Melqart came out of the clothing store in a black zip-up jacket, track pants, and boots. "I asked the servant to give me the most fashionable outfit they had in all black."
Han looked up. "Hey Kouta. Let's move to an open space."
Kouta started walking. "Good idea."
Melqart followed along. "You know, I never saw the purpose of these shoes. They aren't practical. All they do is weigh me down."
"Oh well. You can't go around in the city barefoot. People will think you're crazy." Kouta said.
Melqart scowled at his shoes. He decided to float a few inches over the ground instead of walking.
Eventually Kouta stopped in front of an abandoned building. It was gray and dirty on the outside. All of the windows were either broken or missing, and the lots on either side of the building were empty.
"So you noticed me?"
Black smoke pooled together and coagulated into a man.
Kouta frowned. "Nishiyama. What do you want?"
Kazuya looked at Han and Melqart. "I see you're recruiting members. Smart move, especially these days." He looked at Kouta. "Two of your lackeys robbed my family a while ago. I'm just here to ask for what is ours."
Kouta glared. "Don't call my friends lackeys. And the shards don't belong to you."
"He's right. They don't belong to him."
Another figure suddenly appeared to Kouta's right. He looked out the corner of his eye to see a woman in a black and red hood.
Han looked over. "I couldn't notice her presence. It's like she just appeared."
Kazuya scowled at the woman. "Huh?! And who are you to say what isn't mine?!"
The woman pulled back her hood to reveal her long black hair and bright pink eyes. "The shards belong to Red Factor."
Melqart burst out with laughter. Everyone stared at him. He wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just amusing how you kids are fighting over my Spirit Orb."
The woman tensed. "You know about the Spirit Orb?"
Melqart crossed his arms. "I should be asking you the same question young lady. How do you know about MY Spirit Orb?"
Kazuya snarled. "I don't know what's going on here, but that shard was found by the Byakuren Family first, and that's how it is!"
The woman held out a finger. Her fingertip lit up with a pink flame. She pointed it at Kazuya. "Shut up. You have nothing to do with this matter. I suggest you leave now."
Kazuya held his hand up. "I dare you."
Melqart frowned. "Her Zen... Divination. It's a blessing by God."
The woman looked at Melqart and pointed her finger at him. "Oh? So you know. You must not be an ordinary person."
"Don't point at me. It's rude."
"Don't worry, as long as Murakami here hands over the shard, then no one has to get hurt."
Melqart held up a hand. A golden glow enveloped it.
The woman's eyes widened. "This is...?!! Pure Divination?!"
Han held his arm out in front of Melqart. "No need." He held up two fingers. "Mantra."
voosh!
A magenta-colored sphere enveloped the area, turning even the sky a magenta color.
The woman and Kazuya struggled to move. Kouta as well.
Melqart looked at Han. "Mantra... a spiritual technique originating in India. I didn't think anyone used it anymore."
The woman's flame went out as she fell victim to Han's technique. Kazuya as well. "What... is... this?!" he exclaimed.
Pink and purple mist escaped from the holes in Han's straw hat.
Suddenly the pressure had gotten even more dense than before.
Han chanted his words. "Om Agasthi Shahina."
The woman and Kazuya immediately fell asleep as their bodies dropped to the pavement.
Han put his hand down as his Mantra subsided.
Kouta was amazed. "You really put them to sleep..."
Han looked at them. "It'll only last an hour at best. Might only last a few minutes. Depends on how strong they are."
Melqart closed his eyes and put down his hand. "Guess that's settled then."
Kouta turned back and continued walking. "Seems like they're all gonna come after me for the shards. This isn't good."
Han trailed behind. "So you guys are having like, gang wars or something?"
Kouta frowned. "More of a power struggle. Everyone wants to dominate over Tokyo. But we're all still vulnerable to General Kozan and the TPD. Apparently the shards are an advantage for whoever has them."
"Makes sense." Melqart looked to his right. There was a ghoul hiding behind a fence, in the appearance of a small child.
—
Kouta, Han, and Melqart at last returned to the warehouse.
"This is it? A warehouse? I was thinking more like a mansion or a skyscraper type of home base." Han said.
Kouta slid open the door. "It's just what I had. I'm gonna tear it down and put something better here."
Yumi saw Kouta come inside. "Kouta! How was your trip?"
"Decent." he replied. "This is Zen Han. He's a new member of Sakugami starting today."
Yumi waved. "I'm Miyazaki Yumi. Over there is Akane and Taku. We have two more members but they're off on their own right now."
Han looked around. "Thanks for having me. I'll be in your care." He bowed.
Yumi smiled. "Um, we're inside so you can take your hat off to be more comfortable-"
Han held a hand up. "No. I don't take my hat off often."
"Even when eating?"
"I don't eat food. I'm vegan, and I stay on liquid-based diets."
Kouta held his grandfather's necklace in his hand.
Taku got up. "So did you find out what the necklace is for?"
Kouta nodded. "Apparently I just have to wash it off."
"Really? Guess it wasn't so complex after all."
Kouta walked off to the bathrooms.
"And you!" Yumi pointed at Melqart. "We're through being your servants! If you're going to stay here with us, then you should learn how to treat others like equals!"
Melqart made a disgusted face. "But... we're not equal."
Akane, who was quietly staring out at the ceiling, looked at Melqart. "Well Hashimoto is physically superior to you, so it works out doesn't it?"
Melqart sneered. "I suppose."
—
Kouta was in the bathroom. He closed and locked the door behind him.
He placed the necklace in the sink and ran the water. He rubbed a bar of soap between his hands and started washing off the wooden circles.
The dirt on the necklace colored the water brown.
"It really was dirty..." Kouta said.
As he rinsed the necklace off, the mitsudomoe designs on the wooden circles started glowing white.
Kouta felt an intense gravity coming from the necklace. Waves of energy pulsed from it.
Kouta grit his teeth as he was sucked into the artifact itself. He disappeared without a trace.
—
Kouta found himself floating in an infinite world of golden clouds.
A green dragon, as long as the world itself, flew within the clouds. It flew towards Kouta.
Kouta managed to get himself upright, though he couldn't tell up from down. He just thought that he should be in the same position as the dragon.
The dragon came up close to his face. It had a voice with the same pitch and boom as thunder. It spoke without moving its mouth. It simply stared at Kouta with its piercing emerald green eyes. "Who dares enter my domain?"
Kouta felt intimidated, but not frightened. He answered honestly. "Murakami Kouta."
The dragon snorted. A fierce wind blew over Kouta.
"I've never heard of such a name! I know all the names of the Murakami family. Tell me who you are, or you may perish where you stand!"
"I told you! I'm Murakami Kouta! Son of Ryuji and Grandson of Jikai!"
The dragon seemed to squint, as if it almost didn't believe him. "Jikai never informed me of a grandson... where is he now?"
Kouta looked up at the dragon. "He died when I was young. Assassination."
The dragon reared back from shock. "Impossible!! Jikai was killed?!!"
Kouta nodded. "Were you... one of Grandpa's yokai?"
The dragon cooled down. "Yes... my name is Tianlong. Though I prefer the term 'spirit', since I do not originate in your country."
Kouta's eyes widened. "You're Tianlong?! My dad told me about you before...!"
It nodded. "I am one of the Four Pillars of the Spirit Realm. I am the Celestial Dragon, who guards the heavens."
"Did you know my grandpa for a long time?"
"I did... Jikai was my partner ever since he was sixteen years of age."
"Could you... tell me about him? I don't know much. I've only ever seen him a few times, but he would never tell me about his past."
"You want to know about Murakami Jikai, the Lord of Heavenly Flame?"
Tianlong reared back and let out a thunderous laugh. "Kid, I'm afraid that's far above your league. Even if you are Jikai's grandson, you are nothing like him. Jikai was the greatest of demons. You are only human."
Kouta frowned. "Not exactly."
His body turned red as his muscle mass increased. His hair grew longer and ran down his back. Two sharp fangs grew upward from the bottom of his mouth. "I'm already half-demon."
Tianlong's mouth opened. "Kidomaru! He's your Guardian?"
Kouta then turned blue. His hair got a little shorter but flowed upwards. Golden jewelry appeared on his body. "I have two."
Tianlong closed his mouth. "And Takireiou... interesting! You may have some potential after all...!"
Kouta reverted to his normal self. "So? Will you tell me or not? I didn't come in by my own will. The least you could do is help me out here."
Tianlong laughed again. "Insolent brat!! You just might be Jikai's blood... Fine!! Listen closely, for I will tell you the tale of the Great Murakami Jikai!"