“You mean it?” said Misha, looking up at him from the bath. “We’ll really run away together?”

“Of course. I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life.” Jiro stepped out of the bath and again extended his hand to Misha. “Come with me.”

Misha hesitated for a moment. Then covering herself modestly with one arm, she slowly stepped out of the bath and reached for Jiro’s hand with one porcelain arm. He could see the steam rising off of her hair and skin. Even without pupils in her eyes, she was beautiful.

Jiro led Misha back toward the changing room. After a few steps, he paused. Lying on the stones was the yellow pencil that Misha had held against Yui’s neck. Jiro bent down and picked it up.

“This pencil, you don’t need it anymore, do you Misha? After all, I love you.”

Something glinted in Misha’s eyes. “No, I don’t think I need that anymore.”

“Then let’s get rid of it.” Jiro tossed the pencil over the bamboo fence. For a moment it flashed yellow against the night sky, then it disappeared as it fell toward the Earth.

He squeezed Misha’s hand tightly in his. It was cold.

“Come. Let’s get dressed.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“I want it to be a surprise.”

“I love surprises.”

“I know you do,” murmured Jiro. “I know you do.”

He led her to his bedroom. The room was just as he remembered it. When was the last time he had slept here? It felt like months, though in reality it could only be days.

“Jiro,” said Misha. “I thought we were going to run away. This is your bedroom. I’ve seen you here countless times in spirit form.” She giggled. “I saw all the naughty little things that guys do in private.” She whirled around in a circle. “It looks different from this angle. Until now I was looking down at you from above.”

“Of course we’ll run away but …” Jiro turned around and pulled Misha into a hug. “I can’t wait to be with you. It’s been so long.”

“You want me that much, Jiro? But your allergies ...”

“Now that you’re a spirit, I have some resistance. We can do things we couldn’t do before.” He pulled her head and kissed her. He slipped his tongue into Yui’s mouth. There was the slight metallic tinge of blood.

Jiro pulled back. “You’re bleeding …”

“The vessel … resisted a little when I possessed her. But it’s all okay now. She won’t be resisting anymore. Kiss me again.”

He did so, this time trying to massage her tongue with his own.

“Mmm …” said Misha, after some time. “You know this is the first time we’ve ever kissed. Back then when we tried, things didn’t go as well. Remember how you sneezed right in my face?”

“I remember.”

“Jiro? Why do you look so sad?”

“Sad? I’m not sad. I’m happy, Misha. Happy to be here with you.”

He tried to kiss her again. This time, he sneezed.

“Oops,” said Misha. “Looks like your resistance only goes so far. We’ll have to take our time. Go slow. Maybe we can save the rest for after we run away.”

“No!”

Misha pulled back. “No? Jiro, why are you shouting?”

“No …” Jiro repeated, lowering his voice. “I want to be with you right now Misha. Please.” He grabbed the folds of her yukata and pulled her close. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he began to massage her breasts through the fabric.

“Mmm …” said Misha. “Now that’s nostalgic. You used to do this mhm when we were dating. Touch me through the fabric of my clothes.”

“Does it feel good?”

“Yes, don’t stop …”

Jiro continued for some time, occasionally pulling in Misha for another kiss. Then, suddenly, he let go of her and threw himself on the futon, punching his pillow with all his might.

“Jiro? What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”

Jiro punched the pillow again.

“Please, keep fondling me Jiro,” said Misha with a smile. She cupped Yui’s breasts through the fabric of her yukata. “Use your fingers. Use your tongue if you like. Make me feel good.”

Jiro sat up. He clenched and unclenched his fists. Then he lunched forward and buried his face in Yui’s neck, planting little kisses along the curves of her body.

Misha began to laugh. A low throaty laugh that Jiro had never heard her make before. “It’s no use Jiro. I know what you’re trying to do. Did you think you could please me into submission? Well you can’t. You can put your fingers and your tongue anywhere you like … it will make no difference. This orphan girl can no longer even hear your voice. Tricks like that may work on lesser spirits … but on me? I told you. I am strong.”

Jiro took a step back. The expression on Misha’s face had changed. It was not an expression he had ever seen on a human face.

Misha waggled a finger. “Jiro Jiro Jiro … I’m disappointed in you. You had a chance to start over with me. To keep it clean, to maintain a relationship of trust … But now you tried to betray me. Now you tried to trade me for another woman. It seems you do not love me enough. In that case, you will have to be TAUGHT A LESSON!”

Misha lunged at him. In an instant, Jiro was down on the floor. The impact took the air out of his lungs. Misha climbed on top of him and tore a strip of cloth from his shirt like it was a sheet of paper. Jiro felt a sharp pain in his arms. She was binding his wrists!

He tried to buck his hips, to throw Misha off somehow, but she was far too strong. Her body felt like it weighed five hundred pounds. Her heels hug painfully into his hips, pinning him to the futon.

“If you won’t love me of your own accord,” said Misha, tearing off another strip of cloth. “Then I’ll have to keep you all tied up until you learn to love me again. Because we belong together Jiro. We’re going to be together forever.”

Once Jiro’s legs were tied, Misha lifted him up in one motion and set him down over her shoulder.

“Misha put me down!” Jiro tried to wriggle and break free, but Misha’s arm held him down like a titanium vice. “What are you doing?! Put me down right n—”

Jiro gagged as Misha slipped another trip of cloth into his mouth.

“Hush Jiro. Be a good boy. If you won’t be a good boy and run away with me, then I’ll just have to take you away myself. Nobody is getting in the way of our happiness Jiro. Nobody. I love you so, so much. And you are going to learn to love me too.”