From here on out in the story, I'm going to have to get creative. These first few chapters came to me pretty naturally, but now I have to decide where it's heading. I suppose that's the challenge of writing. Even if you have an idea, and you're able to formulate the idea correctly, a story can't stand alone with only one good idea. A truly entertaining story is woven from a web of interesting ideas. I really need to map it all out. That's not to say that things will change from what I outline. Actually, this story has already drastically changed from what I originally planned. But while it's a puzzle, I guess these difficulties are what makes writing fun. But you aren't here to listen to me rant

Presenting chapter six!

Damn Hanako!

My fingers crush the paper in my hand for the thousandth time. I woke up to find it on my nightstand and have barely let it out of my grasp since. It's become riddled with wrinkles, having been enduring my fist for the entire school day.

"Ms. Himura, could you answer this question?"

My head snaps up, my mind temporarily returning to reality. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Under any other circumstances, my face would flush red, but right now I'm too irritated to feel embarrassed.

"That's what I thought," the teacher nods, eyes accusing. "Reign your attention back to the board. Now, the answer, Toshima."

His target having shifted off of me, my mind immediately wanders again. How could she? And after I said we'd talk in the morning! I've had hours for it to sink in, and yet I still can't accept those words she wrote.

Bye. Get yourself into trouble and I'll kill you.

Does she really think she can just take off like that? Did she think I'd just lie down and let her? She's been with us for over ten freaking years! Next time I see her, I'm going to strangle that ghoul!

At the end of class, Yui is at my desk again. "What's on your mind?" She pokes my forehead. "Come on, let me into that fortress of yours."

"It's nothing." I lean back away from her finger and stuff the paper roughly into the side pocket of my backpack. "Hanako went away without telling me where she's going, and I have no idea when she's going to be back."

Yui frowns. "Geez, that sucks. She won't be picking you up for awhile, then?"

"No."

"Alright!" Yui slams both her hands onto my desk, startling the people around us. "Then I finally get you to myself for awhile! Let's go somewhere to cheer you up! Wherever you want to go, my treat!"

"I don't-" I almost decline, but a fleeting thought stops the refusal from leaving my mouth. "I guess that might be nice. There's this cafe that makes some amazing coffee. I'm a regular customer at it, if you're interested."

"Coffee sounds perfect, so long as there's also food!" Yui readily agrees.

"It's settled, then," I smile. "I should warn you, though. It's a bit of a walk."

She gives me a thumbs up. "No problemo. The walk there and home will help burn the calories we eat!" I text Mom to tell her I'll be late, scooping up my backpack and following Yui. The walk there is filled with pointless chatter, which I indulge myself in since I might as well. I can do small talk. Much beyond that, I've only ever discussed with Hanako. I do like Yui, but she's just not the same as Hanako. I get the feeling she's aware of her standing to me, and it annoys her. Hanako annoys her. That's just how it's always been. After Hanako, there have been a few people who have dared to call me a friend, but all of them have been wary of the smart mouthed girl that always hung around me. Maybe it's some natural instinct that tells them she's dangerous. Or maybe it's just her god-awful attitude towards everyone except Mom and me.

When we arrive, Yui gives the front an analytical eye. "If not for the sign, I'd hardly notice it! How'd you find this place?"

"I didn't, she did." Yui doesn't have to ask who 'she' is.

"Come on. You'll have to show me the good things on the menu!" Despite me being the one who brought her here, she's the one who drags me inside. We seat ourselves appropriately at a table for two and I hail the waitress.

"You came with a different friend today," Touka comments, flipping open her notepad.

"Yui, this is Touka," I introduce. "She went to the college I'm looking to get into, so she's been tutoring me every now and again."

"Nice to meet you! I'm Yui!" She extends her hand, unknowingly shaking the hand of her predator.

"The pleasure's mine," Touka nods. "So, what'll it be today?"

"That depends," Yui eyes me expectantly. "What's good here, Kiyoko?"

"I already told you the coffee." As much as I'd love to recommend her something, and would anywhere else, I've never actually eaten here before. I usually come with Hanako, and both of us exclusively drink coffee when we eat out together. When I didn't come with her, I still only got coffee to keep Touka under the impression that we're of the same species.

"Yes, but I mean food."

Thankfully, Touka steps in. "We're known for our sandwiches as well as our coffee, if that interests you. Kiyoko always gets them if she orders anything with her drink."

I cringe when Yui says, "Then two orders of coffee and sandwiches, please."

"Coming right up." Touka shoots me an apologetic look before bringing the order to Yomo.

"This is super cool!" Yui grins.

I blink. "What?"

"A small little cafe with supposedly awesome food, where you're even in good with the employees! I wanna neat little hangout like this!"

"Well this is mine, so look somewhere else." Yes, I was the one who lead her here, but it's strange being with someone other than Hanako. I hope she doesn't push to accompany me here again.

"So...what do you think about the new English teacher? Pretty hot, right?"

Is this what normal high school girls talk about? "I guess so."

"You guess so? He's gorgeous!" Yui exclaims, drawing a few eyes from other tables. "And he speaks english like he was born in the states! How could you not find him attractive?"

I shrug, feeling weird. Hanako and I never really talk about boys. For me, I've always been too worried about Hanako's species being discovered to chase after a guy. "He's just not really my type."

"Seriously? What is your type, then?"

That's a good question, actually. For a second, the mask shop owner comes to mind. Uta, I think his name was? Well, I guess I did find him pleasant to look at, but he was equally unsettling. Plus, I've never taken an interest in anyone else like that, so that can't be it. "I have no idea."

"How do you not know your own type?"

"I've just never thought about it."

"Never thought about it? Girl, are you human?"

After all I've been going through this past twenty-four hours, how strange it is that she'd be the one to ask that question. "Last time I checked, yes."

"That can't be right," she rejects. "No eighteen year old human girl has never thought about what her type of guy is."

"Is it really that weird?"

"YES! You're a freak of nature!"

"Thanks."

"Would it be rude for me to ask what the conversation is?" Touka wonders, setting down our orders in front of us.

Yui jabs a finger at me. "Can you believe she's never thought about what kind of guy she likes?"

Touka smiles, a chuckle unspoken behind her lips. "Maybe you should start thinking, Kiyoko. Even if you start now, you're a little late to the game."

Yui's eyes suddenly light up, and I get the feeling I won't like where this is going. "Miss Touka, maybe you could set up a group date between us and some older guys?"

Uneasy about the topic, I quickly interrupt with the reason I decided to come. "Um, Touka, have you by any chance seen Hanako in here since our last visit together?"

Something clicks with her, and although subtle, I immediately sense a change in her demeanor. "She hasn't been here today. You know what, though? You left a book here last time you came to hang out. Why don't you come to the back and get it?"

I nod. To Yui, I assure her, "I'll be back in a bit."

"Fine," she grumbles through her bite of sandwich.

When the two of us are safely deep in the back of the shop, Touka stops and faces me. "I thought it was strange that neither of you came back to stash your masks last night. What happened?"

"Doves found us," I admit, lowering myself into a chair. "Two of them."

Her face drains pale. "And you got separated? You mean she could be caught?"

"I don't think so," I shake my head. "We did get separated, but she met up with me afterwards. She disappeared while I was asleep."

She lets this sink in, silent for a moment. "She might have been thinking it'd be easier to find the two of you if you're together."

"Yeah," I mumble. She sits down across from me, her expression sober.

"Listen, Kiyoko. You should know as well as I do that Hanako can take care of herself. If she got away last night, she's probably hiding somewhere safe. If they've seen your face, too, you should be doing the same."

"They only know my mask. And my species."

"That can't be helped if you're caught during a meal."

No, I mean they know that I'm human, and that scares me. I don't know if it scares me the same way it scares a ghoul who's discovered, but what am I to expect? At least if I was a ghoul, I'd know what their reaction would be, but what do they do to humans that conspire with ghouls?

….Should I tell her? Maybe Touka would know. All I'd have to do is say the words and show her the bandage under my sleeve, and she wouldn't be able to doubt me.

But how would she react? I definitely can't tell her.

"I think I'm safe for now," I gulp. "It was probably dark enough for them to mistake my hair for light brown." If they noticed I was a natural blonde, though….

"I can't give you sanctuary if you start getting pursued," she reminds me, standing and handing me a random book. "We here have to cover our own tails, but I'll keep an eye out for Hanako or any information on her. As for the book, read it if you want, but you can return it next time we see each other. I can't really send you out empty handed after using such an excuse to drag you back here."

"But I still-"

"Your friend'll get suspicious if I keep you too long."

Biting my lip, I take the book. Demian, huh? I've never heard of it. "Thanks. Really, I appreciate your help, Touka."

"We have to look after each other," she states with a sad smile. "I don't want to see another comrade taken out."

Comrade…I don't think I've ever felt so guilty about hiding my species.

Yui asks about the book the second I sit back down at our table and I show it to her. She flips it over a couple times in her hand.

"A foreign classic? You're into this stuff?"

"I thought I'd give it a try," I shrug, sipping my coffee and eying the sandwiches. This gets her onto a rant about reading, to which I listen in vaguely on and offer a nod here and there. I'm too worried right now to pay more attention, though. As far as ghouls I'm close to, the list pretty much stops at Hanako and Touka. Hanako never liked me getting too deep in her society. I was fine with that up until now, but now, if Touka doesn't know about Hanako's whereabouts, I'm out of leads.

Just where could she have gone off to?

I don't think I'll ever go in depth on Demian, but I actually have considered reading it myself. You don't have to read it, but look it up if you're interested. It's actually mentioned in the manga, and when I researched it, the theme seemed to be fit for my story. It's little details like that I put my heart into, but when you think about it, a lot of people don't actually notice those things. I did a similar thing in another one of my stories, Never Meant to. There was a book I researched specifically to find one with a relevant theme, but the detail is so minute I wonder if people actually took notice. And then I feel kind of attention thirsty when I point it out like this. Well, whatever. I've got to get back to actually writing this thing.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!