It's been months since sixteen-year-old Junya survived his savage battle with the Evil Ones, but now that he's back in San Francisco he's still feeling the effects. His limp is slow to heal, his shoulder aches from the bite that should have killed him, and black poison lingers in his blood, tainting his life energy. The Gatekeepers of Izumo Oyashiro, land of the gods, fear he's been permanently affected and are reluctant to allow him to return to their realm. His own mother, once a Gatekeeper herself, seems guarded and suspicious around him. The only one not keeping Junya at arm's length these days is Shoko - the deadly warrior who dresses like a Japanese schoolgirl- and despite his worries, Junya can't help thinking of ways to introduce this ancient guardian of the gods to modern romance. But when someone in Junya's world begins brutally slaughtering the shamans of the Earth's ancient religions, Junya and Shoko realize the Evil Ones are back, apparently stronger than ever. And without the shamans' worship, the gods grow weak and the gateways between worlds are left unattended. Soon the entire realm of Izumo and the very existence of the Gatekeepers are in jeopardy. Junya and Shoko devise a bold plan to save Izumo, but it means changing the rules that have governed Gatekeepers for centuries. Even if they succeed, nothing will ever be the same. Will it be worth the cost?