#toiletboundhanakokunau

[drgnnova]

Chapter 6: Misaki stairs part 1 - Where is Tsukasa?

TW: suicide attempt

Tsukasa stood Infront of the stairs, the one mentioned in the rumors of the Misaki stairs. he touch the railing of the staircase, his eyes dull. he felt selfish for the thoughts in his mind, he was loved by so many of the students in the school but none of them understand him. his personality was completely fake, he lied like it was breathing. but he knew once he shows his true feelings, their support will instantly disappear and they'll turn against him. for Yugi Tsukasa, is a horrible and disgusting person inside.

he knew everyone around him like to keep secrets and lie directly to his face. he knew their father was lying when he would tell him and Amane that he was getting better, so he was less upset when their father 'suddenly' died. their mother, still overwhelmed with grief of her husband dying, took this as Tsukasa being heartless and a monster. screaming that, 'that isn't my son', 'you must be a heartless spirit possessing my son'!. luckily Sakura had been there to calm down the twins' mother, once his mother had come back to her senses, she hugged him as she cry and apologies.

some part of him thinks that his mother still feels that way about him, thinking all her smiles were fake and some part of him wondered if his mother would have been happier if he died instead of their father. he knows that his mother is lying when she says she ok, and happy to make them feel better, but it makes Tsukasa feels worst. because all the lies make him feel disgusting Inside.

some part of Tsukasa knows that Sakura is keeping a secret from him, but he could never figure out what this secret was. whenever he asked if she was keeping anything a secret from him, she would force a smile and say "nope, I wouldn't lie to you Tsukasa", but those words felt meaningless. he knew he was loved, but he never felt like someone's favorite, even when it came to his childhood friend Sakura.

Tsukasa knew from a young age, that the only person who wouldn't lie to him was Amane. but now he's starting to self doubt himself, Amane has been distant and secretive as of late. they had been the closest of close since they were babies, but that might be because of them being twins. he felt like he was being left behind by everyone, and he doesn't feel like he catch up to them. he feels like he in their shadow, unable to react with them.

he step up the stairs, his hands trembling on the railing as he took in a shaking breath. he step on the fourth step, like it was mentioned in the rumor. maybe the growing pain in his chest, and the ugliness of his heart will finally fade away once he vanishes from this world.

. . . (Earlier)

Amane had overslept this morning as he walked downstairs, Tsukasa was brushing hair while on call with Sakura and Natsuhiko. Amane walked over to the toaster, he was still stuck in his thoughts about the incident from yesterday with Mitsuba and Hanako. about how Mitsuba call Hanako a murderer, and that mysterious boy he saw. he buttered his toast, "AMANE!" suddenly Tsukasa yelled out.

"huh! are you okay, Tsukasa?!" Amane gasped, as he was brought back to his surrounding. Tsukasa looked annoyed as he put the brush back on the self.

Tsukasa sighed "I-I'm Okay! I said your names three times but you didn't react, is something bothering you?" he asked his older twin brother.

"Oh! Um…" Amane blush in embarrassment "nothing's bothering me. it's just I made a new friend yesterday. and have been thinking about him" he half lied, it wasn't necessarily a lie.

Tsukasa eyes widen, he didn't understand why that hurt him. maybe it was because Amane who used to tell him everything, didn't even tell him yesterday that he made a new friend. but Tsukasa force a smile on his face, the fake smile he typically uses when talking to his classmates and other students at school. "oh! your such a social butterfly this year Amane!" he joked, as he slapped Amane's back playfully.

"ow-!" Amane gasped, not expecting the slap. "I guess your right, Tsukasa." he blush, as he smile at those words from his younger brother.

but then Tsukasa put a hand under his chin, as if deep in thought "but you have been acting off since I told you the rumor about Hanako-San" Tsukasa pointed out, wondering if he could get a answer from Amane, that satisfied him and didn't make him sick in the stomach due to lies.

Amane look uncomfortable at the question, as he glance around nervously. it made Tsukasa sick to his stomach, is it because he's trying to lie to his face or is it because he's forcing answers out of his older twin brother when he not entitled to know everything about his brother. "oh" Tsukasa gasp, as he decide to drop the topic, knowing he didn't want Amane to hate him. "is it that you got yourself a girlfriend and didn't tell your little brother!" he crossed his arms as he put on a fake offended face.

Amane felt guilty for lying to his little brother, but he doesn't little brother involved with the supernatural. and a selfish part of him wants something that was his alone, something he didn't have to share with his brother. he didn't want a friend that only his friend because of Tsukasa, he wants to be able to do things that don't involve his brother. "I- I don't have a girlfriend, Tsukasa. I just want to… um hang out with my friend, he's a year younger than us" Amane smile nervously. at least with Mitsuba and Hanako, he won't be constantly compared to his little brother, and won't always be a outsider in the friend group. he knows it his own fault that he isn't as close with Sakura anymore, and he knows it his fault he's not friends with Natsuhiko.

"Okay." Tsukasa glanced away, and started to pack his lunch box. Sakura and Natsuhiko came to pick up the Yugi twins like usual.

Amane finally noticed that his mother wasn't in the kitchen, he felt horrible for not noticing since she always in the kitchen when him and Tsukasa are getting ready. "where's mum, Tsukasa?" Amane gasped as he quickly pack up his lunch box and brush his hair.

"did you forget?" Tsukasa smile, "mum's at a job interview today." he told his older brother.

Amane thought back on it, and then remembered when he came home yesterday. he had been exhausted, and his mum had explained that she wasn't going to be home in the morning because of a job interview while he headed straight to his and Tsukasa's shared room since they were little boys.

"hurry up, Kids or we'll be late" Natsuhiko smiles as he pushes his hair out of his eyes, only for the hair to get in his eyes again when Sakura harshly slapped him on the back of the head.

Amane grabbed the extra key, and headed out with Tsukasa and Tsukasa's friends. he locked the door behind them and then put the key into his pocket. Tsukasa smile as he put on his perfect act, as he talk with Sakura and Natsuhiko, once again Amane was too focused on Hanako, Mitsuba and the school's mysteries to get involved in their conversations.

. . .

some of the students had forced Tsukasa into joining the school's newspaper club, they kept begging until he had agreed. Tsukasa had grabbed Amane along with him, Amane was sitting at a desk alone while everyone surrounded Tsukasa. the boys and girls were blushing and smiling as they talk with Tsukasa, Amane just sighed as he glanced out the window. the students in the club hadn't got Tsukasa to join because they wanted him to help, it was because they were in love with Tsukasa. sometimes Amane is slightly jealous of how effortlessly his little brother gets everyone's attention, but at the same time he doesn't understand how Tsukasa can be so perfect and handle everyone's eyes on him all the time, does he ever fear messing up in front of them?

Amane was to distracted in his thoughts to noticed that Tsukasa has walked over to him. "AMANE!" he heard his brother call out, he looked over at his brother who was now, well has been standing Infront of his desk for a few minutes "are you listening?" he asked him.

he glanced down and then back at Tsukasa "I-I'm sorry." he replied, Tsukasa kept the fake smile on his face. he knew it was selfish to be upset over something as simple as this since he's loved in the school by almost if not all the student body.

Tsukasa playfully rolled his eyes, as he put a hand on his hip "you're always spacing out. were you lying this morning…" Tsukasa was saying, Amane gulp nervously thinking that his little brother might have catch up on the Hanako lie. "when you said you didn't have a girlfriend…?" Amane let out a sigh of relief, which confuse Tsukasa.

he wasn't used to his older brother being so down in the dumps, even thought he didn't know the full reason for why his brother was upset. he has picked up on the fact that Amane was more interested in the rumors as of late. at least their was one thing the two brothers can still talk about with each other "Oh! I just remember my conversation with Sakura-Chan this morning. she told me a new rumor" Tsukasa smile, he love talking about his interests and he was happy that Amane seem to love them as well now.

Amane looked up, his interest spiked. "No.2 of the seven mysteries - The Misaki stairs. you must never step on the fourth step of that staircase. if you break that rule, you'll be dragged to the world of the dead… and your body will be torn to thousands, if not ten of thousands of pieces. they say that at twilight the blood of its victims drips down the stairs, even though no one can see its source." Tsukasa was explaining the rumor to Amane, Amane face turn from a smile to a horrified look.

this rumor was even more horrifying then the Mokke's rumor, that means Amane will have to change it so no one will get hurt. but Amane was curious how or who Sakura were getting these rumors from. and he also wondered who was making such horrifying rumors, she knew Sakura wouldn't make the rumor herself even thought she and Tsukasa did scare Amane will rumors as a kid. "w-which staircase… is this?" Amane asked his younger brother, his voice shaking showing his obvious fear.

Tsukasa smile, a finger Infront of his face as he laughs a little "stairway B in front of the art room. lots of kids say they've seen the pools of bloooood!" he was saying, expecting a happy look on Amane's face, but instead he got a horrified look. Tsukasa glance down, a hand on his cheek as he sighed "Huh? I thought you liked these stories, Amane"

"I do! i love them!" Amane yelled out, and the smile on Tsukasa's face returned.

Amane was about to pack up his belongings when suddenly his younger brother grabbed ahold of both his hands. the students were leaving since the club activity was over now, and were cleaning up the room. "are you coming, Tsukasa-Kun?" one of the girls asked, blushing as she held her together.

"Nope. sorry i want to talk with Amane alone a little" Tsukasa told them, the girl nodded and the rest of the students left the room leaving only Amane and Tsukasa alone in the classroom to talk with each other. "I know you always hide your pain. and never ask for help, and believe people are lying to your face when they say they care", Amane frown as Tsukasa says these words, remembering how long it took him to open up to his homeroom teacher in middle school. and how he tries to put a strong face on around his mother and little brother, because he believe he's the man of the house after their father died. "so if you need to talk to me, please do. I want to make you feel better, like how you always try to make me feel better…" Tsukasa was saying with a smile on his face, trying to get Amane to open to him so then that they could go back to being the same again, and so that he didn't feel like Amane was leaving him behind.

Amane's eye widen, he had a look of gratefulness on his face for having such a supportive younger brother. but that wasn't the compete truth, Tsukasa is saying this like he never help Amane, but Tsukasa was the one always being strong for Amane when they were younger and Amane was Ill, after their father died. Tsukasa had tried everything to get Amane to smile again. "Tsukasa…" he was about to open up to Tsukasa, but then their homeroom teacher entered the room.

"there you are, Yugi-San" he said, once he spotted Tsukasa. "I have been looking everywhere for you" he smile. Amane was confuse on why their teacher was looking for Tsukasa, did Tsukasa get in trouble. no that doesn't sound like Tsukasa, is he getting a reward for being perfect like in middle school. Tsukasa always got chosen for rewards from our peers, because they all believe Tsukasa is perfect, apart of Amane believes Tsukasa is perfect, but another part the more logical part knows that no one is perfect and that includes Tsukasa as well. "oh, you're here too. i didn't notice" his teacher apologised.

Tsukasa was confuse as he look up, and rubbed the back of his head while smiling "I'm a bit forgetful teacher. why were you looking for me?" he asked.

"you have guidance counseling with me, in the art room" their teacher reminded Tsukasa, Amane looked up at Tsukasa slightly shock. he didn't know that Tsukasa was still going to the guidance counselor, their mum had made Tsukasa going to the guidance counselor since middle school because she believed Tsukasa had some kind of issue. Amane wondered why their mother hadn't put him in counselling after all the bullying he experience in middle school.

Tsukasa mask cracked slightly, as an annoyed expression cross his face since he hates going to guidance counselling. but then he quickly put the emotional mask on as he fakes a smile "that's right. silly me, it must have slipped my mind. I'll be right there!" he told the teacher, the teacher left the classroom.

"Amane, what were you saying?" Tsukasa asked, as he turned around to face his older brother.

Amane glanced away "nothing. I'm okay seriously, just worry about yourself okay" he answered, and he glance back at Tsukasa with a sadden and shock expression "I didn't know mum was still making you go to guidance counselling" he said.

"oh. yeah, she is." Tsukasa glanced down, but then a idea popped in his head to lighten the mood "since you like the rumors, I'll keep telling you the rumors that Sakura-Chan tells me" Tsukasa smiles genuinely for a second, and then it disappeared as soon as it appeared.

he started walk toward his teacher, but Amane grabbed his hand "worry about yourself. I'm okay Amane", Tsukasa eyes widen but then he smile, as he pushes Amane hand off.

. . .

Amane was waiting at the gate for his little brother, but after half an hour Tsukasa didn't appear. but then he noticed that Sakura and Natsuhiko weren't there too. he thought that Tsukasa and his friends must have left to walk home already, he had no right to be upset he had made them walk home without him before because of him staying back late, they probably assumed he was staying late again.

he walked home, he look down at his phone and he had no new messages. he open the door, and then place the spare key down on the table after closing the door behind him. he felt tired, so he went upstairs, he noticed his mother in her room, with the door slightly open. "Mum, I think I'll skip dinner tonight." he told her, his mother looked concerned.

"are you sure, Amane?" his mother asked him, walking over to him as she placed a hand on his forehead to check for a temperature.

Amane was confused by this action "what are you doing?" he asked, he had done nothing to indicate that he could possibly be sick.

"I was checking if you were sick. since your health is pretty frail Amane" His mother sounded worried, but this just left Amane confused. did his mother forget that he no longer suffers from the illness from his childhood.

Amane smile "I'm fine, Mum. just tried" he told her, she still look concerned, as she nodded her head. he walked to his room, closing the door behind him. he felt weird as he walked over to his bed, his head spinning. he fell asleep on his bed.

he woke up the next morning with a huge headache, but he choose to ignored it as he check the time on his phone. it was time to wake up, he turned to look at Tsukasa but then his eyes widen as he noticed that everything that belong to Tsukasa and his side of the room was gone. he got up, as he ran to his mum room. his mum wasn't in there, their was a note on her bedside table saying she had to go to work early this morning. he picked up the family photo, but Tsukasa wasn't in the photo. it was just him, his mother and father. he dropped the photo, as it shattered in pieces.

he got into his uniform in a godly speed, he ran down the stairs. he skipped breakfast, he ran outside his house and ran right into Sakura. "Hey, my lady isn't that your childhood friend?" Natsuhiko asked Sakura.

"Oh, You're up early this morning" Sakura smiled at Amane, but something felt off as he wondered why she hasn't questioned him about the whereabouts of Tsukasa.

and he was confuse by Natsuhiko, he knows about Amane so why is he speaking like he has only just meet him today. "Sakura-Chan, have you seen Tsukasa? his things are missing and the photos in our house are different" Amane asked, his voice shaking from worry.

Natsuhiko looked confuse "who's this Tsukasa kid?" he asked "I though my lady said you were a only child." Amane's eyes widen at Natsuhiko's words.

Amane noticed how Sakura's eyes widen, and she glanced away like she was keeping something from him. "Amane… I don't who this Tsukasa is" she answered.

Amane grabbed his phone out of his pocket, as he scrolled down the contact list. Tsukasa was no longer in his contact list. 'I should call mum' he thought as he clicked the contact labeled as mum. but then it said he couldn't contact this number because he needed to recharge his phone. he thought he will just go to the office and call his mum from there, he started running in the direction of the school "Amane, wait…!" he heard Sakura called out, her voice growing quieter as he ran further away.

he huff and puff as he finally made it to the school's ground. he walk pass his and Tsukasa's classroom on the way to the office, he took a peak inside and noticed that Tsukasa's desk that was beside his own was now gone. he was hoping he was overthinking, hallucinating or that this was just one big nightmare. he couldn't think of his life without his little brother who has been with him his whole life since they were twins.

their homeroom teacher bumped into Amane, startling Amane as he jumped back and hit his back against the wall of the hallway. "Yugi-San, is something bothering you?" the teacher asked, "you seem rather jumpy" he pointed out.

that reminded Amane that the last time he saw Tsukasa was when Tsukasa left to go to his guidance counselling "did Tsukasa ever make it to the art room yesterday for guidance counselling?" Amane asked his teacher, trying to hold on to hope.

"Tsukasa…?" he said out loud, clearly confused by the name. "I didn't do any guidance counselling yesterday. and there's nobody in our school with that name." those words that slip out of his teacher's mouth is what he feared.

Amane took in a shaky breath, right now he would be walking to school with Tsukasa, Sakura and Natsuhiko. "who's this Tsukasa-" his teacher tried to ask him, but he started running up the hallway to the office. "Yugi-San!" his teacher called out concern by how out of character Amane seems to be acting.

Amane barge into the school's office, shocking everyone there.. Amane felt sick to his stomach, to the principal Amane looked out of it. Amane look like he had learn horrible news like news of a lost one, he was close to tears as he holds his chest while panting. "Yugi-San, are you alright?" the principal asked, as she walks over to him.

she place a hand on his shoulder, and Amane glanced up at her. "C-can i call my mum?" he asked her. she takes a good look at him, even if he wasn't sick something was clearly wrong. children don't suddenly barge into the office like this. she reach over the desk to grab the school phone, she hands the phone to Amane and leaves him alone to talk to his mother for a little bit.

"is something wrong, Miss-"

Amane sighed in relief once he heard his mother on the other side of the phone, but then he realize he still hasn't ask her about Tsukasa. their still a possibility something is wrong with Tsukasa since Amane can't find him. "Mum-" he speaks up.

"Amane, dear is everything okay? you sound like something bad happen. are you getting bullied again, do i need to come to your school and pick you up?" Amane heard his mum's concern voice on the other side of the phone.

he took in a shaky breath, fearing the answer he might get if he ask his question. "that's not the Issue. Mum, I woke up and couldn't find Tsukasa. did he ever make it home last night?" he asked, holding the phone tightly as his hands tremble.

"Amane. what are you talking about? I don't have any other children, your a only child remember?" His mother reminded him, she sounded worried and was probably thinking that he was crazy at this point. "do you need me to pick you up. maybe you are too stressed out and have started to imagine things?"

his worst fears were starting to become a reality, "N-No I'm fine. I just had a weird and long dream last night where i had a twin brother named Tsukasa. I just have made myself believe it was true. sorry to bother you while you're at work." he apologizes.

"are you sure?" she asked him, wanting to make sure.

he nodded his head, but then remembered his mother can't see him nodding. "yep. I'm fine, you should get back to work." he was pushing that he was okay.

he heard his mother sigh on the other side of the phone. "Okay, I'm going to trust you on this. but I'll recharge your phone now so if at any point of today, if you aren't feeling well you can call me at any time for me to pick you up"

"Thank you, Mum. bye, I love you." he replied, smiling half genuinely and half fake.

a few seconds later, his mother replied "I love too, Dear. bye" he hung up after that and return the phone too the principal before the principal could question him he had left the office.

he was walking down the hallways, as he tries to figure out what could have happened to his brother for him to suddenly disappear like he never existed in this world in the first place. he walked right into someone, causing Amane to fall backwards and drop his phone on the ground. "I-I'm sorry…" Amane apologized.

he looked up at the guy he had ran into, he thought this guy looked familiar but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. the guy reach his hand out toward Amane, Amane nervously place his hand on top of the other's hand "No. I'm sorry." he replied "are you okay?" he asked Amane.

Amane gave a good look at the guy, he wondered if he was a guy that would be Hanako's type. this made him wondered how Hanako couldn't consider Amane, her type. he better than half the guys that Hanako been fawning over. "are you okay there?" Amane came to his senses. "ah back on earth I see. you dropped this." the blonde hair boy with the black headband told him as he handed Amane back his phone.

"Uh-" Amane blush in embarrassment as he grabbed his phone back from the blonde hair student. "Thank you very much…"

he help Amane to his feet, he was about to remember where he knew this guy from but then he remembered why he bumped into the student in the first place. he ran own the hallway, unaware of the paper crane attaching itself to him.

Amane realize where he had seen him before, it was a fellow classmate of him. how didn't he remember him, is that student really not that noticeable. the blonde hair boy name is Yamabuki Lemon, the only student Amane has seen Lemon interact with is the class representative Akane.

that didn't matter now though, what matter is getting his little brother back. Lemon watch as Amane ran down the hallway, he smiles and then walked the opposite way of Amane.

Next Chapter: Misaki stairs Part 2

[drgnnova]

Yashiro in my swap au.

[drgnnova]

Chapter 5: Honorary Exorcist

Amane and Hanako were sitting down on the rooftop, "I have two books here" Amane said as he grabbed two books out of his bag, one was those huge informative book while the other book was small kind of like a Magazine.

"Space Encyclopedia." Hanako picks up the book as she reads the title. she sighed "this is way to long to read" she said, as she place the book down. "how to make friends" she read the title. she frown "I feel bad for you"

Amane huffed "says you." he replied back.

"you're mean Amane-Kun!" she fake teared up, "says something nice to me!" she yelled out, as she pointed at him with a smirk on her face.

he tried to think of something nice, Hanako move her eyes with Amane and realize he was looking at her legs. "you have cute ankles!" he yelled out. he covered his mouth when he realize he yelled instead of just said it.

Hanako's eyes widen, but then she smirked "that the only thing you could think of. you really are a-"

"I'm not a pervert Hanako-Chan!" he argued back, but then Hanako grabbed him by his cheeks causing his face to grow redder. he has never been touch by a girl that wasn't his mother or Sakura.

she lean closer, smiling "or could it be that you're obsessed with me?" Hanako ask, Amane eyes widen and then he glanced to the side to avoid looking at Hanako.

"That's far enough!" they heard someone yelled out from above them.

Hanako glanced up, as she tilt her in confusion. Amane blush in embarrassment wondering if the mysterious voice heard any of his weird comments. 'wait! if they didn't…' he glanced down at his books that Hanako had stack after looking at them. 'then maybe i can try and become this person's friend…'

"Finally! I found a worthy supernatural to be exorcise by my hands!" he yelled out as he jumped down.

he didn't think about Amane, as he went to slam his umbrella down onto Hanako. Hanako eyes widen "Amane!" she yelled out as she push him away. Amane fell backwards, he rubbed his head as he sat up. he finally got a good look at their attacker, and recognition appeared on his face in a instance.

"Aren't you the kid that I push down the stairs?!" Amane yelled out in shock, as he got to his feet.

he stop his attack, blushing in embarrassment as he straighten him "Bowl cut kid. I'm busy with something important, so mind your business!" he yelled out.

he turned back to his target, and his eyes widen when he noticed Hanako was gone. "Do you know him?" Amane asked, when he noticed Hanako floating behind him.

"nope. kid how do you have a weapon from the Minamoto clan?" Hanako answered, and then she looked up at Mitsuba who annoyed expression turned into a more frustrated expression. "you don't have the Minamoto's blond hair… or are you perhaps" Hanako was sayin, but then she covered her mouth. "are you a rebellious child of the Minamoto's clan, that's hot" she mocked him.

Amane found it confusing why Hanako was egging this pink hair student on, that reminded him that Teru was apart of a exorcist, since he was apart of the Minamoto's clan. "wait, are you Minamoto-Senpai's little brother?" he asked, and then he made a click with his finger "that would make sense why every time i have seen you, you've been with Minamoto-Senpai but you guy don't really give bro-" he was saying, but then his eyes widen.

he notice the Pink hair boy react weirdly to the words 'Minamoto-Senpai's little brother', He glance down at the weapon in his hands that was disguise as a umbrella, a look of sadness cross his face. but then it was gone as quick as it appeared, he clenched the weapon in his hand and looked up with a determined glare. "Stop hiding behind that little boy, Hanako!" he yelled out.

"LITTLE BOY!?" Amane gasped, genuinely angry at the comment "I'm older than you!" he yelled back.

he dismiss Amane's comment, Hanako use this as a chance to explain more about the Minamoto clan to Amane. she didn't know how Amane knew they were exorcist were, but it was clear that as far as he knew. "once upon a time… back when nights were much darker than they are now… it was a time when they called us supernaturals 'Youkai', and we had much stronger powers. there were three that were feared above all others, believed to be even more powerful than the gods. they were the three great evil youkai of Japan. one of those three was the evil Oni of mount ooe, shuten douji. and he was slain by the exorcist extraordinaire Minamoto no Yorimitsu. the ancestor of our lovely Minamoto-Senpai" she explained to Amane, when she mention Teru, she place a hand on her cheek and blush while smiling.

"UH-" both Amane and the pink hair boy gave Hanako judgemental looks, Amane looked more concerned while the younger boy look disgusted. "ignoring the last part. you did your homework on us" He smiles proudly, even thought it was clear that Hanako is implying that pink hair guy isn't from the Minamoto's clan. Amane wonders why the Pink hair boy would have a Minamoto's weapon if he wasn't apart of their clan.

His smile faltered "our ancestors left countless powerful, anti-evil artifacts for their descendants to use. i will master them all and use them to protect people from vicious supernaturals like you. that is the calling of every boy born into the Minamoto Clan! and So! I'm going to be the one to exorcise you!" he yelled out.

Amane eyes widen when the boy jumped up and attempted another attack on Hanako, it hit Hanako in the shoulder. "ah, by your body language and how much you're overcompensating yourself" Hanako grabbed the weapon with her hand as she smile.

the boy glared at her, that line had clearly strung a nerve. Amane's jolt his head to the door, he could have sworn he saw a boy at the door a second ago, he had looked like he was at least a year or two younger than the pink hair boy. Amane chalk it up to his imagination. "what are you talking about!" the boy yelled, which brought Amane back to the fight at hand.

Amane covered his eyes, when lightning started sparking from the weapon. Hanako eyes widen ever slightly "maybe this will teach you to shut your mouth, Hanako. and realize I'm out of your league!" the boy boast proudly.

Hanako started falling to the ground "Hanako-Chan!" he yelled out, running over to Hanako. 'lightning…? so that's what his weapon does… but shouldn't Hanako-Chan know that, since she knew about his weapon?' he asked himself, but then he shook his head to clear his mind and focus on Hanako.

"this is an anti-evil artifact that has been handed down through my family for generations - the Raiteijou! it's a spirit staff that turns it's user's spirit energy into demon vanquishing lightning that zaps evil! and you touched it with your bare hands! you must be pretty dense, since why would you touch it while knowing it was a weapon of the Minamoto's clan." the boy laughed loudly, clearly overly proud of himself.

he started advancing toward Hanako "It's over!!" he yelled out.

"Stop!" Amane yelled out as he attempted to tackle.

both of them fell to the ground, the Raiteijou still held tightly in his right hand as if he was scared of being separated from it. but then Amane remembered the sad expression from earlier, could their be a story behind his connection to the Minamoto clan and the Raiteijou.

The boy had grabbed Amane's waist with his left hand to avoid Amane from being hurt in the fall, it was the first response that came to mind at the sudden psychical interference of Amane, he didn't have enough time to react or do anything. "whoa! are you crazy ugly bowl cut boy!" he yelled out in anger, but their was a hint of concern in his voice. "you're an idiot! don't just tackle-" the concern left his voice, now it was just anger and annoyance.

Amane had a stunned expression at first, but he determinedly and angerly glared down at the boy who still had a hand on his waist. "I won't let you hurt her. she's my friend!" he yelled out at him. he thought it was cool how protective Amane was, he smile for a second.

"I never got your name." Mitsuba pointed out.

Amane's glare transform into a look of utter confusion. "Yugi Amane, a first year in the high school division. I'm Hanako-Chan's assistant and friend." he introduce himself, this was a weird situation to introduce oneself.

He frown once more, as he glance at Hanako who was sitting up. "she's your friend?" he looked up at Amane with a look of disgust.

Amane glared at him, confused by his change of personality again. "yes. she is, and if you do anything else mean to her, I'm gonna get madder at you" he declared.

"huh…? wait, but she's a super evil supernatural… and, uh… i have to exorcise her for the sake of our school and for Te…"

Amane eyes soften "Hanako-Chan isn't a bad supernatural!" he was going to try and reason with him. "she even helped me!" he told him, in hope that will put Hanako's name in a better light.

"are you nut-er, you've got it all wrong… mister!" he pushed Amane off of him, Amane eyes widen as he hit the ground.

he sat up, and the boy stood up and towered over him. Amane gulp "she's not just any supernatural. it took all of my grandma's strength to seal away Hanako-San of the toilet. she's a really, really diabolical evil spirit! and look, she uses that garden shear for a weapon. that's proof that she used it as a weapon while she was alive too. she used that shear to take someone's life." He told Amane.

Amane tried to search for a hint of a lie on his face, but the boy had a dead serious look on his face. "No! you… you have to be lying…" he yelled out, but his voice started quieting down. remembering how a friend of Hanako when she was alive keeps being brought up, and how weirdly she reacts to any mention of her friend. 'no… she wouldn't have… right?'

"she's fooling you, Amane!" apart of Amane knew he was way more serious than before, because he was calling him by his name rather than the terrible nicknames 'bowl cut' and 'ugly bowl cut'. "you can't trust her!" he yelled out, and then he crouch down to Amane who was still sitting on the ground. "you're just gonna be… another…" he had grabbed a hold of one of Amane's hands.

Amane eyes widen when he felt Hanako place her arm around his shoulders. "aw" she said as she point her garden shear at the boy. "my secret's out. this isn't what killed that person though" she answers with a smile and dark eyes.

the boy jump back in fear, his earlier confidence vanish completely. Amane turned around with a horrified look and his hands over his mouth. "haah… I was hoping to keep it to myself a while longer…"

her Hakujoudai float around her, as she floats into the air. "come here. Hakujoudai." the Hakujoudai floated to her chest "you're right. I did kill a human being. but god told me that if i can fulfill my duty here. it will erase my guilt" a beautiful cloak appeared on her, it was familiar to a winter jacket for the school. "so i can't let you exorcise me. sorry." she answered with a smile, and her garden shear pointed in the direction of the boy.

"you don't even make any sense" the boy response back, as Amane noticed how his hands tremble while he held the Raiteijou and was prepare to attack. Hanako float backwards "Wait!!" the boy yelled out.

he slammed down at Hanako, but she dodge his attack. "hold still…!" he yelled out, the harsh and unsmooth movement of the boy cause his camera to fall down. he hasn't notice because his full attention was on Hanako.

Amane catch the camera before it fell, and when he looked down. a horrified look was on his face 'that boy… in the photo… it's the same boy from before… it can't be…" he rubbed his face and then he glance down at the camera and the photo glitch and was gone, leaving Amane terrified and confuse.

"hey, doesn't that hurt your hand?" Hanako asked, appearing right next to the boy. the boy eyes widen, and then he made lightening strike from the Raiteijou to Zap Hanako.

the boy was cockily laughing once again after getting another attack on Hanako. "mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha! you never learn!! this time, there won't be anything left of you!!" he yelled out, Amane stood up with the camera as he gulps, he look at the boy and Hanako fighting. 'was the odd photo. a cause of a supernatural or could the boy have been…'

Hanako had her hand on the Raiteijou, but the lightning zap didn't work this time. "This has to work! if this doesn't work then I'm usele…." Amane notice the boy's chest move up and down faster than normal, which indicate fear and panic. he also notice his eyes shaking, as he clenched the Raiteijou until his knuckles turn white, 'that isn't normal'

"WHOA!" The boy yelled out, as he narrowly dodge the garden shear as Hanako attempt to attack him.

Hanako smile as she waves the garden shear around while the boy tried to dodge. "this didn't originally belong to you, did it?" she asked with a smile, grabbing at the Raiteijou. "give it to me, and i might let you go" Amane glance at Hanako, and wondered who the weapon originally belong to you. "or maybe the person who used to hold it is De…" Amane's eyes widen, when those words started leaving Hanako's mouth.

"How Dare You. The Raiteijou is important to me!" the boy yelled out, Amane noticed the glassy look on the boy face as if he was holding back his true emotions, which made him wonder if Hanako's accusations. "I need to carry on his legacy…" he quiet down as soon as those words left his mouth.

he took a deep breath in, and a confidence smirk return to his face which both Hanako and Amane knew was fake now. "don't look down on me. or you'll regret it. Mitsuba never runs from a supernatural" they finally got his name, Amane looked down at the camera and he sighed as he notice his name was on it, meaning he could have just got his name from the camera.

Hanako made a 'oh' sound, and then she smile. "well okay.", she cause Mitsuba to fall over. he crashed into the ground, and then she grabbed a hold of his shoulder with one of her hand, and pulled the knife up in the air with her free hand. Amane grip on the Camera tighten.

it looked like she was going to stab Mitsuba but instead she just flick him on the head. "take that!" she smile "I win!" she declared.

Mitsuba looked up in confusion, at the sudden change. and why Hanako had spare him, and then he noticed that Hanako had his Raiteijou in her hands. "Hey!" he yelled out, he reach for the weapon but Hanako beat him to it, having place a seal on the Raiteijou.

"well. I'll just seal this away so it doesn't hurt anybody"

Mitsuba crash down toward the ground "after all that trouble to get him to allow me to have it… just for me to be an idiot and allow a supernatural to seal it away!" Amane felt a little bad, he walked over and handed the camera, Mitsuba eyes widen as he grabbed the camera off Amane. "uh. thanks"

he got up, and grabbed the heirloom "why would you do this to Teru-Senpai's family heirloom?" he asked, and then he tried to take it off. it seems he didn't realize that he drop his act. "take it off" he demanded.

Hanako covered her ears with her hands "don't wanna".

but then Hanako had a sadden look on her face, and then she grabbed his hand and gently rubbed her finger over a burn mark on Mitsuba's hand. she flinched when Mitsuba jolted in pain "more importantly. it's clear you aren't ready to be wielding that weapon, and I'm guessing it hold some important memories since it belong to someone you cause to call a friend, right?" she asked. "it like you don't know how to use it, you must have beg Teru-Senpai to allow you to use this. you zapped yourself every time you shot lighting from it." she glanced up at Mitsuba, with a serious look on her face "i think it time you tell us exactly who you are."

"That's…" his anger quickly vanished, as he tries to force his sadness away. "I'm Mitsuba Sousuke. Honorary Exorcist of the Minamoto's clan, i was trained by Teru for nearly two years" he answered.

Amane hadn't expect him to answer considering how he had been acting the whole time. Hanako was about to speak, but it seem something snapped in Mitsuba. "I want to prove Minamoto-Sama that he wrong about me! I'll prove to Teru-Senpai that he didn't make the wrong choice of letting me become a exorcist and I'll definitely master the Raiteijou because he didn't get too. I'll make his goals come true, by my hands!" Mitsuba felt a single tear slipped down his cheek, he rubbed the tear away.

"I don't know if my words mean anything to you, Kid. but I think for how little you had to train, you're already showing great potential. so their no need to rush, and I think that person you're fighting will, is happy and proud for you in the afterlife. me, him and Amane know you'll make a fine exorcist in the future. and then I'll be a piece of cake for you. when that day comes, I'll be looking forward to it." Hanako share a heartful speech to Mitsuba. "I think out of everyone, I would want you to be the one to do it."

Mitsuba felt his mouth moving on his own, as he struggle to hold back his emotions. "you think he's…" the words he was trying to say, felt like they were stuck in his throat as he tried to speak. he laugh "I think I've even be hallucinating about him lately"

once again, Amane saw the boy again. he was hiding from the corner, a smile on his face as he looked at Mitsuba. 'huh. that's odd.', the boy seem to notice his staring because he floated away. "AMANE!" Hanako yelled out to get Amane's attention.

"did you space out again?" she asked him.

he was confuse "where's Mitsuba?" he asked, he was pretty sure he hadn't been staring at that random boy for long. "Oh" he follow Hanako's eyes and found the boy knocked out on the ground.

"I said he was a coward who acts tough. and then knocked him out with a punch to the stomach" she admitted casually.

Amane sighed, but then looked up at her. "wait, I forgot to ask. are you okay?" he asked concerned.

"he wasn't going to give up. so i had to knock him to avoid the fighting going on longer. thought i have to admit, he is tough for only being a exorcist for around two years. but because of his fake cockiness, he bites off more than he can chew." she explained.

he grabbed the staff from the knocked out Mitsuba. "the staff.. shouldn't we hide it now, while we have the chance?" he asked her. "do you know who it could have originally belong to?" he wondered if she knew.

"I have some talk around the school. but nothing to clear since I'm always in the bathroom or garden. but what I've gathered is that Teru has a little brother who died." she admitted. "most likely belong to that poor kid."

Hanako looked at him "are you worried about me?" she asked him.

"o-of course i am! you're my friend." he told her. "and friendship is important to me, you know that better than anyone" he glance down at the two books that were destroyed in the fight between Hanako and Mitsuba, he sighed. luckily he didn't bring the version his father bought him before he died. he keeps those book in a safe place at home.

Amane wondered about Minamoto-Senpai, and how badly it must have feel to lose a brother. the thought that he could lose Tsukasa one day was horrifying, so to think his upperclassman actually lost his younger brother was heartbreaking to say the less. "… I see. so you can get along with a murderer huh, Amane?" she asked him, her hands in her pocket.

"that's…" he was saying, but then she smile. she walk past her "ha-ha. Just kidding", Amane eyes darken as he glance down. "leave the kid. he'll be fine. I doubt he'll be able to exorcise me next time he tries. and i welcome the company. of course… thigs are going to get a lot livelier around here before long."

Next chapter or chapters: Misaki stairs. (Depends on long it ends up being)

Who's this mysterious boy?

[drgnnova]

Chapter 3: Friends 101

Ps: most of the chapter is very different than the canon version. but near the end of the chapter (when the mermaid scale is first mentioned, it becomes very similar to canon because i didn't know how to do this part differently. if you really want you can skip the last part of the chapter)

"page 3: start a conversation by talking about your interests…"

Hanako and Amane were sitting in the school library, a book about Astronomy. "…" their was a awkward silence. "ah- this is embarrassing!" Amane face burn a deep shade of red, as he shove his face into his hands. "Minamoto-Senpai is going to think I'm some kind of weirdo for being into stars and the moon… maybe more people would like me if i like something more popular, like a sport" Amane told Hanako, a idea came into Hanako's mind as she smile.

"why are you interested in Astronomy?" Hanako asked him, moving closer to him.

Amane face was even redder out, in a different type of blush. 'why is she getting so close…' "Uh- My father used to be into Astronomy…" he admitted, when he brought up his dad he frown. Hanako was about to take back the question, when she noticed the frown thinking she stepped on a sore topic by accident. "as a child, I was very Sickly. so my father would always tell me stories about the moon and the stars and i guess that what started my interest" he smile, and Hanako sighed in relief. "and when me and my little brother… twin were 4. Tsukasa found a Lunar rock, he gave it to me and he wished on it for me to get better"

"i know it isn't real. but the fact Tsukasa said it was, made it special" Amane smile brightly.

Hanako lend on her hand, as she smile at Amane. "i guess the wish worked, huh?" she asked him, noticing he look like a healthy 15 year old boy.

"i suppose you're right. the doctors said it was miracle that i live and won my long fight against it" Amane glanced down. "it's nice to talk to someone about this that isn't Tsukasa and Sakura-Chan" he admitted.

Hanako tilt her head, "do you still have that Lunar Rock?" she asked, curious.

"No" he admitted bluntly. "I gave it to my junior high school's homeroom teacher, Tsuchigomori-Sensei" he explained to her, he thought he notice her react weirdly to the mention of Tsuchigomori's name, but her expression was back to normal before he had time to process so he decide not to pry.

Hanako stood up "I think it time's you try to talk to Teru-Senpai about your interest in Astronomy. since you were able to talk to me about it and some other personal stuff, and I'm a complete stranger. so how is one more stranger going to scare you?" she encourage him.

"yeah!" he yelled out.

after awhile of walking, they found Minamoto Teru. he was walking with some of his classmates, Amane and Hanako were hiding behind a corner, Amane sighed "I can see why you're into him, Hanako-San" he told her in defeat. "but how do i go about telling him of my interest in Astronomy…" he said out loud.

Teru was about to walk past them, "go!" Hanako whispered loudly at Amane, which startled Amane causing him to ran out Infront of Teru. Teru stop before he could walk into Amane, Amane glanced up at him.

"ah, you're that kid from the office" Teru said with a soft smile on his face.

Amane suddenly couldn't find the words to speak, he turned a bright shade of red out of embarrassment. he found it scary to talk about his interest, and being called a kid as a high schooler didn't help his overthinking that Teru didn't think highly of him. "Minamoto-Kun, is he going to say anything?" Amane was snapped out of his thoughts by one of Teru's classmates.

'I can't do it!'

"Are you okay? is their something you wanted, are you looking for…" Teru was asking, as he extended his hand toward Amane.

Amane turned and ran away, Hanako Face palm as she saw Amane ran past her. "such a weird kid." one of them said out of loud from beside Teru.

"that isn't very nice. he was probably just nervous" Teru spoke up for Amane.

.

.

.

Hanako found Amane sitting in the stairwell that was empty, he had his flustered face hidden by his knees. "I made a fool of myself, Infront of the student council president! he's probably going to spread rumours to the whole school!" he complain, holding back his tears.

"did your other bullies do that?" Hanako asked, sitting down beside him.

Amane took a shaky breath in, and straighten himself as he glanced at Hanako. "Yeah… their the reason why I consider my interest in Astronomy as stupid. the bullying got so bad that i would skip my classes." he admitted.

"I GOT SO FLUSTERED BACK THERE AND THEN RAN OFF! HE PROBALY THINKS I'M WEIRD!" he yelled out at Hanako, a girl just happened to enter the stairwell. she quickly walked down the stairs and left the stairwell with a concern look on her face.

Hanako got up and stretched her arms "actually about that someone called you wei-" as she was speaking, Amane blush in embarrassment as he hit himself in the forehead with his palm. "ird, but Teru-Senpai stood up for you, saying you were probably nervous" she finished her sentence, and Amane eyes widen, he wasn't used to a upperclassman standing up for him.

"so their still hope, so let's try another approach!" Hanako yelled out, raising her hand into the air.

Amane raised his hand into the air "Yeah, let's try again!" he yelled out. he heard someone clear their throat behind him, it was a lady and her group of friends. he blush in embarrassment as he realize they thought he was talking to him.

he smile a he leaves the stairwell to try again. Hanako had given him the courage to try again, but he'll try to avoid talking to loud and around people when talking to Hanako. he didn't want people thinking he talks to himself.

Hanako flick to a random page "Page 9: Do a small favor" she ran from the page, with a smile on her face.

"Can this book be even more Vague?" he asked her, she shrugged.

they stood there as they tried to think of a favor they could do for Teru, what could the president of the student council need help with. "let's go to the student council room!" Hanako yelled out.

Amane follow Hanako to the student council, he stop when he saw a sign on the door that reads 'Student Council members only, unless given permission' "I can't go into there" He told Hanako.

"your also not allow to go into the old building…" she reminded him, "and the girl's toilets but you did anyway…" and then Hanako gasp as she turn to face Amane. "could it be you're a pervert, Amane?" she asked him.

Amane eyes widen "I'm not a pervert" he told her, while blushing. she giggle as she phase through the door and into the student council room. Amane sighed, and open the door and close it behind him as he entered after her.

"so what's the favor I'm doing?" he asked Hanako.

Hanako smile "see that stack of papers? those are papers that Teru-Senpai has to finish. if we finish it for him, he won't have to." she explained to Amane.

Hanako hand him a sticky note "when you're done, right your name on this" she told him. Amane nervously sat down, some of the papers were from school clubs asking for more funds or requesting equipment from other clubs. Hanako and Amane discussed together and then wrote their replies down.

when they were done, Amane and Hanako left and hid nearby. Sakura and Teru entered, lunch time was almost over. if this fail, they'll have enough time to try one more thing. 'Tsukasa isn't with them… is he hanging out with Airhead-Senpai? are they already that close…?'.

Sakura walked over to the stack of papers, and her eyes widen. they all had written replies on them, but she know she and Teru hadn't done them. and the door had been open, meaning someone came in while they were gone. the note just said 'favor for Minamoto-Senpai', but their was no name on it. Sakura recognize the handwriting, it belong to Amane, but why would he mess around with the student council, well base on the note that didn't seem like his intent. "President someone wrote on the letters" she told him.

Teru looked at the papers, the ones he just came back with Sakura to finish before class. "seems like some of these respond are ones, i would write. so I'll send those ones out, and then I'll fix the ones I don't agree with. slightly less work for me" he told her.

Sakura nodded her head, she didn't reveal it was Amane. because he would still get in trouble with Teru and Sakura for entering without permission, even with good intentions. Hanako and Amane quickly left the surrounding area of the student council room. "wasn't a complete fail. huh" Hanako told Amane.

"If i didn't forget to write my name, i would have gotten into trouble. Hanako-San!" he yelled at her.

Amane walked away from her, he was upset that nothing seem to work. he decided to try talking about his interests again, it shouldn't be too scary. he had broken so many rules today, so why would talking to Minamoto-Senpai be scary?

he ran to the student council, took a peak inside. they were already gone, he was running he found Minamoto. he ran over to them, but he was going to fast to stop. he notice he wouldn't be able to stop intime, in front of him was the pink guy that Tsukasa girly face yesterday. "watch out!" Amane yelled out.

Amane's head ended up hitting him in the stomach, sending him flying down the stairs. Amane gasped as he covered his mouth in horror, he glanced over at Hanako, she had a weird horrified look on her face, as if this has happened before. Amane quickly ran away.

"Woah! some boy crashed into a boy from the middle school department!"

"heeey! the boy fell down the stairs! is he alright!!?"

Amane ran back to the old building girl's toilets. his head was hurting from the impact of slamming into the middle school's kid side. he still shock, it sent the boy flying down those stairs. "argh! this stupid book isn't helping!" he yelled out. "I thought you were a expert at this Hanako-San, why do you need a book to help?" he asked her.

"about that…" she laugh nervously "I'm a newbie at friendships" she admitted.

his eyes widen, "what do you mean you're a newbie!" he yelled out at her.

"I've only ever had one friend. and that because we were childhood friends since our family were friends!" she admitted, but then went quiet as she glanced away. "Wait!" she turned to face him "Why don't you ask him to be your friend?" she suggested.

Amane hit his head on the sink "you really are a newbie. if that work than 50% of the times, don't you think i would try that first?" he asked her.

"do you have anything else in your pockets?" he try to put his hand in her skirt, without thinking.

she jumped back, while blushing. "you really are a pervert!" she yelled out at him. he blush, as he crossed her arm.

"Don't make things weird. you're just a suspicious ghost is all. you say you make wishes, but all your ideas have just include every day objects!" he argued back.

a bag accidentally fell from her pocket, and he picked it up. "What's in here?" he asked her, but he didn't let her even start speaking before he open the bag and took one of them out of the small bag.

"oh those are for matchmaking…" she was saying, not thinking much of it.

he forgot matchmaking was for couples, and Hanako seem to realize as she tries to reach for him "Wait! Amane! don't!" she yelled out. "give those back!"

"waaaah!" she yelled out.

Amane had shove one of them into his mouth, "tell me how to use it!" Amane words were muffled by the thing in his mouth, he kept his hands covering his mouth.

"alright!" she yelled out. "They're mermaid scales. when two people ingest a scale from the same mermaid… a terrible curse will be placed upon them… but they will be bound together with a force like no other… it usually for romance"

he was about to say oh, but then he accidentally swallow the mermaid scale. "oh…" he said, as if this was the most normal occurrence to happen.

"AH! AMANE!" she started to panic "you shouldn't have put it in your mouth, before finding out what it is." she told him.

she reach for the bag, but Amane step back. she was confuse "I tried and tried so hard to make Minamoto-Senpai my friend. but nothing to work!" he yelled out. "Sure these scales are usually use for romance right, but their main focus is that they bound people together right!?" he yelled out.

he started running toward the door of the girl's toilet, with the bag in hand. "I was going to do it the hard way! but I'm using a shortcut now, I'll be his friend even if it means I've use a dirty trick like this!" Hanako's eyes widen as she watch him open the door. "no one will want to be my friend without the use of magic, or other factors like me being Tsukasa's brother!"

.

.

.

he ran until he found Minamoto Teru, he was currently sitting down on a bench as a lady came over to him. 'there he is' he hid behind the boxes. "uh… um… Minamoto-Kun! I've liked you since our first year!!" the girl confess to Teru. 'she could bring herself to confess to Minamoto-Senpai… but I couldn't bring myself to ask him to be my friend…'

Teru rubbed the back of his head, and glance away while blushing. he started second questioning himself, he wasn't throw away his morals for one friend right. what about what he said earlier, about Tsukasa and Sakura being better than fake friends from magic. "I'm sorry. i already have someone else that i like. I've liked them since forever, and i just can't be with someone else right now…" he was nicely rejecting them, letting them down easily without embarrassing them. "that's why… I'm sorry"

Hanako was right, Teru is nice. he rejected them so nicely, he would have let down him easy if he didn't want to be friends. so why did he make himself believe that Teru would become some horrible person if he didn't want to be his friend.

he glance down at the other mermaid scale in his hand, regretting his actions. he realize that anyone would have done it for him, he realize him and Hanako had been friends this whole time, since he told her about his interests. he saw his arm, they had grown scales 'the curse!'

he dropped, as he thought about everything. 'why? why did this happen to me? I… I've done all i could… No, I haven't. I didn't talk to anyone in middle school because of a few bullies… I didn't even tell Minamoto-Senpai my interest in Astronomy…' 'I thought that my little brother was just lucky for everyone loving him, but Tsukasa… he always spoke to the students in our class and didn't let other words cause him to shut himself off…' 'I even asked a ghost for help. I'm so selfish… I…'

'i deserve all of this… all of it'

"Got you!" he heard someone yell out.

he was suddenly underwater which confuse him "man, i almost didn't make it. any later and you would have dried out." he recognize the use now, it belonged to Hanako-San. he realize he could breath underwater. "I put in everything you'd need, Amane. I hope its to your liking" she told him.

"what's going on? what's happened to me?"

she stood in front of the mirror with a smile on her face, Amane look at the mirror and noticed he was a fish in a water tank that Hanako was holding. "Voila!"

he splashed around in the water "is my fishy enjoying his water tank?" she smirk.

"am not!" he yelled out. "WHY WOULD I BE HAPPY ABOUT TURNING INTO A FISH!" he splashed water at Hanako but it went right through her.

Yashiro chuckled "Remember, I'm a ghost?" she laughs. but then she frown "I though i told you, that it comes with a price. you've been inflicted with the curse of the mermaid. had you made someone else ingest the other scale, the curse's power would have split between the two of you. and you wouldn't have had completely turn into a fish. you would still be fish-like though. the mermaid scale only curses the person who ingests it. we called it a matchmaker because two people with the same curse are tied together with a strong bond. but you didn't do it, huh? why is that?" she asked him.

"I didn't really want Minamoto-Senpai to be my friend. I just wanted a friend that is just my friend… not Tsukasa's… just mine. but in the progress, my threw away my morals of wanting genuine friendship, i was going to force Minamoto-Senpai into being my friend, to make myself feel better… Anyone would been fine, I just want real friends that I could share my interest with… I was being selfish, I'm a terrible person.."

a creepy voice started being heard around the empty classroom. "now, now, such foolish creatures, these human are. be overjoyed, little boy. for you are now my servant. I'll make sure to treat you well." Hanako and Amane look around.

"so you're finally here. Mermaid!" Hanako yelled out.

Amane eye's widen, "this is a mermaid. it's here to retrieve it's new servant. but that's something i wont allow. it'd be bad for business" she told him.

The Mermaid hit Hanako "you're in the way, Bitch", Hanako crashed into the tables. Amane yelled out for Hanako "judging this young boy when you almost ate a mermaid scale yourself, but your friend stop you" Amane notice the hurt expression on Hanako's face, and wondered if it was the same friend she mention earlier.

"Pathetic! My life spans millennia. A mere School Wonder could never hope to best me!" she yelled out, Hanako was sitting their with a hand on her shoulder and a look of horror on her face. 'what happened to this friend of Hanako-San…?' "Now, come with me.", The Mermaid was about to get Amane, Amane screech in fear.

Hanako stood up, "wait a minute" the mermaid turned around when she heard Hanako's voice. "I know the problem of the Mermaid scales, which is why I tried to stop him. i didn't mean for it to come off as judging, but i didn't want to commit the same mistake i almost did." she explained, she walks closer to the mermaid.

"I haven't granted one of that boy's wishes yet. If you're going to take her, could you wait until I have?" she asked the mermaid.

the mermaid didn't back down, "Quiet! i will not have you order me around!" The Mermaid spoke up against her.

"is that so? well, i guess I'll just have to…" Hanako was saying, as she pulled out a garden shear out of herself. "resort to violence"

The Mermaid open it's huge mouth, but Hanako use the Garden Shear as scissors on the mermaid, slashing the Mermaid from both sides. "How could a mere fledging of a spirit like you possibly have this much power!?" the Mermaid yelled out "curse you school legend!" it disappeared.

Amane's tank fell, but Hanako was able to catch it in time. "gotcha!" she yelled out "well, the mermaid's gone, however. it looked really stubborn, so we probably haven't seen the last of him, we did manage to buy some time though, so I guess it's fine.

Amane started crying, "she; going to come back… does that mean she'll try to kidnap… if i hadn't made that wish".

"Don't think I'll let you off easily just because it was revealed that i Almost fell for the same trick" she was smiling softly, but then it turned into a creepy smile "I actually listen when someone warned me of the consequences" she smile down at him, putting her finger near Amane.

Amane spoke up "I didn't mean to swallow it" he reminded her.

"yeah but you idiotically put it into you mouth before asking me what it was. it's still on your head, I guess that book was right about you being a dummy" she insulted him. "maybe i should call you little mister stupid, from now on" she poke him.

she sighed "however. your Senpai didn't swallow the other scale. which means i can still grant a wish for you. do you wish to be human again? should you make that wish, I'd grant it for a price, of course" she gave him an offer.

"what's the price?" he asked her.

she shrugged "No idea. but at least, you'd be able to live a barely normal life. what do you think?" she asked him.

"c.. change me back, please! I'll do anything! make me human again! please, Hanako-San!" he was basically begging her.

Hanako flick the Mermaid scale with her finger, and then catch it. "That's what i wanted to hear. alright then" she put the mermaid scale on her tongue "I'll have you pay me back with your body" she swallowed the scale "I ended up still eating a mermaid scale one day…"

Amane transform back into a human, his clothes were soaked from the water of the tank. he lift the tank that fell on his head "now our fates are tied together… across the worlds of the living and the dead. I'll make it so the curse is split between us. in return, I will be taking your… Physical Labour" she finished her sentence.

"uh… what's that expression, did you take it the wrong way?" she tilted her head "YOU REALLY ARE A PERVERT, AMANE!" she yelled out, crossing her arms.

he shove her while blushing "you can't just phase it that way and then call me the pervert!" he yelled out. Hanako fell over and hit the desk "huh? I touched you Hanako-San" he cringed at how wrong that sounded as soon as it came out of his mouth.

she sighed "Didn't I just to tell you? our fates are now bound together. so treat me well, since I'm a lady you know" she reminded him.

"Yeah a lady with Daikon legs" he said under his breath.

she glared at him "I thought you said their cute!" she snapped at him, he blush "And I granted two of your wishes, So I don't want to see you being so bad mouthed toward me!" she yelled out at him, while crossing her arms.

"I did… Didn't I?" he said barely above a whisper, as he gets embarrassed "did you say two…?"

she smile as she grabs a hold of his hands "change me back into a human. and anybody would have been fine as long as their a real friend and aren't just friends with me because their Tsukasa's friend. wasn't that what you truly wanted?" she asked him. "I think the talk in the library about your interest and your dad, Also being bound to me. makes us friends, right?"

"friends…"

Hanako took a towel out of her pocket, "your scales will go away if you dry them" his eyes widen as he looked at his arm.

[drgnnova]

Chapter 2: Hanako-San of the bathroom

Amane was buttering a piece of toast for Tsukasa, while Tsukasa sat down at the table. their mother was brushing Tsukasa's hair, "Sakura-Chan is still walking you to school, right?" she asked Tsukasa. he looked up at their mouth, and smiled.

"yeah, she promised me and Amane that she'll take us for our first day of high school, and she's going to be our tour guide of the high school during lunch breaks" Tsukasa smile, as he answered their mother. as soon as she was gone with Tsukasa's hair, he jumped out of his chair and ran over to Amane and took the toast out of his hand. "Thanks, Amane"

Amane smile softly, as he ruffled his younger twin brother's hair. a frown found it way to his face, Tsukasa had the same smile as their late father. he couldn't help but think of their father whenever he looked at Tsukasa for too long. "ow" he gasped when he felt someone flick his forehead, he was brought back to his surroundings.

"Amane, are you okay?" Tsukasa asked, worried for his older twin brother. Amane was about to smile, and say something false, but seeing Tsukasa's expression of concern made him feel terrible for that thought.

Amane picked up the photo of their father that is placed on the table, it was taken when they were 4 years old. it was their last and only family photo together, Their mother and father were sitting down beside each other, smiling as Amane sat on their father's lap while Tsukasa was sitting on their mother's lap. Amane and Tsukasa were smiling, as they looked at the camera. 'i haven't seen mum smile like that in years' "i was thinking about dad... i miss him" he admitted, but cut off the part where he thought Tsukasa had the same smile as their late father.

he gasped in shock when Tsukasa jumped at him. wrapping his arms around Amane's neck, his legs wrapped around his waist. "I miss dad as well! but you have me and mum..." Amane's eyes widen when his younger brother started crying. "don't you ever forget that!" Tsukasa yelled out, as he tighten the hug.

"I won't forget, Tsukasa" Amane smile softly, as he returned the hug. their mother walked over to them, joining the hug.

Sakura knocked on the door, Tsukasa jumped down as he ran over the door while rubbing the tears from his eyes. he smile widely "Sakura-Chan is here!" he yelled out.

Tsukasa opened the door, and there she was. Sakura smile softly "Hello, Miss Yugi. it's always a pleasure to see you" she said. Tsukasa was about to hug Sakura, but then he noticed another person with Sakura. they seem to be a high school student, since they were wearing a Kamome male high school uniform.

"who this..." Tsukasa tilt his head to the side in confusion. "is he your boyfriend?" he smirked.

Sakura's face burn a deep shade of red, as she glared at Tsukasa "he isn't m-" she was saying, but then the guy grabbed a hold of Sakura's hand.

"see my lady, even this little boy thinks I'm your boyfriend. we must be destined to-" he was saying, as he goes to kiss Sakura's hand. Sakura slapped him with her free hand, causing him to let go of her hand as he rubbed his cheek.

Tsukasa huffed as he crossed his arms "I'm not a little boy, creep!" he yelled back. Sakura quickly got in between him and Tsukasa before it could turned into a fight, she crossed her arms.

"This is Natsuhiko, our parents are friends. so we've been childhood friends for as long as i can remember" Sakura introduced, gesturing one of her hands toward Natsuhiko who smiles.

Amane walked over with a piece of toast in his hand, it had butter and jam on it. "then why haven't we seen him before?" he asked, and took a bite out of his toast.

"he was going to a different school. but he attending Kamome high school starting today, like you guys" she told, giving them a faint smile.

Their mother glanced up at the clock, and noticed the time as her eyes widen. "ah, you guys should start heading to school now if you don't want to be late" she told them as she hands Tsukasa and Amane's school bags.

they were walking to school, Amane finished his toast. "remember no skipping classes" Sakura reminded Amane, Amane blush in embarrassment when she called him out.

"O-okay, Sakura-Chan" he glanced away, he remembered what Tsuchigomori had told him. how he could go to the moon if he put his mind to. he smile, he was determined to make his first year of high school better than his last year of Junior high school. so all of Tsuchigomori worry and concern didn't go to waste.

they arrived at the school, Sakura glance over to Natsuhiko "head to our class and tell the teacher I'll be there soon. because I have to take Amane and Tsukasa to the office to get their school schedules" she smile at him, knowing he'll agree to anything she says. especially if she smiling at him.

"anything for you, My lady!" he yelled out, and ran off leaving Sakura with Amane and Tsukasa. Sakura silently nodded her head and then started walking in the other direction. Amane and Tsukasa ran slightly to catch up.

Sakura knocked on the door, "come in" a voice said from inside. Sakura open the door and entered the office, Amane nervously entered while Tsukasa skipped inside with a toothy smile. Tsukasa was always the more outgoing out of the Yugi twins. but when you get to know Amane, he's almost if not more loud than Tsukasa.

the principal was handing some documents to someone, the person talking to the principal turned around. "ah, Vice President." the tall blond hair guy smile, as he waved his hand toward Sakura.

"President" Sakura glared at him.

Amane and Tsukasa looked up confused about the relationship between the blond hair guy and their childhood friend Sakura. Tsukasa smirks as he goes to say something but Amane covered Tsukasa's mouth with his hand. knowing Tsukasa's habit to ask if people are dating each other, especially when it comes to Sakura. even if their nothing to suggest their dating.

"This is Minamoto Teru. he's the school council's president and I'm the vice president" Sakura clarified, Amane made an 'oh' sound. Tsukasa bit down on Amane's hand, making Amane let go of his mouth.

Teru silently glance at the twins, his expression was unreadable but something about how he looked at them made it look like he was glancing into the distance for something or someone. "Girly Face!" Tsukasa yelled out, as he pointed at a pink hair guy, who was wearing the Junior high school uniform with a scarf.

"don't be rude, Tsukasa" Amane sighed as he hit Tsukasa on his head softly.

Tsukasa frown "Sorry"

Teru gestured for the pink hair boy "let's go, you'll be late for your classes" he told him, the pink hair boy shot his head up. he had clearly been stuck in his own thoughts, he got up as he ran after Teru.

Sakura walked over to the principal "I'm here with Yugi Amane and Tsukasa to get their school Schedule" she told them. the principal nodded their head, typing their names on the computer. their names came up, they click onto their schedules and then click the print option.

"here" they said, as they took the printed schedules out of the printer and handed them over to Sakura, with a smile on their face.

Sakura put on her usual fake smile, "Thank you" she said.

"Thanks" the twins said, and then they followed Sakura out of the office. Sakura handed over their schedules to them.

the twins check their schedules to see if they have the same class. "Amane! we're in the same class again, this year!" Tsukasa smile widely, as he threw himself against Amane. wrapping his arms around his older brother. Amane returned the hug, a soft smile on his face. he didn't know how he would survive school without Tsukasa by his side. they have never been in different classes.

"Class 1-A. I know where that classroom is, I was in that class in my first year as well” Sakura told them “I’ll take you there. And then at lunch time, I’ll show you around the school”, they nodded their head and follow  her to the classroom.

She knocked on the door,  the homeroom teacher Nagisa opened the door. “Oh, Miss Nanamine. what brings you here, we're choosing the class Representative right now" he asked the 3rd year student.

"I was helping Amane and Tsukasa. they didn't get emailed their school schedules, so I took them to the office and then took them here for class" she explained, as she gestured toward the twin. "bye. I'll see you two at lunch" she waved goodbye as she left for her own class.

Amane waved goodbye, while Tsukasa smile widely as he waved his hand goodbye. "okay, you and Tsukasa will be sitting beside each other since we're sitting in alphabetical order with our surnames" the teacher explained to them, Amane and Tsukasa glance at each other as they smile. Nagisa point at the chairs they'll be sitting at.

most of the first class was spend on choosing the class's representative, at the end of the choosing. it was Aoi Akane who was chosen as the representative. after class, Tsukasa and Amane wait for Sakura Infront of their classroom.

they noticed in the distance that Sakura was walking over to them, Natsuhiko trailing behind her. but then they were stop by a random lady. the girl bow her head down Infront of Natsuhiko confusing him, she had a bag in her hands. "oh! I think she's confessing to the creep" Tsukasa whispered with a smile, as he glance at Amane.

"don't call Natsuhiko-Senpai a creep, when you're already one Tsukasa" Amane had a fake disgusted look on his face as he glanced over at his little twin brother.

Tsukasa pouted, as he crossed his arms "your the pervert" he accused.

Amane frowned.

but then both the Yugi twins started laughing, this was normal for them. they would jokingly insult each other and then burst into laughter. Amane cleared his throat, "anyway, let's walk over to Sakura-Chan"

Tsukasa smile brightly as he nodded his head, they walked over to them. their was a creepy smile on Sakura's face, Tsukasa hid behind Amane. "she's smiling, but she looks scary for some reason" Tsukasa whispered to Amane, Amane gulped as he nodded his head in agreement of that statement.

"Sorry. I only have eyes for my lady" Natsuhiko rejected the random lady.

the random lady was trembling "and I had second thoughts anyway" The Lady smile nervously, and then she ran off, with the gift she was going to give to Natsuhiko.

"what just happened?" Amane asked with a confuse expression.

Natsuhiko smiles "this is normal"

"it is?" The twins asked at the same time.

Sakura's whole personality changed, as she sweetly smile at the twin. "for some reason whenever a lady flirts or ask me out when Sakura is around. they get scare away by her, even thought all she is doing is smiling. but it doesn't bother me because I only have eyes for my la-"

Tsukasa and Amane share a knowing look between each other, Sakura has feelings for Natsuhiko. but then Sakura slapped away his hand, and her usual glare return. Tsukasa and Amane gasped, Sakura look at them "how about that guide?" she asked, like nothing had just happened.

Sakura was showing the Yugi twins around, they ended up stopping Infront of a girl bathroom in the old building of the school. "are we allow to be here?" Amane finally asked.

"Amane there actually a rumor about a Supernatural-" Sakura turned to face them, about to explain another one of the supernatural rumors she had heard about.

but then she saw Tsukasa fidgeting excitedly, and realize he wanted to explain it. "Tsukasa"

"Sakura-Chan texted me in class about this o-" Tsukasa started speaking really fast, Amane smile softly he loves hearing his little brother ramble even if stuff about the Supernatural didn't interest him much but Science and space on the other hand...

but then Amane's eyes widen "that's why you were on your phone in class! your lucky I warned you before Nagisa-Sensei and Aoi-San could find out!" Amane was yelling, but then Tsukasa covered his mouth with his finger.

"As I was saying! before someone rudely interrupted me" Tsukasa smile at Amane, Amane playfully glared at him. "They say that in the 3rd stall of the 3rd floor girls' bathroom in the old building, you can find Hanako-San. a wish will be granted for anyone who can successfully summon her. but in return, she will take away something that person holds dear. to summon her, you knock on the door three times and then.."

suddenly their a huge bang, both of the Yugi screeched in horror as they hug each other for dear life. Natsuhiko laugh, he had scared them on purpose and then he gasped in pain when Sakura slapped him in the back of the head. "Okay i deserved that" he admitted, while rubbing the back of his head.

they started heading back to the main building, since the first lunch break was almost over. but for the first time, A Rumor actually interested him. 'a wish...' he though, 'like going to the moon isn't that too big of a wish thought maybe something small like...'

"Maybe you could wish to go the moon. haven't you thought about that since we were children, Amane?" Tsukasa whispered to Amane, Amane glance to the side.

Amane looked at Tsukasa "why are you so keen on me making a wish. but what about you?" he asked his twin brother.

"because i have you, and Sakura-Chan" Tsukasa smile widely as he hugged Amane from the side. Amane eyes widen, and he smiled returning the hug.

.

.

.

Amane was sitting in class, at his desk. the teacher had left to grab something, Aoi Akane the class representative was trying to get everyone to behave while the teacher was gone. he was alone, and as quiet as always. he noticed how everyone was swarming, Tsukasa who was right next to him. even thought Tsukasa hasn't even spoken to them.

Tsukasa easily adapted, even though their was an overwhelming amount of people there. he found the energy and ability to speak to them, he smile as he communicate with his classmates. Amane glanced down, Tsukasa has always been good at making friends. but Amane sucks at it, he doesn't know how to talk to people who aren't Tsukasa and Sakura. even thought they were twins, everyone instantly love Tsukasa more than Amane, no matter where they were.

even thought Tsukasa was love a lot, he usually sticks to hanging out with Amane and Sakura only. maybe he will hang out with Natsuhiko a lot, since it seems like Sakura and Natsuhiko don't stick too far from each other when their in the same place. Amane accidentally drop his pencil case on the ground, everyone went silent but then started talking to Tsukasa again. Tsukasa got up and helped Amane, then everyone started gushing about how kind Tsukasa was.

.

.

.

Amane grabbed his bag and started leaving. "aren't you going to wait for Sakura-Chan? since we're  having lunch together, right?" Tsukasa asked him.

"um. I'm going to check that rumor from earlier, I'll see you later!" Amane yelled out as he speed walk away. "I'll see if it's true for you!" Tsukasa tried to stop Amane by grabbing his arm but Amane was already gone.

Amane started walking a normal pace, when he got closer to the old building. as soon as he knew no one could see him, Amane let some tears slip down his face. he kept walking, letting his feet guide him to the girl's toilets. he nervously glance around to make sure no one was watching, no one should be here since it's the old building, but he here so he had to make sure. he rubbed the tears away before opening the door to the bathroom.

he entered nervously, still anxious about being in the old building, let alone the girl bathrooms. he walked over to the 3rd stall, his hands trembled as he knock on the door three times. "Hanako-San. Hanako-San, are you there?" he held his hands together, as he spoke those words out loud.

he saw a hand on the door, as it started to open slightly. "I'm here!" it was a girl's voice, no older than 13. but when the door open, there was no one there. 'it must have been my minds playing tricks on me, again' he let out a sigh of relief, as he place a hand on his chest. his was still beating fast from the scare.

"behind you" he heard the voice again. he let out a screeched, as he felt a hand on his shoulder. he turned around, throwing his hands up to attack whoever was behind her. his hand went right through her face.

he sat down out of fear, as he covered his face. hoping this was all a bad dream, if this had been Tsukasa. he would be jumping in excited about the rumor being true. he heard the voice sigh "your totally not my type. i was hoping it was someone like that hot school council president. what was his name again K- no! Teru!" she complained.

"a girl's voice..." he said out loud without thinking.

the girl's voice laugh "it would be more creepy. if it was a boy's voice in the girl's toilets" she pointed out "you would have to be a pervert to be in a girl's toilet as a boy ghost"

Amane frowned, for some reason that felt like a jab at him. he jumped back, having a late reaction to the shock and ends up hitting his back against a toilet door. he noticed how her body was transparent, her uniform was that of a junior high student, and the will-o-wisps. he felt stupid for how long it took him to connect the dots. "A-are you..."

"I'm a ghost." she was saying, that's when Amane noticed a seal on her cheek. "seventh of the school's seven mysteries" she sat down on the toilet's head. and then pointed at herself "Hanako-San of the toilet. pleased to meet you" she smile, as she bow her head slightly while holding her chest where her tie was. she had two hair piece that were triangle shape so they look like horns.

he glance her up and down. he look at her legs a second to long "is something wrong with my legs?" she asked with a fake smile on her face.

"Why are they swollen?" he asked her.

"THEIR NOT SWOLLEN!" she snapped at him, clearly not liking what he said to her.

she turned around "Bye," she started walking away.

"I WAS JOKING!" he yelled out. she turned around and tilt her head in confusion. "I actually find..." he blush in embarrassment. "Daikon legs cute"

her mood completely did a 180, as she smile brightly and her eyes sparkled excitedly. "I'm going to skip over the fact you call me a Daikon. what's your wish Boy! you must have a wish right, if you came here?" she ask him, he realize she must have been a bit too excited over someone calling her legs cute. "before i forget" she grabs out a notebook and pen. "do tell me your name and wish. I'm all ears" she smiles, as she asks Amane.

"I'm Yugi Amane, a high school student from class 1-A! I want to make friends instantly!" he tells her with a nervous smile on his face, as he plays with his fingers.

she glanced down at her notebook, she had written his name down on the notebook. "is their anyone in particular you want to befriend?" she asked him.

he shook his head "not really. it just my little brother makes friends instantly, everyone seems to love him. and I struggle making friends and..." she had a knowing look on her face, but then it disappeared as soon as it appeared. Amane rubbed his arm, accidentally causing his shirt shelves to lift enough for Hanako to see the faded bruises on his arm.

"were you bullied?" she asked with a frown on her face.

he was about to deny it "N-" but then he sighed, as he lowered his head in defeat. "Yeah. i just want a fresh start this year" he admitted to her, he was blushing in embarrassment. clearly not used to talking to someone this long and admitting such stuffs to a complete stranger.

"Hm. how about we start with Minamoto-Senpai?" she suggested while leading over his shoulder.

he glanced at her, confusion in his eyes. "why him...?" he asked as he remembered the interaction in the office this morning, that one interaction couldn't tell him much about Teru's character.

"Minamoto-Senpai's a second year! he's hot, has good grades, and is very nice. he's amazing. our school's prince!" she was gushing about Minamoto Teru, he felt slightly disturbed about this girl's thought train.

he cleared his throat "isn't he from that one Exorcist family?" he asked her.

"when he sees me, he'll forget about his duty as a exorcist and fall head over heels for me. and then we'll get marry. a Ghost and a Exorcist, what's a better forbidden enemies to lovers story?" she asked Amane, blushing as she held her together while day dreaming.

Amane cleared his throat 'this girl is clearly delusional' "i thought this was about my wish to make friends. not your fantasies" he reminded her.

"OH yeah" she laugh nervously "I forgot" she admitted.

she somehow pulled out a book out of her small dress's pocket, and handed it to him. Amane looked down at the book, it said 'how to make friends for dummies'. he looked up at her with a annoyed expression "are you calling me an idiot?" he asked her, she realize their was a misunderstanding.

"NO! it's just... if i use my powers. you would have to pay a price!" she quickly yelled out.

Amane stared at her blankly "you don't have powers?" he asked her bluntly.

"shut up! this is safer, I'll tag along and help you. i was quite popular when i was alive" she lied about being popular through her smile.

Amane instantly believed her 'of course someone as cute as Hanako-San would've been popular when she was alive!', he smile as he watched her head the book. 'tho it would have been even cooler to see her use her magic. then i wouldn't have to work for it... but would it have been real friendship if i used magic... i rather just have Tsukasa and Sakura then fake friends with magic'

"page 3: start a conversation by talking about your interests..."

Next Chapter: Friendship 101

[drgnnova]

Chapter 1: Lunar Rock

Amane was sitting in a empty classroom, cleaning up his belongings. it was the last day of Junior high school, Tsukasa was waiting at the gate for Amane with Sakura. he had to stay behind because Tsuchigomori, Amane's homeroom teacher wanted to talk to him after class about something. "Are you getting bullied?" Tsuchigomori asked Amane, bluntly.

"Ts-" he was saying, but then his teacher's question cause him too quiet down as he glanced away. Amane flinched when Tsuchigomori placed down the first aid kit on his desk. Tsuchigomori reach his hand out toward Amane, Amane silently lift his arm up. Tsuchigomori rolled Amane's sleeve up, their was some bruises up Amane's arm.

he grab Amane's wrist, cleaning up the wound with some cotton. Amane winced in pain as the rubbing alcohol cause his skin to sting. "who is doing this to you, Yugi?" Tsuchigomori asked, his tone more firmed than before. "as your teacher, I want to help my students"

Amane glanced down, he wanted to tell Tsuchigomori but as soon as he opened his mouth, he closed it again. he couldn't form any words, remembering how his bullies told him that they'll make him regret it if he told anyone. Tsuchigomori knew he wouldn't be able to get anything out of Amane. "your little brother has told me this has been happening since you guy's first year." Tsuchigomori told him, Amane glanced to the side, his frown growing.

Tsuchigomori wrapped up Amane's hand, and arm with bandages. Amane turned toward Tsuchigomori and glanced down at the arm that Tsuchigomori was still holding. "…" he didn't say anything, not even thanking his teacher.

"you don't have any friends either" Tsuchigomori brought up, Amane's eyes up as he went to argue back but was stopped by Tsuchigomori "Miss Nanamine doesn't count. she's more Tsukasa's friend than yours." he was saying, he wondered if that was too harsh of him.

Tsuchigomori got up from his chair that was in front of Amane's desk, he was going to grab something for Amane to eat when he noticed that Amane looked skinner than usual. '…' Tsuchigomori didn't want to think the worst case scenarios, all the signs lead to Amane being bullied but they also lead to abuse. "i heard you skipped your other classes again today, what's that about? you even skipped your science class which isn't normal for you, since you love science" Tsuchigomori asked him, as he grabbed his the food box which had some snacks and fruit in it.

"get off my back, Tsuchigomori-sensei" Amane huffed in annoyance, clearly not enjoying the lecture he was receiving from his favorite teacher.

Tsuchigomori held back his anger, he was annoyed by Amane's attitude, when all he was trying to do was help the kid. "you little…" he stopped himself before he could finish that sentence.

"why are you acting like you care so much sensei?" Amane asked, his head lowered so his expression wasn't visible. "i know you don't care, your just doing this because it part of your job" Amane stood from his chair, as he glared up at Tsuchigomori.

Amane's eyes widen when Tsuchigomori suddenly grabbed him firmly on the shoulders. the sudden touch startled Amane, "I do care!" he wasn't used to the teacher's raised tone, it didn't even hold any anger only… Concern. Amane fell back down into his chair, Tsuchigomori eyes widen as he stepped back, releasing Amane's shoulders. "I'm sorry Amane, are you okay?" Tsuchigomori asked, as he wondered if he should reach his hand out to Amane, or wait.

Tears slipped down Amane's eyes, Amane got up from his chair and started walking toward the window. "huh?" Tsuchigomori turned around to see what Amane was doing.

"i want to go to the moon" Amane told him, he turned around. a smile appearing on his tear soaked face "when i was 4 years old, me and Tsukasa found a lunar rock!" he was saying as he show the rock to Tsuchigomori. "me and Tsukasa had gone outside, we were talking about the moon. i was feeling sick, and that's when…" Amane could remember that day like it only happened yesterday instead of 10 almost 11 years ago. "a lunar rock fell into Tsukasa's hand and he gave it to me, he told me he would treat it like a shooting star and wish for my condition to improve"

Tsuchigomori walked over to Amane's side, glancing down at the lunar rock in the little boy's hand. 'Tsukasa probably found the rock when Amane was distracted by his sickness, and knew if Amane believed that he found a lunar rock, it would make him happy', "would you believe me if i said it was real?" Amane asked his teacher.

"… No" Tsuchigomori answered back.

Amane's tears were starting to vanish, a small laugh breaking out as he smile. "Ah ha! thought not!", already having expected that answer from Tsuchigomori. "but we believe its real. and that's why… no matter what anyone says, this is a lunar rock!"

Tsuchigomori was distracted in his thoughts, as he watch Amane run over to the whiteboard to write on it. he remembered he had checked Amane's book in 4pm bookstacks, and came across the part of Amane's book that said that in recent years to come, Amane will die. he hoping with all his hearts that he can somehow change his future… just like that girl changed her future. "Tsuchigomori-sensei!" Tsuchigomori was broken out of his thoughts by Amane yelling into his ear.

"This is my prize possession." Amane smiled, as he glanced up at Tsuchigomori.

Tsuchigomori had almost forgot what they had been formerly discussing, this annoyed him because he wants to help Amane but the boy had completely changed the subject and he was running out of time to talk to him before he leaves. "we're not talking about the moon, Yugi. we're talking about y-" he was saying, but then Amane ran past him while smiling.

"Hey! look at that!" he smile widely.

Tsuchigomori's usually good patient was beginning to grow thin for the brat. "LISTEN TO ME!" Tsuchigomori snapped at him.

"Sensei!" Amane yelled out, as he opened the window he had been walking over to before. "the moon's already out!" he smiled.

Tsuchigomori noticed the bandages were already beginning to come lose, as they untie. he sighed as he turned around to grab the first aid kit he had left on Amane's desk. "have you ever wanted to go to the moon, sensei?" Amane asked, which confused him.

"huh?"

he turned around, and saw Amane standing on the windowsill, as he glance up at the moon. his eyes widen, as fear engulfed him. Amane started to slip, Tsuchigomori dropped the first aid kit as he bolt over to Amane. grabbing his arm, and pulling Amane back inside as they both hit the classroom floor.

the door open "Ts-" Sakura was saying, but her eyes widen as she noticed the disarray of the classroom. the first aid kit was on the ground, it's equipment scattered across the floor. Tsuchigomori was on the ground, his hand still holding on Amane's arm. Amane had a late reaction, he gasp in shock. he nervously glance up at Tsuchigomori. "What happed in here?" she asked, Tsukasa follow soon after.

"Amane! what's taking you so long! we waited and waited, and you still hadn't come!" Tsukasa, Amane's younger twin complained, but then he noticed the condition of the classroom. Tsuchigomori got up and help Amane to his feet.

Sakura and Tsukasa had a knowing look on their face when they noticed the bandages around Amane's arm. "we were discussing some stuff while I took care of Amane's injuries. and then a incident happened, but everything's alright now. i think i have kept you guys back longer than enough, go home, I'll clean this mess up" he told them.

"one last question, Tsuchigomori-sensei" Amane asked, glancing down as if avoiding Tsuchigomori's eye contact. "do you think… it's possible for me to go to the moon one day?" he asked.

Tsuchigomori was silent, contemplating on if he should say what he truly think or give Amane's hope. he decided on the latter, he place his hand on top of Amane's head. this confuse him, as he looked up at the teacher, Tsuchigomori ruffled his hair. "i think one day you will, if you put your mind to it" he lied, he knew Amane would die before than but he just kept lying through the smile on his face.

Amane glance to the side "I still can't understand why you're worried and want to help someone like me. but i really appreciate everything you've done for me, Sensei.", Tsuchigomori eyes widen at Amane's words, he was used to Amane pushing him away, but for once it seems like Amane was letting down his walls gradually. "then would you.. do just one thing for me?" Amane asked, as he glance up at Tsuchigomori with a hopeful expression, some light in his casually cold eyes.

"… alright" Tsuchigomori agreed, not used to Amane asking for stuff. Amane never asks for anything, always doing things by himself, not accepting anyone's help.

Tsuchigomori was confuse when Amane smile, he was the only teacher at the school who could get a smile out of Amane. but it was still shocking every time, but it always give Tsuchigomori relief and hope when it comes to Amane. "great!" Amane had Tsuchigomori open up his hand, Amane place the lunar rock in his hand.

Sakura and Tsukasa gasped, Amane never lets anyone expect for Tsukasa hold that lunar rock. Sakura was Tsukasa and Amane's closest friend, well Amane's only friend because she was Tsukasa's childhood friend, and she had only been able to hold it once in 10-11 years of friendship. "huh! are you sure, Amane? you basically never let anyone hold it, let alone keep it!" Tsukasa yelled out. Sakura nodded quietly.

"isn't this your prize possession?" Tsuchigomori asked him, as he glanced down at the lunar rock in his hand.

Amane smiled, his hands behind his back. "just something to remind you of me, when i go to the moon in the future. because that will definitely come true in the future just like you said it will. I'll just have to put my mind to it!"

"ah! it's already this late!" Amane gasped as he looked down at his watch. "Bye Sensei!" he yelled out, as he ran toward the classroom's door, grabbing Tsukasa's arm on the way, and Tsukasa grabbed onto Sakura's arm.

as Amane ran out of the door, he turned around as he waved goodbye to Tsuchigomori. Tsuchigomori returned the gestured, smiling as he waved goodbye to his students. the twins were in his class, Sakura was a high school student but she was there childhood friend so she walks home with them.

once the door close, Tsuchigomori fell into his seat at his desk in the classroom. he held his hands together, the lunar rock in between his hands, as he lead his head on his hands. "why… must he die so young. he'll still be just a child when he dies…".

Next Chapter: Hanako-San of the bathroom.