The Psyche Diver Trilogy: Demon Hunters by Baku Yumemakura Page A

Biku was looking for the same man. Biku found it hard to imagine that they had just let them go. He imagined the appalling scene, the two men tormenting the woman again.
    “What did you do with them?”
    Hiroshi and Yajima grinned sadistically.
    “You killed them.” They were silent.
    “Anyway,” Iba said, addressing Hosuke, “have the two of you come to an agreement?”
    “An agreement?”
    “It would seem not.” Iba grinned. The man and woman behind him seemed to be hanging back, observing. The huge man’s aura was abnormal somehow. Even standing still his cells generated so much energy that it felt like he might explode any minute. It was hard to imagine anyone being able to withstand the full extent of his power.
    “It seems that the fact I found him first isn’t going to count for anything.” Biku sighed.
    “This is fun.” Hosuke Kumon nodded as though he had finally worked it out. “You’re all here to ask me to dive, right?”
    “Right,” Iba said.
    “Well, if it’s work we’re talking about, it’ll come down to the cash.” Hosuke was suddenly full of bravado. “It depends on how much you offer, I’ll go with the highest bidder. It’s pretty clear the job’s not going to be on the level. Not if you’ve come looking for me.”
    “I’ll double what they offer,” Biku said.
    “Same here, we’ll double whatever he says,” Iba replied without hesitation.
    “Hah! Excellent,” Hosuke said. He turned to Biku, then Iba and the two behind him. He smiled, showing white teeth behind his thick lips. “We’re not going to settle this with money, then.”
    Biku and Iba gave him a puzzled look.
    “A fight it is,” Hosuke said quietly. “Whoever wins gets the job. It’s going to come to that anyway, right?”
    Biku winced. Hosuke was full of surprises, but his logic was sound. He had never expected the matter to be settled through civil discussion. Biku had tested Hosuke, and now Hosuke was testing him. Decided .
    “Well, shall we?” Biku got to his feet. Hiroshi and Yajima scattered off to the side, leaving Iba standing alone. Knives glinted in their hands. “You could all come at once?” Biku said, testing to see if the two behind Iba would react. They were still. “Holding back for the main event I see.”
    “Quite the clown,” Iba said.
    “Time for revenge.”
    “We won’t go as easy on you this time.” At the same time, Hiroshi and Yajima crouched low. Hiroshi’s cheeks trembled with nerves.
    “Time for the prelude.” Biku launched himself forward, moving with an easy, birdlike rhythm. He streamed forward, liquid smooth. Hiroshi stood before him, while Yajima circled to the rear. Yajima flung himself at Biku from behind, screeching like a bird. Biku’s frame blurred to the side and Yajima charged right through him collapsing in a stumbling heap at Hiroshi’s feet. He stopped moving. Biku had tapped the base of his hand against the back of Yajima’s skull, holding back most of his strength. He held Yajima’s knife in his hand. Biku had been blindingly fast.
    Hiroshi’s eyes were bloodshot. “Y...you..you!” He choked on the words. He pitched wildly forward, targeting Biku. Biku exhaled, smooth and sharp. He sidestepped before kicking up, connecting with Hiroshi’s arm holding the blade. There was a sound like the snapping of a dead branch. Hiroshi stopped, bolt upright, staring at his arm with disbelief; it bent at a grotesque angle between the wrist and elbow, bone jutting out. The knife he had planned to plunge into Biku’s chest was now being held directly under his nose. He crumpled to the floor and began to scream.
    “Mah...my fucking arm!” He thrashed in the grass wailing in agony. His face had turned purple and swollen as though he had been poisoned.
    Iba burst into motion. He sounded off as he flew into the air aiming a deadly roundhouse at Biku’s head. The height was phenomenal considering he was in hiking boots. Biku ducked. The kick sliced through the