Volume 1, Chapter 4
"Ahhhhh, I'm so fulllll," Miyuki moaned, rubbing her stomach. Yuu and Yuki weren't as cheerful. "How come she got more? Every time a cute girl comes, they get more food." Yuki whined to Yuu. "I don't care." Yuu responded, never that cheerful anyways. "You're still hungry?" Yuu asked, peering over at Yuki. "Yes, and I know what I will eat!" Yuki said, determined. "Which is?" Yuu muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Yoooouuuu~!! I could eat you up, so I will!" Yuki quipped, hugging Yuu. "Get off." he said coldly. "Aww, you two are so cute." Miyuki said, tilting her head. "By the way, Rinna is standing behind you." she added, examining her nails. Yuu and Yuki froze then turned slowly. Rinna glared down at them. "Stop hugging Yuu so much, Karuhina!" she snapped, her hands on her hips. "What will you do about it, Rinna?" Yuki asked menacingly. "Besides, this is the... uh, GROUP YU's table!" she added, baring her teeth. "Group Yu?" Rinna, Yuu, and Miyuki asked. "Only people with the sound 'yu' in their name can sit here. MiYUki, YUu, and YUki." Yuki said, smiling smugly. Rinna pursed her lips. "Just 'cause you're older doesn't mean you can bully me, Karuhina!" Rinna said, stomping her feet. "How old are you?" Miyuki asked kindly. "I'm turning ten soon!" Rinna said proudly, holding up ten fingers. "You're so cute. Come here, sit with oneechan!" Miyuki cooed, holding her arms out. Rinna squealed and jumped onto Miyuki's lap. "I like this oneechan. But don't get too close to Yuu. He's gonna marry me when I get older!" she said, smiling. Miyuki scoffed. "He said so?" Yuki asked, this the first time she heard of it. "Yea... It went like..." Rinna started. "Yuu-kun! Yuu-kun!" Rinna said, only seven. "Hm?" Yuu said, distant, reading a book. "I want to marry you! Will you marry Rinna when she gets older*?" Rinna asked. (*-Kids sometimes use third person, mixing it up with the proper way of speaking.) "Sure, what ever." Yuu said, unaware what Rinna was asking. "That's Yuu, all right." Miyuki said dryly. "Did I really...?" Yuu asked, frowning. Yuki stood up. "No! It won't happen!" she said. "Let's go, Group Yu!" she declared, pulling Yuu and Miyuki away. Miyuki snagged a soda before she was mauled. Rinna waved sadly, but then someone sat by her. Miyuki could hardly make them out. They looked like... Yuu?!
Miyuki turned to see Yuu walking just in front of her. He felt her gaze and turned. He frowned, then turned back. Miyuki looked back again, but Rinna and Yuu... or the look-alike was gone. "Huh..." she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Yuki hugged Yuu. "Don't marry Rinnaaaa!" she sobbed, sniffling. Yuu sighed. "If I say I won't, will you get off?" he asked. "If you hug me back, I'll leave you alone for a day." Yuki said, smiling. Yuu hugged her back, no hesitation. "Are you both, like, dating?" Miyuki asked. Yuki's eyes glittered. "Hell no." Yuu snapped, pushing Yuki off. "Do you think I'm GAY?" he hissed. "...Gay?" Miyuki asked, confused. "You're a GIRL?!" she screamed, shocked. "WHAT?! No!! Yuki's a DUDE." Yuu fired back, stunned. Yuki smiled warmly. "Did you think I was a girl?" he/she asked kindly. "...Uhm, kinda." Miyuki said, stunned. "I'm male." Yuki said gently. "But— you...love Yuu!" Miyuki insisted. Yuki laughed. "I'm gay." he said, winking. "My actual name is Karuhina Yukinosuke*." Yuki said, smiling brightly. (*-'Suke' is often used in MALE Japanese names) "They just call me Yuki. Or at least they should. They all call me Karuhina like we're not friends..." he whined, sniffling. Yuu huffed. "Gay? Me?" he muttered, walking away. Miyuki frowned, "Yuu, wait, sor—" she started, before tripping. While tripping, her soda flew from her hands and, unfortunately, onto Yuu's head, smack in the nose. He stumbled back, surprised and soaked and sticky. His eyes trailed from his white and red and, now stained brown, jacket to Miyuki. "S-s-s-s-sorry!!" she said, holding her hands up defensively. He sighed. "I'm going to change." he said simply, walking off. "Ah, wait, Yuu—" Miyuki called, running around the corner where he disappeared. She froze. Yuu was walking back already, his hair and clothes already dry. "Uhm, wow, that was fast." Miyuki said. Yuu stared at her. "Uhm, okay." he said. He sounded more... light and happy. His clothes must have been baggy, because these body-hugging ones revealed slender curves and smaller shoulders. "Sorry for spilling my drink on you." Miyuki murmured. Yuu tilted his head. A smile flickered across his mouth. "Ah, it's fine." he said. He moved a bit closer. "W-what?" Miyuki asked, stepping back. His blue eyes stared her down. "Nothing. You're just cute." he said, flipping his hair back. "...Where's the real Yuu?! His eyes are red!!" Miyuki shrieked, terrified. Yuu pouted, making Miyuki shiver. "Right here, sweetie. ♥" he said, winking. "Stop that, Haruna." came a darker voice. Miyuki turned to see another Yuu, frowning. "W-W-WHAAAAAAAT?!"
"Nyahahahaha! You shoulda seen your face, little girl!" the Yuu-look-alike cooed. "Wh-what's going on? Who are you?" Miyuki asked. "I'm Ryou Haruna." the Yuu-look-alike introduced, bowing. The Yuu-look-alike pulled her jacket off, revealing long, silky white hair. It was pulled in a ponytail, but the top looked just like Yuu's, wild and edgy. They looked exactly the same, but Haruna was shorter and slender. She also had a more pouty, full mouth, longer lashes, and her eyes didn't resemble Yuu's at all. "Sorry, you just thought I was Yuu and I couldn't help it. I just had to tease you a little. I'm his mother." Haruna said. Yuu sighed. "Haruna, would you please escort Mi-yu-ki back to Yuki? I need to go see Sakena-sensei." Yuu said, turning away before she could answer. He walked briskly, turning the corner. "Why does he call you Haruna?" Miyuki asked. "Because that's my name." Haruna said, smiling gently. It was pretty weird. It was like seeing Yuu smile. "Wouldn't he call you 'mother' or something?" Miyuki went on. Haruna frowned. "It's a delicate matter." was all she said. "Hi, Haruuuuna! You're looking fabulous, as ever." Yuki crooned, smiling. "Hello, Karuhina. As are you." Haruna said gently, smiling back. Miyuki tapped her chin. "Why is everyone here so confusing? Yuki's so pretty and Yuu looks exactly like Haruna." she said. "Ah, well, yes, Yuki is pretty. And don't your parents look like you?" Haruna asked. Miyuki's face darkened. "...Yea, a little." she said, walking away. "Uhm, sorry?" Yuki called. Miyuki looked around, wondering where she was going. Sono Gakuen was huge... "Lift your Chain, please?" she heard someone say. She peeked in a door, wondering what was going on. "You can't just examine the mark?" Yuu asked. He was standing in front of a girl with huge rimmed glasses and blue hair tied back. "...Well, show me the mark first, then your Chain." the girl said. "Don't touch me this time, though. Understand? It hurts." Yuu snapped, taking his shirt off and turning his back to her. The mark Miyuki had seen before was there, but bigger. Was it growing? The girl slipped a glove on and ran her gloved fingers over his back. He clenched his teeth and hissed, obviously in pain. Miyuki watched, stunned. He arched his back, muttering,"Stop, stop, stop..." The girl frowned. "Now, show me that pretty Chain..." she murmured. Metal tore from his back and spread out into the shape of wings. Miyuki reared back, covering her mouth. She ran off before anyone could hear her suppressed scream of surprise.
"Haruna, what's a Chain?" Miyuki asked as soon as she saw Haruna. "A Chain? Ah, that's easy. A Chain is the chain that binds you to your mark." Haruna said. "Do I have a Chain?" Miyuki wondered. "Most probably. After all, you are Suetsukata, right?" Haruna quipped. "...Yea." Miyuki said. "What's Yuu's Chain?" she asked. "Yuu? Well, Yuu has metallic wings on his back. Irremovable." Haruna said, filing her nails. "I see... What's my chain?" Miyuki asked. "How am I supposed to know, sweetie? Jukusei can help with a few things." Haruna said, blowing on her nails. "Can you take me to him?" Miyuki asked hopefully. "'Course I can. Come on." Haruna replied, walking away. Miyuki trailed her, following quickly. "I may as well explain other things. You'd probably want to know anyway. Well, if you have a mark, you have a Chain. However, there is one other thing that connects you to your mark. It's a symbol, in a way. And it's called, basically, Symbol. Symbol is attached to a part of your body, God knows where, and it symbolizes your curse. Symbol can be any number of things. From ANOTHER mark on your skin, to a different eye colour, to an object placed on your body, et cetera. It could even be in your head, if ya know what I mean. You could have a voice in your head that is Symbol." Haruna explained. "Wow... Sounds complicated." Miyuki muttered. "It's actually quite simple. Your curse has three parts to it: Symbol, Chain, and Mark. The mark is plain to see," Haruna said, indicating to Miyuki's neck,"and the chains are more difficult. If you really want to know, Sakena-sensei can draw it out for you. Her glove allows that. Now, Symbol are the most difficult to find. It could be anything, anywhere." Miyuki frowned. "Let's go see Sakena-sensei next then. I want to know my Chain." she said. "Alright. Where did you hear about Chains anyway?" Haruna asked. "Is this Jukusei's place?" Miyuki asked, avoiding the question. Haruna smiled. "Uh-huh. Go ahead, knock. Inside awaits the most pleasant Hell you'll ever see."
Miyuki opened the door after knocking. "Jukusei-san? Hello?" she called into the darkness. "Step onto the platform, please." said a young, pretty secretary. Miyuki and Haruna did so, waiting. The platform shot upwards, making Miyuki stumble. They stopped suddenly, right by a barred platform. "Jukusei, for reasons unknown, were put behind these bars, though he's very useful." Haruna whispered. They stepped forward. "You've brought me another one, I see." a voice said. "He sounds young. I thought he was old." Miyuki whispered. "He is old. He looks young, but he's thousands of years old." Haruna said quietly, shushing Miyuki. "Ah, yes. She wants to know about her mark and Chain. And if you can, her Symbol." Haruna said loudly. "Bring her closer." Jukusei commanded. Haruna nodded reassuringly, taking Miyuki further. Miyuki squinted, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She didn't need to, though, as a young male clutched the bars. His eyes were dark, like he never slept, and his hands gripped the bars as if he was about to fall. "Ah. Suetsukata, eh?" he muttered, looking Miyuki up and down. "Y-yes." Miyuki managed, stepping back. Haruna pushed her forward, shaking her head. "What do you want?" Jukusei asked. "Uh, I want to know my Symbol. And Chain." Miyuki answered. "Don't we all." he muttered. He reached through the bars and took Miyuki's hand. He pulled her closer, so that they were staring eye-to-eye. "So, you wanna know your Chain and Symbol, eh?" Jukusei asked. "Y-yes..." Miyuki said, somewhat scared. "Then allow me to take a look around." he said. "Around where?" Miyuki asked. Jukusei fixed her with a stare. "Around that pretty little head and soul of yours, Suetsukata." he said simply.
"Ahhhhh, I'm so fulllll," Miyuki moaned, rubbing her stomach. Yuu and Yuki weren't as cheerful. "How come she got more? Every time a cute girl comes, they get more food." Yuki whined to Yuu. "I don't care." Yuu responded, never that cheerful anyways. "You're still hungry?" Yuu asked, peering over at Yuki. "Yes, and I know what I will eat!" Yuki said, determined. "Which is?" Yuu muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Yoooouuuu~!! I could eat you up, so I will!" Yuki quipped, hugging Yuu. "Get off." he said coldly. "Aww, you two are so cute." Miyuki said, tilting her head. "By the way, Rinna is standing behind you." she added, examining her nails. Yuu and Yuki froze then turned slowly. Rinna glared down at them. "Stop hugging Yuu so much, Karuhina!" she snapped, her hands on her hips. "What will you do about it, Rinna?" Yuki asked menacingly. "Besides, this is the... uh, GROUP YU's table!" she added, baring her teeth. "Group Yu?" Rinna, Yuu, and Miyuki asked. "Only people with the sound 'yu' in their name can sit here. MiYUki, YUu, and YUki." Yuki said, smiling smugly. Rinna pursed her lips. "Just 'cause you're older doesn't mean you can bully me, Karuhina!" Rinna said, stomping her feet. "How old are you?" Miyuki asked kindly. "I'm turning ten soon!" Rinna said proudly, holding up ten fingers. "You're so cute. Come here, sit with oneechan!" Miyuki cooed, holding her arms out. Rinna squealed and jumped onto Miyuki's lap. "I like this oneechan. But don't get too close to Yuu. He's gonna marry me when I get older!" she said, smiling. Miyuki scoffed. "He said so?" Yuki asked, this the first time she heard of it. "Yea... It went like..." Rinna started. "Yuu-kun! Yuu-kun!" Rinna said, only seven. "Hm?" Yuu said, distant, reading a book. "I want to marry you! Will you marry Rinna when she gets older*?" Rinna asked. (*-Kids sometimes use third person, mixing it up with the proper way of speaking.) "Sure, what ever." Yuu said, unaware what Rinna was asking. "That's Yuu, all right." Miyuki said dryly. "Did I really...?" Yuu asked, frowning. Yuki stood up. "No! It won't happen!" she said. "Let's go, Group Yu!" she declared, pulling Yuu and Miyuki away. Miyuki snagged a soda before she was mauled. Rinna waved sadly, but then someone sat by her. Miyuki could hardly make them out. They looked like... Yuu?!
Miyuki turned to see Yuu walking just in front of her. He felt her gaze and turned. He frowned, then turned back. Miyuki looked back again, but Rinna and Yuu... or the look-alike was gone. "Huh..." she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Yuki hugged Yuu. "Don't marry Rinnaaaa!" she sobbed, sniffling. Yuu sighed. "If I say I won't, will you get off?" he asked. "If you hug me back, I'll leave you alone for a day." Yuki said, smiling. Yuu hugged her back, no hesitation. "Are you both, like, dating?" Miyuki asked. Yuki's eyes glittered. "Hell no." Yuu snapped, pushing Yuki off. "Do you think I'm GAY?" he hissed. "...Gay?" Miyuki asked, confused. "You're a GIRL?!" she screamed, shocked. "WHAT?! No!! Yuki's a DUDE." Yuu fired back, stunned. Yuki smiled warmly. "Did you think I was a girl?" he/she asked kindly. "...Uhm, kinda." Miyuki said, stunned. "I'm male." Yuki said gently. "But— you...love Yuu!" Miyuki insisted. Yuki laughed. "I'm gay." he said, winking. "My actual name is Karuhina Yukinosuke*." Yuki said, smiling brightly. (*-'Suke' is often used in MALE Japanese names) "They just call me Yuki. Or at least they should. They all call me Karuhina like we're not friends..." he whined, sniffling. Yuu huffed. "Gay? Me?" he muttered, walking away. Miyuki frowned, "Yuu, wait, sor—" she started, before tripping. While tripping, her soda flew from her hands and, unfortunately, onto Yuu's head, smack in the nose. He stumbled back, surprised and soaked and sticky. His eyes trailed from his white and red and, now stained brown, jacket to Miyuki. "S-s-s-s-sorry!!" she said, holding her hands up defensively. He sighed. "I'm going to change." he said simply, walking off. "Ah, wait, Yuu—" Miyuki called, running around the corner where he disappeared. She froze. Yuu was walking back already, his hair and clothes already dry. "Uhm, wow, that was fast." Miyuki said. Yuu stared at her. "Uhm, okay." he said. He sounded more... light and happy. His clothes must have been baggy, because these body-hugging ones revealed slender curves and smaller shoulders. "Sorry for spilling my drink on you." Miyuki murmured. Yuu tilted his head. A smile flickered across his mouth. "Ah, it's fine." he said. He moved a bit closer. "W-what?" Miyuki asked, stepping back. His blue eyes stared her down. "Nothing. You're just cute." he said, flipping his hair back. "...Where's the real Yuu?! His eyes are red!!" Miyuki shrieked, terrified. Yuu pouted, making Miyuki shiver. "Right here, sweetie. ♥" he said, winking. "Stop that, Haruna." came a darker voice. Miyuki turned to see another Yuu, frowning. "W-W-WHAAAAAAAT?!"
"Nyahahahaha! You shoulda seen your face, little girl!" the Yuu-look-alike cooed. "Wh-what's going on? Who are you?" Miyuki asked. "I'm Ryou Haruna." the Yuu-look-alike introduced, bowing. The Yuu-look-alike pulled her jacket off, revealing long, silky white hair. It was pulled in a ponytail, but the top looked just like Yuu's, wild and edgy. They looked exactly the same, but Haruna was shorter and slender. She also had a more pouty, full mouth, longer lashes, and her eyes didn't resemble Yuu's at all. "Sorry, you just thought I was Yuu and I couldn't help it. I just had to tease you a little. I'm his mother." Haruna said. Yuu sighed. "Haruna, would you please escort Mi-yu-ki back to Yuki? I need to go see Sakena-sensei." Yuu said, turning away before she could answer. He walked briskly, turning the corner. "Why does he call you Haruna?" Miyuki asked. "Because that's my name." Haruna said, smiling gently. It was pretty weird. It was like seeing Yuu smile. "Wouldn't he call you 'mother' or something?" Miyuki went on. Haruna frowned. "It's a delicate matter." was all she said. "Hi, Haruuuuna! You're looking fabulous, as ever." Yuki crooned, smiling. "Hello, Karuhina. As are you." Haruna said gently, smiling back. Miyuki tapped her chin. "Why is everyone here so confusing? Yuki's so pretty and Yuu looks exactly like Haruna." she said. "Ah, well, yes, Yuki is pretty. And don't your parents look like you?" Haruna asked. Miyuki's face darkened. "...Yea, a little." she said, walking away. "Uhm, sorry?" Yuki called. Miyuki looked around, wondering where she was going. Sono Gakuen was huge... "Lift your Chain, please?" she heard someone say. She peeked in a door, wondering what was going on. "You can't just examine the mark?" Yuu asked. He was standing in front of a girl with huge rimmed glasses and blue hair tied back. "...Well, show me the mark first, then your Chain." the girl said. "Don't touch me this time, though. Understand? It hurts." Yuu snapped, taking his shirt off and turning his back to her. The mark Miyuki had seen before was there, but bigger. Was it growing? The girl slipped a glove on and ran her gloved fingers over his back. He clenched his teeth and hissed, obviously in pain. Miyuki watched, stunned. He arched his back, muttering,"Stop, stop, stop..." The girl frowned. "Now, show me that pretty Chain..." she murmured. Metal tore from his back and spread out into the shape of wings. Miyuki reared back, covering her mouth. She ran off before anyone could hear her suppressed scream of surprise.
"Haruna, what's a Chain?" Miyuki asked as soon as she saw Haruna. "A Chain? Ah, that's easy. A Chain is the chain that binds you to your mark." Haruna said. "Do I have a Chain?" Miyuki wondered. "Most probably. After all, you are Suetsukata, right?" Haruna quipped. "...Yea." Miyuki said. "What's Yuu's Chain?" she asked. "Yuu? Well, Yuu has metallic wings on his back. Irremovable." Haruna said, filing her nails. "I see... What's my chain?" Miyuki asked. "How am I supposed to know, sweetie? Jukusei can help with a few things." Haruna said, blowing on her nails. "Can you take me to him?" Miyuki asked hopefully. "'Course I can. Come on." Haruna replied, walking away. Miyuki trailed her, following quickly. "I may as well explain other things. You'd probably want to know anyway. Well, if you have a mark, you have a Chain. However, there is one other thing that connects you to your mark. It's a symbol, in a way. And it's called, basically, Symbol. Symbol is attached to a part of your body, God knows where, and it symbolizes your curse. Symbol can be any number of things. From ANOTHER mark on your skin, to a different eye colour, to an object placed on your body, et cetera. It could even be in your head, if ya know what I mean. You could have a voice in your head that is Symbol." Haruna explained. "Wow... Sounds complicated." Miyuki muttered. "It's actually quite simple. Your curse has three parts to it: Symbol, Chain, and Mark. The mark is plain to see," Haruna said, indicating to Miyuki's neck,"and the chains are more difficult. If you really want to know, Sakena-sensei can draw it out for you. Her glove allows that. Now, Symbol are the most difficult to find. It could be anything, anywhere." Miyuki frowned. "Let's go see Sakena-sensei next then. I want to know my Chain." she said. "Alright. Where did you hear about Chains anyway?" Haruna asked. "Is this Jukusei's place?" Miyuki asked, avoiding the question. Haruna smiled. "Uh-huh. Go ahead, knock. Inside awaits the most pleasant Hell you'll ever see."
Miyuki opened the door after knocking. "Jukusei-san? Hello?" she called into the darkness. "Step onto the platform, please." said a young, pretty secretary. Miyuki and Haruna did so, waiting. The platform shot upwards, making Miyuki stumble. They stopped suddenly, right by a barred platform. "Jukusei, for reasons unknown, were put behind these bars, though he's very useful." Haruna whispered. They stepped forward. "You've brought me another one, I see." a voice said. "He sounds young. I thought he was old." Miyuki whispered. "He is old. He looks young, but he's thousands of years old." Haruna said quietly, shushing Miyuki. "Ah, yes. She wants to know about her mark and Chain. And if you can, her Symbol." Haruna said loudly. "Bring her closer." Jukusei commanded. Haruna nodded reassuringly, taking Miyuki further. Miyuki squinted, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She didn't need to, though, as a young male clutched the bars. His eyes were dark, like he never slept, and his hands gripped the bars as if he was about to fall. "Ah. Suetsukata, eh?" he muttered, looking Miyuki up and down. "Y-yes." Miyuki managed, stepping back. Haruna pushed her forward, shaking her head. "What do you want?" Jukusei asked. "Uh, I want to know my Symbol. And Chain." Miyuki answered. "Don't we all." he muttered. He reached through the bars and took Miyuki's hand. He pulled her closer, so that they were staring eye-to-eye. "So, you wanna know your Chain and Symbol, eh?" Jukusei asked. "Y-yes..." Miyuki said, somewhat scared. "Then allow me to take a look around." he said. "Around where?" Miyuki asked. Jukusei fixed her with a stare. "Around that pretty little head and soul of yours, Suetsukata." he said simply.
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