Strange…..What a strange feeling…..
All of this feels very familiar…..
Was this a dream….or a memory…
I wish I was certain…..about myself…
[Crimson] felt very nostalgic as sh saw herself standing in the middle of a town. There were people everywhere as she continued to walk and walk…..aimlessly. As she was walking in a peaceful place, [Crimson] stopped and looked up into the sky.
"I wonder if living actually had a purpose"
"Do you want me to answer that question?"
As she was in deep thought, [Crimson] felt an ominous presence and figure standing behind her. The abstract presence responded to her sorrowful thought.
"Who…..are you?"
[Crimson] raised her guard as she suspiciously glared at the abstract and mysterious person in front of her. She doesn't know whether the person was male of female…..young or old.
"I go by many name. But people say….I'm just a phantom"
"Phan….tom…."
"I heard your wish….your only desire…."
In Phantom's hand was small dark gem. The gem's deep black color made it look like it was an endless void….a black hole…..
"Like a void, you can't find the answer in this eternal cycle"
"What are you trying to say?" [Crimson] was confused
"I know…..what your true wish is. Your sole desire"
[Crimson] could barely hear what Phantom was saying. She saw it's lips moved but she couldn't understand the person. She could barely remember her memory…..
"Now then….do you want to find the answer?"
[Crimson] was reluctant at first when Phantom stretched out its hand and offered her the gem.
"This will be your path if you wish to learn….your true wish"
[Crimson] slowly reached out for the crystal and when she touched it, her mind turned blank as she was engulfed by an endless void. Phantom's smile was the last thing [Crimson] ever saw as she lost consciousness…
"All I want to…."
Before she could hear the rest [Crimson] was woken up by Tohka and the other Spirits as they looked at her worriedly…..
([Crimson] POV)
Tohka hugged me as I lunged out of the sofa. There were signs that I shed tears but it doesn't matter.
"Thank goodness you're alright" Tohka looked relieved
"Did something happen?" I was confused
"You….passed out so suddenly" Yoshini replied
"Yeah! You suddenly collapsed on the floor"
I remembered. I was in the Spirit mansion since Kotori suggested I need to spend some time with other Spirits. I was looking out in the window…..when everything went blank.
"You looked like you were having a nightmare" Tohka added
"R-really? I feel like I was just sleeping…..or something"
I lied. The suffocating and crushing feeling of floating into darkness was indeed a nightmare for me.
"Here….."
Yoshino brought me some tea so I could relax. With the other Spirits, I was sitting with them in the living room as they discuss….me.
"So you don't remember anything at all" Kaguya sighed
"Not really. I have vague memories on some parts"
"What a poor thing~"
Then there's Izayaoi Miku. This girl with a huge cup size embraced me ad I felt his soft chest pressing against my small body.
"I wonder if she knows about me….." I muttered to myself
"She?"
Tohka, who was sitting beside me heard what I softly said to myself. I raised my head and saw them looked very curious.
"I-it's just another Spirit. She's a very mysterious one though"
"A Spirit? Who?!" Tohka looked worried
"A elegant girl name Kurumi….I think"
Upon hearing that name, the girls widened their eyes in surprise. They looked like they met Kurumi more than once and it doesn't seem to be…..very nice and friendly.
"Do you guys know…..Kurumi?" I asked
"Know her?! She tried to eat Shido!" Tohka raised her voice
"More than once!" Kaguya added
[Kotori-chan also said she did a lot of horrible things]
The puppet Yoshinon added as well. Is Kurumi a malevolent and fearsome Spirit masked as an elegant lady? If so….why would she look at me filled with concern? I don't what to believe anymore.
"Are all of it true?" I want to assure
"Confirmation. We all had encounters with Tokisaki Kurumi" Yuzuru nodded
"For your safety, don't talk to that malicious girl" Kaguya advised me
For some reason, my heart aches when they speak ill of Kurumi. So I stood up and without hesitating, I ran off outside so I could clear my head. I looked into a river as I process everything I just experienced.
"Everything is so chaotic. I wish I could erase it all"
I felt a strange sense of de ja vu when I mumbled those words to myself. I was in deep thought for a while when a tap on my shoulder made my body jolt.
"Hey! Will you stop running away fro once?"
That rough voice belonged to Kotori. She looked annoyed as though she was not in the mood.
"It's you…." I was not pleased to see her
"The other Spirits said you ran off so suddenly when I came to check on you"
"So? Does it matter….?"
Kotori looked mildly surprised when I answered her with an uncaring tone.
"No. I'm just….worried….you are keeping all your pain to yourself" She softened her voice
"I'm just confused. In a way I'm scared to remember myself"
"Painful or not, it's a part of life. We mature because of the pain and challenges brought to us"
Kotori spoke as if those words rooted from a long experience. Her words made my heart lighten up a bit. I know I can't escape who I am and I guess the only thing I can do is accept that one way or another there will be always pain.
".…..!"
As I was in a happy thought, it was replaced a fragment of something nostalgic flashing to m head. I was in the middle of a town, on my knees. There were tears in my eyes….everything around me has been…..erased.
"Crimson? Crimson?!"
I slowly stepped away as the pain in my head worsened. I held my temples but it just won't stop.
"W-what-?"
Kotori was tightly grabbing my shoulders as she shook my body vigorously. I snapped back to reality feeling confused and scared at the same time. Kotori then sighed as if she was relieved to see me looking at her.
"You were in a middle of a shock. Did something traumatic happened to you?"
What am I supposed to answer? I'm not sure what I am supposed to call the visions that keep flashing to my head. I am only sure of one thing; If I can't learn to handle this, I would definitely be driven mad.
"Kotori, can I ask you something?" I held my breath
"What is it?"
"Who is Tokisaki Kurumi?"
Hearing me mentioning Kurumi, Kotori widened her eyes, but she quickly regained her serious demeanor.
"Why do you want to know?" Kotori responded
"I know that Spirit knows who I am. Her face…..I keep seeing it at these visions of mine"
".….."
A dreadful silence surrounded the two of us, but I am determined to know all there is to know about Kurumi.
"Tokisaki Kurumi is an S-class Spirit with powerful abilities….." Kotori bit her lip
"What did she do?" I asked
".…."
The conversation led to nothing. Kotori refused to to tell me more about the Spirit Tokisaki Kurumi. I fear that there are just things I shouldn't know…..but I must known…..because I need to know who really I am. In the end our conversation led to nothing since Kotori-san refused to tell me anything. I won't force her to tell me….there are still things I'm not certain of.
"Whenever it comes to you, they all look at me strangely...it's like…."
The Spirit with a dark hair, Kurumi, what do they know about that Spirit they don't want to tell me? What did she do to make them…..looked regretful?
"Ku….rumi….."
I lay on the bed and question everything in my mind. When I closed my eyes and whisper her name, a monochrome scene flashed to my head. I see myself…..and what seems to be Kurumi.
"Sometimes I feel like I just want to forget everything…."
Those strange words came from "me" who is standing besides Kurumi. Similar to whenever I see Kurumi, her face is gentle and calm.
"Why?" She looked at 'me' worriedly
"I don't know. I always feel sad….I don't know why"
She smiled at my other self and petted my head gently. Kurumi then hugged me and whispered…..
"I feel sad too. But when I see you happy, I remember why I should be happy"
Kurumi pulled out her body and touched my cheeks. With those words, I smiled and nodded.
"I remember….."
A part of me returned. I do know Kurumi. I do know that we somehow have a close relationship. I can't remember anything else yet…..but I'm certain I know Kurumi and she knows me. Perhaps it's the reason why she is getting close to me.
"But what?"
I want to know…..I want to remember who is she to me. Why does it feel like she is important to me?
".…!"
An echoing pain rung my head. Everything in my head is shaking…..my thoughts are shaking. Right before I know it, a cold feeling woke me up.
"Are you alright?"
"Yoshino?"
The quiet yet gentle looking girl gently shook me and I woke up with cold sweat. She looked at me worriedly and I looked at her confused.
"I-I'm sorry for coming in. You were yelling a-and thrashing around"
"It's fine. Thanks for waking me up"
It was a brief dream, but I remember a few scenes. I see Kurumi…..with yellowish left eye….two guns…..dead…..people…..her smile.
"Why are you here anyway?" I asked her
"It's dinner"
When I looked outside, it's already dark. Yoshino accompanied me and I sat down along with the other Spirits who are all rowdy and energetic.
"Is it always like this?" I wryly asked Yoshino who is sitting besides me
[You should what happens when Shido cooks all of their favorites]
The puppet faced me and giggled. I can't believe Shido-san is able to manage all of these Spirits. It's really fun to see them. It's like they're one big happy family.
"I'm amazed you're able to manage this many Spirits"
After dinner, I help Shido-san wash the dishes. He's only a highschool boy yet he is able to handle a normal life while dealing with unusual things such as Spirits.
"Well it's a living" He dryly laughed
"I'm happy I met all of you. Before you guys, I don't know who I am and why I'm always running"
As if he noticed the breaking in my voice, he gently petted my head and softly smiled.
"You don't have to run away anymore. Like Tohka and the others, they were alone too"
His words are gentle. Right before I knew it, I embraced him as if I am looking for warmth. I wish I met Shido-san and the others earlier...
The next day...
Everyone had to attend class to a place called school so I am currently left alone in the house. They won't be back till afternoon so I'm spending my time eating and watching movies.
"Ugh! I'm bored"
I want to go out right now. I want to go outside, somewhere I could get some fresh air and relax...
"H-Huh?"
I was just thinking and visualizing of the place while I was sitting down, but when I stumbled down, I discovered I'm already outside...surrounded by few people and green scenery. My back is lying on the solid ground and I'm facing the bright and blue sky.
"Is this...a park?"
I stood up and confirmed I really am outside. I've transported from one place to another in an instant for the third time. It only means I can somehow teleport instantly.
"This power is useful but I have to control them or it could be troublesome"
When I appeared in this place about a week ago, I was confused and scared. I don't how I got here and who I am. Shido is the only person that didn't try to kill me so I'm grateful I met him.
"I wish this kind of life can continue"
I had my time now and I felt relaxed breathing in some fresh air. I heavily exhaled and when I opened my eyes, I felt a brief presence watching me...
"...?"
I shrugged off the feeling and as I was about to walk away, something grabbed me from behind and dragged me somwhere where no one is around.
"...!" I broke myself free
I readied a stance, but I widened my eyes when the person who grabbed me is none other than Kurumi.
"Y-you..."
With a sigh, she walked closer towards me and gave me a light chop in the head. Before I could ask her why she did that, Kurumi spoke first.
"Don't use you powers like that. You literally distort space"
"Why?"
"If they find you, they'll kill you"
They? Before that, how did Kurumi even found me and what is she talking about? I'm really confused right now.
"..."
I stared at her for a few seconds and out of instinct, I embraced her...I'm really confused right now. She doesn't seem to react that much, instead she petted the back of my head.
"I-I uh..."
I let go after a minute or so and before I could explain with my suddeb action, she just smiled at me which made me stopped.
"U-uhm...why did you drag me anyway?" I looked away
"There are people who hunt Spirits. Using powers will allow them to detect you"
I easily understood that so I raised my head down. That's right...there are people who want Spirits like me dead.
"Since I let my clone take my place in class, let's talk"
We both sat down in a bench with canned milk tea in my hands. There were no people around us so it's peaceful while I relax.
"This is nice" I smiled
"At least you're enjoying" She added
"You seem nice"
When I commented that, she looked at me strangely as if she is slight puzzled.
"Ara~ You don't think I'm nice?"
"No...it's just that you're very mysterious"
"I prefer it that way" She giggled"
Whenever I mention her to Shido or Kotori, they looked like they have unpleasant memories of her. I wonder if they are in bad terms.
"It's nice talking to youu like this. It's been a while" Kurumi sounded cryptic
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing"
I can't tell what she is thinking right now, but I feel like I can trust her. I stretched my arms and as I stood up...
"Huh?"
An alarm rung out throughout the city. Kotori-san told me that this kind of alarm is a spacequake evactuation alarm. She also told me that spacequakes are created by Spirits.
"...!"
Right before I could react, a stinging and burning pain rushed to the side of my body. I feel like my consciousness is slowly fading. I can see Kurumi grab me in her arms and speaking faint words.
"..."
It's painful. The pain is rushing to every part of my body. When my hand touched the source of the pain, I realized I was bleeding...no wonder it was a sudden pain.
"Ku...ru...mi?"
From normal clothing, Kurumi became engulfed with shadow and I can faintly see crimson dress. A huge clock manifested behind her and as she pointed her gun at me, she whispered...
I won't lose you again...
That's right. I remember now...I remember who Kurumi is...I know now why I feel calm and warm when I'm with her. I can fee a faint smile on my lips as I slowly close my eyes and let my mind freely flow.
My name is...
CHAPTER 04:
[Cimson]'s real name will be revealed on the next chapter along with some parts of her past and relationship with Kurumi. There will be a shot fight scene with an extra OC at first.
That's all I can say for the next chapter!
P.S
I'll try focusing on Anything for Love Chapter 05 first before The Crimson Spirit Chapter 04
