Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,77
he said.
So I had. Beginning with my meeting with Lady Hanshou, and her shocking request to save Tatsumi and free him from Hakaimono. Reika’s eyes had nearly bugged out of her face when she heard the daimyo’s request, and she was sputtering before I even finished the sentence, leading to her question.
“Save the demonslayer from Hakaimono?” the shrine maiden went on, answering her own inquiry. “When her own majutsushi cannot?” She gestured fiercely. “And what did you tell her?”
“I told her I would try,” I said quietly, making the miko groan. “This doesn’t change anything, Reika-san. We were going to look for Tatsumi anyway.”
“After we took the scroll to the temple, Yumeko-chan! The scroll is more important—”
“I know it’s important!” I pinned my ears and glared back at her. “I know I have to take the scroll to the temple and prevent the coming of the Dragon. But…I can’t forget about Tatsumi.” Thinking of the demonslayer made my stomach tighten, and I took a quick breath to steady myself. “Please,” I said, gazing around the room. “We owe him this. Tatsumi fought Satomi’s demons alongside us. He faced an oni to allow us to reach Master Jiro. We can’t abandon him, and we can’t wait. The Shadow Clan is already tracking Hakaimono down. Tatsumi might be killed before we can even get to him.”
“We don’t even know where he is.”
“I do,” I said. “Lady Hanshou told me. She said that Hakaimono was seen traveling west, toward a forest beyond the mountains.”
Reika snorted. “Can you be a little more specific?” she said, and waved a billowy sleeve. “There are lots of forests in the general direction of west.”
“It was the big forest between Hino and Mizu lands,” I said, and saw Master Jiro’s eyes narrow. “What was its name, again? Lady Hanshou told me, and it sounded very ominous. The Forest…”
“The Forest of a Thousand Eyes,” Master Jiro finished, and Reika jerked up as if she’d been stung. “The site where the Master of Demons gathered his army to declare war on the empire.”
“That accursed place?” Reika grew pale, and she shook her head fiercely. “Absolutely not. I refuse to let Master Jiro set foot anywhere near that forest. Finding Hakaimono is one thing. Going into the Forest of a Thousand Eyes is like walking into Jigoku itself.”
“You don’t have to come,” I said. “I won’t ask any of you to follow me. But…I’m going after Hakaimono. I’ve already made up my mind. I’ll find him myself and—somehow—I’ll get Tatsumi back.”
“How?” Reika demanded. “You keep saying you’re going to save him, but you know nothing of exorcism, binding rituals or the nature of demons. How do you think you’re going to defeat Hakaimono, Yumeko-chan?”
“I will save Tatsumi. Even…even if I have to possess him myself.”
There were a few heartbeats of silence after this statement as, one by one, my companions realized what this meant.
“Kitsune-tsuki,” Reika said, her tone disapproving. I waited for her to berate me, to tell me that it was evil, to insist that I find another way. But, for once, Reika was quiet, thoughtful, as if coming to the realization that this might work, even if she didn’t like it.
“I know it’s not ideal,” I said, gazing around the room. Master Jiro looked grave, Reika’s jaw was set, even Okame looked uncomfortable with the talk of possession. Beside him, the noble’s face was unreadable, but his eyes were dark and troubled. “I would rather not perform kitsune-tsuki if I had the choice. But, if it’s the only way to drive out Hakaimono, I feel I have to try.”
“But, you’re only half-kitsune, Yumeko-san,” Okame pointed out. “Are you sure you can do it?”
“I…think so,” I stammered, earning raised brows from Reika and concerned looks from everyone else. “It’s not something I’ve ever tried,” I admitted, “but I was told that it came naturally for kitsune. That, when the time arrived, I would know what to do.” I did not mention that the someone who had encouraged me to use this particular kitsune talent was a mysterious white fox who’d appeared to me in a dream.
“So, our plan, such as it is,” Reika continued in a dubious voice, “is to find Hakaimono, somehow restrain him and then you will possess the demonslayer using an ability you’re not even certain you have. And once you’re inside, you’re going to…what? Convince Hakaimono to leave? By asking him nicely? Or, do you intend to fight the demon while you’re both inside Kage Tatsumi?”