Chapter 20
This time, Birk made certain he was in the room when Michi awoke. The young woman came slowly back to consciousness, blinked a bit, and tried to turn over. That act drew a stab of pain; she sucked in a quick breath and squirmed into a more comfortable position. Her eyelids opened another little bit, and she caught sight of Birk. It took a moment for his presence to register in her mind, and then her memory returned.
She tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse and came out more as a croak. “You came back.”
“Kagami did most of the work,” Birk said. “I couldn’t have done anything without her to coordinate.”
There was an awkward silence, as both people wondered how to bridge the gulf between them. “I’m still awfully shaky,” Michi said at last. She looked and found a cup of wate
