But that was only a dream.
Sighing, he headed into the barn.
Suddenly, he heard a horrific sound. High-pitched and unholy, it cut through his ears and made him flinch. Covering them, he looked about for the source. What could make such a screech? A sick owl?
The horses stamped and neighed in their stalls, trying to flee. Not that he blamed them. If the ear-piercing shriek wasn’t bad enough, the place smelled as if Hitoshi had farted after eating rotten cabbage.
Ryuichi headed for the first stall, wanting to calm the horse before it injured itself. Yoshi-san would have his head if something happened to his favorite steed.
But before he could reach him, a blur ran past his feet.
“Watch it, bonebag!” the blur shouted.
Something else flew past his head.
“Stop!” a boy shouted from his right.
What in the world?
Ryuichi turned—and was assaulted by all manner of things exploding around him. Even the very straw seemed to be alive. The pitchforks were fighting the saddles, and brooms were attacking bridles. Everything was moving. Some of the things ran so fast that he couldn’t even tell what they were.
“Yokai!” the boy shouted. “Watch yourself!”
No kidding! As if he hadn’t figured that out, given the number of obstacles flying at his head and feet. Ducking, he held his hands up to shield his face, while trying not to trip over the things fighting in the straw.
Scared, Ryuichi growled, as he felt a weird wave rush through him. Hot and searing, it was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. His skin sizzled. His ears rang. It felt as if electricity flowed through his entire being.
One moment, chaos reigned, and in the next...
The pitchforks nearest him were blasted back into the wall.
Harmless now, they fell to the floor.
The other boy stared in awe. “What did you do?”
Wide-eyed, Ryuichi shrugged as he stared at the “dead” pitchforks. “No idea.”
“Can you do it again?”
He had absolutely no idea. But he was willing to try. Rolling his shoulders, Ryuichi tried to blast the saddles with his thoughts. Two fell to the ground. One went sideways, and the rest continued to battle.
Well...
He’d almost succeeded. Kind of.
At least that was his thought until the rest of the objects turned toward the two of them. And headed in their direction.
Ah, crap...
Ryuichi swallowed hard. “Um, I think I just made them angry.” He took a step back.
“I think they’re going to attack.” No sooner had the other boy spoken than all the enchanted items rushed at them at once like a huge, angry army—the saddles, the bridles, pitchforks, and other things guaranteed to gouge out their eyes.
Ryuichi tried to use his unseen powers to block again.
It didn’t work. His electricity fizzled, sputtered.
He tried even harder. He held up his hands and growled low in his throat.
