CHAPTER NINETEEN:
❝Sayonara, Samurai❞︎

   "SO TELL ME, HOW'S THE PROGRESS WITH ASKING OUT JOSIE?" Scarlett asked from beside her, red hair moving as the two girls walked down the sidewalk, Dip 'n Dots in their hands. Her eyes landed on a man who was speaking Japanese, yelling at the people in the park, and the two girls were quick to walk another direction.

A sigh fell from Harper's lips as she shook her head. "It hasn't progressed. Besides, she and Landon are dating and that would be incredibly rude. She's so happy with Landon. And that's all that I could ever ask for―︎for her to be happy." She took another bite of her dessert slowly turning her head when she felt Scarlett's burning gaze on her. "What?"

"You're hopeless." Scarlett sighed, not knowing how ironic the word was. "I'm going to walk my ass in there, and tell Josie for you. If I told her that she was the reason we'd broke up, she'd definitely date you."

Harper gasped, slapping her arm. "Out of guilt!"

She shrugged. "Hey, you'd still be together. Besides, she had to know your feelings, seeing as you two shared a kiss on the night of her sixteenth birthday. You know, you could always talk to Landon and ask if he'd be cool with an open relationship, so that she can still date him, but date you as well."

"Jesus, Scar." Harper sighed, closing her eyes as she shook her head. "This is why I don't ask you for dating advice. Because all of it is bad!"

Scarlett laughed. "You're the one that skipped out on school with me, and wanted to hang out. If my parents found out that I'm not in chemistry class right now, they would be so pissed. But, anything for you, Harper Hayes. Plus, I got to miss out on the prep rally, and I hate those cheerleaders." She looked at her watch before she sighed. "Though, I do have to actually show up at school so that I can help ninth graders study."

"I'll walk you." Harper offered. The two made their way towards the school, the conversation flowing before they came to a stop to find Josie, Alaric, Hope, Landon, and a dude speaking Japanese. Harper cocked her head slightly as they all turned to look at her. She pursed her lips before looking at Scarlett. "Talk to you later?"

"Yeah." Scarlett agreed before walking away.

"Did I miss something?" She paused, hearing a slowing heartbeat then walked over to the back of Alaric's jeep and pulling it open to find Rafael lying there unconscious. She hadn't seen him since he had been turned back. "I clearly missed something." She closed the jeep door and placed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows.

"You and me both." Alaric nodded. He pointed to the foreign man standing beside his daughter. "What the hell is going on?"

He said some words in Japanese to which Josie was quick to translate, "He said, 'We came to protect the bonsai-headed boy'. I think." Landon smiled in amusement, before Harper watched Josie exchange an annoyed look with Hope, turning her head towards the man and speaking in Japanese. She turned to look back at Hope. "That's Japanese for, what the hell is she doing here?"

"I think I'm going to go find Scarlett. . ." Harper mumbled, but Landon was quick to grab her wrist, shaking his head and silently telling her not to leave him. She cocked an eyebrow in amusement before turning back towards Josie.

"Just because she's supernatural doesn't mean we can trust her." Josie spoke with venom in her words. "I mean, she shouldn't be here."

Harper frowned. "Josie."

"I am willing to take all the help I can get. Even from him." He pointed towards the man that had sat down and was messing with his knife. "So ask him to tell us everything we should know."

"Kurutta-san." They watched the man stand and stretch before he started speaking Japanese. Josie translated for them, telling the how he was dropped on his head as a baby, went to Samurai school to learn discipline, learned to slay Oni, which were demons―︎demons in which they were chasing. He was a hero.

Eventually, Alaric said, "Josie, the point. Let's get to it."

Josie nodded towards the man to continue. Josie translated. "Kurutta spent months tracking down an Oni that possessed people, moving from person to person by touch. He was just about to kill it when it found it's way into the body of a child and escaped him yet again. He gave chase and caught the demon. But he could not bring himself to harm an innocent child. So, instead, he made an impossible choice and he took the Oni into himself. But it was then that he realized, unlike everyone else who had been possessed and remembered nothing, he was still partly in control of his faculties. He thinks the Oni found it harder to possess his broken mind. His words, not mine.

"He tried to stab himself with his sword, and the Oni wouldn't let him. So he decided to never touch a person again―︎" Josie was cut off, speaking slight Japanese as she snapped her head towards the man before repeating what he said. "So that it could never possess anyone else. And then. . . Malivore, eternity of nothingness. . . deep psychological torture. He came through an ana."

Harper raised her eyebrows. "A what?"

"I think he's talking about a portal." Josie answered.

"Portal?" Hope questioned. "Uh, where?"

"Uh, sorry, the ancient samurai isn't an expert on Mystic Falls geography."

Harper looked at Josie before glancing over to Hope who just rolled her eyes, sighing to herself. Landon spoke up next. "How do we kill the. . . the demon?"

"Uh, with his sword." Josie pointed towards the sword placed securely at the man's side. "It's spelled with a special kind of magic, so if we can just find the Oni. . ." A loud banging suddenly grabbed the groups attention.

"Not a problem." Hope commented.

Out of the back of the car, Rafael jumped out and immediately Kurutta immediately started swinging his sword. Alaric called for the man to stop and when he wouldn't, Hope yelled a spell that sent the sword from the man's hands. Even then he still charged for Rafael. Rafael slammed Kurutta against the bus, causing the man to fall to the ground. The wolf turned to look at them before quickly running away and Josie made her way over towards Kurutta.

Kurutta muttered something in Japanese before Josie turned her head towards them, translating. "He said that could've gone better." They all split up, looking for Raf with Josie and Harper making going to opposite ends of the school in order to put up boundary spells that allowed no one to go in or out without their permission. Josie was with Landon and Kurutta and Harper opted to stay on her own.

Harper huffed, running her finger over the roof of the doorway, muttering soft words under her breath before straightening her shoulders and turning, jumping in surprise when Scarlett was standing there. "Christ! You have got to stop doing that."

"Is there a reason you're running a finger over the door?"

"Is there a reason you aren't helping those kids study?"

"I came to get a drink. You?"

"I―︎" She hesitated, shrugging. "I like the texture."

Scarlett stared at her for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she nodded. "Right. You're weird, have I ever told you that?"

"Maybe."

"Harper." The sound of Josie calling her name caused the two girls to turn their heads. Josie found herself slowly coming to a stop when she saw the unfamiliar brunette standing beside of Harper. "Uh, hello."

"Hi." Scarlett waved.

"Jo, this is Scarlett." Harper introduced. "Scar, Josie."

"You mean the. . ."

"Ex-girlfriend." Scarlett nodded. "That would be me. You must be the one that kissed Harper when we were dating. It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Scarlett." Harper muttered, closing her eyes.

"What? I'm being sincere." Scarlett spoke honestly. "I've heard a lot about you. It's great to finally put a face to a name."

"You too." Josie nodded nervously. She looked over at Harper. "Uh, we found Raf."

"Alright." Harper looked at Scarlett. "Have fun studying."

"You too." Scarlett smirked, pushing the hair from her face as she walked away.

Harper cleared her throat before quickly walking away with Josie following behind her. They made it to the room where Hope was talking to Landon only to find Landon no longer there and blood running down the side of Hope's face. Josie was quick to ask where Landon was whilst Harper made her way over to Hope, gently taking her hand and pushing her face to the side to look at the mark.

"Josie, just give her a second." Alaric calmly spoke, sitting beside of Hope.

"But you said you were gonna help." Josie argued, watching with even more anger as Harper carefully ran her hand along the bruise and blood, trying to heal her. Was she jealous? Was this Hope character trying to take everyone she loved away from her? First Landon, now Harper? "Were you possessed?"

"No." Hope denied. "Landon was."

"That's impossible. How?"

Alaric stood up. "Uh, we thought Raf was gonna pass the Oni onto somebody at the pep rally." He walked over to Kurutta, tilting his head back to reveal his cut throat. "Kurutta must've been possessed after Raf attacked him." He spun the chair Kurutta's body was in, turning it towards the three.

"The Oni waited to be alone with Landon, took control of him and. . ."

"Sayonara, samurai."

"Okay, well, where would he have gone?" Josie asked, glancing towards Harper who was now sitting beside of Hope, pushing the hair from Hope's face as she took a paper towel and dabbed it gently against her skin.

"I mean, my guess is the portal." Hope told her.

Josie shook her head. "Well, we don't even know where that is."

"Wait. Do you have something of Landon's?" Alaric questioned, picking up a duffel bag. "'Cause the three of you could do a locator spell right now."

"Yeah, but that's not mine." Josie waved off.

Alaric opened the bag, pulling out a file. "The sheriff must have left this."

Josie went through her bag, digging something out and then walking over to Hope and Harper, handing the object to Hope. Harper moved and sat on the table as Josie sat on the couch beside Hope. Hope looked at the letter, it was a love note. She went to open it but Josie snatched it from her. "That's not for you."

"Josie." Harper warned, holding out her hands as Hope did the same. Josie reluctantly grabbed both of their hands before the three started chanting. When they found where he was heading the three were quick to run out, leaving Alaric at the school to talk with the sheriff. The three ran towards the park, spotting Landon laying down on the ground, a stab wound at his side.

"Landon!" Hope called his name as they ran over to him, coming to a stop in front of him. Josie kneeled down in front of him and Harper looked over towards the tree, cocking her head slightly when she saw Lizzie chained to it.

Harper pointed. "Are we not gonna talk about that?"

Josie looked towards her sister. "Lizzie, are you okay?"

"No." Lizzie shook her head. "I am super crazy. But at least there's a reason this time." Her eyes glowed for a moment, letting them know that she was possessed. "The demon's in me."

Hope tried to pull at the chains but Lizzie snapped her head towards her and growled, quickly apologizing and commenting about how the two had yet to meet. Hope walked back over to Harper as Josie stared at her sister. "I don't understand. If the Oni is in you, then how are you talking?"

"I don't know, but I can feel it in my head, trying to take over. I don't know how much longer I. . . never mind." Lizzie looked up. "It's gone." She smiled. "You can untie me."

"We're not falling for that, right?" Harper whispered, looking over at Josie.

"I didn't say that." Lizzie was back. "It did. It's still in me so don't―︎" She was cut off again. "Listen to me. I'm fine. We should probably get out of here before we. . ." And then it switched. Lizzie was somehow fighting the demon.

"Where's dad?" Lizzie asked.

"Kurutta fought the Oni for years, okay? If you can just give us a little bit of time, then we can―︎"

Lizzie cut Hope off. "No." She shook her head, tears coming to her eyes. "I can't live like this anymore. Sebastian isn't real. This whole time, I thought I was better, but I have just been seeing things, and hearing things and feeling things that no one else does. And it's scary. Scarier than any demon in my head."

"Lizzie, it's okay, okay?" Josie told her, tears in her own eyes. "We're gonna fix you."

"No. There's no fixing me, Jo. I am just shattered. The pieces are too small to put back together. Tell Dad that I love him. But you have to end this."

Josie shook her head. "What?"

"With that sword."

"Whoa." Hope quickly spoke up. "I know we just met, but there's no way that we are gonna let that happen."

Suddenly Lizzie sat up straighter, her voice was different. "You have no choice. This will not stop until you give me the boy."

"Lizzie," Josie cried, "you gotta fight this thing."

"Fighting is useless. Malivore still lives, and his control over us is stronger than ever. Soon, the likes of me will be the least of your concerns." Lizzie sat back, herself once more. "Distracted during a monologue. Classic villain mistake. Jo, you gotta do this. For me. Okay? It's only a matter of time before you kick my ass in the merge, anyway." She laughed. "And this is better than the merge, because this way you won't have to live with some messed up part of me in your brain forever, driving you as crazy as I am."

Josie turned away from her. "We weren't going to talk about that until we had real solutions."

"Well, maybe this is it." She suddenly cried out. "Josie, it's coming back. Please. You got to do it." She looked over towards Hope. "If Josie won't do this, then you have to."

Josie turned her head towards the sword, walking over to it and picking it up. She grunted. "There's so much black magic in it, it hurts to hold."

"Probably won't feel much better getting stabbed by it."

Josie looked down at the sword. "I can pull the magic out of this, I may be able to get the Oni out of you." She started syphoning the magic, black veins crawling up her skin before she shot out her hand and screamed, sending the black magic towards Lizzie, sucking the Oni out and sending it back into the portal.

"You did it." Lizzie breathed. "I love you."

Josie looked at her tiredly. "You better." And then both of the twins fell over, unconscious. Harper stood there, sharing a look with Hope before nodding her head.

"That's great."

Harper and Hope brought the twins and Landon back. Landon being taken out to the woods and the twins going back to their rooms. Harper sat there in her room, exhausted. She was getting ready to go to bed when there was knock on the door. She yelled for them to come in and Josie popped her head inside. Harper offered her a small smile.

"I won't keep you long. I know you're tired." Josie whispered. "But I just wanted to say thank you."

"You're welcome." Harper answered. "I'm sure there's more you want to talk about but I'm really tired. Is it cool if we talk in the morning?"

"Yeah." Josie nodded. "Night, Harp."

"Night, Jo." And then Josie walked out, leaving Harper to turn off her light and fall asleep.