8 A NEW LIFE: PART II

"Kenji."

"Hey, Kenji."

... Ah, what happened? Why does my head hurt a lot?

The young boy was deep in sleep when he started hearing someone calling his name. The fact he drank for the first time yesterday, caused him to still be in bed. He was not the type of person to relax and stay in bed, he was an early bird who prefers to be awake before the sun rises.

"Ren." He mumbled as he felt the person calling him was his sister.

As he continued to wander in his dream, he started imagining his sister right in front of him.

<gwofw> She was smiling brightly like the sun and was sweetly, soft calling out his name.

"Kenji, you're here." The imaginary Ren said as she walked closer to the young man.

"Ren, is that really you?" He was confused as to how his sister could be standing right in front of him.

"Kenji." She only said his name and smiled.

"Ren, I was so worried for you. I know you weren't dead. I swear, I'll punish those who hurt you." He ran to his sister's side as he tightly locked her in his embrace. However, as he was expressing his emotions of regret for not taking care of his sister, for not protecting her and being there for her. He felt weird as he felt his sister was slightly colder than usual. "Ren, are you sick?"

"Kenji."

"Ren, why do you keep calling my name. I'm asking you if your-"

"Kenji, I'm sorry."

Her beautiful smile suddenly faded as her expression turned sorry and was filled with despair. A single tear rolled down her eyes as her body soon became so bright and slowly fading.

"Ren, wait, don't go."

"Kenji, take care."

"No! Ren, don't go. Please, I'm sorry."

No matter how much he tried to hold onto his sister. She was fading as she soon turned into small particles of light.

"Ren, please, tell me, what happened to you?"

"Take care, Kenji."

"NO!"

As he reached out to grab his sister. He was too late as she had disappeared right in front of him.

"NO!"

At that moment, Fuji heard a loud yell which shocked him wide awake. He saw Kenji who was fast asleep next to him screaming and yelling out his sister's name. He hurriedly went to his side to wake him up, but it was no use as he was in deep sleep. He shook his body around and even slapped him on his arm yet it was futile as the young man did not wake.

"Goddamn it, Kenji wake up!" He yelled as he kicked the man on the side.

"AH!" Kenji screamed from the pain he just received and looked awkwardly at his surroundings. He was covered in sweat as if he was being chased or chasing someone. He looked so shocked that he was unable to hear Fuji who was calling out for his name.

"Kenji."

"Kenji, hey, wake up!"

When Fuji went down on his knee to face the young man who looked out of his mind, he sighs as he knew why all of this was happening. He softened his tone as he slowly spoke, "Kenji, I know you're angry with yourself for your sister's death. But, it isn't your fault. I mean, we don't know if she is even dead. Who knows, maybe she is somewhere close by."

Technically, she is just a few feet away from them and probably still asleep.

"Kenji, please, don't do this to yourself. Your parents are worried sick for you and… I'm sure Ren won't want you to be like this."

Kenji turned to face Fuji who was trying his best to comfort him, he could bottle the emotions anymore as he burst into tears.

"Fuji, what should I do? I know now Ren is gone. I saw her in my dream, she told me to take care of myself. But, how… how did such tragedy befall her. She has always been so kind and innocent. She doesn't even hold any hatred to those who have hurt her, so why?"

"Kenji, we will never find out what happened to Ren and it's best we don't involve ourselves. The police are working on it and soon will know what really happened to Ren once we find her."

"But, I don't know why… in my dream, Ren, was so cold. She was as cold as ice. As she didn't look like Ren at all."

Fuji was not pleased by what he was hearing. He didn't expect Kenji's connection to his sister to be so strong that he'll be able to see how she is now. "What do you mean?" He innocently asked despite already knowing the truth.

"Fuji, you may think I'm stupid or weird, I don't mind. But, I think, my sister is still here."

"...."

"What I'm saying is, that maybe… you know."

Fuji sighs as he already knew what the young man was hesitant to say, "That she turned into a ghost."

"Yes, I'm sure it's not something you hear everyday and something you'll see, but, I keep having this strange feeling that my sister is close by."

'Well, she's up in the temple, maybe that's why you feel she is so close.' Fuji thought as he felt terrible betraying his friend.

"Fuji, aren't your family studying the mystical side of such beings. I mean, spirits are equally the same as ghosts right?"

"Kenji, what are you talking about?"

"Hear me out," He stood up as he paced back and forth as he thought of the proper way to explain his plan, "Fuji, promise me first that you'll help me."

"Well, that depends." He replied automatically as he could already tell that his friend is about to do something reckless.

"Come on, don't be like that. Aren't we like brothers?"

"Hmm, but brothers don't drag each other to danger." he replied as he saw how annoyed the young man was with him.

"Fine, but at least listen to what I'm about to say and let me finish before you try to tell me that's stupid."

"Fine."

"Fuji, I beg you, please ask your grandfather if we can possibly seek out if my sister's soul or spirit is still in this world."

Fuji answered right away by standing up and heading out of the room. Before he stepped out, he looked pitiful at his friend and said, "I told you, let's not get ourselves involved with such matters."

Kenji didn't insist anymore as he already understood how risky it could be. Who knows what will happen during the process they try to contact his sister. What if instead of contacting his sister, they encounter a very dangerous entity which can kill them.

Fuji was in no mood to even greet his parents as he stepped out of the house. On his way out, his grandmother caught up with him and asked him to check on someone.

"Damn it, why did grandma have to bring her home." He started cursing as he dragged himself to the main temple. He felt so annoyed as he didn't want to get involved at all for he felt he was betraying his friend.

As he reached the top, he witnessed something which took his breath away. It was not the first time he was breath taken by the girl's beauty, yet, strangely, his heart was beating for her as if she was a living being.

"Did my heart just?" He was confused as his gaze softened and continued to be fixed at the girl who was clearing the snow whilst the bird flew and sang around her.

Her laughter echoed through his ears as his heart softened for her. DEspite how much he didn't want to care about her, he couldn't help it, but was worried for her and wished to protect her.

"Fuji?"

It surprised Ren to see Fuji standing by the staircase. He was frozen like a statue and was strangely looking at her. It made her curious as to why, and she realized why he was being so observant.

"Fuji, I can explain, I asked your grandfather and he said I'm allowed to clean the snow. I know I'm not allowed to use my powers, but I swear, I asked…" She hurriedly drops the snow shovel as she runs to his side with an anxious face worried of what he'll say.

However, Fuji was far from angry because he was feeling something else which he couldn't explain.

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