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In the Millennium Tower, a kaiju was waiting in the lavish halls of the upper floors. With guards and accountants patrolling the halls in severe suits, the air was strangely oppressive to most visitors who sat in the lounge with ergonomic chairs, fancy low tables and a widescreen above the bar. A soft mood lighting gave the impression of the northern lights, the walls and windows reflecting an ethereal beauty.

Watching the news was a red reptilian with a long tail shaped like a mace, his devilish wings neatly folded behind his back, a pair of huge spikes sprouting from the shoulders of his suit. His head had a stubby snout, with large ear-like protrusions either side and a large horn piercing from his forehead.

On the news was a memoriam of KayJee, the white wolf singer whose fans in Kankoran were putting up a wall of pictures in her honour of her. Pyongyang airport looked both military and pedestrian, the walls of dark spackle and puce were made more radiant by flowers of white and pink, whilst kaiju sang her songs.

"Sir?"

The red kaiju looked up towards the elevator, seeing a tarantula bow to him.

"Gihei-sama is ready to receive you now."

"Ahh, thank you."

The stranger's voice was oddly soft, but husky. The soft smell of ash came off his suit as he walked with the spider, his eyes of dark crimson swallowing the light from overhead.

"Maung-san, yes?" the newcomer asked. "You're looking well since we last met."

"Thank you," Khoumad bowed, "we have not met often, but I appreciate hearing that, Destroyer-san."

"You can call me Desmond," the Destroyer smirked as they stepped in the lift, "I wouldn't call you Assassin-san, now would I?"

"Of course not." The tarantula stood beside him. "Did you enjoy your flight?"

"Oh yes. There was a lovely stewardess I talked to, her mother worked at a factory I used to be in."

"Really?" the spider widened his eight eyes. "What a small world."

"She was very sweet," the reptile nodded, "gave me some of her cookies as a small gift, would you like one?"

"Why...yes, thank you."

Desmond brought out a small bag of chocolate chip cookies, offering one to Khoumad who nibbled away with his mandibles. The reptile chomped his own, watching the tarantula pick it apart as the elevator hummed in ascent.

"These are marvellous," Khoumad grinned, "reminds me of a cafe in Issincho."

"I love sitting in cafes," Desmond finished his, "on my off-days I listen to conversations and, pardon the expression, spin a web of connections in my head."

"I do that as well, it's very enlightening and I find it remarkably useful in our line of work. When you decipher who is dating whom, and you learn of adulterous relationships before the other, it can more interesting than what TV provides."

"I only watch the news," said the reptile, "fiction bores me. Imagine a horse gets a phone call from his girlfriend, he twirls his finger in his mane feeling sweet and demure. There's an odd blink in his eyes, a downward creep of a frown, but then he brushes it off with a smile, then they say goodbye...not realising it's the last time he'll ever say it to her."

"An oddly specific instance," Khoumad raised his brow, "what happened exactly?"

"Would you like to know?"

He leaned in close and began to tell the story.

On the other side of the Tower, Battram Ojha was also waiting for a guest he had to escort. He took this time to meditate on the floor beside the window, crossing his legs and closing his eyes in an open lounge area. He clasped two hands together, the other two pinching his thumbs and forefingers in a soft mantra he repeated to himself. The guards looked at him oddly, but none would disturb him or else suffer retribution.

In his mind's eye he saw the temple, far below him in the depths of Tokyo. He envisioned a perfect golden land, a promised home for the spiritually pure. Shoji took his hand at the top of the temple, in the garden where the grand tree stood above all, touching the heavens with its bountiful leaves.

He looked at her hands. They were sour, rotting through and staining his fingers as she smiled at him. Every drip would blacken the earth, and the roots would fester and rot. He saw her tender face, and the golden shadow of Sarasvati behind her, her lute playing a beautiful song.

She nodded with a smile, and Shoji pushed him back as they stepped into battle stance. From his garb Ojha brought out a katar, a short piercing blade with a handle as he rushed for her head. She parried with a sweep of her wing, revealing the sari underneath as Shoji spun with a graceful kick to block his punch.

The black moth made a rising slash as she swerved past his blade, punching for his belly that he blocked with his knee and kicked her back in the jaw. Ojha lunged with a downwards fist, that she guarded with two hands and punched him twice with the other two, twisting his arms to then throw him over her shoulder. Unfurling his wings he flapped free in mid-flight, spinkicking the back of her head when she clashed her elbow against his foot.

Sarasvati, Goddess of Knowledge, praised by the wise and saviour of this land.

He stepped back and dodged low to stab her abdomen.

You who have mastered Sastra, wife of the Creator.

Shoji slammed her fist down on his katar.

May your words enthrall the tip of my tongue, may your hands guide me swift and true.

He lunged for her throat and grabbed Shoji's neck. She smiled at him, a hand caressing his cheek, eyes of blue reflecting his red. He dropped his blade, and as she brushed over the smaller horns of his head, a trail of filth spread across his temple.

Oh Sarasvati, you who opened my eyes, just as you fought the warlord Ahi.

The hand of the goddess plucked her strings behind Shoji

I pray to thee...what must I do? Does your avatar truly stand in the way of salvation?

The longer Shoji held him, the thicker her filth became, smearing over his eyes and dripping down his wings to start filling up the earth beneath. Dirt became water, a river of sewage that spread towards the roots of the great tree. The branches would wither, and the leaves would scatter, in the howling winds of nuclear winter.

Please...tell me. Sarasvati. Tell me there is another way.

He looked upon Shoji again. His hands were stained with blood, spreading across her face. The smell of ash and the billowing smoke, as her wings became fire. Beyond her he saw the ferris wheel, rising in flames with her. And there upon the pyre, stood Sarasvati with her lute. Plucking the strings like one would slit a throat.

Be this my song? A song of ash and fire? I must...yes.

Battram g_rabbed Shoji's throat with two hands, and pushed her down into the rotting earth._

I must protect the temple...her life, I must offer a sacrifice.

Bubbling breaths escaped her mouth as her eyes flickered in the depths.

As Shoji-Brahmana chose the temple over me...so too, must I choose it over her.

He clapped his hands together and made a dark prayer, his golden tips flickering a tender green. He opened his eyes and flinched when he saw the one sitting in front of him. A reptile with a skull-shaped head, from which two horns aligned with each other across his scalp, and a row of silver teeth formed a rictus grin.

"Ah...Mr. X, correct?"

" Yes."

The stranger sat with his legs crossed, wearing a black severe suit with white bony pauldrons and a long forked black tail draped over his knees. Battram looked towards the guards to find the lounge completely abandoned. A smile crossed his mandibles as he bowed deep in his dark wings.

"An honour to meet you, X-san. I am Battram Ojha, Rai-sama's retainer of sorts. Apologies if I made you wait."

" No." Mr. X shook his head. " It is fine."

"Shall I take you to the meeting then?"

" Yes."

They both stood up together, Ojha heading up the stairs to a further lounge as guards backed off into doors avoiding the skull-headed creature. His eyes of hellish crimson left traces when he turned his head, his shoes black as his suit showing his own reflection. His hands never moved, dark fingers wrapped round a long silver suitcase with a voice always deep like the caverns of Cocytus.

"Did you have a good journey?" asked Battram.

" Yes. Long."

"I have never rode in an airplane myself."

" Wings?"

"Well, yes."

" You travel?"

"No, but one time a friend and I travelled to Andhra Pradesh."

" India," X nodded, " Adityabad District."

"Yes, exactly!" Ojha looked back mid-walk. "The only place I have ever flown to but it was beautiful, truly a place sculpted by the gods, especially the Undavalli caves."

" Krishna River. I know of it."

"Really?" the moth turned and stopped with a look of shock. "You have been there too, what a small world!"

" Ancient, beautiful," the skull-head closed his eyes, " honour Ananta Padmanabha."

"And Nagashimha, yes! We were so lucky to meditate there, actually the meditation I was doing was the very same I did back in Undavalli."

" Yes, sandhyaa vandhanam. Evening prayers are important."

"You...are you Hindu, X-san?"

" No."

Thrown off-kilter by the mysterious guest, Ojha kept walking through various offices, sometimes passing cubicles where other kaiju hid and cowered. The eyes of Mr. X looked coldly at everyone he passed, freezing them on the spot with deathly fear as they soon found the elevator near the bar with the northern lights.

"Our other guest must have arrived," Ojha saw the numbers go up, "would you like to wait or shall we take the stairs?"

" Stairs, please."

"I agree. The gods did not give us legs to stand around in boxes."

" Only box we need, are coffins."

The moth stuttered a laugh that surprised even himself, a strange guffaw as he cracked up a smile.

"That, hhhahaha yes, yes that is true! Alright, let us go."

Ascending the stairs behind the wall of the bar, they stepped ever higher towards the 107th floor with guards keeping out their way.

"I must warn you," said Ojha, "Gihei is in a foul mood. A member of a rival yakuza clan escaped him two days ago, after assaulting him violently. We have yet to find him, but-"

" Kiryu."

Battram gasped looking back again.

" Gojirama Kiryu."

"That...that's correct but, how? I thought you were out of the country."

" I was."

His smile remained inscrutable as Ojha tried to make sense of him. His face was unchanging, the skull with silver teeth glinting in the lights as the carpets became more lavish. Finally they reached the the grand golden doors of Jinuchu's kings, two kappa receptionists filing away on separate desks.

" Your prayer." X looked to Ojha. " Sarasvati?"

"Yes," the moth sighed, "the one who established the Airenas Temple."

" You are Brahmana?"

"No, I...Shoji-sama is. I was to be trained as one."

" Why are you here?"

"We disagreed over the temple's path," Battram crossed his arms, "she insisted on bringing beggars and prostitutes into our most sacred place, and I protested that their tainted souls brought sacrilege-"

" No." X pointed at the floor. " Why. Are you HERE?"

"Well...Rai-sama found me in a park, lecturing to the public. He was fascinated by my rhetoric, and I spoke with him for hours. It was the most wonderful conversation."

A smile crept over his mandibles.

"He debated with me long into the night, he was so patient and enthralled by my words he asked if I would be in his employ. I am officially his bodyguard, but in truth I am more of a spiritual companion."

" Good." The creature nodded. " What plans for the temple?"

"That was just what I was thinking," the moth tapped his cheek, "Doi wants to relocate it, Gihei wants to destroy it, neither of which I would allow but Rai-sama has put forth the idea that if I became Brahmana instead of Shoji, the temple shall stay as I become benefactor."

" But Shoji dies."

"Exactly. Hm...strange, I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this."

" You are concerned. She is your friend, I am unbiased."

"You are awfully well-informed." Ojha turned to him.

" I listen." X closed his eyes. " You must choose the temple or her?"

"Yes. It is not the killing I object to, I am capable of that. It is...killing her. She is my Brahmana, she...she is the avatar of Sarasvati, would the goddess herself truly wish for her own to be killed? She has a son, so her bloodline will survive, but I admit every time I think of plunging my dagger in her thorax...it troubles me."

" Daksha-Yajna." The creature raised a finger. " You know the story?"

"It...sounds familiar."

" Daksha, son of Brahma, has a daughter, Sati. She loves Shiva, wants to be his wife."

"Aaaaah yes, but Daksha did not want it because he was of the house of Brahma."

" Shiva was not noble, but pure. Sati won Shiva's love, and they would wed."

"But Shiva did not show reverence to Daksha at the ceremony, because Brahma said Shiva was superior as the son-in-law."

" Daksha has his own ceremony, without inviting Shiva. Sati wanted to go, Shiva told her not to, said it would end badly."

"But she went regardless...and her father humiliated her." Ojha sighed pressing his thumbs against his mandibles. "Her father insulted her in front of nobles, spat on Shiva's name, and she could not bear it. So to spite him, and curse her own family, she jumped into the sacrificial pyre."

" It is a good story."

"I suppose it is, but, why do you bring it up?"

" Daksha lost his daughter, for not listening to Brahma. Sati lost her father, for not listening to Shiva. Those who defy gods, will suffer amongst their own."

"That...that is true." The monk rubbed his golden horns. "If the gods have spoken, when it's even their own avatars...then that is how it should be. Thank you, X-san. You are a surprising voice of reason."

The skull nodded with simple bow, the grand doors opening finally as they both stepped through.

"Aaaaah, X, my dear friend!"

Doi greeted them first as he stepped up to shake his hand.

"It has been far, far too long, how are you, can I get you something?"

" Water, sugar," he shook back.

"Ojha-san, same for you?"

"Yes, thank you."

Through the grand imperial hall with its golden-sun centre, and five carpets stretching out to separate rooms, Doi brought them to the dining hall with its grand table, grander window and magnificent portraits of the three brothers. Rai was already seated, as kappa servants brought sugar-based soda water to pour for their visitors, who sat down opposite Doi and Rai.

Food was already out and roasting, from plump meaty carcasses to the freshest of greens, but X couldn't help draw his eye towards a ginormous suit of armour at the end of the hall.

" That is new." He put his suitcase down.

"Ohohhh yes!" Doi grinned tapping his hands. "Project Emperor finally came through, thanks to my brother."

"It was an interesting task," said Rai with a stiff nod, "unexpected from Doi, but who am I to refuse a commission from my brother?"

" What is it for?" X squinted at the suit. " It has three holes for heads?"

"That would be telling," the purple drake wagged his finger, "how have you been, X-san?"

" Good." The creature sipped his water. " Went to Canada. Ishpatina Ridge."

"OH, I've always wanted to travel to the Americas, what did you do?"

" Met a chieftain of Ojibwe. Showed me the canyon, deepest in Ontario. Caves full of his ancestor's writings."

"Fascinating," Doi pulled up a glass of wine, "what did you two discuss?"

" Expansion into Gowganda City." The skull drank with him. " We spoke in his tongue, walked to Temegami. I killed all the workers. Now he owns the quarry. I took twenty-percent."

"Twenty?!" scoffed the dragon. "My my X-san you're getting rather soft in your age, I would have pushed for sixty!"

" I liked him. He reminds me of you."

"Hah, of course, an ambitious sort empowering his tribe, you know I always thought I would have made a great daimyo back in the day."

" Like your father." The creature smiled. " You look happy, Doi."

"Ohohhh indeed, wait until you hear our fanTASTIC news once my brother is about."

" Come to America, I'll teach you English."

"Mmmm, perhaps once our plan is done! Would be nice to see if the mountains of Canada are different from China."

" Ni zui xihuan zhongguo de na yibufen?"

"AH, Nanjing! Wo xihuan ta zai san ge sanguo shidai kaishi de qiangda lishi!"

" Shi de. Jin chao yeshi wo de zui ai."

"How are you Ojha-san?" asked Rai sitting in green. "You seem nervous."

"I am...better, thank you," the moth bowed, "forgive me but, our guest troubles me, yet at the same time he helped me steer my course for the temple's future. He told me the story of Daksha-Yajna, and suddenly everything clicked."

"Really?"

The dragon looked towards X still speaking in Chinese with Doi. Ojha's head trembled when X looked at him with a grin.

"I can sense the intent of others normally, through my ascetic training...but not him."

"He is inscrutable," Rai sipped his wine, "but he is our ally, do not fear him."

"How can I not?" Battram's long tongue sipped the sugary water. "What creature can hide his soul with such a dark mist?"

"The one who almost killed me. He is on our payroll because our father, thirty years ago, paid him a higher price to kill the one who hired him."

"He...what?! That...that is...and your father let his son's attempted murderer stay?!"

"He did not do so out of malice," the dragon tapped his fingers on the glass, "it was purely business. Now we are colleagues."

"I do not think I could ever be friends with a murderer such as him."

"Imagine how Shoji feels," said Doi turning to Ojha, "I hope I'm not putting you off by forcing you into that choice."

"It is a test of the gods," Battram clasped his hands, "I will accept it."

"Would you like some tea?" asked Rai calling for the waiter. "Chamomile and lavender?"

"Yes, thank you."

Rai offered his hand across the table, to which Ojha took in a gentle squeeze.

"This will be difficult. Your guilt is good, it shows you still have your soul."

"Thank you, Rai-sama. Actually, forgive me, I will have the tea in your quarters."

"I will accompany you," the jade dragon stood up to walk him, "I will return in a moment, Doi."

"Take your time!" the purple drake waved. "Now, where were we, OH yes, hangban fei hang ruhe?!

" Hao de," X continued drinking.

Stepping across the opulent hall, Rai took his disciple into his room with its zen garden of soft stones and a gentle pond, the bedroom nearby in a traditional Japanese decor. The moth sat beside the running water, gently trickling down the thing that goes doink as his mind drifted back into the realms of deities.

"This is a necessary evil," said Rai bringing him tea. "With Shoji gone, you can keep the temple safe from my brothers."

"I know," Ojha sighed, "I do not know how you can stand them."

"They are my family. Not all of us can choose which family to have."

"My parents chose theirs. Did you know I looked them up, a few years ago? Whores of the stock market, always in suits, running around with briefcases. I looked upon them in our family house. They don't even have another child."

"Is that why you changed your name?"

"Battou Imagawa never existed," the moth slit his eyes, "not to his parents, nor to himself. He was the pupa, from which Battram Ojha emerged, free from those suffocating suits who left him at the temple. The first creature I remember smiling upon me, was Shoji. She has always been the light to my darkness."

"Some days the light can burn too harsh." Rai patted his arm. "Darkness can become shelter."

"Hmm. Yes." Ojha smiled looking up. "I will rest here, thank you Rai-sama."

"I will save you some food," the dragon in green stood up, "namaste."

"Namaste."

Stepping out of his quarters, Rai heard the elevator ping from beyond the grand doors. Departing from the lift, a red reptilian walked forth, and a trembling tearful Maung came shivering behind him, with tears from his eight eyes.

"Desmond-san," the dragon bowed, "we've been expecting you."

"Thank you," the kaiju bowed back, "how are you Rai? Ticking away?"

"Well enough...Maung-san." He looked past to see the tarantula. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yes." He choked back his sobs. "F-fah...forgive me."

The spider shuffled out with a deep bow, drying his eyes with his sleeve. At that moment, a door slammed open causing him to flinch as Gihei emerged from his room into the hall.

"S-sir, Gihei-sama!" a cat in nurse clothes rushed out behind. "We need to finish your exercises-"

"I GOT FUCKING BUSINESS TO DO!" he slapped the nurse who fell back. "Wait for me back in there, and shut your FUCKING MOUTH!"

Shuffling back inside with a welted cheek, the feline closed the door as the dragon stumbled to his guest. A throaty cough rattled his lungs, wearing only a pair of red slacks with his chest covered in bandages. One of his eyes was wrapped in gauze, a horn broken off and black nuclear burns scarring his front.

"Yooooo, Dezzy!" The dragon wheezed. "My buddy, my fucking destroyer, howsit going?"

"Wonderful thank you," the Destroyer bowed again, "what happened to you, your new favourite girl play rough?"

"Hah, you wish, just business as usual."

"Mmmmm looks pretty nasty." The newcomer stepped close to sniff the bruises. "Nuclear breath...reptilian cells...the look on your face tells me it wasn't a female or you'd be much more upset."

"Don't fucking do this," Gihei pushed him back, "I'm not in the mood-"

"Two days ago, and no sign of cloth burns...you had a fight with a rival yakuza, didn't you?"

"Correct," Rai nodded leaning over, "an intruder who came to-"

"Don't FUCKING TELL HIM YOU SHIT!"

When Gihei tried to strike his brother, Rai swerved back before coming in close to clutch his sibling before he fell. A rasping cough retched from his lungs before he was walked over to the dining hall.

"We were just about to have dinner," said Rai, "please, join us."

"Thank you," Desmond walked behind, "hope we didn't fill ourselves up eating cookies."

"Cookies?"

"Yes," the reptile pulled out his bag, "I have a few to spare, Maung-san, would you like-"

"N-NOOOO!"

The tarantula fell back in a heap, covering his head with all six arms.

"P-please, no c-cookies...again."

"Ohhh that's a shame," Desmond chomped another, "mmmhh they are lovely."

"You told Maung the fucking cookie story?!" Gihei gasped with a grin.

"I did tell him the cookie story."

"Hahaaa shit I love that one, Doi never lets me tell it, says it makes him go all queasy!"

"It's a classic, what can I say?"

All four of them went to the table, Doi finishing his talk with X as the three dragons sat in a row, facing Maung, Desmond and Mr. X on the other side.

"Are you alright brother?" asked the purple suit in centre. "Should we not delay dinner and-"

"Nah, I'm hungry," Gihei slumped on the left, "that fucking nurse gets on my tits."

"You asked for no females, this is the best we can provide."

"Whatever, I'd rather talk abou-AAAUGH fffffuck!"

His throat burned when he tried to spark lightning, a coughing fit overwhelming him as Doi offered him a glass.

"Fucking Kiryu that fucking fat Toho cunt BITCH I'm gonna fuck his skull with my FUCKING CLAWS!"

"Kiryu?" the Destroyer pricked his ears.

" Toho lieutenant," X filled a plate with meat and veg, " Obakimura family."

"Yeah, what you want his fucking number?!" Gihei snorted.

"I'm just surprised such a thug can rile you up," Desmond tittered, "he's hardly as sophisticated as you, Gihei."

"Heh...well, sometimes when you deal with trash, you talk their language."

"Exactly, you just got a little too deep in the role, it happens with your vibrant personality."

"Awhaww, thanks Dez," the dragon laughed, "howsit going?"

"Ohhh fine," the red fiend ate some sushi, "my work's finished in Kankoran so your company can now swoop in on those development contracts."

"So that WAS you, HAH! My boy done it again, that fucking hospital, MMMPH!" Gihei gave a chef's kiss. "Moment I heard about a gas leak in maternity, I just knew it had to be you."

"I must admit," said the purple suit chuckling, "that was remarkable work on your part, and Plectrum earning some top charitable appeal was the icing on the cake."

" The children die either way." X nodded approving. " The hospital is ruined no matter what."

"Tragedy is an art," Desmond spread his hands, "you and I, we are the pencil and the paintbrush."

" One is grander, the other more swift."

The two raised their glasses to each other and clinked, drinking it down before Gihei rubbed his chin.

"Just thinking about my favourite kill you did, that governor Song? Fuck that shit was poetry."

"It helped you hired me early in his campaign," Desmond slurped down his sashimi, "politicians are always the most fun to unravel."

"I prefer you do your work quickly," Doi slit his eyes, "some of us have schedules."

"You can't rush a story. Look at GamaYoung. Imagine how much less impactful it would have been if I had just poisoned the CEO outright, rather than slip mercury in his coffee over months."

"As much as I respect your diligence, I ask that you arrange them in a more orderly routine."

"Doi, relax," Gihei leaned over patting him, "Dezzy's got this shit, we wouldn't have him if we didn't, I vouch for him personally as my favourite bastard."

"Thank you, Gihei." The Destroyer grinned. "You're my favourite bastard too."

Throughout all this Maung said not a single word, nibbling down meat to the bone as they dined together. The tarantula flinched every time Desmond reached over for a plate, but sometimes he noticed the red kaiju bringing out another small bag of treats.

"What is that?" Maung bravely asked.

"Carolina Reapers," Desmond offered a scarlet candy, "would you like one?"

" Don't." X looked over mid-bite. " Two-hundred times hotter than jalapenos."

"Oh come on X-san it's not FATAL."

" He gave me some for a job. Fifteen dead, more than I planned."

"Well you didn't dilute it properly."

" You told me to put it in punch."

"And you listened, now who's the bigger fool?"

"Hah, he got ya there," Gihei snickered jabbing his fork.

"Speaking of fools, that thug with the nuclear breath." The Destroyer leaned over with hand on chin. "That's quite a power, you're a sturdy boy to take that still standing."

"He fucking cheated!" the dragon snapped. "I had the prick right where I wanted, and he jacked up like crazy!"

"Mind your blood pressure," Doi patted him.

"Oh what, you fucking worried about me?!"

"Of course I am Gihei, you're my brother! Weren't you worried when Rai got attacked by that ghastly Kiryu?"

"Ehhh...I-i knew he could handle himself but, maybe."

"We are a family," the purple suit put a hand on each brother's shoulder, "much as we argue, we stand together as the only equals that exist in this world."

"He is right," said Rai drinking wine on the right, "we respect your formidable strength, but do not overexert yourself, and should anyone attack you...your brother and I would destroy them."

"Exactly." Doi glared towards Desmond who simply smiled. "Our throne is fit for three, Gihei. Kiryu's clan shall pay."

"Heh...yeaaaah," the bare-chested dragon rubbed his bandage, "that Kiryu's gonna pay for cheating out on me."

" Cheaters never prosper." X looked to Doi with a grin. " I can bring him here."

"Good fucking luck, bastard disappeared that night, haven't found him since."

"Because Kiryu is dead."

They all turned to Rai who tented his fingers.

"I obtained a report from my scouts, remember I sent some to you to keep watch in Issincho?"

"Yeaaaah?" Gihei sneered.

"A kaiju resembling Kiryu fell off the rooftop into the river. They kept watch the entire night, he did not resurface."

"Are you fucking serious?!"

"Would I lie to you, Gihei?"

"...nah." The dragon leaned back deflated. "Guess you wouldn't. Shit he...he's really dead?"

"Are you disappointed?" Rai cocked his head.

"I was hoping to...watch him die...fuck. That's disappointing."

"Oh well," Desmond shrugged scarfing down sushi, "one less nuisance, means you can save your strength for the great cleansing!"

"Hah, damn, Dez you always know what to say. I fucking love you dude."

"I wish I could."

His lips pulled back into what should be a smile, but to Maung resembled the face that one saw in the mirror at 3am. Finishing up their dinner and clearing the table, Doi brought out two folders before the assassins.

"I would normally do this at our front desk," said the middle head, "but I want to preserve Gihei's strength."

"I like this table more anyway," the left head rubbed his eye, "makes me feel like a king with one of them banquets."

"Here are two dossiers for your different targets. One concerns the head of the Toho Clan, Kin Shisahara. The other concerns the patriarch of the Obakimura family."

"Ahhh," Desmond took one folder, "because they control Kaijurocho?"

"Correct," Doi rapped his fingers, "we've ascertained that Sanjin Obakimura, is close friends with Shisahara and his most trusted ally despite his common ways."

" Kill both, the clan falls," X took the other folder, " simple, but effective."

"We finally managed to procure the deed to Lot Zero. So our plan can begin in earnest. In two weeks time we shall begin Operation Cold Death, before which we shall ready our companies to pull out from the government the moment hell breaks loose. Our social media accounts will unanimously oppose the government for quote-unquote 'their horrific act of war', and after they have been ousted, we shall support a new government."

" Excellent." The skull grinned. " Engineer cancel culture."

"Exactly!" Doi thumped his fist. "The new government we shall lobby, and with our finances backing them, they will do whatever we like, whilst we remain hidden from the public eye. Japan shall be reborn as the most powerful nation in the world."

"When is the deadline?"

"November twenty-sixth, the day before the cabinet reshuffle. That will cause the most panic amongst the government, and being unable to reconvene parliament in that time, their silence will be construed as guilt by the public."

The purple suit gave a pointed look at Desmond.

"The Toho Clan MUST be severed without their two heads, by November twenty-fourth, otherwise you shall not be paid."

"I don't do it for the money," said the Destroyer, "I do it for the art."

The red-headed killer looked across the various photos taken by Jinuchu agents, showing a spike-mohawked triphibian with a much younger bat-eared kaiju as they sat in a tent. Their names were noted with profiles, as he scanned the elder's face looking upon the youth. His smile came with a terrible look, one that made Maung recoil with primal fear.

"I will take Obakimura. I have just the thing."

"Really?" Gihei sat up. "Ohohhh I know that look, you got some real shit planned Dez?"

"Oh don't worry," his smile grew, "you'll hear all about it in the news. Is that okay with you, X-san?"

" Yes." The skull took the other dossier. " I will kill Shisahara."

"Excellent!" Doi clapped his hands. "That was fast, dare I say you have a plan too?"

" Lure the patriarchs home with attacks. Leave headquarters open, I march in. Kill security, I bring you Shisahara's head."

"Yes, force them into a king's gambit! Just like that match we had seven years ago!"

" Yes. Leshytsin."

"PFFT HAAAH!"

The dragon slapped his knee with a sudden cackle, everyone else looking confused with X simply smiling.

"Pfffft haaaaaahahaha, Leshytsin! OHOHOHH, ohhhh sorry, you had to be there, that was the funniest bloody match."

" Hhm!" Half a chortle came from X. " I hope we play again soon."

"Oh absolutely my dear fellow! You may have taken my hand, but you've certainly not taken my QUEEN!"

" One day." X wagged a finger. " En passant, your doom."

"Hmhmmhmmm, yes. Right, well if that's all there is, I say meeting adjourned!"

"Yeah same," Gihei groaned leaning back, "fuck, gimme a minute."

As Rai departed back to his room with some food for Ojha, Doi went to his quarters with X following after. His silver suitcase in hand, he stepped inside the study as the books slightly shifted at the presence of the new guest, trembling for new fingers to touch their spines.

"I see the monk took his medicine?" said the dragon.

" The story worked." X nodded. " He obeys your plan."

"Thank you, X-san. Our quest to reshape Japan was already troublesome enough without a crisis of faith, what story did you tell him?"

" Hmm." The creature walked over to his shelves. " Let me find it for you."

Whilst X seeked out the Hindu texts, Gihei found his strength to lift off his seat and take leave from the dinner hall.

"I gotta go take a nap. Dez, you not telling me your plan?"

"Ohhh no," Desmond tapped his horn, "that would spoil the surprise, but rest assured, you will know when it happens."

"Hell yeah, that's my fucking Destroyer buddy. Oh yeah, Maung, that reminds me."

"Y-yes?" Khoumad stood up with salute.

"We're moving outta Issincho. Start the cleansing." The dragon gave him a list from his pocket "All those names, I want them dead by this week."

"Understood." The tarantula bowed. "Anything else you require?"

"Yeah, take Dezzy back downstairs."

"M-me?"

"No, the other Maung who does his fucking job, did I beat you fucking deaf?!"

"No, Gihei-sama-"

He flinched from the dragon's slap, knocking him off-kilter but thankfully weaker than usual as Gihei hissed clutching his ribs.

"Issincho better be purged by the end of this week, or else I ship you back to Burma."

"And as you know, royals DO hate having their sons murdered," said Desmond shaking his head, "did you know his brother just made reigning monarch last year?"

"I am aware, yes," Khoumad nodded, "I shall not fail you, Gihei-sama."

Walking back to the elevator, Desmond's smile a strange evil aura that made him shiver through his mandibles. As the lift descended, Desmond brought out a notebook and started scribbling ideas, whilst Maung read through the list.

"I'm thinking of a construction site," the red fiend murmured, "makes a good image, like a red skeleton in the dawn...what do you think, Maung-san?"

"Sounds...good," Maung muttered still reading.

"Something tall and above the city...where Obakimura can watch the sun die with his hopes. Speaking of, you are delivering something to him, yes?"

"A...a-a suit," the spider trembled, "of one of his members."

"Kiryu's?"

"...yes."

Maung gulped beneath the Destroyer's gaze who leaned closer.

"Do you have a recording device, some form of directional microphone? I'd love to listen in on them for...research."

"I-i can obtain one," Khoumad tightened his throat, "if it helps you."

"Yes. Thank you, Maung-san."

Desmond returned to his writing, pondering ideas that Khoumad overheard in brief scants with a growing terror.

"I think I should research some local Okinawan tales. That Obakimura...he has such pain in his eyes that I wish to know...more."

Maung said nothing, trying to shut out the Destroyer's voice but his heart sank when he read down the list. Of the many names Gihei noted, one of those marked for execution, was Gen Ganbe.

On that same night, Gordon McCartin was studying at McNess University with a growing frustration. His pencil tapped the paper, switching to his phone every five minutes before burying his head in a book. Numbers flew past him as he took a deep breath, and visualised the history he was reading as he tried to put himself in old Japan.

In 1896, the Sanriku Earthquake was approaching. He stood upon the docks of a Japanese coast, wearing a kimono as he observed in his mind's eye a team of beasts from the British Isles, headed up by Lorna McNess who dove into the depths. Her long grey neck stretched from the sea as she barked orders at her team, her sodden sailor suit wrapped round her thick muscular physique. Vague Scottish epithets blithered from her maw as she directed the team, aquatic beasts along with kaiju installing devices on the seabed.

Torpal diffusion mines were planted on specific points, designed to funnel vibrations that would nullify the growing tsunami when triggered by the shifting tectonic plates. But as he envisioned the scene, he saw someone to his left. Kiryu stood, bold and strong in his own dark kimono, the wind fluttering beneath his robe with such quiet power that Gordon trembled.

But then the white waters rushed to meet them, a surging roar of froth that lashed across his eyes, and so Kiryu was gone. His heart clutched tight as he reached out for the sea, calling his name, seeing his body disappear beneath the waves.

"//Hey, Gordon.//"

He woke up with a mumble, blinking back towards Rhett sitting on his bed.

"//You alright? You just kinda spaced out.//"

"//Oh, s-sorry,//" McCartin sat up, "//was just trying to think.//"

"//You've been acting real cagey lately, is everything okay?//"

"//Well,//" the Irish student looked to his phone, "//it's been two weeks.//"

"//He said he was busy right? When was his last text?//"

"//November...ninth.//" Gordon groaned rubbing his head. "//I really hope he's okay.//"

"//Why wouldn't he be?//" Tuilleksen sat up. "//He's like the most badass dude in Tokyo.//"

"//Aye, just...I know it's only been two months but, there's something about him that really draws me to him.//"

"//Hey, I get it, he's got a way with creatures, I'm sure he's finishing up soon.//"

"//Do you think...//" Gordon looked up to the window. "//You think it would be bad of me to go to his office and ask again?//"

"//Naaaah,//" Rhett waved his hand, "//Toho are cool folks, they like you over there too, you met all his friends.//"

"//I just don't want to seem clingy.//"

"//Gordon, you're not clingy, the way you handled your mom proves that.//"

"//Oh my god I'm SORRY!//" the Irish beast clutched his face. "//I don't know why she said that to you!//"

"//What no that was hilarious,//" the serpent smirked wide, "//I love old ladies who talk shit, they don't care they lived that long.//"

"//She's not THAT old.//"

"//She remembers the Tokyo Olympics dude, she's old and you know it.//"

They chuckled and went back to their work, Rhett scribbling away on theorems whilst Gordon tried to cover anti-tsunami prevention tech. Most of this he already knew, the founder of the university having established the basis of its modern use.

The dates he found most problematic, the numbers always jumbling in his head but he was mostly relieved that today he didn't have to do theorems. The night sky remained infinitely black outside their window, the stars hiding from city lights as he looked back to his roommate, the long-necked sea serpent with his hooked fangs always in a grin.

"//Do you know how to read the stars?//" asked McCartin.

"//Uhhh, yeah.//" Tuilleksen scoffed, flapping the small wings on his back. "//My parents were sailors dude.//"

"//You ever miss seeing them here? I don't know how creatures can live in cities without them.//"

"//God you're adorable.//" The serpent walked over to hug him. "//I forget how much of an island boy you are.//"

"//S-stoooop,//" Gordon batted him off, "//I have to finish this!//"

"//Dude you been working for five hours, come on, take a break.//"

His roommate grabbed McCartin's hands and pulled them back from the paper to drag him over to bed.

"//You know all this crap anyway, you've always nailed history stuff.//"

"//It's just good to keep busy,//" Gordon sighed, "//I need to distract myself from like Kiryu and stuff.//"

"//Well lemme distract ya.//" Rhett pulled out the NeoFight console. "//Wanna do more quizzes or golf?//"

"//Mmmmm I would love more golf actually.//"

Sitting down together, they played a whole course of Neo Turf Masters to vibe deep with the rolling greens and 80s lounge music. It certainly helped Gordon calm his thoughts, putting all his focus into the right iron and planning his route over the holes, before he ended up losing by two par. Their stomachs soon growled as they looked to each other.

"//Your turn,//" Rhett nudged him.

"//Aww come on,//" Gordon whinged, "//that lunchlady's scary!//"

"//I had to deal with her last time.//"

"//Your Japanese is better than mine!//"

"//That didn't do shit and you know it,//" the serpent bapped him with his tail, "//you're cuter anyway, she don't go as hard on you.//"

"//Thyos, how bad is it for YOU?//" McCartin stood up stretching his legs. "//Alright, fine, I'll go grab dinner.//"

Stepping out in the corridor, the beast kept on a thick woolly sweater, as he tried to ignore the sound of arguments or incensed lovemaking from other rooms. Most creatures were frightened by the long echoes of feet and whistling shivers from outside. But Gordon never feared the darkness, having lived amongst the ghostly winds of Nara Island with stories from his grandmother.

The cafeteria was still open, much to the chagrin of the night staff who doled out scraps from dinner and reheated them in ovens when acceptable. The lunchlady in charge stared him down, a giant boar who said nothing as he politely asked for spaghetti, that she slapped down in two boxes he brought with him.

Heading back across the campus, the cold shrieks of November wrapping round the roofs, he stopped before the statue of Lorna McNess in the central grounds. Her uniform was caught mid-ruffle, an oar in her hands as she pushed against the waves in a rowboat, staring grim towards the future.

"//What was it like for you when you first came?//" He asked looking up to her. "//Did they treat you any different? Or were you just that good at what you did they looked past it? I read your Japanese wasn't the best, but then who's was back in the 19th century?//"

Gordon turned round scanning across the university grounds.

"//I love Japan, don't get me wrong, I want to follow the same science that you laid down because I love the sea. I just worry about getting in too deep, caring too much about those here...like Kiryu. I know he lives a dangerous life, but is it bad of me to care too much?//"

The beast sat down on her plinth with spaghetti boxes in hand.

"//I'm trying not to think too hard and just keep in a routine you know? If I start thinking 'wow, I'm in Japan' I start to panic. It's scary being so far from home, because if something happens I can't just run back to my house. Did you ever have to run, Ms. McNess?//"

A fond smile crept on his lips as he shook his head, shrugging off his questions as he went back to the dorms. But when he took one last look at Lorna's statue, he saw a light shining in the school windows with a shadow drifting past.

"//Hey, that...that's Mr. Date's room. I thought he went home.//"

Something flickered in his heart as he walked over to the building, clutching his boxes and making his way discreetly to Date's office. The door was ajar showing a slit of light as he crept closer to see it was indeed Manobu Date. He rolled his eyes at his own paranoia and turned to leave before he heard his teacher's voice.

"So you finally found the deed?!"

Gordon stopped and looked back.

"Excellent. And Kuribayante, have you found them too? Strange place to put a deed but well, I shan't complain, I was right they were in Yokohama wasn't I? Though they will be trouble when I get back to the R.O.S.E institute."

"//He's...leaving?//" whispered Gordon. "//Ohhh no, that's a shame, I really like him.//"

"I know exactly where it is," continued Date, "you hand me the deed, and I shall help you take back control of Atragon."

The beast stepped closer at the name and peered inside where the old turquoise dragon stared out the window.

"Oh I don't hate Kankoran, I've spent too much of my youth wasting my breath on them. Well, it's better them than us, do I blame them still for the Tokyo Olympics? Yes. Oh gods no I don't want to return to politics, you already have suitable candidates."

"//Politics?//" McCartin breathed.

"The Empire of Mu was a star for once in a lifetime, but one that was too taxing on me...thanks to those Toho bastards, are you planning to deal with them? No, I'm not familiar with a Kiryu."

McCartin's eyes widened through the doorjamb.

"He did? Well, one less Toho thug is always good news, your organisation takes better care of Japanese properties than Toho do. I would be glad to see them purged from our city, Doi-san, if there's anything I can do to assist, I'll ensure that Resco's investment remains fully secure, and the Koreans will follow suit after their...hm, early winter."

Gordon put down his boxes and pulled out his phone, searching for the Empire of Mu as he parsed through the kanji best as he could. His eyes widened from the words that, even spread through the articles, told him enough of the story.

Then he saw the picture of its founder, a turquoise dragon without a long white moustache, and a bare hornless scalp. Gordon reeled back in a growing fright, saving the picture and comparing it to Date, before overlaying the two pictures. It was exactly the same face.

"//Oh...oh my fucking god he...he's a vasher?//"

The door opened with claws on the frame as he yelped, tripping back over his boxes in full view of his teacher still holding the phone.

"I have to finish my papers," said Mantarou Daija, "I'll call you again soon, Doi-san."

Hanging up, the old dragon offered a hand to his student that Gordon did not take, pushing himself up with trembling knees.

"You really should not eavesdrop," the teacher grinned.

"Wh-why...why you talk about T-toho?" he fidgeted.

"That is a private matter, I was just speaking to the authorities to keep watch on them."

"N-no...that not what you said."

"You must have misheard me. That's understandable McCartin-kun, practice your Japanese more and I shall help-"

"Y-YOU, you vasher!" Gordon pointed. "You were, vasher back, long ago!"

"What...what are you talking about?"

The beast showed the two photos overlaid on his phone. A look of surprise came over the old professor before he shook his head.

"Very funny, McCartin-kun, is this one of those face-changing apps you youngsters enjoy?"

"No, this you, it exactly you!"

"Well that's clearly not me, I have horns, see?" Date tapped the two on his head. "Come inside, it's cold out in the hall, pick up your food boxes too."

He walked back inside as the beast followed him, leaving the boxes outside as he stood next to the closed door. Daija sat down at his desk with hands clasped, the rows of books and shelf full of submarine models glinting in the light.

"What were you doing sneaking around my office?"

"I...I thought someone here, saw light," Gordon pointed at the window, "but I hear you talk about Toho?"

"I was inquiring about something that had been stolen from me," said the dragon tapping his thumbs, "I thought the Toho were behind it, and I was following up leads."

"But, you mention Kiryu. Something happen to Kiryu?!"

"Ahh, now, that was me referring to the incident at the temple in Kaijurocho-"

"NO!" McCartin brought up his phone showing Kiryu's last text. "He in Yokohama, and YOU said on phone about Yokohama!"

"...ohhh." A saddened look crossed Date's face. "Ohhh dear sweet McCartin-kun...you really should have expected this."

"Wh-what...what, what happen?!"

"I was just speaking with the police. It seems your boyfriend got into a very bad state with a rival yakuza clan."

"No, no is he...he okay?!"

"I did not ask any further." The dragon stood up from his desk. "I only want the Toho to stay away from our university, and not commit their crimes here."

"But you...why they tell you?" Gordon stepped closer to face up to him. "Why you talk about...deed, if this Doi police?!"

"Aha, yes," Date patted his shoulder, "that is the thing that was unfortunately stolen, and I would appreciate it if you kept this quiet, because it's an ongoing case and we wouldn't want you to get into trouble. Now, is that everything?"

"No," Gordon batted his hand, "you...you talk about Korea, about...Atragon, e-early winter, you said you blame them for Tokyo Olympics!"

"Well, McCartin that's just historical fact, they killed our athletes, they had a running firefight that massacred dozens of Japanese citizens, that's why we had a war in Kankoran."

"But this Empire, the founder, he talk about that too!"

"It was a common sentiment in the 1980s because that is what happened. In fact I daresay you are being rather bigoted mistaking me for another kaiju."

"You SAID you were in Empire of Mu, on phone!"

"Oh for gods' sake," the dragon palmed his face, "I was a member in my youth, yes, but I wasn't the sodding leader. I was in that party in its early days, then they started becoming too violent and so I left not wanting to sully my hands!"

"Really?" Gordon sneered looking back at the picture. "So...why you join?"

"Because I was young and foolish, something you can sympathise with."

The professor walked over to his submarines, gliding his hand across one that was red-and-black with a powerful drill at the front.

"The Tokyo Olympics caused a lot of trouble in East Asia. Dozens of good Japanese kaiju killed, and the Korean terrorists who committed such had escaped back to their country, with no sentence upon them. So, there came the war, and being the passionate individual, I joined a party that, in retrospect, was much worse than I expected it to be."

"Do you...hate Koreans, Date-san?" McCartin grimaced.

"How could you ask me such a thing?" the dragon shook his head. "Do you think I would enroll in a university, teaching young beasts such as you if I were a bigot?"

"Not answer my question. Do you hate Koreans?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you, honestly McCartin-kun I thought you had sen-"

"DO YOU, HATE, KOREANS, ANSWER ME!"

"BE QUIET!"

A flash of anger exploded in his eyes, the dragon looming above him with a fierce aura that burned into Gordon's face.

"Do not ever speak to me like that again," warned Manobu Date, "I am your mentor, I am giving my time to teach you about our nation, and our technological advances. You should be very grateful you even come this far."

"Grateful?" McCartin shivered straightening his back. "Yes, I grateful, you teach me lots of things. But you still not answer, you lie and you lie, I no trust you!"

"Then that is your problem, not mine, now I am going to overlook this little debacle since you are tired, and clearly you have misheard me on my confidential call."

"I not tired, I know what you say, you admit you once a vasher!"

"ONCE I was in the Empire of Mu, before it became violent."

"When you leave them?!" Gordon snapped his fingers. "When?!"

"I can't bloody remember, it's none of your damn business!" he pointed back.

"You said, 1980s! They break up, 1988, you left them then?!"

"I suppose so, yes, it was a very turbulent time!"

"Story here!" McCartin tapped his phone. "They kill Koreans, blow up a bar!"

"And that was why I left!" Date threw up his hands. "Can't be expected to run with a group of terrorists can I?!"

"So you never run again?!"

"How the hell could I, they'd never elect me after what hap-....oh. Ohhh you little bastard."

Gordon clenched up his fists ready to make a run before Daija lunged for his face. Knowing the young beast was stronger than him, the dragon pulled out his silver letter opener and slammed the student against the bookshelf, as Gordon quickly parried his wrist to throw the knife away, and startle the old kaiju with a rapid punch to the face. Daija clawed at his sweater and twisted the threads to reel him in, before McCartin grabbed the kaiju's moustache and tore it free from his teacher with a sudden shriek.

"A-AAAARGH! YOU...F-FILTHY MILK-SUCKING BASTARD!"

"It...hah,...it fake...just like you."

The two strands of false hair dangled in Gordon's hands, a much less noble dragon staring upon him with his bald snout and cantankerous spots. Despite his flash of anger, Dr. Mantarou Daija straightened himself and picked up his silver letter opener.

"Do you know...how pathetic you sound, fumbling over your grammar like an infant? No, that's an insult to Japanese children, who do far better than you, so let me make this clear."

Daija straightened his tie then picked up his silver letter opener.

"You, say nothing. Finish, your course, and be grateful you learn from your betters. But if you speak one word, and I will make certain you are expelled."

"E-...expelled?!" gasped Gordon groping the door. "But you, you are vasher!"

"Vasher?! I protect my country from Kankoran terrorists, who attacked MY home, long before you crawled out of some weed-infested harbour, but I'M the vasher?!"

The dragon bared his fangs and raised his dagger with contempt.

"I was a prestigious scientist, who worked with the government for years, and YOU are nothing but a beast who talks like a spastic toddler, and consorts with yakuza! All I have to do is voice my concerns, that you're some sort of drug mule for the Toho, and you'll be deported at best!"

"Wh-what?!" McCartin shook his head. "No, you lie, I never do anything for Toho!"

"I don't need evidence, McCartin, you already assaulted me! Be glad I don't turn you in to the dean for grievous bodily harm, acting like a THUG! My word is law, and no matter what you do, no matter how hard you study, you will always be nothing but a beast in MY nation. Now, are you going to obey your superior...or shall I write your expulsion now?"

Gordon trembled beneath his mentor's stare, the dragon's bare snout twisting like the devil as the student twitched his fin-shaped ears. A part of him wanted to resign, to hang his head in shame and nod respectfully to his teacher. The threat of losing all his studies, all of his work and progress he had struggled for three years.

But then he thought of Kiryu. He thought of his friends, who stood up for those like him. Kiryu who saved his friend, Tuilleksen from being attacked. Kiryu who helped in the temple fire, and that Shoji lady who told him something very important. A truth about himself.

"Okay," McCartin lied, "I...I say nothing."

"Good boy." Daija swept his hand to the door. "Now, go to bed. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Yes. Goodnight...Date-san."

With his last bow to the teacher, he dropped the fake moustache and left the office, taking the boxes of spaghetti still left outside on the floor. A plan formed in his head, one that would risk everything he had, but the more he thought on Kiryu, the stronger it became.

"//I'm not letting that vasher get away with anything,//" he whispered, "//I have to tell them, I don't care what he says, he's wrong! I have to tell them tomorrow.//"

As he disappeared into the night, the young student was looked upon by Daija who sneered to himself. He picked up his moustache, placed it on the desk, and dialled a different number on his phone.

"Yeeees, hello? Sorry to call so late, I knew you'd be out on the streets. I have someone you need to look out for, an Irish beast who works at...Tenkaiju Street's Poppo store. No no, don't harm him. Frighten him, make sure he knows how vulnerable he is so he doesn't get above his station."

The next morn McCartin finished up his studies for the week, getting an early breakfast and piling through with a determined look that Rhett had not seen in him before. Gordon said nothing to him, as they sat in Daija's class who explained methods of propulsion whilst giving a knowing look to the Irish beast.

After class, they took the bus to Kaijurocho together as a cold bitterness drifted from the sea. Their oceanborne roots surged with strength that sapped most kaiju around them, the autumn's end drifting ever closer with the taste of snow in the air, McCartin now in a long-sleeved hoodie since last night.

"//You alright dude?//" asked the Dutch serpent.

"//Yeah,//" Gordon nodded, "//just glad to get that work done.//"

"//You've been a little off since last night, did something happen?//"

"//No.//"

Tuilleksen knew his friend was lying, that odd creep at the side of McCartin's mouth he always had telling him such but he decided not to push it. His friend's eyes of burning red were so fierce they warded him back, as they arrived in the Hotel District, walking down Theater Square to their workplaces.

"//Rhett, um...//" Gordon stopped him mid-walk, "//I might not be in the dorms tomorrow.//"

"//Is something up?//"

"//My boss he uh, has me doing some stocktaking, so-//"

"//Okay, no.//" Rhett gripped his shoulder. "//What's wrong? Did you get in a fight, cuz your sweater last night got all torn up.//"

"//I can't tell you.//"

"//Is this about Kiryu?//"

"//No, well...sorta, it's complicated-//"

"//Gordon, you're scaring me.//" The serpent pulled him close. "//What happened last night?//"

He was about to gather his words when they heard a commotion on Tenkaiju. A crowd had formed at the intersection with Taihei Boulevard as they were lured by the sounds of horror. Their voices would join the group as they found a most dreadful sight.

The Poppo store was covered in dark red kanji, smeared across the windows and the sign as well as the chilled drink cabinets within. Kaiju were shivering in quiet outrage but Gordon was trembling at the words he knew were directed at him. " BEASTS WHO TALK, WILL TASTE THE GOBI SANDS."

"//Holy fuck,//" Rhett whispered, "//Gordon...what the fuck.//"

"//It's him,//" he gasped, "//he...his fucking vashers.//"

"//Who, Gordon who're you talking about?!//"

"//No, not here.//" McCartin shook his head. "//Somewhere private, I'll tell you alright, I just need to find someone first.//"

Searching the crowd, he tried to pick out a familiar face amongst the kappas and dogs texting their friends and the police. One kaiju he spotted with relief, a spikebacked thug with a denim jacket and long reptilian horn.

"//Rhett, you see that guy over there?//"

"//Yeah?//" The serpent leaned his neck.

"//I can't be seen talking to him, you need to tell him this.//"

Words were exchanged as Rhett slowly nodded, his eyes widening with growing shock at what his friend told him. He walked casually as he could over to Anguirou Sano, who was told the same thing with his face tightening in turn. The Toho member relayed something back, of which any vashers who were watching would be oblivious to, as Gordon bravely went back to work.

Throughout the rest of the day he was shaking, as kaiju came more often to the store in solidarity, buying things out of pity with commisserations to him being targeted. His boss, an old catfish with one whisker, continued asking if Gordon needed the day off, but McCartin insisted he remain to show he wasn't afraid.

The police would arrive and question everyone, Gordon not saying a word about Date-known-as-Daija, and instead claiming the attack was related to the last time vashers fought him. Once his work was done, after cleaning off the racist graffiti, his boss thanked him for his courage, and the student headed out the back door. Kaijurocho had many tiny passages throughout its district, treacherous paths twisting behind buildings that were filled with refuse from years past.

Squeezing himself through a narrow hall, Gordon found old beer bottles, candy wrappers older than him, and broken CDs alongs with dusty syringes. His goal was the Bar Serena, a small tavern next to the Azumi Finance office where a fire escape led him to its back. With rosy amber varnish on the woods and floor, the tables spread round with circular brown seats helped soothe his spirit, along with soft jazz every bar lounge in Japan seemed to have.

"They'll be here soon," said a leopard behind the bar, "Sano-san told me everything, you want a drink?"

"Y-yes, please," Gordon nodded.

She poured him a light shoju, something to calm his nerves as he sat down and took a deep breath. Two minutes passed before the front door rang, and he saw Sano arrive with the patriarch.

"Hey Mama-san," Sanjin winked with fingerguns, "I'll have sum sake."

"Same here," said Anguirou, "hey kid, how ya doing?"

"N-not good," Gordon shook his head, "sorry, I...I must tell you."

"It's fine." Obakimura sat in front of him. "I don't think we ever been properly introduced, Sanjin Obakimura."

"Gordon McCartin," they shook hands, "thank you for...seeing me."

"Hope ya don't mind thuh venue, we don't use this bar often."

"I wish you guys did," the leopard said giving them their drinks, "means more money for me."

"If we came every week Mama-san, your stuff wouldn't be as special."

She giggled and headed to the backroom to give them privacy. Sano took a thick gulp of his sake to brace his nerves.

"Alright, let's start, what the fuck happened to your store?"

"My...my teacher," McCartin rubbed his hands, "he, he was...on phone, talking about Kiryu."

"Your teacher? Like at the uni?"

"Talked about, Yokohama. I knew something wrong, Kiryu not text me back since...November ninth."

"We haven't heard nuthin' either," Sanjin shook his head, "whut else your teacher talk about?"

"Something...A-atragon. Said things about Koreans, then he found me. He threaten me, I-i pull his...h-his um, u-u-um, hair, nose-hair!"

"You mean a moustache?"

"YES, it was fake, that how I know he a vasher! Then he tell to keep quiet, o-or he deport me!"

"Wait, wait, hold on, you sayin' he a vasher?! Who is this piece o' shit?!"

Pulling out his phone, Gordon brought up the two photos of Date and Daija. Sanjin's eyes bulged out of his skull, his hand clenching his glass until it cracked.

"That...that fuckin' son of a bitch," he muttered, "got 'imself fake horns an' everything."

"V-Varan-san!?" Sano gripped his arm. "What's wrong, who is he?!"

"He's...someone I know from thuh past." The patriarch put his hands together. "You were right to come to me, McCartin-san. Thank you fer your courage."

"He won't know?" Gordon shivered. "I...I-i can't go back to uni, if he still there, he...he knows that I know, I-i worry he might-"

"Whut'd he say about Kiryu, do you know?"

"No, he not know who Kiryu is. But he talk about deed and he, speak with Doi."

"Doi?" Sano rubbed his horns. "Wait, that sounds familiar, isn't that the name of-"

"EH!" Varan closed his mouth. "Civvies don't gotta know everythin'."

"You know who Doi is?!" gasped Gordon sitting up.

"Not personally, but enough to guess." The boss drank up his cracked glass. "Thank you fer comin', this wuz mighty big fer you."

"C-can you...protect me?" McCartin rubbed his sleeve. "I...I want wait for Kiryu, but I scared, I don't want go back to McNess."

"We can't really keep you here, and our office ain't exactly safe fer civilians either, plus you still gotta go to work. Can't live without money."

"OH!" the spikeback snapped his fingers. "Why don't you go to the temple?! Shoji-sama's always good to take creatures in."

"Wait, thuh temple?"

"Yeah, a friend of mine had nowhere to go when he left my old gang, but she took him in, he says it's great living there!"

"Is temple okay?" the beast plucked his sweater. "They got attacked, two weeks ago."

"Trust me, it's a lot safer than anywhere else in this city. If you need help and can ask for it, Shoji-sama's got your back."

"Can you take me, Sano-san?"

"Sure," Anguirou nodded, "I know a shortcut."

"Thank you," Gordon stood up and bowed, "thank you too, Obakimura-san."

"No problem," Sanjin nodded, "I'll git back to the office, an' let y'all know if word from Kiryu comes."

"Okay...be safe."

Following Sano out the back, McCartin was taken down and through the side alleys until they reached the gate of Tenkaiju. Scurrying out onto Showa Street, they went down to the underground mall, and even further down to the parking lot with assurance from Sano he knew a back passage to the temple.

Twenty minutes of winding passages brought them to a manhole close to the Airenas Temple. The scars of the bomb could still be seen despite their best attempts to repair, the wall restored to its former glory with black soot and cracks added to its face. Hurrying to the doors, Sano thumped until they opened where a tall reptilian seahorse bent down to greet them.

"Ehhh? Boss?!"

"Sup Titan," Sano grinned, "I uh, got someone who needs help, Kiryu's boyfriend's been targeted."

"Wait, whut?! By who?"

"Let us in and I'll tell ya, let Shoji-sama know too."

The former street punk swept his hand wide to welcome them in, his long flowing robes briefly showing a leather jacket that had been stripped of its gang tags as he closed the doors. Gordon trembled with an odd chill, feeling the history seep through his bones before he noted the tapestries had been damaged with water and fire. Some attempts had been made to treat them, but the frayed and tattered ends would show plenty of what they had been through.

A quiet fear crept through the place, as monks and acolytes prayed quietly in passing. Shoji was at the farthest back room, clasping her four arms together in deep reverence. Once she was done she twitched her antennae, and stepped out into the hall to meet them.

"Sano?" she gasped. "McCartin, what are you two doing here?"

"Vashers picked him out," said Anguirou patting him, "he's getting threatened cuz his teacher's one of them."

"Wh-WHAT?! Oh that's just AWFUL, what a horrible thing!"

"P-please," Gordon whimpered, "please...c-can I stay? I do anything you wish, I work, just hide me please!"

"Of course you can," Shoji pulled him in a hug, "you are more than welcome to stay, come, let me find you a bed."

"Th-thank you, Shoji-sama, you...you very nice."

"Any word on Kiryu?" she looked to Anguirou.

"Nothing yet," the spikeback sighed rubbing his horn, "not gonna lie, I'm real worried, he's never been dark this long."

"Just have faith. Kiryu is strong, stronger than most of us. He'll return to us soon."

"You know that, Shoji-sama?" Titan craned his neck over them. "Issat one of yer mystic readings?"

"I'm not a fortune teller, Saurose," she scowled at him, "I know Kiryu well, longer than either of you, and I know that he would not give up in his returning to us."

"Yeah, s-sorry...still kinda new at all this temple stuff."

"I know you're worried for Aosu-chan," Shoji patted him, "Kiryu would not leave her, he would go through hell to find her."

"I just hope he doesn't have to," Titan shuddered choking a gasp, "I-i...she was like, the light in my life."

"I know dude," Anguirou smiled, "it'll be fine, just trust Kiryu."

Departing the temple, Sano said his farewell as Saurose took Gordon upstairs. Shoji stepped back inside the prayer room for one last note, clasping her hands and focusing her eyes.

"Sarasvati...this song we have woven, so complex and fine. My beloved from the skies, and my dearest friend of this earth, they must meet for the plan of our salvation. Please...let their song finish as we have planned. Let them both live...so that our home may survive."

As Shoji said her prayers, Sano returned back to the Toho office with a heavy heart and growing fears. When he arrived at the door, he found his boss and young Obara standing next to a box left on their step. Neither of them said a word, staring at its contents.

"Hey, Varan-san? Obara-kun?"

"...Kiryu."

That was all Gonkuro could say, as Sano rushed over to look with a shock through his system. Kiryu's white suit, folded neatly and stained with blood, his Toho pin shining on top.

"N-no...oh fuck no."

"Stop." Varan grabbed his shoulder. "Until we see a body, we don't consider him dead."

"But it's his suit," he gasped, "n-no fucking way he wouldn't-"

"We DON'T consider it," snarled the patriarch, "get it inside an' keep watch fer Jinuchu."

"What do we do?" gasped Obara pulling his ears. "What, V-varan-san what, K-kiryu must be hurt!"

"He'll have to manage on his own. All of us are stayin' here, we need to protect this place."

"BUT, b-but-"

"Obara-kun." Sanjin held him close with a stern look. "Trust me. I'll keep you safe."

"...a-alright. Okay."

"Now, I need you to do sumthin' important fer this week. Find every single thing you can about Mantarou Daija, an' Manobu Date who works at the university. Every single thing they done or said, put it all in one folder."

"Is this, the same guy you told me about-"

"Yes."

"...okay. I'll do it right now."

Gonkuro nodded with a stern look as they took the box inside and closed the door. From the depths of an alley across the street, a large red reptile stood with a directional mic, a small grey dish attached to an MP3. He stopped the recording, and with a fond lick of his lips, he fled into the darkness.