The Shadow and The Festival Part Two

It was dark, it was cold and it was depriving.

"Kagami-san!"

The voice of Aiko-san woke me up as she pulled me out of the shadow as it seemed like it devoured me, Aiko-san held my hand as we both ran away from the station.

As soon as we were far away from the station and with much more light, I panted a lot since we ran that far from the station. It devoured me, it felt empty though and it felt like I was in a dark cold empty room.

"Are you alright Kagami-san?"

I nodded but honestly I was not sure about it.

"That shadow…I saw that shadow before"

"eh?! "

I had to explain to Aiko-san about the shadow that we saw. I first started to see the shadow at the street lamp. At first I thought I was seeing things but it looks like I was not. That shadow was really after me but I do not even know the certain reason why.

"Even so, it was dangerous to be in contact…let us hope that we could avoid that shadow again "

Once everything was settled with the shadow, we went back to our original objective which was to ask Tatsumi-kun for help since culture festival was coming close.

Aiko-san and I finally reached the area. The abandoned apartment complex that was right in front of us, it was a five floor building and broken down. It looks dead on the inside but when you get inside, it is lively.

Ah, lively is a weird term to use when the people here are ghosts ^^

This place was destroyed because of an gas leak accident and without noticing it, all of the resident including the staff died.

"Welcome back Kagami-san "

A dead officer greeted me and since it was the second time we came here, everyone knows who Aiko-san and I are.

" Oh if it is not the Seeker, How do you do Kagami-san? "

The receptionist greeted me with a smile.

"Good evening Hinatsuru-san! I am actually looking for Tatsumi-kun"

" Ah the fair musician! He is on the third floor, well then good evening! "

We waved goodbye as we head for the stairs since it is a broken down building, an elevator is a no-go.

"It is weird that this place is so lively when people here are dead"

Aiko-san said while floating above me.

We were heading upstairs while some ghosts are heading either up or down, it did not even feel scary to the least but if someone without the ability of a Seeker then it is scary. Aiko-san and I went to the third floor as we hear a faint sound of a piano playing. It was Tatsumi-kun!

We hurriedly head to where the sound was from as we saw Tatsumi-kun, playing such a beautiful tone. We did not dare interrupt him as we continued to listen to his playing.

Aiko-san started to hum.

I did not know that Aiko-san had a beautiful voice.

Once the song was finished, we went forward as Tatsumi-kun smiled at us.

"Good day my fellow friends, what can I do for you? "

I explained to Tatsumi-kun about the culture festival and how I am really desperate in needing his help with music.

"Hmm? So you want me to teach you to play a guitar? If that is so, then no problem! "

I smiled as I bowed and thanked Tatsumi-kun!

First night, I was being taught how to play a guitar and not only that, I was also being taught to follow the flow of music. Although I did not understand a single thing he said.

He began to guide my fingers on the strings as he told me what form and shape or rather what strings am I supposed to press to play the chord. At first it was painful but as soon as I practiced, it felt much better.

As the second night I was there, I managed to learn the guitar. Although Tatsumi-kun told me that I still need more practice. I helped with the preparation for the culture festival during the day while by night I visit the apartment complex to practice with Tatsumi-kun.

Aiko-san and I were also observing the shadow from before but it does not seem to appear anymore. Weird…

The third night I was there, Tatsumi-kun was playing with the drums while Aiko-san helped with singing as I played with the guitar. Finally, I managed to play and now I was ready to join the band for the culture festival.

"Thank you very much Tatsumi-kun! I really owe you one! "

" Don't worry about it! Thanks for coming by, please come back again though! "

Aiko-san and I bowed.

As soon as we head home, Aiko-san was looking out for the shadow while I was almost falling asleep. Sometimes Aiko-san would wake me up worriedly since the shadow might attack but we managed to get home safely.

************

The culture festival has began.

The place seems to have a lot of things going on, food stalls and decorations. There are different people are around too. I did not explore too much as I head towards my classroom to help with the band.

Since some of us were preparing for the stage and some of us were fixing the outfits worn for the bad. Some of us were also trying to fix and maintain the instruments.

While everyone was busy with their tasks, I wandered around the school for a bit. Aiko-san seems to enjoy herself since she used to be in high school.

I looked around while Aiko-san was resting above me. She used to say that she loves to lay on my head. I chuckled when I just remembered that.

Though I felt something odd.

I looked around but I just saw people walking around. When I looked again, there was one person that felt odd, that had this mysterious aura. It was a student, someone I do not know.

I went closer and closer as this person stopped. It was a female student. She was wearing a dark hood as she looked around and to me no less.

Both of our eyes widened, but her eyes was more than shock. She was not only looking at me but she was also looking above me.

She saw Aiko-san!

"Yuu-chan, the band is about to start! " Kanao took my hand as I looked at her. When I looked at that girl again, she was gone.

I just followed Kanao to the stage. As we begun practicing for a bit before the actual show starts. Though I was still bothered by that girl, I am sure that Aiko-san noticed it.

Though was there anyone besides me who could see spirts? Someone who can be a Seeker? Ah there was that Lady but other than her, I do not know.

Even so, should I be happy or cautious?

"Yuu-chan? Are you alright? " Kanao asked.

"Ah yeah…just thinking about something"

"Alright, just relax. By the way, have you been playing guitar during that time when you were not at school? I do not remember you playing one during our childhood times. "

"Ah…errr…something like that" I nervously chuckled since I actually took help from a dead musician.

The concert began shortly after our practice, everyone seems to be here and most of them are from different schools. I was really nervous since this is actually the first time I can play a guitar on stage.

"Hello everyone, welcome to our culture festival. Today this afternoon, we shall play our instrument to make realize what beauty can music do! " Announced by the music club president himself.

I think that was too much to say. I guess the music club president is a really big fan of music itself.

It started with the drums until the vocals began, then so the music began to reach the audience. I did my best too! For three straight hours, we entertained our guests with music. At the end, everybody screamed in excitement. We, who played and sang panted and gasped for air as our tiredness were worth it. Our music reached so many people.

It was the closing ceremony for the culture festival as Kanao and I began helping with the closing and cleaning. I was throwing the trashes when suddenly, the large garbage bin exploded as if a tornado hit it! I fell down from the ground in shock and from the impact, my eyes widened as I saw the crushed bin.

"Kagami-san?! You alright?! "

Aiko-san who was not affected by the impact, went to me and worriedly asked for any injuries. I shook my head as I was fine. Though it was weird that the bin just exploded out of no where.

"YOU…..THE SEEKER WHO KNOWS NOTHING…IT IS TIME TO FOR YOUR END"

That voice though was very familiar, it gave me chills as I began to shake. I could not get up. I could not turn around to see his face.

I am scared.

"Kagami-san…the shadow came back….we have to run! "

Aiko-san tried to pull me up but my legs were not giving me the strength to stand up. Closer and closer, I could hear his footsteps. He is getting closer and closer even more, his shadow is almost coming in contact with mine!

"KAGAMI-SAN!!! Stand up please! "

For one moment, I was being dragged as my legs began to work on their own, I was being pulled. By Aiko-san? No, it was not just her…It was that girl!

"Hey, what is up coward? "

It was that girl from before, that girl who was wearing a hood! Both Aiko-san and her pulled me. We began to run as far as possible. Soon after, we managed to live. We were panting as we gasped for air.

"T-thank you for saving me...! "

"HaH? Next time save your own ass, pipsqueak"

T-this girl…

"Anyways why the hell is a Shadow Reaper following you? "

A Shadow Reaper? Is that what it is?

"Anyhow, just do not let yourself get swallowed by that guy, they say you die if you do"

"A-alright, thanks"

"Imma head home. See ya pipsqueak! " she winked and walked away but I called for her once more.

"your name, what is it? "

"Yuki, Amane Yuki"

That was the first time I saw Amane Yuki, another Seeker like me.