This is my first piece of School Days fan fiction, and it was actually suggested by one of my readers that I do one. I had already had something resembling a concept in mind, but it was that suggestion that actually pushed me to do it.

Just a quick reference point; this chapter starts off immediately after the conclusion of the anime series. I've already got plans to turn it into a full-fledged story, so this isn't the last you'll see of it. Without further ado, lets' begin.

Crimson Promises

Chapter One

The sun cast a deep orange glow across the surface of the water as it set behind the ocean. The glow was broken up in patches by the shifting of the small waves, glittering in the fading light and creating a kaleidoscope of yellow and orange daggers dancing their way across the waves.

The small boat rocked back and forth hypnotically as it drifted through the sea of daggers toward the setting sun, its lone passenger curled up on the deck. Katsura Kotonoha didn't even seem to notice the motion of her vessel as she perked her head up just enough to watch the sunset.

"It's beautiful, isn't it Makoto?" she whispered lovingly to the object cradled in her arms, carefully nestled in the folds of her shirt. "I could just watch it forever…"

She held the object close to her chest, smiling softly as she felt the warmth of the sun fall across her face as it continued its slow retreat behind the waters. Soon, night would fall.

The soothing sounds of the waves were playing her a lullaby, and the rhythmic motions of the boat were slowly rocking her to sleep. This place was perfect, she thought to herself as her eyelids became heavy. She was finally away from everything, and she finally had peace…and Makoto. She shifted a little bit, tilting her head down to look at the object in her arms. Makoto's empty eyes looked back up at her, and she heard him whisper in her mind.

"I love you too, Makoto…" she breathed, and allowed her eyes to slide closed.

She stayed that way for several minutes, her breathing becoming slow and even as the sun continued to slip below the horizon, turning the water from its former orange to a deep red hue.

And then her eyes snapped open.

She sat bolt upright, clutching all that was left of Makoto tightly to her, as her head whipped around.

"Who's there?" She called. "Who are you?!"

Her eyes were wide, and her pupils were rapidly shrinking as she looked frantically around the surface of the boat. One of the sails rustled in the wind, and she shakily made her way to her feet.

"Who's there?!" She repeated, her voice becoming several octaves higher.

The boat made no reply.

"ANSWER ME!!!!!" Kotonoha screamed, before sinking to her knees and burying her face in her hands. "Go away, go away, go away, go away…" She whispered as she slumped forward, falling face-first onto the deck and bursting into tears.

"Leave me alone…"

The wind was the only thing that answered, whispering through the air around her and offering up a light mist of salty water.

She looked up, her teary eyes going wide as she stared straight ahead in horror.

"Oh no…" she whispered, her breath coming in quick gasps. "Oh no, no, no…it's you, isn't it?" No response. "ISN'T IT?!!!"

She stood upright again with one swift motion, standing there on trembling legs and clutching Makoto tightly to her.

"You tried to take him from me before…" She said in a breathy whisper. "And you're still trying to steal him from me! You always wanted him for yourself, I know you did! Everything you ever said to me was a lie! Wasn't it?! WASN'T IT, SAIONJI??!!!"

Tears streamed from her panic-stricken face. She reached into the handbag that was lying on the deck beside her, drawing out her still bloody dozuki and flinging it towards the center of the boat with a yell. The bloodstained blade clattered off of the mast, hitting the deck with a clang before tumbling over the side.

She reached a hand up to hastily wipe the tears from her reddening eyes. "But you were wrong." She said, letting out a small laugh. "Makoto doesn't want you at all. He chose me. Didn't you, Makoto?" She held Makoto's head up, staring into its lifeless eyes. "Didn't you? Makoto?"

Her lover gave no answer.

"Makoto…?" She asked, her voice climbing higher once more. "Why aren't you answering me?" Again, no answer was given. "Answer me…please answer me!"

She continued to stare into Makoto's eyes, tears welling up in her own once again. She brought the head in closer, holding it tightly to her chest as she continually whispered "Answer me, answer me, please answer me, answer me…"

Finally, her anguish streaming down her face, she threw back her head and let out an agonized wail. "MAKOTOOOOO!!!!!!"

The soft wind that had blown across her face earlier was now a steady gust, whipping her hair across her face as the skies darkened.

"YOU did this!!!" She shrieked, pointing an accusing finger towards her unseen tormentor. "YOU DID THIS!!!" She broke into a run, sprinting across the boat as the first drops of rain began lightly dropping across her vessel. "I won't let you follow me…" She breathed, stretching out her free hand and grabbing onto the rope that held up the sails of her yacht. With a swift yank they were free, billowing out and catching the rapidly strengthening breeze. "I won't let you ruin my life again!!"

The raindrops were falling at a more constant rate now, each giving a loud plink as it hit the yacht. Storm clouds churned to the north, and she heard the distant rolling of thunder. Kotonoha pulled as hard as she could on the sails, and her craft changed direction, cutting through the rising waves straight towards the storm.

"I'll make sure you can't follow us…" she hissed as the small vessel began to rock to and fro with the motion of the waters.

She sailed on into the gathering night.

Four days later, the following was published in a local paper.

WRECKAGE DISCOVERED, POSSIBLY LINKED TO DOUBLE HOMICIDE.

A group of tourists discovered the remains of what appears to be a small yacht, washed up on the shores of a mostly deserted beach. The Vessel was in several pieces, most of which have suffered irreparable damage. However, authorities were able to identify the boats' owners; The Katsura family, who filed a report just a few days ago about a stolen yacht which fits the description of the wreckage.

The yacht was reported as missing two days ago, when the family returned home to find it gone. However, this is not what the family is concerned with. Shortly after the theft was reported, the Katsura family also filed a missing persons report on their oldest daughter, Katsura Kotonoha, when she did not return home the next evening. It is not yet clear if these two incidents are related, and authorities say that they have not ruled out the possibility of abduction.

"At this point in time, we can't confirm whether or not the disappearance of the yacht is connected to the girls' disappearance." Police chief Atsushi Hajime told reporters. "It's also a definite possibility that this is part of a kidnapping case. At this moment, all options are open and we are still searching for suspects. We just don't know right now."

The disappearance of Katsura Kotonoha is the third incident in the past week involving students at the Sakakino Academy. As was reported four days ago, the bodies of two other students have been discovered and identified; Itou Makoto was found in his apartment, stabbed repeatedly and decapitated. The body of his fellow student, Saionji Sekai was discovered on the roof of the school, and had been mutilated by a similar weapon. What little evidence that remained at the scene has been declared inconclusive by police.

The Sakakino Academy has been closed for the past two days in the wake of the murders, and some parents have even withdrawn their students from the school. Is Sakakino in the grip of a serial killer? According to chief Hajime, "It may not be related at all because it doesn't fit the pattern of the other two deaths, but at the moment we're treating the girls disappearance as a possible homicide."

We will keep you updated on this story as it develops.

END CHAPTER

So, what did you think of the first chapter? I really tried to capture the character of Kotonoha in this, so I can only hope that I pulled it off all right. I really like her as a character, and she's a lot of fun to write. The goal was for her sanity to slip away even more than it already had, so that's why she's a little more…out there…than usual. She's gradually getting worse as her grip on reality loosens.

Anyway, like I said earlier, I will be continuing this, so please let me know if you like it!