This forest bore a striking resemblance to Niji forest, yet it wasn't exactly the same. The feeling was off. It didn't feel like home. Nai walked along the path that looked like it had been laid out especially for him. Trees surrounded him to the point where it was almost claustrophobic. He didn't want to be here but he didn't know how to leave. Why was he here in the first place? Where was everybody else? Why was he alone again?
"Nai. What are you doing?"
Nai spun around to see Gareki looking at him. Gareki. Why was he here? Shouldn't he be at school? That didn't matter to Nai. Gareki was here. He ran towards him, smiling. He hugged Gareki tightly, he hadn't seen him in what he felt to be a long time.
"Gareki, why are you here? Why aren't you in school?" Nai inquired. No reply. Nai looked up to see that Gareki was no longer standing in front of him. Nobody was.
"Gareki? Gareki where are you?!" He was alone again. Nai looked for Gareki for a while and began to wonder if Gareki had really been there at all or if he had imagined him because he wanted to see him so badly.
Nai then felt a presence but he did not like the feeling it gave off. He looked around to see Yogi. He was different. His hair colour was silver. His smile wasn't a happy one but one filled with pain and excitement at the same time. Nai didn't like this Yogi, he wanted to get away. At that moment, Yogi laughed manically and sprinted towards Nai with sword in hand. Nai covered his eyes and awaited a hit but when he opened his eyes, he was once again alone.
Nai ran from the scene where he was. What was going on? He wanted to go back to the circus ship; he didn't want to be here. He could feel tear pricking his eyes as he ran. He wanted his friends back.
"Nai. . ." He could hear his voice being whispered in his ear. Nobody was around. "Nai. . ."
He knew the voice. Karoku. That's who it was. "Karoku? Where are you?" Nai frantically looked around. He saw a figure in the distance and he recognized it. It was Karoku and the Karoku he always knew. Not the one on the Circus ship that didn't know who Nai was, but the one that he used to live with long ago. He sprinted towards him. However, he started to slow down when he saw the devastation that surrounded him.
Gareki. Yogi. Tsukumo. Eva. Jiki. Kichi. Hirato. Tsukitachi. Akari. Their lifeless bodies surrounded Karoku. What was this? Blood was spattered everywhere and a lot of it seemed to be present on Karoku's clothes and face which was also painted with a smile. It was a warm smile too. No. This wasn't right. His friends were. . .No. This shouldn't be happening. Why would Karoku hurt his friends? He wouldn't.
Karoku offered out his hand and grinned at Nai, beckoning him to come closer. Nai backed away as Karoku drew closer. Nai's gaze diverted from Karoku to his friends and back to Karoku again. No. This isn't real. No. This can't be happening. NO!
"NAI!" Nai's eyes shot open. His breathing was heavy. Tears invaded his eyes. Yogi was leaning over him looking more than worried. Yogi. Yogi was alright. Yogi was here, with him. Nai leaned up and hugged Yogi tightly as the tears he had been keeping in escaped and soiled his face.
"Did you have that dream again?" Yogi asked as he hugged the young boy back. Nai nodded his head and was so thankful to realize it was a dream.
"Nai, I think you need to tell me what you are dreaming about. Maybe talking about it will make it easier to deal with." Yogi smiled at the white haired boy.
Maybe that was true. Nai completely trusted Yogi. He was his best friend along with Gareki and Tsukumo. Yogi was Nyanperona! He could make anything better. Nai nodded and began to recall the nightmare that haunted his sleep.
xOx
Yogi was right. Nai felt like a weight had been lifted, like he shouldn't be afraid anymore. Yogi had listened to the entire story patiently and concentrated on what had happened.
"I see. That does seem quite scary, huh? But you don't have anything to worry about Nai." Yogi smiled at Nai with reassurance in his voice. Nai looked at the young man and believed every word that he said. Nai giggled.
"You know what I think we should do? I think we should send Gareki a message, asking him how school is going for him. Then you can see that he is perfectly fine. We can go and visit everyone on the ship as well. How does that sound?" Yogi pondered.
Nai nodded in agreement and jumped up. He grabbed his phone that Hirato had given to him and began to text Gareki. Yogi smiled at the pleasure the young boy took in texting his friend.
Hi Gareki. How are you doing in school? Just wanted to let you know that everything is fine here. I am working hard and Karoku is allowing me in to his room every so often. I feel like I'm getting closer to him. Hope to hear back from you soon. Nai.
He felt better after sending the text to Gareki. He looked over at Yogi who was still using his phone to communicate with Gareki. After Yogi had finished, he stood up and smiled at Nai. He offered out his hand to Nai, like Karoku had done in his nightmare. This time, however, he was not scared to accept the hand. This was a Yogi he knew, not the one in his dream. He grasped Yogi's hand with a grin as they walked into the hallway to visit the other occupants of the Circus ship.