Cards Of The Silent King-Chapter 17: Something Follows Hana

The streetlights flickered as they walked. Orange pools of light on the pavement. Shadows stretched long between them.

Hana walked beside him. She hummed a tune. Something pop. Something from the radio. She swung her bag. The strap hit her shoulder. Rhythm. Step. Step.

Kaito walked half a step behind. His eyes were not on the path. They were on her. Specifically, on her left shoulder.

There was a shimmer there.

Not a crack. Not a rift. A attachment. Small. Glowing faintly blue. Like static clinging to wool.

It is stuck. Kuro’s voice was sharp. Alert. A Drifter. Lost. It thinks she is a beacon.

Kaito did not blink. He kept walking. His hands were in his pockets. His fingers brushed the Ace of Spades.

Why are you so quiet tonight. Hana asked. She looked at him. Her face was lit by a passing car. Soft. Unaware.

Thinking.

About what. Math. Or the festival. Or both.

Both.

You are terrible at lying. But okay. I will let it slide. Today. She kicked a pebble. It skittered into the dark. It is nice though. Walking home. Usually I take the train. But the train is crowded. People push. You smell like sweat and newspapers. This is better. Quiet.

Kaito looked at the shimmer. It pulsed. It was feeding off her warmth. Her life. Not hurting. Just drinking. Like a parasite.

If it stayed, others would see it. Larger things. Hunters. They followed the scent.

Remove it. Kuro said. Now. Before it settles.

Know.

Kaito slowed down. He stepped closer. He reached out. His hand hovered near her shoulder.

Hana stopped. She looked at his hand. Then at his face.

Kaito.

Something.

What.

Nothing.

He brushed his hand against her jacket. Just above the shoulder. Fabric against fabric.

As he touched her, he pushed will into the contact. A pulse of shadow. Invisible. Silent.

The shimmer flared. It resisted. It liked the warmth. It did not want to leave.

Kaito pushed harder. He gripped the spiritual thread. He pulled.

The entity detached. It floated in the air between them. A small ball of light. Confused. It buzzed.

Hana shivered. She rubbed her shoulder.

Did you feel that.

Static.

Weird. It is dry today. Should not be static.

Kaito closed his hand. The entity vanished. Absorbed. Dissipated. Gone.

The air cleared. The scent of ozone faded.

Okay. Hana started walking again. Maybe my jacket. Synthetic fabric. It does weird things.

Maybe.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Hana hummed again. She did not notice the weight was gone. She did not notice the danger had passed.

They reached her apartment building. It was newer. Cleaner. White walls. Green vines.

Hana stopped at the door. She turned to him.

Thanks. For walking me. I know you live the other way. It is out of your path.

Fine.

You say that. But it is twenty minutes extra. You are a good friend. Even if you are quiet.

She smiled. She opened the door. She stepped inside. She waved.

See you tomorrow. Do not be late.

Will not.

The door closed. The lock clicked.

Kaito stood on the step. He waited. He watched the window on the second floor. The light turned on. Curtains drew.

She was safe.

He turned away. He walked into the night.

That was close. Kuro said. Too close.

Know.

It was attached to her signature. That means it tracked her.

How.

You.

Kaito stopped. He stood under a streetlight. The bugs buzzed around the bulb.

Your scent is on them. All of them. Ryota. Jin. The girl. They walk with you. They talk to you. They carry your shadow.

Fix it.

You cannot wash off shadow. It is part of you.

Kaito started walking again. Faster. His boots hit the pavement hard.

He reached his apartment. He did not take off his shoes. He walked to the desk. He slammed his hand down.

The cards scattered. They slid across the wood. They glowed. Angry. Awake.

Control yourself. Yuki Onna’s voice was cold. Panic helps nothing.

Risk.

Everything is risk. You knew this.

Did not know.

Now you do.

Kaito picked up the Ace of Spades. He held it tight. The edges dug into his palm.

Protect.

By pushing them away.

No.

Then they die.

Kaito looked at the window. The city lights blinked. Millions of them. Millions of lives.

He thought about Hana’s shoulder. The shimmer. It was small. Innocent. But it was a trail. A breadcrumb.

If a Wanderer found it. If a Hunter found it.

They would not stop at the entity. They would want the source.

He sat down. He did not sleep.

The night stretched. Hours passed. The moon moved across the sky.

Kaito sat in the chair. He cleaned the cards. One by one. He wiped them with a cloth. He checked the edges. He checked the seals.

Fenrir whined in the card. Ember flickered. Kuro stayed silent.

At four in the morning, Kaito stood up. He walked to the window. He looked toward Hana’s apartment. He could not see it. Too far. Buildings blocked the view.

You cannot watch forever. Kuro said. You need sleep.

Will not.

You will collapse. Then you cannot protect anyone.

Watch.

Kaito stayed there. Until the sun rose. Until the city woke up. Until the birds started singing.

He looked at his reflection in the glass. Dark circles. Pale skin. Eyes hollow.

He looked like a ghost.

He turned away. He picked up his bag. He picked up his jacket.

He walked to the door. He opened it.

The day began. The danger remained.

He walked to school. He walked the long way. He avoided the path he took with Hana.

He reached the gate. Ryota was there. He waved.

Morning! You look like death. Seriously. Did you fight a ghost. Or just stay up gaming.

Kaito walked past him. Tired.

Coffee. I have coffee. Instant. It tastes like dirt. But it works.

No.

Suit yourself. You are going to fall asleep in class. Sato will throw chalk at you. It will be funny. I will laugh. Then I will feel bad. Then I will laugh again.

Kaito did not smile. He walked to the classroom. He sat at his desk.

Hana came in. She saw him. She smiled. She walked over.

Morning. You look... rough. Did you sleep.

Some.

Okay. Well. I feel rested. So I can share. We can share energy. Like batteries.

She laughed. She sat down.

Kaito looked at her shoulder. Clean. No shimmer. No static.

But he knew. It was not gone forever. It would come back. As long as he was near. As long as he fought.

She is happy. Ember said. Do not ruin it.

Trying.

Then stay away.

Can not.

Kaito opened his notebook. He picked up his pen.

He wrote the date.

He wrote nothing else.

He watched the door. He watched the windows. He watched the shadows.

He waited for the next shimmer.

It would come.

He would be ready.