Shadows of the Reborn

Chapter Eight

Whispers of the Fallen

Hisato had found a cave a few miles from the village and hunkered down for several days before carefully pulling himself out. Taizo had called the boy to the pools to help ease the grief he felt at the loss of his family. Not knowing if his father, Heizo, had survived or if his younger brother, Hisanori, was still alive, Hisato had almost given up all hope.

Now that the commotion had died down, Hisato wanted nothing more than to locate his younger brother and then return to the village to analyze the damage from the attack. In the space of a few days, Hisato had grown up far quicker than he should have. Determined to locate his family that was left, he set out towards the village, albeit carefully.

‘Keep your senses on alert,’ Taizo said.

Hisato nodded his head as he tiptoed through the forest. It didn’t take him long to get to the outskirts of the village, and he frowned curiously. He could have sworn that it had taken him much longer to run and find the cave than to return to the place he now hated. As soon as he stepped foot into the now quiet village, the scent of death immediately rammed into his nose, and he gagged. ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ He whispered.

Taizo sighed. ‘Can you feel satisfied if you leave?’

Hisato shook his head in response. ‘I know I have to do this, but I knew almost everyone in the village.’

Taizo remained quiet as his host carefully roamed the village in case something was hidden. To his relief, there were no signs of his father or his other brother, but as he rounded the corner, the boy’s heart sank.

Taizo stared horrified at the display before them. The youkai had erected spears and impaled those they had killed upon them. Hisato fell to his knees as his eyes landed on his two brothers and grandfather. The ground was soaked from their blood, and their decapitated bodies were piled haphazardly in a deep pit. Smoke rose from the pit, and Hisato lost the contents of his stomach.

‘You need to get out of here. We don’t know if they will be back.’ Taizo muttered nervously.

‘I have to bury them.’ Hisato said.

‘If they come back and see a change, they will know someone is alive and hunt you down. You need to try and locate your brother.’ Taizo urged.

“Hisanori.” He whispered.

Hisato had just gotten to his feet when a loud crashing through the trees alerted him and Taizo that something large was coming. In a panic, Hisato froze and sucked his breath in sharply. ‘Move, move, move, move, move!’ Taizo snarled.

Hisato instantly about faced and raced towards the library, which was situated a few houses away from where he was. Running as quickly as he could muster, Hisato dove through the doors and rolled on the floor. Scrambling on the smooth surface, he lunged behind a large shelf holding several rolled-up documents. Panting breathlessly, Hisato craned his hearing, listening to the crashing sounds. ‘Do you think it saw me?’

Taizo wiggled his nose. ‘We will find out soon enough.’

A loud bang indicated that whatever it was was searching the buildings for stragglers. Hisato’s eyes caught a faint movement, and his head snapped to where he had seen it. It took only a moment for his eyes to adjust and focus on a small foot—a foot he recognized immediately. A small head poked around the corner, and eyes widened as soon as they met Hisato’s, but the elder brother quickly placed his finger to his lips, indicating silence.

Hisanori nodded but quivered where he sat huddled against the shelves fearfully. Hisato crawled over to his brother and wrapped his arm around his shoulders as a precaution in case the youkai who searched stumbled across the library. So far, it sounded like it had completely missed the small secluded hut.

Hisato knew Hisanori enough to know he got frightened easily, mostly because he was born as the fighting had broken out against the different youkai clans. So now, any loud noise caused the youngest boy to jump. Leaning close to his brother’s ear, he whispered, “As soon as it leaves, we must go.”

“What about mom and dad?” Hisanori whispered hoarsely.

“We will search for their trail and find them if they still live,” Hisato said.

“Takeshi and Takeru?”

“Do not fear; we are together, which is all that matters right now. But hush, we don’t want that thing to find us.” Hisato said.

Hisanori gulped and nodded.

As they waited, Hisato quickly scanned the scrolls and handwritten books that lined the shelves for anything useful. Seeing as the home was destroyed, Hisato would have to find a new place to settle down.

‘Wait!’ Taizo said. ‘Go back to the brown leather journal.’

Hisato furrowed his brow and pulled the book from the shelf. He gasped, ‘It’s my great-grandfather’s journal.’

‘Take it with you. There should be two others with it. Both are brown leather bound. One is filled with herbs and remedies, and the other labels the different species of youkai Sashiki had encountered.’ Taizo stated.

It took Hisato a few minutes to find the other journals, and he placed them inside a cloth bag sitting on the ground. ‘What else?’

‘Look for any kind of timeline from your great-grandfather. He drew maps of the lands and documented places useful to him and areas to avoid. He also listed where other dog clans lived,’ Taizo said. ‘It might even have the location of the lands he had established as his own.’

Hisato nodded and placed the journals into the bag. Once finished and satisfied that the youkai had moved on, he grabbed Hisanori’s hand and pulled him to his feet. “We must find food and then get out of here quickly.”

“Are we going to find mom and dad?” Hisanori asked as he nervously followed his brother out.

“Once we find safety, then yes. We are in no shape to go searching now.” Hisato rolled his eyes. “Hurry up.”

Hisanori sprinted to catch up to his brother and kept looking around every corner as though something was about to jump out at him.

It took them several hours to gather enough food to sustain them while they travelled. Hisato had gathered a few weapons, even though he wasn’t nearly as skilled at them as his father or grandfather. After waking his spirit, he was supposed to start training today. But the youkai attack had changed all that.

Hisato kept to the well-worn path that led to the floodway, hoping to find a boat or something to cross the expanse of water. However, he wasn’t sure how the mainland would be. From what he could remember, his family had fled the mainland to escape all the fighting, but it seemed the battle had followed them to the islands.

“Where are we going?” Hisanori asked as he struggled with the large bag.

“To the mainland. We might be able to find a safe haven from all the fighting,” Hisato muttered, pushing past a thick bush.

“But Dad said it was worse there,” Hisanori stated.

“Then where would you like us to go?” Hisato growled. “That thing is still here, and it looks like it’s looking for us. Do you want to stay in enemy territory to find our parents?”

“What can we do alone?” Hisanori moaned.

“We can learn to fight, train to become stronger and then come back to fight them.”

Hisanori shook his head.

Taizo whirled around when a soft voice filled his pools. Instantly, he crouched low. The last time he remembered a voice entering his pools was with his first host. Growling, he narrowed his eyes, searching every inch of Hisato’s pools. It was a male voice this time, and that caused Taizo’s hair to rise on the back of his neck.

It was more a mournful sound than anything, sending shivers through his body.

‘No.’ The voice whispered. ‘Stop!.’

The tree vibrated behind him as though responding to the voice. Taizo snarled loudly.

‘Do not go there!’ The voice wailed. ‘Danger, death, misery!’

Taizo’s skin crawled. Could he trust the voice? It sounded familiar, but he wasn’t sure he should trust it. It was so ominous that now Taizo was left uncertain.

Taizo took a deep breath. ‘Wait.’

Hisato stopped, and Hisanori bumped into him. “What are you doing?”

“Hold up,” Hisato said to his brother. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘I keep getting a warning for you not to leave the island.’ Taizo said uncertainly.

‘A warning? From who?’ Hisato asked.

‘I don’t know, but the voice sounds desperate enough for me to listen to it.’

‘So where do we go then?’ Hisato asked curiously, looking around at the forest.

‘Go into the forest and try and find a secluded area not frequently travelled by anyone.’

‘You know, there was a story of a youkai from thousands of years ago who had a spirit betray him.’

Taizo shuddered. Was that story about him and his first host? Shaking his head clear of those thoughts, he said, ‘We need to rethink what to do.’

Hisato shook his head and waved his little brother over to the bushes. “Come on, maybe you’re right, and we should find Mom and Dad.”

Hisanori glared at his brother. “Weren’t you the one who said we have no chance against those monsters?”

Hisato nodded, “I did. But I keep getting warnings from my inner spirit.”

Hisanori’s mouth dropped open. “That’s right, you woke yours hours ago. What’s he like?”

Hisato rolled his eyes as he stepped over a broken log. “I’m not too sure yet, but it seems alright.” He shifted the bag on his shoulder as they made their way through the thick underbrush. “When you were hiding, did you see what direction the youkai went?”

Hisanori nodded. “They went more inland towards the mountains.”

Hisato shuddered, “Please tell me it’s not the mountains with the monster.”

“I didn’t see what mountain, just that they went that way.” Hisanori pointed inland.

“Fantastic.”

Taizo placed his hand on the trunk of his host’s tree to see what abilities Hisato had access to. Unfortunately for him, Hisato was a rookie and had no experience with any of his abilities. Giving a heavy sigh, Taizo filtered a small bit of his own energy into the tree.

‘What are you doing?’ Hisato asked once he realized his hands were glowing a faint pink color.

‘Assisting in releasing your energy. You might need it.’ Taizo said.

‘What exactly does that mean?’ Hisato asked curiously.

‘It means you can tap into energy as a defence should the need arise, or it can be used offensively,’ Taizo said.

‘Like power? Something like what my grandfather had?’ Hisato muttered.

‘Yes. Although I don’t know what abilities your grandfather possessed or even your father, you, as his heir, should have similar skills.’

‘I have never seen my father use any powers.’

‘Really?’ Taizo quipped. ‘Interesting.’ Heizo should have developed his abilities during his life. Why did his father not use his powers?

Hisato and his brother walked through the brush until they came to a small clearing with a small stream nearby. They were close to the mountains but not too close for them to be discovered by any lurking youkai.

‘Now what?’ Hisato asked Taizo.

‘Make camp and wait for nightfall. Then you should be able to search for tracks showing you where they went with your parents.’ Taizo said.

If at all possible, Taizo wanted to discover why Heizo never used his energy. The only way for him to discover that they would need to find Heizo alive.

‘What about Hisanori?’ Hisato asked, spreading a small blanket and waving his brother to sit. Rummaging through the bag, he pulled out a few dried-out hunks of meat.

‘Is he trustworthy enough to leave alone without wandering away?’ Taizo asked, closing one eye.

‘I think he would be too scared to go far.’ Hisato rolled his eyes.

Taizo shook his head. Silently, he cursed Heizo for not minding his children or at least ensuring they knew how to protect themselves. ‘Do you or your brother know how to use weapons?’

‘No, that was why I was going to training after you woke up.’

‘I didn’t wake up.’ Taizo snorted indignantly. ‘You woke up, but I was always awake.’

‘Oh.’ Hisato smiled.

Something wasn’t adding up. If there had been a youkai takeover for years, why on earth would Kin’ya or Heizo not focus on ensuring their children knew how to defend their homes and families? ‘How long has this battle been going on for?’

‘I don’t know. Since I can remember. We came to the island to escape it all, but Dad said it followed us here.’ Hisato said.

’So why do you or your brother not know how to defend yourselves? Why would your father not have used his youki to ensure your safety?’ Taizo frowned.

‘Grandfather always did that. But you saw what happened. They killed him like it was nothing.’ Hisato said.

Taizo growled in frustration. Now, he disliked missing what had happened after his first host had died. Turning to the tree, he touched the trunk and probed his host’s memories. Images appeared all around him, but he stopped when Hisato cried out as though in pain. ‘What’s wrong?’

Hisato didn’t have to explain; Taizo could see it clearly. It appeared that he could only delve into his host’s memories so far before it caused his host injury. ‘Dammit!’ He cursed loudly. Taizo was now angry, and he crossed his arms over his chest. He needed to discover exactly what happened in the years he missed after Sashiki died.

‘What did you do?’ Hisato growled as he placed his head in his hands.

‘I’m Sorry. I was looking at your memories. I was unaware that they caused you pain,’ Taizo admitted.

‘Well, don’t do it again. Whatever you missed, you must wait until I review the books you told me to grab.’ Hisato snapped.

Taizo sighed. ‘So explain to me why your father never used his abilities. If there is a youkai war, would it not make sense to use your powers to ensure the safety of your people and family?’

‘How should I know? You’ll have to ask him if we can rescue him from those beasts.’

Taizo shook his head.

* * * *

Taizo carefully watched Hisato inch his way closer to the youkai encampment. He had spent a few hours instructing his host how to ensure stealth and restrained movements when approaching enemy territory. Hisato had originally wanted to storm into the camp and rescue his parents, but Taizo had reigned him back from the reckless urge to a more sophisticated and practical one.

Hisato had sat for hours on the edge of the camp, watching and listening while maintaining an upwind position in case there were youkai with extremely sensitive noses. The other matter was his host had no battle experience or stealth. If Hisato were to be discovered, he would be captured and most likely killed. Taizo was somewhat thankful that Hisanori had been convinced to remain behind and hidden in the trees.

Hisanori was unhappy about being left behind but had chosen to stay hidden after the not-so-delicate descriptions should trouble arise.

‘I think they are holding the prisoners closer to the center of their camp.’ Hisato said to his inner spirit.

‘And how do you propose to sneak in undetected?’ Taizo snorted.

Hisato sighed. ‘I could camouflage myself in foliage.’ Hisato glanced around him at all the trees and bushes.

‘Oh, sure, like a moving bush or tree will be something of the norm.’

‘Good point.’ Hisato rolled his eyes. ‘What would you propose?’

‘Maybe wait until nightfall so you can stick to the shadows.’

‘They could be torturing them or killing them as we speak, and your advice is to wait?’ Hisato growled.

‘That is exactly my advice. You are untrained in battle, not wed; you have no heirs. What do you hope to accomplish if you go running in there now? Think of your little brother who has not even woken his inner spirit. He would be left defenceless and probably killed if he were to be discovered.’ Taizo snapped.

‘Can’t I just borrow your powers and go in?’ Hisato asked with a heavy, frustrated sigh.

‘I’m sure you could, but I highly doubt your body could handle the surge of power that flows through my veins.’ Taizo snorted.

‘Well, we won’t know unless we try.’ Hisato rolled his eyes.

‘No.’ Taizo retorted firmly, leaving no room for argument. His host, however, did not take the subtle hint.

‘Aren’t you supposed to assist me in life? I thought that was the purpose of an inner spirit.’ Hisato grumbled.

‘I am, but not in exchange for your life or honor. You not only have to think of your own life and how you live it, but my life depends on how you live yours.’ Taizo said.

Hisato frowned. ‘I thought you were just my spirit guide. Sort of like a conscience.’

‘In a way. Do you think I was just plucked out of thin air? I was assigned to guide you through life, helping you maintain compassion and dignity to achieve great things. If I lead you astray, it affects my life when my task is complete.’

‘Oh.’ Hisato remained quiet until the sun dipped below the Mountains, and when night hit, he edged forward as quietly as he could.

‘Look to your left. Do you see that outcropping of rock?’ Taizo said.

Hisato nodded, too afraid that he would be overheard if he even thought of words.

‘Go there. It appears as though it will grant you a good vantage point.’

Hisato maneuvered through the trees, inching closer to the tents set up in all directions. He quickly dove behind the rocks, breathing erratically.

‘Breathe.’ Taizo snorted.

Hisato took a few long, slow breaths to calm his racing heart and poked his head around the rocks. He scanned the area and saw several large tents in the middle of fifty or so smaller ones. ‘Alright, so if they are held in these tents, how do I free them and make my escape?’

‘There is only one sure way. You find your father and pray he has honed his powers. I doubt there will be an easy way out of this mess.’ Taizo narrowed his eyes and also scanned the area for hidden dangers.

Hisato gulped. ‘My grandfather was the only one I ever saw who used magical abilities, which was rare. You saw how that big monster moved.’

Taizo sighed. He certainly didn’t need to be reminded of that. The rage he felt flow from Kin’ya when his grandson was killed had almost fueled his own to release. It was like a fire burning out of control and oxygen being dumped onto it. ’Let us hope that Heizo learned his own skills.’

‘If this doesn’t work and my father is already dead?’ Hisato almost choked at the thought.

‘Then all I can advise is for you to save as many as you can and get out as quickly as possible.’ Taizo closed his eyes.

Hisato took a long breath before he slipped around the rocks and literally crawled towards the closest tent. After a few long, painstaking minutes, he slipped into the backside of the tent. Thankfully, there were no guards. He allowed his eyes to adjust, and his mouth fell open at all the bound bodies. Most had bled out, while some still breathed, although very laboured. ‘I don’t think they will make it.’ He moaned.

‘Before they notice you, go to the next tent. You cannot be bogged down by those who are already beyond help.’ Taizo hissed.

As he searched tent after tent, Hisato started to lose hope, but he almost gasped when he smelled his mother’s scent. ‘Mom!’

Taizo urged him to go to the tent. ‘Carefully. That youkai had been after your family in particular, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they were guarded.’

Hisato nodded and steeled his nerves, slipping into the tent as quietly as possible. Almost breathing a sigh of relief, he saw his mother bound to a large wooden shaft and his father lying unconscious a few feet away. Most of the captives in this tent were the elders and a few high-borne.

‘Now, as quickly as you can, untie them. Your mother first, and then get her to help free the others.’ Taizo said.

Hisato nodded and tip-toed over to her.

His mother turned her head, and her mouth dropped open in shock and instant fear.

Hisato shook his head and placed his finger to his lips. Pulling out his stone dagger, he cut her ties and handed her another weapon he had taken from his home. Mouthing, he said, ‘Free the others.’

Her hands shook as she took the dagger and tried to push him towards the exit. He barred his teeth at her and firmly pointed to her, focusing on freeing the prisoners.

Taizo had an uneasy feeling. Why would they keep the prisoners without guards? It didn’t make any sense to him. ‘Keep your senses on high alert. Something isn’t adding up.’

Hisato cut the rope around his father’s wrists and ankles. ‘I am unsure what senses I have that would alert me of danger.’

‘You have an acute sense of smell, hearing and sight. We will develop those later.’ Taizo pushed some of his energy into the tree to grant his host a heightened sense of smell and sound.

As some of the prisoners started moving, the rustling of clothing caused Hisato to snap his head toward them. He quickly placed his finger to his lips, his eyes narrowing. The anxiety that ran through Hisato as he helped his father into an upright position almost made him feel lightheaded.

As though he could feel the tension, Heizo slowly opened his eyes, holding back the sound of pain that threatened to escape his lips. Hisato mouthed, ‘Thank the Gods.’

Heizo frowned and winced as his injuries were pulled as he moved. Shaking his head, he firmly pointed to the exit of the tent.

Hisato drew his brows together in anger and shook his head in response. He pulled his father up and went to the tent’s exit. His mother and several of the elders had already slipped out. Now, it was time to get out as quickly as possible.

Hisato waved everyone to the rock outcropping, slowly pulling his father with the group. It wasn’t a large group, but roughly ten, including his mother and father, had been freed. As soon as they rounded the bend, Heizo snarled, “What were you thinking?”

“Shush. Until we are away from here, stay quiet.” Hisato hissed.

Heizo frowned and clenched his teeth in anger.

It didn’t take them long to slip through the trees, and almost immediately, Hisanori raced out of the bushes and into his mother’s arms.

“Oh, I had feared the worst.” His mother cried, falling to her knees.

“We can’t stay here,” Hisato said, shifting his father more comfortably around his shoulders.

“You shouldn’t be here at all!” Heizo snapped.

“Well, according to great grandfather’s spirit, we had little option since you didn’t teach us how to release our powers,” Hisato growled.

Heizo sucked his breath in sharply. “You have my grandfather’s spirit?”

Hisato furrowed his brow.

His mother, Nene, snapped her head over in their direction. “Oh, Gods.” Her hands went to her mouth.

Heizo slid off his son’s back, “You need to get out of here now. It’s that spirit they want.”

Taizo felt chills rush through his pools at the news. ‘Me? What on earth for?’

“Hisato, listen to me,” Heizo said, gripping his son’s shoulders. “You must stay hidden, run, get out of here and forget about this place. If we can manage, we will find each other again. Your life and your spirit’s life is in grave danger.”

Taizo listened, trying to comprehend why he was the one they were after. ‘Ask him how they know that spirit is still alive.’

Hisato placed his hand on his father’s arm. “Dad, how do they know that it is still alive?”

“I don’t know how they know, but they know. They immediately knew I had other sons because they didn’t find it in your older brother’s. Somehow, they know.” Heizo said.

Taizo narrowed his eyes. ‘You tell him we need to stick together. If this thing is hunting your family, our best possible chance is to stay together.’

Hisato nodded in agreement. “We are staying together.” Turning to the small group, he said quietly. “Take a minute to collect yourselves, then we leave.” Shooting his father a glare when he went to protest, he said, “Together!”

“They will hunt us down! Do you honestly think they were not expecting this? Why do you think there were no guards? This is a game for them. The God Susanoo is on a warpath searching for that spirit; why, I have no idea.” Heizo said weakly.

Taizo felt chills run through his veins. That name. ‘I know that name.’

Hisato frowned, ‘how?’

Taizo went to open his mouth but was instantly silenced as thousands of images flooded the pools—images of his parents, siblings, and enemies. ‘Oh, Gods!’

‘What?’ His host asked.

Taizo’s knees weakened as he watched the images flash through the pools. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw his mirror image with his younger brother. Susanoo knew his name, his abilities, and his weaknesses. Fear, rage and horror flooded his veins, and Heizo hissed, pulling his hands back from his son.

“Hisato?” Heizo whispered.

Hisato shook his head, “It’s not me. It’s him.” He tapped his head.

If Susanoo were searching for him, he would be searching for all his rivals, who were housed in various individuals. There was no way for him to send any kind of warning to his parents, and he couldn’t warn his siblings of the danger that hunted them. Susanoo could have easily discovered who housed him just by uttering his name. His host and Taizo could have been obliterated just by a mere utterance of something as simple as his name. He shuddered at the thought.

Now that he thought about it, Susanoo could have sabotaged his twin in the first place. Was that why he was now housed in his twin’s bloodline? Had Susanoo caused him to be placed in the wrong host to begin with? Had his parents already known what had happened, and that was why they had to correct the error? Now, everything was beginning to make sense.

‘We have to move. Now!’ Taizo growled.

Hisato jerked at the unexpected command. ‘Why, what’s wrong?’

‘If it’s Susanoo hunting us, it wouldn’t matter where we go; he will find us. But I doubt he would risk his place or powers to involve himself directly. No, he would hire someone to do it for him. This way, he can keep his hands clean.’

‘Why would the Gods be angry at you?’

‘The Gods aren’t angry at me, you, or your family. He wants my death because he feels as though I am a threat to his ascension.’ Taizo said. ‘Susanoo is the only one I can think of who would be bold enough to attempt such a thing.’NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

‘Just because you’re housed in me? That’s why my family is being hunted?’

‘Partly.’ Taizo wasn’t sure he should mention that his twin had been their great-great-great grandfather. Without the flashes of images, he wouldn’t have known himself.

‘What are you hiding? If this God is hunting my family, I must know why.’ Hisato said angrily.

‘He fears the power your family can call on. Because I am your spirit, you can call upon powers only he could dream of.’

‘I don’t understand.’

Taizo sighed. ‘Your family houses the powers of Fujin, and because of me, you also have the powers of Raijin.’

Hisato frowned, confused. ‘So you’re the God Raijin?’

Taizo winced, ‘In a manner of speaking.’

‘But they depict you as a great big monster.’

Images of the God flooded the pools, and Taizo snorted. ‘I suppose I could take on any image I wished, but I prefer the one you saw when you woke in the pools.’

‘Okay, but how would we have the twin Gods of Thunder and Wind powers? I only have one spirit, ’ Hisato said, rolling his eyes.

‘Because of your great grandfather, Keizo.’

Hisato’s frown deepened, ‘Are you saying he was a God?’

‘I am. One of the fallen ones.’ Taizo winced. ‘He was my twin.’

Hisato’s mouth dropped open. ‘So it wouldn’t matter if we run and hide; our family will be killed because of the blood that flows through our veins.’

‘Exactly. You need to hone the skills you were graced with and learn to fight and defend your family. That is why I am so surprised your father never used his.’ Taizo shook his head.

‘So let’s just kill them now.’

‘No, you are not trained yet. You would be killed faster than you can summon even the simplest abilities. Not to mention, you have never even used your powers. If you try to use too much, you can deplete not only your energy but mine as well, and you will die of exhaustion. Then there is the issue of controlling those abilities.’ Taizo shook his head. ‘You need to lay low and focus on training.’

Hisato growled in frustration. ‘If you are some mighty God, you should be able just to allow me to use these skills.’

‘If you go around killing innocent people or those not attacking you, you would be dishonored, and you would be sent to the furthest reaches of darkness. Remember, it isn’t just your life you protect, but mine as well.’ Taizo snapped.

‘So you’re telling me I have to let those monsters get away with killing my brothers?’

‘That is not what I am saying at all. I am telling you to train first, learn to defend your family, and then face these monsters face to face with the fury you are capable of—just not right now,’ Taizo growled. ‘The last thing you need is to release your energy before you can control it and blow a hole in the world or create a devastating event that will destroy everything you hold dear.’

Hisato shook his head, frustrated, “Come on, let’s go.” He snarled.

Heizo went to protest, but Hisato turned around angrily. “No, you don’t get to give commands. You should have told us we housed abilities that could have saved us from this attack.”

Heizo frowned. “What abilities? My father could conjure up magic, but it was scarce at best.”

‘Magic? Pfft!’ Taizo snorted. ‘Magic has nothing to do with what you are capable of.’

Hisato raised a brow as he helped his dad out of the clearing Hisanori and he had made into a camp. “Is your inner spirit not giving you advice?”

Heizo frowned, “I have never conversed with my inner spirit. Are you saying you can talk to it?”

Taizo whirled around. ‘Seven Hells!’ he cursed. Heizo should have already formed a bond with his spirit, but he had never talked to it? Now, he really needed answers.

Hisato blinked at his dad for several long minutes before returning to the path. ’We should get off the island.”

Heizo shook his head, “The mainland is worse.”

The amount of frustration that flowed through Taizo was enough to cause a pink glow to illuminate Hisato’s body, and Heizo struggled against the tight hold his son had on him. “What in all the world?”

Hisato rolled his eyes, “That’s been happening for a few hours already. It’s him.”

‘Damn right, it’s me!’ Taizo cursed, ‘Did your father or even your grandfather never read Sashiki’s journals?’

“He wants to know if you ever read great Granddad’s journals.”

Heizo stopped and stared at his son, “How do you know about your great-grandfather? He was dead long before you were born.”

Taizo frowned, ‘Does he seriously not know how the inner spirits work?’ He was now dumbfounded.

Hisato chuckled, ‘It seems as though you and I will be educating my dad on certain things.’

Taizo snorted. ‘This is going to be a long few days.’ He moaned.