"Mononoke" -- Part 4

Author: Notmanos

E-Mail: notmanos at yahoo dot com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: The characters of Angel are owned by 20th Century Fox and Mutant Enemy; the
character of Wolverine is also owned by 20th Century Fox and Marvel Comics. No copyright
infringement intended. I'm not making any money off of this, but if you'd like to be a patron of the
arts, I won't object. ;-) Oh, and Bob is *my* character - keep your hands off!

------------------------------------------------

Luckily,Mariko was no dummy,and sadly no stranger to violence.She had reached Tetsuo's maroon sedan,but as she opened the driver's side door,she made a noise not unlike a strangled yelp and backed up,hand over her mouth.Even before he got there,he knew what she had seen."Get in the back and stay down until I tell you otherwise,"he ordered, sheathing his saber and grabbing the open driver's side door.

Tetsuo was laying sprawled across the front seat,most of his brains splattered on the passenger side window,with some residual blood pooled under his ruptured skull on the butterscotch hued vinyl seat.Having absolutely no time for delicacy,Logan shoved the bulky man's body over as far as was necessary and sat in the driver's seat,obscurely glad that no blood had pooled here,and heard the back door slam as soon as Mariko had gotten in.She did duck down,but he heard her say,"I hate my life."

She had no idea how he seconded that,but still it made him chuckle bitterly as he started the car (the keys,speckled with blood,were still in the ignition) and tore out into the street,tires squealing on the macadam,pulling away from the curb just as the newly arrived gunmen opened fire.

He swung a completely illegal u-turn in the middle of the street as the men,all in commando black,started shooting in broad arcs at the car.The rear windshield blew inward first,startling a cry from Mariko before he felt bullets zing past his head and punch out the windshield (causing most of it to explode outward as opposed to inward-a small mercy),and the car's back end slewed violently to the left as the right tire exploded,but Logan fought the steering wheel and got the car back under his control,at least for now.As he took the corner he almost lost control of the car and swerved into a Honda coming the other way,but he wrestled it back into his lane,the now mostly bare rim of the rear right tire scraping pavement and spitting sparks.

He went as fast as he dared,and asked,"Are you all right? Mariko?"

In spite of the wind howling through the open windshields,he heard her suck in a ragged breath,and say,"Yeah.I'm having a heart attack,but otherwise I'm fucking peachy."

"We're gonna have to dump the car-they'll be looking for it,and we're too easy to spot."

"And then what?"

He took a hard right into an alley just big enough for the car to pass through,the end of the car fishtailing dangerously and slamming into a garbage can on the left side of the alley entrance,smashing it flat."Then we get you the hell home."They were near the docks-he could smell the brine,the almost fungal kelp and salty fish-and he figured this was a good place to dump the car and start hoofing it.There should be beaucoup crowds to get lost in too,as he was pretty sure the fleet was in this week,and there was nothing like drunken fishermen and sailors to provide distraction.

He brought the battered car to a skidding halt behind a warehouse (related to fishing,judging from the overwhelming stench coming from it),and killed the engine,pocketing the now useless keys as it had his prints on them (and whether that would matter he had no idea,but better safe than sorry),and after taking a moment to catch his breath (he still ached,there was no doubt about that,but he had no time to sit still and let his healing factor work in peace),he got out of the car,leaving poor Tetsuo behind.

Mariko was now sitting up in the back seat,but didn't look like she was in a hurry to move,her dark eyes staring blankly ahead at nothing.He opened the back door,and said,"Come on,we have to go now."He knew a delayed shock reaction might be setting in,but that was all the more reason to get the fuck out of here now,while it was still an option.

She turned to look at him,her neck strangely rigid,and while she looked shocked,ashen and a bit dazed,she also looked a bit pissed off."What about the others at the restaurant?"She wondered.

He reached in and grabbed her arm,helping her out of the car."I just hope these guys were instructed to kill only us.If they're good mercenaries,they probably won't go extra-curricular."He didn't want to talk about 'green' mercenaries probably panicking at the sight and thought of so many potential witnesses-there was nothing they could do about that anyways.

Once outside the car,she yanked her arm away from his grasp as he started to pull her down a neighboring alley that, by the sound of it,led to the boardwalk.Even here in the shadows he could see the reflected yellow light of paper lanterns,and heard boisterous singing leaking from some seaside club.He turned back towards her,ready to force the issue and carry her if necessary,but the look on her face was eerie,the echo of lights glittering like stars in the blackness of her eyes."Kill us.They wanted to kill you too."

It wasn't a question.He only shrugged."I'm on their hit list now,'Riko.I work for you.Good enough."And secretly,he wished them luck-kill him?They would probably have better luck converting the Pope to Scientology.

"But...you could have killed yourself throwing yourself through that window.What were you thinking?"

"Of protecting you.That's my job."

She shook her head slowly,walking towards him in a zombie like,loose limbed fashion.It started to drizzle,the air humid and still enough that he knew there was a storm hovering off the coast,but the lack of an ozone smell suggested it wasn't coming inland tonight.But the change in barometric pressure made his still knitting bones ache."My family. You're supposed to be protecting my family."

"I am.But you're the best of them."He wasn't sure why he admitted that,but it was the truth.Even a blind man could see that.

"How did you survive that fall,Logan?"She asked,her voice lowered to a thready whisper.He thought she looked a bit shorter than usual,and noticed she was barefoot.Of course-she probably left her shoes outside the restaurant,one buried in a guy's neck.She was resourceful,he had to give her that.

"I told you-"

"Bullshit,"she interrupted,although she didn't sound angry.Now she reached out and touched him,running her hands down his (bullet hole ridden) shirt,and he instantly grabbed her wrists to stop her before she found one of the holes.Luckily it was dark enough here that he didn't think she could see them.

"What the hell are doing?"He asked,convinced more than ever she was in serious shock.

"No flak jacket,"she said,looking fearlessly up at his face.She had not tried to pull her hands away."Would you like to tell me another story about how you have the kind you can't feel?"

He huffed an impatient sigh through his nose,racking his brains for something-anything-plausible to tell her."This is not the place to discuss it.We could have been followed."He knew they weren't,but that wasn't the point.He turned towards the mouth of the adjacent alley,still holding her wrists in hopes of dragging her along,but she violently yanked her hands away.He spun back around on his heels,frustrated to the breaking point.He fucking hurt,three of his security staff were dead,the car was totaled,and he didn't have her in a safe place yet,and they had no fucking time for this."Do you want to die,Mariko?"He snapped,on the verge of just storming off.Hell with this;what the fuck was he thinking anyways?He was no bodyguard!He was just-

(a rogue agent)

-a sucker for a sob story and anything having to do with Kajahara.But the Yashidas were dirty-there was no getting around it.And no matter how smart and sincere Mariko was,she wasn't in a powerful enough position in the family to change it for good."Keep this up.Because you know what? I-"

"I know what you are,"she said,sounding and looking slightly awestruck.

That stopped him in his tracks,and he suddenly felt very cold all over,as if the drizzle had turned into a downpour of icy rain.She couldn't know;she was fishing,just trying to guess."You have no idea what I am,"he told her honestly, feeling a strange sort of melancholy about it.No one could ever know who and what he really was-it was just that simple.His only safety-and the safety of everyone he ever cared about-was in anonymity and lies.

"Yes,I think I do,"she replied confidently.She then reached up,grabbing his face between her hands,and kissed him, tentatively but passionately,her hands smoothing back into his hair.

He automatically responded,even while the logical,rational part of his brain (that small portion) was telling him this was simply a reaction to shock and having all that adrenaline dumped in her system (and his too,for that matter),but he still pulled her close,her small,almost frail body feeling cold pressed against his,and he wanted to keep her warm.

Oh no he didn't.It was an effort of will to push her away (how long had it been since a woman had touched him like that? Probably since-no,he couldn't think about her now either...),but he did,and made himself say,"This is not the time.We have to go."

Rather than fight him on it,she nodded,pushing her damp hair back with her hands."Why didn't you tell me?"She asked.

He turned away,stomach knotting like a fist,and walked up the alley,refusing to look back and see if she was following or not.It didn't matter;he'd call the estate from a pay phone and have them get down here to get Mariko.

He had a feeling,no matter how this played,he was no longer working for the Yashidas.

Los Angeles-Present Day

So far they had been able to identify all the men,and all but one of them had died before "Bloody Friday".So far, the claim that he couldn't see enough of the woman's face to make a positive i.d. was holding,and Bob was glad for small favors.Of course,he could push the issue (literally),but he preferred not to push friends if he didn't have to.

Logan was pacing so much he feared he'd wear ruts in his floor,and he'd been lucky to replace it after the chainsaw incident involving Angel and his 'friends'.He knew he should have gone with the marble flooring instead,but it was so cold on bare feet.

Helga left to get a beer,and as soon as she was gone,Logan stopped his frustration fueled pacing,and gave him a suspicious glance."There's something you're not telling me,isn't there?"

Ah fuck."Why would I do that?"

Logan glowered at him,his dark eyebrows sinking low over his eyes."Bob,do you need a reason to do anything?"

"Well,for tax purposes,"he replied wryly,giving Logan a grin meant to be reassuring.

But from the deadly look Logan gave him,he wasn't in a laughing mood.Well,technically he never was,but even less so now."Logan,I'm trying to help you,"he pointed out."I wouldn't hide something from you."

"Yes you would,"he shot back bitterly.He must have hit his second wind,because the exhaustion appeared to be gone from his face-maybe his healing factor took care of that too,at least as long as the exhaustion was not too extreme."If you think I couldn't handle it.I can handle anything."

"I know you can,but just because you can doesn't mean you should."

Logan stalked towards him,head lowered,shoulders raised,looking for all the world like a prowling wolf closing in on its chosen prey."You know who she is,don't you?"

Bob crossed his arms over his chest and faced Logan straight on.He was giving him a look that could have splattered his brains all over the wall,and if Bob had been Human-or a lesser demon-he probably would have been freaked the hell out by it:an angry Logan looked extremely feral.His face didn't transform like a vampire's or some other mutants,it was just as if all the higher humanity suddenly fled,leaving only the lower human behind.For a seemingly stoic man,his passions certainly swept him away.

But Bob could honestly kill someone with a look,and had,so it was hard for him to be afraid of or be intimidated by anyone,even Logan on the verge of full berserker mode.In fact,a death stare like that would usually make him laugh, but Logan's glare had so much pain in it it was like the visual equivalent of a raw,open wound.He felt bad for him, but if he showed any of that it would just make Logan go nuclear."I'm still looking into it,Logan,"he said,not in the least bit cowed."You were very good about not leaving a paper trail.You were almost a professional."

That made Logan pause,and confusion washed over his face,softening his expression."Are you implying something?"

Bob wondered how much he should say,especially since he had no proof of anything.But Bob had learned long ago that he had very good instincts when it came to people (and other things)."I'm not actually sure,Logan.But I wouldn't be terribly surprised if you learned how to disappear from the professionals."

He opened his mouth,and then instantly closed it,pondering the implications of what Bob had just said.From the new expression on his face and the remaining tension in his posture,he didn't like this topic at all."Did...did I work for them?Voluntarily?"There was something in his eyes that Bob had never seen before:pure,genuine horror.

Logan didn't need to specify the 'them'-of course he meant the Organization,who had fucked him over so completely that they were responsible for this entire mess he was in,and the adamantium skeleton he now lugged around inside him;some sort of sub-surface stigmata to guarantee he would never forget the price he paid for his crimes,even if the crime itself fell to the sands of time.But there was no crime worthy of that kind of punishment,and all that Bob had found so far,while somewhat horrific,still fell in the categories of self-defense,and crimes of passion.Logan was never as bad as they tried to make him.He had simply been a man who had lived too long and seen too much (and couldn't Bob sympathize with that).

Before Bob could admit he didn't know (but he suspected-oh yes,he suspected),the office door opened,flooding the room with the loud sounds of Thursday's "Understanding In A Car Crash",blasting from the jukebox in the main bar,and Helga came in,a can of beer in each hand,and one wrapped in her tail.They had both turned down the drinks,but the fact that Helga brought them anyways meant things had taken a dire turn in the six minutes she was gone.Bob wished he could be surprised,but very little surprised him.Things were never really as bad as they could be; there was always room for more shit.

Helga kicked the door closed,although the music was loud enough it kept bleeding through the walls,and she handed Bob an oversized can of beer as she offered the one held in her tail to Logan.He scowled at her,possibly for interrupting their conversation,and when he didn't instantly take the beer she thumped the can gently against his chest.His frown deepened,but he took the can.

"Do I want to know the shit that hit the fan now?"Bob asked her,cracking open his can.

She shrugged,perching on the edge of his desk,her tail curling carefully to avoid hitting his iBook."Maybe.My contact in Chinatown called me back."

"Ah.So who's the new smack hack in town?"Bob asked,before taking a bracing swig of beer.If Helga thought he'd need it,he probably did.

She cradled her own (already open) can of beer in her hands,and brief;y glanced at Logan before looking at him, grimacing ever so slightly.That gave it away to Bob,even before she said a word."The guy's name is Haido Takabe,but people like to call him Scarface."

"Scarface,"Bob repeated dubiously.At least Dickeye was original.

"I know.DePalma should sue,"Helga agreed.

"Takabe,"Logan hissed,as if the name left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"So,he's got scars on his face?"Bob continued,and suddenly he had a bad feeling about it.How old was the guy?Could he have gotten his scars from...oh dear.

"One would guess,"she agreed,taking a swig of her beer.

Logan looked between them,his green eyes bright and sharp,a sudden eagerness making his face look strangely drawn, almost gaunt with hunger.For knowledge...and for revenge?"He's one of them?I thought you said they were wiped out."

"Most of the main family was,but there were some distant survivors I'm sure."And maybe even some other survivors of the fight itself,Bob thought,and it was his turn to get an awful taste in his mouth.

Maybe this was personal-or maybe he thought Logan saw something he shouldn't see,and wanted to make sure it didn't get out to the wrong people.

But Logan couldn't remember.Whatever happened Bloody Friday,Logan was just as clueless as someone who hadn't been there.Yet Takabe couldn't know that.

If he did,would it matter?Bob had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn't.Drug traffickers weren't known for their sense of fair play.Did he know Logan survived?Well,he must by now,if he hadn't always known.

And maybe this time,he'd be able to kill him,and not make the same mistake his family did so long ago.

"Where can we find him?"Logan continued,focusing his harrowing gaze on Helga alone.

She gave him a bittersweet smile,the corner of her mouth upturning ever so slightly,setting down her empty beer can on a rare clear spot on his desk."Hon,he's a drug lord.Do you think we can just waltz in there and start asking questions?"

Logan tossed her his unopened can of beer,which she caught easily,and held his arms out to his sides,hands clenching into fists as if he was about to pop his claws.He didn't,but Bob could see blue veins standing out in relief on the surface of his hands,as if he was just a micro-millimeter of pressure away from letting those bad boys out of hiding.

"No.In fact,I'm counting on resistance."Logan growled,the unholy hunger now shining in his eyes.

And that's just what Bob was afraid of.

***

Tokyo,Japan-1978

Logan was glad he traveled light;he was finished packing up his books in no time,and Kajaharas katanas were wrapped in raw silk and placed back in their protective chest.He just had to throw a few clothes in a pack and he was good to go.

Last night,on the ride back to the estate,Mariko said nothing,and he was glad.If she started accusing him of being a mutant in front of Benny and Saito,what was he supposed to say?So what-it saved your fucking life?

True,but somehow inelegant.

He didn't want to sleep,but his body wasn't going to let him go on without resting a little;healing took its price somewhere,and he would swear it just crashed his metabolism sometimes.It would make him stop if he didn't do it voluntarily.So he laid down,fully dressed,on top of his bed and expected to just nap for an hour or so,but one hour turned out to be seven when he woke up,sunlight oozing around the seams of the rice paper blind,and he knew his goddamn body had betrayed him once more.That happened too much to be surprising,but he still loathed it. Sometimes he felt like a hitch hiker within his own alien skin,and that if something happened to his conscious mind, something killed it,but there was just enough of the brain stem left to keep the body functioning,it would go without him;a riderless horse,a zombie without a master.He suppressed a small shudder at the very idea- that couldn't really happen,could it?

He hoped he'd never find out.

Logan was ravenously hungry too,another side effect of the healing process,but he figured he could grab something at the airport:nothing great,but hell,all he needed was fuel for this machine.And that's exactly what he felt like-a machine.A perpetual motion machine,a slap in the face to all known laws of physics and physicality,and there was absolutely nothing he could about it.

He was in his bedroom,randomly shoving handfuls of clothes into a sueded leather knapsack,when he heard a knock at his door.He was content to ignore it-a lynch mob would sound more noisy than that-but the banging increased in volume,and he heard Mariko shout from outside,"I know you're in there,Logan-let me in!"

He sighed,and slung his pack into the armchair as he went to let her in.Technically she could let herself in,as this was the family guest house,but she was striving to be polite,and he had to give her credit for that.And he didn't really want to leave with an ugly scene,but he had a feeling she'd hang around and confront him as soon as he left the house.Best to get it over with indoors,with fewer witnesses.

He held the door open as she came in,and she didn't look at him save for when he actually opened the door,and she radiated waves of anger,which he expected.He also expected her to wheel towards him as he shut the door,and begin the harangue.She did.

"Why didn't you tell me,you arrogant son of a bitch?"She snapped,her delicate,usually placid face contorted in rage.

"Arrogant?"He echoed,chuckling mirthlessly."How am I arrogant,exactly?For saving your ass?"He walked past her and sat on the couch,not letting her tirade stop him from putting his boots back on.

"For never telling me,"she continued raging,walking around to the front of the sofa so she could face him (well,in theory-he'd have to look up first,wouldn't he?)."I thought we were friends-"he heard her peter off,and then she asked: "Where are your swords?Holy shit,are you leaving?"

He glanced up at her,pulling on his second boot."Got it in one,Sherlock.You can't fire me,I quit."

"I wasn't going to fire you,"she shot back,sounding flustered."And you can't quit!We have a contract!"

"A contract surely null and void in the case of mutant freak-ism."

She stared at him in open mouthed shock.It was a good act,he had to give her that."Do you really think everyone sees you that way?Or is that how you see yourself?"

He raised an eyebrow at her,snickering at her attempt at pop psychology."Look,doll,don't expect me to make this easy on you.There's no name you can call me that I haven't heard before,but you're welcome to try."

She was quiet for a moment,but not nearly long enough."Are you really that much of a bigot?"

That made him really laugh."Me,a bigot?How do ya figure?"

"You just assume that all humans are such idiots they'll hate you."

"It's been my experience that they do."

"Well,I'm sorry about that,Logan,I truly am.But do you think so little of me you just assumed I'd act the same way?"

He rolled his eyes and glanced up at her,not quite embarrassed,but almost."No offense intended,Riko.I like you.But I know how this turns out;it always ends up the same way."

"Is that your mutation?Seeing into the future?"

"No."

"Then how do you know how anyone will react?Especially me.I thought you knew me better than that."

He sighed,finishing lacing up his boots,and told her,"I don't know what I believe anymore,Riko,if that's any comfort."

"No,it's not.It's a cop out.I like you,Logan,I like you more than I ever thought I would,but I am hurt that you think I'm some sort of stupid asshole who will hate you because you're a mutant."

"I don't think that about you.I just don't have any hope anymore.Excuse me for my cynicism."

"But by painting humans with the same broad brush,you're guilty of what you accuse people of doing to you."

"And you just did it."

She planted her hands firmly on her hips,and glared at him like a ticked off parochial school nun."Did what?"

"You said humans,Riko,referring to you and others,but not me.For the record,I am human,just different."

Her face fell as she realized he was right,all the anger in her expression draining away,replaced by chagrin."I'm sorry.I didn't mean it that way-"

"Sure you did.'S okay,it doesn't matter."He got up and left the room,more than ready to finish packing.He was angry,of course,but more than anything he was disappointed.Why?Because maybe he did hold Mariko to a higher standard than others?Maybe.But it was clearly unwarranted.

She followed him into the bedroom,though.He ignored her as best he could,continuing to pack in spite of her."Don't dismiss me like that,Logan.I know you're a human too,damn it-why do you want a reason to hate me?"

"I don't want anything from you,Riko.It's been real,but hey,you know,shit happens.Good luck with the Takabes."

"You are not going anywhere,"she insisted,in full stubborn mode."I'm holding you to your contract,damn it."

"I think Ryan and the others will have something to say about that."

"I didn't tell them."

He stopped pawing through his dresser drawer and turned to look at her."Yet?"

"I'm not going to.If you want to tell them,it's fine,but I don't see how that's any of their business."

He studied her face for a moment,feeling an unwelcome twinge of affection for her,and asked,"Why are you here, Riko?If you're not here to sling me out on my ass or cuss me out for being a freak,what are you doing here?"

"Haven't you been paying attention?I'm here to cuss you out for treating me like a ninny,"she said,not without some humor.She then sat down on the end of his unmade bed,primly folding her hands in her lap,and said,"I want to be let into your life,Logan."

"Stay out,"he told her,not without some regret."People who know me get hurt.More often than not,they get dead.I don't want to see that happen to you."

Her smile was kind and sad,and unshed tears glistened in her eyes."People around me already get dead.It looks like we already have something in common."

Ah shit.He didn't know why,but Mariko had gotten under his skin.Women generally did;they were his weakness.He could remember Hawk telling him "You know,it'll be a woman who finally kills you,one way or another."And Logan figured that was true,but what was he going to do about it?

He sat down on the edge of the bed,not next to her but within arm's reach,and faced away,staring out the tiny window next to the dresser.He had rolled up the blind to let the sun in,and outside he could see the lowering branches of the cherry tree beyond waving slightly in the breeze,casting erratic shadows on the hardwood floor that seemed to undulate like the surface of the sea."There's so much pain in the world,"he finally said,his voice lowered to a whisper."It's not fair,but there it is."

"What is your mutation?Are you indestructible?"She asked solemnly,quietly.

"No,I can be hurt.I'm hurt a lot.I just heal really fast,almost instantly."

"So you were shot last night;you were hurt."

Damn,she noticed."Yeah,but it didn't last long."

"Is that your only mutation?"

What was this,twenty questions?He wondered if he should tell her,then he decided he had nothing further to lose."I have enhanced senses."

"I knew it,"she said triumphantly,and when he looked at her over his shoulder,she was smiling."That's how you know so much:you listen to conversations in other rooms."

He smirked at her."I usually don't have to bother."

She held his gaze,both curious and fascinated.But it didn't seem like a freak show fascination-she just wanted to know."All your senses are enhanced?Is that how you know when people are watching you?And when they've been in a room before you?"

He couldn't help but smile back at her.He wasn't as sneaky as he thought,was he?Or maybe she was just very observant."You noticed?So you're the one watching me all the time."

It looked like she was thinking about denying it,but her lips twisted into a comically guilty smile,her hazel eyes bright with mischievousness,and she edged closer to him on the bed,the mattress barely shifting under her negligible weight. "You're hard not to watch."

"Is that right?"She was as attracted to him as he was to her,in spite of being a mutant?Good deal.

"You know it,you big tease,"she accused playfully,leaning closer."So,are you finally going to kiss me,or do I have to tackle you again?"

He almost laughed.God,she could be pretty audacious sometimes.Maybe that's why he liked her so much."You're the boss,"he replied,finally giving her the kiss he thought she deserved.

In the back of his mind,he knew this was wrong,and in the end they'd probably both end up paying for it if he didn't get up and leave right now.But honestly,he didn't want to leave anymore.

Izumo Takabe waited for the excuse,or perhaps even the punchline,but Dayu simply stood before his table,hands clasped before him,head hanging down,and said nothing.He looked like a prisoner humbly waiting for the executioner's axe to make its final swing.

It was a beautiful day,bright,sunny,the sky a flawless azure,and it promised to be unseasonable warm later on,so Izumo,patriarch of the Takabe crime family (although he preferred the innocuous term 'businessman'),had moved what business he could outside,to his balcony overlooking the bay.The water was the deep blue-black of an old bruise, constantly disturbed by the uneven winds and the movements of all the boats,from crude to grand.

They were high enough up that even if someone could hear over the traffic and harbor noises,all they'd hear would be fragments,syllables disconnected from one another by sheer volume and distance.And also there was his security, keeping a perimeter tighter than the lock on a miser's purse.

Dayu,his son,was the purported head of the security contingent,but last night's debacle had him questioning whether the idiot could even lead an expedition to find his own asshole with a flashlight and a map.

"How do you fire almost a hundred rounds and never hit your targets?"Izumo asked calmly.The umbrella built into the little white patio table protected him from the blindingly bright sunlight overhead,and left Dayu alone in its spotlight like glare.

"I swear,sir,we did hit one.It simply had no effect on him,"Dayu claimed,his voice low but tight,as if he was restraining himself from an angry outburst.He probably was,because he wasn't quite that stupid."No more than jumping out a four story window and landing on a hatchback did."

Izumo glanced down at some of the surveillance photos,which were so blurred and dark as to be useless,and pondered that.It might explain why that ugly gaijin was so damn good."Has he been seen in direct sunlight?"

Dayu did risk glancing up at him again,clearly startled."What?"

"I don't mean in the shade,or indoors,or in a car.I mean exposed to sunlight,directly in its path."

Dayu thought about it,clearly thinking his old man had finally gone insane.But he'd never be that lucky."I think so. Why?You're not saying he's a vampire,are you?"

"It was a possibility."

"Why would a vampire work for humans?"

Izumo shrugged,quietly amazed at the boy's continued stupidity."Even they will sometimes respond to money,fool.So he's not a vampire-he is clearly inhuman."

"So we can't kill him?"

Izumo shot an acrid look at the boy,scowling deeply.He must have taken after his mother,because he could never be that stupid."Even the inhuman can be killed.It's simply a question of finding out how.What we need to do is determine the type of beast he is."

"And we would do that how?"

"There are specialists in this matter,people who study the inhuman all their lives,"he replied,settling back in his chair,which creaked slightly under his weight.He thought he had just the person in mind for the job too.Watchers liked to think they were incorruptible,but if there was one thing he had learned,it was that everyone had their price. And if they had a price too dear,well,they always had a breaking point,a weakness to be exploited,and that was his personal field of expertise.

So the Yashidas wised up and got an inhuman to work for them?Fine.

Two could play that game.

Los Angeles-Present Day

It was the singing that was driving him bananas.