66 Chapter 5: Interactions before the Rise of a New Dawn [2]

Before continuing where they left off, let's add a little change for a bit.

Now there are some people that are probably interested on the thing that is called sixth sense.

In simple words, it's a sense which is outside the normal five senses that people usually have. This could be also called intuition, though the fundamental meanings are slightly different, in a more open minded look, intuition and sixth sense both are very similar to each other.

The sixth sense was rather popular or at least, familiar among some people out there specially if they are people who had gone on numerous battles or, for another random case, probably had read too much battle themed novels much to their liking.

Several examples could be given in a more specific term such as kinetic sense to detect movement, thermal sense to detect heat, dynamic sense to understand 3D objects. Some of these can be dubbed or even made artificially given how advanced technology could be in the future.

There existed many kinds of sixth sense, it included abilities to perceive light with a wavelength outside the normal range or the ability to see 360 degrees, perceiving external threat out from nowhere and act unconsciously against it, or even something more unthinkable.

However, it was not something that one could just attain easily out of the blue.

To clarify again, of course, it was not something that one could easily gain just by chance. It was much more difficult to achieve compared since no easy hacks or loopholes could be used to develop somebody's sixth sense. It could be said that it relied deeply on the compatibility of the person based on how he or she lived his or her life in the process.

To be more precise, sixth sense is honed through a person's experience. The most common ones it that you could develop it through experiencing numerous battlefields, performing or experiencing something all the time that you just became aware what will happen next or something like that.

Be it combat or something more mundane or trivial, if it clicks, sixth sense just slowly and steadily builds itself within a individual.

And then, the words 'I can just tell' or something like that became an expression often used by those who had gone through such training or something similar and attained sixth sense.

Rei as an individual even back in his life already built some kind of intuition by occasionally detecting trouble in his surroundings. Based on the streak of misfortunes he had experienced in his previous life, he was one of the lucky people who had attained some kind of sixth sense to perceive when some kind of danger or trouble is coming.

Some would probably shrug it of like it wasn't much for they would just describe it as utter nonsense and even useless, but Rei would digress for it is really basically true and also handful in modern society.

Troublesome subjects or something that is a matter of importance that may come in different shapes or sizes, and sensing them coming could already be defined as a good thing. Once somebody knows it, it would be up to them on how they will deal on it.

And after concluding this much, this would now jump back to the original focus of this topic.

It was no easy feat to detect Kurumi by chance. After all, she could just pop out from literally, shadows, which is filled in this building. To add the fact that he doesn't always use his space abilities often to detect anybody's presence in the area all the time was something that also contributed on him somewhat having his guard down.

After all, why would you always put your guard up? Some would think of this as Rei being not vigilant or being careless at this matter, but in his defense, keeping your guard on the top every single time would just spell somebody as paranoid in a sense.

In the first place, how could you enjoy life if you are always vigilant to almost everything in your surroundings? That's just outright and sadly pitiful if Rei were to say.

There is nothing wrong with being vigilant, but being overly so could be considered as wrong. There is always a correct time and place where this could be applied, but in the end, it depends on the said person to decide whether it is right to do so.

And so, Rei stared at the other Spirit, Kurumi, as he rearranged his thoughts.

The two amicably gave a smile to each other as their gazes locked. And if there is one thing that they had probably read along those gazes of theirs, it was the intention to discuss about something immediately—or rather, the former was waiting as for the latter to discuss their intentions...

...is what Rei would like to say up until Kurumi's eyes landed on the feline that was lying cozily in his lap.

——

To confirm some things, nothing bad happened or whatsoever.

As Kurumi took a seat on the chair a few chairs away from him, Rei knew that Kurumi had some goal in mind on approaching him.

Right at this very moment, they had all the time in the world to achieve what they wanted to get out from each other. The night—or rather, the 'day' was still too young after all.

Kurumi wouldn't normally show herself out in the open unless necessary. Rei knew of this fact, thus, he concluded that Kurumi has something important in mind and would even openly meet him like this.

Rei would want to discuss the matter immediately and get over it. The main goal of him relaxing was already shattered due to him being at fault as well... it was stupid really, in short, he just wasted his time idly sitting here for 'not even trying'—or rather 'failing' on his objective here.

Even with that goal of him 'relaxing' ended up in a failure, Rei honestly didn't expect to meet Kurumi here out of all places.

But don't mistake him, it's not like he doesn't want her to be here you know? It's just the fact that Tohka may suspect something is off about him...and that would probably lead into another disaster.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Tohka memorized his 'scent' and could detect if there was something different on him. It was a somewhat scary thought, nonetheless, also quite understandable if you took it in another perspective.

When you love someone of the opposite sex, you also develop a desire for possession.

Then jealousy and obsession follows right after.

The term yandere was not for nothing.

That's why Rei wants to know what Kurumi was right after immediately in order to lessen the 'burden' Tohka would have once upon knowing the matter and to also prevent himself to be cut down by Tenka who prioritizes Tohka's well being out of all things, however...

'...it seems that she is enjoying herself at the moment huh,' Rei thought to himself as he suppressed a chuckle coming out from him.

Just a few seconds ago, Kurumi was also surprised as she saw the black cat laying on my lap. Rei could swear that Kurumi's eyes glimmered in excitement as the feline who was laying on Rei's lap previously suddenly jumped off and approached Kurumi.

And so, here comes the simple problem... well, it couldn't be really described as a problem in the first place.

It seems that Kurumi hasn't noticed Rei who was amusedly staring at her figure yet. She was wearing a frock and a long skirt that seems to be of extremely high quality, however because they were all pitch black, it looked as though she was wearing funeral clothing. She's currently making the black cat flip over, as she gently touches it's belly.

"Kihihi… here feels better, meow?"

Kurumi giggled happily as she asked the cat which responded to her cutely as it titled it's head.

"Nya?"

"Ara? So it's nya and not 'meow' I suppose?"

"Nya~!"

As if replying to Kurumi, the black cat meowed—or rather 'Nya'd', as it gently licked Kurumi's finger.

This time Kurumi absentmindedly shrieked in delight as she rubbed the cat on her cheeks.

"Really now, such a cute child…"

"Nya~"

"Kya~ What an adorable little creature you are. Hm? You want more? I won't mind... Oh..."

At this moment, she seemed to remember that she wasn't the only person present at the place. As she hugged the black cat, she also froze in place as she looked at Rei.

"...you really like cats don't you?" Rei asked.

"...Ah, it seems that I do Rei-san," Kurumi shortly replied as she slowly continued to play with the cat. "Is there a problem on that perhaps?"

"Of course there's nothing wrong about that, what is it again? 'Nya~'?"

Rei's words made Kurumi's cheeks become slightly bright red with embarrassment. With Rei saying the 'Nya~' which was a slip of tongue of hers due to the sudden excitement as she interacted with the feline, she let out a rather strained smile in embarrassment as she faced him. She then elegantly put down the black cat to her lap and coughed.

"Ehem, perhaps we should discuss as for why I am here right? That's what you are probably been thinking all this time, right, Rei-san?"

Kurumi calmly said as she continued stroking the head of the cat on her lap.

"Sure, but wait for a sec," Rei replied promptly as he suddenly took out something from his dimensional pocket.

It was a small pack of beef jerky...

Some would wonder why such thing was being kept inside there, and the answer would Rei give to them was just it was on a whim. After all, having some extra supplies such as portable food with you is a great insurance in one way or another.

Rei then opened the pack and the smell soon reached the keen nose of the feline and suddenly jerked its head and faced his direction.

The cat's eyes sparkled with joy when it saw food. Perhaps the cat was in for a snack? With all that happening, the cat suddenly sprinted out from Kurumi's grasp much to her surprise.

"Nya~!"

"Ah..." Kurumi sounded somewhat disappointed when the feline broke away from her as it quickly approached Rei who was ready to feed the cat.

Rei slightly felt guilty ruining her fun, she genuinely seemed to enjoy playing with the feline just as he had expected. Rei only did that because he was curious as for how will Kurumi react on that, and well, it had gone as he had expected it to.

"You want to feed her as well?" Rei asked as he handed one jerky to the cat.

For obvious reasons, the cat seemed delighted at the free meal, however, it also seemed to struggle munching it so Rei took the liberty to cut it into smaller pieces with a sway of his finger.

"...No no, it's fine," Kurumi rejected his offer showing some kind of regret however, it was instantly replaced with a smile.

"Is that so? So Kurumi-san?" Rei then arranged his posture as he was waiting for Kurumi to speak.

"Very well... but can I ask you a simple question first Rei-san?"

"...." Rei only silently gave a nod as he waited for Kurumi to continue.

"Rei-san and please be honest in answering this little inquiry of mine first," Kurumi said in a rather serious tone which earned Rei a sudden raise in the brow. "It's about Spirits"

"Spirits?"

Rei wondered what she was talking about.

Don't misunderstand him though, it wasn't like he was acting like he doesn't know anything or whatsoever about the matter in front of the person before him, lying at this current situation won't do much against Kurumi for all he knows.

But he was sure interested as for why Kurumi brought up the matter of Spirits in the first place.

"You are already aware about them aren't you Rei-san. After all, you are one of these Spirits yourself," She said as a matter of fact not offering Rei a chance to rebuke her statement, which Rei himself wouldn't even rebuke in the first place. "Also, you already knew that I am also one when we first met, don't you?"

Kurumi saying this is only a minor priority before jumping to her main goal as for why she decided to meet him here.

Rei also noticed this fact and decided to go with the flow.

For those who might have forgotten or overlooked. This was just the SECOND meeting that both parties had with each other. The first meeting could be even hardly be described as a lengthy conversation enough to know the other side's personality or traits at best.

Yet here they are talking as if they knew each other for quite some time already. They couldn't be even called as friends, but only brief acquaintances at best.

If you were to ask them, both Rei and Kurumi would just shift the topic over.

It is true for Rei to know much about Kurumi Tokisaki given how his circumstances were as a reincarnated person with prior information beforehand, but for Kurumi to know Rei much? That would be quite interesting to say.

"Of course, you didn't even try to hide that fact when you just suddenly disappeared right beneath your...'shadow' in a matter of seconds, you know?" Rei replied as he showed a wry smile at her.

"Perhaps you did. It was a little whim on my part, acting mysterious or anything, but I think that you would even know that I am one even if I hadn't met you there," Kurumi then continued. "After all, being a Spirit yourself, it is no surprise to notice one as well, specially if they leak Reiryoku, or some unusual pressure in their surroundings when they use their given abilities"

"And I suppose that you already know what my reputation is, Rei-san," She then showed a slightly sad smile as she continued. "I already have the title called 'Worst Spirit'. I suppose that that you are already informed as well about the fact that I already bloodied my hands with thousands of lives"

"Yeah. I already know about it," Rei just dismissed that fact neutrally as he pointed out. "So, what about it?"

Seeing his reaction, Kurumi could only make a dumbfounded expression at his response.

"...Ara? It seems that you are not even shocked or even repulse for the fact that this young lady in front of you was a murderer with more than ten thousand lives taken by her hands," Kurumi said as she acted surprised by his overly neutral reaction.

"Shock and repulse huh... Normally I would have been shocked but I have also similar circumstances if I may say..." Rei then showed a weak smile as he then lowered his head slightly. "Unlike other Spirits, I think both of us were the ones who had willingly taken lives for our own... purposes"

"...."

"And I am sure we have reasons s for why we did that. Either it was out of righteousness or selfishness, for justice or something malevolent, and many other more reasons one could think of"

"...."

Rei then scratched his head as he lifted his head up to face Kurumi.

"Also, I believe that it must've been the only choice we have at that time or perhaps we were forced to blindly pick up that choice due to our own circumstances, so I can't truly be shocked or even repulse you as a person for doing those deeds for it would only be hypocritical for me to do so, right?" Rei concluded as his eyes locked with Kurumi's seemingly trying to reach an understanding for each other.

Kurumi only listened at him in silence. Right now, Rei looked like a sinner confessing his sins to somebody. Ironically, the place and time might be more or less suitable for such occasion.

"Well, doesn't that fact almost makes us look like a unique pair isn't it?"

After those words, a short silence ensued the area. Rei then wondered if had said something wrong, which was none for all he knows.

It was then Kurumi tried to speak suppressing a giggle leaking out from her mouth.

"Heh~ Rei-san, I don't know if I just misunderstood this but are you perhaps trying to hit on me?" Kurumi asked in a teasing manner.

In response, Rei just deadpanned at her, "I wasn't"

He really didn't mean it. Rei was just expressing his exact thoughts about the matter without any ulterior motives or whatsoever.

"Is that so? Kihihihi~" Kurumi then giggled in amusement. "However, it seems that we have digressed from what I should've planned to talk about huh"

Rei just to listen to her and concluded that she was finally now getting on the main topic of this conversation.

"So Rei-san," Kurumi then stood up as shadows begun to engulf her own body. Her clothes were soon replaced by her Gothic themed Astral Dress. "Do you know something about the recent disappearance of several people in Tenguu City...no, on the surrounding cities not only here in these past few months?"

"...what do you mean?" Rei blurted out, confused.

Rei truly didn't expect that question. In fact, Rei doesn't know what she was talking about and how she could connect that with him.

Even though Rei knew himself as something that could be described as a person with some loose screws in the head, he wasn't the type of person who would kidnap numerous people in the first place.

In the first place, why would he even do that?

Seeing his reaction, the way he moved, and recalling how their conversation went through a while ago, Kurumi then concluded to herself that this Spirit—Rei-san, who was in front of her wasn't involved with those incidents at all.

"No no," Kurumi then shook her head as she showed a soft smile. "Despite how interesting and unusual you are for the brief moments I have observed you, it seems that you really don't know or could be even be involved with such thing"

Now some would comment as for why is Kurumi easily considering the fact that Rei was not involved in such thing. It was because of her experience in living a rather lengthy life, she had encountered numerous people and she harnessed and developed the intuition to directly know whether somebody is lying or not.

A sixth sense if some may say.

Logically, such evidence won't be enough to make sure Rei wasn't exactly involved in the matter. However, Kurumi instead followed her intuition instead of rational thinking.

At this moment, she could confidently say that she trusts Rei's words without a single doubt.

On the other hand, her words rather confused Rei more. "...Can you at least fill me out with the details?"

"Ara?" Kurumi then held her chin with her free hand as she continued. "Interested? Well, Rei-san, it's going to be quite long you know? I might bore you and waste your time"

"Time you say..." He mumbled softly making Kurumi only curious as for what he had said. "I don't have any problems with that Kurumi-san, I think we have all the time in the world right now for me to hear your story"

——

After Kurumi explained everything she knows about the matter, Rei couldn't help but give a frown.

Disappearance of many individuals during the span of several months this year, all reported to be females.

Dead bodies having been found with some having their hearts gauged out from their chests, which was disturbing enough so it wasn't reported in media.

Sudden increase of unsolved cases of murder spreading through Japan, and to be more specific, the cities including Tenguu City as its center.

It was alarming.

Rei was aware about the fact of the missing individuals and some murders by chance for he occasionally watches news in TV. But that much didn't really alarm him that much for he could consider such thing as 'normal' in the world.

After all, anybody could die anytime and anywhere. That's just how the process of living and dying works. Fate and luck could be even added to the equation to decide whether somebody would die at the next second or not.

"Now that I've told you this much Rei-san, what would you do with this information?" Kurumi asked as she began approaching him slowly.

Rei then tried to give an answer...

"I...?"

...however, he was abruptly stopped as he felt her fingers suddenly placed on his lips preventing him to say anything.

"...Well, on another thought, I think the answer to that question should just be kept only to yourself, Rei-san," Kurumi said as she slowly backed away as she removed her fingers placed on lips.

Rei wanted to retort as for why she even asked that question in the first place, but he kept it to himself.

Kurumi then walked a few steps away as she soon turned to Rei before shadows began to form under her feet ready to surround her body.

With a satisfied smile, she then held the helm of her skirt as she slightly bowed before leaving him with her last words.

"I hope that our meeting would be also kept in secret," Kurumi then smiled once more. "With everything said, have a nice day, Rei-san"

——

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[A/N: Some are probably wondering what the hell just happened in this chapter. Well, besides the unexpected meeting with Kurumi, there is also this case of several people disappearing all over the place, murders, and such.

Sounds familiar...or maybe not?

Problems which normally wouldn't normally concern Rei at best, is what I would like to say but meh, the protagonist would always be involved in one way or another. Be it directly or indirectly.

What do they say again when such things happens... Oh! Right.

The PLOT THICKENS.

Oh, there is this nameless black heterochromatic cat as well.

This chap was also meant to set a platform for his relationship with Kurumi.

Did I do well in that regard? Just comment your opinions about the subject, I would gladly accept some advice and criticisms all together as long as they are not out of the line or something.

I guess this is it for this chap.

With that said guyz, ciao~]