Tommy addressed himself to Tamthis. "You are nothing. Just an illusion that thinks its real, an artificial creation with no soul."
"Nothing!" bellowed Tamthis. "Is this nothing?" A wave shook the city.
"A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." Tommy responded.
"I'm the king of the fennec kitsune!" Tamthis yelled.
"And what kind of king? What do you think is happening to your--to our people--out there? How many broken bodies curse your name?"
Akira and Keiko conjured up a vision of the destruction Tamthis's madness had wrought. Tamthis withdrew his perception.
"Irrelevant. I can restore them. And only I can lead the fennec kitsune to the glory they deserve."
"Like you led Kathy?"
"This has nothing to do with Kathy! Kathy's fine!"
"Are you sure? You already killed her once."
"I did not kill Karther!"
"Don't lie to me. I was there the whole time, remember? In your brain. I'm the only one you can't lie to. You killed Karther to make him into your perfect little concubine. How's she going to defend herself in a city gone mad? She can barely brush her own hair!"
"I can destroy you!"
"No, you can't. This city is alive, Tamthis. You want to destroy it, I want to save it. Which side do you think it's really on?"
Tamthis hurled a magical bolt, which Tommy easily dodged.
Keiko and Akane did not know Kathy, but they were as plugged into the city as the two rival kings. Their kitsune senses sought out Tamthis's consort.
Keiko found her, weeping and struggling in Alexandra's arms. She quickly noted Kathy's physical appearance.
"This is what you've done." Akane announced, as Keiko had taken on the form of Kathy, dead in a shower of fallen bricks.
"No, it's just a kitsune trick!" Tamthis shouted, but he was obviously shaken.
"Are you sure?"
Tamthis desperately tried to extend his own senses through the city, but he found that his bond was weakening. Vast sectors were blocked off by Tommy, and efforts to explore others were diverted into winding and trackless paths by the patient malice of the Japanese kitsune.
"More tricks!" he screamed.
While distracted, Tamthis was hit with an overwhelming blast from Tommy. He shriveled before the force of Tommy's will.
"No, no." Tamthis gasped. "Please, mercy."
"Mercy?" Tommy smiled. "The greatest of all." Tendrils of his magical will enveloped the remnants of Tamthis. When they were withdrawn, Tamthis was no more.
"So, done, huh?" asked Akane.
"Yes." answered the King of the Fennec Kitsune.
++++++++
Tommy reappeared in the throne room, triumphant. Even the angels felt the splendor of his royal presence.
Jasmine, with her millenia of experience, was the least affected. She broke the silence. "Three minutes to spare. I'm impressed."
"And if I make the barrier one-way permeable, you'll call off your djinn?"
"You're not planning to transform people against their will or conquer the middle east, are you?"
"No."
"Very well. But first, a small favor." Jasmine pointed to her fox ears.
Tommy removed the curse with a small gesture. Jasmine resumed the human form.
"Uh, Jasmine, you're still female." Erica pointed out.
Jasmine laughed and disappeared.
++++++++
The djinn, engaged in gambling and debauchery while they worked up the courage to throw off Abu Haj's authority and wreak havoc throughout the Middle East, were startled by an angelic voice. "What is going on here?!"
"Uh, nothing, Prince Jasim, princess."
++++++++++++
"For my second royal act." Tommy began. "Thanks, everybody."
++++++++
Akane and Keiko's bodies returned to life as their spirits resumed their physical homes. Akane was the first to speak.
"Wow, that was fun! Saving the world as a cute girl! Just like an anime!"
Keiko rolled her eyes. The gaijin otaku was going to have an interesting time adjusting to the actually existing Japan. Suddenly Keiko realized she was homesick.