Chapter 10: Crashing the Ceremony

Both Mio and Mayu stood at the foot of the hill.

"If we reach the shrine, we can leave the village." Mio said.

Mayu nodded. The twins began to walk up the stone stairs leading to the shrine.

They were both ready to leave the village.

--

Naruko watched the two twins walk up the stairs from the shrine's window. The seal had been broken. It was now time to launch the signal.

--

Mio and Mayu continued to walk up the stairs. All of a sudden the sound of drums could be heard. Mio wondered where they could be coming from.

Mayu looked back, then gasped.

"Mio, behind us!" Mayu shouted.

Mio looked back and gasped in horror.

At the bottom of the steps was a large number of villager ghosts. A whole mob of them. All equipped with torches, poles, and scythes.

The ghosts began to run up the steps.

"Run!" Mio shouted.

Both twins began to run up the stairs. Unfortunately Mayu wasn't a good runner with that broken leg of hers.

As they neared the top of the stairs, the ghosts began to close on them.

Just then three ghosts emerged from the shrine. They were bald and had empty eye sockets. They had been stationed at the shrines front door to prevent the twins from escaping.

Mio wasn't going to let that stop them. She loaded 61-film into her camera and opened fire. The ghosts couldn't stand up to the blast. They twisted into white balls then exploded in flashes of light.

Three photos popped out of the camera. Mio didn't bother to pick them up.

"The entrance is clear. Let's go." Mio looked back at Mayu, then gasp in horror.

The ghosts had surrounded Mayu.

"Mayu!" Mio shouted.

"Mio!" Mayu shouted. "Help!"

Mio aimed her camera at the ghosts and opened fire. Three other ghosts flew in front of the camera and blocked the shot.

Before Mio had much time to react several more ghosts flew towards Mio. While Mio was firing away at them, the ghosts surrounding Mayu took her away.

Soon Mio found herself cornered against the front door of the shrine. Fighting them at close quarters was suicide. Mio had learned that the hard way when she fought Miyako and Masumi.

Mio retreated into the shrine for extra space. The ghosts followed her inside and got blasted.

The ghosts were weak but there were sure a lot of them. If this kept up, she would become captured as well.

She then decided to use the Zero-film. If her calculations were correct, most of the ghosts had left by now. Hopefully this attack would be strong enough to get rid of the remaining ones.

Just as the mob of ghosts surrounded Mio, she opened fire.

--

Naruko watched the battle in satisfaction. Although the twin was doing a good job at defending herself, she couldn't keep it up forever.

Soon the vast number of villagers would overwhelm her. Within minutes the ghosts surrounded her.

Then, something totally unexpected happened. The entire room went white. Naruko ghosted through a nearby wall just in time to evade the lights reach. When the light died down, Naruko went back to the room the battle had took place at.

To his surprise, every single last villager was turned into a photograph.

Inconceivable, it was just one girl.

How could a single girl wipe out an entire mob of villagers. To make things worse, he couldn't call for reinforcements either. He had ordered them to take the other twin to the ceremony mansion.

As much as Naruko wanted to flee, he knew he had to deal with the problem himself now.

If the twin escaped, Ryokan would have him taken to the place he dared not speak of.

He then materialized into existence.

--

Mio unloaded the Zero-film and switched to 14-film. She only had one shot of Zero-film left now.

Mio then examined the room, the floor was littered with several photos. That Zero-film sure packed a giant punch.

Now that the ghosts were at of the way, she was safe for the time being. The secret passage behind the altar was open, but she had no intention on leaving the village without Mayu. Speaking of which, were did those ghosts take her anyway.

Just then, a veiled priest materialized into existence.

"Lord Ryokan wants your presence at the ceremony mansion." The veiled priest said flatly. "The time for the ritual is near."

Ryokan, she heard that name somewhere before. Aha! Now she remembered.

"Ryokan…" Mio mused. "That's the name of the ceremony master."

"Correct." The veiled priest replied. "Now follow me."

"I know where it is." Mio glared at the veiled priest. "I can get there myself."

"I have orders to escort you there." The veiled priest said. "Lord Ryokan has suspicions that you might try to escape again."

"I have no intention in participating in the ritual." Mio replied. "I plan to rescue my sister, then escape. And before you say anything else, this is NOT my destiny."

"It is your duty." The veiled priest replied.

"No it isn't." Mio shook her head. "My duty is to protect Mayu."

"Are you denying the salvation for the village?" The veiled priest asked.

"The villagers are already dead." Mio sighed. "They brought that upon themselves the moment they started worshipping the abyss and giving in to its twisted demands."

"Watch your tongue!" The veiled priest barked. "Th-"

"That word is taboo." Mio cut him off. "You fear the abyss, so you fear to speak its name."

"Silence!" The veiled priest barked.

"What, you don't like me saying it?" Mio asked. "Well that's too bad, I can say it whenever I want. Abyss! Abyss! Abyss! Abyss! Abyss!"

"Why you little infidel." The veiled priest growled. "You shall die for your heresy, then I'll drag your soul back to the ceremony mansion." He then held his stave in attack position.

Mio opened fire. The veiled priest grunted in pain before vanishing.

He then emerged from a wall, rushed at Mio, and prepared to swing his stave at her.

Mio fired at him before he even had the chance. The veiled priest growled and vanished again.

Mio scored a direct hit every time he emerged from a wall.

"What are you!?" The priest asked in horror. He was beginning to feel weaker every time he got blasted. "Only a god can be this good!"

"I'm not a goddess." Mio replied. "I'm just a regular girl that just cares for her sister." She then blasted the veiled priest again. "As for me being good, lets just say your stealth stinks and leave it at that."

Mio then blasted him again. The veiled priest slumped against the wall.

"You can't run away from the ritual…" The veiled priest groaned. "You cant…Yae…"

Mio gave the priest a dark look.

"My. Name. Is. Not. Yae." She blasted him with a 61-film.

The veiled priest couldn't take much more, he twisted into a white ball then exploded in a flash of light.

A photo popped out of the camera. Mio picked it up and glared at it.

"My name is Mio." Mio told the photo. "Mio Amakura, remember that." She then placed it in her bag.

With that out of the way, she exited the shrine.

--

The trip to the Ceremony Mansion took a few minutes.

Soon Mio was on the bridge that extended over a wide river and connected to the ceremony mansion.

At the other side of the bridge, Mayu was being escorted by several veiled priests.

"Mayu!" Mio shouted.

Although Mayu didn't turn to face her, she did stop. The veiled priests stopped as well.

"The two chosen children, shall ascend to heaven, in the wings of a butterfly." Mayu said. Her voice sounded different.

"The butterfly, that will save this village." Mayu then changed. White mist surrounded her. When it faded away she had changed into…Sae!

"That is how it was meant to be." Sae looked back at Mio, her face was calm for the first time.

Sae and the priests then ghosted through the door.

Mio stood there flabbergasted. All this time, Sae had been the one responsible for Mayu's odd behavior and odd decisions.

Sae must have wanted her to strangle Mayu. So she influenced Mayu to beg to be killed.

Mio was not going to let Sae or anyone of those ghosts take her sister away. She would not let Sae torment Mayu like that.

Mio then walked across the bridge. At the other side was a diary. Mio picked it up and examined it.

It was a diary shared by Yae and Sae.

When we were small, we once went to the river that flows out of the village. That day we made a promise. We said we'd always stay together, forever.

Even if we left the village, we wouldn't part.

Yae

Mio knew what river Yae was talking about. It was the same river she and Mayu made a promise too. They promised they'd always be together forever.

Mio wondered if that was possible anymore. What Mayu (or possibly Sae) said had some truth, they would grow old and die separately.

However, Mio knew that performing the ritual wasn't the right choice either.

She then turned to the next page.

We promised to always be together.

But my body is weak, and I might not be able to follow you.

You might leave me behind…

Just thinking about being alone scares me.

As we grow older, we'll grow apart…

We we're born together, as one.

I want to be one with you again Yae.

Then we can be together forever.

Sae

The text ended their.

Mio dropped the diary. Sae was a fool. She wanted Yae to strangle her so they could become one.

But becoming one would not allow them to be together forever. True, they may have been born as one at one point.

But performing the ritual was a twisted way of making them become one. If Yae had strangled Sae, Sae would have become part of Yae.

She would become nothing more but a mere memory. A butterfly as the villagers referred to it.

Mio would not let that happen to Mayu.

She then pushed the main gate open and proceeded to the ceremony mansion.

--

As soon as Mio entered the ceremony mansion, her flashlight burned out again.

However, a crimson butterfly landed on it. The flashlight turned back on.

"Thanks." Mio said.

The butterfly flickered it's wings in response, then flew away.

Could that be the same butterfly she freed from the spider web? Mio shrugged the thought off. She could wonder about it later, right now she had to rescue Mayu.

She then proceeded to walk through the corridors.

Ghosts with decapitated limbs appeared into view. Mio recognized them as victims of the Kusabi's rampage.

As the ghosts began to advance towards Mio, she aimed her camera at them and opened fire.

Soon the ghosts were part of her photo collection.

Mio continued to walk through the hallways. Any ghost that dared get into her path was at the mercy of her camera.

Eventually she reached a room.

It was the same room Mio and Mayu first met the veiled priests. On the altar was a diary.

Mio picked it up and examined it. It was a diary written by Sae.

If I stay here, someday Yae will comeback for me.

Can I become a butterfly without her.

If I could, I'd always be near the village, waiting.

Waiting at the place we made our promise.

She'll come, I know she will.

Sae

The text ended there.

At this point Mio knew that Sae didn't fall down the slope by accident. She fell down on purpose.

Mio knew why. She wanted to become one with Yae. Perhaps if Sae had known the full details of the ceremony, maybe she would've escaped with Yae.

Spotting a staircase that went down, Mio descended down it.

She walked down a hallway and emerged into a courtyard.

At the other side was Sae.

"Yae, you finally came for me." Sae said. "You have no idea how long I've waited. The ceremony will begin soon. Our father is waiting for us beyond this door. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know you've returned."

Sae then ghosted through the door behind her.

Mio ran up to the door and opened it.

She entered a small room. At the other side of the room was a door. Mio opened it and entered a circular room with an altar in the center.

Standing in front of the altar were a few veiled priests and figure dressed in robes standing in the shadows.

Mio was able to recognize it though.

It was Ryokan, the father of Yae and Sae. Also the Ceremony Master.

"Yae, my daughter." Ryokan said. "At last you've returned."

His voice sounded like dry wind. Mio found that a little disturbing, but she wasn't scared. After a moment of silence, Mio finally spoke up.

"Where is my sister?" Mio asked.

"She's currently being escorted to the abyss." Ryokan calmly replied. "You'll see her soon enough."

"Where's the abyss?" Mio asked.

"The door behind me leads to it." Ryokan answered. "Don't think of trying to run ahead without an escort, I have the key to unlock it."

"Then all I have to do is defeat you to get it." Mio aimed her camera at Ryokan and fired.

Ryokan grunted before vanishing.

"Get her!" Ryokan's voice ordered the priests.

The priests began to advance toward Mio.

Mio loaded 90-film into her camera and opened fire at them.

Within a few mintues, they were part of Mio's photo collection.

"Show yourself Ryokan!" Mio shouted. "I know your still there!"

"As you wish." Ryokan materialized. "Why do you continue to run from your destiny?"

"It's not my destiny." Mio replied. "Why are you so persistent in performing the ritual?"

"It is for the good of the village Yae." Ryokan replied.

"That's a load of nonsense." Mio said. "The ritual ended up wiping out the entire village."

"Only because you ran away Yae." Ryokan calmly replied.

"I'm not Yae." Mio growled.

"Disown me all you want." Ryokan said. "Your services are still required."

"I beg to differ." Mio said. "I have no plans on performing the ritual. The only good that did was cause people to suffer."

"As long as there is suffering, the people will survive." Ryokan replied.

"What kind of existence is that?" Mio asked.

"Yae my child…" Ryokan calmly said. "There are those that must suffer, so the villagers can continue to live on happily with their lives."

"I strongly disagree with that." Mio shook her head. "Everyone deserves the right to live. No one should have to be sacrificed."

"I grow tired of your arguments Yae." Ryokan sighed. "This is your destiny, accept it."

"Why don't you accept yours instead?" Mio aimed her camera at him and fired.

Ryokan grunted before vanishing again.

"So be it." Ryokan's voice echoed. "If you won't accept your destiny, then you shall suffer a horrible fate."

Ryokan then emerged from a wall. He stepped out of the shadows into the light.

Mio gasped in horror. Ryokan had no skin. He was a complete skeleton dressed in robes. His eye sockets weren't empty though. He had a pair of yellow eyes.

He reminded her of the grim reaper, only except he had no scythe.

"A fate worse than death…" Ryokan fired a white sphere from his hand.

Mio ran out to the way and fired at Ryokan.

Ryokan grunted before vanishing. He then emerged from another wall and fired three small spheres.

Mio tried to evade them, but the spheres homed onto her. They struck her in rapid succession.

Mio felt as if an icy projectile tore through her soul. She knelt to the ground and clutched her chest in pain.

She then saw Ryokan emerge from a wall. He aimed his palm at Mio and fired another ghastly white sphere at her.

Mio managed to roll out of the way just in time as the sphere struck a wall.

Ryokan then faded away, but Mio knew he'd be back soon. If he fired those homing shots at her again, she was a goner. There had to be a way to counter it.

Wait! The spheres were ghastly just like the ghosts. An idea began to form.

Ryokan emerged from the shadows and fired three homing projectiles.

Mio quickly switched to 14-film and fired at the projectiles. The projectiles vanished from existence.

"Not possible!" Ryokan's skeletal jaw dropped open in shock.

Mio used this opportunity to fire a 61-film at him. Ryokan grunted before vanishing.

Every time Ryokan fired a projectile at Mio, she cancelled it out with her camera, then scored a free shot at him.

After a few rounds of this, Ryokan stood in one place and frantically fired white spheres from his hands.

This made him an easy target however. Mio easily pumped several 61-film shots into him.

"I…I mustn't fail." Ryokan groaned before slumping against a wall.

"You just did." Mio informed him.

"Even if I am destroyed, the ceremony will still commence." Ryokan said. "If you won't do your duty, the ritual will have to be performed with Sae alone."

"Your insane!" Mio shouted. "Do you have any idea what will happen?"

"I have to try…for the sake of the village…" Ryokan said weakly. "Yae…why did you run away?"

Mio fired the camera at him for the final time.

Ryokan twisted into a white ball and exploded in a flash of light. A single photo popped out of the camera.

Mio picked it up and placed it in her bag.

With the Ceremony Master vanquished, there would be no more rituals in the future. Akane, Azami, Chitose, Itsuki, Mitsuki, and all the other victims had been avenged.

However, this was no time to be celebrating. Mio still had to stop the current ritual from being accomplished.

Spotting the key on the floor, Mio picked it up and used it to unlock the door. She then went down the stairs toward her final destination.

Hang on there Mayu, I'm coming.