KAYAKO
It was now sunset, and Toshio's parents hadn't returned home. Kobayashi still waited at the living room window, occasionally glancing to see a sleeping Toshio on the couch. He punched in Manami's number and waited. A voice came on the line.
"Hello, Kobayashi Residence." She said.
"Manami? It's Shunsuke."
"Finally you call! I've been worried sick!"
"I'm sorry…I'm still at a student's house. His parents haven't come home yet."
"I'll give you thirty minutes. Honestly, Shunsuke…"
A doorbell rang on the other line. He wasn't expecting any visitors…
"Someone's at the door. I'll call you back later. Bye!"
He clicked off the phone and put it in his pocket. He looked down to see a torn up photo. Rearranging the pieces like a puzzle, he derived a family portrait. Toshio and his father, Takeo, were grinning at the camera. Kayako's face was crudely torn out. He glanced over his shoulder habitually, only to see the couch vacant.
"Toshio?" he said loudly. He heard voices on the second floor. One was a child's: the other's was…a woman's?
Kobayashi slowly walked up the stairs as to catch bits of the conversation.
"Mother, did I do it correctly?"
"Yes, you did."
"Will dad be coming?"
"Very soon."
Kobayashi was now at the bedroom door where the voices were. He opened it…and Toshio was drawing on the floor. Relaxed, he glanced around the room to see drawings of cats. Lots of cats.
"Toshio, was someone in here with you?" he questioned.
"Kobayashi-kun…" It was the woman's voice. Kobayashi, determined to find the voice, stepped out of the room and into the hall.
He looked over the balcony into the foyer, but there was no one there. Behind him, he heard a door creak. He turned around to see the door to the master bedroom fully open. He reluctantly entered.
The bedroom was strewn with papers. Kobayashi stepped through the papers and to the main desk, which had photographs on it. All the photographs featuring Kayako had her face torn out like the portrait. He wavered his glance upwards to see a journal. Inscribed on the front cover was "Kayako Kawamata". He opened to some random pages and began to read.
"Today Kobayashi's eyes met with mine…""…I saw him in a comic book store. He's browsing, as usual…"
"I'm in love with a person who doesn't acknowledge my existence…"
"I'm pregnant with a child. The doctor says it's a boy…"
The rest of the pages were either bloody or scrawled with one word: KOBAYASHI. He dropped the journal and it landed on a torn page, revealing a poorly drawn eye. It seemed alive, staring at him.
"Kobayashi-kun…" the voice rang out, louder this time.
It was coming from the closet.
Kobayashi stepped wearily towards the closet, a light buzzing coming from the inside. He opened the closet to find many flies buzzing towards the open attic door. Pulling out a lighter, Kobayashi raised it up in the attic to get a better view. He wished he hadn't.
Inside the attic, wrapped up in a garbage bag, was the body of Kayako Saeki.
He ran out of the room and picked up Toshio.
"Toshio, we have to leave. NOW." He shouted.
They were down the stairs in a flash. Then he realized something.
He ran into the living room and left, gathering up his briefcase and files.
When he was in the foyer, his cell phone rang. He dropped the stuff he was carrying and pulled the phone out of his pocket.
"Hello?"
"This is the teacher right?"
"Who is this?"
"Takeo Saeki. Kayako's husband." His voice was bitter and cold.
Kobayashi's face went pale.
"Look, I…"
"I know all about you and Kayako. That's why we're changing places. Up to now I've raised Toshio…now it's your turn."
"Changing places? What?"
"Mr. Teacher, your baby's been born."
Kobayashi felt time stand still.
"I see that it's a girl." He laughed.
The cell phone dropped as Kobayashi slid to the floor. Kobayashi didn't hear Takeo scream in terror, followed by a croak like a death rattle. Wherever Takeo Saeki was, Kayako had got to him.
Still in shock, Kobayashi didn't notice Toshio pick up his cell phone and start talking.
"Mom? I have him. Yes. Yes." Toshio said as if in a trance. After he finished, he emitted a low sigh.
Sounds of cracks and croaks filled the air as Kobayashi looked up. Whatever it was, it was coming towards the stairs. A bloody arm came out of the darkness, then another, followed by a face. Kayako Saeki was very much alive. She came down the stairs, lunging, crushing, grabbing for Kobayashi. He backed towards the door, grabbing and feeling for the door handle. He finally grabbed ahold of it and opened the door. It wouldn't budge, opening just a little.
"Kobayashi-kun…"
Kobayashi looked up to see Kayako's head through the crack, lunging for him.
Several feet away, Toshio made the meow of a cat through Kobayashi's silver cell phone.