Flicker of Power

The night was still, but Emiko's mind was anything but.

She sat in the courtyard of The Hollow Lantern, the cool air having little effect on the soreness in her muscles. Saya had really put her through the ringer; her whole body felt like it was in flames. Her arms were lead; her legs were sand.

And yet, she wasn't resting.

She stared at the tiny wooden bead in her hand which Saya had given her earlier that day.

"Figure it out," Saya had told him.

Easier said than done.

She ran her fingers over the bead, squinting. She had observed Kaito moving in a fusion of light and lightning, had witnessed Saya countering attacks before the threats had even manifested. If all that came from spirit energy, she needed to access hers.

But how?

She shut her eyes, attempting to concentrate.

Seconds passed. Then minutes.

Nothing.

She exhaled sharply with frustration and opened her eyes. The bead remained just a bead.

Perhaps this just isn't for me.

She heard footsteps approaching behind her.

"You're overthinking it," Kaito said.

Emiko sighed and gazed up at him. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to invent this from scratch."

Kaito smirked. "True. But analyzing it more won't help you move on. You're trying to force it. Spirit energy isn't something you create; it's something you allow to flow.

Emiko frowned. "That's vague."

Kaito shrugged. "Welcome to the world of Shinigami.

He knelt next to her, tapping a finger on the bead. "This is just a tool. It's a way to hone in on where to direct that energy, but it won't give it to you. That has to come from you."

Emiko glanced down at the bead again. "And how do I make it flow?"

After brief hesitation, Kaito sighed. "Close your eyes."

She did.

"Now, do not try to force it," said Kaito. "Breathe. Feel."

Emiko inhaled slowly. The cool night air brushed against her skin, the sounds of the city humming in the background.

She attempted to listen, to feel something — anything — inside herself.

Initially, there was nothing but silence.

But then…

A flicker.

Faint. Distant. A lone ember in a coal-black expanse.

Her breath hitched.

Is that—?

And the moment she admitted it, the ember flickered and went out.

She gasped sharply and opened her eyes. "I—"

Kaito was staring at her as well. "You felt it, didn't you?"

Emiko nodded. "It was… small. Just for a second."

Kaito smirked. "That's a start."

Emiko exhaled. A start.

But she would require way more than that.

The next morning, Emiko stood in the courtyard, once more gripping a wooden practice sword. Saya stood facing her, arms crossed, golden eyes expectant.

"You've made it two days through training," Saya said. Hope you've learned something," it said.

Emiko gulped. "You mean—?"

Saya smirked. "We fight."

Before Emiko could respond, Saya pounced.

Emiko had barely time to raise her sword before Saya's stroke plunged down. The impact jolted her arms and sent her stumbling backward.

Saya didn't relent.

Then a flurry of strikes, faster than Emiko could track. Every instinct screamed for her to avoid it, but her body wasn't fast enough.

Saya's foot shot out, twisting around Emiko's ankle.

Emiko dropped to the ground with a yelp.

Kaito sighed from the side. "That was embarrassing."

Emiko groaned. "I hate you."

Saya chuckled, stepping back. "Again."

Emiko braced herself, tightening her grip on the sword. Focus.

This time, that didn't rely on her eyes, when Saya attacked. She looked to feel the movement, to sense the shift in the air.

So she became ember, a flickering thing.

Saya's strike went — but Emiko evaded. Not perfectly, not smoothly, but well enough." She ducked out of its way just in time.

Kaito's brows arched delicately. "Not bad."

Emiko didn't have time to celebrate. Saya came at her again.

Emiko deflected, just managing to halt the next blow. Then another. And another. Each time, she could feel the ember burning a little brighter.

Then—

Saya changed tactics.

She didn't strike with her sword, but moved to the front, faster than Emiko could respond.

Before Emiko knew what had happened, Saya's palm hit the pit of her stomach.

The force sent Emiko flying. It crashed to the ground and she coughed.

Saya rolled her shoulders. "You're improving. But not fast enough."

Emiko clenched her fists. Not fast enough.

She wasn't strong enough yet.

But she would be.

She had to be.

As Emiko tended her bruises that night, Kaito took to the rooftop again.

But this time, he was not alone.

The air had weight around him, saturated with invisible force. A frigid presence lurked nearby, observing. Waiting.

Kaito didn't turn.

"You can come out now."

A low chuckle sounded from the darkness.

A figure stepped out from behind the shadows. Tall, wearing a dark cloak, eyes of gold in the night.

Tsubaki.

"You could feel me this time," Tsubaki said with a grin.

Kaito's jaw tightened. "You really weren't being subtle."

Tsubaki smirked. "True. But I wanted to check in to see if you had noticed."

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

Tsubaki tilted his head. "You know already, don't you?"

Kaito exhaled slowly. "The Council is moving."

Tsubaki nodded. "And they won't stop until you're gone."

Kaito's grip tightened.

"You could make this simple," Tsubaki said. "Surrender. Terminate this before further blood is shed."

Kaito scoffed. "You know that is not happening."

Tsubaki smiled. "I was hoping you would say that."

Then with a flash of motion he disappeared into the darkness.

Kaito gripped his fists in place for a long moment.

The war was coming.

And this time there would be no running.