Cards Of The Silent King-Chapter 37: Kuro Doesn’t Say It

The concrete was cold. Kaito sat on the curb outside the textile factory. His back rested against the brick wall. The sun was rising. The light was grey.

His hands lay on his knees. They were shaking. Just slightly. He clenched them into fists. The shaking stopped.

The street was empty. A single car passed on the main road. The sound faded.

Kaito breathed. The air smelled of rain and ozone. It smelled of the seal he had just finished.

Kuro stood in front of him. He was in human form. He wore the dark feathered coat. His arms were crossed. He looked at the street. He did not look at Kaito.

Kaito waited.

Kuro usually had something to say. He usually had an opinion. He usually had a critique.

Kaito said: "Well."

Kuro did not answer. He shifted his weight. He looked at his boots. They were clean. No dust. Shadows did not collect dust.

Kaito said: "Kuro."

Kuro looked at him. His eyes were dark. They reflected the grey light. He did not speak.

Kaito thought: Something is wrong.

Kaito thought: He is never quiet.

Kaito thought: Unless it was close.

Kaito looked at his hands again. The knuckles were white. The skin was pale. He could see the veins.

Kuro stepped forward. He sat down on the curb. He sat next to Kaito. Their shoulders were almost touching. They did not touch.

Kaito thought: He never sits.

Kaito thought: He says sitting is for humans.

Kaito thought: He is sitting.

The silence stretched. It was not uncomfortable. It was heavy. It felt like a blanket. It felt like armor.

A bird landed on the wire above them. It chirped. It flew away.

Kaito said: "Talk."

Kuro said: "No."

Kaito said: "Why."

Kuro said: "Nothing to say."

Kaito looked at him. Kuro was staring at the opposite building. The windows were dark. The blinds were closed.

Kaito thought: He is worried.

Kaito thought: He does not show worry.

Kaito thought: This is worry.

Kaito leaned his head back. The brick was rough against his hair. He closed his eyes.

He could feel the cards in his jacket. They were warm. They pulsed slowly. They were resting.

Kuro shifted again. He moved his hand. He hovered it over Kaito’s knee. He did not touch. He pulled it back.

Kaito said: "You can." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Kuro said: "I know."

Kuro did not touch him. He kept his hand on his own leg. He clenched his fist. He released it.

Kaito thought: He wants to check.

Kaito thought: He wants to know if I am broken.

Kaito thought: He will not ask.

Kaito opened his eyes. He looked at the sky. The clouds were breaking. The sun was coming through. It was pale yellow.

Kaito said: "I am fine."

Kuro said: "You are not."

Kaito said: "I am standing."

Kuro said: "For now."

Kaito said: "Enough."

Kuro said: "Yes."

Kuro stood up. He brushed off his coat. There was no dust. The gesture was habitual. Human.

Kaito watched him. He saw the tension in Kuro’s shoulders. He saw the way he held his neck. It was stiff.

Kaito thought: He fought too.

Kaito thought: He used his shadow.

Kaito thought: It cost him.

Kaito stood up. His legs locked. He waited for the dizziness. It did not come. He was stable.

Kaito said: "Home."

Kuro said: "Yes."

Kuro turned. He started walking. He did not use shadow travel. He walked on the pavement. He matched Kaito’s pace.

Kaito walked beside him. They did not speak. The street was quiet. The city was waking up.

A delivery truck turned the corner. It slowed down. The driver looked at them. He looked at the factory. He drove away.

Kaito thought: He saw the damage.

Kaito thought: He will not report it.

Kaito thought: People look away.

Kuro stopped at the intersection. The light was red. He waited. He did not walk through the shadow. He waited for the green light.

Kaito said: "You can skip."

Kuro said: "I am walking."

Kaito said: "Why."

Kuro said: "Because you are."

The light turned green. They crossed the street. The pavement was cracked. Weeds grew in the gaps.

Kaito thought: He is staying close.

Kaito thought: He is guarding.

Kaito thought: He thinks I will fall.

Kaito did not fall. He kept walking. He kept his back straight. He kept his hands in his pockets.

He touched the cards. They were still warm. They were steady.

Kuro said: "The seal held."

Kaito said: "Yes."

Kuro said: "For now."

Kaito said: "Everything is for now."

Kuro said: "True."

They walked for ten minutes. The Grey District faded. The buildings became newer. The streets became cleaner.

Kuro stopped at the corner of Kaito’s block. He did not go further. He usually went into the card at the door.

Kaito said: "Coming in."

Kuro said: "No."

Kaito said: "Why."

Kuro said: "Rest."

Kaito said: "You too."

Kuro said: "I do not rest."

Kaito said: "Try."

Kuro looked at him. For a second, the darkness in his eyes softened. It was barely visible. It was there.

Kuro said: "Go inside."

Kaito said: "Okay."

Kaito turned. He walked toward the building. He did not look back. He knew Kuro was watching. He could feel it.

It was like a weight on his back. It was not heavy. It was supportive.

Kaito thought: He is scared.

Kaito thought: He does not say it.

Kaito thought: I know.

Kaito reached the door. He put his key in the lock. He turned it. He pushed the door open.

He stepped inside. He closed the door. He locked it.

He leaned against the wood. He listened.

There was no sound outside. No footsteps. No shadow movement.

Kaito thought: He is still there.

Kaito thought: Waiting.

Kaito pushed off the door. He walked to the kitchen. He turned on the light. It was bright. It hurt his eyes.

He opened the cupboard. He took out a glass. He filled it with water. He drank it all.

He put the glass in the sink. He did not wash it.

He walked to the table. The cards were still in his jacket. He took off the jacket. He laid it on the chair.

He sat down. He put his head in his hands.

He breathed. In. Out. In. Out.

The exhaustion hit him all at once. It was not physical. It was spiritual. It was in the bones.

Kaito thought: Twenty four hours.

Kaito thought: Jin said twenty four.

Kaito thought: I have to sleep.

Kaito stood up. He walked to the bedroom. He did not turn off the kitchen light. He left it on.

He lay on the bed. He closed his eyes.

He did not sleep immediately. He listened to the apartment. It was quiet.

He thought about the curb. He thought about Kuro sitting there.

Kaito thought: He has never done that.

Kaito thought: In two years.

Kaito thought: Never.

Kaito rolled onto his side. He faced the window. The curtains were open. The sky was blue now.

Kaito thought: He knows something.

Kaito thought: He is not telling me.

Kaito thought: He is protecting me from it.

Kaito closed his eyes. He forced his body to relax. He forced his mind to stop.

Sleep came. It was heavy. It was dark.

He did not dream.

He woke up four hours later. The light was different. The sun was higher.

He sat up. He checked his phone. One message.

Jin said: "School."

Kaito said: "Going."

He stood up. He washed his face. He put on the jacket.

He checked the pockets. The cards were secure.

He opened the door. He stepped into the hallway.

Kuro was not there. He was in the card. Kaito could feel him. He was awake.

Kaito thought: He is ready.

Kaito thought: I am ready.

Kaito thought: We have to be.

He walked down the stairs. He went outside. The air was warm. The city was busy.

He walked toward the school. He kept his hand in his pocket. He touched the Ace of Spades.

It was cold. Not ice cold. Cool. Like shadow.

Kaito thought: He is watching.

Kaito thought: From inside.

Kaito thought: He will not sit on the curb again.

Kaito thought: Unless I need him to.

Kaito reached the school gate. It was open. Students were entering.

He walked through. He kept his head down. He kept his pace steady.

He did not look for Kuro. He did not need to.

He knew.

The silence was enough.

The curb was empty.

The fight was over.

The next one was coming.

Kaito put his hand on the wall. He felt the vibration. It was faint.

Kaito said: "Found it."

Kuro said: "Yes."

Kaito said: "Now."

Kuro said: "Now."

Kaito walked toward the stairs. He did not run. He did not hurry.

He moved with purpose.

The silence followed him.

It was not empty.

It was full.

It was ready.

The bell rang.

Kaito climbed the stairs.

He did not look back.

He knew Kuro was there.

That was all that mattered.