Noodles

   

I followed Krim to a noodle restaurant not too far away. Unlucky for them, as we strode in most of the customers decided to leave. One giant foreign freak maybe but two? Nope. Time to go. We demons are not cheap bastards so we would tip accordingly. In no time we had a steaming bowl of seafood and noodles.

“I’ve traveled over two thousand years backwards and forward in time and over ten thousand miles. This soup is almost worth the effort by itself,” I said.

“Time travel? Somebody is interested in what we are doing. Care to share who?”

“The Church is the only player who concerns you and I. There are others but don’t know the names to even name as of yet. So what have you been up to?”

“Just lining my pockets as usual. This almost immortality thing gets boring, even with taking bad souls. Making money is just a little game I play to keep my more destructive side at bay.”

I could not argue with him there. Even I have a chaotic and destructive side.

“Rumor has it you are getting into something bigger. The money game has got to get old.”

“It is. I mean how many yachts, airplanes, estates, castles and houses and corporations are enough? I’m getting close to finding out. So I started thinking about what’s next. What’s a new game I can play without getting into too much trouble? Then I hear about this guy-“

“Mr. Ahrimani?”

“Yeah, Mr. Ahrimani. He’s this soulless arms dealer type, you know sell bad things to anyone for the right price. He gets a lead on something new, something big. Not only endless profit potential but also endless power potential. He likes it. But even he lacks the funds.”

“And that’s where you come in?”

“Yeah. But he’s gotta sell me on the idea first. I was not born yesterday after all.”

We both share a loud, demonic laugh. One or two more patrons decide it is a good time to go.

“Well, I agree to meet in Venice with him and a few others. They have figured out how to transfer machine intelligence into a human body grown in a lab. It is an AI that looks like and well… sorta is a person.”

“And?”

“They create Libby. They create or build a few others.”

“Females and males?”

“Yeah but they can’t reproduce. But make sexy time? Oh yeah! That’s one of their weapons.”

“Weapons for what?”

“They have their own agenda.”

“This gets more interesting all the time. So what’s the plan?”

“Perhaps Venetia can explain it better than I can. Care to meet her? You will be impressed.”

“I thought it was Libby.”

“She changed her name shortly after becoming sentient.”

“Whatever, I’m in.”

“Need to lose your new associates first. I don’t think they are ready yet.”

“I’m kind of obligated. Among other things they have my custom hyabusa.”

“ You don’t have to lose them permanently, just for awhile. Humor an old friend?”

“This sounds too fun to pass up. Let me make a call.”

Krim nodded in agreement. I called over the owner of the restaurant and politely asked if there was a phone I could use in fluent Japanese. He nervously produced his Apple iPhone and handed it to be and backed away slowly. We demons don’t carry manmade tracking devices; thank you very much. I could tell Krim and I were quickly wearing out our welcome here. We needed to move on before cops came and created an international incident. I put in a quick call to the padre to let him know I was on the case and would be scarce for the next few days. I hung up before he got his first question completely finished. The owner looked on with fear in his eyes as we got up to go. I pulled out a huge wad of yen and left it on the counter under his iPhone. It was equal to around a good week’s worth of business.

“The soup was delicious!” I told him in Japanese. 

“Delicious,” Krim added leaving around the same amount of yen next to mine.

Making people happy by leaving is a demon thing I guess. Down the street a little I stopped quickly when I realized I had no idea where we were going.  The rain had not let up.

“Where do we need to go, Krim?”

“Venice, Italy.”

“So travel the demon way? I’m tired of planes.”

“Yeah; church, cemetery, monastery or palace?”

“Let’s take cemetery for $100!”

“Yanaka is quite beautiful this time of year.”

“A cab is not big enough for the both of us.” I had barely got the words out when a black, sleek Rolls Royce Ghost stopped next to us.

“Ask and Krim will provide,” my smiling friend said.

We got into his luxury ride and made our way through town. His driver was a small time Oni looking to make his way up in the world. That explained the just in time service. I did not have to worry about being asked a lot of annoying questions or a driver with lose lips. Onis (Japanese demons) are known for their loyalty and code of silence.

“Sam, when you are ready to trade in the bike, let me know. I’ll make one of these happen for you. I’ll even add a driver,” Krim said.

“Not now. I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

We were both silent. Was this some half-assed attempt at temptation? Krim was being very friendly. PSA- be leery of overly friendly demons. All I could do was watch beautiful Tokyo slide by from Krim’s luxurious ride. It was nice to just sit a few minutes.     

We finally arrived at the cemetery. The driver popped the trunk and Krim retrieved his walking staff capped with a small crystal ball.

“I guess you don’t have yours?”

“Yeah, I left my walking stick in Mississippi. Didn’t anticipate demon travel. Left my walking stick in Mississippi, that has to be a blues song.”

“It is,” Krim replied. “No worry mine is strong enough for both of us.”

Somewhere near the middle of the cemetery, we both held the stick and tapped the wet ground nine times. In a flash of blue, green light we were gone.