Chapter Twelve — Ashes and Echoes

The air in the cave felt strange. Ms. Kelly was winning. Her magic sticks moved very fast and made lines of light. She pushed Ms. Fujiwara back, away from the girls.

But Ms. Fujiwara was not finished. She screamed with anger. She sent out a big push×押す力、衝撃 of purple light. It was like a strong wind. Ms. Kelly’s wall of light stopped it, but the push moved her back for a second.

In that second, Ms. Fujiwara moved her hand again. She sent a fast attack, like a whip×むち of dark light. It hit Ms. Kelly’s magic sticks. Ms. Kelly cried out. The sticks flew from her hands. They fell on the floor near Ms. Fujiwara’s feet.

Ms. Fujiwara smiled a mean smile. “That is sad, Kelly,” she said. She pushed the sticks with her shoe. “If you want them, come and get them. I won’t stop you.”

“No, Ms. Kelly!” Mei screamed.

Ms. Kelly ran toward the sticks. When she was close, Ms. Fujiwara hit her foot on the floor. She said magic words in Japanese: “Gates of Hell, open!”

The floor of the cave broke open between them. A big, deep hole opened. Hot air came up. Far down, there was hot, red lava×溶岩. Ms. Kelly’s sticks were on the other side of the hole, near Ms. Fujiwara.

Ms. Kelly was running fast. She could not stop. She was running toward the hole. Her eyes got big. She was scared.

But then two things happened at the same time.

First: Amelia’s body — with Koro’s soul inside — chewed through the ropes. She jumped and hit Ms. Kelly hard from the side. She pushed Ms. Kelly away from the hole. They both fell on the floor. Ms. Kelly was safe.

Second: Koro — with Hana’s soul inside — also got free. The small dog ran fast, like a rocket×ロケット. Ms. Fujiwara was happy and not looking. Koro jumped and hit her from behind.

Ms. Fujiwara screamed. She lost her balance×バランス（バランスを崩した）. She waved her arms, but she fell into the hole. Her scream went down, down, down. Then it stopped.

The hot air stopped. The red light went away. The earth closed the hole. The fire was gone. Only the smell of smoke was left.

Ms. Kelly was pale and shaking. She picked up her magic sticks and held them tight.

Jintarra watched everything. Now he was very scared. His partner was gone. He was alone with a very angry Ms. Kelly.

“You…” he said. He walked backward. “Niece… you would not hurt me… We are family!”

Ms. Kelly’s eyes were cold. “Family does not use children for bad magic, Uncle.”

“But think, Kelly!” Jintarra said. He talked fast, and he was scared. “We can still do the magic. Together we can control everything!”

“I don’t want that kind of power,” Ms. Kelly said quietly. She lifted her sticks. “Your story ends here, Jintarra.”

But Jintarra moved first. He hit his feet on the stone. His special shoes started to shine. “You will not catch me!” he shouted. The air around him looked strange. Then, with a quiet pop, he was gone. He disappeared×消えた.

The cave was silent. They could only hear their own breathing.

Outside, the moon was changing. The Earth’s shadow was covering it. The lunar eclipse×月食 was at its strongest moment.

When the moon was all dark, a strange feeling came into the cave. Amelia felt light and dizzy×めまいがする. She saw Koro’s body shine. She saw her own body shine too.

Then the feeling stopped.

Amelia opened and closed her eyes. She was looking at her own hands. She was in her own body again! She felt her own arms and legs. She saw an old scar on her arm, from when she fell from a tree as a child.

She looked over. Hana was Hana again — a Japanese girl, looking at her own hands. Then Hana looked at Koro.

Hana ran to Koro and hugged×抱きしめた her. “Koro! You were so brave! You saved us! You saved me!” Tears ran down her face.

Koro licked her face. Her tail was wagging. Then, in a very clear voice, the dog said, “Well, someone had to. That lady was very mean.”

Everyone froze.

Hana stepped back and stared at her dog. Amelia’s mouth opened. Mei gasped. Ms. Kelly’s eyebrows went up high.

Koro looked at their surprised faces, smiled a dog smile, and said, “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”