A chill crept up his spine as he felt the same seductive pull that had lured his father to madness. It would be so easy to succumb.

To be the darkness.

I’m stronger than that . . .

At least he prayed he was.

Ryuichi inclined his head to them. “When are they leaving?”

“As soon as possible. We came to tell you.” Takara winked at him. “Figured you’d want to come with us.”

While he hated to be so transparent, it was nice to have someone who knew him so well. “Where’s Masaru?”

“Been keeping rather low.” Koichi scratched at his neck. “I think he’s still upset your father got away.”

He wasn’t the only one. Ryuichi was a bit miffed over it too. Okay, he was extremely upset. He just didn’t want to admit it, since he blamed himself for the fact they’d lost his father.

Suddenly, he heard the pounding of war drums.

“They’re gathering.” Takara plaited her hair, getting ready should she have to fight. “Should I let them know to hold your spot?”

“Of course.” Ryuichi reached for his sword, which was next to his bed.

Koichi stopped him. “Are you sure you’re ready? We don’t know how much of a hold your father could have on you.”

“Not me I’m worried about.” He glanced at his shadow, which he knew was watching him with interest. It was attuned to everything they said—and everything he felt.

How very disconcerting. He could almost feel it plotting against him.

Especially whenever it wanted to speak to him. He didn’t like that at all.

Koichi let go and stepped back to hone his attention on his shadow, Ryuichi-kage. “You’re not going to give us any trouble, are you?”

His shadow cocked its head and appeared to mock them.

Koichi tsked, then his shadow turned into a tiger that headed toward Ryuichi’s, low and crouching.

Ryuichi gasped as the two shadows circled each other as if looking for a weakness. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“There are a lot of things about me that you have yet to learn.” Koichi winked at him.

Apparently. Every time they were together, he learned something new about his sensei.

With a whistle, Koichi called his shadow back.

“Can you teach me how to do that?”

Koichi inclined his head to him. “I’d be honored.”

Ryuichi glanced to his shadow, which was now in a peeved stance. “Don’t get mad. Remember, you need me.”

He could swear his shadow rolled its eyes, even though shadows had no eyes.

Trying not to think about that, Ryuichi grabbed his helmet and headed outside, where the others were gathering.

A light mist had rolled through. In a way, it made their horses and soldiers appear as shadows too.

Everything was creepy.

Surreal.