Hello, everyone!
It's October all over again. And when it's October, well, you know what it means?
Yup,
Another Halloween Fanfic!
This one is the continuation from
[ Carnival of Forest and Fire ] I posted last year and the story actually happens on the same time span. This time instead of focusing on the world of the dead, it explores the human world and its connection with the monsters. And the pairing on this one will be SayaMilky with the song "Present" by SEKAI NO OWARI as the base. It will also have an extra section under the story so look forward to it.
!!WARNING: ANOTHER VERY LONG ONE-SHOT!!For those who haven't read the previous fanfic and feel a bit lost, you check it here >>
linkAll in all, enjoy~ And Happy Halloween~~
プレゼント
Chapter Lost: Present
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What is the meaning of [not knowing] ?
I don’t understand so I assume it’s the same as [hate]
There’s so many thing I don’t know, and before I realize
I’ve started to hate everything=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
They said I used to have a name.A long long time ago, hundreds and hundreds of years before now.
They said I used to be a knight, a captain of a royal navy, someone who died with her ship in price of saving everyone.
I don’t know when but at one point people started talking about my death, thinking that my soul was still roaming somewhere in the vast ocean, seeking revenge on whoever it was that marked my last voyage. As time passed my story slowly grew into a silent folklore, and before long I changed from a human into a completely different being.
Yes, I remembered. My first memory as a phantom was that of a stormy sea, standing on the wreckage of my old ship as it was tossed all over by the raging waves. How could a ship as broken as that still float, I didn’t seem to mind it at the moment as I grabbed the steering wheel out of instinct, pushing through the deadly weather in a panic rush. When the sky finally cleared and the water had calmed, I started to realize my pale bluish hands that were gripping the wheel, finding it different from how I used to remember them. I released my grip and turned my gaze toward the empty deck, running down to inspect the whole ship, finding it all empty with no crews except from myself.
Wrong. This is wrong. The thought hit me with a wave of shock, but more than that, I found that something more crucial was missing. I froze into a complete stop and turned my face to the faraway horizon. Finally, I uttered my first word from my stiff lips.
“Who am I?”What is my name? My one true name. My memories were blank, and as time went by I came to realize that my current identity was just a made up story created by countless humans, laced with many presumptions and boisterous lies. Probably, maybe, might have. Those words circulated around me as I kept searching for my real self, bringing down every ship that stood in my way.
I don’t know anything, I don’t know anything.
And yet, I alone have to keep sailing the seas for eternity and bringing death to those I meet.
Days turned into months, months turned into years, and years turned into decades; the legend of my ghost ship grew bigger and transformed into a more chaotic mess. Yet, the answer to my question left unanswered. There were times when I cursed those humans for giving birth to me, shouting in agony as they isolated me from their kind and turned me into a nameless monster. But now, as I sat in my cabin polishing my rusty sword, I felt like I didn’t care anymore.
I was nothing but
The Phantom Knight now, a ghastly and hollow shell of my former self.
A member of The Great Council of Sixteen.
Right now I was one of the strongest monsters, or
[Oddities] as how we liked to call ourselves, serving as the leader of the
[Watery Graveyard]; one of the many realms located in the world of the dead. My mighty ghost ship stood in the middle of the realm, driving its anchor permanently to the endless sea while the other lesser ships, where my underlings and the younger Oddities I took under my wings resided, gathered around the area. The sky was always dark in this realm and there was no land in sight. Sometimes a deadly storm brew, sometimes a bunch of pirates came to attack our ships, but mostly the scenery stayed in its constant blackness. As if we were doomed to gaze the sea for eternity.
Does it sound so dreadful to you? Frankly, for us Oddities it wasn’t that bad. Besides, for a certain month in a year the gate to all realms would connect and we could saw something different for a chance.
October; the month of Halloween.
All of Oddities would gather in the world in-between called
[Treeland] and hold a joyful carnival by the end of the month, meeting other Oddities of different realms and partying to their heart’s content. Come to think of it today is September the 30th, a day and a month left until the carnival day. And I supposed to meet someone today. Just as I was thinking about that I could hear footsteps approaching from the main deck.
Knock, knock, knock“Capt’n, ya in there~?”Three light tapping sounds, and an annoying sing-song voice I knew so well. I stopped from polishing my sword and set aside the weapon to my table, seeing the candle light reflected on it.
“Come in.”
I folded my both arms on the table, waiting for the young oddities to enter the cabin. She closed the door behind her and smiled, removing her hat as she gave me a quick bow.
“You called for me?”
“Yes. There's something I need to tell you, Harlequin.”
The oddities blinked and stepped forward, keeping her hat above her chest; her bright smile didn’t change but I knew that she’s actually observing my whole gesture intently by now, taking in everything she saw and heard without fail. I knew, because I’d been looking after her for a very long time. She was one of my best underlings, and in fact the reason why I called her today was because I saw something different in her, something that I could use to my advantages. I raised my folded hands, hiding my mouth behind my intertwined fingers as I stared back at her.
“I believe that you’re aware of the upcoming carnival.”
“
The Carnival of Forest and Fire? I sure do.”
“And I’m sure you know that this year is my turn to conduct the carnival?”
“ ‘f course, everyone’s been talking about that. They’ve been so jolly, ha ha~”
“Unfortunately, or fortunately, there will be a bit of changes to that.
I saw her smile quivered a bit when she heard that and I continued.
“The conductor of this year’s carnival; I want to give that position to you, Harlequin.”
The girl blinked again, seemingly trying process the shocking news I told her. The conductor of this holy carnival had always been one of the Great Council, and to be given such a big role… I guess even a usually so composed trickster like her would be shaken.
“Don’t worry, I won’t push the whole thing to you.” I tried to assure her.
“I just need you to substitute me until the carnival day. And whatever the outcome, I’ll take full responsibility of it.”
She seemed to hesitate for a while, before she finally gave me a nod.
“Right, gotcha. But why so suddenly? It’s yer first chance since forever—”
“Enough questions, Harlequin. Return to your cabin. Now.”
I said it in a stern voice that was barely a shout, and I could see her flinch a bit from that. She gave me one long stare, before giving me another bow and put her hat back above her head.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Nice speakin with ya, capt’n.”
The Harlequin turned and walked toward door, the sound of her cane tapping against the wooden floor echoed within the small room. She must have found it strange, for me to refuse the role of conductor while it’s supposed to be a great pride for Oddities like us. The reason was simple.
I hated people.The ruckus, the silly warmth, the merry atmosphere; unlike a social butterfly like her I really didn’t enjoy crowd. I’d been alone for centuries and I didn’t feel like needing a company any soon. I wonder what the Dark Witch was thinking, appointing me as this year’s conductor. Perhaps it’s her idea of jokes. I couldn’t find any other reason but that.
I sighed, finding that Harlequin had reached the door and planted her gloved hand on the knob. Yes, this girl could conduct the carnival just fine. She might look like she’s always messing around but she had actually planned each and every one of her act in her head, down to the every laugh. If there’s one thing I was worried about, that would be…
“Wait, Harlequin.”
She halted, glancing at me from above her shoulder.
“
The Spring of Memories. I forbid you to enter that place until the carnival ends.”
“Hm? Why’re ya so concerned ‘bout that, capt’n?”
“You’ve been too immersed in the human world. And you know that it won’t end well.”
“Eeh, really?”
“Forget about that human, Harlequin. An unnecessary feeling would only hinder your task.”
“…”
I saw the young Oddities turned and smiled at me, her eyes giving me an expression I couldn’t read.
“That’s why you’re always alone.” CLANK--I charged at her, drawing my sword in a flash and pierced the wall just a hair-breadth away from her neck. I could feel her shadow grew at the same time, springing up from the ground and turning into deadly spikes, their sharp ends pointing at me. Our eyes locked, red against red.
“Haven’t I taught you to watch your mouth?”
“Whoa, did I hit a wrong spot?”
I didn’t answer, keeping my cold gaze on her. I saw her smile softened a bit, and the look on her eyes changed, as if she was looking down on me with pity. That simple look filled me with deep anger.
“Leave.” I whispered darkly, pushing my sword against her neck as I cut through her cold skin; there was no blood gushing through the wound as she had none of it in her undead flesh.
“Before I cut off your head and feed it to the abyss…”
She didn’t move for a while, before she let out a laugh and raised her both hands in defeat, retracting her shadows back to the ground.
“ ‘kay, ‘kay, sorry~ I’m just joking, ha ha~”
I growled and pulled my sword, putting it back to its sheath by my waist. The Harlequin lowered her hands and bent down, picking up her red top hat that fell from our previous clash. I eyed her closely as she patted the hat a few times, before she put it back on with a smile.
“Geez, don’t lash out at me just b’cause yer’ lonely.”
“I am not. Unlike weaklings like you, I don’t need someone else to keep me alive.”
“Ha ha, it must be hard being as strong as you.”
I gave her a skeptical look, but she simply waved it off, taking a step out of my personal chamber.
“I hope you can be a weakling too someday. So that you can understand that feeling."
And with that, the young Oddities closed the door behind her and left. I sighed and sat back to my chair, dismissing her ridiculous statement in a mere second. What a miserable existence, that child, to devote herself for the sake of someone else. And a human at that. Pitiful. I shook my head.
Speaking of humans… I tilted my head to my side, glancing at the wooden door just beyond my seat. Its pure white color stood in contrast within the gloomy cabin. I let out another long sigh.
“Perhaps I’ll go visit that place for a chance.”
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
‘Not knowing’ is a very scary thing
That’s why I tend to spit ugly words
Deceiving those around me, and before long
I’ve started to hate myself too=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
The place beyond that door was nothing but darkness.
The walk seemed so endless and it was pitch black wherever I see, but even then, as if a sense of gravity was pulling me, I knew where I should take my next step. Maybe it sounded strange to you but that’s just how it was, and before long I’d found another white door that lead to the exit of this endless abyss of nothingness. I stopped on my track, releasing the lantern on my right hand in mid-air. The lantern floated freely beside me, and I used the little light it had to search around my back pocket, retrieving a metal ring with many keys on it. Let’s see… Treasure Room, Torture Room, Prison Chamber, ah here it is. I pulled out the golden key, listening to the loud click it produced as it fit perfectly into the keyhole.
Ten seconds left… I released the key and put my hand above the doorknob, waiting for the certain sound of a bell that signaled the start of October.
Five…
Four…
Three…
Two…
One…DONG… DONG… DONG… DONG…POP!What the—!?
I flinched as I heard the strange popping sound and instinctively closed my eyes from the sudden brightness.
“Welcome, dearest guest!”
“Welcome and enjoy yourself~”I narrowed my eyes as my sense of sight returned, and I put one hand above my eyebrows to block the light, letting my eyes to adjust themselves from the previous state of total darkness. The bright cozy room stared back at me in silence, and I could finally make up the two identical figures that were standing in front of me. Both of them were dressed in black maid outfit, a grin adorned their face as they held out a cracker by their hand. So there’s where the popping sound came from.
“Welcome to Halloween Night Club.” The figure on the right said, and the one of the left continued.
“Did you enjoy your stroll?”
I raised a brow at their silly statement, retracting my golden key and closing the door behind me.
“Drop the act already. Y’know that I’m not a guest and there’s nothing to enjoy from crossing the abyss.”
The twin maids let out a giggle at the same time, throwing away their cracker with no care whatsoever. I sighed and clenched the ring of keys on my right hand, watching the whole metal dispersed into thin air safe for the golden key. A chain was connected to it and I dangled the little trinket around my neck. I turned my attention back to the twins, finding one of them skipped away ahead of me, while another pulled my free hand as she gestured me to follow.
I let them guide me through the long staircase, my eyes absentmindedly gazing at the wall that was decorated in colorful gems and unique ornaments; the door where I emerged from was located in the underground chamber far behind the staff room, so it would take a while until I reached the main lounge. We passed by a hanging mirror and I glanced at it silently, staring at the reflection of myself that was reflected through its surface. My hair was still the same, black in a short haircut, but my skin was no longer the same bluish color; it was replaced by a normal healthy flesh. My burning red eyes changed into a deep shade of grey, while the usual blue knight uniform I wore had been replaced by a simple leather jacket and a pair of dark blue jeans. To put it simply;
I had transformed into a human being. Though in reality, the word ‘transform’ wasn’t the right way to put it.
I was still the same ghost, the undead Phantom Knight, but my appearance had changed to mimic that of a human. That being said the me that you see right now was nothing but an illusionary image created from Dark Witch’s magic. It was the same with the two maids that were currently dragging me by now; both of them were Oddities like me, disguised as human beings. And as to why we disguised ourselves this way, I think you could already guess by now.
This is the human world.
I had crossed the border between the two worlds and finally arrived in the abode of the humans.
Did you think it would be a hard thing to do? To put it bluntly it was nothing grand at all. Once the gate opened it is possible for all Oddities to cross between worlds, but whether they could stay alive or not it was another thing. The reason was many and I wasn’t in the mood to explain so let’s just put it for another time shall we? For now I finally noticed that the two maids had stopped walking and we had arrived in the drinking area. The bartender stopped polishing the glass as she saw us, and she put it away on the table in front of her, smiling. The twin maids left me and stood by her side.
“Oh, if it isn’t the Phantom Knight. What’s up, so early this month?”
“Nothing much, Frankenstein. Nothing much.”
“Well, one thing though. You better call me by my human name here. And it’s ‘Sae’, got it?”
I shrugged and took a seat by the bar, eyeing my fellow Oddity with a bored look. The short-haired bartender chuckled, taking out a small cup and pouring some hot coffee for me, while the twin maids left us to chat by the other end of the lounge. I sipped the bitter treat in silence. The Devil Maids and the Frankenstein; another members of the Great Council of sixteen, and three among the four who resided here all year long to monitor the human realm. I didn’t know the details but it seemed that they even had a complete document that stated as if they were real humans, different from me and the other members who only came here once in a while. Oh and yes, we worked as staffs at this club every October, right until the Carnival of Forest and Fire started. It might sound silly but there’s a good reason behind it, believe me.
“Oi, Phantom.” I heard Frankenstein called me and I glanced up from my cup of coffee. She smirked.
“Remember the agreement?”
“What agreement?”
“Once you set foot in my place, your working shift starts. Applied to ALL council members.”
She raised her index finger as she pointed it out and I stared at her for a while, before nodding. She snickered as she saw my reply.
“Good girl. Now then, I have a special job for my most diligent part-timer of the year. Churi-chan, Aya-chan, get me the documents I set aside please.”
“Right away!”
“Gotcha~”
I heard the twins cheerfully answered before they skipped away to the backdoor. I let my eyes wandered to the nearby window as I took another sip of my coffee, watching the waning moon that decorated the grayish night sky. Well, at least it’s nice to see a not-so-pitch-black sky once in a while. I heard footsteps entering the room and I turned my attention back to the bar, seeing the maids returned with a stack of newspapers and a brown envelope in hand.
“Here it is, Sae-san~”
“Thanks. Now, back to business.”
I put away my coffee, examining one of the newspapers while the bartender opened the envelope, the smile on her face vanished.
“Something mysterious has been happening around here, something that I need you to look into.”
“…”
“People were found dead in empty alleyways, stabbed and gruesomely mutilated in a way humanely impossible. The police concluded that all the killing was done by the same person and they’re currently looking into it. But I don’t think this is just a normal homicide case.”
The bartender pulled out some photos from the envelope and spread them on the table between us. I looked at them in silence.
“These are the photos taken by Kao-tan, the mummy. Do you notice anything odd?”
The corpses were quite strange, indeed. Their bodies were in a huge mess; their limbs brutally torn and their inside splattered all over the wall. The shape of their wounds didn’t look like it was done with a normal knife or anything alike; it was as if a wild animal just passed by and decided to use them as its plaything. I could clearly see the huge gash that resembled a bite, the flesh half-eaten to reveal their guts. Whatever killed these people, it ain’t human. And somehow it didn’t look like a mark left by sharp fangs of a beast, but more like a rat bite or perhaps a rabbit’s. A very huge gigantic rabbit.
I stole a glance at the bartender and she nodded, as if reading my mind.
“That’s right, Phantom.
A new Oddity had just arrived in this town. And I want you to fetch this troublemaker and teach it a proper lesson, before
they found it first…”
The
[Exorcists]. I sighed and tossed the newspaper back to the table, nudging my temple. So I had to play a little hide-and-seek in this babysitting session, huh? Considering that the previous leader of the Great Council did the same to me hundreds of years ago while I was still savagely roaming the sea, I guess I could do that much to repay my debt. Besides it’s one of my jobs as council member, to find and teach young Oddities the rule of our kind. Before those barbarian bunch found them for obliteration.
“I understand.” I took one of the photos and put it inside my jacket pocket. “Did Mummy give you any lead on this youngster’s whereabouts?”
The bartenders shrugged, and I let out a growl in frustration.
“Well, don’t be that mad. I’ll tell you the location in these photos so you can investigate. Oh, and I think Kao-tan did tell me that there’s a resemblance among the victims.”
“…that is?”
Frankenstein glanced at the twin maids and they simultaneously nodded, a huge smile on each of their face.
”They threw away something. Something so precious that turn out not to be so~”
The maids sang me a riddle.
”And so they died~ They died, and then nothing was left~” =0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
" I don’t want to be alone "
" Please stay here with me "
Unable to say those words, you close off your heart
And turn it all into hatred instead
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
The first victim was a woman in her early twenties. It seemed that the thing she threw away was the life of her child. The dead body of a baby was found in a trash can not so far away from her, and it seemed that the cause of the death wasn’t the Oddity itself.
The second victim was a man in his late thirties. He was a boss of a certain company that just flourished recently, but it seemed there was a problem. He ran away with all the company’s money, leaving it in a state of bankruptcy and destroying the life of many employees before him. The thing he threw away was the trust of his people.
The third man was a gambler and avid drinker. Someone that the society might call the trash of the world; a kind of people who leeched off someone else and did nothing in return. As to what he threw away, I guess it was his own humanity.
“And that’s all I have…”
I sighed, closing the notebook in my hand as I finished reading through the information. That's barely enough to get me anywhere. But still, to get this much information that was hidden from public… the Mummy must’ve been really good in this ‘journalism’ business. I shrugged and proceeded to take a quick look around the area. It was morning right now and I had arrived on the alley where the third incident took place, finding the scene had already been secured by police lines. Much like the other two. I rolled my eyes and glanced to my side, finding a few officers patroling around the area. The security wasn't that tight, so I had an option of sneaking in now or waiting until nightfall; the first would be harder to do, but if I postponed the operation any further I might lose any track that young Oddity left behind, so the answer was simple. I hid away the black journal into my jacket, carefully reaching my hand toward the yellow tape.
…
…
…
“Are you lost?”—!?
I flinched, my fingers hovering in the air barely touching the tape. I quickly retracted them and raised my head, trying to find the source of the voice.
“Hey? Are you?”
I froze, staring at the girl standing there behind the police line, her black eyes locked into mine. She was just standing there, only a few feet away from me, her both arms folded behind her back as she innocently smiled at me.
“...no.”
That was the only answer I could utter as I put my both hands into my pocket, retreating a few steps away from the border separating us.
“No, I'm not. I'm perfectly fine.”
“I see.”
The girl giggled, seemingly satisfied with my reply. I narrowed my eyes. The girl seemed to be in her late teen, or early twenties I wasn't sure, a pink hoodie adorned with red ribbons covering her simple white dress, a matching fluffy pink boots completing her attires. Her slightly curled hair was dyed in brown and flowed just passed her shoulders. In human term I guess she'd be what you call the epitome of cuteness, but still, I couldn't shake the glint of mischief hidden behind her jet black eyes. Whoever this girl was, I could smell trouble coming from her miles away. And the way she just appeared into my field of vision undetected only added to my unease. I sighed and turned, walking away from her.
“Ah! Are you leaving?”
I gave her a quick glance.
“I'm afraid yes.”
“Aww...”
Her smile quickly replaced with a big pout, and I raised a brow at her. What a strange girl. No, rather than that...
“What are you doing there?”
“There where?”
I raised my hand, pointing at the yellow tape between us.
“There. Don't you see the police line? You're not supposed to cross it.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
This girl really spells trouble... I managed to think before dragging her out of the crime scene swiftly, making sure that none of the officers caught us sneaking around. I kept on walking in silence, taking her away from the alley and out into the more crowded area of the town, before finally releasing my grip. I glanced at her again, seeing confusion painted all over her face.
“Another question.”
“Hm?”
“Are
you lost?”
The girl stared at me silently, as if trying to process my question.
“Lost… Ah yes, lost! I was lost.”
She clapped her hands in exclamation as she said that, and I couldn't help giving her another skeptical look.
“You see, I was... looking for something? Yes, something. But I couldn't remember what it was. And then I got lost.”
That doesn't make any sense. My eyes probably conveyed that thought perfectly as I could see her hitting her head lightly in embarrassment. I nudged my forehead from the sight.
“Then I couldn't help you.”
“Ah, but...“
“I'm kinda busy right now. So it might be better if you—“
GROWWWL-- I flinched as the small growling voice entered my ears, and I turned my attention to her one more time. She pulled back her hand that was reaching for me, switching it to her stomach as her face fell. Somehow I'm starting to understand her pattern...
“Are you hungry?”
I plainly asked and the girl nodded.
“Do you have any money?”
She gave me a confused look. I guess that's a no.
“Well then, what do you want to eat?”
Her face brightened in an instant and she raised her hand, pointing at something behind me. I turned around to see a fancy restaurant standing there, with luxurious exterior that simply screamed 'expensive' at me. I furrowed my brows and turned to see her again, watching her staring back at me with huge puppy eyes. Now this is where I need to tell you something; I might be one of the strongest Oddity and a member of The Great Council of Sixteen, but here in the human world, I'm nothing but a part-time waitress at Frankenstein's place. To sum it up, I'm broke. And going to that restaurant, even if I could shave some budget since I don't need to consume food myself, would be equal to my salary for the whole month.
I gave her a stern look and shook my head, seeing her going through the sulking pattern again. I groaned, reaching to my back pocket to retrieve my wallet.
“Look. I'll give you some money so go buy something yourse—“
“Let's eat together.”She snaked her hands around my free arm and I tensed from the sudden closeness. I almost undid my transformation and drew out my sword. Almost.
“It's lonely by myself, so will you come and eat together with me? Please?”
“...”
I tried to edge away from her, trying to ignore her sweet smile that seemed to be drawing me in, but before I knew it I was already sitting there on one of that luxurious table, watching her digging into the deliciously pricey-looking steak on a silver platter. I froze, staring at the unbelievable sight in front of me for what seemed to be whole minute, before silently raising my hands to cover my face.
What. The. Heck. Just. Happened. ?
Each syllable struck me deeply as I hear the sound of her knife hitting the plate, and I slowly lowered my hands, telling myself to face the unchanging reality before me.
“That looks messy.”
I absentmindedly commented as I saw her struggling with the tableware, and she gave me that cute pout again. I sighed.
“Hold the meat with the fork on your left hand, then cut through it with your knife.”
“Oh, you're right! It's easier this way, tee-hee~”
I didn't answer this time, simply eyeing her as she started to chew her meal quietly. At least she finally calmed down. I closed my eyes, feeling the black orbs shifting back to their usual redness as I lifted their illusion, before opening them once again to inspect her. I didn't see any trace of spell or witchcraft from her so she couldn't be an illusion, but it didn't mean that she's one hundred percent free from suspicions. For all I know she might be an Exorcist in hiding or Oddity with shape-shifting ability, but I couldn't be sure; my nose wasn't as sharp as Tin Cat or Werewolf so I couldn't smell her soul. Maybe I should tell the Mummy about her just in case.
“Is there something on my face?”
I blinked, changing my eyes back as her voice brought me back to reality.
“Yes. You got ketchup on it.” I abruptly answered.
It was her turn to blink now, before she wiped the red blotch with a napkin and giggled.
“You're so funny~”
I raised a brow at her, and she gave me another giggle. This girl is very strange indeed. She put her both hands on the table and leaned forward a bit, whispering something to me.
“Hey, hey. Tell me.
What's your name?”
That question caught me off guard and I looked away, trying to find a proper answer to that. Name. My name. Something that the old me had yearned to find for hundreds of years. A name to call my own. I could always use 'Phantom Knight' but I don't think it's a common name here in the human world, so I had to think of something else. I crossed my arms, thinking, and I could see the girl waiting impatiently for me.
“Could it be that you don't have a name?”
She calmly asked and I didn't respond, still busy with my own thought. She hummed to herself.
“Say. If you don't have a name, can I give you one?”
…
…
…
What did she just say?
My eyes widened in shock, seeing her pulling back to her chair and mimicked my pose, her arms crossed and brows knitted together as if mocking me. The girl seemed to be thinking hard, before she suddenly raised her right hand.
“ [ Sayaka ] ”“Come again?”
That was the only thing that came out of my mouth as she pointed at my face. Confidence brimming all over her.
“Yes, Sayaka.
[Sayaka] with the kanji of
[vibrant colors]. Since you look so serious and wear dark clothing all over I think it's a good change~”
Wait. I shook my head, trying to reassess the situation.
This girl... did she actually just named me!?I saw her nodded, as if proud of her naming sense, before she snatched my right hand and pulled it into a handshake.
“Nice to meet you, Sayaka-chan.”
I felt my eye twitched, staring at her with my mouth slightly agape. She paused, studying my perplexed face for a while, before retracting her hand.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.”
She tapped her small lips lightly.
“My name is... yes. Miyuki.
Watanabe Miyuki. Once again, nice to meet you~”
I stared at her smiling face in silence, still trying to cope with the whole situation unfolding ever so rapidly that my brain failed to register. Okay. Let's start from the beginning. I came to the human realm and received a job from Frankie to babysit a rampaging young Oddity. When I was investigating the area I met a strange human girl who suddenly, just suddenly, gave me a name as if I was some kind of lost puppy. Did I miss anything? No? So what is the logical explanation for this? I believe naming someone you just met a few hours earlier didn't qualify as a normal custom in human world. And yes, while I'm at it I'll also add that she's practically drained my wallet dry now. I felt my eyes twitched again as I saw the bill, watching that Miyuki girl sending some more smiles to the waiter and getting a free dessert from it. I hit my face for the second time that day, suddenly feeling so tired for no good reason.
Really.
What the heck just happened here?
That was the only thought circling my head as I paid her meal and followed her outside, seeing her happily skipping down the sidewalk like a cat that just got its cream. In this case, I am the cream. A sullenly dark bitter cream, that is. She seemed to realize the bad mood I was in and slowed down her pace, matching her steps with mine as we walked side by side.
“Is there something wrong? Your face look scary.”
There's too many problems going on that I didn't know how to respond anymore. So I only shrugged, walking a bit faster ahead of her. How long does she intend to follow me? I grumbled to myself as I absentmindedly listened to her footsteps following behind me, before the sound abruptly stopped; I blinked, my curiosity got the best of me and I glanced above my shoulder to see her standing there, staring at the stack of cardboard boxes lining along the dumping area. Her bright smile disappeared from her face. I tried to follow her line of sight, trying to identify what triggered her sad mode this time, and as soon as I realized what it was I rolled my eyes in a bored manner.
It happened a lot, didn't it? When someone find a stray cat but couldn't afford to take care of it, or if their pets had multiplied too much that they didn't have enough room to spare. They would put them in a cardboard box and dumped them away somewhere, hoping that someone else would take over the responsibility somehow. It's been too cliche that I grew tired of it. Of course, seeing them die out of hunger or rain in that same box was also one of the cliche, just like what's happening now. People would pass by and commented how horrible it was, but they would do nothing. They didn't really need to do anything anyway. But even knowing that the Miyuki girl just kept standing there, staring at the still body of the dead kitten in silence, her face didn't show any specific emotion whatsoever.
“Hey, Sayaka-chan. Why do people throw away everything so easily?”
She said those words quietly, as if whispering to no one in particular, and I shrugged.
“Because they don't need them anymore.”
“They don't need them?”
“Yes.”
“I see...”
She put her hands behind her back again, turning at me with a soft smile.
“Thanks for accompanying me today. It was so nice of you.”
“...sure.”
The girl gave me another giggle before she left. She left, just like that, humming to herself as she walked away, melding into the crowded street. I stared at her disappearing figure, a small sigh escaped my lips.
“What a strange human you are, Miyuki...”
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Hey... Why is it?
That people keep talking about 'hate'
They don't even know anything
Or even trying to know about it=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
It's time.I silently thought as I perched there on top of the clock tower, peering down at the city below me. My scarlet eyes shining under the moonlight.
Today is October the 1stAnd here, in this merry town,
another incident would take place.
I silently reminded myself, raising my golden spyglass to one eye as I tried to observe the scenery better. From the info I had this young Oddity never failed to kill anyone for three consecutive nights since its appearance. That's why, for sure, it would definitely sprung to action again tonight.
“Now where are you...”
CREAK— I flinched, my right hand moved to the sword on my belt in reflexes as I heard the door just below me being swung open. I slowly took a few steps back, blending into the darkness.
Someone is coming.
I kept my stance ready as I saw a figure of a girl emerged from the door, her long silky hair fluttering in the wind. My eyes already scanning her. It's a human girl, I noted. But what is she doing here? This tower supposed to be closed for renovation. My question was quickly answered as I saw her walking toward the edge of the building, ignoring the warning sign and stepping over the metal bars. A suicide? I guess that happened a lot lately. Not that it's part of my problem. Dealing with soul of the deceased is Skeleton Maiden's job and I didn't have any obligation to stop her from killing herself. She didn't seem to hold any connection with the Oddity I was chasing anyway. I put away my spyglass inside my blue jacket, slipping further into the darkness, before turning away and leaping to a different building nearby.
Right, back to my previous job. I couldn't detect any disturbance in the air so the Oddity must have yet to take action. Perhaps I could use the chance to investigate the previous three locations? I thought to myself as I leaped from roof to roof silently, feeling the cold air brushing against my pale bluish skin, before I arrived at my first destination.
I landed on the dark alley perfectly with almost no sound, crouching right behind the patrolling officer, one hand planted on the hilt of my sword.
“Sleep.”I sternly spoke, cleanly slashing through his head. The body fell to the cold ground abruptly, just like a puppet that suddenly being stripped out of its strings, and I synchronously put my trusted weapon back to its sheath. I didn't kill that human. I simply cut his ethereal form and rendered him unconscious for a while. Nothing much. I casually walked over the fallen body and proceeded to inspect the area.
I must say, the way this young Oddity worked was very clean yet also crude in the same time; it’s easy to conclude that it gained form just recently and didn't know how to hold back yet, but the fact that it killed only a certain individual without being caught showed that it also had its own degree of intelligence. I ran my fingers through one of the claw mark left on the wall, furrowing my brows. Smart and brutal. The worst combination I could think of.
“No use complaining about it...”
I stepped away from the wall, unsheathing my sword once again and holding it in front of my face as if in prayer. I closed my eyes, feeling the temperature around me dropped as I did, and I exhaled softly. The puff of white smoke dispersed in the air, and slowly, very slowly, the whole area was enwrapped in its misty vapors. The mist was thin and barely visible, blending perfectly with the cold weather of autumn while sending the vision of everything it touched back to me. I could sense everything around 1km from me now and if I want I could even covered the whole town in my mist, but it seemed that it wasn't needed.
Found ya~
I smiled and reopened my eyes, kicking off the ground and letting my body fell backward to the empty air. The feeling of my flesh evaporating into the mist almost felt nostalgic, and I felt the rush of excitement I had long ago returned to me, rendering my forgotten bloodlust alive. But no, I had to control it; so I told myself as my form materialized in a different alley way. A huge monstrous figure looming before me.
“Hello.”
I plainly greeted the Oddity as our scarlet eyes locked on one another, and I swung my sword perpendicular to the ground, cutting through its fabric-like skin.
“GYAAAAA——AAH!!”The Oddity let out an ear-piercing shriek as lump of white cotton spilled from the wound on its forearm, and it swung its other arm down, trying to smash me to the ground. I sighed, stepping away slightly and raising my sword to welcome it; the way its claws clashed with the blade was almost soundless, and I slid my weapon down, using the Oddity's explosive strength to pin its own limb deep to the asphalt. It roared back in anger, but I didn’t waver, pulling away to take a better view of its form.
The beast-like Oddity towered above me quite a lot, almost 3 meters tall I think, its red pupils shining under the moonlight from behind the hollow shell of its eye holes. It seemed calling it a 'beast' was a bit inaccurate though; it looked more like a patched-up doll. A broken patched-up doll of a rabbit, with stitches all over its face and claws protruding out of its soft fabric skin. But what truly caught my attention was its tattered black vest and the blood red ribbon dangling around its neck. It wasn't something that a simple 'beast' would wear, so I guess my previous hypothesis about it having intelligence was right. I put my free hand into my pocket like I always did, staring at its face like a parent just catching their child guilty.
“Now, can we have a little talk?”
The young Oddity didn't answer. Only deep low growl could be heard seeping through its sewn mouth, its bloodthirsty gaze still locked on me. Could it be that it couldn’t talk? I sighed.
“Fine. I’ll start my part of the talking.”
“...forgive...”I flinched as I heard its broken voice rang in the air, tightening the grip on my sword. So it could talk.
“...can...not...forgive...” “...”
“...can't...FORGIVE THEM---!!!”The Oddity let out another high-pitched roar, and I narrowed my eyes, charging at it once again. It raised its free arm high to the sky in response, before smashing the ground between us; the shockwave sent dust and clamors to the air, pushing away my mist along with them. I cursed, slashing my sword with a huge swing to clear the view.
…
…
…
“It ran away.”
I quietly muttered, staring at the cracked asphalt where the Oddity used to stand. A smart one, indeed. It must have sensed that it couldn't win and decided to pull back. I shrugged and walked further into the ruined alley, still keeping my senses in check for any trace that youngster left behind. The sound of my black boots tapping against the ground slowly turned into sickening squelch and I glanced down, finding fresh red liquid covering it. I sighed.
“Got the better of me this time, eh?”
I turned my gaze to my side, finding stack of cardboard boxes along the area, undistinguished lumps of meat stuffed into them messily, giving off fresh rusty smell. I could easily guess what form it was from the mangled limbs and innards splattered around. Beside the muddled boxes was another small box, cleanly put away as if in atonement.
The dead body of a kitten sleeping inside.
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Because life is full of suffering, they said
Problems keep appearing here and there
Without us being able to keep up
It's as if we're just a program made to solve it=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Forgive.
Cannot forgive.
Those were the last words that young Oddity uttered before it disappeared last night.
It's a form of a curse, a piled up hatred that grew into uncontrollable malice. A common reason that gave birth to many Oddities. Still, its tremendous bloodlust must have meant that the hatred had been nurtured for a very long time. A hundred of years at least. Which means it wasn't just a simple 'newborn' Oddity. And so, with that information in mind, I ventured deeper into the occult section of the public library, tracing my fingers along the thick old books. This action was only logical if you understand the nature of us Oddities.
[Oddities] are creatures born from the thoughts and fears of human races.We are beings purely made out of concept, and so, if humans denied us, we would disappear. That being said the opposite also works; the more humans think about us the stronger our power would be. And so stronger Oddities are those who got their existences passed down through various legends and stories, like that of Vampires, Werewolves, and my Ghost Ship. There are problems of course, with humans starting to forget their fear of us. That's why Halloween Night Club was created; for us to passed down more stories and prolonged our existences. So yes, like I said, there's a good reason for me and other council members working there. We shouldered the life of all Oddities by doing that. End of story.
Now, back about that Rabbit Oddity. For it to take form and gain that much power meant its ‘concept’ must have been passed down for quite a long time in human culture. I had also noticed that it's actually a doll, which meant I could focus my search on manmade creatures. I took a book titled 'Supernatural Creatures of the World' and brought it to the reading area, skipping through the table of contents. Let's see... Artificial Creatures. They had lots of names here. Hmm. I think it's not a form of Golems since I couldn't detect any excess of magical residue. Definitely not a Frankie. Its movement are too fluid and emotional for an Automaton. What else...
I browsed through the list silently, before my gaze fell on a certain name.
“Tsukumogami.”I whispered the name under my breath, opening the page that explained about it.
Tsukumogami. A type of Japanese youkai. An inanimate object that gained life and sentience after 100 years of its creation. Tsukumogami can range from harmless to horrifying vengeful spirit depending on how it was treated before.
It also has the capacity to get angry and will take revenge on those who throw them away. Now that sounded more than familiar. The case was a bit different though, but thing about throwing away matched will all of the victims. So then, how can I track down a Tsukumogami—
“Boo!”I froze, staring at the pair of jet black eyes before me, and my face fell.
Oh.
Not again.
“Wow, you're not surprised?”
“Good morning, Miyuki.”
I plainly greeted the girl that was peeking from under the table and closed the book I was reading. She blinked as she heard that, before giving me her usual cute smile.
“He he, good morning to you too, Sayaka-chan.”
She crawled out of the table and plopped herself on a chair beside me, her pink hoodie swaying slightly as she did. I edged away a bit.
“Hey, hey. What are you reading?”
“A book.”
“A book?”
“Yes. A book.”
“Geez, you're always so funny.”
She giggled, and I didn’t answer. My eyes already scanning her, finding something different about her from the last time we met.
“Did something happen?”
“Eh?”
The girl blinked, watching me raising my right arm and tapping it lightly.
“Your right arm. Is that blood?”
“...”
She raised the said arm and stared at the reddish stain on her sleeves for a while, before her face suddenly twisted in pain. I felt that familiar twitch on my eye again as I saw that.
“You okay?”
She shook her head slowly, tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Now that's a new pattern.
“You're hurt?”
She nodded this time, and I stood, leaving the book on the table before taking her wounded arm carefully. I sighed, dragging her away to the restroom without a word. As we arrived there I pulled down her sleeves to get a better view of the wound, observing the clean cut that went across her forearm. I furrowed my brow. That’s not just a simple scratch.
“How did you get this?”
“I-I dunno...”
How could she don't know a cut as big as this? I gave her a look of disbelief, but I couldn't detect any lies from her whatsoever. In fact she didn't seem to realize the cut before I mentioned it earlier. Did she have the attention span of a goldfish? I let out another sigh and took her over to the sink, turning on the water.
“Okay, fine. Now hold still. This will sting a bit.”
I ran the water down her open wound and she flinched as I did that, biting her lips. I turned the faucet off after a while, taking out my handkerchief and tying it around the reddish skin. She stared at me silently, and as I finished the treatment I stared back at her.
“What? Is it my turn to ask 'is there something on my face'?”
She smiled.
“Despite your scary face you're actually so kind, aren't you?”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
She let out another giggle, and I released her arm.
“Make sure to check the doctor after this, got it? It'll leave a scar if not treated properly.”
“The doctor...”
“Do you need me to accompany you again?”
“...no. I'll be fine this time.”
She pulled down her sleeves, hiding the wound behind the pink fabric once again. I blinked, sensing a slight change in her mood; seemed like I’m getting good at detecting them. I mulled to myself as I saw her walking out of the room, and I absentmindedly followed her.
“Say, Miyuki.”
“Hm?”
She stopped and glanced at me. I paused, opening my mouth before closing it again in the next second. What did I want to tell her? Something about the box of dead kitten we passed by yesterday? About the murder that took place there just last night? I wasn't sure. So I held myself back instead, burying my hands deep into my jacket.
“It's nothing. Be careful from now on. Especially when walking at night.”
She gave me a perplexed look as I said that but I pushed the matter off, turning away from her. I haven't finished reading that previous book yet, nor have I done with any of my investigation, but my legs kept on moving. Away from the reading chamber, away from the library.
Away from her.
And as she finally disappeared from my sight, I felt a strange feeling started budding in my heart...
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
" I won't leave you alone "
" Everything will be fine "
So that I can say those words to you someday
I'll... =0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“Love struck?”
“What’s that?”
I gave the bartender a glare, my sword already pushing against the skin of her neck. She chuckled.
“Whoa there, Phantom. I'm just joking. You've been spacing out lately so I just, you know~”
“...”
“Okay, okay. Can you just put away that sword?”
I didn't waver, still keeping my grip on the blade.
Two weeks had passed since I met the Broken Toy-Rabbit, and since then the young Oddity had yet to conduct another slaughter. I'd been patrolling all night for the whole week, feeling frustration slowly creeping over me as it didn't appear even once. As if it didn’t exist in the first place. Did it go into hiding? Is it recovering from its injuries? Is it devising a new plan since it know it couldn't win head on? I didn't know for sure. But what truly troubled me wasn't that.
I hadn't met Miyuki as well since then. Not even once.
Not in the area we first met nor anywhere near the library we parted ways. None. And the fact that I was looking for her troubled me even more. Was I starting to get used to her company? Ridiculous. I groaned, feeling annoyed from the thought.
“Hello? Earth to Phantom? Your sword just dig into my neck.”
I blinked back to reality, seeing the sharp metal stuck into my fellow Oddity's flesh. I let out another groan, swishing it cleanly through her before releasing the weapon, letting it evaporated to the air. The Frankenstein jumped, hurriedly catching her head before it hit the ground. She put it back to her neck with a growl.
“Oi, that's dangerous! What if a customer suddenly come to see me headless and all?”
“Just say it's some kind of magic trick. Not that yer gonna get any customer before Halloween's Eve anyway.”
“Now that’s just cruel. And your Kansai-ben is showing.”
I shrugged, folding my arms above the bar and resting my chin on my right palm.
“My Kansai-ben aside--”
I glanced above my shoulder, fixing my eyes on a gloomy girl sipping a cup of tea on one of the table.
“What are you doing here,
Skeleton Maiden?”
“...”
“It's rare to see you here so early.”
The said girl put down her cup and turned her attention to me, her expression as salty as ever.
“I must say the same to you, Phantom. And I am called ‘Haruka’ in the human realm, please do remember.”
I waved her off without a dim of interest. The Frankenstein chuckled as she saw our harmless little quarrel, before she joined in.
“I’m getting curious myself. Did something happen, Paru?”
The Oddity stared at two of us for a while, before switching her eyes to her tea one more time.
“Treeland...”
I sighed as I heard that.
“What? Did lil’ Harlequin make a mess or something?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“…”
“I have Death watching over her and everything seemed to be moving according to schedule.”
“But?”
The Skeleton Maiden blinked, her forefinger tracing the edge of the white porcelain cup, making the reddish liquid inside it swayed a little.
“
The barrier is wavering. The one connecting this world and ours.”
Her words managed to catch my attention and I narrowed my eyes.
“Just like 50 years ago… is it?”
“Maybe…”
She gave me that same lazy answer before she raised her cup, finishing the last bit of her tea.
“I will need to check. Whether the number of death equals with the number of souls gathered in my realm. But it’ll take some time... especially with another Oddity going rampant here.”
Right. Are you implying that it’s mostly my fault? She read my thought perfectly, and she answered me with a long sigh.
“Get Ms. Spider for me, Phantom.”“…”
“The incident from 50 years ago. Nobody knew it better than her.”
On with meeting another troublesome person. I gave her a look of displease, showing her how much I didn’t feel like going. Why can’t she just do it herself? I stared at her and she stared back, starting our little staring game.
--Do it yerself, lazy bum.
--I’m busy dealing with souls.
--And I’m busy with the Rabbit Oddity.
--No you’re not. You’re stuck in the rut now.
--So what? Doesn’t mean ya can make me yer errand girl.
--I can. And it’s for your own good.
Because Ms. Spider's predecessor was a Tsukumogami as well.I blinked, stopping the game, and the Skeleton Maiden turned away. She raised her cup slightly, telling one of the twin maids to pour her another warm tea. I groaned and slid down my chair a bit, struggling with my decision, before sighing in defeat.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
I pushed myself to my feet and walked toward the front door. The Skeleton Maiden glanced at me as I did.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“It seems that your little girl is still wandering around the Spring of Memories.”
She just wouldn’t listen, ain’t she?I gave my fellow Oddity a quick wave, telling her to care less about that. One Oddity is enough for me to babysit at a time. I rested my both hands in my pocket as I travelled down the busy street, crisscrossing the crowd with zero enthusiasm. My eyes wandering around before I realized, trying to find a certain pink hoodie among the sea of people. I reached my destination without finding her figure, and I sighed, staring at the hospital building in front of me. I stepped inside. The uncanny ‘clean’ smell of antiseptic hit me and I snorted a bit, trying to adjust with it. It’s a smell you’d never find in our realm. An unsettling smell I’d never grow to like. I tried to ignore it and proceed toward the front desk, resting one hand on it.
“Excuse me. Can you get—what was her name again? Oh yeah,
Matsui Jurina. Can you get her for me?”
“Err, I'm sorry miss. Dr. Matsui is busy so if you don't have an appointment—“
“Give ‘er a call and said Phantom Knight’s looking. And it’s urgent.”
“I... understand. Please wait a moment.”
The hospital staff gave me a weird look, before nodding and reached her hand toward the telephone. My finger tapping the counter impatiently as she talked; I didn’t mean to be rude but the whole things happening this past weeks had drove me to my edge. The staff finally put down the phone and turned her attention to me once again, and I raised a brow at her. She better gave me a good answer.
“Thank you for waiting. Dr. Matsui is waiting in her office. It's on—”
“Right. Thanks for yer patronage.”
I left without another word, walking through the hospital's pure white corridor silently. It's not the first time I came here, but didn't mean that I fancy the place. I had no reason to. I didn't like the smell, too many negativity wafting in the air, too many people, plus every time I came here it's always about trouble. Just like this time.
Let's just get this over with and return to the Clubhouse. I said to myself and knocked on the door in front of me. I could hear some skittering sound from the other end before a female voice answered me.
--“Come in.”The voice sounded young but also mature at the same time, blurring the age of its owner, but I couldn't care less. Because I knew exactly who it belonged to. I pushed the door open.
“Long time no see, Phantom-san.”
A girl standing by the window greeted me with a smile, though her expression didn't look as welcomed as she sounded. Maybe I thought that way because I could never guess what she's thinking. I shrugged, closing the door behind me.
“ 'sup.”
I gave her a quick simple greeting in return, and she laughed, resting her back on the windowsill as she eyed me.
“Hmm~? Sounds like you're in a very bad mood.”
Oh, wow! Yer definitely right~ Are you a psychic? I wanted to say that to her but decided otherwise; I'm not in the mood of sarcasm for now. I only sighed and walked into her office silently, passing by her desk to see several documents scattered on it and her white lab coat hanging on the chair. I took the top most paper.
“How's work, Spidey? The front desk said you're busy but seems to me yer just lazying around.”
I asked her as I absentmindedly read the medical report. Kitagawa Ryouha, 17 years old. Currently in a state of comatose due to severe head trauma. Nothing much to see here. The face on the photograph looked familiar though.
“Whoa, you're in a very
very bad mood. Will you feel better if I call you 'Sayaka' -san?”
I heard the bubbly girl said and I put down the paper, giving her a cold gaze.
“Never mind, I get it. You're busy with yer awful hobby of peeking people all over the town."
“Don't make it sound as if I'm a pervert.”
The skittering sounds from before entered my ears again and I glanced to my side, seeing several small spiders crawling among the furnitures. The owner of the room let out a whine, plopping herself on her chair.
“These little ones are, like, everywhere. And they always eager to tell me whatever they saw.”
“Bet you get tired of hearing 'em.”
“I sometimes do, ha ha.”
The spider Oddity chuckled, tidying the papers on her desk. I sat down on the nearby couch, waiting for her to finish her job.
“Then you must've already know what I'm here for.”
“I know, I know. Miss all gloomy Skeleton Maiden want my opinion about what makes the barrier wavered this time, correct? Or wait, could it be that she suspected me?
Since I was the culprit 50 years ago.”
I gave her a skeptical look and she waved her hand in dismissal.
“No, I'm just kidding. It won't be possible with the current me.”
“So who is it then?”
I bluntly asked, and as she heard that, an eerie smile stretched on her face.
“Is that really what you want to ask?”
“Frankly not; it's Skeleton Maiden's question. What I want to know is how I suppose to deal with a troublesome Tsukumogami.”
“Really? I think that's also wrong.”
“...”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to read the thought that was hidden behind that cocky smile of hers. I could hear the skittering around me grew louder and closer, swarms of black threatening me from the corner of my eyes. I kept my cool, seeing her smile turned into a grin.
“
Don't you want to know where that girl is? Where Watanabe Miyuki is?”
The name struck me and somehow, without knowing why, I felt anger started boiling inside me. I growled.
“Y'know that I'm in a real bad mood now.”
“I know. That's why I want to help you.”
“...”
She snickered, raising her two fingers.
“
Two people, Sayaka-san. Act fast or else, two of the most important people to you will die.”
“...I don't have such people.”
“Oh? Even though I say that one of these people is Watanabe Miyuki?”
I glared at her.
“What are you implying...”
“And the second one, it'll be little Harlequin. Yep.”
“Spider...”
“Hey, it's not me you should be angry with. I told you I want to help.”
She gave me a childish pout and I spat, trying hard to keep my temper in check.
Calm down, Phantom. Don't let her words provoke you. I told myself as I slowly recovered my cool facade, and I stood.
“Fine. Whatever. Goodbye.”
“Whoa, wait wait wait. You're leaving? Didn't you hear what I say?”
I ignored her and headed toward the front door.
“What happens to those two doesn't concern me. And if you don't wanna tell me anything about the Tsukumogami, I'll find 'em myself.”
“...”
“Anything else?”
“That's very cold of you.”
“I've always been.”
“Don't you ever get lonely?”
I didn't answer and kept on walking. The swarm of spiders hesitantly skittered on the floor as I passed by, clearing the way for me.
I planted my hand on the doorknob, gripping the metal bar tightly until my knuckles turned white. My lips trembled.
"No. Not in a slightest...”=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Why can't you realize?
This thing called the [ present ]
is the most beautiful present you can ever get
to choose whatever future you want to unveil =0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Another one week had passed, and just one more week left until Halloween's Eve.
The Rabbit Oddity didn't make any ruckus at all since then, and the Skeleton Maiden said that she didn't find any anomaly in her soul inspection. Dark Witch also declared that there's nothing to worry about, that the barrier would return to normal by the end of October. And so peaceful days had returned to this town, and I, as the simple part-time worker of Halloween Night Club, had resumed my daily job as well. The place was getting merry lately. More customers are coming, more staffs are working while serving everyone with full costume; it's actually our real form instead of a costume though, but as long as the customer happy we're okay with them calling it 'high-quality props'. I secretly sighed as a group teenagers on one of the table asked if they could borrow my sword, and I let them be, turning the weapon into clouded mist as their hand touch it. I let out a quick 'thank you' as they commented how cool it was, before carrying my empty tray to the bar.
“Nice magic trick, Phantom.”
The Frankenstein snickered at me and I sighed, putting away the tray.
“You make sure to give them juice not booze, right?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
“Whoops, just thought maybe you're still spacing out.”
I raised a brow at her.
“Y'know what? I think I might go for the headless bartender trick after this.”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Good choice. I'll be leaving for a little break; be back in half an hour.”
I gave her a small wave, leaving into the kitchen on the other end. My knight uniform dispersed into my casual human attires the instant I stepped inside and I kept on walking, leaving the building from the back door. I looked up to the sky, watching the waxing moon shining up there. It's almost full moon. Maybe we'll get one this Halloween's Eve. I nonchalantly thought as I switched my face to the ground and strode on, no specific destination in my mind whatsoever. The way everything resolved itself so quietly left a dull sensation inside me that I didn't even know how to feel anymore. Of course I was glad that nothing bad happened but it doesn't mean I could accept it just like that with no explanation.
What happened to the Rabbit Oddity?
What about the barrier? Why did it waver in the first place?
Did it really have something to do with Harlequin?
What did Ms. Spider know? Why did she say that she wanted to help me? With what?
And where— Where is—
I stopped on my track, feeling my breath stuck in throat. I inhaled deeply.
Where...I clenched my fists, whispering softly.
“Where the heck are you? Miyuki...” …
…
…
Roll... Roll... ClankHuh?
I blinked, seeing the can of cola rolling and stopping by my boots. I crouched and took the cold drink to my hand, wandering where it came from, before a voice suddenly spoke to me.
“Sayaka-chan?”My eyes widened. There's only one person who called me that way. Only one.
“Miyuki...”
I raised my head, staring at her figure that was cloaked in her usual pink hoodie, a red muffler replacing the ribbon around her neck this time. She stared back at me, before giving me that sweet smile I almost forgotten.
“Thanks for picking up my drink.”
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Here ya go.”
A stupid answer. I mentally scolded myself as I finally realized the numerous can of drinks she was holding, and I retracted my hand back.
“On second thought, let me help you with them. How did you get this many anyway?”
“Hm? Oh, these? I tried buying a drink from a vending machine but then a certain sound played and a lot popped out.”
“That means you won the lottery. How lucky of you.”
“Eh, really? I'm so amazing, he he~”
She gave me a sheepish laugh. I took half of the can with me and proceeded to walk to the nearby bench, a small smile unconsciously formed on my face. She told me to choose one, only one, because she said she earned this. Only teasingly. I shrugged and took the closest I found, seeing her lining the different drinks on the bench and mulling on which to drink first. My eyes absentmindedly watching her.
“Say, Miyuki.”
“Hm?”
She decided for the lemon tea and popped the can open. I switched my eyes away.
“Where were you? I haven't seen you lately.”
And now a stupid question. A remarkably instantaneously flimsy and stupid question. She seemed surprised to hear me said that, giving me a look that made me wish that I could take that question back. But I can't. I know.
“I was...wandering around the town. Because I was looking for—“
“Yeah, how could I forget. You were looking for 'something'.”
I quickly replied, trying to divert her from the previous topic, but it seemed like I had flipped a different switch.
“Sayaka-chan!”
She suddenly jumped and held my both hands in hers tightly, throwing away her can of tea without a single care; it hit the ground with a 'clank' and spilled all over them.
“Y'know, I remember! I finally remember what that 'something' is!”
She shouted in zeal, her eyes sparkled as she hopped on her heels a few times, shaking me like a rattle doll. Her loud exclamation made some passerby glanced at us and I pulled her down before she attracted some more.
“Okay, I get it. I get it. Now calm down.”
She obediently stopped, loosening her grip on my hands. I pulled away from her before looking down on my own can of drink. Some of the warm liquid spilled to my hand and I grumbled, shaking them off.
“Whoops, sorry.”
She said it lightly like she didn't mean it at all, and I let out a sigh. Still as mischievous as ever. I put the can away and returned my attention to her.
“So. About this 'something', what is it?”
“Well, you see, I just remembered about it around a few days ago. And I've been looking for it everywhere since!”
The girl gave me her usual giggle.
“It was a doll. A cute rabbit doll.” GRAB—My hands shot out before I realized, gripping her shoulders tightly. My eyes widened in a mix of shock and fear.
“S-sayaka-chan? Are you okay? Your face look scary...“
No. No way. So this is why Ms. Spider said that to me.
“Hey...”Why Watanabe Miyuki will die if I don't do something... It's because of this.
“Hey, Sayaka-chan...”Because she's the one who throw away that Rabbit Oddity. “Sayaka-chan, you're hurting me!”I flinched back to reality and quickly released my grip, stumbling a few steps away from her.
“S-sorry...”
She held her sore shoulder, giving me a pout. I clenched my fists beside me in shame.
“I didn't mean to... I just...”
“Hmph, I won't forgive you just like that. You have to pay for this.”
She childishly said but I wasn't in the mood for joke.
“Look, Miyuki. It's no time for—“
“Help me find my rabbit doll.”…
…
…
Come again? I shook my head, trying to decipher her words.
She pointed at my face, the same way she did when she first named me. A mischievous smile on her face.
“That will be your payment, got it? Sa.ya.ka.chan~”
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Even if the world you're in now
is so painful that you feel like crying
That by itself is also a 'present'
and surely the day where you can smile will come=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Five days had passed since I helped Miyuki searching for her rabbit doll. And we haven't got any luck at all.
We searched every nook and cranny, in every shop and dumpster and alley way, but there was no sign of it. I told Miyuki that the doll might already be broken into pieces but she insisted otherwise.
“It's still somewhere in this town, I'm sure of it. Don't underestimate my intuition, Sayaka.”
She proudly declared as she took a bite of her sandwich, and I let out a sigh, nodding for the sake of her stubbornness. It disturbed me as well though; if that rabbit doll she lost was indeed the Rabbit Oddity, then following the nature of Tsukumogami it would strike its owner back hundredfold. But that Oddity hadn't appear at all. Did I simply jump into conclusion thanks to Ms. Spider's provocation? I silently thought as I munch on my own sandwich, watching Miyuki taking another bite of hers.
But I guess it wasn't that bad.I paused, surprised by my own thought.
…
…
…
Yes.
Meeting Miyuki...
Spending my days with her...
I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought.
I rephrased the statement in my head, before chewing on my meal once again.
The two of us were together all the time these past few days, almost all the time, and somehow I started to know her a lot better. Her silly quirks. Her quick-changing mood. Her stubbornness. Her cute giggle and her scary angry fit. I saw so many parts of her up close that I was starting to get used to it. And much to my surprise, it didn't bother me at all.
I haven't been spending this much time with someone in the past hundreds of years, and certainly not this close. But right now, somehow, seeing her looking back at me with her soft smile, I felt like I couldn't picture my days without her anymore.
It's a strange feeling.
But Miyuki is strange in the first place. So I guess it doesn't matter.
We finished up our lunch and continued walking through the town, resuming our searching.
“Hey, hey, Sayaka-chan. Can I ask you something?”
I heard Miyuki said as she looped her right hand around my arm.
“After we find that doll, what will you do afterwards?”
I blinked, trying to find my answer to it. She let out a soft giggle as she saw my troubled expression and turned her gaze away.
“I told you, right? That I didn't remember anything but my name and that doll. So if I find it and, for instances, remember everything once again, I probably won't be needing you anymore.”
“...”
“So, what will you do?”
It was a difficult question, and the way she said 'not needing me' hurt a little. But it was a difficult question nevertheless.
Because by the end of this October I had to return to my realm, or else, the gate would be closed I wouldn't be able to return until the next year.
It's too risky since I didn't have any official documentation stating that I'm a real 'human' living in this world. I also couldn't imagine what would happen to my underlings with their captain gone for the whole year. I clenched my hands in my pocket. This is it. This is why I hate having someone by my side.
It makes me weak and end up depending on them.
I cursed my own foolishness, cursing myself for opening up to her. But there's nothing I could do anymore. So I just opened my mouth, letting my own deepest feeling guided my words.
“I'll stay with you.”“Eh?”
The girl stopped, her grip around my arms weakened. I repeated myself.
“Even if you say you don't need me anymore, I still won't leave you. And you have no right to make me do otherwise.”
I exhaled loudly and turned to see her face, seeing the blank expression she was wearing. I grumbled.
“Would you say something at least? It's getting embarrassing now.”
“Fuh... Aha ha ha~”
Miyuki laughed hugging my arm tightly once again. I groaned, looking away as I felt heat rising to my cheek.
“You've said it~ Now you have to take another responsibility.”
“Why does it sound like I always owe you something?”
She giggled, and I couldn't help letting out a small chuckle. I think I understand now, why Harlequin looked down on me with pity, and why she was so determined on coming to the human realm to save a single human.
Because right now, as this warm feeling spread in my heart, I felt like I could risk my life to do the same.
Just for this one single girl, tightly holding my hand.
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“This is it! The last place we haven't checked.”
Miyuki put her hands to her hips as she said that, and I stared at the abandoned tunnel before us. What an eerie looking place. I thought to myself before hearing Miyuki giggled.
“He heh, are you scared, Sayaka-chan? A ghost might popped out, y'know~”
I am ghost though. Usually this is where I would give her a skeptical look, but this time I decided to play along with her.
“Uuuh, I'm so scared... Can we just turn back?”
“Your acting is horrible.”
“Of course. I'm not an actress.”
“2 points.”
“Don't give me points out of the blue. Before that, what point is it in the first place?”
She only giggled, and I walked to her side, turning the flashlight I was carrying. The light seemed as if it was sucked into the darkness, making the tunnel looked like an endless black hole. I glanced at Miyuki.
“You can wait here if you want.”
“Heee, is that a challenge~?”
She held my free hand tightly.
“I'm the one looking for the doll, so of course I'll go. A simple servant like you just need to follow.”
“So we're roleplaying master-servant relationship now.”
“Onward my trusty steed!”
“Now THAT's just plain wrong.”
She didn't listen and started dragging me into the dark tunnel. The place was pitch black as far as I could see, almost reminding me of that sky I used to look at everyday back in my realm. I sighed.
Come to think of it,
today is Halloween's Eve.
The day when the Carnival of Forest and Fire would be held, and the last day in this whole year for all realms to stay connected.
It was my last chance to turn back. My last chance to return everything to the way it used to be. But I didn't waver. I kept on walking, holding her small fragile hand in mine as I heard our footsteps echoed in the empty deserted place.
“Hey, Sayaka.”
I heard Miyuki's voice ringing in the air.
“If we don't find that doll in here today... I guess I'll give up.”
“Why?”
I tightened my grip on her hand, hearing her laughing softly.
“Hmm, I wonder. I feel like it's not worth wasting the present to ponder about the past. So I'll focus on making new memories instead.”
“Your family will be sad if they hear that.”
“If they really exist and do care about me they'll definitely search for me. I only need to wait. And it won't be a boring wait since I have you by my side.”
“Okay, I lose. You're making a good point that I don't know how to counter anymore.”
She let out a prideful huff, and I chuckled.
“I've also decided.”
“Oh? On what?”
“After this whole searchin' business done, I'll—“
SCREEEECCH——I tensed as I heard the loud screeching sound, stopping into a complete halt. That wasn't a sound of machinery. I knew for sure. And the disturbance in the air only further confirmed my suspicion.
“Miyuki. Listen. Run as fast as you can out—“
Slip— What?
I froze, feeling the warmth in my hand disappeared.
“Wait, Miyuki!”
I shouted, chasing after her.
“Miyuki, stop!”
I ran and ran and ran, my ears searching for the sound of her footsteps echoing in the darkness.
“Miyu—“
I skidded into a sudden stop as I saw a pair of familiar red orbs floating in the darkness, the dim ray of my flashlight illuminated the girl standing there just a few feet away from it. My eyes widened in horror.
“Aah... I remember now...”
I heard Miyuki whispered, her voice trembled.
“I remember everything perfectly now... Sayaka-chan...”
The girl turned her face to me, and even with the little light I could still see her smiling at me. Her tears silently fell down her cheek.
“Watanabe Miyuki is already dead.” CRASH!!I leaped back just in time before the Rabbit Oddity crushed me with its limbs, my flashlight fell to the ground, broken. It kept slashing the air wildly, and I closed my eyes to heightened my senses, dodging its blows with everything I had.
“It all makes senses now... Why I have no memories about myself... About Watanabe Miyuki...”
I heard Miyuki's voice kept echoing in the hollow space. It mingled with the Oddity's high-pitched screech, creating a bizarre melody that was not of this world.
“It's because I am not her~!” I gritted my teeth, feeling my body being shoved into the air as the Oddity's limb hit my torso; I hit the cold ground in a painful skid, falling to my back. The full moon looked down on me silently as if in mockery. I pushed myself into a sitting position, hearing small footsteps coming out from the tunnel, huge heavy steps following behind them. I clenched my fists.
“Miyuki—“
“I told you, I am not her. Watanabe Miyuki is already dead hundreds of years ago.”
The girl stepped out from the darkness, but the figure standing before me was no longer the same human girl. Her pink hoodie was replaced by fluffy brown jacket, a stitched-up hood with rabbit ears covering her head. Her blood red ribbon was in tatter and a black worn-out vest now covered her white dress. She smiled widely at me.
“I am an Oddity, Sayaka-chan. The hollow shell of a toy rabbit she threw away.”…
…
…
Oh. I see.
So that's how it was.
I chuckled, dusting off my dirty jeans as I stood up.
“I'm glad.”
“...”
“I can still go back in the end.”
The Oddity tilted her head in confusion, its true monstrous form looming behind her.
“But you won't be going anywhere. Because I will kill you here, Sayaka-chan.”
“Why is that?”
“If I'm with you I don't think I'll be able to kill anyone else.”
She giggled, her other form approaching me slowly.
“There's still a lot of humans I have to punish. Lot and loooots of them who's being ungrateful of what they have~ Throwing away everything without a single thought...”
“You can't do that.”
“See? I know you wouldn't understand. Even I no longer understand.”
She raised her both hands, clawing at her face as she laughed.
“This hatred piled up for a hundred of years as I saw those wicked humans... I don't know what to do with it anymore...”
“...”
“The only thing I know is to kill... Kill them. So that they'll repent. And in order to do that I have to kill you.”
She gave me one more gaze, a soft painful gaze. It was a gaze that I had seen countless time before, a sad lonely gaze that I couldn't bear to see on her face.
“Good bye, Sayaka-chan.”
…
…
…
..
.
Aah, just like my old self... CLANK--
'Miyuki' froze as she felt her claws didn't reach me, something cold stopping its trajectory. I sighed and pushed my right hand up, sending the huge Oddity stumbling back.
“One of my underlings once scolded me before. For lashing out on her 'cause I was lonely.”
I swung my sword to my side, revealing my blue knight uniform and golden insignia that shone under the moonlight.
“I never imagined being the one doing the scolding now.”
The girl could only stare at my ghastly form, seemingly unable to believe her eyes, before a smile suddenly tugged her lips and she laughed.
“I see, I see!! So you'll be the one killing me instead~”
“I never said that.”
“Liar...”
The huge doll roared and charged at me one more time.
“Calm down and listen to me, Miyuki.”
“Don't call me with that name anymore!”The sharp blows went more erratic and I stepped aside, dodging all of its swings just a hair breadth away.
“I hate that name! I hate it!! That person! The one who threw me away—I hate her! I hate everyone!
I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them,
I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them,I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them,
I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them, I hate them———
I hate them all——!!!!!”I dodged a blow to my legs, jumping and kicking the Oddity's head making it stumbling to the ground; it retaliated in an instant and swung its front limbs once again, aiming for my neck.
SLASH— The sharp claws slit my flesh, cleanly tearing my body into two. I could see 'Miyuki' watched the scene with her eyes wide before I closed my own eyes, feeling the temperature around me dropping.
“You're the liar here.”I materialized right behind her, my arms around her shoulders as I hugged her close. I whispered softly to her.
“You actually missed her, right? Your previous owner.
“...”“If not, then why would you even take her form?”
The Oddity didn't answer. She only stood there as if she was petrified, her other form gazing away into nothingness as if it was a statue. I continued.
“It's lonely, isn't it? Being by yourself...”
“No... No... I...”“Unable to move... Unable to call out for help... You by yourself have to witness so many cruelty, for one hundred years...”
“I...”“It's alright now. Everything will be fine. Because nobody will leave you anymore.”
I hugged her tighter as she trembled in my embrace.
“I will never leave you.”The words flowed out of my mouth as if it was natural, and I could feel her hands rose to touch mine, gripping them tightly.
“He he... Of course... Of course you will... Because it's already your responsibility...”
“Yeah. Yeah. I guess it was.”
I could hear her soft laugh ringing in the air. The huge monstrous doll before us fading away silently, taking along all her hatred to the night sky, and 'Miyuki' laughed harder. She raised her face to the moon and laughed her heart out, until her laugh finally turned into a cry. I held her through the whole ordeal, letting her pour all the feelings piled up inside her for one hundred of years, out for the world to hear. I closed my eyes, feeling the light shaking of her body as her scream pierced the air, her cold tears falling to my arms.
The voice faded away gradually,
slowly...
slowly...
And I finally reopened my eyes.
The girl was no longer with me.
Only a broken toy-rabbit was left in my hand,
silently smiling to me...
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“Being alone for a long time, I finally realize”
“That I too have so many people I hold dear”
So that I can proudly to say those words to you
I vow to become even stronger=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“I'm back.”
I plainly said as I entered the Halloween Night Club. The Frankenstein that was tidying the tables snapped her head toward me and suddenly ran, stopping just a few feet away from me.
“Where were you, Phantom!? Everyone's already waiting by the gate and ready to ditch you if you don't appear in the next five minutes!”
“Sorry.”
I gave her another short answer, walking past her. She blinked.
“Err, are you okay? You doesn't sound too well.”
“I'm fine.”
I gave her a small smile and the Frankenstein gasped, running toward me once again.
“You smiled!”
The tall girl shook me wildly.
“You fricking smiled to me!! Are you sick? Did you hit your head!?
“Do you prefer me being grumpy instead?”
“Well, I don't mean it that way but...”
“I told you I'm fine.”
I sighed, taking her hands off me.
“Just go on ahead. I'll be ready in a few minutes.”
“Where are you going now?”
I waved my hand slightly as I left for the locker room, telling her not to think much about it. I closed the door behind me, rummaging my thick blue jacket to retrieve something.
“Hey...”
I quietly whispered, staring at the rabbit doll in my hand; it just stared back at me in silence, its red buttoned eye didn't waver and its mouth sewn into a permanent smile. I sadly smiled back, before standing and walked toward my locker. I opened the metal case and put the doll inside, keeping my hand on the handle.
“I'll left it opened so you can look around, 'kay?”
I looked at at for the last time, before slowly retracting my hand.
“See you again... Miyuki...”
…
…
…
..
.
“Geez~ Didn't I tell you to stop calling me with that name?”I froze, hearing the sweet mischievous voice entered my ears.
No. No way.“And where are you going? I thought you said you won't leave me alone anymore.”
It can't be...I slowly turned around, seeing her figure standing there, her hands behind her back as she sweetly smiled at me.
“Sayaka-chan is such a big fat liar~~”
“...”
I didn't know what say. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't even sure how to feel. One thing I was sure of was that I was happy, so happy that it overcame my other feelings and made it hard for me to breath. I stumbled backward, the door stopping my fall and I rested my back there, my eyes caught all of her features and burned it to my deepest mind. After my senses returned to me I finally chuckled and slid down to the floor, my eyes downcast.
“Sayaka-chan?”
Her footsteps approached me and I raised my head, staring back at her worried face.
“Are you okay?”
“...I am. I sure am.”
“Really?”
“In fact I never feel better, Miyuki.”
Her face quickly turned into a pout as I said that name, and I blinked.
“How many times do I have to tell you about the name thing?”
“Then how do you want me to call you?”
It was her turn to blink this time and the Rabbit Oddity switched her gaze away, thinking.
“
[Milky]. Call me
[Milky].”
She nodded as if confirming herself.
“That's a very doll-like name.”
“Isn't it cute? It's my name; my real name that was given by my late owner...”
“I think it suits you.”
I pushed myself back to my feet and the girl stepped away a little, giving me some space. I glanced at her.
“But... why are you...”
“It's because I heard a voice.”
She swiftly answered.
“A voice so sad and lonely. I thought I don't want to leave the owner of that voice alone.”
“...”
“The soul of a Tsukumogami stem from its strongest feelings, right? It just happens that I have no other feelings stronger than that inside me now.”
She gave me a sheepish smile and I held my head, chuckling to myself.
“You really are a strange one.”
“I am~ The one and only.”
The girl skipped closer and looped her right hand around my arm, giggling.
“But I'm still new in this whole 'Oddity' and 'Realms' thing. So will you teach me about them, miss Phantom Knight?”
I sighed, staring at her red eyes that was tinted with mischief.
And before I realized, a smile stretched on my face.
“As you wish, Milky...”=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
I hope you can enjoy the [ present ] from now on
Savoring it slowly with eagerness in you heart
Because it's the best gift you can ever give yourself
I hope you'll never forget that...
__________________________________________________________
Chapter Lost: Present// END
...
...
..
.
>>INTERMEZZO -- THE WITCH'S NOCTURNE
"Hello, hello? Is everyone listening?"
A voice echoed from somewhere.
The Phantom Knight and The Rabbit Doll in the lone room...
The Vampire and The Skeleton Maiden,
The Twin Devil Maids,
The Frankenstein and The Mummy by the GATE...
The French Doll and The Queen of Beast among the FOREST and FLAME...
An image crackled in the air.
"Eeh, today's carnival will be delayed."
A stage appear before a spotlight.
A Trickster in blood red suit and blood red hat bound under the Guillotine.
"Now, listen to the word of your Queen."
The pure black Witch in pure black dress and pure black wings emerged.
"For breaking the taboo and bringing danger to all Oddities, this vile one will be executed!"
Guilty!
Guilty!
Guilty!
Guilty!
GUILTY!!!
--OFF WITH THE HEAD
The Phantom Knight ran through the cold night.
Searching for the nest filled with countless threads.
The Spider looked down on everything with sad eyes.
Its prayer remained unheard.
"It's too late... Way too late..."
The words drift silently into the wind and fade away.
Keeping The Marionette in the endless dream forevermore...
>>END OF NOCTURNE