Shadow Realm

Chapter 11: Shadow Realm Part 4.

We saw Euclece behind us and now she's trying to catch a fish. She looks so innocent, should we tell her that we need to leave this space? But she looks enjoying herself. Maybe we can stay for a while, just for a while.

"Here."

"Uwah! She caught a fish!" Ruru said while being amused. Euclece passed us the plastic that contains water with the fish inside. I took the plastic as I smiled widely, I bowed my head.

"Thank you."

She smiled at us, "No problem. I should get going now. I still have some things to do." I nodded as a response.

After that, she went ahead inside the shrine building.

"Are you sure? Aren't you supposed to talk to her?" Ruru confusedly asked. I shook my head, "She seems to enjoy this. Let's give her enough time."

Ruru suddenly held my hand so I looked him with frowned eyes. "Let's explore the whole place!" Without hearing my answer, he dragged me with him.

"Wa-wait!" I muttered while being dragged. Ruru can't stop, even so. I want to spend a little time with him while I can still touch him.

"I'll just stay here for a while." We halted when we heard Mikael that he doesn't have any plan to follow us. We saw his hand, shooing us.

Well if he says so, I guess nothing will happen anyways. Then we decided to leave Mikael in that spot.

Ruru and I ended up in a kimono store. There's a lot of beautiful kimono hanging outside the store. We got intrigued so the two of us went inside.

"Uwaah~" The sound of being enchanted can be heard on us.

"These are really beautiful." I commented cheerfully.

"Ara~ Welcome. The two of you want to wear kimono?" A young splendid lady came to approach us. I shook my head, "We don't have money to buy kimono—" But the young lady clicked her hand, interrupting me from finishing what I'm saying.

"Don't worry about it. Come come, cute kids should wear kimono today." My eyes widen as I heard what she said. This young lady is so kind!

First, she brought me inside the changing room, she made me wear a simple pink kimono then she fixed my hair into a bun and put a hairpin designed with a pink chrysanthemum as a hair accessory.

When I got outside the changing room, Ruru is kinda shocked. Not all that, his mouth is wide opened.

"Okay Young Man. it's your turn." The lady called Ruru for his turn. I sat in the chair as I wait for him.

Now that I noticed the kimono I'm wearing, this kimono has a … "Higanbana...Prints.." I didn't notice it before because the light is kinda dim. My eyes widened and got alarmed, "Ruru?!" I stood up while panicking.

I ran toward the changing area as I slammed the door wide open. However, Ruru was just sitting right there. In fact, he wears an embarrassed expression when I saw him.

"Latrice-chan, can't you wait? Geez." He complained. It seems everything is just normal. I looked at the lady, "He's finished." Then Ruru walked towards me and suddenly carried me.

Unlike my kimono, Ruru wears a black hakama. Like the types of shrine attendants.

"Let's go." Ruru just decided to leave that place, he's still carrying me and I don't think he wants to release me at all.

I hugged Ruru with my small hands as I lean my chin to his shoulder. To be honest, I'm getting anxious about this space but I don't want to ruin their momentary happiness.

But when I came to look at Ruru's lower part clothes. There's a higanbana flower crammed in it.

"Ruru…" I mumbled.

"Yes? Do you want to sleep?" He stopped walking just to face me. I faced him as well but I didn't have any eye contact on him.

"Why is there a flower of higanbana behind you?" As I asked, I felt his breathing suddenly closed to my face so I didn't have a choice but to look at him. When I saw what was his doing, his eyes are shut but he was smiling and it feels like he wants to kiss me at any moment.

When he opened his eyes again, he looks an antagonist in a drama story because of his gaze at me. They were somewhat deadly.

"It's a secret." He said while having a mischievous tone. I pushed his face away from me. "Will you stop that? Put me down. I will walk." I don't know but I felt sudden irritation on how he reacted.

"No, I will never let you go. Never." It just a whispered in the air but the way he says it. It feels like there's another meaning behind it.

Ruru then resumes from walking, I don't know where is he planning to bring me through.

Come to think of it, Ruru's behavior became unanticipated when we visited that store.

I rested my head in his shoulder, I give up. I'm so tired, but I don't plan to sleep at any moment.

I'm still being bothered to the higanbana behind him. I secretly glanced at him for a few seconds then looking back to the higanbana once more.

Will he get mad if I throw that away? Well, I have a feeling about doing it but I can't just leave that be.

I reached for the higanbana behind him, well he didn't react when I got it and throw it away. I smiled because of my success.

"Huh? Mikael is not here." Ruru said, "Eh? He's going inside the shrine building without us?" he added.

I feel sleepy, Jesus. Having a body of kid is really out of hand.

"Why… don't you... follow him?" I muttered. Why is it, I'm getting sleepy all of the sudden?

My eyes are getting blurry and my body isn't functioning well either.

"Yes! Let's do that." I can still hear Ruru but it's no good. I fell asleep all of a sudden.

-----

"Ahhhhh!" A sudden scream woke me up from my deep slumber. When I opened both of my eyes, my body is lying down on the floor. I came to realized that everything is covered in blood, even my hand. I saw Mikael unconscious in the right corner.

But that's not the important thing right now, I saw Ruru! He's choking the little girl that we saw before.

Euclece is behind them but frightened.

"Ruru, what the hell are you doing?!" I shouted with anger. Did he do all of this? But why? And how?

"Oh, you are awake." He looked at me wearing that kind of eyes like he was a lost soul. I stood up and made my steps to him. I held his shirt and pulled it.

"Stop it." I whispered.

"You don't know what this thing can do if I let her go." He answered with a serious tone. I gazed at Euclece then I sighed.

"Don't do it. I don't know what happened but don't let me see you like this." Since I was small, I hugged his legs tightly.

All of a sudden, he released the girl to turn at me as he hugged me tightly.

He lifted me like a small baby and walked toward Mikael, "Oy, let's go back. I killed the Ayakashi that nearly killed you." After that, he faced Euclece. "You too."

"Ah, ha. You're… helpful huh.." Mikael said while coughing. He stood up as he summons a bloody sharp scythe. Then, he cut the used it to cut the air. Cutting the air made a split portal in front of us.

I looked Euclece, "Euclece… let's go home." I gestured like I'm trying to reach her. She stood up and without any questions, she holds my tiny hands.

"Let's go home."

After that, we made our parting departure in that space.

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Side Story

(Ruru's POV)

"The Ayakashi is that little girl named Euri." The lady who sells kimono spouted; I'm not even asking.

"How did you even know?" I looked at her suspected. She smiled at me, "I am… Mikael's best friend. I can't face him now; he'll kill me for sure." She said while sobbing in front of me.

"Damn you, so this is all your fault!!" I complained. "Hehe, this higanbana will help you to kill the ayakashi quickly." As she put the higanbana flower behind my clothes, I don't have any choice but to just agree to this young lady.

And then, suddenly. Latrice slammed the door wide open.

"Ruru!"

-------

When we were walking, I noticed Latrice disposed the higanbana behind me. Geez, she's so stupid. Although, I don't have any plan to get mad at her at all.

I'm really happy that I can carry her like this.

"Huh? Mikael is not here?" I saw Mikael entering the shrine building all by himself. Did he figure it out?

"Huh? He's going inside the building without us?" I added. I noticed Latrice yawning, "Why… don't you.. follow.. him..?" I bet she is really tired.

She fell fast asleep to my shoulder. As she was sleeping like this, I followed Mikael.

But I'm still outside when I heard an explosion inside so I hurriedly ran inside.

"Ugh. What a strong Ayakashi… my clothes are almost got ripped off." Mikael uttered, I saw a lot of people died in the explosion while Euclece is shaking in fear.

"Euri!" Euclece shouted. But instead, the Ayakashi looked at me. "That girl… bring her to me.." I frowned as I stepped back.

"Okay okay, let's stop playing little girl." Mikael smirked as he tried to get close to the girl. Mikael held the girl's arm but as I observed the girl carefully, she let out an evil smile beyond her face.

"Stupid." Mikael exploded without any warning as Latrice and I got implicated of it. I accidentally let go of unconscious Latrice.

"Why does… I feel… hurt.." I shouldn't be, right? Because I'm a ghost from the start.

When I came to realize, the girl appeared to Latrice's spot. First, she laid her hand to Latrice hair, and then, she slapped her!

"Hmm, this girl's soul dwell in two worlds. I will devour you so that I can finally be free!"

The fucking Ayakashi changed its form into a monster. Her feet slowly forming like a snake's body while her skin turns green and forms scales but part of her skin is decaying and getting peeled off. Her nails grew longer and sharp. Her hair grew longer and her eyes turned into a snake's eyes, its color was yellow. Her mouth got wider while her teeth became sharp. Her eyes glowed while looking at Latrice as she lifted her up.

I looked Mikael to ask some help but he's knocked out. "Fuck you monster! Leave her alone!" I felt something is starting to devour me inside.

When I came to realize, my body moved as it choked the ayakashi to death.

"Aahhh!... Y-you have red eyes…?" The Ayakashi spouted but it's none of my concern. I choked her to death, looking at her vessel want me to throw her to the pit of fire.

"Be thankful you didn't suffer before you died." I said while glaring at her. I didn't release her; I want to behead her---

"Ruru!" I glanced at Latrice when I heard her called my name. Somehow, I felt relieved when I saw her awake but I instantly got annoyed when I saw her pained expression while stopping me from killing the Ayakashi. As I shifted my gaze back into the Ayakashi, it turns back into a child.

'Tch, cheeky bastard. Trying to fool her just to escape? Well, that won't happen.' I thought, getting more annoyed. Latrice suddenly hugged me from my leg as she pleaded me not to kill this Ayakashi.

I really can't refuse this girl. I sighed and released the Ayakashi then hugged Latrice tightly.

Ah, I think I won't be able to do that now. Thank goodness she's awake. I sighed in relief.