Kuro’s existence destroyed empires, Yumi had claimed. He never should have believed her.

If he hadn’t, he never would have transformed into his true self, opening up the Imperial family to the Night Parade.

If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been kneeling in the execution grounds, as the Shogun held the blood-stained Kusanagi aloft.

Because Yumi had been wrong.

His existence didn’t threaten the empire. His blood did.

The empire wasn’t the land and people, but the dynasty who ruled them.

Kuro’s blood had just ended one thousand years of the Tendo reign.

Kuro’s blood had allowed the Shogun to claim the Kusanagi.

The Shogun had played them both masterfully. He’d kept Kuro alive after the attack not because he wanted Kuro’s help with the Night Parade, but for this very moment. He hadn’t searched for Ren to kill him either. He’d searched for the sword. With both Kuro and the sword, he’d made himself emperor.

Kuro stared at Ren. He looked so lost, more like a boy than even Daidoji. He stared around at the crowd, and up at the Shogun. The crowd still cheered. And Kuro had done this to him. Kuro had destroyed everything he loved.

Ren didn’t look at him. He didn’t try to rescue him. He only had eyes for his sword. The sword that was no longer his.

“Some despicable and cowardly opponents — I refuse to sully your ears, I refuse to acknowledge them — they claim that I’m only out to snatch more power. To rise above my intended rank, in contradiction to the Way of Heaven,” the Shogun continued. “These defectors only like to listen to themselves talking. They have never lifted a sword for this empire. But I have. I know how onerous, how dreadful, how burdensome the role of emperor and Shogun really is. No one in their right mind would wish these positions on their worst enemies. But the Sun Goddess has chosen me for this duty. And for duty I sacrifice myself so I may lead you in peace for the next one thousand years.”

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The Shogun had more words for the crowd, about the freedom to travel and prosperity for all humans. They loved him. Humans loved anyone who murdered spirits. He was their hero. He’d reunited the empire, freed them from the Demon Lords. He’d free them again. None of them cared for the Tendo, or for Ren.

“Big brother!” Yumi called from behind Kuro.

Kuro snarled. That was just what they needed.

“Sister, I told you to wait in my quarters,” Yusuke said.

“I can’t. You have to listen to me.”

“Of course,” he said. “Another time.”

“No, now. You can’t let him — you have to stop him.”

“The Dark Kitsune is well under control.”

“Not him.” So Kuro now rated a pronoun. “The Shogun.”

“You mean the emperor,” her brother corrected.

“You can’t let him do this,” she said. “He murdered our family.”

Yusuke remained silent as the roar of the crowd pinched Kuro’s ears. Kuro winced, the cut in his neck pulling.

When the roar subsided and the Shogun continued bellowing, Yusuke asked in a perfectly polite voice, “Whatever do you mean?”

“Brother.” She tugged her brother close, judging by his quick gasp. “He uses humans to bait demons.”

Yusuke didn’t respond again, but this time, it definitely wasn’t because of the crowd. The Shogun hadn’t delivered his next roar-worthy line yet.

“He didn’t show up in the nick of time, brother,” she said. “He was waiting for the demons to attack. For them to eat our family. Please, say something.”

But Yusuke had nothing to say.

“You have to stop him,” she pleaded. “He’s doing it again. He’s forcing Undesirables up to a fortress. You have to stop him.”

Yusuke sighed, the sound low but constant, every so often lost under the surrounding humans. “You shouldn’t believe the fox. It’s a good liar.”

“He didn’t tell me,” Yumi protested. “That boy Daidoji did.”

“But it is a lie,” Yusuke said.

“Big brother—”

“The Shogun didn’t set the trap,” he said. “I did.”