Which was getting more questionable by the heartbeat as they were surrounded by mindless supplicants.

“How much farther?”

Masaru snorted. “What? Do you think there’s a line that says, ‘Welcome to Kage-tochi’?”

He really wanted to slap that fox, and he really wished Ryuichi would stop fighting him.

C’mon, you can make it.

Then they would only have to deal with the Ryukage.

And his armies.

Some generals.

Not to mention reunite Ryuichi with his shadow.

Then escape.

In one piece . . . alive.

Okay, so things weren’t exactly stacked in their favor. In fact, he should probably wager against their success.

Still . . . They were alive, against all odds. Masaru and Keiko had their own powers, and he himself was unrivaled with a sword.

You can’t reach your sword while you’re carrying the squirmy little brat.

A tedious detail, granted, and one he didn’t want to think about. But . . .

Who am I fooling?

They were dead. This was so stupid. Why were they even trying? Only an absolute moron would be involved in any of this!

If he lost the kitsunes, he could never get back home. Only those like Masaru could hop between the realms. Those who’d sold themselves and had dubious alliances.

Or those like Keiko who were on special missions.

I could be trapped here for eternity.

Mortals trapped in these lands never fared well. They were more tortured than ghosts in the human realm.

Panic began to consume him.

Keiko slowed and took Masaru by the arm. “Koichi?”

He couldn’t really hear her past the droning in his ears. All he could think about was the doom that awaited them.

Why am I here?

“Koichi!” Masaru slapped him. Hard.

“Hey!” He shoved the irritable yōkai back. “What are you doing?”

Masaru eyed him suspiciously. “We’d lost you for a minute.”

Keiko let out a deep breath. “Your mind had wandered into the shadows, and they were wreaking havoc with you. I could see it in your eyes.”

Ryuichi laughed from inside the bag.

That brought him back to reality even faster than Masaru’s slap.

Koichi burned as he suddenly understood what had caused his thoughts to shift. What had taken control of him. “You little snipe. How dare you play with my head.”

“Let me go. Or I’ll make it worse.”

Masaru slapped at the bag. “Not until we fix my mistake.”

Ryuichi began struggling so wildly that he freed his head from the sack. “You already fixed it. This is how I should be.”

Masaru snorted rudely. “Everyone needs balance, little man. You’re missing yours.”

He scoffed at him. “Where’s yours? You’re all evil. Everyone knows that.”

Koichi watched as Masaru flinched.

“That’s the rub, isn’t it? I lost mine too.” Masaru covered Ryuichi’s head, then met Keiko’s gaze. “I think we’re here.”