Light in the Dark

Chapter 3

Ren's POV

She's been living at my place for awhile now. But when she falls asleep I go back to Ojou for awhile to give a report. It's hard to do this investigating stuff though. Especially since I'm still not completely used to human nature. But while I'm here, I really do go to school and work. It's a good thing I'm disguised as a culinary student. I find cooking fun!

"Ren-san, what are you thinking about?"

"Oh! Hone-Onna, you surprised me."

"Sorry." She laughed.

"Well, anyway, what were you saying?"

"You looked so pensive. Just wanted to know what was on your mind." She smiled.

"Nah, I was just thinking about what I'll cook for dinner tonight…" Well it was partially true.

"Is that so?" She's not gonna believe me, is she?

"Well, that and what's going on with my investigation so far."

"So what is happening?"

"Not much. It's nice living like a human though. But sometimes I can't understand what's going on in Masame-chan's mind."

"Masame-chan? So you moved from last name to first name now huh?" She teased.

"Aren't I supposed to get closer to her? How am I gonna find anything out otherwise?"

"Oh alright. So what did you find out?"

"Hiiraga Tsunee. She really planned the death of Masame-chan's family. It was revenge for her brother, who Masame-chan accidentally killed. She's such a petty human."

"I knew that much myself. What else do you know?" She asked.

"Well it turns out Hiiraga-san has psychological problems. They're not that bad, but they affect her from time to time."

"I see…"

"And what about you? What did you learn?"

"Well, I learned that both girls were never that close and the accident made Hiiraga-san cold and cruel."

"What are you doing again?" I asked.

"I'm pretending to be a teacher at your school. What, don't tell me you never saw me?"

"Actually, I never did." I smiled.

"Nani?! Hmph. Well, you better get going. It looks like your roommate's almost done shopping." She pointed to Masame-chan coming out of the store with her onee-chan.

"Ah, alright. Later." I went over to them.

"Who was that Ren-kun?" Masame-chan asked.

"Maybe his girlfriend?" Her "sister" added.

I coughed and looked back to see Hone-Onna looking appalled at the statement.

"I guess not." Michino-san smiled. She told me to call her that.

"Well, anyway, are you done shopping?" I tried to change the topic.

"Yeah, we are. Let's go home." Masame-chan smiled.

"Let's bring Michino-san home first." I reminded her.

"Ah, right." Seems she forgot.

Speaking of forgetting, it's as if she forgot all about Wanyuudou. Is she ever going to pull it?

~Dinner time at Moku's~

"Masame-chan! It's time for dinner!" I called from the kitchen. I got no response.

I set the table and went to her room to call her.

*knock knock*

"Masame-chan?"

… Still nothing.

"Masame-chan, I'm coming in, alright?"

I opened the door and I saw her sitting on the bed, staring at the doll. I guess she didn't forget after all.

She turned towards me and stared at me with her pupils shrinking. Her hands were shaking and they looked like they were about to pull the string.

"R..Ren-kun…" She said, shocked.

"Ah, I'm sorry… It's just, you weren't answering…"

"Ren-kun… Do you know what this is?" She was sweating bullets!

"In a way. Why do you ask?"

"So… Have you sent someone to hell?" She relaxed a little.

"No, but I know some people who did." It's not really lying, is it?

"Ren-kun..." She dropped the doll on the bed and ran towards me. To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around me and started crying.

There was nothing else I could do right? I returned the hug, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other stroking her long, silky hair.

"There there… It's okay…"

"Ren-kun… I'm so confused…" She said through her tears.

"You don't have to pull it right now you know. Ojou said so didn't she?"

…Oh crap. Did I just say that?

"Ojou?" She said, pulling away from the embrace.

"Ah! Y…You… You're that guy!" She realized.

"Wh… What are you talking about?" Ah, forget trying to cover up, you just blew your cover, smartass.

"The one by the tree… When the Jigoku Shoujo gave me the doll!"

"I can explain!"

"… Alright, go ahead." Her face became serious. Shimata! Why'd I open my big mouth?!

"…Come with me." I gave her my hand. I thought the easiest way to explain things to her would be to bring her to Eternal Twilight.

She took my hand and I closed my eye. A minute later, we were there at Ojou's house. As usual, the eternal sunset glowed and the red flowers swayed in the wind. The water on the pond was disturbed by one stray leaf from a nearby tree.

Hone-Onna was sitting on the porch. She spotted me and walked our way, looking disappointed.

"You're that woman from earlier…" Masame-chan recalled.

"Ren-san, what's she doing here?!"

"Long story short, I blew my cover. She knows who I am." I sighed.

"What will Ojou say when she finds out?!"

"Looks like we're gonna see, coz here she comes." I said with a bit of worry.

"Ren. This… is our client, is it not?" She said monotonously,

"Hai, Ojou."

"What are you doing here?" Ojou asked.

"I don't really know myself…" She said, terrified.

"I… Ojou, I accidentally told her who I was. She asked for an explanation, and I thought this would be the quickest way for her to see…"

Ojou didn't answer.

"Gomenasai, Ojou. I will accept any punishment bestowed on me!" I bowed.

"Stand up, Ren." She said.

Be prepared for the worst Ren…

"Come inside." She told Masame-chan.

"Ah, h..hai…" She followed Ojou inside and I was left there with Hone-Onna.

...What?

Masame's POV

Enma-san's house was quite dark. And behind a screen door was a figure of someone spinning a wheel.

"Ai, who's that?" The voice asked from behind the door.

"A client, obaa-san." She replied.

"Ah, I see…" She said, still spinning her wheel.

"Su...sumimasen, Enma-san, demo... Why did you bring me here?" The question was burning in my mind.

"Since you were already here, I might as well invite you inside, right?" She said, staring at me with those round glass-like eyes.

"W...well I guess..." Oh God, I'm scared!

"So it seems you've found out about Ren." She said, her eyes closing slightly.

"Then you must already know that he is not human." She said, as if it were such a regular thing to say!

"Uhm... Forgive me for asking, but what is he?"

"You should ask him that yourself." She said, picking up a wooden flute.

"You're right." I sighed. Things have become quite complicated.

"Well, excuse me then." I stood up and bowed slightly.

"Alright." She said and then blew into her flute.

"It made a sound..."

I said nothing and went outside. She's very... eccentric.

Ren's POV

"Oh, Masame-chan, there you are. So, what did you talk about?"

"Not much. She's very quiet, isn't she?"

"Yes she is." I sighed. I took her hand and brought her over to the field of flowers.

"Well, now you know the truth. If you feel uncomfortable, you don't have to force yourself to stay with me you know..." I mumbled.

"What are you talking about?" She smiled, which surprised me.

"I have fun living where we live now. I don't care at all." She walked closer to me.

"I don't care if you're not human. To me, you're still just Ren-kun." She rested her head on my shoulder.

"Masame-chan..." I was surprised at her reaction.

"By the way, forgive me for asking, but if you're not human, what are you?" She asked me innocently.

"I was a spirit that lived in a sword. Until Ojou found me, I had no control over anything. And in that way, I killed many innocent people." I sighed, remembering my horrible past.

"...Gomenasai." She said.

I loved how sincere she was. No human has ever been so kind to me before.

"...Let's go home, Masame-chan." I finally said.

"Hai."

I wrapped my arms around her and we appeared back in the cozy little house.

"Oh right, I made dinner." I finally remembered.

"Alright, let's eat." She smiled.

So now she knows everything. And she doesn't care at all. Humans. I really can't understand them.

~To be Continued~

A/N: Is it going too fast? :(