"How many does this one make it….30, more even? As we move forward, that number should rise exponentially. I could never find the home I needed before but I am well on the way to making it here. I wish it didn't have to be this way. However after so many long decades I'm forging my own desires…even if it is the misfortune of others….i know what we are doing is wrong, but…. I've stopped caring about the morality of my dream….or have I? " Sunako removed her fangs from the woman underneath her. A thread of blood trailed down from the side of her lip. The woman started to drift back to sleep, but not before Sunako could say something.
"be sure to let me in tomorrow, I wouldn't want you to miss me." She whispered gently into the woman's ear. This marked the second night that the poor girl had fallen prey to Sunako, one more and her fate was sealed. Sunako dusted off her clothes and licked the trail of blood from her lips. She made way to the back corner of the house and gently slid open the glass door. She gave a fleeting glance at the victim she left unaware. A slight pang of sorrow passed through her but she shook it away. She was careful not to make a sound as she exited the home, sliding the door back into place and leaving nothing disturbed. A break-in of her caliber would make most cat burglars weep with jealousy.
"I wonder if Mr. Muroi will sign my book today." She started the long walk to the temple steps, stopping a few yards before the entrance. The closer she neared to its arched gateway, the deeper the fear inside her grew. As she attempted to inch closer a temple patron saw her.
"can I help you young miss?"
"I was looking for Mr. Muroi. Could you fetch him for me?" Sunako took a knee and curtsied with her dress. She put on a façade of innocence.
"Seshin went up into a temple in the mountains a few hours ago, if you're lucky he should still be there….but you should avoid those woods, they can be dangerous."
"You couldn't even fathom just how much so…Oh, well thank you very much, I should be off then."
As Sunako walked through the forest many of her senses were stimulated. Nature was running wild at this time in the year so many birds were fluttering and cicadas were chirping. There was little vegetation In the thick parts of the woods, save for the fur trees. Moonlight would not even so much as penetrate their thick branches. The lack of light however was of no concern to Sunako, even in pitch darkness she and her kind could see for miles with perfect clarity.
Finally she came upon the abandoned building in question. She walked up to the door but felt that horrible fear rise up again…. She barely managed to keep it in check. Were this a freshly maintained temple, she surely would have run into the woods screaming. With the same precision she used in her hunts she slid the old wooden door open. Even she could not keep such an ancient door from creaking however and was promptly noticed.
Seshin's eyes veered to the door. He was never used to people disturbing him in this remote place. Usually when they did, it was only because something important required his attention. He leaned over to the side and noticed a small girl in a dress holding the outside of the door frame.
"Sunako? How did you find this place?" Seshin had a puzzled look on his face, only a select few people knew of this place, fewer still ever bothered to come here.
"oh… someone at the temple told me you were here." She put the tip of her finger on her chin and leaned into the door.
"I see… what can I help you with? Her again? If I recall, many of the deceaseds' families mentioned meeting her. Natsuno did too."
"something was ..off…about them, especially his daughter." Natsuno's voice echoed in his mind.
"well…. I was hoping you could sign my book. I'm your biggest fan remember!" Sunako's eyes widened and a big gaping smile crept across her face.
"I…well I suppose that would be fine. It would be nice to have some company why don't you come in and have a cup of tea." Seshin gave her a warm look.
Sunako pulled out a pen and Seshin took the dusty book from her.
"this looks like a first edition print. You really are a fan huh…." Seshin blew the dust from the book and found a perfect spot to autograph. He signed his name elegantly in perfect kanji, and took a moment to admire his penmanship. While Seshin handled the book Sunako took a moment to walk around the temple.
As she walked dust flew up with every step. The old wood left undisturbed for years. The amber light from Seshin's candle made the place feel even more ominous, much to Sunako's joy. Every few feed stained glass windows of all shapes and images surrounded the temple walls. They glittered like gold nuggets in the dim light.
"this temple is quite beautiful, but these stained glass windows are kind of creepy…in the one to your left…is the man on fire?" Sunako pointed in the direction of a red window. In its picture a man hung from a sack with orange flames enveloping its frame.
"that is called Mino Otori." Seshin stared closely at the picture.
"ah…I see. The man who built this place was fascinated by martyrs." Sunako panned around the room and saw figures of every sort portrayed in the windows. Everything from Christ, to Gandhi, even one of martin Luther king Jr., was featured in the stained glass gallery. Martyrs and historic figures were in every scene.
"I believe that this temple was built by someone from Kanemasa. He seemed to be fascinated by tragic history."
"Kanemasa?" Sunako was perfuddled.
"yes…that iis what the land you live on is-was called. On a more serious note….you need to be careful, if I recall someone told me you had a medical condition that worsens in sunlight…don't tell anyone but there is an unidentified disease going around the vullage..with an illness like that you might be especially susceptible." Seshin grew very sad at that moment. He remembered how Toshio lashed out at him a few days ago.
"You know about my condition?"
"yes, a young man mentioned it to me on the night we first met."
"It must have been him… I appreciate your concern Mr. Muroi, but if I gave up the freedom that I do have just because of risk then why should I even bother living…why do I even bother living? I can't give up my happiness just because of risk or because something gets in the way. You need to grab on to what you desire…even if it is at the cost of people around you." A small tear dripped down Sunako's cheek. Seshin was quick to wipe it away with his sleeve.
"What's wrong? You seemed so happy a moment ago."
"i-it's nothing, don't worry about me…..do you really have no idea what this disease is?...i certainly know…"
"No..niether does my friend Dr. Toshio Ozaki…it bothers him when he sees so many people in pain, when he sees so many grieving families…. He feels powerless so he gets angry and lashes out at people…but they are not the ones that he is mad at….he's a good man…it hurts me to see him like this…and it's worse seeing so many families in pain…I hope we can find a solution to this too. I'm not sure how much more I can take," Seshin rested his hands on his face and slumped down a little bit.
"I'm sorry for Dr. Ozaki, and for you and the people of this village too…I truly am sorry, have I gone too far?" a few more tears started to stream down her pale cheeks. Again Seshin was there to dry them away.
"Hey now, don't be so worried about us. I promise you that you will be fine. I'll do everything in my power to make you safe….to make everyone safe. You should head home Sunako…it is getting late." And without saying another word to Seshin, Sunako walked away from the temple,. As she made her way into the foreboding mansion she was greeted by Tatsumi.
"another successful night milady?" he flashed a big grin in her direction. She simply glanced away in a cold manner. "are you ok? Is something up?" Tatsumi made a playful frown, and quivered his bottom lip.
"…Tatsumi…have we gone too far with this plan? Is it really worth killing all of these people?" She continued to look away in a sorrowful state. Tatsumi looked at her with a scowl, the red in his eyes flashing.
"You said yourself that you would put your own happiness above the feelings of others…are you going soft…don't you dare ruin this for me…. Don't shirk on your dreams right…?" he continued his scarily stern demeanor. A harsh contrast from the façade of playfulness he usually put on.
"…yes…you're right…I never really considered the happiness of others though…for so many years, I have only been focusing on myself and trying to survive. But the more I consider this…the more I detest the idea….and the way Seshin described it….i thought I was cold….but I just might truly be a monster after all… good night Tatsumi. I think I've been tired for the night." Sunako walked away rubbing her hair. Her brain was racked from the events of the day.
"Natsuno are you dressed? Masao's wake is in an hour." Natsuno's mother spoke loudly from across the hall.
"I don't think he would want me there…but yes." Natsuno and Masao never really got along. Masao hated the ground Natsuno walked on and Natsuno never knew why. Natsuno always thought Masao was a bit creepy but never really bothered with him…but for some reason Masao still hated him.
Once Natsuno arrived at the funeral home he saw some familiar faces…all dressed in black..however the mood was….off…. it didn't feel like a wake. People were talking like normal, and no one seemed to be very grief stricken. There were even a few smiling faces in the crowd…the only person who even seemed remotely upset was Tohru. Natsuno walked over to him.
"I can't believe Masao died from this…disease. We never got along but…I never would have wished this for him." Natsuno sighed and scratched his arm awkwardly.
"I know you two never saw eye to eye…but it shows good character on your part that you came here." Tohru flashed him a friendly grin.
"it wasn't really by choice…but while I'm here-" Natsuno was cut off by a familiar voice again.
"Natsuno, you're here too? I thought you hated this guy!" Megumi came up from behind and wrapped her arm around him, then stuck her tongue out defiantly at Tohru. Natsuno backed off from her advances and paced a few steps from her.
"Tohru, can I have a minute alone with her?" Natsuno felt really weird in that situation, he was well aware of Megumi's hatred of Tohru, but it never seemed to bother Tohru much.
"sure, hehe. I guess I can let you two lovebirds have your moment…this time." Tohru dawned that big sly grin again…this time wider that it had ever been.
"cut that out dude…" Natsuno flashed him an irritated look, befor walking Megumi to the other side of the room.
"shimi-Megumi…I know we had a moment the other day…but I'm not sure how I feel about this romantic sort of thing….i've never been good at it, so can we take this a bit more slowly….i still don't know how I feel about you. I just feel uncomfortable when you get really close like that." Natsuno shivered.
"I'm sorry, but I do know how I feel about you. I want to make sure you are mine, not…his…." Megumi hissed out that last part.
"so that's why you hate Tohru so much… you don't need to be jealous or anything, I'm sorry I ignored you before, but there is no need for some kind of rivalry…that's…almost cute, she gets jealous like a normal girl… and another thing, I don't belong to anyone, I'm not just going to play some role like the people here like to dole out so much." Natsuno flashed a stern look in Megumi's direction. "come on…we should pay our…respects…to Masao…whatever modicum of respect I can muster for him."
"Masao lay in the coffin in a dreamlike state; he could hear noises and voices outside of the wooden sides of his prison.
"where am i….why am I in here…..that blue haired guy…what was he doing to me…..is that Megumi's sweet voice….and Natsuno….he always has to take what I want….what I strive for…i…hate…you….even..now….." Masao lost his train of thought as the blackness enveloped him once more. Death once again tried its grip on him as he sank into its icy abyss.
