Or, so I thought.

“Magpie, do we have to do it again?”

We were in an isolated corner of the library after a club meeting. I couldn’t see Kiyo, since I was using the black, white, and blue colored scarf she had gifted me as a blindfold. I knew my little Angel well, though, and I could imagine the pout that went with that petulant tone of voice.

“My, your tone changed! You were overjoyed when I got out your scarf.”

“Yeah, because you haven’t really used it yet, and I worked really hard on it. I even made it magpie colored.”

“It’s been the summer,” I replied. “You know how much it meant to me.”

“Yeah… Look, what you’re talking about doesn’t really make sense. Smelling magic? You sound like a loon or a pervert.” She giggled after a moment. “Could be both, I guess.”

“I’ll let that slide,” I said. “Look, you like me more than Headmaster Tachibana, right?”

Her laugh turned into a snort. “I mean, duh. Especially after the other day.”

“You gave him nineteen tests. You’re complaining after two.”

“Yeah, but here we are having a little alone time and you want to do homework we weren’t even assigned! You were all like, ‘come hither, my princess, let us away and I shall show thee a good time-’”

“Oh, come now, I sound nothing like that! Such rubbish.” I couldn’t help but smirk. I did so love her nonsense, and it was so much more pleasant than whining.

She giggled. “If you say so. Anyway, I was ready to have a good time in secret and got all excited and stuff! I think I’m allowed to be a little bummed out.”

“Then make your magic smellier so I can pick it up,” I said.

“How am I supposed to do that? You said you suddenly noticed it in the middle of training; I’ve been invisible for five minutes and you aren’t getting a whiff!”

“I think it’s a matter of intensity. Rose was powering the Peace Bond all by herself and she was everywhere, but when Leo was working with his affinity over a larger area, he overpowered her scent.”

I could practically hear her frown. It was the way her shoulders slumped when she got irritated; I could just make out the rustling of her uniform. “I’m already invisible, though. Do you smell anything?”

“Besides musty books? No. I can see your outline with my Mimic Vision, though.”

“I guess I can try making something else invisible.” She strolled over and took my hand in both of hers. I felt a familiar tingle run through my body, and I knew her Death of Light had hidden me from sight too. “How about now?”

I didn’t respond right away. I had originally discovered the visual form of my Mimic’s magical senses when I had shut out the rest of the world in meditation, so I tried to focus. After all, Kiyo’s magic wasn’t going to be as overwhelming as a device beaming Rose’s signature everywhere.

Then I detected something just a hint of something. “Harder, Kiyo.”

She grunted, and her grip tightened. The tingling intensified, like water flowing over my skin. I imagined the chair I sat on had vanished as well.

“There it is! It’s plain as day.”

“Well? Do I smell as pretty as Rose? And remember, per the boyfriend/girlfriend contract, you have to say yes.”

“It’s quite lovely,” I said. “Your magic smells like vanilla, with maybe a hint of citrus? It’s a subtler scent.”

“I use strawberry shampoo, so we know it isn’t that,” she said. “Wait, why does Rose smell like her perfume?”

“It’s strange enough that my mind keeps representing magic with my other senses anyway,” I said. “Maybe it’s because I already associate her with lavender?”

“Yeah, you’re obsessed with it,” she grumbled. “Okay, I need to rest.” Kiyo let go and breathed heavily.

Since we were done testing, I unwrapped the makeshift blindfold. “Yes, I think that’s a…” I trailed off as I raised my eyebrow. To my shock, I could still see through her.

At least, partway. Kiyo always had a doll-like look to her, with her pale, smooth skin and large, expressive eyes. Just then, though, she looked like an exquisite glass sculpture clad in a black and red school uniform. The fluorescent lights of that little used corner of the library refracted through her exposed head and neck and, if I shifted my head just right, I could see a rainbow.

“What’re you looking at?” She looked down. “Eek!” The color and substance returned to her as she shifted back to normal.

“What was that?” I asked.

“I think I told you once,” she said. “Death of Light has two tricks. It bends light, and I can make my body transparent. I think it’s so I don’t use quite as much energy to make myself invisible.”

I nodded. “I recall. I haven’t seen you transformed when you weren’t completely hiding yourself, though.”

“I-it’s creepy, right?” Kiyo shifted from leg to leg, looking flustered. “Sorry man, I slipped up. Mr. Lahlou has me practicing it, to see if there’s anything else I can do with it. I know I look so dang creepy.”

“No, just opposite.” I took her hands and pulled her close. “Can I see again?”

She bit her lip and flushed. “W-well, I guess it’s okay if it’s you, Magpie.” Just the least waft of vanilla hit my nose, and Kiyo went crystalline again.

“How could this be creepy?” I asked. “It’s fascinating. Your hands still feel like flesh.”

“I don’t know what exactly I’m turning into,” she said. “I still feel the same, and if they cut a little of my hair, it turns black right away.” She fidgeted again. “Wh-why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m seeing the loveliest girl in the school in a new light,” I said. I drew her in for a kiss. “Hm, you’re right, no difference at all.”

“W-well,” she stammered, “do you want to see if I feel different in other places?”

“Propositioning me out of the blue? Why, I’m shocked! Where did the shy, innocent Kiyo I used to know go?”

“You kinda ruined that, Soren,” she said.

I grinned rakishly at her, and I could imagine a blush spreading across her crystalline face. “We may not want to push it too far in a library.”

“Yeah, but it’s science, right? We’re just testing things. I helped you test your magic, so you can help me test mine.”

“I think we can work something out,” I said. I broke contact so I could cast effectively. “Zone of Silence.” The air about us shimmered. I didn’t make too large of a spell, since that might itself draw attention. It only needed to cut us off from outside noise in our forgotten little corner.

“There, that ought to make sure we can carry out a proper investigation.” I stood and grabbed her around the waist, looking down into her invisible eyes.

“This is why I love you, Magpie,” she said. “You like all the stuff about me that other people think is creepy.”

“It’s what I signed up for,” I said, letting my hands wander.

“You already checked my lips,” she said, failing to suppress a giggle.

“It’s the scientific method, my dear. We have to find replicable data. Hm, the rest of your face still feels as delightfully smooth as ever.”

“That reminds me. It was scratchy when we kissed before. You need a shave.”

“I’ll take that under advisement.” I traced a finger down to her chest and she let out gasp that I took as an invitation to investigate more thoroughly. “These certainly pass inspection.”

“Pfft, now I know you’re making things up,” she said. “I’ve barely got any.”

“It isn’t about quantity, it’s quality.” She gasped as I left her chest and went lower. “All that running has done wonders there.”

The color returned to her body and she shoved me back. “W-we need to stop,” she said, her face beet red. “I-I’ve missed you so much, but I d-don’t think I could stand to get found out again. That was humiliating. I just know as soon as I start enjoying myself, Mr. Maki is going to wander around the corner.”

“That has been our luck,” I said. A damn shame, though. Considering all the skullduggery I’d done to keep her safe and out of trouble, I felt like I wasn’t getting the full fruits of my labors.

“I just wish there was somewhere we could go,” she said with a sigh. “It’s hard dealing with this stupid school without you there.”

“I feel the same way,” I said.

She shook her head. “No, I know you, man. I think you’d do just fine without me. That’s what worries me.”

“I assure you, my dear, there is nobody else I would rather be with.”

“Sure, but… nah, never mind. You promise, you aren’t seeing anybody else? You have options, man.”

I dispelled the silencing spell before kissing her hand. “Of course not. Where could you possibly get that idea?”

Of course, Ms. Edwards chose that exact moment to call. I hid the caller ID from Kiyo as I answered. “Godmother Harriet! How lovely. How’s the weather down under?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Maggie.

“Oh, I’m just with my girlfriend right now,” I replied, leaning against a shelf of military history books. “Kiyo Jones, I know I keep going on about her.” I winked at Kiyo and she rolled her eyes, though her grin split her face.

“Well, get rid of her and come to my room. We have something we need to talk about.”

“Oh no, not Richard!” I made sure I sounded as distraught as I could. “A snakebite, you say?”

“You can stop overacting, Shakespeare,” said Maggie. “Wrap it up and get over here as soon as possible.”

“I’ll call you back as soon as I’m able,” I said, hanging up the phone. “Kiyo, Harriet’s son was out in the brush and was bitten by a snake! I need to get back to my room and call her back right away! We aren’t sure if he’s going to make it, and the poor dear needs a sympathetic voice to hear.”

Her face fell. “Ah, crap. Okay Soren, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I said my goodbyes and hustled out of there before my traitorous face could expose me. I felt low, even if it was necessary.