Kaein's POV
The knock didn't come again, but the silence it left was worse than any pounding. Three raps, soft voice, sweet scent that was all it took to split the four of us down the middle.
"She's human," Shion whispered, half to herself, half to us. Her eyes were fixed on the paper-thin door, the glow of firelight painting her face in warm gold. "She sounds human."
"She smells wrong," Takechi shot back, already reaching for his sword. He hadn't even blinked since the knock, his whole body locked tight like a bowstring pulled to breaking. "Don't let the voice fool you."
Daichi was slower, as always, steady. He rubbed his thumb along his jaw, studying the shadows on the wall like the paper might tear itself open any second. "Maybe she's both," he murmured. "Human and not. We don't know what we're dealing with."
And me? I was the idiot closest to the door. My back against it, I could feel the faint vibration where she had knocked. It didn't match the storm outside.
Another voice came, faint, muffled through the rain.
"Please… let me in. They're coming."
Shion flinched. "They?" she mouthed, turning toward me.
The scent of plum blossoms drifted stronger. I pressed my palm against the wood, heat of the fire at my back, cool damp pressing from outside.
I cleared my throat. "Who's coming?" I called.
Silence.
Shion glanced at me, her brows drawn. "Ask her something else."
I nodded, swallowed, and tried again. "What's your name?"
A pause. Then: "Hanami." The syllables sounded practiced, like she'd picked the prettiest word she could find.
Takechi smirked grimly. "That's a festival, not a name."
I bit back a curse. He was right.
Shion moved closer, crouching low like she was inspecting something only she could sense. Her hand hovered over the paper, her nose wrinkling. "Too sweet," she whispered again. "Not right."
Still, something twisted in my gut. The voice hadn't been a monster's growl. It had been small, frightened. And that smell yes it was wrong, sure, but it wasn't rot or blood. It was blossoms. Almost soooo pleasant.
Daichi finally rose, brushing dust from his haori. "Let's test her." His voice was calm, the kind of calm that made people follow him without realizing it. "We won't open it right now. Let's see if she slips or not."
Shion nodded once. Takechi grunted approval. I just tried not to look like my knees were about to fold. After almost being kissed by one of these, the tough boy in me was weakening.
I leaned forward. "Hanami," I said, keeping my tone light, almost friendly. "Which shrine do you come from?"
Another pause. Rain pounded harder. Then the voice: "The… big one."
Takechi snorted. "Right. Because every village has one shrine called The Big One."
Shion's eyes narrowed. "Ask her about the storm."
I frowned but obeyed. "How wet are you?"
Shion smacked my shoulder. "Not like that, idiot." Her cheeks were red, though, which almost made the jab worth it. "Ask if she's soaked from the rain."
"Fine, fine." I raised my voice again. "Hanami, are you drenched?"
"No," came the reply. Too fast this time. . "The trees kept me dry."
We all looked at each other. None of us needed to say that the trees were stripped bare, skeletal fingers against the sky. Nothing keeps you dry in a storm like this.
Daichi exhaled slowly. His hand found the hilt of his sword. "Not human."
The words should've settled it. Instead, they left the air colder and heavier.
The knock came again. Softer, and almost playful this time.
"Please," the voice lilted now, "I'm so hungry…"
That was all it took. Takechi lunged forward, blade flashing. In one motion he ripped the door aside, rain spraying in with the wind.
The girl stood there.
Or at least, what looked like a girl.
Her hair hung in damp waves, dark eyes wide, lips trembling with the faintest pout. She looked harmless, shivering in the downpour. But the scent the blossoms hit us like a wave, cloying, dizzying.
And then she smiled.
Her teeth were too even. Too white.
"Trap," Takechi hissed.
She tilted her head, rain sliding down her cheek like tears. "Is it a trap," she asked sweetly, "if you want to be caught?"
Something inside me jolted. My hand was already halfway to my sword when she moved. Not lunging in, not yet. She turned, bolted into the storm, bare feet splashing across the mud.
"Damn it," I snarled. "She's running!"
"Bait," Daichi snapped. "Don't chase her"
Too late. My legs had already chosen.
I was out the door, rain hammering against my shoulders, sword clutched tight. Behind me, I heard Shion curse, Takechi roar, Daichi's heavier steps pounding after us.
The forest swallowed her quickly, shadows twisting between lightning flashes. Her white shift gleamed like a ghost ahead of us, always just far enough to keep us moving.
"Don't lose her!" I shouted, though even I wasn't sure if I meant don't lose her or don't lose yourself.
Shion caught up beside me, water streaking her face, eyes fierce. "This is wrong. She's too fast."
"She's leading us," Takechi growled.
And then the forest split. Two figures broke apart both identical girls, both smiling as they darted in opposite directions.
Illusion.
We skidded to a stop in the mud, panting. Daichi's voice thundered above the storm. "Pairs. Shion, with Kaein. Takechi, with me."
No time to argue. We broke off, Shion and I tearing after the left-hand figure.
Branches slapped against my face, wet leaves clogging my mouth. The girl's shape blurred in the lightning, her laughter tinkling like bells. Too light.
We burst into a clearing, breath tearing our throats raw. The girl stopped. Just stopped standing in the rain, head tilted, smile perfect.
Shion's grip tightened on her sword. "What is she for real?," she whispered again.
And then the demon spoke again.
"You shouldn't have left your house."
Lightning split the sky. For an instant the clearing lit up too bright. And in that flash, the trees around us filled with faces.
Dozens.
All beautiful. All human-looking. All smiling with the same too-white teeth.
Shion's breath caught. My stomach
turned to ice.
The girl stepped closer, blossoms thick in the rain. "We didn't come for you to hunt us. We came… to feed."