Hinamizawa Hell

"Revealing Demons" Arc: 2

Ch. 3: Dark Skies

"Komoto-kun, you can't go! The funeral's tomorrow and…"

"I know love, but what can I do? Detective Oishi said she won't talk to anyone else but me. I know it'll be tight, but if I leave now I can make it in time for the burial tomorrow."

"…"

"You have to understand, Mizu-chan. I told you before what the Dark Spector said that just didn't settle with me. Now's my chance to talk to her since she's had some heavy rehab from the syndrome done…"

"Just be careful. You know that if you let your guard down that…"

"…I know. But this time I'm sure nothing is going to happen. She's under lockdown 24/7 in the mental facility, chained to a bed with restraints. She's not moving. Besides…her hands and legs aren't too good since that day, we made sure of that."

"You get hurt, and I'll beat you up. You hear me?"

"Heh…yeah, I do…"

Komoto Hagara sat in the air conditioned car as he made his way north with Detective Oishi, looking outside the window at the now encroaching dark skies of Okinomiya. Everyone was inside as the thunder began to sound miles away, chilling people to the core for fear of their very lives. He shook it off, rather liking the idea of thunder and lightening on a day like today.

"Komoto-san, you ok back there?" asked Detective Oishi. Oishi seemed edgy, ever since giving up his smoking habit now that he was nearing his retirement with the force. Instead, he chewed on gum all the while, trying his best to get through the worst of the withdrawal stages.

"I'm fine. It's just the nerve of having to see that person again. I'm still confused as to what she wants to say to me, seeing as Mizu-chan and I were the ones who nearly dismembered her…" he replied, in an emotionless manner.

"Yeah, I'd feel the same way. But I need you to help finish this case up before my retirement. I've tried to get her to talk to me and the other officials, but she wouldn't open up until just recently. Dr. Irie says that she's returned to level 1 of the syndrome state, but that doesn't mean she's any less dangerous. We'll have to play it by ear I guess…"

Komoto continued his patience by thinking of other things all the meanwhile. The last few days were hectic for everyone, given that Oryu had finally succumbed to her disease. He remembered seeing most of the villagers downtrodden over losing a figurehead in the village, however; Komoto didn't feel that much for the old woman. He respected her, that much was true, but otherwise he hadn't known her well enough to shed tears for. However, one person he did feel sorry for was Mion Sonozaki, now referred to as Mion-sama by most villagers.

*Even for someone of her ability and maturity, her teenage years should be spent with her friends, not shady family members. At least she has a childhood…whereas I…*

Though it felt like minutes to Komoto, in his daze 2 hours had passed as he thought over that which weighed on his mind. The car stopped abruptly, shifting Komoto out of his state of mind. He readjusted himself quickly, making sure he had his weapons and papers on him. After stepping out of the car and onto the warm pavement, Komoto surveyed his area. In time, after his mind had stopped thinking of possible routes and plans/tactics in the event something happened, then did he begin to take it in.

The mental facility was encircled by steel fences with four watch guard towers, each holding machine guns. It was again encircled by an outer wall, made of brick stone with barb wire at the top. The facility itself, once past the gates and wall, took on a western design similar to a prison, but with an outside area for recreation. High rise columns marked the entrance, with a guarded door maintained by two officers at all times. Very few windows were seen, giving it an eerie look from one's perspective. As he went up to the guards, Komoto hesitated as one presented an opened palm to him.

"Sir, there are to be no firearms in this facility at any time. There could be a chance that a patient may attempt to take your weapon and use it against us here. Please, if you will…" asked the guard, in a polite yet respectable tone.

"…Detective Oishi…" Komoto sighed. He looked sideways to him, hoping that he didn't have to worry about the weapons.

"Sorry Komoto-san, but I'm gonna have to say do as told. I've seen what some of these people can do, so…"

"If you have a safe area, then I'll put them there under lock and key. I'm keeping my extendable baton, got it?" he asked, pointing to his less lethal force alternative at his waist.

"We can allow that, but not the guns. I'll show you to the safe."

An hour later, Komoto had made sure his guns were secure and now proceeded to look around the facility, taking in the exits and patients. Most of those who walked around freely were either feebleminded or harmless, however; just as his opinion was beginning to mark the facility as a weak detention center, he entered a heavily guarded area. One door at the end, again guarded by 2 more guards, had a heavy lock system. Above the door was, in gold print, was "Level 2".

"Level 2? Just how many levels are there till we see her?" asked Komoto.

"Four, to be exact. The level you are in now is for our harmless kinds of patients. Level 2 is for disturbed, schizophrenic types. Level 2-B is the treatment center, and Level 3 is for medium to high security lockdown. Those patients are held either by restraints, full cell lockdown or sensory deprivation rooms…" replied the head of security, now walking with them through Level 2. Just as said, there were the crazy, nonsense-like patients in day rooms.

"And what of Level 4?" asked Komoto.

"Only one patient is there. High security, 24/7 lockdown. Full restraints, full sensory deprivation, and where the only rights the patient has are to breathe, eat, and talk."

"Let me guess…" Komoto stopped in front of a heavily armed door, realizing that this part of the facility had no windows whatsoever. He made sure he had his extendable baton in reach, as the guards saluted and allowed the security head to pass through with them. He turned around as they began to unlock the armed door.

"Gentlemen, welcome to Level 4: High Risk patient 01: Dark Spector aka Kima Suzumi. You are here to interrogate and/or discuss with her whatever you need to. She will not be allowed any rights to move or even see you. Just talk. If at any point I feel the need to step in and control the situation, I will do so by forceful means. Is that understood?" he asked, now in a serious tone.

"Yes. Let's get this over with now…"

The heavy door unlocked, and four main steel poles retracted into the wall. Only Komoto and Oishi were allowed to go in, as the guards would monitor from a safety room. They stepped through the door, walking into a wide and expansive room. As the lights turned on, Komoto realized there was an oddly shaped form in the middle of the room. Though the light wasn't turned on yet, he could see as clear as daylight who it was. On a metal bed, revealed by the shining overhead lights now, lied the Dark Spector, fully restrained head to toe with chains and leather bounds.

Komoto watched as the Dark Spector slowly breathed in and out, as if she were counting her breathes to keep occupied. Her figure was the same as before, except that she seemed frail in the arms and legs, probably due to the gun shot wounds months before. Her red hair hung low over the table, almost to the floor. He began to wonder just what kind of care she was under all this time. For the second time that day, Komoto was taken out of his thoughts on the situation.

"Let me guess…is that you, Hagara-san?" Unlike before, the Dark Spector didn't sound sickly sweet or sadistic, but much rather, just annoyed.

"I see you have the full treatment here. Nice…" Komoto was a bit sarcastic in his voice, but none the less the message was clear: he didn't want to be here or even see this person ever again. The Dark Spector, however, didn't smile or anything. She continued to lie motionless, as if thinking.

"I'm guessing Oishi is there? Tell the old man to go away. If he's here, I'm not talking…"

Komoto turned to Oishi, making sure that it was ok for his departure. Oishi sighed, telling him mentally to ask the questions he reviewed with him in the car before. After that, he turned around and left through the door again. Once done, Komoto moved forward and took a chair to sit in.

"Now that we're alone, what did you call me for here today? I have a funeral to go to, so if you're here to find me as sport, then I'll leave and make sure that you won't feel the presence of another soul for many days to come…"

For the first time, Komoto saw the Dark Spector begin to become instantly nervous. The way she slightly moved in her bed, how he saw beads of sweat begin to form on her cheeks, and how her breathing began to strain ever so slightly were signs of her being scared. Whatever the people here were depriving her off, even human contact was a good enough punishment.

"I'm sorry. Please, I just wanted to talk…" she said, sincere in her voice for once.

"…what did you want to talk about?" he asked, becoming a little more annoyed but even more sympathetic for her.

"…I'm sorry for all that I've done. I don't know what was happening to me…but at the same time I did…I killed all those people without wanting to, and the voices…."

Komoto picked up on this part of the conversation, listening intently to how sincere she seemed now. The Hinamizawa Syndrome really was a curse; that much was certain to him.

"…the voices told me I would be rewarded…they said I would reign in all the chaos of this world if I succeeded…but now that's all a fable to me..." She said, trying to hold back whatever emotion she felt.

"I'm not here to judge you…I dealt my blow to you and this is where you are. You can't undo the past. I know you're feeling this way because…"

"Because they will execute me soon. I'm not sure when, but even you won't be told about it. The government will kill me for my crimes and leave not even a single fiber of my body on this earth…"

Komoto knew the truth in her words. That was the game with the government these days. Black Op-styled execution of the highest of criminals, and the public wouldn't even know a single thing. It had underlying purposes, even to make the public remember of what the government did for them, but it was all bullshit in the end to Komoto. He didn't want to deal in anything like that. He was done with that part of his life.

"Life's not fair…too bad you can't turn back the past…" he said.

"That's funny…because soon you will want to, Hagara-san…" she spoke, breaking the serenity of it all.

"…What? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked, becoming unnerved a bit.

"I may not be able to see the skies, but right now they're black, aren't they?" she asked, with confidence in her voice.

"Yes, a storm is approaching. So what?" he said, a crack in his voice a bit.

"That's not just a storm. It's a warning. You should know better…"

"I'm not sure about that….I've seen plenty of storms, so what makes this one any different?" he asked. The Dark Spector smiled a little, almost laughing on the inside at a harmless joke.

"...we're all just pieces of a chess board in this game. Folly for some higher being with a disgusting sense of humor compared to my old ways. I'm sure something is coming on the horizon soon, Hagara-san…you better watch out. I can already feel its presence in Hinamizawa…a demon born ages ago…" she said. She trembled in her speech, stuttering here and mumbling there incoherent sentences. Komoto just watched, unable to say anything in response. She was right about something; he had the same feeling of something on the horizon. He couldn't piece it together yet, but something was still wrong in Hinamizawa.

"Then…I'll find a way to fix it all. It's always been a goal of mine to restore the balance somehow, so why not now…" Komoto got up from his seat and attempted to make his way out. He knew just as well as the Dark Spector that this conversation was over.

"Good luck with that. I'm hoping you can…Hagara-san?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"If you can, send Detective Oishi in here. I'll answer anything he wants me to…it's the least I can do to explain my crimes…"

He didn't look back to her, but just felt some odd sense of sympathy for her misfortune. It wasn't her fault in a way, but at the same time it was. It only enraged him even more over the whole syndrome and its effects. At the same time, he hated Oyashiro-sama for bringing out Hinamizawa's constant cycles of misfortune.

Everyone stood in the pouring rain that day, as the sky and the cicadas of the woods mourned the loss of Oryu Sonozaki. Everything around took on a dark-casted color, shading the people and the surrounding terrain with an extensive shadow. People stood all around holding dark umbrellas, shielding themselves from the heavy rain. The clouds darkened as the day went on, throughout the procession through the village to Oryu's final resting place next to her husband. As the crowds gathered around, Mion Sonozaki, head of the Sonozaki family, along with her sister and mother, led the procession and the mass of villagers, family, friends, and those who respected the deceased figure. Coming upon the family plot in the northern part of Hinamizawa, the procession stood all around the grave site behind the main family. Rika and Hanyuu, dressed in proper shrine-maiden attire, stood at the front and recited prayers while a head priest gave Oryu's final rites.

After this was completed, Mion stood up at the front, addressing the rest of the villagers. As nervous as she felt in speaking to everyone else, now that she was the head of the family, her strength and resolve were fueled with the support of her family and friends, especially the one she loved: Keiichi Maebara. He sat at the front, watching as she methodically chose her words. Rena and the others sat nearby, their heads faltering down from bearing the sadness of the funeral. After taking one last breath, Mion opened her eyes and addressed everyone for the first time as Sonozaki head.

"Thank you all for coming today. I wish it was under better circumstances, but this village isn't granted with such opportunities as of late. For the first time to everyone, led me introduce myself. I am Mion Sonozaki, head of the Sonozaki family and leader of one of the three great families in Hinamizawa. Today, I come on behalf of my late grandmother, who now rests in peace eternally. For those of you who bear good memories of her, you are fortunate. My grandmother, Oryu Sonozaki, dedicated her life to this village and its people. She always told us growing up that if one threw a stone at us, three of us should throw back. When one of us fell, more will be behind to pick us up and fight on. We are a strong community, even now in this sad time of mourning. But…today, my grandmother wouldn't want us to mourn her life. She would want us all to remember happier times and bitter sweet memories. So today, I say this to all who can hear. My grandmother was a hard woman, strong in that, but she was kind and she was caring in this community. Though she is gone, she will live on in our hearts and minds and, most importantly, through all that she taught us. We will miss her dearly, but we will become stronger from her passing. With that said, I will now fulfill my role to this family and to those in Hinamizawa, and I will fulfill my promise to my grandmother before she passed by protecting those who live in this wonderful village. Now, finally, my grandmother may rest in peace knowing that. Thank you all for coming today and please proceed to the gathering at the main village house for the time being after paying your last respects. Thank you…"

Mion's speech was heard all around and not one ear was left without its words. She had fulfilled their expectations to the highest, immortalizing her name as Oryu's heir to the family. Mion Sonozaki, the youngest heir in the family and now head of the family itself, became a new leader in Hinamizawa. No longer was she just a child, but a figure head to be feared and respected now.

Shion, watching from Mion's left, bit her lower lip and managed to maintain her inner turmoil. She knew what was going on was a mistake somehow.

*Sister…I'm sorry for so long ago. If we didn't switch that day, then…you wouldn't have to bear this responsibility. I should be the one in your place, but…if that were true then I couldn't have ever been with Satoshi-kun…* she thought.

In the crowd, Keiichi had discovered a newfound perspective of Mion, but at the same time saw just how much this new responsibility of hers would affect them later on. Mion was always strong as a leader, but now that she was a leader of the village she had a whole new world of business to attend to. At the same time, Keiichi realized just how much his relationship with her would change soon. He remembered Komoto's words, and took it all to heart. He mentally promised himself he wouldn't make a mistake ever again, and this time, would be there for Mion to support.

Mion sat down and watched as everyone came up to pay their final respects. As the line moved by and everyone touched the casket holding Oryu's body, Keiichi had finally came up. He gave his last respects to the woman, turned to face Mion, and, for the first time that day, gave her a small smile of confidence. Though no words were spoken, Mion looked at him in bewilderment, unable to understand how he could be just as happy as any other day during this sad procession. She blushed and acknowledged his looks, hoping to see and talk with him later on in private.

Behind Keiichi, Rena and the others came up and paid respects with the other children of Hinamizawa. Once done, they rejoined Keiichi and went to the designated meeting house for the funeral after-procession. Mion watched this while her family members shook hands with others leaving.

It was the first time she realized how much things may change now. Keiichi, Rena, Satoko, Shion, Satoshi, Rika, and Hanyuu would all go on to lead normal, everyday lives. Whereas for herself, Mion would be less unfortunate now. A large part of her teenage years would be gone now, a price to pay for the happiness she had before.

*I have to do this…but what I know is that I can manage all this somehow. As long as Keiichi is at my side…at my side…at my side…*

Mion watched as Rena patted Keiichi on his shoulder, trying to liven up the kids again. Mion didn't notice her fists balling up, as she mindlessly kept repeating those three words in her head. She didn't know it at first, but Mion was soon becoming worried about something. Her rationality couldn't put the pieces together yet…

In the distance, under a tree stood Mizuho Otome, watching the procession end and move to the meeting house. Keiichi and the others waited for Mion and her family to walk with them, however odd it seemed. She noticed Keiichi and Mion were not close together while they walked, separated from the others to preserve the family image. She sighed, waiting for the rain to lighten up. However, as she watched the last of the funeral-goers leave, Komoto appeared beside her. Mizuho nearly had a heart attack, not sensing him standing next to her at first.

"Ahh! Wait, when did you return Komoto-kun?" she asked, holding her chest and gasping for air.

"Hmm? Sorry…I just got here. It's been a real daze for me these past two days…" From Mizuho's perspective, Komoto had dark bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept well. He seemed really tired, as if he had something heavy on his mind.

"Hey…" she said, putting the umbrella over his head. He was soaked to the bone from a lack of shielding from the rain. "…let's just go home. You seem like you need it," Mizuho smiled to him, hoping to lighten his mood. However, he just mumbled to her some words which seemed indifferent to her, something she couldn't fully understand until later.

"It's…not over yet…"