Hinamizawa Hell

Author's Note: Hey everyone, hope you're enjoying the fanfic. This chapter was probably one of the hardest ones to write, mainly due to more information about the mysterious traveler, Komoto. Furthermore, I plan to involve the next chapter as a comedy between Mion and Shion, with the gossiping of their nights to each other, and YES, there will be some mature content. Stay tuned, as more twists and turns come.

Ch. 4: The Second Sight

School wasn't possible till Monday at the least for the children of Hinamizawa. The group of friends were clearly unable to go out and about outside until later that night. The storm had finally died down, but with the on and off snow in the aftermath the roads were hard to travel through.

Mion was able to stay another night at Keiichi's, much to his pleasure. That night wasn't anything major, as they just started to declare their relationship, but it was interesting none the less. Besides cuddling and kissing, the two managed to talk and chat more, at least sharing their feelings more openly to each other. For Mion, she was glad to have finally accepted and told Keiichi her feelings, and likewise for Keiichi himself, besides the awesome food she cooked for him.

Shion, on the other hand, spent her day with Satoshi much the same way, all except for him and her hardly managing to exit the room, minding for food and water. The two were occupied with each other for many hours, unable to satisfy the urges they craved. But as the night came and the break in the aftermath of the storm the next day, Satoshi had to return to his little sister eventually. Shion was happy to have spent that much time with him, and was sure she could do the same in the future. Her family had owned some houses on the outskirts of Hinamizawa, so getting to use one of those places for private use with him wouldn't have been hard at all. After Satoshi left, Mion came home not too long after, tired from trudging through the snow with Keiichi. He made sure to at least to escort her home. Shion watched from the windows above as Mion said her goodbye to him, with a special kiss none the less, to a happy Keiichi. Once inside, Shion ran downstairs to find her sister and gossip for the remainder of the night.

Rena left for home to be with her father earlier on the second day. She had some housework to help with, but the others understood and said goodbye. For them, though, it was somewhat dreary being stuck inside the house all day.

"Rika, we're going to need to get some groceries. We're almost out of food, and I hate to say it, but if we don't get some soon, then we're going to starve…" Satoko looked into the fridge, from which their food supply was running really low. She sighed, closed the fridge, and looked to the others.

"The storms over, so if we go now it shouldn't take too long." Hanyuu stated.

Rika looked to the others and then outside. She didn't mind not having a decent meal for one day, and seemed fine with staying home. However, as she lounged around on her futon watching t.v., Satoko yelled from the kitchen.

"We're out of Sake too!" she stated.

Hanyuu watched as Rika dropped the donut from her mouth, and instantly become filled with a need to obtain food and sake at Hinamizawa's shopping district. She chuckled, knowing Rika's weakness for her favorite sake.

Not too long later, the three girls trudged through the snow to the shopping district, but on their way Satoko had to pick up some more of her medicine from Dr. Irie. At the opportunity of the situation, Rika also hoped to ask Dr. Irie about some things concerning Komoto. Their journey wasn't long, and soon they all reached the clinic with little problems.

Rika and the others walked down the long, white hallways to the main desk, where an attendant was calling names out for people in line to see the doctors. It seemed the storm had sent a bug around to the inhabitants of Hinamizawa, and from that produced plenty of sneezing and coughing. Hanyuu was already a bit sick, so she wasn't concerned with getting a cold. Rika and Satoko, at least, wore facial masks to prevent getting sick. They went up to the attendant, asked for Dr. Irie, and met him in his office.

"Ah, nice to see you three again. I take it Satoko needs her medicine, free of charge of course…" Dr. Irie eyed the three girls with the look of "I want to dress you in cosplay as payment". They swallowed their pride, and tried their best to put him at bay. Satoko went into the bathroom to administer the injection, while Hanyuu and Rika talked with Dr. Irie.

"So I take it Komoto managed to get here alright?" Rika asked.

"Yes. He arrived not too long after your phone call yesterday. I told him to keep his guns to himself, but that kind of made him angrier. But I assure you, I did tell him to be more respectful for everything you did for him. He agreed in the end, and I think everything is alright now." Dr. Irie remained calm and smiling to Rika, hoping to reassure her.

"So how does Komoto fit in with the syndrome? How was he able to overcome the killing effect and manage to experience new levels?" Rika's question was already known to Dr. Irie, who pulled out his file for her to read. He explained it for her quickly as well.

"Komoto was in a stage somewhere near Satoko's own many years ago. However, while on missions it just made him better at his job. However, one day the syndrome took its toll on him, which led to his discharge. He didn't take that too lightly, and let's say…that's how the previous benefactors of the Irie Clinic came upon him…" He paused for a bit, trying to say the right things next "…Anyway, on his last mission, Komoto was struck with some impact device, and suffered multiple bruises, lacerations, and injury. On top of that, he went into a coma just as he was experiencing the killing stage of the syndrome. Thankfully, he didn't die, and I managed to come across his file while doing some research in the past months. I studied how he was able to come out of the coma after a month of treatment for the Hinamizawa Syndrome, and managed to discover that while he was in a sentient state, his body produced natural anti-bodies to fight the parasites. I recreated a similar process for Satoshi, and with great results he was able to overcome the syndrome too." Dr. Irie took a breath after his long speech, which was enthusiastic to Rika and Hanyuu. Satoko came back, which prevented Rika from asking anymore questions, though she was satisfied for the time being. Dr. Irie nodded to her, and handed Satoko her medicine for home use, along with new syringes.

After their departure from the clinic and a couple hours later of shopping, the girls managed to carry back their bags of groceries through the village. Along the way, however, Hanyuu's bags were caught on the handlebar of some guy's motorbike, from which tipped over and knocked down 5 others. Rika and Satoko, knowing this situation too well, were instantly surrounded by 6 thugs, probably from out of town and in high school. They looked down to the girls, with a look of evil in their faces.

"Hey, what are you Baka's doing, huh?"

"Yeah, you think you're gunna git away with that?"

"We'd better teach em a lesson, Areaaaaa…"

The girls backed down into a corner of the side alleyway, wondering what to do. Satoko would have made a trap to con the fools, but she had no supplies. Fortunately, Hanyuu stood in front of Rika and Satoko, with her eyes glowing a deep red. The guys looked a bit scared, but didn't budge. However, as they were about to teach the young ones an unwelcomed lesson, a pissed off voice from behind momentarily took their attention off the girls.

"What are you assholes doing?" yelled a man.

The thugs turned around, and saw Komoto standing there, wearing his black BDU's and heavy leather winter jacket. Rika, Hanyuu, and Satoko watched on, wondering what he was going to do.

"Assholes? It looks like this guy wants a fight with us! Let's show em boys!" A couple of the guys took out clubs and chains, which only made Komoto laugh.

"Heheheh…Ah, some fun I see. It's been awhile since I've had blood on my hands!" Komoto walked towards the guys, who now seemed very threatened by him. However, his eyes being covered only entailed the thugs in laughter.

"He's a blind fool. Much too easy…I got hi…"

*WHACK!*

Komoto backsided the closest thug with his hand, and sent his face into a nearby wall with much force. He instantly knocked the guy out, and looked on at the other thugs, who started getting fearful.

"You bastard! Take this…"

Again, a second thug, thinking Komoto was powerless, attempted to take him on with a chain. However, once in close range, Komoto grabbed the man by his throat, which made it impossible for the thug to move. From there, Komoto threw a powerful punch into the thugs face, which again KOd another opponent. The other thugs watched on, and decided to all gang up on him at once.

The girls shielded their eyes from Komoto's almost terrifying brutality against the thugs. Each punch he threw into his opponents send blood spattering on the nearby brick wall, or crunched rib and facial bone. Though he was dishing out a terrifying assortment of attacks, he took a couple hits to the face and stomach as well, but it only made him angrier. Soon, after taking out all but the leader thug, he put the man to the wall, with a pistol to the guy's forehead.

"I'm going to say this once. Two choices: I shoot you now and end your pathetic life, or you and your boys get lost and never show your faces here in Hinamizawa again!"

Komoto was very intent on the man's options. The leader thug swallowed, and tried to speak in terror. Komoto didn't need to hear the answer, as he pushed him towards his fallen friends, and watched as they all managed to leave in one piece. They ran away, scared of ever showing up again in the small village.

The three girls watched as Komoto stood facing the wall, looking down at his hands. He sighed, and looked to the girls.

"You three seem fine. I'll take my leave then…" Komoto began to walk away; however, Rika ran up to him and tugged his jacket. He stopped, looked down to her and wondered what she was doing.

"Komoto-san, I think we got off to a bad start yesterday. Will you help us carry our groceries back to our house, and in return we'll have lunch together?" She seemed peaceful to him, not trying to surprise him or show any distrust. Rika was being genuine to him, something Komoto hadn't seen in a long time. He looked at the others, who seemed to share the same hope for his company.

"Ok…" was all he said. He went over to the other girls, picked up the majority of their groceries, and followed Rika back to their home.

The walk wasn't long through the snowy trails, but all the while it was somewhat annoying for Komoto. He didn't like snow very much, and having to walk through the village in the cold was not to his liking. He gritted his already fang-like teeth, not faltering once or giving in to the cold weather. Luckily, he and the girls managed to make it to their home, and once inside welcomed the warmth with open arms.

Rika took his coat and shoes, as well as the others and put them away for the time being. Hanyuu and Satoko, along with Komoto, brought the groceries into the kitchen. As the girls put them away, Komoto, led by Rika, went to the dining room table and sat down. To him, it seemed like she wanted to talk about something in private. He already knew what, so he decided to not stray Rika from any more unanswered questions.

Rika remained her cheery self in front of Komoto. She felt safer knowing more about him from his file, but even so she wanted to kind of patch things up with him. Their bad start previously had somewhat gnawed at her mind for a while, and she wanted to be more friendly to him. She decided to make the atmosphere better by getting out some tea and one of her new bottles of sake. She returned after a few moments with 4 cups for tea, and two sake sipping cups.

Komoto didn't question a young girl drinking sake, nor did he seem indifferent to accepting any. This fact made Rika wonder a bit. As she sipped down a tasteful bit of her sake, she looked to Komoto, and smiled.

"I'm sorry for acting like I did the other day. It just worried me that you may have had the syndrome at that stage…." Rika sounded sincere to him, and from that could only dissolve her worries. He promised Dr. Irie to be more respectful, so now seemed like a better time than any to cast off the shroud of darkness and walk in the light for a bit.

"Rika-chan…don't worry about it. I've gone through worse…" He began to fumble with his hands a bit, almost like dwelling on a memory. Rika knew something troubled him a bit, and wanted to know more.

"Komoto-san…Dr. Irie told me all about you. I know it must have been hard to have experienced all the effects of the Hinamizawa Syndrome like that, but luckily you're not undergoing its effects…"

"Rika…you're wrong. I still experience them…even now…"

Rika looked at him for a bit, and couldn't understand it. He wasn't acting hostile or paranoid, but it looked like something else to her. At this point, she looked into the kitchen, and made sure the other girls would be occupied for a while. She wanted to get to the heart of the matter with Komoto, and understand him.

"How so?" Komoto remained silent for a bit, and looked to her.

"My dreams…are nothing but nightmares…the people I see…even now…I experience their greatest sadness's…but only if I "See" them…" His cryptic message led Rika to understand why he kept his eyes covered, but more so why he was such a dark character and why he didn't open up to people. But furthermore, why was he so talkative now, even to her?

"Komoto…you know its paranoia. We've all experienced the worst kinds of its effect, but even you can get over it too." Rika smiled, trying to reassure him, but it didn't work. He still wore the same sadness in his smile and facial features.

"Rika…you've seen the sadness of your friends over and over and over. That I have not experienced…" he picked his head up from looking at his hands, and to Rika seemed straightforward, however, his continuing statement was shocking her to the core "…what you've been through…scares me to no end. Seeing the deaths of friends…the paranoia to commit such acts…and the feeling of loss and evil…it really makes me wonder why God allowed such a thing to possess human kind…"

Rika looked at him for awhile. She couldn't say what she felt, knowing that Komoto had "known" something about her, something she never told anyone else, except for Hanyuu who had been right beside her the entire time. She sipped on some more sake, hoping to calm her nerves. Once she regained a bit of composure, she made a request to Komoto, hoping that he would accept it on her behalf.

"Komoto…if you know such things about me…then I'm shocked. I believe you…when you say that you can "See" people and that you've experienced things about them. Now, please, let me see something from you. Let me see your eyes…"

Komoto shot his head to her, and was at a loss for words. He knew that it would come to this point, having to let her see his eyes. Deep down, he didn't want to do that to her, didn't want her to experience that kind of thing. He wouldn't allow it.

"Rika…I can't. If I do…then you'll…"

"I'll what? Die? Go mad? Komoto, if you know me so well, even after meeting for the first real time, then you would know that my experience with such things goes without question. I want to know why you cover your eyes, and why you're able to know such things about people. Now show me!"

Komoto heard her intent loud and clear. Sweat beaded down his forehead, and from that he felt real fear. He looked distraught, and from that looked to her. He knew if she wanted to see, then he had to let her look. She was the Queen, what held Hinamizawa together. After a moment of thought, he looked to her, dead serious with no emotion.

"If you want me to do this, you have to promise me…not to scream, not to shout, and not to run away. You want me to show you my eyes then you will promise not to tell anyone else unless there is good reason. You have to promise…to accept what you see…"

Rika heard his warning, and questioned whether she should really do this. She looked to Komoto, and made another small request.

"Hanyuu…needs to see too. You know that as well." Komoto didn't question her. With an agreed look, Rika called Hanyuu from the other room, and managed to give her a look of "keep Satoko occupied and only you can come here". Hanyuu nodded, and came rushing to her aid.

Once Hanyuu was there, Rika informed her of what was happening. She nodded, and looked a little fearful at Komoto. They held hands, preparing for whatever would happen. Komoto sighed, and took off his black blindfold. With his eyes slowly opening, Rika and Hanyuu looked on eagerly.

Grey…nothing but grey. Rika and Hanyuu's eyes widened, seeing Komoto's affected eyes. The Hinamizawa Syndrome did this to him, but it was unreal to them even. They watched just as his eyes opened to them, saw his completely grey eyes, and then watched as nothing but darkness surrounded them.

Rika and Hanyuu experienced it all; their memories, their fates, the cycle of death and mystery in Hinamizawa, and so many more things in their minds. They couldn't speak a word during this entire process; all they could do was watch with intent eyes. It was as if they were reliving the nightmare over again and the tortuous never-ending cycle of fate.

They saw earlier days of their lives, of previous lives, and that of their friends. They saw the joys, the sadness, and the adventures and trials they all went through. They saw lost loves, reunited siblings, death, birth, feelings…they saw and experienced their feelings, just as Komoto had said he had felt.

But it didn't end there…

Komoto's memories. They saw his memories, where he had no childhood, where he grew up with other sadistic people, where he stood amongst burning buildings and blood-stained soil, where even he underwent painful days and torturous nights. They saw his saddest moments, and very few happy ones that were shared with true friends. They saw his sins, his deeds, his mistakes and his fortunes.

They saw him go through the Hinamizawa Syndrome. They felt the paranoia he felt; saw the same eyes in his comrade's eyes: the demonic eyes that Keiichi and Rena once saw in others and themselves. They felt the same bloodstained hands, the murderous acts he committed, and the sins he endured to stay alive and to remain in control.

They saw his darkest thoughts and fears; they experienced his last mission, the impact device, and the dark void of his comatose mind.

They saw his dreams; his dark specters, his unwanted enemies, his worst nightmares, and even... the demon that resided in his darker aspect.

But what they saw that shocked them the most was the day when he woke up, and the day he saw others for the first time with his eyes. They saw the people he crippled, the minds he broke, and the never-ending curse he had to bear from that day forth.

But they, among all others, did not give in to this.

They found the strength to break free, the strength to stand, the strength to help, and the will to bear the burden.

Komoto saw all there was to see. The feelings of death, misery, sadness, and the losses every one of their friends experienced. He saw for once happy days and joyful adventures; times in Hinamizawa he never experienced before. He watched as a club room of kids fooled around and played jokes on one another, which only strengthened their bonds. He saw people he didn't meet: Mion, Keiichi, Satoshi and Shion, and witnessed their own lives, past and present, from only the purple haired girl's perspective.

Their past lives, only from Rika's perspective. Hanyuu's memories were not to be seen by him, which he couldn't understand. Rika's thoughts divulged Hanyuu to have been a guardian deity in human form, something which astounded him. But more so, it also revealed something to him he had long forgotten.

"Oyashiro-sama…"

The contact was broken. Hanyuu cried tears of sadness, as did Komoto. Rika looked downcasted, and didn't say much. Komoto's eyes remained wide, wishing he had never done the act. He knew Rika and Hanyuu weren't broken like the many people before he had hurt, but nonetheless knew he had done something wrong. He got up from the table, and tried to leave. However, Rika stopped him. She grabbed his hand just as he was about to get up, and looked at him, bearing a smile.

"Nippah!"

Komoto couldn't believe this girl. Why did she act like that even after what she experienced? Hanyuu looked to her, and smiled a bit, wiping the tears away. Rika prevented Komoto from leaving, and offered him sake to drink.

"Komoto, the light has always been around you. You just need to bask in it when you want. Nippah!"

Her words had, for once, put a smile on his face. He accepted the sake, and thanked the young ones for being so kind. He had shed tears, it was true, but he didn't care. He was happy for once, being able to be around people who didn't fear him, and yet, people he could relate to.

Hanyuu looked at the man, and then down at her tea cup. She saw what the syndrome had accomplished, and more so, felt a sigh of relief. Her mind wasn't invaded by Komoto's unusual ability, and with that, her memories and secrets were safe.

Komoto made sure to have his headband back on before Satoko came back. She brought in a delicious meal for all of them to enjoy, but nonetheless she herself had felt a strange aura around the others. They said nothing, and all seemed cheerful, even for Komoto, so she accepted that.

After the meal, Komoto decided to return to his own home. He didn't want to intrude on any of them any longer. Even so, he gained something back, a part of himself he deserved. He regained his life in a sort, all from meeting the Queen of Hinamizawa.

Satoko and Hanyuu cleaned the dishes while Rika escorted him out. She stepped outside with him, and spoke in private as the snow fell.

"Komoto…I understand you now. I'm satisfied for once, knowing that you're neither a threat nor an enemy to me. For that, I can consider you a friend." She smiled in her serious and wiser fashion, to which Komoto noted.

"I hope that you keep true to those promises I asked of you, Rika…" he looked away for a second, then back to her "…if you want to, stop by my house in Hinamizawa. I live on the main road, and the house is hard to miss. It looks new, so you needn't worry about finding it. Stop by for some tea…or sake…" they laughed a bit.

"I will. And I hope to see you again, Komoto-senpai! Nippah!" Komoto looked down to her, and blushed a bit.

"S..Senpai?" He smiled, nodded, and began to walk back home while there was still light out.

Rika watched on as he left, and looked up into the sky.

"I hope…for everyone's sake that Hinamizawa will continue to be peaceful and that the nightmare will vanish once and for all…"

As night fell, and with Satoshi finally returning home later that day, everything seemed peaceful for the girls once again. Hanyuu and Rika didn't need to say a lot after what they experienced, and managed to move on from that point with no regrets. Satoko, on the other hand, was happy to have her older brother back. The two of them decided to spend tomorrow making snow men and playing outside, just like they used to do in the old days. Rika and Hanyuu had decided that the next day they would sit back and drink to their merry. Rika had found it fun to get Hanyuu drunk on the weekends, and so planned to have all of their friends get together Sunday for some fun. She would even invite Komoto along to meet the others, knowing that it would help with his transition back into Hinamizawa.

As for others that night, particularly Mion and Shion, things would become somewhat dramatic for the two, as they gossiped about their secret nights to one another….