Author: This was supposed to be updated about two weeks ago but I'm not feeling very well so I wasn't able to even type a single word for "Anything for Love" Chapter 05.

A dream...an almost realistic dream. Strange. It was as though it was a past experience...long forgotten. A fragmented memory long lost within the subconsciousness.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be really strong like you!

He he he. Why is that?

Because you are so smart and really strong!

Is that so...?

[Crimson] woke up a little nauseas but when she slowly raised her back, she suddenly felt so light headed. She was surrounded by four metallic walls as she was sitting on the bed.

"Ugh...Where am I...?"

Suddenly, she felt a daze echoing in her head and as [Crimson] forced her dizzy head to calm down, she lost consciousness for a brief moment.

"It happened again..."

A few moments ago she was inside a closed room, now [Crimson] opened her eyes only to find herself in a middle of a park.

"I hate it when this happens"

Sighing with an annoyed groan, [Crimson] started walking as she tried to remember where she was before...this happened.

Meanwhile...

Inside Ratatoskr, Kotori's crew informed her that the Spirit known as [Crimson] suddenly disappeared from the room she was resting. When Kotori checked it for herself, the Spirit indeed disappeared out of nowhere.

"How could a girl like her vanish out of thin air?"

They checked the surveillance and there was no sign that [Crimson] went out of her room. As Kotori pondered with a grumpy face, Reine calmly looked at the commander.

"Well that girl happens to be an elusive S class Spirit" Reine reminded

"So are you saying she used her powers to disappear?" Kotori raised an eyebrow

"It's just a theory but [Crimson]'s powers may be related to spatial manipulation"

"What makes you say that?"

"On our data base, she displayed the ability to manipulate spacequakes and vanish in an instant"

Kotori did remember when [Crimson] reappeared after months dormancy and she was able to generate spacequakes around her without harming the Spirit itself.

"Reine, get all the surveillance we got in the city!" Kotori ordered

"Sure"

After leaving the control room, Reine faintly sighed beyond the metallic door as she looked in a distance.

"Now I know her connection...with that being"

While Ratatoskr was still searching for [Crimson], the Spirit itself got herself lost within Tengu City.

"This is so annoying! I'm lost again!"

Frustrated at how she was lost, [Crimson] angrily yelled in the sky as she stomped the ground.

"What are you yelling at, little girl?"

In an empty street, a calm and alluring voice asked [Crimson] who was slightly startled by the sudden presence. When she turned her body towards the voice's direction, both parties were a little surprised.

"Fuyumi? So you really are..."

The person [Crimson] was facing was none other than Kurumi. The merciless Spirit looked surprised but it changed to a more softer expression. She doesn't recognize Kurumi but the latter seemed to know her.

"...A...aah..."

As [Crimson] was about to turn and run away, Kurumi grabbed her wrist and looked at the frightened Spirit with...worried eyes?

"Don't you remember me?" Kurumi sadly asked

"I-I don't know you..." [Crimson] averted her gaze

"Can't you remember? I'm-"

As Kurumi was about to speak, someone's...Shido calling out the young Spirit interrupted. When Shido and Tohka arrived at the scene, they saw Kurumi grabbing [Crimson] by the wrist.

"Kurumi?!" Shido felt his heart raced

When [Crimson] saw the two, she ran to their side and hide as though she was a scared little child.

"It's you!" Tohka looked like she was ready to fight

"This will be...a little difficult"

Kurumi had her attention to [Crimson] even as she retreated in the shadows. After that brief encounter, Shido sighed in relief.

"Are you alright?" Shido looked over to [Crimson]

"I'm...fine" [Crimson] averted her gaze

"Then let's go back" Tohka lead the way

[Crimson] can't remove the memory of Kurumi looking at her with a strange expression. The moment she saw that Spirit's face, static images flooded her thought as though it triggered something. [Crimson] could not understand why she felt strange wheb she looked at Kurumi.

"How exactly did you disappear in an instant?"

Kotori interrogated [Crimson] inside a sound proof wall as she look at the Spirit with pure suspicion. The latter could only narrow her eyes and wondered why Kotori was so...upset.

"I don't know"

"You disappeared from the ship and reappeared in the city"

It was still a mystery to them to how a Spirit like her could teleport from one place to another in an instant.

"At least that [Nightmare] didn't hurt you" Kotori sighed

"Who is...[Nightmare]?" [Crimson] curiously asked

"She's a dangerous Spirit that goes by the name Tokisaki Kurumi"

Before leaving, Kotori warned her to not approach or confront a dangerous Spirit like Kuruni since she was known to slaughter thousands of innocent people.

"We have to secure that Spirit. We can't let another incident" Kotori told Reine

"I suggest we let the Spirit have a little freedom and explore the city" Reine suggested

"Shido can take care of that. I'm just worried she might cause that incident again"

"Ah...that incident. I assume you trust Shin to prevent that"

After Reine and Kotori finished discussing, [Crimson], bit her lip as she clenched her fist. A deep regret and sorrow was visible to her face as though it tragecially reminded her.

"...Why does it hurts...so much"

There are gaps within her memories she can't explain and this was what pained her the most. When her head was attacked with stinging pain again, she closed her eyes until it settle down.

Unknown Location...

Sitting on the rooftop of an abandones building, Kurumi looked into the slow moving clouds as deeply pondered

"Oh? It's you..."

When she turned her head, slow footsteps drew closer on her location and the presence of that person made her gently smiled.

"She doesn't seem to remember me. How upsetting" Kurumi sighed

"..."

"I don't like forcing her but I have to make an exception...just this once"

"..."

"You really do make bold suggestions" Kurumi softly chuckled

A figure at the size of a young adolescent slowly walked closer and stopped beside Kurumi. The white hood and the angle covered the figure's face but her gentle smile was visible.

"I can make your death slow and painful if you insult her again"

"..."

"Good. But I still have to take her back though. I have the rights to do so"

"..."

"Hmm? Attach to Shido-san? That would be...impossible"

"..."

"Why is that, huh? How about...because Ratatoskr is the reason why she is like that"

Kurumi's voice became sinister and threatening as though mentioning Ratatoskr's name upsets her. The figure merely turned its head towards Kurumi and tilted its head as though it was curious to know.

"She was just ordinary but they had to meddle and ruined her life"

"..."

"What happened next you say? Well, all I can say is...they made her...really mad"

"..."

"It was a bit scary...to see an entire town...vanish into oblivion"

The figure then turned to walk away and when it did, Kurumi turned to the silent but curious being.

"What exactly are you planning by helping me?" Kurumi was suspicious

"..." Its lips moved as she replied

"Is that so? I'm fine as long as you don't...cross me"

Leaving with a gentle smile, the figure looked like it was waving its hand as it left the scene with its footsteps slowly fading away.

Fraxinus...

Just like this morning, [Crimson] disappeared again and was nowhere to be found. After the crew confirmed that [Crimson] was not within the ship, Kotori informed Shido that the Spirit disappeared again.

"What?!" Shido stood up from the sofa

"W-what's going on?" Yoshino nervously asked

"The Spirit disappear again" Shido informed the other girls

"Seriously...we have to get her a proper name" Kaguya shrugged her shoulders

As Fraxinus was tracking down the missing Spirit, the latter was wandering in the city...

"It's kind of boring just being alone in a room"

[Crimson] sighed as she continued to explore the city and stroll as though she haven't seen the sun for a long time.

"[Nightmare]...huh"

[Crimson] stopped in an empty street and mumbled to herself to what she heard Kotori said to Reine about an incident she might have caused.

"Ara~ What a coincidence" Kurumi's sinister voice startled [Crimson]

"Ah...I remember you" [Crimson] looked uninterested

"Why don't we talk for a little while" Kurumi suggested

"I can feel an ominous presence coming out of you"

[Crimson] narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she glared at the innocently smiling Kurumi. She felt as though Kurumi hides a threatening intention behind that innocent act.

"I can't blame you for that" Kurumi briefly averted her gaze

"Get to the point..." [Crimson] demanded

"I'm here to talk. So you can relax"

[Crimson] slightly lowered her guard when Kurumi really wanted to have a conversation.

"Why don't talk this over some coffee?"

The two sat in a coffee shop and after a few minutes of awkward silence, Kurumi prepares to speak.

"You don't have to worry. I would never hurt you"

"I don't understand why you act like you know me" [Crimson] was...curious

"Let's just say we're really close before"

"I felt all strange and warm whenever I see you"

Kurumi found [Crimson]'s flustered and confused expression quite adorable that she petted the young Spirit in the head. [Crimson] jolted at first but she enjoyed the familiar feeling...

"You always calm down when I do it" Kurumi explained

"Kotori-san and Shido-san told me to stay away from you" [Crimson] averted her gaze

"A lot of people say I'm dangerous" Kurumi laughed it off

"..." [Crimson] was not sure how to react

In a distance, Ellen was in her casual attire when she spotted an S-class Spirit sitting in a coffee shop and talking to a beautiful lady.

"Ike, I found the Spirit THAT Spirit" Ellen pressed her intercom

"Codename: [Crimson], huh. Just observe the Spirit...for now" Wescott ordered

"I understand"

Ellen nodded and ended the conversation. While the two Spirits were having a pleasant conversation, Kurumi noticed a familiar figure in a distance.

"What's wrong?" [Crimson] asked

"Apparently DEM is really after you" Kurumi sighed

"Huh? Why?"

"All I can say to you now is don't trust Ratatoskr"

Kurumi whispered to [Crimson] who was still confused at the situation. Knowing the most skilled DEM wizard was watching them, Kurumi chose to stay at a place where there were a lot of people.

Fraxinus...

After an hour of searching, Kotori finally found [Crimson]...except she was having coffee with Kurumi.

"Should I tell Shin?" Reine suggested

"No. I'll get that Spirit myself!"

The whole crew looked in confusion as Kotori stormed out of the room with a hint of anger in her tone.

"You haven't aged a bit even though it's been five years"

"I guess so..." [Crimson] shrugged

"It must be sad to not remember a single thing" Kurumi looked sad as well

"It is. I feel very empty without my memories"

[Crimson] sadly sighed as she lowered her head. Kurumi then softly pinched [Crimson]'s cheek as she smiled as though it was genuine.

"H-hey..." [Crimson] blushed

"My only advice to you is don't trust Rataroskr too much" Kurumi warned her

"Why?"

"They're...not very innocent either..."

Kurumi then stood up as Kotori was marching closer. Kotori was upset that [Crimson] disappeared for the second.

"Well then I shall bid farewell~" Kurumi gently bowed and left

"Youuuuuu!"

Kotori grabbed [Crimson] by the shoulder and the latter slowly looked back as her nervousness noticed an an angry Kotori.

Later...

In Fraxinus, Kotori was upset that [Crimson] disappeared for the second time. After hearing her reason for doing so, [Crimson] was currently staying with other Spirits.

"This is the second time Kurumi was with [Crimson]" Kotori told Reine

"Couldn't it just be a coincidence? Of course you wouldn't think that way"

Kotori sipped her warm cup of coffee. Kotori looked puzzled for some reason.

"Is it because DEM might be the possible suspect?"

Both Reine and Kotori heard the two Spirit's small conversation. During that time, Kurumi mentioned "someone" hunting the two of them.

"It could be" Kotori tilted her head

After that, Reine stood up and as she was about to walk out, she looked like she forgot to say something to Kotori.

"I almost forgot. This is my speculation...but Tokisaki Kurumi might have a connection to her"

"Connection?" Kotori was intrigued

"I'm not certain. But she might know the Spirit than we do"

Saying those in her usual tone, Reine walked out. Kotori never doubted Reine but she suspected that Reine knows too much...for a human...

"Hmm?" Kotori noticed a small card the suddenly appeared on the table

As Reine was walking to a discreet location, she came to a stop. Behind her, footsteps drew closer until it stopped a few feet behind her. A figure's two arms inserted in its jacket's pockets showed itself to Reine.

"Aren't you...? No you are someone else, right?" Reine focused her attention to the figure

"..."

"I see. You gave that information to Tokisaki Kurumi"

"..."

"You're not a Spirit, rather you're a..."

Before Reine could continue, wind blows around them and the figure vanished in an instant. In the spot where the figure used to stand, a small card was left. There was a message written in a formal handwriting.

DEM Industries...

After a short observation with the Spirit [Crimson], Ellen gave her report to Wescott. The soulless man looked a little amused.

"I really have to safeguard our subjects next time"

"What's your plan with the Spirit?" Ellen was curious

"I have my personal intentions..."

Wescott was holding a tablet in his hand as he viewed the images of the clueless Spirit that had recently appeared in Tengu city.

"It's a shame this Spirit escaped our grasps one week ago"

"That is not my fault. Though I admit I underestimated that young Spirit" Ellen sighed

"If you want to make amends, you just have to retrieve the Spirit" Wescott suggested

"Fine. I'll make sure that Spirit lives...for now"

Ellen left Wescott's office with a complicated expression on her face. While looking at the tablet, Wescott suddenly noticed something that slightly surprised him.

"Oh...this is quite interesting"

With a faint smile, Wescott raised his tablet and gazed at the surveillance picture of [Crimson] in her human attire and besides her was...Tokisaki Kurumi.