Author: Ok. I hoped everyone liked that last chapter. Now on with the next. Here's a heads up: this part is a little weird so…be prepared.

The old school house

Zoë just stood there, taking deep breaths and trying not to sob, but it didn't work too well. Every once in a while her body would wrack with the silent weeping that was filling her mind, her heart, and not to mention her soul and spirit. I had a feeling that Zoë was once a girl of great faith until her life got torn apart by…by that creature, Rene.

So, now my life was perfect. I had Hajime. But would I be able to enjoy it with this girl so terribly in pain. So terribly depressed. No. How could I? I couldn't stand there watching her fight her pain while I stood there kissing my man. No.

I walked over to Zoë and gave her a hug. "Hey." I said slowly. "Don't feel too bad. I'm sure you'll find someone else to love."

She shook her head. "No. Ya don't understand. I don't wanna love anyone else. Only 'im. He was mine 'n I was 'is. I don't know what to do anymore."

I nodded. "OK. Well, why don't you give someone else a chance. There are lots of nice guys in the world."

Zoë sneered at me. "Yeah. Thatsa why ya wouldn't fall in love with anyone else. Only your sweet ol' man over there." She jerked her thumb in the direction of Hajime.

"That's different, Zoë. Hajime can love me back. And…Rene…he can't love you back. Don't you see. He will never love you again. Find someone else. What about Amanojako?"

"Who or what is that?"

I grinned. "Oh, it's a cat-ish thing."

She nodded. "I like cats. You should see my room. It's…" she stopped suddenly, took a deep breath and started up again. "It's filled with lots and lots of cat things. I collect. Or I usedta collect. Not anymore."

"Why?" I couldn't help my curiosity.

She gave me a wary glance. "Well, I…I haven't been to my home in over a year. And…I haven't seen my family in over a year 'n a half." She shrugged. "But I'm over it…for now." She glanced up at me. "Sometimes I lie awake at night thinkin' 'bout how my life used to be 'n I just so want to go back. To get away from all the pain 'n all." She gave a heavy sigh. "But…it's over for that life. This is all I got left." She held her arms out. "My body, spirit, soul, and pain. Nothin' else. Only this."

I shook my head. "That's not true, Zoë. You have me. I'm your friend."

She looked at me her eyes filled with anger. "Oh, yeah. So thatsa why ya haven't told me your name yet. Or your friend's. Or anyone you even know just a little.. Only the ol' cat Amanojako. Yeah. What a great friend."

"Zoë —"

"No! Ima sick of this. Ima sick of you. Ima sick of your friend and his accusing me o' bein' a ghost. Ima sick of everythin'."

"But if you're not a ghost, what are you?"

Her eyes blazed with fire as she answered. "Ima human. What else would I be if I ain't no ghost? A vampire? Well, I'm sorry. I dunno if them blood sucking things are real here, but where I come from they ain't. So there ain't no way that I'm a vamp. And anyways, ghosts don't exist where I come from, either. That proves that I ain't no ghost either. So go 'way 'n leave me alone to die in my hurt."

I took a deep breath. "Zoë…"

"And quit youra talkin' to me, will ya?"

"But…please."

"No. I'm through with all o' this. Go 'way. Now."

"Wha —"

"NO! STOP IT! NOW!" Zoë screamed at the top of her lungs before whirling around and marching down the street her head in her hands.

I felt a stab of pain ripple through my body, but I had done what I could for her. There was nothing left. I turned back towards Hajime who had been watching the whole time, then threw my arms around his neck as I wept into his chest.

"Oh, Hajime! What's wrong with me? Why couldn't I help her? I've always been able to put ghosts to rest. So, why couldn't I help her?"

"Satsuki, a ghost doesn't have a soul. Humans do. They're tougher to deal with. Just try not to worry about it."

His arms were around me and I sank into him, still mourning for my uselessness. We walked home together. Hajime let me lean on him for support as I still cried and sobbed. When we stopped in front of my house, where my parents still hadn't gotten home yet, he let go of me and gave me one final kiss on the lips, before walking into his own house.

When I stepped inside the front door, Keiichirou was all over me, asking questions and accusing me of lying. I stared at him stupidly, not entirely comprehending anything the boy told me. I collapsed onto the couch with a weary sigh, then quickly turned to my brother.

"Keiichirou!" I nearly screamed with excitement at my brilliance. "You're good with people, right? So could you do me a favor?"

He looked at me with suspicion. "Since when are you so nice to me?"

"Keiichirou!"

"OK, OK. What is the so called favor?"

"Well, there's this girl and she's having difficulty coping with life and all after a terrible break up with the one she loved. And I just want you to talk to her. OK?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, sure. But why don't you do it?"

"Because! I already tried! It just didn't work! And know I feel like an utterly useless fool who has no good in her!"

"Oh, Satsuki, don't say that. I think that you're a wonderful sister."

I looked over at him. "Really?"

"Really. Now I'll be back later. If I find this girl then I'll talk to her, but if I don't then you need to help me find her."

"But, Keii! I can't face her anymore! She basically blew me off, before. I can't face her again. Don't make me do it!"

"OK, fine. But do you know where I could find her?"

I though it over then gave a hesitant nod before blurting out. "But you can't go there."

"Whatever. Where is it?"

She hesitated then reluctantly said. "The old school house, but please, please, don't go there. I'm practically begging you. Don't. Go. There."

"I won't." Unless I can't find her. He failed to mention those last few words to me, though.

As I ranted and raved inside my house Keiichirou made his trek down the street towards the old school house the exact place that I did not want him to be going.

His feet padded silently on the pavement like a…well, like a ghost. His hair blew steadily in the breeze and his clothes ruffled up against his body. The rickety building soon came into view and stopped dead in his tracks. Taking a deep breath he marched into the front door. The hallway was dark and the walls needed a new painting job. Everything was quiet except for the beating of the young boys heart as he walked down the tiled floor and the sound of the wind whipping against the building's walls.

He slowed to a stop and glanced around at the deserted classrooms wondering which one to try first. He finally stepped into the room on his left and as luck would have it found Zoë sitting at a desk staring up at the front of the room as if someone were there teaching a class. Keiichirou shivered then sat down in the seat next to the ghost girl. She glanced over at him for a second before turning back to her original thing.

"Hey look." Keii said slowly. "I'm Keiichirou Miyanoshita."

The ghost girl glanced at him again. "Zoë, but…Shh. We aren't supposed to talk in class. If the teacher catches us we might get a detention."

The boy glanced to the front of the room then back to Zoë. "Uh…there's no one here except you and me."

"Shh!"

She stared intently at the rotting blackboard her eyes filled with pleasure.

"What's he teaching about?" Keii asked her.

She sent him an annoyed look. "She. She's teachin' 'bout algebra. You wouldn't understand it. You're way to young for such complicated things."

He snorted. "Well, thanks a bunch."

"Look, Keiichirou, I know that you're just doin' this cause your sister told ya to, but don't. I'm perfectly fine the way I am and don't need no one to interfere with my ways."

"Hey, are you sure that you're right in the head because just so you know this building is the old school house and no one comes here anymore. No teachers. No students. No…hold on a second! How on earth did you know that my sister sent me here? I never mentioned anything about that! How did you even know that I had a sister?"

Zoë grinned at the boys astonishment. "I can read ya like an open book. 'n anyways Satsuki said that that was her last name. 'n if ya weren't her bro then ya wouldn't have that last name considering it's unique and I sure no one else has it."

Keii's face turned red. "Oh. Oops."

The ghost girl laughed. "You're funny. I think I like ya. 'n I don't say that to most people. You're a special boy, Keiichirou."

"You can call me Keii. That's what my sister calls me. And my friends but no one else. So now you're special."

She laughed again. "Well, I guess I am special."

Keiichirou glanced to the front of the room. "Wait, what happened to your algebra class?"

"Oh." she grinned. "It ended. But the teacher said that ya and me had to stay behind… 'n be punished. 'n ya don't want to even know 'bout the punishment but to experience them…that's terrible. I know one girl who passed a note durin' class 'n the teacher…she drove a nail through the poor girl's hands. 'n oh how she screamed. It shattered that window right over there."

Keii stared at her, his eyes wide with fear. Zoë laughed so hard that the room echoed with the sound, then she stopped suddenly and looked at the young boy a grin plastered on her face. "I was only kiddin', boy."

"So…so…the teacher isn't going to stick a nail through my hand."

The ghost girl looked confused. "What? Are ya sure that you're right in the head. There ain't no teacher. What are you thinkin'?"

"But…but…you said that the teacher was teaching algebra. I…"

Zoë laughed again. "It was a joke. I was tryin' to get rid of ya by makin' ya think that I wassa crazy girl."

"Oh." His face turned red again, then he brightened up and grinned at her. "Well, then since you're not crazy and you're tame and all, maybe I could take you home as a pet."

"Yeah. That woulda be nice. I'll be you're puppy doggie." Her smile stretched across her face. "Would you like that…Keii?"

He shook his head vigorously. "Oh, yes! You know I've never had any real friends. You're my first one. Do you like scary movies cause I love scary movies. I was watching the mummy the other day and it was so scary. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I'm not really sure if that's possible, but it sure is funny to think about. I mean the beetles really scared me and all. And then when that guy lost his eyes…ahhhh!…that was horrifying."

Zoë grinned at him, a joyful expression. "Hey come on, Keii! I'll race you to your house!" and at that she took off out of the old school house headed in the Miyanoshita residence.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author: So how'd ya'll like that chapter? But do you know what's really weird? I actually wrote the chapter after this one before this one. who knows why.