Chapter 6.7

“This tea party is now adjourned,” Fang Fang announced.

The Egregore dispersed and said little more to each other. It felt strange. After the fanfare of their arrival, Reiko and the others expected a little more… excitement to round out their departure.

Still, there was some relief. After all, in Reiko’s eyes, Section Eight had had enough excitement, at least for now.

“You should prepare to leave as well,” Fang Fang said, “unless you want to disappear along with the castle when it leaves.”

Fujiko remembered what Miyuki told her.

“Nope. I think we’re good,” she smiled. “We’re on our way out.”

“Hold on. What was that about Baba Yaga taking the blame?” Reiko asked.

“We’ve decided,” Fang Fang explained, “in Lisa’s stead, to write the ending to her own Story. ‘In the end, the Russian witch, Baba Yaga, kidnaps Lisa Everest and seals her inside a prison. Baba Yaga flees. The other Egregore chase after her.’”

“You think anyone’s going to believe that?” Reiko said.

“They better,” Fang Fang chuckled, “you three are key witnesses now. Keep our Story consistent, will you please?”

“How long will she be imprisoned?”

“Until she learns her lesson,” Fang Fang shrugged. “So sometime between now and never. Now, if that’s all your questions, farewell.”

Fang Fang turned around to leave, but she paused one last time to look at Fujiko.

“Right,” she said. “I’m glad you got to see her one last time, Fujiko.”

“You’re not going to ask what she said?” Fujiko replied.

“We already said our final words ten years ago,” Fang Fang said. “For killing her, I deserve nothing more.”

Then, in a flash, Fang Fang disappeared from the castle grounds.

One by one, the other Egregore left. Dahlia bowed in their direction, picked up her black cat, and disappeared inside the cathedral. Khali remained for a while, clicking her shoes against the spot where Lisa disappeared. After a full minute of frustrated tapping, Khali clicked her tongue and blinked out of sight.

Baba Yaga approached Reiko and the others, escorted by her bodyguards.

“I was hoping to stay in your country for a little while longer,” she sighed, “but that would be a bit too unrealistic, wouldn’t it? Or maybe, I hide here. It’s the place the other witches would least expect? That sounds rather exciting.”

“My lady, you’ve already caused enough trouble for them,” her secretary, Natalia, said. “We’d better leave soon to keep the Story believable.”

“But you said we’d get souvenirs when we leave,” Baba Yaga pouted. “Doesn’t that mean I was right? We should’ve bought Katyusha at the beginning of our trip.”

“Excuse me, my lady,” Maria bowed. “Here.”

Maria Akhmatova reached into her coat jacket and pulled out a slim book. The cover featured a young, white-haired girl raising her staff amidst a terrible blizzard, the next installment of KatyuKai or, That Time I Reincarnated into Another World Submerged in Permafrost But My Name In My Past Life Was Katyusha.

“The author,” Maria pointed. “Look at it.”

Baba Yaga stared at the bottom of the cover, dumbstruck.

Risa Eburesto.

“So that’s how she got me to choose Japan,” Baba Yaga murmured. “Damn it.”

“Lady Baba Yaga.”

Gentiane held in her hands a stainless steel tray. A teapot and an assortment of teabags arranged inside a wicker basket sat atop it. She passed it into Baba Yaga’s hands.

“For Lisa?” Baba Yaga asked.

"From Fang Fang and I," Gentiane nodded and left.

Baba Yaga spent a moment surveying the tea set. Inside the basket sat two cups. Why would Lisa Everest need more than one? The witch laughed quietly to herself.

“You probably don’t understand why we’re doing this,” Baba Yaga said.

Reiko remained silent.

“People can do terrible things to each other, hurt each other in unforgivable ways,” the witch said, “but in some twisted way, they can still be family, and you can still love them. A Russian author probably wrote that, actually.”

“Before you arrived,” Reiko responded. “I don’t know if I would have believed you, but I think I understand now. At least a little bit.”

“Whoever is your family is your blood,” Baba Yaga smiled, “and when things all fall apart, they become the things that only blood can mend. Remember that. Maria, Dmitry, Natalia. We’re leaving.”

“What about your Question?” Reiko asked.

“It can wait,” Baba Yaga shrugged. “Besides, I already got part of my answer.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” she smirked. “If you ever want to have your immortal seal undone, captain, I might know a way. Come find me.”

Baba Yaga turned and offered a farewell wave. Her escorts bowed to Reiko and her juniors then took off after their ward.

And so, Section Eight was the last to remain on Castle Gramarye. It was very still and very quiet. The fires had all diminished. The wind brushed on bits of gravel and grass, and one could still hear the groans of the castle foundations limping from that night’s battle.

For a minute, nobody knew what to say. It was time to leave, of course, but in spite of it all, Reiko still felt a longing to stay by the clock tower, just for a little longer.

“And just like that, another mystery solved,” Mamoru blurted. “Case closed.”

Reiko and Fujiko stared at him, flabbergasted. They crossed eyes with each other and began to laugh, laughed until tears mixed with mirth and sorrow jumped to their face.

“What?” Mamoru asked.

“That was the stupidest shit I’ve heard in a week,” Fujiko snorted. “What was that? Why did you say that?”

“I don’t know. It was too quiet,” Mamoru frowned. “If Miyuki was here, she’d say something, but… she’s not here…”

Mamoru heaved a sigh. Fujiko laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, there's hope,” she said. "I saw her."

“Seriously? Where?”

“Well, it was just a memory of hers, but she was thinking of you. And she’s out there, Mamoru. Somewhere. We’ll find her one day.”

“Of course she’s happy,” Mamoru grumbled. “Who else is going to visit her in the hospital if not me? I mean, obviously her parents will, but…”

As the two bickered, Reiko thought about what Baba Yaga had told her. She thought about Natsuko, about the ten years she had spent thinking about what could, should have happened. All that time wasted on fruitless what ifs, when all of destiny remained unknown, ripe for the taking.

All she had to do was choose where to go.

“Reiko? Reiko?”

Fujiko called out to her. She took Reiko’s hand in hers and squeezed.

Reiko smiled. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. She knew where to go now.

“Yeah. I heard you the first time, Fujiko. Let’s go home, everyone.”

Only Blood Can Mend Us Now - END