Stupid.
“I said apologize.”
Ryota took a swing at him.
Ducking the blow, Ryuichi came up with one of his own, straight to Ryota’s ribs. Koichi heard the sound of bones breaking as the older boy went down with a howl of pain.
Still, Ryuichi gave him no mercy or quarter. “Apologize!”
Cursing under his breath, Koichi grabbed him and tucked him under his arm before anyone became suspicious of Ryuichi’s strength. “No need for that. I’m used to being insulted.”
The boy continued to struggle against him. “Shame on you for allowing such. We must teach him better.”
Koichi passed a confused stare to Keiko. “What is wrong with him now?”
Shrugging, she gestured at his squirming bundle. “I would say you were rubbing off on him, but you’ve never respected rules this much.”
He gave her an irritated grimace as he finally saw Master Yamato rushing toward them.
As soon as the old monk saw him, he groaned. “I should have known you’d be behind such a disruption.”
“Thanks,” Koichi said dryly.
“Thank me by not causing strife.”
Ryuichi stopped struggling. “Sensei, you cause disorder?”
“No.” Not really.
“Yes,” Master Yamato countered. “Everywhere he goes.”
“Then you cannot be my teacher.” Ryuichi sank his teeth into Koichi’s hand.
Yelping, he let go out of instinct.
Ryota laughed.
Thankfully, Keiko caught the boy before he ran off. “Ryuichi, what is wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I refuse to be an instrument of discord or chaos. I will not be your tool.”
Koichi scowled. Somethingwaswrong with the boy... He just didn’t know what.
* * *
Masaru rose to his feet as Ryukage appeared before him like a great, towering mountain, swathed in all black. His right hand was covered by a gauntlet that turned each finger into an exaggerated, articulated claw. It was something the Shadow Dragon did to intimidate those around him, but such tactics had never worked on Masaru.
Mostly because he wasn’t that fond of living. Death would be a welcome release.
“Well, well, little fox, you’ve taken long enough to answer my summons. Where have you been?”
The hairs on the back of Masaru’s neck rose, along with his hackles. Too well he remembered what Ryukage had been like before he had succumbed to the shadows—when his eyes had been dark and his heart untouched by evil.
Now...
Times changed. And sadly, so did people. This creature had not only succumbed to the darkness, but he reveled in it.
So do you.
