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CHAPTER THREE

For the first time in years, Ryuichi dreamed. It wasn’t a big dream—just him chasing after a rainbow. But it was enough.

It left him with a feeling of peace and calmness, the likes of which he’d never known.

Getting up, he quickly washed and dressed with the rest of his classmates.

A new day. New beginning.

New uniform.

The yellow was a stark contrast to the drab brown and tan he was used to. But he liked it, especially the dragon that wrapped around his shoulders as if it were hugging him like the one their sensei had worn.

That alone made him feel special.

Without a second thought, he followed the others toward the dining hall.

“Ryuichi-san?”

He turned at Kasumi’s call. She walked toward him with an unreadable expression that made him nervous.

As she drew closer, he saw she had concealed her tail.

Bowing before her, he lowered his head respectfully. “Did I do something wrong, Kasumi-sensei?”

“No.” She handed him a small cup of rice. “Eat and follow me. There’s something we need to take care of before you join the others for practice.”

He took the rice and followed her into a building he thought would be an armory.

It wasn’t.

Inside, it appeared to be more of an odd storage structure, lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves. The shelves were filled with hundreds of strange objects. There was no rhyme or reason to them, nor any order to how they were stored. Teapots were crammed next to shoes and daggers. Belts with ribbons and cups.

But the most peculiar item was the small circle painted at the center of the floor. Someone had decorated it with highly stylized symbols he didn’t understand.

It might be some form of writing. Or just someone’s idea of a joke.

“What is this place?”

Kasumi narrowed her gaze at him. “This is where your own unique totem will come to you. Almost every student here has a yōkai he or she commands.”

“For what purpose?”

She smiled. “In battle, it helps to have a friend. One who will stand at your back and not betray you.” She gestured toward the items. “One of these will bond to you and make sure you never fail against any mortal or his weapon. Only another with a similar or stronger yōkai will be able to defeat you.”

A friend who will stand at your back and not betray you . That sounded wonderful. Even if it meant his friend was a yōkai.

“How do I pick one?”

She laughed. “You don’t. They pick you.” Her tone turned ominous. “Eat your rice, Ryuichi.” She stepped back and closed the door behind her, leaving him alone in the room.

Was she supposed to do that?

Eyes wide, he held his breath.

Waiting.

And waiting some more.

Time ticked by slowly, with nothing happening, so he began to do as she said. He ate his rice.

As he ate, he looked intently at the shelves, willing his companion to make itself known.

Dead silence. No movement whatsoever.

Guess even the yōkai don’t want me.

Why should he be surprised? It was all quite boring.

Until the last grain touched his lips.

The moment it did, he heard a deep rumbling. One that echoed all around him like an earthquake. Every item on the shelves started to shake and rattle.

The yōkai seemed angry and belligerent. Scared.

Ryuichi wanted to run from the room. Instead, he held his ground. I’m not a coward. I will not flee.

Run, idiot! Run!

He ignored his inner coward.

All of a sudden a vase flew at his head.

Ducking, he watched as it struck the wall behind him and slid onto a lower shelf.

“Who are you?”

Ryuichi looked around for the source of that gentle tone. “I am no one.”

“He’s unworthy,” a deeper voice mocked. “Who would want to fight with his ilk? It’d just make you sick. And embarrassed.”

While that stung, he refused to let the disembodied voice—or any other creature in the room—know that. “I am unworthy, but my heart is true.”

Laughter rang out.

Ryuichi flinched inwardly. On the outside, he showed no emotion. He knew better.

Never let anyone know your weakness. Never let them see your fear or watch you cry.

From the highest point of the top shelf on his left, a bloodred mist took form. It reared up like a cobra, then danced and slithered over the shelves until it touched the floor.

Weaving back and forth, it came nearer and nearer.

Ryuichi didn’t move as the mist encircled his body.

Then it slapped him. Hard.

“Hey!”

Without a word or response, the mist jerked away and pooled in front of him, where it turned into a fierce, handsome young man. Tall, with lean muscles, he had black hair and white eyes that stared a hole straight through Ryuichi.

That was scary enough, but those eyes were rimmed with a thick band of black charcoal to make them appear even more ominous.

Dangerous.

And never had Ryuichi seen anyone dressed in such a manner. The young man’s black leather armor fit tightly against his body, molded to it with laces and buckles. A black leather hood lay against an ebony silk cape pulled up into his belt to keep it out of his way during battle. A black kerchief hung about his neck, as if he normally used it to cover his face. Over his left shoulder stood a dozen black arrows from a quiver strapped to his back.

Yet he had no yumi or sword.

There was something innately sinister and quelling about this creature.

Something that said he’d rather kill Ryuichi than help him.

Ryuichi stood as solidly as stone, if stone had a pounding heart.

With one finger, the young man reached out and touched Ryuichi directly between the eyes. That touch burned through his body like fire, causing him to hiss.

Strange symbols began to glow beneath the demon’s skin. Or bubble. It was terrifying.

Finally, they faded.

And then, at last, the creature spoke in a deep, frightening voice. “I am Masaru.” He bowed low before Ryuichi. “I will serve you.”

Seriously?

A teacup skittered toward Ryuichi. “No! I want him!”

“He’s mine!” A vase flew across the room.

Masaru knocked the teacup and vase away. “You waited too long. This one is mine.” Leaning forward, Masaru whispered in Ryuichi’s ear. “I feel your powers, little one. What you could be... What you will be.”

He was thoroughly confused. “Pardon?”

Masaru laughed. “I will serve you, and you’ll remember me. Always.”

That sounds absolutely terrifying.

Kasumi opened the doors, then froze as she saw the yōkai. She was clearly shocked. “ Masaru ?”

With an arched brow, he bowed to her. “Long time, Kasumi. How have you been?”

Sputtering, she glanced to Ryuichi before she answered. “I didn’t have a severe head injury, which is the only thing I can think of that would explain this sudden hallucination of you having chosen a student to bond with. How can this be?”

Masaru’s laughter was low, with a hint of evil.

Well, that doesn’t make me feel good either . Was this Masaru mocking him?

Or planning to torture him?

Ryuichi stepped back to watch the two of them from a safer area. His heart was going wild in his chest.

Masaru smirked. “No hallucination. I finally found someone worthy of serving.”

Kasumi’s gaze found Ryuichi again. “Why am I suddenly terrified?”

Maybe because I am? Perhaps that’s Masaru’s natural talent. Scaring people to death.

Masaru moved to stand behind him so that he could place his hands on Ryuichi’s shoulders. “Can you not feel what I do?”

An instant later, Masaru stepped into Ryuichi’s body.

Grimacing, Ryuichi couldn’t explain the strange sensation. Like a hot wave that flowed through every inch of him. He was still himself, only now he felt Masaru’s thoughts and power. It singed him without burning.

That’s it, little one. We are combined, and with my powers joined to yours...

There’s nothing we can’t do.

Except go to the bathroom. Ryuichi would never be able to go to the bathroom with another person inside his body. It was too gross for words.

Can you hear me? Ryuichi asked.

Masaru didn’t answer, which made him feel a little better.

No one, other than him, ever needed to know his thoughts. He got into enough trouble already. He could only imagine how much worse it would be if the yōkai had access to his most deeply held secrets.

Kasumi growled low in her throat. A sigil burned from the center of her forehead.

Exposing her teeth, she struck Ryuichi without warning in the chest, over his heart.

“Ow!” He staggered back and felt the force of her strike rip Masaru out of him.

Ryuichi exhaled in relief. Oh, thank goodness!

He rubbed at the pain in his chest while she ignored him to glare at the yōkai.

“You know the price, Masaru. Are you willing to pay it?”

Masaru wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his lips. “I am. After all, I’ve paid a lot more for a lot less.”

Again, Kasumi narrowed her gaze on Ryuichi. “Then you are a very special boy. As a rule, Masaru refuses to serve any mortal.”

A chill went down his spine. There was a warning note in her voice that made every part of him nervous. “How do you mean?”

She curled her lip at Masaru. “He only serves the dark gods. And as long as he’s been here, all he’s done is lure others to death... or betrayal.”

Ryuichi swallowed. Was Masaru a shinigami? They were the only ones he knew of who tempted others toward death—the darkest of the dark.

He turned to Masaru. “I don’t understand this.”

“Honestly, neither do I.” Kasumi raked a scathing glare over Masaru. “Each student is given a yōkai they can bond with during training or fights.” She held out her hand, and a small teapot shot from the shelves into her palm. “Most, like Toshida here, are battle-seasoned warriors who gladly loan their skills to our students. And stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Masaru gave him a lopsided grin. “I intend to loan him my skills... and powers.”

She shook her head. “But Masaru will expect something in return. He always does.”

Ryuichi swallowed as he cut a measuring stare toward Masaru. “And that is?”

“You are to reward me with what you think my powers are worth.”

He didn’t like the sound of that.

At all.

Ryuichi let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not a fool.”

“No, you’re not, little dragon.” Masaru bowed to him. “I will guard you and keep you safe.”

... In this life and the next.

Ryuichi wasn’t sure if he heard those words in his mind or imagined them. Most importantly, he wasn’t sure what exactly they meant.

* * *

Keiko flinched as she heard Masaru make a promise that filled her with dread.

I was the one who was supposed to protect him.

Even from Masaru.

How had this happened? She had a long, sordid history with that particular beast.

What am I to do?

From experience, she knew she couldn’t trust Masaru. He’d betrayed everything. Everyone.

Why was he here, at this school? For the briefest instant, she thought he might have sensed Ryuichi’s powers and come for him...

But she knew better. Masaru had lost his standing and his honor. It was only bad luck that he was here.

She had protected her charge. None of them had discovered Ryuichi’s real identity.

Not yet.

Not even her former partner.

They might suspect that her charge had great powers, but they had no idea just how great they actually were.

And now her sister kitsune was about to train Ryuichi to fight—something Keiko had carefully watched over in the past, to make sure his powers and real identity weren’t accidentally revealed. But with Kasumi and Masaru here...

He will be discovered.

It would only be a matter of time. If anyone could find and expose Ryuichi, it was Masaru. As Haruka’s one-time personal servant, Masaru would know in an instant the source of Ryuichi’s powers.

That would draw out every god, spirit, demon... or beast. They would all fight to possess the only boy who could control the gates that separated and protected the worlds.

What do I do?

If she exposed herself for who and what she was, then they’d know for certain Ryuichi’s true identity. That he was the Kage-taro they all sought.

Precious one. Precious one.

What have I done?

The darkness had only grown in the twelve years since Ryuichi’s birth. The demons of chaos and shadow were taking over humanity and turning the world into a nightmare. Turning men and women into soulless monsters who preyed on each other without compassion or care.

Humans thought it was about territory and power struggles. They were wrong.

Ryukage was using his scythe to sow discord and mayhem in the human world, weakening human resolve, so that once he was freed, humanity would be too weak to fight him. To win this war, Ryukage needed control of the gates that were currently jammed. The only way he could open and control them was through his son.

And so blood flowed freely among the humans, who had no idea they were sacrifices to a malevolent power.

Ryuichi had no idea how important he was. It didn’t matter. His enemies were coming, and they would show no mercy for his tender age.

Ducking into the shadows that would conceal her, Keiko hid from the powers she felt coming out of Masaru, before he could uncover her presence.

That would never do.

Masaru was pure evil. Always has been.

Since the day he had been punished by Haruka, he’d been resentful. Hate-filled. Fully uncooperative. No one had wanted to deal with him.

Why would he show up now?

You know why.

He wanted to use her charge.

Or maybe he’d sensed her presence, and it had called out to him. After all, Masaru was the yang to her yin. If he’d felt even the slightest stirring of her here, it would have been enough to pull him out of hiding.

Closing her eyes, Keiko strengthened her spell around Ryuichi to shield his powers and true essence from Masaru. Then she used more to hopefully mask her own.

But as she watched them leave the small building and head back toward the other students, an awful feeling went through her.

Would Masaru really be Ryuichi’s servant... or would he kill him?