S-2877 • L3 Sintoluna • D28 Silente
"Sintoluna tunes the thread above. Silente pours nearly full silver. The tide gathers song in a gentle curve. The portal already shines in the air."
BILAB, SOLTERRA
It was almost one in the morning.
Hikaru dragged himself into the room, exhausted.
He had been organizing the information requested by the Father and the Matriarch.
Selling data to mercenaries.
Managing his robotic creations.
He wanted more time for them.
Blue and silver slid over him.
White sheets on the bed.
The nanoblanket slowly shifted colors.
Holograms projected data.
Graphs.
Devices.
Robots.
Tools.
Droids.
Disassembled miniatures cluttered the desk.
Glass shelves rose to the ceiling.
Packed with books.
Gadgets.
Curious artifacts.
Vials of nanosamples labeled with precision.
A plant purified the air.
An asymmetrical sofa rested in the corner.
Textured cushions.
A small bar displayed exotic and energizing drinks.
He thought about refining that spider-drone.
Pain snagged his shoulder.
He took a shower.
Stepped out—
and froze.
A shadow from the past waited for him.
He had not seen him for an entire solar cycle.
Soaked from head to toe.
Covered in blood.
A trail of red water slithered across the floor.
It came from above.
Kuso.
How did he get in from the top?
Hikaru was certain that entire area was impenetrable.
The windows.
The access points.
And yet, there he was.
Damn it.
That guy again.
Saymon wore a red smile.
Cuts marked his face and neck.
Golden eyes sparked beneath purple bruises.
His coat was torn, revealing deep wounds on his arms.
He walked slowly, a faint limp in his right leg.
What the hell had happened to him?
Even in that state, his intoxicating aura wrapped around Hikaru.
He stepped back until his body hit the wall.
The metallic scent of blood mixed with the mercenary's citrus perfume.
Saymon leaned over the nanoengineer.
He lifted a soaked cupcake.
"Tanjōbi omedetō, Hika-chan," he whispered into his ear.
Happy birthday.
The seductive cadence of his voice.
Tension vibrated in the air.
Then the pressure collapsed.
Saymon fell.
Hikaru bathed him.
Treated his wounds.
Sat down on the sofa.
Confused.
Perplexed.
So many scars.
What tattoos were those?
What did it mean that this man was sleeping in his bed?
He fell asleep hours later, right there.
He woke up in the bed.
A hand rested heavy on his waist.
He moved his head.
He must be dreaming.
No.
It could be a dream—
but it was real.
That man was still there.
More than that.
When had he ended up in the bed?
Saymon's grip tightened.
A shiver ran through Hikaru's body.
Lightning.
The nanoengineer slipped out of the embrace.
Stood up.
His heart racing wildly.
Saymon opened his eyes.
Awake.
Bright.
Amused.
His gaze locked onto Hikaru's uncertain one.
He dressed slowly.
Before leaving, he stepped closer.
Too close.
Stealing Hikaru's breath.
"Hmm… a black-eyed kitten appeared in my dreams today.
What do you think that means?"
The smile was pure provocation.
His eyes silent flames.
"I think you'll like the visit later today."
Then he left.
Cruel.
Indifferent.
Hikaru sank into the chair.
Trying to untangle everything.
Chikushō.
That guy.
Late afternoon
An explosive energy burst through the door.
Inoue stormed through the library like a hurricane.
"Baka! So this is where you've been hiding?
How could you betray me like that?"
His voice overflowed with hurt.
"I only wanted to be alone for a few hours, not for an entire solar cycle!"
Hikaru explained hundreds of times.
Even so, Inoue returned to Japan furious.
Over the course of that solar cycle
That scene.
That repetition.
That cycle.
Moon after moon.
Saymon appeared late at night.
Bloodied.
Wounded.
He would collapse.
Hikaru bathed him.
Treated his injuries.
Left him in the bed.
Slept on the sofa.
Woke up in the bed.
In Saymon's arms.
Saymon woke.
Left silently.
Honestly, why did it still frustrate him?
Why did he expect something different?
Even the nanoengineer did not understand the strange tickle in his heart.
And the irritation at Saymon's coldness.
That damned irritation.
Why did he care?
Damn it.
Tanu appeared with a cup of coffee.
"Master, why does that guy always act…
like he's the only one that matters?"
His glowing eyes analyzed Hikaru.
"He doesn't even say thank you!"
His tiny voice rose.
"Just because he looks at you like that, in that… I don't even know what…"
He adjusted his gray sweater.
"You're an idiot, that's what."
Hikaru took a sip.
The coffee slid hot down his throat.
Not enough to warm the tightness in his chest.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Quiet, Tanu."
His voice came out firm.
Cold.
"Did you do what I asked?"
Tanu twisted his snout.
Turned away, grumbling.
Muttering low—but still heard.
"Yeah, yeah…
Pretend all you want…"
His ears rotated slightly.
"I can hear your heartbeat whenever he's near, idiot."
Hikaru remained silent.
"Did you research that painting in the Aether Federal Court?
The zeniths call the anonymous artist the Artist of Chaos.
From what we saw that day on the island…
I think I have a good idea who he really is."
The metallic steps of the raccoon-dog faded away.
But his words did not.
They echoed like a misaligned engine.
Hikaru wanted to ignore them.
Wanted to forget.
But he knew running from it forever was an illusion.
His fingers tightened around the cup.
More than he intended.
The coffee inside trembled.
And something inside him trembled too.