12. The Demon Side and Lottery Tickets

I left the diner girl outside and faced Miu at the door.

「Miu. You stay.」

「Yes. Goodbye, Master.」

「Ah.」

I turned to go.

「Aaaahh…」

「Nn?」

I looked back.

「What.」

「U-uun. That.」

「Un.」

「That…」

「What.」

「Have a good trip.」

「Yeah. I am off.」

I went out.

Stopped. Remembered.

Back in.

「Miu!」

「Hyah!」

She had been heading deeper in.

「What is it, Master.」

「Fluffing. There. Fluff.」

「Aaah…」

Eyes bright. A little embarrassed. A little let down that I had walked.

I pulled her in.

Fluff. Fluff. Fluff.

The missed welcome-home. Her tail went. Cute.

「Now I go.」

「Yes! Have a good day.」

⸻

I walked with Fiona. Face of Pros Pavilion.

Out of town. She led.

「Help. What kind.」

「My sister.」

「If Andreu pointed you at me, it is something strength can fix.」

「Probably…」

「Probably.」

Jaw tight.

The talk was not moving.

She wanted it anyway.

Different from the shop. Fast. I would have lost her if I slackened.

I stopped asking and followed.

「They have my sister.」

Off the road. Forest. Animal track.

A small cave deeper in.

Stale air leaking from the mouth. I could see it.

「What is that. Smoke?」

「Where.」

「There.」

I pointed. She looked. Then at me.

「I do not see smoke…」

「Huh. Then that is…」

I knew.

Cold when it touched. Same as the mansion ghost.

「Ghost. Something like it.」

「You can see it!」

Loud.

「If it is there, something inside is putting that out.」

「Yes…」

She went in. I went with her.

A few steps and the whole cave showed.

Not deep. A few meters. The haze had made it look longer.

At the back, a girl on the wall.

Older than Miu. Younger than Fiona.

Face like Fiona’s.

「This is Fiona’s…」

「My sister. Mari.」

Sisters. Anyone would say so.

「Onee-chan.」

Mari looked up. Almost a scream.

Thin voice. Could not stand.

Dried tears. She called and did not move.

Strange. I looked again.

Something in her arms.

「A stick…? That cut. That length… a sword?」

「Yes. It has her.」

「Possessed. Magic sword.」

「Yes.」

「How.」

「I do not know. She plays in this forest. Night before last she did not come back. I found her like this. This cave was not here.」

「Night before last. A while.」

No wonder the voice was gone.

「Mari. Stuck?」

「Yes…」

Weak.

「…Dark under the eyes. Not just no sleep.」

Sword in hand and that face. I could guess.

「So. What do I do.」

「After this I asked Andreu. The ones who always help. They said take the sword off her. Everyone in town said they might get her out. Not without cutting her.」

「That is why they sent you to me.」

Fiona looked at Mari.

Half in tears. Mari too spent to cry.

A girl and a sword. Soon.

「Fiona. Outside.」

「But—」

「Take the sword. Do not cut her. That is it.」

「Uh. Yes.」

「I will figure it.」

She nodded hard and went.

Mari and me.

She did not move. Back to the wall. Sword held.

I took a step.

Clang.

She drew and cut. Speed that was not a girl’s.

I slipped it. Another cut.

From all sides.

I watched and moved. The leak from the blade I could not dodge. It stung.

When I thought to hit back—

「Ouch… my arm… hurts!」

「Mari!」

From outside.

「Limit. Tch.」

Not much time. I did not want her to move again.

Then I hit first.

She gave ground. I closed.

Lead foot in. Stored it.

（All of it.）

First time in this world I put everything in.

A wall of air broke. Specter-Mari did not track it.

I was there. I took the sword before it could answer.

Out of her hands.

「All right!」

It worked.

（Eh?）

A voice in the skull.

The sword. Pulse in my grip.

Hers, maybe.

Dangerous to hold. I was thinking that when it came again.

（Then let me have you.）

「Wait.」

I tried to stop it. High laugh in the head.

She did something. I did not know how to block it.

Nothing happened.

（What? Why. Why. Why can I not take you?!）

Impatient.

She tried again. No change. Worse on her side.

I would not go the way Mari had.

「Fine. We leave it.」

I looked at Fiona with the sword in hand.

She came in. I had the blade. I picked Mari up.

「How is she.」

「Yes. Probably…」

Unconscious. Worn. Breathing even. Fiona was right.

「Doctor when we are back. To be sure.」

「Yeah.」

Fiona took her. Looked at me.

Tears again. Happy ones, this time.

「Thank you! Because of Kakeru, Mari is… Mari…」

「Later. Take her.」

「Eh? And you.」

「I deal with this first.」

I showed the sword.

She understood. Thanked me again. Left with Mari.

I stood with the blade and looked at the cave.

Smash it, maybe.

Something glowed where Mari had sat.

A lottery ticket on the ground.

I picked it up. Two now.