"Does that mean I'm a space princess?" Her eyes lit up as anticipation pumped through her veins. She spun around, twirling on her tip toes. Once she did a full 720, she gave a bow.

Kumo leaned on one of the poles holding the swings up and smiled. "Sure does. Now go back to your king and queen before they get mad."

She knew her parents would worry, but she couldn't help keeping the tapir company. He was always alone―she wanted him to have fun. So she dug in her pocket to give him candy. It'll make him happy, she thought while watching clouds pass by. When her small hand felt plastic wrapping, she took the item out. By the time she turned around however, Kumo was already gone.

The girl huffed while crossing her arms. "Where'd he go?"

Before trudging back to the takoyaki stand, she placed her gumball on the swing Kumo frequented. He'll find it tomorrow.

Above, the baku watched her mother scold the girl for wandering off. He laughed, then turned on his back. "You didn't need to pick me up, y'know. I'm a big boy."

Suna dropped to an empty street. "Figured I'd come get you now since I'll be leaving soon."

"Oh? Why?" He hopped off her, landing on the sidewalk. "Is it... Is it because of me?"

"Of course not! I just need to get a few things from Lady Tsuki," she stated when someone walked through her. "Besides, that was my fault. I'm sorry―I said too much back there."

Kumo vigorously shook his head. "No, I took my anger out on you too. My bad."

"Anyways, I'm going to leave a piece of myself here for you. Use it as you wish, but know that I can't speak through it; only listen." With that, she split off a piece of herself and let it float to his hand.

He squinched his nose in slight appal before slipping it into his bottle. The sand wriggled inside. "I'll keep you safe," he muttered with a small smile.

"Alright," Suna flew up to check the time of day. Orange rays reflected off her body. "It's nearing sunset. I should get going. Take care of yourself while I'm gone."

He was about to turn around until she added, "Oh, and don't talk to that human anymore. I'll put her to sleep otherwise."

Kumo nodded, looking down as his fists tightened. Weakening a young one's distinction between reality and fantasy was something he shouldn't have allowed. Yet he'd foolishly continued chatting with her as if they were the same. Children shouldn't speak with creatures of the night.

Once his companion left, he took out her severed body part and hopped on. "Have sweet dreams, miss," he mumbled before guiding the sand up. Just like last night, scarce streams of black and white smoke seeped from windows. The baku licked his lips.

He wobbled a little while standing to get a better view of the town. "Let's see... ah, there's a big one. C'mon, little Suna!"

They hovered to the house with a black, glowing mist creeping out its cracked windows. Kumo took a big wiff when he picked up the scent of human food. Food in a nightmare? How odd. As they came closer, Suna's body trembled. Kumo looked down with a frown. "Sorry Susu," he said before opening his bottle.

It dived in, comforted by the sacred glass.

A smile spread across his face as he fell into the nightmare. There was a hushed wind brushing his shoulders, pulling him in. They whispered of common spices and herbs used on dishes. Kumo's yellow eyes glistened. Must be a cook, he assumed.

"Nanase... Nanase... Nanase..." a familiar voice called once the baku landed in the forest. It urged, "Here, eat this!"

Thick oak trees blocked Kumo's view, so he followed the voice's source in slow paces. It was the same place from Souta's dream―the same taunting voice as well.

"No, don't put that thing near me. I swear, if you―" a series of muffled screams and gasps interrupted the other person's sentence.

Kumo skulked past trees, bushes and flowers before reaching the scene. Not wanting to be spotted like before, he ducked behind a trunk. Three identical boys stood in front of a man bound to a chair. Two of them smirked while holding his arms down as the other continued to ram food in his mouth.

"Eat it, Nanase. Swallow it all down! Don't drop a single crumb," the boys hissed.

Nanase's cheeks puffed out from the food he couldn't chew. He howled at them, sentences incoherent. Saliva rolled down his chin, flying in ever which direction after he shook his head.

One of the boys groaned, then gasped once an idea popped in his head. He dug in the grass and pulled out an earth worm. It squirmed between his fingers when he held it up. He turned to the man, grinning from ear to ear. "You'll eat this, won't you?"

Nanase's eyes widened while the boy brought it to his paling face. That was enough to make him force down his food. He cringed, straining his neck to avoid touching the insect. "Get that away from me!"

"Aw, that's cute! What're ya gonna do, wet yourself?" Yuu snickered before stepping on the chair, his foot between Nanase's legs. "If you do, I'll crush this thing. Now, eat."

The other Yuus pushed Nanase down harder as he writhed around. "C'mon, do it! It's just a little bug. You like bugs don't you, Nana?" they teased.

After garnering no response, another Yuu pulled open Nanase's mouth, then plunged the worm in. It squirmed inside, slithering on Nanase's tongue like a wet strand of spaghetti. Shivers crawled down his spine the moment he instinctively gulped. A grimace immediately possessed his features. He heaved and hacked until the soil coating his tongue flew straight onto Yuu's face.

He wiped his cheek with a deadpan expression. "Oh my, that was mean. Maybe I really should crush your―"

"Stop it!" Kumo shouted before Yuu could enact his threat. He marched forward to grab Yuu's arm. "Why do you keep haunting these people's dreams? Baku shouldn't be doing this."

"Get off me," Yuu snapped, ripping himself from Kumo's grip. "You should know more than anyone why we're doing this."

Now that Kumo got a closer look, they did have similar features. The same salt-and-pepper hair hiding golden eyes. He tilted his head, startled. "No, I don't. I don't get this at all! Why do you look like me? Why are you―"

"If you really want to know, then eat me like you do the other nightmares. Maybe you'll find out. But," he pulled Kumo into an embrace, standing on his tiptoes to murmur, "I won't disappear that easily."

The baku's breath hitched before he pushed him away. He clutched his repaired straw, taking it out in front of them. "I won't let that happen."

Instead of being afraid, Yuu stepped forward until his chest pressed the plastic. "Go on, do it. I'll just come back tomorrow." He looked back to Nanase, who watched them interact in confusion. "Won't that be fun?"

"We'll play lots of games," the Yuu on Nanase's left side muttered in his ear before nipping on it.

"Just like before," the other cooed, sinking his teeth into the man's right ear lobe.

They cackled as blood slid down his neck, licking the crimson trail.

"No, stop it..." Kumo pleaded, "Stop it!"

Unable to bear it any longer, he sucked the Yuu in front of him with his straw.

"Good boy. You're doing a―"

"―splendid job at being Lady Tsuki's pet," the other Yuu finished off before getting swallowed.

"The forest tells no lies, unlike Ms. Sandman," the last Yuu said until he too was gobbled up.

Kumo leaned on his knees. His forehead had a coa. His breath ragged, he walked up to the man and offered a hand. "Don't worry, I'm―"

Nanase slapped it away. He glared at the boy, unaware of his night job. "You're one of them, right? Here to stick a beetle in my ear this time, eh?"

"No, I'm not Yuu." Kumo denied even if doubt swelled in his gut.

"Yeah? Then who the hell are you?"

The baku flinched at his question, taking a step back. He averted his eyes from Nanase's steady gaze. The patch of moist dirt beneath his feet suddenly became pleasant to observe. "I... I don't know anymore."