“Ryuichi?”
He turned to look over his shoulder to find Takara and Koichi staring at him.
Takara bit her lip. “Have you heard what’s being said about the school?”
He shook his head.
Koichi clenched his teeth so hard that a tic started in his jaw. “They’re blaming everything your father’s minions did on the monks here. Nobunaga’s planning to retaliate and attack.”
Ryuichi’s jaw dropped as shock ripped through him. “What?” Well, technically itwasmonks who’d burned the school and ravaged the countryside, just not the monks they thought.
He nodded. “Your father’s plan—divide and conquer. It’s working. Nobunaga has Kato’s father leading their forces to head off your father’s shadow tengu.”
And Sir Walter had no idea what he was about to face, since he would assume they were regular humans.
“Kato plans to ride out and stop them.”
Takara’s words burned through Ryuichi. “Then I will go with him.”
Koichi smirked. “We’re all planning to go.”
“My father’s already assembled his men.” Takara gave him a sad smile. “What’s left of them after our battle.”
That stung. But he knew she hadn’t meant for it to—her shadow had spoken to him, telling him so.
How weird that now he could tell everyone’s shame. All the things they struggled so hard to hide. That they attempted to banish from their thoughts.
The shadows were his friends, too, and they kept no secrets.
At times, he felt as if he stood on a precipice where he could see the world.
And nothing at all. Just a thick, impenetrable fog that seemed to want to consume him. In a way, he wished he could go back to living in ignorance. To know nothing of what had been forced on him by a birthright he didn’t ask for.
Until his brain reminded him of just how cool his powers actually were.
No one could hide from him now. There were no secrets.
A chill crept up his spine as he felt the same seductive pull that had lured his father to madness. It would be so easy to succumb.
To be the darkness.
I’m stronger than that...
At least he prayed he was.
Ryuichi inclined his head to them. “When are they leaving?”
“As soon as possible. We came to tell you.” Takara winked at him. “Figured you’d want to come with us.”
While he hated to be so transparent, it was nice to have someone who knew him so well. “Where’s Masaru?”
“Been keeping rather low.” Koichi scratched at his neck. “I think he’s still upset your father got away.”
He wasn’t the only one. Ryuichi was a bit miffed over it too. Okay, he was extremely upset. He just didn’t want to admit it, since he blamed himself for the fact they’d lost his father.
Suddenly, he heard the pounding of war drums.
“They’re gathering.” Takara plaited her hair, getting ready should she have to fight. “Should I let them know to hold your spot?”
