FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

His eyes stared at the deep red ocean. The sun rested above the waves, burning like oil that set the horizon aflame. The water boomed as it hit the shore, deafening his ears as he looked behind him. There was the orphanage he had once lived, in a different time and place, a beacon of peace in this cold empty land.

Kiryu felt his body burning, a million fangs biting his flesh and eating his bones. Hungering, feasting, longing for the taste as he looked back and forth between the house and the sea. The water was calming, soft and cool, it beckoned him with peace and the end to everything, an eternal sleep where he would finally rest.

But the house lured him with voices of warmth and agony, a trembling in his arms as he struggled to breathe when he took the first steps towards it. His feet dug in the sand, his lungs became tighter, a gasping shriek escaping his teeth before collapsing on his knees. The voices became clearer with each step he dragged himself.

"Is he still alive?"

"Please, you know who I am."

"He's not breathing much."

"I've put his body in obtundation. He suffered many wounds."

"Any news about Aosukawa?"

"No. He's our main focus now."

"Dammit...f-fucking dammit."

"Focus, Myobi. He will tell you all when he wakes up."

"And when will that be?"

"When he is ready...for our sake, I hope it is soon."

When he tried to stand up once again, something howled from the ocean as he turned his head. The sun turned from burning amber to a brilliant white, forming a portal above the waters. An odd force pulled him towards it, magnetic in its strength as he stepped into the water. The booming stopped, and the waves soon became silent.

As he walked into the sea, a different sound came ringing through his skull. A piercing whine, a bell with a single note. The white portal took another shape the closer he came towards it. A mushroom cloud, reaching far into the sky as it opened the heavens, with a blinding song.

From Ginza-Owari...To Shinbashi, Tamachi, Chiba And Shinabara...it's all become a sea of flames.

The voice was deep yet familiar, a primal shudder in the depths of the reptilian brain. The cloud gave birth to a demon, a pale grey creature that stepped from the aether, walked towards Kiryu and slowly took on his shape.

Do You Serve A Good Purpose?

The shadow opened its eyes of piercing white.

Or Just A Weapon Of Horrible Destruction?

It offered its hand as Kiryu felt the force pull him closer.

Where would you take me?

Forever In The Ocean Depths. Live Without Destruction.

Why can't...I do that here?

Can You Look To Tomorrow With Hope? Can Peace And Light Return To You?

If I desire it...then yes. I can't leave them...I won't leave.

He tried to walk back to the dark house on the shore. But the further he went from the piercing light, the greater his shadow became, rising above with a howling siren that turned louder as the ocean receded. Water fell from the giant's shoulders, a great and terrible colossus whose cruel visage twisted to become his face. Every step he took was agony, crushing his chest with lungs set on fire, his flesh peeling off with a toxic fire filling his veins.

Kiryu staggered onto his knees, the house so close yet always inching further away, the sands of time pulling him back towards his shadow. The sky broke with thunder, crackling from afar as he looked back at the creature. 50 metres tall, a demonic kaiju, whose very breath silenced the world in a flash of light.

No! I can't give up!

Keep Thinking Like That, You'll Become Prey.

I must...everyone is waiting! My friends...my family...McCartin, NO!

Relics From Days Past. A Little Longer...And We'll Be With Your Daddy.

NO! I WON'T DIE HERE!

As the creature smiled with sorrowful eyes, its hands reaching out towards him, something sparked through the sky with shining green that forced it back. He looked above and saw the moon rich with amber. A circle of blue rang from its shape, casting itself across the sky and shielding him with a hymn of peace.

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

The fires stopped burning in his heart. The voice of a priestess filled him with strength, he staggered to his feet as the pale shadow pulled back into the water.

Is The World Going To Be Destroyed?

"You said that creatures were their own gods."

It Looks Like Your Doom.

"So long as you are still alive, you can always become even stronger."

Yes.

Gojirama forced his feet forwards.

So long...as I am still alive...I will become stronger.

The light from the ocean would fade. But the grey shadow tried to grab him again, as Kiryu felt a different heat inside him. He tightened his fist, the screeching call of death sweeping for his back as he turned and punched the giant's fist head-on. Vapours burst from its long scaled fingers, and with his own roar in response, his own light of brilliant blue pierced through the sky, and eviscerated the demon shape.

He walked towards the house, the weight of the air much lighter than before as he finally reached his old orphanage. He opened the door, and a warmth filled his being as he saw a large green shape, with long crocodilian snout and several tentacles twisting out of their back.

The world shifted to another place, a room with the smell of incense and the sound of chemicals bubbling. The sky was red once again as he laid upon a cloud, sitting on the edge of his consciousness, a gentle beeping calling him.

"How's he holding up?" asked a long white shape.

"Surprisingly well," said the green shadow, "at this rate he should recover on schedule. Did you need me for something?"

"Yeah, uh..." the ghost drifted past, "I might need to stay in town a li'l longer."

"I thought you were eager to leave," the emerald turned its long head.

"Something's come up...think I might be trading in my prize for something better."

"Hm. Fine. In that case you can help with a few errands, whilst Myobi takes him back."

"No prob, I owe you and Kiyo-san a lot...hey, did he just move?"

Both of them loomed over Kiryu, like phantoms from another world. He tried to grab one of their faces but they took his hand as the piercing light returned.

"No, NO, you're not ready yet!"

"What's happenin'?!"

"Hold him down, I need to sedate him!"

His voice was trapped, but with one punch he knocked back the white shape who clattered in the distance. The shadow of emerald pinned him as the beeping turned more rapid, his throat tightening with savage burn.

"Kiryu, STOP! You will wake up when I TELL YOU TO!"

A stabbing pain went through his neck. His breath slowed down, his head slumped back into the dark, and his eyes faded into the abyss.

"Fucking bastard threw me," snarled the other voice.

"Are you hurt?" asked the green.

"Nah...I had worse-"

"Then you're fine, get out, I need to stabilise him."

"Sheesh...more trouble than he's worth."

"Shoji-sama says otherwise...but you're not wrong."

A sigh of relief came from the shape as Kiryu fell asleep. The sound of his breath rumbled in his ears, a soft sting clawing at his throat.

The next time he awoke, Kiryu felt everything hurt. His arms and legs felt like acid rivers, his muscles throbbed and his breath felt like ashes. The bed cradled him in the red room, his eyes refocusing enough to see the world again. Flowers decorated the walls as incense drifted through the air, but across the way from him was a table full of laboratory equipment.

Flasks and beakers with spiral tubes filled the desk, churning away with odd flames and gentle sparks of conduits between points. Gojirama rubbed his head, feeling tubes pulling at his arm and chest, a drip at his side feeding nutrients into his veins.

"Oh, praise Matango!"

He looked slowly to his other side.

"A blessing to see you back in our realm, Kiryu-san."

"Ma-...Matango?"

Sitting at his side was a fungal creature in a pale robe, a head like broccoli and blue spores bulging out the top as the stalk showed a pair of long beady eyes. Kiryu was suddenly aware of his nakedness under the sheets, several bandages wrapped round his muscular body and the telltale trace of lightning scars leaving black roots in his scales.

"Where...am I back in Tokyo?"

"Far from it my noble friend," Matango rubbed his wooden staff, "you are in the depths of Yokohama, after a most terrible battle almost robbed you of your life."

"Yes...I was...fighting Gihei," Kiryu rubbed his head, "I met Danzaki an-...where is he?"

His eyes suddenly hardened as he tried to sit up.

"Where is Danzaki-NNNGH!"

"Do not move!" the fungus grabbed him. "I know not where your friend Danzaki is, the master of this place ordered me to keep you in bed."

"Dammit," Kiryu winced clutching his ribs, "why...why are you here?"

"Because of you." The shroom smiled with his eyes. "Matango called to me, said my guide was in danger, to be struck by lightning in the blood-filled docks. I searched for you, and remembering your advice, I spoke with the local homeless and when I mentioned your name, they brought me here."

"You came here...for me?"

"You are my friend. And Matango smiles upon his friends."

"Well...thank you, Matango-san." Gojirama looked around the place. "Is this a brothel or a meth lab?"

"I am not certain," the traveller tapped his cane, "but they were very interested in my mushrooms, I offered them plenty for rejuvenation."

"Can I have one of those now?"

"I would...but," Matango looked behind him, "the master of this place warned against it, in case of a...chemical imbalance, was the term they used."

"Nnnngh, best to be safe," Kiryu nodded laying back, "I appreciate you being here, as someone I know."

"I am glad you are safe. You were on the shores of death, facing the shadow of your primogenitor, but Matango brought you back it seems."

"Heheh...well, someone had to-wait." The saurian turned his head. "How did you know about the shore and...that shadow?"

"I have seen your death." Matango smiled leaning over. "It was a beautiful one, but not one you deserve."

"You...what?"

"So white and brilliant...a cleansing fire, but not the one you should embody. No, no you have a different fire, Kiryu-san. One that lights the darkness of the future, not burns away the past."

Kiryu said nothing, feeling his head start to spin as he closed his eyes and took a small rest with Matango watching over him. The mushroom monk tapped his cane, making a small prayer to himself. When he awoke once again, Matango was gone. It still hurt to move as he tried to sit up, his rustling of the bedsheets alerting a voice.

"Welcome back."

He looked towards the lab table seeing a white coat hunched over.

"You recovered much quicker than I expected."

"Are you...the master of this place?" he groaned.

"Yes. How are you feeling?"

"Better. Everything's not throbbing as much."

"That's good," said the stranger, "I assume Matango explained your situation."

"That I'd been badly wounded and brought down here?" Kiryu nodded. "He didn't tell me who you were, or your group."

"Understandable." The stranger turned towards him. "I am Biyante-sama. No doubt Shoji-sama and Myobi-chan have spoken of me."

"They...they have, wait..." the saurian leaned forwards, "I know your face. I think I saw you on the news."

"In that case let me introduce myself proper. Dr. Ukyo Kuribayante...formerly of the R.O.S.E. Institute."

The long crocodilian snout was one Kiryu vaguely recalled, a pair of sharp white eyes with three large claws on each side of their cheek. A row of little spikes crossed the top of their head, they wore a ragged labcoat with a geisha's kimono underneath in brilliant amber.

Every time they moved, the sound of trees would rustle in their wake, and the closer they came towards him, the more Kiryu realised their scales resembled thousands of leaves. But the strangest part was the two headlamps attached by long metallic tendrils, that loomed over their head and snapped towards Kiryu.

"Let's do some tests," said Ukyo, "open your mouth."

"Wh-why?"

"Because I'm your doctor, now say ah."

"Ahhhh-glrrk!"

Kiryu obeyed briefly as a depressor was put on his tongue, the tentacled lamps moving with a mind of their own around his head as the doctor felt over his body, checked inside his throat and tracked his eyes.

"What day is it?" they asked.

"It...November, how long was I out?"

"Ah, yes, that's an unfair question, what year is it then?"

"2014."

"Your name and address?"

"Gojirama Kiryu, I'm not telling you my address."

"I just saved your life," said Ukyo.

"I barely know who you are," said Kiryu.

"If I wanted to kill you, you would never have woken up again. Your address."

"Hm...fine," Goji rolled his eyes, "fifty-four Yokoteramachi, Shinjuku."

"Occupation?"

"Toho lieutenant, Obakimura family."

"And your official occupation?" Ukyo raised their brow.

"Senior Manager of Azumi Finance, Kaijurocho branch."

The doctor slipped out a third tentacle beneath their robe, resembling a budding plant that pressed upon Kiryu's bare chest. His heartbeat throbbed in Biyante's ears, a fourth and fifth tentacle joining to feel under the bedsheets.

"HEY, what are you doing?!"

"Checking your wound," said the doctor.

"You could have asked first-NNNGH! This better not turn into hentai."

"I am a professional," the tentacle licked across his wound, "another six inches and you would have lost a kidney from the stab."

"I...I was stabbed?" Gojirama gasped remembering. "Yes...I was, it...Danzaki he...he stabbed me."

"I recommend you not leave this bed," a sixth tentacle offered him a bottle of water. "Drink this. I added some nutrients for convalescence."

"Thanks." The saurian drank it up. "Ugh, mmngh, it tastes like chalk."

"I never said it tasted good, keep drinking."

He kept gulping the bitter water as Kuribayante administered treatment. Kiryu watched them pull back the sheets to expose his naked body, before two tentacles would massage his stab wound. In his rest it had been dressed, redressed and stitched up to leave nothing more than a deep red line at his waist, the larger bandages round his body soon taken off.

"Thank you for saving me," Goji bowed stiff, "how did you find me?"

"An associate of mine saw you," said Ukyo grabbing the drip, "Diamond we call him."

"Because he shines like one?"

"No because he's a thief," they swapped the empty bag for a fresh supply. "We fished you out of the river, Gihei never saw you."

"You already know about him huh?"

"I know everything in Yokohama. I know your meeting with Gen Ganbe, your time at Sha-Wujing and your subsequent defeat at the hands of Rai Tanaka."

"And my kicking Gihei's ass afterwards...what date is it?"

"November fourteenth." The doctor wrapped him with new bandages. "You have been resting for four days, your recovery is remarkable, but you shall rest two more days at the earliest."

"I need to contact my clan," Kiryu winced rolling his shoulder, "I need to warn them, Gihei's planning-"

"I know what Gihei is planning," said Kuribayante fastening the straps, "we will discuss that after you recover, for now you must rest as much as possible."

"Alright." He laid back with heavy sigh. "So I need to ask, why is the head of a famous institute down in the depths of Yokohama?"

"Because the government betrayed me," Ukyo walked back to their table, "something you would understand from your clan's history."

"Really? How did they betray you?"

"They privatised my facility," their tentacles grabbed beakers, "put me in early retirement to have total control over my experiments, without the consent of my team."

"That sucks, privatisation's rarely a good thing."

"Historically speaking, it has been a method to control the flow of wealth from the public to the elite. Rarely it can be used to steer a public-held company from bankruptcy."

"You think I'm in the right mindset to debate politics?"

"No," Ukyo turned their long head, "I like voicing my thoughts without critique."

"That sounds dangerous," Kiryu rubbed his belly.

"You asked for my reasons, not a debate."

One of the vials bubbled over as Ukyo capped it, slotted it on a burner and watched it tremble with volatile fury. Goji pulled back expecting it to burst, but it never did, hitting just at the peak of its fury with the scientist jotting notes.

"Reacts strongly, pH of two, don't use on reptilians."

"I didn't realise you were a medical doctor," the saurian shook his head.

"I'm not," Ukyo kept writing, "my treatment of you is illegal, but so is the existence of my triad strictly speaking."

"Wait, your triad? You run a gang?"

"The Serpent's Rose Triad. I didn't want to name it, but Myobi has a way with words."

"Myobi-chan?" Kiryu gasped clutching his pecs. "Where is he, is he alright?!"

"He's fine, doing chores for me," the doctor waved. "He wanted to speak with you."

"Does he know about Aosukawa?"

"No. What happened?"

"She...she's dead. Gihei killed her."

Kuribayante said nothing and kept working at their table, bubbling chemicals and frothing solvents with various results that fascinated Kiryu. Their headlamps reared over the experiments, shining lights back and forth whilst the four other tentacles would pick up tools and work seemingly by themselves.

The rest of the day Kiryu laid in his bed, only ever getting up to the bathroom that Ukyo guided him to. His legs were soft and frail, a fuzzy exhaustion in his thighs as he was led through the depths of an old brothel, carrying his drip alongside him. Other rooms still had the memories of allure, the sultry walls of erotic vistas and courtesans pleasuring each other.

The other creatures Kiryu saw looked haunted in their rooms, phantoms in robes with bruised arms and beaten faces. All of them were female, and Kiryu recognised at least two of them from the auction. His face hung in sorrow, a silent apology for those he could not save.

Ukyo Kuribayante never said a word, but was always on hand to help him to the toilet. They stood quiet to attention and turned away as he relieved himself, before taking him back to bed and redressing his bandages for the night.

Sometimes one of the kaiju would come speak to Biyante, requesting advice or delivering letters as Ukyo offered their aid. Other times there'd be someone he didn't recognise, a monster from above or a different kaiju. But in the dead of night, whilst he was alone, he would receive a familiar guest.

"Kiryu!"

"Hey...Myobi-chan."

The golden kitsune arrived in his svelte blue suit, sitting down beside him.

"Ohh shit I'm so glad you're okay, how you feeling?"

"Good," Kiryu sighed, "I didn't know Biyante-sama was...the former head of R.O.S.E."

"Well we have to keep things underground, they've got a lot of enemies right now searching for them."

"Like the Jinuchu?"

"Yeah." The fox nodded. "I was worried when you didn't come back from Sha-Wujing, Orama-san and I had to beat it real fast, what the hell happened?"

"My disguise worked too well," the saurian shook his head, "Rai thought I was that doctor, invited me to speak with him and Doi. Then I let something slip, they pulled off my mask and next thing you know, I was fighting Rai throughout the estate."

"Shit...that the guy who fucked you up?"

"No, that was Gihei. They brought me to him as a...gift."

"Ohh, jeez," Myobi cringed seeing the burns on Kiryu's chest, "how'd you even get away?"

"I got lucky," Kiryu sighed, "broke the supports on my chair, loosened the cuffs, beat my way out."

"Glad to hear...so...I need to ask." The fox took a deep breath. "Is...d-did you find...Aosukawa?"

"...I'm sorry." He bowed with shame. "I couldn't save her."

"Wh-what? No...no."

"I failed you. She...she's dead, Myobi."

The kitsune clasped his head and bent forwards in his chair. Trembling whimpers rose to a fettered sob, then a screeching howl as he collapsed to the floor. He punched his fists into the ground and shrieked with anguish, twisting Kiryu's heart with a deepening guilt as Myobi cried for her name.

"NO! NOOOOO! YOU PROMISED, YOU PROMISED ME!"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" The fox leapt up and grabbed Kiryu's face. "I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR HER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

A long tendril grabbed Myobi's shoulder before wrenching him off the patient.

"Grieve in your own time," said Ukyo from the door.

"SHE'S FUCKING DEAD!"

"And we have our mission. Aosukawa was a loyal friend, we shall take vengeance for your sister."

"Y-you...you..." the fox swallowed his rage and stepped back, "f-fine. But if we find Gihei...I want to fucking kill him."

"We'll both get our vengeance," Kuribayante patted him, "now tell me what's new."

"The...th-the Kusonami parlour's been destroyed," Myobi pinched his snout, "that Ganbe punk rebelled and is helping the Eight Wonders push them out."

"While they were already leaving. Better late than never."

"Wait, Ganbe?" Kiryu sat up with a wince. "Is he alright?"

"He did his job," the kitsune sneered back at him, "but Gihei's got the deed for Lot Zero, and Ganbe got caught in the circuit. That punkass wants to make amends, so he left the Jinuchu and well, their Chinatown holds are fucked, and the slaves in Gihei's brothels got freed so they're in all our hideouts."

"Good," Ukyo crossed their arms, "at the very least we can form a base for the eventual storm."

"So what is your whole operation about?" the saurian rubbed his chest.

"We're an underground railroad. Four years ago, Aosukawa and Myobi escorted slaves out of Yokoahama to free them of Gihei's sex trafficking. But Gihei turned wise and sent an assassin to sabotage them."

"So we had to rebuild," Myobi leaned against the door, "we struggled a long time with a lot of our workers, but then we met Kuribayante, after they got kicked out of the institute."

"I tried to protest the privatisation," Ukyo rubbed their long chin, "I had spies outside my home threatening me with dire consequences if I chose to spoke out, a company named Resco. I fled to the underground with my associates, remembering advice from a former researcher, Toka-chan."

"She died four years ago," the fox sighed rubbing his head, "Gihei's assassin, fucking spider-bastard."

"Spider?" Kiryu cocked his head. "Was his name Khoumad Maung?"

"You...you met him?!"

"Briefly, Gihei wanted to send a message to my clan. Is he dangerous?"

"He's...I-i don't know." Myobi stepped out the room. "I gotta go, I need to think about...Aosukawa."

"I understand," Biyante patted him, "go rest up, make your preparations, I'll join you in honouring her later."

"Thanks."

The kitsune marched out with a sullen look, the doctor looking back to Kiryu as the saurian laid back in his bed.

"So you're the head of this Serpent's Rose Triad?"

"I still hate that name, it's not really a triad."

"But it sounds threatening, makes you sound bigger than you are, PR goes a long way. Myobi-chan mentioned Ganbe before and the Eight Wonders, what is that?"

"An underground fight club," Ukyo stepped over to their table, "they're good creatures, they help hide anyone who's wanted."

"Alright," Goji nodded, "by the way, have you seen a guy called Danzaki? He's a red pteranodon."

"The one who stabbed you?" Biyante pulled out a familiar knife. "My scout saw him do the deed, with this blade, then he made a call and took flight back to Tokyo."

"I...I see," his shoulders slumped, "I'm...I'm going back to sleep."

Kiryu sighed a tightening of his ribs, his shame burning deep as exhaustion took over once again. But all he could think of was Aosukawa's face, sobbing and beaten, pleading with tears as Gihei kissed her with violence.

But then he felt the stabbing pain, that twisting shudder of cold steel through his flesh. The face of his childhood friend stared dead in his eyes, soulless, humourless, before he kicked him off the roof. He recalled the shock, the horror of disbelief that his oath-brother would ever betray him. For all the reasons he could imagine why, none of them would fit.

Danzaki wasn't vain or greedy, unless something had twisted him in years gone by just under the surface. He remembered the pteranodon's words just before he fell to the depths, that he always followed the strongest. Was he truly so selfish, to turn traitor to a stronger master? Had he really never grown past his childhood obsession, even after all these years?

Sorrow filled Kiryu's heart, but only for a moment. Then came his anger, a burning wrath as he clenched his jaw and tightened his fists. Never in his entire life, had he wanted to punch someone so hard, so brutally, as that of his dearest friend in this very moment.

On November 15th, sometime in the evening, Gojirama rose from his bed feeling a surge of strength through his veins. It was the best sleep he ever had, his mind sharp and his eyes fierce with long creeping teeth.

"Biyante-sama!" he called down the red hall. "Where are you?"

"Ehh?!"

A slender iguana was the first one he met, armed with a bat whilst wearing a tank top and jeans as Kiryu grabbed for his drip with both hands.

"//WOAH WOAH, BRO!//" the stranger put up his hands. "//I ain't here to fight, put that shit down!//"

"Hmm?" Kiryu sneered. "American?"

"Yeah! Friend of Biyante!"

"...oh," he put down his stand, "sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Is cool!" the American gave a thumbs up. "Me, Niko Zillatopoulos, you?"

"Hm, Gojirama Kiryu." He offered his hand as they shook. "You know where Biyante-sama is?"

"She back soon, you need help?"

"Well...I'm really hungry for one, don't suppose you know where there's any food?"

"I get you some!" Junior grinned. "Go to bed, I bring it!"

"Wow, breakfast in bed?" Goji chuckled. "That's some good service."

Sitting up with a sigh, he was brought a steaming bowl of soup from the monster. Zillatopoulos grinned sitting beside him, as Kiryu enjoyed the sweet savoury stew that rejuvenated his heart.

"MMMMMH, woah! This is GOOD, Zillatopoulos-san!"

"Hahah, call me Junior!" the American winked.

"Junior? Is that a nickname?"

"Niko, my dad's name! So he call me, Junior!"

"Hah, aaah I see." Kiryu gulped down more of the soup. "This stuff is incredible...oddly familiar too, what is this?"

"Mushroom!" Junior nodded. "Guy with mushroom head, gave us cool mushrooms!"

"Oh, you mean Matango-san?"

"Yeah, Matango! Taste great!"

"They certainly do," Goji kept slurping away, "now I recognise it. So how do you know Biyante-sama?"

"They help folks," the iguana leaned on his bat, "friend of theirs in Eight Wonders, we do fights!"

"Do they run this fight club?"

"No, my boss King-san, he American too!"

"Well, that must be handy for you. Is it fun down there?"

"Yeah, real fun!" Zillatopoulos patted Kiryu's back. "You could fight, if you in Yokohama again!"

"Heh, you think so?" Gojirama smirked. "I'll consider it."

"Maybe we team up? Or fight each other, bet you kick my ass!"

"Heheheh, I wouldn't say no to a friendly sparring. You're a feisty one, Junior-san. I like you."

"Thanks!" Junior beamed with glowing grin. "I like you too, Kiryu-san!"

"My patriarch would love you, he always liked Americans."

"Hope I meet him!"

"Ahhh, good evening."

Kuribayante returned as Niko stood up and bowed.

"Got message from boss!" said the iguana. "Issincho gone, all Jinuchu left!"

"Really?" the crocodilian rubbed their snout. "And here I thought it would be difficult."

"Are we leaving now?" Kiryu put aside his bowl. "I'm ready when you are."

"Can you stand by yourself?"

Gojirama pulled himself out of bed, standing tall in his naked pride.

"//Awww dude!//" Zillatopoulus covered his face. "//Put sum clothes on dammit!//"

"I was already feeling good," Kiryu said, "but Junior-san brought me this mushroom stew."

"Ahh yes, Matango's offering," Ukyo tapped their teeth, "exceptional healing properties, I'll be glad to have time to study them proper. Alright, let us go, Myobi's driving us."

"Wait, us?"

"I know you are aware in some part of what Gihei is planning. I think it best we pool our information, you must contact your clan."

"No, not yet," Kiryu shook his head, "the one who stabbed me was a Toho member...who said he was working for Rai."

"Really?" the doctor sneered. "You have a traitor in your clan?"

"I don't know if it's just him or if there's others, but for now I think it's best you keep my presence secret when I return to Kaijurocho."

"How you do that?" Junior squinted behind his hands.

"I know a place I can hide...somewhere no Japanese can ever walk."

"Until then," Ukyo raised their hand, "we're talking you to Shoji-sama's temple. She'll want to see you."

"I'd like that, Biyante-sama. But...firstly." He turned to Zilla with pointing finger. "Do you know anyone who speaks Irish?"

"Ehh? Irish?" Junior rubbed his neck looking upwards. "Uhhh yeah, in Ameritown, why?"

"I need a favour. I want to get a gift for my boyfriend, something to put into words how I feel."

"Uhhhh, okay! Yes, I help you!"

"Thank you, Junior-san."

Heading up top after shaking hands with Zillatopoulos, Kiryu was stashed away in a crate on the back of Myobi's truck. Ukyo sat in another crate beside him, disguised under a tarp as the fox made the long solemn drive back to Kaijurocho. In the brief sight Kiryu had of the surface, Issincho was a much different place than it had been a week ago.

Smouldering flames flickered from parts of Chinatown, Iyazaki Road and the Red Light District. What little police there was on the streets investigated the reports of vicious gang violence, with kaiju and monsters helping to clean up the damage, and any remaining Jinuchu members who hadn't escaped, were detained and arrested.

Robbed of their weapons and abandoned by their leader, the fragments of yakuza looked a miserable lot, battered and crippled with claws in cuffs and led into the backs of cars. No one knew who assaulted them, as all of the Eight Wonders had disappeared back into the depths to plot out their next move.

By the time Kiryu reached his hometown, it was long past midnight. The city felt tense, the streets bracing for battle as he saw more debris piled up than usual. The citizens looked more frightened and uneased, the long knives of the coming winter creeping over their minds.

Sometimes Gojirama saw barricades being put up, other times he saw broken windows and neon signs being damaged, which while was not unusual in Kaijurocho, was far more common a sight than two weeks ago. There were fires being put out, mostly by the rain that came pouring down, leaving the streets awash in a heavy burden.

Above the mild desolation the Airenas Temple stood resolute, water pouring off its damaged facade as the truck rolled up to its front. Several monks came out to carry the boxes inside, hurrying with their cargo and once he was put them in a safe place, Gojirama popped out free.

"OH, KIRYU!"

The first thing he felt was Shoji-sama's embrace, hugging him with all four arms in a tight squeeze.

"Thank gods you're alright."

"Heh...sorry to make you worry."

Stepping out the box, Gojirama now wore a ragged black coat with grey pants, making him resemble a homeless creature whilst Ukyo still wore their white lab coat and kimono underneath. The headlamps however were gone, allowing the last two of their six tentacles to be free.

The room they sat in was a storage basement in the temple, a place Kiryu had never seen filled with boxes. Electrical lights were strung up on the stone walls to paint their shadows

"Why aren't you in disguise?" he asked Ukyo.

"I'm not leaving the temple," they said, "I need to direct my group from here."

"Nice to see you too," the High Priestess bowed, "thank you so much for helping Kiryu, Biyante-sama."

"It is fine, Shoji-sama," the doctor bowed back, "thank you for allowing me sanctuary on such short notice."

"You are always welcome here, you and all your charges. I have a spare room for you both, should you need it."

"I was planning to go to Little Asia," Kiryu thumbed upstairs, "but I won't say no to a room here."

"I'll call one of your friends, Sano I think is nearby-"

"No, don't contact the Toho just yet."

"Wait, what? Why not?"

"...Danzaki betrayed me."

The moth gasped pulling back with stiffening antennae.

"No...n-no that, that's not...that's impossible!"

"He stabbed me, after I barely escaped from Gihei, and tossed me into the river."

"He's right," Ukyo brought out a knife with a clan sigil, "this was the blade I found in Kiryu."

"That...no," Shoji clutched her head, "that makes no sense, Kiryu you must be mistaken."

"He told me he was working for Rai Tanaka," said the saurian, "one of the three heads of Jinuchu."

"This...what is even happening?! He told me you would be safe, he told me tha-"

"I will leave you both," Ukyo stood up stretching their legs, "I'll head to my room."

"Y-yes, of course, Saurose-san!"

She summoned a tall spotted reptilian who loomed over them.

"Take Biyante-sama upstairs to their room."

"Yes, Shoji-sama, oh hey Kiryu!"

"Saurose," Goji nodded, "how are you?"

"Great, uh...you get back just today? Where's Aosu-chan?"

The look on Kiryu's face said everything to Shoji. A quiet tension in her wings wrapped tighter round her body.

"Saurose-san, let's give our guests some time to recover, they've had a long journey and they can tell you all later."

"Oh, yeah, n-no prob Shoji-sama-"

"And for the time being, do not speak of our guests' arrival to anyone else."

"Uh...why?"

"We are being hunted," the doctor pulled a bag from their crate, "the less who know of our presence, the safer we are."

"Aaaah, gotcha," said the tall kaiju smiling, "alright ma'am, just come with me, I'll settle ya in."

"You're new here aren't you?"

"Sure am, signed up to the temple a month ago."

"Then here's your first rule." Ukyo tapped his chest. "You address me as Doctor, or they and them."

"Oh...OH, sh-shit I'm so sorry!" the gangly reptile bowed his head lower than theirs. "I-i'm really sorry, I didn't mean, um, d-doctor, please forgive me!"

"I will, just this once." Kuribayante smiled. "Now, after you, Saurose-kun."

"Yes, doctor!"

With a bold salute Taijin walked them upstairs, leaving Kiryu and Shoji in the subterranean storage. Once everything was quiet again, she took a deep breath and clasped her hands whilst Kiryu sat down beside her, and told her everything that had transpired.

"I...I can't believe this," she shook her head, "why, of all things, would Danzaki do this to you?!"

"I don't know," Kiryu sighed, "I don't know what reason he could have to betray me like this."

"Maybe, maybe he's being forced to! What if someone's making him do this against his will?!"

"Then he should trust me enough to ask for help, he's not an idiot. Do you know where he is?"

"No, I..." she rubbed her antenna, "the last I spoke to him was the day of the fire. He did tell me something strange though, he gave me a letter, and said to pass it on to Biyante-sama. Said it would help you, protect you, so I gave it to Myobi-chan."

"Do you know what it said?"

"It said...'Catch a bigger fish, behind commercial district...far southern river'."

"That's a haiku, why would-wait...the river?" Kiryu scratched his head. "That's where Danzaki dropped me...did he plan this?"

"I wish I knew," the moth clasped her hands, "I cannot begin to comprehend what he's doing but...what are you planning to do?"

"Beat his face into the ground for starters. Then let him explain. Then beat his face again."

"Kiryu, no! Please he's your friend-"

"WAS my friend." The saurian tightened his stare. "You don't need to defend him, he can do that himself."

"I...alright." She took another breath. "He can explain his actions, when we find him. But, promise me you won't hurt him too much."

"How much is too much?"

"At least...gods, just at least let him walk, don't put him in a bloody wheelchair."

"Hmm...alright." Kiryu crossed his arms. "I know he's a close friend of yours, but-"

"He...he's more than that." Shoji shook her head with a soft chuckle. "I can never get away from you Toho boys."

"What do you mean?"

"...alright. I need to tell you this. To understand why I have faith in him. Seventeen years ago, we first met when I was a young acolyte, following my mother's steps. I thought he was a dashing roguish sort, and he always made me feel so young and vibrant."

"Seventeen years?" Kiryu raised his brow. "You've known him longer than you've known me?"

"Ohohh, greatly," she smiled reminiscing, "he was so exotic, and you know how he is, always says the right thing to any senorita, a charmer to the end. But he always kept his distance for some reason, I know you and him were fighters, always were, always have been."

"That's why we joined the Toho," Gojirama looked up, "but that was ten years ago, not seventeen. We had just left the orphanage, we were living in a halfway house, doing street fights for pocket change, never robbing anyone but getting paid to put on a show, and eventually we crossed paths with Varan-san."

"I met Rob-chan when you both first came to the city. I asked if he ever considered joining the temple, he said no, as a promise to his grandparents to stay Icthyan. I respected that...the only time I respected him more, was when he paid for child support and never stopped since."

"Paid for...wait," Kiryu's eyes widened, "are you saying...Leonardo's his son?"

"Yes." Shoji clasped all four hands. "He always feared that his life, his way would be emulated by our son, so he wanted to stay away. He never abandoned me, don't think he ever did, we both discussed this like reasonable adults. He said that so long as he kept fighting on the streets, he could never be a good idol of a father. So we compromised. He stayed away, and I never spoke of him as the father. In return, he paid child support every month to me discreetly."

"I...I never knew," Goji shook his head, "that does sound like him though, he did tell me if he ever left kids behind, he would insist on paying support."

"Which is why I cannot comprehend him betraying you. I'm not trying to convince you, Kiryu, I just want you to give him a chance to explain."

"I won't lie, I'm furious with him." He clenched his fists. "I'm angry, I'm hurt, I've been in a bed for five days seeing his face in my dreams, almost like he's taunting me. He almost killed me."

"I know." The priestess bowed. "Just...don't cripple the father of my son. Let him at least walk away when you are done."

"Alright. I promise." Kiryu bowed in return. "You have my word, Shoji-sama."

A sigh of relief came from the moth as she hugged him again. He wrapped his arms around her, savouring the scent of her sweet incense, a balm for his soul.

"If you cannot contact your friends," she said pulling back, "I know one creature you must."

"Really?"

"Come with me." Shoji stood up offering her hand. "Let me soothe the anger in your heart, for a while at least."

Following the Brahmana, Kiryu was led up several floors past acolytes meditating in their rooms. One room however, in its tatami mat surrounded with stone, had a surprising visitor inside reading a college book.

"McCartin?"

A younger beast looked up with red glimmering eyes and a body wrapped in a sweater.

"Someone's here to see you."

Stepping through the door came Kiryu. Gordon choked dropping his book, and jumped to his feet with trembling hands.

"K-...KIRYU!"

He lunged in a desperate hug, Goji hugging him tight as he felt McCartin shiver with heated sobs.

"//Th-thyos, oh THYOS you're alright!//"

"McCartin!" the kaiju rubbed his back. "What are you doing here?!"

"I, um...lots, happened." The student kissed him on the cheek. "You, y-you not call, what happen, you're hurt!"

"I'm fine...I'm sorry I couldn't reach you sooner. A lot's happened to me as well."

"...Kiryu."

Without even thinking Gordon kissed him on the lips. Gojirama did not pull away, surprised but relieved at the warmth of his lover. He wrapped his arms tighter round the beast, tasting his breath filled with tears of joy, their eyes closed for a moment to shut out the world and only feel each other. Kiryu's heart would turn soft, the fires of fury stifled for a moment, his tongue crossing over Gordon's in a deepening passion.

Once their lips would finally part, Gordon explained all he could as to why he was hiding. In turn, Kuribayante joined them after the student had mentioned a certain word amongst the story of Doi and Daija.

"Atragon," they said shaking their head, "that vasher still plans to wield it."

"What is it?" asked Kiryu.

"A cold fission bomb, developed in the Kankoran War as a last resort. Daija was one of the researchers, along with my father."

"A...a bomb?"

"A nuclear submarine to be exact, that can drill into the mainland and detonate its Absolute Zero cannon. This causes instant death in a three-mile radius, and further death by pneumonia and neutron radiation over six miles."

"Neutron?" Shoji trembled through her knees. "That...that's banned isn't it, after the Argentinian War in the 1920s?"

"Correct," Ukyo nodded, "Project Klendathu, detonated Buenos Aires."

"First nuclear bomb, made in 1887," Gordon shook his head, "Sub-Saharan Conflicts."

"Very good, McCartin was it? You've studied history, do you know why neutron bombs are banned, as opposed to other nuclear weapons?"

"Um...alpha and beta radiation, creatures can safely have. Gamma is dangerous, but can be shielded. Neutron it...bleeds into...molecules."

"Exactly," said the crocodilian, "neutron emitters don't just irradiate you, they unmake you, turn your protons into pure radiation. And it's generated by fission, which Atragon's weapon relies on."

"A cold death," Kiryu muttered tapping his thumbs, "so that's what Kurasawa found."

"Who is that?"

"A reporter. I found his body months ago, and that started my clash with Jinuchu because Gihei accused me of digging up his dirty secrets. Kurasawa found out that Doi, and someone known as Daija-"

"AH, D-date, my teacher!" cried Gordon.

"Exactly," Kiryu nodded, "and this Atragon is why the Jinuchu want that deed?"

"Yes," Kuribayante rubbed their scalp with leafy shudders, "and now they have it. I know not when they plan to use it, or where, but it will be disastrous for Japan."

"Can't we call the police?!" the moth spread her arms. "Or the government, this is a war crime waiting to happen!"

"The government are worthless, we don't know how deep Jinuchu's claws are in the cabinet, their Resco group already took my facility, and one of my coworkers was murdered by Jinuchu!"

"Biyante-sama's right," Gojirama nodded, "until we know who to trust, we can't tell the police or government in case somebody squeals to Doi."

"What we do?!" Gordon took Kiryu's hand. "They almost kill you, and threaten me!"

"First I need to find Danzaki, he'll have some answers whether he wants to give me them or not. Once that's done, I'll contact my patriarch, and then we'll plan an offensive on Jinuchu."

"O-offensive? You, attack them?!"

"If we have to," Kiryu clenched his fingers tight. "They've already attacked this temple, that alone is an act of war on this city."

"ENOUGH!" Shoji raised her hand with warning glare. "I will not have you plot violence in this temple. You wish to do so, do it with your clan, but this temple is a place of peace!"

"You cannot hide forever," Ukyo looked to her, "sooner or later you will have to take arms against-"

"I am NOT hiding, Biyante-sama! I am exerting my authority as the High Priestess, to not have this temple be a war room."

"You're right," said the Toho lieutenant, "I'm sorry, Shoji-sama, I won't make plans here, you are right this is a temple of peace."

"Thank you, Kiryu," the moth bowed to him, "alright, it's very late, and I'm sure our guests need all the sleep they can get."

"Um!" Gordon gripped Kiryu's arm. "C-can I...stay with you?"

"Of course," Goji smiled pulling him close, "but we might have to share a bed."

"I not mind! I feel safe...with you."

Shoji felt a flutter in her heart, watching the two stare at each other before they realised and sat up proper.

"Oh don't mind me," she smiled, "we have no problems having you two share a bed."

"Thank you, Shoji-sama," Kiryu sighed, "is there anything else you need from me?"

"No no, you boys rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."

"Indeed," said Kuribayante standing up, "I would like to ask more about this Kurasawa and what he learned, if that's possible."

"I'll get you his files tomorrow," the Toho member stretched his legs, "thank you again for saving me."

The doctor left along with the priestess, Shoji bringing out a second futon with a bigger blanket before leaving them be. Taking off his disguise jacket, Kiryu sighed as he slipped under the sheets alongside a very bashful student who still wore his sweater.

"You alright?" Kiryu asked.

"Y-yes," Gordon coughed settling in, "are you warm?"

"A little...how about you?"

"I good, thank you!"

"Are you sure you don't mind sharing a bed with me?"

"Yes, um...I want to." McCartin rubbed his hands. "Just...a lot happened, I scared."

"I'm sorry," Gojirama rubbed his arm, "I promised your mother I'd keep you safe from all this."

"No, no it not your fault. You didn't know Date...um, Daija, was vasher. It just happen."

"Still, I feel responsible in some way."

"I safe because of you." The beast cuddled up close. "If not for you, and Toho friends, I...well, be in danger."

"You went to my clan for help?"

"Yes. Sano-san told me to come here, said Shoji protect me."

"Huh," Kiryu smiled, "I'll have to thank him later. I'm sorry for making you worry."

"Is okay," Gordon stroked down Goji's chest, "is not your fault-oh!"

"Careful," the kaiju winced, "that scar's not healed."

"S-sorry, sorry!"

"Hmhmhm...we'll talk more tomorrow." Goji kissed him on the lips. "Goodnight...Gordon."

"Good...goodnight...Gojirama."

His face stiffened with a fearful excitement, trembling through the beast's body as he felt his cheeks become flushed and his earfins waggle in glee. Savouring his lover's heat, he hugged the kaiju who smiled in his slumber, a gentle peace returning to their hearts.

The next morning, Shoji was in her rooftop garden. Ukyo had joined her, the grand perspex dome keeping the heat inside even during the end of fall. As kaiju flew past in the dark-clouded sky, the sirens howling from below, they walked through the flowers, a rainbow of petals amongst bluebells and dahlias.

But there was something amiss. The ponds seemed more shallow, the columns of chrysanthemum looked burnt and frayed at the bottom. There were fewer hyacinths and drooping windflowers, blue poppies in mourning around the cherry-blossom tree. Biyante noticed one or two of its roots were especially darker than usual.

"Did the fire reach this high?" they asked.

"We managed to stop it in time," Shoji sighed, "but some damage was inevitable."

"I noticed the barricades when we came in, has something changed?"

"Riots have started in the past week," the moth shook her head, "this city is heading towards a great destruction, I have done my best to call for peace but it will only work for so long."

"Hmm." Kuribayante rubbed their chin. "Is there a reason why?"

"I have heard rumours of corruption in the police, which troubles me greatly but I have seen no evidence to prove such. You know how some creatures can be, at the slightest scent some provoke without cause."

"Both in the public and the private office. It's easy to forget no one is immune to their vices."

"My son has told me there are troubles on a deeper level in the council, he's working for a potential candidate."

"I thought he worked in waste disposal," Ukyo cocked their head.

"He does," Shoji offered some gardening tools, "but his manager is running for office, strange creature but very earnest in his job."

"I assume all the good jokes are taken, concerning politics and sewage sharing the same lane?"

"Yes, sadly your future as a stand-up comedian has yet to bloom."

"Hm, hm hm hm...you were always funnier than me."

Sitting beside a bed of irises, the doctor helped shift the earth and make way for new seeds, whilst Shoji planted them with special mulch.

"Thank you again for saving Kiryu."

"You asked and I delivered," said Kuribayante, "were you uncertain?"

"No just...well, help me understand something. Danzaki was the one who stabbed Kiryu, yet he also gave me a message to send to you."

"Message? About the fish?"

"Correct," Shoji nodded digging a trench, "I don't know what he's playing at, has he contacted you?"

"No," Ukyo planted six bulbs. "But the location we found Kiryu matches what the message said."

"So Danzaki...ugh." The moth clasped her head. "I don't get these yakuza sometimes, I swear they're like children inventing games."

"What matters is Kiryu is alive. He is the catalyst to all of this."

"What do you mean?"

"The one who found this reporter, who had knowledge of the Atragon deal. The one whom incited Gihei to attack, the one who was first to possess knowledge of the deal, and the one who was first to survive facing two of the Ighorashis."

"Yes I mean Kiryu is tremendously strong, what of it?"

"It's more than that." Ukyo stood up dusting their knees. "I think someone is orchestrating Kiryu's passage, forcing him to clash with the Jinuchu and Danzaki is part of it."

"He's...setting Kiryu up?" Shoji reeled back. "No, he...he's not, he's not like that."

"I don't know if he's doing so willingly, or if he is part of someone's plan, but regardless I think it much too coincidental that Kiryu has been hitting every point."

"He does have an odd magnetism, you should hear half the stories he gets into in this city."

"Hm...oh." Kuribayante turned to a bed of roses. "You...you kept them."

"Of course," the moth bowed, "you planted them, remember?"

"I do...hmm."

The doctor bent down to cradle their soft petals, whorls of luscious red spreading out to their fingers.

"My father told me this place was sacred...he brought me here to help understand, that science is not just about results, but about creating hope for the future."

"To better ourselves," Shoji sat down beside, "your father was a wonderful creature, I was fascinated by his words."

"He was a truly brilliant mind," Ukyo smiled, "I was honoured to take his position at the lab."

"I hope you can get it back."

"No." Their hand tightened around the rose. "The government have cursed my family for our insolence. Because my father disobeyed them."

"He did?" the moth gasped.

"When Atragon was being developed, my father did everything possible to delay it. Every step of the way, he dragged his feet, he stifled research, he once told me that if he had worked at his best, it would have been ready to deploy three months before the war ended."

The doctor's hand clenched the rose with a suffocating grip, Shoji gripping their wrist to try and pull them back.

"He may well have saved millions by his own insolence."

Ukyo opened their hand, the rose still undamaged in their scale-leafed hand.

"But it's not the same government," said Morusakoto, "you can't blame them for-"

"I can, and I will. The only reason that Resco took my lab was to get to Atragon, I know it."

"But what's the point?! Why would they do this?"

"It's called a deterrent." Ukyo stood up. "If someone points a gun at you, but never intends to shoot, would you dare approach?"

"I understand, but I don't think it's the government," the moth crossed her arms, "I will help you regardless, to stop whoever plans to use this cruel weapon, but I will not be privy to councils of war and anarchy."

"I understand," Biyante nodded, "I know you have a greater duty to this city."

"And you have done such good work helping the poorer folk...you know, if you don't get your job back, I COULD hire you on here."

"I don't see myself in a sari, plus I don't believe in your gods."

"But you and I have the same goals, just different methods." She patted them. "You walk in the shadows, and I walk through the light, hand in hand we have helped those in suffering even if we rarely meet."

"Aosukawa always spoke highly of you," Ukyo put hands behind their back, "my father did too, in fact the reason I reached out to you was because of my last visit here in my youth. I have always respected your work, even if I don't follow your beliefs."

"And you are always welcome to the garden," Shoji swept her hands, "everything you planted has always grown the most resilient."

"Thanks to my mixture," the doctor grinned with a tentacle round her, "you're still using it I see."

"Of course, it's their favourite! The flowers love having you here, do you not notice how much more vibrant they seem when you're around?"

Kuribayante looked across the garden, their other tentacles slipping out to caress several different breeds. Petals lifted as Ukyo's budding tendrils licked over the stems, a shiver of warmth trembling through their body.

"Could I...stay here in the garden, for a bit?" they asked looking to Shoji. "I won't plot any wars while I'm here."

"I would hope not," the priestess tutted, "the flowers will tell me if you do."

"You can never trust them with secrets. That's why the only ones I have are painted on walls."

After their gardening session, they headed back downstairs to find Kiryu still with Gordon. Both of them were sitting up together, Gojirama wearing only pants, whilst the student sat in his jumper reading textbooks out loud to explain the basics of his studies.

"The plankton, can't swim against current, so it move with waves to find food."

"And you use them to detect these...acoustic waves?" asked Kiryu.

"Yes! So we make counter-wave, reduce the quake...a-amplitude, with Kelpenberg principle."

"Huh! So this thing here, you compress the seawater in a pipe, and that makes it happen?"

"Yes, is very smart!"

"It sure is," Goji rubbed his head, "you're really smart, you plan on doing this for a job?"

"I do," McCartin nodded, "want to be, oceanologist, protect the sea from earthquakes, overfishing and pollution!"

"That's great," Kiryu smiled, "if you need any backup, you can call on me."

"Good morning!" Shoji waved from the door. "How are you sweeties doing?"

"Good thanks." The Toho member stood up. "Definitely feeling better, I was planning to go to Little Asia to show Biyante-sama what Kurasawa found."

"I would appreciate it," Ukyo bowed, "but I know they won't allow the Japanese in."

"I'm an exception, I know their chief."

"Are you leaving?" Gordon asked.

"Yeah, you should stay here," Kiryu patted him, "not just for your safety, but mine as well, I need to stay undercover."

"Okay, be careful." The student hugged him. "You back soon?"

"I won't be more than a half-hour, I promise."

"Be safe out there," Shoji hugged him in turn, "I can send Saurose to go with you-"

"It's just down the road, you can see me from the-...damn it, I don't have my phones."

"They weren't on you when we found you," Ukyo shook their head, "I assume Gihei destroyed them."

"Alright," Gojirama sighed, "Saurose can follow me, nobody connects him to me anyway."

On the other side of Kaijurocho, on that exact same day of November 16th, Sanjin Obakimura was in his office prepping accounts. Sano groaned from his seat with a long sigh, dragging his pen across numbers with a deep mutter.

"I hate fucking accounting day," he whined.

"Everybody does," snorted Sanjin, "sooner ya get it done, thuh sooner it's over."

"I knoooow but, these numbers fucking suuuuuck! I wish we were like fully underground, not having to DEAL with this shit!"

"Toho gotta keep up appearances. We gotta fiddle this shit, but do it right with no slipups."

"I need a break," Anguirou stood up, "I keep seeing numbers when I close my eyes, where the hell's Obara-kun when you need him, he's way better at this!"

"I don't know," the patriarch shook his head, "he said he wuz coming in, I texted him."

"You want me to call him?"

Sano did so without asking, ringing up but finding it went straight to voicemail.

"Weird. He didn't pick up."

"That's funny," Obakimura sneered, "kid's practically glued to his damn phone."

"You want I call his mom?"

"Don't you dare, she don't know he work fer Toho an' it's better she don't."

"Right, sorry." Sano leaned back with a yawn. "Dammit why is lunch not here yet?"

"Cuz time is a straight line," the boss tapped his desk, "now come on, push ahead, that food'll taste all thuh sweeter when it's come."

With a huff the spikeback returned to his duties, his eyes droning past the rows as he checked, double-checked and scribbled legally-distinct numbers.

"You know what, he probably slept in," Anguirou chuckled, "he texted you, then fell right back to sleep, remember he showed up at noon that one time because a friend of his was having a breakdown?"

"Yeah when that singer died," Sanjin chuckled, "damn shame, he's such a good kid I let 'im off with that."

"Yeah, he'll probably show up shitting himself at the door when we get lunch...lunch...feels so far away-"

"Eh-eh, no more distractions. Tell you whut, how about you finish that page yer on an' we call it a break?"

"Okay, sure!"

With his spirits resurged, Sano took a drink and honed his gaze upon the columns. He managed to finish fifteen minutes before the 12th hour, and took a long sigh of relief before heading out to grab lunch for both of them. Sano returned with a bento box for his boss, while he himself took some takoyaki to go.

"Thanks," Obakimura cracked his fingers, "hoo, right on schedule, whut say we pick this up again in two hours?"

"Gods yeah, thanks Varan-san." The ankylosaur slumped in his seat. "Hey, why does Shisa-sama want us to bring these documents TO him, can't we just email them?"

"Cuz email's easy to hack, also it leaves records, both Obara-kun AND Shisa-han telt me that."

"Damn, for real?"

"Mmhmm," Sanjin nodded, "a lot safer taking thuh papers up to HQ, all thuh patriarchs meet up an' do it today."

"Alright, well," Sano nibbled through his lunch, "I'm gonna head off to the arcade after this-OH, yeah, how's the new Dragon Quest?!"

"Mmmmph, fantastic," Varan chomped through his rice, "only got to thuh first dungeon, so no spoilers."

"Nah, you're good, I don't do RPGs anyway."

"Yeah you wouldn't, virtua boy."

"Pfft," Sano rolled his eyes, "I still can't believe you sat out on the street."

"It wuz damn fun," Sanjin grinned, "even if I felt hella old as shit, all them kids around me talkin' about mobas an' whut have you."

"Heheheh, you're funny when you talk like that, no wonder Obara loves you."

"Who doesn't love me? Only reason I git to hold onto Kaijurocho is cuz Shisa-han an' I are buds."

"Yeah and all the other patriarchs hate you for it. I love it, you're such a thorn in their ass."

"Hmhmhm, damn straight. Alright." Varan finished up his lunch. "I'm gonna grab myself forty winks, lock thuh door when you leave."

"Sure, no prob Varan-san."

After watching his subordinate leave, the old patriarch slumped over towards the pleather couch and drifted off to sleep. Drinking some water before he napped, he snored the place down with his tank top breathing heavy on his chest, whilst scritching his cotton pants. Forty minutes later, he woke up to the sound of the door closing, the smell of a bento lunch hitting his nostrils.

"Ehh? Obara-kun izzat you?"

He rolled himself up and saw nobody there. A package laid on the table in front of him, addressed specifically to "VARAN THE UNBELIEVABLE".

"Uhhh...Sano? Obara?! This ain't sum birthday surprise ain't it, y'all know I hate that shit!"

Regardless he opened the parcel. Inside was a single MP3 player, and a pair of headphones attached. Underneath was a note that read "PLEASE LISTEN BEFORE READING". He put the headphones on and listened to one of two audio tracks that was on it, hearing himself and his subordinates.

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

"We DON'T consider it," rasped his own voice, "get it inside an' keep watch fer Jinuchu."

"What do we do?" Obara whimpred. "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's voice turned firm. "Trust me. I'll keep you safe. I'll keep you safe. I'll keep you safe."

"Whut thuh fuck?" Varan shook his head. "Whut kinda sick joke is this?"

The first track ended after repeating his last words. Then it started the second track with the sounds of a kitchen and someone humming. A female voice that he vaguely recognised, but the moment she spoke his eyes widened in fright.

"Dangit I ran outta cumin, gotta git more tomorrow. Oh, Gonny issat you? Could ya make a list fer me, I need sum more spices while yer out so if you can grab 'em after work-wait...who thuh, WHO THUH HELL ARE YOU?!"

"MOM?! MOM YOU ALRIGHT!"

"GONNY, THERE'S SUMBODY IN HERE, GIT YER FILTHY HANDS OFF ME!"

"Whut, Ooda-chan?!" Sanjin cried. "WHO THUH HELL'S DOING THIS?!"

_"GET OFF HER YOU BASTARD, I'LL CALL THE-A-AAAAGH, AAAAAIIIGH! _"

"GONNY NOOOO!"

The sounds of a violent feud filled his ears, as chairs were kicked and plates were smashed. Gonkuro's scream paralysed his heart, Oodaka's weeping voice making him bare his teeth with fearful rage. Savage fists landed upon them, Gonkuro turned quiet before Oodaka followed suit, the sound of bodies being dragged with the water still running until the track stopped.

"Oh gods...oh f-fuck no, Obara-kun, Ooda-chan! Who thuh fuck..."

His fingers trembled as he pulled off the headphones and reached for the note. Four lines would tell him his worst fear.

PARK BOULEVARD CONSTRUCTION SITE, NOV 16TH, 7PM

AT 8PM, YOU WILL HEAR THEIR LAST WORDS

AT 9PM, YOU WILL RECEIVE THEIR HEADS

IF YOU ARE NOT ALONE, YOU WILL NEVER FIND THEIR GRAVES