Haunted

-

By Guardian795

Author's Note: Well, here it is, everyone. The chilling conclusion to part 1 of the fan fiction. A little recap from the last chapter: Itsuki has told Yae that he loves her. Seijiro Makabe was sacrificed as the Kusabi, and Ryozo Munakata has fled from the village.

The time for the ritual has come. Yae and Sae are to be sacrificed, and Itsuki has a very little chance of getting them out because Ryokan Kurosawa is constantly watching. For those of you that have played the game, you know most of what will happen here, but I've added a few twists. I won't give away what happens to the girls in the end, because it would ruin the surprise for those who have not played the game yet.

Now, this is the last chapter before we move on to a more recent time period. The time period right now is 1875-1889, so it would explain the beliefs and the kimonos. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, though it will get confusing. There's a lot of questions from people about Sae. Why is Itsuki in love with Yae, and not Sae? Trust me, you'll find out here. Remember, older twin means born SECOND.

Chapter 6: Promise

Little Chitose ran down the hall of her house, scurrying so quickly that the bottoms of her feet hurt. Skidding around the corner, she blindly groped for her brother, hoping he was in the room. When she could not feel him, she crawled her way to the far corner, opened the closet there, and ducked inside. The little girl in the crimson kimono shut the door and huddled there in a little ball, shivering. Footsteps approached the room, and a deep voice called out, "Itsuki Tachibana!!" Chitose flinched and opened the closet slightly so she could peek out.

Ryokan Kurosawa stood in the hall, looking impatient and angry. The white haired teenager walked up to him, slowly tying his blue kimono. "You called?" he said quietly, a light trace of vehemence in his voice.

"Tachibana, this house is needed for the Cleansing. Do you permit?" Ryokan asked.

Itsuki's hands clenched into fists. Of course he didn't permit. He would never permit to assisting in the same ritual again, to let another set of twins go and destroy themselves before the entire town. He raised his eyes to meet Ryokan's. "I suppose…" he lightly said.

"Good. Now, find your sister and leave this house immediately," the Ceremony Master said.

"Where will we stay, sir?"

"In the Osaka House, I suppose. I'm sure they won't mind guests," the old man replied, not very worried about the Remaining. Itsuki gave a slow nod, then looked around. "Chitose, come out. We need to go," he called.

Chitose shivered from fear of the old man, but knew she had to go out. However, her fear had immobilized her, and she could not will her body to get up and out of the closet. She started to cry, but then looked down at her wrist. A red ribbon tied to two bells was around her right wrist. Itsuki had told her, that whenever she hides, she should jingle the bells so he could come find her.

The little girl shook her wrist lightly, then harder, so the tinkling of the bells was quite loud. Itsuki turned towards the closet door and walked over, opening it up. "There you are, Chitose," he whispered softly. He picked up the crying child and hugged her. "Don't worry, Chitose, I'm here now."

Ryokan snorted lightly towards the boy's comment. Itsuki's eyes pierced Ryokan's own, and for an instant, they seemed to be fighting the other's wills. Itsuki calmly walked past the old man, carrying his little sister out the door. Chitose could only stare in fear at the Ceremony Master, as his face seemed to twist into Death itself.

§ § §

Yae walked beside Sae as they left the Tachibana House. They had finished their Cleansing only hours before, and were now free to roam the village for one more day, before it was their time for the ritual. Sae seemed happier than Yae on this day. She turned to Yae. "Why are you so quiet today, sister?" she asked.

Yae hardly looked at her, only shrugged. "Want to know why I'm so happy?" she asked. Again, Sae's twin only shrugged. "I'm happy, because Itsuki gave me this bracelet," she said, holding out her hand. Yae glanced at it and gasped. The bracelet had once belonged to Itsuki's mother, and he said it was the most precious thing to him other than Mutsuki. Yae could hardly stand to look at it. Days before, Itsuki had shown his love for Yae…so why was he giving this gift to Sae?

"Are you going to…see him now?" Yae asked. Sae nodded, the quiet smile still on his face. "Would you like to come too, Yae?" she asked. The girl nodded, and the twins set off towards the old tree to see Itsuki.

They found him sitting there, writing in a blue notebook. He heard their footsteps on the hard soil, and he stood up to greet them. Sae came forward and hugged him. "Itsuki, I missed you!" she cried. He returned the hug lightly. "Are the preparations almost ready?" Yae interrupted. The white haired teenager looked at Yae, and his face grew red with shame as he saw her angry eyes. "Almost," he said.

"The ritual is tomorrow," she said to him, her voice cold and unfeeling. "If the preparations aren't fully ready, Sae will die," she said. Itsuki flinched at her tone. Sae noticed the tension between the two. "Itsuki, where's Chitose? Maybe she'd like to play."

Itsuki pointed outside. "She's in the Osaka House," he said quietly, and Sae ran out. The white haired teen looked at Yae, who turned her back on him. "Yae…why are you so angry with me?"

"You said that you loved me, Itsuki."

"I never said it plain-out…I only said that I am here for you because Mutsuki isn't," he said, coming to her side.

"You kissed me, Itsuki. You showed me love and compassion, and then you turned around and gave her that bracelet!" Yae cried, upset now.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered, trying to see her face. She turned away from him once more. "Yae, I didn't mean to hurt you…I thought you would understand. Sae and you are leaving. She loves me."

"Do you love her?" she asked. Itsuki froze, unsure of that answer. Was he loving Sae out of pity, or because he really did love her? Yae did not wait for his answer. "No, Itsuki. You have loved her for a long time, and I am just being selfish. Excuse me," she said, and started for the exit. Itsuki grabbed her arm. "Yae…"

She looked at him. "No, Itsuki," she said, but he had already pulled her close. He placed his lips on hers. She pushed herself away after a moment, and was met with Itsuki's hurt expression. "You love her, not me."

"I don't know who I love, Yae, but it's too late anyway. You are leaving tomorrow morning," he whispered. She shook his grip off of her arm. "I will see you then," she said, walking away. Itsuki watched her leave, and even stood there long after she was gone, his eyes ever searching for her form in the dust, hoping she would return to his willing embrace.

§ § §

It rained again that night, but it was a pitiful excuse for rain. It drizzled, then picked up a bit, slowly returning to a spitting after wards. It would repeat this for several hours, deepening the sorrow in Yae's heart as she walked through the village one last time. Her kimono was soaked within minutes, but she neither cared nor felt it. Her last hours in the village made her heart ache deeply, as she fought to regain her composure. Sae loved Itsuki, and he seemed to love Sae…but, what did he say? He didn't know? What a male answer.

A rumble of thunder came overhead, and Yae looked up. The rain came much heavier now, soaking her hair and wetting her face, despite the tears that were already there. Yae only sighed and continued walking. As she walked past the shrine, she saw two priests standing there in the rain. One of them noticed her. "Ms. Kurosawa, you should return home," he said, his face hidden by a veil of cloth.

"Oh…I know…" she said, shivering lightly. "I just…I wanted to enjoy my time in the village…before the ritual." The priests nodded approvingly. Though it was the truth, she wanted to enjoy her last hours in the village, it seemed to them like she was enjoying her time before she and Sae became one. Yae nodded and walked to the old tree, cautiously stepping inside. The old tree seemed warmer than the last time it rained. She looked around and found everything just as it was earlier, but Itsuki was not there. His notebook, however, lay a good distance from where it had been, up beside one of the pinwheels.

Yae kneeled down and opened it, beginning to read its contents.

I have sent Ryozo a letter, saying that I need his help. I told him about Yae and Sae, and told him to wait outside of the village for them around the time of the ritual. I only hope that he gets this letter before it is too late. What happened to his mentor was terrible, but I'd rather the two girls be spared of this fate.

Yae or Sae? I don't know anymore…I kissed Yae, but when Sae looks at me…I feel lost in her gaze.

It's not like it matters…tomorrow, it will all be over. My pain and theirs. I will end my suffering after they run away. I'll deliver myself from this hellish village.

Yae shook her head sorrowfully. She was too hard on the white haired teenager, and now, she wouldn't be able to apologize. Footsteps sounded behind her, and she quickly turned, hoping to see Itsuki. Instead, her face fell as she saw that it was Sae, soaking wet and crying.

"Sae…what's wrong?" she asked, standing up. Her sister gave a great sob and collapsed against Yae.

"Oh Yae…I thought you had left me…I thought you had gone forever!" she gasped, her body wracked by sobs. Yae wrapped her arms around her sister and helped her sit down. Using her semi-dry kimono sleeve to dry her sister's tears, the older twin looked down at Sae. The sobbing teenager looked up at Yae. "I thought you'd come back soon…so I waited…but you never came!!"

Yae rubbed her sister's back gently. "Hush…I was coming back. It's just…I wanted to see the village again, one last time." At these words, Sae brushed her tears away. "Soon, we won't be here anymore, and we'll be free."

"And we'll be together forever…right?" Sae questioned quietly.

"Of course!" Yae said, smiling. Sae brightened and hugged her sister. "Do you remember, Sae? That one day…we went to the river that flows out of the village…"

"And there, we made a promise…" Sae said dreamily. "Didn't we, Yae?"

"We made a promise to always be together, no matter what. We'd leave the village, we'd start a new life together…we're almost there, Sae. No one can stop us now!" Yae said.

Sae nodded, but something in her eyes seemed distant and worried. Yae bent her head down. "What is it?"

"I'm weak…and I might not be able to follow you. You may leave me behind. I don't mind doing the ritual, as long as you and I are together…I never want to be alone without you."

Yae's eyes softened as she looked at her sister. She wrapped her arms around Sae and sighed. "Never. I won't ever leave you. We'll leave together…or we'll die together." The twins hugged tightly, Sae resting her head on her sister's lap. Yae looked outside and dimly saw the dark form that entered the tree. A lightly soaked Itsuki gazed down at the two girls, and for the first time in weeks, Yae could see the tears that heavily dripped from his eyes.

§ § §

Itsuki walked around the village streets, watching as the priests were preparing for the ceremony. Behind him, Yae and Sae walked together, holding hands. The younger of the two looked around, frightened, while the older stared at the white haired boy's back. She had to say something to him before they left, but since Sae was here, what could she say? Oh Itsuki…I'm so sorry… Yae thought with anguish. If only I had known…if only I could turn back time so I could tell you, face-to-face, the truth.

Sae tugged at Yae's hand, and she turned to look at her twin. Sae's eyes were filled with fear, and the older twin squeezed her hand gently. Itsuki stopped them at an old storehouse that stood next to the Tsuchihara family's house. He slipped inside and returned with four circular objects. "Come," he said quietly, hurrying them back to the old tree that lay on the other side of the village. The priests noticed the Remaining leading the two girls to the tree, but thought nothing of it. The Remaining was feared and respected. If he wanted to speak with the girls, it was probably about the ritual. The three teenagers huddled in the tree, and Itsuki put the four circular family crests into the small shrine at the back of the tree. As he worked, Sae and Yae took their last glances around the tree.

This place had been their only sanctuary for years. Here, they could come and talk, speak of their dreams and aspirations. Yae's eyes fell on the dozens of red pinwheels blowing in the wind, the shrine to the twins who were sacrificed. Her sad eyes came to rest on Mutsuki's pinwheel, which, surprisingly, was not moving in the wind. All the others around his were moving, but his was not. Yae almost began to cry at the sight of it, but held strong for her sister. Itsuki quickly finished, and turned to the girls. "Wait here, both of you," he said gently, as he went out.

Itsuki hurried over to the priests. "Did the girls come this way?" he asked, his voice sounding frantic.

"No, Master Itsuki, they did not. Weren't they in the tree with you?" one of the veiled priests said.

"Yes, but they pushed me and hurried off! I think they're trying to escape!!" he cried. The priests jumped. "They're headed to the cemetery," Itsuki said. "If they did not come back this way, then they must have gone out the second entrance. Hurry!!" The priests wasted no time in running off, carrying their staffs. They ran throughout the village, calling to the people and to other priests, telling them the news. One priest ran off to the Kurosawa house, no doubt to tell Ryokan.

Itsuki went back to the tree. "Come now, quickly. They will soon find that it was a hoax," he cried hoarsely, and the girls followed him out. He led them both up the long and steep steps to the shrine, where the lanterns were lit for the ceremony. Sae clung to Yae fiercely, slowing her down. "Sae, don't hang so, or we'll be caught!" Yae warned. Sae let go, but pushed herself to keep up with her sister.

The three ran into the shrine and to the back of it, where the lattice in the back was broken. Sae stopped them. "Wait! Itsuki…Father said that it is dangerous in there!" Yae and Itsuki turned back to the frightened girl. "He said that two twins were killed in a cave-in…"

"He lied!" Itsuki said, angrily. Sae flinched at his tone. "Your father has lied about everything. Those twins did not die in a cave-in, they got out. Now, come on," he cried, going under the broken lattice. Yae pulled the frozen Sae after. The boy opened up an old door at the back of the shrine that had been unlocked after he set the circular crests into the altar of the old tree. "This way," he said, heading down the rocky steps, the girls following.

"This way leads to the surface, to the mountain path. Once there, you must follow the path out of the village," the white haired boy said, instructing them as they hurried down the dark path. They took the stairs at the end up into the sunlight. Yae and Sae looked around, and were struck with awe at the beautiful forest they were in. Itsuki turned back to the dark passage behind them, then grabbed Yae's hand and pulled both her and Sae down the mountain path for a few minutes. He moved to a side. "Here, hide in the trees for a moment." Though confused, the girls nodded and hid with him.

Moments later, a couple of villagers came out of the passage, looking around. "They must be here," cried one of them.

"They couldn't have gotten too far," the other cried. "They don't know the way." A villager strayed from the group and walked down the path the teenagers had taken, and was looking around. Sae grasped her sister's arm and buried her face, too afraid to do anything. Yae, also frightened, stared ahead like a deer in headlights. Itsuki's eyes narrowed in anger towards the villagers, but he turned back to the girls. His eyes fell on Yae, and he slid his hand into hers. Yae looked at him and nodded, squeezing his hand.

If we are caught…we will not be taken without a fight. If they wish to force us into the sacrifice, Sae and I kill ourselves. None of us, including Itsuki, will go back alive. He returned the squeeze with another, as time seemed to freeze for him and her. He knows. Oh God, Itsuki. I love you so…If we die…I want you to know that I care… Yae choked back her tears as she laid her other hand on Itsuki's shoulder tenderly. He looked back at her, and for the first time in a year, she saw his eyes light up with happiness. He now knew the truth of her feelings. Maybe now, she thought, it won't end with us alone. But the villager never saw them. Instead, he followed his comrades in the opposite direction, looking for the escaped twins.

Itsuki pulled the girls out of the trees, still holding onto Yae's hand. His eyes stared at the fading backs of the villagers with hate, but he looked back at Yae and smiled lightly. "It's time," he said. Sae looked up.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Yae looked at Itsuki, her eyes filled with sadness, but she knew.

"You two go on by yourselves," he replied. Sae gasped and tugged at Yae's kimono, pleading silently with her to do something.

When Yae did nothing, Sae spoke up shakily. "Itsuki…come with us."

"No," he replied, finally looking at Sae. "I made another promise. I told Mutsuki that I would not leave the village without him, and I still won't. I will not leave him to be alone." Sae nodded, light tears forming. Itsuki stepped up to her and wiped her tears with his gentle hand. "Don't cry now," he whispered. "You both will be free soon." Sae managed a small smile for him, and he kissed her cheek. "I will miss you," he said.

He moved back and looked at Yae, whose eyes threatened to shed the same tears her sister did. He hugged her, and as he did, he leaned his head over to her ear. "Yae…no matter what…I love you." She only smiled and pressed a piece of paper into his hand. He clutched it tightly, then drew apart from her. They kissed lightly, quickly, so it seemed like a brotherly kiss for Sae, but she saw the love between them. She clenched one of her fists lightly.

"Now, go, you two." Yae turned and nodded to Sae, pulling her towards the path. She knew what she had to do, though it meant leaving Itsuki. The boy looked at them. "Don't look back, no matter what," he warned, before Yae pulled harder, and the girls took off running. Itsuki watched them go, tears forming as he held the paper tightly in his hands.

Once both Itsuki and any traces of the village were out of sight, Sae began to slow. It had not been a long run, but she was physically weak, and she stumbled lightly. "Yae, wait!!" she cried. Her older sister ran about three feet in front of her. "Don't leave me behind!!"

Yae looked back at her sister. "Come on!" she yelled, turning back to the path. Sae watched Yae run, and her thoughts began to race. Her thoughts told her about Itsuki, about the kiss Yae and he had shared, about the bracelet and their friendship. Her mind ran back to the night before, in the tree.

"We'll always be together, Sae, no matter what…I promised, didn't I?"

Sae looked at the back of her running sister, as time once more seemed to slow down dramatically. Yae did promise, didn't she? Of course she didn't she? Of course she did! And once we're out of this village, we'll be free. We can do whatever we want, and we'll always be together. But… Sae's mind froze on that promise, and led her to her next thoughts. But, once we're out of the village…she'll fall in love with someone. She'll get married…and she'll leave me alone… Sae looked at her sister. If this is what Yae was going to do, Sae could not let it happen. She had to stop them from escaping. Even if they could not be together bodily, they could be one with the Crimson Sacrifice!

Sae looked at Yae as they ran, and saw a break in the brush beside the path ahead. She moved closer to the edge of the path, and as she came to the break, she slipped on the edge and fell, screaming, down the hill. Yae froze and looked back. Sae landed with a hard thud on the soft earth, losing consciousness. Yae looked down at her sister in fear, but when she saw her breathing, she lightly relaxed. Though her sister was fine, how would she go and get her? The ledge was too steep, and she could hurt herself by trying to climb down.

Yae did not have time to think of any other options, for not far from where she was, she could hear the voices of the villagers, calling the girls names. Looking at her sister in agony, she said, "I'll come back for you!" She took off down the path, following Itsuki's instructions by not looking back, large tears running down her face as she ran.

Sae woke up a few minutes after Yae ran off. She looked up at the path. "Yae? Yae!" she called. When no one answered, she called louder. "Yae! I'm down here!!" She heard some footsteps up above, and nearly cried with joy, but saw the faces of the villagers, and her father behind them. "Sae!!" he yelled. "Are you alright!?"

"Where's Yae?" she called. He shook his head. "She must be there!! She promised!!" When the other villagers went down to help her, she only buried her face in her hands and wept.

§ § §

Sae kneeled in the front of her house, crying as the villagers yelled over her. They were frantic – the X needed to be appeased. Yae had not returned, and the sacrifice was needed now. "How could she leave her sister behind?" one cried. Sae only stared at the floor.

Yae will come back for me…I know she will…

Ryokan looked at his daughter, sighing. "We have no choice. We must perform the ritual without Yae." He shook his head sadly as he watched his daughter. "This must work…the Kusabi failed to appease the X, and if we do not bring in a sacrifice, the Repentance will occur!" The villagers stared at Ryokan in horror and awe. The Repentance is the price that the village must pay if all the rituals fail. Malice would pour from the X, and the dead would spill over. This had never happened, but it was a cause to fear. If the Repentance occurred, who knew what would happen to the village?

Sae looked up at her father. "May I see Itsuki before the sacrifice?" she asked. He looked down at her. "Yes, you may. We locked him up in the storehouse for helping you escape."

Three villagers helped Sae up and led her out into the village, one always at her side. Her left leg had been injured because of the fall, and she limped terribly. She limped with their help, as they went slowly towards the storehouse at the other side of the village.

Itsuki…before the ritual…I want to see you again, one last time.

Sae sighed sadly. Itsuki would be so unhappy when she told him that they didn't get away. One of the villagers went before her and unlocked the storehouse for her. Sae nodded and opened the door. As she walked in, she grew nervous. She couldn't hear Itsuki moving in the cell. All she could hear was a strange creaking from the ceiling of the cell. She looked up, and gasped at what she saw. Covering her mouth with her hands, heavy tears spilled onto her cold hands. The villagers looked at her. "The ritual is beginning, Sae. It's time to go." Sae looked at them, then back into the cell. She bowed her head in sadness and left. The villagers led her to the Kurosawa house, where the priests took her and Ryokan through the usual procession to the ritual chamber.

Yae…please come back…I'll wait for you. I'll wait for you forever.

§ § §

Little Chitose was also crying, in her little room in the Tachibana House. Her brother had been thrown into the storehouse, all because Yae ran away! And now, she wouldn't even come back to get Sae. Chitose cried lightly into her hands. "I want my brother…" she sobbed. Sae had gone to do the ritual not long before, so it should have been finished by then. A loud rumbling shook the house, and the village. Chitose looked up, her almost blind eyes fearful. The entire village was filled with darkness in a matter of seconds, and Chitose screamed when it came. Through the darkness, she crawled to the closet, closing the door. She huddled there, the darkness not unfamiliar to her, and she rang her little bells. When no one came, she rang them louder.

Chitose sat there, in the darkness, for some time, until she heard footsteps, and screams from outside. She opened the door to the closet only slightly, looking out. There, she saw some of the people from her house running away from something, only to drop dead. One of the servants ran by, and she saw a pale hand grab him. He screamed only once before his life was snuffed out like a candle, and his body dropped to the floor with a thud. Chitose gasped and squinted to see the cause of this massacre. Her eyes widened in horror as she recognized the smirking face of Sae Kurosawa, her white kimono covered in blood. The young teenager grabbed another servant by the throat, taking his life as well. Others were still trying to run from the teenager, and, in their desperation to live, they knocked over a table, which fell onto the closet, shutting it on Chitose.

"NO!" she screamed, trying to pull at the closet door. It wouldn't budge. She pounded on the door, but soon stopped, as the scream of one dying came from not two feet outside of the door. The little girl pulled herself back, keeping away from the door. She heard Sae laughing maniacally just outside of the door, but the laughing grew faint within minutes, as the teenager continued on her massacre. Chitose began to ring her bells again, crying.

"Itsuki…help me…They're everywhere...I can't get out..."