MYSTERY I: The wealthy, the scared and the one with the key

Once said wise words often come to mind when the dread and the doubt overcloud one’s mine. When the horrors of the heart squeeze it hard enough to hurt, when the air hits your lungs but breaths are still lost to the sorrow. Kaname laid there in front of the house shrine, clutching onto the enchanted beads in his hands. Seconds passed, his breathing stabilized. Minutes passed, the tears in his eyes dried. Hours passed, his consciousness slipped into slumber.

The windows- shoji of Kaname's house remained open. It has always been that way in his house, Kaname's grandmother believed in the visiting of good deities if one left the shoji open. Kaname had been living alone in that house for some time now, his habits were deeply engraved. He knew it was dangerous, what if a thief or something dangerous entered his house instead? However, he knew his house was old and run down, no one in their sane mind would think he had any valuables stored to steal.

The moon peaked in the sky, the neighborhoods’ lights died down as the night engulfed the small town. With no light pollution to interfere, the stars twinkled just as bright as the moon did. A gentle breeze brushed Kaname’s cheek and his eyes fluttered open. He didn't move and simply laid there, breathing. Feeling it, every single breath that was the proof of his life. He was alive.

Kaname curled further into himself, his eyes landing on the corner of the room, he couldn't help but stare at it. His mind forming deformed figures out of the darkness, Kaname knew that it was but a trick of his mind– pareidolia, something he should ignore. Surely, some dark deformed figures couldn't possibly tell him anything, right? Until the deformed figure started looking like a familiar face he had just met today– Yukio Manabe, as if the corner of the figure’s mouth stretched open. Dark and wide, oddly forming words-

Be-tra-yal.

Kaname ignored it, his brows scrunched together impossibly close as he cursed out his mind for playing tricks on him. “Shit..” it was a familiar hell, something he's experienced before. Memory that faded yet remained, slowly but surely gnawing in his mind, a painful sting that crept his skin with ease.

It wasn't long before Kaname collected himself together. Wetting his parched throat with a well deserved wash of cold water, Kaname picked up his backpack again. There was still half an hour before the time they had decided on. Kaname could use the slow walk and clear his head. He would hate to show his anxious persona to his new friends.

Can I even call them that?

Kaname was uncertain. in the mean time until he reached the academy, Kaname decided to educate himself about the task in hand. A quick internet surf and basic information about the missing students were before him. Kaname couldn't find anything worth the time. All the missing students were females, ridiculously wealthy and religious, something that was common for the Kotsu town. Every second house on the street belonged to a religious family, worshipping deities like the kitsune or a god like the buddha. However, if they were happen to be slightly above average in wealth, they would start sponsoring families the Kanzaki, the Minamoto and so on. in the end, he couldn't find anything helpful on the internet, the only thing he could speculate from the information he found was- "This might just be a case of kidnapping of wealthy heiresses for money..?" Kaname was doubtful. In his own world, fiddling his fingers on the edge of his collar, the university finally came into view. Kaname corners his foot, changing his route to the back of the building. Yukio had instructed them about the guards patrolling on the main gate. And he was right, the guards were indeed patrolling with their flashlights out. Its as if he lives here, he knows everything.. The back of the University was… not to Kaname's liking. Once again, It faced the mountain forest, devoid of any moon or streetlights. The owl hooted in the dread of the night, it felt nothing short of a horror movie.

The back door to the university walls was shut with no one around to be seen. Not Hikari nor Yukio. Kaname's guard was up, he cautiously flashed his flashlight around. There it was, a sudden creak of dry leaves being crumbled under someone's foot. Kaname gulped and took a slow step forward, he ran a hand through his autumn hair again habitually.

I am so not surviving in a horror movie, man...

The rustle sped up, causing Kaname to hold onto the beads on his wrist for the dear life of him.. Frantic from fear he dropped his flashlight, only for a hand to suddenly cover his mouth. Kaname was certain he was going to be the next missing person in the missing person list. The flashlight fell forward revealing–

“Dude calm down! It's me!” A girl's voice, it was Hikari. Kaname let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding onto. Relief washed over him as his adrenaline calmed down. “Hikari for the love of god- don't sneak up on me!” Kaname whisper-yelled, fright still visible in his voice. “Sorry sorry.” Hikari laughed apologetically, scratching the back of her nape.

The flashlight's light shut off when a man’s hand picked it up. Visible annoyance in the frost-mint haired man’s face. He extended his hand forward to give the flashlight back. “You have the survival instincts of a deer. Are you sure you're not Bambi's mom?” Yukio snorted, finding his own mockery funny. Kaname didn't take his words to heart. If there's one thing Kaname was good at, it was to adapt with people of different temperament. Yukio was likely a person who didn't like people very much, or so Kaname thought. To be in his good books was a necessity to solve this case, Kaname couldn't deny it anymore, for he had looked up Yukio and his past achievements on the internet, they were undeniable. Maybe, just maybe Yukio could be the hope for something Kaname had once given up on.

But that's a discussion for another time.

Kaname simply shrugged his shoulders, making light of his mockery. Kaname stepped forward and took his flash back. In doing so, Kaname's fingers brushed against Yukio's palm. Yukio retracted his hand after a moment of pause, taking out his handkerchief to wipe his hand, resembling how a cat would groom the fur one may have touched out of affection.

Did he just-!? How dare he! Remember what I said about adapting to his temperament? forget all of that!

Kaname took in deep breaths! He won't be agitated by something that was a normal for Yukio. Kaname could tell that Yukio's actions were a natural behavior for him, he wasn't trying to offend Kaname. Annoying it was what it was, Kaname has no other choice but to adapt.

“Why did you ask to meet us here, Senpai?” Hikari prompted the question. Kaname nodded, meaning to ask Yukio the same question. “Yeah same question, why are we sneaking around the university? Wouldn't it be smarter to, I don't know, look for the missing people where they were last seen?”

Yukio didn't answer them right away, walking past them with a set of keychains hanging from fingers. Yukio stopped in front of the back door of the university, putting the key in his hand into the lock hole and turning it. The lock unlocked with a click! Sound and Yukio pushed the gate open with a mental creaking sound.