The black dog

Chapter 7

Souta opened his eyes and saw that the sun's rays were coming through his curtains. He crawled out of his bed and walked to the living room where he had left Mizore sleeping on the couch. When he entered the room Mizore was still deeply asleep. He walked over to her and pulled the blanket off her.

'Wake up. We're going to start.' he said.

Mizore gave no response.

'Hey, come on. Get up.' he pulled the pillow from under her head. Dropping her head on the couch, she came to with tired eyes.

'Already? What time is it?'

'6 o'clock in the morning.'

'Then why do I have to get up? It's still so early.' she said, tired as she was.

'We have something important to do. Remember?'

'Yes, but can we do that when I'm a little more awake?'

'If you keep lying around it won't get any better. Come on, I'll make you some coffee, you can sit up in the meantime.' Rubbing her eyes, she sat up.

'You haven't even asked me where I'm from yet.' Her eyes were at six thirty and about to fall shut again.

'That's none of my business. It's convenient for me that you're here. Saves me traveling.'

'There is no typical name for what you are.' Mizore was already getting a little more awake.

'That's exactly the point. I don't want anyone to type me with anything.'

'Typing?’ she asked confused and tired. Souta came into the room with the same mugs that had been used the previous evening. The fresh coffee stood in front of her. She grabbed the coffee and began to blow to soften the heat in front of her mouth. Souta sat down and answered her question.

'By that I mean that I don't want people to recognize me by anything.'

'They call me arrogant with a temper tantrum from time to time.' Mizore tried to get something out of him.

'Haha. Yes, that does suit you, but you can keep those traits in check as much as possible.' he took a sip of his coffee in the meantime.

'Do you really think I know how to control those things? It's how I am. Can't do anything about it either.'

'I didn't talk about changing. I was talking about keeping it in check. Paying attention to it and trying to avoid it.'

'You enjoy it when you know more than someone else don't you?'

'You still don't believe you have a gift now? You see, that's true. I enjoy that.'

'I'm slowly starting to believe it.' Mizore continued to sip her coffee quietly. Her thoughts turned to what he was telling her.

'When are we actually going to that institute or whatever you call it.'

'l**t for adventure? We'll go after we finish our coffee.'

'I want that assignment done as soon as possible. That's all. And I do have another question.' Mizore set her empty mug on the table and began to blush a little. She couldn't look Souta straight in the eye anymore. She was embarrassed by her question.

'Then what is it?'

'Will I perhaps be allowed to live here?' After asking, she turned her head away. Her cheek had a burning sensation, telling her that she had turned completely red.

'Don't you have to go home?'

'No, I never want to go there again!' Her shyness had disappeared like snow in the sun. She sat strong face to face with him and looked at him pleadingly.

'Is it that serious?'

'Absolutely. I never want to go back!’ Mizore took back her posture and her eyes went to her boots that had caused her much pain while walking.

'Besides, there's no one waiting for me.' She Bit her lip to avoid shedding any tears.

'Don't you have parents then?'

'I do, but...'

'But what?'

'They don't care about me. They only talk about themselves.' It was getting harder and harder to hold back her tears. Souta looked at her for a moment, not sure what to say to this. It was so sudden, so out of the blue. It took him a while, but if it was true what she was saying, he couldn’t just throw her out again. Souta gave a sigh and ran his hand through his hair.

'All right, you can stay here. But when we've solved this case, we'll go by your house. Maybe I can bring your parents to reason.'

'Will you really do that for me?' Mizore was amazed that Souta would even consider doing that for her.

'Yes, and if it really comes out that they don't want you back, you can move in with me.'

'Thank you, thank you!' Mizore was filled with relief.

'It's all right, but I've finished my coffee. So, it's time to go.' Souta got up and walked to the hallway where their coats were hanging. Mizore walked toward the hallway, but before she even entered the entrance, he came back with both coats and threw her coat at her. As she put on her coat, he opened the door and walked out. Mizore came after him and he closed the door again. Together they headed for the institute, where their assignment was waiting.

'Say Souta. Where is that institute case anyway?'

'It's a few blocks away.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'Because I used to go by there quite a few times. Despite my mother's warnings.'

'In this case, it's good not to listen to your parents.' They walked side by side through the streets on their way to the place where much adventure awaited.

When Souta and Mizore came to the street where the institute stood, Mizore immediately sensed that something dark was hanging around the building.

‘You feel it don't you?’ Souta asked her.

'Yes, I don't understand why I do, but I do.'

'You learn fast, be glad of it. You need it here.' They approached, but soon saw that they were not the only ones. In the distance, a boy was already standing near the building. He stood looking at the building. Souta was not charmed by this. Once they were there, he began to ask the boy surly questions.

'Who are you and what are you doing here? Don't you know it's dangerous?’ Without any sense of offense, the boy answered his questions.

'I am Eijiro, I have come to solve this case and yes I know it is dangerous here. At least that's what they say.' Mizore was drawn to the charming looking Eijiro. The guy made her fall silent.

Eijiro grinned the moment Mizore was looking at him.  

'At least someone has good taste' he said and Mizore immediately regretted calling Souta a narcissist. What an arrogant little fellow, she thought.

'What do you mean by solving this case.' Souta continued, still unimpressed with the charming and arrogant little fellow.

'As I said. They say there's a soul trapped here and I'm going to set him free.'

'And how do you intend to do that? Can you see them or hear them?'

'No, I can't. I use equipment to solve this. Special equipment, of course.' Mizore was over her misguided impression and began to join in the conversation.

'Maybe we can combine it. I think any help would be welcome in this.' Both boys looked first at her, then at each other, and finally at her again.

'The pretty face is right; it is a good idea.' Eijiro said.

Mizore rolled her eyes and waited for Souta to see what his answer would be.

‘Fine, as long as he doesn’t walk in our way.' With a sour face, Souta admitted that her idea was good.

They were so preoccupied with each other that they didn't notice a girl walking up. Her sooty black hair immediately stood out against her sea blue eyes. They were almost the same as Souta's eyes. They were only slightly darker. She joined the group who were busy talking to each other. She didn't say a word, she stood and waited for attention to be paid to her. Mizore was the first to see her standing and immediately interrupted the discussion between the two boys.

'Boys, we have a visitor.'

'Visit? What visit.' Souta responded irritably. Eijiro also noticed that someone was standing near them. He turned around and the girl was standing right there.

‘And you are?’ he said and put on his charming smile.

'I am Nanami and I have been asked to investigate this building.'

'Great. Even more useless interactions.' Souta said, shaking his head.

'If you come up with technical gadgets, it's a waste of time because I already have them.' Eijiro said proud as he was.

'No, I don't use tech. I can feel their presence.'

'Presence of who.' Mizore asked her puzzled.

'Mizore that's a redundant question, it's obvious we're all here for the same thing. The strange rumors about this building that you and I have confirmation of are true.'

'That confirmation you're talking about. I need to find that out first.' Nanami said in a calm, but direct manor.

'We can stand outside and have a nice tea party, but that's not what we're here for.' Eijiro interrupted them.

'For once, I agree with you. We need to go inside to find out.' Souta said thoughtfully. He couldn't get used to the idea that there was more to it. The four of them went through the large, black, metal gate that was meant to keep people out. There was a hole in it; they all fit right through it. They walked towards the closed doors of the building. Even from a distance it was not a pleasant sight. You shouldn't think about being locked inside. That the institute was old, they realized immediately when the door opened easily and they entered. Nanami was immediately unwell. So much so that she almost went into shock.

'There is definitely a strong presence here. There are so many of them and they are in a lot of pain.' Said Nanami with full fear in her voice and eyes.

'Mizore, do you see anything?' Souta asked immediately to Mizore, curious about the progress of her gift.

'No, not yet, but I don't feel uncomfortable here. Do you hear anything?

'Not yet, but don't push yourself too hard. It will come naturally.' she was trying very hard to see something, she really wanted to be of help. Eijiro, not understanding what they were talking about, immediately started asking questions as they walked through the institute.

'What are you talking about with that, see something, hear something and it comes naturally?'

'I have the gift of seeing souls and Souta here, has the gift of hearing them. Only with me it's not quite developed yet. It's the same as Nanami's gift of sensing souls, only we possess a different part of it.' Mizore explained, trying to make something out of them all being there.

'This is going to be something then.' Eijiro said.

Souta’s fear would come to stick his ugly head out with all this talking and getting to know each other. He held strong and walked on. Unconsciously, they stayed close and did not leave each other's side.