Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.
A/N: I'm sorry for the short chapter. This explains what happened to Kyo.
Four weeks had past.
Sayuri had spent that time doing anything else but ghost hunting. In that time, she managed to write more for her novel, spend a boatload of time with Mai and Sho, and also with the gang. She actually went to a couple of Monk's shows. She got to help out at the church with John. She even did some shopping with Ayako.
There were times of seeing Lin.
They were fleeting moments.
"I'm almost done," Sayuri was on the phone with Katsuro. Her editor was pleased how quickly she was getting her newest novel finished. It was the last chapter. The final one to put everything together. It was the one to finally vanquished the evil spirit and to have the ghost hunters return to their normal lives.
This story would actually have a happy ending.
Her grandfather's journal sat on top of the shelf above her laptop. Kyo didn't seem to noticed it. Actually, Sayuri barely noticed the ghost around. Once in a while he pop up to check up on them. He would then return to the forest. Sayuri had sat out one morning to watch him leave.
She desperately wanted to ask what had happened to him?
What had happened to his family.
The house was quiet. Mai and Sho were at school. It would be time for a new school year for Sho. It would soon be graduation for Mai. It would soon be summer then fall again. It would be the one year anniversary of her meeting Shibuya Psychic Research. How much had changed since she first found them in the local newspaper. She still kept the clipping. It had survived the damaged down to her office.
Her fingers tap idly on the keyboard, staring at the unfinished last chapter of 'Autumn Ashes'. Yes, that was what she was calling her newest novel. It came to her the other day. It had long had no title to it.
Her gray eyes would drift, landing on the old journal sitting on the self.
Sayuri saved what she had left on her computer. She picked up the journal, leaving her office. Sayuri walked out of the room. "Hello? Kyo?"
There wasn't a sound.
No ghost. No kids. No friends.
Just her and the journal.
Sayuri tugged at her sweater, finding a comfortable spot on the couch. Sayuri slipped the note that her grandfather left her on the coffee table. She turned to the first page. "this is the recollection of the spirit Kyo. His full name is Konoe Kyo. He is the eldest son of four children. A trained warrior. He sought to protect his homeland and his family. He had a wife, Ami and a son, Shika."
"Konoe Kyo, age twenty three. He was born the eldest of the great Kenji Konoe. The man, his father had four children. Two, Kyo and his brother, Satoshi were born to the woman, Nadeshiko. Nadeshiko was Kenji's love and would never forget her. Thus, why the house today is named so."
That explained the name. Kyo named the house after his late mother.
"His two other children, both daughters, were born to Nadeshiko's sister, Suzuran. His two daughters were named Yuri and Ren. All four children lived at the Konoe family compound. It was known throughout the are that the Konoe family possess special abilities to communicate with spirits. It was shown through their eye color."
Sayuri stopped, recalling her own eye color.
Her grandfather had it too.
"All four children had it. Kyo was the only one who did not go into the business of becoming a spiritualist. He decided it was his choice to become a warrior instead. He left the barracks soon after when he could communicate with those he had killed in battle. He had a wife, Ami. A local girl whose father owned a shrine. They had one son, Shika. He was only eleven when his father died."
The image of a young boy that resembled Sho was shaking the still form of Kyo lying on the ground. The thought of her ancestor having to have his only son see his dead body.
"This is the recount of what happened that day. The day that the Konoe family became cursed. We are cursed because of selfish things. It, sadly, has been past onto my children. I can only pray that my grandchildren will not inherit the genes of their Uncle Satoshi."
Selfish?
Sayuri kept reading.
"Kyo and the other children all grew up close. Especially he and his brother Satoshi. Satoshi was the weaker of the two when it came to physical. But in spirit, he was much stronger then his brother. The two balanced each other out. Soon, they grew into young men. They were also very protective of their sisters, Yuri and Ren. Ren was the baby, a young spirited girl who love life. Yuri, though the oldest, was the weaker of the two sisters."
The image of the four of them running around the compound with Kyo and Satoshi playing a game with Ren. Yuri remained on the sidelines, watching. Her mother was brushing her hair.
Sayuri smiled at the image.
They were so happy.
"Yuri possess a spiritual power much like her brother, Satoshi. Ren too had her own powers but not as great. She kept her best to help her sister or the local miko who stayed at the compound. She was the one who helped Yuri with her powers. It wasn't until their father was getting older that it was soon time to decide who would take over the family compound."
Sayuri felt the notebook slipping through her fingers.
She was starting to fall asleep.
Her eyes closed as the dream took over. The dream was the compound. It was beautiful as it was in the past. She was in the past, overlooking shadows that occurred long ago. There was life everywhere. The compound was filled with people. Kyo stood near what appeared to be a pagoda. It looked very...Chinese rather then Japanese. He was dressed in a kimono with his sword at his side. His beautiful wife stood behind him with her son holding onto her hand.
There were a few others standing around.
She spotted Satoshi in his monk robs. He was standing next to a taller one. Sayuri could see the resembled of Monk on the man's face. Yuri was standing near, dressed in a beautiful kimono. Her father must have favored her. Nearby, was a miko with her apprentice. She couldn't shake off the feeling that they resembled Ayako and Masako.
Someone runs by her.
It was Ren, with her long dark hair pulled with a ribbon and wearing a pretty kimono.
She sat down at her sister and mother's feet, waiting on their father to come out. She also noticed a man that resembled a priest along with a pretty English woman. Both looked like John and Tsubaki. Another man stood by, with his sword ready. He looked like Ritsuke.
Soon, the man Kenji appeared, followed by two men on either side.
She couldn't help but noticed the man on Kenji's left was Chinese.
The scene seem to either speed up or slow down. She wasn't entirely sure what was going on. Everyone's eyes were on Kenji. He looked very much like her grandfather, except dressed rather in a way that define he had power.
"I have made my decision." He announced, his booming voice echoing across the way.
It was a long, deathly silence that it sent shivers down Sayuri's spine.
"Kyo."
The crowd was a mixture of gasps and cheers. Kyo had a unreadable expression on his face as he approached the steps where his father was. Sayuri felt something cold behind her. She turned around to see Satoshi had gone from peaceful to angry. His dark eyes glared on his brother's back. The monk beside him whispered something. Satoshi blew him off, turning around and taking off into the crowd.
"It is my final decision, Kyo will be the head of Konoe family. I want everyone to show him the same respect that you all have shown me." Kenji watched as Kyo bowed before him.
"Thank you, Father."
"I am proud of you, my son."
"I should have stay in the battle."
"It is not your fault you possess a gift. Maybe it was best that it came so soon."
"I hope it wasn't honorable of me to-"
"Kyo, I will always be proud of you."
Sayuri turned to see Satoshi standing in the very back. He was talking to a couple of guys in dark clothes. She couldn't make out what they were saying. She had a bad feeling. Her eyes turned back to the family. Everyone looked happy. It suddenly changed when Yuri had stood up. She looked like she had a dizzy spell.
Kyo and Ren both seen it, including the Chinese body guard.
Kyo rushed forward along with the body guard to catch Yuri. Yuri collapsed in her brother's arms. Kyo was calling out for Yuri.
"Yuri! Yuri!" Kyo held her close, "stay with me, sister."
"Sister!" Ren looked worried.
The poor Konoe sister had her eyes closed. She opened them just a bit to look at Kyo. Kyo whispered something back to her. She smiled, touching his face. He let the body guard carry his sister to another part of the compound. Kenji looked worried. He held onto his wife, helping her into the building.
The scene changed causing Sayuri to feel like she was in a elevator.
Her eyes took in a sadden Kyo.
"I'm sorry but it has to be done. I wished for her to stay here as well. Her health is declining. The mountains will be good for her."
"She'll be all alone." Kyo frowned, "I know how she gets from being away from us."
"I'll will make sure that you and Ren will go see her. Just don't forget your responsibilities, Kyo."
"I will not. But she is a apart of them, father. She is my sister. I will not abandon her."
Sayuri felt herself transported to another part of the house. She was in a hallway somewhere. She could hear talking. She shook her head.
"Okay, that can't be me," Sayuri poked her head into a room where the voices were coming from. Yuri was resting. She was talking to the guard that had carried her. Sayuri watched as Yuri was smiling, muttering something to him.
"You must go. Your health isn't as it was before. I promised to make sure to take your family to visit you any chance they get. Just do not forget to care for yourself as well."
"I will not. Any chance you will come visit me by yourself?"
"If I could, Yuri. It is hard when I swore to protect your father."
"Send me letters then. Promise me you won't forget me?"
"Never."
Sayuri gasped as they shared a kiss. It was a tender moment. But why did she need to see it? Sayuri soon found herself outside the compound. The seasons had changed. Yuri was no where to be found. She had to be gone away to get her health back to normal. It was a dire situation as Kyo was staring down his brother.
"You are no longer welcome, Satoshi. You have shamed us! You have shamed yourself!" Kyo looked beaten up. He was in no worse shape then Satoshi. His robes were ripped and bloodied. He was holding his own sword.
"I'll never forgive you for this! How could have Father chosen you? You don't even want your gift! You are ashamed of the gift that our mother gave to us!"
"It is both a gift and a curse, Satoshi. One that I will not abuse. You use it for fortune. You use it on those poor people. Haven't they been through enough without your poison?"
"One day, I'll make sure you prove to you that I am the stronger. One day Kyo, you won't be able to save anyone!"
"Get him out of here!" Kyo shouted to the guards.
The look of hurt across Kyo's face.
The look of anger across Satoshi's.
Sayuri soon found herself still outside the compound. The only difference were the leaves were falling. It was autumn. It look eerily beautiful. The pagoda had one person in it. It was the Chinese guard. Sayuri walked forward. He looked like he was praying. When he lifted his head, Sayuri gasped.
She covered her mouth with her hands.
"Lin?"
A loud banging is heard. The guard looked up as the one who looked like Ritsuke glanced at him. He gave a sharp nod before taking back up to the main house. Soon everyone was out. Kenji glanced at both his guards.
"Who is it?"
"Sir, it's Satoshi. He says he comes bearing a gift of forgiveness. He simply wants to speak to you."
"Has he mention his brother? His sister?" Kenji looked worn.
"No sir, he hasn't."
"Since this is a time of grief, let him in. Only for the sake of Lady Yuri."
Sayuri watched as the doors opened. Only Satoshi stepped inside. He was dressed in a cloak. He looked to be wearing mourning clothes. He wouldn't lift his head as he walked into the compound. She flinched, feeling sick.
"No, wait..." She whispered as Satoshi walked by her, "don't trust him!"
Why was she yelling?
"Oh no," Sayuri felt her heart begin to pound, "this is it. It's...the day that-"
"Dear Satoshi, you are only welcome on the behalf of your dear sister. The only reason as to why I overlooked what occurred between you and your brother."
"I assure your father. I am only hear for Yuri."
"Your sister-"
"Father," Satoshi chuckled, "did you really think sending her away was going to fix everything?"
Sayuri felt the wind picked up. Everyone looked around. They too noticed the changed in the air. It suddenly felt like...
Death.
Satoshi removed his hood.
Sayuri recognize the red eyes now. It was Satoshi that who was the monster. She watched as he gave a evil laugh. Dark clouds began to cover over the compound. Kenji moved his wife and his daughter inside. The guards began to approached him when a sudden force knock them aside.
"You see Father? I got better at it. Why would you have poor Kyo when you could have me? I'm the one who did everything you told me to? And for what? To have that honoroable warrior take over? Hah, where is your favorite son now? Oh, that's right. He's at home with his own family. Has he finally abandon you?"
"Kyo had only wished was to spend time with his wife and child. Those days of war had-"
"Excuses. Just like the ones you used on Yuri?"
"Yuri was told the truth. She was weak. That time-"
"Silence!" Lightning striked, thunder rumbled. The leaves were blowing around like crazy. The priest, the woman, the miko, her apprentice, the monk, and the guard all stood their ground. The other two guards did as well, only armed with weapons.
"How about we ask Yuri herself?" Satoshi gave a sickening, evil grin.
Kenji's face lost all color.
The door opened. Everyone turned to see it opened by its self. The large bar that was held across was tossed aside like a simple twig. The gates swung open, creaking in a haunting way. Sayuri felt her stomach flip flop.
In the doorway of the gate, Yuri stood.
"No," Kenji breathed.
It had happened so fast. The moment Yuri walked past those gates, the guards were caught off guard. Sayuri watched as the one that looked like Ritsuke went head first. He was just doing his job before he was cut down quickly. Blood ran across the stone pavement. She gave a scream as Yuri kept walking into the compound.
She finally stopped.
"Yuri!" Sayuri looked up to see Kyo standing there.
His eyes were widen as if he saw a ghost.
Sayuri stared at Yuri.
"She's...already-" That was when the bloodbath started. Sayuri watched as Yuri took down all those who stood in her way. In a madden way, she killed off the monk and the priest. The monk was shoved aside before stabbed. The priest was choked with his own crucifix. Soon blood ran down his nose and mouth. He fell over dead.
The blond woman screamed before racing up to Yuri.
She was stopped immediately.
Her throat ran down a shower of blood.
Her body dropped like a broken doll.
The miko tried to make a run for it. She knew she was no match for Yuri. But it didn't last long when she too was cut down. A large branch fell from one of the trees, pining her. The younger miko screamed before silenced as her neck was snapped.
Sayuri hid her eyes as the older miko had been stabbed through with a large branch.
The other guards were taken down as Yuri approached her father.
"Yuri! Stop!" Kyo raced forward, having seen it all.
"You can't stop her!" Satoshi stood next to Kyo, "she's gone. You can't help her, Kyo. She knows the truth now. Or at least thinks so."
"What did you do to her?" Kyo paused, "You...you...didn't."
"I did. She has a remarkable power."
"You demon! Die!" Kyo took out his sword. His brother tried to pushed it aside with his powers. Kyo felt nothing but rage and hurt. Sayuri could feel it as he tried to attack his brother. Yuri was facing her father who looked terrify. She didn't look like the beautiful woman she was before.
"Yuri," The scary woman turned her head to face the Chinese guard.
If he had any amount of heartbreak, he was hiding it well.
"Don't blame him. It was my fault. Take me instead."
He dropped his weapon to the ground.
"No..." Sayuri watched with horror, "no...please Yuri, remember! He loves you! Don't forget that! He loves you!"
Her screams could not be heard. Sayuri watched as Yuri continue to stare at the guard.
"No," Her voice was a fevered whisper, "I'm saving you for last."
The sword was in her hand in a flash. The guard watch as Yuri stabbed her own father. Kenji felt the sword slide into his flesh.
"Yuri..." He choked, "remember...I always...loved you...my darling...lily."
He dropped dead. Yuri left the sword in him. She turned her eyes upon the guard again. She was grinning madly. Had she any idea what she had done? Sayuri watched as the guard was backing up into the pagoda, guiding Yuri onto it.
"Kyo!" The guard shouted the moment he had Yuri on the pagoda, "now! Stab him, now!"
Kyo stabbed Satoshi right through the heart. Yuri's eyes changed for a few fleeting seconds. She was found that she couldn't move. Her eyes lifted to the guard as he brought his hands up.
"I'm sorry, my love."
The pagoda began to glow.
Satoshi laid dead in a pool of his own blood. Kyo turned to see his sister was being held in the pagoda. He closed his eyes, knowing what the guard was doing.
"I'll make you pay!" Kyo looked up to see a dark mass had come out of his brother's mouth. It was Satoshi's soul, blacken and angry. He took out his own sword, coming out of the shadowy mass. He stabbed Kyo with it.
"NO!"
Kyo felt himself wounded.
"Get out of here!" A voice shouted.
Kyo struggled out of the compound when a bright light took over it along with the darkness. He tried to move, running. He had worse. He looked down at his bloody side, seeing black seeping with blood.
"I won't...let it...get near my family." He whispered.
Soon the samurai got to the edge that ended where his home was. He looked up where his wife and child were.
"I love you," He whispered before turning to face the darkness that was coming at him. He took out his sword, "you shall not come anything further! You shall remain where you have taken the souls of innocents! It will only be broken when a Konoe reclaims the family honor!"
Kyo stabbed his sword into the mass, creating a bright light.
Sayuri had covered her eyes.
Soon the light was gone. Kyo's body was found at the edge of the property. His wife came out, having heard something. She let out a scream, rushing towards Kyo's lifeless body. Soon more people came, having seen the smoke rising from the compound.
Sayuri felt tears fall down her face.
"No..."
Her eyes opened up. She had fallen asleep on the couch. The journal had been left on the floor. Sayuri sat up, rubbing her eyes.
What she had seen couldn't be unseen.
"Kyo..." She looked outside to the backyard.
He risked his own soul to save the lives of the rest of what remain of his family.
It will only be broken when a Konoe reclaims family honor!
Sayuri felt more tears. She started to sob, recalling the day she found her grandfather. He had been left at the edge of the property. People have told her it was a heart attack. It made sense now. Her grandmother told her he was going for a walk. He had died because he was trying to break the curse.
Sayuri felt herself fall apart.
She sat down on the floor, crying tears.
She glanced up at the clock.
What seem like hours was only one hour.
Only a Konoe...
That's when it hit her.
"I have to be the one to break it," Sayuri let out a gasping breath, "I have to set them free..."
Yuri...Kyo...the family...all of them...
"I promise," She clutched the journal to her chest, "I promise. I'll make sure you have a chance to move on. I'll promise..."