(Drawn by: Sizzle, THANK YOUUU!!!!!)

Things to remember!

H/L - Hair length

C/N - Cousin's name

~

After the battle was won, the Rift now had no guardian. The Sakura Wonders left in forlorn silence, carrying Osane's body. The Kamome Wonders supported each other, the least injured carrying the most weakened, heading back for the Broadcasting Room where the makeshift infirmary lay. Hanako gently helped Y/N up. He didn't say anything - he didn't know what to say. But by the way Y/N rested her head on his shoulder in a quiet sob, he supposed his silence was the best he could give.

Both sides were too shocked to let out a victory cheer, but deep inside, triumph lifted their spirits, if only a bit. The rivalry between the schools was gone. Tsukasa's memory was erased, and he was far from harming them again.

Something still dug in Y/N's heart. When she died, she had left something very important. 

"Hanako... tomorrow. I have to go somewhere." Y/N said to him when they had entered the Broadcasting Room. Hanako looked up from tending a Mokke. He was injured himself, but still tending to every Wonder.

"Where to?" He tilted his head.

"It's something personal. Please don't worry about me and care for the rest."

Hanako's eyes narrowed. He looked like he wanted to say something, but Tsuchigomori walked over to him, a fainted Yako in his arms now reverted to her fox form. 

"7th Wonder? Do you have an extra bed?" The teacher asked.

Hanako turned to reply, and Y/N slipped away quietly from the room.

~

The next day, early dawn...

Y/N passed through the Rift, and through the familiar halls of Sakura High. Her ghostly hand traced the cream-colored wall. Once, when her memory was lost, she had seen it as her domain - one she had to protect, with all of its Wonders.

Now there was no 7th Wonder for it. She had been stripped off of her title, Osane was gone - but she still loved the school with all her heart. Could she still be its guardian?

She headed for the main entrance of the school. It had a big garden that welcomed visitors and a large court in the middle, which was also the 4th Wonder's domain. However, she didn't see the Geisha anywhere. Beneath the large sakura tree that towered over the whole garden, Y/N could see a shrine had been made.

She walked closer. There were candles lit and gifts of food lain graciously before a framed picture of her; Her H/C hair was its long, H/L (Hair length) shape then, and her E/C eyes gleamed with joy. To the left of her picture lay another frame, with an image that nearly broke her down. It was Osane, red eyes alight with life, her long brown hair falling neatly.

There was a final frame in between them, but this time, it had a note inside...

Here lies Y/N L/N and Osane Miku

On August 4th, Y/N went missing. She was last seen in these school grounds with her best friend, Osane, who also passed with her.

Y/N was a kind, gentle, and meek soul. But she also knew how to defend herself, earning her belts swiftly in Taekwondo, and she was known as the student to have the fastest improvement of grades in her former school, Kamome High.

Osane was popular and understanding to all she met. Although she had only one guardian - a grandfather who passed when he heard she left us - she held motherly concern for all her fellow students, both new and old.

Y/N lives on in the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Tsukira, their daughter, C/N, and all her friends. 

Osane lives on in the memory of our students.

Y/N imagined C/N crying in her sleep, the bed she usually occupied beside her little cousin now empty and cold. Y/N bit her lip to fight her tears, and when that didn't work, she wrung her hands and dug her nails into her palms...

She was wrapped in a warm embrace. A hand lay on her head, tousling her hair, as the other arm pulled her closer. Y/N let her tears flow freely, sniffling harshly and saying it over and over again - "I'm so sorry..."

"It's painful to leave them." Came a reply. "And they will never forget you. But in due time they will love someone new, and you should do that, too."

Y/N looked up through her bleary eyes, and nearly had a heart attack when she saw Hanako gazing back.

"Y-You came?! But you had bandages all over you!" Y/N stammered.

Hanako rose a brow. "So? I've still got two legs."

"H-Hanako... I'm kneeling in front of my grave, and you're cracking jokes?"

"I..." Hanako looked to the side awkwardly. "...I thought it could make you feel better?"

Y/N rubbed an arm across her tear-streaked face, making a strange noise between laughing and crying. Hanako blurted unintelligible apologies as he wiped her tears away.

"I'm really the worst with these situations." He piped weakly, shaking his head.

"No, no... not all!" Y/N quickly said, clasping his hands that held her face. "But what about the Wonders you were taking care of?"

Hanako soothed her with soft strokes on her back.  "I asked the other Wonders to tend to them, and to cloak the Broadcasting Room in a mirage. No student will stumble on us, and a good thing, too - the makeshift infirmary is filled to the brim. Wouldn't that be a sight?"

Y/N chuckled, her heart lighter than when she first arrived. She turned to the framed note and frowned.

"I wonder why my body went missing. What's the school talking about? My grisly corpse was unmistakable  in that bathroom."

"Osane buried it." Peeped a new voice.

Y/N and Hanako turned, and found One-eye staring up at them. Hanako wasn't even surprised.

"Who told you?" He asked.

As if in reply, a black blob popped from behind the Mokke, wearing a creepy noh mask. Now Hanako was surprised.

"My buddy here from Sakura!" The Mokke gestured his ears to it. "He's a little quirky, but if you warm up to him he can say a few words."

One-eye grew silent for the Orphaned to speak. It only stared back hollowly, its noh mask unmoving.

"Wait a minute... why are you with a Sakura Wonder?" Y/N frowned at the Mokke. 

"Oh, you didn't know? The Sakura Wonders are all simpering to Kamome's doorstep to give us apologies, and rightfully so!" 

The Orphaned slapped One-eye. The Mokke slapped it back, and the Orphaned screeched - "AYE!"

"That's how you get him to talk?" Hanako sounded mortified and amused.

"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?!" Y/N leapt to her feet.

"Haiya, you guys are like overbearing parents!" One-eye grumbled, his blobby "friend" now bouncing away into the darkness. "Just come with me!"

~

Broadcasting Room...

One-eye led them inside and through a second door, which led into the makeshift infirmary. There were way more beds since they'd battled in the Rift.  Among the few in the bed were many Mokke, and Mitsuba. ("Well, it's nice to have companions." The Mokke with a belly bandage sighed.)

"Y/N! Hanako! Welcome back." Yashiro waved. She was holding a plastic bag, which held medical wrap and medicine. "The Sakura Wonders are in Tsuchigomori-sensei's library. He said they were too noisy for the patients."

"Put Y/N and her boyfriend in a room and it will be noisy anyhow." Mitsuba hollered from across the room, where he sat in his bed. "Just their pictures in my camera are enough to make me sick!"

Y/N turned red at the silver camera her friend held. Y/N didn't know how Tsukasa erased Mitsuba's memory, but she knew Mitsuba's camera would definitely bring it back. It was his prized possession. So she stopped Hanako when the Wonder told him to throw it away.

"DON'T MOVE TOO MUCH!" Kou berated, pushing Mitsuba back down.

"No, but look at this, look at this-" Mitsuba fought his grip, shoving the camera in Kou's face.

Mitsuba was snickering, and Kou was wide-eyed. Soon, the pair began to surf through the gallery. Y/N's ears burnt; she had a feeling she and Hanako were in those pictures.

"Let's leave them to it," Hanako hissed in her ear. Y/N nodded quickly and was more than grateful to leave the room.

~

Lunchbreak, in the Library...

Y/N and Hanako walked through the columns of bookshelves, the smell of paper calming her at once. She could see some Kamome students studying in the tables, but the door to the Reference Section was locked. No doubt, Tsuchigomori had done that, and there was a spirit gathering inside. The lock was no problem for her - she simply phased through the door.

The room inside was a sight to behold. 

Many Sakura Wonders were paired with those from Kamome - either one of its Wonders,  Natsuhiko, or Sakura - sitting in tables and exchanging words. Y/N caught a few "sorry's" and "I'll never do it again's" as she passed to a certain table, which had an empty chair that faced a very sour-looking boy...

Y/N sat calmly in front of Temari. Hanako floated loftily beside her, although his face was cold.

The Nun's Daughter was the first to speak. He spoke as if each word were acid in his tongue. "Hey, Y/N. I'm.... I.... I'msosorryIwasmeantoyou."

Y/N feigned innocence. "What? I didn't catch that?"

Temari looked like he was going to burst into flames, but Hanako was watching him with a stare that could cut stone. The 3rd Wonder took a deep breath in and forced himself to stare Y/N square in the eyes.

"Y/N, I'm.... sorry."

"For what?" Y/N pressed.

Temari groaned and clapped his hands to his face. "Dammit! For being a prick! A jerk, a douche, all of it!

Y/N stood up straighter, very pleased. "Much better! Apology accepted."

From across the room, Natsuhiko hissed to Sakura's ear. "Gods save us, Hanako's snark is rubbing on her."

Sakura looked up from her conversation with Stain, the mummy-tornado Wonder. "What's so bad about that?"

White fur flickered in the corner of Y/N's eyes. She turned to fox-formed Yako with surprise.

"Yako! I thought you fainted?!"

"Professionals like I recover quickly." She sat on the table, resting her tail on her paws. Temari swiftly got up from his chair, glad to be rid of apologizing.

A new Wonder replaced him. It was the 4th Wonder  - the Geisha. Her hands were no longer claws and she looked like a serene, beautiful maiden again.

"Kitsune of the Misaki Stairs." She addressed Yako, who rolled her eyes. Then she turned to the ghost pair. "Y/N of Sakura. 7th Wonder of Kamome. I apologize for my less than polite manner yesterday. In return, would you like me to read your fortunes?"

Hanako's eyes widened with interest. "Fortune?" While Yako barked a laugh - "Pffft, who still believes in that!"

The Geisha looked serious, however. "I can foretell the future of romances. Whether they will be unrequited, or returned. It helps me pick out the most entertaining victim."

Y/N shuddered as the Geisha smiled at them, but Hanako leaned against the table, more interested than ever. The 4th Wonder began by holding Yako's small paw.

"When I read your paw, 5th Wonder, I can sense that my Hanahaki disease wouldn't last so long on you." The Geisha said after a few seconds.

"Oh, yeah?" Yako sneered. "Tell them all why. It's because I'm stronger than you, isn't it?"

Then the Geisha announced to the Reference Section - "Yako loves someone, and this someone loves her back!"

Smoke plumed from a corner of the room, where Tsuchigomori was tilting his pipe down. "What was that?"

Yako's fur stood on end, hissing at the Geisha. "I - YOU! Shut up, shut up and silence!"

The Geisha laughed, which sounded like tinkling chimes, when Y/N interrupted meekly, "Aren't you reading my palm?"

The Geisha gazed upon her and Hanako, startled. "What! Dear, one look at you two and people will know the meaning of love!"

Y/N and Hanako faced each other, then the Geisha, then back at each other, blushing. The Geisha continued loftily-

"Oh yes, and take good care of your offspring! There will be tons, I can sense. Dozens and dozens..."

Y/N was going to melt in her chair. "The Geisha can't be serious.... H-Hanako! Stop looking at me like that!"

Hanako smirked. "Fate is fate. Hundreds of children it is."

Y/N rose her hand to deliver her famous uppercut. "What do you mean children? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HUNDREDS OF THEM?"

Hanako only laughed, and Y/N dealt him a blow. "Ow! I just thought it'd be funny to-"

Before he could finish, Y/N gave him another.

"-ACK!  I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MOKKE, OKAY?!"

Y/N and Hanako's quarrel, Yako and the Geisha's argument, the whole buzz in the Library ended when a lone gurgle resounded. Everyone's head turned to the 6th Wonder, Stain, whose bits of paper and scraps spun around him faster than usual.

Sakura sat by him, and the greenette translated, "He has an important question for Y/N."

Y/N's heart beat a little faster. "What is it?"

Stain gurgled and grunted some more. This time, Sakura looked lost. The white-haired 2nd Wonder, Angelo, stepped in for her-

"He's asking about who will lead Sakura's spirits now. Who is our 7th Wonder?"

Everyone's eyes snapped from Stain to Y/N. Her body went cold.

She whipped to Hanako, with a look that screamed, 'You're a 7th Wonder. What should I do?'  But Hanako looked as speechless as her.

Then a hand rose. Everyone's attention turned to Tsuchigomori.

"You know, the Rift is open to both schools. So why not unite them?" He spoke this seriously, but the mischief in his eyes made Y/N feel queasy. 

A Mokke gasped. "That's a great idea!"

"Hanako and Y/N..." An Orphaned beside it supplied.

"Y/N and Hanako..." Another Mokke nodded rapidly. 

"Two 7th Wonders, bound by promise, to unite the Rift between Kamome and Sakura..."

"...and they will rule both together, and keep us in balance!"

Angelo interrupted. "But aren't weddings of alliance usually forced?"

Yako flicked her tail impatiently and hollered at him, "Trust me, this wedding will be the exact opposite!"

After excitedly gushing over the plan, the Kamome and Sakura guests looked at the ghost pair expectantly. Hanako burnt red.

"So, Y/N...." He turned to her, who felt like she was going to faint at any moment. He tried to look formal in front of the Wonders, but there was unmistakable excitement in his eyes.

"What do you say?"

~

Ohohoho final chapter arriving soon~!