6. Chapter 6: Yearning
Chapter 6: Yearning
Part A
"Our enemy…no…our enemies…they're right here in Hinamizawa!"
The sentence buzzed around in my head like an angry hornet, but I still couldn't believe the very fact about our adversaries.
If our enemy wasn't the Keima Clan, Ayatsuri, Takano, or TOKYO, then who would want me dead? Who would want all of us dead? Who would attack Shion and make her sick? Who would do all of these terrible things to us? Who had the audacity to do this much evil?
Was our opponent truly demonic? Could it be just the demons within my friends? That may be. Shion was the only one left. If we saved her, would our battle be truly over? Would everything end?
Even so…my own theories remained within the depths of my brain. Yes, the Clan had no motive to kill Takano and that death threat could have been forged, but…Ayatsuri had the power of the Keima Family! He could have easily influenced Shion's demon! He could have easily awakened it! I still didn't believe that he was innocent
That man was evil! Hanyuuu had seen him in that dead end world of 1993! He confused Akasaka about his innocence so much! Was that what was happening now? Was Ayatsuri playing with us again? He had to be!
But what about Takano though? Who killed her? She committed suicide in the traditional style of Level 5 Hinamizawa Syndrome, after she had quickly risen from Level 2 to the critical status. And the TOKYO leaders died the same exact way! Who would want to kill Takano and the heads of her former organization? Who had the access to do so?
My only deduction was the H-150 virus! That had the ability to raise anybody from any level of the Syndrome to Level 5 in seconds flat! Takano had to been injected with that virus! But the only way one could get their hands on that drug…was if they were a member of TOKYO themselves! Only Irie had access to the dr-!
No…that…that wasn't right…! I had a suspicion…and Hanyuu thought about it too! But…could it really be true?
Could Irie be the culprit?
He was the only doctor in all of Hinamizawa! He knew all about the Syndrome! He learned everything about it from Dr. Takano's notes and from Takano Miyo herself! He was even treating Satoshi! Irie also had his hands on the H-150 virus, Takano's drug! He had to have it!
Though…if he was the culprit…why would he kill Takano and the TOKYO leaders? What did he have to gain from doing such dark deeds? There must have been some reason behind it!
There was also the situation with Shion! Hanyuu said it was the demon inside of her, and not the Syndrome. We still had to deal with that too! We had one enemy and one suspect other suspect! We had to kill that demon, discover Ayatsuri's guilt or innocence, and we had to confront Irie!
"Akasaka?" I spoke up as soon as I mustered enough courage. "If Takano and the TOKYO leaders died from clawing their throats out, then that means they died from Hinamizawa Syndrome, right?"
"That's true." He took back his hands and folded them. "What about it?"
"…I hate to say it, but what about…Irie?" I peered at Akasaka with my head lowered. "He was a member of TOKYO, wasn't he? Wouldn't he have access to a drug that could raise a person's Syndrome Level to the highest one?"
He quickly caught on.
"H-150, huh?" He stroked his chin. "…Irie…he did say he was going to hold all of Takano's medical equipment and other affects for safe keeping in the clinic. He promised me he'd get rid of them as soon as possible! That was after she was arrested! But…even if he still does have all those drugs, why would he use them? That doesn't sit well with me!"
"I was thinking about that too."
He closed his eyes. With a grunt, he collected all of his things into his folder. "Irie's not a criminal! I just don't understand why he would do anything like that!"
"He was an operative, Akasaka! And he knew exactly where Takano would be! I think there's an important story that we're missing here!"
"I don't like it…I really don't like this, but…" He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "…Maybe you're right. There could be something important in all this!"
"We need to go talk to Irie!" I stood up from my chair. "We need to figure this out right now!"
"Ah…" He rubbed his forehead. "You've always been my closest friend, Rika…you've never steered me wrong before! Maybe…maybe you are right about this! Irie's been a great friend too…I…I just don't want to believe that he's crooked! I don't want to think he's had a hand in all this!"
"I understand, Akasaka!" I walked over to him. I put my hands on his knee and looked up into his eyes. "But you said that we need to keep all of our options open! If Irie turns out to be the culprit, then we can't let him get away with this!"
"Rika…"
"Don't you want to find out the truth? Don't you want to stop this and all that Keima nonsense? Don't you want to know if they were really framed? Don't you want to know whether that Ayatsuri man is a bad guy?"
Akasaka stood up and fixed his jacket. He picked up the folder and proceeded to the door. He looked at his wristwatch.
"The clinic's closed by now." He turned his head to look at me. He barely smiled at me. "But I'm sure Irie couldn't turn away an old friend! Let's go see him for a quick chat!"
I jumped up and ran to his side. "Good! Let's go!" I dragged him out of the house.
I held Akasaka's hand as we walked down the hill from my house. It was unfortunate that we didn't have the police car; we could have gotten to the clinic much quicker. I fretted what Satoko would say when she and Takuma returned to the house, only to find it empty. Takuma was a man; he could take care of himself! Actually, Satoko could take care of him and herself! With her knowledge of traps and other pranks, she could take down anybody!
I thought about Mion. I hoped that she was alright. She should have been since she was in the caring hands of Keiichi and Rena. They'd bring her around. They could focus on Mion while I focused on the matter at hand. I needed to keep my vision clear for this confrontation!
Irie. I could never get a grasp on why he would betray us! Was there money involved? Was he waiting to double cross us this whole time? For what purpose though?
Even if he was the culprit, he couldn't have been responsible for Shion's condition! Hanyuu clearly said that it was the demon's doing! Ayatsuri had to be responsible for that! So…did that mean that the two of them…were working together? Irie and Ayatsuri? Why? I had to find out now! I just had to!
We later came to the clinic's doors. It was around sunset. I hesitated to open the doors, but my hands soon reached out to the handles. With a deep breath, I opened them.
Akasaka stepped in first. I clung to his side; my hand gripped his once more. He gave me a reassuring grin. He let me know that "everything would be alright." I could sense those very words from the look in his eyes.
I had already been here this afternoon, so I was already starting to feel uncomfortable. I didn't want to jeopardize Shion's condition, so I wanted to stay away from her as much as I could. I was here for Irie! I was here for closure!
"Rika-chan! Didn't I see you already today? Ahahaha!"
It was Nise. She was beckoning to Akasaka and I at the reception desk.
"Hello, Nise-san!" I smiled to her as we approached the desk.
"Hi, Nise-san." Akasaka barely grinned at her.
"Akasaka-san! What a surprise! I didn't expect to see you here of all places!" Akane leaned against the desk. She folded her arms over it. "And Takuma's not with you?"
"No, he's out on an errand right now." Akasaka didn't sound too friendly now.
"Oh. That's too bad!" Akane only laughed it off. "I was hoping to see him again! He always visits me around this time just to say 'hello!'"
"Yeah…I'll bet."
"So, what can I do for you two?" Akane looked to me. "Are you here to see Sonozaki-san?"
"Actually, Nise-san," I said as I swayed back and forth, with my hands behind my back. "I'd like to see Dr. Irie!"
"Hmm? Are you sick? Do you need an examination? The clinic is closed at these hours, but I'm sure the doctor would be happy to take care of you!"
"I'm the one who wanted to see Dr. Irie!" Akasaka interjected. "I was stopping by when I bumped into Rika-chan! I haven't seen him in a while, so I thought I'd drop in!"
"Didn't you call him earlier?" Akane was suspicious. "I could have sworn that you did! I thought I heard the doctor say your name!"
"That was a business call! I'm here as a friend now! Haha!"
Akane's eyes traveled to the manila folder he was carrying. "What's that? Is that for Dr. Irie?"
"Sort of!"
"I could take that for you in the back if you want!" Akane left the desk. She stood before Akasaka now. "The doctor is busy right now and he doesn't want to be disturbed! He's working on Sonozaki-san's next dosage and it's a very delicate procedure! I'll just take that and leave it outside his door!" She extended her hands towards the folder.
Akasaka pulled it back. "I'd prefer to give it to him myself if that's alright!"
"Oh, please! Allow me!" Akane's hands reached out again. "It's no trouble!"
"It's fine." Akasaka was more annoyed than he was when we walked in the door. What was he so mad about? I know the files were top secret, but why was he acting cold to her?
Akane lowered her hands. Her charming smile vanished. She raised her finger to her lips. "Did I say something wrong? I apologize if I was offended you, Detective!"
She said "detective" so harshly too…
"It's no problem…Nise-san."
They stared at one another for the longest time. None of them even blinked! Was I missing something?
"Akasaka-san?" The man in the white coat emerged from the back corridor. He approached us. "My, what a treat this is! Are you here to sample some of that lotion I told you about? Hahaha!"
"Hello, Doctor!" Akasaka's face suddenly morphed into his usual delighted demeanor.
"And Rika-chan too! Twice in the same day! This really is a treat!"
I laughed and beamed up at him.
"Oh, Doctor!" Akane giggled nervously. "I thought you were in the back preparing Sonozaki-san's next dosage!"
"I finished a while ago! I was just writing up some notes! I told you it wouldn't take me long! Did I mislead you?"
Akane laughed again. "I'm sorry, Doctor! Sometimes I don't listen very well! Ahaha! I was so rude to Akasaka-san! Had I listened more carefully, I would have saved myself from looking like a fool!"
"I'm sure Akasaka-san didn't mind! He has quite the large heart, don't you?" He turned to Akasaka.
"Ha,ha…yeah! I guess so!"
"Hey, Nise-san!" Irie shifted to her. "Can you please go check on Sonozaki-san while I speak to Akasaka-san and Rika-chan?"
"Sure thing! Shout if you need me!" Akane gave one last look to us before she went into Shion's room.
"So what can I help you with today, my friends?" He looked at us with that goofy expression on his face. "Shion-chan's still resting, so I humbly ask that you don't disturb her! Medicine can only do so much in one day, you know! Hahaha!"
"We actually wanted to see you, Doctor!" Akasaka returned the grin. "I was in the area when I ran into Rika-chan! I figured she could join me!"
"How nice! Well, I have some free time on my hands! I was just about to close up for the night and make my final checks on Shion-chan anyway!"
"Can we speak in your office? I don't think you'd like to exchange small-talk standing around in the lobby!"
"Of course! Right this way!" Irie turned around and led us to his office.
Irie took a seat at his desk. He crossed his leg and folded his hands neatly over his lap. Akasaka sat on the bed next to the window while I remained standing. Akasaka put the folder to the side and opened it. He fished through the stack of papers and photos. He was preparing himself.
Irie seemed interested in the folder. He remained smiling, but his eyes didn't leave the stack of papers that Akasaka waded through. Did he know what this was about even before we stepped into the room? Or was he afraid that a police officer was sitting with him in private?
"I'm sorry to bother you twice today, Dr. Irie," Akasaka held the papers on his lap, "but I really needed to see you."
"It's no problem at all! I'm always here to help!"
"You promise you'll help me?"
"Hmm? You know I'd help with anything! Why are you talking like that?"
"Well, I've been thinking about all the subjects we talked about on the phone. To tell you the truth, I stopped by Rika's house and…" Akasaka glanced at me. "I told her everything."
Irie's grin faded. His glasses slid down his nose. "You…told her?"
"Yes. I told her about TOKYO…and about Takano."
Irie pushed his glasses back up. "…May I ask why?"
"Rika's a target of the Keima Clan, I briefed you about them, remember? She's under their watch, assuming they were the ones who sent her that death threat I told you about. I had to be candid with her!"
"Assuming?" Irie appeared confused. "You mean to say that they're not your criminals?"
"I'll get to that in a minute."
Irie wasn't pleased about that, but he recomposed himself. He planted both of his feet on the floor and held his knees with his hands. He was watching Akasaka.
"Now," Akasaka spoke up. "Those names you gave me, the deceased TOKYO leaders, they all died from Level 5 Hinamizawa Syndrome. Am I right so far?"
"…Yes. I told you about that and I gave you those notices."
"They were all healthy people!" Akasaka looked at a sheet from his pile. "None of them had any serious medical problems, nor were any of them ill! How did they die so suddenly? How is that possible?"
Irie didn't answer.
"Doctor? Is there a way someone could be raised from Level 1 to Level 5 just like that?"
Akasaka knew the answer, but he asked it to see just how Irie would react.
The doctor didn't peel his eyes from Akasaka.
"There…is a way. Takano developed a drug all by herself. The H-150 drug…it has the properties to raise any infected person to Level 5 status in a few seconds!"
"Do you still have that supply here?"
"…Excuse me?"
"The supply of the H-150 drug. When Takano was arrested and taken to the Institution, we confiscated all the drugs. You said you'd properly dispose of them as soon as you could? Do you still have that supply here or did you get rid of them?"
Irie loosened the collar of his shirt. "Yes, I still have them. I have them underground in a storeroom…for safe keeping, until I can dispose of them properly! You remember that place! We left them all there! All those syringes and vials! It's all there!"
"Hmm." Akasaka scratched his head. "That doesn't make sense."
"What doesn't?"
"Those TOKYO officials died from clawing out their throats. That's a symptom of Hinamizawa Syndrome! The only way they could have died was if they were infected by that drug! Also…they had to be already infected by the parasite before they were given the drug, right? I mean they had to be!"
Irie's glasses flashed. "What are you trying to say, Akasaka-san?"
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Irie-san." Akasaka shot him a glare. "Do you know anybody that could have killed those leaders? And Takano as well?"
Irie gulped. Drops of sweat trickled down his face.
Why was he so nervous? Irie wouldn't kill anyone! Please…tell me that this wasn't true!
"Your hands are shaking, Irie." Akasaka spotted Irie's movement. "Are you nervous?"
He didn't speak.
"Irie. What's going on? What do you know about it?"
Irie shook his head. "…I don't know anything."
"…Why are you lying?"
Irie looked away.
"You're not looking at me in the eye, you're tapping your foot, you're sweating, and you're hands are shaking! What do you got to be so nervous about?" Akasaka was losing patience. "Tell me!"
"It's…not that easy for me to say…"
"What's not easy?"
"Please…"
Irie lowered his head. Was he guilty? Was he too ashamed to say anything? Was he afraid that he was caught?
Akasaka stood up from the bed. He put the folder down. He came over to Irie and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Irie…what's going on?" He spoke friendly to him. "Is something bothering you? Let me help! I can't do anything for you if you don't tell me! That's what I'm here for! I want to help you! Now please! Tell me what's going on!"
He still didn't open his mouth.
"Irie?" I put my hand on his knee when I walked up to him. "Please…I need your help! We need you!"
My pout hit him hard. Irie still looked away, but his mouth was starting to open.
"…I didn't kill them…"
"I'm not saying that you did!" Akasaka said calmly. "But you know something about it, don't you? I know that you do! Your behavior tells me so! You were a member of TOKYO too! That's how you knew their names! You have to know who killed them!"
"…I know how they really died…"
"Then tell us! You can save Rika with this information! You need to tell us what you know!"
"…I can't…!"
"Why not?"
Irie looked back into Akasaka's eyes. "Because if I told you…he'll be killed too!"
Akasaka blinked. "Who will be killed?"
"…And then I'll be killed!"
Akasaka grasped his shoulders and gently shook him. "Who's gonna die? Irie, what are you saying?"
Irie sighed. He took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead and eyes. He kept shaking his head. His legs began to jitter.
"Irie…? Who's gonna die?" I asked him sweetly.
"…Satoshi-kun…"
Satoshi? What did he have to do with this?
"Satoshi? Satoko-chan's brother?" Akasaka let go of him and straightened his posture. "What about him?"
"…If I say a word of anything to anybody…Satoshi will die." Irie looked up again. "Please…don't push me anymore! If I say anything else, he could be the next to die!"
"Irie…!" Akasaka grunted. "I'll keep everyone safe! I'll protect him! The information you can give me is vital to everything! We can save him from whatever is going on!"
"I can't…! No one can! No one can clean up the mess I've made!" Irie wiped his eyes. "Now please, stop this!"
"Irie! You can trust Akasaka!" I tugged at his pants leg. "He can do anything! You have to believe that!"
"Ha,ha,ha…" Irie petted my head. "I'm happy for the faith you have in your friend…but even he can't save Satoshi. I've tried…I've tried countless times to save him…but…! Nothing I do ever works! I can't do anything for him! I can't do anything for myself!"
Irie covered his face with his hands.
"I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do about anything anymore!"
Akasaka looked troubled. He didn't know what to say. He was conflicted. He wanted answers, but he didn't know whether he should keep pushing Irie so much. The man was hurting…but what was on his mind? Was somebody threatening Satoshi's life? If that was true…then the situation had gotten worse! But who wanted to kill him? What did Irie know and who forced him to keep quiet?
"Irie." I rubbed his knee some more. "Please…you need to have faith in us! We came to you because we know you can help us! We know you could help us put a stop to everything! You're a key piece, Irie! Don't let fear get the better of you!
"If you tell us what you know, Akasaka, myself, and my friends will do whatever it takes to save Satoshi! We'll save you too! You just need to help us! Without you, we can't do anything! If you don't tell us, then how are we supposed to save any lives?"
"…Rika-chan…"
"Please…I'm begging you…Irie…! Help us…! Help us this last time!"
I whimpered. Akasaka pulled me away from Irie and knelt down to me. He held me from behind and I wrapped my arms around his. He wiped some of the tears away from my eyes.
"Rika-chan…I…" Irie put his glasses back on. He pushed them up on his nose. "I'm sorry…but I can't tell you anymore…"
But…! But…!
"I cannot…I will not jeopardize Satoshi-kun after I've come so far!" Irie rose from his chair and leered at us. "I'm _this_ close to saving him from the Syndrome! Once I do that…it'll all be over! I will not allow you or anyone else to ruin my progress! I will not allow you to kill my friend!"
Irie…!
"I'm not saying another word! If you want to search my clinic, go right ahead! If you want to arrest me, do that too! Treat me like a criminal! Call me whatever you wish! I don't care! I won't let you kill Satoshi-kun! Do you hear me? I won't let my friend die!"
Irie? What happened to him? Why didn't he want to help us? Why was…why was he acting like our enemy? What could be so important that he hid his knowledge from us? We could help him! We could save Satoshi if he just helped us! Why was he being so stubborn?
"I'll have to ask you too to leave." Irie opened the door to his office. "Now!"
Akasaka only looked at him. With a shake of his head, he gathered up his things and stood up. He took me by the hand.
"I'm sorry, Rika…I screwed up." He frowned to me. "I should have planned this out more…I'm truly sorry for this…"
"Akasaka…no…don't say that! You did nothing wrong!"
"…Then why do I feel so helpless? I ruined our chances for finding the truth…"
He led me to the door. Irie's cold eyes never tore off of us. He made sure that we never left his sight.
We were out in the lobby, with Irie following us from behind. I couldn't believe some of the things he said to us! He acted as if he was a criminal! What was wrong with him? He wasn't anything like the Irie I knew! Was he…truly guilty of those murders? Was…he the Enemy?
Why was Satoshi's life in danger? Why couldn't Irie say anything? Who threatened to kill him and Satoshi? Irie knew! He knew and he wouldn't say a single thing! He had the answers to everything! He knew all of the secrets that I strived to unveil!
That damned fool! How dare he do this to me? How dare he try to ruin my last chance at freedom! That stupid…that damned idiot!
No! I had it! I had enough of secrets! I was tired of waiting around for the secrets to reveal themselves! I'd solve this no matter what! I wouldn't let Irie stop me from saving the people I loved! I wouldn't let Satoshi die! I wouldn't let my friends die! I…I wouldn't die! Nobody would die this time!
I ripped my hand from Akasaka's grip. I dashed behind us. My sudden escape caused Akasaka to drop his manila folder. I shoved Irie out of the way and bolted down the corridor. Irie and Akasaka called after me. I didn't listen, I wouldn't listen! I was going to finish this once and for all! I wouldn't let them stop me!
I ran into a room. There were vials, jars, and medical instruments on tables, desks, and shelves. I scanned my eyes over every jar and every bottle I found. There was nothing here! There was nothing here at all!
Irie and Akasaka appeared in the room. Irie tried to grab me, but I evaded him and ran out the door. Akasaka didn't even attempt to bar me. Why did he let me run free like that? Did he know what I was up to?
I came to another room. I found familiar vials and bottles. I saw an evergreen tarp on the floor. What was this? I grabbed hold of the it.
A hand seized my wrist. It violently yanked me back. Irie was holding me. He wrestled with me until I was still. He had a look of evil in his eyes.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He shouted at me. "You little…!"
"Irie! Let her go!" Akasaka grabbed Irie's arm.
The doctor tried to ram his elbow into Akasaka's forehead. However, Akasaka took hold of the arm and twisted it. He twisted it so hard that Irie cried out. I was set free. Akasaka grabbed both of Irie's arms and slammed him into a wall to restrain him. I heard his glasses crack.
Akasaka pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and placed them on his captive. He still held onto him, just in case he tried to move again. While he did that, I turned my attention back to the tarp.
"No! Get away from there!" Irie yelled at me. "I'm warning you for the last time! Get away!"
I pulled the tarp off.
It was a wooden crate. There were no words on it and there weren't any watermarks either. Where had this come from? How long had Irie been hiding this? But more importantly…what was in it?
I slid the cover off of the crate. Akasaka watched, but he didn't try to stop me. I think he wanted to know as well. Irie struggled to free himself, but Akasaka kept a strong hold on him. He had his neck in his arms, a leg wrapped around his, and he had his arm hooked around Irie's. There was no way he could escape, let alone overpower Akasaka.
There were small white bottles lying with many packets of white powder. It looked almost like salt. I picked up a bottle. I broke the seal off of it and took off the cap. It was filled with capsules.
I took a capsule from the bottle and walked over to a table. I saw a letter opener in cup full of pens. I snatched the letter opener and placed it over the capsule. Could this be what I thought it was…?
I cut the capsule into two pieces. When I did, the same white salt flowed out onto the table. It matched the contents of those packets! Were these items…these…things…were they the same items Irie gave us in the previous worlds? They had to be!
"What is it, Rika?" Akasaka asked me, getting a better grip on his prisoner.
"…I'm not sure. What kind of drug is it?" I turned to Irie. "What is this, Irie?"
Irie cursed under his breath.
"What was that?" My voice deepened.
"You ruined it…! You ruined everything! Why? Why did you kill Satoshi?" He screamed at me. "He's dead now because of you! Dammit…! Damn you! Damn you both! Damn you…damn you…!"
The blade of the letter opener flashed in the light. I curled my fingers around the handle harder than before.
"You refused to help me, Irie." I leered at him…but then a wicked smirk crossed my mouth. "You weren't going to tell me anything…so I had to take matters into my own hands!"
Irie hid his face from me. He started to weep bitterly.
"You wanted to be treated as criminal, didn't you? Fine! Explain this to us then, criminal!" I stabbed the letter opener into the wooden desk. The thud snapped Irie's eyes back to me. "Explain to us! Why do you have these drugs!"
Part B
Irie was escorted to the police station. Akasaka had called for a car using the phone in the main lobby. A few police cars came before we knew it, and the officers hauled Irie off to Okinomiya. He would be detained until he was interrogated. We had to shove Akane out of our way so we could get to the car. She had no idea what was happening. She had heard us screaming and then she found us with the white packets in the crate. She was about as afraid as Akasaka and I were. Actually…no she wasn't. She didn't come close. I had seen too many fears in my life time…she could never understand what it was like to be in my position!
As we followed Irie in another car, I saw Akasaka's disheveled face. He wasn't looking forward to doing this. Neither did I.
Irie sat in the interrogation room of the station for a few hours, rubbing at his eyes and his head. His body shook. The man was trying to stay calm, but he couldn't get a grip at all.
I was watching through a window in another room. I saw every move he made and every twitch of his eyebrow. He was muttering something to himself. The microphone in the room picked up his mumbling, but I couldn't decipher the gibberish.
Akasaka was in the room with me. He'd break Irie's silence and he would get us the information we needed. I felt somewhat guilty for forcing Irie into this position, but I had no choice! He refused to help me at all! He had all that contraband, the H-150 drug, and his very patient, Shion, was suffering a similar fate like Takano and the TOKYO leaders! This wasn't a coincidence! He knew something!
He said he didn't kill anyone, but with these cases, it was getting harder for me to consider him innocent! Even if he didn't commit those murders, he was an accomplice! He knew about it and he knew the supposed people who did this! He was involved with the scheme! He was involved in this conspiracy against me!
He tried to kill my friends with poison in the previous worlds! Why would he do that? Was he forced by those murderous phantoms to do it? And about Satoshi? He was linked to Irie, but what was his role in all this? Irie…he had better start coming clean! I didn't know if I could take anymore incompetence!
Akasaka left the room after he patted my shoulder. He told me it would alright, that he would get Irie to talk. I sincerely hoped, for all of our sakes, that Irie would be smart this time!
Akasaka opened the door to the interrogation room. He took his seat in front of Irie.
Irie no mind to him.
Akasaka pulled out a white bag. The contents were the capsules I had found in the crate. They were all broken.
"What are these?" Akasaka asked with no tone in his voice.
Irie glanced at the bag, then back to the table.
"You don't know?"
No response.
"These are cyanide pills, Irie." Akasaka tossed them down on the table. "What are you doing with military grade poison in your clinic? Why are they disguised as painkillers?"
Nothing.
"Were you planning on distributing these to people?"
Irie scratched at his cheek.
"Irie…" Akasaka groaned. "I think it's time you start telling the truth now! Why do you have these things? Where did you get them? Who supplied you with them?"
Irie looked away.
"You're in a police station…you're being suspected of several murders…you have military poison in your clinic, and you still haven't gotten rid of those H-150 needles! Your reputation and your medical license are on the line! Your life is on the line here! Why do you have all this stuff?"
He grunted.
"You need to start talking, Irie! How am I supposed to help you if you keep your mouth shut!"
"You can't help me…"
Akasaka was caught off guard by that sudden statement.
"I should've been stronger…I should've stood up to them…! But…I was too afraid…! They…threatened Satoshi-kun and…!"
Akasaka didn't speak.
"I…I shouldn't have spoken to you…I shouldn't have talked to you and Rika-chan…! Because of me…and my stupidity…Satoshi-kun is doomed now…! It's all my fault…!"
"Look." Akasaka folded his arms. "If you just come clean with me about these killings, I can put a good word in for you and-!"
Irie hit the table with his fists. "I didn't kill anybody! Stop implying that! I never wanted to hurt anyone! It wasn't supposed to be this way! I-I didn't plan for any of this to happen!"
"Then why do you have all those drugs?"
Irie bit his tongue.
"If you're so innocent, then why all the poisons? Why do you still have those H-150 needles? Who are you trying to kill?"
"I didn't…! I didn't kill anybody…! I don't want to kill anybody!"
Akasaka furrowed his brow. "Were you trying to kill someone in the village? Were you trying to poison somebody discretely?"
"I never…I never wanted to hurt anyone…!"
"Were you trying to kill Rika? Were you trying to kill Shion the same way you killed Takano and the TOKYO officials?"
Irie bared his teeth. "I didn't kill anyone!"
"What am I supposed to think?" Akasaka yelled back in his face. "You have the connection to TOKYO, to Takano, and you had all that poison and the H-150 virus! And now Shion is suffering just like them! What're you trying to accomplish, Irie? Who are you after?"
Irie fell back in his seat. He turned his face away in shame. "I didn't kill them…I didn't hurt Shion…I never wanted to hurt anyone…!"
"…Then who's responsible?"
"I can't tell you…! Can't you see that…?"
Akasaka stood up from his chair. He leaned over the table and held the sides of it. He was yelling louder.
"Then I'll charge you with accounts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of illegal contraband! You want me to put you away for good? You want me to send you to a judge so you can get the death penalty? Irie…you're a smart man…I can't believe how stupid you're acting now!
"Do you want people to remember you as a murderer? You want everyone to lose their respect for you? You want me to abandon a friend of mine?" Akasaka straightened up. "If that's the way you want it, then fine by me! I'll wash my hands of you…satisfied? Go and die for all I care!"
Akasaka made for the door.
"No!" Irie extended his hand out to him. "Please…! You can't just leave me here like this! You can't just abandon me like that!"
"…It's what you wanted, isn't it, to be known as a criminal? That's what you said before!"
"…Akasaka-san…" Irie lowered his head. He stared into his lap. "…I'll…I'll…tell you…please…just don't leave me…!"
He had Akasaka's attention. The detective fully faced his captive with a look of inquiry across his face.
"I'll tell you…what you need to know…"
Akasaka walked back over to Irie. "Tell me what exactly?"
The doctor looked up to him. "Your culprits…your real ones…"
He was beginning to listen to reason now. Did he finally believe that we could help him, that we could help Satoshi?
Akasaka took his seat again. "Alright. Who's guilty here, Doctor?"
"Satoshi-kun's fate is sealed…so is mine…there's no point in a dead man keeping secrets now…they already know where I am and what I'll be saying to you! It won't be long now!"
"Stop talking like that! Just tell me who's behind this already!"
Irie put his hands on the table. He clenched his hands together. "…The King Carrier…"
Ayatsuri! Ayatsuri was the King Carrier! He was the true culprit this whole time? I kne-!
Wait…Irie knew him…?
"The King Carrier…?" Akasaka folded his hands under his chin. "What's that exactly?"
"It's the person who has the ability to carry the H-150 virus…"
"…How is that possible?" Akasaka was in disbelief. He was also very skeptical. "How can a human carry a highly concentrated dosage of Level 5 Hinamizawa Syndrome like it's nothing?"
"I've been researching it for a month now. I've been looking into on the side while I tended to Satoshi-kun…not that it really matters anymore." Irie huffed. "The King Carrier is an organism, a human, whose cells have a similar code to the H-150 virus! The King is unaffected by the virus and is immune to the growth of Hinamizawa Syndrome. However…the King is still an infected person!"
"So the King is immune to any stage of Hinamizawa Syndrome?" Akasaka held his chin.
"Exactly! No form of duress can trigger the growth of the disease, so the mind stays perfectly intact! Nothing can disturb the mind and the body cannot be weakened by the virus! While the King is invulnerable to any form of the Syndrome, he's still an infected individual like I said! So that means that the King can spread it!"
"Spread it…?"
"Yes!" Irie was becoming more animated. "That Carrier also has the ability to infect anybody who comes in contact with him! He spreads the Syndrome by just a mere a touch or a simple breath!"
"But can't people who already have the virus infect other people?"
"They can, but the Carrier's influence is much stronger!" Irie wiped the sweat off of his brow. "He can…he can control the growth of the virus in other people!"
"…What?" Akasaka was even more skeptical than he was before.
"He uses psychological warfare to raise a person's Syndrome Level! All he needs to do is know that person, know their fears and guilt, and he can turn it on them! He can apply as much pressure to the mind and body as he wishes! He can make anybody go mad, even the sanest person alive can fall to him!"
Akasaka folded his arms again and pondered.
"I've taken many notes about it! You can find them in my office! Just read them over and you'll understand what I'm talking about!"
Akasaka looked back to Irie. "So…a person that can control the Syndrome's rate of growth and influence on the mind, and he can even infect people."
"That's right!"
"If that's true…then this person is a walking biohazard!"
"There's more! I haven't told anybody this, but…I've been getting patients lately. They've been complaining about various types of symptoms!"
"Like what?"
"Well…each of my patients has been experiencing very odd forms of dementia! They've been clawing at their skin, writing on the walls of homes in their own blood, and they recite the same mantra repeatedly! Some even committed suicide by clawing open their throats! It's just like the other murders!"
"…And what was that mantra…?"
"…'Keima be Praised'…"
Akasaka's eyes widened, much like mine did!
"…You're sure about that?"
"I'm sorry I never told you…but…**he** made me keep quiet!
"Who…?"
"The King Carrier!"
Akasaka's pupils dilated. "You…you met him…?"
Irie hid his face in his hands. "He made me keep quiet! He had my patients' bodies hidden and so no one ever could ever know a thing about them! He's the one who's been holding that axe over my head! He said if I told a soul about him or about the patients that I've been getting…or about those murders…he'd kill me and he'd kill Satoshi!"
"But…what would he want with you…? Why would he manipulate you like that?"
"He…wanted me to…to kill Rika…"
No…!
"But that's not everything! They want that sword too! They want that Onigari-no-Ryuo! They want it! They want it out of pure vengeance because of her!"
"What are you saying? Who does?"
"He wanted me to kill her friends too…! He never said why! He just wanted me to kill them! That's what all the poison was for! He wanted me to kill them silently! But-But it wouldn't be silent though! The police would trace the poison back to me! I'd be the scapegoat! I'd be convicted and they would get away with it!"
Akasaka rose from his chair. He looked into the window at me. I knew what he was thinking…! I knew who he suspected for this!
It was like he could sense all of the fears that were rising in my heart! He was afraid too! I could see it in his eyes! He didn't want it to be true…but…! After everything we'd been through…it had been staring at us in the face!
"The King Carrier…" Akasaka turned around. "Who is he exactly…?"
"…I can't tell you…"
Akasaka was becoming frustrated again. "Why not?"
"…I just can't tell you…!"
Akasaka kicked his chair. It flung across the room. "Dammit, Irie! I've got lives at stake here! Tell me who he is!"
Irie peered downward again. He breathed heavily.
"He's…he's the leader of the Keima Clan…"
So…my worst fears had come full circle! My true enemy…my true enemy…was Abbot Ayatsuri! It came straight from Irie's mouth! I didn't need anything more from him!
It was him! It was him from the very beginning! We were lead in every direction possible because of that man! Demons, the Syndrome, it didn't matter! He threw everything he could at us just to screw with our minds! He did that to prey on our vulnerability! This time was different though! This time we had him!
Irie was our witness and he said it! He confirmed it! This was it! This was what I needed! I knew my Enemy now! I knew my Enemies! The Exalted House from Onigafuchi…the Fourth Great House…the Keima Family…they were my Enemies!
Akasaka knew exactly what I was thinking! Ayatsuri's name was in his mind, I knew it! He wanted me dead out of vengeance for his god's death! He wanted the sword because it was his Clan's birthright! He wanted to kill all of us in the name of Kami Ousama!
Akasaka was sweating…he was trembling…he was terrified! He was paralyzed with all these terrible truths! He couldn't do a thing!
"Akasaka…" Irie turned back to him. "I wasn't making progress with his order to kill Rika…so…he took matters into his own hands! He's…the true cause as to why Shion's suffering right now! He influenced her disease! He made her like that! I was still waiting for the blood tests to come back, which would tell me more about her condition…but I haven't finished them!
"He works in the shadows…! He poisons your mind and controls you through your fears! You can't resist him!"
Akasaka moved closer to Irie. "Is that how he got you?"
Irie tried to hold in the tears. "I was too weak…! He got the better of me! We all have the Syndrome inside of us! He threatened to make me claw my own throat out just like he did to Takano and to the TOKYO leaders!"
"Why was he after TOKYO though? And Takano? Why'd he kill all those people?"
Irie shook his head. "All he said was that it was business! That's it! However…maybe it has to do with his Carrier status!"
"You mean…that he was connected to TOKYO? TOKYO wanted to use the Syndrome as a biological weapon, correct? Who's to say the King Carrier was their new chance of a bio-weapon after Takano failed?"
"…I'm not sure…he never told me anything more…"
Akasaka held his forehead in his hands.
"It was the Clan after all…they were guilty this whole time! They were guilty and I was too busy looking for another culprit! I wasted so much time! Dammit!"
He kicked the table hard.
"He led me around in another circle again! I let him beat me again! It's just like that dream I had when…Hinamizawa was burned to the ground! I saw him…I confronted him! He confused me so many times! He messed with my head with those words of his and-!
"Akasaka-san!" Irie seized the sleeve of his jacket. "I wasn't strong enough to fight back against them! I wasn't strong enough to defeat the Keima Clan! You are though! You can stop them! You can stop them from hurting anymore people! You-You…you can save Satoshi! You have to!"
Akasaka pried Irie's hands off of him.
"You have to! Promise me that you'll save him! I don't care what happens to me! You need to save him!"
"Irie! Calm down!" Akasaka grabbed his shoulders. "I'll do everything that I can! I promise you that no harm will come to Satoshi!"
"You mean it? Are you sure? Please, don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying! I give you my word that I will protect Satoshi!" Akasaka smiled at him.
"…Good…! Good…" Irie wiped his face with his white coat's sleeve. "I'm sorry I never told you…! I'm sorry I've been endangering Rika and her friends for so long! I'm…I'm horrible!"
"You had no choice, but it's over! You got nothing to worry about now! I'll handle everything! I'll stop the Clan for good with this information! I'll stop'em cold!"
Irie smiled back, despite the tears in his eyes. "Thank you…Akasaka-san…thank you…!"
Akasaka left the interrogation room soon after. Everything was recorded. Akasaka had all the information that he needed to take the Clan down! It was only matter of time before I saw them fall!
While I was confident, I was still afraid! Knowing that they were truly the ones who wanted me dead, it made my bones rattle!
This was all about one cult's agenda to kill me! That's what it had been from the very start! This was all about using our inner demons against each other! This was all about making us turn on each other! This was all about making me suffer by watching my friends die! Ayatsuri was the one! The Clan was truly the enemy! There was no more doubt left! There were no more secrets! There were no more theories! The Clan was the true enemy!
Screw demons! Screw Hinamizawa Syndrome! Screw the King Carrier! I didn't care about viruses, or TOKYO, or demonic forces! I didn't care anymore! I had what I wanted! I had my opponent in my sights! I wouldn't let him escape me this time! This time I'd win!
Akasaka was beating himself over it. We sat in the room where I was for a whole hour. He apologized to me countless times for not listening to my deductions about the Keima Clan. I told him to stop and hugged him tightly. What happened in the past was done now! We had to fight for our futures!
They used psychological warfare against us, just like Irie said. They confused us, led us on countless wild goose chases, made us blame one another, and even tricked us into thinking that Takano or some other force was the one responsible. They confused us for all those worlds for a whole year in this loop, and they still tried to lead us astray! They led us every which way just to mess with our minds! I had enough!
The time was to fight! There was nothing left to uncover! There was no other secret left for me to discover! I just had to defeat the Keima Clan and Kami Ousama! Nothing else mattered to me! All I could think about was putting an end to Kami Ousama's terror and to all of the agony he made me suffer in this Eternal July! Ayatsuri would pay! The Keima Family would pay! They would all pay! I swore it! I swore it on the Onigari-no-Ryuo!
It was late. The moon was already in the sky and its light shone into the lobby of the police station. Time had flown by swifter than I anticipated. Takuma and Satoko were probably already back at the house worried sick about us! They were probably looking all over Hinamizawa for Akasaka and me!
Akasaka held my hand as we entered the lobby. "Rika-chan…I'm so sorry about everything…you were right all along! Me and my stupid intuition…"
"Stop! We needed to be sure!" I smiled at him. "Now that we know, we can work together to bring them down! We'll save my friends, Satoshi, and Irie! We'll win, Akasaka! I know we will!"
"Yeah…we will!" He thought for a second. "I wonder how Nise-san is doing…I wonder if she ever caught on to Irie or Ayatsuri blackmailing him…"
"I'm not sure."
"Maybe she was being pressured too…hmm. I dunno, but it's something to look into!" Akasaka then returned my grin to ease my nerves. "You know, I admire your faith…Rika…I really do! You've grown up so much…!"
I was still quite unsure about that…
"Detective Akasaka!" The receptionist spoke from behind us. "You have twenty messages here!"
"Twenty?" Akasaka was dismayed. "From who?"
The receptionist was very smug. "Take one wild guess!"
Akasaka's brain clicked. "Ah…Takuma! Has he been calling me this whole time? Didn't you tell him I was busy?"
"I did, but he kept calling me! He assumed you were here and he wanted to know what you were up to!"
Akasaka chuckled. "Here, I'll call him right him right now just to shut him up! He called from the Furude residence, right?"
Akasaka went over to borrow the phone from the desk.
I stood in the center of the lobby, looking at the moon shining into the room. The Dark Creatures…the moon. I laughed under my breath. They didn't stand a chance now! I'd save Shion…Satoshi…my friends…and my family's treasure!
Shion came first though! I'd go see her in the morning with my friends! We needed to wake her up from her slumber and help her defeat that demon! Shion had to be saved…she needed to be pulled from Ayatsuri's grasp!
"-ika-chan? Hellooooo!"
Someone was talking to me? I snapped my mind back into focus.
Nise Akane knelt in front of me.
"Are you okay?" She blinked at me.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention! The moon was really pretty!" I replied.
"It is a lovely night, huh?" Akane's smile soon faded. "Rika-chan…I…I'd like to see Dr. Irie. He's here isn't he?"
"He is, but he's being detained right now! The police aren't through with him yet!"
Akane was depressed, but frightened. "Rika-chan…what were those things that the police confiscated from that storage room? Did he say anything about them? No one told me anything when they took that crate away! I just had to stand there and watch!"
"…I can't really tell you, Nise-san!" I smiled sweetly as I lied through my teeth. "I wasn't allowed to see Irie's interrogation!"
"…But weren't you and the detective back there just now?" Akane smiled back at me. "That's where the interrogation rooms are, aren't they?"
She knew?
"…No! Akasaka just led me to one of the vending machines! I was thirsty, so he bought me some juice!"
"Oh, really? That was nice of him!" She giggled with me. "…Where is it?"
"Where's what?"
"The juice! He bought you a drink! You said so!"
What was her problem? Why was she interrogating me now?
"I drank it all! I was really thirsty, so I chugged it down! It was yummy!"
Akane's smile remained on her face. She didn't budge an inch for a few moments during our silence.
"Okay then!"
"…Nise-san?" I spoke sweeter. "Were you waiting here in the lobby this whole time?"
"I got here a few minutes ago! I wanted a chance to see Dr. Irie! I also wanted to ask him…about that stuff he had." She grimaced. "It looked very suspicious! I was held at the clinic earlier and the police asked me a bunch of questions! I didn't know anything! I tried to help them, but I had no idea that Dr. Irie had something illegal! He never allowed me to go into any room of the clinic without his permission! He got very angry if I entered certain rooms without his say-so! He threatened to fire me several times! I should have picked up on something! I can't believe how stupid I was…"
"Well, I don't think there's anything you can do here. The police will handle everything! Akasaka's a great cop! He'll set everything right! You can trust him!"
"In speaking of that, I have something for him!"
Akane lifted something up to my chest. It was Akasaka's manila folder! How did she get that?
"Detective Akasaka dropped it when he ran after you in the clinic! I've been holding on to it for him!"
I took it from her hands. It was a little heavy, but I managed.
"Thank you, Nise-san!" I laughed. "Akasaka will be very happy about this!"
"Good! Well…I should return to the clinic now! I want to check on Sonozaki-san just one more time! I want to be sure she's alright!"
Akane waved to me and stood back up. She strutted to the front door.
I turned my back. I began my walk towards Akasaka.
"I feel bad for that woman." Akane was still speaking.
Huh?
I turned around. She caught my confusion.
"The lady in the photo. That's very unfortunate, huh?" Akane was smiling at me…she was still smiling. "Was she murdered?"
"…I'm sorry?"
"That woman…Takano Miyo…was she…murdered?"
She…looked inside of the folder…? She knew about Takano?
"Takano-san was my…predecessor…wasn't she?"
I was too frozen to answer her.
"Well…goodnight, Rika-chan!" Akane shifted her body towards the door.
I hastily spun around and went back to Akasaka's side.
"Stay safe now!"
The doors to the lobby shut rather loud.
She…looked inside of the folder? She learned about Takano…and the murders? No…she didn't…! Why did she look inside? Was she just being nosy?
I turned my head over my shoulder to see the door.
Akane waved at me through the door. Her eyes glowed in the moonlit night. She kept waving until she was out of my sight…when she was swallowed up by the cold and horrible night…