Loading User Commands:
[X] Wait patiently. Make sure Yuyuko doesn't start until everyone is here.

---

Youmu sits quietly as she gathers her thoughts. Somehow, she has a bad feeling about this. But it must be her imagination. If evil spirits tried to attack Hakugyokurou, she would feel their presence. In fact, she doesn't feel any foreign presence in the mansion at all.

"Let's eat~" says Yuyuko as she clasps her hands together. A pair of chopsticks in her hands, she makes for some meat. But before she can grab a piece, the whole dish disappears from beneath her chopsticks.

"You can't eat yet," Youmu says coldly. "It is unbecoming of a lady to start before everyone is at the table."

Yuyuko looks up at Youmu with damp, tear-filled eyes.

"B-but I'm huuuuungry!" the ghost princess cries.

"No," replies Youmu sternly. After giving Yuyuko a harsh glance, she replaces the dish on the table.

...

Ten minutes pass. Youmu glances idly at the empty seat across them.

"Can we start now?" whispers Yuyuko. "I'm starving! If I don't eat something, I'm gonna die!"

"Ghosts do not die when they are killed," returns Youmu.

...

Twenty minutes pass. Yuyuko starts shifting in her seat uneasily.

"Huuuungry... huuuungry... aaaauuuu..." she whines.

Youmu promptly ignores the ghost princess.

...

Thirty minutes pass. Even Youmu is starting to get irritated.

"Maybe he died in his sleep," says Yuyuko. "So let's just have breakfast already~"

"..."

Suddenly, Youmu stands up. She grabs hold of Yuyuko's hand as she walks out of the dining room.

"I'm going to check his room," says Youmu. "You're coming with me. I'm not letting you eat anything until everyone arrives."

Yuyuko sobs silently, but she allows the half-ghost to drag her across the mansion. Vincent's room isn't very far, so they arrive in a few minutes. Youmu calls out for him politely, telling him that breakfast is ready, but no one answers. Curious, she slowly slides open the door to peek.

"..."

"He's not here?" says Yuyuko. "How strange."

Yuyuko gives her an enigmatic smile as she says those words.

Youmu pauses to think.
[ ] Return to the kitchen and eat without him.
[ ] Examine his things and look for clues.
[ ] Search the mansion grounds for him.
[ ] Ask Lady Yuyuko about his whereabouts.
[ ] 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. To avoid trouble, you are hiding it inside your ghost-half.

Loading User Commands:
[X] Japanese

---

"When's breakfast? I'm huuungry!"

Youmu sighs as she carries the food toward the dining room. Her gluttonous mistress must be satiated, after all. The half-ghost shivers slightly as a chilly breeze passes.

"It's a bit cold today," she mutters. Despite being part ghost, she still prefers warmer weather.

There is a thick fog around the grounds this morning, but nothing especially unusual. A few ghosts are floating lazily near the mansion. They don't seem to be causing a disturbance, but she better shoo them away later, just in case.

"..."

Youmu pauses to stare at the dreary grey sky. She has been having some very strange dreams ever since Vincent arrived. And for some reason, the outsider swordsman seems familiar. But she can't recall seeing him anywhere else. In any case, she still doesn't trust the man. Though some small part of her really wants to..

"Breakfast! Breakfast! I'm gonna die, uwaaa!"

The half-ghost sighs deeply as she enters the dining room. Yuyuko is quite impatient about the food, as is her custom. In any case, it takes slightly longer to prepare a Japanese-style breakfast for three.

"Here it is," says Youmu. She carefully puts down the dishes before taking her seat.

Yuyuko inhales the aroma of the food with a smile.

"Ah, it smells great~" she says sweetly. "It makes me feel so alive."

Youmu simply gives her a nod as she looks around the room.

"Vincent hasn't arrived yet," says Yuyuko in response. The half-ghost feels herself blush at the words, but she says nothing.

Strange. Their guest seems to be missing.

[ ] Start eating without him. He can take care of himself.
[ ] Wait patiently. Make sure Yuyuko doesn't start until everyone is here.
[ ] Head to his room and call him. He should have breakfast with everyone.
[ ] Excuse yourself and walk around the grounds. You need time to think.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Continue walking.

---

Ordinary humans cannot defeat the ancient evils that have been awakened. Certain death awaits those foolish enough to try. Worse still, the brave souls who fall often return to haunt the living as ghouls and revenants. None have returned alive from the towns that have fallen to their demonic influence.

But he is different. He is one of the few who carry the bloodline of the sword. The things he cannot cut are next to none. Even the most vile and powerful creatures will fall by his blade.

She follows silently behind him, knowing that this is the right choice. Even if he is fated never to return.

Her heart aches painfully at the thought.

...

"This is the border," he says. "Beyond it, your safety can't be guaranteed. The barrier only extends up to this point."

"..."

He was never good with words, and he never needed to be. But at this moment, he wished he could lift this girl's sorrow. He opens his mouth slowly as he thinks of something to say. But in the end, he says nothing.

The swordsman nods at the girl slowly before turning around to leave. He can feel her watching him. Waiting for him.

He does not turn around as a single tear rolls down his cheek.

...

She stood at the edge of the border, watching him walk away. Carrying only a small pack and his trusted blades, he headed deep into the dark woods without turning back. A man of valor, indeed, must put the good of others over his own.

But he was not just a man of valor, nor a swordsman. He was the only man she had ever loved. And she must let him go.

As he disappears into the shadows, her legs begin to shake. Finally, they give way, and she kneels down on the ground. Slowly, she begins to weep.

She did not tell him. She could not tell him.

In the first place, it was supposed to be impossible for such a thing to happen. It went against both the laws of nature and man. But it did happen, and only time will tell if this was a blessing or a curse.

She was pregnant.

[ ] Japanese
[ ] Chinese
[ ] Italian
[ ] French
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] Go to sleep.

---

"Wait!" she cries out.

He stops, but he doesn't turn around to face her.

"I must go," he says. "This is one duty I cannot abandon."

"But it's dangerous," she says. "You will be killed!"

He smiles gently.

"Then perhaps we can be together in the afterlife."

She lowers her head sadly.

"That chance is next to none," she whispers. "You have no reason to become a ghost like me."

He sighs. Slowly, he turns around to face her.

"Aren't you a good enough reason?" he asks. "We have walked along parallel roads for too long."

"..."

"Besides, I always wondered about how it would be like on the other side," he says carelessly.

"N-no! You can't!" she cries out.

Suddenly, she runs up and grabs him by the chest. She leans her head against him. He begins to hear her sobbing. Gently, he strokes her long silver hair. After a few moments, she finally calms down.

"Don't be a fool!" she whispers. "Life isn't something that can be thrown away so easily!"

"But is my life worth more than those who have already died?" he asks. "How about those who are, at this very moment, fighting for their lives? And how about those who have yet to taste death?"

She looks away sadly.

"You, of all persons, should understand this," he whispers. "I cannot watch as others die because I refused to take responsibility."

A forlorn silence passes between them.

"Your moment will be my eternity," she whispers.

He looks at her with a sad smile as he remembers.

"And your eternity will be my moment," he answers.

He begins walking again, this lovely, lonely spirit following behind him. She does not argue any further. Perhaps she understands that this is his only option. No matter how painful it is, this is the right choice. But his heart aches painfully as they walk. The silence is deafening.

This may be the last time he will see her.

[ ] Kiss her.
[ ] Continue walking.

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

---

Vincent realizes that Yuyuko is still looking at him, a gentle smile upon her face. She really does have an air of royalty about her, like a princess of some sort, yet she speaks and acts in a most down-to-earth and carefree manner. Her eyes reflect both childlike innocence and ageless wisdom, unlike anything he can remember (which, truthfully, isn't very much, but that is besides the point). And this person is undeniably beautiful, perhaps supernaturally so (he can't help but blush when he looks at her this closely).

But that isn't what stands out most about her. For some reason, he always feels calm around this girl. Even if she is most definitely an unliving ghost, he doesn't sense those chills he gets when he encounters evil spirits. He can't explain it, but she seems familiar for some reason. And he feels safe around her. Safe.

"Yuyuko," he says. "Why is it that I feel so comfortable around you?"

"Ara? Could it be that you finally noticed my charm?" she replies as she moves dangerously close to him. The ghost princess playfully puts a hand on his leg. It feels surprisingly warm.

"N-not exactly," he mutters as he carefully moves her hand away.

"I know that," she says. "I was just teasing you."

Yuyuko sighs in disappointment. Slowly, she looks up at him with a determined, if not slightly sad expression.

"I'm not the one you are in love with," she says.

Vincent looks away and doesn't reply, though he can feel himself blushing. From the side of his eye, he can see Yuyuko stand up. Then, he feels her lean her back against his. She isn't very heavy, and her warmth is comforting, so he doesn't move away. They sit with their backs against each other. The minutes pass in silence as they collect their thoughts.

"Hey, Yuyuko," he mutters.

"Hmm?"

"Want to talk about something?" he says.

"..."

"I guess that I'm not the best conversationalist, but I think it would be nice if -"

"Hey Vincent," she interrupts. "Could you tell me another ghost story?"

"Eh?"

"Youmu doesn't like them much, but I do enjoy a good ghost story," she says.

Vincent can't see it, but he is sure that the ghost princess is smiling again. He, too, smiles thoughtfully as he clears his throat. A moment later, he begins searching his fragmented memories for an interesting tale to tell.

"Well, there was this one time when I was sent to a lone mansion on a privately owned island..."

...

Time passes quickly when one is having fun, and before he knew it, Youmu had come in to call them for dinner. She smiled and nodded at him slightly, but the half-ghost made no other expression of concern during the meal. He finished his story while they were eating, though he made sure to leave out the gruesome parts (he promised Yuyuko that he'd tell the complete version at another time).

After eating, Youmu explained that Chen had to return home, since someone named Ran would be worried if she stayed out late. Komachi flew off, saying that her boss might notice her missing if she isn't careful.

Before he knew it, he found himself bidding the two girls good night. He didn't encounter anything unusual on the way back to his room, thankfully.

Vincent yawns loudly as he closes the door. He feels pretty tired, and it's been a damn long day.

[ ] Explore the mansion.
[ ] Wander around aimlessly.
[ ] Go to sleep.
[ ] Custom

Loading User Commands:
[X] "Youmu?"

---

Vincent can hear someone approaching his room. He turns his head toward the sound as the footsteps get louder. The sliding door opens, but he can only see the newcomer's silhouette.

"Youmu?" he asks hesitantly.

The newcomer responds with a light giggle as she covers her face with her fan.

"Sorry to fall short of your expectations," says Yuyuko. "But if you must know, she only left your side a few minutes ago."

The ghost princess walks close to him. Before he can argue, she begins wiping his forehead with a damp piece of cloth. The cool sensation feels quite nice, so he stays still to let her continue.

"You shouldn't worry my little Youmu like that," whispers Yuyuko.

"Youmu? W-what happened?" returns Vincent.

"She said that she found you unconscious after she took me back to my room," replies Yuyuko. "You really should take care of your health. Are you sure that you aren't anemic? Maybe you need medication?"

Her eyes glitter with a hint of mischief when she says the word "medication". While he could use something for a headache, the better part of him thinks that requesting for such a thing will only lead to trouble.

"I'm feeling fine now," he says as he forces a smile. "Good thing that Youmu passed by earlier. She must have noticed during her patrol."

"She wasn't patrolling," says Yuyuko, her face unusually serious. "She said that she heard you cry out for her."

"... huh?" he manages. She was much too far to hear him, if he recalls correctly. Unfortunately, he can't be sure of his own head right now. Maybe he just didn't notice.

"Youmu stayed beside you until just a few minutes ago," she continues. "You didn't have any visible injury or symptom, but she was worried all the same. If I didn't tell her to prepare dinner, she would still be here, looking over you with tearful eyes."

Vincent wonders idly if the ghost princess isn't exaggerating a little bit, but she seems to be speaking sincerely. In any case, he should apologize for worrying the half-ghost unnecessarily.

"Sorry for the trouble," he mutters slowly.

"You should try to stop passing out like this," she says. "While I find it kinda cute, it is really inconvenient for Youmu. That girl is pretty sensitive, after all."

Vincent agrees completely, except for the part about Youmu. That girl is pretty damn tough and strong willed. Sensitive isn't one of the words he would use to describe her.

"..."

He realizes that Yuyuko still seems to be staring at him. She smiles at him gently. Somehow, he feels calm around her.

[ ] Stay silent and wait.
[ ] Have a short chat with Yuyuko.
[ ] Excuse yourself and try to find Youmu.
[ ] Excuse yourself and try to find Chen.
[ ] Excuse yourself and try to find Komachi.
[ ] Custom