*OMG HEY GUYS! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! IT'S HERE! TEH SEQUEL HAS ARRIVED! I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS STORY AND I HOPE YOU GROW FOND OF OUR NEW LITTLE PROTAGONIST! AND I HOPE THIS FIRST CHAPTER IS A GOOD ONE AND BRINGS YOU IN! TO BE HONEST I'M QUITE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS. BUT YOLO AM I RIGHT? HEH, HEH, HEH- NO OKAY. I'LL BE SEEING YOU AROUND IN THIS ONE AND THIS IS GONNA BE FUN! :D STAY CREEPY, MY FRIENDS!~*

Chapter 1

Three words.

All it took were three simple little words to have him change my life forever. Just three words...

"Are you okay?"

Those three little words. That was all it took.

"What's your name?"

Three words...

And a riddle.

"...I am nobody. Who are you...? Are you nobody too...?"

There is a story about a boy, who was as handsome and radiant as a god's child. The other children didn't want to befriend him and never wanted to give a glance towards his way. This made him a very lonely boy and he would always spend his days alone, with no one but himself. One day, a lovely, beautiful little girl saw him across a field, sitting among the swaying trees. She was a girl of wealth, but was never cold towards the other children, she was always generous and full of joy. Despite the other children's pleads, she had ignored them to see the boy. The boy looked up at the little girl and his eyes twinkled, as did hers. He saw a beautiful little girl with beauty of that of the heavens. She saw a boy who she would never be able to forget. Neither of them knew this. The little girl spent her days with the boy, and through this he finally felt happiness after so long. But misfortune was put upon him and he was to hide his beauty for there was no more to be shown. He left the little girl, not wanting to scare her or make her hate him like the other children did. She never saw him again. And she grew up without the boy by her side, like she had always wanted before. She grew up without him there to grow with her too. And everyday she thinks of those auburn locks of hair, the radiant tan skin and those golden-brown eyes that bore into hers. How could she forget such perfection? Little did she know that the beautiful young boy, would arrive again. But he would not arrive as the person he was before. He hid behind a mask of porcelain, and wore the blackest of brooding clothes. He was not a little boy anymore but a cold, sad man, driven by malevolence. He was what people called a yajuu. Despite this, she still saw him as her friend, and no matter how hurt she got, she never gave up. For she knew she could never lose him again.

This little girl...was me.

...

"OKAASAN!!!"

"Yes?"

"I ran out of shampooooooooo!!!"

"Aye, Blue..."

I couldn't suppress my chuckle. My mother came knocking on my bathroom door after a few moments and I stepped out of the shower and cracked the door open. I blindly stuck my hand out and my mom put the new bottle of shampoo in my hand. "Thank you, Okaasan!" I said with glee. "You're welcome, my little rairakku." I closed the door and quickly went back to doing my morning shower.

Once I was clean and feeling fresh I got out and dried myself off. Then I put on today's clothes and wrapped my towel around my head as I walked out. I made it to my bedroom, which was very spacey and neat. And very, very blue. Not one person can walk in here and not be blinded by the quantity of blue. It sucks to play "I Spy" in here too. My bed sheets were dark blue, my pillows were sky blue, my walls were aqua blue with sparkling glitter in them and...basically everything is blue. I have no favorite shade either. All varieties of blue are in this room. It should be a part of the Guinness Book of World Records.

I took off my towel and shook my head to take out the extra water in my brunette hair. Looking into my mirror on my vanity, I smiled and quickly went to plugging in my blow-drier and then using it on my hair. After five minutes, my hair was perfectly dry and I went to brushing it, fixing up a few spots and then weaving my hands through locks of the hair to make loose pigtail braids. It took me a full ten minutes to finish up the braids and I swept my bangs loosely to the side. I smiled again and grabbed my glasses from off of the vanity. Adjusting them, I grabbed my school bag and spun around to meet my parents downstairs. "Good morning, Okaasan!" I exclaimed cheerfully to my mother. She turned around from the kitchen sink and smiled. "Good morning, Ao."

I turned to see my father sitting at the table, enjoying coffee. "Ohayō, Chichi!" He picked his head up to look at me and he smiled. "Ohayō."

My father is a very quiet and solemn man. But he can only speak Japanese. He could never seem to grasp the English language, unlike my mother. She speaks English and Japanese fluently. How? Well, they're Japanese, of course. Both of my parents were born in Japan and raised there. They met at a local flower shop and from there they've been together ever since. They immigrated to America and my mother had already started learning English even before the move. Like all foreign residents, she had an accent but she had eventually lost it and is very fluent now. And then there is me. Unlike my parents, I am not Japanese. I'm adopted. I look nothing like my parents, whose eyes are dark and their hair is also dark. I don't have a full clue about what ethnicity I am or who my biological parents were but I was raised with my adoptive parents' culture. I don't really consider them adoptive parents. They are the only parents I've ever had, so no matter if they're my biological family or not, they're my true family and I love them to death.

"Okaasan?" I said. My mother turned around. "I'm ready to go to school now."

"Oh, good, lets get going then," she said with a smile and walked up to my father. "Sayōnara, hanii." They shared a quick kiss and my mother came up to my side to walk with me out of our estate. The both of us entered my mom's car and she started up the car to drive me to school. As we were leaving our property, I looked out my window to see my home. It was large and beautiful. It has over fifteen rooms and a large piece of land surrounding it so no matter what window we look out of we always see a gorgeous view of nature. There are other estates neighboring ours but we're all spaced out. I'm lucky to have such a beautiful home and wonderful parents. My mother works as a neurologist and my father is a biologist and a genetic engineer for a corporate company, which is the main reason why we live in such a lavish home. We are a wealthy family and it's clear that we are. But despite this I don't get ridiculed for it. I'm not one of those snobby, stuck-up, rich girls like in the movies. Just because I have nice things doesn't mean I have to be mean about it. If anything, I could never be mean to anyone and if I get angry then that means someone must've screwed up big time. I can't help but be cheerful and social. It's in my nature and I can't go against that.

After twenty minutes of driving, I saw my school up ahead and I beamed. My mother pulled up to the front and I unbuckled my seat-belt. "I'll see you later, Okaasan," I said. My mother nodded and said, "Text me when you're out, Ao." I nodded too and got out of the car. As I walked towards the doors, I waved good-bye to my mother as I could see her waving back too and driving off. I turned back around and began picking up my pace towards the front doors.

My name is Ao Matsukochi, or Matsukochi Ao, if anyone ever gets literal with my name in Japanese. My first name, Ao, means blue, which suits me well, of course. When my parents adopted me they noticed how much I loved the color so they named me after my favorite thing. I'm fifteen going on sixteen soon. I'm in my Junior year of high school, which is the best around. My mother and father always want the best for me, no matter what. Especially when it comes to education. But I'm not going to take a job in the scientific field like they did. My heart belongs to music! By that, I mean the classic music, the beautiful music, the music that started it all. I am a member of my high school's varsity orchestra and I plan to major in music when I get into college. Thankfully my parents support me in the decision.

I walk in through the front doors and through the halls towards the courtyard. I passed by teachers and students, who I waved and greeted. Some of them smiled, others gave me strange looks. That's not unusual. People can get uncomfortable or taken aback by some random student greeting them. Though it's clear around the campus that I am a very active and social person. I guess it is unusual since everyone knows that. I exited the building and went outside into the courtyard. Immediately, I was bombarded with hugs from my best friend.

"Hey, girl, how you doin'?!" He said in a strange accent. I smiled and said, "Why are you doing that flamboyant voice?"

"Well," my friend, Craig started, "why not? I'm embracing my nature!" He raised his arms up in the air and I laughed.

This is Craig Holland. I've known him since seventh grade and we've been inseparable ever since. We both are members of our orchestra. He plays cello while I play violin. We're both first chairs and have won countless regional competitions in the duet category. He has black hair, brown eyes and light skin. He's taller than me, at least 5'9. And he's just the sweetest thing ever. Luckily we don't have to worry about becoming more than friends. He's not really into my gender.

"Just because you're gay doesn't mean you have to do that voice," I giggled. He shrugged and spoke in his normal, manlier voice. "Eh, it's still fun to do. It's good for going out to the clubs, ya know what I'm sayin'?"

"You're weird," I chortled.

"And you still love me for it," he remarked with a smug look on his face. I rolled my eyes playfully and said, "Lets hurry and get to class before we're late."

"I know the perfect way to travel!" he exclaimed and suddenly ducked down in front of me, picked me up onto his back and stood up again. I was taken by surprise but then started smiling from the fun. "Choo choo kachoo!" he exclaimed and started rushing off to the second wing of the school, where our first class was. Craig started chanting cheerfully, "Where we go ain't nobody to stop us!"

I continued the chant, "'Cause the fun had just begun-!"

"AND WE WON'T STOP UNTIL THE SUN!" The both of us exclaimed in unison and laughed together.

We got to our first class and we both greeted the teacher with smiles on our faces. She greeted us back and we took our seats next to the windows. Craig sat in back of me and I sat in front, of course. After a few more minutes class began and everyone reached into their backpacks and pulled out their notebooks. I did the same and brought out a pencil, ready to take down notes and learn. Craig tapped my shoulder and I turned around to look at him. He pointed out the window and I turned to see what he was gesturing at. The track field was almost right outside of our window and there were members of the track team doing their morning practices. I immediately knew what Craig was trying to show me, as I saw a boy we know running without a shirt on. He had dirty blonde hair, and peachy skin and, since his shirt was off, it was plain and obvious that he was very fit and sculpted.

"Xavier looks so stupid...," Craig mumbled as he rested his head in his hands and stared intently out the window. I could clearly see the blush on his cheeks. I chuckled and told him, "I don't see why you have to deny the fact that you like him-."

"NO! I don't...," he muttered like a child. "He's...a douchebag...! And a...man-whore! He's...he's..."

"Hot?"

"Yeah- WAIT NO!" Craig shot his head up towards me and I laughed. "Gotcha!" I teased.

"No, you confused me! I didn't mean it!" he whined.

"Craig and Xavier sitting in a tree," I sang softly.

"Don't you start that!"

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G." I finished and he whined. Then I brought my voice down lower and added, "I bet you wish you could do a little f-u-c-k-i-n-g, ya know what I'm sayin'?"

"Oh my god, Ao, stop! WHY?!"

"Because apparently, I love you," I taunted and he blushed and turned away out of embarrassment. Unfortunately he turned in the direction of the window, where he could see Xavier running and he blushed harder, whined louder and covered his eyes as he put his head down on the desk. I giggled and shook my head at him as I turned back around. Craig is so adorable when he gets flustered like this. He's like a little puppy! But I seriously wish he'd get the courage to admit he likes Xavier and maybe even ask him out. Though I guess that wouldn't be the brightest idea in Craig's mind, since and all Xavier slightly bullied him throughout middle school. During freshman year they had made up but there was still a whole lot of tension between them and even now, two years later, there's still some tension. Sometimes they argue and I either have to stop them or be there suffering from listening to them banter. And sometimes they ignore each other completely and who do they go to while they do that? Me. And who do they go to when they want to complain about the other person ignoring them? Me. And who do I have to hang out with at my house and binge eat ice cream with? Craig. He's manly when it comes to other things and he's not overly flamboyant like the stereotypes say, but when it comes to Xavier and their little "relationship" he becomes the most insecure person in the world. And his denial makes it all the more worse. But I'll let Craig handle this and I know he'll eventually find a way to solve his boy problems.

...

Craig yawned loudly as we walked out of class and he said, "Damn, I shouldn't have stayed up until two in the morning watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

"Oh god, you watch that?" I asked. He shrugged and replied, "I got bored. Plus Netflix seemed to be giving hints."

"Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself."

"Sadly, I did..." he muttered. I shook my head at him and he said, "Hey, don't judge me! I may be gay, but sometimes I gotta haves me some of that Kim K ass!"

"Oh my gosh, Craig," I muttered, "Sometimes I wonder if you even know what your sexual preference is."

"And why is that?"

I flashed him a smirk and said, "Well, one, you still appreciate the female figure-."

"It is a beautiful sculpture that everyone appreciates."

"-Two, you had an attraction to a cat that one time you came over to my house."

"It was the cutest thing I had ever seen!" Craig giggled and cooed, "Plus when you push the pad of the paws down their little claws come out and it's just-!" He squealed.

I giggled and continued, "And whilst that is all happening you have a major crush on Xavier-."

"OH MY GOD, NO I DON'T!"

"Yes you do!" I argued.

"I do NOT have a crush on that asshole! Never will I ever have a crush on him-!"

"On who?"

Craig spun around to see Xavier right behind him, raising an eyebrow at him. Craig let out a high pitched scream and I face-palmed. He stammered his words but then managed to say, "On no one of your concern, Xavier!"

"Well, sorry for asking," Xavier grumbled.

"Yeah, you should be," Craig said, crossing his arms and huffing. Xavier glared at him, with his honey brown eyes, and I knew that look. Here we go...

"Excuse me but I have nothing to be sorry for than for being courteous."

"Courteous? My, you're mistaken because all you're being is nosy...!"

"It's better than being mouthy, unlike you," Xavier growled, leaning his face in towards Craig, towering over him by a few inches. Despite the closeness, Craig kept up his irritated expression.

"Well, being mouthy is a blessing! Especially since no one ever tells you how much of a douchebag you are." Craig leaned in closer.

"No one ever has to tell me I'm a douchebag because you're the only person that gets on my nerves."

"I wouldn't have to get on your nerves if you would stop getting on mine!"

"Well then stop pissing me off...!"

"Oops, looks like it's time for my daily 'You're a douchebag' line!"

"Bastard...!"

"Jerk...!"

"Asshat!"

"Scumbag!"

"Man-guzzler!"

I gasped and looked at Craig with wide-eyes, waiting for him to explode. He only frowned harder and said, "Heh, you wish you could be able to call me that, don't you?"

Xavier frowned and growled. "Screw this, I don't need your damn sass at this hour of the morning...!" He swiftly turned away from us and started walking towards the first wing of the school. Craig and I watched him leave and once he went inside, Craig let out a loud groan and put his head on my shoulder. He made fake crying and whining sounds and murmured, "He's such an asshole... But dammit he's still so-."

"Hot?"

"Yeah- WAIT NO!"

I couldn't help but giggle and he groaned again. He huffed and stormed off and I started going after him, saying, "Aw, c'mon, honey buns, don't be like that!"

"NO!"

I spent the next few minutes going after him and while I was doing this I started thinking about how this day is going to go. Judging by what happened, its gonna be a hectic one. As per usual.

...

The yajuu stayed hidden in the shadows, keeping his distance from the world. He was alone and he desired to keep it this way. But, like what happens to all of his desires, they would be ignored to bring in the opposite fate. A fate that he fears eternally. A fate with the girl. And it is this fate he cannot avoid. For he cannot avoid the improbable bond between beauty and horror, which is life's greatest yet most dangerous wonder.