A Winter of Ghosts Read Free

way that sheknew she should have assumed meant they were gossiping about her. But she didn'tthink they were. They had lives, just like she did. Families. They had probablyenjoyed the holidays with the people they loved, and now it was a new year.
    No, they would never be friends.
    But maybe it really was a newbeginning for all of them.
     
    Hachiro had seen a lot ofimpossible things since Kara had come into his life, but never a ghost. The oneon the train back to Miyazu City to begin the winter term was his first.
    Late that Monday night, just acouple of days after New Year's, he sat aboard the busy train, head lollingagainst the window, lights strobing across the dark glass as the express shotthrough some commuter station without slowing down. His parents had struggledtrying to decide when to drive him back to school and who would take him, soHachiro had suggested they let him take the train back to Miyazu. At first theyhad balked, but he had appealed to reason. He knew they loved him, but theyboth worked and he could take care of himself. Logic triumphed, and now hefound himself returning to Monju-no-Chie school a day earlier than he'dplanned.
    The early return would be apleasant surprise for Kara, so he had not told her. And Hachiro had quicklydiscovered that he did not mind traveling alone. A couple of hours on a trainhad offered myriad options. He could have played a video game or read baseballmagazines or manga. Instead, he listened to music and read from
To Kill aMockingbird
in English. Professor Harper had assigned it over break andexplained that the subject matter would be addressed in his American Studiesclasses and that it would be a challenge for his English language students. Hachirohad read it twice. Kara's Japanese was excellent, and he wanted to surprise herby improving his command of her language.
    Now, though, as nine o'clockcame and went and the long winter night was well under way, he could not helpclosing his eyes. He drifted in and out of wakefulness, barely aware of themurmured conversations around him, of the old couple attempting to retain theircomposure while their granddaughter exhibited a wild imagination and bursts oflaughing energy, of the rock-star cool university guy with two gigglinggirlfriends fawning over him. They were all just vague background as he dozed.
    The train slowed a bit as itrattled onto older tracks, and so he knew they were not far from Miyazu City. Theride would not be as smooth from here on in, but still he rested his headagainst the window, skull juddering against the glass. Sleepy as he was, Hachirocould not fall into a full slumber because he knew that once he arrived inMiyazu he would have to change to the local train that would take him out alongthe bay to the station just down the street from Monju-no-Chie school.
    The little girl let out a mischievoussqueal, forcing her grandmother to snap at her. Drifting, Hachiro listened, andfelt badly for both the girl, who only wanted to play, and the old woman, whocould not help being embarrassed by what she would see as improper behavior.
    Eyes closed, head jouncingagainst the window, he listened. The too-cool university guy whispered thingsto his female companions that were doubtless far more improper than anythingthe little girl's grandmother could even imagine. There were giggles and morewhispers, and Hachiro began to drift off again.
    A cold draft caressed his faceand slipped like a scarf of silk and snow around his neck. He opened his eyes,wondering where the breeze had come from. Had someone opened a door that letthe winter in?
    He glanced around at thewindows, then at the doors at either end of the car, but saw nothing that couldhave been the source of the draft. Only when he lowered his gaze, shifting inhis seat, did his mind process what he had just seen. A familiar face, spikyblack hair, bright eyes. A face he knew very well.
    Hachiro's heart raced and atentative smile touched his lips. Impossible. He was sleepy, half