41 Prologue: Inverse Kingdom

[A/N: Fuwah~'''

Eyo guyz! I'm officially back!

Tired editing the previous chaps here. Especially when I myself read some nonsense lines like 'wtf? Did I really write this sht?' feeling. Anyways, I won't make this any longer and here's the chap]

——

Tohka

That was her name. It was given to her by the person she now considers the most important person in the world.

His name... It was Rei.

Right now, Tohka found herself within this vast horizon of darkness. Some streaks of light could be also seen, streaks of dark purple light it is.

Seeing that, she then summoned her Astral Dress, following her <Angel> next. She felt the need to do so for now.

Nevertheless, this place overall was something she could call normal. Yes, a 'normal' for the her back then when she still haven't met Rei. If she were to compare it to something, it was like how she would wake up in the world after a spacequake.

But it wasn't like she hates nor loathes this kind of darkness. In fact, she wouldn't hesitate to call it a safe haven of peace for there is only her, nobody else, was inside it.

Nobody would disturb her here,

Nobody would come after here life here,

And... nobody would've reach for her here.

"Ah~ Rei..."

Hugging herself with her arms, the feelings that she felt and the memories of that day resurfaced on her mind.

Under the bright moonlight. The night he held her, the night where he swore his promise to be with her, and the night where she swore to herself that she...

"I..." She paused. "Un, what was it again?"

She forgot but she will remember it later. There's no need to get worked over it.

"Rei....hah~ When would this end before I see you again," Tohka said with her tone sounding somewhat... ecstatic.

There was something wrong with her, she certainly was conscious about it. This wasn't how she acted nor the way she thinks before.

Certainly, her life before could be called dull. She sleeps in loneliness in a black space with only herself to rely on, and when she wakes up, she would find herself being pursued by unknown people whose goal is her life.

It was like an endless cycle until she met Rei... but now, something similar happened—though somewhat different in some points, they are relatively comparable to each other.

Right now, her life revolved onto one person. Her life certainly changed but the fact that a thing like an endless cycle just like before was taking place. It was always about... Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, Rei, and Rei.

...

'Ah, this is bad. It's always about Rei. I'm definitely going crazy. Nonetheless, I can't help it. Now let's think about something different. Something other than the most important person in my life'

Tohka lamented in her thoughts, nevertheless, she could confirm that it has somehow a pleasant feeling concealed right within that lamentation.

Now speaking of other thoughts other than Rei... Kinako pan? Yes, that delicious bread. That was the second thing that came after Rei on the most precious things in this world.

"I don't think I would enjoy this current life of mine without Rei and kinako breads, umu, nothing can ever replace them"

Licking her lips, Tohka's eyes rolled immediately to left and right. Her body swayed naturally just like a passing breeze.

"It's his fault that I'm like this, definitely not mine," Tohka hummed. "Well, I like the way I am right now. Rei would like this as well, wouldn't he?"

Observing her surroundings a little bit more, she strengthened her grip on <Sandalphon> and put up my guard. It was out of instinct. That's what she would say if she were to point out why she did that.

Because something was bound to happen at any second right now.

But it was then something struck her body which caused me to suddenly lost control of it. It was as if her consciousness was slowly being drained as her body began to weaken as time passes.

—Slowly, slowly swaying back and forth—Quickly, quickly turning around.

It was a space where she now couldn't tell where was up or down. The sensation of swimming in lukewarm water, the invasive feeling of being sucked into darkness, it was a mysterious state of coexistence.

No—it wasn't just the orientation of this space when that 'something' struck her.

There was the feeling of a lack of ownership in one's own body. A sense of incompatibility where the slightest hint of carelessness would cause a person's hands and feet to dissolve into this world.

A feeling horrid but also a sweet temptation. The sort of pleasure of being unable to resist going to sleep. Even while knowing that one's consciousness would fade away at the slightest hint of negligence.

"..."

However, something painful within the depth of Tohka's head rejected it—

—Useless, useless, completely pointless.

Falling asleep here would mean everything would be over and she would never be able to wake up again.

And more than that, SHE needed to be with REI after this. She can't let him out of her side, or else, she wouldn't forgive herself.

But, as if aware of that, the feeling of drowsiness caught Tohka's consciousness and would not let go. A gentle demonic beckoning that gradually erode Tohka's ego.

She resisted with all her might but it was then—

"Do you want to sleep? Well, that's fine too I guess"

At that instant.

From such a place, a voice echoed. Tohka forced her eyes wide open.

"...?!"

The sleepiness attacking her consciousness suddenly vanished as her mind became clear. Sensation returned to her hands and feet that were melting away into the space.

But on the contrary, this awakening only severed to highlight the peculiarity of this space.

Looking around, where this was—no, she didn't even know what this was.

As far as she could see, there was still this vast emptiness—this endless horizon of darkness in this strange place just like before.

—But, there was a certain intelligence here. While barely able to control her body in an irritated manner, Tohka moved towards the direction of where the voice originated.

"Wha...?"

There was a throne.

A Golden Throne.

A throne most likely similar to hers. And there was someone else occupying its seat.

Seeing the girl that was there, Tohka widened her eyes in alarm.

She wore a dark violet dress attached with black laces and a set of grayish magenta-and-dark pink plated armor which adorned her shoulders and waist. The dress is open at the back and the front, to which exposed most of her skin and a two-layered, knee-length skirt. She also wears a dark violet butterfly-shaped hair accessory with pointy edges.

But that wasn't the thing that alarmed her.

Hair flowing with the color of the night.

Her crystal amethyst eyes quietly looking onward.

That's right. The girl here—had the exact same face as Tohka.

"Y-you, who are you..."

As Tohka asked in surprised, the girl replied back with huff from her nose.

"Name, there's no such thing —If you really dare to ask, I am you"

"Me...?"

Hearing the girl's answer only made Tohka even more confused.

But it was undeniable that she couldn't laugh off what the girl had said as a joke. To say it to someone else, the girl looked identical to Tohka.

"What the hell is going on...is this a dream?"

"Asking a question where you already know what the answer is, quite funny aren't you?" The girl scoffed. "But a dream huh... Hmm, that's not too far from the truth. The difference is between either your head or that woman's"

"That woman...?"

As she heard that, Tohka felt a twitch reach her shoulders. Tohka didn't know who this girl was talking about, specifically, that 'woman'.

Seeing this the girl widened her eyes briefly before putting her hand below her chin as her eyes slowly widened as if having a realization.

She then stood up from her throne and approached Tohka.

"No, that was a slip of words. Don't mind it too much, someday you would know that woman, but right now is not the time," the girl let out a dry laugh.

"Why am I here? As far as I remember, I was sleeping with Rei and then..."

"Say, if I were to explain to you why you are here, and answer that I am here to kill—no, take over your body, what would be your answer"

As the girl looked on in interest, Tohka raised her face with a resolute light shining in her expression.

"There's no way you would do that"

"Ho? You sound very sure about your answer me"

"Un, because you would've done that when I was in my weakest just a while ago, that was the best moment to strike me down"

"...."

Looking at Tohka, the girl's eyebrows finally wavered—she couldn't help but laugh.

"Fuhaha, that's right...ahh, that's right. It makes sense that I would do that if that were the case"

Looking at that girl's face, Tohka felt a strange feeling while watching her laugh.

As the girl laughed, she spread out her hands and embraced Tohka's shoulders. And Tohka didn't resist, no, she couldn't. But noticing that there was no harm from the girl's actions, Tohka left it be.

"You say, there's someone waiting for you outside this dream right?"

"Un. I think you would be happy to meet him as well!" Tohka replied rather enthusiastically.

"For you to show that much joy, I am really curious about who this person is"

"His name is Rei! The most important person in my life!" Tohka declared.

And suddenly, her eyes somewhat showed a dull luster. "Yes... Rei, Rei, Rei.... I need to get back to him right now"

"...You know that there is something currently wrong with the way you are. Your actions and feelings, don't you?"

"...Un, but I can't figure it out for quite some time now. But I'm sure about one thing"

Tohka admitted as she heaved a small sigh.

Hearing that answer, the girl further inquired, "And what would that be?"

"It's all Rei's fault that I'm like this"

"...That's it?"

"Un. I'm sure that is one definite factor among the possible reasons out there, and Rei already said he would take responsibility about it"

The girl narrowed her eyes upon hearing this, and Tohka sensed—hostility with the girl before her? But it wasn't pointed to her... but to somewhere else.

"Hmph. For him to make you like this, I swear I would interrogate him about what he did to you before killing him off," The girl said in a threatening tone.

Tohka didn't understand the sudden turn of the girls demeanor from interest to animosity. But this... she couldn't let it be.

"I won't let you"

"Won't let me what?"

"Kill Rei. Before you could do that, I would 'kill' you first," With all seriousness, like sharp daggers ready to stab, Tohka's eyes narrowed as she looked at the girl.

The girl merely laughed. "You will 'kill' me? Kill yourself? Do you get what you're saying me?"

"Yes. I would kill myself if I must. Rei is my first priority, even before you, myself. Nothing else matters"

Tohka said as a matter of fact. It was resolute and could not be changed, she would do everything necessary for the sake of that man. That is what the girl perceived on Tohka's words.

"..."

"..."

Silence ensued both of them, their gazes locked with each other as if trying to read the person right before them.

And the one who broke this long silence was the girl. "Are you serious?"

"Un," Tohka merely nodded.

"..."

"..."

"I see, if it will end up like that, then I would give up for now," The girl showed a faint smile. "Also, if I were to describe that feeling of yours. You may call it obsession—or rather, excessive feeling of attraction towards this Rei"

Sensing that this girl showed no lies on her words, Tohka focused on the answer that she gave to her.

"Oh, hmm. Most likely, that description fits best! How did you know?"

"Hmph, I'm you and you are me. I am at least aware about the things you are keeping from deep within"

"But can you see what I see? Or hear what I hear? Or feel everything around myself?"

It was then, the girl narrowed her eyes and looked—sad, annoyed, and envious?

"...Sadly, I couldn't. Unless you want me to take over your body albeit briefly"

"Un! I could make an offer to you"

"Offer?"

"I'll let you 'borrow' my body as long as you heed some of my conditions"

"Borrow you say? Don't you get what I'm saying? I am you, you are me. It is a matter of fact that I also own this body, saying that you will let me 'borrow' my own body is preposterous"

"But I'm the one who is dominant over it right now, aren't I?"

"Who said I can't take over that position?"

"Then try me"

It was then, the girl laughed once more, "If so then, you should go me. There's no point in staying here. Until you're satisfied, do whatever you want with 'our' body"

"...…Umu. Thanks, me"

Tohka replied. But as much as she wanted to ask 'how' she would get out of here, she couldn't as she felt that the girl would try to say something important after this.

With a small smile, the girl separated from Tohka and then spread her arms wide as if presenting something.

"I see... It's really been a surprise that someone could enter this domain of mine, but nothing I couldn't have expected from me, though quite late, let me welcome you before you go," The girl chuckled. "This is my <Kingdom>, my <Inverse Kingdom>, and about your offer—"

*SNAP*

The girl then snapped her fingers, and the whole place began pulsing, just like those of a heart's beat. Slowly and strongly. The place rumbled.

"—I would gladly consider accepting it sooner than you might expect"

It was then, everything on her sight was engulfed in purple light shrouded with darkness.

——

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[A/N: And this is the beginning of Arc 2. Okay, let's get this straight. About Yoshino, I have other plans on her so don't get mad at me, I don't have anything against her, I just want to focus on Tohka and Tenka in this arc.

Fleshing out details and character development it is what I am planning in this arc so I won't add any girls as soon as this arc starts.

UmU.

Another thing is that I'm quite busy this time around, so as a usual note, the next update would take quite longer than expected.

So guyz, comment down your thoughts and check out some errors if you may, I will appreciate it.

With that said, adios~]