This fanfic is a sequel to the "Project Zero" game series
(a.k.a Fatal Frame).
It began as a little alternative ending story for the 3rd
game, and somehow it just got longer and became one big
story.
It was first "published" in Camera Lens' Forums, which is a
fan site of Project Zero, with some real obsessed players
(like most of the people who'll actually bother to read all
this).

I'd also like to apologize for the 1,000,000 grammar
mistakes I've probably made. It is, after all, my first long
story in English. And ironically, my first story on stage
with humor in it is based on horror games.

Chapter 1 - end and new beginning

After Rei depart from Yuu for the last time, she wakes up
and starts crying like always...
Suddenly, an inhuman scream is heard from outside the room.
"What now?!" she screams and runs outside excitedly.
Right on the same time, Miku is also coming out of her room,
and their eyes meet. They run and hug each other, shedding
tears.
"I'm so glad that you're safe. Thank you, Rei..."
"Miku... I couldn't do this without you; I need to thank
you..."
"Oooo... but wait, why did you scream like someone put a
hamster in your ###?"
"Me?! I thought it might be you..."

Then, once again the scream is heard.
Rei got her camera obscura and went downstairs with Miku,
ready for whatever may happen.
A horrible smell is clouding her sense... she knew that
smell.
On the living room, Kei is running after Ruri, trying to hit
him with one of his books.
"What are you doing?!" Rei screams at him angrily.
"The stupid cat thought I'm a toilet while I was sleeping!!!
And under my t-shirt of  all places!"
"I knew that smell was familiar..."
"Wait," says Kei, "so we're all... all right?"
"Yes! Thank lord kami!" says Miku.
"Good. That topless woman just didn't stop asking me if the
tattoos make her look fat."
Everybody laugh, Even Ruri, thinking to himself: "wait 'till
you'll open your bag..."

After six months...
Miku's having nightmares about Himuro again...
In the morning, Rei shouts when she sees a creepy ghostly
hand put an envelope through the door.
"Miku, you got mail!"
"On Sunday?"
Miku reads the letter, and drops it, shocked.
Rei starts asking questions, but Miku just glares at the
window and starts humming some kind of music.
"Miku, Did you got fu##ed up again?"
Rei picks up the letter, and gets shocked herself.

"Dear Miku,
I'm sorry I couldn't speak back then, on the last passage.
There was still some kind of voice barrier.
I guess you were terrified... and worried.
I worry about you too. I'm also the one who pushed you back
to Himuro in your dreams.
I've tried to tell you something, but my message was twisted
because of that darn manor of sleep, and that tattoo
maiden.
Anyway, Miku, Please come back to Himuro mansion.
Something BIG is going to happen in the gate to the malice,
and the time runs out. Please, hurry, and take the camera
obscure with you, you'll need it.
Take care,
You loving brother,
Mafuyu"

"Miku..." Rei steps toward the crying Miku.
"Rei... I can feel it... my brother's soul... Something
unspeakable is going to happen. I'm not sure I can do
this."
"Miku... Whatever it is, stop crying. I'll go with you!"
"Will you?"
"Of course..." she says with a soft voice, still not aware
of what horrible adventure is waiting for them.


Chapter 2: Off to Himuro

"Let's see..." said Rei, "we have sushi, sandwiches, falafel
and some fish-cheese cake."
"Good." Miku smiled slightly. "The last time I've been to
Himuro, all I had to eat was that yucky herbal medicine."
"You tell me!" said Mio, behind her, "I thought that Kusabi
was some kind of #@%$ pastry and in the end it was just a
$#@#!!! Stupid ghost!!!"
"Please excuse my niece..." said Kei blushing, "she's now at
the anger phase of her healing from the trauma. I don't like
it either but it's better than the depression she had
before."
"But doesn't the anger phase comes before the depression?"
asked Rei.
"Well... everything about Mio is upside down."
"You know... I CAN HEAR YOU!!!" shouted Mio into poor Kei's
ears.

"So we're all set", Miku took her little bag on her
shoulder. "Let's go now. This is no time for arguing!"
"I'm sorry, you're right. I know how much you worry about
him..." said Rei, and took the food bag in her hands.
"Right you are. It's time to save the world again!" Kei took
his tool-kit.
"Would you stop acting like some kind of @$%&% hero?!"
"Mio, you'll stay here and take care of the house and Ruri,
like we told you, ok?"
"Well... I'll take it. BUT IM NOT GONNA BRUSH HIS @$#$$%
FURR!!!"
"Ok... Are you sure its ok, Kei?" asked Rei.
"Don't worry, we've talked with the neighbors to keep an eye
on her, remember?"
"Yes... but do you think she'll get along with Ruri?"
"I'm sure of it. Pets have very calming effect on her..."
"Oh... I'm relieved."
"In the worst case," Kei thought, "the stupid cat will pay
for what he did to me back then!!! My bag still smells from
it!!!"

On the ride, Rei and Kei drove in shifts.
Miku also wanted to help on the way, but after she finished
drawing a map, she fell into a long sleep.
"Kei, I'm really worried..."
"I've already told you, the cat will be fine."
"I'm talking about Miku! She's trying to be strong but
something makes her weak. It's all a blurry story again...
and who knows what we may face this time. I'm not sure we
can fight and support Miku in the same time, and that's
makes me worry...do you know what I mean? Kei...?"
Kei was snoring on the wheel...
"KEI!!!" she screamed and took the wheel in her hand, and
noticed they were about to crash into a woman with really
long hair.
"WATCH OUT!" she told her and stopped the car on the last
second.
But then the woman disappeared, and Miku woke up
frightened.
"Rei, w-what's happening?"
"I don't know... but we've almost had a road kill."
Suddenly, there was a noise of raindrops hitting the roof of
the car, but there was no rain...
"I think its time to get out!" panicked Miku, and then all
three of them went out on the same time.
The rain sound continued, and it filled the whole
atmosphere.
"It's six miles away, but we'll have to get there on our own
feet", said the weakened Miku.
"Is the energy really that negative?" asked Kei.
"No... It's just that all the parking lots around cost money
and I will not be ripped off again!!!"
"If you say so..."

So, Rei and Kei, with Miku on his back, walked all the way
to the mansion.
The local villagers closed all the doors when they saw them
coming.
Sometimes, they could hear them whispering: "Poor, dammed
people... the hell downpour is coming."
"What is that hell Downpour?" asked Rei. "I don't like the
sound of it..."
"Me too. But I wonder... even with that sound of the rain,
the skies are so clear, and the grass is beautiful..." Kei
talked as he gazed on the lovely view.

Finally, by sunset, they made it.
The rain sound stopped, and Miku could walk on her feet
again.
"Mafuyu..."
"We're here buddy, don't worry," said Kei.
"So this is where it all begins..." said Rei, while they go
inside.

Meanwhile, Mio had stole all the neighborhood's pets, and
made Rei's house into an illegal animal shelter. "You know
what Ruri sweetie? I'll bet those bunch of &%$ morons are
already there, making some @#% heroic catchy
statements!!!"
"Why do I always end up with these people?" thought Ruri,
"It's because I'm black, right?"


Chapter 3: Blast from the past

Himuro mansion was just as spooky as always.
"Oh look! A saving point!" Kei was happy, since he had no
camera on him this time. But when he touched it, a very dark
miasma filled the air.
"Kei! I told you the bean-sandwich was out of date!" said
Rei.
"It's not me!!!"
"You have come..." a creepy woman voice came from inside the
saving point lantern. "I've waited for so long... with this
saving data... waiting... JUST FOR YOU!!!"
Then, a horribly strong wind pushed them all into the rope
hallway, and there they were trapped by the ropes, hanging
them between sky and earth.
Rei and Kei tried to free themselves, but Miku Was stunned.
"That voice... it can't be... its just can't be..."
"That's my line!" shouted Kei, and then the ropes fell with
our heroes.
"The door is stuck! We'll have to go on..." said Rei.
As the approached the mirror, Kei couldn't help noticing
something reflecting light.
"I-It's a Camera Obscure!"
"It's the same camera I broke..." Miku was surprised, "Did
someone fix it?"
"Perhaps someone been here?" suggested Rei.
"As far as I remember, when I left... There were only two...
The brother that I left... and the one I left him with..."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can't even say her name..." Miku started to cry.

Suddenly, a clock was heard ticking.
A shadowy figure came from the other side...with very long
hair... and a white kimono with many ropes stringing up from
it.
"So long... I was waiting..."
"But... but... I lifted the curse! You said you'll keep the
gates close!" shouted Miku.
It didn't stop her...

The gang panicked and came into the kimono room.
"Kirie!" a male voice was heard.
"Mafuyu! It's him!" Miku wanted to go out, but Rei stopped
her.
"Don't! It might be a trap. Kirie... That's the name,
right?"
Miku nod her head in silent agreement.
"She was the rope shrine maiden who wanted to live... and
thus brought the Calamity." Kei was reading from one of his
books.
"I just found some new pieces of information on the ground
that lead to something. Look at this:

-Tamari's diary 5-

Dear Diary,

Today I've lost any sense I had of good and bad.
This is after I hadn't written anything lately, so I'll tell
you everything from the beginning, about 6 months ago...
I saw Kirie's sad face, looking from the window at that
handsome boy.
She longed to be with him. She told me, as the one who
brings her food, that she must see him again.
I just couldn't help but let them meet.
She looked so happy with him. Why is the Himuro family
master so angry? The poor girl is going to die... at least
they can let her fell human for a while.

But he always said that the gates must be sealed with the
must-do strangling ritual commands. Or else the calamity
will come, and the malice shall fill the world.
It's just not right. There must be some way to seal the gate
without giving up neither love nor life.
I've conducted a large research, and went through the entire
island.
My answer was at an ancient shrine, where a very old and sad
priest told me there's one way to seal the gate forever. But
if it is to fail, something much more deadly than the
Calamity shall occur.
It called "Hell Downpour Ritual", and I thought I could do
it.
But I didn't even get the chance. When I came back' the
young man was already murdered. I looked at Kirie's sad
face, and at the master's strict expression. Kirie told me
it's not at my fault. But I'm not sure.
I don't know anything anymore. Dear diary, what have I done?
On the day of the calamity, Should I go to heaven or hell?

-End of Tamari's diary 5-

'The hell downpour... That was the thing the villagers
murmured. I never heard of it. Perhaps we can find something
that will tell us." said detective Kei.
"Wait... this means that the lover is essential for the
ritual... so how are we connected to all this?" asked Rei.
"Well. It's not me this time! I had enough!"
"Mafuyu! Maybe he's involved!" Miku thought loudly.

"heeree youu arrrre..." said another creepy voice.
But it wasn't the sound of Kirie this time... it was a
girl's voice accompanied with insane laughter.
"This laugh, Mio told me about this..." whispered Kei, as
they move quietly outside, to the Cherry Atrium.
"Mafuyu should be in the hell's gate. Let's get there
fast..." said Miku, conquering her fear.
They ran toward the moon shrine, but before them, the
laughing girl appeared.
"Youuu won't escape, never!!! Haahahahaa!!!"
Then, all the naked cherry trees around started blooming
with crimson butterflies, which flew all over the place.
Kei knew what it was about.
"Miku! Go to Mafuyu and find out what is going on... we'll
take care of this..."
Rei wasn't so eager... she wanted to help Kei but was too
afraid to leave Miku alone.
"I'll be all right Rei. He's near, I know this."
Before Rei even had a chance to reply, the crazy girl had
started dashing toward her.
She was pulled back by a quick shot.
"Take care Miku!" she screamed while Miku ran into the moon
shrine.

"HURRY!" Mafuyu rushed her.
"I'm coming!"
She was moving as fast as she could, until a new vision hit
her.
Here again she was watching Kirie carried away to fulfill
her duty, but this time she noticed a young girl glaring at
her.
"Tamari?"
The girl' thought to be Tamari, tried to get close to Kirie,
but when their face met, one of the priests took her to the
back line.
But she was smiling, quite an insane smile.
Only then Miku had noticed Kirie had a ring on her finger,
that wasn't there before.
"The hell downpour... YOU CAN'T DO THIS NOW!!!"
The girl's voice turned monstrous, and black miasma covered
the all place.
So... Miku ran like crazy, until she saw a glow near the
holy mirror.
"Mafuyu!!!"
It was him all right. And when she reached the glow she was
safe...
"Miku! I'm so glad you made it!" he said and tried to hug
her, but his hands came through her.
"You feel so cold..." tears came down her eyes.
"I'm sorry Miku... you already know that now I'm a part of
another world. But you will always stay a part of my world,
so I've sent you invitation."
"Ha? What to?"
"Well, my wedding of course!"
"WHAT???"

Meanwhile, Mio was in trouble.
The neighbors came to check on her a lot, and each time she
had to hide all the cats and dogs she took.
One of them was a boy about her age. So one time he came
alone, to see if she's ok. He felt really bad for her...
"Poor girl. So cute but so crazy."
The doorbell rang...
"Ruri! To positions!" Mio called all the animals to the
upper rooms and shut the doors.
"Hello", Mio greeted him.
"Hi... are you all right? You look worried..."
"It's nothing..."
"Say... you're not from this town are you?"
"Umm... no."
"Then, why won't you let me show you this city? There are a
lot of great places..."
"Are you hitting on me?" she blushed.
"Um... well... I just want to get to know you."
"I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY YOU #@%!!!" she screamed and shut
the door on his face.
"Wait!" he said, "Open the door! I meant what I say, there's
nothing to pity, I fell that under all that anger there's a
beautiful person."
"SHUT UP! I... I... I'll unleash Ruri on you!!!"
"What are you so angry about anyway?"
"I... I..." she murmured and then bowed on he knees,
crying.
The boy opened the door with a key that Rei gave him. She
thought he's the only neighbor she can trust it with.
And he was worth it. When he saw Mio, he immediately gave
her a glass of water, and tried to calm her.
After an hour, Mio felt more relaxed, but she was really
tired.
"Thank you," she said, "You know what? You forgot to tell me
your first name."
"You're right. My name's Itsuki. Seijiro Itsuki."
Mio looked confused.
"Ooooooooo", thought Ruri, "perhaps now she'll be busy with
him and stop running after me all day."


Chapter 4: The Invitation

You're getting married???" shouted Miku.
"Yep. You already know my fiancée. Come Kirie, don't
be shy now."
Kirie stepped forward, dressed in a beautiful wedding
dress.
"I wanted Kei to be my best man, and you to give us your
blessing."
"Mafuyu, that's the strangest moment of my life... but
wait," she turned to kirie, "we saw the malice-Kirie back in
the rope hallway. Was it really you?"
"No... The malice will never take hold of me again... not as
long I have my love besides me."
(Kirie kiss Mafuyu).
"Oh my Kami... well, if it wasn't you, who was it? What's
going on?"

"I'll explain", said Kirie, "It's all my fault..."

Back in the atrium, Kei and Rei were going out of film and
health in their battle.
"There's no choice, I'll use my strongest film on the Fatal
Frame chance." Thought Rei, and did it. But instead of
bouncing back, the Sae-like ghost laughed even louder.
"Pain! A world of pain! THIS IS MY PAIN!!!"
Her arms stretched with squeaking sound, and a very familiar
tattoo appeared on her body.
From her long hair, a mass of tormented ghosts appeared on
her sides, and ropes all over...
"Come on... a concept fusion? How pathetic!" thought Kei.
"Let's get the heck out of here!" Rei took his hand and ran
to the moon shrine.
On that moment' the moon light filled the room, and somehow
it repelled the creepy ghost.
"Youuu can't hide from the DARKNESS..."

"Kei, We don't have much time... the moon will move soon...
What will we do?"
"I don't know... guess we'll have to go to the gate."
"There's a barrier... and the only clue are these a few
papers..."
"Let me see that!!!"

-Tamari's Diary 6-

Dear diary,

It well may be the last time I write to you...
In a few minutes the ritual is about to start.
Poor Kirie... I don't want to see it!

I had an idea. It appears crazy at first but I feel it worth
a chance.
The Hell Downpour is a ceremony that requires the souls of
two lovers. Kirie told me that she knew something happened
to him, because a part of him, that is a part of her, told
her that.
What if I can use that part of him as a substitute?
I'll try it. The ritual is doomed anyway. But what will be
the price?
When I asked the priest who knew the secret, he looked at me
with tearing eyes, and said I'm too pure to let it happen.

A lot of people are going to die today...
Because of me...
I deserve hell...
But not Kirie. I want to see her finding a new love.
So... this is my final fight over my soul.
As my pain is my strength.

Goodbye dear diary,

Sincerely,

Tamari Himuro.

-End of Tamari's diary 6-


"Let it rain..." a young friendly voice was heard.
It belonged to a ghost of a young girl which was pointing
down the well...
That made the barrier go away, and the paper went on
flames.

"Ouch!!!" Kei screamed as he dropped it.
"Look! It's saying something!" Rei pointed down the floor.

-Fire writings-

(Written in a shaky hand)
Wrong is right... hell is right...
And death is my gift to this world.
Yes... The ritual failed. But I wasn't touched by the
malice,
We became one!!!
I am the one who possessed the Himuro family master.
I'm the power that was sealed by the crimson sacrifice
And I am the barer of all the suffering that human throw
away.

Kirie... I'm sorry, you must suffer as well.
But I'll let your purity run away in other form...
As long as we're together, it's OK.
It's just us, in the sea of endless sorrow, grief, and
pain."

-End of writing-

It took them a minute to understand what all this meant...
"The malice itself?!" they both shouted, and climbed down
the ladder.

"So," asked Miku, "If Tamari was sealed after you performed
the ritual, how did she come back?"
"Well... it's kind of a funny story... ha ha." The couple
giggled.
"You see, Kirie and I made a list of guests for our wedding.
Kirie didn't have anyone to invite, since they all went to
the other side..."
"And few days later, "Kirie continued, "I've heard Tamari's
voice calling me from the other side of the gate. I didn't
know what had happened to her back then.
She told me she's trapped, that she got there by mistake,
and that she wants to be beside me...
So I opened the gate just enough to get her out..."
"That's not funny... that's just stupid and dangerous!"
"Um... I guess you're right," Mafuyu said nervously.
"Anyway..." continued the insulted Kirie, "she tried to
destroy the holy mirror.
Fortunately, my dearest just came back from a stroll, and
our combined love protected the holly mirror. It still does.
If the mirror will brake, the malice will spread to the
entire world!"

"So how are we supposed to stop her? I mean, the mirror is
here. What's missing?"
"There's something Tamari gave me before the Calamity..."
Kirie showed her ring.
"It meant for a ceremony called "The Hell Downpour."
"How do you do that?"
"Well... it's pretty simple, we just need to get married,
and the pure inner light of love shall diminish the evil."
"Mafuyu... when the wall collapsed back then, are you sure
it didn't hit your head?"
"Yes Miku. Believe me, it really is that catchy and
simple."

"Miku!!!" Rei and Kei finally made it.
"Mafuyu! Long time no see. Who's the girl?"
"Miku," said Rei, "I think it's time..."
"You're right. I'll tell you everything..."

Blah blah blah blah...

"So now..." concluded Mafuyu, "The malice, with the identity
of Tamari, wants to spread.
"We can seal her back by changing pure vows of marriage."
"Man, I'm really happy for you..." said Kei, "but who will
marry you?"
"We have another haunted house in the neighborhood, and
there's a ghost rabbi named Na'hman and he said he'll be
more than happy to marry us."
"A Rabbi?" Miku was surprised, "But you're not even
Jewish!"
"It's never too late to convert, ha ha", they giggled.
"Miku ,your brother's really strange", said Rei.
"He wasn't like that before..."
"Kei, can you go get Rabbi Na'hman for us? He's on the manor
to the left..."
"It's kind of a problem... Tamari is out there and we can't
move..."
"Oh bummer..."

"I aam riiight Heeree..." said the not-so-lovely voice
behind him.
"What is that...?" Miku was shocked when she saw the freaky
fusion.
"Kei, bring the rabbi here. We must do the ceremony fast!"
said Rei, "We'll take care of it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Go!"
"OK. I'll come back fast!" He ran like crazy.

"Yes... go... I'd love to see your face when you come
back... and see all Your dead friends..."
"Don't be so happy Tamari, I still have my zero film and the
infinity function!" said Miku.
"Idiots... You cannot defeat ME!!! But just to make
sure..."
The black miasma filled the air... and Miku had begun
panting on the floor.
"Hang on!" Mafuyu and Rei came to help her, but were pushed
back by some force.
The miasma almost disappeared from the air... just giving a
chill of darkness flashes here and there.
"Miku...?" Rei was terrified.
"It is not my sister right now," said Mafuyu.
"It?"

Miku's body got up slowly, as a kimono, made from miasma,
emerge from the gate and covers her body. A crimson rope
close tight on her belly, and she starts to cry...
"Tamari..." Kirie knew what happening. Because Tamari
possessed Miku with all the malice, she could feel human
feelings again, on top of the eternal hellish pain. That
overwhelmed her.
Malice-Miku looked strait to Rei in the Eyes.
Rei could see the mixed emotions on her pale tattooed face.

"Miku! Fight it!"
"Tamari, stop this. If you really care for me stop this!"
shouted Kirie.

"It won't stop, until the end... This world... full of real
pain, and illusions of happiness... I CANT STAND IT
ANYMORE!!!"
Rotten bloody hands had begun to come out of the kimono...
and a strange skeleton appeared above her head.

Mafuyu and Kirie watched it with amazement, helplessly.
They couldn't do much because they had to hold hands to
protect the holly mirror.
"I like what she did with the hands," said Kirie.
Mafuyu gave her an angry look.
"What?"

Rei got the camera ready with full capability, and looked
for the right opportunity.
An evil grin appeared on Miku's face. Instead of attacking
directly, she hit the wall above, and made parts of the
sealing crush.
Rei dodged quickly, and stepped on the fallen pieces.
"So you have some skill after all...but even so..."
The rock she stood floated in the air, and turned upside
down.
Rei knew that she'll try to throw the rock at her. "I must
take my chance..."
On the second she hit the ground; she rolled, stood up and
took a picture.
It was a fatal frame, so, our hero took more and more, and
made unbelievable 12 hits combo!
"Wow! You're good!" Mafuyu was shocked.
"Was that enough?" Rei huffed, trying to see Miku behind all
the dust and rocks.
"Idiots..." a malicious voice whispered.
Miku's body has risen from under a pile of stones. She had
many injuries.
"This body... is just my tool...Even if it dies... I can
still control it..."
"Oh no!" Rei didn't know what to do next. Even if she can
defeat Tamari, it will probably cost Miku's life...

In the city, Mio had difficulties of her own...
That boy's name was Itsuki. He even looked like the one from
the village.
He was really kind as well, when he carried her to bed,
covered her with a blanket and gave her a kiss on the
cheek.
She really needed to talk to someone about this...
So she forced poor Ruri to have a tea ceremony with her and
she told him everything she feels.
"So, Ruri, you sure you won't fell lonely if I'll go out
with him tomorrow?"
"Meow"(means "what do you want from me?)
"I'll take that as a yes."


Chapter 5: Rei VS Malice-Miku

Kei kept running like crazy to the haunted manor.
This one was quite modest, only 50 rooms compared to the 150
rooms of Himuro mansion.
In the center of the house, the fire place was still
lightened.
"H-hello? Is there a rabbi Na'hman here?" Kei felt really
weird.
Suddenly, a squeaky sound was heard from the kitchen next.
Kei approached it slowly, feeling nervous for not having any
camera.
In there he saw a very clean polished floor, and a big pot
standing on top of the stove.
Suddenly, the water in the pot started to boil. Without any
fire. And it made Kei walk backward...
Some prayer in Hebrew was whispered in the air, while big
hot matzo-balls arose from the pot and shot, aimed at poor
Kei.
He used his hiding skills but he still got some hits.
So he ran upstairs, looking for some bat to push these
things back.
There he found... tam-tam-tam... a camera obscure! With a
label who said "Kosher" on it.
So he went back and detected the ghost.
"Get out of my house you goi!!!" he screamed on him.
"Wait you jerk! I've come for Mafuyu and Kirie! Something
horrible is going to happen in Himuro Mansion!"
"Ah! So why didn't you say so? Instead of spreading bread
after I cleaned for Passover!!!"
"WHAT? I did not!"
"There's a hole in your backpack!"
There really was, and all the sandwiches were squashed on
the floor.
"Oh no! Now I'll have to eat Herbal medicines!!!" this
horror was unspeakable...

Meanwhile, Rei had dodging problems of herself. In reality
and in her heart.
She felt really high anxiety, and she didn't know how to
stop it yet.
Miku got more amore monstrous in front of her eyes during
the battle.
Rei had successfully catch each shutter chance and fatal
frame there was, whenever Miku approached her, sneaked on
her back or throwing stones and ghost at her.
"I need to get Tamari out of her... but how?"
Malice-Miku started to laugh. "There's one advantage in
human forms. I can feel you now, throgh Miku's heart... Your
pain, mixed with your illusions of love... you are a perfect
example for the unnecessary sufferings of this world. I am
offering you and this world the freedom of pure pain... You
want to die, don't you?"
"Stop talking this crap!" Rei tried hard not to cry, "You're
the one who doesn't understand anything! The humane Tamari
is connected to you, if you really ARE the malice. And she
felt love, she cared too much. And what she did was stupid
but people do stupid things because they have emotions like
love! Even if all our emotions are nothing but illusions...
illusions are still a part of reality. Without it you
couldn't exist, too."
Mafuyu and Kirie wondered where there's popcorn when you
need it.

Malice-Miku started to feel anxious herself.
"MY PAIN... FEEDS ITSELF! FEEDS ME! I DON'T NEED ANYTHING
BUT PAIN! FOR ME, YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE!!!" she screamed in
fury, and the ground was cracking under their feet.
The bloody hand around Miku disappeared, and came out
randomly from within the cracks, trying to catch Rei.
It was almost impossible to dodge them while there's
earthquake.
One of them grabbed her leg, and then she quickly repelled
it with a snap-shot.
Then she noticed something, all the good film had run out,
and only type 20 film was left.
"How?! What happened to the Infinity function?" she thought,
"It means I can't afford shooting those hands..."
"Finally you noticed... mm special downgrading touch... the
feel of desperation... So deep..."
Rei decided to keep maneuvering until she'll figure
something out. But in the end... the bloody hands formed
around her in floating circle. She tried to crouch but the
hands got her, and pulled her by force to the ground. They
just kept pulling her more and more, until it almost broke
her back...
"I'll set you free..."

Kei and Rabbi Na'hman made it quite fast to Himuro.
When they made it to the moon shrine, they got a very scary
welcome from a young girl ghost.
"Good, you made it."
"Wait... I saw you before. In chapter 4..." remembered Kei.
"Tamari-chan?!" The rabbi was very surprised.
"Great Rabbi Na'hman?! You're here to perform the ritual?"
"What? You know each other?"
"Oh yes..." said the rabbi, "When I was alive, Tamari was a
very smart student of mine. She was always very interested
in religions, rituals and ceremonies."
"There's no time to talk! My other self is in there!"
"Other? You mean you're like Kirie used to be?" asked Kei.
"Not exactly... I'll tell you everything later... now go!"
"Ok but I don't understand, if you are..."
"GO!!!"
"OK, ok... sheesh"

Mafuyu and Kirie watched Rei helplessly trying to reach the
camera button to release herself.
"I want to know..." said malicious-Miku, "how does this
feel... to die... tell me..."
The choking hand was removed, but the others still pulled
her.
"My pain... Reminds me I'm alive..." she whispered after she
coughed.
"Soon that pain will be over..."
"You just don't get it... the reason I wanted to die is
because I didn't had the courage to live without Yuu... But
then I understood something... life are so precious. I can
still do so much...
"You are just a stupid coward, Tamari. You gave up any hope
to be happy, so what did you expect?"
Suddenly, there was silence.
The hands around Rei disappeared. She hoped her speech will
get to Tamari, and make her weak for a second.
Miku's face was hidden by some barrier, and tears were
hitting the floor.
"Something is changing inside her..." Mafuyu watched
carefully his sister's body got even more twisted.
Her face turned even paler, and small rivers of blood ran
down her head,
"Tamari... no! Don't kill her!"
"Rei, you can still do it!" said Mafuyu.
Rei knew she don't have many choices... she took a shot, and
then Miku's just disappeared from the eye.
"What? She can't just disappear as human..."
"Up there!" Kirie pointed to the hole in the sealing.
Miku was floating in the air, and a circle of girl's ghosts
danced around her, laughing. They all looked the same, like
the girl from the moon shrine.
"A lot of Tamaris? What is all this?" Kirie asked aloud.
"These are... my floating memories... after I became the
malice... I couldn't hold to these false illusions of life
purity... So now they have a life of their own... and...
that's why..." her voice changed to normal for a second,
"that's why you're wrong. I didn't give up. I didn't choose
death over life... I chose life and I GOT DEATH!!!..." her
voice turned monstrous again "YOU SEE?? THERE IS NO
CHOICE!!!" the memories around her disappeared, and instead
a shower of aiming shadow balls shot toward Rei.
She couldn't maneuver any more, so she had to take rapid
pictures, so soon she was out of film...
Tamari gathered her strength, and made another shower of
shadow balls.
"I'm sorry, Miku, everybody..." said Rei, feeling the end,
but just in time, a snap-shot sound was heard.
"Kei! Rabbi! Good timing!" Mafuyu was glad.
"I learned this heroic catchy acting from you!" Kei smiled.
"Kei, Help her..." Rei whispered to him, and then passed out
from fatigue.
"Rei!!!"
"So... do you wish to die as well?"
"Just try it!"
"Kei! You must be careful! Miku's life force is very low
now. So don't push her body too much!" screamed Mafuyu.
"OK!"

Malice-Miku started with her basic strategy of uprising
rocks and direct attacking. Kei got her shutter chances but
was inflicting, as always, only a bit of damage.
Mafuyu and Kirie hold their mouth not to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing...he... it's just that I didn't know you're so..."
"Lame..." Kirie completed him.
"What?! Here I am doing my best to save the world, and this
is what I get?!"
"Don't get me wrong, Kei, I do appreciate it but..."
"A puppy is more harmful than you!" Kirie completed him
again and they let out their laughter. Even rabbi Na'hman
joined them.
Kei was really pissed of.
"Hey... I'm still here!" Tamari was angry and made another
shadow balls attack.
Kei tried to maneuver, while using heavy rocks as
one-time-purposed shield.
"Hey! Mafuyu! If you're so smart why won't YOU do
something?"
"Perhaps I can..." he thought for a second.

Kei then felt strange feeling over all his body.
"I'm giving you some of my spirit power for one shot, use it
wisely" said Mafuyu.
The Malice Miku was sick of all those shootings already, and
went on wide open attack.
Kei used his chance and got a nice fatal frame. But there
was no chance for a double shot.
Something strange happened. For a second, Miku's face went
back to normal.
"Miku! Hang on!" they all screamed, but her eyes went blank
again.
"Mafuyu! Let's try this again!"
"All right!"

Meanwhile, Rei woke up, and saw what is happening. She also
noticed that the repeated attacks don't help very much. Each
time, Miku's coming back only for one second.
"Here you go..." a sweet voice said.
Rei looked up and saw one of Tamari's memory ghosts putting
a zero type film in the camera, and after that she poured
some sacred water on her.
"Thank you. I think I know what to do."
"You do know" said the ghost.
"If Mafuyu has that much influence on Miku... that should
work.
Rei got up slowly, and looked in the camera. There was only
one shot in it.
Luckily, Tamari was busy with Kei, so she ran to her bag and
got one of her professional camera equipment.
"Mafuyu! Say cheese!" Rei shouted.
Mafuyu looked at her and she took a picture of him.
"OUCH! That hurt you know!" Mafuyu got a little dizzy after
that.
"What the heck are you doing?!" Kirie and Kei didn't
understand the meaning of this.

"Enough of that!" Tamari got sick from coming and out from
Miku in zigzags, "this body shall be mine alone!!!"
Malice-Miku was about to stab her own heart, but Rei acted
in time.
Without any more film, she used the same one twice.
FLASH
One second of silence filled the air.
Then, Malice-Miku's crimson rope suddenly got loose, and the
miasma kimono fell, swallowed back in the ground.
"What did you do?"
"This is my photomontage lens; I use this to bring two
pictures together. You see? Miku's and Mafuyu's souls are
connected, and together they are one bigger whole you can't
contain."
"Damn you!!!" she screamed, and without choice, left her
host body.
Miku, then, fell on her knees, shaking from pain, "I feel so
confused..."
"Miku! I'm so happy!" Rei hugged her.
"OUCH! My bruises!"
"Oh, sorry..."
"Don't worry," said the Rabbi, "she just needs to eat a lot
of herbal medicines and rest. She'll be fine."
"I didn't need a doctor to tell me that!" pointed Kei, and
got a matzo ball hit his face.
"Here you go..." another Tamari-memo ghost appeared and gave
Miku few herbal medicines.
"They sure are useful... Can I buy one?" thought Kei.

"Mafuyu! We better hurry! Before she comes back!" said
Miku.
"You're right. Are you ready Rabbi Na'hman?"
"Yes. Please gather under the canopy."
"But we don't have a canopy"
"That is a problem..."
"I know!" Kei made 4 poles out of stones, and put some jute
on top of them.
"Something came out of you being a BLOCK head" the Rabbi
commented.
"Just get on with it..."
"It's strange, why didn't she show up yet?" worried Miku.
"She's probably waiting for the right moment. She's
preparing something..." Kei had a strong feeling about
that.

While everybody prepared for the wedding, the sky above went
dark and stormy, and scary-like-hell voices filled the air.

"Rei ,whatever happens now, you're the only one that can
defend us," explained Rabbi Na'hman, "Miku and Kei must
stand in their places in the ceremony. Or else its not sure
it will work. So take this."
He gave her a necklace, made from shiny pearls, and some
films.
"This will keep the barrier around the canopy unharmed, you
must guard it at all cost."
"I understand... hurry..."
Rain started pouring on the canopy, and the wedding began.
Not exactly your ideal way to get married, huh?

Rei was already soaking wet, but that was the least of her
worries...
A Creepy voice was whispering into her ears: "Let's cut the
talking..."
Rei turned her head, and saw Tamari's horrible face
expression, which made her automatically step back... Tamari
looked more like a young woman than the little naïve
memories she had.
She had the most horrible expression you can imagine on her
face, and through her ghostly skin you could see black veins
of the malice, full with streams of black glow, containing
hundreds of thousands of miserable souls.
In her palm she held a sacred knife, which with a swift move
she cut down her left hand.
Rei gasped in horror.
From the exposed veins an evil energy was flowing freely...
Rei's hardest battle ever was about to begin.

Miku and Kei couldn't look back, but they heard the sounds.
"Rei... be strong..." They prayed with all their heart.

Meanwhile, Mio was trying not to get too excited about her
first date.
"He's just a boy... just a boy..." she told herself while
she walked to his house.
Ding-Dong
"Hello", she greeted him when he opened the door. He looked
very tired, and wore his pajamas.
"This is how you're dressing for a date?!" Mio was shocked.
"a date...?" Itsuki looked in his watch, "ITS 2:30 PM!!!"
"B-But... you said "do you want to go out tomorrow?" and
tomorrow is now." She almost cried.
"I see. I guess a little night walk won't do any harm. Wait
for me to change a sec, will ya?"
He closed the door, thinking if it was a good idea or not to
flow with this crazy girl.

After two minutes, Mio thought that perhaps he's quitting on
her.
"I should have known! Ruri tried to tell me but I just
didn't listen!!!" she cried aloud.
"Isn't Ruri Rei's cat?" asked Itsuki as he opened the door.
"Umm, yes... animals has a body language, you know..." she
blushed.
"Aren't you the interesting type? Well, Did Rei showed you
around?"
"Nope."
"Too bad. There is a lovely park nearby. I think it's
prettier at day, but night has its own charm. Do you want to
see it?"
"Yup", she said and walked after him.
It was really quiet outside... Itsuki wasn't bothered by
that, but Mio felt really nervous.
"Look over there, that's the biggest house around. The owner
of "Tokyo Candyland" lives here. Do you know them?"
"AH... you mean THOSE #@% grouse %@% THAT SELL THAT $##@%
that makes me wanna PUKE?!"
"Umm. I wouldn't go that far (or psycho) about it but yes,
that's them all right."
"I'm sorry, I think I overreacted."
"No offence, but it seems that you get angry a lot. You
still haven't told me why."
"Its something, that has to do with the past..." Mio wasn't
sure she can talk about this.
"Wait, let's sit down first."
They arrived at a nice park, with many trees around it.
Itsuki sat down on a swing, and signed Mio to sit on the one
next to him.
"Aren't we a little old for this?"
"I don't think so... I just like to sit here like that, when
I have personal conversations with someone."
"Personal conversations?!"
"Yes, I wanted to talk with you about some stuff... I hope
you won't get mad at me..."
He was swinging lightly while he was talking.
"After Rei left you here, I've heard strange stories about
you. That got me interested, so I did some research on your
name. I've read about the incidence in the forest. Before
that you were quite charismatic young girl, but since your
sister's disappearance..."
Mio was shaken by just mentioning all that.
"The police figured that you don't know anything of what
happened there. You stopped talking after mentioning she
went deep into the woods, so they thought you lost her at
that point. But my intuition never failed me before, and I
feel you do know something."
Mio was surprised.
"I won't tell anybody, I just need to know..." he promised.
"Why is that?"
He didn't know how to answer.
"Have you researches about the place she was lost in...?"
she asked suspiciously.
"Yes. I see what you're getting at. I've heard all there is
about the lost village."
"Don't be so sure. When I've been there, I found some
horrible documents there."
"Like this one?" he took a crimson notebook from his pocket.
It was Chitose's...
"How...?"
"I've been there, too..."
"You did?!"
"It was 4 years ago. I was there on camping with my family.
And all the night long I heard a little girl calling my
name. The night after, I walked after that voice, and got
into the village.
Chitose thought I'm her big brother, and tried forcing me to
stay with her. I tried to explain her why I can't stay, but
she was just sure I was playing a game with her.
I had to go. The Camera Obscura helped me to fight my way
through, 'till I found a crack in the passage. I've heard
her voice behind me. She thought I was leaving her again to
be with someone called Yae, The one who should have been the
remaining. I thought it all was a dream, for a long time."
"I wish my visit there was..." Mio almost cried remembering
Mayu.
"When you came here, I've learned the truth. And since you
have a twin, I can only guess that you are connected to the
Crimson sacrifice."
"Stop talking about it. There's nothing to it" she got up
from the swing, with tearing eyes. "I wanna go home now."
"Ok. I'm sorry, I just needed to know."
He walked her back home.
"Before I say goodbye, I just want you to know something."
"What?"
"That... It's not your fault."
"Huh?"
"What happened in the village is not your fault."
Mio didn't answer; she stood still and tried hard not to
explode.
Suddenly, she felt his arms around her. She couldn't hold
the crying any longer.
They were standing there, for almost an hour, hugging each
other.
"Can we stay like this a little longer?" she asked after she
calmed down.
"Yes... (I hope my jacket will be dry by then)."


Final chapter: The Hell's Downpour

Never had Rei felt her heart beating so fast.
The nightmarish vision that Tamari gave her was
overwhelming.
Through the slashed black veins, something horrible came
out, and instead of flowing down, it flowed up and circled
above Rei.
She got her Camera ready, but the rain made the picture a
little blur.
Something came out of the black glow. She couldn't see it
well but she still got the shutter chance in time. But it
was too strange; almost every second there was a shutter
chance.
Suddenly, she could hear something behind her.
She moved quickly and shot it.
"I know I'll regret it..." she thought, and removed the
camera from her eyes for a sec.
Scary twisted ghost were lurking all around her. She
couldn't see anything through them, since there were
thousands of them.
Lucky for her, they were all pretty slow, but it will be
just a matter of time until she runs out of film.
Then the ghost came from the under the ground too.
They grabbed her and it took her a little time to shot
them.
After that, ten's of ghost were close tight to her.
Rei took her chances again and used her flash effect like
crazy, while she walked through the walls of the ghosts.

When she made it out, she saw tamari giving the knife to one
of the ghosts, in order to cut her second hand. But Rei used
the Fatal Frame in time, and covered the veins with some
temporary barrier.

Tamari gave her yet another empty look.
Only the thunder broke the silence.
Rei preferred her when she talked too much...

Then, the sacred knife was floating in the air.
Rei tried to find some sort of shield, in case she'll try to
stab her.
But that wasn't the case... Tamari spread her arms,
stretched her chest and let the knife tear her black heart.
"Now you shall see... what true horror is..." Tamari
whispered, and then disappeared. The Malice was fully
unleashed.

Inside the canopy barrier, the rabbi was half way through.
Miku and Kei didn't understand most of the blessing, and
even though they were excited about being the firsts to see
a ghost-Jewish-wedding, right now Rei was their biggest
concern.
"Miku, we must be more focused; this is the only chance, for
Rei too."
"You're right. Lets try harder."

"Please make this end soon" Rei prayed when she saw the
greasy heart of the malice set free, and all the veins
connected to it tying into a knot.
When it approached her slowly, she became suddenly deaf.
There was no sound of the rain drops, spooky voices,
prayers, or even her own panting. Not even a silence. Pure
nothing.
Rei felt her mind getting clear all of a sudden,
She looked at the view, and somehow noticed every little
thing, like the texture of the crushed rocks, the glitter of
each drop of rain, and the particles of dust in the air.
In between, there was something unclear.
In front of her eyes there was a floating tender whirlpool
that draws some invisible life force from this world. She
tried to repel it with a shot, but when she just pointed the
camera obscura to that thing, it broke and shattered into
small pieces.

Rei felt helplessness filing every hole in her mind.
With each millimeter the whirl got closer, she could feel
more and more pain that belonged to the tormented souls she
met earlier.
She could feel the pain of people who were killed and
murdered by their loved ones, people who did terrible
unspeakable thing during their lifetime, and their miserable
victims.
She had her own pain already, from the accident with Yuu.
It was as if they all said "come join us".
"No... I must live on" she told herself.
But all that pain got to her, making it appear as if there's
nothing but death in this world.
"Yuu? Are you suffering there too?" she asked in silence.
Then she could see him, deep through the whirlpool, where he
signed her not to come.
She didn't know what to do, all her senses got blurry, and
she thought maybe going inside the thing will stop it
all...

"...And now, for the rings exchanging", announced the
Rabbi.
Kirie and Mafuyu got their rings ready.
"Mafuyu Hinasaki, Will you take Kirie Himuro to be your
humble wife, and take care of her in sick and poor and in
times of happiness, until death... umm... I mean...
forever?"
"I do..."

Rei couldn't see anything anymore either, after looking into
the malice eyes. She only felt pain, and wanted to stop it.
Just before she walked in, she felt a familiar presence.
"Yuu..." she said.
She could talk to him, and hear him as well.
"Rei, you must not give up..."
"I've tried, Yuu... Trying is just not enough!"
"That's right... But you have to try anyway..."
"What do you mean?"
"What matters in your life is not what you achieved; it is
the way you picked.
When we were together... It wasn't the roses and the kisses
I cherish the most; it was the bond of love we had."
She felt his cold touch on her cheek.
"Keep trying, and perhaps, when you'll believe in yourself
enough, everything will work fine..."
"But Yuu... a part of me is always seeking you."
"Rei, didn't you understand it on our last meeting?" he
said, "I'm always here..." she felt him touching her heart.

"...I now pronounce you, dead husband and wife! Break the
glass and then you may kiss the bride!"
"All right!" he smiled and almost broke the holy mirror.
"MAFUYU!!!"
"Ah oops... sorry..."
"Is this bottle of holy water will do?" asked Kei.
"It will", agreed the Rabbi, and so Mafuyu broke it, and
gave Kirie a big kiss.
"This stuff still gives me the creeps" said Miku.

"Take care, Rei..." Yuu was pulled back into the whirl.
"You too..." cried Rei, and suddenly felt her consciousness
to the outside world coming back, with all the sights and
sounds.
She felt the ground moving, and saw the strange whirlpool
sucked back into the gate.
The barrier around the canopy was lifted, and everybody
could see each other.
"Rei!!!"
"Miku!!!" the two friends were so glad they made it.
"Look!" Kei pointed to the sky.
The black clouds disappeared, and instead of seeing the blue
morning skies, there was a white glow all around.
(If there was a theme song I think it should've start here)
Then everybody felt something on their head. It was a white
glittering rain.
"It feels... so warm..." said Miku.
Kei opened his mouth to taste it, "it's sweet..."

The white rain got stronger, and started pouring on the
gate.
"The hell's downpour..." a little voice whispered, "thank
you."
"Tamari?!" Kirie jumped, ad saw her loyal servant and friend
standing in front of the gate, which was almost closed
completely.
"I'm sorry that things turned out that way. You were right
Rei. I'll go now to where I belong." She turned to the
gate.
The gang looked at her, feeling sorry for her.
"I'm happy for you, Kirie." She said, and tried to get in,
but right then the door was firmly shut.
The white rain covered the middle of the gate, and made it
be locked forever.

"Why won't you come with us then?" Mafuyu stretched out his
hand to her.
"Yes, please?" asked Kirie.
"Where will you go?" asked Miku.
"I don't know where it is... But I think it's a good place.
Now that the gate is safe, we're no longer bound to this
world."
Little Tamari pulled Kirie's dress a little, "Let's go."
Kirie nodded, and then the three started glowing with
dazzling light.
They exchanged last words of farewell, and then disappeared,
along with the hell's downpour, and the white skies.

Mio also felt sort of relief.
She and Itsuki talked all night long about the lost village,
about life and about themselves.
Until they've fallen asleep together without even noticing.

Loud noises woke her up. They came from downstairs.
"Itsuki... Itsuki..." she tried to wake him up... but he was
in a deep sleep.
"WAKE UP!!!" she screamed and he got right up. "There's
something downstairs. Let's check it out..." they both went
down, and to their surprise, Rei and Miku were back.
"Thank goodness!" thought Ruri and jumped happily on Rei.
"Look, he became friendly like a dog" Miku was surprised,
"How did you do that Mio?"
"Umm... I haven't done anything... how was your trip?"
"It was very interesting..." they answered. They didn't have
any word that actually fits.
"And Itsuki, what are you doing here?" Rei got suspicious.
"I... just came to visit."
"Don't worry; it's not what you might think", Mio blushed.
"Well, I believe you. But I'm not sure Kei will."
"Where is he?"
"He went to the grocery shop; he got really hungry after a
day without food."
The door bell just rang.
"I'll get it!" Miku reached the door.
Kei came in with 10 bags full of junk-food.
"Good! Now lets eat!" he started putting everything on the
table.
"Hi uncle", said Mio.
"Hello Mio! How are you?" he asked without even looking at
her, he was totally obsessed with the food.
They took the opportunity, and Mio led Itsuki outside.

"Before we eat, I want to check the rooms..." Rei had a
feeling that something's wrong.
"Ok, but hurry!" Kei was already holding a giant triple
burger in his hands.
Rei's and Miku's rooms were ok.
Now she had to check Yuu's...
"Do you want me to do it?" offered Miku.
"Thanks Miku, but it's ok now."
She opened the door, and then she clanged to the wall
screaming, so she won't get in the way of the hoard of the
animals that ran through it.
"Huh?" Kei was surprised from the screams and the barking.
He's shock turned to anger when all the food was eaten by
them. "Mio!!! What is this???"
"Um... sorry?"
"Why you..." his expression changed, "hey, you didn't curse
me yet."
"Really? I didn't notice..." Mio wasn't aware yet to the
little change in her, but Kei did. And then he totally
forgot about being hungry.

"Oh Rei, Here's the Yamada's puppy, he's so cute!" Miku
picked him up.
"I hope they'll forgive me one day..."

EPILOUGE

And so... Our Japanese Scooby-gang went back to their paths
of life, with each one carrying the treasured moments of
acting together...

Rei became the editor of a well-known photography magazine,
where she could finally express her creativity freely. She
even dedicated a full issue to pictures of her and Yuu.

Miku was still helping Rei, but she also opened a business
of her own. Her experiences inspired her to open a new
ghost-candy shop, with candy's and cakes in shapes of Kirie,
Blinded, and even a piñata of a kusabi.("Yumm" said
Mio).

Kei moved to Rei's neighborhood, 'cause he realized Mio's
friendship with Itsuki helped her healing her wounds.
He stopped researching only Japanese Folklore, and started
to publish new articles about phenomena's over the world.
His work won for him even the "most bored person ever"
award.

Mio attended school Again, where Itsuki studied too.
It took her sometime, but she made new friends and even
smiled here and then.

And Ruri-chan was enjoying his carefree life-style.
Every time Mio comes to visit, he's hiding in the closet.