Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni SAI

When They Cry Again

Disclaimer

I do not own Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Kai) or anything like that. My characters are obviously mine, though. That's Mikan, Nanaha, Nina, Kain, and Ayu..

Note

Time for Arc two!

But first!

I forgot to include the hints and junk at the end of the last chapter! SO! I will include them at the start of this chapter ; But from now on, they'll go at the end of arcs. The pacing of this chapter sucks, so I apologize in advance.

Also! I want to be able to do Frederica poetry! No, I never said that canons wouldn't be in this (so keep your eyes peeled!). But I suck at poetry (as you are about to see). Anyone who can teach me not to suck at poetry will win a basket of love :D;; Thanks!

H I N T . CO R N E R

I've watched this before

This loop of endless tragedy

I've seen this before

Hinamizawa, the perfect hell

I've heard this before

Their cries drowning in the night

And now it happens again

This story is not set in Japan

Akasaka had four children

The story takes place after the Anime Good End

. A R C . T W O .

The Screaming Mirror Chapter

C h a p t e r 0 0 6 : Secret's Out

Another morning.

Moaning, Mikan pushed back the covers and rubbed at her aching eyes. It was a Sunday, so there was no school, and the night before, the entire 'family' had crashed at Ayu's while watching chick flics.

"Good morning, Mikan." Chirped the happy voice of Ayu. As usual, the oldest of the friends was also the first one up, cooking breakfast. Mikan nodded, carefully slipping out of bed; Nina and Nanaha were sleeping together, since apparently, chick flics gave Nanaha nightmares, and Mikan did not want to wake them. Kain had been forced to sleep alone in the far corner, where he was still sleeping.

"I hope eggs and toast works for you, Mikan." Ayu said with a laugh, "That's really all I can make nowadays..."

Mikan laughed quietly and shrugged, "I'll eat anything that you make, Ayu-oneechan." She responded, "Can I help?

"Sure. Wanna go pop some toast in the toaster?"

"Ok!" Mikan hummed as she hurried over to the toaster, gently sliding some bread in.

It was the morning of the Watanagashi festival. In order to get themselves ready for the party mood of a festival, the friends had had a movie night, watching a chick flic and then some overly shoujo anime.

"That was a lot of fun last night." Mikan said cheerfully, trying to start a conversation "We should do it again."

"We should." Said Ayu with a light laugh, "Maybe again tonight."

"Oooh. That'd be great." Mikan said happily, "While the adults go drink?"

Ayu laughed a bit louder this time, enough so that Kain woke up.

"Ugggh. You want us to do this... again?" He repeated, rubbing his eyes, "I don't want to watch anymore Splash Splash Love."

"It' a good show if you get passed the clichedness... everywhere." Ayu said with a shrug, "Good for your male mind."

"And it's really sweet." Mikan added, going a bit teary eyed, "You have to watch it!"

"I did watch it and it sucked." Kain grumbled, carefully stepping over Nina and Nanaha. He didn't know why, but for the last couple days, he had really been appreciating how happy and real her smiles were... But he couldn't figure out why. After all, her smiles were always real.. right?

"So, what're we cooking?"

"Eggs n' toast" Ayu said in a sing-song voice.

"You love your eggs." Kain muttered.

"And my toast" Ayu added.

Kain frowned a bit. "You're in an awfully cheery mood.. What's got you so happy?"

Ayu blinked, then blushed a bit and giggled, "Oh, uh, I seem different?"

"Now that you mention it... you kind of do." Mikan murmured, putting a finger to her lip. Ayu just turned more red and focused on her cooking.

The two were deep in thought, then Kain perked up a bit.

"Heyy Ayu, since when could you cook eggs?"

She froze.

He continued, "You never make eggs because you said you always burn them.. And that one time I dared you to try you managed to set the poor ex-chicken on fire."

"He brings up a good point!" Mikan exclaimed, pointing sky-er-ceilingward, "I thought you were the crepe and pancake queen!"

"I... uh..." Ayu looked a bit uncomfortable. Lucky for her, the cutesy combined force of Nina and Mikan's wake-up moans redirected everyone's attention, giving Ayu some time to purposely burn an egg.

"Oh no! I burnt it!" She exclaimed, though her acting was pitiful.

Nina rubbed her eyes and yawned, "Ahhh... Oh. Sanyu... What're you doing here?"

Ayu yelped for real this time. Her secret was out and it was only chapter one!

"Auu... Nina!" She hissed, "I'm Ayu! Ayumiii!"

Still only half awake, Nina was pretty easy to manipulate at this time. So she nodded. "Oh... right..."

But two could play at that game.

"Who's Sanyu, Nina?" Kain asked, smirking in the direction of "Ayu", so was obviously getting a bit nervous.

"Mmm... Ayumi's twin." Nina explained, "We grew up together but Sanyu likes to visit because she-"

"OOOOKAY!" "Ayu" exclaimed loudly, drowning out the end of Nina's sentence, "You caught me! I'm Ayu's twin, Sanyu! But you have to stay quiet because outsiders aren't supposed to be here and I could go to jail for coming to Hinamizawa without getting 'checked for purity' first."

There was a moment of silence, then Mikan whined loudly.

"Well, that was no fun. No mystery or anything? I was enjoying this new game."

"I think I win it, though." Kain said quickly,"Because I got her to fess up by manipulating Nina. So, punishment game for Mikan!"

A cutesy giggle came from the 'puppet' and she clapped her hands together, instantly energized again. "Actually, I think I win for knowing how to make her speak up." Nina chirped happily, "It's so cute that you think you could win a game, Kain, but Oyashiro-sama is on my side." She got up, letting Nanaha try to sleep in a bit more. "Don't worry you two, I'll have your punishments ready before we leave for the festival"

Kain and Mikan exchanged worried looks. Nina often had the cruelest punishment games.

"Umm..." Sanyu said quietly, "Toast and eggs, then?"

Everyone nodded slowly. This was certainly an odd start to the morning.

"Miss Ayu, did you sleep well?"

Outside of Hinamizawa, Ayu was spending time with Sanyu's personal bodyguard. Only their bodyguards knew of them switching places. The rich girl yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Mmm... Yeah... I'll need to get ready for switching at the festival today..." She murmured, itching her wrist, "What's for breakfast?"