Trigger Warning: Content Below May Be Triggering To Some So Please Read With Caution!
If she were to look back on it now...
It'd be no wonder why she and her parents never seemed to function like any other normal family.
They had always been working hard to make ends meet, too busy to show her the love she craved.
And she hated them for it and in turn, they learned to hate her for her pettiness.
She was...she had been so unbelievably ugly and selfish.
Always blaming them for the agony harboring her heart.
She just wished...she just needed somebody, but they weren't ever there.
So she cried and she whined and she exaggerated over anything and everything.
And when they did try to be good parents, when they tried to console and please her, she'd lash out. Disregarding their attempts at mending the very thing she had broken.
She could almost hear their last conversation. The last night they ever ate dinner together. And, if she hadn't already been deceased, it'd kill her all over again.
{ - TW IN EFFECT - }
"You..." Her father's seethed. "Are nothing but ungrateful." He bellowed at the teen as she stomped up the stairs trying desperately to keep her tears at bay.
It had been all her fault.
All they ever asked for was her to keep her grades up, and instead of studying she'd spent the majority of her time fooling around like a loon with her friends.
"I don't understand why we still even bother with your sorry ass." Her Mother, a red-headed beauty with (e.c) eyes, leaned herself against the kitchen table, pressing against her white unbuttoned work blouse revealing cleavage. In her hand, she twirled a fork, the silver glinting under the florescent lighting as she pointed it at her daughter with a glare. Her voice was low and steady, but, was filled with so much hate and resentment it sent shivers down the girl's spine.
They were right, she was just a disappointment.
She spun around in anger and grief, her sock-clad feet skidding across the floorboards as she paced back down the stairs her hair frizzy and nose flared, heat flooding her cheeks. "I'm just a kid!" She spouted tears freely falling from their sockets. "I'm fifteen! I'm not supposed to be grateful! I'm not supposed to bow to your every whim! I'm supposed to live! To be happy!"
Oh, how foolish she was.
Pallid (s.c) palms slammed harshly onto the table, one of the various glasses tipping over upon impact spilling all over her shocked father. "I'm not some doll you can play with and throw out when you get tired of her!" Her voice cracked pitifully as she stared up at them pleadingly. Blotches of red-painted her cheeks as she huffed unevenly. "Why can't you seem to grasp that?"
"(Y/n)--" her father voiced weakly, resolve and anger slowly dissolving. His dark brows wrinkling in concern as he slowly raised from his seat ready to apologize, only to be shoved back down by his wife as she voiced her own opinion.
"Get out." the redhead gritted, her piercing (e.c) gaze shooting daggers down at the cowering girl beneath her. With a small stutter, the man was quick to try and calm her.
"Dear, you can't."
"Oh, yeah?" She seethed turning back towards her with a crooked grin. "Get out before I force you out." Her words echoed through the room, both the (h.c) and her father stared wide-eyed. Before a word could even be stuttered the woman's face contorted into something vile and she leapt from her seat lunging for the young girl.
"Stop!" (Y.n) screamed in fright aw she was pinned to the floor and secured in a tight grip. "Mom, I'm sorry! Please!" She wailed as something harsh came into contact with her nose.
"Don't call me that!" The woman screamed wildly pulling the child's hair digging her nails into the scalp of her head tugging her towards her face. "I don't have any kids!" She spits in her face eyes gleaming with malice as she shook the girl back and forth. "I don't have any kids, and will never!"
"I-I'm sorry..! I'm so sorry, please!"
"Stop!" The male hoisted the woman by her armpits holding her back as she desperately clawed at the weeping girl curled into a ball. "Honey, you have nothing to gain from this," he whispered in her ear petting her head softly. "She's just garbage, nothing worthwhile. She'll be gone soon as it is."
It hurt.
It still hurts.
Even after the woman had been forced off the child still lay motionless on the cool tile soaking in the harsh reality she found herself looped in. The numbness of her situation bit and gnawed at her being eating away at her tired form.
"I hate you,"
it came out as a hushed whisper garnering the unwanted attention of both parents.
"I hate you so much..." She cried helplessly clutching her head in her hands. "...but I love you, too." She couldn't see it, but the sound of a door clicking closed indicated the absence of the adults. The two leaving her with nothing but self-loathing thoughts and blooming bruises.
In the end, they had gotten their wish. They never had to see her again.
They didn't have to come home to their disgraceful child. They didn't have to worry about feeding her, providing a roof, worry about school or clothes or holidays, birthdays, cause she was gone.
...and they were happy.
No longer did they have a mistake for a daughter, they've been freed from the burden called (L/n) (Y/n).
And she's been freed of the image of her fuming mother and displeased father. No longer did she have to worry about her grades or tone, she didn't have to see the disappointed looks they'd glance down at her with.
She won't have to listen to all their surreal expectations of things she'd never be able to do.
{ end of TW content. }
.*･｡ﾟ₍₍◞🎐◟₎₎.*･｡ﾟ
"You really shouldn't be reading that," the surrounding silence vanished as a masculine voice called the ghost out.
With a soft sigh, she forced a teasing grin onto her face and clasped the book closed all while looking up to meet the male's eye. "Ah, are you worried?" Her simple inquiry earned an eye roll as the book was stolen from her grasp, shortly replaced by two others.
"Of course not," he sneered, glaring down at her while doing so. "Just looking after my students. Don't get the wrong idea, your nothing special."
"Mhm! Love you too, Otou-san!"
"Whatever... anything else?"
"Nope, that should be all. Thanks again, you are the best y'know?" the sad ghost cheerfully hopped from atop the table plucking the small Mokke from her shoulder onto the small pile bundled in her arms.
"Of course, it's the least I could do for the honorable no. 7." He sighed assisting the girl as she stumbled over her own feet nearly face planting the floor. "I can't help but wonder why you need these, though."
"Just curious, it's not every day two random kids just show up and can summon me." She shrugged with a yawn. As much as she looked up to the adult before her, she couldn't help but feel that spilling her concerns about the two were right, not at the moment at least.
Before she'd put anything into motion she'd like to at least be sure her hunch was correct. It wasn't natural for them to see her and the pit in her stomach reminds her of that every time they interact...
"Well, I should head off now, and don't forget the meeting next week!" She hollered to the bespectacled male before taking off towards her toilets for a proper place to read. The library was great, don't get her wrong, but the warmth and comfort provided from her bathroom were much more suitable.
Especially if she were to be right, something she dreaded but also needed to know.
The halls were an empty barren, silence bounced off the walls echoing back at her emphasizing the lack of students who are currently filling the classrooms slaving overwork.
A genuine smile graced her lips for the first time that day, her thoughts drifting to the three idiots that occupied most of her hours.
Much to her delight, Nene had finally integrated into their filling the role (albeit clumsily) as the motherly figure, something both hilarious considering she is...well...Nene, but enduring as she willingly put herself out there for her friends.
Next was the young Minamoto, although not officially part of their group, he too played a large role in her daily life. His constant need to show her up and prove his worth was something she both admired and pitied; the boy had real worth, a strong mind, and body something every exorcist desired. She only wished he'd recognize he had nothing to prove, that just by being himself he was enough.
Lastly, there was Amane, just the mere thought of him sent her (non-existent) heart pounding. Not sure as to why she tends to just ignore the bitterness that coats her tongue and continues her daily routine of making his life as challenging as possible.
She doesn't want to drive him away, but over the past few weeks they had grown considerably closer, and it scared her. They are friends, all four of them, but she's not human and they are. This means one day they'll grow into adults and leave her behind, she'll be nothing more than a distant memory. And as much as it hurts to think about it, keeping as much distance between them is the best option she's been dealt with.
.*･｡ﾟ₍₍◞🎐◟₎₎.*･｡ﾟ
A silent melody rafted through the domain as more and smaller yokai paraded about gleefully. Stolen candies and wrapped sweets dotted the puddled floor sending the room with its sugary fragrance; blues, reds, pinks, and purples showered over the room with their warms rays as they push their way through the stained glass reflecting off the tiny waterfall formed from one of the many sinks that line the regular restroom wall.
Tranquil. One of the many words she could use to describe her domain. It was always warm and smelt of the finest of things; the rushing of water alongside the giggles of lower beings never felled to ease her wearies away. Cuddled up on the windowsill bundled in a pile of pillows the spirit tousled her hair with shaky hands - Hibiki-Kun, ever the helpful one, sat close by watching tentatively of the fallen hat warding away wandering souls with baby glares and adorable growls.
She knew what she was about to do held consequences; for better or worse the bubble shrouding her little group was about to expand and deep within her, the inkling dread she hadn't felt in a long while started to fester.
Yet, even with the heavy guilt bound to follow, she had to know.
With bated breath, she reached out randomly latching onto the book on the top opening it with the haste of a starving man before her cowardice convinced her otherwise.
At first, nothing unusual seemed to take place. Their book started during the first year in the middle school division, the dummy had even been late to the entrance ceremony. (E.c) hues scanned the pages amusingly, her shoulders slumping when nothing off printed the pages; everything within their middle school years was filled with silly encounters and random factoids she'd be sure to hold against them later on.
It wasn't until she flipped onto her first cameo that their world slowly started to change. The pages held more content as more emotions and mischief mended with their once mundane lifestyle. Her words, her actions, and her impact on them were all recorded. They seemed happier, more lively.
It was as if she'd somehow given them a spark of life they'd lost long before; it drew her in begging her nimble fingers to card through the pages and memorize each word, each feeling ingrained within the ink. And so she did.
She read, and read, and read some more. A large smile lighting her once melancholy façade. And as her laughter bounced off the walls echoing through the domain fueling energy into the spirits waltz within, she flipped to the next page skimming the last lines with a tender gaze.
"Hanako-chan?" A breathless voice garnered the mystery's attention, clutching the doorway as if it was her lifeline Nene peered in with widened magenta orbs. Bouncing from her seat atop the sill Hanako giddily greeted her friend with a large hug twirling them around in a giddy dance.
"Oh, Nene-chan! How grand o you to visit!" The (h.c) sung between gasps of air the world around them still spinning as they twisted all around, to and from.
"H-huh-- What's going on!?" The petite human inquired unsteadily. "Are you okay?"
"What kinda question is that? Of course, I am!"
"But-"
"Nene," the ghost cut her off, the female's face hardening for a split second before sighing as she leaned in placing her forehead on the daikon's. "Everything is perfectly fine," a bright smile graced her lips tender (e.c) peering in vibrant magenta.
"Eh-!? I-i... um...okay... good..." Yashiro sputtered in a mixture of shock and embarrassment as her cheeks flared a rosy red.
"Anywho..." Hanako pulled away backing up a few feet to pick up the little monkey playing with a sweet. "Is there anything you needed? You don't come to visit during school often."
"We should wait for Amane-Kun, he might be some help..." she muttered nervously twiddling with her fingers.
"Wait-did you just call him by his first name!? Oh my, my babies are growing up!"
"Wait! It's not like that at all!"
.*･｡ﾟ₍₍◞🎐◟₎₎.*･｡ﾟ
"She just vanished?" Amane questioned looking down at the girl in confusion. With a nod of confirmation, he simply sighed looking back down to the cards in hand, fried furrowing as he to a minute to think. "Hmm..." The Noiret hummed. "Go fish." He sighed with a mild smirk causing the Mokke she was playing against grows frustrated.
"Take this seriously would you! My best friend's missing and all your doing is playing a game!" Yashiro screamed at him while throwing a stray rag at his head shocking both the boy and ghost. "And you!" She pointed at the apparition accusingly. "You weren't here this morning or at lunch, either!"
"I have work to do, besides didn't you say we needed to wait for Amane-Kun?" She defended reeling back at the animosity directed her way.
"Did you file a police report?" Amane cut in, diverting their attention to him. Still fuming, but much calmer than before the daikons just folded her arms glancing off to the side.
"No, there was something weird about it. Her flowers, her desk, everything Aoi had owned is gone. And everyone says they don't know Aoi..."
"When was the last time you saw her?" Hanako asked this time.
"In the classroom after school yesterday, we were tending to the flowers when the teacher took her for guidance counseling."
"Where did they go, do you know?"
"The art classroom, the one by the creepy staircase." She replied thoughtfully, eyes glazed over with certainty when she replied.
"The one with the rumor?" Amane piped in, a more concerned look crossing his pale features.
"Yeah! That one!"
"Rumor?" Hanako leaned against one of them looking at her friends in confusion.
"You don't know?" Amane looked her way tossing his cards in signaling the end of the game.
"No. 2 of the seven mysteries - The Misaki Stairs.
You must never step on the fourth step of that staircase.
If you break that rule you'll be dragged into the world of the dead...
...And your body will be shredded into thousands, if not tens of thousands of pieces.
They say that at twilight, the blood of all the victims drips down the stairs, even if no one can see it's the source."
Hanako's expression crinkled as she brought her hand up, teeth clamped down on her nails in thought. "I think I-" she lit up in recognition going to voice her thoughts before being cut off by a raging boy bellowing at her from the hall ad the door slammed open knocking against the wall.
"HANAKO!!!"
"Minamoto-san? This is the girl's bathroom, get out." Golden hues glared at the underclassmen as he raced towards the ghost.
"You're one to talk!" She laughed before two hands grasped at her throat, making her fall backward knocking her hat into the air. "Wah-!?"
"You jerk! What did you do with my friends Yoko and Satou!?"
"Wait! Just calm down!" Yashiro exclaimed hastily grabbing onto his arm with Amane the following suit soon afterward.
"This is what you do! Spreading all those weird ghost stories. Why doesn't anyone remember them!?"
"You mean-"
"Glad to see you're hands are all better- must've been the kiss!" Hanako teased as Amane and Yashiro finally pulled the blond off of her holding the boy back as he fought to grab at her again, both boys glaring at the spirit. "One of my special powers know, healing people with the power of love."
"Why you-!" Minamoto-san struggled to wave his staff in all directions in hopes of hitting the spirit.
"Ahem, as I was saying, vanishing students, and rumors about a staircase. You're right, I do have an idea of what happened to your friends."
"I knew it, damn you!"
"Where's Aoi-chan!?"
"..."
Amane glared pointedly at the tiles as their conversation continued. Is it possible that's where his brother disappeared too? If so, would he save him? He bites his tongue in fury at the thought, wincing slightly when a light metallic taste filled his mouth. Of course, he would, right? They were family after all.
"In this school, there are seven locations that connect to the netherworld." Hanako started while brushing her hair back up out of the way fixing her cap back onto the messy (h.c) locks fiddling with a brim. "That staircase is one of them. The missing students were probably taken to the netherworld."
"Netherworld?" Yashiro shuddered, goosebumps crawling over her skin.
"It's called a boundary; when a human enters it their whole existence disappears. Although it seems some special humans are immune to it, like you two, Yashiro-chan, Amane-Kun, and the little exorcist, Mina-chan."
"The hell you just call me!?" The blond raged before settling on a glare, composing himself once more. "The boundary, my brother told me about that." He grew serious, eyes set in determination. "It's the ocean that connects the two shores...He says it's the world where things end up when they have nowhere to go, spirits of the dead, supernaturals, and things that everyone's forgotten." He stated with crossed arms, looking anywhere but at the others.
"You're right. Great job Mina-chan!" She clapped as pink lightly tinted his tan cheeks, almost going completely unnoticeable if it hadn't been spotted by narrowed golden orbs.
"Can people who go there ever come back?" Yashiro sniffled, seeking out any reassurance she can get.
"Of course." The ghost smiled softly, tugging her friend into a(nother) hug. "I am the honorable number seven, it's my job to keep the balance between spirits and the living, and-" she pulled away, this time pulling Amane closer, "I hate to see my friends so upset, I'll help you out too, Amane-Kun, okay?"
His eyes widened as he gazed upon her smiling self, with a smirk he grabbed onto both her cheeks, pulling on them aggressively. "You're so silly Hana-chan."
"Hey!" Minamoto pushed them apart with a glare.
"What was that for? It was just getting to the good part." Amane whined with a pout, causing the ghost to watch on in confusion, Yashiro blushing a bright crimson.
"Nene-san!? Are you okay!?"
"Oh! I-i way! Hana-chan..."
"What...?"
"I'm going too! I can't let you take senpai to a dangerous place like that alone...I'll protect her!" He bellowed pulling the poor daikon to his side in a stiff embrace.
"Ah, that's fine. I may not be much help though, three is kinda much...sorry." Apologized for the ghost.
"Like I'd ever need your help!"
"Don't blame us if you end up as a piece of meat." Amane teased leaning in closer with a grin.
"Piece of- you're kidding..."
"Ahaha!"
"Bring it on punk!"
"C'mon Yashiro-chan, let's go save your friends!"
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"Wha- What...is this...?"
Blood dribbled from the ceiling coating the fourth step in its sticky grasp, a putrid copper scent drowning out the smell of cleaner and chalk that had once captured their noses, triggering their gag reflexes. The crimson substance fell with a strange pitter-patter bouncing through the stairwell insight a series of unique reactions from the group of young adults (plus their ghostly companion and small mokke friend).
"The victim's blood at twilight...is this what she meant...Aoi..." Yashiro gasped in horror stepping back away from the gruesome mess in fright.
With a false act of bravery, the blond took a stance before the little daikon using his staff as a shield. "I-I-I'm gonna protect senpai no matter what! And I'm going to exorcise that brat while I'm at it!" He stuttered the exclamation without even taking his eyes off the stairs.
"..." From her side Hanako observed the quiet pondering figure of Amane, his eyes lidded in though, hair swept messily over his forehead, yet no noise came from the boy confusing her. She could've sworn he'd been just as nasty as the others, but now that they're here it just...nothing.
"She sure did outdo herself," Hanako chuckled breathlessly attempting to lighten the mood. "Way different than last time. Maybe we could do something like this with the bathroom?"
Silence rafted through the tense atmosphere after her poor attempt at humor. Only the bristling of Hibiki munching upon their sweets being the only thing to occupy the stillness.
"Okay, are you ready? What was it again, step on the fourth step?" Amane chimed with a tiny grin, the sight alone proving to be almost unsettlingly within their circumstances. At his words, the group seemed to refocus on the task at hand and nodded in agreement.
"Mhm, I think it was. Here Yashiro-chan, Mina-chan hold my hands so y'all don't get too scared." The (h/c) haired hummed, offering her hand to the two.
At the offer, Yashiro gratefully abided intertwining her fingers with Hanako's squeezing gently. On her left, Kou grumbled u gratefully, however, still reached out to follow suit. Just as their palms met the blond was taken aback by a sudden shove pushing him away; Amane smiles toothily down at the blue-eyed male as he held up his and the sports-twined hands for him to see.
"Sorry, this one's taken!" He laughed t the shock of the other, gleefully mocking the underclassmen at every given opportunity.
"Why you-!"
"Here, you can hold my hand Minamoto-Kun." Yashiro smiled lending her free palm. Great, fully he accepted, hesitantly making sure no interference was to happen while doing so. Glancing back the cheeky raven haired boy, his anger nearly doubled at the sight of the other sticking out his tongue childishly only turning away to grumble incoherent curses.
"Okay, on the count of four. Ready and..."
"One!" Hanako sang hopping onto the first step dragging the others along.
"...two" Nene shook unsurely as her foot made contact with the second step.
"T-three." Kou stepped up with false confidence in an attempt to mask his anxiety.
"And four!" Amane laughed as they warped into the new boundary. The once bloodied staircase now turning into a whole new world of its own as the portal buzzed around them shifting their sights upon the colorful domain that lies ahead.
Shrines were placed hazardously hidden within random spaces, around many different multi-colored stairs lead to seemingly non-existing settings as fairy lights, lanterns and torches filled the room with a soft glow. Upon seals and wax, random Kanji spelled many things telling a tale almost as old as time itself; the lettering dotted along the shitters lining the buildings, staining the glass upon the windows and even the large arches leering over the crowd who stood in a mixture of awe and wonder.
No gap was left unfilled as miscellaneous objects such as clocks, bells, dolls, and books, and cloth decorated the area. However, even with the wonder-inducing sights laid before them, nothing could compare to the bridge they had entered upon. The four peered over the edge catching sight of the many Koi that swim the trailing stream, theirs scales an arrangement of rainbow patterns glistening under the warm glow of the lanterns.
The stream itself weaves through the tiny city twisting and turning and bowing in many different directions before coming to a tall staircase at the end of the path. Upon closer inspection the stairs seemed to lead deep into the dark abyss above, only sparkled by tiny lights darting the sky almost like little stars. It almost seemed as if the stairs never ended, leading deep into the unknown with a hidden danger locked deep within shielded by the beautiful singing a pleasant time just below.
But, even with the looming anxiety of threat and the possibility of not making it in time, they all knew that's where they needed to get to. That just at the top of those stairs, they would find and save their friends.
"What is this place...?" Yashiro gaped releasing her hold on their hands to look around the new environment in amazement
"The Misaki Stairs," Amane answered, face blank for a moment as he too, looked around.
Hanako smiled at the two from behind as they continued to explore the new surroundings, her hands tugging down at her hat so it covered her eyes. "Looks like she's been going to town!"
No. 2 of the seven mysteries - the Misaki Stairs.
They lure students to the nether world and tear their bodies in thousands if not tens of thousands of pieces...
"So this is the netherworld..." Kou muttered to himself, his wonder-filled gaze flitting to and fro locking on everything he deemed interesting.
"Mhm, this is where we'll find your friends, although I can't guarantee they'll be unharmed." The ghost trailed a finger down the railing of the bridge, her other hand tucking a few stray (h.c) back out of the way. "If we're quick though, they should still be in one piece."
"Wait-! What's that supposed to mean!?"
"It is another world." Nene stuttered spinning around soaking in as much of the scenery as possible, her silver locks fanning out behind her. "The whole atmosphere is different from school." She smiled.
"That, my dear, is because we aren't at school anymore, we are now in number two's domain." The (h.c) explained, plucking one of the many dolls from upon its seat in a random drawer Nene had been standing by. "I hate dolls." She grumbled distastefully tossing the object behind her into the water causing it to splash all over Kou, who in turn let out a few colorful words at her.
Promptly ignoring the little fellow, much to Yugi's amusement, she clapped her hands and lead them forward. "Alright, everyone, let's work our way up the stairs! We've got a long way to go if we want to save your friends." She grinned at them, jumping off her feet to float her way up, gaining a few groans of protest from the teens.
"That's not fair, you can float!" Kou fumed pointing an accusing finger her way.
"Don't be stupid, she's gonna walk with the rest of us, right Hana-chan?" The raven-haired male smirked as he grabbed her hand pulling her back on the ground.
"Um...no? That's not how this works. I'm the boss and you're my servants." She pointed crossing her arms but continued walking anyway. The walk had been long and tedious, silence hovering over the four (plus Hibiki, but he was currently nowhere to be found...strange little muffin, that one) as they huffed it up the steep stairs to busy working their way up to talk.
"Hey, Hanako!" Kou hollered up to her, breaking the quiet much to everyone's chagrin. As they continued up the sights seemed to change with more open spaces and colors filling their vision, yet no sign of the top had made itself known. "There's nothing here, I thought something was gonna tear us apart." He pointed his staff at her as a means of intimidation, it only made him look like a small dog on crack.
"They wouldn't do it right away. Where's the fun if you're gonna end it before it even starts?" Amane answers with a sly smile. "Whittling away at you...ever so slowly...that's the fun part!" He slowly inched closer to him while wiggling his fingers in emphasis.
"...You're sick..."
"Maybe so," Hanako cut in directing all their attention back to herself. "But he has a point, we're the seven mysteries. As the seven pillars that govern the supernaturals of this school, we must be known by as many people as possible. That's why we frighten people, think about it- nice creatures that do nice things...or scary monsters that do terrible things...The scary ones are more likely to make an impression, am I right?" She explained, taking on a more serious expression. "Still...No.2 has taken this too far this time. We have to put a stop to this nonsense immediately."
After her statement, she turned back on her heel and marched up a couple more steps turning back to check and see if they'd followed. To her surprise, it was Kou who stood the closest with a determined look set across his pale face. "We aren't friends, and I still want to exorcise you, but I'll help save my classmates even if it means we have to work together."
"M-me too! I want to help Aoi-chan and my classmates too, no matter what!" Yashiro exclaimed taking a few steps up too, leaving Amane behind.
"I guess it's settled then, let's go save our friends." He followed along, waltzing up the steps behind them.
A shrill screech filled the air frightening the four, the sound of a phone chime drawing their attention towards a small desk located just a few feet ahead. With brisk steps Hanako made way up to the device, flinching every so often as the sound bounced off the walls spreading an eerie feeling through their guts.
Tentatively the trio followed close behind, uncertainty written all across their frightened forms.
Again, the phone rang its solemn tune, deeming the ghost as too slow as it washed its sound back over the room, prompting them to speed up their steps. Just as they'd reached the side table the chime died down and Yashiro plucked the device with petite hands shaking as she brought it to her ear. "H-hello?...um...who's speaking?" She spoke up timidly clutching onto the nearest hand, it being a certain blond sending his face aflame.
"...It's...Misaki."
"Misaki?" Amane questioned cattily reaching to steal the phone from Yashiro, but was stopped short by the (h.c) as she pulled his hand back clasping in with her own. Rose dashed his cheeks before quickly fading as he pouted and turned away, dully noting the consecrated look upon his friend's face as she urged Nene to continue the call.
"I had been teaching my students...in the schoolhouse at the top of these stairs..." A brief pause overcame the line, Nene's breath catching as they all stood stock, nervously awaiting the next reply. "But I was killed here, torn to pieces. Right in the place, you are staying. Say, would you...please look for my body?"
"Wait! Where's Aoi-chan!" The diakon desperately cried into the speaker.
"I can't do anything as I am now..." Misaki simply responded, ignoring the cries coming from the girl. "First, my arm. My right arm. That is the arm...I use to hold the chalk for writing letters. Do hurry...class is starting soon."
With the last phrase being her parting from the conversation, Misaki briskly hung up the phone. A thoughtful stillness overcame the crowd as each pondered the words relayed, so far, from why they've gathered they were to locate the mysteries missing limbs. But, then that brings up the question of how she'd been able to call in the first place...
From above a large golden hourglass -- with multiple rose-gold flowers bordering the frame -- sitting upon a tall podium set itself, giving them notice just how long they have to complete their task.
"Hmph...so we have a time limit?" Kou asked tearing his hand away from Nene, walking briskly up to where the timer stood to examine it further. "What happens after it stops..."
"Do you think we can go on...if we put the arm in there?"
"Dunno? But I'm sure something will happen." Amane answered glancing at the thoughtful spirit still latched onto him.
"Forget it senpai! It was just a prank call. Let's ignore it and keep going!" The blond turned back around trying to convince the poor girl as she chewed her nails stressfully.
"I wouldn't recommend that." Hanako butted in, rubbing at her eyes tiredly. "We seven mysteries, have our domain, and in that domain, we're unbeatable. In my case, that'd be the toilets. There's no telling what could happen if you step off the path and make her mad..."
"I wouldn't stop him if he'd tried." Amane grinned wickedly lightly shoving the younger boy closer to one of the edges.
"For now, why don't we just do what she asked and look for her arm. Based on the voice from the phone, it would be a woman's arm." Yashiro concluded, Hanako nodding along in agreement with a small grin.
"That's a good idea! Let's spit into teams and start searching." She released Amane in favor of latching onto Yashiro, pulling her closer to her side. "Dibs on Nene-chan."
"It can be pretty fun looking for stuff." The raven-haired boy shrugged, already digging through one of the many draws sprawled around the place. "See? Take a look at this, kid." He pulled out a magazine, flipping to a random page with a half-clothed busty girl, and showed it to the group. "I found some treasure."
"I'm going to look over here." Yashiro sighed in embarrassment inching further away from the boys in a flush.
"So that's his type, huh?" Hanako giggled watching as the two boys argued. Her cheeks were dusted by a light red before cooking as she turned to help look for the arm. When she turned around, however, she only found her partner knee-deep in thought turned away from her shielding the ghost's view of whatever she was holding.
"... Yashiro-chan? Is that..." She caught sight of Nenes object of interest.
"Shhh! It's not what you think!"
"Ah...um...okay..." Best not to meddle around too much with this one.
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"Alright, everyone! What did you find?" Hanako chimed rounding up the children into a huddle to examine their finds. She and Hibiki, who'd magically showed up just minutes before, stood proudly showing off the tiny doll arm she had (brutally ripped) stolen from one of the many creepy dolls just laying about.
Yashiro, following suit, presented a large mannequin arm covered in chipped paint. Amane on the other hand proudly swung out a robotic arm, all while Kou smirked proudly pulling out a large arm bulging with muscles and veins.
"C'mon guys... we're looking for a woman's right arm!" Yashiro lectured with a bellow causing the three to shrink back.
"Minamoto-Kun, you just found an arm you liked and brought it here! And you need to take this seriously Amane-Kun!" She ranted waving the arm around angrily, nearly hitting Hanako in the face. "Ugh! Are you even listening!?"
"Uh...um..." The youngest stamped as heat crawled up his neck inching up his cheeks to his ears, only pausing briefly to awkwardly cough into his fist. "Hey Yashiro, I don't know how to bring this up, but... something seems weird about you..."
"You think..? I'm pretty sure this is how I always am?" She posed dramatically puffing out her chest.
"I don't think so..." Hanako muttered sheepishly.
Not able to withstand all the reckless movement her chest jiggled a few times before falling out of the bottom of her uniform revealing an extra padded bra.
"..."
"Senpai..."
"Nene..."
"Waaaaahhhhhh!" She cried falling to a crouch to cover her shame, the spirit rubbing her back in an attempt to comfort her friend.
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything." Amane chuckled leaning on Hanako for support as he laughed and Kou directed his gaze anywhere but at her.
"Waaaaahhhhhh!"
"I think you making it worse..." The (e/c) eyed girl leaned back, knocking him off. As they all continued to discuss, or in Yashiro's case avoid the present conversation, the quiet sounds of children giggling filled the air causing tension to rise.
"Time's up!"
"Time's up!" The dolls echoed standing from their spots gathering around the small group as they looked at them with a mixture of emotions.
"Wha-what the..!"
"The dolls are-!?"
"It's time for class!"
"Class?"
"Look, the hour Glass ran out!" Amane shouted catching his peer's attention.
"No...all we have to do is put it on the..." The giggles once again interrupted this time sounding much closer.
"Which one of you is running late?"
"If you wanna piece, come and get it! I'll take you all down!" Kou challenged steadying his staff for the attack. Hanako backed him up pulling her knife out, she too getting ready to take down the foes.
As the dolls drew closer a large pair of scissors came flying at them nearly cutting them all in half. "Get back!" Hanako yelled blocking the object with her knife, too late to keep the blade from swiping against her palm. Blood splattered from the wound staining the trim of Nene's skirt. "Dammit, I said get back!" She yelled again after noticing their lack of response.
Looking back at them with a glare she pushed the scissors enough to escape its grasp and start pushing her group away from it. As they ran, the clinking of the movement of the doll followed shortly behind by the clipping sound of the scissors as it chomped at the air.
Noticing the daikon's sluggish draw, Kou picked up Yashiro by the waist tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. And grabbing Amane's hand the spirit pulled him ahead of her pushing him into the lead before switching direction to lunge at the dolls knocking as many of them away as possible.
"A dead-end!?" Yashiro screeched examining the door from afar.
"The arm! Find out how to get it in!" Amane grunted using a stray golf club to send another doll flying to the side.
"The tardy one...is you!" A hoard of dolls quickly overwhelmed them grasping onto their clothes with stubby little hands clinging onto anything they could to weigh them down to allow the scissors to attack.
"AMANE!" Said the boy could hear as he was dragged down to his knees by some dolls. Hanako had yelled fearfully fighting against the enemy, barely managing to stand upright before darting o the boy in hopes of getting to him before the looming scissors that stalked him from behind.
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Lesson Four [4]: The Mysterious Stairs