Chapter three:

The two letters

The glares of anger and shock from the Ushiromiya family made even Mion and Keiichi feel like small children. Satoshi looked like a beetroot, Hanyuu wouldn't stop 'hau'ing and Rena was tied up for trying to take Hanyuu and Maria home.

Battler, George and Jessica were currently trying to persuade Jessica's parents to let the higurashi group stay on the island.

"I mean, come on! There is a freaking typhoon on it's way, and where will they stay during that?!" Jessica yelled, gesturing to the storming sky outside.

"Alright, fine!! But they'll stay with the servants, and work as servants until the typhoon passes, which will be when they leave for home." Natsuhi said, massaging her head.

"Where is their home anyway?" Eva asked from behind her fan.

"A village named Hinamizawa." Mion said, used to handling heirs of large families seeing as she was one herself.

"Um...Mii... what year is it?" Rika asked quickly.

"1986, why?" Jessica asked. She blinked quickly as the visitors slumped to the ground, shock and confusion written all over their faces.

"Damn you Hanyuu..." They said in unison.

"HAUUUU~!!!!!!"

Everyone leaned back in their chairs, completely full from the delicious meal Gohda had served. While everyone in the Ushiromaya family openly discussed their problem, the residents of Hinamizawa discussed theirs in whispers.

"The Hinamizawa syndrome-"

"Will it affect us?"

"But we're with Rika-chan, so it shouldn't, should it?"

"What about the people in Hinamizawa?"

"Upon noticing that Rika's gone, Irie-sensei will start vaccinations, I bet."

"What about the fact that we're three years in the future?"

"Well....Uh.... muu..."

"Why is life so confusing?"

"You do know that we're in another repeating time, don't you?"

"...."

"..."

"..."

"....."

"....."

"..."

"....."

"WHAT?!!!!" Everyone stared at the group, whom took no notice.

"Another one?!"

"But we just got OUT of one!"

"What happens if we die here?"

"I expect we'll be reborn again like the rest."

"This is just brilliant..."

"We just got to October......"

"Has everyone finished dinner yet?" Maria asked, which stopped all arguments.

"Uh.. yeah, why?" Battler asked. Maria smiled.

"Beatrice-sama gave me a letter to read to all of you after dinner, remember?" Maria took out the envelope and opened it, dropping the letter to the table. She read out loud about how Beatrice was the alchemy adviser, and how she had given the leader of the family the gold worth billions of yen. She also spoke of how Beatrice would claim the interest, unless someone could find the missing gold.

The letter ended in an uproar from the family, before Maria cleared her throat.

"I have another letter..." She frowned when she remembered the instructions. "Apparently, it is not directed to the ears of the Ushiromaya family, but they may listen if they want. But this letter is for the people of Hinamizawa..." Despite the fact that the letter was not intended for them, all the Ushiromaya family all listened closely.

"Beatrice:....UU~ why does she start the letter off like that? Uu~ Beatrice: It seems that I am being used as a messenger by both Lambdadelta and Bernkastel. This is displeasing... But I am, of course, talking to the legends that helped Bernkastel defeat Lambdadelta-"

"We did?" Keiichi asked. Everyone else shrugged.

"-In the one hundred year battle of Hinamizawa, June, Showa year 58. But you are on my game board, and this makes me worry. A tinsy bit. Anyway, here is the words from the two great witches I mentioned earlier.

Bernkastel: Why does it seem like we're on a television show?

Lambdadelta: I knew we shouldn't have used a pen that records every word that escapes our mouths.

Bernkastel: Things get more interesting every day. Niipa~

Lambdadelta: Seems that you picked up some tips from Furude Rika.."

Rika turned bright red and everyone smiled at her.

"Mii.." She whispered.

"Bernkastel: Yes, it seems that I have. Ah, I have discovered all of those that came to this world."

Lambdadelta: Who?! Who?!

Bernkastel: Well, there's the obvious, the Sonozaki twins, the Houjo siblings-

Lambdadelta: Satoshi woke up?!

Bernkastel: Obviously....I thought you'd figured that out by now.

Lambda: Damn you Bern-chan...

Bern: There's also Furude Rika and Rena Ryuuguu, that's good. There's Keiichi-kun-

Lambda: NO!!! I hate him... All he had to do was shout 'human organs' into a radio transmitter and everyone on my side of the chess board except Takano ran screaming!"

Everyone was in fits of laughter.

"Bern: That guy's hilarious... kept me entertained, at least. Oh, and Hanyuu is also here.

Lambda: Aw man!! Where in the rules did it say that having a guardian god on your side was permitted?

Bern: Rules? What rules? There was rules? I thought it was just do whatever it takes to win?

Lambda:...That was what that group of kids said all the time...

Bernkanstel: Yes. But Keiichi always looked cute in a dress. Nipaa!"

Keiichi slumped to the ground, pretending to cry, and Satoshi pretended to comfort him. Everyone looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and Mion snickered.

"Uu~ that reminds me of my favorite tv show. Anyway....

Lambda: Shall we get to the point? This pen is so annoying...

Bern: Fine.. fine..alright, you lot are once again in a repeating time. You are there to help a certain person-

Lambda: BEATRICE!!

Bern: NO. You are here to help solve the crimes committed on this island in human ways. Should be easy, seeing as most of you are criminals yourselves."

"We resent that!!!!!"

"You know it's true... Anyway, you guys will be fine, because there is no such thing as the Hinamizawa syndrome here.

Lambdadelta: You seven.. wait, seven!! Beatrice can use six of you as sacrifices!!

Bernkastel: Where's the fun in that? These guys deserve an interesting death. I don't think anyone here has had a stupid death yet!!!

Lambdadelta: Well... I want them dead! Again!

Uu~ That's it. How confusing...." Everyone was looking at the Hinamizawa group expectantly.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's going on?" Battler asked, appearing in the grey and frozen surroundings. Beatrice whistled.

"From the looks of it, these people are from Hinamizawa."

"They told us that!! What's so special about Hinamizawa? I've never heard of it!!" Battler yelled. Beatrice laughed.

"Of course you haven't heard of it. It's in another world. It seems that the numbers have finally been raised on your side of the battle."

"How do you know that they weren't meant for your side of the chess board?!"

"...Were you not listening to the letter? You are very lucky, Ushiromaya Battler, to have such wonderful allies. "

"I expect I'm supposed to know what that means?" Beatrice sighed.

"Hau~ Why is everyone still?" Hanyuu asked from her position on the couch. Battler and Beatrice spun around, trying to find the owner of the voice. Hanyuu smiled at the two.

"I take it that you are Beatrice." Hanyuu bowed her head politely.

"I am Hanyuu, also known as Oyashiro-sama, guardian god of Hinamizawa." Beatrice's eyes widened, and Battler's jaw dropped.

"A... guardian... god?" He asked.

"This is so!! Are you the man whom we have been asked to help with?" She studied him carefully.

"Hau.... it's Keiichi-san is three years..." Battler sweat dropped.

"Hehe... anyway, do ya have any experience in explaining supernatural phenomenon with humane means?" Battler asked.

"Yes! Of course! We have done it many times! Like how a woman whom had been dead for a day went to a festival, or how a dead person committed serial murders. We even know the perfect murder, so we'll be able to uncover it. Hopefully." Beatrice grinned.

"Well, now that we have that settled.....

....Let the first twilight begin."


I know that Bern and Lambda probably went out of character...but I tried to keep it as in character as I could....