In The Darkness. Damantha Makarova

and see if she can spot anything.

      «Maybe you will find what we seek with that intuition of yours?» she whispered. «Like earlier tonight?»

      Kara glanced at Itsuki and saw him nod. He trusted her enough to let her go on reconnaissance alone.

      «I’ll go for a walk.» Kara said loudly enough for anyone, who could be listening to hear it clearly. «Don’t wait up for me. And sorry if I will smell of a bit of wine later…»

      She noticed Itsuki nod again, as she walked out, leaving Ayame and him alone.

      Kara walked through the corridor, nervous and tired at the same time, and let herself fall to her old habit. Before becoming part of this world, she was confident, but always acted like she felt – and she didn’t care about people or what they thought.

      This time it was very different. This time things could go wrong at any given time. But she hoped that the katana hidden under her haori were enough to face any danger that could appear.

      She approached the entrance to the tavern and noticed that Kaito wasn’t on the steps, as before. She stepped out into the chilly night air and sighed with ease. Stretching her arms and legs, the young woman sat down on the steps and looked at the seemingly calm and sleeping village.

      Soon enough, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

      «Can I offer you my company, pretty lady?» she heard Kaito smirk again.

      «Sure, I don’t mind.» She replied, looking up at him and noticing his strange glance.

      He sat down and offered her his wine bottle – by the sounds of it, he just filled it with a new portion of wine. Kara took it and cheered at him, before taking a big gulp of the strong and sweet wine.

      «Mmm! I’ve been yearning a taste of wine for the last few days!» she said with a flirty smile, giving back the bottle.

      «Long road?» Kaito winked at her, and Kara felt a wave of shivers run down her spine.

      «Very.»

      «So what are you three looking for?» Kaito sipped some wine and smiled.

      «Nothing in particular, we were wondering of strange meetings or people just because we encountered someone peculiar on the road to here.»

      «Someone… peculiar?» Kaito asked, glancing at Kara very intensely.

      «A man. Very… strange and twisted. He ran off, but we were puzzled at who he was.»

      «We don’t have anyone like that around here. At least, I haven’t seen one like that.» Kaito handed her the bottle again and Kara suddenly saw a thin scar running around his wrist.

      «I’m not sure if we saw a live man or a ghost. Maybe we were simply tired from all the riding…» she said, sighing.

      «Ai, ai, ai… when you’re tired, you can see things that are not there.» Kaito leaned back on the steps lazily.

      For a couple of moments they sat in silence – Kara sipping the wine, and Kaito looking up at the moon with a cocky smile on his face.

      «You know…» he said suddenly, leaning to Kara a bit. «I am wandering what your name is. I have told you mine, but none of you three said yours.»

      She looked at him with a smile and offered her hand for a handshake:

      «Mariko.»

      He gently shook her hand with a smile on his lips and nodded:

      «A beautiful name for a beautiful woman, ai!» then he looked back into the tavern and smirked. «Tell me, why are you out here, while your friends are back there alone?»

      Kara smirked, already knowing how to twist the truth to play the part:

      «They decided that I was not very nice today, so asked me to leave them be while they… enjoy each other’s company before going to bed.»

      Kaito chuckled and jumped to his feet, then turned to her and bowed, offering his hand.

      «Then can I offer you to take a refreshing stroll with me, beautiful?» he asked with a smirk on his lips.

      Kara smiled and took his hand, standing up. He acted like a gentleman, but his amber eyes seemed very sharp, suspiciously cunning – even more than before. But Kara followed his lead, feeling that this might prove useful.

      «Have you ever watched the moon just for the sake of enjoying its light, Mariko?» Kaito asked, caressing her hand, which he held on his arm.

      «I actually enjoy looking at the moon. I find it… rejuvenating.» Kara replied with a smile.

      «Kumo ori ori… hito o yasumeru… tsukimi kana.» Kaito sighed out.

      «Oh! The moon gazing where some clouds… From time to time repose the eye!» Kara struggled to remember the words, but managed to translate them anyways.

      «Ai, ai, ai! You are beautiful and know haiku!» Kaito chuckled.

      «I try my best.»

      «You are a wonder! A sight for sore eyes! These filthy peasants know nothing of art! They do not appreciate beauty like I do!» the young man showed her a very charming smile.

      «Sometimes people decide that beauty is nothing compared to a full belly and a roof over their heads.» Kara smirked.

      «But it’s a pity, wouldn’t you agree? They live in such a beautiful land, and don’t notice it at all!»

      Kara took a sip of wine and offered him the bottle – he barely drank the wine, having her sip all the time. She knew what he was trying to do, but tried not to show it.

      «Mizika-yo ya… Yume mo utsutsu mo… Onazi koto.» Kara said, trying to remember one of the haiku poets she had ever read – Takahama Kyoshi.

      Kaito laughed, clapping his hands:

      «The short summer night… The dream and real… Are same things.» He translated. «Amazing! I love it!»

      «I hope I didn’t spoil the haiku by my awful knowledge of this wonderful language.»

      «Not at all! You sound much better than most people here, my dear.»

      Kara didn’t like to be addressed in such a familiar way by people she just met, but this time she needed to play her part well to see if Kaito knows anything. For the time being she just needed him to think she’s a little drunk and charmed by his act.

      «Thank you.» She smiled at him and he smiled back.

      All this time he was leading her through the village and only now Kara understood where – a little ways off there stood a small hill with a single sakura growing on top. And he was leading her there, but what seemed like a beautiful spot from afar, up closer was, in fact, a cemetery.

      «I hope cemeteries don’t frighten you?» Kaito asked with a very chilling smile on his face.

      «Not at all, I find them relaxing. They are tranquil and quiet.» Kara replied. «I don’t like people very much, you see…»

      «Oh, I am honoured to be one of those you found worthy of your precious time, Mariko.» He gestured towards the tree. «Come, I want to show you the magnificent view.»

      When they approached, Kara saw the vast lands that lay under that hill, and sighed – whatever his act was, the view really was beautiful and worth seeing.

      Kaito started laughing – it began with a quiet chuckle that very soon turned into a loud and vicious laughter that sent a new wave of shivers down Kara’s back.

      «I love your scent… Marrriko.» Kaito’s voice shifted into a more growling range and when Kara turned to him, ready to bare her swords, she noticed how quickly Kaito’s figure shifted from a handsome young man to a twisted angular mess of long sharp joints. His eyes turned dark and his fingers