Chapter 4

Broken Memories

Today was the best that Keiichi ever had. He didn't just finally get revenge on those two meddlesome girls (Satoko and Shion) including Rena, but he had also gotten something far much better; God's World. Just the sound of that power itself sounded astounding enough. The ability to just stop time when he decides to, how much better could it get? He could do anything with it. He could cheat club games, trick people, look up the girls' skirts. Okay that last one was perverted, but the point has been made.

Though he did understand that what Hanyuu said, which is that it can only last up to 10 seconds. Nonetheless, it's still a godly power all for him. Next time, he would be sure to get Mion. soon enough, she would be facing his vengeful wrath set upon her.

For now, Keiichi was walking home on the same path with Mion and Rena, who had already gotten used to her cute outfit she had received. The gentle sounds of the cicadas surrounded the trees around them. Satoko had already set back to where her and Rika live, though she'll be sure to be wanting revenge for today. The same goes for Shion who had also gone back to her place.

They made it to Mion's path back to her household. Before she setted off, she gave her farewells for today. "Well, today was one hell of a club game" She stated, "Gotta admit Keiichi, you sure as hell surprised me today."

He shrugged, replying, "Guess i'm getting better after all. But don't think that I won't be going after you."

She chuckled to this amusement of a threat, "Well then, i'd better be on my guard then, eh?" The three of them laughed lightly, Mion giving a wave goodbye before setting off. "Seeya guys tomorrow then."

Keiichi and Rena waved back, continuing on the path. Keiichi was glad that no one had noticed that 'trick' he pulled off then. He was sure that they would have noticed something odd, but to his luck there were no such questions. He looked at Rena, who was smiling cheerily at her maid outfit in her usual girly self.

"Hauu, this outfit is just so cute!" She cooed to herself.

"Well maybe you can take it home if you ask Dr. Irie nicely." He implied slyly to her.

"Or I could just steal it." She said with a cheeky smile on her face. Keiichi chuckled lightly at this. After that there was a short pause of silence as they were walking. Rena shyly looked down, "I think you were right Keiichi" Rena started.

"Hm? About what?" He asked her.

"You know, about how you've gotten better at these club games. I know that they can be real cruel at times with the punishments, but I'm glad that you take then well."

Keiichi rubbed his head, looking away slightly. "Ah well, it's not a big deal really, heh. Especially when I know most of these are from Mion and Satoko." After all, those two were the reincarnation of a demon at this point. Though he thanked her for at least noticing, never mind congratulating him.

Rena paused slightly, her smile turning slowly into a bit of a frown, the sound of the cicadas feeling a bit more quiet. "How have you been lately?"

Oh no. He knew what this was. She was going to start asking him questions again. Specifically on if he's alright. But as much as he wanted to tell her everything, he couldn't. Even if he tried to, she wouldn't understand the situation. He sighed, answering her, "Oh you know, busy. I've just been worried about Rika lately. We haven't seen her for a couple of days after all."

Rena nodded, "Yeah, I can understand that. I've been worried myself. She's usually always around, giving the group a positive vibe with that cute smile of hers."

He ruffled her hair, giving her a cheery look. "Ah, don't worry. I'm sure she'll be back up in no time." He reassured her.

Rena went back to her smile. "Right. It is Rika after all." They finally made it to her path. It was her turn to be heading home and departing. "Well, see you later."

"Yeah, see ya." He farewelled, waving back to her before heading on home. He was lucky really, to have friends like them. He could never dream of a better place to be without them at all. Rena, Mion, Shion, Satoko, Rika. They were the best group of friends he has ever made in his life. Though something still bothered him. That memory from this morning, about Satoko. It felt like it had happened but...it didn't? It just didn't make any sense. From what he recalled from the others, Satoko's uncle hasn't even returned ever since the murder of the aunt. So then...what was that memory?

Maybe when he gets home, he could ask Hanyuu about this. It wouldn't really be safe to talk about that stuff out in the open, who knows who could be listening.

As such, he journeyed on, the afternoon sundown shadowing down on the village. Besides, if Hanyuu is going to be 'dormant' or whatever in his body, then she could at least give him some answers. After all, this was going to be a while until he could contact Rika.

Satoko parked her bike where her and Rika usually did. She looked at the outfit she was forced to wear, grumbling under her breath as she made her way up the stairs, her obvious look of shame and vengeance could be seen clearly on her face. "Damn you Keiichi, I'll be sure to get you back for this." She grumbled under her breath. It was unbelievable. She remembered the amount of times that brunette dummy had gotten duped over time and time again, taking each punishment like they were being handed out. It was hilarious. But now all of a sudden, he just turned into a cocky pro as if he's been doing this for years. Though what was more confusing to her was how her shoe laces got tied together with everyone else's, getting them in that stumbled mess in the first place.

But either way she had to admit, it was nice to see Keiichi make progress. It was almost like back then when Mion always lost, then gradually became the best of the group. It was true that in a way, Satoko and Keiichi had their sort of rivalries at times with each other, but it was all fun and games. They were almost like siblings in the way they both acted, and who knows what the future holds.

She made it to her and Rika's household, unlocking the door and entering. She threw away everything that happened today, as she turned back to her cheery self. "Rika, i'm home!" She called out to her. No response. Maybe she was asleep, or still didn't want to talk. She sighed mentally to herself. In reality, Rika wasn't sick at all, in fact, she was perfectly healthy. But for some reason Rika just refuses to tell her what's wrong. She would do nothing but sit in that bedroom on the side of the window, looking out and mumbling to herself. What was right for sure, was that this wasn't healthy at all. Satoko had to find a way to get her out of that room somehow, even if it meant dragging her out from her feet. She thought to herself about this for a moment. What could get her out of there for at least a day...

Upstairs, Rkika was sitting on the side of the window, looking outside at the luminescent night, glooming over Hinamizawa, a cold look was all that could be seen on her face, the look of a girl who had lost hope. "Two days..." She thought to herself, "It's been two days since Hanyuu hasn't come back. Perhaps she's abandoned me." She scoffed to herself. "It doesn't matter, this world and more to come will be hopeless anyway. I might as well live them out." Rika at this point had excepted the fate that has been bestowed onto Hinamizawa. Countless of times she has tried to save it, but of to no avail of progress. Yes, she now knows who's behind it, and the order of such. But what was the point when no matter what you tried to do, it would end up the same? Murdered, tortured, cursed. At this point, there was no use in fighting what couldn't be stopped.

She heard the sound of footsteps coming up from the stairs. It must be Satoko. Well, that was obvious considering she just heard her downstairs calling that she's back. Satoko entered the room, a cheery smile on her face. She had changed out of the maid outfit and into her regular clothing.

"Hey Rika" She greeted. Rika glanced back to her, then returned to stare outside.

"Hello" She answered back, her tone rather cold.

"Hm, still no change." Satoko thought to herself. No, she couldn't let this stop her, she had to try. "So tomorrow me and the others will be going to that baseball game, and I was just wondering if maybe you'd like to come?" Rika didn't reply, giving the room a silent chill in the air. Satoko sighed deeply to herself, "I understand. I just thought that maybe it would take whatever is on your mind off for a bit or-"

"Sure"

She stopped, a bit surprised to Rika's immediate response. "Really? You'll come?" Satoko asked, a sound of joy in her voice.

Rika turned to her, a small smile and innocent facade hiding her depressing emotions. "You're right, maybe I do need something to put my mind off. Nipah~"

Satoko gleamed with happiness, her tone changing swiftly. "That's great! I promise it'll be fun." She headed to their kitchen, stopping halfway. "Want anything special tonight?"

Rika shook her head a bit. "Nothing really."

"Alright, stew it is then."

She headed into the kitchen to cook their dinner. Rika turned back to the window, her smile immediately returned back to a small frown. "I might as well try to spend this time whilst I have it." She thought to herself. "Anything would be better than waiting to die here."

Keiichi gave out a sigh, falling onto his futon in exhaustion, the comfort of his room giving him more relaxation. It was about 9PM. For tonight, he had decided to have an early night, considering the amount of energy it took for that game today. He stretched out a bit and put his hands behind his head, relaxing as he stared at the ceiling in thought. Now that he was alone, maybe he could talk to Hanyuu some more. After all, he still needed answers.

"Hey Hanyuu, you there?" he asked casually. Immediately as he asked, Hanyuu appeared by his side, kneeling down next to him.

"Yes Keiichi?"

"Ah good, she is still here. Guess she really is here whenever I need her" he thought to himself. At least he confirmed that she would be around all the time. "About this ability of yours. Has Rika ever used it?" He asked. She shook her head.

"No, not really. You see in God's world, only I'm able to move around. Even Rika gets affected by it. But..." Keiichi sat up a bit, anticipating. "For some reason, it seems that you're able to control it too." ...Never mind, he was all the way back to 'confused as hell'.

"But how? That doesn't make sense. How come Rika, who's been with you for who knows how many years, can't control it, yet someone like me can figure it out in days?" She sat there, unable to answer the question. That was the same question she was asking herself, though either way it's a good thing. The fact that this Hinamizawa has brought the best luck yet is amazing on it's own.

Then she answered, "Well you always seem to change fate. No matter how hard times get, or how something seems impossible, you always seem to be there to beat it. To me, you're Rika's lucky charm if I've ever seen one. Like she said once; 'without you, Hinamizawa is both boring and doomed'." Keiichi...was lost for words. He was important? To Rika? It was enough that this was probably the biggest praise he's ever gotten, but the fact that without him life here would be...boring and doomed? That sunk in to him a lot more than it should have.

He gave a bright smile, as he stood up from his futon. "Well then, I promise I wont disappoint-" He suddenly fell forward, landing face first.

"Ow!"

"Ow!"

He looked up at Hanyuu, who was...rubbing her head like he was from the injury? "Hanyuu...can you, feel my pain!?" She gave a light nod.

"Well yes, and it really hurt."

"Ah! S-Sorry about that."

She held her hands up in panic. "N-N-No! It's fine, really! It wasn't your fault! Au Au!" Damn it she was cute. Too cute. Good thing she wasn't living, else she'd be Rena's finest victim. Wait a moment, if she felt his pain, then...

"So that means you can feel Rika's pain too?"

She answered, "Well of course. Not just that though, but other things. Like the spice from the food you eat." Damn, now he was gonna feel sorry for her for whenever something happened to him, or what he ate for that matter. Guess being a spirit isn't what it's all cracked up to be.

"I...I think I'm gonna go get some rest. Okay?" She nodded her head, disappearing. He once again laid down in his futon. For some reason, he was really liking this. The fact that he now has someone else to talk to, better yet a kind spirit who reminded him of Rika, someone he trusts. Someone to talk to about his feelings, or other things. As soon as he had a plan, he was going to be sure to help Rika. He just needed some sleep...

It was another dream, but this one seemed odd. He had woken up (in his dream) to be wandering in what seemed to be a house. The more he looked at the furniture and styles that surrounded it, he began to notice that he wasn't just in a regular house, but what seemed to be the Sonozaki residence? There was no mistaking it, since he knew that Mion's family is rich.

He wanted to look around more, but for some reason he instead began to head outside. He had somewhat no control over his body for some reason, though he couldn't figure out why. He did notice however that he was somewhat smaller, as in the size of a kid, like Rika or Satoko. So for all he knew, he was seeing through the eyes of someone else.

He was now outside of the residence house, and into a beautiful garden of some sorts. The more he looked at the scenery around him, the more he began to regret not going to Mion's place more. Then again, he'd rather not know what her family is like if she's already a demon enough.

The somewhat body of the person he was looking through headed to what looked like a cave with a wooden door. "Who knew the residence had a secret basement?" He thought to himself. The door was however closed, well locked really. "Unless this person can phase through doors then I doubt they can go any further." As soon as he said this, he and this unknown body had phased through the door. "...Never mind, I'll just shut up." He casually toned in his head.

So far there wasn't much to see. It was rather dark and gloomy, it gave off a rather harsh, cold feeling in the place. There were stairs that lead further down into this labyrinth, the path in which again he was going down unwillingly. "Just what sort of memory was this?" He questioned himself. The last he knew, he didn't remember going to Mion's house in the dead of night, phasing through doors and going into secret basements.

That's when he heard it, the unpleasant sound of an eerie laughter echo through from below. He suddenly felt cold shivers, his heart sank into his chest. "What...the hell is that?" He asked himself nervously. More and more he was going down into this dark hell. The more he went down, the more he didn't want to. As much as his curiosity got to the best of him, he didn't want to know what psychopath was down here.

Finally down the stairs, he was entered into what looked like a...torture room. Chains hanged from the ceiling, there were all types of traps and torture devices, along the floor was covered in both dry and new blood. He was now more frightened than ever. This wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare. The Sonozaki family have a torture room!? How long have they had it? How long has it been used? The eyes he looked through raised their gaze further up on what seemed to be some cross with...

What Keiichi saw horrified him in absolute shock. "S-Satoko...oh god!" On that cross was as said, Satoko. Her lifeless body chained onto the cross, her arms covered in multiple stab wounds, blood dripping onto the floor like water from a tap. Her lifeless, dead eyes sank into him, giving the feeling to vomit on the spot. Uttered for words, all he could as was, "Who...who the fuck would do this!?"

His answer was merely replied with that same laugh, but much closer. Now that it was more clear, it sounded like to him was... "No, it can't be. It cant!" The head of this body turned to the culprit. Mion. Dressed in a white shrine outfit of some sorts, holding a bloodied knife, never mind covered in said blood over her front. If he was in control of his body, he would have fell to his knees in shock and horror. Why? Why would she do this? Why!?

He heard what sounded like crying from behind her. He glinted over to see what was a person in a cage, no, not just any person. Shion!? No...the ways he sounded, that face, he knew...THAT was Mion. Then that means Shion...had butchered Satoko! He trembled in this thought to himself. What was happening, or HAD happened, right before his eyes. He thought Shion cared for Satoko, that she would never do something like this. So why? Why did this happen!?

He immediately stopped thinking to himself, as the body he was looking though began to speak. But no...she wasn't speaking, she was apologising repeatedly.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

The more he heard them repeat, he just realised who this was. This wasn't HIS memory, and this wasn't a nightmare. This was Hanyuu's memory. What she had seen with HER own eyes. He couldn't take it any more, he couldn't. The repeating of laughter, apologising and crying raked his mind, damaging his mentality.

"Stop it...stop it...stop it...stopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopitstopit."

"STOP IIIIIIIITTTT!"

He raised up immediately from his futon in terror, screaming from his nightmare he had witnessed. He finally stopped, panting and sweating as he sat there, shivers down his spine. Gasping for breath, he managed to speak out, "What was that? What the actual fuck was that!?" He sat there, putting his hands onto his face, gently rubbing it.

Hanyuu appeared next ho him, a panicked look on her expression. "Keiichi, are you alright?" She asked calmly, yet her voice couldn't hide her worry.

He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with the regret of what he had just witnessed. "Hanyuu...just what the hell was that memory?" he uttered out, angered yet frightened. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't! His friends, the ones he cared for, the ones he held dear to him. Why? Just why would they just kill each other!? It made no sense!

She realised what he was talking about. What seemed to her meant that he had witnessed one of her recurring nightmares. The nightmares she had, for the regret of not being able to do anything to stop these tragic events from happening. Usually Rika would just say 'get a hold of yourself', or 'stop it then'. But maybe Keiichi seemed to rather want answers than just forgetting it. She couldn't blame him though, murder isn't just something you see and then pretend it didn't happen a minute later.

She gave a deep sigh, looking deeply into his eyes. "I promise Keiichi, I'll tell you tomorrow. For not get some rest."

He scoffed, "Sleep? Go back to sleep? Are you shitting me? After what I just saw, I don't think that-"

"Please!"

He stopped, shocked by her mild aggression in her voice. But she didn't mean it harshly, instead more of a stern voice, like a mother. Her look gave him the feel of both assertive, but still caring. He managed to calm down slightly, thinking more straight. He wanted answers, he wanted to know what was going on. He deserved to. He looked at the clock. It was 3:49AM. Though she was right, it would be better in the morning to be told then. At this point, he knew he could trust Hanyuu anyway. Maybe it was gut instinct telling him, maybe it was a guess. But somehow deep down, as if he could feel her mind and heart, he knew that she's a good person.

He nodded his head, as he gently laid back down, covering himself back up as he layed there, trying to get back to sleep. Hanyuu kneeled down next to his head, a gentle care of a smile on her. She began to sang a gentle song, that gave him comfort as he fell asleep from the soft feeling. Hanyuu stopped her singing, looking back down to him. Sometimes she wished she could just pet his head. He deserved it after everything he was dealing with, and he had yet to deal with. The violet-haired demon laid down, staring at his face. "Don't worry Keiichi, I promise," She said softly, "You're not alone."

End Chapter 4

A/N Man, that had a lot of transitioning here and there, but yay, Rika finally gets back into the fray. Not gonna lie, writing about the fifth arc and the descrpition hurt me a little, seeing that it was something I wasn't so eager to write about. That and it was one of the scenes to hurt me the most, considering poor Satoko is the beating doll of Higurashi at this point, poor dear. :(
But anyways, I think you already know what could be happening next chapter. Anyways, have a good day or night.