The room was small and dingy, but all Christopher Jones could afford. Not that the room condition mattered much to him, he didn't intend to spend much time here. Putting his clothing and gear away into the tiny closet, and tossing his boots into a corner, Christopher lay back on the bed.
So far, his search had proved fruitless. The past few days had been spent out at San Francisco's docks, looking for places likely to be haunted by a nezumi. But, all had been for naught. San Francisco's docks were too busy, too heavily used to contain the deserted, run-down sections preferred by a nezumi or his smaller brothers. Besides, this particular nezumi had already used such a hiding place before, in Seattle. It was doubtful he'd choose a similar location so soon. Christopher sighed, that would leave the sewers and storm drains as the next logical choice. Perhaps he should start with the ones under Chinatown.
Speaking of Chinatown, Christopher realized that the time had come for him to look for another job. Nothing too complex or demanding; he would unload trucks, wash dishes or sweep streets if needed. Ojiisan had always told him that there was nothing wrong with even the most menial of work, as long as one made sure it was done right. Too bad he still wasn't back in LA, he could have gone into Little Tokyo, where his name and profession were known to a small extent. There, work, food other necessities would have been a little easier to come by. Still, he could always try Japantown which, despite it's tiny size, might have what he needed.
The curtain had been pulled and the shade drawn, and Christopher dozed quietly. Near one hand lay a short, finely worked tanto, still in its sheath.
The garden smelled of pines and cherry trees. Warm breezes occasionally blew the white shapes of cherry blossoms past, to land among the garden's rocks, or more likely, in the pond, where koi swam in thick profusion.
Christopher knelt before a low table, a brush held loosely in his hand and quickly drew a series of characters upon a sheet of rice paper. Carefully placing the brush aside, he turned the paper around and pushed it across the table.
<Is this correct, Nami-san?>
Nami picked up the paper and studied the characters with a practiced eye. Christopher, meanwhile, took this moment to study her. Nami was about his age, sixteen, of average height and delicate build with long flowing hair that fell in a smooth fall down her back. Christopher found her to be absolutely beautiful, an impression that distracted him constantly whenever he met with her for his instruction in certain Shinto rituals.
Nami returned the paper to Christopher and indicated a ideogram with her own brush, <You forgot to cross this line, instead of reading 'fire', you have written 'tree'.>
Christopher's smile vanished, <I am sorry, Nami-san. I will do better.>
Nami smiled in return, <Don't worry, it took me a while to get it right as well. Now, try again.>
Christopher bent over the paper again, his brush ready when he heard his name called. <I am sorry, Nami-san, but Ojiisan calls. I must go.>
Hurrying from the garden and the warmth of it's fine, spring day, Christopher found himself outside of his parents house, Ojiisan beside him. Pushing aside the yellow warning tape of the police, they entered.
Inside, they found that the house had been ransacked. Furniture was over turned, pictures were smashed, deep rents had been dug in the walls, and the carpet was stained with dark splotches that were crusty to the touch.
Christopher looked at his granduncle, "Was it the hengeyakoi?"
"Yes. Kumo, I think."
"Why?"
His granduncle sighed deeply. "Because of who you are and what you might become. My clan has been been at war with the hengeyakoi, in all their forms, for centuries. They see you as a threat and attempted to eliminate it."
Christopher said nothing.
"They will return you know; the kumo posses great cunning. They will know that you have survived and will return to finish you. We must leave if we wish to avoid your family's fate."
Christopher stepped away and out the door, entering into a dimly lit warehouse. Scattered about were the bloated and broken bodies of several enormous spiders. Before him lay the corpse of a coldly beautiful woman. Her long hair lay in tangled profusion about her body and her eyes glittered in the white flickering flames that ran from Tenshi's blade. In the center of her chest, the characters perfectly formed, lay one of Christopher's talismans.
Christopher bowed before the body, "Father, Mother, Ojiisan, I have avenged you."
Christopher awoke with a start, one had instinctively reaching for the tanto. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, he quickly looked about the room, as if to assure himself of where he was. Rising, he began to dress, bad dreams or not, he had work to do today.
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