Epilogue

Shouwa 58

Around the large mansion, a shadow is sneaking, trying to find a way in. There are video cameras around the house, but the person, who is in fact a girl with a hooded sweater, does not seem to give any attention to them.

Inside the house, there is almost no sound. On the first floor, from a very large bedroom, the breathing noises of an old woman can be heard. Her breathing sounds unquiet, like nightmares are haunting her dreams. Sometimes, little whispers are blended into the breathing noises, sounding like she tries to say somebody's name. If you listen closely, you can find out that there are actually two different names she is whispering. But the whispers are too low to understand the exact names.

On the ground floor, there is another large bedroom. It is silent, but breathing can also be heard from this room.

Meanwhile, the intruder has found a way through a sliding door at the backside of the building. This is a quiet and peaceful village, so they never keep all entrances locked. The wooden floor creaks under her steps, even though she's walking very carefully. Now is the time. She's come to finish what she had begun about one year ago. Now she has reached the room, she clutches the hilt of her knife more tightly.

Suddenly, the light is turned on. Next to the bed, where a fragile-looking girl is sleeping, stands another girl in a white dress with a purple ribbon. She's holding a cleaver. She's facing the intruder, whose matted hair and torn hoodie clearly indicate she's a homeless person.

"Finally, Shii-chan. I've been waiting for a long while."

The girl with the knife in her hand is frowning. Although she still seems to be decisive about her plan, she can't hide her surprise when she sees a person she has not expected to be there. "How did you know ..." she starts to speak with a coarse voice.

"It's been a year now, hasn't it? A year exactly. I took care of Mii-chan so many times, including washing her. When I saw the scar along her belly, I knew the person who did that to her would come back as soon as she knew she had failed at killing her. And since I know when this happened to her, even though they never told me what really happened, I guessed it would happen today."

"So it was just a guess?"

"We're all a little superstitious, aren't we? When it comes to very important things, the right time matters a lot to us. As the true rightful heir of the Sonozaki demon ..." She slows down a little because she wants to see the other girl's reaction. Was there a fiery glow appearing in her eyes, leaving a shadow of darkness behind? Maybe just her imagination. "... I guess," she continues, "you care for traditions and rituals, so one year after the event would be the right time for your revenge. That's why I expected you."

"Fine. Now two will die instead of one."

The girl at the opposite end of the room looks weary from still being awake in the middle of the night, but she is not looking less decisive. With a frown, she replies. "And after that? Where can you go? What you did until today, was only assault or attempted murder. Do you really want to murder two people and get lifetime imprisonment? I suggest you to give up quickly, unless you want to fail for a second time. This chance won't come back."

From the face of the intruder, you can tell that there is nothing she hates more than being schooled and told what to do. She is clutching the knife harder, ready to jump on the young female guardian. "I listened to you ... Now DIE!"

As soon as she's starting to move forward, six men in black suits come out of the shadows in the big room and grab hold of the girl who wriggles in their arms helplessly, uttering her anger in inarticulate screams. Unable to hold her knife any longer, she drops it to the floor. The girl in the bed awakes and slowly raises her upper body from the bed, looking around with tired eyes that sleep can not refresh because she is tired from carrying the burden of sorrow. She is looking around but does not make any noise.

From the six men who hold the infuriated girl, who is writhing in their arms like a demon in chains, one makes a few step towards the girl in the white dress who is still watching over the sad-looking girl in the bed, who still has not said anything. He bows towards her and says: "Thank you, Ryuuguu-san! You were right ... We spotted her when she entered the premises! The surveillance cameras weren't working for a long time in the past, so she thought she could sneak past them. But since Mion-sama's in that condition, they're maintained regularly, so they're working perfectly."

"Whatever," Rena says with a sad voice. She does not look like somebody who reached her goal, although she protected the helpless girl in the bed. There is no victory in what she did.

The man in the suit turns around and faces the others. "Come on, to the underground shrine storage! We must call Oryou-sama!" The six men start to shove and drag the girl out of the room who is still fighting hopelessly against them.

After they have all left the room, Rena sits down at Mion's bed and strokes her cheek. Soon tears start dripping from her eyes. "Please, Mii-chan ... If you don't start to speak now, you don't need to speak ever again. They're going to kill your sister, so please ..."

"Shi – on."

Although it was barely audible, the whole bedroom seems to be filled with that one word.

[THE END]

Author's note: Happy Watanagashi everybody! A new Yadonashi-hen chapter is in preparation and will be released until the end of this month. Thanks for your patience and forgive me for my laziness.