A jolt of pure white light screeched through her head. Screaming, Sada burrowed herself deeper below Ashley’s conscious. Pulling her hand free, Ashley staggered back, laying a hand on Terasaka for support.
“Koneko, what is it?”
She shook her head and let go of him. “I’m all right. Thanks,” she said to Iris. “I think.”
Iris gave a brief bow. “She will not rise again until you leave my sanctuary. If you ever need peace from her, you will always be welcome.”
“It sounds like Sada’s a permanent resident by the way you’re talking,” Ashley said, ignoring Terasaka’s wince at her using the demon’s name.
“Let’s just say I feel you will enhance each other’s destiny greatly.”
“About the problem I spoke to your order about,” Terasaka interrupted. “We have to get Tendo Kaisuke’s soul away from the demon and back into his body.”
“It is not as simple as you make it seem. You must first leave his body.”
“I will not leave it unprotected.”
“You will not leave it unprotected or you will not leave it at all?” Iris asked, and held out her palm to his chest.
Terasaka gritted his teeth and braced himself. “Do you think your paltry magic will cast me out?”
Iris shrugged and lowered her hand. “It was worth a shot. Come with me, both of you.”
Ashley wasn’t sure what just happened, but she was impressed Terasaka stood up to Iris’s mojo. However, if she hit him with the blast she laid on her his head was probably pounding.
They walked through a corn maze to a clearing that had a protection circle blazed into the ground.
“You will lay here and release your soul from his body.” She pointed to several hay bales set up as a large altar. “As you can see, nothing can enter or leave this circle without my permission. And no demon can survive being on this hallowed ground without protection, such as what Ashley provides for Sada.”
“I’m protecting Sada?”
Iris nodded.
Ashley hoped Sada would remember that the next time they were in a pickle. “So how does the demon controlling Kai going to get in here?”
“He will be searching for you,” Terasaka said. “He will want blood and sex.” He wouldn’t look at her. His eyes narrowed in concentration on the protective circle.
“He can get that with anyone,” Ashley said in a small voice, ignoring the ping of sadness that thought created.
“Only you have the energy of a lust demon inside you. That power would be too great for the demon to give up without at least trying for you.”
“But I’m safe here. Oh, wait, you want me to be bait.”
“That is correct,” Iris said. “You will stand outside of my sanctuary and call forth your lover. He will find you and attempt to drain you.”
“So I’m going to be a pin cushion?”
“Not if I can help it,” Terasaka said. “I will be there to engage the demon.”
“Once Kai’s soul is free from the demon, you will need to lead him back to the circle here,” Iris said.
“Then what happens?” Ashley asked, feeling like she was missing something important.
“We will bind Kai’s soul back into his body.”
“But what about Terasaka?”
Iris frowned. “What about him?”
“When he’s finished fighting the demon, how does he get back into Kai’s body?”
“I don’t,” he said. “Iris, can you give us a few moments of privacy?”
“I don’t understand.” Ashley whirled on him when Iris padded away. “You can get back into Kai’s body, right? We just have to leave this place.”
“For that to happen, Kai would have to accept me back in. I fear he no longer needs me and no longer wants me.”
“Because of me?” Ashley asked. “He won’t share me with you. So he’ll let you what? Die? Exist without a body?”
“I will roam the earth until I find another one to mentor, to teach the ways of the samurai.”
“Will you come find me?”
“Are you willing to leave Kai for me?”
“I don’t know,” Ashley said. “I love you both.”
“Perhaps one day, you will not.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“There are other options,” Terasaka said. “If you convince Kai to accept me back, all would be as it was.”
“I think I’d have better luck bringing Sada to a convent.”
He winced. “Please. Don’t do that.”
“Yeah, that’s probably not a good idea.”
“Don’t tempt fate by saying her name. It is only on this hallowed ground she is unable to possess you.”
Ashley waved her hand in dismissal. “Iris stuck her down deep. She’s not even a blip in my consciousness. What’s more important is will you come to see me after you’ve accepted your apprentice from someone else?”
“What would be the point, koneko? It’d only cause you distress.”
“What if I can’t live without you?”
“Are you being dramatic or are you seriously considering taking your life?” He gripped her by the upper arms.
“Of course not. I’m not Sada. I’m not your kokoro. I just happen to be hosting her essence.”
Terasaka touched her cheek. “I do not want to spend our last moments fighting.”
“What if I need you?”
“You won’t,” he said. “You are beautiful and strong and Kai will provide you protection if you need it.”
“What if we need your help? Maybe these demons will come seeking revenge against us?”
“I have trained Kai well. He no longer needs me. I owe it to him to let him have a normal life with the woman he loves.”
Ashley’s tears blinded her and she looked away. “I thought you would fight for me. You’re just giving up.”
“Kai has to invite me back in. It is you who will have to fight for me. I warn you, though, you may lose Kai if you do.”
Ashley nodded. “I know.”
“Kiss me goodbye, koneko.” He held out his arms.
She closed her eyes and let him pull her toward him. His mouth found hers and kissed her lovingly. She tasted her tears now as she clung to him. Each sweet press of his lips seduced her into losing her inhibitions. “One more time?” she asked, moving against him restlessly.
“He will not forgive you this second time. The other times, if you choose to tell him, were born of strife and necessity. This would be your own free will. It would be the last straw for him. He would never trust you again.”
“That’s not fair.”
“What if I was another man in another body? Isn’t it the same?”
“But you’re not. The situation is different.”
“How do you feel about Miyo?”
“Who?” Ashley growled, her brows furrowing into a frown.
“The woman I was making love to before we were lovers. The one you ripped away from me and I struck you over.”
Ashley flinched back from the memory.
“I will never strike you again. I have given you my vow.”
“It took a lot for me to forgive you that.” She rubbed her jaw.
“Have you forgiven Kai?”
“He didn’t hit me, you did.”
“For Miyo,” Terasaka chided.
“Considering I didn’t know he’d lied when he said he was concentrating on reading poetry instead of drilling her like an oil rig, I blamed you.”
“It’s possible to achieve that level of disassociation, but not at Kai’s level.”
“So he agreed to let you plow Miyo, knowing he’d get his jollies off.”
“Kai wasn’t looking forward to the experience. It was a means to an end for him. Giving me Miyo meant I would stop my obsessing over you.”
“How did that work out for you?”
“I never got to finish,” he said, and bit her chin. “Now, answer my question. Was Kai cheating
on you with Miyo?”
“Sort of,” Ashley said, shoving him. “Jerk.”
“You and Kai are going to have an interesting relationship. He won’t satisfy Sada for very long. One day, she’ll be in control and you will be forced to watch her ruin your relationship. Kai will forgive you the first few times, but after awhile he’ll wonder if you’re trying hard enough to keep her out.”
“You sound like you want me to break up with him.”
“He’s a narrow-minded fool who should know better. But he’s stubborn and set in his ways.” Terasaka stroked her hair. “When I find a new host, I will give you means to contact me. When you and Kai are through and you are free to be mine, call me. I will take you and Sada without any questions or future recriminations.”
“Would you satisfy Sada if I convince Kai to let you back in?”
“If Kai let me.”
“I’ll work on him,” Ashley said.
He kissed her one last time. “Go and be safe. At midnight I will cross the barrier and be with you. You won’t see me. But when Kai shows up, I will attack him. When his eyes go back to normal, grab him and bring him here. Once you get within the commune’s protection, he will be safe from the demons. Iris will perform the ceremony to fuse his soul back into his body.”
“What if something goes wrong?”
“What could possibly go wrong?” He smiled at her.
“Don’t say that,” she groaned. “You’ll jinx us.”
“Iris will be your guide.”
“I will see you again.” Ashley stood and dusted off her pants.
“If the gods are merciful.” Terasaka turned from her and knelt in the hay to prepare himself.
Midnight came too quickly for Ashley. Iris let her have a room in the farmhouse. She barely got out of the shower before she fell into a restless sleep. She was woken by two ninjas standing over her bed.
“It is time,” one of them said.
Ashley got out of bed, rumpled and bleary eyed, and followed the ninjas outside. The midnight air rippled through her and although she wasn’t sensitive to paranormal events, it seemed as if the night was holding its breath.
“Do you know what to do?” Iris asked. She was dressed in a simple white kimono, but she radiated pure golden power.
“Terasaka explained it to me.”
“We will be here to protect you if the demon gets through him.”
“Kills him, you mean.”
“Hai,” Iris said.
For a moment, Ashley saw Iris was also hosting someone. Someone with great power. She had to trust the power would see them through. A cold shiver slid across the nape of her neck as she passed the barrier and stepped out into the countryside.
Sure Terasaka would protect her from ghosts, but what if there was a hungry bear or a pack of rabid raccoons or something?
She should have packed her bokken then she wouldn’t feel like such a sitting duck. Of their own volition, Ashley’s fingers reached up her sleeve and pulled out a throwing star. Sada’s presence whooshed through her like a tidal wave. Ashley staggered, then righted herself. Her vision doubled and then narrowed to clear focus. Sada was with her, but for the moment Ashley was in charge.
“Oh, you’re back,” Ashley said.
I don’t like it in that place.
“Well, get used to it because we’re here to rescue Kai.”
I see Kichiemon. He’s standing in front of us.
“Of course he is.”
Don’t worry, we’ll get him back.
Ashley heard the howl of a coyote or maybe it was a lost soul screaming for redemption. She wanted to tilt her head back and answer it, but a cold blast of air showered over her and as snowflakes clumped on her eyelashes.
Kai was approaching. He walked down the dirt driveway like a pilgrim in the days of the samurai. She couldn’t make out his eyes, but he stopped about a hundred yards away. “Ashley, you’re safe.”
“For the time being. Come over here. I need to help you.”
“The demon won’t let me. He knows it’s a trap. I see the lust demon and the ronin at your side.”
“He’s afraid of us?” This wasn’t one of the contingency plans.
“There are other easier prey to hunt. I’m glad it won’t be you.” He turned to leave.
“Why isn’t Terasaka attacking him?” Ashley thought to Sada.
He can’t go too far away from Kai’s body. Otherwise the body would be left vacant too long and would start to die.
“Kai, we can save you. Please, take my hand.”
“Come to me. Help me.” Kai held out his hand.
Ashley started walking toward him.
You are not falling for this line of bullshit, are you?
“No, but I don’t want him disappearing and attacking some other poor girl. This ends tonight.”
“How will I know you won’t hurt me?” Ashley asked as she approached him slowly. The cold he radiated was icing her extremities.
“I figured it out. How to stay flesh. I just need a little blood. Just a little,” he continued when Ashley faltered. “Then I can keep the demon away. Terasaka can have my old body. I can keep this new one. It’s more powerful.”
Ashley knew that it was the demon talking..
“Tell the lust demon to go away,” demon-Kai said.
“I can’t. She’s possessing me.”
“Ashley,” Kai said and the anguish in his voice was enough for her to realize Kai was still in there somewhere.
“Come with me. Come in where it’s warm.” Ashley shook from the cold. “I’m freezing.”
“Just a few more steps and I’ll warm you.”
She pretended to twist her ankle and pitched to the ground with a small scream.
“Ashley!” Kai came to her, faster than Ashley thought was possible and before she could grab his arm and run back to safety, he picked her up into his arms.
“Stay back, ronin,” he snarled and just as quickly dropped her to pull his katana. Frost rained down on Ashley’s head.
“Get him,” she said, only seeing half the battle. She kept her head down as Kai’s sword flashed over her.
“You are no longer the swordsman you once were,” he said and did a series of thrusts, culminating in a grand sweep that looked as if he’d taken off Terasaka’s head.
But apparently not. Kai retreated into a defensive position. He was back pedaling toward the commune’s demon barrier. Terasaka was pushing him back.
Well don’t just sit there on your ass, follow them! You have to be close enough to drag Kai into that damned protective area once the demon is cut from his soul.
As Ashley got to her feet and sidled after them, Kai was forced back hard. He bent over vomited a stream of ice shards.
Now, quickly, you stupid girl. There are more of them.
She ran in and grabbed Kai’s sword arm. He stumbled. Ashley heard the guttural laughing again, but instead of it coming from Kai, a hundred glowing red eyes opened in the darkness. Fifty demons surrounded them. They had horns and great long fangs. Some were hairy, others bald, but they radiated cold and menace and they were stalking closer.
Kai’s flesh faded and he became less corporeal.
Run straight back. Kichiemon will cut a path for you.
Ashley trusted Terasaka would keep them save, so she hauled Kai along and ran for all she was worth. A demon jumped in front of them. Ashley shrieked and tried to dodge. But when he reached to lay a hand on her, it was cut off at the elbow. Kai’s lower half of his body had gone misty as she ran the last few yards to the protective circle.
Ninjas sprang out of the shadows and cut down the demons on her heels and in front of the commune.
“Stay with me,” she said to Kai. She could barely feel his arm under her hand when she sprinted into the commune.
“Hurry, to the circle,” Iris said.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Ashley muttered.
Pain split Ashley’s head into a throbbing ache. She
fell to her knees into the hay, propelling Kai’s spirit into the circle. Iris began to chant and a golden ring of fire sprouted up, hiding Kai from her. She slumped to the ground. She heard the sounds of battle outside. It sounded like people dying. The demons were exulting. How many ninjas gave their lives for Kai? Did Terasaka fall too? Closing her eyes, Ashley crept as near to the golden circle as she dared. The heat of it at least thawed her nose and fingertips. The circle slammed down, resonating like a gong. A presence stood over her. Opening her eyes, she saw Kai’s feet as he held out his hand to her.
Ashley did an eye check. Kai’s eyes were his normal golden brown. They glowed slightly in the aftermath of the circle.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“I’m good. I was faking the ankle.”
He hoisted her up. “I need to help them and then we can go home.”
“Against the demons? What will stop them from possessing you?”
“Iris gave me the same protection her ninjas have.” He kissed her forehead. “I have a lot to make up to you. But it will have to start once the demons have been dispatched.”
He strode out of the commune and into the night, carrying his sword.
“Leave the little woman behind, will you?” Ashley said. “I just busted a nut trying to get you back into your body. I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit on my hands while you’re in danger.” She strode out of the commune. “Let’s kick some ass, Sada.”
This time, she reached down and pulled Sada to the forefront of her mind. Sada scanned the battlefield and sent three shuriken into the eyes of the nearest demon by Kai.
He whirled. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
“Get bent,” Sada said and flung three more. This time one in each eye of three demons. “That’ll soften them up for you. Have at it.”
Sada picked up her shuriken from the fallen demon and glared across the compound, taking in every detail. Using her ghost sight, she saw Kichiemon dispatching the demons and she went over to assist him.
“Get back to safety,” he said.
“Blow me.” She saw his face change when he realized who was in charge of Ashley’s body.
“Promise me you will not kill her.”
Sada shrugged, walking over to him to retrieve her throwing stars. “If she’s weak, she will die.”
Pain shot through her as Kichiemon’s hand reached into Ashley’s body. He gripped Sada and started to pull her out of Ashley.
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