"I remember that night so well. Everyone smiling as they weaved baskets. Telling scary stories around the fire. Though as this happened, i heard the sound of a flute. My eyes grew heavier and heavier, i couldn't manage to stay awake. All i remember...
~In the broadcast room~ "Was that really a good idea? Letting the runt go and do whatever he wants."
Natsuhiko was sitting in the room as he was talking to Sakura. The girl had a neutral expression on her face when she heard the boy's question.
"He wouldn't have listened if i tried to stop him anyways, so it's fine."
Natsuhiko scratched his head nervously as he listened. However, there were still some things on his mind. He thought about the other people at the school that knew about the supernatural.
"If the three of them find out we're changing the rumors, they might come after us."
"If that happens......you'll protect me won't you? Natsuhiko?"
Suddenly Natsuhiko got on one knee as he held Sakura's hand. When he looked at Sakura, he smiled at her as he was prepared to speak.
"Yes, my la-"
"Don't touch me."
Sakura swiftly hits Natsuhiko with a book. As he lands on the ground, he saw someone entering the room. When the individual entered the room, he ran towards Sakura.
"Honey.....i'm home!!!!"
The individual latched onto Sakura's back. With a neutral expression, Sakura turned to the individual who suddenly latched onto her.
"That's a weird outfit you have, Tsukasa."
"Well yeah, but it was my first time seeing Amane in ages! I wanted our reunion to be special!"
"I see, so you wanted to match with your older brother."
As Sakura said this, Tsukasa's clothes began to change from the school uniform to his normal attire. With a smile on his face, he casually agreed with Sakura.
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"Though.....i have a feeling someone interesting may be joining this little world of ours. Don't you agree, Sakura?"
When Tsukasa asked Sakura that question, her mind went back to when she met Shiki the other day. However she kept her neutral expression when she answered Tsukasa.
"I guess so....though....he's more dangerous than he looks."
~The Next Day~ Teru was in the student council's room. He was by himself as he was in thought. While the school mysteries and the exorcism of the supernatural is important, he had something else on his mind. When his family told him the truth about Shiki's, he was shocked.
"I don't know if i can keep it secret. However, if i keep playing dumb about it it might cause more harm than good. Though telling him the truth may also have the same effect."
As Teru was in thought, Shiki entered the room. As Teru greeted Shiki with a smile, he saw that Shiki was walking towards him at a fast pace. Next thing he knew, Shiki kicked him to a wall.
"That was for all the chaos you made at the home-economics lab. At least clean up the mess you make next time."
"I'm sorry for my actions."
After a brief moment of silence, the two friends shared a laugh. As this happened, Shiki was the first one to stop laughing as he was going to ask Teru something.
"Teru, you're stressed out about something."
"Heh. As always i can't hide anything from you.....Shiki...let's say you knew something about me that i didn't. The info could cause either a good or negative reaction if i knew. Also, withholding it could cause the same result. What would you do?"
"Obviously i'd tell you. No matter which choice you choose, the odds of it being good or bad is still fifty percent, correct? In that case, i'd rather tell you and let you decide how you should feel. I could think its good or bad, but the only person who can tell you how to feel is you."
Teru thought of what Shiki said. All this time, he only thought about the situation from his perspective. Yet he didn't even bother to think of it from Shiki's perspective. As Shiki was about to leave, Teru spoke up.
"Shiki.....i think its about time i tell you. The reason behind your bloodlust, i think i have the answer."
Shiki turned around as he looked at Teru. Was it true, did Teru have the answer? If so, then maybe Shiki can learn how to control his bloodlust. As Teru saw the look on Shiki's face, he spoke up.
"To fully explain it, i'll have to start from the beginning. Long ago, apparitions roamed the near shore and were a lot more powerful. They went by the term known as youkai. My ancestor, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, dispelled the youkai. However, some escaped his clutches and blended with human society and caused humans to be in danger after he died. Some even mated with humans which caused the birth of humans with mixed bloods. Soon four families came together and created an organization that would destroy youkai or Mixed-Bloods that have thick youkai blood, as they see them as an abnormality that must be corrected. This was known as the Demon Hunter Organization."
Shiki was silent through Teru's explanation. However, the name of the organization sounded familiar. Suddenly an image of the night when Shiki lost his mother played in his head.
"The four families are known as Asakami, Ryougi, and Fujou. However, only one family is enough to make the supernatural quiver in fear. That would be the last family, the Nanaya family. They were the trump card of the organization and were extremely well versed in the assassination arts. However there are three traits they all posses. The first being the ability of Pure Eyes, to see which can not be seen. The second is their peak physical condition, to be capable of doing feats that drew upon the limits of the human body. And the last one............"
Shiki could tell Teru was hesitant on revealing the last trait. As he looked at Teru, the boy took a breath as he finally explained.
"The last trait is that the Nanaya focused so much on the extermination of Demons, that they uniquely developed a murderous impulse against non-humans. Just being around a supernatural gives them a strong urge to murder them on the spot. However, one night the Nanaya family was exterminated by a man who's family was full of mixed bloods. The only survivor was just a single boy."
Shiki thought about everything Teru said. It all made sense to him now. The bloodlust, his physical abilities, even how he was able to see the supernatural even before the incident with School Mystery Number 6. As Teru looked at his best friend, he asked one thing.
"So after learning the truth, how do you feel Shiki Aozaki? Or should i say....Shiki Nanaya?"
