A Millions Souls For You To Be Mine

Chapter 4

"Been a long time since stayed in Spiritual for so long." Tenumi said as they were sitting down hand in hand at the place Tenumi used to always hang out back then. It was a quaint little place, peaceful and not something you would expect confrontation at. Tenumi has become way too tired of the ribbon bounding the both of them together. Since they were in an isolated location, Aku deemed that it was fine. With their recent interactions, Aku has grown comfortable around Tenumi and would now be fine with their hands touching one another.

"You said you're from Spiritual. I thought you can only go here by yourself for a couple of seconds though." Aku voiced out his curiosity.

"Yeah, but I am honed from Spiritual. I guess my body just got too used to Over World." Tenumi laughs at himself. "How about you? Where did you come from?"

"I... cannot say. The realms still didn't have names when I was formed. They also changed so much that I don't recognise anything." Aku looked over to Tenumi who had a straight face. "You sound like an old man..." He then looks away in embarrassment, mildly surprising his companion. "Wait, don't tell me you actually are! You look so young and are so much shorter than me!"

"(I know I'm short and I already accepted it, you don't have to point it out) Death Collectors' looks don't correlate to their age. I'm pretty sure you already know that." Aku stated an obvious fact.

"Of course I know that, someone taught me. So how old are you? In human years, I meant. I'm twenty seven by the way." Tenumi tried to inquire more about Aku by giving him an information about himself, an eye for an eye. The information he gave surprised Aku though. "Twenty seven?! You're that young...?!" Aku echoed, wanting to receive conformation that what he learned was correct. After receiving a nod, he composed himself and accepted the truth. "I'm... near as old as humanity since I was one of the first Death Collectors. People say modern humanity's been about two hundred thousand years ago so I guess my age is also around that. I don't count it (and I don't think I ever will) so I don't know my exact age." Now it was Tenumi's turn to be surprised. "You really are an old man..." He mutters to himself as he looks at Aku once over. Like a good sport, he also accepts the reality.

"So... how many souls have you collected over the years?" Tenumi asks, curious as how much Aku has contributed for their job. "Last time I checked... nineteen billion, four hundred eighty two million, three hundred fifty thousand, five hundred sixty five?" Tenumi was once again bewildered by Aku. "Firstly, that is so many dead humans. Secondly, you memorised that? Lastly, wouldn't that mean you already won the contest?" Aku shrugged but answered. "Memorising my soul count is an inside joke for me. As for the contest, they only count the souls you collected after it was announced." Tenumi nods understandingly. "I see. How many souls from nineteen billion are counted in the contest then?" Tenumi asked once more. "Eighteen, six pure souls, including Leon." He was disappointed but didn't try to show it. "Ah, I'm guessing it's because of all the mistreatment you've suffered from..." Aku nods, confirming Tenumi's statement.

The conversation drifted off and soon they were just sitting there in tranquil. This was ended as Tenumi remembers certain someone. "Ah, have I mentioned my mentor yet? She's not a Death Collector but she taught me everything I needed to know. I think she said she was also really old...?"

"A mentor? Now that's rare. Ever since the contest, almost everyone isn't exactly willing to help others." Aku stated. "Oh, I guess I'm lucky then."

"Who's your mentor?" Tenumi sweatdropped at the question. "Uh... I forgot her name?" Aku sighed disappointly at Tenumi. "I'm sorry! It was a long time ago and I wasn't even with her that long!" Tenumi pouts. Not wanting him to be annoyed, Aku holds a hand up, a sign that he yields. "Okay, okay. Can you tell me anything about her? Like her cloak colour or something?" Tenumi eyes him suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?" "I..." Aku started, not noticing the look Tenumi was giving him as he stares off into the distance. "I feel like I know her..." Aku completed. "How? I haven't even told you anything yet." Tenumi wanted more reason. "I have a feeling..." Aku simply answered.