Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: Everybody Needs a day Job

Spirit hunter kaiji: I can't believe i died just to be brought back as a spirit detective


            “reporting in, I’m at the location but there doesn't seem to be any paranormal activity nearby” a man spoke into a walky-talky in the middle of an ancient graveyard at the heart of the ruins.

“you know this isn’t an exact science! Just look around until something happens” a female voice replied

the man reluctantly put the walky-talky down and prepared for the worst possible outcome. That being wasting time and resources running after false rumors. But he spoke too soon. Before he could light his cigarette a gust of wind started swirling around him putting out the flame of his lighter. he knew this wasn't a normal occurrence and instinctively jumped out of the way as the wind converged slicing through the air like knives.

“oh, it seems I’ve found myself a quick one” the apparition said aloud.

“not quick enough it seems” he said as he inspected his person to find a gaping hole on the side of his coat and his tie on the verge of falling off

“oh don't worry, you won’t feel a thing” the apparition said

“hey asshole, that was supposed to be my line!” he said as he grabbed what remained of his tie and finished ripping it apart. He shouted out the words “Phantom blade!” and a ghostly sword manifested itself in his hand.

The two then converged into a fury of slices and dices. One would go for the kill but the other would always roll out of reach at the last second. The demon grew tired and rose up into the air encompassing the whole cemetery. The wind was blowing hard, he felt scattered rocks and leaves fly around him faster than he could see, cutting his face and slitting his clothes. He jumped up to meet the demon where it was. One thing that they taught you in year one of spirit training, every phantom has a powerful all-out attack. And it’s during this attack, that they become their most vulnerable. But just before the man was able to kill the demon, it cried out in a shriek of pain.

“What?!” the man said

the attack and the swirling wind stopped all at once, and at that same moment, the demon’s body split right down the middle; in twain. And behind it, was the one who had done the finishing blow, who knew of the weakness, and capitalized on it. A young boy with a blue katana sword. The man didn't recognize the boy so he must not be from any division. But then how does he know how to fight? The man thought to himself

Chapter 4:

“hey Kaiji, are you gonna study for the history test by yourself? Because I was thinking the three of us could do a study group today after school at my house” Ben said

“ah him sorry I can’t today, I’m busy with cram school. My Jisan gave me an earful last week and he wants me to take school more seriously so I signed up” Kaiji replied

“Jeez, it’s like you're an entirely different person now.” Kairi said

“sorry guys, as soon as I get my grandpa off my back, i'll make it up to you”

they made their way out of the classroom when Mr. Tanaka called for Kaiji's attention. Reluctantly, Kaiji walked on over to his desk and asked

“what’s up sir?”

“well first of all it's ‘what seems to be the problem Mr. Tanaka’ but you can’t expect a full 180 overnight. Secondly, did I overhear you talking with your friends about you joining a cram school? I must say, I didn't expect you to change so quickly, I’m quite impressed. Keep up the good work Kaiji”

“thank you Mr. Tanaka.”

Then he turned around and walked out of the classroom

Leaving Tanaka alone to freely take out a book from his desk and roll through the pages to consult the contents “once you witness a positive desirable change, give praise and reassurance to cement the behavior in the student's mind as good behavior. Over time, given the right judgment and proper correction, the student will become a successful productive member of society’ yes! I’ll make you a salaryman in no time at all. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!” the title of the book was ‘how to be a good teacher’ subtitle: reaching your students, from unhelpful lecturer to trusted councilor’

What he didn't know was that the behavior he was praising was that of a liar. Kaiji was up to his neck with all the different kinds of training and spirit hunting to waste his hours away in some cram school. He was actually heading straight to the ruins to take down another low-level demon. An emperor dog demon. Mostly harmless and sedentary. But if you were to pass by its pedestal without bowing and paying your respects, it sends its hordes of subjects after you and takes you to its lair to harvest you for your soul energy. “death to the traitors” is its mantra.

Once he had his head down in respect he unsheathed his sword and sliced the demon clean in two. It then vanished into a mist of pure energy.

“see? That wasn't too hard” said aurora through the speaker in his locket

“killing it wasn't the issue, it was finding the damn thing in these convoluted tunnels”

“well, then you better get out quick! Those tunnels aren’t actually there! they’re a product of the emperor dogs power, if you don't move, you’ll be encased in solid rock”

Kaiji looks at his locket in disbelief “now she tells me.”

The walls start to close in on Kaiji as he makes a break for the exit. He can just barely see the light. Stalactites and rocks are falling from the roof of the cave, and Kaiji just narrowly missing them. The walls were now squeezing on his shoulders and he had to shimmy his way out.

“I can’t die like this, this would absolutely be the lamest way to go!”

he was just a couple of feet away, but even that was too far, he had no choice, he had to jump to safety. The moment he cleared the cave, it vanished from the wall entirely. If you weren’t spiritually attuned, you would have seen Kaiji seemingly leap through the air, out of a solid stone wall.

“jeez! that was way too close for comfort. Aurora you should have told me sooner what would happen!”

“hey! It’s not my fault you don't read the briefings I send you! and besides, it’s not like we don't have an entire library full of demon research material. Not to mention the demon compendium I gave you”

“I have a life to keep in balance too you know! It’s your job to tell me everything important”

“yeah well… this one… slipped my mind… that's all. if your gonna rely on me that's what you’re in for so if I were you I’d get to reading.” She ended the transmission In an act of passive aggression. “stupid Kaiji” she mumbled to herself in frustration.

Kaiji started to feel bad after being so hard on aurora. She’s been an excellent teacher so far and it's thanks to her that he even has a life to keep in balance in the first place!

He lets out a big sigh and throws his weight on the ground. Laying on his back. He closes his eyes. As the sun dances through the leaves of the trees around him he can almost make out the shape of the trees by the contrast in brightness in his eyes. Then it all goes to black. Little did he know he was unwittingly being followed by a strange man wearing a black suit and a torn-up necktie. “who are you, and why do you know so much about phantoms?” the course deep voice pierced through Kaiji's serenity. He opened his eyes and saw the imposing figure towering over him. He jumped and grabbed his sword and readied to unsheathe it. The man rather than get into a battle stance took out his carton of cigarettes from one pocket, and reached for his lighter in the other. Kaiji wasn't sure if this guy was too cocky or too powerful to take him seriously. He flicked a cigarette into the air and caught it with his mouth.

“Relax kid, I’m not here to fight you, if your killing phantoms then your clearly not the enemy.” He then lifted up his lighter to his face and sparked a light. it was one of those steel lighters that were popular a while back. Kaiji thought ‘Either this guy is old as hell or he’s trying to look old as hell’

“if I’m not the enemy then why were you following me?”

“following you? I was heading the same way! You just got to it before I could.” which was only half true, it was a little bit of both him heading this way, and him realizing Kaiji was ahead of him and following him to the location of the demon. He was actually the one who kept the cave open long enough for Kaiji to get out. Not that he’ll ever admit to it. ‘it’s just something you do for the good of the cause, you don't let a good medium go to waste.’ He argued to himself.

“What I wanna know, is how you got a hold of that sword, and how long you've had those powers” he said

Kaiji looked at his grandfather’s katana, then back at him “why should I tell you?”

The man shrugged his shoulders and threw his hands in the air

“fair enough, you don't know anything about me, I don't know anything about you. Sometimes, it’s better that way.”

He then sat atop an old tombstone and took out a bag with a slice of melon in it.

Kaiji was mostly confused, but also intrigued to the point that he accidentally let his guard down around this man. he saw as the man took out a pocket knife and sliced a piece off the slice of melon. He stabbed it with the knife and brought it up to his mouth, then he took the cigarette with his index and middle finger, then he bit into the melon and slurped it into his mouth. He then looked at Kaiji standing there bewildered. Then he cut Kaiji a slice and held it out “you want some?” he said

Kaiji hadn’t eaten since lunch, and after all the running and jumping he was starting to get a little hungry. He walked over and the man scooted over giving Kaiji some space on the tombstone. He took the slice and wolfed It down, it was so hot that day and the melon was so cold and refreshing he couldn't help but be refreshed and satiated. “yup, your still just a kid who has no idea what they’re doing?” the man said

Kaiji looked at him, confused.

“just now, so many things could have gone wrong, the second you let your guard down when I took out this melon, I could have thrown this knife at you. dead. When I offered you a slice it could have been to poison you. dead. And right here with you sitting so close to me, I could grab you and break your neck. Dead. Your too trusting of a complete stranger and it's gonna serve to your detriment.”

“so you’re saying it hasn't already served to my detriment?”

the man looked at him, amused by his comment. “maybe you’re not such a fool after all” Kaiji may be trusting, but he’s no fool. You don't just start eating in front of your enemy unless you’re unthreatened, and you don't offer them poisoned food after they had already taken a bite. And in terms of snapping his neck, well he had his hands full. By the time he let go of the melon and the knife, he would have drawn some distance.

it could have gone either way, maybe they were both wrong in different ways but not in others. I’ll leave that to your imagination.

“So, since we're clearly not trying to kill each other, I’m Kaiji” he extended his right hand.

the man looked at it for a moment. And then extended his “you don't need to know my name, but you can call me Aki”

The first step to a playful rivalry was made. Then suddenly both Kaiji's locket and Aki's radio started ringing. They both drew distance to make sure the other didn't hear their conversation. little did they know they were both about the same thing


“Aki here, what’s up?”

“Aki, there’s a huge reading downtown I have no idea what it is you have to go check it out, this could be bad”

“got it, I’m on my way”


“Aurora, what’s wrong?”

“Kaiji, you gotta head to the center of the city, there’s been a huge spike in spirit energy, you have to get there right away!”

“Okay, I’ll get there as fast as I can”


they both looked at each other after receiving their orders. And without a word, they ran in opposite directions. Choosing their own routes downtown. The sun had already started setting which only made the phantoms more powerful. But never have they gotten to this scale. Kaiji had just gotten out of the woods leading to the city when he saw it. a gigantic blue iguana slithering through the city. Walking right through people as they walked down the street. Completely unaware that their life force was being drained. And the more it drained, the bigger it got, and the bigger it got, the easier it was to take more life force. This wasn't just bad, this broke the scale.

“what the hell?” said Aki. He had never seen anything like this. It was flat out absurd. “this can’t be real, no way this is a wicked phantasm”

Kaiji heard those words before, aurora had said them to him the first time they met “those words, where did you hear those words?”

“what? Ask me later, I have work to do.” then he ran off to face the phantom

“This can’t be happening, how can people not see this?” Kaiji saw Aki disappear into the distance. How could he do anything against something so massive? Then he saw an explosion. The monster's leg got blown clean off, And where the leg stood, was Aki using a technique Kaiji had never seen “phantom bomb!

Kaiji caught himself feeling hopeless. If a monster bleeds, it can be killed. So he ran to join Aki in the fight. He noticed the led began regenerating almost instantly. Its natural lizard healing abilities had been turned up to eleven. And that's when Kaiji made a connection in his mind.

“if it heals its wounds every time you hit it, then we just have to overwhelm his healing factor.”

He finally reached the monster and with the momentum, he had gained he took out his sword and held it tight with both hands, as he ran alongside the monster he slid his feet as he circled around the lizard's leg slicing it clean around the ankle, then he jumped to keep the momentum going and gashed all along the iguana's forearm up to its shoulder. He then took out the Wakizashi he had strapped to his lower back and stabbed it into the monster's neck then alongside it he stabbed his katana into the monster as well. he looked up and saw the monster was heading straight into a residential area. “AKI!” he yelled out

“WHAT?” He was running alongside the beast

“USE THE EXPLOSION THING! WE NEED TO STEER HIM INTO THE FIELDS SO HE DOESN'T TAKES OUT THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD!”

“YOU MEAN MY PHANTOM BOMB??”

“YES! WHATEVER IT'S CALLED, YOU NEED TO USE IT NOW!”

Aki knew they didn't have enough time, this thing was gonna consume the whole city at this rate. They needed it away from the city and out in the open, and this was their chance.

He dove under the lizard's stomach and slid across to the other side. Holding out his phantom blade along the way to deal some extra damage. Once he made it to the other side, he jumped up, to get the biggest amount of coverage on the beast he clapped his hands and shouted: “phantom bomb” then, a blue flame followed by a massive explosion burst between his hands tipping the monster over making it lose its balance. It also shot Aki back into the building behind him crashing through a brick wall. But Now it was Kaiji's chance. He stabbed his swords as far as they could go until they were touching bone, then he put all his weight to the side the monster was falling. As the iguanodon tried to regain its balance it invariably started turning away from the houses and into the open fields. “yes!” Kaiji exclaimed. But the iguana started course correcting. Now in the open field, it was only a matter of time before it headed straight back to the city. “out of the frying pan and into the fire, am I right?” Aki said now behind Kaiji

“Aki!? How are you still standing?”

“oh, this? This is nothing.”

Kaiji had so many questions right now, but now wasn't the time to quip.

“what are we gonna do now? We cant beat it fast enough without it recovering twice as fast”

Aki looked at the swords Kaiji had stabbed into the beast's neck. He saw how it hadn’t been able to heal itself even though it had more than enough time. a smile spread across his face as he came up with an idea.

“hey Kaiji, you afraid of heights?”

“what? No, but-”

but before he could finish, Aki had grabbed him by the waist and thrown him up into the air with all his remaining strength.

Kaiji was dumbfounded. “great! What good does this do?!”

Aki pointed out the wound on its neck and how it was still gashed and gushing blood. That's when he remembered, Lizards can’t grow back vital body parts. Aki then screamed out “OFF WITH ITS HEAD!!!”

A bright smile grew on Kaiji's face as he prepared to make his final strike on the phantom reptile. Aki jumped off the lizard's back and prepared to do his part in the onslaught. As Kaiji fell he changed his rotation midair, using his legs to shift his center of gravity, he swung his arms back and prepared to make his touch down. In the moments just before they clashed blades with the gargantuan soul-sucking reptilian, Kaiji realized something about himself. In the heat of the moment, you can never focus on it, but as he flew closer and closer to his target he couldn't help but realize, he was having fun. He was having the most fun he’s had all year. The day-to-day of the mundane student life had silently been taking its toll on him through the years. but now, he’s broken free of that and he’s having the time of his life now that he’s finally awake. A single phrase snapped Kaiji out of this trance of though

Phantom slash!

and as Kaiji made an aerial assault on the cerulean scaled menace, Aki approached the beast from the ground both taking part in a single pincer strike maneuver that would subdue the parasitic beast. Just before making contact, Kaiji twisted his body giving him a spin so he would have more force behind his slash. And in one fell swoop, the monster was decapitated. Its remaining soul energy was returned to those it was stolen from. Restoring their life span to most of its original runtime.

Aki leaned against the gigantic corpse of the beast. While it was disintegrating, the remaining parts maintained their physical property up until the whole body disappeared. So it gave him enough time for a smoke. How many people can say they had a smoke leaning against the giant corpse of a reptile they just killed?

“I gotta say, you’re pretty quick on your feet. You handled that situation like a pro. But don't get too cocky. You still got a lot to learn” Aki said just before taking a drag from his cigarette

“you know smoking will rot your bones.” Said kaiji

Aki laughed. ‘This kid’ he thought to himself

“yup definitely got a lot to learn” he said

Kaiji wasn't sure of what he meant. but he also saw no reason to press him for an explanation. The monster had almost completely disappeared by now, so Aki’s smoke break, sadly, had to be cut short. He put out his cigarette on what was left of the lizard's body and dusted himself off

“you've got potential! Keep up the training and maybe you could join the squad.”

“squad? What squad?” asked Kaiji

“all in due time young grasshopper, get better, get beat up, and almost die a couple times over, then we’ll talk. Anyway, later!” he held out a peace sign and then walked off into the forest.

Kaiji still had no idea who he was, nor how he was so powerful. And who was this squad he mentioned? What he would soon find out was that he already knew one of the other members. And how being associated with them would change his life even further.

“It seems our little experiment has yielded some interesting results.”

“interesting? It was a complete failure! we didn't even get a single year from all that!”

“shut up you idiot. Always so time hungry! There’s a new player on the board.”

“that kid? What so special about him?”

“his powers are beyond that of his skill level. I would wager he would be of great use to us if we make our moves carefully.”

“hey, aurora!” Kaiji called out with his locket.

Aurora appeared through the projection “what’s wrong Kaiji?”

“I wanted to say I was sorry for earlier, you were right, I’ve been slacking off on the research part of the job and it was my own fault. I’m sorry.” He said

“oh Kaiji, it’s okay. Truth is I did forget to tell you about the emperor's territory so I’m sorry too”

“some team we are” he said

they both laughed at their shortcomings confident that in time they'll both get better.

“Why don't we call it a night Kaiji? you've done more than your fair share for one day. get some rest Kaiji” the transmission cut off and Kaiji made his way home. He walked along the road the monster took and saw the havoc it caused and how no one seemed to notice. Like they were all trapped in a state of obliviousness. That's when Ben came running to him in a panic

“Kaiji!” he shouted “I don't know what’s going on but everyone has lost their minds, it’s like no one can see what's right in front of them!” he said

“Ben, hold on, calm down what are you talking about?”

“did you not see it?? that giant blue lizard that just tore this town apart! It’s like no one has even noticed!”

A chill ran down Kaiji's spine as he realized what was going on. Ben was finally awake.

But trouble was also brewing back home. As his grandmother cleaned up his room for him she found the demon encyclopedia aurora had given him under his pillow. She took it to her husband and he knew at first glance that he would have to sit Kaiji down and find out why he had it in his room.