HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Ne...? What's with all those pointy things on your hands..? Is that a flaming torch I see..? Hahaha... You all must be mad about me updating late...again.. Well, you just have to get used to it! I got writer's block right after my vacation and I'm working on my other fic... I'm gonna be a third year student at Junior High this year, and I have to study my butt off so that I can get to that High School I wanted and not to mention all the money I might receive from my school if I get straight A's... Plus the fact that I'm on the Student Council committee now, I'm gonna be as busy as ever! So yeah, updates are gonna be sloooooo~w.. But it still depends if fate, studies, student council works, club meetings and writer's block go easy on me.. Pray with me...
And I'm sure that everyone has heard about the tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan... Let's pray for the country's well being... And Yoshihiro Togashi-sama and importantly, Megumi Ogata-sama are safe! Thank God…
This chapter is for my adorable imouto-chan, Felicia! Thanks for the ideas and for making this fic more alive... I hope you'll love this one, lil' sis... To Ida-sensei, you are incredible! I love you so much!
Disclaimer: YYH is the trademark for awesomeness, poetry and the foundation of joy and ideas... And the incredible man who made it all is Yoshihiro Togashi... Gucci belongs to some handbag company, Vaio belongs to Sony, Lorenzo belongs to...um...Lorenzo..? The anime I spoke of in this chapter belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi and Adam Lambert, Maaya Sakamoto, X Japan and the super boy band, Arashi belongs to themselves...
Warning: Mild language, a little OOC, OCs and AU
Days without Lies
"The past isn't something that you can just throw away, you have to carry it like a burden and care it like a treasure."
Day 3: Welcome to Shiritsu Mieou Gakuen
The dark secrets he had kept for so long
The memories he never treasured
Under his beautiful face
Lies it all
It was already been a week since Youko and I was separated. Although it's inconspicuous, he had planned everything. He intentionally wanted the curse after we moved to the bigger house. That explained why he didn't want to do the curse at the prior full moon. After he officially became a part of our family, Kaa-san brought him shopping. "It's part of the guise," she stated before she practically ran to the car. But we knew better. She's just using it as an excuse to go shopping. After their trip, she was in euphoria.
"Everyone was staring at Youko. They even gave us a 60% discount on a Gucci handbag! A Gucci handbag!" she said, showing her new handbag in triumphal. "You should see how the assistant fainted after Youko gave his tested shirt to her. Imagine if I brought both of you. We should bring you shopping more often, dear." I'm exultant that she had indulged herself to shopping, but using our looks to stun people doesn't seem appropriate.
After Kaa-san decided to put Youko and me in the same room, he bought his own things the day after. He bought a bed, a study table, a Vaio laptop, a mini fridge, a sound system and a mountain of video games much to Shuu-toutou's joy. I appreciate the work he does to make the perfect disguise but he had gone overboard. Yesterday, a Lorenzo lorry came and sent a two seat sofa and a coffee table. Thankfully that the room managed to fit him and his things, like he kept saying. At least he used his own money. And with his own money, I mean he mortgaged a minor portion of his treasures from Makai. It's bad enough that I don't share thoughts with him anymore. Who knows what else did he have planned?
"Tadaima," I called as I opened the door. When I walked to the living room, the scene that greeted me was trite. I sighed. Youko was lying on the sofa, remote control in one hand with his laptop on the coffee table. He kept his human appearances most of the time. Adapting to the difference I assume. He didn't changed much though. He exchanged his kitsune ears with human ones and he hides his tail. He made himself looked younger, like a teenager and shorter than his usual seven feet height but made sure that he was a good one inch higher than me. He also changed his hair style a little but even if he dyed his hair aubergine, people would still know that's him. I'm not completely sure, but somehow Youko resembles oton when he was younger. My real father, Shiki.
"Okaeri nasai," Youko muttered after stretching his neck to see me.
On usual basis, when I got home he would either be playing his Wii or chatting on Windows Messenger. I myself couldn't interpret how he got used to the wonders of technology so fast. He even talked to me in a techie-language yesterday. I was studying for a test and he came up to me with his not-so-innocent face.
"Kurama, I want to try doing something and I hope it doesn't crash your system."
I was only able to stare at him and say with an irritated tone, "What are you talking about?" I don't know if he intended to bother me while I was studying or not, but his timing was awful.
I took a seat across him and drank his chocolate milk. "I'm surprised that you made the venture of going downstairs to watch TV," I said with a hint of snide. "The TV in our room isn't big enough?"
"I wanted some chocolate milk and the sofa was calling to me," he said without even looking at me.
Right… Now sofas are calling to him. Isn't it easier for him to say that he was too lazy to go back upstairs?
"How long do you plan on living here? You were supposed to be back in Makai now."
"Why do you despise me so much that you want me out of here so badly?" his eyes still glued to the TV.
"Because this was not the plan. The plan was: do the curse, you go back to Makai and I resume my life as Shuichi. Things would go like planned if you didn't slept beside me," both of us shuddered at the memory.
"I told you! I passed out on the way back from the cave and auspiciously Hiei carried us back. He's all to blame," he defended himself, finally turning his head to me. "Oh and he said that it's unfortunate that we're still alive. Keh! As if a curse can kill us," I couldn't help but to smirked at that. He sat up and took back his chocolate. "Don't worry, Kurama. You won't see me like this anymore starting tomorrow."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really...? And why is that?"
I know this must be one of his antics. I prepared my mental and physical for anything that he might throw at me. Something I've learned from all this week's experience is this: When dealing with the real Youko, always expect the worst case scenario. He will always go diagonally above and beyond your worst expectations. I waited anxiously for him to finish his chocolate although I'm wearing my callous mask. After he finished it, he smirked.
"You'll know eventually."
He got up and went to the kitchen to wash his mug. A second later I heard water splashing against the sink and his humming. I sank in the couch and sighed. So much for preparing my mental and physical. I heard someone opened the door and I can already guess who it is.
"Tadaima," Shuu-toutou said. I need to teach him about ki concealing next time. Although he had fully concealed his ki when he was eavesdropping my conversation with Hiei, he still hasn't perfected the technique yet. I muttered an 'okaeri nasai' with my arm covering my eyes.
Youko had given me so many headaches since the prior days and he was only 'alive' for a week. And now, he had conjured up something which I am certain will bring me more headache. What sin had I done to deserve such calamity? I sighed again.
"What's with you? You look depressed as hell," Shuu-toutou commented my rather long sigh. I can hear he jumped on the sofa and changed the channel to Fuji TV, watching his anime again. I can remember he said that it was something about a psychotic alien that lives with a normal earthling. It made me wonder what was so interesting with it since I find it to be a mere scam by the company to make money by animating an old manga on the excuse of honoring the mangaka. What was it called again…?
"I am doomed to the path of insanity instead of aging as I had planned."
"What does that mean?"
"You don't have a very broad vocabulary do you, Shuu?" I peeked him under my arm.
"And I'm proud 'bout it! Ne, where's Kaa-san?"
"She's gone shopping," we heard Youko said in the kitchen.
"Ohhhhhh. And I'm gonna go out to develop the pictures from your reunion for Shouta after this."
As soon as Shuu-toutou finished his sentence, Youko was already leaning on the doorframe with a bright face.
"I'm tagging along. Besides, it's not good for little kids to play around outside when it's dark," he lifted his index finger.
"I'm not a little kid and it's not even dark yet! It's still bright daylight! You're just using this as an excuse to go out," Shuu-toutou indicted. He turned his attention back to the TV. A moment after, his eyes lit up and he had an impish smile on his face. "But if want to go with me, you have to do something."
"Let me guess… Seduce the girl that works there and tell her to produce your pictures for free?" Youko speculated.
"Don't say it like that! Say it as 'enchanting'."
"I'll go change my clothes," he grinned and went up the stairs.
I took the cushion beside me and threw it right at Shuu-toutou's head, making contact. He turned around, an "OW!" escaped his mouth and rubbed the back of his head. He picked up the cushion and threw it back at me, straight to my face. But of course I caught the petite pillow just in time. As I removed the cushion from my field of vision, another cushion came zooming, and this time, it hit the bull's eye.
Shuu-toutou really is my brother.
"The hell you did that? You made me missed the part where the UFO blew up!"
"You encouraged him to go out. Do you want our house to be a bastion from over crazed girls?"
"I'm just using our 'present' from Kami-sama for the right purpose."
"I don't think your term of 'purpose' fits the matter."
"Who asked you?" he stuck his tongue out and turned his attention back to the show.
I got up and ruffled his hair. "The reason why you don't have a girlfriend came from your own childishness."
"And this came from the guy who never dated in his life. When you start dating, aniki, then I'll act mature."
"Well your aniki here happens to have thousands of girls following to his every command. Not counting the girls in Makai."
"Like I don't have girls listening to me," he rolled his eyes.
"And how many girls is that?"
He made a false cough and between his coughs I can hear he said "Three."
Three.
He was challenging my digits and the digit he came up was as minuscule as a 'three'? If I changed it to ratios, the solution would be 1: 650 000. I raised an eyebrow at him which he pretended he didn't see. But I'm not going to let him go that easy. I crouched and started staring at him. He squirmed.
"Hmmm? How many hundred did you say?"
"What? Three counts as many, doesn't it? Three's more than one."
I laughed at his pretext and started walking towards the stairs. It was when I was already halfway up that I realized that Youko was taking too long changing. I strode faster and when I opened the door I saw him with black leather clothing with some mesh and chains and he was putting on some gel. When he turned around, I could see that he had black liner all over under his eyes.
"Oh, Kurama. Do you think I look better with black highlights or dark blue?"
I just closed the door and promised myself to never see another video of Adam Lambert. That would only cause me to have nightmares.
"Ohayou, Shuuichi-kun!" my two classmates greeted me before I even managed to step a foot on the class's marble floor. And as you've guessed, they're my fan girls. Let me introduce you to Akire and Hana, members of the 'Three Sisters Guild'. I smiled and replied their greeting. At the sound of my voice, they departed from Ningenkai to 'the World of Fan Girls'. When I finally to enter the class, I saw the third member, Nabiki, going to her 'sisters' direction. I smiled at her and she just jerked her head in the other direction with a red face. I didn't even say a word to the girl and she was already red with anger. Though I ought to have developed some kind of immunity to her glares and coldness, it is still very disturbing.
The trio is a group of girls who felt like they're sisters without blood connections and it's no wonder they aren't related. The three of them are different in every way possible.
The oldest of them is Akire Yamada. We had been in the same class since we were six and she had been my fan girl since. It is somewhat not a coincidence that we were enrolled in the same school ever since elementary. Every time I had stepped on a new grade, she would be there on the exact moment I turned my head. I don't know if it is paranoia or not but I think that one of these days I think she's going to kidnap me. …. I should buy a more effective lock for my windows after school, just in case. Despite her quirks, she's a very good writer. She had written several stories to a publishing company and is working on her debut novel. She told me that she is going to publish it by the time we graduate and she was planning to give everyone a copy of it as a momentum of hers.
The second sister is Nabiki Sakura. We only met in high school and the outcome from our first meeting was a new name in her nemesis list. She ranked second in the whole third year students and is constantly trying to not only throw me off the first place but also to kick me out from the Top Ten list. To accomplish it, she requited students from our class and in others to join her 'cause'. But considering the times her cause failed, she decided to only focus on the former. Don't get me wrong, competing with her on academics are very challenging but there was the time where I felt that this hate/loathe relationship is getting tiresome. When I tried to be friends with her, she would only throw me her catch phrase, "No way!" She doesn't even approve of Akire and Hana talking to me and she entitled me 'the Red-headed sissy' to her sisters. She never said it on public but I have a broad hearing coverage.
And then there's the littlest, Hana Sumeragi. She had love on first sight with me ever since she was ten. It was then that she and Akire had combined forces. As her name would suggest, she loves flowers and nature, and she's notorious for being the President of the Nature Lover Club. I often help her planting projects as a non-official member of the club. She abhorred any type of nature destruction even littering. And by abhorred I mean she will elbow strike/chop kick/back flip you if she caught you the second time you did it. And none had survived yet. Except maybe her little brother who is in the first year at our school. She might seem like a normal, defenseless girl with her glasses but never look down on her. Oh and did I mention that she have a black belt in taekwondo?
I took my seat and noticed that Ken hasn't arrived yet. Must be sleeping in again. I took out the curse book I borrowed from Koenma's library (which I had wrapped with black paper) and begins my research to the side-effects of the curse. From all the kanji that I managed to understand (this book was really old) and I couldn't find any that doesn't fall between the category of turning handicapped, my body and Youko's merging together or turning into a pile of dead meat. I guess Koenma wasn't joking when he said about this before we did the curse… I closed the book and sighed. The book said that the side-effects often occur in a long term after the curse was made. So the only thing that me and Youko are able to do now is to just sit and wait for the side-effect to happen, then we'll think about it.
That's a new approach. I'm used to think things through and think about the best solution first before doing anything. Maybe I should get professional help.
It wasn't long after that I realized a figure in front of me. I looked up from my book to see a girl with her hair in a bun panting for air.
"Are you alright, Cleo?" I asked the girl. She rummaged her bag and produced a sketch pad. Ah, that explains why she seemed exhausted this few days.
"Here, Shuichi! I made a new sketch. I hope you like it," she handed me the pad. In the piece of paper was a drawing of me in a tuxedo, bowing slightly with my left hand on my chest.
"I drew you posing like a host club. What do you think?" anticipation was written all over her face and I couldn't blame her. I never even thought that I looked that good in her eyes. In everyone eyes. The hair, eyes, face, everything looked exactly like me. The drawing itself seemed real. It was as if I was looking in a mirror. I stared at the drawing again, taking in every detail.
"This is amazing, Cleo! I like it very much," I said, handing back her sketch pad.
"Really? I mean there's still some part of it-"
"No. It's perfect. I love it," I gave her the smile that I always use to melt the girls on the spot. She blushed and started stammering.
"Wo-Would you like a copy?"
"Yes, thank you." She blushed again and excused herself to the trio's direction.
Cleo transferred here from Thailand due to her father's work. At first she didn't really get along well with the rest of us since she hasn't learn to speak Japanese yet but after we knew that she can draw very well, everyone were asking her to draw for them. She said that one day she would like to be a mangaka and she's currently saving ideas in her head.
"Is that a new drawing, Cleo?" Hana asked gleefully. In a mere second, Akire and Hana were already surrounding it, leaving compliments. Even Nabiki took a glance at it. The other girls noticed this and started seeing it as well. Their squeals were interrupted by a tired voice.
"Could you girls stop blocking the damn door?" Ken snapped at them followed with a big yawn. I knew I was right.
"Use the front door, lazy!" the girls retorted in unison before returning their attention back to the drawing. He glared at them and grumbled "stupid fan girls" but was presented with a smack on the head by Hana before stomping to the front door.
"Ohayou, Ken," I greeted him when he reached his seat beside me.
"Blaahhh~h" was his reply. Okay. Maybe today's not his day. I should just let him be, he'll be over it in no time.
"Excuse me, I'm trying to pass," a quiet voice said from the back door and both me and Ken turned to see who it is.
It was a petite girl with dark hair and eyes. Her eyes flickered to me and a cold sweat formed itself on my face. In a glance, you might think that she's just a shy and quiet kind of girl but she's no more normal than I am. She has an enigmatic aura that doesn't belong to a human or a youkai. And the other odd thing about it is that she only got this aura of her after we started being third year students. Her aura was normal before this. I had been following her to see if she was any threat but was caught red-handed on my second attempt.
"I'm not very comfortable with stalkers. Even when you sealed your energy, I can still distinguish your aura. I know why you're following me and I want to clarify that I'm not going to hurt anyone. You have my word on that. I keep your secret of being… abnormal and you keep mine. Deal?"
She seemed serious when she said that but my curious nature compelled me to know what happened to her.
"No comment," she just said that and leaved. I tried to make investigations on my own but nothing in my list of theories fits the matter.
"Felicia, ohayou," the girls greeted her and let her pass. I heard a screech beside me instantly after that.
"How come you let her pass?" Ken shouted while pointing his index finger at them.
"Because she's a gi~irl!" they responded.
Ken and I sweat dropped. Women are truly complicated beings no matter which world they live in. Ken wanted to protest but seeing that he didn't have any chance with a group of fan girls, he just grumbled and sank back in his seat with his arms crossed on his chest.
"It's good being a girl, isn't it?" I commented.
"Only when you just barely survived a car accident and people let you pass a damn door," he scoffed. I chuckled and something occurred to me.
I wonder if he's here already.
If he's on his way, he should be involved in an accident like Ken was. No, make it accidents. So the probability of him being here would be lesser. Yes, and he couldn't come here, could he? Not with a few broken bones.
My thoughts were interrupted when the class's chairperson ordered us to stand and bow.
"We'll be having a new student today!" our homeroom teacher, Ida-sensei exclaimed a little too happily.
Then, a knock came from the door.
"Oh! That must be him. Is my hair alright?" suddenly she was blushing and was straightening her blouse before opening the door.
The new student walked in and everyone (except for me, of course) in the class sat in complete shock at the sight of him. He walked in slowly with an acute air of superiority and confidence hung just above him. While the rest of the class was still enamored with him and his face, I was mentally groaning.
He is the one person I never wanted to see in this room.
Finally out from their stupor, the usual thing occurred.
"KYAA! A model just entered our class!"
"And he has silver hair!"
"Just look at those golden eyes!"
"He's ultra-handsome!"
While others only managed to stammer a "Wow."
My mind recalled to last night's events.
"I'm going to school tomorrow," Youko suddenly said while we were eating dinner.
"But Youko dear, you're not a real human," Kaa-san said.
"I know that. That's why I got some forgeries."
Otou-san chocked on his miso soup and coughed. Kaa-san patted his back to help him. "F-forgeries?" was the only word that he managed to say in between his coughs.
"Yeah. I bought a birth certificate, a passport and… some other certificates for the school…"
"But aren't they expensive? And from whom did you get them?" Kaa-san asked while handing a glass of water to Tou-san.
"Ah... My profession is thievery, Kaa-san. Money is no object to me. And I have many allies in the black market. It's very easy to negotiate when you've got money and death threats at your hands. It surprised me that they knew who I was. Oh and Atsuko-san sent her regards. She said that it had been a long time since she saw you."
Kaa-san and Tou-san only managed to stare at him. They still isn't adapted to the fact that their son is a thief and the fact that he's inexplicable.
"Whas gobba be yor rame?" Shuu-toutou said with a mouth full of food. Kaa-san glared at him and he reluctantly swallowed all it. "What's gonna be your name?" he repeated. "You can't just use 'Youko Kurama'. People will know you're a youkai."
"I already thought about that as well. From now on, I will be Youichi Minamino. A normal, 18 year old student attending Mieou Private High School. OH! And, Shuichi Minamino's twin."
Now it's my turn to choke. "My what?" I gripped on my glass harder.
"Your older twin! Don't you think that'll be fun? You and me, being brothers…"
"No."
"You always wanted a brother, weren't you? And now with me being here, your wish can be fulfilled!"
"I already have one, thank you very much."
"Even if you're mad, you can't really do anything now. I already made the documents and enrolled myself in. They even made me enter your class."
"Hm. . ." Kaa-san pondered with her chopsticks on her bottom lip. "I know the Prime Minister-sama told us that we shouldn't encourage the use of forgeries….but!" she clapped her hands together. "Education is also important and every child that is capable should go to school! And it would be a waste of all Youko's hard work into getting them. Besides, he did say that he already enrolled himself… I guess that there's nothing we can do," Kaa-san shrugged. "Well, good luck Youko! I mean, Youichi."
"Thank you, Kaa-san."
I thought they only let him stay if he's unobtrusive. This is not unobtrusive, this is conspicuous. Yet, they just allowed him to do as he pleased.
Our eyes met and he gave me a sly smirk which I retorted with a glare.
"Please introduce yourself to the class," Ida-sensei ordered him after she had finished writing his name on the blackboard.
He gave a bow. "Hello. My name is Minamino Youichi. I just trasferred here from Hiroshima. Hajimemashite," he gave a warm smile and every girl in the room melted into jelly. The males however, looked at me, looked back at him, and back at me again with a confused look on their face.
"Hey! Who is that guy?" Ken whispered to me.
"My worst nightmare."
"That's all for today. And remember to be prepared for next week's test on the novel Ikari no Sakuranbo," Ida-sensei packed her things and seeing the anxious looks on her students face, she chuckled. "And try not to kill our new student, now."
The second the door closed, screeching sounds were heard as chairs moved against the marble floor. In the moment, everyone was surrounding me and Youko, who got assigned to sit in behind me. I braced myself for the upcoming war.
"What's your relationship with Shuichi?"
"Are you cousins?"
"Youichi is such a cool name!"
"Do you like kittens?"
More questions were thrown at us and Youko just smirked. This is what he wants isn't it?
Attentions.
The reason for his existent as 'Youichi' is only for the attention and the mischievous things he can do. I should have known better.
"Excuse me! Best friend coming through!" Ken tried to get through the human wall with little success. "Get outta my way, bastard!"
The 'bastard' tripped Ken and he fell on the hard marble floor in front of me. Hard. At least he managed to enter the circle.
He stood and cursed the 'bastard' back. After finished cursing to his heart's content, he turned to the smirking Youko and he shook his hand. Oh, here it goes again.
"Hajimemashite. I'm Ken Himaguchi. As you can see, you're in a pretty tight spot here. I mean literally. And I would like to offer you my manager service. I've been Shuichi's manager here since Junior High and I did a very good job, if I say so myself. Kept all the fan girls, fan boys, creeps and weirdos away from his back for years. Since you're somewhat related to my best customer, I'll give you my service for free. How 'bout that?"
"I get half of what you earn," Youko bargained.
"30%."
"28%."
"25% and I'll even work at your birthday and at the class' field trip."
"You're good."
"Years and years of experience. So do we have a deal?"
"Deal, hat boy."
Ken smirked and he turned his cap backwards. This would be the sign when he's serious, and you rarely see that.
"Alright you suckers! As usual, a question costs a thousand yen, a hand shake costs 1500 yen, a piece of his hair…" he stopped and turned to Youko. "Do you allow that? Or do you want to change it to clothes?"
"Clothes. I'm not fond of cutting my hair," he said, tugging his hair.
"A piece of his clothing will cost 5000 yen!" he exclaimed and he took out a bag. "First would be questions! Let the money rain!"
Everyone took out their wallets and threw their thousand yen in the bag. I sighed. Doing this kind of thing must violate some sort of school law. Even if it does violate the rule, it wouldn't matter because the school's Student Council Kaichou, Akire, was also throwing her money. After seeing that the bag was full, Ken's eyes turned to the symbol of yen.
"Okay. Now let's see… You, at the back. What's your question?" Ken pointed to a girl at the back of the crowd.
"What's your relationship with Shuichi-kun?" the girl asked the most dreaded question.
Youko's smirk got bigger and he took a glance at me. "It's a funny story actually. Shuichi here, is my brother. Twin brother."
The crowd went "WHAT?" and even the 'manager' Ken stopped counting his money.
"It's true. We're twins, aren't we Shuichi?" he and the rest of the crowd turned to me.
"Yes. That would be… a way to say it," I said through a set of clenching teeth.
"But you said that you're from Hiroshima!" someone shouted.
"And you don't look anything alike!" another one yelled.
"There's a story behind that. You see, it all happened 18 years ago. A woman was fighting with death as she was currently giving birth for the first time. Her husband was right beside her, encouraging her to do her best. The couple was waiting for this day for the rest of their lives. The doctor and nurse did all they can. Outside the operation room, the woman's mother, sister and brother-in-law waited anxiously. Then an hour later, cries of a baby can be heard from the room. The woman's mother promptly thanked and prayed to Kami-sama. A few seconds after that, came another set of cries. The woman's family was surprised to hear the new set of cries. The doctor came out of the operation room with a big smile on his face. "Congratulations," he said. "Your daughter got twins. Both of them were handsome boys." The now grandmother thanked and prayed some more. The sister and brother-in-law however, had an evil smile on their faces. When the woman was taken to her room and her twins were taken to the baby room, the sister and brother-in-law preceded their evil plan. They stole one of their sister's twins and ran towards their car. The baby's cries caught the attention of the security guards. The guards told them to stop and of course, they didn't stop. Instead, the brother-in-law cackled and exclaimed, "You'll never catch us! We're the Dobashis! Ha ha ha ha!" It frightened the hell out of an old lady that was passing there at a bad time. But the Dobashis managed to escape with the help of their BMW. After hearing the news, the woman mourned over her loss. When the guards asked the grandmother why didn't she noticed anything, she said, "I was too busy thanking to Kami-sama." The husband, though he too was depressed with his son's kidnapping, managed to smile at his wife and said, "At least we still have one of our babies." and he handed their remaining son to his wife. The baby was sleeping and when the mother kissed him on the cheeks. In the meanwhile, the Dobajis were already boarding a plane to Hiroshima. Even after seeking the JSDF's (Japanese Self-Defense Force) help, there was still no sign of the Dobaji couple. After searching for months, the police had to close the case."
Most of the girls were already sniffling and blowing their noses.
"Eighteen years after that tragedy, the Dobaji couple died in a car accident. Their sister's son who they stole years before that was in grief knowing that he was alone in the world for he thought that the Dobajis were his parents. A week after his 'parents' deaths, he found an envelope with his name on it from his 'mother'. In that letter, his 'mother' told him the truth and the reason of why she and her husband did as to stole their sister's baby.
'I've always hated my sister, your real mother, Shiori, ever since we were kids. Everyone liked her and I was treated like an outcast. Every time I saw her and your real father, Shiki smiled and being happy when she was pregnant, I can feel my hatred grows. I wanted to be the happy one for a change. That's why, when you were born, I stole you from her. I felt contended. I kept and raised you just like my own child. I care for you very much. That's when I realized, how much grief must Shiori felt when she lost you. But I was too selfish to give you back. That's when I decided that only when I die, I would let you go. I know my actions were unforgiveable, but I hope that you wouldn't hate me for it. I know that Shiori would forgive me and I know you would too. Because you're her child. If you're reading this, then it meant that I finally managed to let you go. You're free now, Youichi. And . . . Aishiteru, my son.'
"He was mad at his presumed mother's actions but remembering of how she had cared and loved him like her own son made him forgive her, just as she predicted. His 'mother' also wrote the address of his true family. He travelled to Tokyo, using all the money he had. When he used up all his money, he walked all the way to Tokyo. He didn't care if his feet were breaking, as long as he found his true family. It was when a nice woman named Kasumi Kyoko found him dying on the streets and treated him. After hearing the boy's sad tale, she sent him to his true family. The real mother was so happy to see her son after all those years. And it astonished him that he had a twin little brother all this time. He had always known that there was someone out there who knows his presence. At first they weren't so close though. The younger twin had paranoia issues. Although his real father couldn't share the happiness since he died, they were still grateful that their family is once again reconnected."
Paranoia issues?
"That was sooooo sad!" a girl exclaimed in her sobs.
"You are such a tough guy, Youichi!" a boy said, rubbing his tear stained eyes.
"Even when you were engulfed with sadness, you kept on living!"
Why are humans so gullible? All of what he said was lies. We don't know any Dobajis, my grandmother was not there at my birth, she already died, and Okaa-san didn't have any sisters. And neither does Oton. Yet, here they are now, sobbing and crying to his fibs.
"That was a really, really tragic tale isn't it?" Ken said, wiping an imaginary tear. "And to think that he used all his money to go to Tokyo from Hiroshima. You should show him your sympathy in the form of thousand yen bills! Throw- I mean, you can donate it in this bag right here!"
Like a dream come true, thousand yen bills are flying on the air into Ken's bag. Trust Ken Himaguchi to manipulate any situation to his outmost advantage in financial.
"Thank you for your generous donations. May Kami-sama bless you. Now! Let's go on with the 1500 yen handshakes!"
"I've never seen so much money in my whole life! Is all that really from that question sessions and handshakes?" a friend of mine, Takumi Morisato asked Ken when we were warming up for P.E.
"Indeed my friend. Indeed. And if sensei didn't came in, I bet I can make it into 1 oku with Youichi's clothing."
"WOW! Do you think all that money can get me a date with Mai Kuraki?" his eyes were already in the shape of hearts.
"That, and you might even get a chance to sing with her!"
"S-sing with her?" Takumi stammered. He looked like he would pass out any second now.
"Youichi my good man!" Ken called to him when he was jogging towards us on the field. "Good work today, dude! Just keep being beautiful and sexy and we'll be the youngest billionaires in history! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Youko grinned and winked at him. He turned to me and smiled. I couldn't bring myself to smile back.
Ever since we were separated, I have this unnerving feeling every time I see him. He hasn't done anything serious to me yet. Only headaches. So what is it..? Does it have to do with the way he acts now? I admit he's acting like a normal teenager now for the charade but it seems too spontaneous for him. The only teenager he ever really knows was me and even I did not act my age.
It doesn't make any sense actually. He's been inside me all this time and we had been very close, so to say. We both know very much about each other that no other people know. Even so, we are still both different people. Two separate beings. And knowing is not the same as understanding. He might have understood me and my actions but I do not understand him fully. There are still a lot of things I don't know about him.
Is that why I am nervous when it comes to Youko? Because of all the things about him that I don't know of? His secrets that he did not want anyone to know, even me? The darkness he had been restraining? Or maybe what Youko said was right. Is that I'm getting paranoid. I'm not sure. But either way, this is what I've decided. What we have decided. To be separated. And any consequences that may come due to our decision, we will have to face it.
One way or another.
"Come on, Shuichi. It's our turn to run," Youko patted me on the shoulder and started jogging to the starting line.
Together or alone.
I started jogging behind him and took the lane that was next to his.
Those are our only options.
"Who are you guys going to take to the Spring Dance?" Ken asked to our group that consisted of eight people. Youko, Ken, Takumi, Felicia, Hana, Akire, Nabiki and me. It was fourth period and we have group study because Seiichirou Aoki-sensei had to go to the hospital because his daughter was sick.
"Dunno," Akire answered without a second thought. "I've been too busy preparing things for the dance I haven't even thought about it."
"M-Me too," Hana hesitated a little.
"You guys aren't gonna ask the twins?" Ken asked in disbelieve.
"We all know Shuichi wouldn't accept anyone. He'd been like that every time there's a dance," Akire said. "But Youichi . . . ." all eyes were on him now.
"Huh? There's a Spring Dance?" he questioned, feigning ignorance. It was obvious that he knew about all the school's activities when he was in my body.
"Yeah! It'll be held next week! We have this kinda thing every season. Summer, Autumn, Winter and even New Year's Dance! Its fun and it's all free. Thanks to the wealth of this school," Ken informed.
Originally built with vintage styled theme, Mieou is the top private school in Japan and was known internationally for the success of the students in the National Examination, but it was equally renowned for its penchant for being ostentatious. The school is for the rich and nobles but talents and potential are compulsory to get registered. Family, power, rank and positions do not affect the way this school goes. It caters to all talented people, rich or poor. Due to the large amount of money the school gets every year from the government and donations from businessmen worldwide (not to mention donations from the rich students' parents), the school have enough money to even top the Japanese budget. That is why gadgets and accommodations here are the most high-tech and classy, to live up to its reputation as the top private school.
"Well, I don't really know a lot of girls yet. Maybe I'll decide later," Youko scratches the back of his head.
"What about you, Nabiki?"
"I'm not really in the mood for dancing. I'll just see if there's anyone at the dance."
"Takumi?"
"I don't think that there's a Mai Kuraki here, so maybe I'll just go for the food."
"Felicia?"
"Pass. I'm more interested on how the Student Council are gonna top last year's dance. Last year's theme was Feudal Japan. And the shows they put up were incredible. Especially the kabuki play."
"Oh, you don't need to worry, Feli-chan!" Akire declaimed, making students from other groups to stare. "This year's theme is a flower city. Flowers from all shape and sizes would be scattered along the dance floor, rose petals would be swirling and even the sushi would be shaped as a flower! And of course, our own Hana-chan and her Nature Club would provide the flowers. The foods would be catered from one of the top 5-star restaurant. And there would be live performances from X Japan, Maaya Sakamoto and Arashi! It was even the Principal that asked me to invite real singers on stage! Which Kaichou has the greater idea now? Aha ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Wow," all of us muttered. Like I said, ostentatious.
"This isn't about the theme!" Ken slapped his hands on the table. "It's about us seniors enjoying our last year in this school! Next year, there won't be any more Spring dances for us," Ken exclaimed his own perception.
"Ken's right!" Hana suddenly jumped to her feet with a determination look. "I should enjoy these dances for once."
"That's the spirit, Hana! So who are you gonna ask?"
She suddenly turned red and sat back on her chair. "Ac- Actually. . . . I was thinking about asking Subaru."
"Sumeragi?" Ken and Takumi questioned at the same time. Their faces were filled with shock.
"That gloves wearing weirdo from Class B who has the same family name as you?" Ken continued.
"He's not a weirdo!" Hana insisted. "He's just misunderstood. He's a really nice guy when you get to know him. It's just because he's too shy and keeps to himself."
"It's impossible that he's a weirdo," Nabiki defended her sister. "Weiros don't get in to Mieou. Besides, he transferred here from CLAMP School. I bet he's as equally talented as any of us."
Talented in exorcising spirits that is.
"Yeah. And he joined my club the instant he knew about it. I can't believe someone as cute as him cared about the environment," Hana said, dreamily. "And together, we will free this world off pollution!"
She's wrong. He'll free this world from spirits and youkai, Youko thought to me.
Subaru Sumeragi. A name that might be anonymous in the mortal world, but in Reikai, he's famous. He is the thirteenth head of the Sumeragi clan. The supreme modern day onmyouji. Although most work concerning exorcising spirits and youkai troubles are now handled by Reikai tanteis, most mortal people would prefer the service from onmyouji. Especially from the Sumeragi clan. As far as I know, the Sumeragi clan had served even emperors. When I met Hana, I thought that she was the sibling of head of the clan. I've known that the head had a sister. But I didn't sense any onmyoujutsu from her and Youko said that his sister died.
Subaru confronted me once, when he first transferred here. Having high onmyoujutsu, he could sense my youki even when I had concealed it. He didn't fight me, after knowing the whole situation that I also worked for Reikai. I asked him for his reason to transfer here. I've been wondering if it had to do with me or the other tantei. Or maybe that my deduction about Hana was wrong. Maybe she also belonged to the clan. And he's here to get her.
"I'm searching for someone. Someone far more. . . . dangerous to me than you could ever be." The look he had on his face, it was a mixture of sadness and rage. But his eyes, it was full of regret. I couldn't comprehend it. This 'someone' must have taken something precious from him and yet, pursuing him is not what he really wanted to do.
"Is it a girl?"
"No."
Of course, Felicia also sensed Subaru's odd aura. She also thought that he was here to look for Hana. But even without asking me, Felicia said that she could tell that they weren't related.
"There is no way that he's related to Hana. His eyes are so lonely. He had pain, in the deepest part in his heart. The pain, only someone who had involved himself in the supernatural would feel. Because the pain itself, is not normal."
"What about you, Ken? Aren't you bringing someone?" I asked Ken, changing the subject. Felicia flashed me a grateful look. Subaru is not a pleasant topic to talk in front of her. She's still wary about him.
"Me?" he pointed to himself. "Nah! I'm gonna be the cameraman, I'll be too busy taking pictures and recording to dance with anyone."
"And you were the one with high spirits for the dance," Felicia said dryly.
"Of course I was only interested in taking pictures of you guys. Besides, I've danced so many times before this," Ken shrugged.
"In truth, he got rejected by every girl he asked to the dance, that's why he volunteered himself to be the cameraman," Takumi remarked.
Ken smacked him on the head and shouted, "Shut up, Takumi!"
The others laughed and I can see that Youko was also chuckling. He smiled at me and this time, I managed to form a little smile on my face. Suspicious no longer filled me but warmth. I can finally see, for the first time, the kindness behind that smile. It was not the plastic smile both of us had accustomed ourselves with but it was a sincere smile. A warm smile that had come from a cold heart. If Youko Kurama, one of the most feared youkai in Makai managed to make smile from is heart, then why couldn't I, a human, at least try to make one myself? It is easy to forget that I am no longer a youkai, but a full human now. Then maybe, I should try to be more human now. Just like how Youko is trying to be.
Hana: Yay! I'm finally in the fic! Isn't it fun having me as a classmate..?
Youko: Maybe.. I've only been in Mieou for one day.. You should ask Kurama there..
Kurama: I'm speechless...
Youko: Hey! Isn't this considered self-insertion..?
Hana: Maybeee... But it's one of my ways to make this fic more happenin'! Thanks again to Felicia for the idea!
Kurama: But it is still considered as such... wouldn't it make this story Mary Sue-ish..?
Hana: Who gives a shit about it? 'Sides, me and the other OCs are just minor characters... no harm done..
Youko: And I thought minor characters aren't supposed to have bonus chapters... What's all these drafts then..? *showing scraps of crap/draft*
Hana: *whistling in the corner* What..? Character development's a good thing!
Youko: Not so-
Hana: *cuts Youko off* The other OCs are based from my forever loved sisters, Akire-nee-chan and Nabila-nee-chan... Felicia is based from my cute little sis, Felicia-imouto-chan and Cleo is based from my awesome fan-artist friend, Cleo... You guys can check her works and the drawing I mentioned here in her Facebook or in Photobucket... Her works are the best! Takumi is inspired by my best friend, Janrae O. Mendoza... Thanks for making me in your story, Taku-chan! But sadly, Subaru Sumeragi is not mine... He belongs to the greatest mangaka group, CLAMP! And he also belongs to the wonderful world of Tokyo Babylon, X/1999 and Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations (Acid Tokyo)! I didn't put this earlier in the disclaimer because I want to make it a surprise... Surprise! Oh and Seiichirou Aoki-sensei is also a crossover from X/1999 and Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations (Acid Tokyo)...
Youko: Are you done?
Hana: Not quite... The OCs that was based from my friends I portrayed here may or may not act as I wrote.. Except for Ken Himaguchi and Hana Sumeragi since the latter is myself and the former is my own OC.. Hahaha.. I'm sure you can already guess why I choose Sumeragi as my family name.. There is another reason why I put Subaru in this fic (other than satisfying my fan-girl self) and it will be revealed in the next chapter! To those of you who are familiar with Tokyo Babylon, and X/1999 I could use the name 'Sakurazuka' as my family name, but then again, I love Subaru more!
Youko: I thought you devoted your love and life for me and Kurama..
Hana: Aw, are you jealous, You-chan? He's just one of my hundreds of fave anime bishounen list alongside Kamui Shirou (which you may recall from the 2nd chapter's bonus annex)... Aren't Kamui and Subaru made the cutest vampire twins in Tsubasa Tokyo revelations?
Youko: (Looks at bishounen list) WHAT? That Subaru is in 2nd place right after me and Kurama?
Hana: (blushes) Give it back! Give it back you overly mutated youkai!
Youko: You're a good girl aren't ya', shorty? So shut it... And that drawing to conclusions Kamui *refer to 2nd Chapter annex* is on 3rd place... Hey, look Kurama! Kuronue's in here too... He's on 4th place... Hahaha! I always beat him...
Hana: Good girl my butt! Gimme it! Gimme, gimme, gimme!
Kurama: Um, I still need some help in remembering Shuu-toutou's anime...
Hana: Oh, yeah! Kurama here need to find out what Shuu-toutou's anime is called... Can anyone help this cutie here...? Anyone? Anyone? Keh, it's very easy... A true Yoshihiro Togashi fan would know this the instant I wrote 'psychotic alien'... AND AGAIN, SORRY FOR POSTING THIS SUPER LATE! I've gone to vacation and was further delayed with the new semester of school.. So I've decided that 2 months is a decent update period... But I'll try to make it faster when I can though...
Youko: You know, I still think that the horse was supposed to gallop, not walk like it's on a red carpet..
Hana: You should be thankful that you didn't get a broken rib... Oh, and the Adam Lambert part was born due to my excessive amount of hearing Adam Lambert's 'If I Had You'... If you could imagine Youko wearing Adam Lambert's code dress with black liners and his hair gleaming with black highlights, I assure you that you will never see Adam Lambert the same way again... I'm the prove.. Oh and I've decided from the start to make this fic more Japanese-ish so you get Japanese phrases and Japanese customs… Don't worry, I made translations… And deemo arigatou gozaimasu to xXRoseOfDarknessXx for saying that my fic is educational and for not minding with the lateness of my updating!
Youko: EDUCATIONAL? Peh, this fic doesn't even have a moral value, how can it EDUCATE?
Hana: Well apparantly, You-chan, she isn't from Japan so Japanese words are new to her so when she reads DWL, she can also learn about Japanese! I am so happy that I am helping people! *tears of joy*
Youko: Stop all the sappy-ness!
Hana: Sorry if this chapter is crappy and VERY LATE! SUMIMASEN!
TRANSLATIONS
Shiritsu Mieou Gakuen: Mieou Private School
Tadaima: Traditionally said by someone who just came home... Kinda like 'I'm home.'
Okaeri nasai: Said by everyone who's welcoming that person home... Kinda like 'Welcome home'.
Ohayou: Good morning
Youichi: One sun (yeah, not really manly, but, heck, it rhymes with Shuichi... and it's actually a combination of Youko's 'You' and Shuichi's 'ichi'...)
Hajimemashite: Nice to meet you (something like that... this is actually used for meeting someone for the first time)
Ikari no Sakuranbo: The Angry Cherry Tree
Kaichou: President (who reads Kaichou was Maid-sama, raise your hand!)
Aishiteru: I love you (I don't think that translating this is necessary but maybe there's some of you are American and aren't exposed to Japanese phrases much...)
Kasumi Kyoko: My best friend from Hiroshima! This is also for you, Kasumi-chan!
Oku: Billion yen! (approxiomately 10 million dollars!) Kaching-kaching!
X Japan: Known to the X/1999 fans as the main singers for the OSTs but popular to the Japanese and people world wide for singing 'Forever Love'...! I put them here just because of the fact that they sang 'Forever Love'... Yoshiki from the band made the song after reading X/1999's manga! I'm a CLAMP-fanatic, haven't you guessed?
Maaya Sakamoto: Main singer to Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE's OSTs! I just love her voice!
Arashi: No, this is not the Japanese for 'storm' this is my ultimate fave J-band of all, ARASHI! And this time, it has nothing to do with CLAMP...
Subaru Sumeragi: Crossover from Tokyo Babylon, X/1999 and Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations... Read my fangirl rant in the nonsense talk...
Seiichirou Aoki: Another crossover from X/1999... He's actually from CLAMP's real life editor, Seiichirou Aoki! That means there's a real person out there with the name Seiichirou Aoki... Kinda looks like Fujimoto Kinomoto (Sakura's otou-san) from Card Captor Sakura ne...?
Onmyouji: Oriental sorcerors... Onmyoujis field of careers are actually astrology but they also serve the Emperors for fortune telling and exorcising spirits... But now the practice of onmyoujitsu is forbidden but the Sumeragi clan however, acts as modern day onmyoujis, mainly giving services of exorcising spirits and acts as mediums. (READ Tokyo Babylon or watch Shonen Onmyouji, people!)
Ningenkai: Human world
Makai: Demon world
Youkai: Demons
Youki: Demon energy
Reikai: Spirit world or the Underworld
Reiki: Spirit energy