Disclaimer: I don't own Hana-Kimi, Hisaya Nakajo does, and blah, blah, blah.

Thanks for supporting Sequel to Kayashima! Yay, Night Fox Hiten, you've returned! Returning readers make my heart swell, but not literally 'cause then I'd die and couldn't finish this story. So yeah, lets get a theme going here!

Ch. 2: Nothing to do

It was after track and soccer practice one day that the crew sat around, moping over early spring blues.

Nakatsu groaned loudly. "I hate it, guys. It's so boring. We have nothing to do!"

"Just ignore him." Sano muttered, petting Yujiro.

"I'm serious," he persisted. "Day in and day out, it's so routine. We're teenagers! What happened to all the exciting things in life?"

"We should be studying for that Japanese history exam Friday." Sekime pointed out as he changed from his track shoes into his school shoes. "Well, not that that's what I'm doing, but still."

Kayashima wasn't listening. He was on the last part of 'Salem's Lot, and he had to see how it concluded. Unlike his roommate, Kayashima didn't mind routine. He was safe and secure with all his friends around him, and with an intelligent mind like his, he was never bored. Repetitiveness sure beat not knowing whether or not you would wake up the same person when you fell asleep each night, like he had been before coming to Osaka and forever freeing himself of haunting spirits. He looked up when he realized all eyes had fallen on him.

"What?" he demanded, slamming the now-completed book shut.

"Is it true, Kayashima?" drilled Noe.

"Is what tru--"

"That you can take us ghost hunting for our next vacation!" Nakatsu piped.

The violet-eyed child glared. "Where do you come up with this stupid--"

"C'mon, here me out!" Nakatsu interrupted again. "We've got four days off from school coming up in two weeks! That's not enough time for Sano to travel to Hokkaido or Mizuki to go to America, so we can leave the dorms and stay in a haunted house! I hear people do it in other countries and even in some distant cities of Japan. It doesn't even have to be for four nights. We just go, spend a night trying to contact spirits, then leave if it gets too scary."

"Absolutely not." he answered firmly. How could Nakatsu suggest something so dangerous? Didn't he remember Yamimaru? The possession? The fear of forever being erased off the planet by a vengeful spirit? Kayashima had always assumed Nakatsu had more sympathy than that.

"Why?" the blond whined like a child, his face a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Don't you remember last time?! Yamimaru! He attacked! Nakatsu, I could've been killed!" his eyes briefly scanned the rest of his friends. "We all could have died!"

His voice had risen and now Nakatsu simply looked shocked.

"Kaya--"

"Are you really such and idiot?" the smaller teen cried, now close to screaming. Without another word, he turned and hurried back to his dorm. Nakatsu rose to follow him, but Sano grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to remain seated.

"Really? Are you?" he asked quietly.

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When Nakatsu opened the door uncertainly, Kayashima was sitting on his own bunk, reviewing notes for the history test Sekime had mentioned earlier.

"Hey." he said softly.
There was no need for Kayashima to look up, and he didn't. He remained silent as his friend walked up to him and looked over his shoulder.

"Oh, good idea to study now. Sukiyaki-sensei's tests are always killer. I might have to borrow your notes, mine aren't very good."

"...So, are you going to pretend we never fought, then? Just out of curiosity is why I ask."

"I'd hardly call that fighting," Nakatsu admitted, "more like you yelling at me—not to say I didn't deserve it so...yeah."

Kayashima could read true remorse in his friend's aura, but he wasn't ready to forgive just yet. "Well, I'm not very angry at you, but there's no way I'm going 'ghost hunting' with you during break."

"Why?" Nakatsu's tone was imploring. "You used to love this stuff, Taiki. Then there was that one incident, and now you're dark and spooky, but you've given up the séances and stuff you love!"

"I haven't given up what I love. Séances aren't all that great anyway. I don't need to be the spirit whisperer to be happy. Besides, I still see some ghosts, just not many."

"I just think it'd be a fun way to get the old you back. Besides, have you forgotten what I promised you?"

Kayashima looked quizzically at the blond.

"I won't let the spirits hurt you. I promise."

Memories of his first year at Osaka flooded back. The fear as Yamimaru spoke not into his ears but into his head, chilling him to the core. The feel of un-dead hatred trying to claim his living flesh. The warmth of Nakatsu as he pulled him out of the candlelit room. The murmur of Minami's voice asking how he was doing. The security of his friends, Sano, Mizuki, Sekime, Noe, Nakao, all around him. Finally, Kayashima could speak again.
"You really think some part of me is lost, and out of sheer boredom, you've decided to rediscover it be going to a haunted house."

"I know, elaborate, but worthwhile I think!" he answered giving a classic monkey-faced expression.

Kayashima returned the smile. "Well, why not?"

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"So, on the first day of break, we've all gotten permission from our parents and the owner of the property. The house is abandoned, but no one goes near it to rebuild, because they say it's haunted. It's actually pretty popular, believe it or not. People do this kind of stuff all the time." Mizuki concluded, clenching and un-clenching her fist.

"You don't sound very happy about going on vacation with all your friends." Dr. Umeda responded bluntly.

Mizuki faltered. "Well, it's not like I'm not happy. It'll be fun, y'know? But I'm also kinda...scared."

"I understand," he said, "I was your age when I started doing that kind of thing. Staying at new places with a couple of friends."

"No, not staying in the house—I'm scared of the ghosts!" she exclaimed in a high voice.

He raised an eye in amusement. "More than you're afraid of sleeping with a bunch of guys including Sano on a floor, or less afraid of sleeping with a bunch of g--"

"I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF THAT!!" she wailed.

The doctor merely sipped his coffee, a small smile of entertainment on his face.

"The thing is," she started anew, "last time we contacted spirits, it was an evil one. And Kayashima was really scared. You remember, right? Minami and Sekime got hurt too!"

He nodded. "Yeah, I remember."

She balled her hands into fists once again. "But I'm not chicken, I'LL GO!" she cried bravely. "And I'll sleep as far away from everyone else as possible!"

"Yeah, right."

"What was that, doctor?"

"I didn't say anything."

So, it's got a theme. They're going to a haunted house to rekindle Kayashima's love of spirits. Yeah...I had to add Dr. Umeda and I think there'll be some Mizuki and Sano stuff too. But not too much. I mean, this is for Kayashima!! Yay, Taiki!

Please review, because when you don't, I kick puppies. JK. XD