Another chapter for y'all before my spring break ends! Enjoy!

Random fact: Hippo milk is pink.

Kazuha's shift had ended and she and Heiji plus Ran and Shinichi were outside the school, in front of the stage. The sun was setting and their time was running out. Kazuha looked worriedly at the people trickling out of the school and heading out in the open. "How are we going to find the Puppeteer?"

"I've got a plan, but I don't know if it'll work or not." Heiji said. "I need all of your help."

As he was about to tell them the plan, the microphone on the stage squeaked and everyone looked up. Runa was on the stage, waving at the crowd that had gathered. "Well, look at this! What a large crowd have gathered! I bet each one of you has some story to tell, huh? Just to let you all know the saddest love story will get a prize. And that prize is having a personal harem! Both with plot and justice! Well, who's up first?"

A guy raised his hand and Runa picked him. "Tell me your love story."

"My girlfriend broke up with me on Valentine's Day."

"I was friend-zoned by the boy I've loved for 13 years."

"I shared my first kiss with her before she died."

"I can't love her because she's not real. She can't love me because I'm real."

"I confessed to him, but he chose my bestfriend over me."

"We were about to get married, but I found out that he was cheating on me with my sister."

"We dated for one month, until he died of cancer."

One by one, each person went up to the stage and told their story. And moment by moment, the atmosphere around the stage grew gloomier. Kazuha looked worriedly at the growing shadows as the last flicker of the sun went down.

"This is bad. This is really bad." Heiji said worriedly. "The shadows are going to strike really soon."

And soon they did. As Runa took hold of the microphone, you could hear a faint click and then the person standing in front of them was no longer Runa, but the being that dwelled inside of her. Ai. Ai grinned and said, "Those love stories were really sad. Thank you for sharing. But for now, why don't we have a feast?"

And with that, shadowy hands appeared out of nowhere and began attacking the people one by one, sucking out their souls and leaving their carcasses on the ground. The four teenagers look in shock at the horrifying scene before them. It was chaos. Ai laughed evilly. "Those stories were absolutely delicious!"

"Run!" Heiji shouted as he pulled Kazuha away from the turmoil. Shinichi did likewise with Ran. They separated. After what seemed like forever, Heiji and Kazuha stopped in the hallways, breathing heavily. Heiji looked over his best friend. "You okay there, Kazuha?"

"It's just – why Ai? She's love, right? How could she be so…so horrible?" Kazuha said, shocked and dazed. "Love is supposed to be beautiful, right?"

"Well, you can't say love is beautiful all the time. Sometimes even wars happen because of love. A loss of a loved one, revenge, etc. As you heard a while ago, people's hearts were broken because of love." Heiji said grimly. "But we know two things for sure. One, you're not the Puppeteer. Two, Ai is the Puppeteer. But what bothers me is that, why didn't she come to you directly?"

"Because I want her to feel pain. Lots and lots of pain." A voice spoke up from one end of the hallway. It was Ai, grinning with malice. "Kazuha-chan, it's all your fault, you know? Because you have her, I had to stop attacking people carelessly. I wanted to kill you so many times. But you, Hattori-kun, you were something I didn't expect."

Ai growled and whipping out her hand, shadowy hands rapidly flew towards them. They began to run, but they came upon more shadows. Heiji cursed. Out of nowhere, a figure stepped in front of them and dispelled the shadows. Kazuha's eyes lit up. "Higeki-senpai!"

Higeki glanced at them and smiled. "Good that you're safe. I will deal with Ai here."

"Eh? How do you know Ai?"

"It's the same. Runa-san has Ai inside of her. I too, have someone inside of me. And only I can stop her." Higeki said.

"How?!"

"I am Tragedy. I will give her the most tragic ending only she can have."

"But how about Runa? Don't hurt Runa!"

"Don't worry. What I do won't damage Runa-san. Now please, escape before the shadows catch you."

Heiji took Kazuha by the wrist and they escaped down the dark hallway. Higeki faced Ai. Both girls glared at each other. "I should have known. Why are you doing this, Tragedy?"

"I have been in this school for three whole years. I will not allow you to hurt my fellow students and the school."

And with that, they attacked. As Higeki held off each attack thrown at her, Ai said something that shocked her. Higeki stared at the girl in horror. "You're lying."

"I'm not." Ai said. "I am not the Puppeteer, although I do control the shadows. Someone else is the real Puppeteer. And they're after this school's secret. That's why you want to really protect this place, huh?"

"But…almost no one knows about that secret! Unless…" The realization dawned to her. "You can't mean..."

Ai grinned. "You're totally correct. And they need Hope's blood to do it."

Higeki knew right there and then that she had made a gigantic mistake. Ai said gaily, "It's your fault, Tragedy. You totally led them to a trap."

And while Higeki was in a dazed state, a shadow wrapped itself around the girl's wrist and burned her, absorbing her soul. Higeki cried out in pain. Ai laughed maniacally. Suddenly, a soccer ball flew from the side and hit Ai square in the face. Shinichi grinned. "Goal!" He said. The shadow disappeared from Higeki's wrist. Ran rushed to the girl.

"Are you okay?" She asked her as she let her sit on the floor. Higeki nodded. Shinichi walked towards the unconscious girl.

"Is she dead? I didn't hit that hard, right?" Shinichi asked worriedly. Higeki looked at the body lying on the floor and shook her head.

"She's just asleep. But please do something for me. You're a vampire, right?" Shinichi grew a bit startled at what she said.

"How'd you know I'm a vampire?"

"No time to explain. Right now, the girl is still Ai. I want you to suck her blood until there's no trace of Ai any longer." Higeki said. Shinichi and Ran exchanged looks. Ran nodded. Shinichi looked at Higeki.

"How do I do that?"

"Once you suck her blood, you can taste cherries. That's Ai's soul. Once all of her soul is out of Runa's body, Ai will start to take over your body." Higeki looked at Ran and continued. "That's when you come in, the Host. Your real job is actually to dispel the harmful objects that will affect the vampire's body."

"What do I have to do?"

"You have to kiss him."

"KISS?!" Shinichi and Ran shrieked at the same time.

"We have no more time! Please! Kazuha-san and Hattori-san are in danger!" Higeki snapped. Shinichi jumped. He drew a deep breath and nodded.

Ran asked her, "But how do you know all these things?"

"I try to find the ways to end things." Higeki said shortly. "You should be there with your vampire, Host."

As they proceeded to do the ritual, Higeki looked at the path where Heiji and Kazuha had escaped.

"Please…Please be safe."

Now who in the world is the real Puppeteer?! That is for you to find out! Good luck! Don't forget to review and see you in the next chapter!

Ja ne!