【ᴍɪsᴀᴋɪ sᴛᴀɪʀs ❴ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ❵】

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Yashiro looked up to see the scissors, right above her, ready to slice her into half.

"Senpai!" Kou screamed. He and Hanako run towards the girl but they both knew that they won't make it in time. The scissors was about to cut her neck off when she heard a voice.

'N-nene-chan......I'll protect you no matter what..." Something then strucked the scissors breaking it.

" W-wha?" The boys run to her side. Kou picked her up as Hanako dealed with the scissors which was back in one piece.

"Stay back, senpai." Kou demand, still holding her bridal style. Yashiro thought about the voice she heard, it was really familiar.

'It sounded like, Hatsume-chan. B-but impossible!'

Yashiro snapped out of her thoughts and saw Hanako delivering a punch, breaking the scissors again. "You did it! Hanako kun!"

"No.. We're not out of the woods yet." Hanako frowned. The scissors sprang back to life. Kou and Yashiro flinched. Dolls went up on Kou's ankles. But then, A (f/c) light passed and threw the dolls away from the humans.

"H-Haru-joudai?!" Yashiro exclaimed at the wisp's sudden appearance. Hanako and Kou looked up and was suprised, They all thought the wisp stayed back at the bathroom.

Hanako run towards the two, "Okay, Let's go!" The boys ran, Yashiro still on Kou's grip. "Run, Away!" More dolls appeared and tried to reached out for them, but failed thanks to the (f/c) wisp who were shielding them, from danger.

"But the door!" Yashiro exclaimed, Kou putting her back on her feet as they reached the top. The trio heard bounching, and turned to see three mokkes holding the arms they've collected.

"Quick! Throw the arm!" Hanako instructed. Kou grabbed the nearest arm from one of the mokkes and threw it into the shrine with much force, slamming its doors shut.

They then heard rumbling, The door flew opened. The three quickly ran, and shut it behind them.

'We managed to get through the door.' They all sighed in relief. But they then stood there gawking when they saw more flights of stair. 'But there's still more staircase, and dolls...'

'There's no one here, not even Hatsume-chan, Aoi or any of the other students..'

Yashiro then glanced at the wisp next to her and remembered something. "Hanako-kun, I heard Hatsume-chan's voice, when the scissors was about to cut me. Then Haru-joudai came to my rescue." She explained. The boys looked at the (f/c) wisp who was guarding the girl, closely.

".....Even at your current state, Your still worried about us than yourself, (n/n)-chan..." Hanako whispered sadly. The two seems to have heard him, and was waiting for his answer.

"I'm afraid you are right, Yashiro. The voice you heard is indeed, Hatsume. There's no other else who would have ordered Haru-joudai to come here immidiately, than herself." He explained. "Hatsume is too caring. She doesn't care about herself as long as her love ones are safe, a trait I grown to hate."

"Hatsume-san......is protecting us?" Kou asked in disbelief. "I thought, she's weak right now. Since she's disappearing."

"Listen here, kid." Hanako snapped. "She's not going to disappear, We're here to save her and the missing students. Don't say that she's disappearing, 'cause we're saving her before it happens." The Male seventh mystery sighed. Pain visible in his eyes as he seems recalling something."I won't let that happen, again..." The Daikon legged girl noticed this.

"Hanako-kun....." Yashiro trailed off. "If, Hatsume-chan was here, she wouldn't want you to be upset because of her. She would have scolded you for being too protective of her."

".....That is something like she would do..."

Kou stared at them confused. He haven't known the ghost girl that long, but after meeting her for the first time. He grew to like her. She helped and healed him, even though he was their enemy, and from the stories Hanako and Yashiro told, Hatsume seems to be a really generous person. The exact opposite of what his brother told him.

A phone rang again, it sounds echoed the entire surroundings. But before Yashiro could pick it up, Hanako beat her to it. His sullen face returned back to their usual happy expression.

Hanako cleared his throat and answered. The two humans listened closely besided him. "Yello~"

"My left arm-

Please find my left arm... Every morning, I go and make an offering and say a prayer to the shrine...

I put my left and right hands together... and pray for everyone's good health...

Do hurry, Class-"

"Hey, No. 2! No time no chat!" Hanako cutted her off, beaming happily and then smirked. "You do remember me, don't you?" The other line went silent.

"You also took someone important from me. Is that how you greet an ol' friend?." Hanako's tone became darker.

".................Class will be starting soon....." The second mystery soon hanged up. The two humans looked at the ghost boy, concerned. Especially when Hanako's voice became cold.

The said boy looked back at them with his sunset yellow eyes and shrugged like nothing happened. "I just thought I'd say hi."

"You know her?" Yashiro asked him.

"Well, we're both seven mysteries, after all."

The hourglass moved, starting the time. Kou scratched his head in frustration, his charm earing swayed slightly. "We're looking for arms again? What a pain."

"Hey Hanako! Is there any other way to deal with her?" The said mystery looked up from holding a toy.

"Some other way?"

"You know, something we could use against her....Like her weakness." Kou said.

"There is." Yashiro and him looked up suprised.

"She definitely have a weakness. Her Yorishiro, that's is what it called. Those are what gives us mysteries our power." Hanako explained. He then took the toy he was holding, it's batteries. "You might say it's something like a battery, If you destroy it, the school mystery will be weakened, significantly."

"So where do we find this divine....Uhh.... Norishiro?!" Kou asked excitedly.

"You mean, Yorishiro." Yashiro giggled at his mistake.

"It's at the inner most reaches of this boundary." Hanako grinned and pointed at the door on top of the stairs "It's just what it sounds like ---- The place farthest inside this world. I suspect that we'll find it beyond that door. On the top of this staircase."

"The top?....which means...." The two looked at above them, the stairs seems endless making them deadpanned.

"Basically." Hanako then cheered and fist bumped the air. "Now who's excited to climb some stairs?!"

The two humans copied him, weakly. Mentally crying and preparing themselves for the things that was about to come.

Some time later...

'We kept moving forward... Looking for each body parts, The Misaki stairs asked us to find...'

"Next, Find my right leg..."

The trio looked around, even inside vases and boxes.

"My left leg..."

Yashiro shook her head, disapprovingly at Kou who was looking at a stone scultured buff leg which seems to perk his interest.

"My torso....."

She deadpanned as she stares at Hanako who was now smilling inocently while wearing a robot's body

"My eyes..."

Kou freaked out when He was face to face with Hanako, now wearing an eye mask that had the same eye design to the woman from the magazine Hanako showed him before.

"My ears...."

They were now being chased by the giant scissors from before.

"Next....."

"This is the last one, right?..."

They cheered. "It's over!"

"She might want us to find her right toenails next, ya think?" Hanako snickered.

"Come on that's way too detailed." Yashiro sweatdropped.

"The door is opening, you guys!" Kou told them. They stared at the door which was now wide opened.

'I hope it keeps on going this well...But I feel that something isn't right.... Like...' Yashiro thought as they stepped on the other side.

'..Yeah.. If she's making us look for her body... because she can't do anything without it... Then, who's making the phone call.....Wait...Don't tell me its-' Yashiro shook her head. 'No..... Hatsume-chan would never do that, she wouldn't take the risk of being outside her boundary this much. It's not her...'

" Is this the inner most reaches?" Kou asked.

"I think so..." Hanako trailed off.

'It definitely has a different vibe than everywhere else....Then...Is this where we'll find the yorishiro, Hanako-kun told us about?' Yashiro thought, her wet foot then hit something, looking down, Her eyes widened in fear..

It was a head...

It was floating on the water and fell on the waterfall, Yashiro looked down to where it fell expecting a splash or any sounds. But she heard nothing. 'I can't see the bottom...'

"Over there!" She then looked to her companions.

"Someone's there!" They looked shocked.

As they approached the said person, the trio was supprised at what they saw.

It was the parts, they gathered. It sat on the chair, staring at them. It was so bad that Yashiro hid behind Hanako in fear.

"You just have to give it those weird legs, Kid." Hanako blamed Kou while looking at the thing's wheel leg.

"Wha?! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID, IT DIDN'T MATTER AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP MOVING!"

"Aww... The bust and left leg are perfect but..." Yashiro trailed off..

"Really? Your okay with a bust like this? That's scary..."

"You finally made it..." A voice welcomed them. Footstep splattered on the wet ground as the trio looked towards the approacher.

A beautiful blonde woman smiled at them, She was wearing a beautiful white kimono and was holding a lantern. The three stared at her in awe.

"She's drop dead gorgeous...." Yashiro muttered. 'Is she Misaki-san? But I thought, she didn't have a body'

The woman run passed them and approached the thing they've created. She then glance towards them, the trio mistaking it for a glare.

"What a wonderful body!" She beamed. The trio looked at her confused.

"Y-your okay with it?" Kou asked.

"I was such at loss, you see. I simply have no idea, what a human body is made off... I always knew it was a good idea to ask humans about human things" 'Misaki' said thanking Yashiro.

"This is nothing like any other bodies I've made, I'm sure it'll work this time.."

"This time?"

"Isn't it right "Misaki"? Go on, and let me see you, walk." The woman cooed. Blowing at the thing and watch it stood up.

The three screamed in horror and fear, while the woman only beamed in happiness.

But the thing only fell and broke apart, The woman stared at it in disappointment. "Oh dear, another failure. What a shame..."

"Uhm... Are any of the other students been here? Where they might be?" Yashiro asked carefully.

"Other? You mean the children who failed? In that case-"

"Their all around, didn't you see them?" The three looked in horror. The students were all behind her, unresponding. Giant scissors are stabbed in some of them, they all have papers on their faces, similar to the dolls from before.

Yashiro recognised one of them as her missing bestfriend. "Aoi!" She ran towards her and tried to shook her awake.

But her head only fell off, Yashiro's eyes widened. Tears fell from her eyes as she craddle the human turned doll close to her.

"I will tear you apart, just like the rumors say.." A giant scissor appeared behind the crying girl. But she remained unresponsive. The (F/c) wisp tried to protect her but failed, since the owner's power was already fading.

Kou managed to save her but his right arm turned into a plush. He screamed.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Look like you'll turn into a doll if you get cut by those scissors." Hanako said, appearing besides him.

"Hanako! do that thing, you did! transform and beat the hell out of her!"

"I can't this is No. 2 domain. Unless She gives her permission, I can't use Haku-joudai's power. It would be different if we destroy her Yorishiro.... But it doesn't seems to be here."

Hanako then tokd Kou to distract her and quickly went to Yashiro's side.

"Yashiro, stand up..." Hanako demanded. But she didn't. "Are you giving up now? Even if she's still alive?" Yashiro looked up.

"She is?"

"Here is where there is no birth or death. The ones with the most power are those who don't know when to give up." Hanako smiled.

Yashiro wiped her tears away. "I'm in! I'll do anything!"

"Anything?" Hanako grinned evilly.

Hanako tied Yashiro up with a rope as they stood near the end of the waterfall. "The Yorishiro isn't here. So this isn't the inner most reaches. So I had a thought, if it's isn't at the top, then maybe at the very bottom!"

Yashiro got frightened. "You don't mean?!"

"Hatsume isn't here with the others, So she might be where to the Yorishiro. Do this for her, okay? She's been waiting for us long enough.. We're counting on you!~" And with that Hanako pushed her off

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Yashiro woke up to see the mokkes towering over her. Haru-joudai was floating above her. "I'm not dead?"

She then stood up and looked at her surroundings. She was standing infront of a shrine, surrounded by nature.

The daikon legged girl then noticed a figure leaning on the the shrine. Barely noticesable, but the long (h/c) and kimono was all too familiar.

"Hatsume-chan!" Yashiro ran towards the unconcious female seventh mystery and crouched down to her level.

"Hatsume-chan! Wake up!" She then tried to touch her, but her hand just went through. 'Just like how we first met...' Yashiro sobbed. She wasn't ready to lose a friend.

She then noticed a book next to the nearly transparent mystery, she picked it up and look at the cover.

'Top secret!
No peeking!'

Yashiro opened the book and started reading.

'

TODAY I THREATED A STUDENT.
It waz fun. 【Well done! -Misaki】

Teacher's comment:
Let's not do that.

'That name.....Misaki...That's' Yashiro thought. 'The one we met upstairs?' She turned to a new page.

'MISAKI
gave me a new hairstyle

CUT MY HAIR
I HATE MISAKI
thank you, sensei

Yashiro turned more pages, trying to find clues, Until she landed on a page with a photo on it.

'Today, I took a "Photograph" with Misaki and the other kids.'

'So I was right, The person upstairs, wasn't Misaki.' Yashiro said as she stared at the smiling man on the picture.

'Misaki gave some hair shears. None of the kids got any. Only me.'

'Misaki loves me, I put the scissors in the shrine to keep them safe.

Good for you- Misaki'

"This girl might be inlove with her sensei! Hatsume-chan! See th-oh..." Yashiro stopped and look back at the unconcious female next to her. Tears threated to fall from her eyes, but she didn't let them fall and continued reading.

'Misaki didn't came today. I havw nothing else to do, so I made dolls while I watch people come and go all day.'

'Huh? there's no teacher's comment...' Yashiro thought. and turned in the next page..

'Still no Misaki today'

'Still No Misaki today'

'Still no Misaki today.'

'Today I heard a rumor, there were an accident on these stairs, the other day.... A teacher fell and died.

I wonder what it means to die. The next time I'll see Misaki, I'll ask him.'

Yashiro looked horrified. She then glanced at Hatsume, still unconcious. She thought for the worst until she shook her head and turned to more pages.

Most of the pages were blank until she reached on some words.

'Misaki may never come back...

The only way to do about it is to make Misaki.'

"What are you doing?" Yashiro turned around to see the woman from upstairs.

"You wrote this didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Your not Misaki." Yashiro said getting near towards Hatsume.

"I'm collecting parts for Misaki's body. It's easier to explain if I say I am Misaki, isn't it?"

"You did terrible things to Hatsume, Aoi and the others, just so you can make Misaki-chan!" Yashiro yelled.

"That's right." The human girl then felt she can't move her feet, looking down was the dolls holding her in place.

"I thought, that luring the other seventh mystery to my domain would benefit me to create my ideal Misaki, since I heard that she has a heart of gold and was willing to help anyone. But that thought turns out pretty useless. She does have the heart but She's not that helpful like the brat. She manage to put up a petty fight until she finally dropped dead. What a weakling, Can't even last outside her boundary not longer than three days."

"She's not dead! She's far from it! Hanako can still save her!" Yashiro shouted. "You Loved Misaki, don't you? What your doing , won't make him happy!"

The woman laughed. "Oh Please." She then kicked the girl, sending her flying to a nearby tree. "I already know that!"

"Misaki cared for his students. If he finds out that I've been doing this, He'll be angry at me. But that's what I wanted." The woman cornered her using her giant scissors." I want, Misaki to yell at me again."

"And I would do anything to get him back!"

"Help me, Hanako-kun!"

A green wisp smashed the scissors into pieces.

"Nice work." Hanako said as he praised his wisp.

"No. 7, How did you find us?" The woman asked. Hanako stared at her with an unreadable expression.

"This little one, Haru-joudai. Told me."

"Hanako-kun!" Yashiro exclaimed, feeling relieved. Hanako smiled at her, his whole body was beatened and brushed, but he payed no mind to it, as his gaze landed on the female leaning on the shrine, slowly fading and unconcious. Pain filled his eyes, just by staring at her current state.

All of sudden, he fell on the ground. Yashiro then ran towards him. "Hanako-kun?!"

"I t-think I'm dying..."

"What?!"

"My, how fragile you are. Did our little game upstairs take that much of you?" The woman laughed.

"That was a joke... I'm already dead... Still, fighting No. 2 at her own territory is a little...... Okay, It's really tough." Just then Hanako leaned on Yashiro's ear and whispered.

"If we can destroy her Yorishiro, we can do what ever we want. So did you find anything? It probably the thing No. 2 treasure the most." Realization hit Yashiro. 'The scissors!' "I'll distract her, go find her Yorishiro and pull the tag off."

"Okay that's enough chit chating." No. 2 then attacked. All of sudden, She was binded by ropes. Hanako appeared behind her and shouted. "Go!"

Yashiro ran towards the shrine, Hatsume was leaning on. No. 2 got alarmed.

"Stop! I won't let you! I need my Yorishiro or I can't make Misaki! All this time I've been doing this for him!"

"Looking at you reminds me of myself before meeting Hanako-kun and Hatsume-chan. You're doing this for yourself, not for Misaki!" Yashiro yelled, making No. 2 stopped struggling in realization.

The daikon legged girl jumped over the dolls into the shrine, opening it and teared the tag from the scissors.

No. 2 manage to break free but she was already too late.

Hanako transformed and faced her.

"Mystery No. 2, The Misaki Stairs, You have abandoned your responsibilities." Hanako stabbed her.

"You are to return your seat number.."

"Hey sensei, Why are we taking it here? Can't we take the group photo upstairs, in the school?"

"I want to do it here." The man, Misaki replied.

"Face forward and smile!" He then turned to the fox statue and smiled. "You too."

He pet it and pulled, A young blonde girl replaced the statue. She looked at the man in admiration.

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Hatsume opened her eyes, revealing her beautiful (e/c) eyes. She then looked at her surrounding.

She was back at her domain, The bathroom. She sat up and was quickly tackled by a black blur.

"Y-your a-awake..." The voice said in a shaky tone, indicating that they were crying, just a moment ago.

Hatsume sat there confused, memories soon floated back into her mind as she hugged the figure back.

"H-Hanako-kun....I-I'm s-sorry..." She cried, tears falling from her eyes. "I d-didn't mean to worry you."

"N-no, it's alright." Hanako said smiling slightly, although she didn't see it. "I'm just glad your alright. Please don't do that, again.

"I don't wanna lose you the second time..."

Hatsume cried harder, hugging him tighter. She always manage to get Hanako worried. She didn't want that. But she couldn't help it, it was by instincts.

She then broke the hug. But what broke her the most are the tears, falling from the sunset yellow eyes of the boy infront of her.

"Hatsume..."

"Where's Yako?" She asked. Hanako sighed.

"You already know her name?"

"She told me, She just wanted to see Misaki again."

"But she hurt you."

"She didn't mean it, She was just desperate." Hatsume argued. Hanako sighed again, hugging the girl to his chest, leaning his chin on her head.

"She's back to her boundary, Yashiro already went home after she destroyed, No. 2's Yorishiro. She said she got tired after everything that happened. And that kid, Kou fought well. He got turned into a plush doll, but he's fine now."

"Kou? T-that exorcist from b-before?"

"Yeah, He helped me and Yashiro rescue you and the other missing students. They're all return to normal, in the morning."

"I'm glad..." Hatsume then faced Hanako and kissed him on the cheek making him flinch and blushed.

"Thank you for saving me......Amane..." Hanako grinned.

"Your welcome, (N/n)-chan.... I'll always be there to save you."

Hanako stared at the beauty infront of him. She's rarely this affectionate, He usually does this kind of things.

Maybe He'll get used to this....

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A black paper crane flew out of the toilets.
Waiting at a corner was a brunnet, the same guy that Yashiro ran into, earlier.

"Well hello. You surely took your sweet time." He greeted holding the crane. He then walked on the halls into a room.

"My lady! My Lady, It's ba-" The guy shouted as he opened the door, but was cut off when a book was thrown at him.

"Be quiet, Natsuhiko. The teacher will find you." A cold yet soft voice told him.

"Yes, Ma'am..." The crane flew towards the girl. She has green hair and green eyes. She was beautiful.

"Welcome back." The girl greeted the black crane which then turned into a black wisp with a red core. "Koku-joudai..." The wisp floated next to her ear.

"I see... so he managed to save her? then it went well... good..."