They wanted him gone.

Banished.

Heartsick, Ryuichi caught Hanzō staring at him in the distance, his eyes like sharp daggers.

Takara’s father hated him. And deep inside, he knew the man had every right to.

Koichi clapped Ryuichi lightly on the back as he caught Hanzō staring. “Don’t worry about him. He’s always a sourpuss. Just focus on the future. A brand-new school. New friends. New opportunities.”

“To make old mistakes?”

Koichi snorted at his question. “Or new ones. Choice is yours.”

It sure didn’t feel like that. This felt more like an indirect execution. Like he was being sent to some far-off place to simply die.

They didn’t want him here.

As if sensing his mood, Masaru moved through the crowd to join Ryuichi. “You okay, kid?”

He stared at him, aghast. “Yeah. I’m peachy.”

Masaru made a grim face. “I tried my best for you, but Kasumi was the only one who offered something other than a swift execution or being thrown into a cell.”

Disbelief marked Koichi’s brow. “The only one?”

“The only one,” Masaru confirmed. “Like it or not, this was the best route for the kid.”

Koichi started forward, but Masaru caught him by the arm. “Just so you know, you’ve been assigned to him as well.”

“What?” Koichi gasped.

Masaru nodded. “We’ve all been banished, including Koichi.”

Koichi let out a snort with those words. “That figures. Hanzō’s been wanting to force me out.”

Masaru inclined his head. “And you made it easy for him.”

Koichi shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, I hated this place anyway.” He draped his arm over Ryuichi’s shoulders. “Hear that, kid? We’re traveling companions now.”

“Oh, and there’s one more thing,” Masaru said.

Koichi suddenly stopped smiling. “What?”

Masaru winked at them. “Haruki. Since she’s still our prisoner, and they can’t hold her here safely while they make repairs, we’ve been designated as her wardens. She’s going with us.”

Ryuichi’s shadow began to whine in protest.

He really wanted to join it.

“That sounds like fun.” Koichi gave him a pained smile. “Like being set on fire and thrown into a vat of oil.”

“I can’t wait either,” Masaru said in a maniacal tone. “More quality fun time for us all.”

Just what he’d wanted.

Masaru’s gaze went to Takara. “Well, kid, we head out tomorrow. If you have any goodbyes, you should say them now.”

Ryuichi understood. But for the first time, he felt like he was losing something.

And he was.

He’d found friends here.

Family.

Now . . . he’d be alone again.

Except for the demon who threatened to eat him and the alcoholic who kept busting his chops.

And a yōkai protector he still wasn’t sure he could trust.

With a heavy heart, Ryuichi said goodbye to Takara, Pim, Kato, the Kai-dan, and even Toshi.