Ginger is continuously getting fat. He doesn't want to move as well. After getting out of the office Aki went to the vet clinic.Vets there knows Aki well because of Ayush. But Ayush wasn't there this time. His colleagues were still there and they greeted Aki as they saw him entering.
'Good evening,Azusa-san!' A doctor with blue colored hair greeted Aki with a smile.
'Good..evening! You changed your hair colour again!' Aki was surprised because a few days ago it was different.
'Doesn't it look good?' He asked Aki but Aki was confused on how to answer that.
He just said his thoughts out loud so he doesn't know what to do. He just avoided the topic.
'Mitsu, I forgot to ask something…'
'Ya! what is it?' Mitsu responded eagerly.
The other day, when Aki came here with his pet, he wanted to know who was on duty at night
'Oh! Maybe Hiroto senpai. Why?What happened?' Mitsu was interested in knowing.
'Where is he now?' Aki asked while looking around and Mitsu replied, 'He is talking with a pet owner now. Do you need something from him?'
'I just want to check something. The night who came to take my pet.' Aki asked Noah and Noah was not the one to pick Ginger.
'You did.' Mitsu reluctantly said.
But the answer made Aki shocked, 'Really…!'
Mitsu nodded, 'Hm! I remember clearly because I was there working that day too. I was surprised to see that you would be the type to adopt a cat. But wow! You even named him well…Why Ginger though? Shouldn't you name him something stronger?'
'Why?' Aki smiled.
'Well! He gives the vibe of a royal. He was so moody.' Mitsu said.
Aki laughs hearing that, 'Yes! That's exactly why I'm here today. I need to know how to make him lose weight. He is getting too much...
'Senpai?!' Hiroto calls Aki when he sees Aki.
'Ah! Hiroto…' Aki stops seeing a woman with Hiroto.
So elegant and pretty. Her aura was a bit different.
A husky dog was beside her.
'Whoa! What a big boy! But he is not on leash though. Is it a trained dog?' Observing the dog made him smile.
She was smiling before but when their eyes met, Aki saw her smile disappear. She looked at Aki which made him uncomfortable.
'I will be back within a minute.' Hiroto said while escorting the lady.
'Ok!' Aki nodded.
"Did I see it correctly? Why would she..?" Aki shook the thought off.
The CC footage showed that it was Aki who took Ginger home that day. As well, the dress he was wearing that day seemed like his. Getting here and taking Ginger home, he recalled nothing no matter how much he tried.
"Shit ! Why again now! Last time I couldn't remember where I was for two weeks! And now this! Two times this year and within the same month. It didn't happen for the past 3 years. Everyone will worry again if I tell them about it." Aki rubbed his forehead while thinking.
Hiroto noticed that, 'Senpai? Is anything wrong?'
'Oh! Nothing…I was just checking something.' Aki assured him.
'Ok! I heard about Haru senpai...but we were not here that time.' Hiroto said while lowering his head a bit in sadness.
'Yes,I know! You went to attend a seminar in Beijing.' Aki patted his shoulder.
'How are you…' Hiroto stopped while he looked into Aki's eye.
'Coping up with it?'Aki finished the question.
'I am not trying to cope…it's hard to accept. Everything there has…his presence...I sometimes forget that he is not there anymore…'Aki couldn't speak anymore
Hiroro realising the pain,said, 'Senpai, Let's not talk about it.'
Aki nodded, 'Ya! That would be best.'
'You didn't bring it in a cage?! Why?' Hiroto asked seeing Ginger.
'I don't know… but no matter how many times I tried he didn't want to get in. He doesn't like that and I couldn't force him.' Aki smiled hesitantly.
'He is in good hands I must say. Not many people adopt a black cat as pets. I literally don't get it!' Hiroto was agitated with the thought.
'Is that so? I didn't know. I thought it's good to have a cat. Doesn't matter which colour.' Aki says with a smile.
'Many don't think like you senpai.' Hiroto's face became sad after saying that.
Aki felt a bit sad while walking with Ginger. Ginger was a bit bigger in size than usual cat. He was friendly and chose Aki so Aki took him home. He never once thought of the possibility that someone may have abandoned Ginger.
"Well it wasn't me who chose him! He was the one to choose." Aki couldn't but help feeling happy inside.
Aki got home and a scent brushed over him with a wind as he unlocked his password to get in. He looked back and saw an empty hall way. He got in and closed the door. He let go off Ginger and he directly went to sleep.
Aki smiled and gave Ginger some food then went to his room. While getting fresh he saw in the mirror that something was moving in his room. He looked back but couldn't find anything.
'I know you are not Mei. Whoever you are, show yourself !' Aki said with a soft voice.
No answer, nothing. When he turned back he found Haru standing.
'Haru!?' Aki asked in confusion. "But Haru is long gone! He was gone…"
Haru grabbed Aki's hand. Aki felt it was real. Warm and soft hand but tight grip. Haru started running towards the balcony pulling Aki with him.
'Oi Haru…' Aki screams not understanding what is going on.
Before he could understand Haru jumped from the balcony with him. Aki was shocked as the surroundings while falling began to change the building in a mountain shape.
'Shit! Am I inside a dream again!?' Aki closed his eyes.
Haru and Aki were running. Haru was ruining ahead. Within a few minutes, Haru vanished leaving Aki alone.
'What the hell!! What am I supposed to do here! ' He began to walk not knowing where to go now.
'Even After dying you are making me run, you ***.' Aki was scolding Haru inside his head.
'Is this what you are doing up there too!?' As he finished yelling, something moved in the bush.
'I thought you left…' Aki smiled and looked back but couldn't finish the line.
With glowing eyes, sharp teeth, and a huge body, three wolves were standing before him.
'Shit! Where did I come this time? I surely didn't trespass their world! I was in my home.' Aki tripped a bit.
The wolves have their eyes set on the prey, not wavering at all.
'Even though I'm combat trained, these wolves are..twice in size! Then...How to lose them? The large one seems to be the leader. I should run backward and come back around. Even though I can take down one now, the other two will rip me off within a second if I turn my back to them. If I run I can at least lead them astray as the leader would send those two first to kill me. The leader will be left alone then. That will give me a chance to run back and kill one.' Aki started running while his inner thoughts were chaotic.
.Suddenly he stopped and looked back. He had lost the wolves.
'I surely have gone crazy! How can I think I can kill wolves! What the hell! On the top of it, taking down the leader with bare ha…'
A sword soaked in blood was in his grip. The golden red flame burned off the blood that stained it. No traces of blood were to be found on the sword. With an addled brain, he tried to think what was going on. Before he could find any answer he saw blood reaching under his feet. He heard a sound growling from far away stepping close to him.
'Is it over? If it kills me now, would I be able to wake up? But what if it's not a dream and the wolf kills me? I trespassed before, and that wasn't a dream…' He looked back and saw the leader approaching him.
Aki maintained eye contact with the wolf. Then he looked at the sword. The wolf before him wasn't injured
'Then....?' Aki noticed, a few feet away from him, the other two were dead. Their blood was beneath his feet.
'Who killed these two!'
The leader was growling like he was in pain.
'I'm sorry I don't know who did this…' The wolf was stepping forward and Aki was stepping back.
He saw Haru wandering around and was about to come there. The wolf noticed that too. It shifted its focus on Haru.
'You better not think about it!' Aki said and the sword was unconsciously pointed to the wolf and the wolf jumped on him. One stab through the heart. The weight fell on Aki so did the scent the smell that he had felt in the hallway back that time. He recognizes this scent. But couldn't remember from where. He pushed off the wolf and pulled out the sword.
Aki stood up,'I'm sorry! But You shouldn't have preyed on my friend.'
The sword again cleaned itself. This time Aki noticed, it wasn't burning those blood instead it was absorbing. The flame died down and Aki went in the direction where Haru was.
'Where did you go!? Let's go! We are not supposed to stay here…' The ground under Aki's feet began to shake and Aki with Haru fell down from there as it split. He fell into the river. Somehow they swam across. While getting out of the river the sword fell on the rock. Haru took it.
Aki had an ominous feeling, 'I don't think you should…'
Haru stabbed the sword right through his heart. Aki was shocked to the point he couldn't feel the pain for a moment. He was looking with a puzzled face. It's like Haru couldn't understand what was going on. He didn't want to but he pushed the sword again deeply inside Aki's heart. Aki felt light for some reason. Then suddenly started feeling the pain in his heart. The pain moved to his head. Haru's face began to go blurred. He grabbed the sword and pulled it out himself.
'This crazy shitty dream is making my friend my enemy. This is definitely a nightmare. In no way my friend would hurt me. It might be hard on you too, na Haru?' Aki stepped forward and hugged Haru. Patted his back.
'Even if it hurts like hell, I'm glad that I met you.' Tears have crossed past his eyelashes.
He couldn't hold on anymore.
The pain and the headache began to go beyond the tolerance level. The siren sound started and turned him weak. After a while, he felt like the sound had made him deaf as he can't hear anything anymore. The pain was bearable and he could see again now that he is opening his eyes.
'Are you awake now?' Reiji sat on a sofa in front of him holding a cup and placed the journal on the table.
Aki blinked a few times. He couldn't comprehend the situation. On his lap there was another journal like Reiji's and Reiji's expression was normal. This huge room was filled with numerous files and books which made him realize this was the study. This wasn't Reiji's home because it didn't feel like it.
'You are at my clinic now. You fell asleep while reading and waiting for me when I was with another patient.' Reiji said.
'Right! I came to know about them. And while waiting I fell asleep. I couldn't sleep last night because I was reading about Ginger's diet menu and what to do to make him lose weight. Damn! This insomnia! When I need to sleep you play hide and seek with me and now I'm here...I just fell asleep. Good thing that I remember how I got here.' Aki let out a breath like he couldn't breathe normally.
Reiji got concerned, 'I have noticed it before...you…don't struggle while you are in nightmares. It feels like you are exploring inside.'
Aki smirked and moved his head in denial, 'You are quite observant.'
'And you are a conformist.' Reiji leaned back with a smile.
Aki then became confused, 'I do feel from that. I just let it flow.'
Reiji became curious,, 'You are quite calm. You have a great hold on your unconscious emotions. But in, the conscious part, you force yourself to avoid it. Why…'
'Trust me I want to let go of that myself too...I'm holding back as much as possible but the patience is wavering now. I don't want my family to worry about me. They already have too much going on. I can't let them know about you too as they will be in danger.' Aki sighs.
'They are family. And a true family will love you no matter what. You can know who genuinely loves you.' Aki stared at Reiji's eyes for a while hearing that. Reiji smiles to watch him thinking like that.
"If you look at first the eyes are green. But they are not. Green-yellow eyes...like those eyes in my nightmare. So those eyes belonged to him. Did I see these eyes before at the station? But Those were like ghosts with eyes." Aki was lost in thought.
'What are you looking at?' Reiji asked.
Aki replied instantly, 'Your eyes are like your father's.'
'Ah!..Like his green one…yes!' Reiji smiled.
'Joshua has the same eyes.' Aki reminded himself.
Reiji explained, 'We are twins after all. But mine is a bit different like my mother's.'
'Really? Oh…ya! You said you are like your mother.' Aki smiled.
'Yes. They change the dominant color. When that happens you can't tell I have green eyes.' Reiji was still looking at Aki.
Aki asked, 'It turns Golden? Like mine?'
'Hm…But that only happens when I'm emotionally unstable.' Reiji nodded.
'You? Unstable? Aren't you the doctor?' Aki mocked.
Reiji smiles. Just then Reiji's assistant gets in.
"Mine changes too so far I had seen. But red ...and like that!" As Aki was lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the lady but when he did, the lady looked in the eye and smiled.
Hazel eyes. Aki was startled. These eyes were similar to that ghost.
'Is there something on my face Azusa-san?' She asked.
Aki was conflicted but asked directly, 'You said there you have been watching me for a while. Other than you…who did follow me?This lady?'
The assistant was shocked to hear that. Reiji was amused to hear that.
'How could you…'She was dumbfounded.
'Yes, she is one of them. There were quite a few observing you. Could you see them all?' Reiji stopped writing to hear the answer.
Aki looked away, 'I did sometimes feel there was someone inside my room.'
'In your room?' (Reiji frowned and looked at his assistant but she denied, 'I never entered, Master Ruan, I swear!'
Aki couldn't understand what was going on. They were exchanging looks but Aki couldn't understand what it was about.
'I know. You may leave.' she left the room as soon as Reiji told her.
Aki scoffed, 'Why is everyone calling you Master? Are you some kind of ruler?'
'Kind of. We are Purebloods so you can say that. In our world, Purebloods are categorized as rulers. But they can't get into Pureblood lineage because no matter how powerful they are they will always be less. It's…complicated.' Reiji avoided speaking.
Aki asked even though he saw Reiji avoid it, ' I see! How many ranks are there?'
Reiji sighs, 'High, Mid, and low rank. Mid and Low ranks are the general population in our world. Commoners.'
'They don't have powers?' Aki sat straight.
Reiji smiled, 'Everyone has. More or less.'
'And why are you a master, Master?' Aki smiled in a mocking tone.
"R- You brat! Don't smile like that." Reiji could not stop himself from smiling as well and explained, 'There is a system to address the Pureblood families. Much like your past feudal system but there is no king. My grandparents are the head of our clan. So their followers will address them as, Seigneurs. My parents are the representative of our house so…Lords, Joshua, and I are Masters. Mei is the young master. This way it will continue.'
'I am still not getting much of your ruling system.' Aki smiled.
'You are just a kid after all.' Reiji said.
'Huh! You are just 6 years older than me and you saying I'm a kid?!' Aki couldn't stand it.
'You are right in a way. From our perspective, we are still not adults. But to you, I'm much older. I was born 25th of March,1964 and I'm the same age as your father.' Aki was about to say something but then couldn't say anything as Reiji was smiling.
Aki tried to seat in a polite manner. Reiji burst out loud in laughter seeing Aki being polite.
'How did you manage to find my research ?' Reiji asked
'What?' Aki has no idea what research Reiji was talking about.
'That's my personal journal. My personal data.' Reiji's eyes were not smiling.
'Oh! I'm sorry, I just saw this illustration...did you draw this?' Aki asked.
Reiji's eyes became sad, 'Not really.'
Aki unconsciously was drawn to it while he was looking for a book to read. He found the diary and a piece of paper that had an illustrated sword.
"I guess this is why I saw the sword in my nightmare. Because I saw it here." Aki looked at the design.
Reiji interrupted his thought, 'I don't know if I should be happy or concerned that you act so indifferent to the fact that I'm not human.'
'I wonder that as well, why am I not bothered at all.' Aki was still brushing his finger over the sword's blueprint.
'What about your perception of me? Has it changed?' Reiji became concerned.
'Not even the slightest, you are still the same peculiar Reiji.' Aki now looked at Reiji with a smile.
'What do you think? Can you still love this Reiji?' The answer would end up as a rejection Reiji knows but still, he hopes for a chance.
Aki answered, 'You are very fickle.'
Reiji smiles in disappointment, "Here it goes. I knew it.'
He gets up to avoid face-to-face rejection. He pretends to search for a book, 'I know that.'
'But as I saw you respecting your father, one thing that I noticed was, you are true to your emotions and actions.' Aki stopped.
'Ok!' Reiji was eager to hear the rest, "What is he talking about?"
Aki got up and was leaving. Reiji understood and didn't try to stop. While getting out Aki said, 'I will see your determination about me.'
He smiles and leaves finally.
Reiji was dumbfounded, "That's a yes right? I mean, I still have a chance, isn't it?"