Found But Not Lost

Disclaimer: I don't own Higurashi

Keiichi and the others all looked at Shion after Mion's sudden departure. "Shion?...Do you know what got into Mion just now?" Keiichi asked.

Shion stood silent in quite contemplation. "I'm sorry Kei-chan…It's not for me to say." Shion said as she made her way home.

Keiichi and the others also made their way home. On the way Keiichi and Rena contemplated on what could have caused Mion's behavior.

"Keiichi-kun…There's only one explanation as to why Mi-chan acted the way she did." Keiichi did his best to avert Rena's gaze. "Yeah…I think I know why also…" Keiichi said still looking away from Rena. "Mi-chan's in love with you Keiichi-kun…"

Both of them stopped in their tracks. "How do you feel now that you know this Keiichi-kun?" Keiichi took a moment to answer. "I…don't really know…I mean unfortunately for Mion, I don't feel the same way…She's always been like an older sister to me, the closest thing to a best friend I've ever had."

The couple began walking again. "What do you suppose we do Keiichi-kun? At this rate…we could lose Mi-chan as a friend. That' something I don't want to happen…I also see her as an older sister and best friend."

The two were unsuccessful in coming up with any ideas. When they reached the point where they separated, Rena gave Keiichi a quick peck and said her goodbyes until the next day.

Meanwhile…At the Sonozaki Residence

"Kei-chan…" Mion cried through her river of tears. "I knew it wouldn't have worked out…I guess a part of me knew he would go with Rena-chan…But I couldn't help it…I still fell in love with him…Kei-chan…Kei-chan…Kei-chan" Mion eventually cried herself to sleep.

Keiichi woke up and went through his usual routines to get ready for school. He walked out and went with Rena, who greeted him with a quick kiss. They walked to where they usually met Mion and Shion. The only difference today was that only Shion was there to greet them.

"Hi Shi-chan…Where's Mi-chan?" Shion shook her head. She's not feeling so great today. "Usoda! Shi-chan…you're a horrible liar…We know Mi-chan's in love with Keiichi-kun.:

Shion looked rather surprised at Rena's accusation. "Well…Now that you know I guess I can't hide it." Shion tried to vain a laugh. "Yeah…she's been in love with you Kei-chan ever since you moved to Hinamizawa."

Keiichi looked a bit ashamed at himself. "Damn it! I should have noticed it. If I knew she did…I would have been more considerate about telling you guys…Or put more thought into how I said it…"

"Keiichi-kun! Don't blame yourself…This was an unavoidable situation. She would have found out eventually…Better she knew by us rather than finding out by accident." Rena tried to convince Keiichi.

"I know…But still…" Keiichi and the others eventually made their way to the school where they ran into Satoko, Rika, and Hanyuu who had just arrived at the school.

"Hello everyone, nanodesu. Politely greeted Rika Furude.

Satoko walked up to Shion and asked in a worried tone. "Uhh…Shion-san? Where's Mion-san?

Shion tried her best to not sound worried and responded in a cheerful tone. "Don't worry Satoko-chan…Mion's just feeling a bit under the weather today.

Satoko didn't look very convinced but decided to drop the subject. "Au, au, au I hope she feels better soon.

The school day passed rather quickly. Lunch time came quite quickly and everyone gathered together as they usually did. Lunch seemed really dull with the absence of Mion.

A brilliant idea suddenly struck Keiichi. "Shion" Keiichi whispered to Shion, out of earshot of Satoko, Rika, and Hanyuu. "On the weekend do you think you could "trick" Mion into meeting us? Don't tell her that we'll be waiting for her. Just try to make something up that'll get her out of the house."

Shion thought for a second. "I think I can think of something that'll do it." Shion said while smiling.

"Okay Shion…I'm counting on you" Eventually the school bell rang and all were dismissed. As Keiichi and Rena walked side by side Rena questioned Keiichi.

"Keiichi-kun…What do you have in mind?" Keiichi pointed to his head. "A brilliant idea, if we can get Mion back to us and show her that we still are her friends…Then maybe she can get out of this rut. My idea is that Shion will trick Mion and get her to meet us in town, once there we will get her to play a Club game with us and that will show her that she's still our friends."

"I wouldn't really call that a "brilliant" idea Keiichi-kun." Rena said mockingly. After hearing that, Keiichi nearly lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"Come on Rena! I thought REALLY hard on that idea." Rena laughed at Keiichi.

The week passed by quickly, as expected Mion was absent each day. Soon the day to enact Keiichi's supposedly brilliant plan. Keiichi and Rena waited for the others to show up. They were waiting outside of the toy store that they had met at the last Club meeting. Satoko, Rika, and Hanyuu met up with them soon, and then Shion walked alongside Mion.

The moment Mion saw the others she tried to make a run for it. Shion was quicker and grabbed Mion's arm and stunned her. "Now, now Sis…No need to leave before the game even begins." Mion let out a sigh of exasperation; soon she decided to give in.

They walked into the toy store together where they saw others gathering for the game that was going to be played. The game was a card game where cards were scattered across a table and the owner of the toy store would call out which card to grab, whoever had the most at the end was the winner.

The game was ready and the others began to take their seats. Mion sat in seat absent mindedly. A card was called; Mion looked around lazily and saw it. She reached to pick it up but was too slow, the kid in the next seat swiped it away from her. Mion's instinctive competitiveness began to re-awake from her. The next card that was called was immediately grabbed by Mion. Soon Mion had a large stack of cards; she noticed the only other stack that rivaled hers was Keiichi's. "GAHAHA! Kei-chan looks like you're doing pretty good. "Mion laughed out triumphantly.

Mion remembered the situation and shut herself up. The final card was about to be called when suddenly the clock rang. "I'm sorry everyone, we're gonna have to postpone this game for now, Work calls!" announced Shion.

"Hey Shion! You can't just call off the whole game when we're almost finished!" Keiichi angrily exclaimed.

"Sorry Kei-chan, if I'm late today I'll get in REAL trouble. I've been late recently to work." Shion said apologetically bowing at the same time.

"Hey don't worry about it kid, we'll finish the game another time." The store owner said as he grabbed a bag. "Here take this as a prize for now."

Keiichi took the bag and reached inside it. He pulled out a rather elegant looking doll. Keiichi himself thought it looked rather ridiculous, but then again he wasn't a girl.

"Awww…its sooo cute…Omochikaeri…" Rena said hypnotized by the doll.

Keiichi noticed this. He had no doubt in his mind this doll was "Cute". Mion also noticed this. "I shouldn't have come here…That dolls really cute I also want it. But it makes sense for Kei-chan to give it to Rena-chan…They're together now…UH!" Mion said as she lost her train of thought.

"You heard me right Mion? I want you to have the doll. I saw you staring at it." Keiichi said as he handed Mion the doll.

"Kei-chan…You shouldn't have…This is something you should give your girlfriend..." Mion said reluctant to accept the gift.

Rena spoke up. "Mi-chan, I want you to have the doll. It's okay as long as you're happy, that's all I care about."

"Rena-chan…" Mion said finally taking the doll.

"Mion…You're an important friend to me…You'll always be the best friend I ever had. I don't want to lose your friendship. So remember this…If you ever need me for ANYTHING…Remember I'm always here for you. I know you can't deny it…You had fun with us today didn't you?"

Mion was touched by Keiichi's words. "…Thank you Kei-chan…" Mion began to walk back home. "Mion! Are you gonna be at school?" Mion turned around and smiled at everyone else and nodded. Keiichi had a look of relief on his face.

Mion walked home by herself. She held the doll close to her while thinking about what had just happened. Even though she said she would show up at school tomorrow she still had doubts. "Would everything be alright? Can everything go back to the way things were before?"

Mion thought this to herself until she noticed someone else was walking the same path as her, only in the opposite direction. She looked closer and saw that the person was a man, no…a boy, probably around Keiichi's age. The boy walked closer to Mion, she saw that he wasn't walking straight…He was walking hunched. He wore a white long sleeve t-shirt and baggy blue jeans. His hair was black and messy as though he had just walked out of bed. He also held a jar of jelly in his hand; the jar was about half empty so it could be assumed that he had already eaten quite a bit of it.

Mion tried to walk out of his way as he came across her path, this failed. As soon as she moved out of his way, he changed his direction to where she walked. Eventually they came face to face. The boy raised his head up and looked deeply into her emerald eyes. Mion likewise looked into his eyes which were as black as night, his eyes also had dark bags underneath them.

"Finally as though he has seen enough of Mion, the boy finally spoke in a quiet monotone. "Mion Sonozaki…Don't lose hope…You have a long and healthy life ahead of you…spent with your friends and loved ones…So please for the sake of yourself and those who care about you…Have a happy life…"

The boy left after saying those words. Mion began to leave and stopped suddenly. She looked behind her, the boy was gone. "How…did he know my name?..."

Mion continued walking with a newfound contentment within her.