"Shizuka, uh, I don't think you understand how the rules work here-" Zahra places a hand on their beau's shoulder, attempting to calm her down, but Shizuka is laser-focused on Hatsu and Veles. She has a job to do.

"On my world, every time that ka as powerful as you are allowed to roam free or manage to find a way to unbind themselves, they cause a lot of trouble for everyone else. Especially when they manage to attach themselves to a mortal's ba—judging by his condition, you've bound yourself pretty damn well. And since I'm the only person currently qualified to be a spirit lawkeeper or whatever on my planet thanks to my Signer mark, it's my job to bust ghosts like you and send you back to the spirit realm. So-"

"Shizuka, you're acting like a cop again."

"..." Shizuka slumps, falling silent. "Oh. Fuck."

"Listen, if these guys were here to make trouble, they'd be making trouble already."

"Now that you put it that way..."

"S'okay."

"I've had a very stressful month. With you gone, a. A lot of bad ka started coming out of the woodworks."

"When was the last time you slept."

"Eleven days ago."

"Sweet Slifer, I..." Zahra abruptly realizes they have company and coughs. "Er. Sorry about that."