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The day after his suspension, Gaho Murata received a call from Sauressy confirming that Kumoto made an appointment. Sometime around noon, he arrived at the clinic once again and stepped through into a charming room with a soft bed, a window with extremely hardened panes, and a chest of drawers.

"Hello?" the bear knocked. "Anyone there?"

"AH, doctor!" the voice of a teenager spoke proudly. "Has my backup arrived?!"

"Yes, as I promised, here he is."

Opening the door further, Kumoto stepped inside with Murata who bowed deep to the simian. Dressed in yellow robes with a much cleaner appearance, the brown-furred monkey stood taller and more confident than last they met, looking all the more like a prince of an eastern land. His smile grew wide as he shook Murata's hand.

"You've grown more scars since we last met!" he pointed at the sling. "How goes it my traitorous friend!?"

"Doing well," the turtle smiled, "the battles against Qing Fish have been many."

"Has the war begun?!"

"No, more simple skirmishes to keep out his influence."

"Hah, that wet-lipped fool!" the monkey jumped on the bed. "He can't even manage his own troops if those like you fight against him!"

"How have you been, Wukong-san?" Murata sat beside him. "I know it must be hard being cooped up in here."

"What, my new base?! This place was a perfect spot to hide from the Qing Fish, none of his legions have come for me!"

"Like I said, his magic doesn't work here, what with all the medicine he wouldn't dare send anyone still loyal to him."

"They should fear ME instead!" the ape jumped off with a kung-fu pose. "My skills are many, my wisdom spans the sky, and none have defeated me past or future! That's why Qing Fish trapped me in this world of mirrors, the coward can't even face me in battle!"

"Agreed," Murata nodded, "you're certainly looking happier, and come the day you can walk out of here free of his...cowardly ways, you can return back to your time."

"Is that why are you here?! Have you found the mirror to send me back?!"

"Not exactly." Kumoto stepped forwards. "We had a...disturbing report, if you could call it that."

"Is the Tang Sanzang alright?!" he gasped.

"He's fine, fear not! This is not about him, but about your friend Sumi-kun."

"...oh." The monkey rubbed his chin. "Sumi-kun is asleep right now, let's not wake him."

"Alright, can you take the message to him when he wakes up?"

"I'm not his servant! You can tell him yourself when he wakes-"

"It's about his mother."

Sun Wukong clenched with a stiffening tail as he stepped back against the dresser.

"Or rather, the one we call his mother," continued the bear, "as a doctor, and being you are currently underaged in this body you inhabit, I am legally unable to hold you if she comes and request to bring you home."

"S-so?!" the ape swished his hand. "I'm not afraid of some suburban witch, I've fought greater mages than her!"

"I am simply explaining your circumstances, Wukong-san. However, Murata-san has offered to be your guardian in remiss, in order to delay her."

"You...what?"

"Sumi-kun told me something," said the turtle, "something that bothered me about this lady known as mother. He said that she took him away from here, when he didn't want to leave."

"Yes, that's right, the damn witch put a spell on Kumoto!" The simian thrust his finger. "I tried to warn him, but her magic was too swift!"

"And, unfortunately," Kumoto nodded with a sigh, "I lack the...protections required against her...magic."

"But I can help," said Murata nodding, "I will face against her for you, but only if I have your permission and Kumoto-san's."

"That...hmmm." The monkey sat on the floor in deep pondering. "How much you know of this Sumi-kun?"

"He's a boy who's lost and frightened. This lady who claims to be his mother scares him, because he feels nothing in this world is real."

"Yes, and he's right, the Qing Fish's spell is too strong for him to take."

"Is that why you're here?" Kumoto asked sitting with him. "Because you're protecting him?"

"Not just that! We share this body, we are trapped together in this realm of mirrors, but even if he wasn't, I would still protect the weak! I would never abide those who turn children into their personal trophies!"

"I thank you for keeping him safe...but I wonder if perhaps, you could teach Sumi-kun to stand on his own two feet?"

"What, you want me to train him?!"

"Why not?" Murata crossed his arms still on the bed. "The legendary Wukong can teach anyone, can't he?"

"Of course I can!" the ape crossed his arms mimicking him. "I just had little time, planning my assault against the Qing Fish!"

"So let us deal with the Qing Fish. Call us your troops, we'll do all the grunt work so you save your strength for the big finish."

"Hm...spoken like a true soldier," said Wukong with a chuckle, "alright, Murata, you want your orders? The witch, she must be stopped. She has powers over this body I can't control, somehow she's hexed me and Sumi-kun. You must face her, in whatever combat you choose, and make certain she cannot take us again!"

"What exactly happened the last time-"

"SPEAK NOT!" the ape raised his hand with clenching face. "We...w-we do not...speak of what she did to us."

"Alright, I'm sorry, I just want to be prepared for any of her tricks."

"Yes...all I can tell you is that she is full of lies, she wears a mask of kindness but beneath that is a...a-a wretched, selfish demon who desires nothing more than a trophy!"

"I see," Kumoto rubbed his snout, "Murata, you have any ideas?"

"In my line of work," the officer said, "if someone is hiding their true nature, there are ways to reveal it by a battle with words. Wukong-san, please leave her to me."

He rose from the bed and headed to the door.

"You focus on helping Sumi-kun, and yourself, get back to your world."

"Hm." The teenager nodded. "Then I give you your orders, Murata. Stop that witch, in my name I urge you."

"In that case," the doctor brought out a sheet, "I have a form here, for the sake of procedures you understand, you must sign it in our presence."

"What? Sun Wukong need not sign his name, he is known the world over!"

"No, I don't mean you...I mean, Sumi-kun."

"...wh-why?" The simian hugged himself. "He is sleeping, I told you-"

"Let me put it this way," Murata put up his hands, "if he writes down his consent to remain here, under my protection, that witch will find it much harder to take him away."

"So this...is like a spell of your own?"

"It is, but Sumi-kun needs to know and write this in full understanding of the situation. Please."

"...fine." The monkey sighed. "When...when he's awake, I'll ask for you again, Murata."

"Thank you."

"No, thank YOU my most trusted friend!"

The sergeant bowed once more, as Sukong grabbed his hand and pulled him in a hug with roving fingers. The turtle hugged him back, then took his leave with Kumoto joining after in the hall.

"I'll call you once Sumi-kun is himself," said the doctor, "I'd rather not have him sign the consent form in his persona."

"I understand," Gaho sighed, "I just want to make sure he knows his rights, and I need to see his mother either way to assess her."

"There is the fact you are suspended however, that problem still remains."

"Sauressy can attend, he's still on the job and can act as the adult in the room."

"Alright then. Thank you."

Heading back towards the Children's Park, Murata made his way down to the Go-Wraths' basement HQ. His arm was still stiff, the broken wrist recovering slower than the rest as every time he clenched, he felt a burning sting rip through his bicep.

The gang were al ltogether, much to his relief and Majuma's as they started their drills with paddling the ball, sharpening their corners and working with each other's weaknesses. In a face-off against Zura, both of them noted the other's damaged hand and slowed down for their sake. But then they picked up speed, and through the biting pain of the paddle trembling, they bandaged their wrists to help resist the impacts.

"You guys okay?" asked Monda checking her board.

"We're fine," Murata said mid-strike, "few more rounds and we're good."

"Don't overexert yourselves," said the walrus spray-painting the wall, "we're sharpening our blades, not cutting down trees."

"You make us sound badass," the mole-beetle grunted, "we're just ping-pong pals."

"There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your hobby. And now it's beyond that of a hobby, it...well, it's given me a place to focus my energy."

"From what, your graffiti?" the squirrel took out a screwdriver. "I saw the shit you did, that was wild."

"And also illegal," the turtle backhanded the ball, "I'm glad you found a better place to vent your energy."

"Hey-ey, what'd we say about leaving our jobs outta this?"

"Even if I wasn't a cop, I'd still be saying graffiti's a crime."

"I know my rights!" Majuma turned with a gas mask. "I know we have mandated walls and such but sometimes my art just wants to be free."

"Have you considered work in creative design?" asked the turtle. "You've got a good eye for detail, you'd get work with companies-"

"My artistic muse is NOT for sale!" She shook her spray can. "Especially not to some corporate suits who would gladly suck the very essence, the very soul of every living thing if it made them money."

"Now you're overreacting," Zura shrugged putting down his paddle, "I get companies can be real shits sometimes, hell I gotta deal with half of 'em lookin' for a new part-"

"Did you not hear about Resco?! A privatised company that outsourced immigration AND prisons on behalf of the government, who spent millions of yen suppressing reports that accused the company of forming a 'shuttle service' that put migrants from one hell to another, all so the government can earn KICKBACKS, ON COMMISSION, THROUGH A LEGALISED TRAFFICKING OPERATION?!"

The walrus heaved with a sudden breath then pinched her snout.

"My apologies. Sometimes I get...very riled about the state of affairs."

"I don't mind that," Murata shook his head, "what the law minded was the fact you publicly defaced the entire front of a building."

"I accept graffiti is a crime, but it is ALSO an art and a means of protest against the state!"

"It also got you arrested," Monda unscrewed her wheels, "which is hella cool by the way."

"Then I shall be a martyr!" Magumi spread her hands. "The world was my canvas and paint was my voice, I could not stand idle whilst corporate greed continues to influence our society, in ways that proffer vices as virtues!"

"See, this is what saddens me," Gaho sighed rubbing his neck, "you're obviously talented, you're very verbose, you could do so much better making statements in legal ways."

"But that's the thing Murata-san. All the legal ways are safe, easy to control and easily quashed by authority. They tell you that voting works but that's not always the case, some places are purposefully stacked in ways to make your vote worthless, depending on your zip code."

"I haven't voted in years," Zura sighed leaning on the table, "all the politicians're the damn same, felt like no damn different the past eight years."

"And even then, some years you end up with only two major choices, one who doesn't care enough, and one who only care about themselves!"

"Exactly! Like what's even the point?"

"The point is you get to complain," the squirrel switched out her bolts, "I get it, you wanna make yourself heard, but Zura-san you gotta be part of the process if you wanna make your voice even count!"

"I have to agree with Monda," said Gaho pointing to her, "maybe the system isn't the best we have, but if you don't get involved, you can't expect to change things."

"Regardless," the walrus wagged her flipper, "I will not have my art become safe, wrapped tightly in a box of society's making, the reason my banner was spoken of for months and brought the resignation of THREE junior executives, was not because it was legal, but because it shocked the city."

"The city was shocked to pick up the bill," Zura pointed back, "you cost taxpayer money with that stunt!"

"Ohohohohhhh I don't believe that for a second. 'Taxpayer money' is always used as a guilt complex term to stifle the public. The 'taxpayer money' they say cleans up after a protest, or repairs a statue, was money they could have already used to upgrade a hospital, or build better roads and instead they're lining their coffers. That money's never going back to us."

"So instead you gonna use your art to vandalise shit?"

"Yes! It is about EXPRESSION, it is about the world being your canvas and leaving a mark behind so your struggles are not forgotten! I don't want someone to put a price on my work, and if I ever did it would be for a cause that I know is worthy."

"Alright." Murata put up his hands. "It's your art, and as long as you put it somewhere that's mandated, I won't complain. And while we're all here, these are only opinions, so let's not lose focus on our mission."

"Very well." The walrus bowed. "Speaking of, what do you all think?"

She stepped back from her new masterpiece. Spread across the wall between the whiteboard and the door, was an explosion of sharp blue and baby pink with their team logo frozen in ice. Stylised versions of the team stood up above the logo, brandishing a wrench, a badge, a spray-can and a skateboard.

"Holy fuck." Zura clutched his mouth. "Hhhhohohoh DAMN that looks great!"

"Yo that's fuckin' SICK girl!" Monda hopped over to it. "You even caught my stance!"

"It's perfect," Murata nodded, "surprised you didn't give me a gun."

"Well there's two kinds of cops," Majuma turned back to him, "those who use the badge, and those who use the gun."

They smiled to each other in a mutual respect, saying nothing more as Monda pulled out her phone.

"Yo you wanna get a pic of this?!"

"Sure!" Zura stepped in shot. "Do I gotta pose?"

"Nah dude that's cringe, just smile like ya mean it."

"I always mean it!"

"Really, cuz when you smile it looks like you pulling a hernia."

"Shut up you damn loafer!"

"Come on," Murata slapped their shoulders, "once more into the breach, right?"

"Right!" Majuma stepped up behind. "Let's give Tokyo one hell of a show."

The squirrel took their picture, four creatures smiling in front of Majuma's work before they went back to their drills and paired off against each other. The steady whack of paddles filled the room like a metronome, as they sharpened their senses once again.

On November 7th, the tournament would open with its last draw of the year as the community centre was packed to the brim with heaving bodies. The crowd was electric, the air burned like fire and the centre of the room with its ping-pong table, had the awe and majesty of a king's throne. The grand golden buzzer at the side lay tempting in wait for true power, as the horse-faced announcer came in.

"CREATURES AAAAAND PATRONS! WELCOME TO THE FINAL ROUND OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH TOKYO PING-PONG CHAMPIONSHIPS! YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR THE GREATEST SHOWDOWN OF THIS CITY, SO I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE, FIRSTLY! THE TRUE BELIEVERS OF PING-PONG, THE RAGTAG RUFFIANS WITH A HEART OF GOLD AND BURNING PASSION! FROM DOWNTOWN KAIJUROCHO, IT, IS, THE GOOOOOO, WRAAAAATHS!"

Out into the arena they came, wrapped in brilliant smoke that danced through the lights as a triumphant call of public domain rock blasted the room. With professional shirts that amplified their muscles, they high-foured the crowd in passing who held up placards with their names and well-wishes.

Monda did a little dance and spin with a foppish bow, Majuma pumped her fist to the sky, Zura chanted with a roar, and lastly Murata gave a thumbs up before they took their seat. The lights suddenly turned red, a terrifying drumbeat echoed through the room as fog crept across the floor like a dragon's breath.

"AND NOW...THEY MUST STAND AGAINST THAT MOST DREADED DEMON, THE LORD OF THE TABLE, THE BRAVE TAIL HIMSELF! COME, FORTH, ZEEEEEEN DEGOUSHI!"

Parting the curtains of smoke, Zen strode forth like an emperor in his black shirt that made his hulking muscular body look even stronger than before. His beard of spikes glinted in the light, his long tail of thorns shivering behind as the giant lizard stomped forth on thick legs covered in harsh pebbly scale.

"Where's the rest of his team?" Murata asked.

"What you mean?" Monda squinted. "That IS the rest of his team."

"But...no, surely that, he needs more than one member-"

"Nope," Majuma shook her head, "in the rules of Tokyo Ping-Pong, you can have up to five members in a single team, but nothing says you cannot have a team of only one. That is why his team is so feared, because it is ONLY him."

"Makes it easier then," Zura chuckled crossing his arms, "only one guy to beat, and we take the trophy."

"May I remind you that Zen has never lost in eight years of his team?"

"Hey, that's loser-talk!" Monda shook her fist. "We're not bowing outta this already!"

"So who's going in?" the mole-beetle scratched his horns. "This guy's the toughest of them all, we need the best-"

"Murata," the walrus put a hand on him. "I sense it...that burning aura in you, that determination to win, yes? You want to fight him."

"I do." The turtle clasped his hands. "Is that alright with you?"

"Of course. But remember, we are here if you need us."

"Don't go down on your own," Zura shook his head, "we go down together if we have to, but not alone."

"Damn right," the squirrel nodded, "now give that bastard the beatdown he deserves all those years for treating you like SHIT, KICK HIS ASS MURATA!"

"Thank you," Gaho smiled, "I just want you to know...whether we win or lose...I'm proud to call you my friends, no matter how different we may be."

"I'm glad we met...Murata-san."

Majuma bowed as he walked up to the table. Zen Degoushi smiled with long wicked teeth, a face he had seen many times in his youth.

"Well well, little Toto." The lizard rubbed his hands. "Finally climbed down from the monkey bars to where the grown-ups live."

"I never thought in a million years we'd meet again," Murata picked up his paddle, "it's hard not to make this a vendetta, but I will say this. I won't hold back anymore, Degoushi."

"Heh...that's good. You know why I picked on you as a kid?" The Brave Tail snapped up his own. "Because you were weak, and I knew a kid like you needed to toughen up and learn the truths about the world."

"Shut up." The turtle hunched his shoulders. "You were a bully, and you were jealous, don't try to hide behind some false sense of honour."

"But it worked didn't it? I'm the reason you're here."

"No. I'm here because of my friends, because I'm part of a community. In my work I always stand against injustice, no matter who or where it lies. But here...this is a battlefield of pure skill."

Murata swung his bat like a blade towards him.

"It's not hatred that drives me to defeat you. It's honour, as a player of ping-pong, as a member of the Go-Wraths, and as a friend to Majuma whose promise I would honour, to take our team to the top, and dethrone you at last from your comfortable peak!"

"...gods, you never changed." Zen Degoushi cracked a grin. "You're still the same little bitch who wanted to be a hero because you wanna keep creatures safe. I thought it was pretty sickening as a kid but...now? I got a weird respect for how long you kept that shit going."

The champion whipped out his tail with a thunderous crack.

"Show me what you got, Murata. Let's see how much a HERO YOU ARE!"

With the first strike he whacked the ball forth as Murata blocked him, stopping the pace to hit it back at his own speed with Zen countering easily. The match began in earnest as the crowd went wild, both kaiju switching from corner to corner with devastating chops and vicious drives.

In his downtime, Murata had learned a new move involving the backhand, driving the ball down in a meteor strike that bounced just over the net into Zen's corner. The lizard blocked him well and struck back with a vicious dead-ball that went straight for Gaho's head. He blocked barely in time, causing the ball to drop at his feet and give a point to Degoushi.

The bully had rattled him, and as a result the rest of that round went poorly for Murata who took time to figure out the Brave Tail's movements. He was shockingly fast for his size, despite being taller with larger legs and tail, he moved like a dolphin in the water, always at the corner even when Murata thought he outpaced him.

The first round out of three would go to Zen, the audience gasping almost outraged that the newcomer had staggered back so quickly. Gaho drank some water, took reassurance from his friends and stepped back to the table. All Zen did was sit quietly to himself, tenting his hands with a cruel smile and pulsing frills from his neck.

"Getting tired?" he taunted at the table..

"Not even," Murata cricked his neck, "I'm just feeling you out."

"Heheh, there's a LOT of me to feel out, little shell-head!"

He slammed a brutal ball over the net to bounce scarily close to Murata's beak, the turtle jumping back to whack it high and send it plummeting down causing the table to shudder. Degoushi struck it back deep into the court, the turtle barely stopping it from the edge to hammer it back. Across the second round they picked up the speed, the ball becoming a blur that almost formed a figure of eight.

It was a struggle to even match against Zen, his tactics swift and savage as every wallop caused the table to crack and splinter slightly. Sometimes Degoushi even tricked the turtle by shooting out his tongue, a vile fleshy spear that grabbed his own paddle to whack the ball fast at a different angle.

Other times he switched to his tail, which had a far more devastating power yet lacked control which made it easier to predict its path. But the cost of blocking it was a danger to his healing wrist, the shuddering feedback down his paddle causing Murata's hand to spasm with gasps. Little by little his grip became weaker as he gritted his beak and kept pounding away. The end of the second round was tight, 14-13 in Murata's favour as he tightened his grip as best he could.

"Tired yet?" taunted Zen again. "Your hand is shaking."

"Focus on your side," snarled Gaho, "I'm not here to talk."

"You should, you talk better than you play."

"Really? Wanna bet?"

With paddle brandished before him, the turtle stepped back as if bracing to pull out a katana, watching Degoushi serve the ball as Murata noticed the orb was getting more and more cracked. He timed his strikes carefully, softening them to lure Zen into a false sense of victory. When he tried to strike down, the tortoise struck with a massive swing and a furious roar, smashing it across the table to bounce straight for his foe.

The lizard countered with his own screaming rage, falling for Murata's trap as he switched the paddle to his tail and smashed with such force, the ball exploded into shards of white. The audience gasped as the referee came in with a muttering of panic filling the room.

"Wh-what, what happened?!" cried Zura.

"Zen broke the fucking ball!" gasped Monda. "Holy SHIT!"

"Oh, so they're just gonna replace it right?"

"No." Majuma rubbed her tusk. "That clever bastard goaded Zen to get the point."

"Wait, what point, the ball broke, they just replace 'em!"

"Yes indeed BUT!" she swivelled to him. "Three years ago, they changed the rules in Ping-Pong stating that if a ball is shattered by a player's paddle mid-strike, the point goes to the other player!"

"Wait, WHAT?!" the squirrel shrieked grabbing her ears. "So, wait, th-that means-"

"THE SECOND ROUND GOES TO THE GO-WRATHS!" the announcer cried. "CHALLENGERS PLEASE STEP AWAY AND RECUPERATE WITH YOUR TEAM!"

Murata lumbered off with a deep sigh and almost collapsed on the bench. He couldn't stop himself from clutching his wrist as his team gathered round, flapping towels and feeding water.

"Astonishing work!" Magumi chortled. "I just KNEW you would lead us this far."

"Thanks," he groaned, "dammit, my wrist isn't healing."

"Lemme soak it," Monda took off his sweatband, "you got 'im on the ropes dude, you got it, you're so close!"

"I...I'm almost there, I know it."

"You still have us," the walrus patted him, "we're ready when you are."

"Zura-san." The turtle looked to him. "How's your wrists?"

"They're uh...they're fine," the mole rubbed them, "why you ask?"

"Because...I have an idea."

He pulled them close and whispered something. They all nodded in eagerness as Murata stepped back up to the plate, after getting a fresh sweatband on his wounded wrist.

"I've been waiting for a challenge the past eight years," Zen tapped the paddle on his prickly cheeks, "glad you stopped being a disappointment, Toto."

"I'll do more than that," Gaho spun his paddle, "now let's play some GODDAMN PING-PONG!"

The third and final round began, the two striking hard with the new ball whirling across the net. The sound of clacking interspersed their vicious grunts as Zen kept switching from tongue to tail, striking in wild directions but always hitting the table to keep Murata on his toes. The first seven points went to Zen, as the turtle started to slacken, looking like he was at the end of his rope as the bully smiled slowing down his movement.

His wrist was burning with agony, spasms through his neck as he clenched until the eighth strike when he just managed to win one point out of 15. This was the moment Gaho was waiting for, his opponent dropping his guard as the turtle rushed over to the big golden button. Slamming his other fist upon it, the klaxon blared above their heads when the lights burst around their eyes and a furious techno beat came thumping.

"AND HERE IT IS!" the announcer cried. "FOR THE FINAL ROUND, TEAM GO-WRATHS HAVE INITIATED POWER MOOOOODE!"

"ZURA-SAN!"

Murata reached out to his friend as the mole-beetle grabbed him, the turtle swinging him to the table as they stood firm together.

"You take the left, I'll take the right!"

"Got it," Zura nodded, "cover our weaker hands."

"They're really doing it?!" Monda pumped her fists. "Holy shit they gonna go two-fer-one, is that even legal?!"

"Perfectly," said Majuma nodding, "the risk one takes when in a single-creature team, is that they must stand alone against a two-player team."

"Damn, they really allow that here?!"

"It's the price to pay for such arrogance as Zen's. But that's never stopped him before."

She pointed towards Degoushi who was given a second paddle, grasping with his tail and angling his body to block the entire end of the table.

"Who's the walking carpet?" he stared down his opponents.

"The guy who's about to to unbolt your ass from the throne," Zura tapped his horns, "say goodnight, spike-for-brains."

"Heh...alright, Toto and his hairy boyfriend." The lizard lashed his tongue through the air. "I'll make sure to bury you TOGETHER!"

The ball went hurtling from his tail as Zura blocked it fast, bashing across the court with diagonal streak as Zen whacked from his hand where Murata countered. The Go-Wraths coordinated their steps to make sure they were in sync, the mole from the left with Murata from the right and their centre covered together.

With their powers combined they managed to push Zen back, and steadily even the score towards 10-12 in their favour. But only by deception and carefully switching sides, they managed to trip up the bully who kept trying to bash through and expose their weaker hands. In the straight-shooting battle, Zen was a demon, his tail snapping with such force that it turned the ball into a bullet.

"ZURA-SAN, HERE!"

Both of them teamed up with one paddle behind the other, cracking against to resist the impact two-fold before shooting it back and continuing play. Zura made tunnelling drives that crawled over the net, whilst Murata shot high with fierce backspins that almost curved towards the edge.

It took all of their mental strength to track every shot made by Degoushi. His drives with the tail crunched the table; his hand with the paddle chopped the ball in a vicious arc that always hit the edge of their vision; and when he switched to his tongue, the snapback of his bat became a wild card that none could predict.

14-all the score became. The crowd turned silent with Majuma pulling her tusks so hard she felt the creaking pull of her roots as Monda's tail turned stiff. The final point hung in the balance, as Zen Degoushi gripped the ball for his last desperate serve. The fear was palpable on his face, Murata smiling through the pain of his throbbing hand as Zura clutched the table with a whimpering gasp.

"F-fuck...I'm, m-my hands are shaking-"

"Zura-san." Murata took the beetle's hand. "Be strong. I believe in you."

"...yeah." Zura sucked in his breath. "We're not losing...I'M not losing."

"Damn right. When I give the signal, we do it."

"YOU THINK YOU'VE WON, TOTO?!" Zen snarled. "I'M THE KING OF THIS CITY, YOU'RE NOTHING TO ME, YOU AND YOUR LITTLE BITCH TEAM'LL BE ANOTHER NAME SCRAWLED IN THE DIRT!"

"No." Gaho raised his paddle. "Words mean nothing in ping-pong, Degoushi. Now serve me your throne, because THIS, ENDS, NOW!"

"MURATAAAAAAA!"

With a roar Zen Degoushi threw his ball up high, and raised the paddle in his hand to strike it. But his tail came out like a scorpion, snatching the paddle to striked hard with a shockwave through the table, as Gaho and Zura put their paddles together to resist the fatal impact. The ball crunched into their blocking guard, pushing them so hard that their feet slipped back a few inches as they gritted their teeth.

"GUH, GHRRRAAAAGH!" the mole-beetle shrieked. "IT...I-IS IT TIME?!"

"YES, DO IT!" Gaho cried.

Trembling from his horns, Zura flashed a sudden light froim his head that forced an extra ounce of strength through his claws. He slammed through the back of Murata's paddle, bashing the ball straight to a panicked Degoushi whose cheeks opened wide with leathery frills of piercing rage. His spikes sharpened when he cracked the ball back towards them, a devastating launch launch straight above Zura's head and into the sky.

The mole-beetle gasped in fright, his heart wilting thinking he had lost. But then he turned to see Murata behind him, launching in the air with a sudden blast of his thrusters from beneath the shell.

"DEGOUSHIIIIII!"

With a cry of vengeance, his paddle came down from above and sent the ball hurtling like a meteor strike. The ball shot off Zen's side of the court, who blocked hard as he could, but the force of Murata's shot was so great that it punched straight through the paddle and shot his skull between the eyes. A violent mist seethed through his brain, ripping through his cranium as he roared in anguish.

He fell to the ground in a heap, the ball tapping onto the floor to roll off into the corner. No one said a thing, shocked by the end of the match when the score hit 15-14, and Murata landed on his feet with a puff of his jets. Then the audience screamed, a deafening cry ripping through the arena as the round would end.

"AND, THAT'S, THE END OF THE TOURNEYYYYY! THE WINNER, OF, THE FORTY-SEVENTH TOKYO PING-PONG CHAMPIONSHIPS, ARE THE GOOOOOO, WRAAAAATHS!"

Monda launched herself from her seat, grabbing Zura in a hug and bouncing around with him as he gasped with disbelief. He started laughing, almost guffawing with tears hidden beneath the fur.

"YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT!"

"W-we...we did?!"

"FUCK YEAH YOU DID ZURA YOU FUCKING DID IT!"

"N-no...I...it was all Murata-"

"No." Gaho patted him. "We did it together. I couldn't have made it this far without you...without all of you."

"I can't believe it." Majuma walked up with a stunned flat voice. "I...I-i don't...believe this, did we actually...beat Zen?"

"We did." He hugged her with Zura and Monda. "We're the champions now. Your dream came true."

"No...no, th-this was our dream, please do not put the onus on me-"

"Majuma. I did this for you."

Her eyes widened as he said this. Tears came flowing down her whiskers as the confetti flew from the ceiling, showering the winners in gold and silver. Zura and Monda danced together, doing a waltz as Majuma hugged the turtle.

"Thank you," she whispered, "I knew there was...something right about you."

Gaho smiled from his tusks, then looked over to Degoushi still concussed on the floor. The medic was checking him over, a mantis drawing his long finger back and forth across his eyes before letting him sit up.

"Hey." Murata bowed. "Good fight, Degoushi. You gave me a real hard time."

"Fine, go ahead." Zen shrugged. "Gloat all you fucking want...shit my head hurts."

"Sorry about that...didn't know my own strength."

"Whatever. Take your damn trophy and go."

"I'm not here to gloat." Murata offered his hand. "I'm here to thank you, for being a good opponent."

"What?" Zen scoffed. "The fuck you doing?"

"It's called being a good sport. You should try it sometime, but you definitely earned the title of champion before. I respect your strength a lot."

"...heh." The lizard took Gaho's hand. "I'm not quitting, no way in hell."

"Good." He tightened his grip. "I'll be waiting for you next year."

"Gods...you really are the worst kind of do-gooder prick."

Zen Degoushi smiled, shaking his hand before he walked out from the arena.

"Don't disappoint me, Murata. Once everyone's eyes are on you...you can't look weak ever again."

"It's a lot harder to do it alone!" called Gaho. "Ever thought of getting others in your team?!"

"Nah...that's not my style." Zen looked back. "But I see now why you're stronger. That kind of strength with your team......must be nice."

Descending into the shadows of the corridor, Degoushi left the community centre as Murata sighed a little saddened. That soon faded when Zura pulled him back to the centre, where a glistening trophy was soon carried out to them. The horse announcer in his spangly suit offered them a gorgeous silver cup the size of his head.

"Congratulations, Go-Wraths!" said the equine flashing his smile. "You've managed to rise from the bottom and tear through the ranks with nary a loss, tell us, what's your secret!?"

"Trusting your friends!" said Zura.

"Not being afraid of shit!" cried Monda.

"Strategy with consideration to everyone's strengths!" called Majuma.

"And you, Murata-san?!"

The horse pressed a mic to Gaho's beak, the turtle pulling his friends together with a great big smile.

"Doing what you love, to give others hope. That's how I live every day of my life."

After the tournament was over, they drove back to their HQ and polished up the trophy in its own special case. The group bantered and celebrated with drinks, as well as a trip to Kanrai for some food worthy of champions. Once they were partied out, Murata took his leave and waved farewell.

A quiet evening made him pause, the wind turning colder as it ruffled his shirt seeing far less creatures out than usual. He missed his patrol officer's cloak, something that kept him warm against the shivers of the streets. In his mental stupor, riding the highs of championhood, Murata sat down in the Children's Park and laid back his head on the bench, sniffing the wind.

The scent of the steak parlour drifted from the east, fattening shudders that sizzled through his ears as his belly rumbled full. The howl of an ambulance droned from the north, racing down the highway at a speed of 80 kilometres, judging by how fast it faded. Murata's brow creased, fearful of such an emergency, and so concerned he was by the sudden ambulance, he almost didn't respond to his partner's voice.

"Did you win your table tennis?"

His eyes opened to see the serpent in his police hat.

"I didn't have time to come down, sorry."

"It's fine," said Murata smiling, "we won, since you asked, it was amazing."

"Yeah?" his partner sat down beside him. "You look happier than usual."

"You'll never believe this, but the guy I faced down in the finals was an old school bully of mine. He tried to shit-talk me, and I destroyed him, then we shook hands, he left, and now we got a trophy."

"Damn, nice work!" the two bumped fists. "Is that you finished then?"

"Mmmm, pretty much...I'll still hang out with the team though, they're good friends and well, you know how I am with ping-pong."

"Long as we never have to play each other again," Reed nudged him, "I prefer darts really."

"I don't think I've ever played," Gaho looked up, "that sounds nice."

"Sooo what are you doing now?"

"Oh just cityscaping, you know."

"Ohohhh yeah," the serpent grinned wide, "we haven't done that in a while, sorta like creature-watching but with our minds."

"Sergeant Kusanaga taught me it," Murata nodded, "you walk a city so many times, you feel it in your heart, but you're much better at it than me."

"It takes all sorts. Mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead, partner."

They both laid back their heads and emptied their thoughts. Drifting over the city, their minds pieced together from that one odd scent, that twisting breeze, that particular call and echo that only one street could make, as half-theories formed in their mind's eye to reveal Kaijurocho, a map from above where vehicles became little dots.

At Park Boulevard in the east, a rickshaw rolled past the construction site. A bull and a horse were hammering nails 60 feet above, their pounding thuds syncing with the small chip in the rickshaw's wheel that made it jump every 50 yards. Licence number 75-58, arrested twice for dangerous driving.

In Public Park 3, two teenagers were kissing, a spider and a cricket, overwhelmed with passion as their mandibles locked together. Their ten eyes turn brilliant in the fire from an old steel drum, their saliva shining like silk. From above, a middle-aged bear watched from her window, holding a mug of coffee, sighing with happy remorse as the taste of her husband's kiss returned to her lips, for the first time in eight years.

On a rooftop in Nagamichi, a long-necked reptile stared towards the gaping hole in the Airenas temple, slowly rebuilt by cranes and pulleys shifting blocks into place. He had a cellphone in his hand, a picture of him and a pale heron smiling on that same roof, in front of the temple. Two tears dripped upon her face, before he wiped the screen, and once again she disappeared.

Through the myriad of faces, they swam through the memories of old cases and minor incidents, a defragmenting of the mind that helped unburden their hearts. Then something ripped them back to the Children's Park, a phone screaming from Sauressy's pocket as he snapped awake.

"YES, hello?"

"Hello?! I-is Murata-san there?!"

"Who is this?"

"It's Dr. Kumoto, from the clinic! Sumi-kun's mother is coming, he needs to come here now!"

"OH, right, we're on our way!" Sauressy hung up. "Kumoto needs you at the clinic, that kid's mom's coming up."

"Ah, finally!" Murata rubbed his hands. "Let's see this powerful witch I've been hearing about."

"Wow, that's a little harsh!"

"Sorry, Sumi's words not mine, let's go!"

Heading down to Suppon Street, they met Kumoto at the front who daubed his brow with a pale sweat. A plan was formed between the three of them, as they waited for Sumi's mother. She arrived within ten minutes, a red-faced baboon in a yellow dress with a simpering smile.

"OH helloooo Dr. Kumoto, we really must stop meeting like this."

"Haha, no worries Maeda-san, I assume you are here for your son?"

"Well I'm certainly not here to rent a room, hawhaw! Has my Sumi-kun been any trouble?"

"No no, he's been an impeccable patient."

"Well then I'll just take him off your hands, again, and hopefully he will stay in his room."

"Before that, these two officers wish to speak with you."

"What?"

"Sgt. Detective Reed O'Sauressy," the monster bowed, "this is my partner, Gaho Murata, may we ask you some questions about your son?"

"Why?" her smile disappeared. "Has he done something wrong?"

"A few public grievances, we don't know whether he was involved but we would like you to clear up some things about his movements."

"Hmm...well, will this take long?"

"Hopefully no more than a half-hour, Murata you take over, I'll help the doctor sign out your son."

"Yes sir."

Gaho pulled out a notebook to look as official as he could. He then realised he was missing his pen, as he gave a look to Sauressy who, while surprised, offered him his own before he went inside with Kumoto.

"On October 11th," began the turtle, "we found your son in Public Park 3 in the afternoon, on his own, unattended. Before that, he was assaulting a clothes shop owner."

"You're not going to charge him are you?!" the mother gasped with a hand to her chest. "He's not normally like this I swear, officer, he's just been very stressed with school."

"I see. What is he like at school? Is he well, does he have good grades?"

"He's a perfectly fine student, does all his work, even does after-school work in the library!"

"Ahh, he loves his books?"

"Oh when is he not burying his nose in some old thing?" the chimp waved her hand. "He's stacked his room full of the things it's a chore having the maid clean it up."

"And how is his home life?" Gaho kept scribbling. "Has he been having any problems doing homework?"

"Well, no," she rolled her eyes, "he actually does all his homework in the library, he shouldn't really, but as long as his grades are good and he gets home on time I don't complain. He's such a...spirited boy."

"And what do you do, if I may ask?"

"I'm a caterer dear," she offered a business card, "Mellow Maeda's Meals."

"Hmmm, not bad," he pocketed it, "does your work take you away from home often?"

"If you're worrying my son is not being cared for, don't, he's fine."

"I was not suggesting that ma'am, I just know that a parent's work life can be stressful to children."

"It's hardly stressful when he's not the one working."

"No, but children look up to their parents, they sense a lot more happening with the house so, has your business been well?"

"Oh it's been exceptional!" the ape clapped her hands. "Had a very good run the past few months for the end-of-summer celebrations at a few showrooms."

"Showrooms?" Murata nodded. "Pretty fancy place."

"I cater towards the upper-middle class, they expect a certain level of professionalism that I bring with my award-winning crocembouches."

"I don't suppose your son helps you?"

"Ohoh no, he's terrible in the kitchen, I've strictly banned him from it, he's clumsy you see."

"Kids can be a handful huh?" the turtle shrugged. "I don't have any myself, but I work with a lot in community safety."

"I wouldn't recommend one," she cracked a smile on her red cheeks, "if it wasn't for hiring a maid at home I'd go practically doolally just handling him!"

"How do you handle him then? He seems to have some issues."

"What, oh no! No no no he's just exceptionally creative, a bursting imagination, I blame the books personally. Can't stop reading them, it's quite frustrating just to get his attention these days!"

"Iiii see. Do you know what happened to him around October 11th? When I approached him he seemed distraught."

"Oh he probably got sad one of his favourite characters died," she shrugged flippant, "there's no need for all this officer, Sumi-kun is just a very hyper-imaginative child, rest assured I'll keep him under wraps this time when I get home."

"This time?" Murata raised his brow. "You weren't before?"

"Well I didn't think it was THIS much of an issue, honestly I'm much too busy with my work to deal with every single problem my son pretends to have."

"He wasn't pretending, ma'am."

"Oh don't tell me you were fooled!" Maeda scoffed shaking her head. "What exactly did he tell you?"

"That nothing was real," the turtle looked around him, "he couldn't feel his body, the city wasn't real and he always saw himself on the outside, following like a ghost-"

"Ugh, not this again!" She rolled her eyes. "Officer, forgive me, I thought after the last session of quiet-time he would stop saying such nonsense."

"What do you mean, quiet-time?"

"When I have some of my regular customers around, for soirées and such, business discussions, I have to keep my son out of harm's way since there's lots of food and creatures about. I have him stay in his room, and if he's quiet and behaved, then I let him keep his books."

"And if he's not quiet?"

"I take them away. And if he's STILL not quiet, I have to restrain him because, he just starts banging on the door like a mentalist and it's very upsetting to me and the guests."

"You...restrain him?" Murata slit his eyes.

"It's all perfectly legal!" the baboon put up her hands. "I'd never hit him or anything, I just tie him to his bed!"

"You tie him down? Is that all, what if he starts shouting?"

"Oh in that case I'll have to gag him, I must stress I ONLY do that very rarely if he's being exceptionally unruly. It just teaches him that if he's not going to be quiet, he'll be punished, that's what you do to children!"

"And does Dr. Kumoto know about this?" Gaho leaned back.

"It's not really his business," she frowned, "I only tell you, officer, because I respect the police more than those doctors, and I don't want you thinking the wrong impression of my son like THEY did the first time Sumi started fantasising like a petulant child."

"Well I'm certainly getting an impression," the turtle tightened his grip on the pen, "what was your son being examined for?"

"The school nurse stuck her nose in and did a referral behind my back, the silly cow, they went off on some hippie nonsense about 'depersonalisation' which honestly I think that's just twaddle. There is nothing wrong with Sumi, he is just an overactive child who needs a little correction to know when to be civil-"

"S-SUMI'S GONE!"

Kumoto stumbled out of the door with Sauressy gasping.

"Sumi, he disappeared, he's not in his room!"

"WHAT?!" Maeda cried. "What do you bloody mean he disappeared?!"

"I-i, I don't know, he was here before you called me Maeda-san!"

"Oh you incompetent FOOL!" she threw up her hands. "Can't you keep track of one ditzy little brat?!"

"We need to find him," Murata turned to his partner, "call central, tell them we have a teenager lost in the city suffering from a severe psychosis."

"He's not INSANE officer, he's just a light-headed moron, I'll make sure he's straightened out when I get him home-"

"No you damn won't." The turtle swivelled back to her. "Kumoto-san, did you know this lady's been abusing her son?"

"Wh-WHAT?!" the polar bear gasped.

"I have NEVER abused my son how DARE YOU!" the baboon snapped.

"Tell him what you did!" Gaho barked. "Tell him what you told me, the quiet-time you give him when he's acting out and the referral you got from the other doctors!"

"That's not important now, my son is wandering around like an idiot getting into trouble!"

"Ma'am, tell the doctor," Sauressy stepped in, "whatever you told my colleague, you tell him, we'll go find your son."

"Ugh, fine, but I'll be talking to your superior about this!"

"I'll speak with her," Kumoto nodded, "please, hurry and find Sumi-kun!"

"Central this is one-nine-five-three," Sauressy tapped his radio, "signal eight from the Kumoto Clinic, signal twenty."

"Ten-four, description?"

"Simian, brown fur, yellow robes, underaged, do not approach, he is highly distressed, possible severe psychosis, request info on location ASAP."

"Copy, all units in vicinity of Suppon Street, be advised."

Murata followed Reed towards Theater Square as they searched high and low, asking locals if they had seen anyone matching Sumi's description. Some would shrug, some would vaguely recall and the odd few would point them the right way. They travelled round the block, crossing the square then heading down through Theater Alley and back to the Kumoto Clinic with no sign of Sumi. Even stranger was no sign of the mother, the doctor still waiting out front.

"Where'd she go?!" asked Murata. "Did she find him?!"

"No, she," the bear clutched his head, "I told Maeda-san her actions were reprehensible, and she walked off threatening to sue for debasement of character!"

"What exactly happened with Sumi-kun, why wasn't he in his room?"

"The door was ajar, somehow, I don't know how, he put a pen in the doorjamb and kept it open to sneak out!"

"But he...no." The turtle ruffled through his pockets. "My...my pen. He took it from me."

"That little bastard's more trouble than he's worth," groaned Sauressy, "we need to find him fast before he smashes another place!"

"It's more likely he'll end up hurting himself," snarled Murata.

"I don't care, he's off his nut and unsupervised meaning SOMEONE is gonna get hurt! Doctor, there anyplace he likes to go?!"

"No," the bear shook his head, "I don't know, he never spoke of the city as an actual place."

"But there must be a clue, think, he has to have some place!"

"Then let's think like him," Murata clasped his hands, "he needs to find a place, somewhere he can escape, was he Sumi or Sukong when you met him today?"

"He was Sumi," said the doctor, "but I don't know where he could go."

"His mother said he loved books, is there any bookstore round here?"

"That...oh no." Kumoto clutched his mouth. "She was asking the same thing, if there were any bookstores, I-i said the nearest one was in Kaijuro Mall."

"We need to go, Sauressy come on!"

Running to the mall at the corner of Taihei Boulevard, directly west of the Millennium Tower, they searched through the first floor café and went higher up to the indoor gardens. Benches sat between ferns with small shops lining around the walls, one of which was in an uproar with creatures filing out quick.

A bookstore became a scene, a corridor of shelves filled with paperbacks with a few turns twisting in the back, the familiar image of Maeda the baboon shouting to someone whilst the swan at the counter flapped in panic.

"SUMI, COME HOME NOW!"

"NOOO!"

"S-STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU LEAVE!"

"SUMI YOU ARE CAUSING A SCENE!" the mother snapped. "Come, HERE!"

"I-I DON'T WANT IT!" he screamed. "IT HURTS, IT'S TOO TIGHT, MY CHEST, MY HEAD HURTS!"

"Oh for gods' SAKE!" Maeda grabbed his arm. "You don't get it, do you?! The more you cry, the longer you have to be QUIET until you bloody learn!"

"B-b-but...but, it hurts...I-i can't feel the walls, I can't breathe, e-everything's too tight, t-too dark, I can't see, e-everything, the roof k-keeps breaking!"

"This is what you get for burying your head in all those books, now stop making things difficult for once in my life!"

"SUMI-KUN!"

Murata cried out as Maeda turned, loosening her grip as she was shoved hard against the wall by her son. He dove into the nearest lift and went to the highest floor, the officers tearing up the stairs with the mother hurrying after. Marching at a slower pace, her face was wrought with frustration more than fear as they soon reached the rooftop garden.

A large greenhouse topped the mall where creatures basked in the evening, an amber line dripping across the horizon with windows open and seats amongst the plants. The monkey climbed up the trees and swung over their heads, causing a fright before he launched himself out a window to climb up on its roof.

Sauressy hurried through the greenhouse to step out on the main roof, a cold wind shrieking at his face as he clenched his eyes to search for Sumi. Murata pointed him over to where the monkey stood, standing at the edge as Maeda came stomping up.

"This is abso-BLOODY-lutely, OH MY GODS!"

"Ma'am, stay back!" Murata warned.

"What, I'm his mother!"

"Exactly. Sauressy, try to talk to him. As for you ma'am, please stay here."

"Officer I'm not going to let my idiot son make a fool of himself again!"

"Your son is clearly upset and needs help!"

"Oh what teenager isn't upset?!" the baboon threw her hands. "I'll take him home and put him in his room for a week, and if that doesn't quiet him down then a month!"

"How many straps are you going to use to tie him down?" Gaho snarled. "You put them over his eyes and mouth too?"

"What, n-not, all the time, what are you saying?!"

"I'm saying that whatever problems your son has, you have only made them worse by your horrific abuse."

"I have NEVER abused him!" she balled her fists. "Do you know how hard it is to raise an imbecile like him?!"

"No and neither do you, because all you do is shut him in a closet and tie him up like a damn slave!"

"You have NO right to accuse me-"

"SHUT UP!"

Murata roared with a shudder through his beak as the baboon balked, a finger thrusting towards her eye.

"Your son needed help. All you have done is hurt him, because you care more about your damn career than your own family. He is struggling to understand the world around him, and when it is your DUTY as a parent to guide him, and care for him, you shoved him deeper into the dark!"

"H-hhow...dare you speak to me like tha-"

"Rest assured, I'm going to make sure the world knows what kind of creature you are. Just because you never laid a hand on him doesn't mean those scars in his mind weren't thanks to you. Now, I'm taking you downstairs, and letting my partner deal with your son."

But when Murata turned, his partner still stood at the exit of the greenhouse. Sumi remained at the edge of the roof, half the height of the Millennium Tower that shone above the sea of lights that grew beyond. In the mind of Sauressy, the city was replaced by an ocean, the tower was a lighthouse, and there, where Sumi had once been...was her.

"//Paula.//" He whispered. "//Oh...oh god, Paula.//"

"Sauressy?"

"//N-no...no, Paula please. P-please don't.//"

Murata tried to take his hand but he was silent, his eyes opening wide with a tear trickling down his cheek. A shudder came through his neck, old and green with regrets choking his voice to a bitter sob. Murata stepped past him, the look on his friend scaring him with a fear that was not his own. With a heavy sigh the turtle walked to the edge, as Maeda kept out of view.

"Sumi-kun."

The boy turned seeing Gaho put up his hands. The wind was rising past his cheek, fluttering his robes like a gold phantom.

"Sumi-kun...it's alright, I'm here."

"Sh-she...she came back." He whispered. "Sh-she came back, you said, you said she wouldn't-"

"I was there at the door, Sumi. I was stopping her, I was right there, you didn't have to leave."

"B-but that...that cop was there, the one who doesn't believe me. H-he's just like her, just like everyone, th-they think I'm lying, that I'm just...that I can't see what's real."

The monkey twitched his tail with a shudder through his limbs. He looked back towards the abyss, the lights spiralling in his eyes to become a fractured dream of glass houses.

"I realised something...or, Wukong did. The mirror he keeps talking about, the one that'll help me escape...it's this city. This entire city's a mirror...and I have to break through."

"What do you mean?" Murata asked.

"I just have to be brave." Sumi walked backwards. "I just...he understood, how to cure me."

"No, Sumi, STOP!" Gaho stepped forwards offering his hand. "Don't do it!"

"Wh-why?!" the youth stuttered. "N-nothing is real, I-i can't...I can't feel anything, it's not going to hurt!"

"It hurt with your mother didn't it?" the turtle said. "You can't say nothing is real if you can still feel pain."

"SO WHAT?! Love isn't real, you can't hold it in your hand, but it still hurts when you don't have it! Feelings aren't real but they still hurt you in your head, what makes THIS any different?!"

"But you ARE real. Remember what I said, that I believe in you? I can help you, I can help you get away from her, I've seen her true face Sumi. I cannot, in good conscience, ever let you go back to her again."

"I-it's not up to you...you're not even a cop anymore, aren't you?"

Murata gasped with shame as he shook his head.

"I'm...currently suspended yes, but I'm still bound to the rules of police conduct."

"So what can you even do to save me?" asked Sumi spreading his arms. "You're just another part of the city, just a thing that's wandering through the lights. You're a shadow and...I'm not."

"No,." Gaho said stepping closer. "You're more than that. I can't understand what you're going through, and I never will, I won't pretend that I can help you fully. But I don't want you to leave us. Please, Sumi. Come back to me."

"I was never back...Murata. I was never really here, even now I'm just looking at you, looking at me, looking at both of us from above, like...like I'm watching a play, just the two of us on a stage where the lights aren't real, and the buildings are just cardboard. All the words I'm saying aren't even my own, but words that someone is writing at the same speed I'm talking."

"But wasn't it nice back at the clinic?" Murata gestured to the streets. "You were doing well, you seemed fine, was Kumoto-san nice to you?"

"He...h-he was." The chimp rubbed his arm. "It felt nice there. Safe. It was quiet."

"It can be quiet again. I'll be here for you. I promise."

"...will you?" Sumi spread his arms. "Will you still be there...for me?"

He fell backwards off the roof. Everyone watching screamed when the boy disappeared over the edge, before a second cry came when Murata followed him into the abyss. Falling through the air, his hands reached towards the youth, the monkey's face drifting into a dream of as he waited for the end, for silence to come and take him.

The roar of the traffic became a blur as the lights shifted past him. Faster and faster, the glass turned to smoke, the colours washed from his mind and his robe fluttered like a dying phoenix. The world came rising above him, as the force of gravity ripped back his fur and tore through his eyes. He tried to close them against the roaring winds, as a shadow fell upon him.

To those who caught wind of the incident, a crowd had gathered beneath the mall where they shrieked at the falling Sumi. Gasps of fright filled the air, a few kaiju flying upwards in a desperate bid to catch him. But someone was already there, falling towards him like an angel of deliverance. When Sumi opened his eyes hearing the creatures below him, he saw Murata with arms spread above him.

Blasting behind the turtle was his jet thrusters, falling faster with eyes tearing as he stretched his hands towards the child. Sumi was shocked, gasping as he reached out to Murata, an urge to survive briefly welling up inside that was just enough to save him.

The moment Gaho felt his fingers, he pulled Sumi into his arms and twisted upright, burning thrusters with a furious clench until they hovered twelve feet off the ground. The monkey clutched him tight, whimpering with fear as they landed carefully, the doctor Kumoto rushing forth through the crowd.

"M-MURATA, MURATA!"

"Haaah...gods." The turtle released him. "You alright, Sumi-kun?"

"You...you promised." The youth stuttered a sob. "You really did...promise."

"I meant what I said...I would be there for you, no matter what."

"I...I'm sorry." He hugged Murata again. "I-i'm sorry, i-i don't know what to do, everything hurts, I-"

"Hey, hey." The detective squeezed him gently. "You're here. I'm here. I believe in you, Sumi. Look."

He turned towards the crowd who gasped with relief, a few photos being taken and updates reported but overall everyone was smiling grateful for the boy's safety.

"They all think you're real too," said Murata. "None of them ever met you, or know who you are, but all of them saw you fall...and begged you to stay."

"...I...I don't know if any of them are real," Sumi shook his head, "but...but I know you. And you...if you believe in me that much that you would...then maybe I can start seeing things a bit different...someday."

"I'm sure you can." Kumoto stepped through the crowd. "Are you ready to come back, Sumi-kun? Your room is waiting for you."

"O-okay...thank you...Murata."

Walking him back to the clinic, Murata made sure he was checked in safe with the doctor, before the detective returned to the mall where Maeda stood at the entrance.

"AH, officer!" she swivelled her head at him. "Wh-where is he, is he alright, he-"

"He's fine." He crossed his arms. "He is in care, and I am going to tell you this only once. Do not ever approach him again."

"Wha-...what?"

"Your son is now considered a victim of abuse. You will be sent a notice at your address in time, after which the police will expect you down at the station to explain your actions. Should you fail to do so, the police will come and arrest you, and put you in a cell, after which the case will be processed, and a court trial will be set. If you try to approach your son again, contact him in any form, or make any demands towards the clinic, I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand?"

"...yes. Officer." She snarled with bitter shock but slowly backed off. "I will await the notice, and...you shall be hearing from my lawyer."

"I'm sure."

He walked past her into the mall, heading back up to the roo as all the locals in the greenhouse garden had left to watch the streets. At the corner of the glass pavilion, Sauressy sat by himself, staring off at the Millennium Tower.

"Sauressy?" Gaho asked. "Sumi's fine. I managed to save him."

The monster did not respond, his eyes listless as his claw traced something in the dirt.

"Sauressy...who's Paula?"

"...my wife." He muttered quietly. "I failed you again."

"What? No, it's fine look, it was a difficult situation and-"

"Not you...god dammit." The serpent clutched his face. "Let's just go back to the precinct."

Murata nodded solemn as they walked back, his friend almost dragging his feet with a sunken gaze. Down the steps and back out onto the streett, they arrived at the precinct some minutes later, Murata handing Sauressy a small card with details of Maeda to process her notice. Before the turtle could leave, Gaho heard a voice from the entrance.

"Murata!"

He turned to see the chief of his department, Gondo marching out with two officers in tow, a lobster and a wolf as Sauressy stepped aside.

"Chief!" Gaho saluted. "How can I help?"

"I'm glad you asked," Baruti nodded, "you can start by not resisting."

"Wait...what?"

"Sergeant Detective Gaho Murata, you are under arrest for gross misconduct, slaughterhood, and assaulting the police."

"Wha-WHAT?!" Sauressy snapped. "Wait, h-hold on, he never did any of those things-"

"We've had reports from Osaka, concerning several incidents that Murata was involved in."

"I...I don't understand," Gaho shook his head, "what exactly am I being charged for?"

"The death of Arsinio Zittelli." The chief crossed his arms. "Along with the incident on the Meishin Expressway. Come along quietly, let's not make this difficult."

"Y-...yes, sir."

Murata shared a look with Sauressy, both of them shocked at this startling accusation for a different reason. The wolf and the lobster grabbed the turtle, cuffing him as he did not resist. Sauressy, shaken from his grief, headed straight to his desk as something clicked in the back of his mind, a terrible truth slowly emerging from the depths of his precinct.