Risk of Conviction

LIKE ROSES AND CLOVER

My bag was taken by a sweet woman with a scent about her like forest air after rain.  I asked her whether she would destroy it. She assured me it was only temporary.

 

I rejoiced: she expected I would be coming back alive then. I followed her through the wards. 

 

She giggled.

 

“You’re staring,” I told her.

 

 She said, “Someone with hair that red has to dress carefully.”

 

I smiled; her own hair was inhuman azure. “Do I pass your inspection?”

 

“You should wear brighter colors. It’s not like we buy this angel routine.”

 

“I’m sure you know my past well. But I’m living with humans now. I couldn’t exactly wear my more traditional robes to the subway.”

 

“Oh right, I know what you mean.” She signed us in and scanned the tag in my heart with a bizarre contraption, like a supermarket laser. “That’s why it’s such fun working with humans! Everything is temporary - their lives, styles, clothing. Miss one trend and they’ll know you’re an outsider. How has it been, learning to speak modern Japanese?”

 

“The human brain is especially flexible. You look familiar.”

 

“Do I?”

 

“I know I saw you with Yuusuke Urameshi, the Spirit Detective. But…you are very old?”

 

“I suppose I can tell you now: I stood by your mother for a long time, waiting.”

 

I shivered. Of course. Reapers. She was a death spirit. Shinigami were always so disgustingly cheerful.

 

“But I won’t be around now though, thanks to you!” She winked and took my elbow. “Call me Botan, Kurama. Come on through here.”

 

I followed, removing my shoes.

 

Botan handed me woven slippers that looked like pure gold. I slid them on, stroking the embroidery with appreciation.

 

“Now,” Botan shook a finger. “Don’t get so intent. We’ll be checking your pockets on the way out.”

 

I held my hands up. “I haven’t done that in years.”

 

“Disregarding your reason for coming, a number of small thefts in your youth, and some ‘borrowing’ in your early teens? Not to mention Yoko’s career. And the bus pass you took to get to the gate point – “

 

“I meant a planned theft of something valuable…for the sake of entertainment. I have things to guard now. I don’t risk them lightly.”

 

“Ownership turned a perfect thief into a master protector? Capitalism has its uses.”

 

“To those blind to externalities. Or the heartless, which I was.”

 

She stopped me, putting a hand on my chest. I felt the small weight, like static, and realized I had not been often handled in this body and it was a bit more innocent than I.

 

“Don’t speak about yourself like that! I’ve been watching you for a long time. You’re a lot better than you give yourself credit for.”

 

There was a sharp tug as she removed the tag. I gasped.

 

“All done. Here,” she handed my bag back to me after receiving it from a security ogre. Botan smiled and put her hand out. “This is it. He’ll be waiting for you.”

 

The doors were huge.  With the aches in my body from the tag and touch, I felt like a child as I entered, my heart gulping and thrashing like a fish in air.