Note: Okay, so here's my first fan fiction, and I must say that it is the very definition of melodramatic. Seriously. Anyways, please read and review! The overall story has a lot of fighting, blood, and romance-type stuff, so this is NOT for kids. This is a multi-chapter story, by the way.
About the prologue: I know it doesn't make sense, but it will. You can probably figure out who some of the people are, and I hope that doesn't mess up the rest of the story. The first part is a vague description that could be from any random observer's POV. Then, it switches to Rika's POV. And remember:-Words in "quotation marks" is normal speech, as always.
-A word or two that is italicized is being spoken in emphasis, as long as it's in speech. If it's not in speech, it's a character's thoughts. If a whole paragraph is written like that, then it is usually a memory.
-Words that are italicized and are in "quotation marks" so that it looks like "this" is Spirit Hanyuu talking to Rika. I'm making it look like this because Rika is the only one who can hear her talk. And that's only Spirit Hanyuu, by the way. Those rules don't apply for Hanyuu while she's alive.
-Words in bold (which is what this whole section in in) are Rika's speech in her normal, deep voice (her childish voice is just an act) and Rika's speaking as Frederica Bernkastel.
Okay, since I'm done ranting, let's get on with the fan fiction!
-Insert disclaimer here-
"Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kage, Baragoroshi-hen"
By Ferny (Blaze-Fire-Kitty)
Prologue
They were aware of only three things at that moment.
One: Their wounds bled profusely, and with each drop that splattered onto the ground, they could almost see the trust between them shattering. They felt as though the remaining shards were then slicing them wide open.
Two: They were crying tears that held everything that was shared with their loved one-the one they were dueling over… Maybe a tear or two carried the memories of their sacred friendship.
Three: Pain seared through their entire bodies, lighting their fingertips with little flames of agony. Waves of sorrow crashed over their heads until they felt like they were drowning. Their legs trembled as though they would give away to the misery that gnawed away at them.
Everything else in the world was gone; unimportant. Everything else was dead to them. They weren't even aware of the gathering crowd around them. Those people didn't matter. Nothing mattered more to each one than taking the life of the other. Taking revenge on the one who had stolen their joy, life, innocence.
However, each one wondered vaguely if that were possible. They even considered the possibility of this fight bringing nothing but more tragedy. They each wondered what would happen if they themselves were to die.
No. They couldn't just leave their prize for the other one to claim. No matter what.
The clang of metal snapped them back to their senses as their weapons collided with one another. They weren't even aware that they were swinging them. They weren't really aware of anything anymore.
The screech of steel made one cringe, and the other one took the opportunity to bring her cleaver down upon the first one's shoulder…
Gasps rose from around them as the crowd ducked out of the way of the splash of blood.
-----
It was like watching a dance.
A dance of pain. A dance of death. A dance of envy.
A dance of broken hearts, torn love, and shattered friendships. A dance with beautifully preformed choreography, as rhythm flowed in the way they clashed and collided.
Rika Furude heard the words echoing through her mind as she realized with dread that somehow, through some cruel twist of fate, Hinamizawa had fallen into the time loop once again. She felt tears welling up in her violet eyes, but she dare not let one escape. This was a time to be strong; a time to stand up and face fate once and for all.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Rika. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Hanyu," she replied to the spirit. "This was bound to happen. I wonder when I'll learn that mere humans can't change fate?"
Hanyu sighed, then Rika felt her presence fade, leaving behind a lonely, empty feeling. Nothing can be done, she reasoned with herself; fate has decided. Rika was furious; after hundreds of years, hundreds of time loops where she watched her friends and then herself die, she still couldn't find a way to escape this curse.
Once again, metal met metal, blue eyes met green, and the sickening scent of blood rose from where it splashed onto the ground.
Rika let one single tear run down her right cheek, only for Hanyu to reappear and catch it with her fingertip. I can't believe this is happening again. And it's all because of what used to be their simple little crushes…
Love truly is a battle that is to be fought to the death.
To the one of self-denial, pain was nothing more than a symbol of strength. She did not know the disaster that she would bring forth.
But to the one of self-indulgence, pain was a punishment for stupid mistakes that couldn't be fixed. She did not know that she was delivering her own punishment.
And to both of them, pain was the illness and the cure, the birth and the death, the morning and the night, the blood and the kiss. They did not know that they were not falling victim to time's curse, but to their own tragic sins.
-Frederica Bernkastel