Zaniel blushes. “You’re welcome.” He lets gravity do the work as he slides down the wall to a comfortably seated position, trying not to stare at the Yokai as she walks away. He turns suddenly, to say something else, but she has already disappeared. He does not mind; he can wait.

Deep in the darkness, the Yokai feels the snow melt under her naked feet, rising inch by inch past her ankles, up to her knees. She steps backward into the restaurant entranceway, disappearing from view. Now standing waist-deep in opaque black water, the Yokai leans back and lets the tide take her to sea, floating on the surface like a starfish, out into the sweet, peaceful oblivion that is sleep.

終章

AND A MOST CURIOUS COUNTRY IT WAS

老いては子に従え

The old generation must make way for the new

There is a quiet town on a chilly spring day. The sky is blue, the grass is green, and the sun is shining. Along the main road there are no living creatures, save three. There is a young man and a young woman, walking in silence. The third, another woman who is almost as tall as the man, talks in a high-pitched voice:

“I will explain your apartment and how everything works. I will also introduce you to Landlord and he will show you where to take garbage and that sort of thing. And then we will meet the old Manager, Kinomoto-senpai, at one o’clock. And Kinomoto-senpai and I will show you supermarket, post office, and bank, so you can get your account, and get you a cellphone. Kinomoto-senpai is very excited to meet you.”

“That’s cool,” the dark-haired young man rubs a fist into his blue-green eyes. “I’m kinda tired, though. I mean, I did just land here a week ago, Lieko. Can’t we do all that bank and phone stuff tomorrow? I already rented one from the airport.”

“But …” Lieko trails off. There is a strange man, standing on the sidewalk, looking up at Cybelle’s apartment window. He grins at Lieko as they walk by. Yoshino and the other man walk right by him, waiting for her to finish her sentence. Lieko unlocks the front door with Cybelle’s key and ushers them in and up the stairs, ignoring the strange man. “But that phone is temporary. It is very important that you have your own cellphone, because —”

“Lieko. Relax. I have a phone, and Cybelle already told me about the pay phone out front. It’s fine! It’s not like I’m going to have a big emergency my first night here.”

“Oh,” Lieko shoots a pleading look to Yoshino, who shrugs. Lieko clicks her tongue, wondering why she even bothered. “Then, I will call Kinomoto-senpai and ask him if we can wait. We don’t want you to be so tired.”

“Is this it?” The man points to a door.