Chapter 12 - Hospital

“Adam!" I searched my mind for that voice. Where am I? Nagano? Singapore? Otsu?

As full consciousness returned, I realized its Visnu and I am in Singapore.

"Relax. It's me.” I looked up to see Visnu with a warm smile

“Where am I? Where is this?" I asked

Visnu straightened himself. “You have forgotten? You must have been exhausted from all the fighting. “

I rubbed my face in my palms and opened my eyes wide.

“We brought Kelly to the hospital, and after she was warded, you slept on the sofa.”

He pointed to the room at the end of the corridor

"She is now in there."

I blinked my eyes as my memory was updated like a CPU.

Now, I remember the events before we came to the hospital, from the fighting at the grassland to

the rescue of Kelly to the spreading of fire. Kelly had fallen asleep, and we boarded the first

ambulance, together with the injured policeman.

The exertions have been a challenge. After a week of a demanding exorcist assignment, I had

fought Ken in two rounds and then saved Kelly.

"How did the fire go?"

"The fire brigade came in time and managed to put out the fires. However, huge swathes of

land has been scorched."

I shook my head

"Wish I could help, but Kelly was down."

"You don't have to feel the obligation to save the fire, Adam."

I smiled

"I know you are a conscientious person. I have professionals for that."

"If my fellow Onmyoji Aiko is here, she could summon the rain."

"One of your fellow Onmyoji ya? Sure, hope to meet her one day."

Visnu nodded with a polite smile.

I stood and tugged in my shirt.

"I look bad," I mumbled

"There have been worse days," Visnu remarked

"Keep rubbing it in."

"You are good-looking enough but please comb your hair."

I ran my hands from the temples to the back and ruffled the front a bit.

"What happened to the policemen?"

Visnu frowned

"One made it but had multiple fractures. The other died from excessive bleeding."

I bowed my head and prayed.

"I am truly sorry."

"It is not your fault."

“How's Kelly?" I said

"Doctor gave her a good bill of health, but there were bruises all over. She had an X-ray while you slept."

"Oh, did she?"

Visnu nodded. “I am about to tell you. She just woke.”

“Fine.” I stood up and ran to the ward

“Wrong side,” Vishnu said and pointed to the end of the corridor.

I followed as told. Just then, I realized I had a bandage on my thigh. It must have been applied

when I was asleep, or did they do it before I fell asleep? Probably the latter, I remembered the nurse

helping me with the dressing.

I opened the door to find Kelly seated upright on the bed.

“You are up." I said. "How are you?"

She looked at her overalls

"You brought me here?”

"He did.” Vishnu said,” You were unconscious. Passed out."

She shook her head

"I am fine. If it were a straight fight, I would win outright. However, he used poison."

"Ken Itoh"

"And he brought over a dozen men."

I looked at Kelly, who then threw me a glance

Simultaneously, we said, “I-You looked awful.”

The moment of teasing softened the atmosphere.

“I am famished,” Kelly said, and Visnu gave instructions for food to

be brought over.

I checked my watch. It is almost 10 am.

"You slept?"

Kelly shook her head

"I sure did. Dreamt of Otsu."

When food was brought over, I grabbed a toast.

“You thief.” She complained.

“Promise I will cook you a good ramen when we return home.”

Kelly gave me a serious look

“I do not take ramen when I am outside Japan.”

I blushed. “You need to have more faith in me."

Kelly shook her head "You need to brush up on your cooking!"

“The doctor mentioned you can be discharged tomorrow morning.” Visnu chipped in

Kelly put up both arms to mimic a gesture of surrender

“I can't stay here for long. I wished I had gone home last night. I had never slept in a hospital before tonight. It is an insult to me."

“I had no choice. You fell asleep in my car." I said, "I know you hate hospitals."

“ Ken Ito! That scum. Fighting him exhausted my powers.”

‘Can you tell me something about this Ken person? With a stolen van and damage to public property,

we hope to nab him and his associates.” Visnu said.

"You need to be careful with him, Visnu. He is not easy to manage." I said, "I am surprised he is in this part

of the world."

I took a sip from my bottle of mineral water before continuing

"How did both of you get acquainted?"

"Long story."

I took a seat next to Kelly.

“The Tenmen So which Kelly and I belonged to has existed for over a thousand years.”

“One thousand and two hundred to be exact,” Kelly added as she munched on her omelete.

“Our sect was founded with the mission to defend the human realm from the other evil supernatural realms. With compassion for all life, we aim to maintain the fine balance between the human realm and the other spiritual worlds. In AD 800, our founding Onmyoji Master Abe, who had extraordinary powers in divination, fengshui, and command and control of spirits, decided to build a sect to fortify our powers against the warring realms. However, a few generations later, a deviant group of monks chose to use these skills and crafts to pursue power and wealth under their leader Tora Akagi. As he wore a pure black robe and had his followers wear the same, they were eventually termed the Black Robes, the Kuroi Robu. They are led by seven leaders who are collectively known as the Dark Monks or Dākumonkusu. As our paths diverge, we have frequent tussles. Over the centuries, with the political changes in Japan, the Dark Monks aligned themselves with various factions in the ruling families to fight for power, glory, and wealth. Of course, they would also use their allies against us." I explained.

"There are many chapters of fighting and struggles between us," Kelly remarked

"A thousand years of wars is good material for making a movie," Visnu remarked.

Raising my eyebrows, I stared at Visnu. I was not sure if he was joking, but he is right.

“This is the first time I have heard about this.”

“It is history that only those in the circles of Onmyodo and supernatural worlds will understand

our history.”

“Do these Black Robes Kuro...have the same skills?”

"Its Kuroi. K-U-R-O-I" Kelly explained

"Let me type this in my phone for easy tagging with my team." Visnu whipped out his handphone and began typing.

"About our skills, most of our manuals are the same. We originated from one powerful source but over the years, different motivations, practices, and circumstances have driven our art in different directions. They have modified and developed their craft. "

I decided to chip in.

"However, I need to add a critical point - in the craft creation, they are more varied, and darker in execution. We are focused on the fundamental principles of purity and simplicity."

I rubbed my fingers clean and then explained

“There are so many areas where we are actually different. You can develop a chart. In the realm of transition, they cannot move with the ease that we do. At Kuroi Robu, only the Dark Monks can execute the rituals with absolute competency.”

"However, their spirit masters are all skilled in the dark mantra of the Jumon."

"Jumon?"

"The Kuroi's manual of mantras - the Jumon."

“Ah…” Visnu whispered. I sensed his confusion. He was being polite by not asking more questions.

Or maybe he did not know how to ask his next question.

I quickly added, “We are the good guys and they are the bad guys.”

“We respect the conflict between both of you. We have gangs fighting each other, political exiles fighting for their cause, and quarreling with their governments, but this inter-realms war is between the two sects. Why are they in Singapore to continue the fight? Is there another reason?"

I looked at Kelly and then said

"We are still trying to find out. We dont know the actual reason.”

“You dont? You were both ambushed.”

“They are seldom active in this part of the world. In the past, their presence was sighted in Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China. They had seldom been seen in Singapore. However, my initial guess is that they are searching for something.”

“We will have to find out and let you know.”

“I need some answers. They caused a wild bush fire, and that has invited questioning from my higher-ups.”

“We have reason to find him. We lost something really important.”

“What ‘something? Do you want to file a report about it?”

“We lost an artifact when Kelly was ambushed last night. It is an Onmyoji artifact or relic that has certain powers.”

"Certain powers? Like world destruction? People own it for world domination?" Visnu added while both of us stared at him quietly

"You are not serious, are you?" Visnu said

"I am fully sure about it but their possession may bring some form of destruction."

Visnu stared into space wistfully

"Visnu!"

"Sorry, it is just that I am starting to get worried. This isn't just a theft of valuables."

Kelly shook her head

“All our relics are secret, and their documentation has been kept confidential. I know the Japanese government has the complete record but they do not divulge it to the public."

"This must be a very special artifact?"

I sighed. "What was stolen is actually a piece of rock." Kelly remarked.

"Rock?" Visnu repeated.

Kelly nodded.

"Could you help me with the description

Kelly stared hard and then shook her head

"It is just a piece of rock, 15 centimetres long?"

"Then how do you differentiate it?"

"We, Onmyojis, will have the ability to tell."

Visnu nodded.

"Can you draw something for me?"

We shook our heads. "We hadn't seen it ourselves."

"Any description of its capability?” Visnu asked, “Should I be worried?”

“Based on my understanding, there are legendary stories about it. We know it enhances the powers of the spirit master. It has

been chronicled that Onmyoji can move to a higher realm much more easily without the risk of exhaustion or death.

It has some healing properties and is known to heal the wounds of warriors very quickly." I explained " However, we were taught that

the powers of these artifacts depended on the powers of the Onmyoji. Only the truly seasoned masters can master the powers of these artifacts.”

“Sounds magical. It also sounds containable.”

"Containable?” Kelly enquired

“Yes, I mean there are ways to limit damages or destruction?

"In the past, it has been used in wars in Japan." I quickly added. "That would mean it has certain destructive powers.

"Kuroi wanted it for some clandestine purposes. I suggest we do not underestimate them." Kelly suggested.

"A few years ago, they attempted a heist in China and left a trail of destruction and until today, the perpetrators had yet to be captured.

“That is bad.” Visnu remarked

"Or that infamous." Kelly reiterated. “Some unnecessary loss of lives with public outcry about the community of Onmyojis.

After some thought, Visnu said

“I think they are already planning something big. I better get ready.”

“We will investigate and find the reasons for tonight’s ambush. I may need backup." I assured.

"Just let me know. I will wait for your call. In the meantime, I need to explain the fire in the Lalang fields.”

"I promise we will get to the bottom of this.”

"And about tonight…”

"It will not happen again.” I asserted.

Visnu nodded

I will get Catherine to be the liaison. If you need backup or an intel check, let her know.”

There was a reaction from Kelly but I tried not to respond

“I prefer not to.”

“I know there was a short...eh..relationship between the two of you but I need your help to prevent another round of chaos and

I cannot let you go down.”

I shook my head and then nodded reluctantly.

“I promise we will find out. I will update you in another twenty-four hours.”

“Twenty-four? Will that be enough?”

“I have no choice. I must find Ken Ito as soon as possible.”