the trees. Setting my jaw, I stepped back and crouched behind a boulder, reluctant to hide but knowing Yumeko had a plan. The kitsune knew what she was doing, and I would trust her.
With a roar, the huge Ninetail landed in the midst of the remaining Tatsumis, tails and claws flashing as it scythed through them like paper. Leaves scattered to the wind, wisps of smoke dissolving around them, as the fox destroyed the army of demonslayers in an instant. But even as they were incinerated, the branches rustled, and even more emerged from the trees on the far side of the battlefield, filling the air with fox magic.
“Enough.”
The Ninetail shook its head, rising to its full impressive height. “I weary of these games,” it announced, glancing at the new mob of demonslayers walking toward it. “I wished only to kill the demonslayer and bury Kamigoroshi where none would ever find it. These tricks are amusing, but I have seen them before. And I know better than to continuously chase shadows.” It looked at the trees beyond the army of demonslayers, narrowing its eyes. “I can feel you, little fox,” it said quietly. “If one wants to destroy the hornet’s nest, one does not waste time with drones. You take out the queen.”
Its tails writhed madly, igniting with kitsune-bi at the tips, before it sent a storm of foxfire into the trees. Flames roared as ancient pines were consumed, turning to ash. Trunks snapped, trees curled and blackened in the heat, and embers swirled into the air, as an entire swath of forest became an inferno of blue-white flames. The army of Tatsumis jerked up, shuddering, and seemed to lose form, crumpling to the ground before dissolving into mist. I tensed, ready to spring from cover and charge the Ninetail, but a rock struck the trunk by my head, startling me. The other Tatsumi, crouched a few feet away, shook his head emphatically and mouthed a firm command. Not yet.
A scream drifted over the roar of the fire, making my stomach clench. Heart in my throat, I looked back to see a figure stagger from the flames, coughing and hunched over. Her long hair was scorched away, smoke curled from her body, and I could see the skin of one arm blackened and charred. Heart in my throat, I watched Yumeko stagger, then fall to her knees, gasping and surrounded by her fading army, as the Ninetail loomed over her. The monster fox was no longer smiling.
“I win,” it said quietly, and waved a tail. Immediately, Yumeko burst into flames, blue-white foxfire consuming her body. She screamed, jerking up as she vanished in the conflagration, and shriveled into a blackened husk before crumbling to ash.
I dug my fingers into the tree, reminding myself that wasn’t her. It couldn’t be the real her. If it was, there was no way the other Tatsumi could still be here, a few feet from me. I glanced back at the image, saw him wink, and my heart unclenched a little.
“All right,” he began, “while he’s distracted...”
I rose, but abruptly the other Tatsumi jerked up as a fireball streaked from the air and slammed into his chest. Ignited instantly, he fell back with a cry, writhing on the stones as foxfire roared around him, and my blood froze as her familiar voice tore through me.
“No!”
Forgetting everything else, I rushed to her side, falling to my knees in the dirt. Yumeko lay curled on the ground, the illusion faded, tongues of foxfire still flickering over her robes. I smothered the flames and gently pulled her to me, turning her face to the light.
My blood chilled. One side of her face was seared, the flesh blackened and weeping, her long hair burned away. She drew in a shuddering breath, as everything inside me contracted in helpless agony and rage.
“Yumeko...”
“Gomen... Tatsumi,” Yumeko whispered, clutching at my sleeve. “I’m sorry. I...I don’t think I can help you anymore. I tried...”
The ground trembled, and a shadow fell over us, the heat of foxfire making the air shimmer. I gritted my teeth and held Yumeko close as the pale form of the Ninetail loomed over us, yellow eyes shining through the darkness and smoke.