Episode 67: JORUGUMO: COME CLOSER

Unfortunately, his time with her easily slipped away when they heard a knock at the door.

Gabby knew it was Murasaki, but Red kept hoping it wasn't him. But even if he wanted more time with the girl he loves, he gave up and let her go with the ever patiently waiting Murasaki.

Murasaki brought flowers, chocolates, and anime mangas as a present. Don't forget the glasses she OH so wanted to buy, it will help her a lot on her animation job at Toneplus Studio, how awesome! When Red saw the lit of joy in her eyes, he felt crushed. Could it be that his present was much appreciated than his? Should he have bought her the same? Is that what girls want?

He felt himself defeated after the woman he cherishes most looks back at him with excited looks.

GABBY: Look! He got me these! I'm so lucky to have you two!

Murasaki looked at him teasingly, then took Gabby's hand. Which she, at that moment, didn't think of it as anything but a form of friendship.

GABBY: Looks like we're going now. Want to join us?

Red felt hurt. Join them? That would mean he have to suffer watching another man steal her from him. Plus, Murasaki once talked to him about it. Give them time alone.

RED: I...I got to do some collecting, you know? Maybe I'll just send my summon to protect you.

GABBY: Oh, okay. By the way, I enjoyed the food.

RED: You...you didn't even ate half of them.

GABBY: Well, Murasaki came early too. But don't worry, I'll eat them later. Sorry if you're upset.

Red evidently was.

Murasaki however, wanted to spend time with her immediately that he cut them off.

MURASAKI: I'm sure the dude's fine. Let's go.

GABBY: Oh, um. Bye Red! Thank you as always!

RED: I...well, you're welcome.

And like before she wakes up, the room was empty, and he found himself waiting and missing her presence again.

Red looked at the table. She haven't even tried all of them. He sighed.

Guess he had to do his tasks first.

...

Gabby felt a bit sorry for Red, she felt that he was lonely for the moment, but she kept a small smile to avoid worrying her friend.

MURASAKI: So...I prepared a list of places-

GABBY: List?!

MURASAKI: Uh, Yeah. What's wrong with that?

Oh boy...it must mean that she's going to be away for a long time.

GABBY: Nothing. I...uh, nothing, heheh.

MURASAKI: Mmm, kay? Anyways, what about going to the Sweets Cafe Tokyo?

GABBY: I...think I've had enough sweets.

MURASAKI: How about the Den, in Shibuya?

GABBY: That's not bad, but I also brought in cash, let's share.

MURASAKI: No way. It's your day today, it's all on me.

GABBY: Uh, but...

MURASAKI: Don't worry, as long as there's people buying my new release of mangas, I'll be fine.

GABBY: No it's not that...

MURASAKI: What then?

GABBY: I...I really want to share with you because I feel like I'm always pampered.

MURASAKI: Pampered? No, no, you deserve this.

GABBY: Do I really?

MURASAKI: Yeah, so don't worry about it.

Gabby tries to give him a smile, but deep down she's a little embarrassed.

...

Murasaki noticed Gabby's bored expression after they finished with the meal. It's as if she's not thrilled at all, or she've eaten her for the hundrenth time.

Not wanting her to grow uninterested, he convinces her to accompany him to a nearby mall, in which he purchased a guitar.

Murasaki knew that since young Gabby had always loved to listen to instruments playing. When high school, however, he wasn't able to play good ones for her. But this time, now that capable, he strums his fingers on the strings and sings to her a lovely ballad.

Gabby melts her heart at the process, reminiscing the memories of her and him.

She eventually sings along, as they walk to Yoyoki park for some sight seeing and relaxation.

Gabby started to realize how much Murasaki wanted to make her happy. She felt moved, but her feelings were confused by that point.

Her thoughts would go back to the reaper. Who may not have sung her the same lovely ballad, but had prove to her time and time again just how much he cares for her.

Over the course of a year, Red had been there for her, even cleaning her house because she's too lazy to do it. The reaper may not know how to court girls, but he does know how to do things that they'd appreciate and love.

Gabby still smiles sweetly at Murasaki, but her friend quickly noticed the sadness in her eyes.

It hurt him deeply knowing that she have not felt the same way.

But he only continues singing. He was patient. And promised himself to do his best to make her happy and contented, even if he has no special abilities to look after her.

MURASAKI: You good?

Gabby nodded, looking at the sky above her.

Snowflakes were falling, and she, although should be used to it now, is still mesmerized by the view.

He smiles. She have always been appreciative of even the smallest of things.

MURASAKI: I wish I was snow, you know?

Gabby looks at him, startled.

MURASAKI: So you'd look at me the same way.

Gabby turned red not because of the cold, but because she's well aware that her friend had not given up flirting with her. Not that she's disgusted, but she's embarrassed that he would say something to her in public.

GABBY: You really like me, huh?

MURASAKI: A lot.

GABBY: You shouldn't have left me. Then we should have been here together in the first place.

MURASAKI: You know why I left, right?

GABBY: I know, but still...it doesn't make sense. Why do you have to leave me, then not contact me all these years? I thought you forgot about me, although I still keep your book, and still search you sometimes.

MURASAKI: I'm sorry. You know how mom feels about you.

GABBY: Yeah. Where's your mom anyways?

MURASAKI: She died last year. I'm sad she did but, I got the freedom I've been deprived of, for years.

GABBY: Oh. So that's why you came here?

MURASAKI: Yeah. Because I'm finally free.

GABBY: Glad you are...but...

MURASAKI: I know...you don't feel that way yet. I wonder if I stayed with you...maybe you wouldn't look at that guy the way I wanted you to look at me.

GABBY: MJ, I...

MURASAKI: It's fine. Only a blind person wouldn't see that.

GABBY: You're not mad?

MURASAKI: Nah. But I'm not giving up either.

GABBY: You really think I'm worth your shot?

MURASAKI: Of course. I'll do anything to make you happy with me.

Gabby smiles earnestly, before deciding to give her friend a hug. She hopes that if there's really no way Red and her be together, her heart change for the better.

Sadly, her heart doesn't feel that way yet.

After all, MJ hadn't been with her for a long time.

...

After that trip they ended up in Kirifuri Highland. It was snowing and the area has turned into a good sloping place. Excited as ever, Murasaki convinces her to try skiing. But she would just playfully decline him everytime. Not wanting it to go to waste, he decided to take her to a tour around the highland instead.

Gabby agrees, and a tour guide assists them, together with other visitors.

...

Invisible to the naked eye, Jinko was flying above, seeing that Gabby was yet again vulnerable.

JINKO: If I get her or the guy beside her, Red would come. And if he gets defeated, Humility would in turn feel the same way I did. He'd probably isolate and blame himself again. Not to mention...probably forever...

He takes time to savor the victory he's about to have, then took some good minute to laugh to himself. Avenging has been so close.

Jinko then flew back to the cave to inform the Jorugumo, who was busily preparing and almost done weaving her winter outfit.

JORUGUMO: Thing's settled?

JINKO: I found them. I'll lead you there, and do your best.

JORUGUMO: I always do my best.

JINKO: You better. I won't settle for failure this time. Those bastards have savored victory for a while now. I need to take what's mine.

JORUGUMO: Believe me. I can handle this.

JINKO: Good.

The Jorugumo confidently stands up and wears her winter coat, putting oh her fake eyelids and glasses, while walking with grace, slowly disappearing with Jinko, on the still falling snow.

...

Murasaki senses a familiar aura. Something isn't right.

GABBY: What's wrong?

MURASAKI: Can't you feel anything?

GABBY: Of course I feel cold. What else am I supposed to feel?

MURASAKI: Forget this hike. Let's go somewhere else.

GABBY: What?

Red's summon, invisible to Murasaki's eyes felt the same dangerous feeling. It flew closer to Gabby's direction, to keep her secured of danger.

Murasaki felt panicky when he feels his heart beat faster. Whatever it is, it's getting closer and closer.

He felt it before. Before when they were kids. Before when...Gabby finally confirmed that there was something near them. Something with red evil eyes watching them play on the corner.

He would never forget this feeling. And he won't let it get them this time.

MURASAKI: Gab, trust me on this.

...

Jinko realized how easily Murasaki leads Gabby away from the crowd when he flew near them, disguising as a white dove. So the friend she's with has some sort of a sixth sense? Stronger than most humans?

Either ways it's still good, Jorugumos are good at hiding their identities. Even demons can be fooled by them for the first minutes. After all, all they need is them to be alone for ambush.

...

GABBY: MJ, I don't get you, why are we getting further from them?

MURASAKI: There's something dangerous, waiting for us there! There might be a lot of snow spirits here!

GABBY: What? But...I don't even see anything, if there is, I'd see them right away.

MURASAKI: What if they blend with snow?

GABBY: Huh?

Suddenly they froze on their places after a strong gust of snow made their vision impossible to detect the way.

GABBY: What happened? It suddenly...

MURASAKI: Stay close to me.

GABBY: Wait, that...that's a person, right?

MURASAKI: Alone? In the snow?

GABBY: So...maybe we shouldn't get help from her?

...

The woman, actually the Jorugumo assigned to make them lost, smiled as she realized that they're not even moving places.

To at least fool them a little better, and to of course get them closer to her, she yells that she couldn't see, and asks for help.

Logically, Gabby felt the need to help the lady. But Murasaki's senses tells him otherwise.

MURASAKI: Let's stay away from her.

GABBY: Are you nuts? If you can see her also, she must be human.

MURASAKI: No, what if she ain't one? Let's go.

GABBY: Please...let's help her...she seems cold.

MURASAKI: Gabby, she's alone, she came from nowhere. You always get yourself in trouble because of your kindness. Don't you think it's familiar back when we're kids?

GABBY: I...uh, but...

MURASAKI: No buts. I don't want Red coming in here and saving the day again, I got you.

The woman begged, kept crying and telling them she couldn't see from all the snow. Gabby's heart continued to soften. But she didn't move an inch and followed Murasaki's orders.

Seeing how her plan may have not worked at all, the spider humanoid decided to come closer instead.

Her steady pace and smile made it evident that she's no ordinary woman. That made Gabby and

Murasaki panicky.

He felt so alarmed that he tried to drag Gabby away from the woman as fast as he possibly can.

He tried every direction, but the snow keeps his vision limited.

They were lost.

After some few steps, their boots felt heavy with all the snow. They grew tired as well.

The woman's voice becomes clearer and clearer. It was crazy how it sounded so unbothered, unshaking, and unjittering even despite the cold.

Murasaki looks at Gabby, who was by then shaking because of the cold. He decided to hug her to keep her warm, she didn't protest.

Gabby looks around, then finds a nearby silloutte of trees.

GABBY: T-there!

Murasaki carried her to get there, and she was right. It was almost near the same place they left before. But the eerie feeling came back. Gabby wasn't able to see Jinko resting near the tree because of his bird form, his white feathers blending with the falling snow flakes.

Murasaki felt like there's no safe place. If they go away from this area, chances are, the woman may get them, but if they stay here, whatever he's feeling, would and could undeniably get them as well.

He felt lost and regretful that he didn't let Red accompany them on their journey. He should have thought more about Gabby's safety than his time with her.

He looks at her, with an apologetic face. But she doesn't seem to mind.

Gabby holds his hand and motivates him to walk more, but he suddenly felt frozen stuck when he saw the woman they were running from was suddenly dangling from the tree. Her head just a few inches from Gabby.

GABBY: Is...is something the matter?

He wasn't able to respond in fear.

Suddenly, Gabby noticed a feeling of something liquidy falling from above her. She took a look, and wasn't even able to scream in pure shock.