136th Spell: Broken Bead

The next day, Haru and Rui met up after classes were done in Room 201A.

"Do you have the bag?" Haru discretely asked Rui.

"Yes," Rui said, revealing a straw bag woven Kamasu-style that was tucked into the waist of her inner robe. "And you have the cape?"

Haru patted his back where the Namahage Cape he got as a New Year's gift was folded. "I hope the Polymorph Kampo ingredients are really in that storeroom."

"I hope so too, but make sure Ako doesn't smell you out. Because even though you'll be invisible to her, a Shitanaga Uba can detect any kind of scent with their tongue."

Remembering when Ako smelled his footprints when he snuck into the Inner Library, Haru suddenly felt nervous about the plan Rui told him at lunch. But Bambō's charred body reminded him of what was at stake. So he fought through his nervousness and said, "I'll be careful, Rui."

"Don't go overboard, though. Just keep Ako occupied for about an hour, which I think will be long enough for me to find all the ingredients for the Polymorph Kampo."

Then the two went their separate ways with Haru heading off to locate Ako while Rui went to where the Kampo ingredient storeroom was. As soon as Ako was spotted, Haru put the Namahage Cape on and discreetly followed her. She was patrolling the hallways as she normally did while harassing kids who lingered for too long.

But some familiar voices caught Haru's attention along with Ako, who went to a commotion that was happening near the main entrance to the castle. It was Gyoku, who was gripping one end of the ivory scepter Haru found in his jacket while Chio, the girl Haru befriended when he went to the Ceremony of Kimonos last year, held onto the other half of the scepter.

"I just want to look at it!" Chio cried.

"But it's mine!" Gyoku snapped.

"Hey, knock it off!" Ako called.

This surprised Chio and Gyoku so much that they both dropped the scepter. While the scepter itself didn't break, the cloudy jade bead attached to it cracked. Gyoku heard this and looked down in shock.

"Now look what you've done!" Gyoku said, kneeling down. "Haru's going to be so mad if he finds out I broke this."

"Haru?" Chio looked surprised. "You got this scepter from Haru?"

"Yeah, he let me borrow it cuz he didn't know where it came from," Gyoku explained and sighed. "If only I knew a repair spell…."

"Fortunately for you, I read ahead," said a voice Haru knew all too well.

The small crowd of students that was gathering briefly separated as Hikari stepped forward. She waved her Cherry Tree wand at the broken bead and said, "Kowagu Shing!"

Just like the classroom that got destroyed when Seita's Harionago Hair went wild, the jade bead repaired itself and was once again attached to the red string wrapped around the ivory scepter.

"Aww," grumbled Ako. "You kids think you can do my job for me? Think again!"

Storming off, Ako went into the boys' bathroom where Haru got his concussion after seeing Daichi's ghost. There she inspected the stalls, muttering about needing to clean the areas around each toilet. Haru feared she was going to go back to the Caretaker Closet and quietly cast the Ward of Containment Spell Hikarishō Lizài to keep Ako inside the boys' bathroom while he went to check on Rui.

Upon reaching the Kampo Storeroom entrance, Haru saw Rui conversing with Sayuri Shō, who was eyeing Rui suspiciously. So Haru decided to help Rui get out of her awkward situation by casting the Foxfire Spell Kitsuhi Dirá and making the illusory ball of fire circle around Shō's head much to her annoyance.

"Who's casting the Foxfire Spell?" Shō demanded, holding up her wand in a threatening manner. "Because if I catch you, 10 points will be deduced from your Clan!"

She went further down the hallway away from Rui, allowing her to leave the storeroom with her partially hidden bag. Haru silently followed her back into the Byakko Sitting Room, which was thankfully empty apart from Rui. So Haru took off the cape startling Rui.

"You scared me," Rui exclaimed.

"Sorry," Haru apologized.

"How long were you following me?"

"Right after I lured Shō-sensei away with the Foxfire Spell. Did you find the ingredients?"

"Yes," Rui said and showed Haru her full bag. "What about Ako?"

"I put a ward over the boys' bathroom on the first floor to keep her from going to the Caretaker Closet. Should I release it?"

"Not until we've placed the ingredients in the girls' bathroom where Hikari plans to make the Polymorph Kampo. Hopefully Aka Manto won't bother us."

So Haru and Rui left the Byakko Sitting Room, dropped the bag inside the girls' bathroom on the first floor, and went to the School Library. There they met up with Hikari, Nayu, and Gyoku.

"Took you two long enough," Hikari said. "Found what you were looking for?"

Haru took Hikari's words as code for finding the ingredients and so he nodded.

"Good," Hikari remarked. "Now let's get this extra homework done so we're not late for dinner again, unlike the night Bambō was attacked."

"I still can't believe what happened to him," Nayu said nervously. "He's one of the strongest yokai in this school, and yet whatever hurt him—

"Don't worry about it too much," Gyoku interrupted.

"Why not?" Hikari said, glancing at Gyoku with a confusing stare. "If anything, we should be worried about who's going to get attacked next."

Nayu didn't like the sound of this. "What makes you think someone else is going to get hurt?"

"That message left by Bambō," Rui spoke up. "It said, 'The Well of Mysteries is open, enemies of Seiryu's Heir in danger.' So whoever the 'enemies of Seiryu's Heir' are will probably get attacked next."

"But we don't know who the message is referring to," Gyoku said. "So why should we worry about it?"

"How can you be so calm about this, Gyoku?" Rui demanded. "You sound…different."

To be continued…