••●••

'Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough'
— Og Mandino

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"Move over."

"No, you move."

"You have how much space beside you? Move, Ryuu!"

"No, Chiaki, I need this space."

"For what? Just move, I'm squished!"

"Well I'll be squished if you make me move!"

Both brunet and redhead were glaring at each other hard and Chiaki seemed about to ready to punch him in the face. Gesturing to the open space beside him separating him from Kazuma Kurosaki, Chiaki rose her eyebrows. Ryuu made a face, pointing his head towards Sousuke who sat beside her, their shoulders nearly touching. Seeing his uncooperative behaviour, Chiaki fumed.

"Scardey-cat!" she called.

Ryuu gasped. "Who are you calling a scardey-cat? You're the one scared of cats!"

Chiaki was red. "So what if I am? You're the one who was scared to sleep in your own room until you were thirteen because you were terrified that ghosts were going to come kill you!"

"You're the one who was scared of going outdoors because you didn't want to run into cats!"

"You're scared of ghosts!" she retorted lamely.

"You're scared of cats!" Ryuu challenged.

"And I'm scared I'm going to smack you guys if you don't shut up." Satoshi Kitawa pushed Ryuu aside and flopped into the middle of Chiaki and him, crossing his arms. Both teens' jaws fell, and even more so when they realized they were touching shoulders with the people they really hadn't wanted to touch.

Colour drained from Ryuu's face when Kazuma's eyes darted onto him. He quickly looked away and at the male who had ruined everything.

"I'll smack you okay!" Ryuu threatened, fists raised. "Who are you anyways?"

Satoshi glanced at Ryuu with a familiar inexpressive stare with his dull green eyes. He then smiled. "Your worst nightmare."

Ryuu blinked at the answer. "My worst... nightmare?"

"Yeah." Satoshi nodded. "I'm the person you'd find looking through your window every night, the person you sense but when you turn around isn't there... the one lurking in the shadows..."

The sixteen-year-old began to pale at the creepy smile he wore. Ryuu was obviously uncomfortable but when he tried to scoot away from him, he bumped into the person on his other side.

"Stop squishing me," Kazuma demanded.

Ryuu recoiled. "Y-y-yes sir!"

Satoshi chuckled at Ryuu's fright. "It's so cute how scared you are of Kazuma. The guy can't even hurt a fly."

Kazuma scowled at the black-haired male. Abruptly, Satoshi's laugh shifted to a cough and he turned the other way. A dark tension enveloped the air, making it awkward.

"They have a lot of energy," Katsura noted as she stood, gripping the handles hanging from the roof of the train.

"I-I know, it's a serious situation too," Atsushi stuttered, playing with his fingers.

"As long as none of us do anything reckless, we'll be fine," Katsura said reassuringly but Atsushi didn't seem convinced.

"This was an unprecedented turn of events," Ayame murmured as she propped her leg over the other, arms folded across her chest.

"Yeah..." Tadashi mumbled, pale green eyes casted to the floor of the moving train.

Ayame's eyes drifted onto the male seated beside her, lips downturned. "Matsumoto, are you all right?"

Tadashi blinked as he turned his head to the white-haired female. Seeing her concern for him, he quickly waved dismissively. "I'm perfectly fine! I'm actually raving to go!"

Ayame's violet hues narrowed. By watching his reactions, she could sense he was lying about something. "You don't seem like you are."

Staring into the face of the female android he had grown so accustomed the last few years they've been together, Tadashi knew that lying was indeed impossible. Dropping his head, Tadashi sighed, unable to stop the trembling in his fingers. "I just... I want to stop this all and this is the perfect chance to. Both you and Upperclassman Kurosaki are still with us. But I feel like if I see the mastermind..."

"Things won't be the same anymore," Ayame finished for him, unlatching her arms and leaning back on the uncomfortable chairs.

Tadashi slowly bobbed his head and silence filled the air around them.

"We... have to live, okay?"

Ayame's eyes widened and was startled to see the unrivalled determination in Tadashi's countenance.

"I can't—" His voice shaky, Tadashi gripped his hands tighter. "—afford to die."

Ayame's gaze lifted and she saw that the other seven members of their group were staring in their direction. Their idle chatter had stopped and serious expressions painted all of their faces.

"His parents were murdered. Plus, he was the one to find the bodies. He was in so much shock he kept puking to the point where it was uncontrollable," Kazuma explained. "When the ambulance showed up, they calmed him down but he's been at the hospital ever since."

"Matsumoto."

The brunet looked up curiously, not sensing the tension. He blinked when he saw the smile on Ayame's face.

"You really believe we'd let ourselves lose?"

On the practically vacant train, the teens chimed in.

"That's right!" Ryuu exclaimed. "For putting us through this all, the mastermind's gonna pay!"

"We haven't been following up on this case just to be met with defeat. We will unveil him," Chiaki declared in agreement.

"He's ridiculed us long enough," Katsura stated. "Even this midnight tea party..."

"He's taken away people we'll never get back," Sousuke said, spite with anger.

Tadashi surveyed them all, taken by surprise. Both Kazuma and Atsushi didn't add, though their faces portrayed that they unanimously agreed.

"Everyone..." Atsushi began, gulping hard. All eyes fell to him and colour was draining from his face. "I forgot to mention this earlier... but..."

Raising his head, his blood red eyes locked with them all.

"Upperclassman Watanabe... she works for the mastermind."

Instantly, Kazuma's jaw fell. "Hitomi?"

In response to everyone's shock, Atsushi bobbed his head. "She tried to... k-kill me and Yasuo, saying that she received orders to kill everyone involved in this... but we escaped."

Nobody said a word at first. Then, Kazuma rose to his feet.

"Did this happen right before you met up with us?"

Atsushi swallowed hard. "Y-yes... I forgot to say anything..."

"How could you forget something like this?!" Satoshi was incredulous. "Is Ishikawa okay?"

"He was already wounded by the time I got to the principal's office... He said in revenge of Mr. Nobuo, he—"

"Stop right there, Yamada." Ayame sighed, directing her gaze onto an unstable Atsushi. The shock was hitting him now, which was obvious because of the way he was shaking uncontrollably.

Tadashi gulped, already having a feeling that this wasn't good. All he's been hearing this past year was bad news. But for his sister... he had to stay strong and come back to her. He had to.

"Calm down and start from the beginning," Ayame ordered the younger teen, eyes narrowing into slits. "What exactly happened?"

☻ ☺ ☻

"They're coming..." Giggling under his breath, the blond couldn't have been any happier. "Haru!"

"Yes?" Appearing by the doorway, Haru was playing around with his lollipop in his mouth.

"Has Hitomi returned yet?"

Avoiding his gaze, Haru answered his question, "She just came back. She's having fun with her collection."

"Ah, she brought another body in?" Getting up to his feet, he sauntered forward and up to the shorter male. "Tell her our special guests are coming so to come back to that later," he ordered Haru who still didn't meet his eyes.

"All right."

Before the teen could leave, he reached out and grabbed onto the hood of his sweater.

"Wait."

A wide smirk appeared on his face as a sudden thought came to mind. He immediately leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"There's going to be hindrances infiltrating this place soon. We're having a tea party so we must meet and offer them tea..."

Haru sweatdropped and despite trying to keep up his composure, he was definitely stricken with fear.

"You know what that means, don't you~?" The grip tightened and Haru felt himself suffocating. Clawing at his hands to let go, the male eventually did and Haru gasped for air, heart thumping in his chest. "Be sure to tell Hitomi what we're doing," the blond spat. "We can't afford to mess up. This is depending on me and his reencounter. Mess up and you're dead — got it?"

Regaining his stance again, Haru spoke through his gritted teeth, "Yes."

As soon as Haru scurried out of the room, the blond cackled.

"Takeshi..." he cooed. "I get to see my dear brother again."

Picking up a framed photo resting on the tabletop, the blond stared at the two twins in the picture. They were smiling and laughing, most likely at the age of four.

"That family of yours wasn't your real family... That's why they had to go. But we are. I know you can't wait to see me again."

His pale green eyes narrowed.

"I did this all for you. And after I kill all your little friends you'll stay with me forever. You won't leave me anymore... You promised, after all."

☻ ☺ ☻

Stepping up to the eerie abandoned building, the nine teens were stiff from immense fear. With the addition of it being midnight, it only increased the creepiness of the empty and rundown place.

"Stop clinging to me," Chiaki hissed, glaring at the male who was hiding behind her.

Ryuu Sasahara was as white as snow. "I-I really don't want to go."

"Then don't come," Sousuke shot, following after the rest who only continued on without much thought.

Chiaki hurried after him while Ryuu was frozen. Seeing the growing distance between them, Ryuu let out a small whimper and chased after them.

"H-Hey, don't leave me!

Just then, the leader of the pack, Ayame Kobayashi, came to an abrupt halt. It resulted in a domino affect and everyone bumped into one another's back. Groaning, Ayame moved away from them, pulling a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I think we all should split up."

Everyone but Kazuma and Satoshi were startled.

"What?!" Ryuu cried from behind them all. "Th-That's dangerous! We'll all die that way!"

"We'll all die if we're together," Ayame pointed out calmly, shutting him up. She went from person to person, her look somber. "Remember when Minamoto and Shirahama... passed? We were all together then and yet we couldn't stop it."

Everyone cringed as the word left her mouth. But they needed to be strong. Ayame only saying it made them realize just how dire the situation was.

"I think the mastermind has already laid out traps and us being together would make it easier to kill us in one swoop," Ayame stated. "I know it'll be scary but we have to do this. But before that, I want you all, in your hearts, to be assured that we will leave this place is one piece. We will all come back and meet out here and no matter what or who we see inside, we will not cower. Even if it's by the skin of our teeth, if our life is in danger, we will run. Our lives are important so don't throw it away, especially at a place like this. If our determination is strong enough, failure will not overtake us, understood?"

Hearing the powerful words coming from the girl, all of them were in awe. Even though she wore such a poker-faced look, her words always left them like that. Her words always powered them up with courage. They filled them with hope.

"Kobayashi's right," Satoshi stated, joining her by her side. "So as for our groups, I think Kazuma, me and Kobayashi should split—"

"Kitawa," Ayame said, cutting him off.

The detective was caught off guard. But seeing the look in her eye, he didn't argue.

Facing them all, Ayame met some eyes. "Kurosaki, Chiaki, and Yamada will go together. You'll enter through the eastern side entrance."

The boys were confused. Chiaki, on the other hand, nodded.

Ayame didn't respond. She turned to the next few. "Inohara, Sasahara, and Kitoshi will go through the western entrance."

Ryuu tilted his head. "Western?" he asked.

"Then, that'll mean Tadashi will come with us," Satoshi noted, pointing in Ayame's direction.

Ayame turned her head only to see the brunet was deep in thought, not seeming to be focused on what was happening at the moment.

"By what Inohara said in the train, Mayuki said that the mastermind is after Matsumoto for whatever reason," she said. "I think that if he doesn't go through any of the side entrances, we'll be safe."

"Wait, so we're going through the front doors?!" Satoshi was shocked, holding out his finger towards the doors in the distance.

"The mastermind would expect us to take the side entrance if we know he's after him," Ayame pointed out. "It's the safest route."

Satoshi was unconvinced. Tadashi was still in a daze, most likely thinking about what they all had brought up in the train.

"What are you talking about, Upperclassman Kobayashi?" Atsushi finally asked as he was still puzzled. "What entrances?"

Ayame sighed. "Oh, sorry. Chiaki."

At the mention of her name, the redhead stepped forward, holding out her phone as well as sheets of papers.

"When I got the address, I researched the building and drew maps of the entire place," she explained quickly. "There are three entrances: the one straight down the middle, one of the western side of the building, and one of the eastern. Each lead towards the main floor in the center, which I believe might be the mastermind's HQ."

"We will all enter through these three different routes and meet up in the middle," Ayame chimed in, speaking in a much louder voice than Chiaki. "The only thing is, each entrance doesn't cross paths with one another. So there is no way for us to reunite unless we get there."

"So Upperclassman Kurosaki and Asahina and I are going through the eastern entrance." Atsushi nodded, understanding.

"Inohara, Ryuu, and I are western." Sousuke folded his arms across his chest, getting it.

"And if we can't see each other until then, this is why cell phones come in handy!" Ryuu cheered with a grin.

They all were somewhat relieved. That was true.

"A-ah!" Chiaki suddenly yelled, causing them all to flinch. She was gaping at her phone, pressing buttons rapidly.

"What's wrong?" Katsura asked.

Chiaki's eyebrows were knitted together. "My phone... it won't turn on!"

Simultaneously, they all dug into the pockets and pulled out their cells. Immediately, panic filled them all.

"I-It was just working a little while ago!" Ryuu cried. "I checked the time after we got off the train!"

"This could mean two things," Ayame suddenly spoke. "Either cellular devices don't work here, or somebody did something with the signals."

Atsushi was wide-eyed. "What? Then tha—"

"Well, well, you're all gathered out in the open~!"

As if they were struck by lightning, a surge of fright shook them. Their senses and hearts halted immediately as the sounds of light footsteps echoing forward reached their ears.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Ayame reacted fast, holding out her hand over them all.

"Hurry, everyone but my group get out of here!" she yelled.

Though shaking before, at the sound of her yell, they were hit with adrenaline and did as told. Kazuma's group ran right while Katsura's ran left.

The footsteps stopped, and from the darkness of the shadows, they were only able to see his silhouette.

"Well, that's not nice," the voice of a male reached their ears, a more high pitched one. "I came to greet you guys myself and take you to the tea room."

Ayame and Satoshi's glowers were as murderous as a wild animal's while Tadashi couldn't seem to get a proper grip on himself. His breathing intensified and his heart was palpitating so loud in his ears he couldn't even hear himself speak. His mind was blank, his palms sweaty, but the nostalgia was hard on him. He had heard this voice somewhere. 

Stepping even closer and into the light overhead, blond hair was revealed first. Then his pale face and short-statured body. Seeing more and more of the male become visible, Ayame's and Satoshi's glowers were replaced with horror. Tadashi couldn't believe his eyes. As a wide smile enveloped the blond's face, his heart pounded even harder. In pain, he dropped to the ground, clutching his chest as it heightened.

"Tadashi!"

"Matsumoto!"

His friends' shouts weren't even enough to reach Tadashi's ears because of his dimming vision.

"Ah, what a nice reaction," the blond chuckled, gazing down at Tadashi.

He took a step forward.

Ayame and Satoshi stayed on guard.

"Don't come any closer!" Satoshi shouted.

But the blond wasn't listening. "I feel it too, Tadashi. How much my heart is pounding for me. How much my heart is longing to be with me..."

Tadashi was panting, gazing up at the many stitches and blond hair he could never forget. He was trying his hardest not to pass out but it seemed impossible.

"What's with that glare, Tadashi?" The blond was pouting. "Don't you remember me?"

The brunet swallowed hard, inhaling deep breaths.

Holding out his hands, he gestured to his face. "Can't you see the similarities? Can't you feel how much your body has been wanting you?"

Once again, he tried walking closer but Ayame and Satoshi inched back, keeping him away.

"Tadashi, get up and run," Satoshi ordered in a hushed whisper but Tadashi didn't want to.

"Aha, I know! Let's play the 'who am I' game!" Giggling the blond held up a finger. "I'm the person who's been with you since we were kids, the one whose looks you were always compared to, the one who you always stuck with back in the Ochiai Orphanage." His grin outstretched. "Hey, hey, tell me: who am I?"

Tadashi couldn't breathe. He couldn't believe it. There was no way... But who else...

"Ta....keshi?"

The blond was silent for a moment before he let out a small 'bzzt' sound indicating he was wrong.

"Too bad, that's incorrect!"

The blond pointed to himself. It was completely identical to the face of Tadashi's, including his pale green eyes and style of hair, the only difference would've been their hair colour and the many stitches trailing across every portion of his face. It was almost as if Tadashi was looking into a mirror, only to see a more horrific version of himself.

"I can promise you I'm Tadashi," the blond clarified, grinning giddily. "But then, if I'm Tadashi, who are you?"

☻ ☺ ☻

OMG I'VE BEEN WAITING TO WRITE THIS SCENE EVER SINCE I'VE FIRST PLANNED THIS OUT (though it came out not nearly as amazing as I'd hoped, lol).

It was just last year I was thinking of how badly I couldn't wait to get to this scene, and here it is.

It's also been a year since I've seriously began working on this story. Last year, Winter Break, I was only at chapter 10 in this story-- look how far I've come now! And I've written until chapter 38 by June/July this year! 28 chapters in 7/8 months!

And by what I remember, in March / Spring Break, I was only at chapter 21.

Though, if you do still have overall questions from this story, tell me them!!! Answers will be revealed next chapter so, its not too late!! Plus, I will really, really appreciate it.

I hope you guys were shocked by the revelations though!!

-Misty~