Kia lingered at the back of the crowd; her attention fixed on the head of cropped, fiery hair a few paces ahead of her. Classes were over for the day – anyone who didn't have club or other commitments were making their way back to the dorms, or out to Preternatural Street. Fortunately for her, Etsuko was of the former crowd, heading back to study or sleep.

Unfortunately for her, Etsuko hadn't unwrapped herself from Masumi's arm all goddamn day.

A mix of fury, impatience and anxiety curdled in her breast. She endeavoured to keep herself steady, passive – wholly unnoticeable at the back of the crowd. Her father had taught her the value of others' inattention, and as much as she hated him, she couldn't deny its efficacy. She followed them for the whole walk back, not once suffering a wayward glance or awkward question.

They parted with a kiss at the top step, where the wings of the dormitory divided the genders. Kia watched Masumi patient, expectant. When he'd laid the plan out, Ikko had made it sound impressively simple; now it seemed to rely on too many things going right.

Masumi stopped at the top step. He turned back, and for a moment Kia thought she'd been discovered. Then she saw Judo, looming out of apparently nowhere, and relaxed. They exchanged a few words – anger flashed across Masumi's face.

She smiled. So far so good. She used the cover of a passing gang of girls to head towards Etsuko's dormitory, passing by the two boys. Only when she crossed the threshold of the girl's wing and rounded onto the stairs up did she allow herself to breathe.

"So far so good," she whispered. She headed first to Su's room on the second floor, making a show of checking her phone so that she could at least pretend that she'd gotten distracted and made a wrong turn. Kia counted the doors – 201, 202, 203… - and knocked three times when she reached 206.

She didn't stop. Kia hurried to the stairs at the other end of the corridor, slipping through the door and using the window onto the corridor to watch.

Su poked her head out of the door, appearing far too quickly to look like a friend answering the door for a guest. She looked immediately to her right, spied Kia at the window, and nodded. Kia took to the stairs, heading up a few more floors to Etsuko's dorm. As she neared her objective, her heart began to sink. She recalled Ikko's plan, recounting her steps.

Break Masumi's grasp of Etsuko – no matter what. But how? There would be nothing she could say, not to his current girlfriend, not as the ex. Etsuko had seen Kia's worst nights after the breakup; could she use those?

She reached the step of Etsuko's landing, catching her breath. She set a calming hand on her chest, closing her eyes. If this went wrong…

Her phone rang. She squawked, snatching it up and pressing it firmly to her ear without even checking who it was.

Ikko's voice sounded. "How's it going?"

"Ikko, you son of a-" Kia sighed, "Why are you calling me? Don't you have enough to do!?"

"Not yet," he replied, "My first step was to check on you."

"Why?"

"I was worried about you."

She blushed, looking warily both ways; to the stairs for on-comers, to the corridor for Etsuko. "I'm fine."

"Su on her way?"

"Yeah."

"Etsuko?"

Kia paused. "I'm just about to see her."

"How're you feeling?"

Another pause. "You think I can't do it?"

"I didn't say that," she heard his frown, pictured it pulling his dark brown down, turning the nervous, slightly lanky teen into a sullen, grumpy old man, "And you didn't answer my question."

"Answer mine."

"Of course you can do it," Ikko replied, "I wouldn't have asked you if you couldn't."

She caught herself smiling. "When did you get so bold?"

"W-well," came the stammer, as if he remembered who he was only partway through the conversation, "It's easier to feel confident when you know you can win."

"This isn't a video game."

"No," Ikko agreed, "But it's the same kind of thinking. See the lines, plan ahead. If all goes well, he's finished."

"Sure," Kia looked once more to the corridor, "If it all goes well."

"It will."

"So sure?"

"I've got you on my side," Ikko whispered, "You saved my life once before, Kia. I know what you can do – I know you can do this. Though, er, I am sorry I have to rely on you."

"Don't be," she whispered, "And don't stop, either. It's kinda hot, this new side of you."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," she laughed, "I'm gonna go. Thanks for checking in."

"Oh. R-right. Good luck."

"I thought you said you knew I could do it?"

"I do! I do," Ikko sighed, "See you on the other side."

"Hopefully not the other side."

Hanging up, Kia allowed herself a moment to collect herself. When he'd first arrived, Ikko had been little more than an inchoate mess. A hapless human with no idea of the dangers he'd landed himself in. Now, he spoke calmly, moved with a cautious assertion that suggested comfort – or, at the very least, acceptance – of his surroundings. Yokai was becoming his home, slowly but surely, and he was done hiding from its perils.

She checked the corridor one last time, then pushed into the landing. She had risked his home once – now it was time to protect it.

Ikko stood, pocketing his phone with a smile. He would have to thank Mizore later. Choosing to trust Kia again had taken a supreme effort; effort that he would have been unwilling to muster without encouragement.

He stood in the wastes just beyond the main campus, apart from the Academy's crowds without being too separate from them. If someone wanted to find him, they could. He hoped.

He checked his wrist. The shikigami sat peacefully on his wrist, its eye twitching as it pointed towards its twin somewhere in the building. Running through the plan once more in his head brought him no comfort – his hands still trembled, wound tight with anxiety and vulnerability both – but it kept him focussed. This could work. It had to work. If it, didn't, well… best not chase that particular thread just yet.

Ikko forced himself to stay sat down, denying his legs the urge to pace. Too impatient, and he might give the game away. He took his phone out once more, swiping back and forth between screens. It wouldn't be long, now. He'd tried to time it just right. If Kia had done her job, then-

The rumbling of the earth gave it away. His feet felt it. His senses might not be as tuned or sensitive as a monster's, but if he concentrated to the exclusion of everything else. He took a breath. Cleared his throat.

"I know you're there, Judo."

The jubokko didn't attack. Instead, he surfaced, rising from a crack in the dirt as if sprouting. He towered over the still seated Ikko, staring down with what he hoped was puzzlement. "It's not magic." Ikko said, slowly. "Well, it is. Kinda. You can merge with anything natural, and move through it like a spirit can, right? But with a body like yours…"

"Yes, very clever." Masumi's cold drawl sounded from behind Judo. Ikko inhaled.

"…it leaves some kind of trace." Ikko concentrated on Judo, standing. Raising to full height was a feeble thing next to the man who stood head-and-shoulders above him, but it made looking up slightly easier. He found Judo's dark eyes, staring into them.

"You know what he's doing is wrong," he whispered, "You don't want this – she doesn't want this. Fight it, Judo."

"That won't work." Masumi rounded from behind Judo, taking his side. Ikko stood his ground. They wouldn't fight. Not yet. "I must say, it's a bit refreshing to speak so freely of these things, Akada. No reason to dress things up when you've peeked behind the curtain."

"Maybe you should thank me." Ikko grit his teeth.

Masumi's hollow laughter echoed out. "Maybe! I must say, this boldness of yours is refreshing. It even gave you a sense of humour. Did you finally find your spine, hiding behind your friends?"

"I'm not hiding now." Ikko glanced over Masumi's shoulder. He caught the movement of his eyes.

"What are you looking for?" he grinned, tossing his hair as he followed the line of his gaze, "No-one's coming. Did you get cocky after that bitch took me down? Figured you could strut about like you own the place?"

"I don't own anything. Much like you."

"What do you know?" Masumi growled, "Talking like you know me. What is it about you, hm? Kia, that bitch-"

"Su."

"What?"

"That bitch." Ikko clenched his fist. "Has a name."

Masumi scoffed. "They all flock to you. I figured Kia might be desperate, but you broke that bitch-"

"Su-"

"I don't care what her name is!" Masumi advanced. His skin paled, began to grow tight around the bones, hardening as his Guise slipped. "How'd you do it, huh? How'd you break her out of my nectar's grasp?"

"I didn't do anything," Ikko retorted, "Su did it all on her own. She did what any friend would do when they see one of their own in trouble – but then, you wouldn't know about that, would you?"

"Friendship…" Masumi spat, his saliva frothing with the same orange sap as before. "Bullshit. No-one's ever broken free so easily before. You did something."

"Believe that, if you want." Ikko shrugged. His heart hammered so loudly in his chest that he could barely hear his next words. "What are you gonna do about it?"

Masumi raised his hand. Ikko flinched, stumbling back. Masumi laughed. "Fucking trash. You think I don't see what you're doing? You get me all riled up, run screaming, and then half the campus comes crashing down on me."

As he relaxed, Ikko saw his Guise reassert himself. Masumi sighed. "No, not in public. Not where it gets messy. You sleep with one eye open, okay Akada? I want you to watch when I sneak up there and tear your goddamn throat out."

Masumi turned. Ikko clutched at his shirt, gasping. Not yet, his mind screamed. Keep him talking! He swore under his breath. If this went wrong, Masumi might not wait. But-

"How's Mado?"

Masumi froze. Ikko wished he could feel triumphant. "I don't know a Mado," Masumi called back, the stiffness of his voice giving away the lie.

"Maybe you don't want to know her," Ikko called back. He dared himself to take a step forward, fighting his screaming instincts as he marched towards what could be a grisly death, "Mado Yakumaru – your elder sister, right? A monstrel, so… maybe half?"

Masumi turned. He turned so slowly, that the chill of his glare didn't hit until Ikko had taken a full stride towards him. Ikko saw murder, saw a desperate, impotent fury, and knew he'd guessed right. "Stronger than you ever could be," he breathed.

"What…" Masumi whispered. "…did you just say?"

"She didn't need to dope her victims," he shouted, daring to glance over Masumi's shoulder. He didn't notice this time. Ikko smirked, "One touch and bam, they were hers to control. They'd do anything she wanted. But you, the poor little pureblood…"

"Say one more word," Masumi snarled, "One more fucking word about that bastard half-breed, I dare you."

Ikko dared. He dared with the mad confidence of a man who needed to get Masumi to say just a few more words. "Was she the favourite? Daddy's precious because his next kid just couldn't cut it?"

"THAT FILTHY MONGREL GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED!" Masumi roared, his Guise shattering. His full, wretched form burst into life, sap flowing, fangs gnashing, roots spreading. Masumi's clothes tore. "You know what, Akada? I'm done with you. Done with every worthless monstrel that thinks they can mouth off because they've got the numbers. They'd better bring a bag for what I'm gonna leave of you!"

Masumi lunged. Judo vanished. Ikko flinched-

And flames exploded between them.

Ikko threw himself to the ground. Something small crashed into him, knocking him sideways and protecting him from the heat. He opened his eyes to see Kia, blue eyes broken and blackened, smiling down him. "I've got you."

"That's twice," Ikko panted. He struggled to look past her, focussing on the flames. "Is that-"

"Yeah."

They watched on as Masumi recoiled from the blaze. Judo surfaced, shielding the man he was slaved to. At their centre, clothes little more than scattering cinders, a look of epiphanic hatred on her face, stood Etsuko Yanase. A tongue of flame lashed in her mouth, causing her words to scorch the air she breathed. "Filthy mongrels, are we?"

Ikko marvelled at her beauty. Etsuko's lithe form had elongated further, limbs sharpening into narrow blades that spat and sparked as they burned. Her short hair erupted gouts of flame like ribbons, trailing behind her. The dry dirt blackened under feet twisted into spurs. The flames eventually died, leaving only trailing embers that raced over her pale skin.

Masumi recoiled. Ikko could only wonder how the flames felt to a creature of wood and sap. "You?" he snapped, "I thought I told you-"

"To go to my room?" she interjected, words bizarrely cool amid the inferno that she birthed. "Yes, I did that. You were happy to let me suffer there, after all. To sit and stew in the haze you'd mired my mind in. Then someone came along. Someone precious. Someone who reminded me what I really loved."

Masumi looked wildly in Kia's direction. His mouth hung open, but Etsuko gave him no room to retort. She took a step forward; he scrambled back. "How could you?" Etsuko whispered. "Why would you? What could your petty revenge ever get you?"

"P-petty!?" Masumi stammered. "Me? Petty? LOOK AT HER! That bitch tore my soul apart! All because she couldn't keep her soiled blood in check. You think this is petty!? She needs a leash – you ALL need a leash!"

"And I suppose that's you, right?" Etsuko replied, taking another step forward. She had to but advance upon Masumi, and his bravado crumbled. "You're the one to keep us monstrels in check."

His raving descended into babbling. Etsuko looked away, towards Ikko, and Kia crouched over him. She smiled. "Kia told me what you've been through. I'm sorry to have been made a part of it."

Ikko smiled, heaving himself up to sit. "Just glad to have you back," he panted, "Etsuko."

"Just in time."

"Any later, and I'd be a dead man."

"You're STILL A DEAD MAN! KILL HIM!"

A shadow swallowed Ikko. Something thick and leathery batted him out of the way. He landed roughly, tumbling – instinct told him to cover his ears.

Screaming filled his ears. A haunting, paralyzing noise. Even shielded, he felt his body quake with mortal fear. He chanced a look up. Kia stood between him and the advancing Judo, her jaw distended, throat torn open, song – if such a wretched thing could be called one – evoking despair.

For Ikko, behind her, the song was enough to bring tears and breathless gasps to emptied lungs. For Judo and Masumi, caught in the monstrel's full blast, it was enough to cripple. Both fell to their knees, clutching their heads, screaming muted by the weight of her song. "That's enough!" Ikko shouted, vainly. He tried to stand. "Kia. Kia!"

She didn't relent. Her song grew in volume. He looked desperately about himself, trying to find something, anything, that might draw her attention. If they died, then…

The song faltered. Ikko lashed about, turning towards Kia, in time to see Etsuko crash into the broken girl, wrapping her spindly, burning arms about her. "It's okay," he heard in ringing ears, "You've done enough, Kia. That's enough…"

"It's not!" she croaked. "It's not – it's not…"

Ikko stumbled forward. Masumi and Judo weren't getting up, but he could see them writhing. He reached the spot where the girls embraced, and placed a quaking hand on Kia's shoulder. "It'll have to be," Ikko whispered, squeezing her shoulder, "Any more, and we'll be worse than them."

Kia gasped, choking back a sob. Etsuko didn't relinquish her grasp, though her arms looked more and more human with each passing second, as she restored her Guise. She looked over Kia's shoulder, smiling at Ikko. "You should get a teacher."

"No need," he said, nodding behind them. True enough – just as planned – he saw the flicking ears and swishing tail of Miss Nekonome, whose pace quickened the moment she got close enough to see the full scene.

"Ah." Etsuko breathed. "Well, then. You can fetch me a change of clothes."

"What?"

"Are you blind?" she arched a brow, "They don't make fireproof uniforms, you know."

"What – oh. Oh." Ikko realised why Etsuko yet clutched Kia to her body – and why the faintest dusting of pink coloured her once-burning cheeks. "I, uh. I don't have one."

"Of course you don't…"

The five of them – Ikko, Kia, Etsuko, Masumi and Judo – were marched up to the main campus. Mizore and Ruby met them at the main gates, where the former took Masumi and Judo into her custody to guide them, shivering and stuttering, to the hospital. Ruby held out two gym uniforms for the girls, and took them away into the main campus building.

Watching them go, Ikko looked towards Miss Nekonome. "What happens now?"

"Hm?" the cat-eared teacher seemed to just remember he was there. "Oh. The headmaster's office for you, young man. And for them, once they've either recovered."

"Why?" Ikko blurted, adrenaline still pumping, "We didn't do anything wrong?"

"Four of them broke their Guises on campus grounds." Miss Nekonome recited, steering him by the shoulder. "Four of them were fighting – and this is the second time you've been at the centre of such a problem, Mister Akada. Don't think we've forgotten that business with Mister Kotsubo!"

"Kotsubo!?" Ikko yelled. "How is that my fault?"

"Now, now," Miss Nekonome's hand tensed ever so slightly, "Don't go raising your voice at a teacher, Mister Akada."

The insinuation was enough to drain the last of the fight left in him. Ikko allowed himself to be guided to the headmaster's office, that long corridor housing grand, dark wood doors at their very centre. 'Tenmei Mikogami', read the plaque, 'Headmaster'.

"Wait here," Miss Nekonome instructed, sitting Ikko down on one of the cushion-less chairs opposite the door. She sidled inside.

His heart sank. To be brought here, after coming so far, after being so careful. They'd worked to ensure that it would be another teacher, not Mizore, to discover the scene – that had been Su's role, after all. Had Kia's last attack given the wrong impression? Did Nekonome think him, the human, the mastermind of an attack on Masumi? Revenge for – for what, exactly?

He reached for his phone, and without really knowing why, sent a text to Mizore.

Me: At HM's office

Her response came almost immediately.

Mizore S.: why?

Me: Beats me

Me: Maybe they think I was attacking him?

Mizore: im omw

Me: No

He stared at the screen. No? Why shouldn't she come? He thought quickly. It sounded right for her to stay away…

Me: They'll think you were a part of it. Just make sure they're okay.

She didn't respond. Ikko looked up, hearing the door creak. Miss Nekonome stepped out, wordlessly gestured for him to go in, and left him there.

For the third time, the grand expanse of the headmaster's office stretched out before him. Ikko took a short breath. "Akada," called the headmaster, "Please, do come closer. We have much to discuss."

Discuss? What a strange way to refer to a punishment. Ikko shuffled forward, sticking his hands in his pockets. Neither of them spoke until he was opposite the desk – and for once, the headmaster was not seated. He stood tall, proud, robes hanging off him in an oddly misshapen fit. Ikko sniffed, scenting the slightest whiff of cigar smoke. Were monks allowed to smoke? "Miss Nekonome has apprised me of your confrontation with Messrs Yakumaru and Dai."

"Dai?"

"Ah, you would know him as 'Judo'," the headmaster chuckled, "An awfully uninspired nickname, but rarely do we get to choose these things. How are you feeling?"

"Confused." Ikko frowned. "I thought you were going to punish me?"

"Punish you?" the headmaster laughed, "Mister Akada, you handled this masterfully. Ensuring that Miss Yanase was in range as you goaded Mister Yakumaru's hatred of monstrels into view. How did you know she was one?"

"Educated guess…" Ikko mumbled, wary, "Masumi was with Kia, a monstrel, and then he was with Etsuko. Given his, er… prejudice, it made a twisted sort of sense that he'd pick another monstrel."

"Well deduced." The headmaster nodded. "You've demonstrated an eye for the smaller details others might miss. A very useful skill."

"Sir," Ikko ventured, "What is this about? Why am I here? And, for that matter, why did you get Ruby to find out if I have magic in my blood?"

"A fortuitous coincidence, I assure you," said he, though Ikko was not in the least bit reassured, "Though the two are not entirely unrelated. Allow me to explain.

"I guessed your latent abilities when you survived your brush with Tayama. It's not everyone who has the emotional reserves to withstand such a savaging, Akada. Some buried strength must have protected the last vestiges of your soul."

"Savaging?" Ikko's frown deepened, "You said I was saved by-"

"By the miracle of Tayama's good nature – and that was not incorrect. Her affection for you certainly stayed her from finishing you off, but you provided a tough enough meal for her to be given pause in the first place. That mystery aside, I suppose you're wondering about why I called you here and didn't send you off to be calmed by Ruby."

He nodded. The headmaster's grin spread. "You've demonstrated a remarkable resilience and perception, Akada. I was worried for you, at first, but you seem to have overcome your misgivings and embraced your place at Yokai."

"Sir," Ikko cut in. That same niggling doubt that struck him when he spoke with Ruby surfaced once more, and his curiosity demanded he did not deny it, "I have to ask."

"Yes?"

"I wasn't a glitch in the system, was I?"

He held his breath.

The headmaster smirked. "No. No you were not."

Ikko's heart twisted, but he had barely a moment to compose himself when he spoke again. "Let's take a walk, Mister Akada."