Akki gestures to the young man’s wrist. The light from the bracelets has dimmed now that the giant yokai has arrived, but they are still glowing. How odd. Zaniel blinks with confusion. They’ve never glowed together like this. When he raises his gaze again, Akki stands before him, completely naked save his black fundoshi underwear. The dragon on his chest stirs and opens its eyes into two narrow slits. It gives Zaniel a brief sneer before turning its back on him and curling up into a ball to return to its nap.

“So, who was that messing with you there, kid? Looked like someone took you up awful high.”

“What? Oh. I don’t know. It’s okay, though. It was nothing.”

Akki narrows his eyes. “You sure about that? Didn’t look like nothing …”

“Yes.” Zaniel bows. “I’m sorry, Akki-sama, for summoning you all this way. I apologize.”

Akki sighs. “Whatever. Let’s get you out of here. C’mon, follow me.”

The giant man leads the way past private booths shrouded by shimmery silks and bamboo curtains to the nearest staircase that will take them back to the ground floor. Members of the wait staff step back to make room for him and his young companion, who feels much more self-conscious about walking around in his sleepwear.

“By the way, kid, I’ve been thinkin.’ I’ve been a bit soft on you about your taste in chicks these days. So I came up with a plan. You got three more shots to redeem yourself, see. How much time would you like?”

“Time? I’m afraid I don’t understand, Akki-sama. Are you giving me an … an ultimatum?” Akki glares at him. “I mean, saigo tsuuchou?”

“Yeah, that’s it. Let’s see …” Akki leaps down the last few steps, sending a boom that ripples through the floor and knocks a drink or two off nearby tables. “Let’s make it three broads in four nights. Yeah. I’ll make it easy on ya with an extra night.”

“Three women in four nights!” Zaniel starts after the yokai, then holds his tongue. He looks down at the translucent-tiled floor. He has no idea what he is going to do. “Understood.”

“And don’t think about gettin’ no creative ideas. I’ll pick one out, you bring her up to the house, I take it from there. That’s how our little routine’s been workin’, and that’s how it’s gonna keep workin’. If you can’t deliver, you can find yourself a new bodyguard. You got it?”