Monkey Boy's Playground

Confused as to where the man came from, and why he’s dressed as he is, “How long have you been standing there?’

“Maybe a whole minute now.”

“Do you even have any idea what I’m doing here?”

“’Bout to go bash a bitch ass mofo’s face in. Or at least I’m hoping so. And let me tell you Azel needs a good ass whooping.”

Absolutely confused as to the identity of Damien, “How do uou know his name?”

Chuckling a bit, “Let’s just say that douche pickle owes me; and as a side note, if you call him by name, he’ll show his ugly mug right off. Demons hate it when mortals call them by name, some sort of pride thing I guess. I’ve never really understood it.” Pulling the sword and sheath from his waist, “If you’re interested, this sword will help you defeat him, however, there is a catch. The catch being that should you take it, you’re contracted to do my bounty hunting for no less than five years. After that you have the option yearly to continue the contract. Should you ever decide to break this contract, you’ll see my pretty face, ripping your soul out.”

Curious, Hunter asks, “And what incentive do I have to take your sword and contract?”

Holding up one hand and spawning a bank stack of $100 bills from thin air, “Ten large.”

Surprised by the offer, “How do I know this isn’t some trick?”

Holding out the sword and the money, “It’s no trick, just another job. Much more severe consequences should you default on the contract, but other than that it’s just a job. I’m a man that needs shit done. You have skills I need to do these things, and I’m willing to offer large stack of green to get those skills. Yet, I don’t liked getting fucked over; as per the fellow you’ve somehow managed to trap within that house.”

Thinking hard for a minute, but still with doubt, “Still don’t see what the sword will do for me.”

Pulling out the blade just enough to show the kanji at its base, “Jigoku, translates to ‘Hell’ in English, has the power to slay what a mortal blade can’t scratch. This blade will never dull, or break. Kind of magical. It is the ultimate weapon for someone such as yourself whom does and will associate them self with this line of work.” Hunter is still visibly in doubt of the offer. Spawning another snack of money, “Fuck it, here’s twenty large, definitely more than you’re making from the Newton’s for the job.”

After taking one last minute to consider the possibilities, “Hell with it,” Andrew steps toward Damien and takes the money and the sword from him simultaneously. He tosses the money on his truck seat and closes the door. Then he ties the scabbard secure around his chest and back through his armor. Andrew turns around toward the house, but Damien is gone.

Damien, in a ethereal voice, “Remember, his name is Azel, and he knows how to use his tail really well.” Laughing hard, “Shit, I’m a poet and don’t know it. Everything I say just happens to come out that way.” Regaining himself, “But seriously, you have that sword, so use that over your other weapons and you’ll be fine.”

Andrew walks up to the house and enters the foyer; as he closes the door behind him, the picture frames from the hall above fly off the walls aimed at his head. Laughing almost in a maniacal manner, “Honey, I’m home.” Calling out to whomever it is that is listening, “So I’ve been told that demons are pussies, and love to be called by name, isn’t that right, Azel?” A loud roar echoes through the house as Andrew calls Azel out from the shadows of the house. Laughing, “Come out, come out, you little bitch. I just want to play with you little Azel, ya stupid tool.” At this final taunt, Azel appears at the opposite end of the foyer.

Azel stands at six feet five inches tall. Looking on is his monster face of red eyes, blue skin and boney solid figure. Azel has a smile of sharp teeth, front to back, and a snake tounge. His torso, covered in thick charcoal fur, is accented by muscular arms and legs scaled in blue. The claws of this hands and feet are his main weapon. He has a slender, yet powerful tail, used for high speed maneuverability rather than common balance. “Goddamn filthy human; how do you know my name?”

Laughing, with signs of worry at what he’s getting into, “A little birdie told me.”

Grinding his teeth in anger, “That son of a bitch. That’s fine; I’ll kill you and still ruining his plans.”

Azel charges at Andrew, who strafes, ducking into the dining room to avoid the assault. Andrew pulls and readies his batons, and swings for a double vertical shoulder strike. Azel, using his tail like a kangaroo, leans back and delivers a powerful kick to Andrew’s stomach, forcing him to stumble backward. Azel takes advantage of this and charges Andrew slamming him backward over the table. Azel then jumps over the table, grabs hold of Andrew’s armor and drags him across the table slamming him against the china cabinet on the other end. As plates fall on his head, and about his body, Andrew delivers a hard right baton swing to Azel’s left knee forcing him to drop on it. This gives Andrew the second he needs to get to his feet, grab Azel, and body slam him into the table. Stunned by the surprise attack of a simple mortal, Andrew is able deliver a double baton strike to Azel’s torso. Andrew jumps on top of the table, grabs Azel by his thick fur, and rolling backwards, uses his feet to propel him into the living room. Andrew quickly get to his feet and charges Azel.

Azel is already to his feet and ready for the attack. He uses the momentum of Andrew’s attack, grabs him around the waist, and tosses him into a chair tipping it over. He then jumps over the downed Andrew, grabs him again, and tosses him over head to the center of the living room. As Andrew gets to his feet, he is greeted by the spinning tail of Azel straight to his chest. The force of the blow sends Andrew flying into the TV.

Laughing at the lack of progress in the fight, Azel jabs, “We gonna do this shit all night?”

Catching his breath, Hunter strikes back, “Hell no!” Andrew pulls his pistol, takes aim and begins firing at Azel. Azel uses his speed to duck, and roll from the gun fire. Andrew walks toward Azel as they cross over to the kitchen. Seeing an opening to attack, Andrew delivers a well placed and timed power kick to Azel’s chest sending him off his feet and against the island. Andrew charges in, grabs Azel by the fur, spins him around and uses the momentum to send him through the basement door and rolling down the stairs.

As Andrew rounds the stairs to the right of where Azel moved, he is grabbed and thrown through the dry wall into the stair well. Andrew comes out of the stair well swinging his combat knife. Azel dodges the swings. Andrew finds another opening and delivers another power kick to Azel’s stomach, giving him the opportunity to land a hard right uppercut and a left hook, followed by throwing his knife into Azel’s chest.

Azel steadies his stance from the blows; with knife in chest, “Is that the best you can do?”

Surprised that his attacks have little effect on his opponent, “Shit, I guess…I guess I should have blessed it.”

Azel removes the knife tossing it to the floor and charges Andrew. Andrew side steps the attack, quickly draws the sword and slices Azel’s back on a downward right swing as he readies for another attack.

With rage in his eyes, “What the fuck? Where did you get that blade,” Azel barks.

Laughing in jest, Andrew replies simply, “From a little birdie.”

Roaring in anger, Azel charges Andrew, dodging Andrew’s sword, and landing a series of kicks and punches forcing Andrew back further and further with each strike; Azel finishes the combo with a tail blow that sends Andrew flying across the rest of the room and into the wall. Andrew stumbles to his feet ready for the next attack. Azel readies his claws for a finishing blow. As he reaches out toward Andrew, Andrew ducks and rolls to avoid the attack; Azel quickly turns to reposition his attack only to be met wish a blade thrust through his chest.

Damien enters the basement from the store room wearing a silvery grey tank top, and tattered jeans. Clapping his hands, “Bravo good sir, bravo.”

With pain and anger, “You son of a bitch! How could you do this to me,” Azel demands.

Teleporting to Azel’s left and delivering a massive kick to his head, sending him flying over the couch, “Easy.” Damien reaches for Azel’s tail that hangs over the couch, as Damien tightens his grip, a fire red portal opens just in front of the bar. Damien throws Azel screaming through the portal, “Back in your cage!” The portal closes immediately behind Azel. Damien looks to Andrew, who stands amazed to the entire spectacle, “It’s hard to find good help these days. I can tell I made a good choice in giving you the job. Great work, there’ll be plenty more to come no worries; and more money as well.” Looking around the basement at the damage and blood on the floor from Azel’s wounds, “This place could use some repairs.”

Still surprised and confused, “Yeah, I hope they have good insurance.”

Nonchalant, “They don’t need it.” Damien smiles, snaps his fingers, and in a flash of bright white light, the house is repaired and Andrew’s weapons are back in their holsters. Damien looks at Andrew, “Keep safe, and see you soon.” Damien then vanishes into thin air.

“I need a drink…or four.”

“So you just took the thing from some weird ass ghostly figure, you’ve never met otherwise,” questions Rachel in utter disbelieve.

“The man had cash! Twenty thousand dollars,” Hunter pulls the stacks from his back pocket.

Rachel snatches the money from his hands and examines it, “Holy shit! Is this real?”

“Well of course it’s real hun.”

“So what’s the catch,” skeptically. “There has to be some sort of condition for all this.”

“I have to do whatever job he gives me for the next five years. He said if I refuse to take a job he’ll personally rip out my soul.”

Worriedly, “Really, love, and you still took it?”

Pointing to her hands, “Cash, money. Plus I didn’t feel like I had a choice, know what I mean? He knew things I just couldn’t. And it’s all my sort of excitement.”

Taking a deep breath and taking it all in, “Yeah, I guess I can’t blame you.”

Giving Rachel a loving, romantic look and swiping one of the stacks back for himself, “Now what say you to going to the bedroom and making each other dance for more money in hand?”

Grabbing Andrew by the hand and placing the money in his hand, “Honey, you just beat a demon’s ass,” as Rachel winks at him and kissing him sweetly on the lips, then whispers in his ear, “I think you deserve a free ride.”