The house fell silent after Rika closed the book. Toshio's final meow had echoed once, then faded into the ink. His page glowed faintly, sealing his sorrow within.
She exhaled slowly, sweat trickling down her forehead. For all his fragmented rage, Toshio's capture was not as vicious as she feared. Perhaps, beneath the curse, he had wanted release all along.
The Saeki residence creaked as though relieved of its burden. Rika bowed her head slightly. "Rest now, child. Your mother is waiting."
With that, she left the house.
---
Hours later, dusk blanketed the city in fading orange. Rika wandered through quiet streets, lost in thought. She replayed Toshio's capture again and again, her grandmother's pages weighing heavily on her mind. The oni. The entity that had slipped away. And her parents.
But her reflection was cut short by the unmistakable sound of battle.
A sharp crack split the air. The sound of chanting followed, mixed with inhuman howls.
Rika froze, then ran. The energy in the air was rancid, thick with hatred.
She turned a corner into an abandoned alley—and stopped.
Keizo and Tamao stood back-to-back, talismans blazing, their weapons glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Across from them, the shadows writhed, and a figure stepped forward.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in tattered clothing that seemed stained with old blood. His eyes glowed with rage. His mouth stretched into a snarl.
Takeo Saeki.
The man who had murdered his wife and son, cursing them into eternity. His hatred was the seed of the curse.
Keizo's arm shook as he threw another talisman. "Damn it, Tamao! He's not weakening!"
Tamao pressed her hands together, her psychic energy creating a barrier against Takeo's onslaught. "I know! His rage is… overwhelming!"
Rika's heart clenched. She had sealed Kayako. She had sealed Toshio. But Takeo—the source—was here, fighting before her eyes.
She couldn't let them face him alone.
Her book pulsed against her back, responding to her decision. She stepped forward.
"I'll help."
Both Keizo and Tamao turned, shock flashing across their faces.
"You again?!" Keizo snarled. "Stay out of this—he's too dangerous!"
Rika shook her head. "You won't win alone. You've seen what I can do. Let's finish this together."
Takeo roared, his voice more beast than human, and surged forward. The ground cracked beneath his steps.
There was no more time for argument.
Rika extended her hand. Reality bent at her command, invisible threads latching onto Takeo's form. He growled, fighting the bindings, but they slowed him enough for Keizo to strike with his blessed blade. Sparks flew as the weapon clashed against spectral flesh.
Tamao shouted a chant, her voice trembling but resolute. Psychic waves rippled, cutting into Takeo's form. For the first time, he faltered, his movements stuttering.
"Now!" Keizo shouted. "Seal him!"
Rika pulled the book forward. Its pages burst open, glowing with power. The spirits she had already captured resonated, their voices whispering in unison.
Takeo snarled, eyes locking onto her. "You… the one who took them… Kayako… Toshio…"
Rika's grip tightened. "Yes. And now I'll take you too."
She slammed her hand onto the page. Reality tore open, threads binding Takeo in chains of light. He screamed, thrashing violently. The hatred in his eyes burned hotter, threatening to break free.
Keizo and Tamao pressed forward, their powers striking in unison to weaken him.
But even bound, Takeo resisted. His voice echoed like thunder. "You cannot erase me! I am hate itself! Kayako's curse was mine! The child was mine! I will never end!"
Rika's eyes narrowed. "Then you'll be mine, too."
The book's glow intensified, swallowing the alley in white light. Takeo's form twisted, stretched, and finally, with one final roar, collapsed into ink. His page burned itself into existence, his name etched beneath Kayako's and Toshio's.
Silence fell.
Rika fell to one knee, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from her chin. The book closed with a heavy thud.
Across from her, Keizo and Tamao stood frozen.
Tamao's lips parted first. "You… sealed him."
Keizo's jaw clenched. He looked at Rika, eyes sharp with something between anger and awe. "We've been fighting for weeks… and you…"
Rika rose slowly, adjusting the strap of the book. "Don't misunderstand. I didn't do it alone. Without you two, I wouldn't have had the opening."
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The alley felt strangely empty, cleansed of the rage that had filled it.
Finally, Keizo turned away, his voice low. "Don't think this makes us allies. You and that book… you're dangerous. Too dangerous."
Tamao glanced at him, then at Rika. Her expression was softer, conflicted. "But tonight… we survived because of her."
Rika gave a small nod. "We'll cross paths again. I can feel it. But remember this—I'm not your enemy."
With that, she walked past them, disappearing into the night.
Keizo's grip on his sword tightened. He watched her go, the image of the book burning in his mind.
"She may not be our enemy now," he muttered. "But someday, she will be."
Tamao looked down at the faint scorch marks where Takeo had stood, then at the direction Rika vanished. Her heart whispered a different truth.
Or maybe she's the only one who can end this.