Goodbyes are said on the sidewalk outside the okiya. Miko wants me to come to the izakaya more often, and I agree. I miss it too much to stay away now. When she and Yoichi walk away together, hand-in-hand towards Ku 6, jealousy rises in my chest, the fiery dragon awakening once again. I wish Jiro were taking me home with him. Then Mariko hugs me and asks me over for tea, and the dragon settles in for a nap. I’m glad the evening ended on better footing than it began.
Jiro links hands with me again and drags me to the transitway entrance. A train arrives at the platform almost immediately, and we find two seats next to each other. Instead of talking, I rest my head on his shoulder, and he traces the bones in my hand with his finger. It’s so comfortable and easy that I could fall asleep.