FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

September 10th

A few days had passed since Tsuchimura's body was recovered. Sitting in a hall of austere grey and wooden varnish, was Kiryu in a severe black suit along with Sano, Obara and Sanjin all wearing the same whilst waiting for the ceremony to start. None of them wore their Toho badges for this occasion as they looked to the other side of the hall, a sombre-looking koi carp with his young serpent daughter weeping as he hugged her close. The parents of Tsuchimura sat behind them, along with her in-laws who consoled them with gentle hands.

In front of them was a coffin, flowers surrounding with elaborate patterns and her remains brought back together to lie in peace within. A photograph of her smiled upon her mourners as she sat on a beach dressed for the summer. Her husband Koiichi stood up to say a few words, before he struggled and fell to his knees as Sanjin took him back to his seat, and in turn would offer his speech.

"Naomi Tsuchimura wuz to most in this city, a secretary. But to us, she wuz our dear friend who brought thuh sun every time she came in. She would always encourage us to eat better, to correct us on our bad habits, both as colleague and companion. She wuz never afraid to speak her mind, to talk a little rough, never intimidated by anything. That's why I hired her.

"She did more than shuffle papers an' file accounts fer us. She wuz a motherly touch, warm but firm when needed, to corral us boys into being more respectable, when we weren't just messin' around with each other, heh."

He turned to the photo of Naomi with a deep sigh.

"Your desk will always be there, and your name we'll always keep on our register...and in our hearts, Tsuchi-chan."

He bowed and returned to his seat, as other mourners came forth with their commisserations before the Toho group would part and leave the family to their business. The funeral parlour stood out as a long oblong black tomb, cast in marble in the midst of a cemetery where tall stone plinths stretched out across the fields. The sky was overcast, but a ray of light would pierce through briefly to warm their faces.

"Looks like it's clearing up," said Obara as they stepped out.

"You think that's...her?" Sano wondered.

"I bet it is," he nodded, "she was the kinda creature to make sure we weren't frowning for too long."

"Yeah..." Sano looked over to Kiryu. "What's that you got?"

"Something for the family," the saurian showed him a bag he was carrying, "something that Tsuchi-chan was going to give them."

"Wait, you don't mean-"

"Yeah, I found them. So what's the plan today?"

"Head back to the office an' make our prayers," said Varan pulling out a cigarette, "give her a real Toho send-off, as one of ours."

"I'll make a detour to the temple," said Kiryu bringing out his lighter, "if that's alright with you."

"Course it is," the patriarch puffed his smoke alight, "the more prayers the better, she deserves it that's good of you Kiryu. I sent out thuh Host's description to everyone so if she anywhere topside, Shisa-han'll nail 'em."

"Let's not talk about her in Tsuchi-chan's presence, that's business." He turned towards Anguirou. "Sano-san, are you alright?"

"I'm...better," he shrugged his spiked back, "Basu-chan really helped, we talked things out, wasn't even during hours she just really needed someone to talk to."

"That's good," Kiryu nodded, "I'm glad you two are supporting each other."

"Yeah it...not gonna lie it's kinda changed things a bit between us."

"Really, how?"

The doors opened behind them before he could explain, the family departing as two old serpents and two older koi were gathering around little Junko, the child holding their hands as her elders talked of silly things in their time and sharing charming little stories to keep her smiling. Her father Koiichi walked up to the Toho members in sandaled shoes for his webbed feet.

"Thank you all for coming," he bowed politely, "Naomi-chan always told me how much she loved working at your company."

"She wuz our friend," said Varan bowing in turn as he offered his business card, "Sanjin Obakimura, this is Gojirama Kiryu, Anguirou Sano, and Gonkuro Obara."

"Ahh, yes...hahahaha," he smiled handing his own in turn, "Koiichi Tsuchimura, I see what she meant by you now."

"Hmm, meant by whut?"

"Something she said about how, running your office was like managing a rugby team, considering you're all really...well-built for office workers."

"HAH, hahaha, yeah well, fitness matters," Varan rubbed his neck, "Tsuchi-chan knew how to whip us in line, even though I wuz her boss, but you know we were casual about work an' firm about fitness."

"She will be missed dearly," Kiryu bowed offering the bag, "I also have something for you and your daughter."

"R-really?" the husband gasped.

"Tsuchi-chan was shopping on the day she disappeared. I managed to find them, cleared them with the police and now I'm giving them back to you."

"You-...h-hoh. Ohhh no Naomi."

Inside the bag was a box of shoes, some medicine, and a My Kutie Kelpie figurine of Misery Mire who stared grumpily from beneath her mane of algae.

"I'm sorry," Kiryu sighed, "I thought...she would want at least to get this back to you."

"Y-you..." Koiichi shuddered with a heave, "oh...oh noooo wh-why did I stress her out over that damn meeting?!"

He suddenly fell into Kiryu's shoulder, sobbing into his suit as the saurian patted his back trying to soothe him. Tears blubbered down the fish's cheeks as he wept even harder, the rest of the Toho group stepping back to let him breathe.

"I-i, I shouldn't have asked for the shoes," whimpered Koiichi, "g-gods DAMN IT, I-i didn't, I didn't even say goodbye, I-i should've said goodbyyyye!"

"It's alright," Kiryu rubbed his fins, "she knew, she always knew, she told me about you on that day."

"R-really?"

"She sold me the story about how you first met, and your bad joke about car dealers."

"H-hah...sh-sh-she remembered that? O-oh, ohhh Naomi, o-oh gods why, WHYYY?!"

With a gentle rocking motion Kiryu let him ride out his tears, the koi shivering against him with every heave staining his suit even further. Sano said nothing, turning away with burning guilt as they waited before Koiichi pulled back.

"She...sh-she told me about you before, Kiryu-san. She told me you were a good soul. Thank you."

"I know it's hard to say," said Obara taking his bow, "but I hope your daughter has a good birthday despite...all of this."

"If you need anything from us," said Varan patting the husband, "you can call our company, just say it's you and we'll do what we can to help."

"Oh, n-no, thank you," Koiichi waved his hand, "I won't need-"

"I insist." He shook the fish's webbed hand. "She wuz part of our family too. And families should look out fer each other."

"Huh...alright," he smiled wiping his tears, "thank you Obakimura-san, I'll keep you in mind, thank you all for being so kind to Naomi."

"Take care Tsuchimura-san," Sano said with his last bow, "you uh...be safe."

The family departed, as did the Obakimura family to their separate vehicles with Kiryu catching a look of Junko being shown the present in the bag. She had no words, torn between joy and sorrow only to find neither as her face shut down. She clutched her kelpie tight, the package crumpling under her fingers in the back of her father's car.

Driving back to Kaijurocho, the Toho Clan members sat in silence with their driver equally quiet, the yak with his well-groomed hairs looking back at his passengers with a solemn nod as the city rose up before them with its sharp piercing blades reaching the heavens. They parked at the giant red gate and Sanjin thanked the driver with a tip before his family headed back to the office. A shrine had been set up in a small cabinet, with Tsuchimura's picture inside as they lit two incense burners and made a solemn prayer together. A minute of silence passed for her memory before Sanjin closed the cabinet.

"Alright," he rubbed his hands, "time to work, Sano you get on the Nagamichi accounts, Obara you working on that site?"

"I finished it yesterday Varan-san," the junior bowed, "if it's alright with you, I'd like to work on a personal project?"

"Ohhh yeah, what sorta project?"

"It's a secret," he grinned proudly, "but, would that be alright?"

"Yeah sure, but if we need an extra hand you oughta give it."

"Yes Varan-san."

"And lastly, Kiryu," the boss turned to his lieutenant, "you have recon today, keep yer eyes peeled for you-know-who, also any other tasks you got out there."

"I will," he bowed, "I'll call you when I'm done."

Departing from the office, Kiryu walked his way back towards Little Asia just east of the Millennium Tower and south of East Shachifuku. The guard stopped him and pulled out her phone to make a call, the goat muttering something in Korean before she handed it over to Kiryu.

"Good morning!" Byul-ga's voice came from the receiver. "How was the funeral, my condolences by the way."

"Good, thank you Sa-Rhee-san," Kiryu looked up at the cluttered apartments, "how's everything with you?"

"Well as can be, and no there's been no sign of that killer if you were asking. Sorry for not letting you in but my folks get real jumpy about you Japanese."

"I remember," he rolled his eyes, "I'm surprised you asked me for a favour when I got back from the sewers, thought you'd never want to see me again."

"Well, I don't really call this a favour," said Sa-Rhee from the phone, "you told your boss everything too I assume?"

"Yes of course, I also said you don't want Little Asia to be disturbed again and he agrees, but also if you do need any help from outside, you can always contact me."

"Hah, that's mighty kind of ya Kiryu, so how about I take you up on that? My nephew, Yong-ga, he's a li'l cooped up in this place too much and I wanna give him a taste of what Kaijurocho's really like. Mind being a tour guide and taking him around?"

"Seriously?" Kiryu leaned against the wall. "He hates us already, how's that going to work?"

"Exactly. He's young and a fucking idiot, I wanna make him less so, plus he'll open up to you more than me."

"What makes you think that?"

"Cuz he hasn't stopped talking about you since you fought, seriously it's almost like a crush, prob'ly because you're the first kaiju he couldn't knock down in a minute."

"Hm," Gojirama smirked, "alright, I owe you that for helping me, Sa-Rhee-san, but can I ask you something?"

"Depends, shoot."

"Why did you call the Host a 'he' when it was very clearly a lady?"

"Oh, did I?" A creep in Sa-Rhee's voice came through. "I was mistaken, sorry for that, just my age getting to me anyways, Yong-ga'll be down in a minute."

The call clicked off as Kiryu handed back the phone to the guard, lighting up a Fat Man cigarette as he pondered while waiting.

Something's up. Sa-Rhee's not the kind of kaiju to make mistakes like that, especially if he knew about the Host for that long. Does he know something else? Mmmm...well, either way that lady did kill Tsuchi-chan so she'll get what's coming to her.

"Hey."

Stepping out of the alley entrance was Yong-ga Sa-Rhee, now dressed in black pants and a purple shirt with magnetic buttons that clipped between his stegosaurian back plates.

"Afternoon," Kiryu offered a cigarette, "want one?"

"Nah, I no smoke, bad habit in kitchen."

"That's fair. Your uncle said I should take you round and show you the sights."

"Fine," the stego shrugged, "get it over with."

"Don't worry," Kiryu winked, "I don't hold hands until the second date."

"F-FUCK off jjokbari!"

"Hm, yep," he started walking, "zero to sixty you start this, maybe cut back on the Korean slurs if you're gonna come round here."

"Why, none of you know Korean."

"Creatures aren't idiots, we know the intent even if we don't know the words."

"Whatever."

With a roll of his eyes Yong-ga followed him down Shachifuku Street, Kiryu pointing out the various stores he passed on by and general locations that he favoured. The Stega arcade at Theater Square, the bowling alley beside it, and several bars where Kiryu noted had either pool or darts to play. Yong-ga chose one tavern not too far from the Toho office on Tenkaiju Street, a pokey little place called Serena with a warm atmosphere of soft wooden tones and an electronic dartboard.

"Alright, what game you want?" asked Kiryu.

"Five-oh-one," Yong-ga tapped it in, "you play darts?"

"Not often, but I've done it a few times."

"Heh...hope you can count."

The aim of the game was to reach an exact score of 501 points and not a number more, Sa-Rhee stepping up first and clocking a solid 140 in the first round. Kiryu came close with 117, not especially trying hard and more entertaining his guest with a brisk competition. The stego played for keeps, his reckless shots aiming for the triple 20 at the top of the board costing him a bad round when he scored only 80.

Kiryu jumped ahead of him, Sa-Rhee getting increasingly upset with a stomping hiss before he tightened up his focus and found himself only 120 points from the finish. Gojirama was 170 away, but intentionally dipped low to only finish on 50 points left. Yong-ga destroyed him in two darts with a loud Korean chant.

"//FUCK YEAH!//" he clapped his hands high. "//Fuckin' SMOKED, get dunked ya bitch!//"

"Congrats," Kiryu shrugged, "you're pretty good."

"I got the focus," Yong-ga jabbed at his own eye, "give me the edge to win!"

"Well, how about a drink for the winner?"

"Heh, yeah, hey you got any sikye?!"

"Um, no sorry," the bartender kappa shook her head, "if you want something sweet I can recommen-"

"NOPE, no sikye no buy, later!"

Strolling out the door with a sweep of his hand leaving a rather insulted bar-mama behind, Kiryu apologised on his behalf and left her a tip in consideration before heading out to catch up with him.

"Hey!" he grabbed him on the street. "Was that really necessary?"

"What?!" Sa-Rhee shrugged. "She got no sikye not my problem."

"You did not have to walk out like that, remember where you are."

"Aww I thought Japanese were tough boys and tough girls, you mad?"

"Do you want sikye or not?" Kiryu crossed his arms. "Because I know a store that has it so if you're going to be an asshole, while I'm doing your uncle a favour, we can walk right back and he can beat some sense into you."

"He don't scare me." Yong-ga clucked his tongue. "You don't either."

"Do you want to fight?"

"Do you?"

The stegosaur smiled with a snap of his fingers, his eyes burning amber as creatures slowly drifted past as quietly as possible expecting a fight.

"I need a drink," Kiryu walked away.

"Yeah that's right," Yong-ga swaggered behind him, "jjokbari bitch know not to fuck with me-"

"I'm not fighting you Sa-Rhee-kun, find your own punching bag."

"OH WHAT, you scared now?!"

"I know what you want, and you're not getting it."

"Why the fuck not?!"

"Because you're not worth my time." He turned round suddenly looming over Sa-Rhee. "My fists are for only two things, defending myself, and defending the weak, not pushing around wannabe-thugs like you."

"I'm no thug, I'm Sa-Rhee family!"

"I don't care."

Goji walked onwards up north, entering the Poppo store where he smiled with some relief at the friendly face of Gordon McCartin.

"Hello sir!" the green reptile bowed with earfins stretched. "How are you?"

"Good thank you," Kiryu bowed back, "do you have any sikye?"

"Mmmm...sik-yay, I think, um-"

"I find it myself," Yong-ga barged past Kiryu, "you paying right?"

"Yes," Kiryu sighed, "I am treating you, the least you could do is be grateful."

"I don't wanna be here either, just take me round, show me your Japanese shit."

"It's not about showing you stuff, it's about having respect for the fellow kaiju of this city."

"I respect kaiju!" Yong-ga took a bottle of yellowy water. "Kaiju don't respect me!"

"They don't respect you because you march out the door of a bar without even saying thank you."

"Fuck off, pay now."

Throughout all of this McCartin was keeping silent, straightening his face as polite as he could with his hands slipping under the counter in case a fight would break out as Kiryu paid for the drink.

"Thank you sir," the clerk bowed, "have a good day."

"Eh?" Yong-ga squinted closer. "You not Japanese."

"Um...n-no, sir, I not."

"Hey." Kiryu pulled the stego back. "Don't do that."

"Don't what?" he snorted.

"Blurt out stuff like that, do you not think before you open your mouth?"

"I say what I feel, you don't like it, fuck off."

Marching out the store, Yong-ga drank from his bottle as Kiryu sighed rubbing his head.

"Is he, a problem?" McCartin nudged his head towards Sa-Rhee.

"He is, but it's fine," Kiryu smiled briefly.

"You want, I call police?"

"No no, no, he's not that kind of trouble, he's...a friend of an employer."

"Ohhhh," Gordon cringed with a nod, "okay, sorry Kiryu-san."

"It's fine, thank you McCartin-san."

Taking his leave, Kiryu led his escort along Taihei Boulevard where they looked up at the giant television screen on the side of the Kaijuro Mall that sat next to the Millennium Tower. A crowd had gathered to stop at the junction of Taihei and Nagamichi Street, staring in awe at the newsfeed coming through as a large vessel, resembling a submarine with a giant drill on its front, was being jettisoned up into space.

"Eight-Point Industries has launched its first mining shuttle, the Gotengo, now on its four-month mission to excavate the asteroid belt between the planets of Zeus and Ares."

"Oh, great," Yong-ga snorted, "first you take half Korea, now you want all of space?"

"It's just a business opportunity," Kiryu muttered, "why do you have to be like this?"

"Why do YOUR country be like this, can't stay where you fucking belong."

"Why are you even here then? You obviously hate us, why don't you leave?"

"Uncle got business here," he drank more of his sikye, "I hate it here, but he do what he gotta do."

"The company has high prospects for its new venture," continued the feed, "a small technology firm based in Tokyo, Eight-Point was originally involved in electronics before expanding its repertoire to that of interstellar projects. The founder, Rai Tanaka, gave a conference earlier this morning to celebrate the Gotengo's launch."

The news cut over to a stage hall where various kaiju sat, staring towards the central podium where a long-necked golden dragon stood prim in a green suit with soft red eyes and several horns curling like the ocean waves.

"Since the dawn of time," he began with a soft but deep voice, "creatures have gazed upon the stars and wondered what lies in the heavens beyond. That answer came in the last century with the dawn of space travel, and though my company are not the first travellers, we shall not be the last. This is not a drill to pierce the heavens, nor a venture to pluck the fruits of the cosmos for our personal greed.

"This is for the progress of all creaturedom, to study, to explore, to sate our curiosity and to fill in the blanks of the great puzzle that we call existence. Our team of Mogueras, designed with the most advanced AI technology, constructed over the past decade by a collective of gifted minds and passionate individuals, shall return with the gifts of knowledge, a gift far more precious than any mineral could offer."

"Damn that sounds amazing," gasped the crowd.

"Seriously this guy's so chill I can't believe he's running a space thing."

"You guys aren't falling for this right, he's totally just mining shit."

"I mean it's just asteroids right, it's not like it'd do any harm."

"You don't know that!"

"I think it's really cool," a familiar voice piped up, "think of the cool stuff we'll learn from what's inside them, and I bet Rai-san'll be real careful, he's always been cautious in his past work."

"Obara-kun?"

"OH!" the young Toho member turned to meet his senior. "Kiryu-san hi, what's up?!"

"Just out on the town, I thought you were working on your project."

"I am, just getting data for it."

"This one of your boys?" Yong-ga sneered at him.

"I-i guess I am, hi I'm Obara," he bowed with floppy ears, "nice to meet you!"

"This is Yong-ga Sa-Rhee," Kiryu said thumbing to him, "I'm showing him round the city."

"Oh are you new?"

"No," the stego pulled back, "I live here too long."

"Oh, well, what do you like? Videogames, eating out, going to clubs?"

"I like going home, can we go now?"

"How old are you?" Kiryu scoffed.

"Twenty-eight, why?"

"So why are you acting like you're ten?"

"You want my fist through yer face?!"

The crowd had dispersed by this point but some were still giving them the look of Not-Getting-Involved-In-This as they departed to other streets. Obara coughed nervously as he turned to Kiryu's guest.

"Sooo Sa-Rhee-san, where did you live before coming here?"

"I Korean," the stego said.

"OH! I always wanted to go to Korea, it sounds a lovely place."

"What, really?"

"Yeah, I mean, well," Obara rubbed his ears, "I'm a big fan of K-pop, do you listen to K-pop?"

"Nah, I like electro."

"Oh cool, got any fave artists or bands?"

"Jaxxon, hah, you know them?"

"I do!" Gonkuro smiled perking his ears. "I really liked their album 'Beast Mode'!"

"SHIIIIT that's my fave album!" Yong-ga shook his fists.

"Original or remaster?"

"Wait, wha, remaster?!"

"Oh you didn't know, they remastered the album last year, I got it on my phone you wanna hear?"

"FUCK YEAH!"

"Alright let's go find someplace to sit!"

"How about Cafe Alps?" Kiryu pointed down the street. "That place is pretty quiet, they even got some game cabinets in there."

"Yeah, come on!"

Walking over to a small European-style restaurant, the brick-front with Italian-flag awnings would welcome them into a genteel little place, wooden circular tables with some sofas in the back and against the wall a few horizontal arcade cabinets to chill out to some space shooters. Sitting down at one of the tables Kiryu smiled letting the two youths listen to Obara's phone, sharing his headphones as they thumped to some invisible beat and Yong-ga smiled for the first time since Kiryu had met him.

"Welcome," a long green sea serpent walked over in a waiter's outfit, "can I take your order?"

"OH, yes!" Obara raised his hand. "I'll have a chocolate cake, Sa-Rhee-san what about you?"

"Uhh, same," the stegosaur waved him off.

"I'll have the genois sponge," said Kiryu, "and some uh...earl, grey?"

"Yes sir," the waiter bowed his slender neck, "thank you."

"Shit this sounds so GOOD!" Yong-ga gasped. "That bass come through so strong!"

"I know!" Obara squeaked. "I wasn't that big a fan of electro, but weirdly K-pop got me into it cuz they use some of that."

"Haha, yeah? What Koreans ya like?"

"Mmmm Parklife are my fave, they're a cool band and their lyrics really taught me the first things about Korea. Then there's Ju-Ju-Jon, Expree, KayJee-"

"Aww, I liked KayJee."

"Yeah, you like K-pop too?"

"N-nah, not music," the stego shook his head, "more what she did, lot of work helping Korea, she was good kaiju."

"Really?" Kiryu plucked his chin. "You respected her a lot."

"Yeah yeah, she stand up to Japan government, told them what they did-"

"Even though she wasn't Korean."

"Yeah she was amazing," Obara nodded putting away his phone, "she taught me a lot and I bet others too, not just about Korea but also her native Ainu home."

"Mmm." A tingling crept through Yong-ga's mind. "She was...great."

"You know, I actually found an album from her in a pawn shop the other day, wanna look?"

"Uhh...kay?"

Pulling out the album from his bag, he offered it to Sa-Rhee who stared at the cover, the white wolf in a composer's suit conducting in front of an entire orchestra in a prestigious Chinese palace.

"I listened to it last night," said Obara rubbing his horn, "it's really good."

"I never heard her live," Yong-ga muttered, "this look rare."

"Apparently it is, I thought my friends would want it but turns out they all found a torrent of it ripped."

"So much for rare."

"Do you want it?"

Sa-Rhee looked up somewhat puzzled as Obara flapped his ears with a nod.

"I already ripped the music, so I don't really need the physical."

"You...I can have it?" Yong-ga shook his head.

"Yeah sure, I mean, call it a gift for our first-meet."

"...a-alright." He pocketed the album. "Thanks...Obara, right?"

"Your food sirs."

The serpent returned with long fangs in a smile, offering a trayful of small cakes with a cup of earl grey tea. Kiryu took his first sip, finding the slightly-salty taste of English tea not to his liking but the genois sponge was delicious. Yong-ga finished his chocolate cake quicker than Obara could, the taste of the moist crumbly dessert filling his mouth with a zing.

"MMM, shit thish good!"

"I knew you'd like it," Kiryu worked through his sponge, "you got a sweet tooth right, the sikye tipped it off."

"What's sikye?" asked Obara wiping his snout.

"Malt water mix with cooked rice," said Yong-ga scarfing the crumbs.

"Wow, for real?! That sounds wild, you know where I can buy some?"

"The Poppo near our office," Kiryu pointed at the door, "can grab some next time we're in."

"Alrighty, sure, I'll give it a shot. Sooo Sa-Rhee-san, you doing anything later?"

"Mmm, just go home," the stego rubbed his arm, "why?"

"Wellll, I was thinking...how much you know about apps?"

"Uhh, I got a phone, so yeah?"

"Could you help me out with something? Just cuz, well, you're like my age and I'm making something real cool."

"Heh, I get credit as tester?" Yong-ga grinned.

"Definitely," Obara nodded, "the more help the better, if Kiryu-san doesn't mind me borrowing you a bit."

"Not at all," Kiryu grinned patting him, "just don't get into any trouble, both of you."

"This guy more fun than you anyway," Sa-Rhee gestured to Obara, "I don't need babysit, do your own thing."

"Heh, if you say so, I got my own stuff to do, Obara let me know when you're done and we'll meet up again."

"Yes sir!" the junior gave a salute. "Alrighty so, lemme tell you about this app."

Taking his leave Gojirama stepped out the cafe and let the youngsters be to talk about newfangled technology that he wasn't partial to. He had other duties regardless, as he made his way towards the temple directly east through the alleys past Nagamichi Street.

Most people ignored the temple that stood in the centre-middle of the city, but for Kiryu it was the one landmark he always kept in his head above the Millennium Tower that rose far above the entire city. Stepping through the garden of zen, a winding path of stone between patterns formed in the sand, he opened the door as he was greeted by a young pale heron in orange sari.

"Welcome sir, how can I-...o-oh."

"Hey there." Kiryu smiled. "You got back okay it seems."

"Yes, thank you," she bowed profuse, "you've saved my life twice now."

"You having any problems still?"

"N-no, I'm okay thanks."

"You've been really unlucky the past while, maybe you should have a buddy system."

"Haha, yeah I should," she rubbed her winged sleeves, "it's my fault-"

"It's not," Kiryu shook his head, "scum like that, it's always their fault uh...sorry I don't know your name."

"Aosukawa," she bowed again stepping aside, "you're...Kiryu-san, right?"

"Mmhmm, nice to meet you again, Aosukawa-san."

Taking off his shoes and putting them in a cubby hole, like everyone did entering the temple, Kiryu went inside where others prayed for forgiveness or mercy. The stone of ancient times made him feel a deep sense of peace, partly from the incense that kept burning aloft his head, as well as the flowers that draped across the floor and clung against the walls in small piles of memoriam.

"Is Shoji-sama in?" he asked the heron.

"She's getting ready," she smiled rubbing her beak, "you're Toho, right?"

"Yep, so if anymore thugs come round you can always come to us."

"I'll, k-keep that in mind thanks, but I should be safe if I just don't leave the temple-"

"Hey," he stopped beside her briefly, "don't let bullies like them dictate how you live, that's how they win. Just have the buddy system, it works more than you think."

"That's...yeah," she rubbed her arm looking aside, "that's not a bad idea, thanks."

She went to another room to tend to her duties as Kiryu went to the far back of the temple, kneeling before the shrine and clasping his hands as the scent of lavender approached behind him. Her presence filled his mind as her song filled the room with warm motherly tones that brought him back to their first meeting.

==========

"Good morning."

His eyes blinked open.

"You took quite a beating, best not to move."

Staring at the face of the priestess, Kiryu snarled from the sting of iodine pressing against his bruises, his chest exposed as he laid on his back in a strange-looking room of solid stone. The moth smiled from her bristling black mouth and blue compounded eyes, her kimono wrapped around her entire body like it was wreathed in flames with luscious tones of amber, gold and white. Her fuzzy antennae hung over his forehead, her four arms stroked and daubed across his thick charcoal scales.

"Are you wanted by anyone?" she asked him. "Just so I know to expect any trouble."

"No," he gasped, "I got jumped...it was a shakedown."

"Poor thing...not a great start for a yakuza."

"Huh?"

"Am I wrong?" she smirked stroking down his belly. "I didn't see a badge on you, but you have the build of one."

"Mmmngh," he clenched his abdomen, "I'm...Toho Clan, are you the boss round here?"

"Not quite, I'm a senior priestess, but not the matriarch, I did however find you on the steps."

Shoji pulled back wiping her four hands before she brought out a bandage that was moist in some herbal stench that made Kiryu wrinkle his nostrils, the moth wrapping it round his waist as he tried to stifle his breathing.

"At least you get good exercise," she said tittering, "quite the body you have on you."

"Should you say that?" Kiryu raised his brow. "As a priestess?"

"Well why not? A body well-kept as yours has its own beauty to admire, like a statue or a painting."

"Hah, haha-aagh, aaaagh."

"Sorry, shouldn't make you laugh,"

"It's...fine, nnnngh I can handle it."

"Well just to be safe I'll not practice my stand-up routine while you're here."

Leaning his head up to try and roll on his side, Kiryu looked over to the rest of the stone room where a television sat in the corner, a small table beside him with several cushions piled up to make cozy seats on top of a thick carpet that resembled tatami mats. A kitchen was further beyond the doorway, as well as a bedroom through a second door

"I wasn't expecting the temple to have a TV," he looked over towards it.

"You'd be surprised what electricians can do nowadays," she grinned stepping out the door, "I'm just popping off to the kitchen, do you want anything?"

"Sure, if you have food that'd be great."

"Oh, damn I only have dust mites and stale air, no I'm kidding I'll grab you something be back in a bit!"

"Hah, haha-aaagh."

Kiryu clutched his ribs again as the sound of cluttering could be heard briefly. The memories before he blacked out brought only pain from flying fists and crunching blows to his stomach and back. He thought there had only been two, but then there were five and before he knew it, he was down on the floor and kicked against the wall before he could drag himself out onto the flooded streets. He dozed off back to sleep quicker than expected, until the smell of thick meat cutlets awoke him a few minutes later with a flaring in his nostrils.

"Theeere you are," said the moth sitting opposite, "big boy like you needs a lot of meat."

"Heh, thanks." He sat up gingerly with a gasp. "Smells delicious."

"Just a few spices I added to really bring the flavour."

They started to eat as the faint sound of booming thunder came from outside, causing a shudder through the building as Kiryu looked up with concern.

"Don't worry," she said chewing through her meat, "the temple's made of stone, it's super effective against electric types."

"It...what?"

"You know, like Pokerai, have you never played those?"

"Oh, no that sorta flew past me."

"Hmhmhm, I used to play those all the time on my Game Gear Advance, I think I still have it actually."

"You're allowed to play games in the temple?" he muttered between cutlets.

"Ohoh why yes," she chuckled gesturing to the TV, "you think we just have that for background colour?"

"Hah, you're right, sorry," he gulped down the first slice, "I've never been in this place."

"Not a spiritual type?" she finished her first one in turn.

"I don't mind it, it's just not for me."

"That's fair, what's your name if I may ask?"

"Kiryu. Gojirama Kiryu."

"Mosurakoto Shoji," the priestess bowed, "it's good to meet you, Kiryu-san."

"Is it?" He frowned slightly. "You don't even know me yet."

"No, but I sense you're a nice boy."

"I'm not a boy."

"And I'm not a girl, but a lady." She rubbed her cheek with a teasing chitter. "But I like nice boys who become good strong males."

"Heh...I'd say I was but," he gestured to his wounded chest, "not exactly either of those."

"Oh don't be silly, you don't need to win a fight to prove you're strong, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

"Hmm. I'm not sure about that-"

"Well you're not dead are you? So long as you are still alive, you can always become even stronger."

"Huh...I like that." He nodded to himself. "I'll keep that in mind...Shoji-sama."

==========

"Kiryu-san?"

His eyes opened again as he stared at the shrine.

"Wake up sleepyhead, prayer's done."

"Oh, sorry."

"Hmhmhm, it's fine," said Shoji smiling beside him, "much as I appreciate your deep thought, we do have to let other kaiju pray."

"Right, of course."

Taking him out of the shrine room, Mosura led him upstairs to their kitchen/living space, that old tatami mat and cozy pale walls making him feel much more relaxed as he watched her serve up some tea.

"Sorry for no meat today," she said, "normally you don't come more than once a month."

"Well, today was the funeral," said Gojirama sitting down, "I wanted to make extra prayers for Tsuchi-chan."

"That's very sweet of you," the moth brought over the tray, "how did it go?"

"Pretty good, met her family. I got her daughter the kelpie back."

"Oh gods the poor thing," she shook her head pouring two cups, "I cannot imagine what aura that thing will have from this day."

"Mmm." He shrugged taking a sip. "Mmm, hey this is different."

"I added some lemon verbena, thought to change it up a bit."

"It's really good, damn it's got a zing to it."

"Indeed." She drank up more. "Will you be now incorporating prayers for your friend alongside your parents?"

"Is that allowed?" Kiryu cocked his head.

"Absolutely, I'm sure your parents can forgive you. Not many orphans would come every month to make prayers."

Kiryu finished up his tea, taking care to not gulp it back like a shot before finishing off the rest of his small meal. The moth priestess stared at him with a smile from her unblinking eyes.

"You should work for the police," he said not looking up. "The way you can stare me down like that and see into my soul."

"It helps during Aarti," she grinned wider.

"Our tea?"

"No no, Aarti, the song and lamp ritual we do in the shrine?"

"Ahhh..." Kiryu rubbed his head, "you know, I never understood why I'm the only one you invite up here."

"Do I need a reason?" said Shoji putting two hands on her chin and two on the table. "You're a good friend, and my favourite kaiju in all the city."

"Is there a top three-"

"Yes."

"...you said that awfully quick," he smirked leaning forwards, "who are the other two?"

"I'm not telling, that would be rude," she swilled her tea and took the last sip, "besides, you are a special part of this city, whether or not you realise it."

"Special? What do you mean?"

"There is something about you I find interesting, a kaiju who wears the cloak of destruction, yet advocates peace through his actions."

"No idea where you get that from."

"Your soul tells me that Kiryu-san." She put down her cup. "Let me ask you something. "Why do you come to this temple?"

"Huh?" he cocked his eyebrow. "You asking that now after seven years?"

"For some kaiju, choosing another religion is like going to another bank and starting a new account. You get a new overdraft and credit, and it feels like you never overstepped your mark. But the thing about those sort of kaiju is that it wasn't their gods that damned them in the first place, but their own festering souls. You are not one of them, but you are also not Hindu, so why come here?"

"It's convenient," Gojirama shrugged, "gods are gods, they look after all spirits from every place."

"Do you truly believe in gods?" she asked leaning forwards.

"No." He straightened up shifting his legs. "I believe creatures are their own gods, they choose their own paths."

"I see. Did I ever tell you about the Hindu Trinity?"

"No, what's that?"

Mosurakoto straightened herself and clasped two of her hands whilst pinching the fingers of her other two, forming a brief pose reminiscent of a goddess.

"There are hundreds of deities in Hindu, but above all else are the Trinity. Brahma, the creator who constructs everything that exists; Vishnu, the preserver who maintains harmony and balance; and lastly Shiva, the destroyer who must rend the universe asunder."

"Destroyer?" Kiryu rubbed his cheek. "Isn't that a bad thing?"

"Not in this sense," said the moth twitching her antennae, "the destructive power of Shiva is regenerative, it is necessary to make rebirth and renewal possible. The flowers must die in winter, in order for new ones to be born in spring, tis the natural order."

"Ahhh...I see, it's the circle of life."

"Exactly. None of those three are good nor evil, they are simply existence. Birth, life and death are not evil nor good, they are simply acts of existing."

"What about murder?"

"I am speaking about death itself Kiryu-san," she tutted shaking her head, "not the method by which death occurs. There are many cruel ways to exist, but existence itself is not the one being cruel, it is your fellow kaiju."

"Ah." Kiryu nodded with a knowing grin. "So like I said, creatures are responsible for their own actions."

"I agree. But, the reason I ask if you know of the Trinity is that...I have noticed that many kaiju can become one of those three."

Shoji spread her four arms wide and clasped her thumbs against her fingers.

"You said that creatures were their own gods and I find that fascinating. Some can be creators, some preservers of balance, and some are destroyers. Now being mortal their motives are not without morality, so you have good and evil in any of those three...but now I come to my question...what are you, Kiryu?"

She pressed her four hands upon the table.

"Are you a creator, a preserver...or a destroyer?"

"What do you think?" he pressed a hand to his chin propping it in front of her.

"I think," Mosurakoto leaned closer, "that I shall have to wait and see."

"Why wait?" His smile grew inching closer to her face.

"Because it's not the destination...but the journey, Kiryu-chan."

Her mandibles widened with a teasing little smooch as Kiryu came closer. A brief moment, trapped in time between them as they could taste each other's breath. Then he pulled back with a groan as she started giggling.

"Dammit," he sighed.

"I win again!" Mosura cackled. "You'll have to do better than that Kiryu-san!"

"Oh it's not Kiryu-chan anymore?" he snorted thumping his tail.

"Awhaww I'm sorry, but it's so much fun teasing you!"

"Hmhm...yeah, you are fun."

"SHOJI-SAMA, SH-SHOJI-SAMA!"

Aosukawa stumbled through the door with a sobbing panic and tears down her beak.

"Th-th-there, there's-"

"What, what is it?!" Shoji shot up on her feet.

"Th-th-the...the thugs, th-the ones who tried to kidnap me, they're at the door!"

"What?!"

"Hold on." Kiryu stood up heading to the door. "Are they inside?"

"They, the twins, they're trying to stop them," she clutched herself with a stuttering gasp, "they're, th-they're not gonna stop, th-they're not gonna stop, they're gonna get me again, THEY'RE GONNA DRAG ME BA-"

"AOSU-CHAN!"

Shoji grabbed the heron with all four hands and stared sharply into her quivering eyes.

"No one, is coming to take you away. I promised you that when you first came here, did I not?"

"Y-yes...you did," she whimpered nodding.

"I will handle them, you stay up here and don't leave."

"Th-thank you," she hugged the priestess, "thank you, Shoji-sama."

"Kiryu, could you come help me?"

"Of course," he tightened his fists, "I got some words for these punks who can't take a hint."

Heading down the stairs they noticed the temple was much emptier, the visitors having been taken to side rooms out of safety by the clerics as Kiryu and Shoji walked up to the twins struggling to keep the oaken doors closed.

"Sh-shoji-sama!" cried the left. "These, th-these kaiju want-"

"They're trying to push in!" shouted the right. "Aosukawa said, they wanted to-"

"I know," Shoji raised her hand, "step back please, let me handle them."

"Are you sure?!"

"Positive, now go before you get hurt dears."

Pulling back from the door the twins ran past her quick as they could, the large oaken barrier forced open by thick claws scraping against the wood. Five male kaiju in red jackets, the mark of a crown stitched onto the fabric as Kiryu nodded to Mosurakoto knowingly.

Two crocodilians, a wide-headed crab and a komodo dragon stood behind a large stony turtle whose back resembled a black iceberg with jagged cresting waves, his head just as bumpy with the spikes falling over his eyes. None of them took off their shoes entering the temple.

"I'm here for Gojirama Kiryu," said the turtle, "don't suppose you know where he is."

"That's me," said Kiryu nodding, "I take it you're Kamoebara."

"Heh, guilty as charged," the thug spread his arms, "see I heard you were giving my boys a rough time when they were out recruiting-"

"Abducting, you mean?" said the high priestess stepping forth. "Don't try to deny it, the one you failed to kidnap twice has already verified this."

"What? Pfft, kidnap, you been smokin' the incense here or what we weren't kidnapping no one. We were just reclaiming a lost lady of ours, you know, someone that used to work over on Pink Street-"

"She has left that life, and she has no intention of going back."

"Yaaaeah but, she has a debt," said Kamoebara rubbing his neck, "and you can't just walk out of a debt until it's all paid, now can you?"

"Is this debt real?" Kiryu snorted. "Or just something you added when she got too mouthy?"

"You can shut up, I'll deal with you in a bit."

"You can deal with him now, outside," Shoji wagged her finger, "you have no business here, and if you do not remove yourselves immediately, I shall have to take drastic measures."

The turtle thug looked to his minions as they chuckled at the moth's scowling face. He turned back and walked closer to loom over her.

"I don't think that's a good idea, lady. See, my boys get really jumpy when anyone tries to call the police and well...I'd hate anything to happen to all these nice murals and shit."

"Then all you have to do is leave," she crossed two of her four arms, "and settle your matter with Kiryu-san elsewhere."

"I'm ready when you are," said her friend cracking his knuckles, "let's not bother the high priestess."

"Nah-ah, no," Kamoebara dug into his pocket, "see I knew this was gonna happen so how about we make a deal?"

He brought out a thick wad of yen notes wrapped in a bundle, much to the surprise of Kiryu.

"Advance of a hundred-thousand, for little Aosu-chan. Call it a donation to your temple, we'll give you two-hundred-thousand more if you agree, and Aosu-chan gets a nice place to herself as top girl-"

"No."

The priestess took his wad of bills and shoved it back into his pocket. He smiled even wider and brought out an even bigger stack.

"You drive a hard bargain, perhaps this will loosen your robe."

"If anything shall do that, it will certainly not be you and your greasy piles of money."

"Hey-ey, lady...this stuff's legit, what you'd think I would try to play a priestess?"

"I have no faith, ironically, in what morals you have left."

She stepped forwards with one slender leg edging close to the gangster's thick boots.

"My ancestors have lived in this temple, far longer than you, and your boss and whoever your pathetic little cronies answer to, you have nothing to offer me that will come even close to the worth of this temple."

"I'm not buying the temple, I'm recruiting one of your girls."

"You are offering poison."

"Oh I'm sorry," Kamoebara reared back, "I didn't realise you were such a damn prude about the base needs of kaiju."

"There is a difference between sex work and trafficking," Shoji stabbed a finger on his chest, "and I know very clearly which of those two you want Aosu-chan for."

"Aw come on she just had a bad spin, she'll get used to it once she learns her place-"

"Ohoh, her place is it, do you think all of us should be on our knees chained to the floor?"

"If it stops you being so fucking high and mighty."

"Hey."

Kiryu stepped close within headbutting range as he lowered his voice.

"Don't insult the High Priestess."

"Or what?" snarled the turtle. "Are you part of the temple too?"

"I'm a patron, and you're disturbing the peace, now take your filthy money and walk away now."

"You threatening me, Toho boy?"

"Do I have to, crown boy?"

The moment Kamoebara stepped forwards, Shoji placed one of her hands against his waist.

"Don't," she murmured.

"Take your hand off me," he snarled.

"Only when you plan to leave. Trust me, you do not want to start this."

"Don't tell me what to do you bug-eyed bitch!"

"Hohoha-I'm sorry?!"

"TAKE your hand OFF!"

"No!"

"THAT'S IT!"

The thug raised his fist, but before he could even reach her face he felt her own pierce his stomach with a blunted thrust, forcing him to heave with a shudder. In a furious fit the turtle rushed with a violent swing, but the moth leapt aside and whipped out a long wiry rope from her fingers that latched round the top of his head. The stagger of his run only further aided her sudden tug when she sent him straight into a stone pillar to smack hard with a stunning crack, falling to the floor as his subordinates looked shocked towards the priestess.

"F-FUCK, FUCK YOU SON OF A WHORE!" screeched the turtle.

"WHAT THE FUCK'S YER DEAL?!" roared one of the crocs.

"YEAH!" shouted the crab. "YER SUPPOSED TO BE NON-VIOLENT!"

"No," she said, "I am supposed to be non-lethal, there is a difference. I have plenty ways to convince you to leave, but if you so INSIST!"

Spreading her arms Shoji threw off her robe into the air above her, Kiryu stepping back to watch her kimono suddenly twist behind her back and snap into place as one magnificent pair of wings. Her body beneath was covered still in a soft golden sari over her smooth downy fluff of white thorax and abdomen, her curved pale thighs ending upon thick flaxen talons.

"I would never kill or abuse others, such is my creed," said Mosurakoto. "However, that does not make me helpless and as the High Priestess of Airenas Temple, I shall make certain this place has preserved order above everything else!"

"Same here," Kiryu cracked his fist, "but that's just how I roll, no temple rules about it."

"GUH!" the turtle forced himself back on his feet. "THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITIN' FOR, GET 'EM!"

"Kiryu-san?" she looked to him.

"I know," he nodded, "keep blood out the temple, got it."

Bracing themselves into a fighting stance, they watched Kamoebara try to swing at her again when Shoji swept one of her wings fast like a sleeve round his arm and throw it off-kilter, causing him to stumble and grab a nearby pillar as the crab thug came lunging from behind with a wild haymaker from his oversized claw. Shoji suddenly dodged upon feeling the air shift from his advance, scooping his arm with her wing flapping against his limb before slamming two fists into his chest and kicking the back of his knee to topple him onto his back.

One of the crocs tried to advance, the gator trying to throw a punch before Kiryu grabbed his wrist and slammed his head into the soft gator snout to stun the punk's senses, shoving him back towards the other croc as they were both crushed against the door. They barely recovered before the sight of a thundering Gojirama, charging towards them when he launched himself and threw both feet towards them, blasting open the doors with a powerful dropkick that sent both crocs flying through the air and crumpling down into the garden.

"RRRRAAAARGH!"

The komodo came running stomp the downed Kiryu, but his stance was clumsy as the Toho kaiju rolled to one side and whipped his tail hard against the thug's other leg to make him stumble. Grabbing one limb Kiryu pulled himself up before crushing the komodo's crotch in his other palm with a yelp of fright, Goji suddenly lifting the lizard's whole body in the air before driving his skull straight into the doorjamb of the oaken gate. With a deep bruise down his snout as he fell to his knees, the komodo gasped with flinching tears clutching his throbbing skull as Kiryu swung his foot hard to the side of his cheek, sending him head over ass into the stone gravel outside.

"YOU FUCKIN' PRICK!"

The tortoise went for Gojirama, his fist rearing back with a hard swing as Kiryu dodged underneath to punch his head when Kamoebara turned his body suddenly to block the fist. With a groan Kiryu crunched his knuckles against the hard stony carapace as the burly thug slammed his knee into Kiryu's gut, causing him to bend over as the turtle readied a hammerfist from above. Then something caught it with a pinching grip, strangling his wrists as he was suddenly jerked back.

"A-AAAAAGH AAAGH!"

"And just where do you think YOU'RE going?!"

The shellhead looked behind him to see the priestess, shooting her silken thread from her hands to wrap round his hands with such agonising tightness that he felt the blood start to cut off.

"You dance with a lady once and leave her standing on her own?! Have you no MANNERS!?"

"HA-AAAAAARGH!"

She yanked him hard forcing him to walk backwards with a careening body about to tip itself over, the moth spinning in a gentle waltz that teased the thug with how much tighter she could twist his hands. He tried to punch out when she came close, but her wing smothered his fist with a misdirecting swoop that threw his arms out with the strength of a sailcloth. Shoji smirked before dancing him straight towards the exit where Kiryu was waiting, whistling to him as the moment she unravelled her string from his arms, the tortoise went staggering towards Gojirama who thrust his hard knee into the soft underbelly.

"DHHHHFF!"

"Hm. Bad move."

Kiryu watched the thug shudder in heaving upset, bowed over towards the stairs as he put his boot to the back of the thug's impervious shell, and sent him falling with a crack of his chin onto the steps. Both yakuza and priestess stepped out onto the forecourt as the crab came running to try and attack Shoji from behind. She let him swing his arm out towards the stairs as she swerved fast round his body, love-tapping the back of his smooth-domed head to let him fall right into Kiryu's backfist that crunched his smaller face with such force, that part of his shell would crack as he went rolling down into the sand garden.

"WHAT ARE YA WAITIN' FOR?!" Kamoebara snapped to his group. "COME ON, FUCK THESE BITCHES UP!"

"Is this what you do everyday?" asked Mosurakoto.

"Pretty much," replied Kiryu rotating his shoulder, "think I'm gonna need more Aarti after this to cool off."

"You only get that once per visit, don't be greedy Kiryu-san."

"Hm, can't blame a guy for trying."

"RRRRAAAAAAARRGH!"

The crocs rushed them together, one for each as Kiryu grabbed one fist trying to aim for him but failed to prevent the second, crunching into his cheek as he staggered with a slight wince before the third punch came driving with a hammerfist into his shoulder. He countered with a hard roundhouse kick, correcting his stumbling momentum to swing his body round and crush the top of his foot into the gator's snout, sending him straight against the bannister of the stairs as crimson burst from his nostrils. With bloodied face and searing pain the thug screamed with a brazen running punch, missing the first swipe as Kiryu backed off when the punk tried to deliver his own roundhouse kick.

The kaiju however saw his leg tense and grabbed the swinging limb, driving his other elbow down like a sledgehammer to send a piercing crack through the shin as the punk shrieked in agony. Then it got worse, when Kiryu swung his body round by the damaged leg to fly straight against the brick wall surrounding the temple grounds, causing the thug to black out the moment his skull met stone.

Mosura was dealing with her own croc punk in a much less brutal manner, his punches trying to be fast like a boxer as she ducked and weaved with chittering mandibles almost mocking him. She waited for the chance when his balance overreached, lunging with a jab to almost teeter on his toes when Shoji stepped to her side and drove two elbows deep into the stomach, knocking the wind from his lungs. Wheezing fast he coughed with a swinging backhand that she grabbed with two arms and crunched his belly with the other two, followed by her wings in a sweeping uppercut that threw him into the air briefly before slamming him onto his back.

Dust peppered inside his throat making the croc almost retch with dry heaving sputters, pushing himself back up to try and fight once more as the high priestess tittered with a condescending bow. Brazen insult flashed through the gator as he made a football kick hard towards her, which again she dodged with flawless ease letting the thug smack his foot against the wall of the temple, before she spat out her wires from her hand to wrap round his other leg.

One solid tug threw his leg backwards, sending his head falling forwards to smack against the wall, a crunching scrape with howling pain before she shot out another wire from her other hand and wrapped round the first leg to split them apart like a ballerina mid-jump. In the midst of all this, Kamoebara pulled out a knife and with a samurai's scream came charging towards her friend.

"KIRYU!"

Mosura's cry alerted him to the attack as she shot out her string towards the thug, but he slashed through the wire and readied himself to stab the kaiju dead in the gut. In the zen garden Kiryu saw a rake had been left out and quickly grabbed it to strike against the sand like a golfer in the bunker. The cloud of sudden white wouldn't stop the shellhead from charging, but it did stop him from seeing Kiryu hurl the rake towards his legs and cause him to stumble hard, throwing his head forwards right into Kiryu's fist.

"GH-GHRRRUUUUUUAAAAAAGH!"

The laws of physics became a painful lesson as his head went snapping back, despite his arms and legs rushing forwards as the knife scraped past Kiryu's waist and sliced through the hem of his suit. Gojirama paid back in turn by grabbing Kamoeraba's neck and yanking it violently hard like starting a lawnmower, before swinging him by the head in a brief circle throw that sent him crashing against the temple grounds.

The gangsters struggled to get up, moans of disbelief from every corner of the sand garden as they all became aware of a small crowd looking on in shocked excitement. Pictures were taken, gasps of intrigue from kappas, kitsunes and insectoids along with a few too many calls caused Kamoebara to stumble up in panic.

"F-fuck, fucking...FUCK YOU!" he snapped at Kiryu. "Who the FUCK YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"

"Toho Clan, that's who." He walked forwards and grabbed the turtle's neck. "Who's your clan?"

"H-heh, you...y-you think you're hot shit, just because you knock me down?!"

"You barely made me break a sweat, so how about I talk to your boss about this trafficking recruitment you're up to."

"I-i ain't saying SHIT to you, fucking asshole!"

"First you try to bribe a priestess to hand over one of her own, then you insult her in her own temple and then you pick a fight with her. Shoji-sama I think we should call the cops."

"I quite agree," she said walking over, "I'm sure they would love to hear my testimony, of which it is highly praised as a valuable leader of the community."

"F-fuck, GUH!" the turtle threw himself back and stumbled to the exit. "GEDDUP, ALL OF YOU WE GOTTA REPORT TO GIHEI!"

"Ohohhh, Gihei is it?" Shoji nodded. "I'll have to remember that for the report."

"This isn't over!" said Kamoebara pointing at Kiryu. "You best watch your step. You think I went hard on you? Nah...you haven't seen what the Jinuchu Clan'll do to you for messing with our business."

The mobsters hobbled out of the garden as the crowd dispersed to let them through. Shoji sighed as she wrapped her wings back around herself o reform the kimono look.

"My apologies," she said bowing, "thank you for your chivalry Kiryu-san."

"No need to thank me," he replied turning to her compound eyes glinting in the sun, "I don't think this'll be the last time we see them."

"I was afraid you would say that...shall I have you on speed-dial then?"

"Yeah, you see anyone suspicious, anything, you call me, no matter what time it is."

"Thank you." She patted his back then looked over the ruined sand patterns. "Gods...I spent weeks on those."

"Want me to help?" Kiryu offered his hand.

"Oh no no that's fine, you don't have to-"

"At least that one over there, please."

"Well...alright then."

Taking up a pair of rakes they started to comb through the zen garden and reset the sand as best they could to a neutral state. It took at least an hour before Mosurakoto was satisfied in gathering the loose dirt, as she handed Kiryu some disinfecting cloth to clean up any blood stains that were left around the garden, washing it down carefully until not a speck was left before he took his leave. The twins peeked from inside the doorway as their high priestess bade farewell to her friend.

"So, same time next month?" she asked.

"Sure," he nodded with a wave, "take care, Shoji-sama."

"You too Kiryu-san. Try not to get in TOO much trouble."

"Heh, no promises."

As he left the temple grounds, the moth priestess shook her head with a sigh and turned back towards her domain, stepping back inside to close the doors showing the symbol of the temple being a circle with a cross inside, along with three curving blocks in each quarter.

"You know it is not polite to eavesdrop," she said to the pillars either side of her.

"U-UM!" two voices squeaked. "Forgive us, Shoji-sama!"

"Ha ha ha, do not fear, now I think it is time we have our meditation before Kamen Spider comes on, what do you say?"

"Of course, Shoji-sama!"

The lady of the temple stepped further in, followed by the twins obediently matching her pace with perfect mimicry. But her brow furrowed as she thought back to Aosukawa, wondering how terrible her former life must have been to come back to haunt her.