papers under his coat and placed his palms together in prayer. He murmured the summoning spell to himself.
Muraki's eyes narrowed behind his glasses, his gaze still on the road. "What are you doing?"
"Furcarius." He paused for a beat. No change. "Alallum." Still nothing. "Separis."
The kitten looked up at him, grey eyes wide.
Muraki frowned. "Where did you get these names from?"
"Shemalian. Puloman. Lamial." After each name, he waited for a response. Calling out its true name should summon it forth, bringing out its true form. He looked down at it for some acknowledgement or change, however small. Still nothing.
"Tsuzuki-san, a word of advice, if I may-"
"Dantelion. Caacrinolaas."
The kitten hissed and clawed at his coat.
Muraki snorted with laughter. "Please - don't insult it like this. Of all the names to use..."
"Insult it?" Tsuzuki looked down at the animal. "Hey! It's trying to rip off my clothes." He grabbed it by the stomach and lifted it away.
"An understandable reaction. If I wasn't driving, I'd be doing the same."
"Muraki!" Tsuzuki held the cat at arm's distance. It was hissing wildly, little claws scratching the back of his hands. "What's wrong with it?"
"You must apologise. It is most offended."
"Offended? What did I do?" He eyed the furious creature. "Did you recognise that last name? Caacrino-"
His face was drenched with a furious hiss of cat saliva.
"Either you are incredibly heroic or a fool. Why risk further anger by repeating the insult twice?"
Tsuzuki dropped the animal on the floor and ripped off his glasses. "What is it with your cat today? It attacks my back, claws my coat, sprays spit all over me..."
The kitten watched him from the floor, grey eyes glittering.
"It's getting impatient," Muraki murmured. "As I am too." He held out one hand to the animal. "Come here."
It scrambled over Tsuzuki's legs to lie in Muraki's lap.
"I won't allow this in the city - the weight makes gear changes too awkward. But here on the highway it doesn't matter so much." He glanced down at the animal. "How can a host be so rude to a guest? Such irrational behaviour is unbecoming of you."
The cat meowed in reply.
Tsuzuki took out a handkerchief and wiped his glasses. "How is calling out a name an insult? I may have got it wrong-"
"To begin with, your pronounciation was terrible. How can you hope to summon a demon if you can't get its name right? Humans are just as picky about their own names, ne? If our names are not recognisable to us, why should we bother to answer?"
"So it's angry because I mispronounced its name?"
"Not at all. That is most definitely not its name. If anything-"
The cat yowled again and again, a strange mix of high and low discordant sounds, sounding like a violin played by a tone-deaf novice. Muraki kept silent, his gaze focused on the road ahead.
Tsuzuki looked at it, then at Muraki. "Is it trying to sing?"
"This is no joking matter, Tsuzuki-san." Muraki's expression was grave, his earlier humour gone. "Listen."
For almost a minute, the feline continued its caterwauling song. When it was done, it climbed into Tsuzuki's lap and curled up as if nothing had happened.
"Ahh...I think it's just forgiven me."
"Did you understand any of it?" Muraki asked.
"Huh? What's there to understand?"
Muraki's lower lip curled in disgust. "Truly this is an abomination. How can you close your ears to its plea?"
"I don't know cat talk! If you understood it, tell me what it said."
"You accused me of lying to you this morning, remember? Are you saying you trust me now?"
"Not really." Tsuzuki looked down at the animal. It had fallen asleep.
"Then there is no point asking me to interpret, ne?"
Tsuzuki sighed impatiently. "Try me. At least let me judge for myself."
Muraki glanced at him, a speculative look in his eye. "You are serious. This is a good sign." He turned back to the road and lifted his head. The sunlight glinted off the frames, obscuring his eyes from view. "But this isn't the time or place. In any case, it would be inappropriate for me to speak on its behalf."
Tsuzuki digested this information in silence.
There was no question in his mind about the kitten's demonic origins. It could see through his invisibility cloak. It knew how to reactivate the terrible pain along his shoulders and back - the ache he feared and dreaded. But the relationship it had with Muraki was not that of a human master with a familiar. Several times it had acted on its own initiative, risking Muraki's wrath with a fearlessness Tsuzuki found rather endearing in view of its small size. And Muraki's behaviour was atypical of a human trapped under the terms of a contract - stroking the kitten one moment and reprimanding it the next.
Muraki and the kitten treated each other as equals. Well, as equal as a feline and a human could treat each other under the circumstances.
A true covenant between demon and human - was it possible?
Tsuzuki put his glasses away, along with the handkerchief. He'd clean it properly later with running water. "How are you able to understand it?" he asked. "Is this one of the gifts it has given you - the power to communicate with animals?"
Muraki tilted his head to one side, as if thinking hard. "Hmm. I suppose you could say that."
"I just have." Tsuzuki resisted the urge to pull at his hair - or Muraki's - in sheer frustration. "Am I correct?"
"It depends..." Muraki shifted down a gear. "...on what you mean by 'it.'"
"I mean the cat! You understand the cat because you've entered into a covenant with it!"
Muraki smiled cheerfully at him. "Wrong."
Tsuzuki clenched his fists in his lap at either side of the dozing feline. "What part is wrong? You know what it's saying, right? How are you able to understand it?"
"Tsuzuki-san, you are asking the wrong question. You should be wondering why you can't understand its words."
"Because I'm not a cat! And I haven't entered into a covenant-alliance-contract-whatever with it!"
"Indeed." Muraki's silken voice was edged with impatience. "You speak truth, but your insistence on subterfuge is an insult to my intelligence."
"What are you talking about? You're the master of obfuscation! You can't give me a direct answer to even the simplest question!"
"Whereas you give direct answers that are irrelevant to the question I ask."
"Dammit! Talking to you is like hitting my head against a brick wall." Tsuzuki tried to lean forward, but the restraining pull of the seatbelt kept him in place. "What's the point in asking me questions when you're so sure of the answers? Why don't you just blurt it all out - the purpose of the covenant, the name of the demon, your ultimate plan. Then we can have a big fight, blow up a few buildings and you won't have to put up with me any longer."
Muraki burst out laughing. The kitten lifted its head at the sound.
Tsuzuki blinked, eyes wide. He'd heard Muraki laugh with maniacal glee, chuckle with seductive intent, but this was different. It sounded so rich and warm and unaffected...and genuine. He looked away, disturbed by the transformation. "What's so funny? That's how we dealt with things before."
"So it was," Muraki agreed. "But it became so predictable and dull, not to mention messy. It was high time we shifted our conflict to a more...intimate setting." He lowered his voice to a register barely audible above the engine's purr. "We still do battle, but with hands and lips instead of spells and spirits. We gain advantage by the pleasure we elicit, rather than the injuries we inflict. A far more satisfying arrangement, ne?"
Tsuzuki knew he must be flushing. He couldn't deny it. He knew his response was incriminating enough. "But it won't last. We have less than six days left..."
"But this day is far from over yet. We should focus on the moment, not on what may or may not happen in the future, ne?"
Tsuzuki sighed. Muraki was only going to answer his questions in his own time. Questioning him was pointless. He would have better luck working with the cat. Tsuzuki pulled out the sheets of paper to check the next lot of demon names to test.
"I recommend you put it away and enjoy the view. If the other names are anything like the ones you've mentioned already, then your source is extremely unreliable and out of date. And even if by some miracle the name is there - and you pronounce it correctly - your summons alone is unlikely to bring it forth." A trace of bitterness crept into his voice. "It has been sealed by a master of the craft, its power severely drained. Even in this domestic form, it cannot continue indefinitely."
"Power drained? By whom? Who sealed it?"
Muraki's lips twisted. "It already told you."
"But I can't hear what it's saying!"
"So you say." A flat monotone.
"I don't care whether you believe me or not." Tsuzuki put away the papers, and placed his hands together in prayer. "I have a job to do."
"Do as you please. Waste your time and energy - after all, you have unlimited reserves as a Shinigami, ne?"
"I will." Tsuzuki closed his eyes and focused his mind. There were several hundred more names to go. The sooner he started working through them, the better.
Half an hour later, Tsuzuki was no closer to summoning the kitten. He had called out about a quarter of the names, and none of them elicited anything apart from the odd meow. His tongue was dry, his throat parched. If he was going to call out the other names, he would need a stiff drink first.
"Forget about the names for now," Muraki said. "We're here."
Tsuzuki looked up. Before them was a grand building of red brick with two turrets on either side, surrounded by rolling hills of verdant green.
"Is...is that a castle? What's it doing here?"
"Amazing, isn't it? The country club is an exact replica of a castle located in the Netherlands. I understood they even imported the bricks to achieve the same degree of authenticity." Muraki shook his head, bemused. Even this was beyond the limits of his own extravagant tastes. "The entire resort is of similar architecture - all the buildings are painstakingly made in the style of a 17th century Dutch trading town. Later I will drive through the resort and you can see for yourself."
The gardens were well-kept, with large rows of tulips occupying the many flowerbeds. One bed was filled with pink-red tulips, so densely planted that they formed a rippling sea of colour. Another was filled with golden yellow tulips, so bright in the sunlight one almost had to squint one's eyes to see them.
Tsuzuki couldn't help smiling at the sight as he walked along the cobblestone path that wound through the gardens. "This is stunning."
In his arms, the kitten looked at the flowers too, its fur ruffled by the breeze.
Muraki joined him, pulling the golfbag beside him. "You like tulips, Tsuzuki-san?"
"It's been so long since I've done any gardening. I used to love planting flowers, watching them grow..."
"Can't you plant flowers in Meifu?"
"Yes, but..." Tsuzuki shrugged. "Plants flourish in Meifu on their own. They don't need me to care for them." It was easy to take the plants in Meifu for granted. The blossoms withered, but there were always new ones to take their place. The plants there would flower for eternity. But these fragile tulips bobbing and waving in the breeze depended on human intervention for their existence. The bulbs needed to be sown deep in the ground, as heat prevented them from blooming. If they were over-watered, bulb rot would set in. And once the plants died, they needed to be kept in the soil until the leaves had withered...
Tsuzuki frowned. He couldn't remember why, but he knew it was important.
"Their transience makes them special to you, ne?"
"From experience, I know tulips usually die off by summer. The caretakers must have put in a lot of effort to make them survive this long."
"Maybe this is a hardier hybrid. Through cross-breeding, strengths can be enhanced, weakness bred out. This is the basis of horticulture, ne? If only humans could improve their physical characteristics so easily."
"You can't be serious." Tsuzuki eyed him warily. "People don't choose their partners based on genetics."
"More's the pity." Muraki caressed one of the blossoms, then pulled a petal free to inspect it. "It's turning brown at the edges. They won't survive much longer."
Tsuzuki let his gaze drift over the sea of tulips. Memories came back of chilly winter mornings spent digging the soil to plant the bulbs. He loved watching the wriggling earthworms, and proudly showed them off to his horrified sister. His mother would scold him to put them back, reminding him how they helped aerate the soil.
His family had taught him everything he knew about gardening. And he'd forgotten the knowledge they'd passed onto him.
Like he'd forgotten them?
"Why do you care so much for these tulips?" Muraki watched him, his visible eye alive with curiosity. "Why place such value on something so impermanent and feeble?"
"But that's why they're special." Tsuzuki began walking again, trying to shake off the disturbing thoughts. He couldn't afford to daydream in Muraki's presence. "Knowing their limited lifespan makes me want to commit them to memory - to admire them while they are at their peak."
"Because you know they won't last? Truly, you are a romantic fool."
"You're the fool to limit your perception of beauty. A fleeting moment frozen in one's memory can still be beautiful. Even if things change, and wither, and die, that doesn't negate that they were beautiful once." He reached out to touch one of the petals. Even through the gloves, he could feel it was fleshy and firm - a healthy flower. "A short lifespan can still contain a great deal of beauty, a long lifespan much ugliness. The duration is not as important as what one does with one's time."
"Such comforting words from an immortal being," Muraki replied mockingly. "However, I take your point. Here on earth, we are all passing through. We must strive to do as much as we can within our alotted lifespan. But in Meifu things are different, ne? Nothing dies. Nothing changes. Nothing evolves. Everything is frozen in stasis for eternity...exactly as he wants it."
Tsuzuki tensed. "By 'he' you mean EnmaDaiOh-sama."
"Why, how perceptive of you."
"I haven't come all this way to listen to slurs on DaiOh-sama."
"I know." Muraki put his arm around Tsuzuki's waist and pulled him close. "You've come all this way to be with me-"
"Muraki..."
"-and play golf. And so you will. Shall we go in?"
In Japan, membership to a golf course was extremely difficult to come by. Demand outstripped places and land was at a premium. Most players were doomed to play golf in the battery-hen confines of the driving range, whacking ball after ball like an automaton, surrounded by others doing exactly the same.
Membership to the prestigious Huis Ten Bosch Country Club was near impossible. Their members included captains of industry and commerce, politicians and diplomats - people of high social standing who held the reigns of power. Many of them had been on the waiting list for decades before they were granted entry. Most were middle-aged and balding, waistlines thickened by too much food and not enough exercise.
So the presence of two handsome young men, virile and lean, each with a full head of hair, was a source of much excitement and speculation among the staff. They recognised the tall man in white as the surgeon from Tokyo - impeccable manners, beautiful voice, quiet and focused during play, one who preferred solitude to the company of others. But for the first time, he had a guest by his side - a slender young man of uncommon beauty. He seemed bemused by the opulent surroundings, glancing about with eyes as wide as saucers, lips parted in awe. An offer by a clerk to take his coat was received with an expression of utter mystification, followed by a nervous laugh and a shake of the head.
"Who could he be? Do you think he is an actor?"
"You could be right! He definitely has the looks. His eyes are so soulful and dreamy. Purple contacts must be the new look this season. But I don't remember seeing him on TV."
"No, he's too shy and self-effacing to be an actor. Look, he's even blushing."
"He acts like he's hiding something. I bet he's a young Yakuza. Look at his clothes! Only Yakuza wear black. And why does he wear gloves in summer? Maybe he doesn't want to leave fingerprints."
"Why would Muraki-sensei go out with a criminal, even a good-looking one?"
"Maybe...maybe he's ex-Yakuza! Maybe Muraki-sensei has befriended him and taken him under his wing, rescuing him from a life of crime."
"Ohhh! That sounds so sweet! How generous of Muraki-sensei!"
Unnoticed by any of them, the guest shoved his smudged sunglasses on his nose and resisted the urge to make himself as invisible as possible.
It was quiet on the golf course, as expected for a weekday afternoon. The first tee-off was surrounded by gently rolling green hills peppered with conifers and ash and oak trees. The sparkling blue waters of Omura Bay stretched to the horizon. The sky was pure blue except for the odd streak of cirrus cloud.
Tsuzuki was oblivious to this. He didn't even notice the breeze ruffling his overlong hair. Something more pressing occupied his mind.
"Why do people get the wrong idea about us?"
Muraki squinted as he eyed the first fairway in the distance. "Wrong idea? Whatever do you mean, Tsuzuki-san?"
"I overheard the workers at the club. They thought I was a gangster, and you were trying to reform me! Can you believe it?"
Muraki chuckled. "I'm not surprised. Didn't I tell you black wasn't your colour?" Muraki went to the golf bag and took out a club and a ball. "Please hold this."
"Hah! If only they knew the truth." Tsuzuki held the kitten up. "What do I do with this?"
Muraki took the kitten from him and placed it next to the golf bag. "Stay, please."
The kitten meowed and lay down on the grass.
"Whose truth?" Muraki pulled out a longer club for himself and another golf ball. "Yours?"
"What do you mean - 'whose truth'?"
"In this world, there is no such thing as an absolute truth." Muraki inserted the tee into the ground, then balanced his ball on it. "We all interpret events differently, filtering them using our own experiences and knowledge and beliefs. There are as many versions of the truth as there are witnesses." He stood up, grey eyes sharp as they focused on Tsuzuki. "Why should one view be any more 'truthful' than another? Maybe those people are correct about us. Maybe you are in need of my benevolent influence."
"Benevolent? You? They only think that because they don't know the crimes you've done! They don't know your history the way I do! They only think you're kind and generous because they don't have all the facts!"
"And you do? You think you know me so well?"
"I... No." Tsuzuki couldn't lie. There was a lot about Muraki he would never know, because Muraki revealed only what he wanted people to know. "But I do know you better than they ever will, because I've seen you at your worst."
"Such cynicism...but maybe you're right. To see one's ugliness now is to avoid disillusionment later." Muraki's lips twisted in a wry smile. "Let me teach you how to tee off."
He showed Tsuzuki how to grip the club, then went through the mechanics of the swing. Tsuzuki did his best to memorise the steps. Relax the knees, bend the hips slightly. Keep the grip light and arms loose. Rotate the upper torso, keeping the shoulders level about the spine. Twist left shoulder forward under chin for backswing, rotate right shoulder under chin for swing, then pose.
"I have to pose? What for?"
"So I can admire you, of course. Admire your windswept hair falling across your brow, your body a taut arc of black against the backdrop of blue sky-"
"Muraki!" Tsuzuki swung the club up, threatening to whack him over the head. "This isn't the place for this!"
"Forgive me. I was forgetting myself. The purpose of posing is to maintain balance. A good swing is a balanced swing. Allow me to demonstrate."
Muraki made it look so easy. His backswing was relaxed and easy, his downswing combining power and grace. The length of his body uncoiled like a spring, while the club was a blur of motion in his hands. With a solid clunk, the ball sailed through the air onto the closely mown grass of the fairway.
"Now it's your turn."
He helped Tsuzuki set up the tee. He guided him into position, instructing him on his stance and reminding him of his grip. Tsuzuki obeyed, a little surprised at Muraki's seriousness. His guiding touches were merely that - not once did they linger to an extent anyone would consider improper. Tsuzuki found himself allowing Muraki to manipulate his arms, guiding him through the backswing, focusing on the lesson instead of the teacher.
"If you have the grip and backswing correct, the rest will fall into place." Muraki stepped several feet away to face Tsuzuki. "Try it."
"Okay." Tsuzuki prepared himself, wriggling his arms a little to relax them as Muraki had shown him. Then he gripped the club tight, and swung the club as fast as he could.
A clump of grass went flying though the air. The ball remained perfectly balanced on the tee.
Tsuzuki blinked. "How did that happen?"
Muraki folded his arms, eyes narrowed. "Hmm. Try it again."
Tsuzuki did. More tufts of grass and dirt went flying. The golf ball wobbled and fell off the tee. Annoyed, Tsuzuki put the ball back on the tee and tried again. And again. And again. Soil and grass flew about him. Large divots were left at his feet. And still the ball didn't fly.
"This is far worse than I expected. Even with the advantage of gloves to assist his grip..." Muraki's brow furrowed as he watched.
"Dammit!" Tsuzuki took another swing at it. "Why don't they make bigger balls? Or bigger clubs?"
Muraki ducked, narrowly avoiding another sod of grass. "If he continues at this rate, he will end up digging a hole...or a grave." He exchanged glances with the kitten. "Oddly appropriate for a Shinigami, ne?"
The kitten meowed in agreement.
"Shut up, you two!" Tsuzuki tried once more, and nearly staggered forward with the force of his own swing. He threw down the golf club in disgust. "There's something wrong with this one. Give me the one you used."
"No. The driver is the most difficult of the clubs to master. I gave you an iron with a shorter shaft so you could better control your swing." He picked up Tsuzuki's club. "Do you know what your problem is?"
"If I did, I would have fixed it!"
"You're trying too hard to hit the ball. A common mistake." He held the club out to him, grip first. "Do you know how to waltz?"
Tsuzuki took the club reluctantly. "Why?"
"So you know?" Muraki tilted his head, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Do you prefer to lead or follow?" He held out his arms to Tsuzuki.
"None of your business." Tsuzuki stepped back, holding the club in front of him like a weapon. He knew Muraki was going to do something wildly inappropriate sooner or later. "What has that got to do with this?"
"Tell me, Tsuzuki-san, would you grasp your partner so tight that they can't breathe? Would you swing your partner so fast they felt like vomiting in your arms instead of swooning with delight?"
"No. But how is that-"
"Then don't treat the golf club in such a disrespectful manner. Golf is like a waltz with the club as your partner." Muraki embraced an imaginary dancing partner. "Your grip should be light yet firm. You should time your swing using 3/4 tempo." He began to waltz by himself on the grass, his steps sure and confident as he avoided the divots in the lawn. "Your swing should be easy, graceful, effortless. Don't aim to hit the ball - that is the surest way to miss."
Tsuzuki watched, bemused at the surreal spectacle of Muraki dancing by himself. The ends of his trenchcoat flared as he twirled around, propelled by the sea breeze. Muraki waltzed with the ease of a person who was comfortable with his own physicality and found pleasure in his own skin. For a moment, Tsuzuki wondered if he was dancing on air, so light and nimble were his movements.
Even the kitten was entranced, pouncing after his feet to keep up with him.
"Are you serious? I shouldn't aim to hit the ball?"
"Correct. You swing the club, let gravity do the rest...and the ball happens to be in the way." Muraki swept the kitten in his arms, held it up and continued waltzing. "And remember to pose at the end for balance. If you cannot maintain your balance, your swing is too fast."
The kitten wriggled and meowed as Muraki swung it around.
Muraki brought it close to his face. "You don't mind me leading, ne?"
The kitten licked his nose, making him laugh.
Tsuzuki looked away, inexplicably annoyed. "You look like an idiot."
"Would you rather I waltz with you, Tsuzuki-san?"
"Don't be ridiculous! Are you going to watch me tee off or not?"
"I will watch...but whether I see you tee off or not depends on you." He cradled the kitten in his arms and pivoted to face Tsuzuki. "Treat the club as you would a dance partner. Focus on the swing, not the ball."
Tsuzuki went through the movements, thinking of the swing. Relax the arms. Loosen the wrists and elbows and shoulders. Turn about the torso, keep shoulders level. Unwind.
Another clump of dirt went into the air. Tsuzuki squinted as it narrowly missed his face.
And with it went the ball, flying high and fast as it hurtled down toward the fairway.
The kitten watched the ball's path. Muraki's steel-grey gaze remained fixed on Tsuzuki.
"I did it!" Tsuzuki punched his club in the air. "Hah! Did you see that, Muraki? I did it! I hit the ball!"
"So you did. That's much more like it." Muraki smiled and picked up the golfbag. "Now let's go find it."
For the next hour, Tsuzuki found himself chasing and whacking a little white ball around a big immaculately kept park. He followed the ball into the long grass of the rough. He followed it into sand bunkers, and sprayed sand everywhere as he tried to hit it out. All the while, Muraki went with him, advising him on which club to use, guiding him on how to play each stroke. He was patient and good-humoured, though he did smirk often at Tsuzuki's numerous errors.
Their game was held up after Tsuzuki sliced the ball into a copse of trees during the fifth hole. After five minutes of fruitless searching, Muraki set the kitten down to hunt for it.
"Does it always obey you without question?" Tsuzuki asked as it bounded off.
"Hardly. You saw for yourself earlier, ne?" Muraki placed a hand on Tsuzuki's back and stroked between his shoulder blades. "Forgive it for the transgression. It acted without malice. It was thinking of you."
Tsuzuki shifted away from Muraki's touch. "For a sealed demon, it has a lot of energy in reserve."
Muraki let his hand drop. "What you experienced was a mere fraction of its full power."
"Lucky for me." Tsuzuki pulled his coat around him. The list of names rustled with his movements. "So you know its name?"
"Yes." Muraki didn't elaborate.
"Then you could be free of it with a binding spell. If it's already weakened, it won't take much to destroy it completely."
Muraki regarded Tsuzuki with a raised brow. "Why would I act in such a traitorous manner?"
"It's draining you, Muraki. It wants energy, and you're its host. What do you have to gain by such a one-sided relationship?"
"Tsuzuki-san, don't tell me you're concerned? Could this be possible?"
"Listen to me, dammit! I'm being serious!"
"I am too." A smouldering fire lurked in Muraki's eyes. "You are jealous, ne?"
"No way!"
"You have no reason to be. I carry your mark everywhere I go." He touched his side as he remembered the scars. "If you are genuinely concerned for my well-being, let me feed. Your essence will replenish and nourish me anew."
"Break the covenant. Then you won't need to feed at all."
Muraki shook his head. "I cannot. And even if I did, it wouldn't ease my hunger for you." His gaze was sombre as he studied Tsuzuki. "Do you wish to be free of me so much?"
"This isn't about me!"
"So you'd like to believe...but you've become an expert in denial, ne? You've had years of practice to hone your skill."
The cat yowled. It was under an ash tree several yards away, swiping the golf ball with its paws.
"There it is." Tsuzuki strode over to it. "What club should I use now, Muraki?"
Muraki's lips thinned with displeasure. But he took out a club and guided Tsuzuki with the shot.
It took another four shots for Tsuzuki to reach the green. Muraki's ball was already there, having arrived there within a mere two strokes from tee to green. The fifth putting green was situated atop the cliffs overlooking the bay. The breeze was strong, making Tsuzuki's coat flap about him. He could even feel the light touch of cool seaspray touch his forehead. Below them, the glittering bay stretched below.
After Muraki finished the hole, it was Tsuzuki's turn.
"You said this game was relaxing," Tsuzuki said, estimating the distance to the hole. "You lied."
"I didn't expect you to be so incompetent," Muraki replied carelessly. He held the flagstick with both hands as he waited for Tsuzuki to finish. "And you didn't answer my question."
Tsuzuki putted the ball. It rolled to the left to rest several inches past the hole. He went over to it, his gaze focused on the game. "What question?"
Muraki's fingers tightened around the flagstick. "Would you like to be free of me, Tsuzuki-san?"
Tsuzuki putted again. The ball went in without a hitch - the first time he had managed to putt the ball using the standard two shots.
"Why do you ask such a pointless question? You've never cared about my opinion before." Tsuzuki took out the ball. "Are you offering to leave me alone if I say yes?"
Muraki placed the flagstick inside the cup. "If you say the word, it will be done." He bowed his head. "I am yours."
"Stop saying that! Who put such a crazy idea in your head?"
"It's the truth. Our truth, whether you want to acknowledge it or not." Muraki walked past Tsuzuki to look at the bay, arms folded. The wind flapped his coat, sending the tails streaming behind him. "Ever since I laid eyes on your photo, I was enslaved by you. Your ageless beauty, your astonishing recuperative powers - no one has affected me like this. I wanted you. I envied you. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I became convinced that you held the answer to everything I wanted - the key to immortality, the antidote to disease, a rival worthy of my interest." A trace of affection crept into his voice. "Which you were. With each meeting, you fed my obsession, making me want you more and more...until I began to loathe myself. My feelings were a disgusting weakness. I vowed never to feel that way about anyone again. Those dearest to me are the ones I must crush underfoot."
Tsuzuki didn't know what to say. "Muraki..."
"So I made you a whipping boy for my vengeance. Kill two birds with one stone, as the saying goes." His laughter was short and sharp and bitter. "And look what happened! I am more tied to you than ever before!" He lowered his head, shoulders hunched, his back to Tsuzuki. "Answer my question. Do you want to be free of me?"
Tsuzuki opened his mouth to speak, but the answer remained in his throat, choking him of breath. His heart pounded so hard it was a wonder it didn't break free from his chest. Why was it so hard to say it? He squeezed his eyes shut and looked away. "What I want is irrelevant. I am a representative of JuOhCho, the Shinigami for Second Block. I am here to investigate the possibility of demonic interference in the life of one Muraki Kazutaka-"
"Do you delight in torturing me?" Muraki whirled around to face him, his false eye glowing red. "Are you being kind to be cruel? I will get an answer from you if it's the last thing I do." A gust of wind blew from behind, making his hair fall into his eyes. "Let me summon an old friend to sweep away any concerns you may have about my tender feelings."
Tsuzuki backed away. "Who?"
"Caacrinolaas is a corrupted version of its name. You remember it by another."
From its position next to the golfbag, the kitten hissed and arched its back.
Tsuzuki glanced at it, then at Muraki. "You're summoning a demon? Why here? Why now?"
"Why not? It will be like old times. A reunion of sorts. You enjoyed our reunion, ne?"
Thick black clouds rolled in from land and sea to where they stood, casting everything into darkness. The wind was now a howling gale, bending trees and breaking branches with its force. Tsuzuki had to brace his legs apart to stay upright against it. He lifted his arm to protect his eyes.
"Muraki! Dammit, what are you doing?"
"Come forth!" Muraki bellowed, lifting his face to the darkened heavens. "I call you forth, Grand Duke and Brigade Commander, Saagatanus!"
Two glowing yellow lights penetrated the clouds. Red bolts of lightning lit up the sky. The sound of flapping wings beat the air. The monstrous head emerged first, mouth agape to reveal gleaming teeth and a thin reptilian tongue. It was followed by a serpentine neck and human-like chest of rippling muscle beneath its gleaming black-brown coat, looking uncannily like a Doberman on steroids. Then the massive black feathered wings and taloned paws appeared, revealing the creature's demonic origins as it swooped over their heads.
Tsuzuki couldn't move. Shock rooted him to the spot.
In all his years as a Shinigami, Saagatanus was the only demon who had dared to take possession of him. Tsuzuki vividly remembered watching in helpless horror as the demon hound bent him to its will, unleashing carnage and devastation using his Shinigami powers. Even now, the humiliation and shame was fresh in his mind, along with the pain of the demon's brand and the agony of the wings erupting forth.
"I should have known," Tsuzuki muttered. "When you knew about my back..." His eyes glittered with fury. "You want to take possession of me the way he did. You're trying to reactivate this parasite inside me." Tsuzuki's voice trembled with barely suppressed rage. "I won't let you do it! I'd rather annihilate myself than allow it to happen again!"
Muraki shook his head, lips twisted in grim amusement. "You think Enma will let you go so easily?"
"Who dares to summon the Brigade Commander of the Demon World?" Saaga roared. The ground trembled with the reverberations of his basso profundo voice. From his jaws, a plume of fire raced across the sky.
The kitten bounded between Tsuzuki and Muraki and hissed again at the demon.
Muraki looked up, lips parted in awe, like a child admiring a fireworks display. "Such a pretty show, ne? At least someone here knows how to wield their full power."
Saaga circled then swooped lower to where both men stood. "Puny humans! You will pay for such insolence!" He breathed a plume of fire and sulphurous black smoke at them.
Tsuzuki pulled out a handful of fuda and snatched the kitten up. He tackled Muraki, knocking him to the ground. Quickly he rolled around and threw up the barrier fuda.
Black smoke enveloped them both. A fireball hit the barrier with a loud crash, setting sparks flying around them. Another explosion came after it. The barrier crackled and hissed, but stayed in place.
The kitten hissed again.
Yet another explosion hit the barrier. This time it crumbled, and the fuda fell apart in his hand. Ash rained on them. Sulphur filled Tsuzuki's nostrils, making his throat sting and eyes burn. He staggered to his feet and fumbled for his attack fuda.
"You!" Saaga stood before them, head held high. At full height, he was three times the height of a normal man. "I remember you, my little lamb!"
Tsuzuki clenched his teeth against some choice epithets and hurled the attack fuda. A flock of swallows burst forth, sweeping through the air to attack the demon. Some pecked the gold eyes, others the ears and legs and tail. A few even pulled at the feathers of his wings. Saaga twisted and snarled as he tried to free himself.
"That won't hold him," Muraki said, rising to his feet.
"I know that!" Tsuzuki snapped a barrier fuda with his gloved fingers to activate it, then shoved it at Muraki. "I'll deal with you later."
Muraki crushed it in his fist and shoved it in his pocket. "What are you going to do?"
Tsuzuki put his hands together. "Humbly do I present my wish to-"
"No." Muraki seized his shoulder and pulled him close. "Don't call your shikigami."
Saaga let out a frustrated roar. He exhaled more fire as he twisted his long neck, incinerating all the bird spirits he could find.
Tsuzuki shoved Muraki away. "Get away from me! Go help your demon friend!"
Muraki fell back, his good eye flashing with anger. "Your orders are contradictory. I can't do both at the same time."
The remaining handful of swallows flew into the air. Saaga raced off in pursuit, hurling fireball after fireball to scatter them, then swooped back to attack Tsuzuki again. "You cannot escape! I had you once and I will have you again, Enma be damned! Your friends will burn in the fires of Hell!"
"My friends?"
The kitten hissed and yowled, tail lashing. It rose on its two legs and clawed the air. Ferocious and menacing, yes, but it couldn't even reach Tsuzuki's knee. Next to it, Muraki took out a cigarette and put it to his lips.
Such recklessness defied belief. "Muraki! What are you doing, idiot?"
"Inhaling all this smoke triggered my craving." Muraki flicked the lighter, and frowned as it refused to ignite. He cupped his hand around the lighter and tried again.
"You..." Tsuzuki hurled more attack fuda at the demon.
An energy bolt crackled forth, striking Saaga in the chest. The demon whined and twisted in midair. The beat of his wings sent dust and ashes swirling around them.
"This...this is stupidity! You think you can summon a demon like this without consequence?" Tsuzuki grabbed Muraki's arm with such force that Muraki dropped his cigarette. "Run, dammit! Take your cat with you! Entering into a covenant with Saaga is the ultimate folly. This demon hates all humans!"
"My covenant isn't with that canine blowtorch!" Muraki snapped.
Tsuzuki stepped back. "Huh?"
Saaga emerged through the smoke and dust, yellow eyes aglow. "You cannot hide from me!" He saw the yowling kitten. "Pathetic bug!" With a quick dart of his head, he devoured the animal in a single bite.
Muraki sighed. "Greedy fool."
Tsuzuki hurled another attack fuda. Saaga howled in pain as the energy ball hit his throat and lower jaw. "Come on!" Tsuzuki broke into a run, pulling Muraki with him. "Get as far away as you can. Use the barrier fuda to protect yourself. I'll summon Byakko!"
"Wind against Fire?" Muraki yanked Tsuzuki to a stop. "You make the risky assumption Wind can extinguish the flames without fanning them further. Did you learn nothing in your first encounter with Saagatanus?"
Tsuzuki felt as if he'd been kicked in the gut. "You know..."
"Enough of these games!" Saaga surged free of the energy bolt. "I will consume your sweet flesh again! You are no virgin to my possession. You will be even easier to control the second time around!"
Tsuzuki whirled around, fingers trembling as he clutched two attack fuda. "Silence!" He danced away, pulling Muraki behind him, and hurled the fuda in quick succession. An energy bolt struck Saaga's left wing, sending black feathers flying everywhere. The second fuda released a pack of howling wolf spirits. They raced towards Saaga, teeth bared.
Saaga roared and breathed a gust of fire at them. Some of the leading wolves were incinerated in the blast, but others dispersed in time to sink their teeth into his trunk and throat. Saaga stomped and lashed about in fury, making the ground shake.
"Earth cannot extinguish Fire." Muraki grasped Tsuzuki's left shoulder with both hands, his left hand gripping the front, while his right clutched the shoulder blade. His nails dug into the flesh, marking Tsuzuki through the layers of cloth.
Tsuzuki gasped. This was the same place Saaga branded him. "Muraki...what..."
Muraki's breath was hot against his ear, the weight of his body hard against his back. "Tell me what controls Fire, Tsuzuki-san."
"Souryuu. His element is Water-"
"No." Muraki's fingers kneaded flesh to bone. "Your shikigami are a crutch, nothing more."
Tsuzuki tried to twist free without success. Saaga had shaken off most of the wolf spirits, but a few snapped at his face and throat. "I borrow the power of my shikigami to fight demons. They're my only hope against this monster!"
"You don't need them, Tsuzuki-san. You never did." Muraki's lips caressed his ear. "Saagatanus, your shikigami...their power is miniscule compared to yours."
Tsuzuki shook his head violently. "He controlled me once...made me attack the people I cared for, turned me against my friends...I won't let it happen again!" Tsuzuki put his hands together. "I have to-"
Saaga lunged forward, free of the wolf spirits. Fire surged from his nostrils and mouth.
"Hold on!" Tsuzuki jumped into the smoke-filled air to dodge them, lifting Muraki with him. The flames narrowly missed his legs. "See for yourself!" He eyed the dull red glow of the flames below. "I can't defeat Saaga on my own!"
"Believe in yourself. You are not alone. From now on-"
Coldness invaded Tsuzuki's left shoulder. It spread down to his left hand, then through his chest to his right shoulder, and down to his right hand.
"-you will never be alone."
Tsuzuki blinked. Wetness lined his palms. Moisture penetrated the velvet of the gloves.
"There you are!" Saaga roared. The demon soared up, breathing fire as he flew towards them.
Tsuzuki bounded away, but Saaga was too fast. He grabbed Tsuzuki's leg with one of his talons. Tsuzuki twisted away, almost hanging upside down to avoid Saaga's jaws.
"You are mine!" Saaga bent his long neck to see Tsuzuki properly. His gold eyes flashed as he caught sight of Muraki clinging to Tsuzuki's shoulder. "And so is your feeble human friend! I will devour him in front of you before I taste your sweet flesh again." The stench of burning sulphur drifted from his nostrils as he rolled forward, teeth bared to attack.
"No!" Tsuzuki hurled himself backwards until he was upright again. "Leave him alone! It's me you want!" He fumbled for his fuda, but his wet gloves made the paper charms stick together. Attempting to activate them only ripped the soggy paper to pieces.
By Tsuzuki's left shoulder, Muraki gazed unflinchingly at the demon. "Great Duke Saagatanus, aren't you remotely curious as to why I summoned you here?"
"So it was you, insolent insect!"
Tsuzuki swore and yanked at the buckle of the glove. It wouldn't come off.
Muraki held out his hand to Saaga. "Take this and eat it."
Saaga's head snaked down, white teeth gleaming, saliva dripping from his jaws.
"NO!" Tsuzuki lunged forward. He seized Saaga's lower jaw, forcing his mouth away from Muraki. His fingers curled around the demon's jagged teeth. "He is not...for you."
Saaga snarled, infuriated. "Fool!" He yanked Tsuzuki's leg, stretching his body to breaking point.
Water seeped through the velvet, dripping down Tsuzuki's trembling arms. It began to pool in Saaga's mouth. Saaga coughed and spluttered. He shook his head as he fought to break free.
Tsuzuki tightened his grip, teeth clenched in grim determination. Muraki was right. He should have summoned Souryuu the first time he fought Saaga. Choosing the right shikigami would have avoided everything: Saaga's possession, Hisoka's stabbing in Hijiri's place, the damage to EnmaCho... and Kazusa's premature death. A single Ocean Wave Attack might have stopped Saaga in his tracks.
"Water," he whispered. "I need..."
Saaga's upper teeth began to descend. The lower jaw lifted to meet it.
Tsuzuki watched, a helpless spectator in his own worst nightmare. Saaga would crush his fingers and possess his body once again. Hisoka, Watari, Tatsumi, Chief Konoe, even the Gushoshin...he would hurt them all as Saaga ran rampant through Meifu. The EnmaCho main building would be destroyed, the library left in ruins.
He didn't want to be a burden to the Shoukanka, but it was unavoidable. His powers were a curse to everyone who associated with him. What was the point in pretending otherwise?
Everyone...forgive me. But I have to do this.
Tsuzuki pulled at the lower jaw, his arms and shoulders aching with the effort. His entire body was taut as a violin string, every muscle and tendon straining against Saaga's hold. He hadn't pursued Muraki this far to lose him now. There was no turning back.
No demon will have you. No interference will be allowed.
A flash of white arced over Tsuzuki's left shoulder.
"Has Ashitarote taught you no manners at all?" Muraki yanked the demon's upper jaw up and away from Tsuzuki's fingers. "Is this how you offer homage to your betters?"
Tsuzuki stared, eyes wide. "Muraki..."
"You are here to face punishment for your crimes. As you have done to others, so we shall do to you."
Tsuzuki's velvet gloves ripped apart at the seams. A torrent of water gushed from his hands into Saaga's mouth. The demon jerked and writhed against the onslaught.
"You, a Brigade Commander? Don't make me laugh!" Muraki's false eye glowed a brilliant white. "You are bait! You are target practice! You are nothing but a toy for our amusement!"
The water was everywhere, a raging flood that surged into Saaga's unwilling mouth. Water poured out of his nostrils and ears. Choking spasms shook the demon's throat and chest. With his jaws held open, he couldn't stop the flood. His wings beat furiously while he tried to lash his head from side to side, neck muscles taut with the effort.
Tsuzuki couldn't believe it. He hadn't even thrown fuda this time. All this water...it was impossible for him to generate it with his own power. He gazed at Muraki's features in wonder, so stern and patrician in profile.
"Extinguish him once and for all," Muraki muttered. His gaze dimmed, but his grip remained firm over Saaga's upper jaw. "If this is how this worm repays your previous clemency, he's not worthy of your consideration now."
Tsuzuki took a deep breath and focused his thoughts, the same method he used to cast a spell. He thought of nerve endings too numb to feel, blood coagulating as it turned to ice within veins, joints creaking with stiffness as the cold permeated muscle and bone.
"Feel what I felt," Tsuzuki whispered. "My frustration as you locked me within myself, helpless to your every sadistic whim, reliving my crimes again and again..."
Saaga let out a pitiful whine. Shards of ice slid into his mouth, down his windpipe and into his lungs. The taloned feet eased its grip around Tsuzuki's leg. The gold eyes rolled back, the frenzied flapping of the black wings ceased.
They watched as the demon plunged to earth.
"You did it," Muraki murmured, his voice rich and warm with triumph. "Doesn't it feel good to defeat a demon by yourself?"
"I..." Tsuzuki stared at his drying hands. His arms and chest were no longer cold, the power he had felt flowing through him now absent. The velvet material was torn into ragged pieces, but the steel buckles kept the cuffs in place. "I wish I knew."
"Tsuzuki-san?"
Tsuzuki didn't reply as he began his descent to earth.
The clouds were clearing around them, retreating as rapidly as they had arrived. Small craters of smoking black ash marked the green grass. Saaga lay several metres from the edge of the cliffs. The impact of his body formed a small crater in the ground.
Tsuzuki eyed Muraki's fingers clenched on his shoulder. "You can let go of me now."
Muraki raised both brows, but did as requested.
Tsuzuki went to inspect the demon at close range. Brown-black water oozed from his nostrils. His chest rose and fell rapidly, jaws and wings twitching in the occasional coughing fit. A few black feathers fluttered loose before floating back to the ground.
To see the demon he once feared so humbled and weakened in defeat - Tsuzuki felt only muted relief, not heady triumph. He could afford a scrap of pity for the creature.
Muraki squatted down beside the massive head. "This is what he deserved." He pulled one floppy ear back to open the canal. "This worm is as culpable as Enma for the state you are in now."
Tsuzuki undid the buckles of his gloves and let them fall to the ground. "Leave him alone."
"Why? He made you fear the source of your strength. He turned you against yourself." Muraki stood up and walked to Tsuzuki. "He must pay for this treason."
"Leave him be." Tsuzuki's voice was toneless, bereft of emotion. "He's paid already."
One of the demon's eyes flickered open, revealing a gold eye and slit-like black pupil. "You...how..."
Muraki tilted his head to one side to look at him. "I doubt a dog like you would understand. Cooperation isn't encouraged by Ashitarote, ne?"
"Expressly...forbidden." The demon went into a violent coughing fit. "We dogs..." His deep voice was thready and weak. "We all...must serve." His eye rolled around to fix on Tsuzuki. "You...no different. Your master..."
"I serve EnmaDaiOh."
The single gold eye flicked to Muraki. "Is that so?"
Muraki shrugged as he searched the breastpocket of his coat for a cigarette.
Tsuzuki noticed the exchange. "You know him?"
"I remember...the promise. Immeasurable light..." Saaga looked at Tsuzuki. "You do not know?"
"Know what?"
"Well, well..." Saaga began to wheeze, the air whistling as it moved in and out of his lungs. "He does not...acknowledge you."
Muraki's gaze narrowed. "You whine too much, dog of Ashitarote."
The wheezing sound became mocking laughter. "Could this be...a false prophet?"
"Enough!" Muraki snarled. "Be silent!"
"I am not...yours to command..." Saaga's iris began to glow. "A traitor...such as you!"
The sinuous neck whipped towards Muraki, teeth bared for one last attack.
Tsuzuki tried to push Muraki aside, but Muraki was faster. He drew out a large penknife from his trenchcoat and struck Saaga in the eye, deflecting the head as he dodged the other way. With a brutal flick of his wrist and the crunch of steel against bone, he gouged out the demon's eyeball. It fell on the grass at Tsuzuki's feet.
Saaga didn't make a sound. His head and neck fell to the ground, dark red blood filling the eye socket.
Muraki rolled the lifeless head over with his foot and dug out the other eye for good measure.
Tsuzuki covered his mouth with his hands. "Do you have to desecrate it like this?"
"Yes." Muraki straightened up, his white trenchcoat splattered with blood. The blade of his knife and his hand were covered in viscous red and black liquid. "It will serve as an example to anyone who questions your authority." He held out his hand, revealing a glistening tangle of nerves and vessels. "A meagre sacrifice, but better than nothing."
"I don't want a sacrifice!" Tsuzuki clenched his hands into fists. "Nothing you do makes sense! You summon demons to attack me, then channel power through me to defeat them. Why?"
"You were the one who defeated him. I merely nourished what lies dormant inside you."
Tsuzuki grabbed Muraki's wrists, letting the eyeball drop to the grass. "Who...what...are you?" He pulled Muraki roughly against him. "Tell me!"
Muraki trailed a finger along Tsuzuki's jaw, leaving behind a smear of blood. "Yours."
"What type of answer is that?" Tsuzuki's fingers clenched in Muraki's shoulders. Solid and warm and alive. A thrill of joy passed through him, even as Muraki's words filled him with foreboding. How could a human know about channeling power? How could a human stand up to a demon like Saaga with such fearless defiance?
"The only one that matters." Muraki nuzzled Tsuzuki's nose, then kissed him. His mouth tasted of ash and rust - the flavour of destruction - and Tsuzuki couldn't get enough. He squirmed closer, his lips parting to taste more, his tongue aggresively seeking out the silken contours and recesses of Muraki's mouth.
Muraki let out a little laugh as he pulled away. "You want me, ne?"
"Yes." Tsuzuki thrust his fingers into overlong silver hair and hauled him back down. It was a relief to say it. Ironic how an admission of dependence could feel like liberation.
"Good." Muraki's fingers splayed across his back, nails digging into the prominence of his left shoulder blade. "Believe in me, as I believe in you," he muttered against Tsuzuki's lips. He pulled the black trenchcoat from his shoulders, and bit into the juncture of his neck and left shoulder through the shirt.
Tsuzuki writhed, caught between fear and arousal. "Ahh..."
Muraki's lips nibbled along the side of Tsuzuki's neck. "I will eradicate his memory from your mind. I will brand you with pleasure where he once branded you with pain."
The stench of rotting flesh filled Tsuzuki's nostrils. Over Muraki's shoulder, he saw Saaga's body decomposing into a mass of wriggling maggots. Only the torso remained intact. There was twitching movement beneath the skin of the belly.
Tsuzuki wrenched Muraki away. "He's still alive!"
"Impossible. Without vision-"
The demon's stomach exploded, splattering blood and entrails everywhere. A horrible beast clambered out, its entire body coated in sticky black liquid, fur plastered to its long body. It stared at both men with piercing grey eyes.
"Meow!"
Tsuzuki gaped in amazement. The kitten was now a cat. A big cat. It was at least five times larger, its legs muscular and stocky, its muzzle long and broad like a miniature lion.
"You took your time," Muraki said. "Are you full now?"
The cat meowed as it padded over to them, trailing oily black liquid in its wake.
"It survived. How...?"
"It was hungry. Saaga provided it food, albeit unknowingly - probably the most noble act he's performed in his pathetic existence." He stepped away as the cat tried to rub itself against his legs. "No. You must have a bath first."
The cat yowled loudly, then sat down and began licking itself clean.
The demon's body was no more, replaced by a mound composed of black ashes. Tsuzuki watched them glitter in the sunlight as the wind dispersed them over the bay, all the while clutching his left shoulder to remind himself. Saaga would never trouble him again...but the demon's terrible fate only filled him with an ominous sense of unease.
"Is this what happens to those who let demons feed?" he asked.
"Only the weak ones." Muraki embraced him from behind. He gently pried Tsuzuki's hand free, then nuzzled his shoulder again. "Come. Let us go back to the clubhouse, then book into a hotel for tonight. I have been patient long enough."