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"Seventeen vehicles destroyed...thirty-seven creatures dead, and a major expressway shut down by a plutonium fire."

A binder full of papers slapped down in front of Murata. The turtle was still in his civilian clothes, ragged and beaten, bandages covering his eye, his belly and his leg with nary a wheeze from his lungs. Five days of rest in the hospital had given him plenty time to compile his report, taking down notes for himself with his only visitor being Sauressy.

The chief was of course dealing with other things, something he was very clear to remind Murata the moment the turtle walked back into the precinct with a slight limp, a gasp from several of his fellow officers, and a growing frustration from Baruti Gondo, the Chief of Kaijurocho Homicide who brought him to his office, rubbed his brown snout down to the nasal horn and slammed his fist on the desk.

"Would you mind telling me how in the name of FUCKING GODS, YOU CAUSED A TWENTY-FIVE VEHICLE PILEUP ON THE MEISHIN?!"

"I logged it in the report, chief," Gaho bowed stiff, "do you want me to-"

"No, YOU tell me in your own words what the FUCK HAPPENED!" The chief loomed over his desk. "I sent you, with my fullest trust to Osaka, to get back a kidnapping victim, and not only you return empty-handed, but with the fucking Host on your tail, killing civilians in her wake with sonic beams!"

"I did what I could," the turtle shook his head, "she was relentless, she didn't care once about their lives, she actively told me she was killing them to incite me."

"If you had taken better care in your mission this would NEVER have happened!"

The long-horned reptile pulled back with a heavy sigh, shuddering in frustration as he walked to the window of his office.

"The news is going to rip us apart. It's bad enough we're struggling with funds and the temple's been attacked by a fucking terrorist only yesterday...but one of our own detectives is causing a damn incident-"

"I have witness accounts," continued Murata, "they'll verify I did everything to keep them safe-"

"THAT IS NOT THE POINT!" Gondo turned with pointing finger. "YOU were supposed to stay undercover, you were supposed to stay in Osaka 'til you could get her back!"

"We were compromised, chief. The one I met from Shutenbori police was one of Daiei's informants."

"And all the news cares about right now, is YOU dodging between cars on jet thrusters while fighting a known serial killer, down an expressway, threatening the lives of dozens of creatures!!"

"Yes," the turtle nodded, "I understand, but I need to ask, the Shutenbori officer I met, do you want me to name hi-"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ZITTELLI!"

Baruti slammed his fists down again causing the desk to shudder out of place. Gaho blinked with a cock of his head, quietly logging something in his mind as Gondo slumped in his seat.

"Until we get a better idea of what went down, I'm putting you on suspended leave. I would advise you not to leave Kaijurocho, until we have all the details of the incident."

"You-...you're suspending me?" Murata gasped.

"Is that a problem, sergeant?"

"No. Just, this is my first suspension in ten years, I'm a little surprised."

"I am too," said Gondo crossing his arms, "but I can't show favouritism amongst my officers. You've always been one of our best detectives, but the fact remains you were part of a major incident and until we have proof in our hands, I cannot let you keep working. We have to look harsh on our own officers as much as we do the public."

"Yes...you're right." The turtle stood up with a whinging gasp. "You're absolutely right, thank you chief. I hope things clear up soon."

The door opened as a hammerhead shark saluted them. Murata recognised him as the head of professional standards, the one who put rowdy officers in their place for drinking on duty, or when assault became too heavy-handed. His look was severe like a schoolteacher, old with wrinkles round his long eyes that somehow pierced into Gaho's head from different sides.

Pulling out a paper from his desk, the chief offered Murata his notice of suspension, that Gondo signed in front of him along with the hammerhead. Murata signed it in turn, then handed over his badge and the keys to his locker.

"Where's your gun?" asked Baruti.

"I lost it when I was captured," Murata bowed, "my deepest apologies, chief."

"And your phone?"

"I destroyed it, to prevent any information leaking to the Daiei."

"Well...that's one less problem to deal with, but your gun is definitely a problem. Gaho Murata, you are relieved of duty until further notice. Do not leave the city, if we call you for extra duties, you come straight back, no questions asked, understood?"

"Yes, chief." The tortoise took his leave. "Thank you."

Heading out to his desk, he found Sauressy waiting for him with a fresh cup of coffee that he gladly drank. The babbling murmur of police officers all turned in his direction, rumours abounding of his actions that he caught whispers of in passing.

"Don't worry about them," Reed rolled his eyes, "they'll be rattling off about some idol that got drunk by next week."

"Doesn't matter," Murata opened his drawers, "I'm just gathering my personal things, I can't be here unless by appointment."

"Alright, hey, can I talk to you about your uhh, ping-pong thing?"

"What?"

"I just wanted to know when the finals were, so I could watch you win."

Sauressy winked at him and briefly showed his phone from his jacket.

"Ohhh yeah," the turtle grinned, "well, considering I'm suspended I'll have plenty time, it's actually this week."

"Great. Want me to help with your stuff?"

"Yes, thank you."

Making a show of gathering his belongings, mostly small figurines and spare money he kept on hand, Murata was escorted out of the building with Sauressy taking him to his car. The Pike sat lovingly in the corner of the lot, the dent in its side from Kaneyama's bike still there as they drove to Murata's place through a foggy afternoon.

"I check this thing every day," said Reed, "nobody bugs it, and it's got no electronics to fiddle with."

"Good call," Gaho nodded, "what have you learned about Kaneyama's teeth moulds?

"Nothing much, other than they're definitely our precinct's, the numbers match, and the originals are still in the evidence room."

"So not only do we have a traitor in the KPD, they also consented to the moulds being copied, so no one would suspect a thing with them still being in evidence."

"Gods. This...this is a lot worse than I expected."

"Alright," Murata rubbed his chin, "first let's figure out the who, then we figure out the why. Who is most likely to have access to the teeth moulds?"

"The coroner?" Sauressy turned left on the road. "She made the cast originally."

"But the teeth marks were already there when we found Tsuchimura, meaning the moulds were handed off to Kaneyama before then. Last time she was arrested was four years ago, then she got bailed and disappeared."

"So whatever deal happened wasn't down at the precinct," the sea monster gripped the wheel, "but that traitor's still there, because Kaneyama managed to escape last month. So what do we do?"

"I'll come with you during patrols," said Gaho as they stopped at a light, "I can still be with you outside, long as I'm not doing police business."

"I still got your house number, you have mine?"

"I do, did you save the photos?"

"Check the glove compartment."

Murata opened the box as the car took off, finding blown-up photos of the pictures he took showing the tooth-moulds in Kaneyama's drawer.

"I made copies, those are yours, got them done at a local copier down the street then deleted them off my phone as well as our conversation, in case they start checking on me."

"Damn," Murata rubbed his head, "this...this feels wrong. Technically we've altered and deleted evidence."

"Like you said, we can't trust anyone in our precinct," the serpent clicked on the wipers, "all you did was take a picture in somebody's house, it's not evidence YET of corruption until we lodge the case."

"That's a tenuous argument, but...alright, just so we can stop the department getting more...corrupt."

Murata put his head in his hands.

"I can't believe I'm saying this. You hear stories of other places getting bad, other lawless officers who go too far, you never think it can happen to yours. You think your department will be different, because you know everyone, you know they're good creatures. But no. Someone is corrupt in our precinct and helping the yakuza for something, gods knows what...and it's killing me."

"I know," Reed sighed, "it sucked back in America too."

"How did you guys deal with it?"

"We don't. It's still happening. And here I thought Japan was better than us because you're all so much more polite."

"No." Murata sighed staring out the window. "We're just better at hiding our intentions. But absolute power always reveals, no matter what. That's why we have to do this, Sauressy. We can't let the police become some private merc company to serve and protect only one group."

"Hmph...how do you stay like this?" Sauressy smiled turning into the lane. "How do you still believe in others after what, ten, fifteen years on the force?"

"I believe in justice." The turtle watched the rain trickle down the glass. "I know that sounds corny, but I just want to keep creatures safe after all the bullying I witnessed."

"Seriously?" Reed shook his head. "That's adorable."

"One time, when I was coming home from school, I saw a kid younger than me get jumped by a couple of teenagers. I went in to stop them, punched one of them out, but the other one had a knife and put me up against the wall ready to take my wallet. But then this police officer comes and chases them off. I was shaken, terrified, and she sat with me for a good thirty minutes, calmed me down, and then took me home."

"Woah." The sea serpent looked briefly at him. "You never told me that."

"The best part was, she was off-duty." Murata smiled. "She didn't have to do that, she could have just taken me home, but she made sure I was alright and I asked her, 'why'd you help me so much when you're not working', and you know what she said?"

Gaho turned back to Sauressy.

"She said 'justice doesn't stop when the criminals are gone. It's making sure that creatures are safe, that creatures trust you enough to protect them, and helping the community thrive by making connections across the city'."

"Damn...who was that officer?"

"Sergeant Kusanaga. She's the one who trained me when I joined the police."

They arrived at Murata's home, the turtle taking his box inside and thanking Sauressy who drove off. For the rest of the day Gaho sat and watched TV, unclenching his thoughts with monotonous sitcoms and the odd football match. The photos of Kaneyama's teeth-mould copies still disturbed him, as he put them away in a drawer to make some dinner.

Having a ready-made sushi box, the sergeant read over the notes he kept at home concerning Tsuchimura's death, as well as that of Kurasawa. Combined with Kaneyama's recent activities, all signs pointed to a traitor in the police, what with the moulds and the calling card being machine-typed that was known only by the precinct.

Scanning over a copy of the coroner's report, the deceased Toho member had that damnable bite mark when discovered at the club, and was decapitated by the same blade type of the Host. Struggling with the autopsy, he searched over the victim's details to find something, anything out of place. Finally fatigue overwhelmed him, as he crawled into bed and slept off his wounds.

The next morning was a struggle for Murata, fighting against the urge to go to work as he woke at 5am with his head feeling better, but his arms and belly still aching through his ribs. He sat back on his futon and read a book to savour the silence, trying to read through one eye as a car drifted past his window, a subtle engine cutting through the dawn.

Murata lost himself in European tales, a volume he picked up from Shutenbori filled with romantic adventures of a dashing knight who stood against a fearsome queen to rescue a maiden. The vile witch commanded an army who raped the land and pillaged settlements, hoarding their crops until a wandering knight stood fast against the fiends.

In the haze of the morning gleam, Murata would briefly imagine himself in the role with shining armour and long silver blade, charging the horde with daring moves and skilful technique. His muscle memories from ping-pong transformed the paddle into a sword, cleaving through the brigands until he was torn from the dream by a shrill hex to his side, a horrid bell ringing through his skull as he picked up the phone.

"Mmmmuhh, hello?"

"Morning." Reed O'Sauressy came through. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah, yeah I was just reading," Gaho rubbed the dream from his eyes, "what's going on?"

"I was just checking on you. Call me paranoid, I'll be stuck inside all afternoon with YOUR paperwork."

"Hey, blame the chief," the turtle smiled, "it's just going to be a bit longer until they sort out the Meishin."

"Yeah, what the fuck happened back there, I-...no, you know what, we'll talk later on the street, say around noon at the Children's Park?"

"Sounds good, catch you later."

Hanging up, Murata went back to his thrilling adventure to try and drown his thoughts. In his mind's eye he stood before the castle, and fought against fiends in the midst of a wretched storm when he pushed through the gates. But his thoughts betrayed him when he saw Jin Gerumba, her hand outreached from the tower, a maiden in ragged silk. Looming above the ramparts, with billowing cloak that stretched towards the moon, the face of the queen warped into that of Iris, her diamond-drill head and four golden eyes shining down upon him.

He pulled himself out from the dream and turned on the TV, dulling his mind with a variety talk show and a rerun of Pokérai that more confused him than intrigued him. By the end of the third episode, he understood at least half the mechanics and after a small lunch from his cupboard, took his leave around 10am. With brown chinos and a soft sweater, the long walk to Kaijurocho was thankfully pleasant, a cold breeze biting at his heels and plucking the bandages on his body with a trembling sting.

He took his time to be patient, letting his body ease into a steady pace to heal up faster. By the time he arrived in the district it was already noon, marching walk over to the Kumoto Clinic in the southwest. The inside of it was a pleasant clinical reception, an oni with pulled-back hair at the counter as Gaho asked for the chief doctor.

Sitting down to wait, he saw a small group of coughing kappas, shivering tigers, and a manticore whose tail was in a sling. A magazine about local sports caught his eye with his own face on the cover, alongside Zura, Monda and Majuma standing together, proclaiming to be the big upsets of the Ping-Pong Championships.

"I should check on them today," he muttered, "they must be worried sick."

The publication spoke of the Go-Wraths and their motley crew fighting to prove anyone could play ping-pong, with Majuma's quotes in her usual way of overexplaining things before they interviewed the fearsome Zen Degoushi. Gaho snarled at the old bully's face, the thorny reptile with a chinstrap beard made of spikes grinning back at him. His words were short, boastful and insulting to the newcomers as the turtle shook his head.

"I'll make you eat the dirt this time...heh, strange how life put us back together."

"AH, Murata-san!"

The polar bear in the white coat greeted him, taking him through to his office where a small desk sat between them. The walls were covered in pictures of different glaciers that somehow made the room feel chilly.

"Sorry for bothering," Gaho bowed, "I wanted to check if I could take off the eye bandage."

"Well, let's just have a look." The bear gently lifted it as Murata saw the world double in width. "Yeeees this seems fine, you always recover so shockingly well."

"My parents said the same," he chuckled, "my body still hurts though, might need another day."

"Of course, but your eye is well so we can dispense of that." Kumoto tossed away the bandage and sat down. "How are you feeling otherwise Murata-san? I understand you've been quite busy."

"Yeah it's been...real rough," he shrugged sitting down in turn.

"The wounds you came in with were quite startling, especially your broken wrist, and that was after the paramedics had sorted you."

"I appreciate you taking over the post-op, Kumoto-san. How have things been?"

"Well, I suppose you heard about the attack on the temple yesterday?"

"I heard it on the news...sickening. What is this world coming to?"

"It has been terrible," the bear clasped his hands, "six creatures dead, twelve injured, has an investigation been opened?"

"Of course," Gaho rubbed his beak, "but I'm not on it in case you were asking."

"I assumed you were still off-duty, being not in your uniform."

"I'm...suspended, currently."

"Su-...suspended, you?!" the doctor gasped leaning back. "But, why?!"

"It's just a formality, until they investigate fully what happened on the Meishin, I'll be back on the beat after. How is Sumi-kun doing by the way?"

"He is...bearing," Kumoto scratched his snout, "since you brought him back he has regressed to his Sun Wukong persona which...worries me."

"What exactly is wrong with him?"

"I cannot say more, please understand."

"Right," Gaho nodded crossing his arms, "he looked unwell last I saw him, terrified of everything, different from the first time when he was full of confidence as Sun Wukong."

"Do you still wish to be here when his mother arrives?"

"Yes, please. Would it be alright to talk with him before then?"

"Normally I would say no...however," the bear tapped his chin, "he has spoken about you many times, called you 'the traitorous turtle of Qing Fish' but he never said it out of spite. Always in a rather friendly way. I think we can arrange some sort of meet via appointment, if it is purely for the sake of opening him up socially."

"Thank you," Murata grinned with beaming tusks, "I'm glad he remembers me, let me know when you can-oh, wait. My phone got destroyed while on duty, but you can call my partner's number and he'll let me know."

He wrote down Sauressy's number and handed it to the doctor, before getting up to take his leave.

"Thank you again, Kumoto-san. Take care."

"Be safe, Murata-san," the bear nodded back, "I'll call you by your friend when we can arrange something."

Heading out on the street with two eyes fresh and ready, Gaho went north to the Children's Park to wait for Sauressy. Some of the children were kicking about, at one point a ball rolled to him and he gently kicked it back with a smile and a nod. Feeling oddly fatigued, he found himself taking a brief nap, the sound of kids laughing with their silly games making him smile until a familiar voice woke him.

"ALRIGH' CHECK THIS SHIT!"

He snorted with a start and looked around with fists at the ready. Rolling down the street was a blue squirrel in a red hoodie and a facemask, her skateboard rumbling on the gravel with long azure tail rippling behind. A small gang raced after her, standing on the other side of the street to watch her leap onto a rail, grinding all the way with her board before she kickflipped off to roll towards the park. The children had stopped their game, as Monda waved to them when she skidded to a halt.

"Eyyy kids, wanna see something cool?"

"Uhhh, whah?" asked a kitten.

"I'm gonna need this park fer like a couple minutes, three tops, an' in return, I'll make you laugh real good."

"Uhhh, we don' like jokes," a lizard shook her head.

"Yah," said a pupper, "jokes're lame."

"Nah nah this ain't a joke," Monda waved her finger, "three minutes, promise."

They looked to each other with a sneer but eventually conceded as Gaho watched with intrigue. The kids stood outside the park as Mondo rubbed her hands and stepped back across the road when it was clear. Starting her approach, the squirrel picked up speed as fast as she could, before vaulting off the kerb and spreading her arms to unfurl her gliding wings.

The crowd gasped as she kissed the railing of the park entrance, then the top of the swings, and in mid-flight did a 540-degree spin onto the top of the public bathroom. Skidding on the back of her board, Monda swivelled hard with the skateboard lifting up its front, then flipped it under her feet several times causing the crowd to whoop.

Even Murata had to smile at her impressive display but he still kept watch, knowing it wasn't really allowed for her to be up there. Then she jumped off the toilet shack and skidded on the top of the swings, balancing on the bar with her board as she took a bow.

"Thank you, thaaank you, respeck to the queen of the park yooo! Alrigh' lessee if y'all ready fer THIS!"

With a cocky smile she flipped her board high, slamming it upside down to put her feet on the wheels as she wobbled with gasps from her audience. She flipped it once more and turned it 90 degrees, causing the back wheels to catch on the bar and tilt the board forwards with a sudden drop.

"W-W-WOAH, WOAH, WOAH-SHHHIIIIIIAAAAH!"

It took all her strength not to curse in front of the kids who watched agasp. Falling forwards she swung a complete 360 round the swing bar with her wheels still caught, grabbing the two chains as she spun faster and faster before flying off her deck, and heading straight to the back wall with a frightened shriek.

The chains wrapped round her wrists threw her forwards like a slingshot, zipping across the park as she threw her skateboard high in the air, grabbed the tree beside Murata, and spun wildly down to the ground like a tetherball before landing. She staggered to the centre of the park with a dizzying mumble, took a moment to steady herself and take a bow to the audience. And then, she immediately ate shit when the skateboard came down to slam her head into the grass.

Everyone started laughing, even Murata who chortled whilst covering his beak. But the children would laugh the hardest, doubled over in pain as Monda pushed herself up with woozy head, and walked on her board by accident to fall backwards. The crowd was in stitches, roaring tears down their eyes until the turtle finally cracked his beak wide with a deep guffaw. Walking over to help, he gave his hand as Monda pulled herself up with another bow, then pulled off her mask to show her cracked teeth to the cackling children.

"THANK YOUUU, thank youuu!" she waved to them. "Y'all remember to tip yer waiters, I'm gonna lay down, PEACE!"

The crowd that followed her would disperse with clapping whoops as the kids came back into the park. Monda sat down next to Murata as the kitten giggled at her.

"That was funny, yer REAL funny miss!"

"Heh, thanksh," she emphasised her spittle, "don't do that yershelf alrigh', I trained yearsh to do that."

"Nah, we're gonna be a soccer team!" the lizard pumped her fist. "Gonna get to Tokyo FC!"

"Aww yeah, shound good, I'm rootin' fer ya! Thanksh fer lettin' me have the park."

"Thanks fer the joke!" the puppy bowed. "G'bye miss!"

The children kept kicking their ball around to practice their moves, as Murata patted his friend who winced with a grin.

"Sorry your trick didn't work out," he chuckled, "but that was impressive."

"What, nah it came out perfect!" she shook her head. "You really dunno what I do, dontcha?"

"I thought you were a skateboarder?"

"Nah, I'm a skateboardin' clown, you dig?"

"A clown? Wait, so, all those tricks you kept fumbling, that was on purpose?"

"Yyyyep!" she put back on her mask. "I thought you knew!"

"No, I just...well, I rather assumed," Gaho rubbed his head, "I know skateboarding requires a lot of practice."

"Sure does, but it takes even MORE practice to bail an' make others laugh."

"Well now I have to ask, why are you trying to be a skateboarding clown?"

"Cuz I wanna make folks laugh!" she spread her arms. "I always fell over cuz I was clumsy as shit back when I was little, but I got a hard head so it didn't hurt much. Kids used to laugh at me, so I thought hey...why not own it?"

"That's...an interesting take," Gaho smirked, "not sure I would agree but, if it makes you happy and you don't hurt yourself too badly."

"Oh I practice good, it takes a lotta work to learn how to fall right an' not get hurt. One day I'm gonna be drawing crowds at Theater Square!"

"Long as you get a permit," Murata waved his finger, "it's good to see you Monda-san."

"Sure is, where you been?!" she jabbed his arm. "You look like shit!"

"Thank you," he rolled his eyes, "I was out of action for a bit."

"You got bandaged like a mummy, that musta been sum action!"

"It was," he stretched out his short legs, "how are things round here?"

"Well," Monda slapped down the board across her knees, "Zura-san's hand is better, we got some strength exercises for him to keep it good, said the doctor had to look."

"Doctor?" Murata feigned surprise. "Was it that bad?"

"Well, he said he was on sum kinda meds that did a number on his bones, so Majuma wuz like 'alrigh', I gotcha fam', an' she got him sum special food an' drinks to help harden them up."

"That's good, and how is Majuma herself?"

"Well, she's like THIS close to a heart attack," said Monda pinching her thumb, "we all heard the stories about Zen, how he's a real bastard on the court, and word on the street is he got REAL meaner than usual hearing you were about to face him!"

"Typical," the turtle shook his head, "he still hasn't changed."

"I still can't believe you knew this dude back in school, was he that bad?"

"Pretty much. I won't lie, I'll be pretty satisfied when I beat him."

"Helll yeah!" she high-foured him. "So uhhh you coming in to take stock?"

"In a bit," Gaho sighed sitting back, "I've some work stuff to do first I really want to get out the way."

"You not in your uniform though."

"I'm off-duty, but I need to corroborate with my partner, tell Majuma I'm fine and I'll be coming down in the hour."

"Alrigh', sick." She stood up with a wobble. "Shit...maybe I hit my head too hard."

"That's rich coming from you," he chuckled, "don't hurt yourself too much, we need you for the finals."

"Yeah I got you," the squirrel gave a thumbs up, "later Murata."

They smiled to each other as Monda walked off to the Go-Wraths' HQ that was just beside the park. As noon crawled in close with the children taking their leave, Sauressy would arrive with a subtle wave before sitting down. In his long brown coat and police sergeant hat, he always cut a lonesome figure in the autumn, the cold almost clinging to his shoulders.

"Hey," the serpent nodded, "how you holding up?"

"Not bad," Murata sighed, "you missed a skateboarder eating shit."

"Hah, damn kids," Reed shook his head, "alright, first things first, who the fuck betrayed you down at Shutenbori?"

"I can't say, not until the chief gives me the word, it was a corrupt officer so it's sensitive."

"Does it really matter now?"

"Yes. Trust me."

"...alright."

The monster pulled out a binder from a deep pocket in his coat, carrying all the details of Tsuchimura's death and Kurasawa's body.

"I scoured through this while you were away, and this is all the stuff I consider to be worth our time."

"Good." Murata opened the papers. "First, the teeth moulds. Ever since we found Tsuchimura, the teeth have always been our biggest problem. The report said the mould fits that of the Host's previous victims, but Kaneyama's mouth is completely different."

"But why pretend?" asked Reed. "What's the end goal here, to kill a Toho member, in the same style as the Host, she could have just killed her."

"...Toho..."

The turtle rubbed his beak as a flicker came in his eye.

"Iris said...when I was captured, I compared her to the Toho, saying nobody but the law should rule the city. And she just laughed, saying we'll see who's left standing...'after the ashes she'll have wrought on the city'."

"Wait...what?"

"A day of reckoning, her plan unfolding. That's what she told me. She made it personal against me because ten years ago, I stopped her from carrying out a plan to assassinate her parents, which prevented her from taking over the Daiei sooner."

"Are you-...are you serious?" Reed gasped shaking his head. "That sounds like a goddamn mafia movie."

"Yeah," Gaho smirked, "but she's not the kind to boast. I've talked with her long enough to know she's much different from Kaneyama. She was precise in her routine, making sure I didn't know too much, but just enough to frighten me or so she thinks. If Kaneyama IS the host, why would her only kill after fourteen months, be a Toho member?"

"...you don't think," Sauressy tapped his chin, "you think she wanted to incite the Toho, to start a fight?"

"Kaneyama answers directly to Iris," the turtle flicked through the pages, "she doesn't disobey her, no matter what, that was clear from what I saw back in Osaka. If we look at this not as a serial killing, but an attack on the yakuza, then maybe other pieces will fall into place."

"You mean like Kurasawa?" the serpent sneered. "That always bothered me, that the key to the hatch his body was in, was directly under Tsuchimura's body, like she KNEW we were going to find it."

"Are the Toho fighting any other gangs?"

"Nooo, I...gah, I could go back to the office to check but that'll take a bit."

"Why not go to the source?" Gaho pointed down the street. "Toho's always starting something, won't be hard to gleam some info."

"Alright, but let me do it," said Sauressy standing up, "we don't want to risk any problems what with you being suspended."

"That's fine," Murata nodded, "I'll wait down the street."

Heading south to Tenkaiju Street, they wandered past Theater Square's grand open plaza with its brimming red Stega arcade. At the front of the red Kaijurocho gate, they saw a spikebacked lizard scrubbing down the walls at the front of a building, which both officers knew was the Toho's branch in Kaijurocho. The company's name of " AZUMI FINANCE" was brandished above its door in austere font, as Murata stepped into the nearby Poppo out of view.

"F-fucking Kiryu pissing off without me," the spikeback muttered under his breath, "leaving me to scrub this damn wall again."

"Afternoon."

The yakuza stood up in a blue jean jacket, his head cresting with horns to match the rhinoceros stub at the end of his snout.

"Yeah? Need something, officer?"

"Actually yes," Sauressy nodded, "hope I'm not bothering too much but, I'm asking around about the fire in the Airenas Temple."

"Oh, shit, yeah I understand-...wait." The thug put down his sponge and bucket. "Don't I know you somewhere? Like we talked at some point?"

"Sgt. Detective Reed O'Sauressy, I was one of the officers who came about your friend, Tsuchimura."

"Oh...right." He bowed solemnly. "I dunno how I can help, also uhhh...did anything else happen with the Host? I haven't heard back in like ages."

"The prime suspect has been arrested," said Reed pensively, "I apologise it's taken this long to bring it to a close, but the suspect's been very...evasive."

"Huh...well, better than nothing." The lizard sighed. "Took you damn long enough but considering they been dodging police for like a year-and-a-half."

"I know, I'm sorry. But we finally have them, and hopefully once they've been processed, we will bring peace to your friend."

"Thanks." Sano returned to sponging the wall. "You're a lot nicer than that other cop, that turtle guy? Where's he at, he not on duty today?"

"Nope, just me." Reed pulled out his notebook. "Okay, first off, your name?"

"Anguirou Sano, Azumi Finance."

"Heh, you switch jobs already, or the Toho under new management?"

"Are you serious?"

"No no, I just find it funny how you guys operate, a lot like the mafia do back home."

"Back home?" Sano turned to him mid-wipe. "Wait where are you from?"

"America, east coast," Sauressy licked his pencil scribbling notes, "where were you on October thirty-first?"

"I was on a date," the spikeback grinned, "I spent the night at my girlfriend's place, and yeah she can confirm I was there, her friend too who came round."

"Wow, lucky you, two girls huh?"

"Ey-ey, no!" Sano brandished his sponge. "I don't do that shit, she just came over to return something, me and Basu-chan only got eyes for each other."

"Alright, I'm sorry," Reed put up his hand, "just a little joke, anyways we had reports some Toho members are regulars at the temple, and were helping to put out the fire. Do you know them?"

"Yeah, Kiryu-san and Danzaki-san. They're not in Tokyo right now though, they're off on business."

"Did they tell you anything about the fire? Maybe they left a number we can call?"

"Nope, sorry," the sponge squeaked across the tiles, "my boss would know, he's awake right now if you want me to get him."

"Could you?" Reed smiled. "I appreciate the help, the attack on the temple was very serious."

"Yeah it was fucking shit, who the fuck would do that to the temple, they don't hurt nobody!"

"I know, that's why I want to catch this bastard soon as I can."

Sano walked inside his office and two minutes later came back with a sad-looking bronze kaiju hitting past his middle-age, wearing a long-sleeved baseball shirt and slacks. He looked more like a dad at his son's game than a patriarch, his arms swinging with a laid-back smile and old tired membranes stretching down his limbs.

"Here he is Varan-san," Sano gestured, "sooo uh, can I get a break?"

"Can I see my ass in that wall yet?" said the boss pointing.

With a groan the ankylosaur went back to scrubbing.

"Afternoon officer," the elder rubbed his spiky mohawk, "how can I help?"

"I'm following up investigations on the temple fire," said Reed, "my name is Sgt. Detective Reed O'Sauressy, and I wanted to get testimony from your members who were helping at the scene."

"Ohhh yeah, that shit wuz awful, glad you boys're getting down to that toot-sweet."

"First I just need name and occupation."

"Sanjin Obakimura, head of Azumi Finance."

"Obakimura?" Reed squinted. "Your friend called you Varan."

"Aww that's a nickname o' mine back when I was wrasslin'."

"You were a pro wrestler? No shit, that's pretty cool!"

"Yep," Sanjin flexed with a heave of his sagging gut, "weren't gone national or nuthin' but, back in my home turf I wuz big news."

"Well that's pretty neat. Alright, Varan-san, what can you tell me about the temple attack?"

"From whut my boys told me, thuh High Priestess' room exploded-actually hold up, didn't y'all check on her first?"

"We did," Reed nodded quick, "we're just trying to get as many testimonies as we can to solidify the case."

"Ahhh, gotcha," Sanjin rubbed his arms, "two boys were there, Kiryu from my family an' Danzaki, who's a patriarch of another. They helped beat out thuh fire an' kept creatures safe."

"Where are they now?"

"On business, they won't be back fer about a week at best."

"When they return, can you let them know we'd like to ask them what happened?"

"Well Danzaki runs his own family so you'd hafta contact them, but I'll let Kiryu know soon as he gets back."

"Thank you," the serpent jotted it down, "I don't suppose you have any ideas who would attack the temple?"

"Wish I knew," the patriarch shrugged, "I'd wanna catch that bastard myself."

"I bet it's the fucking Jinuchu," Sano snarled scrubbing away, "those pricks have been messing around that temple for-"

"Sano." Sanjin looked to him. "Don't waste thuh sergeant's time."

"What's that about Jinuchu?" Sauressy leaned in.

"Just a group o' thugs we had trouble with, don't you worry none-"

"Fuck that!" the underling slammed down his sponge. "They tried to kidnap a priestess, TWICE, it's gotta be them!"

"SANO!"

His boss suddenly roared looming over him, fuming with a hard seethe in his eyes that shut Angirou up who went back to soaping walls.

"I recall that kidnapping," Sauressy tapped his chin, "a priestess in a rickshaw right, that was Jinuchu?"

"Yeah," Varan sighed turning back to him, "I just didn't wanna send ya off on a wild chase with nuthin' to back it, yer life's hard enough as it is."

"I appreciate the thought sir, but I do know the Jinuchu have had an active interest in that temple for a good while."

"Yeah you arrested thuh kidnapper didn't you?"

"Correct, so if you have anything, even the smallest lead you feel can be connected, please tell me. I want to keep the temple safe much as your clan does too."

"Ehh?" Sanjin fingered his ear. "I hear that right?"

"Look, I'm not a kaiju, I get it. Some places the police don't do the work they should, and sometimes the government's fucked you over. Now my official opinion is that you guys are criminals, and whatever you do is most certainly illegal and should not be tolerated. But, unofficially..."

The monster put away his notebook and grinned.

"I understand there are certain methods of rebellion that must happen, BECAUSE they're not tolerated."

Sanjin looked at him oddly, a widening smirk crossing his old features until he started laughing.

"Damn, thought I heard everythin' this year, but a cop tellin' me about good rebellion?!"

"I'm not endorsing it," Reed put up his hands, "just saying I understand the reason."

"Heheh, awww shit see this is why I love Americans, always shootin' it straight an' tellin' it like it is!"

"How'd you know I was American?"

"I lived in Okinawa, been around plenny of 'em to know one."

"Oh, makes sense," Sauressy smiled, "the military base down there, right?"

"Mmhmm, fer thuh Kankoran War," Sanjin smiled back, "anyways, if'n yer wantin' more info about that there Jinuchu well...there wuz that fight in the Cafe Alps."

"A fight?"

"Uh, V-varan-san?" Anguirou looked up from scrubbing the wall. "You sure we should tell him?"

"Yeaaaah I think this guy's a good un, s'not like anything happened down there that would put us in trouble."

"Alright." Sano dunked the sponge in the bucket. "So this asswipe Gihei claimed to be head of Jinuchu, threatened Kiryu about some shit."

"Because of the kidnapping?" Reed pulled out his book again.

"Sorta, the guy that kidnapped the priestess last month was one of Gihei's boys, but he called out Kiryu because of that body you and him found."

"Wait, which body?"

"The one that...w-wasn't Tsuchi-chan." The kaiju rubbed his arm forlorn. "I dunno much else about it."

"We didn't follow up," Sanjin crossed his arms, "got no reason to, since that wuz all you guys, but that Gihei called us out saying we were steppin' on his turf, cuz we, and I quote, 'dug up thuh body'."

"Dug up? Are you..." Sauressy leaned in, "are you saying this Gihei admitted to murder?"

"Not admitted, but he sure as fuck implied, then he tried to stab a waiter, but Kiryu-san saved their life, you can ask down at thuh cafe they'll tell you as much."

"I see. Well...thank you so much, Varan-san." The monster jotted a few notes. "You've just made my day."

"Heh, glad to help," the old triphibian rubbed his snout, "I won't ask why but if you promise to make hell for them Jinuchu, I'm all for it."

"Only if they're not as smart as you in covering their tracks," Reed smiled in return, "have a good day."

With a fond wave, Sauressy headed up the street towards the Poppo where he saw Gaho browsing through the drinks. The clerk was keeping an eye on him, a dark green reptilian with fishy fins and deep red eyes in a minimum wage shirt.

"OH, hello officer!" he shot up stiff as a pole. "How I help?!"

"Just looking for my friend," Reed pointed to Gaho, "he's not giving you trouble is he?"

"No. Is he, officer too?"

"Yes, he's off-duty." The monster smiled at the beast's nametag and slipped into English. "//McCartin eh?//"

"//Oh, aye!//" the clerk grinned. "//Gordon McCartin.//"

"//Awww, you're Irish?! Reed O'Sauressy, howsit going?//"

"//Hah, O'Sauressy? Awww Thyos, my mother's teacher's cousin was an O'Sauressy!//"

"//No shit!//" the cop leaned on the table. "//Guess I still have family over there.//"

"//When'd yours leave the homeland for the States?//"

"//Ohhh jeez, that was like a century ago, so whatever cousin you met is probably distant.//"

"//Ach you might be American but you're still a brother to me,//" Gordon waggled his earfins, "//you wanting anything?//"

"//I could go with a light snack, maybe an orange juice to perk up.//"

Grabbing a chilled fruit drink and a bento box, Sauressy nudged Murata to say he was done as they paid for their food.

"//Nice shamrock,//" Reed pointed to Gordon's necklace, "//a little on the nose isn't it?//"

"//Ahh, sorry,//" Gordon blushed taking their money, "//my boyfriend bought it for me, you know how kaiju are.//"

"//Hahah, yeaaah, I've had a few US flags and cowboy hats given to me in my time.//"

"//Ohh Thyos they gave you hats?! That's terrible!//"

"//Seriously, but once you make sergeant that tends to stop, hah. Anyways, thanks for the food, have a good day.//"

"//You too, brother!//"

Gordon waved them off as the two sat down in the dismal park on Tenkaiju Alley. Surrounded by walls with a sad set of swings, Murata sat down with Sauressy as the monster shared his lunch.

"I think I've found the connection with Kurasawa," said Reed. "One of the Toho told me that a high-ranking member of Jinuchu, threatened Kiryu in the Cafe Alps over, and I quote, 'digging up the body'."

"So the Jinuchu killed Kurasawa?" Gaho chewed his bento.

"There was a fight, and they said the staff can confirm it, but the way it was said makes me think that Jinuchu wanted that body to stay buried."

"Staff confirming might not mean much, most if not all respondents of an incident will claim the Toho are protecting them."

"Every time?" Reed chomped on a sushi roll. "Those Toho boys must have the locals wrapped round their fingers."

"Who did you talk to?"

"Anguirou Sano."

"Ahhh," the turtle closed his eyes, "funny thing, last incident he was involved with was preventing a sexual assault."

"Woah...shit," Sauressy smiled, "I mean I gotta give props for stepping in."

"That's the thing," Murata sighed eating more, "they're vigilantes, a lot of our logs have them showing up, attacking would-be criminals, and dispensing their own street justice. At worst someone gets a broken leg, but no deaths ever recorded."

"Well that's good right?" Sauressy lifted his hat. "Means at the very least they're stopping worse crimes being carried out-"

"But it's NOT their job. It's our job, vigilantes may have noble intentions but that doesn't change the fact they make their purpose a threat to public safety."

"I'm just saying we gotta count small blessings." The serpent took another roll. "Anyways, the Toho are butting heads with Jinuchu, thanks to the kidnapping at the temple. The kidnapper was an out-of-towner called Kamoebara, who I recall works for Jinuchu who operate out of Yokohama."

"Wait...Yokohama?" Gaho chewed on a prawn with lettuce. "Kurasawa, the day before he disappeared, he just came back from Yokohama."

"Oh...shit."

"So we have two clans fighting, because Kiryu was with us, when he found his body right next to Tsuchimura. That means Kaneyama...was leading HIM to Kurasawa, because we found her holding him hostage."

"That...that fucking punk played us like a fiddle." Reed clutched his head. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"Yes," the turtle rubbed his scalp, "Iris is trying to start a war between the Toho and Jinuchu."

"But...why?!"

"The ashes I have wrought upon your city," Murata repeated her words, "she's going to take over Kaijurocho. She's planning on the war between the two clans to exhaust their resources, before swooping in with her army to wipe them out and take over."

"Oh gods...but wait, wait." Sauressy put up his hands. "Why the faking over the Host business? Why the false teeth?"

"To force everyone to pay attention. A random street killing no one would notice, just another day in this city, but if it was a serial killer...that stays in the public news, hanging over our heads. Hanging over the Toho's heads."

"So they'd be forced to react, or else they look weak."

"Exactly," the turtle snapped his fingers, "she was daring them to fight back, to hunt down the Host she claimed to be, so they find Kurasawa's body and piss off the Jinuchu."

"So if that's the reason," Reed turned to his friend, "what does the traitor in the police stand to gain from all this? If the Daiei come and flush out all the yakuza, we arrest both Toho and Jinuchu, put them away, making our department look damn good cleaning up."

"...no." Murata palmed his face. "Someone is working for the Daiei, so they can get an easy promotion. But the Daiei aren't just going to leave us, they'll just replace the Toho, and as much as I hate the Toho, they never bribe police officers or even dare to plant one of theirs inside our group."

"So we're gonna replace one yakuza clan, with an even worse one," Sauressy shook his head, "what...the fuck do we do?"

"I don't know, but we can't tell anyone yet."

"What about the press?"

"We do that too early, the police'll put an embargo on the story. Do that too late and it won't matter. We need to time this properly, we also need to find out who the traitor is before we start accusing."

They both stood up and binned the bento box, looking around suspicious for any passersby before they kept talking.

"Did anything happen while I was away?" asked Murata.

"Can't really say," Reed shrugged, "I have one or two suspects but nothing I would bet my Pike on."

"That old thing? What's it worth, a thousand yen?"

"Hey fuck you, that little guy served me half my damn life better than most ever have."

They smiled with a little chuckle as the turtle nodded.

"Alright, I'm going to the ping-pong place to keep my head down, if you need me I'll be there. Also, I gave Dr. Kumoto your number, in case he has any updates on that Sumi-kun kid."

"Oh gods, you still won't leave that alone?!" the serpent scoffed. "He's just a damn kid with an overactive imagination-"

"I'm not getting back into this, just please, if he calls you, pass it along to me. I'm asking you as a friend, Sauressy."

"Hhhhhh...alright," he threw his hands, "but only until you get a new phone, I'm not your damn secretary."

"A face like yours you'd do better as a bouncer."

"And a body like yours, you'd do better as a table."

They punched each other's arms with a playful laugh before parting ways. Murata headed back to the Children's Park and down the stairs to where the Go-Wraths met in their HQ. The room was strangely dark, feeling his hand on the wall for the switch before he was set upon by a large shadow. He grabbed it by the neck then slammed them to the floor in a judo toss.

"DON'T MOVE, HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD-"

"IT'S ME YOU FILTHY COP!"

The shriek of the walrus made him stop and pull back. Magumi Majuma shook through her portly body with outrage, dressed in an ice-blue hoodie as she clicked on a flashlight to reveal the whiteboard and tables.

"Where the SODDING HELL have you been?!"

"I was on a mission," the turtle shrugged, "I told you I was away."

"The Ping-Pong Championships are THIS WEEK and you only just arrived back?!"

"My work takes precedence, you know that. Also sorry for handling you, you shouldn't be sneaking up on me in the dark, why are the lights off?"

"Because the sodding electrical company BASTARDS cut off the power!" she snapped gripping her tusks. "They were supposed to give me until next week, they cut me off early, I had to send the damn payment just today!"

"Oh...that's shitty of them, they shouldn't do that if they gave you a-"

"Oh what do you know, you work for the government as a sanctimonious lackey!"

"HEY!" He thrust his finger at her. "I know you're upset, but we agreed to leave our jobs outside of this."

"You...you're right." She sighed putting up her flippers. "I'm...I'm sorry I called you a filthy cop, Murata, my anarchist tendencies are interwoven with my adrenaline instincts."

"It's...fine," he grimaced crossing his arms, "I'm ready to train for the tournament, I should be available for most of the week."

"Good." The walrus stepped to the ping-pong table. "Let's get right to it, Monda was here already practicing her curves so let's see if your skills are still up to snuff."

"We're facing the Braves then?"

"And the dreaded Zen Degoushi. I do not say this lightly, but this is the most important thing that I have ever done at least legally-speaking, so I cannot, WILL not, tolerate less than a hundred percent."

"Noted." He picked up his paddle. "Now let's play, don't hold back."

"Oh...gladly," said Majuma spinning the ball in her hand, "I am done playing around."

She walloped the ball straight towards him, as he countered fast with a cross-strike that threw it back to the other end. The light from the lamp made things difficult for him to measure the width of the table, relying on instinct to know when to strike and when his opponent flew too far so he could get a point. His mind was still churning with thoughts of the mysterious traitor, but for now he left that in Sauressy's capable hands.