Hinamizawa Hell

Ch.8-Dark Spector

"If you will please remove your guns from…"

"Try it and we'll really find out if I use them or not!"

"Komoto-san, please, you must understand. There's no harm that will…"

"I say again, 'TAKE MY GUNS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!'"

The entire audience before the individual known as Komoto Hagara were outright stunned. His usually calm nature was non-existent in the room, almost never even known for the first time in meeting with the Sonozaki's and the village elders. Some of those who sat before him, watching the almost enraged Komoto, feared being in the room, more so, feared him.

However, the eldest Sonozaki, along with Kasai, were neither intimidated nor frightened by this man. Kasai merely stood by with his trusty shotgun, while the twin's grandmother, Oryo by name, sat with narrowed vision, studying Komoto. She remained straightforward, getting down to business with him.

"Hagara-san, we are in no means of harming you, nor do we have the patience to try you. If you wish to keep your guns on you, then Kasai will remain with his. That is the rule in my home…"

Komoto eyed the old woman, almost having some sort of disgust with her and her ideals. It's true, his eyes revealed her innermost secrets and memoirs of her life though his blindfold, but it only added to his disliking of the old woman's cold heart and nature.

"Then I have no qualms with that. Now please, if you would so kindly tell me why I've been summoned, then please, with all means, go on." He was irritated, that was surely true. Oryo, closing her eyes to regain her composure, sighed and spoke up.

"As you wish. We brought you before the village elders and heads to discuss, mainly, your arrival in Hinamizawa. It must be a fact to you already why so many of the villagers are frightened by you…"

"All for guns and a blindfold? No, it's something else, maybe that of which is only through fear. I can already say you've been digging through my old files and medical records, so I'm not surprised if you know a little about me already…"

Oryu's eyes grew wide. She looked to her daughter and some others, wondering how he even knew about them tracking info on him. They only shook their heads in wonder, just as confused as she was in how he knew. By this point, Oryu seemed to be a bit more fretful of Komoto, in which she began to choose her words more carefully.

"Well, it's only natural for a main family such as ours to indulge our curiosities. Besides, we have a responsibility to maintain protection and safety for the village, and judging by the few files we did find on your past, Hagara-san, I would be just as worried as any villager who knew of you. Honestly, do you really think that someone of your nature could hide the things you did…"

"Heh, and what about you Oryu? My eyes can see something similar in your own past. Demons know demons, I can say…"

Komoto, whether he did it intentionally or not, outright enraged Oryu by such a comment. She stood up, balling her fists in anger, and spoke down to Komoto like a child.

"How DARE YOU!"

"How dare I? You mean, like this?"

It hadn't taken minutes for this to be realized, but mere nano-seconds. In a fluid motion, Komoto had pulled both his Colt 1911 pistols from their holsters, and aimed them at Kasai and Oryu's eye level. Kasai gritted his teeth, holding his gun at Komoto's head without hesitation to protect those he served. The other family members and heads of the village rose from their seats and stood their ground. Likewise, Oryu stood her ground, acting as if it wasn't her first time being aimed at with a pistol.

"HAGARA-SAN! DROP THE WEAPONS OR…"

"Komoto-san!"

Komoto's mind paused as he heard Rika's shout. He turned around, and like the others, found her standing in the doorway. She looked at him fretfully, almost scared of him. He sighed, and looked back at the others. His facial features were darker, but more solemn this time in addressing them.

"Let me be clear with everyone here…." He put his guns back into their holsters, and took out an adrenaline-depressant syringe, injecting the solution into his neck without hesitation before the others "…I'm…not here to harm this…peaceful village. I'm just looking for some peace and quiet, but…I can't have it if I have days like today when you…receive bad news…that warrant a visitation to the past. I'm sorry if I…scare other people, but what I am is that I am. So deal with it. As for my weapons…"

Komoto walked over to the young, purple haired girl, and smiled down to her. He grabbed his coat with him and looked back to everyone else, still noticing Kasai having his shotgun aimed at him.

"…don't qualm about them. I've learned a long time ago that killing leads to evil, and evil leads to a loss of meaning in life. Trust me, if anything, I will never kill again…"

"Komoto-san, why did you act that way back there…"

"I just forgot to take my depressant syringe before I came. I got some bad news today, so I've been a bit agitated…"

Rika walked in stride with Komoto, as they made their way to Angel Morte' for dinner. Satoko and Hanyuu were hanging out back at home, watching movies on the cold winter day. They were both hungry, so Komoto decided to treat the young girl to some dinner.

Rika had previously explained to Komoto that she currently is the remaining member of her main family, so she had a small obligation to attend his interview. He nodded at her response, accepting for the most part that she may have inevitably prevented a battle royal in there.

"Oh, what kind of bad news?" She looked up to Komoto with earnest eyes, hoping that he would tell her outright. However, he shook his head, and sighed.

"I can't tell you, but I'm going to have to go away for a while. Depends on how things go to plan. So I'm not going to see you for some time. As such, think of this dinner at that fancy restaurant you kids go to as my treat till next time I see you."

Rika looked up at him, and was at least thankful for him telling her the truth. And from what happened back at the Sonozaki house, being away from Hinamizawa for awhile wasn't necessarily a bad thing, given the circumstances.

"We'll definitely miss you Komoto-senpai! You still have to submit to the penalty game and come to the club meetings you know. We're still eager to play our games with you." Rika smiled, but at hearing Komoto's next words did she wonder what he really was up to.

"…maybe this game won't be fun though…"

The two couples slumped heavily into their seats, sighing from all the tension previously built up at the Sonozaki estate. The ceiling lights glistened around them, just as the setting sun viewed over the horizon and over the trees of Hinamizawa began to set. Still in their formal wear, the couples sipped on their drinks, waiting for their previously ordered food to arrive.

Mion rested against Keiichi's shoulder, tired from her family's antics. She peered from time to time at Shion and Satoshi across the table, wondering if her sister had caught Komoto's mishap on their names.

"Well, if it isn't the sweet hearts of Hinamizawa. Fancy bumping into you, Shion…" Mion looked up to him, confused a bit.

"Sorry Komoto-san. But I'm Mion, remember? I know in a kimono I look a bit different…"

Komoto looked down to Mion, smiling awkwardly.

"Umm…yeah…right…Mion. Sure…" He grinned at her, as if knowing a dirty secret of hers.

Once Shion noticed Mion's distant stare at her and Satoshi, she picked up a bit of the paper from the straws, balled it up, and flicked it into her sister's forehead. Mion snapped out of her daze, and saw Shion smiling back, grinning.

"We're so lucky we got through that one. More so, we're fortunate to have found such men; taking up any risk like that just for us two poor, innocent, sweet girls." Shion hugged Satoshi, from which he blushed. Keiichi, on the other hand, had something else on him mind.

"Yeah, we definitely are. I was kind of worried your Grandmother was going to chase me with a sword. Guess I got a reprieve, huh Mion?" He looked to his girlfriend, from which she awkwardly grinned.

"Believe me; Grandmother's not really that bad. She's just tied strongly to our old traditions…heheheh…" She raised her hand to her head, scratching it a bit.

"But I'm curious, why was Hagara-san there? He wasn't going to get a real torture, was he?" Satoshi chuckled a bit from the joke, but looking at the others did he notice that they, too, had the same thing on mind.

"Kasai was carrying his gun with him. It's not like him to act like that. Besides, last I heard was that Hagara-san was being introduced to the elders of the village," stated Shion.

"Wait. My family was never introduced to the village elders upon arriving in Hinamizawa. Besides, I hardly believe that having a gun on Hagara-san was a "warm introduction". Mi-chan, what did your family want with Hagara-san?" asked Keiichi.

Just as Mion was about to answer, new customers arrived into Angel Morte' for dinner. The couples didn't notice the two sit down in a booth behind them, thinking they were some ordinary people. Mion continued conveying information to the others about Komoto's interview.

"They wanted to know why he came to Hinamizawa. Remember how he said he was a mercenary? Well, my family and the village elders were worried that he was like one of Takano's men. They just have the safety of the village to look after…"

"…and I don't blame them for that…"

"EH!!??"

Rika hopped up onto the booth cushion and overlooked her friends, smiling a bit. They were startled to have seen here, but even more afraid at noticing Komoto sitting with his back towards them, sipping on a milkshake. They realized they were literally talking behind his back, and now feared that he might pull his guns out, taking revenge on their pitiful souls.

"Umm…Hagara-san, we didn't mean to…um….why are you two even here by the way?" asked Shion, nervously grinning.

"It's not nice to talk like that Shi-chan. That's a no no…" smiled Rika. Her smiles somehow calmed the four down, assuming that if she wasn't mad, then Komoto would remain docile to them as well.

"Its ok, guys. I don't mind it, really…" Komoto sighed, drinking his milkshake slowly "…as for why we're here; I'm treating Rika-chan to some dinner to make up for my coming absence in Hinamizawa…." He replied.

"Oh really? I guess having odd jobs requires that sorta thing. So where are you heading?" asked Keiichi.

"…"

Komoto just finished his milkshake, and hailed down one of the risqué dressed Angel Morte' waitresses. He ordered another one, and waited for it to come, not replying to Keiichi's question. Rika took this gap of silence to make up something.

"Yes, you're right Keiichi. Komoto-sempai is actually heading out to Tokyo for a job soon. He's a mercenary after all, Nipah!"

"So how was Oryu's interrogation on you four?" Komoto smirked a bit at his comment, trying to lighten the mood. He turned around, sipping his milkshake, watching as they faces contorted into disgust at her name.

"G…grandmother's just tied to old traditions, that's all…" said Shion.

"If you call a trial of testing your feelings for one another with some strange torture device, then I consider your grandmother clearly insane…" he replied, smirking.

Everyone looked to Komoto with surprised eyes. He wasn't in the room when it happened, so how did he even know?

"H…how…did you even know that happened?" Mion looked at him, wide eyed. Her interest for his mysterious nature seemingly grew more as the moments passed.

"I'm a mercenary, and information is part of my job. I heard "things" from your family members around town about some event happening. So I'd assume that with you two couples heading for a "formal introduction" and with that room filled with torture devices that it had to be some kind of test. But geez, I was only kidding about it, and now that I've seen the looks on your faces, I must admit, your grandmother is clearly nuts…"

He turned back in his seat, sipping on his milkshake some more. Komoto mentally bashed himself for not keeping his mouth shut. His eye abilities allowed him see what happened prior to his arrival at the estate. They seemed satisfied with his answer, so he saved himself this time.

"So why were you there too Hagara-san?" they asked.

"Like you assumed before, your family and the elders were afraid, so they wanted to talk. But it ended on bad terms. My leave in Hinamizawa is probably for the better." He replied.

After their meal finished, and after some long conversations with Komoto and Rika, the two decided to leave and head back home. Mion, Keiichi, Shion, and Satoshi decided to leave after some dessert. Keiichi was going to stay over Mion's house for the night, whereas Shion and Satoshi had plans to head out to one of the "abandoned" Sonozaki-owned homes for privacy, seeing as their relationship was at that point. Their grandmother had already approved of their relations, so even if their parents or grandmother found out, the damage would not have been that bad in terms of their pureness or virginity remaining un-intact.

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Rika and Komoto walked up the seemingly endless hills towards some unknown destination. Rika had opted to head to what she called her "favorite spot" in all of Hinamizawa, which eluded Komoto's knowledge. They climbed the snow banks of the trails and after a while of hiking were able to appear in Hinamizawa's lookout point; unfortunately, it was also the coldest place too, due to the high altitude and the winds.

Rika held to her snow cap as the wind vainly tried to blow it off. She overlooked the nighttime Hinamizawa while near the rails, grasping its cold-like feel. Komoto stood behind, trying his best to stay warm. The lights of Hinamizawa illuminated the village, their evanescent glow shining the city with a subtle feeling of beauty.

"My favorite spot in all of Hinamizawa. I come here whenever I have free time to think. Do you have a similar place like this Komoto-sempai?" Rika smiled to him, from which he realized that it was just them up there. He decided to take his blindfold off, and see the city with his own eyes. Rika still couldn't get over how grey his eyes really were, not that it mattered.

"Compared to this, the only place I really have is the study room at my house. I suppose that all of us in some way have a special hiding place to go, just to think or hide…" he stated. Rika looked up to him, wondering why he seemed so pensive.

"Komoto-sempai…I was wondering…"

"Rika-chan…I remember from your memories that you came here many times to ponder your own fate of dying…am I correct?"

This sudden turn of conversation caught Rika off guard. She sulked her head low, dwelling on those poor times when hope was out of reach.

"…yes…that's correct…" she said, in a much wiser tone of voice.

"…I feel sometimes that fate has decided a similar purpose for me in life. I have some meaning here, even though I feel like I'm out of sorts with it all. What I'm getting at is that when I'm gone, I'm still here, and when I'm here, I'm not. You get what I'm saying Rika?" he asked, his face very serious to her. She looked at him, understanding his sentiments whole-heartedly.

"So you feel like you're playing in a game of fate then? Why, then, do you seem like you've given up hope?" she asked, her wiser, inner self keening her interest.

"…its not hope of winning or losing, but hope of knowing what lies ahead. My eyes let me see the past, but I want to know and live in a future of peace, not one where…"

Komoto's mind wandered to those days of bloodshed and dark skies; days where killing was almost natural as eating in order to survive. He felt like he still had the blood of the perished on his soul.

"Then lay your cards down, Komoto-sempai, and so shall I. We'll see what fate has for a hand, if you so say that this really is another game. I'm prepared…"

He looked down to her, curious as to how wise she had become through so many lives. He smiled, and looked back out to Hinamizawa, whispering something just audible enough for Rika to catch.

"I already have been…"

"And that was AWESOME!"

"Kei-kun, if you eat so much sugar, you're going to crash on energy for later tonight, if you catch my drift…"

"Mi-chan, don't worry, it doesn't even take much to please you, if you also catch my drift! Nyahh!"

*Mion punch!*

Keiichi cringed into his seat, after Mion delivered a punch to his head. Shion and Satoshi just laughed it off, finishing their cheesecake. Throughout the meal, Mion and Shion seemingly had a contest with each other which went unspoken, seeing who really was the better couple. However, the battle ensued into nothing but laughter for the two couples, as they finished their meals and were about to leave.

"Hey, check it out. It's a news bulletin," said one of the Angel Morte' waitresses.

The two couples turned their attention to a nearby t.v. set, and watched as the newscaster went on the air.

"…it seems that two more victims were found today in Tokyo; that of an elderly couple. The victims are yet another tally for the serial killer that has been rampant in Japan for the last three months, police say. The killer, unknown in name and origin, has a tallied score of 64 killings thus far. Citizens are warned to stay in groups and to remain in public locations, as most of these killings have occurred in alleyways and during nighttime. If anyone has any information, please contact your local police…"

"I don't get people sometimes…" Mion stated to the others.

"Yeah…" replied Satoshi.

"Another dark spector in a world of shadows…" Shion stated.

Keiichi looked at the screen, trying to make some sense of it all.

Author's note: eufinite: to answer your previous question, this takes place after all the events of Higurashi, except for the new season Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Rei. So yes, Takano and her men were already defeated, and this takes place in that same year during December. As for the dreams, I'm taking it all from a perspective that Mion, Shion, Satoshi, and Keiichi have remembered most of their main past lives, mainly the ones they were either protagonists or antagonists.

To everyone else, thank you for your positive reviews thus far. I enjoy reading more of them in the future.

As for the story, this chapter marks the turning point for everything. This enters into the first arc of the story, which I titled "Stained Souls Chapter."

So till next chapter, stay tuned.