Author's Note: Here is my version of a couple different chapters that you will recognize.

* *

Mamoru-Hen Part1

Today was another hot summer day in Hinamizawa. The cicadas were chirping, people were shopping, and it was an all around normal day. But, it was also a Club meeting for the local school group. Todays activity consisted of a game of Zombie, where one player was 'it' and the other players hid. Each time the one who was 'it' found someone, they joined in helping find the other players. This was normally a rather simple game. Except for one thing.

BOOM!

"Damn you Satoko!"

The loud boom you just heard was the sound of Keiichi falling into one of the many pitfalls set up around the school campus by Satoko. This would be almost funny if it weren't for the fact that it is Keiichi and only Keiichi who falls in them. The only one who finds this funny is Satoko herself.

"Ohohoho~, Keiichi you are just too easy! Why don't you try not falling into the holes?"

"I would, but you set them everywhere!"

"No I don't. Only where you would think to step."

"Grr~ Get back here!"

Keiichi jumped out of the hole and started chasing after Satoko. The only problem, Keiichi wasn't 'it.' That was Rika's job, but from the recent amount of activity, her, Rena, and Mion just stood on the sidelines looking on with a blank face.

After about ten minutes of this, they had finished the game and went back inside.

"Keiichi?" Rena asked as they were leaving," I need your help with something."

"Um, sorry Rena. My parents are out of town right now, and they told me to go straight home after I get done here." He replied halfheartedly.

"Oh, okay." Rena said slightly disappointed.

"Don't worry Rena," Mion said," I'll help."

"You will, Mi-chan?! Yay!"

Since the junk yard they wanted to go to was in a different direction from his house, Keiichi walked home alone. When he got there, almost on instinct, his stomach growled.

He got out on of his mom's cook books and started looking through. After he found something that looked simple enough, he got out what he needed and began. He chopped lettuce, tomato, carrot, and onions with almost chef-like precision and set the water to boil.

After a few minutes he thought, "This is taking too long." and like any guy, did the temperature math and tripled the heat level. It worked, except for the part about a huge plume of fire shooting from his stove top.

At that moment, Rika and Satoko walked into his kitchen. At seeing what was going on, Satoko ran to the stove, pushed Keiichi out of the way, and turned down the stove top.

"What's wrong with you?!" She yelled,"Trying to burn down your house or something?!"

"I was doing just fine! And hey, how did you two get in my house? That's breaking and entering you know?"

"Yeah, well I just prevented you from committing arson, so how about we call it even?"

"Deal."

"Now then, you obviously need help or that wouldn't have happened. Stand back and let me try."

He turned around to see Rika was setting the table. He decided to help her. It was his house anyway. After a while, Satoko finished with a stew of some sort and dispersed it. Keiichi tried it.

"This is really good." He said.

"Nah, you're just saying that." Satoko said.

Keiichi then patted Satoko on the head.

"No, really. Good job Satoko."

For a second, she looked nostalgic.

"Y'know, for a second there, you reminded me of my Nii-nii, I mean, my brother."

"Nii-nii?"

"Mm-hmm." Rika said." When her Nii-nii was here, he used to always go around and pat people's heads for a job well done."

"Really? Hey, I almost forgot, why did you guys come over anyway?"

"Mion said that if you were left alone to cook, you'd probably burn the house down. Oh, hey, she was right!" Satoko said.

'Damn you Mion!' Keiichi thought.

The rest of the meal was pretty peaceful. Afterwards, Satoko and Rika went to leave. Keiichi decided to walk them to their bikes.

"Now don't stay up to late," Satoko scolded," and make sure to brush your teeth."

"Yeah, yeah. I don't even get this from my mom." Keiichi said.

Satoko pedaled, but Rika stayed behind and turned to Keiichi.

"Tonight was just like back when Satoko's Nii-nii was here. Congratulations, you just won 10 points. Hach-hach-hach."

"Rika! Hurry up!" Satoko called back.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow Keiichi. Nipah~." Rika said as she pedaled away.

Keiichi went back inside and went to bed.

* *

The Next Day

Keiichi arrived to school and found Satoko's seat empty.

'Wonder where she is?' he thought.

He took his seat and waited for class to start.

* *

Satoko didn't show up for school that day,so he asked Rika where Satoko lived. He heard people inside, so he knew someone was home. When he went to knock, a car pulled up. A man got out of the front.

"Ah, Keiichi. What are you doing here?"

"Dr. Irie? I could very well ask the same to you."

Out of the back, Satoko climbed out with groceries in hand.

"Satoko. Why weren't you in school today?"

Satoko looked up in recognition. Her eyes seemed like dried out husks, and when they saw Keiichi, brightened a little. He looked closer and saw she had bruises all over her.

"Oh, Keiichi. Hello. I'm sorry I wasn't in today. I'm not feeling too good right now."

"Then why are you carrying groceries?" Keiichi asked.

"Because my uncle needed them."

"Uncle?"

"Satoko!"

At this, she cringed a little.

"Get your ass in here! Huh, who are these guys?"

"Umm, no one Uncle. Just my friends."

"Well, say bye to your friends and get in here now!"

He then threw an ashtray at her. It missed, but it made her scared. She looked at Keiichi with a look that screamed "Help me" and he couldn't ignore that. He took a step forward to say something, but Irie just held him back.

"Let go of me. I've got to do something."

"You think I don't have the same feelings? We can't do anything about this. Let's just go."

Satoko looked up to Keiichi.

"The way you just looked right now, you looked just like my Nii-nii. My old Nii-nii left me, but now I have a new Nii-nii and his name's Keiichi."

"Satoko!"

She cringed and went inside. Her uncle closed to window and Irie let go of him.

"Come. Let's get you home."

Keiichi and Irie got into the car and started driving.

"Why can't we do anything to help her?"

"Believe me, I would love nothing more than to go in there and take her someplace safe, but I can't."

"Why not?!"

"Because, in her mind, this is a necessary thing."

"What are you talking about?"

"A few years ago, her brother ran away. She thinks it was her fault he did so. She believes that if she can get through this, her brother will come back."

"Get through this? This isn't a hard test or writer's block. This is serious! She could die!"

"I know. But it's out of my hands. Look, we're here."

Keiichi got out of the car and went inside.

"But it's not out of mine."

He went to the phone and called child services. He reported what he had seen at Satoko's house and they said they would investigate. This put Keiichi's mind at rest somewhat.

'She may be a prankster, and a pain in the neck, but no one deserves that. Please let them help her." he thought this as he fell asleep.

End of Part 1

Author's Note: I couldn't remember the name of the arcs that have this in them, but I do remember the overall basis of their stories. And is it just me or is it that every time I hear Rika (japanese voice, not english, english voice sucked,) say Nipah~ or Mii~ I just can't help but think "Aww~, she's so cute I just want to choke her to death!" Okay, maybe not the choking part, but I do write Higurashi fanfic, ya gotta be a little twisted for that. Til next time~