Ink

think I’ll be safe on the other side of the world if things blow up here?”

Tomohiro stood and paced back and forth in front of the bench. Then he swung out a fist and slammed it against the garbage can. The hollow echo made me jump.

“Shit!” he said again.

“Would you cut it out?” I snapped. “You’re right, okay?

Maybe it was better for me to leave. But it was my choice!

It’s got nothing to do with you. I’m not leaving, so just get it through your head.”

He looked at me, eyes blazing. “And what if what you choose is selfish?” he said. “What then, Katie? If it hurts others, if it puts others at risk?” I felt sick. How had this happened? All I’d wanted was to come back to his open arms.

He collapsed in a slump on the ground. In a quiet voice, he added, “What choice do I have? I’m a Kami. Anything I choose will hurt others. I have no choices.”

This was not going at all how I’d envisioned. “I didn’t stay to hurt you,” I said, my voice wavering. I was not going to cry in front of him, but already my eyes were starting to blur.

I held on with everything I could.

And then he snapped out of it. He heard the tremble in my voice. He rose slowly to his feet, his eyes deep and lovely and melting everything else away.

“Katie-chan,” he whispered. I stood with my arms folded, biting my lip to keep the tears from welling over. I grasped for the last of my anger.

“I didn’t stay to ruin things for you,” I managed.

And then his arms were around me, my face buried in the warmth of his shoulder. His heart beat rapidly under my cheek, his breath labored as he clung to me as if in a storm.

“Hontou ka?” he said. “You’re really here?”

“I’m here,” I whispered.

He stepped back, tilting my face up to his, and he kissed me gently, as though he thought I might break or disappear completely. Like I was a ghost, a dream. I closed my eyes, drifting on the moment. His warmth, his touch, the smell of his hair gel. Everything the same as I’d remembered.

“Tomo-kun!” shouted Shiori, and the moment ended. We stepped back as she walked toward us, her new goldfish swim-ming round and round the plastic bag as it swayed in her hand. I didn’t like to hear her call him Tomo-kun, especially knowing that Myu had never been allowed to call him such a close name. He’d held her at a distance and made her call him by his last name, Yuu. Was Shiori really only a friend?

But that’s stupid of me, right?

“Shiori,” Tomohiro said. “Katie’s staying in Japan.”

“Ah, really? You’re not going back?” She smiled. “I’m glad! I was so sad to not even meet you after we talked on the phone that time.” She squeezed my hand, and I thought, She really means it. She is really clueless about the awkwardness of this.

“On the phone?” Tomohiro asked.

Shiori pointed her finger at him, poking him in the chest.

“The time you decided to be an idiot,” she said.

“Oi,” he stuttered, annoyed.

Shiori smiled. “Katie, are you hungry? We could get some yakitori before the fireworks start.”

“Oh, um…”

“Shiori,” Tomohiro said, his voice flat. The seriousness of it made me shiver a little.

“Nani?” she said. “What is it, Tomo-kun?”

“I’ve just discovered my girlfriend is staying in Shizuoka.

Permanently. Do you think maybe we could…you know, meet up in a bit?” The words hit me like a wall. Did he actually just ask that?

“Oh…oh, no problem. I’ll get something to eat and meet you after, okay?”

“Shiori,” I said, reaching my hand out.

She waved it away and shook her head. “No, no, it’s okay!”

she said. Her voice was far too cheerful. “I’ll catch up in a bit. This baby is always hungry.” She circled her stomach with her fingers, smiling too widely. Then she turned, and she was gone.

Tomo reached for my shoulders, wrapping his arms around them from behind, but I sidestepped his embrace.

“Don’t you think that was kind of rude?”

“Yeah, it was,” he said. “But I just want to be with you right now.” And he leaned in to kiss me again, and this time was not fragile at all, but filled with hunger. “You look beautiful in that yukata. ”

I felt my cheeks go hot. “It’s Yuki’s.”

“Come on,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Fireworks start soon, and I know a great spot.” He took off running and dragged me along for a couple paces until my feet started working. I let him pull me around the side streets, Tomo laughing when we almost crashed into some serious-looking lantern carriers on their way to the shrine. It was a nice change, running but not for our lives. Maybe things weren’t really as serious as I’d thought.

We rounded another corner, and there was a cast-iron bridge looming over the Abe River. A few small boats blinked with lanterns as they bobbed in the darkness. Tomohiro pushed his way along the crowds near the metal stairs down to the beach and grabbed a spot against the railing.

“Well?”

“Beautiful,” I said, looking out at the lights on the water.

Lanterns in a rainbow of colors hung from the railings, and the opposite shore gleamed with matching strands of lights.

The humidity of the air and the close-pressing crowds weren’t so bad here by the freshness of the river.

“Too muddy on the beach, but you’ll get a great view up here. Do you want a drink?”

“I’m okay.”

“You sure? I’m thirsty. There’s a vending machine over there. Iced coffee? Milk tea? Melon soda?” With each sug-gestion, he pressed his lips closer and closer to my neck until I laughed nervously.

“Okay, okay,” I relented. “Milk tea.”

“Got it.” And then he was gone, and the humid air felt colder.

I looked out at the lights on the boats, still bobbing. Everyone was chatting and laughing, waiting for the fireworks.

I hoped Yuki and Tanaka had managed a good spot, too, and Shiori—god, she’d made me feel awkward but I hadn’t wished that on her. Watching the fireworks alone, snubbed by one of the only friends she had. Maybe it wasn’t too late.

Tomo could call her and—

“Katie?”

My name, deep and velvet on a familiar voice.

Except it wasn’t Tomo’s.

I clasped my hands tightly around the railing, clinging to the cool metal as I turned slowly. Black T-shirt, black jeans—

he almost faded into the darkness. Blue lantern light glinted on his silver earring as he moved forward.

“Katie,” he said again.

My whole body seized up with fear. I stepped backward, pressing my back against the railing. “Jun,” I whispered.

“It’s okay,” he said, lifting a hand to calm me. “I’m not going to hurt you, remember?” And then I saw his other hand, wrapped in a ghostly pale cast at his side. His broken wrist, the one Tomohiro had shattered with his shinai. I stared at it, trying to figure out if I should run. “I’m on your side,” he said.

“Look, I don’t want to be friends with you,” I said. “I don’t want anything to do with your little society.”

“You’re right,” he said. “I didn’t mean for it to happen like that. I wasn’t sure what kind of showdown we’d