Chapter 14 #2
Masaru chuckled. “Then I’ve done my job correctly.”
Amused, Ryuichi thought about what Masaru had told him. And as he considered his wisdom, his thoughts turned to Kagemura. It’d been a beautiful place . . . on the inside. The outside had been off-putting and frightening.
Kind of like Masaru.
There was compassion inside the kitsune that he spent all his time trying to hide. But it was there, all the same.
Ryuichi wasn’t sure why Masaru didn’t want anyone to know this part of himself, other than he thought it would make him look weak. But Ryuichi believed it took strength to care about someone, knowing that something could harm them, and there was nothing you could do to protect them.
Ryuichi was concerned about the friends he’d made in school.
Were Takara and her brother all right? Pym?
Ryota? Even the Black Tortoises who’d been less than kind to him.
He still didn’t want to see them hurt. In the end, they’d laid their differences aside and had been there to support Ryuichi when he needed them most.
Battles are never as difficult when you don’t have to fight alone, he realized.
While he wasn’t with his friends, Ryuichi could feel his relationship with Masaru was changing. He was becoming a true mentor to him. Ryuichi never thought that would be a possibility. But he was open to it all the same.
“Thanks, Masaru.”
He nodded. “All good. I have been told from time to time—not from Keiko, mind you—that I do actually use my head for something other than a battering ram.”
Ryuichi laughed. “You think the others are all right?”
“I’m sure. Koichi’s stubborn and hard to kill. Like a cockroach. I’m sure when the end of the world comes, he’ll be one of the last creatures standing.”
Ryuichi smiled at the thought. “True.”
“And I’d never worry about Haruki. She’s cunning and clever.”
“What about my shadow?”
Masaru’s face fell a bit, like he wasn’t sure how to answer that question. “Given that he’s a part of you, I’m rather sure you’d know if anything happened to him.”
“Like, I’d start to feel sick or something?”
“Yes. But you’re okay, right?”
“I think so. I’m just worrying about stuff I shouldn’t be. What else is new?”
Masaru brushed his hand through Ryuichi’s hair. “Don’t buy yourself troubles, botchan. Life will make sure you get more than your fair share. No need to take on any unnecessary ones.”
He had a point about that too.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over them.
Ryuichi looked up to find Katsu standing over them. He dropped that hated wooden sword onto Ryuichi’s lap. “Since we have idle time, shall we train?”
“More?” How could Katsu even think about it? Just twenty-four hours ago, they’d barely survived Lord Hayasaka’s castle burning down. He felt like he’d been scooped up by an oni, chewed, and spat into a boulder.
“Can’t I have the day off? I’m tired, Katsu.”
Katsu kicked Ryuichi. “War doesn’t stop because you’re tired, young sir. Your enemies won’t take mercy on you, so I’m not doing you any favors if I take mercy on you. Now, rise. You need to learn to fight even when you’re exhausted and especially when you’re exhausted.”
Groaning, Ryuichi forced himself to his feet and retrieved the sword. This was the last thing he wanted to do, but he knew the old tengu was right.
War waited on no one.
Katsu walked a few feet away and stepped into a fighting stance. Ryuichi did the same. Suddenly, a cloud of glittering mist formed and Yumi appeared. She nodded at Ryuichi as if to say, “I believe in you,” and Ryuichi felt a surge of hope that he might find the strength to take on his master.
“Be careful. I won’t go easy on you today. Even if you’re tired. Fight like your life depends on it,” Katsu said.
Ryuichi gripped his sword and focused on what he had been told by both Masaru and Katsu. He emptied his mind of all distractions.
In this moment, it was just him and Katsu. Nothing else mattered.
“Begin!”
Katsu lunged forward, and Ryuichi reflexively lifted his blade to fend off his attack.
Katsu charged again, and Ryuichi blocked the blow from his right.
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the air.
Another strike, this time from the lower left.
Then there was movement behind him. Ryuichi spun around and slashed at the bird, who’d somehow managed to change position in the blink of an eye.
A loose feather floated through the air, confirming to Ryuichi that he’d made contact.
Then the most unexpected thing happened.
He struck the bird with an invisible wave of energy, slamming the bird to the ground.
Everyone gasped, especially Ryuichi.
Masaru let out a low whistle. “There’s the son of Ryukage!”
“Well done!” Yumi said, applauding with much enthusiasm.
Katsu staggered to his feet and looked at his feathers on his arm, where Ryuichi’s sword had cut cleanly through. “Very good.” It was a miracle he had avoided hitting any flesh. “You’re improving.”
It slowly dawned on Ryuichi what he had managed to do. He’d actually struck the battle-tested tengu with both his sword and his powers. He danced. “I did it. I got you, Katsu!”
Sighing, Katsu brushed himself off with his talons. “I was fond of those feathers too. At least they’ll grow back.” He plucked a half-cut feather off him. “The cost of sparring, I suppose. All these frayed feathers look horrible.”
Masaru clapped for Ryuichi. And for once it wasn’t with sarcasm. “Impressive. Especially since I didn’t help you.”
Ryuichi cheered for himself. “Who’s the best?”
Masaru scoffed at his newfound confidence. “Don’t get cocky. You bested a bird.”
“A tengu,” Katsu corrected.
“As I said, a bird.”
Katsu waved Masaru off. “You’re allowed to speak whatever words preserve your ego, young master. I do not mind.”
With a smile, Masaru changed the subject. “How do you think Kagemura will fare without you, Inumagami? Do you think they’ll be able to avoid burning down the town in your absence?”
“I left my lieutenants in charge. If any of them are foolish enough to try something . . .” He looked toward the shinigami. “They know the price of disobedience.”
They’d be killed.
That quickly reminded Ryuichi that he wasn’t helping the good guys here. These were his father’s men, and his father didn’t pick his allies based on their sense of fair play.
Satoru sauntered over to their side of the boat and cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. The crew stopped playing cards and surrounded him.
“Listen up. We’re being followed.”
Masaru stood up to look toward the setting sun.
Ryuichi did the same and saw a smaller vessel off in the distance. It was definitely trailing them. “You think they know we’re after my father and plan to stop us?”
Inumagami went to the edge of the boat and stood on his hind legs so he could see. “Only an idiot would follow a vessel commanded by a shinigami on its way to see the Ryukage. Talk about suicidal. Best to ignore it. Fate will take care of them anyway—no reason to delay our trip.”
But Ryuichi’s senses were all activated again, warning him that something bad was about to happen.
He really hoped he was wrong.