Oathkeeper

by Seichou Maki

Miwa had pledged an oath to Youko Kurama, an oath that defines many things about her life and her choices. However, encountering the Spirit Detective, called to retrieve the Artifacts of Darkness from four demon thieves, begins the chain of events that forces her to rethink the oath she made long ago.

35. Independence

Chapter 35: Independence

Miwa spun for what must have been the tenth time, scrutinizing her reflection in the changing room mirror. After wandering around the shop for half an hour, she finally picked out a light blue sweater to try on. The material was soft and warmer than it looked. The neck folded into a nice collar, and the sleeves ended past her wrists. The collar, cuffs, and hem were a darker shade of blue, and a textured pattern was sewn in with matching light blue thread. Miwa liked its simplicity. Without thinking, she turned and opened her mouth to speak, but then she remembered Saya wasn't there. Miwa often followed her friend into this store. Today, however, she was alone, and she chose to come alone. The last time Miwa bought clothes here, Saya waited outside the dressing room curtain, ready to evaluate the dress Miwa wore to Shiori's wedding.

She looked down at the sweater. It was a similar color to that dress. The one she wore when Kurama told her she looked nice…

Miwa turned, retreating from her blushing reflection. What was she doing here? What would she accomplish by getting this sweater? She didn't need new clothes for this outing. Saya dragged her to this store to get clothes for a wedding, but this time she came of her own volition; even gravitated to a color like that dress. Buying a sweater wasn't going to help her find her answer.

After yanking the sweater over her head, Miwa threw her regular clothes back on. A striking transition from a cute sweater to a black and white hoodie, and Miwa hesitated when slipping the sweater back onto its hanger. She stared at it, contemplating the reasons she came to this place. A few days after inviting her out, Kurama explained his plan on their way home from school. A botanical garden several stations away was holding a special nighttime event. Guests could come after the normal closing hours to enjoy the plants and trees illuminated by colorful lights. The spectacle celebrated the beauty of the autumn foliage as the season came to an end. A final farewell before winter set in and the leaves fell away, and it was over a week away. The late autumn evening would be cold, which was why she grabbed the sweater. She already had coats in her closet. She didn't need to look nice. But this was something he planned for her. He had been very patient, letting her take all the time she needed to consider her answer. Not to mention how long he kept his feelings a secret before his confession. She'd already made him wait so long. And…she wanted to look nice.

Miwa clenched the sweater fabric, left the changing room, and lined up at the register.

A cheerful woman handled the transaction. Miwa passed her a couple bills, and the woman neatly folded the sweater before sliding it into a paper bag. The bag crinkled when Miwa accepted it, and she trudged her way out of the store, holding the bag in her arms rather than the straps. Her cheek muscles were tight. She bought it…

"Oh, Himari!"

The familiar voice of Saya stopped Miwa in her tracks, still clutching the bag to her waist. Saya and Taichi, by pure coincidence, passed through the shopping mall at that exact moment. If Miwa hesitated any longer, she would have missed them.

"Hey guys," she said, smiling through the tight muscles of her cheeks.

Saya's eyes dropped to the bag. After less than a second of analysis, she lifted her head, beaming. "What did you buy?"

"Um…" The answer was simple, but Miwa couldn't find the words. Instead, she decided handing the bag to Saya would get the point across more quickly.

Curious, but still brimming with excitement, Saya peeked into the bag as Taichi looked over her shoulder. "This is cute!" she exclaimed, handing it back. "What's the occasion?"

"I, uh…" Miwa expected that question. She rarely bought clothes for herself, let alone without Saya, who inched closer with each stammer. "Shuichi and I," Miwa started slowly, "we're going to an illumination event at a botanical garden next weekend."

"Oh yeah?" said Taichi casually, "That sounds fun. Something to look forward to after you move."

Saya, on the other hand, had far more energy in her response. "Himari, walk with us."

Before Miwa could protest, Saya linked their elbows and dragged her away, leaving a startled Taichi to trail after them. Saya led them to the water fountain and plopped herself and Miwa down. Nearly a month ago, they met Shirai in this same spot.

"I need to ask you something." Saya was very diplomatic in her tone and posture. "Have things been different between you and Minamino lately?"

Miwa's recognition of that look made her tight cheeks flush. Not only had her friend suspected something was going on, but she was confident her suspicions were correct. Saya wanted this conversation for years. The question was merely a gentle formality, avoiding accusations by letting Miwa explain things herself.

Taichi sat down on the other side of the bench, putting Saya in the middle, and cautiously joined in. "Minamino's been different too. I don't know how to explain it, but he seems…more relaxed now."

They both noticed. Of course they did. They noticed everything.

The paper bag crinkled as she pulled it closer to her chest. "He…confessed to me a few months ago."

"Months ago…?" Taichi repeated. "Wait, so you still haven't answered?"

Miwa shook her head.

Saya snapped her fingers triumphantly. "I knew it. You've been blushing around him so much lately."

Taichi frowned. "How has it been months and you haven't told us?"

Guilt rippled through her. Miwa hadn't told anyone. Some people around her knew; she was aware of that, but none of them heard it from her. Yusuke and Hiei witnessed the tournament and figured it out themselves. Kuwabara and Kaito, if she suspected correctly, heard it from Kurama. Saya figured everything out just by watching. But there had never been a need for Miwa to tell, and she never wanted to tell. How could she forge her own path if she could not decide something as personal as this?

"It's not that I don't trust you or anything. It's just…" Miwa fidgeted with the paper bag. "This felt like something I needed to figure out on my own."

Saya's grip on Miwa's elbow relaxed. "It is, but that doesn't mean you can't rely on your friends if you need help. Asking for advice…" Her eyes trailed down, where the new sweater peeked out between paper bag handles. "...or moral support."

"She's right, but I think I get it." Taichi leaned on the backrest, somehow looking both relaxed and contemplative. "...It's confusing when you hear something like that from a friend."

The girls' heads first turned towards him in unison, and then to each other. Miwa never dared to breach this subject on her own, but she also hadn't thought about it for a long time. Taichi was once in the same position as her, over a year ago. Back when Miwa was busy preparing for the Dark Tournament, Saya confessed to her childhood friend, and by the time Miwa returned, they had already begun dating. She hadn't questioned it, and she was happy for them. It was heartwarming to be an observer as they grew closer. But if anyone in their little group knew what Miwa was going through, it would be Taichi.

Miwa took a breath, the obvious follow up question forming on her tongue. She wanted to ask how he figured it out, but the words died before they could be voiced, and all she could do was nod in agreement.

With the question gone, Miwa opted for an explanation. "He's important to me. I don't want to be wrong about what that feeling is."

She had already been wrong once. There may have been real love in her feelings for Hiei - in fact, she was certain of it - but too much admiration was mixed in. After coming to that realization, it was easier to accept that following him was not the right path for her, and that her feelings would never be reciprocated. Kurama was important to her in a very different way, and she couldn't let old feelings from her oath factor into it. Becoming his equal was a huge reason for returning to her human life. She didn't want to be wrong about their relationship. About him.

Saya looked at the paper bag again. "Is that why you bought this? Investigating what this feeling really means to you?"

"...I guess so." When Miwa looked in the changing room mirror, that was exactly how she felt. She could have easily continued behaving as if they were friends. Despite struggling with that word for years, and despite how often she blushed, behaving as friends was surprisingly easy. His invitation held clear intentions, but she still accepted it. She even put the effort into finding new clothes that made her feel nice.

Taichi leaned forward with an encouraging grin. "I don't know if this would help you, Shimizu, but it did for me." He glanced at Saya. "You say he's important to you. Ask yourself if you're okay with someone else becoming the most important person to him one day."

Her friends were too kind. She got an answer to her question without even asking. But immediately, her memories pushed forward the incident with Maya Kitajima, and her jaw tightened. The potential reality that had shaken her oath was still possible. Even if they decided to be friends, no matter what, that didn't stop someone else from coming along one day. Saya must have thought the same way, compelling her to confess to Taichi after Miwa rejected him.

"You'll be fine, Himari," said Saya, "Enjoy your date. That's the whole point."

Miwa flushed at the sound of the word, making Saya giggle and nudge her shoulder.

{00}

The light of a bright Sunday afternoon reflected off the delivery truck as it drove away. Miwa and Takeo watched it from the sidewalk, just outside of the new apartment building where she would live. The building was long and rectangular, but the shorter side faced the street. It was three floors high, painted light tan on the front and faded orange on the longer walls. Takeo thought it made the building look very warm; different from the dark brown of where they lived together. On the third floor, farthest away from the street, Negura waited patiently outside of Room 308 with the keys in hand.

As they walked up the stairs, Takeo started chuckling. "At least the room number will be easy for you to remember."

"Not too different from ours," Miwa agreed, smiling up at him, and she looked down the open hallway. "And I'll never accidentally walk past it either."

"I've lived in places like this during college." Takeo looked around, taking in the subtle charm of the building. "You'll get used to long hallways. Just be considerate of your neighbors. The walls are much thinner."

"I doubt I'd be doing anything too noisy."

Ahead, Negura cleared her throat and gestured at the door. "Your belongings are all inside. The landlord can answer any questions you have in the future."

Takeo bowed his head. "Thank you for making these arrangements for her." His tone was very formal and well-practiced. Miwa could imagine him saying something similar while at work.

"Not at all, Mr. Shimizu," said Negura, placing the keys in Miwa's hand. "Himari has already been a great support for her first client. We are lucky to be working with her."

"I am pleased to hear that." Takeo beamed at her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm confident she will continue doing well."

Miwa's jaw tightened and fidgeted with her two keys: one for regular use and one spare. She knew polite human conversation was full of pleasantries, but she was rarely the subject.

"Well then, if you'll excuse me." Negura bowed at a very formal angle and walked away. Her shiny black heels clacked along the balcony floor, looking too rich for a simple building like this.

When Negura was gone, Takeo asked, "Does their company own this building?"

"No, but they are acquainted with the landlord. She supports their cause, so she offered rooms to employees like me."

"That's very generous of her."

An hour before, Negura introduced an old human woman to Miwa and Takeo. To Takeo, the old woman was the only tenant of Room 101, but Miwa and Negura discretely nodded in greeting to the true landlord: a small boy with a toothy smile sitting cross-legged in the corner. The zashiki-warashi, a child house-spirit, occupied and guarded the building for more than fifty years. The old woman, a psychic herself, could see him too, and she was the "face" of the building that managed the human affairs. Meaning, she was the landlord in name only. The zashiki-warashi was the one who opened his doors to demons under Negura's employ.

The zashiki-warashi was also acquainted with Iizuna, as it turned out. Negura employed him too for his expertise in setting up demons with human lives. Just as he predicted, Iizuna's knowledge was valuable under the reign of the new king. If Miwa hadn't insisted on living with a human parent, Himari Shimizu could have lived in a demon-owned place just like this, but she didn't want to dwell on that. She was still accepting the fact that Iizuna was once again involved in her living arrangements, and she fully expected him to come knocking one day to gloat.

"Ready?"

Miwa nodded, stuffed her new key into the doorknob, turned the lock, and pulled the door open.

The studio apartment was long and narrow, stretching to the other end of the building. To the right of the door was a small closet for footwear and coats. Next to that was an alcove housing a washing machine, followed by a small kitchenette, and a refrigerator set up beside the door to the living space. On the left of the entry hallway were two doors. One to the bath and the other to the toilet. The door to the living space was ajar, showing a room with white walls and a pinewood floor, roughly the same size as the living room in Takeo's apartment. Or maybe it looked that spacious because all the boxes were stacked in a corner by the closet. The view was nothing special; a straight line to the apartment building next door, but the midday light shone through, brightening the room naturally. The room even came partially furnished, courtesy of the previous tenant leaving things behind. A small bed frame was lined up against the wall, in front of the veranda, and the delivery staff had placed Miwa's mattress on it. They also kindly set her desk against the wall opposite the bed. A low floor table sat in the center of the room, and a small TV stand was moved next to Miwa's desk. There was no TV, however. She would have to get one for herself.

This was the room where Miwa would begin her new life. It was perfect.

Takeo whistled. "For a building this old, they've sure kept the place nice."

Miwa was certain the zashiki-warashi had a hand in that, but she was equally impressed and grateful to live in a place owned by the child-spirit. "Was the place you lived in college also like this?"

"Definitely not this clean, but lots of studio apartments have the same layout." Then, his eyes wandered over to the boxes. "Are you sure you don't need help unpacking?"

"I don't have that many things," Miwa insisted, grabbing the top box from the stack. It had "DESK" written on it with a black marker. "And you have to go to your event."

Takeo checked his watch. Even though it was a Sunday, he was still expected at work. His office was hosting a small festival for town residents. Workshops introducing the area to newcomers, games and prizes for the kids, and makeshift stalls run by local vendors. It was the last big event before Takeo returned to his hometown.

"They know my daughter is moving out today," he argued. "They would understand."

"But you worked hard preparing for it! You've always liked this event, and it's your last one! You should see the results of your effort." Miwa set the box on her desk. "Besides, I want to show you what I can do with a space like this."

Takeo laughed. "I guess this is your first apartment." Then, he grinned mischievously and grabbed a box, this one marked as "KITCHEN." "Fine," he said, "but at least let me put some of these boxes in their proper places."

Miwa allowed it, and she pushed a large but not-too-heavy box labeled "BED" towards its proper place. Within minutes, the boxes were placed for unpacking, and Takeo reluctantly put his shoes back on. Miwa saw him off at the entryway, but a strange feeling rippled in her chest. This was the first time someone would leave her new apartment. But more than that, this was the first time she would ever see Takeo leave without the expectation that he would come back later that night. He was, in every sense of the word, leaving this space. Her space.

"Don't be a stranger," he said, standing up and putting his hand on the door. "I still have a month left in our place. You're welcome anytime."

"Of course. I'll help when you move out, too."

Takeo smiled, albeit with a clear twinge of loneliness, and waved goodbye. He pushed the door open, and a light draft of cool autumn air poured in. Miwa followed him all the way to the stairs, and she watched from the balcony as he slowly walked away, waving for as long as she was in his sight. And then he was gone. Miwa returned to her room and entered her silent, empty apartment.

She was alone now.

Alone, independent, and fully on the next step to her After.

Miwa closed her eyes. Takeo was right. The walls were thin in buildings like this, and faint sounds of life filtered through the wood and plaster. Footsteps, creaking floorboards, quiet conversations, and running water as someone washed their dishes. Soon, she would add to that noise, bringing her own life to this quiet room.

First things first. She grabbed the "CLOTHES" box. Himari Shimizu did not spend too much time on fashion, but even her wardrobe would fit in the small closet with limited room to spare. She placed folded clothes in a tiny drawer and carefully selected which garments would be put on a hanger. Her fighting clothes were packed in a smaller box, carefully hidden from Takeo, and she put it on the top shelf. But then, she pulled out her new sweater. The sight of it reminded her of her plans for the following weekend. She carried the sweater to the bathroom mirror and held it up to her shoulders. The time to wear this garment was coming. After coincidentally running into each other at the mall, Saya made sure Himari had nice clothes to go with the new sweater. Meaning, the rest of that afternoon became a typical shopping session with Saya to find a matching skirt. It was fun. Miwa couldn't deny that. The skirt Saya found was cute, and her excitement was contagious.

Even after the stress of moving, Miwa still felt that excitement. With a faint blush, she returned to the closet, slipped the sweater on a closet hanger, and slowly closed the door.

She was about to open the "BATHROOM" box when the unfamiliar doorbell chime made her jump. Based on the quick glance at her watch, nearly an hour passed since she started working, and she was not expecting anyone. However, she knew who was outside. Miwa stood up, stretched out her knees, and called out "Coming!" to the door, as she had become accustomed to while living with Takeo.

"Surprise!" Kuwabara exclaimed the moment she opened the door, grinning so widely she could see his teeth. "Congrats on moving in!"

Beside him, Kurama stood quietly with his hands in his pockets. "I hope we haven't interrupted anything."

"Not at all," Miwa said, making room for them to come inside. She didn't want their noise disturbing the neighbors. "But what are you guys doing here?"

Kuwabara hastily kicked off his shoes. "What do you think? We're here to check out your new place and help unpack."

"But I don't have a lot of-"

"Miwa." Kurama's gentle voice silenced her immediately. "Let us help you."

Her jaw tightened, more out of apprehension than her flushed cheeks, but she had no reason to turn them away, and she silently welcomed them further inside. Kuwabara was so tall that he had to duck to get through the door, which amused Miwa enough to forgive their sudden intrusion. Once his head was safely through, Kuwabara looked around the room with his chest puffed out.

"Nice place," he said, eyeing the boxes, "I still can't believe you got a whole apartment to yourself."

"It's just a small studio," Miwa muttered, folding her arms.

"I'm sure it's much nicer than anything you could have gotten on your own," said Kurama, inspecting the empty kitchen cabinets. "Only another demon would consider renting to a girl still in high school."

Kuwabara took a couple steps towards the box pile and stopped. "Urameshi's also gonna come by later, after he's done working." He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I uh, hope that's okay."

Miwa giggled. "Did you three get together and plan to ambush me?"

Kurama finally entered the living area. "It's not an ambush, it's a celebration. Your first day in your new home."

This time, Miwa did blush, for more reasons than one. After taking nearly an hour setting up her closet, she admitted that having their help would get more things done by sunset. There was school tomorrow, after all. "...Thanks."

"Alright then!" Kuwabara straightened his back and cracked his knuckles. "Which box should we tackle first?"

She quickly did a mental recap of the unpacked items, in case there was something she didn't want them to see. Luckily, she put her clothes away first. "How about you take those," she said, pointing to two boxes labeled "KITCHEN", "and I'll handle the bathroom."

"You got it."

The boys each opened a box and picked out the contents, placing them carefully on the floor to take inventory.

"There's a lot of things here," said Kurama, a bit surprised. "Are these all from Takeo's apartment?"

"Yup," Miwa called through the bathroom door, which she propped open with a shampoo bottle. "Takeo's moving soon too, so he packed up most of the stuff for me and kept the bare minimum for himself."

"That's pretty convenient. You won't have to do too much shopping," said Kuwabara, inspecting a small hot pot dish.

"I think he plans to live on take-out until he moves out…"

Kurama inspected the stack of plates. It seemed like a lot for someone living alone. But, after hearing that Takeo himself packed the kitchenware, he understood. It may have been too much for one person, but it was enough for a girl living alone entertaining friends. Particularly the hot pot dish, typically used when dining with friends and family. Smiling to himself, Kurama returned to the task assigned to him.

For the next hour, they worked on their respective boxes. Kuwabara and Kurama spent a long time with the kitchen items, discussing the most space-efficient way to store what Takeo packed. In the bathroom, Miwa listened to them talk as she folded towels and placed things in cupboards. Every now and then, she would suddenly remember the fact that this was now her kitchen and her bathroom. When she looked in the cupboard under the sink, everything was arranged the same way it was done at Takeo's apartment. Even the closet, she realized, ended up being the same arrangement as her previous one. Like she was recreating the life she built over there. She laughed to herself. Who would have guessed Takeo Shimizu influenced her this much? She finished the BATHROOM box before the boys finalized their kitchen organization plan, so she moved on to the next box. Since she brought the same desk from Takeo's apartment, this too was arranged exactly as it was before. The familiarity was, in a way, comforting. Small touches of her previous home planted in her new life.

The boys finally finished their kitchen plan, but just as they broke down the boxes, the doorbell rang for the second time. The three friends looked at each other, and Kuwabara whispered that it was too early for Yusuke to be done with work. Kurama, who was closest to the entrance, wasn't worried. He recognized the scents behind the door, and he told Miwa to answer it. A moment later, she could smell them too, and she waltzed over to the door with a smile.

The moment their heads were visible, Saya and Taichi announced their presence with a bright and cheerful, "Hi!"

Miwa stepped aside to let them in. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked, already certain she knew the answer.

Saya grinned and tiptoed inside. "Obviously, we're here to make sure your new home is up to our standards."

"Hey, Minamino," said Taichi, casually waving while he slipped off his shoes. "I see great minds think alike."

"Hello, Tsutsumi," Kurama replied, rising to his feet. "I'm glad you're both here. Himari had every intention to unpack everything herself."

Saya turned her head with a dramatic flourish. "Is that so?" she asked, giving Miwa a crooked grin that made her flinch. Everything about it said, "I knew it," without saying the words.

Kuwabara slowly stood up, albeit a bit awkward in his movements. He was thankful both Kurama and Miwa's human names were said aloud. If they hadn't, he was likely to call them by the wrong names in front of the regular humans again. "Hey," he said, raising a hand to wave, "I'm Kazuma Kuwabara, one of uh…Himari's friends."

Saya and Taichi did not seem to notice his pause. "Nice to meet you! I'm Saya Kimura, Himari's classmate."

"And I'm Taichi. I'm Minamino's classmate."

With everyone standing in the entrance hall, the room became very cramped. Kuwabara and Kurama retreated into the living area first, getting back to their boxes while Miwa gave her school friends a quick tour. Once Saya was satisfied with her thorough inspection, she handed Miwa a plastic bag from a nearby grocery store. Inside were several varieties of instant noodle packets and bottled drinks.

"It's not much," Saya admitted, "but it should hold you over until you have a chance to do some real shopping."

Miwa glanced at her very empty refrigerator. Saya inadvertently checked off an item on Miwa's mental list of things to do today. A list that, thanks to Kuwabara and Kurama's efforts, had already been shortened considerably. It was shortened further when Saya and Taichi adamantly volunteered to help with the rest. Saya peeled open the "BED" box and unfolded the sheets, and then Taichi helped her arrange them on the mattress. Kuwabara sifted through a "MISC" box while Kurama explained to Miwa the kitchen storage that he and Kuwabara took over an hour to plan and implement. Her solo project quickly ballooned into a five-person job, without her ever asking. As the afternoon went on, the boxes slowly became a stack of flattened cardboard. Taichi and Kuwabara stepped out to deposit them in the recycle bin outdoors, but when they came back, the final guest, Yusuke, was in tow.

"What's up, busy bees? I bear gifts." He waved around a plastic bag of his own, shuffling the snacks and drinks inside.

Miwa accepted the bag and distributed the items across the floor table. "I appreciate the offering," Miwa said, watching Taichi snatch a bag of chips without hesitation.

"Least I could do for not being around to help," Yusuke said. He surveyed the relatively put-together room and whistled. "If I didn't know better, I wouldn't have guessed you moved in a few hours ago."

"I wouldn't have guessed it'd be done so quickly either."

"You should've." He winked. "What'd you expect after telling us the address and move-in date?"

"Exactly!" Saya called from the kitchen. She was collecting cups so Yusuke's drinks could be poured out and shared.

Kuwabara had quietly reminded Yusuke about using Miwa and Kurama's human names while they were outside. Despite that, Yusuke still stumbled over his words, like Kuwabara did, when introducing himself to Saya. If she noticed, Saya did not say anything. She was more excited to meet new people.

"How do you all know each other?" she asked.

An expected, innocent question, but one that stunned four of their numbers into a short silence. Thinking quickly, Kurama explained, "Yusuke and Kuwabara are middle school friends, but Himari and I first met Yusuke back when my mother was in the hospital, and even though he barely knew us, he was a tremendous help."

Miwa and Yusuke stared at him. Technically, what he said wasn't a lie, but considering what really happened on the hospital rooftop that night, it was an incredibly bland account.

"Oh yeah," said Taichi, catching their attention, "I remember you being out of school a lot back then."

Saya nodded, personally remembering Himari leaving school immediately every day to help take care of the Minamino house. "That's very nice of you, Urameshi."

"Well, uh," Yusuke sputtered, "That's me. Always happy to lend a helping hand." He laughed to collect himself. "They've helped me out too since then, so we're all squared."

"I say we've done more than help you out, Urameshi."

"Watch it, Kuwabara…"

To divert the conversation, Miwa took the cups from Saya and spread them out on the table. "C'mon guys, let's eat these snacks."

And just like that, the five-person job became a six-person party, all huddled in Miwa's new apartment. A strange, mixed gathering of people who did and did not know her real name, but they all came to help her move in. Out of the goodness of their hearts. Their chats were friendly and easy, as if they weren't two groups of people meeting for the first time. On one side of the floor table, Yusuke and Taichi talked about sports. Miwa didn't even know Yusuke was interested in that. However, the longer she listened in, she realized he specifically followed sports he could gamble on, and that made much more sense. On the other side of the table, Saya and Kuwabara swapped stories about what their schools were like, and Kurama chimed in with stories of Kuwabara's diligent effort to pass his entrance exams.

Miwa looked around the room again. Other than the mess of snacks on the table, her desk was neat, her clothes were put away, and the kitchen was meticulously organized. The room didn't look lived-in yet, but the familiar items were enough to remind her of the apartment she shared with Takeo. Like Yusuke said, it was hard to believe that a few hours ago, she was the only person standing in an empty room with boxes for company. She should have been grateful for their help, and she was, but she was more taken aback by the number of people who showed up.

They surprised her because they knew she wouldn't ask for help. She even sent Takeo away, when he would have gladly skipped work to help her. Miwa watched them chat as she sat on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chest like she was sitting in P.E. class. Her chin rested on her knees, but she was smiling, making a mental note to tell Takeo about this. The knowledge that so many people came to help her would surely ease his worries.

Eventually, Taichi and Yusuke's sports conversation focused on basketball, and Miwa decided to join in. Yusuke had no idea she played the sport casually at school, and Taichi enjoyed embarrassing her by complimenting her amateur skills in front of Yusuke. Yusuke, catching on to his plan, roped in Kuwabara to embarrass her even further, and the tall boy scooted closer. Kindred spirits relentlessly teasing their friend.

"Hey, Minamino," whispered Saya, keeping a careful eye on the discussion across the floor table. "Was coming to help her unpack your idea?"

He nodded. "I assume it was your idea to come with Tsutsumi?"

"Of course it was." They shared a quiet laugh as the others were none the wiser. "I heard you two are going on a date this weekend."

He blinked, slightly taken aback, but then he tilted his head in amusement. "I suppose Himari told you everything?"

"Give me some credit. I figured it out on my own first."

This time, he covered his mouth to hide a laugh. "I'm glad. She keeps so much to herself."

Saya groaned. "She really does…"

Across the table, the subject of their conversation gathered the empty cups and poured more drinks. It was a feeble attempt to avoid the teasing grins of the other boys, because they did not stop. Saya could sympathize with her, but she liked watching Taichi getting along with new friends. Then, Saya's gaze slid over to the closet door. She had no doubt that Himari's recent purchase was safely stored there. If only she could have been around to watch her put it away…

"Why now, after all this time?" Saya asked, keeping her voice low. "Did you just realize it?"

"In a way, yes. Certain events in our lives just…put things into perspective."

Says refrained from frowning. Himari clearly wasn't the only one who kept things secretive and vague. Saya never understood why those two behaved that way, or why they disappeared for days on end sometimes. She knew she was pushy, and Saya tried her hardest to be patient and understanding, but what kind of circumstances would change the perspective of someone as mysterious as those two? Himari was rejected by the guy she liked, but Saya had a hunch that wasn't the reason Minamino confessed. People from their school had been interested in Himari for years. The realization that someone else could ask her out would have happened a long time ago.

But, in the end, the reason didn't matter. What mattered was the outcome, and for that, Saya was confident her prediction would be correct.

"I don't think you need to worry, Minamino," she said, "She's putting a lot of thought into it."

He smiled at his friends in a way that Saya had never seen before. It was soft, grateful, and adoring, all at the same time.

"I know."

{00}

For the first time, Rakuen asked Miwa to meet at a completely different location. Rather than outside the train station's busiest exit, Miwa had to walk fifteen minutes from the opposite exit and into a large park with walking trails, small exhibits, and a few areas with children's playground equipment. It was quieter and more secluded than their usual meeting spot. They kept to a walking trail, which was a nice way for Miwa to stay warm in the chilly air, but that wasn't Rakuen's intention at all. This was her alternative to nervous pacing. It was after school on a Wednesday, which was not their typical meeting date, but Rakuen called the night before and asked to meet as soon as possible.

After several minutes of silent walking, Rakuen finally admitted, "I messed up."

Miwa tried not to show her worry in her face, but the change in location started making sense. "How?"

Rakuen rubbed her hands together. It looked like she was trying to keep warm, but it was just another nervous fidget. "I don't think I broke any of the king's laws," she said, lacking any confidence, "but I caused…a scene."

"...Was anyone hurt?"

"No." Her pretty face scrunched up. "But maybe I should have…"

Miwa took a large step forward and blocked the spider's path. "Rakuen, what happened?"

There was tense silence as the two stared each other down. Rakuen was taller, and her annoyance at being stopped added an edge to her glare. Miwa did not recoil; she defeated stronger enemies than a jorougumo. The last thing she wanted was for her relationship with her first client to crumble, but the frustration behind that glare was not to be taken lightly.

"...I thought a bar would be the easiest place to make human friends." Her glare relaxed, and Rakuen continued walking. "Humans are less inhibited when they drink and more willing to talk to a foreign stranger like me."

She described a bar not far from their usual meeting spot. Rakuen had been popping in for nearly two weeks, slowly getting to know the bartender. She was a middle-aged lady with a no-nonsense attitude that Rakuen liked. The bar's friendly atmosphere reliably turned into a karaoke party once the after-dinner crowd arrived. Rakuen enjoyed it, even though she did not know any of the songs. But eventually, the less-honorable patrons noticed the beautiful woman coming in to drink alone.

"Drunk humans are just as dumb as drunk demons," she griped. "I thought they were talking to me because they wanted to be friends, or at least be drinking companions at the bar."

Miwa already had an idea of where this was going. "Then they overstepped."

Rakuen nodded. "I realized it once the men kept offering me drinks. Human alcohol doesn't affect me very much, so they kept on offering. The bartender could only intervene so much, but I knew they were watching me, waiting for me to become blackout drunk."

"...Surely there must have been other women in the bar, too?"

"They don't like me," she scoffed. "They did at first, but once the men gave me more attention, I could hear them whispering about me from across the room. But then, one jerk tried to put an arm around my shoulder, and I sidestepped him."

"I bet he didn't like that…"

"Nope, but the rest of the men took it as a sign to take their shot. Before the bartender could put a stop to things, their advances became more…forward, and I lost my temper." One hand went up to her cheek. "My face changes once I'm angry, and I scared everyone, even the bartender who tried to help me."

"...Did they say anything?"

"No. They just stared at me like I was hideous. The bartender was terrified." Rakuen looked up. It was a cloudy afternoon, making the park seem lifeless and dull. "It's not that I've never scared anyone with my real face before. But…I just wanted to be their friend."

They returned to walking in silence. The story reminded Miwa of the day she investigated Shou Nishida, and Saya and Taichi witnessed her using her powers against the young Psychic's Territory. They were more confused than frightened, but neither Miwa nor Hiei looked inhuman. If Hiei revealed his Jagan Eye, or if Miwa's fangs were visible, would they have been just as frightened as the bartender? Revealing yourself as a demon was not against Enki's rules, but it was a risky move for anyone who wanted to befriend a normal human.

"...It's not fair." Rakuen's whisper was barely audible. She stopped rubbing her hands together, but they were clenched. "We have to hold ourselves back just because humans can't protect themselves."

"Rakuen." Miwa grabbed her elbow, and the spider whirled back at the audacity. "We don't hold ourselves back because they are weaker. We do it because they are just as alive as us."

Her face did change when she was angry. A set of beady, black eyes appeared on the corners of her human ones. Thick fangs pushed through her teeth and extended down to her chin. Even her black hair turned coarse and wild, like it was blown about by a strong wind. The true face of the jorougumo was peeking through the beautiful human facade.

"It took me three years to find a human that I genuinely considered a friend, but I didn't put nearly as much effort as you are." Miwa relaxed her fingers, and to her surprise, Rakuen did not pull away. "If you don't give up, I'm sure you'll find a human you can relate to. Maybe even that bartender."

"You didn't see her face when-"

"No, I didn't, but humans are afraid of things they don't understand. So are we." Finally, Miwa let go of her elbow. "There are humans who know about us, even if they are a tiny minority. The difference is we've known about humans all along. We need to reach out and bridge that gap, or the humans will stay afraid of us forever."

Rakuen's spider features receded, and her human face regained its ethereal beauty. "You're so optimistic," she said, both smiling and rolling her eyes.

Miwa thought of Takeo and what he said under the influence of the pollen. How he did not want to forget her. Fear would not have been visible in that suggestive state, but his words then were not lies.

"Because I believe that, even if they learn my real name, the humans I've made friends with as Himari would still accept me. In time, the relationship between humans and demons may become stable enough for me to finally tell them the truth."

Rakuen sighed and crossed her arms. "You want to tell them the truth?"

"...One day. Some day. It's not easy lying so much to the people who care about you."

Saya and Taichi did not remember the time they witnessed their friend fight a psychic boy with magical water. But, despite Miwa screaming at them to run away, they refused. They stayed because their friend, weird powers and all, was staying behind to fight. They could never remember it, but Miwa would never forget. Maybe one day, some day, she would ask Shirai to show them her memories of that day. Then, they could see their own bravery, and how much it meant to her in a time when she longed for her old life.

A cool breeze passed between them, and Rakuen rubbed her hands against her arms. "You're right," she said, a small laugh breaking into her words. "I'm sorry. After seeing all their faces, I couldn't think straight."

Miwa smiled, turned, and led her down the rest of the walking trail. "It's fine. My job is to help you set your thoughts straight."

Rakuen giggled. "I'm jealous, Miwa. You've really integrated into the human world."

"Trust me, it's a process. I've also had days where I didn't react well."

"Really?"

Miwa nodded. "Mind you, things were different when I got here. A lot of demons ended up in the human underworld because they couldn't integrate."

Rakuen slowed down. "So…did you?"

"No, but I certainly towed the line. My job was gathering information, and the human underworld is the only place to find demons who know what's going on."

"Hold up. Your job for that Spirit Fox?"

"Um, yeah..."

Rakuen held her chin. "That makes sense. I remember watching the tournament, and they said you two were partners or something."

Miwa forced her expression to remain unchanged. Rakuen didn't need to know how that made her remember other embarrassing things. "Anyway, I came to Living World and enrolled in a human middle school. Other than Kurama - the Spirit Fox - I didn't really interact with anyone in my school. But Kurama is…well, he was popular among the girls, and their resentment towards me built up over time."

"Yeah, he does have a good-looking human form."

Miwa ignored that. "Someone saw me while I was speaking with an informant. I guess technically, her assumptions weren't wrong. I was doing something a human teenager shouldn't. But instead of telling the teachers, she used it to threaten me."

Rakuen stopped smiling. "But you're a demon. You can handle some humans easily."

"I could, but not without causing Kurama more trouble. I had to settle things quietly."

The middle school era story was told without giving Rakuen any names, but the girl in question was called Setoguchi. At first, Setoguchi's actions merely confused her. Sometimes, Miwa's shoes went missing or were soaked in dirty water, or textbooks and gym clothes mysteriously appeared in strange places. But, despite her confusion, Miwa quickly found ways around them, easily removing the water from her shoes or planting a trace in the items that went missing. Setoguchi came up with all sorts of juvenile bullying tactics, which Miwa later learned were cliche ideas copied from comics.

Eventually, Setoguchi involved other students. She left disgustingly girly love letters in the shoe lockers of random boys, disclosing Himari's full name and class. The boys - most of whom had never spoken to Miwa before - came to investigate, expecting to get a girlfriend. Miwa explained the situation to them all, sometimes in public, and she apologized to the ones who had the sense to realize the letters were suspicious. In the meantime, Setoguchi spread rumors about that weird Shimizu girl who suddenly sent a bunch of love letters to different boys, only to turn them all down. Shimizu loved the attention, they would say, because being close friends with someone as smart and handsome as Minamino was no longer enough.

Miwa honestly found a lot of Setoguchi's antics hilarious; like watching a dumb animal in the zoo. Setoguchi became infuriated by Miwa's tactics to subvert the bullying. She didn't even realize Miwa knew she was up to something, or that she was far too inexperienced to hide something like this from her. Kurama, on the other hand, was furious, but she refused to let him intervene. Miwa's own amusement aside, it was also around the time his mother's illness was getting worse and worse. He often left school immediately after class to take her to doctor appointments, and Miwa didn't want him to carry this extra burden.

Then, after months of her tactics failing to get under Miwa's skin, Setoguchi took some compromising photos, and her bullying escalated to blackmail with one last shoebox letter. This time it was addressed to Shimizu, demanding that she wait behind the gymnasium after school - once Minamino was gone - or else she would expose her secret. Miwa didn't tell Kurama about it, and she was confident that she could smother any secret Setoguchi could dig up. Miwa had bigger things to deal with, like looking after the Minamino house while Kurama took care of his sick mother, or making sure the demons in the city didn't become too rowdy, especially not near the hospital.

When Miwa got there, Setoguchi waited behind the gymnasium with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

"You actually showed up, Shimizu."

Miwa set her school bag down and held the letter between two fingers like a dirty rag. "I thought it was time I confirmed who was going around pulling stupid stunts. I assume all of this had a point?"

Setoguchi huffed. "Just stay away from Minamino, and I'll stop."

The demand was so juvenile that Miwa burst out laughing. "Or else?"

Setoguchi growled and pulled a photo from her pocket. "Or I'll report you to the teachers for suspicious activity."

Miwa stepped closer to look at the photo. It was of her sitting in a dark alley with Kanra, one of her demon informants. And as always, Kanra was smoking. Miwa was fortunate that the cigarettes she had given him as payment were not in her hands when the photo was taken. But the alley was littered with discarded cigarette butts and empty beer cans. Miwa was only talking to Kanra, but without context, Himari Shimizu looked like a delinquent smoking and drinking in dark alleys with older men.

"Can't imagine what Minamino would think of his friend behaving like this," Setoguchi said, gaining confidence as Miwa inspected the photo. "If the teachers find out, you could get expelled."

Miwa stepped back. "Is that all?"

Setoguchi blinked. "Huh?"

"My friend there and I both knew you were following me, but to think you actually took a picture…" She laughed again.

Setoguchi waved the photo around. "What are you trying to say? You don't care if this is the reason you're expelled?"

Miwa shrugged. "With the way things are going, it might be a better use of my time to leave school anyway."

Despite months of doctor appointments, none of them brought news assuring Shiori's recovery. One treatment plan after another, managing the symptoms and prolonging her life instead of curing the disease. At this point, Shiori's hospitalization was inevitable. In that photo, Miwa and Kanra were discussing demon medicines she could obtain in the Living World. Instead of wasting hours of her day in a classroom, she needed to find a way to help Shiori. That was all Kurama wanted.

Setoguchi was unprepared for such a blase reaction. She stuffed the photo back in her pocket, and her eyes darted around, thinking of how to salvage the situation. Then, she remembered her last resort, and the nervousness disappeared.

"Then what if I report that you've been seen leaving Minamino's house at night?"

Miwa's whole body went still. "What?"

"Don't play dumb," Setoguchi said, taking a bold step forward, and she produced a second photo. "This was after midnight. I sure hope nothing inappropriate was going on."

"This won't make him pay more attention to you."

…This was so ridiculous. Even with the poor street lighting and photo quality, Miwa easily recognized herself and the front of the Minamino house. This idiot human had no idea what was going on outside of her ridiculous imagination. She was trying to get under her skin. Miwa learned that was one of the few ways young humans could exert power over others, and letting intimidation control her would play right into that. Threatening her expulsion wasn't enough. This threat, however, wasn't the same as the first.

Setoguchi took another emboldened step. "So, you don't deny it? I doubt saying you were studying together is a good enough excuse."

She was so busy gloating that she failed to notice Miwa's fangs growing larger, the grass shifting strangely as the moisture inside swayed, or Miwa's quiet hiss growing louder. She did not know that, inside Miwa's school bag, a small water bottle was slowly being pushed open.

"Leave him out of this. Your issue is with me."

"Aww, you want to protect him?" Setoguchi poked a finger into her cheek. "I'm starting to think Minamino has poor taste in girls."

"I said, leave him out of this."

"Do as I say, and then I will."

Then, Miwa smiled at her, and Setoguchi flinched upon seeing sharp fangs. "Fine. This is how you want to play."

A water stream burst from Miwa's school bag and slithered across the ground like a glowing snake. Setoguchi shrieked, but the stream circled up her leg before she could run away. The stream dove into her pocket, snatched up blackmail photos, and tore them to pieces in mid-air. Freed from the stream, Setoguchi pressed her back against the gymnasium wall, now too terrified to scream at the monstrosity she was witnessing. The fangs. A snake made of water. This human had no clue who she was threatening.

"I let you take those photos because I don't care what happens to Himari Shimizu." Miwa kneeled, pulled a small container from her bag, and poured the contents into her palm. "But the one thing I cannot allow is anyone interfering with his life. He has enough to deal with right now."

The stream dropped the photograph fragments into Miwa's bag and looped around Setoguchi's legs. She pulled with all their might, whimpering like a frightened animal, but she could not free herself from its grip. Miwa outstretched a palm full of fine pollen.

"So, you are going to forget the 'evidence' you think you have on me and keep your stupid little grudge to yourself. I don't have time to report your bullying like a good human girl."

One puff of pollen in her face, and Setoguchi collapsed to the ground. When the water stream returned to Miwa's water bottle, a teacher came to investigate the screams. Miwa told him a snake appeared in the school yard, and Setoguchi was so scared that she fainted. Miwa even helped lift the unconscious girl onto the teacher's back so she could be carried to the infirmary. Then, when the teacher wasn't looking, she slipped away before he could ask for her name or class. The bullying ceased, and she broke into Setoguchi's house that night to ensure all traces of the photos were gone. However, Kurama wasn't exactly pleased with how she handled it.

"...But why?" Rakuen asked, her eyes sparkling. "You took care of the problem, and she doesn't even remember what happened! I wish I had something like that…"

Miwa sighed. "That's not the point, Rakuen. I got angry over something petty and threatened someone. It wasn't like one of those demons who like to pull pranks on humans. If I didn't have that pollen, I could have gotten in real trouble with Spirit World."

"So, does that mean you don't carry pollen anymore?"

"Not unless I think I'll need it. But I only use it to make humans forget traumatic events. Not to hide silly disputes like that."

Rakuen frowned. "What if something happens and you need to reveal yourself in front of your human friends?"

"...I'll handle it then. I told you; I'm hoping for a world where I won't have to make them forget."

"What about me? I don't have anything to erase traumatic memories that are my fault."

"If it's that bad, then Negura will step in. I had a lot of help to integrate like I have, and I'll help you. You'll get there someday, Rakuen, as long as you don't give up."

"...Alright."

They continued down the walking trail, making casual plans about what Rakuen could do if she ever went to see that bartender again. If they were lucky, the bartender had an open mind, and they could put the incident behind them. If not, Miwa suggested finding a small, family-owned restaurant instead. Places like those also have regulars, friendly relationships with the owners, and far less alcohol. Once they finished, the sun was setting. A few humans in jogging clothes and cassette players were stretching by the start of another trail. Children were waving good-bye to their friends as they followed their parents home for dinner.

"Thank you, Miwa," said Rakuen. The nervousness was gone, and she wasn't rubbing her hands anymore. "You can go ahead. I'm going to walk down another trail and clear my head a bit more."

"Alright. I'll see you next time."

Miwa waved, and she left the park, leaving Rakuen alone. As promised, Rakuen chose another walking trail at random and started her journey. Another half hour beneath the autumn leaves at sunset would do wonders for her mood. She followed the joggers, but they quickly outpaced her. She took a deep breath through her nose. The crisp, cool air swept down her throat and into her lungs. Miwa was right. If Rakuen talked to that bartender again and explained things as best she could, she may have her first human friend. Demon sightings were increasing in frequency, and no human had been hurt. If those demons could get away with it, so could she.

Unfortunately, Rakuen was so lost in her head that she did not notice a tall and spiritually powerful man following her. A man who was ready to tip the delicate balance of the three worlds and their inhabitants to his favor.

The jorougumo would be perfect for his next demonstration.

{00}

Miwa knew the 24 hours leading up to her plans with Kurama would be nerve wracking and stressful, but even her wildest imaginings would never suspect how stressful they'd become. At least, not after an otherwise normal day of school. When she and Saya went their separate ways at the shoe lockers, her friend waved good-bye with a frustratingly transparent grin, full of excitement and expectation for something that wasn't even happening to her. Saya offered to stop by and help with makeup again, if she wanted. As much as she appreciated Saya's support and interest, Miwa politely declined.

"You can always call if you get nervous," Saya added with a cheeky wink.

"I told you; he's not expecting an answer tomorrow."

"That doesn't mean things won't change." Saya twirled gracefully with her arms spread out. "For all you know, things could change today."

Miwa slapped a hand over her coat pocket and glared at Saya as she skipped out of the building. She really did appreciate Saya's enthusiastic support, but her methods of expressing it sometimes reminded her of Iizuna's teasing. If she didn't know any better, she would have suspected Saya was a fledgling psychic. Her friend was just as observant as the weasel, and she knew something was on Miwa's mind the entire week. Somehow, she even guessed exactly what was in Miwa's pocket.

Then, as timing would have it, Kurama appeared down the hall mere seconds after Saya disappeared, and he noticed Miwa glaring outside. "...Did the door do something to you?"

Miwa hastily clasped both hands behind her back, away from her pocket. "No, Saya was just teasing me again."

Kurama chuckled. "It's because she cares about you."

"I know. I know."

She waited patiently as he changed to his outdoor shoes, and she braced herself for the cold air outside. It wasn't quite cold enough to see her breath fog, but it was only a matter of time before she needed to pull the thicker coat from her closet. Autumn was really ending. The exact time of year the illumination event was meant to celebrate, which they would be seeing the following night.

When they left the campus, Kurama asked, "How is your new apartment? It's been a week now."

Oh, how time flies. She spent so much time thinking about the item in her pocket and the event, her first week of living alone passed in the blink of an eye. "Takeo came by on Monday to go grocery shopping with me before dinner, so it's more livable now. One of the downstairs neighbors is also a demon, and he recognized me from the tournament footage."

"...Was he friendly?"

"Oh, very friendly." Miwa said, almost starting to laugh. "He asked for my autograph, but I don't know why he would want one from somebody who forfeited."

"We've garnered quite the reputation over the past few years."

"As long as they're not calling us 'demon traitors' anymore. Another girl on the first floor is a demon too, but everyone else I've met is human, and they don't hate me either. Not yet at least."

Kurama chuckled. "You know, my mother has been worried about you."

"Why?"

He tilted his head innocently, like the answer was obvious. "I think she's reminiscing about when she first moved out after high school. She tells me there are many things a girl living alone needs to be cautious about."

Miwa smiled. "I think I know what she's getting at, but I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but she'll worry all the same, just like Takeo."

Her smile faltered a bit as her cheeks once again turned warm. She didn't blame them for worrying. Neither of them knew she was a fighter, let alone a demon, but Miwa had no idea her After would begin with so many people worrying about her. She thought all that would be left behind once she renounced her oath. "You can tell her I'll be fine. I can't imagine too many bad things happening in a building owned by a zashiki-warashi."

"I'll reassure her that you'll be safe in an apartment leased through the company you work for."

That would not persuade Shiori. They both knew it. But in time, she and Takeo would accept that Himari Shimizu was more than capable of living on her own.

They chatted more as they walked through the streets. Kurama's stepbrother, Kokoda, was stressed over his high-school entrance exams. He started attending cram school so he could also attend Meio. Miwa asked why he would go to cram school if Kurama could help him study, just as he did for her. But it seemed that some of Kokoda's friends were also interested in Meio, so they attended cram school together. He did, however, take a lot of old reference books Kurama still had lying around. On Miwa's side, Negura planned to assign her a second client soon, and Takeo was making a short trip back to his hometown to prepare for his return. He would be gone for a week, and then he would have two weeks to formally move out of his apartment and finish up his final responsibilities at work.

"The office is going to throw him a going-away party," Miwa explained. "But I have school, so I won't be able to join."

"I'm sure even the short trip away will make him nervous," said Kurama. "You'll be alone."

"That's why I need to show him I'm doing fine. Maybe talking to the landlady again would make him worry less…"

"He could talk to my mother," Kurama suggested. "I'm sure he'll be happy to know another adult, a mother even, who cares about you is nearby."

"That could work…" Miwa smirked. "Would meeting the landlady help her worry less about me?"

Kurama laughed. "Maybe. Unless she inspects your apartment herself."

Soon, they reached the intersection where they would separate. It was much closer to the school than before Miwa moved, making their walks together much shorter. She stuck her hand in her coat pocket, wondering if this should wait for tomorrow. This wasn't urgent. It didn't have to be handed over right away. But the object had been sitting in her pocket for four days, and it could sit there forever if she waited for an opportunity to present itself.

"Hey…" Before her nerves would take over, Miwa curled her fingers around the small object and pulled it from her pocket. She extended her arm, as stiff and awkward as a robot. "This is for you."

Curious, Kurama held out his hand, and Miwa dropped it into his palm. The silver-plated key landed with an insubstantial weight, but its implications were immediately clear, and Kurama stared at her.

"The spare key," Miwa muttered, hating how warm her face felt. "There's no point giving it to Takeo. I bet your mom would feel better knowing you have it, too."

"But if you lose your key-"

"Then I'll know who to call."

He looked between her and the tiny key. "...And you're not giving it to Kimura?"

"I thought about that." Miwa pressed her lips together, and her tense cheeks were very red. "But I decided it should be you."

His genuine surprise made her blush even more. Kurama continued staring at the key, and then he carefully put it in his own pocket. "Thank you, Miwa," he said, his voice oddly quiet. "I'll only use it when necessary."

That made her laugh, like a nervous tension dissipating. "I know."

They each took a step back, preparing to go down their individual streets. "...Tomorrow," he said, smiling gently. "I'll meet you at the station."

Miwa blushed again, but before she realized it, she was smiling too. "Tomorrow."

Then, they turned and went their separate ways. Nervous feelings lingered, but the excitement building underneath was a welcome surprise. Posters for the illumination event were going up around town, and the pictures were indeed beautiful. Miwa had never been to that botanical garden on a normal day, but soon, she would be seeing it lit up with thousands of lights flaunting the fall colors. Since becoming Himari Shimizu, she never went to events like this. He invited her so they could have fun, and nerves would just get in the way. If she could handle giving him a key to the place she lived, then walking together at an event should be no problem.

But then, a familiar voice made her smile vanish.

"Hey there, little goldfish. It's been a while."

Iizuna leaned against a telephone pole around the corner, arms folded, and one ankle tucked behind the other. Despite the cold weather, he was only wearing a black T-shirt and denim shorts. For a moment, Miwa thought he was finally coming to gloat about getting her apartment. But strangely, he wasn't smirking, and the serious demeanor was jarring for a demon that loved to make fun of her.

"...What are you doing here?"

"Not good reasons, I'm afraid." His lack of a joke only increased the tension. "There's a message for you from Negura. We've got work to do."

"...Is it bad?"

He nodded. "Your client's attacked a human, and now she's on the run."

---

Notes: Saya is quickly becoming me trying to get these two together... I'm sorry that this isn't the date chapter yet! Miwa's After needs some hurdles other than getting out of her own head. But I hope you will enjoy what I have planned next!

Some fun facts: I try to associate Miwa with the numbers 3 and 0 as much as possible. In Japanese, 3 can be read as "mi", and 0 is the loop from the "wa" in her name. That's why the apartments she's lived in both have 3 and 0. The 8 for her new apartment can be two loops, the infinity symbol, or even how some oroboros drawings are depicted. Even her participant number back at the Demon World Tournament was 0003.