Hinamizawa Hell
Arc 1: "Stained Souls Chapter"
Ch. 14: Reunion of Unstained Souls: Part 1
They ran for what seemed like hours, heading in some unknown direction away from the village of Hinamizawa. The brown cloaked figure rushed just as fast as the Dark Spector, passing through the snow like it was never there. With her rifle, she strengthened her resolve, deciding it best that when her enemy was cornered to be the only time to let loose her own form of hell.
The Dark Spector never showed any weakness, still able to soar through the woods and paths away from her enemies towards a destination known too well to her. It practically made the village famous years ago, and many many years ago gave birth to what was the legend of Hinamizawa: the village of demons.
"Heh…the Dam. Just what I need for the last sacrifices…" thought the Dark Spector.
The military was already hot on the paths of the two figures, aiming the search light on them now and again. The helicopter pilot tried his best to maintain a visual, but the two figures were quick in avoiding any inch of sight. The other soldiers below trailed in cars, some even getting stuck in snow banks from poor traction.
In a car elsewhere, after bandaging up the doctor's broken leg with a temporary splint and mending Keiichi and Mion's wounds, Dr. Irie drove Keiichi, Mion and the others through a short cut, towards a destination known only to Dr. Irie at the moment. He managed to drive them for the time being, but the pain was steadily increasing. Along the way, he decided to reveal what he knew on the situation.
"Dr. Irie, we've been patient and waited long enough. You need to tell us what is going on." Mion was serious, demanding an answer. She looked at Dr. Irie with a strict face, tired of all the mind games that were being played at the moment.
With a large sigh, Dr. Irie finally decided to reveal the truth. He popped a couple of pills first, at least, to help with the pain in his leg.
"Everyone, I'm sorry for deceiving you for this long, but I made a promise to Komoto-san. If I broke it, he said he'd torture me by dressing me in one of my many maid outfits I have planned for Rika-chan and Satoko-chan to wear someday." He mewed a bit over the idea of them being dressed in the cute outfits, but Keiichi slapped him on the head a bit, wanting the answer.
"Err…anyway; all that's been happening has been part of a complex plan on Komoto-san's part. A while ago, Komoto-san had believed that Mizuho Otome-san had succumbed to Hinamizawa Syndrome and suddenly started killing people out of fear. However, he wasn't quite sure entirely. He set a trap for the Dark Spector, hoping to lure her to Hinamizawa. However, he had other underlying intentions…" Dr. Irie stopped to regain his thoughts a bit, knowing the medicine would take effect soon.
"I had already come to that conclusion not too long ago. If what you're saying is true, then my hypothesis is correct somewhat. Please, Dr. Irie, continue…" spoke Rika. She sat in the back, in her wise nature and with closed eyes, pondering the current situation's endgame.
"Komoto-san wanted to lure Otome-san back to Hinamizawa. He knew she was undergoing the syndrome, having been told by his former partners that she went Section 8. With hope that he was still alive, he…"
"Faked his own death!"
All eyes fell on Rika, who smirked none the less from revealing the answer. However, she looked at Dr. Irie with one eye open, still having a few ideas to be answered to.
"But Dr. Irie, who else besides you was involved? Was Akasaka-san involved too?" she asked.
"That's correct. All along, Komoto-san, I, Akasaka-san, and now Tomitake-san, Takano-san, and Detective Oishi were in on all the events. We planned to make it seem like the Dark Spector was killing in Hinamizawa in order to first lure the her into coming here, then the military to close off Hinamizawa..." again, Dr. Irie tried to take a moment to regain his breathe. They were almost near their destination, so Dr. Irie tried his best to sum up the rest to them. "…but up to now, we always believed it was Otome-san who was behind the killings. We didn't actually count on another suspect…"
"…so all along the key piece to the diary was actually a major mistake. So now, we're dealing with two possibly mental suspects. What is the next course of action, given that this is all following the plan?"
"Also Dr. Irie, why did Komoto-san go to such lengths? Why was it him that had to fake his own death?" asked Satoko.
"Well…that and the rest you can find out from Komoto-san. This is all about to end…right now."
As if on cue, a large group of people, ranging from villagers to the Sonozaki's armed family members, even the military and police, came right after the arrival of Dr. Irie and the gang on site to the abandoned Dam projects. Before all those who gathered stood Tomitake-san and Takano-san, both sporting some firearms for the time being.
Rika rushed out to get a better view of everything. Tomitake and Takano smiled down to her and the others, while what seemed to be a team of private mercenaries surround the perimeter to make sure no one got out.
"It's been a while, Rika-chan," spoke Takano. She smiled kindly down to her, but Rika still harbored some bad feelings towards her. For the time being didn't care; she was more concerned with the sight before her now.
They were at the abandoned Dam projects, watching the two figures become surrounded by a mass of people. They began fighting in the darkness; harboring a blood thirst like none ever felt or known before. They screamed and charged at one another, wanting to end the other's life. Though some rounds were finally let loose by the brown cloaked figure's rifle, it only tempted the Dark Spector to fight on even harder.
A ways away stood everyone else, along with Tomitake's armed guard, making sure no enemy left the perimeter. The villagers saw whom they believed to be the Dark Spector and attempted to go into the fray to exact their revenge, but the nearby police held them back, as instructed by Detective Oishi. The military, now reaching the scene, spoke with Tomitake, as he was clad in his full military uniform, and ordered for him to move. However, the ranking military official was handed what seemed like important documents, and from which halted his forces. As instructed, they joined the other mercenaries to hold the perimeter, making it stronger than before.
In the darkness of the night, everyone looked on; some yelling in anger for revenge against the Dark Spector and others watching in awe from what appeared before them.
Rika and the others, however, remained strong and hopeful. They looked on, noticing something new and amazing about to occur. It was in the heat of battle that everything began to become visualized: truths and lies.
"Komoto-senpai…" murmured Rika.
As the two opponents fought a seemingly endless battle into the night, lights from all directions ignited and gave birth to blinding illumination; so strong it was almost too much to bear for one's eyes. Everyone below, including the Dark Spector and the brown cloaked figure, shielded their eyes as the rays of light pierced the night darkness, making it almost seem like day.
From a perspective below, Rika, Satoko, Mion and the others could make out three figures. The first two were manning the largest of the lanterns that illuminated the surrounding area. Satoko, after squinting to get a better look, cried out in happiness and joy, seeing someone whom she thought she had lost again.
"Nii-nii? NII-NII!" she cried, smiling uncontrollably.
Mion and Keiichi both saw him, glad to know he was fine. He nodded down to them in response, ensuring that he was safe and sound. To his left on another high platform, another figure stood manning the second lantern. Mion instantly recognized her as her missing sister, Shion. She smiled, waving to them in response. From what Keiichi could see, Mion began to cry at seeing her long lost sister. He instantly realized that all this time Mion must have acted so coldly because loosing her sister would have meant losing a part of herself. They were so close, and if one of them were to leave the other behind it would be an imbalance in the remaining sister's life. He smiled and watched the rest of the event before them, waiting for the end to finally come.
"Ugh! So much light! Damnit! Who dares…" beckoned the Dark Spector. She took more pain from the light than the others, almost fearing all that was around her. She fell to one knee, looking up at the third and final figure, who idly sat against the Dam wall on a scaffold looking down to those below. After feeling the time was right he stood up; brushing himself off idly and smiling all the way.
To everyone's amazement, the third figure made his way down a temporary set of stairs; taking his time to reach the ground. He wore a hat and a blindfold over his eyes, concealing his facial features for the time being, but deep down Rika and the others already knew who it was from this impression. At his side were two modified Colt .45 pistols, as well as a couple sets of magazines around his belt. A military knife suited to warfare was tightly fastened to his leg, adding to his assortment of weapons. He wore black BDU pants, black leather boots, and a thick, black long sleeve shirt with a Kevlar vest strapped snugly to his chest.
Once down, he stepped to the middle of the now halted battle, observing the two cloaked figures. As if on cue, he took off his hat, but let the blindfold remain on his eyes. Everyone except those involved stood in wonder and fear, as if seeing a dead person in ghost form. Some even faltered back, thinking Oyashiro-sama had sent a messenger of death to those around. Some even cried that it was the Dam's ghost, who had, years before, spirited away a boy and his father. In response, he smiled at everyone before him, grinning as if about to enter battle.
"J…Just who are you?" ordered the Dark Spector. She raised her blades as if in fear, but Komoto didn't look at her. He stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity, staring at the brown cloaked figure. He didn't dare look into the figure's eyes; hoping to prevent some event from unfolding in his mind. Rika guessed it was because seeing such eyes would cause memories to unfold; ones that should be explained rather than felt.
The brown cloaked figure stepped back at bit, at a complete loss for words upon seeing the figure now known to be Komoto Hagara, back from the grave.
"H…how…what…but…" she was at a complete loss of words.
In response, Komoto smiled a bit, brushing his hair with one hand.
"Heh…nice rifle you got there. You compensating for something or do you just like big weapons?" he smirked. The girls of Rika's gang could clearly see him blushing a bit, as if seeing a love from his past. The brown cloaked figure stepped back even more, understanding that he was recounting a distant memory of hers from the first time she came into a private mercenary group. She gritted her teeth in embarrassment, raising her rifle between him and the Dark Spector.
At this response, Komoto's smile turned almost sour. He narrowed his eyes, thinking that the one he was mainly focused on was succumbing to Hinamizawa Syndrome. He sighed, and in order to ease any paranoia began to focus on the Dark Spector.
However, just as he was about to turn to the spector, in quick succession and in a surprise attack the opponent charged at him with blades at the ready, aiming to cut Komoto to pieces. He took little notice of his enemy, not even caring to meet eyes with her. The Dark Spector realized this, taking insult.
"Why you…take notice of who I am, the Dark Spector!!!" she jumped midair, aiming to cut Komoto and the brown cloaked figure into nothing but a pile of flesh. She smiled evilly, ready to strike.
"Watch out!" others called from the crowd. However, all Komoto did was pull something from his pocket, and looked at the brown cloaked figure.
"We'll finish this soon. Stay where you are and let me deal with this…" He quickly injected what seemed like an adrenaline syringe of some sort into his neck.
Rika saw his body's muscles suddenly contract, almost strengthening his body to a new level. His veins popped out over his muscles, and he gritted his teeth even harder from the injection. Just as the Dark Spector was about to connect with her blades, she spouted one last remark while midair.
"I've got you now, my little sacr…"
It wasn't pure reflex but natural skill that Komoto took the counter-offensive. He quickly pulled out his knife and countered the Dark Spector's first blade, using some technique which allowed him to cut and disarm the first knife. However, the Dark Spector wasn't weak or stupid at this counter. Using her other blade, she switched it to a slicing maneuver and began to aim for his throat, hoping to hit a major artery.
As she did this, if it could be seen in slow motion, Komoto, using his boots, applied an upward kicking motion to the Dark Spector's skull; sending her a ways away into a snow bank. It didn't have as much force as one of Akasaka's punches, but it was more than enough to separate Komoto from a deadly counter-assault. He threw the knife into the ground near him, and from this began to walk forward towards his opponent.
The Dark Spector, for once in her life, was hit square on in the head like it was child's play. The force of the impact distorted her view of the battleground, watching as Komoto merely walked towards her without worry. Her line of sight remained confused and wobbly for a few moments before regaining its original functions.
"Why…you little bastard!"
"Tell me…just what is it that you're trying to accomplish here?" he asked casually. Everyone else heard this conversation, keenly listening in to any answer given.
"Heh…and why should I tell you that?" spat the Dark Spector. Some of her cloak was torn upon impact, showing some black legged clothing and tactical shoes for covert intrusion.
"It'll determine…whether I find you worthy of barely living or being completely annililated…that's all…" he smiled, almost as evilly as she could smile herself. Her eyes went wide with some panic behind the mask, but she did not falter in her attacks.
"I won't bow…to the likes of you…an Ingrate at best!" she got up and pulled another set of knives from her cloak, throwing them with grace at her opponent. She knew her throwing techniques were deadlier than hand to hand combat, but in a way she was running out of tricks to use.
Komoto revealed his Colts from his holsters, beginning to shoot the handles whilst in midair. The bullets and the mass of the handles impacted with one another, falling midway to the ground.
"You know, given how heavy these knives are, I'm sure you have very few left. How's this then: I'll let you retrieve them as long as you tell me what your goals are?" He sounded completely serious to the Dark Spector, who stopped in her tracks to consider the offer. She smirked, knowing that she could fight much better as long as she knew how Komoto was going to counter-attack.
"What? That's foolish Komoto-san! Don't do it!" yelled Keiichi. Everyone behind him did the same, cheering for him to refrain from letting the Dark Spector retrieve any weapon of sorts. They yelled at him, hoping to persuade him to just shoot her and be done with it. He took no heed to their calls, waiting for the Dark Spector's answer.
She began to cautiously move to her weapons which lied stuck in the snow. She bent down, not taking her eyes off of Komoto.
"Fine…then…I'll tell you. Did you know that this village was once called the "Village of Demons"?" she responded, giving in to the deal.
"So I've heard. So what?" he asked.
"What if I told you that this village was keen to sacrificial offerings to those demons? To keep the demons at bay, the village would offer up an individual to become fodder for the demons to eat." She responded, picking up another knife and walking to the next.
"Get to the point!" Komoto began to sound a bit irritated, only adding to the Dark Spector's strengthening confidence.
In the crowd, Keiichi turned to Mion, looking for a confirmation.
"Mi-chan, is she right? Did this village have that bad a past?"
"I'm not sure Kei-kun. Its true that this village's past is shady, but I don't think…"
"She's right…" Oryu stood behind Mion and the others, coming into the conversation. Keiichi jumped back a bit, surprised to see her suddenly appear like that. "…in ancient times, this village had committed such acts in fear, but like some dying traditions so did the sacrificial offerings after the village underwent a cleansing…" she stated.
"Heh..that old woman over there knows this village's history quite well…however, I'm quite sure that everyone around doesn't know the dirtiest secret of them all." The Dark Spector cackled after picking up another knife and putting it in her cloak, now walking to the final one which lied dangerously close to Komoto. He didn't budge, wanting to hear the final answer. Rika looked on in worry and at the same time confidence, all the while Hanyuu remained emotionless at hearing the tale of the village she once forgot so long ago.
"And?" he asked, sounding more irritated.
"Heheh…so as I was saying, this village's dirtiest secret of them all: the demons were quite real. This village fought the demons long ago, sealing them into a gateway using magic so ancient that only Witches can decipher. As for my goal: I want to unleash the demons back into this world and recreate a new hell in my image," she cackled.
"Why? Or should I guess…"
"The Hinamizawa Syndrome? Oh, how right you are. But those wonderful demons can't just be talking to me whilst I sleep every night and whilst I'm awake during the day? ALL THEY TELL ME IS TO KILL AND KILL!!!HAHAHAHAHAH!"
To everyone's amazement, the Dark Spector began to seemingly go into overdrive. She grabbed her head and began to clutch it as if in pain. She ripped her mask from her face; tearing the cloth attached to it. It was as if she tried to find air to breathe. She knelt down into the ground, revealing her identity to everyone. However, no one seemed to know her; all except Keiichi and Rena.
"Kima…Suzumi? The red haired lady from the gathering at the town square?" stated Keiichi. His eyes went wide at this event, surprised to even see her there dressed so evilly.
"So this is the woman Kei-kun? Geez, the woman just love you…don't they?" she asked. Keiichi looked to Mion with a confused look, trying to hear whatever she muttered. She looked on into the battleground, as if not having said anything. He shrugged and looked on, deciding it was nothing. Mion's face, however, looked somewhat down cast; however, it wasn't the time for such feelings.
"Six-hundred…and sixty six..hah…that's all I need for souls to open the gateway…All I need…is to take you and the brown cloaked one…then I'll have done it in time…hah…"
The Dark Spector began to scratch her neck a bit, sweating in panic. Her eyes were completely wide, showing little human likeness to any normal optical vision. They were crimson red, like blood, thirsty for the final kill.
"Hinamizawa Syndrome…Oyashiro-sama…damn you…" murmured Komoto. Rena seemed to be the only one to pick up on what he said, for the second time knowing his disliking of the village deity.
"…I'm not gonna let you finish your goal. Nor can I let you kill again. This ends here Dark Spector…" He raised his pistols in unison, ready to deliver the final blow.
At this, the Dark Spector put all she had into her final attack. She lunged quickly into Komoto, who was even taken off guard by such speed. She grabbed his legs and threw him to the ground, quickly jumping again onto him and aiming to stab him with a single knife.
"Time to die, number six six fiv…"