Chapter 13

Part 1

The look Poppy gave me was unimpressed frost, she then rather ruined that by having another peek at me before she walked out of the bathroom. Not only does she fancy me, but she is fond of me too; otherwise she wouldn't have taken me out on such a thoughtful date nor already hung the painting I did for her in her bedroom. Our styles are so different and yet so were the words I'd chosen. My painting was of her, soft elegant flowing curves and grace, whilst the painting she did for me has that cute stubby quality of a cicada. I will take it with me because she will be hurt if I leave it behind…

If only I had a few months to play with, rather than three weeks, she'd succumb to me; I'm sure. Finding another way, as she requested, is not going well. My first idea, holding her hand whilst she slept, was a massive failure. It was boring, and both times I fell asleep before I'd managed to store a decent amount of her magic. Worse, the second time more of my body was in contact with her and that slow drain on her power exhausted her to the point where I was terrified I had all but put her in a coma.

Another way, hmm… Sophia's footwear had Vane's 'light'. If only I'd had the forethought to have asked her where exactly she'd lived on Earth. With my new friend google maps and Poppy's plastic money card it would have been easy to go and collect the belongings she left behind.

Legend says that having created Saligia, Vane stayed on Earth. Therefore, it makes sense that Earth will also have objects that have 'her light'. I need my pin. I hope Poppy didn't bin my clothes…

I finally find my morning suit folded at the bottom of her wardrobe. She's obviously tried to wash the blood out, then given up. However, hopefully they will act as a bridge back to Saligia in the way that I believe Miss Sophia's shoes acted as a bridge to Earth, and luckily my pin is still safe in my trouser pocket.

It glows as soon as I touch it. I move it around her room, take it out into the corridor, up the stairs to the top of the building, and onto the roof where she claims not to have been, as she hates heights. Yet the pin glows consistently. I place it on the ground and the light vanishes. Do I contain Vane's light?

Part 2

I'm not sure what to make of that or how much power this gives me in regard to returning home. I get her rubber gloves and hold the pin again. Nothing. Methodically I go around her apartment cataloguing the things that do and don't make it shine. Her teddy does, as do her bunny slippers and her fluffy cow doorstop. So too does her half worn-away wooden spoon, and one of her kitchen knives, but not the others. However, the thing that glows the brightest is my hanging scroll. I can only assume that the more she loves an object, or in the case of my scroll the more love she's used in its creation, the more of Vane's light it possesses. Is that why I lit up the pin, because she loves me? Or is it due to the bond we forged that night…

I think back to handing over Miss Sophia's shoes. I am not prepared to sacrifice my memento, and I think Poppy will be exceedingly angry and upset if her favourite things disappear. The best option is to search out some antique shops. Surely the older an item is, the more chance it has of having been used and loved by Vane, or at least one of her descendants…

A vibrating sound interrupts my thoughts. There is a message on the phone Poppy gave me. It seems my job application was a success.

Having memorised the route I need to take, I make my way to my interview, descend steps into an entranceway elegantly decorated with potted plants, and knock on the door. A man dressed in a tailcoat suit ushers me inside. The décor is luxurious, and I find myself led through a room full of tables set into fancy alcoves.

My interviewer, already impressed by Poppy's work credentials and the degree certificate I magically copied from the one I found in her draw, is even more so by the way I stand, walk, bow and pour a glass of wine. He hires me on the spot and as I have nothing planned for the rest of the day, he suggests I shadow one of the other staff.

Part 3

There is a knock at the door, my mentor opens it to two giggling women and gives a low elegant bow to the one with pink hair. "Welcome home, my lady." He then turns to the other woman. "My name is Nobuo, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am a butler in this house and my colleague here is a footman."

I bow to them both. "My name is Jasper; I am at your service. Please follow me." I lead the couple to one of the alcoves, bow again and pass over the menu. "If you need any help, or have any questions, please ring this bell to call us." I bow again and leave.

Nobuo, says that the women obviously like my looks and I should subtly play up to that. I double check what kind of work is entailed, as I'd seen some other jobs advertised that would suit my talents but not Poppy's sensibilities. He assures me that no physical contact is required, the allure is based entirely on a woven fantasy of unrequited admiration.

Having elegantly poured their wine; I hold pink hair's gaze for a second too long. "Will that be all?"

She blushes and nods.

This job is a cinch I think to myself, as meal over I help the two friends on with their coats and say, "Please come back soon, take care."

It had been my hope that I could present Poppy with some money and tell her about my having secured employment. That is not how Earth operates though. I need a bank account and I will not be paid until the month is out and by then I will be gone. I have a chat with an AI and decide that it is best to turn Poppy's account into a joint one. Then she will receive the money and hopefully be compensated for looking after me.

While taking a short break in a coffee bar, I think back over my time at the bank. I totally understand now why Vane separated off Saligia from Earth. It is way too easy to enchant mundanes into doing whatsoever you wish. Handy for me though. And surely, Vane would have left something in this world to help a lost thaumaturge return home. Having separated off Saligia, I doubt she would want someone with that power abandoned here with nothing to do except satisfy their whims by using magic on Earth's inhabitants.

Part 4

I scroll through the list I made of local antique shops on my mobile. Oddly a lot of the shops I've been in so far didn't sell anything truly antiquated. For example, one shop's most ancient items were a Japanese paddle from 1980, a flowery plate and paper fan both from 1990 and a ceramic green tea bowl from 1970. Although I guess that is consistent with all the people here being in such a constant hurry, 50 years to them is probably the equivalent of a thousand in Saligia.

While Poppy is eating dinner I tell her the good news. "I have secured employment in a café."

"Which café? And how, when you allegedly couldn't remember what a passport is or a residence card, let alone have access to yours….."

Giving her an enigmatic smile, that suitably riles her, I tell her the name of my café with a touch of pride, it is a prestigious establishment and I already feel at home with my colleagues.

Instead of being impressed, she frowns. "That's a butler café? They claim to offer attentive and courteous service, however, I've never been to one myself… erm nothing happens there, does it?"

Keeping my laughter very much internal I say, "My, my, is that jealousy I hear. Am I to assume that by 'happens' you mean nothing untoward?"

She blushes.

I wink at her. "Well obviously, I turn on the charm. The idea after all is that the customers will want to repeat the experience. That my sexual allure will entice them back to be waited upon again… Don't scowl like that. You can have me anytime you like, you know…"

She folds her arms across her chest. "I am not the sort of woman who hires an escort for that, I don't care how attractive you are, how skilled, I refuse to pay you. Either with money or whatever it is that you really want. Stop smirking, has the adoration of all the women you've serviced, I mean served today gone to your head?"

"You wouldn't need to pay. I am offering you myself, and my skill in that area for free. I have found another way to complete my mission as you requested". I show her my 'way too pleased with myself smile', more Sirius really. I wonder what she would make of my alter ego… unfortunately he wouldn't fit into this land of manners and politeness, so I will never know.

Part 5

I decide to have some fun with her. "Why would it bother you anyway?"

"Ok here is the thing, I know it sounds selfish and unreasonable, considering but I …" her gaze sinks to the floor.

She's getting upset and it's my fault. I wrap my arms around her and interrupt. "Please forgive me, I'm teasing you. It would bother me if you were seeing someone else too."

She doesn't shrug me off, instead she leans against me, and I feel a gentle pull. It makes me think of the bond I share with my master. Surely, he would have tried to summon me by now. I can only assume that such ties cannot operate between worlds. Which is fortunate, and yet the thought that I will no longer feel such tugs when she wants to be close to me, makes me feel oddly bereft. I need to quash that feeling. Women seek only after power, everything they do, a means to an end, which makes love a lunacy to be avoided…

Except Miss Sophia of course, thanks to a spell my master caste on her we know that she truly loves him. Whether her friends are equally altruistic though, I cannot say. "You let me live with you for free, and arranged our outing as a gift. What is in it for you?"

She looks baffled for a moment before replying. "I heard that you changed the tyre on Yuki's car."

Ha, a change of subject. I shouldn't let her get away with it, however, I'm proud of my achievement and Yuki was very grateful. "It was easy, I watched a how-to video on YouTube."

"And what was in it for you?"

Oh, I see what she is doing. Hmm why do I find myself doing all sorts of jobs for Yuki? Why did I take Prince around to play with Albert's cat, Shadow, why did I bake all those biscuits for Albert and Poppy….

Poppy smiles at my puzzlement. "It's difficult isn't it, to think why we behave in a certain way? However, I guess I like having you around because it's just more fun doing things with someone else, especially when that someone is you." A faint blush rises on her cheeks, as she realises what she's said.

I wink at her. "I agree and yet you are so adamant about showering alone."

Her cheeks are now so dark, it takes all my restraint not to test their temperature with my lips. "And" she says pointedly, "it would be more accurate to say that you're my unpaid personal valet."

Chapter 14

Part 1

Poppy rubs my shoulder to wake me. "I've made you coffee."

Years of practice allow me to keep a smile in place while my stomach sinks. I haul myself off the sofa and head towards our kitchen. She's made me breakfast too, and I'm impressed. "This looks beautiful just like the cooking programs…. and it tastes amazing. But I thought you hated cooking."

She laughs shyly. "I don't, I enjoy it, I'm just too tired after work. Although I was nervous at first, you are a daunting person to cook for. But then, I remembered how much you enjoyed my marmalade and without a challenge where is the reward. Moreover cooking…"

I interrupt her with a wink. "My thoughts exactly, and you are quite the challenge."

She frowns, however, there is no real fierceness there. "So how long would it normally take you?"

"A couple of drinks."

Her mouth opens slightly in surprise. Perhaps I should explain about Sirius, that most of the women I spend time with as him are on the lookout for a fun evening anyway. Before I can formulate that explanation properly, she's already recovered. "I had no idea red coffee was such a powerful aphrodisiac?"

I chuckle. She's so fun to flirt with, now that I don't have to, and I'm enjoying myself way too much. "It is when I make it. And I'm sorry I interrupted you, what were you going to say? Moreover cooking…"

She shuffles as if uncomfortable. "That it is an expression of love… but I didn't mean that in a romantic way, more agape than eros."

I check the words on my tablet and smirk. "Come on, just confess it, you're totally besotted with me."

She taps me on the nose with her finger looking decidedly coquettish. "Besotted yes, how much with you though depends on how much of the real you you've shown me."

"You don't sound that bothered that you may love an illusion."

Sadness clouds her eyes, making me regret my words. "You are leaving soon, why shouldn't I enjoy the lie while I can?"

Trying to reclaim the earlier mood I smile temptingly at her. "You could enjoy the lie a lot more you know. The illusion is exceedingly talented in bed."

"I was thinking more of another mystery outing."

Last Saturday had been a complete surprise. However, I think I can guess our outing this time, which is confirmed as she leads me towards the station. I've been studying this country and may have mentioned my fascination with bullet trains on several occasions. In real life it is even more sleek and impressive, an engineering marvel in aerodynamics based on a kingfisher's beak! Carriages in Saligia would benefit from such a design, as less magic would be needed to move them.

Part 2

Once our amazingly fast ride is over, we take a short walk to the Omono Riverside Ryokuchi athletic park. "Are we to see a race?"

"More a fierce competition between Japan's leading pyrotechnicians." Her voice sounds super excited, she is so cute.

There are exhibitions about how fireworks are produced and a myriad of stalls selling drinks, street food, local delicacies and regional specialities. I'm so spoilt for choice I hardly know where to start. Poppy notes my indecision and laughs light-heartedly at me.

We find a good vantage spot and wait for the competition to begin, eating and chatting together as if we have been best friends since childhood. The air fills with colourful smoke set against the fading sunlight and I'm amazed at the floral patterns made without the use of magic. Poppy is enchanted too. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. She doesn't resist, her thoughts dancing in the sky with the rockets.

Soon the display switches to fireworks. The synchronisation between them and the music is incredible, the artistry, the creativity, I have never seen anything like it. The park is now completely packed, and yet equally it's as if it's just Poppy and I here enjoying this moment together. I commit it all to memory, I'm determined to never forget this night. Nor how Poppy rests her head so familiarly and trustingly against me, as she closes her eyes on the bullet train home…

I believe that it is my turn to take Poppy out next weekend, so when I go around to see Albert, I ask him for suggestions. He kindly opens his laptop and begins to show me a range of interesting places that he's enjoyed visiting. I'm glad to have met him, like Miss Sophia and Poppy there is something genuine about him and he's in his element explaining things to me and reminiscing about his past adventures. I get caught up in his excitement, then once he's finished I realise I have to explain that my budget is limited, and therefore so is the distance I can travel.

"I'm sorry, was I boring you?"

I reassure him that he wasn't, because it's true. The outings sounded appealing, I wish I had the money to take Poppy to all of them and feel remorse that I have not. He considers my dilemma then makes a couple of other suggestions. I decide to go with a tour of the Imperial palace gardens. He then get's out his chess board and challenges me to a game.

Part 3

Returning to our flat to cook dinner, I consider myself lucky to have made a friend who is knowledgeable about so many different things. I'm also glad that he told me he was Canadian, before I told him that I was. Poppy's expression has become increasingly suspicious every time I try and pass off information about Avari as if it's about Canada. She's checked some of my 'facts' on her computer too, I've seen it in her history. And yet her affection for me doesn't seem to be impacted by those lies.

Nor my teasing, so I decide to have some fun the morning of our trip. "Dear me, shouldn't you have left for work by now?"

She opens her eyes and glances at the clock, a look of panic spreading over her face. "Oh, I am going to be so late."

Her reaction is so vehement that I can't help but snigger. "Ha, ha. It's Saturday morning. You needn't panic so."

She flings her pillow at me. "You're terrible."

I catch it and smile, letting my gaze caress her exposed flesh with an intensity of lust that has her hastily pulling up her bedcovers. She rather ruins the icy glare she sends my way, by shuffling over so that I can sit next to her. Although oddly, she seems slightly subdued as I pass her some coffee. "Are you all right?"

"My mum used to bring me tea every morning to help me wake up."

"You'd prefer tea?"

"No, I need more of a caffeine hit now days and I love your coffee. I was just remembering how nice it was. I still miss her and my dad so much…."

I wrap an arm around her and share that I never knew my mother. She is surprisingly distressed for me and hugs me tight, even though I explain that I cannot miss what I do not know.

Part 4

After breakfast I tell her about my plans. She is excited, and I believe touched that I've gone to the trouble of arranging our day out. We start with a free two-hour tour, and are told all about the gardens, the Imperial Family, and Edo Castle itself, which must have been truly incredible before it became a ruin. I'm also impressed by how beautifully the gardens have been landscaped and amazed at how peaceful it is here, set as it is in the middle of such a bustling city.

After the tour we eat the picnic I prepared, then we wile away the entire afternoon wandering amongst the plants, trees, and sculptures, chatting away or merely admiring the view in companiable silence. I've never been on holiday before, I had no interest, but now I realize with the right company it can be rather enjoyable…..

…..

"Happy Birthday to you." Poppy bounces into our lounge singing to me as I lie semi asleep on her sofa. How the days have flown, there is now only one week left before my departure. She passes me a beautifully wrapped box, with a shy smile. "I hope you like them."

Inside are a pair of simple yet stylish cufflinks. They are exactly to my taste, which is astonishing, she must have been observing me as closely as I've been observing her. Knowing how expensive they must have been, I bow. "Thank you, I will cherish them always."

"I made you a special lunch box for your birthday too." She seems very excited about it.

"Can I look now?"

She nods. Inside is a flower meadow made from vegetables, with a cicada sitting on top. She has formed its body from coloured rice, its legs from carrots, its antennae from cucumber and given it wings made from nori.

I lower my lips to her ear and make a chirruping sound.

She giggles and turns to look at me, her face delighted. I kiss her impulsively, her smile turns into pure sunshine, and I bask in the glow. I'm still basking, as she shuts the door on the way to work. I catch a glimpse of my goofy smile in the mirror. What is wrong with me? It is lucky I am leaving soon, or I believe my heart could be in danger….

Part 5

I'm going tonight. I have not told Poppy yet, I do not want her to be upset any longer than she needs to be. Although I told Albert and he insisted that we have a drink together before I went. A mistake, I still have a headache. Earth drinks are not as benign as the potions I am used to in Saligia.

I prepare our dinner and wait, trying not to impatiently check my mobile. But Poppy is usually home by now, should I message her? That's what a normal mundane would do, right? I will give her half an hour, because I don't want to appear a worrywart. Master Prince seems agitated, pawing at the door and crying. He's never like that normally, my sense of unease increases. Five minutes later I crack and send a message. "When do you expect to be back?"

"Sorry, had a bit of a delay. I won't be home for about 45 mins😅"

It is tempting to leave… it would make more sense, be perhaps easier for both of us, and yet I cannot bring myself to. While I wait, I sit on the sofa watching 'Jiro dreams of sushi' with her cat on my lap. He's calmed down again, however, he still seems unhappy. I pet him gently, and he buries his little head between my body and elbow.

Poppy comes in and takes of her shoes but not her jacket. "Prince seems to like you."

"That's because I'm extraordinarily good at petting." I wink at her. "Jealous?"

She collapses into the chair opposite me. "Yes, I am a bit. If I were a witch, I'd totally switch bodies with Prince. He could go to work, while I'd curl up on your lap. It was relaxing, you know, when you were stroking my hair." Her voice sounds wistful.

"Is there something amiss?

She bursts into tears, and I've placed Master Prince on the floor and pulled her into my lap instead, having flown her across the room using magic. She doesn't seem to notice though, just nestles her head against my shoulder and wraps her arms around me. Even when she's ceased crying she still clings to me. I hold her tight, is it warped of me to be enjoying this?

Eventually she raises her head a little. "I'm so sorry. I've just had such a horrible day."

I smile to myself. I wonder what constitutes a horrible day for Poppy. She's told me she works in a bookshop. Which ticked good customer service for me at my interview. I've never worked in one myself, however, I have browsed through all that Colde has to offer, and they have all struck me as safe, structured, somewhat uneventful places to work. Ohh….

"Did you sense that I was going to say goodbye tonight, perhaps?"

She pales, her expression resignedly sad. "So soon. No, I didn't realise. However, I will pray that wherever you are going you will be happy… because you were right… I love you."

Finally. Everything she does screams that fact to me. And yet perversely, I have still been desperate to hear it from her lips. Is she saying it because I will be gone by the morning? Has she changed her mind about us parting having never known each other fully? I slowly lower my lips to hers and kiss her tentatively. Her lips are soft and a little chilled, I pull back not wanting to overstep. Her large eyes gaze adoring into mine and her cheeks are flushed with lust. I'm instantly aroused, too much so, I should have anticipated this and planned accordingly.

Forcing myself to calm down, I move in to kiss her again. Her lips part for me enticingly. I should have lied and told her I was leaving two weeks back. I deepen our kiss, teasing her tongue with mine and sucking. She moans into my mouth with desire, and I am almost undone. I know I must get control of my body back, however, the feel of her skin under my hands, and the way she responds to my caresses with little trembles and sighs is too arousing. Suddenly her head lulls back. I hold her up confusion mixing with panic. "Poppy, are you alright?" I query, but she lies unmoving, her arms fallen away from me. The hand I'm using to support her back feels oddly damp, it's covered in blood… her blood. I shout her name, there is still no response. I cradle her limp form against myself and run to Yuki.