Reality's Blade

Chapter 39: Quest Complete [END]

"Fujimiya!" Naoki's jovial voice drifted into the classroom over the chattering of other students.

"You look happy." Airi grinned.

Naoki slapped down his latest test papers proudly, Airi and I scattered them out, taking in the scores at the top of the pages.

"Congratulations." I grinned. "I guess you aren't stupid after all." I stuck out my tongue.

"Thank you oh great tutor. I'll be going to the tournament, thanks to your help."

He collected back up his papers.

"Fujimiya!" Kazehiro's breathless voice burst in.

"You're popular today." Airi noted under her breath.

"You okay?" I wondered, Kazehiro seemed to be in a rush.

"Yeah." He took a deep breath, calming himself. "Oh Naoki, thanks for returning my book."

"No problem." Naoki murmured looking away, his face tinging pink.

"Are you busy?" Kazehiro asked, seeming restless.

"Not really." I replied uncertainly.

Kazehiro motioned with his head for me to follow him, without further hesitation I went with him, he lead me to a quiet corridor where he handed me his phone, his hand trembling.

"What is it?" I wondered looking at the page of text.

"Head office, they contacted me." He whispered, wide eyed.

I realised I was looking at an email, I scanned it's contents, my heart in my throat.

'...As compensation for the destruction of your avatar and subsequent encasement inside one of our characters you will be reimbursed... As a thank you for the work you have done for us and as an acknowledgement of your talent we are offering you a scholarship for university and immediate entry into the company thereafter. You may also continue to work for us part-time, for which you will be paid...'

I read it again, and once more just to be sure. They weren't angry? He wasn't in trouble? I couldn't believe what I was reading, it couldn't be further from what I had expected, they had acknowledged Kazehiro's work and he'd receive payment for their mess up with the Dark Samurai. It was fantastic news.

I handed back his phone.

"That's amazing." I breathed.

"I know!" Kazehiro didn't seem to know where to channel his excitement. "I can do it, I can finally do it." He held a hand up to his forehead, having just had some epiphany.

"Do what?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow!" He ran off, needing to act on whatever it was he had just thought up.

I didn't get to find out what Kazehiro had realised, he didn't turn up to school the next day. Once again I found myself traipsing to work wondering if Kazehiro was okay, I couldn't even ask Hikage anymore, my evenings were now filled with vampires, so the suspense was killing me.

I entered the shop, hoping that perhaps Kazehiro would turn up for work like he had last time. Keiko greeted me, I tried not to let my face show my disappointment, Kazehiro was nowhere in sight.

"Fujimiya, I have a special request of you today. Some people heard about the flat, and wanted to move in straight away. Could you help Takahashi with moving their things?" She asked kindly, a sparkle in her eye.

"Sure." I replied nervously.

Keiko went out the back with me, the garden had a scattering of boxes on tarpaulin. As she opened the door a familiar high pitch voice tinkled down the stairs, followed by hearty laughter from Takahashi.

"Reinforcements are here!" Keiko called up to the flat.

At the top of the stairs the beaming face of Kazehiro appeared, I made my way up two steps at a time. In the kitchen Yuuna and Takahashi were putting boxes down. My mind raced.

"Are you..." I couldn't finish my sentence.

"Yep. You had been trying to tell me hadn't you?" Kazehiro smiled, his eyes bright.

He'd picked up on my hints? All those awkward conversations and my attempts to help him without blowing my cover had reached him. I couldn't believe it.

"The money I received as an apology is enough to pay the rent here for a little while, until we find somewhere more suitable or mum finds a job. Keiko gave me a discount." He explained, looking pleased with himself. "Ah, this is also top secret by the way." He added, seriously. "Mum's whereabouts need to remain a secret for the time being."

I nodded. I was impressed with his fast work, he must have gone to see Keiko yesterday after school and sorted everything for moving out today. It was probably only possible thanks to the kindness and understanding of Keiko. I wondered just how much she knew.

"Oh yeah, I was meant to show you yesterday, but I got a bit distracted. This was attached to the email I received." Kazehiro retrieved his phone from his pocket, and started searching for something, then held the phone up for me to inspect.

On his screen was a picture, of a man in a green haori, his face hidden in shadows with his red eyes glowing in the darkness. Above him read the words, 'Look out for Legerdemain's newest vampire!'.

I sighed, a quiet existence wasn't seeming to be an option.

"You already have fan-art, although there are no prizes for guessing who the mystery artist is."

I raised my eyebrows at Kazehiro in confusion. "Why's that?"

"You'll know when you see it." He stated bluntly.

I spent my shift helping Kazehiro and his mum move their sparse possessions into the flat above the shop. When I got home, feeling exhausted from going repeatedly up and down the stairs, I fired up my laptop, and half-heartedly searched for this supposed fan-art of my vampire self.

"Shioriiiiii." I cursed as I gazed at the art work.

The grin on her face suddenly made sense, I was sure it wasn't Mana or Tsuyoshi, because this piece was undoubtedly from a vampire. I stared at the rough drawing before me, of Hikage and I's final kiss. I was thankful that our faces were hidden by my hood and my hand, she had modified it somewhat, I had been holding Hikage's hand, not my hood.

I ran my hand over my face at the number of likes the picture had received already and the numerous comments that I could almost hear squealing from inside my laptop, demanding to know who Hikage was. My identity was already blown thanks to the caption underneath. I'd scold her later for it, I thought to myself, glancing at my waiting visor and console.

That weekend Naoki's team won the baseball tournament, Kazehiro finally agreed to join the team and I helped him and his mum finish moving into their new home. Kazehiro became an official part-time employee working on Legerdemain, and I continued on my new path with my unusual companions. It seemed for now, everyone was happy with how life was going.

I felt like my quests were finally complete.

;mso-fareast#^f7