"Son of mine!" Jinkan whispered from the foot of Mizohachi's bed. "Son of mine! Rise! We will have words, you and I!"

There was a flash of light as Togashi Mizohachi's eyes opened wide. And the two were no longer in Dragon House. They stood, far above the world, and Togashi stretched his great bulk, staring down at the tiny vessel that held the tremendous will that was his father. His father, and someone else.

"Father, Hantei Ningi. It has been a while."

"Son! Kami! You will prostrate yourself before me! You will acknowledge at last that this work of Hantei's hands is mine! And you will deliver these ningen into my hand!"

Lord Togashi looked down at this tiny mortal holding a soul, a spirit, and a god within his poor, shaking mortal body. He sighed.



"One body, one throne, three spirits. But which of you will rule?"

"I will! I will!" Spirit and God warred for the voice of Mirumoto Jinkan, and for a moment it seemed as though his throat would burst like an overripe persimmon. "I will! I will!" Spirit and God howled their struggle into the night, until the great moon sank beneath the horizon,

and Mirumoto Jinkan rose in his own bed.

and had no memory of what had dwelt in his body the night before.