Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Behold the greatness that is LadyGemma's Avatar!
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject:
Howdy!
Just wanted to let anyone whose reading this fanfic that I'm probably not going to post another chapter until I finish it. I don't want to have any plot holes...at least not ones that are so big you could drive a truck through them.
I hope ya'll are enjoying it so far. Please feel free to let me know what you think.
Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Behold the greatness that is LadyGemma's Avatar!
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:
Disclaimer: I do not own ARASHI but IZZY and BERNIE are MINE. I've tried to be faithful to the Arashi timeline but it's highly doubtful I accomplished that. So please excuse any mistakes.
It's taking me a week and 1/2 to complete this. I hope ya'll like it.
If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to write them to me! I would love to hear what you guys think.
WARNING:
This is Rated R due to the use of the “F” word once. I deemed it necessary because Izzy was beyond upset.
If the use of hard language offends you, please do not read! Thank you!
Chapter Six:
REGRESS OF PROGRESS
November 25, 2005
I wasn’t surprised. I had told Jun to call Bernie and tell him he has right. That was a cue for Bernie to contact all the guys and get them out of their homes or wherever they were at the time and over to the temple. Sacred ground meant no vampires.
We had thought there was a chance that the Bakemono would come for any one of the guys, not just Ohno. They had to be desperate. They had orders from somewhere and it had been a week since the train attack. Someone was going to want results from them. They needed to lay on the pressure.
I wasn’t surprised that Jun, Ohno, Aiba, Sho and Nino looked incredible pissed off. I would be too if someone had called me in the middle of the night and dragged me out of bed.
I wasn’t surprised that Roman asked, “Where’s the pig’s blood?” One-track mind.
I was surprised by a mad Bernie. “I kept calling your cell. Why didn’t you answer? Jun said you chased Okada…you had to know it was a trap…he has like 50 Newlings following him. Why the hell did you do that alone without anything but a couple automatics? You’re not supposed to go out in the field without my knowledge.”
Maybe I could have handled it better but it been a long night and I hadn’t gotten any results. I was pissed off too!
“Bernie, shut it already. I’m here. I’m alive. I don’t need you on the cell phone commanding my every move.”
“Like hell.”
“Like hell yourself, peg leg. Leave me alone.” Cheap shot. Maybe I should apologize for that.
“You ran into a stupid trap! Didn’t you?” He yelled. Causing the other in the room to slowly back away from him and find other corners of the small living room to occupy.
“And? I came back out. Okada thought he was smarter than me. He was wrong.”
Bernie’s stopped yelling .“What did you find out then?” He was being unreasonably calm.
Damn. I felt deflated. I wanted to fight some more. It was like making out without the final result.
“I found out that when a hundred rounds hit a vampire he goes splat and poof.”
Bernie took off his glasses and pinched the area between his nose and forehead. A sure sign he was getting a headache.
“You killed him?”
“Yep.” I was feeling rather insolent like a teenager who had dented her father’s car but it wasn’t her fault. I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Roman or the other guys.
“And what did he tell you before you killed him? Because I assume you were able to extract some useful information, like who hired the Bakemono, who is trying to kill Ohno and Jun and the others…you did do that right?”
Bernie’s voice had gotten shriller near the end of his question. I felt stupid. Yeah, but screw it. I like a good fight. I just don’t like to fight Bernie.
“No. I didn’t. Don’t ever talk down to me. This is my operation. You do what I say, not the other way around. You don’t fucking like it, then leave.”
I tried to slam the door on my way out but it just smoothly closed with a soft thump of wood on wood. Damn it to hell…where’s a good old-fashioned metal screen door when you need one?
I could have handled it better. I feel like a piece of shit.
It was snowing. I had stayed in the garage the night before. There wasn’t enough room in the house for eight people. It had nothing to do with feeling embarrassed.
The Ducati had its tune up and I was working on mine. I needed to get some exercise. I had a small cot and some clothes stashed in the garage…just so I could sleep there to get away from Roman…so at 6 a.m. I decided to change into some sweats and go for a run.
A light snow had fallen over night and now the grounds were covered with a beautiful white skimming of snow and ice. The temperature was dropping slowly but I didn’t mind. Another light snow was beginning to fall.
I turned the north corner of the house to run the deer trail that was visible from the back of the house, and ran the perimeter of the temple grounds. I almost knocked Sho over.
“Good Morning.” He said in English as he bowed and carefully avoided my eyes.
“Morning. I was going to go for a run.” I wanted him to go away. He had on Bernie’s sweats so I knew he’d had plans of his own to exercise.
“Me too. I couldn’t sleep. It’s a good morning for—“
“ I take the trail there.” I interrupted, pointing to the woods and he nodded. “Okay, why don’t you join me.”
I started toward the deer trail. It might not be so bad. You couldn’t talk when you were running.
I’m a fast runner but slowed my pace a bit. Sho kept up. At some parts the trail wasn’t wide enough for two people side by side so Sho would drop behind me and keep pace. I was impressed. I picked up my speed. Sho did too.
I looked behind me at one point and realized Sho had stopped to catch his breath. Damn, he was fast though. Maybe he had some demon in him.
I fell back to check on him. He said he was fine, and we walked the last ½ mile back to the house. Stupid me. Walking gives people plenty of time to talk.
“The others…we want to know…I mean Bernie said our families would be safe without us there…probably safer but are you sure?”
“Yeah, as sure as anyone can be about anything.”
He didn’t seem impressed by my answer. Okay, time to take my own advice and stop the bullshit.
“Look Sho, your family will be safe. Everyone’s will. Bernie’s right. That whole thing last night was basically to get my attention. Without you guys around they’ll leave your families alone.”
I hesitated but asked anyway, “Bernie is still there huh? He didn’t leave?”
“Yeah, he’s there. He told us…..” Sho looked uncomfortable.
“Go on. You can tell me. I’m not going to go all hormonal teenager or anything.” Not again anyway.
Sho stopped and turned to me. “He said it was about time we knew some truths.”
“What about?”
“You.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Bernie said…well when you two started to yell at each other…you’re eyes looked like they were green…not your normal green but bright green and there was this feeling of static electricity, and your voice…”
His voice faded. I didn’t feel the need to make this easy on him. It was all a little close to home.
I could have just stepped in and said, “Yeah, I’m a half-breed. My Mom was raped by a demon, I don’t know what kind so I have no idea what evil lies inside of me. I have abnormal strength and speed. I can hear a mouse fart in the next town and I have night vision a cat would kill its mother and 7 siblings for. That’s only half of it.”
I’m a freak. I’m also alone. Except for Bernie and he’s only here because I feel guilty for not being able to protect him from a clan of tiger worshiping cannibals that captured him in India. The job doesn’t offer disability insurance..no AFLAC…but I would make sure he didn’t need anything for the rest of his life and that he never felt useless.
Man, is this really my life?
I hadn’t realized but Sho had spoken. He had in fact practically repeated back to me everything I had been thinking. Bernie had told them enough without telling them everything.
Sho stepped a little closer. “We were about to walk out and go to the police. Bernie felt he had to tell us; to try and make us understand. He also told us what happened to his leg. He said, he trusts you more than anyone else on the planet and we should do the same.”
Bastard. Not Sho, Bernie. If I cry in front of Sho I’ll take Bernie’s leg while he’s sleeping and hide it up in a tree. Who am I trying to fool…I don’t cry, ever.
“Let’s go.” I started to run back to the house. At the back door I paused and asked Sho, “So what’s the decision…do you trust me?”
Sho nodded, “We voted on it. If our families are safe and we are the descendents of five great yamabushi, then maybe this One Source is correct and you need us. We’ll help you if you want us too.” He paused. “Iz..we’ll have to give up a lot to do this. Bernie said we’d have to stay here until this is solved. Trying to explain this to our management team will be very difficult.”
I nodded,“We’ll help you figure that part out.” I opened the back door and started to take off my shoes, “Oh--and Sho, don’t call me Iz.”
I went through the kitchen and into Bernie’s room without knocking. Aiba and Ohno were there. Bernie was showing them something on one of his monitors. For some bizarre reason Aiba was jumping up and down, rubbing his hands together.
“Bernie.” I announced, “I’m going to the resort today. I think we should all go.”
“All of us? Even the vampire?” Bernie started to type away on his keyboard.
It bugs me but he’s usually one step ahead of me. I’d never him but I do need him.
“No. Roman will have to stay here. I don’t trust him at a resort filled with humans. At least he can stay out of trouble here. You and I can question Sato-san, look at the well and the guys can have a little R and R.”
“Okay I’m renting an SUV online and I’m sure my contact at the meat packing plant can deliver a 3 days supply of pigs blood before we leave…so that takes care of Roman.”
I looked at Ohno and Aiba who strangely enough were smiling at me. “I hope one of you can drive the SUV because I’m taking my Ducati. What? What!”
Bernie coughed to get my attention, “It’s Ohno’s birthday today. We were going to make other plans but I think this trip makes a perfect birthday present.”
“Oh, okay fine.” I started out the door and remembered something, “Let the others know that this little trip is work, so don’t get too comfortable. If you guys are going to help me; against my better judgement; you’ll have to begin some kind of training—oh and happy birthday.”
Bernie began to load his laptop with essential files. “That’s her way of saying I’m sorry for being an ass last night.”
Ohno asked, “What was the last part..she mumbled something…”
“I think she said, Happy Birthday,” Abia replied, “But it was kind of scary.”
Bernie confirmed what Aiba had heard. “She said Happy Birthday. She’s never wished me a happy birthday.”
Aiba pointed out to Bernie, “You never said you were sorry.”
*************************************************************
With the help of everyone, except Roman, the SUV, which had been dropped off at the temple gates earlier, was packed and everyone was ready to go by 9 a.m. I made sure Roman understood that he was suppose to keep his happy ass parked on the tatami mats in the living room, drink lots of blood and watch television until we got back in two days.
Clothing and other essentials for the guys had been sent for and delivered with out problem. After a few phone calls and a lot of lying Arashi’s management team, families and the public in general believed that the guys were on a short sabbatical to work on their next album. They needed a break from Tokyo and I was surprised to find that Arashi was gladly given it without much fuss.
I didn’t like the idea of training these guys to fight. It wasn’t something they should have to worry about; fighting evil…that was for people like me…the freaks of the world. I didn’t have a place in society. Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumoto, Kazunari Ninomiya, Sho Sakurai and Satoshi Ohno had places in proper society…not in the underworld.
Sho and Jun argued over who would get to drive the SUV. After a quick game of dekopin; Sho was in the driver’s seat, with Bernie as co-pilot. I maneuvered the Ducati in front of the SUV as point person and our odd group started off for the Kusatsu Onsen Resort.
*************************************************************
Chapter Seven:
LUCKY MAN
Webster’s Dictionary definitions of the word EVIL:
1 a : morally reprehensible : SINFUL, WICKED <an> b : arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct <a>
2 a archaic : INFERIOR b : causing discomfort or repulsion : OFFENSIVE <an> c : DISAGREEABLE <woke>
3 a : causing harm : PERNICIOUS <the> b : marked by misfortune : UNLUCKY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diary Entry from Unknown Person:
In a world filled with war, where governments are in power that decide who lives and who dies, in this world where children are born just to slowly die by starvation and the elderly are abandoned to die alone in their own filth; how do we decide that one particular person is evil.
Why is one person more evil than another? Who has the right to judge and who has the right to be the jury over one person’s right to exist? Even if that existence causes others pain and misery?
If killing just one person might-- no would--save a city or a country full of people; would you do it? What if in that city or country their lived at least dozens of other people who had done much worse things? Do you kill them too?
Does it ever stop?
I don’t know.
I don’t think she wants it to stop.
I think she likes it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 26,2005; Kusatsu Onsen Resort; 11:35 a.m.
“Sato-san is busy at the moment, but I’ll let him know you have checked in…with guests.” The front desk receptionist had been aware that an American named Izzy Montgomery would be arriving. Along with one guest. Now the resort’ staff was scrambling to find more rooms.
The attendant had been informed by Sato-san that Izzy should be treated as an honored guest, so more rooms were found quickly and she smiled the whole time. It was her job and she was good at it.
My plans were to walk the grounds, look at the well and talk to Sato-san. Aiba, Jun, Nino and Sho were going to take Ohno to a bathhouse and have some drinks for his birthday. Bernie wanted to set up his laptop and other equipment in his room. He said something about waiting for an important email; something the guys would like to see.
I would be on my own. I loved it. I felt like I could finally get something done.
“Izzy, if you’re going to walk around the grounds, can I come with you?”
It was Aiba.
“No.”
“Please. I won’t get in the way.”
“Don’t you have a birthday party to go to?”
“Yeah, later..you’ll join us, right?”
“No.”
Aiba stood in the lobby of the resort looking for all the world like a lost puppy.
“Geez…yes, come one but don’t slow me down. I’m still going to the birthday party though.”
And just like that he smiled. For a second I realized what those fan girls see in these young, 20-something pop stars. They have knock dead smiles that spread to their eyes and glow when they were happy.
I had been told once that my smile never made it to my eyes. Big Whoop.
**************************************************
Jiro Sato sat at his desk overlooking the bathhouses of his 4 star luxury resort. Mariko, the front desk attendant had been very happy to inform him that his special guest had arrived with 5 additional guests. Sato-san smiled.
It couldn’t be this easy? It couldn’t be? Izzy the Hunter had done for me what a whole gang of vampires couldn’t do…she has delivered Ohno Satoshi to my front door! Okiku was so pleased.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aiba kept his word. He wasn’t in the way and he stayed beside me as a walked around the bathhouses, main offices and hotels that the resort consisted of.
Aiba finally asked, “What are we looking for?”
“I’m looking for anything out of the ordinary.” I replied.
Ladies, who I assumed worked at the resort, were walking around wearing kimonos. The resort was pretty this time of year…not very green with vegetation but the stark brown of dead grass and the sharp white of newly fallen snow was very peaceful. I could see why this place had a reputation as a 4 star resort. Though something didn’t look right. Buildings needed painting, landscaping had been neglected and some bathhouses were empty; devoid of attendants or bathers. That was unusual. Sato-san wasn’t maintaining his resort to 4 star standards.
The well was situated behind the oldest bathhouse on the property. The building was still in use even though it was hundreds of years old.
“Did you know the waters have healing powers?” Aiba asked me.
“Uh huh.”
I went to the right of the building. The old well from the legend of Okiku was supposed to be situated about 500 yards from the rear.
“It’s been a hot springs for hundreds of years.” He continued.
“Uh huh.”
No one seemed to be inside the bathhouse.
“It was in the 1800’s that a German doctor working in the imperial palace recommended Kusatsu for its healing waters.”
“Uh huh.”
I started to walk to the back of the building, expecting to see the well in the distance.
Instead I saw 3 Japanese men and 2 female attendants in the hot springs behind the bathhouse.
“Japanese men and women often bath naked in the hot springs. Is that something out of the ordinary?”
“Uuh…Huuhh.”
There he goes smiling again. Damn happy smile.
*************************************************
We walked back to our rooms with Aiba smiling the entire way.
“I’m so glad my awkward attempt at apologizing to the naked guy I almost ran over amuses you so much.”
I unlocked my room as Aiba walked past me to the room further down the hall way. I made sure that our efficient receptionist, Mariko, had put the rooms next to each other.
“It was very funny. Thank you for an amusing walk around the resort.” He bowed to me, deeply from the waist.
Aiba quickly escaped into his room before I could throw my key at him. Apparently sarcasm doesn’t go over Aiba’s head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 25, 2020
Dear Reader:
I apologize for having to drag you out of this story but in my research regarding the life and legend that is Izzy, I have been fortunate to obtain written accounts of the events surrounding this story, from the point of view of Arashi. It would seem that all members of the now world famous members of Arashi had kept journals during their lives as members of the JPop group. Though I will not reveal how I came across these journals…I will keep my source private…I will assure you that these journal entries have been validated and there can be no doubt that they belong to the above mentioned group.
I felt seeing the events from their POV would be essential to understanding their actions later.
Having revealed myself, the editor of this tale, to you, the reader, I know realized I can no longer pretend that this is a work of fiction. I will not get into detail here but the tale you are reading did happen and Arashi did participate in the events unfolding before you.
Each Arashi POV is a selection of each of their journals and written in the third person, pertaining to each event. As you may have noticed earlier, I have dropped in a few journal entries already.
Thank you.
The Editor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 26, 2005 12:30 p.m.
I hadn’t accomplished much. It was frustrating. Now everyone was taking naps in their rooms. I don’t sleep much so I found myself thinking about Arashi. As part of setting up surveillance last week, I had dossiers of each guy made up. I knew as much as anyone about these professional young men. Some parts of their lives lay hidden in publicity department hell, but I didn’t need to know all the sorted details (I’m not interested in whose dating whom) I just needed the vitals.
How was I supposed to train these guys to fight? Maybe I’m not. Maybe I just need to trains them to keep themselves safe. If Jun is an indication, they have some fight in them that might stem from their yamabushi genes. Jun had something to fight for that night. The desire to protect his sister from Okada. If that is what it takes to bring out the dormant instinct of the yamabushi, then I have to find a trigger for each of them.
There was a knock at my room door.
Bernie didn’t wait for me to answer, he just let himself in.
“One of these days, you’re going to do that and get a nasty surprise.”
Bernie limped with the use of his cane to a low lying chair and eased himself down, “Why? Cuz, I might catch you in the nude?”
“No, because I might be in the nude and not alone.”
I couldn’t believe it! Bernie actually turned pink! “You’re blushing!” I exclaimed. “Your embarrassed! Hot damn, I actually embarrassed you!”
“Okay enough. I have to talk to you.”
His sudden serious behavior threw me off. I should have felt that something was wrong the moment he walked in the room.
I had been lying across the bed and at the tone of Bernie’s voice I sat up. “What’s up?”
“I finally received an email from Dr. Yamashita at Kyoto University. She’s the head of the History Department. Her passion is geneology. You remember her? She’s the one who help us with the history of the Oni in Mt. Fuji?”
I nodded.
“Well, what she found confirms what the One Source was referring to. Four of the five of them have a yamabushi in their family line.”
“Four?”
Aiba, Jun, Kazunari, and Sho’s ancestors either worked through the same temple, for the same samurai or both. Dr. Yamashita also found a strange tale of four yamabushi working for one samurai at the same time; something that just didn’t happen then. The yamabushi were primarily loners.”
“Huh.”
“It’s not unusual to find samurai, monks, priests or even demon-slayers in the average Japanese family tree from that time.” Bernie took off his glasses and started to clean them on the corner of his plaid shirt. “Here’s the big reveal…Satoshi’s ancestor is the samurai the four yamabushi were working for.”
“Oh.”
“Oh? Wow, you are the master of understatement, Iz.”
“I’m thinking.”
“It puts a whole bunch of credibility behind the notion that souls stick together century to century.” Bernie added.
“In this tale the Doc found…why were they working for this samurai? I would assume it’s for something special.”
“I’m working on that…or I should say Dr. Yamashita is…the manuscript she found didn’t have all the details…like the names of the yamabushi or the samurai but she found the manuscript in a library catalog filed under the Ninomiya family name. So that’s where Dr. Yamashita concluded it has direct significance. It’s just too much of a coincidence and I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Bernie sighed, “The hardest part is the names. Do you know how many Matsumoto’s are in Japan? This story might not be about our yamabushi but Dr. Yamashita seems 99% sure she’s on the right track.”
“I’m not interested in the names. I have all the info I need. I have one well, one hotel owner, one spirit, five yamabushi and a gang of Newlings. What does that add up to?”
Bernie groaned, “A complicated mess.”
“And,” I added, “A reason to talk to Sato-san before the night is over. The One Source didn’t want me to handle this without the yamabushi, why? Because way back when those ancestors and that samurai had something to do with that well and Okiku. Or what ever it is passing itself off as Okiku. I have my doubts we’re dealing with a spirit. Once upon a time maybe but certainly not now.”
“Now forward present day we have Ohno’s attempted attack and a gang of Newlings working for an unknown source, probably Sato-san. Plus Ohno is decedent from the samurai associated with the yamabushi. I think the samurai, Satoshi’s ancestor, probably hired the yamabushi to destroy whatever was in the well. Logically, it’s probably not the first time this “monster” has surfaced, causing trouble. In fact I bet your Doc finds Tessan Aoyama on the Ohno family tree.”
Bernie pushed his glasses up his nose, “It could be an immortal of some kind or a monster; they can live for decades. It would have to be one who only came back every few hundred years or so. Hell, it could be anything.”
Bernie’s eyes became large, “Wow, if that’s true then whatever is in that well is some serious evil to require four high level yamabushi to destroy it.”
“Yeah, well, apparently whatever they did, didn’t work. It’s back and I’m pretty sure it wants Ohno.”
I got up and started to take my shirt off.
“Woah!” Bernie struggled to get up and cover his eyes at the same time.
“I warned you.”
“Gawd, Izzy, don’t do that to a cripple. It’s only my left leg that doesn’t work.”
I put my shirt back down over my head.
What did he mean by that?
Bernie looked like he had said more than he had wanted to. Awkward.
He cleared his throat and started to open my door, “Okay, well, I’m going to get my jacket.”
“You’re not going with me to see Sato-san”.
“Why not?”
“Don’t you have a birthday party to go to?”
“This is a little more important.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m just going to have a talk with Sato-san. He’ll tell me what is in that well and why and we’ll move on from there.”
Bernie raised his eyebrow, “That simple, huh?”
“It is for me.” I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring look, “Just go have fun for both of us.”
“Too bad you aren’t going. It should be fun. I told the guys you wouldn’t go. You don’t do social situations.” Bernie started to close the door. “For what it’s worth we’re not bathing nude. Swim trucks required.”
He left with that remark hanging in the air.
I’m social! I’ve been to parties! Haven’t I? Well maybe not since I was 16 years old and that incident at Brandi Muellers Sweet Sixteen party. Her father found me in their garage with his electric carving knife in one hand and the head of a hellhound in the other.
Mr. Mueller told the foster family I was staying with that I’d mutilated a dog…police were involved and electro-shock therapy…it was messy-- in more ways than one. Yah, now I remember why I hate birthday parties.
******************************************************
THAT SAME DAY; AROUND NOON.
Aiba couldn’t wait to tell the others about Izzy’s encounter with the nude businessman. He liked Izzy. She had this hard exterior but he believed she was a good person.
Ohno laughed so hard at Aiba’s story that he fell off the bed.
“Did the nude man stick to her leather pants?” He laughed uproariously.
“She wasn’t in leather.” Aiba correctly. “Bernie says she only dresses like that when’s she’s working.”
“On the hunt.” Jun corrected Aiba, the asked, “Hey, who’s swim trunks are these?”
Nino grabbed the blue and yellow trucks out of Jun’s hand. “Mine.”
“I still can’t believe she’s half demon.” Sho interjected over Ohno’s laughter.
Ohno’s laughtered died down, he picked himself off the floor and said, “I can’t either. She looks normal.”
Jun smiled, “Yes, she looks very normal. Very, very normal.” Jun did the universal hand jester of the hourglass shape.
Sho nodded, “Yeah, but I wonder how old she is?”
“Well,” Nino said, “Bernie told me she’s older than we would think.”
“She looks around our age. Maybe twenty-five.” Ohno said as he searched through his duffle bag for his swim trunks. “But she acts much older.”
Jun smiled to himself. “I like older women.”
“Hey,” Aiba pondered, “Bernie told us Izzy’s past is mysterious and no one really knows her. If she’s so secretive, how does he know so much about her?”
They looked at each other; no one knowing the answer and each shrugged in confusion.
Sho yawned. “I’m tired. That run this morning almost killed me.”
They all agreed that they hadn’t sleep last night so a nap was a good idea.
*************************************************************
November 27, 2005; 6 p.m.
I changed into my “work” clothes. As night approached I prepared myself for the hunt. I knew Sato-san was avoiding me but I had a suspicion he would be somewhere close by watching Ohno tonight.
I tried not to laugh but the guys kept insisting they wanted to go with me…at least that’s what they said, but the yukatas they were wearing over their swim trucks said something else.
“Go to the bathhouse tonight. I don’t need help with this. This isn’t what the One Source was talking about.”
They were about to disagree but I gave them a look and that ended the conversation.
Night had set and I came out to play. The resort was lit with fairy lights and lanterns. Magical some might call it. I’d call it that too if I didn’t have such an aversion to magic. That’s a long story for another time.
Sato-sans office was the in the newest building on the resort property. Mariko, the helpful little receptionist that she was, even told me which floor I could find her bosses office. Before I confronted him I wanted to search his office. Sometimes, no matter how
other-worldly these things got, it all came down to someone calling the local police. I wanted something to show that Jiro Sato had been way too interested in Ohno. Something to keep my butt out of a Japanese jail if necessary.
Usually Bernie handled this but I wanted him to have some fun.
Okay, guilt complex again. Plus that little scene in my room today—I just don’t know what to think. I’m probably making more out of it then necessary. He was only joking. He wasn’t trying to imply that he thought of me sexually—right?
It didn’t take much to hack into Sato-san’s computer and find a list of emails to Okada and to my surprise, even an attempt to contact a famous yakuza family in Tokyo. All mentioning outright or subtly Ohno or Arashi. His internet searches consisted of research on the Story of Okiku and his MS Word contained a few hastily written passages about Okiku, a samurai and the pain of being wronged. I supposed it was his attempt at fiction. The poor dumb guy had given me more than enough to put him away for life.
My butt was covered so I left the office building to find Sato-san and do what I do best. Hunt the evil.
*************************************************************
Chapter Eight
W/ ME
November 27, 2005; 7:15 p.m.
It took about 25 minutes to climb the hills behind the resort and find a spot overlooking the back of the resort. I heard Bernie and the others before I saw them. They were inside the bathhouse, joking around and ordering sake. I was hoping they would have chosen to use the hot spring located outside the bathhouse; it would have been easier for me to keep an eye on them.
Sato-san stood near the bathhouse in the shadows. Close enough to hear what was going on but not close enough to be seen.
So, he wasn’t going to make a move tonight. Just eavesdrop?
I may have good night vision but a blind person could have smelled the fear and anxiety coming from Sato-san. I could smell a little bit of excitement too.
He’s dangerous like this.
I crouched by a tree, settling in for the night. It sounded like the guys were having fun.
I felt a little lonely. Yeah, well, no big deal. I was here to work not play. Besides, how much fun can it be to hang around a bunch of sake soaked men in a bathhouse?
Just then five nude pop stars ran from the interior of the bathhouse to the hot springs outside. Each jumping in, yelling at the top of their lungs.
Woah…nudity…manly nudity. Huh.
I was momentarily distracted. Sato-san had disappeared from his spot in the shadows.
I couldn’t see him and I couldn’t hear him. He was gone.
I turned my attention back to the nude guys. Bernie had joined them while I had been thinking about Sato-san.
Thank the lord! I did not want to see Bernie naked! That would have been really awkward the next time I saw him.
Sato-san was gone. I knew I should go to the well. He had to be there and maybe I could find out what was in that well that obviously had a hold over him.
But first…I’m feeling a little naughty…
They never heard me coming. They had no reason to believe that someone…especially me…would be coming from the mountains behind the resort. The lantern lights from the bathhouse didn’t reach out into the darkness. My ascent was quiet and quick. I had planned to just walk through, maybe say hello and walk out the front door. I could picture the looks on their faces!
Well, I had planned that but Nino’s voice stopped me and I hid in the dark listening.
“It’s too bad Izzy isn’t here but if she had come, we wouldn’t have been able to undress.”
Bernie snorted, “That wouldn’t have stopped Izzy from getting undressed.”
Jun cocked his head to the side, as if thinking about Bernie’s comment.
“This feels good.” Aiba stretched his arms over his head and sighed, “Hey Bernie, I was wondering, how do you know so much about Izzy?”
“Oh, well that goes back to the day she rescued me from being eaten alive.”
The other guys had been told before how I had been hired by Bombay University to guard an anthropologist who was being threatened by a superstitious cult of tiger worshippers. I hadn’t taken it too seriously. The university didn’t take me too seriously either. I suppose I was just a mercenary for hire and at the time, I really wasn’t much more than that. I was aware of what I was, and every day more new “skills” appeared. I hadn’t yet decided what to do with them.
“It happened over a year ago.” Bernie continued, “I was working with the anthropologist in the field. I did a lot of hands on work then. Digging and such. Well, I told you guys all that before but to make a long story short. After Izzy saved me and I was in a hospital in Bombay recovering, she paid me a visit.”
Bernie took a sip of his sake. “She was wearing black leather of all things. It was hot as hell too.” He smiled, “I mean the weather was hot, it was summer in India..not that Izzy was looking hot.”
The guys laughed and I found myself smiling. He’s had too much sake. He could never hold his liquor.
“I just wanted to thank her for saving me but she took one look at my amputated leg and asked, “Are you any good with computers?”
“That’s all it took. I was working for Izzy. She had some money…payment from other jobs she said, and she moved us to Manhattan.”
Bernie was sitting in the hot springs next to Aiba. He turned to look at him, “But to answer your question Aiba; I told Izzy I would only work for her if she told me who she was. She couldn’t leave anything out. So I know everything about her.
Well, just about everything. She agreed to divulge everything except her mother’s real name. Montgomery isn’t Izzy’s last name. She just made that up. In fact her first name is Isabella. Don’t tell her I told you guys that.”
They all became quiet for a moment; digesting the information.
“You care a lot for her, don’t you?” Jun asked almost in a whisper.
I realized I stood frozen in my hiding place among the trees. Listening hard. I wanted to know the answer.
Bernie answered, “Yes.”
Jun questioned him again, “Do you love her?”
I left without hearing the answer. I wasn’t afraid he’d say yes. I was afraid he’d say no.
I’m such a chicken shit.
******************************************************
The hot springs were relaxing, the sake was warming and the nudity just made Bernie, Jun, Aiba, Ohno, Nino and Sho drop their inhibitions. They talked about their lives, their loves, music, vampires, the future and Izzy.
“Yes. I love her.” Bernie answered. “But I’m not under any delusions. She’s not capable of loving anyone. Not now. She has a lot of personal demons..no pun attended…to deal with.”
Jun took a sip of sake. That wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear but he pretty much knew that was the answer he was going to get.
Ohno frowned, “She’s special. Not just because she’s half demon. She could have done anything but she chose to help people.”
Bernie laughed, “Well, yeah, but she’s got an agenda. She wants to find out who she is. I think she wants to single handedly clear out the underworld until only that one demon is left; that one demon who raped her mother. But first she has to find out what kind of demon it was.”
Nino looked puzzled. He closed his eyes and pictured Izzy the day she walked into their office and completely changed their lives. “Why didn’t she just ask her mother what the demon looked like?”
“I suppose she would have if she had known her mother.” Bernie replied. “Her mom died when she was 3 years old. She doesn’t remember it but that’s what she was told. Izzy grew up in foster care in the United States and when she was 16 years old she ran away.”
The sake loosened Bernie’s tongue, “Being with her for more than a year, I’ve discovered that Izzy has two personalities; a good one and a not so good, but not really evil one. I’m not saying she’s crazy or anything like that; just that there is the human side that wants to be normal and hates being different and the demon side that enjoys being all the things that entails.”
Nino still looked puzzled, “Wait a minute…how did she find out her mother was raped by a demon?”
Bernie squirmed, “Look guys, I’d like to tell you but I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone about her past. I probably shouldn’t have told you this much but I know I can trust you.”
Aiba shook his head. “She doesn’t have any family?”
“No, not that I know of. She forbid me from looking into it.” Bernie said. “That reminds me. I have some interesting news.”
Bernie told them about Dr. Yamashita’s genealogy research.
After Bernie finished, Nino said, “Sho pass me the sake, please. I really need a drink.” Nino took the bottle from Sho with a nod of thanks.
Each of them thought about what it meant to be a yamabushi and for Ohno a samurai. If they still carried those instincts within them, how would they use them in their lives now?
Ohno lowered himself into the water, up to his chin. “I didn’t know I had a samurai ancestor.” He quickly sat up, “Hey, does this mean the resort belonged to my family?”
Bernie shook his head, “No, sorry. The land over the other side of the mountain was owned by your ancestor but only a few square miles of the land the resort is on today ever belonged to your family. Presently, the Ohno family has no claim to any of it.”
“Ah” Ohno sank back into the water.
Then tiny gas bubble broke the surface of the water.
“O-chan!”
“Excuse me.” He explained, “Sake gives me gas.”
*************************************************
I ran. I had to get to the well. I had wasted too much time. All of it. The trip to Japan was becoming a huge waste of time. I had to finish this. I don’t care about Arashi. I don’t care if they have demon slayers for ancestors. I didn’t need all this. This was just one big pile of bullshit. I didn’t love Bernie like that; he’s family.
Then a Newling, from the Bakemono gang by the look of his yellow and black jacket, dropped down in front of me.
Another appeared around the corner . The small courtyard in front of the bathhouse was peppered with Newlings.
What the hell?!
I revealed my katana and with a look, I dared them to move. They dared. Good.
Not being the brightest vamps in the world they rushed me all at once. I jumped up to the roof of the bathhouse and to my amusement I watched as several Newlings ran into each other.
I didn’t laugh long though. Two vamps, jumped onto the roof as well ,one in front and one in back of me. They were prepared and pulled out Wakizashi’s of their own.
Now let’s see if they know how to use them.
With a low quick swing I brought the bloodsucker in front of me to his knees without killing him. The one behind me tried to cleave me over the head but I brought up my katana and pierced him through the heart. He went up in a cloud of ash. I then swung the katana sideways and took the head of the vamp in front.
Poof. All gone.
With the noise of the fight on the roof and the Newlings below yelling and jumping on the roof to kill me, we made a hell of a racket.
The men and women in the bathhouse came running out; and of course the screaming began.
“I’ve been thinking about what kind of monster or demon might be using the whole story of Okiku to do its work—“ Bernie began, then he was interrupted by a chorus of screams.
Bernie tried to stop Arashi from jumping out of the hot springs and into their yukata.
He knew that if there were screams then Izzy was involved. She could handle whatever was going on but then Bernie found himself tying up his yukata, grabbing his cane and limping to the scene of action.
When Nino and the others reached the grounds of the bathhouse, where the screaming originated, he vaguely thought, ‘For some reason, I’m not shocked.’
A vampire with a knife in his chest fell in front of him and went up in ashes. Nino just shrugged, picked up the knife and forced it into the heart of another vampire.
He looked around him quickly and noticed that the others, Bernie included, had grabbed whatever they could find and were keeping the vampires away from the frightened guests.
Lamely, Jun looked down at and the broom he held. What am I going to do, sweep them to death? He looked up to see Izzy, sword to sword with a vampire, “Break the handle! Use it to stake them!” she ordered.
Jun nodded, brought the handle over his knee and screamed. “Damn, that hurts! Ow, Ow!”
Running past Jun, with a tree limb in his hand, was Sho. He grabbed the broom from Jun broke the handle in two and handed it back to him with a smile.
Showoff. Jun smirked.
The five friends found themselves back to back against five vampires. Bernie had hustled all the guest from the scene of danger and Izzy was fighting off a dozen of the Bakemono herself. Ohno looked in astonishment as Izzy pulled out two knives from her left boot. She swung her katana and cut the heads off two vampires behind her and threw the knives at two vamps to her left.
Ohno would have felt better if he’d had a weapon. Jun had his pointed wooden handle, Sho a jagged looking tree limb, Nino held a knife that had to have been Izzy’s, and Aiba brandished a metal rod that had been used to hang wet clothes.
Suddenly, the vampire in front of Ohno disappeared into dust and a sword landed hilt up between his feet. “Under and up and watch the ribs.” Izzy ordered. Another unwitting vampire took the other’s place and faced off against Ohno.
Ohno pulled the short sword from the earth. It was smaller than Izzy’s katana but lethal looking.
The screams had been replaced with the sound of steel on steel as Izzy fought with her opponents.
“Can you guys believe this?” Sho asked his friends.
“No.” Nino replied. “But I’ll think about it in the morning.”
Then they each found themselves, tooth to fang with an enemy.
************************************************
I could have finished those Newlings off quickly but a sadistic side of me waited and watched.
When Jun, Aiba, Nino, Sho, Ohno and Bernie showed up I almost pissed myself.
I couldn’t protect THEM, the screaming bathers, AND kill a couple of dozen vamps. Someone was going to get hurt and damn it I didn’t want it to be them.
I threw one of my daggers at a vamp who had ran for Nino and was floored when Nino quickly picked up the dagger and used it to dust another vamp.
Then each of them armed themselves. Bernie did crowd control and when the area was clear of people I took a second to watch the yamabushi in action.
They stood in a circle, each protecting the others back. Ohno was without a weapon so I threw the only thing I had, a Wakizashi sword, that use to belong to a vampire. He held it like a natural.
I wanted to believe that any hidden sense of the warrior would come through. Jun had proved he had a fighting spirit when he attacked Okada, but one restrained vamp was totally different than five Newlings desperate to ripe their throats out.
I don’t say this often about anybody or anything. I’m full of sarcasm and bull; mostly I keep it to myself, but what I saw that night made me believe in reincarnation.
Whether each young man had his ancestors spirit fighting in him or maybe it was the years of experience in dancing and performing that made them look quick and made them move swift…I don’t know. I never asked.
Nino came in low and slashed the stomach of the vampire in front of him, the vampire jumped back and tried to get better ground but Nino didn’t let up. He came in again, dagger raised to his waist he jabbed in from the right, piercing the undead heart. Expertly missing any ribs.
Aiba grasped his iron pole parallel to the ground. He held it close to his body. The vamp made the first move and Aiba rapidly brought the rod up to meet the vamp in the stomache. The Bakemono gasped and stumbled backward. Aiba then took a hold of the rod near the bottom and brought it up like a baseball bat and cracked it over the vamps head. The vampire went face down into the dirt and Aiba staked him through the back; finishing his opponent off in whisp of dust.
The vampire that Sho was faced off against was a good 10 inches taller. Sho summed up the situation and realized that if he came in low the vampire would find it hard to make contact. The Newling backed away. He could see Sho grip the tree limb like a sword. Sho didn’t move but kept eye contact with his enemy. The tree limb had long shagged edges, perfect for stabbing. Sho moved his left foot and the Newling growled. Sho moved his right foot forward an inch. The vamp snarled. Sho stopped, lowered his weapon and gave a crooked smile.
I wanted to scream, “Don’t get cocky kid. Newlings may be the dumbest vamps on the block but their still faster then you.”
I wanted to scream that but I didn’t have a chance. I blinked, the vamp ran for Sho and Sho brought his tree limb up and under the gang vamps chin, piercing his brain. Poof went the vamp.
Jun twirled his broom handle like a baton. Looking for all the world like he was bored. His body language yelled, “I could care less.” And the vamp was pretty pissed off by that.
The Newling tried to circle around Jun to separate him further from the others but Jun just kept pace, following the vamps every move. The vamp feinted to his left and Jun swiftly and painfully brought the handle down across his head. The vamp yelped and jumped back. Jun twirled the handle again and tossed it to his left hand. The bloodsucker jumped. He was probably trying to come down on top of him but Jun grabbed the first thing that came into view…his head. He pushed the vamp back, brought the pointed end of the handle forward and rammed it home. Then the conceited bastard had the nerve to look for me, give me a crocked little “shit eaten” grin and wink.
Ohno held the Tanto like a samurai with a katana. He kept his body slightly turned using his arms to protect his chest. The blade was a mere hairs breath from his check. His eyes, locked onto his enemies. The Newling had no idea he was facing the descendant of a samurai. An ancestor who had found its way home.
This Newling though seemed smarter than the others. He watched Ohno, trying to anticipate his next move. Smart or not the vamp never could have anticipated Ohno scream of fury. A deep, throaty scream of a warrior sprang from his throat, stopping the vamp; stopping me, stopping his friends who had dispatched their adversaries’ seconds before. The vamp hesitated. His eyes darted sideways;looking for an exit. He’d smartly realized that Ohno may not be a victim afterall.
But Ohno knowing his prey had let down its guard ran forward, sword back, yelling with fire and fury. The vamp couldn’t have gotten away if he’d tried. I can only describe it as Woosh, Slice, Thump and Poof.
Ohno with sword still raised, kneeling on the ground, surrounded by a rain of vampire dust, looked up at me. For the first time in my life…someone gave ME the chills.
This all happened at once…one, two, three, four, five…all warriors fought…all enemies
died.
*******************************************************
I don’t think I could do anything for about five seconds but stare at them. I wasn’t seeing Arashi…I wasn’t seeing a Jpop group…I wasn’t even seeing the five guys who’ve seemed to have irritated me since I came to Japan…They were demon slayers and a samurai.
Okay, maybe the One Source was right.
“Stay here. Find Bernie, help him with the guests. Someone’s is probably dying to call the police.” I commanded.
Nino and Aiba each put an arm under Ohno and helped him off the ground. I could tell by the look Ohno was giving me that he wanted to argue my command.
“No arguments. Just help Bernie. I can take care of Sato-san. He sent those damn newlings to delay me and probably to get to you.” I walked over and took the short sword from him. He had a tight grip on the hilt. “You did good Satoshi.”
I ran leaving them to help Bernie with the frantic guests.
At the entrance to the hotel, Aiba, Ohno, Jun, Sho and Nino found the bathers but not Bernie.
One old man who had been standing next to Bernie when he had gathered everyone from the courtyard and escorted them toward the hotel told Jun that the young American with a cane had said, something he couldn’t make out and left; limping quickly toward the west.
Sho’s voice sounded weak as he asked, ”Isn’t the well to the west of the hotel?”
Izzy had been correct in assuming that someone would call the police. Aiba could hear several older people demanding to use the receptionists’ phone to notify the authorities. A hapless, young woman stood behind the check-in counter trying to calm everyone.
“Where’s Mariko?” Aiba wondered out loud. “She seems good at handling emergencies.”
Nino shrugged, “I don’t know. We can stay and help out here or…”
Of all the scenarios that flashed through my mind while I ran to the well; this wasn’t one of them.
I found Sato-san on the ground, unconscious. The well was lit with a yellow and crimson light that emanated from the dry well. The cement slab that had covered the well was lying in pieces around the area as if it had exploded.
In the center of the well floated Mariko, with Bernie’s neck in her hands. She was a Rokurokubi; her long stretched neck gave her away as a monster that looked perfectly normal during the day but at night they sought out their prey, usually men, with their long necks, so they could suck on their life force.
She was dressed in a traditional kimono, looking every bit like the picture of Okiku Bernie had shown me. But instead of crying in her sleeve she was about to break Bernie’s neck.
Mariko never looked up but she knew I was there. “I don’t want him. I want Tessan Aoyama.”
“Your about 500 years too late. He’s dead…but you know that.”
“I want the body he occupies now. Give me Kyo Ohno. He can not…” She sobbed and tightened her hands around Bernie’s neck,”He has tried to kill me twice but this time I will have him.”
“Your confused, honey. He’s dead too. Long dead.” Kyo Ohno, must be the samurai who hired the yamabushi to kill her last time.
Bernie didn’t have time for this…he was turning blue. I raised my katana and charged her. I hoped I could run faster than she could squeeze.
“NOOOOO!” Mariko screamed or was it me?
***********************************************
They arrived at the well with no weapons but the knife Nino still carried.
They wouldn’t need it though. There wasn’t anything they could do.
They were beyond shocked to see Mariko floating above the well with Bernie in her hands. He appeared unconscious and dangled from her hands like a rag doll. Izzy, had ran head first into Mariko and Bernie sending them all toppling into the well.
They were too late. They couldn’t do anything….then a scream rose from the well.
It was Izzy.
The reality of what they saw hit them hard when they heard Izzy’s scream. They ran toward the well; Nino reaching it first.
“Their alive…Izzy has Bernie.”
There about a yard from the top of the well hung Izzy. In her left hand she held onto her katana that was stuck into the wall of the well, in her right hand she held Bernie’s limp body by his left arm.
Amid the voices of Nino and Aiba shouting down to Izzy, Jun yelled for Sho to help him find something to reach them..a rope…a tree limb…something.
“She’s coming!” yelled Izzy.
Then they saw Mariko/Okiku..her neck stretched up from the bottom of the well. Her face twisted into anger and evil.
Her scream reached out through the well and into the night. Startling the five friends.
Bernie stirred. He had lost his glasses during the fall and when he regained consciousness he blinked momentarily unsure of where he was. “It’s okay Bernie. I’ve got you. I won’t let you go.” Izzy reassured him.
The monster who now occupied Mariko’s body, used its long neck and head to shoot up through the well and out into the air. She screamed and looked down into the stunned faces of Arashi.
“Mine! My revenge!” She exclaimed.
Ohno knew her. The shared memories of his family flashed back hundreds of years. He saw the maid Okiku and later through different eyes, he saw another young maid. Okiku was going to marry him but then she disappeared. One day she returned, not herself but full of anger and she tried to kill him. It was a mess of memories and thoughts, not Ohno’s, exploding around in his mind. Tessan Aoyama had to kill Okiku and then he buried her body in the well, away from his home. But Kyo Ohno had also fallen in love with a beautiful maiden years later; only to discover her floating above the well; crying and screaming in rage. She was not a woman but a demon. Kyo Ohno, hired the four greatest yamabushi in the land to help him kill the monster and seal her off in the well forever.
It hadn’t worked. She was back.
Izzy, letting go of the katana grabbed the monsters neck and pulled hard, forcing the it to dive down into the well again. In the blink of an eye Izzy grabbed the katana once again but the force of the movement stirred the katana that had been wedged into the stones of wall. Her grasped on Bernie’s arm slid an inch. Bernie looked up into Izzy’s eyes.
“I’ve got you!” Izzy told him again.
The Rokurokubi’s head hit the sides of the wall as it flew back down. It was a momentary delay but maybe enough.
Jun and Sho grabbing towels from the bathhouse, ran back to the well. Frantically they began to tie the towels together.
Ohno yelled into the well, “We’ve got it. Just another second, Izzy.”
A scream of rage could be heard coming from the well and one name,
“S-a-a-t-o-o-sh-iii!
Izzy and Bernie were now in the monsters way. They weren’t important and needed to be removed. The neck climbed up and around Bernie’s leg. Her first tug was startling. Izzy’s fingers slipped on her katana.
Nino and Aiba watched in horror as the katana began to come loose from the wall.
“The towels..now!” shouted Nino grabbing the rope of white bath towels. They all took hold of the life line.
“Here!” Nino yelled.
Swiftly, with the strength and reflexes of her demon birth Izzy, released the katana and grabbed the towels. The katana dropped and landed precariously on a small outcrop of stones inches from Bernie’s head. Reaching deep within her reserve she lifted Bernie until he could reach her waist. “Grab onto me, Bernie.”
The monster pulled furiously, determined to drop Bernie and Izzy into the well and to their deaths.
Heaving with every muscle they possessed the five young friends held on to the rope, desperately trying not to topple into the well.
The Rokurokubi pulled again. Bernie slipped down Izzy’s waist. Izzy let one hand off the rope reaching around for Bernie, her hand slipping and she pleaded, “Don’t let go, don’t let go…”
Bernie smiled, “No guilt trips over this one.”
Then he let go.
***********************************************
It’s like slow motion in the movies.
That’s the stupid thought that went through my head when Bernie fell.
He smiled. Grabbing the katana as he tumbled, and with more skill then I could ever hope to possess, he sliced through the Rokurokubi neck.
They both fell in slow motion, just like in the movies. Oh God.
******************************************************
There was a sudden release from below and Izzy was pulled over the edge of the well, into Nino’s arms.
“God, no…” Izzy pushed Nino away and grabbed the well.
“Bernie…” Aiba dumbly whispered.
Izzy looked around the ground, found the makeshift rope and shoved it into Ohno’s hands, “Here help me …Bernie’s down there.” She frantically started to tie the towels around her waist.
“No.” Ohno ripped the rope from her hands.”He’s gone. We won’t let you die too.”
Nino, who had been in front, looking over the well, saw Bernie let go and take Mariko’s head when he fell.
“He saved us.” Nino said to Izzy. “He did it to save you.” He reached to put a comforting hand on Izzy’s arm.
“Don’t.” she hissed, her eyes glowing, “Don’t touch me.”
She dropped to her knees, gripping the edge of the well.
They watched helplessly with tears falling from their eyes as Izzy laid her forehead on the stone.
“Why?” Was all she said.
*****************************************************
The police came.
Sato-san regained consciousness in time to realize that he was in trouble. He ran from the well and into the waiting handcuffs of the local police.
Later, Ohno informed the police to check Sato-san’s computer. A useful piece of information Izzy had given him. Sato-san was arrested on stalking charges and put in institutional custody. Doctors advised that he was too delusional to stand trial.
The ten elderly guests, who had seen a woman in black leather and five young men wearing yukata fight off a gang of vampires, gave the same statement to the police—there must have been a gas leak in the bathhouse, they couldn’t remember a thing. The police tried to tell them that the hot springs were natural…no gas involved. They stuck to their story though. Those nice boys from Arashi certainly didn’t cause any trouble, the elderly people insisted.
The police did not investigate the well. Why would they? There was no reason. The lead detective had been called to the resort when it was determined that the local cops needed help. Detective-Sergeant Inoue had a 14 year old daughter who loved Arashi. After a few autographs and pictures the detective sent the police away and left Arashi at the resort.
Jun stood watching Izzy. She hadn’t moved from the well in hours. The sun was about to rise and they needed to leave. They needed to remove Bernie’s body.
Izzy suddenly stood and walked around the well, heading toward the valley. She took few steps and stopped, “Don’t follow me, Jun.”
At the bottom of the valley Izzy stopped. Hot spring water could be seen bubbling to the surface here and there, collecting into hot water pools and running down the valley in warm streams before joining the central mountain stream. There is also a small waterfall fed by hot water. Izzy sat in front of the waterfall.
“I told you not to follow me.”
Jun knew she shouldn’t be alone. Even if she didn’t.
“I don’t always do what I’m told.” Jun sat down next to her. He was still wearing his yukata.
“Go away.”
The sun rose over the mountains; slowly warming the earth. In the daylight it was impossible to imagine a monster lay dead at the bottom of the well. Or that Bernie was with her.
“We have to remove…Bernie…from the well.” Izzy studdered.
“It’s being done now.” Jun answered. Izzy looked at him with glowing eyes. “Ohno, Aiba and Sho are going to go down the well. Nino is packing his belongings.”
“They shouldn’t go down there. They shouldn’t…”
Jun reached over and squeezed her freezing white hand. “It’s okay. You can cry.”
She snorted, shocking Jun with the noise. “I don’t cry.”
“I do.”
Izzy looked into Jun’s face, surprised to see a single tear slide down his check and fall onto his lap.
“I liked Bernie. He was cool. He liked our music and he wanted to…”
“Shut up!” Izzy yelled fiercely. “Stop talking about him like he’s….”
“Gone.”
Izzy covered her mouth with her hand, “Gone.” She whispered.
Jun held her tight against his chest while she cried. And like everything else she did…she did it with every ounce of energy in her.
*************************************************************
Chapter Ten:
A DAY IN OUR LIFE
December 7, 2005; Sengakuji Temple; 2 a.m.
I should have left Japan a week ago. Bernie had been buried on the temple grounds thanks to Ito-san. He had insisted it would be an honor and with some string pulling the local government had agreed. Like the 47 Ronin who were buried at the temple, he had sacrificed himself for his leader.
Ito-san’s words not mine.
Jun, Aiba, Ohno, Sho and Nino came to the funeral service. Bernie’s body was laid in front of the temple alter and a wooden tablet was inscribed with his name and placed on the altar. Michael Bernard Ross.
I hadn’t spoken to anyone at the funeral and I left before it was over.
I dreamt of Bernie that night. He stood at the foot of my bed, he said something but I couldn’t hear him. I never dream.
Then at 2 a.m. this morning Bernie’s blackberry buzzed. He had an email. Since coming back from Kunsatsu Onsen I hadn’t unpacked Bernie’s laptop and I kept his computer off. I knew I hadn’t touched his blackberry.
It was an email from the One Source.
ONE SOURCE
[onesource@xxxxx.net]
Izzy,
Word has reached me that Bernie has passed. I wish to tell you how sorry I am and that I will miss him.
This is not something I could have foreseen. It was a moment of his choosing.
Sincerely,
Μια πηγή
I don’t know why but a found myself flipping through Bernie’s email. He had addresses for Aiba, Sho, Jun, Nino and Ohno.
I turned it off and threw it on the bed.
I had kicked Roman out, letting him to his own devices. No one would be after him now since the Bakemono were still fighting over who would be leader of what was left of the gang and Sato-san was in a mental hospital.
Roman gladly let me drive him off the temple property. Before he left he said, “Bernie was okay. Puede él encuentra paz.” (May he find peace.)
Right…peace.
Peace for the dead. What about the living?
**************************************************
December 14, 2005; JStorm studios; 8:15 p.m.
The five young men who made up the pop group called Arashi sat around the set of their studio. They had called it a night, and another episode of G NO ARASHI was wrapped.
Life for Arashi had picked up right where it had stopped. Aiba had said once that he was amazed so much had happened in a matter of weeks.
Jun called Izzy ever day. She continued to ignore his call. Jun and Ohno had driven past the house on the temple grounds but Izzy hadn’t been there.
Sho told the guys that he was positive he’d seen Roman the vampire at Ginza but he had disappeared when Sho called his name.
The studio was slowly empting of JStorm employees and personnel. All expect Arashi. They sat in their chairs, none of them feeling up to leaving. Like most days when they were all together they started to talk about Bernie and Izzy.
**************************************************
December 20, 2005; Sengakuji Temple; 2 a.m.
I saw him again. At the foot of my bed. He was yelling something. I couldn’t hear him.
I hate dreams.
*************************************************************
December 24, 2005; 10:45 p.m.; Tobu Railway Line
Ohno hadn’t taken the train home since that night with Roman and Izzy. Tonight was his first time in weeks. He had been sharing a ride with Aiba but today was Aiba’s birthday and after a small celebration at the studio with his friends, Aiba had taken a taxi and headed home for another party with his family.
As habit dictated Ohno sat with his arms crossed across his chest. Just in case.
The train made its stops and emptied its compartments of passengers. Ohno found himself in a near empty compartment. There was only him, and a young man in a yellow and
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December 14, 2005; JStorm studios; 8:15 p.m.
The five young men who made up the pop group called Arashi sat around the set of their studio. They had called it a night, and another episode of G NO ARASHI was wrapped.
Life for Arashi had picked up right where it had stopped. Aiba had said once that he was amazed so much had happened in a matter of weeks.
Jun called Izzy ever day. She continued to ignore his call. Jun and Ohno had driven past the house on the temple grounds but Izzy hadn’t been there.
Sho told the guys that he was positive he’d seen Roman the vampire at Ginza but he had disappeared when Sho called his name.
The studio was slowly empting of JStorm employees and personnel. All expect Arashi. They sat in their chairs, none of them feeling up to leaving. Like most days when they were all together they started to talk about Bernie and Izzy.
*********************************
December 20, 2005; Sengakuji Temple; 2 a.m.
I saw him again. At the foot of my bed. He was yelling something. I couldn’t hear him.
I hate dreams.
*************************************************************
December 24, 2005; 10:45 p.m.; Tobu Railway Line
Ohno hadn’t taken the train home since that night with Roman and Izzy. Tonight was his first time in weeks. He had been sharing a ride with Aiba but today was Aiba’s birthday and after a small celebration at the studio with his friends, Aiba had taken a taxi and headed home for another party with his family.
As habit dictated Ohno sat with his arms crossed across his chest. Just in case.
The train made its stops and emptied its compartments of passengers. Ohno found himself in a near empty compartment. There was only him, and a young man in a yellow and black jacket.
*****************************************
December 24, 2005; Midnight; Sengakuji Temple
I don’t drink alcohol. Only because I don’t get any real effect from it. Some people have a drink of wine or a beer after work because it relaxes them. Spring Break for most college students is a reason to go to a foreign country or a beach with their friends to get shit faced. I envy them.
I’ve never been drunk. I can’t get drunk. But I was trying. I had to leave Japan and for some reason I couldn’t leave Ito-sans house. Ito-san was staying with his brother in Osaka until I felt up to moving.
I couldn’t sleep and when I did sleep I couldn’t stop dreaming. It was driving me crazy. I took a bottle of sake from the fridge and downed it. Nothing.
At around Midnight I must have dozed off in the living room.
“Wake the hell up already!”
I jumped and grabbed the empty sake bottle; brandishing it as a weapon.
He was there again. Standing in front of me, yelling, and this time I could hear him.
“Do you hear me?”
I nodded.
“Thank God! I’ve been trying to get your attention forever!”
My legs couldn’t hold me and I collapsed onto the tatami mats.
“Izzy, don’t you dare go back to sleep. You need to go. Ohno is in trouble. The Rokurokubi claimed another female body and sent the Bakemono after him again and—“
“You’re alive? I---you---I thought---“ I jumped up and ran for him. I wanted to hug him. I ran through him and hit the television, sending it flying across the floor.
“I’m sorry Iz. I’m dead.”
I lay there dumbfounded. “Of course you are. I should have known that.”
Bernie, looking as solid as a living person, stared down at me, pushed is glasses up his nose and smiled.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to ask, “Why does a ghost need glasses?”
“Did you hear me, Izzy?”
“No.”
He sighed, “Satoshi is in danger. A Newling grabbed him tonight and took him to the well. The monster isn’t dead.”
“What? I saw you cut its head off.”
“I know but that didn’t kill it. It was temporary. It just did what its done for centuries. It found another soul to inhabit. It’s desire is still the same. It wants Satoshi dead.”
“Why are you here? I don’t understand.”
“Izzy get up and get dressed. You need to save Satoshi.”
“I understand that part!” I yelled.
“Good. You’re finally acting like yourself.”
“You’re a spirit Bernie! Why? Why didn’t you pass over?”
“There is no time for this. I’ll explain later. You’ll need help, call the others.”
I stood up and shook the cobwebs out of my brain. “How long ago was he taken?”
“A little over an hour ago. Their not at the resort yet.”
“Do the others know that you’re a ghost?”
Bernie shook his head. “They can’t see me for some reason –and ghost is such a grade school word. I prefer Spiritual Being.”
My adrenaline started to pump. I had to get to Satoshi.
As I changed clothes, I found my cell phone and called Jun.
“Izzy! Are you okay?” Jun answered.
“Jun, just listen. Satoshi has been taken to the well. The monster is not dead. I’m going after him. Tell the others.”
“We’ll meet you there.”
“No! I’m just telling you this, in case—“
“ I know…in case one or both of you don’t make it back.”
His words silenced me for a moment. “Jun, I want you to know that, that day, at the waterfall…I…”
“I know.”
I hung up, grabbed my katana, a new katana, my old one had been found by Satoshi at the bottom of the well, chipped beyond repair. I took my semi-automatics, daggers, Tanto knife and a few flash bombs.
Bernie confronted me at the front door, “Why did you tell Jun not to go?”
“I don’t need them.”
“Don’t you ever listen!” Bernie stood at the front door. “None of that will work.”
“What?!”
“I already cut her head off. Go to the temple altar. You’ll find three beans sitting by my name plate. Take those. They are blessed by three priests. Jam them down her throat Izzy.” He said this last part with venom, “That will kill her forever.”
“Magic beans?! Are you frikkin’ kidding me? Do I look like Jack? I’m not climbing a damn beanstalk!”
“They aren’t magic! They’re holy beans.”
“Oh well then, that’s so much better.”
“Stop with the sarcasm! You don’t have time for this. For the love of pete, just take the beans!”
“Okay!” But I’m keeping my weapons too.
I hesitated, “I have questions and things to say…”
“Later…we’ll talk later.”
******************************************************
December 25, 2005; 1:45 a.m.; On the road to Kusatsu Onsen Resort.
The Ducati ST2 motorcycle can accelerate from zero to 80 MPH in 7 seconds. With a little tweaking to the engine, I had it to 80 MPH in 5 seconds. I roared through the night; winding around Tokyo’s mountain roads. I had one purpose. I was hunting.
*************************************************************
The resort had been shut down for the season until right of ownership could be determined.
There were no fairy lights or lanterns lit, no people using the bathhouses.
I reached the well and the scene in front of me was too familiar. On top of the well with Satoshi’s limp body in her grasp was the Rokurokubi disguised as a woman.
Her eyes flashed to me and she screamed, “Kill her, kill her!”
A dozen Newlings emerged from the darkness. I had sensed them there but thought MAYBE they’d leave well enough alone. No pun intended.
I don’t have time for this shit.
I threw my flash bombs to the right and left; grabbing my hand guns and let loose on both sides. When the dust cleared only the monster, Satoshi and I remained.
With another scream she grasped Satoshi’s body close to her, in a surreal picture that resembled a Mother cradling her child. She lunged into the well taking her prey.
Not this time.
I had come prepared for the well. I already had a harness strapped to my waist. I dropped all my weapons on the ground except my last flash bomb. I clipped the repelling line to the harness and wrapped and clipped the other end to the nearest tree.
Here I come, you bitch.
I ran, leapt and swan dived into the mouth of the well. Wind rushed past my ears, along with the scream of Satoshi waking up to find himself in the monsters arms.
As I rushed down, the monsters long neck and head rushed up to greet me. Instinctively I punched her in the face. My impulse and strong punch gave me the seconds needed to seize Satoshi’s outstretched hand.
My line had stopped and my arm jerked quickly down. I heard a soft pop from my shoulder and a hot piercing pain shot down my arm.
“Climb up me!” I demanded.
“I can’t.” Satoshi gasped for breath; the monsters grip tightening.
“Mine!” She screeched as she pulled downwards.
I detonated my last flash bomb. It exploded sending a bright white light to fill the well. She screamed and her grasped loosened momentarily.
“Climb. Now!”
With Satoshi’s right hand in mine he pulled himself up. I saw spots in my eyes as my dislocated shoulder protested. Hand over hand, quick as a monkey, he climbed over my back and up my legs. He clutched the repelling line.
“What about you?” He stopped.
“Go, I have to kill her. I’ll be right behind you.”
I felt the line tug and move as he climbed up and out of the well.
The monster head rose out of the now dark well, mouth open and screaming in rage.
“Bite me!” I yelled and forced my arm down her throat, the three beans in my hand.
This better work Bernie.
*************************************************************
Ohno collapsed on the ground and saw a pair of Nike’s in front of his nose. Looking up he almost wept with joy. It was Nino… Jun, Aiba, and Sho were right behind him.
Jun rushed to the well and look down. “Izzy!” He screamed with everything he had. But all he could hear in return was the monster’s death shrieks as it bucked and moaned and dissolved into nothing.
“The line!” Ohno grabbed the repelling rope and started to pull. The others seized the rope and pulled only to fall back as the rope slacked.
The harness popped over the edge of the well. Izzy was not attached.
“Izzy!” Jun yelled again. Nino and the other joining him in his pleas.
Sho grabbed the flashlight he had in his jacket and shined it into the darkness of the well.
“I can’t see the bottom.” He said.
Jun grabbed the harness. “Lower me down.”
The other’s grabbed the repel line and quickly as they dared, they lowered Jun into the well.
There was silence from below. Ohno finally called out , “Jun! Jun!”
“It’s okay. Oh my god.” He answered.
The weight on the harness slackened briefly, “Pull her up.”
They carefully pulled on the line, half fearing what they would find.
Izzy’s head and blood soaked hair emerged from the well.
With tenderness they unharnessed Izzy and laid her on the ground. Aiba found Izzy’s coat on the ground and covered her with it.
The other dropped the harness back into the well and pulled Jun to the surface.
Aiba gasped, ”She’s alive!”
*********************************************************
Epilouge:
ARASHIC
I know as you started on this journey, I told you that this was the story of how I died.
I didn’t lie to you. It is how I died. No, I didn’t have some near death experience.
That night Izzy officially passed away. The decision hadn’t been in my control. I blame Arashi.
********************************************
December 31, 2005; 9 p.m.; St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Rm. 309.
“You’ve been in a coma for a few days.”
“But the doctors say you’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, you have a dislocated shoulder, a broken hand, a concussion, some cuts and scrapes but nothing that won’t heal.”
“Plus, you’ve got us! We have to leave for awhile. We’re performing on a New Years countdown but we’ll be back.”
She sat up in her hospital bed, looking pale but alert. Her auburn hair lying loose around her shoulders. She took turns staring at each of them as they spoke to her.
One of them, Jun, he said his name was, sat on the corner of her bed, holding her hand. “Do you want anything?”
She shook her head, frowned. A doctor had told her that these five nice young men had been by her side since she’d been admitted. The nurses gossiped about them when they thought she was asleep, “I can’t believe it’s Arashi,” One nurse said.
She questioned the guys, “You said that I was in a car accident?”
They all nodded.
“And that I work for you? I’m an assistant of some sort? I don’t understand.”
Jun smiled, “It’s going to be difficult to remember at first but the doctors said to give it time and it will all come back to you.”
She frowned more, “What’s my name again?”
The guys looked at each other, and the one called Ohno cleared his throat before answering, “Bella. Your name is Bella.”
“Oh.”
She cocked her head to the side as if listening to a voice no one else could hear.
With another frown she said, “Huh.”
THE END
Or is it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yukatas = Traditional robes worn at hot springs resorts. Kind of like a pajama but perfectly acceptable outdoor wear at resorts.
Wakizashi = Smaller sword worn by samurai; usually indoors.
Μια πηγή = Greek for One Source
Tanto Knife = Smaller than a Wakizashi; also used by samurai.
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wow i loved it!!!!!!!!! I read the whole story this midnight (when I am supposed to be sleeping haha..)
and Bernie of course!! 
...has a thing or Izzy?