FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

After taking a long nap from the their library pursuits, Gen and Meiji took a stroll through the early eve to better tire themselves before bed. The sky was turning to liquid amber, the lights of the city spread across the riverbank like shimmering stars over the water as they went to the batting centre. Zillatopoulos was there practicing his swings, waving to them as they entered the cages of green nets and pinging steel.

"//WHOOO, YEAH!//" Junior cracked the ball high and twirled his bat. "//THAT'S HOW YA DO IT!//"

"They let you carry your own bat in?" Meiji asked.

"Yeah!" Zilla grinned with a thumbs up. "All cool!"

"Yanno uh, kinda curious how your bat feels, is it custom-made?"

"Cus-..tom-wha?"

"Is it a special bat?" Gen asked leaning at the door.

"Special, yeah!" Junior clutched it tight. "Had it when, I was baby."

"Wait, since you were a baby?"

"Born Madison Square," the monster whacked another ball, "Dad found me, holding this."

"Who takes a baby to a baseball game?" Garonba shook his head. "Babies can't watch baseball, everything's flying too fast!"

"Dad try to pick me up, I scream cuz I want bat. Team let me take it."

"So what, you sleep with that thing?" Gen snorted.

"Yeah?" Junior rolled the bat in his hand. "always had it...I feel safe."

"Awww...that's...kinda weird but, really cute."

"Gen-chan told me you're a great fighter," the beetle stepped in the cage, "you got any cool bat techniques?"

"Aw yeah, not here!" Junior struck another ball clean. "Show ya later?"

"Hell yeah, OOH I got a technique I can show ya!"

"Oh gods," Gen rolled his eye, "not the fucking thrust thing again."

It was indeed, the thrust thing again. But unlike Ganbe who was more shocked than amazed when he first saw it, Junior was agasp when Meiji perfected a brutal stab with the bat, to strike a fastball up high and shot it through the roof.

"SIR, I WARNED YOU ABOUT THIS!" shouted the clerk at the desk. "Stop putting holes in the nets, that's company property!"

"But they're nets!" cried Meiji. "They're SUPPOSED to have holes in them!"

"Mei-chan just stop," Gen patted his friend, "I'd really like not to get kicked out the one place I have fun."

"I thought you had fun in our bed."

"Wha-NO, I mean, Sh-SHUT UP DUDE!"

Throughout all this Zillatopoulos cackled, stepping back to let them have their argument and eventually their turns as they took a few swings. Sometimes Junior would step in to help with their technique, to which Gen was reluctant at first but after a few shots, was knocking home runs one after the other.

"NICE!" the monster high-foured them. "You real champs!"

"Haha, thanks!" Ganbe grinned as they left together. "You're a pretty good teacher, you ever think about doing this for real?"

"Ehh, nah." Zilla rubbed his neck. "Just fun, baseball good."

"Yeah but you could go pro," Meiji nudged him, "you always hitting them balls out like a champ!"

"Hah, thanks. OH, I eat with boss, wanna come?!"

"Your...your boss?" Gen flapped his wings nervous. "Like, the warehouse guy, or-"

"Kingston!" Junior patted him. "Come on, we go eat!"

"Aw yeah I'd love to!" Meiji clapped. "Bro, can we go meet him, huh, can we?!"

"Ehhh, sure," the bird rolled his eye, "might as well get some free food."

Taking the walk southwards into Ameritown, the monster led them into the cramped and cluttered streets to find a classic American diner, a small dinghy place with square tables and neon signs that came out of the 1950s. Rockabilly music played over the air as a minotaur stood behind the counter, working a grill and flipping burgers.

"//Ey boss!//" Junior waved to the giant gorilla sitting at the back. "//I brought Ganbe, we were just batting at the centre.//"

"//Heheh, that's good//" the ape nodded, "//having fun?//"

"//Aw you bet, just teaching the boys sum o' that ol' New York SWING!//"

They sat in front of Konnor Kingston, his large body of greying hairs no less fearsome in a diner than his office. The lights of the neon turned half his face to a vibrant purple, somehow aging him more to expose the cracks in his dark complexion, as he hunched over in a green polo shirt and Zilla sat beside him.

"Good uh, g-good afternoon King-san," Gen bowed politely.

"Yo this the guy who runs the circuit?!" gasped Meiji. "Gen-Chan told me you were a badass but DAMN them muscles!"

"Heheh, thanks," the ape nodded, "you're Meiji Garonba, the guy at the Forge?"

"Yep, nice to meetcha! You ever commished my work?"

"Nah, with fists like these?" he offered one huge mitt. "But I've heard folks down in the pit talk about your work, you're clearly a master."

"Awww I ain't THAT good," Garonba waved, "just doing what my grandpa taught me."

"He taught you well. I'm just having dinner, you boys ever had a sloppy joe?"

"Yeah when Gen-chan's drunk."

"DUDE!" Ganbe slapped his face upwards. "He's talking about food!"

"What, he is?"

"YES!" the bird looked to Kingston. "You...you were, right?"

"Hhhah hahaha," the gorilla's laugh shook through his chest, "alright, lemme grab some classic American food for you folks."

Ordering a few burgers of ground meat smothered in tomato sauce, they also had tuna noodle casseroles, rice and tapioca pudding, and classic corn dogs that they savoured from the mixed meaty flavours.

"What you boys been up to?" asked Konnor chomping a dog.

"Just the usual walkaround," Meiji shrugged, "I was thinking about getting into the circuit, Gen-chan tells me it's the best thing he's ever done."

"He's a good fighter, got moxie, knows how to play the crowd."

"Th-thanks, King-san," the bird bowed nibbling a sloppy joe, "mmmph, damn these're good."

"Hell yeah, love them joes!" Zilla chomped his to squirt sauce down his chest.

"You know what I like about Japan?" asked Konnor wiping his hands. "Cleaner food, not as much of a mess."

"//Messy food's good tho!//" said Junior in English.

"//Spoken like a New Yorker.//"

"//Eyy, you from New York too boss!//"

"//And I learned to keep myself clean by not being there, so you better do the same.//"

"//Ugh why you gotta be such a dad?//"

"//Because I care about you, Junior.//"

He brought out a handkercheif and wiped the youth's shirt, making Zilla blush as he tried to eat his joe a little cleaner whilst the kaiju went on to their puddings.

"You were a big shot in America right?" Gen slurped the tapioca. "I saw those belts on your wall with all the photos."

"Heavyweight professional," Kingston nodded, "then I got too old, things started slowing down, so I made my way out here."

"Why out here though, it's across the ocean."

"I got sick of America. Needed a fresh start."

"What kinda start?" Meiji gulped back his rice pudding. "Kinda hard to be a boxer again in a different country."

"Not that kind of fresh start," the gorilla scratched his chin, "just getting away from everyone, sometimes you need a reset."

"What about your family?"

"They're gone."

His short words told them to stop asking, the kaiju slumping back in their seats as Zillatopoulos finished his joe.

"What about you two?" asked Konnor. "What sorta work you do for the Jinuchu?"

"Uhhh, just keeping the peace," Gen shrugged hard as he could, "we're just grunts, yanno, just low-level work."

"Yeah we beat up vashers," Meiji grinned.

"You work for Jinuchu as well?" Kingston looked at the beetle.

"Well, sorta, I'm more like an official weapons guy, they ask me for a lotta stuff so I ended up on the payroll. We used to work at the pachinko place, but that place SUCKED."

"Not gambling fans are you?"

"I got...OPINIONS," the bird tightened his neck, "a-anyways what're you guys up to today?"

"Just taking it easy," Konnor grinned leaning back, "Junior wants me to go see a movie with him down Restaurant Row, you ever heard of the Seagull Cinema?"

"Oh yeah!" Garonba snapped his fingers. "I been there a couple times, it's great!"

"Jeez we haven't been in ages," Gen sighed, "then again most movies kinda suck nowadays."

"Aaaah you just need the right film, what you guys watching?"

"Midline Shift!" Zilla cried pumping his fist. "Sci-fi, cool stuff!"

"It's about a rock band stopping terrorists," added the ape, "I wasn't going to but then I heard the soundtrack, so I'm interested."

"Damn that sounds kickass," Ganbe rubbed his beak, "can ya let us know if it's any good?"

"Sure!" Junior brofisted him across the table. "Wanna drink? Coffee, yeah?"

"Yep, you got it!"

Clicking fingerguns to each other, the monster headed up to the counter to grab Gen a smooth cappuccino that he greatly enjoyed. Taking their leave the two parted, the monsters heading to the cinema whilst the kaiju walked along the riverbank. The sun started to sink beyond the sea as they kept their eyes out for any trouble, scanning the alleys and passages for potential troublemakers.

Heading down to the Commercial District, they found themselves at the homeless camp where Kiyo-san the serpent sat in her long flowing kimono and sultry black hair. The bandage on her head was now gone, the bald otter and thinning tiger huddled round a mahjong table with a familiar-looking jellyfish.

"Ron."

"Aw FUCK!" the otter cried leaning back. "How the shit're you so good at this?!"

"Just years of practice kid," said the white squid with four beady eyes, "I guess I win."

"Heyyy Orama!" Meiji wandered over to him. "Not seen you in like a month!"

"Hey, my knights in shining armour! How are you, you boys looking good."

"Sure are," Gen smiled, "what's been happening?"

"Nothing much, Kiyo-san here's been keeping me in check."

"You got that right," the snake leaned back, "Orama-san's been a big help since you dragged him out the water."

"Well yanno, just paying my duty back to society."

"The day YOU pay for anything's the day I grow back my legs."

They laughed to each other, Dogu Orama pulling back from the mahjong to stretch all his limbs and walk over to his tent.

"Everything been alright?" asked Ganbe.

"Pretty quiet all things told," said Kiyo pulling out a skateboard, "I found this thing that helps me get around."

She sat herself on the board and rolled towards them, pushing with her tail as she glided to a stop next to Dogu.

"It was this or one of them kiddy wagons, and I felt cooler on this."

"Who knows you might learn some tricks," said the squid tapping his belly.

"I got plenty tricks of my own thank you."

"I thought you'd be like moving on," said Ganbe sitting down with them, "didn't you say creatures were after you Orama-san?"

"Yeah," the jellyfish nodded, "but thankfully Kiyo-san's kept me safe and out of the public eye."

"Not that it's hard to," she shrugged, "when you're homeless you're always invisible."

"Damn...that's really sad," Meiji frowned slumping his back, "well as long as you're doing okay and nobody's bothering you."

"Appreciate the thought," Dogu waved up at them, "right now I just need to keep my head down until I find a way out of here."

"No need to worry," the serpent waved her hand, "you're safe here as long as you want."

"I have to move on eventually, but I appreciate it Kiyo-san."

"We know a lotta good hiding places," Garonba grinned.

"Not more than me," said Kiyo looking up, "I've been here since the Tokyo Olympics, I know every place in this town."

"You do? OOH maybe you could help us! We're looking for a place called Violon Autumn."

"You what?"

"We're on this treasure hunt for a couple kids, you seen them round here, you know Krokugawa Shiina?"

"Ohhh yeah, I do," the snake nodded, "he don't work at Violon though."

"So you know the place?" Gen cocked his head.

"Depends on who's asking, and as far as Jinuchu are concerned, I don't."

"Wait, you don't think we're trying to raid the place are you?"

"Are you?"

Her eyes pierced his mind with a deathly stare, penetrating the depths of his soul for any lies seeping through his heart.

"Why do you want to know about Violon Autumn?"

"Th-the...treasure hunt," Gen sighed pulling back, "look, I don't wanna do this stupid thing but I got three kids and a fourth one called Meiji-"

"Heyyy!" Garonba whinged.

"Who spent way too much time on a stupid old map, and if I don't put an end to this by finding some stupid box some kid thirty years ago left behind full of marbles or some shit, I won't hear the end of it. So no, I don't give a shit what you do at Violon Autumn, just, you ever seen a weird old box that's been buried someplace?"

"...no." The serpent pulled back with a smile. "But I believe you're telling the truth, you got any clues?"

"Just it's somewhere that the red and blue meet under a full moon, which is like, in the next couple of days."

"Huh...yanno, I think I know what you're talking about."

"Wait really?"

"Tell you what," the snake pulled up her tail, "I'll tell you where Violon Autumn is, if you do one little thing. Something that'll prove I can trust you."

"You don't trust us already?" said the beetle rubbing his fingers. "I-i thought we were friends."

"I know, but...this is sensitive stuff."

"Best do what she asks," said Dogu nodding sagely, "worst thing you're doing is community service and earning a favour, right?"

"Exactly. So, you wanna help?"

"Fine, sure," Ganbe rolled his eye, "we got nothing else to do I guess."

"There's a girl I know," began Kiyo, "her name's Keromatsu, she's a frog with brown hair all done in a messy bun, and she always wears that kawaii shit. The past couple weeks she got real cagey when I asked her about this guy she was with, and I haven't seen her often. She hangs out around West Djinnai Station, can you find out what's going on?"

"Why can't you do it?" asked Garonba.

"Because a homeless kaiju on West Djinnai sticks out too much, it's all fancy shit up there. If you do that, I'll tell you where Violon Autumn is."

"Alright, sure," the bird stood up leaving the camp, "might as well do it now, later Kiyo-san, Orama-san."

"Take it easy," the squid waved, "don't be a stranger."

Heading back up north to West Djinnai, they tried not to stand out with their leather jacket and hoodie amongst the well-to-do suits and frilly blouses. With high-society houses, prestigious bars and a golfing centre, the place stank of money in a bad way as they searched for Keromatsu.

Luck would have them finding her at the golfing centre itself, which while the clerk gave them the stink-eye, had no reason to refuse their money as they slipped themselves in to one of several large indoor courses, a room with fake grass and a series of holes where flags rose up from within to mark which one they were allowed to hit.

In one of those rooms they found a slender-looking frog, with headphones and a zazzy cotton sweater showing pink cats and blue birds dancing with each other. She was trying to drive her shots, with another voice out of view that was drilling her.

"Tighten your swing."

"Right, like this?" she asked.

"No, too tight, don't crush it, just hold it."

"Alright...HNNNWAH!"

She thwacked it to the beyond where it landed some distance from the hole.

"Awww, dammit what'd I do wrong?!"

"Where do we start?" said the male voice. "You didn't account for the wind, you moved your head too much and you need to follow THROUGH it."

"I thought I did!"

"You thought wrong. That said, you are improving, you're getting closer to the hole."

"You really think I can do this?" the frog shook her head.

"Are you doubting me?" the teacher snorted.

"No, no no I just...I dunno-"

"I didn't waste this much time on you just for you to give up, Keromatsu. Come on, try again, this time check your wind, head and follow through."

"Yes, Mesobuchi-san."

She tried once again, steadying herself with a solid whack that landed much closer to the hole and almost rolled in. A cackle of glee came from the frog as Meiji almost started to clap, before Gen slapped the back of his head.

"WHOO, YEAH, I DID IT!"

"Yeah, I guess that's much better," said her instructor, "let's stop for today."

"Thank you sweetie," she tried to kiss him.

"Not at work," a large sandy claw pushed her back, "you can pay me for that later."

"Alrighty...you wanna do anything later?"

"I'll call you when I got some free time. But tomorrow I want you back up here practicing your drives, alright?"

"But, wait I'm visiting my parents it's-"

"You can see them the day after, right now I need your head in the game when I'm around and working, I don't trust other instructors to guide you."

"Oh...o-okay, sure that...that sounds right."

Gen and Garonba made themselves scarce as she turned to leave, hiding behind the potted plants in the hall as she headed out with sunken shoulders. Following her and walking the other way was a scorpion, a tall kaiju with two thick claws for hands, four smaller arms beneath, and a pair of stocky legs wrapped in golfing togs.

"Hey."

"UH, yeah?" Gen and Meiji stood to attention.

"What're you doing?"

"We're uh...plant, enthusiasts," Ganbe rubbed over the leaves, "this sure is a really damn nice-i-is that yucca? I just gotta say this place is real nice."

"Thanks." He pointed at the plant. "It's plastic."

"O-oh...wow for real?!" Meiji gasped. "It looked so fresh!"

"Heh...well, take it easy."

The scorpion walked past them, Garonba and Gen taking their leave to inform Kiyo-san. As they stepped through the reception hall, they were suddenly paralysed by a familiar voice.

"Ganbe."

"WHA-JUH-HAAH!"

His first reaction was of course to turn and strike the dark rasping voice. But immediately he would regret it when he felt two hands grip his arm, and twist them just tightly enough that he thought they would break.

"OHH, SH-SHIT I'M SO SORRY!"

"You were slower than before," said Khoumad Maung with a grin, "perhaps I should give you some lessons."

"I am SO sorry, p-please don't kill me oh god I'm sorry!"

"Hey Maung-san!" Meiji waved cheerfully. "I didn't know you played golf!"

"I prefer baseball," the tarantula released Gen, "but sometimes I am curious to try other sports."

"Cool! So which bat you think is better, alloy or wood?"

"I am rather traditional," Khoumad rubbed his hands, "I always prefer wood, it feels smooth in your hands without the unnatural cold you get from steel."

"I'm kinda into the alloy ones, they're a lot easier to swing and the ball pops off at a faster speed."

"True, but the power you obtain with the stiffness of wood more than compensates, especially when it's bamboo."

"Awwww dude if you got a BAMBOO bat," Meiji gasped clenching his hands, "that would be the BEST, I always wanted to feel one of them babies!"

"I may know where to find one," Khoumad rubbed his stache, "if you wish to try."

"Yo I would LOVE that! You ever wielded two bats at once?!"

"Yes."

"Woah, you mean like, at the batting centre?!"

"No."

He pursed his fangs as a sign to not ask, the bird cowering from the spider who wore his usual beige coat as they stepped outside. He walked over to the riverbank, stretching out his six arms with four leaning on the bannister, and two upon his face as the juniors stood beside him.

"I am glad to have caught you," said Maung, "I have a message from Gihei, he requires an update on your progress."

"Uhhh," Ganbe clenched his beak, "I-i, I got to intermediates, yanno, working my way in slowly, building their trust-"

"He desires a meeting with you...at the Sha-Wujing."

Their blood ran cold. Nothing good ever came from Sha-Wujing, for as long as they had heard of it in any conversation that Gihei had. Something terrible would always happen there, as Maung even dropped his voice to a soft taper.

"I have called you a cab, it will arrive at your apartment tonight at 9pm. Do not be late."

"Right," Gen sighed.

"I am sorry." Khoumad stared at the water. "Were I able to delay him longer, I would, but he insisted."

"Thanks," the bird nodded leaning against the rail, "howwww have you been, Maung-san?"

"Very well, thank you," the tarantula smiled turning to them, "you are looking better yourself, Ganbe. I assume you are enjoying the Eight Wonders."

"Yeaaaah it's been pretty awesome, made a lotta good friends."

"Let us hope we can help you keep them after your mission. They are good creatures down there."

"You know them yourself?" asked Meiji picking up a pebble.

"I've spoken to those in Ameritown," the spider did the same, "more acquaintances than anything."

"You got that DeVille guy," Gen found a stone himself, "you seem pretty in with them folks."

"I helped them with some local issues," Khoumad tossed his rock between his four hands, "I had no interest myself to enter the circuit."

"I was wondering that, cuz it seems like you'd do way better and Doi-san said you're well-known."

"That is not the case."

They tossed all three of their pebbles onto the river. Meiji hit farthest with eight skips, Maung coming close with six, and Gen trailing behind at three.

"The truth is I cannot become too well-known for the sake of doing my tasks. There are other targets Gihei wants me to pursue, even after you obtain the deed."

"I don't get this stupid deed," Meiji pulled back from the railing, "can't they just buy the property like they've done everywhere else?"

"The deed carries more importance than proof of ownership. I know nothing more than that, but it is vital you obtain it."

"I don't wanna screw this up," Gen sighed looking to him, "but I don't wanna lose the one place that...everyone's been super nice to me, you know?"

"I understand, my aahpaw." Khoumad patted his shoulder. "Perhaps I can help you, when the time comes."

"Wait, really?"

"Do your task well. Keep me posted, and I shall do my best to minimise the damage to your reputation."

"You would do that?" Meiji gasped. "That would really help Gen a lot!"

"I shall try," the spider bowed, "at the very least, I shall tell Gihei that your use as a scout in their ranks can be useful down the line."

"I...I-i would really appreciate that," the bird bowed, "thank you...Maung-san."

Saying farewell to Khoumad, Gen and Garonba returned to the homeless camp. The tiger and otter were still playing mahjong with a mudwater-kappa having joined. The serpent was muttering in hushed tones with Orama in his tent.

"Goldie's bringing a guy from Kaijurocho."

"Yeah, what for?" asked the squid.

"Said someone got kidnapped, one of our own that got out before."

"So what you want me to do?"

"Keep an eye on him," the snake patted his hand, "you're good at hiding, better than any of us are at least."

"Didn't save me from my allergies," Dogu chuckled, "but alright, I'll keep watch."

"Solar's given us a heads-up, he'll be overhead an-OH, yer back!"

She turned round on her skateboard as Gen and Meiji approached.

"Didya find her?"

"Yeah," the bird nodded, "so uh, she's golfing, apparently?"

"Golfing." The snake cocked her head. "Was she alright?"

"She looked kinda troubled, this instructor was giving her a hard time."

"What kinda instructor?"

"Some guy called Mesobuchi?" shrugged Garonba. "But she was doing good progress, like, practicing her swings."

"Hmm..." Kiyo rubbed her chin, "alright, that helps me out, thanks boys. So, you wanna know about Violon Autumn?"

"Yeah," Gen nodded, "where's it at?"

"It used to be on Restaurant Row, got shut down years ago but it was the stuff of legend back in its day. I think they moved outta town but if you wanna go see the old place for this treasure hunt, Orama can take ya."

"I remember it well," said the old squid tapping his face, "spent a good few nights in there with some of my favourite gals."

The jellyfish lifted himself up with a heave and stepped out the camp. Gen and Garonba followed him, wandering through the streets beneath a twilit sky that turned from orange to pink to a dark purple hue. Restaurant Row was a place that Gen had rarely ventured to, preferring Iyazaki Road that was right next to it. Mostly it was full of Chinese restaurants, the odd Japanese place mixed in between with the occasional cabaret club up a rickety set of stairs.

At one end of the street, they found the Seagull Cinema, a charming little venue with 1970s veneer that made it look more like an arthouse theatre. Specialising in more independent flicks, the soft white edifice and blue-sky top gave the cinema a gentle look against its wood-grain entry.

"Hey," Meiji pointed to a poster, "there's that film Junior was talking about."

"Damn this place still open?" Dogu chuckled. "I used to come here all the time in my squidling days, you boys ever seen the Pink Parrot?"

"No, what's that?"

"This old film back like fifty years, master jewel thief going around the world, stealing valuable treasures, it's kind of a comedy cuz there's this bumbling idiot detective who, somehow still manages to keep up with him."

"Like the cops can catch anyone round here," scoffed Ganbe crossing his arms.

"It was a series I loved," Orama nodded with a smile, "best thing I ever watched, though it might be a bit slow for you boys."

"Wait, if that film came out back fifty years," Meiji rubbed his horn, "how old ARE you?"

"Old enough to be your grandpa, who I met back in the day."

"Aw shit, for real?! What was he like?"

"Nicest guy in the damn city, could turn a fork into a shuriken better than ninjas used to have."

"Yeaaaah he was the coolest," the beetle sighed clutching his chest, "I hope I'll be as good as him one day."

"You're already halfway there." The old squid patted him. "One day I bet you'll do better, you take commissions at all?"

"Oh yeah sure! I don't advertise much since I don't got the money, mostly Jinuchu are my customers."

"Heh, gotta take what you can."

Heading up north to the other end of the street, the pale squid took them to a small alley branching off Restaurant Row that led deeper into the wards. A narrow passage wound through the back of apartments, where balconies and railings crisscrossed above them as they went downwards to a closed social space.

Several tables and chairs sat in an old square, a couple of sour-faced crickets staring at them in passing. At the end of another corridor, they saw a tragic but beautiful thing, a small pagoda that was once emerald, shining in a grey sea of roofs. Lacquered roofs stretched thinner and thinner in its ascent, with Hoei-era windows of strange patterns, above stone outcroppings of flowers above the entrance.

But now it was a dismal state, the jade having weathered and chipped through years of neglect, the roofs peeling back to resemble withered fruit and more than a few windows had been broken by hooligans, all in a sad little courtyard hidden at the back of the city.

"Gods, what a shithole," Gen snarled.

"This was the crowning jewel of Issincho," Dogu shook his head, "a diamond in the rough that only real locals knew about."

"I never seen it," Meiji rubbed his arm, "looks really nice, or...it was."

"So what's this treasure hunt you boys're on?"

"Just some kids," Ganbe shrugged, "I don't really care what we find, I just wanna be done with this."

"Gen-chaaan come on," the beetle nudged him, "don't tell me yer not curious what it is."

"Ehh...I guess I am, that last map we found was pretty fancy. Alright so, what was the riddle again, something about between red and blue?"

"Under a full moon," Meiji nodded, "we're gonna have to come back when that happens."

"Well hold up," the squid raised his tentacle, "you're gonna need to solve some of this now, what's this red and blue they're talking about?"

"I don't see anything but green," Ganbe stared up at the tower, "maybe the paint's gone away."

"Not that bad if the green's still there...alright, something that casts shadows, what's making them round here?"

"Uhh, us, the tower, the uh...flowers made outta stone, I guess some of them AC fans-"

"Yo those are super nice flowers though," Meiji stood on his toes looking higher, "got a lotta different ones too, you got roses, dayflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums-"

"Hold up," Gen turned to him, "how the fuck do YOU know about flowers?"

"Oh I was looking them up when doing origami."

"Are you still doing that shit, why?!"

"I just find it relaxing, but I got tired of cranes and thought he,y maybe I could make a rose out of 'em."

"What, you expecting to get work in a fancy restaurant where they turn those cocktail napkins into swans?"

"Woah...they got MAGICIANS in those places?!" gasped Meiji. "So that's why they wear those fancy suits!"

"Wha-NO, Mei-chan!" Ganbe slapped his beak. "They do the napkin LIKE a swan, like you make a crane outta paper."

"I don't make it outta paper bro, I make it outta origami, there's a difference."

"What, it's all paper!"

"Nah nah, regular paper's got the same colour both sides, origami's got white on one side AND a colour on the other."

"So what if I wanna make a swan out of origami, it'll be white both sides won't it."

"Tha-...well that...shit." Meiji sat down on a crate. "I'm gonna need a moment, is this like one of those one-hand-clapping riddles cuz I ended up in hospital thinking too hard."

"How the, what?!" Gen shook his head. "How the fuck did that happen?"

"Well, one time I kept thinking about if a tree falls in a forest and no one's around to hear it, and I walked all the way to Fujisawa and almost died of dehydration."

"...Meiji." The bird gripped his friend and stared into his golden eyes. "How the fuck are you still alive?"

"Well I do this thing called breathing, and sometimes I eat water!"

"You don't EAT water!"

"Yeah you do when it's them little cubes!"

"That was ICE, and you're not allowed to have it cuz you keep trying to eat it!"

"I thought it was candy!" cried Garonba.

"Hold on." Orama pointed to the stone rose. "Sorry, kid, what colour's a rose again?"

"Uhh, red?"

"Aaaand what's that flower right next to it?"

"That's a dayflower, those are blue, I like them cuz they look super chill-"

"OH!" Gen clapped his hands. "SHIT, the flowers, red and blue, right!"

"Mmhmm," the squid smiled from his beady eyes, "now all you gotta do is wait for that full moon and find out where their shadows cross."

"Or we could dig up the whole place."

"Kid, it's fucking concrete," Orama spread his arms, "you'll be here for hours if you don't know where to start."

"Ehhh, fine," the bird stretched his arms, "Mei-chan, clear your schedule for the full moon. That treasure's gonna be ours at last."

"Fuck YEAH!"

The two high-foured and headed back out of Restaurant Row, the jellyfish waving them off as he returned to the homeless camp, whilst Gen and Garonba kept patrolling their beat. The sunset came to pass, as night lit up the city and they checked their phones with a cringing sigh.

"Fuck," Gen muttered, "I don't wanna go see Gihei."

"I know dude," Meiji rubbed his back, "it's like medicine yanno, the sooner you take it, the sooner it's over."

"Yeah, tell that to the-...no. Never mind let's just keep walking 'til it's like 7:30."

"Sounds good."

"HELLO, GOOD SIRS!"

Stopping them outside the Djinnai Station, a boar dressed like a game show host invited them over amongst the middling crowd of travellers. A stall was set up in vibrant colours where he offered several bottles on display.

"I could not help overhearing you folks about medicine, perhaps I can help you!"

"Uhh, nah," Gen waved his hand, "we weren't talking about-"

"Have you ever wondered if the medicine from your doctors is ACTUALLY working? Our health service, wonderful as it is, can still be subject to terrible forms of corruption, with supplements you do not actually need, but still they insist you pay for!"

"Is...is that true?" Meiji muttered.

"The fuck do I know," Gen shrugged, "I'm not a doctor."

"Lucky for you I am!" the pig handed a prestigious business card. "Baab-illah Nanpet, Pocong University."

"Paw-kong? Is that a Chinese place?"

"Indonesian, my good sir! Tell me, do you have any aches or pains or regular illnesses?"

"Uhh, sometimes my horn hurts when I wake up," said Meiji rubbing it.

"A common problem in fine young adults, I have just the thing-"

"Wait you didn't even look at it," Ganbe squinted.

"BEHOLD!" the boar presented one of his bottles. "Sibonix! A wonderful medicine I have been developing for years with my own studies, independently-examined by freelance medical experts in China, India, and of course Japan."

"Sooo, what's it do?" Garonba read the spiffy label.

"It strengthens the immune system by hyperising the electrolytes that you naturally possess! By invigorating them with an osmotic field through a precise mixture of nutrients, can form into a binding chain of impenetrable strength!"

"Woah, that sounds awesome!"

"It will cure many of your aches and pains! Colds, migranes, bleeding gums, irritable bowels, all a thing of the past!"

"If it's so good whysit not sold in the pharmacy?" Gen crossed his arms.

"Ahh, well," Nanpet clasped his hands, "I do not wish to disparage my fellow doctors, but I have to say with great tragedy, that the pharmaceutical industry sees those like you and your friend as a returning customer, not a patient to heal."

"Wait, what?" the bird scratched his head. "What you mean customer?"

"Have you ever had ibuprofen, or any pain relief pills?"

"Yeah, a few sometimes."

"You would think in this day and age of technological marvel, where submarines can travel to the depths of the sea, and fully-aware robots capable of speech communicate with everyday kaiju, they could design a medicine that would remove all of your pains forever, yes?"

"I...I-i guess that makes sense," Gen tapped his beak.

"But the bosses of those companies," the boar tutted with a finger wave, "they tell their employees to shut down those projects, otherwise you only need buy their medicine once, and that's it, no more money! They rely on you never fully healing, so you come back, buy the medicine again, and pay."

"Is that...for real?!" gasped Meiji clutching his chest. "But...th-that's not fair!"

"Yeah is that shit even legal?!" Ganbe shook his head. "They can't just keep doing that!"

"Which is why I am selling my wares out on the street." The boar handed another bottle. "All I ask is for creatures to be healthy and happy, but I must also have a business to push against the big pharma. So, my friends, would you like me to treat you of your ills, forever?"

"Hey if it stops me hurting every time I stretch my back, sure!"

"Wonderful, that will be twelve-thousand yen!"

"T-TWELVE!"

"THOUSAND?!" gasped Garonba. "Shit that's more expensive than a videogame!"

"I am terribly sorry," Baab-illah shook his head, "but I am operating in a small capacity, consider it not as purchasing my product, but ALSO investing in my company so I shall stand against the big pharmaceuticals, who dare to string you along day after day never fully healing you."

"That...ehhhh," Gen rubbed his wrists feeling a twinge of pain, "I'd like to not get sick again but...that's kind of a lot of money."

"Could we take like, one bottle and share it?" Meiji offered.

"I suppose," the boar shrugged with open arms, "it will only be as half-effective, if you do not ingest the entire bottle over the course of a week."

"But twelve-thousand each is a lot."

"We could rough up a few guys?" Gen shrugged. "Definitely gonna be some vashers out there with some change."

"Oh yeah! Let's get two then."

"Wonderful!"

A smile beamed from the boar's lips as Gen and Meiji paid together, a bottle each as they looked on the back to see instructions for a certain amount per day until the bottle was finished.

"My number is on the card," said Baab-illah with a smile, "do tell me if you require more, perhaps save some money for it too!"

"That ain't a bad idea," said Meiji, "maybe skimp a bit on the food and takeaways we could."

"Well, thanks Nanpet-san!" Gen waved to him. "Letcha know how it goes!"

"Take care my good sirs!" the boar grinned waving back. "I shall await your results, and good health to you!"

The long night continued to grow as they headed back home, taking a few hours to rest up in preparation for the dreaded meeting. Hoping it would lessen the inevitable blow, they both took a drink of the Sibonix bottle that tasted oddly like flavoured fruit water.

It was soft and tangy, with a noticeable bitter aftertaste that crept to the back of the tongue, as they watched TV and had a small light dinner. The longer the hours went, the more agonising it felt, like waiting for their execution until it was finally 9pm. Gen and Meiji did not dare sleep, sitting up together and hugging each other tight.

Even the driver knew their fate once she rolled up in an orange cab, a sad-looking ox-headed spider who put her cap down. They changed their clothes to something mild, Gen in a soft green sweater and Meiji in a brown cardigan that made them look more like college boys on an off-day, than rowdy punks on the street. They also put on the only pair of shoes they had.

Sha-Wujing was a classical Chinese estate on the edge of Issincho, a long drive northeast to a marvellous complex of sprawling gardens, wood-and-paper walls, and tall stone lanterns that shone above dark-watered pools. The entrance looked like a fortress with steel doors that opened only on the arrival of food trucks, carrying crates of various ingredients with logos stamped on the sides as kaiju wheeled them on trolleys to the back.

Standing at the front door waiting for them, was Khoumad Maung dressed in a beautiful skirt of dark crimson spirals, as well as a shirt with black crimplene shine on its checkered red front.

"Woah...M-maung-san?" gasped Gen.

"Good to see you again, my aahpaw," he bowed to them.

"That...you look really damn good!"

"Thank you, it is a longyi from my homeland."

"Yo that looks sick as hell," Meiji grinned, "didya bring that over or-"

"No, I had it made," Khoumad spread his sleeves, "come, let's not delay."

"That's a lotta food they're hauling in," the beetle looked over to the trucks, "how many creatures are here?"

"Gotta be a huge place," said Gen, "could feed all of Issincho with that shit."

Inside the complex it felt like going back in time, with its immaculate wooden floors and plush straight-backed chairs as a brown kitsune in pink robes took off their shoes and washed their feet before entering. Soft soapy suds thickened between their toes, with Gen's single-clawed feet given a firm scouring before they were towelled down to a gorgeous sheen.

The front desk stood before a grand folding screen of an epic tale through the heavens, of warriors facing a god of thunder that struck down upon the lands with ruthless savagery. Beyond that were halls of ash and mahogany, blending together with the richest tones as they heard members of the wealthy elite in closed rooms.

The walls told of ancient stars and the travellers who followed them, a disturbing symmetry in every part of the mansion. The lack of sliding doors unnerved Gen and Meiji, the rooms given privacy only by a set of curtains one after the other. Some were having elaborate tea ceremonies, enchanting words from a geisha dripping like honey as chortles filled the air, along with the smell of incense.

Other rooms were more sordid, gasping moans and undulating shadows leaving little to the imagination. In another much larger room the size of an auditorium, they heard the sounds of an auction, the bang of a gavel as hands were raised in unison. A lady briefly sobbed, a shadow in chains was led off the stage.

The kitsune brought them to one room, where they saw their master dressed like an emperor. Wrapped in a luscious red hanfu, a Chinese kimono that hung open at his chest, they saw his rippling gold scales of thick muscular arms and broad pectorals, built like a boxer as he sat on a lavish chair

"Heyyyyy, just the boys I was looking for."

The dragon beckoned them in with a smile as they sat nervously around the table. Gen and Maung were forced to sit either side, whilst Meiji sat opposite as the brown kitsune poured them their tea.

"Your first time here right?"

"Y-yes, Gihei-sama," said Ganbe bowing, "it's...it's really beautiful."

"Yeah, it makes me feel like a fucking daimyo. Love it, kanpai."

"Kanpai."

He took his cup as the others clinked with him, drinking up together as the hot soothing herbal mix slipped down their throats. Gen and Meiji felt a small peace in the dark room of their souls, a momentary relief that would be all the crueller for Gihei to rob them of.

"Sooo," the dragon rubbed his hands, "what have you boys been up to?"

"We uh...w-we went golfing," Meiji nodded, "just practicing our drives a little, we had some downtime between missions."

"Oh yeah? Reminds me that one afternoon I tried to fill as many holes as I could before running empty...then I went and played golf, HHHHEH, HAH!"

His filthy laugh made them cringe as Khoumad laughed with him, forcing Gen and Meiji to follow suit in a nervous cackle.

"I have been practicing some golf myself," said Maung, "I met Ganbe and Garonba at the centre actually."

"Ahhh, that's not real golf," Gihei waved his hand, "you wanna go out to a real course, the wind in your horns, the grass under your feet. You know what the best golf course in the world is?"

"I-is it...Scotland?" Gen clenched his beak. "Cuz I know they like, invented the game."

"Hah, they did, least the modern golf but...nah. The best course is the one my family own, over in South Korea, on a nice little island called Jeju. Twenty-seven holes, the Halla mountain, and the pure blue sea. The most beautiful place you'll ever see with all these volcanic cones spread across the plain, smells like fire every time you go."

His face softened with a tender smile as he rubbed his tea cup.

"My dad used to take me there, me and my brothers, teach us the game. Told us about how to control our power, like a sword, how to kill the most dangerous opponents in the fewest strikes. That's why we own that golf course."

"Sounds beautiful, Gihei-sama," Meiji bowed, "what was your dad like?"

"The best of all of us. He was smarter than Doi, sharper than Rai and more brutal than I could ever be. He taught us all the ropes, once he saw what each of our skills were. I learned all my best moves from him, and then...I learned to be better."

"The true goal of every parent," Maung nodded respectful, "is to ensure their child always succeeds them."

"Which is why I never have any kids." Gihei sipped his tea. "No exceptions."

Something beeped in his robe as he pulled out a smartphone.

"//Hey, what's up?//"

Gen and Meiji were shocked to hear him speak English.

"//I'm good, just at Sha-Wujing. Heh...hhheheh, yeaaah them Chinese girls were nice huh, they treat you alright? Yeah, they're all like that, makes them a lot easier to break in.//"

Maung sipped his tea, giving the other two a sullen look.

"//That's why I'm here actually, starting a fire under our uhh, operation. You ready to pull out your business from the government? Remember, DON'T do it on the day, do it like two days after the attack. Gives enough time for the smoke to clear on social media so we all look good coming outta this. Right, you have a good morning.//"

Gihei clicked off his phone with a happy sigh.

"Sorry for that, just a couple friends of mine in England, some boring investor talk."

"Everything alright?" Meiji asked polite.

"Oh yeah, it's going great, just numbers go up! But that's all above your head so, let's just have some dinner and talk more business on your level."

As if on cue the maid returned, offering a plate of Chinese food in the form of baked seabass with caviar, dim sum with water chestnuts, and fried fish in a brandy sauce. It was the richest food Meiji and Gen ever tasted, and they almost lost themselves in the succulent flavours of sweet-bittered alcohol with fish.

"MMMMPH! Awwwh!" Ganbe sighed. "Mmmh thash sho good!"

"Don't let anyone tell you I don't take care of you," said Gihei smiling, "Sha-Wujing's the best fucking place in all Japan, probably China too if we're being real. You ever been somewhere like this Maung-kun?"

"I have." Khoumad nibbled through a fish's head. "Back in Burma, there was a beautiful restaurant that catered to Chinese cuisine. Sometimes they infused local cuisine, but I never ate there."

"Why not?" asked Garonba picking chestnuts.

"I was poor. But I went every day, to the back."

"Were you like a street urchin begging for scraps?"

"I did not beg. I never went there for food."

"So why'd you go?"

"Because...her."

A fond smile crept over his fangs as Khoumad felt a hand on his neck.

"Shame you can't ever go back." the golden dragon grinned beside him. "Now you're just an ex-pat, wanted by the law."

"Wait, wanted?" Gen blinked at him.

"Oh yeah, yeah, he's my special little murderer, started out his career in it didntcha Maung-kun?!"

"Not intentionally," the tarantula frowned.

"But you got good at it," Gihei tickled his chin, "that's why I hired ya, you know how to hide real well...but I'm the only one who really knows what you did. And that's why you're here."

The claws stiffened on Maung's neck.

"That's why he does every single thing I tell him to...you understand boys? You're scared of Maung, right?"

"Y-yes," Ganbe nodded, "I respect him greatly, sir."

"Can you believe I can destroy his entire life with one single phone call?"

"Wait, really?" muttered Meiji. "Is he not paying his taxes?"

"PFFT HAH! Hhhhahahaha, awww that's a good one!"

The dragon clapped his hands with a ringing cackle.

"I'll remember that for the next auction, you're pretty funny Garonba."

"Thanks Gihei-sama!" the beetle bowed. "Thanks for the food as well, this stuff's awesome!"

"Yeah, you ain't never had real fish until you've had it smothered in its own young."

"Wait...what?"

"Caviar's fish eggs. What, you didn't know?"

Meiji's face turned white for a moment, staring at the black and orange remains of a fishy family. He then shrugged and kept on eating, much to Gen's shock as he switched over to dim sum instead. Finishing up their food, Gihei brought them towards a backroom where the smell of rich bath oils wafted from.

A locker room of polished wood greeted them as several kappas in robes undressed them, folding their outfits and putting them into specially-cured storage lockers that never warped against the heat. Gen and Meiji felt uncomfortable from the sight of Maung and Gihei now naked, the spider's bulbous abdomen beneath a muscular thorax with small pectorals hard as stone.

Gihei however was more terrifying without his suit. Powerful thighs like rolling fields of burning wheat, a strapping body of thick-plated abs with strapping arms and slimmer shoulders from his long strong neck that whipped like his tail. The only blessing was that none of them had mammalian parts, a near-invisible slit between their legs.

"Hey." Gihei snarled. "My eyes are up here."

"UH, s-sorry," Gen stiffened his back, "j-just, didn't expect we'd be going to a spa."

"Thought you'd like being in a hot bath with a buncha naked guys, I thought I was being a pretty good boss catering to your tastes. Cuz normally I'd have that maid coming out to flash her tits and eat food off her."

"R-right...thank you, Gihei-sama."

The look of increasing discomfort on his subordinate made the dragon smile, as he walked them into a volcanic hot spring with exceptional mineral content that soaked into scales, feathers and flesh with wondrous rejuvenation. The onsen spa had a more Chinese aesthetic, a large indoor garden with rich mountain soul, and bamboo trees circling around the bath.

All of them couldn't stop themselves from moaning in bliss as they slipped in the water, a few degrees below roasting that brought a redness to their cheeks. There were stone seats beneath the water to give a comfortable rest, Maung sitting next to Ganbe, who sat next to Meiji, who in turn sat next to their master in a row. They said nothing for that time, soaking up the salts and minerals of the natural onsen. Gen almost feared he would fall asleep, the bird flattening his wings against his back as a smile grew on his beak, his happy trail of spikes glistening down his belly.

Meiji almost slumped against his friend's side, Khoumad having all six of his arms go limp with a soft chitter, whilst Gihei laid out his neck entirely back across the smooth Himalayan soil to stare at the ceiling. His golden chest heaved with a longful sigh, rippling up his throat as a good twenty minutes passed in silence. Until Gihei's voice pulled them back to hell.

"Feel good boys?" he raised his head.

"Mmmmph yeah," Meiji moaned, "s'like...like I'm sleeping on the chariot the sun's carried on."

"Hahah, that's real poetic...you're full of surprises Garonba-kun."

"Thanks, Gihei-sama."

"Hey uh..." Gen looked towards his boss, "I never asked, how did Mei-chan become part of your group, Gihei-sama?"

"I wanted good blades," said the dragon, "we got a local forge guy, might as well hire him."

"Yep," the beetle smiled with thumbs up, "just like granpappy taught me, best in Issincho."

"Damn right, you been a hella good service to our clan with the stuff you make, shit that's hard to break and pretty accessible too."

"My Forge has kept running thanks to you," Meiji bowed, "I appreciate it a lot, Gihei-sama."

"Well that's good." The dragon clasped his hands. "Alright, now that we're all loose and fed, let's get down to business proper. Ganbe."

The bird sat up with a nervous twitch, Maung stayed limp in his seat as Gihei smiled at them.

"How's your progress going in the Eight Wonders?"

"OH, it's awesome sir!" Gen saluted with a splash. "They love me down there, and I been kicking ass!"

"Any progress to your target?"

"I think I'm getting close! I got to intermediate pretty fast according to the others, and I'm making friends on both sides."

"Alright," Gihei licked his fangs, "how long you think 'til we get it?"

"Um...a-about a...a month, maybe?"

"Really? That's pretty long, you already been down there a month and a half."

"Well," Gen pinched his fingers, "I just, I don't wanna screw it up, I only got one chance right? I'm taking my time, they already know I'm Jinuchu but they don't think I got any reason to target them so...yanno, I'm working my way in, Saureno-san likes me."

"Mmhmm," the dragon raised his brow, "still a pretty long-ass time, Maung here woulda done it in two weeks."

"I bet he could, Gihei-sama. But I'm not him, I promise, they love me down there, I don't wanna ruin that!"

"You don't wanna ruin what?"

Ganbe clenched when he saw his master bare his teeth.

"I hope you're not going native."

"Oh, no!" Meiji shook his head. "No no Gen-chan's still doing it, he's made awesome work on it-"

"Was I fucking talking to you?" He gripped Meiji's head. "You still work for Jinuchu, right, Ganbe?"

"Yes, Gihei-sama," Gen bowed courteous, "you know I'd never leave."

"Exactly. You won't."

The dragon snapped his fingers as Maung suddenly grabbed the bird, pulling back his arms with a second pair of hands at his throat. Gen was forced to watch Gihei grab Garonba's head, and shove him under the water causing the beetle to kick and scream.

"WH-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" screamed Gen.

"Teaching you to NOT waste my fucking time," snarled the dragon, "you know what happens when you take too long? Creatures die."

"B-BUT, NO, M-MEIJI'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"

"He's your FUCKING HANDLER you dipshit! He's supposed to keep you in check, to knock you down when you start thinking too much! And if you start wandering off, that means HE failed too!"

"NO, MEI-CHAN! M-MAUNG-SAN GET OFF ME-HRRKH!"

"Do not fight him." Khoumad warned pushing fingers to his throat. "You know where you belong."

"Exactly," the dragon nodded, "see, Maung-kun knows what he is, no matter what job I ask, no matter who it is...he'll always do what I say because I'm your fucking king."

Ganbe tried to push against the spider's grip, watching his friend struggle and cry with bubbling shrieks under the surface. Gihei's hand pushed him down further next to his thigh, the beetle's gasping moans turning frantic with splashing.

"First time I had a guy go down on me," the dragon chuckled mirthless, "he'll be the last, unless you do what I FUCKING SAY!"

"NOOOO!" Gen screeched trying to push free. "D-DON'T, MEI-CHAN, GIHEI-SAMA DON'T!"

"You know that punching bag in my office?" Gihei pushed down harder. "I been wanting a new replacement, and I think Mei-chan's skin'll look real good on it."

"N-NO, MAUNG PLEASE, DON'T LET HIM DO THIS! MEI-CHAN, MEI-CHAAAAN!"

"One week." The dragon hissed. "One week, to get me that fucking deed, and Saureno dead, or else you're going to die alone."

"MEI-CHAN DID NOTHING!" Gen screamed. "IT'S MY FAULT, I'M THE PROBLEM!"

"You remember the last time you said no when I told you to kill? Mr. 'I'm too good for this' Mr. 'I won't fight somebody who can't fight back'? At least this time your target's an adult, where's your fucking excuse now?!"

"I KNOW, I'LL DO IT, I'LL DO IT I SWEAR!"

"Naah, I don't think you've learned your lesson yet, you little bitch."

His eyes cast down to Meiji's body, struggling less with softening sounds as the bubbles started to fade.

"I own you, Ganbe. I own this fucking city, and if you can't learn to sever the bonds you make in your job, like I trained Maung to do for years...then I'll make you suffer for it again."

"I'LL DO IT!" shrieked the bird. "I'LL DO IT, I'LL GET THE DEED, I'LL KILL SAURENO, JUST GIMME A CHANCE!"

"One week?"

"YES, ONE WEEK, I'LL DO IT, I'LL DO IT P-PLEASE GIHEI-SAMA DON'T KILL HIM, D-DON'T KILL HIM PLEASE p-please nooooo!"

"Mmmm...nah, I think you took too long already. Hope you said goodbye."

"MEI-CHAN NOOOOOOOO!"

Gen almost threw back his arm to punch Khoumad, but a fifth and six arm gripped his wrist so hard it almost twisted in his grasp. The bird sobbed with agonising scream, as he watched his friend drown beneath his master's hand before the struggles would stop, and the bubbles disappeared. Ganbe howled with wretched tears streaming from his eye as he kept calling Meiji's name, until the last breath would trickle up.

Four seconds passed in silence. Every second was another dagger twisting in his heart, the jaws of his master ripping his soul with wicked smile at Ganbe's shivering face. Then he pulled up his hand, Garonba's head emerged from the water before the dragon slammed him back on his seat, and punched his chest to make the beetle cough with a screech.

Water spilled down Meiji's mandibles as he hacked with retching sounds, the colour returning to his cheeks and his eyes glimmered with shock when Gen was released from Maung's grip, to hug his friend tight.

"M-MEI-CHAN, MEI-CHAN!"

"KHRRH! HHRRKH, ekhhh!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Mei-chan, oh fuck I'm so sorry!"

"Wh-what...why you sorry?"

"Alright, I'm starting to prune." Gihei stood up with water dripping off his golden pecs. "I'll let you two catch up, and no sucky-fucky. This is a classy establishment."

Strolling out of the bath, he grabbed a towel and left his minions be. Maung kept watch as he clenched his hands in silence, the sounds of Gen sobbing with relief as he rocked Meiji's gasping body. The spider looked down at his reflection, a quiet sigh of relief known only to him.