by Julie Kagawa
“Yumeko.” The demon boy sheathed his blade and knelt in front of her, close enough that their knees were touching. His hand rose, hesitated, then gently brushed the hair from her cheek, sliding his knuckles along her skin. “Stay with me,” he urged, his voice a low murmur in the darkness. “This doesn’t change anything.”
“Tatsumi.” The kitsune’s voice was numb. “Seigetsu is... And he...” She closed her eyes, her ears flattening to her skull. “I don’t know who I am anymore,” she whispered. “Have I just been a pawn all this time? Something that just blindly followed the path set out for her?” She opened her eyes, gazing around the cavern, at the shrine, dark and lifeless, against the wall. “He meant for me to come here. He meant for me to see all of this, to find Kiyomi-sama and discover this place. Have I been the catalyst for everything? If I...if I was never born, would Genno still be threatening to destroy the empire? Or would the scroll still be safely in the Silent Winds temple? So many people have died because of me. Reika. Master Jiro. Master Isao.” On her knees, her hands curled into fists. “What am I?” she whispered. “Have any of my choices been my own?”
“Yumeko.” The demon shifted closer, lowering his voice. He seemed hesitant to speak, though the sight of the distraught kitsune clearly concerned him. “I don’t know who or what you are, exactly,” he told her in a quiet voice. “But I do know what you’ve done. You protected the Dragon scroll as best you could. You risked your life to keep it safe, even though it would’ve been easier to give it up, to let someone else take that burden.”
The fox girl sniffed, hunching her shoulders. The demon eased closer still and gently cupped her chin with his fingers, peering into her face. “You confronted the most dangerous demon alive,” he murmured, “risked your own soul to face him, to free the human he had possessed. You gave up the Dragon’s Prayer to save your friends, but then you followed Genno to this island to stop him from summoning the Harbinger, even though he has an army of demons at his call and the odds of survival are nearly nonexistent. All of these choices, every decision and branching point along the way, they were made because you...are you. Because the kitsune I followed from the Silent Winds temple, the girl who talks to ghosts and charms emperors and made the most powerful oni Jigoku has ever spawned fall in love with her, wouldn’t do anything else.”
The fox girl blinked, then stared at the demon with wide eyes. He gave a faint, rueful smile, as if he couldn’t quite believe he had said that. “Your choices,” he went on, “your decisions—that’s why I’m here, Yumeko. Why we’re all here. And it is why we’ll continue to follow you, to the brink of Jigoku and back.” He paused once more, then leaned in, his voice becoming nearly inaudible. “I have the soul of the First Oni inside me,” he whispered. “And if you say the word, he would give his life for you in a heartbeat. Not even the most powerful ninetailed fox in Iwagoto can claim that.”
Suki’s throat felt curiously tight, and there was a pull in the pit of her stomach as she hovered there, watching the demon and the fox girl. Odd sensations, because she had no body, not even the ghostly image of one at the moment, but the emotions that came from observing the pair were real. The kitsune sniffed, leaning forward until their foreheads touched, one hand on the back of his head. The demon didn’t move, closing his eyes, and they stayed like that for a long moment, before the fox girl took a deep breath and leaned back, her eyes clear.
“Gomen,” she whispered. “Gomen, Tatsumi. I’m ready now.” She rose to her feet, her expression hard and determined as she lifted her head. “I have to stay focused,” she said. “Stop Genno, prevent the Summoning—that’s the only thing that matters. Okame-san, Daisuke-san? Are you still with us?”
“Until the end, Yumeko-san.” Daisuke’s voice echoed calmly in the stillness. He stood quietly against the wall, his arms around the ronin’s waist, neither embarrassed nor in a hurry to move them. And the ronin, leaning back into the noble, seemed content not to move, either.
“Suki-san?” The fox girl turned, finding Suki hovering overhead. For a moment, Suki tensed, wondering what the kitsune thought of the part she had to play for Seigetsu-sama. But there was no condemnation in the eyes of the fox girl, only sympathy and understanding. “If you are still willing, would you be able to lead us out?”
Move on, Suki-chan, Lord Seigetsu had told her. This was never your fight. You have no part to play anymore.
She glanced at Daisuke-sama, his face calm and his eyes peaceful, standing quietly beside the ronin who had captured his heart. At the fox girl and the demon standing behind her, his fierce, protective gaze only for the kitsune.
This world is no place for the pure of heart.
No, Suki thought, as a tiny spark of anger flickered to life within. You’re wrong, Seigetsu-sama. I might be dead, but there are hearts and souls in this world that are worth saving. I won’t let them be lost. This has become my fight, as well.
She floated down until she hovered a few feet before the kitsune girl, who watched her calmly, the hazy light flickering over her face. I’m sorry, Suki wanted to tell her. I didn’t know who Seigetsu-sama was, what he wanted with you. I’m sorry he deceived us both.
The kitsune smiled faintly, as if reading her thoughts. Suki rose into the air, circled her and the demon once, then flew across the room until she found the tunnel that led outside. I will see this through, Suki thought, hearing the footsteps of the four who followed behind. Kitsune, demon, ronin and the noble she’d once loved. To the end.
* * *
The sky was nearly black when they emerged from the caves, roiling clouds blotting out any hint of moon or stars. A gust of wind howled through the crags, tossing the hair and clothes of the living bodies as they stepped onto a narrow rocky ledge overlooking the valley.
Far below, the plains were cloaked in shadow, but the gaping hole to the center of Jigoku pulsed with hellish light, like a terrible wound in the earth. Demons and damned souls still crawled from the pit, their shrieks and wails rising into the air.
In the ghastly hell-light, the valley was a writhing mass of bodies, as demons, spirits and oni clashed with the armies of Moon and Shadow. The number of demons seemed endless, a constant wave surging against the wall of humans trying to force them back. Suki could see the row of torches where the armies held the line, a barrier between the horde flooding up from the pit and the rest of the island. For now, the dam held, but night was falling and the demons kept coming. Eventually, the human forces would be overrun.
“Kiyomi-sama,” Suki heard the kitsune whisper behind her, voice choked and horrified. “I’m so sorry.”
Overhead, a streak of lightning cut across the sky, slicing through the clouds like a knife, and a peal of thunder made the ground tremble. Below the ledge, a slim winding staircase snaked up the mountain, rising toward a peak where the clouds were gathering in a swirling maelstrom overhead.
“There’s the Summoning site,” the demon pointed out. His gaze followed the staircase, eyes glowing red as he stared up the mountain. “We’re almost there.”
“Well, look at that.” The ronin turned to grin at Daisuke, his voice awed and triumphant. “We actually made it. One step closer to Genno—I hope you’re thinking up a good poem, peacock.”
As he spoke, a flash of lightning turned the world a blinding white. For a split second, between one pulse and the next, Suki thought she caught a glimpse of a shadow above them, a thin, dark figure with hate-filled eyes and a long swinging braid. It raised its arm, something glinting between its fingers, and Suki opened her mouth to cry out as lightning flashed and everything disappeared.
The ronin grunted. He staggered, a strange look crossing his face as everyone stared at him in alarm. “Ah, kuso,” he whispered, and collapsed to the stones, his bow dropping from his fingers.
“Okame-san!” the kitsune cried, as Daisuke immediately knelt beside him, catching the ronin before he could fall the rest of
the way to the ground. The noble’s expression was anxious, his smooth brow furrowed in alarm. Chilled, Suki looked down to see the hilt of a black kunai sunk between Okame’s shoulder blades, the knife glimmering darkly against his haori, the edges starting to well with blood.
“Okame,” he whispered, as the fox girl caught sight of the blade as well and gasped, her hands going to her mouth. Suki, floating helplessly above them, could only watch the scene unfold, seeing the devastation on Daisuke’s face as the ronin slumped against him. The noble raised a trembling hand, hesitated and curled his long fingers around the hilt of the knife.
“Forgive me,” he whispered, and yanked the blade free. The ronin immediately gave a howl of pain that seemed to cut through Daisuke like an arrow; the noble winced, pressing his forehead to the ronin’s, as if trying to take the hurt onto himself.
“Kuso,” the other gritted out, his voice tight with pain. “I wasn’t paying attention.” One hand clutched the front of Daisuke’s robes as the noble gazed down at him, stricken. “Don’t...focus on me, peacock,” the ronin gasped. “That demon bitch is still out there—”
Daisuke’s gaze shot up, his eyes hard and lethal. In a blinding motion, he drew his sword and slashed it through the air over Okame. There was a clang of metal on metal, and another black knife went hurling end over end to clatter against the rocks.
The demonslayer drew his blade in a flare of purple fire, as low, mocking laughter echoed behind them. Suki turned as another streak of lightning threaded the sky, outlining the monstrous figure that appeared on a jutting wedge of rock, grinning down at them.
“Predictable,” the demon announced. His wild crimson hair snapped in the wind, horns curled from his brow, a curved obsidian blade clutched in one claw. “Predictable, and foolish. Did you really think Genno would leave this pass unguarded?”
“Rasetsu.” The demonslayer stepped forward, his blade flickering in his hand. “So you’re the final obstacle, are you?” He gave a humorless smile, eyes glowing red, and raised his weapon. “I’m not trapped in a binding circle this time—you won’t be able to run me through so easily. Come on, then,” he challenged, baring his fangs. “If Genno is on the other side, I guess I’ll have to carve a path right through you.”
“No.”
Daisuke raised his head, his voice and eyes hard. Gently, he lay the ronin against the rock wall and stood, his hair billowing around him, to face the half-oni.
“There is no time, Kage-san,” he said. “We have come to the end of the road, and the objective is mere steps away. Take Yumeko-san and continue. I will stay and deal with the demon.”
“Taiyo.” The demonslayer glanced at him, his voice was full of warning. “This isn’t a normal demon. His name is Rasetsu, the second oni general of Jigoku. I don’t know the type of bargain he’s made with Genno, or why he’s suddenly sharing a body with a human, but Rasetsu is on the same level as Akumu and Yaburama. You won’t be able to beat him.”
Suki trembled, but Daisuke only gave a faint smile. “Then the duel I have longed for is finally here,” he stated calmly.
“Daisuke-san...” The fox girl stepped forward, eyes pleading. “Please. We’ve come so far, and Genno is so close. We can’t stop now.”
“That is exactly why I must stay, Yumeko-san,” the noble replied. “It was never my fate to face the Master of Demons and stop the Wish. That destiny is yours. Okame and I have brought you as far as we could. Now let us protect you and Kage-san one last time.”
“He’s right, Yumeko-chan,” added the ronin, his voice tight with pain. He tried shifting to another position against the rock but slumped back, clenching his teeth. The stone behind him was smeared with red. “Kuso. My fight is done, and there’s no time left. You two go on, stop Genno. That’s all that matters now.”
“Okame-san.” Yumeko’s voice shook, on the verge of tears. “What if we never see you again?”
“Hey.” The ronin gave a tired smile. “Don’t think like that, Yumeko-chan. We’ll see each other again. Just make sure you beat Genno so we can all drink to our victory tonight. And if I’m not there, pour out a bottle for me.”
“Arigatou, Yumeko-san,” Daisuke said. Looking from her to the demonslayer, a beautiful smile crossed his face. “For letting me be a part of your journey. For helping me to push beyond what I thought I could do. Kage-san, my only regret is that we never completed our duel, but I was proud to fight at your side. I count our time as friends a far greater accomplishment than all my victories as Oni no Mikoto.” He lifted his sword before him in a final salute. “Good luck to you both. It has been an honor.”
“All right, I’m bored with this.” The Second Oni leaped into the air and came down with a crash a few paces away, brandishing his sword as he rose. “I don’t know why you mortals have to talk so much before you die!”
With a roar that made the ground shake, he lunged at the kitsune.
Both demonslayer and noble leaped forward, intercepting the monstrous demon as it came in. The oni’s black sword flashed up, screeching off and deflecting both blades as the monster spun with shocking grace and kicked the demonslayer in the head with a heel, knocking him aside. The demonslayer tumbled over the rocks and bounced upright with a snarl, tensing to leap in again, but Daisuke’s voice rang out, halting him.
“Leave us!” The noble’s voice was hard, even as he desperately parried a blow from the red-haired demon that sent him stumbling back. “This isn’t your fight any longer, Kage-san! Stop Genno, stop the Summoning, that is all that matters now.”
“Go, Yumeko-chan!” added the ronin leaning against the stones, his voice rough. “Get out of here. We’ll be fine.”
The demonslayer hesitated, clearly torn between leaving and springing into the fray again. But then he set his jaw and turned, holding out a hand to the fox girl.
“Yumeko, hurry.”
The kitsune sobbed, clenching her fists. But she turned and sprinted to where the demonslayer waited, and together they started up the narrow path. Toward the distant peak and the clouds swirling overhead.
But as they turned away, a dark figure appeared on the rocks overhead, braid swinging behind her, and raised an arm, a glittering knife between her fingers. Suki started to cry out a warning, but with a streak of darkness, an arrow flew out of nowhere, striking the demon in the back. She screamed and toppled off the stones, and Suki whirled to see the ronin, bow in hand, smiling grimly as he lowered the weapon.
“Don’t count me out just yet,” Suki heard him mutter. Nearby, Daisuke’s sword flashed, sparking off the oni’s blade as the two circled each other in their lethal dance. The oni didn’t notice or seem to care about the two bodies vanishing up the mountain, so Suki watched as the kitsune and the demonslayer drew farther and farther away and trembled, feeling as if her ghostly body were being ripped in two. Genno was up that trail. The fate of the empire hung on whether the kitsune and her demonslayer could reach him in time.
And yet...
Daisuke-sama. Suki turned, her gaze falling on the noble in his desperate battle, knowing she could not leave him. She watched as he nimbly avoided the oni’s savage blows, the obsidian blade barely missing him as he whirled and parried, his own sword a blur. But the oni, too, deftly avoided or parried Daisuke’s weapon, and the screech of steel against steel echoed off the rocks. The monster appeared to be enjoying himself, grinning viciously as he battered and cut at the swordsman, using not only his blade, but his claws, horns and feet to strike blow after blow, barely giving the other a chance to breathe. But...and Suki felt a flutter of amazement...Daisuke-sama was smiling, too, his eyes bright and intense as he danced around his enemy.
Daisuke-sama...he’s enjoying this, Suki realized, just as the first of the demon’s blows got through, the curved talons ripping a savage tear across the noble’s shoulder and chest. Suki cried out, but Daisuke didn’t flinch. Instead, he spun with the
blow, hair swirling around him, and brought his weapon toward the oni’s unprotected back. At the last second, the demon twisted away, but not fast enough, and the blade sheared across his arm, cutting deeply into muscle in a spray of dark blood.
Both combatants staggered back a few paces, panting. The front of Daisuke’s robe was torn open, and blood soaked the fabric from the terrible wounds across his chest. His face and hair were streaked with red, blood running down his sword arm and spattering the rock with crimson.
The oni smiled, seemingly unconcerned with the darkness dripping from his elbow and pooling at his feet. “You’re fast, human,” he said, nodding. “I’ll give you that. But you’re not better than me.” He raised the obsidian blade, dripping with Daisuke’s blood. “You’re going to die here, and your friends won’t make it in time to stop the Summoning. The new age of demons has begun.”
Daisuke gave a grim smile. “The first part might be true,” he said, panting. “But I’m afraid you’ve underestimated the rest of us. I have no doubt that Yumeko and Kage-san will reach Genno and emerge victorious. Our kitsune does not know how to fail.”
The oni chuckled. “Too bad you won’t get to see it,” he said, and lunged.
The clang of swords filled the air, echoing above the shrieking wind, as the demon and master swordsman continued their lethal dance. Suki watched, terrified but unable to look away, as Daisuke and the oni clashed at the edge of the cliff, mere feet from a heart-stopping plunge into the valley below. Overhead, the clouds swirled, and the wind ripped at their hair and clothes, as the demon and Taiyo swordsman fought on, their blades moving so fast Suki could barely follow them.
Once again, they drew back, swords raised as they faced each other across the stone. The oni was breathing hard, but he was smirking as he watched the Taiyo a few yards away. For a moment, Daisuke stood tall and proud, the wind tugging at his long hair, a look of stoic calm on his face.