Sohei were in the city. An uji of them, hiding somewhere out in the streets. The lights of downtown sparkled below her, transforming that part of the city into a gaudy jewel. Normally, it was a view she enjoyed. Now, Zhizhu snarled silently as she sat on her balcony. She glared off into the distance, as if even now one of them were perched on top of some building. For all she knew, they were. There was at least one with a winged demon form.

From her glimpse of that one, she was willing to bet that he was of her own dharma. He was likely to be a ferocious opponent. Her fingers flexed, although they lacked the wicked claws of her demon form. Damned Sohei. Why couldn’t they just have stayed out of Anjiro?

It was only to be expected, though. Anjiro had long been a contested territory, and perhaps it was only luck that had led the Yamabushi to send agents before the Sohei. Whatever it was—luck, destiny, or superb planning—her uji had a distinct advantage despite being outnumbered. They had spent their time building resources and influence that the Sohei lacked.

There would be a fight, but Zhizhu was unsure how soon it would come to that. It was more likely that the two ujis would dance around each other for a short while, testing the other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Zhizhu refused to believe that the Thousand Ri Scouts would meet with failure. Failure in this instance would most likely mean death, and Zhizhu didn’t plan on dying until she had reached enlightment. A cold thought blew through her, chilling her more thoroughly than the autumn wind. Her enlightenment would lead her down a path of wickedness, a path of pain and destruction and defilement. It was a path that ran at direct odds with at least one member of her uji.

Sooner or later, Zhizhu would need to leave the uji. Certainly not until the Sohei were dealt with, and possibly not for some time after that. Yet she knew that the time would come, and the thought hurt nearly as deeply as when she said good-bye to Shin.

Shin. She sank into the cheap plastic patio chair, her thoughts taking another sudden detour. He should know that there were Sohei in the city. Her hand was halfway to her pocket to pull out her cell phone before she stopped herself. She laughed at her herself, a harsh, hollow sound. Strange how quickly a habit could be formed, yet how slowly it died.

Someday she might have to face Shin as well, but that was something she had known from the start. If she could help it, that would be a long time in the future--or never. She didn’t want to fight him, but she would. She’d kill him, if necessary. It wasn’t a thought she relished, yet she was certain as stone that she would not pull back a killing blow. She also knew that he would fight just as fiercely, and be equally as ruthless.

She was, after all, a devil.