“Who is it?!” Urie yells, stomping up to the Chateau front door. “Go away, you rapscallion imbecile.”
He screams then. His hair momentarily turns white.
“Urie,” whispers Shirazu, his dead friend.
“You’re a lie!” Urie slams the door shut.
“What’s going on?” Higemaru bounds up to the door. “Hello?”
————————————-
When Higa screams, Saiko knows she needs to head downstairs. “What’s this about?”
“There’s a ghost!” wails Higemaru.
Aura heads towards the door with a shrug.
“Oh my god!” He slams the door shut again.
“I didn’t see!” Saiko shouts.
“Men are idiots.” Hsaio hurries forward and yanks open the door.
“Don’t you remember me?” Shirazu sounds scared.
“You idiot!” Saiko tackles him. “Like we could forget you.”
“How?” wails Urie.
Mutsuki finally exits his room, tromps downstairs, and freezes. “No.”
“Mucchan,” whispers Shirazu, opening his arms. Urie launches himself into them first.
“How?” Mutsuki repeats Urie’s question. He’s too scared for a hug. Good things don’t happen, not anymore.
“Kanou. I’m going to have to pretend to be his puppet, but I can’t do that – I needed to see you all first.” Shirazu blinks back tears. “You have to know it’s really me.”
“I know.” Mutsuki’s face crumbles. “I love you, too.”
Hsaio has the presence of mind to shut the door, and all the Quinx, even the new ones, gather around for an embrace.
Mercy and Magic 