Akuma of Mikaboshi

When he was a boy growing up in Chinatown of the ‘50s, Johnny Ma hated being Chinese. He hated going to American school during the day and Chinese school at night. He hated being different from the other kids. More than anything, he wanted to be a “real American,” like the guys in the movies he loved to watch... real tough guys like John Wayne and James Dean. Unfortunately, Johnny’s idea of acting tough involved joining a gang that went against the Chinatown Tongs. Instead of being the tough guy, Johnny ended up coughing out blood in an alley before expiring from a couple gunshots to the belly. If he thought he hated his Chinese heritage before, it was nothing compared to what he felt on the twisting streets of the Wicked City, where Yomi demons tortured and tormented him for his cowardice and fear. Finally, Johnny’s mind snapped. He fought back and his savage P’ o clawed its way up from the depths of Hell and back into his body. He would show them, he would show them all he wasn’t afraid. Johnny fed well that night and on those that followed. Eventually he struggled against his Demon, regaining some sense of self. He wasn’t a coward and he wasn’t a failure. He was powerful, and anyone who wanted to screw with him now had better watch out. Johnny quickly realized someone was following him; he tried laying an ambush for whoever stalked him, but he never stood a chance. Chan Te was ready for him, though he admired the youngster’s audacity. The fire burning in Johnny’s belly reminded Chan Te of his own first nights after taking the Second Breath. After Chan Te slapped him down, Johnny became his student and disciple. The elder akuma knew exactly which strings to pull, and he didn’t have to tug hard. “ So there are SAN FRANCISCO BY NIGHT 100 courts of old Chinese vampires playing at being mandarins and courtiers,” Chan told Johnny, “why the fuck would you want to hook up with them?” “There are secret clubs of gweilo Yankee vampires who would never let a Chinaman among them. Screw ‘em.” Johnny had enough of people trying to teach him “proper” behavior to last him his entire existence. He wanted to be powerful like Chan Te. If that cost him his soul, so what? He eagerly embraced the Downward Path and pledged himself to Mikaboshi.