DISCLAIMER:

Aight. First off, this is the first time so many people have ever read something I'VE written. I SUCK ASS at writing, especially in school. I decided to update, I can't bad grammar, and I think everyone should be able to pronounce something like omnipotent…. GRRRRRRR, THAT JUST PISSES ME OFF! ASK! Anyway, sorry guys, my mom just yelled at me and I had to vent… Ummm, let's see…. I've never written a disclaimer by myself before. I usually argue with my partner, whoever that lucky person at the time gets to be, or myself…. Hmm, but… I sadly, own nothing in this story except Saiyuuri, and a few made up or research-based ghosts. Actually, I also made up Calligrapher's Mansion, so IF YOU'VE SEEN SOMEWHERE ELSE, I DIDN'T STEAL THE IDEA! Feel free to send me flames, ideas, especially ghosts, I'm still not sure how I'll factor them in, or describe them. The Resident Evil novels I've been reading really haven't helped me with that. And despite the fact that I do not own most of what I write about, I do plan on turning them into non-profitable, online mangas…. In the far, far away, distant future. Whenever that happens, maybe I'll come back and post the address for it…. grumble grumble NOW ON WITH IT AND ALL IT'S FORMAL, GHOSTLY GLORY! YES!

It was happening again. Wrapping around her tightly, squeezing the very air she had just breathed from her. It tightened harder, and she struggled, trying to breathe. Straining to open her eyes, she managed only one. There was no way for her to get a grip on this thing. This tentacle! No, it was more rope-like, only living... maybe. CRACK! She felt her bones starting to snap as her body was being crushed and burned by the material. She coughed and blood burst forth from her mouth, trickling down her face. She was matted with sweat, and breathed a panicked breath. It seemed like this was how she was going out of this world. She looked around at the dingy surroundings, decaying wood, broken floors, blood-smeared tatamis and walls. Then there was Mayu, huddled in a corner, shaking, very afraid. Next to her the Camera Obscura, where it had fallen as Mio was taken by surprise. It tightened. HRMMP. That didn't feel so good. Mio looked to Mayu, who had glued her eyes to Mio's the entire time.

"...Run...," Mio whispered in a labored voice.

"Mio! I can't. Not without you. We always promised!" She pleaded with Mio. After everything, she seemed to have gotten braver. Gotten...stronger.

Mayu had the camera in her hands, but the rope-thing noosed Mayu as well, bringing her up to her doom, as well. Mayu screamed as it began crushing her, and Mio soon followed suit. Her eyes shot open as she let out a high pitched squeal.

"GAAAH," Mio had thrown sheets from her as she had tossed and turned in her sleep. She'd been having this same recurring nightmare for years now. Always the same. The burning. The crushing. Mayu. The screaming. The camera. Mayu. They certainly hadn't run into anything like that in All God's Village, let alone Mio hadn't run into it at the Himura Mansion while looking for Mayu. Her to look for Mayu, Kei , Rei, and Miku for a way to relieve themselves, as well as Mio, of the tatoo curse, and investigate Yuu's sudden appearance. Of course, Kei also wanted to know what happened with his beloved nieces, to begin with. She could have told them what it was, but...would they have believed it then? No, not until it happened to them. How Mayu had managed to survive without her for so long in that morbid place was beyond her, but nonetheless, she'd done it, and was alive and well. This had brought great joy to her, to see her alive and well, but none of it made sense. She had fallen into the Abyss. There shouldn't have been ANY coming back from that, but it didn't matter. Mio checked her clock, 4AM. Great...Just wonderful. She laid back down to sleep. An hour seemed to pass by in minutes. She had begun to think over all these years. For three years since that place, she had blamed herself. She had blamed herself for everything. Mayu's leg, which had seemed to have strangely healed quite a bit, Mayu couldn't run a fast as Mio, but she could keep a steady jog, and the entire Ritual thing. If she hadn't wanted to see their childhood playing grounds one last time, this wouldn't have happened. If she had listened more carefully when Mayu called to her for help, Mayu would be fine. So many IFs, so many times she FAILED. It was all too overwhelming.

BRRRIIINGG! Oh god, who calls at 5AM...on SUNDAY! She picked up the phone, put the receiver to her ear, and remained silent in her sleepy stupor.

"Mio, c'mon, at least say hello..." The voice on the other end of the line scolded her. She knew who it was, she just didn't FEEL like answering. "You can't blame yourself and avoid me forever. Y'know...I could just come over and knock on your door for god knows how long."

"Alright," Mio whined, "What do you want Mayu?"

"Awww, is that any way to great me," she teased.

"I'm hanging up."

"Oh, alright. Fine, be a sourpuss. I was only teasing with you."

"IT'S FRIKIN' 5AM IN THE MORNING!"

"Oh..." Mayu seemed to remain calm. "You seem pissed, as usual. Just glad I'm not on the receiving end of one of your moods." She heard Mio start to growl. "Um, anyway! I just wanted to let you know that you're going on an expedition with me...for a few days..."

"And you decided this without me again... and once again I have no choice, do I?..." Mio didn't seem too impressed.

"Ummmm."

"I just want you to know, ONE I hate you, and TWO I'm going to sleep!" She hung up and laid back down. She waited a little bit, and then laid down again. BRRRIIIINNGGG! For the love of god! She couldn't have waited until after I woke up.

"WHAT!"

"I love you, too! blik" She said sarcastically, sounding chipper as ever, unphased by her sister's crude comments, and just as quickly as she had called, she had hung up.

"Oh, GOD, my life's a mess," she said rolling over onto her back covering her face with her hands. It looked like she'd be having the time of her life again. Mayu NEVER told her about these "decisions" until the "day of" or "day before" the job. Damn you Mayu for deciding on a career for exploring and taking PICTURES! Those dreaded items of doom from All God's Village. Of all the occupations to choose from, she chose PHOTOGRAPHY! Mio was sick of cameras. She didn't even like to have her picture taken anymore. She rolled over, whined a bit, and made the decision to sleep.