Chapter 22: The Roads We Walk
Miwa sensed eyes on her while she was doing her homework late into the night.
The following few days after Takeo's promotion passed on by without any particular point of interest. Miwa visited the Dance Club again, much to Hoshino's delight, and Kurama spent time with his soon-to-be stepbrother before Shiori Minamino's wedding, but the impending change Miwa was dreading since she received that letter never came true until she sensed those eyes. Her desk lamp illuminated an open notebook full of Miwa's passable English translations, and her pencil hovered over the page as Miwa tried to feel out the location of the people watching her. She glanced at the clock; it was already past 11pm. Far too late for any polite visitors. Through the wall, she could hear Takeo snoring. He was always an early sleeper, and Miwa often used that to her advantage. She dropped the pencil, not even caring that it clattered to the floor and rolled under her bed, and pulled her black jacket from her closet. She left the apartment, closing the door quietly behind her so Takeo wouldn't wake up, and she casually walked down the street with her hands in her pockets, as if she were just taking a walk to the convenience store.
The eyes followed her, and Miwa knew what was going to happen.
She walked through the dark streets in silence with only the lit street lamps to guide her. But she didn't need them. Even in the dark, Miwa would find her way. Above her, dark clouds converged in the sky, and she could sense moisture building up there, a sure sign that it would soon begin to rain. She turned corners and crossed streets for nearly ten minutes, and then she reached her destination. Not a convenience store, but a house. A simple house deeper in the residential area than Miwa's apartment. The house looked dark except for a faint lamplight in the living room window and a bedroom light switched on upstairs. A tall silhouette cast a shadow on the bedroom window, and Kurama pulled the curtain away so he could look outside. He immediately looked down to her, because he knew her smell was getting closer. Miwa stared back up at him, and without a word or cue, Kurama snuck out of his room, stealthily climbing through his window to avoid whoever was in the living room, most likely his mother. As he climbed, Miwa glanced around, making sure no other eyes or open windows could see them, and she went on ahead. Forgoing the convenience store pretense from before, she leapt over the houses, each step landing silently on the rooftop tiles, to lead Kurama and their tail away from his house. They reconvened underneath a train overpass as the rain began to fall. The final train for the line that evening rumbled above their heads, and the illuminated cabin cast light and shadows on the buildings beside them.
Their tail had kept their distance to avoid Kurama's sharp nose, and the rain could mask their scent for a while, but it was only a matter of time until they caught up. That was fine. As long as they were away from either of their houses, just in case something goes horribly wrong.
"What's going on, Miwa?" Kurama asked. The dull roar of the rain landing on the overpass above them slightly drowned out his voice. He had long since caught the scent of the two...three people following them.
Miwa looked to the ground. In the corner of her eye, she could see the rain splash small blobs of dirt onto the cement. The urge to walk out and stand under that rain was strong. "...I never told you this, but I got a letter over a week ago."
Kurama contemplated on that silently for a moment. "...From who?"
"An old friend, to warn me that these guys were going to show up."
Even through the noise of the rain drumming above their heads, the sound of footsteps drew closer. These people had given up on their sneaky pretense, and their Demon Energy wasn't any level of threat, but ever since Spirit World set their eyes on Yusuke, Kurama was wary of any stranger, regardless of power level. "Who are they?" he whispered.
"I only have one guess, but I think they will tell us themselves."
The walkway wasn't lit by lamps, and the paths both before and behind them faded into darkness. From the darkness, three figures emerged. Just like the messenger who delivered Miwa's letter, they wore wide-brimmed hats that covered their faces, and the oversized kimonos and cloaks masked any other distinguishing features. Not even Miwa knew if any of them were the same demon that delivered her letter. Miwa and Kurama sensed no hostility from them, but weapons could easily be hidden under cloaks that big.
"For you, Kurama," said the one in the middle. The messenger held out his hand, but there was no weapon. Instead, a small, glowing yellow orb floated from his clawed hand into Kurama's. "A Spirit of Words, from Mr. Yomi."
"Yomi?" Kurama echoed that name, and the surprise was unusually visible in his expression.
Inside the Spirit of Words contained the message from Yomi himself, one of the three rulers of Demon World. The leader of the technologically advanced Gandara territory, and an extremely powerful demon, despite his blindness. Miwa's letter had told her "curious parties" were interested in her and her friends, and she suspected the invitation would come from Gandara, but she did not expect it would come from Yomi himself. To former thieves like her or Kurama, this was like a letter from royalty. The messengers excused themselves with very little words and disappeared into the darkness, likely going back to Demon World by some means beyond Spirit World's sight or control.
"...What could he possibly have to say to me?" Kurama asked himself, staring at the Spirit of Words in his hand, as if he were afraid of what it would say.
Miwa didn't answer him. She also stared at the glowing orb, knowing that whatever message was in that spirit, it would start the next cycle for them all.
Kurama sat on a discarded box propped against a pillar, while Miwa stood beside him. He tossed the Spirit of Words onto another pillar across them, and the orb shattered into a splash of ink at its base. The ink crawled up the pillar like it were falling upward, marking its own paths to draw a very distinct picture. It took the form of a tall man with long dark hair and three large ears extending from each side of his head. His smile was gentle, but they would never see his eyes opened. The Spirit of Words took the shape of Yomi, ruler of Gandara, and its tone was calm, welcoming, and almost...friendly.
"It's been a long time, Kurama. Too long… It's good to see you alive and well. Of course, I can't actually see as this is just a Spirit of Words. Regardless, I hope to meet you in person soon. Back when you knew me, neither of us was very powerful. But that's changed. I've grown stronger. Much stronger... Strong enough to rival Raizen and Mukuro for control of the Demon World. You remember those names, don't you? They were already in power when you left. But several hundred years ago, I joined their ranks."
Miwa looked over at Kurama, but his expression was like stone. ...They know each other? Since before Miwa was born, control of the Demon World was locked in a standoff between the three kings of rivalling substantial power...
"And now, I'm prepared for my next ascension," the message continued, "I'm planning to dethrone the two of them, and then will unify all of Demon World as one nation under me. But if I am to succeed in this, I will require your assistance, Kurama. And so, my friend, I plead with you to join my crusade. If you believe in the unification, then I beg you to return to us. ...I am aware of your current partnership with the mizuchi, Miwa, and she is welcome to join you here if that would ease any doubts about my request. A member of my council has also expressed his desire to see her again..."
Miwa narrowed her eyes, ignoring Kurama glancing her way.
"Oh, and one more thing. I almost forgot to tell you. I apprehended the one who stole the light from me. I think you'll be amused, as was I, when you see who it was. Another incentive to come back to Demon World, I guess."
The Spirit of Words faded away, but the weight of the message still hung in the air. For all the years they had known each other, Miwa had no idea Kurama and Yomi were ever acquainted, but Kurama remained in his seat. He stared hard at the wall, unmoving, lost in his own thoughts about this strange invitation.
"An old friend of yours?"
Hiei appeared beside them, no doubt having heard the entire message. "Caught you off guard," he said, smirking almost arrogantly at them as if he had accomplished something. "Now don't feel too special, you weren't the only ones who received a midnight visitor." Miwa and Kurama both stared at Hiei, puzzled, and Miwa felt a strange sensation of dread in her stomach. "Messengers came to me as well. Though, in my case, they were sent by Mukuro."
Kurama's eyes widened. "Mukuro?"
"See for yourself."
Hiei tossed a Spirit of Words he kept hidden in his cloak, and it smashed into the same pillar where Kurama watched his message. The ink trailed up the concrete, sketching the shape of someone with their face covered in heavy layers of bandages. The image almost looked like a mummy, but one perfectly round eye stared out from underneath, and various slips of papers with seals written in a strange language were taped all over the bandages.
"Greetings, Hiei. I am Mukuro. I would've been there in person, but I seldom show my face in public. Not out of fear, but out of annoyance at being mobbed by my adoring fans."
Hiei grunted in what sounded like annoyance.
"Your recent appearance here has come to my attention, and I had to wonder: Why aren't you working for me? Think of it. You could be my right-hand man."
Kurama and Miwa both glanced at Hiei, who watched the spirit carefully. He seemed oddly excited by the prospect, for reasons unknown to anyone but Hiei himself.
"I'll even let you in on a little secret. For your ears only. Raizen is on the brink of death. And when he has breathed his very last breath, I will strike Yomi with full force. He pushes for a peaceful, unified Demon World. I'm sure the mere thought of such a desecration of our homeland disgusts you. If I am correct in my assumption, you should join me."
The image of Mukuro faded. The message was complete.
"What a talkative and self-important fool he is," Hiei said, "Was he always like that, Kurama?"
"...And much worse. Mukuro has always been a dangerous, tyrannical ruler."
"Mukuro's tyranny toned down once the three-way standoff began, or so I hear," Miwa added quietly.
"Hiei, Miwa, both of you have no idea of the damage Mukuro could do. Demon World would be thrown into chaos..." Kurama knew. He was the only one alive to see what it was like before the standoff began.
Hiei smirked at them, as if Kurama's words only added to his excitement. "Then I suppose this is going to be interesting. ...Well, I'm off to visit him now. Goodbye." He turned around with his overly casual farewell and began to walk away. But, he stopped when Miwa took one step after him. "You can breathe, you know. I'm not going there to help him."
...Then what are you going there for, Hiei?
"Yes, that is good thinking," Kurama said, "It will be beneficial for us to have a man on the inside whom Mukuro trusts. Just be sure to get as much information as you can without raising suspicions."
Hiei did not look at them, but they were both sure his smirk was full of excitement and anticipation. "Oh, I'll be sure to use him for everything I can..." Then, he disappeared.
Miwa could easily imagine the look Hiei must have had on his face. She knew exactly what kind of person he was. Hiei was a man who pursued strength. A personal invitation from someone as notorious as Mukuro was the perfect excuse for Hiei to get out of the Human World. Like with Yusuke, Hiei's power was far too great for even the strongest demons in Human World to be a challenge to him. But, under someone as powerful and tyrannical as Mukuro, not a day would go by without a challenge for Hiei's strength to overcome. Hiei's cycle of fighting would inevitably take him back to Demon World, one way or another.
Kurama stood up and sighed. "Now I'm not sure who to fear more. Mukuro...or Hiei."
Miwa sighed and put her hands in her pockets. "Who knows?" she shrugged. To her, the thought of Hiei being on an opposing side was more upsetting than having to go against Mukuro, even if he had no intention of becoming the loyal right-hand man Mukuro wanted. It bothered her more than she would like to admit, and she forced those feelings down, covering it with false nonchalance. "I'm surprised that you were friends with someone as established as Yomi."
"...It was a long time ago."
"Long before even me."
"...Yes."
Kurama's stone expression gave nothing away, but the fact that he didn't want to elaborate on anything was all Miwa needed to know. There must have been a reason Yomi thought Kurama would have doubts about his invitation. However, Miwa did not have the luxury to worry about that. Her concern was about what her letter warned would be coming. What choice would she have to make, and what cycle would that lead her on?
Miwa sighed one more time. "I guess we have a lot of preparations to make."
"You're going?"
"Of course I am. I want to know what this is all about."
Kurama frowned. "...Who sent you that letter?" He was suspicious. He knew it had to be that member of Yomi's council, because if he were just one of Miwa's information contacts, she would have told him about the letter sooner.
Miwa stepped out into the rain. The drops quickly seeped into her hair and clothes, and she didn't bother to keep herself dry. Genetics, preference, what have you; the rain had always made Miwa feel better. "Shirai. Just an old friend," she said, purposefully not looking in Kurama's direction. "He's the one who taught me about Extraction."
Extraction. The dangerous mizuchi technique that took control of the water in a living being's body. The technique that could easily kill her. And, as Miwa remembered with a faint hint of nostalgia, it was the technique that first brought her and Kurama together.
Kurama stared pensively at the ground. "Can we trust him?"
Miwa looked back with a sly smile. Maybe it wasn't fair that she kept Shirai's letter a secret, but Kurama never told her about being old friends with Gandara's ruler either. "Can you trust Yomi? It doesn't look like you do."
"...I don't think he is lying, but I don't think he is telling me everything either."
"It's the same for Shirai." Her smile faded, and Miwa looked up into the cloudy night sky. Raindrops splashed against her face, and the wind made her damp clothes cling to her skin. It felt nice and cool. Soon, the summer weather would keep even the nights warm and humid. "I don't care about Yomi's plans for ascension. I'm going with you just because Shirai is so eager to see me..." Miwa could guess what he wanted to say to her. The real question was what she would do when she had to answer him face to face. "Besides, if I'm back in Demon World, I can try tracking down Fuura again."
"...Yes, that is important."
Miwa smiled again. "C'mon. We've got a lot of work to do."
{00}
Yusuke visited them a couple days later, announcing that he was going to Demon World under Raizen's invitation. The inevitable political shift in Demon World's ruling bodies reached beyond the world's borders, and the five members of Team Urameshi that once stormed Maze Castle together decided to walk on very different paths. Yusuke would go to Raizen, Hiei would go to Mukuro, Kurama and Miwa would go to Yomi, and Kuwabara would remain in the Living World, continuing the regular life of a junior high student. In one fell swoop, the demon thorns in King Yama's side were delegated to a path that trapped them in Demon World, away from normal humans. And if the shift in power ended up killing them all? So be it. As long as Living World was safe. A very convenient wrap-up for the lord who ordered the death of the boy that sacrificed his life to protect Living World.
They gathered at Genkai's estate the day after Yusuke's announcement to say their farewells. But, as Kuwabara said in his anger and grief, each of them willingly broke up the team they built together; comrades choosing to fight on opposing sides. The SDF arrived, gladly opening a portal to Demon World so Yusuke and Hiei could get the hell out of their sight. There was a strange irony that what took Shinbou Sensui months of planning and execution to accomplish, the SDF did in a matter of minutes.
Yusuke, surrounded by people who loved him, eagerly jumped into the portal with the cocky smile they were all so familiar with, leaving behind his mother, Keiko, and a promise to return before his 18th birthday. Hiei soon followed, taking with him Yukina's memento of her mother: a necklace made with the Hiruseki Stone formed from one of the two tears shed during Yukina and her brother's birth. She asked Hiei to give it to a gifted fighter in Demon World who owned the matching stone, since Yukina had no luck finding her twin in the Living World. Perhaps his gifted eyes would see farther than she ever could.
Miwa watched Yusuke and Hiei leave with a heavy heart, memorizing their every feature before they disappeared into the tunnel. How long would it be before they saw each other again? The most likely time would be in a year, when Raizen would supposedly die. But, a year would be the longest time yet that their team is apart. It was easy, after being together for so long, to assume that they would be on the same path forever, watching each other change and grow. But...walking separate paths for at least a year… How much would they change in that time? ...How much would Hiei change? The pursuit of power has always been his goal, and his path finally took him back to his home, the place he wanted to be. It just so happened to be a path that Miwa couldn't follow, not while her path belonged to someone else. Still, she could not deny the part of her heart that wanted to follow him, just to stay by his side a little longer...
But, there wasn't time to mull over those thoughts. Kurama and Miwa planned to leave a month later, for they still had affairs to settle in their human lives, and there was work to be done.
{00}
In the downtown city area, it was just a regular Monday. The morning trains were filled to near capacity, forcing many adult workers to stand without even a handle to hold, hoping that scrunching up against strangers would be enough to keep their balance on a moving train. And despite everyone commuting to their jobs, the streets outside were still full of people. Housewives running errands, adults who just happen to have the day off, and even kids skipping classes that day wandered the streets, and their collective noise combined with the cars driving up and down the roads left a constant buzz of noise hanging in the air. As midday approached, the early members of the lunch crowd slowly joined the city's ambiance. They passed by buildings fitted for a countless number of purposes. Shops, grocery stores, businesses, fast-food chains, restaurants, bookstores, and even a couple beauty salons lined the many streets, each beckoning the people wandering about to come inside and spend their money.
Miwa walked past them all, readjusting the strap of an old backpack on her shoulder.
Just off the main road, there was a smaller side street that still had a certain level of foot-traffic, but it was much quieter than the road just beyond the intersection. There were still stores and eateries, but the farther Miwa walked down that road, she would find more family-owned businesses and residential houses. But, her destination was neither. She stopped in front of a tall, white building about two stories high. The glass doors at the front had many colorful flyers posted, advertising various activities and events happening in the city, and a statue of a weird-looking mascot character stood in the corner, welcoming guests to the Kashima City Hall. An office lady in her forties walked out the glass door with her wallet in hand, and Miwa, who should have been in school at that time, received a puzzled look from the stranger, but no words were exchanged. Miwa ignored her completely and walked through the glass doors with the confidence of someone who had every right to be there. She was good at faking that much.
Inside, Miwa's eyes landed on several rows of black chairs, many of which were occupied by customers waiting for their number to be called. In front of the chairs was a long standing desk divided into eight reception areas, each occupied by an employee and a guest talking to each other with beige dividers giving them privacy. Miwa took a step closer, towards a sign that asked all visitors to take a number from a red ticket dispenser. Miwa read the sign, gave the dispensing machine a quick glance, and purposefully ignored the simple as she took a seat in the nearest black chair of the waiting area without taking any number. She dropped her backpack to lie at her feet, which landed on the ground with a rather dull thud. From her vantage point, Miwa had a decent view of the various workers behind the reception area. Several regular desks were lined up in two rows with employees getting up and down as they went about their daily tasks. The lobby was much quieter than the streets outside, but the faint murmur of hushed conversation, the rustle of paper, soft music playing from speakers on the ceiling, and the whirrings of an old copy machine kept the area from being completely silent.
Then, Miwa spotted her target: a male employee, barely in his thirties, running about the back area like an overworked intern. He was oddly baby-faced for someone of working age, and his black hair was recently trimmed in a prim bowl cut. The other workers referred to him as "Kirishima," and he answered all of their orders with an energetic, "Right away!" The perfect picture of a model employee, doing the work asked of him with a smile. Miwa grinned to herself and crossed her legs, just waiting for her demon scent to be noticed.
It took more than ten minutes; they were really working Kirishima to the bone. But eventually, he stopped mid-stride and looked out to the waiting area. Miwa locked eyes with him, showing her fangs when she smiled. Kirishima sighed and pointed to the front door with a tiny glare, silently telling her to wait for him outside. Miwa nodded and stood up, slinging her backpack on her shoulder and casually walking back the way she came. In the distance, she overheard Kirishima speaking to a supervisor, informing that he would be taking a quick lunch break. Miwa pushed the glass doors open and went outside, passing by a tall man in a suit as he entered, and she stood next to the figure of the mascot character. It was a magenta baby chick made of plaster, up to Miwa's chest in height. It smiled at the incoming visitors, or as much as a tiny beak could smile, with cute red cheeks and an outstretched wing to guide people inside.
Kirishima exited the building, and all traces of his perfect, eager employee face were gone, replaced instead with a tired grimace the people inside might not even recognize. "Long time no see, crazy girl," he said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He continued walking down the side of the building, pulling Miwa and their conversation away from the human crowd. He lit a cigarette with a cheap red lighter and blew the white smoke into the air. "Shouldn't you be in school? The hell are you doing here?"
Miwa wrinkled her nose and waved the smoke away from her face. "Making sure a weasel like you is in the body I expect you're in."
Kirishima scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. It's been what, four years? Since I last saw you? I did my part on your crazy-ass scheme. Why the hell would you care what I'm doing?"
Miwa shrugged. "Just in case I needed someone like you, and now I do," she said, waving her hand at the smoke again. "And snuff the cigarette, dammit. I'm supposed to be a teenager, Kirishima, and it smells awful."
Kirishima glared at her with pursed lips, but he crushed the cigarette with his fingers and ground it under his shoe. "Running with humans for so long has given you a bit of a mouth, I see."
"Yeah yeah, you're not the first to point out what I've gained by running with humans," she said, rolling her eyes.
"You haven't exactly been subtle about it. How's the life of a tournament champion treating you?"
"Oh, shut up. I'm going to pay you for your help." Miwa lowered her shoulder and her backpack quickly slid off due to its weight. She held it up in front of her with one hand, grinning again. "You still work for money, right?"
He grinned back at her. "That's all I care about."
Miwa tossed the bag at him, which Kirishima grabbed with two arms, nearly dropping it, as he was limited by the weak human body he was possessing. He undid the zipper, opening it just a crack, and peeked inside. In the bag, Miwa stuffed it with stacks of bills, much more than she had paid Kanra in the alleyway to find Shou Nishida. "That should be enough to float the costs. The rest will come if you follow through."
Kirishima smirked as he closed the bag and slung it over his shoulder. "You sure have a lot of money to throw around for a teenager, Shimizu."
Miwa smiled innocently at him. "Demons will pay for the information I have too, and people like you are just so easy to buy."
"Whatever, I really don't care." he said, rolling his eyes. "Whaddya want?"
In the distance, Miwa saw two more workers leave the city hall building. They glanced over at them, wondering why Kirishima was talking to a teenage girl in the middle of the day. She glared at those workers, feeling a slight hint of satisfaction since that was all it took to scare them away. "Fuura," Miwa said simply, "You been in touch with her recently?"
"Not since she paid me to smuggle your sorry ass to your cushy apartment." Kirishima grinned. "How's your new dad? I kinda miss that office he's in."
"Just fine. You haven't heard from her at all? Not even the other demons she worked with?"
"Not a word. For all I know, that crazy old bitch disintegrated into a pile of ash." Kirishima shrugged nonchalantly. "She wasn't a frequent client of mine, so I don't really care what happened to her."
Miwa sighed. "Yeah, that's what I figured."
"Then why bother asking? You didn't pay me with a backpack of cash to ask a question you already know the answer to." Kirishima glanced behind him. "And hurry up. I would like to actually eat on my lunch break."
Miwa crossed her arms over her chest. "I need you to get my dad out of the house, for as long as you can. A few months, if possible."
He narrowed his eyes right back at her. "And how the hell do you expect me to do that? If you haven't noticed, your dad doesn't work in Kashima."
"Possess one of the higher-ups in a different district, then. I really don't care how you do it. I just can't have him at home for an extended period of time."
"Do you have a specific period of time, your majesty?" Kirishima asked, tilting his head to the side. "The hell are you doing, anyway?"
"Visiting Demon World," Miwa answered. "I can cover August myself, and I do plan to come back to the human world for a few months after that, but then I'll need your help to disappear."
"Looking for Fuura, are you?" Kirishima sneered. "Finally regretting the stupid crap you did to get here?"
She ignored him. "...If you can get Takeo away for the third school term, I'll find a way to work with that."
Kirishima...wasn't even his real name, and if Miwa were to be honest, she didn't know his name at all, or what he really looked like. He always went by the name of the human he happened to be possessing. But, his weasel scent and energy was easy enough to keep track of, so his name was of little importance in the long run. He hopped from body to body as he saw fit, sleeping in the homes of various city hall workers who lived alone to make up for his own homelessness. And when he left their bodies, his hosts were none the wiser, remembering their time possessed like a hazy dream. He made his way through life smuggling demons, and sometimes humans from the criminal underbelly who knew of this world, into falsified human identities he created. All for a nice fee, of course. That was how Miwa met him four years ago, when he possessed Takeo to forge the necessary documents to create Himari Shimizu.
Kirishima sighed overdramatically. "I swear, you and your whims are some of the biggest pains in my ass."
"I'll be a bigger pain in your ass if you take that bag and say you can't."
"Yeah yeah, you're just so strong now, aren't you?" Kirishima sighed overdramatically again. He lifted his shoulder to gauge the bag's weight and sighed one more time. "Fine. I can probably get you three months. I know a few big wigs that could pull some strings in your district, and it'd be fun to crash in their places again."
Miwa smiled. "I knew I could count on you."
"You knew you could buy me."
"That's all you care about, right?"
Kirishima chuckled. "Yeah, it is. You should try the life full-time one day. You seem smart enough to make a living here without worrying about your fake dad."
Miwa did not respond.
"Kirishima!"
The woman Miwa saw leaving for lunch appeared again, walking towards them with loud clacks from her heels. "Who is this?" she asked, curiously flicking her eyes towards Miwa.
"My cousin," Kirishima answered immediately, and his eager employee mask was back. "She dropped off this bag for me since I forgot it at home."
Miwa bowed her head politely. "Thank you for taking care of my cousin," she said, not missing a beat. "I'm sorry to disturb your work."
The woman opened her mouth to say something, but Kirishima cut her off. "Hurry and get home, kid," he said, waving Miwa away with one hand.
Miwa nodded and smiled at the woman one more time. "Please excuse me."
She put Kirishima and the woman to her back and left the Kashima City Hall behind. Behind her, Kirishima gave the woman, who appeared to be one of his seniors, a half-assed school holiday excuse to explain why his teenage cousin wasn't in school that day. Back to the city streets, Miwa, the demon information broker, slipped into the crowd of humans to head home. Her mission was complete, and she had to catch the train home soon so she could get there before her father. As she walked, Miwa looked up to the blue midday sky. Shiori's wedding was coming soon, and she and Kurama had until the end of July to settle their affairs. Then, they could go to Gandara without getting the police rounded up to search for two missing high school kids. Miwa sighed.
Three months. I'll have to work fast...and get a little lucky.
{00}
"Himari, stop blinking like that."
"Sorry, I can't help it. It feels strange."
"You're just not used to it. Relax."
Saya slowly and gently dragged her eyeliner pencil across Miwa's eyelids, leaving sharp brown lines despite her friend's fidgeting. Miwa sat still in her desk chair, facing Saya so she could apply make-up to Miwa's face. An assortment of products that Saya brought with her were sprawled out on Miwa's desk with no sign of organization. They opened the door to the balcony just a bit, enough for a cool morning breeze to air out Miwa's bedroom. Through the wall, they could hear Takeo in the living room, relaxing alone on a Saturday morning while watching some variety show neither of them had seen before. Saya graciously stopped by on the way to her weekend club practice that morning to help Miwa get dressed and made-up for Shiori's wedding.
"Okay, now lemme put some mascara on. Look up," Saya said, pointing to the ceiling with her pinky finger. Miwa obediently looked up, and Saya skillfully brushed the black wand over Miwa's thin eyelashes. "This is fun," Saya said whimsically, as if voicing her thoughts out loud. "Let me do your make-up again sometime, okay?"
"Sure, if the need ever comes up," Miwa answered warily. Her last experience in make-up, Gama's in particular, was far from a pleasant memory.
"I'm serious," Saya pouted. "I can't believe you've gone sixteen years without ever putting make-up on, Himari."
Miwa laughed under her breath, trying not to move. She couldn't tell Saya that she hadn't quite mastered the make-up trends of human girls. Not yet, at least. "Never needed it. I haven't really been to an event like this before," she said, partially telling the truth.
"Well, at some point," Saya said, starting to laugh herself, "I'm taking you shopping again."
Make-up wasn't the only way Saya had helped Miwa prepare for this wedding. At school one day, Miwa happened to mention offhandedly that she would be attending a wedding for the first time, and instead of just gaining a little human insight on proper wedding etiquette, like Miwa had planned, Saya latched onto the topic with eagerness and just ran with it, dragging Miwa to the nearest department store after school that very same day. She just knew Himari Shimizu didn't care about fashion and would not have the proper clothes for a wedding hanging in her closet. And really, it just wouldn't do if a friend of the bride and her son did not look her best. Or at least, that's what Saya kept insisting.
That day actually ended up being pretty fun, even informative for someone like Miwa, who had only mingled with human society for four years. She had no idea what would be appropriate attire for a human wedding, and Saya was more than willing to teach her. Miwa probably tried on at least fifteen different dresses in the two hours they wandered that department store, and a lot of that time was just Miwa being indecisive and uninformed about what "style", "fit", or "aesthetic" she liked. A lot of Miwa's time since coming to the human world was spent either studying to catch up on her expected school curriculum or maintaining ties with her contacts, like Kanra or Kirishima. The life of a thief may have been behind her, but she wanted to be ready for anything. Trends and fashion were far from her list of priorities, even four years later. But, eventually, the two girls who went in and out of the changing rooms, to the delight of the shopkeepers no doubt, eventually settled on a dress they were both happy with.
"Okay, that should do it."
Miwa hesitantly stood up, smoothed out the hem of her dress, and glanced at the mirror Saya held up to her. The light blue dress went down to her knees, and the skirt lightly flared up every time Miwa turned. The sleeves had a slight poof to them, but the way they were cut somehow reminded Miwa of a flower. A pale pink ribbon, sewn directly to the dress, wrapped around Miwa's waist and was tied in a small bow in the middle of her back. A matching pink lace adorned her collar, giving the whole dress a very soft appearance. Saya even managed to find slip-on shoes in the same blue color of the dress. Miwa's things were packed in a small, pink crossbody bag they bought at the same store where they found the dress, and Miwa's make-up wasn't particularly extravagant; just some light touch-ups to bring out her natural features, but there were faint traces of a rosy pink color on her eyelids and cheeks. Saya didn't want to overwhelm her friend with the intricacies and creativity of make-up, and the focus of the wedding shouldn't be on Miwa anyway.
"It amazes me how much clothes and make-up can change people," Miwa said, carefully taking in the details of Saya's makeover. She honestly wasn't sure if she could recreate it on her own.
Saya grinned, proud of her work. "Some people say it's a girl's special power."
"Then you, Saya, are quite powerful."
Saya laughed, unaware of the irony that a demon said that to her. "Well, let's show your dad and head out. I'll walk with you to the station."
Saya cleaned up her things from Miwa's desk and tucked the small make-up pouch into her sports bag. Miwa closed the balcony door before the two of them left her room. She hesitantly stepped into the living room, wondering what Takeo would say, but Saya was more than happy to showcase her creation.
"Thank you for having me, Mr. Shimizu," she said, announcing their presence.
Takeo turned away from the TV, pausing to take in his daughter's appearance. "Wow, Himari, you look beautiful" he said, equally proud as Saya,
"Thanks, Dad," Miwa said, spinning left to right a bit to show off the look.
"And thank you for helping her, Miss Kimura," Takeo added. The help of a teenage girl was definitely more valuable than a man in his thirties.
"There's no need to thank me. It was really fun! Like having a sister..." Saya quickly walked across the apartment to the entrance and retrieved her shoes. "C'mon, Himari. Let's go."
"Okay." Miwa followed, but she stopped in front of Takeo. "I'll be back before dinner."
Takeo nodded. "Have fun, okay? And send my congratulations as well."
"Of course."
Miwa slipped on her new shoes and followed Saya out the door. Her small bag thumped lightly against her hip, and there was barely enough room for a tiny bottle of water inside. It wasn't as if she left the house completely weaponless, so to speak, but it was perhaps the smallest amount of water she carried with her in a long time, making Miwa feel a little vulnerable. The SDF were all too happy to get Yusuke and Hiei back to Demon World, and it was likely that the only reason she and Kurama were not forced in after them was because they had ties to the human world, ties that were blissfully ignorant of demons and the spiritual hidden side of the world. But, all it would take was for the great King Yama to change his mind, and SDF soldiers could appear from the shadows to exile them to Demon World, whether they were ready to disappear or not. Miwa glanced around at the quiet street, sensing nothing unusual, and she shook her head to force out paranoid thoughts. Why would the SDF, or even a rogue demon, want to intrude on a human wedding?
As the girls left the apartment, they walked down the street together, two of the few pedestrians walking around on a Saturday morning. It was rather cool for a late July morning, and the sky was perfectly clear. Fluffy white clouds floated lazily across the blue sky, and nothing about the weather even hinted at the possibility of rain. Saya merrily chatted about her club events and the plans she and Taichi made for the upcoming summer vacation. Of course, both of them had practices to attend during the break, but they would work on their summer homework together after practice, and weekends would be reserved for fun. Shopping, visiting theme parks, or watching movies; the break hadn't even begun, and they already had so much planned. It was actually pretty cute, and it made Miwa smile.
"Oh," Saya suddenly said, "If you want to join us on anything, Himari, don't hesitate to ask!"
Miwa laughed. "And volunteer to be a third-wheel? No way."
"Then bring Minamino too!" Saya joked, "Taichi wouldn't mind at all."
"I can't do that. He's going to be looking after his step-brother while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon. Besides, I'll...be away most of August."
Saya snapped her head to stare at Himari in surprise. "Really? Where are you going? Family trip?"
Miwa shook her head. Takeo didn't get that many vacation days. "No, I'm going to a dance training camp. Someone from middle school recommended it to me since she heard I was sitting in at the Dance Club here."
That was a complete lie, and the way she so easily said it to her friend's face left a strange taste in Miwa's mouth. There was no training camp, and Miwa hadn't spoken to anyone from middle school since graduation. Days after Kurama received Yomi's invitation to Gandara, Miwa created an entire set of paperwork for a training camp that didn't exist. Brochures, application forms, and parent or guardian permission slips, all put together in the school's computer lab. She showed them to Takeo, and he happily signed off, glad that Himari was showing more interest in extracurricular activities. Of course, he did say he would be lonely for the month she would be away, but Miwa promised to call often. To her amazement, Kurama had figured out a way to tweak a cell phone so they both could call home from Demon World.
"Oh, that sounds like fun," Saya said, smiling. "I mean, it'll be a little lonely here without you, but I hope you can learn a lot!"
"Yeah, I hope so too…"
The train station loomed closer to them with every step. Saya did not have to board a train to get to school, so this is where they would part. Miwa thanked her for her help, but all Saya wanted in exchange was to hear about the wedding when they saw each other next.
"Hey, Himari…" Just as Saya was about to turn and walk towards the school, a thoughtful look overcame her face, and she called out to her friend with a more careful energy than before. "There's someone else you like, isn't there? Someone who doesn't even go to our school."
Miwa stared at her, confused by this line of questioning. "What gave you that idea?"
Saya shrugged, but she dug her shoe into the pavement a bit shamefully. "I know I joke around about you and Minamino a lot, but I always got this feeling that sometimes you're looking...elsewhere. Honestly, I asked Taichi about it the other day, and he told me that there is someone you like, but he doesn't know who." She blinked, realizing what she just said, and then waved her hands nervously. "But please, don't get mad at him for saying that! I just had a hunch and thought he would know since..." She trailed off, but Miwa didn't dare to make her finish that sentence.
"Well, I don't really mind," Miwa said slowly. Why was Saya bringing this up now? "...There is someone, but it's not mutual or anything. He's more focused on his own things." Saya and Taichi wouldn't remember meeting the person in question, but Hiei did help save them from Shou Nishida's power.
"Will he be at the wedding?"
Miwa snorted, trying to keep herself from laughing too loudly on the sidewalk. "No way. He hates events like this." She couldn't picture Hiei attending the wedding. Even if they forced him to go, he would just be sulking in the back somewhere, or disappear completely when he thinks no one is looking. Nobody made Hiei do something he didn't want to do. Not without any direct benefit to him.
Saya's face suddenly broke into a goofy grin. "Too bad. You could have shown off your new special power," she said, pointing at the dress. "Sometimes, a change in perspective is all it takes to turn someone your way." That was, after all, how Taichi decided to go out with her. "But, now that I know for sure there is someone you like, I'll stop joking about you and Minamino and support you with this guy instead."
"I didn't particularly mind you joking about it…"
"Yes, you did," Saya said, staring knowingly at her. "You might not know it, but every time I did, you got this look on your face like you didn't want to talk about it."
Miwa stared back at her, but she had no reply. Did she really make a face like that?
"Anyway, sorry for keeping you here," Saya said, readjusting the strap of the racket case on her shoulder. "Don't miss your train."
Miwa glanced back at the station. An electronic display board showed that her train would be arriving in just a few minutes. "Right, see you later, Saya."
"See ya!" Saya winked mischievously. "Let me know how it goes, okay?"
The two girls laughed, and they parted. Miwa quickly walked through the station crowd, arriving on her platform just as the train pulled in. She followed a tired-looking man in with a thick, white hoodie into the carriage, and the man promptly sat down on the nearest seat and lowered his head to take a nap, not giving a damn that he was taking up space in the priority seat area for the elderly or disabled. Miwa rolled her eyes at him and walked a bit further into the carriage. She found a couple empty seats across a middle school girl, in uniform, holding a tennis racket case in her lap. Miwa sat down, carefully smoothing out her dress so it wouldn't wrinkle, and she felt the familiar sensation of the train starting to move. The people waiting on the platform outside quickly passed out of sight, and Miwa's train left the station. The rhythmic clunking noises as the train rumbled on were a little calming, even meditative, and Miwa stared out the window, watching the scenery go by. When the light caught it just right, she could see her reflection in the window, staring back at her. Even though Saya's make-up only made some light touch-ups, Miwa could hardly recognize herself.
A change in perspective…
Minutes later, to her left, the door between carriages slid open, and someone tall strolled in, having to lower his head so he wouldn't hit the top of the door frame. "Oh hey, I thought it was you," he said.
Miwa would recognize that voice and orange hair anywhere. "Hey, Kuwabara."
Kuwabara, dressed in a gray suit and yellow tie, walked closer to her as to not disturb anyone else as they talked. He pointed at an empty seat next to her, silently asking if he could sit, and Miwa gestured with her hand, allowing him to do so. Miwa had never seen him in clothes like this, and it fit him well. The combination of a suit and tie actually made him seem a little older, but maybe that was the nature of clothing typically associated with adults. It was...different. A change from their more dressed-down state whenever they usually meet. School uniforms or fighting clothes had become the norm for her.
"You look nice," Kuwabara said, "I almost didn't recognize you."
"Thank you. I had a friend help me out." Miwa said, smiling back at him. "You look very handsome yourself." Miwa wondered if, secretly, Kuwabara wished Yukina would be at the wedding so she could see him like this.
Kuwabara grinned sheepishly. "Heh heh, thanks. My sister barged in my room while I was studying and practically threw this suit and tie at my head."
Miwa giggled, easily imagining the scene. "How is your studying going?"
His excited grin faded a bit. "I got a lot to catch up on if I wanna get in the school I'm aiming for, and Shizuru has been breathing down my neck to make sure I study every day."
Miwa smiled sympathetically. "I can kinda relate. I don't think I would have gotten into Meio without Kurama helping me study."
"Really?" Kuwabara said, raising an eyebrow. "You're both pretty smart. I figured you would have gotten in pretty easy."
She shook her head. "I started the curriculum in the first year of middle school, so I had a lot to catch up on too. Even now, my grades are generally above average..." Miwa didn't want to tell him that, in the beginning of her first year at a human school, her scores were horrendously low. "But, hey! If I could get into high school, I'm sure you can too." After all, Kuwabara proved time and again that he could succeed at anything with his determination alone.
"Well, if you say so." In a rare moment of bashfulness, Kuwabara averted his eyes and scratched his chin. "I promised Urameshi I'd get in too, so...this is just another fight that I can't lose." Then, perhaps at the mention of his friend's name, Kuwabara's mood turned sullen. "...It's...been a month already since he and Hiei left, huh?"
Miwa nodded slowly. "I'm sure they're fine. They're both too stubborn to let anything bad happen."
"I guess…" The train continued its rhythmic rumble. Neither of them recognized the scenery outside anymore. "But, you and Kurama are leaving soon too."
"Yeah...right at the beginning of August."
"It still doesn't feel right..." Kuwabara muttered.
Of all people to discuss this with, Miwa felt the guiltiest when speaking to Kuwabara. He was probably the most team-oriented of them all, and she still vividly remembered how angry he became when he found out four of their group were defecting to Demon World. They had a really good thing going, he had said, but the first chance they get for a better fight, they all jump at it, even if it puts them against each other… If she were to be honest, Miwa felt the same way. The five of them were good together, despite their differences, and Miwa wanted to believe they brought out the best in each other. But, some things were bigger than the ragtag team that formed around Yusuke Urameshi.
"So, what's the story while you two are away?" Kuwabara asked, eyebrows furrowed with curiosity. "I don't think I'll be in a position to blow your cover or anything, but y'know...just in case."
Miwa relaxed a bit. Maybe he could accept their diverging paths after all. "I told my dad that I'll be away at a training camp. Made fake paperwork and everything."
"...How did you do that?"
Miwa purposefully looked away. "I may have...found the key to the school's computer lab."
Kuwabara laughed. "I guess old habits die hard, huh?"
"Tell me about it," Miwa chuckled, "Meanwhile, Kurama is sending his mom and stepdad on a month-long overseas honeymoon."
"Wait, what?!" Kuwabara exclaimed, turning a couple heads their way. "How can he even afford that?"
"Your guess is as good as mine…" When Miwa found out about his plan, she pestered him for days about where he managed to get that money. Although her thieving days were more or less over, Miwa still moonlighted as an information broker among demons in the human world, and she wanted to pay for half. But, Kurama refused, and he never told her how he had enough money, no matter how many times she asked him. "Still, it's a long time for us to be...deceiving our families like this. And we will have to go back eventually, even after August is over."
"But...it's something you guys have to do, right? Or else this world will be in danger again."
He wasn't wrong. The Spirit World turned against the boy they trained to be their warrior, and they would be keeping a close eye as the boy and powerful demon allies involved themselves with the changing politics of the Demon World. Depending on who took the throne, the human world could either be in grave danger or protected for years to come.
Miwa remembered Yusuke's face, his cocky-as-hell smile as he jumped into the portal towards his next adventure…
"...This won't be forever," she said. "I'm sure all of us will come together again. Maybe even to save the world, as we do best. But right now...all of us have our own paths to follow."
"...I guess you're right."
Kuwabara noticed that she never said anything about all of them coming back to the Human World. But, he didn't need her to say it. He knew all along that someone would stay in Demon World when this battle for the throne was over. The question was, who would it be?
The train continued its rhythmic rumble, leaving both of them to their thoughts as they travelled the rest of the way to the wedding.
{00}
The ceremony was just beautiful.
The church was modest and cozy, built out of wood with a pointed roof that more resembled a summer cottage than a holy temple, and holding maybe a hundred people at maximum capacity. The surrounding trees were luscious and green, and the sunlight from the blue sky shone right through the leaves. The white doors slowly opened, revealing the bride and groom to the joyous applause of the small gathering of family and friends outside. Shiori looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress. Her skirt and veil blew gently in the wind, resembling whiffs of smoke or mist, and the pink roses in her hand seemed to sparkle. But, none of that compared to how happily she smiled. How happily she and her new husband smiled together. The only smile that could feasibly compete was Kurama's, taking in his mother's new happiness and future as she and Kazuya Hatanaka descended the church stairs.
The life and happiness of Shiori Minamino, just as Kurama had wished on the mirror so long ago, were unfolding before their very eyes.
Miwa applauded as loudly as everyone else, remembering the weak, frail figure from her memories of Shiori in the hospital. The transformation from that woman to the one before her eyes was staggering. That happy, but slightly shy smile as two lives came together to walk the same road, in sickness and in health, til death do them part. Miwa had listened very carefully to their vows. It fascinated her. Two people swearing themselves to each other based on nothing but mutual feelings. The concept itself wasn't uncommon in the Demon World, but to Miwa, the idea felt almost foreign, as she herself had never experienced such a thing. But somewhere deep inside, it also excited her. This wedding was only the beginning. The future before Shiori and Kazuya could go in hundreds…maybe infinite different directions, infinite possibilities, but no matter which road they took, they would go together. Human or demon, how wonderful it must be to have someone with whom you can explore the infinite. Very different from Miwa, whose path could only follow someone else.
One by one, the guests approached the bride and groom to offer their congratulations. Miwa and Kuwabara waited on the side, letting the adults go before the teenagers. A few adults even approached Kurama, shaking his hand and wishing him luck with the new members of his family before saying the same to Kokoda, his stepbrother. Kurama greeted each of them politely, like the perfect image of the bride's son.
"It's kinda weird seeing him like this," Kuwabara whispered. "Not in a bad way or anything, but I'm so used to us fighting together against monsters."
Miwa giggled. "I thought the same thing once. Took some getting used to." Even the suit Kurama wore looked unusual to the two of them, cementing Saya's words more deeply in Miwa's mind.
Slowly, the guests crowded less around the bride and groom, and Kurama quietly gestured Miwa and Kuwabara over to take their turn. They glanced at each other awkwardly, both realizing that this was their first time doing anything like greeting a newly married couple, but then they laughed together, taking some comfort in their shared inexperience. Feeling slightly more confident, they approached the newlyweds, and Miwa finally exchanged words and offered her congratulations to Shiori and Kazuya. Although it had been some time since they last met, Kazuya still remembered Miwa from her visits to the hospital, and Miwa felt a little bashful when even he seemed so happy to see her on the special day.
"Thank you again for all your help back then, Himari," he said, bowing his head lightly. Shiori nodded at his side.
Miwa shook her hands in vigorous denial. "I didn't do that much," she stammered.
"Don't be so modest," Shiori said with the faintest hints of laughter. "I always looked forward to your visits."
Miwa made strange, incoherent noises as she tried to babble out an appropriate response. Kurama chuckled a bit and decided to save her from the formalities. "This is our friend, Kazuma Kuwabara," he said, gesturing to the taller boy behind him. "He is here in Yusuke's stead."
"Oh, I see," Shiori said, "Thank you for coming."
Despite his towering height just barely passing Kazuya's, Kuwabara bowed his head much more than he needed to at his sudden introduction. "Thank you for having me!" he nearly shouted, "It was a uh...great ceremony!"
Kurama and Miwa, who had watched from a short distance away, laughed quietly to themselves at the sight. Kurama did his best to savor the moment. All of the joy, excitement, and even the small twinges of embarrassment. In several days, he would be sending away his mother and stepfather on a plane to their overseas honeymoon. All expenses paid with money out of his own pocket, and it took a lot of convincing on his part for Shiori to accept such an extravagant and thoughtful gift from her teenage son. He hoped she was looking forward to it. These fleeting moments of happiness would not last forever. Soon, his life would revolve around the Demon World and its unsteady politics, and his peaceful human life would be a literal world away. Kurama needed to preserve these precious memories to carry through what was to come.
"...Miwa."
She stopped laughing immediately, but he used her real name on purpose, despite the number of humans standing around them. She stared at him, wide-eyed and surprised, dropping all pretense of blending in with a human identity. She probably felt like a fool, getting caught so off-guard, but Kurama didn't mind at all. Even innocent moments like this, where they can laugh and make jokes together, would soon be overshadowed by Yomi's plans for the Demon World.
"You look very nice," he said, smiling gently.
Her face tightened, and she immediately averted her eyes. "Thanks," she answered, a strange stiffness in her voice, "Saya helped me figure out what to wear..."
Even though she averted her eyes, he could still see her face. He could not tell whether the faint redness in her cheeks was a sign of her embarrassment or the make-up Saya helped her apply. It was endearing to him, regardless. Everything Miwa felt showed on her face, whether she was conscious of it or not. Such a stark contrast to Kurama himself, who only showed what he wanted others to see. What faces would he see, he wondered, once Miwa was reunited with the man from her letter?
Miwa sighed and shook her head, as if she was psyching herself out of her awkward feelings. "C'mon," she said, "Let's get Kuwabara and head to the reception hall."
Shiori and Kazuya moved on to greet other guests, and Kuwabara, no longer trapped in awkward formalities, gratefully followed Miwa to the next venue. They shared a laugh together at a joke Kurama had not paid attention to, but he still smiled to himself and trailed after them.
{00}
It was not the first time Kurama stared at Miwa's apartment from the street as he waited for her to come down. He used to wait there back in middle school to ensure she didn't make a spectacle of herself by jumping from her balcony to get to school faster when she was running late. Unlike some of the fancier apartments in the area, the front doors of all units in Miwa's building weren't hiding inside a warmly lit hallway. If a resident opened their front door, they would be fully exposed to the open air and elements outside, and sometimes pedestrians on the street below would spot occupants of this building leaning over the railing and whimsically smoking a cigarette as they observed the cityscape from either their bedroom balcony or the exposed walkway outside their front door. Miwa, on the other hand, had sometimes grabbed the railing with both hands and hoisted her entire body over it in a single jump, falling down three stories and landing on her feet without even the slightest stumble. Then, she would look up at him, carefree and smiling, and rise from her crouched position unaware of how reckless she was being. Kurama scolded her for it several times until, in their second middle school year, she finally remembered to just run down the stairs or take the elevator, no matter how late she was. All this, of course, was back when she hadn't yet grasped all of the social graces and expectations of the human world, and they were lucky no witnesses of her awkward adjustment period ever came forward. Still, every time he saw her head of dark hair leaving Room 304 - just as he could now, as a matter of fact - Kurama always wondered whether she would jump over the railing again.
She didn't.
Miwa paused at the entryway, still facing the inside of her house, holding the door ajar with one shoulder and the strap of a gray duffle bag hanging over the other. Even from the street level, Kurama's sharp ears heard Takeo Shimizu seeing his daughter off, asking (certainly not for the first time) if she was sure she didn't want him to go with her to the train station. Miwa shook her head, trying to appease her father with her own self-assurance, despite the fact that she was more worried about this trip than he was. She promised to call often and that she would be home in just a few short weeks. Time would fly on by and a month would be over before either of them were ready for it. Takeo doubted that last part, but he still laughed and gave his daughter one last hug. Kurama took a few steps to the side, perhaps unnecessarily, to make sure he was out of Takeo's view. Shuichi Minamino was not part of Miwa's cover story.
Takeo and Miwa pulled apart, and Miwa released the door from her shoulder. She waved, flashed a smile, and turned away from her apartment. Takeo held the door open, waving after her with a strange smile on his face, a smile mixed with pride and loneliness, and he only closed the door when Miwa disappeared around the corner. She took the stairs down properly, as Kurama insisted she do, and within minutes, she appeared in the lobby and exited the building for the last time in the month of August.
"Hey, you ready?" she asked, as casually as if they were just going to school.
Kurama nodded slowly. "...Miwa, are you sure you want to go along with this?"
She frowned. "You're asking that now?"
"Now is probably the last chance I can ask you."
Miwa stared at him for a few seconds, and her frown disappeared. She slid her duffle bag off her shoulder, and it landed on the ground with a thump. "Why are you so worried about me going?" she asked.
Kurama didn't know how to answer her at first, but some excuses quickly came to mind. If it were up to him, he would rather have Miwa stay in the Human World. The timing of three separate invitations from Yomi, Mukuro, and Raizen was too close to be a coincidence. If the three-way standoff would soon end, a war of some kind would inevitably begin. All three kings must be desperate to add to their numbers if they went so far as to recruit powerful demons residing in Human World. If Miwa stayed behind, she could keep an eye out on how Spirit World continued to act on the changes in Demon World, a task where her skills would be very useful. What's more...she could make sure their families were safe in case the war turned and humans were put in the line of fire.
But those practical reasons were not the ones that dominated his mind whenever he contemplated their situation. Ever since the messengers arrived, he could not ignore the feeling that things were inevitably going to change between them. He didn't know how, and he didn't know why, but this was where it started. And after the invitations to Demon World play out their due course, neither he nor Miwa would be the same, and he did not know if he would like that change or not.
What would happen if Miwa succeeded in removing the seal on her back?
What would happen once Kurama integrated himself into the Demon World again?
Will we come back here? ...Together?
"...I just don't want to drag you into this business between Yomi and I," he lied.
"You're not."
Yeah...he wasn't. Miwa was going for herself, and for the person named "Shirai," from a time before Kurama and Miwa ever met. It was...good. Normally, he would have preferred it this way. ...Normally. Miwa acting on her own ambitions and setting aside her oath to him was something he wanted for a long time, but now that it was finally happening, he couldn't find it in his heart to encourage her. He couldn't even bring himself to say aloud that it was happening. Such a hypocrite.
Kurama sighed. "Then, shall we go?"
Miwa smiled and picked up her bag. She was excited. "Yeah."
So, they turned, and together they walked down the road to their next mission. Turning their backs to their human homes, they stepped out of the life they had grown accustomed to. Behind them, the balconies Miwa used to conspicuously jump from moved further and further into the distance. Takeo Shimizu plopped his body into the couch, wincing as his weight made the couch crack loudly, and he turned on the TV to have some noise fill the apartment while his daughter was away. Kokoda Hatanaka settled into his grandparents' house, where he would be staying until the end of summer vacation, and in the meantime he would prepare to move into a house large enough for his new family once his father and step-mother came home from their honeymoon. The Minamino house waited, dark and empty but securely locked up, for the occupants to come home from their long trip. Taichi Tsutsumi and Saya Kimoto walked hand in hand through a shopping district, spontaneously deciding to go see a movie as they passed by a theater, but they both knew their primary goal was to escape the summer heat that made sweat drip down their backs, if only for a little while. Pieces and people from their human lives going through ordinary human days without Shuichi Minamino or Himari Shimizu to occupy them.
Kurama and Miwa walked away from all of that.
Away...away...back to the Demon World.
Notes: You may have noticed that I didn't use the stepbrother's real name. As much as I like Kurama and his stepbrother having the same name, I thought it could be confusing in a written format, so I took the name he received in the English dub.
I like Kirishima. I hope I can bring him back somehow.