Page 35 of Son of Shadows

Sunlight reflected off its golden coat with such intensity that it was blinding to look at. Ryuichi held his hand up to shield his eyes.

Without warning, the fox ran at him.

He barely had time to move before the kitsune launched itself at his throat.

Holding his arms up, Ryuichi braced for the impact. Only the impact didn’t come. Instead, her spirit joined him the same way Masaru’s had on the battlefield. Painful at first, and then the knowledge that he wasn’t in control.

The kitsune began whispering a chant he’d never heard before, in a voice like his mother’s but more playful:

Gods may come and gods may go.

It is only I who controls that flow.

Open and close goes the gate.

And only I control its fate.

Here I stand, your most humble one.

It is my will to see this done.

At first, Ryuichi thought the chant was ridiculous.

Until the gate burst into a cascade of flames. Only the fire didn’t give off heat or appear to destroy the structure.

Yōkai and oni screamed as they saw what was happening. More than that, Ryuichi’s blue gusoku armor began to glow. The dragon on his chest swirled and roared. Ryuichi could feel its movement all through his body.

“What’s happening?”

Shh, the kitsune whispered in his head. Let us take you where you need to go.

It wasn’t like he had any choice. She was completely in charge.

Ryuichi felt himself growing larger. Masaru teleported and appeared next to him, but he quickly took a step back with his jaw agape. Ryuichi had no idea what was causing him to expand like this, or if this was all some kind of mind trick.

All he knew was that he’d never felt this powerful before.

And with a bright flash of lightning, the gate slammed closed, instantly extinguishing the fire.

A screech rang out from their enemies. A few tried rushing into the portal and into the human realm, but when the gate slammed shut, it had cut all of them in half.

Those far enough back were able to get to safety.

All the yōkai survivors turned to face Ryuichi as if they knew he was there and that he was responsible for what he’d done.

His stomach sank at the sight.

They were all staring at him.

“I guess I lost the power of invisibility.”

Masaru shouted, “Run!”

But the kitsune inside Ryuichi wouldn’t let him. Instead, she lifted his hand toward the heavens and let out a kiai that split the air. Fire shot out of the ground at his sides. He couldn’t believe what was happening.

Until something tackled him and sent him careening across the ground. The blow landed so hard that it actually knocked the kitsune out of him. She went flying from his body to land on her feet in her kitsune form.

Meanwhile, Ryuichi rolled through the dirt until he came to rest on his stomach. His kabuto fell forward, onto the ground.