Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,4
and Kage Tatsumi was no longer the quiet, brooding warrior I’d come to know over our travels. Gone was the boy who was fearless and pragmatic, who had no sense of self because his life was dedicated to serving his clan. Who was cold and unfriendly and standoffish, until you learned that it was his duty as the bearer of Kamigoroshi that made him shy away from people. The knowledge that he had to remain in control at all times, or a demon would possess him.
And now, it had happened. Kage Tatsumi had been possessed by the terrifying and wholly evil Hakaimono, and I had no idea how we were going to bring him back.
“There must be another way,” I insisted. “A ritual, an exorcism. You’re a priest, right? Can’t you exorcise Hakaimono and get him to leave Tatsumi-san?”
Master Jiro shook his head. “I am sorry, Yumeko-chan,” he said. “Were it a normal demon, a yurei ghost, or even the spirit of a tanuki, it would be possible. But Hakaimono is not a normal demon. He is one of the four great generals of Jigoku, one of the strongest oni that has ever been spawned. If freeing the sword bearer could be done, the Kage would have found a way, and I am only one priest.” He made a small, hopeless gesture with one wrinkled hand. “In the past, it took entire armies of men to bring Hakaimono down, and he still left a trail of bodies and destruction behind him before his rampage was brought to an end.”
“We can’t worry about the demonslayer,” Reika said, her voice firm. “We have to deliver your piece of the scroll to the Steel Feather temple. Let Kage-san’s own people deal with what he has become.” At my horrified look, her eyes softened, though her voice remained hard. “I’m sorry, Yumeko-chan. I know you and Kage-san grew close as you traveled together, but we cannot waste time chasing down an oni lord. Protecting the scroll is more important.” She jabbed a finger at my furoshiki. “Everything we’re facing now—Hakaimono, Kamigoroshi, the demons, the blood witch, the possessed demonslayer—it’s all because of that cursed scrap of paper. Because humanity has proven that it cannot be trusted with an item of ultimate, world-changing power. We must deliver the scroll to the Steel Feather temple and make sure the Dragon cannot be summoned in this era. That is the only thing that matters.”
“Hang on.” Okame sat up, frowning. “I admit, the demonslayer is pretty scary sometimes, and he’s threatened to kill me on occasion, and he has the personality of a disdainful rock…” Reika glared at him, and he hurried on. “But that doesn’t mean we should abandon someone who fought with us against a blood witch and a demon army. How do we know he can’t be saved?”
“What is your solution, ronin?” Reika snapped. “Track Hakaimono across the empire? We don’t even know where he’s gone, and there are still things out there searching for the Dragon scroll. Even if we do find him, what then? Attempt an exorcism? No mortal has been strong enough to drive Hakaimono out once he takes control.”
“Oh, I see,” Okame shot back. “So, your solution is to ignore the insanely powerful oni lord and hope he becomes someone else’s problem.”
“No, Okame-san. Reika…Reika is right.” My voice came out choked, and my eyes blurred with tears. It felt like a mirror had shattered inside me, and the shards were cutting me apart from within. I swallowed hard and continued, even though I hated it. “Getting the scroll to the temple…is more important,” I whispered. “The Dragon’s prayer was entrusted to me, and everyone at my temple died to protect it. I have to finish what I started, what I promised Master Isao.
“But,” I added, as a somber silence fell, “that doesn’t mean I’m abandoning Tatsumi. When this is done, after we reach the Steel Feather temple and deliver the scroll, I’m going to find Hakaimono and force him back into the sword.”
“Nani?” The shrine maiden sounded incredulous. “Alone? You’re no match for Hakaimono, Yumeko-chan.”
“I know,” I said, shivering as I remembered the terrifying form of Hakaimono looming over me. Looking into his crimson eyes and seeing no hint of Tatsumi staring back. “But Tatsumi is strong,” I added, as the shrine maiden frowned. “He’s been fighting the demon for nearly his whole life. I’m not going to abandon him to Hakaimono. I have to try to save him.”