Morning light filled the apartment. It was pale and dustless. Kaito sat at his desk. He cleaned the bruise on his shoulder with antiseptic. The cotton swab stung. He did not flinch.
The torn jacket lay on the chair. He would sew it later. For now, he focused on the cards. They were spread out in a fan. The King of Fangs sat in the center. It was cool to the touch now. The heat from the merge had faded.
Kuro perched on the edge of the desk. He was in his human form. He wore the dark-feathered coat. His legs were crossed. He looked like a student waiting for class to start.
Kaito said: "Tell me about the adaptation."
Kuro said: "Which part."
Kaito said: "The thinking. The planning."
Kuro said: "Ah. That."
Kuro picked up a pen from the desk. He spun it between his fingers. The movement was idle. His face was unreadable.
Kaito said: "You have seen it before."
Kuro said: "I have seen many things. Most of them are boring."
Kaito said: "This was not boring."
