First Higurashi when they cry fic 4
John woke up to Cicadas and checked outside and saw London.
"When will this end?" he put his face in his hands "just please let me be back home."
"John" he recognized that voice.
"Rika?" Hanyu was with her too.
"You shouldn't sleep in like that."
"W-what are you doing here?"
"To wake you up."
"But…but this is…" he checked and it was Hinamizawa outside.
"Why are you so worried?" John looked back and now Rika was much closer and had cat's eyes.
"R-Rika…"
"Were you thinking about London again?"
"No not at all…"
"You're lying, I don't like being lied to" she responded, she got closer "why even think about that place? Hinamizawa is your home now, you belong here with all of us" she got closer and pushed him down getting on top of him.
"Rika-"
"Don't worry John" she stroked his hair "the curse won't get you as long as you behave and never try to leave." Hanyu started apologizing and John grabbed Rika and held her close.
'It's not real it's just the syndrome not real just the syndrome!'
"J-John what are you doing?"
"John come on you need to go to-" his mother stopped when she saw their position.
"John something's poking me" said Rika. It was an uncomfortable talk before John could leave home that morning. Hanyu had at least calmed down.
'You need to remember it's just the syndrome you can beat it' thought John. Then Keiichi wasn't at school that day. 'This is the day he skips but didn't I prevent that? No it happens because Rena spies on him, damn it I didn't stop that!'
"Hold on he actually did that to you?!" asked Satako.
"I didn't mind" said Rika with a smile.
"John, who'd a thought you were such a predator?" asked Mion.
"I-is that what they call the Pedo-bear?" asked Rena.
"For the last time I am not a pedophile" said John.
"Speaking of them where's Keiichi?" asked Satako.
"His mother told me he's off sick today" said Rena. "I know I'll make him a get well gift."
"Not the best idea" John said quickly.
"Huh why not?"
"Because…" John searched through all his bull shit files for an answer "my mother has already taken a look at him and put him on a strict diet for the day."
"Oh I see" said Rena disappointed.
"So if anyone gets word of him breaking that just tell me" said John.
"Since when does your mother see to Keiichi's health?" asked Mion.
"Keiichi heard she was a doctor and went for her opinion is it that important to know?" asked John.
"…John are you hiding something from us?" asked Mion.
"You're acting pretty suspicious" said Rika.
"What could I be hiding?" asked John. 'The centuries old girl with a demon connected to her is saying I'm suspicious!?'
"Do you know something about Keiichi, is he in danger?" asked Rena.
The bell rung and John used that excuse to kill the conversation. Of course lunch came around the corner and they attacked him there.
"So spill it what do you know of Keiichi."
"Nothing is wrong Rena" said John "stop being paranoid."
"Are you sure nothing is wrong?" asked Satako.
"I just said that" said John.
"But are you really sure?" asked Mion giving him a closer look.
"Well…"
"I knew it!"
"Let me finish the sentence first" said John. "He's sick but it might also be because of me that he's skipping."
"Why would he skip because of you?" asked Satako.
"He's convinced that I'm planning to kill him" said John.
"Come again?" asked Mion.
"Why would he think that?" asked Rika.
"Detective Ooishi" that cleared it up for them.
"That guy again" said Mion "so he's putting ideas into Keiichi's head now."
"So it's just best none of us talk to Keiichi for a while, he might start thinking it's all part of Mion's plot to kill him."
"Hold on, why would he think I'm behind this!?"
"He knows my parents work for your family" said John. Mion grumbled "so when he comes back we just act like nothing is different."
"John do you think Oyashiro is stalking Keiichi?" asked Rena fearfully.
"If she is I ask her to quit it it's not helping" said John.
"But I must apologize" said Hanyu.
"Thinking you're being stalked by an implacable spirit doesn't really help with paranoia" said John.
"She…" said Rena "has Oyashiro spoken to you?"
That brought silence to the table and John mentally cursed his big mouth "of course not-"
"Liar!" Rena yelled.
"Hey Rena calm down" said Mion.
"You have heard Oyashiro, that's the only way you'd know Oyashiro is female" said Rena.
"John…" all eyes were on him now.
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch. John knew the talk wasn't over though since Rena persisted even at the club.
"So have you heard her, what did she say?"
"Isn't our show going to be on soon?" asked John.
"That wasn't what I asked" said Rena without any pleasantries.
"John" the rest were getting worried now "if you've really heard Oyashiro please tell us what she said" said Mion.
John chose his next words carefully "she kept saying I'm sorry, over and over" said John.
"She said that?"
"But not malevolently" said John "almost like she was begging for forgiveness. So I don't think she's behind the murders" that declaration certainly got attention and had Hanyu looking at him with hope "or if she is it's not willingly."
"So you don't think she's behind the deaths?" asked Rena.
"No, that's just not the feeling I get from her" said John.
"Then what is behind the murder's and disappearances?" asked Rika.
"To cause so many year after year it would have to be a powerful organization" said John "I have no idea what it wants by causing all this but Oyashiro is not behind all this I'm certain of it."
"I hope your right" said Mion grimly. John now had Rika's attention focused on him.
"I've heard Oyashiro too" she said "and I think John's right she can't be behind the murders or disappearances."
"Then if it's not Oyashiro then what could it be?" asked Rena.
"Something else" said John "oh I won."
"No way!"
"Now you have to do the punishment game Mion."
Mion grit her teeth. She was soon fanning the rest of them in an Angel Mort uniform.
"I will get you tomorrow" she grumbled.
"Till then get the TV out" said Satako "come on slave work."
Mion did just that muttering something about vengeance and soon enough the TV show of the real world was playing before John once again.
'Or is it the real world? I have memories of there but I have them here too…'
The cicadas sung in the background.