Cherry Blossoms of White Death
Author's Note : I'm going to try and start posting two chapters a month, instead of just doing the one. The story will be completed a lot faster, then. Although, if that actually happens it will be a shock to even me. So, don't listen to anything I say because it probably won't happen. Kinda like the "I'll clean up my room" promise. That never happened (looks around) messy room still intact. Also, notice this chappie was written rather quickly, so if it sucks I have a reason why. Ahem, and now for review responses!

Carmen : Yes, I have many plans of them getting along. I wish more then anything they could be closer. Which plans are, that there will be quite a few scenes of them realizing how much they really care for each other. Although, the first chappie kind of points out how the closeness between the two is short lived. Although, I plan on writing up two endings for the story, much like the game has. A good and bad ending. Thanx for your reviews; you be awesome!

Silverwitch07 : You are such a sweetheart. Your words are like little prayers to me. You've really made me feel good about my writing and I appreciate the wonderful support you have given to me. I wish you the best of luck with your stories, and hope you keep reading this story and keep liking it.

LadyPhreyaKaiba : Damn, you've been there from the start of this story, haven't you? You're one of the few people that read this story that has played the awesomey goodness of Fatal Frame! I adore you and your comments leave me smiling. Don't ever be discouraged from the lack of reviews, so always keep writing! You've got the talent, girlie! And I eagerly await your next chappie on Crimson Tears!

Shichinintai-fan : You just rock, okay? First off, you're a guy that writes fan fiction, adores Inuyasha, likes Resident Evil, and reviews my stories! Such wonderful taste and believe it or not you are one of the first guys I've actually spoken to on this site. That puts you in your own category of being totally groovy. You've reviewed all of my stories and I love you dearly for the support. Positive reviews leave me smiling and I can just not thank you enuff. I be loving your story and eagerly await your oncoming chappies! Keep owning and liking Linkin Park cause they rock! Also, to answer the question you posted on my other story; yes, the thought of writing professionally as come into mind, though I know I'm still not good enough. I can dream though, right?

Shelby : Let's see, you've reviewed every story, every chapter. Awesome support. I love you much for it, but I don't know a damn thing about you. I guess it's more fun to remain secretive at times. Left trying to guess what the person is like. I know it's more fun that way. Anyway, you're a dear heart and I thank you for all the reviews! Plus, thanx for saying I'm pretty. You are very sweet, indeed. (smiles)

Vasdomal : Beautiful reviews you've given me. I've emailed you with my updates and even got to talk to you for a few moments online. You are very sweet and make me feel great like my writing is important. I haven't got on my screen name for awhile, now. I'm trying to hide from someone. . . (laughs) Anyway, thank you.

Izz : Continuous support you've been for me. Truly, you remain so anonymous like the way Shelby is. None the less, I love you for the wonderful reviews you've given me and can only hope to see more of them. Take care and best wishes!

luvinukagome : As I said to you before, funniest review ever. Strange girl, you are. Strange girl, I am. Together, we will rule the world with spoons and brain eating subliminal messages. Of all the people I've known in my life, you are the only one who truly understands. I feel like I've known you for ages and us meeting is a rare thing that should be cherished, indeed. Thanks for your continuous support on everything I write. Your writing has improved so much since I first met you. You were born to write, dear heart. Zombie rock with brutal fuckin love cause I love you. . . !

. . . .And tragically that's all the responses to the reviews I have for now. Next chappie I shall include more. Thanx again, reviewers! You helped make 50 reviews possible! (smiles)

Chapter Nine - The Camera Obscura

" Gotta cut, clear away... "

"I kept searching for you."

The whispered words that are spoken along side silence hold the most power. Hair stands on end and I feel the world tilt me overboard into a sea of blue. Like a rowboat whisked aside by the wild, tossing waves of the unsteady current. 'Take a deep breath.' I tell myself; gotta calm down. The words repeat over again. Sounds so loud in my head, they've lost what little sense of comfort they had. If they ever had any, at all. 'Screw it, I'm running!'

Heart pumps wildly.

The sudden unsettling sound of blood running fresh to my ears, and the faded passing scenery of the musty hallway. They all dance by, out from under my vision. Then, when I realize I can't run any further; I've come to the end of the line. I see the door at the end of the hallway. The one where the man was. . .

The one where the woman was strangled.

I can't wait around; can't stand in front of the door all day. Out of breath, I pull open the door and close it quickly behind me; scared that if I don't keep it closed, there will be someone following behind, chasing after me.

Maybe a phantom; maybe a ghost.

Either way, I don't give a damn; I just want to run away! I see something in the room move, breaks me out of my thoughts, and panic sweeps over me like broom to dust. "Inuyasha?" Comes the low response from the empty room.

'It's only Sesshoumaru,' I quickly note. So I calm down; breath in short, ragged breaths of air. . . slowly, carefully. "We should leave, now. I heard something!" I exclaim, still resting my frightened body against the door. "Oh, please, Inuyasha. Grow up." He snaps at me. His golden eyes narrow fiercely into mine. I stand up, using my own support instead of that of the doors. Ball up my fist angrily and take a few large steps toward him. "I'm serious, Sesshoumaru! I heard someone say, 'I kept searching for you.'"

"What else did they say?"

"How would I know? I ran in here!"

There's a short pause as he walks toward me and then in the tone only he speaks in comes, "Open your eyes and take a good look around, Inuyasha." He continues to walk toward me. His usual calm face is tinted with mild frustration; build up from annoyance. "Do you see anyone?" He asks coolly and without really meaning to; I take a look around the room. No one in sight. The room is empty like the rest of the house. Dull tone states the obvious, "No."

"Now, do you see how foolish you are being?" Then, he leaves me alone with the emptiness of the room being my only company. The room is dark in nature, despite the lanterns that glow out from the small atrium. The room leaves me feeling washed and damp; lonely. An over shadowing of misfortune and dragging despair clouds the area, and the plaster from the walls is beginning to crumble away; due to the moisture of outside. Out toward the atrium there is a bucket full of murky water probably used for washing clothes. And then there's a brazier full of dirt, dust, and grind; molded over with mildew.

There's a slip of paper too. Guessing by its appearance it's probably another entry from that woman. It lies quietly under one of the broken partition screens. I pick it up and read it silently.

( Slip of paper 3 : )

Masumi. . . It's me, Miyako. I came to look for you.

Let's go home together. Together, we can make it.

Call for me if you find this.

I'll be nearby.

Miss You!

I feel the pain of sadness surge through my heart after I have read the written words. Feel my face turn more serious. Lips almost turn into a pout but I push it aside. 'Damn this room! It's starting to get to me!'

Then, I turn around and go back through the door, starting the search for my twin again. 'Gotta keep him around me; gotta make sure he doesn't run off on his own.'

Back in the hallway, I see him standing in the middle of the hall. His attention remains focused on something; something that's not there. Walk up behind him a little ways and tap him on the shoulder. He spins around rapidly, angry scowl settling firmly on his face. "What is it, Sesshoumaru?" I decide to ask. So maybe he will forget he's pissed off at me again. "I thought I saw a woman. . ." He says quietly, eyes avert darkly to me. Solemn expression takes ahold of all his features; still he remains so tense. "Where?" I wonder then before I can get a response he walks about an inch ahead and takes a right turn.

Without much decision I follow. Curious as to who this woman could be; if he really did see her, that is.

Once I'm within Sesshoumaru's viewing range he speaks again, "This door was locked before. . ." The sentence is left hanging by a thin thread of a string. At the slightest tug, it'll come undone. "Didn't you say you saw a woman?" I muse, stepping up closer behind him; heart beat speeds up to where I can actually hear it thudding rapidly, beating out of my chest. Burning crisp holes through the silence of the suffocating air. Hope he doesn't notice. . .

"That I did. Perhaps, she was the one who opened the door?"

He slides the doop open that has been left slightly ajar. Steps in and disappears into the darkness that I am soon swept up in. The room is almost like two rooms put together; without taking up a large amout of space. There's a filthy, crudded kimono hanging against the wall beside the door. The stentch is horrible and I have to use the palm of my hand as a gas mask to rid myself of the smell. The far right corner is completely scattered with rusty pots and pans and there's a short, beat up desk peeking out from underneath the piles of mess. Sesshoumaru takes a few steps inside, far enough to tell if there is anyone inside. "Hm. Most unsettling." He replys then he goes into the other half of the room.

From my view I walk in and know no one is here; know that everyone is long gone. The woman that we both saw; I don't even want to think about it. Think about what she could be because I know there is no such things as ghosts. They are made up to scare young children like the monster under the bed.

I go over and stand in front of Sesshoumaru, so he can see what I'm going to say. "Are you sure you saw someone?"

"If I said I did then I did but why must I repeat?"

I sigh and role my eyes at his response; just going to believe he saw no one. He's probably still trying to scare me. I turn and go stand over beside the many pots. My eyes quickly seeing something out of place within the mess. Not a pot but a. . .

I reach over and pick up something that looks like some sort of old camera. It's heavier then I expect it to be, so it stumbles clumsily out of my hands, but I catch it before it shatters to the ground. "Hey, there's something over here." I say while turning around to face my twin. He raises an eyebrow, then shifts his gaze to the camera. "Something of use?" He questions, eyes unmoving. Unblinking. "I'm not sure, it looks like some sort of a strange camera. What a piece of junk! It's so old I bet it doesn't even work."

"Hm? Let me see."

"No way, it's mine. I found it first!"

"I care not who it belongs to, I only wish to see."

"See?" I reply while holding up the camera in my hands. Sesshoumaru's expression hardens. Eyes grow harsh. "Inuyasha, stop being childish."

"I'm not being childish!" I defend, putting the camera back down against my side. Sesshoumaru moves swiftly at me, hands outstretch forward, and with the flick of the wrist; he holds the camera in his possession. This time my expression hardens. "Hey, give that back!" I demand, jerking my hand out and catching nothing but air. He steps back, an amused look filled with his usual smugness graces his face. I snatch at it again and once more come up empty handed. "You heard me, you creep!" I yell grabbing onto his wrist and pulling his arm toward me. Quickly, he tosses the camera into his other hand and presses his back into me.

I tighten my grip onto his wrist and shove him away with as much force as I can muster. He turns around, his eyes gloating with unspoken laughter. "As usual, you're slow to take action, little brother." He tells me and moves closer to the door. "And like always you have to open that big mouth of yours!" I comment and run at him but he hastily dodges out of the way and I partly crash into the door. "Hand it over!" I shout, turning back around and latching onto his shirt. He elbows me in the stomach and spins around rapidly, tossing the camera at me; I barley catch it. "That camera has already been rendered useless. Even if it did work, it would be pointless to carry it around. It has no value, no purpose. Much like you, don't you agree?" Then, he smiles at me. A short and victorious smile full of boasting pride, but it disappears in a blink of an eye.

But I frankly don't give a damn what it means. I'm just happy he smiled because it's such a rare thing to see. And the fact I made it happen, hell, it makes it ever better. I'll never tell him that, though. Smug bastard! "I wish you'd shut up once in awhile, you know, you're really starting to tick me off!"

"How very unfortunate."

While glaring at my twin I lay the camera down on the ground. My hand brushes up against something. Another piece of paper except I notice it's not the same. Sesshoumaru snatches it out of my hand and together we read the following. . .

( Strange sheet of paper : )

This camera was made by Dr. Aso to take photographs of beings in the spiritual plane that normally cannot be seen.

It can reveal events from the past through the lingering thoughts of individuals. It is also able to photograph spritual

beings that are invisable to the human eye.

Taking a photo of an unseen being has an exorcismal effect that simuitaneously creates a sort of link with them.

If the camera Obscura is used carelessly, these beings may gain the upper hand of the user.

A long pregnant pause. Tension flooding so thick it's like passing through the gaps of a riverbank. Then, I speak up; find that voice of reason. "You don't actually believe in that crap, do you?"

A short pause. . .

"I don't know, Inuyasha. I really don't know."

A longer pause. . .

"Don't tell me you're scared!" I say, while crumbling up the piece of paper and turning it into a wad, then throwing it over into the mess of pots and pans. "Scared, am I? I think not." I look at Sesshoumaru for a moment. His eyes glint with something I can't explain but I just ignore it. . .because I know he won't tell me anything. I hesitate for a moment and look over at the door. "Well, whatever. I suppose there's no sense in getting worked up about it. Let's go, Sesshoumaru."

Start walking to the door, turn around briefly, make sure he's following, and what the hell do I see? Him holding the goddamn camera! "You know, I thought I heard you call that camera useless!"

"If I did, what of it?"

"What of it! I put the damn thing down because you told me to!"

"I should think you would know better then to listen to me. After all, it was I who brought us here."

A growl forms in my throat and I respond sarcastly with, "Gee, thanks for reminding me! You really are a big help!" He raises and eyebrow, eyes darting behind me then says firmly, "Now, get out of my way or be of use and open the door."

"I'm not doing anything until you hand over MY camera!"

"Be not a fool, little brother. The camera fell out of your possession the moment you put it down. Cleary, it is mine." Comes his snappy reply and he pushes past me; stands in front of the door before turning back around to look at me. I'm almost curious as to why he turned around any other time he'd be gone. Guess he's looking for an argument. So without further delay, "You bastard! You tricked me!"

"A trick you say? Hm. I wouldn't go as far to call it that but it is what it is. Now, come along I grow sick of waiting." He tells me and without another word I dive at him, hands dart out for the beat up treasure I found first. Surprisingly, I get it in my hands and I can't help but smirk at him. He seems uninterested, his eyes quickly dart back to the door; it's almost like he senses something. Almost as if there is something awaiting by the door, that's why he became so eager for me to follow. No, damnit, that's not it. Stop jinxing it! He turns back to me, his eyes still hide those secrets that I wanna know. "Inuyasha. . ." He says my name quietly, so serious. "What the hell is your problem, now?"

"Listen to me." He orders, tone so serious it makes my body tense. He grabs onto my wrist, gripping it so hard I can just see the white marks of where his fingers once were. He takes a step back and I do the same. Perpetration building up and then I feel so cold I can almost imagine that my bones are covered in ice. What the. . .? I wonder. Brow furrows in deep thought. It's like someone turned on the air conditioner only they forgot this place doesn't have one! "Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru says my name again. I wait for him to continue but he doesn't.

All attention on him shifts to the door as it begins to rapidly rock back in fourth in a violent spasm. As if there's someone out there. . .trying to get in. I swallow hard and shift my body closer to my brothers. Maybe for warmth; maybe because I'm scarred. "Sesshoumaru?"

He doesn't reply. He only watches the door with batted breath; his eyes glossy with fear. Then, whatever was rattling the door makes itself apparent. As it slowly begins to take form; slowly begins to take shape. Out from behind the door it comes and I swallow hard again. White shadow of a figure; a woman. THE WOMAN! The one in the visions; the one that was murdered. "Shit." I whisper, voice so faint I can't hear it. Maybe I never said anything. "Sesshoumaru. . ." I start to cry out again, and the woman enters more into the room. Her transparent body becomes more like my own and she stares at us.

. . .And I feel like I'm looking into the void of nothingness, as I stare into her eyes; black as saucers. Lifeless and dead just like her. All theory of believing there is no such things as ghost becomes but a memory, a comfort. The camera slides out of my sweaty hands and hits the floor with a loud bang. She begins to walk toward us; her eyes focused directly on me. Sesshoumaru releases my arm and I try to take a shaky step backwards, but I forget my legs are made out of jello. I stumble and crash to the floor; pain surfaces from the fall, but I can't make myself get up. I can only sit there, waiting for her to drain me; make me what she is. "Ses-Sees." I can't even say his name and even if I could he wouldn't hear me.

The ghost continues to come forward and the only thing left to do is to move; step back, stay away. Sesshoumaru keeps walking back, passes me on the ground, and the ghost only sees me. I try to move, tell myself to run, but I can't move. I'm stuck. . .

She reaches out a pale, ghastly hand. Reaches it out toward my throat and all I can do is close my eyes. Wait for her to kill me because I know Sesshoumaru won't save me. He's just going to leave me here, wait until I'm dead and run like the devil is at his heels. Forget he ever had a twin; pretend he was born as one and not two. I feel myself start to choke up, then I feel the ice cold sweaty hands tighten and constrict around the back of my shirt. I keep my eyes closed because I don't want to see; I don't want to watch.

I feel like I'm being moved. . .

I open up one eye and realize Sesshoumaru is pulling me into the other half on the room; by the shirt. The ghost is. . . ?

Sesshoumaru stops and takes a stand in front of me. His hands grip onto the Camera Obscura and then I see the ghost resurface. Dark, hateful eyes gleaming full of malice. Then, there's a great flash of light and I watch as the ghost begins to back away. I can hear her cry out, sounds like the yowling of a cat and then she's gone. The coldness goes along with her.

A sigh of relief; heart beat slowly starts to return to normal. "A gh-ghost?" I stutter, unable to totally find my voice. Then, I realize Sesshoumaru isn't facing me, so I won't get a response. But what does that matter, anyway? He didn't leave me behind. He protected me.

Then, he turns to me. "You're most pathetic, Inuyasha. I should have let you die a coward's death because truly that is the only ending fit for you."

I look at him and the only thing I can think to do is smile.

(A/N:) I tried to make it sound scary, although I think it was a pretty awful attempt. Also, I'd like to apologize for making Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru such wimps, but really if I was put into a situation like that I would die of a heartattack. Chapter was rather rushed, so it explains the (insert something mean and critical here). Yes, and as always please review; tell me how unscary it was! (faints)