This chapter was posted in the same day as the last one because Alberta21stGenius is very good at organizing. I cannot hide my joy at being able to post this chapter because of how helpful my coauthor is. I hope you enjoy it.

XXX

"Wrap . . . wrap something around his arms . . . or something . . ." Christopher mumbled as Fletcher made him look at the crossdresser's injuries. Fletcher obediently tore up yet another curtain and wound the strips messily around Rodroy's injured arms. The limbs were covered in scratches as if an animal had attacked him . . . oh, wait, that Raver guy had been an animal.

XXX

Yokai and Dorobou stared at the large metal device, watching as the clock counted down.

With a considerably cooler head than Yokai (who was sweating like crazy with wide eyes), Dorobou examined the explosive device as closely as he dared. There were ten minutes to go on the timer.

It was quite a big bomb, as wide as Dorobou was tall. It would probably take out half the city if it went off. But that was something Dorobou refused to allow to happen.

"Should I try tangling the wires, pull out all the wires, break the timer, slice the machine in half, smash the machine, ask outloud and hope some miracle happens?"

Yokai gave the man a strange look, locking his hands together behind his head to keep from tearing his hair out in worry. What to do, what to do?!

Yokai's mind was working furiously. The suggestions that Dorobou had voiced out loud were for experts and TV shows only and as Yokai was no expert, he had to think of something else . . . and if he couldn't think of a way to defuse the bomb, then he was going to have to go with Plan B. Yes, Yokai had a Plan A. Sort of.

Plan A: Defuse the bomb and collapse in relief as timer turns off.

Plan B: Move the bomb to an uninhabited area and run like hell to safety. Pray for the souls of all the bugs that died.

And then there was Plan C: A and B failed, so there was no point in worrying. Relax and have a cup of tea as you wait to die.

XXX

Fletcher looked between the cook and the crossdresser. Both looked like messed-up mummies thanks to Fletcher's less than spectacular medical skills.

The captain groaned and dropped to the floor. He was hungry, he was tired, and his friends were hurt (he wasn't really sure how Kai and Bou were doing). Most importantly, he was hungry. Very hungry.

XXX

8 minutes on the clock.

"Time for Plan B." Yokai stated, since he couldn't think of a way to defuse the bomb.

Dorobou blinked. "There was a Plan A?" he said questioningly.

"The middle of the island should be far enough away . . ." Yokai muttered, before saying to Dorobou "Is the island's centre inhabited?"

Dorobou frowned. "No, why?" he asked.

Yokai told Dorobou his plan, the businessman's eyes lighting up in understanding. "That should work . . ." he said slowly, "But how are we going to move it?" Gesturing to the bomb, he added, "It's bigger than both of us put together!"

" That doesn't mean we don't have the strength to move it...if only we could find someone with muscles of steel to help us move this metal ticking and exploding device."
Dorobou stared at him before saying crossly "And just where are we going to find someone like that?"

Yokai shook his head. "You're right, we don't have time. Uhh . . ."

The monk gripped his staff, trying to think. Then it hit him, and he slapped himself in the forehead.

Why didn't I think of that before . . . he thought, eyeing his staff as Dorobou looked on expectantly.

"If those guys got the bomb in here, then there's a way to get it out. See any big doors?" Yokai said.

"Uh, yeah, over there." Dorobou said, pointing behind them.

7 minutes to go.

Yokai could have smacked himself (again) for not noticing the doors before, but they were running out of time.

"Open them." he commanded. Dorobou ran towards them while Yokai took a stance, placing the end off his staff on the ground. Light flooded the building as Dorobou opened the doors.

Hope this works . . . Yokai thought.

"Ancient Art of the Elementals: Earth Wave?" the monk intoned questioningly. The blue and brown shards embedded in his staff glowed, and the ground began to rock like the ocean. Yokai eyed the bomb warily, willing it to move, for his idea to work . . .

There! As he struggled to keep his balance, he saw the bomb begin to rock back and forth with the ground. Time for part 2 . . .

"Ancient Art of the Elementals . . ." he said with more confidence than before, "Soil Tsunami!"

The earth heaved and then moved up under the bomb like a wave of water. Roaring like the sea, the wave of earth rushed through the open doors at a gesture from Yokai, carrying the bomb with it. Yokai ran along behind his creation, guiding it through the streets.

Picking himself off the ground and shaking himself off, Dorobou followed, calling out directions to Yokai.

XXX

Unbeknownst to the two, the wave of earth was carrying then as well, like a conveyor belt. They were out of the city and heading deeper into the island much faster than Dorobou had expected. Unfortunately, the 'tsunami' was getting smaller and slower, the energy running out.

3 minutes to go.

With a great rattle of rocks, the wave of earth ground to a halt, depositing the bomb precariously in the branches of a tree.

2 minutes to go.

They wouldn't be able to move the bomb any further. They'd just have to run and hope for the best.

" Carry my weapons, monk!" Dorobou yelled when they started running.

" As a monk I'm obligated to do what's best for everyone other than myself, but I am not a simple fool. Your faster then me, carry your own weapons!"

Dorobou muttered something unintelligible under his breath at Yokai's reply.

1 minute to go.

Having been blown up before (thanks to a certain idiot captain), Yokai had no desire to repeat the experience. He spun his staff in his hand.

"Ancient Art of the Elementals!" he cried, "Lightspeed Wind!"

The lightning and wind shards on his staff glowed. Sensing a free ride, Dorobou unexpectedly latched on to the monk for dear life.

30 seconds to go.

The two were suddenly propelled through the air by a glowing yellow wind, tumbling head over heels as they went. They both slammed into the ground a fair distance from where they'd started. They covered their heads with their hands.

3.

2.

1.

BOOM!

XXX

Fletcher was flat on his back fast asleep when two shadows loomed over him.

From the front, the two looked fine, apart from all the dirt smudged on their faces. From the back, however . . . Yokai's heart boxers were clearly visible. Dorobou's had beri bills and cards printed on them.

Fletcher rubbed his eyes because he wasn't sure if what he saw was really real. He looked again and realized he wasn't hallucinating.

He laughed at their exhausted expressions.

When he laughed it made one of the boys mad enough to do something he knew Fletcher would hate with his fist.

Bonk!

Fletcher pouted and clutched his head.

"Where's Christopher?" Yokai asked, ignoring the lump growing on Fletcher's forehead.

"And where's Rodroy . . ." Dorobou muttered under his breath.

" Christopher's taking care of that guy. He told me Rodroy needs rest and food so he wanted to make sure he was getting both."

"Are you sure?" Yokai asked, eyeing his captain. Fletcher fidgeted under his gaze.

"Maybe . . ." He answered. The monk sighed.

"Come on. Show us where they are."

Fletcher started singing a song when he was leading Yokai and Dorobou to where their friends were. He didn't stop singing even when both guys tried to hit him in the head. He just dodged, laughing, very energetic for someone who'd been in a fight to the death and almost seen his crew mates killed.

XXX

While Fletcher continued to bounce around, Yokai and Dorobou stared in horror at their friends. They looked between The two mummies and Fletcher repeatedly. Finally, Yokai dared to ask "Fletcher? Uhh . . . did you do this?"

Fletcher paused, eyed his handiwork, and grinned.

"Yep!" he chirped cheerfully.