The Dream-Weaver's Grave: Arai Tsuruki's Hidden Heart - Swaying Kiyoka

No — that was what he thought. Something deep in his chest had been snagging on him all this time. As Arata walked the stone-paved road that led to the Kudou estate, he turned over the remnants of last night's dream. A dark storehouse. The sound of crying. A small back. And those pale-brown eyes, looking up at him. (That was only the entrance.) Arata exhaled deeply and looked up at the sky. The sky over the imperial capital of Miyabi had been heavy with clouds since morning. A damp wind stirred the young leaves of the roadside trees. The white walls of the mansions lining this upscale district reflected a dull light. On the surface, Arata was an esper surveillance officer for the Imperial Household Ministry, operating under the name "Tsuruki Arata." He belonged to the esper management division, and his duty was to monitor dangerous espers. Espers were people born with power in their bloodline — only three in a thousand ever manifested it. Every one who did was required by law to register with the Ministry. Using one's power without authorization carried penalties. Arata himself was an esper, gifted with the ability of illusion. When he passed through the gate of the Kudou estate, the air in the garden changed. Carefully tended shrubs, the surface of the pond, and somewhere, the song of a small bird. Arata didn't head for the front entrance — he stepped into the inner garden instead. (Today, I have to speak to him directly.) The inner garden was in full bloom with flowers of every color. Tiny white blossoms swayed in the wind, carrying a sweet fragrance. Arata walked slowly among them. That was when he saw a man coming from the far end of the garden. His long black hair was tied back in a single tail, and his silver-gray eyes held a cold light. He was taller than Arata, and the black military-style garb he wore made his frame look taut and lean. Around the ring finger of his left hand was wound a braided cord. Kudou Kiyoka. Captain of the Anti-Espers Special Unit and head of the Kudou family. He commanded the unit that hunted the grotesque, and he was one of the finest espers in the country. And above all — Miyo's fiancé. Arata stopped walking. Kiyoka, too, noticed Arata and came to a halt. A late-spring wind blew through the space between them. (So this is Kudou Kiyoka.) Arata looked straight into Kiyoka's eyes. Kiyoka's silver-gray gaze fixed on him, motionless, as if appraising him. It was a sharp stare, like an ice blade pressed to his throat. It was Kiyoka who spoke first. "Tsuruki Arata... the Ministry's surveillance officer, I take it." His voice was low and restrained. There was almost no color of emotion in it. Arata offered a calm smile and gave a slight bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Kudou Kiyoka. Miyo has always been most kind to me." Kiyoka's brow shifted, just slightly. The mention of Miyo's name had drawn a reaction. "What have you been filling Miyo's head with?" Kiyoka's voice dropped another register. Arata's smile didn't waver. "'Filling her head' — such an unkind way to put it. I'm merely carrying out my duties as a surveillance officer. I only spoke with her a little, to help her dream-weaving power stabilize." "If it were a surveillance officer's duty, then a report to me would be the natural course. Why do you approach Miyo without going through me?" Kiyoka's words were perfectly reasonable. Arata suppressed the urge to click his tongue and slowly tilted his head. "The report will come in due time, formally. But confirming the subject's condition in person is also part of a surveillance officer's duty. And above all — before she is your fiancée, Miyo is an esper in her own right." Kiyoka's silver-gray eyes narrowed sharply. "Miyo is my fiancée." Kiyoka took a step toward Arata. The sound of his footfall rang clearly through the quiet garden. "I don't know what you're scheming, but don't do anything unnecessary. Don't give Miyo strange hopes. I will protect her." Something gave a small, sharp pang deep in Arata's chest. (I will protect her.) Those words were the expression of Kiyoka's fierce feelings for Miyo. Arata could feel Kiyoka's sincerity on his skin. This man truly meant to protect Miyo — even at the cost of his own life. But at the same time, another emotion was churning in Arata's heart. (Protect her? You? What do you know about Miyo?) Arata acknowledged Kiyoka — his strength, his ability as an esper, his earnest feelings for Miyo. And yet, even so, there was an undeniable competitiveness in Arata toward this man. Since they were children, it was Arata who had known Miyo. How she had been mistreated in the Saimori house. How she had cried inside that storehouse. He was the one who knew all of it. Keeping his smile in place, Arata spoke quietly. "Yes, of course. I understand very well that you hold Miyo dear. I, too, only want Miyo to be happy. That's all." Kiyoka listened to Arata's words in silence. Those silver-gray eyes seemed to be trying to see through to whatever lay behind Arata's smile. "...Then don't write anything unnecessary in your surveillance report. There is no problem with Miyo's dream-weaving power. Write that." Arata smiled. "Writing reports based on fact is my job. But for now, I see no major problems with Miyo's power. Rest assured." Kiyoka gave Arata a single glance, then said nothing more and left the garden. His back looked somehow rigid, wound tight. Arata watched Kiyoka's retreating figure. ("My fiancée," is it.) Arata turned the words over in his mind. Kiyoka's words were an expression of possessiveness. But more than that, they were the expression of a desperate need not to lose Miyo. (I want to save her. But Kiyoka is trying to save her too.) Arata let out a small breath. The two of them should have been facing the same direction — and yet they would never meet. If anything, they were checking each other, striking sparks. (This is a problem.) A wry smile crossed Arata's face. Around that time, Miyo was walking alone down a corridor of the Kudou estate. (What is it that I want to do?) Arata's question wouldn't leave her head. Ever since he had asked her that day in the garden, the words had been caught somewhere inside her. (I'm not worth anything, so...) Miyo looked down at her own hands. Around her left wrist, the faint mark of an old cord still remained — from the time she had been shut in the storehouse. In that dark place, Miyo had cried all night long. With no one to turn to, she had simply bitten down on her own helplessness. (Do I even have a wish of my own?) Miyo looked out the corridor window. Beneath the overcast sky, the flowers in the inner garden swayed in the wind. That was when a voice came from behind her. "Miyo, what's wrong? Standing here in a daze like that." Miyo turned. There stood Hana, the former servant. Hana had been quietly on Miyo's side ever since Miyo's days in the Saimori house. Even after Miyo came to the Kudou family, Hana still came to check on her now and then, just like this. Hana looked at Miyo's face and seemed to sense something. "Miyo, is something troubling you?" Miyo lowered her eyes and gave a small nod. "Um, Hana... I don't know what it is I want to do." Miyo's voice was barely there. Hana came to stand beside her and smiled gently. "Oh, is that all? You really are so earnest, Miyo." Hana's voice was warm, like spring sunlight. "But Miyo — it's all right if you don't know right away what you want to do. You only need to muster just a little courage." "Courage...?" Miyo looked up at Hana's face. Hana gave her a broad smile. "Yes. You're always thinking you have no worth, aren't you? But really, there must be a wish somewhere deep in your heart. The courage to say it aloud — just a little. That alone will change the world." Hana's words settled into Miyo's chest, soft and sure. (Just a little courage...) Miyo pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding. (My wish...) Kiyoka's face rose in Miyo's mind. Those silver-gray eyes that gave such a cold impression. And yet, in front of Miyo, they grew just a little gentler. (I... want to stay here.) Miyo thought it clearly. For the first time in her life, the words welled up from the very bottom of her heart. Dusk was beginning to wrap around the Kudou estate. When Miyo reached the door of Kiyoka's room, she stopped. Light spilled out from beyond the paper screen. Kiyoka had to be inside. Miyo's heart was beating far faster than before. (I have to say it...) Miyo took a deep breath. Then, with trembling hand, she knocked on the screen. "Kiyoka... it's Miyo. Might I have a moment?" Kiyoka's voice came from within. "Miyo? Come in." Miyo slid the screen open and stepped inside. Kiyoka had been at his desk, reading documents. When Miyo entered, he lifted his head and looked at her. "What is it? Did you need something?" Kiyoka's voice was a little gentler when he spoke to Miyo. Miyo folded both hands in front of her chest and lowered her eyes. "Um... there's something I'd like to tell you, Kiyoka." Miyo's voice was shaking. Kiyoka waited in silence for her words. Again and again, Miyo started to speak and swallowed the words back. (Someone like me, saying something like this...) The usual self-deprecating thought rose in her mind. But Hana's words pushed it back. (Just a little courage...) Miyo gripped the sleeve of her kimono tightly. Then she raised her face and looked straight into Kiyoka's silver-gray eyes. "I... I want to stay here." Miyo's voice trembled with tears. But the words reached Kiyoka clearly. Kiyoka's silver-gray eyes went wide. (...Miyo has spoken her own wish.) Kiyoka was at a loss for words. Miyo had never once asked for anything for herself. She had always only apologized — I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry — and never tried to voice an opinion of her own. And now, this Miyo had clearly spoken her wish aloud. "...Miyo." Kiyoka rose slowly. Then he walked to Miyo's side and gently took her hand. "You may stay here. No — you belong here. As my fiancée, as a member of the Kudou family, you have every right to stand here with your head held high." Kiyoka's voice was low, but very warm. Tears spilled from Miyo's eyes. "Thank you... Kiyoka..." Miyo nodded again and again through her tears. And then it happened. From deep within Miyo's body, something overflowed, soft and light. An invisible, faint wave. It set the air trembling, traveled down the corridor, and spread quietly beyond the estate. Miyo herself noticed nothing of the change. She only went on crying, feeling the warmth of Kiyoka's hand. Arata, who had just passed through the gate of the Kudou estate, felt that wave clearly. His feet stopped dead. (This is...) Arata turned and looked up at the Kudou estate. Against the evening sky, the mansion with its black tiles cast a long shadow. (Miyo's power... wavered?) Unease and hope surged through Arata at once. (Did Miyo's heart move? Or is her dream-weaving power showing signs of running wild?) Arata pressed a gloved hand to his chest. His heart was hammering. (Something happened between Kiyoka and Miyo.) Arata was certain of it. And that something felt impossibly distant from him — like an event in a world he could not enter. (In a place I can't reach, the two of them are moving forward.) Arata bit his lip. (That's fine. That's how it should be. If Miyo can be happy, then that's enough.) But deep down, another emotion gave a small, sharp ache. Arata started walking again. In the evening streets, the shadows stretched long. Night. Arata sat alone in the dim room of his home. Outside the window, he could hear the insects singing. (I need to enter Miyo's dream once more.) Arata quietly closed his eyes. Then he began to weave his illusion. His ability was the power to send hallucinations into another's senses. The closer the distance, the higher the success rate. Invading the dream of a sleepin

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Episode 3

Name: The Dream-Weaver's Grave: Arai Tsuruki's Hidden Heart
Author: Novelia

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