Chapter 1:Gagoze
You'd think a church would be the last place a demon would attack. You know, bible, crosses, holy water, everything a demon would want to avoid. But the body showed up none the less; right at the foot of the stairs leading to the church.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EyeY8GedS
The police said it was a hate crime, which would make sense. A young priest is just leaving the church and is beat to death by a crazed murderer. To bad I found out about it. I never hear about it unless it's one of the creepy crawlies.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocYgvNcjBK
For those of you who care, my name is Hirikarue, but people call me Hiri. I'm what you might call a monster hunter. If something goes bump in the night, my tech guy Richie gives me the details and I go searching. After that it's up to me to cap the beasty before it caps me.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxekXG8k3r
I'm paid by an unnamed bank account filled by an organization that, as far as you know, doesn't exist. If you go looking for them they'll shoot first and ask questions never, so forget I said anything.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbhz0GXnZ7
"Are you sure it's a demon?" I asked Richie through my ear piece. "All the scratch marks and residue from the body point to something infernal." Richie said. "I can buy demon that wants to clip a holy man, but three feet from a church? Might as well jump into the holy water itself."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyslz9RFhnX
"I'm doing some research now, just try to find out where it's hiding before it gets someone else." Richie said before hanging up. I sighed, grabbed a few weapons, and headed out. The cops didn't find ant clues as to where the killer might have gone. Then again, the cops don't have holy magic.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vhZVdHLrm
A few words in Latin, a little divine intervention and I was on the trail. "Okay, maybe it was a demon." I say to myself as the footprints became visible. I use the term 'footprints' loosely, they looked webbed and almost reptilian at the same time.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5etd228rR
I followed the tracks into the nearby forest. Eventually I reached what looked like some kind of burned building. I made it two steps inside before I was knocked to the side.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTHfY6YZY3
I looked to see a roughly seven foot tall, vaguely humanoid creature. Its eyes were yellow, watching me with hatred. Defiantly a demon. "You know, a simple hello would have suffice." I say. The demon roared and jumped at me.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHgXaR0TOm
I rolled away, but it grabbed me by my collar and pulled me in, slashing my side. I yelped, jamming my elbow into the demon's gut. I pulled away from the demon and flinched when Richie's voice sounded over my ear piece.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYO7lMchUa
"I found out what it is." He said. "You've got unbelievable timing." I tell him while avoiding attacks as best I can. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's called a gagose. It's a rare demon that attacks priests and monks outside their church of temple." "That's real interesting and all Rich, but I'm kind of under attack and would like to know how to kill it." I tell him.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kInk7Y2Hl
"A standard exorcism will work, but you'll have to weaken it first. You know what to do." Richie said before hanging up. "Perfect." I jump out of the way of another attack and cast a quick healing spell on myself. All I really did was postpone the wound. It'd be back in about a half an hour.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTD1mTz32p9
But for now I had other problems. I get to my feet and side step the gagose, pulling out my colt and firing at the back of the demon's head. It made direct contact. It won't do anything to kill it, but I find that, no matter the species, a bullet to the head will always do something.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCnZ2i0SXq
After about five minutes, my theory proved true. After every bullet it took, it got slower, weaker, it movements more instinct and less precise. Eventually the gagose stopped entirely in an effort to gain a second wind. I started the exorcism, but the gagose charged again before I could get very far.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V1FcCVEB7
This went on for awhile, then I got an idea. I lured the gagose out side and continued our little game of keep away, dragging one heel in the dirt as I did so. Eventually I stopped and smiled at the demon, which was meant with a roar and a charge. Imagine the creatures surprise when in couldn't get out of the circle of crosses I'd drawn in the dirt.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqkFmOEJ0U
"What's a matter buddy? Can't cross the cross?" The gagose roared and charged the barrier to no effect. I chuckled and started the exorcism. In all honesty, I don't even speak Latin. I just memorized the phrases, don't judge me. I don't exactly have time to learn a new language. I barely learned English.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vs12wJnv3
The gagose continued trying to break through the barrier, but inevitably succumbed the holy magic. It might have just been my previous blood loss, but as it faded I could've sworn I heard it whisper something along the lines of, "I'm sorry brethren, I tried."
You know, sometimes this job makes me wonder. Then I wonder if that was what whatever I was fighting was planning. Then I wonder if that's what the higher ups what me to think. Then I start drinking. Sometimes I wonder if I'll be doing this my whole life. Then I drink some more. Then I think about what would happen if I didn't do this. That's when I stop drinking at get to work.
Chapter 2: Karakasa-obake
I've seen a lot of strange things doing what I do. There's no possible way for me to have not. But every so often I come across something so bizarre, even I doubt if it's real. When you've got the monster hunter doubting reality, something has gone very wrong.
Richie isn't my own help in the field. On occasion, I find something Richie's tech can't help with. Tonight is one of those times. I gathered a small assortment of plants in a circle and lit the incense. The smoke swirled around above the plants, forming a sort of doorway. The door slowly opened, and Erika stepped out. Erika doesn't actually work for the same people I do, but she's been a friend to me and Richie for a long time and helps out however she can. Erika's skill comes from her being what could be called a guru, sage, or oracle. Technically you could also refer to her as a witch doctor, but if you do, you get bitch slapped. Erika lives in a hut in a mountain range that doesn't show up on any maps, so we learned this little transportation ritual to make things easier. "Hello Hiri," She greeted me with a smile, same as always, "What will it be tonight?" "Holy oil. A lot of holy oil." I say. "What trouble have you stirred up this time?" "You might want to sit down for this one." I tell her. "Hiri, after all we've seen and done, nothing can surprise me anymore." Erika says. "Really? Hold on to that." I say, before I begin explaining.
I was on my way to the hotel I was staying at for the night. I was on foot, as I was, lets say, sobriety challenged at the time. I heard a deep growl and froze. I don't get caught of guard, drunk or not. I took another drink and reached for my gun as I turned to face the source of the noise. When I saw it, I dropped my gun. My hand to god, standing before me was a living umbrella.
"I'm sorry, what?" Erika questioned. "Please don't make me say it again." I say.
It's handle ended on it's one leg to stand on. It had claws sticking from either side, a single eye, and a mouth full of fangs; it's tongue lulled as if it were drunk too. I just watched it for awhile. It did the same, watching me. I looked at the bottle in my hand, then poured it out on the ground. "Ah man, I really need to cut down on the drinking." I turned and continued on my way, but was stopped by the umbrella monster-
"Nope, can't say that with a strait face."
tackling me. When I got off the ground and the... thing was still there, I decided to believe it was real. I grabbed my gun and fired. The shot made direct contact, but didn't seem to do anything other than knock it over. It was back up in seconds and now it was angry. It tried to tackle me again, but this time I saw it coming and caught it. It almost wriggled out of my hands when I notice that a truck was coming down the road. I tossed the thing onto the road and seconds later it was sucked under an eighteen wheeler. When the truck passed there was nothing left but scraps. I was about to go back on my way, then the pieces started sliding back together. Thinking fast I took out a jar and poured the remaining holy oil onto the slowly reforming monster. After that, I lit a match, flicked it towards the creature. The holy oil didn't stop burning until there was nothing left but ash. I waited a few moments to make sure it was really down, then called Richie. "Rich, you aren't going believe this one."
"Richie said it was called a karakasa-obake. Say that three times fast I dare you." "So what exactly is a Karak-whatever?" Erika asked. "According to Richie, if an inanimate item, like for example, an umbrella, is left in tact for one hundred years, then it will come to life." "I've heard legends, but I never knew anything like that could actually happen." Erika said. "Oh it gets worse. I followed the things tracks to see where it came from. I found an old mansion. After a little research, it turns out that the people who lived in that mansion wanted to leave behind a legacy. The place was filled with Karakasa-obake. Clocks, chairs, cloth, everything, including the kitchen sink, was running around in there. They were all gathered around some old timey calendar. Tomorrows date was circled. They were all dancing around, hooting and hollering. I don't know what had them so exciting, but it's happening tomorrow. Hence the holy oil molotoves cocktails."
Me and Erika stood outside the mansion, we could hear the karakasa-obake clambering around inside. "On three," I tell her, lighting the cocktails, "Three!" We both started throwing cocktails, holy fire spreading across the mansion, burning the monsters inside. Slowly, the whole thing began to burn to the ground. "Well, that was different. Even for us," Erika said, "What do you think was going to happen tomorrow?" "I don't know, but I have a feeling it might have been the mansions one hundredth birthday."
Chapter 3: Woman in White
Ghosts are everywhere. I mean that literally. The number of different ghosts there are in the world ranges somewhere in the quadruple digits. Sometimes I get lucky and all I have to do is burn some sage. Unfortunately, luck is not my strong suit.
"So what's Casper's M.O. this time?" I ask Richie. "You're looking for a woman in white." Richie tells me. "Oh, lovely." Women in white have to be some of my least favorite spirits to deal with. A woman in white is the ghost of a woman who either died by her husbands or lovers hand, or killed herself to escape them. They exclusively attack men who they think are threats; and they're not the best at telling the difference between a bad guy and jerk. To kill a woman in white takes an exorcism. What's more, she has to be present in order for it work. And there's only one way to draw one out.
"Does it have to be me?" I ask. "Do you want to complain to the higher ups?" Richie questions. "Aw screw it." I say, heading out.
I always take my time preparing to take down a woman in white. I misplace my gun, drop bullets, 'accidentally' fall asleep, anything I can do to stall. I'm easily able to turn a ten minute routine into a two hours; three if I stop for food. It isn't that hunting a woman in white is especially dangerous, frightening, or even difficult. No, my problem is how their drawn out. I go into the forest and make a circle of salt big enough for two people. I place a few crosses around the circle and head out... to the nearest bar.
I sit at a table in the bar for about half an hour. Not drinking; no, no, you never drink when your after this kind of spirit. You see, there's a science involved in scouting. You have find the perfect target, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and then begin the assault. You have to take your time, jump the gun by even a millisecond and you'll be dead in the water. Truth be told, as good as I've gotten at this, I knew the target about a minute after I walked into the bar. The rest of the time was just me making absolutely certain; and a little more stalling. After I know I can't stall any longer, without ricking another attack by the sister from the great beyond, I go in.
I sit down at the bar and turn the girl next to me. Rather than immediately speak to her, I stare at her for awhile. Not long, just long enough for her to notice and look back at me. Immediately I look away. "No offense, but that's not going to get you anywhere." She tells me. I turn to her with an embarrassed look, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't stare, it probably makes me look like a creep." I say. "Kinda yeah." She says. "My names Hiri by the way." I tell her. "Kate." We talk for a few hours. I would tell you what the key to it all is, but the truth is there's no golden rule. There are a lot of things to keep in mind. Most people say your not supposed to talk about yourself, instead letting them talk about their self. That's crap. You do talk about yourself, about as much as they talk about themselves. You have to get to know them. Talk about your family, your life, your goals. But you have to do so in a way that doesn't make it seem like your trying to tell your life story; let the conversation progress naturally. You have to ask them if they want to go back to your place, nine out of ten, your out. You need to get them to ask you.
"So, you want to get out of here?" Kate asks me. "Sounds good to me." I say.
I tell her we're going back to my place, and lead her into the woods.
"Is this the part where I hear a wolf howl, get scared and jump into your arms?" Kate jokes. We step into the circle of salt without her noticing and stop.
"No, this is the part where you get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head." I say, taking out my revolver and aiming it at her head. "What?" I could see the fear slowly spread across her face. I always hate this part the most. "Did I stutter?" I slam the gun into the side of her head, knocking her to the ground. Then I hear the shriek.
"Leave her alone!" I turn around and see her. I've been doing this longer than I care to think about, but I'll be damned if I ever get used to how they look. Not quite human, not quite anything else. I know that seems vague, but that's the only way I can think to explain it. She glowed, mist surrounding her. She was cloaked in white cloth. Her eyes held nothing but hate. She lunges, but can't make it passed the salt. I raise my gun and fire. Thanks to the twelve different enchantments on the bullet, it causes her to dissipate. I raise my right hand and speak the Latin words. A wave of holy magic surges through the area, forcing the woman out and into the other side. After that, everything goes quiet. I keep my hand raised and place a few purification wards to protect the woods, and the adjacent town, from further attacks. It won't do much, but no more women in white will be able to haunt here.
"H-H-Hire?" Kate stammers, terrified and confused. I sigh and raise my hand to her. I speak another verse and her eyes glaze over. "Rise. Return to your home and awaken with no memory of what has happened here." She got to her feet, turned around, and walked away. I'll miss Kate; I always miss them. God I hate hunting women in white.
Chapter 4: Inugami
Andrew Casitel, multimillionaire, recently killed by way of large dog removing his neck.
"Richie, when did I start being part of animal control?" I ask. "First of all, the dog got through three locked gates, passed guards posted at every entrance, and took four bullets without slowly. Secondly, your pretty much animal control already." Richie said.
"So, what are we dealing with? A hell hound would've just spawned inside the building, jinmenken are harmless, and a grim wouldn't have stopped with the rich guy." I tell him, recounting my previous experiences with canine-like monsters.
"I have a theory," Richie says, "But I need to make sure. I'm going to do some research, you do some checking around, see if he had any enemies." I sigh. I hate checking around. It requires talking to people, and people, well, suck.
"Okay, as it turns out the million dollar man did have some enemies. Political rivals and all, nothing too surprising." I tell Richie. I could hear the Richie on his keyboard as he checked the information.
"Just as I though. This wasn't your average random monster mauling, this was a premeditated attack." Richie tells me. "So a skin walker?" I asked, "I don't see how any of these fine china types would've learned to use Native American shape shifting magic. Plus they've all got air tight alibis."
"Not a skin walker, am inugami. It's a vengeance spirit that takes the form of a large dog. It can be used for anything the summoner wants. It's like a familiar, except anyone can summon it." Richie explained.
"Who do you think summoned it?" I ask. "I'm going put my money on a guy called Steven Hallina. One of the rich rival guys who had it in for the victim. Made his fortune buying and selling artifacts from around the world, specializes in feudal Japan. Apparently, he and Andrew got into it about a month ago over some old Japanese sword used for religious purposes; supposedly it was the last one in existence. When Andrew refused to let Stevie have it, Steven literally swore vengeance. He was the first guy the feds checked, but like you said, he has an alibi and the police don't check for Japanese spirits." Richie says.
"Death threats aside, what makes you think it was him?" I ask, "anyone could've summoned it." "Yeah, anyone who knew how to do so. Four months ago Steven bought a book that basically equates to a Japanese bible. Gives detailed descriptions on how to summon an inugami and a unsettling number of other spirits." Richie explained.
"Okay, how do I send Cujo packing?" "An Inugami can't be killed and only vanishes when it's ,aster tells it to." Richie says. "Oh lovely, more dealing with people."
Getting inside the mansion wasn't hard. Thanks to higher ups, I can get into pretty much anywhere just by showing my cell phone. The guards actually stood at attention as I passed. Don't ask me why, there's no telling what they have people thinking I am. In less than five minutes I was in Mr. Hallina's living room.
"Who are you?" He asked when he saw me. "I'd tell you, but I don't think you'd believe me." I say. He gives me a quizzical look. "Lets just say I'm here to exterminate your 'attack dog.'" He instantly goes pale, "I don't know what you mean." He says.
"Cut the act. I already know you summoned an inugami and sicked it on Andrew. I'm just here to put in down." I say, un-holstering my gun. Steven glared at me, then whistled. I heard barking from behind me. "Oh joy." I turn to see either a giant dog, or an average sized bear. It lunges at me and I fire. Three bullets and a bite to my arm later the dog dissipates.
"The bullets can only slow it down. Now, either you can call it off, or I can see if putting a bullet in your head will take it down." I tell him, aiming the gun at his head. He gives me another glare before speaking an incantation in Japanese. Instantly I sense that the spirit has been sent away. Around that point, sirens could be heard outside.
"What's that noise?" Steven asked. "Oh yeah, that'll be the cops. I'll just be on my way." I tell him.
I have no idea what Richie convinced the cops Steven did, but they brought five cruisers and a chopper to apprehend him. Richie doesn't like letting the guilty off scot-free.
Chapter 5: Yadokai
Figuring out what I'm after if a little like playing poker. It's difficult to know what to do until they make a mistake. Every creature I've faced thus far has had a tell, something that could help identify what it was. But my latest job didn't, which is more than a little disturbing. There wasn't anything missing from the victim, which automatically rules out roughly ninety percent of the things I've seen. The tracks were shockingly humanoid, which matches a few descriptions, but none of the other clues that would have been left by those monsters were there. Plus the tracks lead to a hotel. A monster that near human with the intelligence to check into a hotel in a frightening thought. Especially seeing as I can only think of three, none of which would have made such a sloppy murder.
"What the hell am I dealing with Richie?" "Watch the language Guns'n Roses I'm working on it. I've narrowed it down to about two hundred possible creatures." Richie said. "Gee, only two hundred?" I say sarcastically. "Considering I started with two hundred thousand I think we're doing pretty good. You said checked into a hotel, pay it a visit. Put up as many wards as you can without making it possible for a nearby unfriendly to sense you coming, load up on weapons, and pray it's not an ethereal being. Last time we had one of those it was in a city that no longer shows up on maps."
I went to the hotel to have a talk with a one Mr. Kai. I went to his room and, oddly enough, it wasn't locked. "Mr. Kai?" I called, pushing the door open, "Mr. Kai?" Two steps later there was a crack of something wooden on the back of my head.
"Son of a-" Another shot, this time to the side of the head. I rolled away and got to my feet. In front of me was, well, just a man. No claws, no fangs, no tail. I hate people. This particular person looked built to bench a pick-up and carried a bo-staff with a little blood on it. Whether the blood was from the back of my head or from the victim I don't know.
"I take it your Mr. Kai?" I say. Mr. Kai nods, watching me with a grin. "Judging from the concussion you tried to give me I think it's safe to say that you have some idea what I'm here for." I say, raising my gun. He held his staff in offense. I fire, not about to let him take another shot. I never actually see him move, but in the next second he has the bullet between fingers, inches from his face.
"Well that's just not far." There was a blur of movement and I blacked out.
I didn't wake up until I got a call from Richie.
"Hiri? You never checked in, what happened at the hotel?" "I got my ass kicked by a kung-fu movie character." I explained my encounter to Richie.
"Well, the good news is I think I know what your after," Richie says, "A Yadokai. When a monk loses his way and turns bad, his mind slowly morphs into that of beast. They retain their intelligence, but not their humanity. As for the bullet snatch and the light speed take down, well, he's a monk. His connection to the metaphysical energies is going to let him do all kinds of things. Strength, speed, and apparently the ability to sense when dangers coming."
"Anything on how to kill one?" I ask. "Well, in theory they should be just as easy to kill as the average person." "What do you mean 'in theory'?" I ask. "Like I said, he's connected to the metaphysical energy. Monks are hard to kill when their human. Don't ask me how I know that." I sigh, "I'll figure something out."
I tracked the Yadokai around the town until I was lead into an alleyway. For the second time, I was met with a strike from the bo-staff. This time however, I was prepared. Thanks to a special potion, courtesy of Erika, I was braced against the strike he delivered to my face, though, only against the one. I grabbed the staff and pulled the fallen monk towards me. To stunned by my head not exploding, he fell forward. I placed my right hand on his forehead, channeled my holy magic, and spoke, "You were once a holy man, corrupted by your own weakness and twisted into a beast. You must pay for your sinful deeds. By the flames of Micheal's blade, I smite thy!"The monk's eyes filled with holy light and he let out a scream. There was a burst of light and he was gone, leaving nothing but a scorch mark where he stood. I guess the guys up stares don't take to kindly to a holy man gone bad.
Chapter 6: Ubume
"So you say you were attack by your neighbors mother?" I questioned the victim. He nodded, still shaken. "I know, she's been dead for two years, but I swear it was her!" The victim, Philip, pleaded. "Calm down." I tell him, but Philip doesn't respond. I sigh, it's time to tie up the loose ends. I call his parents into the living room and ask them to pay attention. I extend my right hand and charge the holy magic. "Thou shall carry forth through life with no memory of what you have witnessed."There was a flash of light and their eyes glazed over. I got up and walked out. It took me three years to learn how to wipe memories. Before that I just had to use a brick.
"So a vengeful spirit?" I ask. "No, a vengeful spirit wouldn't have let the kid get away," Richie tells me, "I'll do some research, you keep an eye on the kids."
I scouted out the house for a few hours with a little fly on the wall spell I learned awhile back. There were three kids, a boy and a girl; twins and a baby girl. Apparently, after the mom died, the dad split. The twins, age nineteen, have been caring for their baby sister ever since. For the first few hours I didn't notice anything unusual. Then I saw the girl look for her medicine. I don't know she has, but judging by how upset her brother got when they realized she was out of medicine, it can't be good. When they both left the room, she appeared. I could barely see her, and the bathroom mirror fogged up from her presence. She picked up the empty medicine bottle and replaced it with a full one. She vanished the moment the twins reentered the room. They were thrilled to find the medicine, but I was just confused. Poltergeists, don't remember their old lives and they don't feel compassion.
"What kind of spirit tries to help people?" I ask Richie. "Well, lots of spirits help people, but those are the spirits that were always spirits." I could hear Richie's keyboard in the background. "I think I've got a match. The kid's mom died giving birth to the youngest." "And?" I ask. "And the mother did fall from life bringing her child into the world. From the afterlife her spirit rose so that it might protect and care for her children.It's called an ubume. The spirit of the mother seeks to care for her children." Richie explained. "That explains the medicine, but how would killing the neighbor kid help them?" I ask. "My best guess is that Philip wasn't exactly a nice guy. He bullied the twins and the mom took maters into her own hands. I doubt an ubume has the rational thinking skills to decide what threat warrants murder." Richie says. "Anything on how to send mommy dearest packing?" "She has to believe that her children will survive without her." Richie tells me. "And how do I convince her of that?" I ask. "Be creative."
I stood outside the twins' house. "Spirit! Reveal yourself!"I call just loud enough for it to count. She appeared before me. "Why have you summoned me?" The ubume asked. "You must leave this realm. You are not meant to be among the living." I say calmly, trying not to sound threatening."I will help my children." She tells me. "You intentions are good, but your existence in plague. Look there," I gesture to the house, where a police car had arrived, "They seek to arrest your children." "Why?" She asks with murder in her eyes. "They think your kids are thieves. You stole the medicine you gave them. Being found with stolen pharmaceuticals doesn't exactly look good." The mother looked at her kids trying to talk to the police."They needed the medicine. They couldn't afford it." "They couldn't afford it because they haven't had jobs they could keep for more than a few weeks. They can't keep any jobs because they think they don't have any skills." "My children are skilled." The mother said defensively. "Maybe they do. But they haven't had any chance to test themselves with you watching them. I know it must be hard to believe, but you need to let them go." I say. "But what of the police?"She asked. "I can send them away." I tell her. For a moment, she just watches her kids. Then what I can only assume is a tear falls to the ground.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihsNAS35KK
"Your right. I must go. Farewell, my children."There's a small wave of spiritual energy as she fades into nothing. After she's gone I go and send the police away. The twins thank me, though they seem slightly confused at what's going on. As I'm on my way back, something occurs to me. That was the first job in a long time that didn't end in bloody combat of some kind. I don't know why I kept thinking about it, but it stuck with me.
Twins Anna and Toby were confused enough as it was. When they got an email from an anonymous sender linking their bank account to roughly six thousand dollars and a message that read 'Get a nanny, go to college, get a job', they were baffled.
Chapter 7: Mikoshi-nyudo
There aren't many kinds of giants. I could count the number of giants I've seen on one hand. Normally, though, a giant will bear little to no resemblance to a human and have incredibly low intelligence. So, needless to say, when reports of a giant man, completely human looking, wearing ordinary street cloths, stalking, chasing, and even threatening people, it peeked my interest.
"What kind of giant wears street clothes? Where would it get street clothes?" I ask Richie. "I may be the one with the computer, but I don't know everything. Sometimes, unbearable as the prospect may seem, you're going to need to figure things out on your own." Richie said. "Groan." I say going to do my usually investigation shtick.
"So, what did it say to you?" I asked, Marcus, the victim. "Not it, he. It was a guy. A twenty foot tall guy, but a guy," Marcus explained, "He started out at a normal size. He told me that I needed to leave, I told him to get bent. He started chasing me; he started growing bigger, shouting at me to leave the city. When I got back inside, he left." It didn't make any sense. 'It grew?' Great now I'm dealing with a magic giant.
I wiped Marcus' mind and put up all the wards I could think that might help. I relayed the information to Richie, and he called back a couple hours later. "I found something. It's biblical; Japanese biblical, but biblical. You said it didn't grow until the victim gave chase? It might be a mikoshi-nyudo. Their identical to humans, even intelligence wise. But when someone starts to fear them, they grow. They get bigger the more you're afraid. They can only draw from one person's fear at a time, but that's usually all they need. The victim's house must have been built on top of its old home."
"Anything on weaknesses?" I ask. "Same as the average human, but scaled up. A bullet will work when its normal sized, but when its skin is eleven inches deep, it's basically like using spit wads." "Oh joy."
I wait outside Marcus' house. Eventually a man came walking down the road towards the house. I wasn't sure it was him at first, then he bitch slapped me thirty feet. He pulled the door off its hinges and went inside. I got to my feet, drew my revolver, and went in after him. I fired the moment I saw the mikoshi, but it had already grown from Marcus' fear. It did manage to piss him off though. He picked up Marcus in his rapidly growing hand and followed me outside. He barely fit through the door. When he got outside, he was taller than the house itself.
"You think yourself more powerful than I?" He tried to step on me. I rolled away and called up, "I believe that you don't have the guts for a fair fight. How about you quite using Marcus as a power bar and feed off me? Man to troll." He smirks and drops Marcus; I cast a quite protection spell to keep him from dying on impact. The giant faces me and I aim my revolver. He begins to laugh, then he begins to shrink. He looks confused, even scared. The looks terrified when my guns level with his head.
"How?" He asked, asking his last question. "Please, I've seen scarier things than you inside my pillow case." I fire.
I wipe Marcus' memory, again, and put up a few more wards for safety. On my ride out, I can't help but grin to myself at the prospect of being fearless.
Chapter 8: Ikiryo
In case you couldn't tell from my inugami incident, I don't like it when the spooks are used for revenge. It just irks me. Monsters are bad enough, but dealing with humans is nearly unbearable. Not to mention that I go out of my way to chase these beasts back into the caves, and then some jack-ass comes along and summons a shadow demon because he doesn't like the guy his daughter decided to marry. So when my checking around turned up that my current case was in fact a revenge kill, I was a bit upset.
"Freaking humans." I say. "Yeah. No kidding. Judging from the damage done to the body I'm going to guess it's a restless spirit. They could be controlling it with any number of old talismans or amulets. Why does everything from ancient times want to kill us?" Richie wondered. "Don't know, maybe we ran over a gypsy," I say, "Any idea who 'they' are?" "Yeah, I'll put my money on a one Mr. Magar. Magar and Mr. Lanta, our victim, used to be drinking buddies. About two years ago they started some kind of business together. Inevitably, they went bust. There was some arguing and two arrests for public violence. Supposedly they hadn't seen each other in over a year. And the best part, Magar's last words to Lanta: 'If it takes the rest of my life, I will destroy you.'" "Lovely."
I tracked down Magar; he was, in a word, white trash. 'White trash with control over a spirit.' I shivered, that's a scary thought. I went inside and started with the questions. I could tell after only a few minutes that this wasn't the guy. He was ass, but a relatively harmless ass. On my way out, I was attacked. I heard an earsplitting wail and instinctively ducked. Instead of the normal spine chilling cold that usually accompanies a spirit passing too close, I was met with a blast of warm, humid air as a cloud of red and black shifted over me. I rolled away and fired off a bolt of holy magic. It hit the spirit and seemed to faze off. There was a sound like a spoon in a garbage disposal that I guess might have been the spirit laughing. The spirit sailed towards me and Magar again, but I was able to set a ward before it could get too close. The spirit faded, leaving a sizzling sound and the smell of burning rubber. 'Well, that was interesting.' I though. I turned to the now shaking Mr. Magar. I sighed and powered up the memory spell, "Mr. Magar, pay close attention…"
"Wait, the spirit let off hot air?" Richie questioned. "Yeah, it was all red and black and looked like smoke from a firework. It might have had a face somewhere in it." I recounted. Richie went silent as he checked his sources. "Well, we were right about the revenge angle, but we were way off when it came to the method. You're dealing with an ikiryo, more commonly known as the wraith." Richie told me. "A wraith?" I asked, baffled. "Yep, a much more dangerous version of the vengeful spirit. A wraith appears from a body that isn't quite dead but is far from alive, like someone who's cursed or in a coma. The spirit of the person tries to make sure all its business is taken care of. If the person owed someone money, the wraith will pay them. If they had family that needed protection, the wraith guards them. And if, say, the person has an enemy, the wraith will 'take care' of them." Richie explained. "Makes sense, generally speaking," I say, "But whose wraith is it?" "That would be Magar senior, you met with Magar junior." "Anything on weaknesses?" "You're not going to like it."
I walked into the hospital room and look down at Mr. Magar, comatose and being kept alive by machines. I look at said machines and sigh. I hesitate for a moment, but, as always, I know the cost that could accompany hesitation. I, god help me, pulled the plug. I cringe as I hear the machine signal a flat line. I rush from the hospital before anyone can see me. I know everyone says this, but sometimes I really hate my job.
Chapter 9: Rokurobuki
As you can probably guess, my job has me running all over the place. I stay at hotels and try not to feel to at home anywhere; but when I get a job that takes me to Galveston, Texas, all that goes out the window. Galveston is a place I ALWAYS feel at home, even when I'm doing my job. There are even people there who know me. They don't know what I do mind you, just that me keeps me busy and traveling. Sorry if I sound like I'm rambling, but Galveston is my favorite place. 'Never a dull moment in Galveston' as they say.
Before I start checking around, I stop by a little café I found a few years back. I order a coffee even though its afternoon and a bacon sandwich, a ritual of mine. "Hey, look whose back in town!" Jimmy called when he saw me walk in. "Long time no see!" I smirk, "You still working here?" I question. "I told you a thousand times, you don't walk out on a family business." Jimmy says. I chuckle, "Ain't that the truth."
The victim apparently had his throat cut open. The bite marks were human, but the damage was too great to be caused by one. 'A normal one at least' I think to myself. "The attacks have all happened at night, so it's probably nocturnal." Richie tells me. "Any pattern with the victims?" I ask. "Only in location. They all gut snapped within the same four block radius. Looks like a stake out for you buddy." Richie says. I groan.
I drive the four block perimeter repeatedly after night falls, waiting for the creature to make a move. All I found was Jimmy standing under a street light. "Jimmy? What are you doing out this late?" Jimmy was exclusively and quite vocally a day person. Jimmy turned to face me, a look somewhere between pain, frustration, and confusion stuck to his face. "Jimmy?" he opened his mouth to say something, but all that came out was a pained moan. I started to get out of the car to see if I could help him, but before I could, he let out a horrible wail. I actually had to grab my ears from the sound. I looked to see Jimmy, his eyes had gone dark and he was bleeding from a wound I couldn't see. Suddenly, to my horror, his neck began to extend. His head swayed side to side as his neck grew higher, stopping just above the street lights. He let out a blood curdling wail, I let out a curse. Normally, I'd take out a gun and shoot on sight. But I didn't, I couldn't. So I drove. First, I rammed the hood of my car into Jimmy knock him back, then I drove off. Why did it have to be Jimmy?
"It sounds like a rokurobuki. By day they look like normal people. By night, they can extend their necks as far as they want with no known limit. Their blood thirsty, but they're vulnerable to everything a normal person is." Richie explains. "Got it." I grumble, still slightly pissed at the prospect of having to bring down Jimmy. Jimmy isn't just a friend, he's a family friend; he knew my parents. I sigh, I noticed I've been sighing a lot lately.
I wait for dark. I know it would be much easier to take him during the day when he can't get his monster mojo going, but I can't let him go out like that. Long as I've known him, he's earned a fair fight if nothing else. I drive along the four blocks, waiting.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLk0rrrDvv
Then I hear the wail. I drive toward it coming to a halt when I see a tall figure reaching above the street light. I get out of my car a draw my gun. Jimmy seems to hear me and turns. I can't see his face in the dark, but I suppose that's a good thing.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IOzq7REXW
I fire at his stomach, but he jumps out of the way, his head swooping towards me on his nineteen-foot neck. I go for a head shot, but I know that that will fail before I even fire. I roll away from his head and get to my feet.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zK9OurtMj
Before I can fire, he uses his neck like a whip and knocks the gun out of my hands. I go to grab it, but now Jimmys on me. Just before hr can take a bite out of me, something bite into his neck. He wails and recoils away from me.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQPc4KlN5L
I look to see... Jimmy, neck extended from his body, biting down on the neck of my attacker. I watch as Jimmy reels the other monster upward before slamming him down on the pavement, hard. Jimmy's neck returns to normal size.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw5qyQgicN
"Have your friend do a little more research, not all of us are bad." He says. "How do you know about-" I start. "About your monster hunting job? Please, I knew before you did. I was friends with your dad remember?" Jimmy smiles. "Did dad know you were a... creature?" I ask, trying to avoid the word monster. "Nah, I didn't even know until about a week ago. So, I guess your going to have to do your job now huh." Jimmy says. I think for a moment, then say, "Considering their was only one monster here, which is now dead, I think my work is done." Jimmy's eyes go wide.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pP4T9TNTG
"Can you do that?" "Just did." I say. At that exact moment, I made myself a new philosophy. Human or not, a good person is not a monster. I chuckle, never a dull moment in Galveston.
Chapter 10: Bloody Mary
I'll be honest, I have absolutely no idea how the higher ups work. No one that I know does. For all I know the higher ups don't even really exist and I've been getting my assignments issued to me by a super computer somewhere in Washington. The higher ups are a mystery, as is their method of ranking.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ294pOZM7c2
But think I've got to be pretty high on the chain to be issued this particular assignment. I'm normally sent after a monster that's making trouble for people and has an estimated location. But Bloody Mary, she's a summoned spirit, and a relatively high ranking one at that.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsVn8ygTY8
As far as spirits go she ranked in the bingo book as the fifth deadliest. So that leads me to my current location; kneeling in front of a mirror in a hotel room, waiting for midnight. I'd done everything in the instructions left behind by the higher ups.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI8Pz22KMV
For obvious reasons, I won't be describing them here. I checked the time and saw that I needed to start.
"Bloody Mary." As I say it, I put out one of the three candles that are the only source of light. "Bloody Mary." I put out another, leaving only the candle directly between me and the mirror. It occurs to me that, even after everything else I'd seen and done, this will be the hardest beast I'd ever had to put down. I put out the last candle before I speak, leaving nothing but darkness, "Bloody Mary."338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHNjfV7lMT
For a moment, nothing happened. But before I could even finish thinking that I might have done it wrong, I see her. The infamous Bloody Mary, twenty-three thousand kills to her name. She looked… beautiful.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VXKgNXJ9q
Her skin literally glowed in the darkness; her eyes were logic defying-ly blue, her hair flowed like liquid silk. She smiled and I, Hiri, monster hunter with the blood of more creatures than I can count on my hands, blushed.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45ycNPmNaw
She put her hand to the mirror, as though beckoning to me. Somewhere in my mind, I knew it was a trick, but the rest of me couldn't help it. I put my hand to the glass. She smiled again, and then it happened.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8KByYYurY
Her smile became full of fangs, and her eyes, skin, and hair all turned blood red. Her hand reached out of the glass and pulled. In the shock of it, she got me in up to my forearm, but then I was alert. I pulled back.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBZsYy5AOK
This seemed to confuse her; I suppose most people are so surprised that they don't even put up a fight. I on the other hand, prefer to go down swinging. I kept pulling, but her grip was iron-clad. I couldn't pull her off of me.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ml8KSkCET
I pulled my arm out of the glass and grabbed my right wrist. Holy magic flared and Mary recoiled, releasing me. Thinking fast, I cast another spell to keep her from escaping. She tried to get away, but was now trapped in the mirror. I raised my hand to the mirror, charging for one of the biggest surges of holy magic I've ever produced. But before I could fire, she changed again. The blood red and fangs vanished.
"Please, please help me." She pleased. She sounded so afraid, so sad, I lowered my hand. Maybe it wasn't her fault, maybe she's been being controlled or… I raise my arm again.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxFB1oDSra
"Oh so close." I tell her. She scowls and the fangs and blood red reappear. I don't like being tricked, especially by spirits. You can always tell what a spirit is really thinking by the look of their eyes. If I looked deep enough into her trick blue eyes, and didn't lose myself, I could see the malice.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJw9kJH5X3
But when I looked into the red, looked beyond the hate and the anger, I could see pain. It was odd, sympathy isn't something I feel a lot of these days, buy sympathy for a spirit something new altogether. I could remember what Richie had told me about her.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK1U0sN3vt
She started out a woman in white; husband cheated on her, killed her children, then offed her. After a few decades, her fear and sorrow turned into something else. Now she favors hate because she believes that if all she does is hate, nothing bad can happen.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7U9tewjgQ6
It wasn't anger or insanity that turned her into this; it was her fear of being weak. At first I couldn't figure out why that thought slowed me, then it occurred to me that that's kind of my archetype as well.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq5C684MPr
It goes back to the day I started this, and it's not I day I ever think about if I can help it. But now I am thinking about it. Thinking about how when I was given a raw deal, there were people willing to help me. Thinking about how I would be more or less where she is if they hadn't. Thinking about why no one was willing to help her.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZYGa6EbIO
I focused on the blood red spirit in the mirror in front of me. Focusing my holy magic, I was able to full her out of the mirror. An alarm went off in my head. If a spirit is trapped, it's not a good idea to let the out. But I did.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnsr7I0D53
She struggled against the holy magic, almost breaking free. I held her, knowing that if she escaped, she'd come after me, and then have some fun outside the mirror. I charged my holy magic, preparing again for a powerful surge, but this time, not an execution.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejYPSSmLyO
I spoke in Latin, not by choice, it sort of comes with the magic. Can't tell you exactly what I said, but it was something along the lines of calling out the angles for letting a pure soul become this corrupt. Calling them out for not helping her, not giving her a chance. I heard a voice. I don't know what it said or who it belonged to. Hell, for all I know I imagined it in all the commotion. But after I heard the voice, the holy magic surged.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Okfk7Y7jV
I'd only ever used that much holy magic at once one time before. Maybe I'll tell you that story eventually. This time the magic wasn't a wave, sweeping through the area. It all focused on Bloody Mary, surrounding her. There was a loud zapping sound, a light brighter than I'd ever seen before, and a scream.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aIiIqFysm
Then everything was quiet. I turned on the lights and saw that I wasn't alone in the room anymore. Sitting atop a pile of sand which at one point was the mirror, was Mary. She looked they way she had when she'd first appeared. She looked around the room, confused. She wasn't Bloody Mary anymore, now she was just Mary.
"Hello?" I said. "Hello, do you know where I am?" She asked.338Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrUHqkdXV0
I talked to her for awhile and determined that she didn't remember being Bloody Mary. She did remember her old life, even dying, but said that remembering it was like remembering a dream. I checked her vitals to determine that she was, in fact, alive, the called Richie. "Rich, you might want to sit down for this one."
