Chapter 26: A Ghost Sister
"Why?" I kept screaming into the darkness. "WHY!?" I shut my eyes and prayed for my feeling of dread to leave. When I opened my eyes once again I saw the pink of my pillow and heard the barking of a dog outside. I gasped.
With that gasp everything from my dream disappeared. All I could remember was asking "why" into the blurry darkness. It must have been horrible though, sweat was dripping from my forehead and salty tears were continuously streaming down my face.
"Amu-chan are you alright?" Ran asked. I looked up to see Ran, Miki, and Suu hovering in a corner. Yoru was floating beside Ikuto who lay sleeping on a bean-bag chair. Poor guy still looked almost green with sickness. He was snoring though, with his mouth ajar, allowing me to see two pointy fangs. With a shudder, I got up and tiptoed to my closet. Quiet as a mouse I grabbed my clothes and snuck out of my room.
Just as I was stepping out of the shower something flashed in my brain. It was a kind of sparkling image, much like a phantom in the moonlight. Trembling I took another step, now I was in front of the bathroom mirror. This time I saw a shimmer of yellow/red out of the corner of my eye. Instinctively I turned towards the mirror. Another image flashed, and this time it was where my face was supposed to be in the mirror. I screamed as I watched thick crimson blood drip slowly down someone's face. On the face was a twisted smile. I couldn't recognize who the person was though.
Just then there was a knock on the bathroom door that made the vision fade away. I scrambled over to the door, gripping the knob so no one would barge in.
"Amu? Are you okay in there?" my mother asked almost annoyed. Like you really care. I thought.
"Y-yeah, I just saw a spider." I lied quickly. When my mom had gone I pulled on my clothes with quivering hands. The whole time I didn't dare look back into that damned mirror.
My heart was hammering against my ribs as I paced along the hallway. In an attempt to calm myself I tried to think of meaningless things to distract me. "Tadase's really annoying..." I commented.
He's that was because of a murderous king from the past.
I shook my head, trying to forget the supernatural, "Haru's a nice guy, and cute, but he doesn't hang out with anyone but the Guardians..."
Probably because his sister was killed by an evil spectre.
"It's almost my birthday!" I almost shouted.
So its almost the memorial of Dia's death. My pacing feet halted at that thought. I stared at the carpet in dread.
"Don't think about Dia! Don't think about Dia!" I repeated, uselessly hoping that could help. Suddenly I saw a hand. It wasn't real though. I could tell because there was no sense of life or presence coming from it, like a cartoon. Backing away I prepared to scream again. My eyes traveled from the hand reaching out towards me to that twisted smile, surrounded with blood.
"A-a" I backed into the wall. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the stairs. I knew it wouldn't kill me, but the impact, I was sure, would make the thing go away. So I shifted my weight and moved my foot, and then down I plunged.
As I tumbled down the stairs I refused to let myself reach out for help. I let myself bounce from stair to stair until I crashed into the wall below. Just as I was concerning myself with the pain I felt, I saw another flash. It was someone screaming. She had orange hair tied into pig tails. It was Dia, and, in a half translucent state, was soundlessly wailing as if she'd never felt pain so extreme. As the image fell away so did my consciousness.
I awoke what I assumed to be a couple hours later. There was too much light and every inch of me was sore. I turned my head this way and that, my neck protesting greatly. Everything, from the floors to the walls to the ceiling was white, off-white, or white with a tinge of some spring color like baby blue, light pink, or spring green. There was a window in the room where I could see my father talking with a doctor.
Just then a nurse walked in. Like a stunned squirrel I became stock-still. The young nurse, who much resembled Barbie, giggle.
"Such cute hair!" her voice was high as Christmas bell, but soft and kind like a gentle first snow. I didn't reply though. My mind couldn't comprehend someone who was talking hair at a time of crisis. The nurse frowned when I didn't respond, so she tried a different topic.
"Uuh... you know your dad seems pretty upset with you... what were you doing on those stairs?"
"Wouldn't believe me if I told you." I muttered, looking away. I though the nurse wouldn't hear me; I was wrong. There was clicking sound that made me look back at the blonde woman. Her face was twisted into a scowl.
"Try me." she commanded aiming the gun for my heart. I glared at her. Then my eyes grazed over her name plate: "Molly Kapamaki (A/N: I know that's a sushi its just im in health right now and I don't feel like thinking)
Molly Kapamaki! I realized I'd seen that name in one of Sanjo's files. Molly's lips pressed together and her eyes sent daggers at me. Flinching slightly I tried desperately to think of something.
"H-hahahahaha!" Why I was laughing, I wasn't sure. I guess I just hoped this was all some kind of sick joke, "You wouldn't kill me!" When I looked into Molly's face I knew it was true because beads of sweat began to appear on her face.
"Uh-uh... I... I would if you made me!" She pressed the handgun against my forehead. The cold metal of it sent chills down my spine. Molly continued to glare at me, "Sanjo-sama doesn't like you! You're weird! Normal magic doesn't work and vengeful spirits can't haunt you!"
"You think Sanjo-san hates me? HA!" I laughed, quickly lying. But I was so used to it that everything but the truth rolled from my mouth like the moving of a freshly oiled door hinge. "To Sanjo, I'm very important! Without me she wouldn't have Utau so well controlled! Without the information I gave her she'd never have gotten as far as she did in the Easter organization!"
Molly's hand began to tremble, "B-but... she-she never mentioned... she didn't... I thought,"
"You weren't doing this on Sanjo's orders right? Ha! Of course you weren't! Sanjo would never betray me! And if she did... well doesn't that just make her a lying bi—"
"No! Don't talk about Sanjo-sama like that! It was all me! I just wanted to help!"
"Then do yourself a favor and put that gun away, unless you really do want to kill me. In which case you'll have the wrath of Sanjo to deal with!" Molly looked even more frightened than before by my words. She hesitantly took the gun away. At the point I lifted my leg, knocking her to the floor. Her gun slipped from her hands and fell right next to me.
"That's for asking unnecessary questions!" I grabbed the gun and aimed it at her shoulder, smirking. "This is how you get information out of someone!" I was determined to teach her a lesson. "Let the victim writhe in pain until they're ready to hand over anyone and anything in exchange for a mere death! Until then, keep them alive! Keep them in agonizing torture!"
Now Molly was beyond scared. She could've been knocked dead of sheer fright at that moment. I could even see tears forming in her eyes. I wondered if I'd gone a bit to far. Then I remembered the fear of that metal against my forehead. I felt this was a justifiable vengeance.
"Th-th-then why don't you j-just get it over with? K-kill me." I smiled evilly, moving the gun from her shoulder exactly where her heart was.
"Are you sure about that?" I inquired with threatening sweetness. Dramatically I prepared to pull the trigger and then she suddenly screeched,
"NO! DON'T I BEG YOU!" Smirking I shoved the nurse towards the door.
"Then go make sure I'm released before midnight tonight." as Molly was leaving I added, "And one more thing," I unloaded the gun and tossed it back to her, keeping the bullets with me. Silently I thought, show a friendly gesture, like getting the enemy water or giving back their (unloaded) gun, to gain trust. "You're a horrible nurse."
It was fifteen to eleven that night. I was about to be released from the hospital with minor injuries. I looked towards the wall behind me as I felt the familiar pressense of four ghosts. Nikaido, Ran, Miki, and Suu phased through the wall. Nikaido looked suspicious while Ran looked as if she were grieving. Miki and Suu simply looked concerned.
"Ran," I asked first, "What's wrong?"
"AMU-CHAN!" Ran cried floating too close to me, "I'M SORRY YOU GOT HURT!!! IF I HAD BEEN THERE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP YOU BUT—"
"Ran. It's not your fault." Even when I'm dealing with my own shit, I end up hurting others. I slowly pushed myself off of my hospital bed. My leg stung for a moment and I felt a little dizzy, but I pushed back those feelings.
"I have to go, I have that meeting with Utau."
"AMU DON'T!" Nikaido suddenly yelled as I turned towards the door. I turned around slowly, glaring at him.
"Why not?"
"Because something doesn't feel right about the whole thing! Don't go! Take Ikuto or the Guardians—"
"I CAN'T DO THAT! IKUTO'S SICK! HARU ALREADY LOST HIS SISTER BECAUSE OF ME! IF NAGIHIKO USES ANYMORE SPIRITUAL POWER HIS LIFESPAN WILL SHORTEN! TADASE WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIS OTHER SIDE IF HE'S AROUND ME! AND I'VE ALREADY KILLED TWO OF YAYA'S CARETAKERS! I CAN'T LET THE THIRD LEAVE HER TOO!"
"Hinamori-san! You don't understand! Sanjo-san... she"
"I know quite enough about Sanjo the murderer." I growled, pivoting so my back was towards Nikaido. "Now don't muddle in other people's business."
"You'll get kill—" Nikaido's voice was lost as I slammed the door and ran away.
My leg stung too much. Though I'd been told to ignore pain, it was too much, falling down the stairs could really do some damage. I haled a cab and took it until I was close enough to the abandoned warehouse that I was supposed to meet Utau at. I couldn't let anyone even close to somewhere so dangerous, even a complete stranger.
Despite trying to ignore Nikaido, I was still wary as I walked into a wide-open space. The asphalt matched with the midnight sky made the surroundings look even darker. Only a glistening moon hovering above my head cast light enough to see. The faraway street lamps were like fireflies from this distance.
"So you made it. And just on time too." I whirled around. Utau was standing there. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into pigtails just above her ears. Her purple eyes were merciless.
"Utau, I don't know if you know a Ms. Sanjo, but she's been—"
"She's been my greatest ally!" Utau finished for me. I gasped and started to back away when I heard footsteps to the right of me.
"Hinamori Amu, you're a foolish girl! Though your aura is almost indistinct from a ghost's, there is the clear feeling of power about you. But, it would seem you can't control it. A pity, really, because I was hoping you'd be my next project for Easter. That company, and I, both love taking special beings like yourself, and seeing what makes them tick." Sanjo stepped closer to me, her face half hidden with shadow. I took a couple steps back, putting both Sanjo and Utau in my sight.
"You're disgusting! I know what Easter really does! It tortures creatures! It makes puppets out of the supernatural!" I turned to Utau. Maybe I could talk some common sense into her, or at least get her to stop following orders. She's possessed by a devil isn't she? She should start acting like it, "Utau! C'mon! You don't need to listen to her! Surely you have your own ambitions!"
"Hahaha! Of course I do!" Utau's voice suddenly took on an echo, "I want to sing. And Sanjo is my manager!" then Utau's voice was almost completely overshadowed by another girl's voice, coming from within Utau herself. "With Easter sponsoring me, I'll go places I never could before! I'll be famous, and I'll be rich and everyone will adore me!"
"Th-that voice..." suddenly my dream was coming back bit by bit.
Utau was singing on stage, but I could see Dia, my beloved, in Utau's face. Not only that, but Sanjo was backstage.
"You finally understand?" that voice... it can't be! My dreams... "With all your power, you should've realized before, but I guess you've always been an idiot!" Dia... always in my dreams, but... "That's right Amu-chan," Ghosts can possess people... "All because of you," DIA'S POSSESSING UTAU! "All because of your wish I was brought onto this place as a ghost!"
"NOOOOOOO!" I screamed.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Don't act so surprised! I know you have supernatural powers! Honestly, if it weren't for me, all your powers would've awakened sooner."
"W-what?" I gasped, looking up at Utau, who now resembled Dia a lot.
"Yep! I couldn't have some kind of psychic running around in the family! Not when I needed to get further in my stardom!"
"I thought. I thought you cared for me—"
"Care? For you? You were just a bother! But letting supernatural powers push me out of the spotlight, the hell with that! Sure I had to put up with you, and that old lady was a total bitch, but it was almost worth it!"
"H-how can you say that, Dia?"
"Easy. It's the truth. Haha! It's precious how you thought I really loved you, but, you know I really hate that you had to bring me back to this Earth. Well, I did hate it, until I found this wonderful body. She's gorgeous, and not to mention, her voice is almost as magnificent as mine. I can use her as a second chance to complete my goal."
"Y-your goal was..."
"To be rich and famous! I want to be on all the magazine covers and in the latest gossip. I don't care what I have to do! Screw the whole goodness and honest means shit! I'll be ruthless, shameless, and strong! That's how you get what you want in the real world!"
"N-no, Dia..." In death, had she forgotten the truth? She was speaking only lies.
"Don't act like you know everything bitch! I'm stronger than even you now! Utau's body has absorbed so much demonic and angelic energy that combined with my ghost abilities; I could kick your ass a thousand times over! HAHA!"
This Dia... this Dia... THIS IS NOT THE SISTER I KNOW! "OH YEAH!? THEN TRY IT!"
"My pleasure bitch!" Utau rushed at me. I saw the demonic energy channeling into the air through Utau's hand. I cursed myself for not bringing my Easter equipment. In a blaze of Hell's fire Utau struck at my side. Dodging at the last minute it only stung a little.
I did a back flip then jumped back up to snap kick Utau. Once my kicking foot was on the ground again I thrust my fist against Utau's stomach. She reared, preparing for a new attack, but I'd already skipped back to a safe distance.
"Dia! Get out of Utau! You had your chance at a life!"
"Don't think you're so righteous! I'm giving Utau what she wants anyway! Besides, you have no right to judge! I'm here because of you!"
"Well, when I made that wish I didn't think it'd be granted! God isn't supposed to bring back the dead!"
"Incase you didn't notice I'm not exactly alive!" Dia screamed at me as Utau slammed her fist into my cheek. I stumbled backwards from shock. That gave Utau time to smack my other cheek and knee me in the kidney.
"Dia! Even you were brought back, you shouldn't forget the real reason you had for wanting to be a star!"
"Hmph! You're too stubborn for your own good, girl."
"I'm not just a girl, I'm your sister! A sister who you protected and hung out with for years! Even if that was just because you were being selfish," tears began to overflow my eyes, "You're reason for singing was as true as the blue sky!"
"You preaching cry baby! Idiot! Bitch! Stupid!" Each time Utau slapped me Dia would insult me.
"I'M NOT AN IDIOT! YOU INSPIRED ME SO MUCH! YOU WERE SO AMAZING! I WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU! I STILL CAN BE!"
"If you won't give up, then fine, tell me what my 'true' and 'inspiring' reason was." Dia emphasized her words with air-quotes.
"You always believed that a song from the heart could change a mood entirely! People could go from happy to sad, but they would always be changed just a little from that song! You're singing was so beautiful and your manner was so pure that I believed that more than anything!"
Abruptly Dia's and Utau's auras became to separate things. I'd never really seen Utau's aura before. It was almost purple, with a shimmer of gold, while Dia's was glistening and bright like a mesh of multi-colored sparkles. Utau stood there, looking shocked. As she spoke, it was her own voice and not Dia's this time,
"I... my heart... it's beating... I feel... I feel... like I exist." Did Utau get some of her soul back? How did that happen?
"What's going on, Utau?" Sanjo inquired from a ways away. Utau didn't answer, tears were falling from her eyes now.
"I haven't cried since that time..." Utau sobbed quietly. "W-where is he?"
"Utau what are you talking about?" I asked. Then I heard an echo of a shining white voice,
"Utau-chan has built a piece of soul. My duty is almost done."
"Don't count your chicken's 'fore they hatch! That soul could still belong to us!" a voice of black flames replied.
There was suddenly a demonic presence and an angelic presence along with the mixed presence of Dia and Utau, the presence of Sanjo... and who was that? Oh no. I thought, looking up to the roof of the old warehouse. Utau calmed down enough to ask, "Amu... what are you looking a—" she gasped. I knew she saw too.
"I-Ikuto?" we both asked in unison.
On top of the warehouse I could see Ikuto. He was writhing as if in pain, and I could see his eyes glowing brighter red than ever before. He looked starved and deranged. I held my breath as Ikuto jumped down to the asphalt, and used super human speed to race towards Utau and I. He looked like he intended to kill. He was far enough away, that it was possible to watch him as he ran, but I couldn't pay attention because my mind was remembering what he'd told me before.
'I'll have to turn Utau into a vampire.'
I gripped Utau's arm. "Run! It's the curse! You'll get bit!"
But it was too late. Ikuto's slapped me away from Utau with one hand and grabbed her forcefully with the other. He obviously was in his right mind. His fangs were huge and glisteningly pearly white. His vibrantly red eyes had hugely dilated pupils, as if he were on drugs. I glimpsed a yellowish aura as Dia tried to escape Utau's body, and then Ikuto clamped his teeth around Utau's neck. There was a blood curdling scream and the sound of dripping blood. Then I feel back onto the ground sobbing. Everything went black after that.
I could see my dream from the night before though. It was playing and replaying in my head.
It was midnight, and everything was black, but instead of stars there was the burning sun. I couldn't see the moon. Utau was crying on the ground, but her hair turned orange and then back to blonde every once in a while. Next to her was a marble statue of Sanjo-san. It was slowly cracking. Soon it would break and turn to dust. Then I heard the shouts of ghosts. There were too many of them to listen to a single one. An angel's feathers flew in the wind while smoke filled the oddly beautiful sky.
There was a horrible shrieking sound, and I turned back to Utau. She lay on the ground wriggling in agony. Her face looked like it was screaming for dear life but I couldn't hear anything. Then I noticed two punctures at the side of her neck. I followed a thick and brilliant red trail of blood to a puddle of it at the feet of a blue haired man. Suddenly the man's face became monster-like with huge red eyes and giant fangs. He smiled and then jumped at me, his mouth open as if to bite.
Author's Note: Sorry for not updating for SO long. I really had some trouble with this one. Ugh and I had like ten projects at one time! It's supposed to be the end of the year! What's with all this work!? Anyway thanx for reading PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no Utau's not dead)