A/N : Hi again everyone, I'd been asked to update, so I'm doing just that! Not sure how many of you are reading, let alone enjoying this story, but if there's anyone out there, tell me! XD Just let me know what you think, I really appreciate it! Thank you!

Crimson Butterfly

XxxxX

The Tormented

Chapter Two - Kirei Chou

" Akane, whilst your mother's away, she wanted me to teach you the family tradition." Yohmei spoke softly to Akane, whilst she gripped her crutch tightly.

" Ojichan, when is mother coming back? She might miss Christmas..." The young girl whispered, biting her lip again. Yohmei tapped her head for it, and sighed.

" Even if she's not back in time for Christmas, you will still love and cherish her won't you?" The old man asked his grandchild, who nodded fervently, " Very well. So when she comes back, you want to make her proud by doing as she asked, correct?" He questioned, folding his arms.

" Yes, I do." Akane seemed very enthusiastic as she hobbled forward, her injured leg heavily bandaged.

" Well, then, you must learn the way of the Asakura's, and make your mother proud." He said, closing his eyes smugly. Akane scowled, putting a finger to her lip.

" But my name is Kiryu...not Asakura." She answered stubbornly.

" That's not the point. Your mother wants you to learn." Yohmei barked, growing impatient. Akane seemed intimidated by his sudden outburst, but nodded all the same. " Now, your family, the Asakuras'," Yohmeis' smile became smug at every mention of the family name, "We are a family of shaman. Do you know what that means?" He pulled her chin up so that she would face him.

" Uhm...yes...You see ghosts and control them." She answered, remembering a lecture her mother had once given her, after she had inquired as to the word.

" Nearly. We do not control them. We see them, speak with them, and become one with them so that we may achieve great power." He answered, handing her a thick dusty book.

" Now, you need to read this. It will explain everything. Anything you don't understand, Yoh will explain. Once you have finished, come to me. We must make you into a powerful shaman so that you may make your mother proud. Do you understand?" Yohmei explained. Akanes' eyes grew wide as she observed the book and its' title; 'Shamans through the ages; a complete guide to the power of spirit.'

" Yes, I understand. Ojichan, am I to become a shaman too, then?" She asked, cocking her head slightly.

" Of course. Just like Yoh and Anna." He smiled at the young girl, as she slumped back on the western style sofa.

" Like Yoh..? Ok, I'll read this." She chirped contently, as she dropped her crutches precariously and opened the book. Yohmei smiled at the young child.

" You have a long way to go, Kirei Chou."

-----

" Ojichan, how is it possible to just...learn...to see spirits?" Akane asked, as she tightened the support bandage around her knee. Yohmei placed himself on the largest rock beside the lake, and patted the ground next to him for her to sit. She obeyed, and stared up at him eagerly.

" It will be difficult at first. You must relax your mind, and concentrate very hard on what you want to achieve. However, you must think of nothing." The old man answered wisely. She frowned.

" How can I think about something whilst thinking about nothing?" She scowled as she spoke then began biting her lip, which was beginning to bruise from the habit. He slapped her ontop of her head, and she immediately stopped.

" Imagine my finger, pointing to the moon," He held up his hand and pointed to the sky, " If you want to see the moon, you can't spend your time staring at my finger, can you? You must let it guide you, without concentrating on it. Concentrate on what you want to see, rather than what is helping you to see it." He said, as she glanced from his finger to the sky and back again. He slapped her head once more.

" Don't stare at the finger, or you will miss the beautiful sights before you." He barked, his rough wrinkled face contorting as he grew impatient again. Slowly she began to focus on the sky, her eyes adjusting to the sights, without the finger getting in her way.

" You understand?" Yohmei asked, tilting his head to stare at her. Akane nodded.

" Yes, Ojichan. What now?" She asked, curiosity set deep in her eyes.

" Now, I will place one of my faithful spirits on the lake, and you must try to see it. It might take all day and all night, but you will see it. It is in your blood. Do not doubt yourself." He ordered, as he held out his hand and his fingers upturned. There was a faint glow of light resting on the digits, but Akane couldn't quite make out what it was. Then, it disappeared. She blinked a few times, focusing her blue eyes on the lake. The wintery wind whipped by, and she decided to tie her hair up.

A few hours passed in which Akane nearly dosed off once or twice, each time receiving a slap from her grandfather. As morning became afternoon, the old man began to tire and stood stretching.

" Are we having a break for today?" She asked, and he slapped her again.

" No, concentrate. Come tell me when you see it." He barked, as he began to walk back towards the house, which was only five minutes away. Akane stared at him bewildered, but reminded herself of her mother, and swiftly focused again.

The sun had began to set before long, and the young girl was running out of patience.

" Please, show yourself to me?" She whispered frustrated. As if by magic, a faint green light became obvious on the surface of the water. It was blurred and unclear at first, but as Akane began to clear her mind once more, the creature came into focus. A tiny little human shaped thing, glowing green with tiny arms and legs, a miniature head and huge black eyes. She jumped up, forgetting about her damaged knee, and stared at it more.

It waved at her. She let out a shriek of excitement, and ran as best she could towards the house.

" Ojichan! Ojichan!!" She screamed, as she approached. Anna and Yohmei peered around the door as she grew closer, waving her arms around her head.

" I did it! I saw it!! Ojichan, I saw it!" She yelled, even when she was right in front of him. He covered his ears until she had calmed.

" No need to yell. That's brilliant. You have taken your first step towards shamanism. Welcome to the Asakura family!"

-----

" Mother's not coming back is she?" Akane questioned for the hundredth time in the two years that her mother had been absent. "Grandpa, why won't you tell me?" She asked, her eyes lowered as she gazed at the newly lit fire, as winter had arrived.

" Akane, she knew she would be away for a very long time. That's why she wanted me to teach you. That's why she left you here. She will be back, I promise." Yohmei groaned, rubbing his eyebrows and repeating the words he'd used so many times before to comfort the nine year old.

" Grandpa?" Akane asked, turning to face him as Yoh entered the room silently.

" Yes?"

" Now that I am a shaman too, and I can see ghosts...do you think that I will be able to see my sister again someday?" Akane asked shyly. Her grandfather faltered at the sudden outburst. Akane had not mentioned Azami in years, not even on the anniversary of her death, although Akane didn't remember dates and times, only events. She was too young to take note at the time.

" Maybe, Akane." Was all the old man could manage, as Akane began to rub the 'emu' oil on her knee. She stretched it, and it cracked loudly, causing the young Itako, Anna to cringe.

" Would you please stop doing that?" She barked, glaring at the younger girl.

" I can't help it..." Akane whispered. Yoh pulled his cousin up.

" Yeah, leave her alone Anna." He snarled. The mousey brunette stared at Yoh.

" Where do you think you're going?" She snapped as he began to lead his cousin, and best friend for that matter, away from the tense room.

" For a walk." Yoh answered, his eyes falling on Akanes' knee, still wrapped in a bandage for support, even after two years.

" Well, you'd better do some training. I want my future husband to get bigger and stronger than any other shaman, so that I may have my rightful place as Shaman Queen." Anna barked, folding her arms and relaxing in her chair. Akane held up a finger, frowning.

" If you want to be Shaman Queen, why don't you get bigger and stronger?" She asked. There was a deadly silence, even from Yohmei. Yoh gasped a little, before Annas' eyes shot up to glare at Akane dangerously.

" What did you say?" She hissed. Yoh began to snigger, before quickly grasping Akanes' hand and speeding her off through the house.

" Sorry, Anna, she didn't mean it. Let's go." He called, before adding his last statement in a whisper to his cousin. She followed him giggling, as they made their way out to the lake. He sat on the huge rock, whilst Akane perched herself on the edge, her back to her friend, leaning against him casually.

" Yoh..?" Akane sighed, as she leant her head back to observe the stars.

" Yeah..?" He asked, doing the same so that their heads were restingon eachother.

" You're my best friend aren't you? Not Annas'?" Akane asked, gently gnawing on her finger as she crossed her legs. Yoh sighed.

" Of course, why?" He asked, becoming a little curious.

" Why can't I be your Shaman Queen?" The question came as a shock to the more matured boy. His silence caused a lot of anxiety for the smaller girl, but soon he was ready to answer.

" It's because...I promised Anna a long time ago that I would marry her when I was crowned Shaman King." He answered, placing his hand gently on top of Akanes'. She sighed heavily, her head drooping forward.

" A promise is a promise...I understand..." She whispered, remembering her own.

" I won't let them kill again...I promise..."

" And marriage isn't just about friendship...it's about love. You may not understand now-" Yohs' voice was interrupted as Akane cut him off.

"Love conquers all. Real love is meant to last forever...Dracula loved Mina, and even after hundreds of years without her, he still did everything in his power to get her back. Is that what marriage is about? Is that what you're saying?" The young girl jabbered, her eyes falling on the side of Yohs' face. He smiled gently.

" Yes. That's exactly it." He answered.

" Do you love Anna so much that you would give your life to save her?" Akanes' words caught Yoh by surprise.

" Where have you got all this from?" He asked, turning to frown at her. She smirked.

" Bram Stokers' Dracula. It's a book about love...I may be small, but I understand love." Akane crooned smugly, turning away from him. He chuckled.

" Ok. You are small, but you are clever. Well done." He answered, a little put down that he couldn't patronise her anymore. He had always treated her like a sister, and so the chance to tease her was something he relished, though he adored her really.

" Yoh, will you help me find Azami one day? Because you're my best friend?" Akane asked, spinning on her bum to face him. Again, the question caught him off guard, but her large innocent eyes pulled the words from his tongue.

" Ok, I promise."

-----

' Butterfly Diary #4,

Christmas alone again. They've all gone. Azami, Father and now Mother. I doubt she'll ever come back. It's been five years almost exactly, and no sign of her. Grandpa Yohmei tells me she'll come back. He promised. I don't believe him.

I miss Azami still. I don't show it anymore...but I miss her. It's all my fault.

I'm so sorry Azami. I'm sorry for everything. And you father. They think I don't remember...but I do. I did this to us. I did it. It's all my fault.

If I had...maybe...just stopped myself, saved us somehow. But I was so young...I couldn't have saved you, could I?

I wish I could see you all. You've left me behind, and now you're all together in some nirvana, smiling and laughing together, without me.

Maybe I'll go back one day. Maybe I'll go to All God's Village and you'll all be there waiting, alive and healthy, like it was all a dream. Like the ritual, and the doll, they were just nightmares.

I wish more than anything that you were all here, with me. Every birthday that I blow out those candles, and cut that cake, I wish for you.

Grandpa and Grandma and Yoh and Mikihisa have all been so kind to me. Training me, looking after me, keeping me alive. But they're not you. No one is Azami. My Kirei Chou - My Pretty Butterfly.

I promise that one day we'll be together...and no one will tear us apart again...no one.'

She closed the diary slowly, cold tears dripping from her face as she pushed it back into the drawer of a painted purple desk. Akane sobbed for a while, the lonely tears falling with no mercy onto the wooden surface. Looking up from the desk and out of the window she saw silvery snow falling on the panes of glass, as December slowly came to a halt. Her birthday had been and gone, Christmas was coming to an end and a new year was beginning.

She was still alone.

Everyone had left her. She was so sure that Yoh would do the same, even as he wrapped at the bedroom door.

" Hey Akane, you coming into town for a bit? We were gonna go see a movie." Yoh asked, as he pushed open the door. Her pale lips let out a sigh and she swiftly brushed away the last of her tears.

"Uhm, no. I think I'll just stay in today, I don't feel too well. And plus I have a lot of work to do. Grandpa wants me to try and find a guardian spirit soon...and a real weapon." Akane answered, faking the sound of blowing her nose into a handercheif. Yoh sighed.

" If you're sure. You're missing out though..." He shrugged, before turning and leaving, shutting the door lightly behind him. Akane sighed once more, and picked up a large book filled with old scriptures and folklorists writings on ancient rituals. She had been borrowing books such as these from the local library for months but no one seemed to notice.

The twelve year old slid it open on the page she had left a bookmark in, and found her place.

" Crimson Sacrifice..."

She began to read in silence, only the noise of gentle rainfall on the windows accompanied the soft slow sounds of her breathing and the pages lightly turning.

'Crimson Ritual, performed in a village in the Minakami Mountain Area. Twins are born at regular intervals in the village. They are used as sacrifices to somehow appease the Gods. Twins are considered in this village to be one person split in half at birth, and when they become one again, a great energy is released. One twin kills the other in this ancient ceremony, and thus becomes one with the other. They are called Twin Shrine Maidens, or if boys are used, Altar Twins. The twin that is labelled the oldest must kill the other, and is then reffered to as 'The Remaining'. Villagers fear and respect the remaining twins. Sometimes, the remaining go mad or die from shock at the ritual. Others have been rumoured to become 'mute',or their hair to turn white overnight after the ritual. Though no one has ever really been close enough to observe the ritual first hand, it can be inferred that it is highly sacred and important to these people in preventing some sort of calamity - Extract from Ryouzo Munakatas' writings on the three Unforgiveable Rituals.'

" Kill one half...Fear the Remaining..." She whispered to herself, a sudden cold fear pulling sweat from her forehead. A small scrap of paper fell from the book as Akane lifted it to push it back into the pile on the desk. As she flipped the page over, she shuddered.

"Azami..!" She gasped, as memories flooded her brain.

' YoU DoN't NeEd A sUbStiTute FOr mE.

I aM pARt of AKaNe NoW.

i aM oNE wITh aKAnE.

KiLL. iT.

KilL tHAt sTUpiD dOll!'

" Stupid doll...that doll...Argh!" Akane screamed, recalling the events, so muddled and confused in her head. Tears poured from her heavy blue eyes mercilessly as she drooped forward, sobbing into her arms on the desk.

-----

" Akane, I have something for you..." Her father whispered, as he pushed open the door to the childrens' bedroom. Akane lifted her head from Azamis' pillow and glared at him. He turned for a moment to pick something up and carried it inside. There was a white sheet covering it, but the young girl wasn't interested. It wasn't her twin. He couldn't bring her back now.

" Go away." Akane hissed.

Ignoring her, her Father pulled the sheet from object, revealing a perfectly crafted doll. A doll that was made to look like Azami. The child jumped from the bed. It stood at the same height as her, had the same long black hair, life-like eyes, Azamis' kimono wrapped around it. It was as though Akane was looking at her again, looking at her reflection again.

" Azami..." She whispered, reaching out to touch the face. It even felt real. The skin, the hair, the lips, the nose. It was all so beautifully done, she wasn't sure if it was a doll.

" Father...Thank you." She sighed, wrapping her arms around him. He smiled gently and hugged his daughter briefly, before exiting the room. Although the doll was life-size, she was incredibly light, so Akane had no trouble lifting her and placing her on Azamis' bed, twisting her limbs so that she sat cross legged against the pillow, watching the girl like she used to. Akane perched on the edge ofher own bed next to her twins'.

" Azami...I'm sorry...so sorry for what I did to you...but I promise...I won't do anything like that again. I won't kill again...I promise."