Eidolon

The first light of dawn in the mountain shrine was a pale, greyish-blue, seeping through the rice paper screens and painting the sparse room in muted tones. Rei woke slowly, wrapped in a profound, physical…

“I was just asking … but I don’t really care.” Rei turned her back to him, carrying the dishes to the kitchen, her movements brisk and efficient. The subject closed. Reon watched her, a faint,…

Nodding in agreement, a small knot started stirring in Rei’s stomach, “Okay. Deal.” Reon leaned forward, elbows resting lightly on his knees, eyes bright and unrelenting. “Then listen carefully,” he started, “I will tell you…

Shrine Dinner The wind in the mountains had teeth this evening, a needling cold that slipped beneath Rei’s coat as she climbed the final steps to the Oni stone shrine. At the top Reon’s silhouette…

The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains of the Oslo suite, gilding the room in a soft, pale gold. Rei awoke in Takumi’s arms with him still soundly asleep beside her, his breathing even,…