As she stepped out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her body, she could feel the spirit's eyes watching her every move. She fought a blush, knowing it was irrational to feel this way. He was a dead man, and she was working to see that he could move on from this world. There was no sense in getting… attached. Still, as she made her way to her room to get dressed, she walked with a confident saunter in her step. As she stepped into her room, she allowed her towel to fall away from her body. She exhaled a shaky breath, realizing that with the ghost man in her living area, the whole apartment had grown colder than usual. She was all too aware of the hardening of her nipples but fought to ignore the sensation, searching for something to wear. She settled upon a long t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants that she had received as a birthday gift some years ago. Fortunately, in the years since she received the pajamas, her figure hadn't changed too much. As she got dressed, she swore she could feel the ghost's eyes upon her once more, and she felt a vague tingling between her thighs. She huffed out a sigh, pulling her pants on and turning to slip out of her room. She suspiciously looked where she had left the spirit man, only to see he had not moved from the spot. He watched her with a faint quirk of his lips, and she cursed herself for being so paranoid.
“Something on your mind?” He inquired casually, and she shook her head with a faint blush.
“Nothing important. Let’s start looking over this book,” she murmured in turn, slipping over to the worn sofa that sat in the middle of her living area. She grabbed the book off of the coffee table, flipping it open to the page she had marked. Hercules lingered just behind her, glancing over her shoulder as she tried to focus on the content of the book. The chill she had felt in her room only intensified, and she felt her cheeks grow warm at the proximity of the man. His actions were rather innocuous in nature, it seemed he was more interested in the book than her body for the time being. However, when she finally allowed herself to become absorbed in the book, she could feel the sensation of a warm hand ghosting along her bare arm. She jolted, looking towards him with confusion in her eyes. He looked vaguely chagrined, drawing his hand back to himself.
“It’s just…,” he trailed off, and she continued to watch him, expecting an explanation. “I feel so cold all the time. I suppose it comes with the whole… being dead, thing. However, when I’m close to you, I feel warm. Almost as if I were still alive,” he muttered, looking vaguely embarrassed by the confession. She drew her lip between her teeth, setting the book aside and reaching out to take him by the hand. It felt solid in her grip, warm and calloused as if she were holding the hand of a lover.
“I… don’t mind,” she said carefully, watching as he slipped through the couch, settling just at her side. She turned to face him with curiosity dancing in her eyes. He reached out to caress her cheek, his touch tender and almost loving. He smiled gently, tracing his thumb along the swell of her plump lips. Swept up in the sensations, she pressed a kiss to the exploring digit. He seemed to shudder in delight, and she could only struggle to ignore the warmth set alight in her heart. After a long moment, he drew away. He stared at his hands, seeming to weigh his options. Something was obviously plaguing his mind, but Kira didn’t dare ask what that may be.
“I suppose we should return our focus to the book. I apologize for getting carried away,” he murmured, drawing away from her. Her lips turned downwards, but she voiced none of the protests that sprang to mind. She tried to tell herself that she was becoming too enamored with the situation… too enamored with the spirit man. However, as she pulled the diary into her lap and resumed reading, her mind could only focus on the text within to a certain point. He leaned in closer, and she breathed in a shuddering breath.
“You’re right, of course,” she replied belatedly. He smiled, though it seemed a somewhat sad sensation. Kira couldn’t help feeling as if he was thinking the very thing she was thinking as well. As soon as she solved the mystery of what kept him tethered to this diary, he would be moving on from this world. She would never see him again, at least, not while she was alive. It sent a pang of pain through her heart to consider losing him, though she had only known him for a short time. It was strange, the intensity of her feelings. It felt as if it were meant to be somehow, though she could only reason she had just lucked out in being the one to purchase the diary.
Refusing to allow herself to get caught up in negative emotions, she focused on the book as best as she was able. Hercules drew away from her, presumably to give her some much-needed space. As she read through the pages, she found herself reading at a much slower pace than usual. She told herself she was just scouring the pages for information. However, she suspected there was another reason as well.
She had never felt so selfish in her life.