I'm baaaaaack. Fatal Frame Three has finally come out, so I've been playing that and neglecting other things, such as…well, this. My thanks to the anonymous Thais for reviewing. I'm a Sae fan, myself. ; )

Here's the story. Don't forget to leave a review on you way out: X D

Itsuki sat in his room, reading through various old texts about the village. After some research, he had learned that there was one lone exit from All God's Village – a door behind the altar at the shrine. Unfortunately, the books had not as of yet told him how to unlock it. He was tired, but he kept reading – what was a little exhaustion compared with his brother's forgiveness

(And sweet release)

and Yae and Sae's safety? He clutched his forehead, trying to concentrate.

Ryokan had told the village that morning that they intended to hold the Hidden Ceremony in two days. That was the night he intended to help Yae and Sae leave the village. Assuming, of course, that he could find the way to unlock the door…

Kurosawa-san was suspicious already. He was frightened and paranoid that someone would tell Makabe-san the nature of the Hidden Ceremony…and, of all the villagers, Itsuki was the one Kurosawa-san suspected most. He had a suspicion that he might be locked up again, as he was with the last people…

The door slowly slid open, and Chitose walked over to him. Itsuki smiled as he heard the chiming of the bells he had given her. How long ago had that been?

"Hey, Chitose," he grinned. He turned to face her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine…" she said. "I just wanted to say goodnight…"

An idea then struck him. Chitose! She could help him!

"Chitose? Can you do me a favor?"

She tilted her head. "What?"

Itsuki paused for a second. She was so shy…would she be able to do what he needed her to do? He decided he had no real choice. They needed to find the way out before the Hidden Ceremony, so that they could rescue Ryozo and his teacher.

He picked a key up off of his desk. "This is the key to my room," he said. "I want you to give it to my friend Ryozo the next time you see him."

Chitose's face brightened. "Okay!" she exclaimed. Itsuki smile to himself; how could he not love this girl?

He handed her the key and she attached it to her bell necklace. After she had left the room, Itsuki turned back to his book. Within five minutes, he had fallen asleep.

Seijiro, meanwhile, spent his night digging through the various books he found in the Ceremony Master's mansion. He had found many references to a "pit to Hell" or a "Hellish Abyss", and had learned that the villagers had a taboo on the name; they would never say it and never write it, and under absolutely no circumstances were they to look down it. He found references to a group of people called "Mourners" that had lost their sight and dressed in rags. These people were the protectors of the pit, and were blinded so that they would never look inside. People who had managed to see it, as well as "sinners" or criminals, were made to be Mourners.

And yet there was nothing on any of their ceremonies. He let out a sigh of frustration. Of course, he could see it later, but he wanted to know more now.

As he set his current book down, there was a light tapping on the door. Seijiro looked up and called, "Come in!"

The twin girls walked in, Yae holding a piece of paper in her hand.

"Is there something I can do for you?" Seijiro asked.

Yae took a deep breath while Sae noticeably stiffened. "We…" Yae began. "We…we…think…"

"Yes?"

"We…our father, he…" Yae's body trembled. "He…I…we…" She handed him the paper. When he unrolled it, he saw that it was a map of the mansion, a red X marked by the basement door. Also inside the paper was a key with a hammer symbol on it.

"What is this?" he asked.

Sae made a sobbing noise. Yae's fingers were vibrating strongly. He looked at them for a moment, trying to understand.

After five seconds, Yae made a small cry and both sisters turned and ran out of the room. Seijiro looked back down at the paper.

What is this?

In the back of Kurosawa Mansion, there is a tower. This room has several ropes and more than a few blades inside of it, as well as a small altar in the center. There are two sets of doors – one leads to Kurosawa Mansions, the other to the Hellish Abyss.

In the center of this room stood Akane Kiryu. Blood flowed in several directions; she would have a lot of cleaning to do, but what of it? It was blood, and she needed it.

Two days. They had two days, and then the Malice would come. Unless, of course, they offered a Kusabi…or, even better, twins. Kurosawa's girls looked awfully nice…

Akane made a deep grunt that sounded vaguely like a laugh. It was very masculine, and by far the most disgusting thing anyone in All God's Village could have ever imagined.

She began to feast.