The waves were calm on that warm summer night. The clear water reflected the moon and starry sky, a welcoming sight for travelers. Lori piloted a motorboat, sailing across the sea with Sayo as her copilot. In that peaceful atmosphere, both young women idly chatted to pass the time and keep their spirits high, preparing themselves for the trials and tribulations that were yet to come.
"I'll admit, a part of me wishes we were just on a trip to a tropical island. I bet we could use some days off after everything that's happened," said Lori.
"Oh trust me, after these past few months of shrine work, I wholeheartedly agree!" Sayo replied, stretching her limbs for emphasis. "Ever since the Setsubun, people have been coming in droves. I've been doing so many blessings, cleansing rituals, fortune telling and of course shrine maintenance before and after hours that I was starting to feel like I was losing my mind!"
"Hey, at least you got a stable job. After college, I couldn't get hired anywhere in the field I had studied because I could barely walk. So when I moved to Jack's family ranch over there in Texas, I was taking some online courses for a broker position at a shitty little company which at least allowed people to work from home. The pay wasn't much, but at least with Jack's job in telecommunications we could afford the surgeries we needed and we could also survive without having to ask his folks for money."
"That's good to hear! I presume you kept your brokering job while in Japan?"
"For now, but since I'm finally back on my feet, I'm considering quitting and finally seeking something in my domain once I get back home! Jack said that by the end of the month his work in Japan will be done and we can return to Texas."
"Are you looking forward to it?"
"Yes and no. I'd lie if I said Sagakin didn't hold bad memories for us because of what happened back then with Shishima. Also, the Thornton family is really welcoming, you know, the whole Southern hospitality vibe. But I won't lie, now with Shishima out of the picture, Japan as a whole is as pleasant as I remembered!" Lori paused as she saw a melancholic frown grow on Sayo's face. "Sorry if I'm being too blunt. I know you loved him and all..."
"It's okay, I get where you're coming from," Sayo reassured her, putting on her warm smile once more. "Once all this is over, I'll invite you, Jack, Hajime and Ben to the Musashi Shrine to celebrate. I'll even tell Yoichi and Mikio to organize some festivities. Nothing too fancy, I don't want us to be hailed as heroes or anything, but after WEB is dealt with, I want us to celebrate just once more before you and Jack head back home."
"That's so sweet of you! There's really no need to!"
"I disagree! You're all my friends, it's the least I can do for you."
As their idle chatter continued, Sayo grew more worried. Jack had joined WEB and from the looks of it, Lori was not at all aware of the fact. How could she reveal that her boyfriend was part of the world's most dangerous organization? Worse still, they were aware that Shishima was alive. She dreaded the moment when Lori would discover the truth. The very reason Sayo lied about Shishima's survival was to shelter her friends from the drama. If Hajime's and Shishima's truce was discovered, a plethora of unpleasant questions would follow.
Out of nowhere, dark clouds began to gather, covering the starry sky and the moon's rays. Sayo found it odd, for just a moment ago there seemed to be no cloud in sight. In the very next moment, raindrops quickly fell upon them and a powerful wind blew against them, stirring the waves.
"Ah man, just our luck! We should head back," Lori suggested.
"No, this is not a natural storm," Sayo replied.
"How are you so sure?"
"I've been paying attention to the sky. No storm clouds just appear out of the blue, especially not when the horizon was clear just a minute before. This is a trap!"
"That means we're sailing right into a trap!"
"Don't worry, keep the course, I'll open a portal to the place where we need to be. Just trust me on this one!"
Lori did as told and made the motorboat advance through the storm. In the meantime, Sayo focused on the coordinates which Shishima had sent her and tried her luck at opening a portal to that exact location. Before any of them knew it, said portal opened and their boat went right through... and landed on a remote island's shore. The sky was clear once more and there was no sign of any storm clouds.
"What just happened?!" the incredulous Lori asked as she turned off the motor.
"Don't forget, youkai powers," Sayo replied, winking back at her.
"Girl, that was surreal! One moment we're inside a bad storm and I'm afraid for our lives, in the very next we're right here on an island!"
Ignoring Lori's praises, Sayo got out of the boat and scanned their surroundings. The island seemed abandoned; there was just a volcanic mountain surrounded by a small jungle. She tried to recall the coordinates Shishima had sent her and everything seemed to fall in place. If WEB had a secret base somewhere, their best bet was inside the volcano.
"Sayo, are you sure this is the right place? There's no sign that anyone's been here in years," Lori argued as she also got out of the boat.
"Yes, I am certain. We should explore the volcano. But watch your step, there could be traps anywhere," Sayo instructed and they both headed for the jungle.
Mister Gumo stepped into a laboratory which was much larger than the one hidden behind his office walls. Sitting in front of the world's most advanced computers, a team of seven scientists worked diligently, analyzing the data that their robots had collected from Shishima. How fitting that science, which was man's method of properly comprehending the universe, was the one tool that would help Mister Gumo achieve his dreams of immortality. Truly he would become Nietzsche's Übermensch, the living proof that man had conquered superstition, murdered God and brought about a new set of values. There was no denying that Shishima was a truly powerful being, but if salt and water were his weaknesses, then he was easily at the mercy of the mortals he so eagerly derided.
"Here you go, sir. Our first report on Shishima, a second one will be ready once we uncover more data," one of the researchers said as he offered a folder to his boss.
"Excellent work! But we are far from done, resume your research. I wish to know everything about Shishima before I take my leave!" Mister Gumo instructed and the scientist returned to his seat. "Now then, let us see what you have to offer, ye fallen angel."
The first surprise came from the revelation that genetically Shishima was a chimera between a human, lion, bat and goat. The DNA on each of his parts seemed to fully correspond to each listed mammal. Further analysis on his molecules could not yet be performed, as they were constantly changing, rendering his body unstable. During the research, they noticed that at times Shishima attempted to change his physical form, which was a solid structure, into smoke, which was a gas structure.
"You would have succeeded, if not for the salt which we used to ensnare you," Mister Gumo reflected, then he turned to his research team and said, "Have you managed to uncover the source of Shishima's powers?"
"Not yet, sir! What we've just now discovered is that Shishima's brain is the shape of a lion's and the size of a human's. From time to time we have noticed strange activity, as if he is emitting electrical impulses outside of his body," the scientist from before explained.
"Fascinating... it must be some form of telepathy."
"Sir, with all due respect, Shishima may prove to be far beyond our understanding. Don't you think we ought to kill him and rid our world of his danger?"
"Nonsense! There is nothing to worry about. As long as we have him encircled with enough salt, he will not be a danger to any of us," Mister Gumo reassured them.
All of a sudden, the alarms went off, startling everyone present. Mister Gumo immediately checked the security cameras outside and caught sight of Sayo and Lori wandering the jungle, approaching the cave entrance which led to their secret lair.
"It's that other demon, the one who disguised herself as a priestess," he was quick to remark, then he turned back to the gathered personnel and ordered, "Send all the guards and the priest to apprehend them! Make sure that the redhead is unharmed. And have a second operating room prepared, for soon we will have another specimen to research."
As expected, everyone began shuffling around and following his orders with exact precision. That was living proof that Mister Gumo was an effective leader, one who knew how to properly wield power and intimidate his underlings into full subservience. The arrival of those two women was a mere inconvenience, one that would ultimately twist back into an advantage. Lori Hansen's presence would easily be dealt with, he was more than certain that Jack could cook up a proper explanation that WEB's actions were for the betterment of mankind's future.
Much to Mister Gumo's frustration, the alarms went off a second time. He checked the security cameras once more and had the shock of seeing Shishima tear off all the wires that were attached to him. The circle of salt glowed brightly, in an attempt to subdue him, but it was obvious that he was capable of fighting back.
"How is it possible, sir? Wasn't sacred salt proven as a potent weapon against him?" asked one of the researchers.
"Zoom in on the table legs," Mister Gumo calmly ordered and they immediately complied. "So Mister Shaw managed to disturb the circle." He pressed a button and leaned in to a microphone, saying, "Jack Thornton, if you hear this, get down into the operating room and fix the circle before Shishima breaks free!" He waited, there was no answer, no phone call from Jack to assure him that he was on his way, and he could not see the cowboy on any cameras. That was more than unusual, as Jack had been completely obedient ever since Mister Gumo had hired him as his personal spy and bodyguard. "Show me what's going on in my bedroom," he ordered and he saw Hajime's baby crying in the little bed he had set up, unattended by Jack. Since when did he disobey orders? "Show me what's going on in my office." That was when the puzzle's pieces fell into place - Jack's corpse was resting against a wall in his office. To make matters worse, his hostage was gone. "So the fool decided to face off against Hajime. Of course, you can never fully rely on youths these days!"
"We've already sent all of our armed men outside, sir. What should we do with Shishima?" asked the same scientist from before.
"Resume your research. I will personally deal with this issue!" Mister Gumo said and then he rushed out of the laboratory.
Never before had Hajime known such a level of despair. Not even when he faced Shishima, although the fate of the world was on his shoulders, although he had lost loved ones, he never had the blood of a friend on his hands. To make matters worse, his only child was still in the hands of what was possibly the most powerful and corrupt man in the world. He had lost so much, he could not bear wondering what would happen if he also lost his daughter. Would he be able to persist still? When would enough actually be enough? For the first time in his life, his flame of justice was on the verge of being extinguished. But he was certain of one fact - his hatred would not allow him to give up on life. If even his morals were to become one with the darkness, the hollow shell that remained would hunger for blood, and he didn't know if he would ever be satisfied. Was this the kind of euphoria Shishima was experiencing every time he took a life? Whatever it was, it felt good, and like a forbidden fruit, he was tempted to taste more of its enticing flavor.
All of a sudden, he heard rushed footsteps. Was this how he would meet his end? At the hands of an armed squad? No, if he wanted to enact his vengeance, he had to survive. Hastily looking around, he found a closet inside which he sought refuge. Taking a peek outside, he saw what seemed to be like tens of armed guards run down the hallway. Most likely they were responding to the two alarms he had heard a while ago. But he would bide his time, at least until the coast was clear.
Outside, as Sayo and Lori came near to the cave entrance, the sound of an alarm coming from inside alerted them. Upon sensing that someone was fast approaching, Sayo pulled Lori into a bush and whispered, "Don't make any noise, we'll be safe here."
In a matter of seconds, the entire platoon rushed outside, behind them a Shinto priest dressed in full garb sheepishly following their lead.
"No sign of the intruders here. Scour this entire jungle!" their commander ordered and the guards all split up.
As she watched their pursuers begin the search, Sayo inwardly regretted what she was about to do, especially to a man of the cloth. After mentally apologizing to the gods, she focused her powers and took control of all the surrounding plant life. Before they knew it, the soldiers found themselves stabbed, asphyxiated, decapitated and even worse. Their screams killed the jungle's serene silence, a symphony of pain to go along with the gruesome image that Sayo was painting.
"Did you have to go this overboard?" asked a disgusted Lori.
"I'm sorry, I really couldn't take any chances," Sayo apologized as they both got out of the bush. "It looks like the coast is clear, let's go!"
Great was their wonder once they set foot in the cave. It was as if they had stepped into a tunnel which led to an alien ship from an overproduced sci-fi flick. Lori pinched herself to ensure it was not a dream. A part of her wanted to open each door and explore all the wondrous gadgets they were bound to find. On the other hand, Sayo kept her guard up, paying attention to their surroundings.
"Girls!" shouted a familiar voice which startled them. Hajime jumped out of the closet and immediately embraced them.
"Hajime, you scared me!" Lori exclaimed.
"Oh thank goodness you're fine!" Sayo added, a relieved smile on her tired face. "We came here as quickly as we could! Just what in the world happened?"
"It's a long story. For now we've got to find WEB's leader and deal with him before something bad happens," Hajime explained as he broke the embrace.
"That sounds like a plan. Do you know where they took Jack?" asked a concerned Lori. Hajime did not answer, he only regarded her with a regretful expression which made her frown deeply. "What happened? Hajime, tell me, where's Jack?"
Mister Gumo found Shishima still on the operating table, struggling to get up. The circle of salt, it had just a minor disturbance, and yet it still glowed brightly in an attempt to keep him bound down. Glancing at a specific corner, he found Ben's cards all scattered on the floor - an oddity indeed. He expected Jack to collect them after having disposed of the useless hacker's body. Dismissing that trail of thought, he returned his focus to the matter at hand. Shishima had to be put back under control so his team's research could continue undisturbed.
Not wasting any more time, he rushed to the table to fix the circle of salt when, all of a sudden, he felt a sharp pain on his right side. Unwillingly, he moved his foot and further disturbed the circle. Gazing down, he found a surgical knife stuck between his ribs, and the hand which wielded it came from the shadows. Out of them emerged Ben Shaw, ruffled and tired, but alive and well.
"How?!" Mister Gumo growled in anger, attempting to block the pain.
"Keh, I managed to conjure up an illusion and trick you into believing he was dead," Shishima proudly explained. "The wall was not made of sharp rocks. Ben did not break his skull, he had only been knocked unconscious. Basically, he's my ace in the hole."
"I woke up once the alarms started sounding. Shishima told me you were coming here, so I took my chance," Ben added, a smug smile on his face as he pushed the knife in deeper.
"A broken circle is not a perfect circle. Every little bit of power matters, you should know that," Shishima added, relishing in Mister Gumo's anger.
"Curse the both of you!" the WEB leader shouted and then he sucker punched Ben, knocking him off his feet. After pulling the knife out and tossing it on the floor, Mister Gumo took out a gun from his pocket and said, "I should've shot you back then, just to be sure. I won't make the same mistake a-"
All of a sudden, the sound of metal crushing startled him. Shishima had broken the operating table, completely dispersing the sacred salt. He was free... Out of instinct, Mister Gumo fired lasers from his gun while backing away. They had no effect. As he saw the creature who was once his biggest prize approach him with slow steps, all pretenses of self-control vanished. For the first time in his life, he felt true fear. It rendered him, one of the richest and most influential men on Earth, utterly powerless. It was as if he was staring into the face of death.
"Up for a game?" Shishima asked, his wicked smile exposing sharp fangs.
Mister Gumo made a run for it, his wound leaving behind a trail of fresh blood which could be so easily sniffed out. Giggling in anticipation, Shishima got on his fours like a predatory beast and ran in pursuit of his prey. All the while, Ben packed his cards and went into the opposite direction, to rescue Hajime and his daughter and to put an end to their nightmare once and for all.