Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 7: A Spark in a Blink

"Yesenia, what was that?"

"I don't know. Maybe because of the cloak, I built up static electricity, and when I took the ointment, I got a small shock."

"A shock..." the cat murmured, clearly deep in thought.

"Does it mean something?"

"No, nothing important."

When they returned, Tomoya took the ointment, treated the wound, and said:

"Tomorrow, we can finally leave this place."

No one dared tell him what had happened at the market.

Night wrapped them in peace once again.

Sleep was sweet, like warm honey trickling through her mind, but suddenly something yanked Yesenia from that blissful state. A sharp wave of anxiety flooded her, making her heart pound. Her breathing quickened, and her fingers clutched the blanket. She glanced around quickly, but the small room was as quiet as ever. No movement, no sound—only the calm breathing of her companions.

Her eyes involuntarily settled on Tomoya. He slept deeply, his face relaxed as if no worries plagued him. In the dim light, his sharp features stood out—long lashes casting shadows on his cheekbones, and a single mole beneath his left eye... Strange that she had only now noticed it. She had a mole in the exact same place. Yesenia hesitated. A coincidence? Or...

Before she could make sense of her thoughts, something cold and unnatural touched her hand. She flinched, but it was too late. From the wall—straight from its depths—a long, bony hand shot out and gripped her wrist with terrifying strength. Yesenia gasped, but no sound escaped her lips. Panic surged like icy water as she was yanked backward into the darkness. She tried to scream, but her voice was gone. Her body tensed and refused to move.

In terror, she looked up—and met a stranger's harsh, angular face. A middle-aged man held her tightly, a sinister purpose glinting in his deep-set eyes. With every second, he dragged her further from her companions.

She had been caught. No matter how long or skillfully she had run, the result was the same.

"Now then," his voice was low and cold, cutting through her like a blade, "I'll let you go if you promise not to scream. Not that it matters. We're already far from your protectors."

Yesenia breathed heavily through her nose, eyes wide. Fear pierced every cell in her body. But she nodded, holding her breath, knowing she had no choice. The man slowly released her, though his fingers lingered at her chin, as if to test her obedience.

"Why did you bring me here? Why not just kill me?" Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to take a step back, widening the distance between them.

"My plans changed when I saw who was protecting you," he said, a faint smile curling his lips. "I have a proposal. Complete it, and you'll survive."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because unlike others you've encountered, I'm an honest being."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a strange symbol on his skin—a circular mark with a white sheen, within which a fox's tail spiraled.

"This is the mark of the goddess Inari. A symbol of those called Myōbu, with pride and honor," he declared, watching her closely.

Yesenia swallowed hard but stayed silent.

"You have only one chance to return to your real body. You must do two things," he raised two fingers, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "First: return to your world using the bakeneko. Yes, I overheard your conversation. Second—and no less important—become bait for the nogitsune. When we lure him here, you'll say you're betraying him."

His voice grew thoughtful, as if savoring his own words.

"He's wounded. That works in my favor. But oh, how he threw himself into danger to protect you..." His smile widened, devoid of warmth. Yesenia felt uneasy. What amused him so much?

"He will come looking for you."

"Why do you want to kill him?"

The stranger sighed and began pacing slowly around her, as if studying her from every angle.

"You have no idea what kind of creature you've gotten involved with," he said. "That nine-tailed fox is one of the most dangerous nogitsune to ever live—at least in my memory."

Yesenia tensed.

"It's not enough for him to feed on others' energy—he wants to consume everything. Not only has he killed innocent people, he's killed yokai. More precisely, kitsune. He leaves the other yokai alone."

He paused, relishing her confusion, then leaned closer, looking straight into her eyes.

"But the most horrifying thing," his voice dropped to a near whisper, "he doesn't just kill kitsune. He devours them. Like... a cannibal."

A cold dread seized Yesenia.

"No..." she whispered. "I don't believe you."

But then a memory flashed in her mind. When he had slipped the yakan's heart into his pocket.

Nausea rose in her throat.

Could it... be true?

"Ask him yourself if you don't believe me," the stranger shrugged with a smug grin. "That nine-tailed fox has clouded your mind, and you didn't even notice. You believed him, sympathized with him... fell in love with him."

"I didn't—" she started to protest, but he cut her off.

"Don't deny the obvious!"

It was absurd. Madness. But arguing was pointless.

"Why did you want to kill me?" she asked, voice dull.

"You see, girl, the way you ended up here was a ridiculous accident," he said, shrugging. "From what I learned, you fell and hit your head on a stone. Turns out that stone was once part of a temple where people worshipped and made offerings to the goddess. Naturally, it was soaked in powerful energy. So, the goddess ordered you to be removed, and she handed the task to me."

Yesenia clenched her fists.

"What harm did I do?"

"It's about balance. That's how our world works."