Chapter Seven- GHOST!
Notes- The kawaii-ness returns with a vengeance! ^^ Enjoy.
~*~
Kouran frowned slightly as she glanced back at the bushes where she'd been hiding the past few minutes. If anyone else had been around to take a look at her, they'd see uncertainty pass over her features before it was replaced by determination.
Those boys were going to see something at Ryu's house- that much she knew. What, exactly, she wasn't sure; she hadn't heard much of their conversation that morning. However, she DID know one thing.
She was going to follow them and see what was going on!
After all, boys would only manage to get themselves in trouble. Her mother herself told Kouran that it was the women's job to keep the boys in line. Kouran lifted her chin a little now, smirking in satisfaction. If she caught them, then she might get a treat, too.
Then again, she HAD sneaked out of the house to get here...
Ah, no second thoughts! Now it was time to see what Ryu, Hikou and Houjun-chan were up to.
The young girl crept up to the house as she saw three small shadows about her size creep to the next house over. She smiled again. Boys. So easy to follow!
She followed them, keeping about a house away from the boys. It was a full moon, so she could see them pretty well. However, she was pretty certain no one could see her; she took extra precautions to make sure of that.
Finally, the group reached Ryu's house, and Kouran hid behind another bush. She peered out from behind it, watching the three boys sit and whisper to each other in the dark. She frowned, wishing she could hear what they were saying...
~*~
"Do you guys got a weird feeling?" Ryu whispered.
Houjun and Hikou glanced at each other. "Like what?" Hikou whispered back.
"Like we're bein' watched."
"Hai," Houjun said. "I've felt it for a while, though I dunno why..." His right hand trailed down to his knee, hoping for a sign of some sort. However, he didn't feel any warmth there; only a cramp beginning. With a sigh, he ran his left hand through his hair instead.
"Maybe it's the ghost!" Ryu said.
"But I thought you said it stayed at YOUR house," Hikou said.
"Oh. Yeah. Well, a ghost's gotta leave sometime, ya know!" Ryu said defensively. "Maybe it had to get somethin' to eat."
"Maybe it ate a few of the meaner kids," Hikou suggested.
"Nah, most likely honey cakes. They're so good I'd bet anyone would go for 'em, even ghosts!" Ryu paused to wave a hand in front of Hikou's face. "Ano... Hikou?"
"Honey cakes..."
Houjun sighed. "Ne, didn't I tell you not to mention them, Ryu-kun? Now we'll NEVER get t' see if there's a ghost or not!"
"I told you there was one!"
"Yeah, but I ain't seen it yet."
"..." Ryu sighed. "Fine. First, we have to get to the tree."
"Tree? What tree?"
"That tree!" Ryu pointed to a nearby tree.
"What for?" Houjun asked.
"The ghost DOES like to sit under it sometimes," Ryu announced.
"It does...?"
"Hai! Saw it myself! Only a few nights ago!"
Houjun gave his friend another skeptical look. "If you say so, Ryu-kun. Let's head over and take a look."
"Hai!" the boys chorused.
~*~
Kouran blinked. She had managed to catch snippets of the conversation, things like, "at YOUR house," and "honey cakes," though not much else.
"They're after honey cakes?" she murmured incredulously. "Why at this house? What are they up to...?" She sniffed as they began to glance from side to side, then head over to a nearby tree. "Stupid boys, they'll get caught for sure."
However, it wouldn't be half as fun if she were the one to catch them. Thus, she began to sneak after them, careful not to be seen as well...
~*~
The three boys stopped at the tree and peered up into the branches cautiously, almost expecting something scary to jump out and eat them. However, only gently swaying branches met their expectant gazes, and after a few moments Houjun sighed and sat down.
"Ano... Ghost-san?" Ryu called.
The other two immediately clamped their hands on his mouth.
"SHH! You wanna get us in trouble?!" Hikou whispered.
"Hai, I don't wanna get in trouble!" Houjun added.
They heard a muffled, "Gomen." Satisfied, they let go. Then their gazes returned to the not-so-interesting tree.
"I don't think there's a ghost up there," Houjun said.
"...Yeah. Let's check out my house instead," Ryu said.
"Oi, Ryu-kun, this is getting boring..."
"Quiet, Houjun! The ghost'll hear ya and eat ya! We only wanna see it, not meet it!" Ryu hissed, now clamping a hand on Houjun's mouth.
The other boys could hear a muffled, "Daaaaa," coming from behind their hands. After a moment, they let him go.
"So let's head to the house and take a look there," Ryu suggested. "If Ghost-san ain't at the tree, he's almost always in my room."
"Hontou?" Hikou asked, eyes wide. "How do you sleep?"
"With my lucky bracelet charm!" Ryu announced, sticking his arm out for the other boys to inspect.
"Ano... ain't jewelry for girls?" Houjun asked.
"Oh, shut up," Ryu said. "Are we gonna check or not?"
Houjun glanced back towards the way they had come, where his warm bed waited for him. Then the blue-haired boy sighed. "Sure. Let's go."
~*~
Kouran laughed as she watched the boys.The three had finally given up on staring at the tree (for whatever reason they were out here), and were peering in the window of Ryu's house now, ducking occasionally as though they saw someone moving around in there.
As Kouran neared and hid behind yet another bush, she heard them whispering to each other again. This time, she was close enough to listen...
"Ne, I'm sleepy Hikou."
"Fine, then go home Houjun-kun. We'll tell ya all about seein' the ghost!" came Hikou's voice.
Kouran raised an eyebrow. A ghost, eh? Well, THAT certainly explained a few things. No wonder this couldn't wait until morning.
Dumb boys.
"This is stupid," Houjun complained.
At least ONE of the boys had SOME sense.
"Aw, c'mon Houjun, just another minute and we'll go in," Ryu whispered. "I'll make sure my folks don't see us, and we'll find the ghost fer sure!"
There was a long silence. Kouran peeked from behind her hiding spot to see that the three boys were looking at each other questioningly, as though they weren't sure what to do.
Then Houjun sighed. "Hai, let's go in."
Kouran quickly took back what she had thought about any of the boys having any sense at all as the three smiled at each other and started towards the door.
She waited at her spot for a moment or two, then grinned and hurried towards the window where she proceeded to try and climb in.
"I'll jus' wake up Ryu's folks!" she muttered. "Then I'll get all the treats I want!" With a nod, she slipped in...
~*~
Crreeeaaaak...
"Careful!" Ryu hissed at Houjun.
"Gomen," his friend mumbled.
"Ya should be! Ya coulda woken up my folks!"
"I said gomen," Houjun said, shooting an annoyed glance at his friend. However, it was forgotten as he had to yawn at that moment. "Da. Let's find this ghost o' yours soon, Ryu-kun..."
"Hai, hai! That's why we're here!" Ryu said quietly, grinning and giving a victory sign. "Come on, into my room!"
His room wasn't really his own room, seeing as he didn't have his own door. Actually, it was part of the kitchen, in it's own little corner. Ryu's mother had set up a number of blankets to hang around the area so Ryu would have a private place to change and sleep and whatnot.
The boys peered through these blankets now, carefully trying to see if they could find anyone or anything in there.
"Ghost-san?" Ryu whispered. It was barely audible to the other boys.
"I don't think he's in here," Houjun mumbled.
The three boys stared at the bed in frustration, then turned away.
"What now, Ryu-kun?"
"I dunno. I thought we'd find it already," Ryu said, scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe it's in yer folk's room?" Hikou suggested.
"Hai! Maybe!" Ryu said, brightening at the thought.
"Iie! We're NOT gonna go in his parent's room!" Houjun said. He shot his friends both a glare. "I wanna go home and sleep!"
"Fine," Hikou huffed and turned away.
"Come on, minna," Houjun said. "We're not gonna find the ghost tonight. Can't we try tomorrow or something?"
"We could... but what if it moves out by then?" Ryu asked, eyes suddenly shining with tears "Then you'll NEVER see it!"
"What if it left already?" Houjun countered.
Ryu continued to stare at him with huge, shiny eyes.
"Come on, Houjun," Hikou said. "Make a deal; five minutes more, an' if we don't find nothing, then we can leave."
Houjun sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, minna," he said.
"Yosh! Let's go!"
The boys turned to leave when they heard a thump coming from the window.
"N-nani?" Ryu whispered.
"What was that?" Hikou asked.
Another thumping noise reached their ears, and some barely audible mumbling sounds as well.
"Daaaa?!" Houjun asked, turning to stare at where Ryu's "room" was. "Is that..."
"It's Ghost-san!" Ryu said, eyes widening even further. The only difference was that Houjun could now see a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Hontou?" Houjun and Hikou asked.
They heard yet another thumping noise.
Ryu reached for a cooking pan and took a deep breath. "Okay, Ghost-san, come out!" he whispered. Then he added, "Ano, if you wanna anyway."
There was a long silence.
"Maybe that ain't a ghost, it's just a cat or something?" Hikou suggested.
However, before they could decide on what to do or say next, they saw something move behind the blankets. All three froze.
"Whoooo goooess theeeere?" asked a female voice.
Then they saw a form press against the blankets.
"DAAAAAA! GHOST!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIEEE!" Hikou and Ryu screamed, fear-hugging each other.
With that, the three boys turned and ran, screaming, from the house.
~*~
Kouran couldn't help but burst into helpless giggles at the sight and sound of the boys turning tail and running. It was such a priceless moment! The young girl fell back onto Ryu's bed for a moment, gasping with laughter.
"Stupid boys! Ha! When I talk to 'em tomorrow they will SO be embarrassed an' then I can black... er, black... er, make 'em do stuff!" Kouran said, grinning.
"Oh, will you?" asked a voice beyond the blankets.
Kouran, startled, shrieked at the sight of a hand pressing into the blankets towards her.
"What are you doing in my house, young lady?"
"AAAAAAAAAAIIIYEEEEE!" she screamed, and with that jumped out the window.
Gaining an almost godlike speed, she kept on running and screaming until she reached her house, where she hid under the covers shivering.
"Gh- gh -ghost! Stupid boys!" she cried, and pulled her blankets over her head. She remained there for the rest of the night.
~*~
Back at Ryu's house, Ryu's mother blinked as she peered after the little girl who'd been in Ryu's bed. Then she shook her head and turned away from the window.
"Some kids. Now... where on earth is Ryu?"
~*~
Outside by the river, the boys were fear-hugging each other and shaking, though Ryu did have a big grin on his face.
"I... I t-t-t-told ya there w-w-w-was a ghost!" he said.
"Shut up," was his answer.
~*~
Whee! And chapter seven is done! What did everyone think? ^^ Later!
Notes- The kawaii-ness returns with a vengeance! ^^ Enjoy.
~*~
Kouran frowned slightly as she glanced back at the bushes where she'd been hiding the past few minutes. If anyone else had been around to take a look at her, they'd see uncertainty pass over her features before it was replaced by determination.
Those boys were going to see something at Ryu's house- that much she knew. What, exactly, she wasn't sure; she hadn't heard much of their conversation that morning. However, she DID know one thing.
She was going to follow them and see what was going on!
After all, boys would only manage to get themselves in trouble. Her mother herself told Kouran that it was the women's job to keep the boys in line. Kouran lifted her chin a little now, smirking in satisfaction. If she caught them, then she might get a treat, too.
Then again, she HAD sneaked out of the house to get here...
Ah, no second thoughts! Now it was time to see what Ryu, Hikou and Houjun-chan were up to.
The young girl crept up to the house as she saw three small shadows about her size creep to the next house over. She smiled again. Boys. So easy to follow!
She followed them, keeping about a house away from the boys. It was a full moon, so she could see them pretty well. However, she was pretty certain no one could see her; she took extra precautions to make sure of that.
Finally, the group reached Ryu's house, and Kouran hid behind another bush. She peered out from behind it, watching the three boys sit and whisper to each other in the dark. She frowned, wishing she could hear what they were saying...
~*~
"Do you guys got a weird feeling?" Ryu whispered.
Houjun and Hikou glanced at each other. "Like what?" Hikou whispered back.
"Like we're bein' watched."
"Hai," Houjun said. "I've felt it for a while, though I dunno why..." His right hand trailed down to his knee, hoping for a sign of some sort. However, he didn't feel any warmth there; only a cramp beginning. With a sigh, he ran his left hand through his hair instead.
"Maybe it's the ghost!" Ryu said.
"But I thought you said it stayed at YOUR house," Hikou said.
"Oh. Yeah. Well, a ghost's gotta leave sometime, ya know!" Ryu said defensively. "Maybe it had to get somethin' to eat."
"Maybe it ate a few of the meaner kids," Hikou suggested.
"Nah, most likely honey cakes. They're so good I'd bet anyone would go for 'em, even ghosts!" Ryu paused to wave a hand in front of Hikou's face. "Ano... Hikou?"
"Honey cakes..."
Houjun sighed. "Ne, didn't I tell you not to mention them, Ryu-kun? Now we'll NEVER get t' see if there's a ghost or not!"
"I told you there was one!"
"Yeah, but I ain't seen it yet."
"..." Ryu sighed. "Fine. First, we have to get to the tree."
"Tree? What tree?"
"That tree!" Ryu pointed to a nearby tree.
"What for?" Houjun asked.
"The ghost DOES like to sit under it sometimes," Ryu announced.
"It does...?"
"Hai! Saw it myself! Only a few nights ago!"
Houjun gave his friend another skeptical look. "If you say so, Ryu-kun. Let's head over and take a look."
"Hai!" the boys chorused.
~*~
Kouran blinked. She had managed to catch snippets of the conversation, things like, "at YOUR house," and "honey cakes," though not much else.
"They're after honey cakes?" she murmured incredulously. "Why at this house? What are they up to...?" She sniffed as they began to glance from side to side, then head over to a nearby tree. "Stupid boys, they'll get caught for sure."
However, it wouldn't be half as fun if she were the one to catch them. Thus, she began to sneak after them, careful not to be seen as well...
~*~
The three boys stopped at the tree and peered up into the branches cautiously, almost expecting something scary to jump out and eat them. However, only gently swaying branches met their expectant gazes, and after a few moments Houjun sighed and sat down.
"Ano... Ghost-san?" Ryu called.
The other two immediately clamped their hands on his mouth.
"SHH! You wanna get us in trouble?!" Hikou whispered.
"Hai, I don't wanna get in trouble!" Houjun added.
They heard a muffled, "Gomen." Satisfied, they let go. Then their gazes returned to the not-so-interesting tree.
"I don't think there's a ghost up there," Houjun said.
"...Yeah. Let's check out my house instead," Ryu said.
"Oi, Ryu-kun, this is getting boring..."
"Quiet, Houjun! The ghost'll hear ya and eat ya! We only wanna see it, not meet it!" Ryu hissed, now clamping a hand on Houjun's mouth.
The other boys could hear a muffled, "Daaaaa," coming from behind their hands. After a moment, they let him go.
"So let's head to the house and take a look there," Ryu suggested. "If Ghost-san ain't at the tree, he's almost always in my room."
"Hontou?" Hikou asked, eyes wide. "How do you sleep?"
"With my lucky bracelet charm!" Ryu announced, sticking his arm out for the other boys to inspect.
"Ano... ain't jewelry for girls?" Houjun asked.
"Oh, shut up," Ryu said. "Are we gonna check or not?"
Houjun glanced back towards the way they had come, where his warm bed waited for him. Then the blue-haired boy sighed. "Sure. Let's go."
~*~
Kouran laughed as she watched the boys.The three had finally given up on staring at the tree (for whatever reason they were out here), and were peering in the window of Ryu's house now, ducking occasionally as though they saw someone moving around in there.
As Kouran neared and hid behind yet another bush, she heard them whispering to each other again. This time, she was close enough to listen...
"Ne, I'm sleepy Hikou."
"Fine, then go home Houjun-kun. We'll tell ya all about seein' the ghost!" came Hikou's voice.
Kouran raised an eyebrow. A ghost, eh? Well, THAT certainly explained a few things. No wonder this couldn't wait until morning.
Dumb boys.
"This is stupid," Houjun complained.
At least ONE of the boys had SOME sense.
"Aw, c'mon Houjun, just another minute and we'll go in," Ryu whispered. "I'll make sure my folks don't see us, and we'll find the ghost fer sure!"
There was a long silence. Kouran peeked from behind her hiding spot to see that the three boys were looking at each other questioningly, as though they weren't sure what to do.
Then Houjun sighed. "Hai, let's go in."
Kouran quickly took back what she had thought about any of the boys having any sense at all as the three smiled at each other and started towards the door.
She waited at her spot for a moment or two, then grinned and hurried towards the window where she proceeded to try and climb in.
"I'll jus' wake up Ryu's folks!" she muttered. "Then I'll get all the treats I want!" With a nod, she slipped in...
~*~
Crreeeaaaak...
"Careful!" Ryu hissed at Houjun.
"Gomen," his friend mumbled.
"Ya should be! Ya coulda woken up my folks!"
"I said gomen," Houjun said, shooting an annoyed glance at his friend. However, it was forgotten as he had to yawn at that moment. "Da. Let's find this ghost o' yours soon, Ryu-kun..."
"Hai, hai! That's why we're here!" Ryu said quietly, grinning and giving a victory sign. "Come on, into my room!"
His room wasn't really his own room, seeing as he didn't have his own door. Actually, it was part of the kitchen, in it's own little corner. Ryu's mother had set up a number of blankets to hang around the area so Ryu would have a private place to change and sleep and whatnot.
The boys peered through these blankets now, carefully trying to see if they could find anyone or anything in there.
"Ghost-san?" Ryu whispered. It was barely audible to the other boys.
"I don't think he's in here," Houjun mumbled.
The three boys stared at the bed in frustration, then turned away.
"What now, Ryu-kun?"
"I dunno. I thought we'd find it already," Ryu said, scratching the back of his head.
"Maybe it's in yer folk's room?" Hikou suggested.
"Hai! Maybe!" Ryu said, brightening at the thought.
"Iie! We're NOT gonna go in his parent's room!" Houjun said. He shot his friends both a glare. "I wanna go home and sleep!"
"Fine," Hikou huffed and turned away.
"Come on, minna," Houjun said. "We're not gonna find the ghost tonight. Can't we try tomorrow or something?"
"We could... but what if it moves out by then?" Ryu asked, eyes suddenly shining with tears "Then you'll NEVER see it!"
"What if it left already?" Houjun countered.
Ryu continued to stare at him with huge, shiny eyes.
"Come on, Houjun," Hikou said. "Make a deal; five minutes more, an' if we don't find nothing, then we can leave."
Houjun sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, minna," he said.
"Yosh! Let's go!"
The boys turned to leave when they heard a thump coming from the window.
"N-nani?" Ryu whispered.
"What was that?" Hikou asked.
Another thumping noise reached their ears, and some barely audible mumbling sounds as well.
"Daaaa?!" Houjun asked, turning to stare at where Ryu's "room" was. "Is that..."
"It's Ghost-san!" Ryu said, eyes widening even further. The only difference was that Houjun could now see a hint of fear in his eyes.
"Hontou?" Houjun and Hikou asked.
They heard yet another thumping noise.
Ryu reached for a cooking pan and took a deep breath. "Okay, Ghost-san, come out!" he whispered. Then he added, "Ano, if you wanna anyway."
There was a long silence.
"Maybe that ain't a ghost, it's just a cat or something?" Hikou suggested.
However, before they could decide on what to do or say next, they saw something move behind the blankets. All three froze.
"Whoooo goooess theeeere?" asked a female voice.
Then they saw a form press against the blankets.
"DAAAAAA! GHOST!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIEEE!" Hikou and Ryu screamed, fear-hugging each other.
With that, the three boys turned and ran, screaming, from the house.
~*~
Kouran couldn't help but burst into helpless giggles at the sight and sound of the boys turning tail and running. It was such a priceless moment! The young girl fell back onto Ryu's bed for a moment, gasping with laughter.
"Stupid boys! Ha! When I talk to 'em tomorrow they will SO be embarrassed an' then I can black... er, black... er, make 'em do stuff!" Kouran said, grinning.
"Oh, will you?" asked a voice beyond the blankets.
Kouran, startled, shrieked at the sight of a hand pressing into the blankets towards her.
"What are you doing in my house, young lady?"
"AAAAAAAAAAIIIYEEEEE!" she screamed, and with that jumped out the window.
Gaining an almost godlike speed, she kept on running and screaming until she reached her house, where she hid under the covers shivering.
"Gh- gh -ghost! Stupid boys!" she cried, and pulled her blankets over her head. She remained there for the rest of the night.
~*~
Back at Ryu's house, Ryu's mother blinked as she peered after the little girl who'd been in Ryu's bed. Then she shook her head and turned away from the window.
"Some kids. Now... where on earth is Ryu?"
~*~
Outside by the river, the boys were fear-hugging each other and shaking, though Ryu did have a big grin on his face.
"I... I t-t-t-told ya there w-w-w-was a ghost!" he said.
"Shut up," was his answer.
~*~
Whee! And chapter seven is done! What did everyone think? ^^ Later!