REDproject
Chapter 02: Story of Hope

"Do you know why I called you here?" The heavy baritone echoed, there was only a wrinkled old man sitting straight in front of the blonde girl adorned with begonia tongs. A long time has passed, since the incident a few years ago.

...-ooO-i...

The dark youth continued to peg with sword eyes still facing the girl's face. Petite body shaking, Apple freaking. Who her? What good people? Many questions in the mind are unanswered, cannot be expressed. Pour the katana, throw it away.

Before reaching the earth, the blade shone brightly and broke like a blackish green sandbaskets. Sky blue beads stunned, really today many strange events.

When he returned his gaze to the all-black youth, Apple was stunned to find their faces only a few inches away. Look at each other for a long time. The blonde girl herself did not understand what to do, too tired with her days. Black eyes staring straight, may be heart-piercing, but.

Silence enveloped until the dark young man wanted to touch the blushing cheeks. As soon as the pale palm approached, Apple immediately shuffled, a begonia not separated from the grasp. Returning to confine the intention, his touch was now a grasp. The young man looked sad, like he wanted to cry. Wh why?

He stood up, reached out to Apple. "Come, we go home ...."

...-ooO-i...

"Nura and the other clans standing within the Ghost Guild organization were not without cause, the balance of the two worlds was disrupted until the creatures of the Another World fled into the human realm. Here, the spirit controllers work to watch and stop it. The spirit itself is not just any spirit, but a demon or youkai fighter. That's our job," Scarlet pressed seriously.

"So? Want me to keep an eye on the creatures of Another World?"

"For that is enough people. Only, many escaped because the portal appeared just like that. It's time you went back to your world, Apple. Watch 'em. It used to be REDstar's job, exterminating creatures that managed to escape. Now ...."

Silence gripped until Apple spoke up, "Then ... will accompany me?"

The old man scowled, the specific red eyes watching the worry on the blonde girl. Maybe Apple is worried, how will life be? It has not been long since returned to the human realm.

"I can't see the moon above the palace? That's the protective barrier of our territory from the pressure of Another World. If I leave this place, its power is weakened and Nura can be destroyed." Hearing that Apple instantly ducked, silent a thousand words.

Moving from zabuton—alas sit— approached the girl's trembling body. Scarlet. Weak soft she caressed blonde hair. "I, as the head of the clan, have duties and responsibilities and have arranged everything for you, Apple. You will be placed in a secret academy, Exorcist Academy (EA): Gates of Spirit World."

The blonde girl looked up, looking at Scarlet with teary eyes. The old man started wiping the running water on Apple's face while smiling warmly. "Close to the connecting portal, that's why EA was established there, albeit deep in the woods. The academy educates exorcists, doesn't it help your job? Apple, you have the potential. Only those of high spiritual power can survive in Another World, if ordinary humans enter it can be contaminated, then it needs special supervision but you don't."

Taking a deep breath and then puffing, Apple stood right in front of Scarlet. "Good! I have to start taking responsibility and I don't want anyone to be the same fate as me, yosh!" A burning spirit, the little girl clenched her right hand into the air.

The old man got up, patting the Apple's head softly which was reciprocated with a horse smile. Before long, he offered the girl a hand, hinting to go along. Apple was confused, so the scarlet red eyes like his nickname explained that he wanted to deliver to the EA gate. Going real may be okay. Hearing that certainly makes the girl happy, suddenly hugging Scarlet—like father and son— enveloped in warmth.

Smiles were still clingy, they left the old man's private room. Minimalist place with paintings meets the striking walls, depicting rows of youkai led strong aura figure—Nurarihyon-no-Mago. It's a symbol of his thousand-devil night parade, Scarlet's real father. Not imaginary, it turns out this person has youkai blood, just deserves to live long despite still aging.

Every one who passed by always bowed in honor, the aura of leadership soared that even respected Scarlet replied kindly. Amazed, respect bloomed again on the girl seeing their magnifying forcefully again kindhearted. Grateful he was adopted by such a nice clan, easily mingle—even on its leader—for the family is inseparable. Given that, Apple blushed at Scarlet and clasped tightly onto her yukata arm. Elusan again felt to make Apple smile horse again, stroked on the head is the favorite of the blonde.

Outside, Apple looked at the multi-storey, classic Nura palace. Just above it was a small moon, a dome-like ray. Its light filled the natural carpet around; incandescent stones scattered; cooling trees. Don't forget the artificial pond full of koi. Apple had not expected to leave such an amazing place for him, heading dark outside the walls etched into the night parade of a thousand demons—persis in Scarlet's private room.

Now two people stand in front of Torii with kanji Nura. After leaving the room, they did not speak until the old man clapped his hands three times. A sudden wind whipped the hair Apple—lantas he hit it and squinted— while Scarlet looked towards the wind, like waiting for something.

What awaited arrived, a goshoguruma—the commonly used cart of members of the imperial family—was pulled by a two-headed black cow. Broad, each head tightens its teeth; it bounces. The old man immediately stroked the head of the cow to the neck. Tinnak instantly like a corner riding his wagon. Scarlet opened the door, allowing the still-impressed Apple to enter first.

The strong wind again blew, taking the ox-powered wagon away. Steady in the air with a very eccentric, occasional spiky sound. Inside, the sepuh leaned back while closing the red eyes. While the blonde girl was dumbstruck, looking at the clenching darkness outside. That was Another World, different from the Nura palace because of the protection of the moon. But Scarlet left her palace, is it really going to be okay?

Their journey is silent. Maybe the old man focused on the moon? Because they were far from the palace. Scarlet was still silent, she was asleep ... asleep?! Though Apple was anxious for this old man and his palace. Upset, it feels like to surprise from the sound, but not done. Apple's face flushed red, like it wanted to say something. Knitting fingers with head down; shy like a virgin to be paired.

"Um ... Thank you so much, for taking care of me." Scarlet chuckled at hearing that, trying to hold back the laughter. Apple's shy, wide-eyed.

"I think I'm sleeping!" The girl was careless, her face red to the ears. A wild hand, about to cross over the old man sitting at the side. Of course Scarlet was holding back, who wanted to be beaten all out? But the laughter broke.

"It's Apple, I'm sorry, it's just that it rarely says that, as if it wasn't you."

The blonde took a deep breath. He calmed down and sat back softly on the side, looking sad.

"No, it's just ...." The mood changed quickly. Just got embarrassed, now sad. His voice whimpered, maybe it was a trait formed due to the darkness of the past. Looking out the window again like reluctant to look at Scarlet, Apple grasped tightly the clothes on the thigh.

"I feel like people always help when I'm in trouble. A iba? Sympathizing? I don't know, but they're not expecting anything in return, not even RedStar. If only I hadn't met him that night. He was weird, scary. But good, soft. If only I could repay him or say thank you. Why, why leave? I haven't even had time to apologize." The girl began to sob, wiping away the slowly flowing tears, still wanting to look firm.

It felt as heavy as being overwritten by concrete, Scarlet tried to take a deep breath. "It's not your fault he left because he wanted to."

"Sometimes, forgetting is better than remembering. It hurts when we know everything that's going on. Like just dying." Apple is now astonished by the old man's words. Mean what? He doesn't understand. The sky blue eyes looked at Scarlet with water damming.

The man bit his lower lip, worried. “I, too, feel the same."

Is it because of the burden of life? Scarlet is long-lived. Many people want eternal life. But do they realize, living for a long time is like a curse. The eyes of the void of signs have seen various events, mostly eating salt. Finally he realized the blonde girl was looking at him worriedly.

"Apple, why don't you just find out? The way he thought was difficult. I also hope he doesn't leave, because it's very dangerous .. danger ...." The man tried to encourage Apple but it was useless if the sound ended in a murmur.

Silent—alah can no longer enjoy the trip—it feels like to quickly arrive and granted, the cow stops roaring. Scarlet throws a glance, hinting to get down immediately. Apple nodded, getting off the wagon by dragging the bag, aided by the scarlet eyes.

"I'm going ...." The last thing the girl could see was Scarlet's warm smile. Will he ever see her again? Because the door was closed, accompanied by a gust of wind. It went quickly.

He turned his back on the imperious return of the academy's gate that would become a scavenging container of knowledge. The girl's legs were rhythmically swaying, in harmony with the bag being dragged away by force. The celestial bead belonged to scoured the corners of the academy for its vast acre.

Apple is nervous, is it forever going to rotate the white building that has been passed three times? Start dreaming if Scarlet is with him until the registration is complete, he must have rested now. Or accompanied, REDSar ....

"E-uh! Ma-sorry.” His hesitation makes forget about the surroundings, eventually bumping into someone. Finally, meet the human.

The green bead is on the paper in hand, if Apple doesn't hit maybe he's still drowning in the sheet. The young man was standing right in front of the office door, probably just out of there.

"Hm? Blonde and blue eyes?" The young man just looked at Apple from head to toe. Apple stared at him with a plain look.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. Ahahaha, sorry. Jin Vermillion, just call Jin!" The spirit baritone groaned noisily, treating the palm to get acquainted. "You new?"

"I-iya, I want to finish registration.” Stammered and uncharacteristic tone, this was the first time speaking other than the people in Nura.

"Madir .. oh! I sent Yukio alone, yes, he's the manager here." Apple nodded. Returning to his senses, now the little girl followed Jin who continued to be preoccupied by the sheet in hand. Looks like this young man memorized the intricacies of EA or ...?

"That paper ... what?"

"Hm? This is?" Jin's steps flinched, remembering something. "You want to be my apprentice until Page 1?"

...-ooO-i...

Gulita clasped, there was only a man in his late forties with a lantern. The light is still less illuminating, obviously the darkness is very strong here. However, if it were not the light's help, he might not have seen the young man curled up because he was so dark. Only pale skin contrasts. Restless, there shouldn't be a human here—he thinks—maybe he's lost? What matters is not here.

Mendelik penaka wanted to kill when the red-eyed man approached. The aura released was so powerful, it made this man drop the lantern. Gravity is strong, unable to stand. Fogging difficulty regulating breathing. What the fuck, where there are humans this strong. He had also never met such a powerful creature. Ah, once and only once.

The black youth now calmed down, knowing the man who approached him was not a bad person. Back to throw the gaze somewhere, it doesn't matter, because the gaze is empty.

Scarlet finally breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart was pounding. "You, what you--"

"I'm REDstar," sambar black youth.

Deep breathing, narrowing eyes. Right, as expected. Scarlet ventured to speak even though her body was trembling. Why is he so scared? Because of his awesome power.

"Come with me, I'll fuck---"

"I don't need to be watched."

Again the sentence was cut, it was hard to speak to this man. The tone was cold as it expelled subtly. Scarlet began to drip sweat as big as corn, suckily swallowing saliva. Thinking what words could make the black youth go along with him, one of them, could be fatal. Why go with him?

"Then ... want what?" scarlet asked nervously.

"I want to meet someone."

It seemed like the sentence chosen was just right, evident from that expectant gaze. Exhaling a sigh of relief. "I have many subordinates, may be able to help you."

The man stood up, picked up the lantern and reached out to him. "Come, we go home ...."