Hanako x Yashiro *Something more?*

Real Ilusions

Hanako's POV

As my vision returned to normal, I realized there was something different with me. I could feel gravity pushing me down, a very different sensation for us, ghosts, who could just float as we are made of no matter at all. My hakujoudai was no place to be seen, but I already understood what was going on.

After so long had passed, I became Amane again. A human living being.

- Hanako-kun! I'm suffocating.

I turned myself quickly towards that girl's voice. It was Yashiro, whose tail was swinging around; actually I would say it was more like a fish, desperately seeking for water. Passing my eyes through her whole body, I saw that she was not wearing a costume anymore, but rather, she had become a real mermaid, with scales and all.

Hearing her plead, I picked her in my arms the faster I could, and started running in direction of the lake in the school yard. I know I was letting Tsukasa go when I should chase him and break his watch, but Yashiro wouldn't survive this long. She was my priority, and I absolutely wouldn't let her get hurt.

As I ran selfless, something heavy hit my shoulder and Yashiro almost felt, but I tighten my grip on her. I look up, and I see that the "thing" that hit me, was actually a student that had bumped into me. The fact that he clearly didn't look like a human wasn't what disturbed me the most, but the simple fact that he touched me. He felt me, not as a subtle breeze, not as some object floating without someone holding it. He could touch me because... I was human. I was alive.

My mind started running in circles as I saw people (who had turned into supernatural beings) running around confused, and when some of they passed me, I felt the heat of their body slightly colliding with mine, and I knew they felt the same. Even if they looked like monsters, I knew the truth, that they were humans.

- Hanako-kun. You're warm.

Hearing Yashiro's voice made me leave my transe. I also knew the truth about myself, I was dead. This was just make believe, and I would never be alive again. Her voice was weak and dry, and just then I realized I was so focused in my body that I had stopped moving. I immediately get back to action, trying to ignore everyone passing by me and headed to the lake with no further interruptions.

Finally I get outside, and I manage to gently drop her in the water, even though I'm almost having a heart attack and panting harder then I've ever done before. She sank, and didn't got back to the surface.

- Yashiro? Hey Yashiro, are you okay?

I was so nervous and worried, and my heart was screaming me things I couldn't understand. Because it was so desperate, that I didn't have a way to convey my feelings, I felt an urge to punch something, and at the same time I felt like I would start an endless cry. I just needed to see her smile, to hear her voice saying that everything was alright. If something happened to her, I would never forgive myself. I would never forgive Tsukasa.

- Habnakob-kunb? Hobw can Ib bloat?

I heard Yashiro's voice from the lake, and all my tension dissolved, while I smiled unconsciously. I sank my arms in water, and when I feel Yashiro's body firm in my hands, I push her up. Her hair splashes water all over, it didn't get to me neither wet me, but I found it very pretty, she looked mystic. I burst into laughter.

- So you are a mermaid who doesn't know how to swim? Now that's something.

- You never had a tail before! It's very hard, you know? You don't just float by swinging it around.

She answered mad, and then remained in the surface, leaning her arms in the grass so she won't sank again. Then she looked at me, and touched my hand with her left hand. That was dumb, because she couldn't bear all her weight (a tail must be very heavy) with just her right hand, and she sank again.

I reached to her the same way as before, and honestly laughed at her face. She seemed frustrated. I felt like provoking her, so after she supported her body the same way as before, I laid my hand in hers. I thought she just wanted to feel the heat from my body, since I had get that since I've had "come back to life". But then she blushed. What was that? Why was she blushing?
That stupid reaction made me feel confused, so I took my hand off hers and averted my eyes.

- What do we do, Hanako-kun?

I looked back at her, her face worried.

- I need to find Tsukasa, then I'll make things go back to normal.