BIG THANKS AGAIN TO @_yugi-tsukasa__ for making To Live's updated cover!!

I got so carried away this chapter has 4,000 words... holy crackers this is the longest thing Ive ever written

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"She's familiar with the Rift. I'm sure she can handle it just fine."

Aka Manto held the knife closer to her heart, closing her eyes and furrowing her brows.

She tried to drown out Tsukasa's lofty, relaxed tone; he did not care about Y/N. He did not know how painful it was for her to kill.

"I don't want to do this..."

"One kill, or a hundred more?" His voice grew sharp and icy.

Aka Manto flinched, red eyes shimmering with guilt.

"One more."

"So, are you ready?"

Her grip on the hilt of the knife grew tight. Just one kill, she kept telling herself. After that, there would be no more. Just peace and freedom.

"Yes, I'm ready."

~ 4:00 pm, Kamome's school grounds...

Hanako watched as the sun sank behind the tall figure of the Confession Tree, hands in his pockets and amber eyes unfocused.

He wasn't sure how he'd do something he'd tried to forget about for three months; something he had tried to bury in the back of his mind, because he believed it was not meant to be.

He closed his eyes, trying to coax himself and his anxiety for what he was going to do.

All he knew was that, this time, he'd make sure the outcome was different.

"Hanako-kun!"

'There she is.'

Hanako turned around with a small smile, feeling relieved.

"You came."

"You bet!" Y/N gave him a thumbs up, E/C eyes sparkling with excitement. Hanako let out a happy sigh.

It was his own wish that had been fulfilled. Seeing Y/N as the way he pictured her to be, from the first time they met; content, without a care in the world, and nothing to trouble her.

"Won't C/N miss you, though?" Hanako cocked his head to one side.

"I spent three months with her." Y/N replied patiently, a hint of amusement in her tone. "And to spend one night with you? I think she can wait!"

Hanako laughed, looking at her gratefully.

"I really missed you, Y/N!" His voice was higher, now; much more delighted and much more relaxed.

'Is this how a confession goes?' Hanako thought nervously. 'I'm not anxious? Just laidback?'

"I missed you, too." Y/N replied simply. However, her eyes brimmed with such meaning that Hanako had to look away before blushing again.

"Anyway!" The Sukora student ventured, walking past the flustered spirit to see the setting sun. "Why did you call me here?"

"Oh, you know-" Hanako trailed off awkwardly, trying to think of an excuse. "To catch up. How have you been these past three months, Y/N?"

That seemed to spark some joy into the curious girl.

"A lot of things have happened, I tell you!"

And so began their walk. They strayed from the crowded areas where staff and students would be flocking home, following a route to the back of the school and into its garden.

For the first time in a while, Hanako did not have to force a smile; he was genuinely pleased to talk with her again.

He drifted beside her as she went on about how she had learned how to kick, how she was proud of beating Tsukasa up, and the like.

In the middle of Y/N explaining her qualms about socializing at Sukora, they passed by the tower where the girl's bathroom was; Hanako's boundary.

Y/N stopped her talking, looking up at the bathroom she had grown to love thoughtfully.

"Enough about me, Hanako." Her enthusiastic expression turned more solemn and worried. "How have you been these past few months?"

"Me?" Hanako shook his head, jovially chuckling. "Not much. The same old checking of the apparitions and the like."

He followed her gaze to the bathroom as well, his smile slowly fading into a sad one.

"But it gets lonely. It's not easy to summon me, you know?"

"What about the Mokke?" Y/N added with a fond smile. "Those mischievous rascals are great company!"

Hanako shook his head with a laugh, waving dismissively. He did not want to admit that even their games failed to patch up the huge, overwhelming longing he felt ever since she left.

They continued on with their trekking as the sky's tawny hue faded into a tranquil dark blue.

This time, Hanako explained about how he felt, though he avoided any mention of how lonely he had been, for he did not want to sound clingy.

When it came to the topic of friends, Y/N brightened up instantly.

"I made a new one! Her name is Osane Miku!"

Hanako peered over at her with interest.

"Really?"

"She's a very nice person, as popular she is. She introduced me to a lot of her friends!" Y/N went on wistfully. Hanako did not fail to catch the glint of infinite happiness in her eyes.

Somehow, it made him feel a little sad.

Y/N was changing quicker than he thought; she could make her own friends now, and he knew she didn't need another wish to do so.

He despised his selfish thoughts; how he longed for her to be shy and timid again, when she always stuck with him and confided in him. Now, it seemed like she could solve any of her problems on her own.

Perhaps he had been right about letting go. He swallowed a lump forming in his throat, looking away.

'I need your company, Y/N. But I don't think you need mine.'

The ecstasy he felt being with her suddenly turned into a halting realization. The Wonders had been right; he was meant to be forgotten.

The last thing he wanted to do was to confuse her, making her stay trapped in the past because of his selfish longing.

She deserved a future. And all he needed was to let her go.

Suddenly, he realized how silent it was. The sun had set. A few stars overhead were beginning to appear. He turned around.

Y/N looked like she had stopped in the middle of talking, realizing he hadn't been listening. Her E/C eyes were wide in concern.

"Hanako-kun? Are you alright?"

Y/N had slowed her walking to match with his own absent-minded steps. He grew embarrassed at the notion. Had he been thinking too much again?

"I'm fine!" Hanako hastily piped up.

Y/N frowned; clearly, she didn't buy his words. She stopped, taking hold of his hand.

"It's alright, you know? Do you have anything you want to talk about?"

Hanako felt a blush on his face, and he let out a small sigh.

"Honestly, I just..."

He shook his head, unsure how to voice himself and the overwhelming uncertainty he'd been having. Y/N's eyes softened.

"It's okay. You're not the only one who's been feeling a little paranoid."

Hanako's eyes widened in surprise. Y/N had just been so happy earlier; what happened?

She continued her walking; but this time, it was a little more slower.

"I feel guilty about my mum." She confessed quietly. "I'm living a life out here, being happy with all my friends back at Sukora. But what is she doing? She's spending life behind bars... in complete isolation."

The spirit affixed her with a perplexed look. Y/N's mother had abused her; why would she still feel bad?

"But she hurt you!"

"Yes, like how dad hurt her."

Hanako tensed. He had always heard about Y/N's mother, but never her father. Y/N looked at the grass sullenly as they walked past another school building.

"He left her with nothing but money for my tuition fees." She explained quietly. As soft as her voice was, Hanako could see the effort she strained to put out the words.

"I recall, very dimly, that he said he wanted nothing to do with her. They shouted a lot. I don't want to describe what I heard, or what I saw."

Y/N looked at him with a sad smile.

"But it was brutal enough to make me feel like I only served one purpose; to be the object for my mum to release her anger to."

Hanako slowly approached her as her expression grew more uneasy, but he realized that she was not crying. Again, he was reminded very painfully of how different she was now.

"And now I feel bad. Is she angrier behind the bars? Should I have given her a chance by forgiving her?"

He remained speechless, until a certain string of words lit a small fire of anger in him.

"Am I a bad person?"

"NO!"

Y/N's eyes widened in shock as Hanako suddenly held her shoulders tightly, his amber eyes flashing.

"But what could you have done worse than me?" She weakly spluttered.

"Tsukasa." Hanako blurted. "I killed Tsukasa."

Her eyes grew even wider, and her throat ran dry in silent apprehension.

Hanako realized with a jolt how far more deliberate those words were meant to be.

'Is this it? Should I make her forget me?'

His thoughts drifted again to how she had talked about her new friends with ease; how happy she was already, without his help.

He had spent 50 years alone; perhaps he was meant to do the same for another 50.

He loved Y/N, and he didn't want to be a burden on her shoulders by forcing her to focus on him, rather than her studies, friends, and work.

He would distract her from a better life.

He took a deep breath in. A clear decision was made in his mind.

"Y/N, there's something I need to tell you."

Y/N's surprised expression quickly turned into one of worry.

"Hanako?"

Hanako slowly began to walk again, but this time, no ideal location was on his head. He just kept walking, allowing his legs to carry him wherever he went; anything to distract him from the painful sacrifice he needed to make.

"Are you happy in Sukora?" He murmured.

"Yes!" Y/N answered almost instantly. She hastily followed after him, nearly tripping in the process.

"I made a lot of friends thanks to Osane, but I still miss all of you, of course."

"Are you happy with your family?" He continued, forcing his voice to sound leveled.

"Of course!" Y/N pressed immediately. Her lips creased into a more tighter frown. "Hanako-kun, why are you-"

"Would you be happy on your own?"

Y/N stopped in her tracks.

The question was easy to ask, but difficult to answer. She stood there in a stumped silence, bewildered eyes locked with Hanako's leering ones in a tense stare.

"I suppose so." Y/N looked away, unable to meet his gaze. She was unsure about his intention, therefore making her reply uncertain as well.

"I can take care of myself; I can defend, I can make friends. If I were alone, I'd fare just as fine."

The intensity in his eyes seemed to burn down into calm acceptance. Hanako forced a small smile, closing his eyes.

"Then in that case, Y/N, I ask a favor."

She slowly looked up. Hanako had placed his hands in his pockets, looking at her calmly.

"I'm sorry I gave you that mermaid scale."

Y/N's eyes widened. Why would he be sorry? Being bound to him brought her great relief!

"I'm sorry I'm keeping you here." He continued; he failed to keep his leveled tone, now. Y/N could see how truly despondent he was; how much an effect the words he spoke had on him.

"I'm sorry for distracting you from Sukora, where you belong, and for dragging you back here where you don't."

"That's not-!"

"I'm holding you back from many things, Y/N." Hanako cut in, unable to mask his shame and guilt. Y/N couldn't believe it, but he looked as if he were about to cry.

"And I realize I'm the past you must let go of. You have a life to live, and I have duties to fulfill back here in Kamome."

Y/N took a shaky breath in. So that's how Hanako was feeling? That she should have moved on, like how she planned to?

She didn't know what to say. She could only watch in silence as Hanako wiped his face with a sleeve, drawing a sharp breath.

"Sorry..." He murmured, finally collecting himself. He took a deep breath in, before finally settling his eyes on her.

"I... I ruined Tsukasa's life before. I don't want to do the same to you. And so..."

He looked at her boldly, forcing a strong expression on his face.

"I want you to forget me; it's best for the both of us. Can you do that?"

Y/N stared at him in silent horror, E/C eyes wide.

"Y/N?" Hanako's voice grew shaky. Despite his firm demand, he looked just as unwilling and helpless as her. "Can you?"

Y/N raced towards him, tackling him in a tight embrace.

Hanako's pained expression shifted to one of shock, which he tried to mask with a steely voice.

"Y/N, let go."

"How could I forget you?"

"Let me...." He trailed off faintly, as her arms tightened around his weak body, which had been drained of energy from the release of all his worries.

"Are you sure?" Y/N's voice was feeble and soft.

As much as he wanted to say yes, he began to succomb to her warmth, which he had longed to feel for so long. It was just as comforting and welcoming as it always was.

His eyes slowly drooped into tired acceptance. Perhaps, after all those three months of loneliness, he needed another hug.

"Why won't you do it?" Hanako sighed softly, his face nestled on her shoulder. Y/N did the same.

Far ahead, the fullmoon's light had fallen on the school buildings, painting their facades a pale silvery white.

'Everything always looks different under the moonlight.'

"You're important to me." Y/N went on firmly, pressing closer. "Just like Yashiro, Kou, and the others. I accept you as something I can't forget."

"Accept me?" Hanako shook his head, guilt and doubt rising to him again. "Someone who's hopelessly clingy? Someone who-"

Y/N pulled away for a moment to cup his face, squishing him on the cheeks. Hanako turned red.

"Whatever you feel about me.." Y/N looked away for a moment awkwardly, before affixing him with a confident stare. "...I'm sure I felt the same way!"

Hanako looked at her incredulously, beginning to feel a little lightheaded. He sank lower to her shoulder, finally wrapping his own arms arounds her waist.

His thoughts drifted to his odd feelings of contempt with her closeness to boys.

He couldn't help but want to be the only one who could be this close to her; not Tsukasa, Mitsuba, Kou, or Sabiro.

He was unsure of how to phrase himself, and decided to be a little vague.

"Have you felt a little selfish?" Hanako sheepishly murmured, eyes on the grass in silent embarrassment.

"Selfish?" Y/N blinked in confusion.

'See! It's a one-sided thing.' He thought anxiously.

"Nevermind!" He let out a small chuckle. His voice grew quiet again as he closed his eyes, feeling a strange aura of peace as he fell into her embrace.

"Thank you, Y/N... thank you for coming back."

"And I'll keep doing that."

To his hidden disappointment, Y/N pulled away to face him with a determined look.

"I'm not forgetting you anytime soon!" Her voice was firm and steely. "That's a promise... and you bet it will never be broken!"

For the first time in three months, Hanako's heart began to race.

His face was burning, his lips parted in an amazed expression. The warmth and fuzziness of a feeling he had tried to forget about was returning.

'Why am I feeling this way?'

Suddenly, Y/N began to look different. Under the pattern of the stars above, her E/C eyes seemed to shine brigher, and the way her hair billowed softly in the gentle breeze was graceful. It was hard not to say that she was a little captivating.

"Hanako?" Y/N's determined smile had disappeared into a puzzled frown. "Stop staring into open space!"

The spirit turned red, hastily walking away. He needed to gather his thoughts before becoming a flustered mess.

'Why did I do that?!' He inwardly panicked, berating himself. He thought hard, looking for any excuse he could think of.

'AH YES! THE MOONLIGHT!' The idea popped up out of desperation. 'Everything always looks different under the moonlight!'

"Hanako-kun!" Y/N finally caught up to him, panting as she jogged by his side. "Why are you heading towards the Confession Tree?"

"What are you talking about?" Hanako looked up, clearly startled.

With a jolt, he realized the blue carpet of grass below him was dotted with a few rays of light. Hanako looked up in surprise.

"Woah!" Y/N stared at it, openmouthed. "Why's the Tree glowing? Do fireflies live in there?"

It was only then that he realized he had literally strayed out of the path and wandered to the Tree by complete accident.

"U-uhm..." Hanako stammered, unsure how to make an excuse. He had tried to practice for the confession multiple times, but now he was at a complete loss.

"Oh, I get it!" Y/N had a smug expression on her face, crossing her arms. "'You want to confess something?"

"No- yes - uh-"

"Alright, you doofus! I'll go first!" cried an amused Y/N, grabbing him by the arm. Hanako helplessly stumbled after her.

Finally, they arrived at the bottom of the tree. Hanako couldn't help but stop to look up, appreciating the faint yellow glows of fireflies hidden among the leaves.

He did not know they lived there and had never once seen them, but if he would be honest, this was the perfect night for them to come out.

"Very beautiful, right?" Y/N spoke the words for him.

He nodded faintly, and settled into quiet as Y/N took a deep breath in and closed her eyes. What would she want to confess?

"I was thinking about visiting my mom." She opened them, uncertainty in her E/C gaze.

"Really!" Hanako was pulled back down to earth out of shock. "Why would you consider that?"

"I know, it's silly..." Y/N shrugged. "But I can't help it. I know how it feels like to be alone. I still feel like a bad person for leaving her."

"You're not bad!" Hanako scoffed. "I say you'd make a great wife! A better mom than her!"

His retort was met by silence. He rose a brow and turned to look at her.

Y/N's ears burned as she stared at him incredulously, unable to process his words. Hanako fell into embarrassment as well.

"I-I mean-"

"Anyway!" Y/N shook her head, looking away. "What do you want to confess?"

That did not help Hanako at his embarrassed state at all.

"Well I...."

'Okay, this is my first time doing this.' Hanako could not bring himself to stare at Y/N's wide, curious eyes. 'Think!'

"...I was wondering, if maybe, we could-"

"Yes."

'Woah.' Hanako finally summoned the courage to look at her. 'That was quick?'

"But I didn't even finish my sentence yet!" He stammered.

"I know." Y/N let out a small laugh, before looking at him fondly. He noticed a little glint of apology in her eyes.

"But I feel like I owe you a yes! Especially after letting you down the last time we did this."

When he was still amazed, she walked up to him, poking him on the chest in a teasing manner.

"You want to hang out? You want donuts? I'll say yes to anything!"

Hanako's wide eyes slowly fell into thoughtful half-slits.

Y/N's heart stopped as suddenly, he lifted her chin with a finger. There was a smug expression written all over his face.

"Can I kiss you?"

Y/N's mind went blank, and suddenly, she wished she could take back words.

"C-can I... wh-what?!"

Almost immediately, he pulled away, bursting into laughter.

"Hey!" Y/N harrumphed, quite furious he had the guts to play with her feelings so easily.

"Sorry!" He choked in between giggles. "I just miss seeing you embarrassed! It cheers me up, you know?"

In the back of his mind, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

'And it's good to know I still have an effect.'

"What are you?" Y/N challenged playfully, walking up to him. "Here to fool around instead of getting straight to the point?"

Hanako turned to face her indignantly.

"Am not!"

"So?" Y/N queried, her taunting expression fading into one of deep interest.

Hanako began to hesitate. Through it all, would Y/N really feel the same thing he did?

"I..." He started helplessly. Along with the opportunities that would come if she returned his feelings, the risks began to voice themselves.

"No, wait..." Hanako started doubtfully. Was what he felt too dangerous? "Perhaps I-"

Suddenly, Y/N felt something hit her from behind.

Both their eyes went wide as they crashed into eachother, Y/N falling into a surprised Hanako's arms. However, it was not only bodies that pressed against eachother.

Y/N's face burned as much as Hanako's when they realized the kiss they were locked in.

Y/N inwardly panicked as she felt his lips tremble against hers. This was a very different feeling she got from a kiss on the cheek.

Heart racing, she quickly pulled away, pushing him aside. Whirling around, she turned to face the suspect of her fall.

'An overhanging branch?!' Y/N internally screamed as she saw it sway with the recent impact.

'I swear that wasn't there before!'

"S-SORRY!" The words came tumbling out of Y/N's mouth, her face a terrible red. Her heart was practically bursting out of her chest.

"I-It's my fault! Th-there was this branch and..."

She took a shaky breath in as Hanako slowly approached her again.

"Sorry..." Her face fell to the floor in a crestfallen look. She had ruined a confession for a second time.

She looked up in surprise as Hanako gently cupped her cheeks, making her steady her blushing face with his own.

"What did you want to say...?" She weakly spluttered.

"Nevermind that."

And then, to her overwhelming amazement, a smile made its way to his face, tears forming in his eyes.

"I've waited long enough. I think I'll express myself this way."

Y/N's eyes widened, but before she could speak, he had leaned in, firmly pressing his lips on hers again.

At first, the insinct to pull away coursed through her. Her heart was hammering so painfully and the burn on her face threatened to make her faint.

But then she felt him smiling through the kiss; did this make Hanako happy?

She began to appreciate the warmth of his touch as he pulled her closer, a hand gently weaving through her H/C hair as he ran it through.

Her eyes slowly closed in acceptance as he tilted his head, wanting to succomb to the kiss completely.

He did not want to pull away. And she shamelessly felt the same.

'This makes Hanako happy. I feel the same way.'

~

"We did it, boys."

Mitsuba was clicking away furiously with his camera, the thick leaves of the tree hiding the teary-eyed apparitions.

"I really had to hit Y/N with that branch," the Confession Tree's low, amused voice rumbled quietly. "The youngsters were too shy to make a move."

One-eye was sobbing terribly in pride, but he fought to keep his composure. He turned to face his fellow Mokke.

The lights had not been from fireflies, but from the pink bunnies scattered all across the branches of the Confession Tree. Each carried a small lantern and were sniffling at the view below.

"We set up the mood just right." One-eye called proudly. "Good job, everyone!"

The Mokke were too stunned with relief and pride to answer back.

"I have the best view up here to take a picture!" Mitsuba stuck out his tongue. "'Wish it was a wedding photo I was taking-"

"Best view?" A voice sneered from the highest branch.

Everyone looked up incredulously at Yako, her ears flicking with pleasure as she watched the couple under the tree.

"You came?!" A Mokke hissed in silent wonder.

"Can you blame me?" Yako sniffed. "These two are adorable!"

"Oh hey, look at this!" Mitsuba chuckled with delight. "Hanako's pinning her against the trunk! A little rough, ey? Should we stop them?"

"No." Everyone answered in unison.

~

"All of you. Your game is weak."

Tsuchigomori mumbled this to himself as he watched the apparitions bicker on the tree. He was proud to say he had the best view; simply gazing at the couple from the window of his library.

He was glad the evening was perfect for this occassion. The moonlight blanketed everything in a cool, peaceful darkness. He hoped the two dense kids were at peace as well.

His hopes proved to be worth it, for he saw Hanako pull away, before giving Y/N a tight hug. Tsuchigomori smiled gently. He had never seen Number 7 any happier.

~

Oblivious to everyone's watching eyes, Hanako felt as if he would collpase from relief and joy. It was all he ever wanted, but something still nagged at him. He had forgotten to do something.

"Y/N?" He quietly spoke from their embrace.

"What is it?" Her voice was soft and gentle.

He took a deep breath in, forcing himself to make his next statement sound as genuine and true as possible.

"I love you."

Y/N's heart raced. Not 'like.'

'Love.'

From the very beginning, she had longed to hear those words.

Hearing it from the Tsukiras certainly warmed her heart, but only when she heard it from Hanako did she realize how different it could sound, and how much more it could actually mean.

It was like all the troubles she had gone through for dealing with Hanako, all the fear, doubt, and pain she felt whenever he was around, led up to this moment.

And she regretted nothing. For the very first time, Y/N did not bother to hold back her tears.

"I love you, too."