The twins were notorious for finishing each other’s sentences.
Masaru elbowed him. “Nervous, Koichi?”
“Shut it,” he snapped under his breath because he definitely was, and he didn’t want anyone to know. Besides, the last thing they needed was to draw unwanted attention. The twins were as likely to kill them as they were to help.
Honestly, he wasn’t a big fan of their current survival odds. Any more than he was a fan of the twins, who were even more unpredictable than humans. They were creatures of impulse.
One second, they loved you. The next, you were dead.
Koichi leaned in closer to Masaru. “Know any good tricks? Now would be an awesome time to flick those tails of yours and use them.”
“That would get us killed for sure.”
Of course it would. “Never mind.” Why had he ever thought they could sneak past the psycho twins?
Koichi had forgotten to factor in his abysmal luck, which would never level normal odds for success. Whatever could go wrong was going to go wrong...
And bring its friends. All of whom would wield shovels at his head and daggers at his gut.
He must have taken one too many hits from his last demon battle to have forgotten that.
Worse? If this plan failed, it would be up to Masaru to save them. As if Masaru would ever save anyone other than himself.
We’re in so much trouble...
He should just surrender now and hope they killed him quickly.
Masaru smiled as if he could hear his thoughts. Koichi always hated whenever he did that. It never boded well.
In fact, his gut clenched.
“I’ve got this,” Masaru said under his breath. “Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry. Seriously? But then what choice did he have, other than to trust a fox who wasn’t known to be trustworthy?
Against his better judgment and all sanity and self-preservation, he gave Masaru an affirmative nod. While he had no idea what the kitsune planned, he wanted to let him know he would have his full support.
As idiotic and suicidal as that was.
Just don’t hit my face. Kill me quickly. Please kill me quickly. He had no idea what Masaru intended or who the kitsune might kill.
Unaware of their exchange, Tsukiya cocked his head. “Well... if it isn’t our dear old friend Koichi.”
Mizuki pursed her lips. “He looks much better than the last time we saw him, Brother. I do believe he might actually be sober.”
Tsukiya nodded in agreement. “Smells better too.” He twisted the red ribbon on his mask around his finger as he eyed Koichi. With a wave of his hand, he indicated Keiko and Masaru. “It seems failure travels in a group, Sister.”
“I believe so. Or perhaps my eyes deceive me?”
He shook his head, which was extremely exaggerated, given his ornate mask. “Nay. Rather, I think our favorite samurai has befriended two failed kitsunes. The useless Keiko and treasonous Masaru.” He pulled the side of the mask back so that only Mizuki could see his expression. “What fun, eh?”
“What fun indeed.”
Koichi ground his teeth at their endless digs. They so enjoyed mocking others. Each word was designed to be a dagger, making slashing wounds through their victims’ jugulars. It was what gave them their greatest—and probably only—joy. Tearing everyone down. No matter how great someone’s reputation was, the twins could always find fault. Always find a way to make someone feel unworthy and small.
At least that was what they thought.
He wasn’t so easily rattled. Really, he pitied the childhood they must have known if this was all they’d been taught. Mockery. Shame.
