Page 74 of Son of Shadows

Honestly, it scared him a bit. He couldn’t help but wonder if Haruki might slip even deeper into despair and hatred, now that she was literally heartless. Still, he held that part of her with him. Maybe there was a way to put her heart back where it belonged, if things got worse.

“I have something for you.” Haruki handed over Koichi’s favorite thing in the whole world—a gourd filled to the brim.

He pulled the top off and it made a delightful popping sound.

Finally. The world was making sense again. All his suffering. All his worries—they were there to make him ready for this very moment.

Life was good.

Then he drank some and spat it all out after the first taste. “That’s horrible! What is this nastiness?”

Haruki laughed. “Water. You looked thirsty.” She opened an ornate fan and waved it briskly in front of her face, then sat down next to him. “So, it looks like we’re in a bit of a dangerous predicament.”

“You don’t say?” Koichi said before reluctantly drinking more water.

“Actually, you are truly the one in dire straits. Haru said I didn’t have to lug those awful barrels. That it wouldn’t befit me as a goddess, and I happen to agree.” She leaned back and nodded at Ryuichi-kage, who was carrying two barrels, one under each arm. “And the shadow—he is much stronger than I gave him credit for.”

“You’re right. I’m the lone human out here. Just a man with a few more years on him, if he’s lucky.”

“Only a few?”

Koichi shrugged. “I don’t know if you noticed, but the series of bad events I’ve had lately are driving to one conclusion: I’m running out of what little time I have.”

For some reason, Haruki looked sad by this revelation. “Don’t say that.”

He could feel her heart beating in the pouch beneath his shirt. It almost seemed like it started pumping faster the moment he reminded her that he wasn’t immortal.

Haruki noticed him place his hand on the pouch and stood up. Then she created some distance between them. “If I get too close to my heart, I start to feel pain again.” She appeared embarrassed. “Forget I mentioned anything.”

Koichi pantomimed putting the thought in his hand and throwing it onto the cave floor. “Done. I remember nothing.”

He was surprised to see her get upset over his limited lifespan. Kami lived for so long that he assumed they would eventually stop caring about people, especially mortals. Then again, other people’s feelings always confused Koichi and made him feel uncomfortable. That was why he’d never let anyone get too close to him.

Koichi’s thoughts quickly drifted to Ryuichi and his shadow. They were apart, like Haruki and her heart. But their pain would be far worse if he wasn’t able to bring them back together again. Haruki still had no idea about how high the stakes were, and if she did, Koichi wasn’t sure if it would make any difference to her. It was so difficult to predict how unpredictable her mood would be.

But keeping this secret felt dishonest. Haruki always knew when someone lied, and yet she hadn’t confronted him about this. Maybe secrets were different than lies somehow.

Suddenly, a roar rang out that sent Koichi to his feet. Haru stormed through the caves, cursing and screaming for everyone to keep working.

“And if I see anyone being lazy, I’ll chew their arms off!” he threatened.

“But sir, if you do that, how will the crew carry the barrels?” A hapless yōkai helper was panicking at Haru’s side.

“Point taken. I’ll chew their legs, then.”

“But sir . . .”

Koichi turned to Haruki. “That’s my cue to go. Just promise me something.”

“That depends on what it is.”

“Promise that you’ll take your heart back one day. I’m sure it misses you.”

Haruki reached out and touched his hand, her fingers lingering on his. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words never came out.

Koichi wasn’t sure what to say either, but he was a little relieved by her reaction. There was still kindness in her, even without her heart. Perhaps he didn’t have to worry so much about her.

Which was good because Koichi had more pressing matters to consider.