A/N: Okay, I underestimated the amount of crap I had to do before making this chapter. But rest assured, I'm not the kind of guy to just leave something like this hanging. Now with that said, let's keep going!
My POV
I trudged through the forest, the two sets of footprints my only guide to my destination. There was snow in my shoes. My skin was starting to lose its color. And my breath was billowing out large clouds of vapour into the air.
Yeah, the jacket really wasn't doing it for me.
Did I mention I was having a panic attack? Because that's the reason why I was breathing so hard.
Questions were racing across my mind faster than I could process them. How do I get back? What do I do?! Can I even get back?! HOW WILL I LI-?!
Damn it, stop!
Stop. Stop, breathe deeply, and try to think clearly.
But how? I'm stuck in an alternate universe with no way of getting back, and no knowledge of how I even got here in the first place!
And there's no point crying about it if I can't fix it myself!
But it's easier said than done to calm down, isn't it?! I may as well just go insane!
Come to think of it, why am I arguing with myself?
...
Yeah, I should stop. Stop and evaluate my situation.
I'm currently in an alternate universe, where Angels, Demons, the afterlife, and magic are a thing. I know about certain events that'll take place throughout the year. Overall, it doesn't look pretty.
I have absolutely no idea what I was doing before getting... sent here, if I somehow bent the fabric of reality to accomplish this (which I doubt, I mean, what could I have possibly done?), or if it was coincidental. However, what I don't think is coincidence is that I arrived right as Rhea, Buwaro and Sakido ascended from Hell. The ritual might have something to do with it, even though the fact that it was this specific one that got me here is beyond me.
And lastly, since I can't figure out a way to get back, I have to figure out what to do here in the meantime.
The way I see it, either I join the trio on their journey, or I just stay in one of the cities and make a life for myself there.
Scratch that, there's no way I'd be making a life for myself, even if I wasn't trapped in a place where the currency and jobs are different than I know.
So I'll just have to go with them. And risk getting killed.
It can't be that bad.
I'd have to survive Lazuli. Survive Denevol.
...Survive Moonshade.
...And I'm sure I'm not insane?
Well, "I'm freezing" is what I can confirm at least. Stupid useless jacket.
"SNOWY!"
I stopped and jerked my head up. Holy crap, I forgot I was even following those guys in the first place!
"...huh?"
"Snowy. We can name it...Snowy"
Even from here, I could see Buwaro let himself smile. Smile as he pet the tiny bunny in his hands. How adorable.
I knew who that bunny was. I knew her past, how she suffered, and her future, how she got happiness.
I knew what would happen by the Flower Festival. She'd abandon him, lash out and leave. He'd betray her to the forces they were fighting to avoid for so long.
Okay, I need to stop sounding poetic. Fact of the matter is, they were unprepared for what happened. They didn't know what to do.
I watched as the newly formed trio departed for Rhea's village.
I'm going to change this.
I'll change this. They don't deserve that, not at any point. I can help, if only because I know what to fix. Besides...
I could use some fun in my life anyways.
Now, to get my story straight.
Rhea's POV
We kept going. We should be getting close to the village. Good thing too. I did NOT want to stay out here any more than I have to. So much for resurrection, I'm feeling horrible right now. Buwaro's still depressed, it's freezing and there are potentially hostile demons around.
And there's this rustling sound that's been annoying me for the past 10 minutes.
Wait a second. Demons? Rustling sound?
Oh shit.
I turned. There's someone behind us.
A figure came out of the shadows, slender, tall and-
Oh wait, it's just a Human.
Wait, here?
The Human in question had dark brown hair and hazel-brown eyes, and wore weird-looking rectangular glasses, dark jeans and a thick purple jacket, but looked even colder than I did, if his nearly milk-white skin and his shivering were any indication. He was nearly a head taller than Buwaro, but judging by his facial features, he couldn't have been any older than him.
"Hi there", he spoke, in a deep, quiet voice.
"Hello" Buwaro replied, with a little enthusiasm. The Human flinched slightly.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"That's what I'm wondering myself" he replied "I have no idea."
"What?" Seriously, what?
"I literally don't know. I can't remember what happened. I can barely remember anything." He looked pretty drained as he said that. "All I know is that I woke up at the cemetery, with no knowledge of how or why I got there. Then, after contemplating my situation, I decided to ask for help. And you're the only people in the area so..."
"You're stuck with us?"
"Pretty much."
Damn it. That's another problem to add to the already too-long list.
"Okay, at the very least tell me where we are." he said; I think he saw the look on my face.
"We're at Fuzen'ro forest, northwest of Farun. Is that helpful?"
He rolled his eyes. "Not really, but thanks anyway." He stuck his hand out. "And I know this whole thing is sudden and all, but maybe the rest of the explanation can wait until we find shelter or something"
I hadn't even realised that it started snowing.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's go."
My POV
We finally arrived at the village. Took us long enough. I was treated to the sight of Rhea dashing between trees for cover on our way to her house.
"What are you doing?" Buwaro asked in confusion after a few minutes of this.
"What does it look like?" Rhea hissed. "Get behind cover before someone sees you two!"
"But why do we have to hide?" he asked as I moved him to cover.
"Buwaro, it wouldn't look very good with I strolled around a hick town like this with a human and a demon by my side, y'know?"
"Oh, because I'm a demon..." Aaand we're back to square one with him. Poor guy.
I pat his back and sighed "You know, you could've phrased that a little better." I admonished Rhea. "Besides, what about me?"
"In your case, they're just racist like that." She deadpanned.
"Figures." I knew that already; I'm just making sure.
"Also, we're here. Welcome to my humble abode. I used to live here with Ramirez". She pointed at a nearby house. The door was heavily boarded up.
"...Okay, I suppose?"
"Don't worry, I know another way in"
"But why would they close your house?" Buwaro asked.
She lowered her voice. "People say that a Jakkai was murdered here before Ramirez and I were born. They say her ghost curses this place...but I didn't believe it so I moved in despite their warnings. All was fine and dandy...until I was killed."
I ignored Buwaro's rather scared expression. "Under normal circumstances I would call bullshit, but your 'death' just explains a lot; and I can't be bothered to care anymore, anyway." I muttered tiredly.
And judging from the look on her face, she hadn't meant to let that slip.
"In other news, white leaves" I steered the topic away and motioned at the aforementioned leaves. "Never seen these before."
"Yeah" Rhea said "The trees we use for the houses keep their leaves during winter."
"Oh wow...they're really pretty..." Buwaro said quietly. "I just wish Sakido could see them..."
I could almost see the speech bubble stab Rhea through the back. I could almost feel it happening to me too.
I glanced at Buwaro. Man, the guy really needs a break.
Well, now he has three people to rely on. If that doesn't help then I don't know what will.
Considering he was just fine with only two of those people...
I turned and watched as Rhea dug up a hole next to the house. The secret entrance, if I remember correctly...
"This is a super secret entrance we had inside our house" she said "It's small, but I'm sure you'll fit."
Yep.
"...Alright" I muttered, and stepped inside, with Buwaro and Rhea following behind me.
The inside of the house was unsurprisingly dark as hell, and unfortunately just as cold as outside. And yet, the fact that Rhea's having a hard time seeing inside is amusing. Seeing her bump into Buwaro was even more amusing. It's not like it's pitch black, or anything.
"Ow! Just find a candle!"
"Okay, I think I found one!"
The candle is appreciated though...
And after a few unsuccessful attempts and some back-and-forth between me and Rhea regarding this:
Fwoosh!
"Ugh, finally..." Rhea muttered. She took a look at her room. "Just as I thought, it's all just like I left it."
"It's a nice room Rhea, but why is it so small?" Buwaro asked, having accidentally clipped his horns on the way in.
"It was built with Jakkai in mind, Buwaro" I grunted. "And considering we're easily twice that size...at least the roof is high enough so we don't have to crouch."
But I still had to lower my head in order to fit. Did I mention I smacked myself on the forehead on the way in? I don't think I did.
The house itself was rather quaint; the bedroom had a bed (no shit), a bedside table (no shit!), and even a desk with a lot of items on it. I peeked through the door. The living room had pretty much the same air to it.
I could actually see myself living here if it was the appropriate size.
"I don't feel so good..." Buwaro said "I feel all weak, my tummy hurts and it's making noises..." True to his word, his stomach growled...and it was quickly followed by Rhea's. "You're sick too?" he asked worriedly.
"Calm down. You're just hungry" I said. "Guess the trip out of Hell took a lot out of you or something."
"Actually, demons don't eat in Hell" Rhea clarified as she looked around for something. "Something about being protected by their god's magic." She checked under her bed "Come on, where is it?" I heard her mutter. A few moments later she pulled out what she was looking for.
"Here it is!" she said triumphantly. "The honey I won last year! Good thing it doesn't spoil- what are you doing?"
"Snowy and Thadius are asleep together!" Buwaro said happily. "They look so cute, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy."
"Yeah, me too." I admitted.
She handed us the jars in annoyance. "Anyway, we should just share the yellow one." she said. "The second one is Fire Bee honey, it's really-"
But Buwaro had already put some in his mouth.
"-spicy..." she finished.
"Huh? What's that mean?" Buwaro asked.
I took off my glasses and facepalmed. I really wasn't in the mood to deal with this.
So the night went on. Most of the remaining time was spent by teaching Buwaro about several things in the house, just like I knew would happen; from the books and the figurines, to the pillows, to the chairs and finally the mirror.
I get the feeling he's going to be at that last one for a while.
"I agree" Rhea said. Hold on, did I just say that aloud?
"Anyway, that gives me time to ask you about something..."
Here we go...
"So, you don't have any memory of how you got here?"
"Barely any memory at all. I can remember a few basic things like my likes and my name."
"Which is?"
"...Jamal"
"Okay. What about places?"
"Not those. I don't remember where it is that I lived. Certainly didn't have any snow, though."
"You DO know how far away from home that puts you, right?" There was understandable disbelief in her voice.
"No. As far as anything goes right now, I'm a blank slate." I sighed. "I'm too tired to worry about it right now."
By now, Buwaro had stopped looking at himself in the mirror and sat down next to Rhea. "Yeah, you actually seem to be taking this whole thing really freaking well, all things considered" she noted.
"I already had a freak-out before joining up with you." I pointed out. Best part is, I wasn't lying. "Also..." I lowered my head. "I was at the cemetery. I saw everything."
I turned to Buwaro. "I'm sorry for your loss."
...
...
Way to kill the mood, dumbass.
"Welp, if the two of you don't mind, I'm gonna go sleep on the couch."
"Why not on the bed with us?" Buwaro asked.
"Because I wouldn't fit in it even if I had the whole thing to myself." I turned and left the bedroom...
...Only to smack my forehead off the doorframe again.
I'm off to a terrific start here!
I left the door ajar behind me. I suppose I did fine for now. Guess I'll have to get used to playing dumb; there's a lot of things that I logically shouldn't know about, I'll be sure to make a mental list sooner or later.
I left my glasses on the table and slumped down on the couch. I reached for my phone-
Oh wait.
Oh son of a bitch!
Sigh. Going to sleep might take a while. At least I have my watch, so that's something...
A/N: And that's a wrap. Took long enough huh? FYI, updates WILL speed up, though they'll still be sporadic, just a heads up.
Guest: Thank you for your review. Also, if you really want to put that idea to use, then go ahead! Nobody's stopping you.
EDIT: Forgot the line breaks, sry.
See you all next time.