Alright! So I made a few adjustments and decided to update this story along with those changes - I'm much happier with the story now!

So, you might have noticed, I added a Prologue; very important for the last chapter!

So, please enjoy~

Chapter 1 Kodoku no Kakurenbo

"Have you heard? " Really though, who hasn't heard? Ever since the first accident, it's been spreading through the school like wildfire; no, the whole town. Honestly, the only way anyone hadn't heard about it was if they lived under a rock.

I live in the small town of Sasebo, about 40 miles north of Nagasaki. It was by accident, really. My parents wanted to send me to an all-boys school, Masamichi Mikawadai High, but dad's job was closer to this town, so we settled in. That was three years ago.

Nothing big ever happens here, so the fuss over the disappearing students from E.J. King High has really stirred up the town. It wouldn't have been this hectic if they hadn't found those corpses. Although, corpse isn't quite the right word. Forgive me if I'm being blunt, but they were more like piles.

What police believe to be dozens of shredded bodies was discovered, just five yards away from the Shinto shrine, far back into the woods. Ever since they discovered it, they have been linking it to the missing students.

Leaning my head on my hand, I gaze out the window, tuning out the gossip I've heard more than enough of. From the second story, I can see all the way across town. Tiny, yellow ribbons dance along the breeze, moving like trapped spirits, trying to run from the temple they surround. "I thought they found the bodies in the forest." I muttered.

A textbook slammed onto my desk, startling me. I fall back, sending the chair falling to the floor with me right behind. I rub my head and gaze up at the girl in front of me. Cocking her hip to the side, she pointed a finger at me. "Of course they did, Hiro! Have you not heard everyone talking about it?"

Finding my way back to my seat, I glared at her. "For your information, I was speaking to myself, not you." I looked back out the window. "And they have the entire shrine surrounded. They aren't exactly centering it with the crime scene, you know." I could see her reflection nodding, and sighed.

She peeked around at me, smiling. "Well, let's not worry about that kind of stuff. Finals are coming up soon, you know." I nodded, mostly tuning her out. "And since everyone has been under a lot of stress recently, and it's not good to study the day before a test anyway, we decided to get together for a little party."

I scoffed at the very thought. "A party? Yeah right, Hanako. Count me out." I tilted my head to look up at her. She continued grinning, however, and crossed her arms.

"Not just any party! It's only going to be a few of us. We're going to hang out and relax before the big test. Come on." She shook my arm, her eyes pleading. "It'll only be five people, including you and me! Please?"

I cocked an eyebrow. "Who?"

She smiled wide, as though she were hiding a secret. "Listen, just trust that you know them well enough for it not to be awkward." Chuckling, she tugged at my sleeve. "Come on!"

I rubbed a hand across my face, looking away. "Fine." I sighed.

Jumping up, she squealed. "Ooh, awesome! I'll go let the others know!" With that, she was gone.

Turning my attention back to the shrine, I laid my head in my hands. "What in the world have I gotten myself into?"

"We're meeting at my place. You remember how to get there, right?"

Shifting the umbrella in one hand and holding the phone to my ear with the other, I grunted out a "Sure".

"Alright! I'll see you then!" *click* I shook my head, shoving my phone in my pocket and adjusting my backpack. The rain poured down over my umbrella, sending it cascading down to the sidewalk, and splashing back up onto my feet.

"How bothersome." I sighed. "We shouldn't be 'hanging out'. We should be studying for the test. If I don't pass this, there's no way I'm getting into that college..."

I stand at the crossing signal at the corner of Boushini and Anki-yubaka, and glance left and right. What am I doing? No one would be out this late. I walked a bit faster, until I reached the next patch of light from the street lamps. No one was around, so I didn't care if it was uncool. What's cool is avoiding creeps who mug people in the night.

Trudging along beside a fence I hadn't seen in awhile, I opened up the little wooden gate and walked up to the door. I knocked once and heard a faint, "Hold on!".

The door opened, and a woman stood there, her warm smile inviting me in. "Ah, Hiro! Come in." Hanako's mother opened the door wide and gestured for me to enter. "You know, I'm so glad you all are hanging out again! Everyone else has already arrived. You didn't get lost on the way here, did you? I worry so much about you kids being out at night…"

I smiled, closing my umbrella and removing my shoes. "No, Mrs. Fujioka. I found my way fine, thank you. And don't worry about me. I'll be alright out there."

She nodded. "Well, everyone is in the living room. I'm going out to buy snacks. Is there anything you'd like, dear?"

Shaking my head, I replied. "No thank you, ma'am." With that, she nodded and bid me farewell.

"Hiro!" I turned to see Hanako running from the other room. "Come on, slowpoke!" She tugged at my arm, pulling me to where the others were seated around a table.

I sat down, glancing dully at the others around me; Kinen, a junior girl, whom I've seen and heard in passing; Kyouji, a boy with glasses, who is in the same homeroom as me, and…

"Sora!" I exclaimed. The boy grinned at me.

"Ha, looks like you haven't forgotten me!" He leaned back, stretching his arms up into the air. Sora, a.k.a. Osore Fushou. He's been my best friend since I moved here. He hates his name, so he insists on us calling him Sora.

I'm stunned for a moment, then a grin spreads across my face. We laugh, extending our hands for sideways high-five. "Dude, it's been forever. When did you get back?"

He leaned back again, looking a bit smug. "Just yesterday, man! Hanako thought it would be neat if I surprised you by coming over here."

I turned toward Hanako with a humorous smirk and a glint in my eyes. "Hanako, you dog!" I playfully slugged her arm, and she laughed.

"Well, it was a lot harder than you think, Osore!" He winced at her playful jab. "This guy was being a real stickler. When I told him about the party, he wouldn't have anything of it! I had to practically beg, you know!" She fell back, laying on the floor with her arm draping across her face dramatically. I let out a short laugh, smiling at her antics. She sat back up. "It was awful, guys! He was just sitting there, brooding, and I was surprised he actually responded!"

I waved her story away, looking back to Sora. "So, how was your trip to the States? What was it like there?"

Sora grinned. "Dude, they're so weird. So many people asked me about Japan. Stuff like, 'Is Godzilla based on a real story?', 'Do you guys eat rice every day?', or, my personal favorite," he leaned forward, placing a hand over his mouth, widening his eyes in shock. "'What do you mean you don't watch anime?'." He leaned back, laughing.

Hanako scoffed. "Oh, how rude! Anime is for children, why would we still watch it?"

I shook my head, and Kinen pushed me. "Ha, come on, Hiro and Kyouji watch anime all the time!"

I nod, smiling. "Yeah, but I only watch cool stuff. The stuff I watch isn't for little kids."

Hanako made a face. "True. I wouldn't let a kid watch your stuff. Too many nightmares…" We laughed, Kyouji making a joke about how watching Hanako's "soap operas" give him more nightmares than that.

The laughter settled as Hanako's phone rang. "Hello? Oh, hey mom… What?" A short pause. Hanako nodded, even though her mother couldn't see it. "Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Alright, bye." She hung up, looking around at us. "Mom got called to work."

Kinen frowned. "But it's so late! It's already nine."

Hanako shook her head, smiling sadly. "It's fine, she'll be back later this evening."

Kyouji shook his head. "No way, we'll stay here until she gets home! What with those murders…" Everyone mumbled agreements, and Hanako sighed.

She smiled at us. "Thanks…"

Everyone seemed a bit solemn after that, but Sora put on a mischievous grin. I tilted my head toward him, silently prodding, and he grinned wider. "Alright, so I recently 'acquired' a very 'interesting' piece of literature, and I think you guys might appreciate just how cool it is!" He pulled a book out from behind him, setting it on the table. "I got it from my trip. Some whack-job told me that he had something I would 'just love', and came out with this book." He laughed. "I think the only reason he offered it was because it's in Japanese and no one around there could read it. It's got a whole bunch of games that I think we should try!"

Kyouji groaned. "Sora, we're not ten. What is that, some nursery book?"

I leaned closer, frowning. "No, quite the opposite." I muttered, in shock.

Everyone leaned closer as Sora sat up proudly. "Sora," Kinen tore her eyes away from the book. "How… where in the world did you get this?"

There were various squiggles, nothing more than fancy decoration, surrounding the title. " 'Tome of Ruin'." Looking closer, there were little red symbols littered throughout it. I shook my head. "God, this is crazy. You know that this is basically voodoo, right? Nothing but curses and summoning."

Placing his fists at his hips, Sora scoffed. "You guys are a bunch of chickens. You don't actually believe in this kind of stuff, do you?"

I leaned back. "I firmly believe in the philosophy of 'if it seems sketchy, fuck that shit'." Kinen nodded furiously, and Hanako sat fidgeting.

Sora closed his eyes, and grinned. "Oh well, guess I'll have to save it for later then."

Kyouji lifted a hand, choking on his words. "W-wait! Um, I think it would be more dangerous to do this alone…"

Sora grinned. I could tell that was what he had been hoping for. "Alright, it's settled then!" He lifted the cover, opening it right around the middle. He leafed through the pages, going back and forth. "Hm… hey, look. Here's something we could try at the school!" He looked up Hanako. "There's some legend about your name!"

We all looked at the page he was on, and sure enough, Hanako's name was one of the section titles. "Well, what is it?" Hanako asked, hesitant.

Sora grinned. "Well, it says here that if you go to the third floor girl's bathroom, knock on the third stall three times, and say 'Are you there, Hanako-san?', you will summon her. Hmm, how neat…"

I wonder what happens when you summon her. I thought as he skimmed a few more pages. He finally found what he was looking for and, placing a finger on the page, he looked up at us. "Here! I've been meaning to try this myself, but if you all insist on me not doing anything alone…" He turned the book toward us, grinning.

I leaned over it, reading the title. "Hmm. 'Hide and Seek of Isolation'. A game to play by yourself. Beware, if you are of weak constitution, have experience with the supernatural, or have any psychic abilities, do not attempt this game. You must see it through to the end. If not-'"

Sora waved a hand through the air. "Yeah yeah, just a bunch of scare tactics! Come on, let's try!"

Kinen bit her lip, glancing at Sora. "Um, you do realize it says it's for only one player…"

Sora nodded. "Yeah, but look." He pointed to the next page, near the bottom. "There's instructions on how to play with more than one person."

Shaking my head, I lean back. "Sora, I'm not sure. It says that it's best to have someone waiting outside so that they can get help if something goes wrong."

"Well, that's what Hanako's mom is for."

Hanako stood up. "What?"

Sora lifted his hands, motioning for her to sit. "Calm down, nothing will happen to her. If someone enters the house while we're doing it, the ritual ends. Nothing to it!"

Yeah, except she won't be home for a while...

Kyouji, who had been quiet so far, spoke up. "I think we should try it. What have we really got to lose, you know?"

After a moment's pause, we all nodded. "Alright, here's what we need…"

We first looked for a stuffed toy. Hanako was reluctant to give up one of her own. We prepared the toy, cutting open the stomach, pulling out the stuffing, and replacing it with rice. We found a needle and some red thread in the study. "Alright," I sighed. "Everybody, nails in."

The girls made faces as we placed their nail clippings into the doll. Sora looked excited, while Kyouji looked ready to faint. We sewed it up carefully, wrapped the leftover thread around it several times, and thought for a moment before giving it a name; Celty. "Like the headless rider!" Sora said.

We filled the bathtub with water, gathered five cups of salt water, and met back in the living room. "Okay, I think that's everything. It says that whatever you stab the doll with will be what you are stabbed with, should anything go wrong. Kinen, use the pencil when it's your turn. If something does go wrong after you stab the doll, we'll only be slightly hurt. It's best to be safe." I placed my cup on the table, beside the doll, and sigh.

"Listen, we need to establish some rules before we start. No one is to panic. No matter what happens, stay calm. If we start freaking out, there's no telling what will happen. Don't speak, not even a whisper. I don't want any of you taking any chances, okay?" I looked around the table, seeing their solemn nods. "When we end it, just to avoid confusion, I'll quit first, Sora next, Hanako, then Kyouji. Kinen, after we've gone, you will find the doll and end it. That's the order that we'll start, too. Got it?" They all nod again, and we disburse, taking handfuls of salt with us. They turn off all the lights, and I tune the tv to static, turning the volume up slightly.

I go to my hiding place, a little cupboard in the corner of the living room. I sprinkle a small circle of salt around it, as I hope they all remembered to do before hiding, and hold the rest firmly in my hand. Standing up, I look around. I take a deep breath and call out, "Hiro is the first it! Hiro is the first it! Hiro is the first it!" A flickering in the corner of my eyes makes me jump, and I realise it is only the static from the tv.

I start my search, and begin looking for Sora, whom I know well enough to figure out where he would be. I go into the kitchen, checking all the cabinets. We played hide and seek together as children, and it was his favorite spot to hide.

I find him, grinning, and help him out. He stays silent the whole time. "I have found you, Sora. You are the next it, Sora!" With that, we nod, and I make my way back to my hiding spot.

As I enter the living room, opening the door to the cupboard, I hear Sora, still in the kitchen. "Sora is the second it! Sora is the second it! Sora is the second it!"

Time seems to drag on as I listen to my friends find one another. I hear the tv static buzz. The clock in the kitchen chimes midnight. It's already so late...

"I have found you, Hanako! You are the next it, Hanako!"

"Good evening, it's the occasional broadcasting, NNN."

What? I thought. What the hell is that?

"Hanako is the third it! Hanako is the third it! Hanako is the third it!"

"From NNN occasional broadcast, we will tell you of yesterday's sacrifice."

The tv. It's coming from the tv, I think.

"A boy who ran from fate, after a conflict ended poorly. A girl who spoke too harshly to those she cares most about."

"I have found you, Kyouji! You are the next it, Kyouji!"

Does it mean… Kauro and Miki? They disappeared just yesterday… Miki was a bit hot-headed, and… Kauro didn't want to take over his father's company. His parents said they got in a fight the night he disappeared…

"Today's sacrifice is as follows:"

What the hell? I press a hand firmly against my mouth. Can't talk, can't talk… Doesn't anyone else hear this?

"A girl whose memory fails her, and drags another along.

A boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A boy who runs from his friends, for fear of a similar fate.

A boy who would never answer right, even if he tried."

"Kyouji is the fourth it! Kyouji is the fourth it! Kyouji is the fourth it!"

I hold my head in my hands. This is it, just a little more.

"Tomorrow's sacrifice is as follows:"

I bump my head on the top of the cupboard. Tomorrow? The static returns, and I hold my breath until it fades.

"I have found you, Kinen! You are the next it, Kinen!"

"A girl who lost everything, and looked into things she shouldn't."

Kinen's voice shakes, "Kinen is the next it! Kinen is the next it! Kinen is the next it!"

"That is all for your evening news. May your soul rest in peace."

I clutch my hands together, pitifully scared for the first time in my life. Kinen, my god, just do it right. Do it right, so we can end this nightmare.

I hear her shuffling, and I imagine her going through the steps. She puts the doll into the tub. She returns to her spot, and ten seconds of silence tells me she is counting down. She wanders a bit, opening doors, finding the others. She finds me at one point. I nod, and she understands. Finish this already.

"Celty, I found you." She has to stab it now… "The next it is Celty." I hear the thumping of footsteps, running across the house, then silence.

I pause only for a moment, then lift the cup of salt water to my lips. I take a large amount, careful not to swallow it. I step out of the cupboard slowly, with the glass in my hand, and look around. I make my footsteps audible, and make my way to the bathroom. I pour the remaining salt water out of the cup, over the doll. Cringing, I feel the hairs rise on my arms and neck. I spray the water out of my mouth, and it lands on the doll. Wiping my mouth, I turn toward the door. "I'm the first to quit! The people left are Sora, Hanako, Kyouji and Kinen." I say it in the right order so that everyone remembers when to go. I quickly go back to the cupboard, closing the door and burrowing my head into my arms. Stupid Sora. Damn it, I'm scared…

"I am the second to quit!" Sora's voice echoes throughout the house. "The people left are Hanako, Kyouji and Kinen." More shuffling, a voice.

"I am the third to quit!" No, just Hanako… "The people left are Kyouji and Kinen."

There is is. What is that?

"...bzzt...the occasional broadcast-..bzzztt..."

"I am the fourth to quit! The person left is Kinen!"

Damn tv again….

"...bzt.. sacrifice…. bzzztt…"

I press one ear against the door. Where is Kinen? I wait a few more seconds. If she thinks making us wait this out is funny, I'm going to wring her neck afterwards.

"Celty, I have found you!"

I let out a sigh. There she is, shaking voice and all. No need to worry. But it sounds like she's in the living room… Why isn't she with the doll, in the bathroom?

"We have won. We have won. We hav-!"

A scream, banging, muffled footsteps, then silence. It happened so quickly I couldn't do anything more than gasp. I burst out from the cupboard, looking around frantically. Hanako is standing in the doorway, looking as terrified and confused as me. Sora rounds the corner, stopping when he sees us.

He opens his mouth to speak, but I raise my hand quickly. I motion for them to stay where they are, happy to see that they brought their salt with them. I hold my own fist of salt tighter. I motion for them to put it into their mouth, as I do the same, mixing it with saliva to relieve the tang. They obey, and I walk slowly towards the bathroom. This isn't over, not yet. Kinen didn't finish the ritual.

Peering into the tub, I find that both the doll and water are gone. I leave, easing around the corner. Hanako and Sora have squatted, and Sora looks up as I return. He points frantically at the corner of the room, and I look to see what it is.

My eyes widen, and I run to the corner, falling down at the side of a body. Turning it over, I gaze into Kinen's eyes.

No…

I shake my head, biting my lip. Her face was pale, and she was bleeding from her chest, where a small hole dug through her shirt. Something sharp pressed into my palm as I held her, and I shifted to see what it was. Protruding out of her back, and shoved clear through her, was the pencil…

I laid her down, looking around for Kyouji. The others made to get up and help, but I aggressively motioned for them to sit. Sora looked confused, and I saw his eyes move to my chest. Horror spread through him, and I looked down quickly. Blood was smeared across my shirt, but I knew that it was Kinen's. I look up to see Hanako struggling to pull him back as he headed to the door. Damn it, Sora! If you leave, we're doomed!

He ripped his jacket away from Hanako, and pushed the front door open. She held her hand out, frozen in fear. Looking back at me, panic spreads through her features. I held my own hand out to her, and she took it, clinging to my arm. Pulling her along, I searched every room for the doll, but couldn't find it.

Kinen is dead, Sora ran off, and Kyouji is nowhere to be found. I look at Hanako, still clinging feebly to my arm. To make things worse, Hanako is in no state to be left alone, so I can't chase after Sora… I look to the open door, wondering if I should close it, when I notice something red, sitting just outside. I lead her to the door, though she is trying weakly to stay back. I pull away, and she wraps her arms around herself, watching intently as I inspect the object from the ground. The doll…

It was tattered, and ripped open. I shift it with the toe of my shoe. All the rice was gone, but the red thread still held fast around the doll, not harmed in the least. The pencil wasn't enough to break it… The stomach was gaping open, the cloth spread forward around a hole in the center, and the thread pushed up out of the way. It was almost as if….

Something came out of it…

Kodoku no Kakurenbo - Hide and Seek of Isolation