The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay as we followed behind the murky water spirit. Next to Rei, I watched with an unreadable expression, lilac eyes fixed on the churning mud before us.
"He's not like the others," I said finally, my voice low.
Rei nodded in agreement. There was a desperation to this spirit, a longing that went beyond the typical mindless hunger of the vengeful dead. This was not a spirit that committed some grave sin but one of loss and longing.
So intent on the path forward, I hadn't registered the passing time until a familiar house caught my eye. A thought struck me—were we lost?
"Wait, do you have any idea where you're leading us?" I questioned the halting spirit.
The muddled spirit fidgeted with its appendages, looking sheepish. That alone told me I was likely correct—it was lost. Rei, however, remained undeterred.
"Well, if you recall this place vaguely, that suggests you visited it in life," Rei explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "You sense the familiarity, but the details escape you." As an expert, I trusted his assessment. At least this brought a glimmer of hope that would lead to something.
"So what do we do?" I turned to Rei as we stopped to assess our options.
Without a word, Rei reached out to touch the spirit's forehead. A gentle glow emanated from his hand, and suddenly, flickering images danced around us like a roll of film. Snapshots of a lifelong past played out before our eyes. We watched, entranced, as a youthful pair shared a laugh, their happiness still radiant through the veil of time. A small hand slipped into another's, fingers intertwining as they strolled through a vibrant floral meadow.
The scene dissolved, replaced by muted hues as a melancholy rain fell. The pair strolled beneath a shared umbrella, absorbed in quiet discussion. Then, the woman spun to face her companion, a bright smile on her lips.
"I have a surprise for you!" she exclaimed, stepping ahead into the downpour. His joy was evident, fueled solely by the sight of her radiant smile.
"Yui, you'll catch a cold," he chuckled, beckoning her back beneath the umbrella's shelter. "What's this surprise of yours?"
As they stepped off the curb, Yui flung her arms wide, lips forming silent words lost to us. In the heartbeat that followed, the glare of an oncoming car—speeding recklessly—flashed across her rain-soaked body.
Time seemed to slow as the man flung aside the umbrella and sprinted towards his oblivious, laughing wife. He tackled her, sending her tumbling as the car screeched to a stop past them. In the stunned silence that followed, the true horror of the scene sank in.
Miraculously, Yui emerged with only minor scrapes from the fall. Yet as she stared down at her husband's limp, bloodied form, her mind recoiled in shock. He had saved her, but at the cost of his own life.
The vivid scene before us slowly dissolved into nothingness, leaving Rei standing there, his expression haunted as he gazed upon the forlorn spirit. It clicked into place—he was trapped, forever yearning to know what final message his wife had tried to relay to him. His heart was so fragile, so very human.
The spirit seemed to shrink further, its murky composition subtly clearer now. Rei didn't appear to notice the change, and at that moment, it hardly mattered.
"I know where she is!" The spirit's form seemed to brighten, its pace quickening as it surged forward with renewed purpose. Maybe a bit too quickly, if you asked me.
Rei grabbed my hand and pulled me to follow. "Come on."
I stumbled at the abrupt motion but managed to regain my footing as I hurried to match his stride. What's with the sudden sense of urgency?
We trailed the spirit around a few bends, finally arriving at a charming house nestled at the end of a quiet side street. Even in the moonlight, the vibrant flowers encircling the property were a sight to behold.
"This is our house!" The spirit bubbled over, its murky form quivering. "The blooms may have changed, but this—this is undeniably our home..."
The spirit watched, its form aglow with a hopeful smile as it took in the familiar sight of its former home. The house was mostly dark, save for a pair of lit windows and, a moment later, a third. The porch light flickered on, illuminating a woman as she called back over her shoulder.
"I'll handle it this time, but next time, that's all you!" She slugged a trash bag across the lawn, heaving it into the bin beside the door.
Rei stared at the photograph, a puzzled expression on his face, but before he could voice a question, the spirit surged forward.
"Yui!" it called out in a voice full of longing.
The spirit rushed towards the woman, waving its liquified arms, but she gave no sign of noticing. Of course not—to her, he was nothing more than a whispered breath in the wind. A spirit, a thing of the dead, invisible to the world of the living.
It wasn't until the spirit's water form made contact with her leg that the woman reacted. With a startled yelp, she leapt back, swatting at her pants leg as if at an insect. Yet it seemed she still didn't see the spirit at her feet.
Rei's posture straightened with excitement at the response, but his shift in position sent leaves crunching beneath his feet. The woman's gaze snapped towards the sound, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she peered into the gloom.
"Is someone there?" The woman's voice wavered, her body tense as she crept forward, shovel clenched tightly. "I'll call the police!" she warned, trying to sound braver than she felt.
As she drew closer, Rei's hand slipped from mine, leaving it empty. I scrunched my eyebrows as I stared at my hand before shoving it in my jacket pocket. He stepped out of the bushes, palms raised.
"I'm sorry to intrude, ma'am..." His soft words were soothing.
"W-Who are you?!" She retreated a step, snatching a bottle from the trash as a makeshift weapon, her surprise at finding an actual intruder. Her grip on the shovel and bottle tightened.
Rei bowed, a gesture of non-aggression. "My name is Rei, and I was searching for a woman in this area," he explained, his tone polite.
He held out the picture, and she cautiously took it, the glass bottle still up. Her eyes widened and she then looked up at Rei before becoming cautious once more.
"Where did you get this photo?" Her voice cracked, a mix of surprise and desperation. Rei took a step back, giving her space.
"I...found it among my grandmother's things," he admitted, his words slow. "We thought maybe we could find the woman in the picture," he added, but the explanation confused me.
Her gaze clung to the photo, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "This was my mother, Yui," she whispered. "I'm Akane," she introduced herself, her voice still shaking.
The spirit lingering near the woman stirred, its presence wavering. "Mother?" it echoed, its voice disoriented.
Rei exhaled heavily. "So it was your mother after all," he murmured, understanding. "You resemble her; that's why I mistook you for her."
Akane's gaze remained fixed on the photo, her expression turning somber. "It's okay," she said quietly. "She's at peace now. Her health deteriorated a few years ago. She always planted beautiful flowers around the house, but eventually..." Her voice trails off.
"My father... he died in an accident before I was born, so I never knew him, but my mother spoke so fondly of him," she finished, her words barely audible.
Rei's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry to hear that... but you can keep the photo. I'm sure my grandmother would want her daughter to have it." He offered a gentle smile.
Akane's eyes welled up as she clutched the photo to her heart. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. I understood why Rei lied.
A concerned voice drifted from the house. "Akane? Are you okay out there?"
"I'm fine, I'll be right in!" She called back, her voice steadier now. A soft smile graced her lips as she looked at Rei.
I glanced down to see the spirit's form had shifted, its murky edges clearing like before. Did understanding bring it peace?
Rei bowed his head. "I apologize for the intrusion, but thank you for your time." He straightened, a hint of a smile on his lips.
Akane waved off his apology. "No, thank you for the photo. I should get back inside." She returned his bow, a soft smile in place. "Please give your grandmother my best regards."
After she left, I came out from behind the bush and crossed my arms. "Well, that was unexpected, but I guess time doesn't wait."
From the memories and Akane's words, the story became clear: Yui, full of the news of her pregnancy, had almost been hit by a car. Her husband had saved her but lost his own life in the process. It had happened around 25 years ago, judging by Akane's age.
The spirit stood frozen, as if it too had pieced together the tragic past. Yet, instead of sadness, a smile graced its translucent face. The reaction left me puzzled.
"Akane...that was the name we chose for our child," the spirit murmured, its voice filled with a soft longing.
Rei approached it, his expression gentle. "Did you find the closure you were seeking?"
The spirit bobbed its head, a serene smile on its face. "My Yui wanted to share our baby news... I'm so grateful I could save her and Akane." Its voice vibrated with deep contentment. It seemed to find joy in its sacrifice; I couldn't understand it.
"I got to save Yui, even if only for a little while, and Akane is happy...knowing that brings me peace," the spirit said, its form now crystal clear. It turned to Rei. "Thank you for this gift, kind exorcist."
Rei bowed low. "The pleasure is mine," he murmured. He stepped back from the house, and I followed. With the now-translucent spirit floating beside me, Rei began to inscribe the familiar transportation circle on the ground.
"Ready?" Rei asked the spirit, and it bobbed its head, drifting to the center of the circle.
I tuned out the usual ritual, my attention instead attracting on Rei. The blonde exorcist, for all his professed dislike of demons and spirits, possessed a core of kindness towards them. He was a little grating at times, but I'd grown accustomed to our daily routine. It wasn't so bad being around him.
Once the spirit was gone, Rei swayed, his steps stumbling. My instinct was to rush forward and catch him, but he quickly regained his balance.
"Let's go," he mumbled, already heading toward the apartment. I trailed after him, a frown on my face.
He really had pushed himself too far. Rei might be a skilled exorcist, but at the end of the day, he was still human. Sometimes, it seemed he forgot that.
I stuck close to Rei the entire walk back, ready to catch him if he passed out. Thankfully, that didn't happen, and he never spoke a word. By the time we reached the apartment, he was propped against the wall, leaving me to unlock the door.
I helped him inside, and we both shed our shoes by the entrance. I grudgingly let him lean on me all the way to his room, where I finally pushed him onto the bed.
Rei didn't react, having apparently fallen asleep the moment he hit the bed. I stared at his peaceful face, his blond hair fanned around his face. A strange sensation swelled in my chest at the sight of him.
I lifted my hand, intending to... what? I wasn't sure. But I halted myself. What was I doing?
I pulled my hand back, meaning to leave, but before I could take a step, his hand shot out from under the covers. It wrapped around my wrist, pulling me off balance and onto the bed beside him.
"Wha–" My voice trailed off as I found myself lying beside Rei, his sudden move leaving me flustered. "Hey!" I began, turning to look at him, but the words stuck in my throat. His face was inches from mine, his features relaxed in slumber, unaware of the sudden tension between us. I really didn't want to wake him.
I clicked my tongue, trying to carefully remove myself from under his arm. But the moment I moved, his hold on me tightened. It seemed the more I struggled to escape, the tighter he held on. I was trapped, and disturbing his rest felt wrong after how hard he'd pushed himself today.
I released a long sigh, racking my brain for a solution. But as I lay there, the weight of the day crashed over me, and the bed seemed to grow more comfortable by the second. Before I knew it, my eyelids were drooping.
I told myself I'd just rest my eyes until Rei moved, then I'd leave. But fate had other plans. The warmth and comfort of the bed soon had me drifting off to sleep.
We spent the rest of the night in peaceful slumber, our exhaustion finally getting the better of us.