Hori sat in the solarium with perfect stillness. Her clean body enveloped in Pristine white silk, trimmed in thin gold. Her jet-black hair was wrapped in a white towel, still damp. Her body relaxed in a Western leather chair, a few feet from a fireplace that burned low and steady.
Her bare fingers traced the page. No polish. No grime. She turned it with a slow, deliberate grace, enjoying the best from such a quiet moment.
"Is it to your liking?" A voice asked from her left. Unmistakably male. Coated with a unique calm that vibrated through the warm air. Hori responded with a childlike smile.
"Yes it is Father! The prose is so beautiful, I'm compelled to read each sentence twice." She giggled while leaning towards the unseen figure. A low chuckle escaped his lips while reading his own book, clearly amused by his daughters excitement.
Hori's tone suddenly took on a softer garment, her cheeks flushed with a humble red as she raised the book to her face. "But....is it really alright to be home this early?" She asked while fiddling with her fingers.
The man paused for a bit before giving a response. "I made sure to clear my schedule for the next 3 days. You're turning 14 my dear. It's quite a big deal."
Hori squealed in excitement, 'Three whole days of father-daughter time~!'
She couldn't help but grin.
Hori playfully asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
"I'm honestly curious on what you got me, could I maybe get a clue?" Her smile grew more intrigued.
The man finished the last line, thumbs resting on the worn book cover. With a slow tilt of his head, he met Hori's eyes. "It's a surprise, I'm sure you'll love it...."
In the blink of an eye, fire was already devouring it all. Her father's silhouette vanished in the blaze. The library screamed as the shelves collapsed.
Hori dragged in air like she'd been drowning. Her fingers bunched the front of her gown, knuckles as white as chalk. A tremor ran through her, fast and involuntary, like a current.
"Y-your'e awake!" A familiar voice called out, it was Haruki.
Memory hit the poor girl all at once. The heat of Arson's presence too close for comfort. The wet, gruesome feel of human blood, slathered on her urinated body like butter. The deep, empty dark of a sins mouth.
Her throat tore open. The scream that came out made Haruki cover both ears.
Before quickly reaching for her mouth, clamping a palm over it.
Hori's eyes rolled back, facing the low ceiling.
Dark wooden beams crossed overhead like ribs, framing pale panels that caught the lantern light and threw it back warm and soft.
The room was dim, yet light still drove needles into her skull.
Hori raised her head, still on the futon. Still wearing the clothes borrowed from hot springs, although partly burned and covered in grime.
A breath hitched somewhere to her left. Not hers.
Haruki sat still, staring intensely at her as if surprised.
Their Eyes met.
Haruki didn't't smile. He leaned forward one inch.
"You've been out cold for hours. How're you feeling?"
His voice was warmer than she remembered, as if showing mock worry.
Hori's throat locked. She tried to swallow, but It was paper. Dry. Her tongue stuck to her teeth. With both eyes fixed on the blanket that enveloped her torso below.
Haruki's hand was already moving. Cold fingers found Hori's wrist before she could pull away. Thumb on her pulse. Counting.
He snapped a finger. Hori flinched. Her head tried to turn but It wouldn't.
"It's a miracle... you were literally in it's grasp until Sir Scott came. You must be traumatized!" He let out laughter directly in her face.
"Hey can you even hear me?" He asked louder, noticing Hori's unresponsiveness.
The girl blinked. Then slowly nodded.
Then the first sob broke out of her, ugly and raw, and she pressed her fist to her mouth to keep from screaming.
Tears spilled hot down her cheeks, soaking the pillow below.
"I saw my father!" She said, her face turning into an utter mess.
"I saw my father. I saw my father. I saw my father." Her voice cracked on the third time, and then dissolved into hiccups that shook her whole frame.
Haruki didn't pull away. He stopped trying.
His shirt was eventually ruined. Snot, tears, ash. He let her use it. His other hand hovered near her back, not quite touching yet. Like if he did, she'd shatter.
He slowly patted her back, not sure on what to say to her.
"Calm down, that was just a nightmare." he said finally. Quiet. No mockery left in it. "It's over. You're at my house now."
Hori shook her head violently against his chest. "No. Not a nightmare." She gagged. "I remember.... that was the night before my birthday. The last conversation I had with him...!"
Haruki's jaw tightened. His thumb was still on her wrist. Her pulse was rabbit-fast, but steadying. "H-haruki-san....I think I finally understand...."
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The lantern light made shadows crawl across the wooden ribs of the ceiling. Outside, rain drops feel on the grass floor of the forest. Night time it appeared.
Haruki slid the wooden door open, approaching with a cup of water in his right hand.
"Here, drink this," he said, holding it out. "It's water. No tricks."
Hori stared at his hand. At his smooth, almost perfect skin. No one would know he was a survivor of the incident. No scars whatsoever.
She took the cup. Her fingers shook so bad the surface rippled. Prompting Haruki to feed her himself.
That odd sensation of liquid sliding down your dry throat. Who knows when last she hydrated.
"Haruki-san" she said. Her voice was raw but it was hers again.
"Yeah?" He answered.
"What happened after that? After I fell into its mouth?"
Haruki didn't answer right away.
"I was buried in rubble so I didn't really see much... but after I came out I saw you passed out on debris. Crazy injuries too." He added.
Hori's eyes snapped down to her right calf. The skin was smooth. Healed. Not even a bandage wrapped around.
She could've sworn there'd been a splinter of wood the length of her forearm buried there...
Haruki shifted his body, and tone.
"Wait, before any of that..... Hori, you're an orphan aren't you?" He finally said it, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.
Hori answered the best she thought she could. "Not particularly..." But her response was too vague.
"The reason I saved you is pretty simple. SHO takes orphans affected by
Sins to turn them to Priests.... I know your life sucks right now but trust me, you don't want to be in that orphanage."
There was silence afterwards, she didn't quite know what to say after that.
Her dry lips eventually parted, producing a hoarse voice. "Thank you for saving me Haruki-san.... what about the Matsumoto's? Are they okay?"
"I couldn't find them.... Hataki probably arrived later and took them to the hospital, don't get your hopes up though." Haruki dusted both hands then stood. The floorboards creaked under him.
Hori pulled the blanket tighter around herself. The heat from the lantern made sweat bead on her neck, but she was still cold.
Haruki stopped at the door. He didn't turn around.
His shadow stretched across the tatami. Long and thin, like a blade.
"You feel... okay, right? I mean physically."
Hori stared at her hands. No burns. No cuts. Her damaged calf completely healed. She whispered.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine." Part of her didn't want to question the recovery... she had more important matters.
Silence filled the room again after Haruki exited, the stillness broken only by the rain tapping the roof.
Hori's chest hurt. Not from crying. From the memory of the conversation with her father. His last sentence:
'I'm sure you'll love it....'
Her stomach churned.
"He wouldn't.... there's no way....!"
She didn't want to believe it, but that theory was the most logical thing her brain could process.
'All this....could it be the present father spoke of?'
The thought made her sit up too fast.
Just then, Haruki yelled in defeat from across the room. Groaning while running his right hand through his hair.
Hori quickly slid the paper door open, worry etched on her face.
"Is everything alright Haruki-san?!"
He looked to his side and saw Hori almost panicking.
"It's nothing, just lost this level.... I'll have to restart now!" He sighed with genuine sadness, in front of him was an old fashioned television hooked to a game. The controllers held furiously in his hands.
Hori was relieved, although flabbergasted Haruki was on video games at the moment. They were literally attacked by a sin hours ago, but Haruki didn't seem one bit bothered.
Framed by the doorway, she watched him. Shoulders bowed over his game, gaze carved sharp with concentration. Handsome, and completely carefree.
Her hands weren't shaking anymore.
"Haruki-san," she said. Clearer now.
"I.....I don't have anywhere else to go..."
Haruki blinked. Conversing whilst playing "Really?" His left brow jumped.
"Could you perhaps allow me some nights here? While I figure things out..."
She crossed one leg over the other.
Head hung low as if embarrassed to ask.
Haruki didn't respond, his jaw was locked as he faced the boss of the level.
"B-but of course it won't be for free...! I promise to take care of all the chores while I'm here. Cleaning, cooking, anything at all!" She bowed, head low in a proper, desperate offering.
The quiet dragged on for some seconds. Hori raised her eyes, waiting Haruki's response.
"Uhhhh..... YESSSSS! FINALLY!"
Haruki leapt up, whooping with the controller still clutched in his hand.
"I cleared the boss!" He cheered.
Hori let out a quiet sigh.
'Was he listening at all?' she thought to herself.
"Huh? Oh c'mon! Not a single reward?!" He yelled, arms shooting to the television screen.
Hori was getting irritated, 'Now he's just ignoring me...!' her fists clenched.
"Oh, Hori. About the offer..."
Haruki stared at her like she'd grown a second head. His eyes went up, as if considering every possible outcome from agreeing.
He scratched the back of his head and spoke. "I've been told my behaviors kinda weird... you're okay with that?" He asked.
'I don't really have any choice.' she thought to herself before nodding in agreement.
When her head raised, she met his eyes. For the first time since waking up, there was no tears. Haruki saw a completely different person, her mind too clear for the recent events she witnessed.
Then the rain got louder outside.
Haruki said bluntly while pretending to swat a protruding odor. "You smell terrible, like urine with smoke and blood. PLEASE take a shower."
Hori nearly died from embarrassment before hurriedly heading for the bathroom.
And so the story takes an interesting turn, with each of the two having rather interesting new roommates...