Author's Notes:
Hmmm, I played fatal frame earlier, and I read some of the diaries of the pacifiers… Seems that Amane's Diary interested me for a bit so, I got a few datas to add to my story. Anyway, please enjoy the 5th hour!
Chapter 5
Kei got his folders and laptop and headed to work. Sighing, another night has passed, not knowing whether he's got enough time to save people or himself, still, many questions are lingering inside his mind. When he got to his office, it's the same atmosphere. But Mika seems to be late. Her desk is still empty. She was never late before… maybe last night did take some of her energy, and she needed more time to rest, he just told himself as he proceeded to his office.
He sat himself down and opened his laptop to continue his research about the Manor of Sleep and some other things connected to the manor.
Clicking here and there, he found a lot of sites concerning cultural beliefs and legends of the towns and shrines of Japan, but none of these answers his many questions in his mind. Not that people would put them in the web. These things and information will only bring back memories… unwanted memories…
He sighed, knowing that these things are dangerous, but still, he wants to save Mio… and that other woman… he leaned forward to his desk and massaged his temples. He was getting so tired now.
"Mr. Amakura?"
Kei was startled as he heard Mika's voice.
"Come in."
His secretary came in with a cup of coffee as usual. He somewhat finds it calming for someone to smile warmly at him like that.
"I'm sorry I'm late sir… I brought you a cup of coffee…" she said as she put the cup of coffee infront of her boss.
"Thanks Mika. I really appreciate it." Kei returned a smile and after a few moments, got his fingers working on the keyboard again.
Mika stared at him for a while with a lonely look on her face. Kei eventually noticed this.
"What is it?" he asked. "Why don't you take a seat for a while?"
Mika did as she was told and she just stared down at the clutches of her hands.
"Is something the matter?" Kei asked.
"Mr. Amakura, I didn't mean to, I…"
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I looked at some of your researches. Its something about the Manor of Sleep, right?" she asked. Kei was quite shocked. How could his secretary possibly know about the Manor? Could she be…
"I have this book here… it's a present from my grandfather who currently passed away." She got something from her bag and showed it to Kei. It seemed like it was a very old book. Its cover was worn out and the papers were so yellow. But some of the writings are readable.
"I was very interested in legends and stories when I was a child. And I seem to be curious about it as I was before. Since Raikka's accident, I…"
Kei's eyes widened. This couldn't be.
"Don't tell me…" He paused.
"When you long for someone, that feeling of longingness will take you to the Manor…" Mika paused. "I have been longing for my best friend for a long time now…"
"Mika, you have to let go of these thoughts! " Kei said as he held his secretary's shoulders.
"You can't… go further in…" Kei whispered.
"Raikka has been calling me… calling me further! "
"She isn't! She wants you to save yourself! As… she told me to." Kei paused.
"She.. told you…?" Mika echoed as she heard her boss say something about her friend.
"Mika, you should take a break from all this." Kei said as he held the book that his secretary gave him.
"I'll save her." The words that he said.
It was raining. Kei rested his head on a pillow and looked out at his clear window. It was raining. He sighed, and eyed the book to find more about the secrets of the Manor. It doesn't make sense… what was happening inside the manor is more than enough. It bared so much sufferings for other people, and their loved ones. People aren't meant to be sacrificed… as he turned the page of the book, he noticed that a page was missing. There seems to be a special ritual other than the Tattoo Ritual…
+Ritual to Aid the Priestess+
If the previous priestess is staked,
And somewhat woke from her slumber,
An aid from the Human World will be sent,
And as the crying soul of the previous priestess will descend
The –
Missing page. Mika couldn't have possibly tore it off. Kei said to himself as he put a bookmark on the said page. Just by closing his eyes, he could see the manor. He surely won't go back on his words. He promised Mika that he'll save her no matter what. That he'll save Raikka.
5555555555555555
Hour V: Confinement
5555555555555555
Kei woke up at the Sacred Tree. What was he doing there? What happened even before he woke up at the Sacred Tree? He doesn't remember. All he could remember was… faces.. and … Amane…
She has been waiting…
All alone…
Kei realized that she has been all alone these years, in solitude. In pain.
"Brother…" The pigtailed pacifier appeared before him.
"Save her…" she begged, with tears nearly dropping from her eyelids.
"Amane…" Kei whispered as he stood up and approached the little girl.
Looking up at her brother, she stayed there, until she felt arms wrap around her and embraced her tightly. Her brother was holding her in her arms.
"Brother…."
"Amane… "
Sleep priestess lie in peace…
Sleep priestess lie in peace…
A voice of a child can be heard, singing, all alone.
When Kei came to his senses, he was holding nothing but a straw doll.
If the priestess wakes from her dream…
That lullaby…
Kei got alarmed and hurriedly got the Camera Obscura to take a shot of Hisame who was about to impale him. Hisame backed off at the damage of the film, and Kei managed to find a nice angle to save himself from Hisame.
The priestess must not be disturbed…
Hisame brushed towards Kei , but he was alert. He took his final shot at Hisame and managed to defeat her.
Mistress…
I'm sorry…
With his final shot, the photo was undeveloped. It was kind of blurry and the outlines are not clear. Kei took time to keep it in his inventory and went on, still keeping the doll with him. Kei heard a sound of the bell, Amane's bell, leading him to the closet hallway.
I've been waiting…
And waiting…
Kei heard a woman's voice as soon as he closed the door of the closet hallway. The voice came from upstairs. He hurried with his flashlight on and walked up the stairs towards the Kimono Room. A woman sitting infront of her dresser mirror was weeping.
"You said you would come back…" she whispered over and over again. Kei could hear his heartbeat as he brought the camera closer to him and the woman. As he stepped closer, the wooden floor creaked, and the woman turned to him.
"Who's theeere…?" she asked in a low tone of voice.
Kei didn't speak. Fear was overwhelming him. He slowly showed himself and brought the camera up. The woman just stared blankly at him. Not moving.
"Why isn't she…" Kei asked himself as he took the shot of the woman. After the shot, she just vanished. Kei approached the dresser, curious on what the woman was looking at. It was a gate key. Kei looked closely at it.
"She was… lonely…" Amane whispered as she passed by Kei, and headed up towards the stairs to the big doors.
"Amane!" Kei hurried and followed the pacifier who vanished after she entered the doors. He checked it, it was locked. He stared at the key that he just found at the dresser of the crying woman. He used it and unlocked the door.
Upon opening it, he saw a huge cage, sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by tattoed candles that obtained blue flames. Amane was there, sitting infront of the cage. Seems that someone was talking to her, confiding.
"You were trapped in this memory too. Forever." She said. "It wasn't my will to be in this place. I know how you must feel."
"It is my duty to guide you before the ritual…" Amane answered.
+The Sending Off+
Every aid must cut her connections to the human world,
And confides with the maiden all her thoughts.
The one who disturbs the said cleansing will be staked,
and suffering will be unleashed.
"Raikka!" Kei called out.
"I wanted to see him … if it were in my power… to see him once again…" the priestess whispered to the maiden as she held the wooden bars of her cage.
"Just once more…"
"Once more…"
+The Spreading of the Tattoo+
Once the aid has finished confiding her connections and thoughts,
The snake and the holly will spread
Pierce through her skin ,
And empty her dark eyes with mirror,
And the snake will eat all her sufferings,
With her soul
Slowly, the tattooes from her arms crawled up to her neck, legs and face, and alas, her eyes. Leaving it dark and empty.
"I'm ready…"
"No… you can't do this… RAIKKA! Wake up!" Kei called out and ran towards the wooden cage. His tattooes were spreading rather vividly and fast.
"You can't!"he said as soon as he took hold of the wooden bars, the woman's eyes widened.
" You won't be sacrificed… I'll save you… I won't let them… " Kei paused.
Everything turned monochrome as Kaname's spirit called out with Kei's.
"I won't let them… hurt you…"
Kaname whispered as Reika turned up to look at him.
"…Kaname…"
"Raikka!" Kei called out once more. His tattoo was spreading all over, cold pain overwhelms him.
"I'm going to … save you…"
His words affected Raikka , and the tattoes from her eyes forfeited back to her arms and finally vanished.
"Who…?"
"Amakura… Kei… Amakura…" Kei whispered.
Why did that handmaided led a man such as you to this place…
You must not disturb the priestess who lies asleep!!
Amane stood up and turned at the gates. The mistress was there. Yashu Kuze.
One by one, the purifying lights died. The ropes of the cage began to move.
"Raikka!" Kei reached out his hand and managed to take hold of Raikka's.
They touched…
But it was too late. The cage was lowered into complete darkness. Kei was staring down at the dark abyss.
Yashu approached Kei, carrying an axe with her.
"You must not disturb the priestess who lies asleep."
Amane knew the fate of her brother and called out to him.
"Brother!"
Kei turned to his back to meet the Kuze Family head. His eyes widened.
Please…
Save yourself…
TO BE CONTINUED…