Thanks to Ross House and TheKarasunaki for faving my story! Much appreciated :)

Thanks also to Fan of Games for continuing to review. You asked if this chapter is the end of the story. In fact, there is actually a lot left after this. However, I do know how much story is left before the ending. Would you like me to tell you how many chapters are left, or should I leave it a surprise?

You're in for a surprise concerning Ryokan! ;)

xxXXxx

Chapter 14: Homecoming Part 2

Night had fallen over the village, and its streets were silent, devoid of activity. Not that anyone inside the Kurosawa house would be able to tell. There were almost no windows to remind the estate's occupants of the outer world, and the only indication that it even existed was the wind that family members could barely hear through the house's thin walls. The lack of windows wasn't a design flaw, instead born from the superstitions and beliefs held by the village. For various reasons, no one was eager to peer outside after the skies had gone dark.

Ryokan had been locked in his study ever since his encounter earlier that day. He was still shaken up by his visions, but his real problem was figuring out why they had occurred in the first place. As the Ceremony Master, he had of course seen things before that disturbed him, but not like this.

Evidently no one else had, either, since his hours of study had turned up no information that he could use in the slightest. He had read the records of every Ceremony Master and priest for the past 200 years, burned through countless scrolls, and even meditated in the hopes that he could impel another vision, but still he was as lost in his ignorance as the village was in the dark of night.

He was nearly ready to give in to the night's whispers and fall asleep when a creaking in the floorboards roused him. A knocking came from the study door. Grateful for a reason to get up and stretch his legs, Ryokan answered with haste, to find Ryozo standing before him.

"I just wanted to wish you goodnight, Kurosawa-san, and thank you for all your hospitality. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's celebration."

Ryozo smiled, and Ryokan delivered a fake but convincing smile in return.

That's it, Ryozo. Enjoy the hospitality. Enjoy it while you can.

"I'm excited as well, Ryozo. It will be a celebration to die for. Sleep well."

Ryozo nodded nervously, and Ryokan bit his lip at not knowing to corral his ominous manner of speaking when he had to. But Ryozo didn't call him on it, and within moments he was heading off down the hallway to the guest chamber. Ryokan shrugged and closed the door, planning to return to his studies for a bit longer before turning in.

Don't bother pouring through your texts, Ceremony Master. They won't tell you what has afflicted you. After all, this is the first time it has ever happened.

Ryokan's blood froze. His heart leaped when he heard the voice resonate, seeming to come from within his own thoughts. But he didn't allow himself to show any fear, and he quickly turned and eyed the room, looking for the one behind the haunting voice. The howl of the wind was all that greeted him, nothing in sight.

Might I borrow a moment of your time, Ryokan? I promise I'll be quick.

It wasn't coming from the room, it was resounding through his own body, the way that one hears their own thoughts. But Ryokan understood now; these thoughts weren't his. They were being forced upon him by the same one that had haunted him with the visions. At last, Ryokan knew what was wrong with him.

"I'm possessed." Ryokan stated plainly, slightly invigorated by his understanding of what had happened. "Even though I can't see you, I can sense your anger and pain singing my soul. But you're wrong, spirit; possession isn't new in my village. Hell, I've freed others from the hold of your kind, so what chance do you think you have? I'd advise you depart from my body, now. You're not welcome here."

When he fell silent, Ryokan heard a drawling, low rumble within his body; the sound of the demon mumbling, contemplating his words.

You're only half right, Ryokan. I am, by most people's standards, quite an evil spirit. But I'm much more than that. I am an entity that you are quite familiar with, yet beyond your comprehension. I am cruel and vindictive, yet merciful beyond my thousands of years. I, or rather WE, are the ones that you live to keep appeased.

Many moments of silence persisted as Ryokan stood wreathed by darkness, trying to make sense of the spirit's words. When he finally did, terror and surprise immediately inflicted him, draining his senses and his confidence.

"No, it...it's not possible!"

A loud, cruel spasm of laughter erupted in Ryokan's mind. He could hear more than one voice speaking.

Oh, but it is, 'Ceremony Master'. We are more than simple evil; we are YOUR masters! We are the Malice!

Ryokan spoke with anxiety clearly in his voice.

"How is this possible! The Malice has never possessed anyone in this village before!"

The Malice chuckled condescendingly before speaking. Its voice was a dirge of low wails and haunting echoes. It was disgusting.

Well, Ryokan, even if you were right, how much longer do you really think that courtesy will last? Who knows; maybe you're just the first!

Another overbearing laugh echoed. The thing was toying with him. Ryokan remained standing and kept a straight face, trying his very best to recover his composure. He knew that displaying inner courage could help stave off eager spirits, but he could feel his own resolve depleting rapidly as beads of icy sweat rolled down his forehead. He was in danger, and he knew it. A generic spirit was one thing, but if the Malice itself had infected his soul, there was every possibility that it could kill him at any time. But then, why wasn't it?

Ryokan rose to speak, hoping to keep himself together long enough to finish the dreadful conversation.

"As if it really matters. If you truly are an emissary of the Malice, then you already know that I'm not going to be fooled by your trickery."

Who is playing tricks, Ryokan? Why would we do that, when we want exactly what you want?

The Malice's words came matter-of-factly, but Ryokan tried to ignore them, as curious as they were.

"Truth told, I really don't know what you want. But why should I care? I exist to keep you in the afterlife where you belong, not to understand you."

A few moments of silence as Ryokan awaited the creeping echo of a reply.

Well, to tell a little truth of our own, we're not really hard to understand. All that we desire is that which you have promised us.

Ryokan understood its meaning. There were two things that the Malice desired, one or the other. The first: it wanted its overdue sacrifices. The other...

"If that's true, then why has this town been gripped by plague? If you really want your sacrifices so badly, then why can't you wait for them!"

It was a desperate gambit on Ryokan's part to try to reassure the Malice, and his attempt only entertained it. Yet another laugh, this one being of a surprised and unbelieving nature, resounded through the room.

How long are we to wait, Ceremony Master? It's been decades since the last correctly performed ritual; that is a debt on your head, not ours. You owe us your daughters, Ceremony Master. That was the agreement, and time is short.

The "time is short" comment worried Ryokan, as it indicated the Malice's true intentions. His eyes narrowed in frustration.

"You're bluffing!"

Are we? Take a look in the mirror, Ryokan!

At the Malice's words, Ryokan felt a sudden compulsion to look into the ornate mirror hanging on the study's wall. When he did, though, the vision that greeted him wrung his spirit of any strength.

The room visible behind him through the mirror's image was destroyed and run-down, much like it had been in his vision earlier that day. But that wasn't the part that worried him; it was his own image that caused the most terror. In the reflection, his once grand robes were dulled and tattered, barely hanging onto his skeletal frame. On the center of his chest, an enormous laceration, at least a foot long, trailed diagonally across his body, dripping blackened, rotten blood onto the ground.

But worst of all was his face, or rather the lack of one. His skin had withered away, revealing a gaunt, gray skull. His teeth were cracked and broken, and his eyes were gone, replaced by beads of glaring red light.

As he observed his form, Ryokan's face flared up with pain again, worse than before, enough to induce screaming in a lesser man. Looking at the mirror, it wasn't hard to see why.

The Malice spoke one last time before falling silent.

This is what may be, Ryokan. If you won't oblige our endless arrangement, then we will barter in blood instead. Decide quickly, Ryokan, because if you don't, the choice will be made for you.

xxXXxx

Sae and Yae had been home for a few hours by that point. It was late at night; midnight at least. Normally, they would have turned in much sooner, but neither of them could force themselves to fall asleep. Their room seemed just a little darker that night.

Yae finished changing into her sleeping gown and looked over at Sae. She was taking a long time to get dressed, and Yae could see her shaking faintly. A sorrowful note echoed in Yae's heart, and very soon Sae felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she anxiously buttoned her gown.

"I know how scared you are Sae..." Yae started.

"Scared of what?" The unexpected voice caused Yae and Sae to jump. Their other fears temporarily forgotten, both turned with wide eyes to the door, where Kiyomi stood, staring down at them softly. Rather, she looked down at the floor, not being able to look at them directly. She wished that she hadn't had the nerve to ask her daughters what they were scared of; there were so many potential answers to that question.

"I...well...just wanted to wish you two goodnight." Kiyomi blushed, smiling as warmly as possible, trying to mask her inner grief. She found it hard to look at Sae...but she knew she had to.

"Goodnight, Kiyomi. I love you." Yae and Sae spoke nearly in unison even though both were speaking unevenly, trying to hide the grief in their voices. Neither of them hesitated to rise from their beds to give Kiyomi a hug, and she eagerly returned the gesture.

"I love you both. So much..." Kiyomi trailed off, and grew worried when she realized what attachment to the twins she was showing. She checked behind herself, out of reflex, to make sure no one else had heard her, and then just as quickly as she had come, Kiyomi departed. They weren't sure, but Yae and Sae thought they had noticed a tear slide down her cheek.

The silence didn't persist long, though. After a few moments, another more surprising figure interrupted the quiet of the twins' room.

"I just wanted to say goodnight to both of you." Ryozo said, looking quite tired himself. Yae briefly rolled her eyes as a sense of deja-vu gripped her, but then her smile faded as she saw Ryozo's face. He was glaring at them and frowning intensely; the look that Itsuki had mentioned he would often get when he was dead serious about something.

He wasn't there just to wish them goodnight. Somehow, Yae's expression made him aware of her understanding, and Ryozo entered their room and sat down next to them, taking care to close the door tightly behind him. He came close to avoid the need to raise his voice.

"Kurosawa-san found the hammer key hidden in the guest bedroom." Yae and Sae felt their hearts drop at his word, knowing fully that Ryozo's own escape plan had been lost. "I think that the only reason he hasn't confronted us yet is because he still needs us. But I might have another plan to get out of here."

Yae and Sae were listening intently. Ryozo could feel their breath on his face, but he didn't back up.

"Tomorrow is the celebration that your father is holding for me and Seijiro-sensei. Kurosawa-san and the priests will probably be busy that day, so I think I can slip out of the village without being seen."

"What about Seijiro?" Yae interrupted. Ryozo bit his lip.

"Seijiro will not come. He and I have agreed that we can not both escape without being noticed. Someone has to stay behind and be the center of attention for the villagers. Besides, Seijiro is very much in love with the work he does as a folklorist. His desire to see the hidden ritual is too great, even if it means being a part of it."

Yae felt her hopes abandon her, but she didn't complain. She didn't like the fallback plan, but it was better than nothing.

"I will wait just outside the village limits for you two and Itsuki to make your escape for as long as I can. If, for whatever reason, you have to delay your escape, then I will come back for you again...on the night of the Crimson Ceremony."

Yae and Sae tensed up at the ritual's mention. They didn't respond to Ryozo any further, but he knew they had both heard him. Not being one to linger, Ryozo disappeared into the dark halls of the Kurosawa house.

xxXXxx

Reviews will be appreciated.