The shattering preconceptions about everything she knew was splitting in two. Shaking like a small child who had just awoken from a horrible, horrible dream. Wanting to inch away little by little but she couldn't. She was frozen in time. Staring at someone she once thought went missing forever.

"...Ryouichi?"

A smile forms on his lips, half-lidded eyes watching his prey. He merely nods in response.

"I-I thought you were..."

"Dead?"

"N-No, I-"

"Oh come on now, Fuyu-chan." Ryouichi's smile falters slightly. He leans on his cane as he crouches down to her quivering height. "Don't lie to me. You probably thought I burned in that fire a long, long time ago didn't you?"

A flash of a horrible memory resurfaces in Mifuyu's thoughts. She had seen it on television so long ago. The orphanage she was once a part of, had suddenly burned down. Police ruled it as an act of arson but...never found the perpetrators who did such a deed. The priest's body was also found. He was long dead before the fire had ever started so they did not suspect him to be the one who had done it. The children that were still involved with the orphanage had most likely run away. Some were found but not all. It just seemed they vanished into thin air.

Mifuyu doesn't respond.

"What a shame. I thought you were smarter than that." Ryou sighs but then quickly stands to look out the bay window. Mifuyu is entranced by this. She almost doesn't believe this is real. His eyes were practically glowing with the moonlight from outside. This has to be a nightmare...right?

"Where have you been, then...!? Why didn't you get into contact with me? I was-"

A flick of his cane. It was now inches away from her nose. "I am going to stop you right there, Fuyu-chan." Ryou's voice drops a couple of octaves, his smile completely dissipated. He tilts his head to the side.

"How could you abandon me there, hm? Why would I ever answer your questions when you're the one who put me through all of this mess...!? Why don't you answer that first, Mifuyu."

"Abandon...?" She blinks quite a few times. Her brain was trying to comprehend what he was saying to her. "I didn't abandon you! I left because there was no other option for me...!"

"You could have stayed. You were just so selfish enough to leave us. To leave me. With him." His eyes were growing angrier and angrier the more he spoke. Mifuyu then also becomes frustrated. She stands and quickly realizes he's a little bit taller than her.

"I left because I had no other choice, Ryouichi. I would have just died there and you wouldn't have given a single damn because you were too busy being his favorite!"

And then she was struck. Hard.

A white-hot pain surges on her cheek where she had been slapped. She touches it and whips her head up to look at him before he shoves her back down on the floor with a loud bang. He then stands on top of her and smashes the cane down on the cold, marble flooring next to her head.

"I had to do whatever it took for us to get out of there. You don't understand what I was trying to do!" Ryouichi protests.

"Oh so calling me a witch along with those kids was a part of this big fucking plan you had..?!"

"Tch..! Shut up!" Ryou yells and slams the edge of his cane down again near her head. Grinding teeth could be heard from above. The white-haired boy immediately covered his mouth as he kept grinding.

"I'm...not like that anymore." Ryou grunts, dropping his cane to grab her collared shirt. He then bends down smashing his knees to the ground. Still covering his mouth he sharply recovers. "I'm better now than before and...I'm going to save you. You just need to come with me. It...isn't safe."

His breathing starts to become ragged as his own body begins to shake silently. Mifuyu grits her teeth furiously and she barks back: "Save me from what?!"

Ryouichi begins to hiss. "From...-"

"Get the hell off of her you fuckin' creep!"

WHAM!

Ryouichi flies off of Mifuyu's body and is sent across the hallway into the furthest corner of the dark where the moon couldn't aid his vision. The one standing in its rays was Yuma, hands already into fists.

"Y-Yuma...?!"

He turns around to face her, obviously pretty pissed off. "You were gone for way too fucking long and here I find you getting into trouble all alone in an abandoned hallway with some creep I don't even know?! You don't know how long it took me to convince somebody to cover you and I's stands. Fuck...!"

Mifuyu shakes her head in disbelief, ready to argue with the giant until he yanks her up by her feet. "Some detective you are...Jeez!"

"My goodness, you can pack a punch, can't you big boy?" Ryou's voice echos off the walls surrounding them, giggling to himself. He hides in the shadows, lingering from the injury he sustained. His questionable breathing and grinding of his teeth continue.

"Ah?! Why don't you come and say that to my face, you punk!"

"Yuma, don't!" Mifuyu interjects and goes in front of him. Her eyes worriedly looked around for the two girls that were just assaulting her...but they were gone. She didn't hear them run away. Did they just vanish too?!

The moon slowly is covered by dark clouds. The remaining light that the three had was now empty. From what Yuma could see, the man was already about to tap out of the ring. He looked scrawny and weak but something about his entire being didn't seem right. The smell he gave off wasn't natural. It...

"Tell me! Where did those girls go?! Why are you here..?! What do you mean by saving me?!" Mifuyu shouts, begging for her endless list of questions to be answered. Ryouichi simply laughs and then he suddenly winces.

"I shouldn't have gotten you involved..." He whispers underneath his breath.

With that, Ryouichi runs down the hallway and disappears into the air making a quick escape. Mifuyu calls out to him one more time but is met with hollowing silence.

"He's gone," Yuma says, seething anger starting to settle. The ravenette is at a loss. She says nothing. He turns towards her.

"Let's go."

"..." Yuma shoves Mifuyu's body in front of him for her to keep walking ahead of him and she does as so. Her arms and hands went to her chest, cradling each other in comfort. Yuma on the other hand spots the cane that was left behind by the intruder. He picks it up quietly and catches up with Mifuyu, quietly exiting the scene.

Once they make it outside the moon makes its appearance once more. Now highlighting Mifuyu's distraught and confused expression and Yuma's clearly agitated and also confused face. Students were already starting to pack up and head home. Cleaning up their stands and taking them down before they left for the night.

She looks down at the ground and bites her lip. Ryou...Ryouichi is alive...? How...? What's going on...?!

"Oi, Detective."

"..."

Yuma clicks his tongue to her silence. "Sneak outta here and be quick about it. I'll tell the headmaster you went home cause you...threw up after too much takoyaki or somethin.' I'll figure it out. So go."

Mifuyu's eyes glance at him and don't move until Yuma once again shoves her in a direction that's not too occupied by faculty. "Go, we'll talk later."

Mifuyu stares at the tall man for a few more seconds before quickly leaving. She goes from walking to jogging, to running in haste. Tears falling down her face. Millions of questions ringing in her head. Memories she had once suppressed had now resurfaced. The life she thought she left behind was now back to haunt her with a new face and paint.

"What's going on...?! What's going on...!? What's going on...?!" She is then out of sight from the school.

Yuma watches her go and rubs the back of his neck, holding the cane tightly in his other hand.

"Mukami-kun, I see you finally rejoined us for clean-up duty." A sudden and unwelcomed voice appeared. Cruelness laced behind his words.

"Don't get cute with me, Reiji. Fuck off." Yuma bitterly responds, starting to walk away from the individual.

Reiji raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms, glaring at the impure vampire. "Are you going to run away crying too like Satomi-san? Such an immature reaction..."

Yuma whirls around and grabs the collar of his shirt. "Do you not have anythin' better to do than mock me?"

"I was not mocking you, per say. I was merely asking a question." A hint of a smirk wants to grace the second sons lips but he does not let it. "You two will get absolutely nowhere if you continue to act as if you were chickens with your heads cut off. "

"Tch." Yuma lets him go and turns around again. "Yeah. I'm going home. See ya."

Reiji merely lets the Mukami walk away from the crime scene but keeps an eye on the mysterious midnight cane. He had already watched everything that had transpired through the lenses of a familiar that was originally stalking Mifuyu. But now that she was off the property, it's purpose had been fulfilled.

He blinks slowly and then looks in the direction Mifuyu ran in.

"What a troublesome situation we have indeed. Don't we, Satomi-san?"

Reiji chuckles, returning to his duties.

We have breaking news to report.

After the Halloween festival that had transpired last night at Ryoutei Academy, two female students have gone missing. If anybody knows the whereabouts of [ XXXX, XXX] or [XXXX, XXXXX] then please contact our local authorities at this number.

Due to this reassurance of panic, Ryoutei has taken action to ensure all students remain safe. So as of now, all classes will be taught online until further notice.

Now in the latest discovery in the Academical Field of Akimitsu Research-

A slam of a fist hits the power button of the remote, turning it off rather abruptly.

"Hiroshi...!" Akari exclaims and he immediately glares at her.

"You have to calm down..." Hina says gently. Going to grace his shoulders. "Take deep breaths...your heart!"

The one named Hiroshi shrugs off her help and stands from the chair and starts to pace, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is fucking asinine! Two dead and two missing...what's next?! Four murdered and ten missing?!" He yells in frustration.

"..." The two sisters stood in silence. Akari visibly grew angrier and Hina looked like she could run away and cry at any moment.

"I don't want my fucking niece or you two getting hurt from this damned serial killer. Do you know how serious this is...?!"

"We do!" Akari exclaims. "But you have to take a breather. I'm not letting you get all upset over this. A clear mind-"

"Don't say that. Don't repeat his words. That is the last straw that I want to break my back." Hiroshi growls, plopping back in his wooden chair. His knuckles are pure white from clenching.

Hina quietly begins to cry. Hiroshi scoffs and shakes his head. "You've never fuckin' changed, have ya?"

"Hiro-!" Akari was about to defend her younger sister until she suddenly appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Uncle."

Mifuyu utters, her face devoid of anything but exhaustion. Light dark circles under eyes. He looks up and to his side to see his niece. Visibly flinching only just a pinch before slowly standing.

"Sit down," Mifuyu says.

He quietly does so, his entire furious angry aura changed with a flip of a dime.

"I don't need to deal with your shit today. Why are you here?" She asks coldly, crossing her arms.

Hiroshi's eyebrows furrowed and he rubbed the back of his shaggy yet slightly greasy brown locks. His pink eyes sorrowfully look at her before clearing his throat. Mifuyu's eye twitches. I hate when you look at me like that. Stop always looking at me like that.

"...I came here to ask you questions about that night."

"Mifuyu has...already...been through enough...and you just...waltz in here...demanding her to-!" Hina breaks into a heartbreaking sob, covering her mouth to at least quiet the sound of her voice but it wasn't working.

"I'm not trying to be a fucking asshole, Hina! Learn some goddamn-!"

"Stop." Mifuyu bites, clasping her teeth together. "I am not in the mood. Out with it." She was already on edge from last night. She didn't need her pitiful distraught uncle making a racket of her aunts. Her bed was calling to her but it would have to wait for a little longer.

He breathes deeply and exhales. Taking out his notepad and clicking his pen, he begins to write down her information without even asking it. He then looks up at her after writing down her age.

"So. Did you see anything last night?"

Even though Mifuyu presented as so, her heart was beating against her chest in violent protest to not withhold the truth. She knew he'd drop by and ask her questions about the school and her involvement, wondering if Akari had told him about her strange behavior in the last month or so but for now, she'll play dumb.

Her eyes lower to his height and blinks. "No. I was with my partner all evening at the event. I couldn't really leave and go to the bathroom for crying out loud..! It was so busy." Mifuyu's tone lightens up a tad to give a more believable performance, moving her hands behind her head.

"Not many students attend that weird school. You mean to tell me a lotta people were there?"

A sizable amount, she wanted to say. But not many. Not nearly as much as a regular high school.

"Yeah. I'd say so at least. It all kinda blurs together, ya know?" Mifuyu answers instead, pulling out a chair to sit across from her uncle. Then sits her hands on her lap.

"...Hm." He looks to write that down. The two aunts begin to leave quietly as Akari consoles Hina, exiting the kitchen. Hiroshi finishes writing and then looks back up. Somehow his pink irises, despite such a soft color, had a hint of sharpness. Easy to cut wood in half. But not a whole forest. No, he couldn't do that anymore...not in his condition.

"So you didn't notice those two girls leaving for any reason? Or were you too preoccupied?"

"I saw them leave. But I didn't think they would be leaving the school grounds. I thought they were just gonna go over to the next stall or over to some silly game being advertised in the main area."

"..." He writes that down.

At least he's buying it. For now, anyway.

As much as she despises him, Hiroshi is incredibly smart within his field as a journalist. Not as intelligent as he ever was...but it was close. Such a sour opinion to have a family member. That was something she couldn't ever seem to let go.

Hiroshi looks up from his notepad again and then stares at Mifuyu for a few moments.

He's searching for deceit. I knew it.

Like the same, she tried to do with Yuma. Only he was admittedly better at it than she was. Better at reading people. Mifuyu hoped she was good enough of a liar physically at least to lie to someone closely related within the law. Against such a code...would be shameful. However, she hated this man. Hating him for the reason her father was gone but he did not deserve to be involved with this. Not him. Not her aunts. Not anybody who was in the family if they were still within Kaminashi City limits.

Why try to take it all on your shoulders?

It's because I have to.

But you'll only get yourself hurt. What if this is more than you realize?

That doesn't matter anymore.

This is far more personal now. Ryouichi...I have to know what's going on.

The little voice would sigh in disappointment. That voice Mifuyu liked to recognize as her father.

"You're not getting up to trouble or anything are ya?" Hiro asked, almost startling the young detective but she still sat strong.

"Not really, no. I'm doing just fine, Uncle." Mifuyu says matter-of-factly, blinking tiredly. He hums and smacks his notebook shut, suddenly standing from his chair.

"Then I'm done here."

"Good."

There was an awkward pause between them.

Hiroshi shoves the notebook in his coat pocket and swings it over his arms, cursing lightly to himself. "...I hope you feel better soon, Mifuyu."

"Whatever." A chilling shiver went down her uncle's spine at her apathetic response. It frustrated him so much. He hated seeing her like this. But more of his selfishness hated her for still holding such a grudge over his head for something that happened. It had already been almost two years. Wounds are still fresh. She will heal over time...they say. Although wanted her to come back to him faster, this was the best he could get. He had to be grateful.

Hiroshi leaves placidly with a soft shut of their front door. Once she could hear him walking down the stairs, Mifuyu stands and pushes her chairs in along with the one he had sat in. Not paying mind to her aunts in the living room, who were definitely watching as she went up the stairs, she closed her bedroom door gently. Mifuyu then lies back down in bed, soft clean bed sheets welcoming her return once again.

She hugs her nearby decorative black pillow while she pulls up her legs, sweatpants making noises of movement against the blankets. Her silver eyes stare at her scarred hands, letting a few tears drop before shutting her eyes.

Cruel sleepless nights were awaiting the adolescent. Anticipating to greet her with the very nightmarish place she had once thought she escaped.