The Psyche Diver Trilogy: Demon Hunters (28 page)

Huh?
Hosuke perceived someone nearby. He could feel someone approaching.
But from where?
He cleared his thoughts, sending feelers out to discern which direction the sensation was coming from. A wave of mental static entered his mind;
the men and women still fucking in the clearing; the rich and fertile energy of the trees, wrapped in stifling warmth; the small animals afraid of the fire
. Riding within these myriad impressions was another feeling, something with a timbre that stood out from the rest. It would slip away each time he tried to tune his thoughts to the frequency, yet it would counter-intuitively gain in clarity the less he focused. An aura that was slight, adept at blending in with its surroundings. It was almost unknown, even among those gifted in controlling their minds, to achieve a transparency like this. Hosuke got the feeling that whoever it was, they were achieving this subconsciously. The proficiency was exceptional.

The ability to subconsciously conceal one’s mind, even while in motion, meant that it was possible to launch an attack without tipping off your opponent, even when face to face. If such a man had training in martial arts, his aptitude would be incredible. In battle, it is almost impossible to prevent the mind from issuing a mental signal that telegraphs your intention to attack. It was nearly impossible to hide this during battle, even for someone that had mastered the ability to conceal their mind while sitting still. The technique was far more advanced than that of amplifying the intention to destroy your opponent and simply directing that energy towards them.

The technique of suppressing your mind while engaged in another task was, in essence, the same as the technique used by Psyche Divers when fashioning a Psyche Suit inside a person’s consciousness. Hosuke’s subconscious had already begun to deploy the method now. The mind he sensed continued to approach, using the exact same technique. It was visible to Hosuke, but only because of his own talents. He suspected that his opponent could become completely invisible, if he so decided. Whoever it was had likely come to investigate why the men sent to find the source of the fire had not returned.

The aura disappeared, suddenly cloaked. It appeared to have noticed Hosuke, just as he had noticed it before. Hosuke left a portion of his mind open. Becoming invisible at this point would only serve to make his opponent all the more cautious, potentially complicating the situation. Hosuke decided to wait. He expected the man to find him soon enough if he maintained the slight outward flow of energy.

As he waited, the flames shrank to about half their original size. He had become lost in the patterns of the fire, appearing to have forgotten that he was waiting for the approaching figure to find him. He had become spellbound by the flames and the beautiful variations of subtle color displayed within. It took him a while to notice the shadow a few meters away in the undergrowth. The shadow was positioned next to the three bodies of the fallen men. It appeared to have been watching Hosuke, waiting for him to notice.

“An impressive display, young man,” the shadow said enthusiastically. It was the voice of an old man, his tone was full of praise. “Hah! The wilds really are full of strange men.” He looked as though he might start clapping his hands. “May I come over, young man?”

“I was waiting for you.”

“I think you’ll find I was the one kept waiting. What with you gawping at the flames.” The old man came forwards, walking with a light swing. He stopped a couple of paces from Hosuke, still sitting cross-legged on the ground. The distance was perfectly gauged so that neither man was in range of the other.

“Enoh, right?” Hosuke muttered.

The old man’s tough look melted away from his wrinkled features. “Enoh...quite so.” For the first time, the old man let out a chuckle. “And you are?”

“Hosuke Kumon.”

“Ah yes, of course. I had suspected as much. It’s people like you that keep this world an interesting place.”

“Huh. I’m not sure I’d like you to like me.”

“Hah!”

“I’d rather not be added to that kill-list of yours, like Fuminari,” Hosuke said flatly, scratching his head.

“Hah again! I see.” Enoh smiled, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. “I had never expected an A-grade Psyche Diver to be such a character.”

“There you go, treating me like an object.”

“It’s a complement.”

“Sure.”

“By the way, who was responsible for that?” Enoh became serious all of a sudden, he glanced off to where the three bodies lay.

“I’m pretty certain it wasn’t me.”

“I’m guessing it was that giant Fuminari, eh? Oh wait, there was another with you, Biku, right?”

“Sounds about right.”

“So you both know this Fuminari fellow?”

“I mean, we haven’t fucked or anything.”

“He’s quite the character too, you know. The opposite from you, of course. He lives in a heightened state of desperation. Energy quite literally cascading from his pores. When we first met he threw a wave of energy at me, hot as a fireball. Ever since then I’ve been looking forward to killing him.”

“Sounds like a drag.”

“Indeed. Where are they now?”

“They went home, said they had to finish some business.”

“One of my men seems to be missing from the ground over there. They’ve taken him hostage?”

“Yeah.”

“And you, why are you still here by yourself?”

“As I said, I was waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“I’ve got a favor to ask.”

“A favor...”

“I want to ask for your help with that girl, the one tied up back there.”

Enoh fixed on him with a look of sudden puzzlement. “You mean that?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“What’s your relationship with her?”

“I slept with her before. Just the once, mind you.”

“Huh, you astound me.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Not at all. But listen, the decision is not mine to make.”

“Who should I speak to then?”

“Master Kurogosho.”

“Then introduce me to him.”

“I guess I could...” Enoh cocked his head to one side, looking serious again.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m in a bit of a predicament here.”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. My men are lying next to us, dead.”

“Uh huh.”

“You’re in league with the men that killed them. Even though you may not have done it yourself, it’s one and the same from our perspective. Not to mention the fact that you’ve put your foot in the way of our most important ritual.”

“I see.”

“We’re enemies, you and I.”

“Sure.”

“So how do you propose that I waltz back into the midst of my people with you, my enemy, just to smile and inform them that you kindly wish to be introduced to Master Kurogosho?”

“Asking too much, huh.”

“Very much so.”

“Hmm.”

“Indeed.”

“I guess that leaves
me
in a situation.”

“Yes it does.” Enoh folded his thin arms together, regarding Hosuke. “Besides, I get the feeling that you’re not being completely straight with me,” Enoh continued.

“I don’t recall having cheated you.”

“Oh no, you did,” Enoh said, holding his ground. “My original purpose in coming all the way out here was to fight with, and enjoy killing, the source of this curious aura I sensed. But...”

“What?”

“...I found my wonderfully formidable opponent to be just sitting there, gawping at the flames.”

“Uh huh.”

“If you’d been posing for effect, say, I’d have probably snuck up behind you and snapped your neck. But it was immediately clear that you’d
actually
forgotten about me and become engrossed in the flames, so much so that you didn’t even notice me when I was right next to you. I’ve
never
felt so lonely. So I just stood there like a stubborn old man, cursing you for it. Then, when you did finally notice, I felt so
gratified
. I noticed that any desire I had to wring your neck were already gone.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Huh,” Enoh snorted like a child, “you’re a damn enigma. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could talk to bears or something.”

“So you won’t introduce me to this Kurogosho guy?”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t.”

“There’s actually one more favor I wanted to ask.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about Kukai.”

“Aha.”

“I figured the job you wanted me for was somehow related?”

“Hmm.”

“I wanted to let you know I’d be willing to do it, if it sounded interesting. Well, I mean...”

“I’m afraid we’re a bit too far gone to be employing you in the capacity of a guest, you must realize. We may have to, say, torture you for information on Fuminari and any other number of nuggets you might not want to divulge. Our methods are extraordinarily painful.”

“Can’t say I’m a fan of pain.”

“And it’s fully possible that we might decide to kill you once the job is done.”

“Even less a fan of dying.”

“Keeping all this in mind, would you still want the introduction?”

“I’m getting close to reconsidering.”

“I would imagine so.”

“Hmm.”

“And that’s not all. We have located the car you drove here in, Jakou’in and Hanko are already on their way to finish things up at that end too, along with another man that happens to have a crossbow.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Hosuke considered Biku and Fuminari’s predicament. If what Enoh said was true, their lives were in danger. He knew they would not die so easily, but at the same time they would be up against opponents like that beast Hanko. Still, he knew that his life was in danger too.

“I know those guys well enough, I’m sure they’re able to put up a good fight.”

“It doesn’t worry you?”

“It does, a little. But hey, you’ve gotta put yourself first.”

“Huh,” Enoh grunted in response.

Hosuke reached casually down to the grass under his knees and picked up something dark--the gun that Biku had left him. He leveled the barrel at Enoh.

Enoh’s face went blank.

A barrage of sound burst out through the darkness; the sound of repeated gunfire. Then it stopped. Hosuke had the barrel of the gun pointed at the sky, away from Enoh. Hosuke lobbed the now empty weapon so that it landed next to Enoh’s feet. “How about you introduce me to this Kurogosho guy,” Hosuke said quietly.

Enoh broke into a wide grin.

4

Biku and Fuminari sped effortlessly through the darkness.

Fuminari had their hostage on his back. He maintained a powerful stride, showing no sign that he was carrying a man of over 50 kilograms. Each step was perfectly light, like he was running over flat land. He kept an easy jog, but the absolute economy of his movements made it look much faster. Traversing mountainous terrain in the dark with a man on your back was not something any normal person could pull off, no matter the pace. It was made possible because the man doing it, Fuminari, weighed over 145 kilograms. He was a massive predator speeding through the night forest, prey locked in his jaws.

When Fuminari did tire, Biku ran with the man. He ran like this for five minutes, a third of the time Fuminari had, his pace dropping in comparison. His slower pace was not overly surprising, however, considering the huge difference in body weight between them.

Fuminari had his own reason for coming with Biku this way, for not having stayed behind. If they were indeed out there, he was certain that Hanko or Enoh would give chase. Only Enoh or Hanko would be able to match their speed. The last time he was in Tanzawa was proof; the night that Hanko had devoured his fingers, Hanko had tailed them until Fuminari matched him in battle. By running hard, he adopted a form of natural selection, leaving only Enoh and Hanko as possible opponents. This was the best way. Better to limit the fight to the two of them.

When they finally caught up, he planned to leave Enoh to Biku while he faced up against Hanko. He didn’t know how Biku would fare against a man like Enoh, but he suspected he would not prove easy to defeat. All Biku had to do was buy Fuminari enough time for him to close his debt with Hanko.

What if he wasn’t coming?
No, Fuminari reassured himself that the beast would show.
Hanko will show.
If the beast didn’t make chase, that meant he had never been there to start with. Last time, he had witnessed the persistence with which it had tracked him through the night; there was no way he had read the creature incorrectly. It had tracked him by itself, adopting a pace that was almost complacent in its confidence, then the beast had smashed the foundations of Fuminari’s self-belief to pieces.
What if Hanko was coming alone now?
Even if that was the case, Fuminari still planned to exact his revenge one-on-one. He had no intention of asking Biku for assistance. He still had his pride.

All the luxury he had envisaged himself enjoying, the hundred million yen, all those lines of girls for him to fuck doggy style, none of it existed until he had taken Hanko in his hands and squeezed the life out of the creature. Killing Hanko, he knew, was the only way for him to cure his impotence.

So why?
He still felt nothing of what he had perceived before, the cloying energy that had chased him down.
Fuck it!
Still running, Fuminari growled out loud and ground his teeth together.
Come on, Hanko!
He felt an emotion burn through his insides, something close to a begging desperation. He could feel his intestines calcifying, as if something was knotting them together.
No!
They had reached the parked Land Cruiser, yet there was no sign of Hanko.
Where the fuck are you?
As the curse rumbled through his belly he heard Biku draw a sharp breath, he had just opened the door to the vehicle.

“What is it?” he asked. He immediately picked up on the smell coming from the inside of the Land Cruiser. It was the smell of blood. He peered over Biku’s back into the driver’s seat. The stench of the blood punched at him, suddenly overpowering. He saw a grotesque form arranged horizontally inside the vehicle. It was Shimizu’s corpse, lacking a head. Huge amounts of blood had spilled from the stump to stain the upholstery.