Yayoi swore softly as the lock clicked shut on the door, and the phone rang. She fumbled with the keys, with half a mind to let it ring.
"You should answer it," Riho said softly. "It might be Mr. Shido."
"Fat chance," Guni remarked, "but I'd answer it anyway."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it," she said, throwing the door open and reaching the desk on the fifth ring. "Shido Detective Agency."
"You've been running, Yayoi. Be careful you don't hurt yourself in those high heels."
"Not funny, Shido. What is this? Where are you?"
"Meet me in Sakura Park, at the dolphin fountain, as soon as you can get there. I have the boy with me. Explanations will have to wait."
"Shido, I – damn, he hung up on me." She looked at the phone a second, then put it carefully down in the cradle.
"Was that Mr. Shido, Yayoi?"
"Yes, Riho. But he sounds very odd – I think we should be careful." She locked the door behind them again, moving on down the stairs to her car. Guni, riding on Riho's shoulder now, scratched her head with one finger and sighed.
"What's he gone and done now?"
"We'll find out in a minute, I expect." Riho watched Yayoi's back as they went out and got into her car. "I hope Mr. Shido's alright."
"He's pretty tough to kill," Guni said, cleaning her nails as she reclined across Riho's shoulder. "I wouldn't worry so much."
Sakura Park was one of the less-frequented ones, and Yayoi's sporty car had no trouble fitting into parking. "Wait here," she told the others as she got out of the car."
"But Yayoi – " Riho stopped, looking after her. "That's not fair – what if he needs more help?"
"I'll say it's not fair, and I ain't gonna do it," Guni said, launching herself from Riho's shoulder and out the open window. "Watch the car, I'll be right back."
Riho sighed and leaned back against the seat. "I just hope Mr. Shido's alright."
Yayoi skirted the unkempt bushes on the path to the dolphin fountain, keeping her eyes open for trouble. It was quiet – almost too quiet – and the place looked gloomy somehow.
"Over here." The voice seemed disembodied, but it was unmistakably Shido's voice. She turned toward it, and spotted him and a smaller figure that must be the boy.
"Shido?" She stopped, waiting for them to catch up to her.
"Yayoi, thank you for coming. This young gentleman needs a ride back to his grandfather's home, as you well know."
"There's room for both of you - I brought Riho, but she can sit in the back with—"
"I'm not coming. Not right now. Take the boy and go."
She watched him look away, and waited, but nothing more was forthcoming. "Shido, come back with us. You've done as I asked, you found the boy – now let's go home."
He shook his head, the pale hair flying out like a cape in the wind. "I – cannot. I have given my word I will stay – that was the price for his release. I honor my word, Yayoi. You can tell anyone who asks what happened."
His look was oddly intent, but at the moment, she couldn't quite put her finger on the meaning. "You – you're staying with that – woman, then?"
"I gave my word, so I must. I will keep in touch – you will know where to find me at need. But for now, take the boy and go."
"Shido—"
"Go! Go now –and do not look back."
He turned as he spoke and moved quickly off through the park, which seemed to darken around them. Yayoi looked at the boy, who seemed unaware of what just transpired. She glanced up again, but the park had resumed a normal quality of light and appeared empty but for the two of them. She held her hand down to the boy.
"Come, sir – we'll go find your grandfather."
He smiled as he bowed politely and took her hand, letting her lead him out to the car.
"Riho, we have a guest," Yayoi alerted her as she opened the door for the boy to climb in.
"Hello," Riho smiled at him, before turning back to ask, "and where's Mr. Shido?"
"He'll be coming home in his own time," she said, keeping her voice light. "All set?" At nods from the boy and Riho, she pulled out from the curb and made a u-turn, heading back for the precinct.
In the park, Guni flitted from tree to tree, watching, as Shido ducked around a stand of bushes, and practically fell to the ground. She fought the urge to go to him – some feeling that something was not right. And in a moment she had reason to be glad she had waited.
"I thought you were stronger than that, Shido," Drusla touched him with a dainty slipper toe. "Your feelings for these humans is – immoral."
"I did what you asked, I told them nothing. My emotions are my own to deal with."
Guni watched as Shido sat up, and brushed some grass clippings off his jacket. "Besides, it's not as if it matters anyway."
"Cain was right about you – you could have been the best of all of us. Instead, you throw away what you have and what you are." She backed up as he rose from the ground and resumed walking. Guni flitted along behind.
"Disdain, my pretty wife? You see why we would not have matched well – no matter anyone else's plans? You are what you are, and I am what I am. We are different, and will remain so."
"It will be in your best interest to try to please me, Shido. I can make your life miserable for centuries if you do not." He paused for just a moment, then moved on again in silence.
"Miserable bitch," Guni said to herself, keeping within the tree branches to stay out of sight. "Human or vampire, you're still a bitch. And I think you need a lesson."