Chapter Ten: The Faithful and the Damned

They had no body, but they felt the pain—of betrayal, of embarrassment, of defeat. They slithered over the surface of their earthen prison, searching for a crack to escape through, but the chamber was sealed tight. Miles underground, not knowing which way was up or down, Fujin was trapped.

It will not end this way! they snarled. It can't…

No light could enter the cavern. They were utterly alone, except they could still feel Daichi's steady but feeble pulse, which surrounded them on all sides. Veins of the mountain god's ki flowed through the rock, preventing them from phasing through. Daichi was weak, that much was certain, but after being attacked by both the bandit and the wench who'd stolen their sister's energy, Fujin was even weaker.

A weird sensation suffused them—a phantom memory of a heart that no longer existed.

Meihou, they thought. How did it come to this?

They remembered her eerie violet eyes and lavender-colored hair—the eyes, at least, seemed to have been passed on to the woman, Kameyo. How or why hardly mattered, but somehow Meihou had managed to narrowly escape death all those years ago by passing her power onto a pathetic mortal.

The thought sent them trembling with rage all over again. Nothing of substance remained of their sister—they had checked. Extensively. What had been Meihou—her personality, her memories, her ambitions—were gone for good.

Good riddance, they growled, except their phantom heart disagreed.

She abandoned me for the god who betrayed me, they reminded themselves. She abandoned me for Daichi. She ruined us, not me.

Then it was decided. I will unseal the woman's power and use it to reclaim my glory once and for all.

…W-Who's there?

Fujin started. The voice that echoed in their mind was familiar, but distantly so. Suddenly, they remembered a body that was far too tight: a grizzled, bitter bandit whose resolve had crumbled under the weight of their influence—

Souta, Fujin thought gleefully.

The foolish Daichi had entombed them right underneath the stronghold. Perhaps Fujin couldn't get out, not yet, but now they knew they were far from powerless.

Yer not talkin' ta anyone, dumbass, Fujin thought in the bandit's drawl. Yer talkin' ta yerself.

A pause. Right. Shit, I must be goin' crazy, Souta responded. Seems like th' stress is gettin' ta me.

Dunno 'bout that, Fujin thought. Seems like yer th' only sane one 'round 'ere. I mean, jus' look at Kouji.

Yeah, that fucker! Tryna get us all killed.

You can save 'em all, though.

Yeah, but how? If I get rid of Kouji…then what? We're still trapped.

No, Fujin snapped, yer not. All ya gotta do is walk out th' barrier. No one can stop ya.

What if th' demon's still out there?

Fujin wanted to grin. The demon was causin' those weird quakes, weren't they? Ain't heard 'em since yesterday, have ya?

Well…

Meanwhile yer surrounded by assholes on th' inside like Kouji. If ya ask me, ya'd be safer on th' outside.

'Sides…if ya leave th' barrier, Fujin continued, a slight purr accenting their thoughts, you could be th' hero Reikaku needs ta beat that thing fer good. Then not even Kouji or Kashira would be able ta steer people against ya.

Oh yeah?

Fujin chuckled. Yeah.

I will be free, they thought to themselves. And I will make Daichi pay.

XXXXXX

In the farthest depths of a cave, a lone figure stood over a small pool of water. The surface was still, and so clear that it appeared as a glistening sheet of glass—an unobscured window into the world outside. Through it, Daichi watched a young woman with eerie violet eyes, a monk with gravity-defying blue hair, and a redheaded bandit kneel and pray as a young goddess—Nyan-Nyan, he recognized immediately—stood over them and dumped buckets of water over their heads. The redhead let out a stifled yelp as the water hit his bare back. Wisps of black smoke, barely visible in the darkness of the bathhouse, rose from his tanned skin.

"The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning," the monk chanted softly. "Before the Creator I now supplicate for my repentance."

"I repent of all sins, the cause of hindrances," the young woman intoned.

"I r-repent of all th' roots of s-sin," the redhead muttered, teeth chattering.

"In the name of the Creator, you are cleansed," the goddess whispered, waving her hand.

"Namo Amituofo," the three chanted as one.

Draped in a flowing white silk hanfu accented by golden thread and sash, the god waved his hand over the pool, and the still water was broken by choppy ripples before once more settling into a sheet. In the water, now, was a cavernous room lit by dozens of paltry lanterns. A small group of bandits were huddled near the far wall, their heads bowed as they talked. But Daichi heard them loud and clear.

"Ya know Kouji an' Anzu are hoarding all th' good food fer themselves," one of them whispered. "Hell, it's been two days. There definitely ain't enough food 'ere ta last us much longer. An' Genrou ain't nowhere to be found…as usual."

Another bandit nodded. "Yeah…was he ever really one of us? I mean, anytime that monk comes 'round or th' Dowager Empress calls fer 'im, he never seems th' least bit bothered by leavin', do he?" He snorted. "Kouji is more of a leader ta Reikaku than Genrou ever was."

"An' even he ain't thinking straight," the third bandit said. "He'd slaughter ev'ry one of us if Genrou told him ta. Face it, Kentaro—we gotta look out fer ourselves. No one else is gonna do it fer us."

"So what are we gonna do?" the man called Kentaro said. "It ain't like we can leave." He glanced at the first bandit who'd spoken. "Souta?"

Souta smirked. "You jus' leave all that ta me."

Daichi narrowed his eyes. Shimmering dark smoke, invisible to the mortal eye, swirled around all three of the bandits, but it flared around this Souta person the most. Fujin had certainly been busy—the whole stronghold reeked of their scent.

The god flinched, grabbing his hand as pain lanced through his fingertips and up his arm. When he raised his palm for inspection, it had become translucent.

You cannot keep me locked away forever, Fujin snarled. Daichi could feel the festering cloud's ki pulsing with rage, from deep down in the earthen chamber where he had trapped them. Even in their intangible state, Fujin's acrid smoke seared the rock wherever it touched, causing small flashes of pain through Daichi's connection to the mountain. Reluctantly, and to only himself, he admitted that Fujin was right—he wouldn't be able to hold them for much longer. If you had any success at containing the wind, Meihou wouldn't be dead.

Daichi frowned as another flash of pain—this time purely emotional—licked his chest. His heart ached for everything he'd lost—and everything, it seemed, he still stood to lose.

Meihou, he thought. My love. I am sorry.

The water rippled again, stilling to once more reveal the three warriors on Mt. Taikyoku. Kameyo stood across from Nyan-Nyan, her sword raised as the violet currents of air swirled around her. Several feet away, Taiitsukun hovered, her beady eyes watching the scene like a hawk. He felt a dull pang; here was his most spectacular failure, laid out for him in his final moments.

Even now, he could see how his story would end.

"I am sorry, my love," he murmured, gazing at Kameyo. "It would appear that I am already too late."

Taiitsukun turned her head, staring right into Daichi's eyes. With a frown and a wave of her hand, she forced her image and that of her sacred mountain sanctuary to dissolve into ripples. The pool darkened to cerulean blue, then to black.

Daichi furrowed his eyebrows and turned away. He knew he would never be able to reach the Sacred Realm again.

XXXXXX

Takako peeked around the corner, then quickly ducked back behind it at the sound of footsteps creaking on the old wood. Overnight, storm clouds had gathered, and now a thick blanket of gray covered the sky. The boy watched the clouds through the hallway's high windows, frowning in thought as he strained to hear the murmured voices coming from inside the room. He pressed his back to the wall and slid down to a sitting position.

"You jus' leave all that ta me," a low voice rasped.

Takako scowled. Souta was definitely up to something.

Kouji hadn't specifically told him to spy on Souta, but he hadn't discouraged it, either. Taking to heart Takako's earlier assertion that most adults looked straight through him, Kouji had told the boy in no uncertain terms that he needed him to be smart and cautious, "but if ya jus' happen ta overhear somethin', I wouldn't mind knowin' 'bout it."

How fortunate that Takako still couldn't find his way around the stronghold and had come across Souta and company by accident.

Takako rubbed his collarbone and swallowed, his throat dry and scratchy despite the humid air. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt naked without his necklace, especially now. But if Kouji and Anzu could be competent fighters without using magic, then so could he. He patted the dagger at his side—this time, he'd be prepared.

Still, a shiver shot up his spine. When he'd talked to the bandit leader that morning through the dining hall mirror, Tasuki had said the demon god—Fujin—still wasn't dead. Which meant whomever they had possessed a few days ago could still be under their influence.

Fragmented memories invaded his head. Shrill screams, pain, so much blood…

Takako shook his head. Where had that come from?

"I think I've found a way ta kill that demon once an' fer all," Souta continued. "Then we won't need ta be trapped in 'ere."

Kentaro snorted. "Yer gonna kill that demon? Ya've lost yer mind."

"Nope. I know somethin' even Kouji don't—the demon's livin' in th' Reikaku main shrine. That's its power source. Take out the shrines, ya take out th' demon."

Takako narrowed his eyes. That didn't sound suspicious at all.

"So who's gonna volunteer ta go out there?" Kentaro snapped. "You?"

"Yeah," Souta said. "I'm gonna prove to these fuckers once an' fer all that I'm five times th' leader Genrou or Kouji ever was."

"But ya won't be able ta get back in," the third bandit said. "An' if ya encounter those demon wolves or whatever else is hangin' around, yer dead meat."

"Then we gotta get rid of th' barrier, then, that's all."

Takako's eyes widened as he clapped his hand over his mouth to silence his outburst of alarm. What?!

"Yer fuckin' crazy!" Kentaro spat. "This place is overrun by demons an' ya want us ta give 'em full access? I've been humorin' ya, Souta, but yer takin' this too far. If not fer Chichiri—"

"—Do ya remember anythin' from when ya were possessed, Ken?" Souta said.

"Eh?" Kentaro mumbled. "Ah, well…not really, no. I mean, kashira hit me pretty hard; wouldn't surprise me if he knocked th' memories straight outta me. Why?"

"'Cause I do," Souta said. "Genrou knew we weren't in control, and he used his damn tessen on us anyway. Ryouga and Eiji's deaths are his fault."

Takako clenched his fist and rose to his knees. Now wait just a minute!

Kentaro snorted. "Ya gotta be shittin' me. What, twenty men are tryna kill 'im and ya think he should've jus' said, 'Ah, that's all right, I know ya don't mean it, go ahead an' shove that blade right inta my kidney'?"

Souta scoffed. "He's a godsdamned seishi. One o' th' most powerful men in th' whole country, if not th' world, an' he couldn't figure out a way ta defend himself without setting his own men on fire?"

Silence reigned. Takako had to bite his lip to keep himself from running in there and kicking Souta where the sun didn't shine. Don't tell me they're actually falling for this!

"Well, I mean…" Kentaro stammered. "So he's a seishi. So what? He ain't perfect. No one is. Jus' let it go, will ya?"

"He had to choose between savin' himself an' savin' us an' he picked himself," Souta spat. "What makes ya think he wouldn't do it again?"

Takako shook his head. "If not for kashira, we'd all probably be dead," he mumbled. His neck tingled in warning, and when he whipped his head around, Souta was leaning on the door frame, glaring down at him.

Fuck.

Takako stifled a cry of surprise and scrambled backward, but Souta's hand flashed out, clenching into the collar of the boy's shirt. "Oh no ya don't," he muttered, yanking Takako to his feet. Kentaro and the other bandits crowded around them as Souta scowled. "Shoulda known I couldn't trust ya, ya sorry lil' brat. After all, yer th' reason that dirty bitch got in 'ere in th' first place."

Takako hissed and lashed out with his fist, which Souta easily caught in his free hand. "Don't talk about my mother that way, you piece of shit!" he snapped. "You're so stupid you don't even realize what's happening to you right now!"

Souta arched an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? An' what's that?"

"You're still under the demon's control!" Takako flailed and kicked fruitlessly. "You think you're the enlightened one, but you're just the only idiot dumb enough to fall for it!"

Souta reared his fist back and punched him in the stomach. Takako let out a strangled moan, his head bowing forward. "Ya good fer nothin' lil' brat! We did ya a favor by lettin' ya stay 'ere, an' this is how ya repay us?"

"H-Hey," Kentaro said, lifting his hands in a placating gesture. "What th' fuck are ya doin'? He's a godsdamned kid." He shoved a hand through his hair and glanced down the hallway. "Shit, Souta. Yer gonna get all of us thrown outta here."

"Do ya know how many of us are orphans, kid?" Souta said, leaning forward until their noses almost touched. Takako flinched away from his putrid breath. "Do ya know how many of us were tossed aside, abandoned, left ta die? We came ta Reikaku lookin' fer camaraderie, fer safety. Fer a chance ta prove we were worth somethin' a helluva lot more than what a bunch of rich snobs thought we were.

"And now our leader is actively causin' my family harm, an' ya think I'm 'sposed ta jus' let it go? No. I won't. Half th' time Genrou ain't even here," he said, glancing over his shoulder to address the small crowd. "He's out fightin' fer Suzaku, or the capital, an' leavin' us ta clean up his own messes. We're being attacked by a giant fuckin' demon as we speak, an' where th' fuck is he now?" He sneered, turning on Takako. "On Mt. Taikyoku, nice an' safe, livin' it up while we all starve ta death. That's th' leader Hakurou chose fer us."

"You think you're the only one with problems?" Takako shot back. "I was an orphan, too. That doesn't give you the right to act like your pain is worse than everyone else's!"

Souta scowled and reared his fist back again. Takako flinched and squeezed his eyes shut, tensing in preparation for the blow.

"Stop right th' fuck there, ya sonuvabitch."

Souta's fist paused mere inches from Takako's face. They both turned around to see Kouji stomping toward them, his hands clenched at his sides. Takako let out a sigh of relief, and then a startled squawk as Souta dropped him to his feet.

"Is there a problem?" Souta said, folding his arms.

Kouji glanced at Takako and jerked his head; the boy wasted no time in scrambling to the relative safety of his side. "You tell me," the bandit drawled, mirroring Souta's aggressive stance. "Tell me somethin' Souta—did ya really think I wouldn't take issue with ya beatin' up on a lil' kid?"

"I don't really fuckin' care," Souta snarled. "Yer head is so far up Genrou's ass ya couldn't give the slightest fuck what happens ta th' rest of us. Ya wanna make me a villain? Fine. I'll play my role."

Indecision flashed across Kouji's dark face, and then he frowned. "Souta," he murmured. "This ain't you, buddy. Why don't ya jus' calm down so we can talk about this like adults, man ta man?"

Souta snorted. "What, more meditation? Fuck off."

"Remember when ya an' Buma were on patrol together last spring?" Kouji asked. "Buma wasn't payin' attention and fell into his own pit trap. Broke his leg, started howlin' like a cat in heat." He chuckled, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Remember what ya did, Souta?"

Souta visibly started, grimacing as some phantom pain raced through him. "Yeah," he grunted. "I called him a fuckin' idiot, grabbed a rope, and climbed down ta get 'im."

"The rope broke," Kouji continued. "Ya fell from halfway down and scrapped yerself all up on the rocks in the wall. Bleedin' everywhere. Ya tried to climb back up the wall ta grab the hangin' piece but yer hands were too slippery from th' blood. It was gettin' dark."

Takako watched Souta carefully. He was still frowning, but the furrow between his brows had become less severe.

"Do ya remember that, Souta?" Kouji prompted.

"Of course I remember that!" Souta snarled. "I was th' only one of us that was there."

"All th' rest of us were gettin' drunk ta ring in th' new year, an' we didn't think much of it that ya were missin'," Kouji said. "But who noticed ya were gone an' came ta check on ya, Souta?"

A long moment passed before he gritted out, "Genrou."

"There's no way he could've known where ya were. But he stumbled around fer o'er an' hour, drunk off his ass, in th' dark, until he found yer footprints, an' then he grabbed his own rope, tied himself ta a tree, an' pulled ya up an' out before he jumped down ta get Buma 'imself." Kouji narrowed his eyes, bending forward at the waist. "Why do ya think he did that, Souta?"

Souta glared at the ground. His shoulders were shaking.

"B-Because that's what family does," Takako muttered. "They…look out for each other." He gazed up at Kouji. "Right, Kouji-aniki?"

Kouji chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "That's right, kid." He glanced around the hallway. "I bet all of ya have stories like that. Where Genrou helped ya, with no concern fer his own safety, an' never asked fer nothin' in return. Which is why ya all should be ashamed of yerselves fer even considerin' the thought that he would ever abandon this mountain, or any of you."

He cracked his knuckles and took another step forward. "Ya wanna leave, Souta? Then leave. I ain't yer ma. But you lose any right ta call this yer 'family' if ya do." He glared at the bewildered faces around him. "An' that goes fer th' rest of ya, too!"

The hallway was silent. All eyes were on Souta as everyone waited with bated breath for his next move.

Souta sighed. "Yer right, Kouji."

Kouji's eyes widened for a brief moment before he schooled his expression into one of calm authority. "Ya think so, huh?"

"Genrou did help me out that time. I remember it." He sneered. "Ya know what else I remember?"

Kouji narrowed his eyes at Souta's hostile tone. "No. What?"

"I remember that when Hakurou was on his deathbed, Genrou disappeared fer months chasin' some bullshit cure. I remember that, while Hakurou was in no position ta lead an' had already passed his tessen an' his leadership onto Genrou, th' fool left us ta fend fer ourselves." Souta advanced on them slowly, his shoulders hunched forward as if he were a wild animal priming to strike. Kouji pressed his hand against Takako's chest and pushed the boy behind him. "I remember that, after Hakurou finally died, Genrou wasn't even here ta attend his funeral. An' I remember that, with no one here ta stop him, Eiken took the tessen fer himself an' nearly drove this stronghold inta th' ground before Genrou finally showed back up, a whole damn year later."

Takako's heart pounded in his chest. Shit. This wasn't going well.

Souta cocked his head. "Ya know what else I remember, Kouji?"

Kouji's mouth flattened into a thin line. He said nothing even as Takako felt his hand slowly slip between them for the dagger at his side.

"I remember that after all of that, he still left," Souta spat. "He still went to fight fer Suzaku. Gone fer o'er a year—another year, let me remind ya. An' then guess how many of our bandits died on that battlefield in Eiyou, tryin' ta help 'im durin' th' war?" Souta shook his head. "Way too many."

Takako's eyes widened. He'd never heard anything about Reikaku bandits on the battlefield, but then again, he and his mother had fled the city not too long after the war started.

He glanced sideways at Kouji, waiting for him to refute any of the stupid claims Souta had made…but the man's face was sad, his eyes closed as he shook his head. Takako's heart stammered. So then…all of that…it's true?

Kouji sighed. "Souta—"

"—I'm not th' one ya need ta be preachin' ta about family an' loyalty, Kouji," Souta hissed. "The Reikaku bandits have always been here fer Genrou. Too bad we can't say th' same fer him."

Tension crackled in the air as thunder boomed outside. Takako's gaze flicked about the hall. Even more bandits had gathered to hear Souta's speech since this had all began, and now at least half the stronghold was here. Many of the bandits seemed conflicted, but there were also clenched fists and fierce frowns. Sad, hurt, or empty eyes.

With a start, Takako realized that although many of the bandits who stood before them now, hanging on Souta's every word, were the bandits who'd been attacked by Fujin, just as many hadn't come in contact with the demon at all.

In Reikaku's darkest hour, it wasn't solely a demon that would break them—it was the feeling that they had been abandoned by the one man they had respected the most.

"Souta," Kouji groaned. His body had seemed to deflate. "I'm sorry that ya feel like this—really, I am. But yer not thinkin' clearly, pal. Bein' possessed by a demon, it messes with ya. It makes ya cling ta doubts and frustrations that don't even really matter or don't exist." He offered his hand to him. "Let me help you. I can—"

"—Th' demon doesn't control me anymore," Souta said. "But you know what, Kouji? If bein' possessed was what it took to see th' light in all this, then I'll thank that demon fer it every day."

Kouji jerked his hand back, looking like he'd just been punched in the stomach. "Fuck, Souta—"

Takako yelped as hands wrapped around his arms from behind, trapping him. A hoarse scream reverberated from beside him, and he whipped his head to see Kouji holding a dagger dripping with blood. One of the bandits lay sprawled on the ground, clutching his bleeding hand. Three more men advanced on Kouji, driving him back toward the wall.

"I'm sorry, Souta," Kouji murmured, his gaze still trained on the man standing across from him even as Souta's supporters continued their advance. "I really am. I want ta help ya, but I won't let ya make me or Genrou into th' scapegoats fer all this, either."

Souta smirked. "Yer gonna wanna drop that weapon, 'fore someone else gets hurt."

"Yeah?" Kouji taunted. "If ya don't cut this shit out, th' next one's gonna be you!"

Souta's eyes tracked to somewhere off behind them. "Or her, actually."

Kouji stiffened. Pure rage contorted his usually kind face before he whirled around, and whatever he saw made him inhale sharply. "Anzu…"

Takako glanced over his shoulder. She'd been gagged with her arms yanked roughly behind her back. Her pale throat was covered in fresh bruises, her brown hair a tangled mess on top of her head. Judging by the condition of the bandit who held her captive, she'd fought, and fought hard. He was covered in cuts and bruises and his right eye was swollen shut, but she was still a noble warrior; she had to play by the rules. He didn't.

Her eyes were wide and glassy as she looked at Kouji. Even Takako could tell what that look meant: I'm sorry.

Kouji's hands trembled with rage. "Ya hurt one hair on her head, an' I swear—"

"Genrou's too selfish, an' yer too soft," Souta said, walking toward Anzu. He reached out to trail a finger along her jawline and she flinched, her expression murderous. "Hakurou would've wanted better. So in his place, I'm gonna make sure we get it."

Souta glanced around the room, smirking at the grim expressions of approval he found there. "Take all three of 'em. It's time to make this right."

Takako fought the urge to sob in frustration as Kentaro walked up to Kouji with a length of rope, his gaze directed at the floor. Kouji glared at him, waiting for the moment the coward would look him in the eye, but Kentaro offered no such concession. He locked Kouji's wrists in a viselike grip and began tying them in an intricate knot. Takako grimaced as someone moved behind him and repeated the same process.

"Don't worry, kid," Kouji said, his expression apologetic but firm. "I'll get us outta this. I promised yer ma I'd protect ya, an' I will."

Takako nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. A lump had formed in his throat, dread dulling his senses and making his mind sluggish. Through the window, he saw a streak of lightning flash across the sky.

Souta smiled. "Let's take 'em fer a walk."

xxxxxx

Outside, the air felt charged with static. The dry ground crunched beneath their feet as they passed through the stronghold's front gates and into the field beyond. Takako glanced up at the sky. The clouds were darker, now: a foreboding steel gray that promised a long, violent rain. Idly, the boy wondered if the barrier would shield them from it. It didn't matter, either way.

Souta was leading them toward the forest.

"What exactly are we doin'?" Kentaro murmured to Souta. They were traveling just ahead of Takako, Kouji, and Anzu. "Are we really about ta risk our lives fer…what? Ta prove a damn point?" His hands gestured wildly, his lips curled into a sneer. "This mountain's crawlin' with demons."

"They won't hurt us," Souta said. "If we give them these three as a sacrifice, they'll leave us alone."

"But how do ya know that?"

Takako watched Souta closely. He wondered the same thing.

"Don't worry about that," he snapped. "Focus on th' task at hand. Ya ain't goin' soft on me too, are ya?"

Kentaro blanched. "N-No…I mean, I get it. Everythin' ya said 'bout Genrou was true. But…murderin' Kouji? Anzu? A kid?" He ducked his head, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. "This jus' seems so…"

Souta ignored him, coming to a stop right at the barrier's edge. The dark forest rose up ominously in front of them. "Is everyone ready?" he shouted. Five other bandits had volunteered to leave the stronghold with them; the rest would stay behind and wait for further orders…and keep whomever was stupid enough to try to defend Kouji at bay. "Keep yer weapons at th' ready. If anythin' comes runnin' at ya, use 'em at will. Eyes on the prize."

A few scattered nods. Takako gulped.

"Souta," Kouji snarled. "This isn't gonna end th' way ya want it ta. I guarantee, if yer fuckin' with this demon, it's gonna fuck with ya right back!"

Souta grinned back at him, jerking his chin. "Let's go."

A hand pushed Takako forward. He stumbled, then glared back at the burly man towering over him. His gaze flicked to Kouji's, but the bandit simply shook his head. Let it go.

Taking a deep breath, Takako started walking. Souta and Kentaro slipped through the barrier, and then it was his turn. Takako pushed his head through, and then his shoulders, and soon he was standing wholly on the other side, his skin still tingling from the powerful energy that had crackled over his body. Kouji followed close behind, and then Anzu, until all ten of them were out in the open field. His eyes widened in horror as he took in their surroundings.

Huge strips of earth had been torn asunder, small trees and bushes toppled by a large, gaping crack that started about fifty feet in front of them and then zigzagged down the mountain's slope. The lucky trees still standing around it didn't look much better off—many of their leaves were yellowish brown and withered, small piles of dead foliage collecting at their bases.

A low, droning noise filled the air as they walked farther into the forest. Takako narrowed his eyes and strained to hear it, trying to determine what it was and where it was coming from. A strangled sound escaped his mouth as recognition dawned in his brain.

Growling. Something, many somethings, were growling.

Flashes of pain, screams. Rivers and rivers of blood…

"Oh gods," Takako whimpered, trembling. "Oh gods, we're going to die." His voice raised to a high pitch that burned his throat. "Oh my gods, they're going to eat us. We're going to die!"

The growls rose higher, louder.

The hand slammed hard into Takako's back, propelling him forward again.

"Takako," Kouji barked. "Look at me, kid."

Shuddering, Takako met Kouji's gaze. The man's brown eyes were so calm…how could he be so damn calm?

"Kouji-aniki," Takako whispered fervently. "What do we do?"

"Yer gonna be fine, kid." Kouji's eyes flicked to his left, then back to Takako.

Takako whimpered. "Aniki, I-I d-don't think I'm s-s-strong enough to do this on my own."

Kouji's eyes flicked left again. "Yer fine," he murmured, still looking away. "We're all gonna be jus' fine, okay? If I know anythin', it's that me an' Genrou always know how ta avoid gettin' ourselves killed. Jus' keep quiet an' don't freak out."

"Easy for you to say!" Takako snapped. His high voice bounced off the trees. "How can you be so calm about this? Don't you hear those demons growling? We're going to be their next meal!"

Kouji frowned at him briefly before his gaze returned to whatever had caught his attention by his side.

"And what the fuck are you staring at?" Takako hissed.

Kouji's head whipped around, his eyes wide as he glared at Takako. "Shut. Up," he hissed between clenched teeth, "an' Keep. Walkin'."

Takako stumbled on the uneven ground as he stared in disbelief at Kouji. When the man finally turned away again, Takako had no choice but to hang his head and continue marching toward his death.

Kaa-san, Takako thought. Kashira. Where are you?

They'd said they needed a couple more days…that was yesterday. But they wouldn't last another hour, let alone another day.

I'm sorry, Mama, Takako thought, tears pricking his eyes. I was wrong. I still need you.

Please, please don't let me die.

"Here's a nice place ta stop," Souta announced, hands on his hips. They were standing in a clearing destroyed by gaping chasms much like the ones they'd seen in front of the stronghold. Up ahead, a large cave protected by a torii bore grotesque wounds that had been carved into the surrounding rock.

Stay Firm, a voice whispered to him over an electric hum. Takako jerked and let out a startled gasp. Trust Your Instincts. Trust Your Friends.

Friends? Takako thought with a snort. Everyone here wants to kill me.

Not Everyone.

Takako's gaze immediately strayed to Kouji, who seemed lost in thought, his eyes closed as his chest rose and fell with deep, even breaths. In the corner of his eye, Takako saw a flash of white, and he turned his head. Kentaro met his gaze full-on, and Takako glared back with as much venom as he could muster. But then, so subtly Takako almost didn't catch it, Ken jerked his chin to the right, back toward Kouji. Takako's eyes widened.

What the hell is going on?!

He was trying to tell him something. But what?

Takako glanced sideways at Kouji. He was staring for a long time before he realized there was something…odd about the way the bandit's wrists were bound behind him. While Takako's arms had been forced straight, Kouji's were relaxed, a slight bend at both elbows and his wrists touching, but not uncomfortably so. Takako's heart stuttered. Hadn't Kentaro been the one who tied Kouji up?

Kouji was holding something in his hand. Takako looked quickly away.

Reluctantly, Takako closed his eyes and focused on his breathing—nice, deep, and slow, until his racing heart started to calm and the thick fog began to recede from his mind. Okay, so I'm not freaking out as much anymore, he thought sarcastically. Now what?

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Takako blinked his eyes open. Huh?

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Takako stretched his back and shoulders, using the long, exaggerated movements as a cover so he could safely glance behind him. Anzu stood with her shoulders hunched forward, her eyes closed while the bandit behind her still held her arms in a vise grip.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Takako rolled his neck and shoulders the other way and zeroed in on Anzu again. Her foot was moving.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The same rhythmic taps, over and over, with an equal amount of space between each set. Her shoes looked like the standard boots that all bandits wore, but something was unique about the toe—her foot made a soft 'click' every time it hit the rocky ground, as if the sole was reinforced with some kind of metal. He glanced at Kouji in the corner of his eye, his ears straining.

Kouji sighed, rolled his shoulders, and scuffed the side of his boot against the ground, making the same delicate 'click.'

They were communicating. But how the hell was he supposed to know what they were saying?

"So now what?" Kentaro drawled. "We're jus' standin' here. What's yer game plan, Souta?"

Souta crossed his arms behind his back. "We wait. They'll be here soon."

Kentaro raised his eyebrows. "'They?'"

"We need somethin' to entice them ta help us," Souta replied. "That's what our lovely sacrifices are for."

"Ya keep sayin' that. But who the fuck is—"

A loud roar shook the ground beneath them.

Souta grinned. "There's yer answer."

Kentaro gaped as he backed away. "Yer…ya sonuvabitch. Don't tell me—"

The ground trembled as a beast lumbered toward them through the trees.

"Souta," Kentaro pleaded. "Ya can't jus' hand 'em over ta a demon! Yer messin' with somethin' much bigger than any o' us. Yer gonna get us all killed!"

Souta narrowed his eyes. "Is that really how ya feel?"

"Yer damn right, it is! Stop this fuckin' nonsense an' listen ta what Kouji's been tellin' ya: We're not th' enemy, here!"

Kouji's eyes popped open, his face draining of all its color. He tapped his foot again, twice this time.

Anzu's soft answer was the same: Tap. Tap. Tap.

"'We?'" Souta mocked, stalking toward Kentaro. His brown eyes were flat. "I thought we agreed we were on th' same page."

Kentaro was pale now too, having realized his grave mistake. "W-We are!" He lifted his hands and backed away, but he couldn't contain his panic. It only emphasized his betrayal. "But come on, Souta, think about what yer—"

It happened so fast.

Souta lashed out and wrapped his arm around Kentaro's throat, a maniacal grin stretching his cheeks. "Do ya think I'm stupid?" he whispered fiercely. "Do ya think I wouldn't notice?"

Kentaro squinted his eyes, his hands clawing futilely at his throat. "S-Sou…please—"

"Thank you, brother," Souta said. "I promise yer death won't be in vain."

He pulled a dagger from a side holster and slit Kentaro's throat.

xxxxxx

Souta pulled away, and Kentaro fell to his knees, his neck spurting blood all over the front of his white shirt. He grasped at his shredded throat as he wheezed, his tan skin going pale, then blue, before his eyes dimmed and he collapsed to the ground. He twitched once, then went still.

Takako let out a whimper, then bit his tongue. The pain lanced through him, serving as the distraction he needed to keep from falling apart.

Stay sharp. Focus. You can't break down. Not now.

Kouji's eyes were glassy, his cheek twitching as he seethed. But he didn't move, and neither did Anzu. Her shoulders trembled and tears poured down her cheeks, but her eyes were hard. Her foot tapped the ground again.

Tap. Tap.

Two taps this time. A countdown?

Kouji's eyes narrowed as he tapped back. An agreement?

"I humbly offer ya yer first sacrifice," Souta called to the trees, gesturing to Kentaro's corpse. "But I promise there'll be more. Many more."

The heavy footsteps and the growls were getting closer.

Takako glanced around. Some of the bandits near him had swords strapped to their sides. Would he be able to grab one before this went sour?

His gaze turned to the forest, back in the way they'd come. Would he be able to run for it, even in the dark, even with the rough terrain and his unfamiliarity with the landscape?

Kaa-san, I don't know if I can do this. I wish you were here.

The growls surrounded them from all sides. With a gasp, Takako realized there was nowhere to go—even if they could escape Souta and his lackeys, the barrier was blocking their way back to the stronghold. They were stuck out here, surrounded by demons and with no weapons to speak of.

They were going to die.

An electric hum filled his ears, drowning out the bloodthirsty noises in the distance. But this time, instead of a voice, he was suffused with a sense of warmth, of protection, and instinctively he whirled to face the cave—the cave with the rotten torii and the scarred façade. Somehow he knew that in there he would be safe; in there the demons couldn't get him and he and Kouji and Anzu would stay alive, even if Kentaro would never open his eyes again, and…oh gods, Kentaro, he'd been on their side the whole time, hadn't he, and he'd risked his life for them only to die here, by his own brother's hand, only for his corpse to lie here in disgrace, abandoned, to be ripped apart by demons who would leave behind only fragments of bone and trails of blood, if that, and no one would ever know that he had died a hero.

Takako's vision blurred as he stomped the ground with the heel of his foot.

Kouji and Anzu turned to face him, and he jerked his chin in a quick, surreptitious motion toward the cave. Kouji nodded, and then Anzu tapped the ground—this time only once. It was such a genius system; the sound was so soft that you'd never notice it if you hadn't already been attuned to it. And even though the cacophony around them now drowned the clicking out, the movement of her foot was still distinct enough to serve as a signal all on its own.

Kouji tapped, once, back and glanced sideways at Takako.

Takako nodded. Wait for the opportunity, he translated, then run like hell.

A huge demon burst through the trees. All but Souta backed away, horrified by the sight of the massive lizard-like creature, which had half a dozen arms sprouting from its back. Kouji freed his wrists with his hidden knife and flung it across the field—it found a home in Anzu's captor, and she wrenched herself free as he wrapped his hands around the hilt sticking from his chest. The ropes slid from her wrists as she lunged forward and kicked another bandit in the chin. She reached up and ripped the gag from her mouth.

Distracted by the chaos, the bandit nearest Takako gave no resistance when the boy rammed into his side, slid his sword from the scabbard, and sprinted toward the cave. He heard screams, but he couldn't spare a glance; he could only hope and pray that Kouji and Anzu would be okay.

Something sharp hit him in the back, and Takako screamed as pain seared him from his shoulders down to his waist.

"Keep runnin', kid!" Kouji bellowed. "I've got ya!"

The earth splintered around them, throwing Takako off balance. He pitched forward, but a strong arm wrapped around his waist and hoisted him over a shoulder. They were closing in on the cave. Kouji slipped on the smooth rock as he passed under the torii, and they both gasped as an electric charge set their hairs on end. Kouji sprinted the last few feet and skidded to a stop in the cavern's mouth.

He turned on his heel, Takako still flopping uselessly over his shoulder. "Anzu! Hurry!"

She'd stolen a liuyedao off one of the bandits; her face was splattered with someone's blood. A demon wolf was gaining on her. She glanced behind her just long enough for her to miss the dip in the ground and trip. She crashed to the ground, scraping her palms on the jagged rocks that jutted up from the dirt.

"ANZU!" Kouji shouted.

She stared with wide eyes as the wolf lunged. She flinched and curled into a ball.

BOOM.

Cracks emerged in the ground all around her, and then a chasm opened up right under the wolf's hind legs. It let out a yelp as it fell, its front paws clawing frantically at the crumbling earth. Anzu scooted backward on her butt, then stumbled to her feet and ran full tilt toward the torii and safety.

Takako watched as the wolf finally lost its battle with gravity and tumbled into the abyss below.

Kouji dropped Takako to his feet and raced back outside to Anzu. She limped underneath the torii, and she stumbled again as the electricity zapped her body. Kouji caught her easily, lifting her into his arms and hurrying back to the cave.

"It's all right," he murmured to her. "I've got ya."

Anzu buried her face in his neck. "K-Kou…Kou—" Sobs wracked her shoulders. "K-Ken—"

Takako stared blankly out at the forest. Some of the demons slithered or paced in front of the gate, but none of them could get past the force field. A boar demon was crunching on something. His stomach lurched when he realized it was a hand.

Takako spun around and crashed to his knees, emptying his stomach all over the cave floor.

"Kaa-san," he moaned after he finished, tears and snot clogging his windpipe. "F-Fuck, how could he do that…weren't they f-friends?"

Arms slipped around his waist, and Takako sobbed harder as Anzu pulled him against her, his head cradled against her chest. It wasn't quite right—she was slimmer, and shorter, than his mother, but her concern was genuine. Takako closed his eyes and tried to pretend.

"What are we going to do, Kouji?" Anzu whispered. "Genrou an' Chichiri-sama won't be back for days."

Kouji stared out at the forest, his shoulders stiff. The sound of rushing water reached them from somewhere deep down in the cave. They sat there in silence for who knew how long, listening to the cruel, chaotic world march on around them.

Outside, the sound of twisted laughter.

"Tear it down!" Souta bellowed. "Tear it all down!"

CRACK! Takako flinched at the noise. He couldn't describe it—it sounded like shattering glass, screams of pain, sighs of hopelessness all at once. The electricity hummed in his ears again, loud enough that he winced, and then it faded and disappeared entirely.

Kouji and Anzu stared at each other, so much being communicated in just that one glance—love, sadness…heartbreak. Anzu shook her head and pressed her fist to her mouth.

Takako licked his lips, a deep sense of foreboding filling his chest. "What…was that?" His throat was impossibly dry; every instinct in him was telling him to run, but there was nowhere else to go.

Kouji sighed, leaning his back heavily against the cave wall. "That, kid, was th' sound of our last defense crashin' ta th' ground," he said dully, his eyes trained on the floor.

Takako paled. "That…was the barrier?"

Kouji closed his eyes and shook his head, which was answer enough.

Vicious roars echoed through the trees.

Takako's eyes widened. "That…without the barrier…we don't stand a chance, do we? R-Reikaku doesn't…and oh gods, the other bandits. They'll be—"

"We don't want him here!" A high-pitched feminine voice shrieked. "Get rid of him or we will."

He squeezed his eyes shut. How had it all gone so wrong, so fast?

"We have to go back!" Takako shouted. "Without the barrier, the demons are gonna overrun the stronghold! And anyone still left is gonna start getting poisoned again!"

"So what, exactly, are ya proposin' we do about it?" Kouji grumbled. "Ya want me ta take down a fifty-foot demon, kid? 'Cause I'm not exactly optimistic!"

"We have to do something! We can't just leave all of them there to die! If we do, we'll just be proving Souta right! Their lives aren't worth any less than ours are!"

"Baka!" Anzu snapped, shaking him. "You have no idea—"

"Anzu, it's okay," Kouji said, scowling. "He's jus' a stupid kid. He don't understand what he's really sayin'."

"Yes, I do! If you're too scared to do it, then…send me! I can…I can warn them! I can tell them about this cave, and then they'll be able to make their way here!"

"An' what happens if ya don't make it there an' back, kid? What happens if one of them wolves get ya? Then ya know what's gonna happen? I'm gonna end up runnin' ta save ya, an' then we'll both end up dead.

"I'm sorry ya gotta learn this lesson today, Takako," Kouji murmured. "But ya can't…shit." He rubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed. "Ya can't…save everyone."

"But that's…that's not—"

"I asked Ken ta keep an eye on Souta," Kouji said, "as soon as I realized he was takin' th' attack so hard. I figured some words of encouragement and common sense would mean more comin' from him than from me. I asked him to win his trust, do whatever it took, an' that meant he ended up lookin' like a traitor.

"But he tied my wrists in the flimsiest fuckin' knot he could, an' left my dagger on me even though he should've taken it," Kouji whispered. "I'm alive 'cause of that, but…he's dead."

Anzu sobbed. "Kouji…"

"Ya joined th' bandits 'cause ya wanted ta learn how ta be a leader, right, kid?" Kouji lifted his arms wide, gesturing around him. "Well…this is part of it. As much as I wanna go back…we gotta do whatever it takes ta make sure Reikaku's barrier don't go down. 'Cause if it does…a whole lot more people are gonna lose their lives than jus' our guys."

"But…if we can't even protect our friends…how do we protect the mountain?"

Kouji pointed down into the cavern's depths. "Genrou says th' god of the mountain lives down there, an' he ain't doin' so hot. So I guess that means we're goin' on a lil' adventure."

"B-But he also said that no one has ever entered that cave and come out alive," Anzu stressed.

"You got a better idea? 'Cause I sure would love ta hear it, Amai-chan."

She glared mildly at him.

"Whatever it takes, Anzu," he said quietly.

Anzu sighed. "I know," she whispered. "I just hope Genrou and Chichiri can get back here in time."

"They will," Kouji said with a smile. "They always do."

Something about the tense set of Kouji's shoulders told Takako the bandit didn't fully believe that.

And now, after listening to Souta…neither did he.