MYSTERY I: Ally

After the finding out about the disappearances, on their way to the class, Hikari and Kaname found out that they shared one elective class, the folklore history. After talking a little on their way to their first class together, Hikari shared her reason for taking up folklore as her elective when she was an art major. “It's good for art inspiration, learning symbolism and all, you know?” Kaname nodded, understanding her point of view.

Both of them took their seats beside each other, waiting for the professor to come and start the lecture. “Still looking as gorgeous as ever, Hikie.” Kaname's attention diverted towards the voice, a taller man– far taller than him. Kaname wasn't short man but he wasn't the tallest man around either. This man was probably around 6 feet at least, a cheeky smirk on his lips as he and his friend took a seat in front of Hikari and Kaname. His hair was dyed with a fancy shade of silver and red tips. If Kaname had to describe him in one word, it would be– beautiful. The kind of beauty that was rare to come by, especially in a man. Hikari glared at the beautiful silver haired.

Oh? They know each other.

“Buzz off, Kaito. I'm taken.” Kaname resisted the urge to laugh, he looked away hiding his face but the curve of his lips resisted, he didn't want to intervene in the exchange between friends, if one could call them that. Kaito shrugged, smugness still smeared over his person. “I haven't seen him in ages. Are you sure you are still together?”

Kaito’s words had a bite and Kaname could see that they stung Hikari. It was unpleasant to watch, no matter how easy on the eyes Kaito really was. Hikari banged her fist on her desk, clearly riled up. “He's missing like the rest of those 5 students and you know it!” Hikari’s voice echoed inside the class, catching the attention of the other students, causing them to start whispering amongst themselves. Kaname sighed, putting an assuring hand on Hikari's back.

Kaito's friend, who was sitting beside him this whole while also sighed, seemingly used to the interaction between the pair. However, Kaito didn't back down. Only to raise a brow to mock the girl. “Are you sure he didn't just dump you and ran away-” Kaito’s friend cut him off, pulling him away to sit somewhere else. “That's far enough, Kai. Don't cross the line.”

Much to Kaname's surprise, new to the whole ordeal, Kaito listened to his friend, a slight sulking pucker of his lips forming a pout. “C’mon Saqib, I was just joking.” He tried justifying himself but Saqib didn't bother listening to his pleas, only to drag him away after giving Hikari and Kaname an apologetic smile.

“Jerk..” Hikari mumbled under her breath.

Habitually running a hand through his autumn hair, Kaname took out his rough notebook after the professor entered the class room. Everyone wished the professor a respectful good morning. She was an old woman, in her late 50s perhaps? Kaname couldn't tell. She turned on the projector after setting aside her devices and turned on a ppt presentation.

“Starting off strong, we'll be studying about Kotsu’s most famous yet well respected folklore being– the kitsune.” The professor continued on with a long explanation and praises of the Kitsune’s appearance. A realization hit Kaname, making him stop mid-writing of his notes, he turned to face Hikari to see if she came to the same realization as him. Unlike a curious Kaname, Hikari was frowning. To Kaname it was a moment of curiosity but for Hikari, it was something far more personal. Her boyfriend was amongst the missing students… to which the people blamed the kitsune for.

“Kitsunes are mischievous and mysterious, most of all- arrogant. A Kitsune's pride rivals that of a god, and it should! for Kitsune are one of the few yokais that has the ability to ascend to godhood. As such, a lot of reputable families worship the kitsune like a deity. Families like the Nakahara, Minamoto and of course, the Kanzaki.” At the mention of the last family, Hikari couldn't help but glance at Kaito across the room, who only sunk in his seat uncomfortably. Kaname couldn't understand why and for some reason, he didn't find himself curious enough to pry.

Shamans, the epitome of the interference for the society, they held respect for the people, the power to shake the heavens and invoke fear in the people-– enough to rule them. Or so, the people liked to believe whenever they visited Kaname’s grandmother for any aid. However-

Grandmother never viewed herself as such. Grandmother always believed the work of the shaman was not to interfere with destiny but to help the universe to guide things back to destiny.

Was what Kaname remembers his grandmother teaching him. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why Kaname didn't wish to pry or interfere in the struggles Hikari faced. That is, until Hikari’s boyfriend’s kidnapping came to the light. Kaname nudged the agitated girl and leaned near her ear, “Let me help you in finding your boyfriend.” He whispered, a gentle smile on his full lips. Hikari's eyes widened, she never expected anyone to agree to help her- let alone a man she had just met. They could barely be called friends.

Hikari pressed her lips together, she was thankful but unsure of the motivation behind it. “But.. Why?” She whispered back. Kaname let out an amused chuckle and look across the room, his brown eyes burning a hole at the back of Kaito’s head. “Because I don't like how he just runs his mouth.”

Hikari blinked confusedly, more surprised than satisfied by Kaname's reasoning. “Who? Kai?” Kaname nodded to her question, getting back to picking up his pencil and noting down points that he did not even plan to look back at. Hikari wanted to laugh, she found Kaname’s reason to be petty and–

Well, hilarious.

Kaname didn't look up from his book but raised his right hand up, shaking the wooden beads in his hands. “Besides, if it involves something supernatural, as a shaman apprentice, it is my duty to find out the truth and set it right.” Hikari wanted to question Kaname, pry further into his life as a shaman, alas the truth alone that he is to be a fully fledged shaman in future ruffled her feathers in a way she couldn't describe. Discomfort visible on her face, until she finally shook her head, shooing such thoughts from her judgmental mind. “What matters is that I have an ally now!” She told herself, audible enough only for her to hear.

“So... When are we meeting him?” Kaname asked, trying to remain nonchalant as he scribbled down more notes. “Who?” Sakura made an “o” from her lips, leaning closer to whisper. “You mean Manabe Senpai, right?” She confirmed and Kaname nodded once again, closing his notebook to play his full attention to Hikari.

“Yes, Yukio Manabe. When are we meeting him?”

In that moment Kaname had never thought that he was going to wish to never have gotten involved with Yukio Manabe, for he would show him the kind of hell that the supernatural never have.