Footsteps echoed through the empty space, the sound of bare feet gliding across the chilly, polished floor. Arms rose and fell, moving up and to the side in a slow rhythm. A soft humming filled the air, the melody unfamiliar yet stirring a sense of nostalgia.
"Daaa daa dadum... Hmm hmmm..." The voice, so recognizable but gentle and light, floated through the room.
Eyes fluttered open, gradually taking in the scene around him. He found himself alone in a grande, vacant ballroom, his solitary form dancing at its center. The space was adorned with lavish decorations that blurred together as he twirled, his gaze catching on a towering window. Brilliant moonlight streamed through its elaborately designed glass, casting him in its radiant glow like a spotlight.
With a graceful flourish, he extended his arms and twirled once more, the folds of his robes billowing around him. As he spun, his eyes landed on a figure standing in the doorway.
"Of course I'd find you in here," the newcomer said, stepping forward into the moon's glow. A warm smile spread across their faces as they gazed at the shorter, dancing form before them.
A tall male figure emerged from the doorway, resplendent in a uniform of pristine white and gold that mirrored the sun's brilliance. His long, golden locks were secured in a neat ponytail, and his eyes, too, shone like molten gold. This, combined with the wings—pure white and delicately folded against his back—lent him an undeniably angelic appearance.
A warm smile spread across the dancing one's face as he ceased his dance, extending a hand in invitation towards the angel.
"Sol, come dance with me!" he called out, his voice cheerful as he continued to hum that gentle tune.
The angel, Sol, gazed at him for a moment before breaking into a smile of his own. Without hesitation, he strode forward to join the other, accepting the offered hand.
"Of course, your highness," Sol responded, his voice laced with amusement as he bowed.
Together, the pair began to glide across the ballroom in a graceful waltz. Sol's voice picked up the humming, their bodies moving in perfect sync. In that moment, it felt as though time itself had paused, leaving only the two of them, lost in their own private universe.
Sol, still holding the king's hand, twirled him a bit too much. The king's feet tangled, sending him tumbling to the floor. In a swift motion, he grasped Sol's collar, pulling the angel down with him.
They landed in a tangled heap, Sol's arms around the king protectively. For an instant, they locked eyes, their gazes filled with affection. Then, laughter bubbled up from them, their joyousness ringing throughout the ballroom like a sweet melody.
The fading sounds echoed in my ears as I slowly opened my eyes, surprised to find they had been closed at all. The unfamiliar ballroom had vanished, replaced by the recognizable ceiling I'd seen before and the talisman-filled room. Right, Rei dragged me here after he nearly fainted on the way back. That bastard.
The dream left a peculiar lightness in my chest, indescribable but unmistakable. Dreams were rare for me, yet they'd grown more frequent over the past few weeks. The people in my dreams... they seemed so real, the events so vivid, I couldn't shake the feeling they were actually happening.
I turned to the side, realizing that Rei was no longer beside me. His spot was cold—he'd been up for a while. I couldn't believe I'd fallen asleep! Embarrassment washed over me, heating my face as I tugged at my hair. What was wrong with me anyway?
As I lay there, lost in my thoughts, the sound of the TV drifted from the living room. So, Rei was still here... but weren't we supposed to go out today? Given yesterday—the escaped spirit, the overwhelming info dump from that dragon, the exhausting exorcism—a day inside would make sense. But really, what was his problem? Was he actually okay?
With a heavy sigh, I sat up. Look at me, worried over a human—one who'd even tried to exorcize me at that! I really was losing it.
The TV murmured about a woman mysteriously found dead as I left the room, but by the time I glanced over, the channel had already been changed.
The living room, bathed in the bright afternoon sunlight, felt oddly different today. The apartment I'd grown to despise no longer seemed as suffocating.
My gaze landed on a blond tuft of hair peeking over the couch back—Rei. Just like 'Sol' in my dream, his hair caught the light, giving him an otherworldly glow.
"Well, good morning, sleepyhead. How did you sleep?" Rei's amused voice broke through my haze. I hadn't even noticed him sit up. Something about him was... off. The phrase 'eyes that shone like molten gold' echoed in my mind. The angel and Rei shared a resemblance, yet... not quite. It was hard to pinpoint the difference. It was probably all of that divine essence in him.
"Something wrong?" Rei's brow rose, pulling me back to the moment. He probably thought I was crazy.
"Hmph." I stalked over, dropping onto the far end of the couch, gaze locked on the TV. His silent amusement seemed to prickle at my skin.
"Did you sleep well? Was my bed that comfortable?" Rei asked, clearly enjoying whatever this was.
"That was your fault," I shot back, trying to muster some heat. "You dragged me there and wouldn't let go. You're lucky I didn't kick you off." Ugh, why was my mind stuck on that?
I kept my gaze fixed on the TV, instead asking, "How are you feeling?" My voice barely rose above a whisper, a betraying waver in it. I fiddled with my bracelet, almost hoping he hadn't heard the question. The silence that followed made me think I'd managed to slip it past him.
A glance at Rei revealed him staring at me, wide-eyed. Was I missing something on my face? I patted down my hair, realizing it was sticking up every which way. Not that I cared what I looked like, but his unwavering gaze didn't falter.
"What?" I finally asked, tearing my gaze away.
He stayed silent for a few more awkward seconds before responding, I'm fine. I feel more refreshed than I should after yesterday."
I let out a hum, a sigh escaping with it. That... should have been a relief. Right?
As I kept my gaze on the uninteresting TV show, I sensed movement beside me. Rei was sitting up, stretching, his attention now fixed on me. Was he returning the favor of staring, or did he want something?
"Can I help you with something, or are you trying to burn a hole in my face?" I asked, using Han Riu's previous words with a bit of annoyance.
He shifted uncomfortably. "I have an appointment I need to get to today," he said, finally looking at me. "You'll need to stay here."
"Stay here?" I raised an eyebrow at the exorcist, scowling. That sounded like a recipe for boredom. What was I supposed to do alone in this tiny apartment all day? I valued the freedom Rei's arrangement gave me—the chance to get out every day despite my overall confinement. So far, he'd held up his end of the bargain.
"Where're you going? I'm not staying here," I argued . If he was off to exorcize spirits, wouldn't it make sense to bring me along, especially after he'd overexerted himself yesterday?
Rei stood, his expression turning serious with a sigh, "Yeah, I figured you'd say that." He seemed uncertain for a moment before a small smile broke out on his face. "Have you heard of Kagure Springs?"
Kagure Springs? The name didn't ring any bells. I don't remember Lucien mentioning it either. Was it some kind of bathhouse, like that traumatic place we'd visited before? A spirit tried to drown me. The idea of another public bath made me anxious, given my past experience. That was a shame, too; the relaxation had been nice while it lasted.
He continued, "I don't really want to take you to such a place, so you can stay here if you want. Protecting you shouldn't be a problem if you came, but still…" he began mumbling to himself.
"I'm not staying here in this tiny apartment." It wasn't that small, but it felt claustrophobic compared to the outside world. "Take me with you, especially if we can get information. Why did you think I'd want to stay behind?"
"Well…" He started, looking away. "I just thought I'd give you an option, but if you're sure, I can take you. You'll have to be on your best behavior this time, though."
I crossed my arms. "I'm always on my best behavior; thank you very much. I'm not the instigator—it's the spirits, or dragon." I couldn't help but think of yesterday's ordeal with Han Riu's brother.
If the possessive spirit hadn't been at the shrine, I would have steered clear. I didn't have a death wish. "Plus, you just said you'd protect me, right? Not that I would need it."
"...Right… Well, the bracelet should have enough divine energy to mask your presence." He gestured at my wrist.
"My presence?" I questioned, wondering if I hadn't been doing a good job at hiding it.
"The bracelet's divine energy should mask your demonic presence completely, even more than you've been suppressing. Like I said, Kagure Springs isn't exactly welcoming to demons. Just get ready; I'll explain more in a bit." He waved me off.
I uncrossed my arms, heading back into the room. Kagure Springs sounded a little foreboding, but it would be new scenery. I found myself getting ready with a growing sense of excitement, like a child. As I grabbed my jacket from the kitchen chair, I heard Rei from behind the couch.
"That won't be necessary," he said, rising to his feet. In his hands, he held a dark red robe; its design is reminiscent of an onmyouji's attire, similar to Fuku Riu's outer robe. The back bore a large, four-petaled flower crest, mirroring the symbol on Han Riu's forehead. Rei, already clad in an identical robe, exuded an air of authority. "You'll be wearing this."
I took the robe, inspecting it before frowning. "Do I have to?"
"Yes, consider it a uniform," he reasoned. "Han Riu explained it's the symbol of Eden, allowing me to travel between here and Kurage freely." I supposed using the dragon's connections made sense.
As I slipped the long robe on, I looked down and noticed Rei had drawn a transport circle similar to the ones he used for exorcisms. I shot him a suspicious look. He must've read my mind from my expression alone.
"Easy, this isn't for you," he said. "We're just teleporting to Kagure Springs—it's faster. See, the symbols are different." He pointed to several markings, trying to reassure me. And he was telling the truth.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah."
The circle began to glow softly, and a large door materialized on the previously blank wall. This was a new one. Rei stood, pulling me close as he grabbed my hand. "Do not leave my side," he warned.
"Nagahara Reiki, requesting access to Kagure Springs," the blonde said. He raised a hand that shimmered blue instead of gold. The words that flowed from his mouth sounded like gibberish, but I felt like I understood them.
Soon the door creaked open, granting us access to what I assumed was Kagure Springs. Stepping through, the light was so intense that I had to shield my eyes. Once I could see again, we were in a place that could have passed for a small village.
Spirits and human-like figures wandered around, and the whole scene had a peaceful, rustic quality. It was the kind of idyllic setting you'd find in the countryside, which left me wondering—were we still within Eden's boundaries?
Rei's grip on my hand loosened as we arrived,"This place is kind of a hub," he said, his voice low. "You'll see exorcists, the occasional angel...Well, I'm not so sure about that now. But that's why I didn't want to bring you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Angels, huh?" Wasn't Han Riu looking for one? Why didn't he just come here? Unless they were one of the many who couldn't access heaven, as Fuku Riu had mentioned.
He shot me a look, "I'm not joking. This isn't a place to mess around."
Before I could respond, approaching footsteps stopped in front of us. A petite woman with gray hair and striking blue eyes had approached us. She flashed a warm smile and had an aura that practically glowed.
"Nagahara-sama, is that you?!" She flung her arms around him, and I felt a twinge of annoyance. Who was she?
"It's been too long," she cooed, pulling back and pulling his collar to bring him down to eye level. "Your divine glow is as sweet as ever." She giggled and licked her lips, her eyes sparkling.
Rei just rolled his eyes, but smiled at her,"Tsubame, as always."
Her gaze landed on me as she pouted, not getting the attention she had sought. "Hmph… Oh? Who's your friend?" She stepped closer and I looked away quickly. Was my glaring too obvious?
"This is Eve," Rei put a hand in front of me, probably to prevent her from investigating me further. "He's... a friend with a similar goal, so we're helping each other." Was all he said. He couldn't go around telling people I was a demon he caught and made a deal with.
Tsubame's eyes narrowed slightly in my direction, but her smile remained in place as she let the exorcist go. "Well, isn't that interesting?" She sounded too interested. "Are you here for the usual? I just grabbed the last ingredients needed to finish preparing it."
Rei didn't seem to really react to her, but watching him let her hang all over him bothered me for some reason. "Oh, perfect timing! Lead the way."
As we made our way through Kagure Springs, Rei frowned. "It's a lot less busy than usual." Now that he mentioned it, the deeper we walked in, the more scarce activity became.
Tsubame's expression turned grim. "We had an incident. A demon appeared and ran rampant. Many were injured and it caused us to be busy for quite a while."
Rei's eyes narrowed. "What happened to the demon?"
"Luckily, a couple angels were here to get rid of it. They received pretty severe injuries in the process though." Tsubame tightened a fist around the small pouch in her hand. "Now everyone's too afraid to come out, or left, wondering if Kagure Springs is still safe."
Rei bit his lip, surely feeling regret about bringing me. This isn't the first time I've heard of a demon causing such damage and making things difficult for people, but not all demons were like this. Some really valued peace between the realms; even I've never killed. The few made us look really bad.
Soon, we arrived at a large building with swinging doors on the front. Just from outside, my senses became overwhelmed; the air was thick with scents I couldn't place. Tsubame went ahead of us inside.
"Come on…" Rei stepped in before stopping, holding out a hand. "On second thought, just wait here. It won't take long." He halted me at the door, and I followed his gaze to a talisman fixed above the entrance. A demon-warding talisman.
Did they think all demons were that much of a threat? I crossed my arms, furrowing my brow. Well, I couldn't blame them for wanting to protect themselves.
Rei just smiled and poked me in the forehead. "I'll be in and out, okay? Wait here and don't go anywhere. Understand?" His look said the rest. What is he worrying for?
"Look, you're wasting time standing around chatting. Go," I said, pushing him towards the door. He chuckled and followed Tsubame into the apothecary.
Look at him, leaving me to my own devices when he'd just told me to stick close. Guess Kagure Springs wasn't so risky for a demon after all.
I started pacing in front of the shop, eyeing the various herbs and medicines on display. Were any of these meant to repel demons? Because if so, they weren't doing a very good job. Some even looked edible.
Rei's life was a world away from mine and his mine. It was actually kind of fascinating to see him navigate things I'd never even heard of. I'd been stuck in the mundane world for as long as I could remember, and I'd never crossed paths with anyone like this. Lucien hadn't let me spend much time in the Underworld, refusing to explain beyond some vague quest for an object. Maybe he couldn't tolerate the mundane world for long, which was why he'd sent me. But how was I managing it?
Browsing the shelves outside was beginning to lose its appeal. I leaned over, trying to peer into the shop. It was quiet, and there was no sign of Rei. Had they gone in the back somewhere? What was the holdup?
I should've just sucked it up and gone in, but if that talisman reacted, Rei could get in trouble for bringing me. It was frustrating—moments like this were a reminder that their goal was ridding the world of beings like me.
"Rei?" I called out, but only silence answered.
I eyed the menacing charm stuck on the door. How bad could it really be if I just ducked in? I just wanted to find Rei. Was this some kind of test of patience? And he was in there with that clingy woman...
Just as I'd worked up the nerve to defy the clear 'no demons allowed' sign, I caught the sound of music, a faint melody. It sounded familiar, and the more I listened, the more I realized—it was the same one from my dream. My heart began to race as I wondered what the source could be and who was playing it.
Its sweet, alluring tone played on as my chest tightened with each passing moment of hesitation. What if whoever was playing this held some answers? What if they knew something about my dream, about what was going on? It had to be connected somehow.
Unfortunately, I'd been told to stay put, but my curiosity was getting the better of me. Maybe it was a bad habit, but I'd never been great at following orders anyway. I didn't want to miss this chance—what if the music stopped by the time Rei came out? It would be too late.
I hesitated, then glanced back at the apothecary. "Rei..?" I called out again, just in case, but there was still no response. He seemed like he'd be a while.
I mean, I was just going to check out the source and be right back. It wouldn't even take that long, and Rei seemed to be taking his sweet time. He shouldn't have left a bored demon unattended anyway.
After staring at the building for another couple of seconds, I decided to turn away and head for the music. I'd be back before Rei even knew I was gone—just a quick peek, no harm done. What could possibly happen?