CHAPTER 1

THE CRIME

The weather was cold. But what can you expect when it's Japan at New Years? It hadn't snowed yet but a small storm was brewing over the hills as the holiday put the Hiiragi Shrine in full swing of activity. People flocked to the shrine out of enjoyment or for spiritual guidance or to see what fortunes they had in store for themselves in the upcoming year. Two young women were selling trinkets behind a stand. One named Matsuri, the other named Inori. They had the most experience in this family business of theirs.

Another young shrine maiden swept the cobblestone walkway of dead leaves and little slips of paper containing used fortunes. She had very long hair divided into two twin pigtails, each one almost as long as she was. Kagami Hiiragi was feeling the stress of working this job and keeping up with her school work and she wondered how impending exams would work out for her. She wasn't able to study much recently in preparation for the holiday but still wore her confidence on the outside.

A fourth young maiden had short hair like her two older sisters, though she kept a ribbon tied in her hair and she held a paper inside her hands. She too joined a shrine visitor who a few minutes ago drew a good blessing. This maiden, Tsukasa Hiiragi, held her usually droopy eyes up high upon seeing she held a great blessing.

"What cha' got there?" Kagami's voice suddenly asked from behind Tsukasa.

The short-haired girl turned happily. "Look sis, I got a great blessing!"

Kagami closed her eyes and sighed with nostalgia. "Yes. Yes you did. Just don't get carried away with it like Konata usually does. You make your own luck."

Tsukasa giggled. "I know but I can't help it. Picking your fortune is fun after all."

Kagami nodded. "I know what you mean. Anyway, when all the visitors leave could you sweep the shrine's inside and dust the pictures? After that you can be done for the night."

"Sure thing, sis." Tsukasa replied happily. Nothing was going to spoil her good mood tonight. Not even doing some extra work for the shrine.

Tsukasa took the paper and moved it her other hand, but not before letting the piece of paper slice through her skin, creating a paper cut and making her shriek. Kagami saw the whole event and she took her sister's hand and looked at the wound and back at Tsukasa's eyes, which were beginning to water.

"Oh come now, Tsukasa. It's just a paper cut." Kagami couldn't help but smile as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her favorite handkerchief and wrapped around Tsukasa's finger. "Honestly you can be such a baby sometimes."

"Oh sis I'm no baby!" Tsukasa exclaimed as she quickly dried her eyes.

Kagami couldn't help but have fun with her sister. "You're right. You're a big girl now, which is why you still wear those character print panties of yours. The ones with the little teddy bears on them."

A bright red blush painted itself across Tsukasa's face. Kagami could practically see the smoke coming from her twin sister's ears when she said it but quickly added. "Don't worry about it, Tsukasa. Just take care of the shrine and then we can go to bed."

Kagami walked away as Tsukasa kept telling herself she wasn't a baby. She stared at her fortune with a smile again and suddenly felt the presence of someone come up next to her. She turned and saw it was a young man dressed in black with messy brown hair and piercings in his ears. He wasn't the type that comes around to a religious shrine often and Tsukasa was a little intimidated by his appearance.

"Good evening sir." She said happily regardless of his appearance, still telling herself she was an adult and could handle more shrine work.

The man looked to her and slightly nodded. "Good evening."

"Many good wishes to you and your family on this new year." Tsukasa said again, not breaking her smile or cheer.

"Thank you," he said passively and without emotion in his voice.

"Have you picked your fortune today? Or can I interest you in some lovely charms and bracelets from the shrine?" Tsukasa pushed her newfound maturity on the visitor.

"Actually…I came here looking for…advice." The young man said.

"Oh, I see." Tsukasa said and looked for her father knowing he would be the one to talk to but she couldn't locate him. A thought suddenly occurred to Tsukasa. Offering spiritual advice was a big responsibility and if she could do this, it would prove to herself and to everyone else she wasn't a baby anymore. "I can help you, sir."

The man turned to Tsukasa. "Well…my girlfriend left me today and…I don't know. I just wonder what…what it's all about. You know, life and everything."

Though Tsukasa never had a boyfriend before, she knew people's feelings. She started with comforting him and saying, "I'm so sorry. I can only imagine what you're going through and trust me I know life can be too much at times. But trust me I know, life is worth everything. You just need to give it time. You'll see."

The young man was impressed with Tsukasa's cheery attitude and charming smile. "Why thank you, miss. I feel much better now."

Tsukasa giggled happily again. "Anytime. How about you pick a fortune?"

The young man simply formed a small grin and politely shook his head. "No thank you. I believe my luck is starting to turn around already."

He turned and walked away, making Tsukasa feel very satisfied with herself. She had always envied the other women in her family for their strengths. Kagami for her intellect, Matsuri for her tough personality, Inori for her feminine personality, and her mother for her beauty. They were all images of beauty, unlike how she viewed herself as simply plain.

She turned and didn't see the young man she just consoled approach other troubled-looking youth. They exchanged looks with each other until he said, "The one with the ribbon in her hair. Tell the boys. I hear she'll be alone in the shrine tonight."

The second youth smiled sinisterly. "You got it, Ryosuke." The two then departed from each other.

At around 10:00 pm, the shrine was nearly deserted and Tsukasa was feeling fatigued. Her sisters were nearly done with their chores as the New Year's celebration came to a close. Her last duty was to sweep the shrine before locking up and she approached the desolate temple. Inside, she gazed at the pictures of the priests on her father's side of the family. The Hiiragi shrine was a longstanding tradition within the family that had been passed down from generation to generation. Her father's picture sat along the top of the wall respectfully as she smiled again and entered with her broom.

She began sweeping the floors and the shining moon and lights from outside illuminated the inside of the shrine. As she swept, Tsukasa was suddenly startled to see a human shadow form around her. She looked at the doorway and saw a male figure standing there and as she squinted, she recognized him as the young man she consoled earlier.

"Please forgive my intrusion. I didn't mean to startle you." He said politely.

Still taken by surprise, Tsukasa shook it off and allowed him to enter as she became cheery again. "Not at all, what can I do for you?"

He walked in and closer towards Tsukasa. She felt a little uneasy but knew she was in the sanctuary of her family's shrine, creating a false sense of security. The man opened his mouth and said, "I was thinking about what you said and I decided you were right. Life is worth a lot."

Tsukasa giggled again with a smile. "I told you so, silly."

The man continued to walk and around Tsukasa and the young shrine maiden followed him with her eyes and shifted her body towards him. She had no idea this is what he was planning. He wanted her attention away from the open doorway.

"So I was wondering…will you go out with me?" He asked when Tsukasa's back was facing the door.

The question caught Tsukasa completely off guard and she nearly dropped her broom in the process. Trying to speak through her burning blush, Tsukasa stuttered several times before replying, "I uh…don't think that would be fair to the rest of the pretty ladies in Japan. You seem nice enough but surely there must be someone else more fitting."

It was then that three more shadows stepped in front of the moon's light and covered Tsukasa. She quickly spun around and saw three young men dressed in black leather and dark jeans just like the one with her in the shrine. Tsukasa suddenly felt nervous and when she felt the cold flesh of a human hand cover her mouth from behind, she began to struggle and scream. The other three men rushed into the shrine while one of them closed and locked the door behind him.

Ryosuke's hand muffled her screams and she stopped completely when the shining glints of knives were brandished in her face by the three accomplices. Seeing the blades made tears flow from her eyes as one of the men stepped forward and began to gently run the tip of the blade across the soft flesh of her face. It didn't puncture but it was horrifying enough to give her goose bumps of fright.

He pulled the knife away and whispered, "If you ever want to pick another fortune again, you will do exactly as we say. Understand?"

Tsukasa, now quietly crying with her mouth still covered, nodded quickly.

The knife-wielding accomplice moved the blade down her face down her chest as her heart pounded faster and faster. He suddenly cut the sash of Tsukasa's shrine maiden uniform and the worst began. Ryosuke ripped the uniform off her shoulders, revealing her petite body and breasts as she continued to struggle.

Ryosuke pushed her violently onto the ground Tsukasa suddenly felt the incredible pain of him pulling her by her short hair and forcing her head to look at the pictures of her family before her that owned the shrine. Ryosuke whispered to her, "We're gonna spoil you in front of your own father."

The men ripped the rest of Tsukasa's uniform off and gazed her naked body as she desperately tried to cover herself with her hands while curled in the fetal position. It suddenly became hazy for her as she felt their hands all over her body and when she felt sudden and hard pains thrusting into her body, she could only think, not in front of dad.