02: Decisions In The Dark
"Don't forget, you're stronger than any of them…"
The whisper lingered as he clawed his way out of the darkness of his own consciousness. Yuuta opened his eyes and sat upright as memories flooded his mind. He remembered the fight, the girl, the forest and all the rest. Panic started welling up but he pushed it down. With calculated, slow movements he checked his body for wounds.
There were none. That's impossible! He had clearly felt the cuts on his cheeks, the bruises on the rest of his body, his broken rib. He patted his chest multiple times. It didn't hurt.
"We're still in the OtherWorld. Your mana heals wounds inflicted here. You had a punctured longue 'cause of your broken rib. If this had been the real world you would have been in the hospital, and they would not be sure if you could've have survived that."
The girl stood a bit further next to the corpse he created. He… Created? He killed… Yuuta had to strain himself not to puke.
"Don't worry. You haven't actually killed them."
"Huh?"
"These creatures don't actually die. I'll explain in a minute. First, how did you beat the angel?"
"Angel?"
"This thing." as she pointed to the corpse.
"I… don't know… I…"
How did he do it. His memories were a bit fuzzy. Like there was a filter over it. Like they weren't his. He tried to push through the filter and succeeded. The memories came back very clearly now and he was shocked. What did he do? He acted really out of character just then. Normally he would have ran. Who in their right mind would fight against that man. He remembered talking to the person at the end of the fight. Why did he wait when he was called on? The conversation didn't make sense either. 'Reborn'?
He then noticed that the girl, Rikka was it?, was staring at him.
"Uhm… I… Uh… grabbed that branch there, and then I fought him with it. But the branch was on fire, black flames, does that make sense?"
"Black flames? That doesn't make sense. There's never been a black manifestation as far as I know."
"Manifestation? What the hell are you talking about!?" Yuuta said, as he felt his anger return.
"Calm down. Fine, fine, I'll explain." Rikka answered annoyed.
"I'm listening, start talking." He coldly said. He was starting to get tired of this nonsense of hers.
She looked at him angrily but there was something in his expression that didn't look like it was his. Something twisted, something that made her want to obey. She shook of the feeling and started her explanation.
"First of all, we are currently in an alternate dimension that mirrors ours. Like the other side of a coin. In this world 3 'types' of creatures naturally exist. Demons, Roamers and Angels.
All these creatures were originally roamers, or with one soul, these usually fight between each other and never try to attack us or cross over in our world. When they fight between each other, the winner will steal the soul of the loser.
Those left soulless become demons. Weaker than both others, they grow in strength by fighting and training among each other. They also unite in Flocks and then Armies to have a stronger position against their enemies, us and angels. We use demon army ranks to classify all creatures by comparing their strengths. That angel you beat was a new-born and still rather weak so he was probably Sub-lieutenant rank. Back to demons, when they die their objective knowledge retains and waits to be reinhabited by a soul from a defeated angel.
Those with two souls become angels, haughty pricks that think they're better than anyone. One of the souls reconstructs themselves as the body and the other becomes the primary mind, that makes decisions. That's why they have 2 voices. While they hardly fight between each other, they fight demons, to consume their bodies and increase their strength. When they die, the primary mind will search a demon's knowledge and be reborn as a new roamer. The body decomposes and the soul links with the element in which it died also creating a new roamer."
His brain readily accepted the knowledge. It was like he had already known.
"Why do demons and angels want to cross over into our dimension?"
"Simply put, the air."
"The air?"
"Yes, this world's air is void of mana, regenerating mana here is purely done from your body's energy and tires you out. Our worlds air is filled with mana, and easily converted in our own. Humans don't grow from consuming mana, 'they' do."
"Is there anything else I need to know?"
"Uhm… oh yeah. While it's comparably easy to let your mana flow outside your body here, it's immensely difficult in our world. When you wish to make use of your mana it is still advised to make a small cut or something that bleeds. Mana uses the same system as blood to flow through your body, thus by letting a wound bleed you're also releasing mana constantly."
Huh… so if I do this, Yuuta thought as he bit his index finger. He then smudged some of his blood on the boken. She kept an eye on him and wondered what he was trying. And then the sword vanished.
"How do you know how to seal weapons? Can you resummon it too?"
"Sure", the sword reappeared this time around his waist where it's supposed to be.
"Don't ask me how I do it though… It just felt natural."
She looked confused but continued nevertheless.
"Now about those 'flames' of yours. They weren't actually flames. They were an outward manifestation of your mana. The colour however, I do not have an explanation for. The manifestation of mana takes the colour of the element or elements that you align with. Mine for example is a dark purple, as before I got the stigma, I was most aligned with the sun, sky and fire, giving me a bright purple. When the Wicked Eye increased my strength to handle all elements however the colour darkened."
His brain went in overdrive. That could only mean…
"That means you are aligned with everything, and thus also nothing."
He was void. Unaligned. He didn't belong anywhere. He stood in the middle.
"You probably just couldn't encompass what happened and didn't register the colour correctly though. Like I said, as far as I know, there hasn't been anyone with black mana, ever."
"What so I'm dumb?"
"No… maybe? How would I know I met you not even an hour ago!"
"Well yeah but… wait, how much time passed since we left the classroom?"
"30 minutes? Why?"
"Great, who knows what the fuck the rest of our class will think we did!"
"Why are you so worried about what others think?"
"Because I have a past with being a social outcast, and I don't want my high school life to mirror my middle school one."
"I'm a social outcast too, in fact it's the first time I go to school today!"
"Exactly! You don't know what feeling alone is like. You can't feel lonely when there's no one around!"
"What kind of logic is that?!"
"Doesn't matter, get me outta here."
"Why do you need my help mister natural?"
"Oh fucking ladidoo. Fine, I'll do it myself."
Yuuta closes his eyes.
"Yeah, you're not going to succeed, you know that right?"
"Vanishment this world."
And they were back.
"What?"
"Now, I'm going back to class. Don't follow me, come in like 15 minutes or something, got it?"
He turned around and left. She ran after him.
"Wait. Wait! Wait DAMNIT!"
"What is it?" throwing her a cold stare.
"I think you might be important. Either way, you're going to need help or training else your mana will go out of control."
"Ha, funny that. And you're going to be the one to train me? I beat the thing that knocked you unconscious so…"
"First of all, that was a surprise attack that shouldn't have happened, I should've sensed him. Second of all I think that it was because of you."
"What? Was I so strong that you couldn't sense anything else like in manga?"
"No, 'cause after I woke up I could feel everything again."
"Then it's probably because you're stupid. I'll train myself, I don't need you. I am mister natural after all, aren't I?"
She gritted her teeth. "That won't always work idiot!"
"When it stops working, I'll be sure to knock on your door first."
"You don't get it, you might hurt friends and family."
They had arrived at the classroom but Yuuta halted in his tracks. "What?"
"Your mana running rampant may hurt your family."
"How?"
"Several ways, the most important one being that large amounts of mana may attract 'them'."
A slight pause.
"I'll think about it."
"Sure, but don't say I didn't warn you."
He opened the door and walked back to his seat after apologizing to their homeroom teacher, Nanase Tsukumo, and she followed suit.
"Welcome back Togashi-san and Takanashi-san. We were just picking the class representatives. Nibutani-san was already chosen."
"Well, I wouldn't mind being the second one, sensei." Yuuta proclaimed.
"Very well. Any objections from the class?"
No reaction except some grumbling from the guys.
"And you, Nibutani-san?"
"No, I would gladly have him by my side."
"Goddamnit Yuuta." Isshiki silently proclaimed, while the rest of the guys looked rather stingy.
"Would you rather do it, Isshiki?"
"No way man, you're probably the only guy who could keep a cool head around her… you're not-"
"No way, don't even finish that sentence. Besides, you've probably haven't even seen me talk to her yet. Believe me, everything I say makes me sound like an idiot."
"Can't be that bad, she digs you, at the very least I think, now get your ass up there."
"Yeah 'cause you're an expert, aren't you Isshiki." Yuuta said as he stood up leaving Isshiki behind grumbling.
Yuuta took his place next to Nibutani.
"Give your class representatives a round of applause now."
A polite applause rose up.
"Now, I'll see you two after school, because you're both new to this I believe?"
"Yes, sensei." They answered simultaneously.
The rest of the day passed without further incidents. At the end of school.
"Togashi-kun, are you ready to go to the faculty office?
"Sure, Nibutani-san. See you tomorrow Isshiki."
"Later Yuuta."
They left the classroom.
"So… how are you enjoying your high school life so far Nibutani-san?"
"I don't really feel any different compared to middle school. But you have been enjoying yourself quite a lot haven't you?"
"I guess, Isshiki is not a bad guy. You'd probably like him too, although he's super scared of you."
"Scared? Sounds… fun. Well introduce me to him tomorrow. But that was not what I had in mind when I said you were enjoying yourself."
"What did you mean then?"
"Your little… 'escapade' with Takanashi-san?"
"Nothing happened!"
"Oh really? You guys were gone for quite a while, and your clothes look pretty dishevelled to me."
"Nothing happened. The nurse had to go out so I had to watch her while she rested after taking some meds. There's nothing between me and her. Absolutely nothing."
"Okay okay, got it. That's… good." She said with a smile.
"Good? Why?" he suspiciously asked.
"No reason. At least as far as I will tell you."
"You're teasing me again aren't you?"
"Maybe. Maybe not."
To Yuuta's regret the conversation was cut short because they had reached the faculty room.
"We're here Sensei."
"Ah, my new class representatives. How was the first day of high school?"
"Great, but exhausting." Nibutani answered.
"Well I'll keep the explanation short then. If you have any questions you can always come ask anyway."
They left 15 minutes later.
"For a short explanation, that was pretty long." Nibuntani said.
"Yeah, I guess. Say Nibutani-san, would you like to go grab a bite to eat before taking the trains back?" Yuuta asked with all the courage he could muster.
"Sure! Is what I would say, but I can't. I need to be somewhere, family business."
"Oh.. okay." The answer came as his shoulders slumped.
"Don't act so dejected. Let's meet up at the station tomorrow morning for breakfast?"
"Yes, I'd like that! I mean, sure. Whatever."
"Jeez Yuuta-kun, shouldn't you be an actor or something?" she said while bursting into laughter.
"Yuuta-kun?"
"Ah yes, sorry it felt natural I guess. Do you mind?"
"No, no, but we just met today. First name basis is a little fast… right?"
"Who said you could use my first name, Yuuta-kun?"
"I… I can't?"
"You can call me whatever you like." She winked and turned around, leaving a baffled Yuuta behind.
"Are you sure?" he finally yelled after her fading figure.
"Just call me by my first name, you oaf." She said while glancing over her shoulder. She looked a bit embarrassed.
"Okay, see you tomorrow then, Shinka-san." Yuuta yelled.
She merely responded by waving over her shoulder.
She stood in front of a rather large crowd of middle aged men and women, in the middle of a dimly lit semi-circular room. Although she wore a tight business suit like outfit, she felt very out of place and uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that she didn't even try to be polite against them.
"Alright geezers, I'm here to report on the devil brat."
"Nibutani Shinka-san, I presume. I had expected more of your demeanour." A deep voice from the shadows said.
"Well, I'm sorry. I can also not give the report, if that's what you'd like?"
"Nibutani-san, because of your position you have certain… benefits. But that attitude is not something we appreciate." A female voice responded.
"Now, state your report." A voice, like nails scratching a school board, said.
*cough* "Fine. Here is my report on Takanashi Rikka.
She seems normal enough. As you are all aware of her stigma is hidden behind an eye patch. Because of her lack of social skills, she has little to no contact with the rest of the class. The sole person I saw her communicate with is a boy with the name "Togashi Yuuta", who I befriended as well. Their relationship worries me however."
"We don't have time for the love-sickness of a teenager." A silky voice said.
"That was not my point. She stated that he made her head hurt, which can be a result of recalling sealed memories. She collapsed and he took her to the nurses office. Where I suspect she crossed over and took him with her as I couldn't sense her anymore for a while. I couldn't get out of class on time to follow them, however when she returned, I could sense a second presence, small and weak, but it was there and traced it back to him.
I suspect he may be one of that… 'thing's servants as well, and the headaches were caused by her remembering his predecessors. Either way he needs to be trained and maybe even controlled. I plan on inviting him to that club and find out more about him."
"This might be a problem." The scratchy voice said.
"No no, unless he is 'it' himself we need not worry. She can tie any of his servants easily. Remember, she was the one who eventually beat him as well." The silky voice said.
"As far as we know. They never tell us enough." A second woman said.
"Very well. Nibutani-san, you may proceed with your plans. We will expect a bi-weekly written report on the boy, and if anything out of the ordinary happens, report it to your master immediately. You are dismissed." The scratchy voice said.
She bowed and walked away. As she left the room she could hear a discussion flare up. She doesn't care however. She was thinking about him.
What would he think when he knew who she really was.
Would he still want to call her 'Shinka-san'?
A heavy sigh escaped from her mouth. Maybe love-sickness had something to do with it after all. But that didn't matter. She was going to be the strongest.
Then she could cut her ties with this whole thing that hung over her since her birth.
Then she could finally have that normal life that she always wanted.
Would she want to however, after dragging him down into this?
No no, she wasn't to blame. It was that girls fault.
She could always take him with her when she escaped.
Why did she care about it so much though? She only met him today. Guilt?
Probably.
Another sigh.
I'll put him out of my head for now. I'll face the problems when I get there.
Though I wonder.
Would he be thinking of me too?
The second chapter of the story, revised edition. Some small touch-ups, nothing story related, just things I noticed while working on the next chapter. Also titles, so yay that. That was all I really had to say so leave a review (I like constructive criticis) and as always
Thanks for reading