Masa screwed his face up as if considering something. “How strong are you?”
A chill crept up Ryuichi’s spine. “I don’t know.” Mostly because he wasn’t sure what they were asking about—but his instincts said that it wasn’t about how much weight he could lift.
Toru let out a long breath. “She’s getting worse. When the demon takes her over, it’s going to eat us anyway.”
“We probably should do something.” Ichiro sheathed his sword. “Fine. Let’s try to pull it out of her.”
“And put it where?” Masa’s voice cracked.
Again, they turned to Ryuichi. “Um, no. Already got a demon inside me. I’m a little crowded.” Clearing his throat, he held his hands out and tried to summon Masaru.
Who, as usual, ignored him completely.
Awesome.
Ryuichi grimaced awkwardly at them. “Really, I swear I have a demon in me. He’s a crabby, nasty thing who doesn’t need or want company. There’s no telling what he might do with an accomplice. He could be for us or against us. It’s how I ended up here.”
One run-amok Masaru.
Taka growled. “Fine. My yokai’s a demon too. He’s one step up from Koichi. Happy-go-lucky and tends to drink, which is what landed me in our group. I was supposed to be practicing when he went psycho and made me trip my former sensei one time too many. Maybe he’ll just cuddle with a shadow demon. Or he could go on a killing quest. I don’t think we should chance it.”
“Could we put it in a jar?” Shigeru pointed at a piece of pottery on his left.
Ichiro nodded. “That might be safer. I second his idea.”
Shigeru went to the jar. “Show of hands for this.”
Everyone agreed with him—especially Ryuichi, who really didn’t want them to put another demon inside him when he couldn’t control the one he already had.
“All right.” Shigeru moved the jar next to the old woman, whose skin was now almost entirely black. “Let’s try that stupid chant Sensei taught us.”
The original six started to intone the words. Ryuichi couldn’t believe it. “Isn’t that from a sake song for good weather?”
Taka smacked him on the arm. “Just do it. Focus on telling the demon to leave her and go into the jar.”
Sure. Why not? Made as much sense as anything else so far. As much sense as his life. Why should he question anything, no matter how ridiculous, at this point?
So, closing his eyes, he joined them in what had to be the strangest demon-fighting chant of all time.
Teru-teru bozu, teru bozu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure. Do make tomorrow a sunny day.
Itsuka no yume no sora no yo ni. Like the sky in a dream sometime.
Haretara kin no suzu ageyo. If it’s sunny, I’ll give you a golden bell.
Teru-teru bozu, teru bozu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure. Do make tomorrow a sunny day.
Watashi no negai wo kiita nara. If you make my wish come true.
Amai o-sake wo tanto nomasho. We’ll drink lots of sweet sake.
Teru-teru bozu, teru bozu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure. Do make tomorrow a sunny day.
