Yuuko steps out of the house and unto the sidewalk with a bag of bento dangling before her. The early April sun and cool air collide upon her skin while watching the schools of children flounder their way past her. She turns around to find Chizuru coming out of the house with a yawning Teiichi beside her. The door closes behind him and they meet up with Yuuko on the sidewalk.

"It's the first day of the new term," Yuuko states happily. Are you excited Teiichi?"

"I guess so," he says while hiding a yawn.

The children's voices intermingle with the roar of passing cars. The sensation of being watched washes over her. She glances at Teiichi to find a confused expression upon his face.

"Is there something wrong Teiichi?"

"He's probably just shy that his mother's walking to school with him."

"That's not it," he says looking at the ground.

Chizuru exchanges a glance with him, and then giggles to herself.

"I get it," Chizuru says with a smile. "I'll walk ahead and give you two a little time to yourself."

Chizuru increases her pace and moves several yards ahead.

"Alright. What's on your mind?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you stayed home today?"

"You don't want me to come to school with you," she asks raising her brow.

"It's not that. Are you sure you're ready to go back there," he staring ahead.

She gives him a warm grin before looking up at the sky.

"I'm happy that you worry about me so much, but I think today will be fine. Since today is the first day I highly doubt I will even see Yukariko. I can't recall a time when's she's ever come to one of these, or ever seen her on the school grounds on the first day."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yep."

The gaze in his eyes doubts her words, however; he remains silent. They quietly make their way along the stream of students until they arrive Seikyou's gates. The school yard lies filled with the collection of zombie like beings.

"Is your opening ceremony being held in the same place as last year?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay," she says with a light wave. "Make sure to behave yourself."

Chizuru melds in with the students and goes into the building. Yuuko and Teiichi begin to follow in her footsteps, but she stops halfway as the feeling of being watched washes over her. Her eyes jump from Teiichi to the other students, however; is unable to shake the feeling. She looks up at the top of the building to find someone standing upon the roof staring down into the courtyard. Her blood boils upon seeing her seeing the cane and familiar body frame.

What is she doing here?

"Are you okay," Teiichi whispers.

She quickly turns towards him with her playful smile and shakes her head.

"I'm fine. Let's hurry up and see your new classroom."

She continues forward and makes her way into the school.

What should I do? Should I tell him and go back home? No. I'm not a slave to my past. Just because Yukariko is here doesn't mean I need to run like some scared child.

"My new room. Class 2-C," he says staring at the object over the door.

She throws away her doubt and passes the threshold with him. Many familiar and unfamiliar faces, from her previous visits to his classroom, litter around the room. Teiichi sighs before taking his seat at an empty desk, in this same location as his last.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit somewhere new?"

"I'm fine with this."

"Fine with what," the person before him asks.

Teiichi focuses forward and sees Yuuto staring at him quizzically. A smirk forms across his face while he removes books from his bag.

"I was worried for a second. I thought you were in another class."

"Sorry about that. I should have told you about that."

Yuuko stands in at the walkway as the two chuckle and laugh back and forth.

"Is Haruka in a different class? I don't see her here."

Upon hearing Haruka's name, she places the bag on the floor next to Teiichi.

"Did you drop something Teiichi," Yuuto asks looking on the floor.

She moves away from them and makes takes her place at the window in the rear of the class. Her eyes look out at the many windows adorning the other wing of the building.

Teiichi you idiot.

"Look who finally made it."

"I didn't think I was going to make it on time," Haruka's voice chimes.

Yuuko presses her head against the window. The creeping feeling that Teiichi is looking at her makes her roll her eyes.

Stop looking over here.

Their conversation continues with family and personal stories for several minutes until the school bell chimes. Immediately, the children make their way out of the classroom with haste.

"To think, we're already second years students. Perhaps this year you'll be able to find yourself a girlfriend Teiichi."

He already has a girlfriend, she says with a hiss.

She looks in his direction as he stammers and scratches his head while looking ahead at his friends. A frown adorns her face and she places her head upon the windowpane again.

"Well..."

"You can do it. Unless you still plan on doing the whole ghost thing, and maybe nabbing that Yuuko girl. Which would be rather creepy."

Waves of negative energy emit from her body for a moment before she takes a deep breath.

He just doesn't know when to be quiet does he?

A sudden yelp comes from the Yuuto's mouth which makes her smile.

"Don't tease him like that just because we're back together. That's rude."

"Wait! You two are back together? When did this happen?"

"It was over the winter break. We should have said something about it."

"Well. At least you two are back together," he says happily.

"The ceremonies are going to start soon," Haruka chimes. "We should leave or else we're going to get in trouble."

"You two go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea."

A pair of feet suddenly sound off and then disappear. Another pair of footsteps make their way across the room and stop beside her.

"Are you upset about something?"

She turns away from the window and to find him standing beside her with a concerned expression.

"Of course not," she says with a smile. "Why would I be upset?"

He scratches his head while staring up at her confused expression.

"I thought you were upset because I was asking about Haruka."

He looks down at the floor while she chuckles at him sheepishly.

"You seemed to be happy with talking to your friend. I know it's been a while since you've seen them so I didn't want to interrupt you."

The sight of her calm and jovial expression causes him to blush.

"I guess I was imaging things. You're definitely more mature than what you look. Not that it should surprise me though."

Yea...Real mature.

She feels her smile start to fade from her face. Not wanting to alarm him to her facade, she quickly takes his hand.

"Come on. We don't want to be late for the assembly."

Yuuko drags him into the hallways where she cheerfully hums while he struggles to keep her pacing.

Now isn't the time to sulk. I need to do the best I can to salvage this day so far.

The duo slips into the line of students filtering into the auditorium. Yuuko gazes over the group of teachers and parents sitting along the barren, wooden walls; students stand in shoulder to shoulder within the center of the floor, and atop the stage the principal stands behind insert "a" freshly polished podium. They take their place in one of the back rows of the congregation. The deathly looks on multiple student's face as well as the negativity brimming from the students makes her shake her head.

It's only a short meeting. It's not like it's going to hurt them to sit still for a just a little bit.

The microphone squeals causing the people to shield their eyes. After a moment the agonizing sound dies down and the principal takes a deep breath.

"Good morning students..."

The teachers take the stage, give the students words of wisdom, and leave to let the next person come up. Just as the groans and fidgeting reaches its peak the principal makes his way back to the podium, and adjusts the microphone.

"Before we end today, we have a special guest this morning."

Her brows raise in surprise as Yukariko takes the stage. She bites down on her lip as Yukariko looks out in the crowd. Questions of the woman's significance can be heard hovering around her. Teiichi shuffles beside her prompting her to wear her mask once more.

"Yuuko," he whispers.

She remains focused on the stage, never acknowledging his call. Yukariko straightens herself upright, and clears her throat.

"Good morning students. I want to welcome everyone to a new year at Seikyou Academy. My name is Yukariko Kanoe…"

With each sentence the taste of acid covers her tongue. Yuuko gazes behind her and fixates upon the auditorium doors.

It's not like anyone would see me. I could just slip out, and finally end this torture session.

The feel of eyes causes her to turn back around. Certain that Teiichi is watching her actions, she rejects the idea of escape. She sighs in defeat and stares into the back of her neighbor's head. After a few minutes, Yukariko's talking ends and Yuuko's mentally smiles to herself in delight.

"Lastly. I would like to inform everyone of the new addition to Seikyou Academy. Recently the older part wing of this school was done away with and so was part of this school's history. In its place I have erected a greenhouse."

Whispers flood her ears, but the children movements increase.

What are you up to you Yukariko?

"I know many of you are familiar with the story of Yuuko, the ghost of the old school building, however; you didn't know that the body that was found belonged to that same girl. Though many of you didn't know that her name was Yuuko Kanoe."

The audience looks around frantically while hiding their mouths behind their hands while they speak. Yuuko's heart begins to pound as the excitement around her rises.

For what reason do they need to know any of this?

At that moment Yuuko's and Yukariko's eyes meet. Yuuko's eyes narrow, but stop when she notices Yukariko smirk.

"Why did I build a greenhouse? To show Yuuko that even though I was the one who took her life, there's never a day when I don't regret the choice I made when I was thirteen. Based off of what I just said, I know I don't have the right to ask, but humbly request that you visit the building at least once."

Yuuko watches intently as Yukariko exits the stage looking back in her direction out of the corner of her eye. Her words swirl in her head as the students burst into conversation. The words of excitements and disbelief fill the room from all member groups. She stands still as her thoughts swirl around her head. Her heart races and body temperature fluctuates.

She just confessed to killing me in front of all of these people, she thinks digging her nails in her arms. What the hell is that stupid girl thinking!

The principle takes the stand and dismisses everyone, but the damage is done. The children file out of the building in an orderly fashion unable to close their mouths. Upon reaching the outside of the building Yuuko breaks formation and walks behind the nearby building. Her heart pounds even faster as her temperature sores through the roof. She presses her back against the wall, and stares up into the cloudy sky.

This feeling. It's almost like it was back then.

Pain courses through her arm causing her to wince. She looks down to find deep indentations in her skin. Her fingers run across her now damaged skin while her temperature simmers.

"Yuuko," Teiichi voices calls out.

A frown adorns her face before looking up to find him staring at her with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay?"

"You should go back to class Teiichi," she says dryly.

"I don't think I should leave you out here by yourself?"

"Stop worrying so much about me," she says with a smile. "I will be fine. I'm not some fragile flower you have to constantly babysit."

She kicks herself after seeing his concern morph into disappointment, however; she isn't able to change her tone of voice.

Who am I kidding, she asks herself. If it wasn't for him and his mom who knows what I would be doing right now.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. I know. I'm just in a foul mood is all. Just go to class okay. Just give me some time to myself, and I promise I'll be back to my old self by lunch time."

They remain in their positions for moments before the students' voices dwindle in the background. His head jumps between going insert "to the" academy building and to her. With time running out, he bites his lip and hangs his head in defeat.

"Please don't do anything reckless Yuuko."

She nods her head and sends him running back to the building. She heaves a sigh as he disappears from sight. Her hand rests upon her chest for a moment before hissing and walking away from the wall.

"After sixty years...she finally speaks up."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next Chapter: The One Precious to Me III