"They're what !?"

Ciel frowned. I averted my gaze and looked out the window. Izumi nonchalantly stared at the glass cup in her hands. "Apparently it was an order that was sent out just yesterday", Izumi mumbled slowly, "The people who are going to be leading the investigation are none other than Sotaru and Ao." "But why jump in now ?", Ciel asked, "Why didn't they come in sooner to help ?" "No idea", Izumi replied, "But I assume that it was probably because of Grandfather." "Even so..", Ciel's voice trailed off. "They shouldn't-" "Let them", I mumbled. "Eh ?" I looked over my shoulder to see the both of them staring at me. "Let them get involved", I said stoically, "In fact, why don't we let them figure out the reason for those disappearances." "Are you serious about that ?", Ciel asked doubtfully. I nodded my head. "It's been a while since I've seen them do something beside hunting down demons. Let them do all the work." 

Are you finally giving up ? 

"But what about the ghosts ?", Izumi asked. "Don't you think that they'll do something to get rid of them ?" "It's possible", I replied, "But I doubt it. The ghosts that are currently at Meiou are quite sharp. They won't disappear so easily. Besides, I have a feeling that even after they find those missing people, those ghosts will still linger about." "How do you plan to go from there ?", Ciel asked. "I don't know", I mumbled. "We'll just have to see what happens."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"I don't get it... why're you wearing a hat ?"

Tonight, I was partnered up none other than the pessimistic Tsukiya and observant Azalin. I followed after them as we looked around on the 3rd floor. "Perhaps she's cold", Azalin mumbled. He looked at her in disbelief. "But why a hat ?", he asked, "Wouldn't she think about wearing something else ? Like maybe a jacket ?" She turned to him and hit him on the back. He straightened up and looked a bit off guard. "How about I ask you to stop talking ?", she replied bluntly. He glared at her but she didn't seem affected. "As if I'd listen !", he snapped. "Ah..", she muttered as if she'd just realized something, "That's true." As the both of them continued to bicker, I tried not to stand in their way. For some reason, the situation seemed familiar.

"Are they together or something...?", I asked softly. To my surprise, they both turned around. "No", they both bluntly replied in unison. I was amazed at how quickly they both answered. There wasn't even a hint of hesitation. I stared at them, feeling slightly embarrassed. So they heard me ? Azalin turned back around and kept walking after replying, but Tsukiya, on the other hand, stayed back and glared at me. "Don't even think about it", he said hostilely as he walked beside me.  "I don't know what you're thinking but I can already tell that's its weird." "Oh ?", I nonchalantly asked, "If that's the case, then why're you blushing ? Wah~ Tsukiya, could you be a pervert ?" Tsukiya slapped me on the back of my head. "You idiot !", he shouted. "What're you trying to say !?" I slowly looked up at him with a hand on the side of my head from where he had hit me. "Me !?", I snapped, "Don't you know that it's not nice to hit a girl !?" Tsukiya sighed before breaking out into a smirk. "Who said that I considered you as a girl ?", he said with a shrug. "What was that !??", I hissed. He stuck his tongue out at me. 

"Besides, who would ever want to be with a girl like that ?" He tilted his head towards Azalin, who was still walking. Us on the other hand, had stopped. "She's like a doll", he continued dryly, "The only time I've ever heard her laugh was when she nearly killed me back in Makai. Other than that time, she's not the type of person to show any emotion." "Or maybe it's because you're just blind ?", I suggested. "Are you trying to get me mad on purpose or..."

"You two..", Azalin called out from in front of us. We looked up to see her standing there, waiting. "Hurry and catch up to me please", she nonchalantly said as she stared at us, "We shouldn't separate from each other in a place like this." Tsukiya placed a hand on the side of his head and slightly ruffled his head. "See ?", I heard him say as I trailed after him, "No emotion at all.." By the time we caught up to her, we were walking towards the Library. Originally, we were supposed to avoid the Library, but a few days ago Botan and a few of the others, including Azalin, went ahead and investigated that area. According to them, there was nothing unusual so it was fine to go there. I was still uneasy about it but I trusted them. "By the way..", I mumbled slowly, "Did Izumi tell you anything about the guests that'll be coming in soon ?" "Of course", Azalin replied. "Those hunters right ?" I nodded my head. 

"Could that be the reason to why you're wearing a hat today ?", she asked as she looked over her shoulder and glanced at me. I sheepishly grinned. Tsukiya sighed, shaking his head in dismay. "I assume that they believe that you're dead then", she continued to say, as we began to approach the Library. "Because a human like you definitely couldn't have survived at least a day in Makai..." I grinned at the thought. "Something like that", I mumbled.

Although.. I doubt that. I'm sure that once I reappear again they'll be certain. Besides, those people know better than to doubt my capabilities..

Azalin suddenly stopped walking. "Azalin ?", I asked as I glanced over to her. She didn't respond. Instead, she turned towards the door of the Library. "Why..?", I heard her say softly. We watched as she walked up to the door and raised her hand. Just as she was about to touch it, a faint red light appeared and she quickly drew her hand back. "Azalin !", Tsukiya shouted. "Why is there a.. barrier ?", she mumbled as she looked over her grazed hand. Tsukiya rushed over to her and grabbed her hand. "What're you doing you idiot !", he angrily scolded, "What happened to being careful !?" She slowly looked up to him and frowned. "This wasn't here", she said to him. "Who..?" I flinched and quickly turned away. "Hanamura ?", Azalin asked as she glanced over. I grimaced and took a deep breath before turning back to face them. "Nani ?", I asked in return. Azalin slightly narrowed her gaze at me. "What's the matter ?", she asked. It made it difficult to lie to her when she was staring at me so sharply. "Nothing", I replied with a forced smile. She stared at me for a minute before reluctantly turning back to Tsukiya. They started talking about something that I didn't catch. Again, I turned away.

The pain on my arm grew. It was as if someone was stabbing me. In the distance, I could hear faint chuckling. I looked at the end of the darkened hall to see a silhouette. It was that boy. "Does it hurt ?", he seemed to ask me. There was a smirk on his face. "Suffer", he said.

"Suffer until you disappear from here."