The next time Yuu opened his eyes, warm light surrounded him. He was alone, floating through a misty haze. Soft yellows and whites forced him to adjust to the sudden brightness until his gaze landed on one small orb, flashing in the distance. It reminded the ghost of one of the many stars he witnessed during his midnight hauntings. After looking for any sign of his counterpart, he drifted toward the object.

"Is he okay?" Yuu mumbled despite the lingering pain swelling in his gut. In essence he felt as if he betrayed himself, even if Kumo had no recollection of their time together. However, that was about to change. They were once again one and would stay as such for however much time they had left.

In response, a voice floated to the surface of his mind. It's too bright, turn the lights off.

Yuu gave it the benefit of doubt and focused back on the fake star hidden among fog. Maybe that's him, the ghost pondered. He drifted forward in order to find out.

Baku, baku... why's he glowing like that? Is this what happens when we become one? The closer he flew, the more he questioned. He wasn't sure of what happened between when the baku embraced him and now, other than a glow enwrapping them both.

Still, Yuu soared through clouds and fog until the star stood in front of him, golden light shining intensely.

After shielding his eyes with his hand, he called, "Hey! Baku?"

No matter how many times he called, it didn't resond. The star only continued to shimmer at its own pace.

Yuu grumbled a few vulgar curses. He tugged on the suspenders holding his shorts up, then reached for the glowing object.

No! his mind screamed, don't touch it. Just wat―

The voice's warning went in Yuu's ear and out the other as his fingers brushed what he assumed to be their soul. Afterwards, a shiver crawled down his spine once bursts of wind hit his bare legs. He closed his eyes in defense. When they opened, Yuu was inside of the orb. Warmth embraced his entire body, reminding him of the sunrays he longed to feel against his skin.

Don't say a word, his head whispered once Yuu was reduced to an embodiment of light. Just keep listening.

At that, a smile crept on Yuu's face. You're him, aren't you?

The ghost swore he heard himself chuckle. Took you long enough. Now shush, please. This is where our pasts separate―how 'I' came to be.

Twenty years ago, mere moments after their death, Yuu's hollow soul wandered between Earth and beyond until Lady Tsuki took it under her care. She appeared from behind a cloud, head hidden by a thick golden veil.

Her arms traced the soul's shape until it rested in her palm. Lady Tsuki's pale skin, though resembling the moon, gave the soul a sense of warmth and comfort. It nestled itself in her palms, with Yuu and Kumo watching from inside.

"How nice," it seemed to whisper. Indeed, their past life's lack of kindness and mercy skewed the soul's judgement of others. It didn't think it deserved anything other than cold, bleak neglect.

Maybe that was why it opened up to the goddess so quickly, unaware of her brutal nature.

She tilted her head with a sigh before lifting her veil up. A blank face stared back at the ball of light. Despite having no facial features, her voice reverberated through its ears like no other. Soft and gentle, Lady Tsuki uttered, "Poor soul, tormented by human foolery. You, driven to the edge, have abandoned your past."

The soul's light dimmed, remembering how its life ended. "I... I'm sorry. I couldn't take it anymore."

"I have seen your struggles. However, you will not receive my mercy. Instead of allowing time to heal your wounds, you've made them worse." Lady Tsuki pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Not only for you, but your loved ones as well. For that, you must be disciplined."

Inside, Yuu's fist tightened. Oh, I remember this. That little cu―

Hush. We have to acknowledge our mistakes. Kumo remembered this place as well, which was why they watched their memories play so vividly.

Acknowledge my ass.

Trust me, I do. Their lips curved into a smirk. It's a very handsome one, if I do say so myself.

That's not what I meant!

Before they could argue any further, their former self protested. "Why should I be punished? It's their fault I died."

"Maybe so, but you chose to let it consume you. For that, you must be dealt with properly. I have nothing against you, this is simply how the world works." As she spoke, a set of glaring eyes and a scowl appeared on her face. The same expression constantly etched into their wicked mother's features.

"It appears you are still chained to your past. Enough for you to compare me to your mother." With a sigh, she averted her newfound eyes. "Then I will lift the burden of your memories. You will be under my care as a―"

"No! I want to remember." The soul's light intensified, forcing Lady Tsuki to shield her face. "I want them to suffer just like I did. They should all grovel in the ground and beg for forgiveness at my funeral."

"You're being quite an inconvenience. Moreso the reason to dispose of your memories, I suppose. Now then," the goddess said before cupping her hands under them. "Shall we begin?"

Kumo and Yuu sensed the spirit's confliction. Its logic clashed with its raw emotions. On one hand, her words made perfect sense. Besides, forgetting everything seemed better than holding on to painful memories. Yet, it knew it would never forgive them for as long as it lived after death.

Lady Tsuki, aware of this, hesitated for only a second. However, she refused to be swayed by a vengeful heart. It was her duty to care for and handle all who had lost their way, including this pesky one. She inhaled, then began to chant, "O pitiful lost soul, you whose untimely death has brought pain to others. In return, your rebirth will not be in the land of the living. You shall remain in Purgatory as a creature of the night until you return to ashes."

No, no, no, no, not this again! The voice in Yuu and Kumo's body screamed, although neither were sure who thought it. It's okay. We're together again, remember? he comforted himself.

Her hands clasped around them, yet the soul didn't want to give in. At least, part of it didn't. As light encased them, the spirit broke off a part of itself―full of the emotion and passion it wasn't ready to give up yet. It slipped through the cracks of Lady Tsuki's slender fingers and returned to the only place it knew as home.

Meanwhile, the remainder of their soul allowed the light to wash over its body. After all, it was punished most of its life for existing. Of course there'd be more in death, it figured.

After her work was finished, the soul took on the form of a boy resembling his past body albeit somewhat smaller. As if awoken from a trance, it sat up in Lady Tsuki's hand.

She removed her other hand in time to see her craft flinch at the exposure to brightness. "How do you feel?" she asked, genuinely curious.

It looked around after its eyes adjusted, then squinted at Lady Tsuki. "Who... Who are you? Who am I? Where is this? What―"

"I am known as Lady Tsuki in these parts. As for the rest of your questions, that is for you to decide. Your name, this place and whatever else piques your interest, you must discover the answer on your own." She brought her hands to her sides and allowed the being to grow to its former size. "All I can tell you is that you are a baku. A creature that needs to devour nightmares and the like for all of eternity. Otherwise, you will perish."

It pushed a finger on its cheek, pouting. "That doesn't sound fun. If I need nightmares to survive then I guess I'll do it."

"Glad we've come to an agreement."

He spoke carefully, growing accustomed to his existence and surroundings. His body still held an afterglow, though it traced the outline of his bare state. "So, I can choose any name I want?"

Lady Tsuki gave a faint smile. "Indeed. It's the least I can do."

"In that case, I want it to move freely on the tongue, like these clouds. Something simple." It hummed in thought, chin resting between his thumb and index finger. "How about... Kumo? It means 'cloud' in Japanese, correct? Or was it 'spider'..."

"In pronunciation it means both, but when written can only mean one or the other," she clarified, face wiped clean once more. "What a troublesome language, truly."

It shook its head. "I like it. The name, I mean. Spiders are scary, but clouds are nice and fluffy. I can be both."

"'Kumo' it is."

'Kumo' smiled at her, then looked down. "Ah, it appears that I'm a boy. I'm also naked."