Chapter 9 Destiny

I could have stopped her. I could have.

I didn't know she would.

I didn't realize—until I saw it happen.

I was leaning my face into my folded arms on top of my desk. I was lost in thoughts.

Last night's vision was very disturbing.

Adelle Visioyn… in Hell. Sent to Hell.

Hated, despised, and as a result, sent to Hell.

And Minamoto Yue did it.

But that wasn't what made it disturbing.

It wasn't.

Not at all.

Enzeru Yuri made it disturbing—because she graced the ritual sending with her appearance by Enma Ai's side.

So, Enzeru Yuri is not Enma Ai, now is she?

If so… Who is she? Another one of Jigoku Shoujo's companions?

I sighed, and was noticed by the teacher, who, I unfortunately didn't notice.

She stood before me, and rapped my desk with her ruler, which made me jump.

'Yuzuki-chan, you seem to be up in the clouds today. I do not like it. If you cannot concentrate at all, you might as well stop studying and step out of this room.'

I looked up at her, and nodded, shaking slightly. I realized that our sensei wasn't Sone Anna-sensei-- rather, it was an old lady, with short, graying hair and huge, horn-rimmed glasses.

'M-m-Ma'am?' I asked, stammering. She could still be mad, you know.

'Yes, Mikage Yuzuki up in the clouds? Have you decided to come down to Earth?'

The whole class giggled.

'I-I would just like to ask, where is Sone-sensei?'

She eyed me sternly, as if she disliked remembering that she was a sub.

'Sone-sensei has called in earlier today to say that she will be gone for over a month, her grandfather has recently died, and she's to be hostess for the wake.'

'Oh.'

I'm sure that is a cover—they probably have some other clients somewhere.

I went back to my folding my arms on the top of the desk and leaning my chin on it.

How strange, though. I didn't sense or envision the handing of the doll to Minamoto Yue…

Could Enzeru Yuri have something to do with it?

***

'Still think that she could be the next Jigoku Shoujo?' Hone-Onna asked me, as we sat on the porch of Eternal Sunset. We call it so, because we live in a dimension, set forever in sunset, on a house somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

'As Wanyuudon said, there's a really big possibility. But if she's just following Ojou and like, having half of Ojou's duties… So, it's like—what, a split job?'

The hell I was talking about. I couldn't understand what I just said.

'What the hell—I didn't even understand what you said.'

See.

I couldn't have said it better.

'But you know, how can she be the next Jigoku Shoujo? If she is, shouldn't she already know what to do?'

'Then explain the handing of the doll. She called my name. She knew I had to be the one.'

'Yes, but Ojou appeared too.'

'Yes, but Enzeru Yuri said part of her lines too! Ojou doesn't go over to her house and practice and tell her, 'Oh, you got to do this, that, this, that'! '

'Still…'

She sighed.

'Oh, Ren, what are we going to do?'

***

'Evanjerin-san, Evanjerin-san, wait up!'

Who the hell… I turned around, and saw Higeshizawa Airisu and Kinimoto Rin.

Atanashia, I will kill you. You know how much I hate to talk to others besides you.

You and your so-called friends…

'What do you want?' I said, as I held my head up high.

Her smile vanished, and I saw her shake slightly.

'I-I was just going to ask…'

'What? Spit it out. I need to get home.'

'I-I… Where is Atanashia-chan? She hasn't been absent, ever, not till today… We're a bit worried.'

I narrowed my eyes. That all? They don't know anything.

'Atanashia is sick.'

I turned my heel on them, my long, wavy hair swirling behind me. It's amazing—nobody would have known who was who between me and Atanashia—it was her attitude that made us so distinguishable. Atanashia, the nice, polite girl who would nod or smile at you, just to acknowledge your presence--as it always have been and shall be in court. But that is the same Atanashia who can just as well be disgusted with you—the very same one who can be infuriated, and transform into the monster within.

But she is my sister. The only person I ever cared about—aside from myself, of course.

And of course, I was worried about her since yesterday. The shock was too much—she could have transformed at any given time, maybe even right after she ran out of the room.

I dared not contact her, because I might be facing the monster, Katerin.

Atanashia Kent, please, please be in good condition when I get back!

***

'Ojou?'

I was brushing my hair again.

I had nothing else to do but to brush my hair.

Nothing else.

So I brushed, and I paused to eye Wanyuudon's reflection.

'What is it?'

He took off his hat, and came into the room.

I continued brushing.

'I've been wondering… Why is it that that girl, Yuzuki, didn't seem to bother with Adelle Visioyn?'

'She wasn't able to see it coming.'

His reflection frowned slightly.

'Wasn't able to see it coming?'

'Wasn't able to see it coming,' I repeated, closing my eyes and slowly brushing my hair.

It was rhythm, the way I brushed my hair.

'But why?'

I opened my eyes.

'The power of Hell Correspondence increases with the number of its members.'

'So…?'

I sighed a little, as if trying to be patient.

'Enzeru Yuri has added power to us. She has been able to stop Yuzuki from envisioning—but not completely. Yuzuki has stopped envisioning—but only part of our job. She can no longer sense the giving of the doll to a client.'

'So… If another member appears, will Yuzuki be able to stop envisioning altogether?'

I stopped.

'Only time will tell.'

I carefully put the brush aside, and stood up, turning to Wanyuudon.

'But Mikage Yuzuki has a certain destiny too…'

***