A/N: I own nothing except my Oc`s. Corpse Party is owned by Team Gris-Gris. This is the last chapter of the Blood Covered arc, so enjoy.
"Based on what Naho-san and Yuki-chan have told us…if we can get Sachiko to express remorse for her actions…then the three victims she killed will be appeased…and the field around this school will be lifted…and we should, in theory, be able to get out of here and go home" Ayumi said. "How do we get to express remorse?" Honda asked, "That is the question" Seiko replied.
"Well, what can you tell us about this `way out`you mentioned?" Miss Yui asked, "Not much unfortunately" Naomi replied. "The reporter talked about some specific way of getting home…but he was cut off before he could explain it. When it ended, he was looking for a blank tape. So there`s probably a continuation somewhere. Look for a label that says, `Kibiki Research Data Follow up`" she said. "Wait, did you say Kibiki?" Ayumi asked, "Yeah that`s right" Naomi replied. "If we could find out what sort of method he had in mind, we won`t have to get mixed up with ghosts and curses anymore. It seems a lot simpler than… how`d you put it? Appeasing the spirits?" she said.
"The problem is, it won`t fix anything" Ayumi stated, "Escaping by putting the spirits to rest. That`s the method Naho-san explained to me. And I don`t think it`s the same as Kibiki`s `way out" she said. "Still, we need to know more about this `way out` first. How about Satoshi`s group tries to find that tape they mentioned, while Shinosaki`s group goes to find ways to get Sachiko to express remorse. Once you`ve found something, meet up back here and wait for the others" Honda said.
"Sounds like a plan" Satoshi said. "Satoshi, got something for ya" Yoshiki said as he handed over the marble statue, "Not sure why, but that girl ghost we made friends with told me to give this to you". "Let`s go" Ayumi said, Class rep…take care okay?" Naomi said. "Nakashima-san…Don`t…get too close to Mochida-kun" Ayumi said, leaving Naomi confused.
"Hey Shinosaki" Yoshiki said, "What is it?" Ayumi asked. "Don`t think you look discouraged enough. Try scowling somemore" Yoshiki replied. "Nakashima-san`s student ID and her paper doll scrap. I forgot to give them back. I let my personal feelings get in the way, I`m the class representative for God`s sake" Ayumi pointed out. "Not in here you aren`t. Here you`re plain old Ayumi Shinosaki…and you were just being honest. I probably would have done the same if I were in your shoes" Yoshiki stated. "Seriously?" Ayumi asked, "Yeah?" Yoshiki replied. "That…actually made me feel a bit better, thanks" Ayumi said, "Don`t mention it" Yoshiki said.
"Even if we did track down Sachiko, I have no idea on how we could get her to express remorse though" Ayumi said, "Well then, let`s at least find Morishige-kun and even if we have to use that way out, escape this place together" Miss Yui said. "You bet!" Yoshiki and Ayumi said in unison, Gonta just stayed silent. "Are you okay Gonta? You`ve been really quiet" Yoshiki asked, "Oh, I`m fine. Just…thinking" Gonta replied. As Honda watched the two groups leave he thought, I have a feeling the real hell is about to begin.
After they searched for a while, the door to the second wing finally appeared. "Wow, you weren`t kidding. There`s a hole other building" Naomi exclaimed, "Let`s go, we should be able to find something there" Satoshi said. As they went into the building and turned right, they saw a terrifying sight. "Ahhh!" the Kisaragi students yelled, "N-Nari-chan…Chihaya-chan" Nana said quietly, before falling to her knees and breaking into tears.
These weren`t here when we passed by a while ago. Who the hell moved them? Ryutaro asked himself while hugging Nana to comfort her. Just then however, a figure burst through the door. "AHHHHHH!" everyone screamed, Ryutaro went in front of Nana in a defensive stance.
"Your time here is up" the figure said as it brought a hand towards the two of them. After a bright flash of light, they were gone. The others took this opportunity to run away, "You`re next Gonta" the figure stated with a smile on it`s face. Satoshi found a cell phone near the staircase, "This is…Morishige`s cell phone" he said. The others gathered around him, there was a video on it. The video was only the sound of Morishige laughing manically and the sound of smashing. Then the sound of smashing glass was heard and the video ended. "Morishige" Satoshi said, "W-Why did this have to happen?" Seiko asked on the brink of tears.
Naomi and Yuka mourned silently, "I`ll check if Gonta`s friends are still there" Satoshi said. He did just that, but they were gone. "What happened? Well, wherever they are I hope they`re okay" Satoshi said, he then noticed something on the ground. "Bingo!" he shouted, it was a tape labeled "Kibiki`s Research Data Follow Up". "What did you find Satoshi?" Naomi asked, hearing him shout, "I found it, the tape" he replied. "That`s great Mochida!" Seiko exclaimed, "Now we watch this tape and see what it tells us" Satoshi said. The girls nodded and they headed back to the Custodian's Closet.
Ryutaro slowly woke up, "Nrg…where am I?" he asked. He then looked around, taking in his surroundings. "Is this…Nana`s classroom?" he asked, he then saw Nana lying on the floor. He ran over to her, "Nana Nana!" he said, shaking her. She woke up, "Ryutaro?" she mumbled. "Look around, isn`t this your classroom?" Ryutaro asked and Nana looked around. "It is, but how?" she asked, "I`m not sure, but we…er I have to tell your classmates about your…friends' fate" Ryutaro replied. Nana looked down, "I will tell them about Nari-chan and Chihaya-chan. You can tell your dad about Gonta-kun`s brother" she said. "If that`s what you want" Ryutaro said, Nana smiled at him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Walk down the hall and take a left. It`s the quickest way out the school" she said, Ryutaro nodded and went out the classroom.
As they continued to look, Ayumi`s group found notes written by Naho scattered around the school. They mostly said what Naho had discovered about the place, but not much else. As they neared a door, blood splatter in the shape of a hand formed on the window. Then the girl in the red dress, Sachiko, went inside. "There she is, let`s follow her" Ayumi said, they did just that. The room they entered was a science lab, complete with an anatomical model. They found another note in the back of the desks. They picked it up and went back to the entrance.
"Is it just me or did the anatomical model move?" Yoshiki asked, in response Ayumi pushed him. "I told you to not say things like that!" she shouted, "You just love scarring me like that don`t you?". "What, no I never", but Ayumi`s shouting cut him off, "Don`t say it, don`t even think it! I hate you!" she yelled. "Shinosaki" Yoshiki mumbled, "I hate you!" Ayumi yelled. The anatomical model then went behind Ayumi and tried to grab her neck, but Yoshiki pulled her away before it could grab her. "Kishinuma-kun, Shinosaki-san!" Miss Yui yelled, "Kizami?" Gonta mumbled, recognizing the anatomical model.
It turned towards Gonta, "So you recognize me? It will make your death all the more pleasing" Kizami said with a twisted grin. He still had the same manaicall look in his eyes, but half his body was skinned now. Miss Yui tried to open the door, "We`re locked in" she said after the door wasn`t opening. Kizami pulled out a pair of scissors and tried to stab Gonta in the face. He missed the face, but still hit Gonta`s shoulder. "Gonta-kun!" Ayumi and Miss Yui yelled while Gonta crouched in pain and grabbed his shoulder. Before Kizami could try again, Yoshiki had grabbed the stand that Kizami had been standing on and swung it to his face, knocking of his head. Ayumi noticed there was a key back where they found the note and picked it up. She unlocked the door and they went outside.
"How bad is it?" Yoshiki asked, "It hurts, but I`ll manage" Gonta replied. "I think it would be best to cover up the wound with something" Ayumi protested. "She`s right, there`s no need to act so tough" Yoshiki said, Gonta thought for a little bit. "Alright" he said, "Sadly, I don`t have anything that could help" Miss Yui said. "Me neither" Yoshiki said, "All I have is this ribbon, which won`t help much" Ayumi said, pulling it out of her skirt pocket. Honda then appeared with an emergency kit in his hand. "This should help" he said, handing it to Miss Yui. "Thanks Tsutsuki-kun" Miss Yui said, she took the kit, found some bandages and wrapped them around Gonta`s shoulder.
"Thanks" he said, "We can`t just let you walk around with a wound like that" Yui said. Honda scratched his head, "You okay Honda?" Yoshiki asked. "It`s just…my memory`s so fuzzy. I feel like there`s something I should remember, but can`t. Anyway thanks for looking after Gonta" Honda replied. "Think nothing of it, it`s what friends are for" Yoshiki said, "Right, Satoshi`s group is about to watch that follow up tape he mentioned. If you hurry you should be able to see it with them" Honda said. They nodded and went back to where they met them. Before leaving, Gonta looked at Honda. I`ll do what I can to keep our friends safe, count on it he thought and followed Yui, Yoshiki and Ayumi. Honda then silently followed them, wanting to see what was on that tape.
After the two groups met outside the Custdains Closet, where the floor had fixed itself, they went inside to watch the tape. "What happened Gonta?" Satoshi asked, "He got stabbed in the shoulder. Luckily Honda found some bandages for us to use" Yoshiki said. "That`s good, Tsutsuki" Naomi said, "Yeah" Honda said, reviling himself. "Do you remember seeing me in the infirmary?" Naomi asked, "So that`s it" Honda said. "Huh? What do you mean?" Naomi and Seiko asked, "That`s the thing I can`t remember. I don`t remember that, what happened? " Honda asked. "You saved me from some misty figure, but then you knocked me out" Naomi replied, "Why didn`t you ask me earlier?" Honda asked. "It didn`t come to mind until now" Naomi replied.
They then went into the Custdains Closet to watch the tape. "Wait, where`s Nana and Ryutaro?" Gonta asked, "Some figure sent them somewhere. I don`t know where thought" Seiko replied. "I just hope they are safe" Gonta said while looking down, "Me too" Honda said. Satoshi put the tape into the cassete player and the screen showed Kibiki in the room they were in. "I should never have come here" Kibiki said with shaky breathing. "I can`t lose hope…If anyone`s watching this tape…there`s a way out, and I`m going to tell you what it is right now. You need to perform the Sachiko ritual correctly. Say the line once for each person present, then one more for Sachiko and put all your paper scraps together" he explained.
Knocking on the door was heard, "I wish I`d never done it" Kibiki said. The knocking got louder and louder, "Kibiki-sensei" was heard aswell. It was Naho, but her voice sounded almost possessed. "KIBIKI-SENSEI!" Naho shouted, knocking on the door until it broke open. She then went over to grab a hold of his neck and choke him. He eventually died and Naho, covered in a dark purple aura, stopped moving and the tape ended.
"That`s the correct way?" Honda asked, "Yes it is" a voice said. Kibiki`s spirit then appeared, "You`re Kibiki-sensei" Ayumi said. "That is correct" Kibiki said. "What I don`t get is if that`s the correct way to do the charm, why would that Naho write something else on her blog?" Gonta asked. "My guess is she did it on porpoise to give her mentor more test subjects" Honda said, "Wouldn`t surprise me" Yoshiki said. "Does that mean others have done it to?" Kibiki asked, "Most likely, Naho-san`s blog is popular" Ayumi replied. "Even if we know how to perform the charm we still don`t know how to appease Sachiko" Honda said, "How about Shinosaki`s group goes to confront Naho and Satoshi`s group tries to find more info on Sachiko".
"Not a bad idea" Kibik said, "Nakashima-san, here this is yours" Ayumi said handing Naomi her student ID. "My student ID and paper doll scrap! Thank you class rep!" Naomi said, "No problem, just try to not lose it" Ayumi said. She then took a picture of Naho`s and Kibiki`s corpses in the closet, "Kishinuma-kun, Miss Yui, Gonta-kun let`s go" she said. "Good luck and be careful" Seiko said, "Stay safe" Naomi and Satoshi said. "Right, same to you" Yoshiki said, leaving with Ayumi, Yui and Gonta. "Hey, there`s something behind the corpses" Seiko said, noticing it while looking into the locker, "Let`s go then" Satoshi said and the two other girls followed him.
There was whole back room like area with a latter on the wall. Naomi began climbing it quickly and Seiko went after her. "Yuka, you go now" Satoshi said, but Yuka shock her head. Honda whispered something into Satoshi`s ear, he nodded and said, "Oh, then I`ll go first. Once I`m at the top I`ll call for you, then you will come straight up here". "Okay" Yuka said. Satoshi climbed the latter, "Yuka, come up here!" Satoshi yelled from the top of the latter, "Okay!" Yuka yelled back.
She then climbed the latter and Honda simply jumped up there. "Wait, isn`t this the girls lavatory?" Honda asked, "Yeah…it is" Naomi replied, remembering how Seiko hung herself there. "Why would that latter lead us here?" Satoshi asked, Yuka saw something on the ground and picked it up. "Onii-chan" she said, pulling Satoshi`s sleeve, "What is it Yuka?" he asked. "Here" Yuka said, handing him the key she found, there was a note attached to it that said "Principal`s office". "Seems like this is the key to the Principal`s office" Satoshi said, just before they left, a figure appeared in the doorway.
"Ep!" Yuka squealed, hiding behind Satoshi, "You again" Satoshi exclaimed. Honda looked at the figure closely, It can`t be…but the resemblance is uncanny. There`s no way he thought. "What did you do to Gonta`s friends?" Seiko asked, "Heh heh" the figure simply started laughing. "So those two were friends of Gonta huh? Even with that key, you`re still missing something" it said, "What`s that?" Honda asked. Rather than answering, the figure disappeared in an instant. They walked outside the lavatories, "What could he have meant?" Seiko asked. While they were pondering, Honda`s spirit began leaving. At least they will be a little more safe now he thought, he then held his stomach, trying to ignore the pain and left.
Ayumi`s group found Naho in a library, "Well if it isn`t Ayumi Shinosaki. How are you holding up?" Naho asked. "Naho-san, I have some info I`d like to tell you" Ayumi said, "You have my attention, what`d you find?" Naho asked. Ayumi told her what they had found out about the murder case. "So Sachiko was the murderer? I had no idea…" Naho said, "Very interesting indeed. Thank you for providing me with this valuable information" Naho said, "At any rate, I have someone I need to find" she was about to leave. "I`m not done talking to you yet" Ayumi said, causing Naho to stop in the doorway.
"But I have no interest in what you have to say" Naho said, "I wonder who that boy in the staff room was, a classmate or a brother perhaps" Gonta flinched at the word brother. "There`s a bond of love between you to that keeps you going. It would be nice to have someone like that worry about me. It`s…quite intriguing" Naho said and then began giggling loudly. Finally at his limit, Gonta shouted, "Shut the HELL up!" surprising everyone. "Did I touch a nerve?" Naho asked, "Cut the crap, you aren`t concerned" Gonta said. "You knew how to do the charm the right way, but posted it the wrong way on blog. You tried to give your mentor more subjects to test, well guess what? He doesn`t want others to be trapped here, he actually gives a damn. As long as you are reunited with him, the whole world could burn in hell for all you care!" everyone were stunned into silence, "What do you know about him anyway?" Naho asked.
"You don`t understand. As long as I do a good job, Kibiki-sensei smiles at me. Kibiki-sensei, my sweet, succulent mentor…I would do anything for him. And I won`t let anyone get in my way" she said with a creepy smile on her face. She`s nuts Yoshiki thought, Ayumi was shaking violently and Miss Yui was trying to comfort her. "Naho-san…you died here. Do you remember what you were thinking when you died? What you were looking at?" Ayumi asked, "No, that`s the one thing I can`t seem to remember" Naho replied. "Your selfish egotism cost you the person you loved most" Ayumi said, she then showed Naho the picture of her and Kibiki`s corpses. Naho grabbed her head and began screaming, "Do you get it now? You killed the man you loved. You killed Kibki-sensei !" Ayumi shouted.
Suddenly a dark purple mist covered Naho, "Ah!" Ayumi shouted as she stepped back. "What the hell? What`s going on?" Yoshiki and Miss Yui asked, Naho then charged towards them. But Kibiki`s spirit went in between them, "Naho, it`s me!" he shouted and the possessed Naho stopped. "Kibiki-sensei?" she asked, "Yes I`m here" Kibiki replied. The dark purple mist then disappeared and Naho became transparent, "Kibiki-sensei!" Naho shouted and ran towards him, hugging him. He hugged back, "I`m sorry, I`m so sorry" she said while crying, "It`s okay, you were controlled by the darkening. It`s not your fault" Kibiki said to comfort her. Miss Yui and Ayumi couldn`t help but tear up at the scene while Yoshiki and Gonta just smiled.
"Sorry, but I have to cut this little reunion short" a voice said as a figure appeared. It was the same one that Satoshi`s group had seen twice, only now it was clear what it was. It was a man with a white lab coat, dark blue pants, a blue shirt and black shoes. He also had black hair and green eyes, No way! Gonta thought recognizing the man. The man then disappeared and reappeared behind Gonta and roundhouse kicked him in the back of his head. "Gonta-ku…" Ayumi was stopped by the man grabbing her neck, "Shinosaki! Let her go asshole!" Yoshiki shouted and charged the man, but he simply sidestepped and tripped Yoshiki.
He then stepped on Yoshiki`s head while tightening his grip around Ayumi`s neck. "Kishinuma-kun, Shinosaki-san!" Miss Yui yelled, causing the man to turn towards her. "It`s your call, their lives or your own?" he asked with an evil grin, "Let my students go, you can do whatever you want to with me!" Miss Yui yelled, shocking Kibiki and Naho. The man then let go of Ayumi and stepped of Yoshiki, Miss Yui then ran towards them. "Are you two okay?" she asked, "*cough* Yeah I`m fine" Ayumi said. "I`m fine too" Yoshiki said, "Well that`s a relief" Miss Yui said and got up. Out of thin air, the man spawned a kitana and slowly walked towards the three of them. "Now let`s get out of here" Miss Yui said, "Look out behind you!" Kibiki shouted.
Before Miss Yui could do anything else, the man had sliced her in half and her upper body fell off while her lower body collapsed. "N-NOOOOOOO!" Ayumi yelled starting to cry, "Miss Yui!" Yoshiki yelled while Naho, Kibiki and Gonta just watched on in horror. "Why you!" Yoshiki yelled and charged the man again, "Kishinuma-kun!" Ayumi shouted. The man simply kicked him to the side, "Be grateful I ended your teacher`s life quickly. I can`t say that I will do the same with Gonta`s life however" the man said, How does he know Gonta`s name? Yoshiki asked himself.
The man then walked over to Gonta and kicked him once again, no one moved, they were all frozen in fear. The man lowered his kitana then he lifted it up in the air. "So long Gonta" he said, beginning to slice the air. Just before his kitana hit Gonta however, a bright light filled the entire room causing the man to cover his eyes. After the light had died down the students, Naho and Kibiki had disappeared, "Damn thing, so close too" the man said angrily.
Yoshiki woke up, noticing that they had been transported somewhere else. "Where are we?" as he asked himself that, Ayumi woke up. "Huh, Shinosaki" he said, "Kishinuma-kun?" Ayumi asked. He only nodded slightly, to his surprise she hugged him and cried into his chest. "Don`t die! Don`t die dammit!" she yelled at him, "Sorry, I won`t do that again" Yoshiki said while patting her back. After Ayumi pulled away with a slightly red tint on her face, they proceeded to check on Gonta. Yoshiki checked his pulse, "He`s still breathing at least" Yoshiki said. "Thank God" Ayumi exclaimed, Yoshiki lightly shock Gonta and he slowly woke up. "Where are we?" he asked, "That`s what we`d like to know" Yoshiki replied. The three of them started walking and eventually met up with Satoshi`s group across another gap. After Naho and Kibiki appeared, the two groups exchanged stories.
"Seriously?" Yoshiki asked, "The was no body…but Morishige was beyond saving at the point" Satoshi replied. "Miss Yui" Naomi said between sobs while Seiko and Ayumi were sobbing loudly. "I wish our friends would stop dying so easily" Ayumi said. Gonta was silent, Yuka tried to comfort Seiko and Naomi while Naho and Kibiki just stood there watching the students suffer. "I never thought my doings could cause so much suffering. I`m so sorry" Naho mumbled, Kibiki said nothing, not knowing what to say.
"I think it`s obvious that our friends would not want us to join them" Satoshi said, breaking the silence, "We have get out of here and go home-" he was interrupted. "What`s the point? We`ll never make it out of here" Naomi said, "She`s right, we might as well give up. Nothing matters now" Ayumi said. Maybe they have a point Satoshi thought looking down sadly, "Onii-chan?" Yuka asked nervously. No one said anything and Gonta looked around, seeing the looks on their faces. "So that`s it, you`re just gonna give up?" he asked, "You`re gonna let their sacrifices be in vain? Well I`m not, pull out your paper doll scraps and prepare to do the charm in reverse. That way you can escape here alive", the others gasped. "Hold on, you`re saying you plan to appease Sachiko by yourself?" Naho asked, Gonta only nodded in reply.
"Are you nuts? You don`t even know how to" Yoshiki said, "If none of you are going to anything then I will" Gonta replied. "How can you go on knowing that everyone you know and love is dead?" Seiko asked, "I just don`t understand". "That`s why" Gonta replied, "I want to make sure your families get to see you again. Honda and I agreed that if we made any real friends, we would make sure that they didn`t have to go through the same shit we did. I understand that you can`t handle this place much longer and I feel the same way. Either way, I`m not gonna just roll over and give up, not after having come so far".
The others looked at the thirteen-year-old boy in awe. Despite being the youngest one and having experienced the worst things, he still wanted the best for others and seemed completely fine. "You and your brother are some of the kindest people in the entire world" Kibiki said smiling at the young boy, "Thanks, I hear that a lot" Gonta said. Satoshi regained his composure, "He`s right, we can`t give up, for our friends and family" he said. The others nodded and turned to Gonta, "We`re doing this together" they said in unison, "That`s more like it" Gonta said. Naho handed Satoshi a baby statue, wishing all of them good luck, "Saenoki?" Gonta asked. "Yeah?" Naho said, "What exactly is this `darkening`you mentioned in your notes?" Gonta asked.
"Well, from what I`ve gathered it`s a powerful force that takes you over when you lose all hope. Though it seems it can be triggered by other negative emotions too, as I demonstrated" Naho replied. "In other words, keep holding on to that willpower of yours, the same goes for the rest of you" Kibiki said, "Right, be careful you guys" Gonta said. "You too" Satoshi said, and then the two groups went their separate ways.
Satoshi`s group found a dead end with two pedestals where the two statues fit perfectly. They placed them there and the wall slid open, revealing a new hall. While there, the girls grabbed their heads in pain. "Naomi! Yuka! Shinohara!" Satoshi said, "Ngh, my head" Yuka whined. "I`ll go on ahead" Satoshi said entering the room a door at the end of the hall. The door lead into the nurse`s office. On the desk was a diary which belonged to Yoshie Shinosaki, Sachiko`s mother. According to the diary, on Sachiko`s seventh birthday, the principal tried to rape Yoshie, but when he failed he pushed her down the stairs on accident. This snapped her neck, killing her and since Sachiko saw the incident, she was killed by being choked. In death, Sachiko dragged victims into Heavenly Host, which was now in a separate dimension thanks to the children, and killed them for her mother. At some point, she stopped killing for her mother and did it simply because she enjoyed it.
After Satoshi was done reading the diary, Yoshie`s spirit appeared, "I won`t forgive you" she said. "I`ll never forgive you. I`ll kill you. How dare you harm Sachiko? How dare you harm me?", her clothes were ragged, her neck was snapped and her skin was grey. She walked towards Satoshi, but Honda appeared in between them with a cat plushy in his hand. "Yoshie Shinosaki!" he yelled, causing her to stop in her tracks. Honda then held up the cat plushy, "This is what you wanted to give this to Sachiko right?" he asked. "Sachiko?" Yoshie asked, "Where is she?".
"We can take you there if you help us" Satoshi replied, gathering the courage to speak. Yoshie`s spirit began to gain back her skin color and she turned transparent. "Are you souls who were brought here against your will?" she asked, both boys nodded. "Will you help us stop Sachiko?" Satoshi asked, "Yes, my daughter has to be stopped" Yoshie said. "Your next destination should be the principal`s office" she said, "Right" the boys said. Satoshi walked outside and told the girls what he had found out. Honda handed Satoshi the cat plushy, "This might come in handy" he said. Satoshi and the girls went to find the principal`s office.
In a hall, Ayumi stopped, "Hold on" she said. "What`s wrong, is there something down this hall?" Yoshiki asked, "There definetly is, be carefull" Ayumi warned. They then walked into a room beside another classroom. It had a symbol on the floor, which was a big circle with four arrows, one pointing in each direction and in the middle there was a circle with a kanji reading hikarii. Gonta then scratched his head, "Something wrong?" Yoshiki asked. "It`s weird, but I feel like I`ve seen this symbol before" Gonta replied. The symbol then disappeared, "Just an illusion" Ayumi said. They then continued on and saw someone outside.
It was a short man, who had slick back black hair and a black mustache. He wore round-lens glasses with golden frame, a white shirt, a black tie and a bole-colored business suit. "Who`s that?" Yoshiki asked, "It`s the principal" Ayumi said. The principal then walked into an opening in the wall. The students looked into that opening which turned out to be an incinerator. What a strange looking incinerator, almost seems like something you`d see in a crematorium Yoshiki thought. "Someone seems to have thrown something in there, it`s yellow" Gonta said, noticing a yellow ribbon in the entrance of the incinerator. Ayumi tried to reach for it, but her arms weren`t long enough. There was also a figure of a girl in there, who was squatting with her hands around her knees.
"T-That`s…" Yoshiki stuttered, it was Sachiko, who began crawling deeper into the machine until she was out of sight. "It`s pretty cramped in there, but with some effort you could crawl down pretty far into this thing" Yoshiki said, "Actually, look over there. There`s a tiny pinprick of light. Maybe it`s a room or something…As good a lead as any". "Wait! Are you nuts? This is an INCINERATOR! What if someone lights it up while we`re inside?" Ayumi asked, stopping Yoshiki from crawling into the machine. "Good point. Okay, you two wait here and I`ll go by myself" Yoshiki said, crawling into it. "Okay fine. I`ll go to" Ayumi said, following him with Gonta going in after her. "I told you to wait at the top" Yoshiki said, "No way, we`re going with you" Ayumi said firmly. "Dammit…be careful alright? You can get caught on some dust and ash if you don`t watch out" Yoshiki said. "Thanks" Ayumi and Gonta said in unison. They kept crawling and it became more and more cramped. Despite Sachiko telling them to go back, they continued on picking up the yellow ribbon on the way.
After a few minutes, Satoshi`s group reached the principal`s office. Satoshi took out the key and his hand was shaking, "What`s wrong Mochida?" Seiko asked. "Nothing…just a bit nervous. I mean, we don`t know what`ll happen next" Satoshi replied, Seiko slowly nodded. "I hope the others are okay" Naomi said, "Yeah same" Satoshi said. He then put the key into the lock and turned it. He opened and went inside, the girls slowly following him. He went over to the desk, "Maybe we can find something in here" he said. He opened a drawer and found a little bag. After he grabbed it however, his eyes widened and he froze in place. "Satoshi? Satoshi what`s going on?" Naomi asked, she along with Seiko and Yuka called Satoshi`s name over and over again, but he didn`t respond.
He saw what looked like a basement with the principal standing above the body of Sachiko, who`s dress was white instead of red. "How do you do it?" he asked, "How do you keep getting into my dreams? Oh I see, you`re not really dead are you? I can`t let you tell another soul what I did to you… so I have to make sure you can never speak again". He then pulled out a pair of scissor and cut out her tongue. He then stabbed the corpse again and again while saying, "Take this and this and THIS!". He then panted, "You like that? You like that? YOU LIKE THAT? If I ever see you in my dreams again, I`ll come back and kill you again as many times as it takes" he said. The vision then ended.
Back in Heavenly Host Satoshi heard the girls call his name repeatedly. "Satoshi! Onii-chan! Mochida!" Naomi, Seiko and Yuka yelled one more time. "Guys?" Satoshi said confused, finally out of that vision. "You`re okay, thank goodness" Naomi exclaimed, "What happened exactly?" Seiko asked. Satoshi looked at the bag in his hand, "This is…Sachiko`s tongue" he said. The girls gasped, "How is that possible?" Naomi asked. "The principal cut it out after he had killed her, because she found a way to invade his dreams" Satoshi explained, "That`s…horrible" Seiko said. "Well…let`s see if we can find anything else" Satoshi said, the girls nodded and they looked around the office. Satoshi found a hole in the back of a wardrobe. "I`m going in" he said, "Be careful" Naomi said.
The hole went to a latter, which brought them to an underground basement area. "Who would have thought that this school would have a basement like this?" Seiko asked. As they continued to move on, passing a dissecting room with disembodied heads on the shelves, the man from earlier stood in the end of the hallway with something beside him. It was Honda`s dead body, the students gasped and the man walked away, dragging Honda`s body along the floor. "He`s been through enough!" Seiko shouted and ran after him, "Seiko wait up!" Naomi shouted, running after her with Satoshi and Yuka following.
"Ngh, what happened?" Ayumi asked herself as she slowly woke up. She found herself in a room with many dead bodies. "Oh no, Kishinuma-kun? Gonta-kun?" Ayumi said, but got no answer. "Not today you don`t" Yoshiki said, then he and Gonta fell from the ceiling. "Kishinuma-kun, Gonta-kun" Ayumi exclaimed. "Almost ended up in the pool again" Yoshiki said, "Let`s try to find the others" Ayumi said. "Right" the boys replied and they walked out of the room.
"Guys!" they heard someone yell, they turned to the voice and saw it was Satoshi, who along with Naomi and Yuka stopped next to him. "*pant* You`re okay" Naomi said, "*pant* That`s good" Yuka said. "Have you guys been running or something? You sound exhausted" Gonta said, "Shinohara ran after that man from before and we chased them, but we lost them" Satoshi said. "I just hope she`s alright" Ayumi said, they then proceeded towards the area Sachiko was buried. In the room just before that one, they met Yuki, "Yuki-chan! You`re here! Does this mean you still have control over your will?" Ayumi asked. "Ayumi-san…don`t give in. You`ve been stricken with the darkening. It is beginning to take you over. You can stop it, but you must hurry" Yuki said.
"Sachiko`s just ahead. If you can appease her, then you can escape. Go, quickly!" she said, "What about Seiko? We can`t leave without her" Naomi said. "She`s fighting her own demons right now. If she can overcome them…and not get controlled by the darkening she`ll be along" Yuki replied. "It is possible to appease Sachiko, make sure you`re ready" Yuki said, "We understand" Satoshi sated. "Remember, to get out of here you must get through to Sachiko" Yuki said and disappeared. Honda then appeared in her place, "Good luck guys" he said. "Thanks" Satoshi said, Honda nodded and moved out of the way.
Seiko had lost trail of the man from earlier and found room with a TV, which just showed static. "Something tells me I should see whatever`s on this TV" Seiko said, as she did the man from before appeared in the corner with an evil smile on his lips. "That`s it, just a little more" he said before disappearing. What Seiko saw next would turn her world on it`s head. "What happened? Where am I?" Honda asked himself, he was in some hallway.
"Well, it doesn`t matter. I have to find the others and get…gik" he was stabbed in the back with a sword, going through his chest. As he fell to the ground, his killer came into view and Seiko froze. It was her, covered by some dark purple mist. "NOOOOOO!" she yelled as she fell to the ground and grabbed her head. "I killed him? I killed Honda…he must hate me for this. I`m sorry Honda, I`m so so sorry" she said as the mist covered her once again. Her phone fell to the ground and suddenly made a noise. She picked it up and saw that she had a new message from Honda. "There`s no way it`s him. It`s just some spirits messing with me" she said. She got the message repeatedly, eventually she checked the message and gasped in shock.
"I know you think I hate you for killing me, but I don`t. You were controlled and you would never kill a friend on purpose, so I forgive you. You still have your other friends and your family to look after, so you can`t give up. I believe you, we all do. Forgive yourself and escape this place, for all your friends and family, and the ones you love" was what the message said. Seiko held the phone to her chest, "Thank you Honda, I love you so much" she said while crying and the mist disappeared. She then got up, dried her tears and ran out of the room, "Hang on guys, I`m on my way" she said.
"This is it" Satoshi said, recognizing the room from the vision. Yoshikazu`s dead, rotting body hung from the ceiling, "Clear suicide" Honda stated. They eventually found the place where Sachiko`s body was buried, "I told you to turn back! Don`t look at me!" Sachiko shouted. "Sachiko, please listen we only-" Satoshi tried to say, but Sachiko interrupted him, "Leave now or I`ll kill you!" she shouted. As she left her grave, the Kisaragi students tried to move, but couldn`t. I can`t move, has she paralyzed me? Satoshi asked himself. Sachiko walked over to Yuka, pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed her.
"Augh!" Yuka yelped, "Yuka!" Satoshi yelled. "Sachiko, stop dammit!" Yoshiki yelled, but she didn`t listen and just kept stabbing Yuka while laughing. "Stop this Sachiko!" Yoshie yelled as she appeared, causing Sachiko to stop. "Mommy?" she asked, "Yes, I`m here" Yoshie replied. Sachiko dropped the scissors, "Mommy!" she yelled as she ran towards her mother and hugged her while crying. Sachiko`s dress changed from red to white, "Now`s your chance" Yoshie said. Satoshi nodded, "Gonta" he said, Gonta turned towards him. Satoshi handed him the bag with tongue and the cat plushy. Gonta walked over to Sachiko and Yoshie while Ayumi tended to Yuka`s wound, "This is yours" Gonta said as he handed Sachiko the plushy and the bag.
"I know what it`s like to lose someone you love, believe me. I can`t imagine what you`ve been through, with no one to tell it to either. You don`t have feel that way anymore" he said. Sachiko looked at the items in her hands and began to cry, "I`m sorry! I`m sorry for killing everyone!" she said. Suddenly a door opened, it was Seiko. "Seiko! You`re okay!" Naomi said, "What did I miss?" Seiko asked. The school began to shake once again, "What now?" Gonta asked. Honda appeared, "The barrier around this place is gone. Now`s your chance to escape" he said.
"How do we do that?" Ayumi asked, "You have to go to the walkway between the buildings and preform the charm correctly" Yoshie replied. "You`ve got seven minutes, good luck" Honda said, "Right, let`s do this" Satoshi said. They then ran out the room, "Gonta!" Honda yelled. "Yeah?" Gonta asked after stopping and turning towards his brother, Honda tossed Gonta his phone. Gonta caught it, nodded and ran to catch up with the others, I just hope he`ll be able to manage himself Honda thought.
They eventually reached the walkway, "All right, everyone pull out your paper doll scraps" Satoshi said. "Wait, where`s Gonta?" Yoshiki asked, just then Gonta ran through the door. "Sorry I`m late" he said, "Don`t worry, you were just in time" Satoshi said. They all pulled out their paper doll scraps, "Remember, once for each person present and once more for Sachiko" Ayumi said. The others nodded and they began chanting, "Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you. Sachiko we beg of you!". They put their scrap pieces together and they were bathed in a blinding light.
They woke up in their classroom, "We did it! We`re home!" Seiko shouted in happiness. "Onii-chan!" Yuka shouted as she hugged her brother, "Yuka" Satoshi said. Their happiness was cut short as they remembered the friends they had lost. "Listen" Ayumi said causing everyone to turn towards her. "Be careful on your way home and please come to school tomorrow" she said. She then turned towards Gonta and gave him a hug. "If you need anything just let us know okay?" she asked, "Sure" Gonta said. With that the friends all parted ways. As Gonta neared his apartment, he saw two familiar faces and ran towards them. "Nana! Ryutaro! You`re okay" he said, Nana just smiled at him before lowering her head. "Something wrong?" Gonta asked confused, "More like cruel" Ryutaro replied.
"When Nana talked with her classmates, they said that they don`t know anyone called Nari or Chihaya", "It`s like…they never existed to them" Nana said, tearing up. Gonta just stood there, not knowing what to say. "It was the same with my dad, he didn`t even remember your brother. It`s like none of them ever existed" Ryutaro said. Gonta just stood there, not believing what he heard. Ryutaro brought him into the apartment, put a note on the table and left with Nana. "I hope he`ll be all right" Nana said, "So do I" Ryutaro said.
The next day, the Kisaragi students told their class about the fate of their friends. Like Nana`s classmates and Gushken, they said that they had never known anyone like that. Even their faces on pictures were blacked out, Seiko had told the fellow survivors, except Gonta, to meet her after school had ended. "What is it you want to tell us about?" Yoshiki asked, "The truth about Honda`s death" Seiko replied. This peeked the others` curiosity, "What do you mean the truth?" Satoshi asked. "I found out who killed him" Seiko replied, "How?" Ayumi asked. "After I chased that man in there I found this room with a TV in it. It showed me who killed him" Seiko replied. She then took a deep breath, "The one who killed Honda…was me" she said. The others gasped, "It was you? But why?" Naomi asked. "I don`t know, but I killed him. Now no one can remember him, and it`s my fault *sniff*" Seiko said.
A/N: And with that, the Blood Covered arc is finished. I`m going to take a break from this story, but I will return to it after a while. In the meantime, I`ll make a side story.
Update: I decided to make it less clutered to make it easier to read.
Hikari=Light