Party 4

Yoshiki and Morishige were making their way to the exit. "And if it doesn't open?" Yoshiki was saying.

"I suppose we look for a key. And before you ask what we do if we can't find one...we'll go back to the classroom and hope that the others have came across more luck than us." said Morishige firmly.

"Tsk great plan." Yoshiki said sarcastically.

Morishige ignored his condescension. "How's your hand?"

Yoshiki looked at the blood soaked fabric and sighed. "It hurts I guess, just trying to ignore it best I can."

"When we get back you can wrap it up properly assuming the others found bandages." Morishige looked thoughtful for a moment. "What did you expect to happen?" He asked, it wasn't an accusatory tone.

Yoshiki looked confused. "What do you mean...?"

"When you were taunting Sachiko...what did you expect? Didn't you think she might just kill you on the spot?" Morishige asked keeping his neutral tone.

"Well yeah it was a long shot...I was...just trying to keep her from killing anyone else and yes I'll admit I wasn't really thinking of the consequences in the moment but..."

"But it worked out." Morishige said. At the time Morishige thought they were all trapped there, hopeless. But it only took one person to mess up her whole operation. Morishige thought that if he was the one to speak up he probably would have done things differently, but he wasn't the one to speak up and what Kishinuma did seemed to be the winning strategy. 'At least he was able to use his bluntness to his advantage for once.'

"I got lucky with the way things went." Yoshiki added as they closed in on the exit.

"Maybe your luck is still going..." Morishige said trying the door. It opened with little restraint. The sound of rain grew louder and cold air flew in. The door had a large key pushed in it from the other side. "Looks like someone was one step ahead of us."

"Good, makes our job easier." Yoshiki said stepping outside without hesitation. They found themselves on a covered walkway that connected the two wings. It was only a short walk to the next door.

*Thud*

"What the...?" Yoshiki moved his eyes around trying to find the source of the noise. It happened again. Their heads turned. A man they didn't recognize was throwing himself off the building, again and again, in and endless loop. Each time his body hit the ground he would reappear on the roof, only to throw himself down again. "Who the hell is that!?"

Morishige went to the banister and looked over. "I'm not sure." He said sounding awe-struck. The man threw himself down again with a thud making them both flinch. "Kishinuma do you see that?" Morishige said pointing.

"See what the guy killing himself?! Yes now get away from there you weirdo!"

They both flinched as he fell again. "No look there's a key where his body is landing..." Morishige said.

Yoshiki shook his head but succumbed to his curiosity and joined Morishige at the banister. "Yeah I see it..." He said grimly.

They gave each other a look. "...Shit" Yoshiki said knowing what was coming next. Before Morishige even had a chance to suggest it Yoshiki climbed over the banister and lurked beside the spot where the man was going to land.

"Make sure you don't go until he's hit the ground." Morishige yelled down to him.

"I know I know." There was another thump, Yoshiki instinctively closed his eyes. The body disappeared as quick as it landed and Yoshiki was straight on the key, he grabbed it and moved away climbing back up before the body even hit the ground again. He held out the key. "This better be useful." He said sounding bitter.

They opened the next door ignoring the thud behind them. When they entered they were met with a stomach turning intensity. The whole aura of this building was different. It was heavier.

They both took a deep breath. "Let's not spend too long in here." Yoshiki said eyeing the unfamiliar surroundings.

It was like taking a trip back in time. Here they were back to searching and searching for things they didn't know they were looking for. They passed by bodies, two of which had familiar looking uniforms. Their deaths appeared brutal. "Let's not mention that." Yoshiki said referring to the state of the two Byakudan students.

Morishige didn't stare too much at the bodies. He was glad he hadn't let his morbid curiosity get the better of him. Mayu would have been extremely disapproving surely. The pictures were gone and that was good, he didn't need them. Not really. Sometimes he thought about it, about the deaths so perfect. But Ms Yui had told him he'd find Mayu and that reassurance was what he needed. That reassurance was better than any corpse.

Eventually they made their way to the top floor and the key they recovered finally showed its usefulness. It opened up the door to an office which they made their way inside. The room was colder than the rest of the school and the walls were plastered in various different seals and charms.

They heard a voice from nowhere. I didn't mean for it to happen. It was just a temporary lapse in judgement. She's the one at fault. She clearly overreacted to the situation!

Morishige and Yoshiki furrowed their brows hesitantly walking further into the room. "What do you suppose that's about?" Morishige asked.

"Don't think I want to know." Yoshiki walked over to the desk. In the drawer he noticed the small bloodied hemp bag. "This looks like one of the bags that Sachiko was holding in the auditorium..." Yoshiki shook his head knowing he had to look. It was as he expected, a dried up bloody tongue, but even though it came as no surprise he gasped and screamed in disgust.

Suddenly Yoshiki was ripped out of reality. He saw the man from the roof, he was in some sort of basement standing over a grave completely hysterical. He began to ramble about his dreams and his shame. He was talking to someone...he didn't want them to tell anyone else...he dug up the grave... I'll kill you as many times as it takes! He shouted at the little girls dead body.

"Kishinuma!" Morishige was repeating.

Yoshiki snapped out of it. He dropped the bag to the ground. "Jesus..."

"What was that?" Morishige asked picking up the bag and looking inside, he was met with the same grisly sight. He closed it back up without so much as a wince.

"I saw something...I" Yoshiki started, going over the scene in his head. "That guy from the roof I think he killed Sachiko and...if that's right then this is her tongue!"

Morishige absorbed that. What was the story here? "Well if so then this might be exactly what we need. Those other ghost children may not be the only ones who are appeased by the return of their tongues. Actually it makes sense..."

"This makes sense?" Yoshiki asked looking worried.

"Yes, if Sachiko's tongue was taken from her, then that would give her incentive to take other people's tongues. Actually...if she was murdered then that would give her incentive to kill in the first place." Morishige sounded like a detective from an old crime show putting the final pieces together.

Yoshiki thought over that. "Yeah...perfect sense." He noticed the lone tape in the same drawer. Yoshiki picked it up and flashed it to Morishige who nodded as he pocketed it.

"There's a passage here Kishinuma?" Morishige said walking up to the passageway at the back of the room.

"Should we use it?" Yoshiki wondered out loud.

Morishige thought about it, he looked at the tongue bag. "I think we should go back first..."

"You sure, there could be something useful down there?" Yoshiki said.

"Perhaps but we shouldn't separate too long."

"Yeah I guess whatever." Yoshiki replied still eyeing the passage. Despite the curiosity they left the room and decided on coming back with everyone if they hadn't yet found a way out.

They made their way back to the entrance. "So we go back to the classroom now?" Yoshiki said looking back at Morishige.

Morishige knew that was a good idea, but this tongue wasn't what he came here for, Mayu was. This search had gone on too long. He shoved his hand in his pocket to make sure he still had the tongue bag and his hand brushed off something unfamiliar. "Huh?" He pulled out a note. Yoshiki kept walking not noticing he had stopped. Morishige's eyes widened as he read. You're looking for a dead girl. Ask your friend if he's seen her. The words were scribbled down messily, practically illegible it was clearly written by a child, the bottom of the paper was signed by Sachiko. Morishige felt sick. Yoshiki stopped and turned back, "What are you doing?" He asked taking a few steps back to Morishige.

Morishige stood still, his heart felt heavier, his breathing was shaky. He turned the note around for Yoshiki to see. He watched his eyes scan over it with a furrowed brow. Then he saw it...the look it Yoshiki's eyes. "What is that?" Yoshiki asked suddenly sounding uneasy.

"You tell me." Morishige said blankly. "What does it mean by 'looking for a dead girl'?" They stared at each other, neither of them said anything. There was a lump in Yoshiki's throat, he couldn't speak. But he knew...knew it was over, there was no lying to him now. "Is she talking about Mayu, Kishinuma? Is she talking about Mayu?" Morishige said sounding more unsteady.

"Morishige..." Yoshiki gave him a face full of guilt. "I was with her..."

Morishige went pale. Yoshiki continued, "That spiritualist...Naho she told us we could appease the children" Morishige started to shake his head in disbelief. "We tried...things went south, those fucking children they went rogue and I..."

"No stop." Morishige said but Yoshiki couldn't stop, it was all coming out now. "Jesus...I'm sorry."

"Stop stop stop stop stop." Morishige started repeating.

There was a second of silence. "...They killed her, they...I tried but they were too...strong and too." Yoshiki started to stutter. Morishige's face was cold.

"You're a liar." Morishige said.

"No I'm sorry-"

"So you knew ALL THIS TIME!?" It came out as a cry. His breathing was picking up. "What are you talking about?! Why are you saying this!?" He yelled out.

"I'm sorry Morishige I should've done things differently." Yoshiki said desperately.

Morishige dropped to his knees and threw up. "No you LIAR!" This couldn't be happening. It wasn't happening. There was some logical part of Morishige's brain telling himself that it was true, Mayu was dead but it probably wasn't Kishinuma's fault, but it was buried too deep. Everything that made him himself, the calmness, the clear mind, the level headed thinking was overshadowed by this loss and the pain it brought, of the future it showed him. Even if he made it out alive, without her he was nothing. And now she's gone, gone gone gone gone gone. It was so unfair, he was supposed to save her, to get her out of here alive. A switch in Morishige's brain went off, the grieving process was not kind on his fragile soul. He needed someone to blame and something to take his mind off the desperate sadness, maybe even something like anger. It was so sudden. The desperate greedy darkness of the school saw its opening and made its way back, sparing absolutely no time at all. It was the same mist Yoshiki had encountered, it started to consume Morishige.

"No Morishige! Don't let that happen you can still get out of here!" Yoshiki pleaded almost angrily.

Morishige was gasping for air. "Why why WHY! What am I supposed to do without her!?"

"We'll figure it out." Yoshiki said moving closer to him.

Morishige looked at him with disdain. "How...if it was Shinozaki...could you 'figure it out!"

Yoshiki didn't say anything.

"I won't leave here without her!" He said blankly, raising his eyebrows. Then Morishige began to scream as the mist tore into his body.

"No stop." Yoshiki ran over to him. He was only a few feet away when Morishige pulled out the cross knife and swung it at him. It barely missed. Morishige stood up, the black mist swirling around him. He swung again and again, Yoshiki jumped back each time. "I don't want to fight you Morishige I'm sorry she died I should have done more!" Yoshiki yelled.

Morishige caught his breath "You're right you should have! If you had been any less stupid than you are Kishinuma she WOULD STILL BE HERE YOU KILLED HER!" He swung the knife at him again no longer entirely himself. Everything hurt, darkness was in him and he couldn't push it out, not without the light...the light that was Mayu. She was everything he had, the only thing. The only beautiful precious thing and now she was gone. And gone so fast. "Tell me Kishinuma...Tell me how it happened! Tell me where she is now?! I have to see her!" He wanted to touch her, he wanted to feel her he wanted to take her with him.

Yoshiki shook his head fervently. His eyes glassed over. "I can't you don't want to hear that man come on just snap out of it!"

"TELL ME! YOU OWE ME!" Morishige screamed making weak attempts to hit Yoshiki.

"Fuck." Yoshiki said out loud. What choice was there now? He had lied too much. "The infirmary, she's outside of the infirmary..." He said tremorously.

"No. I was there I didn't see her..." He stopped himself as the realisation dawned on him. There was a look of concentrated dread on Kishinuma's face." Morishige screamed, louder this time, Yoshiki grimaced as he unconsciously took a step back.

The entrance door they were close by suddenly burst open, but not just open the whole thing broke. Yoshikazu ran in swinging his hammer at them. Yoshiki jumped in another direction and avoided him, but before he could catch his bearings Morishige was on him, he ran into him so hard the two of them rolled out the now shattered exit. Morishige was on top off him ready to fight. Yoshiki kicked him hard giving himself the upper hand, he got on top off Morishige and pinned his arms down. "Stop Morishige! It's the school It's making you! I felt it myself!"

Morishige didn't take in any of what Yoshiki had to say, he continued to struggle but right now he only possessed his body's own strength and stood no chance pushing Yoshiki off of him. Then there was Yoshikazu, making his way outside and swinging straight at Yoshiki's face forcing him to push back from Morishige. Yoshikazu went for Yoshiki again and missed instead hitting and breaking a chunk of banister.

Yoshiki looked at the wreckage and the monster horrified. Then it occurred to him...he was missing on purpose. "It's her, it's her games..." He muttered. Morishige ran at him. Yoshiki jumped up and dodged the next four punches that were thrown at him while simultaneously avoiding the hammer swinging in his direction. He figured Yoshikazu wasn't trying to land a killing blow, but there was no doubt in his mind that he wasn't going to go out of his way to avoid hitting him if he failed to dodge. Yoshiki had no choice but to punch Morishige sending him flying backwards. He ducked down away from another close hammer swing. "Morishige stop! This is what she wants!"

Morishige was gripping his head and screaming Mayu's name. He was lost. The hammer forced them to get closer together. Morishige threw himself up and grabbed at Yoshiki, there was a struggle and the two fell through the now weak banister down into the wet dirt below. Yoshikazu stopped swinging and watched.

Morishige and Yoshiki grabbed at each other as they rolled around without control. They kicked and punched and all while Yoshiki ignored the pain in his hand. Morishige was in full attack mode. He was gracelessly swinging his fists around and kicking his legs. Every time either of them stood up the slippery terrain would bring them both crumbling back down onto each other. The rain made it harder to see and hear and the lack of balance made it so the two of them were essentially just grabbing and pulling at each other. Morishige seemed to have forgotten about the knife and was instead in his rage filled state taking every opportunity to land a hit with either his fists or feet. Every time Morishige caught his bearings and tried to land a punch, Kishinuma was quick to swat it away and able to push him back each time. Morishige tried kicking and Kishinuma had to use his arms as his defense. Though the kicks were hasty and did no real damage. Yoshiki was trying his best not to really hurt Morishige, because quite frankly he knew he could and he knew he could win this fight. Then there was the part of him that thought he deserved this. The two boys grabbed at each other once again, they rolled around until Yoshiki pushed Morishige and started to back off. He pushed himself up onto the walkway. Before he knew it Yoshikazu had slammed a hammer into his back. He fell onto the wood hard, he tried to crawl away. Yoshiki knew fine well he hadn't went as hard as he could, that hammer could have broke his spine but it didn't. No It was on Sachiko's orders... she wanted Morishige to be the one to do it. That's why she left the note in the first place. "Damn you Bitch!" He choked out even though he could hardly breathe. He crawled forward again towards the second wings shattered door. There was footsteps clamoring towards him. Yoshiki knowing he wasn't getting anywhere in this state turned on his back and looked up at Morishige, his eyes now almost completely clouded over. That wasn't his classmate or friend anymore, he was another part of this school. Morishige held the knife in his hand...'that damn knife' Yoshiki thought.

Yoshiki coughed ferociously. "Ghh don't" He said straining his voice. Morishige leaned over him and pulled up the knife. It had came back to him, what happened with Mayu and the lies. It had fated both of them. Yoshiki was going to die and Morishige surely couldn't come back after killing him. Both of them were doomed.

They looked into each others eyes. It was hard to tell because of all the rainwater but Morishige was crying. He wanted her back... he heard her? "Mayu?" He said. There was a voice a faint voice he couldn't hear what she was saying but it was her. Morishige sobbed. "I'm sorry Mayu you were too good." He longed to be with her, he couldn't grieve her he wasn't built for it. "I'm coming for you" he whispered softly. The last of the black was entering Morishige's body, in a few seconds there would be none of him left and until he heard her voice he was ready to accept that. He looked back down to Yoshiki, who if anything just looked defeated. His friend looked defeated. Morishige pulled the knife up. He hesitated. Then the decision was made. Morishige drew the knife across his own throat before Kishinuma had a chance to stop him. Blood spewed out dyeing his hands red and pouring down over Yoshiki. "I'm coming" He choked out. Morishige fell down face first beside Yoshiki who despite being weak from the hit began desperately and futilely trying to stop the bleeding. Morishige was dead in a matter of minutes. Yoshikazu was nowhere to be seen. The mist seeped away realising its host was useless.

Yoshiki sat there in pain and loathing with Morishige's corpse. He looked up at the door to the first wing. "Damn you Sachiko DAMN YOU TO HELL"


A/N

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