Heyhey^^ Its Midori, and you know…it really has been a whil- *is shot XD*
Anyways, sorry for the long hiatus and stuff. Had to study for the Term 3 exams and well, it kind of paid off…so here I am with a chapter that I have put so much into.
I also got caught into the Role-Playing whirlwind on Facebook:P RP really is fun if you do it right, and of course, as with any skill at all there are the good and the bad^^" Been admin-ing near 5 pages all as a Rikkai Dai member (not the same one). You'll be surprised at which character I specialize in…you can always guess though~
Yeah, the longish 'supernatural explanation' I promised since the story started. This chapter would be one to remember:)
Ohoh and I only had the time to do the story cuz it's the Sept Hols where I am and I'm choosing to ignore my homewo- *is shot XD*
Disclaimer: I have Rikkai Dai's jersey. Sue me.
Warnings: Carried over, crack (tons), yaoi, OOCness if you see it that way, and Hanako being herself XD…add more if you deem fit.
Story time then:)
It was puzzling, weird. A whole ton of emotions all thrown in together and then placed in the blender and blended at full speed. The result being a scrambled and uniform mass that was indistinguishable from its previous components. Such was the feeling all the ex-Rikkai regulars were feeling right about now.
"I've kept my promise, Sei-nii! I have returned, I have come back!"
What the heck? Sei-nii? No one called Yukimura that…no one since…no…
Akaya was pretty much annoyed at this woman who had just suddenly barged into their lives like that, acting all close and cuddly with his senpais, and now hugging his former captain? Was it not a little too much? But it was Yukimura who hugged her first and he was currently…crying?
The bluenette stood up, wiping some of his stray tears away, then showing the widest smile anyone had seen since…well, so many years back. The smile that had all but disappeared when a certain person had disappeared from their lives as well. Sure he smiled, everyone said. But that expression wasn't a smile. It was a mere action of his facial muscles to twitch the sides of his face into a shape reminiscent of a crescent moon. That was not a smile. It was an empty shell of the real thing.
And this right over here…his smile. It was back.
"I-I…don't know what to say…I…how…"
Hanako was shedding some tears of her own too, and she smiled as well. A very beautiful one, Yagyuu observed. She reached out to touch his face.
"Then…then don't say anything. I'm back, and that's all there is to it, Sei-nii."
Once more, Yukimura had enveloped her into a tight hug, and finally, Akaya could take it no longer.
"Who the heck are you to hug my buchou? He has a boyfriend in case you didn't know!"
The room suddenly became so quiet, it was almost devoid of life. Everyone had turned to look at him first, then at the pair in the middle of the room questioningly. Well, it was understandable, considering that everything looked like some kind of old flame reunion of a sort. Surprisingly, the effeminate man just shook his head, sighing in an exaggerated kind of way, and Hanako took on a smirking expression.
"Bakaya…watch that big mouth of yours. Really…you haven't changed."
Jackal was probably the first to have his mouth left gaping open, his cup slipping from his hand onto the floor…before promptly fainting on the spot. The team only took one single look at him before turning their attention back to Hanako and Yukimura, only too puzzled at their behaviour, as well as that eerily familiar way of speaking Hanako used.
"…N…N-Niou…senpai? Is that you…Niou-senpai?"
The youngest man had his eyes big in wonder, seemingly not having realised what had just come out of his mouth. The others were also too preoccupied to notice.
Akaya was asking this so desperately. This could not be true. Not a single bit. There was no possible way a dead person could come alive again. But those words had left his mouth long before his mind had time to process them. Even he felt embarrassed having let slip a statement like that.
Yukimura smiled warmly, laughing in a way that he had not done in a while, and the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place in everyone's head. This was Rikkai, and in Rikkai, rules were only rules if everyone agreed to follow them, else they had no purpose. This rule stated that they were to believe what had happened just seconds ago, and the team gladly oblidged. Yanagi smiled. Marui smiled. Yagyuu smiled. And Sanada…
…he smiled too.
What happened next was completely unpredictable and awesome in the Rikkai way- a group hug ending up all in a heap. It seemed that the picture from Yagyuu's photo cache…had come to life too. In which all worries were forgotten, and only happiness remained.
"Niou!"
"Niou-senpai!"
"Masaharu…"
Sure, it was something unbelievable. But this was Rikkai, and because they were Rikkai, that one team, that they believed, no matter how unbelievable or how ridiculous it was. Simply because it was their Trickster that they were talking about, and if it was him, Niou Masaharu of all people…then it was plausible.
To think…to think that who they thought had left had come back, come back in the most wonderful way possible. This gathering where they all reunited, this gathering which was intended for remembering him. It had materialised and become a reality, and the said person was now right in front of them, living, breathing, smiling, and doing everything that they wished he could have done back then, so long ago. But they would forgive him, because all that mattered was that their team was now complete, and that there was no need to feel so empty anymore.
"So…my feeling was right. I knew this gathering…this one was special."
It took all of Niou's power to detach herself from Yukimura. The older boy had a grip no weaker than a vice, and he seemed to have taken a liking to making sure she was not about to get away from him. She sighed, glancing over all of them. Jackal had also only woken up, and Marui pulled him aside to explain the whole thing.
"No one's…gonna ask me why I'm a girl?"
*Ping!* Oh wow, the sound of a pin dropping!
Well, it was silence alright. That one question of many had been left hanging on the group's minds, but none had dared to ask anything. Now that Niou herself had volunteered to answer it…then why not? Yukimura chuckled, and his expression changed to one of slight guilt. He started.
"Haru…actually, I saw both you and Yagyuu at the café the other day."
Said pair raised their eyebrows.
"Does…that have anything to do with…well…anything at all?"
The bluette leaned back, smiling apologetically, closing his eyes for a bit.
"I'm sorry for thinking that Yagyuu, you were cheating on Masaharu. I kind of thought that way then…"
Sanada too, had on a serious expression. Well, it wasn't as if he showed any expression other than a serious one…but we shall let that slide for now, shall we?
"I apologise as well, Niou, Yagyuu."
Niou looked down for a bit, blushing. Apparently that incident included some memories best kept to herself and not shown to anyone else. And was that…Yagyuu smirking?
"Yagyuu…could you kindly enlighten me on why Haru is blushing like that…?"
Oh no. Oh no. The sudden drop in temperature would have killed all living beings in the room, were they not the awesome ex-Rikkai regulars. The megane swallowed uncomfortably, only turning his head to look when he heard the 'thump' of Jackal fainting (again) after Marui finished explaining the situation at hand. If they were an anime, then he would be expressing the 'sweatdrop' emotion really well. Some applause please.
"Well…Yukimura. I haven't…done anything…questionable…"
And Niou being Niou, just had to add in her own two cents, or in other words, oil to the fire. It was figuratively speaking of course, else Marui's nice house would be burnt down by now. The silverette smiled.
"He kissed me and we even slept on the same bed together. Of course we didn't do anything questionable, Sei-nii, how could you even think that?"
Big mistake. Huge mistake.
Yukimura moved to look at Yagyuu, his head turning a tad more stiffly than the usual. Even Sanada moved a couple of inches away from said boyfriend.
"Yagyuu Hiroshi. We. Need. To. Talk."
Was it simply in Akaya's imagination that he saw Niou smirk evilly just then?
xXEternallyXx
"So, Niou. You haven't told us yet. Why are you in a girl's body?"
Niou opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Yanagi.
"I think the question should be…'Why are you in Hanako's body?'… is that not correct, Niou?"
Yanagi was looking at said person. The silverette nodded, impressed. Just like the Data Master to actually guess something like that. Or knowing him, he not only thought or guessed- he really knew. She only smiled in approval in that neutral way that her Trickster ways had taught her years before, and sat up straight. Of course, they had to wait until Yukimura was done with his traumati- ahem, man-to-man talk with Yagyuu, before they could continue.
By then everyone was seated (yes, even Jackal! XD A cookie for you readers~) and ready to listen. Niou seemingly gave a few facial cues to the megane as he nodded in acknowledgement, before she shut her eyes in concentration, slumping back onto the couch, nearly lifeless. The sole bluenette in the room nearly got a heart attack had Yagyuu not kept him calm and assured him.
"What is going on over here?" Jackal looked annoyed that he was the only one still not clear about whatever was happening. Oh but no one could blame him. No one would expect an unconscious person to know what was happening around him when he was asleep, or that person would have to be some sort of genius…which Jackal is obviously not. Ahem.
The woman awoke in a few seconds (still with her eyes closed), but did not clearly tell what was going on. She made herself slightly more comfortable in the couch, then started on her experience that fateful day, at that fateful time. Of how she came to be in this body, and how she escaped her fate…
FLASHBACK
Suddenly, there was peace from the tension. It was all calm.
Niou felt relief wash over his entire being, and he was no longer feeling breathless nor weak. Everything felt so light now…and some strength has returned to him. He opened his eyes.
Black. Pitch-black darkness.
But…it didn't feel scary at all, unlike how a child might feel if you were to lock him in a room and turn off all the lights. To Niou the darkness right now felt comfortable, cosy, and warm…a welcoming feel. Grunting as he pushed himself up from a sleeping position, he remembered. He had been in the hospital room just minutes…or was it moments ago…and…oh. Realization seeped in.
The silverette was dead. He had finally left the human realm.
Sighing sadly, the boy looked around him for some kind of indication to where he was- and he found his answer in the form of a rather luminous path. The path itself was made out of an interesting material, something Niou didn't quite recognize. But he shrugged, deciding that it was best to follow it since it was his only lead. It was a winding path, but smooth to walk on, and the surroundings…they were getting brighter…and the silverette could make out some form of flora, and a small pond.
A very zen garden style pond it was…hm? And beside the pond was…someone? Niou felt himself being lured there by sheer curiosity.
As soon as he got close, the boy heard sounds of sobbing, and on closer inspection found the figure to be hunched over- probably crying. From where he was, the reflection in the water of the pond showed a forlorn face, tear-streaked and hurt. The girl's beautiful eyes were empty, yet at the same time full of hurt and hate. Her dirty silver tresses hung messily past her shoulders down her yukata. She must have sensed the Trickster just then, for she looked up in surprise. Niou was surprised by her sudden actions too.
Reddish-brown met sea-green. There was pause for a few moments before the woman spoke first.
"Yet another…huh?" The voice was feminine and weak, as if she saw death everyday. Niou wouldn't have been too surprised if she really did.
The silverette felt her gaze on his wrist, and he held it up for a better view, gasping a little in surprise as he did so. On his left wrist was a silver band/bracelet and a single gem on it. The dark green gem- probable emerald, had a neat crack down the middle. It was dull too.
"A cracked one…it means the end of one's time…"
The girl held up her own hand, where her own gem was whole and glowing proudly. A beautiful thing it was…Niou mused to himself.
"How fortunate…"
The boy frowned. He was the dead one here and yet this girl was calling him fortunate? She had a few hundred brain cells less than she should, by the looks of it. Or…he looked towards her. Perhaps she was feeling too depressed about something, judging from the aura she emitted right now. Some people just thought about suicide during trying times, he guessed. Niou didn't know how, but his mouth seemingly had a mind of its own as he spoke suddenly.
"…how is it fortunate? My life…was ripped…from me…"
At this the girl seemed to take interest and she looked a little hopeful, for reasons unknown. She smiled, patting the ground beside her, inviting said boy to sit next to her.
"Your name?"
"Niou. Niou Masaharu."
Her eyes looked up a little thoughtfully, finger tapping her chin, then chuckled.
"Hanako. Hanako Masahira. It is nice to meet you."
xXEternallyXx
"…perhaps I'll start off with why I'm here. You seem to want to know pretty bad."
Niou raised an eyebrow in surprise. This one in front of him right now was no ordinary person to be able to know what he was thinking- since he had been known to hide his thoughts well. Was the question really that obvious?
"You could say that I am some kind of…witch or something. I don't mind if you refer to me as such- since it is basically true that I took interest in the spiritual when I was young, and training has enabled me to enter a deep state of meditation like now. This state has also enabled me to reside in the path of passing dead souls…which in this case is you, Niou-kun. I'm fourteen this year, you?"
"I'm…fourteen too."
Silence accompanied the exchange of ages, and it was a long one this time. The Trickster felt uncomfortable and fumbled around helplessly for a topic. He had never been this fascinated talking to a girl before.
"Um…so…why do you say I'm fortunate? Dying isn't something one would usually call 'fortunate'…"
The sudden jerk of the girl's head to look at him and the expression on that pretty face made him regret asking that question entirely. But then, it suddenly changed into a tiny smile.
"The typical yet not so typical story, Niou-kun. My parents left me when I could just barely call them 'Mama' or 'Papa', and through part-time jobs as I grew up, I managed to save enough to get my own place. I know I'm underage…but it couldn't be helped…"
Hanako swung her slim legs in the water of the pond, the crystal clear water swirling in ripples as she moved. Tiny koi swam away from the slight disturbance in their environment. It was then that Niou took note of his surroundings- a zen garden, but without the grass. Where the grass should have been was a shiny and reflective marble-like black floor. The maiden continued.
"I thought I found solace in my romances in school. I thought I'd met my Prince Charming, that he would be the one spiriting me away to where I would never be upset again. How wrong I was to think that, how wrong. They've all let me down over and over again, everyone of them. I don't even know who to trust now! Those jerks…it would have been better for everyone if I never lived…"
Sea-green eyes belonging to a certain boy widened as he sweatdropped a little. Dealing with such suicidal people was SO not his forte. He could even see some kind of aura (the suicidal kind) being emitted from her…
Both people began chatting with each other, about life stories, of happy moments, of sad moments, and of…moments that they would remember forever and ever. And much more in between. There was laughter, teasing, and a great deal of casual jokes. Niou didn't know how much time had passed…but it was no matter now that he was no longer living. Hanako wiped the last of her tears at having laughed too hard at Niou talking about one of his best pranks.
She focused on the silverette's left hand, taking it into her own. Her gaze was on the broken gem.
"Niou-kun…I have a proposition for you."
"Hn?"
"I've…heard your life story, and you have heard mine. Fate is indeed cruel, it toys with our lives. You, who still had a while future and love ahead, had your blissful time forcefully taken away from you. And I, who have been yearning for the relief of death, am still alive. It is unfair, is it not?"
Niou nodded slowly, unsure if he truly understood what Hanako was saying to him.
"And also…my skill in bending certain rules of the spirit world…are rather good, if I may say so…"
"I…don't…"
The woman cut him off with a chuckle, her dark eyes brightening up genuinely for the first time since they had started talking to each other.
"I…I want to trade places with you. I want to give you a second chance."
xXEternallyXx
"No…this is...why are you doing this?"
"I believe you are smart enough to figure out why, Niou-kun. Besides, I as the living am the one proposing this to you, as the dead. The bigger say automatically goes to me. Think about it…think about all the things you would have been able to do if you were still alive. Your life is still not yet complete…is it?"
This was really unexpected. There was no way this could be true. Niou couldn't find an answer to it. He wanted so much to refuse this ridiculous idea….but at the same time, he too wanted so much to willingly agree.
"B-But…you are a girl!"
Hanako kicked him where it hurt most.
"Think! Niou, think!"
At that every point, Niou saw his tennis team. He saw how they had fought alongside each other to clinch their win at the Nationals. He saw those times when the only thing keeping the team going through the torturous training was the mentality that they could not afford to lose- they had a promise to keep. The promise of only playing at their best, the promise of BEING the best…
Then…he saw Yagyuu. He saw what he had gone through to convince Yagyuu to enter the world of tennis, and just how much better it was than that boring golf club. He saw the genius-like learning ability of the other boy pulling him through each and everything that he taught him, in order to catch up. Niou also remembered…the very day that Yagyuu had finally surpassed him, and beat him fair and square. Then began their partnership. Then began…their…love…
Hanako only watched on as the silverette's resolve slowly crumbled, sending him into a trance-like state. Truly, he wasn't ready to go yet, there were too many unfulfilled things in his life that awaited him. Closing her eyes, Hanako moved their hands such that the gems were touching. The Trickster had not yet snapped out of his trance.
A golden light glowed as the energy transfer began.
"I, Hanako Masahira, proposal the transfer of energy from her own to Niou Masaharu…"
The golden light simmered into a silver one, the transfer still taking place.
"Permission had been granted on both sides. Beginning bonding pledge."
Memorised incantations flowed freely, even melodious from the girl's lips. This was what she had been waiting for, for so long. A chance for both parties involved to get what they wanted. Niou's gem had started to restore itself, while hers had begun to lose its glow and fire. The last of the incantations finished as the silver light started to spark- like those little fireworks kids loved to play with.
"Relinquishing ownership of body to other party. Commence setting of rulebook."
The light enveloping the two gems were still sparking, and Hanako had somehow managed to knock Niou out sometime before (in all honesty, you don't wanna know how). Something akin to a shield was erected before Hanako.
"Suppress memories till the current second. Replace void with Hanako Masahira's memories as substitute."
"Enforce coincidental traits, that should there be any habits or traits in common with body or mind, that they shall be reinforced."
"Memories shall be suppressed completely, and will only be unlocked when the soul reunites with his/her true love."
"When the soul is finally stable, he/she shall, in unconscious mind, seek out the other person."
And so the setting of the rules went on and on, Hanako checking over and over again if she had made any mistakes or loopholes. They could be fatal. Even she herself didn't know how many rules she had been setting, but she eventually came to the last one…
"Mixing of a particularly prominent physical trait from transfer…to complete link…"
Niou was now waking up as the chlorofoam wore off (now you know…and don't ask me why she has it), his sea-green orbs opening sleepily. Hanako then decided, completing the rulebook and finishing off the ritual. The grand finale of the transfer came as the sparks grew fiercer before dying down…as the girl's gem cracked completely and Niou's reformed completely.
xXEternallyXx
"Ugh…"
It was decided. Niou hated chlorofoam (yes, he somehow knew- probably from all those times he used them in his pranks…)
"You are awake, Niou-kun. I finished up our exchange while you were sleeping (and whose fault is that? -.-"). How do you feel?
It was not until the boy found his own gem glowing in all its emerald-tinted glory, and Hanako's cracked and dull, that puzzle piece and puzzle piece clicked together. He gasped in shock, mouth moving but no words coming out. Hanako continued staring with her reddish-brown orbs at the Trickster until he finally composed himself.
"Its…I-Its irreversible…isn't it?"
Hanako raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Actually it is. But the ultimate decision still lies with me, and right now I have no plans of doing anything like that~"
That sing-song voice was freaking annoying! But the silverette boy could care less about that at the moment, instead directing his attention to his now glowing life orb. This was what he had wanted, wasn't it? He had wanted to live just a little longer…to simply make the most out of his life. Now the life that had been so cruelly torn from him had been given back…at the expense of Hanako…
A hand placed over his shivering ones made him look up. Hanako's dirty-silver hair (imagine a shade somewhat darker than silver) brushed the sides of her face softly. She held out her hand and pulled Niou to his feet when he took it, standing up herself.
"Masaharu-kun…let me call you that now that we are linked in a way deeper than just friends. Live well…and remember to introduce me to that guy when you have finally found him…"
"Wait, how did you know it's a hi-"
But before the poor boy could reply, the rest of his words got stuck in his throat as he watched Hanako pick up a large branch the size of her arm (where the heck did her strength come from? – Niou) and walk VERY slowly towards him. She had on this very sinister looking smile that somewhat reminded him of someone from Seigaku…
Somewhere in the real world, a certain short brown-haired boy sneezed, causing him to miss his serve. His crystalline blue eyes snapped open dangerously…wondering who was talking (thinking?) bad about him…
Back to Niou, he was backing away nervously from Hanako (whom by now he had presumed to be an undiagnosed mental patient). The girl surprised him with a warm smile now, as she finally cornered him against the trunk of one of the numerous trees around.
"Remember to keep your promise, Masaharu…" she whispered.
The Trickster only remembered that whisper, an aching head (AHEM!), and a certain type of piece as his memories sealed off, and he gained consciousness in the real world…
END FLASHBACK
The first reaction everyone had was a sweatdrop on the back of their heads. A Niou that had been overpowered by a girl was just unfathomable and their imagination short-circuited at a mere attempt to visualise it. Said person was smiling happily, now opening her eyes fully to the world in all its beauty.
Orbs of the prettiest sea-green as well as a beautiful copper reddish-brown stared back.
"Masaharu…has very good friends…"
Yukimura frowned.
"Hn…?"
The silverette woman in front of him smirked, chuckling in amusement.
"Its time."
And there was only darkness enveloping the whole room, as the house fell silent and time very seemingly stopped within the fenced off property. There had not been time to question anything.
Marui did not know what hit him, but there was suddenly darkness and everything and it seemed like he had blacked out for a couple of seconds. Standing up, the redhead stumbled for a bit, identifying the source of his clumsiness as his new attire- a yukata. He snapped his head up and looked around, where all his fellow regulars were spread out across the black, marble-like floor. They too were clad in yukatas and were only just waking up.
"Eto…where are we?"
Akaya said as he sat up, finding it weird that he was dressed in the summer outfit, and the fact that he could see everything clearly despite it being pitch-dark, as if everyone had their own light source- only that they weren't glowing. Because that would really be creepy.
Sanada sat up at the same time as Yukimura, also equally puzzled as to why they were suddenly in visible darkness and clad in yukatas. There was only silence following for a few minutes.
"I have a feeling Niou is responsible for this…"
Yanagi spoke aloud as the group walked along together, along a smooth winding path that seemed to lead…somewhere. Well, look at it this way. It was not as if any of them had a choice. Yukimura was chuckling in amusement.
"It is indeed in his ability to do such a thing…"
Jackal was just following the group. The path had gone on for quite a while and some features in the surroundings had started to get visible. He could trace out an outline of some boulders, some trees…some fallen leaves, a woman who looked a lot like Niou, more boulders, more tree-
…wait a minute…a woman who looked a lot like Niou?
Everyone backtracked as the said person was standing there, laughing at the sight of all the expressions on the regulars' faces. Truly, an amusing sight to behold. Her hair was an interesting shade of dirty-silver and pretty long too. She folded her arms, clad in her yukata, and just waited.
"N-Niou?"
The female gave him this look that clearly asked if Akaya was indeed a fool. It was not too far from the truth actually, if you were talking about inference skill.
"What part of me makes you think I am him?" The woman looked bored at his answer, twirling her hair a bit.
Ah…that was unexpected. The man fumbled about for an answer but found none. Oh wait, now he got it!
"Everything…?"
There was some movement, and Akaya wondered to the heavens why God even gave certain body parts to humans because you know, it just hurt so damn much when they were kicked there of all places.
"YYYOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!"
It took all of his power not to strangle a certain smiling woman right in front of him. Of course, Marui took this chance to laugh his head off.
xXEternallyXx
"If…If you aren't Niou…then who are you?"
Marui was only too puzzled, and he ignored Akaya's yelps while his gaze was still fixated on the newcomer, wondering what was going on. The silverette smiled cheekily.
"Oh? I see Masaharu-kun didn't tell you. I'm Hanako Masahira…its nice to meet you~"
Hanako brought the group to where there was a bigger space beside the pond to sit down, and perhaps talk for a bit. There was still the absence of grass, but some patches could be seen, growing. A rabbit happened to hop by, and immediately jumped onto Jackal's lap, wriggling its nose cutely as the innocent black eyes stared up at him. He blushed.
Everyone chuckled from where they were sitting cross-legged on the floor. The sight was just too cute.
"I know you have tons of questions to ask me, and tons more following those…but first, let me get started on my explanation. The reason Masaharu-kun and I share one body is because
I offered it to him…"
The men gave her a 'look', and she threw a stone at each of their heads (heaven knows where the stones came from, or any of her other weapons for that matter *coughchlorofoamcough*). She glared at them.
"Not offer in that way you morons! I mean as something like a vessel for his soul…since I didn't want my life very much…and he did only too much. If anything, I kind of forced him into it actually."
It was really shocking to hear that. Everything had happened too fast and not one of them knew what they were sucked into this place for. Hanako did not seem to have any intention of giving them a chance to ask anytime soon. She simply talked about what she wanted, not leaving any window for questions.
It was not until after quite a while that she managed to tell about the rules of the spiritual world and all. Yagyuu understood most of it, and so did the others. Still, no one had known such a thing was possible. This woman in front of them right now was most definitely not Niou…but then who was she, really?
"The two of us share the same consciousness, but as you can see, he is the dominant one…"
Sanada nodded.
"If that is the case…then should Niou not be around here somewhere? The two of you co-exist in one body…so in mind…"
"That is correct, Sanada-san." Hanako interrupted neatly.
Niou…he was somewhere around? Around this zen garden-like area that seemed to be home to nothing but animals? It was rather unbelievable, but they followed Hanako anyway as she wordlessly got up and led the former team along some way.
No one even knew when Hanako had just silently left and disappeared like that. She was just there and then gone the next moment, with the surroundings seemingly a tad darker, and more trees around them than before. The marble-black floor reflected no light at all. A slight rustling in the mini forest sent all of them onto high alert.
Yagyuu really had to wonder at that moment. There was something suspicious about the way Hanako let them on, the way she kind of…kind of…
A shifting noise from behind a nearby tree pulled him out of his thoughts. The sound must have been quite loud too, for the rest turned to look as well. It had sent everyone looking in varied directions though, unsure if it was a trap of some sort.
"Where do you think you're looking…"
Yukimura and Yagyuu gasped simultaneously as heads jerked in the direction of that deep voice that they had remembered all too well, just as a figure came into view…
"…I'm right over here~…"
And so the authoress ends only too brilliantly with an awesome cliffhange- *is shot XD*
Yeah, I know you readers want to kill me so bad for leaving cliffies over and over again, but yeah…sometimes stories are meant to have cliffies you know^^ It only makes them all the more interesting and exciting .
Hey, and this might not be good news…but it's the Final Term Examinations, people:( Updates are only going to drag on longer and all, even though at least 3 chapters of this stuff is already stored up in my head. This exam is important and I cannot afford to fail
Bad things aside…how was the chapter? XD The style may have changed a slight bit due to the time length that this chapter took me, but of course, I would never forget the humor~
Please Review! Reviews are the air we authors breathe, the food we authors eat, the water we authors drink! Don't let us die just like that!
Comments and Constructive Criticism please? We all love the 3 Cs! XD
Thank you very much for reading, will update soon.