Hinamizawa Hell

"Revealing Demons" Arc: 2

Ch. 11 Obsession

*They have to die…they need to die…they must die…*

*If they're gone, he can't worry about them anymore…he can't see them…can't hear them…no more will they bother him and you…they must perish…their bodies must be tortured and their corpses left to rot in the well…they have to go…*

*Yes…YES! Every one of them…they betrayed me and wanted to steal Kei-kun…they have sinned for the last time…they will go to hell and stay there!*

*Good…believe in this and follow through…once you kill the first…there's no going back, but it gets easier after that…stop wasting time, do it…kill them…*

*I want to so much…but…why can't…I…*

*How…did it ever come to this…*

This one thought reverberated in the mind of the young man, not in a terrifying action but one of shear sadness and sorrow. Bound with tight rope around his arms and neck, the one known as Keiichi Maebara sulked his head low in the dimly lit area. His body, especially his neck and head, ached in unusual pain, almost like being hit by a car. Blood trickled down his forehead, probably from hitting the ground after blacking out before. However, though he didn't know the means of how he was subdued he did know almost everything that had happened up to that point.

He new the happiest of times, the times of repeated fears and, worse for the time being, the one who was perpetrating this crime against him and, from what he could see, his friends in the distance. They were placed at different "stations", each being subjected to some torture of unspeakable nature. They were alive and well still, unconscious for the time being, but what Keiichi feared the most as he remained kneeling in front of them was when they would awaken; having to witness and submit to such horrible tortures. His friends would die, that much he could estimate, only if a miracle didn't occur. He prayed deeply in his mind for such a miracle, however; Keiichi's heart was too broken and his mind too shattered to accept the truth. For all that he had done, all that his friends had accomplished in their lives so far would be for nothing. Only if tonight ended within the nightmare…

Keiichi raised his head as the perpetrator stood in front of him; bearing a sickly sweet smile in the shadows of the room. Keiichi was confused, utterly stupefied as to what and why this situation was occurring now of all times. He even pondered theories in his head like always, trying to solve the common obstacles and problems in his life. This problem, though, could have been prevented somehow, that much he believed. Deep down in his aching heart, though, he had to guess some fault laid with him…a fault that caused all of this.

Kneeling before the others and the one known to have done all this, Keiichi tried to move, however; the rope around his neck whipped his body back against the wall. Unable to get his wrists apart, he found the rope binding them too strong to even slip out of. Casting a look of dismay, his assailant finally stepped forward; her face buried in his shirt while deeply inhaling. He found this act perverted yet unusual; her over-the-edge mind making no logical sense at all.

As Mion Sonozaki came out of the shadows, she removed the shirt from her face and placed it gently next to him. She sat down and rested her head on his shoulder, whispering something terrifying while smiling ever the more twisted. Her dull gaze was more than apparent to him now; her glassy eyes just looking forward at her soon to be torture victims. If his heart could, it would be bursting out of his chest with intensity; the fear building at a steady pace. Her words did nothing more than exacerbate it.

"Don't worry. Soon… this game will be mine once and for all…"

"M..Mi…Mi-chan! What have you done?!" Keiichi sputtered, unable to control his horror. He looked at every one of his friends, their bodies limp in the devices. Rika, Satoko, Hanyuu, Satoshi, Shion, Rena…they were all before him held in such twisted creations. He tried to analyze each of them; trying his best to figure out how to save them. However, he was still tied in rope, unable to get out.

*I'm no good to the others like this…and Mion's clearly overtaken by the syndrome now. What good am I…* His mind was in a rush, his sight dazed from all that had happened. It was almost too much to contain; his soul feeling like it was about to be ripped apart.

Mion just laughed and turned to him, her eyes not changing once as they stared at one another. Slowly and seductively, Mion began making soft kisses along his neck, even biting hard here and there so as to coerce Keiichi to moan in pleasure. Her hands slowly touched his chest and back side, sending goose bumps over his skin from the lightness of her touch. Soon enough, her hands began to travel down the front of his body, reaching into his pants with her fingers. It was erotic in his mind, but pulling his thoughts away for his longing of her he regained his reason and pushed away; now finding it a demented act of sexual gratification.

"STOP IT! What has happened to you?" he yelled, taking Mion back a bit. She looked confused, almost as if her mind was at odds with itself.

*Why…why won't you just give in? Kei-kun…*

*Stop hesitating…they need to die…*

He turned his face away from her in disgust, his heart breaking ever so slowly. He questioned if he could ever live this night out, and if so, if the others would still be alive with him.

"Kei-kun…don't turn away from me…damnit!"

He now turned his face towards her, afraid to look into her eyes but at the same time afraid even more of her voice. It was deeper…more sadistic than ever before. Crazed with jealousy and anger…those deadly faults could never contort her voice like that. It was almost like hearing the sound of a demon for the first time. And just as he discovered, the Sonozaki legacy came to fruition upon gazing into her demonic eyes; the darkness almost choking him.

Mion suddenly rose up and pulled hard on the tie holding Keiichi's rope to the nearby wall. She dragged him over to a well known device; her intentions aiming towards a different of sorts. Keiichi stumbled at first; unable to get his footing from before, but soon he was collared down into the crucifix-like stack. Almost having the wind knocked out of him, he felt powerless as Mion bounded his neck and legs in leather; his wrists soon freed then re-enslaved again in the arm restraints. Her force and hands were uncaring; intent on making sure he would never escape.

As the others slowly stirred in their sleep-like states, Mion positioned Keiichi's device in front of them; wanting everyone to get a good look. Keiichi turned his face around to see them; too terrified to look at Mion anymore. She frowned upon this, now straddling his body and slowly inching her way forward to his face. Keiichi gathered his courage again to look at her; his determination to defy Mion striking the very pits of her soul.

"You're breaking my heart…you know."

"No…Kei-kun…you're heart is right here with me…I'm keeping it safe right next to my heart." Her words, again, were sickly twisted and odd. The person before him wasn't Mion; it was another being.

"Stop this…resist whatever it is compelling you to hurt the others and just stop it right now. If you hurt them…then I don't know what I'll do. The moment I get free…I'll kill myself and you'll be left with nothing! DO YOU HEAR ME, MI-CHAN?!"

Keiichi saw her eyes go wide at his remarks; her lower lip trembling in fear of such thoughts. Her eyes shifted over his face; her forehead revealing some beads of sweat. Almost as if studying him, she found truth to these words. She arched her back away, grabbing her head as if in pain. Mion even began scratching her neck again; her body itchy from some unknown cause. Her back, though, burned all the more intensely.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! KEI-KUN…YOU WOULDN'T KILL YOURSELF…FOR THEM?! I WON'T LET YOU…I'LL KEEP YOU HERE…JUST YOU AND ME…AND YOU WON'T…"

"Mi-chan…you better think carefully. I won't sit by and become your plaything. I love you, Mi-chan…but if you kill them then I can't love you. I can't live with myself knowing I let it come to this…so I'll kill myself in any way I can think of…I'll even bite my tongue if I have to…but that pain won't compare to what you're causing me now…" he said, finally smiling at finding a measure to use against her. However, he wasn't bluffing one bit; that much Mion saw in his fiery eyes. If it came down to it, then it was over for all of them; Mion would be left with nothing but utter despair and loneliness for the rest of her life. Her scratching was incessant now; unable to cease the itchiness around her neck and shoulders.

"Damnit! Why can't you believe me Kei-kun? They're ruining everything for us!"

"Mi-chan…what have they done? What is it that's caused you to want to kill your own friends?" he retorted to her.

"Haven't…you known? Haven't you FELT IT?! Just look at them now, their eyes are begging for you! They want to steal you from me…that's all it's ever been!" Mion pointed her finger at them now; her accusations showing no merit in Keiichi's eyes. "Can't you see that? They…they…just…" she scratched more at her neck, some blood starting to show. It worried him beyond belief; the syndrome was slowly killing Mion. He couldn't bear such an end; he wanted Mion to live on…to live with him…

The others stirred awake now, their minds somewhat looped from all that occurred. They had been tased, chemically induced to sleep and for some, beaten; all to be subdued to these torture devices. With some time, the murmuring voices in the room slowly made sense; their gazes passing over Mion on top of Keiichi as she tried to reason with him. Hearing Mion's frantic attempts to sway Keiichi caused them to pity her; their sights witnessing the blood on Mion's neck now. She was sick, they knew all too well now. They had to act fast if something was to happen. They had to end this quickly…to save Mion from herself…

"Mi...chan…let us go…" murmured Satoshi. He slowly raised his head up, watching Keiichi continue to defy Mion. She casted dark glances at them; her demonic eyes piercing their determination to survive. She gritted her teeth at them, her fangs bearing such ferocity for interfering with their conversation. Mion looked back down to Keiichi, rocking like a traumatized child over him. She murmured to herself, making no sense to the others.

Rika looked over her situation, finding her and the others encircling Keiichi and Mion's space like an audience. It was as if they were supposed to view this; view Mion and Keiichi as something symbolic. Whatever it was, she didn't have time to question it. She did, however, have just enough time to determine each of their stations. Impressive as the Sonozaki storage of torture devices was it still met her expectations for such a cruel family legacy, even more so, frightened her.

Upon observation, there were 7 stations in all. Komoto's station was the farthest in the viewing room, his situation already clear. From time to time, she heard him stir frantically in his prison; as if trying to get his bearings and find his way out of an impossible maze. He was upright now, maybe even jostled from moving away from the prison cell area.

To his left was Satoko, strapped around a pole with a black cloth over her mouth. A large, tube ran from a clear container of water to her mouth; impossible for her to speak or scream now. Around her stomach and lower hip were tight ropes; constricting her bladder in a tortuous way. This device, she thought, was to induce a victim to drink water merely by pinching the nose to induce air. Drowning or the bladder exploding was the method to die; psychological tortures from the thought of drowning or the pain in the body.

Next up was Satoshi and Shion, their backs strapped to two large wood planks. However, each of their limbs was pulled outward over the other's; chains strangling their arms and legs towards their partner. On either side was a small crank; something used to pull the chains on pulleys towards opposite ends. This device, a "fools' love" device, was meant to slowly pull Shion and Satoshi towards one another; their arms passing over each other lover and squeezing them between the large wood planks. The victims could burst from pressure, pass out from crushed rib cages or suffocate from lack of air; a methodical device to induce panic and psychological pain from killing the other partner.

Following the two lovers was Hanyuu, her body tied to a large plank of wood with her arms tied behind. Her device was medieval; a unique item in the shape of a large pear. The device, positioned in Hanyuu's mouth, revealed a crank that could be turned with ease. The method here was to slowly turn the crank and open the pear-like device; its metal sides pressing against the walls of the teeth and jawbone. The scheme here was to rip apart the victim's inner jaw, eventually breaking it apart and causing the victim to die from starvation or blood loss. Either that or Hanyuu's head would pop from the inner pressure.

At this point was Rika's station, her arms stretched upward and legs bound in a bent manner about a small wheel. It was exactly like her dream; a device meant to rip her body apart from stretching. The chains were cold to her feeling, her wrists bruised from being tightly bound. Rika found that the knife was useless now; the opportunity impossible to reach as her arms were stretched above her head on the wheel. She gave up on that idea and turned her focus to her right; horrified at seeing Rena's situation.

Rena's device was the cruelest of them all. There was no device yet the board which angled her body downwards, her head being the lowest part of the body. It was only slightly angled; nowhere near being completely vertical. Her arms and legs were spread out; bound in leather bindings for now. However, this wasn't what caused Rika's eyes to grow wide in shock, but the tray of knives and surgical tools sitting to her left side on a small table. This torture wasn't the least bit quick, for Rena was to experience the blood slowly rush to her head, and upon finding the right moment her forehead was to be cut to relieve the pain. Only then would the torture become nightmarish; the other tools to be applied either before or after. It was almost like Rena's dream from before, the same strategy existent here, yet this time more sinister.

Rika looked upon Keiichi and Mion, watching them quarrel with one another. Mion tried her best to sway Keiichi to her side; wanting him to help her kill the others. At the same time, Keiichi did what he would always do: stand up for his friends and believe in them no matter what. However, his attitude wasn't helping. Continuing to defy Mion was only causing the matter to worsen. Rika knew by this point, somehow, that Mion wasn't really Mion. If anything, something else compelled her, urged her, to do all this. Quickly, she reviewed her options; happy to know that everyone was here to use her hand in against Fate. But something was still missing; it wasn't enough.

*Hmm…Hanyuu…I think I'll pull not one but as many miracles as I can now. I'm not going to give up on this life…I won't let my friends ever succumb to this syndrome ever again! I'm ending it here and now!*

Hanyuu's eyes drifted over to her friend in astonishment. Whatever courage Rika pulled from her heart was well beyond her own; a power so intense that it would achieve a miracle no matter how stacked the odds were against them. With Keiichi and the other's will to fight on still so strong, their chances of winning were slowly turning back in their favor. If anyone could do it, it would be Rika.

"Hey, Kei-chan…when we get out of here, how about we all go to Angel Morte' for dinner…all of us except for Mion…she's crazy, if you didn't figure it out by now?"

Everything went completely silent; her friend's pleas to persuade Mion from doing such evil acts now faltered to a halt. The room casted an eerie silence over their positions; confusion profound in this nightmare. Everyone's gaze turned to Rika, her smile and eyes more fiery with courage than ever before. She looked at Keiichi, licking her lips as Mion looked on in disbelief.

"RIKA-CHAN! What are you…" yelled Shion. Mion looked from her sister to Rika, back down to Keiichi in utter loss of thought. She was just as confused to this sudden remark as the others.

As sudden as her plan was, Rika looked intensely at Keiichi, her eyes pleading with him to just go along with it. Thankfully, he saw her nod while Mion looked at Shion, the moment she desperately needed for him to catch on. As the others yelled for her to stop she continued on, now trying to pass the message off to the others.

"Come on Kei-chan, just drop the dumb broad and come with us. She's nothing but a hassle to our fun. I mean, look at us; we can provide so much more for you than…her…" Rika spat down at Mion, the utter shock forming over Mion's face. She then turned to everyone else, nodding at them with the same gaze of hope. "Why, we've been trying to get you away from that old man this entire time. She's nothing but a hopeless wreck, right guys?!"

Just when it looked like it the others wouldn't find the method to her madness, Rena butted in from the other's pleas, taking the stage at last. She joined in with Rika; understanding her plan a bit but still somewhat unsure. Whatever it was, Rika's plan seemed like she needed to make Mion seem right in order to use Keiichi to some advantage.

"Heheeh…Why, Rika-chan, why are you being so subtle? Why not just confess to everything: we're also stealing Kei-chan from Mion for his…well, qualities too!" Rena's eyes looked at Mion, a bit of false lust in her face. She licked her lips too at Keiichi, eying him with the same understanding gaze Rika gave him. Continuing the act, she added salt to the wound for Mion. "I'll confess all of it Mi-chan. I'll admit it…you were right! I didn't have a boyfriend at all! I was really stalking you and Kei-chan this entire time! I'm impressed you caught on so quickly, but you really have done yourself in this time. Look at yourself, you're a mess! What makes you think Kei-chan would ever want a babbling lunatic like yourself? At least I didn't go to the lengths of trying to kill my rival to get him. You're just…laughably pitiful! A HAHAHA!" Rena cackled deeply now, giving everything she could to make Mion believe in the lie. The others soon caught on to this scheme, following up with their own stories one by one.

"Yeah Mi-chan, I couldn't believe it took you so long to get that. I mean, Rena-chan practically took him away from you on your days off and took him treasure hunting too! I even played baseball with him for some afternoons when you could have been with him! How…stupid of you to leave Kei-chan so easily with us!" scoffed Satoshi. He just grinned at Mion, watching her confused and horrified looks grow.

"You know Sis, I'm disappointed in you. Did you know how much Kei-chan really wanted to be with you? He cried to me over the phone sometimes, blabbing on about how much he really missed you when you had to work the family business or when he couldn't even have the time to be a real boyfriend for you. I don't care if Rena-chan stole him from you for her sexual urges or if Rika-chan or Satoshi-kun wanted to play with him, I just wanted to see how much I could really make you miserable! And I succeeded at last! There's nothing you could do to top me now Sis! I've really been naughty this time!" Shion laughed uncontrollably at her own sister, degrading her to the point of tears. It hurt her on the inside to lie like that, but if this crazy plan of Rika's was going to work she needed to do her part. Satoko and Hanyuu began to murmur too, though their constraints only impeded on their abilities to talk. Their messages, though, could have been said to be the same.

Mion looked at them, their eyes now distorted in a way never seen before. Their pupils were almost demonic like; filled with intentions of hurting her and taking Keiichi away. They didn't narrow or move; only peered into the depths of Mion's soul. Her heart raced like never before; the fear overtaking her mind.

"Yeah…Kei-chan is ours!"

"Kei-chan! Leave her and come with me!"

"Yes, Kei-chan!"

"Kei-chan!"

"Kei-chan…Kei-chan…Kei-chan…"

"I was…right…this entire time!" uttered Mion. She stopped scratching, looking at all of them. Her fears were finally realized in this world, and for that she had to protect Keiichi from such people.

"YOU…YOU BASTARDS! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"

For the second time that night, the commotion was shattered by a resounding yell. It wasn't Mion or the criminal-like friends before her, but Keiichi this time. He looked at them with such hatred, such anger, for saying those things. He pulled at his bounds, his teeth snarling at his once thought friends. While rocking Mion a bit from the commotion, she looked down to him in wonder; now realizing that he understood her pain at last.

"I'LL KILL YOU ALL FOR THIS! YOU TRIED TO KEEP ME AWAY FROM MI-CHAN THIS ENTIRE TIME?! HOW COULD YOU? I TRUSTED YOU ALL AS MY FRIENDS!" His screams resounded throughout the dungeon, his perpetual ferocity unrelenting. Mion watched as he reached his hand towards them as if wanting to choke someone. As Mion followed his hand, he found it resting on her victims, their smiles faltering at his remarks. Finally, it seemed like Keiichi and she would rid them for good with clean consciouses.

"Kei-kun…do you see then? They want us…"

"Mi-chan…I'm sorry for ever doubting you! Please…release me and let me kill her!" He looked at Rena with disgusted eyes, his manic expression overtaking his outlook. Mion smiled at this, excited to know he found the evidence to support her side. Her eyes darted to his restraints; his hands pulling hard enough to bruise as he tried to snare Rena and the others in his grasp.

"You'll…really kill them? You better not be lying to me…" she looked at him, her eyes glassy and dull again.

"Kill them? I'm not only going to do that, I'm going to make them suffer and die as painfully as possible…for us Mi-chan…just for us…if this is what it takes to be happy again, then I'll do it …even if it means killing all of them, no matter what! And I'll start with her! The vilest of them all! RENA!"

He pointed outward to Rena, his accusing finger showing want of her pain. Mion just laughed in response, her pleasure astounding everyone before her. Rena looked on with fear, hoping Keiichi was doing the right thing. She looked scared for the most part; acting as if it were real, but at the same time feeling the fear in reality.

"Aheh…AHAHAHAH! Yes Kei-kun, we'll get rid of them all! A HA HA HA HA!" She quickly undid his legs, unbinding them at last. The circulation finally returned to his limbs, as Mion quickly freed him after so long. He rose up, rubbing his wrists from the pain caused by the leather bounds. Mion saw this and took his hands in hers, trying to soothe their pain. She placed light kisses on them, then stood up with him and wrapped her arms around his neck, facing her victims with Keiichi behind her. His arms held her waist lovingly, his eyes still filled with anger at his friends. Mion just looked at them, basking in his realization at last.

"See? I told you he wouldn't betray me! I just needed more proof, and you all gave him what I needed. Now, Kei-kun, do you really want to kill Rena first? I want her to suffer more…I have so many fun tools to use for the grand finale!" She looked up to him now, bending her neck backwards towards his face. He smiled at her, kissing her quickly on the forehead. He then bent down to her ears, whispering evil thoughts to consider.

"Then, where else should we start? Shion and Rena should be saved for last, right? Maybe we'll start with…Komoto then?" he looked over to Komoto, his incessant banging against the walls of the Iron Maiden causing Keiichi one hell of a headache. Mion looked over at that station, sharing in these thoughts.

"Why him though? He'll slowly suffer more in that thing than the others will," she asked, confused. Mion wondered if Keiichi had some hidden anger at Komoto, which was soon realized.

"Why not? It took me two weeks with him to do what I needed to do. He probably meant to keep me longer, had we not taken the short route…besides…" Keiichi let go of Mion gently, her grin not leaving once, as he went over to Komoto's station and opened the slot; his arms covertly grasping the hinges to the device for leverage. He picked himself up to see Komoto, his pupils dilating from the light outside. "…it'll be fun to kill the master at last!" Keiichi winked at Komoto, so as to not cause any worry. "Mi-chan, do you have anything we can pour in to make it quicker? Acid…ants…anything? Hell, a long knife would do! A HA HA HA! What, you're afraid Komoto? Soon, you'll be dead with the others! Serves you right, you bastard! Bye Bye!" Keiichi waved his left hand at Komoto, giving Mion pleasure and the others fright. If he was acting, it was too much to not be true. They now worried if they incited Keiichi the wrong way; turning him against them. However, appearances could be deceiving…

In his left hand, concealed by his thumb and waving fingers, was a rather medium-sized metal piece; much like the other one in his right fist. Komoto's eyes widened in belief; amazed at Keiichi's resourcefulness. It was clearly the hinge piece to the Iron Maiden, the one piece that could change the course of this night forever.

*KEIICHI! YOU ARE A GENIUS!* Komoto thought, thankfully able to contain his joyful laughter. He decided to go with the plan, inciting Keiichi while having some fun with it.

"HA! You think you can beat me? Why not let me go and I'll kick your ass like I did before, Keiichi! You're larva compared to me!"

"Nah…I'd rather you suffer in there, Komoto. Hmm…maybe I'm wrong. Let's start with Rika first, I bet that will really incite you then, huh? Might even cause you to impale yourself a bit more…dumbass!"

Keiichi jumped off of the Iron Maiden and strode over towards Rika, however, as he passed by Rena she shouted for him to stop.

"No…Kei-chan, don't…"

*SLAP*

Mion laughed at Rena's newfound disbelief; enjoying the searing pain in her cheek now. Rena's face was red from Keiichi's hard slap, causing her to actually fear him in his state. With her eyes wide with astonishment, she questioned now if Keiichi was truly going to help kill them. Was what she did before the largest mistake of her life? She couldn't tell, until she caught on to her next words. This act, though, was more than apparent to keep Mion's trust.

"Shut up! I know what I'm gonna do!" He grinned, eying her quickly before moving on to Rika. She looked scared; scared from how well Keiichi could perform.

"Oh, Kei-chan, would you really hurt cute little me?" grinned Rika with pride. Mion came up to them, holding a surgical tool to start Rika's torture with. She hung her head on his shoulder, pulling the knife in front of them now and aiming it towards Rika. She eyed the glistening tool, its sharp and twisted point at the folds of her clothing now.

"You know how to do it, right Kei-kun? Just pull the crank and…"

*BASH*

"Huh? What the hell? AUGH!"

Grabbing the arm tightly, Keiichi managed to restrain Mion's arm; the pressure too strong to allow her to hold the weapon anymore. It fell to the floor as the two lovers scuffled against each other; Mion filled with confusion and a broken heart as Keiichi managed to defy her for the second time that night. During the scuffle, Keiichi achieved wrappring his arms tightly around her, now facing Mion head on and restraining her at last. She screamed at him to let her go, but this time there would be nothing to let it happen. She watched on in horror as Keiichi tried to reason with her one last time. Still, the bashing sounds from the Iron Maiden grew louder, the steel walls creaking slowly towards freedom.

"K…Kei-kun…HOW COULD YOU?!" Mion screamed at him, the realization of his betrayal coming to light now. She continued to struggle against him, but this time his hold was too hard to break. Keiichi had become much stronger than last time.

"No, it's over Mi-chan. We're putting an end to this once and for all!" His eyes said it all to her; Keiichi would never kill his friends no matter what. Warm tears streamed down her cheeks, her eyes red from crying. She bashed her head against his chest, trying to escape and resume killing the others. They still looked at her with those twisted eyes; their faces never changing in her mind.

"What are you talking about? They said it themselves, they were against us all along!" Mion stopped hitting his chest now, her head in pain and her breathing heavy. She gasped for air, trying to regain some strength after failing to escape.

At that moment, the Iron Maiden's door was thrown onto the floor, causing everyone in the room to look on with surprise. Dust flew up all around them, the door now halting its rocking motion on the ground. In moments its victim walked out, gasping for air after his containment for so long. As everyone looked on, they saw his badly wounded hand and legs; the blood profusely staining his pants. He came out bearing a smile, his cold grey eyes frightening Mion beyond belief.

"Well played Keiichi, well played! Now that I'm out lets finish this! Hold Mi-chan tight, and if you let her go I swear I'll drop her myself…" Komoto didn't look the least bit pleased upon seeing Mion; the taser pain still felt around his body. He clapped his hands as he strode over to the others, congratulating Keiichi for his performance. In stride, he then began to unlock their bindings, quickly freeing them and the others.

Mion screamed in terror upon seeing this; fearing that once unleashed they would be set upon her like rabid dogs. One by one, each of them were freed from their devices, rubbing their arms and legs from the previous pain. Though still bound in rope, Komoto soon found Rena's cleaver on the surgical table, now starting the process of cutting the rope. In no time at all they were set free; even Hanyuu and Satoko from their mouth-like devices. They coughed for awhile, the taste of the tools still in their mouths.

"Finally! I really thought we were going to die there…" spoke Shion in utter relief. She cried upon hugging Satoshi and Satoko, glad to know they were safe. For now, they shared the same thought; appreciating their near death experiences and what seemed like newfound lives.

"NO! NO! NO! DON'T LET THEM GO! STOP!" Mion screamed. Keiichi could feel her struggle again, denying that it was over once and for all. He pulled her closer to his chest, firmer this time trying to calm her down. Her gaze, though, still looked on at the others; their eyes accusing her of everything up till now.

*NO! They're going to kill me! Kei-kun…why? They said it all? They admitted it…* she mentally screamed, the pain in her backside and head too unbearable now.

*YOU FOOL! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE? I TOLD YOU TO KILL THEM, IT WAS SO SIMPLE! AFTER THAT, YOU COULD HAVE DONE WHATEVER YOU WANTED WITH HIM! BUT NOW…* Mion's darker side bashed her, the voice causing her head to nearly split open. It was too much for her, her mind going insane from everything around her.

However, as the others encircled Keiichi and Mion now, something unusual happened. As they looked like they were about to get revenge on her, they stopped in their tracks, not saying a word. If anything, it looked like they were…sorry for something…

"Mi-chan…everything we just did now was a lie. Kei-chan wouldn't harm any of us…neither would he kill us…" spoke Rika. She smiled at Keiichi for yet again beating Fate's hand. He was the key to it all, the key to delivering them from evil to a much needed paradise.

"You played your part well Kei-chan. I almost believed you there for a second, I really did!" spoke Rena, rubbing her cheek. Keiichi looked apologetically at her, wishing he didn't have to do that. She just smiled back, not caring the least bit now.

"No! You all…admitted…and…" Shion came over to Mion as she murmured in defeat, trying to soothe her sister. She gently caressed Mion's cheek, managing to calm her down some more. Slowly but surely, they were helping her realize how crazy everything was.

"Sis…it was an act. We used what you told us about our faults and improvised. That's all…we never meant to do those things to Kei-chan and you. We want you two to be together…how many times have I told you of my happiness from seeing that? Why on earth would I ever want to take that away from you?!" Shion cried. Mion looked deep into her eyes, the twisted looks dissipating soon. Mion as well welled up with tears, giving in to the goodness of her soul again. However, the screaming voice of her darker side didn't stop. It still told her to harm them, to kill them and get away with Keiichi. However, with each passing comment made Mion slowly ignored that voice.

"Mi-chan...please…look at me…" Keiichi turned Mion's face towards him, now noticing that he was crying. It pained her heart to see Keiichi like that, even more so to be the cause of it. Her heart panged as his tears fell down his cheeks. She wanted to make him happy again, not so sad like that before her. "I told you before that I'm yours and only yours. I gave you my heart, and that will stay with you forever…" he spoke to her, bearing all his emotions onto Mion. She cried more now, the tears not stopping. However, what shattered this part of the nightmare was her friends' resolve to repair what damage had been done.

"Mi-chan, after all the time we've known you, we believed that you were almost impenetrable to hardship. We saw you as this awe inspiring club leader, who couldn't be phased by the smallest of concerns. We were…wrong in thinking that though. You were just as vulnerable as any of us, and it led to all this. I can't…even put into words now how sorry we are. We're the worst for doing this to you, and if I could I wish we could go back to happier times to prevent this…" Rena cried a bit now, wiping the tears from her face. It was obvious that sadness lingered in their minds; their existences feeling tainted from allowing Mion to feel like this.

"Mi-chan…you've hurt us in ways we've couldn't possibly imagine. You even nearly gave us heart attacks after subduing us and putting us in these…things…but, that doesn't matter now. We're all fine, and no one's hurt, right Komoto-san?" Rena looked over to Komoto, her eyes fierce with confidence. He looked blankly on her, fearing even Rena's intense gaze, and then sighed. Closing his eyes, he replied.

"Yeah…don't worry about it. My hand will heal in time, but Mi-chan, I'd be more concerned about how the others feel. It takes a lot of forgiveness to fix something like this…"

"And forgiveness is something we won't just give, but ask of you Sis. We're sorry for what happened, and we don't blame you for any of this. We'll forgive you no matter what, so please, would you forgive us and let it end now?" Shion held Mion's hands lightly, showing no ill remorse for the past few days of hell. Mion's head was casted downwards, her mind still at odds with everything but even more so ashamed to look at the others. Now, all that it took to break Mion free from the darkness was Keiichi's loving words; truest in all ways to her.

"Mi-chan…you're sick with the syndrome. You're already scratching at your neck so much. Please, there's still plenty of time. Will you come with us to the clinic to get treatment, and after that…will you come home with me…and only me?"

Mion finally looked up to Keiichi, smiling like the kind and loving Mion that everyone knew. Her eyes dissipated any demonic tensions now; her gaze slowly returning to normal. However, she still sweated now; her body shaking increasingly by the second. She tried to speak, but in the few moments after that did everything hit the worst part of this nightmare.

"I'm sorry…everyone…I'm…so…ARGH!!!!"

Mion threw her head to the floor, the pain in her body too much to bear. She grabbed her back, screaming from the burning pain which seared around her tattoo. She cried out to the others, who instantly knelt down next to her trying their best aid. They thought it was the syndrome, but in due time the horrors of this nightmare would come to light; the truth finally revealed.

"MI-CHAN! What's wrong? Tell me!" screamed Keiichi. He frantically held her arms, trying to prevent Mion from scratching again. This time, though, he heard the real Mion. She was sorry, that was certain, but whatever it was that was controlling her mind wouldn't give up so easily.

"KEI-KUN…I CAN'T! THE DEMON…INSIDE ME…I CAN'T CONTROL IT ANYMORE…PLEASE…HELP ME…JUST HELP ME…SOMEONE…ARGH!!!"

Komoto saw it before anyone else. Something on Mion's back began to stain the fabric of her kimono; its black and oozing matter rising from its very threads. Mion tossed and turned her body, her soul being separated in the cruelest of ways. However, Keiichi and the others didn't leave her side, but strived on to help her.

"MI-CHAN, YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT! DENY THE DEMON IN YOUR HEART AND CAST IT OFF! PLEASE, MI-CHAN, FIGHT IT AND DON'T GIVE IN! YOU CAN BEAT IT, I KNOW YOU CAN!" His words strengthened the good in her heart, soon severing the cords of her whole being from the evil in her soul. She found the strength to do so in her friends, their presence never leaving her side as the reality of her world crumbled. Her body fell forward and went silent from the screams, her head hung low with her hair draping over. What felt like years of agony now fell into silent moments.

When it seemed like it finally stopped, Mion's head slowly rose. Everyone momentarily believed that it was finally over; that Mion finally defeated the demon in her heart. That, though, was only the beginning, for their realizations of the world and its essence became distorted with new truths. The demon in Mion's legacy as heir to the Sonozaki family was, in fact, real.

As Keiichi held her hands down, Mion's head shot up; freaking everyone out and making some even fall off balance to the floor in fright. Her eyes were black, devoid of life and nothingness. Her eyes still cried in that instant, the tears branching out in dark streams of black fluid. She arched her head back, screaming as the pain finally hit its peak. For once in his life upon witnessing all this, Komoto finally understood what the Dark Spector finally had foretold to him weeks before. As everyone watched in horror, Mion's screams pierced the dungeon; its loud roar deafening to those who could hear.

"GET OUT OF ME! GET OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUT!"

Mion threw her body up while Keiichi still held tight, not ever letting his grasp loosen. The tears and blackness of her tattoo pooled out now, the matter flooding the floor in such a terrifying and awe filled way. The others moved away from the liquid; afraid of its evil aura. In what seemed like a lifetime, the matter came out of Mion's body, freeing her at last from this evil. She gasped for air, her body falling forward into Keiichi and feeling very limp as the black liquid now pooled itself together and formed into some unspeakable evil.

"WHAT THE HELL? What's going on?" yelled Satoko. She pulled Hanyuu away from the pool, managing to save her from touching such a thing. Hanyuu fell back into her friend, smiling unbeknownst to the others at the spectacle before her. This all seemed like it was supposed to happen to them, and for that she had no worries.

*The wretched curse of the Sonozaki family…will end tonight* Hanyuu thought to herself. Rika looked at her, noticing the smile on her friend's face. To this, it all seemed like a comedy to Hanyuu. Rika didn't know what was more profound: watching evil literally pool itself from an innocent Mion or see Hanyuu watch on with no worries whatsoever.

Keiichi, holding Mion's unconscious body now, was pulled hard by the arm away with Komoto. He dragged Keiichi and Mion away from the black mass, unable to believe what was going on before him. This thing, now forming out of the black mass, took on a shape much like Mion's body. Komoto's gaze, falling from the odd thing to his friends to Keiichi and Mion, only grew wide with more amazement upon seeing Mion's back. Her kimono, now in a disheveled mess, revealed her white skin; Mion's white skin now barren of any insignia from her family's doing.

*Her tattoo…of the demon…is gone?! Then…that means…this thing…*

When the mass formed at last, it mimicked Mion's appearence; right down to the clothing. However, this demon wore a white kimono stained with blood, as well, held a rather demon-looking mask in front of its face. This creature before them, its black-like tone around its image, caused panic and despair in everyone's hearts. What stunned them most, next, was that this thing spoke; its tone evil and darker.

The demon removed its white mask to reveal its face. This face, however, was one of which Keiichi remembered in his past life; a face that terrified him in his dreams. The blood pouring over its face, the kimono stained with blood, the green hair in tangles here and there. This demon…was the one that killed him so long ago with such malice and evil. It was the demon born ages ago, Mion Sonozaki's inner Oni.

Upon this revelation, its eyes narrowed behind part of the mask, her teeth revealing sharper fangs. However, it smiled at them; enjoying the frightful looks and jaw dropping expressions on each of their faces. This demon…was the nightmare dwelling in this world. Upon gazing at Keiichi holding the unconscious body of its host, the demon then smiled, licking its lips in glee.

"Why, hello there Kei-chan. Long time no see…"

The moment she was branded with the tainted ink, her legacy of the demon was passed on.

But the family used it as a mark and nothing more; the insignia for her inheritance.

However, the demon was real; its host was chosen one for this world.

And when released, it would rain hell on earth.

For in its own existence was Chaos, Vengeance, Despair…

And most importantly, Evil.

This was the first sign that this paradise was actually a purgatory.

Next time on Hinamizawa Hell, "Revealing Demons" Arc, Ch. 12: The Revealing Demon

Can you truly believe in this?