(Guess the reference and you win a prize ^^)

ALSO!

Voice Acting auditions for the Keiyodoshi VN will be ending on September 30 at 11:59 P.M. (Pretty precise, huh?). I think that's plenty of time. I won't be accepting auditions after that day, so make sure you send me your stuff as soon as possible! DON'T BE LEFT OUT! I'll give warnings here and there throughout my latest chapters so you guys can be reminded.

*Don't blame me if you don't get your stuff in when I close auditions! You had plenty of time!*

I still need a Keiichi, Irie, Rika, Satoko, Aiyoku, and any other character I may have missed! Email me if you're interested! The address is . Give it your best shot!


Chapter 7: Eradication

Part A

Akasaka and I borrowed a patrol car from the station. We drove home through the heavy rain and through black fog that covered the terrain. Akasaka had to slow down because of how bad it was. He could barely see out the windshield, even with the headlights. The wipers were switched to the highest setting, but it didn't make the trip any easier.

My mind was more focused on Irie. I had received the confirmation I so desperately wanted, but I was concerned for him. The police would keep him as a prisoner until this was all over. Until Ayatsuri was behind bars, Irie would be kept at the station for protection against the Keima Clan. I couldn't let him die! I couldn't let a friend die!

Irie was my friend…he still was. He had no choice to do what he did, he was forced! I forgave him and I was so sorry that he was placed into that awful position! I wished that there was another way this could be avoided! I wished there was some way that Irie didn't have to suffer this way! I was sorry that Satoshi was involved in this too! Things always took a turn for the worse whenever they had the chance! It was the story of my life!

Nise concerned me as well. What was she doing peering into Akasaka's files? Was it just curiosity? And why was she trying so hard to catch me lying? She even went so far as to mention Takano's murder, her predecessor's murder. What was the purpose of that? I didn't like it…I didn't like it at all.

Akasaka was planning to talk with her about Irie. He was going to ask her if she ever knew anything about his connection to Ayatsuri. She had to have! She was right there in the clinic with him! She was probably pressured into keep her mouth shut too! But…should we confront her about it so openly? The Clan had to be watching us every minute, as Irie had feared. And since they had already had a hold on him, it was safe to say that they had eyes on the clinic at all times! If we were going to talk to Akane, it would have to be somewhere private where no one could spy on us! In the closed walls of the police station would be perfect! No one could spy on us there! It was secure like it was when we interrogated Irie! We would have to take her there! But how would we get her to come with us?

We finally returned to the house. Akasaka threw open his door, slammed it shut the second he got out, and ran to my door. When he opened the door for me, he used his jacket as an umbrella to keep me dry. We raced inside.

Akasaka wrung his jacket and hung it up on the coat rack. He sighed in relief.

"You alright, Rika?"

"Yeah! Thank you so much for keeping me dry, Akasaka!" I beamed at him.

"Haha! It was no problem! I was happy to-!"

"You're late!" Somebody shouted from our front.

Takuma stood with his legs spread apart and with his hands on his hips, just leering at us. What was he wearing around his waist? It looked like a…apron? A cooking apron? Was he holding a ladle against his side too?

"You said you'd be here in fifteen minutes!" He yelled at Akasaka. "It's been twenty!"

"Well…the weather slowed us down and-"

"Don't give me that, Mister!" Takuma pointed at him with the ladle. He shook it violently. "Do you know how worried Satoko-chan and I were?"

Akasaka tried to reply, but the sight of Takuma in that apron was getting to be too much for him! He held his stomach and let out a loud roar. He even bent over and beat his hand against the wall!

"What's so funny?" Takuma stamped his foot.

"Hahaha! Cooking are we, Takuma? I didn't expect pink to be your color!" He pointed at the apron. "I don't think it matches your black suit very well!"

"Hey! A guy has the right to wear a cooking apron if he wants to! Besides, it keeps my suit clean!"

"Oh I bet it does!"

Satoko appeared from behind Takuma's leg. "Takuma and I are making a nice supper for all of us!"

"You're teaching him how to cook, Satoko?" I asked.

"Uh-huh! He sucks, don't get me wrong, but it's nice to have an extra pair of hands!"

"Geez…" Takuma stroked his face. "She's such a slave driver! And she's just a kid!"

"Hey! Get back to reorganizing that refrigerator! I had it all perfect until you messed it up, you idiot!"

"Okay, okay! I'll fix it! I'll fix it!"

"And don't squish the bread! Nobody's gonna want to eat it!"

"…I'd still eat it…"

Satoko looked up at him. She folded her arms across her chest and twitched her eyebrow. "What was that…?"

"Hmm? Uh…I…ahahaha…! I…" Takuma shifted eyes about the room. "I'm…I'm gonna go take care of the fridge now!"

"Yeah! That's what I thought you said!"

Takuma laughed to himself and then bolted off into the kitchen.

"Satoko!" Akasaka snickered. "I see you're keeping Takuma in line! Great job!"

"It wasn't easy!" She cackled. "After we had some ice cream, I was feeling a little better! I wanted to do some shopping so we went to the market and then we finished up at 7th Mart! Honestly! He's just as clueless as Keiichi-san! Takuma can't even find a good sale! He wanted to buy the expensive meat rather than the equally good brand that was a few yen cheaper!"

"Yeah…I could see that!"

"Oh ho ho ho ho ho!" She held her hand to her mouth. "Now I know how his wife feels! She probably can't stand the guy!"

"I heard that, you know!" Takuma yelled from the kitchen.

"You were supposed to!" Satoko called back. "I don't hear any rearranging in here! Hop to it!"

Takuma swore to himself rather loudly. It was funny hearing him say such a nasty word!

"And no cussing! I didn't know ladies had such disgusting mouths!"

I tried to contain myself, but I burst out into laughter too! "Satoko! Don't you think you're being a little hard on him?"

"Who? Me? No! Takuma needs to be whipped into shape! How else is he going to impress his wife when he goes back home to her? He's so helpless! I basically have to tie his shoes for him!"

"Satoko…!" I held in another laugh.

Satoko spun around and was about to skip into the kitchen.

"Satoko!"

"Hmm?" She turned back to see me.

"Satoko…I um…" I smiled brightly at her. "I'm happy you're feeling better!"

She blinked at me a little. She soon smiled back. "You said to have faith, right? That's what I'm doing! I need to be strong for Nee-Nee…and for you!"

I chased after her into the kitchen, hugging her every chance I got. Akasaka was laughing behind us. This felt so good…almost too good to be true!

We all enjoyed a wholesome dinner together. We joked, we laughed, and we all enjoyed each other's company. It was wonderful, but I felt a tad guilty. Akasaka and I knew about these terrible turn of events with Irie, and we kept it to ourselves. Satoko was enjoying herself too much now. I couldn't hit her with this news, not in the same day as Shion fell ill. I couldn't do that to her.

Akasaka hadn't told Takuma either. All he said was that he was in the police station with me and that we were taking care of some business. Takuma had inquired about it, but Akasaka didn't wish to speak about it then. He just wanted to inform the rookie that we were alright and that we'd be home soon when he was on the phone before. Though, tt wouldn't be long before Takuma knew about it as well.

After we finished up, it was time for bed. I asked Akasaka to stay the night with Satoko, Takuma, and I. He agreed and he bunked downstairs. Takuma took the floor as Akasaka held possession over the couch.

Satoko was sound asleep in her bedroll. She was curled up into a ball and her hands were folded together. Was she praying? She had to be. I even heard her mumble her Nee-Nee's name every so often in between her snoring.

I sat in my own bedroll, with my legs tucked under the sheets. I couldn't sleep. Too much was on my mind, plus the heavy rain added to my predicament. The rain bombarded my window. The obnoxious pitter patter was maddening. I couldn't keep my eyes closed for one second without hearing that blasted sound!

I took my pillow from the bedroll and buried my face into it. This was asinine!

"Can't you sleep, Rika?"

I lifted my head. She was sitting right beside me.

Hanyuu was muttering to herself. She finally made eye contact with me.

"Is something the matter? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Something is on my mind, Hanyuu…but…I'll tell you in the morning. I just…" I yawned. "I really need to sleep…"

"…Rika…" Hanyuu moved closer to me. "…I know what happened."

"…Hanyuu?"

"I saw…what happened to Irie."

"You were there?"

"…I was getting lonely. I spent some time at the shrine…where I was thinking and praying...but then I wanted to see you again. I found you at the clinic…only to see Irie being taken away by a police car!"

I sighed. "Then you were there for the whole interrogation as well?"

"Yes, I was."

"Then tell me, Hanyuu." I turned my body to face her. "What do you think about our enemies?"

"I don't know anything else about the original Keima Family, aside from what you and I already know, but this Keima Clan is something I certainly abhor! We were right from the very start! They were trying to kill us!"

"And what Abbot Ayatsuri? What do you think about him?"

"I don't like the man, you know that, but…" She lowered her head. "Something's not right about him!"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't necessarily believe in the King Carrier theory, and I do believe that demons have vital role to play in this mystery!"

"And where is this going to…? We already know about the demons inside everyone…"

"Ayatsuri is strange! He shouldn't have the power to manipulate demons!" Hanyuu was fidgeting in her seat. "I don't understand!"

My eyes narrowed. "You're concerned about this now?"

"I've been thinking about him! There's no way he could have that power to control demons like that! He shouldn't be able to control Mion, Rena, or Shion like he did!"

I raised my brow at her. "What're you talking about? Of course he can do that! He saw Kami Ousama in person! He was the first to acknowledge Keima Katsurou as the God King! He inherited the Keima power through that, didn't he? That's how he got that power! He's been using it to make me suffer!"

"That doesn't make sense though!" Hanyuu shook her head roughly at me. "The blessing Ouka bestowed on Keima Katsuhiro's family was theirs and theirs alone! There was no way that anybody could have inherited that power unless they were a Keima! The power is infused with that bloodline!"

"What are you trying to say, Hanyuu?" I leaned closer to her. "Do you mean…that Ayatsuri is a true Keima?"

"No! He's not! That's what I'm trying to tell you! Since he isn't an offspring of the Keima Family, he shouldn't have the power to manipulate the demons!"

He shouldn't? I thought that since he was the first to exalt Katsurou to his position as Kami Ousama, Ayatsuri would be granted that power! That's what the Clan lore spoke about! I remembered that clearly from Akasaka's world!

"Ayatsuri has no power over demons!"

"…Then he wouldn't be responsible for what happened to those girls! Hanyuu…if he doesn't have that power, then who does? Keima Katsurou died a year ago! He was the last of Keima Family and he didn't have a son! There's nobody left! The Family is extinct!

"Ayatsuri is the leader of the Keima Clan too! He's the one that blackmailed Irie!"

"Irie never mentioned his name though! He only referred to the King Carrier, and that was it!"

"Isn't Ayatsuri the King Carrier though? That's what you told me from Akasaka's world!"

"I know that, but…Rika…"

"If Ayatsuri isn't our man, then who is? Who has the power to control the demons?"

Hanyuu looked up to me. "What if…what if Katsurou is still alive…?"

My heart stopped.

Katsurou…could be alive? No! He was dead! He was long gone! He died in 1982, the same time Satoshi was put into his coma! Katsurou wasn't alive! He couldn't be!

If he was…then what was his quarrel with me? Did he harbor those same feelings of anger against me? Did he hate my family for what happened to his parents? Did he hate me because there was a demon within him, due to the curse my father put upon his family? I knew nothing about him! I never knew the kind of person he was!

"Hanyuu…" I held my face in my hands. "Is there any more information regarding Katsurou?"

"No, there isn't…" She looked away. "All I could learn about him was when I followed Akasaka in his world. There wasn't much there either…"

"If Katsurou is alive…then is Ayatsuri some sort of figurehead?"

"Maybe Katsurou is using Ayatsuri as a tool! Maybe he's just using him as puppet to control to the Clan! And through the Clan-!"

"He controls us!" I lifted my knees up to my chest. I hugged them and rested my chin. "Hanyuu, if you can travel through Hinamizawa like you've always done, can't you examine the area? Can't you see if you can find a shred of evidence that proves his existence?"

"I've tried that!" Hanyuu pouted. "I've tried that to find Ayatsuri all this time and I failed! I've connected my spirit with all the life in Hinamizawa so many times and I can't sense anything remotely powerful! Every time I try to track Ayatsuri's supposed power, or Katsurou's life force for that matter…I get weaker…but you need my help! I kill myself over this and nothing I did ever bore fruit!"

"Hanyuu, you can't waste your power like that! We can't put you in jeopardy! Once we save Shion, we'll deal with this Kami Ousama! For all we know, this could be another wild goose chase like those many times before! Katsurou might be still dead!"

"Then how do you explain the demons' influences over everyone?"

I thought about that. "Maybe Katsurou's angry spirit is connected to this realm! Maybe he wants justice for his death!"

"He wants vengeance on the people who killed him or made him disappear?"

"I don't know. Either his spirit is out there causing havoc, or there's one more powerful demon out there that we haven't encountered yet! That powerful demon could be the Kami Ousama we've feared!"

Hanyuu covered her mouth as she gasped. "A-Another…demon? A more powerful one…?"

"It may be! But whatever it is, Katsurou's vengeful ghost, or a superior demon lying in the shadows…I'll defeat it! I swear it!"

I barely slept at all. The rainfall kept me awake through most of the night. I envied Satoko; she slept through it all. I also envied her because she didn't have to deal with demons firsthand like I had done since the very first world. Back then, I was ignorant and wrapped in the joy of victory after Takano's fall. I didn't expect anything to rise again.

When Rena had us killed, I once thought that was the end. I cursed the universe, I cursed everything that ever existed, and I cursed myself for not expecting anything to happen. Wasn't that what you were supposed to do, expect the unexpected? With Takano, my first and worthy adversary, submitting to me and my army, I figured it was smooth sailing throughout. No…no, I was never that fortunate. I could never be that lucky.

Sometimes I felt that I myself was cursed the day I was born. The name of Furude brought me nothing but anguish and sorrow. My parents died, I had seen my friends die too many times for me to count, I had face death all the days of my life, and I was now plagued by demons. I was plagued by the old demons of Onigafuchi…or perhaps by the new demons of Hinamizawa.

My name was also a blessing, however. Because of it, I got to live in Hinamizawa with the greatest friends anyone could ask for. I had the chance to know what true friendship was about, and what love really meant.

I was also able to be with Hanyuu. She had done more for me than any other being. She was my friend but also my mother. I only wished that one day, the tears from her eyes would be dried and that loving, carefree, and joyous smile would cross her lips once again! I wanted to see her smile again! I'd give anything to see her happy!

The next morning was bright and sunny. I awoke as the light shined into my eyes. I grimaced as I ran my hand through my hair. It was rough and unruly, not to mention greasy. I tossed and turned for most of the night, and that didn't do my long hair any good either. I needed a bath so I could wash it. My skin could use a soak as well. I reeked!

I crept outside of my room, making sure I didn't wake Satoko, and I went to the bathroom. I took a towel off of the rack. I was lifting up the bottom of my nightgown.

"So, what did you want me to check out again?"

That was Takuma. He was speaking from the kitchen downstairs. What was he talking about?

"You said something last night, but I wasn't really paying attention 'cause I was way too tired! Hehehe!"

"…I wanted you to go to the clinic today," Akasaka grumbled. "I want you to talk with Nise-san."

"…About what exactly?"

"It's about Dr. Irie."

That caught my ear. I sneaked to the top of the staircase leading down to the bottom floor. I heard their voices much better from there.

"Is this about what happened yesterday? You've been keeping me in the dark! You said you were at the station taking care of some business, but you were never clear about it!"

"Sorry, Takuma." Akasaka sighed. "But I had too much on my mind then!"

"Well, come out with it! What were you doing at the station and what does it have to do with Irie and Akane?"

"Rika and I caught the doctor with a stash of illegal contraband."

"…What did you find?"

"At least twenty packets of cyanide poison in powder form, and at least thirty bottles of cyanide capsules disguised as ordinary painkillers."

"…What was Irie doing with all that…?"

"I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong! Irie wasn't trying to murder anyone with those poisons!"

"You kidding me?" A laugh erupted from Takuma's belly. "You're serious? C'mon now! You mean to tell me a guy, with all those drugs, didn't mean to kill anybody?"

"It's the truth! He was being blackmailed!"

"Senpai…I know he's an old friend, but you can't just take his word so easily-!"

"The Clan's blackmailing him!"

I didn't hear them speak for a while. I shifted around as I crouched down near the top of the staircase. My hands shook and my forehead was damp. Why weren't they saying anything?

"…Is that for certain…?" Takuma voice cracked as he spoke again.

"It's true! He mentioned that the leader of the Keima Clan was forcing him to cooperate! If Irie didn't follow his order, the leader would kill him along with Satos-! Ah! A personal…friend of his…"

I looked back into my room. Satoko was still snoring. Thank God…

"…Did he give you a name?" Takuma asked.

"No…but it's gotta be the Abbot! Ayatsuri is the leader of the clan! He's the only guy I could think of!"

"The Clan could have other superiors though…"

"That can't be because Ayatsuri is the only one with the ability to influence Hinamizawa Syndrome! He's the King Carrier!"

It was quiet again. I bit my finger as I tried to contain myself.

"…He…he said that…?"

"Takuma?"

Takuma's voice was lower than before. I had to move down a few steps just pick up his words again.

"…Did he say that?"

"…Yeah…he said 'King Carrier' very clearly."

"…Akane…she…she said she was looking into something by that name…but that was a long time ago!"

Akane knew about the King Carrier too?

"She what?" I heard a chair squeak against the floor, followed by a pair of footsteps. "Are you sure, Takuma?"

"Yeah! I saw her working on something a while ago and she said it was a study about something called 'King Carrier!' That's all she told me!"

Akasaka huffed. "…Then she must know what Irie knows…! Maybe she's being blackmailed too!"

Takuma drew a sharp breath.

"Takuma! We're going to question her today! We're gonna uncover exactly who this Ayatsuri character really is! We're gonna put a stop to everything!"

Silence again.

"Hey, Senpai…just how are we gonna question Akane? We can't just do it out the open like that! Shouldn't we take her somewhere private like the police station? Since the Clan's blackmailing Irie, they have eyes on that clinic!"

"Yeah…I was considering taking her to the police station. Hmm…we need to get her tell us more about the Keima Clan…and about their objectives."

"Did Irie say anything about that? Anything at all?"

"Our initial deduction was correct: they want to kill Rika! They also want to kill her friends, for what reason, I dunno! They even want that sacred sword that Rika's family was holding on to! That Onigari-no-Ryuo!"

"…That's the demon slaying thing, right?"

"Yes! They want it because of what happened to their god, Kami Ousama! They want it because the original Keima Family's duty was to guard it! They believe they have rightful ownership over that sword!

Takuma heaved a heavy sigh. "…So we gotta protect that thing now?"

"Into the fire, huh?" Akasaka's chair squeaked one more time. "And then there's Shion. Dammit…how many other things are going to go wrong?"

"I wouldn't know, Senpai. I just hope it ends soon…"

"Rika?"

I sprung to my feet and straightened my posture. I spun my body to face whoever had sneaked up on me.

Satoko was looking at me, with her droopy, crusty eyes blinking at me. She rubbed her eyes and covered her mouth when she yawned. She scratched her side and contorted her lips into odd shapes.

"What're you doing on the stairs like that?"

"Oh! Hahaha!" I scratched the back of my head. "I was just checking out the stairs here! See! No creaking! Just like I thought! Hahaha!"

Satoko stared at me for a moment. She soon shrugged and groggily walked down the stairs.

I jogged to the bathroom, shut the door, and locked it tight. I dropped the towel I was holding and faced the sink. I gripped the basin and looked into my reflection.

"Akane…what exactly do you know about the King Carrier…? What else could you possibly know about him?"

Hanyuu was standing right behind me, biting her lower lip, mumbling to herself as she squirmed.

After a hot bath, I sat to have breakfast with my little family. I picked at my plate. I didn't feel like eating at all. Sometimes I played with my food a little, twirling it on my plate with my chopsticks.

Satoko was the talkative one at the table. She brought up random topics and discussed them with Takuma. He responded every now and then, but he mainly focused on his dish. He didn't eat much either. Something nagged at him.

Akasaka smiled at Satoko and Takuma. He didn't really pay too much heed to me. He had this satisfied grin on his face and a certain zest in his laugh whenever Satoko poked fun at Takuma. I was thankful that they were getting along as well. It brought a smile, no matter how small, to my face.

After a while, my telephone started to ring. I stood up and went to the hallway, where I found the phone perched on its pedestal. I took the receiver from the hook. I cupped the bottom of it in my hand.

"Hello?"

"Rika-chan? Is that you?"

Keiichi! It was Keiichi!

"Keiichi! I haven't heard from you since we saw Shion! How are you? Is something wrong?"

"No, no! Everything's fine! I just called to check up on you!"

"Well, I'm okay! Akasaka, Takuma, and Satoko are taking good care of me!"

"That's good!" Keiichi chuckled. "Hey, Rika. I wanna ask you something."

"Uh, sure! What's on your mind, Keiichi?"

"Mion wants to see you!"

Mion? What did she want to see me about?

"Mii? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine! She's here right now!"

"Huh? She's over your house?"

"No. I'm at the Sonozaki House right now…with Rena."

What was he doing there? Didn't he and Rena go home after they took care of Mion yesterday?

"How come you're still over there?"

"Rena and I slept over in the guest rooms. We didn't want to leave Mion alone…so…yeah." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, she really wants to see you right now!"

"Right now? But aren't we going to school today?"

"…No, we're not."

He said so sternly. What was his problem?

"Please, don't ask questions right now! We'll explain everything when you come here! Oh! And bring Akasaka and Satoko!"

"Why do you want Akasaka?"

"…I'll see you soon, Rika!"

He hung up the phone.

What was going on with him? He was cheerful one minute, and then he was forceful with me! What was wrong?

I placed the phone back on the hook and stood there for a moment. Did something happen? Did somebody get hurt? No! No, stop thinking like that! I yelled at myself. Nothing happened! Rena, Keiichi, and Mion were fine! But…something had to be wrong because of the way Keiichi was speaking!

I reentered the kitchen and stood at the head of the table, near Akasaka.

"Satoko? Akasaka? I just got a call from Keiichi. He's at the Sonozaki Head House with Rena and Mion."

"Hmm?" Satoko swallowed a large chunk of her breakfast. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah! Mii just wanted us to come over!"

"What about school? Aren't we going to school today?"

"No, not today."

Akasaka moved in his seat when I said that. Takuma followed suit. I noticed that they were gazing at me through their peripheral vision. They stopped what they were doing and just sat there watching me like that. It made me shiver.

"Mii specifically asked us to go see her at the house today!"

"Why's that?" Takuma asked.

"I'm not sure. Keiichi said they'd explain once we get there!"

Takuma closed his eyes for a moment. He then glanced at his superior.

"Whaddya think, Senpai?"

"I say let's do what she says!" Akasaka rose from his seat. "We got a call from the Sonozaki Heiress! That means something big!"

"Sonozaki…" Takuma frowned. "Is that the yakuza family you told me about? We're gonna be working with a bunch of mobsters?"

"They're not mobsters! They're friends of ours!" Akasaka said harshly.

"…They're still gangsters…"

"Anyway…" I interrupted. "We should leave as soon as possible! Satoko?" I looked to her. "Go wash your face and get ready, alright?"

"Um…okay…yeah…"

Satoko slowly left the room. The questions that flowed in her head were just like mine.

"Akasaka? She asked you to come too!"

Now he frowned.

"What? I don't get an invite? Hahaha!" Takuma leaned back in his seat with that smug grin on his face.

"You're welcome to come with us, Takuma!"

"…Well…if Senpai's going, I might as well go! This involves me too, I suppose!"

"Okay, good!"

We left the house around eight o'clock. We had two police cars now because of the one Akasaka and I had taken from the police station. I rode with him while Takuma drove Satoko. The ride with Akasaka was pretty quiet. He didn't ask me what anything about Keiichi what spoke of. He didn't appear to be that interested with him. He cocked his head the second I said that Mion had summoned us. Coming from the next Sonozaki Head, that couldn't be good!

What was so important that she wanted to see all of us in person? Did something happen with Shion? No, if it did, we'd already be over there! There was no change with her. She was still sleeping, they would have told me otherwise. If it wasn't Shion, then what the hell was this about?

We arrived at the Sonozaki House a good fifteen minutes later. We all disembarked and made our way to the front door. We were met by one of Mion's maids. She let us in and told us to proceed to the living room.

Keiichi was sitting at the edge of the table, in his casual vest and shorts, while Rena sat across from him, with her white dress flowing in the slight breeze from the open door. They greeted us and we sat down with them. When we were all situated, there were light footsteps coming down the hallway.

A girl with soft emerald hair daintily walked into the room. Her jade eyes sparkled in the light and her skin glowed. She wore a black kimono with pink sakura blossoms gently falling down to her feet, as a white sash was wrapped around her small waist. A few vines shot up from her back, with small pink buds opening up along them. The blossoming flowers reminded me of how far Mion had come. She was blossoming into a true woman, a true Sonozaki.

She sat at the head of the table. Her hands were laid over her lap. Her eyes were closed. Soon, she bowed down to us.

"Welcome," she said. "I apologize, but the head of the Sonozaki Family is currently away on business as of now. I am taking responsibility for this organization during Oryou-sama's absence. I am the heiress to the Sonozaki Family. My name is Sonozaki Mion. It's a pleasure to have you in my home."

I was stunned by the greeting. Why was she so formal? That wasn't like Mion!

Takuma was stunned more than I was. You couldn't rip his eyes off of her.

"Thank you for coming, Rika-chan, Akasaka-san, Satoko-chan…and Hanzaemon-san."

Takuma gulped. "…You know me?"

A light smirk crossed Mion. "The Sonozaki Family knows many things! We know all about your escapades in Tokyo! It's a shame you were transferred to a hick town like Hinamizawa! Ahaha!"

Takuma's forehead was starting to sweat. He looked for his handkerchief, but he soon sighed heavily when he remembered that he gave it away.

"You know Takuma, Mion?" Akasaka asked.

"Of course I do! After what happened last month, my grandmother ordered to have background checks done on every outsider that came into Hinamizawa! We didn't want another person like Takano Miyo coming to my…our village!"

"So, Mii?" I spoke up. "Keiichi called me. He said you wanted to talk to me about something."

Mion closed her eyes again. She sat up straight.

"Ah…" Keiichi rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm really sorry about this, Rika, but…I told her everything…"

"…You did?"

"Yeah…about how those Keima Clan guys were trying to kill you, and about the death threats they sent to you and Kimiyoshi! I'm sorry…Rika…but I couldn't keep it from them!"

"Keiichi-kun was acting funny last night," Rena said, with her knuckles to her lips. "I was the one who managed to get it out of him. How come you didn't tell us about it, Rika?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Were you…afraid that we would get in the police's way? Were you afraid that we would be a hindrance to you…?"

"No! You're never a hindrance to me!"

"Then why didn't you tell us sooner? Why did you tell only Keiichi?"

I shifted my eyes to the floor.

"Hauu…don't you trust us?"

"Of course I trust you! I…I…" I shook my head from side to side. "I told Satoko a while ago because I had no choice! I…I…argh! I just…didn't think you would believe me!"

"That somebody was trying to kill you again? Why wouldn't we believe that?"

I didn't talk.

"The people that want to kill Rika…this involves demons and Kami Ousama." Mion opened her eyes. She was looking right at me. "Am I right?"

I swallowed.

"I did my research about the Keima Family, the people that the Keima Clan modeled themselves after."

That's right. I had forgotten Mion's family had connections with the police too.

"Kami Ousama, the God King, is the one that can control demons? He's the guy that the Clan keeps yapping about? Keiichi says that they wanted to kill you, so I naturally questioned it. That's when my research led me to the relationship your own family had with them.

"So…everything was fine and good until Keima Katsurou, the last heir, vanished last year. The Clan blames his supposed death on the Furudes, the Kimiyoshis, and the Sonozakis. Am I right so far?"

I nodded.

"Well, I spoke to Kimiyoshi-san regarding the matter…and he has not said a word to me at all! He's not being very straight with me about anything pertaining to the Keima Family! And then there's the stuff about Abbot Ayatsuri, the clan leader."

Akasaka was amazed. I guess Mion's family went through every file the police had on the Clan too.

"He can also control people by the sound of his voice, since he's like a prophet or something. He and the whole clan want you dead. After looking at the motives and the evidence, I don't find it impossible to believe. Some grudge, indeed!"

"…Mii?"

"I'm not done." Mion's eyes were cutting me apart. "I also received word about Dr. Irie's arrest yesterday!"

Keiichi and Rena looked at one another. They were confused, but shocked.

"He had poison and other interesting items on him. Anything you want to add to that, Rika?"

I kept my eyes on the floor.

"Why didn't you come to me sooner? Why didn't you tell me the second you found something out?" Mion's tone sharpened. "What? Am I not trustworthy? You thought I would get in your way? You thought I couldn't be of use to you?"

I refused to answer.

"Mion!" Akasaka raised his voice. "Don't be hard on Rika!"

It was Takuma's turn. "I asked her and Maebara-kun not to say anything about the Keimas because we've accomplished so much! We didn't want anything to be undone by one mistake!"

"You think I'm clumsy!" Mion laughed. "Isn't that rich?"

"Mii-chan…" Rena tugged at her kimono's sleeve. "Please…don't be so mean to Rika-chan…"

"…Why didn't she tell me anything? Why only Keiichi and Satoko? Why did she leave you and me out of the loop? Doesn't she trust us at all?" Mion ripped Rena's hands off of her sleeve. She folded her arms. "I want to hear it from her own mouth!"

"Hey, Mion!" Keiichi looked at her. "Who cares why? What matters is that you know now! Now we can do something about it together! Isn't that what's most important?"

She ignored him.

"…I'm waiting, Rika."

I stood up from my seat. I still had my head lowered.

Hanyuu's hands held my shoulders. She rubbed me gently.

"Go on…it's okay now!" She whispered sweetly. "Mion's not mad at you! Trust me!"

Could've fooled me…

"Come! Tell her the truth! She's at your side…she won't leave you no matter what! Be honest with her!"

Hanyuu…

I lifted my eyes to Mion. That cold stare cut me even deeper, but Hanyuu was there to heal the wounds.

"Mii…I'm sorry…I'm truly sorry that I offended you."

Her ears perked up.

"I thought…I could handle it myself…and that things would get better if I had Akasaka help me. I thought…the two of us could solve everything alone! I didn't want you all to be dragged into my affairs! I thought we could do without you all having to fret over me…or to know what I know! But I should've known better…nothing's that easy…I, for one, should've understood that by now. I shouldn't have shunned you…but I did it anyway. For that…I am sorry…

"I told Keiichi…because I trusted him. He cares so much for all of us that he would listen to anything we'd say and never think twice about it. He'd do anything for us. That's why I trusted him with this knowledge. I felt that he would listen to me, truly listen to me, and would be there for me. However…I should have included everyone! I can't do this with just some of my friends!

"You…Rena...Satoko…and Shion…you're my friends. You've always been there for me…and you've always been there to pick me up when I fell down…I should have given you the same treatment! We've all been through Hell and back because of Takano! I should have known that you would be there for me too! That you would always be there for me! But I was too stupid!

"I should have done this, I should have done that, it goes on! I'm sorry for my offense from the bottom of my heart! Mion…Rena…Satoko…! Please…listen now!"

I bit my lip.

"…I need you…I need you all…"

Rena and Keiichi were locked onto me. Mion's head lowered a tad.

"I need you! I need you all by my side again! I need you to fight with me just one more time! Help me defeat these people! Help me save Hinamizawa this one last time! I'll fight with everything that I have…but…I…I don't know how long I'll last by myself! I…I just want to live! I just want to live with you all like we used to!

"Please…I'll do anything you want…just…please…fight by my side…just one more time! That's all I ask of you…Maebara Keiichi…Houjou Satoko…Ryuugu Rena…and you…Sonozaki Mion…"

I got down on my hands and knees. I put my head to the floor. My arms and legs shook like a leaf. I closed my eyes tightly.

The floor shook. The tremors grew closer and closer to me. They stopped just before my head. I lifted my head and opened my eyes. Mion's feet were before me. She knelt down and reached down to my face. She pulled me up.

Her arms then wrapped around me. She pulled me into her chest and stroked the back of my head.

"Dummy…" she whispered. "Like I'm just going to leave you to rot! No! That's not how your club leader handles it! That's not how this old man does things!"

I pulled my head back and gazed up into her eyes.

"Uncle Mion's got everything under control! You just leave it to me!"

"…Mii…!"

"Rika, I will go with you anywhere. I'll do anything you want me to. I'll fight for you…and I'll give everything I have to you." She gripped my back. "By life or death, I will protect you…I will! You have my Family at your disposal!"

Rena moved to us. She put her arms around Mion and me.

"You have my help too! I'll do everything that I can!"

Satoko came in. She jumped into the middle and grasped me.

"You got my traps! I'll make'em wished they never messed with you! Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho ho!"

Keiichi's hand patted my head. He smirked and raised his thumb to me.

"I'm itching to use that old bat to clobber some Keima bastards! Count me in!"

"I'll give my policeman's prowess and my karate as well!" Akasaka stood. He punched his palm hard. "I could use a warm-up myself!"

Takuma approached our huddle. He ran his hand through his hair. He slapped his face. A genuine smile met my eyes.

"We've given you our very lives. You hold us all in the palm of your hand, huh?" He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I'll help too! I'll fight to the bitter end!"

I beamed at every single one of them. I pulled everybody into the embrace.

Hanyuu found her way to me too somehow. She held my hand tightly. Her smile was as bright as my own.

"And you'll always have me, Rika! We'll win! We'll defeat the Keima Clan and we'll be free!"

I nodded once…twice…as many times as I could!

Tears streamed down my face as I hugged everyone. We were going to win! We were going to live! We were going to smile again…we were going to…

There was loud and obnoxious crackling coming from outside. It was coming from one of the police cars. Takuma left the living room and followed the sound until he came to his vehicle. We followed him out to the front to see what was going on.

"Yeah, hey," he said as he picked up the radio from the dashboard. "This is Hanzaemon. Go ahead."

"We got a situation here, sir! I don't think we can handle this by ourselves!"

"What? "

"We tried, but I think we made it worse and-!"

"Hey, calm do-!"

"I don't know how long she's gonna last-!"

"Shut up for a second! Calm down and talk some sense, you idiot!"

"Ah! Oh…uh…sorry, sir! We have a situation at the Irie Clinic!"

"What the hell's happening over there?"

"It's the nurse! It's the nurse that works there! She's being held hostage!"

Takuma squeezed the receiver tightly. His eyes widened. Sweat dripped off of his chin and onto the sizzling hot sand. He grabbed the hood of the car. He was starting to shout.

"Akane? What the hell's wrong with Akane? Start talking, dammit!"

"She's being held hostage!"

"You already said that, dumbass! Who's holding her?"

"…It's one of the Sonozaki kids! I think it's that Shion girl!"

Shion…?

Part B

There were four police cars parked in front of the Irie Clinic. Officers scrambled from position to position, training their pistols on the front door. I heard every single one of the hammers click. The safety switches were off. Two officers approached the door, slowly and carefully.

There was shouting coming from inside the clinic. It made the officers tremble, and they immediately ducked back near their cars. What was going on in there? What in the world of Shion doing? What was she thinking?

I arrived on the scene with my group ten minutes after we had received the call. We stood near the other officers while Akasaka and Takuma awaited their briefing. We were ordered to stay out of the way. It killed Mion and Keiichi to do so, but Rena, Satoko, and I barely managed to hold them back.

Hanyuu was by my side, as always. She knew it had happened! We both did!

Akasaka approached an officer, who was the owner of the head police car.

"What's going on?"

"The Sonozaki girl," the officer said, putting down his car radio, "she's holding the nurse hostage!"

"She was asleep though, wasn't she? She was bedridden! How did she wake up?"

"Ya think I know, sir? I only got the call and showed up here an hour ago!"

"This has been going on that long?"

"Yep! We tried all we could to save the hostage, but nothing's working! The attacker said if we tried anything again, she'd kill her for real! We tried negotiating, but she's not listening! She refuses to cooperate!"

Takuma appeared beside Akasaka. "How did this happen?"

"Look, I dunno how she woke up! There was an old woman waiting in the lobby for a check-up, and Nurse Nise said she'd be with her in a minute. She was going to check on the Sonozaki. A good twelve minutes later, the girl came out holding Nise, with a syringe to her throat! The old lady ran outta there like a bat outta hell and called us!"

"Shit…!" Takuma dug his foot into the ground hard.

"How many people are inside?" Akasaka asked.

"Just Nise and the Sonozaki! Ya think this would be easy, seeing as that we just have the one attacker in this small building, but she's too cautious! We can't do a thing!"

Akasaka held his chin and turned away.

"I can put a call in for backup, but that's all I can do! I had you guys called here 'cause that's what the commissioner wanted! The boss thinks you guys can handle this!"

"…We'll do our best…" Akasaka reached inside of his jacket. He pulled out his handgun. He checked his ammunition and cocked the weapon.

No…please don't let anyone die…! No guns! None of that!

"Senpai…" Takuma pulled out the revolver from his jacket too. "You think we'll have to…?"

"…I hope not…"

"No!" I ran to their front. I spread my arms wide open to impede any approach they would make. "Don't kill Shion!"

"Rika…you know we don't want to…" Akasaka gripped the gun in his hand. "But…"

"I won't let you kill her! I won't! I won't! I won't!"

"What do you suppose we do, Rika?" Takuma only looked at me. "We have two lives at stake here! Akane could be two seconds from dying right now! We gotta do something to save her! Negotiation didn't work, so all we have left is force!"

"What about Shion? You can't just ignore her like that!"

"I'm not…I just…!"

"That's my sister you're talking about, Hanzaemon!" Mion moved to my side now. "How dare you talk about her that way?"

"It's not like that! Whaddya want me to do?"

"…Let me go in there!"

Akasaka almost dropped his weapon. "What did you say…?"

"Let me go in alone! I can talk to Shion! She'll listen to me!"

"If Rika's going, then I'm going!" Mion placed her foot firmly on the ground. "I'm not gonna let you, or Hanzaemon, or anybody kill my sister!"

Rena pushed herself in between the two detectives. "Right! Shii-chan needs us!"

"We can reason with her!" Keiichi clenched his fists as he came closer to us. "We just need a chance to talk with her!"

"Nee-Nee is my sister! You can't do this!" Satoko stomped on the ground and sent a death glare at them.

"Oh my Go-" Takuma massaged his temples with a grunt. "Now's not the time for this 'magic of friendship' crap…"

"We're not letting you all go in there!" Akasaka hollered. "That's gonna get Nise-san killed! You guys might die too!"

"Akasaka…!" My eyes were watering. "Please…!"

"No! I'm not putting more lives in danger! Let us take care of this!"

"…Akasaka…!"

"Stop it, Rika! Stop it right now!"

The strength in my arms faded. I held my face. I buried myself into Rena's waist. I held her tight and cried louder and louder as time went by.

Satoko was biting the insides of her mouth. She was desperately trying not to cry.

Mion clenched her fists so hard that her nails broke her skin. Small streams of blood dripped down her knuckles.

Rena stroked my head. She even knelt down and held me, but she on the verge of losing it too!

Keiichi stared at the two detectives. That fire in his eyes was burning brightly. I knew that look! His teeth grinded against each other, his feet shook, a small growl was coming from the bottom of his throat, and his biceps flexed. He was about ready to kill them!

Keiichi looked at the front door. He looked to Takuma and Akasaka. Then to Satoko.

She noticed his eyes were upon her. She turned her face to him.

Keiichi's monstrous scowl was slowly disappearing. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. When he finished, he shot a smirk at Satoko. He winked at her.

Her tiny vampire fang emerged from her lip.

What the…?

Keiichi seized her hand. They turned their backs to us all. They bolted for the front door of the clinic.

Takuma and Akasaka shouted after them, but they were too late! They had already made it inside of the building! I couldn't believe it! Not even those two could stop a Club member, let alone two of us! I didn't know whether to be afraid or happy…but there was a terrible knot in the pit of my stomach. My head throbbed and adrenaline coursed through my body. It made my mind feel as if it were on fire!

The police couldn't do a thing now! The second Shion saw a cop she'd probably do away with Akane and then herself! It was better this way…it had to be! Nobody could break through to Shion! Only her friends could! The closest to her had the only chance at defeating her demon. Keiichi and Satoko were the only ones who could win this battle for her now!

I moved to the window. Rena and Mion chased after me. When I got there, and before they could pull me back, I pushed the window in a little. We could see him clearer and we could hear him! His voice was enough to paralyze us! But what was he doing now?

He still held Satoko by the hand. They took slow steps across the lobby floor. Satoko almost tripped over herself a few times.

"You alright?" Keiichi looked to her.

"…Y-Yeah…I'm f-fine…"

"…Are you scared?"

Satoko held his hand with both of hers. "…Yes…"

"Satoko…" Keiichi rubbed her head with his free hand. He also grinned at her. "We can do this! Just stay brave for me…okay? Stay brave for your Nee-Nee!"

"…O…Okay…"

"…Keeeeeeeeeeeeei-chaaaaaaaaaaan…"

The blood in my veins froze. Keiichi was frozen stiff too! He didn't want to…but he looked ahead of him.

Akane appeared from Irie's office. Her arms and hands were restrained by rope. Her mouth was taped shut. Blood dripped down her forehead and she stumbled as she was shoved.

Shion held her by the wrists and wrapped her leg around her captive's own leg. Shion was clutching a syringe. The needle was hovering over Akane's flesh. It glimmered in the light. It wanted nothing more than to pierce through Akane's neck!

Shion was smiling. Her eyes were devoid of any light. They were black. Her once beautiful jade orbs were replaced by those horrid, wicked, and malignant eyes of the monster!

"Kei-chan!" Shion giggled. "How lovely to see you today! Did you come all the way out here just to see little old me? Oh! And you brought Satoko! How sweet of you!"

"…Shion…" Keiichi stood in front of Satoko. "…What're you doing…?"

Akane squirmed. She tried to speak, but the tape muffled her voice.

Shion kicked her hard in the back of shin. "Hush now!" she said kindly. "My friends are visiting me! Don't ruin my good time…"

"Shion…! Why're you doing this…?"

"Why? Ahahaha! I'm just having a little fun is all! I need to exercise after being cramped in that bed yesterday! Ah! It feels so good to stretch my legs!"

Keiichi eyed the syringe. "What's that for…?"

"Oh…this?" Shion ran her eyes along it. She looked lovingly at it. "I'm just…a little…paranoid you might say!"

"...About what?"

"All of those police officers out there look pretty strong, don't they? And they have those nasty little guns! I need something to defend myself!" Shion placed her mouth next to Akane's ear. "I also need something to keep this bitch in line! Also…if things get a little rough…a shield is a pretty handy thing, right?""

Satoko wrapped her arms around Keiichi's waist. "Nee-Nee…"

"What did Nise-san ever do to you, Shion?" Keiichi asked calmly.

"What did she do? What did she-hahahahaha!" Shion poked the needle against Akane's neck. "She's been a very bad girl…!"

Shion placed her thumb over the plunger.

"She tried to kill me! She tried to murder me in broad daylight!"

Keiichi cocked his ears. "…She…tried to kill you?"

Akane thrashed her head around.

"Yeah! I woke up really early this morning and Akane was taking care of me! She was all buddy-buddy with me, and she then my head started to hurt! She gave me those pills to relieve me of my pain…but I knew better! Oh, yes! I knew better than that! Hahahaha…!"

This morning? But…Akane didn't say a thing! She didn't call to tell us about Shion! I thought that Shion randomly grabbed her and threatened to kill her! I didn't know anything about her recovery! None of us did! Why didn't Akane tell us?

"What pills? What are you talking about?"

Shion took the needle away from Akane's neck. She hissed into her ear. "You know what pills I'm talking about…right, Nise-san?"

Akane shook her head and tried to scream.

"Oh, that's right! Can't talk, can you? Sorry about that! Ahahaha!"

Shion twirled the syringe around in her hand.

"Those pills I mentioned…she said that they were painkillers and that they would cure my headache…but I knew…oh I knew! Those weren't painkillers, were they, Nise-san?"

She tried to scream again.

"…They were poison, huh?" Shion's eyes widened.

Poison? How could there still be poison in the clinic? The police confiscated all the contraband from the premises!

"They were poison, weren't they?" Shion yelled.

Akane didn't budge.

"Listen to me, you bitch!" Her fist hit the side of her captive's head.

"Shion! Cut it out!" Keiichi spoke up.

"You were trying to kill me! Don't lie to me! I know those pills are poison! I know they are!"

"Shion!"

"She even tried to stick me with this when I refused to take them!" Shion held out the syringe. "She was trying to drug me up so she could kill me! Keiichi, do you understand me? She wanted me dead!"

"…Shion, stop-!"

"Speaking of which…" Shion brought the syringe back to Akane's neck. "…What's in this thing anyway, Nise-san? What kind of special concoction did you have for me?"

Akane shook her head again. Tears streamed down her eyes and over the tape. She was yelling behind it and she struggled to break free from her captor.

Shion's fist rammed in to her temple again. "Hold still! Or do you want me to test out this little drug of yours right now?" She scraped the tip of needle against her. "'Cause I have no problem with that! If you really wanna die that badly, then who am I to deny you of that satisfaction? After all, I'm really interested to see what this thing'll do to you!"

"Shion!" Keiichi extended his hands out to her. "You don't want to do this! This isn't like you!"

"…Couldn't you have thought up something more original to say? Honestly, Kei-chan!"

"Listen to me!" He took a step. "You know that this is wrong! You would never hurt anybody! You'd never want to kill anyone!"

Shion squeezed the syringe. "…She tried to kill me…!"

"No she didn't!"

"How do you know?" she screamed back. She pointed the needle at him. She was squeezing it so tightly that her hand started to vibrate. "Stop defending her! She tried to kill me, your best friend, Keiichi! Who're you gonna believe, this bitch or your friend…your…your Shion…?"

"…Shi-!"

"Tell me! Who're you gonna believe, huh?" She swung her weapon through the air. "She's the reason why I'm like this! She's the one who woke it up!"

"What did she wake up?"

"The demon! She woke it up! It's all her fault!"

Satoko was still latching onto Keiichi's waist. Her little hands were dripping with sweat and her eyes were puffing up again.

"It was quiet for so long and she had to go and mess everything up! It's because of her! It's because of this heartless animal! She's the one who made me get sick yesterday! I dunno how she did it…but she made me sick! She made ill so I could be handed over to her! She then tried to murder me! It's her fault! She's the reason! She woke up my demon!"

"Stop talking like that!" Keiichi took another step.

Shion thrust the needled through the air in his direction. "You come another step and I'll stick her with this! I-I'll…I'll…I'll even stick you too if I have to!"

"…Shion! Come on, please!"

"I'll do it! Don't think I won't give it a second thought!" Her lips curled into a wicked, bloodthirsty grin. "I'll kill you and I'll laugh! I'll laugh! Ahahaha!"

"Nee-Nee…"

Satoko moved in front of Keiichi. She wiped a few tears from her cheeks. Her knees knocked together. Her fingers twitched. The poor girl…please keep her safe!

"Nee-Nee…"

"S-Sa…toko…" Shion lowered the syringe.

Satoko hiccupped a little. She covered her mouth and bit her finger.

"Hey…come one now…" Shion's mouth twitched. "Don't look at me like that…stop it…!"

"Nee-Nee…" Satoko held out her hand. "Can I have that needle…? Please…?"

Shion looked at it. "N…No…no…! It's mine! I need it! I need it to kill this murderous little…!"

"Give it to me, Nee-Nee…" Satoko's feet shuffled forward. "Do you really want this? Is this all worth it?"

"...Don't come closer…"

"Will killing solve anything?"

"I said don't take another step!"

Satoko disobeyed.

"I'm warning you! I'll…I'll kill you! I'll kill you right now if you come any closer!"

"No you won't!"

Shion gulped.

"I know my Nee-Nee better than anyone! I know her even better than Mion-san! Nee-Nee's not like this! She'd never want anything like this! You think that's what you truly want, but it's the demon that's speaking to you! That's not you, Shion!"

This event…this moment…hadn't this happened before? Wasn't this the same situation as…?

"I know…I know you've been caring that ugly thing inside of you for so long! Believe me…I know! I've heard you talk about it…how you feared it…and how you loathed it! You hate it! You hate it so much and you always said you'd become stronger! You said you would defeat it yourself! You promised!"

Satoko knew about Shion's innermost feelings too...! It was…!

"But you never did! You never do! You always let it overtake you! Now's the time to grow up! Now's the time to stop that demon from getting any stronger!

"You said how you would defeat this enemy alone, as long as you took good care of yourself…but what good did that do? Nee-Nee…it's not just personal willpower you need to defeat it! You…you need me! You need me there to help you!"

Shion's gripped the syringe again. Her fist was shaking.

"You need me…and you need Keiichi-san by your side! Let us help you get better, Nee-Nee! Let us give you a chance to safe yourself!"

"…It's too late for me…Satoko…" Shion spoke lowly. "…I…I…can't do anything about it!"

Shivers ran up her spine. Her lips were twitching again.

"I…don't…want…to…fight…it…any…more…! I'm tired…of…fighting…! I can't do anything! I've tried! I…I've realized…what's the point? Why should I fight a losing battle? I fight it every time…and I always lose…! What's the point…! I give up…! I give up!"

She looked at the weapon in her hand.

"You hear me…you damned monster? If you want me…then have me! I don't care! I don't care anymore! Take me…make me your tool…make me your harbinger of destruction…I don't care! Just…make it all go away…! I don't wanna feel anything anymore…! I don't wanna be afraid! I don't wanna fight! It can have me! It can have me!"

Shion raised the needle over her head. She gazed down upon the back of Akane's neck. Her venomous tongue flicked against her mouth. Drool slid down her chin. A hoarse growl emitted from her. Her eyes had become completely black.

Akasaka was watching over me, with several officers waiting at the front door. Takuma was standing beside Akasaka, training his gun on Shion's head. He had a clear shot through the window.

Oh…please no…!

"Ha…ha…aha…ah…ahhhhhhhhhhh…hahahahaha….hehehehe….AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Spit flew from Shion. Her voice was shrill and it nearly broke my eardrum!

She turned her eyes to the window. She saw us watching her! She was looking down the barrel of Takuma's revolver!

She turned to the front doors! She saw the officers lying in wait for her to make a move!

"HAHAHAHA! What's the point anymore! I'm screwed either way! I'll die…I'll die no matter what I do!"

"Shion!" Keiichi noticed the cops as well. "Just give me that thing and we can end this! Nobody has to die today!"

"Silly…silly…silly, silly, boy! It's over, don't you get it?" She screamed in between her laughter. "I'll die here…I made my decision and I'm gonna follow it until the end! I chose to accept this demon…! I chose to stop fighting because there was no hope for me! There never was and there never will be, no matter how many times I have to wake up to this God-forsaken world!

"It's always the same! I fail and I pay for it! Well…this time I didn't fail…I didn't fail because I didn't fight! I don't want to! All…all I want…" She licked the air. "I want her blood…!"

Akane screeched.

"She tried to kill me…so now I'm gonna kill her…! I'll show her just how powerful my demon is! No…! I…I'll show her how powerful I am! I am the demon now!"

"Shion!"

"Nee-Nee!" Satoko held onto Keiichi.

The police placed their hands on the door.

"Shion!" Mion cried.

The hammer of Takuma's gun pulled back.

"Shii-chan!" Rena covered her eyes.

"DIE…!"

Shion brought down the syringe.

It grew quiet. I couldn't hear a thing. I lost my hearing when Shion had cried out. Everything moved so slowly. I moved normally, but my whole world was slowed.

The police rushed through the front door. They ran up to Keiichi and a fearful Satoko, only to stop dead in their tracks. Their weapons were lowered. None of them were doing a thing! Why didn't they shoot her?

Takuma lowered his gun too. He put the hammer back into its original position. He even pocketed it. What was happening?

Rena removed her hand from her eyes. She didn't say a word. She slid her hands to her mouth and merely watched.

Mion's mouth was agape. The sleeves of her kimono were clutched in her fists. Her eyes were as wide as they could be.

Keiichi was kneeling down and he was cradling Satoko in his arms, shielding her face from the violence. When he noticed that nothing had happened, he turned his head over his shoulder to see Shion. Satoko stuck her head around his side. Her tears continued to fall, but she didn't whimper or gasp. She only watched just like the rest of us.

Akane had collapsed to the floor. She had fallen on her side. Her eyes were shut and she shivered uncontrollably. When she recomposed herself, she laid her head back on the floor and lied still.

Shion was sitting down with her legs spread apart, allowing her lower body to touch the floor. She was sniveling like an infant as she hung her head. Her hands became moist, her fingers tried to grasp the ground, and she hid her face from all of us, behind her jade hair that fell across her body.

"Why…?" She mumbled. "Why…why can't I kill you…? I had you right there…but…but…I can't…! I couldn't…! I couldn't do it, no matter how much I wanted to!"

She covered her face with her hands. A loud wail burst from her.

"…Why…? Why…why…? Why couldn't I…? You…tried to kill me…! You tried to kill me…and yet… I couldn't kill you…!"

"It's because you have a heart."

Hanyuu was standing before her. What was she…?

Hanyuu laid her hands on Shion's head. They then traveled to her neck and she hugged her. Shion couldn't feel her, but Hanyuu could touch the poor child.

She kissed Shion's forehead and smiled into it.

"…I'm very proud of you, Shion!"

Shion continued to snivel.

"You stopped yourself! You may not understand it now, but you really stopped it! You stopped the demon from claiming another life! The real you deep down was struggling to prevail against it! I saw it! And it did! It ceased its control over you!"

"Shion…I'm not going to lie to you…you still have a long way to go. This is the first step…and you've accomplished it! You've come so far during this one year and you did something you could never do in the past! You were able to stop your demon from killing another person! You've grown up so much!"

Hanyuu kissed her head once more.

"You're not weak! Keiichi and Satoko are right! You're a strong woman…I'm just so sorry it took you this long to realize it! Now…open your heart! Let Rika, Rena, Mion, Satoko, and Keiichi into your soul! Let them become a part of you, like how you became a part of them! We're all one, Shion! Don't you see? As long as you believe in them…and in yourself…your true self…the true Shion…that demon will stay quiet! It'll stay quiet and it'll go away for good! You'll never have to hear its empty promises ever again as long as you do this! You'll be free!

"Will you do that for me, Shion? Can you stay strong?" Hanyuu rubbed the back of her neck. She smiled down at her. "Will you do that tiny little thing for me, please?"

Shion placed her hand on her neck.

"…I will…"

Huh? Did she…actually hear Hanyuu's voice? And did…and did she…feel her touch upon her skin?

"…I promise…I'll stay strong…for everyone…and for myself…"

"Good!" Hanyuu rested her head against Shion's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you! Never forget that! I'm so…very proud of you…"