Bat's in the Belfry Webcomic

Akuma: Tales of the Fox-Demon #37
"The Morning After"
by Heather Alexander

John and Jerome nursed their wounds the morning after the reconnaissance mission at the Jade Dragon. John sat with a cigarette hunched over his coffee staring off into space, while Jerome tried eating his eggs and sausage with a newly split lip. They were both glad that Louise, Jerome’s mother, was out for the day.

Yumiko sat at the table as well, reading the paper and sipping at her coffee waiting for Roy to come down the stairs. She was going to be taking him to school today. Now that the child was in their care they wanted to make sure all his needs were met and this was a very important one. The boy needed an education. Roy had made a fuss at first, but then John had asked him how to spell the name of the carnival he was with. The boy stumbled over it not even coming close. It was then decided that Roy would be signed up for class.

Roy came into the kitchen with a wide yawn. “Does a person really have to get up this early just to go read some books?” The boy sat down at an empty seat at the table and began to fill a plate that was waiting for him. His hair looked like it had been combed with a rake, and his shirt still needed tucked in.

Yumiko looked over her paper at him and her eyes went wide. “What is this? Oh my, we need to fix your hair, darling. Finish your breakfast and we will go see to it.”

“Awww, do we have to?” Roy said with a mouth full of eggs.

“You want to make a good impression on your first day, don’t you?” John said, coming out of the fuzzy haze that had kept him silent up until now. He took his last drag from the cigarette and then put it out. “Besides, remember you are my apprentice now so you represent me.”

“Yes, John,” Roy said, rolling his eyes while stuffing his mouth full of sausage and eggs. Then the sharp eyes of a child that misses nothing caught the looks of John and Jerome across the table. “Whoa, what happened to you guys? You look like you went three rounds with Joe Louis.”

“Jerome and I got into a spot of bother at one of the clubs we went to,” John said after a sip of coffee.

“Wow, really? What did the other guys look like after the fight?” the boy said with interest trying to put a fork full of food in his mouth, and almost catching himself with the tines.

“Never mind that, do you have your things for school in their satchel?” Yumi diverted the conversation to keep the boy from asking more probing questions.

“I have it ready, Yumi.” the boy said, instantly distracted.

“Good, we need to go fix your hair. Come on,” the Asian beauty said as she stood up to lead him to the bathroom for Grooming 101. John noticed she seemed very good at taking care of the foundling. Warm thoughts began to momentarily cloud his mind until Jerome pulled him back to business.

“The kid doesn’t miss much, does he?” Jerome said taking a sip of orange juice he began to regret making a hissing sound as he dabbed at his lip with a napkin.

“No, from my experience they never do,” John smirked to himself.

“I wonder how long we can keep our night life from him?” Jerome mused out loud, as the kitsune got up to put his dishes by the sink.

“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling when it is time to tell him he will want to join us,” John said lighting another cigarette.

“What makes you say that?” Jerome asked getting up to clean his own dishes.

“He is very young and it is easy to catch glimpses of his mind. I also have seen some of his dreams as he slept. He is a good boy, and he wants to be a hero some day just like Rick Speed on that radio show he likes, you know the one. The Rocket Adventures of Rick Speed.” The Japanese man took a long drag from his cigarette.

“That is too much. Wonder how he will react when he finds out he’s living with his own bunch of crime fighters?” Jerome laughed.

“We will see. Now we need to start getting ready for the show tonight, the exchange is still a bit slow on the cabinet trick.” John said putting out his last cigarette for the morning and leading the way to the practice room.

Roy had come home after school complaining about the homework, but thrilled with all the new friends he had made. He told his new family how he had really impressed the other kids with his acrobatics on the playground. Yumi confirmed it relating the story about the call she had gotten from the school. John had to restrain his laughter over the boy’s antics. He knew he couldn’t encourage the behavior, so instead told the pre-teen that he needed to tone down his exuberance while at school and promised to take him to the park.

After homework and dinner was finished, they all went to the theater to get ready for the show that night. Roy climbed happily in the rigging with Jerome getting the lights set and making sure the sound equipment was ready. Yumiko was busy preparing for her musical act during the intermission and putting on her costume while John made a last go over of the props and pyrotechnics for the show.

With all things checked the curtain went up to the applause of the crowd. The foot lights caught the sparkle of the golden threads in John’s cummerbund as he made his grand entrance as Matsumoto on to the stage.

For his first trick Matsumoto came on to the stage and announced that the lost and found department of the theatre had asked him to return some items that had recently been found. He then randomly produced objects that belonged to people in the audience. He did this by, prior to the show, disguising himself as an old man and picking the pockets of random audience members. One of the most shocking objects was a lady's garter. The young woman, almost dying of embarrassment, made her way to the stage. For being a good sport about it John, Matsumoto, gave the lady a lovely red rose that he pulled seemingly from thin air.

The next trick he used, his accomplice Hama to pull it off. He called it “fox chasing the hare”. The illusion consisted of a series of boxes and the fox and the rabbit would chase each other into one of the doors then John, Matsumoto, would open a door at random to reveal the fox or the rabbit. When he opened the same door again the opposite of what was in the door previously would be there. He then would say that it was time to save the hare and would pull the rabbit out of a basket and give it away to some lucky child. The children really liked this one, because of the small cute animals.

Several illusions later and a beautiful performance of an old Japanese folk song by Yumiko as her stage presence Zuna, Matsumoto would do his newest most stunning feat. He had decided to bring a bit of his nightlife into the act. One of his lovely assistants brought out a velvet- clad table with rows of gleaming knives and a beef roast. The dashing magician had several of the audience come forward pick up the knives and slice a piece of meat from the roast and feed it to Hama, who stood near by with Zuna, waiting for his snack. The knives were whipped down then returned to the table. Jerome then came on stage in a costume similar to that of a corsair. Matsumoto then took up a plain wooden staff and announced to the audience that his assistant was going to throw the knives at him. A terrible gasp rose from the crowd and one of the ladies who had inspected the knives stood up to loudly protest then fainted. Her companions next to her fanned her as she lay dazed in their arms.

Matsumoto reassured the audience that no harm was going to be done, removing his tail suit coat. With a boisterous command from John, Jerome began throwing the knives. Barely anytime for screams and gasps from the crowd hat time to escape. There was a whir of spinning wood, followed by the tink of metal, and the blades fell harmlessly to the stage.

John masterfully spun the bo staff in ways that made the air hum then slammed the butt of it to the floor boards striking a stunning pose. The onlookers erupted into a frenzy of applause and cheers. The magician and the large back man took their bows and the curtain fell. John had not told the back stage crew what this last trick would be so there was much loud rejoicing over the spectacle from them as John and Jerome made their way to his dressing room. Roy had gotten there first and as soon as the two entered the room, the boy burst in to excited chatter.

“That was amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it not even with the carnival! How did you do that? Can you show me?”

John laughed and put an arm around the boy. “Sure thing, but you need to learn more of the basics first. We will get to it soon enough.” John smiled as the boy made to protest then handed him a box of candy from an admirer. Yumi came in dressed in her regular clothes to say that it was late and she and the boy needed to get home. When Jerome had changed into his street clothes he led them to the car.

As the car drove away from the building Roy asked how John was going to get home. Jerome simply told the boy that he would return for the magician later. Before the car was completely out of sight, the boy looked back at the building one last time before turning a corner just in time to see a shadow dart across the roof and disappear.

The night smelt wonderful as Akuma made his way across town. He had transformed into his largest form so he could take larger leaps and strides. Being eight foot tall, he could jump gaps humans would not dare. He relished this exercise even though his limb still hurt a bit from the bullet wound he had received the night before.

It felt good to feel the breeze ruffle his fur. He hadn't been out like this for a while, the exhilaration made him feel a bit heady, and he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Jerome was usually at his side and he could not go as fast as he wanted when his human companion was with him.

Sounds of the streets below pelted his ears and the thoughts of building occupants whispered in his mind. Men, women, and children all flowed about him in his thoughts like water over rocks in a stream. A dog barked as he passed.

He soon made it to the darker side of the city, where evil men waited in the alleyways to prey on those foolish enough to stray into their pitch black depths. The Jade Dragon loomed in the darkened streets like a lion waiting to devour the souls of men. John made his way to the roof of the building and made himself comfortable so he could begin his meditation.

Letting the wave of thought wash over him he began to delve into the minds of the inhabitants of the Jade Dragon. He flitted in and out, seeing what he could find. Most of the women who worked here were kept on a very low level of knowledge. They only knew that the madam was in charge and that her thugs would beat them if they got out of line. John filed a note to fix that in the back of his mind as he moved from person to person. The thugs knew a bit more. He could see that Little Cho was definitely involved with all of this, but there was that shadow looming in the back of their minds. The glint of gold made it clear these too had some idea about the Golden Dragon. Then he finally got to the mind of Sha nóng. The woman's soul was one of the darkest he had seen for a human woman. The pain and torture she had committed made Akuma want to sink his claws in her. He could wait. He had time.

Once again little Cho's face became clear to him, but there was another that came into focus. It was the face of a fat, sweaty man sitting on a large stone throne. He was surrounded by women who winced at his touch. Guards stood around the perimeter of the room. Sha nóng was in conference with Cho and this large hideous blob of flesh. He was giving them orders, but to do what? To find out, Akuma would have to interrogate Sha nóng with a deeper method than what he was using now. He had to get his hands on the woman and began to devise how.

Akuma waited till he found her in her office alone, then began his ghostlike decent into the chamber. Sha nóng was looking over her books and scribbling down numbers and names. The sultry madam had not noticed the specterlike stranger who had become solid in behind her. There was a rushing and the knife was at her throat. Then the deadly whisper came.

“Scream and I take your soul.” At these words a gasp was all she would allow to escape her lips. A clawed hand grasped her throat tightly as she was dragged form her chair then shoved face first at the wall. She couldn't help but let loose the scream this time. The madam closed her eyes and waited for the impact that never came, there was a strange tingling feeling that permeated her body. The woman opened her eyes to find herself standing in the alleyway out side her office. She could hear the mob guards banging on her locked office door. Akuma the Devil's face loomed into view in the dark alleyway. The terrible green eyes and the menacing glowing red of the third, piercing her soul, made her legs give and buckle beneath her. She collapsed into the arms of the devil.

Guards had made it through the door of the office to find their boss missing. They searched the room and found the slight signs of a struggle. No blood and no traces could be found. Baffled they began to search the building and the street out side the building, but it was too late whoever had her was long gone.

The little woman was not hard to carry at all in his largest form. He flew over the roof tops with his leaps, the weight of Sha nóng was nothing to him. The kitsune almost wanted to laugh. He had no idea that he could pull some one with him through a wall, till now. It had been a spur of the moment decision, but he liked the affect. He would have to show Jerome and Yumi this new trick.

Darkness and heat. This was all she knew at first. Then the light of a large flame somewhere in the dark took form. The fire roared as the woman started with terror, realizing she was tied to a chair. Piteous sobs erupted from her as she began to plead in her native Chinese. There was no form only shadows, but a red glow caught her attention next and she froze. She was not alone in this semblance of Hell. The glow came closer,it seemed like a spirit light at first, but soon it was attached to a shadow framed in fire. The the features swam into view tinged with the hellish light of the blaze. Piercing green eyes looked down on her as the third seemed to be digging in to her with the ferocity of the inferno.

Sobs and tears escaped her as she closed her eyes hoping all of it would go away, but when she opened her eyes the face of the demon was close enough to hers that she could feel the breath from it.

“You will kill me won't you?” She said wanting to wipe her eyes, but couldn't.

“Not if you tell me what I want to know.” The voice from the mask made her shudder visibly.

“Why should I?” she stumbled over the words with little conviction.

“Because I can do far worse than kill you.” These words sparked the woman's imagination. He could see the fear in her eyes and feel its palpable presence emanating from her. He could see her squirming against her bonds. Akuma's breath on her face made sweat begin to bead on her cheeks. “Should I begin, or do you want to answer my questions?”

“Yes!” Came the wailing cry.

“Now, I know you answer to Little Cho, but who does he answer to?”

“I... I'm not sure.”

“I think you do. I guess we have to do this the hard way then.” The third eye began to glow with a fierce light that began to penetrate the woman's soul. She could feel their souls in some way entwining. The images of what he wanted were being dragged from her psyche.

A fat man, hideous and bloated sat in his throne, he began to change and morph till there was no longer a man, but a large golden dragon encircled around the throne. The man spoke of evil and horror and how he wanted the city of Megatropolis to be his own. She and Little Cho were merely lesser cogs in the greater machine of this ancient branch of Yakuza.

“Sha nóng can you tell me where Little Cho and the Golden Dragon are?” Akuma's voice was a whisper in the dazed woman's ear.

“N..No, I don't know.” She trembled as she felt his mental hold on her fading for the moment.

“Ahh now I think you know this as well. I think you realize how this will end if you don't tell me. I will simply drag it from you and you felt how pleasant the first time was.” a clawed hand caresses her face. She cringes expecting him to slap her next, but it never comes.

“I... There is a ware house.” She falters then continues, “You will find Cho there. I don't know where the Dragon is. I was taken to him in secret. He hides himself and runs the business through Little Cho. He.. He is not human. He is Yokai as you are.”

He searches her emotions briefly only to make sure the information is correct. It is.

“Thank you.” He says pulling a knife cutting her free.

“You are releasing me?” She looked at the demon in disbelief.

“You were expecting a violent death? That is not mine to give you. I know you fear what the this Golden Dragon will do to you if he learns you have spoken to me.” The woman nodded in silence.

“I suggest leaving town and going far enough he will not find you. Besides if you do it discreetly they will think I have done away with you. They won't be looking for some one they believe is dead.” He hands her a change of clothes. “Here put these on and let me have your dress.”

The woman looks at him puzzled.

“But.. Why?” She looks at the garments in her hand.

“I intend for them to find it and think the worst.” He smiled behind the mask. Realizing his intentions she changed and gave him her dress.

“I will release you near a hotel and then find this address tomorrow. They will help you make your way out of town.” He handed her a card with an address on it and money for a room. His clawed hands began to blind folded the little woman when she asked.

“What about the other women?”

“I will see to them soon enough. Right now you must be placed out of harm's way.” The small woman stood on her toes and kissed the mask.

“Thank you.” She said as he blindfolded her and got her on the way to her new life.

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