I let out a long sigh. "Activated charcoal for what you buried young."
Daisuke’s jaw tightened.
The black powder swirled and sank through the gold similar to a shadow falling through fire.
Hiro whispered, “Damn. This is just as pretty as Daisuke too.”
Everyone chuckled.
Daisuke blushed.
"Now for the highlight of this drink.” A new helper produced a glass dome and a pipe of pale hinoki wood.
Daisuke quirked his brows.
She struck a match, and the hinoki caught. Smoke poured out—thick, white, and perfumed.
Now Kenji and Reo came closer, truly intrigued with where this was going.
She capped the dome over the glass, trapping the smoke inside. Every wisp curled and held.
“Are you all ready?” I lifted a bubble wand from the cart.
“Fuck yes!” Hiro yelled. “Let’s see what you’re about to do, Tora.”
I dipped the wand in clear liquid, then held the wand above the sealed dome.
My helper cracked the dome an inch, and the smoke pooled into the wand, forming a perfect bubble.
“Oh shit.” Daisuke blinked.
I placed the bubble on the rim of the glass. It was fat, full of smoke, and the color of a storm cloud.
"And hinoki smoke." I looked down at the bubble trembling on the surface. "Sacred wood. The essence of your veil. Because you have lived behind one your whole life, yet. . .tonight you stepped through it."
My other helpers were already setting up the other glasses with their own bubble wands.
I brought the bubble topped drink to Daisuke. "The Hinoki Veil. I hope you love it."
“I love everything about this.” Daisuke stepped forward and swallowed. “Thank you.”
I handed it to him. "By the way, I love your dress."
A small smile pulled at Daisuke’s black-painted mouth. “I knew you would.”
He slowly lifted the glass.
The bubble trembled.
Every Claw stilled.
“I feel special.” Daisuke looked at the bubble for one long breath and then he began to drink.
Instantly, the bubble burst.
Smoke bloomed. It rose along his face, climbing in thick white ribbons that twisted around his throat and crawled along his jaw.
“Yes.” I clapped.
