20 - Masanori
Purple flames licked the walls of Ryoka's estate, incinerating painted screens and wooden frames. The building groaned beside Masanori when he followed Ryoka toward the main square, where falling ash replaced the snow. Masanori scanned the courtyard, searching for Kajin, Ichika, and the other children.
The O-Hinagiku statue was reduced to rubble, and Masanori faltered, fighting the rising tide of memories from Lacotl's attack on Tsukiko. All of the buildings adjacent to the yard were ablaze, and an oni emerged from the remnants of the shrine.
Lavender mist draped the yōkai's hulking form, crimson skin rippling with bulky muscles as it raised a tetsubo to swing at a section of the wooden wall that was still standing. Splinters showered around the demon, and then it noticed
