The orange-haired woman sat in front of a large monitor examining several images in quick succession. Some of the giant spider monster that attacked the Shopper's Plaza a few days ago. Some of the alpha squad in the Ginza prefecture, specifically Chuo Dori and Hibiya Park. A couple were blurry images of a large pale animal that looked to be a canine of some kind. The woman sighed and removed her glasses. She massaged her temples for a few moments trying to make sense of it all.

"So, there's been no mention of the youma spotted?" a male's voice rang out from a speaker on the control panel.

"No, Iwamatsu-sensei, not since Saturday," Shimatami answered, placing her glasses back on her face. "That's honestly more unnerving than hearing that anything like that was seen during the day."

"Hmm, indeed," Iwamatsu said absently. "And there hasn't been any reports from any of the other factions?"

"Nothing, sir. Not even from the samurai."

"Yeah, we'd never hear the end of it if they had to step in. Forever lording it over us."

There was a pause between the two as Shimatami grabbed a half empty mug of coffee from the table and took a sip. She scrolled through the images and stopped on one of Satou and Ageha standing together at Hibiya Park. The orange-haired woman furrowed her brow.

"What should we do about the Takanashi boy?"

"Huh? Oh, don't worry about it. It should be fine. I don't think there will be any problems."

"And what of the Komodo Dragon?"

"You let me deal with that, alright?" There was a brief pause. "Sorry, I was taking a drink from my mimosa. I'll be back in a couple of weeks. My vacation to Barcelona has been quite enjoyable"

"That's good to hear, sensei. I'll be sure to keep in touch if there's any new development."

Shimatami pressed a button and the call ended with a 'beep'. She sighed, rubbed her eyes, then turned her attention back to the large monitor. The woman scrolled back a forth between the image of Satou and Ageha, and the image of the 'youma'. "Why are they showing up now?" she said to herself.

"No, I don't think trying to eat an antelope whole is a good idea. Why would that even cross your mind?" A smooth female voice rang out in the morning air.

"What are you talking about? I never said it was a good idea, just wanted to know if you ever tried it?" A sharp male voice answered.

"NO! No, no. You said eating it whole was a good idea. Don't try to back out of it, you sly dog." The female said.

"Hey, it's not my fault you have poor hearing. Maybe if you dried your ears out once in a while, you'd hear more clearly."

"MATO! Please stop him."

A gravelly male voice sighed loudly. "Sina, stop teasing Lena."

"Why? Little kitty can't take it? I told you she was wet behind the ears."

"Okay, that's it! That was your last water pun! PREPARE TO DIE!" the female cried out in anger.

"GOSPODI! Matsuri, will you please shut those three up?" Tsubame shouted to her friend. Her sudden outburst caused several students also on their way to school to give her peculiar looks.

"Lenapizha, Sinawava, Matonibaw. Please keep it down, okay?" The Native American looked up and calmly spoke. Floating just above Matsuri's head was perhaps an incredibly bizarre sight. Three disembodied animal heads bobbed up and down, unperturbed by gravity or the lack of a body. A blue lynx, a red coyote, and a green bear.

"Aww, c'mon, Tsu-chan. They're cute," Yoshimitsu cooed. "Isn't that right, Sina?" the blonde reached up and scratched the coyote's chin. A small flame burst from the top of the canine's head and it let out a content growl.

The three floating animal heads were guardian spirits in service of Matsuri. They originally served her grandfather but were entrusted to her before she left for Japan to live with her father's family. To the average person, they couldn't be seen or heard, but those with spiritual training, or anyone who is spiritually sensitive, could. They acted as guides, companions, confidants, and allies.

Lenapizha, the blue lynx, had a soothing voice, but she was sharp and always alert. Ready to spring into action should the need arise. Sinawava, the red coyote, was easy going, sarcastic, and foul-mouthed. He was constantly instigating quarrels with Lena. Matonibaw, the green bear, was the oldest of the three. He was often quiet and kept to himself, only really speaking if Matsuri needed advice, or if Lena and Sina were fighting. The three spirits had been by the Native American's side since she was nine.

"Matsuri!" The blue lynx cried out, swooping down to the Native American.

"What is the matter, Lena?"

"I felt an odd presence. A very wicked aura is close by."

All five girls stopped and surveyed the area. The wind blew past them, rustling the leaves on the trees. A bird fluttered down to a telephone pole and tweeted merrily. Matsuri spun around slowly with Lena still next to her. The lynx's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek. Everyone turned to the commotion to find Lena cowering behind Matsuri from Sina, who was baring his fangs and bulging out his eyes.

The coyote burst out in laughter as the lynx cried into Matsuri's shoulder. "Oh my, that was too good! You should have seen your face. It was all…" Sina contorted his face trying to match Lena's expression and continued laughing. "You really will jump at anything, won't you? OW!"

Mato slammed himself into Sina. "Don't be so foolish, coyote."

"It was just a joke," he said sheepishly. "Didn't mean anything by it."

"Sina, it may have been 'just a joke'," Matsuri addressed him, "but we can't risk any false alarms. Especially not with those creatures showing up. Alright?"

The floating coyote head looked at his master and sighed. "Alright, I'll be more considerate."

"Good."

"Well, with that taken care of, let's get our butts going. We don't wanna be late for school." Tsubame said to her squad. The five girls, plus three animal heads, continued toward Maisen Academy.

Fifty meters away, a person wearing a light grey gi and a silver snake mask, sat in a tree, observing the group of girls make their way toward the high school. The figure watched as they turned a corner and lingered for a moment.

'That was close,' the person said to themselves. 'Thought I had been made there for a second. That spirit has some excellent sensory abilities. Huh?'

Something caught their attention and turned to see a pale wolf-like creature lurking around the nearby park.

"There you are," the masked figure breathed, leaping out of the tree. "Now, let's get down to business."

"C'mon, Takanashi, spill it. What happened on your date with Esperanza-san?"

"Yeah, like, what does she smell like?"

"Will you cut it with your scent fetish."

"Did you touch her boobs? Were they soft?"

It wasn't long after Satou sat at his desk did several other male classmates approach him and start pelting him with questions. They were relentless, and the boy could only sit there helplessly.

"Okay! Back! Back!" Tobi took his seat next to Satou and shooed the group away from his friend. "He went on a date with a girl, not a supermodel."

The group of boys slowly dispersed and Satou let out a sigh.

"Thanks, man. It was getting a bit intense there."

"Dude, learn to stand up for yourself," Tobi swatted the boy's shoulder. "You can't keep relying on others to bail you out." The bespectacled boy pulled his camera out of his bag and started going through the pictures stored on it.

"Yeah, I know," Satou sighed. "But I just can't bring myself to say no."

Tobi rolled his eyes. "Well, whatever. Here, get a look at these." He handed his camera over to Satou. "I think they came out pretty great."

Satou took the camera and scrolled through the images. His eyes widened when he realized what he was looking at. "Wait a second-These are from my date!" He continued through the photos with increasing exasperation. "How did you…?"

"Like I said, I have my ways," Tobi smirked devilishly. "So, what do you think? You want a few copies to take home?"

"Not only did you show up at my date, you took pictures! I can't believe you. I mean, I can, but I can't." Satou shook his head, pressing the arrow button on the device. His expression changed to one of confusion with one of the pictures. "Hey, who's this blue-haired girl." He showed the image to Tobi.

"Hm? Oh, no one. Don't worry, just some random customer at the restaurant.

Satou gave his friend a look. "You know, sometimes I worry about you."

"Aheheh."

Meanwhile, across the room.

"So, how was your date, Esperanza-san?"

"Did he do stuff to you? Did you do stuff to him?"

"Is it true that he blackmailed you?"

Several girls crowded around Ageha questioning her mercilessly. They were all pushing each other, asking her question after question without waiting for an answer. The Spanish teenager merely smiled at the group and left them hanging. The girls groaned in disappointment and one by one returned to their desks.

Tsubame watched the last girl take her seat before turning to Ageha. "I don't know how you do it," she said pulling out her English book. "I'd start biting heads off if that were me."

Ageha just shrugged and pulled out her own text book.

In the second story girl's bathroom, two girls exited the facility with a third still in there.

"Hey, Tomoko, hurry up," one of them called to the girl. "Homeroom is gonna start soon."

The girl called Tomoko stood in front of the mirror fixing her makeup. She had short black hair and dark eyes. "Go ahead without me. I'll be there in a sec'."

"Kay then." The two girls left the third one behind and headed for their classroom.

Tomoko continued fussing with her makeup. Behind her, one of the toilet stall doors creaked open. The girl heard the hinges creak and turned around, but the bathroom was empty. She shrugged and turned back to the mirror only to see someone standing behind her in its reflection. Tomoko did a one eighty and started to scream, but her voice got caught in her throat. The person before her wore a yellow tiger print cloak and a green oni mask with long white hair trailing behind it. The masked figure reached into their robe and pulled out a spell tag.

Yoshimitsu sat at her desk pulling her books out of her backpack. "Getting out my books, putting 'em on my desk, getting ready for school," she sang to herself.

The door to the class slid open and Tomoko shuffled into the room. Her eyes had dark circles under them and her hair was disheveled. She took her seat next to one of her friends and stared forward with a blank expression.

"Yoshimitsu," Matsuri nudged her blonde friend.

"Wassup, Matsu-chin?"

"Does something seem…off about Hashimoto-san?" she gestured to Tomoko, who was now breathing heavily.

"Huh, now that you mention it, she does look a little sleep deprived." Yoshimitsu cocked her head to the side. "Maybe she was out with her friends last night?"

Matsuri continued focusing on the girl. "No, that doesn't seem to be it. But I can't put my finger on it."

Before she could look into it further, the door slid open again and the teacher strode in. He was a man in his mid-thirties with light blue hair and green eyes. He was tall with a lean build, and a narrow face. The teacher moved to the desk and set his bag down. "Alright, children, quiet down. We'll take attendance now. Midoriya-san?

"Present," Fleur responded

"Sunakawa-san?"

"Here." The Egyptian Rashida spoke.

"Patel-san?"

"Here."

"Ishikawa-san?"

"Present," Meimei answered.

"Kobayashi-san?"

"Here."

"Sasaki-san?"

"Here."

"Hashimoto-san?"

"…"

"Hashimoto-san?" The teacher looked up from the clipboard.

"Heeeeeeerrrree…" Tomoko mumbled.

"Havasupai-san?" He continued with the attendance.

"Present," Matsuri responded.

"Rakshasa-san?"

No response.

"Rakshasa-san?" The teacher repeated.

Again, no response.

"Is he out sick again?"

"I believe so, sensei," one of the students answered.

"Very well," he made a note on the paper.

"That's, like, the third time he's been out sick this month," Yoshimitsu whispered to Matsuri.

"I've heard that he has a weak constitution," the Native American whispered back.

"A what now?"

"His body isn't strong, Yoshi," Meimei answered. "He can't fight off illnesses."

"Really? Weird. I thought the Rakshasa's were strong people?"

Meimei shrugged, "Who knows. Genetics are bizarre like that. Generations of healthy babies, and one not-so healthy baby."

Homeroom ended, and first period passed without much problem. As the day continued, Tomoko's condition worsened. Her face was flushed, and her breathing became ragged. By the time third period was about to start, the girl's friends were urging her to go to the infirmary.

"Guys, I'm fine, really," she said in a slurred voice. "I just feel a bit tired is all."

"Tired my ass," one of the girls retorted. "You look as if you've been hit by a truck."

The door to the classroom slid open, and a man with a receding hairline and thin glasses stepped in. Tomoko's other friend quickly dashed to the teacher's desk.

"Suzuki sensei?"

"Hmm?" the man looked up from his papers.

"Tomoko isn't feeling well. Is it alright if we walk her to the infirmary?"

Suzuki sensei turned his head toward the ill girl then back to his desk. "Very well," he said in a flat voice. "But, be quick. Third period will be starting soon."

"Of course, sensei."

The two girls hoisted their friend out of her seat and slung an arm over each of their shoulders.

"Weeeeee… Where are we going?" Tomoko uttered in a sleepy voice.

"To the infirmary, we told you that already." One of the girls answered.

"You two are soooo nice. You're the best friends eveeeeerrrr."

"Yeah, yeah. Come on, let's go. Now step, and step."

Tomoko was affectively dragged out of the classroom by her friends.

"Byyyyyyeeee."

"Good bye!" Yoshimitsu replied, energetically waving.

"I hope she feels better," Meimei said quietly.

(sniff, sniff) "I dunno, something doesn't seem right," Sinawava huffed.

"What do you mean?" Matsuri inquired.

"Can't quite say, but I felt a sinister vibe coming off of her," the red coyote said.

"Oh, come off it," Lenapizha spat. "As if something could get past my detection."

"Say what you will, but I'm gonna check it out."

And with that, the floating coyote head zoomed out of the classroom.

"Sina, wait…" Matsuri started but stopped herself, remembering that class was about to start. "You two, keep an eye on him." She ordered the lynx and bear.

Lenapizha and Matonibaw nodded and chased after Sinawava.

The balding man watched as the door slid shut and turned his attention to the students. "Right then. With that distraction completed, please turn your text books to page seventy-four." Suzuki sensei patiently waited. "Now, Patel-san, would you please properly conjugate the first phrase?"

The disembodied coyote head flew through the air, following the scent of Tomoko.

"Sina! Hold on, will you?" Lenapizha cried out. The lynx and bear caught up to their companion. "Don't just rush off like that. At least get Matsuri's approval first."

"Bah! We need to check this out now. I feel like something bad is about to happen." Sinawava pushed ahead, trailing after the girl.

"This better not be another one of your practical jokes, Sina," Matonibaw said.

"No, I'm serious this time. Cross my heart."

"We don't have hearts, Sina," Lena said flatly.

"You know what I mean! Now, come on. We're burning time!"

And the three familiars quickened their pace.

"Reeeaally guys, I'm fiiine," Tomoko croaked to her friends as they scooted into the infirmary. "Juss a lil' tiiired is aaaalll…"

"Uh-huh, tell that to the nurse."

The school nurse, Machiko Okada, sat at her desk and watched as the trio entered the room. She was a woman in her late thirties with hip-length, dark brown hair, red glasses and a mole under her left eye. She wore a green sweater with a white robe on top, a short skirt and long, brown tights. The nurse gave the three girls a look before speaking. "Someone in need of medical attention?" she said in a mellifluous voice.

"Yeah, this one here," the girl on the left answered, indicating Tomoko. "She's been getting worse since first period."

Okada strode over to the girls and got a closer look at the one whose head was lolling around. She grabbed hold of Tomoko's chin and examined her. The woman nodded and let go of the girl. "She probably just caught a bug. Put her down on the bed," she pointed to a row of prepared beds. "I can give her some antibiotics, but she's going to need rest."

As the two girls helped their friend into one of the beds, Okada walked over to the cabinets and pulled out a small plastic bottle.

"Here," she handed one of the girls a couple medicine tablets and a cup of water. "Get her to take these, and then some rest. She should be fine by tomorrow."

As the two girls helped Tomoko take the medicine, the office phone rang suddenly. The nurse moved to the desk and answered the phone. "Yes, Okada-san speaking. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Okay, I'll be right there." She moved to the and pulled it open. "I have to go talk with the vice principal. You two return to class once you're finished giving Hashimoto-san the antibiotics, alright?"

"Yes, Okada-san," they said in unison.

Okada left the infirmary just as Tomoko's friends finished giving her the antibiotics.

"I think I'll take a nap now," she said with a yawn.

"Later, Tomo-chan," one of the girls said to her. "We'll check up on you at lunch."

"Yeah, so ya better stay outta trouble, ya here?"

"Okie dokie. Nighty night." And with that the girl fell asleep with her mouth hanging open.

The two girls just chuckled and returned to their classroom.

A few moments later, the three floating animal heads phased through the door into the infirmary.

"Sina, I'm serious," Lena said in a curt voice. "If this is another one of your pranks, I am gonna drown you."

"I am serious. No joke this time. Look, there she is. Let's check it out." The coyote head indicated towards Tomoko and they hovered down to her.

"Hmm, nothing seems out of the ordinary," Mato said in a gravelly tone.

"Keep searching," Sina insisted. "There is something odd here. I'm not sure what though."

The three familiars examined the a few more minutes before Matonibaw decided it was enough.

"Alright, Sina, the joke is over. You can stop now."

"Prepare yourself for an intense swirly, dog-breath," Lena fumed.

Sinawava floated there in disbelief. He was certain there was something 'wrong' with the girl, but their efforts to find out what were futile. "No, I'm not lying this time, I swear. This isn't a joke."

"Let's go!" Mato said in a rough tone.

Reluctantly, he obeyed and all three headed for the exit. Just as they were about to leave, a surge swept over them. They turned back to Tomoko to find green and black energy radiating off her.

"HA! I TOLD YA! IN YA FACES!" Sinawava shouted triumphantly before realizing what was happening. "Oh, that's not good."

"Quick, we have to warn Matsuri and the others!" Matonibaw instructed. And the three disembodied heads raced back to their master.

Matsuri heard the voices of her familiars, mostly Sina, echoing through the school halls. She looked up briefly as they entered the classroom, then looked back down at her text book. What is it? she scrawled on a sheet of paper.

Matonibaw approached his master. "Matsuri, Sina was right, something bad is happening right now."

What do you mean?

"The girl from earlier, the one who went to the infirmary, she started radiating some kind of weird energy," Lena jumped in.

What do you mean? Matsuri underlined the sentence.

"We're telling you that the girl is-" Sina started to answer but was cut off by a distant howl.

Author's Rant: Wow! I took much longer to finish this chapter. Honestly, this was because I couldn't quite figure out what to do with this chapter, set up and everything. But, I finally got to it, as you can see. In regard to the three familiars connected to Matsuri, this was inspired by a few of the New Wave cards of her with various disembodied animal heads. I wanted to extrapolate on that and came up with this. They assist her and the others to an extent and are meant to be a carry over from her Native American heritage. I had been wanting to introduce these three for a while now but couldn't think of a good way to bring them into the story. Well, they're in now.

So, the youma are on the rise. What does this mean? How will this affect our heroes? And who are the samurai? We'll have to find out.

As always, please leave a comment. What you liked, what you didn't like, what needs improvement.

Until next time.