The Psyche Diver Trilogy: Demon Hunters (45 page)

3

Senkichi Fuminari returned with a paper bag in hand, smelling of the night.

The bag was large, but did not appear that way with Fuminari holding it. He had been away getting food and various other supplies. There were stores near the Yamanakako Lake, but Fuminari chose to cross the pass to Gotenba and buy his goods there. It was important to be cautious. Panshigaru could be snooping around and he tended to stand out—not too many Japanese were over 200 centimeters tall. A reasonably organized enemy would track him down eventually, if they had the numbers. That was why he had checked out of the hotel in Atami a few days earlier. It was too much of a risk to stay in one place any longer than three days.

After ambushing Toyama, Fuminari had taken the Tomei Expressway to the Gotenba Interchange then headed straight for Hakone. He would have usually taken the Oi Matsuda Interchange from Odawara, or switched mid-way off the Tomei Expressway to take the Odawara-Atsugi Bypass to Atami via Odawara. Instead, he had gotten off at Gotenba.

Then he had overtaken Biku’s Land Cruiser. Biku had recognized his car and followed him—helped him during a fight with the Yakuza in the mountains. He had appeared out of nowhere, unseen between Tokyo and Gotenba—Biku’s Land Cruiser had driven right into the battle. But if anyone had recognized it as the Land Cruiser they had overtaken en-route, there was a chance they might put the dots together, reach the conclusion that Fuminari was in the area—maybe in Hakone itself. If they were systematic they might have already tracked down the rental house in Sengokubara. All they needed to do was widen the net, it would bring them to their current location near Yamanakako.

Fuminari was regretting not returning to Tokyo, not using a motel.

He paced into the living room with a serious expression. He put the bag down on the table where Biku and Ryoko Kitano were sitting. The bag sat between them, bearing a logo advertising the store as open all night. Fuminari always got supplies as early as he could. They had called Kurogosho before he had gone out. It was a little after ten-thirty.

“How’s the woman?” Fuminari asked.

“Renobo, I assume?” Biku smiled faintly—the Buddha-like smile Fuminari found it impossible to warm to.

“She’s fine until you get close, then she goes mad.”

“Begging you to fuck her, right?”

“Indeed,” Biku answered.

Renobo had readily told them Kukai’s location, but nothing else. And they already had a good idea of the general location from what Toyama had said. If they questioned her about Kurogosho, she clamped her mouth shut. They could have tried to force her, but they knew it would be hard to get her to speak. She had given them information on Kukai’s
sokushinbutsu
to ensure her own safety, believing that they would keep her alive as long as Kurogosho remained in possession of Kukai.

But Fuminari had no interest in Kukai. His only motivation was gaining Hanko’s head. On top of that, he doubted Kurogosho would ever trade for Kukai, even to get Renobo back.
But he might trade Hanko for her
.
Fuminari considered the idea. Kurogosho and Enoh would hardly keep Kukai in the same place forever, especially now Biku and Fuminari knew where it was. That much was clear.

The true purpose of Biku’s call had been to confirm that Kurogosho was there in person. That he was there meant that Hanko and Kukai would be there too. It was easy to move Kukai, but it would require time to move a Psyche Converter. And they would not want to move Kukai each time their location was blown, just as they would prefer not to keep him in a single location indefinitely. Fuminari and Biku were not police. That they knew the location did not necessarily mean anything.

That was Biku’s reading. He had given them four days, believing that Kurogosho would not attempt to move Kukai during that period. He understood that there was little chance that Kurogosho would accept the conditions he had laid out—trading Renobo for Kukai—and so his plan was to infiltrate Kurogosho’s residence before the four days were up. He would attempt to steal Kukai back. Renobo was a ticket to help things run smoothly, a trump card if things went wrong.

He remembered what Enoh had told Renobo when they had captured her—
tell them where Kukai is.
He would not have said that without good reason; so they were either planning to move Kukai, or lure them in to settle things. Kurogosho had spoken on the phone, but it was too early to conclude that Kukai was there.

It was probably a trap to finish them off. They might arrive only to find Kukai and Kurogosho gone, with the Shinmeikai armed and waiting in their place. It was an obvious possibility, and the location, remote in the mountains, was perfect for a showdown—for either side.

But Fuminari was not concerned with Kukai, he wanted Hanko. He had no interest in what happened to Kukai, as long as he could satisfy his debt. And he was willing to use Renobo as leverage to achieve the goal. He had a plan of his own—to escape with Renobo. He would offer her to Kurogosho in exchange for Hanko.

He wanted more than a simple exchange of bodies. He would demand a one-on-one battle. He believed they would grant him that, at least. If he lost, he would die. If they agreed, the fight would likely be staged before the rest of Panshigaru, so he would die, even if he won. But there would be closure. He felt no debt or obligation to Biku. Even if he had, it would mean nothing. Theirs was only a temporary partnership, a mutual convenience and nothing else.

Ryoko got up and began to empty the supplies from the paper bag. She carried some to the fridge in the kitchen.

“What’s wrong?” Biku asked Fuminari, catching the man’s heavy expression.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Fuminari answered.

Biku chuckled, a faint grin forming over his crimson lips.

“What?”

“You’re a bad liar, Fuminari.”

“The fuck?”

“I can’t tell what it is you’re planning, but it’s obvious you’re hiding something.”

“And what if I am?”

“It’s fine.”

“…”

“Everyone is entitled a secret or two. More importantly, wouldn’t you agree…”

“Agree what?”

“…that it’s about time for us to be moving on? I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing.”

“Sure. We should go back to Tokyo, or a motel somewhere.”

“Great. I might make an initial survey around the Megami Lake tomorrow. A contact of mine in Tokyo seems to think it’s possible to contact the architect that designed the residence. If so, I can obtain the blueprints. We can cross-reference the plans with Renobo’s description.” Biku glanced down, then got up. “I’m going to shower. I’ll check in on the lusty hag before I sleep.”

4

It was 2:00 a.m.—the dead of night.

Fuminari opened his eyes slowly. A bluish-black darkness filled his vision. Streams of moonlight filtered through the window and the treetops outside. There was a light wind, a rustling of leaves. He kept still. Ryoko slept to his side, he could feel her bare arm on his. It was a point of warmth, like a soft flame. Her chest rose and fell in a gentle wave. It rose again, keeping a constant rhythm. Fuminari concentrated, monitoring the pattern of her breathing. She was in a deep sleep. He had made sure to spend time with her before she had fallen asleep, to attend to her with his tongue, lips and fingers. She had fallen asleep naked.

He moved a little, watching for a reaction. Her breathing remained unchanged. A motionless wind entered the bed, coming between them as he eased himself out of the sheets. The room was cold from the night on the plateau. The chill pressed against the bare flesh of his huge frame. He could still feel Ryoko’s warmth, her smell. He gathered his underwear up and put it on. Then he pulled on his jeans and camouflage shirt. He grabbed a few other things and slid a brown envelope from under the bed. He placed it on the sheets where he had been.

For a while there had been a faint voice, coming from under his feet. A ghost-like sound, a sobbing from below the ground. It was Renobo.

Men…

Men…

Where are my men..?

I need you…

I need you here…

Fill me…

Stick it into me…

Fuminari…

Biku…

Come…

Let me suck you…

Fuminari…

Biku…

The muttering was endless. The voice was like an icy hand, chilling as it stroked his spine.

“Uh huh,” Fuminari’s thick lips curved subtly.

He turned the doorknob in his hand. It made a quiet, metallic sound. He eased the door open and exited to the corridor. He made his way down the stairs, his heavy frame hardly making a sound. There was a tiny creaking of the floorboards. Then he was outside the room.

Fuminari…

Fuck me…

Biku…

Let me suck you…

He inserted the key. Another small sound. The voice faltered. He inched the door open.

“…”

He sensed her swallow her breath as he slipped into the room. Here too, moonlight seeped through the window.

“Fuminari, is it you?”

The voice was hoarse, broken. He stood there in silence. The old woman was tied to the bed near the window, facing upwards in one of Ryoko’s dresses. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, obvious under the moonlight. It was a grotesque sight. She stared at him with eyes like damp chasms. Gone was any resemblance to Renobo the seductress. She had become a spent and tattered old hag.

“Hee, hee!” She made a strange sound. Something like joy crossed her features.

She showed her teeth. They alone remained white, as before. “You’ve come for me at last, Fuminari,” she said, her hoarse croaking song-like. “You’re here! Good. Take me, however you want. Don’t be shy. Fuck me for as long as you wish.” Her voice was a whisper.

It was ugly to behold—her broken voice still held traces of that horrific, cloying lust.

Fuminari approached slowly. She was tied so that her legs were apart, wrists and ankles bound to the bedposts, waist strapped to the frame. There was a little give, allowing her some mobility.

Fuminari came to a stop at the bedside. He pushed his left hand up the skirt of her dress. She swallowed heavily, eyes stretching wide. She was naked underneath. Fuminari pressed his thick index finger into her crotch. She was already wet. He drew himself closer, bringing his face directly above hers.

“There we are,” his lips lifted a fraction.

He pushed his finger inside her, up to the first joint. Renobo’s yellowed eyes seemed to melt, become buried under folds of skin. Fuminari stopped there.

“We can do this as much you want.”

He pushed further, up to the second joint. He felt a hot wetness clamp tightly around the thick digit. It was incredible. Her insides compressed like they were trying to chew off his finger, like it was caught in the jaw of a ravenous, toothless creature. His finger was sucked in to the base. She was staring at him, mouth twisted in a v-shape.

“See, I don’t lie,” she whispered.

Hot breath gusted over him. Her magnetism was phenomenal, it was as though liquid seduction oozed from between her wrinkles.

“You stick your viper in here and I’ll fix it in no time.” Her red tongue darted over her lips.

If it were capable, his finger would have ejaculated. Fuminari fixed her with a sly grin, then pulled his finger out.

“What are you doing?” Renobo’s voice sharpened.

“Keep quiet. I said I’d do it, but later.”

“You fucking…”

“I’m leaving this place, you’re coming with me,” he said.

“Leaving?”

“If things go to plan, I’ll even return you to Kurogosho.”

He stabbed his fingers into her again, two this time. Her eyes flew wide and she let out a shrill howl. Fuminari covered her mouth with his other hand. His large fingers went in easily. The same force clamped tightly over them.

Her eyes rolled white and she began to push her hips into him. The bedsprings creaked softly in the darkness. Fuminari began to withdraw his fingers, keeping his other hand over her mouth. Renobo shook her head in protest. Fingers clear and with her mouth still covered, he waited for her jerking to subside before continuing.

“We continue this, but later.”

He peered down, looking for her assent. She nodded under his hand. He began to untie her ropes with his other hand. Then he slowly withdrew the hand from her mouth. She screamed out loud.

“
Biku!
Fuminari’s trying to escape! He’s betraying you! He’s abducting me!”
The words flew out in continuous succession.

“Fuck it!”
Fuminari punched the side of her face.

“
Heeee he he, Heeee he he!”

Renobo’s red mouth opened wide as she cackled with cramped laughter. Something white was over the red of her tongue, one of her front teeth—smashed when Fuminari punched her.

“What is this?”

The voice came from behind. It was Biku; he stood in the doorway, passively observing. He showed no signs of having just awoken. He had known Fuminari’s plan. He had probably been behind the door for a while.

“This
shitbag
Fuminari comes in saying he’s going to abduct me! That he wants to fuck me, this old bat, just him and me.
Heeee he hee
!” Again, the cramped laughter. She sounded like she was on the verge of insanity.

“Biku, I’m taking this hag with me,” Fuminari growled.

Biku’s expression was the same as always. “May I ask why?”

“
She’s coming with me!
” Fuminari roared, responding to Biku’s cool voice.

“Why?”

Fuminari said nothing. He dropped instead into a fighting stance, feeling a thirst for blood surge through him.

“It pains me to say this, but I can’t let you do that.”

Biku extended his right hand out before him, lowering his center of gravity as he did. Neither was within striking range, but the gap could be closed in the blink of an eye.