FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Gordon McCartin woke up to the sound of a bell, the odd familiar song of four tones that had once belonged to the towers of Westminster. Some ancestral part of him cringed from the melody, as he roused himself from his bed.

"//Nnnngh...Rhett?//"

He looked across to the other bed, a long green tail slipping out from the covers as Gordon stood up to scratch his fins.

"//Rhett?//" he poked him in English. "//Rhett, the bell's going!//"

"//Ehhh.//"

His roommate turned over to fall back to sleep with wings flapping under the sheets. The Irish student threw up his hands and went to the bathroom. The dorm they shared was a single medium-sized room with two beds, posters of various bands and films plastering the walls such as "The Brain That Would Not Die" or "Brigands of the Moon".

A TV sat against one wall with a NeoFight console, a small black rectangle with two handlebars that were also controllers. A window behind it showed the sprawling grounds of the university campus, stretched out beneath a beautiful early morn with a partly-clouded sky. Inside the bathroom, Gordon went into the shower after taking off his underwear, sliding off his tail last with a little snap before he washed himself.

For a moment he lost himself in the cool refreshing water, his dark green body rumbling with a soft growl and a smile as his earfins flapped in bliss. The sounds of the ocean rumbled through his ears in a faint calling, the churning waves dashing against the rocks as he washed his scales down with sea salt body gel.

Scouring the dirt and sweat from his bumpy hide, his smooth belly glistened and his sturdy thighs gleamed before he rubbed down his tail. By the time he was brushing his teeth, after towelling himself dry, he caught the sight of his roommate, Rhett Tuilleksen, behind him in the mirror. A long sea serpent thin as a rake with hook-backed fangs that he wolf-whistled through.

"//Morning sexy,//" he called out in English with a Danish twang.

"//Shut up,//" Gordon replied, "//class in thirty minutes.//"

"//Aww damn, I was hoping time stopped existing again.//"

The serpent crept past Gordon with long spindly legs, his small wings flapping on the back of his slenderous body as he went in the shower.

"//How was your date last night?//" asked Rhett.

"//Good!//" Gordon spat in the sink. "//I'm seeing him again tomorrow, he went off to Suginamazu for a wee holiday.//"

"//And he didn't take you?//"

"//Well no, friend of his came back from overseas, they haven't seen each other in six months I'm not gatecrashing that.//"

"//Haha, so that's date number four'll be next?//"

"//Oh aye, got any recommends?//"

"//Well there's this really nice cafe down Nagamichi-//"

"//Rhett, dude.//" Gordon turned to his naked friend. "//I'm not taking my date to where my roommate works, that feels cheap.//"

"//What I'm not giving you a discount,//" the serpent chuckled flicking his forked tongue, "//just saying it's a good place to bring him.//"

"//Let's try someplace else, maybe something...fancier, more for evening dinner than a light brunch.//"

"//Mmmmm, OH! Kanrai, they've got amazing salted beef.//"

"//Oh aye, that place is great! Alright I'll take Kiryu there.//"

"//Wha-...Kiryu?//"

Rhett turned off the shower peeking out from the door.

"//Is that...Gojirama Kiryu, wears a white suit?//"

"//OH, aye that's him!//" Gordon handed him a towel. "//You know him?!//"

"//Ohohh I sure do,//" the serpent walked past him, "//just, god you're a brave bastard, dating a yakuza.//"

"//Well I mean it's not like-...what?//"

Gordon's face dropped as he clenched his eyes turning towards Rhett.

"//That, that's not funny Rhett.//"

"//I know, I'm serious,//" Tuilleksen rubbed himself dry, "//you know the Toho Clan right?//"

"//I, n-no?!//"

"//For real? Fuck dude, you lived here for three years and you don't know who the Toho are?!//"

"//I don't read the news Rhett!//" Gordon snapped. "//I don't want to get involved with like politics and shite especially in another country, are you serious right now?!//"

"//Yes, Gordon, chill.//"

"//How can I chill, you just told me the guy I'm dating's a yakuza, a bloody mafia type!//"

"//HHhhahahaha, oh my god I can't believe you pal-//"

"//STOP LAUGHING, THIS IS SERIOUS! Oh god.//"

The younger student clutched his fins and sat down on his bed.

"//Oh god, oh...god, what, what do I do?! Why did you tell me this before class?!//"

"//I thought you knew!//" Rhett threw up his hands. "//Everyone who works in Kaijurocho knows who the Toho Clan are, they got their little pins on their suits on everything.//"

"//THAT WAS A YAKUZA PIN?!//"

"//YES, what did you think it was?!//"

"//I-I don't know, some weird Japanese business shite like how they always give you their business cards every time you meet, seriously do you know how many of those I have?! Do they just CARRY them in stacks in their pockets, now I have to worry about dating a fuckin' criminal?!//"

"//Gordo...Gordo.//"

Rhett put his hands on McCartin's shouders. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his roommate who would do the same as Gordon's heart was pulsing fast, before slowing down with each new breath. He tried not to stare at his friend's naked body, closing his eyes with a deep sigh.

"//That feel good?//"

"//A bit,//" McCartin gulped, "//but, I-i'm still seeing him tonight.//"

"//Okay, we've got time before class so lemme give you a rundown.//"

The Danish serpent sat down beside him with an arm round Gordon's waist.

"//The Toho Clan run Kaijurocho, they go up to businesses and ask 'hey do you want us to give you extra security and labour in exchange for twenty-percent of your profit' and that business can say okay, or no thank you.//"

"//Alright, what if they say no?//"

"//Then nothing happens. The cafe I work at, they refused to be under Toho Clan, not because of ooh scary yakuza, but just because well, we're actually running pretty damn good as a business across Japan, Don Quijote does the same thing too, they never gone with Toho.//"

"//But they're still yakuza right? I've heard the things yakuza do, gang wars, revenge stabbings, extortion-//"

"//Right,//" Rhett nodded, "//but Toho never does any of that. Toho Clan are actually really weird for yakuza because they don't do any of the actual stuff the yakuza are known for?//"

"//Wait, what?//" McCartin shook his head. "//But they're yakuza.//"

"//Yeah they're still criminals, but they're not the nasty kinda criminals. They never extort anyone, if some company that joined them wants to opt out, they can, I've heard from pals in other shops that the Toho just walk in, say hi, take the money, and if the company wanna leave, they just go 'okay, you just gotta pay up the last due of the month and take care'.//"

"//I...I don't understand, what makes them yakuza then?//"

"//Because what they're doing is still illegal,//" said Tuilleksen grinning his fangs, "//their organisation doesn't pay the government, they don't go by the usual routes creatures have to do to make business.//"

"//So they're like...tax dodgers?//"

"//Well, no, the businesses still pay tax, because that's still helping the country. It's more like they refuse to deal with government bureaucracy that we're all legally forced to do, you know the extra services and mandatory audits.//"

"//So is Kiryu a bad guy, or not?//" Gordon cocked his head.

"//Well what did you think when you first met him?//" Rhett leaned back with a shrug. "//You've got a good sense about creatures, what did your heart tell you?//"

"//He...he seemed really nice, very kind and caring. A bit sullen, not very good at opening up, but he did come to my aid when those racist thugs came at me last month. But even the nicest guy could still be a total bastard when alone, especially if he's yakuza.//"

"//Hmm. Alright.//" Tuilleksen stood up stretching his long body. "//We better get to class, but uh, I'll tell you one thing before we go. Remember I told you how last month, some guy threw a knife at me and someone else stood right in front and stopped it?//"

"//Aye?//"

"//That was Kiryu.//" He smiled opening the closet. "//Kiryu saved my life. Got stabbed in the shoulder, didn't even know my name, but he still did it.//"

"//He...that was him?//" McCartin gasped.

"//Trust me Gordon. He's a good guy. He'd never hurt you, no matter what you do or what you say to him. Now.//"

He brought out two shirts and held them up.

"//What mood should I go today, 'I'm too sexy for you' or 'I'm thinking really hard about pomegranates'?//"

"//PFFFT, c-come on Rhett!//"

"//No no pick one, clock's ticking!//"

"//Ugh fine, sexy, come on we'll be late!//"

Heading off to their class fully dressed and with backpacks full, Rhett and Gordon took the shortest path across the campus from the student dorms to the lecture halls. Tuilleksen wore a purple tank top with dark blue jeans, whilst Gordon had black slacks and a bright T-shirt of a rock band called "Ash-to-Zed".

An odd beloved fixture in the midst of Tokyo, the McNess University stood out amongst the Japanese architecture of blocky apartments and office blocks with its slanting roofs that circled the campus. With hard vanilla brick and red sandstone more reminiscent of Edinburgh than Eniwa, the university grounds sprawled across the centre with a beautiful garden of lush trees and well-kept bushes. The cobbled paths lined with shrubbery gave a European aesthetic that blended with the Edo period vibe, of flowing rivers and small bridges with stone lanterns.

They passed by fellow students both native and abroad from kappas and kitsunes, to griffons and unicorns hurrying to their class upon claws and wings. A manticore flew past with a lion's body and a scorpion's tal, followed by an anqa that resembled a black swan with four wings as Rhett and Gorden stepped through the century-old halls between brick and stucco.

The class they stepped into was shaped like a small auditorium, rows upon rows of desks forming half-circular rings that spread further and further back. All of them faced a whiteboard above a single desk, where the professor stood waiting.

"Good morning everyone," he greeted in Japanese, "I hope you all slept well, today we are continuing the history of AGWs and their impact on tsunamis."

Dr. Manobu Date was a prim-looking dragon of soft turquoise body with a towering neck, long horns and a drooping moustache completing his face whilst a silver belly breathed beneath his tan pale suit. The crackling lines and crow's feet beneath his eyes did little to hide his advanced years, despite his eyes being as sharp as his voice and knowledge.

"Devising on the Morag principle," he scrawled a theorem on the whiteboard, "one must anticipate acoustic gravity waves as they travell at the speed of sound, thousands of kilometres beneath the surface. You, Tuilleksen."

He suddenly pointed at Rhett who stiffened to attention.

"What organic component can aid us in detecting the presence of naturally-occurring AGWs?"

"UH, p-plankton, sir," the Dane replied, "they can't swim against currents, so they rely on the waves to move and find food."

"Yes, very good!" the dragon smiled. "Now of course, detection is only one part of prevention, the method is also vital but it must be so that it does not impede upon ocean life, by also projecting a counter-wave that reduces the amplitude of an undersea quake. McCartin."

"MMMH!" Gordon shot up beside Rhett. "Yes, Date-san?"

"How would one negate the speed of a mechanical wave, consistently, when travelling through seawater?"

"Ummm...i-if, de...destructive interference, equal amplitude to the AGW?"

"Goood, good start," he nodded, "but there's a problem with that in an open ocean. How do you project the amplitude?"

"OH, K-kelpenberg principle! Pipe mechanics, take same seawater, pipe it, compress fluid mass!"

"Yeees very good!" the teacher clapped once. "Kelpenberg's principle allows us to form an artificial amplitude within seawater in a controlled environment, further building upon the Morag principle as you can see here."

The next hour was a slog through questions and theorems as Gordon struggled not to think of Kiryu. Half the time his mind wandered with what he should say, how he should say it, and whether he should even attempt to meet him again. His head felt warm and his large red eyes burned into his notes.

Date pointed to other students to answer questions continuing the lesson, correcting those who faltered and praising those who solved it as he delved briefly into the history of anti-tsunami technology, its methods and potential effects on sealife. Once the lesson was over, Gordon quickly headed up to the front with a nervous look as the rest of the students took their leave.

"Alright everyone before you go!" said the professor. "I want you to cover plankton for the next lesson, along with their uses as a measurement and a forewarning to migratory school patterns!"

"Um, D-date-san?"

"Ahhh, McCartin-kun," he turned to the student, "how can I help?"

"I...p-problem with, equation, help please?"

He bowed shamefully and opened up his book, the teacher sitting down and still looming over Gordon with his incredibly long neck as he tapped the offending theorem.

"D-F equals wavelength, over decreasing angle zero."

"Ahhh. Yes, thank you, sorry Date-san."

"It is fine...are you alright McCartin-kun, you don't seem your usual starry-eyed self."

"Ah, just," Gordon blushed, "nothing sir."

"Come come, spit it out." Date rubbed the lad's shoulder. "Let this old kaiju hear your trouble."

"I...I dating someone. Really like him, he very kind, strong and I feel good."

"Well I don't see the problem here-"

"He is yakuza."

"...ahh." Manobu's face changed with a grave look. "Is he troubling you?"

"No no, he's very nice, I really like him but-"

"You are concerned for his criminal roots."

"Y-yes. Should I stop seeing him, Date-san?"

"Well, that depends," the teacher tapped his finger, "do you feel uncomfortable around him? Does he ever frighten you, have moments trying to lure you to unsavoury deeds?"

"No, never," Gordon shook his head, "he never talk about work, I ask him but always say he uh...work in office."

"Hmm...interesting, yakuza are normally not so reserved about their connections."

"Tuilleksen-san even met him, said he saved his life!"

"Really? A chivalrous spirit then."

"He come to help me too, when I got attacked," the student rubbed his head, "I-i...is it bad, I like him, even if he yakuza?"

"Well, let's break this down a little."

Manobu sat up at his desk and clasped his hands with a soft glare and a deep smile.

"How long have you been dating?"

"A month," Gordon nodded.

"How often do you speak with him?"

"Every week, long time, always says hello to me at the store."

"And in all that time he has shown you nothing but kindness and humility?"

"Yes, Date-san."

"Then I daresay he had plenty of opportunity to show you his true nature by this point, especially if he came to your aid during a fight, was he brutal to your assailants?"

"N-no?" McCartin squinted thinking back.

"No broken bones, no ambulance calls?"

"No, no no, they leave okay!"

"Well." The sea-green dragon leaned back. "I would say the best thing to ask yourself is, which of your emotions are stronger? Your love for this male who has treated you well, or your fear for his criminal upbringing?"

"I...mmm," Gordon winced clutching his hands, "I not in trouble, am I?"

"Noooo no of course not," Manobu took his hand, "long as you haven't engaged in any criminal activity yourself, you'e not in trouble by just meeting one on the street."

"Even if he Toho Clan?"

"He's...what."

His voice suddenly changed as McCartin noticed a slight sneer creeping on the edge of his mentor's snout. It disappeared just as quick with a gentle sigh.

"You have nothing to worry about then. If this lad is Toho, you are in perfectly safe hands."

"R-really?" McCartin shook his head. "Do you know them?"

"I have...heard of them." His smile was oddly strained. "But rest assured, you are safe McCartin-kun. Now go, and remember your studies."

"Yes, thank you Date-san."

With some warm relief to his heart, Gordon headed out the classroom despite feeling a little odd from the strange look that Date had given him. He went to the garden to clear his head, the sun still out as he saw other students playing soccer on the grass, kicking about with a small crowd cheering them on.

Standing at the focal point of the university grounds was a tall peerless statue, a long-necked plesiosaur wearing a sailor's uniform with a tam o'shanter on top, grabbing an oar as she stood upon the front of a rowboat pushing against invisible waves. Under this boat was Rhett Tuilleksen chatting up a brown kitsune in a frilly pink apron.

"So what's the worst job at your work?" he said to her.

"Oh gods definitely the decorator," she groaned, "every week we have to change all the bunting, the darning because we get a LOT of creatures in, and they sweat a lot, and that sweat seeps into EVERYTHING."

"Uuuuugh," Rhett cringed with a chuckle, "that's worse than what I had, down at the cafe it's just locking up because there's always drunks down the street."

"Oh we get those too, fuck I hate them so much!"

"One time, we had a guy shove his dick through the letterbox in the door."

"Whaaaa?!" she cringed in turn. "Ohohh jeez hmhaha that's so gross!"

"Yeah but he forgot the letterbox has those brushes, so he tried to pull back and-SHRRRRKH, door looked like it was having a period."

"OHHHH!" the fox clutched her snout with a chortle. "OHHHH noooo hhhhahaha, oh that's HORRIBLE!"

"You're laughing though."

"I KNOW AND I HATE IT RHETT-CHAN!" she slapped him gently as he cackled. "Was he alright?!"

"Oh yeah, he got picked up by police," the serpent shrugged, "public indecency still counts, even if you got a circumcision by accident."

"Pffffft, ohoh my gods! Ohhhh so glad I never had to deal with that."

"Well, maybe I should switch jobs, they got openings for a guy at a maid cafe?"

"Mmmm, I dunno, would you wear this?" she twirled in her frilly petticoats.

"Ehhh, s'not really my colour," Rhett rubbed his chin, "you got it in red or purple, I'd look way sexier in that."

"HAH, are you serious?!" the kitsune giggled.

"Yeah, what you don't think I'd look sexy in a skirt?"

"PFFFT n-no I didn't say that Rhett-chan, I just didn't think you would try!"

"Well you know any good places that sell them?"

"I dooo," she grinned twisting her feet in the dirt, "but, I never been clothes shopping with a guy."

"Me either," Tuilleksen winked, "you wanna meet up tomorrow at five?"

"Sure! Alright, see ya!"

He waved her off with a sly grin as he looked towards Gordon coming the other way. They high-foured each other then headed back to their dorms to get down to studying.

"//Did I hear you right?//" asked McCartin in English. "//You wanna work in a maid cafe now?!//"

"//Well, sort of,//" Rhett cracked his knuckles, "//I'm easing my way in, girls love a dude not afraid to wear a skirt.//"

"//Do they even have male maids in those places?//"

"//Only one way to find out, but either way I got her number. So, what you gonna do about Kiryu?//"

"//I'm not sure,//" Gordon sighed as they entered the dorms, "//I talked it over with Date-san, and he said too I shouldn't worry because well, the Toho Clan are super nice from what I heard.//"

"//But you're still not sure?//" Rhett asked as they ascended the stairs. "//I mean if the date doesn't work out, you can just turn him down, he's not gonna get mad.//"

"//Mmmm...okay, here's what I'll do.//" He opened the door to their room. "//I'll go on the date with him, see how I feel, and I'll ask him at the end about him being a yakuza.//"

"//Ah huh.//"

"//If he's still nice to me and I feel good about him, then I'll stay with him. But if he acts out, or gets shitty with me, I'm dumping him.//"

"//Good.//" The sea serpent rubbed Gordon's back. "//Sounds pretty good to me dude...hey, I got an idea! How about before your date, we go to a bikini bar?//"

"//A what?!//"

"//Yeah you know, watch guys doing a pole dance, get you nice and fired up eh?//"

"//Ahhh Rh-rhett I don't know,//" Gordon blushed rubbing his head, "//that's not really my sort of thing.//"

"//Well we got time to kill before your date,//" Tuilleksen nudged him with a wink, "//come oooon I know a great place one of my customers recommended, I got a discount!//"

"//I'm not sure, is it right of me to do that if I'm dating someone?//"

"//Oh it's fine, just say you were going with a friend, we'll be done in time for your date. Also hey, if he finds out you'll know how shitty he is or not, right?//"

"//Hmmmm...well, if you're offering,//" Gordon smiled gingerly, "//I was sorta curious to try one of those places but I didn't wanna go on my own.//"

"//Alright, you wanna watch something 'til then?"

"//Nah we need to get down to studying, I'm tripping over my math today, god I keep forgetting how much bloody math is on this course.//"

"//Hahaaa yeah get dunked idiot, welcome to math hell you'll never leave!//"

"//Auuugh fuck you!//"

They ribbed each other with a smirking laughter, sitting themselves down and collaborating on their coursework as they devised theorems concerning the nullifcation of subaquatic soundwaves. After Gordon managed to recover his knowledge of math, they sat down together to watch "This Island Earth", an old and not particularly-great movie where they mocked the set design of odd painting choices, robotic aliens and badly-lit night scenes.

The day would pass as sunset arrived with the pale blue fading to a sweet honeyed gleam. Before they left, McCartin went to his personal drawer beside the bed whilst Tuilleksen was in the bathroom. Inside was a portable umbrella; an MP3 player; a postcard showing his native island home; a small pack of condoms; and a wallet that he wore around his neck with bank card, yen bills and a photo of his mother inside, showing her moth-bitten fins and a cragged snout scowling at him.

But under all of this was a pair of leather gloves, along with a set of steel knuckles he took up in his hands, and read the phrase inscribed across them.

"Ná Lig do na Bastards tú a chur síos."

He smiled slipping them over his fingers to feel their weight.

"//Don't worry mum,//" he said in his native Gaeilge, "//I won't let them beat me down.//"

Taking his wallet and gloves along with the knuckles and umbrella, McCartin headed out with Tuilleksen as they made their way to Kaijurocho. Around 6pm, an hour before the date with Kiryu, they headed towards Pink Street in the southeast, with Rhett taking McCartin almost by the hand as he pointed out the best and worst places of the adult entertainment sector.

Bugs flapped their wings seductively and mammals wagged their tails trying to catch their attention, a splendid sordid variety of all creatures and all sorts of kinks that made McCartin blush, from the vanilla offering of a "good time", to the more alternative scenarios of having a "one-night wife", a DILF or MILF, and of course the odd Master or Mistress to tickle one's needs.

"//Why you nervous?//" asked the serpent walking beside him.

"//I-i, sorry,//" Gordon rubbed his hands, "//I haven't been to this part a lot, they didn't have places like this in Dublin, least the few times I been there.//"

"//There's no brothels on Nara Island?//"

"//GOD no, me mum would beat the shite out of them if anyone tried that!//"

"//Hahahaha, she that much of a prude?//" Rhett snickered showing his fangs.

"//She's a real old-school Icthyan, not that she minds these sort of places just...long as they're in the cities and not outside our front door.//"

"//What is she one of them 'think of the children' types?//"

"//I mean...it's hard to say,//" Gordon sighed looking at his open-toed shoes, "//Nara Island's very traditional, all fishers telling the storms by the clouds, they're really hard-set in their ways and that's fine, it don't bother them what things go on in the world just...long as they don't interrupt their way of life.//"

"//Ahhh, I getcha,//" Rhett nodded patting him, "//just a local community thing, I wouldn't know living in a city.//"

"//Aye you seem really comfortable round here, not just getting the Japanese down but-//"

"//Well, honestly Kaijurocho's a lot like Copenhagen.//" He waved to a kappa in passing. "//Has one of the most bars and restaurants in a single city in the world.//"

"//Wow, really?!//"

"//Yeah, if we were still in Europe I'd take you up to Copenhell, this big rock music fest over on Refshyldemøer which is this whole island off the coast.//"

"//Awww that sounds awesome!//"

"HEYYYY there cutie boys!"

They stopped outside a place called " VIOLON AUTUMN", a banner with rose petals scattered across and plastic vines wreathed around its entrance like a lagoon. Standing beside it was a dashing kitsune of golden fur wearing a luscious crimson shirt of finest silk, with pants loosely flowing to almost resemble a kimono as he winked at the two Europeans.

"Hope you're enjoying the night, you boys looking for a gal, or a guy to water your mouth with?"

"Ahhh yeah," Rhett grinned replying in Japanese, "we heard about this place, any sexy guys in there you're hiding?"

"Ohohoh, you boys are VERY lucky to come tonight, we have a prime stud ready to come out the stable after I've uh...whipped him into shape for the pole."

The smile on the kitsune's face was like the devil come out to play, a whimsical sauciness that tickled Gordon fierce as Tuilleksen nodded.

"Sounds our kinda guy, how big is this stud we're talking?"

"Oh, he's got a lot of meat, in ALL the right places, we're talking DILF material, he's strong, he's no slouch on the streets or in the sheets, he's got a heart of gold, in fact I won't blame you for falling asleep and imagining him cradling you in his big hefty arms."

"//Ohh Icthyus,//" Gordon muttered before replying, "he...sound lovely, we come in?"

"Step right on in sweeties," the fox opened the curtain, "come meet your new dreamboat who'll take you away in his thick muscular embrace."

"//This IS just a poledance right?//" Gordon whispered to Rhett.

"//Yeah yeah don't worry,//" Tuilleksen reassured, "//he's just bigging it up, you know how barkers are.//"

Entering the club, they were led by a pink mantis in an equally-red kimono-style suit through the narrow halls of the strip club. They arrived at a medium-sized room where chairs had been placed in front of a centre stage, a pole firmly grafted through its centre. Spotlights were dancing across the curtains as other kaiju were sitting already.

"Here you are," the mantis offered them their seats, "please, enjoy the show."

"Thank you."

They sat down and waited in the dark corner of the room but not too far from the stage that they couldn't enjoy it as Gordon took a few deep breaths to steady himself and try to get in the mood. The serpent beside him smiled noticing Gordon's earfins flapping faster, wrapping his arm round the student and rubbing his waist.

"//Gordo, chill.//"

"//H-hah, sorry, I,//" the young student gulped, "//so what, what do we do in this sorta place?//"

"//Just enjoy the show and whoop it up, no touching though...but you can put yen bills in the thong if you like.//"

"//D-do they have thongs here?! Oh Icthyus, I've never seen a guy in one in front of me.//"

"//OOH, here we go!//"

"CREATURES aaaaand patrons!" the voice of the kitsune came from the speakers. "I know we have some hungry folks in the audience wanting some big juicy cuts. Lucky for you, we have a special course for you tonight! Allow me to introduce...our chef for the evening."

A look of confusion came form the newcomers wondering what sort of trick this was, whilst regulars nodded with a grinning satisfaction as the curtains on the stage opened up. There stood a chef in all his brimming white glory, a burly barefoot reptilian in a button-cloth suit with a toque hiding his head and not wearing any shoes.

"Welcome." He walked towards the pole. "Allow me to offer you...our main course."

He grabbed the shoulder of his suit and suddenly pulled it free with a tremendous flourish, the entire shirt coming off to reveal his dark bare chest of thick rippling pecs and a sturdy set of abs on his muscular belly. His arms of blackish-green rippled with a taut splendour, his back layered with dorsal spines that trailed down towards the thick long tail at the base of his pants.

The crowd threw up their hands in aexcitement as the dancer took off his hat, hurling it aside before he gripped the pole and started his mesmering dance. But Gordon and Rhett almost choked from the sudden gasp they took as they realised who it was.

"//KI-...K-KIRYU!?//"

"//OH, SHIT!//"

Standing before them shirtless with a winning smile, Gojirama Kiryu spun himself round the pole a few times to get a feel for himself, his tail sweeping across the stage as the first shouts of glee came rippling from the audience of every gender. Grasping the pole behind him, the kaiju slid his back down the steel length and bent his legs keeping them wide open to give everyone a full view of his crotch.

"//Did...//" Gordon turned to his friend, "//Rhett what the fuck, what the FUCK Rhett?!//"

"//I didn't know, I swear!//" Tuilleksen waved his hands. "//I'm as surprised as you I-i didn't know he did stripping!//"

"//Oh like you didn't know you sneaky bastard!//"

"//Dude, I swear, I did NOT know what he did, why would I, I only met him a couple times!//"

"//You knew he was a yakuza!//"

"//Everyone knows he's yakuza, how do you NOT recognise a Toho pin?!//"

With his hands clutched to his face Gordon pulled back in his seat, groaning as he clawed under his eyes until he looked back towards the half-naked Kiryu. The strong brutish figure in the velvet light, gyrating his hips with thickening arms twisting round the pole, a smile on his face of such rich confidence that Gordon almost envied him.

His eyes started to wander along Kiryu's features, less on the strapping musculature that glistened in the light and more on the face of the kaiju who basked in adulation, but not in a self-serving fashion. He wasn't relishing the attention, not in a self-serving sycophantic sense, but more outwardly enjoying the excitement he was giving them with his body. After pumping his legs enough, Kiryu stood up and wrapped round the pole, pushing himself upwards to start spinning his large body round the steel pipe.

The crowd turned ecstatic watching him pump his pecs, Goji curling one of his arms to show a beefy bicep that glimmered with a shine off its peak whilst spinning around the pole. With one leg round the pipe he kicked the other one out in a strong sweep of his large clawed foot, showing off his sturdy rump with taut thickening cheeks stretching against the fabric of his pants.

"//Woah,//" Rhett shifted in his seat, "//hat uh, damn, he's really good.//"

"//He is,//" gasped Gordon, "//I knew he was strong but...hohhh he looks gorgeous.//"

"//Hahaha.//"

"//Wh-what?//"

"//You're so in love with this guy, you were gushing about him all month.//"

"//W-well he's really nice! Even if he is yakuza-//"

"//Hey. Gordon.//" Rhett patted his shoulder. "//Save those doubts for after the date.//"

"//Right. Aye.//"

Licking his lips with a growing excitement, Gordon felt his heart swelling at the sight of Kiryu lifting higher on the pole as the kaiju wrapped his legs fully round the pipe. Puffing out his chest as thick as he could, the swell of his pectorals made the crowd go wild in their seats as they hammered their claws, paws and talons to the floor with rousing cheers.

Kiryu braced himself for his next trick, looking back briefly towards Myobi-chan the kitsune who nodded from the shadows of the curtain. He braced his legs tighter and swung himself bwackwards to hang upside down, letting them gasp with awe at his strapping abdominal belly heaving in the light. Half of the crowd leapt from their seats in squealing joy and throaty roars of elation.

The other half had their egs twisted in their chairs with struggling urges contained as the audience became more heated from Kiryu's display. The saurian stroked along his belly with teasing fingers, cupping his pecs with a smirk on his upside-down face. Hot beads of sweat flickered down his shoulders as he squeezed his pecs harder, inciting the crowd all the more with passionate cries.

The harder he gripped the pole the more thick his thighs became as he flexed his whole body, clenching his arms and lifting up his chest to show the entirety of his brawny physique. It reminded Gordon of a boxer, not huge like a bodybuilder, but strong and sturdy with a hefty top and thinner legs as his mind wandered adrift with lurid thoughts of that smouldering face, those powerful gentle arms and that heaving chest.

The show was soon over as Kiryu vaulted himself off the pole, planting his hands on the ground with a forward-flip before he stood up and took his bow, much to the standing ovation of the small but eager audience. Gordon was swept in their emotions to join them, whooping it up with Rhett beside him as Kiryu locked eyes briefly with McCartin. A hot blush filled their cheeks as Gordon looked away, still grinning from earfin to earfin as Kiryu walked back behind the curtain.

"//He saw me,//" Gordon muttered, "//fuck, fuck he saw me!//"

"//What, you're a customer,//" Rhett grinned.

"//Awww now we have to talk about it on the date, as if it's not gonna be awkward enough!//"

"//Well why not, he's good at it! Like wow, seriously he's got a bod on him, you think he does pin-ups?//"

"//RHETT!//"

"//I was asking for you Gordon jeez, I'm not going to perv on your boyfriend!//"

"//HE'S NOT-mmmph!//" McCartin clapped his mouth. "//L-let's just go.//"

"//Yeah before you rip your pants from that tent you're sporting.//"

"//N-NO I'M NOT!//"

His voice screeched as Tuilleksen cackled, pulling him out the club and back onto the street as darkness fell fully with a peerless black night beyond the neon labyrinth above their heads. The barker kitsune was not at the front door, and Gordon decided to take the initiative and text Kiryu that he was outside.

"//Thanks for taking me out,//" McCartin grinned, "//I really enjoyed it.//"

"//I know you did.//" The sea serpent grinned smooching Gordon's head. "//Lemme know how your date goes, call me if you need me.//"

"//I will, stay safe alright?//"

"//Sure, later!//"

Waving him off as he headed up the road, Tuilleksen left Gordon who watched and waited outside the Violon Autumn. He struggled to compose himself, feeling tight in his pants and slapping himself to knock the horny out of his brain, which was hard to do with his tough bumpy skin that made him barely feel a sting. Then he saw Kiryu step out the alley behind the club, back in his usual pale suit.

"That, was, PERFECT!" squeaked the kitsune following him. "Are you sure don't want to come back?!"

"I'll consider it," Kiryu nodded. "I'm sorry it took so long to get to it."

"Oh no no that's fine!" the fox waved his hand. "Gave you more time to practice you sexy cake."

"Could you stop calling me food stuff now?!"

"When you stop being so fucking delicious I will you-MMMPH!"

"AH, h-hello!" Gordon waved with a forced grin. "I, just meeting, Kiryu."

"Oh, are you-...wait." Myobi looked between the two reptiles with a growing gasp. "Oh...my gods, are you two-"

"He's my date," Kiryu nodded.

"OHOHO, OHOHH BLESS!" the fox squealed, clapping his chest. "Oh this is fucking presh, I had no idea THIS little cutie boy was the one you were with!"

"It's our fourth date, chill."

"Oh I absolutely will NOT chill, he's a lucky little sweetie!"

Gordon blushed, rubbing his neck from the kitsune's words as Myobi stepped back.

"I'll just leave you two adoraboys to spend the night, glad I could help give you a taster for when you go back to his place-"

"HEY!" Kiryu snapped. "Don't be like that, it's just a quiet date."

"Mmmmm alright, if you say so." The fox bowed once more. "Thank you so much again Kiryu-chan, I hope my techniques you learned will help you too."

"Yeah they...sure did," the kaiju smirked, "see you round, Myobi-chan."

"And you, you big saucy steak."

With a titter he walked back inside the Violon Autumn, leaving two embarrassed-looking reptilians trying not to stare at each other. Gordon couldn't stop seeing Kiryu's chest through his suit, whilst Gojirama couldn't stop seeing McCartin's red-hot cheeks.

"So you heard about my side-job?" Kiryu grinned.

"N-no," Gordon shook his head, "I, my friend, he take me to...bar, said would, uh...excite me, for date."

"Hmhmhm...well, I'm honoured-"

"I-i not know you were there!" the beast gasped. "Was, accident!"

"Hey, I believe you." Kiryu patted his hand. "It's not a regular thing, I was just helping a friend fill in for someone, and I owed them a favour."

"Oh...really?" McCartin grinned oddly pleased. "That...is nice of you."

"Anyways, glad you enjoyed the show."

"U-UH, it, yes!" the student blushed again. "You, very good dancer, you work out at gym?!"

"Haha, no," the yakuza shook his head, "anyways, you got a place in mind for our date?"

"YES, Kanrai!" Gordon started walking up the street. "Very nice place, tasty beef!"

"Oh yeah that place is great," Kiryu followed him, "you ever had their bibimbap?"

"Yes, love the sauce!"

Heading up together they went to Kanrai passing by Little Asia just north of Pink Street and skirting round onto North Zennyo Avenue. The Kanrai restaurant was a notable locale with its marble-black edifice across the road from a fenced-off parking lot. While not a glamorous location, it was well-loved by the foot traffic with its stylish front and crystal glass doors

The second floor was a lavish room of white marble pillars, charcoal-grey floor and several tables with steak burning pits in the middle, if one wanted to season theirs a little further. The smell of beef and spices caused their stomachs to rumble as they were greeted by an otter with black fur matching his suit.

"Welcome sirs," he bowed from the desk, "can I have your names?"

"Yes!" Gordon stepped up. "McCartin, and Kiryu."

"Very good, please follow me."

Strolling over to a two-seater table, the waiter sat them down and offered them their menus before leaving them to decide. Nothing was said between them, too hungry to think of conversation as Gordon put up his hand once they were ready.

"I have...seafood platter and bibimbap," McCartin pointed.

"I'll have the kimchi combo and sirloin," Kiryu nodded.

"Very good sirs," the waiter bowed, "would you like a starter?"

"Yeah, you want the beef soup McCartin-san?"

"Yes please!"

The student nodded as the waiter scribbled down their requests, taking their menus away as the gentle burbling of other customers filled the room.

"I haven't been here in a while," Kiryu sighed settling in, "must've been like three months ago."

"I love this place," Gordon flapped his earfins, "is quiet, but smells good."

"Yeah it always smells delicious here, I think they got some kind of extractor fan to blow in from the kitchen."

"OH, yes there!" McCartin pointed to a large vent on the wall. "Very sneaky!"

"Hmhmhm."

"How was your trip? Your friend okay?"

"Oh yeah, it was great!" Kiryu smiled. "Visited the old orphanage, went to a haunted house, everyone's doing well."

"Wha-...haunted?" McCartin shook his head.

"It wasn't actually haunted, just this kid lost his ball, and I went to get it back. The locals said it was haunted, but I don't believe that."

"You no believe in ghosts?"

"No, do you?"

"Mmm..." Gordon pondered stroking his chin, "I...believe, bigger things out there we not know. I only believe in ghosts, if I ever see one."

"That's fair," Kiryu nodded, "I like that, you can't know everything, but you don't have to believe everything."

"Yes! Very clever words, Kiryu-san."

"Kiryu-san!?"

A voice called out from the kitchen as a long pale dog swept through in a chef's outfit.

"I heard our maitre'd say your name and I had to come see myself, I'm so glad to see you!"

"Oh, hey there," Gojirama smiled looking up at him, "sorry I took so long to come here, business as usual."

"Ohohh yes yes I understand, and who is your friend?"

"This is McCartin-san. He's my date."

"Ahh!" the cook bowed with his floppy hat. "I am so honoured to meet you, I'm Okushiba, the head chef of Kanrai!"

"Thank you!" Gordon gasped bowing back with a giddy grin. "I, love your food, s-so good, big BIG fan of your bibimbap!"

"Hahaha, thank you so much! I just came to remind Kiryu-san that his fifteen-percent discount is still valid!"

"Really?" Kiryu stiffened up in his seat. "I wasn't thinking about it, we don't have to-"

"No no, I insist!" the dog waved his hand. "I promised you fifteen-percent, and I have already cleared it with the maitre'd, you were a big help getting rid of that thief!"

"It was just one dine-and-dasher, I don't feel I really did that much."

"Well he never came back again that's for sure, you've saved me money either way! I'll just bring you your soup now."

Two bowls of steaming hot soup was served to them in a few minutes, roasting thick stew with small strips of beef and rice laden through with spices that incentivised their hunger and kept their stomachs wanting more by the time their main courses arrived.

Gordon tucked into his seafood platter and bibimbap, a mixture of scallops and shrimp next to a bowl of rice mixed with egg, soy sauce and slices of beef. Kiryu in turn relished his kimchi and sirloin, a hefty plate of radish, daikon and Chinese cabbage to balance with the juicy steak.

"Who was thief you caught?" Gordon asked between nibbles.

"A dine-and-dasher," Kiryu started picking slices, "ever heard of those?"

"They eat food, then run without paying?"

"Yeah. Some guy dodged his bill, so I chased him down."

"Wow...you save me money before we even date!"

"Hmhmhm, glad I didn't come back here until you invited me."

"Mmmmph, but thish sho good!" McCartin whimpered stuffing his face. "You want some?"

"Sure," Kiryu leaned over to grab a bite, "I'll let you have some of my kimchi if you want."

"Okay, yes!"

For a moment they swapped dishes, enjoying the other's meal for a brief time before swapping back and finishing off the rest of their food. With bellies full they picked up their check, minus 15% as they thanked the waiter and took their leave down Shachifuku Street.

"So, where you want to go next?" asked Kiryu.

"Mmmmm, something fun!" Gordon rocked on his heels. "But not bowling, did that already."

"Maybe the arcade?"

"Ahhh, too loud...ooooh, the uhhh, ball place." He motioned the swing of an invisible bat.

"Really?" Gojirama grinned wide. "The batting centre?"

"YES, batting centre, want to go?"

"Yeah, I love that place!"

"Really?!" Gordon gasped. "You like baseball?"

"Well, no, I just really like swinging a bat," Kiryu rubbed his shoulder, "gets all the kinks out of my arm, and sometimes when I've had a really rough day, it helps me destress."

"Aaah..." McCartin's smile faded, "your job, lots of stress?"

"Quite a bit, yeah."

"What...things happen in job?"

"Well usually it's just numbers," said Kiryu walking west, "most of the time it's pretty easy. But sometimes we get a rival uh...competitor, and they try to take over a property of ours."

"How do you stop it?"

"Well, diplomacy mostly...and if that doesn't work, and they still try to push us around...that's when I have to take countermeasures."

He said this with a pained look, almost pleading Gordon not to ask further which surprised the beast as he nodded when they reached the batting centre. A voice stopped them before they went in.

"Uhhh, h-hey...Kiryu, right?"

"Yeah?" he turned to see. "Wait...I remember you."

Sitting near the telephone booth beside the entrance, a bear with emaciated ribs and very thin hairs shivered to himself in a blanket, his soulful eyes blinking up at Kiryu and Gordon.

"I didn't catch your name before," said Goji bowing, "my apologies."

"I didn't give it," the bear bowed in turn, "Kumaeda, howsit going?"

"It's been good, this is McCartin-san."

"Um, h-hello," Gordon waved, "are you...okay?"

"Aaah...not really." Kumaeda rubbed his arms. "It's getting colder, winter's coming and that's always the worst."

"Why are you out here then?" Kiryu knelt beside him. "Shouldn't you be with your friends, or underground?"

"I would, but I haven't eaten in two days and my stomach's keeping me awake...it sucks."

"Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't know, is there anything I can do?"

"N-no, no it's fine, I don't wanna, y-you got your own things to-KHRR, KHHHRKH, KHAAH!"

His body violently shuddered with a brutal cough, his skeleton shivering all at once as he tightened his blanket.

"I-i'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you, I just hang out here hoping some...s-some folks'll drop some yen so I can get s-s-something to eat."

"I can spare a few." Kiryu pulled out 1200 yen.

"I-i have some too!" Gordon knelt down offering the same.

"Oh, ohhh thank you," the bear smiled clutching the coins, "th-that really helps me out a lot, I-i'm gonna go grab something now before they close."

"No problem," Kiryu nodded, "you remember what I said before though, if you really need help, or your friends, you can contact my office."

"I-i know, just...it's hard to ask. Some of us especially."

The homeless kaiju staggered onto his legs and shuffled towards the Poppo store nearby.

"Thanks again...Kiryu-san."

"Take care, Kumaeda-san."

With a struggling smile, the bear departed as Kiryu took Gordon into the batting centre, trying to shake off their concerns as McCartin paid for both their rounds at the plate, the sound of balls pinging off of steel bats beneath a green-netted sky.

"You ever done this?" Kiryu asked.

"No," Gordon shook his head, "it looks fun!"

"Alright, I'll take first crack and show you if that's okay."

"Yes, show me please!"

Stepping up to the plate, Goji stared down the pitcher with his bat thrust forth like a mighty sword, twirling it in his hand and spreading his foot to make a batter's stance. He tensed his eye and waited for the first ball to come straight towards him. The first four he whacked out easily into home runs. The fifth he faltered and missed the timing by a bit, but only because he had looked towards Gordon who was grinning patiently, before he managed to get his focus back at the seventh and hit another three targets.

"Alright, your turn!" Kiryu coaxed McCartin into the batter's cage. "Now, step over here."

"Okay," the student took the bat, "like this?"

"Yeah, keep your legs apart, back straight, hold the bat like this."

Stepping behind Gordon, Kiryu placed his hands against the beast's sides to help position him. The younger creature gasped at the firm claws stroking his waist, the kaiju's head slipping over his shoulder, his breath deep but gentle as McCartin shivered from his presence. His dark-scaled fingers wrapped around Gordon's hands gripping the bat, as he felt Goji's chest against his back.

"Keep it firm," Kiryu muttered.

"O-oh, y-y-yes?"

"Harden your grip, like holding a baby bird. Not too hard you crush it, but firm enough it can't fly away."

"H-h-hhhh, o-okay."

"Now straighten your back."

Kiryu's pecs pushed up against Gordon's shoulders as he whimpered with reddened cheeks, the kaiju squeezing the beast's hands before he stepped back and let Gordon take his shot. The student braced himself for the first swing as the ball came flying past, McCartin missing entirely with a chuckle before the second one swooped past.

"//Auuugh come on,//" he puffed his cheeks and stiffened his gait, "//don't wanna look a twat in front of him.//"

The third swing he struck out, but he didn't let his anger rise as he closed one of his eyes and focused on the pitcher's hologram in front of the machine. The ball came hurtling as he braced his feet, smacked his lips and walloped it hard to shoot off into the ceiling. It wasn't a home run since it missed the target, but it felt good enough from the pinging tremor down the bat.

"//HAH! HEY, I DID IT!//"

"GOOD!" Kiryu clapped. "Six more left, keep it up champ!"

Gordon gave him a thumbs up and came out swinging for the next, cracking out balls number five, six and seven in a row that really boosted his confidence. He fumbled at the ninth ball with a swing too great, but played safe on the last one to knock it out the park and even hit one of the targets.

"OHHH, I HIT IT!"

"Great work!" Kiryu patted him. "I'm proud of you, you learn pretty fast, not many cretures can hit five balls the first try."

"Hahah, haaaah, th-thank you Kiryu-san," Gordon blushed rubbing his neck, "I-i...I used a bat before."

"Oh right, the one at your shop, I forgot about that. Alright let's go."

Stepping back out of the batting centre they saw Kumaeda's blanket was still left behind as Kiryu furrowed his brow.

"Hey," he turned to Gordon, "you mind if I get something at the store?"

"Uh, okay!"

McCartin followed him to the Poppo store just opposite the batting centre at the intersection, the burning glow of multicoloured treats hitting Gordon with an uncomfortable familiarity.

"Hello," Kiryu bowed to a kappa clerk, "did you see a bear come in here, really thin with ragged clothes?"

"Oh yeah he went down that way," the clerk pointed west down the street, "couple of guys said they were friends, saying something about a sitdown at the park."

"What did they look like? I was supposed to be meeting someone here so-"

"Uhh just some young guys in hoodies, there was a wolf, an ox and an octopus?"

"Hmm," Kiryu nodded, "thanks, I'll take a bottle of iced tea while I'm here, McCartin you want something?"

"Uhhh, c-cola, please."

Gordon's face started to tighten from at the description as Kiryu bought their drinks. Exiting the shop, they took a walk down to the Children's Park on the far west end of Shachifuku.

"He's in...trouble, yes?" Gordon asked.

"I think so," Kiryu drank his tea, "I'm sorry, we might have to cut the date short and-"

"I'll help you."

The kaiju stopped with a slow look towards the beast.

"Are you sure? It might get dangerous."

"You...worried about Kumaeda, yes?" the student nodded. "You always help, other creatures."

"It's my home," Kiryu nodded back, "I can't let innocent creatures get pushed around by punks."

"Me too." Gordon stiffened his breath. "Let's go, we help him."

"Hmhmhm...right."

They walked together, bracing themselves for a fight as they entered the small park and found Kumaeda clutching a small bag of rice balls, cowering before a familiar-looking white wolf with blue streaks, a hornless bull and a shiny-headed octopus. All of them had a red circle on the back of their jackets, a black beastly face with white slitted eyes in the centre.

"You know what pisses me off?" said the wolf wielding a crowbar. "A nice place like the batting centre, and all those fancy hotels...and then I see you. I'm just trying to get a nice drink at the Poppo, and you're shitting up the place with your stank."

"I-i don't want any trouble," muttered the bear, "I-i was just getting some food-"

"Oh yeah, you steal those?" the bull snorted.

"No, I-i paid for them!"

"Like you have a fucking job," the octopus grabbed him with four arms, "why don't you fuck right off back to the sewers?"

"I-i was going to!" gasped Kumaeda. "I just needed food-"

"Oh, so YOU deserve food even though you're such a fucking waste, you don't work, you don't got a house, you shit out on the streets!"

"PLEASE, let me go, I won't bother you again!"

"Oh yeah," the wolf raised his crowbar, "you won't."

The octopus grabbed the bear's arm and forced it out in front of the wolf, the homeless kaiju gasping with a scream as he tried to pull away from the metal club, lifting up above his head to aim straight for his ragged bony limb. Suddenly the wolf felt his weapon wrenched from his hand, sending him falling back hard to go rolling across the grass where he landed at Kiryu's feet.

"HEY, THE FUCK!"

"I thought I told you to not come back."

"GUH, sh-SHIT!"

The punk scrabbled off the ground as the bull and the octopus reeled back. Kumaeda took his chance to escape, hurrying to Kiryu's side whilst still clutching at his bag.

"Th-thank, thank you Kiryu-san, ohh gods thank you-"

"It's alright," said Gojirama, "get back to your friends, I'll handle this."

"Yes, th-thank you again!"

Running down the street, the bear left the park as Gordon and Kiryu stared down the three punks, the wolf trying to puff himself up as he picked up his crowbar.

"Look at this big fucking guy huh, think you some kinda hero?"

"Did you forget who I am?" Kiryu tapped his lapel pin. "First you tried to attack a beast, now you're beating up the homeless?"

"Coward!" snapped Gordon. "You sick, why you not respect creatures?!"

"Shut the fuck up Frenchie!" the bull jabbed his finger at him. "We're not at your piss-ass store anymore, what the fuck you got against us here?!"

"I no let you beat up homeless, you VASHER!"

"He's right," Kiryu shook his head, "I thought you were just stupid punks, but now I see your true faces like the cowardly bigots you are."

"UGH shuuuut uuuup you fucking old creep!" the wolf barked. "We're doing our duty to the country cleaning up this place, and if some Toho fuck like you don't agree well TOO BAD!"

"And who is this...we?"

The wolf whistled sharp as they heard the sound of marching feet. Strolling up from behind Kiryu and Gordon, four more kaiju came in the form of a snarling red catfish, a golden eagle, a blue kappa, and a pale serpent all of whom were wielding knives and clubs.

"What's wrong, getting cold feet?" the wolf chuckled. "I saw you dipshits going into the centre, I was gonna deal with you both after I practiced my swings on that smelly-ass bitch."

"Yeah," the octopus snorted crossing six arms, "I was really wanting to see those ribs break off, didn't even need an x-ray to see where Raijusawa'd hit him."

"So we got some backup," said the hornless bull, "yanno, to deal with you. HEY PALS, WHAT WE SAY TO THESE SHITS?!"

"BEASTS OUT!" chanted the four. "MONSTERS OUT, SALT THE DESERT, SALT THE DESERT!"

"And that includes any beastfucking race traitors like Toho-kun over here, letting grass-eared fucks like him in our country, taking OUR jobs an-"

"SHUT, THE FUCK UP!"

Gordon snapped suddenly turning to the three punks.

"I waste no time with vashers! You want fight, THEN I FIGHT YOU!"

"I agree," Kiryu cracked his knuckles, "I don't have to waste my hearing on pathetic little morons who are so fragile in their ego, they'd rather put someone in a hospital than put themselves in an actual job."

"I HAVE A FUCKING JOB!" snapped the wolf. "I WORK IN MY FAMILY'S STORE!"

"Oh so McCartin-san didn't take any job from you," he thumbed to Gordon, "you're just a petty bastard, and I'll tell your parents that exactly when I drag you by your broken arms down the street, with your vasher jacket shoved down your throat."

"YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"

"HEADS UP!"

Kiryu's warning to Gordon caused the beast to turn round fast and dodge the catfish who came swinging with a knife, slashing for his head as Gordon swerved to slam his fist into the kaiju's side with hard steel knuckles. Yeowling from the sudden pain, the thug was surprised from the blow when McCartin followed with a hard punch to the back of the head to knock her down, turning quickly towards the eagle who cracked across the student's face with a billy club.

With hard bumpy scales he took the blow unfazed with only a small sting to his cheek, taking another strike much to the punk's startled look before McCartin bopped him twice in the beak with boxing jabs and slammed an uppercut under the jaw to crack him backwards. Suddenly he was grabbed from behind by the serpent wrapping his arms round Gordon, the blue kappa stepping out in front and bludgeoning the student with her long steel pipe.

The first few blows did little to dent him, as he kicked up his feet and slammed both into her face, throwing himself on top of the snake in turn who crunched on the side of the pavement. Rolling himself off quick, Gordon was aware of a crowd starting to look on as cars stopped on the street from the ensuing melee that spilled out from the Children's Park.

Recovering from her blow, the kappa swung her pipe in a lunging strike as Gordon ducked under the sweep and pummelled her beak thrice with his steel knuckles. The kaiju staggered with a dizzying headache, until Gordon made a vicious rising uppercut with a twist of his entire body, cracking the vasher hard enough to lift her off her feet, and fall hard with water spilling out her head.

"//COME ON!//" Gordon shouted in Irish Gaeilge. "//You think I'm scared of you, you fuckers lost the war, AND YOU'RE GONNA LOSE AGAIN!//"

"F-fucking BITCH!" the catfish snarled still clutching her knife. "Spit your fucking foreign shit at me, I'LL CUT YOUR FACE!"

Thrusting with a brutal stab, the kaiju came for Gordon with murder in her eyes as the student stepped aside and grabbed her by the wrist, slamming her arm down on his knee causing her to drop the knife before the student grabbed her head, and slammed her face into the gravel. By this point the eagle had recovered and with wings flapping from the back of his jacket, he flew across the pavement with a rising kick that crunched both his clawed shoes into Gordon's head.

Whilst his date was fighting four-at-a-time, Kiryu took on the main trio as the bull charged him first with a swinging kick. The saurian grabbed his leg and swung him round the park to crush him against the public bathroom stall in the corner. The octopus lunged with six terrible fists that managed to clock Kiryu four times in a rapid-fire combo.

Pounding him back towards the swing set, the cephalopod hammered his face and chest with multifire punches that Kiryu struggled to block, before he jumped and grabbed the bar of the swing above him. Slamming his feet in a doublekick for the octopus' head, he grabbed the ropes of the swinging seat and pulled himself back for a mighty swing of his own body, throwing his entire self in a hard dropkick that threw the vasher back and sent him rolling across the dirt.

"FUCKING BITCH, YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!"

The dog's roaring fury alerted Kiryu to the strike of his steel crowbar, crunching the ground inches from Gojirama's foot when the saurian dodged swiftly to evade the hellish strike. The wolf swung up hard in a vile uppercut to try and catch Kiryu's jaw, the Toho gangster grabbing the vasher's wrist when he tried to come down for a strike. Blocking the arm, Kiryu kicked the wolf hard at the back of the knee and grabbed the punk's chest to throw him head-over-tail to the ground.

"That all you got?" Kiryu teased with taunting fingers. "I thought you'd been practicing to deal with me proper."

"SH-SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING WHORE!"

With a cry of fury the thug shot up along with his octopus friend. Facing the duo towards the park exit, Kiryu had not noticed the bull staggering up from the bathroom as he lunged with a wild haymaker at the dinosaur's skull, throwing Goji forwards straight into the octopus' fists. The punk gave him one in the stomach, four across the face, and a sixth arm wrapping its suckers round Kiryu's neck to strangle him hard and leave him open towards his friends.

The wolf cackled with an evil grin and bashed Kiryu's face with the crowbar leaving a hard welting bruise, before he raised it up high ready to cave in his skull with the steel club. Suddenly Gojirama lunged forwards, bowing his head and forcing the octopus behind him to bow in turn right in the coming path of his friend's crowbar.

"AAAAAARGH! F-FUCK, FUUUUCK!"

Cracking the bald bonce with a howling scream, the white dog panicked from the octopus' shriek who pushed Kiryu aside and clutched his bleeding head. In that moment Gojirama saw the eagle make a flying kick for Gordon's head, rapidly scarring and striking his brutal talons upon the student's face as bruises started to form on his bumpy scalp.

Staggering back against the sidewalk, McCartin tried to punch upwards at the flying vasher who flapped and swerved with mocking taunts and pounding kicks into the young beast's head. A throbbing pain formed in the student's temple as he tried to get away, with growing stumble and bleary eyes full of pain.

Before the eagle could land a crippling axe kick from above, his leg was grabbed by Kiryu who swung him like a giant flag, whirling round and round before throwing him out towards a car that stopped in traffic. The bird cracked his beak through the front of its grill, his squawks of shrieking panic mixed with the fumes clogging his nostrils.

"You alright?!" Kiryu pulled up McCartin.

"A-aye," he moaned, "are you?!"

"It's fine, nothing I can't handle-"

"I'LL FUCKING GUT YOU!"

"LOOK OUT!"

Shoving Kiryu back, McCartin dodged the catfish's tearing strike of her wily blade, the crowd gathering on the other side of the street gasping in fright at the brawl increasing in ferocity as the vasher went for Kiryu who was closer. With a lunging thrust she tried to multi-stab the kaiju who for some reason dared not to strike back, waiting for the moment she thrust too far off-balance as he grabbed her by the arm, sweeped her leg to trip her down, and wrenched the knife from her hand., and softly put her to the ground.

"HE-HEY, GIVE IT BACK!"

"Nope," he rolled her across the ground and dumped the knife in a sewer drain, "not happening here."

"YOU BEASTFUCKING PRICK, I'LL SHOW YOU!"

She pounced like a lion towards Kiryu, who jumped back and swerved feeling someone else coming from behind him. An idea came to him as he made a taunting gesture at the catfish, maddening fury in her eyes as she thundered down upon him with a brazen fist reared back to punch. At the same time behind Kiryu, the kappa had stumbled back on her feet with a half-empty bowl of water in her head, and a blistering temper as she grabbed her pipe and came swinging for his back.

Gojirama dodged the moment they were both in striking distance, the two vashers unable to stop themselves as one girl crunched the other's face with a fist, the other cracking a pipe in a stomach with a hoarse shriek as they both fell on top of each other, and crumpled into the road. Kiryu sighed turning back to the others, the bull and the octopus jumping at him as they left the park itself, whilst the wolf came after Gordon.

"NOW IT'S YOU AND ME!" the dog shouted. "Your boyfriend's busy, so now you'll get what's coming to you!"

"//Fine!//" McCartin shouted back in his native tongue. "//I'm fucking sick of you anyway, I'm not a coward like YOU!//"

"SHUT YOUR FUCKING HOLE!"

The wolf suddenly ignited with a burst of anger from his body, a brimming white force trembling through his fur with sparks of blue crackling around his jacket before he shot towards Gordon at the speed of light. Some creatures in this world possessed latent abilities, such as roaring flames from their breath, or summoning water through their fingers. For the most part however, these were banned or at the very least prohibited in public.

Raijusawa, the pale dog, did not give a fuck right now about prohibited public displays, and in his desperate moment of fury possessed the speed of lightning. With a brutal strike of his crowbar, he struck McCartin in a flash that threw the student halfway across the street. Rolling across the gravel with a crumpling groan, the beast staggered up with a frightening pain and a dark bruise developing on his forehead, as this was the point the crowd finally started to call the police.

Until then the wolf picked his target, the vasher becoming a bolt of lightning that zigzagged across the street, causing Gordon to block fast as he could before Raijusawa came down with his steel club, which in turn was energised by his voltaic fury to send shocking spasms through McCartin. Stuttering anguish filled him as he clutched his body with a wheezing gasp, the force of a taser rippling through his chest, but he stood his ground with a hard stomp of his tingling feet.

"What's the matter?" the wolf cackled zipping back in a blur. "Too slow for your lizard brain, you FUCKING MONGREL?!"

Dashing back towards Gordon, the dog zipped past him as McCartin quickly ducked the violent swing of the crowbar that came from behind, spinning out his foot in a sweeping kick to throw the vasher down and immediately drive his fist into Raijusawa's face. Blood exploded from his snout with a yelp of insolence before he rolled back up, staggering with a deep breath as he charged himself up for another lightning flash.

Tearing across the road in a pale silhouette, he circled around Gordon with crackling sparks following behind as he slammed the student's belly, crunched into his waist and beat him on the shoulder with harder and harder bruises from the force of his bolting impacts. With every strike he made Gordon wince harder, stumbling with sparks of vicious electric wrath spasming through his form.

McCartin braced himself to read the wolf's movements, visualising a baseball he had to hit, the whirring shape of the vasher like a ghost drifting past him. He watched the dog's feet for when they would turn and stop on a dime for the next strike. Raijusawa would always stomp two seconds before he drifted to a stop, and the student saw his cue to suddenly turn with a punishing elbow strike.

The wolf soon ate the gravel, when Gordon crunched into his face with such force meeting his own speed that Raijusawa fell backwards with a crumpling seizure. The volts from his body trickled out into the asphalt, his face bloodied red, his eyes dimming concussed as the student sighed with a burning wheeze.

"//Aaaagh...f-fuck me,//" he winced, "//you vashers are the fuckin' worst, you know that?//"

"McCARTIN-SAN!"

He turned to see Kiryu wave at him, standing atop a bull and an octopus heavily beaten as the student waved back.

"You alright?!"

"I OKAY!" the beast gave a thumbs up. "ARE YOU?!"

"Yeah, all good! Police'll be coming by, you mind hanging around?"

"Okay, I stay!"

Ten minutes after the fight had ended, police cars rolled up and arrested the vasher gang with testimony from the various witnesses, along with Kiryu and McCartin giving their statements. The store clerk from the Poppo also confirmed the start of things, as Raijusawa was woken up, put into cuffs, and read his rights on the grounds of public assault, bodily harm, and unlawful usage of energy-based powers.

Sitting down at the bench in the Children's Park, Gordon and Kiryu took a moment to catch their breaths with adrenaline stilll seeping through McCartin's body. Their heads covered in bruises, Gordon moreso than Goji, their clothes were ragged and bloody, most of it not their own as the kaiju noticed the student's gloves with a smile creeping on his face.

"Were you expecting trouble?"

"Hmm?" Gordon looked up.

"I've seen enough fights to know when someone's packing knuckles."

"O-oh...yes."

He pulled off his gloves to reveal the weapons with a bashful grin.

"Not bad," Kiryu chuckled, "that's not store-bought either, who got you those?"

"Mother," said McCartin rubbing his hands, "she taught me."

"Wow, really? You got some good moves on you, like a boxer."

"Aye, sh-she fight god."

"What do they say?" he pointed at the Irish script on them.

"Ah...um...'" the beast took a moment to phrase it best, "Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down'."

"Hah, hahahaha, that's pretty good. Your mother sounds a tough lady."

"Hahah, hah, sh-she is, really happy, she taught me."

"I'm happy too. Makes me less worried about keeping you safe."

"S-safe?" Gordon sat up clutching his ribs.

"If you want to keep dating that is. Kaijurocho's a dangerous place."

"Oh...aye. Kiryu."

McCartin took a careful breath before his ribs made him regret it.

"A-are you...yakuza?"

A look of regret crossed over Kiryu's face, his eyes drifting away as he tightened his lips.

"Yes. You found out."

"I did," Gordon nodded.

"I'm sorry," Kiryu stared at his hands. "I didn't mean to deceive you, I wasn't sure how you felt about dating well...a criminal. I know it's hard to explain, other than the Toho Clan is a lot different to how other yakuza operate."

"Really?" the student sat closer. "Are they...good yakuza?"

"Well, better than others. We're not extortionists, we don't bully businesses, we don't rub out competitors and we keep the streets safe from regular punks like those vashers. But I know it's something you're not used to hearing."

"It's weird," McCartin rubbed his arm, "always thought, most criminals bad."

"Most?" Kiryu turned his head.

"W-well, some creatures arrested, for the wrong thing, right?"

"Hm, right. But that's not in my case McCartin-san. I'm a yakuza. I manage businesses illegally, I don't pay money to the government, and the way I deal with problems is not authorised by our government. I've never killed anyone, I promise you that, but I have been in a lot of fights. That's the truth."

The kaiju stood up dusting off his blood-spittled suit.

"If you're not comfortable with dating me anymore, I completely understand."

"Wh-what?" Gordon gasped.

"I don't want you to feel frightened being here McCartin-san. I like you, I appreciate the talks we have, and I like being your customer. But if you don't feel safe dating me, I will not hold it against you, I will not force you to do anything you don't want to do. But I had a good time being with you."

"K-...Kiryu." Gordon clutched himself.

"Can I take you back to the bus stop?" He offered his hand. "Just so I know you get home safely."

"Um...a-alright."

They walked together up the Hotel District, the sky turning darker with a coming thunder as they sensed a flickering drop on their heads. Droplets started to come, slowly thickening as Kiryu sighed with a small regret before McCartin pulled out something from his pocket. Much to Goji's surprise it was an umbrella, the student smiling as he popped it open and sheltered their heads on their way to the bus stop.

Standing under a streetlight in the gathering rain, they watched and waited beside the motorway for Gordon's bus to arrive from the University. A fog started to roll in, the lights of the cars roaring past like banshees in the night as Kiryu felt something touch his hand. Gordon looked up at him with a trusting smile.

"I would...like to see you again," said McCartin.

"You...really?" Kiryu gasped.

"Can you...call me, when you're free?"

"...sure." The kaiju squeezed his hand. "I'll call you...McCartin-san."

The night of October wind ripped through their bodies as the student hugged closer to Kiryu, his warmth smouldering beneath the suit as the yakuza smiled to himself, and Gordon pressed his head against Kiryu's shoulder.