Yo, dudes! So…How's Christmas? Yeah, I thought it was the same as the last chapter. So run over any small dogs lately?…Two?! Oh, you're on fire, buddy!

Anyway, here's the next edit! Enjoy, my friends.

Inspiration goes to: Ao Oni! (Duh.) The Psycho Children of Fever Lake (a Hetalia fic—go check it out, it's awesome; by Shinginami-cat), Lovecraft, White Christmas with Bing Crosby, and Alien, because that movie is freaking awesome.

Horror on the Truth

Xxx

Nikoru didn't find much in the bathroom, just a simple sink, a toilet and some cabinets. Nothing special. She tapped on one of the walls and threw her dimming glowstick in the toilet while she hummed a little tune, White Christmas.

"So much for roadkill," she muttered, sniffing indifferently and pulling out a Twix from her jacket's pocket. Shifting in front of the sink around the corner, she broke one of the sticks in half and popped it into her mouth. "You'd think there'd be a light switch in a bathroom…That's probably what happened—they all hit their heads on the walls and shit and killed themselves! It all makes sense now!"

A twinge of guilt hit her. She made the sign of the Cross and raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Lord, I'm sorry, that was really bad." Turning from the mirror, she bounced on her heels as she strolled to the bathroom door and slid the other half of the Twix into her mouth. "But yeah, I wonder how they died. Sucks for them, no one really deserves to die, I don't think. At least not in a bathroom like Elvis…Was it Elvis? It was, right?"

If she had been paying attention, she would have noticed the flicker of red reflected in the mirror glass. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, but was replaced by a thick, bubbly, purple mass that foamed out of the mirror behind her. It bubbled and trembled like a chemical reaction as it stacked itself up into a tall, clear mass.

"I mean, damn!" Nikoru sniffed in pity and tossed the Twix rapper into a trashcan by the door. "Those guys got toasted! That's too bad."

The mass rose a foot and brought it down with one step forward. You would think there would be a thud or the ground should have rumbled judging from its size, but all was silent. It made inaudible steps towards her. Two darker lines traced on what looked to be a head separated and opened to reveal a toothy, watering cavern of a mouth.

"But if they ditched this place instead of actually dying, then I kinda don't see why." Nikoru brought out another glowstick, cracked it, and grasped the knob. The cold metal made her shiver. "This damn house is supposed to be condemned! I don't get! Maybe the maid killed everyone…"

The mass was less than four feet behind her now. Small, red pupils illuminated it's translucent head, staring Nikoru down as it slowly made its way to her. But before it could close in, the door was pulled out of Nikoru's grip and revealed a very unamused Hiroshi.

Nikoru jumped and huffed her relief. "W-whoa. Don't scare me like that, HiroshiPEN! Jeez!"

He grabbed her elbow and yanked her out, slamming the door in the unnoticed blob's face. A deep growl rumbled from beyond the door, but went unheard. Hiroshi's eyes were on fire and there was a light purple splotch on his cheek. He pushed his glasses up with a sharp movement.

Nikoru flushed; did he have something to say? You know, something really important to tell her? About something special? Something she really wanted to hear? Eh? Eh?

"I have something I need to discuss with you," he started as he led her slowly back to the foyer, where she barely noticed Takeshi and Satō were gone. Nikoru's heart pumped; this could be it! "It's vital you understand this!" The moment she'd been waiting for! "It can't go unheard any longer."

THIS IS FUCKING IT!

"Satō is a poser!"

Nikoru went on smiling and stared at him. Had she missed something? She must not have heard him right; he was about to tell her something important. She shook her head vacantly. "Sorry, what?"

Hiroshi stopped her and stared effectively grave into her eyes, clearing his throat. Okay, she would make sure she could hear him this time. She wouldn't space out this time; she'd listen thoroughly. What he was about to tell her was going to change her forever!

"Satō. Is. A. Poser."

Nikoru frowned. Satō? A poser? How was that supposed to change her life? Unless she had heard him wrong again? Maybe he chickened out. "He's a what?"

"Jesus, Nikoru! Satō is a poser! Satō is a poser! How more blunt can I get?"

Nikoru sniffed, disappointed. "That's it? Nothing else?" She asked hopefully.

Hiroshi hesitated, she thought, but he quickly shook his head. "No, nothing."

Feigning irritation, Nikoru clicked her tongue and pointed at his cheek. "What's that?"

Hiroshi ran a hand across it lightly. "Where that jerk hit me."

Time seemed to come to an abrupt stop. Nikoru's jaw dropped. "…Excuse me?"

Hiroshi nodded and glanced at the foyer. His glasses slid down his nose and he pushed them up. "I-I know it sounds a little sudden and strange, but Nikoru, believe me. He's not the man you think he is. There's a dark side to that wonderful student, and if you aren't careful he'll take it out on you like he did me."

Nikoru couldn't wrap her mind around what she was hearing. Sure, Hiroshi got jealous. Everyone did. He got frustrated with Satō occasionally, she saw that. But he was also confident and sure of himself. It would take a lot more than a Harvard thing to make Hiroshi self-conscious, especially since he was the smartest kid in the academy and he had the grades to prove it. He wouldn't flat out lie, definitely not like that. She could see sincerity in his eyes and determination, searching for understanding in her own.

But how was Satō such a bad person?

She stared hard at him, cogs turning in her head, digesting. "Dude…what happened?"

Hiroshi took a sharp intake and turned from her. Was he ashamed to look her in the face? "We argued—"

"About what?"

"Who he is. Nikoru, listen to me." He turned to her and grabbed her shoulders again, keeping eye contact. There was now desperation in his eyes. "He's cruel, Nikoru. Please, believe me. He pretends to be kind and caring but he's neither; he's manipulative."

Nikoru was still confused; she didn't understand what that meant. "So, he's mean, or…wait, what are you talking about? I'm confused."

Hiroshi was silent for a moment, depicting what to say. "He pretends to be kind because he wants publicity and he wants to use people," he replied finally. "He's pretending to be a good guy so that he can wrong others, cheat them out of their money, and control who he wants. He's been assaulting the younger students at the Academy and he's the one that's been keying cars in Rich Wood. Don't give me that look! I'm not lying!"

Nikoru looked back at the foyer, checking if Satō was there. Visually confirming he wasn't, she stared seriously at Hiroshi. "So he has a gang, you're saying? And he's a scheming jerk, you're saying? The guy is hating on people and no one knows this?"

Hiroshi nodded, relieved she was finally serious. "Yes, exactly. I know you think he's wonderful and nice, but please understand that's a facade he's pulling so that he can own you. He's manipulating you into liking him so that he can either abuse you later for his own wants or because he only thinks of you as a nice piece of ass!"

Hiroshi drew a breath and held it; he hadn't expected saying that. It had slipped before he could catch it. By the look on Nikoru's face he could tell she hadn't been expecting that either. Surprise flashed in her expression then settled on something like apprehension.

"D-don't take that the wrong way!" Hiroshi rushed. "That's not who you are! I mean, you're nice and pretty, not just a piece of—I mean, that's low and you're far above that—" He caught his sputtering tongue and swallowed; how much more was he going to let slip?

Nikoru grinned goofily. "Gee, thanks!" Then she remembered what they were talking about and sobered. "Wait, Hiroshi, you said he's…he hit you. He hit you?"

"I called him out on his facade, he denied it, and then he punched me!" Hiroshi exclaimed, throwing his arms parallel for emphasis. He paced back and forth before the foyer and continued venting, "I told him I knew he was hurting students and stealing from people when no one was watching. And he has been, Nikoru, he's been beating people up for lunch money at school, that's why they're terrified to be near him!

He's been cruel to everyone and the only reason no one knows this is because his parents, who are foolish to love him and spoil him like they do, keep his antics out of the papers and this clique he's in is untouchable! He has a gang. A spoiled gang with no supervision. He's the one who keyed Taski Mizuki's motorcycle last week because Taski didn't want to give up his girlfriend to pledge his loyalty to him. He's the one who's been stealing people's money in gym and he's the one who tried to corner those girls in the girl's bathroom." He stopped before her, his blazing eyes pleading. "I know I haven't the evidence you want, but believe me, I know what I'm talking about!"

There was a ghastly silence, one Hiroshi was willing, hoping for, Nikoru to break. Her expression was blank and she gazed at him distractedly. Would she believe him? He hoped so; it was vital she understood what Satō truly was before he tacked her under his control. She opened her mouth to say something and quickly closed it, thinking hard.

Finally, she sniffed apologetically and murmured, "I don't know…why would he…How does no one know…" Realization entered her eyes when she looked up and connected with Hiroshi again. She stared directly at his cheek and lopsided glasses and ran a tentative finger over the bruise. Hiroshi's breath hitched. "Holy hell, he hit you!"

Just now that had reached her? Hiroshi exploded, "YES, NIKORU, HE HIT ME! DAMMIT! HE'S SUCH A BASTARD! HE HAS TO MEDDLE WITH EVERYTHING!"

Nikoru jumped away, surprised more than anything else. Hiroshi gasped and jumped back, too. Guilt hit him like a brick wall; he had lost it on her. Losing his temper to that extreme was very rare for Hiroshi. Sure, he had a thing for making people mad, but he rarely turned to fire of that extent.

"I—I didn't meant t—to say it like that," he said hurriedly. Fear exploded in his gut. Would she hate him? Would she run from him? Would she run to Satō? "I didn't—I hadn't meant to—"

"It's all good," she said simply.

Hiroshi took a deep breath. "Are you sure?" Don't hate yourself, Hiroshi. You know she won't judge you. She wouldn't.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm sure. Don't worry about it, it's good. It wasn't even a big deal." Then she sniffed and stepped forward to loosen his scarf. "Well, I can't imagine he's all bad…I mean, no, I mean, are you okay? Well, I mean, heheh, I know you're not okay…" She took a small step back, face flushed. "I mean, I don't know what I mean. Uh, he…" She absently itched her nose.

Hiroshi rose his brows, confused. Why was she so tentative suddenly? Why so hesitant and timid? How unlike her. He inhaled a shaky breath. "Nikoru, I didn't mean to yell. I'm just a little…on edge. I didn't meant to—"

"Hiroshi, it wasn't even a big deal! Don't worry about it." She looked down at her Converse, mentally burning holes in them. There was an Adventure Time styled one on her left foot and a neon purple one on her right. Their shoelaces were checkered yellow on one and rainbow zebra on the other. "I know you well enough to know you wouldn't lie about somethin' like that, so…I get, I get." She looked up determinedly at him. "But, man, he can't be all bad. I've known him for a long time, and I haven't seen him do anything too bad."

Yes, but you don't see much, Hiroshi thought bitterly.

"I'll talk to him—"

"No," Hiroshi said abruptly, silencing her. "I don't want you talking to him. He's not mentally stable, Nikoru. I'm not sure he's ever been stable."

Nikoru sniffed; he was so overprotective. It was subtle, hidden like he hid most deep emotions, but he was worried. He didn't act like this towards Naoki. The doubt she had built beforehand about replacement left her. Hiroshi, on some sudden impulse, brushed a tangled, dirty red strand of hair behind her ear. She blushed furiously and her stomach swelled. Looking into his eyes she felt vulnerable and naked but she couldn't find the sense to turn away. Her mind had stopped working.

She could get used to this attention. Especially from him.

But the moment was short lived as Hiroshi backed off, shivering, and awkwardly itched his neck. "Hmph, I guess you…well, anyway," he started into the foyer, "Let's keep looking around, I guess. Where are you going to go?"

Nikoru didn't answer right away. She took a moment to clear the dirty images flashing in her mind and awkwardly sniffed, trailing a few feet behind him. She twirled the glowstick and waved it in the air, watching it blur. "Uh, well, somewhere. Maybe in that side door next to the stairs or the other hallway—"

"There's a locked door down there," Hiroshi told her, pausing before the stairwell. "I'm going to search for the key. You should look for it, too…"

Nikoru shrugged and stalked off down the side way, still trying to push the sacred memory of Hiroshi touching her hair only a moment ago. "Yeah, all right."

"Nikoru," he called as she stood before the door. "Be careful back there, I saw Satō stalking around there…"

She smiled at him and stepped through the door as she murmured, "Yeah, it'll be all good. I'll see you in a bit, HiroshiPEN."

Hiroshi watched her disappear, grinning subtly. "Careful…" He whispered when she was finally gone. "Don't fall for him, you idiot…please."

Xxx

Naoki smirked to himself as he watched a small purple orb cross in front of him and sink into the floor by his feet. He leaned against a wall and waited for the frantic screams and sobs, enjoying the anticipation. No one knew what was going to happen except for him. Takeshi had escaped, but he had planted what he'd needed to inside that fool Satō's heart. He could begin the possession now.

"Rivalry amongst enemies," Naoki chuckled. "His hatred will burn and evolve, and once he starts to lose it, I can begin." His grin faded into an ominous frown. "As long as he does not touch Hiroshi. If he does, then I shall have to cut the fun short."

In his hand was an old, dusty book, the antique characteristic of it masking its true importance. In due time it would change the world, forever, in a most unimaginable way. As long as the book was in his keeping only he could decide the fate of the world and more importantly the guests in the manor besides him.

Meaning Hiroshi.

"Ah, this will be a blast!" He exclaimed, dissolving into the shadows like a ghost.

Xxx