Card Priestess Masami Extra Epilogue

The streets at this time of day are usually absent. Sans a few motorists on their way home after a hard day at work. Pedestrians have long since cleared out from the encroaching cold of the night air. The few who remain clutch their coats and shirts tightly to their back. Slowly, breath becomes visible, and the sound of the neighborhood slowly drifts into the background.

The sounds of the city drift away, then the sounds of the nearby homes fade into being.

Such as this home, filled with the laughter of children and the gossiping of close friends. Surely, it is the definition of a happy home.

"So." A towering figure in the night observes the festivities, "Aren't you going to join them?"
"Nope!" A much smaller figure, clad in garish colors and a silly hat, happily prances around him. She swings off one of his arms; as if he's a walking jungle-gym.

They both turn their attention back to the dwelling of mirth and merry.

"Why don't YOU go join them?" The young girl teases.
The large figure pauses, maybe even considering that as a suggestion.

"That's not my place." His deep, booming voice grumbles as he talks.

With a swift movement, he grabs the tiny girl by the collar of her shirt. Gently, he sets her down next to him.
"You know, there's no reason for you to follow me around anymore." He touches the metallic pad of his finger to her nose, "Fortune is gone, and its employees have moved on."

He stands tall, and paces his way down the sidewalk.
"Move on, Joker."

"No!" The miniature figure commands.
With a pounce, the taller man finds himself with a colorful burden on his shoulders.

"I'm serious, clown." The man sweeps his arms high, snatching the girl from her perch. "Move, on."

"I wanna go where you go!" The larger man is met with the pouting face of a kid who isn't getting her way. "I made a promise to keep following you!"

"You made that promise to an angry little man a long time ago. I'm not that man anymore. Just go on with your own life."

His entire, metallic form turns to walk away.
Yet, he still finds himself burdened. Every step feels like dead-weight hanging from his shoulders.

"..You're not going to leave me alone, are you?" He states to the phantom clinging to his back.
"Nope!" The colorful phantom replies.

With a grumble, the monster slowly sets the phantom off his shoulders once more.
"Do you even know where I'm going?"
"Don't care!"

They continue their trek down the sidewalk in silence. The moon shines bright enough over the night to not even need the few streetlights that are actually working.

"So, where are we going?"

"Away from town, for a while. We're traveling with a friend." He pauses.

The dimly-lit lights of the Hospital come into view. The monster's eyes are fixed on a tiny light shining from one of the rooms.
"Last chance to back out."
"Last chance to quit asking me to leave." The little girl crosses her arms.

Slowly, they both fade under the evening moon. To an outside observer; it would almost appear as if they vanished.

On a night like this, there isn't anyone around to notice them disappear. Several minutes later, the light in the hospital's window flicks out.