by Julie Kagawa
Hakaimono gave a dark chuckle. “I don’t care who it is,” the demon said. “But I’m getting tired of random spirits showing up to interfere. If you’re here to possess this one,” he pointed his sword at me, “get in line. Otherwise, get out before I rip you into tiny ghost ribbons and scatter you to the wind.”
The hitodama raised its head. Her eyes were huge now as she stared at all of us, her gaze lingering on Yumeko. “Ge…Genno,” she whispered, making both Yumeko and Hakaimono jerk up. Her voice was shaky, fragmented, but the name was very clear. “Reika-san…sent me here…to warn you. The Master of Demons…his army has invaded the temple.”
“Here?” Hakaimono demanded, just as Yumeko asked, “What do you mean?”
“Genno’s…army,” continued the hitodama, wringing ghostly hands. “They’ve…breached the temple walls. While you were fighting…they invaded the Steel Feather temple. They’re killing everyone right now.”
Yumeko gasped as I turned a furious glare on Hakaimono. “You brought the Master of Demons here?”
“No,” growled Hakaimono. “That wasn’t the bargain we made, and you know it. The deal was that I retrieve the scroll for him. He wasn’t supposed to send his damn army. If they’re here, he’s taking matters into his own hands.”
“They’re killing everyone,” repeated the hitodama. Her pale eyes widened even more, as if she saw something we could not. “They are…oh! Oh no!”
Her mouth opened in fear and dismay, right before the image of the girl shivered back into a glowing sphere of light. Rising into the air, it flew like a frightened bird into the darkness and vanished into the void.
“Kuso,” Hakaimono swore. “What is that bastard doing? If he’s betrayed me, I’ll tear him and his entire army apart.” With a curl of his lip, he glanced at me. “Looks like we’ll have to put this little duel on hold for now, demonslayer,” he said. “I know sharing this body isn’t what either of us wants, but if it’s trampled by some brainless bakemono while we stand here and argue, we both die.”
I gave a short nod. “For now,” I agreed, though it galled me to say the actual words. But the First Oni was right; if the Master of Demons had invaded, we couldn’t stand here fighting each other while my physical form was in danger of being destroyed.
I glanced at Yumeko. “You should return to your own body,” I told her. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right. But your body will be just as defenseless if you don’t return to it soon.”
She looked torn, glancing between Hakaimono and me, realizing the truth of my words but clearly not wanting to leave. “Tatsumi-san, I…”
Hakaimono snarled. “We’re wasting time! I’m not going to stand here and yap while there’s a battle being fought around us. Stay here if you want—I’m going to see what’s happening.”
His form shivered, became a glowing crimson ball, and flew into the void as the hitodama had. Returning to consciousness to take control of the body. My body. I clenched my fists and looked at Yumeko, who nodded.
“Go, Tatsumi-san,” she whispered, and I went, rising through the layers of thought and memory, back to the waking world.
I opened my eyes…and stared into the face of the Master of Demons.
Genno hovered over me, moonlight shining through his translucent robes, casting him in a sickly light. Aka the Red stood silently at his back, horns and red eyes glinting in the darkness. I noticed a bulging, red silk bag tied to the halfdemon’s waist, dangling beneath his obi, and wondered if it held the skull of the Master of Demons, the anchor that held Genno to the mortal realm. Around me, shouts and howling battle cries rose into the air, and the clang of weapons echoed off the temple stones. I caught frantic bursts of movement from the corners of my eyes, and smelled the metallic tang of blood on the wind. But Genno hovered over me, tranquil and serene in the chaos surrounding us, his thin lips drawn into a pleased smile.
“Ah, there you are, Hakaimono,” he said, gazing down at me. “You seem to have gotten yourself into quite the predicament.”
I tried to stand, and discovered I couldn’t move. I still lay on my back in the center of the binding circle, though I couldn’t see any priests or tengu around the edges. With effort, I managed to raise my head and saw glowing red links wrapped around my limbs and crossed over my chest, pinning me to the stones.
I also noticed that I was alone in the binding circle. Yumeko’s body, which would be defenseless and vulnerable without its soul, was nowhere to be seen. I hoped she was safe.
“Genno,” I heard myself say, though I wasn’t the one to speak. Hakaimono’s furious presence crowded mine, glaring at the blood mage through my eyes. “What are you doing? I told you I would get the scroll fragments.”
“Mmm. You seem to have failed.” The Master of Demons raised a ghostly finger and tapped it against his chin. “But you did show me exactly where to find the Steel Feather temple, for which I thank you. And the guardians here were so concerned with your arrival, they didn’t see my army coming until it was too late. You made a perfect distraction, Hakaimono. My army would never have made it up the mountain if the tengu were aware of them. But did you think for a minute that I would actually make a deal with the First Oni?” His bloodless mouth curled. “I will not have my own forces questioning me, nor will I stand for any competition. I am the Master of Demons. I don’t make bargains with those who should be my slaves.”
“You bastard.” Hakaimono gave a low, dangerous chuckle. “So you betrayed me before I could betray you. Can’t say I wouldn’t do the same, though you do realize I’m going to tear you and your entire little army apart for this.”
“I don’t think so.” Genno raised an arm, making my blood chill. Kamigoroshi was clutched in one pale hand, the blade throwing off a pulsing violet light. Beside me, Hakaimono tensed, and another presence brushed against me, angry and horrified as she gazed through my eyes at the Master of Demons.
Yumeko! I thought. Get out of here! Go back to your own body before it’s too late. But I couldn’t say anything without alerting the Master of Demons.
“You are a liability, Hakaimono.” Genno’s voice was thoughtful as he held up the blade, a faint smile crossing his face as he observed the weapon. “A loose end. I would be a fool to enter into a partnership with the First Oni. Even more foolish to release him upon the world with no restraints. I think it’s time for you to return to the sword, and I’ll generously free this body’s poor trapped soul, as well. I don’t need the Kage demonslayer showing up on my doorstep when I’m about to overthrow the empire.”
“Master.”
Footsteps shuffled behind Genno, and the Sasori twins appeared wearing matching smirks. Both were covered in blood, their scorpion-tail braids swaying rhythmically behind them. The spiked chains wrapped around their chest and shoulders left spatters of crimson against the stones as they strode up. Genno paused, handing the sword to Aka, and turned his full attention to the scorpion twins.
“Well?”
The yokai on the left grinned and raised her arm. Clutched in her fingers was the severed head of an ancient tengu, prominent red nose pointing like an accusing finger as it spun lazily around. From within, Yumeko gave a silent cry of horror as the yokai snickered. “Mission successful, Master,” she said. “The old crow gave us a great deal of trouble but…we found it.”
Her sister stepped forward, sank to both knees and raised a long, lacquered case in her hands to the Master of Demons.
“Excellent.” A slow, triumphant smile spread across Genno’s face as he reached out, ghostly fingers brushing the scroll. Curling his hand around the case, he raised it before him, pale eyes glowing fanatically bright. “Only one left,” he murmured. “One more piece, and the empire will be mine. Aka.”
The half-demon stepped forward and accepted the scroll from the Master of Demons with a bow before making it vanish into his robes. Genno gave a satisfied nod. “Find the other,” he told the sisters, who immediately bowed and began backing away. “It’s h
ere somewhere. Tear this temple apart and kill every living soul until you find it.”
Gathering my strength, I surged upright, straining against the bindings holding me down. They seared into my skin, burning and agonizing, but Hakaimono added his strength to mine, and a flood of power filled me. With tiny screams, several of the chains snapped, fraying into coils of mist before vanishing on the wind, and Genno looked back, raising a brow in amused surprise.
“Hakaimono.” He shook his head. “You are as strong as the legends say. More’s the pity. You could have been a powerful asset to my new kingdom.” I struggled to my knees, gritting my teeth against the burning of the chains while trying to gather the strength I needed to break them completely. Genno observed my struggles calmly. “Still, I would never be able to trust you, and I have no interest in demons who will not bend to my will. If you are not my subject or a servant, then you are an enemy.”
“You’re a fool, Genno,” Hakaimono growled, as we fought against the chains holding us back. Almost there. Just keep him talking a few more seconds. “You do not want me as an enemy.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Genno nodded in satisfaction and drifted back. “Perhaps in another four centuries I’ll allow you to come out and play again. Though by that time, the world will be vastly different than the one you know now. Aka, if you would do the honors?”
The half-demon stepped forward and stabbed Kamigoroshi through my middle, running me through. I felt the point explode out my back, and heard someone, perhaps Yumeko, cry out in horror. Stunned, I gazed down at myself, where the glittering length of the sword was shoved halfway through my chest, just as the half-demon yanked it out again, releasing a spray of crimson that hissed through the air and spattered against the stone.
As I collapsed, I heard Genno’s voice, flat and disinterested, already turning away, returning to the slaughter. “Sayonara, Hakaimono. You’ve outlived your usefulness, and I have no more need of you. May your next millennium in the sword be a peaceful one.”
My vision went dark.
29
MERGING SOULS
Yumeko
Tatsumi!
I felt the sword enter Tatsumi’s body, felt the hideous rip and tear of the blade sliding through flesh, felt it lodge between muscle and sinew, and it took everything I had not to flee the mortally wounded demonslayer for the safety of my own body. Every instinct shrieked at me to run, to abandon the dying host and return to myself. I couldn’t feel the pain, but I could feel the body’s reaction to it, the screaming of nerves and the seizing up of muscles, and it was almost too much. As Tatsumi’s body slumped limply to the stones, I spun and found myself back in the void, a stunned oni and a human soul appearing against the darkness.
Tatsumi grimaced and fell to his knees, making alarm shoot through me like an arrow. He flickered once and turned ghostly, as the subtle glow around him grew bright against the darkness.
“No!”
Rushing over, I threw myself down in front of him, grabbing his arms. “Tatsumi, no,” I pleaded, as his sad, strangely calm gaze flicked up to mine. “You can’t die. Don’t disappear now. Stay with me.”
“I can’t.” He raised his hands, gazing at his transparent fingers, and closed his eyes. “I can feel…something pulling me,” he whispered. “Meido, or maybe Jigoku, is calling. I’m sorry, Yumeko.” One hand rose to my face, his eyes soft as they met my own. “Arigatou,” he breathed. “For a little while, my world was brighter…because I met you.”
Tears blinded me, but with a snarl that shook the void around us, Hakaimono strode forward, eyes blazing with fury and—I blinked in shock—desperation.
“Dammit, human!” he snarled, looming over us. “Don’t you dare give up and die. I refuse to spend another minute back in Kamigoroshi. I will stay in this body and on this realm, even if I have to keep your fragile, pathetic mortal soul here by force.”
“You can’t stop it, Hakaimono,” Tatsumi said quietly. Unexpectedly, the faintest of smiles crossed his face. “This body is nearly gone, and you can’t stay here once the soul departs. At least I’ll die knowing you’ll be sealed back in Kamigoroshi, hopefully forever this time.”
“And what happens to the empire when Genno wins?” Hakaimono demanded. “What happens to your clan? And your precious little fox girl?” He shook his head and stepped closer, teeth bared, eyes blazing and furious as he leaned in. “Listen to me, demonslayer. I won’t pretend to care about any of that, but I know you do. And right now, our survival depends on both of us. I plan to track down Genno and rip the traitorous head from his body, but I can’t do that trapped in a sword.” He paused a moment, as if struggling with himself, then growled a curse and held out a claw. “My soul is stronger. Merge with me, and we might still live through this.”
I stared at Hakaimono in shock. What did he mean? Could a mortal soul and a demon join together? And, would Tatsumi be saved if they did?
“Become one with a demon.” Tatsumi’s voice was flat, and a humorless smile twisted one corner of his mouth. “I have very little honor left,” he said, “but at least my soul will be clean when I arrive in Meido, or even Jigoku. Unlike you, Hakaimono, I have never been afraid to die.”
“Hakaimono.” I stared at the demon, still standing with his claw outstretched, until he met my gaze. “You can save him?”
“No,” the First Oni growled. “I’d be saving us. I can’t possess a corpse. Once the soul departs, I’ll be forced back into the sword, and this body will be nothing but a shell.” He gestured angrily to Tatsumi. “His body is dying and once it does, Tatsumi’s soul will be pulled to Meido or Jigoku or wherever he’s headed. If it merges with me, if our souls join together, I might be able to heal the damage done to the flesh—enough to save his life, anyway.”
“But what happens to Tatsumi’s soul if the two of you join?”
“I have no idea,” Hakaimono snapped. “But I’m sure of what will happen if we don’t. We both lose, Genno summons the Dragon and the empire is overrun with demons and blood magic. Lots of people die. Is that what you want, demonslayer?” He glared down at Tatsumi. “Your little fox girl came all this way to save you, and now she’s going to watch Genno slaughter her friends and everything she cares about, before she dies, too. Because you failed to save her. Can you live with that for the rest of eternity?”
“I…” Tatsumi’s tortured, anguished gaze flicked to me. “Yumeko,” he whispered, “if I do what Hakaimono suggests, I…I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know if I’ll be myself anymore. If I hurt you…” His words faltered, his eyes flickering shut, as if that thought was too painful to continue. “I am not the Kage demonslayer,” he murmured. “I have fallen to Hakaimono, and am no longer worthy to bear Kamigoroshi. Even if I survive here, the clan will call for my death. I can hope only that they will be merciful and allow me to take my own life with honor.” His gaze met mine again, resignation settling over his features. “But until then, until they come for me, my life is yours. What do you wish me to do?”
The glow suffusing Tatsumi grew brighter, almost blinding. His body flickered, becoming transparent, and coils of light began drifting upward, vanishing into the black. Hakaimono growled a curse.
“We’re out of time, demonslayer,” the oni snarled, and held out his claw once more. “Give up, or keep fighting? Decide, now!”
“Tatsumi.” I framed his face with my hands, and though I couldn’t feel him anymore, his eyes pierced the distance between us. Bright and soulful as I whispered the final word. “Stay.”
Tatsumi bowed his head, and for a moment, my heart sank. But his eyes flashed open once more, hard with determination, as he spun toward Hakaimono and grabbed the outstretched talon.
The light surrounding Tatsumi flared, expanding outward, and both human and demon vanished into the glow. Shielding my eyes, I squinted through my fingers, trying to see what was happening, suddenly terrified that, when the light faded, Tatsumi would be gone and Hakaimono would be the on
ly soul remaining.
The glow faded to almost nothing, and I drew in a sharp breath, my heart seeming to stop in my chest. A body knelt where Tatsumi had been a moment before, shoulders hunched and head bowed, breathing hard, as if in pain. Human-sized. Human-looking…almost. Hakaimono’s evil-looking tattoos crawled up his arms and shoulders, and a pair of glowing ember horns curled from his forehead, but that was the only sign of the demon. No void-dark skin, no white mane or claws or fangs. He looked like Kage Tatsumi.
Then he raised his head, and a jolt went through me like lightning. I was looking at them both, two entities somehow merged into one. Their souls overlapped, tangled with each other, but they were still separate individuals. I could see both Hakaimono and Tatsumi gazing back at me, and the surrealness of it all made my head hurt.
The figure before me slumped, bowing his head, and my worry spiked. “Tatsumi,” I whispered, dropping beside him. “Are you all right?”
He gave a painful nod. “Almost didn’t make it in time,” he murmured, and I couldn’t tell if it was Tatsumi’s voice speaking to me, or Hakaimono’s. Or both. Raising his head, he looked me in the eye and jerked his head. “Go, Yumeko,” he said. “The Master of Demons is still out there, with his army. Find your friends, see if any of them are still alive. You have to keep Genno from getting the last piece of the scroll.”
“What about you?”
“I have to…recover a bit.” Raising a hand, he clenched a fist, before letting it drop. “This body is still weak—it took everything I had to keep it alive. I don’t think I can move yet.” He reached out again and grabbed my shoulder, making me jump. “Go,” he ordered again. “Stop Genno. Don’t worry about me. I’m not…going to disappear. Not this time.”
I bit my lip, paralyzed with choice, feeling torn in several directions at once. Worry for my friends and everyone at the temple was twisting my stomach into knots. I desperately hoped Reika, Daisuke and Okame were all right. To find them I had to return to my own body before a hungry demon or yokai ripped it apart. I might already be too late, but I was reluctant to abandon the soul I had come to save, leaving it with the demon I had sworn to drive out. “Do you promise?”