A/N: Hai! Chapter 2 is up! I ended up writing this chapter earlier than expected XD Seriously, I was like: Oh, there's nothing to do at home after studying so why not writing the new chapter to StarCounter! But I guess it's better that way. PLZ ENJOY ;3
«Take my hand!» the girl said after a few minutes and reached out her hand. I gulped and took it and let her gently drag me. She gave me a smile, before she forced herself through the sparkling, blue barrier with me behind her. It was almost like walking through a shaking wall of jelly with pieces of corn flakes in it. It gave me shivers, so I closed my eyes as I followed her. Just as we managed through, my face got hit by a heavenly aroma and atmosphere surrounding every inch of my body.
I could tell that that there were people everywhere. Just the presence of them made me feel a lot calmer. I saw a slight blueish or greenish color through my closed eyelids, floating through the air. Even the sounds I could hear took made my heart and mind relax, thanks to the amazing sound of small rocks carefully smashing against triangles. I deeply inhaled the fresh smelling air and let it all out. «Open your eyes», the girl said and stroked my head. I did as she told me.
The image I saw, took my breath away.
The «sky» above us, was glistening in the most beautiful hues of blue, purple, green and yellow, but mostly blue. They were in different colors floating around in the sky while sparkling and sometimes laying down on the ground like some kind of fog. I tried to touch them, but when I did, they just quickly floated back up again. As I looked underneath me, I noticed some kind of grass, but it didn't look or feel like it. It was in a really light blue color, and it was super soft. As I kept looking at it, I noticed that it released some yellow, glowing fragments floating up from the grass and hitting the colors in the «sky», making it appear golden, glowing ripples all over the sky.
When I looked around, I noticed some other people flying around the atmosphere, as if gravity didn't exist. They were in all ages and in all genders. They were all extremely pale and the females were wearing similar dresses like the girl, while the males were wearing a white long sleeved shirt and white, airy pants. It almost look like they didn't have feet at all, since from the waist and down, their legs were slightly fading. The whole place was so beautiful. The girl giggled and said: «This is the Seventh Heaven. My world».
I wasn't used to any of this yet. The colors, the fragments, the atmosphere, the scents, the auras and the sounds. As I witnessed more, the even more questions I had. I turned to her and asked: «Who are you?»
She covered her mouth with both hands and blurted out: «Oh my, how rude! I haven't introduced myself yet!» I chuckled at her flustered expression. She coughed, straightened up her back and said: «My name is Ayumi Shinozaki! You can call me Ayumi, though. Nice to meet you!» She reached out her hand to me. «Yoshiki Kishinuma. Nice to meet you too», I said and shaked her hand with a smile.
I turned away from her and looked around the seventh heaven one more time. Like I said, I still wasn't used to it. The whole place is so huge. Even if I looked as far as I could, it didn't end. «Just how big is this place?» I asked her. Shinozaki shrugged her shoulders. «I don't know. None of the souls here have even bothered to research the area…Except for one», she answered. My whole body twitched. «S-souls?!» I asked panicked. I know that I maybe should have asked her who that person was, but I was too distracted by what she said instead of «person». Shinozaki sighed and took my hand. «I'll explain. Hold on tight!» she said. Just as I was about to ask her what she meant, we were already about a meter over the ground.
«WAAAAAH!» I yelled out in panic and clutched to her tightly. H-how does she do that!? I closed my eyes and whimpered. I've never stomached heights that well. Noticing my fear, Shinozaki held me tighter. «Don't worry. I won't let you go», she said to comfort me. I was still whimpering, but I managed to keep my eyes open. The way we moved so swiftly in the sky, made me forget my fear of both supernatural stuff and heights. Like she promised me, she didn't let go of me and held me really tightly to protect me. G-Gosh, why am I thinking of it like that?!
She lead me to all of the high points in the sky, allowing me to touch the sparkling colors. After flying away from the crowd of people, she found an empty place only surrounded by the blue grass and softly laid me down and laid herself down next to me. My heart slowed down, thanks to the slight breeze and the feeling of the grass. I eventually managed to breathe in a normal pace as I could touch the grass.
«Um…Shinozaki, was it?» I asked. «Mhm! What is it?» she asked with a smile. I wanted to ask her to not look at me like that if she wanted to keep thinking of me as a thug, but I tried to turn my face from her while asking: «So…This is really the Seventh Heaven?» She nodded, not saying anything. When she says it like that as if it's no big deal, it makes me wanna shake her as hard as I can. So, you're basically telling met hat what people think is only a fantasy, is actually real?! What the fuck!? Sigh, I need to calm down. She said it herself, she doesn't want to hurt me or anything.
«Ask me anything. You must be pretty shocked and confused now», Shinozaki said. I nodded, even though it wasn't the complete truth. I was shocked at first, but it quickly dissapeared by her telling met hat it was nothing to fear. I was confused, but I think «fascinated» is a better way to explain my feelings at that moment.
I turned my face to her and asked: «I thought it was just a legend. How can this be real?» She knitted her eyebrows together and asked: «Why was the earth created?» My eyes widened at her sudden question and it only got worse when I couldn't find words to use as an answer. Shinozaki giggled and said: «Exactly. You can't really answer that. I don't really know why either. It just…exists. It's as simple as that». «Okay…», I mumbled. That seems…reasonable? «Don't you have any other questions? Like for instance, how this world works?» Shinozaki asked me. «I do,» I atmitted and chuckled. «Go ahead,»she said. «You said «souls». Just…what do you mean by that?»I asked her. Shinozaki explained:
«You've heard about the legend, haven't you? If you carve the name of a dead person on the Andromeda tree, their soul will get trapped in the seventh heaven. A lot of people really think that the rumor is true. And believe it or not, it is. Every single person you saw just now, are the souls of the dead people or people who are no longer connected with their bodies who's name's been carved in on the tree. We're trapped in here, and we won't get out as long as the tree lives. We can only move one body part at the time outside of the seventh heaven.»
«What happens then? When the tree dies, I mean…», I asked her. She sighed and said: «I don't know. We'll just dissapear, I guess…». Dissapear…It sounded really sad when she said. Disappear… But, won't they still end up somewhere? «The souls here…are they actual people?» I asked her. «We wouldn't call ourselves «people». We're just souls», she said, a grim look appearing on her face when I asked her that. «But you look human. Except for the skin color and all that, that is…», I muttered. «The way we look, is just an image of what our bodies looked like the second before we got seperated from our bodies. Even though I can interact with people, there's no blood running through my veins. Even though I am a living person, I have no pulse nor a heartbeat. I'm just…an image, in a way,» Shinozaki explained.
«An illusion?» I asked. She shrugged her shoulders and said: «I guess.» «That means…that you're dead, right?» I asked. Just then, I realized that I maybe shouldn't have asked her that. She remained quiet without moving an inch. She is dead then, isn't she…? «I…I'm sorry…», I said. She put on forced a smile and said: «No no, it's not that…I will tell you, but…Now is too early». I mentally hit myself. How could I be so selfish?! I'm pretty sure even souls have their limits! Sometimes, my curiousity gets the better of me. «How long have you been here…if you don't mind me asking», I asked her. «Hmm…A little over a year, I think», she answered.
I guess I don't really have anything else to ask her about when it comes to her world. I pretty much know the basics now, I think. But there's still something I don't understand…
«Shinozaki?» I asked her. «I told you, call me Ayumi. What is it?» she asked me. «Why did you bring me here?» I asked. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. I could see that she smiled a bit and looked bashfully at me. «I…I was bored», she answered. «Huh? Bored?» I asked her. She nodded. «There's not much to do here, except talking with others and fly around. I wanted to…be able to interact with a human again, after that long year», she answered. «Well…why me?» I asked her. She giggled and said:
«Ever since I came here, I've been noticing your precense Kishinuma-kun. I told you that we could only have one body part at the time outside of the tree, right? I would just look at you as you laid down there, talking to yourself, listening to music and just sleep. I wanted to speak to you, but I didn't want you to be involved in this whole seventh heaven thing. But today, I gave up. I really wanted to talk to a human after so long».
Gulp. She saw me when I talked to myself?! That's so embarrasing! I blushed furiously and covered my mouth. «Oh, and you must be having a good time here, right?» I asked. She sighed and crossed her arms, as if frustrated because she couldn't find the right words. Jesus, what is wrong with me… Or rather, why wouldn't she enjoy it here? She coughed and answered: «I suppose this world is what every human could possibly dream of. But for us, who have stayed here for so long… It's like a prison we won't get out of anytime soon.» «I-I see… I wouldn't understand, would I?» I asked sheepishly. She giggled, looked at me and said: «You would. If you wanted to.»
Oh… Hypnothized by her sapphire-blue eyes, I was in the state of being paralyzed by her. The way she spoke, the way she moved and the way she looked… Noticing my composure, she laughed at me and took my hand. «We have plenty of time. Let me show you some more beautiful things!» she said and grabbed me before she flew me to amazing new places.
The whole place had so many amazing things! There were giant golden clouds that you could stand on without falling down. The whole world was filled with glass butterflies. Glass butterflies are butterflies with really shiny and sparkly silver wings, making them seem invisible. They were truly beautiful! Time went by really fast, and before I knew it, it was already 10 PM.
«I have to go now. I had a great time, though!» I told her. She nodded understandingly. «I'll show you the way out», she said and led me back to the barrier. Just as I was about to exit, I considered asking her… Maybe she just thinks of me as a pet or something? No, not possible. She wouldn't bring a pet here. Geez, I'll just ask her!
«Shinozaki…», I asked. «Hm? What is it?» she asked me. «Can…can I see you tomorrow?» I asked her while blushing. She giggled and said: «Of course. I'll always be here. Just call out to me», she said. I nodded and gave her one last smile before I jumped into the barrier. At that moment, I once again felt the sadness of waking up from a dream.
That…there's no way that was a dream. The name Ayumi Shinozaki is even carved in on the tree, right here! I ran my fingers over her name, recalling her voice and face. The image made me feel all fuzzy inside. I really want to see her again. But…why did she look so sad when I asked her about her death?
Just what's with her and her past?
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! I'll probably try to update everyday from now on, like I always do. UNTIL NEXT TIME ;3