Chapter 22: A Friend

Spirit.

It was the name she came to know herself as since the earliest days of her life in this new world.

The same name her captors had given her—the one that, over time, had become the only identity she could cling to in this strange, unfamiliar existence.

As the shadows receded to their natural positions beneath her feet, Kurumi stood tall, her gaze locked with <Bride>'s. The upward curl of her lips never faltered.

Witnessing the terrifying transformation, most would have been frozen in fear. <Bride> was no exception, yet her frozen state wasn't entirely new. She had already been paralyzed by her circumstances from the start.

Strangely enough, what unfolded before her eyes didn't deepen her terror; instead, it brought an odd sense of relief.

Seeing another of her kind—a being who shared the bizarre state she had been trapped in—stirred a strange comfort within her.

"Fufufu~ I see you're not as tense as you were a few moments ago. Did you enjoy the show~?"

Kurumi's voice oozed with amusement. She took a slow step closer, the soft rustle of her dress cutting through the heavy silence.

However, Kurumi's sudden movement seemed to bring back all the stiffness in <Bride>'s body. She flinched, almost instinctively trying to reclaim the space Kurumi closed with each step, though the back of the couch had already pressed firmly against her.

Seeing her reaction, Kurumi let out a soft Fuu sigh.

"Well, we don't have to be in a hurry. Spending five years locked away while under torture is not something you can just move past with few words exchange, even for a spirit."

Stopping in her tracks, her gaze shifted toward the windows, their panes concealed behind heavy curtains.

"I suppose your next question would be where you are now," she said, casting a sidelong glance at <Bride>. "You don't need to worry. This place is far from where you were held. Simply put... it's my house in Tengu City...Welcome to Japan I guess."

"Tengu... City?"

The words left <Bride>'s lips before she fully realized it.

"Yes, Tengu City, a part of Tokyo Prefecture, south of Tokyo proper and north of Kanagawa Prefecture... From your reaction, I take it the name doesn't ring a bell?"

<Bride> hesitated for a moment before giving a cautious nod.

"Hmm... well, at any rate, for five years, you were confined in a facility owned by an entity called DEM—short for Deus Ex Machina Industries—specifically, their England branch, located north of Great Britain. You're as far away from them as you can be now, so there's no need to worry. Not at the moment, at least."

Hearing the full story from Kurumi, <Bride> let out a deep sigh of relief. It was only followed by a rapid catch of breath as she realized—she had been holding it the entire time.

"However..."

"!?"

Just as relief began to settle over her, Kurumi's voice cut through the silence. The weight of that single word sent her spiraling back to square one.

"There's a Japanese branch of DEM located here in Tengu City. However, their operations are mostly bureaucratic—paperwork and administrative tasks. Their spirit-hunting activities are minimal, so you don't have to worry about them. The ones you might need to keep in mind are AST, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force."

"AST?"

The flood of information overwhelmed <Bride>, leaving her frozen in awe, unsure where to even begin processing it all.

"They're far more aggressive than DEM when it comes to hunting spirits. They aim straight for the kill. But, based on what I saw of your abilities—"

"K-Killed—?"

"—You don't need to worry about them, they're really... reallyyyy terrible at their jobs. Even if you somehow struggle against them, you can easily run away— Oh my, are you okay?"

Kurumi's playful smirk faltered for a moment as she caught a glimpse of <Bride>, who was clutching her head tightly as though struck by an unbearable headache.

A faint wisp of smoke rose from her head, curling upward like an ominous signal.

Kurumi tilted her head before a soft chuckle slipped past her lips.

"Ufufu~ My, my, Spirit-san. Are you overheating? Well, my bad—I didn't realize this was so much to handle."

"Umm... ah..."

As the spirit wrestled with the flood of information Kurumi had just shared, Kurumi adjusted her posture, her gaze flickering briefly toward the covered window once again before settling back on <Bride>.

"Well, then..."

The words caught <Bride>'s attention. Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet Kurumi's, her hand still pressed against her head.

"Perhaps I should take a gentler approach next time. But for now, let's call it a day."

"Eh?"

"I can get answers from you anytime, and you're free to ask me anything you're curious about—as long as it's within my ability to answer"

Shrugging her shoulders, Kurumi continued. <Bride> already seemed to have something in mind to say.

"Consider this place your home, if you'd like. Even if you don't want to stay under the same roof as me, you can choose any apartment here. I own the entire building, and there are no other residents besides myself. Of course, you can decline and go your own way. It's not as though I'm imprisoning you here—I can reach you anywhere, anytime I want."

Although the tone of the last part left <Bride> feeling uneasy once again, something more pressing lingered in her mind to say. However, before she could speak, yet another interruption arose.

The shadows beneath Kurumi's feet began to spread across the floor, rippling like living ink.

"For now, I have a few things to take care of," she said as the dark tendrils crept outward. "Take some rest. You'll find everything you need here, so there's no need to leave at the moment...I'd appreciate it if you stayed. I still haven't received my answers, and I'd rather not come across as a stalker by following your steps If you run away."

A brief silence fell between the two, before <Bride> eventually gave a nod.

"My, thank you. That's a relief—oh, and before I forget..."

"?"

As the creeping shadows reached her chest, Kurumi spoke again, as though she had just remembered to ask, 

"What's your name, spirit-san? I imagine it must be annoying being called that all the time."

Silence fell again, wrapping around them like a thick fog. Yet, this time, <Bride> appeared more comfortable to avert her gaze away from Kurumi.

Lowering her head, she appeared lost in thought, as if carefully considering Kurumi's question.

Eventually, she raised her eyes back slowly...

"S-Spirit..."

That was her answer. Kurumi's shadows froze mid-motion, seemingly mirroring their master's reaction.

"Oh my," Kurumi reached for her lips, "Did you perhaps forget your own name? Or... you never had one to begin with?"

In response to Kurumi's words, <Bride> lowered her gaze once more, as though silently admitting to a fault she could neither explain nor mend.

Kurumi tilted her head, a finger tapping lightly against her chin as her sharp gaze lingered on the Spirit's hair—long, brown strands intricately woven into three delicate braids.

The sly smile on her face faded, replaced by an intense focus as her eyes narrowed, as though she stood on the brink of a critical decision.

After a moment's pause, she closed her eyes briefly and lowered her hand.

When she opened them again, the sly smile had returned, curving her lips effortlessly as if it had never vanished.

"If you don't have one... well, how about I give you one myself?"

"!!"

<Bride> gaze suddenly darted upward, her wide eyes meeting Kurumi's for a fleeting moment before they fell again. Her lips parted as if to protest, but no words came.

Kurumi crouched slightly to level their eyes, "You don't seem opposed," she teased, a light laugh escaping her. She rested her chin on her palm, her other hand gesturing toward the Spirit. "Hmm... something that suits you, of course."

Her eyes traveled across the Spirit's features—soft brown hair that framed her face in intricate braids, and matching eyes that shimmered with uncertainty.

The pink pajamas stood in stark contrast to her guarded demeanor. The buttons around her chest left small gaps in between, subtle but noticeable as if the borrowed dress wasn't quite tailored for her figure.

"How about Sawa?"

Kurumi proposed, testing the name with a playful lilt. "A lovely name for someone who's endured so much. It means 'peaceful silk'—delicate, but powerful in its own way."

The Spirit's fingers tightened around the edge of her borrowed pajamas. She remained silent, her expression unreadable, though a faint glimmer of light flickered in her eyes as the name reached her ears.

Taking her time, Kurumi straightened, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, Sawa-chan," she said, deliberately drawing out the name as if branding it onto the Spirit's very soul, "do you accept your new name?"

"Sa... Sawa..."

Kurumi's smile deepened. "Fufufu~ That's right," she purred. "From now on, you'll be Sawa. Remember it well."

As her words echoed in the dim room, the shadows around her began to ripple and coil once again, curling up like living tendrils.

Slowly, Kurumi's form started sinking into the undulating darkness beneath her feet, merging seamlessly with the living shadows.

"Well then, Sawa-chan, I'll see you later."

"T-T-Tokisaki-san..."

"Hmm?"

Kurumi tilted her head slightly, her form not yet fully consumed by the shadows.

The girl calling her name—Sawa, as Kurumi had chosen to name her—seemed to struggle, her lips trembling as if the words she wanted to say were caught somewhere deep within her.

Already taken aback by being called by her name so suddenly, Kurumi decided to allow a few moments to see what the Spirit had to say before continuing on her way.

From the start, Kurumi had noticed something lingering on Sawa's mind—something she seemed to struggle to put into words. Each time, the girl held back, retreating into silence. This hesitation piqued Kurumi's curiosity. What could she possibly want to say that warranted such a struggle?

"Um... I-I..."

Sawa's gaze faltered but never left Kurumi, her lips pressing together before parting again. She seemed to be drawing strength from something deep within, the words forming slowly, shakily, as though each syllable was a battle won.

"T-Thank you."

Kurumi blinked, caught off guard by the sudden, genuine gratitude. The smile that usually played on her lips faltered for just a fraction of a second before curving upward once more, softer this time.

"Fufu~ You're welcome,"

After leaving those parting words, Kurumi's figure melted seamlessly into the shifting shadows. The inky darkness that had crept across the room receded with her departure, dissolving into nothingness as if it had never been there.

Sawa stared at the spot where Kurumi had disappeared, her gaze lingering in the empty space. Slowly, she pulled her arms tightly around herself, curling into a protective ball as if shielding herself from an unseen chill. Finally, with a shaky breath, she closed her eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Part 2:

The evening sun cast its fading light across the canyon of towering buildings. On the edge of a rooftop, Kurumi Tokisaki stood, rolling her neck slowly as if easing away the stiffness of the day.

Behind her, sprawled across the rooftop, lay several unconscious humans.

They weren't dead, but neither were they unharmed. The cause of their state? The City of Devouring Time—Kurumi's wide-range barrier that drained the time of anyone who stepped into her shadow.

The clock embedded in her left eye spun counterclockwise, steadily filling with the extra "time" she had been forced to expend earlier this day. Kurumi let out a quiet sigh as the shadows blanketing the rooftop slowly gathered at her feet.

It would be most efficient to drain their time completely—right up until the moment of death. However, the commotion caused by the simultaneous deaths of these many people would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. 

And with her reserves not yet fully replenished, She had no desire to deal with the AST or that troublesome red Spirit sniffing around.

"Haah. It's still nowhere near enough...hmm?"

Kurumi's sharp ears twitched, suddenly catching the faintest disturbance—a ripple slicing through the stillness of the rooftop.

Her golden eye shifted first, and then her head turned.

From the shadows pooling on the roof's surface, a figure rose, its form emerging fluidly from the dark. The edges of its silhouette shimmered briefly before solidifying completely.

It was another Kurumi.

This one bore the same midnight hair and crimson-and-gold gaze, though her expression lacked the faint smirk that so often danced on Kurumi's lips.

The clone dipped her head in a slight bow before speaking. "You're replenishing already, Me?"

Kurumi tilted her head slightly, the corners of her lips curling. "Even with the day's leisure, time is something I can never have enough of. But I presume your sudden return isn't to admire my efficiency. How fares our guest?"

"She is... adjusting," the clone replied, her voice even. "Her condition is stable for now, though the extent of her trauma is clearer with each interaction."

Kurumi's smile thinned as she rolled her neck idly, the soft cracks breaking the tense quiet. "Trauma, you say. Well, five years of captivity under DEM wouldn't leave her unscathed. Tell me—has she spoken of it?"

The clone hesitates briefly, her gaze dropping for just a fraction of a second. "Not Yet. She's still guarded."

"Not yet, hm? Understandable. Even a caged bird takes time to sing after the door is opened."

"She's not entirely defenseless, if that's what you're implying," the clone added. "The outburst earlier made that clear enough. Her power is no joke, even if her control is lacking."

Kurumi turned her head, her gaze drifting across the sprawling city below. The horizon glowed faintly, casting an otherworldly light over what remained of Tengu City.

"A side as innocent and delicate as a butterfly,"

Her eyes narrowed, taking in the unsettling transformation that had overtaken the city.

"And the other... as menacing and destructive as a monster."

Her gaze lingered on the city below, taking in the chaos wrought by the Spirit — <Bride>. 

The city, once a bustling hub of human life, was now a dystopian jungle, overtaken by the relentless growth of plant life.

Massive, building-sized tendrils coiled through the skyline, their jagged forms crushing some structures into rubble while engulfing others in their unyielding grasp.

From afar, the faint wail of Spacequake alarms can be heard.

"Mana Takamiya and the Spirit of Flames had erased approximately five hundred avatars on the roof of Raizen High School a few weeks ago. And now, we've lost another ten thousand just to hold <Bride>'s rampage until she regained consciousness..."

It wasn't as though she didn't have a decent number of clones lurking in her shadow at the moment, but she needed to replenish her time and rebuild her forces for what lay ahead.

"Ah~~ I'm doing what you're supposed to handle... Shido... So you'd better not complain when I eat you next time~"

A sly grin crept across her face, one corner of her mouth curling upward as a soft giggle slipped from her lips.

She shrugged, spinning lightly on the edge of the building before coming to a halt, her eyes locking with the clone's.

"Alright then, Me, She needs time, so let's give her as much as she needs. In the meantime, keep observing her. I want to know everything—her limits, her fears, and most importantly, what she knows about that woman."

The clone nodded, her form already dissolving into the shadows. "Understood."

As the clone vanished, Kurumi stood alone once more, her gaze fixed on the horizon. For a moment, her thoughts drifted to the girl now waiting in the safety of her home.

"Sawa, is it?" she murmured, her sly smile lingering but softening slightly. "Well... She reminds me of her...just a little."

She chuckled lightly, the sound swallowed quickly by the night air, and the shadows around her deepened once more.