Like the combat master she was, Takara advanced on her opponent with a fearsome confidence. Every move was precise.

Perfect.

And her opponent was beginning to shake under the stress of trying to keep up.

If only Ryuichi himself could be so polished and perfect.

Instead, he felt the sticky blood running down his face. Warm and wet. His ears rang like an incessant bell, to the point that he feared he might never have normal hearing again.

How did I get myself into this?

More importantly, how could he get all of them out?

He was in a ball on the ground. A shameful ball that couldn’t rise up against the blows raining down on him. He couldn’t even protect himself, never mind his friends.

Kato’s kiai rang out as he rushed for Toshi.

Only then did Toshi stop hitting Ryuichi. With an evil grin, he turned to intercept Kato’s strike.

With one staggering blow, Toshi had Kato on his back.

Like Ryuichi.

Grinding his teeth, Ryuichi tried to stand, but his vision and senses were too groggy. He could barely think straight.

With a sickening glint in his eyes, Toshi stood over Kato with his foot on Kato’s throat.

Kato tried to dislodge him, but it was useless. “You made your point. I give!”

Takara pulled up short as she heard those words.

Ryuichi wanted to keep fighting, but he knew the same thing Kato did.

They were outmatched.

Outfought.

Bested.

Though it galled him, he knew Kato was right. They had to end this.

And Toshi had just won.

Or had he?

Ryuichi cursed as he realized it wasn’t Toshi or the others running the show.

Masaru was there—and he was controlling Toshi from the outside, like a puppeteer. In his true form, Masaru grinned fiendishly, urging Toshi on. No one else could see what Ryuichi did—his own yōkai, working against him.

Why?

Toshi slid his malevolent gaze to Ryuichi. “Are you paying attention, dog?” He pressed his foot harder into Kato, who was gasping and struggling to breathe.

“Enough!” Takara glared at him as she continued to fight her opponent. “You’re killing him!”

“Masaru! Stop!” Ryuichi did his best to break the demon’s hold. He tried to rush him, but there was an invisible barrier between them. So he pounded and kicked, trying to break through.

Nothing worked.

Toshi didn’t stop or relent as he waited for Ryuichi to meet his gaze. “One of the most important parts of being a samurai is finishing the job.”

Kato tried to pry Toshi’s foot off his throat.

They all knew what was coming.

With a series of sickening thuds, Toshi began beating him.

“No!” Ryuichi cried out.

Toshi—or rather Masaru—slung his arm out and knocked him back with an invisible blow.