46 & 2 Issue Twenty-three

Meifumado

Part 2

Nothing going to stand in our way

46 & 2 Issue 23:

By

Zachary Smith

PAGE 1. PANEL 1.

SHO, IN HIS NEW WHEEL CHAIR, WITH THE WHEELS CLOSER TO HIS SIDE, NO HANDLES ON THE BACK, WEARING WORK GLOVES, WEARING A PROTECTIVE MASK AND GOGGLES, IS SPRAY PAINTING THE MECH THAT WAS REAVEALED IN THE LAST ISSUE, BUT LIKE SOMEONE WOULD PAINT A CAR.  HE HAS ON A BLACK T-SHIRT, AND JEANS.  THE MP3 PLAYER BLASTS OUT MUSIC, 8 MILE BY EMINEM.

HE IS IN A WORK SPACE, SORT OF TECH LOOKING, BUT NOT OVER THE TOP, VERY MINIMAL.  SCORPIO IS TALKING TO HIM FROM OFF PANEL.

MUSIC: “…Sometimes I just feel like, quitting I still might
Why do I put up this fight, why do I still write
Sometimes it's hard enough just dealing with real life
Sometimes I wanna jump on stage and just kill mics
And show these people what my level of skill's like…”

SCORPIO (OFF PANEL):  Still cracks me up that such a nice boy like yourself listens to Eminem.

SHO:  Get’s me going.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 2.

SHO HAS REMOVED HIS FACIAL MASK AS IS ACCEPTING THE COFFEE THAT SCORPIO IS GIVING HIM.

SCORPIO IS SQUATTING NEXT TO THE MECH, CHECKING IT OUT.

SCORPIO:  Great of your dad to put this together.

SHO:  He feels really guilty, that he couldn’t protect me somehow.  I don’t know how he

           thinks he could have, but I love him for it.

SCORPIO:  Listen…I…it’s my fault.

SHO:  Stop.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 3.

CHINO BEING DRAGGED FROM SHO BY SCORPIO.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 4.

SCORPIO LEANS BACK AGAINST THE WALL, HIS FACE IS PANGED.  SHO IS TAKING A DRINK FROM HIS COFFEE.

DIALOGUE CONT.

SCORPIO:  No, I’m all about the truth.  Truth is, Chino wanted to help you, he was all

                    ready and primed to do so, and then I pull him away and make him start

                    working on the mom…With that extra time and help, who knows, maybe

                    you would be walking right now.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 5. 

SHO IS PLACING HIS COFFEE CUP DOWN.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 1.

SHO HAS SET THE COFFEE CUP DOWN.  HIS FINGERS ARE LACED IN FRONT OF HIS FACE AND HE IS LOOKING AT SCORPIO.

SHO:  Warren, look, a part of me may be upset about that, to be honest.  But it’s hard to

           be mad at you for doing the right thing.  And there is a part of me that IS still

           thinking, why me? 

PAGE 2.  PANEL 2.

SHO GESTURES TOWARDS THE MECH.

SHO:  But you know what?  Why not me?  This is definitely not the

           worse thing in the world that could happen to someone.  I’m still going to live my

           life and be a functional, contributing human being.  I just have a different mode of

           getting around.

SCORPIO:  How’d you get so smart?

PAGE 2.  PANEL 3.

SHO IS PUTTING HIS FACIAL MASK BACK ON.  HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE MECH.

SHO:  Dr. Steven Carter, Berkley World Lit.  He would lecture that life is pain and it’s a

           part of our lives.  Why let it consume us?  He would always talk about Arthur

           Ashe contracting HIV from a blood transfusion.  A total accident, no one is at

           fault. 

PAGE 2.  PANEL 4.

SHO IS PAINTING THE MECH AGAIN.

SHO: People would ask Arthur if he felt that he was dealt an unfair hand, his

          response: “If I were to say, ‘God, why me?’ about the bad things, then I should

          have said, ‘God, why me?’ about the good things.” 

SCORPIO:  God, I haven’t thought about that in a while.

PAGE 2.  PANEL 5.

SHO REMOVES A DECAL THAT PREVENTED THAT SECTION FROM GETTING PAINT.  UNDER IT IS A BIG 01.  HE MOTIONS WITH HIS HAND FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT.

SHO:  Keep it in mind, because I don’t think this little trip is going to be full of sunshine

           and rainbows.  We’re in Japan, a country that thinks dark, blackness, is beautiful. 

           Nobles used to dye their teeth black, as a sign of beauty. 

PAGE 2.  PANEL 6.

SHO HAS A WELDER’S MASK ON, WITH A BLOW TORCH.

SHO:  We’re not afraid of the dark here.  We love it.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 1.

CHINO, SCARLETT AND MALA ARE BEING SQUISHED INTO A JAPANESE SUWAY CAR.  THERE ARE BUSINESS MEN, WOMEN, TEENAGERS, PUNKS, OLD MEN AND WOMEN.  IT IS NIGHT TIME.

MALA:  Land of the rising sun my ass.  Try land of the rising boners.  I swear if any

               these guys try that fondling shit I will kick their ass. 

CHINO:  Say it in Japanese, I dare you.

SCARLETT:  Here.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 2.

SCARLETT IS TOUCHING MALA’S HEAD.  A JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN LOOKS HUNGRILY AT MALA.

MALA:  What are you…

SCARLETT:  Basically downloading how to speak Japanese into your head.

MALA (IN JAPANESE):  Cool.

CHINO:  That is so amazing.  You’re going to need to teach me how to do that.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 3.

THE JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN IS TOUCHING MALA’S BUTT.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 4.

MALA HAS A ANGRY MANGA LOOK UPON HER FACE.

MALA (IN JAPANESE):  Looks like we have our first contestant.  I know how much

                                           you guys like pain.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 5.

MALA IS HOLDING THE GUY’S HAND, HE IS SUPER EMBARRASED.

MALA (IN JAPANESE):  Listen up ladies.  If you ever, and I mean ever, have a

                                           scumbag try to grab you, do whatever is in your power to

                                           remove that hand from you.  You are not in the wrong, they

                                           are.

PAGE 4.  SPLASH PAGE.

MALA IS STANDING IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AFTER SHE HAS JUST UPPERCUTTED THE JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN, AND HE HAS GONE FLYING.  I WANT ACTION/SPEED LINES, FULL MANGA ON THIS.

MALA: BAKA HENTAI!

PAGE 5.  PANEL 1.

JOSHUA IS READING BLOOD MERIDIAN, BY JOSEPH HELLER.  THE PHONE RINGS.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 2.

JOSHUA ON THE PHONE.

JOSHUA:  Hello?

HOLDEN (ON THE PHONE):  Irishman.  Where’s Scorpio?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 3.

WE ARE NOW IN HOLDEN’S APARTMENT, HE IS DRINKING WHISKEY FROM A GLASS, AND SMOKING.

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  I don’t keep tabs on your fella.

HOLDEN:  This is too important for our posturing. 

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  What is it?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 4.

JOSHUA STANDS UP ALERT.

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  Our little clown girl?  No body was recovered.

JOSHUA:  The fuck.  How is that possible?

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  Not sure.  We did find ballistics of a bullet and her

                                                         blood.  I buried the bullet though, it belonged to you,

                                                         I assume.

JOSHUA:  …Thanks.  Where is she then?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 5.

HOLDEN IS LOOKING AT A PICTURE OF HIS DAUGHTER.

HOLDEN:  No clue.  Neighbor’s car went missing.  This is what we get for playing law.

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  Better us than a swat team.  Imagine what shite they

                                                         would have caused in there.

HOLDEN:  Maybe, but now we have a psychopath on the loose, and no idea where she is

                    at.  I’ll call you when I learn more.

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  Holden…

PAGE 6.  PANEL 1.

BACK IN JOSHUA’S ROOM, HE’S JUST LIT A CIGARETTE.

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  Yeah?

JOSHUA:  You’re a good man.  However we got started, well, it’s my fault, because I

                   wasn’t a good one.  Chino told me about your kid…

PAGE 6.  PANEL 2.

HOLDEN HAS PUT THE PICTURE BACK DOWN, AND IS TAKING A DRINK.

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  I’m sorry.  I just want you to know that.

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  Holden?  I’ll leave you be mate.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 3.

JOSHUA IS HAS PULLED THE PHONE AWAY FROM HIS EAR.

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  I’m here preacher man.  Thank you.  And just so you

                                                         know, you’re not all bad.  You’ve been a decent men

                                                         to all those kids.  I’m sure they really appreciate that.

JOSHUA:  Ah, cheers mate, you didn’t have to—

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  I’d bet they’d really love you if they found out…

PAGE 6.  PANEL 4.

HOLDEN IS LIGHTING A CIGARETTE NOW.

HOLDEN:  …What you did with the old reverend. 

JOSHUA (OVER THE PHONE):  How…

HOLDEN:  Started digging into you the moment I got into town.  I know it wasn’t for no

                    reason.  He had it coming for what he had done.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 5.

JOSHUA IS BALLING HIS FIST.

JOSHUA:  To those kids.  They didn’t deserve…

HOLDEN (OVER THE PHONE):  Don’t need to justify it to me.  He got what he

                                                         deserved, why do you think you were never arrested

                                                         for it?

JOSHUA:  …

HOLDEN  (OVER THE PHONE):  You’re welcome.  Talk again soon.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 1.

NAOKO WALKS DOWN A DARK HALLWAY, IT’S DESIGN SCHEME IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW WHEN HER AND ICHIRO WERE BECOMING INTIMATE.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 2.

SHE COMES ACROSS A DOOR THAT HAS NO HANDLE, SHE IS UNLOCKING IT WITH HER FINGER PRINT.  NO DIALOGUE

PAGE 7.  PANEL 3.

NAOKO CONTINUES DOWN SOME STAIRS.  STILL NOT VERY WELL LIT.

NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 4.

THE STAIR CONTINUES GOING, BUT NAOKO STANDS AGAINST A WALL.  SHE PUTS HER PALM UP TO THE WALL.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 5.

THE WALL SEPERATES AND SHE ENTERS.  NO DIALOGUE.

KITAMI (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE OFF PANEL):  Welcome.

                             

PAGE 8.  PANEL 1.

THE WALL CLOSES BEHIND NAOKO, SHE LOOKS BACK, STARTLED.

KITAMI (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE OFF PANEL):  So glad you could join.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 2.

THERE IS A SACRED GEOMETRICAL PATTERN ON THE FLOOR, SURROUNDED BY CANDLES.

NAOKO (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE): I…I did what you asked master.  I lured

                                                                               Ichiro there, but then…

KITAMI (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE OFF PANEL):  I know dear, I know.  It

                                                                                                      was a two fold test.  I

                                                                                                      needed to see if the old

                                                                                                      ones would come, and…

PAGE 8.  PANEL 3.

NAOKO HOLDS HER HANDS TOGETHER.

NAOKO:  I would do anything for you.  I love you, I want you so bad.

KITAMI (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE OFF PANEL):  Oh, I know.  And I want

                                                                                                       you as well.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 4.

A PAIR OF FEMININE HANDS CUP NAOKO’S BREASTS. 

KITAMI (FACE IS SILOUHETTED, ALL WE SEE IS HANDS):  First take your pill.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 5.

NAOKO CONTINUES TO BE FONDLED WITH ONE HAND AS SHE TAKES A CAPSULE PILL WITH ONE HAND WHILE THE OTHER HAND IS MOVED INTO THE FRONT OF SKIRT.

NAOKO:  Yes, please, more. Make it grow, please.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 5.

NAOKO’S IS NOW FULL OF AN ERECT PENIS, WHICH IS BULGING AGAINST THE OUTLINE OF THE SKIRT.

NAOKO:  I  can’t wait, please…

PAGE 8.  PANEL 6.

THE CANDLES ARE SMOKING, IT IS COMPLETELY DARK.

DIALOGUE CONT.

NAOKO (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE OFF PANEL):  Yes!

PAGE 9.  PANEL 1.

ICHIRO AND JIRO ARE HAVING A DRINK AT A BAR.  ALL DIALOGUE IS TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE SO I DON’T NEED TO RETYPE IT.  THEY ARE RELAXED, THEIR LAB UNIFORMS UNBUTTONED

JIRO:  How are things with Naoko?

ICHIRO:  Weird since the incident.  But I shouldn’t be to worried, I mean that would

                 freak anyone out, you know.  I just wish we were closer to finding mother.

JIRO:  How are you, brother?

PAGE 9.  PANEL 2.

ICHIRO MOTIONS FOR TWO MORE DRINKS.

ICHIRO:  What do I say?  I have no idea what happened.  I’m being pulled in, and I can

                 feel all this hate, lust, frustration…death.  Nothing could save me.  Then…

JIRO AND IRCHIRO (TOGETHER):  Kitami.

JIRO:  Man, what I wouldn’t give to—

ICHIRO:  Yeah, she could dominate me in that biker outfit.  Talk to sho?

PAGE 9.  PANEL 3.

JIRO LIGHTS A CIGARETTE.  ICHIRO RECEIVES THE DRINKS FROM THE BARTENDER.

JIRO:  Not since we saw him arrive.  I can’t believe what happened to him.  He didn’t

            seem that distressed.

ICHIRO:  He’s always been restrained.  More so than us.  We should definitely check on

                 him.

JIRO:  After a couple more rounds.

PAGE 9.  PANEL 4.

JIRO AND ICHIRO STUMBLE DOWN THE STREET.  A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OUT WALKING ON THE STREET.

JIRO:  Remember how dad would always get him a bigger present than us at Christmas?  The fuck man.  What was so special about him?

ICHIRO:  You have to ask?

PAGE 9.  PANEL 5.

SHO, 4, HAS TAKEN APART A SEGA GENISIS/MEGA DRIVE.  JIRO, 9, AND ICHIRO, 11, ARE UPSET. 

JIRO:  SHO!

ICHIRO:  Awww man, my Sega Mega Drive.  You’re going to pay for this!

FUMIO (OFF PANEL):  BOYS!

PAGE 10.  PANEL 1.

FUMIO HAS PICKED UP SHO.

FUMIO:  He is only a child, he does not know any better.

JIRO:  He knows!

ICHIRO:  He wrecked my favorite gaming system, how are you not mad at him.

FUMIO:  He did not mean to.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 2.

SHO HANDS ICHIRO THE SEGA GENESIS, THERE IS AN EXTRA PORT AT BACK.

SHO:  Here, brother.  I did not break it.  I was just seeing if I could do something to it.

ICHIRO:  Is that an extra port?

SHO:  You can put Super Famicom games in it now.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 3.

ICHIRO LOOKS AT THE FRONT.

ICHIRO:  Are those Famicom controller ports up front?

SHO:  Yes.

ICHIRO:  This may be the coolest thing I have ever seen.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 4.

ICHIRO AND SHO ARE PLAYING GAMES TOGETHER.  JIRO IS ON HIS BED READING MANGA.

ICHIRO:  Jump, now get the Chaos emerald.

SHO:  Thanks for letting me be Sonic.

ICHIRO:  When we put Mario World back in I’ll let you be Mario too.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 5.

JIRO LOOKS AGITATED AS HE READS THE MANGA.

ICHIRO:  Dad was right.

SHO:  About what?

DIALOGUE CONT.

ICHIRO:  Nothing kid.

PAGE 10.  PANEL 6.

JIRO WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM, DROPPING THE MANGA AS HE DOES ONTO ICHIRO’S HEAD.

ICHIRO:  HEY!?

JIRO:  Sorry, it slipped.

PAGE 11. PANEL 1.

REI AND FUMIO ARE IN THE SAME ROOM THAT THE TENTACLE DEMON APPEARED IN FROM THE FLASHBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS ISSUE.  FUMIO SITS THERE, AND REI STANDS BEHIND HIM.

FUMIO:  This is where they last appeared.  We’ve combed this entire building and

                nothing.  The secret is this room.  Something in here.  It’s appeared twice here.

                Why?

REI:  I wish I could tell you sir.  We could check tapes, but they only go back to the

          beginning of the month, unless there was an incident, but the incident has only

          been within the last week.  How is Sho?

PAGE11.  PANEL 2.

FUMIO IS LEAVING THE ROOM, REI IS FOLLOWING HIM.

FUMIO:  Who’s to say?  He seemed excited about the bio suit, but it’s his dream, so who

                wouldn’t be?  I gave him that new wheel chair to make it more self sufficient

                for him to move around.  He’s been stuck in the room all night working on it. 

                Hopefully it will raise his spirits.

REI:  I have been worried about him since he came back.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 3.

FUMIO AND REI ARE TAKING THE ELEVATOR.  REI LOOKS EMBARRASSED.

FUMIO:  It is not my place to tell you these things, but I know how quickly something can be taken from you: Tell him how you feel.  

REI:  Sir, I…I…

FUMIO:  No need to make any excuses.  You have always looked out for him since you

               were kids, and it’s the reason you came to work here, hoping he would be here

               with you.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 4.

FUMIO IS LEAVING THE ELEVATOR.  REI STAYS BEHIND.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 5.

FUMIO IS STARING AT REI AS THE ELEVATOR DOORS CLOSE.

FUMIO:  Don’t waste this time.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 6.

REI LOOKS DOWN UNSURE OF HERSELF.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 1.

SHO, AGE 4, IS CRYING BY A DRINKING FOUNTAIN.  HE IS A SCHOOL BOY OUTFIT.

REI (OFF PANEL): Here, Sho.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 2.

TIGHT SHOT OF REI’S HAND AS SHE GIVES SHO A GENERIC LOOKING GUNDAM MECH.

SHO:  What?

REI:  Those boys took your toy…

PAGE 12.  PANEL 3.

SHO LOOKS UP, REI HAS SOME CUTS AND BRUISES ON HER FACE.  SHO IS TAKING THE TOY FROM HER HAND.

SHO:  Thank you, Rei.  

REI:  If they ever give you problems again, I’m here.

SHO:  Thanks.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 4.

SHO IS RUNNING AFTER REI, LATER THE SAME DAY.

SHO:  REI!

REI:  Yes?

PAGE 12.  PANEL 5.

SHO HAS CAUGHT UP, BUT IS OUT OF BREATH.

SHO:  I…was…wondering…could I…walk…home…with you.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 6.

BACK TO THE ELEVATOR IN THE PRESENT DAY.  REI SMILES IN THE ELEVATOR.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 13.  SPLASH PAGE.

CHINO, MALA, AND SCARLETT STAND AT THE LARGEST INTERSECTION IN TOKYO, IN THE SHIBUYA DISTRICT.  THIS IS THE BUSIEST DISTRICT IN TOKYO, AND IS LIT UP LIKE VEGAS, TIME SQUARE.  IT’S FULL OF LIFE AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE GATHERING, GUYS AND GIRLS IN KIMONO’S, HIGH FASHION TWENTY SOMETHINGS, SCHOOL UNIFORMED TEENAGERS, JAPANESE BUSINESS MEN, REGULARLY DRESSED PEOPLE.  IT IS A PEOPLE EXPLOSION.

CHINO:  Fucking…

MALA:  AWE-

SCARLETT:  SOME.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 1.

IN THESE NEXT THREE PAGES WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GIVE THE IDEA OF WHAT IT IS TO BE A YOUNG TOURIST IN JAPAN.  NOT MUCH DIALOGUE.

CHINO IS BUYS SMOKES OUT OF A VENDING MACHINE.  CHINO SHOWS THESE OFF TO MALA.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 2.

MALA IS BUYING A BEER OUT OF VENDING MACHINE AND SHOWING IT OFF TO COUNTER CHINO’S CIGARETTES.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 3.

SCARLETT HAS GOTTEN A TUBE OF PRINGLES.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 4.

CHINO, SMOKING, MALA DRINKING AND HANDING THE BEER OFF TO SCARLETT, SCARLETT HOLDING THE PRINGLES CAN OVER TO MALA, THEY WATCH THE CROWD GO PAST.

SCARLETT:  Once we finish, then we can go.  It’s rude to eat, drink and walk.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 5.

THE THREE OF THEM ARE RUNNING DOWN A STREET.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 6.

CHINO DIRECTS THEM INTO A NOODLE SHOP.

MALA:  Good, I’m hungry for some real food.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 1.

THEY ARE IN A NOODLE SHOP WHERE EACH PERSON IS GIVEN THEIR OWN SEAT, LIKE A BAR, BUT EACH PATRON IS SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER WITH PARTITIONS.  IN FRONT OF THEM IS A JAPANESE STYLE ROLLING CURTAIN, THAT CAN BE PULLED UP WITH A STRING.

CHINO FILLS OUT A PAPER.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 2.

SCARLETT HANDS THE PAPER TO SOMEONE UNDER A CURTAIN, WHOSE HAND ACCEPTS IT.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 3.

MALA IS GIVEN A GIGANTIC BOWL OF DELICIOUS LOOKING UDON NOODLES, WITH MEAT, GREEN ONION, ETC.

MALA IS VERY HAPPY WITH THIS.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 4.

THE THREE OF THEM ARE IN A KAROAKE ROOM.  IN JAPAN THEY RENT OUT THE ROOMS, SO IT’S SMALL, BUT COULD FIT UP TO AROUND 5 OR 6 PEOPLE.  THERE IS A TABLE IN THE CENTER, THERE IS BEER ON THE TABLE.  MANY PITCHERS AND BOTTLES ARE EMPTY.

SCARLETT LOOKS UP AS MALA AND CHINO SING, THEY ALL APPEAR DRUNK.

CHINO: Father!

MALA: Father!

CHINO: Father!

MALA: Father!

CHINO: Father!

MALA: Father!

PAGE 15.  PANEL 5.

CHINO, IN HUNCHED OVER POSITION, MALA, LOOKING INTENSE.

CHINO: Father into your hands, I commend my spirit

MALA: Father into your hands Why have you forsaken me?

CHINO: In your eyes forsaken me In your thoughts forsaken me

MALA: In your heart forsaken me, oh

PAGE 15.  PANEL 6.

CHINO AND MALA SINGING TO EACH OTHER.

CHINO AND MALA: Trust in my self righteous suicide I cry when angels deserve to die

                                      In my self righteous suicide I cry when angels deserve to die

PAGE 16.  PANEL 1.

CHINO, MALA, AND SCARLETT ARE EATING SUSHI.  THEY HAVE DIFFERENT STACKS OF PLATES NEXT TO THEM.  MALA IS WINKING, LOOKING AT SCARLETT.

SCARLETT:  White is cheapest, then blue, then red is the most expensive.

CHINO:  Why?

MALA:  ‘Cause red’s the best.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 2.

SMALL PANEL OF A DART HITTING THE BULLS EYE.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 3.

MALA IS CELEBRATING, A BUNCH OF DUCK THEMED MATERIAL IS ON THE WALLS, AN OLDER JAPANESE MAN, BUT STILL WITH BLACK HAIR AND MUSTACHE, IS BEHIND THE BAR.  A TWENTY SOMETHING HANDSOME JAPANESE MAN LOOKS EMBARRASSED, YET AMUSED.

CHINO IS LOOKING AT SCARLETT, WHO LOOKS WINDED.

HE WHISPERS TO HER.

MALA (TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE):  Pay up Take!

CHINO:  Don’t let her know your helping her, she’ll get mad.

SCARLETT:  I just wanted her to win.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 4.

TAKE, MALA, THE BARTENDER, CHINO, AND SCARLETT ARE TAKING A SHOT.

ALL:  KAMPAI!!!!

CHINO (ASIDE):  Peanut.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 5.

SCARLETT IS PARTIALLY INTO EATING A CREPE, MALA HAS JUST GOTTEN HERS, CHINO IS LOOKING AT THE VENDOR AS HE MAKES IT.  THE VEDOR IS IN A LITTLER METER MAID LOOKING VEHICLE, BUT ON THE BACK IS A GRILL, WHERE HE COOKS THE CREPE.  HE IS SPREADING THE DOUGH OUT IN THIS PANEL.

VENDOR:  Chocolate?

CHINO:  Hai.  Domo.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 6.

THE THREE OF THEM ARE IN A CAB, SCARLETT HAS HER HEAD ON MALA, CHINO IS TO MALA’S LEFT.

CHINO:  Great night?

MALA:  Best fucking night ever.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 1.

REI WALKS BACK INTO THE ROOM WHERE ICHIRO AND NIOKO WERE ATTACKED.  SHO IS THERE, JUST LOOKING AT THE WALL WHERE THE MONSTER EMERGED.

REI:  I’ve been looking all over for you.  You’re are very much your father’s son.  We

          left here not too long ago, him staring into space, wondering where your mother

         went.

SHO:  Do you think she’s alright?

REI:  Sho…I…

SHO:  It’s okay.  I guess I just expected you to reassure me.  You always make me feel better Rei.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 2.

REI PUTS HER HAND ON HIS SHOULDER.  HE HOLDS HER HAND AS WELL.

SHO:  Fourteen years we’ve known each other Rei, and in all that time we’ve seen me do

           some odd things, but nothing as strange as this.

REI:  No, not odd.  You’re special Sho.  You’re father sees that, I see that.  I hope you

          see it too.  I hope you see the good you can accomplish with what you can do, and

          what you can build.  You can still build.

SHO:  I know…

PAGE 17.  PANEL 3.

SHO IS ROLLING TOWARDS THE WALL.

REI:  You do not have handle bars. 

SHO:  (QUOTE FROM ORACLE)

REI:  Who said that?

SHO:  A stronger person than I.  Rei?  Can I tell you something?

REI:  Of course?

SHO:  I feel weak.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 4.

SHO SLUMPS OVER IN THE CHAIR, TRYING TO COMPOSE HIMSELF.

REI:  You are not weak, Sho, never.

SHO:  I am!  I begrudge this situation more than I let on.  I want to be strong, to not let others know that it bothers me, but it does.  I do ask why me.  I rationalize it, and figure it out, but it still fucking hurts!

PAGE 17.  PANEL 5.

SHO PUNCHES THE WALL, HIS SUPER STRENGTH IS KICKED IN, AND IT DENTS THE WALL.

REI:  SHO!?

PAGE 17.  PANEL 6.

REI TAKS HIS HAND INTO HERS.

REI:  Are you okay?

SHO:  Do not fret, I can heal it just as easily as I dented that wall.

REI:  No, not there…

PAGE 18.  PANEL 1.

REI PLACES HER HAND ON HIS CHEST.

REI:  Here.  Are you still my little piccolo? 

SHO:  …I don’t know.  I just worry that I’m half a man. 

REI:  Are you completely disabled down there?

SHO:  I…don’t know.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 2.

REI LEANS IN CLOSE TO SHO.

SHO:  Rei, we’ve—I’ve—

REI:  Shhh.

SHO:  Please…make me feel.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 3.

THEY ARE KISSING.  REI IS TO THE SIDE OF THE CHAIR.  SHO EMBRACES HER.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 4.

REI’S HAND DIPS INTO SHO’S CROTCH.

REI:  Let me see.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 5.

REI’S HEAD IS IN FRONT OF SHO’S PENIS.  HE LOOKS DOWN AT HER.  WE SEE THE BACK OF HER HEAD.

REI:  I think you will be alright.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 6.

SHO LEANS HIS HEAD BACK IN PLEASURE, REI’S HEAD IS IN HIS LAP.

KITAMI (CAPTION):  “All goes according to plan.  We ignite their lusts, which in turn…”

PAGE 19.  PANEL 1.

SCARLETT IS TAKING OFF HER SHIRT, SHE HAS BRA AND PANTIES ON UNDERNEATH.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 2.

SHE GETS INTO BED.

MALA:  Woh!?  Wrong bed, red.

SCARLETT:  No.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 3.

MALA IS UP, LOOKING AT SCARLETT.  MALA HAS A T-SHIRT ON.

SCARLETT:  I picked the bed I wanted to be in correctly.

MALA:  You…In this the booze talking?  I’ve had this happened before.  Some chick get’s all drunk and thinks she wants me between her legs instead of some guy—

PAGE 19.  PANEL 4.

SCARLETT TACKLES MALA, KISSING HER AS SHE DOES.  MALA HOLDS ON TIGHT TO SCARLETT.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 5.

SCARLETT IS LIFTING MALA’S SHIRT.

SCARLETT:  Did that feel real?

MALA:  Best fucking night ever.

SCARLETT:  What?

PAGE 19.  PANEL 6.

MALA GETS ON TOP OF SCARLETT.

MALA:  Get ready girl.

KITAMI (CAPTION):  “Invites our guests to come out and play.”

PAGE 20.  PANEL 1.

A PENTACLE IS ON THE GROUND.  CANDLES SURROUND IT.  TWO SETS OF BARE FEET SURROUND THE CIRCLE.  ALL WE SEE IS THE FEET, AND THE ROBES GOING DOWN TO THEIR TOES.

JIRO:  When?

KITAMI:  Patience.

PAGE 20.  PANEL 2.

THE PENTACLE NOW STARTS TO WARP WITH A BLACK SPACE OVER IT.

KITAMI:  There.  Say hello…

PAGE 20.  PANEL 3.

TENTACLED HANDS EMERGE, PARTIG THE RIFT.  WHERE FINGERS SHOULD BE, THERE ARE TINY TENTACLES.  THIS SHOULD EVOKE H.P. LOVECRAFT, CTHULU.  ALSO, BIRTH.

KITAMI:  …to our child.  The first of an army.

THE END