The Lycanthrope Club - An American Werewolf in Japan, Chapter VI

Junko idly wondered what time it was as she and Masae made their way up the hill. She reached down for her coat pocket only to realize she wasn't wearing her coat. Or anything at all apart from Taro's long sleeve shirt, which was currently wrapped around her furry hips. Sighing, she peered up at the sky through the swaying branches and caught sight of the full moon. A small smile formed on her lips as she gazed at the glowing pale sphere. There was something oddly comforting about the moon now. She recalled how, during their trek through the forest and up the hill, how she had repeatedly glanced up at the distant satellite only to shudder with apprehension as a strange, alien tingle ran through her body. Those tingles, once unnerving and disorienting, were now energizing her, filling her with confidence and optimism. She couldn't explain why; they just did. Her smile broadened to a cheerful grin. She ran her paw along a low-hanging branch as she walked, feeling its leaves run through her padded digits. She, somewhat to her own surprise, giggled and skipped ahead a few meters. Masae, who had been plodding along ahead of her, turned and scowled.

"What are you doing?" grunted Masae, still walking.

"I, er, just, walking," said Junko, feeling a bit foolish. She kept smiling anyhow.

"Hmph," snorted Masae. She stepped on a branch the thickness of a baseball bat and crushed it apparently without noticing.

"Have, you, uh, have you noticed how...not dark it is?" said Junko.

"How not dark it is?" said Masae sardonically. 

"I mean...we can see in the dark now basically," said Junko, waving her paws. "And I can smell everything now. And hear everything."

"Ugh, don't remind me," said Masae, shaking her head. "When I woke up it was like I had walked into a...pachinko parlor or something. Everything was too loud, too bright, too smelly..."

"It was overwhelming at first," admitted Junko. "But I'm getting used to it."

"Good for you," snorted Masae.

There was a pause.

"I...I'm sorry, Masae-sempai-"

"No, no," sighed Masae, raising a paw in apology. "It's alright. I'm getting used to it too." She looked up the hill and sniffed the air. "I can smell him...I think," she said absently. "So strange how I know it's him and I know he's...he's...you know."

"I guess that's instinct or something," said Junko.

"Has to be," said Masae, carefully maneuvering around a small outcropping of rocks. Junko nimbly vaulted up the outcropping, following her. "I mean...look at our legs," said Masae, gesturing downwards. "These are digitigrade."

"Eh?"

"Humans have plantigrade feet," explained Masae. "We walk on our toes and heels flat on the ground. Digitigrade is when the foot rests on the toes and the heels are raised. It's why we have these...curved legs. But digitigrade animals are all quadruped; digitigrade isn't suited for two legs. It doesn't make sense that we can balance on two legs, let alone walk on two legs, so easily after such a short time. It has to be instinct."

"Er...if I think too much about it I start to wobble," said Junko. "So I just...don't about it it." She paused. "I wonder what it'd be like to walk on four legs..." she murmured.

"What was that?" 

Junko stopped, crouched low and then extended her arms. She dropped to all fours. The instant all four of her limbs touched the ground something inside her brain clicked. After a few halting, experimental steps forward she trotted ahead of Masae.

"Hey!" protested Masae as Junko circled around her.

"This is cool!" exclaimed Junko gleefully as she scampered around the trees as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "So much easier like this!"

"Stop it!" barked Masae. "You're freaking me out!"

"Give it a try, Masae-sempai!"

"No! Get up."

"Come on!"

"Get up!"

Junko reluctantly slowed, rose and hurried back to Masae, brushing leaves and dirt off her chest and stomach as she walked. She was still grinning, however.

"This isn't the time to play around," scolded Masae. "We need to find Taro and figure out what's going on. I can't...smell anyone else around apart fr-..." she trailed off. Her nostrils flared open and then shut.

"What's the matter," asked Junko curiously. She sniffed the air herself. Her smile slowly faded, replaced with a puzzled frown. "What...is that?" she asked.

"I don't know," said Masae, still sniffing. "I can still smell Taro-kun but...I think it's more than..." she shook her head "I think those are other people."

"Oh," said Junko, feeling her tail tuck between her legs, suddenly very conscious of the fact she was essentially naked. And covered in fur. 

"The wind shifted," said Masae uneasily. "That's why we can smell them now."

Suddenly, Junko heard a soft crunching sound coming from her right. It was too loud to be coming from a squirrel, raccoon or other small forest creature. Both girls turned towards the noise, instinctively crouching low. The sound continued. 

"Someone's footsteps," whispered Junko. "They sound big."

"We don't know who it is so get ready to run," hissed Masae. "With any luck they'll just think we're some stray dogs."

"So...we should run on four legs?"

"What? No! Well, I...I mean..."

It proved moot. The newcomer emerged from behind a cluster of trees. 

"Taro-kun!" exclaimed Junko happily, hurrying towards him. 

The brown-furred werewolf gazed solemnly at Junko and then at Masae, who was staring at him, mouth wide open. While not as physically imposing as Masae he still cut quite the figure, particularly in contrast to Junko's relatively short, sinewy frame. But it wasn't just his enhanced physique; it was the way he carried himself - his raised, confident posture, his steady gaze and smooth, deliberate steps. 

"Takahashi-sempai," he said, bowing slightly in Masae's direction. "I apologize for leaving the rest area. I needed time alone to recuperate."

"Wha-?" said Masae, shaking her head. 

"Are you feeling well?" continued Taro in what Junko thought was an almost laughably formal manner given their circumstances. "The transformation was...unpleasant."

"I'm...okay," managed Masae. 

"Good, good," nodded Taro. He cleared his throat in a very deliberate way and averted his gaze. "Do you want me to find you some clothing?" he offered.

There was a pause. Then, Junko snorted and quickly covered her mouth. It wasn't enough to stifle her giggling. 

"What!" cried Masae angrily, somehow managing to blush through her black fur. She cradled her massive bosom in both arms. 

"I leant Hayashi-san my shirt," said Taro mildly over Junko's laughter. "However, it may be difficult to find a piece of clothing that will work owing to your tremendous size."

"What was that?" growled Masae, taking a step forward. The motion caused a certain part of her anatomy to jiggle. "Y-You're not wearing anything either!"

"I, uh, am wearing this," said Taro, gesturing down at his makeshift olive undergarments. "And I was happy to lend Hayashi-san my other shirt." He turned and looked back the way he had come. "The problem is that most of the rest of our clothing is still at the rest area. And there are at least a dozen men heading up there."

"What?" exclaimed Masae.

"What?" exclaimed Junko, her laughter fading. 

"I heard and smelled them so I investigated," explained Taro. "I'm fairly certain I wasn't spotted."

"That's right," murmured Junko. "We...smelled something too. About the time you came back."

"Yeah," said Masae. "They're probably park rangers. I hope they don't take our stuff."

"I don't think they are rangers," said Taro, shaking his head. "I saw one of them. He was wearing a business suit."

"A suit?"

"A nice suit," said Taro. "It was somewhat garish, actually. And I think they had guns."

 

A hush settled over the three high schoolers. Masae slowly looked over at Junko.

"Do you think it could be...them?" she said quietly

"Yakuza?" gulped Junko.

"Or whatever criminal organization that man with the gun belonged to," said Masae morosely. 

"How did they find us?" said Junko, looking around the forest.

"They...may have followed the other werewolf here," said Masae shrugging. "Or us. For all we know they were tracking us by our phones."

"What are we going to do?" said Junko, terrified.

"We should stay away from the rest area, that's what," said Masae quickly. "It's a big forest. We can hide until sunrise."

"Are...you sure?" 

"Yes, Junko-chan. It's the smartest thing to do."

"But what if they steal our clothing?" protested Junko. "And our food! I'm getting hungry."

"I think we can survive one night without food," said Masae.

"But I'm really hungry!"

"Be quiet. You'll be fine."

"I...don't know. I mean, what if we don't have the energy to make it back? It was a long hike. And...we won't have our clothing! What would the bus driver say?"

"It's better than facing some gangsters with guns," somewhat testily.

"But that werewolf sai-"

"I know what that werewolf said!" barked Masae, whirling around and baring her fangs. Claws emerged from her digits. Junko stepped back with a surprisingly dog-like whimper. Silence followed.

"Takahashi-sempai," began Taro quietly after a while. 

"What?" growled Masae. Junko noticed somewhat to her shock that the fur on the back of Masae's neck was standing on end. She'd thought it was only an expression but it was really doing it.

"I do not believe the men have reached the rest area yet," he said. "They were heading up the hill when I noticed them but they were still a good distance away."

"So...?"

"So if we hurry, we can intercept them," said Taro, his glowing yellow eyes briefly flaring. 

"You want to fight them?" breathed Masae in disbelief.

"If we leave now we might be able to collect our belongings and escape before they arrive, but if not, yes," said Taro.

"But they have guns! And there are only three of us!"

"Our phones are there. If they take them they'll know who we are. They'll know who our families are." He paused. "If they don't already know, of course," he added somewhat awkwardly.

A chill washed over Junko as she considered this. She risked a glance at Masae. It seemed as though Taro's logic had not been lost on her. Masae's angry scowl softened. Her claws retreated back into their sheaths. She almost looked embarrassed. 

"You're right, Taro-kun," said Masae through clenched teeth. "I didn't think of that. But how are we..." she turned towards the hill. Her demeanor suddenly changed from anger to panic. "We need to go. Now." she yelled, frantically gesturing towards the top. "We might still be able to beat them!"

With that she bolted up the hill practically trampling over a small birch tree as she ran. Taro and Junko exchange glances and hurried after her. 

Moving through the forest at speed proved difficult, dangerous even, particularly uphill. Twice Junko tripped over some obstacle. The thick undergrowth tugged at her fur even if it couldn't scratch her thick hide. It looked even more difficult for Masae given her cumbersome size.

"Run...run on four legs!" called Junko, managing to catch up with Masae. "I know it's weird but it helps!"

"I'm not-" began Masae.

"And we won't make as much noise," said Junko. With that, she fell to the ground and dashed ahead, rapidly outpacing Masae. 

The surrounding forest blurred as she picked up speed, weaving between trees, bushes, logs and boulders, fur and hair fluttering wildly in the air. She felt her tongue loll out of her mouth but didn't care. She couldn't believe how easy this was. She was running faster than she had in her life - possibly faster than anyone in her school or Japan. Her body crackled with energy and power. She felt strong enough to lift a car over her head. And she could see in the dark! It was insane. Absolutely insane. And she was loving it. It was as though she had become a superhero. Her right ear twitched as she picked up a dull, persistent thumping sound coming from behind. She glanced back and saw a pair of glowing yellow eyes framed by a large black form - one too short to be Masae. If she were running on two legs, at least. Junko grinned. 

A minute or so later they reached the rest area. Junko trotted into the small clearing, circling around the benches once before rising up on two legs, panting. She looked around. Everything was more or less as they had left it. Their bags and belongings were still sitting on the benches. The smell of the fish and meat was making her mouth water. There was a loud rustling as Masae emerged from the woods. Her fur and hair were tangled with twigs, and leaves, which she promptly started brushing away. Taro appeared soon after, ducking beneath a branch as she stepped into the rest area.

"We beat them!" exclaimed Junko gleefully.

"Don't just stand there," ordered Masae, already turning to the benches. "Let's grab our stuff and go!" She grabbed one of the bags and hefted it over her massive shoulder. Taro nodded silently and started gathering his things. 

"Oh, yeah," said Junko, still coming down off her runner's high. She hurried towards the benches and started cramming their flashlights into her backpack. Once finished she scanned the ground for her ruined clothing. Once she found her garments she hurried over and stuffed them into her backpack as well.

Junko froze. She slowly looked up, ears erect. She sniffed their air, trying to ignore the damnably appetizing smell of fish and meat.

"Masae-sempai, Taro-kun," she said just loud enough for them to hear her.

"What is it?" asked Taro. Masae, who was in the middle of lifting another bag over her shoulder, glanced over her.

Junko nodded at the trail behind them. Masae and Taro turned.

A cluster of lights were rapidly moving up the hill towards them. Though not particularly bright every so often one would briefly flare in the gloom. Junko realized it was because whoever was holding them was keeping their beams trained low to the ground to reduce visibility. She could hear soft voices and smell unfamiliar scents. They were very close.

Junko shivered. Her heart was pounding against her chest. She had no idea what to do but knew she had to act. Should they run? Hide? Try to talk? She looked around. Both Masae and Taro had gone still. 

"Go, go!" hissed Masae suddenly, waving her paw at the path leading up the hill. 

Junko blinked. She whirled around to run and nearly collided with a man standing at the edge of the rest area. Junko yelped and staggered back, dropping her backpack. She stared at the intruder. He had short crew cut and a broad, prominent chin and was dressed in a dark grey coat. He was holding a flashlight in one hand and what appeared to be a pistol in the other. He stank of cheap cologne and cigarettes. 

The man was staring at her, mouth agape, looking just as shocked as she was. Several other men emerged from the woods. They were dressed much like the first man and all were wielding guns.

Junko slowly backed away, eyes darting wildly back and forth. She glanced back at Masae and Taro, who were also backing off. The three high schoolers huddled at the northern edge of the rest area as more and more men appeared from out of the woods like ghosts. There were at least a dozen now with more on their way by the looks of it.

 

"What do we do?" whispered Junko frantically.

Masae swallowed.

"I...I don't know," she admitted, glancing down at Junko. 

A few, terrifying seconds passed. Then, Taro exhaled, breathing a deep, long sigh. 

"Follow...my lead," he said, a slight quiver in his voice.

To Junko's horror Taro detached himself from the group and strode confidentially towards the gangsters. He paused a moment to reach down to rifle through one of their duffle bags. He drew a long bokken - wooden sword - from the bag. It looked somewhat undersized in his paws but there was something undeniably intimidating about the way held it. That or the fact he was a nearly three meter tall muscular wolf man.

He leveled the bokken at the gangsters. For the first time since they arrived some of them raised their guns. Junko opened her mouth to protest but no words were forthcoming. She heard Masae breathing heavily next to her. 

"Impudent trespassers!" bellowed Taro, his voice a lion's roar. "How dare you profane this sacred forest with your presence."

All was silent. Then, Junko heard one of the men whisper 'it can talk?' to his confederates.

"We have tolerated small groups of you humans," continued Taro. "Those who pass through and keep to the paths. Those who show respect and pay homage, as is proper. But those who blunder through these woods at night, disturbing the peace, trampling plants and dropping trash...they have no place here. Leave now and never return!" he snarled. His eyes flared.

Junko didn't know whether to scream or burst into laughter. It was so...so corny. But Taro's performance, well, for a moment or two there even she had been afraid of him. He did resemble some kind of enraged wolf kami. Maybe they would buy it and run. Assuming they didn't know about werewolves. Or notice that Taro was wearing a modern shirt around his waist.

And indeed, some of the men were backing away. Some had even lowered their weapons. Junko could see the fear in their eyes; she swore she could smell it. Others, unfortunately, appeared unaffected by Taro's threats. They kept their guns trained on the high schoolers, their faces grim, determined. 

"What's wrong with you idiots?" snapped one of the men, stepping into the rest area. He wore a slightly nicer suit than the rest of them, albeit one torn and splattered with dirt here and there. He had an oblong face with narrow dark eyes and thin lips. "They're just wearing mascot costumes." He waved his gun. "Get them."

After some hesitation, the gang crept forward.

There was inhuman snarl - not from Taro, but from Masae. The enormous black-furred high schooler turned werewolf stomped towards the oblong faced man. She reached down and scooped a bokken from the bag almost as an afterthought.

"LEAVE!" she roared with a voice straight out of a nightmare. "I WILL TEAR YOUR THROATS, RIP OUT YOUR ENTRAILS AND FEAST ON YOUR BEATING HEARTS! YOU WILL LIVE JUST LONG ENOUGH TO CURSE YOUR MOTHERS FOR BIRTHING YOU BEFORE I DEVOUR YOU, BODY AND SOUL. I HAVE NOT FED FOR CENTURIES AND HUNGER FOR MORTAL FLESH. DO NOT TEMPT ME!"

Even the most hardened gangster flinched, if only due to the inhuman volume of her voice. Junko did not feel the least inclined to snigger at Masae's performance; she wasn't entirely certain Masae was bluffing. Not all of it, at least.

Then, a gun went off. 

Junko wasn't sure where or who shot or why. Perhaps it one of their fingers had slipped or perhaps they had fired out of panic. Masae lurched back as a bullet struck her in the right shoulder. 

The smell of blood filled the air. It hit Junko like a hammer to the face. It was so strong - rich, metallic, salty, and tangy. It made her entire body tense and her claws slide from their sheaths. It washed away fear and leaving what could only be described as...ferocity. 

Masae did not fall. She looked more surprised than hurt. She slowly reached up and brushed the wound. She looked up at the gangsters. Then, her lips peeled back, revealing twin rows of glistening white fangs. She was almost smiling. With a guttural howl she lunged at the closest man with a speed that should have been impossible for a creature of her size.

"No biting!" yelled Taro, raising his bokken. "Only swords!"

Whether she heard him or reflexes honed from years of practice simply took over she lifted her wooden blade into the air and brought it down on the man in a wide arc. She struck him in the chest. The force of her blow sent him flying several meters in the air. He landed at the edge of the rest area, screaming, clutching his shattered ribs.

Chaos broke loose. Gunshots filled the air. Some struck Taro and Masae but all they seemed to do was slow them down. And most shots actually missed them. It was, as Masae would later point out, partially because the men needed to hold their flashlights in one hand and fire their guns with the other. Though designed to be used in one or two hands their pistols were of a heavy caliber and would have been more accurate had the men been able steady their arms. Even those with the perspicuity to drop their flashlights and depend on their comrades for illumination found the numerous moving beams of light almost made things worse. It was like trying to shoot in the middle of a nightclub rave.

And Masae fought like a thing possessed, roaring, snarling, howling, wading through the mob with reckless abandon. Though she missed more than half the time the slightest blow from her bokken sent men reeling. Taro, though not quite as showy, dropped two men for every one she did. He wove between the startled men, hacking and slicing with astounding accuracy, dodging the occasional desperate punch or pistol whip with contemptuous ease. Blood dribbled down his light brown fur from where he'd been shot but he seemed as invincible, as did Masae. 

As Junko watched in terrified awe she realized half-dozen or so of the men were pointing their weapons directly at her. She instinctively ducked to the ground and scampered towards them on four legs. Their guns went off but none of them hit her. She ran up to the closest gangster and rose up on two legs suddenly right in front of him. He bellowed in anger and tried to hit her with his flashlight. Junko, almost by accident, sidestepped and stuck her leg out, tripping him. Not sure what to do next she grabbed him by the shoulder and gun hand and squeezed both. The man screamed in anguish and dropped his weapon. Remembering that his friends were still gunning for her she whirled around and held on to the gangster, using him as a human shield. The other yakuza hesitated. Just as they were about to raise their guns again Junko yelled 'catch' and hurled the unfortunate man at his cohorts with all her might, hitting two of them and knocking them to the dirt like bowling pins.

Then, something small, sharp and powerful hit Junko in the lower back. She yelped in pain and staggered forward a half a meter or so. The pain was intense but quickly faded to a very faint ache. 

Someone had shot her.  

There was a moment of horror. Memories, ones all too fresh, of the day she'd been gunned down on the street flickered in her mind. Then, it occurred to her that she was still standing. And it didn't hurt any more. She felt...fine.

She was a werewolf. Bullets couldn't hurt her. Not anymore.

A wicked grin formed on Junko's lupine face. The men who were still upright fired at her again. Two of them hit her, one on her hip and one in her chest. Again there was a flash of pain that faded within seconds; it was no worse than getting slapped with a bamboo blade. 

Junko snarled, raising and tensing her paws. Long, sharp claws emerged from their sheaths. The remaining yakuza stared at her and then past her at the carnage Masae and Taro were inflicting. Then, they scattered into the forest. Then men who Junko had bowled over stumbled to their feet and ran as well, two of them limping. There were fewer and fewer gunshots.

Then, suddenly, all was silent - silent, that is, save for the footsteps of the gangsters retreating down the hill.

Junko just stood there for a time, stunned. She slowly turned. Masae and Taro were standing back-to-back holding their bokken. Their pelts were stained with blood from gun wounds. Both were breathing heavily, eyes glowing brightly, fangs bared. There wasn't a single yakuza to be seen. Neither were there any bodies.

Seconds ticked by. The distant lights of the gangsters' torches gradually faded into the night. Then, all was dark once again.

Taro slumped and fell to his knees, panting. He lifted himself back up using his bokken and stood stiffly. Behind him, Masae lowered her bokken. She looked around the forest.

"Any left?" she rumbled.

"I...think they're gone," said Junko quietly.

Masae gave Junko a queer look. 

"Too bad," she said. "I wanted more."

Masae staggered over to one of the bench and slumped back on one. The wood strained audibly but did not break under her ponderous bulk. 

"You...wanted more, Takahashi-sempai?" queried Taro in a weary voice.

Masae didn't reply. Instead, she threw her head back and started laughing. 

Junko snorted. Then, giggled. Then, she started laughing as well - loud, long peals of laughter.

"What...what's so funny?" asked Taro with what sounded like genuine confusion.

Both girls laughed even louder, pointing and cackling at the bemused male student. Their laughs echoed throughout the forest. 

"Nothing," said Masae, carefully wiping away a tear. "I just wanted more."