Obake Read online

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2013 Jamie K. Schmidt

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-288-3

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Natascha Jaffa

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my CTRWA peeps. Thank you for all the love and support.

  OBAKE (sequel to Otaku)

  Romance on the Go

  Jamie K. Schmidt

  Copyright © 2013

  Long distance relationships suck.

  Ashley Conners was spending yet another night all alone with just her hentai manga books for company. Her boyfriend, Tendo Kaisuke was in Japan working on his latest script for their company’s new video game Samurai XI, which meant he was in the zone and wasn’t returning phone calls. When she realized she was just staring at the panel artwork without really seeing the princess being ravaged by the many-tentacled beast, Ashley decided she’d try to Skype Kai anyway. After all, he was no doubt on his computer.

  Even so, to her surprise, Kai picked up on the first ring.

  “Why are you wearing sunglasses inside?” she asked.

  Kai’s long black hair was in disarray and half hanging in his face. The sunglasses hid his eyes from her, but his pale complexion had her stomach in knots.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Koneko,” he whispered.

  Ashley froze, her hand on the mouse, and listened to the rapid beat of her heart. Kai never called her “kitten.” The only one who did was the ghost of a disgraced samurai that had possessed by Kai when he was a little boy. That same ronin had willingly gone to his judgment a few months ago to save her from a lust demon who wanted Ashley as her host.

  “No,” she said. “This isn’t happening.”

  “You are in danger,” he said.

  “Terasaka? Is that you?”

  “Hai.” He took off the glasses. Kai’s normal golden brown eyes had darkened to a deep chocolate brown. Terasaka Kichiemon stared back at her. He had terrified her once with his brutality, but she had also seen another side of him as her lover and friend. Kai hadn’t approved, even though they shared the same body.

  It nearly destroyed them all.

  Until Terasaka made his great sacrifice.

  “You can’t do this. You promised. You’re supposed to be gone.”

  “Get to the nearest Shinto shrine. Now. You must go now.”

  “It’s after midnight,” Ashley said. “Besides, I have no idea if there even is one in Connecticut.”

  “You are not safe.”

  “What did you do?”

  He slid his eyes away. “I did nothing.”

  “You’re lying to me.”

  His head snapped back at the affront. “If you were a man—”

  “I’m not and you’re also a half a world away.” Ashley stuck her tongue out at him. It was childish, but the ronin always brought out that side of her.

  “You need to get on sacred ground. Ground an oni would not dare to trespass on. Go there and call me. I’ll explain when I can.”

  “I want to speak to Kai. Give him back control.”

  Terasaka looked grim.

  “No,” Ashley whispered. “Please . . .”

  “Kai has been taken.”

  “Taken where? Was it Sada?” Ashley didn’t think the lust demon would take over a man, but if she was desperate for a body, she could do worse than Kai.

  “Damn it, Ashley!” he roared. Standing with his fists pressed against the desk, he glared down at the monitor. “You know better than to say her name.” Saying the lust demon’s name three times had summoned her. Ashley just assumed since she had been banished, she couldn’t return. Then again Terasaka had been banished too.

  “What do you mean taken?” Grief welled up in her so strong, she could barely stop the tears and once she started, she’d never stop.

  “Obey me. Trust no one.”

  “I’m coming to Japan.” Screw it. I have some personal time coming. I can even ask for a leave of absence if it came down to it.

  “I forbid it,” he said.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ashley clicked Skype closed.

  She was in the closet, flipping through her wardrobe and trying to remember what the weather was like in Japan, when icy fingers trickled down her neck. . Whirling, she didn’t see anything, but the room was cold enough when she let out a shaky breath, a puff of cloud came out her mouth.

  “Show yourself,” Ashley said, trying to keep her knees from knocking. She brandished a wire coat hanger in lieu of a katana. Her eyes scanned the room, but nothing appeared even though she sensed a presence. Easing over to the corner where she kept her bokken practice sword, she grabbed the weapon and held it in a defensive stance. Feeling the smooth wood handle made her feel a little better, more in control of the situation.

  “Terasaka?” she asked, but in her heart she knew what his presence felt like and this wasn’t it. Terasaka was warmth and sex, with a scent of sweat and leather. She wished he was here. Or Kai. Both were master swordsmen used to dispatching ghosts and demons.

  Something cold and slimy slipped around her ankles and she shrieked. Bringing the sword down, she chopped at the floor and danced away toward the center of the room. She should run. She should grab her purse and get the hell out. Terasaka might be an overbearing ass, but he never panicked in the face of danger. She should listen to him and find a Buddhist temple.

  Guttural laughter filled the room. Ashley tried to clench her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. She couldn’t just leave. Not without her passport or her books – or her clothes. She doubted any temple would take in a gaijin wearing a faded Akira T-shirt and Hello Kitty shorts at this time of night. They’d probably call the cops on her. Or the mental hospital.

  A mist formed in the center of her room. Ashley brought the bokken up into an aggressive stance and advanced on the coalescing mass. When it took the form of a man-sized creature, she lunged into her attack – only to have her wooden sword slide down a ghost katana. Icy shards sparked and fluttered to the ground where the two swords met.

  Ashley stood eye to eye with the ghost of Kai. Only Kai’s eyes glowed red and when he laughed again at her expression, she saw fangs. He was a solid white mass of energy. He resembled a cloudy ice sculpture, dressed in traditional samurai ō-yoroi. Only the face mask was missing, no doubt so she could recognize him.

  “What are you?” she said as the ghost pushed his sword against hers, making her stumble back a few steps.

  Ashley had barely enough time to bring up her bokken to block his follow-up strike. She was toast. Her sensei had called her a talented beginner in swordsmanship. Kai had been taught by a samurai who had centuries of experience. She tried to run past him to get out of her bedroom, but he flowed in front of her and blocked the exit. Swinging wildly, she grunted in exertion while he parried her easily, playing with her like a kitten after a string.

  Tiring of the game, he advanced in earnest. Ashley had to step back or feel that cold, awful blade touch her. He made her retreat toward the bed. Frost coated her bokken and the cold was starting to make her stiff and slow.

  “Don’t you recognize me?” the ghost said. “I have come for you.”

  “Kai, stop this. Please. You’re scaring me.”

  The back of A
shley’s knees hit the bed. Before she could blink, he disarmed her. The bokken crashed against the far wall. Scrambling to get away from him and the breath-stealing cold, Ashley backpedalled across the bed. But he was faster. He gripped her ankle, tugged her closer to him. Everywhere he touched burned with cold fire. She yelped and struggled, but he fell on top of her.

  Cold. So cold. Ashley’s teeth chattered as the numbness crept over every inch he touched.

  “N-n-no,” she stuttered and tried to shake her head, but it hurt to move. Her cheeks were frozen and her eyelids were stuck open so she saw his ghost white head bend to her neck. She barely felt the pin pricks as his fangs sank into her throat.

  She tried to push him away, but the effort was too great. She was slipping away, growing colder as the body on top of her grew warmer. When he lifted his head from her, she saw horror in his now golden brown eyes.

  “Ashley, what have I done?”

  She tried to speak, but her lips wouldn’t move. In the end, she tried to ask the questions with her eyes. She got lost in the sadness and guilt she saw in his and flickered into unconsciousness.

  I hate fainting. My neck hurts. Kai is a vampire ghost!

  ***

  The sky was too blue to be real and the fluffy clouds looked painted on. Ashley sat up and looked around. She remembered this grove of trees she sat in the middle of. It was the dream place she first met Sada when the lust demon had possessed her. Standing up, Ashley noted she was dressed again as a geisha. Her white silk kimono was patterned with gold and red cranes. Pancake make-up pressed upon her face, making her feel painted and unreal. Touching a hand to her auburn hair, she tried to ease the jeweled hair combs, but they were placed tight so not a strand moved out of place.

  She headed toward the garden maze decorated with marble statues warm to the touch. A faint spring breeze rustled the silk around her body, and Ashley had a languorous need to stroll along the cherry blossom path, running her fingers over the exquisite and life-like carvings. Her fingers traced a six pack abdomen of a generously endowed warrior. On the next statue, she daintily circled the pads of her fingers over a crested nipple of a woman captured in the throws of passion. Pulse thrumming at the sensual haze filling her, Ashley knew Sada was here somewhere. However, it wasn’t Sada she saw at the end of the trail, but Kai, looking lost and forlorn.

  “Kai!” Ashley ran to him as fast as her geta would carry her.

  “Gomenasai,” he said, sweeping her off her feet and hugging her tight.

  “What’s happening? Why did you bite me?”

  “Koneko!”

  Ashley looked over his shoulder and saw Kai – no – Terasaka stalking toward them.

  “You do not belong here!” Kai shouted to him, putting Ashley down to draw his katana.

  “Neither do you,” Terasaka said, pulling out his own blade.

  For a moment, she could only swivel her head between them like she was watching a tennis match. Both were dressed in matching haori with the traditional hakamas. All of their garments were in black and they shimmered when they moved. The only difference was the cord holding the jacket together. Kai’s was as red as his eyes had been and Terasaka’s was gold.

  They stalked each other, circling, looking like twins or mirror images of each other.

  “Get out of the way, koneko,” Terasaka said.

  “I’m not going to let you hurt each other.”

  “You have no right to my body,” Kai said.

  “You’re not using it right now.”

  Kai tried for a vertical strike, but Ashley was in the way. “Move,” he hissed between his teeth.

  “No. Tell me what is going on. Why did you bite me?”

  Terasaka’s growl was low and deadly. “He bit you?”

  “She is mine, ronin. I will do as I please with her.”

  “Hold on right there,” Ashley said. “Let’s not get all feudal and clingy. Stay in the modern world or whatever facsimile this is. Put down the swords and let us talk rationally.”

  “Oh, Ashley, how naïve are you?”

  Everyone’s attention turned to the slim Japanese woman, seated on a stone bench. Also dressed as a geisha, she fanned her face with a steel-bladed fan. She was delicate and lovely, each feature perfect as if carved from marble. Her lush mouth smiled seductive secrets as she flirted with her dark brown eyes.

  “How come everyone here has a weapon but me?” Ashley asked.

  Kai used the distraction to body check Ashley away. She fell to her hands and knees hard on the stone path. Metal sang as the katanas clashed against each other. Wincing at the pain in her palms, Ashley got up and sat down with a thump next to Sada, the lust demon.

  “So possess any innocent women lately?” Ashley asked, showing Sada a hole in her silk kimono.

  Sada tsked at the abuse of the garment. “No one is innocent, my dear. You know that.”

  “How are you and Terasaka here?”

  “We’re joined now. Forever together. Never apart.”

  “That’s romantic, in a lust demon meets tortured ghost searching for redemption way.”

  “You’re obsessed with labels.”

  “No, I’m obsessed with pervy manga books. Labels are how I keep everything straight. Like the tortured ghost trying to kill my boyfriend.”

  “They’re both tortured ghosts.”

  “Kai’s dead?” Ashley put a hand to her throat. He couldn’t be. They had so many plans. She never got to say good-bye. No, she wouldn’t allow it. She shook her head. If Terasaka could come back, so could Kai. She’d make sure of it.

  “Death is merely another state of consciousness.”

  “You get off on being cryptic, don’t you?”

  “I get off on a lot of things,” Sada murmured and stroked her hand down Ashley’s sleeve.

  “Not interested,” Ashley said, but her nipples hardened and a jolt of desire hit her deep. Damn lust demon.

  “Would it help if I had tentacles?”

  Ashley grinned. Score one for the lust demon. “It’d help if you weren’t bent on killing me.”

  “You wouldn’t die right away. Just when your body burnt itself out. A lot of nice things could happen in that time.”

  The sword fight went on in front of them. It was obvious the gentlemen had easily forgotten about Ashley and Sada. They were evenly matched. Each one knew what the other would do and countered it. They showed no signs of slowing down. Every thrust and slice was blurred.

  “You want to find a way to stop them, don’t you?”

  “What are you getting at?” Ashley said.

  Sada flashed her fan and cut the pretty silk kimono Ashley wore into ribbons. Ashley sat there in her bra and panties, shivering as the wind blew cherry blossoms across her exposed skin.

  “This is your plan? They’re not even paying attention to us.”

  Sada stood and slid her own kimono off. She was naked underneath. Ashley watched, her throat suddenly dry, as Sada caressed her hand over her own small, pert breasts. Sada’s areoles were dark brown and larger than Ashley’s. She circled a fingertip over them and Ashley trembled as if she’d caressed her. Shaking her head at Ashley’s stunned expression, Sada unpinned the bun and let her black hair cascade down her back.

  “They will,” Sada purred and stalked behind Ashley.

  When Ashley went to get up, Sada’s strong hands on her shoulders pushed her back down.

  “Sit and watch them,” Sada said, sliding her hands down over Ashley’s chest. “You like the way they move, don’t you?”

  She did. Both men had been her lover. They shared the same body, but not the same technique. Terasaka for all his powerful blustering was gentle and loving. Kai was kinky, willing to try new toys and new situations. Although, he’d drawn the line at sharing her with Terasaka, even when they both shared the same body.

  Sada’s fingers unhooked Ashley’s front closure bra. Ashley cut off a sigh as her breasts tumbled free. Taking them in both hands, Sada rolled Ashley’s
nipples. Ashley gasped and let her head fall back on Sada’s chest. Pinching them, Sada let the heavy weight of Ashley’s breasts tug her nipples down.

  “Much more than a handful. No wonder you lead them both around by their cocks.”

  “I don’t swing this way,” Ashley said, feeling herself getting wetter in spite of her words.

  “You do now.” Sada licked the shell of Ashley’s ear.

  The wet darting of her tongue and the pressure on her nipples made Ashley moan. It was just a soft sound that carried on the breeze, yet Kai darted a glance in their direction.

  “Spread your legs,” Sada ordered, massaging Ashley’s breasts.

  Anything to keep that heady pleasure floating through her body. Ashley parted her thighs, shivering at how exposed she was.

  Kai risked another glance and his haori took the brunt of the slice. Ashley wanted to shout a warning, but Sada had come around in front of her, fast as a snake.

  “He’ll hurt him,” Ashley said, feeling dazed and bereft without Sada’s firm hands on her body.

  “Trust me, Ashley. It will all be over soon.”

  Sada knelt between her parted thighs and with a snick of the fan, Ashley’s panties were gone.

  “Oh,” Ashley said in surprise.

  Terasaka looked over this time. “Sada, no!”

  Ashley bolted up right in the bed. She was alone in her room. The cherry blossom grove was a memory that still throbbed in her aching body. She let out a shaky breath, hoping it’d been a weird dream brought on by cheap wine and way, way too many dirty cartoon books. But that didn’t explain why she was under every blanket and comforter she owned. Or why she was naked. Naked? Or the big bandage on the side of her neck. Taking a deep breath, she was happy the temperature in the room seemed back to normal. She, on the other hand, was burning up. Tossing the covers off, Ashley got out of bed. There was a brewing pot of tea and two tea cups set out on her bedside table, and her manga book was closed. A silk ribbon marked her place.