Page 70 of Son of Shadows

Ryuichi stepped off the boat with the distinct feeling he might die.

Maybe it was the hungry yōkai flying above him, licking their lips and beaks while waiting for an order from his father to eat him and all his companions. Or it might be the large sign on the shoreline, inscribed with a petrifying warning: “Disturb the Ryukage at Your Own Peril.”

Perhaps it was both.

The one thing Ryuichi knew for certain: He really, really wanted to go back to Kagemura, where the atmosphere was more “rob you blind” than “stab you mercilessly.”

What struck him the most was how isolated this island was. No humble servants to greet them. No intimidating guards to stop them. The yōkai circling above their heads were more animalistic, trained to kill on command instead of sentient beings who balked at having masters, like the ones Ryuichi was used to.

But more than that, this place was less a formidable lair and more akin to a cemetery, where someone would go to be forgotten or welcome death.

Judging by his companions’ eerie silence, Ryuichi assumed they picked up on that aura too. If he had to guess, he’d say the Ryukage hadn’t vanished from his throne as part of some grand plan to shake up the spirit realm.

He went off in search of somewhere to take his final breaths.

Why else would he be here with no real guards? No, this wasn’t how his father lived. This was where evil went when it was done fighting and didn’t care about survival anymore.

Ryuichi felt a branch break underfoot and something cried out. Confused, he lifted his sandal and saw a small, crushed face looking up at him from the broken twig.

Ouch! He had no idea yōkai could be twigs too.

“Get out!” the small creature yelled at him.

Cringing, Ryuichi gently picked up the twiglike yōkai and cradled him in his hands. “I’m so sorry, little buddy. I didn’t mean to hurt you. And I’d leave this second if I could.”

He carefully placed the yōkai off to the side, where hopefully no one else would step on him.

“You don’t want to be here. I’m telling you. Leave before the Ryukage slays you!”

“I need to see the Ryukage. He’s why we’ve come.”

The yōkai giggled at Ryuichi, then rolled off into the dark brush.

“Well, that wasn’t very reassuring,” Yumi said.

Inumagami whimpered. “I’m starting to think this might have been a bad idea. Obviously, Ryukage doesn’t want visitors. Kagemura is a wonderful place. Wouldn’t it be better if we go back? Besides, I’m feeling a bit peckish. A feast sounds wonderful about now.”

But Satoru moved forward regardless of the little lord’s protests. Ryuichi let out a tired breath as he followed them, hoping for the best.

The trail they followed funneled them into a narrow path through a valley that was flanked by sharp mountains. As they came up over a large rise, a large rock blocked their passage—until it began to move.

More than that, it began to stand upright.

“Who goes there?” The rock asked, revealing it to be a huge oni. Muscled and red-skinned, he rose to his incredible height. He glared at their group. “No visitors. Ryukage’s orders.”

Then he sat down in their way, fully confident his massive size alone was enough to block them.

And he was right. Even if they were somehow able to defeat him, all of them together couldn’t possibly move the oni’s body out of the way. Not to mention fighting him would be a nightmare, as all he would have to do was sit on Ryuichi and it’d be over.

One foot would take out most, if not all, of their company.

Approaching the oni cautiously, Katsu cleared his throat. “Please let us pass. We have important business with the Ryukage.”

The oni chuckled. “Everyone has important business with the Ryukage. No one would be stupid enough to bother him with anything else.” The massive oni scratched his belly. It was painfully obvious he didn’t take their motley crew seriously, as he knew they were powerless against him.

Cocking his massive head, the oni narrowed his gaze on Satoru. “How did you even get here? This place is supposed to be a secret. Hidden, even.”

Katsu was the one who answered. “By sea. On a boat.”