One More Chance
By: Lakija X
Authors Notes: Pat Benitar got me! With this chapter's title!
This chapter was more or less forced. I suffered from writer's block. ;;
Well, maybe I will write an alternate chapter. Depends on what you guys think. There's not much romance here. There will be some more in the next chapter. It is coming very, very soon. A new character is introduced. Two really. Only one will remain though. And she's a real pepper!
I have a gift too. I made wallpaper, and if you've reviewed or read, I'll try and e-mail it to you! Just ask for it! It's really nice.
Long chapter, through my eyes. The battle for Mutsuki's survival has begun!
And one of the girls is really brutal with the competition!
-Lakija X
Mio:
Chapter Four: Love is a Battlefield: Fight for the Diary Page
Chitose and I had tried to force Itsuki and Mayu to go. They didn't want to leave us by ourselves, but we were prepared.
Chitose, being all-knowing, had told her brother that she had someone watching over her, and that she knew what the outcome of the night would be.
She was so smart, knowing that I wanted to surprise them when I brought back Mutsuki with me. I had racked up a lot of powerful type 60 film, and I wanted to search for more... but... on our way to Misono Hill...
That's when it happened. Like a television show...
"No! I'm not leaving you! You're my sister, and I promise that I'll stay with you!" Mayu was running from Kureha Shrine, where the secret passageway was hidden. Itsuki was running behind her, trying to slow her down.
"St-stop!" he yelled.
"But Mayu!" I looked at my sister, annoyed.
"You were crying before because of a ghost! How can you stay here?"
My eyes widened. Why was she so observant!? I rubbed the rest of the sadness from my eyes.
"Oh that? Um... it was really that... I thought you guys were ghosts... trying to catch me. Calling me, and I was too embarrassed to say that before." I was turning out to be a good liar so far. Don't you think?
Mayu nodded. She bought the story.
"Oh... sorry about that."
"That's okay. The important thing is that I don't have to sacrifice you. Isn't that great?"
Unlike a television show, she nodded in total agreement.
"Yes! I found that it was foolish to be taken away by evil spirits willingly. The Abyss will not stop haunting these woods unless it is destroyed, or sealed within itself."
I marveled at how talkative Mayu had become since Itsuki had been revived.
"Okay. But I don't want you staying here. I promise with all my heart that I'll come back."
Mayu looked doubtful, but she nodded.
"Itsuki, make sure she goes alright?"
Itsuki forced a smile. "Sure. Please keep my Chiko-chan safe." He gingerly grabbed Mayu's hand, and slowly guided her toward the Kureha Shrine again. They started down the path, going away from the cemetery. They started to ascend the steps. I heard them start a conversation.
I gave Chitose a hug after the couple left.
"What's this for?" she asked. She hugged me back anyway.
"You knew all along about Mutsuki didn't you?" I asked.
She smiled a sly smile.
"Hm hm. While you and Mayu and Itsuki were talking at the storehouse, I talked to Mutsuki about you. I told him that you would run crying toward the stairs later, so he said that he would send out his butterflies to fetch you. He also told me to make sure that you knew about the butterflies. So they took you to the Cemetery!"
I looked at Chitose blankly.
"You mean you knew I'd run crying?"
She bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry. But I always knew that Itsuki liked Sae. It's certain that he would fall in love with Mayu. She's Sae's kindred spirit. So I always knew that you'd be Mutsuki's girlfriend since you're Yae's kindred spirit! Plus, the stairs would be the most reasonable option, seeing as thought they are very far away from here, and it's a good place to mourn too. Very dramatic!!! Like when that nice man made a picture with his picture box!"
I nodded in agreement, but debated whether or not to correct her calling me Mutsuki's girlfriend. I decided that I'd leave it at that. It wasn't really worth arguing.
Chitose was a genius!!! And only about eleven or twelve. She would really be a great little sister. Lucky Itsuki. And Mutsuki.
His name really gave me the whillies!
We talked for a moment more, until we grew tired. Where would we start? I began to get nervous. What did happen to Mutsuki here anyway? Maybe I was expecting too much of myself with this staying here...
As I was tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for an idea to come forth, I heard something. Something twinkling. It sounded like chimes. Chitose stepped next to me, nudging my camera. She knew that that was an indication of a ghost's presence. I waited patiently, rather than run away. I needed some more Spirit Power to modify my camera. My last fight would no doubt be the hardest.
A moment later, the air grew cold. The ghost sure was taking its sweet time. I lifted the camera to take a shot when it came.
Well...
It came. And as soon as it did, it touched Chitose. Immediately, she turned a tan color. I suppose all of her color had returned to her. There wasn't a bit of ghostly presence in her. But the color drained right back out. She was scared to death.
"He took it... he took it..."
"What?" I glanced at Chitose, as I snapped a picture of the man. He was drenched in complete Malice, complete Dark.
After I took his picture, he disappeared, right through me!!!
"What's going on!" I cried. Then suddenly, I could hardly see. His Dark had completely engulfed me. I was blind as a bat!
'The Ritual...Yae...I hate you...Yae. It was... your... your fault... yours. Itsuki... I'm so scared...help me!"
Chitose's frantic voice echoed with my head. I couldn't hear anything. Except her grief. And Sae. Itsuki! Everyone... screaming!!! Screaming!!! Screaming! Leave me alone!
"The Ritual! The Ritual!!!"
Screams filled the depths of my soul as it was torn apart by mourning.
"Aaah! Help me... no... I don't want... no! Kiryu-san... get away... it's going to get me... the closet... the door... aaah!"
"Itsuki! Oh it's... my fault... all my fault... you died... Yae... she left... we would always... be together... she broke it... the promise... Itsuki...love you..."
"No...I did this...all of this...if I hadn't failed... no one...no one would have...died. The stupid Ritual...was a failure...I failed you...brother, I...love you so much. Sae... where are you? Please! ... forgive me! I beg of you!"
I grabbed my head. It was too much!
Chitose grabbed my arm. "No... "she whimpered. "There are more of him. And he is giving them the Blind Darkness! Oh no!"
I understand now what was going on, but of course, I couldn't pay attention then. When Chitose was a ghost, she would touch me, and Blind me, so that I could not see. And I could hear her crying. It was happening again, because of the Men in Dark.
"Oh! There's a Kiryu-san! She's... oh she's distorted! Like somebody broke her! I can't!"
Chitose grabbed my camera.. She dug her face into her hands, camera in her arms. Poor Chitose.
"Take...camera and kill...one of them!" I forced myself to talk, frantically holding my head.
"WHAT!?" She lifted her head. The ghosts were closing in on us, but they seemed reluctant to attack Chitose.
"It's the only way for us to survive. I can't see. Aah!" My head was throbbing! "So you have to man the camera. Even though they won't come near you."
"Uh uh!!! Not me!"
"I'm half blind! My head! It hurts so much!!!"
"Um..."
"Well...you have... to try, okay?" I pleaded with her. I knew she could hardly see, but my eyes were drenched in Malice. The Men in the Dark had done this to keep me from capturing them. I couldn't keep forcing myself to hear her. It was killing me!
I could just imagine the look on Chitose's face, but...
"Okay!" Chitose gathered up courage. She picked up my camera. I don't know the details, but I heard sobs, and the shutter. Chitose cried all while she captured the spirits. I'd doubted they would attacked. But...
"Aah!" she cried out once. I heard things.
The throbbing stopped, but everything was completely muted. Just for a second. Then...
The air around me grew stiff and cold. My eyes only showed patches of reality. The rest, patterned Dark.
But I could vividly hear everything. My hearing was magnified. My face soaked in sweat.
The shuffling of a little girl's feet moved toward the left of me, the click of the shutter echoing in my head. Like an atomic bomb.
The moaning of the spirits caused Chitose to tremble, her voice in a tiny, high pitched whisper.
"Go away..."
I sat there, then, the noise began again. I couldn't think anymore.
"The ritual... it's so cold... I can't...be..."
"Do not look... upon the Abyss...sewn shut... my eyes!! ... someone help me!!!"
"The rocks... move the rocks... my legs won't move... help!"
"Little girl... I don't want you out... stay with Kiryu-san... she will take care... you...must not see...know..."
"Kiryu-san... gave this red kimono... to you... see? From little Akane Kiryu... her ancestor...Put your bells...into the obi... I'll find you...always..."
"Yae, we promised...Promised...that we always be together! Why! Why..."
"Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill? Why kill?"
The goosebumps were rising on my arms. The hair standing on the back of my neck.
"Help me! Brother!" Chitose!
I felt a bright flash. Then, the voices stopped. The intense noise was gone. The throbbing was gone. The severe sense of heating was gone.
"Chitose..." I said breathlessly.
I waited for an answer. There was none from near me...
"Mio! I need help!"
"Okay..." I forced myself to stand up. I stumbled against a tree, and then to the little girl.
I told Chitose to hand over the camera. I loaded type 60 film into the camera again. Then I snapped away at lightening speed. I couldn't believe I was using my type 60 film all up! It was hard to come by.
Finally, the monstrous spirits were defeated. I snapped a final picture of the ghosts. The last picture was of the Fallen Woman. Her forlorn expression was heartbreaking. The spirits were again, temporarily at rest. I don't know how I did it. Perhaps I had a guide. We all know, deep down, who guided me. So did Chitose.
"Thank you oniichan (big brother)!" Chitose yelled out. She wiped off her face. Then, she fell to her knees, her eyes swirly. She was so silly. But also exhausted!
"That's alright Chiko-chan..."
I snapped my head around. Mutsuki?
Chitose shook her head. "He's gone. All he said was that we have to get his diary page from Kiryu-san's house."
I shook my head.
"When did he say that?"
"While you were out...huhn!" Chitose finally fell on her back, and took a much deserved rest.
We ran all the way to the Tachibana House for more film, then to visit the Kiryu House. Chitose and I went in and leaned against the wall. It was good to be safe again. But in All God's Village, the only safe place to be is out.
Chitose breathed heavily.
"I can't believe I killed the ghosties!!!!" Chitose said. She had regained her energy, of course.
I dropped the camera, which Chitose had made sure was in my hands again. I giggled.
"What?" Chitose inquired.
"You did it!" I said.
"Hee hee! You're right!!!" Chitose started to laugh too, but her smiles slowly diminished.
We were still tired. We walked a little ways into the house, until we had walked and talked all the way to the Hall of Contrasts.
I saw a blue orb on the ground. I picked it up. It turned into a package of 60 Type 60 film. Or in other words... sixty pictures for me to take. Good old Mutsuki...
After a little while, we were in front of the Row of Tatami Rooms. We went inside to go to Kiryu-san's house. We were going into a world of sorrow and grief, not to mention more giggly girls. You'll learn why...
"Look! That's where I left my Sae doll! Itsuki said it was a key to something though, and that there was another one in that Kiryu-san was going to give to me. So I didn't take it away from the storeroom, like he said. Then Kiryu-san said I could have the doll my size with long black hair. It had a twin to it. She said that they were her ancestors' dolls."
I thought of how she'd react if she knew those dolls were cursed.
"Chitose? Why did you get so solemn when we returned to the house?"
Chitose looked up at me.
"Um, you remember when I cried out about Kiryu-san?"
I nodded. Then, it was like... duh.
"She was the one who wanted to give you the doll. The 'broken' lady."
Chitose hung her head.
"She was the one who usually took care of me when Itsuki and Mutsuki were called away by the Osakas and the Kurosawas in preparation of the Ritual. She would tell me stories about her ancestors, and the two girls who used to live in her house. They were the most successful Shrine Maidens of all. She originally wanted to marry a boy named Tetsu, but didn't know how to tell him. They are both about twenty-seven or so, but Tetsu was always rushing around. He never got to meet her properly. He liked her I bet. But he got trapped in the underground tunnel. When you're invisible, like me, you discover lots of things."
I looked at Chitose.
"You're not invisible."
"Yes I am. Mr. Kurosawa was nice to me and stuff, but he always looked at me and said 'poor, poor Chitose. She has to go through this so young.' I always wondered what he meant too. Now I know. He wanted to force my brother to kill."
I shook my head. "It's terrible that someone could make a girl suffer like that."
"I was okay, when I didn't know. It was terrible when Kiryu-san never came. I know that I heard her fall, and scream."
I covered my mouth.
"That's terrible that you had to experience that! I actually knew, but didn't know who she was... It came in a memo I found. Apparently, someone keeps records of everyone living in the village."
I told Chitose what happened to Ms. Kiryu.
"She was running to get to you. She ran into her clock hall, and the Repentance caught up with her. She ran into the banister, and it broke. She fell over the railing with the broken wood. And she also left me a beautiful stone. I can listen to it."
"You can listen to a rock?" Chitose scrunched up her nose. A tear was falling down her flushed cheeks, but she didn't seem to notice. Listening to a rock is silly, I suppose. Unless you can actually do it.
"Of course. Here, I have a bag full of stones. The one she left is a pink spodumene stone. And this is the radio we use to listen to it."
"Okay, let's hear it." Chitose sat down on the ground.
Stone 1- Spodumene (Actual Stone's Mourning)
It's... dark... the darkness is...
coming... If I am swallowed by the darkness...
If I must suffer that...
I want to fly away...
Chitose just stared at the stone radio. "That was so beautiful. Like a poem...She said that? Before she died?"
I nodded.
Chitose squealed. "Ooh! Can I have it! Can we listen to another one?"
I gave her the spodumene and reached into the bag. As if by some magical force, I pulled a red speckled cylinder from the bag.
"Hey, that's mine... that's my crystal I left you. I..."
I gave her the speckled little stone. She hugged it.
"Itsuki and Mutsuki gave it to me."
As soon as she said Mutsuki, I got the shivers. I felt my hair raise from my face, as if someone was playing with my hair. Chitose was still talking. And I was getting crazy.
Until...I felt something cold and warm on my cheek. Something soft. Fingertips...?
"Oh, Mutsuki..." I smacked my head. I was taking a long time. Was there something he wanted to say? Why wasn't I rushing!!!
"We have a minute to listen to one more, but we're running our of time. It'salmostfiveo'clockcomeon!!!"
"Chitose, slow down!. Okay? If we rush, the ghosts will get suspicious, right?" Gosh. What a way to break into a girl's romance!
Chitose pondered. "Why didn't I think of that?"
I shrugged off the guilt.
"Mio."
"Huh?"
"Can I listen to another one right now?"
"Yes, reach in."
Chitose dug around in the bag. She chose Mayu's charm. It was easy to find. It had a distinct shape and feel.
Stone 2- Mayu's Charm"Itsuki... will they be...okay?
I can't bear to lose them...
it would... hurt.
Oh no! Not Sae...Yae?
Why is she... here?
With... Ryozo?
They are going towards the other village...gone."
I was startled at the charm's contents. Mayu had seen Yae in the forest with Ryozo? The assistant to the folklorist who was turned into an evil Kusabi Spirit? The Evil Spirit ruling the village with Sae's dead spirit!!?? The same assistant that was Itsuki's long-term friend? RYOZO the assistant going out with his BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER'S GIRLFRIEND!!!!!
OH my GOD! What... a... soap opera. Soap OPERA!!!
"Let's go the Kiryu-san's house, okay?" I said, flustered.
We entered The Kiryu house through the Row of Tatami Rooms. The last room had Chitose's doll on a pedestal. It was a puzzle, which I'd solved, that unlocked the door. She wouldn't take it after I told her that. She was afraid the door would lock. Anyway, the door led to the bridge between the two houses.
The bridge between the houses must have been convenient for Chitose and Kiryu-san.
As we stepped onto the bridge, I saw an old and depressing sight. A woman was jumping from the bridge, her shrill scream piecing the air. I tried to covered the little girl's eyes, as if we were watching a movie. It didn't work, however.
"What! She jumped?!"
I shook my head in dismay, the little girl's eyes shaking. The woman landed with a sickening thud. And several cracks. I should have sent Chitose with her brother. But, then again, it was better with her around.
"Yes. She accidentaly drank Malice, the Dark, and went crazy. It was terrible," I told Chitose.
"Her name was Akana. She was Kiryu-san's oneechan. (big sister)"
I didn't say anything.
Chitose looked at me. "That's it. We have to get to Kiryu-san. Before she falls again."
I nodded to that.
Without wasting a moment's time, we ran to the Clock Hall. I had taken some Herbal medicine, and was ready to battle. But I needn't have wasted the effort.
Kiryu-san was in a mangled heap on the floor of the Clock Hall. The banister upstairs was broken, and she looked a mess.
Chitose gasped. She cried out to the forlorn woman.
"Kiryu-san! I'm here! Get up please!"
The woman shuffled. But didn't move from that spot.
"Please! I need you!" Chitose ran over to the woman.
"No! She's a ghost!"
Chitose wasn't listening at all. She was moving the woman's legs straight. It was a wonder that she was not freezing to death.
Rather than yell some more, I ran for the little girl!
She was completely straightening the woman's body. What was her plan?
"Kiryu-san! Kiryu-san!"
I shrugged, and helped the girl straighten Kiryu-san. Absurd, yes. Good-natured, yes. I deserved a badge of some sort.
After I put the poor lady's head straight, she disappeared.
Then I heard a piercing scream above me. She was falling again.
Chitose knew what to do.
"Catch her!!!" the girl yelled.
Chitose put out her arms. I held out my arms too. Yep, Chitose was a bona fide genius alright. We caught the lady before she could slam her body into the wood floor.
"No! What?" Kiryu-san looked around frantically. She screamed and put her hands up.
She fell out of our arms. Luckily, it was only a few feet this time.
"Aita! (Ouch!)" she exclaimed, rubbing her head. She looked up sheepishly, mumbling something about falling for the third time that night.
"Konbanwa...? (Good evening...?) Where am I? Is this my house?" Kiryu-san's voice was a bit scratchy. And why wouldn't it be, if she screamed and did this everyday?
"Yes!" Chitose and I said. We said it so loudly, that poor Kiryu-san was startled!
We asked Kiryu-san to accompany us. Of course, she turned out to be a klutz, but she sure didn't want to stay alone in the village. We told her we need to find a diary page. I almost forgot about that! Silly me...
"I bet those bad little girls took that page," Kiryu-san said. What was her first name anyway?
"What girls?" I said instead.
"The Kiryu Twins. Akane and Azami."
I nodded. Oh! Those bad girls...
So where would they be?
"I bet they are in their little room. I often saw them there. That's when I'd stay at the Tachibana house! Ha ha!"
I laughed. What a mind-reader.
"Well, let's go!"
We followed Kiryu-san to the Twins' Room. It was the exact same layout as the Tachibana Twins' Room. Except there was a lot of girl's things. Oh, and the little kimonos were so precious! I tried everything in my power not to run around in circles. They were SOOOOO CUTE!
If you're a girl, you'll understand.
Anyway, we stood in the room, and I lifted my camera. My filament was glowing blue. The energy was coming from the two satin pillows on the floor. I clicked the shutter.
In the picture, was two girls. Two little girls with very long black hair and very pale skin. And identical crimson kimonos like Chitose's. And for a faint second I saw a white something in one of the girl's hands. Then it vanished!
Immediately, they appeared in that spot on their little cushions.
Now how to revive them? Could I... offer candy?! Ha ha! I knew that I had to have some somewhere. Or should I just talk to them? I reached into my small pocket on the side of my capri pants near the top. Peppermints!
Now which had that white thing...?
Right then, someone appeared in front of the little girls. Another ghost. He patted the girls' heads, then, whispered to the one on the left. The boy pointed to me, talking still, and that girl turned her head. She looked at me eerily. Her eyes were covered with long bangs. She looked so scary.
While the girl was turned towards me, the boy put his head up. He was pale with black hair, and... a white kimono on with a red one underneath. That's when I noticed that he had on a satin uchikake, the most formal kimono. I should have known. Maybe it was the room that made me see everything. So many items were of silk.
He put his head back down sheepishly, smiling at me. Mutsuki. He vanished. Of course.
The little girl stood up and walked over to me.
As soon as she did, I gave her my peppermint. She was sold.
"Oh," she said in a little voice. Chitose smiled at her. They were the same age!
I gave Chitose the other peppermint I had, then I focused my attention on the other little girl.
Akane grabbed my hand before I could actually walk.
"She not my sister. She's a doll."
I nodded. That was weird. I thought that this would be the both of them. I was wrong I guess.
"Is there a way to get back your sister?"
Akane shook her head.
"Nope, she's a butterfly."
I nodded. Oh yeah...
"Well, do you have a diary page? I need it."
Akane pinched her cheeks, so that they turned a rosy color. Yep, that was a sign of life.
"Uh uh. Ask Azami doll... how come the candy makes my mouth cold inside?"
I giggled. Why does peppermint make your mouth cold inside?
"Azami... doll? May I have the diary page?"
Azami twitched. She didn't answer. Instead, her hand touched the ground.
The doll turned her head very slowly. She stared at Kiryu-san. Then, her head turned some more, until she was looking at me. Her head was completely turned around. Her face was white. She smiled an evil smile. Standing up, she ran away from us.
I gasped. "Get her!!!
We all bolted for the door. Akane ran too, but in a different direction. All I heard was her saying "Hanging Dolls..."
I ran through some doors, not know where they led. I heard the girls behind me. They were straining to keep up. I didn't stop, however. I opened a door at the end of that hall, and I came upon familiar territory. Exactly the same layout as the Tachibana house. The Clock Hall! I ran past the stairs, and lifted up my camera,
I skidded down the hall, ready to shoot. I caught a glimpse of some disembodied doll legs sauntering down the hall. I snapped a picture of them.
Picture Three- Dazed Doll
I was on the right track. I ran down the Hall of Contrasts, which led to the Sliding Screen Room. I slipped on some loose tatami and fell backwards.
"Ow!" I rubbed my head.
I heard laughter in front of me. The little doll was so close. I scrambled to get back up. She merely snickered, and kept running.
Ooh!!! That little girl. I growled at the child.
I sprinted through the door, and found Akane standing in front of the doll. That's when I noticed where my feet had carried me. We were near the Hanging Doll Room.
Azami was doing something with her hands. She seemed to be muttering something. Akane jumped on the doll. She started to strangle the figurine. The doll began to shriek. Loudly! So I took up a broken piece of wood, and hit her. She disappeared into the small space that was the Hanging Doll Room. There were many porcelain dolls hanging from the ceiling, and on the floor.
I followed her with my camera. I snapped a picture of her. This time, to kill her. She was resisting. So I hit her again with the wood. It was just as effective. She stopped moving and said something. Our hits, and my pictures, became useless
My eyes were fiery. What time was it? How long was I here? I didn't know... Not long.
I felt a burning sensation on my back.
"Ow!!!" I felt the back of my neck. Nothing. I whirled around. A stupid doll was on me. Azami was making them move! I put down my camera, and just decided to man the wooden beam. I smacked the doll out of the air, then I hit the one that had burned me. Azami started to whine. She ran at me, hands flying! I picked up my camera again and snapped a picture of her! The red light on the camera indicated that I had a moment to kill her instantly. A Fatal Frame!
She shrieked. She started to run away from me again. I was ambushed by about five or six dolls. So Akane picked up the wooden beam, and beat Azami with. I closed my eyes. This was too violent. The dolls even started to stop burning me. I think they closed their eyes too. This girl had to be a year or two younger than Chitose.
They fell from me, and made a pile on the ground. I opened my eyes then. Kiryu-san and Chitose had come in time to see little Akane rip the head off the doll.
"I fixed it!" she yelled triumphantly. She waved around a piece of tattered paper proudly.
We all just stared at her, mouths gaping.
"So I fell down? Gosh, why can't I remember anything but Chiko-chan can?" Kiryu-san had her hands on the back of her head.
I shrugged. We were walking back across the bridge to the Tachibana House again. Akane was happily sucking on another piece of peppermint.
"I yan memenger edeyding," Akane said. She smiled. I could see the peppermint in her jaw.
"Me too!!!" Chitose said. She and Akane were fast friends.
"Alright. That's quite enough You two are going right home!" Kiryu-san said.
"No!" Both girls said. Except Akane's response sounded more like, 'Gyou!' with the peppermint.
"Yes," Kiryu-san countered, "it's dangerous. I want you to go with Itsuki and Mayu"
"Aww!!!"
We walked back into the Twins' Room on our way to the door.
The area was colder than before. Spirits.
Some ghosts were awaiting us, standing in the room. We only saw their shadows, but I saw someone get hit. They were doing something terrible. The shadow was...
We all looked at each other, and then we all said "shh!" The two ghosts were Mutsuki and the Cleanser. I knew better than to call to him. This was just a memory. A vision.
I raised my camera, and captured the two boys.
Picture Four-----The Unfair Gamble
What did that mean? Well, the words that often appear on the pictures never lie. Who proposed an unfair gamble? Why did he hit Mutsuki?
We eavesdropped. Chitose whispered to us.
"That's the stinky-head boy, Yankou Osaka, that Mutsuki told you about. His little brother is nice, but he and Itsuki always argue And he hit Mutsuki too."
I glanced at him and asked, "Why do they fight? What did he do to my Mutsuki!"
Kiryu-san shook her head.
"Yankou always, always picks at Mutsuki. Because he and Sae were such good friends. You know how timid Mutsuki is. And he and Sae used to laugh together, at festivals, special ceremonies, and stuff like that. They were probably planning ways to get together with Itsuki and Yae. But Yankou thought they liked each other. I saw this before, I was hiding over there with cutie-pie Chitose and her hunk of a brother Mutsuki-chan . Just listen. Itsuki-chan really showed him!!!"
I smiled reluctantly. What could Itsuki have done to earn this eagerness from Kiryu-san? And was she especially close to them? She studied the look on my face. "Oh, their like oniichan to me. I have no brothers, and even though they're young, they protect me. Mainly from Mr. Kurosawa. Itsuki will use that sword of his late father's alright."
I nodded. Itsuki the Sword-Wielder? We all looked at the scene.
"Alright. So it's done then?" The Cleanser said. He and Mutsuki were standing face to face.
"I can't believe you would do something like this!" Mutsuki said. He trembled. His face was white. As if he were in excruciating pain. But otherwise, he didn't show it. "Sae and I are not-"
"For Sae... I will do anything." The Cleanser, Yankou, began circling Mutsuki. Mutsuki was almost on the floor. He was holding his leg. Yankou, in an all white kimono and a holy set of beads on around his neck, was upset about something.
"You're going to pay for this in the afterlife you demon." His voice was trembling, but every word dripping with poisonous venom. I gasped silently. He was really not that timid when he was angry. First it was honey, now poison? Or is it just me. Hee hee!
The Cleanser was taken aback by the cold threat. And it looked as if Mutsuki meant every word.
"Whatever you say-"
"I mean it. Just you wait. You'll pay for poisoning me, and for injuring my leg. You'd better hope that I forgive you before I turn into a butterfly, or I shall certainly haunt you house and your family. Until your ashes litter the grounds of All God's Village. Sweeping up in the winds at every gust."
Mutsuki's eyes watered. He put his head on his knee, breathing in and out.
"You cannot do that. How DARE you threaten the Osaka family?! You and the Tachibana's are nothing but TROUBLE! That's why your family changed its name, because the Tsuchihara twins ran! Your beloved cousins, the Kiryus, had to sacrifice their little girls early! You shamed our village. Now you must again be sacrificed, and you dare to threaten me? And then there's Chitose..."
"What about Chitose?!"
I whirled around. A filmy Itsuki walked into the doorway. Mutsuki looked up. He looked at his brother.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed be with Sae!"
"I was going to see Sae, but I left something here. I wanted to give her a gift... and I found this... this..."
"Uragirimono... (Traitor)" Mutsuki finished. He was angry.
"Yes, that's all I can say...? What could my little sister possibly have done that could upset you, so that you would scare her into hiding?"
"She blew my only chance to...hmph..." Yankou stopped.
Itsuki gasped.
"You wanted to talk to today Sae didn't you?!"
Mutsuki watched those two as he limped over to the frightened Chitose ghost and her guardian angel Kiryu-san in the corner of the room. He watched the scene.
So that's where his faint limp came from?
"Why would you care?" Yankou shot back to Itsuki. Then he put on a mockingly surprised face. "Oh! I know. You like her? Well, too bad. She is mine!"
"Not even over my dead body shall you be with her, how DARE YOU??!!" Itsuki shrieked in utter disbelief. His face was saying, and pardon me before saying it, "What the hell is your problem?!?!?!" He was going to blow. Such anger! What a guy for timid Mayu! He'd protect her forever!!! Yay!
"You heard me! She is mine!" Yankou was equally determined to win. Darn.
"Baka!!! (fool, idiot)" Itsuki snapped.
"Nani?! (What?)"
"You heard me! You are foolish to think that with your dirty soul, you could possibly win over Sae's heart! The way you act, you should live with the real ruler of the Hellish Abyss!!!"
Yankou gasped in fright! That phrase alone had a very high price if uttered. But Itsuki had the power.
"How could you-?" Yankou backed away.
"Hai(Yes)! You should reside with Akuma (The Devil) himself! There is no Evil Kusabi there in that Abyss! Or a deity to rule over us!!! Only a demon to rule all demons. A demon hungry for human flesh! You are no less than a demon yourself!"
Yankou sneered at him as Itsuki continued to disrespectfully insult Yankou... whoo hoo!!! Go Itsuki!!!
"You know nothing of the Abyss!" Yankou shouted.
"I know everything that I need to know. That this village is engulfed in DECEPTION!" Itsuki balled his fists.
"Sou omoi-masen! (I don't think so!) You are jumping to conclusions!"
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are. That Abyss could very well suck your soul right into it if you do no agree with it."
"If I have to kill my own brother, then I don't give a flying rat's behind," Itsuki said, his words, and his flying rat, biting Yankou fiercely.
"But it is necessary for him to be sacrificed. It is! The village will be in danger if you do not! It's a simple ritual! Much more so than that of the neighboring village's ritual. What's the problem..."
Itsuki shook his head violenty. "You people just do not get it do you?"
Yankou crossed his arms. "No! We don't. Why don't you enlighten me?"
Itsuki barred his teeth. "You bastards need to here this from someone..."
Itsuki spoke slightly slowly, stressing every word in that first sentence.
"How the hell would you feel if you had to murder you own twin!? Could you do that! HOW COULD you?!"
Yankou unfolded his arms, his mouth opening slightly. "I..."
"HOW?!!! Tell ME! Please! Because I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!! I can't do it!" Itsuki shook his head, angry tears flying everywhere. One of them hit me. It froze immediately. I caught it in my hands. Ooh... "Ooh!" Akane said. My own Mini-Me!!! How cool!
Itsuki's head was cocked to the side, his face questioning Yankou, as if to say "Don't you GET it yet?"
Yankou looked at Itsuki. His eyes darted from Itsuki's face to the wall. The anger and sadness in Itsuki's eyes tore him apart.
"Well..."
"That's right!!! You don't know!!! None of you know what it feels like! NONE OF YOU!!! If you had to kill your own brother, whose blood runs through your veins, who very breath was yours when you were born, who you've spent every single minute of your life with... how in life's name could you live with that?"
Yankou rubbed his arm. No one had ever really yelled at him before. Or educated him in this way either.
"Please settle this another time... Itsuki and I need to spend some time together. And you've frightened poor Chitose." Mutsuki spoke up. He had taken ghost Chitose away before she could hear about the Ritual.
Itsuki fled from the house angrily. Yankou wrinkled his forehead in frustration.
Mutsuki looked at the young teen.
"I may withdraw my threat if I see fit to. Go."
Yankou bowed respectfully to the soon-to-be sacrificed Mutsuki. He walked out of the house to see Itsuki.
Itsuki and Yankou stood face to face. They were outside of the Tachibana house. Of course, I took a picture of Mutsuki before I followed them. Akane and the others followed.
Picture Five- Mutsuki's Resentment
Outside...
Itsuki folded his arms. His head was lowered, the tears had floated away in a steamy cloud of hostility.
"You will not speak? Kekko desu, (That's fine.)" Yankou replied softly.
He was devastated, now that he knew the torture both twins had to endure. He never had time to think of the perils of murdering your twin. Words and words alone had educated him. Now he was fascinated.
Yankou wanted to know more about the Abyss from Itsuki. His philosophies were of the utmost of intelligence to him. And so simple. He had only and always known that twins must be sacrificed, for the sake of the village. No one, and I mean no one, had ever challenged the rituals. And the only ones who did were hanged.
The red butterflies seemed to pop out of no where.
"Looks like they want your brother, Itsuki," Yankou said quietly.
"Oyasuminasai, (Good night.)" Itsuki forced out. He was staring a hole right into Yankou's foot.
"...Hontou-ni moushiwake-gozaimasen. (I'm really sorry.) " Yankou apologized.
"Ii-desu-yo... Goshinpai-naku. (That's okay... Don't worry about it.)" Itsuki walked into the house without another word.
The vision faded.
I looked at Kiryu-san.
"That was...(gulp!)... intense!" I said. "I had no idea that Itsuki was so... well... you know! Right?"
She chuckled. "Yep, that's Itsuki for you."
Chitose clung to Kiryu-san's left. Akane on her right. Chitose looked up.
"I know. Mutsuki and Itsuki and me stayed together that whole night. Except I didn't know that he was going to have to kill Mutsuki. Itsuki never got to go and see Sae that night. And Mutsuki never got a chance to confess his love to Yae. That's why he never passed on. I'm glad that he found you!"
I smiled. I wonder where Yae was going with Ryozo anyway... I never did see her ghost. She must have found happiness...? No way...
"Where did Yae go to exactly? What other village?"
Chitose licked out her tongue. Obviously, she didn't care.
Kiryu-san laughed out loud. Akane just savored her precious piece of candy.
Kiryu-san and I made sure that the two girls were going the right way through the forest, then we went back to Misono Hill.
"Okay, tell me what it is between you and Mutsuki this minute."
Kiryu-san put her hands on her hips. "Now."
I bit my lip.
"Oh come on, from woman to woman!"
I loosened up then. I poured out the details. Kiryu-san melted. "Oh, that's so sweet. You and Mutsuki! You'll get married and...have kids... Hold on, wait, wait! Mitsuki and Miosuke! Huh, huh?!"
"What? Kiryu-san!!!"
"Ayane to yon-de kudasai (Just call me Ayane)."
After we were across the bridge to Kurosawa Mansion, Itsuki's stone, a beautiful piece of crystal ore, began to glow. We listened to it.
Stone Three- Crystal Ore
"She was crying on the ground. I had called to her, but it seemed that she was only a memory. Then my good friend Ryozo just up and took her off. I figure that he took her to safety. I can't let Mayu go alone, and I have to make sure that she doesn't look back. So I will not follow the couple. Maybe another time..."
Itsuki's thoughts were extremely organized! Or is it just me?
Ayane smiled. "He's a protective oniichan isn't he?"
I nodded.
Ayane was annoyed to death when we saw that the flashlight I had would not work in Kurosawa Mansion. She and I shrugged it off though. We had work to do.
Mutsuki's Diary Page: (Retrieved)
Hi! How have you progressed? Well, this is what you must do. Sae will not be relieved unless you can revive her would-lover, Yankou. One of you must pretend to be Sae. I know you are there, Ayane-kun! I know that Mio is the only one for it, and I will not be offended by it. I know you already. From more points than one...
So please, do whatever it takes. Even if you have to... kiss him to revive his spirit... no matter how I say it... it still burns though...
I gasped. I might have to... kiss the boy that Mutsuki hates the most? No...!
To Be Continued...