FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Kiryu sat in the waiting room at the clinic, staring at the white walls and tapping the fuzzy carpet under his shoes. Along two rows of seats he saw a hatchling coughing fire, two small puppies playing with some blocks, a long-bearded oni reading a fishing magazine, and a large ape clutching her head struggling not to scream from the pain in her temple.

Trying to pass the time, Kiryu read a pamphlet that spoke of the Serizawa Acts, explaining that since the 1970s, all Japanese creatures with energy-based abilities were legally mandated to receive a check-up every six months to ensure they were not illegally using their powers. They were also put on a register, which the pamphlet stressed was only used by the medical authorities, and that the government had no access to, so as to prevent discrimination.

Those who delayed their check-up for more than a month were subject to fines or a brief sentence to community service. Those who did not comply, or outright refuse, were put under house arrest to prevent them from coming into contact with society. Those who actively used their powers of fire, ice, sonic or plasma-based derivative in an offensive form against members of the public, were judged by the courts and if found guilty, sent to prison and put on a separate criminal register.

"Gojirama Kiryu?"

His head shot up hearing his name as he walked through into the doctor's office. A large tiger-headed fish stood waiting to receive him, his striped furry head accented by long whiskers trailing down his white coat.

"Good afternoon, Kiryu-san."

"Shachifuma-san," the patient bowed, "how's it going?"

"Ohhh can't complain," he clasped his flippered hands together, "just glad it's not pollen season, step up to the bed if you please."

The kaiju sat up in waiting as the tiger-fish bent down to grab something from his cupboard, the doctor's room pale with a desk, several charts and a long bedrest that sat behind a lead curtain which the doctor pulled across. In his hand was a small remote with a long steel conductor, Kiryu opening his mouth to show his sharp reptilian teeth and thick flatter tongue.

"Been anywhere nice lately?" asked the doctor pushing the rod in.

"Auhh, yuh?" Kiryu muttered. "Whuun tuu Suuhiinaanaazhuu."

"Ohhh that's lovely this time of year, the cedar trees are perfect in the autumn."

"Yuh, rhuul hretty."

"Now, breathe in." The doctor clicked two buttons on the remote. "Aaaand breathe out, for as long as you can."

Kiryu gave a long deep exhale as the machine started clicking, picking up faster everytime the patient breathed in and out the next few times before it stopped.

"Forty-six rasselbergs," the doctor smirked, "still smoking are we?"

"Yeah," Kiryu smirked back, "that's not bad is it?"

"Only in excess, or if you're under eighteen since children can't absorb B-rads. But you're fine, now if you were hitting a hundred rasses that would be a problem."

"I know, I haven't used my nuclear breath in years."

"And when was that?" the doctor raised his brow.

"Back in my early twenties," Kiryu squinted upwards, "was out with some friends, we went hiking up the mountains."

"Oh good good, long as it's away from the public, now I noticed some bruises on you about a week old, is that a problem?"

"I just got in a fight, you heard about that brawl at the Children's Park?"

"Ohohhh, was that you?" the tiger-fish chuckled crossing his arms. "You know, every time you come here you always have some bruise on you."

"What can I say," Kiryu shrugged, "it's my job to keep the peace."

"Well legally speaking it's not, but alright, so long as you're not causing too much trouble."

"I try not to," the patient bowed, "thank you again, Shachifuma-san."

"Take care Kiryu-san, see you in another six months!"

Exiting the clinic, Gojirama made his way back out onto Suppon Street, just round the corner from Tenkaiju Street. He briefly considered taking a smoke, before a slight sense of guilt crept into him and he decided to save it for later as a treat. It was still early morning, a soft rain trickling through that didn't bother creatures enough to want an umbrella, but still gave a certain damp in the air.

The sun shone with a blinding light reflecting off the wet asphalt, searing the eyes of kaiju trying to make their way to work as the stores pulled open shutters and unlocked their doors. He headed back to the office, seeing if any news were available as he heard the sound of an excitable Obara from within.

"Alright, you downloaded it?!"

"Yeah yeah," Sanjin rolled his eyes.

"This isn't a virus right?" asked Sano scratching his spikes.

"What, no!" Obara shook his floppy ears. "It's just an app and it's on the local wi-fi so there won't be any problems. Alright, Sano-san, you tap it and give me something random."

"Uhhh kay?"

Kiryu watched from the door the small group of friends fiddling with their phones as Sano tapped on a paw-shaped symbol. He brought up a set of words as he tapped "Fire", which then appeared on Obakimura's phone.

"OH, hey you beeped me!"

"Okay, now what's it say?" asked Obara.

"Fire, then it says our address, damn that's surprising/"

"Why? That means it's working!"

"No I mean that this damn phone of mine still works I haven't touched it in years."

"Hey there," Kiryu waved, "what's going on?"

"Hi Kiryu-san!" Gonkuro waved back. "I'm making this app, my secret project's about to unfold!"

"So get this," Anguirou rolled his eyes, "Obara-kun's making some kinda local distress signal for your phone."

"I call it Paw Patrol! Basically you open it up, and you get a list of options to report something that happened, so either a fire, a robbery, or an assault, and it calls others to come help you!"

"Honestly it's kinda neat, it's pretty easy to follow when it's just a set of buttons."

"Okay, Varan-san you try sending something."

"Uhhh alright."

The patriarch squinted hard at his phone and tapped a few times, the old salamander clumsily jabbing on the list of buttons with sunken eyes as he scritched his spiky mohawk.

"OH!" Sano's phone beeped. "Robbery at our address!"

"Whut, no, I picked fire!"

"It says robbery here."

"I did not pick that gods dammit I can't read this shit."

"Really?" Obara looked at his boss' phone. "Is it that hard?"

"Yeah I can't tell these two apart."

"Aww jeez."

"How does this work exactly?" Kiryu leaned over to look at the screen.

"You open the app," Obara demonstrated, "press one of these buttons, and it'll ping everyone else on the network what happened in your area."

"That's a pretty good idea but...yeah, is this fire?"

"No no that's robbery!"

"I'm telling ya I can't read this shit!" Sanjin snarled.

"Auuugh!" the junior pulled at his ears. "I thought it was good, did I mess up the kanji!?"

"No I don't think you did," Sano crowded beside them, "they do look kinda similar in this font."

"Nnnnngh."

With a sigh, Obara sat back down on his seat and gave a huff as he tapped on his own phone, digging into the guts of his app as Kiryu sat at his desk.

"So this app was what you were working on?"

"Yeah," Gonkuro grimaced, "I was thinking about how so many crimes happen here and, we're not everywhere at once, or maybe the police have their hands full. It's like every day on Screecher I'm always hearing about someone whose bag got stolen, or they got mugged in the subway, and it sucks."

"It's still better than us not being here," said Varan stretching out on the sofa, "not that yer app's a bad idea, I think it's a damn good 'un."

"Th-thanks Varan-san," the youth nodded with a smile, "I just wanted to make something that'll help creatures out there like...I don't know, you just yelp for help and someone comes running."

"I don't know," Anguirou shook his head, "not many kaiju wanna get involved in a problem, everybody's so busy with their own."

"I think it's a good idea," Kiryu opened a folder and started writing, "giving creatures a way to help each other is always good."

"Until somebody starts pranking with fake calls."

"Sano come on, have some faith."

"I'm just saying I used to do crank-calls when I was a kid."

"Yeah an' it's shits like you that're the bane of my existence," said Varan shaking his fist, "wastin' good money harassing folks with yer Hugh Jass an' whutnot."

"Hahaha, nah, my usual was Mike Hu-"

"ANYWAYS!" Obara cried standing up. "Could any of you guys take my Paw Patrol out for a spin?"

"I already got it on mine!" Sano snorted rolling his eyes.

"I ain't leaving this place today," Sanjin shrugged.

"My phone's too old," Gojo shook his head, "sorry Obara-kun."

"I-i have a test phone!" said Gonkuro pulling it out. "You're always outside wandering around, it would be a big help so I can make sure it tracks properly."

"Well, if you're giving me a spare phone to use then sure, I'd be glad to."

"Thanks!"

The youth handed over a smartphone from his drawer, a basic model with only a single app upon it.

"Wow," muttered Kiryu, "don't even get the weather on this."

"Yeah I gutted this one," said Obara tapping it, "you'd be surprised how many apps drain your battery like crazy."

"Issat why mine's always dying?" Sanjin scratched his head. "I stopped using mine cuz o' that."

"Oh I could've helped with that Varan-san!"

"Nawww I don' wanna pester you about this-"

"No no I'll do it now, come on lemme see!"

The boss gave him his phone as Kiryu pocketed the test one. Finishing up on reports, the Obakimura family spent the rest of their morning filing papers before lunch came around. Things were quiet for the most, aside from the odd sharing of a funny video or an article that merited discussion. Then Obara suddenly gasped with a small shriek.

"A-AAH, AAAH!"

"What, what's happened?!" Kiryu stood up.

"Th-the...the, O-OHHH, V-VARAN-SAN!"

"WHUT?!" the elder snapped from his desk.

"NEW DRAGON QUEST, NEW DRAGON QUEST!"

"Obara-kun chill that's not out 'til February-"

"IT'S OUT NEXT MONTH!"

"WHUH, WHUUUT?!"

He suddenly rushed over to Obara's desk who was bouncing in his seat.

"The devs got a really good cycle," he pointed at the PC, "managed to finish it earlier than expected!"

"AWHAWWW SHIIIT!" the elder pumped his fists. "Dra-gon Quest, DRA-GON QUEST!"

"DRA-GON QUEST, DRA-GON QUEST!"

"They're like kids I swear," Sano rolled his eyes, "every time a Dragon Quest comes out it's like this, what there's like twelve of them?"

"Seventeen actually!" Obara added. "This one's number eighteen: The Blood of Phantoms!"

"I heard thuh story 'bout this one," Varan rubbed his hands, "they're setting it all entirely in the underworld, thuh main character's that Crocodyne general who died back in Dragon Quest Four, ah can't believe they brought 'im back!"

"RIGHT?! He was so cool, he was so interesting the way he was just this big bad guy for Flazzard, and then he got beaten by the hero, and then he was like this noble samurai kinda guy who respected you for your strength and honour-"

"An' then he joined you in thuh final dungeon..."

Sanjin looked towards Obara as tears dripped from his eyes. Heading back to his sofa he sat down to take a few breaths.

"Uh, Varan-san you alright?" asked Sano leaning over.

"Yeah just uh," the old kaiju sighed, "sorry, rememberin' a friend o' mine I used to play DQ4 with...before he passed away."

"Aww...damn, I'm sorry to hear, I didn't realise these games were so important to you."

"Ah mean, part of it's just they're damn good games but...ah used to play thuh first ones with mah friend, we'd set up the ol' NeoGeo, take turns going from place to place, we'd swap hints that we found, but fer thuh final dungeon we stuck it together an' swapped when either of us got too tired."

"I never heard much about your young life," Kiryu leaned back, "who was your friend?"

"Obara wuz-uhm, ah mean HEY Obara-kun check out whut stores round here are sellin' off DQ18!"

"Yes SIR!" Gonkuro saluted. "I am on the case, you wanna camp out in line?!"

"Hahah, ahhh I dunno, my old bones can't take sittin' on thuh street."

"It's okay, I got camping gear, I got a tent just for this kinda thing!"

"Issat big enough fer two of us?" asked Sanjin scratching his chin.

"It suuuure is!" the junior grinned. "I can't grab two copies on my own, they won't let you buy more than one, not after last year."

"Hahaha, yeaaah Were-Enix got their shit kicked in after that whole mess...alrigh', sure, why not I'll tent up with ya."

"GREAT!" Gonkuro clapped. "I'll get us a store and save us a spot, but we gotta get there early, at least a week before release!"

"Really?" Sanjin sighed. "Fuck, kids these days are damn competitive."

"No problem for you," Kiryu chuckled, "you're the patriarch, what's stopping you from sitting outside all week other than naptime?"

"HEY, don't smart-mouth me boy!"

They laughed at the elder's outburst when he raised his hand and stretched out his arm for a false slap, before lunchtime came and they grabbed some food from the local beef bowl place. Once they supped up their food, Kiryu and Sano took their leave and headed out on the street, checking around all the local businesses and keeping an eye out for trouble.

The cluttered pavements had dried up enough to stop the glare of the sun coming through, feline children stomping in shallow puddles with mother cats dragging them away as folks sat in cafes, staring at the cloud-covered skies whilst sipping on cappuccinos.

"Sano-chan!" a voice cried from behind.

"Eh?" the spiked kaiju turned with a grin. "Eyyyy Basu-chan!"

"I thought I saw youuuu, howsit going?!"

"Aww it's pretty good, just doing patrols."

Strolling up towards them at the front of the Millennium Tower, Basu-chan was a slender hen with thick thighs, white feathers and a prominent wattle, all wrapped in a dark crimson jacket and a pair of tight jeans as Kiryu bowed.

"Good to see you again, Basu-san."

"And you Kiryu-san," she smiled bowing back, "hope I'm not bothering."

"Hell no," Sano waved, "I always got time for you Basu-chan, what's up?"

"I just saw you out and about and wanted to say hi...we didn't get much chance to talk last week, I'm very sorry."

"Hey no no it's cool, I understand, you were real busy with a big client."

"Okay." She smiled taking his hand in her winged fingers. "You know you can come see me, at my place anytime...right?"

"Yeah course I-...is something wrong?"

"I just remembered," Kiryu stepped back with a gentle smile, "I need to make a call, I'll be right back."

Gojirama left the two to talk as Basu and Anguirou went to a small park in the alley between Tenkaiju and Nagamichi. A sad little place walled in on three sides with a slide, a few swing bars and a vending machine, they sat down on a bench as the hen hostess took a few breaths.

"Do you...like me, Sano-chan?"

"What of course I do!" he cried. "Why would you think I didn't?!"

"I just...I wasn't sure, I know things have been hectic with your work and mine, but I'm just...ugh, I don't know how to say this."

"You can tell me anything Basu-chan, come on you know I'm cool."

"Hehee, when did you ever start being cool?"

"Hey, I'm a Toho guy, I'm always cool!"

"Pffft, you're not cool...you're cute."

"Aww dammit don't say I'm cute!" the spikeback clutched his face. "Come on I got a reputation!"

"Heeheheh," the chicken laughed, "alright, I need to ask, we've been going out a few months now so...why haven't you asked...to sleep with me?"

"Wha-...oh." Anguirou rubbed his neck with a blush. "I-i didn't wanna be pushy...you know."

"So you are interested?"

"Well...it...Basu-chan, look."

He turned fully towards her and took her hands.

"I love you, a lot. You make me happy, you helped me through a hard time and any day I see you smiling is a good day for me. I love you for who you are, not for what you got, you get me?"

"I...well I love you too," she rubbed her head, "but you don't have to pretend-"

"I'm not pretending, I'm serious. I'm not here for your body, I'm here for you. I...I can't explain it. I'm not the kinda guy who goes chasing after girls because they're hot, I mean sure I joke about it cuz it's funny but I-i-"

"You don't...want to sleep with me?"

"I mean, I'll share your bed but...I won't do anything you wouldn't want me to."

"Hah, is that what you're worried about?" she batted his arm. "Sano-chan you're so sweet!"

"Right, heh," he rubbed his neck, "s-sorry, I really didn't wanna come off like a perv or anything-"

"That's totally fine, I thought you were like, losing interest in me or something!"

"OH, gods no you're the best lady in this city, I-i loved you ever since I walked in the club!"

"HAH, hahaha, I can't believe this," the hen blushed giving him a peck on the cheek, "nobody ever asks for me as much as you do, I really thought you were just wanting to stay as a client."

"Ahaha, nah nah, i-it's just great hanging out with you!" Sano blushed. "So it's okay?"

"Of course it is Sano-chan. Thank you." She stood up and stretched her wings. "I need to head off, Kawa-chan's taking me out for drinks, I'll catch you later?"

"Sure, have fun Basu-chan!"

"You too!"

As he watched the hen skipping back to the main road, Sano sighed with relief as he saw Kiryu step out a narrow alley opposite the park.

"All good?" he asked his friend.

"Yeaaah hoo, damn I was really worried," the spiked kaiju chuckled, "some girls want more out of a relationship than holding hands, and I got worried she was gonna leave me."

"Why, you make her laugh," Kiryu punched his shoulder, "you always check up on her when she's sick and if she's having a bad time hostessing, you always let her just do her thing."

"Ehhh, I just worry," Sano rubbed at his arm, "I dunno, I just don't get as horny as other guys."

"And that's saying something," Goji tapped his friend's horn.

"Fuck off dude you know what I meant, I just don't get hard over every single girl I meet and, I dunno, I always felt weird that I didn't."

"You shouldn't be. Everyone's got their different drives and moods, there's nothing wrong with that."

"Heh...I guess."

Kiryu's regular phone went off as he flipped it open to see a text that made him smile.

"Danzaki-san's meeting me at the temple," he said walking east.

"You helping Shoji-sama out today?" asked Sano following.

"Yeah she dragged both of us in to help out with the kids."

"Oh yeah, sure, totally not an excuse to have her two favourite guys."

"What, what's that supposed to mean?" snorted Kiryu looking back.

"Just saying the three of you hang out a lot since Danzaki came back."

"You're not jealous are you?"

"What-no!" Anguirou snorted throwing his hand. "I'm not attached to your hip, I got my own stuff to do I was just saying."

"I know, I was kidding Sano-san. You're always welcome to hang out with us."

"Yeaaah I know."

"Hey, boss."

A voice called out from Nagamichi Alley, just past the Geiger King at the small intersection of clustered cul-de-sacs between the buildings. A towering creature resembling a cross between a seahorse and a brachiosaur greeted them, wearing a black leather jacket and tight jeans around his spotted scales with cresting fin down the back of his head.

"Someone's popular today," Kiryu nudged his friend.

"Sup Titan?" Sano walked forwards bumping fists with him. "What you got for me?"

"Rock just got back from the US," said Saurose looming over him, "we got a new shipment, pushing it out in like a week from now."

"You get me a meet with Rock?"

"Yeah I can get you one, say you're a dealer."

"I'll join you when you're going," said Kiryu crossing his arms, "we'll pin him down, then-"

"Kiryu, I got this," Anguirou turned to him, "I don't need backup-"

"This isn't about just you. I'm your lieutenant, and if some punk is trying to deal on our streets, then I'm getting involved whether you want me or not."

"Alright, alright. But you do this my way, this is MY old gang, I'm your in."

"Yeah we're gonna bolt if we see him," said Titan pointing at Kiryu, "you might wanna hide your Toho pin too, boss."

"Don't worry," Sano punched together his fists, "I'm gonna fix this, one way or another."

"So..." the gangly Taijin rubbed the frill of his neck. "You think it's alright that I...wanna join the temple?"

"What, of course it is!" Anguriou patted his back. "I'm just surprised, you didn't look the kinda dude who'd go all spiritual."

"Well it's just...Aosu-chan helped me out a lot with that, and the stuff she got me, that sand shit...hohhh, never felt that sorta peace in my life, it's like the tsunami in my heart's finally stopped."

"Glad to hear it," Kiryu nodded, "Shoji-sama will be glad to have you, as long as you don't cause trouble to the temple."

"Oh nah, you can count on me," Saurose saluted, "boss you wanna go set up this meet?"

"Yeah let's do it," Sano waved to Goji, "I'll send you the deets when I got 'em, later Kiryu!"

"Take care Sano."

They parted ways as Sano went off with Saurose down the alley, whilst Kiryu went to the temple. The grand Hindu structure of carved stone with elegant murals of dancers and warriors, would bring a sense of peace to Gojirama with its walls of ancient tales and its sand garden where priests and priestesses made patterns with their rakes.

"EYYY carnal!"

A voice crowed from above as Kiryu saw a pair of red wings circling round the temple, an immaculate purple vest and a maroon suit with pants fluttering in the wind. Gliding between rooftops, Roberto swooped between washing lines and spiralled down to reach the garden with a flourishing finish, skidding across the stones with his designer shoes scraping softly to a halt.

"Ready for the big show?"

"Hahah, sure," Kiryu nodded, "how's the weather up there?"

"Mmmm, pretty damp," the pterosaur wiped down his suit, "saw you were hanging out with Sano-kun."

"Yeah we were just doing patrols, so...shall we?"

"After you, mi guey."

With a bow he let Kiryu walk in first, as they opened the door to find the wondrous hall of bejewelled tapestries that covered the walls with gold, ruby and emerald tassels. They saw vistas of heavenly delights, of gardens and battlefields where life and death wove together into a single epic tale.

"Welcome!"

The young insectoid twins greeted them with buggy eyes and soft brown heads.

"Shoji-sama's waiting!" said Left.

"Please, come in!" said Right. "The lesson will start soon!"

They were both taken by the hand towards the classroom of the temple, a square room with a large screen pinned up at the front where Mosurakoto stood waiting to beckon them in. The moth in her gorgeous sari formed from her wings, smiled with lustrous golden amber beneath her fuzzy white head. A pair of curtains had been set up either side of the screen, as well as beside the small windows where light filtered from the outside.

"Good afternoon," she bowed to them, "thank you again for helping, it's just all go round here today and I'm a bit short-staffed."

"Yeah that sand ain't gonna shift itself," Roberto thumbed back the way.

"You know what I mean, Rob-chan."

"Yeaaah yeaaah, SO!" he wrung his hands together. "What you want us to do?"

"I want to put on a puppet show," said Shoji, "shadow puppetry like they do in India, a small story for the children."

"Oh, cool!" Kiryu smiled looking around the room. "I've never done puppets before."

"Oh it's easy, don't worry, you both remember the story of Benzaiten?"

"Of course," they both nodded.

"So which of us is the hero?" asked Danzaki rubbing his chest.

"Kiryu-san will be Benzaiten," said the moth handing them two models, "Rob-chan you're going to be Ahi."

"Awww what you making me the villain?! No manches!"

"Hey at least you get a cool death scene," Kiryu nudged him.

"But I don't get all the sexy senoras at the end UGH son unas mamadas!"

"Rob-chan!"

Shoji slapped him gently making him reel back in shock.

"Watch your words in my temple, I've known you long enough to know what that means."

"Ahahaaa, aaaah okay, lo siento Mosu-chan, I'll be the villain."

"Thank you," she smiled from her blue compound eyes, "I'll give you some pointers for your first performance, and do try to stay on script, this is important."

"Got it," Kiryu nodded, "it's been a while since I've heard the story so it'll be nice to hear you tell me again."

"Hmhm, I'm sure it will, I've often been told I'm quite a good narrator."

"You sure are," Roberto purred through his beak, "every time I hear your voice, a new story's carved into my heart and my body is lit AFLAME with love."

"RUH, R-rob-chan please!" she blushed with a stiff antennae.

"What'd she tell you about your words?" Kiryu clipped the back of Danzaki's head.

"What I can't even compliment her now?!" the pteranodon scoffed. "You're lucky you're not the villain, or I'd murder you real good."

"Heh, I'd like to see you try."

The two males chuckled whilst Shoji laughed with an awkward flustered expression. Before the children arrived for their lesson, the High Priestess went over the script and helped them learn their spots with the shadow, small black figurines as flat as a pancake with moving parts that would project onto the walls. Hiding behind the curtains, Kiryu and Roberto took opposite sides as a gaggle of hatchlings, pups and kittens came rushing in.

"Good afternoon dears!" said their teacher.

"Good afternoon Shoji-sama!" they cried as one.

"I hope you're all ready for a special lesson, because it's time for a story!"

Their gasps of surprise filled the room as she closed curtains around the door and windows. The light was snuffed out of the room before Shoji put on a lamp at the back of the room and projected it towards the screen.

"This...is a story, about the founder of our temple, the very reason that you, and me, and aaaaallll the creatures of this city, are standing here today."

The youths babbled with excitement as they fidgeted with their saris before she pulled down a scroll showing the great tower.

"Long long ago, back fourteen-hundred years, this land was a vast open plain with only a few villages, and a great tower made of stone that stood high above the world."

A long bending river stretched out beneath the pillar, with several houses dotted beside it and two shadowy kaiju toiling away.

"There were farmers and fishers across all the Hira river, struggling to feed their families with what little they had. But in this tower there lived a cruel fiend, a savage twisted warlord known as...Ahi."

From the tower's peak came a three-headed dragon, roaring with Danzaki's voice as it moved its heads causing the farmers to recoil and cover their faces.

"He was a merciless creature," said Shoji continuing, "demanding offerings, taking their food and plundering their crops for his selfish greed. Worse still, he would come to those villages to kidnap their mothers and daughters, and make them his personal slaves. Those who tried to defy him, were soon brutally killed."

The warlord descended to the ground as one sobbing canine was wrenched from her father's grasp, the heads hissing and snapping to pull her into his foul clutches. When the father tried to attack, the dragon lunged one of its heads to crack and twist the neck of the farmer, whose head fell off his body, and his body would fall with it. The children quivered in fear, watching the horrid fiend smile as Shoji swept her hands.

"But then one day, there came a traveller from the mainland. A young creature known as Benzaiten, who carried only a biwa."

From the corner of the screen was a single reptile with a serpent's head, carrying a short lute when she knelt beside a grieving farmer who clutched his face. She started to play, bringing a soft smile to his face as he stood back up.

"She heard the plight of those suffering under Ahi, and with her songs she brought hope to strengthen their spirits. She walked from place to place, helping the creatures with their smaller problems that she could fix, imparting words of kindness and wisdom. But Ahi saw her charity as a grave insult upon his reign, and flew down from his tower."

The children cried out when Ahi's shadow suddenly appeared, his body much larger than before as the young Benzaiten looked up to him.

"The traveller stood her ground, accusing Ahi of his crimes against creaturedom, and swore to put an end to his cruelty. Ahi was disgusted, but laughed at her insolence and attacked her in a vicious struggle."

The two puppets launched at each other, Ahi the warlord snapping his heads upon the traveller who struck back with her lute. The class started fidgeting as a brutal fight ensued, the three-headed dragon ripping half of Benzaiten's clothing off her model, before she cracked her instrument upon one of the heads.

One head grabbed her arm, another lunged for her head as the two shadows locked in fierce combat, before the traveller crushed the third head and grabbed one of the dragon's wings. Suddenly it was torn off to leave a jagged limb, the children shouting and pumping their fists as the warlord suddenly retreated.

"GO, GO, STOP THAT BAD WARLORD!"

"YEAAAH KILL HIM, KILL THAT AHI!"

"The warlord was shocked!" continued Shoji. "This traveller was borne of such strength, such inner power of justice that he could not hope to stand against! For little did he know, that Benzaiten was the daughter of Sarasvati, the goddess of wisdom!"

The shadows of Ahi and Benzaiten now stood at the top of the tower. With her biwa lute she stood with accusing finger towards the three-headed creature, the warlord roaring oaths of vengeance when he flew upon her.

"The battle raged like thunder in the heavens, the peasants below watched with tearful hope that this traveller would free them from evil. It was long and bloody, but soon, there came the sun, a light would shine...and Benzaiten would overpower Ahi with her greater spirit."

The goddess lunged for the fiend, bashing his stomach and cracking his heads back with her lute before he stumbled back off the edge of the tower. With a harrowing scream, he would descend to the earth, a black comet that crunched onto the riverbank, twisted in pieces with his heads writhing in deathly spasms. The children cried with joy as he fell limp, and so Shoji ended the tale.

"With the warlord slain, the creatures were now free. They thanked Benzaiten profusely, and all the mothers and daughters imprisoned in the tower were in debt to her. She decided, the tower would instead be a temple, and in return those mothers and daughters would become the first priestesses. Of this, very, temple."

She flicked off the lamp and pulled pulled back the curtains, Gojirama and Danzaki stepping out with their shadow puppets put away as they faced their audience.

"All you who stand here now, are descended from those who were freed," said Mosurakoto, "the Airenas Temple was once a place borne of cruelty and greed but now it is our home of peace and comfort. We stand here as the oldest building in the nation's capital, the foundation upon which this very city came to be, as a light towards the future showing the strength, courage and wisdom of Benzaiten. And now you know, the rest of the story."

She bowed with her assistants as the children clapped with ovation, babbling with excitement at the story whilst Goji and Roberto waved with a grin.

"Alright, NOW!" Shoji-sama clapped. "That was all today, I want you to think about our story and tomorrow I will be asking you how much you remember of the story. Until then, you're all free to go and play, have fun dears!"

"Yes Shoji-samaaaa!"

They bowed and scurried from the classroom, the moth turning towards her assistants and taking their hands with glee.

"That, was, PERFECT! Thank you so much I just, AH, EEEH!"

"Heheheh, de nada," said Danzaki waving, "that was really fun!"

"Next time I promise you can be the hero."

"I hope so, you know how hard it is to control three heads!?"

"I had to be two villagers," said Kiryu rolling his eyes, "at least you only had one body to work with."

"Aaaanyways," Shoji patted them both, "I appreciate the help, the children loved it too."

"Um, Shoji-sama?"

The voice of Aosukawa came from the door as the pale heron shuffled in her sari.

"Is your lesson over?"

"It is dear," she nodded, "do you need something?"

"No, just...Ojha-san is at the door."

"He...what?"

Her eyes twitched with a sudden flick of her antennae. Goji and Roberto looked knowingly to each other as they stepped forwards.

"You need help Mosu-chan?" asked Danzaki.

"No no, no," she patted them back, "I'm sure it's just a visit."

"Didn't you ban him from the temple?"

"No, he left the temple of his own accord."

"What exactly happened?" Aosukawa rubbed her sleeves.

"Battram Ojha was to be my fellow Brahmana," said Shoji walking through the halls. "As according to the rituals of Airenas Temple, we have two high priests or Brahmans so that we can balance the affairs of the temple between us. For there is balance in all things, and we were supposed to balance each other, the tempering water to the flaming sword, the light to the other's darkness."

"And he just left?" Kiryu scritched his head. "Just left you to carry on by yourself?"

"Yes," the priestess sighed, "he took great offence to a funeral I gave for one of our recent members that he deemed to be...not pure."

"Ugh, what a cabrón," snarled Danzaki crossing his wings, "you sure you don't need us?"

"I will be fine," she patted his hand, "thank you Rob-chan, Aosukawa you may return to your duties."

"Yes Shoji-sama."

The heron bowed and took her leave as the moth stepped towards the entrance to the temple. Standing like a dark phantom at the end of the path, Battram Ojha stood with cold crimson glare and his sari formed from his dark black wings. Scarlet trails crackled like bolts across the hem, his head shining with small golden horns as Shoji bowed deeply to him, whilst Kiryu and Roberto stood inside the door.

"Welcome home, Ojha-san." She swept her two left hands to the door, "please, come inside."

"Shoji-sama," he bowed in turn, "thank you for receiving me so suddenly."

He walked inside with a stiff severe pose, the acolytes stepping back nervously from his aura as he looked towards the Toho members. They bowed in turn, but he did not bow back with his eyes slitted fierce when he passed, heading up the stairs of the old temple.

In her personal quarters with rush tatami mat and a low table, Shoji brought out a tray with teacups and kettle, along with a savoury salad with no meat portions whatsoever. Battram's voice was cold like the fog in winter, cutting against her warmer sunlit tones as they sat opposite each other.

"You're looking well," she began as she poured his tea, "been a long time since we had Aarti."

"It has," he nodded taking a small sip, "mmmh...aah, you remembered my favourite."

"Of course," Shoji clasped her four hands, "chamomile and lavender. Have come to return as my Brahmana?"

"That depends," he crossed two arms whilst drinking with the other two, "unfortunately this is not a pleasure visit."

"What a shame, I do miss talking with you."

"Even after my departure?"

"You had your reasons and I respect your choice." She drank from her cup. "What have you been up to? I haven't seen you anywhere in the city."

"I work as a bodyguard," Ojha nodded.

"Oh that's good! I'm happy to hear you're keeping busy, you were always quite a strong boy."

"But strength is not everything, as you'd say."

"Hah, so my lessons did get through to you?"

"Hmm."

He finished up his tea and started on the salad, nibbling through the leaves whilst she joined him with her bowl.

"Did you become vegan too?" asked Battram.

"No," she shook her head, "only for today, for your sake."

"I thank you, Shoji-sama."

"Does your employer cater to that too?"

"Yes. He is very particular with his diet, so it works perfectly."

"Oh that's wonderful," she smiled nibbling on croquettes, "it's always good to find someone who connects with you on such a level."

"Indeed," Battram nodded picking carrots, "has the temple been well?"

"Ohh same as always, I just told the children about Benzaiten, they loved it."

"I remember that tale fondly."

"Remember when we first saw it as little larvae? You were so amazed at the warlord Ahi and how he moved that you begged to see the puppet until they let you play him!"

"Hmmm," a smile drifted across his mandibles, "I loved the shadow plays, they're always so striking, remember the one of the Sri Lankan ogre?"

"Ohhh, NO!" she gasped clutching her breast. "That one frightened me, I would clutch against you every time that horrible thing showed up!"

"But then the monkey princess would arrive, and you always started crying when her song played."

"Well, I-i was still reeling from the ogre, he was enormous in the lamplight."

"Mmmm."

Shoji laughed at her reminiscence. Ojha did not, but there was a smile, lurking in the depths as they finished their food and clasped all eight of their hands. With a silent prayer to the gods in blessing, their negotiations began.

"Do you have Brahmans in place for the future generation?" asked Battram.

"The Shobijin twins," said Mosurakoto, "you must have seen them scurrying around, such delightful dears, always so in sync."

"That is good," Ojha nodded. "Where do you think the future of Kaijurocho lies?"

"Hopefully for the better, are you asking in a spiritual sense or-"

"I am asking on business terms in this case."

"I-...business?" she cocked her head. "What sort of business would this temple need?"

"There are forces high above this land, not as high as the gods but those who would dare tread in their domain with their offerings of greed."

"Ohh Ojha-san, not this again-"

"Let me speak."

He said this not as a request, but an order as she waited.

"There are organisations who want to pick apart the city for their own ends, a slow but eventual takeover of this land which shall be sacrificed on their altar of progress. I know this temple is sacred, but they do not."

"What are you saying exactly?" Shoji straightened herself.

"I fear that in the coming months, this temple's sanctity will not be respected...moreso than it has not been."

"You still disagree with my actions?"

"Yes, but that is not the point here-"

"Ojha-san, I thought by now you would have understood-"

"I understand perfectly well," his four fists clenched together, "you chose to defile this temple giving Antyesti to a soulless vagrant, who was never of our kin, and destroyed his life with gambling."

"He came to us for help," she waved her hand, "it is our duty to aid those from every corner of the world that come to our door-"

"You would give shelter to one who barters their soul in the den of greed?"

"Yes."

"And those Toho thugs at the door, are they part of your temple too?"

"They are my friends," Shoji crossed two arms, "did you come to question my duties again?"

"No, but since we are discussing it I am even more concerned," Battram shifted on his legs, "I expected this temple to be cleansed in the time of my absence, that you would see a light of purity, and now you are befriending active criminals."

"The Toho Clan may operate in illegal ways, but their actions bring a greater good to this community."

"So you justify sin if it brings pleasure?" he raised his brow.

"There are places where our belief was made illegal," she furrowed hers, "do you believe the law is right then?"

"Do not conflate the issue, our way is not immoral."

"But if this country made it illegal, would you still practice it as your moral right, or would you respect the laws of the land?"

"There is a very clear difference between practicing one's belief and pickpocketing the government. Speaking of which, are you still bringing in prostitutes?"

"They are called sex workers-"

"Sex is NOT an occupation." He clasped two hands as his golden horns flashed briefly red. "Those who would sell their bodies are the same as the gamblers and drug dealers, they cannot be redeemed-"

"I'm not having this conversation again," she put her other two arms on the table, "I always disagreed with you, and I shall continue to do so. Yes there are evils in every industry, including our own, but it is not the fault of those individuals who choose to gamble, who choose to consent to have sex with others."

"And those who choose to poison their bodies?"

"They are victims of a greater evil. I understand your reasons Ojha-san, but you are targeting the wrong creatures if you wish to better society."

"If a business has no customers, that business dies, Shoji-sama," he leaned forwards with a severe look, "the simplest way to end a sinful trade is to make it unprofitable."

"For most of those I agree, but not the sex industry. Whatever consenting adults do together, by themselves, is not a sin so long as no one is harmed-"

"But they WILL be harmed, their souls are tainted!"

"The original founders of this temple were Ahi's harem, the very first priestesses of our order were used for nothing but pleasure, without their consent-"

"That was different, they were blessed by Benzaiten herself!"

"But I thought you said their souls could not be redeemed-"

"That is NOT the same!"

The black moth struggled not to slam his fists on the table, the flaxen rows across his scalp burning crimson with rage. He pulled himself back with a deep breath, taking a moment to pinch his face as his horns returned to peaceful gold.

"We are getting off the subject, that is not why I'm here. I am here because I fear this temple's future, and I wish to act as your ambassador to those unscrupulous and beyond."

"An ambassador?" Shoji rubbed her chin. "How exactly can you serve that?"

"I am in the employ of Rai Tanaka, the head of Eight-Point Industries. He is a strong-minded creature with a sound logic and a powerful soul to better the future of Kaijurocho with."

"Eight-Point...isn't that the company that makes space rockets and robotic creatures?"

"Correct," Ojha brought out some paper from his sleeve, "I have a contract here. If you sign it, then you allow me to be your ambassador and, should you require any legal measures concerning the temple and its placement-"

"Wait, what placement, what legal measures?" Shoji pulled back. "Ojha-san, this temple cannot be moved, you know that!"

"The city requires progress, Shoji-sama. Progress that shall cleanse the land of those who would profane it with their sins. Rai-sama has associates who would wish the temple be relocated, or worse. I disagree of course, this place is sacred and any attempt to alter it would be sacrilege."

"Well, I'm glad you agree-"

"But," he raised his hand, "the city shall find itself in the wake of a great change over the next few months, and I am but one creature who cannot stop it. Unless I have your aid."

Pushing the contract across the table, Ojha clasped his hands as Shoji began to read. It was surprisingly concise, detailing that should the High Priestess sign it, it would officiate Battram Ojha in representing the temple externally, deciding on its behalf independent of Mosurakoto.

"I realise we have our differences," continued Battram, "but I know you are alone in your duties. You struggle to uphold the rites and sacrament of our temple, you cannot hope rule over every single decision."

"That is true," she nodded twitching her lips, "what sort of decisions would you make if I sign this?"

"Essentially, it allows me greater bargaining power at the table, to speak on behalf of our order and to make certain this temple shall be kept in its place...no matter what may come to Kaijurocho."

"As part of some grand redevelopment?"

"Yes," he nodded, "this city shall be transformed, in some ways I do not approve of. But in other ways it shall be more pure, and our temple shall lead forth that spiritual prosperity."

"You mean they're going to flush out the red district." The white moth flicked her antennae. "Is that all this is?"

"Not all of it...but should that come to pass, I will not oppose it."

"I would."

She folded the paper and handed it back to him.

"Ojha-san, forgive me, but I cannot consent to this."

"What?" his red eyes slitted.

"I respect you greatly as a Brahmana that could have been, and I have always enjoyed our discussions no matter how visceral they may seem. You have always helped me ground my feet, when I felt too lofty in ideals."

"That...is why I am offering this, I wish to-"

"And you have done so again. You have made me realise just how important this temple is, not just as a place of worship...but as a sanctuary for those forgotten."

"I...I do not understand."

"Exactly." She stood up from the table. "That is why you cannot be my ambassador, only the flame to my water. I cannot allow the Airenas Temple to be compromised, the city ordnance shall protect me legally. But nothing protects those who I have welcomed into our fold, lost refugees from the underworld who were so abused that they lost everything."

"That, is not your concern-"

"It IS my concern. I'm sorry. The answer is no."

In that moment Shoji expected him to scream or rant, throw open his wings or make a show of some dreadful strength when she saw the twitch in his eye. Instead he got up, and sighed with a strange sadness in his voice.

"As you wish, Shoji-sama. I...I thought...you would understand."

He walked to the door dejected, his antennae drooping and the spirit sucked out of him.

"If you so choose to reign in hell, than to serve in heaven...I cannot force your hand."

"Thank you," Shoji bowed to him, "much as I don't appreciate the sentiment, I am glad you respect my decision."

"It will not matter." He looked back to her. "All I could do was make things easier for you."

"I-...pardon?"

The black moth took his leave, heading back to the entrance with a deep stare and a quickening step that everyone noticed. Shoji followed after to wave him goodbye but he left without a word as Kiryu and Roberto still stood by the door.

"You alright?" asked Danzaki leaning over.

"I'm...I'm not sure," said Mosurakoto.

"What did you guys talk about?" Kiryu watched Ojha fade through the streets.

"Just some discussions about the temple, nothing to concern yourself."

She turned to them and bowed clasping all four of her hands.

"Thank you again for all your help, I must return to my duties and I'm sure you do too."

"No problem," Kiryu bowed, "will you be alright?"

"Oh yes of course, don't worry dears, I have your number."

"Ni modo," Roberto sighed, "if you need anything from me-"

"I know," she stroked his hand, "I hope to see you around more often, Rob-chan."

"Heh, same to you, Mosu-chan."

As they departed from the temple, the two Toho members felt a stiffness in their pace, both wanting to ask the same question but having no answer nor means to. The doors closed behind them and they stepped out into the darkening afternoon, the clouds turning thicker as they both grimaced at the sight. Crowds started to thin out as creatures headed home, minus the workers still shuffling about in cafes and stores with adverts of coming games plastered on the walls.

"Ugh," Roberto rolled his eyes, "there's a Dragon Quest EIGHTEEN now?!"

"Yeah," Kiryu nodded, "Obara-kun and Varan-san were going off about it today."

"Hahah, seriously, Varan-san?"

"Yeah he really likes videogames, don't you remember?"

"Ohh jeez," Danzaki stretched his wings, "I thought he outgrew that stuff."

"Nope," Goji shook his head, "they're planning to camp out the store for a week to get it."

"Pfffft hahahaha, I give them two days-oh!"

Kiryu's phone suddenly went off, pulling out his flip-phone seeing no messages were on it. The sound of a ringing still came through as he realised the smartphone in his other pocket.

"Waaaait do my eyes deceive me?!" Roberto grinned wide. "Gojirama Kiryu joins the modern age, has hell frozen over?!"

"Shut up."

"Are the end times upon us?! What next, hordes of locusts come to blot out the sun, the star of Wormwood falls from the heavens to poison the rivers?!"

"The-...what?!"

"It's an Icthyan thing mi abuelo told me about, anyways what's with the phone?"

"Obara gave me it for a test drive," said Kiryu holding it up, "he's testing a new app, you tap a few buttons and it sends a distress signal to everyone around you."

"Huh, alright," Danzaki shrugged, "that sounds kinda useful."

"Yeah but it...says 'assault' in Champion District, but who else is-...Sano."

Goji suddenly ran northeast with Roberto following.

"W-wait, Goji-chan hold up!"

"Sano's in trouble!" Kiryu shouted back. "He has the app too, he must be calling for help!"

"Oh, shit alright I'll fly ahead!"

The pterosaur swooped up high and kicked off the wall of a building to take flight. Above the city he flew across the roofs, the tenement blocks resembling patchwork squares of dull grey interspersed with lines of yellow and pink. The Shangri-La marked his destination, having memorised all of the major places to know exactly where every street was.

He heard the sounds of fighting as he arrived in record time, Kiryu still plodding through the winding streets as Roberto stood at the top of the Champion District's cluttered labyrinth. There he saw, in an abandoned lot, a small place jutting off from the side alley that opened up to a rectangular backyard, four punks ganging up on a stegosaur in a chef's outfit.

"COME ON YA BITCH!"

"YEAH, WHAT YOU GONNA BURN US NOW HUH?! HUH?!"

"AWHAWWW WITTLE CHEF WOST HIS FWAME!"

The snout and hands of the cook were wrapped up in duct tape as he struggled against their blows, smoke fuming from his nostrils with muffled roars amongst the beatings. Two sharks, a horse and a crab were all punching his face and stomach, the chef trying to swing at them with hard kicks.

"Come on, COME ON, what you gonna do, fillet me?!"

"Yeah, you think you're hot shit?!"

"You want us to stop beating you, then give us your money-OOP!"

One of the sharks tripped him as the stegosaur crunched hard on the pavement.

"Awhaww shit, you're gonna have to clean that suit now kitchen boy, hope they got a spare at your work!"

"Alright alright, let's take his money-"

"WAIT SH-SHIT LOOK OUT!"

As the horse bent down to try and pilfer their target, he looked up when one of his friends called out to see a flying clawed shoe crack into his skull. His body was dragged along the asphalt by Roberto surfing on his back, before the pterosaur backflipped to crunch down upon a shark's head with both feet from above, sending him snout-first into the ground.

"HEY, WHAT THE FUCK?!" shouted the crab.

"You all having a party?" Danzaki smirked shaking his leg. "Mind if I join?"

"Piss off, we're in the middle of a private meeting!"

"Sorry, I need this conference lot by four, and you all need to wrap this up before I wrap you up in bandages."

"Wh-...what?!" the second shark snorted.

"Who cares?!" snapped the crustacean swinging his claws. "Fuck this guy up too, we're gonna get rich tonight!"

"Heh...venga."

Roberto cracked his knuckles and waited for the first opponent, the other shark taking a wild swing for the pterosaur who blocked his punch with a sudden side kick. Twisting his body aside, he launched his foot out and hooked his shoe against the thug's wrist to knock it away, before kicking the shark's forehead to reel him back.

Stepping back Danzaki saw the crab coming next, his giant claw swinging from above as the Toho patriarch swiftly dodged and struck the side of the crustacean's arm with another kick. Staggered by the blow, the punk stumbled and tried to turn in a savage swing of his claw, before Danzaki ducked with a sweeping leg and tripped the punk onto his back.

From above Roberto flapped up high and suddenly slammed down with both knees on top of the crab, who dry-retched from his throat before the winged kaiju leapt off to face the horse that stumbled up onto his hooves. The first shark in turn had also recovered, as three punks stared down Roberto at once with bared teeth and beady eyes.

"I dunno who the fuck you are, but you're sharing a hospital bed with kitchen boy NEXT!"

"Only if I break my foot on your thick skull," Danzaki taunted with smooching beak.

The horse took the bait, running with a hard fist for the pteranodon's head who dodged and saw the equine tense up his leg for a whirlwind kick. Spinning in a circle with a harsh roar, the stallion swung himself round in a devastating strike that Danzaki swerved out of range before one of the sharks grabbed him from behind and tried to crush him against the wall.

Before they reached the wall, Roberto planted his feet against it and made a running wallkick to somersault over the thug's head, slamming his foot against the back of the skull as the shark crunched forwards with a deeper-bruised snout. The pteranodon flew towards the second shark that had come for his brother's aid, the punk grabbing a steel pipe from the trash nearby.

With a cry of vengeance he swung for the hovering Danzaki who swooped out of range and waited for the next attack. When the shark struck again, Roberto grabbed the pipe in both feet and twisted his body hard to wrench it from his grasp, flicking it up high before spinkicking to shoot it like a missle. The pipe went straight for the shark's stomach, knocking both him and the horse behind him down like bowling pins before Danzaki rushed over to the stegosaur to pull off the duct tape.

"Hey hey, lemme help just hold still."

"N-NNNRAAAARGH, JJOKBARIIIIII!"

The moment his snout was freed, a blithering froth of Korean insults came spewing from Yong-ga Sa-Rhee, his bloodied and beaten face now wreathed in virulent anger as he marched towards the crab who was first to recover. The crustacean came swinging with his clawhammer as Yong-ga thrust his foot straight into the eyestalks, the crab howling with pain from the torpedo kick before the chef spun on his backfoot and with a 360 kick, drove his heel into the thug's shell.

"DAHAAAMN, sick moves amigo!" Danzaki cackled.

"//I'LL BREAK YOUR FUCKING NECKS!//" screeched Yong-ga in Korean. "//I'LL BURY YOUR FUCKING CORPSES, UNDER YOUR BURNING FUCKING HOUSES!//"

"Yeaaah uhhh, you uh, you go get 'em champ!"

His laughter trailed off nervously, hoping he hadn't unleashed an even worse threat as he watched Yong-ga face one of the sharks who had grabbed the steel pipe again, and tried to bludgeon the stegosaur with it. The chef clutched the punk's wrist blocking the strike, driving his elbow straight into the shark's belly before he belched a shocking flame upon the armed hand

A roaring fire blasted on his webbed fingers, the shark pulling away and dropping the burning hot steel with a scream as he clutched his hand. When he tried to stand up making a run for the exit, he was blindsided by a flying scissor kick from Yong-ga, cracking two feet into his head and sending him down against the wall.

"THE FUCK'S WITH THESE TWO ASSHOLES?!" shouted the horse. "Are you from the same dojo or what?!"

"Nah," Roberto shrugged, "you just got the cool leg special today, now come on, stop dancing like you're in preschool you fucking clown."

"I'LL FUCKING SHOW YOU FLYBITCH, HRAAAARGH!"

The horse came galloping with his hooves shaking the ground, launching a flying kick as Roberto dodged and saw the other shark trying to grapple him again. He punished the thug with a turning kick in mid-air, a wild volatile strike that came swinging for the side at the speed of a truck, crunching the punk's jaw and throwing him across the lot.

Incensed with fury, the equine thug came stomping with a volley of fists, punching with violent frenzy to try and startle the patriarch who swerved beneath every raw haymaker, every savage uppercut and every jab the horse made. Danzaki kept smiling through it all, mocking the thug who only punched faster, harder, and more enraged to lose his focus.

The stallion made another whirlwind kick, spinning his entire body like a cyclone to deliver a devastating kick to Roberto. But then the thug suddenly felt a brutal crack to his knee mid-flight, when Danzaki countered with a violent axe kick in the middle of his attack. His rising foot lifted vertical to his other leg, before it crunched down from above to almost break the horse's leg entirely.

The punk screamed from the savage blow, crumpling to the ground and clutching his throbbing knee. Roberto swished his leg with a cocky grin as he looked towards Yong-ga Sa-rhee, currently pummelling his fists into the bawling shark with his burning hand.

"S-STOP, STOP IT ALRIGHT, I GIVE!"

"//THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME, YOU FUCKING JJOKBARI!?//"

"HEY-EY, HEY!" Danzaki stepped over. "Alright he's had enough, you can back off-"

"NRRAAAAAARGH!"

When Roberto tried to grab the chef, he was suddenly thrown back by a hard elbow to his chest as Yong-ga kept raining blows upon his former attacker. The shark struggled less and less, his face turning bloodier with thick welts beneath the stego's fists.

"Hey, HEY, THAT'S ENOUGH!" Roberto shouted. "Dude you're gonna kill him!"

"//You won't fuck with me AGAIN,//" Sa-Rhee snarled, "//none of you Japanese pricks'll touch me again, when I'm DONE WITH YOU!"

He raised his fist before a foot crunched his face, knocking Sa-Rhee back hard to the dirt. The shark whimpered clutching himself, slowly pulled up by a dark saurian in a white suit.

"Go." Kiryu looked behind him. "Take your friends, and if I see you robbing anyone again, I'll make you wish I let him kill you."

"Y-yes...yes sir."

The thug shivered as he limped away, the horse, the crab and the other shark leaving the alley with him. Yong-ga snarled pulling himself up as he spat out blood from his snout.

"I don't need your help," he said.

"I didn't come for you," said Kiryu, "I came to stop you murdering that guy."

"HE ATTACK ME FIRST! You jjokbari all the same, always stick together!"

"Uhhh, scuse me?" Danzaki stepped in front. "Hi, jjokbari here, I beat up all those guys and saved your ass so what's that make me?"

"You didn't know I was Korean, did you?!" snapped the stegosaur.

"Why would I care, I saw some dude getting ganged up so I help him."

"Wait." Gojirama pulled out his phone. "Where's Sano, didn't he call me?"

"No!?" Yong-ga shook his head. "No one call you, you poke your snout everywhere!"

"I got a distress call on Paw Patrol, it said an assault happened here."

"Wha-...Paw Patrol?!"

The chef suddenly blinked and pulled out his own phone, seeing it was ringing off the app with his location.

"AUGH, stupid Obara!" Yong-ga stomped his foot. "Your friend put thing on my phone!"

"You mean you butt-dialed a distress call," Roberto chuckled, "but hey, if it wasn't for that we wouldn't have saved you."

"I don't need saving, I kick their asses fine without you!"

"I'm sure you could've," said Goji rolling his eyes, "but isn't it nice to have backup who don't ask anything from you?"

"Ugh, whatever," the stegosaur hobbled away.

"This the guy you talked about?" Danzaki leaned over to his friend.

"Yeah," said Kiryu nodding, "he's the nephew of Little Asia's boss so-"

"Aaah, yeah, it's like that?"

"It like what?!" Yong-ga turned. "I not some baby!"

"You act like one with your tantrums."

"SH-SHUT UP, WAE-GU!"

"Alright," Kiryu stepped between, "look, Sa-Rhee-kun, you don't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything, but I do wanna ask why Obara had his app on your phone."

"Hm." The chef took a deep breath. "I help him with stupid project, he ask me, said all I do is report crime with no police."

"Well he just asked me today to help him on the same thing, so, you mind if I tell him it was a success?"

"Sure, fuck it. But you kick my head again, I kill you."

"Is that a threat?" Roberto crossed his wings.

"I not scared of Toho, you don't own Little Asia!"

"No but we're not IN Little Asia, are we little guy?"

"//YONG-GAAA!//"

A voice caused them to turn and look down the alley, where a young foal of scaled fur stood clutching a ball wearing the Tokyo FC strip.

"HIII KIRYU-SAN!" the boy cried in Japanese.

"Jeon-kun!" the saurian waved to him. "Howsit going, you look great!"

"I'm good! Sa-Rhee-san told me to get Yong-ga!"

"//I'm coming alright?!//" the chef snapped in Korean. "//Gods why's everybody coming for my ass today?!//"

They walked out together into the main street of East Taihei, the boy hugging Kiryu as Danzaki gave him a thumbs up.

"Nice shirt chavo, who's your favourite player?"

"Doreen McNess, whut's yours?!"

"Mmmm aw jeez it's gotta be Kappamura, that little guy was FAST he could spin rings round everybody!"

"OH YAH, I like him too, whut's yer faaavourite team?"

"Yanno, I really got into FC Ryukyon, you know from Okinawa? They even play on the hard court, got some real sick techniques."

"Oooh, they doing really well!" the boy nodded feverish. "They won 3-2 against Sapporo Shukyu last season!"

"OH DAMN you saw that match?! Duuuude what about that header from Onigawa?!"

"THAT WAS SO COOL!"

"Hell YEAH it was!"

"Hmhmhm," Goji looked at the soccer fans, "it's like another language sometimes huh?"

"Ehh," Sa-Rhee shrugged, "soccer is soccer."

"Do you play at all?"

"Sometimes, Jeon play with me when I'm not busy."

"Wait, where?" Kiryu squinted at him. "I saw nothing in Little Asia."

"We go to park, duh," Yong-ga poked his tongue.

"You know, I was thinking, you have a lot of roofs in Little Asia, why not convert one of those into a soccer pitch?"

"Oh yeah, good idea, kick the ball, it smash a window, dipshit-"

"Shut up." Kiryu grabbed Yong-ga's arm to make him wince. "For once in your life, shut up and stop assuming the worst. Look at Jeon."

They turned to the boy kicking the ball with Danzaki, the pterosaur slipping it up his foot to start bouncing it off his knee.

"You had a hard life, I get that," said Kiryu, "but does that mean HIS life has to be hard too?"

"What you saying?" Yong-ga sneered back.

"Danzaki-san and I have an idea, something good for Little Asia. Can you get me a meeting with your uncle?"

"Ask him yourself, you know password."

"I want to help, but I also want to respect your borders, Sa-Rhee kun. Will you ask him for me? Please."

At first Yong-ga wanted to brush him off and keep walking, but the look in Kiryu's eyes was strangely soft and almost submissive in his plea. It startled him, confused him as he shook his head and grabbed the horn of his snout before he sighed.

"HHhhaaaaaAAARRRRRFFFFfffiiiiiiine. I tell uncle you want a meet."

"Thank you, Sa-Rhee-kun." Kiryu bowed to him. "Tell him I'll meet him anywhere he wants, he knows where to find me."

"Yeah yeah fine whatever...but." The stegosaur turned to him. "You owe me a favour."

"Sure, anything."

"...fight me."

"What?"

Danzaki grabbed the ball as Jeon looked surprised.

"You fight me," said the chef, "I talk to uncle, but only if you fight me."

"//Yong-ga nooo!//" Jeon rushed up to him. "//Kiryu's a good guy, don't fight him again!//"

"Mi guey," Roberto snarled, "we pulled you out of a jam, why you gotta do this?"

"Alright."

The boy and the patriarch looked at Kiryu.

"Sa-Rhee-kun's an adult, he can make his own decisions so if he wants to fight me, then fine."

"Goji-chan are you for real?" Danzaki groaned.

"This is between me and him. If we want to get our project started, I'll have to go through him."

"Yeah," Yong-ga grinned at the pterosaur, "you gotta go through me, shitbird."

"Don't." Roberto loomed over him. "I'm the patriarch of the Danzaki family. I don't care whose nephew you are, you talk to me like that again, I will break that horn off your smug face and the things I'll do to you, I'm not going to say in front of little Jeon."

"Tcheh...whatever."

The Korean shrugged and walked back to Little Asia. Kiryu sighed with a look of apology to Danzaki who rolled his eyes and grated his beak, before turning back to Jeon. For the rest of his journey home, the little kirin kicked the ball back and forth with Roberto, the pterosaur doing footsies and little spins as the foal cackled trying to copy him.