A few days had started & passed, as quick as lightning. & now it was after school, Monday, & I was walking my rounds of the school. I had a skip in my step as I hummed softly, listening to my shoes click & the soothingness of my voice.

I was enveloped in my thoughts & all that had happen in the past week. The day that Lila's rumor had spread around the school, & her death was known by every single staff & student figure - I gained more visitors.

I had five different people summon me that day, four girls & a boy, all at different times after school. I listened to their prayers, & heard their pleas for help. & these pleas, were different from the normal ones I usually received:

They were all worse bullies or exes. Just like the situation with Akari.

It had to be fixed, no matter what.

So, despite what plunger-head beckoned for me to do, I took all of the five kids' wishes & created a rumor for each of their problems. & that's what I used the past week to do. I created the rumor, & each day of this week, a new one took place.

One of the girls was bullied by her best friend. She was in a toxic friendship with her, & was mentally & physically abused...up to the point where she was in the hospital for a week from bruises & punctured parts of her body...

'Did you hear? Rose Yoko didn't wake up today...her parents found her bedridden, & fast asleep. They rushed her to the hospital, & they say she's in a coma, though they're really not sure. At least she can't lay hand on her friend again.'

Another girl had an ex-boyfriend, with who she was so in love with. But, he decided to cheat on her with another girl who he lied to, saying he was single. That she was his 'crazy ex' who followed her around, like a love sick puppy...

'Another rumor? Apparently, Hachiro Gin cheated on his girlfriend, for an underclassman. It was heard when he was in his chemistry class, he accidentally switched his water for some dangerous chemicals. He didn't survive long enough for the paramedics to arrive...five minutes & he was gone. At least the poor girl who he cheated doesn't have to see him ever again.'

The boy told me he asked this girl out he had known for years. They were close friends, & she had started acting funny towards him once they hit their first year here at Kamome. The day he asked her out, she laughed in his face & said no. From that day on, her & her friend clique picked on him for it...

'Woah...so many rumors this week! Eri Hana turned down that boy, & ran her mouth to anyone & everyone who would listen. It's been heard when she was walking with her clique during the lunch hour, she choked on her favorite pokey. I heard she turned blue before her eyes rolled back. I wonder how that poor boy is doing with the news.'

& the last two girls came to me with the same issue with the same girl: each other. They were best friends until each of them stabbed one another in the back. No remorse, no nothing. They hated each other after each of them did shitty things back to each other for years...

'Weren't Hiro & Hiroki best friends? Somehow they both died together, laying in the garden, both having the same scar go down their wrist soaked in blood. They held hands, & looked almost at peace. At least they finally seemed happy again, maybe they finally became best friends again. Maybe in the afterlife, they can be happy together.'

I chuckled at the thoughts. Yeah, I've gone a little dark this week with all these rumors. The school was rumbling with my name in their mouths, with the rumors I had created of these people.

The power I felt I had: was outrageous. I felt strong like no one could touch me. I felt some peace & justice come into these weak school walls, that some of these kids were finally happy. The ones who sleuthed in the shadows & hid away their pains & sorrows - that it was no more.

They could be stronger, & happier now. All because of these rumors. That the people who had caused them trouble, are now gone. That they can finally live happier lives, like one I should have lived.

& maybe I dismissed Seven's orders, but, it was for some good causes. Something he wouldn't understand, & probably would never understand. & by now if he hasn't tried to come to visit & threaten me again - I think I was probably safe with my rumors.

As I made my final rounds of the day, with surprisingly no visitors, I made my way back down to the garden. Maybe I could watch the pink & yellow sky turn into the beautiful dark blue & yellow speckled night.

Slowly making my way down the final steps, only a few steps keeping me from my garden, I stayed entrapped into my thoughts. I was so high up in the clouds of thoughts, I barely noticed the apparition that watched me go down the stairs.

As I finally moved the glass door open & headed into the garden, I felt a huge wave of relief fill my body. I breathe in the cool & crisp air, closing my eyes. As soon as I opened my eyes again, I was met face to face with the one person I didn't want to see.

"Hello, Rouge." The seventh-wonder greeted, floating in front of me. His wisps looked a little hostile, as his eyes were half-lidded. His amber eyes were bright, yet dark. He supported a frown, his presence a very cold & unhappy one.

He didn't even mention I was in my human form, nor make a joke about it: he was all business.

I probably should have been sweating & nervous, like I was feeling on the outside, but I tried to remain a strong & powerful composure. Why should I let some boy make me feel powerless?

I stared at him, looking him up & down, "Seven. What brings you here? I was about to start my relaxing evening."

"Well, that will need to be put to a pause. We need to have a talk"

He got closer to me, continuing to speak, "I heard you went against my orders."

"What o-"

"Don't." Hanako stated, cutting me off, "You know you disobeyed me, & caused a disturbance between the boundaries. Don't play naive."

I was going to speak up, but he continued, "You caused so many rumors in one week, which usually isn't a problem, but in this case, students are dying. I told you we don't kill students here, & you went against it. & I've heard from the other wonders of the school, that the Minamoto brothers are searching for the wonders who are causing this."

"So?" I cut in, crossing my arms.

"So? They're going to try & exorcise you. & if you're exorcised, you don't come back. Your not human, your not a ghost, your not even a spirit orb floating around. You're gone. You know that?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, whatever. & I do know that. Why do you even care-"

Hanako grabbed my shoulders, floating to be taller than me - even though standing, he was already. Fury had sparked in his amber eyes, they flicked as if a fire was burning in them, "It is my job to protect ALL of the seven wonders."

"I-"

"But, you, Rouge Rumor. Have also betrayed my orders." Hanako stated darkly, letting go of my shoulders & letting his feet hit the ground. His head was hung low, as he reached his arm into the front of his buttoned shirt.

"You ignored when I said you were relieved of your duties that day. You took five students' rumors, & made dangerous ones. You put five kids who didn't deserve to die, into their death beds, instead of fixing some of these issues in a calmer way. You ignored my warning on it, & now..."

My eyes widened as he pulled out a kitchen knife, its blade shining in the sunlight. I looked into his eyes, my breathing getting heavier. His eyes were dark, a red flick in his now dark amber eyes.

"...I must take your number."

I stared at him & laughed sheepishly, "S-seven...your kidding."

He continued to stare at me, without any remorse. No emotion, just straight cold-shoulder. No emotions riding his face, a cold, deadpanned look stricken across it. This wasn't the Hanako that was playfully flirting with me the other day: this was the face of a cold-blooded murderer.

I backed away a few steps, starting to shake. He welds his knife, looking he could be ready to pounce. Hanako moved a step forward, causing me to jump. I could pull out my weapons, but I knew I was weaker than Seven...I either die now...or be exorcised...

I really didn't think this through.

As I continued to step back, & he furthered forward towards me, causing me to trip & fall back onto my butt. I felt like I could cry, but I yelled instead, "Hanako! How can I fix this!"

His face fixated into a smirk, as he put his lowered his knife, "You went against me, & now you want to condemn?"

I nodded, choking back tears & for once, my stubborn attitude. No more words could leave my mouth, I was finally petrified. I never knew I had to be in the face of death, knowing I could be gone forever before I would finally pull back all the traits that kept people from coming into my life.

Hanako walked over to me, putting his knife back into his shirt. He stood over me, beginning to speak: "Well, Rouge. Instead of revoking your number, I can make do with something else."

I started to listen in closely as he continued, "You're a high-risk target right now, due to the rumors you created. Meaning, the Minamoto brothers are going to be hunting for you. & since you cannot reverse these rumors, you'll have to work to fix the balance of things..."

"...Now, I can offer my protection & help, but for a price."

"&-& how do I do this?"

Hanako bent down, & lent his hand out to me. His signature smirk/smile reached his lips, his amber eyes shining;

"You, will become my assistant."