Chapter Text
The crimson light shining through the window makes everything in the bathroom hazy.
Except my fury, that is. That’s sharp and clear, a blazing fire. My exorcisms are normally solemn events, treated with the utmost care for the lost soul I’m exorcising, but… I can’t wait for that slimy, perverted brat to finally meet his end! He won’t get away with continuing to peep on and harass the girls!
I take a deep breath and look at the third stall, looming in front of me. Focus! I instruct myself.
Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound rebounds through the bathroom
“Hanako, Hanako, Hanako.” His name tastes like acid on my tongue. Still, I keep my expression nervous, and my voice slightly hopeful.
All about timing. All about trickery. Remember-student with a wish. I remind myself.
“Hellooooo~!” He drifts out from the third stall. His voice is higher than I thought. His cap covers the majority of his face, except a smirk and his white seal patch that stands out from his dark outfit. His cape floats behind him, his Haku-joudai hovering. I feign surprise, even though I knew he was a guy.
“You’re Hanako? But why are you… ya know?”I gesture at him. I’m pretty proud of my performance.
“A guy?” He cocks his head and smirks. Like a smug puppy dog. How dare he play innocent! I fume internally.
I nod, pretending to be awkward about the situation.
“Well, being forced to change your name is kinda a big turn-off to most people. No girls volunteered for the job, so they had to ask me. I said yes of course, because it sounded kinda erotic.” His grin is devious.
“How kind of you. Taking the job no one else wants.” I use as much sarcasm as physically possible. Internally, I’m reeling. If he’s openly admitting his horrible motives, he’s bolder than I thought. Is he seriously that perverted? Why would he admit that? What’s his deal? This damn poltergeist. I’ll feel much better when he’s exorcised for sure.
”That’s me, the most benevolent spirit you’ll ever meet!” His giggles echo through the bathroom. How dare he giggle after being so totally evil? I’m seriously itching to exorcise this brat. Look at him, floating criss-cross apple sauce, his hands in his lap. How can he be so childish yet so perverted? I feel my face flush- with fury of course. My fingers itch for my exorcist daggers. He’s just so-
Not yet, I remind myself, Have patience. Remember-student with a wish. Your ancestors-Teru, even-will be proud if you do this right. Just be patient.
“I’m sure,” I smirk, rolling my eyes, “But wouldn’t such a benevolent ghost grant my wish?”
“Of course! I’m Hanako-San of the Toilet, School Mystery #7, at your service! How can I help you today?” He lays his head in his hands as he sits on the back of the toilet.
“Well, there's this guy…” I start, swallowing nervously. I won’t have to act much longer now. This perv’s about to get what he deserves.
“Ah, a romance then, huh? What's the guy’s name?” I wish I could wipe that stupid smirk off his face-You will, I remind myself, in a minute.
“No, no, nothing like that. He’s a disgusting, perverted deviant. He keeps hanging around the girls bathroom.”
Suddenly, he’s right up to my face. My heart beats quicker-with adrenaline to prepare for the battle, obviously. This creep won’t know what hit him.
“Some twisted pervert, huh?” His amber eyes lose their playful gleam.” Well, I will gladly make the problem go away…” He floats into the air again, “but, while the rumor about my gender is false, all the other ones are true. There’s a price to be paid. So, what’ll it be?”
I let the facade of “student with a wish” drop.
“I don’t think you understand. Your help isn’t required for that. I’m the eldest daughter of the Minamoto clan, and I wish to exorcise him.”
He doesn’t startle at this. He just looks mildly amused. “Is that so?” He sighs, pulling his kitchen knife out from his outdated uniform. Clearly, he doesn’t see me as a threat. Oh well. His eye’ll be opened when I send him off to the far shore.
I run toward him, gripping my daggers. Lighting sparks off them, ready to strike. I aim them at his face. He ducks and swings his knife at my face. I prepare myself for a strike, raising my arm to protect myself, when he stops, and just starts swishing at the empty air over my face.
“Got you!”, he chuckles, “Now take this!” He just starts swishing above my head.
What is he playing at? Is he pretending he can’t do any harm? With how his arms are raised, he’s wide open. Alright then. I grip my exorcist daggers tighter and will my spiritual lighting into them. Focus. Breathe. 3…2…1 NOW! Right as I stab him right in the chest, the electricity zaps him and he falls to the ground. His hat flies off somewhere. Don’t know where, don’t care. I prepare myself for the final blow. This’ll be so satisfying! I’ll prove to everyone what I can do!
“Please,” He can barely speak now, “I-I still have more to do. I have to-” He cuts himself off. He looks like a boy pleading for his life right now. He doesn’t look so- What the hell am I doing? Exorcise him, Minamoto! He wants your sympathy-don’t lend it! He’s evil! I chide myself.
But without my telling them to do so, my hands pause.
“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before preying on innocent girls.” My voice lacks bite now. I’m still mad, but it’s hard to stay angry at someone who looks so pitiful, curling into himself on linoleum tiles. I know that he’s a disgusting peeping tom, and I should be pissed-and some part of me is-but…
But what in the world am I thinking? Hesitation for a creep like him? Good grief, get a hold of yourself! I cement my sympathy over with a fresh wave of anger, burying it.
“You perv!” I bring the daggers down again, fresh lighting sparking, ready to evaporate him.
“Man, you’re really feisty!” He laughs as he rolls away. “Guess trying to tug heartstrings doesn’t work on you. It was worth a shot!”
That little- I swear to the ancestors of the Minamoto clan, I will exorcise him!
We pause when we hear a voice.
“Sis? You here?” Crap! It’s Kou! “Teru said you were in the old building. If you can hear me, come on-it’s time to leave! ”
“Just exorcising a brat!” I call back.
Hanako giggles. “Brat? Come on, you can do better! I bet you have some nasty nicknames for me.”
I hear footsteps pounding along the wooden floors of the old building, running towards us. It’s probably Kou coming to help. I don’t want help-I want to accomplish this myself. Best to finish it before he gets here.
“Just shut up!” I pull out my daggers, aiming them at him. Charging up for a huge spirit lighting strike.
“You gonna make me?” I hate this little whiny perv. I’m gonna blast his face off-
BANG! The bathroom door bursts open, and Kou’s there, his brows furrowed in worry, exorcist weapon drawn. His eyes widen when he sees who I’m trying to exorcise.
“You didn’t say you were exorcising Hanako!” Seriously?! I grumble to myself.
“I didn’t have to!” I start to cross my arms, when I remember I have daggers in my hands. I can feel the lighting fade away. Damn it, Kou!
“But you have to-” He fidgets with the fabric of his uniform, his jaw clenched. Doesn’t he realize he just distracted me from my exorcism?
“I don’t have to do anything.” I grip my daggers so tight, my knuckles turn white. Little sparks start up as I channel my spiritual energy into them again. Kou isn’t going to stop me. I’ll exorcise Hanako and make everyone proud.
“But-”
“I’m exorcising him! Why is that so hard to get?!” Sparks begin to fly from my daggers. Hanako’s watching us, looking mildly amused. Won’t be so funny when I hit him. Alright, aim them again, right at his head…
“But he’s not-”
“I don’t care! He’s an evil spirit!” My daggers are lined up for a perfect exorcism, and Hanako isn’t making any moves. This’ll take him out for sure.
“Let me talk! I’m trying to tell you-!”
Kou’s words are drowned out by the lightning shooting out of my daggers, in one big strike toward Hanako. I begin to enjoy my victory, grinning a bit, when in a flash of motion, Kou’s in front of my lighting. I can feel my face fall. My little brother-right there. I’m about to hurt him. I throw my daggers to the ground and try to protect him, to stop the lighting. It slowly begins to flicker away without my powers fueling them.
“Kou!” I rush to him, checking for injuries. Just singed clothes, thank goodness. “Why would you-?! Do you know how dangerous that was? Don’t ever get in the way of an exorcism!”
“I was trying to tell you: He’s not a danger! I’m no fan of his or anything, but that seal patch keeps him from harming anybody. You gotta let him go!” His eyebrows furrow in determination. Looking at his face, how desperate he is to defend him, I realize I can’t exorcise Hanako. Not when my brother is willing to risk his life to tell me he’s harmless because of that seal patch.
“Fine, but you can bet your ass I’ll be watching him.” I relent, hands on my hips. No way I’m leaving that shit spirit unsupervised.
“Does this mean you’ll be visiting me every day?” Hanako smirks. His excitement at the thought makes me flush-in annoyance, of course.
“More like following you to make sure you don’t do anything creepy tomorrow. Then I leave you alone, because I don't feel like being near you. But if I hear you’re doing something, consider yourself-” I cross my arms.
“Exorcised?” Hanako finishes.
I can feel my jaw clench.That brat! I’m gonna-
But then Kou chuckles. I can’t exorcise Hanako- Kou trusts he’s not dangerous.
I sigh.
I’m definitely gonna regret this.