Chapter 8: The Red Leaves Fall

Riko curled tightly under the tree roots, hiding in the shadows.
The chilling sounds of swallowing came from behind.
She knew exactly what they were.

“Eat slowly, Brother.
There’s plenty more.”

Screams mingled with the boy’s gleeful cheers.

Riko buried her face in her knees, telling herself to hold on—Seimei would come soon.

“All chopped up now, Brother can eat well,” Momiji’s cheerful voice rang out.
“Come on, eat it all.
Then I’ll be full too.”

Full too?

Riko lifted her head slightly, her eyes flickering with confusion.

“Mmm, done.”
The boy’s muffled voice came, struggling to swallow.

“Was it good?”
Momiji asked curiously.
“You always eat so eagerly.
Next time, I’ll try a bite.”

“No!”
The boy panicked.
“I’ll eat, you don’t.”

“Brother’s always so kind,” Momiji said lightly.
“Fine, you eat.
I don’t like the smell of blood and flesh anyway.
But youkai need it to grow stronger.”

Gurgle.
A strange sound came from the boy’s stomach.

“Eh, hungry again, Brother?”
Momiji tapped her chin, troubled.
“Two of us really burn through a lot.
Don’t give me so much next time.”

“So hungry.”

“Alright, alright,” the girl laughed.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Ta-da!
A cheerful voice sounded above Riko’s head.
Her heart sank as she slowly looked up.
A red skirt appeared inch by inch before her.

“Here’s one more food,” Momiji said with a grin.

“More here?”
The boy ran over.

Riko scrambled to another tree, spotting an abandoned dagger at her feet.
An idea sparked, and she subtly nudged it under the roots.

“Are you hungry ghosts?”
She asked, stalling for time.

“How could we be those disgusting things?
My brother and I are Vine and Red Leaf.”
Momiji raised her chin proudly.

No wonder, Riko thought—one eats, the other’s full.
Like a starving ghost unreborn.

Recalling childhood, Momiji floated up happily.
“My brother’s the best.
When I was just a leaf, he was a thin vine, climbing the sturdiest trees to feed me.
Even in human form, he still feeds me every day.”

Gurgle.
Vine’s stomach rumbled, and he clutched it.
“So hungry.”

“Okay, okay,” Momiji descended.
“Here’s your meal.”
A crimson leaf appeared between her pale fingers, ready to claim Riko’s head.

“Your brother’s a coward,” Riko taunted, peeking from behind the tree, voice trembling but pushing on.

“What did you say?”
Momiji’s face darkened, her cute features turning ghostly pale, her red lips eerie.

“I’m not wrong,” Riko said, shrinking back.
“He can’t do anything but whine ‘hungry, hungry’ like a useless thing.”

“You dare insult my adorable brother?
Unforgivable!”
Momiji flew up in rage.

Riko cowered behind the tree, praying, Let Vine come, let Vine come.

“I-I can do it,” Vine said softly, looking up.
“I can hunt myself.”

“Wow, Brother’s amazing!”
Momiji cupped his face.
“But for this arrogant one, I want to teach her myself.”
She glanced at the girl behind the tree.

Riko shrank further.

“I can do it.”
Vine seemed determined not to let anyone mock his sister, even if just food.

Seeing his resolve, Momiji relented.
“Fine, but call me if you can’t.”

Vine nodded, stepping toward Riko.
In the dim light, his eyes gleamed with hunger, sharp claws sprouting from his fingers.

Riko feigned paralysis, staying behind the tree.
It wasn’t hard—she was terrified.

Nearing the tree, Vine, inexperienced in hunting, hesitated, unsure how to strike.

Two yellow lights flashed.
He clutched his eyes, screaming.
Two paper dolls, clutching lightbulbs, had covered his eyes.

Seizing the moment, Riko grabbed the dagger and stabbed his neck.

She’d never been so decisive, pinning Vine down and slicing.
The blade made a wood-cutting sound, green liquid spraying like a fountain, soaking her.

Momiji blinked, frozen, staring as if stunned.

Two seconds later, she screamed, the barrier shaking like a bursting soap bubble.

“Brother, Brother!”
She lunged for Vine, but he shattered into light, absorbed by the Hontsubo Bell along with Riko’s bloodstains.

Riko even heard a satisfied sigh from the bell.

“I’ll kill you!”
Momiji exploded, her limbs turning vermilion, pulsing with scarlet veins.

Countless red leaves surged like a blizzard.
Riko clutched the bell, closing her eyes.

She’d done all she could; this time, she might not escape.
Maybe death would send her back, she consoled herself.

“Here’s another one, Young Lord!”
A rough voice boomed above.

Riko’s heart stirred, and she opened her eyes.
Clang, clang!
Red leaves pierced into solid ice like blades.
Ice?
Why was there ice before her?

A figure landed.
Riko looked up, seeing Seimei’s face, angrier than ever.

He released several talismans, which shot up, burning and chaining Momiji in a fiery cage.

Without looking back, uncaring if the talismans hit, he checked Riko for injuries.
Seeing only mud on her clothes, he exhaled.

Two more figures leapt down—a stranger in his middle years and a young man with weary eyes.

The older man carried a long blade.
“Seimei, what’s the rush?
Kill a few more youkai, and the Emperor will reward you with rice?”
He turned quickly.
“Young Lord, do we kill this one?
If not, Seimei will.”

“No killing,” the weary-eyed youth said, glaring at Seimei with disdain.
“It’s been touched by some people.”

“Fine.”
The older man, used to this, broke the barrier to leave.

“No one leaves!”
Momiji shrieked, her tattered red robes swaying, eyes blazing red, unable to discern friend from foe, only craving to slaughter all humans in the barrier.

“Such a hassle.”
The older man sighed, turning back and swinging his blade, unleashing a fierce aura.

But faster were the five fiery chains chasing Momiji.
With a boom, they formed a giant fire hand, crushing her in its grip.

Countless red leaves burst out, incinerated instantly.

“It’s a fake.”

“Of course it’s a fake.”

The weary-eyed youth and Seimei spoke simultaneously—one sneering, the other calm.

“Crafty youkai, a puppeteer too,” the older man said, tugging his lips.
“All these barriers—what was she after?”

“Hunting,” Seimei said.
“This Red Leaf youkai grows with Vine, a symbiotic pair.
If Vine dies, Red Leaf fades.”
He frowned.
“Odd, all barriers are down, but where’s Vine?”

Because the bell ate him, Riko thought.

The barrier vanished like a popped bubble.
Sunlight flooded the cherry grove, passersby oblivious to what happened.

“Young Lord, let’s go.
We must report this to the clan head.
Heian-kyo’s in for unrest,” the older man said.

The weary-eyed youth nodded, but then Minamoto no Hiromasa ran up.

“Genji Hatsu, why are you always where Seimei is?
Stalking him?”
He turned to Seimei.
“You just ditched me in the woods!”

“You can handle yourself,” Seimei said with a light laugh.

Genji Hatsu glanced lazily at them, flicking a flat bundle from the older man’s hand with his short blade, tossing it to Seimei.
“You dropped this.”

It was the bloodied robe’s wrapping.
Seimei had held it since the memorial.

Seimei caught it, but the bundle unraveled, its contents falling.

“My jade!”
Riko gasped, rushing to pick it up.

“Wait.”

Genji Hatsu was faster, snatching the jade fish.
The older man gasped.
“Isn’t that your fish, Young Lord?”

“Mine’s here.”
Genji Hatsu untied his own jade fish from his waist, comparing them—a perfect pair.

“Who are you?”
His sharp gaze scanned Riko.

“You’re a Minamoto?”
Riko looked at his jade, then his name, piecing it together.
“I’m Shimizu Rikako.
Granny said the Shimizu clan’s fallen, so rather than wait for you to break the engagement, we’ll do it ourselves.”

“Great news, Young Lord!”
The older man beamed.
“The clan head’s been searching for the Shimizu, but couldn’t find them.”
Catching his enthusiasm, he coughed, turning serious.
“Indeed, the Shimizu are declined, no match for us.
Good to end it.
Don’t be sad, girl, plenty of fish in the sea…”

“I’m not sad at all, sir,” Riko said with a smile.
Far from sad—she wanted to tap-dance for freedom.

“Where’re you from?
You had a grandmother?”
Genji Hatsu ignored the man, focusing on Riko.

“From Omi.
Granny was eaten by a yamajiji that attacked our village.
Thanks to Lord Seimei, I survived.”

“Where do you live now?”
Genji Hatsu asked.

“With Lord Seimei.”
Riko glanced at his jade fish.
“Here’s your thing back.
We’re done now.”
Relieved, she felt a life’s burden lift, skipping back to Seimei.

“So it’s this Minamoto,” Seimei said with a light laugh.
“I thought it was Hiromasa.”

Hiromasa smirked.
“Told you it wasn’t me.
Now you don’t have to worry.”

“Here you go again,” Seimei said, exasperated.
“I’m above base desires.”

“Yeah, right.”

Seimei ignored him, turning to Riko.
“Let’s go home.
I forgot something important.”

“Wait,” Genji Hatsu said lazily.

“What?”
Seimei looked at him, expressionless.

Genji Hatsu glanced at Riko, then Seimei, smirking.
“This engagement—I’m not ending it.”