Hinamizawa Hell

"Revealing Demons" Arc: 2

Ch. 7: Fallen Angel

Author's Note: Hey guys, back with another chapter. It's really going to get into more craziness and madness from here on in, if I haven't done enough of it before. The first arc was meant to introduce the game, as well provide some clues leading into this arc and the next. I hope this arc is to your liking, given this is portraying a "what if" scenario had a certain somebody went insane in the series.

As always, leave comments and critiques. I haven't gotten a lot lately, so it somewhat dampers motivation. Much appreciated.

Also, I will be undergoing surgery soon, so updates for at least a week won't be possible unless I have no other choice but to pass my time with writing, so stay tuned.

"Huh? Where am I? Wait…this…can't…"

"Ah, don't you just love how a finely sharpened knife glistens in the light? The funny thing about knives is that their so useful for cutting and so easy to maintain. All you have to do is sharpen sharpen sharpen!"

Mion, clad in her ceremonial white kimono, hastily worked away at a nearby table, sharpening a knife with a special tool all the while laughing in tune. Metal filings fell to the floor, as Mion made sure that the blade was perfect for its next use. With her back facing Rena, she raised various knives in the air, inspecting them under the light from nearby lanterns. If any imperfection was found, she made sure to fix it with precision. Other than that, Mion's position in the light made her seem all the more terrifying, not even acknowledging her friend's plea's for mercy. Her shadows casted a figure against the plains of the walls and rock, displaying something that didn't look like Mion at all, but some insane creature ready to kill.

From Rena's perspective, the entire room was upside down. Nothing around her seemed right, though that was probably attributed to the pain in her head. It felt as if all the blood rushed to that area, causing her to slowly become incoherent. From this, she could easily determine that she was hung upside down by her legs, the tight rope cutting off circulation to her now numb feet. What was most terrifying to Rena this time was the fact that, as weird as this was, she knew it was a dream. She knew this was a repeat of the previous night, where she was put in the same situation. This time, though, she tried in vain to stop it, to wake up from this hellish nightmare. To no avail, though, Mion didn't heed her friend's cries.

"Ah, I see you're awake finally? Good! You're just in time for your punishment game, Rena-chan!" Mion turned to Rena, now walking towards her with a nicely sharpened knife. Her eyes were demonic like, their once shining green tint now replaced with a dull, hateful and vengeful gaze.

"P…P.P…Punishment game?! Mi-chan, this isn't a game! Stop it right now!"

"Nope, no can do Rena-chan! We lost today, remember? So now we need to play! A HA HA HA HA!" Mion's maniacal cackle sent Rena into overdrive. She struggled in a futile effort to escape her restraints, but failed all the same. Mion knelt down, watching Rena intently as she did this. It was almost like watching a worm squiggle out of a puddle of water, only to die from drowning. Mion laughed all the while at this comparison, now beginning to spin Rena round and round until she was sure Rena would get sick.

"Mi-chan, why are you doing…this…to meeeeeeee!" she cried out, as Mion began to spin her around. The room swirled in her vision, causing Rena to almost vomit on the floor. Thankfully, in a small measure of resilience, she didn't. Her words, though, caused Mion's sick and happily twisted mood to sour, her eyes becoming less emotionless and more hateful in a way that was terrifying to Rena. She cringed back a little, sweating a bit at seeing her friend in such a state.

"Why? WHY? You still haven't learned, have you? All you want is Kei-kun for yourself! You're just like the rest of them, but soon they'll meet your same fate!" she spat at Rena, disgusted somewhat with her stupidity and naiveness. Mion abruptly stopped spinning Rena around and caught her mid-length hair, ripping her head up to face Mion's own.

"Mi..Mi-chan…"

"You want Kei-chan for yourself, don't you? Too bad, because once I kill you and dispose of your body in the well, I won't have to worry you and, soon, the others anymore. It will be just me and Kei-kun forever!"

"…you stupid bitch!"

Mion's eyes went wide, looking at the stern expression in her former friend's eyes. Those very same eyes now held a fire of resistance unlike other times. Even so, for Rena to have cursed was near impossible. The Rena now talking to Mion was something much darker, something to actually reckon. It wasn't the same voice which displayed any and all urges to take something cute or adorable home. This time, it was a voice that could make Mion step back and take caution with. Her words, however, only made the rage in her heart grow more.

"Stupid…bitch? My, what nasty language you have there! I know just how to fix that! Looks like it's time to start cutting your Tongue out!"

Rena looked up at Mion, and in response spit directly at her friend's face. Getting some of the substance in her eyes, Mion stepped back and cursed under her breathe, becoming more agitated with each passing minute.

"You'll pay for that, I hope you know…"

"NO! YOU'LL PAY FOR IT! YOU'LL PAY DEARLY WHEN KEI-CHAN LEAVES YOU OVER THIS…!"

Her cold, dull eyes now opened wide again, staring at the sudden change of Rena's being. She wasn't pleading for her life anymore, this time, standing up to defend herself. She could only watch as Rena tried to regain control of her dream.

"You think Kei-kun will leave me like that, huh? You have such little faith in him, you know that? Kei-kun will love me no matter what I do, just like I love him the same way. As long as he's loyal to me and I'm loyal to him, there's nothing that can harm us! So, think carefully about how this will all turn out before I end your pathetic life, got it?"

"Listen to me damn it! I don't know what's been eating at you lately, but I am not trying to steal Kei-chan from you! I'm already in love with someone else, someone…"

"Speaking of that someone, I'm pretty sure we haven't met him at all! I've never even seen a picture of him, so how do I even know you're telling the truth? Oh, I know, you tried to deceive me and make it look like you had a boyfriend all this time? You thought I would buy into this fake boyfriend of yours and lower my guard. But that wasn't going to get past me! Kei-kun is mine: his heart, his soul, his happiness, and his love…ITS ALL MINE!"

"…I know that. That's why I stepped aside…"

"W…what?"

From what Mion could see, Rena began crying, her tears falling along her forehead and down to the floor. She was taken back by this sudden statement, curious as to what Rena had meant.

"…When we first met him, Kei-chan was so wonderful. He was shy at first, but he warmed up to you and me, and even the others. Day by day, it was so much fun just to be with him…and with you. Every time he teased me…every time he patted my head, it made me happy. And when he stood up for me…he made me feel special and brought a smile to my face, I was happy…but you were my best friend Mi-chan…" Rena began crying more, trying her best to remain coherent "…I know how you felt about him. I always knew, and I saw how he showed his love for you and only you. So…I stepped aside, and gave up on him. I was naïve…it was just a crush. But what he showed for you…how he really loved you in the end of things…I realized that he would have never done that for me. He was in love with Mion Sonozaki, not Rena Ryuga!" she stated, her tears ceasing.

Mion stood for a while longer, unable to decide what to do next. Her hatred didn't die in her heart, but part of her wondered if what Rena was telling was the truth. Though the grip on the blade didn't cease, her heart ached for revenge; revenge against those who got in her way. She could only get it, she thought, if she had a real reason and not just a lie to go off of.

"Rena-chan…if that was true…then why did you try to steal him from me?" she spoke, her glassy like gaze returning.

"I told you I wasn't trying to…"

"Really? Then why did you always take the chance to be with him when I wasn't around? Every time you went treasure hunting, you asked for his help, but that was just a front, huh? And last December when you were standing in the crowd with his hand on your shoulder…or in the car ride back to his house, how you drooled blissfully on his body while sleeping? What about recently, when I was attending to all my responsibilities as heir to the Sonozaki family, you were going out a lot with Kei-kun, huh? And don't forget your mysterious disappearances on the weekends; God only knows what you were doing then. Maybe you were stalking Kei-kun and I while we were on dates or maybe you…"

"MI-CHAN! I'm telling you the truth! Please, you have to believe me…"

"LIES! LIES! LIES LIES LIES! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! I've had it with this, NO MORE! TIME FOR YOUR PENALTY GAME!"

Mion strode over to Rena quickly, ready to deliver the blow to end this dream. However, Rena didn't succumb to this inevitable defeat just yet. She still pleaded, trying to make Mion hear her one last time. This last effort to get some sense into her, just as the pain in Rena's head felt like it would burst every blood vessel under her skin.

"Mi-chan, if what I'm telling you… is a lie then kill me now! But if you've ever held me as a friend in your heart, then believe me…when I say I haven't done anything with Kei-chan. I'm not in love with him, and I won't ever try to interfere in your relationship with him. Don't you get it? I want you two to be…"

"Happy? OK RENA-CHAN! WE CAN START WITH YOU DYING A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH! THAT WAY, KEI-KUN AND I CAN BE HAPPY WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT YOU EVER INTERFEREING IN OUR LIVES EVER AGAIN! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Rena's eyes went wide with fear, anticipating the impalement of the knife coming at her stomach area. Closing her eyes, she prayed in the depths of this dream for a quick and painless death. After a few minutes of her eyes clenched and teeth gritting, though, Rena slowly eased up and looked at her friend, confused. Instantly she saw Mion hesitating a bit, just holding the knife at her waist in a low ready position. At this moment, some hope finally appeared.

"Mi-chan…did you…are you coming to your…"

"You didn't think I would stab you, did you Rena-chan? That's too quick. I want you to suffer…LIKE I HAVE SUFFERED!"

With a quick slash, Mion managed to cut from temple to temple Rena's delicate forehead. What Rena thought to have been another facial disfigurement was in fact all making sense to why she was tied upside down. The pain in her forehead, now being relieved with the blood draining out literally from her body, soon became an unbearable pain to deal with. Slowly and surely, with Rena's body upside down, the blood profusely pouring from her body would be fatal. A large pool formed on the ground within minutes, as the blood spurted from various vessels in Rena's head. Everything suddenly became a high in her mind, her body giving in to the impending fuzziness and slowly darkening room around her. Her pleas for mercy became incoherent, as her jaw slowly opened and her tongue lagged out the side of her mouth; her voice becoming more inaudible with each passing second. Her eyes, trying their best to focus on everything around her, slowly began to roll into the back of her head. Even her brain felt like it was choking to death; a lack of blood causing the brain to receive a miniscule amount of oxygen.

The last thing to go through Rena's mind was Mion's twisted and terrifying grin, her fangs bearing in a way never seen before. It was almost as if the Mion before her wasn't really Mion at all, but some other Mion from long ago: one that should have had a seat reserved for in hell. And in her final dream moments, all she could hear were the laughs emulating from this hellish creature bearing the name of Mion Sonozaki.

"PRAISE ME KEI-KUN! AHA HA HA HA HA HA!"

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

She convulsed in her bed in what felt like a never ending torment in hell. Throwing off everything around her, Rena jumped instantly from her bed as if catapulted to the other side of the room. She pressed her back against a nearby wall, writing in pain uncontrollably. Grasping her hands tightly to her forehead, she tried to stop the incredible and resounding pain occurring all over her forehead at that moment. She breathed heavily; drenched in sweat as she knelt to the floor murmuring incoherent words. The darkness of the night, even with its soothing temperature from the sweltering day previously, did nothing to comfort the girl.

With the passing of time, Rena moved herself into the corner of the room, pulling a blanket along with her in stride. Covering herself tightly with the sheets, she peered outside to the full moon shining evanescently in the sky, the bags under her eyes becoming masked in the shadows of her room. She was dead tired, unable to comprehend what the hell was happening to her. Rena knew this wasn't just some illness or another cause keeping her from sleeping: something was definitely wrong. All it pointed to was her best friend Mion Sonozaki in the end. What she couldn't believe was the fact that Mion would do such a thing to her. In her own past life, she remembered how that story ended up; thinking Mion betrayed her trust after killing Teppei and Rina. This time, Rena feared for her life because of Mion's inner turmoil and shadiness lately.

Peering over to the side of her bed, Rena saw her trusty friend glisten in the light of the moon. Instinctively, she reached out for her wicked-hooked meat cleaver, pulling it close to her side for protection. Sleeping with that in the corner for the rest of the night, at least, put her at ease till she could see her boyfriend the next day.

Her body suddenly rose from the soft futon, not even making a sound with all the motion occurring. It was the middle of the night when Mion suddenly awoke from an intense dream; however, her state of mind wasn't anywhere near where it should be then. She first rubbed her back, feeling a small burning sensation tingling all over her tattoo. Slowly getting up next, she walked over to a nearby mirror, staring at its reflection for some time. Her bright, bluish-green eyes pierced the darkness of the shadows, but their dull gaze never ceased nonetheless. She didn't say anything in particular, but just smiled oddly at the image of herself. Recalling the dream she just experienced, one where she tortured Rena for her crimes against her and Keiichi, was all too thrilling for her evil side. Giggling at all that happened; Mion closed her eyes and slowly murmured to herself.

"Rena-chaaan…I hope you sleep well…because soon it will be forever…HEHAHAHAAHAH!"

With a sudden thrust of her fist, Mion punched through the glass mirror, shattering it. Many pieces fell to the ground, but Mion hadn't cared one bit. After looking over her handiwork, grinning all the while, Mion eyes suddenly fluttered. Her body felt heavy as it fell softly onto the futon, but not once did she ever stir from the impact. She went right back to sleep, just as she had been before, but this time, sleeping more peacefully with dreams of Keiichi for once.

Upon awaking early that morning, Mion suddenly cursed herself for leaving the blinds open the previous day. She groaned loudly, covering her eyes with her wrist. Trying her best to remember what had happened in her dreams that night, Mion couldn't really remember anything other than two things. First, she had tortured Rena again, but for some odd reason she hadn't cared that much. She felt regret for all that she was going through and all that she was thinking about of her closest friend. Remembering that part of her dreams did nothing but pile onto the wave of guilt she felt. Nonetheless, having another dream of hurting her friend only quelled her darker side's folly, but for her lighter side only cause more turmoil in her heart.

The second thing, though, was the happiness she felt inside after remembering the dream of Keiichi and her. From what she could remember, they were laying naked together in Keiichi's room; the moon shining over the sheets covering some of their decency. In that cherished moment when she gave herself to Keiichi, she felt like nothing in the entire world could harm them. That security and warmth from her loving boyfriend was yearned for deeply at that moment, something which caused Mion's heart to ache slightly more.

Getting up from her futon, she walked over to a nearby table, looking at a picture of her and Keiichi. They looked so happy in that photo, their wide grins and blushing cheeks ever present to the viewer. Smiling, she closed her eyes and sighed. She had a long few days ahead of her, mainly for the preparations of the Watanagashi Festival; so much work had to be done that she wondered how her grandmother was able to pull it off. Today, though, was thankfully another chance to relax, however lonely it would be without Keiichi or the others. The previous outing at the local pool her friends discussed plans over the next few days and, more than likely, it seemed that everyone was again too busy. Sad with this fact, Mion decided to just be productive somehow; dwelling on the idea to take a morning stroll throughout Hinamizawa. Even going into the nearby forest to be alone for awhile seemed like a good idea at least. Her mind, for the most part, could gain some solitude and time to think.

Just before she left the bedroom,however; Mion noticed something odd in the corner. Gazing at the antique mirror, Mion noticed that long lines and broken shards of glass were present everywhere. Her eyes widened a bit, shocked as to how it had even occurred, but more so shaken as to what had caused it.

"Great, what now?" Mion said, picking up various pieces and cleaning up the mess. "How the hell did this happen? Damnit, maybe I accidently hit it with my foot. If I was dreaming about Kei-kun, and it was of 'that memory', then rolling around was…more than possible…"

Mion blushed as red as a tomato, becoming hot from dwelling on such an intense memory. She felt a bit sexually frustrated at that moment, thus, quickly shaking her head to dissolve any thoughts. She wanted Keiichi there, even to satisfy her urge with just one gentle kiss. However much that was not possible, Mion just became embarrassed and decided to get rid of it later on her own.

After cleaning up the mess and going through her morning routines, Mion decided to dress in cut off jeans and a black tank-top for the day. She chose to tie her hair up a bit to allow her back some fresh air for the day. For some time, Mion had thoughts of cutting her hair short, like her mother and grandmother before her, but thinking about being told apart from Shion would make it less fun for her to tease others or manage unusual plans of action in disguise of her twin sister.

Putting the idea off for now, she grabbed her shoes and was about to make her way outside for a nice long walk when a sudden ring came from the main gate. Mion looked up from tying her shoes, peering out through the open door. A truck could be heard, its engine still on as its owner waited patiently by the gate. Mion quickly ran outside to greet her guest.

"Hmm? Mizuho-sensei?" asked Mion, surprised to see Mizuho clad in training gear waiting outside.

"Hey, Mi-chan. You up for some target practice today?" she asked, smiling.

"Target practice? I didn't even know you were this eager to go today? What happened to training and losing that curry weight?" Mion laughed, joking with Mizuho.

"Oh, very funny. I already did some of my training this morning, so next up is the range. I'd appreciate it if someone would spot with me when I practice on the rifle. Would you care to join me?" Mion thought over this idea for a bit, wondering if it was a good idea.

*Hmm…I can always go on a walk later I guess. Why not?*

"Sure. I'd love to go with you. But I don't know what 'spotting' is…"

"I'll teach you. It's just a form of measuring distance and wind speed when shooting long range with a rifle. It's not that bad if you're good with math," replied Mizuho. Mion chuckled nervously a bit upon hearing the math part.

"Ah…heheheh…ummm…math, right. I'll do my best!"

"So, Mizuho-sensei…umm…you miss Komoto-san yet?" Mion studied Mizuho a bit, ceasing her boredom on the drive over to the range. After picking up the guns and other gear from her house, Mizuho and Mion were ready to go. Oddly enough, from Mion's perspective, she found Mizuho brought a lot more food than usual for two people; stemming suspicions as to why her friend was so hungry lately. Maybe it was just a simple urge to eat a bit more, given that summer time held the best of foods. At that moment, though, she was wondering if Mizuho had been in as bad shape as Mion was, but to her surprise, received a different answer than expected.

"Me? Miss that man? Ha! I'm having the time of my life without him right now. For two whole weeks I can train by myself and practically do anything I want! It's the good life…" Mizuho replied, focusing harder on the road. Her tone of voice was a bit lower than usual, almost nervous and untruthful.

"Somehow, I get the feeling you're lying Mizuho-sensei…" grinned Mion. She loved teasing people, and now was the time to get one up on Mizuho.

"Geh…um…well…"

"Oh admit it. You miss him, right?"

"…yes…I do. I'm fond of that reckless idiot more than often I suppose. Hell…I even love him…" Mizuho blushed a bit, smiling at the thought. Mion just looked on with wonder a bit.

"So…why haven't you two married yet? You two practically live together now, so why not pop the question?" she asked sincerely. Mizuho was thrown off a bit at this question, becoming a bit flustered. If it weren't for being focused on the road, Mizuho could have likely ended up in a ditch due to her embarrassment.

"Wait, umm, why are we discussing this again?"

"I'm just curious that's all."

"Well…he…hasn't asked me yet…"

"Eh? Really? Why?"

"I'm…not sure. He's had plenty of chances, and I'd jump at the chance to, but…I think he's just scared…" Mion could see a bit of the sadness in Mizuho's sunken head. With her bangs shielding her eyes, though, Mizuho was able to hide her down casted look.

"Scared huh? I'd find that unlikely about Komoto-san. He doesn't seem the type, so I'm sure he's probably just waiting for the right moment to tell you, right?" Mion did her best to cheer Mizuho up, but at the same time caused Mizuho to ask more questions to herself about the situation.

*She's right probably…but…*

"…maybe that's why he went with Kei-chan…to figure that out…"

At that moment, Mion heard her friend murmur those words. It was the first clue Mion had received all this time as to Keiichi's whereabouts, but at the same time it wasn't good enough. She wanted to know more, but if she did she knew that she'd only get in trouble.

*If Komoto-san went to think things over for a while, does that mean…Kei-chan went to think to? That wouldn't make sense at all! What's there to think about? Now I'm just getting worried…*

Mizuho turned to Mion quickly, trying her best to change the subject. She knew well enough that even with her quiet tone that Mion picked up on those last words.

"Ah…um…anyway, sorry, but if you wouldn't mind I'd rather not think about it anymore. Komoto-san can be thick headed at best sometimes; that's why he always goes into a battle with small plans and big guns…aheheheh…"

"Yeah…right…" For Mion, this conversation would only spark more questions than relief for her over the next two weeks.

"Ah, Mizuho-san! I see you're gonna try and get one up on Komoto-senpai with some extra training! Good luck!" spoke a nearby range officer. Mizuho just smiled and waved, helping Mion with her stuff to a nearby firing lane and table.

"Well, I can see why Kei-kun found this place so cool! I've never been to a place like this before," Mion was dazzled with all the sounds and sights before her, as people came and went practicing with different types of firearms and rifles. Mostly, these competitors seemed like they were either police force members or with the government; their burly bodies maintaining strong grips and positions with their firearms. It all kind of intimidated Mion a bit, causing her to think that her own firearm experience was amateur at best.

"Hey, Mi-chan, what firearm do you use? I know you have it on you right now, so fess up." Mizuho grinned at Mion, to which she felt embarrassed a bit.

"Well…I'm not supposed to…"

"Don't worry. I'll say its mine. So show me it."

Mion sighed and pulled out her weapon from a nearby bag. Her grandmother gave it to her for protection, that and it was necessary in the family to have some sort of weapon at all times on their persons. Mizuho nodded at the firearm model, instantly taking it and disassembling and reassembling it in mere seconds. Mion just looked at her with a lowered jaw in disbelief.

"Hmm…Japanese issue…black market quality…Colt model. Magazine 8 plus 1…and everything seems in good shape. Could use an interior cleaning, so that won't be hard to do…"

"Umm…*gulp*…Mizuho-sensei…where did you learn to…how did you…"

"Oh, ahahah…well, to pass our time in the field or in the barracks back in Tokyo, we'd just do exercises and field strip weapons for fun, even blindfolded sometimes. If you can't clean your own gun then you're just doing your enemy a favor: dirty guns don't fire or, if they do, they will kill you where it counts." Mizuho reassembled the firearm with a soft "shing" sound, placing the slide action back to its former position. She handed Mion the weapon and carried her own Glock pistol to the firing line.

After donning some goggles and ear pieces, Mizuho sent two targets down the line. From there, she and Mion stood lane to lane, giving instructions for the first course of fire. After the buzzer sounded, 9 shots were sent down range in quick succession. Mizuho noticed Mion easing up a bit, actually enjoying herself for once with a firearm. She smiled and refocused her attention on her own target. They continued these motions for most of the day's experience.

"So, how was that? You did just as well as Kei-chan's first time. I'm impressed." Mizuho began cleaning her rifle, after teaching Mion over an hour on how to properly disassemble pistols, spot with a rifle user, and score targets. If anything, Mion was a fast learner when it came to weapons, a skill Mizuho wondered if Mion had fully applied in comparison to other weapons.

"Thanks. It was really fun, and I actually shot the rifle a bit too. I'm nowhere near as good as Kei-kun probably…"

"Like I keep telling you guys. Practice is the key to getting better. You two are more than welcome to come with us whenever we head down here. It'll be fun. You may even want to invite Shi-chan and Satoshi-kun along."

After a while of cleaning the guns, Mizuho began to repack some of the unnecessary gear, like binoculars and scoring sheets, in preparation for lunch. However, one more question was on Mizuho's mind for the most part.

"Say, Mi-chan, you said you had prior gun experience, right? What about other weapons, say, knives?"

"Wait…umm…knives?" Mion, with her back towards Mizuho, suddenly stopped what she was doing. Her back burned a bit, causing her to scratch at it a little. She suddenly felt scared at that word, to which she shakily replied.

"Umm…not knives…really…more like katanas and swords. My…mom taught me and Shion to fight with bokens and swords, so I have a great deal of experience for my age. It's a requirement to know how to use swords in my family, you could say. Heheheh…" Mion calmed down a bit, trying to relieve her worries.

"Ah, I thought so. I bet you're good with swords. Knives, however, are much more methodical. You know that?" she asked, grinning a bit. Mion carefully listened, fearing as if missing one word would cause some unspeakable chaos around her. She couldn't understand why, but she was becoming more unnerved by the second.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, people think its easy to use knives for defense. However, like you and I know well enough, swords are like knifes: very strategically put blade attacks. You don't stab with katanas or knives unless it's a kill shot. You slice and even decapitate limbs or appendages in a fight for your life. Hence, methodical…"

"Oh, I see…" Mion's heart pace was increasing, causing her to sweat a bit. Mizuho saw her expression, thinking it was from the heat that day.

"Anyway, I was just curious. You seem the type to be good at both."

"Oh…thanks. Um…Mizuho-sensei…I really want to learn how to get perfect bull's eyes with a pistol. You have any suggestions?"

Mion tried her best to switch back to the gun topic, finding the idea of knives to threaten something in her deep down, whether it was her inner security or part of her nightmares. Interestingly enough, Mizuho smiled at Mion, glad to know she was opening up to questions on how to improve her aim.

"Glad you asked. In order to perfect your aim, you just need to find your style. Every firearm user has different styles. For instance, let's compare Komoto-kun and I. Komoto-kun's aim is more of a stance, trigger pull, and gun modification based-style. I, on the other hand, focus on trigger pull, breathing and adaptation styles. Our shot differences vary, but we achieve the same effect. However, extreme firearm competitors, like when I am with a rifle, focus on many techniques to pull off a single, perfect shot. Komoto-kun, in battle, can be considered reactionary and less extreme," she said, a bit winded from the conversation.

"Ah, so high and low ends. Where would you place me on that scale?" asked Mion earnestly.

"Hmm…well, you're like Kei-chan in many ways with a pistol. You're early in your training to pretty much adapt to anything. You can even duel wield two pistols at once if you work hard enough, but for now, I'd say you and Kei-chan both are emotional with firearms."

"Wait, we're emotional? How so?" This confused Mion a bit, throwing the ideas of feelings and guns around in her head. She always saw firing a gun to be more technique and less emotional, but she could be wrong.

"Yeah. Remember when you and Kei-chan fought off the Dark Spector? You both used emotion in your swings or shots. It takes skill to either master or dissolve that style to one's advantage. So for you, I'd say, you fire a weapon with emotion. If anything, I'm sure you've imagined your targets out there to be an enemy at some point today just like the target is drawn. You don't want to be shot, so you shoot for the best possible area on the enemy. Therefore, you shoot with emotion: you hate your enemy and do it to survive!"

Mion let Mizuho's words sink in for a moment. Everything she said made sense to Mion and her past experiences. When it was fighting Takano and her thugs or the Dark Spector, she always did it with emotion. From what she could tell, Mizuho and Komoto were the opposite of Keiichi and her: they were emotionless when it came to taking down an enemy. It scared her somewhat, but all the while she was glad to retain that form of humanity in battle.

"So, you're saying if I applied more emotion in my firearms, then, I can really get better?"

"Hmm…I guess…" Mizuho thought this over a bit, but was surprised to see Mion grab another full magazine and her already cleaned pistol. She walked over to the firing lane just in time for the next course of fire, sending down a quick target.

"Watch me then. This time, I'll get perfect bull's eyes." Mion intended to test this theory, wondering if she really was an emotional fighter.

"I don't know Mi-chan. You're still so green…" Mion turned to Mizuho, giving a dead-panned look of confusion at her. It was a bad pun on her hair, but Mizuho didn't mean that at all "…umm, wait, sorry, no pun intended. Anyway, you can try I guess. Just imagine your enemy is the target and…I guess just try your best…"

Before the buzzer sounded, Mion looked at her target, discerning the outlines of the bull's eye and other scoring rings. She shunned everything but concentration from her mind, trying her best to focus.

*My enemy…that target is my enemy…I need to hit the bull's eye to take down my enemy…*

Throughout all her concentration, Mion's eyes suddenly widened at imagining the paper target to don the appearance of Rena. It startled her a bit, but all the while she felt that very same hatred in her heart grow suddenly. Her enemy, the target, was her best friend Rena Ryugu. Rena held her cleaver in her hands, taunting Mion to take her down. Even more, she imagined Rena speaking to Mion, as if no one but her would hear.

"Kei-kun's mine, Mi-chan! He's so cute, and nothing you can do that will stop me! You're not even around to do anything about it; Kei-kun and I are always together now, so it's just a matter of time before he forgets you and comes into my loving arms. A HA HA HA!"

*No…it can't be…I thought…*

"Kei-kun, oh how I want you all for myself. I've waited so long to be with you, and now that this Hussy is too busy to notice him, he'll easily dump the Sonozaki brat. I'll strike when the moment's right, probably at the Watanagashi Festival when you're occupied with the old folks, and give myself to him!"

*You…fucking…*

"What? Intimidated now, aren't you? The great Sonozaki family head is scared? Oh, that's too bad. Kei-kun won't want a weakling like you…"

*Shut up, shut up, you liar…*

"Kei-kun and Rena-chan, just the way it was supposed to be! Oh, Kei-kun, Rena-chan's waiting for you, come home soon! I'll be waiting for you, unlike someone who doesn't want him as bad as I do. Kei-kun…"

*Die...I'm going to KILL YOU AND YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!*

"Kei-kun…Kei-kun…Kei-kun…Kei-kun…"

*DIE RENA! JUST DIE!*

The image taunted Mion far too much. With every devilish and lustful smile from the image of Rena, Mion's wrath grew at an alarming rate. Her eyes darkened and became so focused that even the target could become obliterated with shear concentration. Every word, every movement, and every look from the image of Rena made Mion wish she could tear her friend's throat out. And nothing but that gun, she thought, would end that image's life before her.

At the sounding of the buzzer, Mion instantly pumped 9 rounds into her target within 4 seconds, focusing intently on the pains with each bullet penetrating the image of Rena. She saw how it curled in pain, even how it cried for mercy. But for Mion, her wrath was unrelenting.

She shot off too early, earning shaking heads from those watching her. They murmured comments about her amateur nature and early stages of using a firearm, though they found her stance to be near rock solid surprisingly. Mizuho watched on in awe, seeing the shear intensity in Mion's determination to obliterate her target. As the pistol sent a stream of smoke into the air, Mion quickly snapped the pistol back into her holster, not even looking back at the target at she moved towards the table. Her facial expression was dark, something Mizuho picked up. She worried over if Mion was either troubled by something, maybe even firing too fast like that, or was fearful of a bad target. She herself had similar mental states, so she brushed it off by patting the girl on her back, trying to cheer her up.

"Good try, but a little too intense I'd say. I've never even seen someone do something like…"

"Miss, here's your target. Excellent job, this one's going to be a great Olympian some day…" spoke the range instructor.

Mizuho peered over to the target and did a double take. Her jaw could have been said to have fallen to the ground after noticing the obliterated hole in the target's bull's eye region. Not even she or Komoto could ever accomplish something like that in such short amount of time. Whether it was a fluke or pure skill, it caused Mizuho for the first time in her life to stand back in fear.

"P…perfect shot…but…Mi-chan…how…"

"…it's just luck, I suppose…" said Mion, her dark, glassy gaze slowly dissipating into her grinning expression. However so, she remained dark throughout her gaze, almost evil in a sense. She didn't just obliterate the target, she thought, she destroyed Rena's image with shear prejudice.

*Take that…you thief…*

"K…Kei-kun!"

"Long time no see…Mi-chan. I've missed you so much!"

Keiichi's body embraced Mion's, tired from the day's return journey to Hinamizawa. No matter how much he cared that she was there suddenly, as if waiting for him this whole time in that grove of flowers, all that Keiichi cared about was holding her in his arms once again. What felt like a lifetime of embracing was in actuality only a few minutes, but upon separating did Keiichi gaze into Mion's beautiful eyes. He missed her terribly, just as she did for those long two weeks. From here on in, everything would be better for them.

"Kei-kun, I was…so lonely while you were gone. No one told me…and…it was so hard…" Mion softly cried into his arms, digging her face into his chest. He smiled, holding her closer to his body.

"It's all ok Mi-chan. I've accomplished my goal, and we can finally be happy together…"

"Will you finally tell me Kei-kun? Will you tell me why you left?" she cried, hugging him tighter.

"I can't until I see…huh, Mi-chan, why are you shaking so much?" he asked, concerned. Everything around him suddenly became darker for no reason whatsoever, sending chills down his spine. Something didn't feel right at all; a fact becoming more apparent as the sun casted a crimson darkness onto this now dead grove of flowers.

"Geh…Aheheheeheh!"

Keiichi remembered that laughter, and instantly moved a few steps back. He looked at Mi-chan, who now wasn't dressed in her summer attire but a white kimono stained in profuse amounts of blood. She raised her forehead at him, her dark, green eyes wide with madness. She grinned in her laughter, blood pouring down from her forehead slowly.

"M…Mi-chan! What's going on?!"

"Forever…just you and me…KEI-KUN!"

"Hey…Keiichi…wake up."

"GAAAAAAH!"

In three quick moves, Keiichi suddenly sent out flying jabs from his half-sleeping state. Komoto, in response, defended all three and managed to restrain Keiichi's arms just as he woke up. After a few intense moments of breathing in the tent, Komoto had managed to make Keiichi come to his senses and wake up fully.

"Huh…what?"

"You ok there Keiichi? You nearly managed to hit me this time, heheheh." Komoto smiled down to Keiichi, now loosening his grip on his friend's arms.

"Y…Yeah, I just…had a bad dream…" Keiichi sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to remember just what happened in his twisted nightmare. The sun out in the distant horizon began to rise over the land, causing him to shield his eyes a bit. It was another beautiful day on their journey.

"Really? What was it about?" asked Komoto, wholly interested. He moved out of the tent and started back on packing the rest of his things. He also made sure to smother the fire, pouring some water over it and kicking dirt all around.

"Actually…I can't really remember. I just know…it was about Mi-chan…and it was just a bad dream. I don't really want to talk about it." Truthfully, Keiichi remembered most of the dream, but didn't want to think about it at all. It scared him to his core; that much he knew.

"Ok…anyway, we're just about near the final phase Keiichi. You ready for this?" Komoto heaved his pack to a nearby log, and turned to face his friend, entirely serious in his expression.

"I've made it this far with you Komoto-san, so now's the real test to see what I'm made of. There's no turning back after coming this far!"

"Good, just what I'd like to hear. Let's finish this!"