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CHAPTER ELEVEN

Haruki slowed as she approached the shimmering dark chamber where her master waited. How it galled her to know that while Ryukage had worshipped her twin sister, he held her in complete and utter contempt. No matter what she did or how hard she tried, he saw her as lesser.

It made no sense to her. While she might have different coloring, she looked exactly the same as her sister. She was far more powerful and even more loyal.

Yet it wasn’t enough.

How could he have loved her twin with such fiery passion yet treat her with such disdain? She would never understand it.

And with a sick lump in her throat, she entered and bowed low before him. “Master.”

Tall and well muscled, he turned to face her. His once-handsome face was now grim, with black veins running all over his flesh, as if his blood had turned black and his skin was just transparent enough to show every vein in his body. Dressed all in black, he wore his long hair in a tight ponytail that fell over his left shoulder. The only color came from the dragon mon embroidered in blood red.

But the eeriest part was that one of his eyes had turned as white as Haruki’s hair. No one knew why. It wasn’t as if he were blind. Nay, he could see all, with unerring vision.

Yet that disparity of one dark brown and one snow-white eye was so off-putting that it made it hard to look at him. Especially when he was angry.

Like now.

Unbidden, her gaze fell to the two black swords nestled at his waist. From experience, she knew he could draw those blades faster than anyone could blink, decapitate his target, and resheath them before his victim’s head hit the floor.

No one moved faster, or with a deadlier intent.

His gaze narrowed on her. “Where’s your companion?”

Too scared to venture anywhere near Ryukage. But she knew better than to tell him the truth about Kagi, as he would take his fury out on her. “He’s watching after your son.”

“You found him?” he asked hopefully and with a joy in his tone that she’d never heard before.

She inclined her head, grateful the news pleased her master for once. “Yes, my lord.”

“Then why isn’t he here?”

A chill raced down her spine at those growled angry words that took away his momentary happiness. “His powers are such that he’s not so easily taken.”

He scoffed. “Maybe not by you, witch.” Stepping back, he waved his hand at the wall beside him.

The dark shadows took form.

Haruki’s eyes widened as she saw them turn into komusō—traveling monks who wore baskets over their heads as a sign of modesty. Only in this case, she knew they wore them because they had no faces or heads to show.

Her master had already unleashed a similar group that had torn up the countryside.

She could only imagine why he was summoning more.

Ryukage gestured at them. “They’ll fetch my son to me.”

Thank the gods they’re not coming after me...

She forced herself not to scoff or laugh. Because she knew better. Such a show of disrespect would most likely end with her death. Still, she doubted these komusō would be any better than his current batch, which had razed more villages than even she and her army.

Mindless shadow imps, they had spared no one.

How he thought this new group would be any more successful was beyond her, but far be it from her to question him.

She watched as the false komusō left for the portal that would allow them to carry out their orders. An enchanted portal that kept Ryukage trapped in this realm.

But not if his son returned.

His son would have the power to free him, and then Ryukage would wreak havoc on the human world once again as he claimed his vengeance on the gods who’d trapped him here and served the dark gods who’d created him to spread chaos.

The gods who’d come between him and Haruka. All Ryukage wanted was revenge. Haruki had promised to help him attain it. So far, she had failed.

“Keep an eye on them, Haruki. And don’t return without my son.”

“I won’t fail you, my lord.” Not again.

An evil smile curled his lips. “See that you don’t.”

* * *

Lying in bed, Ryuichi lifted his right hand and watched as his shadow followed suit. Turning his head, he made sure that his gaze never left it.

How harmless that shadow seemed.

Now he knew such things weren’t what they appeared. “Are you planning my death?” he asked it.

“Always.”

He jumped at the sound of Masaru’s voice behind him. “Don’t do that!”

Masaru laughed. “Why not? I so love the sound of fear. Especially yours. It’s so high-pitched.”

Ryuichi would have commented, except he was distracted by all the bruises on Masaru’s face. “What happened to you?”

“Ran afoul of some things that wanted to eat you.” He brushed his hand along his bruised jaw and winced. “I’m thinking I should have let them have you, in retrospect.”

Ryuichi rolled his eyes. “Glad you didn’t. At least, I think I am.”

“Wish I could say the same. Maybe I should have stayed dormant a while longer and left you to fend for yourself.”

There was something in his tone that sent a shiver down Ryuichi’s spine. “Why didn’t you?”

“I’m going to blame my stupidity. In reality, I’m sure it had a lot more to do with my curse.”

Ryuichi raised his eyebrows. “Curse?”

Masaru lifted his hands, and the shadows on the wall began to make pictures.

Intrigued by them, Ryuichi watched as they illustrated Masaru’s words.

Ryuichi sucked his breath in as he watched the shadows change form. “You’re an inari.”

“Was,” Masaru corrected. “Long time ago.”

Ryuichi went back to toying with his shadow. He supposed he should have been more surprised, but lately he’d been through so much he’d gotten used to expecting the unexpected. “More secrets, huh?”

“I expected a stronger reaction.” Masaru tilted his head. “Don’t tell me I’ve become something as boring as predictable.”

“Not by a long shot.” Ryuichi shifted position under the covers. “Masaru? Can I ask you a question?”

With a tired sigh, the yōkai drew closer. “I suppose I can let you have one. But only one.”

Ryuichi hesitated before he spoke a truth that a part of him wanted to keep secret. “I’m scared.”

“That’s not a question.”

“I know...” Ryuichi’s voice trailed off as he gathered his thoughts. “It’s just... I had a family. Granted, it was one I’ve never met. But two gods madly in love. I should be overjoyed to know that I’m not some nameless, unwanted orphan. That I’m worth something, and that my mother loved me.” He stopped and laughed bitterly. “It terrifies me.”

“It should.”

And it did. More than he could even express.

Masaru arched an arrogant brow. “Is there a question anywhere in my near future?”

“I guess not. It’s just...” Ryuichi swallowed and met the kitsune’s cold stare as tears rose up to choke him. “I’m scared I’ll lose you and my new family here. The only family I’ve ever really known over a family I thought was dead.”

Masaru’s arrogance melted under a quirky grin. “Has the little dragon grown fond of me?”

Ryuichi blinked hard, afraid that he might actually begin to cry in front of the fox spirit. “I’ve only been here a short time, and I’ve known you even less, but when I think about everyone... When I think about losing them, my heart begins to pound in ways it never has before. I don’t want to lose what little I have.” He choked up. “Masaru, you’ll be with me forever, right?”

Masaru froze as Ryuichi finally posed a question that echoed through his mind. That’s what I get for baiting him.

Because this one stung.

You’ll be with me forever.

No one had ever wanted him before. It was what had made him so hard for so long. Why tenderness was an alien concept to him.

More than that, he hated the sensation of caring about something. Caring about someone. Yet he felt it now.

His innate response was to lash out and crush whatever caused him to feel such a useless emotion—but Ryuichi was just a kid. A pathetic little thing, really. A defenseless neophyte alone in a harsh world that was ready to devour him.

The same way it’d torn him apart and crushed the decent parts that had once existed.

And for reasons Masaru couldn’t understand, Ryuichi’s simple question had reached inside him and awakened a compassion he didn’t want, but one he couldn’t deny. Before he even realized what he’d done, he sat down next to Ryuichi.

The young boy plopped his head into Masaru’s lap, taking him by surprise.

In that moment, the exact innocence of his young charge struck Masaru and reminded him of just how vulnerable Ryuichi really was. How much harm could be done to him and by him if he fell into the shadows that wanted to use him as their weapon.

Masaru and a small handful were basically the only things that stood between the boy and those who would use him.

For the first time in centuries, he didn’t feel the call of his black heart. Instead, he felt his inari origins. He’d been born a guardian, not a weapon of chaos.

A keeper of order.

Those two impulses were at war with each other.

Now, they were at war within him.

Unlike Ryuichi and Keiko, he’d succumbed to the darker part of his nature and had allowed it to claim him, body and soul. He’d reveled in it—and honestly, he’d enjoyed it. Masaru had not been kidding when he told Ryuichi he loved the sound of fear.

It empowered him.

But that was nothing compared to the warmth inside him right now. This...

He had no words for it.

“Don’t worry, young master. I’m not going anywhere.” He patted Ryuichi’s head as he began to hum. It was a gentle lullaby he’d learned from Ryuichi’s mother. One she used to sing as she commanded her gates. He was sure she would have sung it to her baby had she lived to soothe him herself. Used it to lull Ryuichi to sleep.

Ryuichi relaxed at Masaru’s humming. He couldn’t recall ever having heard the song before, but it sent a familiar warmth through him. Like something from a dream.

A song full of a mother’s love. Haunting and sweet. It made his eyelids heavy.

In spite of everything he’d been put through—all the lies and secrets—that song made the weight of the world almost bearable, even if only for a little bit.

With one long, deep sigh, he let it wash him into the gentle arms of sleep.

Masaru couldn’t believe it when he felt the boy relax.

No one had ever trusted him like this—not even when he’d been a guardian. It was as if, even then, they’d known that one day he would betray his oath and those around him. That he would let the darker part of his nature seep into his soul and lead him astray.

He still didn’t know why he’d betrayed his oaths. It hadn’t been for love or any noble reason. Not even for money.

Basically, he’d been bored. And he’d spent eternity being punished for it.

In truth, he didn’t deserve a second chance. He was a scoundrel. A liar. Everything Keiko had accused him of. His heart was as black as Ryukage’s.

How could a boy who had no reason to believe in anything put his faith in a creature like him?

It made no sense.

Just as it made no sense for him not to hand the kid over to Ryukage and take what little freedom he could get. If he was smart, that was what he’d do.

Or use Ryuichi’s powers for himself.

It would be so easy to enslave a child so trusting...

Do it...

Koichi entered the room. “Masa?—”

Holding his hand up, Masaru shushed him. “The boy sleeps.” He pointed to his lap.

Koichi lowered his voice to a soft whisper. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” He gave a wry smile that made Masaru want to knock the samurai’s teeth in. “The Big Scary looks ... dare I say? Gentle?”

He curled his lip. “Only if you wish to be breathing-impaired, and I won’t be gentle if you wake him.”

Koichi held his hands up in mock surrender. “Warning and irritation noted... as well as your sour mood.”

“Good.” Because honestly, Masaru was just as surprised as Koichi was to find himself in this situation, even if he would never admit it.

He’d have never thought himself capable of being kind to someone else for no reason. Least of all a child. And a half-orphan, at that.

Yet the boy’s earnest struggle had stirred something deep within his soul—something he’d thought was long dead and buried. Like his soul and emotions, he didn’t understand it.

The way Ryuichi kept pushing himself forward, in spite of his confusion and incompetence. Even when he was outnumbered. Outmatched. When he had no chance whatsoever.

Still, the boy kept going against all odds.

It reminded Masaru of what he’d been like when he was a guardian. Before they’d stripped his heart from him. He’d never thought to have these feelings again.

Could it be that there might be a smidgen of hope for him after all? He wouldn’t have thought it possible, and yet...

“Is there a reason for your disturbance? Other than to annoy me?”

Koichi jerked his chin at the boy. “Ryuichi’s in danger.”

Masaru snorted at the ridiculous declaration. “If he’s breathing, he’s in danger.”

“I know, but I’m thinking this might not be the best place for him at the moment. If we have a spy...”

This would be a good place to trap them. The drunken sot had a point, and Masaru should know—he’d come to this school to wait for Ryukage’s brat.

All this time, he’d known that if he was patient, the gods would deliver the Kage-taro into his hands.

And so they had...

But Masaru wasn’t the traitor. At least not yet.

If you have a brain, you know what you need to do. Emotions were for the weak. They were dangerous. Compassion was for fools.

Or the dead.

You made a promise to the Ryukage...

Torn between his oaths, he suddenly had an idea. One that could solve all their problems.

Yeah...

Hopeful for once, he carefully laid Ryuichi’s head on the pallet and vanished.

Koichi gaped as Masaru abandoned them. Seriou s ly? “It’s like that, huh?” But what did he expect?

Loyalty had waved bye-bye to Masaru a long time ago. Then again, it wasn’t exactly Koichi’s friend either. If he had any sense, he’d run too.

Luckily for Ryuichi, he had no sense.

So Koichi prodded the boy out of his slumber. “Hey, pain in my rear... time to wake up. Face the next thing that wants to eat you.”

Yawning, Ryuichi stretched and looked around like the young boy he was. He rubbed at his eyes with his fists. “How long was I out?”

“Just a few minutes, I think. Anyway, we need to leave.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think you’re safe here. There’s a spy in our ranks, and until we know who it is...”

The boy seemed even more confused than normal. “Where will we go?”

“I have friends in the mountains. I think we’ll be safe there—or, at least, safer.”

Ryuichi didn’t like Koichi-sensei’s tone. At all.

It was as creepy as the shadows that now seemed to watch him, as if they had a mission. Which made him wonder...

“Can they speak?”

“They?”

Ryuichi gestured toward the images around them on the walls. “The shadows.”

Koichi turned a gimlet stare toward the darkness that held the outlines of everything surrounding and challenging them. “You want the truth, or the answer you want me to tell you?”

Well, that wasn’t helpful. “You like to frighten people, don’t you?”

“I asked if you wanted the truth.”

Ryuichi studied the images once more. “So, the shadows can talk. They can tell on anyone, can’t they?”

Koichi sighed. “Well... not just anyone can talk to them. It does take someone with special skills, if that makes you feel better.”

“Not really.” In fact, it still left a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. One that made him want to vomit. It meant that someone could learn all his secrets. Use them all against him.

Which left him wondering something. “Could the shadows be our traitor?”

Koichi let out a long, slow breath as he appeared to consider that. “Not likely.”

“You’re sure?”

“Maybe.” Koichi turned to stare at them for a moment. “No. I’m sure. You should be one of those who can talk to them. Someday. If they don’t kill you.”

He still wondered if they could spy and relay secrets to others. “Can shadows ever go free?”

Koichi frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“Curiosity.”

“Well... legends say so. Supposedly that’s what causes a Kage-Onna. And I’ve heard of others who’ve lost their shadows. But normally the shadow takes over its master. They tend to be aggressive that way.”

Ryuichi’s gaze went to Koichi’s shadow. “What happens to a person who loses their shadow? What becomes of them?”

Koichi shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess they go on with their lives. That would make sense, considering the Kage-Onna.” He clapped him on the back. “But if I were you, that’s the last thing I’d be worrying about. Your fears should be more along the lines of something eating you and your shadow both.”

Ryuichi snorted sarcastically. “Great. Thanks for the reminder and the inspirational speech, Sensei. Want to gouge out my eyes next? Just for fun?”

“That’s all right. I should save something for your enemies when they capture you.” He clapped him on the back again. Even harder.

Ryuichi bristled and stepped away from his teacher. For once, he wanted his surly kitsune back. Granted, it made no sense, but he actually felt a little safer with Masaru around.

And as he followed Koichi outside the infirmary, he froze as he finally understood what Koichi had been talking about. It was as if he’d had an awakening.

A birth.

Or maybe a rebirth...

“You okay?” Koichi asked.

Not really . He felt the shadows now. As if they were a part of him. Or coming for him, more to the point. Like they wanted something. “Can you control the shadows, Koichi-sama?”

Koichi laughed bitterly. “No, child. No one can control the shadows. Not even your father.”

There was no missing the dark note in his sensei’s voice. It sent a chill over him. “What about Masaru?”

“He’s a little different. As a servant for the moon god, he can interact with shadows on a superficial level. Not the same as what you can do.”

“How do you know he serves Tsukuyomi?” He’d never seen anything on Masaru that marked him as a servant of the moon god.

“The color of his eyes. All of Tsukuyomi’s servants have white eyes.”

Oh... he’d wondered about that with Masaru but hadn’t realized that it’d come from the moon god.

“Is there a reason for it?”

“They say that, when you stare at the god, it drains the color from your eyes. The longer you look, the whiter they become. If you stare long enough, you’ll lose all color and never be able to walk in daylight again.”

That was terrifying.

Not wanting to think about it, Ryuichi looked over his shoulder, and he saw the shadows following after them. They seemed to be leaning toward him, as if reaching.

He felt them now.

It was really beginning to mess with his head.

“You spoke of Shadowlings earlier. What exactly do they do?”

“They can talk to the shadows and learn their secrets. Find out what others keep hidden. Learn the darkest shames and sins of a human heart.” Koichi paused to give him a piercing stare. “However, you, my young Ryuichi, are something far more powerful than that.”

His heart began to pound. “What could be more powerful?”

“The Kage-Mori.”

Shadow Guardian? “I don’t understand.”

“Everything in life is balance, yes?”

Ryuichi nodded. Everyone knew that. Amaterasu was the goddess of the sun, forever pursued by her husband Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. They split the day in half, a perfect balance that was eternally maintained.

“Your mother was a goddess of light who protected the worlds with her gates, and your father was the right hand of Tsukuyomi, until he fell to the darkness that corrupted him. You, my little friend, are born of your father’s total darkness and your mother’s light and supreme need to protect this world. Do you understand?”

Not really.

Koichi smiled at him. “You walk in both worlds, Ryuichi. You are tied to both. While all of us feel the call of darkness, you were born to it. And you have the bitterest choice of all to make.”

“Which is?”

“To be the Kage-Mori or the Kage-Taru. You can’t be both. Either you serve the darkness, or it serves you.”

The power of life and death was in his hands.

“But I’m just a kid.”

“And Jounetsu Jigoku is just a hot spring. Kid or not, you have to be ready. The shadows are coming for you, Ryuichi. Either you stand and fight, or they’ll disembowel you.”