Fatal Frame: A Question of Love
Chapter 1 of my first Fatal Frame story that is not just a one-shot. Just a note, this story is an AU set a year after Fatal Frame 3 and features my favourite pairings of the series, Miku/Kei, just hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Fatal Frame or any of its characters.
Chapter 1
The start of a new day, usually the start of new beginnings; but after going through horrors like she had, it did not feel that way to sixteen year old Mio Amakura; a shy girl with shoulder length brown hair, the fringe slightly parted on the right, brown eyes, pale skin and a slender build.
'Life will never be the same for me, or any of us here...But, we have to try, to try and move on and live our lives.' She told herself. 'That is the only thing we can do, to honour those we have lost.'
She was staying with her Uncle Kei Amakura and with the two people who had helped Kei, nearly a year ago now, with the nightmares all four of them faced in the Mansion of Sleep, Rei Kurosawa and Miku Hinasaki.
Mio managed a small smile. 'They're good people, so nice and Miku has become a very good friend. I suppose it's thanks to them that I felt ready for this, but am I ready?'
After a period recovering, the four of them decided it was time to get back into the world, for Mio that meant that today was her first day, facing a new school. She stood before the mirror, adjusting her glasses, observing her reflection.
Her journey in the Lost Village and her close encounter with the Kusabi, Sae and the Hellish Abyss, had affected her vision, requiring her to now wear glasses.
She was already dressed, wearing her new school uniform, for the girls, this consisted of a black mid-thigh pleated skirt; a white long sleeved shirt with a blue collar, sleeve hems and front pocket; a red ribbon like tie; black calf-high socks and black polished shoes.
Looking at her reflection, Mio felt her resolve wavering slightly; she thought she was ready, but standing here, she felt nervous. After this was a new school, a new environment with people she didn't know.
Normally when faced with this situation, she followed Mayu's lead; her late sister was the more outgoing of the two after all. But she wouldn't have that this time. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." She said at once, turning.
The door opened to admit a brown haired man of twenty-seven, his warm brown eyes conveyed support and strength to just about everyone he spoke to. He had a noticeably toned build and was pale, like her.
She smiled lightly. "Uncle Kei."
"Good morning Mio, I see you're ready." He greeted her. "I could drop you off if you like, I have to call in the office today so..."
She nodded. "Thank you, I'd like that."
Kei nodded and together they left the room, ready to join the others for breakfast; with Kei doing his best to keep her spirits up, Mio decided that she would try, she could try, it was the least she could do.
After breakfast, while Mio and Kei had already left, twenty year old Miku Hinasaki stood up. She smiled softly, patting down her long brown hair, held up in its usual bun by her grandmother's hair clip. Her soft brown eyes turned to observe the other occupant of the house.
Like her the young woman was pale and slender, this woman had shoulder length black hair and dark brown eyes, as well as a small beauty mark beneath her left eye. This was twenty-four year old Rei Kurosawa.
"So, Rei, any plans for today?" She asked casually.
Rei smiled back and nodded. "Yes Miku, in fact...I think, I think it's time."
Miku watched her carefully at that, biting her lip. "Do, do you mean…?"
Rei nodded. "It's time I got back to work; I'll go and see if there's any assignments."
"Sounds good, it'll be good to work again, like the old days." Miku replied genuinely; to which Rei nodded in agreement.
So together they got to work, gathering what they would need, their equipment and such. Once all ready they carried it out to Rei's car, loaded everything up and, locking up the house, they got in the car.
Rei smiled as she started up the car. 'This is it, the start of a new day, a new chapter, in all our lives...It's time to look to the future, I realize that now...Thank you, Yuu.'
Still smiling she began to drive away, heading off to what she hoped was the start of a new assignment.
That evening, at dinner, the four sat around, eating their meal, all of them happy.
"So, Mio..." Miku began, striking up conversation. "How was it at school today?"
Mio smiled in return. "Not too bad actually; I...I got through the day okay, everyone was nice. I think I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow."
The others laughed at that and Kei nodded. "Guess it was a good day all round; things are going well at work, I'd say we're looking at a much better future now."
"That's true." Rei added. "I've already got a few new assignments, we're all together, what could be better?"
Miku grinned and nodded in agreement; the four of them had come through some severe rough times over the past few years. But now, at least, they were together and stronger than ever. They'd never forget the hardships and horrors of the past, but they would not be overcome by them, not while they still had each other.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
Just a nice introduction to show the characters and their lives, how they're pulling together from their pasts this time around, the Miku/Kei stuff is coming soon, I promise.