Hello Readers! Well here it is the next chapter, and it's only one day later than I expected!

Please enjoy and I would love to see reviews from my fans and from people who don't favor my work!

Please share your opinion!

The Screaming Cicadas of Hinamizawa

Chapter 3: Ritual Tool Shrine

"Strangers can be quite strange..."- Yousef El-laham

Rena smiled and waited for me to reply, but how could I reply to a statement like that? Should I shout at her? Should I walk away or respond to her calmly? But how could I? After all, I was completely speechless.

"Ryu," Mion said "Did you even try to stop your sister before she left?"

What kind of question was that? I would've tried to stop her regardless of whether or not I knew she was being targeted! It bothered me a little when she asked that.

"Yes I did" I replied.

"You are lying!" Rena said instantly. "Oyashiro doesn't favor liars Ryu. He favors the ones loyal to him"

Why is Oyashiro such a big factor to their lives. Is he the leader of the village, or is he a big public figure to Hinamizawa? Why should I give a crap about Oyashiro? I don't even know who he really is!

"I'm telling the truth," I explained "I tried to stop her, but she drove away before I could get to her..."

Why did I need to explain myself to Mion and Rena anyway? It had me thinking that they suspected me for the murder of my sister.

The cicadas began to screech loudly, my ears felt like they were beginning to bleed.

That's when it finally came to me, a brilliant idea.

"Hey Rena!" I said excited "Do you know where Oyashiro lives?"

But she had an emotionless look upon her face once again.

"Every resident of Hinamizawa knows where Oyashiro lives Ryu." she said calmly "Since you have are a new resident I will gladly give you a tour of the village tomorrow. I would give you a tour today but unfortunately I have something else to do..."

It was the afternoon, so why couldn't she give me a tour of the village today? I wanted to meet this Oyashiro very badly!

"Excuse me Mion" I looked at her "Can you please give me a tour of the village today? For some reason I am really excited about this."

"Fair enough Ryu" Mion replied "Why don't you go change, then you and I will go on a tour of the village."

"Sounds like a plan" I replied.

I walked back inside the house.

After spending the whole day touring the village with Mion, I think I had come to understand her just a little bit more.

She was from the royal Sonozaki family of Hinamizawa which was one of the three great families. When she was born she was burdened with the title of the successor the family. Somehow I almost felt bad for her. I could never bare such a heavy burden.

Throughout the tour we visited the key places in Hinamizawa including the school, the village square, and the village meeting house. Then I had just remembered that we hadn't visited Oyashiro yet.

The sun was beginning to set and I felt as if we were never going to be able to visit Oyashiro!

"So are we going to Oyashiro's house?" I asked Mion.

She had a puzzled look upon her face and began to chuckle.

"Oyashiro doesn't live in a house silly," she continued giggling and pointed in front of where we were walking "He lives over there!"

I looked and there I found a small little hut locked by a large metal lock. The windows were very high, making it look as though there was something suspicious inside. Where was I and why am I here?

"Welcome Ryu," Mion said smirking "To the ritual tool shrine, the home to Hinamizawa's shrine God, Oyashiro"

The cicadas began screeching loudly.