lost souls

Chapter 5 - reaper's helping hand

Kai set down the confused but content looking spirit. 

"My name is Rei by the way", the boy said and smiled up at the reaper who just gave him a short nod. "You're not the talkative type, are you?"

Kai shook his head and walked over to the remaining ashes of what appeared to have been a house. Rei followed after him quickly, not wanting to be left behind. The reaper walked over to a weeping little girl. 

"W-Where is my mommy..?", she sniffled. Kai took her by the hand and offered her a tissue. She nodded thanks and took it, wiping away her tears. Kai looked over at Rei and gave him a sad look.

"Is she..-?" The boy didn't even dare to say it out loud. Kai nodded. The poor girl had likely gotten trapped in the fire. "We'll go find your mommy. Don't worry.", Rei said and kneeled down to the little girl, then looking up at Kai for confirmation. The reaper smiled a little and nodded.

"But first you have to understand that you're not alive anymore, sweetie." Kai explained in a soft voice, "I'm sorry." The little girl stopped sniffling and looked up at him, eyes wide. 

"I'm dead..?", she asked, tears welling up again. Kai nodded and watched silently as Rei pulled the little girl into his arms, offering her comfort. The boy took a moment to process. The little girl didn't seem to remember dying but he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Once she had calmed down a little the reaper took her hand and guided her, as if he knew exactly where to go. Soon the three reached the street where a woman was cowering before the fragments of the burnt down house. A man was roaming through them, seemingly looking for something. The woman was obviously crying, shaking and whimpering. The little girl cried out "Mommy!" and ran over to her. Kai followed quietly and watched as the woman looked up and embraced her child. 

"Are you okay sweetie? You look so pale. What happened?", she stuttered quickly, wiping away her tears. Rei stepped forward but Kai held him back and shook his head. This was something they had to talk about by themselves and he wouldn't let anyone interrupt. 

The girl started crying again. "I'm sorry mommy. I'm so sorry! I love you mommy. I didn't mean to-", she sniffled and hugged the woman. As the mother embraced her little girl she noticed Kai standing on the side and realized what was happening, feeling the cold skin of her daughter against her own. The little girl slowly disappeared, now that she had gotten to see her mother again. She whispered "Bye mommy. I love you" before she was fully gone. The man searching through whatever the fire had left over from the house cried out. He had found what he was looking for. He picked up a burned, ashy little kid from below the wreckage. The mother jumped up and ran over to him, not minding the splinters or shards on the ground. She carefully took her daughter from his arms and looked over at Kai through her tears. 

"She's safe now.", he said and she nodded. The reaper took a few steps away and Rei looked after him. He had expected the reaper to be harsh and cold hearted and was positively surprised. He followed, a light smile on his lips. "See?", Kai asked, looking at Rei expectingly. He tilted his head slightly and took a second to understand. "Ohh you mean the- when the girl disappeared because she got to talk to her mother again? Yeah i still don't know.", Rey explained as the reaper sighed frustratedly. Rei though for a second.

"Why am i here to begin with? Does everyone who dies stay here until you help them or-" 

Kai shook his head. "Emotions.", he said as if that was an explanation. 

"Care to elaborate, big guy?", Rei asked in a daring tone. The reaper shook his head. He, in fact, did not. Kai had never been a man of words. He preferred meaningful silence. Sometimes it wasn't just that he didn't want to talk, sometimes he simply couldn't get any words out. It frustrated him a lot and he didn't know why it would happen. He sighed a little. He didn't mind the company all that much but the questions were a little too much for him. He understood that the kid was confused and wanted to know what was happening but he was just hoping Rei would understand without him having to speak. He looked over at the boy next to him, trying to size him. He didn't want to be stuck with this kid for longer than necessary but.. neither of them knew how to get him out and he wasn't willing to fight just yet. He was hoping there would be another way. He tried to shake off the thoughts and opened his arms, offering the kid another ride, since they still had a lot of work in front of them. 

Rei was watching the reaper, who seemed to be lost in thought, possibly zoned out. He was wondering, wether he should say anything when suddenly the reaper opened his arms, looking like he was asking for a hug. Rei tilted his read slightly and raised an eyebrow before hugging him. Kai wrapped his arms around him and took off, flying them to the next job. Rei chuckled a little against the reaper's chest. Of course. The guy wasn't asking for a hug. He felt a little awkward but the reaper had no way to tell, so he relaxed a little.