Realms: "Kakurenbo? Sukima Onna- ASH

Chapter 20: Friend or Foe

If one were to stare at themselves, the only way to do it is to look at yourself on a reflective surface, sure you can take a photo but when you look at the photo in years' time you'll find that you look a slight bit or very different from what you were before. You can say you'll make a doll, but it still won't be the same.

But to gaze upon a very much alive person who looks exactly like you in every way possible, just- well it's weird on it's own in reality since there's a glitch in nature called Doppelgängers which are mirrored clones.

Here it's different, Rei was in a completely foreign universe all on her own with the only living things is the gap woman watching her every move, and the many hands on the third floor corridor. And now she's seeing a clone of someone who looks exactly like her in flesh and bones.

Rei was stunned to find an exact look-a-like of herself, well she does know that there are such coincidences with the mysterious Doppelgängers, but this couldn't be one of them, as she was not in a world of her own. All alone. There are only three living things in this forgotten barren, first being the Sukima Onna herself, second the strange hands lying around, and three the victim Akabane Rei.

The clone had a soft smile painted on her face as she fix her eyes on the real Rei, who was far too stunned to notice her faint smile. The clone looked exactly like the original, Long black hair with a Sai Hairpin twisted in, Kaikan Dagger in the right hand, hospital gown and all, down to the point both were barefoot. But there was something highly odd here, like it wasn't truly a full look-a-like, there were slight differences Rei had not realized yet.

The hair of the clone wasn't the same shade of black, Rei's had a more of a jet black hair colour, while the girl she stares at had a pure night tint, like a pitch black midnight. And the eyes also seemed different too, Rei's were pure hazelnut while the masked clone had the slightest tint of blue in her eyes instead.

Rei had not noticed these small factors in the clone's figure, but they had one thing in common for sure, they tried to avoid eye contact with each other. So they would look up and down at each other to avoid full eye contact. After a few minutes, the clone looked up at Rei's face as Rei nervously looked up in response. The clone gave out more of a smile and finally spoke up when Rei would not.

"Surprised now aren't you?" Kuron spoke. Rei was highly suspicious of this person, seeing as it does not fall in line with the other categories of Predator, Distraction and Prey. "Simply call me Kuron, must I not mention how terrible it is being stuck in this realm. It's the absolute worst!

Rei found it odd that her clone Kuron spoke in such a mature and formal manner, which is one Rei hardly ever does, but still she had to gain more information on this 'Kuron' figure.

"I'm certain you are burning away with all the queries, go on, ask away." Kuron suggested

"First up, who are you, what are you and how did you land up here?" Rei interrogated. Kuron simply smirked back.

"Akabane Rei," answered Kuron. "student attending Osaka Shōgakkō Shisetsu, very much hated by Sato but friends car deeply about us, sister of Akabane Tatsuya and Satsuki, eldest daughter of Akabane Hiiragi and Kiyo." All that was said was accurate, but not enough to convince the real Akabane Rei.

"Alright then, if we both have the exact same life biography, why do you prefer to be called Kuron instead of Rei?"

"Simple question Rei, if I were to want to be called Rei as well, it makes talking to you incredibly annoying as we are both are named Rei so it would make more sense for on to give their name up, hm?" Well at one point she was correct, but it still seemed strange that she thought of such a strategic method quickly and was correct, just like Shuyona Taro, Rei would need double the amount of time.

"Question three," Rei enunciated. "why are you here and how did you get here?" She waited for an answer, once again examining if there was any difference, finally noticing the eye colour and hair differences.

"Same reason you are, we are both from the same time frame but different universe, and I took the elevator just how you did" Kuron responded. Something about that phrase seemed like it didn't match the reality. If they're the exact same person with the same mind, body, and actions, why didn't they arrive downstairs to the lobby at the same time, as there are stairs and elevators on both the east and west side of the hospital. Rei came from the east staircase, but Kuron didn't come from the west staircase, but the west elevator. And Kuron did say '-from the same time frame but different universe' but if they are from the same period, wouldn't they both have arrived downstairs by staircase, have the exact same looks and attitude.

At this very moment, Rei figured out the person she stares at is not who she says she is. So, she decided that two can play this game to trick the other and asked one more question to see if her assumptions are correct. "Interesting start, final question." Rei announced clearly. "What is the name of the creature that chased my soul down here?"

Kuron seemed somewhat startled when she heard the question but was definitely highly offended by being called a creature. She just spat what was came out her mind. "First up, I am not a creature, but a Yokai, or a vengeful spirit known as an Onryō thank you very much. Second the name is Sukima Onna, the gap woman, Third, just after your delicious soul to devour!" she said gleefully.

"I knew it, you're not a clone or spitting image of me." proclaimed Rei. Kuron turned her eyes to face Rei clearly. "Oh is that so," muttered Kuron. "please do tell." Rei sent a light smirk back to Kuron and explained how she had figured it out. "First up, my hair colour is a jet black while yours is a pure night hue, my eyes are a pure hazelnut colour, while yours are have a slight tint blue hidden within. Second, I came from the east stairs, you said we came from the west elevator. If we were to be in the same time frame but different universe, shouldn't we have both came from the stairs and arrived here at the same time? Third to add along, you were waiting for me at the reception like you already knew I was going to come down, and we should've seen each other at the same time and place. Finally, you said '-Yokai, or a vengeful spirit known as Onryō,' and said Sukima Onna would like to devour my delicious soul, in which these are facts I did not know beforehand. Oh to add on, you specifically revealed who you are behind that masquerade mask."

Kuron tilted her head to the left slowly and gave out a disturbing smile and mumbled out, "Is that so? What specifically did I say?"

"First up, I am not a creature, but a Yokai, or a vengeful spirit known as an Onryō thank you very much." Rei scoffed. "You said I to refer to yourself, so your devil that torments me, or should I say, Sukima Onna"

Sukima let out a malevolent laugh, as her illusion faded into her true face of terror rather quickly. Eyes azure blue, hair as dark as her name, skin as pale as an old china doll found in a dusty attic in a 17th century Victorian London house, and a very disturbing and wide smile conquering her face. Once the full metamorphosis was complete, in a distorted voice, Sukima spoke the threatening words of, "Oh dear child," she declared. "you're just pawns in a bigger gamble.