The candles flickered faintly, their glow painting the room in uneven shadows. The faint scent of smoke mixed with the dry rope fibers scratching faintly against Kureha's skin as she shifted nervously.
Raikou let out a sharp breath, pinching the bridge of his nose before lowering his hand. "Sigh, do I really have to spell everything out for you? Haven't you ever watched a horror flick, Kid?" His eyes narrowed, irritation mixing with his firm tone.
Kōki bristled, his fists clenching. "This isn't the time to joke around, Crowe. Just explain it clearly."
Raikou smirked faintly at the nickname but continued."Spirit possession is an altered state of consciousness, along with the behaviors that follow it. It happens when a spirit or ghost takes hold of a body, controlling its movements and functions outright. In other words—the ghost takes full control of someone's body and their actions."
Kōki shifted uneasily, the hairs on his arms rising at the blunt explanation. Takuto floated closer, curiosity evident in his glowing gaze.
"Now," Raikou continued, voice steady but carrying a certain weight, "spirit possession can serve two main purposes: either communicating with the dead, or using a spirit to make contact with an evil or tainted soul—sometimes as a way to control it. Possession can be voluntary or involuntary, and the effects on the host might be beneficial… or deeply harmful. But in your case, Kid, you'll be alright." He glanced at Kōki with confidence, though his tone was still grave. "You've got some spiritual awareness—you can see ghosts. That makes you different. Special. It gives you some safety."
Takuto tilted his head. "Wait, so are you saying… I should possess Kōki?"
Raikou crossed his arms and nodded once. "Yes. That's exactly what I mean, you catch on quick I didn't expect that."
Kōki's eyes went wide and he stepped back. His voice came out firm, louder than usual. "There's no way I'm letting him possess me. Out of all people—it's not happening."
Raikou ignored his resistance, eyes narrowing at Kureha as she lay restrained in on the bed. Her head hung low, strands of her silver hair sticking to her damp forehead. "What this young lady is experiencing is no ordinary haunting—it's a poltergeist. And not just any poltergeist. It's old. It's been lingering for a long, long time. Based on what you told me about the rituals she performed… she drew it in herself. And now it's latched onto her, staking claim to her soul."
The room fell silent except for the faint creak of the rope as Kureha shifted weakly against her bindings.
Raikou's voice hardened. "The longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to pry that spirit off her."
Sayoko drifted closer, her translucent figure wavering faintly. Her expression carried both concern and hesitation. "Excuse me… but what exactly is a poltergeist?"
Raikou adjusted his stance, one hand resting on his hip. His gaze was unwavering as he explained. "A poltergeist is a type of ghost known for physical disturbances. Loud noises, objects moving on their own, sometimes breaking outright. They're notorious for throwing things around—furniture, knives, anything within reach. Knocking sounds on walls or doors are common. Sometimes there are foul smells. Even spontaneous fires. Electrical issues, lights flickering." He shook his head, tightening his grip on the bottle of holy water. "Alright, enough explaining. It's time. Takuto, you'll do the honors."
Takuto floated closer to Kōki, his expression tense but determined. "I'll try," he muttered, lowering himself into Kōki's body. For a moment, the air seemed to thicken—but then Takuto slipped through harmlessly, like smoke passing through glass.
He straightened, blinking. "What? It didn't work?"
Raikou's eyes narrowed. "Try again."
Takuto braced himself and dove toward Kōki again, but the result was the same—his form passed right through without making contact. He floated back, frustration visible on his face. "No good."
Raikou exhaled sharply. "Strange… Looks like we'll have to do this without that method." He turned toward Kureha, stepping forward with an intense glare. Raising his voice, he called out, "Spirit tormenting this girl—reveal yourself. I know you're close." He uncorked the vial and sprinkled holy water around Kureha's bound form, each droplet catching the dim light as they struck her skin.
"I command you to leave this girl and never return! Foul spirit—return to where you came from!" His voice boomed, echoing through the room.
Kureha's head snapped back, her breath hitching sharply. Her eyes rolled upward, white showing as a bloodcurdling scream tore from her throat. Her bound wrists and ankles thrashed violently against the ropes, the fibers grinding into her skin until red welts broke open, blood streaking down.
Kōki's chest tightened at the sight. He stumbled forward instinctively. "Kureha! Are you alright?!" His voice cracked, panic spilling through.
Kureha's body trembled—then she stilled. A low, eerie laugh slipped from her lips, so unlike her own voice that the temperature in the room seemed to drop. She slowly tilted her head, revealing a twisted grin. "You think your little parlor tricks will scare me, Exorcist? Don't make me laugh."
Raikou's jaw tightened. "So, I've got your attention now. Tell me—why choose to possess and torment this girl?"
Her lips curled wider, voice laced with venom. "It wasn't my choice. She called out to me." The sinister smile stretched further, making her bloodied lips quiver.
Kōki clenched his fists, anger rising. "Who the hell are you? Where did you come from?!"
Raikou shot him a glare, raising a hand to silence him. "No, Kid. I'm the only one asking questions here."
The spirit's laugh filled the room, shrill and mocking. "Why should I tell you anything about me? The only reason I'm here is for the girl's beautiful soul. And I'll claim it… as mine, and mine alone."
Raikou raised the scripture in his hand, his voice cutting through. "I hate to break it to you, but this girl doesn't belong to you. You'll leave her once I'm done exorcising you."
He resumed chanting, his words low but steady, filling the room with a reverberating weight.
Raikou snapped open the holy water once more and flung it forward. "Holy water of divine retribution!" Droplets splattered against Kureha's skin, sizzling faintly.
The spirit shrieked through her body, a cry that rattled the walls. Objects around the room began to lift from the floor—papers fluttering, the chair legs scraping as they levitated.
"Kid, stay sharp! This spirit's unstable!" Raikou warned, his chanting continuing, his eyes darting between the scriptures and Kureha's twisting body.
Before Kōki could react, a chair spun mid-air and crashed against his skull with a sickening crack. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Sayoko gasped, rushing forward. "Kōki-kun!!" Her voice trembled with panic as she floated to his side, her hands hovering just above him.
Raikou's teeth clenched, muttering under his breath. "I warned him… Damn brat never listens."
The spirit laughed from Kureha's throat again, high-pitched and cruel. "You don't get it, do you? No matter what you try—you'll never rid me. I'm here until this girl dies!"
Raikou lunged forward, splashing more holy water onto Kureha. Her body convulsed, the spirit screeching in agony. But the force rebounded, sending Raikou flying into the wall with a heavy thud. His body slumped for a moment, stunned, his grip on the scriptures loosening.
Sayoko's face tightened, worry flooding her expression. "No… this spirit's too strong for Raikou to handle alone!" Her hands trembled as she turned to Kōki, lying motionless. "Wait… maybe if I try to possess him… he's unconscious, so maybe it'll work." She closed her eyes, focusing her energy, her form glowing faintly.
A heavy silence followed, broken only by Kureha's restrained thrashing and the crackle of the candle lights that flickered.
Moments later, Sayoko blinked in shock. She raised her hands—solid, warm skin meeting her vision instead of her usual translucent glow. Her fingers trembled as she touched her own face. "Huh? I feel… strange. I can touch my face… my hands—they're not pale anymore." She looked down at herself, disbelief widening her eyes. "Does this mean… the possession worked?" Her voice was hushed, shaking at the revelation.
The room shuddered as a cold wind swept through. Kureha's eyes darted unnaturally, the spirit recoiling as if it sensed the eerie existence.