Well, here I am again on my own...sorry. i don't even like that song. O.o. anywhoo. it's been a long while since i have updated, i'm sorry. i'm kinda in a slump right now, probably because it's back to school and yada yada yada. i'll try to update more often. HA. anyway reviewer responses!
Yunchen: I'm not exactly sure, Sae doesn't really seem the type to listen to her gut she acts like she would care more about what her emotions were telling her like: CRY NOW! and she'd cry but if her insticts told her to get out of a place she would probably just think hey! alone time with itsuki! lol, so yeah, lets just say she was really curious(who wouldn't be)/ wanted to be alone with itsuki as they seemed really close and she would probably confide in him about some special room more than she would mutsuki who's quiet and reserved.
Dharknia: no problem, i love your story:P thanks for your review and nice words!
RottenDarkness: thanks so much, i'm glad you like it!
Dying Redemption: will do!
Anyway, onward!
Chapter 3: The Ritual
Itsuki's POV(1st person)
I heard the ceremony master speaking with my parents last night. He said that the X is rumbling, that the ritual must be performed. I'm scared. I don't want to do it. I should be happy to help the village and I know that I won't be the one to die and I also know that I'm sixteen now and shouldn't fear such things. But I do. I don't want to kill Mutsuki. It isn't fair. What will become of Chitose and I? Mother and father almost never take care of our my little sister anymore even though she's almost blind. Why does it have to be like this? I want to run away. Far away from this village. I would bring Sae and Yae and Chitose too. Nobody should have to suffer like this. Why do the villagers believe all of this nonsense about the X? They say if someone looks into the X they become blind and have to be mourners after that. Why does it have to be like this?
Itsuki's POV(3rd)
Itsuki and Mutsuki sat down beside each other in front of the ceremony master. They were in Kurosawa house but it scarcely felt as such. Yae and Sae were nowhere in sight but Itsuki knew they would be getting the same talk afterwards. Both sets of twins were needed because if Mutsuki and Itsuki's ritual were to somehow fail Sae and Yae would need to be prepared to perform the ritual themselves. Itsuki couldn't believe that the head of the Kurosawa household would actually let his own daughters die for some stupid abyss, what kind of father was he? Selfish. Everyone here is so selfish. They would rather allow their own children to die rather than themselves... he thought as he waited for the cermony master to finish his speech. Itsuki already knew what would happen but was surprised when he heard that he and Mutsuki wouldn't be able to leave the Tachibana and Kiryu houses until the ritual. Now Chitose would suffer too. She loved to go outside but she wasn't allowed to go out alone because of her sight and now there would be nobody to bring her. Itsuki silently steamed over the news but tried not to let on to the ceremony master that he was angry. Let him take us but don't make our little sister pay for us being twins...
Once Ryokan Kurosawa was done talking he just walked away as if he hadn't just handed down a death sentance to one of the boys. Itsuki wanted to yell at him but refrained from doing so. Instead he turned to his younger brother. Mustuki looked no different than usual to most but being his brother Itsuki could tell he was scared and upset.
"It will be okay...We'll run away right Mutsuki?"
"...No...We can't do that Nii-chan...If we run...Sae and Yae will...they'll have to perform the ritual...I don't want them to Itsuki...It isn't fair to them," Mutsuki answered and avoided his eyes.
"I know...I don't want to do it...This is stupid...I hate living here..."
Mutsuki smiled slightly and embraced his older brother. "It will all be fine. We'll become one and then...We'll never be apart. Right?"
Itsuki sniffled for a second then straightened up. He had to be strong, he wasn't the one...He wasn't the one becoming a butterfly. So he had to at least pretend to be okay.
They walked down the long hallway that lead from the great hall to another hall. Itsuki wanted out of this place as quickly as possible. He never wanted to come back here again. He could feel Mutsuki's hand in his but he could derive no warm from it, everything seemed so cold now. Itsuki didn't want his brother to die. He didn't want to be the one to kill him. They were born together...Why couldn't they at least die together? Nothing was ever fair here...
Itsuki almost didn't see Sae and Yae walk by him and give both Mutsuki and Itsuki sympathetic looks. Twins...All because they were twins. They had to endure this torture because they looked identical.
When Itsuki and Mutsuki got back home Chitose was waiting for them just inside the door. She looked so happy Itsuki couldn't help but smile.
"Onii-san and onii-san! Welcome home!"
Mutsuki looked up and smiled at her though she probably couldn't physically see it. They both knew what she was really excited about was that they had promised to take her outside as soon as they got home. Of course Itsuki didn't much feel up to playing anymore but they had promised so they would keep it.
"Are we going now Onii-san? Are we?" Chitose asked excitedly.
Itsuki laughed and took her hand in his free one. "Yes, we're going now."
It was cold out but Chitose didn't seem to mind, she was too preoccupied with running around and laughing when either Itsuki or Mutsuki tried to chase her. It was fun playing around with their little sister and at least for a little while both boys forgot their troubles and just ran around until they were out of breath. Chitose of course ran alot longer than both of them and poked them when they sat down.
"Come on Onii-san! Just a little longer! Please?" she said but sat down beside them even though her crimson kimono would get dirty. It was her favourite one to wear she always said.
"We can't Chitose, look, Mutsuki's tired."
The little girl crawled over to Mutsuki and hugged him. "Gomen nasai nii-san!"
"No, it's okay. It was fun so I didn't even notice I was getting tired."
Itsuki looked over at his brother and sister. They looked so happy now and soon it would all be ruined. What would Chitose think when all of a sudden one of her brothers was gone? How would Itsuki tell her? Was he even allowed? There was no sense worrying about it now though, nothing could be changed. He would just have to see how everything turned out after the ritual.
"Oh, it's probably time for dinner Chitose, we should probably head back now. Okay?" Itsuki said with a smile. Pretend for your little sister. Act as if nothing is wrong. Play the part that you aren't going to kill your brother in a short while...Do it for Chitose. She doesn't deserve to suffer for this.
The little girl made a face but laughed. She was probably hungry anyway, they had been outside for most of the day.
All three walked down the hill and towards their home which was past Osaka house. As they passed by Mrs Osaka just happened to come out of the building holding her newborn baby. The woman smiled at them both but there was sadness in her eyes. The Tachibana children had always been like sons to her when she had no child of her own. But...the X had to be appeased. Still, that didn't stop Mrs Osaka from feeling regret for the boy's plight.
"Hello Itsuki, Mutsuki and Chitose-chan," she said without looking at any of them, "I'm sorry..."
"Hi Osaka-san!" Chitose answered cheerfully. She couldn't see very well but Chitose knew everyone's body shape and voice.
"...Hello..." Itsuki and Mutsuki murmured in unison.
Mrs Osaka gave one last smile then hurried inside the house again. It was obvious to both brothers that she was truly sorry so they ignored her sudden departure and continued home.
As the children passed the Kiryu house Itsuki shuddered. He and his brother would be restricted to going in between that house and their own soon. It was all just a matter of time until the ceremony master saw fit to perform the sacrifice.
Once they made it home Itsuki and Mutsuki sought to be alone but they couldn't just abandon Chitose so they brought her to their bedroom. Everything was identical in their room. There was two of everything but soon...soon there would only be a need for one set of everything.
"Nii-san, are you sad? You sound sad. Really really really sad nii-san," Chitose commented, worry obvious in her voice. Was his sadness that noticeable? Could even his little sister hear the despair in his tone? Itsuki didn't want to alarm her so he just laughed.
"No, of course not! Why would I be sad hm?"
"I don't know nii-san...but you do. Both my nii-san sound so so sad. You can tell me big brothers, I promise I won't tell anyone if it's a secret!" the girl cried enthusiastically.
"There's nothing wrong Chitose. Really. Are you hungry, do want to go get something to eat now?" Mutsuki asked. Usually when the younger Tachinbana twin said anything it was final, no questions were asked. But not today.
"...Ohhh kay. Can we have onigiri for dinner? Can we?"
Itsuki raised an eyebrow though he doubted his little sister could see. "For dinner? Well, if you want. I'll have to see if we have the ingredients..."
"Yay yay yay!"
Itsuki didn't know why his sister would want onigiri of all things for dinner but he would make it for her if she wanted it so badly. Maybe he could get Mutsuki to help him for once in his life.
"Okay, we'll have it but...Mutsuki and Chitose, you have to work for your supper."
"Alright...But let me remind you of my delicate medical condition," Mutsuki said with a grin. He almost never joked about anything so that was unusual but Itsuki just brushed it off and laughed.
"Don't give me that. You're perfectly able to work in the kitchen and you know it!"
"I know I know. I was just kidding," Mutsuki replied and put his hands up in surrender.
"Well, let's get to it, the food isn't going to make itself!"
They walked through the hall that led to the staircase that would bring them to the kitchen. It wasn't so much a kitchen as it was a dirt floored room with a pot hanging over a fire pit. Itsuki knew perfectly well that they weren't supposed to make a fire without their parents around but it didn't matter, they were never around anyway.
He took a small pile of little twigs to help start the fire and then used a stone to get a spark that would get the fire burning. He waited until the kindling caught fire then blew on it to make it spread faster. Within a few minutes the fire was ready so he sent Chitose and Mutsuki out to the well to get some water to boil the rice in.
Itsuki looked at them walk away and suddenly wanted to follow them. His brother was disapearing...Tears sprung to his eyes but he blinked them back. If Chitose saw him crying she would know something was wrong for sure. So he put on the now familiar mask that hid his true feelings. When his sister and brother returned he saw they had already gottent the ingredients for the meal from the shack that held all of their cold foods. They were both smiling happily so Itsuki knew he should too; just while they were looking anyway.
"Okay, Mutsuki bring the water over here. I'll take the pot off of the fire and we'll pour it in...together...okay? Chitose wait there, I don't want you to somehow get burned," Itsuki said, his voice failing at the word together.
"Yes...I never knew how heavy water could be..." Mutsuki replied as he dragged the pail along beside him.
"...Let me help you..."
Chitose watched the two of them from afar. Her little eyes narrowed in suspicion; she knew something was wrong but her brothers wouldn't say what it was. She would have to find out so she could make them happy again. Her big brothers were all she had because he mommy and daddy were always working to pay for things. If something happened to either of them she would be sad.
"O-nii-san! Are you almost ready now?" She asked, there was only one way to find out what was wrong. That was to act as if she didn't want to know, then they would tell her!
"Yes. We're ready now Chitose!" her brothers called in unison.
She ran over to them, her hands full with the ingredients for their dinner. She knew that onigiri wasn't really a dinner food but she liked it alot and she knew her brothers did too.
A little while later all three children were sitting side by side eating their supper. Itsuki was good at making the fire but Mutsuki was better at shaping the onigiri than her oldest brother was. Even though they were twins they were really different sometimes.
"Nii-san...Where is mommy and daddy? Why don't they ever come home anymore?" Chitose asked both of her brothers.
They smiled at her and both messed up her hair affectionately. "What, you don't like our food making skills? Mommy and daddy are just really busy. You're asleep when they get home."
"Then tonight, I'm staying up until they get home!" the little girl said stubbornly.
"...Well, I suppose if you want to you can but you have to go straight to sleep afterwards alright imouto-chan?" Mutsuki replied quietly. Both boys knew their parents weren't coming home. They never did and probably never would again. The people that were supposedly their parents had abandoned them long ago to live with friends. They couldn't take the guilt of knowing that they were condemning their son to death by refusing to leave this place.
Chitose nodded quickly; she knew that was what her brothers wanted to hear. She wanted to see her parents so much, they never came to see her and she missed them even though she had her siblings. The pages of her diary were filled with words she wanted to say to her mommy and daddy. She hadn't seen them since she was very small.
"Well, let's get this mess cleaned up before mother and father get home..." Itsuki murmured mostly to reassure his sister that they were actually coming home even though it was all just a big lie.
"Okay!" she said cheerfully.
They got some more water and cleaned out the pot and then put everything back in it's original place. Mutsuki suggested that they all head to the twin's room so they could be more comfortable while they talked or played so that was their next destination.
It was nearly dark so Itsuki grabbed a candle and lit it from one of the others faintly glowing in the hallway. Why had his parents just run off like that? Just because Mutsuki was going to die was no reason to run out on them. Maybe the ceremony master had said something to them? He didn't know and he didn't intend to find out either.
"Hey, Chitose, do you want to tell ghost stories?" Mutsuki asked with a mischeivious smile.
"Yes yes yes! Please please please O-nii-san!"
Itsuki didn't think it was a good idea as Chitose would have nightmares but he wouldn't protest because his little sister wanted to tell ghost stories he'd let her tell ghost stories.
"Come on Itsuki, or are you scared?" Mutsuki asked.
"Of course not, ghosts aren't real."
They all gathered around the candle that Itsuki set on the floor and began to tell their stories. Mutsuki went first and at the end jumped up and yelled boo which effectively made both Chitose and Itsuki jump out of their skins. Chitose's story ended happily, the person woke up and it had all just been a bad dream. It was Itsuki's turn now but he had no story prepared. All he wanted was to wake up and have all of this ritual buisness be just a nightmare.
"Once there was an old man and he lived all alone on a hill. He had always wanted to live down in the village with all the others but couldn't because he had had white hair since childhood and was an outcast. People would come up to visit him and then leave quickly when they discovered what had happened to him to make his hair white, he was always alone so he learned magic and used it to make a little dog that would keep him company.
The old man was happy until one day a villager came up to the cabin on the hill and said the old man's dog had killed his animals. The old man assured that it wasn't his dog's fault, it never left the hill. Despite the old man's protests the villager had the dog badly injured so it couldn't move. The old man knew that the dog wouldn't survive like that, dogs liked to run and play so he let the dog die. After that the man was all alone again but he was happy because he knew that something bad would happen to the village because they had hurt his dog. A few days later the villagers went up to the old man's house and asked to know what was going on but the old man wouldn't say that it was him.
The villagers animals slowly began dying and their crops failed. Insects appeared out of nowhere and stung their children but still the old man wouldn't say it was him. Then one day it all stopped, the village went all dark and it was gone forever."
Chitose looked at him wide eyed, "Sae and Yae's daddy has white hair Itsuki! What if he's like the old man in the story and hurts everyone in the village?"
"Don't be silly, it's only a story. Besides, the people deserved it for being so mean to the old man and his dog. There's a lesson to be learned isn't there? You should always be nice to everyone and everything even if they look different from you. Right?" Itsuki explained.
"Right! I won't be mean to anyone Itsuki!"
He smiled at her. His little sister was so kind, she shouldn't have to live in a village where they hurt people to save themselves. He only hoped that he could teach her well enough that when Mutsuki was gone that she wouldn't become angry or bitter to have lost her brother because of some stupid hole in the ground.
After that both Chitose and Mutsuki started to nod off but Itsuki stayed awake. Somehow he wasn't tired. Would he ever be able to sleep again? It didn't seem as though he would, at this moment anyway. Still he lied down on the mat beside his siblings and closed his eyes. What would the ritual be like? What would happen to him if the ritual failed? What about Chitose? Itsuki didn't really have any answers for himself, everything got all mixed in together somewhere along the way. At some point he fell asleep though he had nightmares throughout the entire rest of the night.
"Itsuki? Come on, time to get up," Mutsuki's voice said.
The older Tachibana twin sat up quickly, almost colliding with his brother in his eagerness to check if everything was alright. Of course it is. The ritual hasn't taken place yet he scolded himself.
"Where's Chitose? She didn't wake up before us did she? What if she accidently got lost?"
Mutsuki smiled at him, "I brought her back to her room O-nii-chan."
"Oh, alright."
Itsuki nodded to reassure himself more than anything.
"Itsuki...It's okay," Mutsuki murmured.
The boy shook his head making his longish black hair move along with his head, "No it isn't. I don't want to perform the ritual Mutsuki. I want to run away. I can't do it. I can't kill you..."
Mutsuki smiled at him again then embraced him, "Don't worry O-nii -chan, everything will be okay. I'll be a butterfly right? I'll watch over you and Chitose."
Itsuki tried not to cry, his brother was the one dying, not him. Regardless of his efforts tears started trickling out of his eyes onto his brother's shoulder.
"I don't want you to die Otouto..."
Mutsuki laughed and Itsuki could feel his chest rising and falling beneath his head. Soon they were crying together, albeit quietly as to not wake Chitose.
"I'm going to miss you nii-chan...but if we don't do this Yae and Sae will have to suffer and I don't want them to."
"No...neither do I...I hate this stupid ritual..." Itsuki whispered.
"It sure is ridiculous isn't it? I don't believe in the Hellish Abyss, it's just a story."
The older boy finally pulled away and stood up, "Come on, let's go check on Chitose."
Mutsuki got up too and they started to walk down the hall. Itsuki looked around the house and saw it for the first time as it really was; old and rundown. Tachibana house had looked as good as Kurosawa house at one point but now that the twin's parents had gone away there was nobody to take care of it properly; they were just children after all. This is what Itsuki had to look forward to once Mutsuki was gone. Peace and quiet, solitude and lonliness. But he had to stop thinking such dark thoughts, as his brother had said, everything would be all right. However, with the ritual soon approaching he couldn't help but let himself be sad about it.
gah. I'll end it there for now. took me a long time to update no:P you should see the state of me other fics... guilty look Anyhow, i hope you enjoyed this chappie and the next chapter will be my own little interpretation of what the cleansing is and then of course the ritual. Oh right, in case you don't know, O-nii-san/chan is older brother and Otouto-chan/san is younger brother. Onigiri is basically riceballs and they're usually lunch or a food you take if you're going on an outing somewhere(looked it up on the net). I think that's all...until next time, ja ne!