Under the white moon, the cool breeze tousled his ash grey hair. Sitting on the roof of the building, his lazy gaze is fixed on the balcony faraway. He watches the woman turn around to face the man on the balcony. A slow smile emerges on his lips.
'The man from the cemetery...' Her thoughts are loud and clear. The woman turns her face in his direction. The man isn't worried. He's too far. Even if he was standing in front of her, she wouldn't be able to see him unless he wanted her to see him.
"Tell me, Wakana." Sei takes a step toward her. "Do you love him?"
The man is also curious to know her answer. Deep down, he knows that she doesn't know him. She can't love someone whom she doesn't know, can she?
He glances at the card between his fingers. The lover's card. He can't do anything. He can only watch her from this far place. This is best for her. Her abilities won't peak for some years. She's cautious. She knows how not to get in trouble. That's good for her. He didn't expect to see her working as a police officer. But he also knows why she chose that path.
He should leave now.
Does she love that man from the cemetery? Wakana looks at the moon. Why does it look lonely tonight? There are countless stars beside the moon, but it still looks like it's watching her in solitude. She can't forget that man. She wants to know more about him, even if he is a ghost. She usually doesn't want to get close to ghosts, but she would make an exception if it's him. She wonders if he has moved on from this world or he is still wandering. If he is wandering, she wants him to come to her. She will help him achieve his wish. She wants to see his face once.
Sei notices her faraway gaze. He wonders what she is thinking. How much does she love that man? He exhales. "Is he good looking?"
Wakana nods. "He is."
He scowls at her. "You haven't seen his face."
"I am sure that he's good looking." She scratches her chin. If she hadn't looked away that night when her sisters called her name, she would have seen his face if she stood up. There's no doubt that the ghost is handsome. With such body and voice, he must have a beautiful face.
Somewhere, the man in question lets out a chuckle, shaking his head. She has high expectations. He could have made her forget about that night too. But... a part of him wants her to remember him. It is a harmless memory.
"What if he's ugly?" He scoffs at her
"He's not ugly." Wakana glares at him. There's no way that he is ugly. "Don't talk nonsense about my boyfriend."
"What if he is?" He pressures her.
"If he is, then he is. He will still be my boyfriend," She tells him with a grave tone. It's true that she will kiss him if he doesn't mind. She doesn't mind dating that ghost. She's certain that he's a good ghost.
But then, he hasn't appeared again in the last seven years. She might never be able to meet him. Should she try visiting the cemetery?
The man frowns and shakes his head. "Don't do crazy things, Wakana."
Once was enough. She isn't going to risk her life for a man again. Besides, it's a ghost. She will pray that the ghost can reincarnate in the rich happy family next time.
Sei clicks his tongue. He doesn't probe her anymore. It will take a while, but he will change her feelings toward him. It's his fault for not understanding his feelings before she met that man.
"We have to find out who entered your apartment and gave you that bracelet. You can't possibly sleep when you know that someone came to your place and left you with such a 'wonderful' gift."
He can see that she likes the bracelet a lot just because it glitters a bit.
"The bracelet is beautiful." Wakana sighs. She won't give it away. "I will call the security office. The surveillance cameras may have caught something. You can leave now."
The man takes a smoke. She likes the bracelet. She won't throw it away. The bracelet will protect her from the dark energies and suppress her abilities when it peaks again. It will work for a few years.
Sei glowers at her. "I am not leaving until I find out who entered your apartment when you were asleep and --"
"I get it." Wakana waves her hand. She's sure that it's nothing serious. She trusts her gut feeling. She also wants to find out who the person is. That person knows what she likes to eat. He even knows that she can't eat meat and she loves honey-flavored cake. Her only stalkers are ghosts and demons. It will be interesting if it is human this time.
The man has to leave. But he wants to stay for five minutes. He's been telling himself that he would only stay for five more minutes. It's been hours now. He's trying his best to prevent her fate. He will keep doing it for the rest of her life.
Wakana finds her phone to call the security office. She sees the call logs. Morita Aiko has called her twice. Ah! They were supposed to go to the apartment today. "I forgot about this."
"What did you forget about?" Sei steps closer and tilts his head toward her. He looks at her phone's screen. "Morita Aiko?"
"We were supposed to go to the apartment today." Wakana sighs, feeling tired. "I have to call her first."
"Go ahead." He sits on the couch and waits for her. Wakana walks back to the balcony. She doesn't want Sei to hear her. After three rings, Wakana hears her voice.
[Nakashima San?]
"Morita San, I am sorry about today. Can we visit the apartment tomorrow morning?" Wakana wonders why did she sleep all day like a log. She has a high alcohol tolerance.
[About that... I went there alone. I thought that you didn't want to go.]
"You went alone?" Wakana exclaims in a loud voice. "Are you alright?"
[I am fine. The demon is imprisoned inside the apartment. He can't come out yet.]
"Yet...?" Wakana's blood freeze. It means that the demon can be freed.
[I found out that they will demolish the apartment building on Monday.]
Morita Aiko's voice is quiet and distant. There's a tint of hopelessness in it as if she's surrendering to a dark fate.
Day after tomorrow? She can't Wakana squats down when she feels her knees turning weak. She wipes her sweaty forehead. She whispers, "We can't let that happen."
[Nakashima San.] Morita Aiko's voice is urgent. [I can't live in fear for the rest of my life. I know how to send the demon back to its dimension. But I need your help.]
"Morita San, please tell me how I can help you," Wakana replies with determination in her voice. "You don't have to fight that demon alone. We will send him back to his world together."
The man stares at the card between his fingers. In the card, a defeated man is lying face down on the ground with ten swords stabbing his back -- the ten of swords.
He can't leave yet.