Reiko: "If it is the real thing, it would be worth about 2 billion yen" Yokoshima: " Found on trash day? It couldn't be...." Okinu-chan: "It is really that expensive? Then I can't use it as a vase, right? What am I gonna do with the flowers?" Reiko: "How about putting them in a bucket?"

They then try to get it open. Yokoshima, of course, uses this opportunity to cop a quick feel with typical results. Upon opening it, out pops a Genie who introduces himself as Efreet and evilly laughs himself into a coughing fit.

When he recovers, he says he will grant them each 3 wishes.

Yokoshima: "Me first! Me first! I want to be first!" Efreet: "Right. You are first. You have 2 more wishes." Yokoshima: "Wait a minute!! That one doesn't count!!" Efreet: "Ok. 'Wait a minute and the first one doesn't count.'" Yokoshima: "Right...Three wishes. I gotta do money and women!! First, money!! I want to be the richest man in the world! Next, I want all of the prettiest women in the world..." Efreet: "Right. I waited for a minute. That was your second wish. Your third wish was to have the first one not count so that you wouldn't be first. Since you have used your three wishes, it is someone else's turn. I have granted you all your wishes."

It is now Reiko Mikami's turn. She points out that the Genie probably has some sort of contract with Allah. She has heard that a lot of evil souls were punished by becoming Genies. Efreet admits that he has to grant the wishes of a certain number of people before he is allowed to leave the jar in which he is imprisoned. In order to do that quickly, he distorts their wishes. Reiko decides to hold onto hers for a while.

Efreet: "Yo...you can't do that! I have a wife and kid waiting for me !!! Okinu-chan: "You shouldn't pick on the poor thing. For my wishes, let's see..." Efreet: "I can't grant wishes to ghosts." Okinu-chan: "I don't like him. Please pick on him!" Efreet: "It can't be helped! God has already decided that rule!"

Efreet eventually whines his way into getting Reiko to ask for her wishes. For her first wish, she states that he is to do precisely the wording of her wishes with no use of puns, distortions, or anything like that. Efreet agrees.

Reiko: "My next wish...I want you to be my slave for the rest of my life and continue to grant me my desires!!" Yokoshima: "She is evil!! No matter what, he is ruined. What are you going to do now, Efreet!?" Efreet: "What did you say?" Reiko: "Quit clowning around!" Efreet: "All right. I will quit clowning around. You have one more."

Reiko realises she is going to have to come up with something else. For her third wish, she wants to be able to grant the Genie three wishes of his own. This, of course, floors him. In the 1000 years that he has been in the jar, this is the first time he has heard of such a wish. He agrees. His first wish is for no distortions of his words. His second wish is that she cannot pretend she doesn't hear him. Reiko agrees to both of the wishes. His third wish (in Japanese):

Washi no fuuiin o toitekure!! Ima sugu da!! (Break the seal that is holding me to this jar!! NOW!!)

What Reiko replies with (in Japanese):

Ha!? Washi no furin o toidekure!? (Wash a paper bell!?)

(She changed a few characters and the meaning is completely different.) Efreet is not too pleased with this and Reiko quickly locks him away in with one of her scrolls.

Reiko: "It would be better if that thing did not exist. You should get your desires with your own power.

The jar may some day show up in your neighbourhood. {SCS}

Reiko really doesn't want to work with Meiko at all. When she appears on the verge of tears, Reiko quickly agrees.

Okinu-chan: "You are so nice, Reiko." Reiko: "You don't know how frightening a 'shiki-tsukai' is."

Everyone gets their equipment ready. Meiko calls out Basara, a rather huge hulking cow (honest, that is what it is supposed to be.) This frightens the spirits considerably. They are then sucked up by Basara. Meiko calls out Indora (a horse), Haira (a sheep), and Sanchira (a snake) and they make their way up to the 8th floor. Meiko recalls the first time she met Reiko. It was at the National Ghost Sweeper Qualifications Exam. She was riding Indora (as she is now) and Reiko came up and scolded her because her "shikigami" were being a nuisance to everyone. Meiko was so happy. It was the first time any one had come up to her to speak. She is still not sure why people always step away from her.

They begin to clean out the spirits from the penthouse. Reiko has to put up wards, otherwise, more spirits will come in from the outside. They have to be quick. There are so many that Basara is getting full and can't suck them up as fast as he might. Meiko is sent to distract them while Reiko sets about affixing the wards.

The ghosts are coming faster all the time and eventually graze Meiko's cheek, causing it to bleed. Reiko looks panicked when she hears this.

Reiko: "Ack! Don't cry, you idiot!"

To no avail. Meiko starts crying and unleashes all her 'shikigami.'

Reiko: "CALM DOWN! GET CONTROL OF YOUR SHIKIGAMI!"

One hour and 12 minutes later, the condo complex is turned into rubble. Meiko can't control them when she is excited.

Meiko: "We screwed up but at least I have my friends beside me." Reiko: "You think I wanted to be here!?"

Takashima is still being restrained elsewhere. {SCS}

The next day in a coffee shop, Reiko is talking with Meiko. Meiko tells her that Doctor Chaos, an alchemist from Europe, has arrived in Japan. Reiko is surpised he is still alive. Apparently, he has discovered the ancient secret to go on living without dying. He fled Japan about 100 years ago and has just returned.

Reiko: "Wow...how do you know all of this, Meiko?" Meiko: "I ran into him at the airport and I got his autograph!"

Meiko makes conversation with this really famous alchemist. He says his reasons for coming to Japan are secret and then blabs about why he is here. He is going to use his secret power to take over the body and powers of someone in Japan. It needs to be someone with special powers.

Dr. Chaos: "By the way, miss. Do you know someone like that?" Meiko: "Yes!"

And that is why Reiko is now in trouble. Meiko can't understand what she is so upset about.

Meanwhile, at Dr Chaos's place, he explains that he is going to use Yokoshima as a way of getting to Reiko. He is going to switch bodies with Yokoshima and go after her. He instructs Maria (a robot) that until he returns to normal, she is not to let Yokoshima leave. The transformation completes and Dr. Chaos is in Yokoshima's body and vice versa. Maria doesn't realise this at first so she restrains Yokoshima (his body at least) and Yokoshima escapes in Dr. Chaos's body to warn Reiko. Dr. Chaos explains that he has switched and sends Maria after Yokoshima.

Yokoshima calls up the office and gets a hold of Okinu-chan who doesn't recognise his voice (because it belongs to someone else.) Maria catches up with Yokoshima and begins to deal with him.

Back at the office, Dr Chaos (as Yokoshima) traps Okinu-chan in a magical jar. Reiko is just getting out of the bath and asks Okinu-chan to get her a beer. Yokoshima (Dr Chaos) says that he will get it. When he is just about to make his move, Reiko says that she has realised that Yokoshima is really Dr. Chaos and beats the crap out of him (Yokoshima would have tried to peep on her while in the bath and he also doesn't match him physically.) Dr Chaos tries to use the pentacle on this chest to attack Reiko only he forgets that it isn't his chest. He switch souls again and Yokoshima returns to his body just as Reiko is about to knock it around some more. Dr. Chaos doesn't fair much better as Maria is busy restraining what she still believes to be Yokoshima in Dr. Chaos's body. {SCS}

The mansion they are to sweep has a large, viscious ghost in the form of a dog. Much combat ensues. The old man shows up and discovers that the ghost was actually his dog from many years ago. It had remained guard until the old man's return and was now able to go onto heaven. The old man hadn't realised that this was the mansion he had lived in as a child. He decides to build a 100 story building on the site in honour of his beloved dog. {SCS}

At the office, Reiko and Yokoshima have just gotten back from a tiring day of Ghost Sweeping. This was an especially good day for Yokoshima because during their work, he and Reiko were both knocked to the floor and Reiko's lips touched his cheek (he considers this a kiss.) This really has him worked up and he isn't thinking of much else.

Okinu-chan is in the kitchen, preparing tea. She finds the cake and decides to serve it as well. Reiko asks where the cake came from. She didn't buy it and apparently Yokoshima didn't either (he is too busy trying to compare the gentle touch of Reiko's lips to the creaminess of the cake topping.) Reiko suspects there is some sort of magic or potion in the cake that they should probably throw it ought rather than eat it. This, of course, comes to late to the ears of Yokoshima. Once swallowed, it can't simply be puked back up. Reiko gives him something to slow down the effects. Yokoshima asks if he is going to die.

Reiko: "It was a magic elixir so we don't know what kind of effect it would have. Dying would probably be the best thing that could happen. You could go on living but as a zombie. Or you could become some sort of monster forever. Or, most frighteningly of all, you could become something so horrible that it can't be printed in this manga!

(She doesn't say that last big verbatim but there is a bit censored out. Probably for comedy rather than actually meaning anything. :-)

Yokoshima demands the antidote. Yokoshima tries to apologise which causes Yokoshima to fear that the poison will be moved quicker through his body.

Meanwhile, back at Dr Chaos's apartment, Dr Chaos is explaining how the drug works to his landlady. Everything is connnected to everything else in this world. The drug cuts those connections. In effect, it causes a person not to be born. He is going to change history by eradicating Reiko from existence. He will be able to live in a cheaper apartment and all the trouble she has caused him will be gone. The landlady is not impressed and demands the rent. Dr Chaos chides her for being such a simple-minded person, whereupon she brings out her naginata and beats the crap out of him. He apologises and says he will have the money by tomorrow.

Back at the GS office, Reiko discovers that the drug was the Time Destruction Drug and states that there is no known antidote. Yokoshima takes this well (NOT!) While there is no antidote, there is a while to counter the effects. The drug has been made slower by the neutraliser that he was given so there is a chance. He is going to be moving slowly backwards in time (in fact, he is slowly starting to fade now.) Reiko asks if there is anything within the last 24 hours that has left a strong impression on him. Yokoshima thinks of the kiss and says "Yes." Reiko states that in order to counteract the effect, he will have to repeat that action. Yokoshima panics because he knows it is not going to be that easy to get a kiss from Reiko. He then winks out of existence. Reiko wonders what she and Okinu-chan were just talking about and wonders why there were two place settings for cake because there is only her and Okinu-chan and ghosts don't eat. {SCS}

Yokoshima wakes to find he is back in time to the first adventure where he and Reiko meet Okinu-chan (see the first book for details of they way we know it to have happened.) He frightens off Okinu-chan because he knows her name before she has introduced herself.

He realises where he is and quickly runs off to the ryokan that he and Reiko were (are) staying at. He bursts into the room and demands a kiss on the cheek from Reiko. She is not impressed, to say the least. He explains to her that he is not the Yokoshima that she knows. He is from the future and he has swallowed a Time Destruction Drug. In order to return to the future, he must find a way to redo an experience that has left a strong impression on him within 24 hours of consuming the drug. To that end, she has to kiss him on the cheek. She is impressed with his knowledge but thinks he is joking just to get a kiss.

Reiko: "Do you think I would believe a story about me giving you a kiss?" Yokoshima: "It was an accident. It just happened."

She still doesn't believe him. She thinks he must have gotten a hold of one of her magic books and read about this sort of things somewhere. They have work to do. This gives Yokoshima an idea.

Yokoshima: "I know what our ghost is supposed to be! He is a wander vogeller (hiking club member). He has a beard and some homosexual tendancies! If I am right, will you believe me?" Reiko: "We'll see."

They bring out their detector and go look for the ghost. Funny thing about time travel. You have a nasty habit of changing history without trying very hard. Okinu-chan appears instead of the hiker. She figured that since Yokoshima knew so much about her, he would be able to help her. Our hiker ghost friend is hiding in the bushes and is afraid to come out because of all the violence. Since this wasn't the ghost that was predicted, Reiko doesn't believe Yokoshima. He, therefore, tries to force a kiss from her with predictable results. He is knocked into the onsen (hot spring) and begins to fade and then wink out. He now no longer exists and time continues on toward a different course.

This time (no pun intended,) Yokoshima finds himself back in 6th grade. He has gone back about 4 years this time. He leaves school to go to the GS office which has yet to be built. He realises that Reiko is probably a high school student now and hasn't built up her GS practise. Since he doesn't know where she really lives during this period, he figures he is doomed and starts to cry as some familiar looking high school student looks on.

{Note: This series takes place mostly in Tokyo. However, Yokoshima has a slight Kansai accent (the thickness of which varies from story to story.) You don't get a Kansai accent living in Tokyo. I have a problem with the rest of the story because it seems to overlook this fact. Oh well. Artistic license, I guess. :-) It's not important.} {SCS}

Reiko is talking with a younger student at her school named Chiho. Chiho really respects and admires Reiko and looks up to her in everything. She insists that she does not like Reiko 'in that way,' and wants to walk home with her.

Yokoshima jumps at the chance to get a kiss and is booted down (as usual) and Reiko and Chiho continue on. Reiko is off to her GS training. She notices that Chiho has some new earrings that she says she got at an antique shop. Reiko warns her that old gemstones often have spirits and that she needs to be careful.

At a local church, Father Karasu is performing an exorcism on woman's ring. He is about to turn down a fee when his student, Reiko, pipes up that it will be 1 million yen which she gladly pays. Karasu scolds Reiko saying that the church doesn't need it and that she should do this as a service to God etc. Reiko is very nonplussed by the whole matter.

Yokoshima comes up with a plan to get his kiss from Reiko. He walks into the church and pretends to be possessed by a demon. The "demon" says that it will leave Yokoshima alone if he is given a kiss on the cheek by the girl. Father Karasu says that he cannot allow it and that he will do it. This doesn't go over very well. He tells Reiko that there is no other choice. She really doesn't want to do it and knocks the priest out so she can deal with the matter herself. After going into the details of what she is going to do to exorcise the demon, she gets Yokoshima to admit he is faking. In the door comes Chiho who doesn't look too well. A demon inhabits the earrings she is wearing and has come to kill Father Karasu for exorcise it out of its last home. It also intends to kill everyone present.

Reiko: "This is bad. This is really bad."

She doesn't yet have the skills needed to fight spirits. They are in real trouble now. {SCS}

Reiko destroys the evil earings and thanks Yokoshima for teaching her to have confidence in herself. As his reward, he asks for a kiss on the cheek. Reiko is taken aback and Yokoshima lunges at an opening. Chiho interferes and won't let him come anywhere near her idol. Yokoshima winks out of existance again.

Now, he finds himself as an infant. Knowing he will be unable to do anything, he begins to cry because he knows his existance is soon to be over. A cute toddler comes over to him and gives him a slight peck on the cheek to quiet him down. He has seen this toddler somewhere before.

Suddenly, he is back in the present he left and Reiko is telling him how to undo the effects. He amourously tries to embrace Reiko because he has missed her so much. He gets the usual, instead. He wonders how in the end he was finally saved. He can't seem to remember it that well. Okinu-chan suggests that his ties must be stronger than the magic.

Reiko: "Really unbreakable ties." {SCS}

Shindara (Chicken): Can fly faster than the speed of sound. Sanchira (Snake): Can perform electrical attacks. Mekira (Tiger): Can teleport short distances instantly. Basara (Cow): Can suck up spirits. Haira (Sheep): Can attack with needle hairs. Can also enter dreams Bikara (Wild Boar): Used as a tank against spirit powers Kubira (Rat): Can see spirit powers. Anchira (Rabbit): Can cut and skewer enemies with its long ears Ajira (Dragon): Breather fire and turn enemies into stone. Indara (Horse): Can run 300km/h. Makora (Monkey): Can change its form to look like something else. Shoutora (Dog): Can heal wounds and sickness.

Makora (the monkey) has gone missing and Meiko asks Reiko to help her find him (her? it?) She says she will doing ANYTHING for the person that finds Makora. Yokoshima sees this as a big opportunity for something.

The first spot (with the use of a spirit seeing goggles) Makora at a bus stop. Yokoshima tries to catch him but it gets away. They are going to have to tie him up with a magic rope.

They next come to a skating rink that is having a beauty contest. Makora has taken the form of one of the prettier skaters. Reiko and Yokoshima can't catch him on the ice so Reiko sends Okinu-chan after him. The Contest judges think that she is a tremendous ice skater and since she isn't in the normal leotard for skaters, get really worked up about her. They declare her the winner and she is immediately swamped by reporters and well wishers. Makora easily escapes.

Outside again, Reiko tries to lasso Makora. She ends up in the middle of a geriatric tour group who confuse her for their tour leader. Some want to see some of the sights of Tokyo and others really need to use the bathroom. Makora escapes again.

Yokoshima's turn now. He figures that if he returns Makora to Meiko, he will be able to score (she did promise anything, right?) Yokoshima chases Makora over a fence. Unfortunately, he ends up in the middle of a Yakuza wake. The are swearing to their departed boss that they will kill all members of the Jigoku (Hell) Family. Yokoshima is naturally mistaken for a Jigoku spy.

Everyone is having difficulty getting away from they respective groups and Makora makes it back to Meiko on his own. She scolds him for running away and tells him not to do it again.