PUELLA DE VERMILIO AVES ARC
CHAPTER EIGHT

It was already seven in the evening when Hakuno Kishinami exited from Cafe Ahnenerbe. Today's work was more intense than what he encountered usually. And all of it was thanks to the presence of one single individual.

"Are you going home now, Kishinami-senpai?"

Upon hearing such query, the brown-haired lad's response was to turn his head to the left. There, his brown orbs were graced by a voluptuous female figure donning a red blazer. Her long, black hair which was tied with a white ribbon swayed gently as she slightly tilted her head and her own red eyes zoomed in on his visage.

"No, I still have to buy some groceries." He replied to her as he tugged his backpack closer as he began to walk. "How about you Himejima-san?"

The woman in question, who was walking next to him, placed a finger on her chin as if she was contemplating her answer.

"Hmm...I don't want to go home yet. Do you mind if I accompany you to the grocery store?"

Hearing her words, the lad glanced at her for a moment before shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't mind." He replied which earned Suzaku's delightful nod.

As both of them traversed the streets of Ryoukuu downtown, Hakuno's mind then wandered on the town itself. He had only been here for three months but the seventeen year old lad had already fell in love with this town. He thought that Ryoukuu was far more nicer or gentler compared to the bizarre, unnatural, and harsh environment of SE•RA•PH.

He could see different people, humans as he discern them to be, enjoying the small and big moments of their daily lives despite how mundane other things were. In front of him were two co-workers, lovers rather, walking with their arms locked with each other. At the other side of the street, couples with their children having a family day, heading to a restaurant he presumed.

Without physically seeing their faces, he could literally visuslize the loving, enjoying and sometime beaming smile across on each and everyone's lips

"If only I could...no, there's no need for such thinking." He thought only to reprimand himself the second after. The only thing he could do right now was to root for these individuals, a bittersweet smile displayed on his face.

However, his action did not go unnoticed by the female walking right next to him which Hakuno was aware of.

"Is there something wrong, Kishinami-san?" Suzaku Himejima asked, her eyes were radiating with genuine curiosity.

"Nothing," he replied, "Don't mind me. By the way, there is something I want to ask of you Himejima-san."

"What is it?"

"Is there a hidden motive for this?" He simply ask, his hand slowly making a gesture between his and the woman's figures as to put some emphasis on his query.

For a moment, Suzaku was silent while staring at him before letting out a soft giggle. Her bemused reaction was rather short lived though as her face contorted into a serious yet a caring expression. The woman then walked in front of Hakuno and slowly held his masculine hand with her delicate feminine ones, bringing them up on her chest level which earned Hakuno a puzzled expression.

"Kishinami-san."

"Yes?"

"I swear in the name of the Himejima Clan, that I, Shrine Maiden Suzaku Himejima will help you to ascend to Takamagahara so that you can find peace."

That was...quite unexpected.

Judging from the woman's sudden change of behavior, Hakuno wondered why she was acting this way towards him. He knew that it was his "unique" constitution that made Suzaku curious about him though for some reason, he felt that there was more to it than meets the eye.

"What happened to her last night?" While the brown-haired, plain-looking man mentally asked himself, his mind then automatically went on to retrieve some data of yesterday that it unconsciously compiled within his "archive" through the ability of his "eyes".

"Ah, I see..."

A light of understanding has dawned on the lad as to why Suzaku was acting this way to him. It appears to be that the beautiful maiden has confused him with someone with the same "name" as him who had died three months ago from a terminal illness.

Oh the irony.

A part of his mind wanted to explain, to enlighten the woman that he wasn't that person despite having the same physical appearance and moniker. That person who was a native in this world, bearing the same name and appearance as him was entirely different from him.

That man had something which he didn't have from the beginning. A thing that this person known as "Hakuno Kishinami" had already accepted in his past.

However, he decided it would be for the best to make things vague as possible. It was too early, too premature to reveal his secrets to Suzaku.

"Don't worry, Himejima-san." The lad said, his lips slightly curled upwards with gentleness, "I am already at peace."

Maybe because it was how he answered her calmly and without any hint of conflict whatsoever that the woman known as Suzaku Himejima could only respond with her cinder orbs blinking owlishly. Hakuno then tilted his head, as if he was pointing something which was inside the woman's blazer pocket.

"So there's no need for those ofudas."

"How did you..."

"You called me a seer, remember?" Hakuno said, his thumb pointing to himself. From where he stood, the lad could see the surprise and bewilderment radiating from Suzaku's eyes.

The woman in question then closed her eyes as if an understanding had reached in her thoughts. However, in contrary she was contemplating on something that she just learned from this tonight's exchange she choose to kept to herself.

Something that Hakuno wasn't aware of. Then slowly, she opened her eyes which was now fluctuating with a sense of determination. For a moment the brown-haired lad felt that somehow, that resoluteness was mistakenly placed on him.

"If that's what you say, Kishinami-san." Suzaku spoke, her two hands still clasping on the lad but this it was more firm this time. "But if you changed your mind, I am just right here for you."

Truthfully Hakuno could only scratch his cheek in slight discomfort and there was a need to do so. After all, Suzaku unintentionally leaned closer to him all the while her red cinder eyes gazing intently with his own. The lad could swear that those orbs of hers were dancing with burning passion. In addition the phrasing of her words can be taken out of context which it certainly was, judging on how the onlookers displayed a massive blush on their faces.

Not to mention that the situation made it worse. The lad could really see the rumors spreading starting tomorrow.

"And it seems that she isn't aware of it." Hakuno mentally noted as the woman in front didn't notice the reaction of those people around them. "Should I—"

Suddenly his thoughts stopped dead on its tracks as his "eyes" picked up something. Without saying a word, he grabbed the woman's hand and started running much to the female's confusion.

"W-wait, Kishinami-san!?"

"Himejima-san," the lad began between his breaths, "Do you remember what I said to you the other day?"

"The other day?"

From behind them Hakuno's "eyes" could see the tendril of shadows crawling towards them in unimaginable speed. The only thing that was in the brown-haired lad's head was to reach for a place away from the crowd of people.

He then turned his head to Suzaku and he could see that she somehow knows what he was talking to judging from her expression.

"It's coming right for us."

Author's Notes: So here's the eight chapter. I hope you like it! I wanted to add more to this chapter but decided to put it in the next one. So next chapter would be a confrontation. See you in the next update!