Kojo walked alongside Yukio, their footsteps echoing through the quiet streets of the Capital. It was sunset, and the warm sunlight cast long shadows behind them as they walked, and the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Even though the city had been attacked, it still remained beautiful even in the midst of the rubble.
There was silence as Yuki and Kojo walked. Yuki was quiet but was secretly happy that she had met another from her previous life. She had traveled the world in accordance with her duties as a Knight of the church, yet she seldom met an otherworlder. Most of them were delirious, while the others, though truly reincarnated, were evil individuals who were trying to use underhanded means to succeed in this world. She had made it a part of her mission to stop such individuals from using the knowledge from the previous world to corrupt this one. It wasn't too hard a task, as even hearing that someone had come from another world was as rare as seeing a fish walk on land. You know what? Maybe that wouldn't be the best example, she thought with a faint smile.
Kojo, on the other hand, was at a loss for words. He didn't know how to face her. His head was now filled with different scenarios and questions.
How did she get here? How old is she? Is Yukio her real name? Is she even a girl?
(Stop fooling around. If you want answers, just ask; she's standing right there.) Sysia scolded.
"Yukio, can I ask you something?" Kojo said, breaking the silence.
Yukio's gaze remained fixed ahead, her expression serene.
"Of course, Kojo," she replied.
"How... How did you come to this world?" Kojo asked.
Yukio's eyes fluttered closed, and a faint smile touched her lips. "It's a story I've never shared with anyone."
(Be respectful, idiot. This isn't a joke.)
"What did I do?" Kojo thought.
"I was reincarnated into Gaia 22 years ago," Yukio began, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I was 15 years old when it happened. Sure, my life wasn't perfect, but I had friends, a dedicated mother, and my elder sister, Orihime, whom I admire deeply, though she didn't seem to give me much attention and was busy living her life. She was about to finish high school and didn't think of me that much. Our parents were busy running her company and were seldom at home, though they made sure to spend time with us whenever they could."
"You just said your life wasn't perfect, yet your parents owned a company. How is that not perfect? Unlike me, who grew up in a small apartment with my little sister, you were doted on."
(Now's not the time to interrupt.
Anyway, what's the name of the company they were running? I should have data on it.)
"Dawn Enterprises," Yukio responded.
Kojo instantly froze. Dawn Enterprises? That was the same group that had kidnapped him and used him as a guinea pig in their messed-up experiment, knowing full well he might not survive.
So that's why her name sounded so familiar.
Hayashi. The director who oversaw the experiment was a woman named Dr. Hayashi. According to Yuki's story, she was a nice and lovely person. Why would she stoop to kidnapping people for experiments?
"Kojo?" Yuki's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about what I would do if I lived your life," Kojo said, then hurriedly enquired about how she came here, trying to change the subject.
"Wait, don't tell her parents used them as part of the experiment?"
"I was walking home from school with my sister one day. She was fighting with her boyfriend and didn't pay attention to the road and crossed while the lights went green. She was so absentminded that she was nearly run over by a speeding car, but I rushed forward and pushed her out of the way."
"So you died trying to save your older sister, so what happened?"
"Oh, we... both got knocked down by a truck that was trying to overtake the first car."
Kojo's eyes widened, and his mouth twitched.
"I'm so sorry, Yukio," he said as he tried to control himself, putting his hand on his mouth. He failed and burst out laughing. He laughed so much that he couldn't breathe. Yuki was not amused. She made a quick movement with a clenched fist, and instantly Kojo fell silent.
"The Goddess saw my soul as pure, and she reincarnated me, giving me her Grace – the skill to heal and protect," Yuki continued as Kojo followed, tearfully massaging his swollen head.
(Serves you right.)
Yukio's expression softened, and she continued, "I lived in this world for five years before Orihime was reborn. Due to this, I think I died first, and the difference in the flow of time across worlds is what led to me being born before her. Our mother passed away during childbirth, and our father... had already left us. The Church of Undying Light took us in, raising us as their own." They turned a corner, and Yukio waved back at a group of children that called out and waved at her.
"I was chosen by the Goddess, destined to be her hand and representative in the mortal plane. The Pope couldn't fulfill certain duties, so I carried the weight of those responsibilities."
Kojo's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "And Orihime?"
Yukio's smile returned, tinged with sadness. "She followed me. I think it's because we were the only ones in this new place, but we became closer than we had been in our previous life. I excelled in various fields due to me being graced by the goddess, but she tried her best to keep up. She trained alongside me in the holy temple, and we became inseparable, unlike how we were in our past life."
They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves as the wind blew through the nearby trees.
"What was it like, growing up in the Church?" Kojo asked out of curiosity but also sympathetic towards Yuki.
Yukio's gaze drifted into the past. "It was... complicated. We were raised with the weight of our duties, but the Church provided us with a sense of family. The sisters and priests became our surrogate parents, guiding us on our path."
They had arrived at the town square and stood in front of a large fountain under the statue of one of the past kings of Archadia. Kojo had forgotten his name. Not that he cared. He took out a coin from his pocket and tossed it in the water. Yuki smiled as this action reminded her of Earth.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. The Bishop wishes to meet with you. He said I should inform you to come and see him anytime you're free," Yuki said, turning to him.
"Yeah, sure, let's go. Might as well get it over with," Kojo said with a shrug.
(Don't be flippant, Kojo. Show some respect.)
Yukio's gaze lingered on Kojo's face before nodding. "Very well. Let's go."
They turned and moved in the direction of the Chapel.
"Now you can tell me how you ended up here," Yuki said. "Little brother."
"Little brother? I'm older than you."
"Oh?"
"I was older in your previous life. I'm older than you here."
"But I was here first."
"And so?"
"Okay, I'll call you Pops."
(I think that works.)
"Oh, hell nah!"
This teasing was a sign that the two had grown closer. Kojo was, however, unsure of how to reveal his origins, as it involved Yuki's parents.