Crimson Butterfly

A Fatal Frame Fanfiction

By Chendzee'a Li

www.chendzeea_li@hotmail.com

All characters belong to Tecmo.

Chapter 5

Reunion

Their reunion was a tender and quiet one. Caught up in their joyous embrace, Mayu buried her head against Mio's chest and wept quietly. Shedding tears of her own, Mio rocked gently as they held each other.

"I'm sorry…" Mayu whispered sadly.

"Whatever for?" Mio frowned, gently lifting her face.

"Someone was calling me… Telling me to return and complete the sacrifice."

"Sacrifice…" Mio frowned, she'd heard that word far too much of late and it troubled her deeply. "That's not going to happen." She said firmly. A look of relief crossed Mayu's features and she threw her arms around her once more before darkening with worry.

"I don't want to be alone...I hate being alone." She murmured, nearly in tears.

"I know… I know…I'm here now." Mio frowned with concern. She had no idea what horrors Mayu could've seen but prayed that they weren't as terrible as what she'd thus endured. "Just, stay with me… forever and ever." Mayu continued, looking into her eyes pleadingly. Mio stared back quietly, wishing that she could somehow whisk them away from this horrible place.

Mayu blushed slightly as they gazed at each other. An odd thing, Mio thought, smiled slightly, curious as to what could be going through her mind. With a timid bit of impulsiveness, Mayu leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Forever." She whispered, settling back shyly. Mio touched her lips curiously then regarded her.

"Uh…huh." She murmured somewhat stunned. "That's what we promised." She added as if to reaffirm the oath they'd made to each other after Mayu's accident.

Mayu watched a moment, trying to read her mood until finally, seemingly happy with what she found she moved to sit beside her.

"I'm glad you're safe Mio…." She said quietly, resting her head against her shoulder.

"I'm okay." Mio responded quietly, her mind abuzz. They'd kissed before as sisters are wont to do, but something was different this time. Biting her lip thoughtfully she shook her head, surely she was imagining things.

If anything she was thankful for the unexpected distraction, it helped get her mind off of their predicament. Settling down, Mio got comfortable, she could use the rest. Removing her backpack, she fished out the journal she had found in the previous room.

"What's that?"

"A journal I think. I saw a man, I think it was his."

"A man?"

"A ghost…"

"I don't like ghosts…." Mayu mumbled, resting her head in her sister's lap.

"I think he was a good one." Mio smiled, running a hand through her hair.

"I love you Mio." Mayu sighed cuddling against her.

Mio gazed quietly down at her in thought. "Love you too." She whispered, tracing the curve of her ear with a fingertip.

"A good ghost huh." Mayu noted curiously, oddly at peace considering their surroundings. But that was always their way, together they were strong.

"Yah." Mio nodded, smiling faintly.

"Let me see." Mayu asked. Mio complied and soon Mayu was thumbing through it with bright-eyed curiosity.

"I saw a woman." She noted solemnly as she scanned for anything pertinent.

"A woman?" Mio frowned. "It wasn't the one from the old house was it?"

"No." Mayu said, shaking her head. "She's at rest now I believe. No, this one was different… dressed in a kimono…"

"Stained?" Mio asked quietly, notably avoiding comment on the blood.

"Yeah…" Mayu muttered. "She was calling to me…" She continued, then trailed off.

"I've seen her." Mio replied, leaving it at that.

"Oh neat, it's a folklorist's journal." Mayu chirped abruptly.

Mio smirked absently as she kept an eye out for trouble.

"You've always liked stuff like that." She finally commented.

"I like to read." Mayu smiled then pointed to a passage. "See his name is Mr. Makabe, he came here doing research on old traditions and rituals."

"What did he find out?" Mio asked, though common sense told her that he most likely died here.

"It's hard to tell." Mayu mumbled as her brow furrowed. "There's a ritual called the Forbidden Ritual and another called the Hidden Ritual apparently they're used to seal some sort of gateway to the underworld."

"I think that's enough reading for now." Mio whispered, reaching for the book. A flash of light erupted into their minds as a new vision appeared.

Fall, leaves falling, a cool breeze blowing faintly up a well-worn path.

A man's voice, mature but strong.

"So this is all gods village…." The voice said smoothly.

A vision; darkness, a cavern and at it's center, a rectangular pit. Above the pit hung a figure bound in ropes and horribly mutilated. A new vision, a village, quaint and welcoming full of smiling faces. Two strangers, travelers, an older man, wizened and curious, the other, younger and cautious. Strangers welcomed with open arms.

"The ritual that can not be spoken about…" The man's voice whispered. "And the place that must not be seen." It continued as the visions shifted. The newcomers, a manor house, a tall imposing man the head of the village, smiling always smiling, at his side twin girls. Introductions are made amid welcomes and promises of comfort. Darkness again as a rose pedal falls.

"If I take a picture of that place…." The man muttered quietly, the voice sounding cold and hollow.

The older man, stares and around his neck, the Camera Obscura, the young man worries. Darkness enveloping, pain, forbidden knowledge, the older man, bound, his gaze vacant, his flesh torn, screams of pain, oblivion.

A flash and Mio nearly fainted from the shock of the vision. As she recovered, she noticed Mayu still sat in a trance.

"The two chosen to heaven…" She muttered softly, through glazed eyes.

"Mayu?" Mio asked worriedly, reaching out to her.

"The two chosen children shall be carried to heaven on the wings of a butterfly, a butterfly that will save this village." Mayu said as if from a distant memory. Coming out of the trance, she locked eyes with her sister and nearly burst into tears.

"Don't leave me…" She whimpered softly.

"What?" Mio frowned sadly, then held her tight. "I told you, I'm not going to leave you. I promise."

"I don't mean to be such a burden."

"Stop that, right now." Mio frowned, kissing her brow.

"I'm just so scared… I don't want to die here."

"I'm scared too but we'll be okay, we're both getting out of here. Trust me."

Mayu sniffed and rested her head against Mio's chest. She could hear the steady beat of her heart, strong and sure, it was comforting and she closed her eyes, focusing on it. Mio tightened her embrace, comforting her; it was a pleasant feeling of warmth in such a dark lifeless place. Her thoughts went back to the brief kiss they shared. The memory caused her to blush.

There was something different between them now, something tender and unspoken. Unsure of what she should feel Mio didn't ponder it too deeply.

A low creak broke the moment and Mayu looked up startled. Something shifted in room next to them.

"Mio…" Mayu whimpered, rising to her feet.

Tired, Mio rose beside her and grabbed the camera obscura. Better to check it out now than have some horror attack them while they were unaware. Heading back to the room with the flickering light, she poked her head through the sliding door.

Quiet and ominous, there was something was amiss in the dark room. Cautiously, Mio entered the room as Mayu clung tightly to her.

"Mio…" She whispered.

"Hush now." Mio said quietly as her eyes scanned the shadows. Suddenly a baby's wail issued forth. Mio shivered at the sound and looked to a large storage box nestled against a far wall, the cry was coming from within. Raising the camera cautiously, unsure how to proceed, she waited. She did not wait long before the crying ceased, and the room grew cold. Mayu buried her head against her sister's back, sensing a dark presence in the room.

With a low creak, the box slid open, revealing a supernatural darkness. Mio back stepped in fright as a hand appeared at the lip of the box. Gaunt and withered it paused a moment before bracing. Then, slowly, the entity pulled itself up and cleared the opening where it then slithered out of the box like a snake. Upon reaching the floor, the ghost clamored on its hands and knees a moment before hauling itself to its feet. Hunched as it was, the ghost's hands nearly reached the floor. It's head hung limp from it's shoulders and a wild damp mass of ink black hair shrouded it's face. Slowly the apparition lumbered forward, rocking side to side as it walked it appeared as if lost in a dream or more likely, a nightmare.

Mio wasted no time and flashed the camera. The room brightened a momentarily blinding them. Blinking, Mio looked for the ghost and found it inches from her face. Gasping and wheezing, the ghost was a horror to behold. She looked like a crone with withered features great bags under her white lifeless eyes. Mio fell backwards to the floor as the thing charged right through her and grabbed Mayu by the shoulders.

"Mio!" Mayu screamed in pain and horror as the apparition's fingers clawed towards her throat.

"Mayu!" Mio shouted in fright. Acting out of instinct more than common sense she lunged to grab the thing attacking her sister. Instead, she passed through it and nearly fell to the floor once more.

"Help….Mio please!" Mayu pleaded as the creature's hands closed around her neck.

"No! Let her go!" Mio shrieked in mixture of rage and fear. Regaining her senses she moved around them as they struggled. This time she got the creature's horrid face in view and fired the camera point blank in its milky eyes. The phantom howled in pain as its head snapped back, staggering backwards, it then fell onto the floor and exploded into a cloud of black mist. Within seconds, it was no more and the room was silent.

Immediately, Mio grabbed Mayu and checked her over. Gasping for breathe and crying she seemed okay considering what she endured.

"Are you okay?" Mio fretted.

Sobbing uncontrollably, Mayu clung to her still wracked with fear.

"Mayu…." Mio called to her gently. "It's okay, you're safe."

Inconsolable, Mayu cried against her chest. Sighing, Mio comforted her best the best could until finally the sobbing subsided. Sniffing pitifully, Mayu looked up with a forlorn expression.

"Perhaps… perhaps it would be best if you left me behind…." She mouthed bitterly.

"Stop that…" Mio frowned.

"But I'm useless to you…."

"Oh Mayu, don't say that. I need you…." Mio sighed then looked down at her silently.

"So fragile…" She thought as gazing upon her. Huddled and shivering, Mio had never seen her so pathetic and a grim thought crossed her mind, unwanted, unwelcome.

"She'll never make it." She realized. It could be days before they found a way out of the village and already, Mayu was showing signs of sickness, her skin was paler than usually and her eyes appeared dark and sullen.

"Perhaps if I leave her somewhere safe I can hurry and find help." She reasoned then grew pale as she realized what she was considering.

"No…" She frowned inwardly, hating herself for having such thoughts.

Sensing her uneasiness Mayu looked up at her worriedly.

"What's wrong…" She whispered.

Mio looked down at her blankly, lost in thought.

"You're going…." Mayu said quietly.

Snapped out of her thoughts Mio met her gaze fiercely. Then without a word she cradled her face in her hands and kissed her.

Mayu's eyes went wide with surprise. Then slowly, she closed them as a tingling warmth rose deep within. It was a welcome feeling but short lived as Mio abruptly released her then giggled. Staggering back slightly, Mayu opened her eyes in confusion. Blushing furiously she looked to Mio questioningly.

"What…?" She finally mouthed, unsure as to what to say.

Wiping her lips laughingly, Mio took her hands in hers and smiled.

"That was for earlier you sneak." She chuckled.

"Earlier…" Mayu whispered then smiled. "Oh…that…" She grinned faintly.

Mio could sense a bit of disappointment in her voice but did not acknowledge it.

"I'm not leaving you, I promised." She said smilingly with an outstretched hand. "Now come on, or do I have to drag you?"

"Okay…" Mayu giggled shyly, as took her hand. Entwining her arm with hers, Mio clung to her protectively as the two moved slowly into the darkness.

End Chapter 5

To be continued…

Authors note.

If you haven't noticed these chapters are short for this story. This is for several reasons that I won't bore you with. But suffice to say it means I can hopefully update quicker. =)