'' I looked at her, the woman standing before me. My brothers and sisters would definitely notice her... and in the meantime, I could do my own thing. However, I knew that the girl would do anything to discourage me from cooperating. She wasn't as stupid and naive as I thought.
The girl will be good enough for the job. All I have to do is play it right.''
Kigami continued to look at Kimoko, proud of his performance. He saw the girl asking herself more and more questions, without finding the answers. He turned around and calmly began to walk away.
' Wait! I have a few more questions!'
Kigami smiled.
'' Exactly what I was hoping for.''
' What questions exactly?' he asked without turning around.
' Why do you want revenge on the demons so badly, when you are one yourself?' Her voice was cold, but it was obvious that it had been bothering her for a while.
' Because they betrayed me first.' he replied, finally looking her straight in the eye.
' It's because of them that I'm here. It's because of them that you had to die.'
Kimoko stood still, looking at him in disbelief.
' But together we can change all this. Everything can be almost like it was before. You just have to help me do it. Think... you'll be free, and I'll go back to where I came from. No one else will have to suffer.'
' Tell me... How do you want to do it?'
Kigami smiled slightly.
'Tell me, Kimoko... Don't you think it's stuffy here? How about we move this conversation to a more pleasant place?'
He reached for her hand, but Kimoko pulled away abruptly.
' Why is she resisting? Isn't that what she wanted? To get out of here?'
' What's your problem, man? Didn't you want to leave just now?'
The girl lowered her gaze, looking at her pale, bandaged body. Kigami understood.
' Your dress is right next to where you woke up. But you probably already know that. You can put it on. I'll find you something better later.'
He let go of her hand and watched her in silence. Her long hair fell in front of her face, and her blue eyes hid something he couldn't decipher. He knew Kimoko didn't want him to look at her, but he couldn't help himself. Her beauty was different than his previous victims. He didn't want to admit it, but he had to.
she was beautiful.
After a short while, the girl approached him and wordlessly offered him her hand. They left the small, stone, cramped room in silence.
- Fifteen minutes later
They were sitting together on a small terrace. A tall glass of strawberry milkshake stood in front of Kimoko, but she didn't touch it. She lowered her head, playing with the straw, twirling it in her hands. Hidden from under her eyelashes, she could see Kigami staring at her without a word, without moving. It was unsettling.
She pushed the glass away, hoping it would make him react. Kigami finally moved.
' Is something wrong?' he asked.
Kimoko glared at him.
' Really? You're still asking?'
Kigami shrugged and reached for a cup of black tea, taking a sip. Kimoko turned toward the busy street. She wished someone would help her, but no one even looked at her. She watched the people passing by indifferently, as if she were invisible. As if everyone had their own lives, their own worries, and ignored those who really needed help.
Despite the middle of summer, she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She wasn't sure if it was desperation or the knowledge that she was already dead. She heard Kigami push her glass back toward her. She looked at her reluctantly.
' You don't have to worry. I didn't do anything to her.' he said calmly. 'Believe me, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it a long time ago. I'm not as bad as you're making me out to be.'
She sighed, then slowly brought her mouth to the straw and took a small sip. The drink was sweet and cool. She swallowed and looked at Kigami, who smiled and nodded.
' See? It's not poisoned. I just want to show you that you're no use to me dead.'
Kimoko pushed the glass away.
'You know... You didn't answer my question in the cave. So now's your chance.'
Kigami crossed his legs under the table and took a deep breath before finally speaking.
'Do you know the legend of the Zonrumi gods? They're a key part of my plan.'
'I've heard of them before. What?'
He sighed.
Kimoko noticed the moment of hesitation and smiled slightly. She felt that this could be the first step towards her freedom.
However, to her disappointment, Kigami continued.
' Vorthakai... That's what they are called. The most powerful gods of Zonrumi. They are quadruplets, but their relationship... well, it's quite complicated. It's not that they don't like each other. It's just... in practice, they don't know each other.'
' Wait, how do they not know each other since they are siblings?' She replied in shock.
' Like I said, it's quite complicated, they know about each other and have even worked together a few times... but that's where their knowledge ends. Some believe they don't even know each other's names... I'm skeptical about that last one though.'
He fell silent and reached for his cup, his gaze unwavering from the girl in front of him. He could see her trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle into his game. Full of satisfaction, he took another sip.
'What do the gods have to do with your revenge?' She asked, her voice softer this time. He looked at her in shock and the cup almost slipped from his hand.
''Why her sudden change of tone? Is she trying to mislead me about my plan?''
Kigami cleared his throat and continued, but Kimoko could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
'Oh, right, the Vorthakai once fought the demon queen, they locked her up for thousands of years, but the demons want to free her so she can wreak havoc on Zonrumi again.'' He replied, Kimoko stood up and without a word, without any explanation, turned around and left. However, she didn't get far when she felt someone grab her by the arm.
' And where do you think you're going?'' His angry voice was so loud that she felt like it was in her thoughts. Kimoko took a deep breath, she knew his next words. A small smile on her face, without turning around she replied:
' I'd rather die than help a traitor... I'm not stupid, I know where this is going, Koschei.'
Only then did she turn to him, she saw pure hatred in his eyes.
' Don't ever use that cursed name again.' His voice was quiet, almost as if he was talking to himself. Before she could answer him, however, she felt his hands begin to tighten around her throat.
' Let's settle this once and for all, I have no desire to destroy this world, nor to be called a traitor...'
Kimoko began to gasp for air, with every minute his grip was getting tighter and she couldn't breathe. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze begging him to stop. She began to accept her fate again, that she would die again, when Kigami released her from his grip. Kimoko began to take deep breaths as he lifted her head up with one of his hands.
' Now you will hear me out my dear... The Vorthakai are in possession of the crystals, the keys to the demon queen's cell. My goal is to obtain them and then kill her.' his cold voice replied.
' And you Kimoko will help me with this, you have no choice, you are the chosen one of the prince of death himself.'
' How am I his chosen one? Wasn't my death a coincidence?'
This time she herself raised her gaze upwards. Every word he said made her have more questions than he gave her answers. However, he didn't seem to notice her helplessness, he continued where he left off.
' According to legend, there are six keys, but only four gods. However, I suspect that I know which one of them has at least two...' the girl's soft voice interrupted him, Kigami looked at her and a feeling of guilt took over him.
"What have I done..."
' Kimoko I...I'm sorry.'
' Shut up, please. You've just shown me how much you care about me. Now focus on achieving your goal so I can finally be free.' Her voice was quiet but cold. She knew she couldn't trust him, he had proven it to her himself, so it would be better for both of them if their partnership ended as soon as possible.
' So where do you plan on starting your search for those stones?'
Kigami sighed, his gaze resting on the girl.
' I was thinking of starting with Amori, the goddess of life rules there. From what I've heard, she shouldn't be that problematic, we can easily get her crystal.'
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