Saturday evening, work

"Yoshio-san, I think we need to step in. They don't seem human, and that black mist around them... I haven't seen it in a long time. It feels they have been doing something questionable."

Yoshio remained silent for a moment, choosing to ignore the "san" honorific, hoping they would soon come to using just the name. His tall lean posture in dark robes seemed to overhang the yokai, who at moment fighting in between each other. Yoshio stroked his chin.

"Maki, I think we have to wait until they beat up each other, and then interfere if needed. I would like to catch one, to ask them what is that they have been doing lately."

Maki pointed his finger at one of the men, "I think that one has the most power, and is the strongest. He most likely will beat everyone up soon. I would suggest capturing him."

"Hm, you might be right. Also, his face seems, "Yoshio narrowed his eyes, "seems familiar somehow. I can not be sure though, it's pretty dark.

"Oh, it's not good if he has done something to be remembered by you, Yoshio-san. I think we need to interfere...." he waited until the last man was standing, "Now?"

"Mn." Yoshio leaped down from the roof, landing quietly. The men lay beside him, and he had to step over some unconscious yokai. They didn’t look good. Maki followed him. The man who was still standing straightened, and shot a glance at Yoshio, touching his hair.

"Oh, it’s that stupid monk!"

Yoshio stopped, his face unreadable. "Do I know you?"

"Excuse me? Playing arrogant, huh? I’ve leveled up since last time. You’re not gonna take me down so easily," the man spat, raising a hand to reveal a weird-looking knife.

"Have we met before?"

"Wow, really?" The bandit sneered, twirling the blade. "You act like you don’t remember. Did you get to spend some time with that pink-hair?"

Yoshio’s face darkened immediately, his fists clenching. "Ah," Yoshio's voice as calm as ever, "that's a pervert I bit up not so long ago."

The man grinned wider, dark hair falling in front of his eyes. "Oh, now you remember? I guess it was a success for you then,"

"What's that, a toy knife?" Yoshio's gaze fell on the blade, as he frowned slightly.

"Oh, dear, you seem not to know? Better for me! It is much better than a toy, believe me, and much better than the one you stole from me last time."

Yoshio's frown deepened.

Maki said, in a quiet voice, "Master, I think that this blade is... is it..." He opened his fan, to conceal what he was about to say. Yoshio half-turned to him, replying:

"Yes, it is Kogitsunemaru. Or a dupe of that."

"Wait, how can it be the real one?"

The bully seemed impatient, "What are you two talking about, I am getting bored." He sneered, "It would be unfair of both of you to attack me at the same time, wouldn't it?"

Maki looked at him, "What are you implying?"

"I was just... Oh, here it is!"

Before they could react, Maki felt a sharp pain in his shoulder—a blade entered his flesh. He threw his fan at the person who had suddenly appeared beside them. Th attacker wore a scarf and had narrow, dark eyes. Lean posture, androgynous features. Maki looked at the man and realized he seemed very familiar to him.

"Now, we can talk with no distractions, right, monk?" The bully said to Yoshio, who had no time to observe what Maki was involved in.

"Sure, we will be done with this in no time." Yoshio's staff appeared in his hand as he shot it onto the guy. He tried to push the weapon away, but it seemed that the bandit had really become better at fighting during the last week. He grinned at Yoshio, his long leather jacket flew behind him as he dodged.

"Surprised? You should be. I was only dreaming you would appear. I wanted to check this blade out." He moved his hand, showing the blade off.

"You are well aware that it is not the real one, are you?" Yoshio replied calmly, striking him again.

The bully frowned. "Hey, don't try to manipulate me now! A nice man gave it to me, you know. He definitely knew what it was."

"A nice man you say? Whoever gives away things like this for free?"

"Monk, not all people are like you. It's what you told me back then, So maybe, you should listen to your own words?" He threw his hand barely missing Yoshio's elbow.

"So you are a yokai, weren't you a human just a week ago?" Yoshio started to attack.

"Oh, so you are a knowledgeable monk? You see, after you beat me up so much, my family dishonoured me, saying I was weak and pathetic, not worth being a member. I had to leave them, and I killed myself in front of their house. Who would have thought, that something like an afterlife exists, and killing yourself does not give you anything good?"

"So," Yoshio dodged another strike, "that nice man promised to help you survive as a yokai?"

"Without his help, I would have been a lost soul. He showed me how to take care of myself, how to return to that stupid family and show them who is the boss. You should have seen their faces, ha-ha, when I came back, that was something. Good I killed them all."

"Very interesting indeed. I wonder, is there any chance of meeting that nice man?"

"What, are you stupid? I am never helping you, besides, I plan to kill you too!"

The bully pushed his blade forward, this time aiming at Yoshio's throat. However, he could not reach it, as Yoshio dodged his move. Then Yoshio noticed a moment of hesitation in the other's eyes and made a successful move in return, and a staff landed on the opponent's head. So when the bandit lost his balance , he received another punch in his legs, finally falling.

Blood dripping on his forehead, he looked up, eyes confused. "You, and your stupid stick! What the hell is this? I have the ancient blade that has the power to take people's strength, and yet this stupid stick.."

Yoshio ignored him, bending down to retrieve the knife. He tucked it into his robes before grabbing the bandit by the collar. "Tell me now, who is that man? Or I swear I will chop your tongue off.

"Okay, okay." The bandit raised his hands in surrender, spitting blood. "I never saw his face. He seemed to always wear a mask, you know on the upper half of his face. But the lower half did not seem in any way special. He had long black hair and a deep voice. His eyes seemed to be changing colors. And, and, he had this aura, the power he has, is so immense, that I could not help, but feel the pressure over me as if he was the god. That’s all, I swear!"

Yoshio threw him on the ground, deep in thought. He turned around and noticed that Maki was still fighting the tall guy, silently.

It was stupid of this pathetic guy to fight me, he clearly has no idea how to handle the blade. That guy though, is fighting almost as well as Maki. I wonder if he is more important.

"Leave Tokyo," Yoshio said to the bully without looking back. "You heard me? I will find you, if you don't, and chop off your parts."

"S-sure, I will. Okay. I won't cause any more trouble." He tried to stand up, but failed, falling on his knees. "He-he, don't mind me, monk-san! I will wait and then leave."

Yoshio ignored him. The fight between the other two seemed to continue. Then, the tall opponent noticed Yohio, and jumped back, disappearing. Maki stood there, perplexed for a moment. Then he turned to Yoshio, saying,

"I think I have seen him before somewhere". He did not want to talk about it now.

Yoshio nodded, "That's not good. Well, I think we should come home now, it's late. We will talk about all of this tomorrow. I took the blade too. "