𝔅𝔩𝔬𝔬𝔡𝔶 || Minamoto T. || JSHK

4.1 tempest

*slight manga spoilers*

Kou, although he was stalking Hanako at the moment, could not help but worry about the girl he and his brother had left home alone. Usually Kou manages to leave together with the older girl but that morning, just before he left, his brother had told Kou not to wait for Yumeko.

He had seen the light in her room just before he went to bed, even when he had woken up that morning. Hadn't thought much of it but when Teru had told him not to wait, he held an almost sad expression as he told his brother. An expression that was wiped away by his usual smile, warning Kou to stay safe.

He shook his head, no no, he needed to focus! He had seen Hanako nearby, had to focus on making sure he wasn't causing more mischief than- "What are you doing?"

The ghost he was thinking about had just appeared right in front of him, causing Kou to shriek in surprise, before slapping his hands on his mouth. He had done so much to skip class for this, if he got caught, it would be over.

"So you're stalking me to see if I'm doing anything bad? Skipping class just for lil ol' me? How passionate." The ghost teased the blonder exorcist, floating away while carrying a bag. It was suspicious. Too suspicious.

Before Hanako even managed to gain distance, Kou already was unpacking the items inside. A couple of notebooks, some kind of clay figure. . . Hanako stared blankly at Kou. "It's not what you think. It was the Mokke."

The pink balls of fluff that could only be the Mokke hid behind Hanako's leg. "Yashiro did help change their rumor back buuuut," he gave a few of them some pats on their head. "Old habits are hard to die, you know? They like to hide things all over the place."

Kou smiled in realization of what the 7th mystery was doing. He didn't sound so bad after all.

"Hey Kid, wanna help me with something?"

That is how Hanako roped in Kou into helping him reach something high up the tower. The young boy struggled to hold Hanako, "I can't float that high, ya know. . . Oh, little more left." The ghost dangled, holding onto the side wall while stretching out his hand in hopes he could reach the object.

"Sorry about this, it just seemed important to someone." Hanako's voice sounded sincere; Kou wrapped up in his thoughts, didn't notice his grip became loose.

Was Teru-nii really right about all apparitions? Surely not. Take Hanako as an example, he couldn't see him as all that bad. There were many apparitions out there but there were a few that were good right?

Too caught up in his thoughts, it was too late to notice and Hanako was soon plummeting down to the ground.

He couldn't think, just moved as fast as he could. Kou raced down the stairwell, bumping his shoulders into the wall.

"Hanako!!"

"Hey! Wake up!!" Eyes wide, hands shaking. This couldn't possibly be-

"Uwah! I thought I was gonna die!"

. . . . . Wait,

"Um, you're already dead though."

Ghost and novice exorcist look at each other before Hanako bursts out in laughter, Kou could only wryly smile. There really never was a dull moment with Hanako, was there?

Yet, nothing could have prepared Kou for the moment when the ghost who he had thought of to be good, to point down his knife at him. Eyes glazed with an unknown emotion. At the same time, nothing could prepare Kou to see the reality of how his older brother, his dear older brother whom he looked up to, admired so much, looked. Sword unsheathed in one hand, walking calmly towards the two. A look of disgust directed at the short ghost.