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СКАЧАТЬ “You annoy me, Greene.”

      “Likewise, Maki Roll.”

      We sat for a few minutes in silence, watching the stragglers from the school as they got out of after-school activities and hurried home. The sun had started to set, the nights getting shorter as fall dragged on and winter drew nearer.

      I got to my feet and paced for a while in front of the bench.

      “You’re making me dizzy,” Ishikawa said, closing his eyes.

      It was like my whole body was buzzing; I couldn’t focus. “This is bad. We should go.”

      A voice sounded from behind me. “Go where?”

      Ishikawa opened his eyes as I spun around. Jun stood so close he blocked the wind gusting around me. He wore a dark coat over his school blazer, his motorbike helmet tucked under his arm. His eyes, forever cold, were unreadable as he looked down at me.

      “Jun,” I breathed.

      His voice was stone. “You shouldn’t be here.”

      He was right. I could hear my voice trembling. “I know.”

      “Does Yuu know you’re here? You should stay away.” He stepped around me, resting his helmet strap on the handle of his bike.

      “What kind of greeting is that?” Ishikawa drawled. He stood and put his hands on his hips, arching his back as he stretched.

      “Ishikawa,” Jun said, stepping toward him. “Is he giving you trouble, Katie?”

      Ishikawa narrowed his eyes and pressed his index finger against Jun’s collarbone. “The only one giving her trouble is you, Takahashi.”

      I tugged on Ishikawa’s arm, trying to pull him away as he and Jun glared at each other. I accidentally pulled him off balance and he stumbled backward, then ran a hand through his bleached hair, trying to act as though he’d decided to step back on his own.

      “What are you doing here?” Jun said quietly.

      Ishikawa gave a short laugh in reply. “Please. Don’t patronize her. You know why we’re here.”

      “Jun,” I said. My throat was dry and thick, my heart pounding. “I saw on the news...about...about Hanchi.” Jun was motionless, expressionless. “Hanchi is dead, Jun.”

      He wasn’t surprised, that much I could see. At the very least he’d heard the news. “Sou ka,” he said. Is that so.

      “That’s it?” Ishikawa sneered. “You had all this talk of killing off Yakuza, you threaten to ‘make the world cry,’ and now the first Yakuza boss is dead and you say, ‘Sou ka’? What the hell is wrong with you, Takahashi?”

      “What do you want me to say?” Jun snapped. “You know more than you should. The Kami aren’t a threat, Ishikawa. They’re not weapons to be handed over to the Yakuza. They are heirs of heaven. They are protectors of Japan.” Jun turned to me, gently wrapping his fingers around my elbows. The feel of his hands sent a jolt of panic through me. “Tell me you aren’t glad Hanchi is dead, Katie. He can never hurt you again.”

      My heart lurched. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

      His icy eyes melted, just for a moment. “Don’t ask me that.”

      I could barely move my lips to speak. “This is wrong, Jun. It’s murder.”

      “What does it matter who did it? He’s dead now. You’re safe.”

      Ishikawa grabbed the collar of Jun’s jacket and shoved him away from me. Jun stumbled backward, his shoes clicking against the pavement as he regained his balance.

      Ishikawa’s white spikes flopped into his eyes as he snarled. “Bakayaro,” he spat.

      My body was ice; my heart cracked under the weight. I blinked back tears, terrified. “Jun, tell me it wasn’t you, and I’ll believe you. Tell me.”

      He said nothing, watching me with his dark eyes.

      “Tell me,” I whispered.

      His eyes never left mine. “I can’t.”

      The fear shook through me. He was crazy. I stumbled back, Ishikawa stepping in front to protect me.

      “Katie, you can’t condemn this,” Jun said, his eyes pleading. “It’s not so black-and-white. Do you know how many people died at the hands of Hanchi? Do you know what he’s done in his life? I know. So many victims cried out, and he never showed one of them mercy. He was in and out of jail so fast it never held him back for a moment. A scumbag like that doesn’t deserve to live. His death has saved lives. Can’t you see that?”

      “You’re fucked up,” said Ishikawa.

      Jun shook his head. “The world is rotting,” he said. “Tell me you’re not glad he’s dead, Katie.”

       I am glad. I’m glad he’s gone.

      No. I couldn’t think like that, not again.

       The ink protects. It marks the world and paints the future. There is no escape from its judgment.

      “Greene!” Ishikawa’s voice shook me out of it. “Your eyes,” he said, his face twisted in confusion.

      “Even the ink in you knows,” Jun said. “We can’t sit by any longer.”

      “Tomo won’t join you,” I said. “Neither will I.”

      Jun laughed. “I don’t need Yuu to help me anymore. As the heir of Susanou, I am more powerful. But Yuu is an abomination. He’ll blast a hole in the world when he explodes.” Jun straddled his motorbike, sliding the helmet onto his head and pulling the strap tight below his chin. “My offer to him isn’t open anymore. He will serve me, or he will be purged from this world. And until then, I will continue to do what needs to be done.” His motorbike roared to life, sputtering as his words echoed through my head.

      I thought back to my dream, the sword on the ground covered in ink, Tomo lying nearby. My eyes blurred with the tears I tried to hold back. “Jun, please. If we were ever friends, please don’t do this.”

      Ishikawa rested a hand on my shoulder. “Forget it, Greene. You act like he has a heart.”

      There was a sadness in Jun’s eyes. “You doubt me, even now. That I ever cared for you.”

      “Oh, you cared for me all right,” I said, my hands curling into fists. “Like a dragon cares for gold.”

      He smiled and revved his bike. “More than that.” He laughed. “And I’m reminded why.”

      “Creep,” Ishikawa said. “Get the hell out of here before I call the police.”

      “They’d be more interested in you, Ishikawa. All I ever did was sketch.” He turned to look at me for a moment, and then lowered his visor. “Gomen,” СКАЧАТЬ