Darkness echoed throughout the corridors of the palace. “Orochi is toying with us.” Ryoma said. “He means to extinguish the torches leading into the throne room so as to disorient us and let fear creep into our souls. I shan’t allow that, vile snake.”

  Ryoma grabbed the quartz tied to the nearest torch and struck it with his katana. Sparks flew off the metal and onto the torch which lit up the pitch-black hallway. “Would you like me to carry that torch?” Himiko asked. Ryoma shook his head and said, “There’s no need.” He dipped his weapon into the fire and drew back a blazing sword. “This is the power of the ofuda.” He said. “I can feel it coursing through me.”

  By the blade’s light, Ryoma and Himiko traveled through the labyrinth that was the imperial palace. At first, the practical notion that demons may lurk within the shadows occurred to the duo, and they treaded carefully with each step a lingering note in the silence. However, as time passed, it seemed as though the halls truly were empty and concealed no threats.

  “I think we’re alone.” Himiko said. “We haven’t run into any demons since leaving the courtyard.” Ryoma pondered the statement, thinking it couldn’t be true yet unable to refute it. He eventually said, “The bulk of their forces must have met us in the first wave of defense. What a fool Orochi is for not preparing a second line.”

  With a sense of solitude, Ryoma and Himiko continued on their journey through the maze. Before long, they came across the royal bed chamber. The samurai paused and shed a tear. “Empress Haru,” he said to himself, “I’m so sorry I failed you. I won’t fail a second time, I swear it.” Himiko grabbed his hand softly and said, “She knows you won’t, Ryoma. And we won’t fail the emperor, either. Now, let’s continue on to the throne room and finish this.”

  Ryoma nodded and squeezed Himiko’s hand tightly, wishing the embrace could last forever. Alas, he reluctantly said, “You’re right. We’re not far, now. Let us hurry!” Together, the two raced down the final corridor until the large door came into sight. Ryoma sighed in relief that they made it through the palace without interference.

  A large object then came hurling through the air toward them, striking Ryoma and knocking him down to the ground. His burning blade skittered across the floor and extinguished. The object wasn’t moving, so Ryoma rolled it off to his side.

  He got up and felt his way around the wall for another torch and piece of quartz. Discovering one such pair, he successfully ignited a fire to examine the object. He became horrified at the sight; it was a woman, naked as the day she was born but, worse still, also starting to decay. He lifted the torch further up the body, hoping not to see what he expected, but nevertheless, he realized the body had been decapitated.

  “My lady!” Ryoma screamed. “Empress Haru, no!” Seeing the rotting, headless corpse felt as though he was experiencing the shock of losing her rushing in for the first time all over again. He dropped to his knees and cradled her nude form like an infant.

  Himiko, on the other hand, was more inquisitive than shocked. “What threw her body, anyway?” She asked. As soon as the words escaped her lips, she felt thick cords wrap around her hands and feet. She understood immediately that the substance was hair and she exclaimed, “Sayako! Let go of me!”

  Sure enough, Ame stepped out from behind a pillar and giggled. “I think not.” She said as she hoisted Himiko up into the air by her extremities, causing the shrine maiden to drop her gohei in the process. Ame laughed, picked up the weapon, and asked, “You can’t perform your lightning magic without this, can you, darling?”

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  Himiko wanted to protest, but realized she couldn’t counteract Ame’s powers. Instead, she hung in midair, splayed like a whore against a nearby window pane. Ryoma, meanwhile, looked around for his katana. He spotted it behind him and moved to retrieve it, yet Ame ripped the torch from his grasp with her locks.

  “Oh, no,” Ame said, “you won’t be using that apparent fire magic of yours either. You’re simply going to stand there and watch as I tear your little bitch limb from limb!” She began laughing hysterically as Ryoma racked his brain for some sort of strategy. Sadly, he saw no method of bringing down their foe.

  Himiko began crying out in pain as Ame started pulling her in different directions. Clouds outside began dispersing and the full moon revealed itself to the group in the corridor. Ryoma took the slightest solace that if his companion had to die, she could at least bask in the thing she loved one last time.

  Bathed in the moon’s glow, Himiko stopped wailing. In fact, she became utterly silent and still. Ame took note of her victim’s serenity and asked, “What happened? Why aren’t you screaming?” Himiko did not answer. Instead, a figure began appearing behind her in the light. It shimmered at first and was featureless, but eventually came into view.

  The apparition turned out to be a golden maiden, the most beautiful image Ryoma had ever seen. She was translucent, as though fused into the moonlight itself. In that moment, he realized she was the spirit of the celestial body herself. “Kaguya,” he exclaimed, “goddess of the moon!”

  “Impossible!” Ame exclaimed. “I won’t stand here and let you say that the moon goddess has appeared in this very moment.” Himiko ceased her silence as her head bolted upright so she could look the succubus in the eye and said, “You misunderstand, Sayako. I misunderstood as well for the longest time, but I know now. I know the reason I’ve been transfixed by the ivory beauty my whole life. Kaguya has been here the whole time, for I am her reborn!”

  The image of Kaguya fused into Himiko, causing her head to slump once more. As it returned to attention, her eyes were burning golden. “And you’ve got one more thing wrong, succubus.” She said. Ryoma couldn’t explain in what manner he knew, but he could almost tell that Himiko had somehow unlocked an unknown potential within herself.

  “H-how am I wrong?” Ame asked nervously. Himiko giggled as her ofuda surfaced through her chest. She swiftly snapped back to a sterner countenance and said, “I don’t need that gohei to unleash the power of my talisman. I never did.” Without further conversation, lightning bolts erupted from her eyes and streaked directly into the succubus’ head.

  Ame screamed as she was electrocuted and fell to the ground. The shock of the blasts forcibly ejected the succubus from Sayako’s body, leaving the winged wretch defenseless. The demonic extensions of hair burned away, and Himiko gracefully floated down to the ground.

  “P-please,” Ame begged, “don’t hurt me!” Himiko ignored her and nodded to her left. Before the succubus could turn around, Ryoma backstabbed her with his katana. She yelped and fell to the ground, whimpering until she bled out and withered away.