__Part 11__
to Part 10; to Tobajan Mahjong 9; to Part 12
Lordrex: H- How is this possible? My magic is powerless!!
Lordrex: T- This can't be happening... I won't lose again!
Lordlex: Ahhhn! T- This can't be happening!
''D- Damn it...how can I lose...''
''It seems that I am somewhat better than you at Tobanjan.''
''Well, that's very logical. This woman can't possibly have that much real fighting experience, right?''
''True. By using that magic, she didn't need to fight at all.''
''Shut up, you lousy...''
''It seems that we are the cure to her disease.''
''It doesn't matter. That's not important. Rather than that...''
I squat down beside Lordrex, who is laying exhausted on the floor.
''The president...which branch company is your boss in right now? Please enlighten me.''
''...No idea.''
''Don't play the fool with me! You took Yayoi to the president, didn't you? It's impossible for you not to know!''
''.................................................''
''...Master, please leave this to me.''
''What are you going to do?''
''This woman is both physically and mentally weak right now...so I believe it is possible to look into her mind.''
After saying that, Rinka spread her wings, and touched Lordrex's forehead with her hand.
''S- Stop it!''
''Arrrrrrrgh!''
Lordrex twisted her body and screamed, then she fainted from exhaustion.
''...I have the information, Master.''
''This person...is she dead?''
''No...she just used up all her energy and lost consciousness.''
''It will take a long time for her to completely recover, but there is no danger to her life...''
''Let's go back to the hideout to plan and take a break. Okay, Jango?''
''Yes...let's go.''
We came back to Taeko's hideout, and started talking about what to do next.
''Okay, the tea is ready!''
''Wow, it smells good.''
''I only drink coffee but...well, it won't hurt to drink Japanese tea sometimes.''
''There are no rice crackers, so we'll have to use cookies instead, okay?''
''I'll go out and buy it if you really want rice crackers, though...''
''Don't worry about it. If I tell you to go rice crackers, you would probably buy lots of candies on sale that nobody wants to eat.''
''Wahhhh, you're so mean, Miss Taeko.''
''Rakushi...have you ever heard the phrase, 'you get what you pay for'?''
''Well...no, not really.''
''...I'll have to teach you that lesson next time.''
''...Thank you for the food.''
Rinka starts drinking the tea alone.
''This is a cookie? Hmm...interesting food...''
''Koukaku, is this the first time that you saw a cookie? ...well, true, there aren't any stores that sell foreign foods in the mountain village.''
''...................................................''
The location of my office's has been discovered by the Organization, so I can't go back again...
But I can't stay here too long either...or it will get Taeko involved.
...Still, I get the feeling that she is already quite involved...
Mika's expression is gloomy. Maybe she's thinking about her father.
Taeko opens a map with marks on it, and starts looking at it while her hand is playing with a pencil.
I look at my Shikigami, who are sitting together.
Their number has increased a lot in a very short time...
The four Shikigami are happily drinking tea and eating cookies.
However, I should be feeling tired all the time in order to feed this many Shikigami with my life energy...
Or has my power increased unnoticeably?
''Well, let's talk about what we should do next...''
''Hmmm, Rinka, you said that you read Lordrex's mind, right?''
''Yes...''
Taeko placed the map in front of Rinka.
''These red marks point to the location of all the branches of Hachibishi Trading Company.''
''Where is the president...Yujiro Koizumi?''
''......................................................''
Rinka looks at the map with concentration, and points at one of the marks.
''Here...''
''This is...around Meiji Dori, near Showa Dori.''
''It's not that far from here.''
''We're almost there, Jango.''
''................................................''
''To save Yayoi and to bring Yujiro back to Mika...those are our objectives.''
''Yes...''
''It's up to Yujiro what happens after that.''
''Don't worry, once he meets Mika he'll definitely snap to his senses!!''
''Taeko and Mika will stay here and wait for my contact.''
''Ehhh? Why? Are you saying that I'll be getting in your way?''
''That's not the reason...''
''...Then you're worried about me? You don't want anything terrible to happen to me...''
''....................................................''
''...In that case, I'll listen to you this time, Jango.''
''But only this once.''
''Next time I'll do as I please! Okay?''
''Okay...''
''Then...shall we leave now, Master?''
''Yes.''
''Our destination is right over there.''
''Why are you trembling, Kumi? You are one of the Mountain God clan, aren't you?''
''I- I'm not trembling! I'm shaking with excitement.''
''Master...Miss Taeko told me long time ago...''
''What now?''
''As a building becomes higher and higher, God will get angry and destroy it with a thunderbolt...it's so scary...''
''...................................................''
''Master, please allow your servant Rinka to guide you from this point forward...''
''Yes. Please do so.''
This corner of Meiji Dori is full of skyscrapers. It's very quiet here, even though it's officially work hours right now. Nobody is around at all.
We are standing in front of the Hachibishi Trading Company building.
The door is shut tightly as if to refuse entry.
The door is closed, and the windows, if we can call them windows, are covered.
It's impossible to peer inside...
''This building is...our destination?''
''Correct...''
''So Mika's father is inside, right?''
''Master, this sign says, 'Unrelated Personnel are Not Permitted beyond this point.' Master, are you a related person?''
''..............................................................''
''How can he be unrelated? He escaped from the Organization, the Organization is trying to kill him, and now he's here to meet the president.''
''Then we don't need to worry at all.''
''...Do you really understand the situation, here?''
''Since Master is a related person, it's okay if he goes in. Right?''
''What an idiot! As I thought, you don't know anything at all!''
''Please don't make such a horrible face, you're scaring me...''
''Shut up!''
''Jango is being hunted by the Organization behind this company.''
''And he still comes here knowing the danger. He's putting his life on the line in this fight. Do you understand?''
''...Isn't it better to run away?''
''What a cowardly Hitokata...!!''
''Wahhhh!''
''I'll always believe in you no matter what happens, Master...so I'm with you.''
''...................................................''
''Kumi...you've became stronger...''
''M- Me too...I'm with you too! ...although I'm still scared...''
''Miss Rakushi...if something happens to our Master, we will not be in very good shape either, since we are his Shikigami...''
''That is why we must protect our Master with our lives...''
''Yes!''
''To save Yayoi and to take Mika's father back to Mika's place. That's why we came here, understand?''
''Yes...let's do our best...''
When I try to push open the door, someone shouts out loudly.
''Are you blind?! Can't you read the sign?''
An undisguised fighting aura as fierce as fire is radiating behind me.
When I turn back, I see...
I remember this woman.
''Kuri...''
''Oh? You still remember me? I'm touched...''
We don't know how long she's been standing behind us and looking at us with her shining amber eyes.
I know this woman.
Her name is Kuri.
From her hair style and China-dress, everyone can tell that she's from mainland China.
Kuri is looking at me with her blazing eyes.
Though her expression is very calm, her undisguised fighting aura tells me that I can't relax, not even a little.
''It's been a long time...Jango.''
''But you still remember me. I am glad to know that.''
''When I heard that you ran away from the Organization, I thought you would forget everything about me.''
''..............................................................''
''It's a pity that we meet again under these circumstances...''
''...............................................................''
''Master, do you know this person?''
''Yes...she's like childhood friend. The Organization trained and educated us at the same place. Like classmates.''
''..............................................................''
''Classmates...? But that lady looks much younger than you do, Master...''
''Maybe. Her race ages slower than normal humans. So she looks much younger than her true age...''
''Wow, that's really cool...''
''......................................................''
''Jango, she seems very skilled. She's displaying a great fighting aura...it's almost overwhelming. Also...''
As expected, Koukaku is as sensitive as always.
''There is something inhuman mixed in her human aura...along with the aura of the Hitokata. Who is this person?''
''Half-tiger... Her race are called 'beastlings.'''
''Beastlings...? You mean those that have the ability to transform themselves into beasts with help from the moon?''
''Yes. She seems to be able to transform into a tiger...though I've never seen it.''
''Now you mentioned it...the aura emitted by her is really similar to that of a tiger...''
''She seems to be a powerful enemy...''
''Yujiro Koizumi is in this building, right?''
''Exactly. However, I can't let you enter.''
''My Master is related person.''
''Even a related person is not allowed to enter if he will cause trouble to the company.''
''Then let's go home, Master.''
''You idiot! Why did you bother to come here if you're just going to give up that easily!''
''Wahhhh, but...''
''I guess I can't ask you to do me a favor and look the other way, right?''
''Right now, I'm the bodyguard of the most important person here.''
''So I can't betray my mission.''
''Then...''
''Yes, you have to defeat me if you want to get in.''
Kuri's eyes start shining with a savage light.
''But can you beat me? In the past...when we were in the Organization's training camp...have you ever won against me?''
...The truth is, never.
''..................................................''
''Oh...I'm sorry. Did I bring out an old and unpleasant memory?''
''What are you saying! The past is in the past, now is now!''
''Even if you are Shikigami Master, you're still human...do you really think you can beat the savage power that I possess?''
''We won't know if we don't try!''
''Haha...why not. Let's do it, then.''
__Part 11__
to Part 10; to Tobajan Mahjong 9; to Part 12