Disclaimer: I don't own Fatal Frame series, it belongs to Tecmo and blablablablabla :)
A/N: I'm sorry it took me really long time to update. School was trying to kill me D:
Thanks Junhei, Golden Mist Fox, and TriciaJeevas for reviewing!
Summary: The awaited day had finally come, but instead of being excited as when he got the letter, he was becoming more and more unsure. He was faced by two hard choices. What would be his decision?
…
A window was slid open, making the world outside visible to anyone who opened it without being blocked by the paper. It was the night before the awaited day finally begun. A gust of night breeze swept gently, running on his skin. It sent him a bit of chill to his spine sometimes. The man in dark blue kimono was standing alone in his room, peering outside and observing all he could see from the wooden-framed window. The village seemed lifeless at night. Not a single soul was seen. Couple of orange lights, emitted by the paper lanterns hung by the villagers beside their doors danced with the wind, illuminating the two ebony marbles of his eyes was the only sign of living aside from common nocturnal animals' voices which seemed to be the nightly music of the village.
He sighed. His palms took their grips to the frame of the window. Countless stars, which he locked his gaze upon, were sparkling beautifully like diamonds scattered in the sky. They seemed so close somehow. It felt like his soul could jump out and venture in the sky with the stars. The view of the stars has always calmed his mind somehow.
I still can't believe it. Tomorrow, the day I've waited for so long will come in a few hours, the day that I can finally see Dr. Asou! Words of his thoughts started to run around his mind. Year after year I've spent my time studying his thesis and theories, as well as his subjects of interest, and the results are not futile…
xXx
Three knocks resounded around the room.
"I'm coming!" A woman's voice responded to the knocks and walked her way to the source- a wooden sliding door, the entrance of the house. She was in the kitchen preparing two boxes of bento for her son and her husband who were working in the field at that time, while her daughter was out shopping at the market. The woman then grabbed the wooden knob and slid the door open and found a young man standing outside the door.
"Good morning," he greeted politely while bowing at her. "Is this the Ototsuki residence?" He asked.
The woman nodded. "Yes. How can I help you?" She said while observing the young man's appearance. His ebony hair was shortly cut. He had a small cotton bag attached to him, which the contents seemed to be various books and papers. From his appearance this man clad in dark tosca kimono could be a scholar. Kaname's friend perhaps? She thought.
"My name is Satoshi, a friend of Kaname. Teacher sent this letter for him to read." He handed a letter in white envelope. The neatly written address caught her eyes as she scanned it.
"Thank you very much," she replied. "Would you like to come in and have a drink? Kaname will be home in a few minutes I think," she offered.
The man named Satoshi smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Ototsuki, but I'm afraid I must go. My teacher expected me to return."
He then departed from Kaname's house. Satoshi was already several meters away from the house, not realizing that Kaname had just arrived home. From the distance Kaname slowly watching his back as he strolled away, as if he was wondering who the man was while his hands slid the entrance door.
"Mother, I'm home!" he called and stepped into the living room. He usually finished his work at the field by the middle of the day, then he would return home to take his lunch and went to study at the local academy.
"Ah, Kaname, you're home," His mother came to him carrying his bento and the letter Satoshi had given her.
"Mother, did Satoshi come earlier?" He asked curiously. Was he looking for me? He thought. But what for?
"Oh, Satoshi? Yes, he came just a few moments ago," she handed the letter down for him to read. "Your teacher addressed this to you, he said. Be sure to read it." She said.
Kaname nodded. "Alright mom, I'll read it later," he said.
He didn't have any lesson that day so he wouldn't have to go to the library. Instead, he went back to the fields to help his father. Later that night, he was sitting alone in his room when he read the letter.
xXx
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Mr. Kaname Ototsuki
Apprentice of Prof. Masao Makimura
Dear Kaname Ototsuki,
As a friend and fellow occult philosopher of Prof. Makimura, I have had the pleasure of knowing great philosophers and folklorist from many regions, including his students who had the potential of becoming great philosophers.
Before I could continue any further, allow me to introduce myself and the purpose of this letter. My name is Dr. Kunihiko Asou. As you have probably known, I am an occult philosopher who shares same fields of interest with you, Japanese folklore and the spirit world.
Spirit World, a mysterious dimension foreign to many, interesting yet feared by mankind. Researches by researches conducted, yet still, mankind had not been able to remove the curtain of mystery of the Spirit World. For an occult philosopher, producing and absolute proof of the existence of the other world is his ambition. For that I am planning to conduct another research regarding to a mysterious sickness affecting psychiatric patients which seems to have connections with the spirits.
I have been gathering ambitious young scholars like you, for I need your assistance as I could not finish this research alone, and to give chance for you to participate in a real occult research. I have heard of your outstanding skills and your strong dedication to become a great philosopher. You have all the quality required to succeed, you are a worthy candidate.
The estimated minimum time to complete the research would be eight up to twelve months. I understand that this is not a short period of time, but in closing, I would be pleased and honored if you would consent to provide your assistance for the following researches.
Your sincerely,
Dr. Kunihiko Asou
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xXx
He recalled the events of the earlier days, when he first got the letter. Once again his eyes read the letter Dr. Asou sent via his teacher to be given to him, carefully scanning through the neat handwriting as if something is going to change. A glimpse of realization suddenly came into his mind.
Although Dr. Asou never stated exactly how long will the research be, he wrote that eight to twelve months would be the minimum time needed. This made me realize that… Yeah, I should leave that long? I should leave my family, this peaceful and friendly village. I should leave Reika!
His heart was suddenly filled full of guilt. Reika's beautiful face was all he could imagine. His hesitation strengthened itself beyond his will. Never even once he desired to hurt her fragile heart. Now he could understand how it was like to be in a huge dilemma, a hard choice between his promise and his dream. Should he stay in this village and refuse the offer? For many days he had considered to take this option, but... Studying in the city, to discuss and learn from Dr. Asou and even becoming his apprentice was what he had dreamt in his entire life.
His lover's vision bombarded his mind once more. His curiousity regarding to what she really saw in the vision seemed to get bigger. He was still sure that what she had said couldn't be the whole thing, but what could he do when he has no proof in his hand?
For a moment he was just staring outside, gazing at the stars above, when suddenly a gentle voice of a woman broke the silence.
"Kaname? You're still awake?" The source of the voice asked, instantly making Kaname's head turned towards her. The kind looking middle-aged woman, Kaname's mother was standing at the door. She then headed to Kaname's indigo covered tatami bed and sat at the edge, followed by her son. She smiled knowingly, as if she could read the bewilderment on his face.
"Mother?" He called, waiting for her next words. He felt her hand stroking gently at his shoulder. A sigh escaped from his lips as he directed his gaze down to the wooden floor.
"You're still unsure aren't you?" A little nod was his answer. "Why? You were so excited before… Something happened?" She asked curiously.
For a few seconds he was silent, thinking for a suitable answer. "I… I don't want to leave this family, I will miss all of you so much," he finally answered and paused again. His mother seemed to wait patiently for him to answer. "And I feel bad for Reika, I've broken my promise to her…"
"I think she will understand… Besides, you did say that she would wait for you, right?" He was still silent, not knowing what to say. He couldn't tell about Reika's vision, not even to his own mother. His mother didn't even know that Reika possessed a sixth sense. "Come on, Kaname, you've spent your whole life waiting for this chance. You don't have to worry, you'll come back as soon as you're finished…" She added as her son began to think of her words.
"I guess… You're right…" He nodded. He lifted his eyes to her mother's and smiled. "Thanks mom," he said.
His mother returned his smile. "Now go to sleep, Kaname, it's late you know. You don't want to be late for tommorow do you?"
"Alright mom, he smiled to his beloved mother once again before she headed out of his room.
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A cliffhanger? :D
I will try to update as soon as possible :)
Thanks for reading, reviews please? :3