The Whistler

Divine Promise

"Uhh." Taka Grunts as he sits up on the table he was laying on.
"My head hurts." He says, rubbing his head. He looks around the room and doesnt really recognize it. Seems to be a seconds story of somewhere. The light piercing through the window like an unwelcomed guest, makes it hard to see everything due to Taka's eyes struggling to adjust.
"Good morning, asshole!" A female voice screams next to Taka. It scares him and he flinches really hard, falling right off the table and making a loud thud when he hits the ground.
"You idiot." The same female voice says. Taka looks up from the ground to see Mrs. Wu.
"Oh! Mrs. Wu!" Taka says, going to stand but then instantly getting dizzy when he does. Mrs. Wu hits him into the chair that was behind him. Taka smiles. He turns to see a sleeping Eugeo on that table hes currently sitting at. He is snoring and has a bottle of Sake in his hand.
"Oh man. I dont remember a thing from last night." Taka says.
"You don't? Cause I do. You two come banging in here, asking for food and then throwing up and drinking more. Idiots." Mrs. Wu says, beginning to walk downstairs.
"Wait, where even are we?" Taka asks, confused.
"My home."
"I don't even know where that is though!"
"Yes you do, dummy." She says rolling her eyes.
"Hungry?" She asks once halfway down the stairs.
"I could eat!" Eugeo springs to life as he says those words.
"Um, good morning. Yes, food sounds great thank you." Taka says, staring at Eugeo.

"Is she like.. Your mom?" Eugeo asks after they got their food and are now sitting at a table rather than laying on it. They cleaned up the mess of bottles and spilt booze once Eugeo decided to fully wake up.
"I wish i had a m-" Taka starts.
"Shut up, you idiot." Mrs. Wu says, drinking her tea while they scarf down food.
"Yes ma'am." Taka quickly responds.
"He eats my food for free, stays here when he wants, and i take care of him and his dumb friend when drunk apparently. Hes a freeloader." Mrs. Wu says never looking up from her tea.
"Hey!" Taka responds, noodles dangling from his mouth.
"No No, i kid-" Mrs. Wu laughs, "not Really." She mumbles under her breath.
"Why do you let him stay and do all this for him?" Eugeo asks, setting down his chopsticks.
"He saved my life, and my home. Twice now on the home part." Mrs. Wu responds while still sipping her tea.
"Aren't.. Arent you a human though?" Eugeo is visibly confused.
"Yes, and?" Mrs. Wu asks.
"A Demon, one as infamous as Taka, saving a random human? Twice nonetheless." Eugeo laughs. Taka while this conversation about him is going on, is still devouring the Pork Noodles he loves so much.
"He isnt as bad of a guy as everyone thinks. His soul and heart are still his human one." Mrs. Wu says, standing.
"Oh! Taka, your friend came by." She says before walking down the stairs.
"Huh? What friend?" Taka asks.
"I believe his name was Ryu? Some weird name. Said you were friends before death." All the sudden Taka's body clentches up and the food in his mouth falls out. His head burns and his stomach turns. His mind immediately snaps to a different place.

"Ryu?! Where are we going?" A younger Taka asks. He is chasing Ryu, but cant really see where he is or where he is going. All the sudden the scene shifts and gunshots are flying all around them. The 17 year old Taka is holding a bleeding Ryu, tears in Taka's eyes.
"Hey, you are going to be okay. Dont cry for me." Ryu spits up blood, "I have done nothing to deserve your sympathy, Taka. You need-" he coughs some more, "need to-" his body begins twitching.
"Ryu?!?!" Taka screams, shaking a now limp Ryu. Taka collapses onto him, breaking down in tears and sorrow.
"Ill kill him for this! I swear!" Taka screams into Ryu's chest.
"Hey. Im not gone, not yet. You need to survive. I promise i will see you again. That is my Divine Promise." Ryu smiles a blood filled smile at Taka, who smiles a tearful smile back.
"Here. Don't- don't- forget me, okay?" Ryu smiles as he hands him the blood soaked wristband Ryu was wearing. It says, '名誉と聖典'.
Honor and Sacrifice.

Taka snaps back to the present with Mrs. Wu and Eugeo desperately trying to help him. Hes now on the ground, noodles everywhere and the table flipped over.
"Taka! You're back!" Eugeo says.
"Yeah.. Sorry." Taka says as he looks at his left wrist to see the same wristband from the memory. Still blood stained.
"What happened?" Mrs. Wu asks.
"Im not sure. Sorry about the mess. But, we better go to your mistress, right?" Taka asks, standing.
"My lady, yes." Eugeo says sternly. Taka raises his hands in surrender.
"Sorry. Alright, lets go." Taka says, starting to walk away.
"You can't." Mrs. Wu says.
"What? Why not?" Taka asks, confused.
"Do either of you boys know what a Divine Promise is?" Mrs. Wu asks. Taka sees Ryu again, "This is my Divine Promise." Taka hears that over and over in his head for a second after she says that.
"No." Both Taka and Eugeo say in unison.
"Its a promise that if broke, will erase the breaker for eternity. It was supposed to be a myth. But so are Demons and God's. Yet, ive seen them both." Mrs. Wu says.
"Your point?" Taka asks.
"My point. Is in your stupid drunkeness last night you two made a Divine Promise. That Eugeo would help you finish the Yakuza and find Chieko. Then, youd go see his master together. Not a second sooner. If either of you go see her sooner, it'll result in both of you being removed from existence." Mrs. Wu looks sad, as if she is pleading with them not to go.
"Well, Taka." Eugeo says.
"Listen, that sounds pretty risky-" Taka starts.
"I guess we're partners till you find your girl." Eugeo interrupts. Taka is shocked. He figured Eugeo wouldve fought it. Eugeo just smiles.
"I guess so Mr. Lightweight." Taka laughs. Eugeo's smile vanishes.

"Sir!" A man says running outside of the Inn which Taka was staying in Shanghai.
"What is it?" Another man says, leaning against a black car. They both have black suits and black hair with black sunglasses.
"We found this. Listen." The first man says.
"Hey, Taka. My dad found out about us. Im worried he's going to do something. Please stay low for now. I dont want you to get hurt. He is going to try and k-" the message cuts off.
"This is one of many messages from four years ago. Its as if the phone had been untouched for four years." The first man smiles.
"What was the name the man who 'flew off' gave the owner?" The lead man asks.
"Mr. T."
"So it is Taka. Go ahead and call Ryu. Tell him we got something the boss will love. Taka Tatsuya is back from the grave." The man smiles a sinister smile.