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Chapter 60
He had watched the man's car all afternoon, an uncomfortable way to spend the time as Tokyo was hot this time of year. It didn't help that he had now been sitting in the back of his target's Civic for the better part of an hour under his invisibility cloak. He had rolled down the windows on the far side but that was only a slight relief.
His target approached the car just before dusk; he was reading a stack of papers held in his right hand and carrying his briefcase in the left. As he got near he stuffed the papers under his arm and fumbled in his pocket for his keys, a few seconds later he had himself arranged and was in the driver's seat.
Yoshi Nakamura heard a commanding Japanese voice come from his back seat. "Please put both of your hands on the steering wheel, Mr. Nakamura, and do exactly as I say." He glanced up at the mirror, and saw nothing but empty air. "Your special skills are of little use at the moment, please do not make me do something you will regret."
The voice paused for a moment. "We are going for a drive. Pull out, slowly, then drive. I'll direct you, and no sudden moves!" Yoshi's hand moved slowly to the gearshift and slid it into drive.
They drove for about twenty minutes, as Harry directed him to the place he had arranged to meet Tonks. "Pull over here, and put it in park."
It was a darkened alleyway. Yoshi asked, "Do you intend to kill me?"
"That remains to be seen," said the voice. Harry tossed a black hood he had made from two pillowcases with a drawstring put through the bottom. "Put that over your head then pull the cord so it is snug." Once it was done he signaled out the back window to Tonks, who drove another vehicle forward. "Step out of the car, with your hands up. I'll be watching so don't try anything." The man stood. "Shut the door, keep your hands up and walk forward." Yoshi's face soon came in contact with the wall. "Stay just like that."
Harry stepped from the car, and nodded to Tonks as she arrived. "Hands on the wall, feet back." Yoshi did as he was told. "Farther." His feet moved back till he would have fallen forward if not for the wall. "Feet apart." Harry frisked the man, removing everything loose and placing it into anther small bag. He then took the bag and tossed it in the Civic.
"Put your face on the wall and put your hands behind your back, palms together." When he had complied, Harry first ziptied his wrists then put a tie around his hands just below his fingers. He then pulled him away from the wall, and guided him to the vehicle Tonks was driving. He put him in the back of the delivery van and ziptied his feet, she then drove away.
Wherever they were it was cool, the wooden chair he had been placed on felt damp, and he could hear trickling water. The voice returned. "I have questions. You will provide answers. When the hood is removed do not look around."
The hood was tugged away, he blinked trying to get used to the light. He was sitting in front of a small wooden table, the rest of the room was cast in dark shadows the lone light coming from a lamp directly above.
Across the table from him stood a dark figure; all he could see was the person's outline, but his eyes were drawn to the object in that person's hand. A pistol, with a silencer attached.
On the table lay a drawing, he recognized the creature immediately as an Oni. One of the many types that inhabit the Asian world, this particular one was known for its earthshaking roar, and most often found near volcanoes. They were known to be fierce warriors, and would track their prey unrelentingly.
He now understood why he was taken. "You have seen this creature?"
"I have," Harry replied.
"Was it following you or did it go after something else?" Yoshi asked, as he studied the drawing.
"Me."
"It will be coming for you again, tonight after the moon has risen." He looked at the eyes more closely. "Are you sure that the eyes are correct?"
Harry pictured the monster in his mind. "Yes, black, empty."
Yoshi pondered the picture. "Were you possibly on its home ground?"
"If I was so were many others, I was in a building here in Tokyo," Harry said.
"Here? In the city?" He glanced up at the figure. "Did you travel outside the city and return today?"
"No, I've been in the city for a few days," Harry replied.
"Then you have a serious problem. As you survived the Oni, I presume that you have some ability, but if I am correct you do not have sufficient skill in the sealing arts," Yoshi stated. "Moonrise is about nine tonight, what time is it?"
Harry looked at his watch. "Almost eight thirty."
"You have little time then. It seems you have angered someone, the black eyes denote a type of control spell. You are not just facing the beast but its master as well," Yoshi said calmly.
"Several people died in the attack last night, seven was the last count I heard. Many others injured. Someone set that thing loose in my hotel last night!" Harry stepped into the light. "They had also set up some form of ward around the building, presumably to hold everyone inside. Luckily something happened to that barrier, and the death toll was not worse."
Harry leaned forward. "Your own countrymen died! My friend was injured! You are one of the few magicals I have been in contact with..."
Yoshi suddenly saw where his line of questioning was going. "No! Bond-san I would never do such a thing! I was the one that championed our meeting in the Council of Elders! They and I believe this is the first step in stabilizing relationships between magicals! I do not know who would do such a thing! Please Bond-san, let me help you with this. We cannot let someone begin to unravel what we have begun."
"Someone, that knows who I am, did this!" Harry yelled at the man. "Who else, besides you, knew I was coming to meet you?"
Yoshi looked at his hands. "The council, there are nine members including myself, the aides to the council, another twelve, as well as your friend Mi Lei, and of course Tiger. As far as I know those were the only ones authorized to know of your visit." Harry watched him closely for signs of deception.
"How do I fight this thing?" Harry asked.
"Oni are as much spirit as physical being. They lack a physical form before moonrise. Do not mistake that as a disadvantage though, in their spirit form they can travel great distances and are hidden from most people's eyes. Though their travel must use their 'element' and as this is a spirit of fire it will be somewhat restricted, especially in the city. This particular type of Oni normally uses the ability to travel between volcanoes," he stated.
He touched the drawing again. "This one will be different though, as the master will be able to summon it to him after moonrise, then he may direct it. From that point he, or those he employs will use the Oni's ability to sense you, to follow."
"Great, how far can this thing sense?" Harry asked.
"Now that it has perceived you as a threat, it will follow till one of you is dead or the spell is removed," Yoshi said looking up at Harry.
"How do we remove the spell?"
Yoshi smiled. "It is good I was correct about you Bond-san." Harry gave him a puzzled look. "Many would have only been interested in destroying the Oni."
Harry shook his head. "Then please don't misunderstand, because I will need to know how to do that as well."
Yoshi smiled again. "I know, but you will try to help first. If I am correct about this spell the Oni believes you have invaded its lands, or possibly are in possession of something important to it. If we can find a way to trap then bind it I may be able to release the spell."
Harry nodded. "How do we track the 'master' then? Or will he be near?"
"Of that I am unsure. I may know more after I have examined the Oni. Failing that… I do not know." Yoshi shrugged. "The first thing we need to do is to think of a way to trap the creature, and then bind it."
Harry's smile broadened.
The building they had moved to had once been part of an old factory, due for demolition soon. They figured that as long as Harry was moving so would their hunters, so he had headed off in another direction and given Yoshi four hours to complete the trap.
Tonks had watched him work the entire time, hidden under the invisibility cloak. He worked with a fluid grace till the job was completed. Then came the hard part, the wait. It seemed to take an eternity for the time to pass, finally she saw Harry pull his car into the building and park it in a darkened corner. He slowly got out and walked calmly across what had once been the assembly floor and into the small manager's office, a small cinder block building almost in the center of the enormous room with windows looking out in each direction. It had, at one time, been the only place that a person could have even dulled the sound of the machines that had once been housed here.
Still hidden under the invisibility cloak Tonks moved from the spot she had watched Yoshi from and made her way to the car Harry had driven. Just as he had said it would be the boot was held closed with a piece of twine, she slid her knife in the opening and cut it loose. Reaching inside she pulled out a long dark leather case, then making sure she was well covered she moved away.
It took her several minutes, but she reached her position and began to settle in. She unzipped the case and laid it open, pulling out the long sniper rifle, a Dragunov SVD with a PSO-1M2 scope. She checked it quickly. Harry had gone over the rifle with her, and had promised that it would perform well. Just as he had shown her that morning, she withdrew the sandbag from of the case and set it under the rifle. She settled herself, then checked to see if the cloak completely hid her. It was better than any ghillie suit she had seen in her training. She began scanning the area, settling in to her second fight of the night with time.