Chapter 1: Himuro Mansion
A girl around the age of 17 walked through the forest. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a red shirt, a brown skirt, and black boots. She wore a white coat over the shirt and a her long brown hair was rolled back by a comb making it look short.
Her name was Miku Hinasaki. She was searching for something. A mansion to be specific.
Did this mansion even exist? Miku wasn't sure, but she was determined to find it.
Her brother, Mafuyu, had been missing for two weeks. He had left a note revealing his whereabouts.
Ever since her mom died, Mafuyu was the only family she had left.
Finally, Miku reached the mansion. It was stationed on a hill. Several stone steps led up to it.
As Miku walked up the steps, she felt as if something had summoned her here. When she reached the top of the stairs, she opened the front door and entered the mansion.
--
It was dark inside, Miku turned on her flash light to get a better view. Various areas of the room looked like they were ready to fall apart. The walls were decorated with spider webs.
This place must have been abandoned for some time. Mafuyu and Mr. Takamine were probably somewhere deeper in the mansion.
"Help…" A voice called from behind.
Miku spun around, nobody was there. She must have been imagining things.
Miku then entered the next room. It was a hallway with several ropes hanging from the ceiling.
Who in their right mind would want to hang ropes on the ceiling. Just looking at the ropes gave her an uneasy feeling.
At the end of the hall was a mirror. In front of the mirror was a camera and a notebook.
Miku picked up the camera and examined it.
It was the same camera that had once belonged to her mom. It was currently loaded with 14-film.
Just then several images entered Miku's mind.
Mafuyu running down the hallway…
Several ghastly arms emerged from the walls…
They all made attempts to grab him…
Mafuyu looked back and saw a woman with long black hair…
The hair covered her eyes…
She wore a white kimono…
Several ghastly arms shot towards Mafuyu…
Miku…
The images ended.
What was that all about? Did something happen to her brother? She sure hoped he was okay.
She then picked up the notebook and examined it. The notebook was written by Mafuyu. She then read the text.
Himuro Mansion was once that home of a large landowner that controlled vast areas of land. They also say that the site held some special significance that had to do with Shinto rituals of the region. (I couldn't find any detailed books about these Shinto rituals, though.)
The last master of the Himuro family line massacred his entire household. Later, another family that tried to live there disappeared.
Because of incidents like these, nobody visits the mansion today, and it lies in ruins.
Maybe that's why there aren't any accounts of the Shinto rituals, and why the exact location of the place isn't recorded anywhere.
September 24th
I've had a bad feeling ever since I came to this mansion. I'm leaving notes in this notebook just in case anything happens to me. I've got to find Mr. Takamine and the others fast...I hope it's not too late!
The text ended.
So rituals were performed here long ago. That might explain why the ropes were hanging from the ceiling. Whatever rituals they performed here, they sure looked pretty creepy.
Just then, Miku saw something in the mirror. It was a woman in a white kimono. She had long black hair that covered her eyes. She stood behind Miku.
Miku turned around, no one was there. She looked back at the mirror again. The woman had vanished.
Miku then spotted a door to her right. She opened it and entered the next room.
The room was large. There were two wooden staircases that lead to the second floor. One was broken, the other wasn't.
This room was probably a lobby. Miku then spotted two objects of interest on a nearby self. A lion mask and some herbal medicine.
Deciding the herbal medicine would come in handy she picked it up. All of a sudden, she spotted her brother walking up the staircase.
"Mafuyu!" Miku shouted.
If Mafuyu heard her, he didn't pay any attention.
"Wait!" Miku ran up the stairs after Mafuyu. She emerged onto a balcony that overlooked the first floor.
Mafuyu was nowhere in sight. Miku then spotted a door nearby. She tried to open it, but it was locked. Miku heard something on the other side. Perhaps that's were Mafuyu went.
It looks like I'll have to find a key before I can open this door.
She then went back to the first floor, perhaps the key may be around there somewhere.
Just then a young girl around age 12 emerged from the shadows. She had long black hair and wore a white kimono decorated with orange flowers.
"Who are you?" Miku asked.
The girl didn't reply. Instead she pointed to the camera, then pointed to a screen on the wall.
"You want me to take a picture of that?" Miku asked.
The girl nodded.
Miku aimed the camera at the screen and took a picture of it. A photo popped out of the camera. Miku examined it.
The photo revealed a door behind the screen. Miku then moved the screen aside, revealing the door in the process.
"Thanks." Miku turned around to face the girl, but she was gone.
Apparently she must have left. Still, Miku felt she could trust her in the future. She then opened the door and entered another hallway. She then reached another room.
A screen stretched halfway across the room. Miku walked around the screen to get to the other side of the room.
She then spotted a news clipping on a nearby self. Miku picked it up and examined it.
Late yesterday, a human body with no limbs was found in Himuro Mountain, located in the southern region of the prefecture. The body's hands, feet, and head were all torn off. The police is investigating the case as both a murder and accident.
The body has not been identified, but it is believed to be a man around the age of 30. The police are also taking into consideration that a body, mutilated in the same manner, was found in the same location 15 years ago.
So a murder had taken place here 15 years ago. Could that be the reason why Mafuyu was in a hurry to find Mr. Takamine.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard some odd static coming from a nearby closet. Miku slowly opened the closet door and saw two things inside.
A tape recorder and a roll of 37-film. Miku picked up the tape recorder to examine it. Just then several images were forced into Miku's mind.
A man around the age of 30 fled into the closet in terror…
He shut the closet door…
He was breathing heavily…
He took a peak through a crack in the door…
The same woman from Miku's previous flashback entered the room…
The woman approached the closet…
The woman giggled and slowly opened the door…
The man screamed as several ghastly arms grabbed him…
The images ended.
Miku recognized the man in the flashback. He was Koji Ogata, Mr. Takamine's editor.
Something must have happened to him. Miku then noticed there was still a tape inside. Perhaps this tape recorder might give some information on what happened.
Miku pushed the rewind button, then pushed play.
"September 9- 5: 40 P.M." Koji's voice came from the tape recorder. "The mansion was nowhere to be seen on the map. So we finally had to ask the locals how to find it." There was a moment of silence. "They told us Himuro Mansion had been abandoned for several decades now. The same ones who told us where it was told us not to come here which was just disconcerting."
The recorded message ended. Perhaps this house had been abandoned for a reason. Miku wasn't sure what reason it was abandoned for though. Little did Miku know, she was about to find out.
Miku then took the 37-film and began to exit the room.
"Hey!" A voice said.
Miku then heard some footsteps. Miku began to walk towards the direction of the footsteps.
She then went behind the screen to the other side of the room. Miku gasped in horror at what she saw.
It was Koji Ogata or what had once been Koji. His skin was pale and his eyes were rolled back.
Although Miku never did believe in ghosts, she knew she was looking directly at one.
"Help me…" Koji moaned. "Help me…" He then lunged at Miku.
Miku pushed the trigger button on the camera out of pure instinct. A burst of light shot out of the camera and slammed directly into Koji.
"Auggh!" Koji shrieked. "Help me!"
Seeing that the camera was effective against him, Miku fired again.
Koji grunted before he ghosted through a wall. He had retreated for now.
Miku spotted a tape on the floor. Apparently Koji had dropped it before he left.
Miku placed the tape into the recorder.
September 9- 9: 40 P. M." The tape recorder emitted Koji's voice. "It seems dangerous to walk through the mountain at night, so we decided to spend the night here and continue our work." There was a short pause. "I've been through several rooms already. Unlike the exterior, the interior is still in quite good shape." Another pause. "A little earlier, I thought I saw a shadow of a woman near the entrance. I'll keep track of such sightings and publish them in a later account."
The recorded message ended.
Miku knew Koji wasn't going to publish anything at all because he was dead. This house was obviously haunted.
Perhaps that's why Mafuyu came here. To rescue Mr. Takamine from this haunted house. Miku wondered if Mr. Takamine was still alive.
Either way, Miku was determined to rescue her brother. Just then, Miku's sixth sense began to act up. The sixth sense allowed her to sense things normal people couldn't see.
Miku remembered her mom telling her that the sixth sense had been passed through her family for years.
Anyway, Miku sensed a presence coming from an empty mirror stand. Miku aimed her camera at it and fired. A photo popped out of the camera. It was a picture of the lion mask she saw in the lobby earlier.
Perhaps there might be something useful there. She then went back to the lobby and examined the lion mask. There was a red hand mirror behind the mask. It looked like it belonged to the mirror stand in the room she found the tape recorder.
She then went back to the room and inserted the mirror into the mirror stand. She heard the shelf below it unlock.
Miku opened the shelf and found a key and a photo of Koji Ogata. Miku picked up the photo and examined it. There were ropes wrapped around Koji's wrists, ankles, and neck.
Miku put the photo into her file and grabbed the key.
When she turned around, she gasped in horror.
"Help me…" Koji grabbed Miku's neck and began to strangle her. His hands were cold as ice.
Miku aimed her camera at Koji's face and fired. Koji released Miku and grabbed his face in agony.
"Let me out of this mansion…" Koji moaned before fading away.
Miku had no intention to get ambushed again, so she decided to pay close attention to her sixth sense.
Koji materialized behind Miku. Before he had a chance to ambush her, Miku spun around and blasted him in the face again. Koji stumbled backwards but he managed to regain his footing.
"Help me…" Koji moaned.
"All right. I'll help you…" Miku aimed her camera at Koji. "…by putting you out of your misery." Miku fired at him for the final time.
Koji couldn't take much, he twisted into a white sphere and exploded in a flash of light. A photo of Koji popped out of the camera. He no longer had ropes on him.
So this camera had the ability to capture ghosts. She remembered Mafuyu mention something about that before.
Speaking of which, she could now unlock the door on the second floor.
Miku went back to the lobby. She then saw a shadowy figure run up the stairs. Another ghost perhaps?
Miku went up the stairs and emerged onto the balcony overlooking the second floor. The shadowy figure was gone.
Miku used the key to unlock the door. The room she entered had a table in the center. On the table were some research documents.
Miku picked the documents up and examined them.
Secret Rituals of the Himuro Family
Many rituals and customs have been passed down through generations of the Himuro family. Most of them are lost. The only things we have left now are some documents that record these rituals as a legend.
Hardly any of the oral history remains. This is because all Himuro family members are dead, and those who were close to the family have kept quiet about the ritual.
One ritual in particular, performed on December 13th, is shrouded in mystery. People who lived near the mansion stayed inside on that particular day, and even now, it is considered bad luck to leave the windows open on that date.
I can only assume that this is due to the cruel nature of the ritual, but the truth remains unknown.
The text ended there.
Was the ritual connected to the ghosts? Miku wasn't sure. Thinking about it was just creepy. She then entered the next room.
Miku spotted a shelf with a few dolls on top. Next to one of the dolls was a red tape. Miku picked up the red tape and placed it into the recorder.
"September 10- 10:20 A.M." A female voice emitted from the recorder. "We discovered some disturbing photos in a chest of drawers." There was three second pause. "Could these be the folklorist's children mentioned in Koji's notes?" Another pause. "The photo is old and shows some kids playing tag." Another pause. "In the corner of the photo, there is a faint image of a little girl in a white kimono." Another pause. "Her finger is pointing this way and her eyes look like she's making a silent accusation."
The recorded message ended.
Miku then spotted a nearby a red notebook on a nearby self. Miku picked it up and examined it. The notebook was written by Tomoe Hirasaka, Mr. Takamine's assistant.
August 20th
It seems a folklorist named Ryozo Munakata was studying about the various rituals passed down at Himuro Mansion. He supposedly left a book of research, but I can't find it anywhere. I wonder if there's a copy in a library somewhere?
August 30th
I still can't find the book. I'll have Koji Ogata from the editing department do a search for it. I doubt he'll be able to find it, though.
Miku left the room and entered a hallway. She spotted a notebook on the floor. Miku picked it up and examined it. The notebook was written by Tomoe.
August 27th
The more I find out about Himuro Mansion, the creepier it gets. I'm sure it's the perfect subject matter for Mr.Takamine's next book, but, to be perfectly honest, I don't like this assignment one bit. It gives me a bad feeling…
There's no way I want to go to that mansion. But it's my job, right? I guess I'll have to go. And I wouldn't want to waste the chance to work with Mr.Takamine just because of a little bit uneasiness, either.
It doesn't help I have this sixth sense for the supernatural, either. There's such a thing as knowing TOO much, sometimes…
The text ended there.
Miku proceeded further down the hallway. At the end of the hallway was a staircase leading down. Miku went down the stairs and entered another corridor.
She then saw a shadowy figure that appeared to be Mafuyu turn around the corner and walk down another corridor.
"Mafuyu!" Miku shouted. "Wait!" She then ran towards the shadowy figure.
The shadowy figure poked its head from the corner and looked at Miku.
Miku stopped running and gasped.
That wasn't Mafuyu, it was a ghost. The ghost was a tall thin man with long arms. It then rushed towards Miku.
Miku aimed the camera at the ghost and opened fire. The ghost grunted before fading away. Miku could still sense him nearby.
"Give back!" The ghost emerged from a wall and rushed towards Miku…only to get blasted in the face at point blank range.
The ghost screamed, then twisted into a white sphere. Instead of exploding though, it flew away.
Miku then proceeded to the next room. She spotted a notebook on the floor. Miku picked it up and examined it. The notebook was written by Tomoe.
September 10th - 8:00 pm
I clearly saw the image of a woman, in front of the mirror near the entrance. She had long hair and a white kimono. There were ropes tied to her arms and legs, and she dragged them along as she walked. I think I heard Koji talk about something like that, too.
There's something VERY wrong about this mansion.
The text ended there.
Miku spotted a door to her right. She opened it and entered a room identical to the previous room. She opened the door across from her and entered a room identical to the previous two rooms. She then opened the next door and entered a room identical to the last three rooms.
Miku realized the rooms she just passed through were actually one large room. This must be the Grand Hall.
There were no more doors in sight. She then spotted a research document on the ground. Miku picked it up and examined it.
The Mystery of the Rope Maiden
Among the few documents found on the ritual, mention of the "Rope Shrine Maiden" is made many times. Her arms, legs, and neck are bound by five ropes. However, no documents discuss the role she plays in the ritual.
One theory is that she is a sacrificial lamb, but I find it hard to believe that such a cruel ritual was practiced.
The text ended there.
The Rope Shrine Maiden. Perhaps that must be the ghost she saw in the mirror. The same ghost that Tomoe saw as well. Koji was killed off by the Rope Shrine Maiden and Mafuyu probably encountered it as well.
Miku then left the Great Hall and entered the hallway. She then spotted an old news article on the ground. Miku picked it up and examined it.
On the night of 3rd, the police received a report that four children failed to return home after 9pm. There is an old superstition in the surrounding villages about children being snatched away by ghosts, and some villagers indeed suspect that this is what has happened to the four kids.
The text ended there.
Considering how haunted this place was, Miku wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. She then entered another room.
Miku then spotted a document on a nearby shelf. Miku picked it up and examined it.
Strangling Ritual
On the 13th day of the 12th month, a maiden, cut off from the outside world for 3,669 long days, shall be torn apart to provide power to the rope.
The text ended there.
Whatever that ritual was, it most likely wasn't pleasant. She then spotted a shelf full of candles. Next to one of the candles was a notebook.
Miku picked it up and examined it. The notebook was written by Tomoe.
September 11th - 6:30 am:
I saw that woman in the white kimono again. She's trying to tell me something. She knows I have this special sense for ghostly things… The woman's name is… Kirie. So, it's Kirie, huh?
I shouldn't get any closer than this. I don't want to get any closer… I'm scared.
The text ended there.
Kirie…that must be the name of the girl that helped her out earlier.
Miku then spotted an old news article on the floor. Miku picked it up and examined it.
The girl who has been missing for three days in the Himuro Mountain area, and rumored to have been snatched away by ghosts, has been found by a local man. She is fatigued, but in good health. The police plan to wait for her recovery and ask her about the other three children.
The girl's parents have also been missing the day after her disappearance. The police are looking for a foster home for the girl.
The text ended there.
So one of the children did survive. That was nice to know. Miku then left the room and soon found herself outside on a porch.
Across the lawn was a shrine. To her right was a door. Miku tried to open it, but it wouldn't open.
She then spotted a black notebook on the floor. Miku picked it up and examined it. The notebook was written by Jensei Takamine.
"Plot of My Next Work
- Junsei Takamine
A series of murders in a country village. Dead bodies turn up one after another. Murders that resemble cruel Shinto rituals of legend in the area. The acts of a man sworn to revenge, and the strange correlation between those acts and the folklore. The man is gradually more and more influenced by the legends. The work will be the story of this man, proceeding in parallel with the tales of the local lore. Records of the past discovered after an earthquake. The story gradually blurs the boundary between the present and the past.
July 24th:
About Himuro Mansion
Himuro Mansion is known as the home of a large landowner who controlled this region. But they say it was originally the place a shrine was built for performing a certain Shinto ritual, passed down through the generations. But the people of that time kept the ritual a deep, dark secret. They were even forbidden to speak its name aloud. Today, almost no accounts of the ritual exist, aside from a smattering of folklore legends.
Sept 13th - 9:30 am:
We found Ogata's body. His head, hands and feet were strangled off. What happened to him is just like the strange deaths that occurred here long ago. There was a photo of Ogata near him. In it, there was something that looked like ropes on his neck, arms and legs. I wondered if it has anything to do with the Rope Shrine Maidens in the legends around here, the girls that had ropes tied to their neck, arms and legs, too...?
Sept 13th - 12:10 pm:
Tomoe is acting strangely. She's been mumbling nonsense all morning. Something about ropes...And mirrors...I can't blame her for going to pieces, though, after seeing what happened to Ogata.
Sept 13th - 3:00 pm:
Tomoe's condition is getting worse and worse. She can't stop shaking, and she keeps mumbling the same words over and over. I don't know if what's happening is anything supernatural or not. But in any case, I think we'd better leave as soon as possible. Tomoe is in such bad shape, she can't even move. I guess I'll have to look for a way out of here myself. Even if we waited for help, I doubt anyone would ever come looking for us...
So that's how Koji died. It sure was a nasty way to go.
Miku then approached the shrine. She tried to open the door, but it was locked.
Miku turned around and saw a girl wearing a white kimono that was decorated with orange flowers. It was the same girl that helped Miku out earlier.
"Your name's Kirie, correct?" Miku asked.
Kirie nodded.
"I'm Miku." Miku introduced herself. "I'm searching for my brother Mafuyu, have you seen him?"
Kirie didn't reply.
"Can you talk?" Miku asked.
Kirie shrugged. Maybe she could, maybe she couldn't.
"Do you have any idea what's going on around here?" Miku asked.
Kirie gestured for Miku to follow her.
Miku followed her onto the lawn.
Kirie then pointed towards a narrow alley next to the shrine.
"You want me to go that way?" Miku asked.
Kirie nodded before fading away.
Miku the proceeded down the alley.