New Line von Xanderionas ================================================================================ Kapitel 23: Chapter 23 ---------------------- Somewhere in the deepest recesses of her mind, a voice called out to Yagami: - Thank you, Yagami Kou. “What?” she said out loud, looking up to see nobody around but her. She blinked as she found herself alone in the bar, not a soul to be found. Momentarily stunned, she barely caught the voice speak again, sounding both familiar yet foreign: - Thanks to you, Anders finally found peace within himself. Out of everyone, he has been the most stubborn. I had honestly come close to losing hope myself. Allow me to show you a most private time in return for your help. “Where...no, who are you?” she called out into the bar, before hearing the curtain being pushed aside. Peering over the edge of the seat, she jumped slightly as she recognised Anders coming through the door, dressed in a long overcoat that covered everything but his feet and ankles. He looked around the bar in a nervous manner, as if seeing the place for the first time. Just as she wondered what was going on, a familiar voice echoed: “Welcome to the Masked Glass, sir. Can I expect company?” Anders merely shook his head at Maria slipping from the shadows, taking out his infamous notebook and scribbling something into it, grimacing as if in pain. As Maria read it, she bowed and gave a professional smile. “Of course, sir. Please, come take a seat. We do not refuse anybody within these walls.” He gave an appreciative smile, walking over and sitting in the same barstool coincidentally that Yagami had first sat in, Maria returning behind the counter. “Well then,” she began while pulling out a glass, “what might be the trouble? You do not look to me like one completely happy with your current life, if you’ll forgive me intruding.” He didn’t respond, remaining focused on the counter while his eyes grew darker with each passing moment. Yagami couldn’t restrain herself anymore and stood up, walking up towards him and calling out: “Hey Anders, what are you doing here?” To her utter surprise though, nobody reacted. Instead, Maria continued asking question after question to Anders, who brushed them off continually with a lack of attention. She didn’t believe it and thus moved to put her hand on his shoulder, only to yell in surprise when her hand passed through him like he wasn’t even there. She stared dumbfoundedly at her hand, before the voice in her mind spoke again: - You cannot touch him. This is but a memory of time, it holds no reality. You can observe, but not interfere. “Maria?” Yagami voiced her suspicions, “Is that you? Why are you showing me this?” - Like I stated before, it is to thank you for your help. Anders was a difficult case, probably the most difficult one I’ve had since opening this place. I have come across many people troubled with their lives and their issues, yet that was never the topic with Anders. Watch. Yagami seated herself beside Anders as he began to write again, this time able to discern the text: - I’m sorry, but I’m not in a talkative mood. Actually, I’m mute. So please, give me a glass of apple juice in a whisky glass and be done with it. Both Yagami and the Maria from the past blinked at the writing, before the latter gave another enigmatic smile. “Certainly. One glass of apple juice, coming up.” She rapidly poured the glass and pushed it towards him, who stared at it with a depth in his eyes that she had yet to see from him, even in the present. He began to sip the drink, before throwing his head back and downing the whole glass. As he slammed the glass on the table, he sighed with the cheerfulness of a graveyard. “Are you alright, sir?” Maria inquired, her prismarine conveying nothing but consideration, “If it is intoxication you seek, that can be arranged.” - No. No alcohol. “I understand. Then why do you pretend to act as if you were downing whisky?” - You’re perceptive. I’m only repeating what my father’s been doing every day since his wife died. “It sounds like she passed away recently. My condolences.” He waved her off with a tired gaze, his fingers trembling slightly. - It’s fine. If anyone should be here, it’s him. Oh, and Takamura. They could use the time outside. “I presume this means they haven’t left the house since?” - Yeah. One drinks himself to oblivion while the other stares at a picture for days on end. I don’t even know why I’m here. “Perhaps because of your own issues about your mother’s passing?” He gave a silent laugh, something Yagami hadn’t seen in a while. - My issues? Don’t be ridiculous. The ones that are suffering are the ones who have to live with my failures. I let everything and everyone down and now I must pay the consequences. “That surely cannot be your attitude. If you were involved, then it stands that you are hurt as well. That is only human.” - Human? What’s human about me? “Intriguing question. What do you see when you look in the mirror?” - Me? A monster. A monster without the ability to protect what’s important to him. As Maria’s gaze grew solemn, Yagami suddenly sensed the world spinning. She grabbed onto the counter for support when the spinning stopped in the blink of an eye. She looked around and saw nothing different with the bar, apart from Anders now sitting at the other end of the counter. He was drinking another glass of apple juice, Maria concerning herself with wiping a glass as he stared down at a piece of paper. Shuffling closer to him again, she noticed he wasn’t wearing the overcoat anymore, instead having donned the suit he had worn during their first meeting. She raised an eyebrow as she saw the contents of the page, revealed to be a half-assed attempt at a drawing of Boldur. There were countless scribbles and mistakes in it, Anders scratching his head in apparent frustration before collapsing on the table. “Oh dear, what has you so unhappy now, Anders?” Maria inquired as she paused her wiping. - I’m trying to copy this character that I found in a sketchbook, but I’m having trouble doing it. “Character? From what book is it from?” - It’s not an actual book. It’s based on a game I recently bought. “Interesting. Could I find out the name so I know if I recognise it?” - As if you’d know. Since when do you care for things other than people? Maria made a pouting expression, something Yagami would never have expected from her. “I am actually interested in the outside world. Just sitting here cleaning glasses isn’t in my list of hobbies.” - True, you’d rather pull all kinds of secrets out of people. What the hell was that thing you did with the guy from yesterday? He ran out of here screaming. Maria chuckled while her eyes betrayed nothing. “I merely told him to be honest with his feelings for his wife. Nothing more.” - And that warrants him running out and yelling ‘I demand a new deal, mistress!’? What sort of twisted marriage is that? “Passion is a mysterious thing, Anders. It can make us do the oddest tasks just to please the one we wish to express our feelings to. Is it not passion that you have begun to draw, even though you so much as never did anything but sulk here for the last six months?” Yagami blinked as she recognised the time shift that had occurred, Anders meanwhile giving a troubled expression. - My situation is no way similar. You know that after what you did. “I did nothing but offer you a drink. If it was a bit too strong for your tastes, I apologize. I do not wish to trouble my customers but help them. You do realise you are close to breaking the record of how long someone has been here? I’ve been trying to get you to talk for months before I resorted to that.” - Why push so hard for my sake? There’s nothing left to rescue of me. I’m just filling in the shoes of someone more deserving. Maria’s gaze grew a few shades sharper, placing the glass down and gazing directly into Anders’ distant eyes. “I do not consider anybody who enters here a bother or unworthy, Anders. I have made an oath to help every soul the spirits guide to this location and I intend to keep it. You do realise they’re hounding me to get you out, right?” - Is that so? Then, please send them this message. He ripped the page with the drawing into countless pieces, throwing them into the air while writing down on the notebook: - I never asked to come here. I never asked to get help. I come here because I know the only thing I will ever come back home to is an empty shell. So stop your incessant pestering and let me drink my damned apple juice. The text both depressed and hurt Yagami, who could only watch as Maria visibly deflated from his demonstration. She wished she could speak out, but the world began to spin again for her. By the time she got acquainted with her surroundings, she noticed the bar was empty again, though Maria’s voice still echoed in her head: - As you can see, convincing Anders of anything was a momentous task. I have bested warriors in combat and won arguments with philosophers, yet Anders proved the greatest obstacle due to his confidence in his uselessness. I was fighting a losing battle, never able to get more out of him without resorting to drastic measures. And every day he spent with me, I could tell he was getting worse and worse. Soon enough, I feared, he would decide to end it all, merely because he couldn’t trust anything but his own thoughts. But then, a miracle occurred. Her voice cut off as Anders entered the establishment, looking significantly more happy than before. Just as she wondered what had happened, Maria appeared from behind the counter and inquired: “Welcome once again, Anders. What has you so pleased?” Anders almost broke out into a grin, seating himself and writing down: - I just managed to finish Fairies Story 1. It had such an amazing ending, I loved it! “I see.” Maria’s voice was neutral, though Yagami caught an excited gleam in her eyes, “That is wonderful to hear. Would you like to tell me about it over a glass of apple juice?” - Sure. Can you give me rosemary tea instead though? It was only a raised eyebrow, but it looked like Maria had just done a double-take in her mind. “Rosemary tea? Are you sure?” - Yeah. I feel really excited so I need something to calm down. There’s more that happened today than just the ending, after all. Now Maria’s surprise had turned into genuine excitement, bowing briefly and exiting the bar to make the tea in the back, her steps a bit more energetic than usual. Anders meanwhile pulled out a magazine from his bag and opened it at a certain page tagged with a bookmark. Curious beyond end now, Yagami peered over his shoulder and saw to her surprise a picture of herself in one of her first interviews. She watched as Anders read through the text over and over, a soft sigh escaping him as his eyes grew distant again. Then, she saw how his lips moved, no sound escaping him. Yet, she could read the words as he repeated them: “If I could only meet you once, I’d might try again.” She gasped as she recognised the smile he displayed while staring at her picture. It was the same smile he showed when he had confessed, filled with emotion and genuine care. Had she not known him, she might have felt sick from being gazed upon like that. But now, she only felt compassion for the man who continued to sit by himself in the empty bar, Maria on her way with a steaming cup of tea. Yet the world again began to change, turning unfocused before becoming sharp. This time however, she saw Anders seated at the far end again, his hand busy scribbling on papers while Maria played the piano. Just as she began to approach him, a voice she never expected came out of the background: “Excuse me…” Yagami spun around as she recognised nobody else but herself, peering into the bar with a nervous expression. It was bizarre to see herself displayed like this, like some highly intrusive paparazzi camera that observed her every move. Yet it was undoubtedly her that walked into the bar, Yagami even recognising the outfit she wore as that when she first entered the bar. “Oh my, we have a customer.” Yagami could only watch in mute silence as she was approached by Maria, who guided her to the bar counter and began explaining herself just like all those weeks ago. It was the most unique recording she had ever seen. Her attention was however diverted by the faint scratching of pen on paper, revealed to be Anders gazing at her initially in contemplation, before open shock enveloped his features. He quickly hid himself from her, turning so the coat completely covered his appearance. The reaction was so endearing, Yagami couldn’t help but giggle. “Take the gentleman over there.” Surprised by Maria’s voice, Yagami watched as her counterpart took notice of Anders for the first time, who in return tried to show off by downing his glass, only to be betrayed by Maria. Being present to a moment like this was so off--putting that Yagami seated herself a bit away from the group, taking one of the chairs on the other end and watching as she began her descent into drunken rambling. It wasn’t a pretty sight, to see herself slowly begin to lose control over her words and actions. It made her seriously reconsider drinking at all anymore. Yet as she watched herself degrade into a drunk, she slowly noticed how Anders continued observing her without end, always pretending to be doing something with his papers when she glanced at him. Yet he would always return to gazing at her with a mixture of concern, hesitation and compassion. This went on until Maria performed her tactical retreat to the back, leaving her drunk self to ramble alone. She caught Anders’ gaze however changing to something more urgent, finding it curious enough to stand up and peer closer. As she reached the seat next to him, she caught what he had been writing and gave a small gasp. He had been performing a conversation with himself, it seemed, the writing split so it looked like a text chat between two people. Amongst all the writing, she caught the last few entries: - She’s clearly suffering. Come on, go and talk to her! - Why should I? There’s no chance in hell I can do anything for her! - What the hell is your problem? You’ve been helping people for years, why can’t you do it now? - This is Yagami Kou we’re talking about! What would she gain from talking to me? - Her? What about ‘you’? You’re the one with a freaking crush on her, go talk to her! - But what if she rejects me? What if I… - Will you stop hesitating? You’re the one who's been sitting here in this bar by yourself for the last six years, give it a shot. The woman you have feelings for is sitting next to you and you’re not taking the chance? Sayuri would be ashamed! - Don’t bring her up! - I will if you don’t stop acting like an idiot! That woman is clearly in need of help and you’re going to ignore her because she happens to be the one you care about the most? Give me a break! His expression became twisted as he evidently struggled to come to terms. His thoughts, along with Yagami staring, were interrupted by her counterpart mumbling to herself: “Great, look at me! Drunk beyond help and on a workday no less! I’m an idiot!” Her words seemed to have an awakening effect on Anders, whose eyes revealed some great truth to himself. He took a deep breath and pulled out a fresh page, quickly scribbling the doodle of Boldur on it along with the text before moving up next to her and passing the page along to her. As the two of them began their first ever conversation, Yagami noticed more writing on the sheet with the argument, consisting of a few simple lines: - No. The only idiot here is me for not trying to talk to her. - So you’re going? - I’m going. Not because I want to be a guide, not because I want to be a friend in need. But because I feel like I will regret this more than anything else should I let her leave. Just as she finished reading it, the world began to turn unstable again, threatening to swallow her up this time. She turned around and barely caught sight of how her counterpart and Anders continued their conversation energetically, the entryway to the back open a slight amount and revealing Maria behind it, watching with the happiest expression she had ever seen on the woman. Then everything faded to black, the only sound being that of Maria’s voice: - It has been nearly six years since Anders first entered this sanctuary. In that time, I have watched over him again and again, desperate to bring him to realise his own options. Yet not a single thing worked. If anything should come out of this, it is that Anders was my first failure. To not be able to help him while you managed such a thing in a mere month, I cannot help but feel a bit jealous. Had we met under different circumstances, I might have offered you a job as an assistant. “Assistant?” Yagami commented into the darkness, “So the spirits take part-time workers now? How’s the wage?” - It’s paid in long hours and eternal life. Something you could bargain with, I’m sure. Both Yagami and the voice in her head broke into laughter, their surroundings no longer a concern. “Well thanks for the offer, but I’m afraid I’ve got a bit too much to look forward to in life.” - Indeed. You carry a remarkable fate on your shoulders, Kou. Yagami blinked at the use of her given name, though it didn’t do anything to change her thoughts. “Maria, tell me. Do you ever get lonely, working this job?” - Me, lonely? What a curious question. “I mean it. You spend your life in that bar year after year, helping people one after the other. But do you not ever tire of it? Why did the spirits ever put you to this position?” - Would you like to ask them yourself? “Wait, what?” Before she could inquire further, the darkness lit up around her. Numerous lights appeared before her, each of the five a different luminescent colour that didn’t irritate her eyes but rather comforted them. As they came closer, encircling her, she began to hear numerous other voices in her mind, all different from the next: - So, this is the girl? - She’s certainly a beauty, isn’t she? - Makiko, that’s because you have a ‘blond hair’ fetish. - I do not! Quit accusing me of rubbish. - Alright, everyone, calm down. Yagami looks a bit flustered here, give her some space. The lights flashed as if responding, backing away slightly so Yagami could view individual lights again. To her surprise, Maria’s voice and presence had vanished completely, abandoning her with these five eccentric entities. She focused on the one with a smooth lime green colour: “So, you guys are the famous ‘spirits’ I’ve heard about? I was expecting ten-foot tall gods with armour and weapons.” - What era do you live in, girlie? We’re spirits, what use do we have to look like that when nobody apart from Maria can see us? Another voice arose from the orange light beside the green, its voice gentler and more polite. - Indeed, Karasuma. Yagami Kou, what did you wish of us? It is rare for Maria to ask us to reveal ourselves. “What indeed?” Yagami asked herself, “I suppose for starters, I was curious whether I’ve been hallucinating for the last month or not. I still could be.” - Would a smack on the head suffice to convince you otherwise? - Karasuma, manners! - She asked for it Chi! “Alright, calm down.” Yagami raised her hands to try and dispel the tension, “I did have a question, that’s true. Would you listen to it?” Instead of words, all the lights lit up in a brief flash, giving her reason to assume agreement. “Thank you. Now, why did you guys decide to use Maria for this bar in the first place? I heard that it was created shortly after the forest was cut down for urban development, but I never quite understood why you would then establish a safe haven for people to come wandering in. Would you not be angry with us for having recklessly cut down so much nature just for our personal gain?” The lime green Karasuma was the first to speak up: - Who do you think we are, nature activists? We’ve never been involved with the making of the bar, Maria was the one who did that. “Wha...really?” - Of course, what could we possibly do? I mean, Maria’s a freaking god, we’re just some wandering souls who never managed to make peace with ourselves. - It’s true, Yagami. Maria was the one who asked us to join her in inviting customers. We had no purpose before then, just endlessly floating around the world in search of entertainment. - Hey Chi, don’t forget how she recruited us. - She certainly was a sneaky one, that’s for sure. As Karasuma and Chi began to squabble amongst themselves, Yagami raised her voice to try and interrupt them: “Hey hold on now. So you guys are basically employees of Maria? Then why would she speak of you as if she was the employee?” - Ask her yourself. Maria’s gone and left us behind right now so she can’t stop us prematurely from saying something. You have an odd quality about yourself, Yagami Kou, to make her drop her guard. - Not to mention a wonderful body. - Keep it in, Makiko. “Wait, but you’re all here right now. Why can’t you tell me?” - In all honesty, we could. But then, that would defeat the purpose of having Maria be honest with herself for once. You know, she is actually starting to tire of the job. The purple light that had remained largely silent spoke up, it’s voice akin to a grandmother: - Indeed, Chi. Maria’s been hard at work for decades now, even centuries if you consider her previous home. It’s no wonder she’s starting to look for retirement options. “Retirement?” Yagami repeated, stunned that the word even applied to somebody like Maria, “Gods can retire?” Karasuma lit up bright green to agree with her. - Sure they can. Plenty have done it already. You know gods like Amaterasu and Izanagi, right? “Of course!” - They dropped the ball long ago to pursue their own interests. Amaterasu ended up becoming a dango shop owner in the Edo era while Izanagi tried for the national football league twenty years ago. Failed and ended up becoming a car mechanic, but that’s a long story. “Hold on a minute, this is making my head hurt.” Yagami complained while fighting the migraine that was surely at the horizon, “So gods and the like are real and all? Then, did they really do all that stuff like in the legends?” Silence overcame them all, before the spirits burst into hearty laughter, surprising Yagami even more. Once they became quiet again, Chi spoke up: - You mean the ‘Godly Prank’? Honestly, that’s nothing but a bunch of rumours spread down through the centuries by those gods trying to make themselves look important. They are all like us, immortal life forms which never made it quite out of the realm between life and death, so like limbo in a sense. Difference is, they’ve been around longer than us, so they’ve managed to gather more energy by absorbing weaker spirits and retaining their original identity. Reason why they can look like humans sometimes, it takes a lot of energy to maintain such forms. But they were never the all-powerful or dramatic characters you believe them to be. They just hung around places at different times and told people a tale they thought was well suited to their identities. Karasuma, remember when Izanagi came up with the tale that Ame-no-Uzume danced naked for Amaterasu? - Do I ever! Uzume beat him up so badly, I thought he was going to pass into the afterlife. - And the poor girl could do nothing but weep as the world took the story for granted. I felt so sorry for her. - No wonder she left Japan for Europe. Who could blame her? “Ok, could you all please wait a moment? I’m...kind of having an identity crisis here.” - What, because the world is different to the way you know it? “Why wouldn’t that be the case? I mean, I’m talking to freaking spirits here! Get back to the point about Maria before I lose it!” - Alright, alright, calm down. The simple truth of the matter is, Maria’s tired. Gods that spend their times interacting with humans as often as she are known for that. She’s been working so hard to teach humans how to care for one another that she’s lost most of her life force. She’s close to either passing on into the afterlife or becoming a human again. “Becoming a human?” - Yeah. Gods are after all nothing more than powerful spirits with a fancy title. They spend centuries in limbo, forced to wander both ends of the spectrum until they gather enough power to make a final choice. That is, whether to enjoy another mortal life or to pass on. “Pass on to where?” - Do I look like I know? I’m still here. Nobody knows what awaits us on the other end, but we’re not exactly eager to leave either. After all, the world’s become such a fun place. - Karasuma, don’t call it ‘fun’. A lot of people have suffered as well during that time. - Chi, you know what I mean. Humanity has begun to change so quickly, there’s never a quiet day. Anyway, Yagami Kou, that’s the gist of it. Maria doesn’t know whether to give up the job or to continue herself until she truly does pass away. This whole business with this Anders guy really drained her. “It did?” - Like you wouldn’t believe. She was always so confident in her skills when she began the bar, handling the customers we brought to her left and right. And it worked well for decades. Until Anders arrived, that is. - Poor Maria truly did everything she could. She had her limitations as a god of course, but nothing she did ever made Anders break face or attempt any change. The thing with the Journey was a last resort she deeply regretted since. So, when you came into the picture, Maria was banking all her hopes on you. Yagami was having trouble believing what she heard. Chi must have noticed it, based on his considerate tone: - You wouldn’t know, but Maria’s tale of how she came to be is a tragic one. Her life was taken as a missionary in Japan during the sixteenth century, disguising herself as a man just to experience the world of the Japanese for herself. But she was caught by Shinto zealots and brutally murdered as a ritualistic offering. Her spirit never managed to move on and she kept drifting around Japan, disillusioned that there was nothing of worth to humans. That is, until the day she entered a certain inn in the nineteenth century in the vicinity of Kyoto. It was a completely average inn without fancy decorations, but it served as a rest stop for weary pilgrims who journeyed through the mountains to various temples. Sadly, a lot of times fights would break out because of tensions between individuals of different beliefs and opinions. Yet they would always be broken up by the inn’s caretaker, an old woman called Tsurume Okiku. She was a married woman who somehow managed to handle the inn’s duties all by herself while her husband worked in Tokyo and still found time to bring people to accept each other opinions. Fascinated with her, Maria began to get to know her better. They spent a lot of time together, Maria learning a lot from Tsurume that she never would have assumed about humans. Needless to say, Tsurume was Maria’s idol. However, news came in that her husband was ill and wished to see her one more time. Tsurume immediately made her way to Tokyo, Maria accompanying her. But tragedy struck when they came close to the city border, Tsurume being attacked by thieves that mortally wounded her. Panicking, Maria revealed herself as a god and declared she could help her recover and take revenge on the thieves. Yet Tsurume refused her help, saying that life is not something to be easily played with. She begged Maria to give her final words to her husband and to not harm the thieves for their actions. Anymore is beyond our knowledge but suffice to say Tsurume died in Maria’s arms and was subsequently buried there. That spot happened to be where the bar is right now. So Maria, in honour of the woman who taught her the value of life and reconciling with one another, established the bar and has been running it since with her current appearance. “I... see.” Yagami felt somehow more burdened than before now that she knew the truth, the tale harrowing for her as she considered the pain Maria must have gone through. It was bizarre to imagine someone’s experience span centuries, yet she found it slowly easier to grasp with the background. As she continued brooding about it, her mind flared up with an idea. It was insane, completely out of the question. Yet, she felt that, if it worked, it could fulfil a small desire that she had been harbouring for a short while. “Hey, could I ask another question? It’s about your existences.” Karasuma lit up at her words. - Our existences? What a curious thing to ask about. I don’t see a problem with it. “Thank you. You said gods held a collection of spirits that they absorbed, right?” - In a sense. They do not just take any old spirit into them. They need the consent of the weaker spirit to do so. Usually, weak spirits come from people with a dark or bland history that serves no purpose to them. So, they offer themselves to the gods so that their consciousness might fade into whatever lies beyond. Thus, if we want to fuse with another spirit, agreements need to be made on both sides. “That’s...oddly sophisticated.” - Does that surprise you? We have centuries to spare, you mere years. “Right. In that case, please listen to my request.” The group of lights flashed in what she presumed to be confusion, before she kneeled down in the soundless darkness and bowed down. “Please, would you consider taking over the bar for Maria’s sake?” Shocked silence reigned in the formless black, Yagami remaining bowed as she awaited either outrage or disgust. Yet instead, she felt Chi’s intrigued voice touch her consciousness: - You wish for us to take over for Maria? Why do you suggest that for somebody you’ve barely met? “I haven’t known Maria for long, it’s true. It’s also completely out of my field to ask this of you. But I felt her loneliness when she saw how Anders was ready to leave the bar for good this time. She might have complained and worried for him, but fact remains that she cherished his company every day, even if he wasn’t the most pleasant person to be around. She showed me how she and him got to know each other and I can’t help but feel that leaving her alone again in that bar is only burdensome for her.” - You show great care for Maria. Is this out of obligation for her help with Anders, or to fulfil some selfish wish to have helped a god? “Nothing of the sort. I know I sound arrogant, but I want to help Maria find peace with herself as well. It is clear for me that she only remains here to honour the memory of Tsurume. But you yourself said she wished to retire from the bar one day. Who better to take over the establishment than the people she had been working with for all this time?” - You are asking us to dedicate the remainder of our existences to provide guidance and help for humans for the years to come. You realise this is asking a lot from us? “It is why I’m asking you to consider. You all speak highly of Maria and know what she has done for the people that have entered this place. You know of the effort she put into every customer, the consideration she showed everyone who entered without discrimination. Without her help, I would not have been able to rescue Anders myself. She is not as helpless as she makes herself out to be sometimes. So, I think it would be in her interest to try again at living the life she was cruelly ripped from.” - You wish for Maria to live on as a normal human again? After everything she has gone through? Please tell us why you think Maria would consent to that. “Because she is jealous.” The bright flicker at the edges of her vision told her that the group had been agitated by her words. - Jealous? “She has watched over humans for centuries, believing them to have no value in life due to her tragic death. She then came across the first person to give her some resemblance of peace with humans, only to have it torn from her again. She has watched person after person enter and exit that bar, unable to live the life she herself could have had once. I’m sure she would consider a second chance at life if given the opportunity. I have to admit, there’s something selfish in this wish of mine.” - Then let us hear it, before making our decision. “I want…” Yagami hesitated as she was about to reveal her intention, before succumbing to the urge, “I want to let Maria live a normal life as my friend. She deserves to have friends around to support her after all the effort she’s put in. I don’t believe it’s right of her to be denied that chance if it were possible. I understand this doesn’t please you, being who you are, but I beg of you to reconsider. I want Maria to be given the chance to laugh and enjoy herself again, even if it were short in your terms.” Her words spent, her cards used, Yagami awaited the judgement that would befall her. She had made her mind more resolute while speaking, yet doubt wouldn’t vanish entirely from her. The eerie silence of the space around her only served to worsen the fear in her heart. For a moment, she felt like she had made a huge mistake. Right then, the voices began to speak. - Why the hell not? - Yeah sure, I can live with that. - Would be one way to make it up for her. - Agreed. - Fine, but only because she’s so damn pretty. Stunned, Yagami raised her head to view the group of lights glow brighter than ever before, almost blinding now. “Y-you’ll consider it?” Karasuma’s tone conveyed both satisfaction and laxness: - Like I said, why the hell not? Maria’s done enough for us already, having kept us company all this time without asking for anything in return. I’d say it was about time for that old hag to get her moment to shine. - Karasuma, ignoring that insult at the end, I agree. But how are we supposed to take over? Maria is a god and therefore capable of materialising in the world of the living. We are but mere spirits and thus cannot directly interact with them. “R-regarding that, I have a suggestion.” Makiko’s lemon-yellow light turned towards her. - Oh? What is it, my sweet? “Do you think you can form a ‘god’ by joining together? Would the bunch of you be enough to do that?” The silence which flew back at her proved the people before her had never considered it before. - That is a possibility. At the least, it would grant us momentary entry into the realm of the living to greet Maria. - Enough time to scare the pants off her, that’s for sure. - But how do we do this with our personalities? Do we keep them or do we give ourselves up for someone? I vote for not giving Makiko power, she’d just attract all the blonds in the city. - Would not! Though that sounds wonderful… - Alright, stop squabbling. We can just keep our personalities, it’s no problem to do that. The only reason we wouldn’t is if we were unwilling to remain aware, which I don’t think we have a problem with. The lights gave a unified shine in agreement, before turning to Yagami as a whole and letting Karasuma speak for them: - Yagami Kou, we thank you for your proposal. With this, we can finally repay Maria for all the fun memories we’ve gained with her. Passing the baton over to us is a truly fine idea. I knew Maria was right in choosing you. “What do you mean? Didn’t one of you try to attract me to the bar in the first place?” - Not quite. It seems that Maria, in her desperation to find a solution to Anders’ problems, made an unconscious wish that you would one day appear before him. We are odd beings that cannot directly influence events in reality, but we can direct them in vague directions. So, while striking a pebble with your foot wasn’t induced by her, the sign which it hit certainly was. By a combination of fate and strong wishing, you came to be in this place. But hurry along now, everyone is waiting on you. “For me?” - Of course. You’ve been out cold this whole time. I’m sure they’ve gotten worried by now. Just close your eyes and imagine where you want to be right now. We’ll follow you as soon as we succeeded in merging ourselves together. Chi approached Yagami, her light dim but nevertheless inviting to view. - Yagami, in case we don’t meet again, I want to wish you the best of luck in future. You have a wonderful group of friends to rely on and a wonderful man to acknowledge as your partner. Cherish them for as long as you can. Yagami couldn’t withhold a smile, before making a gamble and wrapping the light in her arms. Chi lit up like a beacon in response, flustered words echoing in Yagami’s mind as she whispered: “Thank you. Take care as well. I don’t know how things will turn out, but I pray that you all can still find peace one day. For now, thank you for helping Maria. Well, I’m off.” Yagami released Chi and closed her eyes, thinking back to the bar and the people that awaited her. She could sense the darkness around herself slowly beginning to retreat, the edge of her vision becoming brighter and brighter until she began to feel her senses returning. The first thing that struck her was a group of voices in the far distance, coming closer and closer until she could recognise them as belonging to Rin and the others. She couldn’t help but smile as she soon felt herself returned to the real world, the voices beside her now clear as day: “I still don’t know what to make of you, Anders. Handing yourself in just to protect us from a pair of scoundrels? That’s borderline insanity.” “I told you Rin! Boss never listens to others when he does these sorts of things.” “Hey now, I got out in the end, didn’t I?” “Only by a sheer miracle! Had they not bothered to look twice, you’d have been in jail for life!” “But I didn’t. So drop it for once.” Yagami slowly opened her eyes, feeling a great warmth on her side as she raised her head and looked around. They were still seated at the table like before, Rin and Futaba giving relieved looks while Anders merely grinned. “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.” Yagami groaned alongside Rin and Futaba. “You suck at being smooth sometimes, seriously. Did you use that with Sayuri as well?” “Will it reduce my standing if I say ‘yes’?” Rin chuckled darkly to herself. “Right now, nothing could lower your standing in my books, Anders. Best not to push the limits.” He winced at her serious tone, remaining silent as Yagami rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “What happened?” “Yagi, you fell unconscious the moment you finished your drink. We were worried at first, but Maria said you just got an overdose. Apparently, you drank her glass.” “Explains the headache I got. Anders, did you also feel like this after having ‘that’?” “Times a thousand. You got a few drops in diluted form, I drank a pure glass.” Yagami groaned again, this time due to genuine discomfort. “Remind me to buy you a medal for pain tolerance when we go back home.” “I think I’ll pass. I do believe it’s time we left though, it’s late.” A quick glance at her phone verified it for Yagami that it was indeed already night. “It’s been a whole day already? We have work tomorrow. So much for Greenery Day.” “Oh Kou,” Rin commented with a wave of her hand, “as if you’d have an issue staying out late. I do agree though that a long rest would do us well. Shall we pay?” “No need, Ms. Toyama.” Everyone turned in mild surprise as Maria appeared before them again, appearing completely untouched from the earlier event. Yagami sensed a new wave of emotion wash over her however as she observed the far more human entity before her. “Hey there, Maria. You sure gave me a shock. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.” “I can assure you, no such thing would occur under my watch. But you are all exempt from paying this time. Call it a favour for having been able to overcome this gruesome trial. I think an early rest would indeed be in your best interests.” Giving a nod, Yagami stretched her arms and stood up, holding a hand out to Anders: “Come on, let’s go.” He gazed at her and then her hand, before smiling and accepting it. Yagami glanced at Rin, but her expression was completely different to before. There was a shade of sadness still present, though it paled to the relief and cheerfulness otherwise there. She instead made moves to exit herself, giving Futaba a hand to guide herself on. “Here Fuba, you still look exhausted from before.” “O-oh, thanks Rin.” Futaba mentioned while a light shade of pink danced across her face, making it impossible for Yagami to hide a smirk. As they gathered their belongings and stood before Maria, said person took another deep bow towards them. “Well then, I believe this is where we part. It has been a most interesting journey with you all. From this point onwards, however, I find that you are all no longer in need of my services. Therefore, I wish you the very best of luck in your futures. Anders, you especially.” His eyes briefly welled up with emotion, before he split from Yagami and gave Maria a hug, surprising the ‘god’ enough to cause her to gasp. Anders remained steadfast though, tightening his grip as he talked: “Maria, thank you for everything again. I know I haven’t been the most approachable person nor the easiest. I have caused you a lot of trouble and grief over the past five years. But I promise you that I will strive to make my life my own from now on. I wish you the best as well for your future. You have truly been a wonderful person to spend time with.” Maria’s eyes glinted in the dimmed environment, before briefly returning the hug and then splitting from him. “You are too kind Anders. The one you should truly be thanking is Ms. Yagami, not me. But nevertheless, thank you for the vote of confidence.” The two individuals shared a smile that told volumes, before Anders returned to Yagami’s side and grasped her hand tightly. She returned the squeeze and noticed how Futaba began to look longingly at the gesture, chuckling to herself: “What’s wrong Fuba? You look distant.” She gasped as Yagami’s chuckle evolved into a laugh, the blush on her face unmistakable now. “I-I was not! I’m just still surprised it still worked out between you two.” “Sure. Anyway, let’s go.” Nobody argued against her, slowly filing out of the bar one after the other. As Anders moved to take them out however, Yagami let go of his hand and sent him a wishful look. “Anders, I’ll come out in a bit. I just need to ask Maria something.” He gave a startled look, before turning it into one of understanding. “Alright. Don’t go trying to get a job here though, eternal labor’s not a future I’d want you to land in.” “I won’t! Just wait outside.” He obliged and exited the bar, leaving Yagami with just Maria. The bartender looked at her inquisitively as Yagami scanned the room, nervous about the lack of a certain someone. “Ms. Yagami? What is it?” Sensing she need to buy time, Yagami took to asking the hard-hitting questions: “Maria, could you be honest with me for a minute?” “I have always been, Ms. Yagami. There is nothing to prevent you from not receiving the same treatment as the rest.” “Thank you. Do you not think of maybe retiring?” Maria’s eyes widened a slight bit, before her shoulders slumped by a tiny margin. “Those little rascals, telling others unnecessary information.” Yagami was surprised by the rather sour tone Maria used, yet pressed on nonetheless. “Don’t blame them. They all care a great deal about you.” “They can be concerned, though it is unnecessary. I’m still young, I can handle it.” “You sure? You looked quite defeated when you saw how Anders had recovered.” “I was merely surprised. As I told you, I am eternally grateful for your help. However, there are other people in need of guidance and help. Who would be there for them if I just gave up on this place?” Before either of them could pursue the conversation, a third, foreign voice echoed in the room: “Have you forgotten about us, Maria?” Both women spun around to the far end of the bar, where a figure stood in an outfit almost identical to Maria’s own, apart from this figure being androgynous in terms of body figure. Its limbs were oddly enough dressed in different colours, one sleeve being yellow while the other was lime green. Even the legs and torso were differently coloured to the rest, making for a confusing collage of fabric. The most unusual feature however was the face itself, resembling a garbled mixture of features. The nose was more befitting a man, while the lips were puffed and accentuated its billowing hair of a multitude of colours. Yet despite the odd mixture, a certain air surrounded the person which was nearly identical to Maria’s own. Said person gazed in outright shock at the figure, her voice weak as she uttered: “It can’t be...you all merged?” The figure raised a hand to scratch the back of its head but missed and instead hit air. The sigh which followed was oddly layered, as if several people at once had performed the action. “I guess getting used to this body is a necessity. Oh well, nothing we can’t do. Yagami, what do you think? Human enough for you?” Blinking twice to wake herself from the surprise, Yagami commented with an amused expression: “Not bad, though you need to do something about the face. It looks a bit like a kid’s drawing.” “I told you it was a bad idea Karasuma!” “Shut it, Chi. It wasn’t a bad idea, we just didn’t execute it properly.” “I wish I could have some more blond on our head. It’s not cute enough.” “Makiko, not helping.” Yagami stared in wonder as the figure, both shaped and dressed in the most bizarre way, carried out an argument purely by itself, each voice separate when coming out of its throat. A quick glance showed however that for all her surprise, Maria’s was all the greater. Almost no semblance of control remained as she spoke up in a slightly panicked tone: “Why? Why did you all do this? You know you could have perished without warning?” “Wait, what?” Yagami blurted out, Maria’s gaze dead serious as she answered. “Merging with another spirit is a process requiring time and patience. In some cases, it can take years. If you rush the process, you risk tearing any ties you have left and passing onto the great beyond. So why…?” “Maria.” the figure spoke, “Listen to us. We did this being fully aware of the consequences if we failed. It was even more dangerous if we decided to keep our personalities, we know. But we couldn’t sit around doing nothing. This is your chance.” “My...chance?” “Maria, you’ve been wandering this plane for far too long. You have helped and guided countless humans across the decades, eager to pursue the teachings of your beloved Tsurume, but you have grown tired. Tell me you don’t feel the stress and drain right as we speak.” Maria didn't retort, her shoulders hanging lower than Yagami had ever seen them before. “You have fought to preserve the ideals you were taught. All so that your memory of Tsurume would never be forgotten. But this is no longer merely your battle. It is time you considered taking a fresh chance at living, something you were never able to do before.” “What are you saying? I can still guide people, I can…” “Yes, you can. But stop insisting on doing this for a lifespan where you can never cherish another person for fear of separating from them all too soon. You couldn’t bear to part with Tsurume and thus, you resolved yourself to never become too close with another person. But Anders changed you. You began to cherish the company, the constant presence. For the first time in a century, you found a person with whom to exchange stories, to give more than mere advice. You made your first friend.” Maria recoiled as if stung, glancing away as her tall posture began to tremble. “Please, stop. I don’t want this…” “You say that, but your reaction upon hearing Anders’ voice was clear as daylight. You grew afraid suddenly of having to be alone again, only able to interact with another person for at most a few days before they would be healed and ready to pursue their own lives without you. Look within yourself and grab hold of the desire that has been resting in your heart for all this time.” “That’s not fair…” came Maria’s pained voice, “You can’t just tell me all this and expect me to hand it over. If I do, you will be forced to carry out this duty by yourselves.” “And so what? You are a god with a chance at a new life. We, meanwhile, stubbornly decided to remain separate while bonded so that we would never have to transcend to the same stage you are at. You can still return to being a human, to live a fulfilling life and greet the end like you wanted to. We’re just spirits with nothing better to do than to help out our dear friend.” That was the breaking point for Maria, whose legs buckled underneath her and let her fall to the ground. A quick check proved she was alright, if a bit shaken. “This...who put you up to this? It can’t have been….” A gasp resounded in the bar as Maria’s gaze shifted to Yagami, their prismarine shine dulled but still splendid in appearance. “Ms. Yagami…” Aware she had been busted, Yagami gave a nervous laugh and knelt down beside Maria: “Yeah, it was me. Sorry for getting involved in all this ‘god’ business, but I couldn’t just leave you to sit here all alone again. You’ve been so much of a help that I had no idea what to do to repay you. And as it turns out, I do now.” “Ms. Yagami, I’m merely a bartender. I hardly…” “No Maria.” Yagami sternly interrupted her, “You’re more than a bartender. You’re more than a guide. You’re who I consider to be my friend, and so does Anders.” “Friend…” Maria whispered the word before her as if taste-testing it, disbelief still clearly marked all over her. “Yes. I asked these guys to take over for you because I believe you have a chance yourself at trying to live a normal life. One free of responsibility to the lost, free of the guilt you still feel for not having been able to save the person you cared for.” Maria winced at the last sentence, an oddly human reaction coming from her. “I don’t want to force your hand with this either, just like with Anders. I am simply saying that, if I had to choose for you, I would like for you to remain by our side. To be the friend you have become to us and to live a life worthy of the person who has helped so many people through their troubles. So please, Maria, think about accepting this. I know that me and Anders at the very least would want for you to experience life once more in its entirety. It might be scary, not being a ‘god’ anymore and all, but what the heck. I heard Izanagi became a car mechanic, right? If he can make it, why not you?” “You…” Maria began, before bursting into heartfelt laughter. It took her a few moments to recover, at which point the lights in the bar had begun to flicker. “I see. So I am now surrounded by people who wish to keep my presence around them. How amusing, that I would receive such an offer on the day where nature is celebrated across the country. Is this my reward for having maintained such good care of the humans that have ventured here?” “Whatever it is,” Yagami said while resting a hand on her shoulder, “it doesn’t change the fact that you have the means to free yourself of this burden you placed on yourself. You were never truly alone either. These guys have been beside you all this time as well, haven’t they?” “You are correct...forgive me, everyone, for having ignored you like this. What can I call you, now that you have fused?” The new ‘god’ contemplated the question for a couple of moments, before giving a resigned sigh. “We can’t come up with anything. Honestly, whatever will do. Just not Makiko. The last thing I want to be reminded of is a pervert.” “Shut it, Karasuma! Better me than a boring name like yours.” “Take that back!” A snap of Maria’s fingers brought them to silence, the former standing up and dusting off her outfit. “Well then, I see you all have made your decision then. So now all that remains is my word, is that right?” Nobody responded, every individual aware that it had been a rhetorical question. Maria gave a sigh and cracked her neck, the sound somehow still elegant. “I... will need a moment. Please excuse me.” With that, she departed for the back wall, entering the door she had always entered for the tea. As the door closed behind them, Yagami found herself faced with the as-of-yet unnamed entity. “So,” she began, the awkwardness all the more prevalent now, “Are you going to settle on a name, or do we have to do it for you?” “Give us a moment to think it through.” the amalgamation said, its genderless brow furrowed, “We’ve gotten so used to our own names that a new one is exceedingly difficult.” Yagami didn’t comment further, leaning against the wall while they waited. Time ticked on into what felt like half an hour, but eventually the door opened again to reveal Maria in a wholly different outfit. Where she once carried herself with the grace of a trained professional, here she stood before them in a traditional white kimono laced with countless cherry flowers, stitched so that the petals flew as if caught by the wind. She looked stunning as she brandished a large flower ornament in her hair, her bun still present but no longer as tight as before. Briefly eying Yagami’s awed expression, she turned to the amalgamation and bowed deeply to it: “I have carried out my final words with Tsurume. She agrees with the idea of me leaving. It pains me to let her remain here, but I know that my own life is a possibility I shouldn’t try to deny myself. So I will steel myself and march onward, towards a life where surprises await me around every corner. Oh, that’s right, me and Tsurume also figured out a name.” “You did?” all the voices asked at once. “Yes, and you’ll be happy with it, I assure you. From now on, your name shall be ‘Kameyo’.” “Kameyo…” it repeated in front of itself, before a grin spread over its face. “We like it! It sounds unique but strong at the same time. We agree with your decision.” “Wonderful. In that case, let me depart from this home of mine. I leave it to you to continue the good name of the Masked Glass, Kameyo.” “Leave it to us Maria! We’ll make you green with envy at all the people we’ll be helping!” Maria giggled to herself as she approached Kameyo, embracing it gently. “I’m sure of it. Would you be alright if I come to visit every now and then?” “We...I don’t mind. Come whenever you like. Just don’t try to pull an Anders on me, alright?” “I will certainly strive against it.” she said while separating from it, “Take care of yourselves.” She raised her hand and placed it upon Kameyo’s chest, it brightening up and forming a shell of white light that Yagami had to avert her eyes from seeing. Once the light subsided, she watched Maria stumble a bit, running her hands over her entire body as if mesmerized. Then, the widest smile she had ever seen was produced on the woman. “Ah, to feel the clip in my hair, to taste the scent of the air. It is such a wonderful feeling to return to this form.” “You don’t look any different.” Yagami added with a teasing tone, Maria facing her with a giggle. “For you perhaps Ms. Yagami. I however feel reborn.” “Good to hear it. And call me Yagami from now on at least.” “I will try. For now, shall we depart?” “Let’s do that. I’m astonished we haven’t been invaded by Anders and the rest. Kameyo, will you be alright?” The new god watched her with newfound interest, performing some extravagant movement with its hands before talking: “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve gotten enough experience with Maria that I can handle a bunch of humans. Plus, I get to still go outside and explore the world while finding those in need of guidance. I will be just fine.” “Alright then. Do come visit though from time to time, it’s no fun to have to be alone here.” “Will do. Take care of Maria for me now, you hear?” “Kameyo, I can take care of myself, you know. Have you forgotten that I lived in this world longer than any of you?” “Doesn’t mean you won’t need help. Ever heard of ‘citizenship’ and ‘illegal immigration’?” “Ok!” Yagami butted in before an argument could break loose, “Let’s get going. See you Kameyo.” She pushed Maria from behind through the curtain door, following suit as a white light flashed behind her, along with the echoing words in her mind: - Thank you for everything, Yagami Kou. Farewell. By the time she turned around, the bar had been replaced with the usual run-down shop, no sign anymore of the place which had formed such fond memories for her. Maria’s expression showed her own qualms over it, placing a hand on the dusty exterior and tracing the worn wood. “How strange, to be seeing it like this for the first time. I never knew I made such a good diversion.” Yagami giggled to herself, before Anders’ voice called out to them: “Hey, you two!” Both women turned around to find Anders near the end of the alley, Rin and Futaba nowhere to be seen. A bit stumped, Yagami grasped Maria’s shoulder and gently guided her away from the place that had been her home for nearly a century. Once they were within earshot of Anders, the man gave a wide grin as he recognised who was in the kimono: “Well, well, well. I see there’s been a change in management. If only Futaba could see this.” Yagami cast an eye around, but there was still no sign of said person or Rin. “Hey Anders, where did she and Rin go? I thought they were waiting on us.” The smirk he showed told her something good had happened. “Let’s just say Futaba makes for a convincing ‘help me home, I feel faint’ act. I helped get her into her car and Rin opted to drive her. They’re on their way to Futaba’s apartment right now.” “Oh man.” Yagami couldn’t suppress a smirk herself, “That girl certainly isn’t pulling any punches after all this, is she?” “Probably a good thing though. She wants to help Rin get away from that depressing phase as soon as possible. And given how Rin’s been looking at her recently, that could actually be having an effect.” All three of them chuckled quietly amongst themselves, before Anders reached for the heavens with his arms to stretch. “Well then, what shall we do with you, Maria? As pleased as you must be being human…” “Wait, you realised?” Yagami cut in, astonished that he could deduce it. His smirk only became wider. “Kou remember that I hung out with Maria for five years. You learn a bit about someone in that time. For example, how a ‘god’ walks with all the humility of a male lion. But the person I see before me no longer carries such a heavy burden that she has to pretend.” He paused to bow before Maria, who looked a bit startled by the gesture. “Maria, I welcome you once more to the world of us mere mortals. I hope you can find us accommodating enough.” He extended a hand out in invitation, only to stumble slightly as Maria began to laugh loudly. It was a wholly bizarre experience, to see someone like her laugh with the energy of a stadium filled with people. She slowly managed to regain control over herself, at which point she held her sides and wiped a tear from her eye. “To laugh until it hurts. To be so happy you cry. These emotions have been so distant from me for so long. I cannot thank you all enough for having given me the chance to experience this again. I am over experienced, but I hope you take good care of me.” The tone in her voice was utter genuine gratefulness, the words making both Yagami and Anders smile broadly. Yagami took a step forward and took a deep breath. “I think it’s high time we made our way home, work’s back in full force tomorrow. Maria, would you like to join me and Anders at my place for the night until you get your bearings?” To their combined surprise, Maria shook her head while heading towards the street, talking without pause: “Thank you, but I do not require lodging. I might have been carrying out my role for the bar, but I wasn’t without means to perform other duties.” “What?” both she and Anders commented, before a taxi drew up beside Maria at the sidewalk. The window scrolled down to reveal the same taxi driver that had taken Yagami home every time from the bar. “Hey Maria, you look tired. Shall we head home?” “Yes, Fukurou. I think I would love that.” “Wait, hold on!” Anders exclaimed as the two of them rushed up to the taxi, Maria’s smile having regained some of the enigmatic air that she carried up until recently. “Oh right, I forgot to mention. I’ve been running a job with the local taxi service since they were established. As I’ve not had to spend much on my daily lifestyle, I saved up a decent amount and invested it into an apartment at the edge of town with Fukurou. I have enough in my savings as well to allow me time until I can secure my stay in this city. You can reach me anytime using the card I gave you, Yagami.” Stunned, Yagami rummaged in her jacket pocket and pulled out the now wrinkled card. “This thing? But it said the number wasn’t in the registry.” “That is because I never connected the number before. Why bother with a phone in a home you don’t use? Now if you’ll excuse me, you two have a relaxing night to yourselves. And once again...” Maria bit her lower lip in an apparent mental struggle, before walking back up to them and embracing them in a hug that they quickly reciprocated. “...thank you for everything. I am truly blessed to have been able to meet the two of you. We shall see more of each other, but for now I think I shall retire and gain my bearings. I do not know when we will see each other again, but I am sure it will come. For now, enjoy your time together.” With that, the mysterious bartender of the Masked Glass entered the taxi and departed from her previous life, leaving Yagami and Anders hand-in-hand by the sidewalk. As the taxi vanished from sight, Yagami sighed and squeezed Anders’ hand. “This has been a long month.” “Agreed. A lot of drama and a lot of hassle.” “You said it. So, shall we go?” “Where? We live in opposite directions.” She gave him an incredulous look. “Are you for real? Did I not tell you earlier that you can stay with me until you move out?” “Wait, you were serious?” Now Yagami couldn’t help but blush furiously. “Of course I was! Since when have I ever lied?” Her outburst made Anders himself flustered, blushing vividly while scratching his cheek. “Sorry, I just...didn’t expect it so quick.” “What are you expecting? We’re going to sleep, I’m exhausted.” For some reason, he gave a sigh of relief. “Thank the heavens.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked accusingly. “I... didn’t know if my heart was ready for that.” “Ready for…” she began but fell silent as she recognised what he meant. Her entire body having turned maroon in embarrassment, she let go of his hand and boxed him hard in the shoulder. “Quit with the dirty fantasies!” “Ouch! Sorry, I can’t help the fact that it sounded like an invitation!” “Only in your mind! Now come on, let’s get in the car already!” “Yes, Ma’am.” he remarked glumly, the two of them slowly heading over to where they had parked the car. As he pushed the key into the door though, Yagami embraced him from behind, causing him to freeze. “Anders…” she murmured into his jacket. “Yeah, Kou?” “Thank you. For having come into my life.” The sincerity in her voice must have surprised him as he gave no immediate answer. Instead, he let go of the key and slowly turned around in her arms, returning the hug and whispering behind her ear: “And thank you for having come into mine.” They finalised their grasp on each other with a deep kiss, before seating themselves in the car and driving off to Yagami’s apartment, the silence between them no longer awkward but filled with comfort and warmth. Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)