… So this is the main temple, it's quite grand compared to the temple I've visited during the search for Kenji's whereabouts. Loads of people must be visiting this temple all the day, I mean, the energy of this place feels so different compared to others.
"What's wrong?" Fuji asked, noticing the strange look on the girl's face, as if she was bothered by something she couldn't explain.
"I- I guess wonder as to why this temple has such a great feeling to it. When I was searching for Kenji, the temples I've visited had such a bad feeling to it. I couldn't even stay for more than a second as I even felt colder than ever."
Fuji thought for a second as to whether he should explain the reason to her curiosity. He wanted her to not know a lot about such phenomena as he fears, that the more about such things, the more she realizes what she can and cannot do. Which can eventually bring trouble in the future.
"It seems you know that answer, but you're hesitant to tell me." She said as she felt the young man was hesitant to tell her the truth. It disappointed her as she felt he was keeping a great secret from her.
"No, it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just I wonder if it's appropriate to tell you, I mean, it has something to do with your kind and I worry that it might upset you." Kenji found a good excuse which actually caught the girl's interest even more, as she became more intrigued and curious about the truth.
"It's fine, nothing could scare me now. I mean, I've already died, what could be worse than this?"
"Dying again…"
… He spoke such short and cold words which I felt so chilled by. I didn't know what to say as it caught me off guard. Was it even possible for such a thing to happen to something that is already dead? To die again, how is that even logical and possible? Despite how curious, I am to ask, I found it hard to grasp such a topic and didn't feel the need to ask.
"I told you, it's something you won't want to know." He sighs as he sees the fear in her eyes.
"No, I'm sorry, it's fine. I- I just don't see how that is possible."
Fuji became more serious as he made her recall what the elder woman said earlier, "Have you forgotten what grandmother told you earlier? Shaman's are humans, you hunt down ghosts and destroy them…"
"So, you mean the reason as to why those places felt such bad energy is because they've destroyed ghosts there?"
Fuji paused for a moment again as he pondered on it, it was really a topic someone like her shouldn't know. Not because she was a ghost, but it was a topic innocent people like her should never find out about.
"It must be really bad then?"
"Fine, not all shamans are you. There are also bad shamans out there who use ghosts as sacrifices in order to acquire something they can never have."
As if she was seeing a ghost, which she is, but she was really frightened by what he was telling her. She didn't expect such people would exist, which worries her if that is the reason why the elder thought staying in the main temple was the best place.
"Do they still exist?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't seen one nor heard such people still existing. But, we can never know…"
"What do you mean by we can never know? Do they still exist or not?"
"I mean, shamans still exist out there, but we don't know if a bad one is out there. A person's character can never be judge easily, as we can never know what they truly be like in the inside."
… That makes perfect sense, just like with my situation. Who would have thought that my close friends and relatives could have something with my death. It makes me wonder as to why people have such evil deeds.
"Don't worry, if such people do exist, they won't be able to easily harm you. This temple is filled with our ancestral power…"
Ren didn't bother asking because she was sure the young man would take his time again thinking of the answer before explaining to her. She has learned a lot and has decided it was already too much that someone like her should know.
"Fuji, what are you doing here? Why are you, with such an evil soul?"
'Me? An evil soul? How dare that old man say such words about me? I've never done anything terrible in my whole life, nor have I even killed a bug. I cried once before when I accidentally killed an ant, yet he's telling me I'm an evil soul.' Ren's face was enraged as she felt annoyed by how the person addressed her.
"Grandpa, grandmother told me to let her stay here since it's safe."
"Well, your grandmother is not wrong. This is the only safe place for such an evil soul, but why have you brought her instead of just…" When the old man stepped in the open to see the soul his grandson had brought along, it surprised him to see a familiar face. "Fuji, doesn't he look like your friend?"
"Grandpa, this is Kenji's twin sister Ren. The person who…" Fuji found it hard to say that she'd died, since she has, and was right next to him as a ghost.
"My, didn't she live a good life? Why does she have so much hatred in her life? I would have expected Kenji to be the one with such hatred instead of this princess."
"Fuji, what does your grandfather mean about Kenji has such hatred?" Ren was confused as she found comprehend what the old man was spouting about.
"Don't mind what he said, just ignore grandfather and stay here. Whatever you do, don't leave the temple without me knowing."
"Do I even have a choice, I mean, I have no place to go anyways."
Fuji bit his lips as he realized what he said must have hurt the girl. He has briefly forgotten she has nowhere to go to and that even her own house can no longer be called home.
"Elder, my name is Ren, nice to meet you." She politely introduces herself despite how they started off.
"Hmm, I guess you still have hope."
"I think that's what grandmother is hoping for."
"Then, she is always right."
"Ironically, a woman is always right anyways." Ren added as she wanted to mock the old man.
"You're not wrong, women are indeed always right, we men tend to think of it that way, but they sometimes are easily foolish as well. Which is why, their own ignorance can lead to their own death?"
"Are you saying I'm a fool?" Ren was furious as she could no longer control her feelings. Her spiritual energy started emitting, which was pure black and malicious.
"You are, look at you right now?" He stated as he looked seriously disgusted by her appearance.
Ren couldn't see what she looked like because there wasn't any mirror, but when she checked her hands, she noticed it rotting away as her skin turned grayish and black. "Fuji, what's happening to me."
"Like as grandfather said, you're a soul filled with hatred. If you continue on like this, then you'll turn into one."
Ren started crying as she tried to calm herself and turn back to her normal self. As her tears wash her hands, soon it returns back to her normal human hands.
"Child, don't cry. I'm sorry to have pushed you, but, I'm sure you know that if you continue on like this, then you'll eventually turn into one. See how you can easily be filled with anger, such anger is no good for a ghost like you. For such anger will only lead you to darkness or worst."
"Death again."
"Hmm, it seems the old lady has explained everything to you. So, don't worry, we will try to help you cross the light. As you are Kenji's sister, you are just like a family to us as well. So, for now, get some rest and forget about what happened."
As the elderly man walked back to the main house, Ren got up from her knees and greeted him, "Thank you, I'm sorry for my action just now."
"Hmm, you are indeed a good child. I'm sure you'll be able to have a wish in the end."
"A wish?"
"Hmm, for now, just get some rest."
As he walked away, Fuji to bid the girl…
"Get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Wait, what does he mean by wish?"
"That, I don't know of. It's the first time I heard such a thing."
"Oh? Then good night Fuji, please take care of my brother for me."
"I will."