She dreams of white feathers and radiant eyes and a smile like sunshine.

In time, the wounds scab over and she can speak of him without choking up. He’s only an ordinary boy, now. A stupid boy obsessed with his own sister, who bungled up everything and let her down so many times and never loved her anyway. She knows it’s not true, but when the ache grows too strong it’s soothing.

She makes little excuses to wander into Tokyo on dragon-back. Best to keep an eye on things, really. Noise smiles understandingly; she always returns.

It’s better this way.