Loading User Commands:
[X] Search Vincent's room for clues.

---

Youmu nods to herself as she starts walking towards Vincent's room. There is no point in feeling uneasy or embarrassed. No matter how one looks at it, this is already the start of a full-blown incident. The fact that their guest has unusual and dangerous abilities is enough to be concerned about. He most certainly isn't an ordinary human.

From the beginning, he had been acting strangely. He had sealed and blackmailed her, but not soon after, he showed her kindness and warmth. Claiming that he had lost his memories, he continued displaying odd skills and talents. Acting like he remembered, then acting like he forgot, it was impossible to tell who he really was. And now, he had hit a critical point and finally lost control of himself. Assuming, of course, that he was a kind person who turned violent and not the other way around.

"..."

Standing in front of his room, Youmu reflexively shields her chest with her arms. If things were slightly different, it may have been another person who would have been assaulted in her stead. Thinking back at his skills, he could have overpowered Chen or Komachi. Perhaps he might have even attempted to subdue Lady Yuyuko, though that seems much less likely. Unless he still has more abilities they knew nothing about.

"Hmph!"

The half-ghost swings the door open, slaming it loudly to the side. She storms into the room, as if to scold its inhabitant. Of course, the place is empty. No one is here to answer to her complaints and anger. Yet, she can't help but cry out, now that she is here.

"S-stupid!" she shouts.

She takes a moment to collect herself. Without a target, such an emotion is inappropriate and useless. For now, she must focus on the task at hand. As the guardian of Hakugyokurou, she needs to stay calm and solve this incident. And to do that, she needs to learn the truth.

Truth.

Youmu spots an untidy pile near the entrance. Looking closer, it looks to be Vincent's weapons and coat. A European longsword, inscribed with foreign runes, lies at the top. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be made of ordinary steel, though she can feel a faint energy emanating from it. Beside it is a crossbow and a small quiver of bolts. She notes that the bolts are silver-tipped. The last weapon is a revolver, heavily modified. It seems to be the most modern of the weapons, but the least used.

Then, she examines his coat. It doesn't seem to be anything but an ordinary piece of clothing. However, it has a lot of pockets. Maybe there is something..? She quickly goes through each pocket, but she finds the coat empty of any items.

"Haa..."

Youmu slowly stands up and looks around. Then, she notices a small pack in the corner. Lying to its side, its contents spill carelessly on the floor. Really, he should take better care of his things. At least he should close his bag properly before leaving the room.

"...what is all this junk?"

An old iron key, some rope, a lantern, a torch, a small knife, some matches, a bunch of rags, stale bread and jerky, some illegible scraps of paper - there is hardly anything she would call useful in this bag. Why would he still keep all of this? He should have left it in the storage room so it wouldn't collect all this dust and hair...

What? Hair? Youmu examines the pack carefully. There is no mistaking it. All around and inside the pack are scattered hairs, as if some animal had been shedding on it. The hairs themselves are thin and short. And at the very bottom, she finds a whole bunch of hairs clumped up in a soft and sticky mess.

"Ugh..."

A hairball.

After tidying up the room, as is her habit with all the rooms in the mansion, Youmu takes a moment to wash up nearby. Looking up at the sky, she can see that it is already dark. From a distance, she can see a few wisps floating lazily around the grounds. She probably has some time before dinner.

[ ] Head to the kitchen and start the preparations early.
[ ] Look for Yuyuko in the garden.
[ ] Check up on Chen at her room.
[ ] Go to your room and think.
[ ] Patrol around the grounds.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
A long sword named "Roukanken". This blade can kill ten spirits in one stroke.
A sword named "Hakurouken". This blade can dispel the confusion of those it cuts, but it can only be used by the Konpaku family.
A black hair ribbon. You feel naked without it.
A skull wrapped in some cloth. You are keeping it inside your ghost half.

"Haa..."

Youmu slowly opens her eyes. She doesn't know how long she has been in the bath, but she can't stay here forever.

'A bath and a fresh change of clothes' Komachi had said. If the shinigami hadn't arrived that time, who knows what would have happened? Youmu didn't even realize that Vincent had fallen unconscious. At the time, she was completely helpless. Too many things happened, and too quickly. Even now, she doesn't really understand how she felt during the whole incident. Emotions she never felt before, pulling tightly at her chest, and the feeling of his hands against her body.

"..."

Youmu shivers as she recalls the alien sensations, probing and rough. She never thought that Vincent would suddenly do such... strange things to her. And his eyes. There was something wrong with his eyes when he grabbed her like that. Somehow, they looked too clear, not unlike the glass eyes of a puppet or a doll. Yet, there was certainly something familiar about them. Like she has seen this before, somewhere.

Youmu slowly turns to face her companion in the bath.

"Where have I seen those eyes before?" she asks.

"..."

"It's like he knew exactly what he was doing," she says. "Even more than he usually does. Or rather, he was acting completely different from his usual, half-hearted self."

"..."

"I never thought that he could be so barbaric..."

"..."

"O-of course I didn't enjoy it! He was so rough and uncivilized!"

"..."

"I-I don't care what you think! That stupid guy can go to hell, for all I care!"

"..."

"Well... maybe not that far, but I'll still punish him painfully for that!"

"..."

Youmu sighs heavily as she looks away from the skull. Sinking herself lower into the bath, she slowly recalls the events. Starting from a minor misunderstanding, it suddenly turned into some weird chase.

But weirder still was that he was able to catch up to her at all. No human could have possibly done that. And reacting so quickly... it's as if he read her every move. Not even the shrine maiden or the black-white could surpass her speed so easily. And no ordinary swordsman could ever overpower her attacks like that. No one except...

Her eyes widen in realization. Suddenly, she remembers.

Vincent was fighting like her father.

...

Vincent's coat and other belongings were left in his room. Komachi said that she will be returning around dinner time. She never said where she took Vincent. Chen was still asleep in a guest room the last time she saw her. She will probably have to come up with some story for the nekomata. And Lady Yuyuko hasn't returned from her walk yet. She needs to tell her about the incident right away.

After dressing herself in a fresh set of clothes, Youmu slowly steps out into the hallways. She pauses to think.

[ ] Head to the kitchen and start preparing dinner.
[ ] Look around for Yuyuko in the garden.
[ ] Search Vincent's room for clues.
[ ] Check up on Chen at her room.
[ ] Go to your room and think.
[ ] Patrol around the grounds.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Komachi is sitting only a few inches away, her scythe leaning lazily against her shoulder. With a sad smile on her face, she turns away from him and starts watching the flickering torch flames. Vincent follows her gaze, watching the fire and the shadows.

"..."

He doesn't know how many minutes passed. They sat together like that silently, engrossed in their own thoughts. Perhaps neither of them knew what to say. Or perhaps both of them knew that there was little much to say. He couldn't tell which. But for some reason, he felt at ease with her beside him.

Despite everything that had happened, he knew, without words, that Komachi still wanted to help him. He didn't need to explain that he wasn't in control. In fact, she never asked. She only smiled sadly at him, as if she already knew. Perhaps that meeting with Keine wasn't a waste of time, after all.

But even so, things can only get worse if nothing is done. Next time, he might end up doing something unforgivable. Next time, he might not wake up until it is too late. There isn't any time left for apologies and regrets. He needs to do something. Anything that can help.

If only they had some way of finding the truth...

"Sorry about everything," he says quietly. "I never wanted to hurt anyone..."

"I know you didn't," says Komachi. "You aren't that kind of person."

"I think... no - I know that I'm too dangerous to be around. But right now, while I'm still sane, I'd like to tell you something."

The shinigami slowly turns to face him, an unreadable expression on her face.

"What is it?" she says.

"Everything," he says. "While I still remember, and while I still have the chance."

Vincent sighs loudly before he continues.

"Let me say 'sorry' in advance. It's a pretty long and complicated story."

"It's alright," she says softly. "I have the time to listen."

"Well then, I guess it all started when I..."

...

He doesn't know how long it took, but he told her everything - each and every thing he could remember. Komachi said little, only asking the occasional question about this and that detail. But by the time he finished, he somehow felt that a heavy burden was lifted from his chest.

"And I guess that's everything," he says. "Sorry if it doesn't make much sense..."

Then, to his surprise, Komachi smiles at him.

"Sounds pretty rough," she says finally. "But at least I'm sure now."

"Eh? Of what?"

She just smiles wider.

"Forget about it," says the shinigami. "Anyway, I better head back to the others. Maybe I can find out something useful."

"How are the others?"

Komachi pauses.

"I haven't seen Yuyuko yet, but she should have already met up with Youmu by now. Chen was still asleep when I left. I don't think there was anyone else."

"I see..."

The shinigami stands herself up, and after brushing the dust off her clothes, she takes a few steps toward the exit. A determined and confident smile on her face, she turns back to him one last time, telling him not to worry.

"I'll definitely solve this incident," she says. "You just wait here for me."

"Like I have much of a choice," he replies.

She chuckles a bit. He manages a small smile.

"Thanks Komachi... for everything."

The shinigami blushes bright red at this, and finding nothing to say in return, she simply gives him a low bow before closing the steel door behind her.

Looks like he can't do anything until she comes back.

"..."

Isn't this game fun?

Loading User Commands:
[X] Stay silent.

---

Vincent opens his eyes with a start. He can hear some subtle tapping from outside. Footsteps? They get louder and closer as he listens. Then, he hears the steel door unlock with a loud click. Someone seems to be approaching from outside.

He lowers his head shamefully and stays silent. For some reason, he can't find the will to call out for anyone. After all, who would help a horrible person like him?

"..."

The door swings open loudly, and a tall silhouette takes a few steps closer. He doesn't raise his head, waiting for it to speak.

"Hey... are you awake yet?" says a familiar voice.

Vincent looks up, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Komachi?" he says slowly.

"Good to know that you still remember my name," she says. "Are you feeling better? Any pain in your head or abdomen?"

Vincent takes a moment to examine himself. Then, he shakes his head.

"I don't think I'm hurt," he says.

"That's good," says the shinigami. "Then maybe you can answer a little question that's been bothering me..."

"Eh?"

Komachi takes a few steps closer, a strangely sad expression upon her face. For some reason, he feels like she looks quite tired and strained. She pauses right in front of him. Then, she forces a bitter smile.

"So..." she whispers. "Why did you assault Youmu?"

Vincent looks back at her stupidly. She doesn't seem to be joking.

"Huh? I didn't -"

Slowly, the images come back to him. He was chasing her around the mansion. Ignoring the pain, he kept running until he finally caught up to her. Before he knew it, his sword was already in his hands. Somehow, he disarmed her and pinned her down on the ground. Then he...

Ha ha ha. This is funny. Ha ha ha.

His eyes widen in horror at the thought of doing such horrible things. Yet he can still remember everything, even her smell and taste. Wait, does that mean that...

"It... wasn't a dream?" he says shakily.

"So you remember it after all," says Komachi solemnly. "By the time I arrived, you had already passed out on top of the half-ghost. Youmu was pretty freaked out, and I had a hard time putting the pieces together."

"Youmu," he repeats. "Wait... is Youmu alright?"

"She's fine," says Komachi with a smile. "More than I can say for you, though. I never thought you would be the type that would treat a woman roughly."

"..."

"You really are something else," she continues. "No ordinary person could possibly overpower the half-ghost like that. Even I would have a hard time against her, if she fought seriously."

Komachi wags a finger at him, as if to scold a child.

"You should have gone slower," she says. "Girls are fragile, you know~"

"I'm sorry." he whispers. "I never wanted to hurt anyone..."

The shinigami sighs to herself. Without another word, she sits right beside him, leaning against the wall. She smiles sadly as she stares at the flickering flames of one of the torches.

"I guess that wasn't a very good joke," she says.

"..."

Vincent follows her gaze, watching the flames and the shadows.

He can probably talk to her about something.
[ ] Don't say anything.
[ ] Custom

Before she leaves...
[ ] "Take me with you?"
[ ] "Stay a little longer?"
[ ] "Just leave me here."
[ ] "..."
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Think about Youmu.
[X] Think about your dreams.
[X] Think about your amnesia.

---

Vincent sits with his back to the wall and stares blankly at the cold steel door. No matter how he looks at it, this room looks like some kind of prison cell. The shackles on his wrist and ankles are quite heavy and uncomfortable. Every time he moves, the chains drag loudly along the floor. And without his weapons and tools, there is no way he can escape.

He sighs loudly to himself, and a few minutes later, his mind starts to wander.

~~~

"Who are you?" asks the young girl.

Her short silver hair sways in the morning breeze as she speaks. Dressed in strange green and white foreign clothes, she stares at him coldly. The questions rings loudly in his ears, and he immediately opens his mouth to answer. Then, he stands in shock as he comes to a sudden realization.

He doesn't know who he is.

The last thing he could remember was a mission: investigate the strange incidents at an abandoned graveyard. When he arrived, he was swarmed by the dead. Forced to retreat, he sought refuge within the crypts underneath an old church. He discovered... something in a locked room: a way to escape. But the rest was a blur, and he couldn't even remember how he came upon this strange land.

"Well? Do you not understand what I am saying?" says the girl, her voice stern and cold.

A strange wisp-like thing floats in view from behind the girl. It feels like a dead spirit of some sort. Is this girl possessed?

...

The girl named Youmu slowly puts down her cup. Then, without warning, she stands up and draws her sword. She points it directly at his forehead.

"Don't move," she whispers.

"W-what the -"

Several things happen in the next second. The half-ghost steps forward, thrusting her weapon straight at his head. He barely avoids the attack with a quick side-step, and by reflex, he draws his revolver and fires it as a counterattack. She dodges the shot with ease, but the bullet manages to hit the strange wisp. Then, the girl cries out in pain and crumples down on the ground.

Kill her.

...

"All I have to do is utter the command, and this skull and the soul sealed inside will be destroyed. If someone tries to unseal the core forcefully, the soul will also collapse along with it. And as an extra precaution, the seal must be maintained by a spell command every two days to maintain stability. If I die, then there will be no way to reset the seal, and the soul will be destroyed."

"You... horrible man!" cries Youmu.

He carefully pockets the small black book that contained the details of the ritual. With the skull as the container, he now has a means to ensure this girl's cooperation.

~~~

Vincent blinks as he comes to a new realization. Everything came into place after that fateful misunderstanding. His stay at Hakugyokurou as a guest... the first duel with Youmu... and all that follows afterward - without that first event, none of it would have happened. Was it just a coincidence? Or was this some kind of conspiracy? Because even now, the only reason he is probably being kept alive is because of that seal.

He also had several visions after he started staying here. A confession of love between a human swordsman and an immortal spirit. The strange meeting with the ghost princess. The hermit swordmaster and the warning. The search and destroy mission at the village. The swordsman's departure and the immortal's secret. The vampire hunt and the tragedy. The ghouls, the dance, and the last request.

Vincent closes his eyes as he ponders the events. But no epiphany comes to mind. Only more questions. Why does he keep seeing these things? What does it all mean? Are these memories or prophecies? Did any of it really happen to him? Are these truths or lies?

Ha ha ha. This is funny. Ha ha ha.

He opens his eyes with a start. Footsteps? They seem to be getting louder as he listens. A few seconds later, he hears the steel door unlock with a loud click.

Someone seems to be approaching from outside.
[ ] "...Youmu?"
[ ] "...Yuyuko?"
[ ] "...Komachi?"
[ ] "...Chen?"
[ ] "... Who?"
[ ] Stay silent.
[ ] Custom

[X] Inventory
None.

[X] Status
Youmu - ?
Komachi - ?
Chen - ?
Yuyuko - ?

Loading User Commands:
[X] Take her. She is too beautiful to let go.

---

Youmu looks up at him, her eyes damp and confused. He can't make out the expression on her face.

Take her!

"Haa.. haa.. haa..."

The half-ghost breaths louder as he stares. Standing only inches over the girl, Vincent takes his time to examine his prize. The girl's face glows beet red as he watches, and her sweat glistens in the dark. Her smooth white skin is soft and flawless, unlike what he first expected, and it tasted strangely sweet. The strands of her silvery short hair lay spread across the wooden floor, and her eyes shine brightly like the ocean water at night. He didn't really notice it before... or maybe he did, but looking at this helpless and vulnerable side of her... he can't help but speak his mind out.

"Beautiful..." he whispers.

Youmu's eyes widen in surprise. Then, she quickly looks away and to the side.

"Liar," she says back, but only half-heartedly.

His heart skips a beat at the sound of her sweet voice, full of mixed emotions. Anger? Fear? Hatred? Disgust? No... there is something more in it. Something a little more than desire, but not happiness. Anticipation, perhaps? Hope? Excitement? Tenderness? He can't really tell. But this myriad of feelings formed in that single word a melody so clear and beautiful in his mind.

Vincent pauses to look upon her tiny lips. He never realized how soft they looked until now. Then, he swallows nervously as he moves his hands closer. Carefully and slowly, he puts them over her shoulders. She quivers at his touch, and she turns to him in surprise. The expression upon her face suddenly changes. She closes her eyes, and she stops struggling.

He slowly lowers his head to kiss her.

Oh, is time already up?

Suddenly, he freezes. He can feel every muscle of his body tightening. His vision blurs violently for a moment before refocusing. His grip on her shoulders is getting loose. Wait, he can't let her go. Not like this.

Then, his body is filled with incredible pain. Burning. Tearing. Slicing. All at once. He wants to scream and cry, but the pain is too much to even move, much less speak. Being set on fire would be less painful. Having his arms ripped from their sockets would be less painful. Slicing his eyes with a razor would be less painful. It's as if his whole body is crying out in one voice: It hurts!

Ha ha ha. This is funny. Ha ha ha.

His brain can't take much more of this, and soon the feeling starts to grow numb. Everything around him becomes quiet. Then... darkness.

And nothing.

.....

....

...

..

.

Vincent opens his eyes slowly. He looks around to find himself in an unfamiliar room. A pair of torches on the wall illuminate the place, but only barely. All around him are empty walls painted dull gray. The place is empty except for a single door in front of him. It looks like it is constructed with heavy steel.

"..."

Then, as he sits himself up, a jangling noise catches his attention. He looks down to see a pair of heavy shackles attached to his wrists. Similar devices are attacked to his ankles, and he can see that the chains are all stuck to the wall behind him.

Vincent quickly examines his person, but he finds his coat and weapons all missing. He doesn't have anything but the clothes on his back.

After determining that he has no means to free himself, he sits with his back on the wall.

Waiting... and thinking.

Select up to three:
[ ] Think about Youmu.
[ ] Think about Yuyuko.
[ ] Think about Komachi.
[ ] Think about Chen.
[ ] Think about the ghouls.
[ ] Think about your dreams.
[ ] Think about your amnesia.
[ ] Think about your sword skills.
[ ] Think about something else. (Specify)

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ravage her.

---

Such a prize can't be broken too quickly.

Vincent licks his lips as he looks the girl over. Youmu gasps fearfully as he moves the blade closer to her neck. Amused by her reaction, he traces the weapon softly along her collar and down to her chest, letting it snag carelessly on her dress. She closes her eyes hard as the sword nears her waist.

Then, he lets go of her shoulder. He quickly stands himself up and smiles maliciously at the half-ghost. The girl looks back at him, puzzled and confused. But before she can get up, he makes his move.

In one swift stroke, he slashes at her. She shrieks and falls on her back. Then, she looks at her dress to see a clean cut upon her skirt, delicately exposing her left thigh.

"If you move, I can't guarantee your safety..." he whispers harshly.

"V-Vincent? W-what are you... Hyaaaah!"

The girl cries out once more as he slashes at her again. This time, a part of her waist is exposed in the open air. She gasps and tries to cover herself up in reflex.

This is fun. Ha ha ha. This is fun.

In the next second, he slashes three times. Youmu shrieks again as her left shoulder, her neck and her chest are completely exposed. As he looks upon her, the girl's smooth white skin slowly glows pink in embarrassment. She quickly covers herself with her arms, though her chest bindings are clearly in view.

His smile widens as he gets another idea. He quickly thrusts his blade deep into the floor to free both of his hands. Then, before she can react, he kneels down and flips her over. He grabs her wrist and twists it behind her back, causing her to wince in pain. With his other hand, he starts to roughly pull off her dress.

"Y-you can't -"

She interrupts her by twisting her wrist painfully.

"If you keep resisting, I'll make it harder for you," whispers Vincent.

"..."

Slowly, the half-ghost lowers her guard. Satisfied by her reaction, he pulls the top off completely, exposing her back and waist. Her chest is only barely hidden by her bindings, which are also starting to come loose. He pauses for a moment to enjoy the view of her quivering white skin against the long afternoon shadows. With the sun almost set, the ever darkening atmosphere contrasts beautifully against this steadily blooming flower.

Slowly. Take it slow. Make it last

Then, he leans his chest against her back. As he slowly feels his warmth seep into her unusually cold body, he slips one hand under her. She yelps in surprise as he starts rubbing her breasts through the chest bindings. Once more, she starts struggling, but she stops immediately when he twists her wrist again.

"Behave now, little flower," he whispers directly by her ear. "If you play nice, maybe I'll let you enjoy it too..."

"B-bastard... hyaaah~"

She squeals as he squeezes one of her delicate breasts. Then, as he slowly loosens her grip, the half-ghost starts to pant audibly. Encouraged by this, he lowers his free hand down between her legs and carefully brushes her fingers under her skirt and against her underwear. She curls up by reflex, though her panting starts to grow louder.

Then, wondering how she tastes, he starts nibbling at her neck. She moans in protest as he rubs his tongue up and down her soft skin, but she doesn't struggle. He raises his free hand to stroke her silvery hair as he continues massaging her with his mouth.

"Haa.. hyaah~"

Ha ha ha. Is she enjoying this too? Ha ha ha.

He slowly pulls himself away from her, an evil smile upon his face. The girl simply lays down on the ground, panting, as he lets go of her. She raises her head up at him once more, her face flushed and sweaty. Before she can say anything, he roughly flips her over again, exposing her barely covered chest and legs. Then, he grabs both of her wrists and mounts himself over her.

Youmu looks up at him, her eyes damp and confused. He can't make out to expression on her face.

Take her!

[ ] Take her. This is divine punishment upon the wicked.
[ ] Take her. Vengeance is cruel, but your will is just.
[ ] Take her. This is an unfortunate but necessary act.
[ ] Take her. Your desire cannot be denied any longer.
[ ] Take her. She is too beautiful to let go.
[ ] Take her. Take her. Just take her!

Loading User Commands:
[X] Not yet. Pin her down on the ground.

---

His sword is already in his hands.

Checkmate.

Youmu's eyes widen in horror when she sees his weapon. Vincent smiles widely as he takes a few steps toward her, slow and deliberate. In a split-second, she draws both of her blades and takes a defensive stance. Her eyes narrow as she tries to focus, though they still quiver, betraying her fear.

"W-what are you doing?" she cries out. "D-don't come any closer!"

His smile widens as he disregards her words. He takes one more step closer. Then, two. Suddenly, the half-ghost rushes toward him. She moves with amazing speed, and he can't help but be amused at her agile, yet careless movements. Even at this point, she is still trying hard. But it isn't enough.

Too slow.

Vincent easily sidesteps her attack, her blade missing his neck by only a few inches. He blocks the follow-up slash of her short sword with his own weapon easily. Then, he grabs her wrist and twists it hard. The half-ghost's face contorts in pain as she is forced to let go of her primary weapon. In the next moment, he knocks away the smaller blade with his own sword.

"H-how -"

Youmu's eyes widen in surprise as she realizes that she has been disarmed. Then, with her weapons still flying in the air, he quickly slams his palm on her shoulder. In a split-second, she forces her down on the ground with his weight and holds the sword at her neck.

Both of her weapons land on the wooden floor. The sound echoes along the halls.

The half-ghost looks up at him in shock. Her damp azure eyes shine like precious jewels, and her delicate lips quiver slightly in anticipation. Her cheeks are bright red from shame and surprise. Her short silver hair glimmers in the light of the sunset. Her clothes and hair lay disheveled, somehow undone in the commotion.

Such a prize can't be broken too quickly.

[ ] Punish her.
[ ] Torment her.
[ ] Abuse her.
[ ] Devour her.
[ ] Ravage her.
[ ] Plunder her.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Ignore the pain. Don't stop running.

---

Pain. His whole body is in pain, pleading for him to stop and rest. But Vincent refuses. If he doesn't catch up to the half-ghost, then he will lose another vital clue. There must be some kind of meaning behind the dreams. Perhaps some connection between them? Youmu is definitely hiding something, and he isn't going to leave her until she tells him the truth. But still... her speed...

"What... the... hell?" he manages between steps.

He feels like he is trying to chase after an arrow speeding through the air. Humans can't possibly move this fast. Everything in his mind tells him that this isn't even possible. But there she is, clearing another corner as she runs with incredible speed. If he doesn't move faster, he is going to lose her.

Then, the pain suddenly stops.

His eyes start coming into sharp focus, and his senses grow intensely alert. He can feel it - the sharp wind slashing at his cheeks, the resounding vibration of the wooden floorboards as he takes each step. Suddenly, he feels like his own world is become more aware of itself. This feeling is... invigorating.

Vincent continues to run, only partially focused on his target. And as the seconds pass, he finds himself coming closer and closer to the half-ghost. But for some reason, he doesn't remember what he is chasing her for.

Was it something important?

He smiles cheerfully as he closes the distance between them. Youmu takes a glance again, and her cute blue eyes widen in surprise when she sees him. Her mouth opens, but he doesn't hear her. He can't explain it, but he finds this moment extremely amusing. So he starts laughing loudly as he races in front of her.

Ha ha ha! This is fun!

Soon, he is running parallel to the girl. The half-ghost watches him for several seconds, shocked for some reason. Then, she suddenly stops in her tracks. He barely manages to stop himself a few yards in front of her.

"Eh?" says Vincent stupidly.

Is the race already over? The half-ghost looks at him frightfully as she catches her breath. Perhaps such excitement was too much for her. Too bad. He really enjoyed this game. Next time, he should let her have a longer head-start, he tells himself.

Before he realizes it, his sword is already in his hands.

Checkmate.

[ ] Slice at her head.
[ ] Slice at her arms.
[ ] Slice at her legs.
[ ] Not yet. Kick her in the stomach.
[ ] Not yet. Force her on her knees.
[ ] Not yet. Pin her down on the ground.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Without another word, Youmu suddenly runs out of the room.

Vincent blinks stupidly. Did he do something to upset her? And what did she mean about not seeing him in her dreams? Her reaction is very strange, indeed. She must certainly be hiding something.

"... that's it," he declares to himself. "She knows something."

He quickly stands up and takes a few steps toward the open sliding door. Youmu didn't even bother closing it as she left. But before he can leave, he hears a tiny mewling sound from behind him.

"... sorry, Master Ran," Chen mumbles. "Didn't mean to... break it..."

Vincent turns around and starts walking toward the sleeptalking nekomata. He can't just leave this girl like this. She might catch a cold.

"Hey Chen," he says as he gently shakes her awake. "Wake up."

"E-eh...? Big brother?" she replies, with only one eye open.

"You'll be more comfortable in the guest rooms," he says as he pulls her up to a sitting position. "You know where they are, right?"

She nods sleepily, brushing at her eyes with her hands.

"Alright then. I'm going out for a while. Make sure you sleep properly in a bed or you'll catch a cold."

"Yes... brother," she says obediently.

He gives the girl one last nod before heading back to the door. But by the time he steps out, he sees no trace of the half-ghost. Sighing to himself, he starts walking around the mansion at his own pace.

"..."

For a moment, he pauses to watch the sky. The sun has almost set, and the clouds are tinted with a vaguely familiar shade of orange-red. In a few minutes, it will be getting dark, and soon this day will end. A lot of strange things have happened, but for some reason, he is still feeling at ease.

Hakugyokurou is still quite alien to him. The mansion is quite large, and the grounds even more so. Wisps and spirits fly about freely outside, and the cherry trees blossom out of season. Most of its inhabitants are certainly deceased (or partially so), but for some reason, this place feels... safe. He finds this more than a little odd, as he usually doesn't feel very comfortable around the dead, especially considering his profession.

Still, he can't help but feel a little unnerved by the occasional wisp floating carelessly by. Like that one hovering near a corner post on the right. Unlike the others, it seems to be staying still, as if attached to something nearby. Wait a minute. That wisp definitely looks familiar. Is that...

"Youmu?" he says aloud.

A high-pitched yelp and crash confirms his suspicions. As he rushes toward the commotion, he can see the half-ghost splayed on the ground, wincing uncomfortably. She must have tripped in surprise. Her eyes widen and quiver as she looks up at him.

"Ah, there you are," he says as he offers her his hand. "Hey, are you alright? I was just looking for you."

Youmu only blinks at him in reply.

"Sorry about earlier," he explains. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to clarify something..."

The half-ghost suddenly looks down, and cheeks turn a little pink. She opens her mouth, perhaps to argue, but in the end she says nothing. Slowly, she takes his hand and stands herself up. Still not looking at him, she carefully dusts off her dress and straightens her clothes. Then, she raises her head slowly.

"I-It's alright," she whispers. "It was inappropriate of me to act like that. Please excuse my rudeness."

"Don't mind it," he replies. "I guess I'm really not the type of person that is very good with words. We probably had some misunderstanding back there."

"Yes, that may be so," she says, regaining some of her composure.

"Anyway, if you don't want to talk about your dreams, then I won't force you. But please... just hear me out. You see... I've been having a lot of strange dreams myself, and I've been getting a bad feeling about them."

Vincent takes a deep breath as he does his best to form the words in his head.

"You see, I've been seeing you in my dreams," he says. "But not just you. Sometimes I see Yuyuko and Chen, as well."

The half-ghost slowly folds her arms and gives him a puzzled expression.

"Well... it's kind of hard to explain," continues Vincent. "Sometimes I see you acting strict, and sometimes I see you acting kind of sweet... err, not that I think you are bipolar or anything. Either way, I can't tell if you liked me or hated me. At least until it got to a... more personal level. But at those moments, I often wake up in a cold sweat or in another place, with little idea of how I got there."

"..."

"Then I also see Chen sometimes. She always acts nice and cute, but when we're alone together in the dark... sometimes it can get pretty violent. I can't help but watch her suffer, but she doesn't seem to mind. I really feel bad about her going through things like that, but I can't help it if it's a dream... right?"

"...?"

"And I see Yuyuko too. When I see her, she always seems a lot less playful and a lot more serious. Not that I don't like her cute side, but she can be... pretty forward sometimes. But anyway, she would ask me to dance with her, but it would suddenly turn into a scene where I drive my... straight into her..."

"...!"

"Sorry, I really can't bring myself to say it all," he says, smiling. "But you get the idea, don't you?"

Youmu clenches her fists and quivers slightly, but continues to stay silent.

"Anyway, I have been feeling really uneasy about Yuyuko lately. I really don't think it's a good idea to leave her wandering around alone. So... I was wondering if you and I could go look for her together. She'll probably be more open if we talk to her about these things. In fact, we could probably go deep into it all together, with all three of us at the same time, and see how it goes from there. What do you -"

Without warning, the half-ghost interrupts him with a loud slap to the face.

"Pervert..." she whispers.

Before he can react, she starts running off once more. Vincent blinks stupidly as he rubs his cheek.

"Wait... come back!" he cries out.

Steeling his resolve, he makes a split-second decision. He is sure of it now. She must definitely be hiding something. He quickly starts chasing her. She glances behind and gasps audibly when she notices him. But instead of slowing down, she starts running even faster along the mansion. Not the type to give up, Vincent forces himself to keep up, even as he feels his muscles, bones, and nerves telling him painfully to stop. His chest starts tightening as he runs, most likely due to his breathing unable to keep up. But he perseveres anyway.

What the... even after all that... Youmu doesn't seem to be breaking a sweat as she speeds along. How the hell is she moving so fast? It's like trying to chase after a goddamn arrow flying through the air!

But despite this, it seems like she isn't gaining much distance from him. Somehow, he is still able to keep up. His body, however, is pleading with signals of pain for him to stop.

[ ] Ignore the pain. Don't stop running.
[ ] Slow down and rest. She is too fast.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Tell Youmu that she went out for a walk.
[X] Custom

---

"Eh? Where did Lady Yuyuko go?" asks Youmu.

"She..." he says. "She said that she was going out for a walk."

"Ah, I see," the half-ghost says. "I'm going to clear the table, then."

Youmu gives him a small bow before taking the remaining dishes and cups. She acts normally until she spots the uneaten rice crackers on Yuyuko's plate. Clearly startled, she examines them closely before turning back to the Vincent. She looks quite concerned.

"Did anything happen?" she asks.

He considers his words carefully before speaking.

"I think... I've been seeing things," he says. "Things that didn't happen... or maybe things that might have happened. I'm not really sure myself. I don't know if they are just dreams or something more, but they felt so real..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Youmu," says Vincent. "I've seen you several times in these visions. You acted very differently. You said and did things you wouldn't normally do."

The half-ghost's eyes widen for a moment, betraying her feelings.

"Have you seen any strange dreams lately?" he says. "It's little more than a hunch, but -"

"N-n-no!" cries Youmu. "O-of course I haven't seen you in my dreams! Don't ask such inappropriate things!"

"... huh? But I didn't even..."

The half-ghost's face turns pale white as she covers her mouth. Her lips quiver nervously, and her eyes start to tear up. Moments later, she starts blushing beet red. She opens her mouth, perhaps to mutter some excuse, but no words come out. Then, without saying another word, she suddenly runs out of the room.

Vincent blinks stupidly. Did he do something to upset her?

[ ] Quickly follow after Youmu.
[ ] Carry Chen into one of the guest rooms.
[ ] Stay in the mansion and look for Komachi.
[ ] Head outside to the grounds and try to find Yuyuko.
[ ] Clear your head. Is there a bath around here?
[ ] Return to your room and think.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"I... asked you to dance?" says Vincent.

"Yes," replies the ghost princess. "Frankly, I was surprised that you were such a good dancer. You certainly didn't seem like the type."

Slowly, he lowers his head and rubs his temple. He has seen something like this just a short while ago, but his version didn't end pleasantly. For a moment, he closes his eyes to recall the ghost princess' words at the time. "Dance with me?" she had said.

"Yuyuko," he says. "Where were you before Youmu and I arrived for snacks?"

"Eh? I was already here, of course. We had already started eating when you came."

"You weren't taking a walk around the grounds?"

"A walk?" repeats Yuyuko. "What are you talking about?"

"Hmm..."

Vincent looks up at her and forces a bitter smile.

"Well... I'm either losing my mind, or you can exist in two places at once."

"Huh?" says the ghost princess. "What do you mean?"

"Yuyuko," he says quietly, "Right before Youmu and I arrived for snacks, I met you out on the grounds. You were acting in a very strange manner, and you even asked me to dance with you. Then, you asked me to kill you."

...

After he had finished retelling his story, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Yuyuko didn't even touch her rice crackers at any point. A serious expression upon her face, she looked like she was in deeply disturbed. A few minutes passed before she finally spoke.

"Vincent," she says carefully. "I don't remember doing any of that..."

"And I don't remember dancing with you," he replies.

"I see," says Yuyuko.

A short silence passes between them before she speaks again.

"Well... I think I better have a look around the grounds," she says.

"Huh?"

"Don't tell Youmu," she says. "I don't want her to worry."

"Wait, are you going alone?"

The ghost princess suddenly gives him a cheerful smile.

"It's not like there is anything out there that can harm a dead person~" she says. "Just stay in the mansion. You should be safe within this place."

"But I can't just let you -"

Without warning, Yuyuko interrupts him with a soft kiss on the cheek.

"A mortal life is a gift," she whispers. "Don't waste it."

Without another word, she leaves the room. Several rice crackers are left uneaten on her plate. Vincent stays in his seat, unsure of what to do. Something very strange is happening around this place. A few moments later, the door slides open once more. He turns to see Youmu walking inside with a fresh cup of tea.

"Eh?" she says. "Where did Lady Yuyuko go?"

[ ] Excuse yourself and follow after Yuyuko.
[ ] Tell Youmu that she went out for a walk.
[ ] Carry Chen into one of the guest rooms.
[ ] Head back to your room and think.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Have a serious chat with Yuyuko

---

With the exception of Chen asleep beside the kotatsu, Vincent suddenly finds himself alone with the ghost princess. Unlike her usual carefree and cheerful self, Yuyuko actually looks quite uneasy.

Her eyes dart up at him on occasion, though she immediately looks away when he turns to her. She bites her lip as she fiddles with her cup nervously. Vincent takes a deep breath. He takes a glance around the room, making sure that they are alone. Chen seems to be sound asleep, and the others are busy elsewhere.

"Yuyuko," he says carefully. "You weren't joking earlier, were you?"

The ghost princess shakes her head.

"It was mostly true," she says. "Except for the part where I said that I let you touch me. I slapped you before you had the chance."

"You slapped me?"

"W-well of course!" cries Yuyuko. "Even if I like to joke around a lot, there are limits. You shouldn't have played around with my feelings like that..."

"I don't understand," he says.

"You really don't remember?" she says.

"Sorry, my mind draws only a blank."

The ghost princess lowers her eyes as she contemplates her next words. Her cheeks blush a soft shade of pink as she speaks.

"You... confessed to me," she whispers. "I was really shocked when you tried to hold me, so I slapped you in reflex."

Vincent blinks stupidly. He did... what?

"Then you asked me to dance," she continues. "It was wonderful and passionate, but somehow I felt that it was a little..."

Yuyuko swallows nervously before saying the last word.

"...unreal."

[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

Without warning, Yuyuko shields herself from Youmu by using Vincent as a shield. She clings tightly to him like a frightened child. As she shudders in fear, he can feel a pair of soft things subtly press against his back as she hides behind him.

"Y-Youmu is being mean!" cries the ghost princess. "Help me, Vincent!"

"..."

Vincent sighs heavily to himself as he places his palm on his forehead in exasperation. While her mannerisms are both cute and seductive, this really isn't the best time for this sort of thing. By the looks of it, she may have already sparked Youmu's ire.

"It's not nice to tease people like that, you know," he says.

"B-but I was only telling the truth," says Yuyuko. "You did come up to me this morning. I was surprised that you were up so early."

For some reason, she doesn't sound like she is messing around when she says that. But with the ghost princess, he can never be sure.

"Are you sure that was me?" he says carefully.

Yuyuko slowly pulls herself away and frowns at him.

"I'm pretty sure it was you," she says. "Though you were acting a little bit strange."

"What do you mean?" says Vincent.

"Well, you just walked up to me and said some... intimate things," says Yuyuko carefully. "I really didn't expect you to be so forward~"

The room suddenly falls silent. Somehow, he suddenly feels not one, but two hostile auras. He quickly coughs and clears his throat before forcing a wide smile on his face. Gently, he pats Yuyuko on the head.

"Well, that was quite a poor joke," he says. "Maybe you should just apologize and leave it at that."

"But I'm not -"

"No sense losing dessert because you didn't want to say you're sorry, right?" he quickly adds.

"Err..." she says as she glances at the others. "I-I guess that I'm sorry about that. Maybe it wasn't the best kind of joke..."

"It certainly wasn't," says Youmu. "But if you have reflected on it, then I guess that it's alright."

...

The rest of the meal went on normally after that, but for some reason, he could still feel a somewhat strained atmosphere. Only Chen seemed unaffected by the discussion, and he was thankful that she didn't seem too interested in it. However, he can't help but feel that something was off.

"I need to get some air," says Komachi suddenly.

The shinigami slowly gets up and gives them a short bow before walking outside. Youmu stands up a few moments later, saying that she must start cleaning up. She quickly clears the dishes before leaving. Chen seems to have curled up near the kotatsu. She must be tired from the day.

Before he realizes it, Vincent finds himself alone with Yuyuko. She doesn't seem to be in a very cheerful mood, and she looks quite uneasy.

[ ] Help Youmu clean up.
[ ] See where Komachi went.
[ ] Take Chen into a guest room.
[ ] Have a short chat with Yuyuko.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Custom

---

"I... umm..."

The whole room becomes quiet in anticipation. Beside him on the right, Youmu does her best to look disinterested, but she is failing miserably. To the half-ghost's right, Yuyuko has a big mischievous grin on her face as she wait for his answer. Across the table, Komachi is keeping herself busy with her drink, though she gives him an occasional glance. Beside the shinigami, Chen nibbles at her pastry as she looks from side to side, curious at the silence.

Vincent takes a long sip of tea as he gathers his thoughts. Then, as he puts down his cup, he takes a deep breath.

"Where to start..." he says carefully. "I woke up at the Sanzu River in the late morning with a headache and no memory of what had happened. There, I met up with Komachi."

Komachi gives him a small nod in response, but she doesn't add to the story.

"After that, she and I went to the Human Village," he continues. "There, we met up with Chen and miss Keine Kamishirasawa at the school. The teacher offered to read my history, but in the end we didn't learn anything new."

"I delivered a package for Master Ran!" cries Chen proudly.

"Then, Komachi, Chen and I decided to head back here," he finishes. "And here we are, talking about my day over some tea and snacks."

Vincent forces a smile as he says that. However, Yuyuko doesn't seem satisfied.

"So," she says. "You really don't remember what happened earlier this morning?"

"Nope," he replies. "Not a thing."

Suddenly, the ghost princess covers her mouth with a fan and looks away. Wait... is she sobbing?

"T-then that didn't mean anything to you?" whispers Yuyuko. "I thought that you and I had a connection. You said we had something special~"

"W-what are you talking about?" he cries.

Then, Yuyuko stands up and takes a few steps closer. She gently puts a warm hand on his shoulder as she leans herself against him.

"I even let you touch me..." she says.

He suddenly senses a powerful killing intent from the half-ghost beside him. Vincent immediately prepares to shield his head, but to his surprise, Youmu only takes a sip of her tea before speaking.

"Please, Lady Yuyuko," whispers Youmu. "Don't make such inappropriate jokes in front of our guests."

"Eh, but I was only~"

"You will take back what you said and apologize," she says coldly. "Or you will have no dessert for tonight."

"W-what?" cries Yuyuko. "How horrible! Uwaaa~"

Without warning, the ghost princess jumps beside him, using his body as a shield from Youmu. She clings tightly to him like a frightened child, shaking. He can feel a pair of soft things subtly press against his back as she hides behind him.

"Y-Youmu is being mean!" she cries. "Help me, Vincent!"

[ ] Side with Youmu.
[ ] Side with Yuyuko.
[ ] Side with neither.
[ ] Custom