I have no doubt it's her

 “Up you go,” said Kohaku.

The wagon was shaped almost like the kind you would see in one of those old western movies my mum used to like watching. Only this one had a metal frame that reminded me of the flying sculpture that Kohaku had used and the creature attached to it was most definitely not a horse. It looked more like a brown and gold griffin, only there were shiny scales over its lion-shaped hindquarters and its irises were shaped more like a cat's than an eagle's. I half wanted to stroke its scales and half hoped it wouldn't be able to see me if I tried.

There was a flat metal back step at the back of the wagon. I reached up to grasp its frame and pull myself up but Tatsuya took hold of my hand and helped me up into its confines without looking at me. I pretended not to see the red tint to his cheeks – or feel the warmth in my own – as I pushed aside the white silky but strong material that protected the interior of the wagon.

It was a lot roomier than it looked from the outside. A small lamp hung from the roof of the wagon frame, the light of which illuminated the elegant lady seated closest to the driver's seat. She managed to control her expression but I could tell that she was another of Shizuka's friends from the way her eyes flitted over my face and the tone of her voice.

“Hello,” she said, gesturing at the space on the bench opposite hers. “You must be Sheila. Please sit down.”

Her greeting was the most normal thing that had happened to me since I got hit by the car and I couldn't appreciate it enough.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, sitting down on the bench and sliding across it until were were face to face. “You're Yua, right? Or is it Yor?”

“Yor's my brother,” she replied, brushing back her side fridge. Its light turquoise highlights matched her startling eyes. “He'll be joining us later.”

“Yeah, I heard.” My hands took refuge in my kimono sleeves.

“Being thrown into this situation can't be easy for you,” she continued softly. “I'm sure you have even more questions than we do.”

Her gentle acceptance threw me off guard, more so than the Aoto's hostility had. If I hadn't been hugged like that by Tatsuya earlier, I would probably have found it harder to handle.

“It's been … an experience,” I said as Toshi climbed up into the wagon after me, followed by Washi and then his brother.

Kohaku appeared in the driver's seat on the outside of the wagon, partially visible through the thick silk curtains until she leaned back to poke her head through them.

“We'll take off in a minute,” she said. “One of you hold onto Shi – Sheila and make sure she doesn't fall.”

“Hey, what do you mean take off?” I asked, my stomach churning as Tatsuya switched places with Toshi and sat next to me.

“I'm heavier than she is,” he said as I turned to him, briefly meeting my eyes and looking at the floor of the wagon. “I won't grab you unless I have to.”

“Grab?” I suddenly remembered that the creatures attached to the front of the wagon had wings. “Wait, we're not going to -?”

“Don't pass up the chance to grab on Tatsu too, okay? I know he won't mind.” Kohaku winked and leaned forward in the driver's seat, snapping the reins with several clicking noises.

I grabbed the metal frame closest to me and the sleeve of Tatsuya's black haori as the wagon started moving. He steadied my grip with his hand but kept his eyes down. Toshi and Washi caught each other's eye again with the same expressions they had worn earlier, and Yua smiled as she looked out through the curtains. I couldn't wait for everything to stabilise so I could let go of him.

In sync with the rapid pounding of the creature's mismatched feet, the wagon picked up speed and I could feel every stone it rolled over along the path. Twigs cracked on all sides but none were strong enough to penetrate the fabric around us. I wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light or an impending fainting episode but I could have sworn I saw blue sparks running along the metal framework.

“Up we go!” exclaimed Kohaku right before the griffin-like creature's footsteps faded into nothingness and the front of the wagon tilted upwards.

Yua, Toshi, and Washi reached up and slipped their fingers easily into the wagon frame overhead to brace themselves. I took my chances and I grabbed the edge of the sideboard with both hands as we left the ground. My gut and brain seemed to flip simultaneously. I screwed my eyes shut and covered my mouth with one hand, hoping I wouldn't throw up on any of the strangers who had been so nice to me so far.

Tatsuya reached past me. One hand clamped down on the same part of the frame, on the outer side of mine, and his other pressed against my furthest shoulder to steady my upper body.

“I'm sorry,” he murmured, shuffling closer until we were hip to hip on the bench. “This is the worst part. It'll be over soon.”

His chest brushed lightly against my back and I focused on breathing properly through my nose so as not to thank him with a lapful of vomit. As awkward as the position was, I couldn't deny the sense of security lent by his body and the distraction offered by his warm voice in my ear.

The last time a man was that close to me had been when Alec, my boyfriend, had grabbed me by the collar and told me not to make a big deal out of his infidelity. Right before I had kicked his leg out from beneath him and flipped him onto his back right in front of my sister, Tina. The memory was a lot colder than my current experience, even thought I had known the two of them far longer than I had known Tatsuya.

The wagon slowly levelled out but I stayed in the same position for a moment longer, hoping my stomach would follow its example.

“Are you okay?” asked Yua. “I have an empty bag if you need one.”

“She doesn't look okay,” said Toshi anxiously.

I pushed myself upright and tried to smile beyond the barrier of my hand as I reassured them.

“I'll be okay. In a second.”

Tatsuya straightened up along with me, releasing the frame but not my shoulder straight away. He rifled through something within his haori and pulled out a fresh bundle of lavender. So that's what he had been hiding earlier.

“Here.” He held it in front of me. “It should make the descent easier too.”

I didn't want to think about how much worse touching down would be as I took hold of the flower stems, inhaling and exhaling deeply several times before I trusted myself to answer with words instead of the contents of my stomach. When was the last time I had eaten something? Obviously it had been before I visited the hospital today but that seemed like it had been weeks ago.

“Thanks,” I said quietly and he nodded, letting his arm fall off me.

“Wow, Tatsu,” said Toshi with a mischievous laugh. “I had no idea you could be such a gentleman.”

“What're you talking about?” countered Washi as he let go of the framework. “He's always been considerate like that.”

“Yeah but I've never seen him look so shy about it,” said the young woman. “It feels like we've only seen the same three emotions on his face for the last ten years and that frown is one of them.”

Tatsuya scowled as she pointed at him and folded his arms across his chest, his voice cool despite the red tinge to his skin.

“I don't know what you mean,” he said. “Nor do I want to know.”

“I'm surprised you're treating her like she never left us though,” said Washi. “Especially when we don't even know if she really is Shizuka.”

I didn't say anything, focused on my box breathing technique and my attempts to fill my unsteady insides with the scent of the purple flowers.

“She is Shizuka,” said Tatsuya.

“You don't know tha-” Washi fell silent as his brother cut him off.

“I do,” he said. “I have no doubt it's her.”