Bat's in the Belfry Webcomic

Akuma: Tales of the Fox-Demon #39
"The Reaper's in Town"
by Heather Alexander

Breathing and running was all she could think about after the explosion rocked the area. The smoke was making it hard to breath even with her mask on, but she didn't dare take it off. The black clad woman knew the wrong people could be watching.

Kuroi no Hime (Yumiko) made her way to where she had heard the last two gun shots. There were a few tares in her black skin tight catsuit from subduing a few stragglers. She had left the men tied up for the police to find later. Her head still rang from being shook to the ground and each step made it feel like a monkey was playing the cymbals inside it.

Glass, twisted metal and still burning embers lay all over the the ground, making her have to pick her way through. The glass was making crunching noised under her boots.

“Stop who are you?” The deep masculine voice tinged with pain called out with strength behind it.

“Black Angel?”

“Over here, Hime-sama,” the voice gave her steps direction and soon she found the magicians friend with his pistol leaning against his crate.

“Oh no.” She said heaving a sob as she ran to him then knelt beside him to get a better look.

“One of the bad guys got in a lucky shot while I wasn't paying attention.” He winced as her fingers probed the area. Dr. Twilight had done the best he could to stop the bleeding for the moment.

“Are you comfortable? Do you need something?” She asked tears forming in her eyes.

“No, I'll be fine. I've had worse.” He was hoping she believed him, but could not tell because of the mask covering her face.

“Where is Dr. Twilight I thought he was with you?” She asked scanning the area for any threats.

“He went to go get his car.” The large man said.

“Good. We need to get you help soon.” She sat down beside him watching the flames.

The flames danced as they waited in silence, the only sound the crackling of the flames and the occasional moan of a criminal coming too tied up. The salt air was polluted with smoke as what would burn continued to be consumed by the flames. A cry split the silence drawing their attention.

“What's that?” Hime cocked her head to try and hear it better.

“Sounds like someone in trouble. We need to go check it out.” Black Angel tried to stand wincing in pain. Hime put a hand on his chest and gently forced him to stay put.

“No, I will go see what is going on.” She knocked her cross bow and began to head in the direction of the cry.

Once again she picked her way through rubble with caution, till she reached the sand of the beach, keeping her cross bow at the ready. The cry got louder and she seemed to recognize the voice over the gentle lapping of the waves. It sounded like Little Cho. She began to pick up her pace, when she noticed a faint blue glow coming from the same direction as the voice.

The black clad huntress got closer, she saw a figure glowing blue poised threateningly over a prone man. The man was Little Cho and he looked pretty worse for ware. His clothes were torn and dirty, unlike his usual prim appearance. Within the burning flame of the blue light was a woman. Her long dark hair covered her face as she menaced the man with a long thin crystal like blade. The pale figure clad in a flowing black dress, slowly began to dig the tip of the knife into the crime thugs chest. He began to scream again as blood welled up to darken the dingy white of his shirt.

“Help me!” The once hardened man of violence cried riddled, broken with terror.

“Stop!” The Black Princess, Yumiko, said to the woman in the flame, “As much as I don't mind you doing that, we need him alive.” She pointed the loaded cross bow at the entities head, approaching with caution.

The thing in the flames fixed it's gaze on Hime, cold began to fill her chest spreading to her limbs.

“I have no argument with you, I do this for those like you.” The words filled Yumi's mind in a silent whisper, this was not a specter to be crossed lightly. The transfixed masked beauty felt her strength leaving her, the cold spreading to her mind, making it cease to feel. Yumiko's numb finger pulled the trigger of the cross bow letting its deadly bolt fly.

Blue flame stopped the bolt before hitting its mark, it fell harmlessly to the sand as waves rolled in reflecting the flame in their dark depths. The last Kuroi no Hime saw as the frigid feeling took away all sensation from her, was the criminal Little Cho being drug away filling the night with pitiful cries that would not be answered. Then nothing filled her thoughts, but dreams as sand rushed up to meet her.

Tires lay down robber, coming to a stop beside where the large masked black man sat holding a gun. Dr. Twilight stepped from the vehicle and made his way to the injured man's side.

“How you holding up?” Dr. Twilight asked adjusting a cigarette he just lit. “Want one?” He offered one to the man siting on the ground, who waved the offered smoke away.

“I've been better.” Black Angel tried to sit up a bit straighter.

“Any sign of Akuma or Hime?”

“Yeah, I saw her.” The large man shook his head, “I still haven't seen the fox though. Hime went off after a noise. We had heard some cries for help and she went to see what it was, she's still not back.”

“I'll go check on her in a bit, we need to get you in the car.” The Dr. bent down to start helping his comrade up when he was tapped on the shoulder by the seated man.

“There's something in the flames of the building.” Jerome's eyes were wide behind his mask as he pointed out the figure to the other man.

“I don't....” Dr. Twilight hesitated then seemed to be squinting behind his goggles. “There is, I see it. It looks like whatever it is, it's coming this way.” He pulled his gun from its holster.

The shimmer in the flames rearranged itself beneath the starry, smoke filled night sky, and took on the form of the fox demon Akuma the Devil. Walking from the flames transparent and untouched by them, the old fox looked a bit worse for wear. His pants were torn, his sash was askew, and his long red hair fell about him in cascades of crimson.

Akuma's large masked friend heaved a sigh of relief, tried to stand and then thought better of it when his head began to spin like a tilt a whirl. Jerome eased himself back to the ground.

“What happened to you?” Akuma asked seeing the blood soaked tie around Black Angel's wound.

“Nothing that hasn't happened before. Besides I could ask you the same thing. You look like you went rounds with a gorilla you slapped and called it's momma a bad name.” Jerome laughed despite the pain it caused.

“Yeah we'll swap stories later we need to get you washed up and see about getting that bullet out of ya.” Dr. Twilight chided, “Help me get him to the car. I'll take him to your place.”

“Yes, pop.” Jerome quipped as Dr. Twilight waved for Akuma's help getting the big man off the ground and into the back seat of the car. Once loaded inside and comfortable the kitsune noticed they were missing someone.

“Where is Hime?” he asked looking around the area, he could hear the sirens the police and firemen would be here soon.

“Don't know, Black Angel said she took off after hearing a cry for help, said she hadn't come back yet.” Jack adjusted his goggles.

“The police are coming. You get Black Angel out of here, I will find her.” The fox said with a bit of concern in his unsettling green eyes.

“Alright kid, just make sure you blow this place before they get here.” The goggled man clapped the masked demon on the back and got into his car and drove off.

With his friends on their way he set about finding the black clad princess. He swapped his more human form for his smallest, darting about the rubble swift and nimble. His lithe fox body able to pick it's way through things that would give a human trouble. He paused for a moment here and there to see if he could catch her scent, but the smoke clogged his nose and made him sneeze.

The fox was near panic scrambling around trying to find her. He stopped for a moment knowing that panic was not going to help. He centered himself, the kistune set about focusing his mind and putting his third eye to work. It began to glow red with his concentration and soon in his minds eye he could see her, sense her, and began to head in the direction her aura came from.

The kitsune topped some dunes near the water and found her. Kuroi no Hime was collapsed on the sand. The fox ran to her side and became his more man like self, his inhuman fury velvet ears listening for her heartbeat which they found easily. His princess was alive, but a chill lingered on her that concerned him. Taking one of her limp hands he spoke her name, she did not stir. The faye lifted her from the sand carefully. Just on the edge of his senses, he felt the lingering resonance of a powerful spirit. It was not like the skull masked man he fought in the wear house. He was not on the best side of time at the moment, he knew this feeling deserved more time for inspection, but right now leaving the scene was of the utmost importance.

Yumiko wasn't heavy. He held her close as he made his way back to the car they had brought, trying to avoid the blue and red lights from the police cars. Alone it would have been simple to avoid them, he would have merely assumed his fox form and slipped past them with out even getting a glance. The smoke was a bit of a help. He knew the humans couldn't see like he could, but he was preoccupied with Hime's condition. She was so cold in his arms, the warm night and being close to him was having no affect on her. That's probably why when he rounded his next corner he heard the voice call out.

“Hey, you there, where are you going?”

Oh great the kitsune thought. He slowly turned to see a man in a hat and trench coat. The detective was alone and they were out of ear shot of the others. Akuma turned to face the human, who gasped.

“You're the one, that guy who has Little Japan's thugs on edge. I thought you were just a story they told their kids to keep' em off the street.” The officer slowly reached for his gun.

“As you can see, I am not a fairy story. There won't be a need for that.” the vigilante said nodding to the man's pistol, “I'm quite unable to do anything at the moment, as you can see, I have someone who needs my help.” The kitsune shifted the black clad woman in his arms to point this out.

“What happened to her?” The officer said looking at the demon with apprehension.

“I'm not sure, but I am hoping she will be able to tell me when she wakes. By the way, be careful with the men who are tied up, I'm sorry, I don't think you said your name.”

“I'm Jason, Detective Jason Slone with Megatropolis PD. You do good work getting the Japanese rattled. We can't even make'em flinch. What about those guys? Be careful? Why?” Jason took off his hat and ran a hand through his short brown hair in disbelief that he was talking to an urban legend.

“They aren't from here and they aren't the normal Japanese Yakuza you've dealt with. I think some of them are German.”

“German?”

“Yes, and with even worse intentions than Little Cho ever had by himself.”

“Wait Little Cho was involved with this?” Slone pulled a cigarette from its pack and lit it. This was a bit much to take in.

“Yes, he was here some where. He was being accompanied by a masked man who spoke German and wore strange symbols on his uniform. I think the German died in the explosion.” Akuma shifted Hime again. The detectives eyes softened a bit.

“I guess you need to be going, thanks for the info, one last thing though. What caused the explosion?” Jason took another drag from the cigarette.

“Dynamite, the German and Little Cho were unloading it from the ship.”

The detective whistled, “Wonder what they were going to do with that?”

“I'm not sure, but they can't use what was in that wear house now.” the human seemed to note a smile in the eerie three eyes of the fox. Slone looked away at the brick wall next to him, those eyes were getting to him they seemed to bore into your soul.

“Get going, She looks small, but I bet holding her all this time, she can't be getting any lighter. I'll have to see what I can....” He looked back to where the vigilante had been standing with his prone charge, the kitsune was gone. “Huh. Guess I'll have to catch up with you later” the detective whistled as he walked back to the chaos of the wear house.

The car was a welcome sight after the encounter with Slone. Akuma smiled behind his mask feeling as if he had just made a valuable contact. He would have to tell Jerome and Jack about this when he got to the brown stone.

Gently he opened the door of the car and placed his princess in the back seat. He hadn't dared to take her hooded mask off, worried about what had just happened with Slone. He reached to do it, but thought better. You never know who is watching. The faye slid into the front seat of the Jaguar found his keys and started the car heading for home.

Jerome took another large drink right from the bottle. It was a good sign. With this much lack of decorum, he would not care much when Jack had another go at trying to remove the bullet. Thus far there had been no luck removing it, and the former lab technician was beginning to worry.

“I'm sorry if this doesn't feel so great, Jerome.” Jack poured some iodine over the wound, wiped up the excess with a towel, then set the bottle on the kitchen table.

“Just do your best, Pop.” Jerome winced with another probe of the tweezers, he was glad his mother had gone home for the night. Having to explain this would have been difficult at best.

Jack hated doing this to the kid. He knew just how bad removing a bullet could feel. The veteran crime fighter had done this very thing on himself a few times. He had barely managed to hold onto the forceps he had been using on himself last time, if Sleeper had not taken over he may not have gotten that one out and gotten an infection.

Remembering that moment of pain reminded him of the man in the white mask. Jack wondered what he was doing, then was snapped back to his task when Jerome shouted.

“OUCH! What are you trying to do with that thing?” Jerome snapped. Hamma's head popped around the door of the kitchen upon hearing the yelp. The fox came over to where Jerome sat and looked up at him with concern on his small furry face. Jerome reached down and stroked his muzzle to ease Hamma's worry. The fox then sat at Jerome's feet watching.

“Ohh gee son I'm sorry. Look I'm not sure I can get it out. It's too deep. I may have to go see if I can find Sleeper he knows how to do this kind of thing better than I do. Let me get you bandaged up and up stairs in your room.” Jack grimly began to clean and bandage the wound. Failing at this was eating him alive. He had become attached to these new comers and watching them suffer was terrible.

“It's that bad huh? You don't think it will get infected do you?” He winced as Jack finished with the bandage.

“Not if I find Sleeper in time. I'll go as soon as I get you all set up. Roy's not here is he?”

“No, he went home with my mom tonight John didn't want him to be alone in the house.”

“That's good I was worried we were going to upset the kid if he came down here and saw all this.” Jack gestured at the bloody tools and bandages on the table. “I'll clean this mess up before I go. Hate for Weesie to walk in and find her kitchen looking like a slaughter house.” Jack reached down to help Jerome up, getting the big man to the stairs and up them was a chore. Hamma followed like a ghost his soft paws making no sound.

“You're a big old fella, You're momma fed you right.” Jack teased as he helped Jerome into his pajamas and then into bed.

“Yep, her fried chicken and collared greens will put hair on your chest.” Jerome quipped with a smile, despite the firie hot tendrils that shout through him. Hamma took up his favorite spot in an arm chair near Jerome's bed.

“John got any aspirin around here?”

“I think so in the medicine cabinet.” Jack followed Jerome's directions and came back to his room with a glass of water and the bottle of pills.

“Here take a few of these for now. I'll try to be back as soon as possible.” He placed the pills in the hurt man's good hand and handed him the glass.

Pills downed, and Jerome settled, Jack made to leave the room, but stopped suddenly hearing noises from downstairs. Hamma darted off the chair like a red blur and out the door.

“I hope that's John and Yumi coming in.” The goggled man pulled his .38 and stepped out into the hall pointing the muzzle down the stairs. John was looking up at him with his mask off, Yumi was limp in his arms. The kitsune had tears in his eyes. Hamma whined complaints of terror, looking from John to Jack not knowing what to do.

“What happened?” Jack holstered his weapon with a frown, this was almost too much, two friends hurt in one night.

“I don't know, I found her like this, She hasn't stirred or opened her eyes. I can hear her heart beat, she seems to be sleeping. Where is Jerome?” John made his way up the stairs as Jack filled him in. Hamma trailed them to Yumi's room. Jack got the door for the magician letting him into the room with the comatose woman.

“I should never have let her come Jack. Look what I have done to her.” Tears rolled down John's smooth cheeks like rain. Lovingly he finally removed her hooded mask to see her peaceful sleeping features. Hamma lept onto the bed and lay beside her.

Jack put a hand on John's shoulder. “Do you need anything? I was just about to go. I need to find Sleeper or Jerome is going to be in a bad way soon.”

“No, I will clean up and watch over them till you get back. I... I will do what I can for her.” John stroked her dark hair moving a strand from her face.

“I'll let Jerome know you're here and then be on my way.” With that Dr. Twilight left the room leaving Yumi in John's care.

John dressed her in a gown of pink silk he found in one of her drawers. He hated intruding into her things like this, but he had no choice. He placed her under the covers of the bed to see if it might bring back some warmth to her cold skin. Hamma curled up next to her again, looking up at John as he started to leave, the fox spoke to John in the way only they could to each other.

“Will the vixen be alright? There is a scent of something unnatural on her.” Hamma's golden eyes pleaded with John for a reassuring answer.

“I don't know Hamma. I'm not a healer like my father was. I know she is enchanted some how, but I don't know how to fix it. I'll be right back. Stay with her and if she stirs find me.” Hamma agreed.

John left Yumiko to her capable guardian. He rubbed at the tears that burned his face, he hated them. She was supposed to be under his protection and he was responsible for her. Now she lay cold and dreaming, and he felt as if his heart would break. John quickly tried to get his face in order so he could go see Jerome. He didn't want his friend to see him this way.

Jerome was in bed propped up on a stack of pillows. He looked clammy, but welcomed the fox in as high of spirits as could be expected. John sat down in a chair next to the bed and took one of Jerome's offered hands in his.

“I'm so sorry I got you into all of this. It's all my fault. I should have never involved you or her in any of my late night escapades. I should have had you take her home.”

Jerome shot the fox demon a look of disbelief. “Are you kidding me? What is this craziness you are saying to me? I chose to go, she and I both did. You and Jack are our friends do you think we would let you walk into something big a lone?”

“No, I....” John barely got out before the large man cut him off.

“I know you been crying John. I heard a bit of what you and Jack were saying out in the hall way. What happened to Yumi?” This was typical Jerome, John though, more concerned about others than himself. John was not able to look at him when he replied.

“I don't know.” The kitsune paused, “She's not hurt in any way, but she's cold and won't wake up. I know she is under a spell of some sort, but I can't break it. I'm not a healer or a sorcerer. I can't fix this, and it's tearing me apart.”

“You really care for her don't you?” Jerome tried to put his hurt hand on John's shoulder then thought better of it when the pain hit him. “Maybe Sleeper can do something, he seems to know a bit about breaking spells.”

“I hope your right.” John got up to leave.

“You never did tell me what happened to you in the wear house.”

“You remember the man with the obsidian skull mask on?”

“Yes.”

“He was almost more than I could handle. He was inhumanly strong for even me in my most ferocious form. My little tussle with him is what kept me from making a speedy escape before the place went up. I must say I now have the privilege of knowing what it's like to see an explosion from inside and out.”

“Wait you mean you were in there when it exploded? How are you still breathing?” Jerome asked.

“I managed to go insubstantial at the last moment, but not soon enough to avoid being knocked out by the blast. It caught me mid change so to speak.”

“You got lucky you, mean.”

“Yes, when I woke up there was no sign of the masked German and I was surrounded by flaming debris.”

“So what was it like?” Jerome asked stunned.

“Very bright, and very loud. It took me a moment after words to begin hearing and seeing properly again, and I felt like I had been hit by a Mac truck.” John made a bitter sweet smile that made the corners of his mouth twitch. “I know I will feel this in the morning.”

Jerome chuckled, “Let me guess you intend to include this in the act don't you?”

“We'll see.” John's smile regained a bit of its mischief for a moment. “ I better let you rest till Sleeper gets here. I need to get into a hot shower before my muscles lock up. Need anything?”

“Na I'll be fine for now.”

“I'll be back soon then.” John wearily made his way to the master bedroom. The magician knelt down beside the large four poster bed and pulled a trunk from underneath. He worked the lock with his key and opened the heavy wooden lid. The costume he had been wearing he put in on top of a fresh one in the bottom, then closed the lid, locked it and slid the trunk back into its place.

John almost stumbled over his boots laying in the floor, he would have to remember to put them away later, right now he did not care where they were. The stand for his swords stood empty waiting to receive their precious charges. He placed his swords carefully in their cradles. Having finished these tasks he made his way to the rooms private bath.

He spun the knobs for the water till the cascade reached a temp suitable for scalding away muscle aches. Throwing his last vestige of decency into the clothes hamper, he stepped into the shower closing the curtains about him. The water coursed over him in waterfalls of steam and heat. It soothed his body, but did nothing for his mind. His thoughts were a tangle of worry like string unwound by a messy child and simply thrown in a drawer.

The Germans and their cargo were completely confounding. And their purpose? John's deductive processes were running wild with it. Why so much explosives? Almost enough to do mining work or...... No. That couldn't be right. The countryside around Megatropolis wasn't known for mining. They had enough to level several buildings. That is it! The conclusion hit him like the blast at the ware house. But why an attack? Could it be because Megatropolis was a port city? That must be it but why? Unless it had to do with the sanctions on Germany.

Then another problem assaulted him. Yumi's condition was no ordinary coma. This had a touch of the darker magic to it. What had she seen? Now that things were such that he might be able to reach a deeper trance, he might actually be able to delve to the place she had been sent to. He still would not be able to undo the spell, but if only he could get a hint, a glimpse of what her mind hid it could help.

The water pattered to a halt when John's hands turned the knobs. He pushed back the shower curtain looking into a world of steamy phantoms that had clouded the mirror above the sink. Opening the window seemed to make a dent in banishing the lost souls swirling in the mist.

John frowned when he saw the mirror still submerged beneath a film of water droplets. The hand towel made sort work of it. He looked at himself, velvet ears, three eyes, red hair, the fox watched himself change back to his more human self. No matter how much he looked at the raven haired, honey eyed, person in the mirror this would never be the truth. Would it be better if it were? Probably not. But no point wondering. He dried and dressed in his favorite kimono after turning on the cabinet radio.

A gentle melody was drifting over the radio waves into the room. The magician let it calm him, music always seemed to have such an affect on the mind. It could make you feel joy, sorrow, anger, or touch that deep part of your soul that you kept away from others hoping they would never see it. The deeper parts of his soul were what concerned him at the moment.

Each time he used his unique ability, he was always at risk delving into the mind of another. What if they had the will to push back? See in him what he kept hidden. That is what bothered him the most in what he was about to attempt with Yumiko. What if in her current state with her thoughts so free, could she see things that he never intended another living soul to know? It was possible, and she did possess a strong enough will. But he could not leave her like this, he had to do something. She was becoming a close friend after all. What was there really to hide? She had already seen his real appearance and not even so much as flinched.

Hamma's look as he entered the room with the incense burner and candles showed the kitsune that nothing had changed. His princess still slept and Hamma still fretted that she was beyond reach.

“She still hasn't moved, not even to turn on her side.” the fox told John, as he arranged the items around her bed side. “What's all this for John?”

“I'm going to try to reach into her mind and see if she can some how tell me what happened.” John replied not able to look into Hamma's eyes.

“I see. You look as if something is bothering you?” the fox stood up and stretched then jumped from the bed and laid down at John's side as the magician took a seat on a cushion on the floor.

“I worry that I may become entwined in the spell that has hold of her.” John told Hamma as he began to settle himself to begin focusing his mind.

“It won't be so bad you will be with her won't you?”

“Yes,” the magician blushed, “but our bodies may wither and die. Both of us trapped.”

“Oh no! Is there no other....” Hamma was cut off in mid plea. The fox and kitsune both snapping to a heightened attention as a massive surge of magical energy rippled through the house.

“What on earth was that!” Hamma yelped standing and bristling.

“I'm not sure, but it seems like it's coming from the garden. I will get my sword and pistol. You stay with her. It could be what is responsible for Yumi's condition.” John ran from the room leaving the fox to grab his sword and gun shoving them into the sash of his kimono. He then tore through the house to the back door in the kitchen and threw it open, the door banging on the wall leaving a dent in the plaster, as he charged into the yard ready for battle.

He stopped mid stride at the sight. A shimmering opening of light hung in the air under the trees. John stood awestruck. He had only heard that things like this could be, he had never seen it personally till now. A man size form began to take shape then stepped out of the porthole carrying something. For a moment it was shadowed by the light behind it, then the light winked out. The being seemed to have very familiar ears.

The shadowy form took in everything around it in the garden. A blue glow emanated from what looked like a jewel that moved as the head moved. It seemed disoriented at first then it caught sight of John and paused for a moment. It was taking in the magician's appearance.

John was doing his own examination of this new arrival. He caught a smell, it was part a memory and part familiar. His thoughts were cut short as the being dropped what it carried and stepped quickly into the light.

The magician had no time to react, he was swiftly in the things tight embrace.

“Oniisan! (brother)” A youths voice cried in excitement, the Japanese words barely sinking in , as John suddenly felt the air rush from his lungs. “I'm so glad I found you!” Air gushed back to his gasping lungs, his sides ached as a face like his, with three eyes and fox ears, stared up at him and clawed hands clamped to his shoulders. A broad smile shone on the young kitsune boy's face.

“b- brother?” John repeated back in Japanese not quite understanding what the boy was saying. The boy's face fell at John's confusion.

“Are you not Jenochie Otagowa, the famous magician known as Matsumoto the Great?” The frown threatened to deepen.

“Huh? Uh..... Yes yes I am, but who are you? And where? How did you get here?” John managed to eek out as the boy's face brightened again and another bone crushing hug exited the air from his already starving lungs again.

“I'm Sakuya, your brother. Mother and Father sent me to find you.”

“Mother and father?” John gasped as the boy let go.

“Yes, they were so worried that you were lost for ever, till they started hearing news of you abroad. They started seeing pictures of you in the news papers of the humans and .....” The boy stopped in mid sentence and looked at John intently. “Where are your ears?”

“I can hide them. See.” John transformed, his hair becoming red like they boys, his fury black ears taking their place, and his red third eye shining jewel like.

“Ahhhh! I knew it! Can you show me how you do that?” the boy marveled. “I'm not so good at it.”

“I will have to some other time, let's go inside, I'm am happy you came, but this is very bad timing.” John explained as he picked up the boy's belongings and began to lead him inside.

Sakuya frowned again, he possessed the sweet concern of a child.

“I'm so sorry, can I help?” The boy asked as John led him into the kitchen and then into the main hall.

“Thank you for asking , but no, I don't think so. Two of my friends are ill and need the attention of a doctor.” John lead the boy up the stairs. They passed Jerome's door, who called out to find out who their visitor was. John showed Sakuya into the room and Jerome's eyes went wide.

“There are two of you? I thought you were the only one.” Jerome looked at the two kitsune in surprise.

“No, I'm not the only one, I do have a family and this is Sakuya my little brother.” John made the introduction, then told Sakuya who Jerome was in Japanese. Sakuya made a bow to Jerome. The boy's third eye shown with a blue light for a moment. Then in broken English spoke.

“Pleased to be meeting you. Where hurt you?” Sakuya asked Jerome.

“He learns quick.” Jerome said taking note that the boy did not introduce himself.

“It's a trick of ours, when we got to a new country we search the minds of the inhabitants and learn their language. He will be fluent in a week.” John explained.

“Ahh so that's how you picked up all the languages you know.” Jerome mused on this for a moment, but not for long because Sakuya had moved to his bed side and was looking at the bandages.

“If let look this one may help.” Sakuya said as Jerome looked at John questioningly. “Sakuya, Jerome needs surgery to remove a bullet. I'm not sure you should...” John was explaining in Japanese when Sakuya cut him short saying he could help.

“What's he doing John?” Jerome asked with concern as Sakuya began to unwind the bandages.

“He says he can help.” John said just as surprised as Jerome.

“What's he going to do?”

“I'm not sure he didn't ask me to bring him anything.”

Sakuya unwound the bandage with the careful skill of a doctor, then pulled a small stone with a symbol on it from his sash holding it in his left hand. The youth placed his right palm flat over the open wound. A sapphire glow started in his third eye and spread to engulf the boy's body and then focused on his palm.

Jerome felt a tingly sensation spread from the place the boy's hand touched him through out his shoulder. There was a feeling as if something was moving out of his body. It didn't hurt as things were rearranging themselves. After a moment the boy removed his hand. The wound was gone and the bullet rested in the palm of his hand.

Sakuya beamed with a smile of triumph.

“I learn from Father.” the broken english charming as he showed Jerome the slug.

“I have never seen anything like it! That was the strangest feeling I have ever had. I almost feel like I can run laps.” Jerome's excitement beamed.

“No would be bad. You rest. Maybe next day.” Sakuya said.

“Why didn't you tell me you were a doctor?” John asked the boy.

“I try to tell you, but was short.” Sakuya said trying to keep in english for Jerome.

“Are we keeping him?” Jerome asked John with a smile.

“I think so.” John laughed.

“Next friend, please.” the younger kitsune said looking at John to lead the way.

“I guess I better take him to Yumi next. You do as the young physician orders and rest.” With that John led his younger brother down the hall to where Yumi lay dreaming introduced Hamma, then put Sakuya's bag in the only empty guest room left.

When he returned the boy was petting Hamma and examining the woman who lay still on the bed. John stood in the doorway for a moment and let the boy contemplate his new patient for a moment before coming to the boys side.

“Is this how you found her?” Sakuya asked in their native language.

“Yes. She has no wounds and she seems to simply be sleeping. She is under a spell of some kind and I don't know how to break it.” John explained.

“Father didn't teach you?” The boy frowned.

“He didn't get the chance. I decided to go see the world instead of following in his footsteps. I was never good at spell casting any way.” John's regret was heavy in his words.

“But You are a magician, aren't you?” The boy looked confused.

“I do illusions, theater tricks, the only thing real I do is when I read people's minds, or read objects or I do this.” John went transparent and waved his hand through the post of the bed. The boy's eyes went wide.

“How did you do that?”

“I had a bad run in with a magical sword and some very evil people. It took me forever to be able to get my solid form back.” He made himself tangible again and leaned against the bed post. “So can you help her?”

“I have read about spells like this and she can be awakened, but......” The pause in his sentence ominous, “How much do you care for her?” The boy's direct question caught his older brother off guard, and he almost slid from the bed post.

“Excuse me?”

“How much do you care for her? Is she a friend or is the vixen yours? She lives in your house. Is she your wife?” Sakuya blinked unabashed.

“I... She.... No. We aren't married.” the older kitsune's face glowed like a dying sunset.

“You care for her though, yes?” The youth seemed to take a small amount of amusement in his older siblings discomfort.

“Yes. What do I have to do?” John said taking in a deep breath stiffening a bit. “Find the one who did it and kill them?”

“No, no.” Sakuya shook his head. “You have to kiss her.”

“I... No..” John looked at the boy stunned as if he'd been hit with an comedy chicken in the face. Hamma who had been watching the conversation intently burst into fits of laughter at John's discomfort and rolled off the bed with a thump.

“Shut it you mangy rug!” John shouted to more peals of Hamma's laughter. John picked up a pillow from a near by chair and threw it at Hamma, who dogged it and ran from the room.

“Are you making fun of me? Did Hamma put you up to saying that?” John whirled on the giggling boy.

“N-no! No Oniisan no!” The boy put his hands up in a surrender pose. “It is the only way, but your little friend told me that you were shy around the vixen.”

John heaved a sigh. It was true. His feelings for Yumi made him uncomfortable. It was Paris, and Deirdre. He had kept himself from those kinds of feelings. He never wanted to relive that pain again with anyone else. That loss. Now another life was in his hands just as before, one he cared for. He could not let her stay in her dreams.

“Could you leave us for a moment.” John asked the boy with the last of his dignity he could muster.

Sakuya could see the anguish in his brother's face and new that no more laughing should be done. Bowing, the youth left the room, closing the door behind him.

Tears formed in the kitsune's eyes as he turned to face the bed with the sleeping woman. What if this did not work? But worse, what if it did? Would that terrible binding of souls happen that almost killed him in Paris? Would she hate him? He was not sure he could live in a world where she hated him. Not now. The tears traced a path of pain that nearly ate him a live almost sixty years earlier.

He laid aside his sword and gun on a chair near by, then sat on the edge of the bed beside her. The kitsune took in her beautiful face the gossamer of her eyelashes, the delicate curve of her nose, her lips that still held a rosy hue despite the cold of her skin. Her lips were perfect and promised to be soft as the petals they stole their color from.

John took her hand in his and placed them next to his heart, that was beating like the wings of birds on the bars of a cage desiring freedom. He took a shuddering breath of resolve and leaned into his conviction to bring her back to him. His breath caught in him as his lips found hers. He let his eyes drift closed as a moment of pure bliss filled him. Then he felt it. Another heart beat, hers. Warmth, joy, this was the fairy bonding, only this time untainted by death.

Afraid to open his eyes, John did not want the moment to leave him. It was too pure. He felt a hand caress his face and the lips like rose petals returned his emotion. He could not keep his eyes closed any longer he had to know. He pulled himself slowly back opening his eyes. Perfect beautiful chocolate brown eyes shining beneath their lashes were looking back at him.

“Yumiko!” he shouted with joy scooping her from her pillow into an embrace that only the thrill of love could create. The moment was short lived alone for them though, the thudding of feet were running down the hallway, and Jerome burst in the door, looking tired, and dreading what he might see.

John and Yumi smiled at their large friend in the door way who had Sakuya and Hamma peering around him. The three in the door way were not there long. They rushed to the bedside where the two lovers sat and reveled in Yumiko's return.

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