Knowing he’d neutralized his opponent, Kato picked up Ito’s discarded sword to ensure his yokai didn’t return to him, and he rushed over to Ryuichi, who was getting the snot kicked out of him.
It was as if Toshi or his yokai could read Ryuichi’s mind and knew exactly where and when he’d strike next.
“Masaru!”
Still no answer.
The Black Tortoise who was fighting Takara held his ground.
Takara raised her blade high and was poised to strike, like a cobra after its prey. Intense. Steady.
Threatening.
Lethal.
That stance alone gave her opponent little room to maneuver. As strong and agile as Toshi was, Ryuichi was grateful that he was facing him, not Takara. She had truly mastered the union between warrior and yokai, and she knew how to make the most of her spirit.
Like the combat master she was, Takara advanced on her opponent with a fearsome confidence. Every move was precise.
Perfect.
And her opponent was beginning to shake under the stress of trying to keep up.
If only Ryuichi himself could be so polished and perfect.
Instead, he felt the sticky blood running down his face. Warm and wet. His ears rang like an incessant bell, to the point that he feared he might never have normal hearing again.
How did I get myself into this?
More importantly, how could he get all of them out?
He was in a ball on the ground. A shameful ball that couldn’t rise up against the blows raining down on him. He couldn’t even protect himself, never mind his friends.
Kato’s kiai rang out as he rushed for Toshi.
Only then did Toshi stop hitting Ryuichi. With an evil grin, he turned to intercept Kato’s strike.
With one staggering blow, Toshi had Kato on his back.
Like Ryuichi.
Grinding his teeth, Ryuichi tried to stand, but his vision and senses were too groggy. He could barely think straight.
With a sickening glint in his eyes, Toshi stood over Kato with his foot on Kato’s throat.
Kato tried to dislodge him, but it was useless. “You made your point. I give!”
Takara pulled up short as she heard those words.
Ryuichi wanted to keep fighting, but he knew the same thing Kato did.
They were outmatched.
Outfought.
Bested.
Though it galled him, he knew Kato was right. They had to end this.
