Mugen and Jin run home, only to discover that they have two new "additions" which do not come off.

Mugen: Ohh, yeah, man. That's rooted in your butt. No way that's coming off.

Jin: Pull harder!

Mugen: Errr.... *YANK*

Jin: *wince*

Mugen: Face it, dude. We have tails.

Jin: And ears.

Mugen: We have ears too?? *feels his hair* Well I'll be damned.

Jin is not happy about this newest development.

Jin: We're going over there first thing in the morning to demand they remove this curse.

Mugen: I dunno, man, I've had enough of those wizards for now. Maybe we can get somebody -else- to remove the curse.

Suddenly a sound draws them outside.

Jin: FIRE! Mugen, get the water!

Mugen: What water?? We don't even have real toilets!

Jin: There's a river right over there! *points*

As they turn around, they spot a familiar figure making his way rapidly out of the scene.

Jin: *eyes narrow*

Mugen: HEY! Snape, you asshole! STOP!

Suddenly the house erupts in fire. Small flames roar into lurid life. Mugen and Jin jerk back, but it's too late...

Mugen: My tail! My tail's on fire! YEOW!

Jin tries to put out Mugen's fire, but ends up catching himself!

Batou and Togusa see the conflagration from their tower nearby. They call the fire department and race to the scene.

Batou: What. Just because I'm an asshole doesn't mean I'll let you burn to death.

They manage to save Jin...

...Only to realize it's horribly too late for Mugen.

With difficulty, Jin pulls himself together. He stands a moment in quiet meditation, forcing himself to be calm. Batou and Togusa give him space, knowing this can't be easy.

Then a dark flutter of shadow catches Jin's eye. He whirls and spots the Grim Reaper, come to collect Mugen! An idea occurs to him, and in desperation, he leaps to confront the figure.

Jin: Reaper-sama, please spare him. He was mischievous, troublesome, and stinky at times, but he was my only companion. Don't leave me alone in this alien world!

...Plus, if you take him, I'm absolutely certain he'll make Hell into a gambling casino. He spoke of it before!

Reaper: *frowns*

Jin: Reaper-sama, please leave him here, onegaishimasu! We will owe you a favor of service. We are very good at killing people....

The Reaper agrees!

Jin and Mugen will owe him a favor, to be collected at a future time.

Jin watches as Mugen is lifted from his own ashes, like a vicious little phoenix.

(This picture needs no caption, I think.)

By the time morning comes, the entire place is in ruins. (Oddly enough, only one item books escapes unscathed: a single philosophy book.)

Jin sets about cleaning even as the flames are dying down.

In the wake of his trying night, the stress, and the task of cleaning, he exhausts himself. Soon after, he passes out in the ashes of his former home.

Mugen goes to find his own place in the same state. He sits for a few minutes in uncharacteristically quiet contemplation. Then he returns to Jin.

Jin is just regaining consciousness, and looking around for his wayward companion. He is relieved to find him approaching through the scorched grass.

Jin: What do you wish to do now, Mugen?

Mugen: *lifts his chin stubbornly* Well, first we find a way to ditch these tails. Then we get a new place.

Jin: Yes? *looks up wearily*

Mugen: ...And then we get revenge on those bastards Lucius and Snape!

Mugen whirls to put his plan into action, then spots something nearby.

Mugen: Oh look, Togusa left us the rest of the cake. *flops down and begins to eat.*

Jin: *facepalm*