Kishi no Kakera
A/N: Welcome to my newest fiction, Kishi no Kakera. I've returned after a…4-5 year hiatus. I was depressed, and while I still wrote, it was jumbled, disorganized, and I was far too insecure to actually post any of it. That's why I've decided to start fresh! I recently watched Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, and absolutely fell in love with the story. Hence, FANFICS! Now, this fic will have an OC who is central to the plot, but I'm going to do my best to make sure he doesn't monopolize it, like what happened in some of my older fics. Feel free to let me know if that starts to happen. Also, for those who are wondering, Kishi no Kakera is Japanese for 'Fragment Knight'. That term will become important later. ON TO THE STORY!
My name is Ryan Aminiko, and I am 14 years old. I was born in Japan, in a small village, although I cannot recall the name of it. You see, my parents moved away from that village when I was still a small child. I hadn't even had my first birthday. We moved to New York, in America. I suppose that gives me dual citizenship. However, my parents didn't live long after that. I've been told they killed themselves in a double suicide. I grew up in foster homes, moving generally every 6 months or so. Nobody wanted to keep me around, because I have a few issues.
I swore I could hear footsteps behind me every so often, generally every couple of weeks or so, and this, combined with a general mistrust of most people, made me shy, and maybe just a little paranoid, always believing that others were just trying to bring me down. I generally stayed at home, minding my own business and reading books, but when people tried to interact with me, I'd be indifferent or even hostile. This applied to my foster parents as well. That is why nobody ever kept me past 6 months.
The last family I was in, however, took a different approach. My 'dad', Harry, tried to 'beat some sense' into me. Obviously, I was unable to defend myself. So, at 12, I ran away. I found a street gang and joined, but didn't do well because I couldn't work well with others and I wasn't a violent person. However, I had good eyesight and a fairly loud voice, so I usually was the lookout whenever they broke in somewhere. It wasn't a very good job, and nobody really respected me, but it got me fed and a place to stay though, so it wasn't all bad.
From this, you might get the impression that I am just a weak nerdy person who can't do anything on my own. This is untrue. After I ran away, I vowed to become stronger, so nobody could hurt me. With the money I received for whatever raids we went on, I took Kendo classes, as well as jujitsu. I took the classes very seriously, and as a result, I grew quite strong physically, though my childhood rendered my quite damaged mentally.
This continued for 2 years, while I might not have been the most accomplished person in the world, I was making my way, not easy for a 14 year old. Until, 'that' occurred.
I was waiting for a friend I had made in Kendo class. He was going to lend me the next issue in a manga I had been reading, but his class let out about an hour later than mine, so I was waiting in an alley outside the dojo, reading. I was fine until that small girl entered the alleyway. She must have lived nearby, as she wandered down to me with no fear in her eyes of the dark alley. She sat down next to me.
"Hi, what's your name?" I thought it was kinda strange that she was asking me who I was when we didn't know each other, but answered anyways. She was just a little girl.
"Ryan. You?"
"Chiro. Chiro Manuki, I'm 6."
"That's nice. Could you leave me alone, I'd like to finish this." I said, irritated. I didn't get along well with small children; something about them was off, the way they didn't seem to realize the way the world worked. Innocence, I think they call it. It didn't make sense to me.
"Why are you being mean? Maybe…" She reached behind her, and withdrew…a syringe."
"What the! What are you gonna do with that!" I was completely surprised by the fact this girl seemed to have drugs on her. I avoided that stuff like the plague, and who knows what she has.
"Just a poke here and there. The red dots will look really nice on your cheeks." Red dots…she means the places where she'll inject that into me. I backed away as fast as I could, until I reached the back wall. I was trapped.
"S-s-stay back! I-I-I'm w-warn-n-ning you!" I was terrified. What was this girl thinking, why would she want to hurt me.
"What's wrong mister…" Her face twisted into a grimace, and her voice became scratchy and dark; "It won't hurt."
"Last c-c-chance! G-g-get away!" The girl came closer and closer…
"NO!" I leapt forwards, the movements natural after 2 years of practice. The blows rained down on the girl, and she collapsed. However, I wasn't finished. If I turned my back on her, she would get up and stab me with that syringe. I kicked repeatedly, until her body was nearly unrecognizable. Finally satisfied, I stopped.
"Why…why would you…" The syringe in her hand caught my eye; or rather, the red marker in her hand.
"What…how, I know I saw…" The terrible reality of what I had done was fully realized in that moment.
"She…was only going to draw…and I…killed her. No…NO!" I clutched at my head as invisible voices mocked me.
Murderer!
She was just a kid!
Worthless monster!
A quiet voice echoed in my mind, yet somehow, overpowering the rest.
Gomen nasai.
"Gomen nasai? What does that even mean! What's going on! LEAVE ME ALONE!" I ran from the alley, my friend forgotten. I just wanted to get home, to make this nightmare disappear.
As I entered the group house I lived in, some of the gang members tried to talk to me, probably about some job later. I waved them off, before going to my room and trying to fall asleep. But, the face of the girl, the one I murdered, haunted me. I was completely unable to do anything, but relive that terrible moment. As I lay alone in my bed, I absentmindedly scratched at my neck, which had become extremely itchy.
The next day, I tried to go about my daily routine, but I wasn't able to give it my best effort. My instructors asked me what was wrong, but I gave excuses and left early. I could only see the girl, the innocent girl. I returned to the alleyway that night, almost praying that I'd be caught, but all I saw was the police tape; and an outline in chalk where the girl had fallen. I hung my head.
"I'm sorry. I…I didn't know. I thought…you were trying to hurt me. So…please…let me be." I whispered, somehow hoping the girl could hear me, and would forgive me.
'I was only playing…why…' The girl's voice echoed in my head.
"I…"
'You killed me. You get to live, and I…' Her voice trailed off, but the accusation was there. I scratched at my neck, the itch growing stronger.
"It wasn't my fault. IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" I screamed into the night air. The only answer I received was the chirping of crickets. I ran from the alley, accusations echoing in my mind. And finally, I could deny the truth no longer. It was my fault. Nobody had harmed the girl, except me. It was a misunderstanding, true, but…that does not excuse the deed. I contemplated turning myself in and explaining myself, but I had no desire to sit in an insane asylum, which is where I would certainly end up. That is not a suitable punishment for one such as me.
I stopped running, trying to catch my breath, when I notice my shirt is wet. I glance down, and see that my white shirt had turned completely red. I touched my neck, and winced as pain erupts. I looked at my hand, and saw gore under my fingernails, and blood trailing down my hands. I realize…I've been clawing out my throat this entire time, without even noticing.
"What...an appropriate punishment. These hands which struck down that girl…will also strike down me."
Suddenly, I sensed danger all around me. Everywhere I looked, policemen and doctors were looking around, and I knew they were searching for me. If they found me, my punishment would go uncompleted. I ran away from them, my enemies. They came from every direction, but I was able to avoid them. Without conscious effort, I found my hand again clawing at my throat. I did nothing to stop them. Even as I felt my body grow weak from blood loss, I did nothing. As I tore open my own throat, all I could think was, 'Am I forgiven? Do you forgive me, Chiro Manuki? Please…forgive me…'
'Gomen nasai. Gomen nasai. Goooommmmmeeenn nnnaaasssaaaaiiiiiiiii….' The words in my mind slowed, as my mind gradually stilled.
And everything faded to black.
I was floating in an endless void. All around me were crystals, of varying shapes and sizes. In each, I could glimpse images of people's faces, of what seemed to be a festival, and of a girl, lying in a pool of blood. I turned away; those images reminded me of my own sin.
'Ryan Aminiko.' A booming voice suddenly shouted.
"What the…where am I? Am I dead? Is this…hell?"
'No. You perished, but I chose to save you. You are currently in the world between worlds. My power allows you to be here.'
"But…why?"
'You have seen the images in the kakera. The girl who dies in each of them is my priestess. I want you to save her. Are you willing to do this for me?'
"Who are you?"
'I am Oyashiro, the guardian diety of Hinamizawa, your hometown. I watch over all my people. I ask again, do you accept?'
"I…what if I say no?"
'Then I will simply allow your fate to progress unhindered. After all, there isn't anything I can do if you refuse.'
"I…I want to atone. I killed that innocent girl. I may have thought she was a threat to me, but she wasn't, and reality is what counts. I will atone, by protecting this priestess!"
'Thank you Ryan; that makes me happy, auau!' The voice, while booming before, now sounded more subdued, and much more…feminine. I chose to ignore this, after all, the last thing I wanted to do was offend a god.
"So how am I going to protect her? I thought I died."
"You did…in that world." The booming voice returned. A swirl of sparks gestured towards a crystal behind me. In it, I could see my own dead body. The police had surrounded it and were investigating. I turned away; there was nothing left for me there now.
"So now what?" I asked; eager to leave this place.
'My power will allow you to go to another world, and appear in Hinamizawa no less. You must find a way to save her.'
"Wait…you're a god. Why can't you save her, after all, you saved me."
'There are limits on even a god's power, and there are differences between your situation and hers. Don't make this difficult.'
"Alright. One last question. If Hinamizawa is my hometown, then it's in Japan. I don't know Japanese. What do I do?"
'You haven't noticed? We've been speaking Japanese this entire time. My power supplies the necessary knowledge, don't worry about that.'
"Ok, and…thank you. Thank you for giving me a second chance." My vision faded, and once again, everything was black.
I slowly opened my eyes. It was nighttime, and I was lying in a forest. A strange chirping was echoing through-out the trees. It was similar to a cricket, but…different.
A scream reminded me of my mission. Oyashiro had entrusted me with this mission, and I would fulfil it. I ran in the direction of the scream, grabbing a large stick as I did so. I was unarmed, and so anything, even a simple stick, was better than nothing.
Momentarily, I came across a large shrine. The source of the scream had come from here. I quickly ascended the staircase. As I neared the top, I heard a voice.
"Annoying brat. I could have sworn I gave her enough sedative to keep her unconscious until…well, until it was done!" In front of the shrine stood a person who sent chills down my spine just looking at them. Her words only reinforced the feeling, they were planning something terrible.
"No!" I leapt up, brandishing my stick. The person laughed.
"My my, and who might you be. Not that it matters. It's already done, you see?" Now that I'd reached the top, I could see the person I'd been hearing. She was a woman, that much was obvious, but the rest of her features were lost to the darkness. I looked past her, and nearly threw up. A small girl lay on the ground, her purple hair already matted with her own blood, which had pooled around her. Her guts had been cut out and spread around her, and there was no question about who had done it. The person in front of him was a true murderer.
"You…You MONSTER! How could you kill a little girl in cold blood?"
"I'm not a monster; I'm merely proving my grandfather's research. After all, sacrifices must be made in the name of science!" I tightened my grip on the stick.
"But to kill in cold blood, nothing justifies that!" I ran forwards, fully intending to end this woman's life. My anger, and therefore my willingness to kill, came both from seeing the terrible sight in front of me, and the horrific parallels to my own crime. If only she hadn't had a gun concealed under her coat, I may have succeeded in my mission. She shot, and I fell backwards, to the cold stone beneath me. The bullet had hit me right in the chest, and I could hardly breathe. She'd probably hit a lung. She stood over me, and laughed.
"So much for the hero. But don't feel bad. You would have died in two days anyways. Goodbye."
"Why…why would I be brought here…if I couldn't stop you? Why…I wanted…to atone…"
"Atone? Ah, that must be why you were calling me a monster before. You must have killed someone."
"What…how?" She had seen right through me.
"It's so obvious. Who's the monster now?"
"No…YOU ARE! It's true…I killed someone, but in self defense…or so I thought." The woman had the audacity to laugh again, although there wasn't much I could do about it. I could feel the blood pool below me growing larger slowly. This wound was fatal; it was only a matter of time.
"You are just so funny. For giving me such a laugh, I'll give you…" She leaned close to me, and spoke into my ear; "…A quick death." She put her gun to my head.
"Goodbye." She pulled the trigger, and everything exploded, into blackness.
I bolted awake. I was lying…in a forest.
"Was that…a nightmare?" I stood shakily. I tried to remember what I was doing. The images in my head continued to replay, over and over. For the sake of my sanity, I had to believe that it was just a nightmare…but deep in my heart, I knew the truth.
"Oyashiro sent me to protect her priestess. But…I need to establish myself in this town first. I can't sleep in the forest every night, so I need a house…"
Memories flooded my mind. Where I lived in this town, how I arrived, and…
"School! I haven't been to school since…since I ran away…" I trailed off as I realized there was nobody to complain to.
"Well, better late than never, I guess." I trudged to the school, the only building in the town I knew the location of other than my home. As I walked, I saw a sign above a shop.
Hinamizawa General Market
"Hinamizawa…I'm home." And it felt more like home than anywhere I've been before.
A/N: For those of you who are confused, Oyashiro granted Ryan the ability to speak Japanese, as well as basic knowledge of how he should interact with people. You know, different cultures and all that. She also tweaked reality a bit so nobody freaks out that he suddenly appeared. I didn't know how to explain that in the story without being really awkward, so I put it here.
Now then, I realize that this chapter was almost all about the OC Ryan Aminiko, but I needed to give him a backstory, as it WILL come up later, and I don't want anyone to not understand. So, our favorite Higurashi characters will appear in the next chapter. It's kinda awkward, but that's ok, as this story is my personal favorite out of all the stories I'm writing (although most probably won't be released, sorry), and I will definitely make sure it worth your while to stick around. I would be very grateful for reviews, but I'm not desperate. Writing like this is almost therapeutic for me. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Kishi no Kakera.
A/N 2: This is going to take place across multiple arcs, so to clarify things, Ryan is currently in a world before Onikakushi-hen.