Body and Soul

"Hehehehe,"

Huh?

Ryan-number-two laughed.

But why?

In an instant, confusion left me and anger flooded my being. With rising voice and moving feet, I yelled, "You think this is some joke? You sick bastard!"

What couldn't he understand? We can live together! So, why—?

"I get what you are saying. I really do. You don't need to try so hard. You can have the body. All to yourself. No strings attached." He effortlessly dodged my attempt to punch him as he raised his hands to diffuse aggression.

"Huh?"

"Yeah. You heard me."

I slowly lowered my fist as confusion once again reclaimed its host.

"But, why?"

"That... I had a deal with a certain someone, you see. But you don't need to know anything else." He deflected.

Come to think of it, couldn't I just read it off of his mind?

I tried to read his memories that I 'inherited' but... I couldn't.

I have been living as him by relying on his memories, so much so that retrieving anything from them barely even required a thought. But, when I tried accessing his memories from after my arrival in this world...

"There's nothing, right? Almost as if I really died that day." I only noticed it now, at some point, his smile had a tinge of hopelessness to it.

He could still read my memories? Hey, that's cheating!

"But that's impossible. You are standing before me right now. How could you be dead?" I wasn't dense by any means, as far as I knew, but I couldn't quite grasp his thinking process.

"Impossible or not, it is what it is. Forget it. I only have a single request to ask of you, please take care of mother. Her bouts of fever have been getting more and more frequent as of late. I am afraid it might be something serious." 

"Don't worry, it was something I planned to do from the beginning. I won't let anything happen to her, I swear upon my life." I proclaimed confidently, thumping my fist on my chest.

"That is good. That is good..." He mumbled as he looked down at his feet.

From the bottom of his feet, his body started glowing faintly, as small, colorful motes of light started drifting apart from his body. Even though the whole place was white and completely lit with no shadows, it seemed to brighten under the glow of his body.

I curled my lips inward in hesitation, but I relented in the end.

"Don't you want to say good bye to mum? You know, hug her one last time?"

"Nah, it's better this way. My, no, our mother—"

My heart warmed.

"—is damn smart. She will know something is amiss if we tried to pull something like that. And don't tell her that you aren't me. It will break her heart." 

I pursed my lips and didn't say anything more.

Slowly, Ryan-numb, no, Ryan was falling apart, first from the edges. Then small chunks fell off his body and broke down into bubbles of light, floating upward.

Even as parts of him continued to break away from him, that easy smile still hung on his lips.

"Ah, I am going to lie down here, if you don't mind."

I nodded slowly, and he sank to the ground. As soon as he did, his limbs fell apart as if they were made of lego pieces.

"Aw, don't look at me like that. I am not going to die. Just... rest a bit."

...and the last of him disappeared before his words faded away.

I looked up and saw the swirling mass of glittering light.

If someone were to look into my eyes, they would see them sparkle with a colorful radiance enough to hypnotize a lesser man.

...and a lone tear forming at the corner of my eye.

[Isn't it beautiful?]

It is. And... thank you.

[For what?]

For not telling me that I would have been fine.

I refrained from speak to not ruin the serene atmosphere.

Slowly, the mass of light drifted towards me. But I didn't panic, the light was too soothing to be afraid of it.

[...ap ...ut...i!]

Instead, I reached towards it, wanting to be embraced by it, swallowed by it. Feeling as if I was finally being reunited with something I never knew I had lost, yet was integral to my very existence.

[...ke u... ...it!]

I felt some particles of light shifting from the corner of my eyes, but what was in my grasp so much better, so much... perfect.

—Bzzt!

Suddenly, sound of sparking filled my ears, and my body went into seizure. But for some reason, my mind felt clearer than ever.

[Snap out of it, damnit! Close your eyes!]

...what?

But I trusted Codex's judgement, and closed my eyes.

What happened? I just saw Ryan disappearing, and then I looked up at all the light and then... and then...

I felt color draining from my face and felt a chill run down my spine.

Codex, what was that?!

[Calm down and just do not open your eyes.]

I patiently waited.

And I waited some more.

And some more...

Okay, What is going on now? This is getting ridiculous.

[...]

Say something!

[I think you should you go to sleep, Ryan.]

It felt as if Codex sounded... just a bit... sterner than usual...

–

–

–

I opened my eyes and saw a roof over my head, trying to get my lazy mind to think.

Not white. I decided.

Slowly, I rose myself out of the blanket and let out a yawn. Stretching to drive the grogginess out my body, I called out, "Mom?"

Getting no answer, I went to the balcony and looked at the sky for a couple minutes.

Then it dawned on me.

Huh, noon already? Damn, I slept for long!

Before I could fully process the thought, I immediately turned around to get ready and—

Oh, I am no longer a 9 to 5 employee.

Shaking my head, I went inside and looked at the plate of toast and the covered glass of milk at the dinner table.

Smiling, I dug into the breakfast.

—Tuk

Hearing noise coming from below, I downed the glass of milk and approached the stairs.

"Mom? Are you in the eatery?" I called out.

"Oh, you are up. I was wondering if you were going to sleep till it was time for dinner. Come down and help me." She answered from the other side of the eatery.

All the chairs and stools were placed either upon the tables or on the counter.

By the side of the trolleys, near the window, mom was removing some cobwebs off the sill.

I picked up a cleaning cloth off the counter and approached her with a smile.

Because, after waking up today, I truly felt like I belonged in this world.

[Complete assimilation in Soul achieved.]

[Your level of Authority has risen very slightly.]