FSE

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October 3rd

Somewhere northwest of Kaijurocho, there lied a ward known as Suginamazu that was practically its own city. It was perfect during the autumn when cedar trees would grow along avenues and shed their leaves to scatter across the parks in a haze of brown, red and ochre. A brisk cooling wind would cause them to dance in a ballet of parting forgiveness, until the spring would rebirth them anew.

The gentle suburbia still had its commercial districts and tightly-packed houses, but was more open with its parks and fields and dotted trees that sprouted through alleys, wrapped around windows and stood shoulder to shoulder with street lights. One would almost be mistaken in thinking that nature had reclaimed this place, where motherly reptiles chatted in the streets, calm buzzing insectoids ate lunch, and furry scamps kicked about in the park.

At the end of the park, behind sakura blossoms and a winding river, stood an orphanage where children played in the front yard. A long stone wall circled around a traditional Japanese house, a back garden with waterwheel half-submerged in the river, a satellite dish transfixed upon the roof, and a somewhat-humble sign upon the front gate that had a large blue pearl.

"Give iiiiit!"

"No it's my turn!"

"I wanna bat, come oooon!"

"Just one more, okay?!"

"Boys."

A small hornet and a little wolf stiffened at the voice coming nearby, one holding a plastic bat and the other holding a rubber ball.

"I told you before about sharing did I not?"

"Yes Ho-ohnda-san," they bowed.

"Now Nishi, it's Yuri's turn to be batter, you can trust him to give you your turn back when he is done."

"O-okay."

Smiling upon them was an old crimson bird with yellow tips on his wings that dragged softly behind him, dark sagging rings round his eyes and a craggly beak covered in liver spots showing his advanced years. A bucket hat covered his eyes from the sun, a polo shirt with open sleeves for his winged arms and a pair of slacks round his old taloned legs completing his caretaker look.

Other children played around him, a chufty hippo playing hopscotch, a butterfly with one wing trying to climb the roof whilst a young cobra encouraged her to keep trying. Two nightingales sat in the corner whispering secrets to each other, and lastly a rat without ears sat reading his manga.

The old phoenix looked up towards the entrance as a smile came to his beak, recognising a dark smouldering figure in a white suit and a red-winged kaiju in snappy purple waistcoat.

"Ah! Ohhhh, Goji-kun, Robert-kun!"

"Ho-ohnda-sama," Kiryu bowed with Danzaki, "it's good to see you're doing well."

"Hm hm hm, I was not expecting either of you so soon, normally you come by in December."

"Well, I came back earlier than usual," Danzaki shrugged, "hope that's not a bother Ho-ohnda-sama."

"Of course not," the old bird pulled them both into a hug, "all my sons and daughters are welcome to see me."

They carefully squeezed him back as they stepped inside the orphanage yard, the children gasping at the newcomers and coming together to meet them.

"U-uncle Goji!"

"Uncle Robbie!"

"Heeeey mis chavos!" Roberto bent down to pat their heads. "Howsit going, woah Mira you're getting tall!"

"I-i am?" the butterfly gasped with a bashful look.

"Yeaaah yeah, gonna be taller than me when you're grown up, Nagai you been looking after her right?"

"You bet Uncle Rob!" the cobra bowed with smiling fangs. "How're you?!"

"Ehhh, work as usual, stuck with this codo here-"

"I paid for the fare," Kiryu bumped Rob's shoulder.

"Yeah but I paid for lunch, cuz YOU spent your allowance last night on your boyfriend."

"You got a BOYFRIEND?!" squeaked one of the nightingales.

"Oooooh what's he like?!" gasped the other flapping her wings. "Is he from round here, is he cuuuuute?!"

"Now now," Ho-ohnda pushed the children back, "Goji-kun and Robert-kun have travelled far, and I'm sure they'd like to rest their haunches before you bombard them with questions. I'll call you all when dinner is ready."

The children hurried back to their silly games as the old phoenix motioned the adults to follow him inside the orphanage. They took off their shoes at the porch and headed into Ho-ohnda's room, his golden tail curling behind as they sat themselves round a small table.

His room was modest with children's drawings hung up on the wall, along with some commendations he received from writing essays, parts of a mortar shell resculpted to sit on his desk, and a few articles about the orphanage being featured in local news, one of which Kiryu saw with a smile.

"Hey, remember that?"

He pointed to a squat chubby lizard and a small-winged pterodactyl.

"Ohhh yeah," Danzaki grinned, "that was the week after we had that big fight."

"I'm glad the bruises healed up in time," said Ho-ohnda with a small tea tray, "you two were always fighting at that age."

"I don't remember why," Kiryu shook his head, "but I remember after that fight we became best friends."

"Iiii think I remember," the pterodactyl rubbed his neck, "I dared you to some kinda contest and you called me stupid, then we started fighting over the next month cuz I kept trying to beat you."

"Aaaah. And then I beat you proper, and then you asked if you could be my friend-"

"Cuz I always follow the strongest, yeah yeah you got it!"

"Boys," the old bird tapped the table, "I hope you have better memories of being here then getting into fights with each other."

"Yes Ho-ohnda-sama," the two adults bowed.

"How have you been?"

"Well," Kiryu took his first sip, "business has been good, mostly I've just been hanging out with Danzaki-san since he came back-"

"He still calls me that," Roberto thumbed at him, "twenty-four years he's been mi carnal and he still calls me that."

"You know Goji-kun has always been a respectful kaiju," the old bird patted Kiryu's hand, "that's just his way, it's one of the things I love dearly about him."

"Oh yeah? What you like about me then, Ho-ohnda-sama?"

"You're impetuous, vivacious and spirited Robert-kun, you're like the sun to every garden you visit."

"Awww, th-thanks." He blushed rubbing his cheek. "So, what's been going on down here?"

"Ohhh the same as usual, the little ones are full of vigour, they're very excited to hear stories from the big city."

"We'll try to keep them family friendly," said Kiryu chuckling. "Is there anything else you need before we settle down?"

"Oh no no please," the old caretaker smiled, "drink up, rest your legs, tell me what else you have been up to?"

"Well I was in America for a few months," Roberto drank up his tea, "down in California, you ever been there Ho-ohnda-sama?"

"No, not really, only place I've travelled to was China."

"Oh wow, for what?"

"Back in the World War, helping local resistance against the Vashers, when they tried to take over Mongolia and the Great Wall had to be fortified."

"Q-qué?!" Danzaki blinked. "They fortified the entire wall?!"

"Ohoh yes," said Ho-ohnda nodding, "only reason China managed to resist against the Siberian front, half of Mongolia had been taken over and well, I had to assist in fortifying the single greatest defence we had left against the Vashers. Had they managed to take over China, Japan would surely be next."

"I wouldn't think anyone could take over China," Kiryu crossed his arms, "their army is massive."

"Yes but would you believe the Vashers had more? Most of whom were fire fodder, poor creatures forced to march under threat of their families being killed. At least, the ones who were not in camps already...such as the Gobi Cemetery..."

His eyes trailed off as Roberto glanced towards the mortar shell on the desk. A small deafening silence fell on their ears until Kiryu changed the subject.

"Danzaki-san was telling me about a nice place in America, somewhere called Monsterey?"

"OH, si!" the pterosaur nodded thankfully. "It's a beautiful place, lots of wine country there, old monsters in retirement, a big long beach, it's kinda chill for a place that does a lot of trading."

"You read that off the pamphlet they gave you?"

"Wha-no!"

"Just saying you sold me that pretty well, maybe you oughta work for their tourist board."

"Shut up, pendejo!"

"Robert-kun." The red bird snapped his fingers. "Watch your words, I won't have any of that in my house, Goji-kun you shouldn't tease him either."

"Yes, Ho-ohnda-sama," they both bowed respectfully.

"America sounds a lovely place, I have always wanted to travel there, I made quite a few friends from monsters among the Allied forces."

"You know any English?" Danzaki thumbed at Kiryu. "Maybe you can teach Goji-chan some to impress his boyfriend."

"Would you stop?" Gojirama snarled. "It's only been three dates."

"Well now I have to ask," Ho-ohnda pressed his claws beneath his chin, "who is this lovely boy Robert-kun cannot resist telling me about?"

"Just someone who helped me out the past two months, he's a student from Ireland that works in the mini-mart near my office."

"How lovely! He is quite lucky to have you, if all goes well."

"Anyone would be lucky to have Goji-chan," said the pterosaur patting his friend, "also before I forget."

He brought out two envelopes and handed them over to his senior, the firebird opening them to find they were packed full of yen bills.

"Thank you my boys," he bowed gratefully, "that actually pays off the roof we had to fix after the storm."

"A poco?!" gasped Danzaki. "What happened to the roof?!"

"A tree hit the side of it, it was quite frightening! Thankfully no one was hurt, but it did put a dent in the budget which you boys just filled."

"Glad we could help," Kiryu finished the rest of his tea, "I couldn't even tell anything happened to it."

"Well, I pushed for the extra polish," the phoenix shrugged, "no job is finished until it is finished fully."

"Something a lotta creatures can learn today," said Roberto nodding, "we're staying for a few days at the inn on Nobusamo so if you need anything Ho-ohnda-sama-"

"That's very kind of you, but I'm sure I'll be fine thank you. All I ask is you give good stories to the children that is safe for their ears."

"Hm, no problem," Kiryu grinned, "Danzaki-san however you should worry about-"

"EY-EY-EY!" Roberto jabbed him. "I'd never hurt mis chavos with dirty stories!"

"I know, I'm joking, hmhmha."

The first day of their visit to the orphanage went by smoothly, the children constantly pestering them about life in Tokyo that they kept G-rated as possible. Kiryu spoke of strange encounters in the city, whilst Roberto painted stories of American life that fascinated the children all the more. Ho-ohnda sat beside them, signing with his hands for the sake of the young rat without ears who nodded with excitement.

After their stories there came dinner, plates of curry beef as the two Toho gangsters sat between the children and wolfed down their meals. Ho-ohnda ate the slowest, taking his time with smaller eyes and his old beak covered in scratches as he kept order amongst his charges, both young and old.

Soon it was time for bed, the sky turning dark with golden hue beneath the cedar trees, their leaves becoming embers in the light of dusk as Kiryu and Roberto wished them goodnight for the first day, and walked back to the local inn.

The silence of the suburban district was almost terrifying. Without the sweet trundling sounds of engines or the cry of police sirens, they would struggle for a while before they fell asleep. From the deep black of night, where more stars than usual could be seen without the glare of Kaijurocho's neon lights, their dreams drifted back into memories of their childhood. Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games, hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names.

As the curtain of stars would be swept aside piece by piece, the radiant dawn banishing the darkness with its amber gaze, they awoke the early morn and had their breakfast in the downstairs living room of the inn, an open wooden assemblage with tatami mats and low tables.

The innkeeper, resembling some large woodland owl with a raccoon's whiskers instead of a beak, brought them a nice homely traditional mix of hot steaming tofu, rice with soft boiled egg and vegetables, and a hot miso soup.

"Heeere you are," she placed down their food, "hope you don't mind me asking but, have I seen you boys somewhere before?"

"We used to live at the orphanage," Kiryu said starting with soup, "just came back to say hi."

"Ohohhh yes, I remember you now, Goji and Roberto, I'm Totoyama."

"Nice to meetcha," Roberto bowed chewing his tofu, "glad we got a proper introduction, sorry we didn't see you yesterday."

"Oh it's fine, did my helper get you settled in?"

"Yeah she was great, this place is still as charming as we remember it."

"Hmhmhm," the innkeeper patted the table, "I remember you especially, trying to do polevaults on the streetlight outside my inn."

"Awww órale, you remember that?!"

"I have a good memory for faces," she tapped her head, "good to see you both grew up into respectable males, what do you do out in the big city?"

"Finance," Kiryu drank up his miso, "it's pretty dull, but it has its own rewards."

"Well that's lovely! Truth be told I thought you two would end up being athletes, I remember the soccer games your orphanage had against the local schools."

"Hey yeah, remember that Goji-chan?" Danzaki scarfed on some pickles. "We were gonna play for Tokyo FC, and then meet uhh Waniyama?"

"Hah, I think we're too old for that now," Kiryu shook his head.

"Mi guey, you're thirty-two, haven't you heard thirty is the new twenty?"

"He's right you know," Totoyama smiled crossing her arms, "you're both strong fine young creatures, you have the world out there for you!"

"I'm just happy to keep doing what I do," Gojirama went for his rice, "mmmph this egg is incredible."

"All fresh and local," she wagged her finger, "all of our food is, it helps to keep our businesses together, does that happen in Kaijurocho?"

"Mmmm, not so much, nobody grows anything there."

"Not even weeds grow out there," said Roberto finishing his tofu, "seriously, it's an insult to call it an urban jungle."

"Hah!"

They finished their breakfast and headed back out on the street, taking a long walk round the old neighbourhood as they waved to familiar faces in all the usual places. Golden leaves continued to rain down on their faces, crunching underfoot as they wandered to the old riverside den.

Obscured by overhanging trees, the soft willows of white fronds touched their heads as they saw two kappas rowing on a boat, waving to them in passing as they sat down in a small perfect lagoon that felt like a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the streets.

"Wow," Kiryu sighed, "how did you find this place?"

"Remember Yuki-chan?" Roberto grinned at him. "This is where I got my first kiss."

"Damn, how old were you?"

"Ehhh, about eight? Was before I got orphaned."

"Wow, Yuki-chan was a popular girl."

"Yeaaah," the pterosaur shrugged, "it didn't last but hey you never forget your first, what about you?"

"Hmmm," Kiryu rubbed his chin, "Ichiro, back when I was twelve, remember he had one leg?"

"Ohhh yeah Ichi-One!" Roberto winced shaking his head. "Sorry that...that's probably really bad, he hated that name huh?"

"He did, it's fine, I never saw him again after he got adopted."

"I'm glad he did, hope he's doing well, how'd you two end up kissing?"

"We both liked the same manga, he really liked me. He was kind of a sad kid, I just think he was lonely and needed someone to like him."

"See, you always helping others out even when you were a kid."

"You have anyone right now?" Kiryu leaned back looking at the sky. "I worried about you not having someone, since you're always a very social kaiju."

"Ahhh you know me," Roberto waved his wing, "once I got out of my chingar phase I got a lot better at handling others."

"Yeah, I remember once you hit like thirteen you calmed down a lot."

"To answer your question, no I got no one at the moment, I just never was the kinda guy to settle down you know, maybe I get that from my dad."

"Do you resent him for...not being there?"

"I mean, there was a time I did, and yeah he was shitty about leaving mama and mis abuelos didn't even know who he was so...I just try not to be him, be real careful, always rubber up and well, if I do leave any chavos behind, I promise to provide with payments."

"And did you leave any behind?" Kiryu smirked.

"Nope," Danzaki grinned back, "like I said, I'm real careful, I even pay upfront for the senoras' contraceptives too."

"Glad you're being responsible."

"So this McCartin guy," Roberto leaned in close, "does he know you're Toho?"

"No," Kiryu rubbed his neck, "I'm not sure how to tell him."

"What's the problem? I know we're criminals, but we're not thugs."

"No but he might not get that. I know yakuza have a reputation, like those mafia in America you told me about."

"Aaah," Roberto nodded, "you worry he's gonna assume the worst."

"Wouldn't you?" Kiryu put up his hands. "If the girl you were dating said she was in the yakuza, and you weren't, would you stay?"

"Ehh...so what happens if he finds out?"

"Well, if he gets upset I'll let him break up with me, let him have the advantage so he doesn't feel frightened. I know our clan operates different to other yakuza, but I would rather he leave and feel happy, than feel like he's forced to stay and be afraid."

"Damn bro," Roberto shook his head, "that's...that's real sad, you deserve someone to be happy with, you're one of the best guys out there."

"Heh," Kiryu grinned awkwardly, "sounds like you wanna date me next."

"Hey, if I was into guys, I would." Danzaki smiled rubbing his friend's arm. "Ni modo, carnal, I know you'll handle things fine, and there's plenty others out there."

"I'm not a lovesick teen," Goji rolled his eyes, "but thanks, I appreciate the words Danzaki-san."

Heading back to the orphanage, they waved to the children as they came a-dozen, babbling and grabbing at their suits with grubby hands until the old phoenix brushed them aside to let the adults come inside for lunch. Naturally the youngsters never let them be, pestering them with constant questions as they crowded around a long table whilst sat on the floor.

"WHUT is the biiiiggest building you ever been to?!" asked a hippo.

"Mmmm the Millennium Tower," Roberto reached his wing up high, "it's a hundred-and-eight floors, including the rooftop, barely touches the clouds!"

"WOW, you flew ALLL the way up there?!"

"Suuuure did, I got an A-class licence."

"Whut's a A-class?" asked a cobra child.

"So if you got wings," Danzaki flapped his carefully, "you gotta get a licence to fly in the city because there's all these signs and choppers, so you have to go apply for one like a driver's licence. You got C-class which is like, the height of this place, then B-class for like say, the buildings here in town, and then A-class which is like the skyscrapers and you really gotta show like, the best kinda skill."

"Wooow," the one-winged butterfly dropped his head, "I wish I could...get one."

"You can," Kiryu nodded petting the boy, "there's prosthetics out there you can get in the city, I've known one or two creatures who lost a wing or got it torn and they had it fixed up."

"But, I-i don't have any money."

"Not now, but one day you will if you work hard, keep up on your lessons and shoot for a job, like me and Danzaki did."

"Mmm...okay."

"You ever fight any crime?!" boasted one nightingale.

"I heard Kaijurocho's SUPER dangerous," the other bird grinned, "you have to fight soooo many gangs!"

"Chima-kun please," the phoenix waved his hand, "let's not ask our guests about such things."

"But I wanna hear about the gaaaangs, they're so cooool!"

"They are not cool, they are fiends and criminals and I would hope none of you become that."

"He's right mi chava," Roberto nodded to her, "it's not something you wanna be, trust me, Goji-chan and I have seen plenty of those thugs and none of them are good."

"But I don't want a GOOD boy," said the little nightingale, "I like fights, they're cool!"

"Yeah yeah!" the other bird cried. "I'm gonna marry a wrestler, an' he can fight everywhere I wan' him to!"

"Trust me," Kiryu glowered, "it gets old real fast, you'll get bored of that soon enough and you'll regret not finding someone nice and normal and boring to settle with."

A hand tugged at Kiryu's sleeve as he looked towards the rat with no ears. He flipped over a sketchbook offering a picture to the guests, showing a rather crude but good impression of a large black lizard and a red-winged creature.

"Hey, Danzaki look, Jun-kun made a pic of us!"

"Awwww no manches!?" the pteranodon grinned leaning over. "Awww mi chavo, gracias it looks great, hey can we take this with us?"

"Yeah, we can put it in our office!"

Ho-ohnda translated with his taloned fingers, the boy nodding with a bashful grin as Kiryu folded it carefully to put in his pocket.

"Thank you Jun-kun, I can't wait to put this up, you really captured my likeness."

"Yeah you sure did!" Danzaki poked his friend. "You captured Goji-chan's belly."

"HEY!" He snorted pretending to raise his fist. "I've been working out a lot since we last met!"

"Yeah yeah, bet you can't win a match against me."

"Oh...is that it?" Kiryu grinned with a hand on his hip. "Wanna put your money where your beak is?"

"I'm right here hombre," Roberto spread his wings, "just say when."

"Alright, hey kids, who wants to play some soccer and knock wingboy down a few pegs?"

"YEAAAH!" the children cried.

"I wanna be on uncle Goji's team!" squeaked the cobra.

"I'm on uncle Robbie's team!" the butterlfy put up his hand.

"Alright everyone first put away your plates," said Ho-ohnda sitting up, "then we can have a match outside but remember, it's still a game and we're all friends so no rough-housing alright?"

"Yes Ho-ohnda-sama," said the children and two adults.

After clearing up the plates, they went outside with Kiryu and his group on one side of the lawn in blue vests, whilst Roberto stood in red shirts with his own team. Both the adults took off their suits, the caretaker playing referee as the phoenix raised his wing, starting the game off with a coin flip as Roberto got the first kick. The nightingales worked an incredible offensive, passing back and forth to sweep past Kiryu and strike a shocking goal, but the small hornet and little wolf made a team-up attack where one kicked the ball high and the other flapped up to boot it in with his head.

For the next two hours the match played on, trying to be as close to a real soccer match as they could with Ho-ohnda trying not to give anyone the red card. Thankfully the children did not play too rough with each other, and it was a close match with Kiryu looking like he would win it at one point.

He tried to sweep past Roberto, but his friend was too fast and made a devious sliding tackle forcing Goji to jump, the pterosaur flapping himself upright to keep the ball moving before he slammed it straight into the next. Goals were cried, shirts were put up over heads and creatures went on their knees through the grass. To make certain there were no sore losers, Ho-ohnda gave everyone the same amount of sweets.

"Hoo!" Danzaki clapped his wings. "That was hella good, not had a match like that in years."

"Yeah I missed playing soccer," Kiryu sat down beside him, "I'm never blocking your slide, no matter what happens."

"Just gotta git gud bro! But it was fun, the chavos look real happy."

"You know there's a kid back in Kaijurocho," Goji pulled off his sports vest showing his bare chest, "lives out in Little Asia, he loves soccer."

"Ohhh yeah?" Roberto pulled off his showing his slender abs. "You told me you helped him out and uh, you met the Korean leader?"

"Yeah, this kid called Jeon's a real fan, I told him about our big win where we drawed with Kamigano?"

"Awww shit that was the BEST, you passed it to me, and I headed it right in!"

"Damn straight," they bumped their fists as Kiryu grinned, "you think maybe we could do something like that, for all the kids in Little Asia?"

"What you mean?" asked the pterosaur.

"There's nowhere for them to play, Jeon has to go to the park to kick about and the boss of Little Asia always worries about them getting attacked. I just wonder if...they have a lot of rooftops so I'm thinking what if we could get one of those converted to like a little field?"

"Ooooh yeah, and then you got walls covering it like the batting centre!"

"Right! You think we could do that?"

"I mean," Roberto shrugged, "you know the Koreans don't like us so, it's not really up to us."

"But if I could get permission...would you help?"

"Oh yeah, I'd totally help you out."

"Thanks," Kiryu nodded putting his suit back on, "I'll see if I can't run it by their leader."

"Look at you mister Lieutenant," Danzaki grinned nudging him, "making connections all around the city."

"It would help us down the way, I told you about Gihei right? It'd be good to have some allies."

"Hey no I'm not disagreeing, I think it's good and I'll help like I said-"

"NRRAAAAARGH!"

They turned their heads to see the young wasp hit a ball the wolf delivered. Cracking it up into the sky, he flapped high in a furious swing and struck it a second time with the bat, shooting it straight over the trees and hurtling towards an old house on the hill. The sound of a window faintly breaking filled him with dread, slowly fluttering down with his face set in stone of large black eyes tightening with his antennae.

"Wh-...what did you DO?!" the wolf cried.

"I-i...I-i-i just, y-you kept teasing me saying I wuz weak!"

"I didn't mean, but, why'd you hit it THERE?!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN IT!"

"Hey, everything alright?"

Kiryu strolled up with a worried look with Danzaki beside him. The boys turned sheepish and went silent, Roberto taking a small flap upwards to scan the view.

"Oh no." He sucked through his beak. "Youuuu just hit that ball straight for Shin's Hotel."

"Wh-what...who's Shin?" the wolf fidgeted.

"You don't know the story?" Roberto landed beside him. "It's cursed, place is haunted!"

"Danzaki don't," Kiryu pulled him back, "we don't need to frighten them."

"But they have to know, it's public safety!"

"It's just a damn ghost story, that's not true and you know it."

"G-guh, GHOSTS?!" the wasp squealed trembling through his wings. "D-d-did, m-my ball hit a g-ghost house?!"

"Yeeeep," Roberto shook his head, "so, the story goes-"

"Danzaki-"

"NO!"

The look in Roberto's face made the saurian step back with exasperated sigh, letting his friend explain the story.

"That hotel used to be run by a guy called Shin, a nice little place next to the mountain shrine and the path that goes up towards it. He sold these black crystals for souvenirs, little thank-yous for staying at the hotel, and one day, Shin goes up to the priestess and asked for blessings, offering her a crystal. It shattered in her hand, and she suddenly grabbed him, told him something that would change him, horrify him."

"W-what?" the wolf shook his head. "What she say?"

"No one knows. But he walked back with a face as white as a sheet. Two nights later, all the lights went out in his house, then an earthquake happened that split the house from the main path."

"This is stupid," Kiryu muttered.

"No one ever saw Shin come out of that house for a month," Danzaki continued, "the place was locked up, nobody went near it thinking that Shin had just moved out or something. Then came the flood, a terrible storm that washed down the mountain and flooded the old inn causing the basement walls to collapse, and inside...they found seven bodies. The last guests of the hotel, murdered, each and every one...with a black crystal stabbed through their throats."

"H-hohhh shit," the wasp whimpered, "wh-what...happened to Shin?"

"Well, the police came." Roberto nodded clasping his wings. "They never found his body. But every single mirror in that house was made of black crystal, and pieces that had been taken off them...matched the same design as the crystals he gave to those who stayed."

"Okay, wait." Kiryu patted him. "What about the guests who left?"

"Oh they didn't stay long, these seven who died, all of them were found to have stayed for a week, and all of them were killed on the fourth night."

"That is the dumbest story I've heard you say."

"You were there cabron, don't you call me a liar!"

"I don't think you're lying, I think you just got some details mixed up."

"Wh-whatever, point is you're not getting your ball back." He turned to the young hornet. "I'm sorry, it belongs to Shin now."

"N-...n-no." The boy grabbed his head. "B-but, m-my ball, th-that was my only ball!"

"You'll have to get a new one, I'm sorry-"

"NO! THAT BALL'S MINE!"

"Dude it's fine!" the wolf grabbed his arm. "We can get a new one, we're not in trouble at least!"

"I DON'T WANT A NEW ONE, I WANT MY BALL!" the wasp shrieked.

"Why you care about your stupid ball?!"

"CUZ IT WUZ MY BROTHER'S!"

There was a brief silence as the hornet sobbed with a tearful wince.

"M-my...my older brother, he looked after me, when we lost dad...h-he gave me that ball, i-it's the last thing I...I have left of him."

"Wait, really?" the cub gasped. "Oh...jeez I, I didn't know, I'm sorry-"

"I-i need it, i-it's...I-i don't wanna forget my big b-bro!"

"You're not gonna forget him," Danzaki patted his shoulder, "he's not gonna be mad you lost his ball, he'd be more happy that you're okay."

"N-NO!"

The wasp slapped him away hugging himself with his four arms. He fell to his knees in a gasping whimper, trembling with a gentle cry as Kiryu looked towards the house on the hill.

"I'll get it back."

"Wha-...what?"

"I'll get it back no problem," Kiryu nodded, "I'm not afraid of ghosts, and I understand how important this ball is to you."

"Q-QUE?!" Roberto shook his head. "No, n-no Goji the ghosts, THE GHOSTS you can't just-"

"A-are you...really?" the wasp shivered looking up at them. "P-please...I'm sorry, I-i won't lose it again just please get it back!"

"Kiryu, NO!" Danzaki grabbed his friend. "That place is death, it is not worth it for-"

"I'm not just doing this for his ball," Kiryu shoved past him, "I'm doing it to also prove a point, that there's no such thing as ghosts."

"YES, there is, mis abuelos told me to respect the places of the dead, are you doubting mis abuelos?!"

"No, I agree that you should respect the dead, but also ghosts are not real."

"Th-that, that, CHINGA TU MADRE!"

"I'm going," said Goji taking a walk, "I'll let Ho-ohnda-sama know first, I'll be back in a while, you can call me-"

"N-NO, I...aaaagh lemmecomewithyou!"

"Wh-whut should we do?!" asked the hornet stepping back.

"Tell Ho-ohnda-sama we have uh, urgent business!" the pteranodon shouted back. "We'll be back before sunset, promise!"

"Okay, th-thank you uncle Robbie, uncle Goji!"

The Toho members hurried off towards the mountain path, an old winding track that crept towards a shrine two hours uphill. Through a partly-covered forest that had been spaced out by travellers, the worn trail of many creatures left a deep impression in the woods. After forty minutes of walking, Kiryu would cut through the trees due west to a lesser-known path that had overgrown enough to obscure the old inn. A house of pale walls and broken windows, where banshees screamed from the wind raking over glass.

"Which window did it go through?" Kiryu asked.

"That one," Roberto pointed to the second floor, "there's not as much glass covering the shards but we really should not be here."

"If you're too frightened I'll go in, be out in half an hour."

"NO!" He grabbed his friend. "NEVER go alone into a haunted place, that's begging to get murdered!"

"Then either come in with me or wait outside," Kiryu shrugged, "or go up to that window and break it open-"

"That's even worse! Look, I'm coming with you, but we stick together and you do not leave my side."

"Alright, let's go."

"Waaait wait," Roberto stepped past him, "does your phone have a camera?"

"No."

"Ugh, órale," he pulled out a smartphone, "mine does, ghosts hate cameras, you take a picture, you steal a piece of their soul."

"Heh," Kiryu chuckled, "I thought that only worked if you have film."

"It's all I got okay?! Fuck I'm sorry, I didn't think we were going ghost-hunting on our nice CALMING relaxing trip!"

"Alright, alright," the saurian gripped Roberto's shoulders, "I'm not going to mock you, I understand you're scared."

"I'm not scared, I just know what ghosts can do!"

"Well I'll follow your lead. You're my superior after all so that's fair-"

"Ugh Goji-chan don't," Danzaki pushed him back, "not the time to fucking push rank on me."

"Hey, it'll keep my head down and follow your orders, don't knock it."

"Alright. Let's go."

Stepping inside they felt a cold draught through their feet, a dark chill on their faces as the mud shifted beneath their shoes with the sound of crinkling glass. The reception room had one corner desk and old thrift-store paintings that had melted from decay, the scratchings of former guest names in the logbook signifying those who had left their essence in this place.

The floor was rotted through with water, the house sunken slightly with a gentle tilt that one would feel but not see as Kiryu balanced on his heels to walk down the long dark hallway. Roberto kept his phone up and ready, the camera turned on with its light beaming down the depths of a narrow passage. He kept hold of Kiryu's hand, darkness enveloping them like the reaper's cloak, the walls gasping with regret from their passing.

Floorboards creaking with a desperate groan as they found abandoned rooms of empty dressers, sodden mattresses and worn photographs. The smell of mold was suffocating as Kiryu pinched his nostrils, trying to breathe through his mouth as Mirrors startled them briefly with false reflections. The glint of Roberto's phone showed some of them half-broken, all covered in black dust.

"Gods," Kiryu muttered, "no one really came back to clean up?"

"Why would you?" Roberto cringed. "Ghosts don't like when you clean their beds."

"I really don't think this place is haunted, it's just old and creepy."

"How can you not believe in ghosts when you do prayers at Mosu-chan's temple every month?"

"Respect for the dead and belief in the afterlife are two different things, Danzaki-san."

"That makes no sense to me, you are loco," the pterosaur shook his head.

"I understand your grandparents taught you that both mean the same, and I'm not going to argue against your beliefs out of respect to them."

"Hm, thanks. What I would have liked is not to come here-"

"You of all creatures should know family is important," Kiryu turned a corner in the hall, "that kid's ball is the only thing he has left of his brother."

"No no I...I get it." Roberto swept his phone past him. "I just wish he didn't flyball it out here."

"Children always make mistakes, that's how we learn to be adults."

"Okay, you know when I said about how good your words are? I take it back."

Kiryu chuckled looking back with a smile, cracking Roberto's beak with a grin to help calm his nerves. They found the stairs to the second floor as they checked through the guest rooms, the windows all broken through and dust motes dancing in the bitter gleam of the sun that barely reached. Some of the floors had rotted away to the point that holes were now evident, the kaiju stepping over them with foetid gasps and groaning shudders of the wood as they entered a deeper darkness

Since the mountain quake, the far west side of the inn had ended up in the woods where branches twisted through the broken walls, the leaves whistling with the call of sirens causing Roberto to stiffen with fear as they approached the innkeeper's quarters. The door refused to budge, either locked or by the warping of the wood as Kiryu braced himself and shoved his whole body against to break it off its hinges. Roberto crossed himself three times before they stepped through.

Inside were three separate rooms that belonged to the owner, a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchen to himself. The bed was surprisingly clean, almost perfectly untouched albeit slanted from the earthquake. Cupboards, dressers and kitchen utensils had all fallen, scattered across the floor but other than the bathroom pipes turning to rust, the place still felt cozy enough to live in.

"That's weird," Danzaki muttered, "there's no dust around here."

"The door was locked," Kiryu said, "without kaiju coming in or out, nothing's been shedded or left behind."

"I guess...um...what's with the photos?"

"Hmm?"

"Look, there."

Turning his camera towards the pictures on the floor, Roberto pointed at all the old photographs of the innkeeper's friends and family. From what they could tell, Shin was a dark reptilian with black scales and red lines in the grooves, large crests down his spine that ended on a long craggy tail. But every photo was missing his face, each and every one torn out of the frame.

"...okay, that is weird," Kiryu clenched.

"I told you bro," Roberto gasped.

"We're not here to ghost-hunt, we're just here to get that ball...there."

Kiryu spotted a dirty white orb next to the broken window. He snatched it up quickly and dusted it off to put it in his pocket. Hurrying back to the first floor, they tried to remember their path as they sidestepped over holes and reached the stairs.

The entrance was only two halls away, but at one point they stopped from a very loud creak directly above their head, the wood struggling to hold its dampened weight as Danzaki suddenly leapt back, pushing Kiryu against a mirror that he struck with his tail. The sound of its smash frightened the pterodactyl to suddenly flap high and crush his head against the ceiling beam.

"LOOK OUT!"

Kiryu grabbed his friend and wrenched him back, the bump from Danzaki causing the support beam to dislodge as the roof came down in front of their heads. Plaster and wood came tumbling to form a thick landslide, blotting out the light completely except that of Danzaki's phone.

"Ch-chingar, hah, th-that, did you hear that?!"

"Are you alright?" Kiryu picked him up.

"I, I heard something above our head, it-"

"The wood was rotting, I'm just glad you're not hurt. But now we can't get out through the entrance."

"Shit...wait, the basement." Roberto snapped his fingers. "The basement fell apart, it leads out that's where they found the...bodies."

"Fine, let's go."

"But, Kiryu!"

"They took the bodies away right?" the saurian snorted. "I'm not gonna sit in this house a minute longer, let's go."

Reluctantly Roberto followed, taking a different path that led them to the basement through the old sunken stairs. The stench of mold was much thicker here than anywhere else, almost suffocating from the watery trench of deep black. The pterosaur cringed from the deep mud, the flood's remains having washed out most of the storage where old food cans were left to rot with a pungent odour.

"Ugh, for fuck's sake," Danzaki groaned, "I'm really glad I didn't take my good shoes."

"What about your suit?" Kiryu smirked.

"I have the best dry cleaner, if they can get out the blood, they can get out mold and damp."

Kiryu put up his hand to swiftly silence him. A sound came from one of the old storage rooms. The sound of feet, the sound of water being tread along with a voice. A deep, chanting call from the abyss as Danzaki clenched putting up his phone with a choking gasp. Kiryu stepped forwards with his fists up and ready, moving softly through the watery murk as he reached out his hand to the doorjamb and peered within.

There they saw it. At the back of the old shelves full of metal tins, a long pale shape of radiant blue stood staring at the corner, with a large bulbous head and a twisted staff in its grasp. The clothes of an old monk wrapped round its slender body, its voice echoing with a shudder in their minds and an ancient dialect that neither of them understood. Kiryu gripped Danzaki's hand and made a few signals before they attacked.

"VAYA CON DIOS!"

"WHA-WHAT THE-"

"KIRYU NOW!"

Lunging with his fist, Gojirama came towards the phantom who was blinded by the camera's flash, the kaiju grabbing the creature who suddenly palmed Kiryu's face and shoved him back against the wall. Roberto summoned his strength to try and kick the ghost's head, but he was struck by the phantom's staff in a stunning blow before Kiryu grabbed the demon's cane.

"N-NO, UNHAND ME!" it shrieked. "BY MATANGO'S WILL I SHALL NOT PERISH HERE!"

"Wait...Matango?"

"KIRYU STOP HIM!" Roberto cried stumbling back.

"No wait, WAIT! Matango, is that you?"

"Wha-...AH, K-kiryu san!"

They both separated as everyone put down their fists, Roberto getting a look at the newcomer's face of long thin beady eyes in a large fungal-looking head that branched out like moldy broccoli, lumps of thickening blue spores twitching in his sacs.

"How fortuitous we meet again in such a sacred place."

"Wait, Kiryu wha-" Roberto shook his head, "who the fuck's this?!"

"This is Matango," Kiryu nodded, "he was in Kaijurocho about a month ago."

"So you just...making friends with weird monk dudes now?!"

"Who wouldn't want to be friends with Matango?" said Matango bowing. "Matango loves all creatures who share this realm, so blessed are we all to exist the same time and place as that of Matango."

"Uh, wait, okay is YOUR name Matango or-"

"Don't ask," Kiryu waved his hand, "what are you doing down here?"

"Oh, well," the traveller tapped his cane, "whilst on my pilgrimage to spread the roots of Matango through Japan, I thought to myself 'Matango, surely one should not be so callous to assume all would want to become Matango' so I decided to take a venture to explore what other wondrous fruits of this realm exist."

"Okay, I get that, but why are you HERE, in this abandoned house?"

"Because, my good friend, I was speaking with the priestess of the shrine on this mountain, and she told me a great treasure in this place. Behold!"

Matango pointed with his staff towards a corner of the basement. Peering closer into the depths, they found a cluster of deep black stems that branched with jagged points.

"Is that...crystals?" Roberto gasped.

"One would think," Matango wagged his cane, "but they are in fact a type of mushroom known as the Black Chrysalis!"

"Black...chrysalis?"

"They are exceptionally rare, they grow only on this mountain because of the odd silicates, an exceptional soil content, and the many bodies of creatures buried here in rituals."

"Buh, b-bodies?!" the pterosaur gasped.

"Yes, from funerals of ancient times," the fungus merchant nodded, "the dampness of this domicile creates an excellent place for them, but I have promised the maiden I shan't pick more than three. To think one can grow from any place with enough strength and determination, from the blood of our ancestors, is nothing short of the great gift of Matango!"

"So uh...black crystals huh?" Kiryu looked towards his friend with a smirk. "That explains one part of the story, as well as how the bodies appeared during the flood."

"Oh come on!" Roberto threw up his hands. "You know there's ghosts here as well as I do!"

"Anyways, we were just leaving," he looked to the monk, "sorry about attacking you, we thought you were the ghost of Shin the innkeeper."

"AH, did you really?" gasped Matango. "Ohoh, oh, that is quite funny Kiryu-san, ah hah...HAAAH...hhhhhhaaaaaaaaah."

He laughed like the father who outlived his son, Roberto rearing his head back as they took their leave.

"Weeeellll it's getting late so we're just gonna mosey on outta here."

"Yes," Kiryu bowed, "glad to see you're doing well, take care Matango-san."

"OH, wait!" The mushroom seller brought out some of his wares. "Won't you take some, for the journey?"

"Uhh sure if you're offering, how much?"

"This transaction is free," Matango grinned with his eyes, "your presence in this lonely place is payment enough, you and your two friends."

"You sure? Alright, well thanks-wait, hold on...two friends?"

"Yes, the winged one and the taller sort with the crooked neck behind you."

They turned their heads slowly. There was no one else in the old storage room as a cold wind breathed on their eyes.

"Hahaha, hah, y-you need your eyes checked," said Roberto grinning badly, "Goji-chan let's uhhhh getthefuckouttaherequick?!"

"Farewell friends!" Matango gave them the bag of shrooms. "Be safe and be well!"

The Toho members trudged through the waters swiftly making their exit. They said nothing as they found the broken-down wall that allowed them to leave the old abandoned inn. Matango smiled clasping his staff, as he bent down to pick up the freshest darkest pieces.

"Such beautiful gifts," he whispered, "to think such new life, could grow from a place filled with death. You were truly a kind creature, to offer such humble gifts to your travellers."

He looked up towards the ceiling.

"Would you allow me, good sir, to take but one cluster, so I may share it with Matango?"

In the reflection of a metal tin, a dark kaiju stood towering above the pilgrim with eyes of white, and crimson trails down his deep black form. Matango smiled at the ceiling. The creature smiled back, a soft whispering laugh from his broken neck.

After returning to the orphanage, they found the young hornet who was overjoyed with the return of his ball. With a deep thanks and hugs, he promised to be more careful by getting a spare ball for games, as Kiryu and Danzaki sat with the children for dinner along with Ho-ohnda, who knew nothing of their adventures to the old mountain inn.

They played board games with the youngsters, a few rounds where both Goji and Roberto would intentionally exaggerate arguments to amuse them with Ho-ohnda mainting order as the only true grown-up in the house. Once it was time for bed, they bade farewell and hugged their old sensei, who wrapped his arms round them and wished them the best as they headed back to their hotel.

"Aaaah damn it feels good to be back," said Danzaki stretching his wings, "thanks for coming with me."

"What, you thought I wouldn't?" Kiryu smirked. "Come on, you know I love hanging out with you."

"Yeaaaah but I know you been real busy, I always feel kinda guilty pulling you away for these little trips."

"Danzaki, it's our first home. You never have to feel guilty about that."

They walked down the street of the sleepy district, the lights flickering on above narrow lanes in the coming eve. Small houses reflected amber skies, where elderly kaiju washed up in their kitchens before settling down for an early night.

"I forgot how quiet things can be," said Roberto, "feels like it was a lot more hectic back when we were kids."

"Probably because you kept trying to fight me," Kiryu sat on a bench beneath the streetlight, "the day you arrived, you singled me out and kept harassing me."

"Yeah," the pterosaur grabbed the lamp and swung above, "I was a real hijo de la chingada 'til you straightened me out."

"It's not like I don't understand," Goji looked up at him, "you lost your only family."

"Did I ever tell you about them?"

"I'm not sure, tell me anyways."

"Well." He kicked off the lamp and stood on top of the wall. "My grandma, abuela, was in the Japanese Navy, married grandpa, mi abuelo, in the Phillippines then they moved to Kyushu. My mama died when I was born, and dad basically abandoned her, so my grandparents looked after me then moved again to settle down here."

"Why did they leave Kyushu?" Kiryu asked.

"Lot of bad memories," said Danzaki walking tightrope, "wanted somewhere nice and uptown to try and live better. Mi abuelo taught me Spanish cuz he wanted me to remember my roots. I always used it to impress the girls making me think I was exotic."

"I've always liked your little sayings," the saurian smiled, "it suits your passion."

"Heh, gracias." The pterodactyl spread his wings turning to him. "You don't remember your family do you?"

"No," Kiryu shook his head, "and I've no interest, I make my prayers at Shoji-sama's temple but that's it."

"That's kinda sad. I always felt bad for you, never knowing what it's like to have family."

"You don't have to," the lieutenant stretched his legs, "I never knew what I lost, so I don't have that pain. But you do. You know what you've lost, and I think that makes your pain much worse than mine, so don't feel bad for me."

"Heh...órale," Roberto shook his head, "you take a therapy course or you always that damn corny?"

"You know I'm right."

"Yeaaah I know, appreciate it." The pterosaur leaped off the wall to land in front of him. "Everyone does, your words are a lot more important than you think."

"Varan-san tells me that too."

"He's right though. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't met you. After I lost mis abuelos, I had no direction, nowhere to go, I was just ready to fight, just to feel something again, I think that's why I took you on. You looked big and tough, and I just wanted to feel like a winner."

"You worry you could have been a punk?" Kiryu raised his brow.

"I think back to that day," Roberto sat down beside him, "the day you finally taught me a lesson...and I'm glad you did."

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

Twenty-four years ago, the trees felt enormous to an 8-year old Kiryu. A small pudgy reptile with large white eyes and black pupils stared up at the leaves, the sunset slanting across his face through the perfect green boughs as the end of spring came on the breeze. Somewhere in the distance the sakura trees had finished sprouting, their last petals of cherry blossom drifting past with his pale white shirt and a pair of blue shorts marking him out from the forest.

"Hey, huevon!"

The voice of a young pteranodon cut through the silence. His hard flinty eyes and fiery wings burned in the light of dusk, a pair of purple shorts wrapped round his knees.

"Leave me alone." Kiryu sneered. "I just wanna watch the trees."

"Nah, we fight again, this time I'll beat you!"

"Why?" he turned towards the bird. "Why you wanna keep fighting?"

"Cuz you been actin' weird to me since I got here, you look at me funny, like sum kinda fresa!"

"What does that mean?" shrugged the saurian.

"That's what you are!" Danzaki marched up with a spiteful beak. "You gonna fight me or what, fresa?!"

"I don't WANT to fight," Kiryu threw up his hands, "I don't care about you."

"Why, you think you're better than me?! Just cuz you beat me all those other times?!"

"You're the one who's starting it."

"No, YOU STARTED IT!" the preteen snapped. "You don't talk to me, you don't get mad at me, you don't wanna do ANYTHING with me, WHY?!"

"Cuz I don't." Gojirama shrugged again. "I don't know why you're mad at me, I just don't wanna bother you."

"You DO bother me, fresa! Who died and made you king here huh, just cuz you been here since you were a baby, everyone else talks nice about you, you talk to them but not me?!"

"You keep trying to bully me. Why would I wanna talk to you?"

"Shuddup, pendejo! You think you're tougher than me, you ain't shit, I'M the toughest guy you ever met, VENGA!"

"Ugh." Gojirama sighed. "Fine. If I beat you this time...will you leave me alone?"

"Pfft...yeah," Roberto waved his hand, "like some fatboy junior's gonna beat ME."

"I beat you before."

"I was holding back, THIS one's for real!"

"Alright, promise then." The young Goji offered his fist. "Promise you stop bothering me, if I beat you right here, no holding back."

"Hahah...alright." The older Roberto bumped his fist back. "An' if I beat you, you respect me from now on!"

"Okay. I promise."

The pterosaur made the motion to crack his knuckles and crick his neck, making the sounds with his beak to try and psyche his opponent. Gojirama simply put up his hands and braced himself as Danzaki came pounding across the grass, a wild haymaker that almost overbalanced him as Goji ducked underneath. The older kaiju suddenly jabbed and bopped Kiryu's snout, stunning him briefly to grab his neck and throw him onto the grass.

While on his back, Kiryu swiped out his tail and knocked Danzaki down, rolling himself back up and waiting for the older boy to come flying with a huge punch. The pterosaur's arm outstretched so far he almost toppled Goji quickly, the saurian reeling back to counter with a fast punch across the beak. In response Roberto slammed his fist into Kiryu's belly, who shoved the bird back to give some space.

In a brief kung-fu stance, the pterodactyl made a flying karate kick that surprised his opponent, missing Kiryu's head completely but giving enough time for Roberto to flap higher and swing-kick across the child's face. Soft talons scratched over Kiryu's head, who dodged in time back from Roberto's heavenly fist coming down from above. Crunching his knuckles in the dirt, the winged bully was kicked hard by a solid boot to the head, rolling him across the ground.

"GAAAH! CHEAP BITCH!"

"Give up yet?" Kiryu rubbed his head.

"NO, NO ME CHINGUES!"

Springing from his knees , Roberto threw a giant swing that threw himself off his feet, Kiryu dodging once again but not before the older boy grabbed his opponent's arm and threw him towards his other fist coming straight for Kiryu's stomach. Gasping with a shudder, Goji was briefly staggered as he felt Danzaki grab his waist from behind.Roberto tried to wrestle him down, but the younger kaiju was stronger and walked with Danzaki on his back towards a tree, before slamming the pterodactyl's back against the trunk.

Yelling with a throbbing spine, Roberto tried to throw a punch at Kiryu's head who turned to counter in response, a sudden jab to the neck that startled Danzaki with a squawk before the avian dodged the second punch causing Kiryu to hit the tree with a wince. Roberto saw his chance and slammed Goji's head against the trunk, blood bursting from the child's nostrils as the younger boy screeched with tears from his eyes.

"Awwww you gonna cry now?!" Roberto shoved him hard with a chortle. "Not so big now are ya fresa!?"

"NNNGH, SH-SHUT UP!" Gojirama snapped baring his teeth. "I'm not done, 'til YOU'RE done!"

"FINE, come on you fat bitch, I'M the strongest here!"

With his fury up, Kiryu went for the first swing this time, not as large or vicious as Roberto's was, but still easily dodged when the pteranodon backed out of reach and charged in with a three-hit combo, battering Goji twice before his third punch was blocked by a sudden grab of his shoulders and he was hurled to the ground in a crushing slam.

He sat on top of the older boy and in a brief fit of rage, Goji started pummelling the preteen who struggled to defend himself with his winged arms. Kiryu grabbed one of the wings with a hard twist and punched him twice in the head, causing Danzaki to shriek with a force that made his skull tremble and suddenly blast a shot of fire from his throat. A harmless little orb, but one that surprised them both as Goji yelped from the burning wick to his forehead.

Clutching his eyes to cover his face, Gojirama pulled back giving Roberto time to grip his hands together and bash his younger foe like he was holding a bat, rolling Kiryu off him as the two quickly got back up. Both their faces were now dripping with blood, bruises forming and their eyes swelling as they sniffed back droplets of red before each other.

Fists would fly and batter each other's heads, crunching knuckles against scale as they traded blows and swerved with each fresh new punch that landed upon them, hardening their bruises as they fought through the pain with tears turning thick down their cheeks. When Kiryu came for another swing, Danzaki leapt for the branch above him, planting his feet sideways against the trunk before divebombing into Kiryu's chest and crushing the boy underneath him in a hard slide across the dirt.

"COME ON, YOU LIKE THAT?!" He started beating him down in revenge. "NOT SO TOUGH NOW ARE YA, PUTA?!"

"A-AAAAGH!"

"YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONGER THAN ME, HUH, YOU LITTLE BABYFAT BITCH!?"

"A-AAAGH, AAAARGH, SKREEEOOONK!"

With a burst of energy from his body, Gojirama shot out a frightening small nuclear beam of blue sparks from his throat that punched Roberto off of him, sending him flying across the dirt with a dizzying ring in his ears. The shock hurt him more than the actual burning force, a rasp in the younger boy's throat as he coughed with a shudder through his body.

"NN-HNNGH...heh...nice trick, pendejo."

Danzaki shook his head and stumbled back up with no burns on his face.

"Think you can scare me with a little fire, HUH?!"

"You wanted a fight," snorted Kiryu, "you get one now."

"Good." Roberto smiled. "Now show me what you GOT, HRAAAAAARGH!"

Blasting air behind him with a gust of his wings, the pterosaur came flying as Kiryu dodged his flyby attack, Roberto quickly shooting up high to grab the branch and swing himself round even faster towards his foe. Gojirama jumped to one side and whipped Roberto with his tail, knocking him flat on his back with feet shooting out first as he skidded into the grass with a deep line of dirt. Jumping back up, he came stomping towards Kiryu with almighty shriek, swinging his fist then a second uppercut to crack the younger reptile's jaw.

Roberto pulled back his fist with a trembling roar as Kiryu clenched his feet to root himself in the earth, watching the scarlet fist come straight for his head. He slammed his temple straight into Roberto's punch, crushing his knuckles with a stone defence that made the pterodactyl scream with a shocking pain through his wrist.

Roberto stumbled back clutching his fist as Kiryu took a daring leap, lifting both his feet to deliver a powerful dropkick straight upon Danzaki. The pterosaur cried with a searing red through his skull, falling back to try and kick Kiryu with a frantic roundhouse. Goji blocked the leg with both arms and whammed his fist into Roberto's beak, grabbing the throat and lifting Danzaki up high before slamming him into the dirt and finishing with one last punch that drove into his eye. Roberto coughed weakly, a shuddering whimper escaping his throat.

"D-dammit...why can't I beat you?" he grunted with a blackened eye. "I just...I-i got no one left, if I got no one...what do I do?"

"I dunno." Kiryu sat down to catch his breath. "But there's lots of creatures out there that don't keep trying to fight all the time, and they're happy."

"They got families," Roberto snorted, "I don't, not anymore."

"What happened?"

"Mi abuelo, he...he died. Abuela she...sh-she didn't do okay after he died and she kinda...kept thinking he wasn't dead and she...stopped being mi abuela."

"I'm sorry." Kiryu patted his arm. "Was she nice?"

"Yeah she...she was really strong, she kicked ass and she used to be on ships cuz she was in the navy."

"She sounds cool...wish I could've met her."

"Heh...hey." Roberto pulled himself up. "I'm sorry I called you all those things."

"You gonna stop fighting me now?" Kiryu asked him.

"Yeah...I promised. You're stronger than me."

"No I'm not. Just cuz you didn't beat me, doesn't mean you're not strong."

"What?" Danzaki scoffed. "No way it totally does!"

"I still think you're pretty strong," Kiryu shrugged, " your family's gone but you're not crying."

"Did you...cry, when you lost your family?"

"I never knew 'em, I got left on Ho-ohnda-sama's door when I was a baby."

"Wow." the bird shook his head. "That sucks."

"It's okay, Ho-ohnda-sama's really nice, all the other kids are too."

"Mmm. So...what you wanna do?"

"I got some manga back in my room," Kiryu pointed back, "you wanna read them?"

"S-sure. I'm uh, I'm Roberto."

"I'm Gojirama."

He offered Danzaki his hand, carefully pulling him up as the last of the cherry blossoms drifted past their heads. They walked back to the orphanage, an arm round each other's shoulders, a smile across their bruised faces.

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

"Since that day," Roberto concluded, "I think to myself that, maybe I won't always be the strongest, but I can take a lesson from those who are. That's why I've been following you all these years."

"I'm honoured," Kiryu nodded, "that said, you had a real potty mouth for a kid."

"Heh, hhhheheheh, mi abuelo taught me a few other words that mi abuela didn't know."

"Hmmm, that never really changed did it?"

"Hey!" he swiped his wing at him cheekily. "But yeah, I think if you hadn't taught me a lesson and beaten me back then, I could've been a no-good thug."

"Instead you're a classy thug," Gojirama smiled, "I didn't make you join the Toho."

"No but I followed you, and I learned to use my strength to help others from you, in ways that the government can't. I always follow the strongest, Goji-chan. When I couldn't beat you, no matter how many times I fought you back in the day, that was when I realised...if I'm going to be stronger, then I need to know what makes you the strongest."

"Well," Gojirama patted his friend, "if it helped you turn your life around for the better then I'm grateful to hear that, Danzaki."

"Heh...one day you'll call me Rob-chan."

"I do, on my phone."

"That don't count that's an abbreviation, you don't call Sano 'Angy' do you?"

"Mmmm, you're right...Shoji-sama calls you Rob-chan doesn't she?"

"Heheh yeaaah, she does," Danzaki smirked rubbing his neck, "Mosu-chan's a real chido senora huh?"

"I'll assume that's a compliment," Kiryu stood up stretching his arms, "she's helped me out the past few years, she's a good friend."

"Yeah she...she is."

Roberto closed his eyes with a soft smile from his beak, sighing fondly before he followed Kiryu back to their hotel room. Despite the small scary adventure they had, he was more than thankful to be back with his brother, where he felt more complete than he ever had in his tumultuous life.