The three men grinned at each other as they saw the American go to the small park, and then to the bathroom there. He was trapped, and all they had to do was go in and get him. Nobody hurts the Boss.
As they approached the bathroom, the air got eerily still.
“Well? Open it, Omura!”
“Shut up, Hotaro! I’m working on it. I’ve never done this before.”
Angrily, the third man roughly shoved the others out of the way, and wrenched the door open.
“Wha?”
“Where is he?”
The urinals were empty, and all three stall doors were open. As one, they moved in, gazing into the stalls. Also empty.
Omura looked at Hotaro. “I don’t like this, bro. Nobody just vanishes into thin air. Let’s get out of here.”
“Boss did say to leave it. Well? You coming, Akira?” Hotaro looked hopefully at Akira.
Akira grunted a reply, his fists clenching and unclenching, spoiling for a fight. He turned and led the other two back out into the night.
************************
Markus fell to his knees in relief, with his forehead on the floor. It seemed as though he was getting better at this. He sat there breathing hard for a few minutes before he got up, only to see Lucifer leaning against his desk wearing just his dress pants, shirt and an undone bowtie, his arms crossed. “You know, we have to stop meeting like this, Markus. People will talk.” He huffed out a sigh, extending a hand. “What happened?”
Markus gratefully took the proffered hand and rose. “I was being followed. Sounded like four guys. They crossed the street with me twice, staying back a fair bit. I had to find a place to hide, and the bathroom at the park down the street from my hotel seemed like a good place,” he said, wiping his brow with a shaky hand.
“And you just happened to find yourself here?”
“No. This was as intentional as the last time.” Markus raised his hands to fend off any comment. “I know what you said about not coming here so soon, but I’d rather be in trouble and safe than not in trouble and seriously hurt or worse.”
“I think you misunderstood me, my boy. You shouldn’t be able to come here yet. Not “You can’t be here!”. It’s not a matter of permission, but one of ability. I still don’t know how you’ve managed to come here three times already. Once in a dream state, and twice like this.” Lucifer stroked his chin in thought.
“Let’s try an experiment, shall we?” Lucifer raised a finger.
“I’m game. What’s on your mind, Lucifer?”
“Let’s go back to” -with a snap of his fingers, the pair found themselves outside the bathroom Markus had used to enter his office- “the park you came from. I want to see if you can do it again, without great need.”
Markus nodded thoughtfully as the bathroom door opened, revealing three tough-looking men, who stood there in shock at seeing the man they were targeting. He took an involuntary step back.
“Are these the men that were following you, my boy?” Markus nodded and Lucifer rolled up his sleeves.
“How the fuck did you get out here? We saw you go in!” Omura shrieked, raising his fists. The other two followed suit, seeing their prey, plus a lanky businessman. This should be good.
“I’m going to give you to the count of three to leave, boys. If you don’t, I’ll give you a sound beating.” Lucifer said, casually sticking his hands in his pockets.
“Listen up, gramps. We just want to kick his ass. If you stick around, we’ll kill you, too.” Hotaro rolled his shoulders.
Akira said nothing. He simply flicked out a solid-looking knife from his belt, holding it saber-style.
“One.”
Akira began walking slowly towards Lucifer.
“Two.”
With a sudden lunge, he drove the knife deep into Lucifer’s chest.
“Three. I warned you boys.” He looked down at Akira, who grinned maliciously up at Lucifer.
Akira’s grin turned to fear as he realized the man was still standing, and he simply couldn’t let the knife go. Lucifer casually wrapped his hand around Akira’s and slowly pulled the clean knife from his chest.
“You’re a naughty one, aren’t you, Yoshida Akira? Let’s see. Attempted murder, three different robberies this week alone, several people intimidated, and oh! My, my. Quite naughty, indeed. Now, I’ll not send you to your death, boy. Oh, no. I’ll just send you to the hospital.” Lucifer said, his grip tightening. Muted pops and cracks could be heard beneath the tightening fist. Akira’s mouth opened in a silent scream of pain.
With a lightning-quick movement, he threw the man into his accomplices, who all landed in a heap against the brick of the restroom. Lucifer stalked over to them, his hands balled into fists.
Softly, Lucifer said “Let it not be said that Emma-O is unmerciful. I could kill you all with a wave of my hand. Instead, I shall teach you three a lesson.” At the uttering of the name of Emma-O, the three stiffened in fear. “That’s right. That American over there is my employee. He treated your fellows with far more kindness than I would have. As it is, I should let him decide your fates, but I fear he is too lenient. Although…”
Lucifer turned to face Markus, gesturing him over. “My dear boy, what do you think ought to be done about these three?”
Markus walked over to stand above the three cowering men, one of whom was cradling an obviously shattered hand. “Tell me. What were you going to do with me, and why?”
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Omura looked up, his face paling at the fury evident on the American’s face. “The Boss said to leave it, but we decided to get in good with him and kick your ass for him. You know, show him we had his back?”
“Just gonna kick my ass, huh? Yoshi here has a knife. I don’t think he would have stopped at just ‘kicking my ass’, dude.” Markus reached down, taking Akira by the shirt, hauling him slowly up to stare into his eyes. “Would you, Yoshi?”
Akira’s eyes widened as he felt himself get lifted up by the tubby American. “N-n-no… I was gonna k-kill you. Nobody hurts the Boss, man.”
“Do it. I dare you.”
Akira raised the shattered hand, the knife miraculously still in his grip. The thrust was weak and shaky, but still managed to penetrate into Markus’ side, only to get stuck about an inch into his belly. Markus growled softly at the intrusion into his flesh. Akira passed out from the pain, and Markus let him drop like a sack of potatoes. He looked down at the other two, who were doing their best to not look at the knife sticking out from Markus’ side.
“Now. What to do with you two? I know!” Markus reached down and slid the knife from its new sheath. Holding it in an icepick grip, he grunted and slammed it into the earth between Omura’s legs. Omura shrieked and wet himself.
“If I ever catch you or any of your gang trying to fuck with me again, I’ll shove my foot so far up your asses you’ll be tasting leather for a week. Follow your Boss’ orders! Leave this gaijin alone. I’m leaving in a couple days, anyway. Leave me be. Are we clear?”
Omura and Hotaro nodded feverishly and ran off, leaving Akira in a crumpled heap. Markus looked sharply at Lucifer.
“Is that what you wanted, Lucifer? To see what I’d do to people who deserve pain and punishment?” He crossed his arms.
“Actually, no. You did do what I asked, though. You doled out a lesson. I doubt ‘Yoshi’ here will ever bother anyone again.” Lucifer eyed Markus appraisingly, his gaze resting on the bleeding wound in his side. “What will you do about that?” he asked, pointing at his side.
“Nothing. It isn’t deep, so I’m not going to worry about it. This guy, on the other hand, deserves far more than the shattered hand. If what I heard and inferred is correct, his crimes should be punished.”
“Oh, I agree, my boy. So what would you do, had you the power?” Lucifer’s face bore a faint touch of a smile.
“Oh? I thought I wasn’t to be a ‘judge’. Just a guide.”
“Hypothetically speaking, of course.”
Markus took a deep breath, staring hard at the crumpled heap that was Yoshida Akira. “He would relive every crime he’s ever committed. From both his and his victim’s point of view. I don’t care what they were. From the smallest slight to the most heinous rape and murder. I would have him relive them. Experience them. He would be violated with every bad action he’s ever taken against another. Over and over. Until he comes to truly understand how terrible it is.” He looked over at Lucifer again. “Then and only then would I see his flame snuffed, and to have his punishment begin in the afterlife.”
“So harsh?” Lucifer asked softly.
Markus nodded.
Lucifer’s smile deepened. “It seems you truly do understand. Markus, that is nearly exactly what will happen to him. Just how did you come to that conclusion, I wonder?”
“It’s fair. That’s how. I take that whole ‘eye-for-an-eye’ shit seriously. I fully expect to have the same judgment taken against me. I’m not going around starting fights, but I will finish them. One way or another.
“He’s attempted to kill us both. You’ve crushed his dominant hand, and I’ve scared him senseless.” Markus reached down and undid the sheath from Akira’s belt. He retrieved the knife and slipped it, sheath and all, into his pocket. “He’s losing this. While I want to break more of him, I won’t.
“Now. About this experiment?” Markus said, turning back to Lucifer.
“Ah! I’d nearly forgotten. Well, now that you don’t have a need, I want you to attempt to go back to your office. I’ll wait there,” Lucifer replied, then winked out of existence.
Markus shook his head and stepped over Akira. Fixing his office in his mind, he once more opened the bathroom door, and found himself facing Lucifer in his office once more.
“Amazing. Simply amazing. I’d not expected you to be capable of this yet. Not until you had been in training for a week, at least.” Lucifer shook his head with a smile.
“So, do I pass?”
“Absolutely, my boy! Forget going back to the park. I want to see what you can do. Now, for the next level, I want you to go to my office.”
Markus shrugged and turned back to the door. Go to Lucifer’s office? From here? Was that even possible? He closed his eyes and pictured Lucifer’s office in his head. When he felt he had it, he reached out and opened the door.
On the other side of the door stood Lucifer, in his office, a bewildered smile on his face.
“I’d not expected that. And you came directly from your office, to boot! Most of my Liaisons must go back to the mortal world, first. Come in!” Lucifer said happily.
Markus walked into Lucifer’s office, shutting the door behind him. “What does it all mean, Lucifer?”
Amun stepped out from the doorway in the rear of the office, a cheeseburger in his hand. “What it means, son, is that you are uniquely suited for the work you have before you. My apologies, Death. I felt this to be a matter I should personally visit for.”
“Not at all, Amun. Not at all. I’m just as surprised as you. Well, maybe not you, but you get my meaning,” Lucifer replied.
“I’m sorry. What?” Markus looked from one man to the other.
Amun smiled and placed a warm hand on Markus’ shoulder. “It means that Lucifer chose well in you, son. You’ve grasped a basic -but vital!- skill after having only seen it and having it explained to you. That you’ve done so in just a few short days is nothing short of astounding. I’ll be watching you, make no mistake. I am looking forward to your progress in your job as Soul Liaison and as Soul Resource Officer. That’s the official title, by the by. Since you’re going to be dealing with departed souls and not living mortals, that’s the title. If you do well, I may see about adding more SRO’s.”
“Awesome. Uh… I’ve… I’ve a question.” Markus looked to the side, his hands clasped behind his back.
“You want to know how to handle Miss Ikeda, don’t you, son?” Amun’s voice was warm and kind.
Markus nodded sheepishly. “Yeah. I don’t want to lie to her, Amun. I don’t know how I can work for only two hours a day and be able to make as much as I do, and make it make sense for her. I’m kind of at a loss. I know I cannot reveal to her the true nature of my work, nor can I let her ever see my office. I’m lost, man.”
Amun leaned against the wall, chewing meditatively on his cheeseburger. “Death? Any input here?”
Lucifer looked down, his hands clasped behind his back. “Markus, I cannot let her know of the nature of Reality. Only employees of the Powers may know. I don’t need any more Liaisons in Japan, and I don’t think I need any in Kentucky, either. Most of your country is full, actually. I always try to find Liaisons from each region. I’m sorry, my boy. I don’t have the openings, and I don’t think Miss Ikeda is well-suited for such a job, anyway.” He spread his hands apologetically.
“As usual, my friend, you are thinking far too narrowly. There are other departments, you know.” Amun gestured with the cheeseburger.
“My apologies, Amun. My own department is the only one I’m familiar with. I know that she would be ill-suited to Chaos, and that is the only other department that I have much interaction with.”
Markus tapped his chin in thought. “How do souls get to a Liaison to begin with?” he asked, his head cocked to the side.
Lucifer shrugged. Amun looked shrewdly at Markus. “You have an idea, don’t you, son?”
Markus shrunk inwards a little. “Well… Just that in the short time I’ve known her, she’s shown herself to be sweet, kind, and caring to nearly everyone she’s met. Maybe she could do something that helps souls upon first crossing over?”
Lucifer looked at Markus in wonder, then at Amun. “Did I take an employee from you, Amun?”
Amun laughed loudly.