Disclaimer: I don't own Higurashi, it is owned by Ryukishi07

Chapter 0.5

The Witch is Cornered

"The Higurashi were unusually quiet that day, almost no chirping. It was a gloomy day, for everyone. Even if fate had been beaten, gloominess can spread. The day started out quite normal for Rika and her friends, but it was one of those slow days, you know, one of those days where you realize your insignificance and know your impending death. Unless that's just me, I suppose. But it was gloomy and boring, nonetheless. They went about their day, Keiichi yelling at Satoko after he fell into her traps, their studying, which I didn't bother to watch, mind you, and their punishment games. Makes me wish of my childhood… After thinking about that, I take it back, my childhood sucked. Alas, you are probably asking who I am and why am I breaking the forth wall, eh? Well, it wouldn't be the fourth wall for me… I am a warrior, a warrior pushed to the edge of time. Sometimes I am forced to lead armies, armies of chaos. But here, I am just on business. My name you're wondering now? Well, it's a normal name, not one of those eccentric Eastern names. My name is Larry, just Larry. Not Larry-san, nor kun, not even chan. But Larry-Sama may be nice." A youthful man who seemed of Western origin was sitting down drinking a strong smelling tea, Earl Grey. His blond hair was rather short, and he was wearing a long brown coat with various objects concealed inside. The table he was sitting at had black and white spaces along with many oriental designs, a dragon, flowers… And what seemed to be a Celtic knot drawn on it.

"It looks better with this on it. I always had a fondness for the Irish… Wait, it may have been the Scottish or the Welsh… I'll just say the Celts." Larry seemed to be amusing himself by drawing on the table as a child would have if he was bored.

"You shouldn't bore a witch, you talk far too much. I fail to see why they sent such a childish messenger to warn me, they may be no threat at all, then." A girl with deep purple eyes responded, sitting on the other end of the table drinking her tea.

"Oh, you aren't scared then? Good, they feed off fear, but you would know. You did create them, of course." Larry stopped drawing and seemed to become serious, "If you don't help stop them, this also means the end of my world, Bernkastel."

"And what if I don't? I already won my game, even if these are byproducts of my victory, they cannot end this world's happiness." The witch smirked.

"It's too good to be true. A normal dimension stepper, like me, usually doesn't have the ability to walk into the Witches' without their consent. They are wearing down the walls of the universe. Their power is giving me power, power I don't need… Yet." Larry looked down and started doodling on the table again.

"So what are you getting at?" The Witch asked, getting annoyed by Larry's behavior.

"If your world creates a threat for mine, I am obligated to terminate the problem. Either you or the Shrine Priestess." Larry stopped and had finally showed his cruel nature, "You may be the cruelest witch, but the balance can be crueler."

"You are saying that you will go to Hinamizawa and stop the happiness that I have helped create after these past centuries?" The Witch seemed quite annoyed now.

"Your choice. Take care of the problem, or you will end up losing your game. Look now at Onifaguchi." Larry pulled out a mirror peering into Hinamizawa.

The mirror was showing the dank swamps of Onifaguchi, the supposed bridge to the dead. The lakes were different, though. A mass of darkness was spewing out of them. First slowly then more rapidly. They let out bellowing, tortured screams as they were massing together. A sight no ordinary human could live through, but Larry and Bernkastel were unfazed.

"Here, I'll help you a little, but you may end up helping me." Larry snapped and the souls became invisible, "The same effects as your piece, Hanyuu, has. Only Rika can see them… And hear them for that matter. But this is a minor effect, if they try their hardest, they can be visible. Anyways, witch, tell me when you are ready and we will make a deal." Larry dispersed in a cloud of purple fire, not unlike the witches' butterflies.

Bernkastel sat there in the room, somewhat enraged. She worked on this world for centuries, now her own creations threaten to destroy it. If she lost the game, she would not only lose to Lambda, but would never be left alone by her.

Rika had trouble sleeping that night. Nightmares filled her head; the events of the past flew though her head. She relived each and every single one of her lives in one night. She could now hear the tortured souls.

We come, Rika!

Would you like to play our game?

Do you remember the fun we had?

But you let us die.

You left us behind, tortured,

Driven to insanity,

Drenched in sadness,

No Hope of our own…

WE WISH THE SAME UPON YOU!