__Part 9__
to Part 8; to Tobajan Mahjong 7; to Part 10


Bunny Girl: T- This isn't funny anymore!


Bunny Girl: N- No! I- I can't believe this...


Bunny Girl: I...I lost that round. But I won't lose again.


''Oh...I can't believe that I lost...''

After using up all of her energy, Bunny collapsed to the floor.

Even though she's glaring at us hatefully, she doesn't seem to be able to move anymore.

''Haha, it seems that you don't even have the energy to throw those dangerous cards anymore.''

''Dammit...''

''Tell us! Which branch office is Yujiro Koizumi in right now?''

''I don't know anything about that.''

''Don't play us for fools! You're going to have a hard time if you don't come clean with us.''

''My mission is to lure you here and enforce the death sentence on you...''

''I wasn't told of anything else...''

''...She seems to be telling the truth.''

''...Shit.''

''Master, you're still bleeding. You should get treated quickly...''

''Let's go back once.''


Just as our building came into view...

''Ah!''

Suddenly, Kumi stopped moving and started trembling as if she just received an electric shock.

''What's wrong, Kumi?''

''I just felt some tingling on my neck...''

''Kumi...so you felt it, too?''

''What's going on?''

Kumi and Koukaku belong to the clan of the Mountain Gods, so they seem to be very sensitive to human thoughts and evil auras.

''What a strong...and very aggressive aura...''

''Jango, this aura is very strong...if it's coming from an enemy, then...''

''Mika and Yayoi... I wonder if they're okay.''

''Let's hurry!''

We rushed to the office...


''Mika...!''

''Shit!''

''This is horrible.''

My home office looks awful.

Furniture is scattered everywhere, and the smaller items have been thrown all over the place.

The window has been fully opened, allowing the cold air to flow in...and there is an unknown woman by the window.

The tall and mysterious woman... I wonder if she belongs to the Organization.

Silver-blonde hair, bronzed skin, magical or religious markings on her face...

The wide cloth that entwines around her body is embroidered with Runes...

European...

She appears unrattled even after we rushed into the room. On the contrary, she radiated a confident aura. Judging from her expression, she seems very calm.

Yayoi is laying slumped in her arm.

She seems unconscious...

Mika looks like she has bruises on every part of her body.

Her clothes are in tatters, and she's on the floor cradling one of her arms. Her face is contorted with pain.

''Mika! Are you all right?''

''Oh...Mr. Jango...''

''Master, the feeling I got a little while ago was from that woman.''

''Even I can feel it now...what a hostile aura...like it's coming from some sort of savage beast.''

''Be careful, Jango...I'm getting a really bad feeling.''

''Master...I'm so thick that I can't feel anything...but I know that she's our enemy.''

''Hehehe...You came back earlier than I thought...''

''..................................................''

''No need for tea, since I'll be leaving soon. Please don't trouble yourselves on my account.''

The woman smiled condescendingly at us.

''Oh dear...You look hurt...''

Her gaze stopped on the wound in my arm.

''What happened to you? Were you scratched while playing with pet rabbit, or something'?

''You'd better get your wounds treated fast. They have a way of getting infected.''

''Who are you?''

''Heh...you've probably guessed already.''

''Well, maybe I should introduce myself...even though I don't think we'll be together for long.''

''My name is Lordrex. I'm a descendent of Northern European magicians.''

''You're from the Organization!?''

''Very good...''

''Oh, you don't have to introduce yourself.

''You were a former soldier of the Organization, a Shikigami Master, and the person who committed the unforgivable sin of desertion. Jango Abe.''

''You know a lot about me.''

''Of course. I try to know everything about people I am sent to kill. Hehehe...''

''You're very foolish. Do you really think that you can get away after you betrayed the Organization?''

''Moreover, you should have hidden yourself rather than acting against the Organization... If you want to blame someone, you should blame your own foolishness.''

Lordrex glanced at Yayoi in her arm.

''I've been ordered to get this girl back. She is the boss's favorite. I'll go and return her now, okay?''

''Sorry, but I can't just say 'yes' to that.''

''Haha! So what are you trying to say?''

''I'll stop you, even if I have to use force!''

''Haha, if you think you can do it, then try!''

As I take out my mahjong set, I turn to Koukaku.

''Koukaku! Create a barrier! Don't let her escape!''

''...It's up!''

''Hehe...''

''Hehehe...''

Lordrex doesn't even look worried. She raises her right hand and shouts...

''Os dorn haegl cc!''

As if reacting to her voice, the wide cloth that is entwined around her body starts to flutter.

''What the...? That's not Japanese...''

While I was bewildered, I heard each of my Shikigami scream in succession.

''Ahhhh...!!''

''Gwahhhh...''

''Master...it's painful...''

All of my Shikigami fall down to the floor and moan in agony.

''W- What happened to them...!?''

''Hehehe...''

''You did that? What...!?''

''I don't think you should be worrying about the Shikigami...you should be more worried about yourself...''

''What!? ...Urgh!?''

Suddenly, a violent pain wracks my entire body.

W- What's this...? Lordrex didn't do anything directly, but why the pain...magic!? Damn...

All of my bones are squeaking and my joints are shrieking. I couldn't keep standing, and I collapse down onto the floor.

The great pain that wracks my body makes it hard for me to stay conscious...

''See? What did I tell you?''


With a cruel smile, Lordrex looks at the sufferings of me and my Shikigami.

''Hahaha, the skills of a Shikigami Master are powerless in the face of my magic.''

''Ugh...damn you...''

''I did it with my Runes...it's a spell for capturing the power of unnatural creatures like Shikigami.''

''Shikigami that are attacked by this spell will have their power sealed and suffer the pains of hell at the same time.''

''Of course, the Master of those Shikigami will also be linked to their pain.''

''It looks very painful...well, you do have the combined agony of three Shikigami's after all...hehehe.''

''Oh dear, it seems that I stayed here too long.''

''I'll have to take this girl to my boss quickly.''

''He must be anxiously waiting for her right now.''

Lordrex's eyes shine with cruelty.

''After I take this girl to my boss...I'll be back.''

''If you can stand the pain and stay alive until then...I'll kill you and end your suffering. Hahahaha.''

Lordrex smirked at me, and then she jumped out the window while holding Yayoi in her arms.

''Damn...wait...''

Lordrex's laughter echoes in my ears as I lose consciousness...


................................................

......................................................................................

............................................................................................................................


''Ugh...''

''Mr. Jango!''

''Thank God, you're awake!''

After I woke up, I find myself in a room that I've never seen before.

Where am I?

Mika is looking at me with a worried expression.

''Mr. Jango...are you alright?''

''Yes...I still feel a bit nauseated, but I think I'm okay.''

''Rather than worrying about me...how about you? It looked like you were also hurt pretty bad...''

''My wounds were nothing serious...only bruises and scratches...I'm fine.''

''Mr. Jango, I'm so sorry...seriously, it's because of my selfishness that something this awful happened to you...''

''Stop blaming yourself. I did this of my own free will.''

Although Taeko looks quite tired and worn out, she has a relieved expression on her face.

''Thank God... I was so worried, Jango.''

After saying that, Taeko hides her eyes in a fluster.

''W- What's this? How strange... I'm crying when I'm not worried anymore...''

Taeko blushed, and she's desperately trying to wipe her tears away.

''Oh, how embarrassing...what's happening to me...''

Taeko looks embarrassed as she tries desperately to dry her eyes.

''I think something got into my eyes...''

''D- Don't take this the wrong way, Jango. Something just got into my eyes...''

Taeko blushed and can't seem to look into my eyes.

''What happened...after?''

''That Lordrex laughed and left through the window with Yayoi...''

''I thought we'd all be killed if that person came back ...so somehow I moved myself to the telephone...''

''And called Miss Taeko's beeper.''

''I was so worried. When I rushed over there, everyone was on the floor. Mika was the only one that could still move at all.''

''After learning what happened from Mika, I knew we had to leave at once.''

''So Mika and I somehow moved you here.''

''Thanks.''

''Where are we...?''

''My hideout. I sort of borrowed it from my dad by calling it the 'Study Room'.

''Don't worry, nobody will come here.''

'''What happened to them...my Shikigami? Don't tell me they're...''

''Relax, Jango. They're okay.''

''Everyone is still alive. They were in great pain before...but they're fine now.''

''And since you're their Master, that's why you don't feel that much pain right now, right?''

That's true, now that she mentioned it.

''I've made them sleep in the room next door. Don't worry.''

Thank god...I thought I lost them again...

''Come on, Jango, cheer up!''

Knock, knock!

Someone is knocking the door.

''............................................''

''I can't ask you to forget the past, because there were people too important to you to forget...''

''But still, you can't accomplish anything by keep thinking and worrying about those unchangeable events, right?''

''So think more about the future, and look after the living first!''

''...............................................''

''Yes...you've got a point.''

CRASH!

The door slams open.

And my Shikigami rush toward me as they fall into the room.

''Master!''

''Jango!''

''Wahhhh, Masterrrr, Miss Taekoooo!''

''You guys...are not in pain anymore?''

''Nope, not at all. Don't underestimate the recuperative powers of the Hitokata.''

''Thank God...''

''How about you, Master? Are you alright?''

''Yes...just receiving some words of encouragement.''

''............................................''

''Master...what should we do now?''

''As long as that magic is used against us...we can't fight at all.''

''I feel angry and helpless at the same time...''

''Damn...that Lordrex...using that damned magic...''

''Isn't there some way to break that spell...?''

''She said that she invented that spell herself or something like that...so how do we discover the way to break it...''

''Hey, Jango...if there is no other way, why don't you go ask for some words of wisdom?''

''Ask for some words of wisdom?''

''Yeah. Well, there's a hermit that lives in the bad part of town. Someone called Kasha...''

''A hermit...what's that?''

''Er...how do I put this...that's someone between an immortal and a fortune-teller, or something like that.''

''She doesn't really care that much about what's going on in the world, but she is really wise.''

''If you can pay, and if she feels like it, you'll get some words of wisdom or some predictions about the future.''

''Okay, then let's go see her.''


That the hermit lives around here somewhere...

''Does someone really live in a place like this?''

''I was surprised too when I found out the first time.''

''But now it does't seem to be such a bad place to live...at times, anyway. Haha.''

''Miss Taeko...now you say that...you're so mean.''

''What are you talking about, Rakushi?''

''You told me lots of horrible things about this place before, like this place comes from a scene from after the end of the world, just to scare me, didn't you...''

''That's why I'm still scared of this place...''

''Hahaha! You're so gullible!''

''Wahhhh...''

''We don't have time to talk about these silly things right now, okay?''

''Let's get going.''

''Okay, this way.''

Taeko enters a narrow alley.

For a little while, we advanced while trying to avoid piles of garbage. We also had to be careful with our heads because there were lots of rain-pipes and broken signboards sticking out above us.

Finally, Taeko entered a plain building with every window broken, climbed a narrow ladder, and knocked on the first door next to the ladder.

A crack opened in the door, and cold wind mixed with the smell of incense drifted out.

Taeko peeps past the door and talks to someone.

''Okay, come in.''

Taeko turns back to me and smiles.



''........................................''

Since she's a hermit, I thought she was going to be an old witch...but she looks surprisingly young.

''I am Kasha...so you are the one who wants to ask for my words of wisdom...''

''Yes. Actually, I'm in a quite troublesome situation...''

Kasha signals for me to stop just as I was about to explain my situation.

''Words are not necessary. I will read your mind.''

''Read my mind...?''

''Yes. Or maybe I should say, read your memory? Maybe that is more understandable.''

After Kasha said that, she points to the crystal ball on the table.

''Please put your hands on that crystal ball.''

I obeyed, and Kasha put her hands over my hands.

Being touched by Kasha's hands gave me a strange but somehow warm feeling in my heart.

''Close your eyes...don't think about anything...clear your mind...''

I don't know how long it lasted...

''Alright, that's enough.''

''I know what happened.''

Kasha looks into my eyes with her silent gaze.

''I can't even remember how long ago that I left the material world.''

''I am not interested in how the human world has changed.''

''And I don't care whether my services are used for the good or evil at all.''

''So whether or not I help you depends entirely on my mood...''

''I beg you, please help him!''

''Because of me, Mr. Jango is...''

''If it's the money, I'll pay whatever you ask.''

''So...please, I beg you as well.''

''...I understand.''

''Eh? Really?''

''However, his life is really in the hands of this person...''

''What do you mean?''

Instead of answering, Kasha spoke to the dark room next door.

''Rinka...please come out...''

In response to Kasha's voice, a Hitokata silently appears.


''Allow me to introduce you. This is my shadow and servant, Rinka.''

''......I am pleased to meet you...''

The Hitokata named Rinka is radiating a calming aura around her that my Shikigami lack.

Such a Hitokata is definitely suitable to be Kasha's servant...in total control of herself, she stands behind Kasha and calmly looks in our direction.

''Rinka is a Hitokata that has been protecting me as my shadow for a very long time.''

''Even though she looks young, that's just her outward appearance.''

''She is the spirit of the raven, which has been alive and watching this world for hundreds of years...''

''Rinka can break any kind of magic. She has the power to neutralize all magical effects.''

''I believe that Rinka will definitely be of use to you if she can become your Shikigami.''

''If I can have that power...then I can fight Lordrex!''

''If you can beat Rinka at mahjong, I shall yield her to you.''

Kasha smiled at me.

I really don't have any other choice. If I don't accept this challenge, I'll just be tortured to death by that Lordrex.

''Okay. I accept your challenge.''

''Jango, you can't afford to lose this challenge! Fight with caution!''

''Mr. Jango, please do your best!''


__Part 9__
to Part 8; to Tobajan Mahjong 7; to Part 10