Rain

When she first moved to Japan, American Katie Greene had no idea she would get caught in a battle between the Japanese mafia and the supernatural forces that have governed Japan for most of its history. Despite the danger, Katie is determined to stay put. She’s started to build a life in the city of Shizuoka, and she can’t imagine leaving behind her friends, her aunt and especially Tomohiro, the guy she’s fallen in love with.

But the decision to stay is not as simple as she thought. She’s flunking out of Japanese school and committing cultural faux pas wherever she goes. Tomohiro is also struggling—as a Kami, his connection to the ancient gods of Japan and his power to bring drawings to life have begun to spiral out of control.

When Tomo decides to stop drawing, the ink finds other ways to seep into his life—blackouts, threatening messages and the appearance of unexplained sketches. Unsure how to help Tomo, Katie turns to an unexpected source for help—Jun, her former friend and a Kami with an agenda of his own. But is Jun really the ally he claims to be? In order to save themselves, Katie and Tomohiro must unravel the truth about Tomo’s dark ancestry, as well as Katie’s, and confront one of the darkest gods in Japanese legend.

Praise for Amanda Sun’s Ink:

“The descriptions of life in Japan…create a strong sense of place, and set an exotic backdrop for this intriguing series opener by a debut author.”

—Booklist

“The unique setting and observing how Katie learns to live in…foreign surroundings…make this story special.”

—VOYA

“An enjoyable peek at a world very different from America, yet inhabited by people whose hearts are utterly familiar.”

—Publishers Weekly

“A harrowing and suspenseful tale set against the gorgeous backdrop of modern Japan. Romance and danger ooze like ink off the page, each stroke the work of a master storyteller.”

—Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Fey series

“With smart, well-drawn characters, cool mythology, and a fast-paced plot that keeps you on your toes, Ink is a modern day fairytale that reminds us: Sometimes you need to get a little lost in order to find your true self.”

—Amber Benson of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and author of the Calliope Reaper-Jones novels

“Amanda Sun’s Ink is a captivating story of love, passion, and the choices people make to keep themselves safe. The vivid portrayal of Japan kept me completely intrigued and immersed. A beautiful story!”

—Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate and Asunder

“An imaginative and totally unique debut. Japanese gods, mysterious magics, beautiful boys, and an exotic setting. Ink is a fresh brushstroke.”

—Zoraida Córdova, author of The Vicious Deep and The Savage Blue

“Ink is astonishing. Fresh, vibrant, and impossible to put down. Amanda Sun is now on my must-read list. Very highly recommended.”

—Julie E. Czerneda, author of A Turn of Light

A Junior Library Guild selection

A Summer 2013 Children’s IndieNext Pick

A Chapters Indigo Top Teen Pick for 2013

A Bookish Young Adult Book for Summer 2013

A USA TODAY Young Adult Book for Summer 2013

Rain

Amanda Sun

www.miraink.co.uk

For Mum and Dad, who always believed in me

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Glossary of Japanese Words and Phrases

Acknowledgments

Teaser

Copyright

“Hold still,” Yuki said, threading the thick obi ribbon through the back of the bow. She pulled the loops tight. “Okay, now breathe in.”

I took a deep breath as Yuki shifted the bow to the center of my back, but didn’t look up from my phone.

“How’s that?”

No messages in my inbox. “Looks great.”

“You didn’t even look.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Yuki snatched the keitai out of my hands. “Hey!”

“Ano ne,” she said, an expression which meant we needed to talk. That didn’t surprise me. “You’re starting to look obsessed. Yuu will call you; I’m sure of it. You don’t want to be the needy girlfriend, right?”

I didn’t say anything. How could I? Yuki didn’t know that not being able to get ahold of Tomohiro could mean the Yakuza had him, or the Kami had kidnapped him, or that Tomo had drowned in an ocean of his own sketching. The Kami, descendants of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu, could make ink come alive on the page, although the power came with its own curse—a plague of nightmares and threats, scars carved by the claws and talons of their own feral drawings.

It had been two weeks since I’d almost left Japan, since the revelation that Tomo was one of the most dangerous Kami alive. Takahashi Jun, Tomo’s kendo rival and the leader of the Kami in Shizuoka, said he hadn’t seen anyone as powerful in a long time and wanted him as a weapon to help destroy the Yakuza. He also said that somehow, I was making it worse. I was making the ink in the sketches do strange and deadly things. Tomo lost control when I was around, his eyes vacant and his nightmares worse.