Bittersweet chapter 30

Prepare for trouble, make it...double?

I'm back with anuuurther chapter guys! Woohoo. I just want to say something, I've changed one thing in the plot. Someone will die, but they are erm, fairly, well a minor character I'd say. It's going to be sad but it happens for a good cause. And they are also mentioned in the epilogue. Let the chapter commence!

(I swear I use the words smile, okay and definitely waaaay too much. Sorry. That was a more note to self.)

Love ya 3

Soft music poured out of the stereo as Naomi's mother cleaned up Naomi's room. Her daughter had gone out again after school, however this time just with Satoshi since Ayumi had gotten permission to move in with Yoshiki and was taking the rest of her belongings with her. They were a nice couple, but to be honest, Naomi's mother disapproved of their relationship, despite the fact her daughter had a boyfriend. However they weren't as serious, she supposed, but they were 17, and she, as a probably overprotective mother wouldn't willingly let Naomi move until she went to collage or university. It didn't matter at that moment anyway. What did matter was that Naomi was getting quite untidy recently, and that meant more work for her to clean her room. She was busy collecting laundry when she heard sharp taps against the window, as if someone were asking to come in. Curiously, she placed the full laundry basket on Naomi's dresser and walked over to the windows, tugging tightly on the handle to open it. Hopefully it wasn't the rough boys from around the poor estate block throwing stones at the windows, since her neighbours had often told her about it happening to them and they would always run away before they could catch who they were. She opened it wide, but there was nothing to be seen, so turned back to the laundry basket, shaking her head as if it had just been in her imagination. However, she suddenly heard the windows shut abruptly, making her whip back around quickly to see what had made the bang.

Maybe it had just been a large gust of Autumn wind? It was almost October so it seemed to make sense. But right below the window, was a brilliant-white paper plane, just like the one Naomi had been fiddling earlier, however, scribbled all over on with scrawny writing among her daughters neat handwriting. Picking it up, she skimmed through Naomi's recognised handwriting, seeing it as a letter to, that friend she was always talking about. Seiko Shinohara. No matter how many times she had told her that girl never existed, she would still believe she had, and was stuck in some haunted school called 'Heavenly Host' or, she had elaborated on it, calling it 'Tenjin Elementary School' once or twice when she was trying to convince her that the horrifically explained event had ever happened. Turning onto the back, she almost gasped when she read the writing.

'Hiya Naomi. Sorry can't be long not much spirit energy left in heavenly host. Need to tell you how to seal it away so please reply. Lots of love, Seiko xoxox'

Seiko? Had the friend Naomi had supposedly made up actually existed/used to? It was definitely possible Naomi had just faked it to make herself feel better, but that wasn't a thing that the young intelligent girl would do, even in her circumstance. In the short reply Seiko had mentioned Heavenly Host too. Was Naomi's recall of the day she went missing and became traumatised not that far fetched? As she touched 'Seiko's' writing a piercing pain ran through her fingers, shocking her and making her feel like she had been electrocuted. The edges of her blurred vision went dark, as she fell to the floor.

"Naaaoommmii!" Giggled Seiko, grabbing her friends arm as they entered Naomi's house. "Tonight's gonna be sooooo fun!"

"I know!" agreed Naomi excitedly, bursting into the kitchen where her mother was busy cooking tea. "Hi mum, we're home!"

"I can see that darling," her mother replied dryly, stirring the noodles in a enamel pan. "Did you have fun at the park!"

"It was the best. But I'm really hungry now, Ms Nakashima!"

"Seiko!"

"Don't worry, I know you guys have had a busy day at school. How are your friends?"

Naomi and Seiko clambered onto the dining room chairs, giggling with happiness. They had been friends for ages but this was their first official sleepover, and they had been looking forward to it all week.

"Good mum."

"Nooo, you can't just leave if at that Naomi!" cried Seiko. "What about your beloved Mochida-kun?"

"Eh?"

"Naomi's got a cruuuuuuush!" Seiko declared with a teasing hand on her chest.

"Oh really Naomi?" asked her mother curiously, making Naomi's cheeks redden. "Is that true?"

"Uh, maybe I like him a little bit...Seiko why did you have to shout it out loud?"

"Teeheehee!"

Naomi's mother gazed at the two chatty girls, glad that they seemed to be such good friends and enjoyed each other's company without getting bored. Naomi was such a lonely child sometimes, since she had now siblings to spend time with, or many other relations her age. Seiko seemed very lively, chatty and slightly perverted, maybe that's what her quiet daughter needed around her to make her happy. She was sure of it, Seiko was a very good person indeed.

Seiko...

Seiko...

Seiko...

Seiko...

Seiko...

Seiko..

"Seiko!" came Naomi's laughing voice in her mothers head. "Your my best friend Seiko!"

"Seiko..." tutted her mother as Seiko accidently spilt her drink everywhere.

Seiko...

Seiko existed, didn't she!

Tsukasa staggered backwards, clutching his head in his hands as he recovered from the sudden vision. What the hell had just happened? He had relived the day he and Yui had watched the sunrise, holding hands together although at that time he didn't understand what she was trying to say by that. But he had felt the feelings that he had felt for her five years ago, and it was making him struggle to stay focused on the current time. He was sure of it now, after what Satoshi and Ai had said to him, Yui had existed, and was taken away by that ludicrous charm, murdered, killed, gone forever. Was it related to that strange woman Yui had mentioned that day, or did it have anything to do with him? He took time for granted when she was younger, and now he was wishing he could go back to being with Yui. Back then he had wasted his time not realising how she had felt about him, so now of course he wished he hadn't of been so oblivious to her affections then. Why did it all go so wrong? He slumped against the wall, tears stinging in his angry purple eyes, though he refused to let them fall.

"Yui..." he half groaned, half whispered. "Why did this happen? I really miss you..."

It was true they had lost contact after she had become a teacher, but that didn't stop him from thinking about her constantly when he saw someone who reminded him of her. He ought to of stayed by her, instead of slowly drifting away, and maybe this would of never even happened. He'd be happy with Yui, his sister would be happy with her daughter and maybe her husband wouldn't of died, everything would be alright. But it wasn't, it was crumpled and broken like a rejected photo copy. Before he had got his memories back, he had always felt like something big was missing from him, a large chunk or a piece of a puzzle, but he never realised it was Yui. Suddenly he was snapped out of his sorrowful daze by a sharp rap at his door. He was not proud to say it but, he lived with his sister since he didn't have a stable enough income to keep a home and stuff like that which was quite embarrassing considering he was in his early twenties. Quickly getting up, he straightened his askew jacket and racked a hand through his messy ginger hair before opening the door to his sister.

"Ai," he said, with almost a careless yawn. "'Sup?"

"I learnt to see through that careless mask, many, many years ago Tsukasa." Ai snapped, rolling her violet eyes before entering the messy room.

"Geez, give me a break, I've just had some freaky spiritual vision type thingy!" he retorted, crossing his arms.

"I know." she replied almost sadly, surprising Tsukasa. "I had one too. No doubt Mochida and his friends have had one too. And probably Azusa, thinking about it."

"Huh...Azusa's in town, eh?"

"Yeah, the supposed Crazy Torch Guy burnt down her school."

"Shame. Didn't it specialise in drama though?"

"That's irrelevant. You do know the identity of him, don't you?"

Tsukasa shook his head cluelessly, making Ai bring her hand to her forehead in irritation.

"He's a relative of the cursed bloodline from the principle Takamine who started...all this mess. It was kind of a message sent by the spirits for us to seal Heavenly Host off so no more damage can be done."

"Wait. I thought to couldn't be destroyed?" questioned Tsukasa.

"Now that Sachiko's appeased there's nothing supporting it, I must of told you about three times! Hopefully the rest of us, who have fairly high counts of spiritual energy can seal the Crazy Torched guy away and seal of Heavenly Host forever. Clear enough for your thick head, brother?"

Tsukasa laughed at her last snide comment. He may not look like it but he was the eldest, and Ai certainly didn't let the age gap get in her way. Thank goodness, Tsukasa didn't take her very seriously, so the odd snippy comment never offended him.

"I guess so. One more thing!"

"Hurry up," Ai growled.

"What do you mean the rest of us?"

"It's up to me, you, Nakashima, Mochida and hopefully Shinozaki's sister can help us out too."

"Why not Shinozaki and Kishinuma then?"

"They're going to have a go at fighting their own demons now. I've got to go and prepare now, will you text Mochida please. Thanks."

Ai left the door with a swish of her up-do behind her making Tsukasa tut at her briskness. How on earth were they supposed to seal of the haunted space thing, specially since only two of those mentioned were gifted with spirits? There were so many questions he knew no one would answer for him, especially Ai's. As he picked up his phone to text Satoshi, there was another tap at the door, this time soft and gentle.

"Come in!"

Ume closed the door quietly, and strolled across the room, her thin blonde pigtails bouncing as she walked.

"Hi Uncle Tsu..."

"Hey Ume!" he greeted her, patting the space on his bed next to him for her to come down. "You okay?"

"Bit lonely." she replied sulkily. "Mummy's so busy in the brewery that I can't play with her at all! She says your going to be busy as well tomorrow, so there's going to be no one go okay with all day!"

"Hey, don't worry! It's really important though, and I can't miss it so you'll just have to stay strong for one more day.'

Ume's sapphire eyes dropped with disappointment and her lower lip stuck out with a wobble. Instantly Tsukasa felt bad, and dug around in his mind for an idea that might help. ,However there was nothing that sprang to mind, so instead of his usually last minute, fun suggestion he just sighed.

"I'm free to day though..." he added after thought. "How about we go and see Satoshi today?"

"Satoshi?" Ume echoed, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Who's that?"

"I think you saw him perhaps at the park. Kishinuma's friend.."

"Oh, well if he's like Mr Yoshiki I'm sure he'll be...nice."

"Good girl. Let's go and ask Ai first."

"Okay!"

Sometimes it was just the simplest things that could make a little girl's day. Now all he had to do was tell Ai he was going to Satoshi's house to tell him to come over tomorrow so they could seal Heavenly Host off,which he still had no idea how they were going to do it, but at least he would be able to help if need. Without knocking on the door he breezily entered the room, his best confident-please-let-me-do-it face on him.

"Hey Ai!" He called with a grin.

"What is it?" she replied from deep within the brewery, as she was busy reading books to make her plan.

"Can I go to Satoshi's to tell him about, erm, tomorrow?"

"Why are you asking me, your older then me you, nutcase!?"

"'Cos I wanna take Ume with me so I don't get bored!"

Ai sighed as she saw her little daughter come into view, a nervous smile across her pale pink lips. She needed to work on a plan that didn't get her innocent child involved.

"Fine," she gave her permission with another sigh. "Don't be to long, and get the boy to tell Nakashima and the others, okay?"

"M'kay. C'mon, Ume let's go!"

"Okay, bye bye...Mummy..."

Ai waved as they rushed out of the room before turning back to her book.

"Tsukasa as well.." she muttered under her breath quietly. "And Nakashima's mother. They're going to become targets soon...or now."

She flicked through the pages worriedly, her fingers cold. "Azusa too...No wait. She has more spirit energy as she is a victim. So do I and Hinoe as we are gifted in certain ways. I hope she has had her vision."

Once they had sealed of Heavenly Host, all about it will be forgotten from people's minds apart from the various survivors and people close to the victims that fell. It would vanish from books, apart from the legendary book of shadows which lay in the Shinozaki Estate, from websites, everywhere. It would only lie in the memories of the survivors. It was for the best, Ai thought.

It was just a matter of time...

Doc manager was flipping annoying today