Chapter 9 - Reunion

Seeing a beleagued Onmyoji galvanized me into action. I blocked the kick that would have landed right on Kelly's chest.

"Hey!" I cried. “Finally, I found you.”

Kelly shot me a glance. "You sound like you walked into my birthday party. Where's my gift?"

"Your sarcasm." I remarked.

“ Look at me! Do I look fine?” She complained. I noticed the bruises on her forehead and the dry blood at the corner of her lips. Nevertheless, despite her sharp tongue, I was thrilled to see her well and alive.

I barely had the opportunity to chat further because her opponent, a brutish man dressed in a black T-shirt grimaced at my arrival and was ready to kill. Burly in build, his arms were lined with sinews that looked like a web of little serpents. With a permanent frown, the rugged face was etched in fury and just looking at it gave me goosebumps.

Close-up, I noticed he had a white iris in his left eye that made him unfeeling and reinforced his killer vibes.

"Mr White Eye, where is Ken?" I asked. "Tell him, he is not getting away."

He growled and then lunged forward. I was about to counter with a high kick when Kelly grabbed my shoulder, using it as a fulcrum, and raised herself with a high kick. It hit the man brutally on the face. The man fell backward and staggered for a short moment before falling backward.

Then he was still.

“That’s fast.” I checked on him. He had passed out. I turned to Kelly

"Now, I cannot find out Ken's whereabouts."

"You prefer he is unconscious." Kelly looked at the fallen man with a cold stare

"He gave me a rough time."

I shrugged and then turned to hug Kelly.

She winced the moment I touched her arms.

"Be careful."

"I am sorry."

“What took you so long?”

“ I rushed over the moment I received your message. When I reached, you were nowhere in sight."

"I can't wait for you, Adam. Do you know what I've been through?"

"Tell me."

"I was chased through three streets and played hide-and-seek with in those flats. There were six of them, and I had to fight each of them."

"I am so glad you survived. Ken set up an ambush for me too.”

Kelly shook her head.

“Ken Ito is not that young lad anymore. He had planned this for a while."

“What was he after?" I asked.

“That Orange Rabbit.”

"The one we borrowed from Oji? Oji Hasegawa?"

Hasegawa is the four master Onmyoji of Ten-mon sō. Junior fellow to my teacher, Leader of the Sect, Master Sato, he was highly-skilled and guardian of the Orange Rabbit.

“Why does he need that soft toy?” I asked.

"For the same reason we borrow the Orange Rabbit."

"There must be something in that toy." I said.

"What could it be?" Kelly said, "I was too careless."

"Its loss may have an impact. I don't have a good feeling, but I just cannot put shape to that

fear."

"We must locate him and find it."

“How did Ken take it from you?"

“He tricked me."

“That puzzles me. Why are you in this part of Singapore?”

“I was looking for a cryptographer, the old-school type who knows how to read an ancient map. I had been using our network to find him. I had been looking for one since last year but failed to find a reliable one. He responded over Line, and when I saw his response, I did not want to miss it."

"Why do you need it for? For a mission?"

"I will tell you more when I have the time."

"Then what happened?"

" When I reached the street, I smelled the fragrance of osmanthus.”

"Osmanthus?"

I tried to recollect. ‘The Osmanthus Arrow you mean?"

Kelly nodded

“I didn't know then. After walking for some distance, I remembered there were no Osmanthus flowers in Singapore because of the climate. By then, I began to feel weakness in my limbs. Then they appeared on the street and pounced on me. They tried to snatch my backpack but I gave them chase. We ran around the estate and I soon used up my powers. I struck down two of his men before my legs gave way."

"Treacherous."

"I fainted and when I woke found myself in the boot.”

“No wonder they managed to abduct you. Given your skills, it is not easy to beat you.”

"What a compliment." Kelly said and pointed to a bump on her forehead.

"They took you here?"

"When the boot opened, I found I had reached this location. However, the effects were wearing off and I was swinging from half-stupor and half-awake."

"And you cannot exercise your powers."

Kelly nodded in resignation.

"Then they carried me into the tall grass. In the background, I heard Ken’s voice. He was speaking to someone on the phone.”

I remembered Visnu

"Let us get out of there first? I think you need medical assistance."

"I do not," Kelly said lamely.

“Help me with my ankles.” She said impatiently. I quickly cut loose the bond on her legs with a mini knife I had in my pocket. Then I held her by the arm and led her through the way I came by

“How are we going to explain to him?” Kelly murmured.

“ Worry about that later. Let us get out of this place. I will help you explain

to Oji."

As we trudged, I asked, “Did you see Ken just now?”

Kelly shook her head

"When I regained full consciousness. I only saw that 'White Eye' and so tried to break loose.”

“We must find him."

“His despicable ways. (san-sai-ji no narai-goto, yasō made), which translates to "A three-year-old's habit lasts until eighty years old.”

“That’s what Master Sato always said,” Kelly said

“His ways are also darker. Do you know he uses bats and serpents on me?”

“That requires significant powers. However, looking at you..." Kelly looked me from head to toe. "You don't look too bad."

“Barely survived. However, I had a good opportunity to nab him but he escaped."

"What happened?" Kelly quizzed

I paused to look at my hands and remained silent

"I will tell you another day."

"How did you find your way here? After you survived the ambush..”

I thought of telling Kelly about the small girl, Xuan, but decided to postpone talking about her.

“Someone helped me, but I'll tell you more about her later.”

I scanned her from head to toe. There are cuts on her cheeks and hands and her long brown hair is messy. However, this is Kelly the Purple Onmyoji, and her beauty was undiminished. The fighter in her was evident on her tough, squarish face with her lips pouted in defiance.

“I am glad to see you. You are still alive.” Kelly slapped me on the shoulder. "You need to improve on your combat skills.”

“I am not in the best shape. After the exorcism, I did not expect an ambush.”

“I had a feeling we would meet Ken again."

“He has grown stronger but I am ready."

“Still, I saved you, Kelly.” I said, “I am good enough.”

We are the closest teammates and have that habit of haranguing each other in good spirit.

"Is your police friend with you?"

“Talking about him. We have to thank Visnu. His men searched for the vehicle and traced it to this area. However…”

“What is it?"

"He was possessed, and I need to perform a cleansing prayer for him later. I suspected he may have walked into a mantra trap."

"I am not surprised." Kelly said "Did he bring men?"

"You saw them? The policemen who came to look for you? One of them is dead. I think that Ken's creation killed them.”

Kelly touched her forehead and shook

"May their souls find peace.”

“Let’s get you out of here.”

As I spoke, there was a swoosh in the air. I sensed danger and pushed Kelly away. "Duck!" I shouted

A dart flew between us, missing my nose by inches. In quick succession, the darts landed all around us and then I felt that familiar air draught. My senses raised a red flag. This time, my instincts were faster. I somersaulted backward, landed, and then quickly took a stack of amulets from my left pocket and commanded.

“Soldiers of Four Directions attack - Kōgeki”

In rapid fashion, the amulets shot out in a straight formation towards the direction where the darts came from.

Instantly, something strange happened.