Hello guys! Time for chapter 6!
The DAL archive is dying xD Well, can't be helped. With the novels got hit by DMCA (I think?) hence the translations completely abandoned and taken down, plus there's no new contents (OVA, seasons, etc.), it's really not surprising. I couldn't even read Nia Creation properly because the PDF ver I got is not proofread, and it's killing my eyes. If I have time, I could edit it, but work comes first.
I didn't find any information regarding Arubi Island, so I will be making things up, most of it.
To Cryocene: I got it all covered. Don't worry :) But if people would accept it or not is a different story, and in my own perspective, it's gonna be a mindblowing revelation and seemingly implausible.
So, there's that! Let's get on the chappie now, Khorosho~ Enjoy!
It was already past twelve in the afternoon when Shidou got back to their spot. He saw the girls playing beach volleyball, with Yoshino as the umpire. They noticed Shidou's arrival and waved at him, inviting him to join them, but Shidou didn't feel like playing and just waved back at them, implying that he's not going to join.
With that, they resumed their game. Let's expect a not-so-normal game, shall we?
He then turned his attention to the blue-haired girl participating in the match. He couldn't help but feel flustered while staring at her. Mostly because of what he and Reine talked about earlier, the other reason is still filled with uncertainties.
He averted his eyes from her.
'There's no other meaning on it…'
Or so he thought.
'It's for recovering her memories…'
Oh, really?
These thoughts kept on circling in his mind.
'Yeah, it's for recovering her memories.'
If you're wondering what that method of recovering her memories is, let's go back a few minutes earlier.
~o~O~o~
(FLASHBACK)
"…In that case, how about this?" Reine said and ordered Shidou to come closer.
Shidou nodded and abided with Reine's request. Shidou moved closer to Reine. The older woman moved near Shidou's ear and whispered at him.
"…Make her fall in love with you, and kiss her, like what you did to the spirits." Reine blatantly said.
Afterwards, Shidou tilted backwards due to surprise and shock from Reine's idea.
"A-A-Are you s-serious, Reine-san?!"
Reine's expression didn't show anything other than serious. She's definitely serious with her idea.
"…It's the only way I could think of, unless you have a better idea, then we'll roll with that." Reine said.
~o~O~o~
Shidou sighed.
That kind of method is a plausible one, yet Shidou couldn't feel any comfortable with it. Why so? Because Shiori's not a spirit. She's not someone who's needed to be saved.
What's the difference, though? Shidou already made six spirits love him, adding another one is nothing new.
Yep, nothing new, but nothing better either.
Shidou swung his head to clear his thoughts off. There's no point on pondering about it when he doesn't have a better idea to throw back.
"I hope that things wouldn't turn out for the worst…" Shidou said in a low voice.
"…"
"What things, Shidou?"
"Well, it's about Shiori…" The moment Shidou said that, he also realized that he's already talking to someone else. And that someone was the person he wasn't expecting to be here, or rather, DOESN'T want to be here.
"O-O-O-Origami?!" Shidou immediately backed away from the said person.
Tobiichi Origami. His classmate, and a wizard working in AST. Tohka's archenemy.
"What about Shiori, Shidou?" Origami asked with a vague expression.
'This is not good' is what Shidou was thinking. Once Tohka sees her, it's gonna be chaotic.
But it's too late, Tohka's already running to Shidou, abandoning her match.
"Tobiichi Origami!" Tohka said as she did a flying kick to attack Origami, but it was easily dodged by the silver-haired girl. "What are you doing here?!"
Origami composed herself back. "Me being here or not is none of your concern."
"You…!" Tohka gritted her teeth. Origami was the last person she wanted to see here. "You didn't stay true with our agreement!"
If you're wondering what that agreement is, it was the rock-paper-scissors they did last week. This is also the reason why Shidou didn't want Origami to be here, because chaos ensues.
"I came here on my own, not with Shidou, so there's no problem, right?"
"Nu-!"
She's got a point though. The thing is, how Origami did know about their trip.
The rest of the girls aided Shidou in stopping the two before disaster could strike. Everyone knows that these two are onto each other's throats.
~o~O~o~
It's already around four in the afternoon. They're wrapping their stuff up and as soon as they were done, they headed back to the hotel. They separated ways after saying goodbye to each other. Well, they might see each other again later when they head to the bath, though.
Shidou arrived back in front of his room. He was already dead tired, judging from the events today. No need to repeat everything, it's pretty clear already.
He unlocked his room and went inside. He was expecting Kurumi to be in his room but she's nowhere to be found, which is a relief to him. He doesn't want to keep her close to him as much as possible. Not because that she's dangerous of sorts, but for some other obvious reasons.
He threw himself on the bed and sighed. He had a long day, for sure.
After a few moments, he felt a gentle breeze enter his room. He instantly turned to the window, as he was sure that he hasn't opened it since he arrived here. And there, it was indeed open, and at the same time, he learned that he wasn't alone in this room.
There's someone sitting on the window. That person is a girl that looks like around Shidou's age, with her hair tied in an uneven-length twin-tail style. She's wearing a bright, frilly vermillion dress; with heterochromatic eyes.
"Kurumi…"
Yes, it's Tokisaki Kurumi, also known as Nightmare. The spirit deemed to be the cruelest and most dangerous.
"Good afternoon, Shidou-san." Kurumi said as she stepped inside the room.
Shidou didn't reply. He's not really comfortable with Kurumi's constant sudden appearance.
"Ara, Shidou-san. Don't be afraid, I won't bite."
Shidou narrowed his eyes. "Doesn't look like it though."
Kurumi frowned. "My, Shidou-san doesn't have faith in me. It hurts." She said as she summoned a handkerchief and wiped her 'tears'.
Shidou made a problematic look. He seriously have no idea about what's running in Kurumi's mind.
"I-It's not like that! It's just…"
Just what though?
"I'm just kidding. Silly Shidou-san." Kurumi said as she stuck her tongue out. She then walked to the bed and sat down beside Shidou. "You're wondering why I'm here again, right?"
Shidou nodded slowly.
"Well, because I was wondering if you found a method for recovering Shiori-san's memories."
Shidou froze.
"Seems like you have an idea." Kurumi smirked.
Yes, he did have one, but that method is not one hundred percent acceptable, to him, at least. Either way, he should tell Kurumi about it, since they're working together.
"Kurumi, do you remember the first time we met?" Shidou asked.
"Ara, what brings you to this topic, Shidou-san?" Kurumi asked. She then realized that Shidou's expression has turned into a troubled one. With that impression, Kurumi knew that Shidou's forcing himself to talk about it.
"Of course, I do remember, Shidou-san." Kurumi answered. "We had a date, and did a lot of things together, right?"
Shidou nodded. He still didn't reply. Kurumi's getting impatient with Shidou, but she couldn't bring herself to get mad because of Shidou's expression.
Well, the topic they're talking about isn't really a good one. That date ended in a disaster, with Shidou witnessing Kurumi's clone killing people, and lately got killed by Mana.
"I'm sorry, Shidou-san." Kurumi apologized.
Shidou was surprised.
"N-No, don't worry about what happened that time." Shidou said. "Kurumi, do you remember what happened in our school's rooftop?"
Of course, she does remember that one.
"Yes, I do, why do you ask?" Kurumi's expression turned into a serious one. "Are you condemning me for what happened?"
Shidou's expression softened up. He then swung his head afterwards.
"I wouldn't stand for you when you were about to get blown into ashes by Kotori if I were to condemn you." He then smiled.
"Then what, Shidou-san? You're leaving me in the dark here."
Shidou was about to tell Kurumi about 'it', but then he felt a heartache before he could say anything, as he remembered 'Kurumi' get killed by Kurumi before Shidou could save her.
His smile disappeared.
"Do you… remember… what I said to her… before she died...?" Shidou asked as he looked away.
Kurumi was surprised. It was indeed an unpleasant talk for Shidou. She was wondering why he was talking about this in the first place, when it just brings bad memories for him. Well, she had an idea that the method he was talking about is hidden in that memory.
But what surprised her even more was how Shidou delivered his words about 'her' death. Shidou said that 'she died' instead of 'you killed her'.
She recalled back that memory…
~o~O~o~
(FLASHBACK)
"Kurumi, let me give you a chance to start over." Shidou said as he stared directly at Kurumi. The spacequake that was about to hit Raizen High and the barrier around the school was just lifted.
Kurumi glared at Shidou, followed by a sinister look. "Will you stop uttering this nonsense? Mind your own business. I don't want that."
The 'that' that they're talking about, was the thing about Shidou said to Kurumi this morning.
~o~O~o~
"Kurumi." Shidou called my name.
"Yes?" I said with a smile. Seriously, this ticks me off.
"I've decided to save you." Shidou said with a straight face.
That's surprising. I have no idea about what he's talking about. This guy's really mysterious.
"That's a peculiar thing to say."
But he kept his composure.
"I won't let you kill people anymore." He said. "Nor let Mana kill you ever again."
This ticks me off, really. But I can't lose it.
"Is that so?" I said and walked away.
~o~O~o~
"You can't know for sure unless you try it!" Shidou's voice got louder, which startled Kurumi.
"You, too, might enjoy living a normal life!" He continued. "Had you never even considered the possibility, you couldn't have enjoyed your date with me!"
Kurumi became troubled. She recalled everything back from their date. She did enjoy her time with him. She just realized it now, when Shidou's this serious about saving her.
"But I…"
"I can do it! I know I can!" Shidou said with strong determination.
Kurumi gasped.
"You must make amends for everything you've done!" He said. "But Kurumi, I don't care about how many sins you've committed."
"Because I will stop at nothing to save you!"
Kurumi became more afraid. She's afraid of Shidou. But his words were filled with resolve. He really wants to save her, even though she doesn't have an idea about it, nor if Shidou could even really do it. Shidou wants to give her a normal life, is what she thought about it.
She wanted to believe his words.
"But I…" Kurumi backed away for a little bit.
Shidou flashed a smile and offered his hand to Kurumi.
"Shidou-san…" Kurumi couldn't take it anymore. She extended her hand, tried to reach Shidou's hand, for him to take her wherever she could enjoy her life with him.
"Can I really…" She was about to hold onto Shidou's hand when suddenly…
~o~O~o~
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Kurumi immediately opened her eyes and stopped recalling that memory. Making her remember that memory just gave her an unpleasant feeling.
Either way, she has to give an answer to Shidou's question.
"Yes, I do, Shidou-san." Kurumi said. "I recall you uttering nonsense about saving 'me'."
"It's not nonsense!" Shidou said in a higher voice, which surprised Kurumi. "I still feel that way, Kurumi. I want to save you, but not until I have your consent."
"Because I know you still have a goal to achieve." Shidou said. His expression turned into a serious one.
Her heart was touched. Well, she can't bring herself to devour Shidou when he's this kind and caring.
"Alright, alright, let's get back to the topic." Kurumi said as she closed the previous discussion. "So, what are you implying now, Shidou-san?"
Shidou cleared his throat before speaking, "The method of 'saving' you, is the one that I'm going use."
Short silence.
"I don't get it, Shidou-san." Kurumi said. "You said about this thing, that saving me means that I might have a normal life."
Shidou nodded.
"But Shiori is not a spirit; she's a normal human, and already have a normal life. She doesn't need to be saved." Kurumi said. "But then again, about saving spirits, I have no idea how you do it."
Shidou tensed up a bit. He doesn't want to tell her that right now. Or rather, he doesn't want to ever tell her that unless she would give him her consent.
"I… I'll tell you about that some other time." Shidou said.
Kurumi had grown suspicious of Shidou, but she didn't bother prying about it since she knew that she won't be able to squeeze answers from him.
"Okay, then." Kurumi said as she stood up. "I'll visit again if I find a clue." She said and then disappeared into thin air.
Shidou sighed. Remembering that memory isn't really a good idea. It could've been easier if he just told her the exact method of sealing of spirit's Reiryoku, but somehow, he knew that he wouldn't be able to save Kurumi if he did.
He could still feel his heart in pain. That memory of 'Kurumi' really pains him. He could've saved her if he just took initiative in taking her hand, rather than waiting for her. But everything was beyond his expectations. He didn't even expect that the 'Kurumi' at that time was only a clone, and not the real one.
Even so, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken. A clone or not, 'Kurumi' is still 'Kurumi'. She's a person, with a soul and heart.
He lied down on the bed. There's no point in moping over her death. Because he knew, that she wouldn't want him to cry over her. He has to deal with the problem in front of him right now.
He just wished that he could see 'Kurumi' once more, but he knew that it will never happen.
He hit his cheeks as he sat up on the bed and made a plan for tomorrow.
~o~O~o~
It's already past seven in the evening as Shidou got out of his room and hit the baths. He saw the girls minus one leaving already as he entered the bath's lobby.
"Oh, Shidou! Decided to hit the baths too?" The girl with dark-night hair said as she waved to Shidou.
Shidou approached them. "Yeah, I just finished our plans for tomorrow." He then gave a thumbs up.
"Ooohhhh!"
He noticed that there's someone missing in their group. "By the way, I don't see Shiori anywhere. Where's she?"
"She said she had to take care of something important, and she'll try to catch up, but she hasn't shown herself yet." Kaguya said.
"I see." Shidou said. "I'll enter the baths now, goodnight to all of you."
"Good night!" The girls said, with one of them added 'Darling'.
"Yuzuru, we're having a ping pong match!" Kaguya challenged.
"Accept. Bring it on."
Shidou just chuckled at them and entered the baths.
~o~O~o~
Shidou sunk himself in the water. The bath is open-spaced, and the water's just at the right temperature. Add the starry skies, the view couldn't be more pleasant than it is already.
"What a peaceful night…"
He wished that these days would last. No more spirit activities and spacequakes. He wanted Tohka and the other girls to experience more of this world, and have a normal life. And there they have it.
But he can't relax yet, unless he solves the mystery thrown at him. And that is, uncovering Shiori's true identity, in which will be revealed once she recovers her memory. And of course, it's no easy task, but he has to do everything in his power to make it happen.
"-Shidou…?"
He heard a voice call his name, and looked around, but saw nobody around. He then realized whose voice was that.
"Shiori…?" He called back.
"Yes, it's me, Shidou. I'm at the other side of the bath." She said.
So this bath is connected. That thought alone made Shidou blush a little. Well, it's better than both of them being in the same bath. Scratch that; technically, they're in the same bath.
Good thing Kaguya didn't pull a prank on them. She has a tendency to do so whenever she gets the chance.
"What's up?" Shidou asked, trying to act composed, but the thought of him being close to Shiori even if there's a tall wall that separates them makes him flushed.
"Well, I was just wondering… if you could accompany me… the day after tomorrow." Shiori said.
Shidou didn't quite get what she meant. "Okay…? But we can all go together, so-" He was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.
"No, Shidou… there's a place that… I wanted to go… with you… alone…" Shiori said in a low voice, but enough for him to catch.
"Okay…?"
"D-Don't misunderstand! T-T-This isn't a d-date or something!" Shiori said.
"I wasn't trying to…" Shidou said.
Shiori popped a nerve. "You blockhead…" She said in a low voice.
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"N-No! I didn't! Stop asking me weird questions!" Shiori said. Her face's getting redder by just talking to Shidou.
Shidou didn't reply to her and just sighed in disappointment. Yep, disappointment.
"Hey, Shidou…?" Shiori called.
"Hmm?"
"This trip… is a way for me to recover my memories… right?" She said.
Shidou froze. Seems like he can't hide anything from her. Add that he's bad at keeping secrets and lying. Not like he's planning to hide it from her anyways.
"Well, you're only half correct. This was originally Tohka's plan, right before you transferred." Shidou answered.
Shiori frowned for a bit, but looked on the brighter side and smiled. "Is that so…?"
"What's wrong?"
Shiori tensed up for a bit. "N-No, it's nothing." She said. "I'm heading out now." She then rose from the water.
"Ah, I'll go out as well." Shidou said and did the same. "I'll see you outside, I wanna talk to you more for a bit."
Shiori's cheeks went red after hearing Shidou's word. Good going.
"O-Okay, I'll see you later." Shiori said and went back inside the changing rooms.
~o~O~o~
Shiori got out of the bath and saw Shidou sitting on a bench near the Ping-Pong table. Tohka and the others have gone to their respective rooms already as it's past eight already, and they've got a big day tomorrow, so they can't afford to be sleep deprived.
"So, Shidou, what did you want to talk about?" Shiori said as she approached the young man sitting on the bench, who seemed to be spacing out a bit. "Shidou?"
Shidou was startled. "A-Ah, Shiori. You're here." He said and sighed in relief.
Shiori sat down beside him. "Come on, why are you so deep in thought?"
Shidou didn't say anything for a few moments. "It's about memories…"
Shiori's heart raced a little after hearing his words. "I'm sorry Shidou, I still don't-"
Shidou interrupted her before she could say more. "No, it's not about your... screw it, it's still about your memories… but I am referring to mine…"
Shiori raised an eyebrow. She doesn't have the slightest idea about what Shidou is talking about.
"Like you, I've also lost my memories. Memories of five years ago and beyond that, but I remembered a portion of them recently…" Shidou said.
Shiori somehow got the feeling of not wanting to hear any more of it, but she couldn't find her voice.
"The memories I've remembered weren't something you could derive happiness from." Shidou continued. "In fact, it gave me a lot of confusion and sadness, in which I could've wished that I shouldn't have remembered it in the first place."
Shiori's didn't answer.
"I don't want you to experience that kind of thing, so I've been having thoughts of preventing you from recovering your memories." Shidou said.
Shiori was surprised.
Shidou chuckled lightly. "I'm such a bad person, ain't I?"
But Shiori couldn't bring herself to get angry at Shidou. To her, he didn't say all of those words out of bad intentions, but instead, he said it out of concern. It's true that the memories she had could have bad experiences and worse, traumas.
But still, they're her memories. Forgetting or not wanting to remember your memories is like running away from your past, be it a good or bad one.
Shiori unconsciously placed her hand on top of Shidou's head and gave him a pat.
"S-Shiori…?"
It took her about ten seconds before realizing what she was doing, and blushed. But she didn't retreat.
"You know, Shidou…" Shiori said as she took her hand back and leaned on the backrest of the bench. "Even if it's a bad memory, I still would want to remember it. Because they're mine, and mine alone."
Shidou didn't understand why.
"I know you're already mentally asking why, but… I can't just run away from it for my own convenience." Shiori said. "It would be a cowardly act for me if I would want to forget or not remember my past just because something didn't work my way."
"Be it a good or bad memory, I still would want to remember it. It would be a proof for me that these memories were the reason why I am here, sitting beside you right now."
Shidou blushed from her last sentence. Shiori just realized what she just said and immediately looked away from him due to embarrassment.
"I-I-It's just a figure of speech! There's no deeper meaning on it, okay?!" Shiori said.
Shidou laughed at her.
"What's so funny?!"
Shidou tried to hold back his laughter by calming his stomach down. Wait, that doesn't make sense in a way.
"Sorry." Shidou said as he finally calmed himself down. "You're so strong, Shiori."
Shiori's embarrassment died down as she realized that Shidou's back to his normal composure. "Like you're the one to talk."
"Yeah, you're right. I should've known that your answer would be like that."
Shidou just laughed at himself, and Shiori did as well.
Their conversation continued and so the night as well. It was already half past nine when they realized what time it was already.
"Oh, it's already this late?" Shiori said as she noticed the time on the clock near the entrance of the bath. "I better get going now."
"Alright, goodnight, Shiori." Shidou said as he parted ways with Shiori and waved at her.
"Goodnight as well, Shidou~" Shiori said and winked at him, making the boy blush.
Shidou sighed in relief as Shiori disappeared from the bath lounge. Truth to be told, Shiori's a bit unpredictable. She does some things out of the ordinary and then returns to her usual self after a bit. Not like it's a bad thing, though Shidou couldn't shake off some uncertainties in his mind with regards to her.
'I guess I'm just being overly conscious about it…'
With those thoughts, he went back to his room.
~o~O~o~
Shidou got back in his room. But there was something weird going on in the room. He could smell a sweet fragrance spread around, in which he wondered if he was using something like a perfume or an air freshener.
But no, he doesn't remember doing that.
At the same moment, he realized that he wasn't alone in his room, again. There she is, sitting on Shidou's bed, smiling at him the moment he entered the room.
And also, he realized that the sweet smell belongs to her.
"Did you use some kind of air freshener in this room, Kurumi?" Shidou asked the girl on the bed.
Yes, it was Tokisaki Kurumi, or also known as Nightmare. She's wearing her casual one piece dress, with her hair tied in an uneven length, and her bangs covering her left eye.
"That's rude, Shidou-san. It's the perfume I just bought earlier." Kurumi said as she narrowed her eyes.
"I'm surprised. Where are you getting your funds?"
Kurumi tensed up a bit.
Shidou had gotten suspicious with her actions.
"I-I have my own ways. You do not think that I do not know anyone aside from you guys in the whole world, right?" She tried to give an excuse.
Shidou didn't seem to be convinced with her answer, but he has no proof that she's not saying the truth.
"Okay then. Please refrain from using that inside my room."
Kurumi nodded and sighed in relief.
"And please refrain from barging in my room whenever you get the chance! I don't know what to do if someone finds you here."
Kurumi didn't say anything and just stuck her tongue out as she walked to the window.
"Geez, for crying out loud…" He said and sat down on bed. "So, what brings you here now? It hasn't been even a day since you were gone."
Kurumi didn't say anything as she just opened the windows and let the wind enter the room. The lights inside the room were turned off, so the moonlight illuminated the dark room.
"The night seems to be going a little restless…" Kurumi muttered.
Shidou didn't quite hear what Kurumi just said. "Hmm? Did you say something?"
"Nope. I didn't." Kurumi said as she swung her head. "I'll be on my way, Shidou-san. Good night~" She winked at the boy and disappeared.
Shidou sighed and lied down on his bed. It's a bit uncomfortable that Kurumi tries to break in her room every time he's in here, but he didn't hate her company. In fact, he does like it. Just the continuous sneaking of hers isn't a good thing.
After a few moments, he fell asleep.
~o~O~o~
Fire.
There's a large fire. A sea of fire.
I could see the flames in below from where I am sitting, from a high ground, burning everything it touches. I don't know what caused this. It's burning everything to ashes.
I can't stand the sight of it.
I turn to the left side; it's the same. The fire is eating away everything.
What could've happened?
I turn to the right side. There is no difference. Raging flames are everywhere, destroying everything.
I turn around, and I realized that I'm not alone. There is this girl, wearing a combination of black and white dress, along with a rose bowtie. She's wearing a rose headband as well, with her eyes under her dark hair.
But the important thing that I noticed about her is, she is holding a gun, and it is pointed towards me.
I do not know what's going on. First, there's fire everywhere. Second, there's a girl pointing a gun towards my head.
But surprisingly, I don't feel threatened at all. I'm only nervous.
Her finger moved to the gun's trigger, and I suddenly feel numb. I couldn't move a single muscle, and I couldn't say anything as I stare at the girl's face.
But still, why don't I feel threatened?
Her lips moved, but I can't comprehend whatever she's saying, because I could not hear a single thing. My mind is blank, my body is numb, and my voice is gone. I'm a hopeless person.
I'm going to die.
I'm going to die.
I'm going to die.
I'm going to die.
I'm going to die.
There's no way I can survive this.
But still, why don't I feel threatened?
I don't want to die.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to die.
I don't want to die.
I haven't fulfilled my promise to her yet.
Promise? What promise? And a promise to who?
I don't know what that promise is, nor the person I made a promise with. Why did I think such things all of a sudden?
And in an instant, my vision became black.
~o~O~o~
It has ended.
~o~O~o~
Alright! Chappie six is done! Did it look like an epilogue? XD But nope! It's not the epilogue yet :)
Well, my internship is done, so I think I can have more time writing this fic. It's just games are hindering my progress, hehe.
Please drop a review! Your comments, suggestions, violent reactions help me improve my writing!
By the way, if any of you has a link of a proofread Nia Creation and Mukuro Planet, please drop me a PM. Please, please, please :3
If you see some misspelled words, grammatical errors, please inform me via reviews/PM so I could fix it immediately. There are some stuff that I might've missed even if I proofread this thing more than ten times.
Until next time, see ya guys~