The girls and Ginji gulped in spite of themselves, for the sight before them was even more terrifying than they previously thought.
The village was like any other Japanese village of the 1800s; the houses were simple ones, resting on bamboo silts, with no pomp or luxury. But, like the gate, the whole place had been decaying away for ages now. As the wind blew through the holes in the wooden walls, the creaking sound added to the dreadful atmosphere.
As expected, there wasn't a single person around. But as Ginji and Ban knew very well, there were a ton of SOULS wandering around in the area. The twins felt themselves trembling at an unknown fear; a fear which reached deep down into their hearts.
"Ban-chan, I'm scared," whispered Ginji, who was now beginning to turn white in the face.
"Are you a man or not? Stop acting like a little girl," growled Ban in a low voice.
Raising his voice to address the whole group, the teen said, "We can't be standing here the whole day. Let's go."
As the Urchin Head started to walk beneath the Shinto gate, his partner spotted something on the floor right beside the structure.
"Ban-chan, take a look at this."
The group gathered to look at what Ginji had found: a black bag, along with 2 newspaper clippings.
Ban and Mio took the clippings, while Mayu and Ginji busied themselves with the bag.
"Surveyor missing," Ban read out loud the title of his article. He then proceeded to read the contents of the clipping.
"With the start of the construction for the Minakami dam approaching, Makimura Masumi(26), a geological surveyor dispatched to the area, has gone missing.
Makimura-san went to the area to investigate the site that would be submerged once the dam was built, but hasn't been heard from for five days."
"Search for the Surveyor Called Off," said Mio to herself, looking at the clipping in her hands.
"The search for Makimura Masumi(26), the surveyor missing since the fourth of this month, came to a close yesterday.
Makimura-san had been helping to conduct a geological survey for the Minakami dam.
As of yesterday, he has been missing for ten days."
Meanwhile, the other two were searching through the black bag. Apparently, the things inside all belonged to a woman: a purse, some letters, an ID of the lady, and a photograph.
"Hmmm, this article said that a guy went missing around here a year ago," said Ban to his companions.
"Mido-san, my clipping said that the search for the man was called off after five days," volunteered Mio.
"Ne, Ban-chan, did your clipping have a photo of the man along with it?"
"No."
"Me neither," said Mio.
"Here," said Ginji as he passed the ID and the photo to his best pal.
Ban looked at the the 2 items. The photo showed a couple together, smiling for the camera. Though it was a black-and-white, the joyous expressions of the couple could still clearly be seen. But what interested Ban more was that the lady in the picture was the same lady whose ID he was now holding.
"This lady's name is Sudo Miyako, according to her papers."
"Ginji-san, the letters were all written by a Makimura Masumi and they were addressed to Miyako-san," Mayu told the group after browsing throught the letters.
"That's the name of the guy who went missing. This is not good," Ban shared his thoughts with the group.
"Quick. Pack up the stuff and let's be moving."
"Er... Ban-chan, what's that thing ahead of you," asked a trembling Ginji as he pointed.
The group turned to look at where the blond Get Backer had pointed. There was a faint image of a lady floating in the distance. She seemed to be waving her hand, as if asking the group to follow her.
"If that ghost wants us to follow her, I'm taking the bait," said Ban as he started moving towards the spirit.
The rest of the group hurriedly kept all the stuff inside the black bag and followed the teen as the ghost floated ahead of them.
It disappeared into one of the many houses. The group entered the hovel as well. At the door, Ginji noticed the slab of wood hanging beside the opening, which had the surname of the family living in the house written on it.
"Osaka..." noted Ginji as he entered the house.
The house was more dilapidated inside than it looked on the outside. Holes were everywhere on the floor and the sliding screen doors were torn and tattered.
"Well, looks like no one's home," Ginji couldn't resist stating the obvious fact.
"Let's stay together and search through the place," suggested Ban.
They had only moved a few steps before...
"Mio, look!"
At her sister's call, the rest looked at where the older Amakura was pointing. They saw a woman staring at them with her sightless eyes. The apparition soon vanished into thin air.
"Guys, I think by now, all of you should realise that this place is freaking filled with those kind of things around. So, let's stop screaming if you see them and just try to ignore them."
"But what if they attack," asked Mio while still trying to comfort her sister.
Suddenly, there were a loud smashing sound as one of the sliding doors was torn to splinters. Ban had his right hand stretched out and a faint scaly body could be seen sliding around the man.
"Ginji and I will take care of that," whispered Ban as the twins stared at him, their mouths open in disbelief.
"But, Ban-chan, can you really use your Snake Bite on ghosts," whispered Ginji.
"You forgot who I am, Ginji. A little magic will work wonders here. And don't forget, you can hit spirits with your electric fields, you know."
"But I only did that once with Kabuto..and I was Raitei at that time."
"We'll see how it goes then"
With that, the duo entered the room on their left. The twins followed suit, still thinking about what kind of person their spiky-haired companion really was.
"Hmmm, what's this," mused Ban as he picked up a piece of paper on the floor. Looking at it, his heart skipped a beat.
"I've heard rumors about the lost village before. Long ago, a massacre occurred on the day of a ceremony, and the village was wiped from the map.
Twin Deities Statues in the forest lead lost people to the village entrance.
Once you pass through the hate however, you cannot go back.
The village eternally relives that night of death.
The insane laughter of a woman is said to echo throughout the village.
The only survivor of the massacre at the village was a lone woman."
"Mido-san, what's that," asked Mio.
"It's nothing," lied Ban with a straight face.
Quickly stuffing it into his pocket, the Get Backer looked around the room. Besides a shelf and some chests used for storing kimonos, the room was bare.
"Ban-chan, look at what I've found."
Ban's heart skipped another beat. The paper was of the same type as the note he had found. The handwriting on it was also similar. The four crowded together to read the note.
"Sometimes I sense someone passing by the window.
He carries a torch, and mutters things.
He seems to be searching for somebody,
but it's not Masumi.
In the distance, I can hear some kind of sad ceremonial song being sung.
They say that this village vanished on the day of a ceremony, and that day is repeated over and over again".
"Look, the writer mentioned a Masumi. Could this note be written by Miyako-san herself," questioned Mayu in a timid voice.
"It's possible, onesan. Which means that the lady who led us to this house could be..." Mio turned pale as she realise the implications of her deduction.
"There's only one way to find out if your guess is correct, Mio-chan," replied Ban.
Continuing their search of the room, the group found nothing. From the corner of his eyes, Ban saw another lady walking outside the house, by the window. Wisely, he didn't make a single sound.
As they moved deeper into the house, the lady who had beckoned to them reappeared. She continued to walk further down a corridor.
At the end of the corridor, there was a little room. Mayu found yet another piece of paper on a shelf.
"Masumi... It's me, Miyako.
I came to look for you.
Let's go home together.
Together, we can make it.
Call for me if you find this.
I'll be nearby.
Miss you!"
After reading its contents, the group sighed.
"Miyako-san must have missed Makimura-san a lot," said Ginji thoughtfully.
"Also, she was getting desperate," thought Ban to himself.
Presently, the four found themselves back at the corridor. They decided to enter the next room along the way.
When they entered, they could just make out the form of a woman before she vanished on an altar. Rubbing their eyes, they looked around.
Besides the altar, the floor of the room was laid with tatami mats. In the centre of the room, there's a table... with a camera on it.
As the girls approached the table, Ginji wanted to turn tare and lay down on his favourite mats. But he knew that this was not the time.
"Hmmm, what's this thing doing here," thought Mio as she picked up the old camera.
"Mio, look at this," said Mayu, holding up 2 pieces of paper.
"Hmmm... this camera can zap ghosts? Are you sure," asked Ban as Mayu showed the GB duo the notes.
"Ban-chan, if time machines really do work, I don't see why this camera can't shoot down spirits... Oh! Here's another note by Miyako-san!"
"Sometimes I hear an eerie song-like sound coming from the family altar.
It sounds like it's coming from deep below.
Maybe it's just the wind ?
Or maybe there really is something behind that wall..."
The note sent chills down the group's spines, especially Mayu's, who is now trembling.
"Can we leave this house now," she pleaded.
As they left the room, Ginji managed to grab a torchlight which had been lying on the floor.
"Ban-chan's right. I should use my powers more completely," Ginji thought as he held on to the torchlight (which he found using his magnetic field as a detector).
Outside on the corridor, they saw another ghost. But this time, Mio was excited.
"Let's try out the camera," she said as she peered through the device for a few seconds and pressed the shutter.
Amazingly, the woman howled as she disappeared.
It was now the GB duo's turn to stare while Mio hugged her twin.
"It worked! It worked," chirped the younger twin.
"...Ok, looks like the thing really CAN shoot ghosts. Let's go," said Ban, his tone betraying the fact that he still had doubts about the camera.
They made their way back to the front of the house. Ginji tried to open the door. But, strangely, the door didn't budge.
"Ginji, let me do it," said Ban as he stepped forward for the challenge.
Well, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be much of a difficulty when you have 2000N worth of force wrenching away at the door. But when Ban gripped the door knob, he knew that something supernatural was keeping the door shut. No matter, it's time to show who's boss around here, thought the Master of the Jagan.
Channeling his natural strength and the Snake which resides in his right hand, the teen yanked the door right off its hinges and threw it by the side.
The girls' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at this act. They couldn't believe what this stick-thin teen had just done.
"Ban-chan's just... a little stronger than he looked," explained Ginji with a sheepish grin.
"Now that the way out is clear, I think we should continue our little search. Mayu, can you try not to cry anymore? We'll protect you... and your sister too."
Looking at the other three, Amakura Mayu took a deep breath.
"Okay, Mido-san..."
The group resumed their search inside the house.
"Ban-chan, I don't think we have entered this room yet."
They sure have not, for the room they were in now was the biggest room they had seen in the house. Like the altar room, this one had tatami mats covering the floor. More importantly, there was a spirit of a man in the room.
The man was covered with cuts and bruises and he had a terrifying expression on his face.
Steeling herself, Mio peered through the camera again.
When the shutter clicked, the man gave out a long mourn as he vanished into thin air.
Meanwhile, Ban had spotted a bulge on the floor. Lifting the tatami mat, he saw a bundle of clothing, with another note beside it.
"Someone! Anyone! Whoever sees this, look for me. I'm trapped in this village.
HELP ME !
Sudo Miyako"
"I think we may have an answer to your deduction, Mio-chan," said Ban grimly as he passed the note around.
Mayu wanted to just run out of the place. But she remembered her promise. Also, she knew that everyone was into this together.
Ginji decided to switch on his electric field. The girls were startled to see sparks coming from his gloves and to hear the crackling sound of electricity.
"There's a reason why one of that kid's nicknames is 'electric eel'," said Ban with a grin.
As they stepped out of the room, Ban saw something glowing on the floor. He picked up the object.
"Hmmm.. this key could prove useful,' thought Ban as he slipped it into his shirt pocket.
Suddenly, a mournful tune started to play in the background. The same female spirit who had led them to the house appeared in front of them.
A scream was heard as Mayu could no longer contain herself.
Mio wanted to use the camera but Ban stopped her.
"Let's wait and see what she's up to."
Ginji stared hard at the ghost. His gut feeling (and electrical senses) told him that it was Sudo Miyako before them.
Miyako's ghost turned around and began to walk up a flight of stairs. The group followed behind.
At the second floor, the ghost disappeared into a room right beside the stairs. The GB duo ran swiftly to the door. It was locked.
Ban whipped out the key and tried it on the lock. Bingo.
The ghost pointed at a table before disappearing into the next section. Ban grabbed the note that's left on it.
"How much time has passed since I came here ? How long will this night last ?
I can't take the darkness. It's driving me crazy... I have to get out of here!
I have to see Masumi."
"Poor Miyako-san," said Ginji.
"Quick, follow her! And girls, stay right behind us," commanded Ban.
The next section had another note lying on the floor. The ghost stayed motionless in front of them.
Ginji bent down to pick up the piece of paper.
"I must be tired. If I start to relax, I pass out. Even in a crazy place like this. The darkness here is creeping into my dreams.
Slaughter, rivers of blood, fallen people, a woman in a bloodstained kimono, insane laughter, and twin sisters calling out "Don't kill me!".
That woman's laugh is seared into my mind.
I don't want to sleep anymore."
By now, Ban was truly beginning to feel mad. What kind of creature will lay such a vicious curse, he asked himself.
Suddenly, the ghost darted to the duo's back, where the girls were standing. Mayu screamed again.
"Oh, no," cried Ginji. Ban cursed under his breath.
However, the ghost did not harm the girls. Instead, it made its way to the front and into another section of the room.
Upon entering, the duo now found another note right in front of Miyako's spirit. The lady turned around and stared at them.
Picking up the note cautiously, Ginji noticed that Miyako-san's handwriting had become sketchy on this piece of paper.
"Masumi found my note. He WAS in the village!
I can see him soon. I can't move...
I'll wait here.
He'll be back. He'll find the way out.
If he comes back...
He came..."
After Ginji finished reading out loud the note, Miyako suddenly gave a loud howl. The spirit reared back her head and the group saw what had happened to Miyako-san before her death.
They saw two palm prints around her neck, a sure indication that she was murdered by someone...or something.
Staring back at the group with her sightless eyes (with pupils now devoid of any colour), Sudo Miyako lunged towards Mido Ban.
The spunky teen merely stepped aside. A split second later, a snake's jaws slammed into the spirit's face.
Reeling in pain and disbelief, Miyako paused momentarily. Then, with renewed vigour, she charged towards the Urchin Head.
Several spots on the spirit's body were hit instantly. Amano Ginji decided to step into the foray.
"Ban-chan! I sensed something clouding Miyako-san's mind. Let me help her!"
"She's all yours, Ginji. Good luck!"
The blond Get Backer then fired his plasma balls at the spirit. The spirit wringed in pain as the plasma burnt her ethereal form.
Dashing towards the spirit, Ginji planted his palm right in the middle of her torso. With a loud shout, he channeled his electricity through the spirit's form.
The spirit moaned as some minute particles began floating out from it. A final burst of energy, and the particles were driven out of the room.
Miyako slumped forward as Amano Ginji used his electric field to help her up. The spirit shook her head and looked at the group.
"Well, I'll be...That damned grandma of mine mentioned before that weaker spirits can be possessed by stronger ones. Now, I've seen it with my own eyes," mused Ban as he lit a cigarette.
"Miyako-san, are you all right," asked a concerned Ginji.
"Thank you, young man. I'm fine now."
Ginji looked at the spirit before him. Though the palm prints still remained on her neck, Ginji could now see that Miyako had a pair of beautiful eyes. The black pupils looked back at him with a sad forlorn look. With her long black hair around her shoulders, she looked every bit a damsel in distress. The thought that they could no longer save her was hard on Ginji. He looked away from the sprirt.
"Miyako-san, my name is Mido Ban. That lad over there is Amano Ginji. These two girls here are the Amakura twins. We knew that your boyfriend went missing in this village. Apparently, you stayed behind to look for him and was killed. Can you tell us who murdered you?"
Miyako bowed her head. "It was him," she whispered.
"Who, Miyako-san," asked Ginji.
"My love, Masumi..."
"You mean Makimura-san did this to you? But how.." exclaimed Mio.
"Mio-chan, didn't you see how Miyako-san was possessed just now? It's a contest of wills. The twin who cursed this village is one vengeful spirit. Naturally, Miyako-san came under her control," explained Ban.
"Miyako-san, now that you are free from her grasp, you may want to remain here until we find a way out of the village," suggested Ginji.
"May I come along?"
The group was surprised by this request. Ban was the first to respond.
"You want us to help free Masumi-san, right?"
"Please.."
"Alright, Miyako-san. You may come along."
Addressing the rest of the group, Ban explained, "We're in this together, guys. If we can break the curse, we get out of here and spirits like Miyako-san can rest in peace. So, any objections?"
The three shook their heads.
"Good. Now, let's get the hell out of here."
Atogaki (Afterthoughts)
- As I have mentioned before, I'll try to stick close to the original game. But a few liberties were taken. Gomen if any reader feels offended...
- Thanks to Phan Nguyen Khanh Dan "Mysticcat" for his FAQ, from which I took the notes and the rough sequence of events.
- Please RnR!