FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Kurasawa lived with the Koreans?" gasped Sanjin at the office.

"Sa-Rhee-san told me yesterday," Kiryu nodded, "we were talking about stuff and he mentioned Kurasawa was a friend he knew back when he was young."

"And he stumbled on some kinda plot?!" Obara leaned on his desk. "That's insane, we gotta tell Shisa-sama!"

"He said he wuz busy," the patriarch showed his phone, "don't wanna mention it on text, but he'll be back in a couple days."

"I thought he was still on the printing strike?" Sano leaned back in his seat.

"Nah, Shisa-han got it all cleared up with a good contract fer them."

"Well that's good but...jeez, this is kinda big, we're talking a CEO trying to get a weapon!"

"I want everyone to keep this in the office," Gojirama tapped his desk, "don't tell anyone, not your friends or family, the less creatures who know about this the better, this secret's already killed one kaiju."

"We definitely need to tell Shisa-sama," Gonkuro clenched his hands, "we can't just sit on this, if there's some kind of conspiracy going on we have to do something!"

"I know, but if we go shouting it from every rooftop, Jinuchu will come down and wipe us out."

"The fuck they will!" Sano slammed his fist. "They think they can take on Toho, they ain't worth shit, we dealt with Kamoebara, we'll deal with them!"

"You ain't dealing with nobody 'til I tell you to," Varan loomed standing over him, "we got the upper hand, they don't know that we know, so let's keep it that way 'til we got all our pieces on thuh board."

"Thank you, Varan-san," Kiryu sighed rubbing his head, "what do you think we should do?"

"Well, firstly we gotta know who our enemy is so, Obara-kun, I want you to look up that there Doi Ighorashi an' whut King Financial actually do."

"Yes sir!" the junior saluted.

"Sano, pick up patrols around Showa Street, in case that guy comes back that Kiryu wuz fightin' the other day."

"The guy who's wife got kidnapped?" Anguirou snorted. "Why do I gotta deal with that?"

"Cuz I fuckin' said," Sanjin snarled with a jab, "Kiryu, you know where this Kurasawa wuz wanderin' in Yokohama?"

"A place called Issincho," Goji nodded, "he was searching for two creatures called Luzek, along with an Ukyo Kuribayante."

"I was looking up on them," said Obara pulling up his phone, "officially the R.O.S.E Institute says, that Kuribayante took on an executive role and doesn't do much lab work nowadays, but they haven't interviewed them at all since the place got privatised by a company called Resco."

"What's this Rose place about anyways?" Sano swivelled in his seat. "I don't get what organic science means, isn't all science organic?"

"Not exactly, it was set up by Dr. Genshiro Kuribayante to 'better progress achievements in energy and efficiency'. Basically, after he invented the miniature atomic battery, he wanted to make more improvements to reduce our impact on the environment, whilst giving more energy to a growing population. They also develop medical tech, specialising in low-energy equipment so hospitals no matter where can use them."

"You sound like yer readin' their pamphlet," Sanjin grinned sitting on the couch.

"it's a a really cool place," the youth shrugged swiping his phone, "it's basically the reason Japan got so rich throughout the '80s."

"So why did it get privatised?" Kiryu squinted crossing his arms. "Doesn't that only happen when a company's having problems?"

"Actually no one knows, it was a really controversial decision by the government. They said the institute wasn't making profit, but I've been looking it up since Kiryu-san told me, and there wasn't a big enough margin to justify that."

"So what," Sano shrugged, "was this some kinda backroom deal or something?"

"I don't know," Obara shook his head, "I can't find any info about Resco at all, other than they 'contract provisions on behalf of governmental services'."

"The fuck does that mean?!"

"It means they're outsourcing, they manage other parts of the government too such as recycling, immigration and prisons."

"I recall reports about Resco gettin' caught in sum troubles," Sanjin rubbed his chin, "wuzn't there a report about abuse down at an immigration centre?"

"Yeah I remember," Gonkuro rubbed his ear, "the case collapsed before it went to trial, how'd you hear about that?"

"I read a lotta news, Obara-kun."

"And still you can't figure out money," Kiryu snorted.

"Don't smart-mouth me boy!" Varan raised his fist. "Unless you wan' me to keep you here instead o' letting you off to go play samurai with yer boyfriend."

"Hmhm, fair enough."

"Wait, samurai?" Anguirou sneered over to his friend. "You going to some cosplay event?"

"No, I'm going to Jidaigaiden," Kiryu grinned puffing his chest, "McCartin-san always wanted to go, since his mother's here it'll be a good reason."

"Awww damn that place owns, I wish I could go."

"I don't," Sanjin leaned on his chair, "thuh cultural appropriation of our history fer thuh sake of tourist revenue, only cheapens thuh struggles that our nation went through."

"You know they built it for movies, right?" Goji rolled his eyes. "They do have educational tours, and also a museum-"

"It's still a damn theme park an' that ain't never sat right with me."

"Is this the Pokérai talk again?" Obara winced.

"Boy do NOT talk about those little bastards in mah house!" Sanjin pointed at him. "They are a damn disgrace, warping our history with shitty-ass fanfiction about thuh great warriors of our past!"

"So what?!" Sano scoffed looking up. "You're just mad because you got kicked out of Jidaigaiden for ringing the bell a hundred times!"

"HEY, they DARED me to do it, s'not my fault thuh guy got tinnitus, he coulda left!"

"He had to supervise you!"

"FER WHUT, in case I piss mah pants?! I'm not that old gotdammit!"

They laughed regardless, a wistful sigh filling their lungs as they went back to work on their accounts. It was a slow afternoon until Kiryu's news had brought them to action, Gojirama receiving his orders from Varan on what to expect once Shisahara came back. Gordon was not around today, having taken his mother to the university for a tour leaving Kiryu to wander the streets.

As he walked north into Theater Square, a small commotion was babbling around the central plaza with several exhibitions being held on display. A trade fair of sorts, as Kiryu stepped closer to see various companies demonstrating their wares. Models and technological wonders filled either side of the square, as kaiju gasped and scoffed at the displays.

"INTRODUCING FROM AVINEW TECH, THE VIBRA-TURBINE, NO PROPELLER BLADES!"

"Soleanna Industries presents our newest Solaris Sail, capable of spanning the Pacific Ocean in two-thirds the time of a flight, all with nothing but the sun itself!"

"Biometric MP3s, only respond to your touch, wear it in your palm, alternates songs on different moods!"

I forgot the trade fair happened in autumn, Kiryu pondered, seems a lot more busy than it was last year.

Stepping up to the Theater Square, he looked around the displays showing off stunning new technologies, and more than a few that jumped on the bandwagon. Much to his surprise, he found a familiar face in the form of Gonkuro Obara, advertising his Paw Patrol app from a cheerful yellow stall with a red pawprint.

"So just tap what emergency it is," he began, "and everyone else with the app gets alerted!"

"What's stopping creatures making fake calls?" asked a fox in a hoodie.

"Once you press an alert, it will not turn off until another creature with the app comes by. Once they're in the proximity of the alert, both you and the other helper get two options of Resolved or Unsolved, HOWEVER! The responder gets a third option called Fake if it's a prank, and if a user accumulates too many Fakes to their IP, the app deletes itself from their phone, and they get blocked from our server."

"Why don't you make it not-free?" asked a badger in a suit. "Having a paywall would root out trolls."

"I'm not here to make business," Obara shook his head, "I'm here to help Kaijurocho, and that means everyone should have access to it."

"You can just call the police instead."

"But the police are already dealing with bigger problems, and can't help everyone in time. This is about local support. You get robbed, you beep this, locals come round to find out what's happening."

"What if the locals don't wanna help?" the fox rolled her eyes.

"Then that alert just stays there unresolved, and that's another victim you know about in Kaijurocho. But I believe in the goodness of creatures, who wanna help others, even if it's just taking a picture of the fleeing criminal, it matters!"

"So it's not engaging in vigilantism?" the badger crossed his arms. "It's just crime awareness, a neighbourhood watch sorta thing?"

"Exactly," Obara bowed, "in our testing, we've managed to prevent four crimes on average per day, over the course of this month. There's no hidden costs, the server does not retain any of your data, other than the location of your phone when you report an incident, after which that data is deleted in an hour."

"What if I'm on a trip out the city, I can't do anything about it?"

"It only works on the local wi-fi. If you're outside of Kaijurocho, it won't pick up the alerts. That's also why it doesn't retain your data, the app itself is one entire temporary tablespace, all the processing on our servers is dedicated purely to real-time geosynchronisation."

"Huh...that's pretty smart. Alright, I always said someone needed to do something about the thugs round here, sure, I'll download it."

"Thank you sir! And remember, just yelp for help!"

Kiryu smiled looking on from a distance, Obara guiding his new customer through a few tests to ensure it was all working properly. On the other side of the square, a much larger presentation was about to take place as the largest crowd of kaiju gathered round a rectangular box, covered by a tarp beneath a banner that showed a golden wheel with eight spikes.

"Creatures and patrons!" a large toad in a suit greeted them. "It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Eight-Point Industries' latest technological wonder of the modern age. From the depths of space to the bottom of the sea, we are proud to introduce to you our latest creation.

"Some of you may already be aware of our 'MOGUERA' models, that are currently planning excavations out in space. But of course they can only mine as automatons, despite their limited sentience. Allow me to reveal to you, our new sapient creation!"

The tarp was swept away to reveal a silver reptile, much to the crowd's awe as a large bulky steel kaiju stepped out its box with a whirring shunt of its legs. Eyes of piercing yellow stared over the crowd with thick clawed arms and sturdy legs that shook the ground.

"Greetings." The machine bowed to the audience. "I am a Multipurpose Future System, Type-Three. I am honoured to meet you."

"We're still working on the name," the toad chuckled, "for now we call him Type-Three. A new revelation of AI, one able to commune, calculate and plan as well as any living creature could."

"CAN YOU FIGHT CREATURES?!" shouted a piglet in the crowd. "Robot fights are cool!"

"I am capable of self-defence," said Type-3, "I am versed in six different martial arts, but my primary purpose is exploration in dangerous regions."

"Like what?!" asked an adult kappa. "Don't we have deep-sea divers and volcano diggers too, why do we need a robot for that?"

"I am designed for extraterrestrial management, to oversee more efficiently a team of Mogueras, and better correlate them towards excavation."

"Are you real?!" shouted a teen lion. "Or you just rattling off a script they fed you?"

"I exist before you," Type-3 clasped its hands, "I do not possess any predetermined information, I am capable of independent thought without instruction from others."

"Incredible," gasped an old tiger with a cane, "always heard they were making robots down in them labs since the '80s."

"Why not put him to the test," the toad shrugged, "I'll pick a random member of the audience to ask questions that no one can predict. You!"

The frog pointed to Kiryu with a car dealer's smile.

"You sir, come on up and ask our friend anything!"

"Are you...sure?" Goji looked around.

"Yes yes of course, now what's your name?"

"Gojirama Kiryu," he bowed stepping up.

"A pleasure to meet you, Kiryu-san," the machine bowed to him, "ask me anything, and I shall answer to the best of my ability."

"Hm...alright," Kiryu rubbed his hands, "I've never met a machine that could talk, and think before."

"If I have caused you any undue stress, then I apologise and ask that you please send your complaints to Eight-Point Industries where they shall rectify me."

"Oh, no I didn't mean that. I'm just not sure what the procedure is for talking with...a robot."

"I would ask you treat me as you would any creature, Kiryu-san," Type-3 clasped its hands, "do not hesitate to ask."

"Hm...alright, do you read books?"

"I do."

"Oh, really? What's your favourite?"

"Iskelion," the machine nodded, "written by Bahammud Al-Tarim in the fourteenth century."

"Huh," Goji rubbed his neck, "that's unusual, why is that?"

"The writings of a mathematician travelling the world help me to understand the scope and size of Gaia. Using his theorems to detail the ancient lands, I find it enlightening in a language that I comprehend."

"Damn...makes me feel dumb for reading manga."

"I also enjoy manga, such as Baba's Bizarre Odyssey."

A few snickers came from the crowd as Kiryu smiled with a nod.

"I love that manga, that's about travelling the world too isn't it?"

"Correct," Type-3 bowed.

"So you like travelling then, or do you want to?"

"My purpose is to travel beyond this planet. As a result of my initial functions, to travel the world has become an objective of mine to pursue."

"Huh...a robot with a dream," Goji tapped his chin.

"I do not dream, Kiryu-san. It is more accurate to say that my subroutines have opened other avenues of interest, such as geography."

"Aaah. I know you guys run on ethanol, like you only have to drink alcohol to recharge yourselves?"

"Correct."

"Would you want to taste all the different beers in the world?"

"It would not be a want, but a need, to continue my functions."

"Alright, what would YOU like to do, if you travelled?"

"I wish to gather data on other cultures and locations," the machine looked up to the sky.

"So you want memories of all the places you've been to?"

"Correct. Obtaining data by manual observation and recollection has been found to be more stimulating, with a recall feedback increase by forty-two percent."

"Well just travelling is one thing, what about sports, do you watch any?"

"I am not permitted to play sports, but I observed Rai-sama playing tennis with his brother, Gihei."

"Wait...Gihei?"

"Rai-sama subverted his usual playing tactics, trading speed for power. His brother Gihei lost, three to five, largely due to his lack of controlling the ball, which made Rai-sama predict his shots at a sixty-seven-percent rate of efficiency."

"Hahaha, still thinking about numbers as always!" the toad stepped in between them. "Thank you Kiryu-san, but that's all the time we have to spare, I appreciate you coming up, everyone give him a round of applause!"

The crowd gave a polite smattering as Gojirama stepped away, but not before he offered his hand to the machine.

"It was good to meet you uh...Type-Three-san."

"Farewell, Kiryu-san," Type-3 gently shook it in turn, "have a pleasant day, on behalf of Eight-Point Industries."

Walking away as a few investors stepped up to ask further about the company, Kiryu scratched his head taking one last look at the machine.

Did it mention...Gihei? I wasn't imagining that, was I? But I thought Gihei's brother was called Doi.

Trying to clear his mind, he walked towards Little Asia keeping an eye out for trouble. He was stopped by one of the guards outside the tenement blocks, who gestured him to come over.

"Something wrong?" Kiryu approached.

"Sa-Rhee." The goat pulled out her phone. "I call."

"Oh, he needs something from me? Alright, I'll wait."

The caprine called up her boss, muttering in Korean before she handed the phone over to him.

"Afternoon Kiryu."

"You know at this point you should just give me your number," Kiryu rolled his eyes.

"I'd rather not be on the Toho mailing list, your newsletter's probably insufferable."

"Hah, it is actually. How are the renovations?"

"Good! Your friends are doing a damn fine job fixing up the roofs, already laid down the flatland for a pitch. I'm sorry to take advantage of you again-"

"I'm sure you are," Goji grimaced.

"-but I have to keep an eye on all these folks and keep mine all safe. Problem is, I promised Yong-ga I'd go fishing with him, stuff for the restaurant."

"You want me to chaperone him again?"

"If you have time."

"Fortunately I do. Tell him I'm out on East Taihei."

"Much appreciated Kiryu, and uh...thanks for helping with Kama-kun."

"I'll let you know soon as I find out more."

He gave the phone back to the guard who nodded in return. Ten minutes passed before Yong-ga left Little Asia, carrying two fishing rods and a tackle box along with a vest full of pockets.

"Hey there," Kiryu shrugged, "guess we're stuck together again."

"Yeah," Yong-ga grinned, "uncle keep eye on monsters, fixing stuff."

"I figured. So, you're into fishing are you?"

"Fresh fish for restaurant, make my cooking best in town!"

"That's impressive! Catching your own fish, make sure everyone gets pure quality."

"You ever fish?" Yong-ga tossed him one of the poles. "I teach you if you can't."

"I'd appreciate that, thank you," Gojirama bowed, "so where do we fish, the indoor place on Shachifuku?"

"PFFT, NO!" the chef waved his hand. "We take trip to docks, best fish out at sea!"

"Hah, the real stuff. I like it."

Heading down south they took a rickshaw to the city docks, a long ride staring at the back of the rumbling pillbug that rolled down the highway between cars and trucks. It was a straight-shot for the harbour, during which nothing was said that made the ride feel much longer than it had to be.

At the docks of Tokyo, giant ships loomed past with crates being lifted by tall masterful cranes that stood like skyscrapers, winged kaiju flapping from place to place to relay orders or scout for missing containers. Water-based kaiju swam in the harbour under the boats currently docked, fixing holes with tools and torches.

One section of the port had been allowed space for fishers, a dull place near an old warehouse and a cluttered section of crates. Several other kaiju sat with their boxes and lines as Yong-ga took a seat for himself, and Kiryu sat beside.

"What do I do?" Goji asked.

"Pull the line back," Sa-Rhee demonstrated, "swing slow to side, let hook sweep out, then PUNCH like that!"

"Ah, alright sooo like this?"

"No no, no higher, lift higher."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, that's good."

The younger chef taught him the ropes, helping Kiryu perfect his swing a few times before they went to fishing proper. He demonstrated the various lures he had, all of them tiny bugs and smaller fish writhing in his box.

"Fish like live food," explained Yong-ga, "lures are fine, but better catch if food is real."

"What's the best choice?" asked Kiryu spooling his line.

"Mini prawns, fish like the crunch, keeps them hooked."

Sa-Rhee offered one to Kiryu who stabbed it on his hook, the sight of the writhing miniature crustacean feeling unpleasant until he looked towards a giant lobster doing the same to a prawn.

"You ever think how weird it is some creatures grew like us, and other creatures like this little guy didn't?"

"Nope," Yong-ga impaled a mini-prawn, "now we fish, keep voice down. You shout, you scare them away."

They cast their lines out over the bay, little rings across the water as they sat and waited. The call of boats and dockworkers filled the air faintly from behind, the sky somewhat-cloudy on the horizon as they kept watch for their prey.

"I've never seen you this quiet," muttered Kiryu.

"Game of patience," Yong-ga slit his eyes, "you lose, you starve."

"That something your uncle taught you?"

"Yep. Learned fishing on my own though."

"Why did you learn?" asked Goji shifting his legs.

"Steal fish from Japanese," snickered Sa-Rhee shaking his head, "thought if I live here, I take their fish, empty their oceans instead."

"Of course," Kiryu rolled his eyes, "and that led to you cooking with the fish you caught?"

"Yep, makes my food best in city."

"You know it's a real shame no one outside of Little Asia gets to taste your work, your bibimbap's exceptional."

"Heh, you lucky," Yong-ga smiled at him, "you only Japanese kaiju to taste it."

"I'm honoured," Kiryu nodded, "but you really deserve your own place, you should expand your talents, there's some properties down Zennyo Avenue that are open right now."

"No one want Korean food."

"They go to Kanrai, and they only THINK that's Korean food, so why not give them the real thing?"

"Heh...hhheheheh, yeah, run Kanrai out of business, uncle would love that."

"I bet he would. If you want I could put in a word to get a property started for you."

"R-...really?" Yong-ga squinted at him.

"My company handles that," Kiryu nodded, "it'd be no problem scouting you a spot."

"And I pay you a cut?"

"No, only if you join up with us. If you're a customer buying property that doesn't count, I'm just trying to make the city better."

"Hmm...I think about it."

There was a smile Kiryu had not seen before, one that was almost wistful as they stared up at the sky. Nothing was biting, so they reeled back their lines and tried with the same bait, throwing it out farther to sea as they waited again. A foghorn cried in the distance, blaring warnings to passing ships as they saw fishing trawlers on the horizon.

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?" asked Kiryu.

"Still living in Little Asia," Sa-Rhee shrugged.

"You not planning to return home?"

"Can't. Uncle needs me."

"What do YOU want though?"

"I...I-i don't know." The stegosaur sighed rubbing his horn. "Never seen Korea, always wanted to see it."

"Wait, I thought you were born in Korea."

"Yeah, but...parents moved to Okinawa. Met uncle Byul-ga there, he took me in when parents died."

"I'm sorry," Kiryu shook his head, "maybe you can take Obara-kun with you to Korea, he'd love to see it."

"Heheh yeah, he's cool...I like the music he gave me."

"You two get on well, probably because you're the same age and not an old fart like me."

"Yep!" Sa-Rhee grinned patting him. "But you tough bastard, real good left hook!"

"So are you with those legs," Kiryu nudged him back, "you're pretty reckless, setting those on fire."

"Don't care what anyone think...but..."

Yong-ga looked towards him proper.

"You really think I make good restaurant?"

"Absolutely," Goji smiled back, "I'm always honoured to eat at your place, and I'll be the first customer you'll have if you expand your business. I'll even bring my colleagues, they would some authentic Korean food."

"Hehehh...y-you would...you'd come every day?"

"Every week. If I have it every day, your food won't be as special."

"Yeah...you right. Kiryu? I...you're..."

Sa-Rhee gulped as he shuffled close with softened eyes.

"A-are we...friends?"

"Are we?" Kiryu raised his brow. "I'd like us to be. I don't hate you, sure you can be a punk and rude as hell, but I understand why, I've met vashers out there who treat monsters and beasts all terribly, but you have to realise they're a minority, they don't represent those like me."

"I knoooow, don't gimme that talk."

"Just saying, my boyfriend had to deal with them too, and he's from Ireland, but he loves Japan despite dealing with that."

"Oh...you got, boyfriend?" Yong-ga clenched his teeth. "Cool, heh, cool..."

"I like you Sa-Rhee-kun." The saurian put his arm round the stego's shoulders. "I like you much more than your uncle, that's for sure, and if you ever need any help, you can always call me."

"Thanks...Kiryu-san."

There was a brief sadness crossing his eyes that Goji caught, a soft creak of his fingers round the fishing rod before something jerked him forwards and he almost fell off the dock. Kiryu grabbed him round the waist and pulled him back almost in a heimlich.

"A-AAAGH, FUCK!"

"YOU GOT SOMETHING, PULL IT IN!"

"T-TRYING, AUGH YOU FUCKER!"

"KEEP IT STEADY, I'LL HOLD YOU!"

Pulling Yong-ga tight against his body, Kiryu watched the chef reel in his line as the thrashing snarl of the water thickened in front of them. Something was bucking against the wash, hard and sturdy with powerful twists of its body as Sa-Rhee steadied himself, pulling hard when the line went slack, and coaxing the fish in one direction when it tugged even harder.

Gojirama almost had Sa-Rhee on his lap, causing Yong-ga to tremble as he put all his focus onto his prey, his long pudgy tail slinking round behind Kiryu and rubbing his in flickering spasms. The fish came closer, lashing the waters and zigzagging hard to try and escape his clutches as the stegosaur pulled harder, feeling the pole bend almost teetering on the edge of its limits.

Once it was close enough, he lunged forwards and yanked the line with Kiryu's help, dragging their prey onto the docks as a yellow-breamed carp with the face of a hairless ape gasped with faint shrieks. Yong-ga slammed his fist into its eye until the flapping fish turned limp.

"HAHAAAA YEAAAAH!"

"Holy, that's a big one!" Kiryu chuckled. "What kinda fish is that?!"

"It's seaman babyyyyy!" said Yong-ga punching the air. "Whole town gonna eat TONIGHT!"

"I don't think I've ever had a seaman...ugly thing."

"Ugly but tasty." The chef bunged it into the tackle box. "We catch more before we go?!"

"Sure," Goji grinned. "If fishing's always this exciting, I might take it up myself."

"Hahaaa sure, you fish with me!" Yong-ga nudged him. "Fishing always fun with a friend."

"I'm glad I can be your fishing friend," Kiryu nodded sitting back down, "maybe I can catch a bigger fish than you."

"PFFT, naaaah, you won't catch shit!"

"You wanna bet?"

A smile crossed their lips as they sat back down together, casting their lines out and savouring the tension. Yong-ga smiled with some relief, but it was the biggest smile Kiryu had ever seen from him.

Two days had passed since his meeting with Byul-ga Sa-Rhee, Kiryu trying to ignore the clouds of darkness in his mind to focus on his boyfriend. Stepping out of a taxi with Gordon and Sogra, they entered a world of a different history in a different time.

A sprawling town of Japanese houses from the 19th century, with white walls and brown-lacquered roofs stood on opposite sides of widened streets unpaved in a fine layer of dirt, that stretched towards a grand castle pagoda shining in the sun. A gatehouse stood before them, guarded by a green mantis in an old leather outfit with samurai plates.

"Hail, travellers!" he put up his hand. "I know not your garb, but I welcome you to our fair town of Jidaigaiden, should you not cause trouble."

"//Oh Thyos,//" Sogra rolled her eyes in Gaeilge, "//is this one o' them medieval re-enactment places?//"

"//Mum come on it'll be fun!//" Gordon grinned. "//You can get some cool kimonos and stuff!//"

"//I'm not buying feckin' souvenirs, that cow Mary doesn't deserve it.//"

"Please, enter!" the guard stepped aside opening the door. "I only ask you respect our customs, we shall provide you with customary clothes befitting of our home."

"Thank you," Kiryu bowed, "keep up the good work."

They walked inside to a registry office, slightly more modern with the existence of a cash register, card scanner and security cameras with wiring hidden under the false wooden walls.

"Greetings fair travellers!" a kappa clerk bowed in another guard outfit. "Welcome to Jidaigaiden, may I take your payments?"

"I have a discount."

Kiryu stepped forth showing his clan's lapel that he hid in his wallet.

"Ahhh, welcome good sir, are you looking for the Fourth Chair?"

"No, why?"

"Shisahara-san has graced us with a special performance, he's very kindly offered to help us with the Nagamugi Affair recreation!"

"Huh...what a coincidence," Kiryu smiled, "anyways, I'm paying for all of us three."

"Of course, let me take your names and I'll get you your clothes."

"Wait, clothes?" Gordon tapped Goji's shoulder.

"You have to wear kimonos while here," the kaiju smiled, "it part of the ambience."

"OH, we get kimonos?!"

"Well you can buy them if you want, but we get rentals here."

"EEEH, so cool!"

Sogra shook her head at her son's giddiness, smiling beneath her hat as Kiryu paid for them all and they were soon given their robes. From a dazzling array of kimonos, the kaiju took a pale white number, whilst Gordon wore blue and his mother took a pale red.

Entering the town proper, they found other tourists agog at the accurate rendition of old houses, whilst staff members worked both behind the scenes and in front, playing the lives of ordinary Japanese citizens in olden times from kaiju carrying vegetables, to the occasional samurai patrolling the streets.

Merchants in wide straw hats carried poles with baskets full of food; tailors watched over motorised lathes powered by diesel engines; a giant bell could be heard from a mechanical clock tower ringing out 11am; and lastly there were farmers, pounding buckets full of mochi rice with big hammers.

"Woooow," Gordon gasped with a little squee, "this, so, COOL!"

"It is pretty nice," Kiryu took his hand, "they really went all out with the authenticity, even got the same diesel engines we invented back in the 1820s."

"Why the mochi not...motor?" the student pointed at the buckets.

"Because we PRIDE on our claws!" shouted a crow in farmer's clothes. "The government wants to motorise our workforce, just so they can install new taxation laws for us not meeting our quota!"

"RIGHT!" a rabbit pumped his hammer in the rice. "That's why we had an uprising in 1880, and we won because the army were crippled after Seikanron!"

"//I can't understand any of this,//" Sogra complained, "//why are they psyching Ron, who thuh fuck's he?!//"

"//It's not a guy mum,//" Gordon whispered, "//It's when Japan invaded Korea, it was a big war and now the north part of Korea's called Kankoran.//"

"//AAHH NOW you never said there'd be education in this!//"

"//What's wrong with learning something new, it's fun!//"

"//Nobody has fun learning things Gordo.//"

"//I do, you took me to the museum when I was little, it's your fault!//"

"//Mmmmm...alright,//" she poked his snout with a teasing jab, //"but the moment I see any jugglers I'm disowning you.//"

"//Deal.//" He giggled.

"You alright?" Kiryu asked them both.

"We're fine!" Gordon bowed. "Just telling mum, about Seikanron."

"Ahhh...yes," he nodded gravely, "one of the biggest mistakes in our history, actually why did we invade them in the first place?"

"Because they didn't respect the emperor," said the rabbit still pounding mochi, "you know it's our job to tell you this right?"

"Usagi!" the crow beside him snapped. "Don't break character, c'mon!"

"Sorry, been pounding this damn rice all day, I was meant to go on break a half-hour ago."

"It's fine," Kiryu smiled, "I know you're doing your hardest, you can relax a little, I won't tell anyone."

"Heh, thanks," the rabbit stood up leaning on his hammer, "but yeah, we invaded Korea because they didn't recognise Emperor Myoji, after that coup put him on the throne."

"That's rather...extreme."

"Sure was," the raven kept pounding, "Thirteen-thousand dead in battle, Omukawa Clan occupied it after they lost their domains in the restoration."

"OH, Kamaitorei!" Gordon snapped his fingers. "Weapons got banned!"

"Yeah, exactly!" the crow stood up stretching his back. "All the citizens except feudal lords got their weapons taken away."

"And some of the lords did too," Kiryu nodded, "in protest for saying that it robbed the common creatures of their power."

"Pretty much, you know your history pretty good!"

"Well, some of it. Always thought the weapon-banning was strange, considering how many of us have natural powers."

"But not everyone," the rabbit waved his finger, "that was the point, the fact it created inequality in those who could defend themselves, that caused a rift between the nobles and the clans."

"Right. Anyways we'll let you work, thanks for the lesson, hope you get a break soon."

"No prob, have a good day!"

Roaming along the thoroughfare they searched through various places that explained other parts of Japanese history. It wasn't all education however, for much to Sogra's delight, there were some carnival-style games such as shuriken-throwing that she immediately went for, a small hut with several lanes that one threw ninja stars down towards moving targets.

The long-necked wolf attending guided them on precautions and how best to use them. Gordon was the worst, hitting a score of 95 out of 200. Kiryu was little better, managing 110, but earning a plushie of Bunjutsu who was an adorable sparrow dressed in ninja garb. Sogra however blew everyone away with a perfect 200, hitting every single target with frightening accuracy, winning a cash prize that she took for herself.

"That was...amazing!" Kiryu gasped.

"//Thanks lad,//" Sogra winked with her son translating, "//grifted many a church fare with these hands.//"

"What's a...church fair?"

"//S'like a wee festival, for a village, churches organise 'em because everybody knows the vicar in a village.//"

"Ahhh," Kiryu nodded, "still, first the cigarette trick and now those shurikens, where did you learn that?"

"//Wait, cigarette?//" Gordon asked.

"//I got very good at throwing things,//" Mrs. McCartin shook her finger. "//Let's just say I did a lot of...stone skipping in my youth.//"

The look from her eye warned him not to keep prying, a look he did not expect as he wisely nodded and kept walking down the street. At the crossroads in front of the pagoda, there was a small crowd that lured them in as they saw apparently nothing in front of the castle gates.

But then two creatures walked from the west, and another from the east. The one from the east had a naval officer's uniform, dark blue with golden togs and prosthetics on his face to resemble a short-snouted beast with long tentacled hair.

The two from the east were more recognisable, a long-horned cow in a blue robe with white cravat; and a lion with a dog's face of golden ears, thick fangs and burning red eyes dressed in a samurai's outfit. Kiryu gasped especially at the samurai, who was suddenly bumped by the naval officer.

"OOF! YOU!" the beast shouted. "HAVE YOU NOT EYES YOU FOOL?!"

"Huh?!" The samurai turned with a snarl. "I expected you to move out of the way."

"And why the bloody hell you expect ME to do that?!" snorted the fish-headed officer. "Don't you know who I am, you brigand?!"

"You wear not the clothes of my clan, and I am not receiving you. But in this country, samurai always have right of way."

"Are you LECTURING me?!"

"SIR!" the cow stepped between them. "Please, sir, respect their custom, there is no need to exacerbate this."

"Quiet you peasant!" the officer shoved him back. "First I'm accosted by a wallah in sandals, now his servant thinks he can address me as equals?!"

"I'm an English beast as well sir, and I implore you not to pursue this!"

"Ohohhh, you are, are you?"

"My name is Ernest Duncow," the bovine bowed, "I am a student from Warwickshire."

"What school did you go to?"

"Durham University, officer."

"HAH!" the commodore scoffed shaking his head. "A university he calls it, more like an overgrown pub next to a wealthy eye doctor."

"Pathetic." The samurai walked closer. "You insult my geta when you can barely walk straight, you insult my companion's scholarhood when your tongue flaps like a dead fish, go bark at the moon instead you jealous cur!"

"How, DARE YOU!"

The officer went for his sword with a snarling creep of his tentacled face, a shining cavalry sabre with golden hilt that gleamed in the sun. The audience stepped back and gasped, the samurai keeping fingers on the handle of his blade.

"You DARE mock Commodore Charles Jabbert Woxingham, THE THIRD?! I did not spend my tutelage at Icthyos Church in Oxford to be looked down upon by some belligerent SAVAGE!"

"Says the beast spitting water pretending it's fire," the samurai rolled his eyes, "you have one chance to put away your sword, before I sever your head."

"You shall demand NOTHING of the English Empire you dog-eared malingerer! You have insulted my honour, and I demand a duel or you shall be rendered a coward-"

"SHUT UP!"

Duncow suddenly punched the commodore Woxingham. Not an actual punch of course, but a very well-acted one that tapped the chin and sent the fool crumpling to the floor. The samurai looked startled, then cackled with a great laugh.

"BWAH, HHHAHAHA, very good Duncow-san!"

"Are you alright?!" said Ernest rubbing his hand. "Agh, that fool had a hard-head!"

"I would never have thought a beast would defend my honour against one of his own! Truly you are a companion through and through."

"Thank you, Shisahara-san!" the cow bowed to him. "I am deeply sorry for the commodore's actions-"

"PFFT, you are no more beholden to him than I am the emperor, Komaiyashi-sama would love to hear about this. HOI, AZUMI!"

Shisahara gestured to a player off-screen.

"Bring that machine of yours and have it draw a picture of us."

Kiryu recognised this exact scene from the Fourth Chair's office. An old sepia photograph on the wall, where a samurai stood next to a long-horned cow, the warrior's foot upon the unconscious Woxingham with a grin. A camera was brought out, old and boxy with a hard flash, and soon all three of the actors stood together to take their bow.

"Thank you for attending!" said Shisahara. "That was a recreation of the Nagamugi Affair, September 14th, 1862! Please, give credit to my co-stars Yogi Shvankar as Duncow, and Vladimir Chortokovsky as the commodore Woxingham."

A light but cheerisome applause filled the air as the audience gave their support, the actors bowing again as Kiryu patted Gordon's arm.

"I'll just be a moment, I want to talk with one of them."

"Okay!" McCartin grinned. "I wait here, that was good acting!"

Stepping towards the troupe, Gojirama waited for Shisahara to be done talking to others before they each other.

"Wellll what a surprise!" the Fourth Chair bowed politely. "I wasn't expecting to see you, how are you Kiryu-san?"

"Good, thank you," Kiryu bowed in turn, "I didn't know you worked here, Shisa-sama."

"I sometimes lend my hand to the cast." He snatched up a cane leaning against the wall. "I always wanted to be an actor, that's why I help fund this place to keep running, as well as the historical value."

"It was very good. I'm just here with my boyfriend and his mother."

"Ahhh, the in-law," Shisahara nodded, "I hope she's enjoying herself, how are things with your boyfriend?"

"Great!" Goji smiled rocking his heels. "It was actually his idea we come here, he always wanted to see Jidaigaiden, fascinated about our history."

"It does have a particular romanticisation," the dog-lion patted his sheathed katana, "films have helped that certainly, every time a new anime comes out you would not believe how many visitors come here."

"Hmhm, Varan-san doesn't seem to think so, he called it-"

"Cultural appropration, yes I know. I don't agree with that personally, I think so long as a work of media encourages its audience to learn and explore the inspiration behind it, and does not grossly misrepresent its source on a cultural level, it is perfectly fine!"

"I remember hearing Baba's Bizarre Odyssey brought a lot of tourism to Russia," Kiryu crossed his arms, "even I was tempted to go see Vladivostok just for where my favourite battle took place-"

"Between Baba and Vasilooska?" Shisahara winked. "Incredible, the mirror scene strikes me every time."

"Wait, you...you read that manga, Shisa-sama?"

"I was there from the beginning, when they first published it in the eighties!"

"Wow," Kiryu rubbed his head, "I never knew, that's...really cool."

"Perhaps we can discuss our favourite characters, another time though."

The old shisa put an arm round Kiryu's shoulders.

"I assume you have some business to talk to me about, but I have a few more duties left before I am free."

"I understand," Kiryu nodded, "is there anything I can do?"

"Well...since you're offering," the Fourth Chair stroked his ear, "actually yes, you have the right build, see, there's a series being filmed here, I helped them find the right location but one of their actors suffered a nasty injury and can't attend today. Would you help them out as a stand-in, Kiryu-san?"

"Really?" the saurian stiffened. "I'm not much of an actor."

"Oh it's fine," Shisahara waved, "you just put on a costume, read some lines and wield a sword for a fight, easy enough for you."

"I...I haven't wielded a sword in ages, not since the seminar you had for the clan."

"Ahhh yes that was good fun, all those wooden blades at headquarters, and more than a few that got broken. But today!"

Shisahara grabbed him tight.

"You shall wield a proper katana, bring your boyfriend if you like, he can watch from the sidelines."

"I'll ask him first, but I'd be glad to help Shisa-sama."

They walked back to the McCartins, the Fourth Chair using his cane with the gentle tap of its blunt tip as he twirled it in his hand. Gordon was taking a picture of his mother in front of the castle, her kimono flowing in a soft wind as she tried to look as mysterious as she could without her sunhat.

"//Great!//" Gordon gave a thumbs up. "//You look beautiful mum.//"

"//Aww you charmer,//" she grinned, "//Mary's gonna feckin' hate this.//"

"//You always go on about her, why don't you marry her if you hate her so much?//"

"//HAH, you wee bugger, knowing her she'd cheap out on the wedding ring and gimme sum plastic shite!//"

"Hey there!" Kiryu stepped up to Gordon who hugged him. "So, Shisa-sama over there is actually my boss."

"Oh, he-...OH!" the student gasped. "You alright?!"

"Don't worry it's nothing big! I was just saying hello, he's offered me to help out with filming a TV series down the road, you wanna come watch?"

"You, on TV?!" McCartin clutched his hands. "YES, awesome, let's go!"

"//Whut're you two whispering about?//" Sogra waddled over to them.

"//Kiryu's gonna star in a TV show!//" her son cried. "//You wanna go see?!//"

"//Ehhh, sure,//" she shrugged, //could be fun, though I never liked seeing how shows were made, sorta ruins the magic fer me.//"

"//Awww but you'll never see this one, so it's fine right?//"

"//Someone's gotta supervise ya from turning giddy, watching yer lad flex in front of the camera.//"

"//M-muuuum!//"

"McCartin-san," the old shisa grinned still in his samurai clothes, "I hope you're having a splendid day."

"S-sir!" Gordon bowed deep as he could. "It's, honour to meet you!"

"Hahaha, relax," he bowed leaning on his cane, "I'm just Shisahara out here, no need for formalities. Come, let me show you where they're filming, I'd love to hear about your time in Japan."

"Oh, it's wonderful! Exciting, such history, great studies!"

"Where are you studying?" asked Kin walking along.

"McNess!"

"Aaaah, a fine place, I went to Ryukyon Uni myself, the westernmost university in Japan!"

"They have a university there?" Kiryu squinted following behind. "Did Varan-san go there too?"

"No, he never went to college, forged his own career in sports!"

"What you study?" Gordon asked.

"I have a doctorate in law, with a minor in agriculture."

"Wow, why agriculture?"

"Because I was training to be a benrishi," Shisahara grinned looking down at him, "what you would call a patents attorney. When studying patents law, you have to take a minor in a field of science so you can specialise in that field."

"Ohhh, so," McCartin rubbed his chin, "you help farmers build new things, and copyright them?"

"Precisely. Nowadays my current job takes me away from that, but I do have a patents office based back in Okinawa, that helps local farmers with business representation."

"That's good! Is very good they get thelp."

Walking towards a far corner of the Jidaigaiden park, they found a large sprawling mansion of three floors, an odd sinister building made of rich dark mahogany. A few guards stood at the entrance, shooing off the curious and nosy before they saw Shisahara and stepped aside to let him through.

"What is this?" Gordon asked.

"Dr. Asou's mansion," Kin nodded, "this is actually one of the few original buildings in the park, next to the pagoda itself."

"This wasn't made for the park?" Kiryu looked up.

"No, this was actually built in the late 1700s, everything has been left preserved the way it is."

"Damn...I never knew, I thought it was just a set."

"We do use it for filming," the Fourth Chair grinned stepping inside, "we thought it kept in the spirit of things, since this is where the founder of photography in Japan first crafted his work."

"Really?!" McCartin wringed his hands. "Wow, so cool, when he started?!"

"I believe it was 1781. Dr. Kitsunihiko Asou was the local daimyo's surgeon, and when experimenting with silver iodide, managed to devise a type of film that would then become the basis for cameras."

"Amazing!"

Into the mansion they walked, a wide open entrance that led into narrow passages that felt rather claustrophobic. Gordon shivered from the cold despite the electrical lights trailing above them through wires in the wood, Kin Shisahara leading them through old kimono rooms, living quarters with firepits coated in ash, and tight little libraries filled with books locked inside glass frames.

"//What a miserable place,//" snarled Sogra McCartin, "//feels like a flood came through an' washed all the joy out the walls.//"

"//Reminds me of Lough Key,//" Gordon muttered, "//remember that place, over in Roscommon?//"

"//Ohhh Thyos, that place frightened the daylights out of me, a castle on an island's the most lonely place to be, full of ghosts who can't move on.//"

"//D-don't mention ghosts in a place like this!//"

"//Don't dismiss the dead.//" She waved her finger with a warning look. "//Some of them still walk among us, your grandma saw them too didn't she?//"

"//I-i don't like to think about her,//" McCartin rubbed his sleeves, "//she...she always said weird things, it made me uncomfortable.//"

"//You've always been a clever one Gordo, but some things out there science can't explain.//"

"//Okay I'm just going to stop because I'm getting freaked out.//"

"//Hmhm, alright,//" she smiled kissing him, "//sorry lad, thank you fer bringing me along, it's been a lovely time.//"

"//I'm glad you're here with me mum.//"

He smiled with relief as they headed to the second floor, where they found a long hallway of several sliding door, with gorgeous flower patterns and tatami mats covering the length of three rooms. They also found the film crew, the chattering babble of technicians setting up lights and positioning boom mics to not hit the doors. A chimera with a rat's head, ox horns, dragon neck and a boar's body was directing the crew.

"Kotoyama!" Shisahara waved him over. "I have good news for you."

"Oh, I really need it today," the rat snarled pulling his snout.

"I have a stand-in for your lead, this is Kiryu, one of my associates."

"Ehh?!" The director sniffed at him before smiling. "Hey...huh...yeah you do got the...damn!"

"Is that good?" Goji smirked.

"Better than that, you got excellent tone and girth pretty similar to my lead!"

"What happened to him?"

"He got scurvy! Somehow, I don't know, I don't ask questions, he's very particular about his eating but it's really set us back. You ever done acting?"

"No sir," Kiryu shook his head, "this is all new to me, but Shisa-sama said I could help."

"You ever used a sword?"

"Not a real one, but I've taken courses to wield them."

"How about fighting, you ever done a fight at least?"

"Yes, plenty."

"Alright, hoo!" the chimera pinched his face. "Better than nothing, alright it's not too major a scene so we can make this work. You're gonna play the villain, the hero's father is fighting you, this is the start of the movie that sets up the whole vengeance story."

"So what do I do?"

"You both have a sword duel, and then you kill him. I got our sword expert over there who'll put you through the routine, you only got three lines so don't worry about memorising too much, the original guy's dubbing over you."

"So I'm just the body double," Kiryu nodded, "alright, where do I start?"

The director took him to his spot where another kaiju handed him a costume, a cruel samurai's robe with a helmet that fully covered his face, as he fitted it on with Gordon catching a few shots on his camera when no one was looking. The videocams were put on tracks along the floor, a microphone hidden on Kiryu's outfit as he was given time to adjust to the suit.

Handed a blunt katana, Goji stared down the other actor across the hall who was a raven in paltry peasant's garb with the barest armours attached to him. Throughout all of this, Sogra McCartin sat at the back, mildly curious but barely paying attention as Kiryu was taken through the basics, taught how to safely handle a katana, and the routine he would take in the shot.

Sogra drifted off into a brief nap, pulling her sunhat over her eyes and mumbling to herself as she heard the sound of a bell ring in the distance. She felt time slowly pass, an hour or so as she stirred for a little bit, then felt a presence sit beside her.

"//Not a fan of the cameras?//"

She opened her eyes and turned gently towards the voice.

"//I rarely have that problem myself, always told the camera loves me, heehee.//"

"//Aye...huh, you speak Gaeilge?//"

"//I'm very good with most languages.//"

A young brown reptilian girl sat next to her in a white kimono, her smile endearing with a small bell she wore around her neck.

"//Are you with the staff?//" Sogra smirked.

"//I'm just visiting,//" the girl shrugged, "//I like to travel here and there, I have special clearance.//"

"//Heh, I won't tell if you won't, they're all busy with their shite over there.//"

"//Is that your son?//" she pointed over to Gordon.

"//Aye he brought me here,//" she nodded, "//it's been fun but, there's only so much I can understand before I feel left out.//"

"//So why did you come here? I mean, it's wonderful a mother cares so much to travel half the world, but I'm curious.//"

"//Not sure,//" Sogra shrugged leaning back, "//yer awful curious arentcha?//"

"//Well, I like making new friends,//" the girl giggled rubbing her neck, "//it gets really lonely out there, travelling around so many worlds.//"

"//You're lucky,//" the mother sighed, "//it's also lonely where I sit back home.//"

"//Is that why you came?//"

Sogra looked towards the girl, her green eyes piercing her mind as she rubbed her arm nervously.

"//I don't want to tell him that. He's found his own life here, and every mother knows her boy's got to leave the nest. He's even found himself a nice lad who, well...I know he doesn't need anyone to protect him but-//"

"//But you're still alone, right?//" The stranger nodded. "//You're happy for him, but you wish he was closer.//"

"//Aye.//" McCartin stared down at her hands. "//Putting on a face hurts as much as letting it all out. But, as much as I been whinging half the time, I'm happy for my wee Gordo. He hasn't stopped smiling since the day I landed, I feel bad I jumped the surprise on him.//"

"//Well...in that case, why not tell him a week before, the next time you come over.//"

"//Heh...next time aye?//"

"//Right. Be careful when you leave.//"

She looked at the girl who smiled oddly.

"//The wood up here is very heavy. It's not yet his time.//"

"//Ehh?//" Sogra squinted at her. "//Whut's yer name lass?//"

"//Kirie,//" she grinned standing up, "//I have to go, the film's about to start, take care Sogra.//"

"//W-wait, hold on!//"

"KAY, QUIET ON THE SET!"

McCartin tried to stand up and follow the girl in white who disappeared out the door, a fluttering of her robe slipping round the corner as the film crew spread themselves out and blocked Sogra from leaving. A shudder ran through her body as an odd chill crept down her feet, sticking herself in a corner as Gordon joined her with a gleeful start.

The clacker sounded as the cameras rolled, Kiryu striding forth through the grand open hall of several doors with a mask of pure evil, and a dark brimming armour that resembled stormclouds on the wing. On the other side of the room was the raven in peasant's clothes, his sword already out with a shuddering breath.

"Do you know who I am?!" the farmed cried. "Did you ever know our names, when you raped the soil that we nurtured with our BARE HANDS, robbing the food from our children's mouths?!"

"The earth belongs to me," Kiryu snarled in his deepest voice, "you maintain it...for me."

"LIES!" the crow shrieked. "The only thing you have is your black PUTRID heart, a dying kingdom you ravaged with your greed!"

"No." The villain pulled out his sword in a long scrape. "Your lives...your families...are mine to harvest."

"You...you are sick." The peasant shivered through his blade. "I can't...I won't let my son, or our children be your slaves. I would rather die before another grain of rice falls in your hand."

"Hm. I agree...you will die."

Charging with a violent swing, Kiryu swiped for the crow's head as he rolled fast to one side and tried to sweep the leg, striking against the demon's blade that blocked him sharp before they stepped away to give distance. The raven slashed wide for his enemy's chest, as Kiryu parried with a circular cut to deflect the sword and "stab" through the leg, causing a squib to burst red under the clothes.

The farmer shrieked clutching his leg, making a show of hobbling against the wall as they mentally checked each other's space, Goji keeping his tail away from the camera as he lunged with a vertical strike. The crow dodged in a stagger and punched Kiryu's head, a fiendish chuckle from beneath the helmet as he took the hit.

Pulling back his katana, the villain went for a brutal thrust as the raven dodged in a stumbling panic, slashing the air in front of his eyes as the samurai gripped the peasant's sword in his free gauntlet hand. When the peasant tried to pull back, Kiryu booted his stomach to send him falling on his back, coming down on the crow with a vile chop that the farmer dodged in a roll.

With desperate cry the peasant drove his fist in the back of the villain's head, but Kiryu suddenly ducked and dodged back behind the raven to move his blade past his opponent's waist. To the camera at their side, it looked like a brutal thrust through the back, as the crow shivered with a howling sob. Kiryu looked down upon his victim from above, the mask he wore showing a pair of gleaming white eyes.

"K-ku..." the crow whimpered, "K-kucho...f-forgive me."

Kiryu pulled back the sword as the raven shivered. The dark samurai raised his evil blade and with one cleaving swipe, brushed several inches behind the crow's neck who slumped onto the mat. He walked from the body, dragging his katana behind him across the mat, a stream of blood following his wake until he was gone out of view.

"Aaaaand CUT!"

The raven pulled himself up with a smile as Kiryu walked back into frame.

"That, was, PERFECT!" the rat-headed chimera cried. "Just, PERFECT, that control, that energy, so precise but savage, Kiryu was it?!"

"Yeah," Goji took off his helmet, "was I alright?"

"Alright, that was dead-on! You sure you're not a professional?!"

"I just know my way round a fight." The saurian turned to his partner. "Thanks for the free sword lessons."

"You did a great job," the crow patted him, "I was worried we'd miss the prologue shoot, but you really saved our ass."

"I don't get the chopping part at the end, I already stabbed you."

"Oh that's when you cut off my head, they do that in post they just needed the motion to like, go and make it all smooth."

"Aaaah," Kiryu nodded, "that makes sense, I'll leave you guys to it."

"You know," the raven leaned in with a business card, "I'm with an acting company, if you really want a job sometime I could hook you up."

"I'll keep that in mind," Gojirama took it and offered his, "and if you're ever in Kaijurocho and need help with property, look me up."

"I will, thank you!"

Taking off his armour, he walked over to where Gordon, Sogra and Shisahara stood waiting. The Fourth Chair patted his subordinate with a firm handshake as they left together.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down," said the dog-lion chuckling, "always able to deliver, that's why Varan-san chose you for lieutenant."

"Thank you, Shisa-sama."

"That was SO COOL!" Gordon squealed beside him. "You like, a REAL samurai, swishing sword, so scary and evil!"

"Hmhm, it was pretty fun...you ever do something like that back home?"

"Been to castles! Old armour with swords, never worn one."

"//Never understood why swords're different in some places,//" Sogra fingered her ear, "//it's sharp an' you swing it, why they all thin over here?//"

"//Just a different process mum,//" Gordon shrugged, "//I'm not a swordologist.//"

"//Eamonn's father wuz one o' them, thought it wuz weird to use one to get it up yer jacksie.//"

"//Th-that-NO, he was a proctologist!//"

"//I know I'm just ribbing ya-GORDON!//"

"McCARTIN!"

A crunching sound came from above as dust scattered on Gordon's head. Sogra grabbed him the moment she heard it, joined by Kiryu who both pulled him back from the giant swing of a ceiling beam that cracked through the floor. Gordon gripped his mother and lover tightly, who both hugged him back as Shisahara stood behind them.

"Good GODS that was close!" he helped them up. "Are you alright?!"

"McCartin-san!" Kiryu pulled him closer. "Are you hurt?!"

"N-no," he gasped, "hoh...th-thank you."

"//Whut kinda FUCKIN' DEATHTRAP IS THIS?!!//" Sogra shouted at Shisahara. "//Thought this place wuz safe to walk in!//"

"Ma'am, I sincerely apologise," the Fourth Chair put up his hands, "I shall reimburse you for the duress, this wasn't supposed to happen, I thought all the renovations had been finished."

"//You better fix that bastard beam or I'm suing the arse off ya, I'll bury you at sea before I let ANYTHING hurt mah wee boy!//"

"Ohh," Gordon groaned clutching his head, "I sorry, she don't mean what she said-"

"Hey, she's right to be upset," Kiryu rubbed his back, "what matters is you're alright, that was a freak accident."

"Y-yes...thank you."

Watching his son hug his boyfriend made Sogra stop for a moment, seeing his smile as she hugged him beside Kiryu. Shisahara went to alert the film crew about the damage, whilst Kiryu led the beasts out of the mansion. The last of them to leave was Sogra McCartin, who looked up to the sky and briefly wondered.

"//Who was that Kirie lass? Huh...guess mother wasn't lying about our family and the ghosts. Well...thank you. I hope you find peace out there.//"

She walked towards the fading sunset, following her son and his boyfriend in tow.