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It was as if a grey mist hung over everything, a nostalgia that numbed his heart. His steps light, his smile coming easy - he knew it was because he hadn't had a break in quite a while, but that didn't matter. It was almost a thing of pride, to make something out of nothing. He put a hand over his empty stomach and remembered the skin of someone else. Sometimes he wished the memories engraved in him were half as bright as that moment. He was getting sick of his own thoughts.
By this time the morning rush was over, and guests had made themselves scarce. Maybe that was why a certain guest in a gray jacket stood out to him so clearly. Or maybe it was because he ordered two raspberry croissants, and, upon being pressed, an espresso with nothing in it. Something clawed at his brain when he looked at him.
Had he seen him before?
At the lake's edge, on a moonless night?
Yes, Kaguya was smart enough not to go near the water,
not when the light from above painted
a trembling staircase
on its surface.
It held no more promises.
But reminiscence wasn't always such an unhappy thing. He thought of all the plants and fish her blood must have fed, like him , and sighed to himself. The man had shone silver at the edge of his vision. There, in the shadow of a tree – with a glance, Kaguya was sure they were both wearing the same expression. Naked without a mask, hard eyes looking for something that was no longer there.
He had half a mind to dismiss it as a dream the next day.
In the yellow light of the cafe the man looked far less like a ghost, but that searching gaze remained. It was an all too common sight. But Yurika was out on an errand, and that fact alone gave him a cold satisfaction. Kaguya brought him his order and turned to leave, dancing on the edge of hospitality.
"Wait," the man said, pushing his plate towards him. "Here, have some. You’re pale as hell."
A smile was on his face before he could think about it. "Oh, I couldn't possibly…" Was that why he had ordered two of them? He was used to driving off would-be suitors when it came to his darling, but this was a little ridiculous. He wondered if this reflected worse on him, or his employer. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Kaguya never stopped feeling like an ill-kept pet.
"Just sit down already. You don't wanna collapse in the middle of a shift, do you?"
The meddlesome guest looked just as surprised as he was to see him pull up a chair. Fatigue came down like a vicious gravity the second he took a seat. Still, he made no move towards the pastry. "Well, that's awful kind of you, but what's the occasion? You seemed like you were waiting for someone."
His head was swimming; he couldn't remember how he arrived at that conclusion. The man grumbled noncommittally at Kaguya's attempt at conversation. After a bite of his croissant, his face tensed further. "Just how much sugar is in this thing?"
"They're quite sweet, yeah? Can hardly taste the fruit sometimes." A reflex. He liked the food here just fine; he quickly took one from the plate, just to keep his hands busy. Kaguya was grateful for everything, really. He nibbled on it gratefully, like it wasn't charity from a stranger.
Without raising his head, he scrutinized the other man. His clothes had the sort of polished dullness about them one takes on when they're desperate to be taken seriously. While he was obviously well off, the crease of his brow and worn eyes gave him away. A worrywart , said a line on his forehead, human, with all its joys and sorrows . More human than he was, if he had room to worry for someone other than himself. For the first time, that thought stung with resentment.
How ugly his mind could be, how firm its grip on his heart. He was loved, he knew. There was no hardship he should have to put himself through to make up for that. The food sat heavy as an anchor in his stomach. “What are you glaring at me for, kid?” When he startled, the stranger huffed a laugh. “Something on my face?” Truth be told, this guy didn't look significantly older than he was, but he let it slide.
"No, no," he responded hastily. "I thought you were familiar, is all." The man's expression softened all at once, as if he had been waiting for those words. Lit by that carefree smile, his features fell into place. Why didn't he notice it sooner? The bridge of his nose, the arc of his jaw – Kaguya had traced them a hundred times before.
"I could say the same." A gentle light played at his eyes.
The stranger - no, that's not quite right.
The Hunter was smiling at
him
with a faraway gaze,
as though handling an old photograph,
as though looking in an antique mirror.
Life began to seep back into his frozen body. When he heard someone fumbling with the doorknob, he sprang to his feet to find Yurika, shopping bags hung from her every limb. Something like a sigh escaped his lips, not at all reproachful. He lifted the baggage off her, and in exchange, Yurika gave him a hurried peck on the cheek. "Sorry. I know you said you'd come with, but someone had to mind the shop. See?"
She turned, and her sea of curls rushed after her. "You should've called ahead, Ryoushi. What's going on?"
"Called ahead for what? I wanted a croissant. I got one, so I'll be going." The man clambered out of his chair, one hand already searching his pockets for a way to get through this transaction quickly.
"How rude! I bet you just wanted to scope out my boyfriend while I was gone. I didn't even get a chance to introduce him properly!" Yurika puffed out her cheeks, sulking like she had lost some kind of game. Maybe not always being one step ahead really was unbearable to her. He swirled his tongue against his teeth. In sweetness, at least, she was unmatched. "This is Kaguya! We've been together for four months now. He's a hard worker and a real nice guy." She nimbly put an arm around him. It was an easy gesture, a hold he could slip out of any moment. Instead, he placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her close.
"So it'd seem. Nice to meet you. I'm her brother, Ryoushi." And so he was. If he wasn't sure already, their childish rapport would've sealed the deal. "I work as a Hunter in town."
The hand he held out to shake was impossibly warm.