PLAYMATES. . .

"She looked at his demons and smiled.

She fell for the very thing he thought she'd fear."

- Vazaki Nada

MAJOR MANGA SPOILERS!!!

- au where Tsukasa and Yashiro met differently, and Hanako is terrified.

- - -

Yashiro truly didn't mean to stumble upon this situation. . .

Because, being honest, this was a situation she wouldn't even think of being in.

Being sandwiched by the Yugi brothers.

It all started when she just wanted to take a break after resolving a mystery case with Hanako and Kou. The blond went home early as it was getting late, while Yashiro wanted to waste time because her parents were still not home.

She had told Hanako she was only going for a walk.

It was only supposed to be a walk.

So why is there a grinning boy with a black seal on his cheek, opposite of Hanako's, staring at her with wide, curious eyes?

"U-Uhm?" Yashiro quickly closed her eyes when the boy leaned in closer to study her.

This isn't Hanako-kun, she thought. But he looks exactly like him except for the seal and outfit.

Just who is he!?

Yashiro finally felt light and able to breathe when the boy leaned away from her. The girl looked back up at him and narrowed her eyes on him, to which the boy grinned wider at.

"Ah, so you're Amane's assistant?" Hanako-look-a-like marveled.

Yashiro recoiled a bit in surprise from the fact that he knew Hanako's real name. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The boy only smirked. "You're my new playmate now!" Before Yashiro could even retort, he leaned in close again, and muttered darkly, "after all, you took Amane from me so he doesn't want to play anymore, why can't I have a try and take you instead?"

That's not really a good reason. Yashiro mentally sweat-dropped.

She just gulped. "What are you planning to do?"

"Easy!" The boy answered easily. "I'm going to take you with me for as long as I like! I'm sure Amane will come." He turned away from Yashiro's so she couldn't see his dark and scary expression, bloodlust glinting in his eyes. "After all, what would Amane be able to do without his assistant?"

"I don't really understand," Yashiro said. "I don't even know you." And I'm not going to let you do as you please to me.

"I'm Tsukasa Yugi." He twirled around and bowed exaggeratedly, grinning brightly at her despite the warning glint in his eyes. "Nice to meet you, playmate!"

Yashiro's eyes widened. He has the same surname as Hanako-kun!?

All of the signs are there. . .

His similar face. . .

His personality (despite being a bit too twisted compared to Hanako's good intentions). . .

And not to mention the fact that Tsukasa acts like he's really familiar with Hanako.

"Tsukasa-kun, is Hanako-kun your brother?"

Tsukasa rose a brow at the question, until he just smiled. "He's my big twin brother! Now -" he swooped Yashiro up, carrying her bridal style while the girl panicked and flushed - "you're a good girl, okay? So just be quiet and follow my lead."

Yashiro grew wary when Tsukasa raised his hand and pointed it on Yashiro's forehead, but she doesn't remember anything after that because she felt really sleepy and dozed off.

The world turned black.

- - -

"Yashiro? Yashirooo?"

Yashiro felt a poke on her shoulder, which caused her to sit up straight and freak out. She was face-to-face with a certain apparition, who smiled at her flustered expression.

"Yashiro? Are you okay?" Hanako asked, lips pursued. "I saw you passed out in front of the door of my boundary. . .that's not really an ideal place to sleep on." Very unhygienic.

Now that caused Yashiro to wake up fully. "W-What time is it, Tsu- Hanako-kun!?"

Hanako's eyes momentarily widened, before he hummed for a second, his hand placed on his chin as if deep in thought. "Around 8:30 pm, why?" He stared back at Yashiro curiously, an unreadable expression on his face.

"What!?"

In the midst of panic, Yashiro wasn't able to think straight. She just stood up and ran away, bidding Hanako a small goodbye.

Hanako reached his hand out, but Yashiro didn't even see it because she was too busy trying to calm all her thoughts down and get away from the toilets as soon as possible.

"Wait!" Hanako frowned at her retreating figure and huffed. "You didn't tell me why you were about to say his name. . ."

THE NEXT DAY

As soon as class ended, Yashiro was already greeted by none other than Tsukasa, acting like a five-year old child with the way he smiled at her. He's looking down because he's floating, making Yashiro instinctively think that he's the one in charge.

"Let's go somewhere, okay?"

He tugged on Yashiro's sleeve, while the daikon hesitantly followed suit.

"I'm sorry, I have to meet up with Hanak—"

Yashiro got cut off with Tsukasa's harsh tug on her sleeve as he waved a finger. "No, no. Today, you're going to be my playmate." It wasn't a statement or anything, it was a demand, one that Yashiro can't bring herself to disagree. "Amane will probably look for you, but that's okay, he'll fall for it hook, line, and sinker." Tsukasa then glanced at Yashiro and grinned widely. It would've been adorable if it wasn't for the tense aura surrounding him.

"If you try to go to Amane's, I will know, okay? So. . .don't try anything because I don't want to hurt you!" His voice was menacing, the complete opposite to his reassurance. "You're supposed to be nice to girls, right?"

They left the classroom.

Yashiro failed to miss Akane narrowing his eyes on Tsukasa's back when he removed his glasses for a second. Pure coincidence, but not a mistake.

Akane's brows furrowed as he glared at the boy suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Yashiro didn't know what was happening. Millions of thoughts raced in her head, her mind close to exploding.

I can't just disobey Tsukasa-kun. . .

If he really is Hanako-kun's brother, then he must also be really strong.

And I know from experience that Hanako-kun can defeat a whole army of evil mysteries without a single scratch on his body.

Yashiro gulped. Not to mention that time Minamoto-kun told me that Hanako wasn't at all badly affected by Minamoto-senpai's attempted exorcism even though Minamoto-senpai is really strong.

Oh, no.

If Hanako-kun's the leader, isn't Tsukasa-kun also one?

Is he even a school mystery?

He has a black patch.

And black patches are usually for Yorishiros—

"Yashiro-san, right?"

A smooth voice asked.

Yashiro's eyes snapped up at half-lidded ones. A girl with green hair stared at her with emotions she can't really understand. Recognition? Or. . .pity?

"My name is Sakura Nanamine. . .an assistant of an apparition like you," Sakura told her.

- - -

"What!?"

"Do I really need to repeat all of that, Honorable No. 7?" Akane asked, his tone nonchalant and bored. Of course this boy would only be interested if Aoi is the topic.

Hanako nodded, his face being the definition of pained (and constipated?) "Please repeat that, and this time, slowly."

Akane sighed exasperatedly, but couldn't bring himself to get angry at Hanako. He understood him. If Aoi was taken captive by someone against her own will (or even just being excused) he'd be. . .pretty pissed. "I saw Yashiro-san being escorted out of the classroom by someone who looks like you. Perhaps you two are related? Who cares. I'm just wondering if you are aware of this, and it seems like. . ." Akane glanced at Hanako's worried eyes. . ."you aren't."

Hanako started pacing a bit. "Have you seen where they went?"

"I heard him saying something along the lines of a recording studio but—"

"Thanks. Now I gotta go!"

Akane watched Hanako basically teleport himself out. The boy just sighed and rolled his eyes and also walked out, probably already on his way to go stalk Aoi or something.

"Better hurry, Honorable No. 7. . .if you don't want something to happen you'll deeply regret."

- - -

THIS HAS A PART TWO, I PROMISE!!

also, writing Akane reminded me of my Akane x Aoi draft. . .

Just lurking in a sea of chapters. . .

Waiting. . .