Hinamizawa Hell

by Zoken Hirogechi

Rika believed she finally reached happiness, but evil looms over the village of Hinamizawa once again. A mysterious arrival, an old friend, and new secrets of the village come to light for Keiichi and friends, just as the new year rolls around.

57. Arc 3 ch 16

Hinamizawa Hell

"The Truth of Fate" Arc: 3

Ch. 16: Sacrifice

/

"Quickly, bar the doors! Use anything you can!"

"Ryuu! Hand me the bags! I'll grab the ammo!"

*Creaking sounds*

The group struggled into the doorway and locked it once everyone was inside. Being pursued as they were, Hanyuu remained relentless in her efforts to take Rika away and kill her. None the less, they ran for their lives to Komoto and Mizuho's home; hoping that they could gain a moment of rest before the big showdown with the possessed villagers. Resupplying and baring the doors, the group members did their best to prepare for what laid ahead of them.

Mizuho frantically began reloading empty magazines for the pistols and handing them out to everyone again, whereas those who did not have injury were blockading the doorway and windows. If there was a way for an enemy to get in, the made sure it was a hard way to do so. Despite what little they had, they made the most of it and managed to seal the doorway off with a good amount of furniture.

"That will hold them off I think…" responded Keiichi. He turned to Mion and the others, grabbing his own weapon and making sure everyone was ready.

"This is it, huh? This is our last fight…" spoke Satoko, hastily setting up any traps that they could use to their advantage. If anything, those traps could be what would save their lives that night.

Amongst all of the commotion, Komoto had sat down into a chair next to a wooden table in his study; breaking open a nearby shutter and allowing Mizuho a clean view of her oncoming enemy. At this distance, her specialty would be put into full gear with such a perfect prone position for sniping. The attic provided the best view on all sides for her, and from here she would be able to give off one hell of a last stand. If anything, she would give the others a chance to live out this night.

As Komoto rested for a bit, he began to feel weaker with each intense passing minute. Putting a hand to his chest whilst Mizuho wasn't looking, he felt a small, dull pain begin to grow in his chest. Trying to remain calm for now, Komoto took out an injector from his pants pocket and looked at it before Mizuho had a chance to notice it. It was one of several Adrenaline Stimulants that he had taken from the Irie Clinic that night; not knowing if it would have done him any good at all if the time came to use it. He hadn't used one in such a long time, but even after prolonged usage of them he still yearned to feel the same power he did when it coursed through his veins. As bad as his condition was now, he would hold off on it.

"Komoto-kun…they are at least a mile away…" Mizuho stated. Komoto got up and went to her position, seeing that she was right on the mark as always. With binoculars, he noticed that several hundred possessed villagers were on their path to storming their home in no time at all. Sighing, Komoto went downstairs and yelled to the others that the enemy was coming.

"Guys, they're close by. Remember what we planned, ok?"

"Got it!" responded Mion. She chambered a round into her pistol and looked on at the blockaded doors and windows; sweat perspiring down her forehead. The others were in a similar stance; their fears running in all directions.

Alone in another room, Rika held all 4 shards together with hope that some sort of reaction would occur. However, try as she might, she could not figure out what they were supposed to do other than restore her and her friends' memories back. Knowing that a 5th shard had possibly existed but eluded her possession, Rika tried to make due with what she now had. Studying them a little longer, she noticed something about them that she failed to see previously.

*Wait a minute. These are shards…so would they fit together?*

Rika held each shard and began trying to fit them together, much like a puzzle would. She then realized that one or two had at one point been together, but the others were lost as to the fittings. These shards were once something, but what were they?

"If they can't fit like this, then could there be more of them?" she questioned. Suddenly, out of the doorway of the room, Satoko came forward and looked at her friend with a stern expression.

"Rika-chan…they're here…"

*Crack*

Above in the attic, gunshots could be heard coming from Mizuho's rifle. From her scoped view, she was making easy pickings of her enemy; taking them out one by one with blown off legs or serious wounds that would incapacitate them. Below in the room, the others fortified themselves as to any possible intrusion into the home.

"Kei-kun…"

Keiichi stopped what he was doing for a moment and turned to Mion in private, noticing a very fatigued expression on her face. Her eyes said it all to him; the same eyes red from crying before at committing a necessary but hard act.

"Mi-chan…"

"I know I can't bring them back…but…there's nothing I could have done. I'm so tired Kei-kun…of all the fighting…of all this pain…"

Mion pushed herself into his arms once more, hoping to find some comfort in them. Even if she did, Mion held a deep sorrow at the notion of never seeing her mother ever again. All Keiichi could do was hold Mion in his arms and rub her head gently.

"…I killed her Kei-kun…and for what? Deception? All these lies? If we even make it out of this alive…what are we going to tell others when they find out? How will we remember everyone who died in the village on this night? How can…we fix this?" she cried silently in his arms, making sure not to alert the others in the front of the room. If Mion couldn't remain strong as their club leader, then how were the others supposed to carry on?

"Mi-chan, you remember those who died for all the good they did in their lives. You remember your mother as a kind, loving woman and not the empty shell that Hanyuu-chan forced her to become. She'll always be with you no matter what, as long as you keep her in your heart and never let go of her memory, she won't blame you for any of this, ok? I need you to remain strong, and I need you to live out this night with me, ok? Remember that I love you Mion Sonozaki…"

Keiichi pulled up Mion's tear soaked face, gave her some much needed peace in her mind, and shared what might be the last kiss he would ever give her that night. Pressing their lips together, Mion felt a new reason fill her being, and that was to protect the ones she loved; especially her Keiichi. Smiling in return at long last, Mion nodded and felt the fire burn in her heart once more. Taking Keiichi by the hand, they rejoined the others just as more and more gunshots were heard above in the attic.

/

"31…33…35…"

"Another magazine coming your way!"

"Reloading!"

The smoke fumed from Mizuho's rifle as she quickly and expertly ejected an empty magazine from her rifle and reloaded another one into it. As quickly as she chambered the next round, she sent another barrage of deadly bullets down the range from their home into their enemy. Try as she might, Hanyuu was well protected by a human shield of possessed villagers in Mizuho's line of sight. They were about a half mile from the home, and Mizuho was struggling to make sure that those enemy numbers were well reduced before they got to the home. Meanwhile, Komoto refilled each empty magazine and worked as a supporting teammate for Mizuho in this intense moment of battle.

After the enemy went another quarter of the mile, Mizuho had expertly taken down at least 100 enemies at such a range, though thankfully none were confirmed kills but mostly crippling injuries. When the enemy was within a closer distance, Komoto joined the assault and began emptying magazine after magazine of pistol ammunition into the enemy; managing to take out an addition 50 targets. Though a good majority of the enemy still charged on, if they were to get within 25 yards of the home then maximum kill zone potential would be reached. At that moment, all hell would break loose from below as the others would shoot through the high windows into the oncoming possessed villagers.

"50 yards and closing!" yelled Komoto to the others. That was the cue for them to take aim and fire at will. In no time at all were more shots heard from below and the entire range of the land before them became the kill zone for the enemy.

Oddly enough, Satoko's outside traps were set off without a hitch before complete assault by the group members took effect. Satoko had managed to set up at least several different types of traps: some pitfalls, others simple trip wire devices which caused the enemy to stumble over themselves. Her tactics, which slowed the enemy while at the same time incapacitated them, became one of their most valued fighting abilities that night for Mizuho. Slow targets meant more time to take out her opponents; a fact which meant everything to their struggle to survive.

Once the enemy was close enough, Satoko bit her lip and held in her hand what was a small trigger device. Previously, Satoko had thrown satchel charges around the killzone that Komoto had stockpiled for the Dam's demolition, having made too much for the occasion. Once they got to the house, she found a healthy amount of them to use at her disposal; merely placing them on the fire range and zones her enemies were surely to reach soon. In her mind, she was waiting for the enemies to run over them in due time and at the right moment set them off. Killing her enemy for the others' sake right now was justified, and even if she had to do so, Satoko would bear the sin proudly for the rest of her life.

"25 yards!" yelled Mizuho.

"NOW!"

Satoko watched as the first wave of possessed villagers had entered the kill zone and in large numbers went right over the satchel charges. Before they could even get to the dirt path leading to the house, Satoko flipped the switch on the remote trigger and pressed the large red button. Sending a signal to the satchels, she successfully detonated the devices and caused multiple casualties on the enemy's side.

In large explosions and deafening blasts, possessed villagers were tossed to and fro from the impact of the satchels; blood, limbs and bodies being sent in every direction. The largest of Hanyuu's army was taken out clean; the smoke on the battlefield revealing crippled and heavily wounded possessed villagers sprawled on blood soaked fields of grass. Before the initial kill zone, now prancing over these bodies came into view Hanyuu holding her weapon over her shoulder as if she had sent fodder to the cannons.

"You guys, look!" spoke Ryuu when Hanyuu came into view through all the smoke and debris. The twisted smirk on her face sent chills down their bodies, the hairs on their neck standing on edge.

No more satchels in the field were left to use on Hanyuu, so Satoko threw away the remote into a corner of the room. Peering through the barred windows, the group members could see their crazed friend start laughing over the bodies of her possessed, as if their deaths meant nothing to her.

"Oh, splendid Rika-chan! Was that the best you got?" Hanyuu yelled at the home, knowing fully well that the others were inside listening. Gripping their weapons tightly, shaking at the note of Hanyuu's voice, the group of friends looked from one to the other with doubt in their eyes. What were they supposed to do now?

Up above in the attic, Mizuho's rifle fumed with smoke out from the barrel as she laid it to rest on her shooting position for the last time. Having used up all of her ammo on the incoming enemy, not even a single round was left to use. Getting up and taking his pistol out, Komoto aimed it at Hanyuu's chest with pure intent to kill their friend out of mercy and survival.

"Komoto-kun! Don't do it, please!" asked Mizuho pleadingly. Komoto looked to his lover and, with his eyes, reassured her that he wasn't going to kill Hanyuu. Aiming now, he prepared to take a shot at Hanyuu while she stood in the field, besmirching her opponents on such a battle strategy.

"All of you might as well come out and give up! I just want Rika-chan, what don't you get about that? If she dies, I can bring back happiness to all of us and fix this broken world! RIKA-CHAN! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? Come out now, surrender yourself, and let me complete the Crimson Lotus Ritual once and for all!" Hanyuu laughed at the home, seeing some movement here and there inside.

Coming to the forefront, Rika stepped in front of her friends and began moving some of the furniture from the blockade away, a dark expression on her face. The others stood in shock and immediately held her back as she fought to meet Hanyuu on the battlefield.

"RIKA-CHAN! What the hell are you thinking?" yelled Shion, holding down one of her arms.

"Let…me…GO!" Rika yelled, anger clearly in her face. The others wouldn't give in to her wishes, pulling her back into the living room and holding her down to a couch.

"NO! We're not going to hand you over to her! We're going to fight and stick together!" spoke Keiichi, determination in his eyes.

"You can't win this, you guys! I'm the only one who she wants…not you guys…not any of you! If she takes me…she…she…" Rika cried, fatigue and stress taking its toll on her. In the others' eyes, she had enough of this night; too exhausted physically and mentally to go on.

"After all we've done? This won't be in vain! We'll find an answer to this and…" spoke Mion, feeling ashamed of Rika to even consider thinking about this idea.

Amongst their fighting, suddenly Komoto came down stairs and fired once into the ceiling of his house, causing the others to step back in sudden shock. Looking as pissed as ever, Komoto, having not shot Hanyuu before, went over to Rika and slapped her without cause. The others held him back after what he did, and before they knew it he had pushed them off and sent them into couches or onto the floor. Whatever was eating at Komoto wasn't good…for any of them that moment.

"What gives you the right to give up, HUH?" Komoto shot Rika his cold, grey eyed glance in her direction; causing her to find no words to respond with. "…after everything we have done tonight, you're just going to give up and call it quits? After killing so many to protect you? I will not allow that! I won't let Hanyuu open the Gates of Hell! We're not playing some board game here; if Hanyuu succeeds we are all dead! This whole world is dead!" he yelled, his eyes wide in rage.

Suddenly, Komoto fell to one knee and began coughing uncontrollably; his fist over his mouth. What came up, though, was a sight only his eyes saw in the darkness of the room.

"Komoto-senpai…" was all Rika could murmur, still stunned from his slap.

Looking scared that moment, but finding the will to regain his composure, Komoto quickly brushed off the deep, red matter from his hand onto the floor and got back up, looking around. He noticed Hanyuu in the distance having heard the gunshot; possibly fearing that someone may have killed Rika or she herself at hearing her words. Looking back to Rika, he spoke once more.

"It's hard…I know that better than anyone else! But you need to keep moving forward and reach for that miracle we all need so desperately! Don't give up because you can't bear the pain, and don't give up because Evil seems too strong right now. Throw away your life only when you have a good reason to do so, not because now of all things!" he said once more to Rika. Before their enemy could react, Komoto went up to the door and moved away the blockade of furniture quickly. Mizuho stood behind him without a clue as to what he was doing.

"What are you planning to do? If we don't have that door barricaded…" she focused on Komoto, noticing how strange he was acting. Rika was left on the couch in a daze, his words sinking in to her mind. Satoko came to her side and held her close, trying to comfort her friend in her mental vulnerability.

"I have a plan…just go along with it for once!" he shot Mizuho a hard look and scared her that moment. Whatever he was doing, there was no stopping him.

When the barricade was gone, Komoto opened the door and stood outside onto the porch of his home. Before him lied the carnage of the battlefield and Hanyuu standing with a good handful of her army remaining. He sighed, thought for a moment, and to Hanyuu's surprise, spoke calmly but rationally.

"Hanyuu …I give up…" he spoke without fear. The others rushed to his side and argued at his answer, however, the moment he shot them a quick glance with a small smile did they begin to think otherwise.

"What? You must be joking…" Hanyuu spat out in response, knowing him for false.

"If that was so, then would there be so many dead amongst us now? If I was really joking, Hanyuu, then would I even go so far as to risk my unborn child's life on this night? Well?" he screamed in anger now, sending Hanyuu to step back a little, gritting her teeth.

"You're serious, aren't you? Then come out and give up…"

"I'm not done yet! I want to make a deal…we all want to make a deal…" spoke concisely Komoto to the others. They remained quiet as to what he was going to say, whilst Rika got back up and held a hand to her swollen cheek.

"A deal?" Curiosity filled Hanyuu, as she lightly touched the Crimson Lotus stuck in the strands of her hair.

"Yes, a deal. Allow everyone but Rika and I to leave the home unscathed and untouched. Let them go away from here unharmed and without any of the possessed villagers from befalling them. Do that, and Rika and I will give up and let you have her. I will, however, react and kill Rika myself the moment I feel your treachery, Hanyuu! Do not take me lightly, it will be my only warning!" he panted, looking at Hanyuu with complete seriousness in his eyes.

"Why would you give up just like that? What are you plotting Komoto Hagara?" Hanyuu narrowed her eyes, finding this offer too good to be true.

"I'm not plotting anything! I want my unborn child to have a full life, and the others are too scared to die. Let us finish this Hanyuu! Let the others go free and I will exchange Rika to you. She's already made up her mind anyway, so why not save the others in return?" he bargained. Komoto looked intensely at Hanyuu and turned around, already knowing full well she would accept it.

"Fine…I'll give them 10 minutes to leave here. No one will fall to harm from my side. Once they are well enough away, I'm coming in to finish this…" spoke Hanyuu, finding that he accepted it without any argument.

"Fine, but it better be you and you alone Hanyuu! I see anyone else come in here, and Rika's dead…"

With that said Komoto closed the door and turned to the others, more so Mizuho this time.

"Take the others and get away as far as you can. Rika-chan...I want you to stay with me here until I give you the signal, and then I want you to run to the others through the back window as fast as possible. I'm facing Hanyuu alone…"

The others instantly worried at this notion and argued with Komoto to figure out a better way. Hanyuu was too strong with her army to give Komoto even a chance to survive. What he was doing would be considered complete and utter suicide.

"You won't make it out alive like that Komoto-kun! What the hell has gotten into you?" yelled fiercely Mizuho. She looked angrily at him, but didn't manage to faze him this time. Whatever he had in store for Hanyuu, though, would not be challenged in his mind.

"I'll get out when I take out Hanyuu …in whatever way that is. If Rika-chan was right before about the shards, then there is still a 5th one out there. You guys…I'll lure Hanyuu into my trap and give you the chance to save everyone! Don't worry about me…just do this and let's hope the plan works…"

"Komoto-senpai is right…we have to find that last shard…"

All eyes turned to Rika in the room, her pain subsided from Komoto's prior slap. She stood up with more resolve than before, looking like the fire in her soul was rekindled once more. She smirked at his plan, knowing all too well that Hanyuu would fall for it.

"You sure about this Rika…" asked Mion, doubting if the plan would work.

"I'm for it if she is…what do we have to lose?" stated Satoshi.

"You better run fast then, Rika-chan. Once Hanyuu-chan discovers we tricked her, she'll flip shit and chase after you…" spoke Keiichi. It seemed like most of them were in agreement with this plan, but hesitant none the less.

"Leave Hanyuu to me and get out of here you guys. You have 8 minutes, now go!"

Nodding to the others and grabbing their gear, the group of friends went to the front of the room, ready to move to safety. However, Mizuho stood behind with fear in her mind at this plan.

"Mizu-chan…go." Komoto looked at her sternly, but found that she would not budge from her spot.

"Why are you doing this to me, Komoto-kun?" she asked, gritting her teeth. A tear fell from her eye, the pain beginning to rise in her heart now. Mizuho knew Komoto too well after all the time he spent with her, and for him to come up with a plan on the spot usually spelled disaster for their enemy and himself in some way. Right now, she didn't trust him…

"I'm trying to get you out of here safely so you can protect the others. I need you to help them finish this…" he spoke plainly to her, yet dared to meet her eyes. Komoto was obviously hiding something, and it wasn't until she saw the blood on his fist did she know something was horribly wrong.

"Komoto-kun…where are you bleeding from? What's going on with you?" she asked, worried yet accusingly at him. Komoto followed her eyes to his fist, and then casted his gaze away from her to two others in particular. Sighing with his head filled with shame, he looked at Satoshi and Keiichi at the door, giving them a hard look, and spoke the last words they would ever hear him say.

"Satoshi-kun…Keiichi…remember your promises, alright?" he pleaded to them for once in his life.

Looking at him for a moment longer and swallowing their pride, both men took Mizuho by surprise and held her arms behind her backside. Pulling her away forcefully, they got her out of the door amidst surprise and anger.

"Let go of….HEY LET GO! KOMOTO-KUN!" she looked at him pleadingly, confused as to what he was doing. Before she knew it, though, Komoto was already holding her close to his chest and letting her listen to something very important; his heart in all ways and forms.

"Can you hear it, Mizu-chan? How wrong it sounds…how irregular it is? You know why I have to do this…there's no hope for me. I'm already dead…and there's nothing you or I can do to stop it. Take care of the others, and raise our child with love. I love you so much, and I know you will hate me for this…but…"

Between her tears and confusion and understanding, Mizuho was listening to Komoto for the last time of this life, speaking to her with all of his heart. Komoto knew his time on this earth was short, and his heart condition would get the better of him that night or sooner. He wasn't going to make it out alive, and if he was to ensure the others would live out this night then it would be by his own choice to do so. He would sacrifice himself for them, and that path he choose did not involve Mizuho walking beside him for once.

It was at this moment of clarity and prior to her outburst and screams at him that Mizuho felt a sting of pain in her neck. Pulling away from her with a few tears in his eyes, Komoto looked at Mizuho holding a small syringe completely empty of its contents. Feeling the drug take effect, Mizuho watched as she felt Satoshi and Keiichi amidst the others' complete confusion and shock pull her outside whilst she reached out to Komoto. All she heard before blacking out was Komoto mouth something to her.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me…"

Her head slumped forward and Mizuho gave in to the drug's effects. Supporting her weight, Komoto looked to the two men and smiled for once that night, knowing that there was no turning back. Without another word, Komoto looked from the group to a confused Hanyuu and set his plan into motion.

"Get going you guys. You know the plan. Mizu-chan will wake up soon, but you guys already know what to tell her, ok?" he sighed, turning back to Rika. Shion and Rena were the first ones to protest at this sudden action.

"What the hell…" Before the girls could react, Komoto smiled one last time and went inside with Rika; his back turned on them.

"Take care guys…I'll see you when I see you…"

Closing the door and waiting for the ten minutes to be up, Komoto watched as the remainder of the group carried Mizuho's unconscious body away without any retaliation from Hanyuu's side. Sighing and knowing they would be safe, Komoto turned to Rika knowing all too well she was burning him with her stares.

"You're a damn hypocrite…giving up like that…" spat Rika, angered at her friend for choosing such a path as suicide at the hands of Hanyuu.

"I said throw away your life when you have good reason to, and right now I will do so without regret. I'm not being a hypocrite Rika-chan…I'm doing what I feel is right and putting a stop to Hanyuu's plans…" spoke Komoto, at peace with himself. Rika still didn't give in to his mad plan, but at the same time wondered what exactly he was doing.

"You planned for this all along, didn't you?"

"When I was in the hospital, Dr. Irie-sensei already knew of my condition, so I had him swear secrecy to me. Satoshi-kun and Keiichi visited me, and while there I informed them of what may happen to me at some point. They promised me to do what it would take when the time came, and for that, I have no regrets. Mizu-chan deserves happiness, and even if I can't be there to give it to her, at least she will remember me fondly. I didn't want her to suffer in my last days…and at least, she has our child to make a future with…"

*Smack*

Komoto looked sideways and realized he had been hit extremely hard by Rika that moment, disbelief in his eyes at the attack. She stood there shivering in anger, her fists clenched at her sides. Speaking to him between gritted teeth, Rika gave him a piece of her mind before Hanyuu came into the house.

"You fucking bastard! You deserved that! How dare you do that to all of us, to Mizuho-sensei! How can you leave us at a time like this, like it's no big fucking deal? How can you just easily think Mizuho-sensei will forgive you for this? What gives you the right…to leave her and your unborn child to this world…without you there…by their sides…"

Tears fell uncontrollably from Rika's eyes, the pain too much to bear now. She slammed her fists into his chest and beat him in anger, crying all the while spilling her heart out to him. Komoto let her hit him like that, and when she was exhausted enough, held her close to him and hugged her. Rika stopped that moment and found no strength to react.

"Rika-chan…I'm sorry and that's all I will say. I know you will all be angry, but please, don't remember me like this. There's not a lot of time left, so I need you to do something for me one last time. Tell Mizu-chan exactly what I'm going to tell you, and in return I'll tell you where I think the last shard may be…"

/

Listening to him whisper in her ear, Rika's eyes went wide in wonder at the revelation of where the last shard was. Finding it hard to believe but filled with truth, Rika swore she would do this for Komoto no matter what. As they finished talking, they heard footsteps coming up the porch stairs and then a moment of pause before the long awaited opponent arrived inside the home.

Standing there with crimson red eyes and a look of satisfaction in her face, Hanyuu waited in the entranceway to the home and closed the door, leaving her prey at her fingertips. Brandishing her weapon, the Onigari no Ryou, Hanyuu went to the center of the room and made her presence known to the other two.

"My my my, what do we have here?"

"Ah, our guest has finally arrived it seems…" Rika, standing near the back hallway as planned, faced off against Hanyuu with Komoto standing nearby. Walking to Rika's position, he faced Hanyuu and spoke to her as a friend, and not an opponent.

"Are you ready for this, Hanyuu?" she asked solemnly.

"Yes…Rika-chan, it's time. I won't make it painful, but…" spoke Hanyuu, closing her eyes in victory. However, in the next moment she was cut off by Rika suddenly, which caused her to erupt in a rage never felt before.

"It's a shame really, how Ouka-chan would think of you. Do you think she would want this, Hanyuu?" asked Rika, not smiling but frowning to her once thought friend.

"Bite your tongue Rika-chan, before I cut it off! You have no right to talk of my daughter…" Hanyuu spat in anger, the grip on her weapon becoming tighter.

"I have a lot of rights to talk, but you won't listen anyway, so what's the point Hanyuu? You and I are being played for false, and you will only accomplish after killing me opening the Gates…"

"What I'll accomplish is a return to the past and a drastic change to all of the Kakera. I'll give all of us the happiness we deserve once I kill you. Your life in exchange for their happiness, isn't that the way it should be? You'll wake up with your mother and father, a family you never had time to appreciate, and the rest will have a life they should have had from the beginning…" asked Hanyuu, smirking again. Rika shadowed her face to the floor, hearing these words again but trying to deny them. Raising her glance back to Hanyuu, she knew what she had to do that moment.

"The way it should be is for my friends to carry on with their lives loving one another and not succumbing to a cycle of Fate or misery from bloodshed and death. The way it should be is for no one to die from the curse of the Hinamizawa Syndrome or at the hands of one another out of paranoia. The way it should be is for me to be with Satoko in happiness…for Rena and Ryuu…for Mion and Keiichi, and Shion and Satoshi to marry one day and start families…the way it should be is for me to have breasts one day, for Hinamizawa to grow and prosper from outside relations with other towns and villages, for you and I to stand side by side and be friends! That's the way it should be, but…but…"

At hearing these words, Hanyuu listened intently at her friend. She felt her heart pang again, and remorse build up somewhere in the depths of whatever good had remained in her heart. However, the voices, and the urgings to do what she needed to do came out and told her otherwise: that Rika needed to die for her wish to be granted.

"But…what Rika-chan?" she murmured silently.

"But…no matter what…for all you've done…and all you couldn't do…I still love you Hanyuu…."

Hearing Rika say that caused Hanyuu to shiver. Seeing Rika, after all Hanyuu had done to make her hate her, still care for her, caused Hanyuu to break. Deep down, the good in Hanyuu's soul wanted to be with Rika, wanted to protect her, and wanted to help her. However, the Evil that embedded itself into Hanyuu's soul was too strong to break or control. No matter what, Hanyuu needed to kill Rika that night and there was no other way around it.

"Love me? No one…can love someone who's cursed, isn't that right? That's what the voices are telling me…have always told me deep down…what my mother told me…what everyone thought of me…" Hanyuu shed a few tears, moving her fingertips through her bunched up locks of hair. It seemed as if she was losing her sanity that moment; unable to discern truth from lies.

Suddenly, the crimson light took on a darker tone and shrouded Hanyuu's being. To Rika and Komoto's amazement, she looked up at them and anger filled her soul once more.

*She's truly under the influence of Evil right now…Hanyuu-chan…I wish I was there for you more…I'm so sorry…* Rika thought to herself, tears falling from her eyes again.

"Hate…Rika-chan…that's what you should feel towards me, not love or compassion or friendship. Hate is all I ever needed to survive…hatred towards Fate…hatred towards chance…hatred towards God! If hate is what I need to kill you, then so be it! I'll hate you Rika-chan…and I will show you I am right in the end!"

"It's time to run off Rika-chan. Go…" spoke Komoto, coming between the two. Hanyuu found this treachery to be proven now, and instantly tried to go after a now fleeting Rika. Coming between them that instant, Komoto punched Hanyuu fast and hard into her face, sending her back into the floor and losing grip of her sword that moment.

"Argh!" Hanyuu cursed. It was like she had unexpectedly ran into a brick wall without seeing it coming.

"Before you go Rika-chan, take this!"

Stopping at the middle of the hall, Komoto picked up the Onigari no Ryou and tossed it to Rika. Holding the weapon in her possession now, Rika was amazed at its power in her hands. The crimson glow now separated itself from the sword and became pure gold in color now; not dull and weak like before, but more powerful. Thinking twice about the weapon, Rika considered going back to help Komoto, but one look at him said otherwise.

"You know what to do…now leave!" he yelled, turning back to his opponent. Rika ran with sword in hand to the window and leapt out onto the earth below, taking one last glance at her friend and leaving him for good.

Getting up from the floor, Hanyuu looked on in rage at this sudden blindsided attack. Komoto smirked at Hanyuu, though was breathing pretty hard at this point. With his friends gone to safety, there was no need to hide his weaknesses anymore. Sweating, Komoto reached into his pocket and prepared for his finest moment.

"Didn't see that coming, huh Hanyuu?" coughed Komoto, fumbling for an item in his pocket. Hanyuu stepped back somewhat and looked on at Komoto, noticing he didn't have any gun or weapon on him. Smirking, she stood there fully confident at her opponent with evil thoughts in her mind.

"She won't get far, nor will the others now. They will all be dead soon enough…" she spoke, causing Komoto to stop smirking at her. Opening the door now, Hanyuu sidestepped the opening to let in her subjects to dispose of Komoto. "I'd fight you, but I have them to do the dirty work for me…though watching will be my pleasure when you finally die…" laughed Hanyuu, her eyes glowing crimson red. Coming up the stairs now were several possessed villagers, the house even being encroached from all sides.

Just when Hanyuu thought she had won, Komoto eerily began laughing that moment; setting off Hanyuu into a small amount of panic. He remained so confident that even outnumbered he thought he would survive.

"Watch all you like, I don't care. But I'll give you several minutes at best…"

"Several minutes of what?"

From Hanyuu's perspective, Komoto took out several syringes and bit off the end caps; never ceasing his smiles at Hanyuu. In the next moment to her surprise, Komoto grabbed all but one and stabbed the needles into his legs; injecting himself with all the adrenaline stimulants he had. Shaking from the rush in his body and the old power he once had now in his possession, Komoto's temples throbbed and the veins in his body appeared on the verge of popping. His muscles tensed up and soon his whole body was consumed in the effects of adrenaline. Looking at her now with wide eyes open, Komoto's eyes became a darker grey and more focused than ever before. With his heart racing and feeling as if nothing was wrong with it for the first time in months, he threw away the syringes and began laughing to himself darkly.

From his perspective, everything became distorted in view. He could see things that weren't there, see the face of Hanyuu turning into Evil; what had been encroaching on her soul this entire time. He could see the room distort and misform itself, whereas he saw his enemies eyes turn into something that wasn't human.

He saw through the eyes of someone infected with Hinamizawa Syndrome beyond the stage of killing.

"Several minutes…of this!"

Komoto shot forward with incredible speed and high kicked the possessed villagers coming up the stairs; sending them all crashing down to the earth before Hanyuu could blink her eyes. Shutting the door quickly and breaking off the handle with his fist, Komoto stood next to Hanyuu as she found no willpower to move that moment in fear. Reaching out to her, he grabbed Hanyuu by the throat and lifted up her body, finding no waste of effort on her weight or fighting ability. She gasped for air as he lifted her off her feet, pushing her body into a wall and then into the ground. Raising his fist, he attempted to punch her in his madness; however, with her legs she pushed him off and sent him tumbling over a piece of furniture. Getting up and moving to a nearby wall, Hanyuu grabbed one of the hanging swords and unsheathed its blade; a crimson aura appearing over the metal instantaneously.

"What did you just do Komoto!" she yelled, staying on the defensive. Like it or not, the way Komoto was now put Hanyuu at a serious disadvantage.

Rising from the ground without looking at her, Komoto spoke to Hanyuu with darkness in his voice.

"Three minutes is all I have. More than enough to kill you Hanyuu!"

"Kill me? Go ahead and try!" She laughed, panic clearly in her voice.

Komoto rushed into Hanyuu again and dodged every swing of her blade at him. Keeping him at bay, Hanyuu smirked and began to counter-assault Komoto with the sword; managing to slice him on the arms and legs. However, every cut she gave him immediately clotted with blood and prevented from disabling him any further. The adrenaline pumping in his body was giving a newfound life to Komoto, but at what price?

Grappling onto Hanyuu's extended arm, Komoto got behind her and began to deliver another round of punches and attacks to her. Hanyuu was dazed again, but this time quickly recovered. Taking the sword, she did several back cuts towards Komoto and eventually took the upper hand in this battle.

Throughout the fight, Hanyuu had cut Komoto up badly, but in return Komoto had managed to bruise her up pretty good. At the same time, he had even grabbed her by the hair and smashed her face into the countertop; causing a good amount of blood to appear from her nose and mouth. In the last attempt to kill him, Hanyuu went to strike, but as she raised the blade Komoto grabbed her blood soaked hands with his and pinned her to the ground. She looked on in fear, wondering if this was the end of her quest to rewrite the past.

"Any last words Hanyuu?" he asked, his eyes a dark grey with fearsome power in their gaze. Hanyuu only struggled in an attempt to fight back, but try as she might her efforts were in vein. If he wanted to, Komoto could easily take the sword and just stab her in the chest. Something, however, prevented him from doing so.

"I'll kill you! I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!" she screamed back. Watching as the blade went into his hands, Komoto held the weapon above her body and aimed for the kill.

Just when he thought of doing so, Komoto suddenly spit up a large amount of blood over Hanyuu and fell backwards, the blade falling from his hands to the ground. Outside, banging on the doors was heard as the possessed villagers attempted to get inside the well defended home.

"Wha…"

Hanyuu kicked him off of her and scampered to the nearby countertop, using it to support her weight. Peering over to Komoto, she found him coughing uncontrollably and reaching a hand to his chest; finding no ability to breathe correctly that moment. Himself trying to move back into the wall and away from Hanyuu, Komoto knew exactly what was happening to him that moment.

For Komoto, using the adrenaline syringes on his body, after its effects had worn off, became too much of a strain on him. His heart couldn't take it anymore, and now of all times was failing him. Reaching out for something on the ground, Komoto cried between bouts of pain and the life escaping him. He was going into a severe form of cardiac arrest, and barely had the will to fight on…

"Aha…AHAHAAHAH! Fool! That's what you get! I'm guessing your heart had enough, right?" laughed Hanyuu, spitting out some blood from her mouth after being put through the ringer by Komoto. She stumbled forward and picked up the sword, moving to where he struggled in vain attempts to escape her.

"God…please…" he stuttered. Komoto watched as Hanyuu stood over him, her crimson eyes glowing in the darkness of the room.

"No God will help you, Komoto. I learned that the hard way…"

"ARGH!"

With a quick stab, Hanyuu sent the blade into Komoto's right shoulder, causing an excruciating amount of pain throughout his body. Pinned to the ground, he found no strength to move as blood gushed from the wound and pooled onto the floor around him. Watching Hanyuu maniacally laugh at him, Komoto knew this was the end for good. With the sword impaled right through him and even the floorboards below, Komoto was a sitting duck waiting to be killed for slaughter.

"Do you feel that too? You put up a good fight, so be proud. But…you failed the others, and now they will die because of you. At least you go first…ARGH!"

With a quick motion of his hand, Komoto took the last syringe in his possession and stabbed it into Hanyuu's calf. Falling back into a piece of furniture, Hanyuu felt pain in her leg rise up her body and consume her. Lying on the furniture, Hanyuu couldn't believe what had just happened. Dropping the weapon from her hands, Hanyuu began murmuring to herself as some unknown drug took effect in her body. From another perspective, she began to sweat profusely and started scratching her hair and her neck; feeling like she was going through hell in her body and mind.

"What…have you…done to me!" she screamed, her body becoming hot with fire. She began to scratch at her neck so much that soon she would hit an artery and kill herself from blood loss. However, Hanyuu stopped and merely looked at her shaking hands, finding something else happening to her.

Hanyuu's mind became consumed with Evil; her body changing away from her human form slightly. Her rationality became lost, and all Hanyuu could think about was killing and causing suffering to others; madness in its truest form. Her teeth became sharper, her fingernails and hair grew out, and her horns had curled and elongated even more so than before. Her skin became consumed in a pale, milky color and her eyes, if she were to have looked into a mirror, would have become engulfed in a dark, crimson red color. Somehow, someway, the syringe and its contents had caused Hanyuu to change into something inhuman; possibly her inner demon self.

"Hinamizawa…Syndrome….Lot H173…" Komoto managed to spurt out between gasps for air and coughing.

In his mind, it was a last ditch effort to cause Hanyuu to forego chasing Rika. Hanyuu was too smart to let the others escape this night alive, and in hopes of causing her to go insane without any logic, Komoto injected her with a stolen syringe of Lot H173: the Hinamizawa Syndrome Vaccine. Used on someone with the syndrome, it would usually cause them to return to a normal state of mind if their initial level wasn't above 4. In Satoshi's former case, the vaccine would have never worked on him; however, the old Lot H173 was modified thereafter with Komoto's antibodies to produce a better cure. What Komoto injected Hanyuu with produced the most feared side effect: total, blown out Hinamizawa Syndrome. In his plan, though, he thought Hanyuu would kill herself or him and then herself in her madness, but somehow the vaccine did something else. He had created a monster…maybe even made Hanyuu stronger…

Getting up from the couch, Hanyuu cascaded her body into a nearby wall, feeling her body changing for the worse, but at the same time, to her benefit. Looking over to Komoto lying in a pool of blood, she devised evil machinations in her thoughts to kill him for this. All she knew was that she had to kill him, and then…maybe, feast on his organs…

Moving to where he was, Hanyuu looked upon her victim in her new form and pulled the blade from his shoulder. Licking the blood off the blade, she sent it crashing down to his chest once more; his other shoulder impacted again. She continued to stab him in the same place, causing him tremendous amounts of pain. It wouldn't be long before he was dead.

"Ko…mo…to…" Hanyuu spoke with a darker, much more sickly sweet tone of voice. Her smile said it all: Komoto had failed to make her kill herself. The syringe only made Hanyuu stronger, giving her the will to move on and kill Rika for her advantage. If anything, she was still Hanyuu but…to some degree, enjoying this chaos…

"Han…" *cough* "…yuu…." Was all Komoto could say. Raising a hand to her face, crying in shear agony, Komoto's willpower was leaving him fast. Fumbling for something in his left pocket, Komoto tried his best to bide his time; trying to pull one more trump card out from his sleeve. Fingering for the remote in his pants, Komoto needed just a few more seconds to trigger a controlled explosion in the house.

"Seeing you like this…feeling this power course through me…its pleasure in its finest form, Komoto. Thank you for making me like this, but…"

*Slash*

"ARGH!"

With one quick motion of her weapon, Hanyuu had severed Komoto's right arm at his elbow; thick amounts of blood spurting from the stump. Unable to feel the tremendous amount of pain, Komoto could only look on and watch as his limb cascaded sideways and revealed no feeling in his hand. Raising the blade over her head with a look of pure delight and insanity, Hanyuu looked on with dark, crimson eyes at her prey.

"I've had enough. Time to die Komoto!"

Knowing his time was near, Komoto gave one last smile to, causing her to hesitate dropping the sword into his head. Looking on with confusion, Komoto revealed a small device with a trigger on it. Using the remote control, Komoto pushed the trigger and a small beeping sound began to sound from a nearby room. Watching in confusion as Komoto suddenly went into shock from blood loss and dropped his hand lifelessly to the floor, Hanyuu realized what exactly he had done and scampered to get to a nearby exit.

As the room engulfed in pure fire much like that of the night he destroyed a pipeline in a far off middle eastern town, Komoto, in his dazed state, could only think of how pretty it all was. Welcoming its warmth instead of the cold grip of death, Komoto became engulfed in the home along with his surroundings as the bomb decimated and leveled his home.

In his sacrifice, and as the explosion destroyed all that he was and all that he had owned, Komoto gave in to death and remembered no more.

/

"Where is she?" asked Satoko, worrying on the hill behind a large amount of brush.

"There, look!" whispered Rena. She stood up from behind a tree and used a flashlight to mark to Rika where their position was. She picked up on the source and quickly ran to her other friends. When she came into view of them, they were all huddled together with weapons at their sides, wary of any stray possessed villagers coming their way. Thankfully, they were happy to see their friend returning to them.

"Rika-chan!" Satoko ran up to her friend and embraced her in a hug, finding relief that she was safe.

"Nipah! I'm fine Satoko, don't worry about me…" she said, smiling for the first time in a long while. Satoko was accompanied by Shion and Mion, who both eyed the weapon in Rika's hands.

"Rika-chan, isn't that Hanyuu-chan's weapon?" asked Shion, marveling at the gold color and holy blade.

"Mii…Komoto-senpai stole it from her and gave it to me. With this, we should be able to stand a chance against Hanyuu…"

"Speaking of Hanyuu-chan…what's going on with her and Komoto-san now?" asked Satoshi. He looked back at the house, fear embedded in his mind. Having to do what was asked of him and take out Mizuho forcefully did not sit well in his mind. Even Shion was mad, but no matter what he had to fulfill his promise.

The mentioning of Komoto caused sorrow to appear once again on Rika's face. In the distance, Rika could hear fighting going on inside the household; glass breaking and grunts of pain being made. However, she knew deep down that Komoto was doing this to protect the others, and for that she couldn't imagine what the outcome would be.

But otherwise, she knew deep down that he didn't have much time left…

"…Komoto….kun…" Mizuho rose up from a groggy state and went on all fours, trying to figure out what happened. She was still loopy from being drugged like that, but the effects wouldn't last long. Coming to her side, Satoshi and Keiichi tried to help her up, but only received something else in return.

"Argh!"

"Ugh!"

Satoshi and Keiichi simultaneously were sent into the ground; their faces bruised. Mizuho gritted her teeth and got up, feeling dazed and confused. She did remember, however, what the two men did to her and allowed Komoto to do none the less. With that in mind, she looked at them with a thirst for blood: their blood.

"Look, I know we did that to you, but you have to believe us, we didn't…" Keiichi raised a hand at Mizuho, trying to sway her from assaulting him further. For the moment, they were safe as the girls held her back.

"You bastards! How could you? My affairs with Komoto-kun are between us and only us! How dare you get involved like that!" she cried, trying to break free from Shion, Rena and Mion's grasps.

"He didn't want you to bear it, Mizuho-sensei…"

Rika moved forward and went up to her sensei, trying to calm her down as impossible as it seemed. Mizuho brushed her hair away and looked down to the younger girl, tears falling from her eyes.

"Bear it? If he told me…if he just let me know it was that bad…why…I hate him…for luring me into a false happiness….damn him…" she sobbed, looking down at the young girl.

"What would you have done if it was the other way around? If you had such a bad heart, and you knew you were going to die eventually, would you have told him still? You would have him linger in misery like this for the remainder of your days, knowing death would snatch up the time you two would share together and leave him with nothing…not even your unborn child to care for?" Rika looked at Mizuho sternly, supporting Komoto's actions despite how much she hated doing so. Flipping the chessboard on Mizuho was the only thing she could do now, and miraculously it was working.

Mizuho fell onto the grassy earth and could only cry at these thoughts. Rika was right, and there was no denying how she herself would have acted if Mizuho was the one sick and dying. She would have done the same thing regardless, and for that, Mizuho knew she could not blame him to such a degree as hating him for the rest of her life.

"I can't…I just want to be with him…" Mizuho seemed lost and unable to accept the reality of the situation. She just wanted to be with him, despite how irrational her mind was even now.

"And what? What would you accomplish? He's fighting for us in there…and you being there would put all of us in jeopardy! We have our own mission to accomplish, and he has his. You need to help us see this through or all the effort we put forth will be in vain…"

A few minutes passed between the group members before the anger vanished in Mizuho's mind. She looked up at them with red eyes and with some tears still falling, nodding at Rika's wisdom for now. Getting up again with some strength this time, Mizuho brushed herself off and looked on in the distance.

*BOOM*

Just when they thought that they were on their way again, hopefully to end this madness, Mizuho witnessed a sight she wasn't expecting. In a large flash of light, the home she and Komoto had planned to create a family in suddenly erupted into a ball of smoke and fire. Debris fell into all directions from the explosion; a force which sent the others falling backwards at. Nothing but debris, fire and ash remained of the house after the initial blast; black smoke mixing with the crimson color of the night. Getting onto her knees again and looking out in the distance, Mizuho lost all the resolve she thought she had regained.

In that fire of burning debris of what was once their home, Mizuho had just witnessed her lover die without any chance of survival. In the fire now raging on their property, amongst all the dead and wounded possessed villagers who before were trying to gain entry into the house, nothing remained of the traces of Hanyuu or Komoto.

Screaming out in shear agony and pain, Mizuho got to her knees and tried to run to the fire; praying to God that somehow Komoto managed to get out alive.

"OH GOD…NO NO NO! PLEASE GOD! KOMOTO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOO!"

There was nothing they could have done for them that point. Amidst all the chaos and confusion, Satoshi and Keiichi, Ryuu and Rena, Mion and Shion, and even Satoko did their best to hold back a stricken Mizuho in her rage, agony and despair. When the worst of the explosion was over, the fuming clouds of fire and smoke revealed nothing left but an inferno. No one, no matter how fast or strong, could have survived that explosion.

Mizuho fell to the ground after giving up trying to run to the fire. She knew he was dead, and that he was long gone from this world. Holding herself and tightly wailing in grief, she clenched the fabric of her clothes and felt like she was going to be sick. The other women still held her close, though, crying and trying to give her some measure of comfort. Rika herself, not new to death or pain, looked on shedding only a few tears of sadness. Rubbing them away from her eyes, she spoke to Mizuho in her time of grief; fulfilling the last promise she made to Komoto. Speaking his words, it was as if Komoto was right there before Mizuho; giving her one last message.

"Mizu-chan…do you remember what I told you that day on the firing range? When you missed your target and you got so upset? That's what I did this time, Mizu-chan: I messed up. I promise you…the next time around, I'll do better, and I'll be there for you. I'm sorry it came to this, but just remember…I won't ever leave you. I'll always protect you, even now. So go on, get off the ground, and do these kids a favor and see this through with them…"

Mizuho raised her head at Rika, disbelief in her eyes that Komoto would leave that with her. Smiling at the memory, she cried even more so at the thought. This time, though, she listened to his words and managed to pick herself up from the ground. Moving to Rika, she hugged her and found comfort this time through the message.

"Rika-chan…thank you…"

All Rika did was smile and cry with Mizuho, hugging her in response and giving her support. They had all lost a friend that day, and in return probably received their only shot at fixing this mess. In Rika's mind, though, she knew that after the explosion someone else had managed to survive. Someone, who now unbeknownst to Rika, had become a full demon.

Separating from Mizuho, Rika did something unthinkable and placed her hands with Mizuho's onto her womb. Rika looked deeply into Mizuho's eyes and smiled, knowing that Komoto fulfilled his part of the bargain.

"Mizuho-sensei…the last shard…the last piece we need, is right here."

"Rika-chan…what do you mean? Where?"

Suddenly, Mizuho felt something glowing; a blue aura from her hands shining as an object that formed itself out of nowhere was felt there. In her hand was the last shard they needed to survive this night. Though similar in size, Rika allowed Mizuho to take it once she was ready.

"But…how? How did you know?" asked Mizuho incredulously.

"If Shi-chan was able to somehow materialize the shard, then somehow you could have too. It was with you this entire time; a gift residing in your being whilst with child. This is proof; Komoto is never gone from you, but always protecting you. Will you accept the gift, and see back into your pasts and futures?" asked Rika pleadingly. Their time was short, and they needed answers fast.

Mizuho looked at the shard and without hesitation did as was told. Dazing out for a moment, she soon returned to them just like the others with memories anew. Sitting down for a second and rubbing her head, Mizuho was confused as to how to deal with the memories.

"What did you remember?" asked Rika again.

"I remember being a child again, being with…Komoto-kun…at the school you all attended. We were so young, him and I, and we always played together with one another. When we got older, we became separated and met back up years later as mercenaries for a private agency. My other memories were of us growing older together, raising a family in our home and with you guys. We were also trying our best to help Hanyuu-chan…but we failed. We were missing something…" she detailed, trying her best to remember. Suddenly, Mizuho sprung her head up with a realization pertaining to the shards. "Wait…I do remember one thing. In one of our lives, you mentioned something…it keeps replaying itself in my head Rika-chan! You said…you kept saying…" Mizuho held her head like the others, trying to recall the new memory with vigor.

"What did I say?" asked Rika hastily.

"You said…all the cards…all the cards to defeat Fate! That's what keeps going over in my head Rika-chan. What does it mean?" Mizuho looked up with red eyes at Rika, searching for an answer to this memory.

Rika looked at Mizuho with wide eyes, remembering the old saying in her past. Whenever she felt like she was alone in her plights, she found a way to defeat Fate when all of her friends were fighting right beside her. When she was truly alone, only then did Rika fail at overcoming the obstacles in her path. So right then and now, was Mizuho's memory telling Rika the final piece of information she needed to survive this night?

*I get it…I understand. I failed to realize it before…I failed to see this! I…know what I have to do…*

Mizuho watched as Rika took the last shard and pocketed it with the others; their blue aura growing stronger with each passing moment in the crimson night. Walking over to her friends, she had a strong feeling that Mizuho's memory would aid them in their final fight that night against Hanyuu.

"Everyone, please listen. We need to go back to the festival grounds…back to go to the Furude Shrine…"

"The Furude Shrine? But why? They are going to be crawling with possessed villagers there! "

"Where else can we go? It's our only stronghold left! Fortunately, we can face Hanyuu there now that I have the Onigari no Ryou. With this blade, I may be able to save her. This holy sword can kill evil and demons alike, but at the same time it may be able to save Hanyuu from the Evil overtaking her completely. On top of that, there is a large set of stairs we can counter assault from. It will be easy to send the possessed villagers falling from that incline…" Rika felt confident in her plan, and received no arguments from the others. However, someone else had a different plan in mind that may end up helping her friends in the long run.

"I can't go with you guys…"

Turning their faces, the group members looked at Mizuho with shock. Komoto had just asked her in his dying wish to protect them, but to refuse going with them was completely the opposite of what they were expecting. She was going to abandon them and leave them to fend for themselves.

"Mizuho-sensei, but…why?" asked Shion fretfully.

"Why won't you come with us?" asked Ryuu, looking irritated.

"You guys…my fight isn't alongside in battle, it's from the sidelines. That's what I am as a sniper; I strike when the moment is right and when it benefits the mission. That's what I'm going to do. I realized something just now…something we should have done all along…"

Mizuho turned from the group's glances to the distance down the dirt road. Out there, a couple miles away, laid the mysterious dome which once sealed the last remnants of the Crimson Lotuses. She had been looking at their battle strategy wrong all along; the dome was something the Dark Spector needed to open the Gates of Hell. Its appearance was most likely the oncoming of the lotus' blooming, so it was likely that the source of the Crimson Lotus' power resided there. If that wasn't there, the power wouldn't be strong enough, and maybe, just maybe, that source of power was what was needed to control the possessed villagers.

"I need to go to the Dam Site and investigate that Dome. If I'm correct, it may hold the key to Hanyuu-chan's power over the villagers. If not, then it may be the portal to Hell in a sense. Whatever it is…I….need to destroy it!"

The others watched as Mizuho balled up her fists in anger, a look of ferocity in her eyes. Grabbing her pistol and taking a couple of magazines of their remaining ammo, Mizuho made sure she was ready for this final fight. Her enemy at best would be possessed villagers, but as to how many of them she was not sure. Overall, her journey would need to be quick and flawless if they were going to survive the night.

"If you destroy the Dome, we may be able to stop Hanyuu's control over the others. That will leave just her to fight! Do what you can Mizuho-sensei and come back to us, ok?" asked Rika, nodding to her teacher.

"I will, you have my word."

"If that's what you have to do then hurry before there's no more time left. If Hanyuu-chan is still alive, then she will come back with a vengeance…" Mion looked sternly at Mizuho, giving her a supporting grin.

Mizuho turned around and nodded, looking at the empty road ahead of her and taking off without so much as another word. As the others watched her disappear into the road, a looming feeling of grief and abandonment fell over them. In such a short span of time, their lives went from peaceful to utter hell, and with that the loss of friends, family and loved ones. Turning their backs on the destroyed home and running off into the night, the group members went ahead on their paths to prepare for the final fight. What entailed that fight, however, Rika and the others did not know.

All Rika knew was that she needed to figure out how to beat Hanyuu with the use of the shards, while at the same time, defeat Fate once more with all the cards in her possession…

/

It wasn't in vain when we tried to fight,

Happiness was all that we asked for.

It wasn't in vain that we ran,

So that we could protect ourselves from the enemy.

It wasn't in vain that we stood our ground,

To give us another chance at defeating Fate.

It wasn't in vain that you died,

So that you could protect the ones you loved.

It was in vain that you did die,

When we needed you most.

Ashes to ashes,

Dust to dust,

Return to the Earth,

And leave behind all that you love,

And we shall as well leave behind,

In our hearts and in our souls,

Your memory.

Sacrifice is sacrifice,

But your loss is still heavy.

Next time on Hinamizawa Hell, "The Truth of Fate" Arc 3, Chapter 17: Holy Ground

Did you wake the Demon?