Aw, thanks guys! I didn't think I'd get so many reviews about this fanfic honestly. So anyway, here's the second chapter, and yea, I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: Yea… Higurashi… don't own it, are you happy now? *cries*

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Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Koishiteru-hen Part 2

"It's not surprising, when you think about it." Hanyuu said to Rika, as they were now back at the house.

After her conversation with Shion earlier they had set back over to the festival to meet up with the others. Keiichi, no surprise to the rest of the club members, lost the race with Mion, who made Keiichi carry her around on his back and after made him help with the set up while making him wear his infamous maid uniform. While he was fuming during the time he was forced to move boxes and the like, he was unusually quiet about former. Rena and Satoko could only laugh at the sidelines. Rika and Shion did arrive shortly after, and Satoko noticed that her friend would not even look at her. Curious Satoko surprised her friend by taking her hand, and when Rika looked at her Satoko gave her a smile as she attempted to pull Rika with her to join in on the fun. What startled her was not when Rika refused to be dragged along, but when she pulled her hand away from Satoko's in a jerking motion.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about this. We're both girls Hanyuu, and girls can't be—" Rika couldn't even bring herself to finish the thought. How could she harbor feelings for her best friend, and how could she have not seen it before?

Satoko stared surprised at Rika's action. Her frown deepened when she took a step forward to see Rika's expression. Shion, Rena, and Hanyuu then turned, noticing the tension building around the two girls. The three girls looked concerned, but keep their distance.

"Rika?" Satoko probed, seeing the tears in her best friend's eyes. "Rika, what's wrong?"

Without answering Rika began to back up, concerning Satoko more. One tear rolled down her face as she turned and ran back towards their home. Before Satoko could have done anything Hanyuu was already running past her and calling out Rika's name. Rena hurried over to Satoko to calm her down once noticing that the girl held a deep look of sorrow in her face.

And that's how Rika and Hanyuu ended in the back of the house, sitting against the building as Rika was curled in on herself, unwilling to lift her head from her knees while she conversed with her companion. Hanyuu offered no more words as she sat with her crying friend. When finally Rika lift her head up, sniffling as she looked straight ahead into the forest.

"I remember, in one of the other worlds," Rika began, catching Hanyuu's attention. The young looking god looked over to her friend as she listened.

"Keiichi had asked about why I practiced cooking so much. I told him it was so I could become a good wife for my future husband." Her eyes were downcast as she thought back to that time.

"True I never gave any thought to it before. Maybe I would end up with Okamura and Satoko would end up with Tomita, or if not him Dr. Irie when we were older. Not that either of us are attracted to them, but they just seem like the only real options available, only now…" Rika shook her head, feeling her cheeks tinting in color.

"It's okay Rika, like I told you before the whole gang knows about it. Even before you did, but no one ever objected to it." Hanyuu boasted, trying to be the supportive character.

"But both you and Shion had told me to be careful. And what if people start treating Satoko like before because of this... relationship." Her whole face turned pink at the word, making her look to the ground, suddenly finding it more interesting.

"No-not that we even have that kind of relationship. I'm pretty sure Satoko doesn't see me like that anyway." Her voice was getting lower and lower, and Hanyuu was beginning to wonder if Rika was talking to herself and contemplating what has been going on.

"Hau hau, I think this is something you should talk to Satoko about, or at least ask the others about." Hanyuu suggested to Rika. Rika mused over what to do, weighing her opinions in her head.

"I can't really…. feeling this way… is not's something a girl should feel." The blue haired miko concluded with a sigh.

"Rika, we both know how much you've been through," Rika looked over as Hanyuu spoke, her voice serious as she stood. "What we've both been through. But mainly, we know more so than others when it comes to what is right and what is wrong. I think… this is something you need to decide on your own, what you want to do." Hanyuu finished. The two girls stared at one another, Rika somewhat surprised by Hanyuu's tone, but just as her mouth opened in reply she was cut off by none other than the girl she ran away from.

Looking up at the sound of her name Rika and Hanyuu saw Rena and Satoko heading their way. Standing up, Rika watched Satoko before running towards the girl, slowing down to a halt right in front of her. Satoko looked a little crossed as she gave Rika a hard look, catching the other girl off guard. Rena gave a weak smile as Hanyuu walked up behind them.

"Mou, Rika, why did you run off like that?" Satoko questioned, puffing out her cheeks. Rika blinked, as if she was caught off guard by the question. Looking to Rena, she saw the girl give her a reassuring smile.

"Mii, sorry Satoko. I had a stomachache." It was such a kid excuse to avoid confrontation. Then again, they were kids, at least, Satoko was.

Satoko turned her head to the side, cheeks still puffed as she glanced to Rika. Her cheeks turned red, which Rika suspected was Satoko not believing her and was angry for her lie.

Satoko moved her eyes from Rika to Hanyuu, and what Hanyuu saw from Satoko's eyes said it all. Remaining silent, Hanyuu looked to the ground.

"Well next time just tell me, instead of just running off. You had me worried!" The girl stated, continuing to scold her friend like a mother would her daughter. Satoko then placed her hands on her hips, before lifting her fist to bonk Rika on the head.

"Next time I won't be so forgiving." Rika shut one eye from the tap, surprised. When she saw Satoko break out into a grin, she smiled back. Her chest fluttered as butterfly's filled her stomach.

Back with the others Shion watched her sister with Keiichi from a distance with a passive expression. The duo were not longer at each other's throat, while Keiichi was still suffering from his punishment he was mainly yelling off at the other men who teased him, with the occasional wolf whistle that made his face turn so red that a tomato would be jealous.

Mion walked over to her sister, offering her sister a refreshment when Shion detected her presence.

"Ah, arigatou Onee…" Shion thanked as she accepted the cup, taking a quick sip as her sister and herself went to go sit down by the stairs.

"So," Mion began out of curiosity. "How did your talk with Rika-chan go?"

Shion closed her eyes as she let her shoulder drop, shaking her head lightly.

"Not well, huh?" Mion asked, not surprised with how Rika took off earlier.

Shion leaned on her palm, looking to her twin in wonderment.

"It's not just that, Rika-chan didn't even realize what was going on. I can blame her of course, it's not like anyone taught her these things…" Shion trailed off as she looked away.

"Everyone at the village had no problem with them living together since they lost their parents. And now Hanyuu-chan as well. Still, I don't think anyone expected there was a possibility of romantic feelings for each other to develop." Mion stared at the beverage in her hands, looking down as the ice twirled in the liquid.

"Well not everyone, we all pretty much knew." Shion stopped this time when both her and Mion heard a 'Gah!' behind them and turned to see Keiichi looking angrily at one of the taller, stronger looking man with a box that lay at Keiichi's feet. The twins laughed when they saw how the men were joking on Keiichi's attire, though letting it go when he attempted to challenge the man in front of him, posing that they didn't want to get involved with the club. Which apparently was becoming quick notorious with their set of rules.

Mion nodded knowingly to her sister.

"I think Kei-chan realizes what's going on, but he doesn't know what to say about it. One day a month ago I think he tried to ask me about it, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words."

Shion let a smirk cross her face.

"Oh-o! That's why he hasn't been a pervert to either of them all this time. And here I thought he was finally growing up," Shion paused, throwing a glance at her twin, seeing her nod timidly.

"Of course, Kei-chan pretty much stopped acting like that around all of us these past few months, well all of us except you, Onee." This time Shion didn't to look at her sister to know that she was blushing.

Mion stammered, unsure of what to say as an excuse. Looking to her sister, Mion did her best to get the red to leave her face. "Yea, well, it's not like I—" But Shion will never know what she was going to say because Keiichi had cut them off.

"Oi! Mion!" His face was red in embarrassment as he threw daggers at the girl. Mion looked wide up as she stood up, frozen in her spot.

"Run Onee, hurry, I'll slow him down." Shion told her with a wink. Reassured Mion turned and quickly descended down the staircase.

"Mion! We're do you think you're going!"

Keiichi began to run after her. As he passed Shion, she stuck as her foot with her face turned from the scene. Eyes closed, and a big smile plastered on her face.

"Opps!"

Her heart was pounding all the way up to her ears; she was sure everyone they saw could hear it. Glancing down, Rika looked to where Satoko was holding her hand, leading the way back up to the festival preparations. Satoko had been going on about Hanyuu and Rika leaving there bikes at the festival when the left, but Rika caught no more than that. She shook her head as she fought the blush that threatened to grow from her collarbone up to her cheeks.

Satoko turned to look at her friend. Rika lowered her head, in reply Satoko gave her hand a squeeze. The young miko almost jumped as she lifted her head up to look at her best friend, a surprised look once again plastered on her face. When Satoko smiled at her, she couldn't help but only smile in return.

"Aww, Rika-chan and Satoko-chan holding hands is kawaii sou! Omochikaeri!" Rena fumed, surprised everyone as Hanyuu desperately calmed her down. Rika pulled from Satoko as she looked back to Rena. She looked to Satoko when she noticed the slight hurt flash across her eyes.

"We wouldn't want Rena taking us to her home and locking us up in her house, I don't think her father would like that, nipah!" Rika said, smiling a smile that the only person who could really see the fakeness of it was Hanyuu.

Satoko looked at her for a few more seconds, before turning back to continue walking with the group.

The group stopped when they saw Mion running towards them. Shocked they couldn't say anything as the green girl sprinted past. She yelled

"Tell Kei-chan I have to go work at my uncles today, see you guys tomorrow!"

And with that her figure grew smaller and smaller as she ran away from the girls. Satoko scratched the back of her head.

"I thought she was off this week because of the festival." Hanyuu questioned, earning a murmur of agreement from Satoko.

"She is; she's probably heading home. If we tell Keiichi that she's at the shop he'll either give up chasing her, or he'll head all the way of Okinomiya." Rika stated, which in turn made Satoko smirk. Not much time passed before Keiichi was heading down the same path. Seeing Rena and the other he slowed down, stopping in front of them.

"Have you guys seen Mion?" He asked, taking puffs of air as he rested with his hands on his knees. Satoko's hand shot to point to her right, speaking before anyone else could say anything..

"She said she had to leave to her uncle's shop and that'd you would never chase that far to chase her down because you're still wearing that maid outfit." Satoko hid her grin, noticing Rika's smile at her antics and Rena fuming again with how cute Keiichi looked.

Rolling up invisible sleeves Keiichi steamed as he glared into the distance.

"As if I would be so easily dissuaded, I'll show her!" He proclaimed and continued to rush down the path, oblivious to whom was awaiting him, or who wasn't awaiting him, by the time he got to the shop.

Rena giggled.

"That was mean Satoko-chan." She pointed out, not that she had done anything to stop her friend.

"I think it's about time to head back for the day, after we get your bikes." Rena suggested. The sky was beginning to darken. The girls agreed as they set back off to the top of the shrine area.

Later that night Rika, Satoko, and Hanyuu were back at the house, finishing up their dinner. Currently Satoko was gathering some of the plates while Rika was setting up the futons

"Ne, Rika, where did Hanyuu go?" Satoko inquired from where she was cleaning dishes in the kitchen.

"Mii, she went to the bathroom."

Rika finished unrolling her and Hanyuu's futon. She grabbed Satoko's from the closet as she placed it aside hers, like always. Before she unrolled it, Rika paused, looking at the arrangement of the beds. It wasn't the same as always, not after today. With what she learned from talking with Shion, it just wasn't the same. Rika didn't hear Satoko turning off the faucet and walk into the room.

"Rika?"

Looking up Rika saw Satoko leaning again the doorframe which connected the two rooms. A word popped into the miko's mind. Cute. Rika blushed, then looked down as she unrolled her friend's futon, trying to hide her face.

Satoko took a small step into the room.

"Rika, are you sure you're okay?" She asked with concern.

Slowing what she was doing, Rika looked up to Satoko, taking in her appearance. Even though it was only four years, it was still a long time, and Satoko had definitely changed with the times. She was still a kid at heart; she was still naïve about many things. But as the years went by, Satoko had grown taller, she had let her hair grow out to just below her shoulders and her eyes were softer to look at. She became more developed, which even though it didn't bother her that much, made Rika a little envious of.

Rika herself was the same height as Satoko; her hair flowed down to her shoulder blades and had grown a darker shade, almost like a midnight blue. She wasn't as developed as the girls around her, but that didn't mean she looked any more like the little girl she used to be.

Catching herself staring at her best friend, Rika remembered her question and nodded, finally finished the beds. She stood up with the intent of finishing the dishes in the kitchen. As she walked by Satoko, her friend grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her movements.

"R-rika!" Satoko tried to say her name more firmly, but found herself faltering halfway through.

Rika knew, knew it shouldn't bother her. She just realized these feeling earlier the very same day, and now she could barely look at Satoko. But she could only think of how warm her wrist felt in Satoko's hand.

We're both girls… we're both girls… Rika repeated in her head. She closed her eyes and tired to pull away like she had done prior to this moment. Only Satoko pulled back, hard.

And Rika suddenly found herself on the ground with Satoko on top of her body. Surprised, Rika's eyes widened as she looked up at her friend, who was just as startled as it was painted in her expression, still neither moved. Rika took the time to realize their position.

Satoko had one hand at the side of her head, the other pinning down one of Rika's arms. Her body was sprawled half over Rika's stomach, with one leg in between Rika's, the other leg wrapped around Rika's left leg.

By now Rika's heart was thumping, and with Satoko so close, she knew she could feel it too. Her breathing was heavier as she attempted to look anywhere but Satoko, which was impossible as Satoko was clouding her vision.

Satoko moved slightly, pressing her leg into Rika and causing the girl to bite her lip in order to stifle a noise she didn't know she could make. Looking up, face flustered, Rika caught Satoko's eyes, who was looking back down at her like a deer caught in headlight, unsure of what to do. She had saw Rika trying to hold back a moan, but didn't know what to make of it. Rika's eyes then flickered to her friend's lips and wondered briefly if they were as soft as they looked. But her thoughts went interrupted as she heard Hanyuu walking back towards the room and without think pushed Satoko off to the side, directly onto her futon.

When Hanyuu walked into the room she paused, noticing Rika sitting with her back away from Satoko, unable to look her in the eyes. And Satoko was getting up with a blush on her cheeks as she hurried back into the kitchen and went about cleaning the rest of the dishes. Neither of the two spoke for the rest of the night.

TBC

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A/N: I enjoyed writing this one, and it didn't take me as long which surprised me personally. Though I should be studying for finals, this was just so much more fun to do. And hey, you guys inspired me to continue, I know right how special do you feel! May update soon, as long as you guys give me some feedback!