Bat's in the Belfry Webcomic

Akuma: Tales of the Fox-Demon #38
"The New Threat"
by Heather Alexander

John leaned idly against the black jack table as his honey colored eyes watched the dealer give him the card he requested. He looked at the cards and smiled, this would be his fourth win since he sat down at the table. The magician would need to lose a hand soon and leave the table so that the dealer would not get suspicious. His lovely young companion, Yumi, giggled as John laid out his winning hand and took a sip from her drink. She had been watching the game play while keeping an eye on the security guards. None seemed to really care or notice them. She loved watching John beat the mob at their own game.

The mob’s gambling tables were always set up in favor of the house, but they didn’t plan on a kitsune with the third sight. John smiled as he accepted his winnings from the dealer and took a sip of the rusty nail in his tumbler. The ice in the glass clinked as he sat the drink down and accepted the next round of cards.

The cards were good he had already won with out any effort, throwing this hand would be unbelievable. John smiled at the dealer. It would be obvious if he took another card instead of staying upon the reveal, but just as he was starting to sweat a perky blond waitress in her short flouncy uniform appeared and told him he had a call at the courtesy desk. John excused himself from the round, taking his winnings with him.

“Are you wanting to stay and watch the game?” he asked Yumi as he stood straightening his suit.

“No, I think I will head to the bar where Jerome is.” She said taking up her beaded clutch and drink. “Besides, I’m getting a bit low.” She said swirling the remnants of her drink in the bottom of the crystal stem flute.

“Alright, I will join you both there in a moment after the call.” He kissed her on the cheek and a pale rose bloomed. The sparkle in her chocolate eyes told him he had not crossed a line. John had been waiting for an opportunity to steal a brush of her soft cheeks and hadn’t had the courage to do it. He chalked it up the the strength of his drink. Unable to think of anything else to say the magician smiled and turn in the direction of the courtesy desk.

“I have a phone call?” John asked the attendant who smiled and handed him the hand set.

“Hello, Matsumoto the Great speaking,” He felt a bit silly using his stage name to answer the phone, but he was in public and decided to just go with it.

“Hey, John, how’s tricks?” Jack’s voice ignited immediate interest in the fox demon.

“Ohh, doing great . Just hitting a bit of black jack so what are you up too?” John said keeping his tone light and conversational.

“I thought a walk down at the park near the water front would be good, I thought you might want to join me. The night air is pretty brisk out here.”

“Sure, sounds like fun, mind of I have a couple more tag along?”

“The more the merrier I always say. See ya soon.”

John handed the phone back to the receptionist and went to find Yumi and Jerome. They were talking at the bar as the kitsune approached them.

“How are you two fairing?” John asked as he took up a seat beside Yumi.

“Jerome was just telling me a bit about a time you were invited to attend and art gallery opening and…” Yumi was saying with a smile as John stumbled to intercept her next words, going a bit pink.

“Yes, well, I’m sure Jerome has kept you very amused, but I just got a call from a friend of ours and he sounded like he needs some company.” John said pointedly, “He wanted us to come visit.”

“Is Jack ok?” Jerome asked knowing who John was talking about.

“Yes, he’s fine just wanting some company for a walk down at the water front.” John could tell his words were sinking in to the dark mans mind by the look in his eyes.

“I guess we shouldn’t keep him waiting. Would you like us to drop you at home Ms. Mitsugurie?” Jerome asked Yumi as John took her hand to lead them all to the car.

“No, actually I think I could use some of the night air myself. It has felt a bit stuffy in here this evening.” She gave them a knowing look that said you are not leaving me out of the fun. She sighed and put her arm through John’s, “Besides it could be a bit romantic.” Her words lit John with a pale fire he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since Paris.

“Why I’m sure company as lovely as yours will complete the scenery.” He felt her hand tighten on his arm, as she smiled up at him, and felt as if his heart would jump out of his chest. Her touch did this to him every time, and he often wondered if his heart had developed a mind of its own.

Jerome drove the car with the grace of a true racer as they made their way to the docks after stopping off to change for their “walk” and pick up a few things they might need. Yumi was a sleek distraction in her black cat suit as she checked her crossbow. John , now in his persona of Akuma, watched her and thought he had never seen anything so beautiful and deadly.

Akuma mused on his lovely companion a few more moments then began to check the secret pouches in his sash, making sure everything was right were he needed it. Knives, explosives, medical tape, throwing darts, caltrops, check, check, and check everything there. His hands went to his hair making sure the lock picking tools were in place. You never knew when you might have to open a lock, and for a magician your lock picks are your life.

Black Angel pulled the car from the road and made sure it could not be seen from the road. The large black man produced his M1911 .45 caliber pistol and checked the clip making sure it was full, then slapped it back into the gun. He pulled his three spare clips checking them and returning them to their places. The M1918 Mark I trench knife was right where he wanted it ready for action at the small of his back. Feeling secure that he had everything he looked in the rear view mirror at Akuma.

“Are we ready?” Black Angel asked the kitsune.

“Yes,” the fox’s smile could not be seen behind his mask. “Let’s not keep Dr. Twilight waiting.” Yumiko pulled her balaclava over her face and done up hair, and made a sign that she was ready to go.

They made their way in the shadows to the park. You could hear the bell of the bouy out on the water. No one was in sight except for a man sitting on a bench who looked like he was wearing a unique pair of goggles. The smoke from his cigar wafted their way. It was a good Cuban brand.

“I see you brought the lady with you,” He said as the trio got closer.

“You honestly think I would sit home and miss all the fun?” Yumi said with a hand going to her hip.

“No, Ma'am, I suspect they would have had to tie you up to keep you away.” Dr. Twilight said as he stood up with a smile to greet them.

“We‘ve been down that road,” Yumiko said with a glint in her eyes, they were the only thing visible. The man in the goggles didn’t know if she was smiling or not under the covering on her face, but he could see Akuma’s nervous fidget.

“Heh, I seem to remember that.” Dr. Twilight smiled remembering the night Yumiko tried to shoot John with a crossbow mistakenly thinking he had killed her parents.

“What have you found for us Dr.” Akuma asked making sure to change the subject as quickly as possible.

“Ahh, glad you asked, we better get over there don’t want 'em to be done unloading. We may not get the drop on 'em if they get the stuff moved. The worst of it is, I think it’s drugs.” Akuma frowned behind his mask at Dr. Twilight’s words as the goggled man took the lead. The group wound around corners and through tight alleyways till they came to the ware house in question.

They watched the dock men moving large boxes from the freighter into the tin building. Armed guards stood watch with tommy guns, crate after crate had the same odd symbol on it, that looked like a cross with lines on the ends making it look as if it were turning to the right. Akuma and Yumi thought it looked like a Japanese mystic symbol, Dr. Twilight noticed the writing on the side was German, but couldn’t read it.

Soon Little Cho walked past with a strange man in a grey suit wearing a black mask made of obsidian in the form of a skull, the symbol on the boxes was carved into the forehead of the mask in red. The two were observing the unloading of the crates and quietly conferring between themselves about matters none could over hear, except Akuma who caught fragments of how the cargo was to be distributed about the city.

“We need a plan to disrupt this little party.” Dr. Twilight whispered as the cadre of vigilantes huddled. “Any ideas?”

“Yes, I slip in to the ware house in my unique way and wait for Yumi to cut the lights.” Akuma said, “Then I throw down some of my special pepper bombs. Be careful they will irritate your nose and eyes, try to not inhale the smoke. You and Black Angel can go in shooting in the confusion and take out the guards. How does that sound for starters?” Akuma said looking from Yumi to Dr. Twilight then to Black Angel.

“Good so far, but what about the dock workers and Little Cho and the masked guy?” Black Angel asked.

“Them we will need to take down as easy as we can. We need Little Cho and his mysterious friend alive to find out what they were up to.” The fox replied checking for the pepper bombs he needed.

“What about me after I cut the lights?” Yumi asked.

“You can mop up any that get away, Yu...” Akuma said as Yumiko quickly cut in.

“Call me Kuroi no Hime,” She said, Akuma nodded his understanding, no real names. It could be death for a real name to be used and the wrong person overhear.

“Hai Hime-sama. We best get moving.” The kitsune said then assumed his smallest form and became transparent.

“I’m not ever going to get use to that.” The large black man said to Dr. Twilight as they watched the three eyed fox fade into the wall of the ware house like a wraith.

“I just hope he has control of that power. We don’t need him getting stuck in between forms in a wall or a crate.” The man in the trench coat replied cocking the hammer on his .38 revolver and running the cylinder down his arm to check that he was fully loaded. The two took up their position as Kuroi no Hime slipped away to cut the power.

The ghost like fox slipped behind stacks of boxes and crates in the shadows unseen, getting into position. His small lithe form drew no notice as the men went about their business stacking more on top of what was already in the creaking building. Kuroi no Hime had not yet cut the power. Akuma transformed back to himself and made ready to throw his pepper bombs on the unsuspecting men.

While the kitsune was getting ready, he decided to use his mystical ability to see into the boxes. If they did contain the drugs that Dr. Twilight suspected being there this would be a terrific blow to the Yakuza getting a foot hold in Megatropolis. Akuma began to go to the special place inside himself that gave his third eye its sight and turned it onto the boxes the men had already put down.

The contents puzzled him, it wasn’t the tobacco opium mix he was expecting. He saw rolls of cable with metal cylinders attached to the end in some boxes, others had long thin cylinders in them and it dawned on him what he was standing in the middle of. Dynamite, they were smuggling in tons of dynamite, but why? The smoke bombs were not going to be a problem, but he needed to tell the others what they had stumbled on.

It was too late, as soon as the magician came to his revelation the lights in the ware house went out, that was his cue to toss the pepper smoke bombs. The fox armed and threw the first two bombs. One landed in the midst of the largest clump of men. There was a small thunk sound and the stinging smoke poured from the first bomb covering its victims.

The second landed a bit wide of its target and more surprised its victims then caught them in the smoke.

Akuma switched his position trying to not be seen. Choking and screaming shouts came from the men as they dropped their weapons and boxes. Some of those affected made their way stumbling out of the smoke, others fell to their knees unable to see or breath to get out. Those who made their way out were caught up by Dr. Twilight and Black Angel, who subdued them.

A few others turned their guns to where they thought the smoke may have come from and fired into the building. The fox demon ducked low to avoid the gun fire. Bellowing in German, the man in the obsidian mask barked orders to the gunmen. They all stopped firing randomly into the darkness and began to fan out. Akuma took this as his cue to make himself scarce.

He worked his way silently around the boxes in their deadly game of hide and seek. Once in a while, he threw a stray piece of metal which would cause a burst of gun fire in the direction of the noise. He did this a few more times to get them further in the building and when their grouping suited him, the kitsune pulled a flash bomb from its place and tossed it in the middle of the men.

The thugs only had time to look in the direction of the tinking noise, as the blinding flash sent the men reeling. Gun shots went wild around Akuma as he leapt in the middle of them his sword flashing in the air. The four men fell cut to ribbons, their leader alone was unharmed, but still reeling from the flash. The kitsune sheathed his sword and sent a punch to the man in the obsidian masks mid section. He made for another, but was blocked. There was an evil red glow from the eyes of the skull mask and a fist caught Akuma in the chin that sent him back a few steps. This man was going to be a challenge, and he had to be taken alive. The punch was brutal and it caused the faye’s blood to boil. Akuma’s anger raced through him and manifested in his most fearsome transformation. His body rearranged itself sprouting thick red, white, and black fur. His face grew and elongated into a shout, as a tail formed large enough to sweep a grown man off his feet.

The eight foot tall horror stood looking down at the obsidian skull, it showed no emotion. The glow diminished for a moment then sprang a new as the voice from the mask said a word in German Akuma recognized. Werewolf. It came from behind the skull like a curse. Kitsune hated being mistaken for those cursed humans. The gigantic fox let loose a growl showing its fangs and swatted the German with a paw the size of a shovel. The man went sprawling into the boxes behind him.

Akuma charged the masked German on all fours as he stumbled to his feet. The monstrous three eyed fox leapt into the air in a pounce and was caught by a punch to his snout which sent him flying back. With a twist of his body Akuma landed on all fours shook his head and set his three glaring eyes on the obsidian mask. The man in front of him had physical strength to match his own. He realized that this was going to be a very rough fight.

Gun fire fixed images of Dr. Twilight and Black Angel against the night. Splinters flew from the crates as bullets lodged themselves into their wood. Dr. Twilight flipped open his .38 and tossed the spent shells on the pavement then quickly put in the replacements. Clicking the gun shut he spun the chamber and took aim over the crate he crouched behind. The gun roared in his hands as he pulled the trigger. A shout came from where the tommy guns blared and a man crumpled cursing his shattered knee.

“Good shooting.” Black Angel yelled over the gun fire.

“Not bad for a blind man.” Dr. Twilight said as he ducked more shrapnel from incoming rounds.

As the two crime fighters came up over their wooden barricade of crates to take aim at the mobsters who were firing on them, the concussive force of dynamite that had caught alight, shook the dock with such force that it threw all near it to the ground. The unlucky few who were too close to the blast were set ablaze and thrown through the air like rag dolls. Debris of burning timber, glass, and corrugated aluminum reigned down on all the prone combatants in a dangerous storm of shrapnel.

Thick smoke began to envelope the area as flames burned out of control threatening to engulf what ever would burn in it‘s wake. Black Angel coughing, eyes stinging stumbled to his knees then feet choking on the name of his friend.

“Akuma!” The huge man rasped with his body aching as he took a step around the crates. Images swam in his tear filled eyes, the smoke was drifting in lazy clumps on the still night air. He could hear Dr. Twilight stirring behind him with his still ringing ears.

He did not even have time to react when the shot rang out. Pain didn’t exist for a moment then burst on his being like a balloon. The blood sprang from Black Angel’s wound as a red cloud sprang forth. He could hear a shout as the ground rushed to meet him with a new bout of pain.

There was a second sound of gun fire, then a dark form silhouetted by the flames was over him making the pain in his arm feel worse. Something tight was being tied to his body and it made a dull throbbing of the wound in his shoulder.

“Just be still. I’ll try to get you help. Don’t worry the guy who shot you won’t be doing that again.” Dr. Twilight’s face swam into view he was missing his tie.

“Where’s Akuma?” the big man croaked.

“I don’t know, I didn’t see him come out of the building before it blew. Here drink this.” The Doctor pushed the lip of the flask between Jerome’s and poured a very stiff whiskey down the injured man’s throat, then took a drink himself.

“We better get scarce before the cops arrive, I don’t look forward to explaining this to Chief of Police Dixon in person. I’ll go get the car.” Dr. Twilight propped Black Angel up against a crate. “Can you keep a gun on those guys till I get back? They’re tied up, but you never know.”

Black Angel taking his gun from the goggled man then, watching him run into the darkness, the pain in his shoulder making him hope for a speedy return.

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