The Big Book Of Amaguji

Shinguji and Amami Triverse Through Their Ruined Worlds P4/P5

He was rammed with sadness left and right. A war veteran couldn't have suffered as much as the pathetic spectre that walked to that second piller of light. Korekiyo's throat was irritated from withholding his cries but he'll get over it, whether he liked it or not.

Rantaro's eyebrows were slightly scrunched up in disappointment. He didn't wish this past on anyone, not even on his worst enemy. If the others were brought up like this, he wouldn't be able to handle it all, especially for the rest of eternity. He looked over at Korekiyo, sulking and swallowing malice. He put his hand on Korekiyo's shoulder.

"Hey, y'know, it could've been worst."

Korekiyo widened his eyes at Rantaro's sudden remark, "If you said that to make me feel better than it's not working. I'll get over it soon, don't worry about me."

"That's not going to get me to care less about you. I might not be able to empathize with you but I'm not just going to ignore you."

He sighed, "I appreciate it, I really do but... I just want to get this over with. It's more painful to just dwell here."

His tone was melancholic which decreased Rantaro's spirits, he wasn't here to make anyone sad. If he was granted the ability to allow his dead friends to rest peacefully, he would take every chance to make them happy.

"Let's go now, I assure you that it will get better."

"It doesn't bother me. Circumstances such as mine are like bits and pieces of the different folklore I've researched, I still don't remember why I've studied the topic but I've retained all of the information. Though despite it all, I am still very much willing to figure that 'why'. "

Korekiyo looked up at the pillar of light with blank eyes, burning with confidence yet again. Why would Korekiyo just stand there, building up meaningless tension? No one else would help him fully atone expect for himself, Rantaro's help is welcome but will he really stay? Everyone else left so why couldn't he? Why would he stand here and allow him to vent and collect his thoughts with such a kind, such a reassuring smile...

"Come on then. The sooner, the better."

Korekiyo hummed in agreement as both of them finally walked into the light. This time, they weren't in by small and secluded house, they were on top of an apartment building. The surrounding area was bustling and the lights and colors that flew around were vibrant and full of life.

"I never took you for a city person."

"I'm not, somewhere quiet and simple would fit my tastes better. I wonder..."

They phased into the building that were standing on and stopped, scared by the female shouting. 'You're late! I thought being on time was the least you could do!' She yelled. They flew towards the voice to be led to a tattered apartment, trash everywhere, paint scratched off the walls, tiles unevenly placed on concrete. Korekiyo wouldn't live like this, not in a million years.

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying!"

This must be a decade in the future, the old-loking apartment giving the slight clue. The older Korekiyo wondered what he was late for, it probably wasn't good anyways. The younger Korekiyo threw on anything he could find and rushed out of the room, zooming past a girl in a wheelchair. She shook her head in disappointment.

"He's lucky I'm in this wheelchair."

They weren't interested in her response in the slightest but soon enough, they were following the younger Korekiyo in his tracks. Where could he be running to in the night? Korekiyo didn't expect anything innocent or legal but working as a batista at a bar was the tip of the iceberg.

"Don't you have to be at least 20 to drink? It should apply to being at least in the vicinity of alcohol."

"I guess my sister had connections but what I was thinking of was very improper of me to assume so."

The younger Korekiyo entered the small bar and immediately went to the back and came back out with an apron and a sliver platter with different types of drinks on top of it. Rantaro and Korekiyo looked at each other, confused. Even Korekiyo was slightly confused about his own psychology at this point.

"Where's my wine! Jesus fuck, they're slow!"

"Oh no..." The younger Korekiyo whispered to himself.

"Hey! 6 more shots please~!" Two people at the front slurred.

"I'll get to you in a second!"

"2 half pints over here!"

"It's brewing, please wait!"

The younger Korekiyo ran through the bar as fast as he could, people yelling at him from all angles. Sweat rolled down his face as he shook canisters, added ice, mixed different alcohols it was like clockwork.

The stress inducing scene finally dissapated into whiteness once again. Rantaro offered his hand once again once they were floating in absolute nothingness, with hesitation, Korekiyo grasped it once again.

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P5

The second pillar of light was now golden. Korekiyo could see where his anxiety came from but this still couldn't explain his own purpose for doing these things. Maybe he should stop questioning for now, but he just have this urge to question everything he sees. He can't help it.

"Just one more." Korekiyo whispered to himself.

"What did I say? The world could be that cruel." Rantaro's lips curled back into that damned smile. It was so perfect that it made Korekiyo's skin turn light pink. No human could top the likes of Rantaro.

But how did he remember such a thing?

"It's highly ironic it's coming from the one who I've haven't seen any flaws from." Korekiyo answered but he covered his mouth soon after. How could he compare Rantaro to other humans if he supposedly didn't remember anything?

"Huh, so that's what happens." Rantaro said in an uplifting tone.

"Am I the first one you found?"

"To be honest, yeah."

Korekiyo sighed, "You're insufferable."

"But you still tolerate me! And, you can tolerate another weird memory beam. Or we could take a rest-"

"I'm not hesitating again."

"That's great! Besides, this should be your shortest memory."

Korekiyo didn't beat around the bush this time and went into the last beam, Rantaro even had to fly shortly after to catch up to him. They were in a room with a single lap, looking over the shoulder of the most recent Korekiyo. He looked down at an application for the killing game, signed and ready to go.

"I guess this is my chance to gain some closure. I don't care anymore." With a melancholic sigh, Korekiyo left the application on his desk and walked into the now whiteness of the scenery.

All three pillars were now golden and Korekiyo felt calm. He remembered his friends, his ambitions, his goals but with a new resolve. Korekiyo looked at Rantaro, glad as ever.

"It seems that I have finally retained my proper speech patterns. I give you my many thanks, but may I ask... What is this place?"

"This is a place specifically for deceased participants as far as I know. It's like a server for each of the game's participants, I think."

"How do you know this exactly?"

"Hey now, this isn't a trail. All that matters is that you're safe and you remember everything. Now you can join me with finding the others, would you?"

"I suppose so."

Rantaro's for turned into a mixture of pink and yellow, "Maybe you can tell me a story or two in the meantime? Actually, how about a story from one of your travels? They are always so interesting."

"I suppose that is a possible request."

I actually missed this series because it was going to be way more brutal that it is now but I've scrapped that.