Chapter 12: The Red Leaf’s Taunt

Seimei took the red leaf, glancing at the writing. “She’s quick.”

“She got into the carriage,” Riko said, worry creasing her brow.

“Yes, she’s challenging me, showing she’ll come for you even with me here. She’s about to make her move.”

“What?”

Seimei calmly crushed the leaf. Red smoke rose, forming the figure of the youkai Red Leaf.

“Ah!” Riko yelped, stumbling back and hitting the carriage wall with a thud.

Seimei chuckled. “I warned you she was coming. Don’t be scared—it’s just an illusion.” He tossed a fan, which passed through Red Leaf’s form and landed at Riko’s feet.

Red Leaf covered her mouth with her sleeve, giggling. “As expected of Lord Seimei. Your courtyard’s great array nearly killed me when I got close.” She turned to Riko with a bright smile, speaking quickly. “Hide well, little one. The hide-and-seek game’s just begun. Don’t let me catch you, or you’ll be torn apart.”

“You don’t have much time left,” Seimei said coolly. “Without Vine, your sustenance is fading.”

“True enough,” Red Leaf said, her smile unwavering, her words speeding up slightly. “Lord Seimei’s impressive, but we youkai survive because of secrets humans can’t know.”

“So, my time isn’t as short as you think.” She tilted her head at Riko, clapping lightly. “Greetings done—let the hunt begin!” She dissolved into smoke.

Riko’s face paled, her palms sweaty. She’d thought Red Leaf, cut off from Vine’s nourishment, would weaken quickly. But now…

“She’s lying. There’s no secret to extend her time,” Seimei said firmly. “If you listened closely, her speech was fast. She’s conserving energy for the illusion. Her time’s running out.”

“Really?” Riko recalled, nodding. “She did speed up twice.” She exhaled in relief. “So, I’m with the shrine maidens by day and you at night—does that mean I’m safe from her?”

“Quite the opposite,” Seimei said, thoughtful. “Youkai, especially hunters, don’t act pointlessly. Red Leaf’s bold taunt means she’s confident. To ensure success, she wants you to lower your guard.”

“How will she do it?”

“Puppets, likely,” Seimei mused. “She’s a puppeteer. With the right puppet, she can get close.”

The carriage stopped at the mansion. Riko, deflated, followed Seimei out.

In the courtyard, two servants whispered in a corner. “Look, the broom’s moving again.”

“Told you when you were hired—it’s the young master’s shikigami. You’ll get used to it.”

“Even so, it sweeps all night, that rustling sound…”

Riko glanced up. A woman in fiery red robes swept with a broom. Sensing eyes, she straightened and smiled warmly at Riko.

“That’s Suzaku, my shikigami,” Seimei said. “She worked under the Kitchen God and loves sweeping.”

Kitchen God? Riko looked again. “She’s gone.”

“Off sweeping elsewhere,” Seimei said, unfazed.

Dinner was inari sushi with tofu skin and eggs, served with pickles and seaweed soup. Heian-kyo’s elites favored vegetarian food, deeming it noble and natural. No wonder everyone’s so thin, Riko thought, rubbing her stomach. This food hardly fills you up.

In Omi, she and Sushi Granny had experimented with tasty dishes—eel rice, hand-rolled sushi, even hometown recipes. But here, content with life, she dared not complain about food.

After dinner, Seimei taught her a new charm: Thunder Summoning. Throwing the charm summoned lightning, tied to spiritual power. With her current level, Seimei said, it’d only paralyze, not char anyone.

But Red Leaf, a wood-type youkai, was weak to lightning.

“Why not fire?” Riko asked, practicing the charm.

Seimei paused. “I’m afraid you’d burn down Heian-kyo.”

Riko blinked. “True, even a spark could start a fire.”

“I’ll teach you fire in the rainy season.”

Riko: “…”

Seimei watched her discard failed papers, nudging a wooden stand with her paper lightbulb closer for better light. “Thunder Summoning is advanced. Wasting baskets of paper is normal.”

Riko nodded, starting a new sheet. She glimpsed Seimei, one hand propping his cheek, the other pinning a struggling paper doll. It flailed in protest, and Seimei’s lips curved in delight.

Since discovering her dolls could work, Seimei had taken several. Visiting his room, she’d seen them fetching water, folding bedding, even wrestling—two rolling from room to room, grappling.

Such… bad taste.

Late at night, Seimei stood to rest, opening the side door to the bridge connecting their rooms. “By the way…”

He paused, remembering something. “Omi’s food must differ from here. I told Suzaku to ask what you like tomorrow. Don’t be shy—she loves cooking as much as sweeping. She makes all our meals.”

Riko froze, warmth flooding her like a hot spring. Seimei had noticed her small appetite and quietly remembered.

Yin-yang classes weren’t daily, held every five or six days. Other days were spent at Ise Shrine.

Deep in the forest, Ise Shrine bustled with people serving the gods. A nearby village supplied fresh ingredients for the maidens. But Riko kept receiving Red Leaf’s messages.

The fiery leaves bore notes: “Saw you again today.” “That girl with pine nut candy—your friend?” “Lord Seimei didn’t pick you up today, but someone in a red skirt like mine did.”

Each leaf screamed that Red Leaf lurked nearby, waiting for her chance.

Hatsuki thought Riko had a secret admirer. “Who’s sending you these love poems on leaves? Odd, though—it’s spring. Where do red leaves come from? Some noble forcing maples to bloom early, picking one daily to write on?”

Riko was floored by her romantic imagination. Love poems? These were death threats.

The apprentice maidens’ exam arrived. That evening, under Seimei’s watch, Riko practiced two hand seals: Barrier and Binding, the latter using surroundings to briefly restrain.

“Good, like that,” Seimei said, glancing at the silk ribbon binding him. He formed a seal, and with a flash, the ribbon shredded.

“What’s that?” Riko asked, startled.

“Cutting Technique,” Seimei said. “Too late to learn now. I’ll draw it for you to study later.” He took a brush, sketching the spell’s path.

“Your current skills are enough for the exam. Don’t worry.”

Riko took the paper, tracing the lines. After a pause, she said softly, “Got another red leaf today.”

“Where?”

“Inside the youkai compendium.”

Seimei picked up the book, its cover now a hungry ghost. He smirked. “New cover? Wasn’t it Shuten Doji?”

“Yeah, they changed it. Girls kept swooning over Shuten Doji, and Lady Saio feared we’d stop hating youkai,” Riko said, still tracing the paper.

“Makes sense. Shuten Doji’s one of the best-looking youkai,” Seimei said, flicking the book. Pages fluttered, revealing a red leaf’s edge.

He read it softly. “Crimson moon, reflecting maples by the river.” He frowned. “What’s this mean?”

“No idea.” Riko, numb to Red Leaf’s threats, set the paper down and tried the seal.

“Not like that,” Seimei chuckled. “Tie yourself up first to test if the Cutting Technique works.”

“Oh.” Riko handed him a long ribbon. “Tie me up then.”

Seimei gave her an odd look, lips curving. “Don’t say strange things at night. I’m off to bed. You’ve got an exam tomorrow—sleep early.” He set down the leaf and left.

“Strange?” Riko muttered, frowning. “Is tying people up at night a thing? Whatever.” She tied her legs, sat on the tatami, and practiced the seal.

Night wind slipped through the window, flipping book pages, bringing a damp scent.

“Wind’s up. Rain coming?” She hopped to close the window. Behind her, a leaf blown onto the desk landed in the open youkai compendium.

It showed a beautiful girl in red robes—Red Leaf herself.