Chapter 11: The tapes

The night air grew colder as time carried on. Chisa walked alone through the quiet streets, till she reached the hospital. There she walked in to find it was deserted.

"Hello?" Chisa asked as she looked around.

Just then the boy with black hair popped his head up from behind the counter.

"Miss Yukizome, right?" The boy asked," follow me"

"Where is everyone?" Chisa asked.

"Elsewhere I guess" the boy said," but that's not important".

"I guess not" Chisa said.

Chisa followed the boy through the hospital till they reached a room on the second floor. In that room was a tv screen lighting it and a waiting room seat. Chisa took one long look at the room before turning to the boy.

"Shouldn't I be meeting with someone in person?" Chisa asked.

"Sorry, but this is necessary" the boy said," just take a seat and she will explain everything"

"Fine" Chisa said before taking a seat.

The boy walked up to the tv and put a tape into the player. At once, the screen changed to show Vulpine sitting in her usual chair in the dark room.

"Welcome to the grounds of rebirth" Vulpine smiled," As you know, I am Vulpine and you are here to save Chiaki"

Chisa's eyes became transfixed on the tv as Vulpine continued to explain;

"To start, I will tell you that I know why Chiaki is sick. You see she was destined to die, but I am trying to rewrite her fate. That's probably too hard for you to understand, so I'll simply show you. What you are about to see is the truth of your reality. Once you witness it in full, then I will offer you the chance to make the ultimate sacrifice. Now let us begin"

The video cuts to the title Tape 2 just as the boy locked the door.

...

After a half an hour of waiting for Chisa, Munakata went outside to check on her. The moment he looked outside, he recognized she was gone. He took a moment to breath before calling her, but upon the fifth try he started to lose his stif composure. Taking the matter into his own hands, he began examining the area for clues as to where she could have gone, but found nothing.

'This isn't like her' Munakata thought,' could she have gone to the hospital and didn't take the car?'

When he thought of it, he decided to go back into the house for his car keys. He moved quietly so as not to disturb Chiaki's sleep. Keys in hand, he prepared to search for Chisa. Miraculously, Chiaki woke up after her pendant glowed.

"Dad?" Chiaki asked after waking up," what's going on?"

"It's nothing" Munakata said," just go back to bed"

"Where's mom?" Chiaki said, sliding out of bed.

"She just went for a walk" Munakata said.

"Something's wrong" Chiaki said," what is it?"

"Fine" Munakata sighed," your mother went missing and she's not answering her phone"

"Maybe she went to the hospital" Chiaki said after her pendant gleamed for a split second.

"Why-" Munakata stopped as he realized the validity of that theory," I'll go and see"

"Let me go too, please" Chiaki said.

"Fine" Munakata sighed," but don't over exert yourself"

Chiaki nodded and the two soon left. In the car, Munakata was so focused on the road that he didn't notice Chiaki's eyes turned green. Under the pendant's influence, Chiaki texted Nagito;

"Come to the hospital fast. The pendant"

...

The tape began and showed a recording of Vulpine sitting across from Chisa in the dark room. The closer Chisa looked, she saw her recorded self was wearing clothes she had never seen. 'This has to be fake' Chisa thought while the video proceeded.

"Hello, Miss Chisa Yukizome" Vulpine said," I guess you're curious to know where you are"

"I believe this is a hospital near hopes peak, but it was burnt to the ground last I checked" Chisa said," I don't believe I've ever seen you, so this can't be a dream"

"You're right" Vulpine said," I am Vulpine, and I'm here to offer you a chance to fill your empty heart"

"Dearie, unless you can resurrect the dead, that will not happen" Chisa said.

"Fortunately, I am offering just that" Vulpine said," and that person is essential to the offer"

"Who exactly are you talking about?" Chisa asked.

"A beloved class rep cut down in the prime of her life by a sadistic girl" Vulpine said," does that ring any bells?"

"How do you know about her?" Chisa asked.

"I know about a lot of people" Vulpine said," I even know your little secret about what happened on the fifteenth of September"

"What is it you want?" Chisa asked.

"I want to fulfill a promise, but I need your cooperation in order to do that" Vulpine said.

"What do you want me to do?" Chisa asked.

"All I ask is that you allow me to tamper with your memories a bit, so I can create an ideal world for her" Vulpine said.

"You won't be messing with my recent memories will you?" Chisa asked.

"I have to in order to insure her peace" Vulpine said," but I can adjust some things to your liking"

"What things?" Chisa asked.

"For example, I could make it so you and Kyousuke Munakata get married" Vulpine said," of course any adjustments I make will be for her sake above all"

"Fine" Chisa said," in that case, make it so I can adopt and raise her as my own"

"As you wish" Vulpine said," I imagine this is for your despair"

"You have no idea how empty I've been without her" Chisa said," so thank you for giving me this opportunity"

"I'll be offering the opportunity to your former self as well" Vulpine said.

"Knowing my old self, she will happily agree, especially if she can play house" Chisa laughed," I know mothers aren't supposed to play favorites, but Chiaki was the child I always wanted."

"Do you have any further questions?" Vulpine asked.

"No, that will be all" Chisa said," now take away my despair"

"As you wish" Vulpine said, prompting the video to end.

Chisa looked at the screen in pure horror as she felt she was trapped in an existential nightmare. She tried to maintain her hope and sanity, until the next tape played. This tape had her in it wearing her usual teacher clothes. In fearful silence, she watched.

...

Munakata arrived and parked near the hospital, finding it strangely dim. Luckily, Nagito arrived around the same time as them.

"Nagito, what are you doing here?" Chiaki asked.

"I was just walking by" Nagito lied," what's wrong"

"My mom went missing and we think she's here" Chiaki said.

"I see," Nagito said" I'll help you look once we get inside"

"Thank you" Chiaki smiled.

"Very well" Munakata said," lets go"

...

Just as Chisa was watching her tape, Junko watched her own labeled 'Tape 3'. Using her analytical ability, she could tell the video was real. The realization made her tremble a bit, but not as much as what would follow. The tape began by showing her sitting across from vulpine in the dark room.

"Junko Enoshima, the ultimate despair" Vulpine said.

"Yep, that's me" Junko grinned," and you most be some other worldly entity if you dragged my ass out of that air tight academy"

"You are correct" Vulpine said," I've brought you here to give you an offer"

"What kind?" Junko said," you don't look that wealthy"

"To resurrect the frail girl that was your complete opposite" Vulpine said," I'm sure you remember"

"How could I forget?" Junko asked," she was so vital to my plan"

"Wouldn't you like to see her again?" Vulpine asked.

"Of course" Junko said," I miss that hope puff"

"Unfortunately, their is a catch" Vulpine said," in order to insure she lives, you will be stripped of your despair"

"And you lost me" Junko said," like hell I'd give up my despair"

" I doubt it will last forever" Vulpine said," especially if I do what I was planning"

"What's that?" Junko asked.

"I will make you her fated one and she will be your fated one" Vulpine said.

"Like a romantic pairing by destiny?" Junko asked.

"In many ways yes" Vulpine said.

"You expect me to be satisfied with the despair from dating?" Junko asked

"More than that, you will feel the various types of despair that only love can offer" Vulpine said.

"Tell me more" Junko drooled a bit.

"Love is a string of thread that connects hearts," Vulpine said," it's so soft and warm that many don't realize how it ensnares them. From that tightly woven connection that despair can easily form and strangle your heart. Whenever she gets hurt, you will be hurt in turn"

"Uhh yes" Junko said as she held herself.

"There's more, in this world I plan to create, you will feel the greatest pitfalls of unrequited love" Vulpine said," longing, rejection, withdraw. All from having the love of your life so close yet always out reach."

"Damn, you sure know how to talk dirty" Junko said," fine, I'll play your game of love. If it means I'll experience all this from that naive and hopeful girl, then I'll devote my entire being to her just so I can feel even more despair."

"As you wish" Vulpine said.

"So what's in it for you?" Junko asked," Are you an extra dimensional fan of hers?"

"I am simply upholding a promise I made" Vulpine said.

"Very well" Junko said," let's get this show on the road"

The tape ended by turning to black. Junko looked at her horrified expression in the reflection of the tv screen. She shook until she fell to her knees.

"How could I say those things?" Junko asked.

"I'm sure you were surprised" Vulpine's voice said.

Junko turned around to see the white haired girl holding a tablet with a video on vulpine playing on it.

"As you see, you agreed to making this world" Vulpine said," now I offer you the chance to save it"

Junko's eyes widened.

"I offer you the chance to make the ultimate sacrifice" Vulpine said," Now let me explain"

...

Chiaki, Munakata, and Nagito entered the hospital to find it dark and empty. Upon walking in, the doors locked and spotlights turned on to lighten the front desk. There Vulpine sat nonchalantly.

"Good evening" Vulpine said," and welcome to the grounds of rebirth"

"Where's Chisa?!" Munakata growled.

"You catch on fast, but she came here of her own free will" Vulpine said," now do yourselves a favor and turn back"

"Why?" Chiaki asked.

"You do not belong here" Vulpine said.

"Wait" Nagito's eyes widened," are you the mastermind?"

"Very clever" Vulpine laughed as her long casted shadow morphed into a nine tailed fox," i'll ask again, leave"

"Give back Chisa and we will" Munakata said.

"You don't understand" Vulpine sighed," guess I'll have to tell you. You see Chisa, as well as Junko, came here to create the cure for Chiaki's illness"

"From what?" Nagito asked.

"Self sacrifice" Vulpine said," a life for a life"

Munakata's eyes widened in horror. He was going to run up and strangle Vulpine, but Chiaki held him back.

"I know it's horrible, but it has to be done" Vulpine said," if not then our dearly beloved Chiaki will die again soon"

"Wait..." Chiaki said," you're the one Mukuro was talking about"

"Yep" Vulpine said," sadly I'm not as powerful a demon as she claimed. Like everything else in the world, my miraculous powers rely on equivalent exchange"

"Why are you doing this?" Nagito asked.

"Because I am upholding a promise I made" Vulpine said," please don't try to interfere or else I will have to act"

"We are not leaving" Munakata growled.

"Then you forced me to do this" Vulpine sighed heavily before clapping her hands.

In an instant, Chiaki felt a chill rush through her body after her pendant became dull. With no control, she passed out. Fortunately Munakata and Nagito caught her.

"Chiaki!" Munakata said while Nagito checked for a pulse.

"she's..." Nagito said with an extremely pale face.

"She has returned to her original fate" Vulpine said," believe me I tried so many things to stop this from happening,, like taking your memories, but alas another ultimate sacrifice is needed"

"How?" Munakata breathed," How was it her fate to die?"

"It's rather complicated, but I'll try to simplify it" Vulpine said," on September fifteenth, Chiaki Nanami was killed by extreme blood loss from several impalements throughout her body. This horrific murder was orchestrated ,and carried out by Junko Enoshima, with the help from a few key individuals such as Nagito Komaeda and Chisa Yukizome"

"No!" Nagito said," I would never kill Chiaki"

"Not as you are now" Vulpine said,," I'm grateful you allowed me to make you less unhinged"

"How is that possible?" Munakata asked.

"Again, it's complicated, but I'll put it simply and say I'm like a god compared to you" Vulpine said," now please let me uphold my promise"

"Will this ultimate sacrifice really bring Chiaki back to life?" Munakata asked as he looked down at his adopted daughter.

"Yes," Vulpine said," it is essential to sustain her life beyond that cruel fate"

"Then let me make it," Munakata said.

"Very well, if that is what you wish, follow me," Vulpine said.

"Munakata..." Nagito said as he watched Munakata stand up with Chiaki's lifeless body in his arms.

"I will do what I must to protect my family," Munakata said.

"That is very noble of you," Vulpine said," now follow me. You're allowed to come if you wish to make the ultimate sacrifice, Nagito"

'This is really all a pathetic person like me can do' Nagito thought as he stepped forward.

Together, Munakata and Nagito followed Vulpine to where they would prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.