Case 11,
Our Walk Home (2)
Hajime's POV
It's been days since we went to Ayiesha's house and decided of help her out regarding her parents' weird memories.
"How long will you be immersing yourself into the case? At least eat up, Betty cooked you something." I carefully handed the chocolate-glazed donuts with colorful rainbow sprinkles on top. You could mistake it for being bought from a store by the perfection of Betty's creation.
He stared into the food intently as if he was feeling disgust or displease. "She doesn't know when to pick the right time, doesn't she? You sure this isn't poisoned?"
"Do you think I would let her, of all people?"
He took his first bite, pausing so long. Did he like it? "You sure you didn't buy this?" His eyes staring at me after the question.
"How rude! By the way, I did the mixing and cooking!" I boasted. Though I just watched the timer go "ding!"
He spoke no more and went back to eating. Just watching him work hard for something else besides himself somehow changes my impression of him overtime.
"You should take a break from time to time. You can't solve all those puzzles if you dry yourself up."
"Thanks." He titled his head away, muttering his words.
"Pardon?" It's embarrassing, I need to play dumb.
"Nothing. I was speaking to myself." This honest bastard! I'm as embarrassed as you are, just so you know!
"Things aside, where the heck do you sleep here?" I scanned the dim room.
Since I came here, I've been sleeping on the his room (His smell lingers for some reason, Carol told me when she smelled it), and he decided to stay inside this hidden room that connects to his.
There's no room for a bed, just things he used on investigation. Everything are mostly hidden compartments and only the board at the far end is there. A computer on the right side of the room which he uses to gather intel.
Aaaand, one thing to be certain of; he's dumb, yes that's a given, but that doesn't apply to his entire being. He's actually good at studying. Okay with maths and science, sucks at values education. Probably because of his shitty personality?
"Oh, shut those eyes, I have my ways!" Denial.
"You mean another compartment?"
"Y-yes, another compartment! This isn't a normal house, you know!" He threw off his cunning smile. I hate that look.
I stared into his computer, multiple tabs are opened and countless informations displayed—some from internet browsing, some are sent by some anonymous people.
"Are these information?" I rest my chin onto his shoulder, my neck's gonna give up.
"No, it doesn't add up. None of these are accurate. It's like they're deliberately hiding the information from us? I guess they knew we were making a move..."
My brows furrowed, "Huh? Who are they?"
"This us just a speculation so far, but I think someone is behind all of this. You being here, those evil spirits, and the experiments. I don't even know how they made artificial spirits through the use of dark magic, considering they're human." I don't understand.
"Kise, stop, I can't understand you."
He sighed, "You see, evil spirits are created by multiple spirits. That's how The Officer is made, they just used Dior as their consciousness, meaning the one in control. But the other spirits inside you are artificial. They are made using dark magic, but that's not easy for humans. Something big is behind all of this."
"How can you be so sure?" My grip tightened, a weird, gibberish feeling welling up inside me.
"Because, Hajime, a normal human barely has interactions with spirits. Those gifted with the power to see or feel them can only come across at least two evil spirits in their whole lifetime." I went silent. So we're just playing by their designs...?
I pondered deep into my thoughts until I saw a small video playing through the left side, "What's that?" I pointed.
"O-oh, it's nothing. It's just Caerus dancing. It's an ad for their cafe."
I watched carefully. "He's looking more handsome when he's dancing!"
"Not as much as I am!" He complained, looking away. Is he pouting?
"Tsundere." I whispered to myself.
"What?!"
"Nothing." I chuckled lightly before pulling away from his shoulder. It must've been aching.
"Those stuff aside, do you think there's something with that guy? You can see spirits, too, don't you? How come you can't see him?" He paused for a moment. A soft, calm breath escaped his mouth.
"Hajime, my spiritsight is sealed."
"How?"
"I can't see ghost and spirits like you do."
I fumble my words, "Yes, I know! Why— How did that happen? I thought you were investigating ghost incidents, why did you have it sealed?"
His eyes glimmered with sadness. He looked away as if he was hiding something. "I had to."
The more he speaks, the less I know. The more I learn, the more I understand nothing. Ah... we're drifting apart. Or perhaps, were were distant long ago...
"Sorry. I just can't tell you the details." I try to conceal myself as I silently gasp for air.
"Oh, no, no! Don't worry, it's not like we're that close." I waved my hand frantically, trying to forcibly smile my way out.
"Hajime that's not what I—" He dared speak no more, cutting his own sentence.
Crap. We're awkward again.
"E-enough of that, let's talk about the case! You have no leads yet, right?"
His eyes drifted back to the bright screen, "Actually, I have. They're coming here today."
"What—?" The doorbell rang coincidentally. I nodded off as a response and went for the door myself.
I stopped by the hallway, thinking about the first impression I must give the guests. I wasn't shaking, but I can guarantee I'm nervous. What if I make mistakes why talking? That's shameful!
The doorbell rang twice, once more. I jolted frantically and immediately grabbed the knob unconsciously.
There revealed two people with identical faces—like a mirror to each other's feature.
"You must be Hajime. Nijiro Yuu, nice to meet you. Kise told us about you." He sounded cheerful, reaching out his hand towards me.
"No, he didn't." Another one spoke from beside. "Nijiro Aoi." He spoke no more and remained unfriendly towards me.
Though they're really identical, I'm not lying when I said they look like a mirror to each other. Yuu's hair runs from left to right, while Aoi has his hair running the opposite direction. Like a mirror to each other.
Aside from looks, their personalities are quite contrasting. Aoi seemed cold, and Yuu looked cheerful. Though I shouldn't judge people if I don't wanna be judged the same insult...
"P-Please come in, he's waiting upstairs." I feel entirely awkward with them. Nijiro, huh?
They both took off their jackets, revealing their uniforms underneath. It's weekend, right?
A clean, white sleeved shirt and striped light blue neckties. Intricate designs on some seams, nape, shoulder and pocket on the left chest, all in golden color, which appears really weird in the eyes. I think I have seen Kise wearing the same clothes once, I just can't put my fingers on it.
I followed the two upstairs myself. They walked in as if they knew the place like the back of their hands, directly towards the hidden room.
"Yo-Heng is busy right now, so I need your help to track this case. There's a high possibility it's connected to 'that person'." I hear Kise from the other room as I came after them.
"That guy's not named yet?" Yuu's brows furrowed.
"Unfortunately, no. If only it was that easy..."
Aoi cleared his throat, "Let's not talk about that. Yuu, get started."
They completely forgot I'm here... "H-hey, I'll just go out, call me once you're done." My voice sounded like it simmered down.
"Brother, turn off all the lights." Yuu instructed while Kise and Aoi stood up to darken the room.
I somehow felt outside the box. They completely ignored me right there... Come to think of it, Yuu said Kise talked to them about me, but Aoi said— nevermind that, he must be trying to be kind with me. That aside, I didn't knew Kise had siblings other than his cousins. Explains how he can do things himself.
I quietly walked down the stairs. For some reason, I lightened my footsteps, thinking that I might feel agitated if I ever felt my own presence in the room.
Every footsteps felt empty as if I'm a walking air. I focused myself into the room's silence and faint heartbeat within. I wonder if it's aching, or just bearing normally... It feels terrible everywhere.
"I can help ease the pain..." I hear a faint whisper.
One blink and off away I go; a place unfamiliar. My body had been binded into a single chair and voided room. Cracking sounds had been forming on my right chest, hiding the ice that slowly spreads into my being. Cold, but soothing.
"Fiona?"
I gazed upon her pale skin. The color as if it was covered by clear snow and her eyes as white as the raging blizzards of the north. A deep white dress within and thin intricate fabrics acting like a second dress.
Above her head floats a small ice tiara that glisten like flakes of winter. Lips as if vitality and blood was sucked dry by the sheer cold.
"You...look different..." She smiled.
"Thank you."
"I can ease your pain, in exchange for something of the same worth. Something we both don't mind giving away." She ticked the ice on my chest with her long white nails.
"Exchange for what?"
"Let's see...how about a contract? Of course this is different from those spirits of yours. Something that would benefit us by taking something from each other."
I can't move my body. I'm not held by anything, but something seemed to halt me from moving as I pleased.
"Well then, I offer you my pain." She paused and looked me straight into my eyes.
"Do you understand what that means? It's almost the same as giving up your humanity."
I looked back without hesitation, eyes glimmering with certainty, "I don't care."
She chuckled under her breath, enough for me to hear. Her nails pointing back into my frozen chest, lightly tapping it. "Fine. In exchange, I will freeze your heart when you receive pain. None shall tamper with your feelings or I shall curse them under my winter breath. Dare to break your glass heart and my power will seal you with ice."
After her words, my head and memories felt a little hazy, and I came back to reality. I was sitting on the couch at the living room. Was that surely a dream? No, I guarantee that was not.
My chest doesn't feel empty, but it doesn't feel like it has everything I need inside. As if it is occupied, but not filled—a portion is missing.
The icicle remained instilled in my chest, seemingly blocking something that I couldn't comprehend. I don't feel as empty and hurting. Not even thinking about my past...this...is cure?
"Oh, Hajime, there you are! I thought you went outside, you should at least tell us." Kise came walking down alongside the twins.
"Ah, sorry."
Shouldn't I be angry? But I did told him I'm going out, right?
"How's the progress?"
"Ah, about that..." He scratched his head, hesitating for something.
"I can ask Dior to locate him if you confirmed everything. Oh, or have Carol cook up a plan for you. Fiona said she'll help, so I think—" before I could finish, I lost my chance to talk.
"No. There's no need, we'll handle this ourselves. You're out, this time." He went directly.
I felt the eyes cracking in me. "Hey, is it just me or your chest is uneven?" Kise pointed out, Yuu seemed to chuckle.
He didn't have to say it out loud, it's... shameful.
"Uh...no, I put something in it, Carol said it'll help me some point." I shake.
What a blatant lie. I should get angry by now, right?
But...
How?
What is anger anyway?
"Well, then, let's go?" He signalled to the two as their shadows drifted away.
A loud shatter echoed through my ear, the ice on my clothes shattering and falling onto my lap. Weird, I can't feel the coldness.
Why do I even get worked out over the simplest details? There's no need to tell me when he's going out... It's not like I can't take a simple joke with them. But it's just that...
"Hajime, are you okay?" A small hand grabbed my clothes from the side. The only one who can appear without my permission or certain circumstances, Erebus. I call him Eres now.
"Yeah, somehow." I sighed.
He handed me a glass of water while stroking my back lightly. He's such a kind kid. Even after going through harsh pasts, he never cussed nor gotten angry at me for once. Like a teddy bear but with consciousness you can turn to anytime you need a hug.
"Betty is binded to you by the Contract of Vessel, while Carol, Dior and me are bounded by the Contract of Superiority. Fiona is different. She bounded by the Contract of Give and Take. In exchange for something, you'll get what she promised you, as long as you produce what you promised to give her, or else she can't protect you." He seemed to get the gist of the situation.
"How did you know?"
"I handle the paperwork." He handed out multiple papers with fingerprint stamps. "These are your contracts."
"There's even that?! What the heck?!"
He kept on cheering me through the day, and all I did was laugh my head off anything funny he told me. I even had Dior telling me some tales of his youth that entirely made Eres and my day.
Unfortunately, Carol and Betty was busy teaching each other some "stuff" they planned that's been going on for days now. Good thing Betty still gives me the time to have her cooking. She's more of a mother and maid for me, now, and I don't really hate it.
"Well, then, shall we head out now?" Dior stood up.
"Eh?"
"If you can't live alongside humans, why not just blend in with spirits and ghosts?" He suggested.
"Wait, won't that be considered as spirited away?"
Eres, who is drawing beside me stood up, "No. Spirited away means being taken out of consent. Humans can live alongside ghosts and spirits, but then must follow our taboo."
"Taboo?" I raised a brow.
"You must have a spirit to guide and live with you, and that spirit must be sure not to eat you." I somehow felt the dark side.
Carole scoffed, walking in, "That is for him to decide, don't push him into a world he does not fit to be in." The room fell silent.
"I know this if off-topic, but...why are you wearing a maid outfit?" Through Dior's statement, the room loomed with awkwardness.
My eyes scanned her garments; a maid outfit with white, black and a few golden design tailored into the seams and nape. Layers of this fabric wraps around as covering and design to the front parts.
The outfit was well tailored and crafted with gentleness, color balancing each other. Not too short, not too long, right about under her knees. I must admit, her glasses added the appeal.
"T-this was Betty's doing! S-she's just teaching me girl stuff!" Her face red out of fluster.
I chuckled to myself, "Hey, don't sweat it, you're already beautiful as you are. You know being smart is also a charm!"
She paused, straight up looked into my eyes, then lost focus and straight up diverted her gazes away. I looked towards Dior, though he just sighed, looking right into my face. Before we could even discuss things, a weird sensation ran down my spine.
A bang from the door came, as if someone was desperate to go inside, then a faint voice keep on coming, more like the person is weakened.
Eres stopped drawing and immediately looked into the door, red ink slowly pouring instead of black. Everyone was on pause; Dior was staring intently while Betty came down with heavy footsteps.
"Shh, an evil spirit is outside." Carol pulled me into the couch and sat beside.
As I head the faint voice and loud bangs, shiver came running down my spine without a chance for halt. I haven't felt this in a long time— my eyes are scanning every place, frantic and nervous. My breathing slowly tighten alongside my shaking hands. I feel stiff, as if my body would break if I make a big move.
"H...help...me..."
I looked at Dior who wouldn't move and stared into the door.
"A...guy?" My eyes widened. "He's slowly transforming, but he looks like he doesn't want to... What's happening?"
"Open the door and prepare tea." Erebus confronted the door.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Betty rushed towards the poor kid.
"He needs help. NOW."
Everyone went silent after. Betty quietly obeyed and went for the kitchen. Dior came to the door with Eres to check into the person outside, while I was left with dread beside Carol.
There came inside was a familiar face. It's the guy Kise was going for! Does that mean he's actually a real evil spirit?
"Tell me, I'm not human to begin with, wasn't I?" He dropped into a kneel the moment he came in, the fear going away slowly. "People started having memories of me that wasn't true...I can live without eating...but my body craves for something else... Please, you need to free me from this!"
Tears came rocketing from his eyes, guilt slowly entering my heart, "How did you get here?"
Eres came to my lap with his bag on his shoulder, "He did that using your shoes." I couldn't help but wander my mind. "He's likely a Watcher. They follow and stall people around, and there are some who are excellent enough that can trace. He must've been a victim like us to be in that state."
"Is there any way to save him?" Dior couldn't help but look away.
"Another contract, perhaps?" A faint voice came once again.
Fiona?
"Yes. If you form a contract, you're likely to get more protection against other spirits trying to do anything to you, and he won't be able to feel the pain of dark magic if he's inside you. Just like the others..." I pondered to myself once more. If that's the case...
"What can you give me?"
"Excuse me?" He looked baffled.
"Protection? Power? Abilities? If you can give me something, I can cure you with a contract. That's fine, isn't it?" Gosh, what I high speech I gave there...
"I...can only reduce my presence...like a person who can't be seen. I have no power that would suit you, but rather one that would only hinder you..." His eyes mellowed into teary, holding his hands together as if he's lost his will to stay.
I couldn't help but scoff it off, "Fine. That's enough. Everyone, return, I'll inform you about what happens next."
I held my hand out towards him while he accepted gently. His hands are sold and pink, like that of a human. Countless memories flowed into my mind, sad and happy times that eventually merged into my being. A soft light blinded my eyes before I opened and saw his state back to what I saw before—clean and well-dressed.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"Stay with them inside my body, you must not leave until I give you permission, we can't let Kise see you. Tell the others what I told you." I stated with calmness with a tired tone.
I walked slowly towards the room while left myself drifting into my feel slumber.
I guess not every human is made for a human. Who knows, maybe a life with these spirits would actually be the place I could call "Home".
***