Bruises and secrecy

On that day's afternoon, and even tomorrow morning, everybody, who just tried to communicate with Yuuko, truly could felt like if they were talking to a wall. For most of the time, the girl just stared at the nothing, seemingly daydreamed about something, or just gave a dreamy smile, and she showed no reaction, even when her own homeroom teacher punished her for the quitted class by giving her 2 extra hours of after-school cleaning, and a warning. 

However, Yuuko could really do nothing about it.....almost all of her thoughts were frequently spinning around Hanako-san, and how she wanted to ask much more from him.....that when he was exactly alive.....why was he injured....and if he's actually a boy, then why is he called Hanako, wich is a quite obvious female name....even though, this felt really something, wich seemed to be a quite sensitive topic for him, and maybe, it would be really better, if she would never ask him about this again, if he didn't want to talk about it.......anyway, Yuuko was extremely curious about when they can meet again, because she wanted to see him again. 

And sadly, she was terrifying at hiding her feelings, so it was no wonder, that her quick-witted older sister, Rui noticed everything, and immediately started to question her. 

,,Yuuko-chan, Yuuko-chan, you know you can tell me everything, right?,, she poked her shoulder friendly, as they were on their way to the school on that morning on a quiet alley planted with cherry trees. ,,Come on, tell me what exactly happened yesterday....! I mean, except that you quit your first lesson....!,, 

,,N...nothing important!,, Yuuko grimaced, as a small cherry petal suddenly flew into her eyes. Of course, she should have known, that nothing can remain hidden in front of Rui for long....however, she had doubts in regard of what her sister would think if she would now just tell her that she met ,,Hanako-san of the Toilet,, yesterday, who is actually the polar opposite of everything wich is known about her...or more likely him. 

,,Just....yesterday, I met with someone, who helped me feel better, when I cried.,, she eventually spitted out, as she tried to carefully lie something believable. ,,He is...in my grade. And we talked a little....,, 

,,Ah, yes.....I should've think about this....,,hearing this, Rui's expression changed into a suspicious smile, and she stared at Yuuko with a knowing glance. ,,Why couldn't you tell me, that it's about a boy, eh?,, 

,,This.....this....this...is nOT TRUE AT ALL!!,, shouted Yuuko angrily as she strongly tried to deny all of this, but she knew that her red face already told everything....Rui laughed out loud, while Yuuko stared at the distance with a sad gaze, and confusedly started to play with her skirt. Her sister, Rui, was a smart and confident, mature 17 years old girl, feminine and beautiful, and after all, kind and thoughtful....in Yuuko's eyes, she was the ,,perfect girl,, somebody, whom she admired in all of her life, since childhood, even if she was sure that she'll probably never become like her...

,,Don't worry sis, I'm just joking!,, smiled at her Rui in this moment, and took her little sister's hand. ,,I was just simply happy, that you're finally communicating.....but he's good-looking, right?,, 

,,Well....,,Yuuko now closed her eyes, as she tried to recall Hanako's cheeky-serious smile, and the numerous plasters on his face. ,,He's a bit bad boyish....but he's quite handsome after all.,, she whispered silently. ,,And what's his name?,, 

At this question, Yuuko was honestly grateful that they finally reached the school gates, and and the loud chatting of the other students succesfully muted her confused mumbling. She didn't want to imagine her sister's face, if she would say a girl's name after all of this....!

,,I think I need to go now, Yuki-chan!,, hugged her Rui suddenly, as she quickly glanced at the clock at the school's entrace. ,,I have to be in class sooner today, but you can still stay here a little bit, okay? Go, buy yourself some snacks, but don't be late again! See you later at lunchtime!,, the she let Yuuko, and rushed to the front door, leaving alone the shy girl alone, who followed her with her gaze for some minutes, then walked away, and sat down to a nearby bench. 

Yuuko's thoughts were drifting, as she gently lifted up her hand to her mouth. One of her thoughts told her to ,,go and find Hanako-san,, yet an another one told her to ,,go and buy yourself food,,. And eventually, the other one won, when the fox girl realized, that she's actually really hungry. With a careful look, she slowly walked to a vending machine, wich stood next to the school wall for the students to buy small snacks from, from bubble gum, to Yuuko's favourite one, the chocolate flavoured mochi! She really wanted to buy one, but this was the first time, she actually tried to use a vending machine.....before moving to Tokyo, they lived in a small village, wich was much more traditional, than their new house, or this big city....they slept on futon, and went to the local shrine everyday to show respect to their guardian, god Inari.....but it was now just a nice memory, wich Yuuko missed really much. 

,,Hey, you demon-girl!,, suddenly, a harsh, and loud voice hit Yuuko's ears, not so far from her, wich caused her to immediately start trembling.... Yosuke. But why now...?!!! And in the morning again....she really didn't want to be late again, but if this stupid boy catches her again.....she tried to run away, and hide somewhere safe again, but then, someone caught her arm, and strongly squeezed it, until it was hurt....Yuuko almost tripped over by it, and when she looked up, her gaze met with a pair of cold, dark eyes, shadowed with a bunch of black hair. It was Yosuke, looking at her with hate and some disgust...

,,Well, well...,,she smirked with an evil expression, something, wich deeply scared Yuuko, ever since their first encounter. ,,....the small demon is hungry for some human snack....but the only thing that you'll taste, is my fist, you filthy....,, and with all of that, he wanted to hit Yuuko in the face, who couldn't even protect herself, since she wasn't strong enough....she tried to shout up, but she was sure that it will help nothing....however, suddenly, something happened, and in that very moment, Yosuke fell back, blood flowing from his nose....someone punched him, so swiftly, that it couldn't be seen. But in the next moment, Yuuko felt a friendly touch on her cheek, and a familiar voice. ,,Don't worry, Yuuko, I'm here.,, 

,,Hanako-san!!,, Yuuko exclaimed happily when she saw the familiar figure standing next to the crouching Yosuke, who had punched her in the nose. ,,Hali, Yuuko!,, the ghost grinned at her cheekily. ,,Are you glad I dropped in?,, ,,You don't know how much!,, Yuuko smiled gratefully. ,,If you hadn't come, I don't know what Yosuke would have done...,, However, at the mention of his name, Yosuke stood up, clutching his bleeding nose, and looked at Hanako with such an angry look as if he wanted to stomp her into the ground. ,,Well...well...another disgusting ghost...!,,  he growled in a colorless, threatening voice as he clenched his fists. ,,I hate such wretches as you, if possible, even more than the monster-freaks! And you still have the nerve to fight, huh?

,,I could say the same about you, Yosuke-kun!,, Hanako folded his arms, and his voice immediately became sharp, with no trace of the kindness Yuuko had known from him yesterday. At that moment, he really seemed like a real bad boy..... ,,You maybe think that you're tough, but you're just a cowardly jerk, who dares to beat up innocent girls! If you really want to be tough...,,,Hanako slowly unbuttoned his uniform jacket and pushed it into Yuuko's hand with a ,,Stand back, I'll beat him up!,, look, who nodded fearfully, but her heart sank again when Hanako rolled up his shirt sleeves. His arms were covered with countless bruises and blue-purple spots, and on his right forearm there was a loose, bloody bandage that looked five times worse than any of the plasters on his face...seeing all of this, Yuuko felt much more that she actually wants to know more about Hanako-san's real past.....

,,.....then at least try to beat up a real boy, who maybe really can hit back!!,, roared then Hanako, and with all of his strenght, he punched Yosuke straight into the stomach, who, however, immediately retreated with an enormous slap onto Hanako's face, wich made the ghost fall back. 

At this point, Yuuko felt that she has already seen too much, and quickly closed her eyes. She has never liked fights, or violence, and she couldn't watch even a shonen anime without worrying about the main characters. She was sure, that Hanako is ghost, therefore he's not able to get hurt anymore, but Yosuke was still some kind of exorcist....and so, she was worried about him. 

After a few seemingly endless minutes, although it felt more like hours to Yuuko, a cold hand touched her fingers. "It's okay Yuuko, it's over." she heard Hanako-san's voice. "That Yosuke kid will never hurt you again, now that I've knocked out a few of his teeth...!" When she opened her eyes, the boy was standing alone, rubbing his shoulder, which had a very nasty cut that...was bleeding? Yuuko swallowed anxiously. So ghosts can get hurt, too....? 

,,I...I'm sorry, I got you into this, Hanako-san...!" she muttered in confusion as she handed him back his coat. "Does your wound really...hurt? I can bring something to you during the next break if...,, 

,,I'm okay, okay?!,, Hanako blurted out then, pulling his uniform tighter. "It's just a little scratch, and I don't need to be babysat, get it?! I'm not made of sugar...!,, he muttered indignantly, crossing his arms in front of him again. ,,You know, I've been through ten times worse things than this one, so don't treat me like some defenseless little girl ....! You should be going anyway, right...? Or do you want another unexcused lesson?,, he looked back at Yuuko, his voice was dull and hurt, and the girl felt that there was much more to this than just this bruise. 

Worse things? What could Hanako have meant then? Maybe...something to do with his countless injuries? Or...to his death? Yuuko couldn't even imagine. She wanted to say, "Sorry, see you later!", but she couldn't, so she ran off towards the school without a word, thinking about how she could cheer up a visibly troubled ghost...