To Be A Dove (TBAS Sequel)

Chapter 7

It was a small plastic house. Inside there was a woman who looked like she was playing the harp. On the roof of the house was a big clock. Next to the house was a small windmill...

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"301... 302... 303..." Shinohara counted the rooms out loud as he passed, a giddy Rei mimicking his counting as he trotted beside the older one.

"306... 307... and 308. Here we are."

The little boy's head shot up, and side to side as he searched for any indicator of Emi. The door in front of them read 308B. According to the receptionist, this was in fact Emi's room.

"Can I go in, Mr. Cookie Man?" Rei pleaded, the bounce in his step was visibly obvious as he waited for the older's response. With a silent nod and a smile, Shinohara encouraged Rei forward. The man approached the door, knocking on it three times before announcing his entrance.

Shinohara pushed the door open and Rei raced inside, eager to see Emi after so long. His crimson stare scanned the room, but he was dissapointed to find it empty.

"She's not here." He grumbled, feeling once again at a loss. "She's not here! Now what do we do?"

Shinohara patted the younger back, attempting to soothe his rapidly growing despair. "We can keep looking. Don't worry, we'll find her."

And as if by some sort of magic force, the door behind them opened once again, and in stepped-

"Emi!"

Within a fraction of a second the boy hurled himself across the room, almost knocking Shinohara over as he pushed past. The momentum continued as his body crashed into the girl who had not moved since opening the door, prey to utter bewilderment at the sight of the boy. Both fell to the floor with the impact, bodies attaching themselves to each other as if on pure instinct.

"Emi! I'm so happy to see you again!" Rei exclaimed at the top of his lungs, arms coiling tighter around her frame.

"R-Rei, I thought..." the girl whispered,  burying her face into Rei's neck as she soaked in the warmth emitted from his body.

"They told me they had taken you somewhere because you were dangerous."

The boy sat up, pulling Emi along with him as he explained.

"Well, I accidentally hurt one of the guards-"

"Two." Shinohara clarified.

"...two of the guards," Rei corrected in a mumble. "And they locked me up in a cell like Mama's. But then Mr. Cookie Man got me out and promised he'd help me find you!"

"I'm so glad you're safe, Rei." Emi exhaled a breath of relief she didn't know she'd been holding.

Rei, however, just managed to notice Emi's bloodshot eyes, and the dry streaks of tears that crossed her cheeks, as well as her blood-drained face.

"Emi... what's wrong?" Rei took her face between both of his hands, making the girl look up at him.

Emi averted her gaze, her nqils digging into the skin of Rei's hands as she gathered her strength before speaking.

"Ryuu is badly hurt. He hasn't woken up." She explained. "A-And Jiro...."

Her voice quivered, eyes screwing shut as she found herself once again fighting back her tears. How many times would she have to explain it? How many stabs would she have to take at her open wound? She felt like a scratched record, forced to relive Jiro's last moments over and over again, as if punished by some sort of diety that had not once cared for her.