While the halls fill with students, one in particular sits on an opened window sill. He kicks his legs back and forth, not caring if he hits others- his legs would faze through them anyway. An old tune is hummed. A song from when he was human. It comes from an old show that he and his brother used to watch together. Tsukasa couldn't recall what it was about, it had been so long, but that catchy intro was enough to stick in his mind.

"I bet Amane would remember the name," he interrupts his own humming with a smile. "Maybe I should ask him the next time we meet!"

The thought of reuniting with his brother makes him want to just go to his side this very instant. To throw his arms around him and see how he's doing.

If only that blotch of pink hadn't distracted him.

Amber hues immediately lock onto the pink haired boy walking down the hallway. His head is kept low, hands firmly gripped on that camera he always carried. The boy was walking against the crowd of chattering students, not addressing a single soul. Without lifting his head, he effortlessly managed to dodge the other students. It was as if his presence was being overlooked.

What a lonely creature.

An unfortunate one as well to be caught by Tsukasa's attention.

It wasn't just the invisibility he wore but the fact that the ghost could tell this wasn't his true form. He was holding back. He'd watch the human in school and see that proper and forced smile and how fake his persona was. It was terrible yet intriguing.

It didn't help that he was nice to look at to. He was a very appealing individual. Perhaps that was how he'd caught Tsukasa's attention in the first place. At this point, he couldn't recall. All he knew was that he was beginning to like this human more and more.

The human comes to a sudden halt. The hallway has emptied, the rest of the students scurried away into their classes to leave them alone. The boy sighs, mumbling something about being late to class but doesn't move an inch. The ghost hops from his seat and floats to him. He hovers right in front of his face. Wide eyes staring at his. Watching. Waiting.

A hand is lifted and placed against the boy's cheek. Unfortunately, his hand goes through him. Perhaps it was better he couldn't touch him. Humans could be such delicate creatures. They break so easily in so many ways.

He wonders what it would be like to touch him and have him react. How would he like to be possessed by a ghost? It would be more fun then, but he's already bound to a human. Still, he doesn't want to lose this one either.

After what seems like hours, the human finally moves. He walks forward, going through Tsukasa's form. He shivers.

"What was that?"

"It was me!"

"Probably nothing…"

Tsukasa pouts. He was hoping that his voice would have gotten through to him. But, to even sense a spirit was a special ability. One that this one lacked.

Eyes fell to the boy's camera. He really did love that thing, didn't he? Maybe he could try appearing in those pictures he took. That would surely get his attention. Although, it wasn't a very fun method to carry out and there was no guarantee that he would be able to finally acknowledge him.

"Hmm…" Tsukasa goes in thought with a finger pressing against his lips. "If only he was a ghost that would make things so much easier." A pause before a wide smile forms and he claps his hands together.

"It's time to make a new friend!" His eyes remain on the boy as he floats upward. "I can't wait to play with you, Mitsuba~!"

~…~

Mitsuba sighs as the day comes to an end. Another lonely day at school really sucked. And here he'd been trying his damned hardest. He'd done everything to fit in and not stand out and- he guesses that's exactly what he got.

He clicks his tongue, holding back on spewing his annoyance. Even if no one else was around at the lockers, he still did his best to keep up this persona of his. He bites down on his tongue, fighting back his frustration from showing. At least he could still be crude in his thoughts.

'Hello…Mitsuba…'

"Huh?"

He gasps while frantically looking around. There wasn't a living soul in sight. Everyone had gone home for the day, aside from those in clubs. Though he's certain that they'd be leaving by now. And he should too. The boy quickly adjust his shoes so he could go home.

'You're…lonely, aren't you…?'

"I…"

His head lifts, eyes wide. His hands pull against his chest. Mitsuba figures that he's imagining this voice, he had to be. No one would be speaking to him right now. And it's not like anyone cared enough about him to talk to him longer than a minute.

'Don't you want to play with someone…?'

He does. He wants to fool around and enjoy his youth. He wants to enjoy his time and not worry about bullies like the previous years of school. He wanted another kid his age to recognize him for who he was. He just wanted a friend. He just wanted to mean something to someone.

The boy bit at his lips, not wanting to get emotional here and now.

'Mitsuba…'

His head turns towards the source of the sound. And in this evening light, he finds the image of a boy, one around his age, hiding behind the door to the school. Mitsuba squints, trying to get a better look at him but finds it difficult to. The lighting wasn't poor and the moon hadn't risen enough to hide him in the dark just yet. Maybe he was in need of glasses. Especially since the boy's form seemed a little fuzzy too.

'Follow me!'

As he rubs his eyes, he finds the other boy running off. As if on instinct, his legs begin to follow after him. He dashes out of the building and into the school's entrance.

"Where did he go?"

He feels something press against his back and it takes all his might not to let out a shrill yelp. Mitsuba turns on his heels only to find that hazy image of a boy standing before him. Even up close, his figure is shrouded in pure darkness. He can't even make out his face when they were only inches apart.

'Tag, you're it~!'

And just like that, the kid disappears. Mitsuba's heart races, a little frightened to what he'd just seen. He couldn't- didn't want to understand what was going on. Really, a cute and adorable guy like him was forced into playing tag with a ghost of all things? It didn't suit him at all! And hell if he'd be playing with some ghost to!

He's so close to turning his head in a huff and putting his foot down. The real Mitsuba would whine and complain and demand this ghost show himself so he could shoo him away. But…he's not the real Mitsuba. Not right now. Currently, he's the ideal Mitsuba. The one that is sweet and kind and fits in and doesn't get bullied by others.

Would that Mitsuba just brush off a (ghost) kid wanting to play tag with him?

He takes in a breath and lets it out. His eyes dart around the school, trying to find that boy. Thankfully, he isn' too far off and he could still spot him even in the dim moonlight. Once in sight, he chases after him.

Again. And again. Never getting close to even touching the mysterious boy. It was as if he were one step ahead of him. It didn't help that he wasn't the most active person to begin with either.

"Oh, come on," he breathes out and hears a giggle.

'Don't give up~!'

He felt like he should. All this running around, going in circles like a wild goose chase was tiring. And the longer he remained here the darker it got. The sun had already set and the moon was only rising higher and higher. It was a miracle that the school had lighting at this hour.

When Mitsuba finds the boy, he's standing at the gate to the school. This is it, he thinks, this is the last time he'll try to tag this boy back. But just as he begins to move his legs, he finds the boy has something hanging from his hands.

It's a camera.

His camera.

A gasp escapes and he pats at his chest. It wasn't there. In this sudden game of tag he must have left it at the lockers or in his bag. That must have been how he got it. Stole it. Didn't mater really. He couldn't let this boy have it.

"That's mine!"

Mitsuba runs out of the school's gates, breathlessly looking for a sign of the boy. Sure he had a knack for disappearing suddenly, but this time, he'd find him and catch him. As he kept a look out for him, he found his camera instead. Lying in the middle of the road.

"No!"

He runs faster than he had before, unaware of the leg that was stuck out conveniently in his path. Mitsuba trips, stumbles and falls onto his camera…or he would have if he hadn't moved his body in time. The last thing he wanted was to break it.

The boy hisses in pain as he hits the ground. He had awkwardly landed on his right hand. It was probably a sprain. He'd have a hard time taking pictures for a while.

When he sits up, he quickly grabs the camera. He lets out a sigh of relief finding it was in perfect condition. No scratches or anything.

"Thank goodness…"

As he turns on the camera, a light illuminates from behind. He could see his shadow cast before him. And he swears that he could see the shadow of that boy too.

He turns his head, hoping to find him.

He hears a blaring loud honk.

His gaze transfixes on the truck coming towards him.

His body doesn't move.

And his world goes dark.

~…~

Tsukasa rolls around in the Broadcasting Club room. He was getting antsy, eager to find the latest spirit that would haunt this school. He thinks about whining to Sakura, stopping his rolling and, from behind, putting his hands around her shoulders.

"Do you think he appeared yet? I wana say hi to him already!"

"Why not go and find him yourself?" She breathes out.

"Okay!"

And just like that, her response had worked its magic on the ghost. She was instantly freed from his hold and disappeared from the room.

The ghost roamed the rather empty halls. School had ended a few minutes ago and only those in clubs were around. Tsukasa found himself floating into a classroom, humming to himself. He weaves through the desks, plopping down onto one and acting as if he were in class once again. The only problem was that a vase with flowers blocked his view.

"Such pretty flowers! I wonder if he saw them already."

Tsukasa found it a little funny that the invisible boy was even gifted these flowers. It wouldn't last long, he knew. This little memorial would soon be forgotten and another student would take his seat. School would return to normal, as if nothing ever happened. And that was fine, for him.

Tsukasa smiled and resumed humming. He plucks one of the petals, waving it within his fingers before releasing it. He watches it gently fall down until it hits the desk. When he looks to the flower again, it seems to have shriveled up a bit. His touch had done more than he thought. Now he wonders if his classmates would get a new flower or simply let this one be.

The ghost jumps out of his seat. With nothing else to do here, he decides to float to another location. He tries to follow Mitsuba's footsteps- where would he have gone during this time of day? He would usually go outside and take pictures of things. Never humans for some reason. That didn't help him now. There had to be some place his spirit would like to go to here. If it was strong enough anyway. He hadn't thought that maybe Mitsuba didn't have enough strength to become a ghost. If that were the case, he'd have to find someone else to latch onto. And he didn't want that. He really liked that human.

As he passes by a closed door, the ghost hears the sound of muffled crying. Ears perk up, head turns. He glances up to the label on the door. The Photography Club. For a moment, he thinks it might be a club member but that couldn't be it. Without hesitating, he goes into the room.

It's empty and dark. A little dusty too as if it hadn't been used in weeks. But, there sitting upon the table with his back to the door and knees to his chest was a familiar pink haired boy. Although it was a bit translucent, Tsukasa would recognize that striking color anywhere. And a smile brightens on his face.

"I found you~!" Tsukasa chip and immediately lunges towards the sniffling boy. In a second, he's got a tight grip around the other ghost.

"EEEEP!" Mitsuba screeches to the sudden hug. He wriggles in his grasp while Tsukasa only laughs. "Get off me, pervert! I know I'm cute but that doesn't give you the right to jump me like that!"

In an instance, Tsukasa lets go.

"Pervert? What's that?" He asks, innocently.

It catches Mitsuba off guard, if only for a second. But he still keeps his distance from this ghost by sitting at the edge of the desk and having an arm in front to protect him. His gaze lingered on the smiling boy. The way he smiled at him made his skin crawl.

"S-Seriously? You don't know?"

"Nope!" Whether he's telling the truth or not…Mitsuba can't tell. Not like he cares much in the first place, but-

"Hey, wait. You can see me?"

"Yup! I'm a ghost just like you!" Tsukasa figures that the other should realize he's dead by now. Most do even if they're in denial about it. If not then he'd have to break the news to him. "And we're going to be pals!"

"Wh-What? I didn't ask for a little shrimp like you to be my friend. People are going to think I only play around with kids!"

Tsukasa stares at him in response. His smile never wavering even as those rude words were being said to him. If he could, he'd be smiling even wider, past his ears. Finally, he was seeing the other be true to himself. Granted, it wasn't much. Nothing like that drive to kill like his brother held back (but nothing would ever compare to him). Regardless, it was still nice to see him like this. It was almost as if he were meeting an entirely different person.

"You finally let you true colors show, huh?"

"What?" Mitsuba pauses, wondering what he meant before- he knew. Whoever this kid was, he recognized him. The alive him. But, he was a ghost? How could he know about him? "What are you, some kind of stalker?"

"Hmmm…maybe!" Tsukasa chuckles as he inches closer. "You never let your true self be exposed before, right?" He lifts his hands to hold the boy's face in between his. "I've been wanting to see the real you for so long, Mitsuba~!"

The way he utters his name makes his blood run cold. If he did have any blood in this ghostly form anyway. His body frozen in his grasp. He couldn't move even if he wanted to.

"No need to hold back any longer. You're free…well, you're mine now, actually."

"I-I'm not yours!" Mitsuba tries to shake his head, but his kid is stronger than he looks. He feels his hands squish his face and not in a playful, aunt pinching your cheeks kinda way. More of the he could break his jaw if he tried to escape kinda way.

"But you are." Tsukasa pouts. "I did a lot for you, you know? I made it so we could be like this."

"Like what? Hey-!"

Tsukasa had let go of his cheeks only so that he could wrap his arms around him. The ghost had his head against Mitsuba's chest, nuzzling him and listening too…nothing. Ghosts didn't have heartbeats. And that silence was captivating.

"I want to be around you, Mitsuba~!"

Mitsuba scoffs. This kid was strange and unsettling. As much as he liked the attention on him, this wasn't what he would have normally wanted. If only he could push the other away without fear of him squeezing him to death.

"I want to see more of the real you. I want to see all the colors you hold." Tsukasa giggles. "Even if I'm busy, there will always be time for you. And all your time will be for me. We'll be together forever, Mitsuba!"

Tsukasa lets him go, smiling brightly at him for a second. He then leans forward to plant a kiss on his lips. Nothing long lasting, he only wanted to initiate contact. That way he would be on his mind for a while. And soon, always.

Mitsuba's face goes red and he begins to ramble about how perverted this ghost is for stealing his first kiss and how a pretty boy like him should have had it in a more romantic setting.

"We'll do more soon, I promise. When I get back, we can have more fun together. And maybe…we can play a real game of tag now!"

"Tag…?"

The game makes his stomach churn. There was something…bad about that game. He couldn't recall what or why. But, it's definitely not a game he looks forward to playing. Especially not with this kid.

"Yup! You never caught me. Anyway, see you later, Mitsuba~!"

Tsukasa disappears before his very eyes. It was as if that ghost hadn't been there to begin with. Mitsuba reaches out, expecting to be able to hold onto him and stop him from leaving, but it's too late. He's gone.

"What a weird stalker ghost…" He frowns and holds his right hand against his chest. Unease filled his gut and he felt like he should leave. Even if he had nowhere to go, no one to look his way. There was only that boy who knew him in death.

That wasn't a good sign.

He was hoping that he'd never run into him again.

"Don't forget, Mitsuba, you're mine forever~!"