There, a mirror was hung.

Only it wasn’t a mirror. This was a special portal that was activated by the monk’s spell that the old man disguised as a prayer.

Making sure no one else saw them, Koichi stepped into the real “back” room.

This was a dark place, not known by most of the staff in the school. It was concealed from even the yōkai. Indeed, in the hidden world of monsters and gods, there were some things that even those primal and dark powers didn’t know existed . . . because they didn’t need to know.

This was one of them, protected by wards and spells to ensure that no one discovered it. The room allowed special patients the opportunity to recover in safety.

The elderly monk must have sensed the same powers in Ryuichi that Koichi had felt, and he wanted him here so that nothing else found the boy while he healed.

Koichi gently placed Ryuichi on the nearest futon. “What do you think he is?”

“Special.”

Koichi didn’t need sight for that. “You know what I’m asking.”

The monk shook his head. “There are those who are born gifted. Those who can talk directly to the gods and summon them.”

“Some who are born cursed.” Like him. At least that was how Koichi felt most days. He’d never wanted the ability to see the things he saw.

Or hear them. Never mind be honor bound to fight them.

The monk nodded. “This boy is different.”

“How so?”

There was a light in the monk’s eyes that said he felt exactly what Koichi did. “His powers are unique in this world, and he needs to be guarded.”

Koichi bowed. “Please let me know when he awakens.”

“I will.”

And with that, Koichi headed off through the mirror toward the infirmary, to deal with the ghost that needed banishing.

The monk watched until Koichi vanished.

Only in the shimmering light did Keiko catch sight of herself before her image settled back into the visage of the old monk who’d spoken with Koichi. Satisfied that her monk form was holding, she returned to Ryuichi so that she could inspect her charge. “What happened to you, child?”

But then she knew. He’d almost been exposed.

So very close.

She’d barely made it to him before they’d discovered Ryuichi’s real identity. And Koichi . . .

There was a complication she hadn’t anticipated. The ronin who’d been a member of the Monban. And here she’d thought them all dead.

How had any survived?

They should have all perished with Ryuichi’s mother. They’d been valiant protectors. Noble samurai who’d sworn themselves to his mother’s cause.

“Perhaps it’s good that one still lives,” she whispered. A guardian who might protect their heir could come in handy.

If he didn’t kill the boy first.

CHAPTER SEVEN