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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Two days later, after everything had settled back to a seminormal state, Ryuichi stared at himself in the mirror, still unable to believe what had happened to his friends. What had happened to him. He was like Masaru now, only his friend had two white eyes.
He had one of each.
Because he was tied to both worlds.
The human and the shadows.
Either the darkness serves me, or I serve it . Even now, he saw the shadows in a way he never had before. Could hear them whispering their secrets to him.
Even his own.
Ryuichi-kage. His best friend.
His worst enemy. Because he knew his shadow was hungry now. Salivating. Having tasted its freedom, it liked it.
And it wanted more.
It was a scary proposition. Terrifying, really. How had he come to this?
Oh, that’s right. He remembered. Bad guys chasing him. World in chaos.
Parents fighting.
Masaru being stupid.
Keiko hiding him in the human world when he didn’t belong here. But this was the only home he’d ever known.
It was the world he was willing to die for, no matter how it treated him.
“Ryuichi?”
He turned to look over his shoulder to find Takara and Koichi staring at him.
Takara bit her lip. “Have you heard what’s being said about the school?”
He shook his head.
Koichi clenched his teeth so hard that a tic started in his jaw. “They’re blaming everything your father’s minions did on the monks here. Nobunaga’s planning to retaliate and attack.”
Ryuichi’s jaw dropped as shock ripped through him. “What?” Well, technically it was monks who’d burned the school and ravaged the countryside, just not the monks they thought.
He nodded. “Your father’s plan—divide and conquer. It’s working. Nobunaga has Kato’s father leading their forces to head off your father’s shadow tengu.”
And Sir Walter had no idea what he was about to face, since he would assume they were regular humans.
“Kato plans to ride out and stop them.”
Takara’s words burned through Ryuichi. “Then I will go with him.”
Koichi smirked. “We’re all planning to go.”
“My father’s already assembled his men.” Takara gave him a sad smile. “What’s left of them after our battle.”
That stung. But he knew she hadn’t meant for it to—her shadow had spoken to him, telling him so.
How weird that now he could tell everyone’s shame. All the things they struggled so hard to hide. That they attempted to banish from their thoughts.
The shadows were his friends, too, and they kept no secrets.
At times, he felt as if he stood on a precipice where he could see the world.
And nothing at all. Just a thick, impenetrable fog that seemed to want to consume him. In a way, he wished he could go back to living in ignorance. To know nothing of what had been forced on him by a birthright he didn’t ask for.
Until his brain reminded him of just how cool his powers actually were.
No one could hide from him now. There were no secrets.
A chill crept up his spine as he felt the same seductive pull that had lured his father to madness. It would be so easy to succumb.
To be the darkness.
I’m stronger than that...
At least he prayed he was.
Ryuichi inclined his head to them. “When are they leaving?”
“As soon as possible. We came to tell you.” Takara winked at him. “Figured you’d want to come with us.”
While he hated to be so transparent, it was nice to have someone who knew him so well. “Where’s Masaru?”
“Been keeping rather low.” Koichi scratched at his neck. “I think he’s still upset your father got away.”
He wasn’t the only one. Ryuichi was a bit miffed over it too. Okay, he was extremely upset. He just didn’t want to admit it, since he blamed himself for the fact they’d lost his father.
Suddenly, he heard the pounding of war drums.
“They’re gathering.” Takara plaited her hair, getting ready should she have to fight. “Should I let them know to hold your spot?”
“Of course.” Ryuichi reached for his sword, which was next to his bed.
Koichi stopped him. “Are you sure you’re ready? We don’t know how much of a hold your father could have on you.”
“Not me I’m worried about.” He glanced at his shadow, which he knew was watching him with interest. It was attuned to everything they said—and everything he felt.
How very disconcerting. He could almost feel it plotting against him.
Especially whenever it wanted to speak to him. He didn’t like that at all.
Koichi let go and stepped back to hone his attention on his shadow, Ryuichi-kage. “You’re not going to give us any trouble, are you?”
His shadow cocked its head and appeared to mock them.
Koichi tsked, then his shadow turned into a tiger that headed toward Ryuichi’s, low and crouching.
Ryuichi gasped as the two shadows circled each other as if looking for a weakness. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“There are a lot of things about me that you have yet to learn.” Koichi winked at him.
Apparently. Every time they were together, he learned something new about his sensei.
With a whistle, Koichi called his shadow back.
“Can you teach me how to do that?”
Koichi inclined his head to him. “I’d be honored.”
Ryuichi glanced to his shadow, which was now in a peeved stance. “Don’t get mad. Remember, you need me.”
He could swear his shadow rolled its eyes, even though shadows had no eyes.
Trying not to think about that, Ryuichi grabbed his helmet and headed outside, where the others were gathering.
A light mist had rolled through. In a way, it made their horses and soldiers appear as shadows too.
Everything was creepy.
Surreal.
He felt detached from himself. Not quite the same as when he’d lost his shadow. This was a different sensation. As if he was above himself, looking down. Like he was watching a puppet show. All that was missing were the strings.
Unsure of what to expect, given everything that had happened, Ryuichi made his way toward his horse.
Pim was there, along with Kato and Takara. For the first time, he realized just how young they all were. How much smaller they were than the other soldiers. They were kids, even though they didn’t feel like it most of the time.
How could they even hope to survive?
“You can do this,” Keiko said as she came up behind him. “Never doubt yourself.”
“Or me.” Masaru appeared at his side with an unconscious Haruki slung over his back. Was she ever going to wake up? At this point, he was pretty sure Masaru was doing something to keep her in that state. “I have no intention of allowing you to be harmed.” He smirked. “Or eaten.”
“You sure?” Ryuichi arched a brow. “Seems like every time I’m in a fight, you have something better to do.”
“Just me seasoning you up.”
Ryuichi snorted. “I don’t need any more seasoning. Call me mochi and be done with it.”
Masaru laughed before he headed to Koichi’s horse, where he draped Haruki over the saddle. Then he turned into a fox and went to join the others.
Ryuichi paused as he saw Kasumi. She was directing several warriors, but as she did so, a strange feeling went through him.
She works with your father...
He paused as he heard his shadow’s voice. How can I trust you? he asked Ryuichi-kage.
Why would I lie?
He could think of many reasons. Why would you tell the truth?
Because I’m you. We want the same things.
Did they? He wasn’t exactly sure about that. But as he watched Kasumi, he felt her treachery. She wore it like an accessory.
I’ll keep an eye on her.
He nodded at his shadow. Do that. Thanks.
It was the best way. No one would believe him if he told them Kasumi wasn’t to be trusted. She was a respected teacher, and he was an orphan foundling. Who would ever take his word over hers? He would need evidence.
Kato clapped him on the back. “You ready for this?”
He smiled at Kato. “You look much better than the last time I saw you.”
“Don’t feel a lot better.” He rubbed at his jaw. “Still feel like I was stomped into oblivion.”
Ryuichi started to speak, then stopped as he noticed Kato’s shadow. He stared at it. Unlike his friend, it didn’t seem to be raring to go. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this trip?”
Kato pounded on his chest. “Fit as ever.”
He wasn’t so sure about that, but he would trust his friend. With a nod, Kato walked off to mount his horse.
Concerned, Ryuichi took the reins of his own horse and led it toward Koichi.
His teacher paused to arch a brow at him. “Something wrong?”
“I saw Kato’s shadow. It’s a strange color.”
“He’s torn in this fight. He doesn’t know which side is the correct one.”
Ryuichi looked at his own shadow—which, to his surprise, appeared normal. “And I’m not?”
Koichi shook his head. “You have a very rigid sense of right and wrong. Don’t lose your conviction.” And with that, he rode off.
Ryuichi wasn’t sure what to think of that. Was it good?
He had no idea. But he didn’t want to fall behind. Putting his helmet on, he mounted his horse, then kicked it forward.
His friends had no idea what they were riding out to face.
He did.
His heart heavy, he glanced around, wishing he could see the future. The last thing he wanted was for any of his friends to be harmed.
Battle was uncertain. Fickle. Even more so than Masaru. Maybe that was why. Masaru had battled so much that he knew just how unpredictable and dangerous it could be.
I will endure.
Ryuichi wouldn’t be defeated. He couldn’t afford to. If he failed...
His friends would pay the dearest price.
After all, this was his fault. He’d opened the gate. Whether he intended to or not, he was the one who had let his father out into the world.
And he was the only one who could banish his father back to the nether realm.
I won’t fail.
His resolve was all he had now. It lived inside him like a breathing person. A hungry fire that consumed his soul.
No one else could do this.
He alone commanded the gates.
You rule the shadows...
He winced at his shadow’s voice again. But it was right.
Kage-taro. Prince of Shadows.
Those words flowed through him. For the first time, he understood what it meant. What they risked.
Ryuichi let out a deep breath as everyone mounted, and they began the journey that some of them wouldn’t return from.
He kept his gaze on Kasumi while Takara rode by his side. Silence rang out so loudly that it made his ears ring. No one spoke a single word. They all knew what was at stake, and that bitter reality hung over them like a pall.
He only heard his heartbeat. Felt the sweat that rolled down his neck and back.
Until he heard the shadows...
Suddenly, everything around him was alive.
Come home, son. You don’t belong with them.
He tightened his grip on the reins. How could his father reach out to him?
“Are you all right?”
He nodded at Takara’s question, even though it was a lie. He wasn’t all right. Far from it.
Ryuichi frowned as he looked around. “Is it just me, or is it getting darker?”
“It’s getting darker.” Koichi kept pace on his right side. “I know you hear the voices whispering.”
That stunned him. “Can you hear them?”
“Not the way you can. I can’t tell what they’re saying. But I assume at least one of them is your father, trying to bargain with you.”
His sensei held insight he wished he possessed. “He’s making some tempting offers.”
Koichi’s expression was priceless.
Ryuichi smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not taking him up on them. But they are... tempting.”
Suddenly, the baggage on Koichi’s saddle sat up. “You’re all going to die!”
Ryuichi cringed as Haruki finally woke up. “Did we have to bring her?”
“Ask your irritable guardian. Masaru thought it safer than leaving her behind.”
“Hmmm... what would you have done with her?”
Koichi shrugged. “Leave her out for the wolves.”
Harsh. But understandable.
“When do you—” Ryuichi never finished the sentence. Before he could, a dragon rose up from the ground...
And spewed fire all over his friends.