Someone Special

She devoured a single meatball from the skewer, viewing the phantoms flying through the violet skies with her companion, who seemed more interested in looking inside his portals rather than joining her. Regardless, she hardly cared less. The gardener returned with more meals for the princess, and she wasted no time in consuming them. "Now that I think about it. Isn't he the one you didn't want to see? Kotaro Nishiki...or should I say, T--,"

"He's not the one," interrupted Yuuki. The two gazed at each other for a long period of time, Gouki's loud grunting during his training ruined their staring contest, so they departed their sights elsewhere. "Perhaps it was a coincidence that it was him. No matter how many times we restarted the days, he and NEW were bound to meet somehow. Even when we tried to change to a different outsider, he discovered Densetsu regardless. Of all people, I should've known NEW was after someone like him."

The phantom princess hid her face behind her paper fan. With a keen eye, she kept them locked onto Yuuki. "Don't you think it's a coincidence that NEW had the exact same face as Noel too? With the news being spread across Densetsu, you should be relieved that it had nothing about that. You're even luckier that the other Legends let you loose if it weren't for Noel to end the loop. Who knows. Both NEW and Noel could be loosely connected to each other. She could potentially pose a threat to Densetsu, and you're aware the yama is keeping a close eye on her."

Their eyes turned toward Noel. "I'll do whatever I can to prove her innocence. I have full confidence that it was a mere coincidence that both NEW and Noel were relatively close in terms of facial; however, a similar visage doesn't bring evidence to the table."

The phantom grabbed another skewered meat, and she spotted the Power Sword in Kotaro's possession. "What would you do when he achieve his memories?"

"Who knows...I haven't experienced that moment yet."

"You were the one responsible for his amnesia, correct?" she finished the last piece of meatball, and she proceeded to grab another one. "That reminds me of a boy with the same name. He looked exactly like you only with black hair just like that outsider. He was young, kind, and very cute!"

"I told you this story."

"Why the change of name to Yuuki Nohara?"

He picked up one of the skewered meatballs, and he consumed a single meat. "Like I said, there was no reason to it. I just felt like it. But if I had one, it was probably because I didn't want him to remember about me."

"So he is that boy. He stole your name, and he failed to remember his own."

"Pretty much,"

Miharu leaned her head on Yuuki's shoulder as she watched Kotaro interacting with the shrine maiden and Noel. "I heard about what you did to him. He promised you that he'll find your friend."

"It belonged to a friend who I did not treasure. Only when I truly lost that person, regret overwhelmed me. Lost opportunities are the most painful ordeal in this world, and I wish I could see him again--so that I may apologize for everything I've done to him. If our friendship has a time limit, I hope it lasts for more than ten-thousand years," Miharu phrased, scoffing at the end. "It's ironic and symbolic in a way. He promised you to find your friend, but in the end, he'll only find himself--his true self that which hides in our created world. You know if he remembers everything, the clash between you and him is not going to be a happy ending."

She held him close to her clutches, refusing to let go of the man. "I don't advocate your decision on this. Why are you fixated on helping him remembering about himself when you're putting yourself at danger?"

"It was my fault for taking everything from him. It's also a sin that I can't forgive myself for."

"No, I can't allow that to happen." She forced his sight upon her as she glared at him intently. "There has to be another way, and it's going to be one where it doesn't involve you dying! Whether you like it or not, Kotaro is going to retrieve his memories--and you're going to live. Do you understand that? Look at me and remember all the good things you've done. You met numerous people who forged you this way, ended a war and brought peace with rivaling kingdoms, and you heard the voice to become one of the Legends of Densetsu. It's your turn to guide Kotaro to a path where he can walk alongside you as a friend."

Letting all of the words spoken from an airhead princess sinking into his head caused him to chuckle. Thinking thoroughly, he soon surrendered himself to Miharu's words. He pulled down her hat, blinding the princess, and he arose from the plain floor. "I'm glad you exist even if you're just a mere specter. You know how to keep my motivation going. Living too long like this and seeing your human comrades dying in front of your eyes due to old age, I often forget what it means to be alive."

"I've been dead for so long, and I often ask myself what it really means to be dead. Is that weird of me?"

Yuuki could only respond with a chuckle before he dropped his entire body into the portal, transporting into the shrine, and he quickly flipped backwards to safely land on his feet. Then, he bowed. "Greetings! I bet you've missed me so much!"

"The bully has the audacity to show his face," commented Riku. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing much!" He stretched his arm to the side, and a newspaper immediately dropped into his hand. Although seemingly interested in reading it, he tossed it to the shrine maiden. "Read the news already? No one has yet to find Draco's murderer."

"Draco? Who's Draco?" wondered Kotaro.

"He's one of the Legends of Densetsu, much like me and Miharu. Recently before you spirited away into this world, multiple of Draco's disciples found his lifeless body along the wandering roads of nothingness. Many have believed it was an oni who murdered the Legend, but no one has yet to find the murderer."

After reading a couple of pieces in the paper, the shrine maiden turned her attention to Yuuki. "With Draco's death, the border between Densetsu and the Outside World is slowly diminishing. Unless someone has heard the voice, Densetsu's existence will be known to outsiders."

"It's a risky move to wait for someone to hear the voice. No one hasn't even heard it's calling for a century now," commented Yuuki.

"What's the voice?" wondered Kotaro.

"On rare occasions, certain people are capable of hearing a voice calling for them. Those who hear it often come here in this shrine where Riku performs her ritual to announce them as a Legend of Densetsu, and that was how I was chosen to be one of the Legends."

"Is there anything it tells you?"

"That's classified. What we hear is solely meant to keep to ourselves," he turned his view over to the gates, joined by Kotaro and the others.

"What's wrong?"

"We have visitors..."