Page 99 of Son of Shadows

Killing Orochi was next to impossible.

* * *

Koichi saw that the Ryukage was trapped in an unending battle with Orochi. He looked for Ryuichi but didn’t see him anywhere. Their undead samurai army was more vicious than Koichi would have expected. Oddly enough, their side might even be winning.

Masaru was fighting on his own, which was rather surprising. Koichi couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the kitsune fly solo like this.

Without warning, Haruki appeared out of a thick dark cloud, her white hair pulled back with two red kanzashi. She was sitting on top of a horse, poised as though she were ready to do battle.

“What are you doing here?” Koichi asked.

“Trying to figure out if we’re winning or losing,” she replied.

“It’s kind of a tie, I think.”

“Well, I’m here to break it.”

“Oh really?” He stepped past her to intercept the oni that was about to take her head.

Sadly, he wasn’t fast enough, and the oni’s blade grazed his shoulder. Cursing, Koichi staggered back.

Haruki’s eyes flared as she realized he was hurt. “Koichi!” She started for him, then turned on the oni with a piercing shriek. “How dare you!”

In the next heartbeat, the oni blew apart. Stunned, Koichi ducked as entrails rained down over him.

“Looks like your powers are back,” he said as Haruki helped hoist him onto the back of her horse.

“How many more times are you almost going to die?” she asked him.

Koichi put his arms around her waist as they galloped ahead, blood seeping through his clothes. “I don’t know. Hopefully, we won’t find out.”

* * *

When Masaru heard Haruki scream, his blood ran cold.

That could only mean one thing.

Someone was dead. Or close to being dead.

He looked around the fray to try and locate members of their crew. But he was deep in the trenches of battle.

Changing into his kitsune form, he ran in the direction of Haruki’s voice. Dodging and swerving through flying arrows, swords, and clubs, he eventually found Haruki on a deserted hill. She was leaning over a bleeding Koichi.

In a puff of smoke, Masaru returned to his human body. “What happened?”

“I missed. The oni didn’t,” Koichi explained.

“Didn’t we just fix you? How very inconsiderate of you to go and get another hole in your body, little buddy.”

“Don’t, Masaru. In the mood, I’m in⁠—”

“You’ll bleed on me?”

Haruki glared at Masaru. “Stop insulting him and help me get him to safety. Or protect him.”

Koichi waved them off. “I’m fine right here. You two keep helping the others.”

Haruki shook her head. “I can’t leave. Not while you’re hurt.”