Chapter 6: Misaki stairs part 1 - Where is Tsukasa?
Tsukasa stood Infront of the stairs, the one mentioned in the rumors of the Misaki stairs. he touch the railing of the staircase, his eyes dull. he felt selfish for the thoughts in his mind, he was loved by so many of the students in the school but none of them understand him. his personality was completely fake, he lied like it was breathing. but he knew once he shows his true feelings, their support will instantly disappear and they'll turn against him. for Yugi Tsukasa, is a horrible and disgusting person inside.
he knew everyone around him like to keep secrets and lie directly to his face. he knew their father was lying when he would tell him and Amane that he was getting better, so he was less upset when their father 'suddenly' died. their mother, still overwhelmed with grief of her husband dying, took this as Tsukasa being heartless and a monster. screaming that, 'that isn't my son', 'you must be a heartless spirit possessing my son'!. luckily Sakura had been there to calm down the twins' mother, once his mother had come back to her senses, she hugged him as she cry and apologies.
some part of him thinks that his mother still feels that way about him, thinking all her smiles were fake and some part of him wondered if his mother would have been happier if he died instead of their father. he knows that his mother is lying when she says she ok, and happy to make them feel better, but it makes Tsukasa feels worst. because all the lies make him feel disgusting Inside.
some part of Tsukasa knows that Sakura is keeping a secret from him, but he could never figure out what this secret was. whenever he asked if she was keeping anything a secret from him, she would force a smile and say "nope, I wouldn't lie to you Tsukasa", but those words felt meaningless. he knew he was loved, but he never felt like someone's favorite, even when it came to his childhood friend Sakura.
Tsukasa knew from a young age, that the only person who wouldn't lie to him was Amane. but now he's starting to self doubt himself, Amane has been distant and secretive as of late. they had been the closest of close since they were babies, but that might be because of them being twins. he felt like he was being left behind by everyone, and he doesn't feel like he catch up to them. he feels like he in their shadow, unable to react with them.
he step up the stairs, his hands trembling on the railing as he took in a shaking breath. he step on the fourth step, like it was mentioned in the rumor. maybe the growing pain in his chest, and the ugliness of his heart will finally fade away once he vanishes from this world.
Amane had overslept this morning as he walked downstairs, Tsukasa was brushing hair while on call with Sakura and Natsuhiko. Amane walked over to the toaster, he was still stuck in his thoughts about the incident from yesterday with Mitsuba and Hanako. about how Mitsuba call Hanako a murderer, and that mysterious boy he saw. he buttered his toast, "AMANE!" suddenly Tsukasa yelled out.
"huh! are you okay, Tsukasa?!" Amane gasped, as he was brought back to his surrounding. Tsukasa looked annoyed as he put the brush back on the self.
Tsukasa sighed "I-I'm Okay! I said your names three times but you didn't react, is something bothering you?" he asked his older twin brother.
"Oh! Um…" Amane blush in embarrassment "nothing's bothering me. it's just I made a new friend yesterday. and have been thinking about him" he half lied, it wasn't necessarily a lie.
Tsukasa eyes widen, he didn't understand why that hurt him. maybe it was because Amane who used to tell him everything, didn't even tell him yesterday that he made a new friend. but Tsukasa force a smile on his face, the fake smile he typically uses when talking to his classmates and other students at school. "oh! your such a social butterfly this year Amane!" he joked, as he slapped Amane's back playfully.
"ow-!" Amane gasped, not expecting the slap. "I guess your right, Tsukasa." he blush, as he smile at those words from his younger brother.
but then Tsukasa put a hand under his chin, as if deep in thought "but you have been acting off since I told you the rumor about Hanako-San" Tsukasa pointed out, wondering if he could get a answer from Amane, that satisfied him and didn't make him sick in the stomach due to lies.
Amane look uncomfortable at the question, as he glance around nervously. it made Tsukasa sick to his stomach, is it because he's trying to lie to his face or is it because he's forcing answers out of his older twin brother when he not entitled to know everything about his brother. "oh" Tsukasa gasp, as he decide to drop the topic, knowing he didn't want Amane to hate him. "is it that you got yourself a girlfriend and didn't tell your little brother!" he crossed his arms as he put on a fake offended face.
Amane felt guilty for lying to his little brother, but he doesn't little brother involved with the supernatural. and a selfish part of him wants something that was his alone, something he didn't have to share with his brother. he didn't want a friend that only his friend because of Tsukasa, he wants to be able to do things that don't involve his brother. "I- I don't have a girlfriend, Tsukasa. I just want to… um hang out with my friend, he's a year younger than us" Amane smile nervously. at least with Mitsuba and Hanako, he won't be constantly compared to his little brother, and won't always be a outsider in the friend group. he knows it his own fault that he isn't as close with Sakura anymore, and he knows it his fault he's not friends with Natsuhiko.
"Okay." Tsukasa glanced away, and started to pack his lunch box. Sakura and Natsuhiko came to pick up the Yugi twins like usual.
Amane finally noticed that his mother wasn't in the kitchen, he felt horrible for not noticing since she always in the kitchen when him and Tsukasa are getting ready. "where's mum, Tsukasa?" Amane gasped as he quickly pack up his lunch box and brush his hair.
"did you forget?" Tsukasa smile, "mum's at a job interview today." he told his older brother.
Amane thought back on it, and then remembered when he came home yesterday. he had been exhausted, and his mum had explained that she wasn't going to be home in the morning because of a job interview while he headed straight to his and Tsukasa's shared room since they were little boys.
"hurry up, Kids or we'll be late" Natsuhiko smiles as he pushes his hair out of his eyes, only for the hair to get in his eyes again when Sakura harshly slapped him on the back of the head.
Amane grabbed the extra key, and headed out with Tsukasa and Tsukasa's friends. he locked the door behind them and then put the key into his pocket. Tsukasa smile as he put on his perfect act, as he talk with Sakura and Natsuhiko, once again Amane was too focused on Hanako, Mitsuba and the school's mysteries to get involved in their conversations.
some of the students had forced Tsukasa into joining the school's newspaper club, they kept begging until he had agreed. Tsukasa had grabbed Amane along with him, Amane was sitting at a desk alone while everyone surrounded Tsukasa. the boys and girls were blushing and smiling as they talk with Tsukasa, Amane just sighed as he glanced out the window. the students in the club hadn't got Tsukasa to join because they wanted him to help, it was because they were in love with Tsukasa. sometimes Amane is slightly jealous of how effortlessly his little brother gets everyone's attention, but at the same time he doesn't understand how Tsukasa can be so perfect and handle everyone's eyes on him all the time, does he ever fear messing up in front of them?
Amane was to distracted in his thoughts to noticed that Tsukasa has walked over to him. "AMANE!" he heard his brother call out, he looked over at his brother who was now, well has been standing Infront of his desk for a few minutes "are you listening?" he asked him.
he glanced down and then back at Tsukasa "I-I'm sorry." he replied, Tsukasa kept the fake smile on his face. he knew it was selfish to be upset over something as simple as this since he's loved in the school by almost if not all the student body.
Tsukasa playfully rolled his eyes, as he put a hand on his hip "you're always spacing out. were you lying this morning…" Tsukasa was saying, Amane gulp nervously thinking that his little brother might have catch up on the Hanako lie. "when you said you didn't have a girlfriend…?" Amane let out a sigh of relief, which confuse Tsukasa.
he wasn't used to his older brother being so down in the dumps, even thought he didn't know the full reason for why his brother was upset. he has picked up on the fact that Amane was more interested in the rumors as of late. at least their was one thing the two brothers can still talk about with each other "Oh! I just remember my conversation with Sakura-Chan this morning. she told me a new rumor" Tsukasa smile, he love talking about his interests and he was happy that Amane seem to love them as well now.
Amane looked up, his interest spiked. "No.2 of the seven mysteries - The Misaki stairs. you must never step on the fourth step of that staircase. if you break that rule, you'll be dragged to the world of the dead… and your body will be torn to thousands, if not ten of thousands of pieces. they say that at twilight the blood of its victims drips down the stairs, even though no one can see its source." Tsukasa was explaining the rumor to Amane, Amane face turn from a smile to a horrified look.
this rumor was even more horrifying then the Mokke's rumor, that means Amane will have to change it so no one will get hurt. but Amane was curious how or who Sakura were getting these rumors from. and he also wondered who was making such horrifying rumors, she knew Sakura wouldn't make the rumor herself even thought she and Tsukasa did scare Amane will rumors as a kid. "w-which staircase… is this?" Amane asked his younger brother, his voice shaking showing his obvious fear.
Tsukasa smile, a finger Infront of his face as he laughs a little "stairway B in front of the art room. lots of kids say they've seen the pools of bloooood!" he was saying, expecting a happy look on Amane's face, but instead he got a horrified look. Tsukasa glance down, a hand on his cheek as he sighed "Huh? I thought you liked these stories, Amane"
"I do! i love them!" Amane yelled out, and the smile on Tsukasa's face returned.
Amane was about to pack up his belongings when suddenly his younger brother grabbed ahold of both his hands. the students were leaving since the club activity was over now, and were cleaning up the room. "are you coming, Tsukasa-Kun?" one of the girls asked, blushing as she held her together.
"Nope. sorry i want to talk with Amane alone a little" Tsukasa told them, the girl nodded and the rest of the students left the room leaving only Amane and Tsukasa alone in the classroom to talk with each other. "I know you always hide your pain. and never ask for help, and believe people are lying to your face when they say they care", Amane frown as Tsukasa says these words, remembering how long it took him to open up to his homeroom teacher in middle school. and how he tries to put a strong face on around his mother and little brother, because he believe he's the man of the house after their father died. "so if you need to talk to me, please do. I want to make you feel better, like how you always try to make me feel better…" Tsukasa was saying with a smile on his face, trying to get Amane to open to him so then that they could go back to being the same again, and so that he didn't feel like Amane was leaving him behind.
Amane's eye widen, he had a look of gratefulness on his face for having such a supportive younger brother. but that wasn't the compete truth, Tsukasa is saying this like he never help Amane, but Tsukasa was the one always being strong for Amane when they were younger and Amane was Ill, after their father died. Tsukasa had tried everything to get Amane to smile again. "Tsukasa…" he was about to open up to Tsukasa, but then their homeroom teacher entered the room.
"there you are, Yugi-San" he said, once he spotted Tsukasa. "I have been looking everywhere for you" he smile. Amane was confuse on why their teacher was looking for Tsukasa, did Tsukasa get in trouble. no that doesn't sound like Tsukasa, is he getting a reward for being perfect like in middle school. Tsukasa always got chosen for rewards from our peers, because they all believe Tsukasa is perfect, apart of Amane believes Tsukasa is perfect, but another part the more logical part knows that no one is perfect and that includes Tsukasa as well. "oh, you're here too. i didn't notice" his teacher apologised.
Tsukasa was confuse as he look up, and rubbed the back of his head while smiling "I'm a bit forgetful teacher. why were you looking for me?" he asked.
"you have guidance counseling with me, in the art room" their teacher reminded Tsukasa, Amane looked up at Tsukasa slightly shock. he didn't know that Tsukasa was still going to the guidance counselor, their mum had made Tsukasa going to the guidance counselor since middle school because she believed Tsukasa had some kind of issue. Amane wondered why their mother hadn't put him in counselling after all the bullying he experience in middle school.
Tsukasa mask cracked slightly, as an annoyed expression cross his face since he hates going to guidance counselling. but then he quickly put the emotional mask on as he fakes a smile "that's right. silly me, it must have slipped my mind. I'll be right there!" he told the teacher, the teacher left the classroom.
"Amane, what were you saying?" Tsukasa asked, as he turned around to face his older brother.
Amane glanced away "nothing. I'm okay seriously, just worry about yourself okay" he answered, and he glance back at Tsukasa with a sadden and shock expression "I didn't know mum was still making you go to guidance counselling" he said.
"oh. yeah, she is." Tsukasa glanced down, but then a idea popped in his head to lighten the mood "since you like the rumors, I'll keep telling you the rumors that Sakura-Chan tells me" Tsukasa smiles genuinely for a second, and then it disappeared as soon as it appeared.
he started walk toward his teacher, but Amane grabbed his hand "worry about yourself. I'm okay Amane", Tsukasa eyes widen but then he smile, as he pushes Amane hand off.
Amane was waiting at the gate for his little brother, but after half an hour Tsukasa didn't appear. but then he noticed that Sakura and Natsuhiko weren't there too. he thought that Tsukasa and his friends must have left to walk home already, he had no right to be upset he had made them walk home without him before because of him staying back late, they probably assumed he was staying late again.
he walked home, he look down at his phone and he had no new messages. he open the door, and then place the spare key down on the table after closing the door behind him. he felt tired, so he went upstairs, he noticed his mother in her room, with the door slightly open. "Mum, I think I'll skip dinner tonight." he told her, his mother looked concerned.
"are you sure, Amane?" his mother asked him, walking over to him as she placed a hand on his forehead to check for a temperature.
Amane was confused by this action "what are you doing?" he asked, he had done nothing to indicate that he could possibly be sick.
"I was checking if you were sick. since your health is pretty frail Amane" His mother sounded worried, but this just left Amane confused. did his mother forget that he no longer suffers from the illness from his childhood.
Amane smile "I'm fine, Mum. just tried" he told her, she still look concerned, as she nodded her head. he walked to his room, closing the door behind him. he felt weird as he walked over to his bed, his head spinning. he fell asleep on his bed.
he woke up the next morning with a huge headache, but he choose to ignored it as he check the time on his phone. it was time to wake up, he turned to look at Tsukasa but then his eyes widen as he noticed that everything that belong to Tsukasa and his side of the room was gone. he got up, as he ran to his mum room. his mum wasn't in there, their was a note on her bedside table saying she had to go to work early this morning. he picked up the family photo, but Tsukasa wasn't in the photo. it was just him, his mother and father. he dropped the photo, as it shattered in pieces.
he got into his uniform in a godly speed, he ran down the stairs. he skipped breakfast, he ran outside his house and ran right into Sakura. "Hey, my lady isn't that your childhood friend?" Natsuhiko asked Sakura.
"Oh, You're up early this morning" Sakura smiled at Amane, but something felt off as he wondered why she hasn't questioned him about the whereabouts of Tsukasa.
and he was confuse by Natsuhiko, he knows about Amane so why is he speaking like he has only just meet him today. "Sakura-Chan, have you seen Tsukasa? his things are missing and the photos in our house are different" Amane asked, his voice shaking from worry.
Natsuhiko looked confuse "who's this Tsukasa kid?" he asked "I though my lady said you were a only child." Amane's eyes widen at Natsuhiko's words.
Amane noticed how Sakura's eyes widen, and she glanced away like she was keeping something from him. "Amane… I don't who this Tsukasa is" she answered.
Amane grabbed his phone out of his pocket, as he scrolled down the contact list. Tsukasa was no longer in his contact list. 'I should call mum' he thought as he clicked the contact labeled as mum. but then it said he couldn't contact this number because he needed to recharge his phone. he thought he will just go to the office and call his mum from there, he started running in the direction of the school "Amane, wait…!" he heard Sakura called out, her voice growing quieter as he ran further away.
he huff and puff as he finally made it to the school's ground. he walk pass his and Tsukasa's classroom on the way to the office, he took a peak inside and noticed that Tsukasa's desk that was beside his own was now gone. he was hoping he was overthinking, hallucinating or that this was just one big nightmare. he couldn't think of his life without his little brother who has been with him his whole life since they were twins.
their homeroom teacher bumped into Amane, startling Amane as he jumped back and hit his back against the wall of the hallway. "Yugi-San, is something bothering you?" the teacher asked, "you seem rather jumpy" he pointed out.
that reminded Amane that the last time he saw Tsukasa was when Tsukasa left to go to his guidance counselling "did Tsukasa ever make it to the art room yesterday for guidance counselling?" Amane asked his teacher, trying to hold on to hope.
"Tsukasa…?" he said out loud, clearly confused by the name. "I didn't do any guidance counselling yesterday. and there's nobody in our school with that name." those words that slip out of his teacher's mouth is what he feared.
Amane took in a shaky breath, right now he would be walking to school with Tsukasa, Sakura and Natsuhiko. "who's this Tsukasa-" his teacher tried to ask him, but he started running up the hallway to the office. "Yugi-San!" his teacher called out concern by how out of character Amane seems to be acting.
Amane barge into the school's office, shocking everyone there.. Amane felt sick to his stomach, to the principal Amane looked out of it. Amane look like he had learn horrible news like news of a lost one, he was close to tears as he holds his chest while panting. "Yugi-San, are you alright?" the principal asked, as she walks over to him.
she place a hand on his shoulder, and Amane glanced up at her. "C-can i call my mum?" he asked her. she takes a good look at him, even if he wasn't sick something was clearly wrong. children don't suddenly barge into the office like this. she reach over the desk to grab the school phone, she hands the phone to Amane and leaves him alone to talk to his mother for a little bit.
"is something wrong, Miss-"
Amane sighed in relief once he heard his mother on the other side of the phone, but then he realize he still hasn't ask her about Tsukasa. their still a possibility something is wrong with Tsukasa since Amane can't find him. "Mum-" he speaks up.
"Amane, dear is everything okay? you sound like something bad happen. are you getting bullied again, do i need to come to your school and pick you up?" Amane heard his mum's concern voice on the other side of the phone.
he took in a shaky breath, fearing the answer he might get if he ask his question. "that's not the Issue. Mum, I woke up and couldn't find Tsukasa. did he ever make it home last night?" he asked, holding the phone tightly as his hands tremble.
"Amane. what are you talking about? I don't have any other children, your a only child remember?" His mother reminded him, she sounded worried and was probably thinking that he was crazy at this point. "do you need me to pick you up. maybe you are too stressed out and have started to imagine things?"
his worst fears were starting to become a reality, "N-No I'm fine. I just had a weird and long dream last night where i had a twin brother named Tsukasa. I just have made myself believe it was true. sorry to bother you while you're at work." he apologizes.
"are you sure?" she asked him, wanting to make sure.
he nodded his head, but then remembered his mother can't see him nodding. "yep. I'm fine, you should get back to work." he was pushing that he was okay.
he heard his mother sigh on the other side of the phone. "Okay, I'm going to trust you on this. but I'll recharge your phone now so if at any point of today, if you aren't feeling well you can call me at any time for me to pick you up"
"Thank you, Mum. bye, I love you." he replied, smiling half genuinely and half fake.
a few seconds later, his mother replied "I love too, Dear. bye" he hung up after that and return the phone too the principal before the principal could question him he had left the office.
he was walking down the hallways, as he tries to figure out what could have happened to his brother for him to suddenly disappear like he never existed in this world in the first place. he walked right into someone, causing Amane to fall backwards and drop his phone on the ground. "I-I'm sorry…" Amane apologized.
he looked up at the guy he had ran into, he thought this guy looked familiar but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. the guy reach his hand out toward Amane, Amane nervously place his hand on top of the other's hand "No. I'm sorry." he replied "are you okay?" he asked Amane.
Amane gave a good look at the guy, he wondered if he was a guy that would be Hanako's type. this made him wondered how Hanako couldn't consider Amane, her type. he better than half the guys that Hanako been fawning over. "are you okay there?" Amane came to his senses. "ah back on earth I see. you dropped this." the blonde hair boy with the black headband told him as he handed Amane back his phone.
"Uh-" Amane blush in embarrassment as he grabbed his phone back from the blonde hair student. "Thank you very much…"
he help Amane to his feet, he was about to remember where he knew this guy from but then he remembered why he bumped into the student in the first place. he ran own the hallway, unaware of the paper crane attaching itself to him.
Amane realize where he had seen him before, it was a fellow classmate of him. how didn't he remember him, is that student really not that noticeable. the blonde hair boy name is Yamabuki Lemon, the only student Amane has seen Lemon interact with is the class representative Akane.
that didn't matter now though, what matter is getting his little brother back. Lemon watch as Amane ran down the hallway, he smiles and then walked the opposite way of Amane.
Next Chapter: Misaki stairs Part 2
