The two men roamed the school for a good five hours more or less, and time in its ever demanded honesty reflected this with the positioning of the sun. However, Matsu made no note of this, and neither did Nino. Both were silent and watching. A few childish ghosts roamed the halls, yet neither man paid them any mind. Instead, their focus had changed as both looked for what they knew to be true of the present circumstance. The demons were still within the school. They were not as powerful as the adversary that was met the night before, and yet there was an ever presence of dark aura that had formed around the entire building. It even appeared to seep into a few of the school children who took on somewhat of a morose demeanor because of it.
“I wish there was something we could do,” Matsu sighed to himself feeling the tingling that comes with being an empathetic. “I’m seriously getting sick with the air….”
“Get over it,” was the only reply that came from Nino whose eyes were moved farther away and off down the hallway. Looking up, Matsu’s eyes moved up to view what Nino was seeing. Yet there was nothing there. Turning his head to Nino, Matsu stared for a moment.
“Do you see something?” Matsu asked, and yet Nino said nothing back.
"Hello?" a voice asked causing both men to tighten and turn around sharply. The voice had come from the stairs not far from either of the two men’s positions, and both exchanged a look. Matsu placed a demeanor upon his visage and waited for the person who had said the greeting to appear from the stairs.
"Who's there?" Matsu asked lightly as though trying to coax the person out into the open. In truth, it was more of a natural occurrence other than a fake formation.
"You tell me!" the female voice demanded directly back.
"Matsu, I don't think she's talking…" Nino’s voice answered causing Matsu’s eyes to move to the dark haired companion staring back at him. Neither one said anything, yet Matsu let out a somewhat pained sigh to himself. Stepping forwards, Matsu walked to the stairs and stared down.
"Hello..." Matsu smiled staring down at the girl who now seemed to complete her climb up the stairs. Stepping to meet her, Matsu continued on lightly. “Oh it’s you from before. Quite nice quite nice. Hello Miss……….. Oh my…. Forgive me but I never did seem to receive your name. Quite my fault indeed for not giving you my name either. Hello, my name is Matsujun, but you may call me Matsu for short. The quiet man over there is Nino.” Matsu made a half thumped pointing motion to the dark haired man leaning with his back up against the lockers complacently looking down now. In all truth, the dark haired man was in no mood to deal with any of the people from the night before besides maybe Ryuu, and yet he said nothing and kept his thoughts to himself on the matter.
“Um…. Hello…. I’m Raine,” the girl answered back after a moment.
“Ah yes then, Miss Raine,” Matsu said more for himself than for context. “Are you a ghost hunter as well Miss Raine?”
Rather than speak, Raine appeared to just nod to herself. Matsu put his hands together complacently and smile a larger smile. Nino continued to say nothing.
“Ah I see,” Matsu answered Raine’s nod as though she had started a complete conversation. “Have you found anything of interest?”
“No… not really,” Raine answered back moving her head to one side as if wondering something to herself.
“Ah hah,” Matsu answered back. “Well, since we’re all looking for the paranormal here, it should be a good chase of things.”
Nino let out a breath recognizing Matsu’s usual talkative voice that truly was used more for mannerisms than to collect information. As the dark haired man stared down at the floor, his mind left the present conversation and went back to what he had seen standing at the end of the hallway. It had appeared to be there for a split second, and then in an instant it was gone once more. If it was really him…. Then…..Nino closed his eyes and found that his own mind had already started forming an imagine of the aftermath. Opening his eyes again, the dark haired man stared down at the floor. Why is he here? What does he expect from me? That damn…….Nino’s thoughts trailed off as it appeared that Matsu was saying something to the effect that he would probably prefer to be cooking rather than hunting ghosts at the moment.
“Nin-kun,” Matsu began lightly. “Why don’t you at least say hello to Miss Raine? Come now be civil.”
Nino’s eyes moved up and addressed the girl darkly back at him. He said nothing but returned his eyes downwards once more.
“Oh he rarely does get to talking that much, you see,” Matsu continued to chime lightly onwards. “But anyways, I believe we should get to work with more hunting, so I think-…..”
" 'Scuse me! Coming through!" a voice yelled, and with it a girl came running through as if ready to run anyone over that appeared before her. Matsu took a side step in order to avoid the girl, but just as he did, he recognized her as Hazel, the one form the night before. Heheh I have such a good memory for names….Matsu thought to himself for a solid second. As Matsu’s eyes caught the ghost that trailed by with the girl, his eyes shifted for a second over to Nino’s. The dark haired man seemed to say nothing at this obvious encounter, and in that moment, Matsu realized that Nino’s thoughts were elsewhere completely.
Suddenly, the girl turned sharply around and stopped dead in the motion. Walking back to the group that was still somehow managing to form now in this bloodclotted hallway, Hazel tried to place a smile on her face. Seeing this, Matsu smiled even larger to compensate.
"S-sorry 'bout that," Hazel laughed nervously as she viewed the group before her.
“Oh hello and good day to you too Miss Hazel,” Matsu began just as lightly as he had with Raine. “I see you’ve dressed in school attire. Are you planning to enroll for a time here?”
“Um…..” Hazel said appearing to decide it was alright to confirm the motion. “Yes.”
“Ah, I see,” Matsu continued putting his hands together once more. “Well then I do believe that you need to get to class. Time flies like clockwork here does it not?” Turning quickly back to Raine, Matsu began addressing her as well. “Well it appears you ladies are young enough to fit in well indeed. I could try a few things, but I prefer my own clothes to uniforms hah.”
Nino shook his head as he continued to lean against the lockers. His thoughts had moved back to the other matter. What is he even doing here? It doesn’t add up… at all….Nino’s thoughts continued, and he brought his hand up biting into his thumb darkly.
“Are you really a ghost hunter?” the ghost behind Hazel addressed Matsu giving him a sharp eye that the white haired man did not expect to see from such a young looking ghost.
“Yes indeed,” Matsu began. “But actually, I am a shaman first and then ghost hunter. Are you scared? There is no need to be at this time anyways. The day light hours belong to investigation only,” Matsu in his effortless way, could feel the emotion of the ghost even behind the determined looking eyes that the child had placed. “However, you might wish to disappear when the sun sets hahahah.”
Raine seemed to be surveying the ghost and the girl now beside her as she had when addressing Matsu’s hello. Realizing this, Matsu clapped his hands together a bit and caused them both to look at him.
“Miss Hazel,” Matsu began. “This is Miss Raine. Miss Raine, this is Miss Hazel.” Moving his hands to the flow of his words, Matsu talked lightly. “Since we are all working on this investigation together, the least we can do is pull a bit of a friendship, maybe? Nino are you asleep?”
Nino blinked, and his eyes moved up to the white haired yellow eyed man addressing him in the manner a scolding teacher would. Shaking his head, the dark man stood fully and stared down at Matsu. “No,” Matsu finally answered.
“Well at least say hello,” Matsu said as he put his hands somewhat into his pockets and grinned.
"Hi" a voice said causing Matsu to jump not expecting to hear a hello from behind him. Turing around, Matsu looked at the girl now before him and recognized her as Valeraine another girl that they had met the previous light. Everyone seems to be congregating indeed heh… but not the the first ones I met….or rather Nino met….Matsu thought to himself for a moment. Suddenly, he realized that the girl had continued addressing him. "Seen any demons around?" she smirked suddenly.
Matsu blinked for a full second not even realizing what he had heard. The word demon had caused Nino’s eyes to shoot up so suddenly from the floor that they had pierced straight at Valeraine. His muscles twitched for a solid second before he returned his eyes down once more no longer interested in the matter that he knew she was bringing up.
Matsu felt his eyes move to Hazel for a moment, but as Valeraine stepped forwards and took Raine by the shoulder gently, Matsu felt his stomach flip over. Just then, Valeraine seemed to stare directly at the ghost as if she had not seen him before hand. Smiling for a split second before releasing Raine’s shoulder. Matsu slowly felt his stomach come back to terms with itself, and he shook his head causing his white hair to move across his face. He wanted to seize Vaeraine right then and there and yell, and yet the part of him that had remained frozen. The smile that would always be placed upon his visage remained in control, and all he could muster besides himself was to make a half laugh.
Nino’s eyes moved up and seemed to pierce the back of Matsu’s head as he heard the laugh. The laugh appeared light, and yet Nino could understand the context of it beyond anyone else standing there. It was what one made when they suffered and yet didn’t know how to deal with it. Forcing himself to stand to the size and step closer into the group, Nino stared inwards.
“You know that if someone says something to you, it’s usually polite to say something back” Valeraine said as if suddenly angry.
“Shut you face,” Nino said sharply all but leering at Valeraine. “Before I put my foot in it.”
Matsu’s eyes widened and he turned his head sharply back to Nino. Looking swiftly back to Valeraine who appeared to be ready to respond with her own sharp comment, Matsu put his hands between them both. Raine, who still appeared stunned by the borrowing of power that had just run through her, tried to shake her head as if to clear it. Sensing the sudden tension, Hazel looked sharply from Valeriane to Matsu to Nino and repeated the cycle.
“He…. Doesn’t mean it like that…” Matsu tried lightly looking at Valeraine who looked ready to break past him anyways.
“I meant what I said,” Nino answered back sharply.
“Nino!’ Matsu answered back with a plea.
“Don’t you think I won’t,” Nino continued.
“Nino stop!” Matsu said sharply. “Please….”
“You’re too damn soft, Matsu,” Nino glared darkly at his white haired companion before he brushed past him and walked down the hallway. Valeraine in a sudden attempt, tried to break past Matsu once more, and yet the white haired man stood firm. Watching his dark haired companion leave and turn down a hallway, Matsu let out a pained sigh. After what seemed like a few minutes but was much longer, Valeraine seemed to calm down. Hazel let out a sigh and then seemed to jump once more.
“I’m still late for class…..” she said looking down the hallway as the students seemed to be interchanging classes for the final class of the day.
“How about you… get at least to one class then,” Matsu said lightly. Hazel seemed to nod and turned off down the hallway followed by her ghost companion.
“Wow….” Raine’s voice said, and for a moment, Matsu didn’t recognize her. Yet this moment was only for a few seconds before he reacted.
“Wow what?” he asked.
“What… was with that guy?” she asked.
“Seriously,” Valeraine’s voice said caustically.
“He… just… doesn’t really know how to deal with people,” Matsu said after a moment not even going to begin explaining what had transpired between the two men.
“Well if you haven’t seen any demons,” Valeraine said appearing to make her own way down the hall. “Then I’m off in search of them. Later.”
“H-hey! Can I come with you?” Raine’s voice asked causing Valeraine to turn. Her eyebrow raised, and yet she finally nodded. “Alright.”
I wonder… where Nino is….Matsu thought to himself as he turned down the hallway and away from the two congregating girls. Time passed like a dying isotope, and yet Matsu found no sign of Nino. It was as though he had disappeared off the face of the earth. It worried the white haired man beyond reason. Day turned to night, and time only continued to pass. Matsu felt himself tense as he began to wonder just what had happened to his dark haired friend……
~*~
Nino walked down the hallway with his arms crossed. His thoughts were elsewhere, and yet his eyes were moving down the hallway with him. Damn Matsu…. He suffers so much, and he won’t let me do anything about it. Damn him….However, the thought began to die a bit within the dark haired man, and he began to think more on the idea at hand. Suddenly, as if coming to himself, Nino realized that the darkness had already come, and most of the students had already left. There were no doubt the other ghost hunters within the area, but they were of no consequence to the dark haired man. Work….Nino’s thoughts motioned to himself. I’ll work for now and leave Him to what He will….
Moving steadily down the hall, Nino walked and turned several corners that were already becoming dark even with the school lighting. Raising his gun as he walked, Nino moved sharply down the hall. Suddenly, the sound of gunshots hit Nino’s ears. What……..Nino thought to himself as his eyes shot down to his own gun that had yet to fire.
Running down the hallway, Nino made several sharp turns and came upon the scene before him. Standing, the pale form of Matsu stood aiming a gun directly down at two of the girls that he had seen earlier. According to Matsu, they were….. Raine and Valeraine… who were sitting on the floor reflecting a look of fear right back at him. Matsu wore a smile as always even as he looked down at the two girls.
“Matsujun,” Nino said darkly causing the three pairs of eyes to fly over to him. Matsu’s features remained the same even as he turned his head slightly to view the dark haired man. “What are you doing?”
“Ah, Nin-kun,” Matsu’s voice answered back.
“What are you doing, Matsu?” Nino continued the question.
“They’re demons, Nino,” Matsu answered back. “They took the forms of the girls from before to try and lower my convictions to shoot….”
“HELP!” the younger girl half cried out as she looked at Nino and reflected somewhat of a pleading look. “He’s the demon! He… He shot us! Help!”
“Damn him….” Valeraine’s voice was dark as she leaned over her stomach. Her breathing as disrupted, and Nino knew then that she had been shot by the spirit gun. “You damn demon!”
“You’re the demons,” Matsu answered back pulling back the safety on the gun once more. “I won’t let you mess with my emotions…. Nino…. Help me.”
Nino’s dark eyes reflected the smile visage of his light haired companion as the two exchanged looks. Standing completely still, Nino allowed his eyes to move from between his light haired friend to the girls only a few meters off.
“Nin-kun,” Matsu began. “Help me rid these demons…. You said I shouldn’t let their emotions fool me… I won’t… Nino… I need your help….”
“Damn demon… he’s a shape shifter….” Valeraine swore.
Nino’s gun rose on his arm, and a scream escaped Raine. Valeraine just shook her head sharply and glared back. The sounds of running footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Aisling, Mari, another boy Nino didn’t recognize, and Hazel and her ghost companion Charleston seemed to all be running in a pack together towards the group. Nino felt his eye slide back to view them for a half second.
“Nino,” Matsu’s voice said as if now in a plea. “I’ve never asked you for anything…. Just help me…. I want to be able to do this…. You’re stronger than me…. I need help….”
The safety on Nino’s gun flicked off.
“What’s going on?!” Aisling’s voice shot out.
“Stop!” another voice yelled, and suddenly Emiko came running down the hallway. “What’s going on?”
“Well this is certainly becoming a mad tea party,” Matsu began with the same lightness in his voice. “Nin-kun….”
A shot echoed in the building once more, and Nino let out a breath feeling the coldness in his own body as the spiritual energy left him. Matsu’s face bore a look of complete and utter shock. He stood frozen for a moment, but then the body reacted, and he fell forwards a fraction. Placing his hand over his heart where even then blood was starting to leave him, Matsu stared back at Nino.
“You sick bastard,” Nino leered back into the face of the white haired man. “Take your true form, now before I send you straight to hell.”
As if reacting to this, Matsu’s body bent straight backwards, and suddenly all the color faded for a moment reforming right before everyone’s eyes. “Hahahhahaha how did you know it was me, Nin-kun?” a voice laughed for a moment until suddenly the formation was complete. Standing up taller, Nino looked into the smiling face of himself. The grin that remained on the man’s face before him seemed to distort the dark features.
“What is a demon lord servant doing here, Loki?” Nino glared back at his own twisted visage.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you even know my name Little Nin-kun!” the demon lord smiled even more as he placed his hands together before him. “I fell honored, I really do…. Not many know the great demon lord servants that well…. It makes me sad…” Pulling at his visage, the demon distorted his facial features trying to mimic the dark look that Nino was staring back at him with. Releasing his visage once more, the sharp smile returned to the face of Loki. “And just what are you all doing here? I wasn’t invited to any tea party….” The demon put his hands on his hips complacently and shook his head. “So many ghost seers, and I wasn’t invited…. You’re mean. You truly are.”
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Writer's Notes:
<.< lol Loki =p because I have been studying Norse Mythology... leave me alone. Anyone can continue. Oh and Raine and Valraine are really themselves. You guys can either explain that Loki did something to trick ya and then shot Val or something before Nino got on the scene. It's up to you what ya want to do. Also, as for why Hazel met up with Aisling, =p I hope someone can figure that one out. I also had a bunch of people run up because....... =P gunshots lol... I dunno. I felt like adding some people so be it. *is smacked*
Also, for anyone that uses Loki from now on, I just kinda wanna give some detail about him since =P he kinda came to my mind. Anyways, Loki can take the form of anyone or anything he sees. This includes everything from dead relatives to Christmas trees.
Nino: =A= Loki! I'm going to skin you if you don't tell me where Matsu is!
Loki: ^-^ heheheh >XD MAUHAHAHAHHAHAHHA.
