title: Demon Mask (Usagi Yojimbo, book 14) (v. 14)
author:  Stan Sakai 
description: Usagi Yojimbo is an enduring work. Bravo. -- <i>Will Eisner</i>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  ![Cover](images/_0.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Year of the Demon
  
  
    
  
  
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  _( Fated Blades - 2 )_
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Steve Bein
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **A MASK OF DESTRUCTION**
  
  
  
  
  
  Detective Sergeant Mariko Oshiro has been promoted to Japan’s elite Narcotics
  unit—and with this promotion comes a new partner, a new case, and new danger.
  The underboss of a powerful yakuza crime syndicate has put a price on her
  head, and he’ll lift the bounty only if she retrieves an ancient iron demon
  mask that was stolen from him in a daring raid. However, Mariko has no idea of
  the tumultuous past carried within the mask—or of its deadly link with the
  famed Inazuma blade she wields.
  
  
  The secret of this mask originated hundreds of years before Mariko was born,
  and over time the mask’s power has evolved to bend its owner toward
  destruction, stopping at nothing to obtain Inazuma steel. Mariko’s fallen
  sensei knew much of the mask’s hypnotic power and of its mysterious link to a
  murderous cult. Now Mariko must us