In a calm uninhibited forest, there was no animals around, no sounds of birds or wind.
Everything was just too quiet.
The forest was so beautiful and serene, looking like a paradise on earth, untouched by humans
The peaceful atmosphere was broken by the sound of footsteps.
a tall young man Was walking in the forest while smoking a cigarette.
The young man walked with confidence like he owned the forest, he walked like he knew the way even thought it was his first time here.
The young man was tall, about 193cm, with long legs that covered long distance in short time. He had long jet black hair that reached below his shoulders, which was gathered in a simple ponytail.
His features were strikingly beautiful and sharp, making him a very handsome young man that could never be forgetten even if seen only once.
The young man's name was sora shirogane.
A mysterious charming man with unknown spiritual powers, what is known is that he can see the dead and can communicate with them.
Sora's goal to coming here in an unkown forest in who knows where in the world is because he had felt something drawing him here.
Sora was interested to know what was this feeling of something pulling him here.
Sora's instincts were screaming at him that he will find something very interesting here and it will be worth the trip and time he wasted to find this place and reach it.
Sora was smoking a cigarette while walking.
He has been waking for about 6 hours before he stopped.
Sora threw the cigarette in his mouth to the ground and stepped on it, all while looking at a weird building that looks like something from a different world.
The building was completely white and looked incredibly simple, but there was a feeling of it being ahead of the time, like something that came outside of a futuristic science fiction movie. Looking at the security and cameras, it was incredibly advanced technologically too, not even a mosquito could enter this place without the owner's permission.
Good thing it's abandoned, less work for me.
Sora didn't hesitate and entered immediately.
He noted that the building seems to have been abandoned recently. There was no trace of any life here anymore but the place was very clean with no hint of dust anywhere.
He lit up another cigarette while walking towards what was calling him. He ignored the different rooms he saw but he already reached a conclusion about this facility.
This facility seems to be a secret place where experiments were done, the kind that is not allowed to be done in the light, also the experiment seems to involve humans, given the rooms he saw. After seeing more than a hundred small bunk beds, he came with the conclusion that the primary subjects are humans, specifically children from different ages.
This is fucked up but humans have always been fucked up in some ways.
After some time of walking he stopped in front of what seems to be the door of a library.
The library was huge to say the least. With shelves at 7 meters and containing more than what seems to be 10,000 books.
There were also tables and chairs that honestly looked uncomfortable to sit on for long periods.
Sora was happy to at least see a change in color with the books because he got sick after seeing too much white.
Especially after coming to conclusion about what this place was.
He didn't care about the purpose of this place and didn't even bother thinking about it.
He kept walking towards the 35th shelve a bit excited since he can feel what he was looking for is there.
His feet halted on the ground
A ghost of a 9 year old child that is like a doll, with big golden eyes and brown fluffy hair.
The child was sitting in the middle of a library with a book on the ground in front of him.
Sora stared at the child before sighting and started motioning for the child To come closer with his hand as the child stared back at him.
"Come here".
The child blinked his big eyes before looking left and right then pointed at himself.
"Huh? Me? Can you see me?"
"yes you brat, who else is here"
The child blinked slowly then stood up and waked towards me, he stopped in front of me and craned his head up to look at me.
I seized him by the collar of his white gown and raised him up to make direct eye contact.
His eyes were wide, probably shocked by the fact I could touch him.
"Name"
I asked the child in my arms.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka" he answered obediently.
"How much time has passed since you died" I continued asking questions to have a better idea why I felt this weird feeling of calling.
"2 years,7months,2days, 5 hours,6 minutes and 17 seconds". I was A bit taken back at the specifity of the information.
"how old were you when you died?" I asked, Abit curious.
I noticed his eyes seem to darken briefly.
Hmmm
"17"
I was relieved that he wasn't really a child.
He didn't seem to realize that he draw me here.
There was several reasons I could think of being the reason for the connection however one stood out.
Could it be…..
I used one finger to touch the nape of his neck and started pouring spiritual power in which were sucked completely.
It felt like I was feeding a black hole my spiritual power but thankfully I had a lot.
I watched as the child became more and more clear and less transparent in my hand until he looked alive with rosy cheeks.
People can probably see him now.
The compatibility is perfect, I estimate not less than 95%.
"Do you want to come with me?"
The child blinked at me after raising his head that was examining his body.
"I have a choice?"
"Of course" I replied immediately.
"What do you need me for?"
I raised an eyebrow but decided to answer honestly.
"For now,nothing. But I will explain to you before you ask. I'm a spiritual power user. To make it simple, people who are born with unusual power have an obligation to use it. either to solve unusual cases or problems or other ways. In other words, we deal with the supernatural or the otherworldly. I'm such a person but I have more freedom, I'm just obligated to solve some cases here and there and no one gets involved with me. The reason I came here is because I was attracted here by you. The reason is probably our almost perfect compatibility."
I answered everything at once while leaving a gap to check the intelligence of this brat.
"Compatibility of what?"
" compatibility of our souls".
I was waiting for him to cringe but he only nodded with an expressionless face.
"People can see you now and you can camouflage among the living until the spiritual power runs out. If you come with me, you will be my partner. Let's say little brother to the outside world and my familiar to people in the line of work. I promise it's gonna be more interesting than staying here alone."
"okay" the reply was expected, Who would want to stay here.
"is there anything you want to bring along?"
He shakes his head in denial.
I don't waste time and bring him closer to me then sat him on my elbow and started walking out while carrying him.
His soft hair tickled my chin so I chuckled a bit.
I felt a strange sensation in my chest at the fact that I'm no longer alone. It's been 11 years since I lost all my family but now I have a little brother it seems.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heared a voice talking to me.
"Name"
It seems it's my turn to answer.
I was amused "Sora shirogane".
"Age"
"21"
"are you studying?"
"Yeah, I go to college. My attendance isn't very good thought"
"Where will I stay?"
"With me of course"
"Do you need direct contact to Transfer spiritual power?".
Observant.
"correct, direct contact with skin or mucous is required for spiritual power transfer,"
"I see" I watched the little head nod as the hair tickled my chin.
"Do you live with your family?".
"No, I live alone".
"status".
I chuckled while answering "single".
He stayed silent after that and just stared at the way.
I walked another 6 hours back before taking the car I rented and started driving after putting him in the passenger seat and fastening the seatbelt around him.
The drive to the airport was in complete silence with me planning the future and how to forge the documents to show to the outside world.
I looked at the child to find him watching the window attentively.
He was a cute child.
I have to admit that I didn't expect to ever have a partner.
Specially, a soul partner.
A soul partner is something so intimate and you can only have one that will accompany you for all enternity. Even after death our souls will stay connected.
Plus, the ritual is very intimate. I have no interest of doing it with a kid.
"Okay, we reached. So here is what we are gonna do now.."
I started speaking to him watching as the little head turned to me to listen.
"I'm gonna take the spiritual power I gave so you will return to a state where no one can see you. And you will sit on my lap or beside me in the plane until we go back to Japan where I will forge you some documents and a passport, okay?"
I watched as Kiyotaka nodded then raised his hands up for me to carry him.
I couldn't help the smile that came out at the adorable sight.
I have only known the child for less than a day and I'm starting to get attached already.
I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.
I carry him from under his armpits and touch his nape and start taking back my spiritual power but notice that he already absorbed some and made it his.
He is adapting faster than I thought.
I tell him to grab my neck and stay still while I go through the procedures and enter the fastest plane to Japan.
My seat is in business class.
I bought it from someone else last minute while in the car, although I payed double the price, it was worth it.
I settled the child on my lap but he went down to do who knows what , I ignored him and closed my eyes to get some rest.
It wasn't long before it was time to eat, I was starving to say the least.
Once the food came, I looked at it. Salad, soup and a meat dish.
I personally don't like flight meals but I was too hungry to care.
I started by tasting every dish lightly.
Not too bad.
After eating a bit, my brain started working and I remembered I wasn't alone so I looked at the child that was standing and watching the clouds before I slept to find him watching me.
I blinked and watched as he blinked.
I felt awkward so I raised my fork that had some salad In to him.
"Do you want some?"
The child looked at me like I'm an idiot " I can't eat".
I felt like sighing "open your mouth".
He raised one eyebrow but gave up on arguing and just opened his mouth, I put the fork in his mouth after aadding a bit of spiritual power and watched as his eyes widened and his mouth started chewing instinctively. He was basically eating my spiritual power that was injected into the food.
I couldn't help letting out a small smile and asked him "do you want more?"
The little head nodded and opened his mouth.
I watched as he put his hands on my thighs and looked up at me with his mouth open and I felt like I was feeding a cat.
I kept feeding him a fork then myself a fork and that's how the meal continued until the dishes were empty.
When we landed in Tokyo, we immediately want to my home.
Kiyotaka looked at the huge gate in front of him. He wasn't exactly surprised at the fact sora was rich as he previously mentioned having more freedom than others, only the strong and rich have this much freedom but he was surprised by how huge the mansion is.
Once they entered Kiyotaka immediately noticed that he felt lighter, like a weight has been lifted off him.
Kiyotaka was looking around when he heared sora explain.
"this place is wrapped by a formation that purifies the spiritual power and keeps it locked in this mansion since it was made, it's probably the place with the purest spiritual power in the whole world".
Kiyotaka nodded in understanding and kept walking behind sora while looking all around before a big hand started rubbing his head heavily.
"Welcome to your new home, Kiyotaka" Sora said that with a wide grin, looking genuinely happy for him to be here.
Kiyotaka didn't know why but for some reason he burned this smile in his memory.