He cast a wary glare toward the bane of his current existence. “My skills are infinitely better when I’m not carrying an extra struggling body . . . and am less sober.”

Though, to be honest, Ryuichi had become remarkably still and quiet since they crossed over.

Was he dead?

Masaru transformed into a majestic fox, then effortlessly jumped from spike to spike to climb up. “Sucks to be you.”

Before he could return that with an insult, Keiko transformed into her fox body. “Hurry, Koichi. There’s no time to waste.” She darted up, after Masaru.

He cursed under his breath, wanting to skin them both. How easy they made it look with their powers and abilities. There was no way he could possibly climb and carry the kid. He might be strong, but that was impossible. For a human.

Irritated, he set his little imp on the ground and uncovered him.

Ryuichi came out of the bag like a scalded tiger. The brat actually got up and tried to run.

Koichi quickly tackled him to the ground. “Stop it! Behave.”

Grimacing, Ryuichi stopped struggling and held his hands out for Koichi to free them. “Finally. That was awful! Putting me in that sack like some sort of⁠—”

Koichi shoved a piece of cloth into his mouth to cut off his words. “I recommend you hold that thought and climb.” He spat on his hands and looked for a place where he could grip the stone. He set Ryuichi on the wall first, then lifted himself up and began climbing behind the kid. Grumbling, Ryuichi threw the gag at him, but thankfully he kept going.

Masaru groaned out loud. “You’re too slow. Can you put a move on?”

Koichi snorted as Ryuichi slipped and fell on top of him. The two of them slammed into the ground. They’d only made it about ten feet up. Which was good, in that it didn’t kill them or break anything.

Bad, because it hurt. Especially with Ryuichi elbowing him to get off his pain-filled body.

Awesome. His skills had seriously eroded, and Ryuichi had none at all.

“Why are you complaining, kid? I cushioned you.”

Ryuichi responded with a sneer.

Sitting up, Koichi shouted at Masaru. “You’re welcome to come down here and help with the kid.” After all, he’d never been a particularly good climber on his best days. And that was drunk.

Sober . . .

He was afraid of heights and hated doing this.

Ryuichi stomped the ground. “I can’t climb that wall.”

They all stared at Ryuichi.

“I don’t know how to climb.”

Koichi groaned. He knew the answer before he asked, but he was feeling rather futile at the moment and wanted a little corroboration that they were as stupid as he was. “Anyone think to bring a rope?”

At this point, he might use it to hang himself.