Kurumi pov
" Kurumi and Neo right ?"
Emerald's voice asks as I together with the pink mouse turn to look at the green haired girl behind us .
" Nice to meet you Emerald."
I say catching the ends of my dress then I bend my knees slightly as Neo pulls off her bowler hat and bows to Emerald , which causes the green haired girl's surprise which we find amusing . Looking at Neo's smile I know that she is playing the same game as me so straightening up I smile at Emerald suggesting that she continue.
" Thanks "
" Thanks ... For showing me this place . If I didn't know about this place and its protection for customers . I wouldn't be alive anymore ."
" At first I didn't believe you but after I got hit in the thigh , I didn't think that much . It was the only place I thought about at that moment . "
" I will pay it back ."
Says Emerald apparently feeling uncomfortable , when in my eyes her behavior is , like I used to be , well maybe now I am like that too .
'For kindness give back kindness . Nothing is free in a world where dog eats dog , so it's normal that she feels indebted to me .'
Thinking about it I smiled defiantly at her .
" I know you will do it ."
I say looking with a smile at this girl who under my gaze abashed turned her head away . Which again brought a displeased look from Neo .
Looking at her with my expression alone , I ask her what she means with that look on her face . But Neo just snarled and went out the door . Shrugging my shoulders I follow her leaving the store behind us .
As for Emerald she does not interest me much . I don't care why she was prosecuted or if she will actually pay this debt to me . As a homeless girl she will always have some problems as to repay the debt , rather she will .
Without thinking about her any more , I notice that unlike in the morning , there are a few people other than hunters or policemen roaming the street , but I see their serious faces and quick movements indicate that they do not want to be here .
'They are probably people going to work . After all, the city must live despite the events of the past night .'
But that's why me and my pink mouse even more stand out in the crowd as the only children . Quickly gathering our movements together Neo and I move through the alley in front of us . With quick steps and agile maneuvers Neo and I dodge passersby as we return along the same road that Ash took us here this morning.
On the way we notice that the car rammed into the building is slowly being pulled out by law enforcement leaving a massive hole in the front of the building . However, with only this one glimpse I go on without worrying about it . Normally I would take a walk today , go out on the town or " play " with people but I know that today is not the best day for that .
Walking briskly we pass through the next alley leading out to the main street , through which we easily pass unnoticed . After a few minutes of walking we return safely to the back of the clock store where with the help of a cable we go back inside .
Neo pow
Entering through the door on the roof I go inside the store with Kurumi . As usual I am greeted by dark floors and red decorative walls .
' This place has never been much different from my old house . Only that it is smaller and has a completely different atmosphere . Here I feel that I am not alone '
I think as I walk down the stairs behind Kurumi noticing her rubbing her finger over the stair banister .
' Because I have her '
I think looking at her black hair .
" We need to clean up here "
Kurumi says as I look around the size of one floor which is filled with doors to other rooms and dark furniture . Which shows that it will take some time .
' They used to be covered with fabric but Kurumi and I decided to take them down because they are hard to clean without washing them . The fabric remains only on the windows, obstructing the view from the outside while letting in light and air from the outside, which gives the place a strange atmosphere .''
I think as I watch Kurumi turn towards me .
" Are you listening to me ?"
Asks Kurumi when I nod to her in confirmation .
' The place needs to be cleaned again . The last time we cleaned was a month ago so it makes sense .''
I think heading down the stairs .
'Even though we live in a bunker we keep the upstairs clean which can be strange . In the bunker we have a toilet , electricity and everything else where here at most we have access to electricity . However , not only the bunker is our home the upper floors are also important .'
Keeping everything clean is the first step to stay away from disease and accidents.''
I think reaching the entrance of the bunker with Kurumi which we then enter and continue to our bedroom .
" We have nothing to do today so why don't we clean up ? "
Asks a thoughtful Kurumi pulling off her dress and corset as I do the same pulling off my clothes . While changing Kurumi pulls her eye patch showing me her biggest secret her beautiful eye that stands out even to me .
Watching these clues move of their own accord , I really feel wonderful because this can be seen by really few people . Putting my hair up in a ponytail I watch Kurumi do the same thing as we both put on more worn clothes so as not to ruin the new ones .
" Let's finish this quickly " .
Says Kurumi walking out of the room to the bathroom while I meanwhile take our cleaning products and rags from the chest . Ready I watch Kurumi come out of the bathroom and looking at me I see that she is ready when the shadows below me catch the items I was holding and then they hide in the shadows .
Leaving the bunker I climb up the stairs . Reaching the ladder I am about to climb up but me and Kurumi are stopped by our little black cat .
" You ran away again ? Do you want to go up ?"
Asks Kurumi while talking to the cat which is quite common and cute. Taking the cat with us we go out to the clock room where Kurumi pulls out all the things we need to clean .
"Do you want to mop the floors or the countertops ?"
Asks Kurumi when I grab the mop without thinking .
'I never clean these clocks again , a mass of small hard to reach places .
I think as I start to mop the floor and the little contented kitten runs somewhere up the stairs .
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Finishing cleaning the corridor I take the bucket in my hand and then walk to the next room after opening which I see a mass of musical instruments.
Putting down the bucket, I walk over to a stuck piano, pressing the keys one by one, making only some of them make a clear sound while the rest show the is instrument's out of tune.
Even though it stood here I never had the opportunity to tune it '.
I think as I go back to cleaning the floors. At this time Kurumi arrived in the room after which she began to clean every surface and instruments. We don't have professional knowledge of how to clean them so as always we just clean it with detergents for the surface .
In this case I wash the floor with water with a special liquid for wooden panels and Kurumi uses detergents for wood .
' So far nothing has broken in the instruments so it's probably good' .
I think while finishing the last part of the floor after which I sit down on the seat in front of the piano out of fatigue . Not long after that Kurumi sits down next to me and she starts clicking the keys . Surprisingly the piano is not quite out of tune which allows a few keys to produce a clean sound .
" I thought to sell it all, these instruments must be worth a lot , the same with the furniture . I always wondered what happened to the owner that he left so much stuff here."
Says Kurumi which makes me look at her crookedly .
" What ? Why do we need these instums the same with the clocks downstairs . It's pure money . One problem is that we don't have a buyer or papers that it belongs to us . I don't want to burden the pawn shop anymore so we would have to find a buyer ourselves " .
Kurumi says when I . I have trouble disagreeing with her but I still look at her disagreeing with her opinion.
" And what do you want to do with all these things ? Why do you need these instruments do you even know how to play them ? "
Kurumi asks while I look at everything in the room .
' Even though I have not lived here long compared to the old house , it feels like home . I have a sentiment for this furniture I have made a lot of good memories with it . When we didn't have anything to do we would hide behind this furniture playing hide and seek , we cleaned it together . We spent time with them .'
' This furniture means more to me than money , because it is with them that I have memories with you .'
These thoughts straight from my heart surprise me and surprisingly Kurumi too as she looks at me with raised eyebrows . Not knowing what to do now out of embarrassment I click some working keys and strangling on the pedals at the bottom of the istrumet I play a short tune . My display surprised Kurumi and distracted her from my earlier words .
" Can you play the piano ?"
Asks a surprised Kurumi as I smile at her .
' Father and mother always showered me with knowledge about ethics and that sort of thing . Eventually they taught me to play the piano out of compulsion .''
I think , continiuing my playing , during which I encountered many foul sounds due to the instrument being out of tune . However, looking at Kurumi's face, I can see that it doesn't bother her. Rather she is enjoying it as if it was her first encounter with music .
' No , it's not possible everyone has heard music at least once .
I think looking at Kurumi who noticed my look .
" What ?"
Kurumi asks me interrupting my game .
' Do you like it ?
I ask Kurumi via my gaze , as she herself started clicking the keys trying to play something .
" Yes , it is calming . I feel safe here so I can enjoy the melody . Besides, it's your melody"
Says Kurumi as she looks at the keys as if she has gained something that everyone dreams of . And looking at her smile I again feel a strange joy and fulfillment because of her . Poking Kurumi's shoulder , I draw her attention to myself and pointing to the keys I give her the next message .
' Teach you how to play ?'
I ask via my gaze again .
" Sure " .
Kurumi says . And hearing her shows her a simple melody on a few keys and then tells her to repeat it . It came out the first time which allowed me to join her . Playing other keys together with Kurumi's already existing melody to create another more complicated one. Despite the fact that the two parts of the melody are played by completely different people , together they form a charmonious whole .
'Just as I with Kurumi , from strangers we became complete sisters to each other as with this melody , two simple separate ones merged into one common and matching melody . '
As I continue to play, I watch as sunlight streams in through the fabric hanging on the window, which illuminates me and Kurumi who, with her eyes closed and a smile on her face, continues to play. This is another time when she shows me this side of herself , a side that only I can see .
' We are like sisters , we live together , eat together and even bathe together . But even though I tell myself that this is a sister relationship , it is a lie . I'm not stupid I know what big mom meant at the time I just played dumb . I know how I feel and I know that if my father found out about it he would have another reason we call me a freak .'
With that thought, my hand accidentally entered the area of the keys Kurumi is playing on, which caused our hands to touch each other, and even though we often touch each other's hands I can't help but blush, which I try to hide quickly.
' Although Kurumi and I often joke with each other about our intimacy , hearing her laugh at the idea of us as a married couple , strangely hurts.''
Feeling my hand Kurumi stopped playing and opening her eyes her fingers touched mine as she intertwined them with mine .
' Am I not yet too young for such thoughts ? Should I be jealous of Emerald's interactions with Kurumi ? What will Kurumi think when she finds out that she is no longer just a sister to me . Kurumi you are my life , you are my freedom , you are my purpose .''
I think while feeling her head fall on my shoulder. The smell of her hair smells good with this new shampoo . Her breath is so pleasant her heart beats as if for me .In that moment the world stopped for me ,feeling the light on my face I let that moment pass as a dangerous thought goes through my head .
' I will kill anyone who wants her.... She is mine even if she doesn't know it . Just what I will do , how I will do it . Kurumi , Kurumi ... I hope this will pass , I don't want to lose you for such a reason . I'm not a freak , not in your eyes . '