Special thanks to MikoGalatea, the beta reader of my story and who really help me and my basics English.

Chapter 2

The next day, Shiori decided to leave her suite. As soon as she stepped out into the corridor, she met Tokiko.

''Do you feel better, Shiori?'' the woman asked, concerned.

''Not really. I thought, maybe if I go to school... I would find answers for my questions.''

''Are you sure? You don't feel pain at all?''

''Sure.''

Tokiko was concerned about the sadness she could hear in Shiori's voice, but thought that maybe it would be better if Shiori finally met someone who was alive.

The teenager left, and immediately afterwards, Tokiko heard the voice of Nemuro coming from behind her.

''Tokiko, I have something to tell you...''

''What is it?'' asked Tokiko.

''I was tired of being in the same building every day, so I decided to go outside. It didn't take long for me to see a few students. I thought I should ask them a few questions about how the world is today... But they didn't seem to take any notice me. Then I went to the school and I could be as loud as I could and still not get any attention.''

''So?'' Tokiko thought she had a good idea of what Nemuro was trying to explain to her.

''Nobody can see ghosts - except, for some obscure reason, Shiori.''

''Maybe she's a medium?''

''Possibly... and incidentally, in the floor above us, I met another ghost.''

''Who?''

''I don't clearly remember his name, but he is the young boy who was always with Kiryuu Nanami... Apparently, he, Nanami and one other girl died in the fire as well.''

''That's horrible. Dying at such a young age...''

The two adults then heard a voice coming from one of the rooms.

''Sister...'' Mamiya said quietly and weakly. ''I need my medication...''

''Oh, no! I almost forgot, Mamiya!'' Tokiko said in panick.

''Why are you doing this?" Nemuro asked coldly. ''We are dead.''

The only response Nemuro got to that was a cold expression on Tokiko's face. The woman then went to the room where Mamiya was to give him his medication. Nemuro watched the room for a few seconds before going to his own room. He moved to his office, looked at a stack of books, and threw them to the floor with rage.

xx

Shiori walked through the school corridor. She noticed almost no students were present, so she figured that class was going to start soon. She stopped in front what she remembered to be her class, though she'd barely studied at all. She walked in and immediately got the attention of the students present. She went to a vacant seat, and she overheard some of her classmates.

''Takatsuki... I thought she was dead...''

''I heard she'd run away from the academy.''

''Really? She wasn't kidnapped by aliens?''

''I wonder where she was all that time.''

A normal student would be annoying as the center of the attention, but Shiori wasn't normal. She didn't care about what they said.

During class, Shiori felt incredibly bored. She didn't understand what the teacher was talking about, and she didn't care enough to try understanding, either.

''What a stupid idea I had,'' she thought. ''Everything is so uninteresting..." Then another idea suddenly came over her. "Wait... why didn't I think of this before?''

When lunchtime came round, Shiori's first action was to leave the class and walk quickly. Soon, she had arrived at her destination: the mysterious room where the shadow girls were. A normal human couldn't have found it easily, but for a human who could see death like Shiori, it was easy.

Shiori noticed two things: one, that the shadow girls weren't present, and two, that there were female uniforms all around the room.

''I don't know what happened here... but this is perfect for me.''

Shiori sat on one of the chairs and take a look at the control station. She could see everything happenning at the school. It made her feel powerful, and for the first time in a long time, she was happy.

xx

Somewhere in the depths of the academy, where nobody had been in centuries, a pair of eyes suddenly opened and a little laugh echoed through the darkness.

xx

Ever since her prince, Akio, had died, Kanae had felt miserable. She passed her days in her bedroom, barely leaving it despite the fact that she was now technically in charge of the academy; she just didn't have the energy to do the job. She didn't feel strong enough. She needed a prince. A prince who would make her feel good about herself. A prince who would be always nice to her. A prince who would love her. But she thought that would never happen. Her prince was Akio and he was dead, apparently killed by his sister. But each day Kanae hoped that one day a new prince would arrive at Ohtori.

xx

A few students were talking in the hall of the academy. One boy with glasses limped over to join them.

''Hey, who are you?'' one boy asked. ''I've never seen you before.''

''I'm Kaido,'' replied the boy with glasses. ''I just arrived yesterday.''

''What happened to your leg?'' asked one girl.

''You wouldn't believe it, but I was injured when a car tried to kill me! A car with nobody inside!''

Kaido noticed the students didn't seem surprised by what he saw. He wondered if that was because they didn't trust him or if it was because his experience was normal for them. But before he could say anything more, everyone heard the door open, taking the attention of everyone present in the hall. A tall, handsome young man with blue hair came into the hall. The girls immediately fell in love with him. Some noticed he had a scabbard and a sword with him.

''Who is he?'' asked one girl.

''I don't know,'' another girl said, ''but I want him as a boyfriend!''

The stranger walked in the direction of a group of girls. He smiled, making them all blush.

''Hello. I want know where the woman in charge is.''

''You mean Miss Ohtori Kanae? I know where she is and I can guide you.''

''That would be really nice,'' smiled the boy, kissing the girl on the cheek.

The girl shouted out in joy, and the others girls were jealous of them.

xx

Kanae, still in her bedroom, heard knocks at her door.

''Yes? Who is it?''

''You don't know me,'' said a male voice. ''My name is Tsuchiya Ruka and I want talk with you.''

For a reason Kanae didn't know, just listening to the voice of a person she never met before make her feel a little bit better. She went to open the door, and when she saw the boy before her, she immediately fell in love with him.

''I've heard about your problems, and that makes me want to know you. Do you want to take a walk with me?''

Normally, Kanae may have asked how this man could possibly know about her problems, but he sounded so reassuring that she didn't care at all. She wanted to be with him.

xx

Half an hour later, Kanae and Ruka were walking in the gardens. Despite the fact that she'd only known him for such a short time, Kanae was attached to him. He was charming, loving, and he made her forget her problems. He was the perfect prince.

''Kanae, I want to teach fencing. Is that possible?'' Ruka asked gently.

''No problem,'' smiled the young woman.

Their conversation was disturbed by a group of students who was clearly running away from something.

''Miss Ohtori! It's terrible!'' cried a girl.

''A car tried to crush us!'' a boy added.

Knowing that a car was intimidating students angered Ruka.

''Where is the car?''

The students all pointed at the same direction and Ruka withdrew his sword from his scabbard.

''Sorry, my dear Kanae, but it is my duty to protect students from evil.''

''I understand.'' Kanae said. ''Be careful!''

''Don't worry. Nothing can kill me!''

Ruka walked quickly, his sword in his hand. After a few minutes, he was out of sight of Kanae and the other students. He was alone, in front of the school's entrace. He then heard the sound of an engine, and saw the car arriving in front him.

Ruka pointed his sword at the car. ''Are you the car that's trying to kill students?'' he asked, accusingly.

''I don't want to kill anyone,'' said the car. ''I just have fun terrifying them!''

''It's still a problem!'' Ruka said. ''You are an evil monster!''

The car reacted badly to Ruka's words.

''Evil monster... EVIL MONSTER... DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME?! MY BROTHER ABANDONED ME!''

The car charged at Ruka, clearly wanting to kill him or at least injure him badly. Ruka wasn't afraid; he knew what to do. When the car was about to hit him, he jumped on to the hood and planted his sword into it several times. The car cried out and turned abruptly. Ruka fell to the ground, his sword still in hand. The blue haired man watched as the injured car sped away.

''I hope it never comes back again,'' he thought proudly.

xx

At the control room, Shiori had seen the "duel". She didn't care about the boy she'd never seen before; all her attention was on the car. She understood it was someone who had turned into a car, and she felt sorry for it. She wanted to know where the car was. She pushed many buttons without knowing what she was doing, and after a few tentative presses, she succeeded in locating the car. It was hiding behind some trees, a few meters away from where the burnt building was.

''Of course! Nobody ever goes there,'' thought Shiori. ''A perfect place to hide! That poor car need my help!''

xx

When Shiori arrived at the place, she hoped the car was still here. She walked behind the trees and saw the car.

The car looked at her.

''Don't worry,'' said Shiori, calmly. ''I don't want to hurt you...''

''I know,'' said the car. ''You're like me...That's why you're the only person I wouldn't go after...''

Shiori understood from the voice that the person who had turned into this car was a girl. She then saw the number plate, indicating the name of the girl.

''Kozue... Wait... Are you Miki's twin sister?''

''Yes.''

Shiori had seen Kozue a few times, but she didn't really know the girl; even so, she quickly got what the girl's problem was.

''You're sad that your brother went away.''

''The bastard!'' Kozue cried. ''How could he do that?''

''There are people who are selfish for no reason, like your brother or Juri,'' Shiori commented. ''I was sad, but now I've found something amusing!''

''What is it?''

''It's a bit difficult to explain. I need to show you. Return to your human form... we can be friends...''

''Friends...'' said Kozue.

''Stay here,'' Shiori said. ''I'll come back with clothes you can put on.''

xx

Nanami was sitting on the bed while Tsuwabuki massaged her shoulders.

''Tsuwabuki.'' Nanami was blushing. ''You're really... really...''

''What're you trying to say?'' asked Tsuwabuki.

Nanami couldn't resist any longer. She turned her head and kissed Tsuwabuki on the lips. Tsuwabuki was a bit surprised, but he kissed her back. It was a lovely moment and nothing seemed to be able to make those two ghosts miserable. It was like they would never be sad if they stay together forever.