Chapter 347 - The Video

"We're here," Kazehaya Gin announced as he stopped the SUV in front of a huge gate.

Soon, the doorway moved as servants of the Cedar Palace opened it to let them in with smiles plastered on their faces. Yuuka looked out from the window, her eyes appreciative while her mouth hung open.

"You haven't been here before?" Gin inquired lightly her as he glanced at Yuuka from the rearview mirror, before stepping on the gas to drive the car further in the courtyard.

He asked because the Cedar Palace was not entirely closed to the public. There were times when the place opened for cultural events held at the outer buildings, and most times than not, businessmen and their brood clamored to have tickets to come. Coming at the Homura House in Tokyo was, after all, a status symbol, as not all the rich people could come in so easily.

Maki Yuuka shook her head. "I'm not interested or fond of cultural shows and activities," she answered. "I'm not such a mȧsȯċhɨst that I'd suffer through something I hate just to gain connections. My father won't force me to attend such things as well since he knew I'd probably mess up."

Chiaki and Alinea who were familiar with her no holds barred mouth let out a hearty chuckle.

"Your father's wise then," Alinea commented as they arrived at the inner court, and everyone started alighting the car.

"Woah, it really feels like you're in another era in here," Yuuka commented as she eyed the huge traditional mansion.

"Don't let it fool you. The place is equipped with discreetly placed modern appliances. It's more high-tech than some of the new houses," Alinea told her.

It was true. Aside from the appearance and true age of the house, the Cedar Palace was surprisingly modernized to cater to its residents' comfort. It's just the appliances such as the air-conditioning system and others were hidden in a faux traditional exterior to keep the aesthetics of the place.

"I see," Yuuka nodded as she followed the others.

She still had no idea why she was invited here but she didn't mind. Even if she's not really interested in cultural shows and activities, she loved visiting fascinating places, and Cedar Palace was at the top of the list of intriguing places.

"Here, miss," a servant told her as she placed a pair of slippers on the wooden floor of the balcony.

Yuuka thanked her as she slipped her shoes off and wore them. She let the servant take her shoes to the side and followed the others in the receiving room. Her grandma's house, although a lot smaller than the Cedar Palace, was also a traditional Japanese house, and so she was used to places like this one.  

"Yuuka, are you busy?" Gin asked as soon as they reached the receiving room and were all seated saved for Chiaki. The latter went to look for Aki and Kazehaya Sora.  

"Well, it's the weekend tomorrow," she answered with a slight frown. "I'm just usually at home, either playing video games or listening to books."

"Huh? You listen…to books?" Alinea was confused as she racked her brains how that was possible, making the others laugh except Yuuka.

The lady pouted, looking hurt. "Why do you seem surprised? I love audiobooks," she answered.

"Oh, audiobooks," Alinea nodded, finally understanding what she meant. She was someone who hated reading but loved listening to stories so she could relate. Back in Ritz, Alistair had tried to make her read many times but ended up reading to her instead.

"So it means you have nothing important to do then?" Gin prompted and Yuuka shrugged.

"Nothing that I can think of," she answered. "I just returned from New York, so I'm not really needed at work."

"How about vacation? Can you take a leave?"

Upon hearing that, Yuuka frowned. "Yes, I can. But why? Why are you asking me these things?"

Gin shifted on his seat, before clearing his throat. "Because you might need to take one – a semi-long one."

Yuuka inclined her head; caution reflected in her eyes. "Is this related to Suzuki Daizo and my father?" she asked softly.

"Yes." It was Ryuu who answered this time.

Yuuka inhaled sharply, her hands clenched on her ŀȧp as she bravely met the Koutaishidenka's eyes.

"Then why should I leave?" Yuuka's voice came out clear and even challenging that Alinea's eyes had a glimmer of admiration in them.

For normal people, even simply hearing Ryuu's name invoked fear. But now, faced with the man himself, even if it was obvious that Yuuka was afraid of the head of the Homura House, she didn't show any signs of it.   

"If something bad involves my father – good or bad, I want to be present," Yuuka stated. "I'm not saying I will side with him if he did or does something wrong, but if it's the case, I would like to try my best to at least reason with him. I am his only child, after all."

Alinea wanted to verbally agree with Yuuka. If it were her, she wouldn't want to leave her father as well. But she knew that beyond the surface, there was another set of reasons for this. Because if not, her uncle wouldn't bother dealing with it himself, much less her husband.   

"We understand," Gin nodded. "But we're afraid we cannot really let you intervene," he continued, eliciting another sharp intake of breath from Yuuka.

But before she could protest, Gin signaled for the servant who waited on the side to bring his ŀȧptop, and he placed it on the table. Everyone's eyes focused on the open screen where a video was playing.

"What's this…"

Yuuka's voice trailed off as the screen showed a video of a girl standing next to a car where men that looked like thugs got out from. The girl was pretty but her eyes had a menacing look in them. There was no sound but they could clearly see what was happening.

The men left the girl, but then one of the men suddenly came flying and slammed against the windshield of the car, shattering the glass. The pretty girl was not even fazed. Instead, she looked enraged and more so when a pipe suddenly came flying her way, embedding itself against her shoulder and she screamed.

Everything looked normal in the sense that it was humanly possible and explainable, but the following events were not. Yuuka watched with her face turning horrified by the second as the girl screamed in agony while three dark heads with hollow faces came out of her screaming mouth.

They watched as the girl's body started convulsing as more of the black things tried to get out of her body but couldn't. In the end, the girl's flesh fused with the plethora of the shadows and they evolved into a spider-like demon.

"What is this? Is this a movie?" Yuuka asked weakly, as she tried to put a semblance of a smile of her face, but gave up when she saw that no one was smiling back. "What?"

"I'm afraid it's real."

It was Alinea who answered, and Yuuka turned to her as if she was insane. "This video is actually surveillance footage. That girl…" she said as she pointed at the girl who turned into a monster. "Her name's Okada Koharu, my ex-classmate."