“Thank you,” Akki says curtly, having not heard her. He sighs and massages his furry temples. “The point is, boy, if you still want my help in this world, you’re gonna have to step it up. I don’t want any more chatterboxes who lie there like dead fish. I need somethin’ worth the effort, y’hear? This bullshit is gettin’ really exhaustin’. Unless you want things to go back to the way they were. I mean, hey. Maybe I have no idea what I’m talkin’ about. Maybe you’ll be perfectly safe without my protection. Hmmm. You’ve been workin’ longer hours in the real world lately, haven’t you? A hafu in your position needs all the sleep he can get if you ask me.” He snickers at his own joke.

Zaniel gulps, his eyes fixated on his feet. What on earth can he do? “I apologize again, Akki-sama.” He bows low. “From now on, I’ll do my best.”

Akki throws up his hands. “That’s all I ask! Save me the trouble of havin’ to replace you. I don’t blame you, though. Women aren’t the same as they used to be.” Falling silent, the three of them watch the drunk Westerner’s lady friends suckle on his limbs. The lull in the conversation gives Zaniel a moment to think, to imagine the very idea of being replaced by another. He cannot wrap his mind around the image, and wonders if he even wants to.

“See, Hino?” Akki smirks. “I told you I picked the right place for us. Take that.” He drains his glass in one gulp. After one last drink, with great effort he slides out of the booth, removes another gold ring, and tosses it onto the table. “All right, I’m outta here. Gotta rest up before my next ‘visitor.’ That’s for the tab; order whatever you like. And bring back my change. Oh, and order some shoujo horumon for takeout and bring it up to the house. On second thought, nah, just bring back my change.” He struts out of the restaurant without a backward glance. The staff chorus-sings at his departure: “Mata okoshi kudasaimase!”

Zaniel sits rigid and uncomfortable, silent next to Hino, who continues to smoke and stare out the window, playing with her lighter. The rain has started again. He does not dare touch the ring or even the whiskey sour. A part of him wishes the floor would open and devour him. He had concocted a whole story to relay about the other night, a perfect explanation that gave him an excuse to leave the vicinity of Akki’s house but left out the Yokai. The one he cannot get out of his head.

He turns to see Hino’s shades are now fixed on him. He clears his throat. “Um, I was surprised when Akki-sama asked me to find him here. May I ask, what is this place?”