“They haven’t killed us yet.” Takara sheathed her sword. “We’re more skilled than you think.”

“You are more skilled. Him . . .” He let out another rude snort. “I really need that sake. Or better yet—” He reached for Takara’s kaiken.

She slapped his hand away from the dagger she kept in her obi. “Excuse me?”

“If you’re not going to use it to kill yourself, then I need it to put me out of my misery before the tengu come back and do it for me. Trust me—jigai’s a lot better than being torn apart by one of them. Lot less painful too. I always thought seppuku was a stupid idea, invented by idealistic idiots like your father. Now it’s starting to have some perks. I’d much rather disembowel myself than let a demon do it.”

Ryuichi shook his head. “Personally, I don’t want anyone to disembowel me. Including me.”

“That’s the spirit, Ryota!”

“Ryuichi!”

“Whatever your name is. Doesn’t matter. We should just call you what you are. Demon bait. Bane of my existence.”

“And our job,” Takara said firmly, “is to protect him.”

Throwing his head back at her words, Koichi groaned. “How did I get myself into this? Again.”

Ryuichi clapped him on the back. “The gods are smiling on you.”

“Cursing me. Like always. And don’t get cheeky, boy. I still might throw you down the mountain. Especially if you don’t start staying where I put you. How did you get out, anyway?”

“Masaru.”

“Of course. I knew I hated him for a reason.” Koichi sheathed his sword. “And where, pray tell, is your little friend?”

Ryuichi shrugged. “I don’t know. He abandoned me. As usual.”

“Of course he did.” A tic started up in Koichi’s jaw. “Masaru! Come out—or so help me, I’m going to summon something that nibbles on parts of your body you consider sacred.”

No response.

Oh, so he ignores everybody! Ryuichi felt better. Then he saw the expression on Koichi’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Masaru?” Koichi called again.

A loud scream pierced the air, followed by Masaru’s disembodied voice. “Get the boy out of here! Run!”

Well, that didn’t sound promising.

Or good . . .

Lightning struck the ground less than a foot from Koichi. Then the plants near them began rustling, reaching for him too.

Ryuichi barely dodged a vine that tried to wrap itself around his neck. “What’s happening?”

“Your nasty friends have returned.” Koichi shoved him forward.

The world around them exploded. Vines shot up from the ground, trying to trip or capture them. Others reached for their throats.

Koichi and Takara drew their swords and began to slash at their tormentors. What should have been inanimate objects were now determined to kill or end them.