Dandelions Are Currency

The darkness on the streets had dissipated, and Ukiyo felt a lot safer now that the demonic dogs were gone. He followed Zero blindly, and they found themselves in an alley. The amount of glow stones had slowly but surely diminished, and big trash dumpsters lined the street, empty bottles spilling onto the sidewalk. At the moment , the alleyway was devoid of the common crooks and juveniles that hung out in these areas.

Zero stopped and leaned against the wall, looking at Ukiyo expectantly. “You have questions right?” she asked pointedly.

Ukiyo’s head was overflowing with questions, and he didn’t even know what to ask first. He settled for just two: “What were those dogs doing? Who do they belong to?”

“They’re called shadow hounds. Nobody knows who they belong to, if anyone. Some say they’re here from the demon world on behalf of some ancient god. They come after children like me, since we have a lot of psychic energy.”

“Aren’t you scared?” Ukiyo asked, tentatively.

“Loads. But I don’t hate them. They’re just misunderstood, that’s all. It’s not their fault that they have to follow orders,” Zero explained, hopping up on a dumpster.

Ukiyo shrugged, uncertain about that. “How did they make the lights go out? It felt like not even the sun could get through, but then when I went inside the shop, it was light again.”

Zero replied, “They aren’t normal dogs. Someone engineered them to swallow light, I guess. I don’t know how it works, but maybe they bend it around an area somehow so we’re covered in shadow.”

“Makes a bit of sense,” Ukiyo said weakly. It seemed like science really had progressed differently here. He wondered if they had reached other planets yet.

“Not really,” Zero giggled, then spread her arms wide, white dress flowing with the movement of the air currents. “I just wish there was someone out there to help us. Anyone.”

“What do you mean?” Ukiyo furrowed his brow.

“They’re kidnapping children with the help of shadow hounds. Everyone knows this, but they choose to ignore it. I had a friend who was taken once,” Zero’s arms dropped to her sides and Ukiyo saw her start to tremble.

“I’m sorry,” he consoled, looking down at his feet. His scuffed boots shifted uneasily. He wished he could offer more support, but... Maybe if Maho was here, she would know how to comfort her. Ukiyo shook his head angrily. He had to forget about Maho right now. He was alone in this world, and he had to figure out everything without her help.

“This way you’ll always remember the summers we spent here, even if we go to different universities.”

Dammit, Maho! What if we end up in different worlds? Ukiyo clenched his teeth and patted his pocket to reassure himself that the marble was still there.

“We’ve gotta find it before it’s lost in the snow!” Maho, digging furiously.

“Uki?” Zero asked him quietly.

“Ukiyo?” Maho’s face, a picture of concern.

Maho wasn’t here. He could handle this by himself. If he came here, he could go back too. No need to go crazy. You’re already crazy.

“Zero, are dandelions really used in shops?” Ukiyo asked, ignoring the empty buzzing in his head.

“Yeah! We used to have coins, but then they were outlawed as currency and the next day we had dandelions,” Zero explained, “It’s pretty hard to get ahold of coins nowadays.”

“Why dandelions though?” Ukiyo asked. Don’t they wilt or dry out?

Zero placed a finger to her chin. “When dandelions grow old, they scatter their seeds. Then all those grow into beautiful yellow flowers. When I think of someone picking one of them, it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside,” she placed a hand on her chest to demonstrate. “Like I did something good for someone, you know?”

That didn’t answer his question, but Ukiyo thought he understood. Dandelions were a symbol of hope, and that was infinitely more valuable than a number on a piece of metal or paper.

Did you know that, Maho? About dandelions?

A familiar voice jolted him from his thoughts.

“When most people think of dandelions, they think of change. Dandelions grow and die, just like humans. But each time they give life to more like them. Then those grow old and spread their gray seeds too. So in reality, while the world goes on, dandelions are a stationary point that will remain forever the same.”

Ukiyo stared at the newcomer, mouth open in shock. She looked like a doll, dark, unruly hair falling over her shoulders. She was wearing an oversized green sweater and two identical twisters swirled in her wide eyes. The setting sun cast a beam of light on her like a spotlight.

Ukiyo was paralyzed, feet like lead. The marble was burning a hole in his pocket and he felt like a dumpling was stuck in his throat.

“What are you looking at?” the girl asked, placing her hands on her hips and looking up at Ukiyo defiantly. He couldn’t- There was no way!

“Maho,” Ukiyo whispered hoarsely, tears filling his eyes and threatening to spill over his cheeks. He found that he could move again, but it was an invisible force driving him. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

Maho went still, hands limp at her sides in Ukiyo’s embrace.

“H-hey, what’s this? Don’t-” she protested. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized that Ukiyo was crying.

“Maho…” he sobbed, burying his face in her hair. It smelled like cinnamon and oranges, and was so, so soft.

Maho was numb with shock, but didn’t dare move. She just stood there, arms at her sides, letting him hold her.

She swallowed guiltily, unable to bring herself to betray him like this. Not while he was still sniffing. But if she didn’t, his anguish would only be greater. She asked the question.

“I’m sorry, but…do I know you?”