Chris: Okay! Chapter Two, here we come! Erm... For the most part, this will be a lot like the original Crimson Butterfly. But later, I'm gonna have some really neat-o plot twists!

Mayuka took several deep, steadying breaths.

"Niisan,"a light voice whispered around her. She gasped. "Ni (two) chosen ko (children) shall be carried to ten (heaven) on the wings of a chou (butterfly). The chou that will save this village. Koish te. (kill me)"

She felt a pair of arms envelop her, but could see no one.

"My aya niisan (beautiful sister). Whatever happens... I will forgive you."

Mayuka shuddered, then fainted forward.

When Mayuka opened her eyes, she was laying atop a slab of rock, surrounded by five talon-like rocks connected by sacred ropes. All around, she saw lit torches glowing in the night. She realized she was atop a hill, with a shinto gate at one side, and paths at two others.

"Is Itsuki-kun here?'she wondered aloud, sitting up. She ducked out from under the ropes and made ehr way slowly down the path to her right. After walking for a while, she came across a small backpack. It looke like a child's;bright pink, with the head and paws of a white rabbit. Curious, Mayuka looked inside. The first thing she pulled out was a pink pen with the name 'Mika' carved into the clip. Also she found a black journal, an empty photo album, a flashlight, and a small, bunny-print diary. Mayuka clicked on the flashlight and read the diary's single entry.

Rabbit Diary 1

Sis told me not to go there. But I'm scared. She hasn't been back for two weeks. could something have happened whle she was researching her report? I have to go to the Lost Village. I have to see Sis...

"Sloppy hand writing,"murmured Mayuka. "Must be a kid's. I wonder who else is here?"

Standing up and throwing the bag over her shoulder, she continued slowly down the path. The darkness was thick, almost suffocating. But she continued on. No matter what happened, she had to find Itsuki. She'd promised. Together forever...

After another minute or two, she came upon two old housese across from eachother. The one to her right was nothing more than a barely standing wooden frame. The one on her left, though a bit beaten up, was still intact.

"I wonder if anyone's here,"she murmured, prying he door open. She found herself in a tiny entrance hall. To her left was a lattice window, through which she could see a small room with kimonos hanging. About six paces ahead of her was another door, which she pushed open. The door creaked loudly as it resisted her weight, and she looked all around her. It was a fireplace room. Far to her left was a set of stairs, and beneath the stairs was a sliding door into another room. Ahead of her a dozen or so paces was the entrance to a hall. Without thinking, she made her way up the stairs...

One on the landing, she turned right and continued down the hall. To her left was a door, which she tried opening, only to find it was locked. She continued down the landing, until she came upon another set of stairs. She stepped carefully down them. She looked to her left, where she saw the fireplace room she had entered. The stairs were just inside the hall. She stepped once again into the fireplace room, chills running down her spine, then slid open the door under the stairs.

The room was dark. She dug around in the bunny bag again for the flashlight, then shone it around the room, then gasped.

Chris: Cliffhanger! Yay! So… hm…I wonder what she found?

Mayuka: Am I supposed to just stand here with my mouth hanging open until you decide to update?

Chris: You bet!