《Exorcist uprise》


 1. Team aka

    In modern day Tokyo. A presidential blue haired female ran after a ghouls spirit on a rooftop with a glowing pink spirit whip in hand. The girl tried to strike the ghoul ahead of her. The ghoul dodged and vanished. Noriko jumped to the other rooftop as she talked into her earpiece


    "Teajin,do you copy?"


    On the other end of the line a dark green haired,amber eyed male answers the call.


    "Need my help already?"he teased her." What happened to working solo?"


    "Not the right time for that. I''m being serious."


    "I''m guessing you''re calling because you need my help. Am I right?" Taejin asked adjusting his glasses.


    He had guessed right. Being the brains of the group he was mostly relied on when it came to missions.


    "Do you have the coordinates or not?"


    Taejin held up his chin with one hand and pretended to be deep in thought.


    "Well, let''s see ....."


    "TAEJIN KAWAKAMI! I swear if you keep this up,this mission will be the least of your worries. Now are you gonna give me those coordinates or not?!."


    He sighed in defeat.


    "It''s heading for the city hall."


    And with that he ended the call. Later near the city hall,the ghoul jumped off the three storey building and landed behind an alleyway. It walked out of the alleyway but was met with a calm looking Noriko leaning against the wall.


    "Took you long enough. I was starting to get bored waiting."


    It tried escaping in the opposite direction but it got stuck in its place. A blonde haired,grey eyed male appears from a corner.


    "Sorry about that. Something came up."he answered sheepishly.


    "You''re lucky were both needed for this mission."


    A pair of spirit chains raised from the ground and wrapped themselves around the ghoul. Taiki took out a basic talisman and cast an incarnation that sealed up the ghoul in the talisman.


    "Seems were done here."Noriko remarked.


    "Couldn''t have done it without you."


    Taejin''s voice was heard from the earpiece childishly demanding some credit for the mission claiming his technology skills had helped them track the ghoul down in the first place. Taiki suggested visiting a cafe seeing as it was still early.


    "You barely did anything". Noriko complained.


    "What can I say? Sealing up ghouls is not as easy as it seems."


    Noriko stated that they would bring them too much attention.The two''s clothes were all messed up and dirty from the constant patrolling, drawing them way too much attention than they needed.


    "Too late for that. I think our Little sealing stunt back there already brought us plenty of attention. Though I don''t know if it''s wanted or not. " He states playfully placing his arm around her shoulder.


    Noriko noticing the people''s questioning stares probably because of their outfits lowered her head blushing in embarrassment.


    And that was team aka for you. Always drawing attention wherever they went.


    **At the Kuroda Residence**


    The door to the living room swung open as Noriko and Taiki entered.


    "We''re back," Noriko announced.


    "And we''ve got the ghoul," Taiki added, holding up a talisman.


    Taejin glanced up from his book, raising an eyebrow. "What took you two so long?"This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Taiki grinned. "Had to stop for a quick snack, nothing much."


    Taejin sighed, shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised?"


    Setsuo walked into the room with Uncle Kuroda. "Looks like the whole team''s here."


    Uncle Kuroda''s eyes twinkled as he took the talisman from Noriko. "Unlike most ghouls, this one is a corrupted spirit sorcerling. Sealing it was the best option."


    Taejin crossed his arms. "A ghoul is still a ghoul."


    Uncle Kuroda shook his head. "One day, you''ll understand."


    Setsuo turned to Noriko. "Now that you''re done with the mission, you''re free to go, but I''d like to have a word with you."


    Noriko sighed but smiled. "As long as it''s not another scolding, I''m in."


    The two headed out, leaving Uncle Kuroda and Taiki in the room.


    "Taiki, a word," Uncle Kuroda said.


    "Coming. Talk to you later," Taiki called to Taejin before following his uncle to the artifact room.


    **In the Artifact Room**


    Uncle Kuroda placed the talisman in a casing as Taiki stood behind him, curious.


    "Do you know why I asked you to stay behind?" Uncle Kuroda began.


    Taiki shrugged. "Congratulate me on a job well done?"


    Uncle Kuroda chuckled softly. "Partly. But that''s not the main reason. Do you want to know why I specifically asked you not to destroy the ghoul?"


    "Because it was a spirit?" Taiki guessed, looking confused.


    "Exactly. Unlike ghouls, which are pure evil, spirits are quite the opposite. They can be easily influenced and corrupted to turn evil. Instead of exorcising them, there is another way to stop them: purification."


    "I heard about that once," Taiki mused. "The Exorcists used it as a technique to stop spirits, but the technique was soon forgotten once the class went extinct."


    Uncle Kuroda nodded. "Seems you''ve been reading quite a bit. And yes, you''re right."


    "But what I don''t get is why keep the ghoul when none of us can purify it," Taiki pointed out.


    Uncle Kuroda smiled knowingly. "You have a point. It may seem useless to keep it now, but I intend to change that." He placed his hand on the casing and closed his eyes. The seal on the talisman glowed red, emitting bright specks of light. The seal disappeared, and the talisman gradually faded away.


    Uncle Kuroda opened his eyes and looked at Taiki, who was staring in awe. "And that''s how it''s done."


    Taiki''s eyes sparkled with admiration.


    Taiki stated,"cool." He then asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Didn''t you say only Exorcists can purify spirits?"


    Uncle Kuroda answered confidently, "I did."


    "And last I remember, you were a martial artist," Taiki continued.


    "And still am," uncle Kuroda replied, curiosity piqued. "Then how did you¡ª"


    Uncle Kuroda interrupted, "You learn a lot of secrets the more you stick around."


    Taiki grinned. "You are definitely teaching me that later."


    Suddenly, Taiki''s phone rang. He excused himself and answered it.


    On the other end of the line, Tasha shouted, "Where are you?!"


    Taiki held the phone away from his ear. "Tasha, hello to you too."


    Tasha continued, "Mom and Dad will be back in less than an hour, and you know you''re on cleaning duty today!"


    Taiki slapped his forehead. "I completely forgot about that. The team and I were out on a mission."


    Tasha sounded exasperated. "Seriously!?"


    "I may need the five of you to cover for me this one time. Think you can manage?" Taiki asked hopefully.


    Tasha paused. "What do we get in return?"


    Taiki thought quickly. "How about an exclusive front view of my next mission?"


    Tasha wasn''t impressed. "Nice try."


    Trina''s voice chimed in. "We want full access to the Kuroda residence."


    "Not happening," Taiki said firmly.


    Tasha relented. "Just pick up the groceries on your way back. We''ll cover for you."


    Taiki sighed in relief. "Thanks, Tash. This is why you''re my favorite."


    All four of his sisters except Tasha shouted, "Hey!"


    Taiki laughed. "I''m just kidding, guys. I''ll see you at home. Love you." He hung up.


    **Later at the Ishiko House**


    Tina looked out the window as their parents'' car arrived. "They''re back."


    Tasha nodded. "Seems we really have to cover for him. Girls, you know what to do."


    They all nodded. Tasha and Trina rushed out to meet their parents as they were getting the groceries from the car''s boot. They insisted on helping and carried the shopping bags themselves.


    Inside the house, their parents were kept occupied while Taiki climbed in through his bedroom window, carrying groceries in his hands.


    "Made it," he muttered.


    He found Trixie seated on his bed. "Could you be any later?"


    Taiki rolled his eyes. "Do you know how bad traffic is in the evening?"


    Trixie smirked. "Since when do you own a car?"


    Taiki grinned. "Just about the same time you all started demanding favors. Where are the others?"


    "Downstairs covering for you, of course," Trixie replied.


    "How lucky of me," Taiki said, shaking his head.


    "You have five minutes to get your sorry ass downstairs," Trixie ordered before leaving the room.


    **Later at Night, on the Streets**


    A man was busy on his phone, grocery bags in one hand, as he answered a call. "Hello? Yeah, I''m already on my way back... No, the store was out of cheese."


    A dark figure quickly rushed by behind him. The man turned around, swearing he had heard something. He ignored it and continued with his call.


    "As I was saying, I might be a little late today, so don''t stay up waiting for me." His legs suddenly stopped mid-stride. "What''s going on? I can''t move," he thought, panic rising.


    The man''s body began to tremble, a chill running down his spine. Some drool landed on his head. Slowly, he looked up, his face turning pale as he met the open mouth of a monstrous creature above him. Terrified, he dropped his phone.


    "Hello? ...Hello? Anyone there?" the caller on the other end asked, but the line went dead as the mysterious creature attacked.

 2. The ring

    **The Next Day, at a Cafe**


    Setsuo and Noriko were already seated beside each other when Taejin walked up, holding a strawberry milkshake in one hand and a latte in the other.


    "Got your strawberry milkshake and latte here," Taejin said.


    "I asked for a black coffee, not a latte," Setsuo grumbled.


    "I know. But I prefer a latte. It''s less... serious," Taejin replied.


    Noriko thanked Taejin and took a sip of her milkshake through a straw. "Delicious."


    Taejin sat opposite Setsuo while Noriko remained beside him. As Taejin sipped his drink, Setsuo glared at his latte. "Is it too late to get a refund?"


    Noriko offered, "We can share my milkshake if you want."


    Setsuo shook his head. "No thanks, I''m good."


    Noriko held the milkshake in front of him. "Oh, come on. Just a sip won''t hurt," she teased, trying to get him to drink.


    Setsuo strongly resisted. "Not happening. You know I don''t have a sweet tooth."


    "Just this once," Noriko pleaded.


    The door to the cafe opened, and Taiki walked up to the table. "Sorry for being late. I had to finish up some chores before I could come."


    He sat next to Taejin and noticed the strange behavior between Setsuo and Noriko. Setsuo was still resisting, but finally, Taiki intervened. "If he doesn''t want it, I''ll take it."


    On instinct, Setsuo grabbed the milkshake and took a sip using the same straw Noriko had used. "Not bad," he admitted.


    Everyone looked at him, surprised. "What?" Setsuo asked, confused.


    They pointed to the straw. Noriko''s face flushed furiously, and she almost fainted.


    "Is she okay?" Taiki asked.


    Taejin reassured him. "Relax, she''s fine. Anyway, let''s get back to the reason we''re here. Captain?"


    Setsuo took another sip of the milkshake. "Isn''t this supposed to be an outing?" Taiki asked.


    "It was, until this came up," Setsuo replied.


    "Till what came up?" Taiki asked.


    Taejin brought out his tablet and opened a video link. "This," he said, showing them a news report.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    **Video of a News Report**


    The reporter spoke urgently. "We''re here live in downtown Tokyo where a murder was just reported earlier today. We received claims that only half of the victim''s body was found at the crime scene. The death is said to not have been caused by a normal murderer but an unidentified creature."


    Images of the crime scene were shown as the body was taken away in an ambulance.


    "The real question everyone is asking is what creature could be so ruthless and deadly to have caused such a death," the reporter concluded.


    Taejin ended the video.


    Taiki looked confused. "So we''re here because of a murder mystery?"


    Taejin answered, "Yes... and no."


    "I''m confused," Taiki admitted.


    "This is not the first time this has happened. Several similar deaths have recently been reported all over Tokyo," Taejin explained.


    Setsuo added, "What makes these deaths stand out is how all the victims show no signs of struggle during the encounter. They didn''t even run or fight back."


    "With such a ruthless death?" Taiki asked, incredulous.


    "That''s what I don''t understand myself," Setsuo said. "Who in their right mind would just stand by as they were about to get killed?"


    "No idea," Taiki replied.


    Taejin interjected, "Don''t put too much thought into it. It''s not our job to solve this mystery. We only focus on ghouls, not murders."


    "But what if it''s a ghoul?" Setsuo challenged.


    "A ghoul leaving human remains? Now you''re just imagining things. I''m sure the council will send out some teams to deal with it," Taejin dismissed.


    At that moment, a giant ghoul fell to the ground outside and was quickly tied up by a spirit rope as three members of a different group appeared and sealed it up.


    Taejin smirked. "See? I told you. We''re good."


    Taiki received a message on his phone. "Who''s it from?" Taejin asked.


    "It''s Gene. The ring''s holding a tournament tonight, and a special fighter will be attending. He wanted to know if we''d be attending," Taiki explained.


    "An underground fighting tournament? Count me out," Taejin said.


    "That leaves me, Noriko, and Setsuo. I''ll tell Gene to save us some tickets," Taiki decided.


    "Guess I''m canceling my plans for tonight," Setsuo remarked.


    Taejin teased, "You had plans?"


    They all teased him.


    "Hardly. Just a late-night walk," Setsuo said.


    Taejin persisted, "Anyone special in mind?"


    "Yes," Setsuo replied.


    The three looked at him with expectant eyes. "So who''s the lucky girl?" Noriko asked.


    "Or boy. We won''t judge," Taiki added.


    Setsuo frowned. "Simple. It''s me, myself, and I."


    Their faces dropped in disappointment.


    "Seriously!?" Noriko and Taejin exclaimed.


    "You almost had us hooked," Taejin said.


    "Almost?" Setsuo teased.


    "Just almost," Taejin replied.


    Setsuo noticed Noriko had regained her composure. "When did you regain consciousness?"


    "About the same time you canceled your plans to attend the tournament," Noriko said.


    Taiki cheered, "Underground tournament, here we come!"


    **Later that Night, at the Underground Ring**


    The area was packed as the three made their way through the crowd.


    Setsuo asked, "So what was it that made you faint earlier today? Because you were out for quite some time."


    "I told you. I was simply tired from last night''s training, that''s all," Noriko replied.


    "Right. So it had nothing to do with me taking a sip from your milkshake? Because I''m sure I did nothing out of the ordinary," Setsuo said.


    "Nothing out of the ordinary? How is drinking from the same straw normal?!" Noriko retorted.


    "So you admit I was the reason you blacked out?" Setsuo teased.


    "You did not just say that," Noriko fumed.


    Gene walked up to them. "There you are. I was starting to wonder when you''d show up," he greeted. "The tournament already began."


    **Scene at the Fighting Arena**


    They arrived in the middle of a fight.


    Taiki exclaimed, "Sweet! We got here just as things are getting heated up."


    "Did the so-called great fighter already participate?" Setsuo asked.


    "Nope. Just a few more rounds till the big match," Gene answered.


    "Shouldn''t he at least qualify in order to proceed to the finals?" Setsuo questioned.


    "For a normal fighter, yes. But in this case, he automatically proceeds because of his high ranking position in the world of underground street fighting," Gene explained.


    "I don''t get what makes this guy so special. He seems like an ordinary fighter to me," Setsuo said.


    Noriko and Taiki gasped. "What?! You don''t know who The Smash is?!"


    "Am I supposed to?" Setsuo asked, bewildered.


    "The Smash is one of the greatest fighters to have ever existed. He has never lost a single fight in the ring and was the one to have promoted underground street fighting," Noriko explained.


    "He''s also a master at boxing, judo, and most forms of martial arts," Taiki added. "And altogether he is¡ª"


    Noriko and Taiki came together and struck a pose. "The Super Majestic and Undefeated Supreme Hero!" they exclaimed in unison.


    Setsuo looked at them blankly. "Undefeated begins with a ''u,'' not an ''a.'' And did you say ''hero'' at the end?"


    "He is a hero, to all street fighters, especially the rookies," Noriko insisted.


    "All that for a mere street fighter?" Setsuo questioned.


    "Hey!" Noriko and Taiki retorted, clearly offended.


    "I''ll have you know The Smash is an inspirational figure who encourages us fighters to grow stronger. You''re talking to fellow Smashers, you know?" Noriko said.


    "Smashers?" Setsuo echoed.


    Gene sighed. "Don''t ask."


    "No wonder Taejin bailed on us so last minute," Setsuo muttered.


    At that moment, The Smash passed by, followed by his fan club. Noriko and Taiki got easily distracted and rushed up to him as he was giving autographs. Noriko presented him with a bunch of stuff to be signed, and The Smash obliged.


    Setsuo sighed. "This is gonna be one long tournament."

 3. Underground tournament

    Later that night, the match between a martial artist and a boxer was about to begin. The bell rang, signaling the start of the match. The crowd roared with anticipation, the air thick with excitement.


    Gene turned to Setsuo, a playful glint in his eye. "Any bet on who''s gonna win the match?"


    Setsuo leaned back in his chair, surveying the fighters. "I don''t do bets."


    Gene grinned, "Then at least a guess. You never know, you might get lucky. In my case, I''d go for the boxer. He''s been fighting in the ring for as long as I can remember and seems to be the most experienced. He''s definitely going to win."


    Setsuo shrugged, "I doubt it. The martial artist will win."


    Gene raised an eyebrow, "Reason?"


    Setsuo looked thoughtful, his gaze fixed on the ring. "I don''t know, just a hunch."


    Gene chuckled, "How about we make things a bit interesting?"


    Setsuo hesitated, then smirked, "A bet, you mean?"


    Gene nodded eagerly, "Exactly. Let''s start with something small. Ten bucks?"


    Setsuo agreed, "Deal."


    Taiki appeared between the two, grinning. "And I''ll be the key witness."


    Gene chuckled again, "And don''t worry if you lose. You''re a first-timer, after all."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    The match soon began. The martial artist and the boxer circled each other, each sizing up their opponent. Just as the boxer got ready to deliver the last blow, Gene acknowledged his early victory but was taken aback as the boxer was sent flying into a nearby wall. Everyone was left speechless.


    Taiki exclaimed, "No freaking way!"


    Setsuo smirked, "Looks like the martial artist wins."


    Gene stammered, "But I thought... how did..."


    Setsuo cleared his throat, holding out his hand. "I believe you owe me ten bucks."


    Gene reluctantly handed him the cash, "I thought this was your first time betting."


    Setsuo replied nonchalantly, "But it is."


    Gene questioned how he could have easily won, but Setsuo just shrugged it off. Gene''s face dropped, but Taiki patted his back and encouraged him, giving him a new sense of confidence.


    Still in doubt, Gene demanded another rematch and took out 50 bucks. Setsuo reluctantly agreed, and the bet was set. The match was between a summoner and a black belt master.


    Taiki announced, "Players, place your bets!"


    Gene bet on the black belt while Setsuo bet on the summoner. Gene scoffed at the thought of a summoner beating a black belt master at Taekwondo, now confident with his bet.


    In the middle of the fight, the black belt prepared a deadly move as the summoner powered up. The two charged at each other. The black belt attacked, and the arena was covered with smoke as the two sides clashed. As the scene cleared up, the black belt master had his back facing the summoner.


    The black belt was left in shock at how he had missed. The summoner summoned a portal below the black belt, ending the match. And like that, Setsuo won.


    They continued betting, but the outcome was the same. Setsuo playfully counted all his winnings on his fingers while Taiki comforted a sulking Gene.


    The host announced the final match between the Smash and the Snape.


    Host: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, for the moment you''ve all been waiting for. The last fight of the night. Introducing our fighters. To my right, we have the Snape, and to my left, it''s the reigning champion. The bang, smash, and crash. The one and only, the Smaaash!"


    The Smashers all cheered along as the Smash made his way to the stage and struck a pose at the end. The fight began. The fighters got into position. The Smash easily dodged as he struck poses for his fans. Noriko and Taiki had stars in their eyes.


    Setsuo asked, "What makes the Smash so special?"


    Gene replied, "Despite being half celestial, he never uses his abilities."


    Setsuo found it strange for a celestial to partake in street fighting. The crowd counted down with the host as the Smash had the Snape in an inescapable headlock. The Smash was declared the winner.


    Afterwards, Noriko and Taiki, alongside the other Smashers, cheered with the signature pose.


    Gene commented, "Well, that was short. Seems we missed the fight."


    Setsuo shrugged, "Not necessarily."


    Gene looked puzzled, "How come?"


    Setsuo explained, "Though it''s true that the fight was off, I was still able to watch some bits of it, and I think I finally found out what makes him so undefeatable."


    Gene''s eyes widened, "Really?"


    Setsuo nodded, "It''s just a hunch."


    Gene, excited, "Mind sharing it with a close friend?"


    Setsuo smirked, "I don''t see why not."


    Gene had an excited look on his face, "Well?"


    Setsuo teased, "Be sure to inform me when you find one."


    With t


    hat, he walked away, leaving Gene stunned. Noriko and Taiki took selfies with the Smash.

 4. Hillside high

    Taiki was fast asleep at his desk, his head buried in his arms. Akio glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow.


    "Why is Taiki out cold since morning?" Akio asked, nudging Kian who was sitting next to him.


    Kian shrugged. "Don''t ask me. I wasn''t the one who dragged him to an underground street-fighting tournament." He pointed to Gene, who was also dozing off, his head lolling back.


    Akio chuckled. "Those two are truly best bros."


    Just then, the classroom door opened, and the teacher, a woman in her thirties, walked in with a stack of papers.


    "Okay, students. Time for a pop quiz," she announced, placing the papers on her desk.


    Akio sighed. "Of course it is." He leaned over and shook Gene awake. "Come on, you two. Time to wake up."


    Kian tried to rouse Taiki but found him deeply asleep. "He''s out cold."


    Gene smirked and leaned in, whispering something in Taiki''s ear. Instantly, Taiki shot up, wide awake.


    "I''m up!" he declared, rubbing his eyes.


    Everyone in the classroom turned to stare at him.


    "What?" Taiki asked, blinking in confusion.


    #### In the Hallway After Class


    The four friends walked together down the bustling hallway.


    "I passed!" Taiki exclaimed, holding up a test paper marked with an A.


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    Akio, Kian, and Gene stared at him in disbelief.


    "Impossible," Kian muttered, taking the paper from Taiki''s hands and examining it closely.


    Gene whistled. "He really did pass."


    The trio had been Taiki''s best friends since childhood, along with the members of Team Aka.


    "I thought you said you didn''t study," Kian said, shaking his head.


    "I didn''t," Taiki replied, shrugging. "Guess I''m just lucky."


    "Seems he''s a natural genius," Akio said, giving Taiki a playful nudge. "That reminds me, what did you say to Taiki that made him wake up earlier?"


    Gene grinned. "It''s nothing important, really."


    "Come on, Gene. Just this once, please!" Kian pleaded.


    Gene chuckled. "I just told him that Mai finally agreed to go on a date with him."


    Kian and Akio gasped. "Are you kidding me?!"


    "I thought you said you got over her years ago," Kian said, looking at Taiki.


    Taiki smiled sheepishly. "Seems I was mistaken."


    Suzuki Mai, the most popular girl at Hillside High, had been Taiki''s childhood crush. They had been neighbors since they were kids but had only ended up as close friends.


    "Speaking of the devil," Kian said, nodding towards Mai who was approaching them.


    Mai met Taiki''s gaze and smiled, nodding in his direction. The bell signaling the end of the day rang, and Taiki grinned.


    "And that''s my cue to leave. I''ll see you guys tomorrow," he said, walking over to Mai.


    "How sure are we that he actually got over Mai? Those two seem closer than ever," Kian said, watching them.


    "And what do you suggest?" Akio asked.


    Kian placed his hands on both their shoulders, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Boys, time for a stakeout."


    #### Later That Evening


    Mai and Taiki walked home together, the sun setting behind them, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.


    "So, how did the test go?" Mai asked, glancing at Taiki.


    "For once, not that bad," Taiki replied, smiling.


    "You''re saying that as though you''ve ever failed," Mai teased.


    "What can I say? I guess I''m just lucky," Taiki said with a shrug.


    Unbeknownst to them, Kian, Akio, and Gene were hiding behind a nearby building, watching them intently.


    The two stopped in front of an ice cream vendor, and Taiki turned to Mai. "Two chocolate chip ice creams, please."


    The vendor handed them the ice creams, and Taiki paid, handing one to Mai. She took it with a smile, and they continued their walk, chatting and laughing.


    From their hiding spot, Kian, Akio, and Gene exchanged glances.


    "Still nothing " Kian whispered.


    " I tried to warn you" Akio replied. " It''s not late to back out from the plan."


    Gene resisted. " Not yet. Let''s just follow them a bit longer ."


    As the three friends slipped away, Taiki and Mai continued their walk, unaware of the stakeout. Taiki felt a sense of contentment, enjoying the simple pleasure of Mai''s company and the sweetness of the moment.


    The three continued following the two.


    Mai inquired as to why after all those years despite her constant rejections,he was still always persistent.


    Taiki had no answer to that but just said that he held on to some hope of winning her over and that he was planning on giving up any time soon.


    They soon arrive at her house and Taiki sees her off. Taiki heard a breaking branch from behind and looked back finding nothing.


    Akio, Gene and Kian quickly hide behind a lamp post nearly caught.


    Gene is revealed to be covering Kian''s,"are you trying to get the three of us caught?" He whispered. Akio looked back but didn''t find Taiki,"he''s gone."


    " Hey there," a voice came from behind startling the three. It is revealed to be Taiki


    " What are you three doing here?"he asked.


    "Would you believe me if I said we just happened to be passing by?"Gene stated trying to his fearful tone behind a nervous smile.

 5. Monster trouble

    ***A Couple of Days Later***


    Nighttime


    Taiki stood on the balcony of the first floor, his phone pressed to his ear. The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of city life.


    "Finally decided to call, did you?" Noriko''s voice crackled through the line, a hint of amusement in her tone.


    "Noriko, it''s not what you think. I was just finishing up some school work," Taiki explained, leaning against the railing.


    "This late?" Noriko sounded skeptical.


    "Don''t ask. When you live with five sisters, you hardly get anything done. Anyway, how are things back at the dojo?"


    "They could be better. Setsuo drowned himself in work. But it''s mostly about the recent murders. And between you and me, he''s more dedicated to this case than he is at socializing."


    In the background, Setsuo''s voice rang out, "I can hear you, you know?"


    "Yeah, point proven," Noriko replied, unbothered. "Anyway, we were planning on meeting up tomorrow at the Ring for the tournament''s finals. And to make it better, the Smash will be fighting as well."


    "Seriously?! You''re bluffing."The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "This is no bluff. It''ll be the fight of the century!"


    "You''re right about that," Taiki said, glancing around the darkened street. "Hopefully, we manage to bring Taejin along this time."


    "Oh, trust me, no excuse is gonna get him out of this one."


    They continued their conversation, laughter and casual banter filling the quiet night. Suddenly, Taiki heard rustling in the bushes nearby. He straightened, scanning the surroundings, noticing movement in a nearby bush.


    "Noriko, I''ve got to go. I''ll call you later," he said, hanging up abruptly.


    #### Scene Change


    Taiki jumped off the balcony with effortless grace, landing silently on the ground. He moved across the street cautiously, eyes sharp and alert. He spotted a dark figure moving away and gave chase, following it into the dark streets and eventually to an alleyway.


    "Now where could it have gone? Whatever it is..." he muttered, looking around.


    He suddenly sensed a heavy, dark presence around him. *This feeling...*


    It was coming from the alleyway. A tiny angel version of Taiki appeared on his right shoulder.


    "Nope. Nuh-uh. I know where this is going, and the answer is no. We are not going into that alleyway," Angel Taiki said firmly.


    On his left shoulder, a devil version of Taiki appeared. "Don''t listen to Mr. Goodie Two-Shoes over here. It''s the perfect way to end the day."


    Angel Taiki looked exasperated. "Are we seriously discussing this right now? This is common sense. It''s the middle of the night, on a deserted street, and we''re sensing, not to mention chasing, a dark figure emitting a dark aura into a dark, probably deadly alleyway. Where a murder could probably be committed."


    The other two looked at Angel Taiki with bored expressions.


    "Are you done yet?" Devil Taiki asked, yawning.


    "Did you listen to anything I just said?" Angel Taiki demanded.


    Both shook their heads.


    Taiki shrugged. "I''m just going to go for it," he said, supported by Devil Taiki.


    Angel Taiki sighed and disappeared, along with Devil Taiki.


    Taiki steeled himself and casually walked into the alleyway. *Come on, Taiki, you''ve got this. It''s probably nothing. And you''re an exorcist, you''ve got this.*


    In the alleyway, a droplet of drool landed on his head. Taiki examined it, a sense of dread washing over him. He felt a presence above and slowly looked up.


    Hanging upside down above him was a dark, vicious, beast-like creature, its mouth wide open, inches away from his face.


    *My feet... why can''t I move?* Taiki thought, panic rising. *That dark aura is affecting my whole body. It''s as if I''ve lost all control.*


    The creature poised itself to attack.


    "Oh, shit," Taiki whispered, frozen in fear.