Yume's face turned pale as her body shook with horror. When Kiku ran to her side and saw the corpse, she quickly clutched onto him and stood up as he backed away with shock.
Yume couldn't keep the beating of her heart down. She covered her mouth with both the palms of her hands to control her breathing along with tears falling down from her eyes.
Her grip on Kiku somehow became more tighter than before as he narrowed on the rotting figure. Not only her grip became stronger, but her sense of protection as well.

What's going on here? WHAT IS THIS PLACE?

[i]"It's a shame, isn't it? But that's the way this world works, I suppose..."[/i] 
A grim ghostly voice spoke up from behind them. Yume and Kiku turned around to come in contact with a young man who somehow looked as he were a professor or some sort. Other than his appearance, his eyes were dead as an dismayed dark soul.
Yume's crying halted to a stop, but the beating of her chest didn't. Mixed emotions swarmed her. She was happy to see someone alive, but doesn't look all to lively. This made her think that he could be a ghost....
[i]"Who are you?"[/i] Kiku bolted out at him as he moved closer to Yume.
He walked past the students, ignoring the young boy's question and knelt down besides the corpse. He scanned the lifeless, foul-smelling figure without fear. He then took out a pen and a notebook, flipped though and started jotting down. [b]"Flesh from skull torn out. Died from excessive blood loss and shock. Student ID name: ... Hiroshi Maiyata."[/b]
Yume's mouth slightly opened as her eyes grew wide and turned to Kiku with amazement.

The young man then concluded his 'discovery' and closed his notebook.
[i]"Well, it's not often that I come across ones so fresh! You're new to this school, no? I detected your energy readings when you entered this nexus."[/i] He explained as he turned to to Yume and Kiku.
Just after he lightened himself with a slight chuckle, he finally answered Kiku's question. [i]"My apologies. I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Kei Tsukino, however you may refer to me as Kei-sensei. I was a teacher in life and I intend to do the same even after death."[/i]

Through his introduction, Yume somehow started to feel a sense of calm and security starting to rise. Her strong grip on Kiku loosened as she listened to 'Kei-sensei' to what more he wanted to convey. Though before that, Kiku went in.
[i]"So you're a teacher....here? Can you tell us where we actually are?"[/i] Fair enough that Yume wished to asked the same thing.
[i]"I'm fairly certain you already know the answer to that, however if I must truly be the bearer of bad news then I shall."[/i] He cleared his throat. Instead of fear, interest rose up in Yume that she released Kiku and went a few steps closer to Kei-sensei to listen attentively.
[i]"You're trapped within one of the many core nexuses that take up a mirror image of Heavenly Host Elementary post-destruction. It's a spiritual realm, a replica of sorts, formed and comprised of the many lost souls who've since become a part of this school.[/i]

Yume's head started to ache and throb again, but decided to subside it and listen more, though she still couldn't understand him. Spiritual realm? Replicas? What does he mean? The young girl then narrowed down at Kei-sensei as he continued.
[i]"Now, before you start freaking out, let me say a few things...I was once a teacher at Amazaki Senior West Private High School, and I've been studying these very halls the entire time I've been here. Whether that was weeks, months, years, or even decades doesn't matter. What's important is that I have a proposition for you, one that involves knowledge...There are a lot of secrets to this school, ya know... And I know a fair few of them...."

Yume left Kiku's side and knelt down near Kei-sensei. The young girl suddenly seemed eager to know what more he wanted to say that fear slipped from her mind at that moment. There seemed to be enough time to ask him other questions, but for now, 
[i]"Would you care to share those 'secrets'?"[/i]