Chapter 24

“Magpie!” Kowalski had been waiting outside for us at the rented house, and he bounded over. I tried to open the door, but found the way blocked by the towering blond. I gritted my teeth; even with the cushion the clinic had provided, the trip back hadn’t been exactly comfortable. At least they’d provided me with some real clothes for the journey home, but I wanted out. I nearly said something sharp, but he looked so pleased that I couldn’t bear to.

Thankfully, I had somebody on hand to do it for me. “Let the boy… no, let the man get out of the van!” barked Mr. Maki.

“Oh, uh, sorry,” he stammered before opening the door for me.

“It’s quite all right,” I said, using the cane for support.

“How do you feel?”

“Better now that I’m out of that hospital,” I said. “Do you know they assigned me a male nurse? It takes all the fun out of being laid up.”

Kowalski chuckled. “Man, you do have a one-track mind.”

“You weren’t in there long enough to notice, you big baby,” said Mr. Maki, rubbing his arms. “Come on, both of you get a move on! It’s freezing out here!”

“Says the man who goes jogging in the fog every morning,” I said.

“This is different; I haven’t been working out.”

I let out a contented sigh as we stepped into the house. For once, I didn’t mind the stench of the synthwood too badly.

Mariko had passed out in one of the easy chairs, a copy of Pride and Prejudice in her hands. How many times can she read the same book?

I considered leaving her be, but she wasn’t sleeping easily. Her brow was knit with worry, and she kept twitching. A gentle shake to the shoulder roused her in an instant. “Soren!”

Before I could respond, she leapt to her feet and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, come now. I’m perfectly fine.”

“That is easy for you to say,” she replied. “You did not have to look at the hole in your leg, or the bruises on your throat.”

“It’s all better now.” I patted the back of her head with the arm she didn’t pin to my side. “You can relax.”

“Well, not all better,” said Mr. Maki, seemingly unmoved by Mariko’s display of affection. “They didn’t have a wizard on hand, so they stitched him up the old-fashioned way.”

Mariko twitched. “What? But I fixed him!”

“They had to clean out the wound,” I replied.

“No, that will not do at all!” Mariko released me, only to take my hand and guide me towards the stairs. “Come with me to my bedroom.”

Could I let a line like that alone? I could, for once. After all, she did the work for me, stopping in her tracks as she realized the implications. “I-I am healing him! Nothing else! It is my English, I said it wrong. Stop smirking, Kasasagi!”

“I didn’t say anything,” I protested.

“You did not have to!”

“Mr. Kowalski, let’s go do a bit of magic training and leave those two alone,” said Mr. Maki. “They’ll want their privacy.”

Mariko released my hand to raise hers in protest. “No, it is not like that!”

“Oh, I believe you!” Mr. Maki nodded my way. “I’m just not in a rush to see Mr. Marlowe’s ass. No offense.”

“It’s a relief, not an offense,” I said.

Mariko visibly relaxed, though she didn’t take my hand again as we made our way up the stairs. Her room was much like mine, though perhaps a bit larger. Yet, it’s funny how there’s a different air about a woman’s room, even if you aren’t there for fun. Heida’s rented government-housing flat even managed it.

I spotted a small collection of books on her writing desk, held up straight by bookends carved in the likeness of a local troll. Emma. Wuthering Heights. There were other books there with Japanese spines I couldn’t make out, but she seemed to have a favorite era of English author.

“I suppose these pants will have to come off,” I said.

“Y-yes.” Mariko puffed her cheeks out. “Do not sound so pleased with yourself.”

I opened the closet door to block the view while I changed. I studiously ignored the finery within. Now I see where Buddy made his heist. “My dear, after the night I had, I think I deserve to have a little fun,” I said. “You make it too easy and—” My teasing was cut off as my pants brushed against the bandage. I should have ridden the marshmallow cloud when I had the chance.

“Soren? Are you alright?”

“Will be soon enough,” I hissed, thankful that I wouldn’t have to remove my underwear, too. “Let’s not dawdle, though.” Without a thought to modesty, I made my way over to the bed and laid face down on it.

“I will have to remove the bandage,” she said, pulling the chair from the writing desk over. “To see the damage.”

“Then do it quick—ack! Not that quickly!”

“Sorry, sorry,” she said, before trailing off. “Oh my.”

“You can be impressed later,” I said. “Though yes, I do work out.”

“Not that, you pervert,” she said. I was glad I was facedown in my pillow; perhaps I was enjoying her embarrassment too much? I couldn’t help but notice the lovely smell, a bit like mint. “Have you ever looked back here?”

“No, I can’t say I’ve ever studied my ass,” I said.

“Your legs are covered in scars,” she said. “I heard from Rose about what the Horde did to you. I had not seen the evidence before.”

Well, that killed my good humor. Not so much that I regretted those scars; I’d come by them honestly, and usually had left the other fellow in worse shape. No, more that it was another lie, wasn’t it? More undeserved sympathy from people who didn’t know better.

“Well, I don’t think you can fix those; the doctors at the school had me using cream for a while, but even that could only do so much. They’re better than they used to be, though. Let’s get moving, shall we? I’m getting cold.”

“Y-yes, of course,” stammered Mariko. “I see the problem now. This will take some time; I have to stimulate the tissues to fill the puncture wound. I am sorry that I did not have time before the paramedics whisked you away.”

She muttered the magic words, though I couldn’t see the runes from my angle. They reflected on the plaster wall before me, tinging it a with a faint orange glow. The scent of mint grew stronger, and I realized that must have been how my Mimic Scent interpreted her magic.

Once she got the spell going, she was free to speak again, as her fingers did the walking. “The bathroom was… that was some fight you had in there.”

I winced as my nerves reminded me that they were being jostled about. “Yes. I’m sorry you had to see that. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”

“I am sure they did not need to die,” she said.

“I respectfully disagree,” I replied. “It was them or me. Heck, it was them or a city block.”

“Shimatta,” she cursed an instant before a spike of pain travelled down my leg. “Sorry, I had a twitch in my bad hand.”

“Qu-quite alright, as long as you can fix it,” I replied. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were punishing me.”

“Of course not,” she said.

“Not even a little?”

“Not even a little.” The orange glow turned red for a moment, and the pain vanished. “Is that better?”

“Much.” I released my pillow from a death grip I hadn’t noticed. “Again, I know how it bothers you.”

“What were they? Holy Brothers?”

“No. From what they said, it seemed like they were demonkin. Out to snuff out Mr. Maki, I think.” More lies. Oh well.

“I… I am not sure I can express myself well in English, and I cannot take the translator out of my purse while I am casting. Do not take offense.”

“Go for it.”

“You were one of them, and you saw the light. Why do you deserve a chance to make amends when they do not?”

“I don’t,” I said without hesitation. “I was simply lucky. Faster and more ruthless. That’s all it comes down to in a fight.”

“I…” The glow dimmed for a moment, but she muttered a few more magical syllables and got back to work. “You are different than most of the people I ask that question.”

I looked over my shoulder, but I couldn’t get a good view of her without moving, and doing that while being healed is a good way to get the wrong hole sealed up. “What, do you patch up a lot of former demonkin?”

“No, I mean when I ask them why it is okay to kill our enemies. Yukiko or Hiro always say it is because the cause is right.”

“Hard to disagree when it’s the whole human race on the line,” I said.

“I think there is some good in everyone,” she replied. “I do not like seeing it snuffed out.”

“Trust me, there’s no good in demons,” I said. “I’ve seen them up close. You haven’t.”

“We might need a different approach, but I bet there is something in there that can be fixed. Speaking of.” The tingling sensation ceased. “You should be good to sit up now.”

I followed her instructions, suddenly feeling drowsy. Human healing magic is the worst. It’s less efficient and tires you out if it’s more than a nick.

As if anticipating my reaction, she pulled a bottle out of her purse. “Drink this,” she said, handing me something labeled a ‘meal replacement beverage’. “We want to make sure you have the nutrients to heal properly.”

“Very thoughtful of you,” I said. “Did you grab it for little old me?”

“I already had it.” Her lips drew back into a bashful grin. “After my… my accident, I had trouble keeping anything down. The doctors prescribed these, and I liked the taste.”

I couldn’t see why; it tasted to me like thickened sugar water with perhaps a hint of vanilla. I nodded politely, though.

Before I could get up, she planted herself on the bed next to me. “Whose room do you like better?”

“Hm? This is basically the same as mine. Though you have a larger bed than me.”

“Not that.” She shook her head. “Mine or Heida’s? It was her lipstick I saw before, right?”

“W-well…” Why was I feeling bashful all of a sudden? “That isn’t…”

“She was all over you last night,” she said. “You do not have to hide from me. I told you, you will not offend me; we are not dating.”

“Yours doesn’t smell like mildew and stale kimchi,” I said, suddenly remembering my state of dress. “You’re awfully close, my dear.”

“Maybe, but…” She leaned forward, resting her knees on her elbows. “Is something the matter with me?”

“What? No.”

She flashed me a wry grin. “Here we are in my room, and you have not made a move. You are all talk!”

That froze me in place. “Do you want me to?”

She shook her head. “But maybe I would like to say no the first time? And then…”

My mouth suddenly felt like sandpaper. “You don’t want anything to do with me,” I said. So she is that foolish! “I’m a cad who hurts everyone who dares to care about him.”

“What, you are okay with hurting Heida?” she demanded, her eyebrow arching.

“Heida isn’t going to be around long enough to be hurt,” I replied.

“You are like Rafal; you are very hard on yourself. I hate seeing somebody I care for do that.”

“Don’t settle on me,” I replied. “How about Kowalski? He’s never killed anyone. You should take up with him; it’d build his confidence.”

I nearly started as her head came to a rest on my shoulder. “Rafal is not the one who keeps my secrets and is always there when I need him. Rafal did not come back for me in the tower. That means something, even if you do not think so. No, I think I have made the right choice.”

I sat in quiet contemplation. The only sound in the room was her rhythmic breathing. Her weight on my shoulder was pleasant in its own way.

Somebody wanted me. Somebody needed me, in a deep way. What’s more, it was somebody I was rather fond of. A warm sensation flowed through me, one I hadn’t felt since… since…

An image of Kiyo flashed through my mind. She’d looked on me with love and in the Tower, even after she knew I’d thrown my lot in with Maggie and the Holy Brotherhood, and after I told her it was too late for me.

I looked down at her, her dark, soulful eyes boring into me. “What if I’m a fugitive the rest of my life?”

Kiyo held out her hand to me. “Then I’ll be Mrs. Fugitive. I always wanted to travel more. C’mon Magpie, it’s you and me against the world!”

And then I’d electrocuted her and turned her over to Maggie Edwards out of some misguided idea that it would save her.

That settled it. A leopard can’t change his spots, and I was nothing if not spotty. “I’m flattered, but you don’t need to invite more trouble into your life.” Gently nudging her away, I stood and gestured at her collection of romance novels. “It’s not you, it’s me. I’m not some Mr. Darcy who’s going to break down and tell you that you’re the only one for me. I know what you’re after in a man, and I can’t give it to you.”

Her pleasant smile faded. “Does Heida make you happy? Is she what you what?”

“Heida is a lovely girl and pleasant company,” I replied. Even if she dropped the ball during that last fight.

“You did not answer my question,” she said, standing up. After straightening out her skirt, she took a step towards me. “Can you share with her? Can you talk with her when you are having a bad day?”

How does she put it? Nothing heavy. “No, but that’s by design. I don’t always want to think about my problems. We prefer to keep things on the surface and have a good time.”

She hesitated, before smirking again. “What a relief.”

I tilted my head at her. “I just rebuffed you. What’s relieving about that?”

“Only one thing is in my way, and I know I can beat it.”

“One thing?”

She reached out and caressed my cheek; I should have stopped her, but I didn’t want to. “I know you think I am attractive. You are handsome. Like how I imagine Mr. Darcy.” Her hand traced up to my nose, which she gently tickled a moment. “We get along well together, and we can talk about anything.” What a lie that was. “The only problem is you. What you think about yourself. You are worried you will hurt me; I am not. You do not see how you have grown since you ogled me the first day in class.” She backed away from me. “So, I only need to wait until you see yourself the way I see you.”

“Don’t make me into the next Hiro,” I replied. “You’re going to waste a lot of time chasing another man who’s all wrong for you.”

She shrugged. “I am stuck thousands of kilometers from home. I have nothing but time, and I know you’ll be worth it.”

What a fool. What a complete fool.