Hey, everyone! I felt an absolute need to update today, so…I'm updating today. I know I forgot to insert dividers on Chapter 5. Don't make comments.
Don't worry, DR – I'll try to keep the Hidden Ceremony short. : ) Not that I'm there yet, but you know…
BTW – I'm having trouble getting certain symbols to transfer to Fanfiction, which is why I haven't used asterisks to refer to the Hellish Abyss and sacrifices. There may be a few erroneous smiley faces as well. Oh, well…
The next day Itsuki was gone. He and Chitose had woken up to the sound of pounding on the front door. When Itsuki answered, Veiled Priests were on the other side. They demanded that he go with them to the storehouse, and he agreed.
As he walked out the door, he shot a concerned look at the closet.
"Stay safe," he mouthed.
Five minutes after they left, Chitose slid the door open and crawled out, the bells around her neck chiming.
Ryozo, in the meantime, reclined on the floor of the guest bedroom of Kurosawa Mansion.
That feeling…it's stronger now…we can't stay here much longer. I should go see Itsuki again. He may know the way out by now.
As he stood up, Seijiro walked in. "Munakata…I'm glad I found you."
Ryozo raised his eyebrows inquiringly. "What's wrong?"
Seijiro scratched the back of his neck. "How much do you want to see this ceremony?" he asked.
"I would like to see it," he said, "but I'm willing to sit it out if they will only accept one witness."
Seijiro looked at him for several seconds. Then he said, "I need you to leave."
Ryozo was not surprised. His teacher had a bad feeling, too…but, unlike Ryozo, his drive to see the Hidden Ceremony was far stronger than his sense of self-preservation.
Ryozo nodded his head. "When?"
"Right now."
After two more seconds of silence, the two men began to pack Ryozo's belongings.
Ryozo stepped into the Tachibana House. The place had an empty feel to it that he didn't quite understand. It was very much like that evil feeling that he got from the village…
"Itsuki?" he called. No answer.
He crossed the threshold into the house. For a second he thought he heard chimes – or bells? He began to walk towards the sound, wondering what it could be.
His search led him to the Raised Tatami Room. The sound had definitely come from there, but…there was nothing in there. Some old film, some medicine…it didn't make
You won't leave me alone again, right?
He gasped. Who had said that? He thought he heard a muffled squeal, but couldn't place it. The voice sounded like…
"Sae?"
He looked down the passage. Nothing. He shook his head. "Stop being silly," he muttered to himself.
He finally found Itsuki's room, but it was locked. No matter how much he forced it, it wouldn't open.
After a half hour of fruitless searching, he gave up and left the house. When he reached Misono Hill, he saw an amazing sight.
The Shinto Gate was clear.
He could leave the village…
Chitose crawled out of her hiding place under the Raised Tatami Room. Her face was drenched in tears; she had spent the last thirty minutes crying. She fled to Itsuki's room and unlocked the door.
"I'm sorry, Itsuki…" she whispered. "But I can fix it…"
She began to read the books where her brother had left off.
Yae and Sae were sitting in the Family Altar Room. Neither of them spoke – there was no need for words. The twins sat together and waited for Makabe-san to go by, hoping that he would leave before they came for him.
He didn't.
After twenty minutes of waiting, they could hear people coming. Yae put her ear up to the doors and listened. At first there was nothing except a dragging sound, but eventually she heard voices.
"At least tell me where you're taking me," Seijiro said. She closed her eyes. They had caught him.
"Silence!" the twins' father commanded.
The sounds began to fade, and she heard the door at the end of the hall slam. The cell…
"He needed to see it…" she whispered. Sae closed her eyes and dropped her head.
"I…" Sae began. "He shouldn't have to die…"
Yae looked back at her sister, who was beginning to shake. "Yae, let's hurry," she whimpered. "If we stay much longer, I won't…I won't have the strength…to leave…"
Yae leaned forward and held her sister. They sat there for several minutes.
And as they sat there, Akane Kiryu leered down at them.
"They will be delicious…" she muttered to herself.