I have noticed that I've seen Konna pop up more often as if she were still here with me. It freaked me out at first, seeing my deceased lover talk to me. But I grew accustomed to it, to her touch, to her voice again, it was like I was falling in love again.

Yet I knew this wasn't true, or at least I thought it was, I had someone new, someone that I held dearly to me. Konna didn't know, and that fact did not help with my newfound guilt.

It tore me apart whenever I'd see Konna, her spirit still bright and endearing. I wanted to love her, to embrace her once again, but I couldn't, I felt horrible. Whenever I'd be embracing Saiko, I'd think of Konna, and whenever I'd embrace Konna I'd think of Saiko.

It was complicated, I loved a person, and I loved a spirit. It wasn't like I could choose though.

...

I found myself walking alone, with the sun going down, its light glistening onto the road ahead of me.

I felt a presence beside me, and when I turned to see who it was, I had locked eyes with a familiar pair of blood-red eyes.

Konna was there, walking beside me. A few weeks ago, I would've been in tears, but now her presence was normal as if she was alive again.

She smiled, before looking ahead, I couldn't take my eyes off her, she was still so beautiful to me. The sun made her dark brown hair glimmer.

"Do you still think of me?"

She'd say, in her usual soft tone.

"Of course."

I'd reply, still looking at her, despite her gaze being elsewhere.

She would let out a hum, seemingly satisfied, as I saw her be reduced to mere embers.

"..."

I'd sigh, continuing to walk to my home, once I arrived home, I threw off my shoes and booted up my computer.

I was trying to find any relatives of Konna still alive. I know, creepy, right? But I felt the need to confront someone, anyone, that Konna knew about her lingering spirit.

I spent time searching up her last name and skimming through the results before I found what I assumed to be an account belonging to her sister, with an address.

I was intrigued upon finding it, Konna never mentioned a sister to me. In fact, she kept a lot of things from me, mostly family-related things, a touchy subject to many.

I sighed.

...

I stood in front of a small home, it was more traditional and welcoming than my own.

I knocked on the front door and heard the shuffle of footsteps before the door slid open, revealing a short woman, who seemed to be older than I was.

"Hello?"

She would say simply, her eyes going over me.

"Do you happen to have a sister named Konna? Are you her sister, Akane?"

"..."

The silence was loud, her eyes seemed to widen as she looked at me with an expression of surprise.

"Why do you speak of her? And how do you know my name?"

She'd say, a bitter tone to go with her vague response.

"Can I come in?"

She would sigh before stepping out of the doorframe, making room for me to enter.

...

I sat in what I assumed to be a living room, Akane and I were separated by a coffee table."What do you want to know about her?"

She would ask, taking a sip of her tea.

I'd think for a moment, what do I want to ask?

Hmm...

"I've been seeing her recently."

She froze, her eyes widening.

"You've been seeing her too?"

I'd be taken aback by her response, my curiosity spiking.

"You- I'm confused, you're telling me you've been seeing Konna's spirit?"

"Yes."

Akane would reply boringly, her eyes dull.

"What does she say to you?"

I'd ask, my eyes glued to hers.

"She doesn't speak, despite my threats, despite my anger."

Akane replied, looking up at me.

I was even more confused now, her sister had been seeing her, but what confused me further was her sister's words, she threatened Konna.

"Why would you threaten her? Had she done something to hurt you?"

I'd say, my expression showing my confusion.

Akane simply sighed deeply, visibly frustrated.

"It's something I'm not completely sure of, it's a theory."

Akane would say, looking up at me, her brown eyes glistening as sunlight gleamed through the windows of her home.

"Well, what is it?"

I'd ask, intrigued by her proposal of a theory.

"I suspect she was the cause of our parent's death."

I'd freeze, my mouth hanging slightly agape.

"Why- Do you have reason to suspect this?"

I'd ask, voice shaky as I spoke.

"Both of our parents disappeared one day suddenly, and I had noticed Konna's weird behavior that day. It was weird, deranged even, the way she carried herself was odd too, she looked proud."

I was surprised by the new information, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it, shaking my head.

"Other than that, what else brought you to believe that Konna..."

I gagged.

"-Killed your parents?"

I finished, my breathing growing more stagnant.

Akane pointed at me, her breathing shaky.

"You."

I blinked, surprised by her accusation.

"Me? How?"

I'd say, my eyes looking into Akane's.

"Our parents didn't like you, or at least they didn't like how Konna talked about you, with such love and obsession. They found it disturbing, and they expressed it. I think she saw them as a nuisance. "

Akane would say, wincing at the thought.

"I think the only reason I am alive today is because of my reluctance to express my discomfort."

She would say, shivering, I wanted to comfort her, but I was too deep into thought to move.I wondered, Akane made a good point, and it made sense too. Konna never talked about her family, especially her parents. Whenever I'd ask her about them, she would grow distant and cold until I apologized.

But now I felt disturbed, Konna, the sweet and loving girl I knew, killing people? Her own parents?

I wanted to not believe Akane, to dismiss her theory. But it all made sense, disturbingly, and Akane's clear discomfort and fear helped propel the idea.

I extended a hand across the table and grabbed one of Akane's.

"Don't be scared, she's gone now, isn't she?"

I'd say, attempting to comfort her.

"I've been noticing that random bruises and cuts would appear on me ever since her death, I think it's her. I think she knows I know."

Akane would say, and I felt the tension in the air.

"You- You think she is harming you?"

I'd say, clear worry in my tone.

"I'm sure of it."

...

Konna's warm and comforting touch, the touch I craved for so long since her death suddenly felt cold, and resentful.

The very touch that I suddenly felt on my shoulder.