Nightmares

I am just absolutely in love with Corpse Party. Kind of funny though how I first found out about it. I was scrolling down Youtube when I found YuriofWind's vids and I saw him playing this. I never watched it but just kind of thought that it was a weird horror/dating game. I know, weird. But then I was bored and started playing it. Let's just say that was one happy accident thingy. I have played the first one and second one on the PSP and now I will be pissed if they don't localize blood drive. Anyway, I'm a huge fan of ayumi and yoshiki so I thought, might as well right? Enough about me cause you guys could prolly care less. Here is the story.

Ayumi was running. Probably running faster than she had ever before in her life. Get away. That was her goal. She could hear the children laughing as she passed holes in the wooden floor. Her footsteps made echoes as she ran.

"Someone help please!" she screamed as so was running. Why could no one hear her? She had gotten separated from Kishinuma sometime before but couldn't remember quite when. The laughing of the children got louder. Then, by some unlucky fate, she ran face first into a wall. Her head bumped against it and she fell back. The wall hurt but it should have hurt more.

"Why..." she started. Then she saw what she ran into. It was the remains of Mayu. "No no no..." she was starting to hyperventilate again as she pulled human flesh off of her face.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Ayumi shot out of her bed. Still breathing very quickly her hands shot to her face to double check for anything that was out of the ordinary. Once she realized there was nothing on her face, she broke out into tears.

"It's all my fault..." she sobbed into her blanket. "If only I hadn't suggested the stupid charm..." Through her tears she looked at her alarm clock. It was 3:20 A.M.

It had been about 3 weeks since Heavenly Host and the nightmares just hadn't stopped since. She dreamed about how she couldn't save everyone. She dreamed about her friends dying right in front of her. She remembered all of the terrible smells and the fears she experienced. She could recall when she was possessed and how it felt to have no control over her own body. Would she ever be able to sleep peacefully again? She guessed that was not a possibility anymore. After all she considered herself the root of this event and she made herself out to be a murderer. Mochida and Naomi kept telling her that she shouldn't blame herself. That no one could have possibly expected something so serious to happen to all of them. But how could she?

Ayumi's brain felt like it was slowly deteriorating over the few weeks since she had escaped that hell. Knowing that she would not get anymore sleep that night, she got up and sat at her desk, her eyes still wet from all of the crying she had done. She looked at her sketch pad that she kept in her room and decided to open it. It was full of pictures that she had drawn of her friends. Mayu, Morishige, Seiko, and Yui sensei. It was the only images she had of them, granted they weren't really good drawings of them. All of the memory of her friends had been erased from the world the day they came back. All the pictures that she had of them had blacked out faces and no one, except the five who escaped, remembered them. It still remained a mystery as to why.

She began to think of her friends. Mochida, Naomi, Yuka, and Kishinuma. They were the reason she still had some of her sanity left. She wouldn't know what she would do if they weren't there for her. She had to remember though, that they were all suffering like she was. Especially Naomi. She had literally killed her best friend. Even though she had been possessed when she did it, she still did. It's just heartbreaking. What would she had done if she had killed Kishinuma while she got possessed in there? Just thinking about such a thing made her heart grow heavier.

The day soon came and she prepared for another day of school. School had become increasingly difficult ever since they had gotten back. Ayumi wasn't able to pay attention to any of her classes anymore. It was difficult just to go through the day. However, her homeroom class was by far the worst since Ms. Yui had been her old homeroom teacher. Now her new teacher was a really grumpy person who was kind of mean. She hated him. More than anything.

Ayumi approached the school and found her friends waiting in the spot that they would usually be stationed at. She took a quick glance at all of her friends. She could see the black lines under all of their eyes and the lack of rest thereof. Mochida and Naomi had been inseparable since they had returned and Ayumi couldn't blame them. She didn't even feel jealous at all which was odd, but it made her feel better knowing that she could just be happy for her friends. Kishinuma was already not very social in school but it had gotten a lot worse since. He won't speak to anyone except for us.

"Morning," Mochida said a little sleepy still.

"I guess," was Kishinuma's response.

"Well, lets get moving otherwise we will be late," Naomi said. We all nodded and went to class.

Homeroom was as quiet as usual, and by usual I mean ever since we got back. Many people had started staring at us, wondering why we, especially the class rep, was so quiet. Some rumors even got started about how we had started doing drugs or that some family members died or something like that. Not that I really cared, rumors where stupid anyway.

The day went on and school finally ended. Ayumi and her group of friends met in front of the school and then said their goodbyes. She got home and immediately went to her room. Her sister Hinoe had been a great source for venting out her frustrations and fears because she was a psychic. Ayumi hadn't really explained everything that happened to her sister because it was still hard to bring it up, and even though Hinoe believed her, she found it hard that she would actually understand what she was going through. She really needed to talk to someone though. Someone who would understand. Normally talking to Hinoe would still help her but unfortunately she was away on a work trip. A client lived somewhere in Europe and she traveled there to help them. She pulled out her phone and stared at it for a while. Who would she talk too? Naomi was probably her first choice but she was most likely with Mochida and Ayumi didn't really feel like being with the both of them. Yuka was way younger than her and she didn't want to make Yuka re-live that again so she was out of the picture. That left Kishinuma. Ayumi hadn't really associated with him outside of school but she had gotten to know him better inside of Heavenly Host. She texted him and asked to talk.

Yoshiki got home from school and just collapsed on his couch. School was already a chore for him and now it was like another version of hell. Everyday he would just get reminders of that awful place and see Yui Sensei. He was so close to being able to save her and yet he didn't. Everyday he beat himself up over it. His dreams were also not helping out at all. He kept dreaming about scenarios where Shinozaki had almost died and he couldn't save her. Like when she fell into that pool and he ended up not finding her. He would wake up most nights in tears, screaming her name. Unable to vent his frustrations he would find something that he could break and go and take out his anger on some object in the backyard of his apartment complex. Yoshiki was very envious of the rest of his friends. They all had families that cared for them and would be there for them. However, he had no one. Except for his sister Miki of course, who he loved dearly, but she only visited once in a while. He was alone with his thoughts and it was killing him.

Yoshiki moved into the kitchen to try to eat something before he had to go to work. Playing music was his passion and he realized it was another way to vent his frustrations. However his first guitar broke from use and he couldn't play at home. So he would just play at work, passing time by fueling his notes with anger and sadness. Suddenly he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Yoshiki pulled out his phone and looked at the notification. A text message from Shinozaki? His face got tinted with a shade of red as he opened up the message.

"Hey, I really need to talk to someone about all of this. I feel like my brain and heart will explode if I don't. If you don't want to I understand. Remembering everything is awful but it makes me feel better once I have talked about it. Could you meet up sometime today to talk?"

-Ayumi

His heart stopped. Shinozaki wanted to talk with me? During Heavenly Host he had felt like he had gotten very close to her and was doing his best to protect her with every ounce of his being. Still none of us had really talked since we came back. Excluding maybe Satoshi and Nakashima. He just assumed that Shinozaki would talk with Naomi or maybe Satoshi since he knew she liked him. Yoshiki really wanted to talk to her but he had to go to work in a few hours. He decided on what he was going to say and sent the message back to her. He then proceeded to eat what he had prepared and watched TV till he had to leave for work.

Ayumi soon felt her phone vibrate. She opened the message that Kishinuma had sent back.

"I totally understand how you feel. I would love to talk to you but I work today. I will be back though around 8. If you still want to talk we can do it then."

-Yoshiki

Ayumi sighed with relief. She had thought that he wouldn't want to talk to anyone. He seemed so much quieter since the incident. She texted him back saying she did want to and then sat down at her desk starting some homework that was much too overdue. Nearing eight a clock she realized that they hadn't set up a meeting place. She suddenly began to panic and was going to text him asking where they should meet. Then she stopped. She didn't exactly know where Kishinuma lived and thought she should know so she got dressed and decided to go wait in front of the music store he works at since Mochida had told her he works there before.

Yoshiki sat inside they music store strumming his guitar just whatever tune that came to him. The were closing soon and his boss let him play some of the cheaper instruments at the store. In fact, his boss actually encouraged it saying that it was good for kids now a days to have a interest in music. His boss was a man that Yoshiki really respected. He was a really nice person who actually took some interest in Yoshiki. He had given him the job when he was looking for another person to help watch the store and he met Yoshiki on the street right outside and started a conversation with him. He learned of his situation and immediately gave him the job. His boss sometimes also buys him lunch. He was really thankful for the man.

"Kishinuma!" he heard his boss from the backroom. "Let's close up alright?"

"You got it!" He yelled back. Yoshiki put the guitar away and started to turn off the lights. "See ya later boss!"

"Peace!" he heard him yell back. Yoshiki picked up his belongings and put on his jacket and left the building.

Ayumi sat on a bench really close to the shop just waiting for Kishinuma to get off cursing at herself for not bringing a jacket. She was wearing jean shorts and a tank top with an undershirt. It was October and she didn't expect it to get so cold. She was freezing. However she did realize that being out here waiting for him felt better than being cooped up in her house doing nothing. Not only that she could hear someone playing music inside the store. It sounded amazing and it was really soothing. She got up from the bench and peeked inside. She saw Kishinuma sitting in the corner of the store just strumming on the guitar. Wow. Ayumi had no idea that he could actually play music. Not only that, he was amazing. She sat down outside of the store closer just listening to him play. It felt good.

She heard him stop and she just sat there. She just felt so much more relaxed than she did before and it was nice just hearing the wind breeze by now. Ayumi didn't even realize that the lights went out in the store.

"Shinozaki?" she heard Kishinuma say from the right of her. Immediately she shot up and looked at him embarrassed. She had only meant to wait for him by the shop but she just got so caught up in his music that she got closer.

"I...uh...I was just... waiting for you because... you know... we never decided where we were gonna talk and... you know just thought I would wait here and meet you." Extremely smooth she thought to herself.

Yoshiki was shocked to see her right outside of his workplace. Why was she out here all alone? He noticed what she was wearing and thought she looked extremely cute. His face got a little flustered as he said her name. She gave a very stuttering response and he couldn't help but smile. Then he noticed that he hadn't smiled in a long time. It felt good.

"Haha," he laughed. "Its alright. I was just a little surprised to see you that's all. Where did you want to talk?" he said noticing her shifting on her feet uncomfortably. She looked at him slightly then down at the ground.

"I was wondering... if maybe we could go to where you live? I have never been there and I don't really want to explain to my parents why you would be there." Shinozaki was asking to come to his house? Yoshiki's face warmed up a little more as he realized that she actually wanted to come to his house.

"Of course, no problem." Yoshiki said. He then told her just to follow him and they would get there in no time.

Ayumi sighed in relief as Kishinuma said yes to his house. Her parents would probably question why a boy was over so late and who he was and she had a feeling that he wasn't exactly the type of person that her parents would approve. She agreed to follow him and they made their way down the road. As they were walking she couldn't help herself but to bring up his music skills.

"You are really good," she said. He looked over at her with a weird stare like what? "You are really good at the guitar. Amazing in fact. I never knew that you could play so well." Kishinuma was shocked.

"You heard that?" he asked her sounding a little shy about it. "I was just playing freestyle. Its just another way that I use to get out all my feelings." Ayumi thought about what he was saying. Kishinuma wasn't exactly the type of person that would express his feelings. He really liked to hide them from everyone. She felt a little honored that he was sharing something like that with her.

"It made me feel really relaxed. You have a talent Kishinuma and I think you are really amazing at it. You should keep going with music," she said trying not to discourage him from playing more. She knew he struggled with school but if he kept it up with the music he could have a future for himself and he might not even notice. He laughed a little at her comment.

"Thanks," he said. "A lot." He smiled at her. Suddenly her heart started beating faster. What's this feeling? Suddenly she realized how cold it was. Her body shivered against the wind.

Yoshiki took notice of her shiver and took off his coat. Sure it was cold but she needed it more.

"Here, use this," he said offering his coat to Shinozaki. She looked at him hesitantly but then took his coat and put it around her. It was much to big for her but she looked cuter with it on. His mind was totally on her and he needed to stop thinking about her so much. They weren't a couple so it was just a friendly gesture. Also they were heading to his house to discuss horrible things and he should be focused on how he could help her feel better.

"Thanks," she said.

The rest of the way to his house was quiet. Not much talking was needed as they both were focused on what they wanted to share. Both of them could feel the mutual sadness that was looming over both of their heads. Finally they arrived at the small apartment. Yoshiki unlocked it and let Shinozaki inside. He closed the door and followed her into the house. Yoshiki told Shinozaki that he would make some tea and that she could wait in the living room. She nodded her head and moved in there but not before putting his coat up on a coat hanger.

Tea was always good and Yoshiki loved it more than he would like to admit. He drank it all of the time and it helped him through tough situations. He brought it in to his living room where he found Shinozaki on the couch. She was rubbing her arm and was looking at the floor. He placed the tea on the table and sat down next to her putting a hand on her back. Sure this was a little close but he was her friend and friends watch out for each other right? She looked a little more concerned than she did earlier.

"What's wrong?" Kishinuma asked her. What a silly question to ask but it still made sense to her somewhat. When they were walking here she thought about all of the times Kishinuma had saved her from death in Heavenly Host. She had never thanked him for it. She hadn't even shown an ounce of gratitude towards him. She had only yelled at him for making stupid decisions and running off by himself. She felt awful as she realized this and wanted to apologize.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "Back at Heavenly Host you were with me the whole time. If you hadn't been with me I would never had made it back. You saved me from death so many times and I never thanked you for it once. I feel awful and I hope you don't hate me."

Hate her? Yoshiki processed everything she had said. Why would she think that? Yeah, maybe she hadn't shown her thanks or anything but he didn't care. He was so happy that he had been successful in bringing her back that it didn't even matter to him.

"Of course I don't hate you. I don't think you realize this but you saved me too. You kept me going. It was all just really stressful and horrifying and I swore to myself to protect you and I'm just happy that I was successful in doing that." Did he just say that? Yoshiki just realized he said more than he meant to and heated up for mistakenly doing that.

Ayumi was shocked to hear his response. He swore to protect me? She was speechless. She was sure Kishinuma would have some pent up anger towards her for being selfish or something. Suddenly she started to tear up.

"Thank you so much," she said starting to shake from her emotions coming out all at once.

Yoshiki saw her start to cry and felt tears coming to his own eyes. He couldn't cry. Not in front of her. He had to be strong for her and show her that he was here for her when she needed it. He pulled her into a hug and she bawled on his shirt. Time passed as she sat there and just let out all of her pent up emotions out, all at once. Yoshiki was happy that he was able to be here and comfort her too. Eventually she started to calm down and she pulled away. She sniffled a little and then saw the tea he had made on the table. Ayumi picked up her mug and drank some.

"This is really good, thanks," Ayumi said starting to feel better.

"It was my pleasure," he told her back. Ayumi felt so much better than she had in the past weeks. Kishinuma had let her spill out her emotions all on him and she was very grateful for it. She would return the favor anytime. She placed her cup back on the table having finished it and sat back on the couch. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he was drinking his tea. Her face heated up a little but she didn't care. She was very much at peace and nothing would ruin it for her now.

Yoshiki face got extremely flustered as Shinozaki leaned on his shoulder. He was so shocked and happy at the same time. He couldn't believe this was actually happening but he realized that she was at peace. He seemed to feel the same way and it was great. He leaned back on the couch and started to feel sleepy.

Ayumi was very tired and she didn't feel like walking back home. Though she didn't want to pester Kishinuma more than she had.

"I should get going I guess," Her parents would freak out if she was any later anyways.

Yoshiki heard her and sighed as he didn't really want her to leave. He was afraid of his own thoughts.

"I guess, but it's really cold outside so you better take my coat with you."

"But you need it tomorrow morning!" she protested.

"Don't worry about me. Take it or I'll make you take it." he said back.

Geez he can be so stubborn sometimes. "Fine," she said and she headed over to the door. She took his coat off the rack and put it on. Before she left though she turned around and hugged him tight.

"You're the best," she said quietly and then she left.

Yoshiki was taken back by her sudden hug. Then he was shocked at her comment. Once she left he found himself wishing she would come right back. Today was definiatly a good day. However he had to go to school tomorrow and surely he would not sleep tonight thanks to the nightmares.

"Back to the usual routine I guess," he said as he headed to his bedroom to take on this nights nightmares.