Vortex World,

Okinawa Prefecture, Shintoshi Hill Apartment Complex

Kagatsuchi 3/8 Waxing

"So tell me…what is the Assembly of Nihilo plotting that they would send such weak mortals into Mantra's territory." Thor straitened, leering down at the three humans from his full height.

Yosho stepped backwards. "I believe there's been a misunderstanding," He began. "We are simple visitors passing through. We are unfamiliar with any 'Assembly'."

The deity before him released a bark of laughter. "A likely story." He said. "One which any member of the Assembly would certainly use as their excuse to pass unchallenged through Mantra's lands."

"Hey, we came into this area fair and square!" Kiyone snapped. "Mantra's all about strength, right? Well we beat the guards at the front fair and square! Our strength allowed us to pass!"

Thor grunted. "The Assembly of Nihilo is known for harboring powerful demons in its midst. This proves nothing; I have reports of you appearing from the Assembly's main means of transposition—the Amala Drums—and from the sewers which lead to the Assembly's main center of operations in Urasoe." The god's eyes flashed, "So tell me, why should I not strike you down where you stand?"

Kiyone grit her teeth and stepped forward. "All of that is based off conjecture. These accusations still hold no merit of truth to who or what we are; none of us are from Urasoe."

"I am."

Yosho stiffened, then turned to look at Morisato, who strode forward with a deep scowl on his face. "These two are innocent, but I came from the sewers like your intel said." The man narrowed his eyes, walking right up to the god, heedless of the danger he was placing himself in. "My wife was kidnapped." He said. "I'm looking for her. My sources claim a demon fitting your likeliness came and took her here. Maybe you know her?"

"Oh?" The deity's body language changed instantly as Thor regarded the small man with deep and sudden interest. "Tell me your wife's name, Little Man."

"Belldandy." Keiichi said. "Tyrsdotter, Belldandy. The Norn of the Present, second daughter to the Daitenkaicho.

Thor narrowed his eyes, but there was a smile in his voice. "My dearest younger cousin, Verthandi. Yes, I know her. I know her quite well. She rests at ease in the headquarters above. Are you the man she calls husband?"

"I am." Yosho stared at the man in shock. "And I would kindly ask that release her and allow us to depart in peace."

This man is married to a…a demon? Yosho wondered, his mouth parting in shock at the revelation. How? What kind of dogmatic bullshit is this? All at once, close to seven hundred years of living as a mixed Shinto and Jurian priest in the mountains of Okinawa raised its head like a dog scenting danger, and for the first time in a long, long time, Yosho Masaki Jurai, the Kannushi Priest Katsuchito Masaki, was struck mute.

Thor regarded the small man dressed in track gear with narrowed eyes. "You…are not what I expected." He said in open confusion. "You…are a warrior, are you not?"

Kiyone and Yosho shared a worried glance, then looked back with growing concern to Morisato.

"I am not." Keiichi said calmly. "You were mistaken if you heard otherwise."

"Fuck." Shuten whispered. "Wrong answer, Dumbass."

Kiyone's eyes widened, and she looked back at Yosho. Yosho met her expression of growing trepidation with a grimace, and the man watched a hand slowly move to the pistol.

Thor fell quiet, looming over the small man like a Titan over a mortal, and in that moment Yosho could not help but think of how weak Keiichi looked; how soft he looked; a man who had never known or experienced War and Death, and who now stood fearless-or rather, ignorant-of the danger before him.

"We are warriors." Yosho announced, and found himself under the full brunt of Thor's eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he came under the behemoth man's scrutiny, and any thought that the giant of a man before him was anything less than a god vanished from his mind. I am looking into the face of War itself. He thought, and felt the hair on the nape of his neck rise as if struck by lightning. I am looking at an element, a concept, that has taken a mortal's form to interact with me, and as it gazes upon me it finds myself wanting.

Dear Tsunami, what have I walked us into?

A rumble came from deep inside the helmet. "Ah…yes, I do see that. You hold yourself like a fellow warrior-you and the woman both. Do you stand with this tiny man?"

Just say 'no'. The voice of reason spoke. Say 'no' and go about your day. This man may die, but at least you and Cadejo will walk away in one piece. This isn't your business. You know this, Kiyone knows this, and even Morisato knows this and almost everyone is in agreement that its best to mind your business. Heroes belong to the battlefield, and they are made into legends because they do not live to hear the tall tales made of them. Do not follow their path.

"We are." Yosho said, and felt the Voice of Reason scream and die. You should have just bared your throat to Ryoko's blade you invalid. It called, and then fell silent. "We are his guard, and fight in his stead."

Morisato's jaw dropped as he turned to look at them. "Bullshit!" He exclaimed, before looking back at Thor. "These two aren't with me!" He cried. "I met them five minutes ago! I speak for myself and myself only. Those two are neither my guards or my escorts. I came here on my own for one reason and one reason only—to find my wife and reunite with her!"

Another rumble of consideration as his gaze slid between the two parties-that of Morisato and Masaki-both with competing stories as they tried to win his favor.

Thor narrowed his eyes.

"I find these arguments cumbersome," he announced, "and your stories suspicious and problematic. That neither of you seem capable of speaking the truth fills me with misgivings, and I grow tired of this game of words you both play." He turned his gaze solely to Morisato. "For your crimes of trespassing and your shared deceit before the General of the Mantra Army, you all are under arrest!" He boomed.

"Wait," Keiichi began, "I'm not lying-" His words were cut off as Thor grabbed him, one large, gauntlet hand wrapping around the man's head as if it were a meager toy. The man began to scream, thrashing as his own hands-small and childlike compared to Thor's-wrapped around the gauntlet in a vain attempt at freedom. The remaining humans reacted at once, Yosho baring his sword in front of him as Kiyone drew her pistol.

"MJ, I can't get a good shot in!" Kiyone called, "The demon's using that guy as a shield—I might shoot him while he's squirming." She lowered her weapon with a grimace, and with a glower, Yosho rushed forward.

Ol' Koneko lept off his backpack. "Yosho, stop! We don't stand a chance against Thor!" He yowled. "Surrender before he outright kills us all!"

Yosho ignored him.

"A bold if foolish endeavor. You should listen to the honorable feline." Thor's eyes flashed, and the captive man began to scream in earnest-a high, shrill, hysteric noise like that of a man being tortured. A strange, red energy began to depart the man in lines of red light, and Yosho froze, his mind returning in a bright flash of trauma to Ryoko, holding him by the neck as she stole a similar light from him. Burgundy eyes narrowed, and with a roar, the man raced forward with fresh conviction, determined to rescue the man before the demon could finish him off.

Morisato's struggles weakened, and the energy flowed into the giant of a man like water spiraling down a drain, and the demon's eyes flashed a brilliant red before fading once more into its glowing blue. "It won't work, Warrior of the Demon's Blade." Thor warned, and dropped the man to the ground, where he crumbled to the ground, a marionette with its strings cut. "You would be wise to lower your weapon and surrender…though I would love a challenge, you will need your strength if you wish to prove your innocence in trial." The deity thrust his massive hammer into the air, and before Yosho could react he found himself engulfed in lightning, the deadly bolts finding their way up his sword and across his body.

Yosho opened his mouth to scream yet no sound came out, his body spasming in a pain so brutal it left him paralyzed. The electricity faded, yet Yosho was barely aware of it, unaware of himself collapsing in turn, in so much agony that he was barely aware of the world around him. Somewhere far off, he thought he heard Kiyone call for him, but didn't have the strength to turn his head. Instead, his breath coming in fast and rapid bursts, his eyes remained centered on Morisato's fallen body, his helmet, dropped after being grabbed, facing him with its black sunvisor down, as if hiding a face within. He saw Thor reach down and scoop the man up in one arm, his body limp, and saw the deity step towards him.

He felt something slip under his waist, felt his body rise and fresh pain jolt through him as he was lifted into the air, and then knew no more as his consciousness took flight, abandoning his body for the subconscious as the pain grew too unbearable.

And with his unconsciousness, Thor approached the last loan human, towering over Kiyone as the woman held her gun before her, the barrel trained carefully on Thor's torso as he held a man in each of his arms. "Well?" Thor asked. "How much wisdom do you hold, Mortal?"

Snarling, Kiyone lowered her weapon. "Enough to know when I'm beat." She growled, holstering the pistol and raising her hands to show they were empty. "You win." She said. "I surrender."

"Women always were the wiser ones." Thor nodded in approval. "Odin knew that better than any. Return your demons, and I shall call escorts for you, who will take you to the cells unharmed."

"How do I know they won't just tear me to shreds?" Kiyone asked.

"My word is on my honor as an Aesir and a god." Thor replied. "Besides, those under trial must fight in honorary combat. They know better than to attack you under escort, or I shall have their heads mounted on a pike."

"Well…not like I have any choice anyways." Kiyone grumbled, slowly lowering her arms and keeping them in open display of the demon as she returned Pascal and Shuten to the Comp. "The cat's not mine. He's Yosho's demon. I can't send him into my terminal."

Ol' Koneko lept up onto Kiyone's backpack, startling the woman, and looked up at Thor. "I shall not attack." He said."You have my favored human. I would prefer him not harmed further."

Thor nodded. "You seem of the honorable sort." He admitted. "And it would pain me to harm you; cats hold a special place in my people's land, and it brings me joy to see one accompanying a fellow warrior, though he is human and not of my own stock. Come. Should the humans fall in battle and be found guilty, I shall introduce you to my dearest cousin. It would do her well to have a companion in these hard times…And I yet find it hard to believe this little man is her acclaimed husband." He jostled the unconscious Keiichi for effect.

Kiyone pursed her lips, granting the man a tight smile. "Glad to know at least one of us will come out on top." She grumbled, hissing out a sigh in a long breath. "Lead the way, Big Guy."

Vortex World,

Okinawa Prefecture, Shintoshi Hill Apartment Complex, Mantra Headquarters Prison

Kagatsuchi half-Waxing

"Oi! Wake up Maggots!" A small demon floated up to the bars and rattled the lantern in its white gloved hands against the bars. Kiyone awoke with a start, her dreams filled with what was had become a normal sequence for her; A White Dog, its fur elegant and long with strange, blue-violet eyes, challenging a lean, stoic Black Dog with eyes that blazed like the sun. For a moment, in that special boundary between waking and sleep, she perceived them as real; the two hovering above her body, jaws snapping as they fought for dominance. At times, it was the White Dog who won. Others showed the Black Dog tearing into it with a sudden viciousness that always left her uncomfortable. On the rare occasions, neither won, and as the two bled out in her dreams Kiyone knew she would die.

This time, both remained alive, her dreams interrupted with the rattling against her prison cell as the woman was forcibly roused. Yet in that border area, she perceived them still, both no longer attacking each other but instead staring at her, watching her with imploring eyes. The Black Dog approached, standing before her before laying itself down on top of her and resting her paws on her shoulders. Its golden eyes stared deeply into her own, so bright and vibrant that they appeared as two small suns, each of which held some kind of bird-a falcon maybe, or a hawk. Perhaps even an eagle-where its pupils should have been. It leaned its head near her ear, and began to chant.

"Usekh-nemmt, Hept-khet, Fenti, Am-khaibit, Neha-her, Ruruti, Arfi-em-khet, Neba, Set-qesu, Utu-nesert, Qerrti, Hraf-haf, Basti, Ta-retiu…" The Black Dog whispered, and she could feel its hot breath against her ear, smell the scent of dog and death and decay. Its voice was the gentle Whisper of Death, the Final Sigh as the spirit passed from the body, the Final Beat of the Heart, where the Soul dwelt. "…Unem-snef, Unem-besek, Neb-Maat, Tenemiu, Sertiu, Tutu, Uamenti, Maa-antuf, Her-uru, Khemiu, Shet-kheru,Nekhenu, Kenemti, An-hetep-f, Sera-kheru, Neb-heru, Sekhriu, Neb-abui,Nefer-Tem…" She felt her heart beat faster, strumming a pulse in rthyhm to the methodical chanting of the beast atop her. She found herself incapable or unwilling to look away from its eyes, entranced by the soar of the bird within the Eye. "…Tem-Sepu, Ari-em-ab-f, Ahi, Uatch-rekhit, Neheb-ka, Neheb-nefert, Tcheser-tep, An-af,…" The dog continued, and Kiyone brought a hand up to rest on the hound, her hand resting on cool, short, bristly hair. The beast paused at her touch, and pulled back to look at her, angling its head and staring down at her with long, triangular ears. It leaned forward then, touching her nose with its own and jostling Kiyone from her trance. It feels wet. Kiyone thought.

"I said wake up!" The demon screamed, and with a jolt Kiyone returned to herself, the two cadejo vanishing once more as the woman opened her eyes. "…Hetch-abhu…" She whispered, and felt the center of her forehead pulse. Not in pain, but in discomfort.

For a moment she stared at the ceiling above her, the shadows of bars dancing across a surface painted yellow in torchlight as her memories slowly returned to her. Ah. That's right. I was arrested with the others. She thought, and carefully picked herself up, looking around her grimly. Her body throbbed from sleeping on the hard ground, her only cushioning being the backpack she'd used as a pillow. The cell was empty of furnishings, and she, Yosho, and Morisato had little to provide themselves with in terms of comfort. How ironic. She thought, her gaze traveling from the still unconscious Yosho to Keiichi, who was slowly rousing himself. Even though I'm working on the side of the law, I find myself behind bars. Maybe I really should just throw my morality out the window and return to who I was in Roanipur. Black Cadejo really did have it easier than White Cadejo.

Yeah right. She thought, rubbing the pulsing spot on her forehead with a grimace. A little late for that now. These guys wouldn't give a fuck anyways. Its about to that same level as lawlessness as that island was anyways. The only thing really stopping me at this point is the Juraian and the Terrain.

Speaking of…

With a scowl, Kiyone dragged her backpack before her, digging through the confines with her left hand and coming out with a small satchel. Opening it, she withdrew several medicinal tablets and rose. MJ needs them more than Morisato. He at least can fight. This new guy looks as out of his element as a Jurain does trying to blend in as a Terrain. Not that I'm any better but…it doesn't look like he's caught on yet. Guess those years traveling the world worked in my favor.

Rising, her feet tingling, she moved over to Keiichi, who was blinking owlishly, looking around at his new surroundings in confusion. "Here." She said, and offered two of the pills to him. "Swallow this. I don't know what that demon did to you, but it knocked you out for a hot minute."

Keiichi stared at her in suspicion, then took the pills when Kiyone didn't move. "Where…where are we?"

"In some kind of Mantra prison." Kiyone said, and glanced over her shoulder at the bars. "We were all arrested shortly after you were knocked out. Get your strength up. I've been listening to some of the demons in the other cells and…it sounds like we might be thrown into a collesium of some sort." She looked back at Keiichi. "Can you fight?"

Keiichi stared at her in horror, then bowed his head, shaking it slowly. "I've never been a fighter." He said.

Kiyone pursed her lips, then brought her hands to her waist, where the large sushi knife still sat in its wooden sheath. Withdrawing the tool, she presented it too him. "You're going to learn now, like it not." She warned.

Keiichi looked at the knife in surprise, then took the offered handle with a grimace. "I don't know if I can kill anything." He said.

"You will." Kiyone said. "Like it or not, if it comes down to your life or theirs…you'll be amazed how quickly you surprise yourself."

Keiichi flinched away from her, a look of revulsion on his face, and Kiyone rose, turning back to the demon outside the cell.

The demon was small, maybe twice the size of Ol' Koneko. It hovered in the air, its head a large, leering jack-o'-lantern, a dark blue-green coat covering its body. It held a small lantern in its white gloves, and a small, pointed hat sat atop its pumpkin head. "It's about time you woke up!" The demon cried. "You better get ready, you're up next, and let me tell ya', it ain't looking good for ya!"

Kiyone approached the bars, meeting the demon's leering face with solemn blue eyes. "And what does this trial consist of?" She asked.

"Three rounds." The demon replied. "You survive them all, your gang is acquitted of any crimes brought up against you. You lose, well…it won't matter. The demons are always hungry and humans are a rare treat. You better hope you die fast, or they'll draw out your death until your spirit is begging to pass on." The demon laughed, then produced a key from its pocket. Moving forward, the key moved into the small lock, and Kiyone heard a 'click' as the lock was disengaged. Withdrawing the key, the spirit hovered backwards, and Kiyone noted with some distaste that, for all the hovering of the cloak, there appeared to be no body covered by the material. "Head up front when you're ready. Don't try anything funny; the guards are more than happy to rip you to pieces before the trial starts. More for us."

Laughing still, the demon turned and drifted off, returning from whence it came as Kiyone pushed open cell door. The metal gate swung open on silent hinges, and with a frown, Kiyone turned back to her companions.

Ol' Koneko, curled up near Yosho's face, raised his head as Kiyone approached. "Is it time?"

"Looks like it." Kiyone grumbled. "How's MJ doing?"

"He will live, but we would do well to ensure he is not electrocuted again." The nekomata replied. "Is the rest of the medicine for him?"

Kiyone nodded.

The feline uncurled and rose to his feet, stretching mightily before hopping atop of the Jurain's chest and lightly batting the man's face. The sight would have been amusing and even cute any other time, yet in that moment Kiyone could only wonder at the effectiveness of the cat, uncertain if its actions would even do anything to the man.

Yet the nekomata was a master at dashing human expectations, even when those humans were extraterrestrial, and after a couple of gentle bats, Yosho grimaced, slowly rousing at the two-tailed youkai's actions. "Food soon." The man grumbled, and brought an arm over his face, shielding himself from further bats to no avail; the cat youkai merely pawed at his hand, going so far as to bite it. The Jurain grunted, and with a groan dropped the arm, opening his eyes and blinking at the ceiling above his head.

"Good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty." Kiyone said, kneeling down beside the man as he turned to look at her. I am still having trouble believing this is the legendary 'Missing Prince of jurai.' Had I still been in the Galaxy Police and the world not ended, I'd have scored a promotion for finding his ass. The woman thought, her mind even now recalling the case around 'Crown Prince Yosho Jurai' with abundant clarity. He was older than his picture, yes, but the burgundy eyes remained a dead giveaway even while he was wearing Terrain fashion. "Here, take these. You got zapped like a lightning rod when Thor had enough of our bullshit." She offered the pills, and the man blinked, staring at her with an expression that alluded her before finally taking the medicine.

"Thanks…" He drawled, and closed his eyes, rubbing them with his empty hand. "For a brief…wonderful moment I thought I was home."

"You wish." Kiyone replied. "Shoot, I think all of us wish that right about now." She sighed, then rolled onto her heels and stood. "Get your strength up, MJ." She said, "I don't think we have much time to dawdle; we're the next contestants on trial and we all need to step up our game if we want to survive."

Yosho grunted, popping the three pills into his mouth all at once and dry swallowing them. "Need a moment." He sucked in a deep breath. "Some of us were struck by lightning."

"And smell like it too." Kiyone replied. "You guys stay here. They opened the prison cell for us and I want to see what's outside before we get thrown into the arena. See if I can find anything that will help us out."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Morisato asked.

Kiyone shrugged. "They seem pretty adamant about their blood sport, so as long as I don't try and leave this place without you guys, I think I'll be fine. If not…" She shrugged. "Who's to say any of us stood any real chance to start with?"

Morisato frowned but said nothing.

"Be careful." Yosho said.

"I plan to be." Kiyone replied, and moved to the cell opening, peeking her head out of the entrance and peering first left, the direction from which the demon had appeared, and then right. The corridors were empty, lined with little outside of the torches and cell bars of fellow cells. Frowning, the woman stepped out, heading right first and finding a couple cells whose doors were open. She found some supplies inside-likely items left over from previous cellmates whose lives had since become forfeit-and pocketed them. A couple of elemental stones, some additional medicine, and to her surprise, a Bead. "Maybe we'll make out okay." She murmured, pocketing the precious item and knowing that her words were half in jest.

There were additional prisoners in some of the cells to the left of her own.

One held an appearance Kiyone could not make heads or tails of; a demon which resembled a woman only in the most vague of instances; its skin was red, its hair was long, black, and wild, and its nails were so long they resembled something closer to stilettos glued to the fingers rather than anything biological. Two white orbs took the place of eyes, with long, sharp fangs sitting in a feminine face. It was naked from the waist down, displaying sagging breasts which swayed grotesquely as the demon swayed in the air. It had no lower torso that Kiyone could identify though, a leering mask littered with black steel ornaments covering what remained of her waist and hanging weightlessly from its person.

"Ah, a human!" The demon cried in a crone's voice. "What an enticing treat you are! Tell me, have you come to test your might against the Mantra too? Or are you simply another victim, like the yowling manikin off in the corner?"

"A little bit of both, maybe." Kiyone said, keeping herself well out of range of the demon. The claws looked more than capable of slipping past the bars and skewering her, and the woman was taking no chances.

The demon cackled. "Then let the blood be spilt!" She screamed, and it was a horrible, maddening sound. Kiyone felt a trail of ice race up her spine, and felt her flesh break out in goosebumps. "Life in exchange for death! Let the blood flow like water through the cracks in the doors! Let it rain down upon all present, a Baptism of Blood! Oh, it will be decadent!"

The woman shivered, feeling her heart ram in her chest. She's imprisoned. She reminded herself, And she's not trying to attack me. Calm down, Cadejo.

Oh lord, but it was so hard to in that moment. There was a terribleness to the demon which left Kiyone's instincts on high alert, and even though it was imprisoned, something about the demon reminded her of some of the high level criminals in GP's Headquarters. One slip, one wrong move, one bit of carelessness, and this thing would be out and free, slaughtering everyone it came across with glee. It reminds me of that space pirate that attacked Jurai. She thought. The video footage showed her laughing as she and her ship wrecked havoc on one of the universe's most prolific governments. Does this mean we'll run into similar demons too?

The woman bit her lower lip. She'd make a good ally too. The Black Cadejo reared its head, and her time in Roanipur came flooding back. The violence, the lawlessness, the madness of simply living on the island and regularly interacting with Russian mafia, Chinese Triad, American CIA, and criminals of such corruption that just seeing them in broad daylight made her feel dirty. And that place left its mark on you too. Time to invest in it if you want to survive this fight.

She took a breath. "Hey. Got a question for you."

"Oh?" The crone's bright, white eyes-voidlike, empty of emotion, empty of humanity. "And what is that, Little Human?"

"What would it take to form a contract with you?" Kiyone asked. "I'm up next to trial, and I want to survive at any cost."

The creature cackled. "You wish for the great Femme Rangda to join you, Little Girl?" It asked, "Oh no. No no no. Not you. Not as you are now."

Kiyone's face fell. "Why not?"

The demon swayed excitedly in the air. "You are too weak! There is nothing you can offer me that I cannot take for myself."

"Not even your freedom?" Kiyone ventured.

Rangda laughed. "You think I cannot escape, is that so? I came for an audience with Gozu-Tenno to join his Army. This is the quickest way. I will play their Army's game of trial by combat, and I will slaughter and feast upon everyone they throw into the ring with me! It is marvelous! Three free meals to quench my hunger, and should Kagatsuchi's eyes open wide in that time, than I shall slaughter their entire army! That young man of his, Thor, shall quickly find himself replaced by a demon thrice as powerful, and we shall slaughter all of those pacific Nihilo demons at once!"

Kiyone stepped backwards in rising trepidation. This was a mistake. She thought.

The demon saw her move. "Yes, yes! Run little human! Pray that you are slaughtered swiftly in the trial, that I may not find you next! Those demons on your shoulder will do little to stop me! Return when you have grown stronger Child, or don't return at all!"

Slowly, deliberately, Kiyone turned and walked on, keeping close to the opposing cell doors as Rangda's laughter followed her onwards.

There was indeed another manikin in one of the far off corner cells. Kiyone heard him before she saw him.

"Let me out! Please! I haven't done anything, I swear!" The manikin howled like a broken record, repeating the same line over and over again like a broken record. The call was terrified and desperate; that of a man on Death Row who could do nothing to slow or stop its halt. As Kiyone neared his cell, the manikin scrambled forward, throwing himself against the bars as he groped for her. "Hey, hey! You! Let me out, please! You were talking to that scary demon, right, right?! You said you could let her out? Well let me out! Please! I'm begging you, get me out of here!"

Kiyone stepped away from the bars, remembering the hidden blade from the last manikin she'd encountered and in no rush to repeat the mistake. The person behind the bars was almost identical to the one she'd slain, rational in only that he was speaking with her. "Please please please, Lady! I-I'll do anything for you! I'll carry your bags, I'll give you my energy, I'll, I'll give you my body! Whatever you want, swear! Just get me out of here!"

Kiyone pursed her lips. "Can you fight?" She couldn't hide the doubt in her voice; the manikin was so desperate that just…no. There wasn't a fighting bone in the creature's body."

The manikin confirmed her doubts as he recoiled, his body twitching in horror. "Fight!? Me? Are-are you serious?" He let out a shrill, panicked laugh. "Of-of course not!" He screamed. "Thats why I'm trying to escape! I don't stand a chance! If I get sent out there, I'll die!"

Kiyone's lip twitched. Taking a breath, she tried again. "Do you have anything that can help me and my gang?" She asked, "Supplies, information, a map of this place?"

The manikin shuddered. "I-I don't have anything." He whined. "They took everything from me when I was thrown in here! I just-just know that the demons here are powerful!" He stared up at here with hopeful black eyes. "Isn't that enough? Aren't humans supposed to be good?"

The woman pursed her lips, then shook her head. "No, that's not good enough…" She murmured. "I need something solid that will help keep my people alive—you can't fight, you have nothing to give me…I'm not risking myself for you."

"But-but-but you'd do it for that-that monster!" The manikin exclaimed.

"She had something I could use and turned me down." Kiyone replied. "Same thing here, just the roles reversed. Sorry, but I'm not letting you out." She turned and walked away, and as she departed heard once more the desperate cries of the maniquin behind her.

"You-you monster! You're no better than that demon! I hope you die out there, you-you witch!"

Kiyone ignored him, passing Rangda again and hearing her dark chuckle in passing, and returning back to the others.

She poked her head back into the open cell. "You guys about ready?"

"No." Morisato said flatly. Yosho had passed him his Glock, and the man was going over how to unload the magazines, how to aim, and how to fire with the Prince. "But I guess in a place like this it doesn't matter much, does it?"

"Nope." Kiyone said. "You're going for the gun?"

The short man snorted. "I'm more liable to stab myself than a demon with that sushi knife of yours." He confessed. "At least I…kind of understand the concept of a gun. Point barrel at monster and squeeze trigger. Easy enough that even a grease monkey like me can't fuck it up."

"We can only hope." Ol' Koneko grumbled.

The ex-cop looked at Yosho. "You're good with this?"

Yosho nodded. "While I ah, appreciate the gun, such weapons were never my forte."

"You certainly talk like a man skilled at combat, Mr. Priest." Kiyone said, raising an eyebrow for effect.

Morisato looked at him with a start. "You're a priest?!"

"Retired now that the world's ended." Yosho grumbled, and sent a glare at Kiyone. "I practice kendo regularly for my health."

Ooh, good cover. Kiyone thought. "The way you talk almost sounds like you've used it outside of sport."

"I cannot control how you interpret my words, Makibi-san." Yosho said flatly, earning a snort from the woman. He directed his attention back to Morisato, "Which leads me to a question that's been on my mind for a hot minute—what in the dogmatic fuck is this about your wife being a goddess?"

Kiyone blinked, then looked back at the track racer. "…He brings up a really good point, actually. What was her name, Verthandi?"

The man winced. "It's a long story." He grumbled. "If we survive this and find Belldandy again, I'll tell you.

Kiyone stared at him. "I almost want to survive this fight just so I can hear this long story of yours. Is she actually a goddess? Really?"

The man sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. "Yes." He grumbled. "She and her two sisters have been living with me for the past seven years. We've been married for five of them, and heaven help anyone who keeps us both apart."

"Why, you'll yell them to death?" Kiyone said, sarcasm dripping form her words. "Or will your wife smite the ever-loving shit out of them?"

"Neither." Morisato replied. "They'll have to contend with the System Force, which, trust me, is much, much worse."

Kiyone and Yosho shared a look. "How long have you been apart?"

"The past cycle." Keiichi admitted. "And…I am kind of surprised the System Force hasn't kicked in already. Unless this place-this…Vortex World is messing with its properties." He ran a hand through his tussled hair with a scowl. "….Or its on a delayed response time for some reason…I don't know…" He shook his head. "Long story short, its dangerous for not only us, but the people around us if we're separated for too long. For all of our sakes, I need to be reunited with Belldandy as fast as possible."

"Well…you may get your wish." Kiyone replied. "Think this…'System Force' of yours will be on our side?"

"Likely." Keiichi admitted. "Whether you mean it or you are the System Force's response to me reuniting with Belldandy, I can't say, but…I'm willing to bet we're going to reunite soon, regardless of this trial."

"Hopefully it won't be in 'death'." Kiyone muttered.

Keiichi shook his head. "First of all, bad joke, don't talk like that please." Kiyone blinked in surprise. "Secondly…Thor said he has Belldandy secured safely in Mantra Headquarters. Bell's family usually hold her in high regard so…I can't imagine him brining or even allowing any harm to befall her." Under his breath he muttered, "He'd have to deal with Urd and Skuld if he did…the man would not survive."

Neither Kiyone nor Yosho were granted the opportunity to ask further. Instead, a voice rose up from behind the ex-cop, "Oi! How much longer you gonna waste my time!?"

Kiyone yelped, wheeling on her feet and coming across the floating pumpkin headed demon from earlier. "What is this, social hour? Get moving before I have the guards rip you to shreds instead!" A burst of fire exploded into existence above the woman's head, and with a scream Kiyone dropped, covering her head as she felt the uncomfortable warmth of fire against the back of her hands.

Yosho was on his feet in an instant, racing to her defense and sliding to a stop at the sight of the demon. "What, you want to taste flame as well as lightning?" The demon sneered. "Get out of the damn cell and get moving before I turn everyone left inside into a shiskabob!"

Morisato peeked his head out nervously, but none-the-less strode out, his walk portraying a man of a lot more confidence than what showed on his face. Ol' Koneko was quick to follow, racing out and leaping up onto Yosho's shoulder once more as he took his customary place at the man's side.

The group of humans looked at each other. "Guess we're up." Morisato grumbled, and sucked in a long breath through his teeth. "Let's get this over with."

Kiyone looked back in the cell. Their bags were still inside. For a moment she debated on whether or not to slip back in and grab them, then decided against it; win or lose, they'd either be back for them or there'd be a nice stash of supplies for the next unfortunate victim of this place.

The 'courtroom' was little more than an empty courtyard.

In the old world, it had once been a little gardened terrace; a place for complex dwellers to come and be in a garden, socializing with friends or simply enjoying the peace of the moment. Now the plants were all dead and gone, the cement tile—once a cool, light blue to mirror the ocean climate of the island, now stained muddy with what Kiyone guessed was blood.

Something squelched beneath her boots.

Kiyone did not look to see what she might have stepped in.

Instead the woman followed their escort to the center of the terrace, where the trio were left to stand as another demon moved to a small, makeshift platform put together haphazardly from plywood and large decorative stones.

The judge, another oni similar to Shuten, stood at its head. "We will now hold a a hearing according to the rules of Mantra. I call upon the defendants, the punk-ass humans, to the stand."

The trio looked at each other, and Yosho moved forward, Kiyone following a step or two behind him and followed up by the more hesitant Keiichi.

The oni glared down at them. "You are charged with loitering in Mantra Territory and trespassing into our private Headquarters. Additionally, you were seen exiting the Sewers which lead to the Nihilo Assembly, so I'm gonna call you bitch-ass spies too. Finally, I charge you with deliberately lying to our Second-in-Command, our General, Thor, of your real reason for being here, where you can't even get your stories straight! This is Mantra Territory, and such flippant disregard is an offense! You're mere existence here is crime enough! Bring forth Orthrus!"

"Orthrus?" Kiyone looked at Yosho, watching the color drain from his face. "But—he was slain at the Shrine…" He turned, and a a great pillar of violet light appeared, revealing a massive, conjoined-face hound with a long, emerald mane.

"I SHALL PASS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT…" It roared, and Kiyone winced as its voice reverberated off the surrounding walls. "CAPITAL PUNISHMENT! THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION. THINK OF HOW YOU WISH TO DIE; I SHALL ALLOW YOU THAT GRACE."

"Yosho…" Kiyone leaned over, "Are you good?"

The man was staring at the beast in a mixture of shock and horror. "Ryoko sliced him in half…" He breathed. "Unless…is this a different one? Are there more of them?"

"Yosho?" Kiyone elbowed him. "Hey, come on, get a hold of yourself. We need you right now." The man started, and looked at her with wild burgundy eyes, then looked back at the massive beast.

"Ice." He said. "He's imbued with fire and…I don't think Koneko and Pascal's magic will help us much."

"I have some ice stones." Keiichi said, speaking softly as he leaned in. "I picked them up in the sewers. The things were everywhere down there."

"How many do you have?" Yosho looked at him.

The track racer unzipped one of the pockets in his jacket and rummaged through it, coming out with a handful of small shining blue quartz stones. "Six." He said.

Yosho nodded. "Divide them between us all." He said. "Two each. We use them sparingly and hope we can freeze him, then unleash everything we have on him while he's incapacitated. We strike him down hard and fast before he can get the better of us."

Kiyone and Keiichi nodded. "I'll close the gap between us." Yosho continued, "You two hang back out of range and take your shots where you can." He gave them both a tight smile. "Please try and avoid me."

It was a poor attempt at a joke, but one Kiyone appreciated nonetheless. "No promises." She said. "You'll have to rely on Keiichi and hope I don't shoot you in the ass." She said sarcastically.

"If any of you are relying on me, we're dead." Keiichi replied in complete seriousness.

Kiyone and Yosho eyed each other, sharing a flat expression which portrayed one shared thought. "Ugh."

Yosho turned and approached Orthrus, his expression grim. "Before we start," He said, "I have a question for you."

"SPEAK." Said Orthrus.

Yosho pursed his lips. "Do you know this sword?" He hefted the blade up high, and Kiyone watched him in confusion, wondering what the man was getting at.

Orthrus growled. "I KNOW NOT THIS STEEL. WHAT OF IT?"

"Does the name 'Goetia Duke Aym' mean anything to you?" Yosho continued.

"IT DOES NOT." The beast's lips pulled back in an irritated snarl. "CEASE THIS GAME. ARE YOU READY?"

Yosho frowned, but nodded.

"THAN LET US FIGHT, AND MAY DEATH PAVE THE VERDICT OF THE TRIAL!" The beast howled, and Yosho wasted no time, brining his sword up diagonally with a roar of equal ferocity.

Yet Orthrus was a fast and agile beast, leaping back with a snarl before lunging forward. Yosho dodged right, slipping under a massive limb and bringing his sword up into the beast's shoulder joint. The sword sliced into it with ease, and as one face howled in pained rage, the other spat out a ball of fire, forcing the prince to disengage before he could do further damage.

"Pascal, Shuten, let's go!" Kiyone called, pointing in two places on either side of the two-faced hound. As Shuten manifested next to Yosho, the man slipped away, retreating behind the beast and out of its sight as one head each focused on the two opposing demons.

Kiyone slid up next to Keiichi. "Have you ever used a gun before?" She asked.

"No." Morisato replied. "I haven't even done paintball or airsoft before; I'm a grease monkey through and through."

"Well, now you're a grease monkey who shoots guns." Kiyone said. "Down and dirty description: look down the sights, squeeze the trigger on the exhale, and don't try and predict the recoil. Aim center mass and make sure the three dots of the sights are all level with what you plan to shoot. Make sure your safety's off."

"Right." The man was shaking, the barrel of Yosho's gun trembling so badly from his tight grip that Kiyone worried he might accidentally shoot Pascal or Shuten.

This isn't going to work. Kiyone thought. He'll do more damage than good at this rate. The woman pursed her lips, then looked back at the fight. Shuten was earning his pay as a new 'recruit', laughing as his glaive cleaved a deep wound into Orthrus' side and earning a yelp from the demon dog. Pascal lept at the demon's back, forgoing its neck in favor of its more exposed hindquarters as Yosho cut through the sinew of its back legs, forcing it to fall. The beast was badly outnumbered with the addition of the two demons, and even without Kiyone or Keiichi's help, the trio were making short work of the demon.

Kiyone turned back to Keiichi. "Keep back." She said. "Don't shoot if you don't have to. Instead keep an eye out for any openings for us-can you do that?"

The man's eyes widened, an a look of naked relief flashed across his face, making him look young and childlike. "Yes, I think I can do that." He said. "I—thank you."

"Save the thanks until after we survive the trial." Kiyone replied. "You have supplies?"

Keiichi nodded.

"Pass them out if we come near. We can't afford anyone-human or demon-dying out here, understand? We're going to be relying on you for our support, so keep your head down and make sure we get anything we need to keep fighting-chakra drops, medicine, elemental stones, whatever. You got it?"

A look of brief, secular confidence flashed across Keiichi's face. "I understand. I got your back."

Kiyone smirked. "Hell yes."

"Cadejo!" Yosho called out, "Throw one of the ice stones!"

"I got you!" Keiichi said, digging into one of his pockets and withdrawing one of the stones. With a look of stubborn concentration on his face, he brought his arm back and hurled the stone at Orthrus. The stone struck the beast square in its mouth, where it promptly exploded, releasing the encased spirit and engulfing the beast in ice.

"Holy…" Kiyone looked back at Keiichi in awe.

"My sister played baseball." Keiichi looked away, embarrassed. "I pitched for her when she practiced back home.

The woman smiled broadly, then turned away. Guess this means we know anything he throws will reach us. She thought, and took careful aim. "MJ, tell me when!" She called, edging her way towards one side of the area, standing behind Pascal as the beast growled, his body tense and ready for the command to attack.

"Shuten, you and I, one head each." Yosho said, and slipped around to the front as Kiyone edged towards the back. "Cadejo, as soon as the ice breaks, shoot it in the back. Aim for its spine if you can-if we can paralyze it, we can finish it off swiftly. Pascal, if the shot doesn't paralyze it, hold it down by one of its legs."

The ice began to crack, and Kiyone brought the Ruger up, taking careful aim at the creature before her with one hand primed and resting on the trigger. She took a deep breath, willing her heart to calm, and from her peripherals saw Keiichi slip further off, dipping down behind a concrete pillar that had once held plants as part of a raised garden and had somehow survived the many demons slaughtering each other in the arena. Good, he's keeping out of sight so as not to draw undue attention. Smart guy.

The ice containing Orthrus finally gave way, and both Yosho and Shuten brought their blades down on each head respectively. Shuten, with his strength alone, managed to cleave through one of the heads, rendering it in two vertical halves. Yosho faired less better, yet still severely wounded the beast, the sword slicing through its eye and severing its nose. Red gushed from the wound, and the beast backpedaled, its lone living head howling in agony. Pascal rammed into it with a snarl, knocking it to his side as the bony armor plates dug into the softer fur, yet rather than any feet, the demon dog went straight for the beasts groin, where the flesh was weak and vulnerable. A high shriek its pitch enough to make Kiyone wince, rose from the beast, and it began to thrash.

The woman dropped her weapon. Pascal's literally eating him alive. She thought, and rang to the demon's front. "Yosho, step back." She said, shoving past the man and placing the barrel of her weapon against the creature's crying, ruined face.

The deafening crack of a gunshot, and Orthrus shuddered once before falling still.

The arena fell silent, the only sound remaining being that of Pascal tearing into the demon's corpse.

Kiyone stepped back, flipping the safety on her weapon before wiping the blood off the barrel on her pants leg. She felt a tap on one of her shoulders, and looked up, finding Shuten staring down at her. "Hey," He said, "I get some too, right?" He pointed to the body, and the woman felt her stomach roll. Regardless, she nodded. "Ah, yes. Yes. Its ah…all yours. Split it between yourself, Pascal, and Koneko."

Something that looked vaguely like a smile appeared on the oni's face, and Kiyone turned away, saving herself from witnessing anything further. She looked at Yosho, who was already turning away, a grimace of disgust on his face as he looked back to the Oni who served as judge and juror.

The oni looked down at them in surprise. "The fuck?" He said.

"We won." Yosho announced.

"I fucking see that, Human." The oni snarled, "What I don't get is how."

Yosho ignored it. "Who is the next opponent?"

"Yaksini." The oni replied. "Get the fuck out of the arena. We need to clean out the bodies before the next match—and tell your gang to stop eating our members!"

"You never said they couldn't." Kiyone moved to stand beside Yosho and planted a hand on her hip. "You ask me, they deserve it, if thats what they want. Are you telling me Orthrus wouldn't have done the same if we'd lost?"

The oni snarled at her, and briefly Kiyone wondered if she'd overstepped her boundaries.

"Let the demons have their fill." A voice rose up from the other side of the room, and Kiyone looked to it, finding Thor standing in front of its threshold, observing them with brilliant, glowing blue eyes. "They have earned their meal and it saves us clean up. Let them feast until they are full, then grant them an hour to prepare for Yaksini." A flash of light struck the ground on his right, and when the light cleared another demon stood beside him.

The sight of it filled Kiyone with dread.

It appeared as a woman, nude aside from a white loincloth with red stripes. Gold banded jewelry rested on her arms, her legs, and her elbows, and a crown shaped to imitate a demon's face and horns sat atop her head. She looked young, perhaps no more than twenty, and her long, black-violet hair covered her breasts. A pair of scimitars rested in her hands, and as her red eyes met Kiyone's, the demon woman smiled, revealing long fangs.

"I patiently await our next match." Yaksini said, and clashed her blades against each other, making the steel sing.

Kiyone looked back to Yosho, who examined the demon with a measured look. "She…does not seem stronger than Orthrus." He whispered, then flinched as Ol' Koneko lept up onto his shoulder.

"Appearances can be deceiving." The cat licked its maw, and Kiyone spied red on its muzzle. It too had taken its fair share from the carcass. "Have no doubt, though she looks delicate, the Magatsuhi radiating from her speaks of an opponent much stronger than Orthrus. You will need to stay on your toes. The same tactic will not work on her. I have no doubt she was watching us as Thor was."

Yosho pursed his lips. "They're giving us time to prepare." He said. "Lets ensure its not wasted and see if we can learn anything about her prior to the battle's start.

He turned away, but Kiyone stayed where she was, staring at the demon carefully.

And the white dog which stood at Yaksini's side, watching the woman with blue-violet eyes.

Comments of a Madwoman: In which the weekly update run is broken thanks to an exercise, and the authoress promptly decides to take two weeks off as a result. Though by now the date has passed, Happy All Hallows Eve, and may the spirits who cross the veil be of a good nature to all of you who are sensitive. I know the ones who were with me were.

Cathedral of Shadows:

Pyro Jack: Irish Mythology; Jack-O' Lantern named off the mythic figure with the same name; a spirit who was cursed to roam after death. Carved turnips were used to scare away his flames, and after arriving in America, the tradition moved to pumpkins, which were more readily available.

Rangda: Balinese Mythology; Demon Queen of the Leyaks-witches who can seperate their heads from their bodies . A child-eater who is at constant war against Barong, a force of good. Possibly related to both the Hindu warrior mother Durga and the Black Goddess Kali for her similar associations, and can even be seen as a benevolent figure in small sects of Bali.

Orthrus: Greek Mythology; One of the many children of Typhon, he is brother to Cerberus and Sphinx, among others. He was the dog of the great Titan Geryon, and slain by Heracles as part of his 12 labors.

Yaksini: Hindu mythology; The female counterpart to Yaksa, they are both attendants to Kubera, the Hindu God of Wealth. Depending on the region, they can be depicted as either benevolant creatures guarding hidden treasures, or vampiric entities.