“Ah, nothing. Just a feeling. I thought I was done with Japan; now, I’m not so sure.” She glances down at herself. She strokes her naked arms and legs, as if she has not seen them in a long time. “Maybe I do belong here. But maybe I won’t really know until I leave. Does that make sense?”

“Does any of what goes on around here make sense?”

“Hmm. Touché. Makes about as much sense as me eating a demon twice my size. Oh, speaking of which, where are those bracelets of yours? I have an idea.”

“They were in my … Damn, I forgot my coat. Again.”

“I got you.” The Yokai gently props Zaniel up against the graffitied wall and dashes back into the restaurant. She re-emerges with the young man’s coat, which he gratefully dons, as she removes the plastic bag from one of its pockets. She unceremoniously dumps the bracelets from the bag onto the snowy pavement and tosses the bag into the burned-out trash can. She then picks up each bracelet from the ground, wipes off the snow and potential germs against her naked thigh, then lifts each one above her head and lightly drops them into her mouth, swallowing them in two gulps.

“There. They won’t be back anytime soon. That’s three good deeds I’ve done for the year. You’re welcome.” She points a stern finger at him. “By the way, this changes nothing between us. This does not make me your new bodyguard. I already know what you’re thinking.”

Zaniel smiles, trying not to laugh for fear of his ribs again. “It’s okay. I have a feeling I won’t need one anymore, but I’ll keep it in mind. Come on; let’s get as fucking far away from here as possible.”

“Wait,” the Yokai says. “I know you’re in a tremendous amount of pain and all, but … I have been running around for twenty-four hours on no sleep. More if you consider I’ve been bouncing between two worlds. Would you mind if I … if we … um …”

Zaniel braces himself. “What do you need?”

“I need to sleep. No dreaming. Just sleep, just for a minute or two. Then I’ll fireman-carry you back to Osaka General if you want.”

“Ha — ow. Why do you keep making me laugh?” He looks down at the figure sleeping peacefully on the snow-dusted ground. “Sure you won’t be cold?”

“Cold?” The Yokai cocks her head. “It’s not even ten degrees!”

Another bolt of pain shoots through Zaniel’s fractured bones. “Fine. If it’s just for a minute or two. I’m not in a rush to go anywhere. Except the hospital, but you already —”

The Yokai kisses his cheek. “Ookini, Momotaro.”