Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - Reflection [Jukko-hen]

Continuation from Tsumihoroboshi-hen. "Everyone has been claimed by the fateful June and I stand the lone survivor. Clouds pass over the sun, abandoning the village of Hinamizawa; my home - reclaimed by demons".

The sky had been cloaked in a veil of grey clouds, much darker than when she had parted from Keiichi, both dragging their bikes by their sides. The bike now rested near the edge of the dump in the hiding place Rena had constructed for such occasions when she would skip returning home and head straight for her secret base. The wind grew cold and hinted further that rain was coming to Hinamizawa.

Rena clambered over the heap constructed to the camper van's left side, dressed still in her white dress ensemble. She dug the heels of her tall, laced brown boots into dips between items of trash, her tactic to prevent falling. Once she reached the bottom, she moved to the front of the abandoned vehicle, gazing inside before pulling up the window and slipping inside, dragging the handle down after her.

Inside was her second home, cups and dolls were stacked on a wooden chest, plushies smiling from the shelf that had been put up. They went unnoticed as Rena moved to the side furthest from the mound she had climbed down and ignited the lantern kept for such dark days. Her eyes moved up and to the star chart taped to the ceiling. It was wonderful how the stars could make animals from so far away, alone in their own space, but united as they linked up despite the distances between them.

Pattering could be heard as she gazed into the space far beyond her wildest dreams, drawing her back to Earth and outside where the rain had inevitably started falling heavily. The rain was refreshing after a warm summer's day, but it was saddening at the same time. It made her think of old times, when it had just been her father and herself - that was how she liked it, even before she returned to Hinamizawa. Her mother had decided to leave the village despite the girl's protests, wanting to clutch onto her naïve hope that her parents could get back together. Her father, however, remained loyal to her wishes. But even then, times in his company felt unsatisfactory in comparison to those with her mother.

「ひぐらしのなく頃に」

熟考編

Chapter 3 - Emptiness

Jouichirou sighed heavily; feeling powerlessness weighed on his heart, like a lead weight tying him down to the rocks. The light hanging from above, fixed into the centre of the white ceiling lit the evening darkness; the picturesque day deteriorating into a flood of despair; grey clouds charging across the sky and spilling tears of pity onto the Okinomiya. Ooishi had offered the duo a shelter in the form of his home; improper, but falling on his shoulders as a sense of duty. He had taken Rena from Hinamizawa shortly before the disaster that stripped her life of history, he had been the one charged with confessing the news long ago, he was the one that ruined her life just as she was returning to a stable frame of mind. The boy dragged up his white-socked feet from the floor, tucking them onto the cushion and wrapping his arms around the knees delicately, holding himself in a fleshy sphere of sorrow and regret.

In front of him, the glass-top coffee table glimmered like a reversed sun, the top of his unkempt hair mirrored in the clear face. Moping in the former-officer's home felt wrong, but there was little else he could do; Ooishi insisted on keeping him with Rena, the two had bonded well. To rip him away from her just as they returned to true life would simply kill her. There was another armchair nearby, identical to the one that embrace him with its hollow comfort, a sofa pressed against the wall to his right, opposite the French doors that led onto a small balcony, tears seeping down from the spray of misery

From behind, a click and subtle thud, Ooishi had emerged from the darkness. Jouichirou glanced over his shoulder at the aged man waltzing towards him grimly; Rena had taken the news of Hinamizawa badly, shrunken into a silent and frozen wreck. Offers to return to the hospital were given by the guardian, but nothing came of them, nor of the helpline numbers he had given her should she feel like talking any time soon. His wrinkled head was bowed solemnly, guiltily, while he paced away from the shaded room he had emerged from, sulkily retreating to the living room where the stronger of the fractured souls waited in vain for hope. He waited until Ooishi moved beyond him and towards the neglected sofa, snatching the tobacco packet and cigarette papers from the coffee table before he positioned himself and fell into the meaningless softness.

"How is Rena?" Jouichirou asked tonelessly, hopelessly.

Ooishi dabbed the edge of the paper with the tip of his tongue, rolled the cigarette up and slipped the end into his mouth before he responded with a simple shake of the head; no improvement, lost in despair. It all meant Rena was beyond reach. Seeing the gesture, Jouichirou's heart sank; Ooishi had not even the heart to confess in words that there was nothing they could do for her, but wait it out. She hadn't touched the food that Ooishi brought over the course of the day, the water in the glass jug on the windowsill sank slowly.

A flicker of light came from the senior man, a small flame that scorched the edge of the paper and tobacco, burning away at the small creation. A puff of grey breath fled from the man's mouth in the form of a sigh, dissipating into the air until its field was too far stretched to exist any further and simply vanished.

"Ooishi-san".

Moving his eyes back to the boy, Ooishi was removed from his world of tired thoughts and complaints, wishing that he could reverse time a year, long enough to prevent the disaster, or at least console Rena in a different way.

"What's going to happen now?" the younger one asked.

With a heavy breath, Ooishi peeled his eyes away and moved them to the splattered doors opposite, the lights of opposite dwellings glowing in the storm like candle lights along a river of remembrance.

"I don't know" he confessed. "It's not possible for Ryuuguu-san to be left on her own; she can't live until she's grieved. There's nothing we can do to help her until she finds herself and releases those she lost; it's not easy, but I believe she is strong enough to achieve freedom and peace in time. Hinamizawa was a close community; the thought of her friends' demise will haunt her both throughout the day and in her dreams for a while. Something like that, such a large-scale loss…"

"Ooishi-san…" Jouichirou whispered solemnly. He couldn't comprehend losing everyone he cared for; his parents were buried and sleeping together, but he had others to exist for. Rena had no-one. Everyone she cared for were in a mass grave together somewhere, all gone without so much as a chance to say goodbye. She had been denied the last precious moments with the earthly bodies of her former life, blissfully ignorant of the truth she would have to face eventually. His head tucked itself between hunched shoulders. "I just wish…"

Down the hallway, the door to the room Rena hid away in remained untouched, the girl herself rested against the wall beside the window, on the opposite end from the only way in or out. The curtains were drawn, the only exception coming in the form of a narrow strip exposed to the sight of the drowning city; she paid no attention to the torrential downpour, however, and sat motionless, much like a damaged statue that could do nothing to repair itself. The light from the morning was gone; the light of hope and joy, of a future that was planned out so precisely to avoid losing her way once more. What had happened to the perfect day that would open into an ideal future?

All drowned in blood. The blood of the people she had left behind.

A belated exhalation of air left her mouth; her eyes still remained in the safety of the still and quiet room, undisturbed by reality. It would act as a prison while she locked herself away from the living world. The eyes remained dark, almost blank much like the times she had had been running about Hinamizawa with her hand in hand, plotting the scheme that would open the eyes of all non-believers to what the aliens had been plotting… all until the truth exposed was that there was nothing but paranoid delusions haunting her. In the corner of the room, the suitcase with all the possessions she had taken from Hinamizawa when leaving all those months ago sat open; all the possessions she had left in the world, the rest cut off in the quarantine zone. Those months ago… so much time had passed since last seeing the smiling faces of her friends. To breath the same summer air as them and laugh; play their club games and fawn over the punishment games they, particularly Keiichi, would be forced to endure. So much time had passed since the innocent children and everyone around them lost their lives to fate.

Her dried eyes began to dampen once more, the socket edges soaked in tears ready to slide free and escape in the episode of despair. Just like those that had returned to Hinamizawa soil upon learning the truth that had been hiding behind Ooishi; the ruins of the village as a result of the 'Great Disaster'. Since the time she had been dragged from the fence, she had been unable to cry, her face dried and the trails of those tears gradually evaporated. Despair, h however, took on its new form and reduced her to a catatonic shell; recovering was going to take much longer than the simple drying of tears.

Bringing her head down from the view of the heavens, Rena tucked it between her shuddering shoulders, eyes fallen to the ground once more, tears gushing like rivers down her cheeks, falling through the invisible waterfalls before crashing against the hardened soil beneath. It was like a young child trying to revive a dead flower by watering it, acting far too late to rescue the plant from its untimely dehydration. Only small stains remained of the tears for a brief time, quickly swallowed by the unforgiving land and vanished without a trace. All signs of regret and grief were erased mercilessly.

Rena relieved her throat of another sob, shaking her head quickly, throwing the tips of her hair around, including into the damn trails, snagging the strands and pinning them to her face. It couldn't be, what had they died? Why had this wretched fate befallen them in such a cruel and ritualistic way? Of all times, they had perished mere days after she left, around the time of Oyashiro-sama's demands for two victims. They were going to be there for her, they had promised to wait for her.

Her grip on the fence weakened and fingers withdrew from the inside, palms running against the rusting chain fence, her legs were bending/ She seemed to leave the world for a moment, her cries all but diminished, leaving in their wake slight gasps for breath; the only sign that she had reacted in the manner she had. When her knees hit the ground, she did nothing; her eyes remained wide, staring in disbelief to the rising ground, like it was finally hitting her; the full impact of the truth. The truth that she would never see Keiichi again, never see Rika again nor Mion, Shion and Satoko.

"Rena?"

The voice that broke through the chain of memories was Jouichirou's; an outsider, someone who had no understanding of the ways in Hinamizawa, ignorant of the tales of Oyashiro-sama's tale and the string of deaths underneath the name.

Regardless of the voice reaching her, Rena didn't openly react; she chose to remain still as though she had become detached from the world, clenching her fists pressed against the gravel underneath her. It was that moment that Ooishi stepped forward, asserting the fact that he remained at the scene.

"Ryuuguu-san, we should leave" he sighed heavy-heartedly. "Perhaps the two of you could stay at my place for a while; it's the least I can do. I doubt you wish to return to your mother, but I can use the Okinomiya police force to find somewhere appropriate for you to stay if you wish".

"No!" Rena cried sharply, squeezing her eyes shut tightly, the body flinched with the brutal response. "You can't take me away from here; I belong here, in Hinamizawa! I have to stay as close as I can, otherwise Oyashiro-sama will be disappointed in Rena. I- I promised that I would stay this time… There's nowhere else for me; al my friends… my father…"

The distraught survivor's words deteriorated into fits of sobs and rapid breaths, her paled hands retreated, pressing down against her temples. The shrunken form fitted and shivered, overwhelmed.

"Rena…" Jouichirou muttered serenely, lowering his head remorsefully.

"I lost everything. All that I have is what I took from Hinamizawa when I left for the hospital" Rena cried, tears flowing much thicker than whilst she had endured the recollection of the tragedy. "There's no-one around me like I was promised. Everything I had; it was there. Hinamizawa was my life… and now it's gone…"

Jouichirou felt his heart sank further, burying through the ground and further into the darkened depths that would lead to whatever lied beneath; he was unable to say anything to ease the redhead's pain, nothing to calm the breakdown. He could only stand with tears building in his eyes, forced to watch as despair enveloped Rena, reducing her to little more than a sobbing shell. Unable to smile, unable to experience happiness, unable… to live.

She had taken the news of her previous life's death hard; as he could understand. It was taking him all back… back to the time when he was informed of his parents' death, having finally constructed his own path to recover following the crash. He'd cried for days, there was no other family for him; he was alone. Just like the broken girl…

Since those moments, when the tears finally ceased and the wails of despair calmed into silence; Rena had been unable to speak or express emotion; left like a shell, silently mourning the loss of everything she knew. Her reality. No more tears, no more sobs nothing left her mouth, which dried from the lack of movement or attention. Jouichirou had loosely wrapped his arms around her, guiding her gently from the ground, as if her body had become as fragile as her mind and emotions, and escorted her back to the car.

Instead of the bubbling, bright girl that had been sliding her head through the window and into the winds, waiting to be returned to her home, Rena was little more than a doll seated against the seat; the belt pinning her down and her head tilted downwards, eyes hovering somewhere about the floor. None of the spectacles interested her nor caught her eye. Beauty had been sapped from the bitter world left in the wake of the precious days she had been promised; snatched away at the cruellest of times. The cheerful girl had died at the edge of Hinamizawa; waiting on the other side of the fence to her friends.

It tore at Jouichirou's heart to consider Rena's position, more so to witness the girl on both sides of the crushing reveal; imagining as Rena reached through the chain-link fence, trying desperately to reunite with her joyful friends, playful lively without a care in the world while she remained locked out, tears gushing down her face, calling out to them, words halted at the barrier. Eternally tormented. The young dark-haired man lifted his eyes from the ashtray, where Ooishi pressed the tattered remains of his cigarette against the glass, and upwards to the man's wrinkled face, the sagged eyes remaining downcast.

"Ooishi-san" he said firmly. "Rena is in a state of shock, there must be something we can do for her".

"Just give her time; that's the only choice we have" Ooishi sighed grimly, slipping the cigarette between his lips and inhaling the substances within.

"But you and Rena spoke of something before; something about an illness, a curse" Jouichirou continued, leaning forward. "I want to know more about it; the Hinamizawa Syndrome, the curse of Oyashiro-sama".

Ooishi removed the cigarette, clearing his throat with a grunt quickly afterwards. "I don't think that's such a good idea" he mumbled. "It's not really something that should be spread like gossip".

"Please, Ooishi-san" Jouichirou insisted. "I have to know all the facts if I'm to help Rena".

The retired officer exhaled deeply, aware that any attempt he would make to redirect the boy's attention from the fabled condition would ultimately fail He slid the cigarette into a small groove made in the rounded edge of the ashtray and stretched his neck, falling back into a slouch between the wide arms of the seat.

"Alright, but I'd appreciate you keep the details to yourself" he said. "The truth is… I never believed in the curse, nor in that Shrine God. It appears as though science prefers the ideal that the Hinamizawa Syndrome is a condition that affects all in the village, whereas the people and their religious ways prefer the theory that it's a punishment from their god, who causes suffering and eventual death to those who disobey His laws, such as deserting the village".

"That's why Rena was so insistent on staying at Hinamizawa" Jouichirou interjected, raising his eyebrows. "She said that Oyashiro-sama would be 'disappointed' if she left; she was just trying to protect herself from becoming a victim again. After all, who else does that thing have to haunt?"

"Apparently, many elders whose families moved away from the village also began to act peculiarly following the news" Ooishi added with a slow nod. "The truth is, regardless of what alternative explanation is compiled for the condition, the people were afraid to lose their faith; which was when the curse began to affect life in the village".

"What do you mean?" Jouichirou questioned, lifting his head in curiosity. "How could a mere fable change the everyday life of an entire village?"

"They were religious people" Ooishi grunted. "If was all sparked by that accursed Dam War; on the night of the Watanagashi Festival, held towards the end of June, one of the figures in charge of the dam project was brutally murdered; his body divided into six separate parts: head, torso, arms and legs. After that… a similar sequence would happen every year".

"Someone would die on the night of the Watanagashi?" Jouichirou assumed.

"Not just that. Someone else would go missing, and the pattern suggests someone close to the deceased" Ooishi elaborated ."The villagers claim those people were 'demoned away' as a sacrifice; something along those lines. As last year's festival approached, Ryuuguu-san contacted me, claiming she had happened upon another theory".

"Another?" Jouichirou echoed, raising his eyebrows.

"A nurse at the medical centre handed Ryuuguu-san a notebook filled with elements of an alternative explanation for the strange behaviour, possibly even those who vanished. That book claimed to Ryuuguu-san that aliens were preparing to invade the world; that they would abduct individuals and replace them with copies" Ooishi continued, casting his eyes towards the rain-splattered glass doors. "According toe Maebara Keiichi, the night before the hostage situation, Ryuuguu-san claimed she too 'was a copy. She'd been through a stressful time and it was all becoming too much for her. Takano giving her those scrapbooks was a fatal move; Ryuuguu-san wasn't in a condition to handle peeping into the depths of another theory. However…ironically, it was that very factor that spared her her life".

"Because if she had never learned of that idea, she would have remained in Hinamizawa without trying to take her own course of action and perished with everyone else" Jouichirou finished. His head dipped afterwards, his eyes sliding downwards. "But… it looks as though that's the way she would have wanted things. Being alone is this world is a terrible thing; I don't think she will ever be able to cope with that kind of life".

"I've no choice but to agree after the display that she put on at Hinamizawa's ruins" Ooishi sighed. "The truth is… Ryuuguu-san once suffered the Hinamizawa Syndrome herself following the divorce of her parents. The same appeared to have happened once she learned of conspiracy theories; including this alien thread. Both times she feared that death was right behind her, watching over her shoulder for signs that Oyashiro-sama was ready to strike. The world, however, continued as normal, as though nothing had happened; it pushed her to her limits, ignoring her plight, much like what is happening now".

"What are you saying?" Jouichirou asked anxiously.

"I'm saying we should take care of her and keep watch; we have to ensure the strain doesn't become too much and risk her relapsing" Ooishi stated. "Having said that, I don't believe that if that should happen, she would escalate too high so suddenly; I heard from Doctor Irie at the medical centre that it's possible for residents to remain at a certain stage; he estimated tat Houjou Satoko was permanently fixed at around Level 3 and remained that way".

"So you believe that Rena may also stay in that kind of scenario?" Jouichirou inquired; the history and tales intrigued him, prompting his curiosity to learn more.

"It's not outside the realm of the possible" Ooishi mumbled. "All I can be sure of is that Ryuuguu-san may never be the same as before. I'll do what I can to restore the old Ryuuguu-san, there is a chance that time will heal. She recovered once outside that village; perhaps she can do so once more. Ill help er in whatever way I can to bring back the Ryuuguu Rena you witnessed on your journey here. The real Rena".

'Rena…' Jouichirou thought, his eyes falling to the astray whilst silently pondering over the elderly man's promise. 'Was that our past? Stalked by the sounds of death? Fearing those footsteps and when they could catch up with you? I won't let you suffer anymore; like Ooishi-san, I'll do whatever it takes to restore the real you. I want to see you smile at me the way you smiled at Maebara Keiichi. To see your real smile, hear that innocent laugh; see the light in your eyes shining as bright as the sun. Wait for me, Rena, you won't need to suffer ever again; let alone being doing so by yourself. You'll be filled with happy memories of both lives. Just… don't slip away from me I'll promise a bright future, can you promise me you won't sink into despair beyond reach?''

Over his shoulder, the young man glanced once more, curious as to what the broken girl was doing; was she still in the same withdrawn position with her head bowed and eyes half-closed? What was going through her mind? Despite what he had heard of Rena's maddened episodes, throughout it all, he knew there was an innocent girl; the real Rena he had seen. The hours of silence, they were simply another form of those episodes; a scheme to avoid madness seeing in and clouding her perception of reality.

She would remain strong, just as he had before; she had a friend by her side. That should be enough to keep her from descending into darkness. Keiichi may not have been able to physically stay by her side, but he would no doubt be there in spirit. Instead, the will left behind by the deceased brunette would be picked up by another; without even meeting or knowing his face, Jouichirou had picked up Maebara Keiichi's will; he would watch over Rena and guide her back to life.

"I'll protect you" he whispered, barely louder than the breath released. "I'll continue what Keiichi started; I'll protect you, Rena…"

The voices of your past stand behind you. The voice of your future stands behind you, reaching out. Your heart wants to take that hand, but your hand won't rise.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Reflection, Chapter 4 - "Whispers".