Disclaimer: I do not own When They Cry Higurashi no Naku Koroni, it belongs to its original creator.

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When They Cry Higurashi no Naku Koroni

Tachiagari-hen

Hyakunenmai no Hatsukoi

Chapter 4 "Messenger of Tragedy"

After their time together under the beautiful night sky, Rika and Keiichi quickly made their way back to shrine grounds so the others would not notice their absence.

But when Rika and Keiichi finally rejoined the others, it had already been an hour since the end of the Watanagashi festival and everyone had already been out looking for them.

"Gomen mina, mattase da na." Keiichi apologized as he and Rika rejoined the group.

"Well, it's okay as long as the two of you are fine." Mion replied as Shion nodded in agreement.

"Well, since it's getting late, I will let you guys go." Mion then dismissed the club; however, before Keiichi could leave, Mion, Rena, and Sataoko all eyed him with an evil smile, which sent shivers down his spine.

"What could they mean?" Keiichi thought of the meaning of the evil smile as he walked towards the exit of the shrine. But then suddenly, the girl with the long black hair came into sight as he neared the entrance.

"Keiichi, I will walk you to the bottom of the steps." Rika offered with a slight smile on her face and to which Keiichi agreed, because he wished to spend more time with young girl.

On their way, the young couple said little to one another, but they were fine with it because the presence of each other was enough.

Very soon they arrived at the entrance to the shrine and they looked at each other longingly as if not wanting to separate, but still they knew that they had to go now and that they would see each other tomorrow.

"Mata ashita, Rika-chan." Keiichi said first as he gently patted the young girl's hair and in return, the young maiden nodded and bid her lover farewell.

"Mata ashita, Keiichi." Then the two parted and believing that the happy days would be ahead of them.

Unknowing to them, on the other side of the town, darkness had just descended.

It was in an open field not far away from the shrine. The police had the entire area surrounded while a man wearing a black shirt, red tie, and kaki pant walked out of his car and greeted the officer guarding the scene.

"Oishi-san, this way please." The man, who appeared to be near sixty, after being greeted by the officer in command of the scene, entered into the perimeter.

"What do we have, Kuma-chan?" Oishi asked the younger police officer who led him across the field.

"I think it is better for you to see for yourself, Oishi-san." Kumagai Katsuya, a subordinate of Oishi, then stopped before a plastic sheet.

Oishi then knelt down and lifted up the side of the plastic sheet and what he saw made him gasp, but also excited him.

"Korei wa omoshiroii." Oishi said to himself as a smirk appeared on his face while the moon shun on the open field, showing everything on it for the world to see.

The next morning, Keiichi left his house earlier so that he could spend sometime with the young miko. However, as he traveled through the village, he could feel that something was wrong. Still, he decided that he would learn of whatever that it was at school.

"Good morning, everyone." Keiichi said as he opened the classroom door.

But as soon as he entered, Keiichi could tell something was seriously wrong as the Sonozaki sisters casted their weary glance at him while the other club members also turned their gaze towards him.

"Oh, Kei-chan, it's you." Mion said as she let out a sigh and then rubbed her eyes.

"What happened?" Keiichi asked as he approached his friends and his answers almost immediately after that.

"Keiichi, Tomitake and Takano were found dead last night." Rika said with slight fear in her voice as sitting in her seat looking at Keiichi with sadness in her eyes.

Keiichi was shocked by hearing it and for a moment, he did not know how to respond. When he finally came around, he asked, "When did this happen?"

"They say the murder took place several hours after the festival." Rena replied as sadness could also be heard in her voice.

Soon afterwards, their classmates began to arrive one by one and strangely, no one else seemed to know, which surprised Keiichi.

"The police have placed restriction on the media for reporting this incident." Mion added after noticing the quizzical gaze on Keiichi's face.

"After all, another tatari will make it very troublesome." Shion joined as she leaned against Mion's table.

Keiichi then looked at Satoko, who remained silent throughout the entire conversation, and what he saw was an expression of emptiness, but his attention was quickly taken away as Chie entered the room.

"Everyone, class is about to start, please get back in your seats." And as commanded, everyone in the class returned their seat.

The day went on without further disturbance as Keiichi and the others carried on as usual. And very soon the day came to an end.

"Well, we won't be having club activity today." Mion said tiredly as she and the others gathered their textbooks and writing utensils, and without questions they all obeyed as they all knew the reason.

Therefore, everyone returned to their homes, leaving only Keiichi and Rika behind in the classroom.

"Ja ego, Rika-chan." Keiichi said as he took hold of Rika's hand with slight blush on his face

Rika at first was surprised, but when the surprise receded, she replied by taking a firm grip on the hand holding onto her small hand.

"Hai nano desu." As those words came out, a slight blush and happy smile formed on Rika's face.

So without anymore delays, Rika and Keiichi went on their way to Furude Jinja. However, as they traveled through the village, they felt that something was very wrong as murmurings were heard.

"Have you heard about the body?" One of the villagers said to his companion as Keiichi and Rika walked by.

"It must be this year's tatari." The other villager replied as he looked sadly at the ground.

More similar things were heard along the way and as more of those words were said, Rika began to tremble as many emotions flew through her mind.

Seeing that Rika like this, Keiichi sensed that he had to do something, and thus he immediately held onto Rika's hand more strongly, as if telling her that everything would be alright and Rika sensing all these calmed down a little.

Very soon, they arrived at the bottom of the stairs to the shrine and there was silence for a moment. Although she now felt better than when they were walking through the countryside, it could be seen that she was still fearful since she could be found looking worriedly at the ground below her. Seeing this, Keiichi decided that it washe needed to do more to make this young girl feel safe.

"Rika-chan, listen to me." Hearing those words, Rika looked up at Keiichi who knelt down right before her.

"Keiichi…" Rika replied weakly as she saw the serious expression on Keiichi's face.

"Rika-chan, no matter what happens, I will always be with you, alright?" As he finished Keiichi gave a reassuring smile and seeing this Rika nodded as courage filled her heart.

"Hai nano desu." As Rika said those words, she felt warmness and happiness.

Then Keiichi stood up and after a few more minutes of talking, Keiichi went on his way home as Rika saw him off. Now even though Rika felt lonely as she waved goodbye to him, but seeing his figure gave her strength. Therefore, without doubt she knew one thing: that no matter what was ahead of her, she would have the courage to face them with him by her side.

To be continued...

Completed: February 20, 2009

Edited: March 23, 2009

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Author's note: Well, it took a while this time because I had to deal with finals. Anyway, this chapter have similarities to parts in Onikakushi and Watanagashi hen, actually just the part in the classroom (There are other arcs where there is also the classroom scene, but can't remember which one), but is without the lack if trust amongst the club members. Also, this chapter is relatively short because this part serves more as an interlude between the prologues and the real story. Well, any comments are welcomed, and if there is a mistake, please do tell me so I can fix it. Thus, see you in the next chapter

Translation:

["Gomen mina, mattase da na."] translates to "Sorry everyone to keep you waiting."

[Mata ashita] translates to "See you tomorrow."

["Korei wa omoshiroii."] translates to "This is interesting."

[tatari] translates to curse.

["Ja ego, Rika-chan."] translates to "Let's go then, Rika-chan."

["Hai nano desu."] translates to "Yes."