FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

It was the sound of a cockerel that awoke Kiryu the next day, as he felt the rays of sunshine gleaming over the city of Tokyo. Staring out the window he glanced at a large-winged beast resembling a pterodactyl, perched on a roof and singing with a purest joy that came trembling from their throat.

"D-...Danzaki?" he lurched out of bed to peer closer. "No...no, he sounds worse than that."

"HEY SHUT UP!" a voice barked in the same direction. "TRYIN' TO SLEEP GODDAMMIT!

"YOU WANNA COMPLAIN ABOUT IT?!" shrieked back the bird. "THEN SPEAK TO YOUR LANDLORD, OH WAIT, I'M THE LANDLORD BITCH!"

"I WORK NIGHT SHIFTS FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

That was Kiryu's cue to get up, taking a shower first and foremost as he lumbered his naked body through to the bathroom and rinsed himself, the hot water splashing down his back as he soaked himself through with special gels that polished off his scales to a lustrous black sheen. Once he had washed himself clean he used up the last of his toothpaste to brush his large sharp teeth, tasting the faint minty tingle of polonium and making a mental reminder to get more before he put on his clothes and head out the door.

Normally he would take a taxi to Kaijurocho, but today was such a beautiful morning with cloudless sky and purest blue that he took the chance to clear his head before work. It was also not a school day, the sounds of children tearing through the streets on their bicycles pretending to be in dangerous street gangs that proved themselves through exciting races. Creatures largely stood out of their way as Kiryu dodged two of them, a small chubby lizard being chased by a lean little mantis with a head as wide as his handlebars.

"SORRY!" he cried.

"Take care!" Kiryu shouted back. "Huh...haven't ridden a bike in years. Not since I was with...wonder how he's doing?"

He looked up the name on his phone briefly, scrolling down the list to find the nickname "Rodan" before realising with a heavy heart the number listed in Japan.

"Wish I could call him. Maybe I should ask Varan-san when I get there."

Forty minutes of walking down the quiet suburban street led him to the Hotel District of Kaijurocho, the marble-cast inns acting as gateways of peace from the seedy underbelly beyond. The moment he stepped down the hotel lane however, the roar of the city burned through his ears as ambulances whined in the far distance amidst the hive of activity from creatures of all shapes and sizes, a deafening river of chatter that tore across his ears.

The only difference between night and day were more children with adults, as well as other adults in more respectable clothing, but the cacophony of a more active populace was almost unbearable to most as Kiryu walked past a large batting centre to his left. With grand green edifice and large neon sign temporarily paused to show a bat just about to strike a huge baseball to the moon, Kiryu felt his fingers tightening to feel the taste of the sandlot before he remembered something.

No, he shook his head, Sano's looking for that duel, best not tire out my fingers before the big match.

Heading to his family's HQ, southwards through Theater Square between the giant Stega arcade to the west and the Kaijuro Mall to the east, Kiryu stopped only once to grab a beef bowl for breakfast from a restaurant at the north end of Tenkaiju Street. By the time he entered the base at the southern end of the street, it was 9:30am when he headed upstairs to where Varan slept in the same room as his TV and game console, snoring the whole place down from his futon bed.

"Sir?"

"N-nnrrrhhh..."

"Sir."

"HHHRRRRGH..."

He decided against touching him, knowing from experience it was a bad move to instead turn on the TV and let the voice of the news wake him up naturally. A giant wasp greeted him with her report, clacking papers between four of her limbs next to a picture of a beautiful white wolf.

"-found dead in her home in Seoul. Jitsuko Koshamain, known as KayJee to her fans, was confirmed dead from a cerebral oedema in the early morning as fans have gathered in public mourning within the central square of Seoul. A beloved K-pop icon whose music spoke deeply of her Ainu heritage, Koshamain was also recognised as an ambassador that fought to raise awareness on anti-Korean sentiments in east Asia.

"The Korean government are now preparing a statement to acknowledge her efforts, having already awarded her as an honorary 'Daughter of Seoul' for her work and dedication to her second home. For now that's the eight o'clock news, and we shall return at eleven, for a fuller update so please stay tuned."

"Damn," Kiryu muttered, "that poor lady...hope Obara-kun will be alright hearing about this."

"Coming up next!"

"POKERAI, MUST UNITE THEM ALLLLL!"

"WHA-FUCKDAMMITBITCH!" Varan lurched from the bed swinging his fists. "WHO THUH FUCK'S THA-"

"Morning Varan-san."

"WHA-UH!? Kiryu, the fuck's goin' on?!"

"Pokerai."

He blinked rubbing his eyes to see the screen, now showing an electric mouse in full samurai gear striking down a portly blue turtle with a blade full of lightning.

"Gods...f-fuckin' DAMMIT I hate these sons o' bitches!"

"Makes a good alarm clock," said Kiryu crossing his arms, "never fails to get you up."

"UuuuuuUUUGH!" Sanjin plugged his fingers in his ears. "Turn that shit off 'fore I gets a seizure jus' lookin' at it!"

"Fine." He clicked the channel over to a debate show on fiscal levels.

"Fuckin' pocket samurai," the boss rolled out of his bed, "whut a stupid-ass idea."

"It teaches kids about history."

"Oh whut, teachin' them o' Japan got united by sum kid with a fuckin' rat that's got a battery shoved up its ass?!"

"It's better than most junk on TV."

"I beg to differ, Kiryu-kun. Anyways whut's new?"

"I wanted to ask," he sat down beside his superior, "you heard anything from Danzaki-san?"

"Not since two months back." The older kaiju pulled up his phone showing an even-older model than Kiryu's. "Nope. Nothin', sorry."

"Hmmm, alright."

"You worried about 'im?" Obakimura cocked his head. "You shouldn' be, guy's smart, he's got his own family now headin' up in Los Angeles, not many kaiju woulda gotten a job like that."

"I know," Gojirama slumped forwards, "I'm glad he's doing okay but-"

"You miss him dontcha?" Sanjin smiled giving a pat on the shoulder. "Can't blame ya, I mean you two came on together, truth is I thought you were thuh one that woulda had his own family by now but you always seemed content just sittin' out as lieutenant. Yanno whut you remind me of?"

The hulking kaiju lifted himself up to waddle over to the fridge in only a tank top and blue boxers.

"You remind me of one o' them cops that never ask fer promotions cuz they enjoy thuh streets. You work every day of yer life, you wear out yer shoes cuz you wanna be part o' thuh creatures, not stuck in some office with all that paperwork."

"So why are you doing it?" he turned to the sagging rear bent over in front of him.

"Cuz I'm tired an' I wanna sleep!" he shoved clinking cans around the fridge. "Life's good when you gots cronies doin' all yer shit fer you an' one day when yer old an' fat, like me, you'll wanna do thuh same."

He pulled out two beers with one he tossed to Kiryu, slumping back on the floor with the crack of a cold ringpull like a spell taking over him.

"There'll come a day when you wanna stop fightin'...an' that's thuh day you'll never wanna leave your room again."

"Was that your choice or the world's?" Kiryu took his morning sip.

"Shisa-han's, actually. He understood whut wuz best fer me."

"And you're happy with this, Varan-san?"

"Sittin' on my dick playin' vidyagames whilst all you young'uns run aroun' pullin' business fer me? You bet I am." He gave a toothy grin and raised his beer. "To the future o' Toho."

"Hm...to the future of Toho."

"KANPAIII!"

They clinked cans and drank as they checked the channels for anything interesting. An old episode of Kamen Spider engaged them briefly enough for Sanjin to explain the lunar hierarchy that made the primary list of antagonists in the show, before Kiryu went to get some takeout food for his boss and returned with a bag of Geiger King's finest breakfast menu some 15 minutes after including three teriyaki burgers, a medium shake and some fries that they shared.

"Alright," Kiryu stood up wiping his hands, "I have to fight Sano at his game I'll be back soon."

"Normally I'd not root fer either of you," Sanjin slurped his shake, "an' I will continue not to cuz fuck Virtua Fighter."

"You don't want to come see him lose?" he tossed a wrapper in the bag.

"When you boys play Beast Fighter fer once, THEN I'll come an' mock you. Until then, have fun an' if I need yous I'll holler on yer phone."

They waved each other off as Kiryu made his way to Theater Square. The grand plaza had the biggest arcade in Kaijurocho, spanning the north side of the open court with cinema to the west, the mall towards the east and the pachinko parlour south as Kiryu stood before the glistening red Stega Dream Land, bold in sonic blue font with brimming white lines encircling each letter above the doors. He stood waiting beside one of the vending machines, creatures walking back and forth as reptiles, insects, birds and mammals all between 8 to 10 feet in height passed him by, with children around 5 or 6 feet in comparison. He checked his pockets suddenly thinking of something only to find them empty.

"Damn...forgot to pick some up last night. Ehhh, I have time before Sano gets here."

He walked back towards Tenkaiju Street, stopping at the north end where a local convenience store gleamed with brightest gold. The amber lines streaking across yellow neon lured him in as the door opened with a cold refreshing breeze of the AC, assaulting Kiryu with a plethora of artificial colours from every bag of snacks from instant ramen pots to bento lunch boxes. The wall of frozen foods lined the back with chilled drinks in one corner.

That reminds me, I should come back for sake after the match.

"Welcome sir!"

The voice of the clerk squeaked from behind the counter with a desperate bow, a young green reptile in an orange shirt with small ears that resembled fins. Kiryu nodded back as he walked over to the shelves of cigarettes behind the clerk.

"Can I have some Fat Man cigarettes please?"

"Fat...cig-AH, yes!"

The store clerk turned to rove his eye over the names, looking back as he moved his hand across the packs like a game show assistant.

"That?" the youth asked tapping.

"Yes, that one."

"Okay, yes, being sorry."

"Thank you."

His words came out in halting Japanese but Kiryu smiled and bowed as he paid up, heading out the store to pull out a lighter and take his first drag of the nuclear cigarette. The taste of atoms split inside the plastic tube against his scaled lips that created the smallest miniature fission, sending a spark of smoke down his lungs to breathe it back out into a mushroom cloud. It soothed him immensely, the world becoming that little bit sharper as his senses twitched, the smog seeping into his adult body to become absorbed harmlessly like the gaseous form of an energy drink. Good on the occasion, but dangerous if overused.

"EYYY!" A voice beamed at him across the street. "KIRYU-SAN!"

He rolled his eyes and took a deeper breath to feel it scorch through his nostrils.

"Getting your last smoke?" grinned Sano on his approach.

"Got bored waiting for you," said Kiryu offering the packet, "want one?"

"Nah I'm good, victory's my drug from when I whup your ass."

"More rods for me," he puffed the last of his cig and flicked it in a bin, "think I'll have another to celebrate when I beat you."

"In that case the next one you smoke's gonna be next week, maybe next YEAR after I'm done with you!"

The spikeback grinned with a hand upon fist as he walked up to the arcade with Kiryu following, strolling through the plaza between slender rabbits, squatting amphibians and thick-chested beetles. Inside the arcade were the sounds of children giggling around a row of Daytona Galaxy machines along one wall, whilst young adults pounded at the Virtua Fighter machines all clustered in the centre of the room with two rows of cabinets back to back for creatures to face each other.

Synthesised electro-rock burned in their ears next to the polly-wolly jingle of cutesy crane machines, tempting those to their innocent displays of cuddly animals and MP3 players tantalisingly close before their hopes would be dashed against the rocks of financial ruin. Sano felt his fingers twitching before two seats became available, a baboon in a suit being victorious whilst a younger boar huffed in frustration to punch the crane machine before leaving.

"Alriiiight!" Anguirou slipped in. "Get ready for a rolling start of my FIST!"

"Hmhmm," Kiryu sat opposite, "don't let your guard down, you always do."

"Nah-ah, not THIS time!" he slammed a coin into the slot. "We going best out of three, come on, hit me with yer best shot Kiryu!"

Shaking his head Kiryu put in his yen as the character select screen came up. Sano picked Peng Chan, a Chinese bird of earthen colours in traditional dress, whilst Kiryu chose Sarayuli Bryant, an American monster with long lanky arms and a hirsute body of piercing luminescent eyes. The stage was a dark ruined castle where flashing synthetic lights tore over the horizon as Peng Chan came in hard, whacking three punches out whilst Bryant threw a hard kick to slam her down before Chan rolled back up and came with a flying kick. The American blocked the first kick, but not the low spinkick that came after to send her to the floor, followed by a leaping jump from Chan that crushed her ribs in a hard stomp. First round KO.

"YEAAAH!" Sano pumped his fist.

"Hm," Kiryu rolled his eyes, "don't peak too early."

"Ah-ah, I'm just getting STARTED!"

Round 2 came as Peng Chan rushed in quick, Sarayuli slapping a punch to stop her in her tracks before following with a kick that knocked her back. The Chinese kaiju came running and tried to block the next attack, but Bryant made a fast low kick and whipped her opponent off her feet. Chan got back up and made a flying kick to throw Bryant off-guard, thinking she could do another chest-stomp but the American monster got up just in time to avoid the hit and made a savage one-two-double-kick that wrecked through the kaiju's health. Second round KO.

"AUUUUGH!"

"Hmhm," Kiryu tapped his chin, "not too late to back out-"

"FU-NNNGH!" he clapped his mouth seeing the kids nearby. "NO, no, I am GOING to win, you can't throw me off this time!"

"This time? I thought your joystick was the problem last time-"

"WEFIGHTNOW!"

Round 3 began as Peng Chan went out fighting, launching with a high kick to counter Sarayuli's and managing to get in first with a boot to the head and an immediate stomp. The Chinese warrior held no mercy, waiting for the American to get up before coming in with a three-punch-and-spinkick strike that threw her down once more, readying for a brutal stomp that just missed as Bryant rolled back up and kicked Chan in the head. But just when the American was ready to come down with her own counter-crush, Peng Chan made a fast roll and immediately leapt high with a rising kick threw her opponent back. The crunching stomp ended it all as the kaiju did a twirl of victory and took a bow, whilst her player was less dignified in pumping both fists when he shot up off the seat.

"YEAH, YEAAAAH NNNNGH IN YER FACE!"

"Alright, you win," Kiryu shrugged leaning back, "guess I'll get you next time."

"Oh you want another round?!" Sano grinned over the cabinet.

"Naaah I think I'm done today." He stood up from his seat. "If this is your idea of a date I wouldn't be going home with you."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" The spiked lizard stepped up with him.

"Normally you let them win."

"Pffft no, I mean if they're like a noob yeah I'll go a little easy and let them have a few rounds, but with you I don't have to hold back."

"Mmm, true. You mind if we stop by the Poppo to get a drink? Something for the winner."

"Hey if you're buying, go ahead."

The sounds of the Theater Square burst on their faces as the two left the arcade, making their way back down Tenkaiju Street as the crowds thinned out with the morning traffic. A small detour into the convenience store brought them amongst the shelves of brightly-coloured savoury foods as Kiryu weaved to the back and grabbed a black bottle from the cabinet.

"Awwww yeah," Sano rubbed his claws, "victory juice for me!"

"I was going to buy some anyway," Kiryu walked to the counter, "always a good day for Black Claw Sake."

"Hello again sir!" the clerk beamed wagging his earfins.

"Hello," he handed the bottle over, "just this please."

"Okay, very good sir!"

"It's my favourite," he nodded.

"You dating this guy or what?" Sano leaned on the counter.

"Just trying to be polite."

"Nah I know I kid, actually uhhh hold up."

The spikeback wandered off to the chilled cabinets and rummaged through the beers as Kiryu turned to the clerk.

"You worked here long?"

"Yes!" he bowed. "I learning Japanese and ocean study, three years."

"Ahh good, is that going well?"

"Yes, I am very enjoy!"

"SNRRK!"

Kiryu looked to Sano holding two beers he plonked down.

"I'll very enjoy these beers tonight thank YOU!"

"Hmph," he rolled his eyes and pulled out some coins, "keep the change."

"OH, thank you sir!" the clerk bowed and scooped up the yen. "Thank you, have a good day!"

He waved back taking his drinks as they headed down the street to their office, the red solemn gate of Kaijurocho standing before them towards the open highway where cars roared back and forth, bikes revving past alongside rickshaw taxis pulled by rolling reptiles and pillbugs in transit. As they entered their main office, the first to meet them was a snake-headed creature with slender arms, smooth legs and an office suit with black skirt that gave her body an hourglass figure.

"Good morniiiing!" she waved to the boys.

"Uhhh, it's noon?" Sano pointed at the clock.

"Well, close enough!" she shrugged lifting some files to her desk. "Sorry I'm late, my little Junko had the most awful night."

"Is she alright?" Kiryu asked putting down his sake.

"Caught a bad case of strep throat but she's doing fine, my husband's looking after her."

"Oh that's good," Sano walked up to her, "anything we can do?"

"Nooo no thank you." she waved her hands, "I don't like to mix work with home we'll be just fine."

"No problem Tsuchi-chan," Kiryu bowed before sitting at his desk, "have you had lunch yet?"

"I managed to grab something on the train, but I wouldn't mind an extra bento if you want to butter me up Kiryu-san!"

"Sure your husband won't mind?" Sano poked his tongue clacking his beers.

"And just WHAT are you implying?" she jabbed his face with a finger. "Even the girls on Pink Street need more than a little sashimi to get their mandibles wagging."

"Hahahaha alright, alright we can pick you up something later."

"When we're eating together, let's say in an hour?"

"You got it!"

He gave a click of his tongue and a wink as they started the day off proper with their work, taking small drinks of their "victory juice" with Sano getting more of the sake when offered sparingly. Tsuchimura the secretary pulled up a sheaf of papers and handed them out, distributing profit projections from two different streets as Sano handled the more vague and not-so-legit papers, whilst the more dull-yet-basic stuff was left upon a separate desk that had popping stickers of daring knights and chibified pop stars.

"Huh, Obara-kun's not here yet?" Anguirou looked over.

"Not seen him all day," Kiryu scribbled down numbers, "you took him home last night."

"Yeah but I didn't come with him this morning," he leaned back in his seat feeling spikes punch through the foam, "you want I should call him?"

"You have his number?"

"Yeah after that little rumble last night I thought it best we trade numbers."

"Hm," Kiryu grinned, "smooth."

"What?!" Sano sneered.

"Nothing, just if this was a lady you'd be on third base by now."

"Ha ha, fuck you, just for that I'm taking more of your sake."

He stood up and snatched the bottle from Kiryu's desk, pouring out a glass before pulling up his phone with a touch screen. Swiping his claw over to Obara's name, he put up his clawed feet on the desk with both his thumbs tapping away.

"Don't do that," Kiryu looked up.

"I won't, when you beat me at Virtua Fighter," he gave a fistpump without looking, "seniority rules Kiryu!"

"Gloat all you want, Obakimura-san's going to kick your feet through the wall if he sees you."

"I don't get why he would care, no one can see us back here."

"You're setting a bad example."

"To who, Obara-kun, he's not even here!"

"If he was he would know better," Tsuchimura jabed his feet with her folders, "this is an office, not a locker room Sano-san."

"Wow jeez alright." He rolled his eyes and slipped his feet back down. "Didn't realise we had a nanny in this place."

"I might be just a secretary but I'm also a mother, and I'll set an example wherever I go."

"Gods, you remind me of my form class teacher...alright!" he shook his phone at Kiryu. "Obara-kun's on his way in like ten minutes, crisis averted!"

"Everything alright?" she asked sorting the shelves.

"Some K-pop lady died and his friends are real upset, he got stuck consoling them for like a half hour and missed his bus."

"Awww no that's terrible, who was it?"

"KayJee."

They both looked towards Kiryu with a look astonished.

"I heard it on the news," he stared back to them, "is Obara-kun alright?"

"Yeah he'll be fine," Sano put his phone away, "we got plenty work to keep him busy."

As expected ten minutes later, the door opened with Obara in a blue hoodie, badges across his chest and flapping thick ears with every breath.

"HHHHH, h-haaah, haaah, s-sorry, sorry please I didn't mean to be late!"

"Good afternoon!" Tsuchimura waved from her desk. "We're getting lunch in twenty minutes, you alright Obara-kun?"

"Y-yeah, yeah I'm just, really sorry," he stumbled towards his desk and slumped in his chair, "hnnnaaaagh it was a hell of a morning."

"I heard about KayJee," Kiryu nodded, "my condolences, are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine, I-i wasn't really into her music," he swivelled his seat in a lazy spin, "I mean, I feel bad but my friends felt way worse so I had to calm them down."

"It's fine, but you should keep an eye on your bus schedules more."

"Yes Kiryu-san," he straightened up and slapped his cheeks, "I won't be late again, I promise."

"Jeez it's fiiine Obara-kun," Sano waved at him, "you're still a junior, we can cut you a little slack-"

"B-but-"

"Now if you were a lieutenant like Kiryu, then you'd really have to stick to the rules, otherwise you're on flexitime since you're on the low-level jobs."

"I-i still should be on time like everyone else," Gonkuro sagged with drooping ears.

"Well you don't exactly need to clock in on what's basically illegal business." The spiked kaiju winked with a swig of his drink. "Just don't do it all the time, don't piss off your superiors, and you're good!"

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

Their heads turned to the intercom by the office entrance as Kiryu stood up and buzzed the comms.

"Can I help you?"

"It's Ushigawa, from Tenko Holdings, I understand there was a dispute last night with one of my workers."

"Oh, yes." He released the door lock. "Come on through."

Entering the office came an ox-headed spider stood in a suit. Six long arms clasped together in a courteous bow, his bovine face the same colour as his hairy arachnid limbs including the two thicker legs

"Forgive me for coming in unannounced, I wanted to apologise for my subordinate's gross mishandling of our arrangement."

He offered a business card in one slender hand whilst carrying bags with two other limbs.

"He had just been promoted from another branch we had in Yokohama, I had yet to explain the situation to him and I rather embarrassingly put him into the fire for the duration I was supposed to pay you."

"It's fine," Kiryu took the card and slipped it in his pocket, "Obakimura-san spoke to you?"

"He left a message to my desk yes," the spider-ox gave him the bags, "I also bought your office some lunch, bento, tonkatsu, just if you will forgive us."

"Thank you." He took the bags with a smile. "I hope I didn't rough up your guard too much."

"Oh no, I let him go," he waved his spindly hands, "I explained to my subordinate everything and he will be a lot more civil when doing business with you from now on."

"I'll say this. I was impressed by how he stood up to me, so you can tell him that there's no hard feelings."

"Hmhahaha, well if any gangs try to intimidate us I told him he could threaten them all he wants, just so long as he remembers we are part of the Toho Clan."

"Good." Kiryu bowed again. "I'll tell Obakimura-san you came by, anything you want to tell him?"

"No no, that was all." Ushigawa bowed in turn. "Thank you for your services to us."

"Anytime, you have any problems you know who to call."

"I will, have a good night."

The ox-spider left as Kiryu walked back to his desk with the bags of food, much to the glee of his coworkers who rubbed their hands.

"Boooonuuuuus!" Sano sang giddily. "See Obara-kun, THIS is why it's great working for us, you just GET free stuff sometimes!"

"Wooow is that really a whole lunch!?" he squealed clasping his cheeks. "C-can I have the tonkatsu Kiryu-san?"

"Take your pick," the saurian pulled out a bento lunch with sashimi rolls, "here, for you Tsuchi-chan."

"OHOHHH you remembered my favourite!" she gasped taking his offer. "Thank you Kiryu-san."

"Hey-ey," Sano clicked his fingers, "I thought you said it took more than sashimi!"

"It does, you also need to be handsome."

"HOOHOOHOOOO!" Gonkuro covered his mouth and pointed at him. "DAAAMN you got told Sano-san!"

"HEY, I'm still your superior and for that, I'm taking your tonkatsu!"

"WHA-NOOOO PLEASE I'M SORRY SANO-SAN!"

He cackled and handed the junior his tonkatsu, the four of them all digging in as they chowed down on bento, feasted on sushi and slurped up the ramen. Lunchtime came and went in a flash as they bantered amongst themselves whilst continuing to work, sorting papers and fiscal regularities before making their way out in the mid-afternoon to check on various businesses. Kiryu went his own path towards the east, whilst Sano and Obara-kun went to the north.

At the north end of Tenkaiju Street was a junction that lead further north still to the Theater Square. But over eastwards there was Taihei Boulevard that cut through the district in half, the entrance to Nagamichi Street stretching down the middle with cafes and entertainment centres where kaiju could ask about the new host or hostess clubs, and find their new favourite partner to visit for some drinks and stimulating conversation. At the centre of Kaijurocho, at the north end of this Nagamichi was the piece de resistance, Kiryu craning his neck upwards to gaze at the shining pillar of glass and steel that stood rooted in the heart of the district.

"Never get used to that thing I swear."

High above the world like a monolith was the Millennium Tower, a sword piercing the sky where dozens upon dozens of offices laid within of the richest and most lucrative businesses. Shining windows faced the south, the Kaijuro Mall sitting humbly on the west side where underground passages took kaiju either downwards to the subway, or upwards to the splendid restaurants that mixed world cultures together in fresh exciting new fusions whilst savouring the view of the city roofs. Taking his walk south Kiryu searched for one of the businesses he had noted from his papers in the office, a local cafe known as Pronto with a ray of sunshine spilling from a cup on its banner of charming viridian teal, that complimented the woodwork within.

"Welcome sir!" A clawed hen greeted him in an apron. "Something to drink?"

"Well, I'm actually here to speak to your manager but I'll have some oolong tea sure."

"Alright, sit wherever you like I'll just let her know."

Sitting himself near the counter he looked briefly around the four small tables of high stools in the old-wood interior of the cafe, almost everyone facing the wall in their own little zone as he was brought his oolong tea in a long glass. The manager soon came out in the form of a pale-haired baboon also in an apron, her rosy pink face harkening to the winterlands.

"Ahhh Kiryu-san, how are ya?"

"Good thanks," he raised his glass, "good oolong today Hima-san."

"Hmhm thank you, when you're done just come on through the back."

Gulping down his drink he went behind the counter to the staff room, a small office of calm grey with wooden tables where the baboon handed him a small stack of thousand-yen bills, embossed with the face of an austere-looking phoenix looking beyond the image of the Japanese parliament building.

"No problems lately?" he asked.

"Nope," she shrugged, "you guys have been keeping this street real clean, it's thanks to you we managed to even compete against Cafe Alps."

"We don't like to play favourites," he took up the case, "any business that can find its place in Kaijurocho deserves a chance, but how your business succeeds in the market is up to you."

"Right," she nodded, "thanks again Kiryu-san."

Taking his leave he went back down the widened street, cobblestones of pink leading him to the various companies that did business with his clan, all of whom offered their 20% with a smile and a wave. Not all of the businesses were on contract with the Toho Clan, such as the much larger Don Quijote store at the very end of the street who had more than enough money to handle problems themselves, but there was no animosity. To them Kiryu was just another customer, and that suited him just fine.

"L-let me go!"

"Hey, keep yer fuckin' voice down!"

A burning in his ears turned him towards Nagamichi Alley, a spiderweb of byways behind the major store as he walked into the shadows and past a small pawn shop to see a bright heron in an orange robe being pushed against the wall by two mantises.

"You don't hafta be so formal sweetie."

"Yeah it's all good! I'm sure our boss would love a little uh 'enlightenment'."

"I am NOT interested," the heron stiffened her beak, "Now let me go and I won't report you."

"Now see, that's not the problem," said one mantis stroking her neck with thin green fingers, "it wasn't a request, it was more of a uh...order."

"And you don't wanna refuse," said the other leaning close, "cuz our boss gets uhhh, real bitey when someone refuses what he says."

"Besiiiides we got a real good deal about your temple if we-"

"Then you speak to Shoji-sama, not me." The heron tried to pull away. "Now let me go, please!"

"Is there a problem here?"

Kiryu stepped into frame as the mantises turned, both wearing jackets bathed in crimson with three golden points shaped like a crown on their backs.

"Only problem here is if you interrupt our deal," said one mantis.

"It's not a deal if you're intimidating them," said Kiryu.

"Buddy, you ain't seen intimidating yet." The other turned with pointing finger. "This don't involve you."

"Too late," the reptile straightened his collar, "moment you put your greasy limb on that lady, you've made it my business. Let her go now, and we can all walk away from this without trouble."

"UHHH, fuck you buddy!" The gangly thug thrust his bug-eyed head at him. "You a fucking cop or what?!"

"He's not, but I am."

They turned to the other end of the alley and rolled their eyes at the flash of a badge thrust in their direction, titled "Sergeant Detective Gaho Murata, Tokyo PD, Community Safety".

"Please disperse, now."

"Ugh...fine."

They looked to each other and walked back to the main street, the heron bowing to both newcomers.

"Th-thank you, sirs!"

"No problem," Kiryu nodded.

"You'll be alright on your own?" asked the officer

"Um...I-i wouldn't mind if," she stammered plucking her robes, "you could take me to the temple, just for a bit."

"No problem ma'am."

Marching beside Kiryu, Gaho Murata was a large turtle-beast dressed in the sharpest blue of the Tokyo Police. His eyes sat either side of his head, upon a pair of tusks that gave him a bulldog look to match his robust appearance, his thick muscular arms in pale sleeves as part of his jacket that covered half his tortoise-shell body. A short walk through the alleys took them past a small mocked-up castle offering "fantasy service" in a mysterious tone, walking onwards to a a small four-way junction where at one corner stood a towering temple, situated on the northeast corner of Nagamichi Alley.

Most creatures gave at least one look to the temple in passing, set firmly on the corner where Taihei Boulevard intersected with Pink Street, balanced between lust and greed. It was an old unusual place, sticking out of the city's architecture like a flower amongst ruins, but in Japan it stuck out even moreso for the fact it had none of the Shintoist simplicity of wood, not even a gateway to approach but Instead as a rising structure of solid stone that went up six floors, painted with elaborate colours and Malay script that one would normally see in Thailand or Indonesia.

"Here we are," Murata bowed at the entrance to its sandy garden, "stay safe alright ma'am?"

"Yes, thank you!" the priestess bowed in return. "Bless you both, free from sorrow and full of joy."

"You too," Kiryu nodded.

Walking into the temple grounds she waved them off as they stepped back towards Pink Street in the east.

"You behaving yourself?" asked the turtle.

"Best I can," said the saurian shrugging, "how's business?"

"Constant, thanks to you and your little cabal."

"We keep our noses clean, you know that Murata-san."

"But your claws are filthy." He pointed at Kiryu's face. "Only reason I'm telling those punks off rather than you is because they're stupid and more immediate a threat, but not more dangerous than you."

"You're right about that," Kiryu nodded with a grin, "thanks for the help."

"I only help citizens. Not yakuza, nor punks like those two."

"You know them by the way? I didn't recognise their jackets."

"No, and even if I did, I'm not your snitch. Good day, Kiryu."

The cop walked off with a lumbering snarl as the yakuza made his way down Pink Street. The far-east part of Kaijurocho was its biggest attraction, the sign at its entrance showing a giant pair of high-heeled insect legs splaying apart for all newcomers and veterans alike.

Murata's the same as usual, Kiryu sighed thinking to himself. Those two thugs with the jackets though...never seen that brand before, should probably tell Shoji-sama about them next visit.

Neon blinded him from both directions as lurid posters of shaggy-haired mammals and slender reptilians ogled him from the sex clubs offering more vanilla tastes, whilst the more socially-distant kinks were made available at night for the extra price. Taking the thin passages and backdoor entries he went to each of the clubs on his clan's roll, checking for updates and troubles afoot before taking their earnings once business was sorted.

Two hours passed walking from club to club, taking a half-circle to Zennyo Avenue as Kiryu passed the JOCKIT STEEL karaoke bar with a smile, walking back upwards to the east end of Taihei Boulevard with a grimace towards the alley from last night. Further up through Zennyo Avenue he looked towards a giant fortress block to the northwest, a twisting clutter of apartments packed fiercely together with a stern white goat standing firm at its entrance.

"Gyesog geol-eo."

"Hm."

She took one look at Kiryu and lowered her head with gleaming horns as he walked on past to the north and reached the far east end of Shachifuku Street, stopping at a parking lot where he waited for his friends to regroup with him as he took out a cigarette and stared down the western street.

"HEY, HEYYY!"

A voice called out as someone raced past him.

"S-STOP, STOP HIM, HE DIDN'T PAY FOR HIS FOOD!"

Tearing down the alley south of him was a catfish with thundering legs, thick burly thighs wrapped in blue jeans as a tall gangly dog in chef clothes stumbled after him. Kiryu gave chase immediately, racing back down Zennyo Avenue as the fish pumped his arms with swinging tail behind him that threatened to slap the saurian if he came close. Swerving past kaiju that came to and fro, the dine-and-dasher was surprisingly agile for his large-bellied size whilst the white-suited reptile pounded his feet, strafing past toads and centipedes that yelped and stuttered almost stumbling from the chase.

Keeping the cigarette tight in his mouth Kiryu gritted his teeth as he saw a bottle on the ground, snatching it fast before swerving past a hooded crocodile and hurling it like a shuriken. The glass clonked against the back of the catfish's head, causing him to stagger and run on his hands to push himself back up with Kiryu closing the gap. Feeling his pursuer come close, the dasher picked up a small No Parking sign and threw it frantically behind him, only for Kiryu to grab it in midair and throw it straight back to crunch against the catfish's back.

"GUH-AAARGH!"

The fish crumpled fast, whiskers flatlined as his face hit the gravel before Kiryu pulled him up by the collar.

"You lose."

"N-NNNGH! Guh...w-well done," the fish grinned with wide lips, "y-you are...the first to ever catch me."

"That's not an honour, you're coming back with me."

"Yes, of course."

Walking back north to Shachifuku Street, the two returned to the restaurant just west of the parking lot, a gorgeous black marble front titled " KANRAI" where the long-dog chef stood waiting with a tapping paw.

"Thank you," he bowed to Kiryu, "as for YOU, pay up or I call the police!"

"Alright, no need to get nasty!" the fish chuckled and offered a few yen bills.

"Wait...what, you HAD this money?!"

"Well yes."

"But...why did you just run out without paying?"

"Because..." he turned to the sky, "I did it for the thrill."

Kiryu leaned back at his odd expression, taking the cigarette out of his mouth briefly in silence before the dog slapped the fish across his face.

"Get the FUCK outta here you weird-ass prick, alright you're banned, alright? You're banned, come back here again and I'll call the cops you hear me?!"

"As you wish!" the catfish shrugged wide sauntering off. "More places to dine and dash from!"

"Get outta here!" The chef watched him leave before turning to Kiryu. "Seriously...thanks again sir."

"It's fine," Kiryu shrugged, "gave me something to do, can't stand thieves myself."

"Next time you come to Kanrai, ask for Okushiba, I'll give you a fifteen-percent discount for helping me out."

"You don't have to, I was just passing by-"

"I insist, please sir!"

"Well...sure, thank you."

Heading north to the parking lot once again, Kiryu savoured his smoke as the evening sky came closer, a darkening blue with a tint of maroon before a shout came from across the street.

"Eyyyy!"

The familiar forms of Anguirou and Obara waved to him as they met up.

"Good pickings Kiryu-san?"

"Yep," he patted his pockets, "how about you?"

"All good!" Sano winked. "Nothing major, just a pretty usual collection, anything new down your end?"

"Murata-san helped me scare me off some punks near the temple, then gave me his usual."

"Who's Murata?" asked Obara.

"He's with the police," Kiryu walked to the Millennium Tower, "a good cop, just a bit too vigilant."

"Wait but, aren't they like our enemy?"

"We're just two sides of society, we provide for the people our own way, one follows the law, the other doesn't?"

"Really?" Gonkuro rubbed his horn walking beside him. "Just seems kinda weird the cops can just walk up to you knowing what we do, but they don't just bring us in?"

"You can't be arrested without evidence," Sano tapped his horn in turn, "long as you don't do something stupid in broad daylight-"

"Like fighting?"

"Only if you start one," Kiryu raised a finger emphatic, "I never do, the law's not on your side if you throw the first punch, that's something you should remember too."

"Now who wants drinks?!" Anguirou grabbed both their shoulders. "Kiryu you're buying this time."

"Why me?" he snorted at him.

"Because I paid last night!"

"I bought you sake and two beers today."

"OH, c-can I pay?!" Obara squeaked. "I wanna give my thanks for last night."

"Sure, if you want."

"I got no complaints, sure thanks Obara-kun!" The spikeback patted him. "Think there's a bar down this way that's nice to chill in."

Deep within the shadow of the Millennium Tower along its eastern street was a small line of shops, including a European-style pub known as Bantam. Stepping through its faux-oaken door the three kaiju pulled up a seat in a small rectangular room of wooden floor, rich mahogany tones and a darts board in the corner.

"Welcome sirs," a bearded shark greeted them in a fine waistcoat, "what will you have?"

"Mmmm, I'm feeling vodka today," Sano nodded wisely.

"Scotch on the rocks," Kiryu followed.

"I'll have vodka too please!" Gonkuro grinned.

Soft jazz played over the bar as they received their drinks, taking the atmosphere of the quiet little place as the bustling city seemed to melt away from their senses. The youngest kaiju tried his hand at darts with Kiryu squaring off against him, testing their nerve whilst Anguirou kept seated trying his best not to just blurt out and throw them off before they headed back out sauntering to their home base beneath the dimming light of eve, as the sky turned pink with a chill incoming.

"Hello boys!" the tsuchinoko greeted them. "Just caught me on my way home."

"Thank gods," Sano winked, "always hate to come back to an empty office."

"Ohhh, and why is that Sano-san?"

"Well you're just so damn nice that even a moment with you is a breath of fresh air Tsuchi-chan."

"Y'all know she's married right?"

The tired face of Obakimura came slinking from the stairs near the back of the office, draped in a washed-out sky-blue shirt of palm trees as Sano rolled his eyes.

"I'm just playing around Varan-san jeez."

"Hmhm, I know, how's our earnings?"

"Great!" Obara pumped his fist. "All checked and squared away Varan-san!"

"And how you doing?" he walked forth to pet the junior's head. "These boys treating you right Obara-kun?"

"Oh yeah, it's been awesome working here, thank you again for lettimg me come on!"

"Hey-ey it's no prob," he waved him off when the youth tried to bow, "only gotta be formal when we meet other families."

"Well I'm off the clock so," the serpent secretary cracked her fingers, "nnnngh-aaaah you boys'll have to do all the counting yourselves!"

"Hmhm, alright," Kiryu bowed as she took up her bag, "you'll be alright getting home?"

"Oh you know me Kiryu-san I have my schedule here...that said I would always love a nice walk in the evening with a handsome kaiju."

"Then I hope you enjoy a quiet night with your husband."

"Mmmmmhmhmhmhm," she tapped her snout, "clever boy, alright I'm off so, goodnight!"

"Goodnight Tsuchi-chan!"

They all waved her off as the snake headed to the taxi ranks, the boys sitting up in their desks as they counted off bills upon bills in neat little piles, whilst their boss slumped on the sofa scritching his paunch.

"So I beat Super Bonk again," he started.

"Oh, how's the Mini-Jinn?!" asked Obara.

"Plays like a damn dream, got a great selection on it too."

"D-do you think, I could have a shot at it, Varan-san?"

"Sure, when yer done counting, you ever played Beast Fighter IV?"

"A few times yeah, that's pretty old right, like back in 1991?"

"Sure is, but still thuh best."

"Don't," murmured Sano nearby.

"I'd love to!" Obara grinned flapping his ears. "But I warn you, I play a pretty mean Shachura!"

"Hmhmhaha, ohhh issat a challenge?" Varan reared up from his seat.

"I mean, if you think you can keep up with me Varan-san!"

"Boy..." he sat up fully pressing thumbs together, "you are about to unleash a world of hurt on yourself. I accept."

"I warned you," the spikeback patted Obara's desk, "great knowing ya kid, we'll get a replacement for ya soon."

"I-i think I'll be fine," Obara grinned with full teeth, "I mean it's not like Virtua Fighter where it's all floaty-"

"DON'T YOU DARE SULLY ITS NAME!"

"HAH!" Their boss clapped his hands. "Finally someone preachin' thuh good word, yer a chip off the ol' block Obara-kun!"

"BULLSHIT, YOU'RE BOTH COWARDS WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF PENG CHAN!"

They cackled at each other before setting back in to work, working through the night as they filed papers and drank modestly to stave off the boredom. Gonkuro finished his tasks soon enough to join Varan upstairs for a little retro gaming, the sounds of pixellated roars trembling faintly from above until the night shift came in to help with menial tasks, the kappa with his crustacean friend shifting the last tail-ends of business before their work was done.

"HOOOO!" Varan pumped his fists marching down the steps. "KING of thuh gotdamn world warriors!"

"Hahah you sure are Varan-san!" Obara grinned behind him.

"Don't be a suck-up boy, you did good too."

"Th-thanks, it was fun playing against you!"

"Well if you ever wanna be my player two an' you got no work, you come find me." He patted the youth's head. "But fer now, it's time fer y'all to get thuh fuck outta here an' let this ol' kaiju sleep."

"I hear that," Sano stood up with a tearing pop of the chair foam, "ahhhh shit I need a new one already?"

"I got one ordered for you sir," the crab raised a claw from the couch.

"Thanks Heike-san." The spikeback grabbed Obara's shoulder. "See you on time tomorrow?"

"Yes Sano-san!" he grinned widening his ears. "I promise, I won't be late!"

"Glad to hear alright let's bounce."

"G'night folks," Varan waved to his departing staff, "uhhh Kiryu could y'all hold back a minute?"

"Uh-ohhhh," Sano poked Kiryu's belly, "someone's in troubllllle-"

"Shut up," he clipped his cheek, "see you tomorrow Sano-san."

"Later Kiryu-san!"

Filing out of the office the kaiju waved each other off as they headed for the taxis, whilst Kiryu remained with his boss as Varan locked the front door and motioned him to come upstairs.

"How's yer fists doing lately?" he asked ascending.

"Decent," he shrugged following, "we doing some training again?"

"Just fer ol' times sake, you know me I have to get thuh blood pumpin' every once in a while."

"Go down Pink Street then."

"Naaah that's too much hassle, plus yer always free."

"Hmhm." He smirked shaking his head. "Well, I won't say no."

"Damn right ya won't," the old salamander walked past his room, "gotta make sure neither of us are gettin' rusty."

"Didn't you tell me this morning about the day you want to stop fighting?"

"Oh I ain't doing this just cuz I love to, I'm doing it fer your benefit too. We can't afford to get soft you an' I, thuh Toho clan may be thuh rulers of Kaijurocho...but that don't make us invincible."

He turned a corner towards the last set of stairs, a door at the top that opened out onto the roof. A cold wind would embrace them as Kiryu's suit remained stiff against the breeze whilst Sanjin felt the flaps under his tropical shirt lift slightly. All around them they could see the city, the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo bathed in a shattered rainbow of neon with a great iron tower at its centre, a scarlet beacon that pointed towards the stars as sirens screamed through the streets.

"Been a couple'a months since we last been up here." Sanjin stretched his arms with a twist of his body. "EH-ennnnhh let's keep this nice an' simple."

"Sounds good," Kiryu nodded flexing his fingers, "same as before?"

"Yeaaah let's not get too wild, just to loosen up our joints, you ready Kiryu-kun?"

"Always, Varan-san."

Gojirama stepped into his fighting stance, putting up his fists with a small grin as Sanjin did the same with slackened arms, limbering up with a shake through his body. The dark-scaled kaiju stepped towards his senior, twitching his eye in waiting for Varan to make the first move with a jabbing thrust at Kiryu's face. Dodging left he took a swiping punch to smack the elder across his cheek, who suddenly countered by a swift uppercut that knocked Kiryu back in a stagger. Stopping himself on the backfoot, the younger lieutenant came back with a sudden knee-thrust at Varan's gut, the patriarch blocking with one arm whilst grabbing Kiryu's shoulder with the other and rearing back to headbutt him sharp in the forehead, scraping his long spikes against the hardened scalp.

"NNNRGH!"

"Heh, still fall fer that dontcha?"

"Hmph, like you said, getting rusty."

Sanjin grinned as they stepped back briefly to give each other space, his younger reaching forwards with a long high kick swinging for Varan's head as he dodged before Kiryu switched legs to make a fierce turning kick and crush the patriarch's face. The spiked lizard stumbled with a grin, snickering at the hit that slightly bruised his cheek before he rushed forwards in a ducking stance, swinging for an uppercut to make Kiryu dodge left before punishing him immediately with a karate chop to the neck. Surprised by the savage chop, Gojirama clutched his throat before Sanjin grabbed him in a headlock to swing one leg back, and throw him backwards hard in a judo flip that sent both of them down to the floor.

"GAAH!" Varan groaned as his spikes crunched. "Shit that hurt more than I thought."

"You alright?" Kiryu kicked himself away.

"I'm not yer grandpa lemme worry about mahself," he pushed himself up, "now come on show me whut you got!"

Loosening their shoulders they stood apart once again as Kiryu came in with a haymaker at half-strength, sweeping past Varan's chin when he reared back and grabbed his arm to twist it fast, kicking Kiryu's legs out underneath to make him kneel in front of his elder.

"NNGH, hey, I thought we were playing easy!"

"This is easy, fer me!" Varan chuckled from behind. "You forgot how we do things down in Okinawa Kiryu-kun?"

"NNN-NNMMPH!"

Twisting himself he swung the elbow of his free arm back to knock against Varan's wrists, causing them to spasm and release before he pulled himself up and turned to face the old reptile who grinned with a beckoning hand. Kiryu marched forwards with a one-two-three-punch that Sanjin blocked with slapping parries before Kiryu spun himself to strike with his tail. Batting the elder across the face to throw him briefly off-balance, the darker reptile grabbed the rust-orange triphibian and swung out his own back leg to judo-throw him backwards in revenge.

"HNNNRAAGH!"

"GUHH!" his back thudded harder on the asphalt. "D-dammit, don't you copy me!"

"Just adapting to your skill," Kiryu pushed himself up, "it's a compliment."

"It's called plagiarism ya sunuvabitch now COME ON, time to get serious!"

===============

Ten years ago Kiryu had heard the same thing as his mind slipped back briefly, watching the old kaiju march forwards as his memory drifted to a cold winter's day in Kaijurocho. The skyline was covered with thin silver strips over the unlit signs of big red kanji and splashing fonts, a few different shops blurred in a sepia sunset drifting down upon Kiryu's striped polo shirt and thin shorts. He stared upon a middle-aged Varan in a black jacket and jeans, spikes shooting out from the holes in the pleather as he taunted Kiryu forwards.

"I ain't got all day kid, let's go."

The young Kiryu rushed forwards with a frantic boxing combo, swinging savagely left and right as the old kaiju blocked four of them with his arms and took one to the face, grabbing the punk's wrist and driving his elbow into Kiryu's face with bleary eyes before a spinning backfist across the cheek to send him stumbling. Snorting with a gasp, Gojirama gave a giant football kick that Sanjin dodged, grabbing the outswung leg with both arms to throw up in the sky and flip Kiryu hard onto his back.

"AUUUUGH!"

"I thought you were gonna get serious?" said Sanjin straightening his jacket. "You keep leavin' yerself wide open you gonna end up flat like roadkill."

"I'm not done YET!"

Rushing from his bowed knees, Kiryu leapt forth to grab Sanjin by the waist and frantically try to slam him down before the middle-aged patriarch dug his heels hard into the asphalt with scraping feet, wrapping his arms around the front of Kiryu's neck near his side before he lifted hard to make him choke. With a greater force surprising the youth, Sanjin pulled his entire chest up high to lift him upside-down and slam his head into the ground with a tombstone piledriver.

"GRAAAAARGH!"

Crumpling slightly from the blinding headache, he pushed himself back up as quick as he could and threw both his hands in a wild one-two uppercut that Sanjin reared back to avoid before the dark-scaled youth came with a savage haymaker and spun his entire body to slam his tail into Varan's face, sending him reeling with a hard crunch but only for a moment as the older kaiju chuckled brushing his snout.

Lunging forwards with the momentum of his swing, the mid-20s Kiryu drove his fist into Varan's gut hoping to punch the wind out of his sails. But Sanjin didn't budge, tightening his abdominal muscles to form a fleshy wall against the punch as he smiled upon Gojirama's shocked expression, which turned to pain from the ruthless knee crunching in his jaw to send him almost falling backwards until the elder grabbed his arm and twisted it in a lock once again, throwing his other arm underneath Kiryu's body to spin him round like a dance partner and trip him with a sweeping foot to toss him across the rooftop.

"GUH, DUH, AAARGH!" He slammed his fists into the ground when he stopped. "Alright, that's it."

"Hoohooooo boy you sure are a sore loser." Sanjin beckoned with his fingers. "If you can't keep yer cool you ain't cut out fer this job."

"Then I'll have to take your job instead!"

Stomping across the roof Kiryu made one desperate charge as he leapt through the sky with a flying doublekick, thrusting both feet out towards Sanjin's face who smiled with wicked glee and stepped to one side to grab his legs like a caber. Roaring with a surge of strength from Kiryu's momentum, Varan swung the youth's body round to send his back crunching against the rooftop door. Crumpling with a wince, Gojirama staggered upon withering knees that forced themselves to stand as he made a lumbering final punch as hard as he could into Sanjin's face. At the exact same time that Sanjin slammed his forehead against the youth's fist.

The crunch visibly rattled through Kiryu's arm as his knuckle bent against the base of the spikes, groaning as he clutched his wrist by a reflex just in time to see Varan pull back one of his fists with deadly grin and a brief burst of yellow aura shimmered round his body.

"VAAAAAAA_RYUKEN!_"

The second crunch Kiryu felt through his skull, Sanjin's knuckles grinding into his jaw with such force that he was launched four feet in the air as stars burst through his eyes, the flickering shocks of golden energy sparking through his brain before he landed hard on his back like a sack of bricks. Kiryu struggled to breathe as he felt his eyes throb from the spasms that raked through his head, sending a dull cloud through his consciousness as he gazed upon the form of Sanjin Obakimura.

"You lose, li'l guy."

"D-damnit," he slammed his fist in the gravel, "DAMN IT!"

"You know whut that means dontcha? You come at thuh Toho, you better not miss."

Sanjin bent over him with a shit-eating grin.

"Yer not ready to join us yet kid."

"The hell I'm not." He tried to reach up against the sun. "I can do it...I...I-i can do it, just let me fight again-"

"Oh I'll fight you again, as many times as you want." He offered his hand to pull him up. "I'll fight you this same time next week, and when you finally beat me...then, I'll let you in on the clan. Or until you give up an' leave like any other bitch-ass punk."

"I won't...I won't give up." Kiryu grabbed his hand. "I'll...I'll see you next week. Boss."

==============

Kiryu smiled as the memory faded of that winter's day, a soft chill breeze now gone as the summer heat of today brought him back to stare upon Sanjin's face. He hadn't even noticed he was now wrestling him, wrapping his darker arms under Sanjin's armpits and squeezing the thin membranous flaps of his sides against his body beneath the island shirt, a brief sumo-wrestling match between them as they rocked back and forth, before Kiryu hooked his foot behind Varan to throw him down on his back.

Sanjin however took him down with him, laying on his back to slam both his feet into Kiryu's knees causing his legs to spasm and crumple, before the patriarch grabbed his head and throttled him playfully with half his arm strength. Kiryu did not approve, keeping his arms close against his neck to shove Varan's hands away and give him a punishing punch to the face before pushing himself back up.

"NNNGH!" Sanjin snorted. "Hhhaha, not bad, yer gettin' clever!"

"I know all your tricks now," Kiryu smirked, "it's why you're fun to scrap with."

"Oh you know all my tricks do ya?" The elder rolled himself back up with a heave. "Alright...take yer next shot, big guy."

He knew what was coming. Varan couldn't resist being a show-off in these times but he let him have this for a little while. Taking a brief boxing stance Kiryu gave three vicious jabs, followed by an uppercut then a sweet roundhouse punch that was just slow enough for Varan to block and punish by gliding it over his arm and then socking Kiryu hard with his other fist to send him reeling. He pulled his fist back with the same devious grin from back then and a haze of yellow surrounding his body.

"VAAAAAAA_RYUKEN!_"

Kiryu smiled and braced his feet with a twist of his shoes, swerving in a quickstep as Varan whiffed completely with his sky-high uppercut, wreathes of coiling gold trickling through his arm as his eyes widened in slow-motion. He felt Kiryu's fist in his ribcage, a wondrous savage haymaker slamming Obakimura straight onto his back, choking briefly from the shuddering vibrations through his chest.

"KHHHHH! Kh-KHHHH, ECHHH!"

"Remember Varan-san?" Kiryu grinned bending over him. "You come at the Toho...you better not miss."

"F-fuck...off with that shit," he snorted laughing as he clutched his chest, "f-f-fucking damn you hit harder than ya used to."

"I learned from the best, you alright?"

"Yeah yeah sunuvabitch," Sanjin patted his ribs with a thick wheeze, "just, gimme a minute, you punched about thirty years o' smoke outta me."

"I'll buy you another lung." He offered his hand.

"Nah." Varan grabbed and pulled himself up with a gasp. "Just gettin' old Kiryu, that's thuh way it is."

"You're right...good training though, you always know how to keep me on my toes Obakimura-san."

"Fuck I tell you about bein' formal?" He punched Kiryu's chin weakly.

"You taught me how to better my moves," he parried with a soft sweep of his hand.

"An' yet you don't call me sensei."

"Would you like me to?"

"Nah, it's Varan-san or nuthin', you oughta learn by now unless I beat thuh short-term memory outta yous."

"I think you've driven enough into my head that I should be fine."

Sanjin patted his shoulder as they walked back inside, the night of summer's end drifting over their heads amidst the veins of the neon city. Both were bruised but not bloodied, as Sanjin opened the front door of their office for Kiryu to leave before locking it once more and returning to his room. He slipped into his futon bed, feeling the harder teflon covering underneath that supported his spikes from scraping into the floor as he stared at the window wall beyond the TV.

"This the only fight I need Kiryu," he said to himself, "don't need nobody else to bother...the only one who's worth it."