FSE

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"Hey bro, you alright?!" Meiji asked on the phone.

"Yeah I'm good," Gen nodded, "sorry I didn't get your call before, I was helping somebody out."

"Oh okay, good...I was a li'l worried cuz of all that went on this morning."

"I'm sorry dude. You wanna meet up someplace, in like thirty minutes?"

"Sure!" the beetle chirped. "I'll be at the Forge."

"Alright, cool," Ganbe smiled, "see ya later partner."

"You too pal!"

The bird put away his phone with a deep sigh, rubbing the bridge of his beak with a stifling of tears as a plate was pushed in front of him. Hot fresh muffins with chocolate chip as he gladly took one and chomped into its soft delicious warmth. It was a balm for his soul, the hot dough simmering in his throat like a gentle hug.

"Feel better?" asked Kiryu.

"Hohhh yeah...fuck you're right, these muffins are good."

"Best in the city," said the golden kitsune, "though I was really hoping to not meet any Jinuchu today."

"I wasn't going to leave him, Myobi-chan."

"I know sweetie, I just worry you're too trusting sometimes."

Staring across the table, Gen saw the Toho lieutenant in his dull white suit, along with a flaxen-haired fox in a blue silk suit that gave him the shiftiest look. The bird pecked at the muffin with little jabs of his beak, savouring the sweet chocolatey bread.

The cafe was a quiet place with a gentle atmosphere of pale walls, rich bakery smell and a lovely view of Hannyakita Park from across the road. With its wooden tables and mild patter, the storm that had been raging in Ganbe's heart started to quell for a moment.

"S-sorry about...back up there," he nodded.

"Thank you for coming down," Kiryu smiled, "so you're Jinuchu huh?"

"Yeah, Tagasuki family. I used to work in the Kusonami parlour."

"Ugh, that godawful place," the kitsune sneered, "stinks like a chemical fire."

"Tell me about it, place is a shithole I hope gets burned down one day."

"Well, someone's not very loyal."

"I mean...look."

Gen put aside his muffin and took a deep breath.

"I started five years ago, and for the first couple of years it was awesome, I got to beat creatures up and take their money, shit was great! And yeah I sound like a bully, cuz I was, it was all I was good at. Then things changed...Gihei made me do something I didn't have the guts to do."

"Like murder?" Kiryu lowered his voice.

"I-i don't wanna talk about it much, but...well, when I didn't do what GIhei wanted, he beat the absolute shit out of me and...put me in the pachinko parlour. That was three years ago. I only just managed to get a chance to not be back there again, when he offered me a chance to redeem myself."

"Another murder?" the fox stroked his snout. "So you enjoy beating up helpless creatures but killing is where you draw the line?"

"Well...yeah." Gen rapped his fingers. "I'm a fucking punkass but I don't wanna be a murderer!"

"Was that Kurasawa you killed?" Gojirama leaned forwards. "The journalist who came here?"

"Yeah...so, wait, YOU found the body?"

"By accident. I was searching for the Host, who killed a friend of mine, and not only did I find her body, but I also found Kurasawa's."

"Where did you find him?" Ganbe clenched his hands.

"An old sewer directly beneath Kaijuro Hills," Kiryu leaned back, "a storage room hidden behind a fake wall."

"So...it wasn't our fault." A sigh of relief came from the bird. "That...that's totally not where me and Maung killed him."

"Maung?"

"Khoumad Maung," said Myobi crossing his arms, "Gihei's personal assassin, the one who keeps Yokohama clean of any loose ends."

"How do you know that?" asked Gen.

"He almost killed me once...back when I was freeing slaves with Aosukawa."

"Shit, you...you were fucking around with Gihei's business?"

"Is that a problem?" The fox gripped a knife from the table. "Because I'll tell you now, I'm more capable of silencing someone than you."

"Enough," Kiryu put a hand on the blade, "Ganbe's here to help us, Myobi-chan."

"I don't trust any of the Jinuchu, this is a mistake, I'm at risk!"

"I'll take full responsibility. He knows who I am, but nothing about you...am I right, Ganbe?"

"Uhhh...right," the bird nodded, "I dunno how I can help with any of this though, you say you're here to rescue someone?"

"Yes. Have you seen this lady?"

The Toho member pulled out a photograph of a pale heron dressed in a sari.

"No, sorry," Gen shook his head, "but if she got kidnapped by Gihei I think she's fucked."

"Keep talking like that I'll throw you off the fucking roof myself!"

Myobi leaned forth with his fist shaking the table. Kiryu nodded with a severe look making the fox shrink back.

"I'm sorry," the bird sighed, "I know she's your friend but...if this girl's someone that escaped before then...Gihei's not gonna be gentle."

"Which is why we need your help," said Goji offering his hands, "you want me to stop Gihei, I need information."

"Can we really trust him?" Myobi rolled his eyes. "He admitted to two murders already, what makes you think he won't turn us in?"

"Because I'm scared of him." Ganbe pressed his hands together. "If you don't trust me then fine, I totally get that. I only killed Kurasawa cuz Gihei forced me to, Maung woulda done it himself but Gihei said it was ME that had to kill him."

"That makes no sense," the kitsune shook his head. "Maung is the professional, I saw him murder fourteen kaiju without even blinking an eye."

"Doesn't matter, Gihei said I had to kill Kurasawa, and he would know, he knows what Maung's work looks like, and Maung would never hide shit from him."

"He wouldn't huh?" The fox grinned. "So you say."

"I KNOW him," Gen thumped his fist, "I been at his side for three months, I know enough about him that if he coulda let me not kill Kurasawa, he would've done it."

"I see," Kiryu tapped his chin, "it's about control, Gihei wants you to know you belong to him."

"Yeah, exactly! See you get it, you must've dealt with that!"

"No, we don't murder creatures in the Toho."

"What?! Fuck off, a guy like you, I don't believe that!"

"Its true," Goji shrugged, "but right now I'm here to help you, and if I can disrupt Gihei's operations and stop this plan, you won't need to kill anyone again."

"I sure hope so," Ganbe rubbed his neck, "you were asking before what my mission was yeah?"

"Mmhmm," Myobi crossed his arms, "something about this Eight Wonders circuit?"

"There's this guy called Saureno, he has the deed to some place called Lot Zero, and Gihei wants me to get it."

"You even know what this deed's about?"

"Nope, other than Gihei wants it."

"You're awfully forthcoming to betray your boss."

"I don't fucking care anymore dude, who the fuck are you?"

"The brother of the girl Gihei kidnapped," Myobi picked up a muffin, "which is why I'm going to say this. If you fuck us over, I will have someone come to eviscerate your body-"

"Whatever," Gen shrugged, "you can't scare me more than Gihei does, so you can't even threaten me enough. But there's you."

He looked towards Kiryu with a hopeful grin.

"Something about you makes me think 'yeah, you could stop him'. I dunno why, maybe I'm just really thankful you talked me down off the ledge, but if you tell me you can stop Gihei, then I believe you."

"Thank you for trusting me," Kiryu grinned offering his hand, "so let's get down to business. What do you know about Sha-Wujing?"

"WHUH!" Gen gripped Goji's hand. "Wh-wha...why the fuck you wanna go there, you got a death wish?!"

"You backing out now, muffin-cheeks?" the kitsune smiled.

"N-no, no just...Sha-Wujing's the worst place you wanna be, that's where all the nasty shit goes down!"

"I know," said the Toho lieutenant, "that's why I have to go there. Aosukawa's kidnapper said he was taking her there."

"You're gonna have a rough time getting in," the bird nibbled on his muffin, "that place is always locked up tight, and unless you got an invitation, there's just no way!"

"There has to be a way, you've been there haven't you?"

"Y-yeah...actually I was there yesterday, when Gihei was telling me I got a week left."

"What was going on there?" Myobi took a sip of some juice. "Tell us everything, no matter how small from the moment you walked in."

"Well, we came in a regular cab, Maung-san greeted us in this fancy skirt-thing. There was a whole buncha trucks full of food they were sending in and uhhhh, I think there was an auction going on, but I never saw-"

"Wait." Kiryu put up his hand. "You said trucks full of food?"

"Yeah at the front gate, they were stacked full of shit they were sending out back, I said to Mei-chan they could feed all of Issincho with how much shit they had-"

"That's my in." The saurian snapped his fingers. "Do you know what company they belonged to."

"I...I can't remember," Gen rubbed his beak, "they didn't have any logos on the side, I don't know."

"Is there anyone who does?" the fox tented his fingers. "Someone in your clan must know or even work there."

"I dunno anyone who does like food and shit-...wait." Ganbe snapped his fingers in turn. "Yeah, yeah I do but, I'm not sure if he knows."

"Your friend Mei-chan?"

"No no, he does other stuff. But I got an idea."

He stood up from the table and bowed to them.

"Thanks a lot for hearing me out."

"No problem," Kiryu nodded, "hope you liked the muffins, is there any way we can contact you?"

"There's our place that me and Meiji have, you send me a letter I'll get back to you. But what if I need to tell YOU stuff?"

"We have a local friend," Myobi nodded, "you might know her already, Kiyo-san at the homeless camp."

"OH, yeah I helped her out a few times, are you like part of her thing?"

"What thing?"

"I dunno," Gen shrugged, "she's always doing some kinda shady shit, I don't ask questions cuz, yanno, fuck Gihei."

"Ahhh," the fox put a hand on his chin, "so you're the little birdie she told me about, well that's convenient. Drop a message at her place if you find anything, I can't be seen anywhere in Issincho so I need to lay low."

"Gotcha," Ganbe bowed, "thanks again for everything, I'll letcha know if I find out anything."

"Take care, Ganbe," Kiryu shook his hand again, "I promise, I will do everything I can to stop Gihei."

"I know. Watch yourself buddy."

A smile crossed their faces as Gen took his leave, taking a pair of muffins in a spare bag as he walked back towards the Forge near the Red Light District. The smell of sulphur and the sound of cracking steel filled the room as he saw his friend bent over the anvil with hammer and tongs.

"EY, MEI-CHAN!"

"OH, BRO!" Meiji lifted a pair of goggles from his blackened face. "Where you been, is everything alright?!"

"Yeaaah no problem dude-woah wait, hold up!" The bird saw several cuts and bruises on his friend's arms. "What the-did you get in a fight?!"

"Oh yeah, uhhhhhh," Meiji looked away briefly, "OH, right, I met Jet Jaguar!"

"Who?"

"You know, that superhero I told you about!"

"Wait, the metal guy?" Gen scratched his head.

"Yeah yeah him, some dudes tried to rob an arcade, the one that's just past the work centre and then Jet Jaguar comes in like WHOOSH and they were kicking ass, then I got in and beat up the dudes, and then Jet Jaguar gave me a thumbs up, and then the guy who owns the place thought I was the dude that saved him, but I wasn't! It was Jet Jaguar, but he didn't know that cuz Jet Jaguar shrunk down to like the size of a pea and I couldn't find 'em!"

"......okay well, glad you're alright," the bird smiled offering a bag, "I got you some muffins while I was out."

"AWWW DUUUDE!" Meiji pulled off his gloves and took the bag. "Yo issat blueberry?! I LOVE blueberry, you remembered my favourite!"

"Course I did, why woudln't I?"

"Daaamn I'm gonna eat one now!"

He pulled a muffin out and chomped through it in a dozen bites, his mandibles tearing through the dough like a termite through wood. A happy little buzz came from the beetle as he finished it all with crumbs on his cheeks.

"Damn that tastes good, thanks Gen-chan." Garonba hugged him with a sooty smooch. "Why dontcha go sit in the office, I gotta cool this bad boy then we can chat."

"Sure, no prob."

Ganbe went in the cluttered office to the side whilst Meiji kept working his craft, the sound of sizzling steel and crackling flames burning over his ears. As soon as he stepped through the door, Gen was assaulted by a hundred paper cranes that fell on top of his head, stumbling with a crash as white, orange and blue wings fell all around him.

"A-AAAGH FUCK, PISSING ASS!"

"YOU ALRIGHT BRO?!" Meiji cried.

"I'M BEING ATTACKED, WHAT THE FUCK MEIJI?!"

"What?!"

Putting the blade aside in a cold pot of water, the blacksmith hurried to the office where he found Gen collapsed on the floor surrounded by origami. With filing cabinets, shelves and a cluttered desk, the place was complete chaos even without the hundreds of cranes that now stared upon Gen.

"You alright?" Meiji pulled him up.

"What the fuck?!" Gen rubbed his head. "Why you got all this fucking origami?!"

"It helps me focus!" the beetle shrugged. "I gotta have something to do whilst my swords are cooling."

"You have to put ALL of them in your office?!"

"Well yeah where else am I gonna put 'em? OOH, that reminds me, can I get an opinion on something?"

Garonba brought up two different origami cranes, one that was normal, and one with a pair of googly eyes that shook when he rattled it.

"Which one you like more? Normal boy, or WACKY boy?"

"I think...the only wacky boy I care about, is you."

Gen pulled him close and smooched his mandibles, a soft kiss with a gentle tongue that made the beetle blush as they embraced.

"Aw shit," Meiji pulled back, "I got soot on your jacket."

"Dude it's black," Gen chuckled, "no one's gonna notice, hey you doing anything today?"

"Mmmm nah, just a couple orders here and there."

"You wanna go watch a movie later?"

"OH, sure!" Garonba pumped his fist. "Whatcha wanna see?!"

"Was thinking that Midline Shift film Junior saw."

"Is it good?"

"Dunno," Ganbe shrugged, "just something to chill out to, what you say?"

"Hell yeah I'm down for it! I just gotta finish these swords, so uh, be done in about two hours?"

"No prob, I'll do some other stuff in the meantime and don't worry, I got my phone on this time."

"Alrighty," Meiji hugged him again, "thanks for the muffins, that'll really keep me going."

"Catch you later Mei-chan."

Heading back out, the bird tapped his beak wondering what else he should do in the meantime. He walked up to Ameritown, seeing monsters wrapped in coats and buying soup from DeVille the tall black deer. His stall was filling up with locals in front of his dented shutter, as he waved to Gen approaching.

"//Heheyyyy dude whassup?!//" DeVille bumped his fist. "//Not seen ya in a while, ya want some soup?//"

"//No, thank.//" Ganbe shook his head. "//Where, Maung?//"

"//Oh Maung? He was uhhhh, he's at the mahjong parlour, the one down that way?//"

"//Nice, thank!//"

The punk headed to where DeVille pointed him, down the south side of Ameritown in a cosy little nook. He had been to this parlour before, remembering the last time he had to pull Maung out of a game as he took caution stepping down into the basement.

The soft lighting and partitioned walls made it feel a lot seedier than it actually was, hearing the banter across tables and tiles. Gen enquired politely if "Kumon-san" was present, then left a message with the clerk and waited to the side patiently for his game to finish.

"Ahhh, Ganbe."

"GUH!" Gen still flinched when he appeared. "H-heyyyy there, uh, h-howsit going?"

"I am well," Khoumad bowed, "thank you for waiting, do you need something?"

"Yeah uhhh...are you doing anything right now?"

"Not at the moment no."

They walked out of the parlour and back on the street, Gen rubbed his hands nervously to control his voice.

"I was just...wondering if...you had time to teach me some cooking stuff?"

"Cooking?" said Maung scritching his fangs. "You are not working the kitchen today."

"I know, I meant more um...something private. I wanna make something for Mei-chan just, after what we been through at Sha-Wujing-"

"I understand." The spider nodded patting him. "You realise I was acting under Gihei's orders-"

"I-it's fine, well...no, it's kinda not," Gen rubbed his neck, "if I get shit for not doing my job then fine but he didn't have to drag Meiji into it."

"I agree. So, you wish to make a special dinner for him?"

"Yeah, I mean, much as I hated it, the food at Sha-Wujing was really tasty, that dim sum and shit? You think we could make that?"

"Hmmm...I have not made Chinese food in some time, but why choose that for Garonba?"

"I...I-i dunno," Ganbe kicked the dirt, "I don't want Mei-chan to freak out everytime we get Chinese food, you know, I wanna make it a happy memory for him, not...with Gihei."

"How very kind of you," said Maung patting him, "I shall assist you in making it, it is the very least I can do for the events of last night."

"Haaaah, thank you," the bird bowed as they started walking, "I got a couple hours before me and Mei-chan go see a movie, you think we can make something in that time?"

"Oh yes, certainly," the spider put his hands behind his back, "dim sum is very easy to make, but which one would you like to make?"

"What was the stuff they made at Sha-Wujing?"

"The fried shrimp balls with water chestnuts. Might I recommend we try fried shrimp toast, perhaps in a French baguette?"

"Woah...that sounds fancy, a-alright sure! Thanks!"

"We can use our regular kitchen, it's quiet this time of day."

"Oh..." Gen suddenly balked, "i-is...is Gihei-"

"No, he is not." Khoumad smiled softly. "I would not have suggested it if he was."

"O-okay, thanks."

Heading into Chinatown, they made their way inside the Jinuchu building with its lustrous hexagon-shaped hall and three dragons holding the world. The sound of rushing waterfalls was almost peaceful enough to help Gen forget where he was, staring at the water to see his reflection.

Up the winding stairs of Chinese patterns and window-slats, they stepped into the kitchen with its skeleton staff cleaning and prepping food for the end of the day. Doughs for pizza were being tossed, dumplings steamed in wooden cookers and meats turned in ovens. Everyone clenched from Khoumad's presence, a junior cleaner almost dropping dishes before the tarantula picked him up and patted him.

"Now," said Maung washing his hands, "I recommend we start on shrimp balls, that will give you a base to work with and should take about forty minutes."

"Alright," Gen put on his apron, "what do we start with?"

"Firstly, does Garonba-san have any allergies?"

"Nope."

"Excellent." The tarantula handed a paring knife. "Start peeling the water chestnuts, I will work on the shrimp."

The staff would clear out after they finished their duties, leaving Gen and Khoumad be. The spider peeled the shrimps and put them in salted hot water, whilst Ganbe minced the nuts into tiny pieces to put in a bowl. From that point they would chop green onions, grate the ginger then add some soy sauce, sugar, sesame and pepper. Cornstarch, rice wine and egg whites made a thicker taste before they moulded the goo into little balls.

"Wow, this shit's kinda easy!" said Gen grinning.

"The hardest part is the balling," said Khoumad, "try to keep them small, half the size of a golf ball."

"Heh, you been golfing again haven't you?"

"Perhaps," the tarantula smiled, "how about you? Did you trade your bat for a club?"

"Naaaah, golfing's not for me, prefer to hit the balls out-field rather than in."

"That is true." Maung put the dim sum into a wok to deep-fry. "Remember our first talk, almost four months ago?"

"Ohh yeah," the bird rubbed his beak, "we were talking about baseball."

"Nagoya Wyverns, if I recall, you were a fan of them?"

"Well, I grew up there," Gen shrugged, "all about the home team, then I came to hate them."

"For their lack of good players or for personal reasons?"

"Ehh, some column A, some column B."

"Now," Khoumad put the fried food on paper towels, "you wanted dim sum in the style of Sha-Wujing?"

"Oh yeah!" Ganbe pumped his fists. "Could we like, use the same ingredients they have up there?"

"No, sadly," Maung crossed his arms, "they are very prestigious ingredients, but you do not need the finest to make a good meal."

"Well, yeah but...actually, where DO they get their ingredients from?"

"La Cheval Blanc, an establishment far northeast just down the road from Hannyakita."

"Is that like a French place?"

"Correct. But." The tarantula brought out a crispy baguette. "We have enough ingredients here to put our own spin on a special dim sum."

"Daaaamn," the bird gasped, "is that how France make their bread? It looks like a fucking bat!"

"Yes it's rather unusual, but listen."

Khoumad ran his fingers over the crust, the sound of a crackling crispness giving shudders to Gen's belly.

"Fresh as can be...you can already feel the crunch before you taste it."

"Hohhhh shit. A-alright, let's make some shrimp toast out of it!"

"Now this a Cantonese dish so for authenticity, I have some sea salt from that area."

"I thought we weren't gonna be fancy?" Gen smirked.

"Well..." Khoumad shrugged with a grin, "who says we cannot treat ourselves hmm?"

They went to work once again, this time Ganbe handling the shrimp with Maung peeling the chestnuts. The shrimps were salted in water and coated with tapioca starch, whilst Khoumad mixed sea salt with ground pepper then heated a vat of oil in a saucepan.

With the spider's instructions, Gen carefully deep-fried the shrimp and then sliced the baguette, pre-baking them so they wouldn't turn soggy from the oil. During this Khoumad prepped a seabass in a shallow dish with mixed garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper to rub into ithe skin, before baking it in the oven.

"Good!" Maung nodded at the deep-fry. "That will take ten minutes, we can put them in containers and you eat it at home."

"You sure you don't want any?" Gen asked. "We made a lotta dim sum."

"Well, if you insist."

The spider shot a web from his mouth to yank one ball in his mouth, his fangs nibbling away as his eyes glimmered.

"Mmmm, delightful. You make a good cook, Ganbe."

"W-well, thanks to you," the bird bowed to him, "you're uh...you're kinda cool when you're not out...murdering folks."

"I realise our relationship has been frought with difficulty, but I do think of you as my aahpaw."

"Yeah so...what does that mean, is that like a Burmese thing?"

"It means 'comrade', for the best translation."

"Ah...cool."

Gen suddenly became nervous, fidgeting with his hands as Khoumad blinked across his eight eyes.

"Is something wrong, Ganbe?"

"I...I-i dunno," the bird rubbed his neck, "it...okay, can I just, say something, and...please don't be offended."

"You will find it very hard to offend me, but as you wish."

"You...you fucking terrify me." Ganbe sighed palming his face. "One moment you're like, talking about stuff and being all cool with things you read in magazines, and Mei-chan loves you, like he didn't stop talking about your cool knife for weeks!"

"His craftwork is immaculate," the spider nodded, "I would have chosen him for my knives if not for DeVille-san."

"But then you like...you, you just grab me by the throat and make me watch him drown. Like, fuck, I dunno where I stand with you!"

"I understand you are upset, and you are right to be-"

"I have ONE friend, in this goddamn place and he almost fucking died, and YOU let it happen!"

"Because that was Gihei's orders," said Maung tenting his hands, "you know I cannot defy him, even if that means hurting you."

"I know...that's why you scare me." Gen tightened his fists. "I don't know if I should like you, Maung-san, but you shown me how to cook, you're almost never angry with me except that one time I barged in to your mahjong and you...I'm sorry, I just, I had to say it."

"It is fine." Khoumad stroked his arm. "You are right to be angry, as I said I will not hold it against you-"

"BUT I WILL!" Ganbe pulled back. "I don't wanna like you, you do fucked-up shit, I know it's cuz Gihei tells you to, fuck I have to do the same, I don't WANT to, but you don't even flinch when he makes you kill!"

"Rest assured my first years I was just as reticent as you. I understand your frustrations."

"Do you?" The bird sat down as the food sizzled away. "I almost...I...I nearly did something stupid. I didn't want anything to happen to Mei-chan so I thought...if something happened to me, if...if I was gone, maybe he would be safe."

"Did you...you try to leave the Jinuchu?"

"No...I walked up to a roof and I...I-i almost...ended it."

His voice turned quiet as Khoumad sat down beside him, clasping his hands with a pensive stare.

"What made you step back from the brink?"

"I...I don't know." Gen shifted his look. "I just thought...I tried to balance in my head what was worse, leaving Mei-chan behind or...risking his life because I couldn't...if someone's going to die this week, I'd rather it be me than him."

He started to break with tears coming down his beak. Maung offered a paper towel to wipe his eye as the spider gave a solemn nod.

"The only reason I cannot ask for forgiveness," he said, "is because I cannot guarantee it sincere. But what if I could delay Gihei's intervention by a few more days?"

"You...wh-what?" Gen looked up.

"You are my aahpaw. And while I cannot be there at your side against everything, I can at the very least stem the effects of his cruelty, with what little influence I have. That should give you some breathing room."

"A-are you serious? Can you?!"

"Not guaranteed," Khoumad shook his head, "at the very least I can give you three days, at most perhaps a week. I will tell Gihei that I require Garonba for additional services, ones too important to require his absence and that will detain you in your own duties."

"Y-you would...you'd do that, for me?"

"On one condition."

The spider gripped Gen's shoulders with a smile.

"Take today off. Spend it with Garonba. Spend every moment with him, and make him feel he is the most important creature in all existence, even if you come off sounding...soppy."

"Hah, y-you think he'll fall for that?" the bird snorted.

"You both care for each other deeply. I always wondered if you were merely friends or lovers. But I know now the truth is deeper than that."

"Yeah it...it's kinda weird," said Ganbe sitting up, "I dunno what it is about him but...he's the only reason I kept myself going. He's an idiot but he's super talented, he always makes me laugh even when it's some dumb shit but he never believes in like the bad shit, just all the silly stuff kids believe."

"I have noticed his childish ways," Maung nodded, "you find that endearing?"

"I mean it's just how he is, he's not hurting anybody, shit he's probably the nicest guy in the Jinuchu."

"I can attest that he is, having known everyone in the clan, the least acerbic words are always given to him."

"Really?" Gen gasped with a chuckle.

"Even Tagasuki has a kind word or two for him. He is reliable, he follows to the letter every task, and he never has a bad word for anyone."

"...yeah. That's exactly what he is." The bird simpered. "I used to think that Hell was a life under Gihei, but...now? I realise Hell is a life...without Meiji."

After a few more minutes of rest, they brought the food out served and ready. The seabass was baked, and the dim sum was wrapped in baguette slices before being put in containers, that Gen carried in a bag before heading back to Meiji's apartment.

On the way back, he dropped by the homeless camp to relay a message to Kiryu about the Sha Wujing's suppliers, before calling Garonba to meet him back at their place. The beetle was confused, but went regardless as he was met with a wonderful surprise.

"Heeey bro, I thought we were gonna meet a-hooooly shit."

"Welcome to the Chez Ganbe," Gen swept his hand towards a trayful of food, "thought we should have some dinner before the movie."

"You...G-gen-chan did you, did you make all this?"

"Well I got Maung-san to help, but, yeah."

"...dude." The beetle pulled him in a hug. "You...you're really the best guy I ever-wait, hold on i-is something up, are you dying?!"

"No dude come on!" Ganbe pushed him back. "I just wanted to do something nice for ya, you're always working hard and well-"

"Is this cuz of...last night?"

"...sooo you want the fish or the dim sum first, I made some good shrimp toast and we got this sick bread from France."

"Heheh...sure." Garonba nodded. "Thank you Gen...it looks delicious."

They sat down together and ate one plate each of dim sum balls, scarfing down prawns with chestnuts and sharing the fish until it was stripped clean to the bone. Meiji talked about the orders he had and different knives he crafted, whittling on about the process and various methods of engraving which caused him to deviate into his favourite swords from manga.

Gen let him lead the conversation until they finished their food, heading out to the movies where they caught a showing of "Midline Shift" ten minutes late. Settling down together, they were drawn into a story of a rock band in a space colony, who also moonlit as mercenaries until stumbling upon a terrorist group who planned to assassinate a council.

A slightly-slow start built up to a high-octane adventure, with dialogue running too fast in some places that Gen and Meiji occasionally asked each other who said what, before the ending two hours later. As the afternoon drove on, they left the cinema teary-eyed with bellies still full, grabbing some ice cream down Iyazaki Road.

"Damn dude," Meiji stirred his strawberry, "that was a brutal ending."

"Seriously," Gen picked at his coffee gelato, "that shit got dark, what the fuck?!"

"Still pretty fun though! The music kicked ass!"

"Well yeah it should if they're a rock band, wonder who did the music."

"I could look it up, but, what you wanna do now?"

"Honestly?" Ganbe sighed. "I just wanna go home, it's been a long day."

"Yeaaah same." Garonba took his hand. "Thanks for treating me, that dim sum ruled."

"No prob Mei-chan, you done a lot for me like, letting me stay at your place, being my friend, always there for me and dealing with my shit-"

"Hey." Meiji gave him a kiss. "you don't gotta do anything for me, I just like you."

"Y-yeah...I know."

Gen blushed and squeezed his hand before they finished up their ice cream and walked back home. The sky was turning darker, the sun fading faster in the coming of winter's frost as the windows began to fog on the streets.

Clouds of gentle rose drifted above their heads as they wandered down to the Commercial District, the nightlife of the packed restaurants fading to the dismal slums. As they stepped inside their apartment, the mailbox rattled with a letter as Gen saw his name neatly written.

"Oh shit, you got mail?" Meiji looked back.

"Yeaaaah uh lessee." He made a show of opening before checking the very brief note. "Ahhh it's something from Clover-san, sorry you mind if I head out to Ameritown and check-"

"Oh, I can come with," Meiji added.

"Nah nah, this is like uhh, underground stuff, she's not gonna want me bringing anybody."

"Ahhh, gotcha, alright I'll hang here, call me when you're done."

"Sure, sorry," Gen stepped back out, "I'll be back in like forty."

Heading alone to Ameritown, the bird took a sharp way south towards the Homeless Camp once he was sure Meiji lost sight of him. A small procession of ragged kaiju stood before a table, and a partition where a familiar-looking frog with messy brown hair fed them bowls of soup. One creature in the queue was Kiyo the legless serpent.

"You alright Kero-chan?" she asked rolling on her board. "Not seen you in a while."

"O-oh yeah, really sorry," she muttered politely, "I-i been busy with my um, studies."

"That's good, you should always challenge yourself, don't worry about us."

"I try...are you okay, Kiyo-san?"

"Ohhh could be better," she spooned from her bowl, "a little bird told me you were getting golfing lessons."

"Wh-what?" the frog stammered. "I-i well, sure, it's pretty relaxing."

"You doing that in your downtime or you training?"

"Actually I'm trying to go professional, my trainer said I had a real talent."

"Oh really?" the snake gave a false smile. "Who's your trainer?"

"Oh, you wouldn't know him, his name's Mesobuchi an-"

"Mesobuchi from Yumei High, Class 5B?" Kiyo put aside her bowl. "That was your class wasn't it, Mesobuchi was there too."

"How...h-how do you know?" Keromatsu gasped.

"Because you told me how this scorpion bullied you for years, I'm going to assume it's the same Mesobuchi."

"Don't...this is why I didn't wanna tell you Kiyo-san, he's not the same as he was!"

"The things you told me he did, I find it hard to think he would change."

"But he DID!" the frog slammed the table. "He's not like that anymore, he's helping me, he offered to help!"

"How much are you paying him for these lessons?"

"That's none of your business! Come on, NEXT, you're holding up the line!"

"Alright, alright." The serpent took her bowl and skated aside. "I'm just worried about you Kero-chan-"

"I don't NEED you to be worried, you have bigger problems than me!"

"Maybe...but I still care, and I know what those like Mesobuchi are like."

She rolled off down the street, pushing her board with her tail whilst sipping hot stew as she spotted Ganbe somewhat peeking round the corner.

"Enjoy the show?" she said rolling past.

"UH, what show, there a circus in town?!"

"You're a bad liar Ganbe!"

"Sh-shut up, I ain't here for you anyways!"

Marching into the homeless camp, Gen watched the serpent stop herself by the old toilet stall as she savoured her soup. The place was empty for once, the locals having gone off to get their food as Kiyo-san called:

"HEY, white-suit, your friend's here!"

From one of the cardboard tents, came Kiryu in his pale suit that he dusted off of debris.

"Sorry for the bare accommodations."

"It's fine," he bowed to the snake, "thank you for letting me stay, Kiyo-san."

"Any friend of Biyante-sama is a friend of ours."

"I've never actually met them but-"

"You're fine, Myobi-chan said to trust you, and that's good enough for me."

"Where is that dude anyway?" Gen looked around. "Wasn't there two of you?"

"He's hiding elsewhere," Kiryu nodded, "thank you for coming, we got your information about Sha-Wujing."

"No prob...was that it?"

"Not exactly. Did you buy a bottle of Sibonix yesterday?"

"Uhhh...yeah, how'd you know that?!"

"When I first arrived," Kiryu pulled out his phone, "I saw you and your friend buy it from the boar at the station. I thought something was off, so I had Myobi-chan tail him and found proof that he's scamming."

"Wh-what?!"

On the phone were pictures of Baab-illah Nanpet, the stall owner buying fruit-flavoured water from various mini-marts, then sneaking off to public bathrooms to fill his own bottles by mixing them both with tapwater from the sink.

"What...the FUCK?!" Gen shook his fists. "FUCK, Tagasuki was right, HE DID FUCKING SCAM US!"

"I thought you should know," said Gojirama, "and also if you'd like to help me get rid of him, as well as get your money back."

"What like, beat him up?!"

"No." The Toho member shook his head. "I'd like your help to expose him as a fraud, before he tricks anyone else again."

"If it'll get back my money sure," Ganbe snarled, "gods I'm so FUCKING PISSED, that was twenty-four-thousand yen he ganked off me and Mei-Chan, NOBODY scams my bro!"

"Don't bring any trouble here," Kiyo-san warned from their feet, "if you're gonna go beating up scammers they better not track you here."

"Don't worry," Kiryu nodded, "besides, we're exposing him, not fighting him."

"I wanna fight him!" Gen snapped. "That bitch took Mei-chan's money!"

"You're more worried about this Mei-chan than you."

"He's my bro, what you don't have someone you'd do anything for?!"

"Hm...a few." Goji smiled with a nod. "I have a plan, here's what we'll do."

Walking towards Djinnai Station, they found the boar Nanpet still at his stall and still hocking his wares. Surprisingly there were more customers than before, clamouring to buy his bottles as he gleefully took their yen amidst the babbling frenzy.

"YES, YES I assure you, all of your ills, drink once per day until the bottle is empty!"

"Will it cure my asthma?!" cried a cat.

"Absolutely, just in time for pollen season!"

"Can it stop me getting headaches?!" shouted a dog.

"One-hundred-percent!"

"Um...c-can it help my son?"

Everyone stopped and looked towards a worrisome badger in the midst of the group. She shuffled forwards with a gentle rub of her hands.

"I'm, I'm sorry but, you see my son is autistic and...I love him deeply, please don't misunderstand he's a wonderful dear but...there's just some days I cannot cope with all his needs I-i was hoping maybe...maybe there's something to help calm him down? On his rougher days?"

"Well..." the boar tutted with a shake of his head, "I am sorry madame, these products certainly can't. BUT!"

He ducked down beneath the stall and brought up a larger yellow bottle.

"THIS one can, it is far more powerful, and actively smoothens the brain by encouragement of the synaptic didactic resonance!"

"Wh-what, what does that mean?" gasped the badger.

"Well simply put, if you administer this long enough to your son, it not only will reduce his more acerbic tendencies, but it could well even cure him of his condition if you keep purchasing it!"

"OH! But, I thought it wasn't a thing you cured-"

"Yeah uh I thought the same," the cat sniffed, "that sounds weird."

"Oh but I assure you, it can be." The boar smiled rubbing his hands. "I was a doctor. Would I lie to you?"

"That depends."

Kiryu approached from the back of the crowd who parted from his large white suit.

"Did you sell something to my brother, a bird with one red eye?"

"Red eye...AH, yes!" Baab-illah clapped. "I remember him well, I hope the medicine worked well!"

"Oh I would say it has, in POISONING him!"

"Wh-WHAT?!"

"B-bro...Brojiraaa!"

Shambling out of the bushes came a dreadful sight.

"_B-bro! I...I-i-i, I- HRRRRHGKH! _"

Ganbe staggered towards the crowd, vomiting a thick green water from his throat before he crumpled to the ground.

"Oh my GODS!" the badger rushed over to him. "Wh-what happened, are you alright?!"

"Th-the...m-m-medicine," he whimpered, "S-sibonix he...s-said it'd cure me, t-two days back."

"What?!"

"Yo what's going on?!" asked a dog from the crowd.

"He said, he bought Sibonix two days ago."

"AaaaAAAAAAARRRRGH!" the bird screamed rolling on his back. "M-MY STOMACH, I-IT'S MELTING, FUUUUUCK!"

"W-wait, hold on!" the boar shook his head. "That, that does not, that can't be right, my product cannot do that!"

"What's inside it then?!" Kiryu snapped turning to him. "Ever since he drank your medicine, he's been throwing up all hours of the night!"

"But, but it's just electrolytes!"

"WHAT?! He's allergic to electrolytes!"

The crowd gasped looking back at Baab-illah Nanpet, the hog reeling with a shock as he fiercely stammered.

"N-n-n-no, no I-i, that's impossible you can't be allergic to that!"

"You calling my brother an idiot?!" the saurian slammed his fist at the stall. "He's been like this ever since he drank your product!"

"So, t-take him to a hospital!"

"He won't GO to a hospital, he told me that YOU told him the doctors are liars, and won't cure him because they want to keep him on as a customer, not a patient, right?"

"I-i...I-i was just...th-this is not-"

"B-BROTHER!" Ganbe screamed with a dry retch. "I-I CAN'T, I CAN'T SEE!"

"Dammit, let me take you to a hospital!" Kiryu ran over to his side. "Please, brother, you HAVE to let me-"

"NO! D-doctors, they're all liars, w-won't cure me! Just giving me f-fake painkillers, rather than fix me!"

"What, who told you that?!"

"HIM!" Ganbe snapped pointing at the boar. "H-he said it!"

The audience turned on the hog immediately, who started to sweat pulling at his collar.

"So he drank that shit?!" gasped the cat.

"That's what he said," the badger nodded, "said the name Sibonix and everything!"

"What the fuck you running eh?!" the dog barked at him. "I knew something was shitty about this!"

"A-ah now, now please, everyone!" Nanpet put up his hands. "I am simply offering a service to a tonic, and I ASSURE you, that all of my ingredients are mentioned up-front-"

"YOU COULD HAVE POISONED MY SON!" The badger shrieked marching over to him. "You said you could cure him!"

"YOU CAN'T CURE IT FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" the cat shouted at her. "It's a developmental disorder, it's not an illness!"

"HE TOLD ME IT WAS!"

"WHAT?!" the boar cried. "I-i never said it was an illness-"

"FUCK OFF!" the canine roared. "You said you could cure it, I heard you, you fucking PRICK!"

"I'm not a DOCTOR!" screamed the mother badger. "You lied to me, you tricked me for my money!"

"You all should go to the council building!" shouted Kiryu sitting beside Gen. "Get his licence revoked, so he can never come back again!"

"YEAH, LET'S REPORT HIM!"

"W-WAIT, NO!"

The pig tried to waddle past his stall but the citizens shoved him back, marching to the north as the badger stopped briefly to check on Ganbe.

"Are you going to be alright?!"

"I called an ambulance," said Goji nodding, "he'll be fine, go, report him."

"Alright...thank you."

She smiled sweetly before running off with the crowd. Once they were gone, the saurian pulled up Ganbe onto his feet.

"Nice work, you make a good actor."

"Thanks," Ganbe smiled, "the fake vomit was a good touch."

"Just something I learned from Kamen Spider," he crossed his arms, "apparently they use mushed-up peas for that real chunky effect."

"Oh shit you watch that?"

"No, my patriarch does."

"You...you have RUINED my business!" Baab-illah stared them down with a bitter snarl. "All you had to do was buy my Sibonix, but with your FILTHY LIES you're running me out of town!"

"Takes one to know one," Gen wiped the green off his beak, "now let's make a deal. Give back me and my friend's money...or I break your legs."

"You think I'm afraid of you, a spastic one-eyed punk and a thug in a cheap suit?!"

"Then what are you planning to do?" Kiryu crossed his arms. "Throw bottles at me?"

"No," the pig smiled cruelly, "I think it's time I showed you my assets."

He brought out his phone and tapped one button, alerting two creatures somewhere inside the station who came running out in seconds with a grand leap off the stairs and a diving roll onto the street. A crab and an octopus punched their fists together with a mighty flourish.

"Alright motherfuckers!" shouted the squid. "You asked for it!"

"You come asking about the warranty?!" barked the crustacean. "Cuz I'm here to break your-wait, WHAT?!"

"FUCKING KIRYU?!"

"GANBE?!"

"Wait, what?!" shouted Gen.

"You two," Kiryu snarled, "you recovered fast from your last beating."

"Wha-...what?!" Baab-illah gasped. "Do you...d-do you know these two?"

"One of 'em's Jinuchu," said the crab, "the other...ohoh I fucking know who he is."

Scratching his head in confusion, along with locals at the station looking on, the boar watched Ganimura the lobster swagger up to Kiryu and Gen with huge clawed arms and hairy beard. Beside him was Gezorage, the white cuttlefish with large red eyes and four noodly arms currently flexing, both of them garbed in the crimson jackets of Jinuchu.

"Ganbe!" the squid shouted. "What the FUCK you doing with this asshole?!"

"YEAH!" the lobster said. "This dude's fucking Toho!"

"UHH!" Gen stiffened up in a panic. "I-i-i, whu...WHUUUUH?!"

"I don't know him," Kiryu thumbed to Gen, "I just saw him get scammed by this bastard and wanted to help."

"R-right!" Ganbe nodded fast. "Yeah, yeah I dunno who he is, I just met him today!"

"Fuck off," Gezorage shoved him, "I knew you were a fucking shitheel but you siding with the Toho?!"

"I dunno who this prick is, THAT prick stole my money!"

"I did nothing of the sort!" Baab-illah pointed. "You gave me my money for services rendered!"

"FUCK SERVICES, YOU GAVE ME TAP-WATER!"

"Listen." Kiryu stepped forth. "I don't care why you two are bodyguards for a con-artist-"

"That's because of YOU!" Ganimura jabbed him. "Kamoebara got fucking ganked, then YOU pissed around in our arcade when we were roughing up some dude, we had to get called back!"

"Because first you tried to kidnap a priestess from the temple, then you kidnapped someone's wife."

"Wait, h-hold up!" the bird shook his head. "You did WHAT?!"

"I told you before!" the crab threw his hands. "The kidnapping job that went south, remember when I told you Gihei wanted to see you-"

"SH-SH-SHH!" the octopus slapped his face. "Bro there's a fucking TOHO GUY right fucking THERE!"

"I can hear you," Goji shrugged, "I don't care, again, I'm here on other business. But what I can't stand is a scammer depriving a kaiju of money, that causes him and his friend to have to skip meals."

"Wait...is that why you're helping?" Gen looked to him. "You were worried about me?"

"What are you waiting for?!" Baab-illah cried. "STOP them, they're ruining my business you peabrained thugs!"

"HEY!" Gezorage turned to him. "I got one of the BIGGEST fucking brains around here, my brain is bigger than your fucking head!"

"THEN USE IT FOR GODS' SAKE AND GET RID OF THESE BASTARDS!"

"Keh, don't need to tell me twice," Ganimura cracked his claws, "I been waiting to fucking bury you, THIS IS FOR KAMOEBARA, KIRYUUUUU!"

With a mighty lunge the crab came swinging for Goji's head, the reptile ducking under the swipe and charging the stomach which Ganimura blocked with his two smaller arms tucked against his belly. He brought up both his giant claws to come down on Kiryu's skull, but the saurian blocked him with his arms and shoved back hard, before a heavy kick went to the crab's chest with a coughing heave.

The Toho lieutenant followed with a giant punch that Ganimura guarded with his claw, a shudder rippling through his arm before he countered with a crushing blow to the side of Kiryu's face. The reptile staggered from the hit but stayed his ground to suddenly grab both the lobster's claws and headbutt the bearded face.

The crab roared with a blinding red searing through his eyestalks, clutching his head when Kiryu punched the wind out of his belly to then grab Ganimura's throat. Slamming him backwards onto his shell, Goji heard the crowd gasped in fright from the station, but saw none of them call for the police.

"Says a lot about this place," he muttered, "now as for you, let's talk abou-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Ganimura swung his leg to kick Kiryu's shin. "I am FUCKING DONE WITH YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

Stumbling from the hard kick, Goji stepped back as the lobster righted himself up with a roll and lunged with his head straight for Kiryu's stomach. The saurian grabbed his eyestalks and crunched his knee straight into the beard, a howling scream from the crab who cross-chopped his claws into the saurian's arms then slammed through the biceps to knock him back.

Kiryu dodged when the lobster threw his punch straight like a missile, sweeping past with a furious cry before the reptile hammerfisted the back of the punk. His hardy shell absorbed the impact as he swung out behind with a backfist for Kiryu's chin. The saurian countered with a headbutt to the punch, crushing hard on the knuckles as Ganimura shrieked with a crumpling fall, and clutched his claw with a throbbing wrist.

During all this, Gezorage stepped up towards Gen, wringing his tentacles and waggling his long cartilage head with a menacing aura as he swung two fists after another. The bird dodged and headbutted the octopus, the sharp metal top of his scalp stinging thug with a shudder, giving Ganbe time to back up with a wave of his hands.

"Hold up, why we fighting, we're Jinuchu aren't we?!"

"You're helping a Toho thug you DIPSHIT!"

"I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS, I SWEAR, I JUST WANT MY MONEY!"

"Gods you are the STUPIDEST MOTHERFUCKER I EVER MET!"

The cuttlefish jumped on top of him, grabbing his arms to pin him on the ground whilst his other two arms went pummelling across Gen's face. The bird shrieked and kicked, biting one of the tentacles to make Gezorage recoil before slamming his fist in his eye and rolling him off.

Bracing himself, the bird guarded himself against the whirling fists that came two-at-a-time, the strength of a whip snapping past his head as Gen swerved under the first two to punch into the thug's kidney. He was punished with a hammerfist from above and to the side of his head, Ganbe stumbling back with a wild kick that caught one of Gezorage's hands, and cracked it back with a hard sting.

With a roar the cuttlefish charged him with a sudden cyclonic spin, turning his white body into a whirlpool of destruction and all four of his arms sweeping outwards. The bird made a sliding tackle for the legs, dodging beneath the whirling hands and knocking Gezorage down like a spinning top to crunch on the hard pavement.

"GHRRN, you one-eyed BITCH!" the squid pushed himself up with bloodied face. "You got a death wish or something?!"

"ME what about you?!" Gen retorted. "Doing grunt work for a fucking scammer?!"

"Cuz he paid us you dumb shit!" shouted the thug. "The fuck else you think I'm doing it for?!"

"Wait, your new boss okay with that?!"

"Uh, YEAH, since Kamoebara got strung up, we got demoted to bitch-ass jobs like this!"

"So if I keep fighting you, I'm just fucking with your family?"

"YEAH, YOU GET IT NOW?!"

"...yep." He pulled out his sickles with a smile. "I suuuure do, pal."

"Woa-woa-woah, WOAH!" the squid stepped back. "You pulling fucking blades on me?! You fighting the fucking Jinuchu!"

"Hey, YOU started it, and I'm not fighting Jinuchu! I'm fighting the Kamoebara family, who FUCKED UP ALREADY!"

With a spinning strike the bird shot forth one of his blades to slice one of the arms, frightening the octopus to try and dodge the razor scythes as Ganbe marched forth. Gezorage dodged in a feint to try and catch him out, the silverbeak switching hands to whip out one blade and harshly yank one arm in a twisting grab. Spinning his body, he threw the other sickle out where the flat-side struck between the eyes of the squid.

Reeling back, the thug clutched his face and tried to swing for the bird blindly who dodged under the sweep, and slammed his elbow into Gezorage's stomach. Doubling over, the octopus regained his sight and took a savage swing downwards to scratch Ganbe's beak, the bird swishing his sickle behind the squid's head to wrap the chain round his neck-region.

Throttled briefly by the tightening bind, the pale squid screamed when Ganbe pulled him forwards to judo-toss Gezorage, unsnagging the chain to let the octopus roll across the asphalt and crash into Ganimura.

"GUH! D-DAMMIT!"

"Alright that's it, GEZO-KUN, LET'S TEAM UP!"

"RIGHT!"

The lobster grabbed two of the octopus' arms, spinning each other in a violent whirlwind with whip-like tentacles and savage giant claw becoming the force of a baseball bat. Kiryu and Gen stepped back from the typhoon of death, Ganimura using his strength to toss Gezorage towards Kiryu. The Toho member spun and whacked the octopus hard with his large tail, striking the thug up in the air.

"GANBE!" Kiryu beckoned him. "RUN AT ME, I'LL BOOST YOU!"

"RIGHT!"

Gen came running for the saurian who put his hands together, lifting up Ganbe high to come into contact with Gezorage still flying. The bird hooked his scythes into the squid's shoulders and bunched up his legs against the punk's chest, slamming a double-kick to backflip off the octopus and twist his body to glide in a circle back to the ground.

Gezorage however, could not fly. Instead he went hurtling towards his friend who stammered on the spot, right next to the boar and his stall. Both of them screamed as Ganimura was crushed by the octopus, falling back into the stall that crumpled in a hard wooden split and sent bottles of flavoured water rolling across the street.

The crowd gasped and recoiled, the boar stumbling as he grabbed his rolling bottles, whilst Kiryu stepped over to the fallen thugs and grabbed them by the scruff of their jackets.

"Listen up." Kiryu dragged them up with one hand each. "I don't know this bird, and if you both know what's good for you, you never saw me."

"F-FUCK YOU!" Ganimura spat. "You're on our turf now Toho bitch, I won't-GAAARGH!"

A savage headbutt silenced the lobster, blood spurting down his beard as Goji turned to the squid.

"Do I have to repeat myself? Or do I give you a third eye just as red as your other two?"

"UH...n-no?!"

"Then let me add this. Both of you, will NEVER set foot back in Kaijurocho again, understand?"

"Y-yeah, sure, sure no prob pal, anything you wan-AAAGH!"

"I'm NOT your buddy," Kiryu twisted the squid's chest, "you'll address me properly."

"Y-YES, SIR!" he saluted with three hands. "I-i'm not going back to Kaijurocho!"

"Don't f-fucking SAY that!" the crab staggered. "If Gihei orders us to go, we'll have to!"

"Oh?" Kiryu snarled. "Then I'll be more clear. If I ever see you both again, I will send you two back to Gihei...in a single shoe box."

His eyes pierced them with an intense fury, a smouldering flame of blue coming from his snout that frightened them enough to back away. The lobster and the squid shivered through their feet, with Baab-illah gathering up his bottles as he recoiled from Kiryu's face now fuming with flames.

"Remember, you never saw me," said Goji.

"Y-yes...sir." The thugs nodded meekly.

"Now GO!"

Kiryu took a deep breath as they scarpered quick, running down the road as the saurian swallowed back his nuclear breath, a gentle cough when he cleared his throat and stepped over to Baab-illah. Gen watched all of this with a nervous glee, surprised but happy that this Toho member was on his side.

"Now, where were we?" Kiryu cracked his knuckles. "I believe my friend was here to exercise his consumer rights."

"P-p-please don't kill me!" cried the pig. "PLEASE, o-oh gods I'm s-so sorry!"

"You weren't sorry to that mom with her kid," Gen whipped out his scythes, "bad enough you scam my bro, but what you said to her, that made-up bullshit was fucking sick, I oughta take off your fucking head for that and mount it on the station!"

"N-NO, PLEASE, I'LL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR MONEY!" The boar dished out a wad of bills. "HERE, HERE PLEASE T-T-TAKE IT!"

"Alright." Ganbe snatched it and counted. "Yeah, that's twenty-four thousand...you gonna reimburse everyone else who bought from you?"

"Wh-what?! But that, th-that's all my money!"

"Is it worth more than your life?"

Kiryu stomped one of the bottles, crushing it flat to spill water round the boar's shoes.

"You are going to give back everyone's money, THEN you're going to leave Issincho, and if either me or my friend hear about you again, or any other scams you're running-"

"A-AAAAGH!"

Ganbe slashed his sickle out and nicked Baab-illah's snout, causing him to clutch his face to feel blood down his nostrils.

"I'll put you in a fucking meat locker," Gen leaned close with the sickle, "after I rip your back open so they got a free hole to use."

The boar started weeping, hands clasped in prayer with a gentle nod as tears flooded down his cheeks.

"I'M SORRY, I-I-I'M SORRY I'LL GIVE THE MONEY BACK, ALL OF IT P-PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"

"I'll consider it, fuckboy." Gen grabbed the pig's shirt and threw him back. "Now get the fuck outta my city."

Stumbling off and leaving the bottles, the last anyone saw of Baab-illah Nanpet was heading straight to his former customers up the street, desperately handing out money as Gen sighed with relief.

"Not bad," Kiryu nodded at him, "you're pretty good with those sickles."

"Thanks," the bird grinned, "you got a way with them fists."

"Anyone can punch. It takes real skill to not kill someone with those things."

"Yeah...I try." Gen twirled them in his hands then slipped them on his belt. "I don't mind beating the shit outta punks, but killing? Nah, fuck that noise, that's not who I wanna be."

"I'm glad to hear."

"Hey, how come you not wearing your Toho pin?"

"It's in my wallet," Kiryu patted his pocket, "trying to go undercover doesn't work if you're flashing your badge."

"Is that why you picked that suit?" the bird pointed. "You look like a cop from one of them old TV shows."

"Why does everyone hate this suit?" Goji straightened his sleeves. "I like it, I feel comfortable."

"Just, you dress like a dad, what are you forty?"

"I'm thirty-two."

"PFFFT, fuck off really?!" Ganbe suddenly looked down. "S-sorry, that was...kinda mean."

"Hm, it's fine, you're not here to criticise my dress sense, I have a friend who does that for me-"

"No, listen." The bird stepped in front of him. "Why did you go outta your way to get my money back? I got you what you wanted, you didn't have to do anything else."

"I said before," Kiryu walked past him, "I hate scammers. I don't have to stand by and watch selfish thugs take advantage of others."

"But you're yakuza, that's what we DO!"

"Not in the Toho. We stand against the government to provide wealth and safety to the local community."

"So you extort businesses?"

"No." The saurian shook his head. "We offer a service, they can refuse, they can opt out of it anytime, we never force anyone to be part of our group."

"Tha-...n-nah, that's a crock of shit," Gen started walking with him, "you're just feeding me a pamphlet."

"Alright, next time you come to Kaijurocho, look me up. I'll show you if I'm telling the truth."

"Heh...alright, sure." The bird shrugged with a grin. "Thank you, Kiryu-san. Good luck on uh...your mission."

"Thanks," Kiryu smiled back, "I promise, I'll do everything I can to make hell for Gihei, enough he'll have to call off your mission."

"I sure fucking hope so dude, I mean no pressure but...you are kinda my only hope."

"You're not the only one depending on me...but I'll do my best. I mean that."

They both shook hands and parted ways, Gen returning to Meiji's apartment as the night grew long behind his back. The lights of the city came in his wake, the streets and the sky becoming a cool dark blue by the time he reached their home.

"Eyyy." Gen stepped through. "Sorry that took a bit."

"Everything alright?" Meiji looked from their bed.

"Yeaaah so, uh, remember that Sibonix stuff we got, that Tagasuki said was a scam?"

The beetle gasped when the bird pulled out a flush little wad of 24,000 yen.

"Wh-what...bro, what the...what?!"

"I caught up to that guy," said Ganbe handing him his half, "turns out he WAS scamming creatures, so I shut him the fuck down and got our money back."

"Awwww duuuuude!" Meiji pulled him into bed. "Now we can get a takeaway!"

"Sure, whatever you want."

Garonba smooched him on the beak and hugged him tight.

"You're the best Gen-chan...thank you."

"Nah," the bird winked with a blink, "I'm only second-best in this room."

"Naaah you're totally the best!"

"Ehhh...let's say both of us are best."

"Heh, deal."

Meiji hugged him tight as they sat up together, watching some old boring movie with their riffs at the ready. Putting his head on Gen's shoulder, the beetle sighing with relief at feeling the bird at ease, as they fell asleep in each other's arms.