I don't own CCS, or Higurashi or any products mentioned.
Rating T for Language, Violence
My writing style in Fanfiction.
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Something one of the characters is writing or reading
*Sound*
/ / Flashback / /
/ Dream /
Scene Change
トりのなく頃に; こしょうかけら
Tori no Naku Koro ni; koshou kakera
When the birds cry; shattered fragments
到来し編 Touraishi-hen
Arrival Arc
荷ほどき
Unpacking
"Let's eat," Umi cheered excitedly as they eat their lunch.
"So Sakura," Tomoyo said to me getting my attention. "What do you think of Yukihana?"
I frowned and thought about it. "I have only seen a little bit of it. But it seems like nothing special. I'm going to miss Tokyo," I answered truthfully.
"We are not so far away; Tokyo is only a few hours away. Look, there Hinamizawa is close by. This town doesn't have much, but that place has a little more. For example shopping," Tomoyo told me.
"We will have to go there sometime then," I replied, but Tomoyo was too busy thinking of something else to hear me.
"And a festival is coming up in Hinamizawa, it is the Watanagashi , or Cotton-Drifting Festival," Tomoyo added.
"Sounds like fun we should go," I told her.
"I want to go too," Umi piped up.
"Come on you kids, better start unpacking," my mother told us.
"Ok," Umi and I replied at the same time.
Tomoyo and I walked out of the house and we each grabbed a box out of the moving van. I found myself talking to Tomoyo about random different topics as we carried box after box. It was almost like we were best friends even though in reality we were cousins who had only talked a few times before.
Tomoyo and I carried two boxes of my clothes into the house. We walked through the living room and through the kitchen and up the stairs.
I let out a groan when I heard the stairs creak. Stupid crappy house, creaky stairs, wood molding that is chipped. Some loose floorboards in the dining room. I miss our old house!
Tomoyo and I walked through the long hallway. We passed by a wooden door which was open. I spotted Umi gleefully jumping on the bed in the room. I suppressed a giggle as we continued to walk down the hallway.
I really wish I wouldn't have taken off my shoes at the front door, this hardwood floor is so cold. Cold, cold, cold, it feels like my feet are freezing.
I turned and glanced back at Tomoyo. She looks so pretty. I'm SO envious of her; she looks so cute and elegant, while I just look like regular teen. IT ISN'T FAIR; why does Tomoyo get to look like a goddess while I look so, so ordinary!
I could tell I was started to pout; I could feel it. She doesn't even seem to be affected by the freezing cold floor.
"Sakura watch out!" I heard Tomoyo yelled as I walked.
I let out a "Hoe?" as I walked right into the wall. The box and I both fell to the floor with a thud.
"Sakura, are you ok?" Tomoyo asked, setting down her box and walking to me.
"Yeah," I tell her, "I just feel a little silly." BAKA! I was too lost in my thoughts about how perfect Tomoyo is that I didn't notice I had reached the end of the hallway! Only a blockhead would do something like that!
I picked myself up, before grabbing the box. Tomoyo and I backtracked till we reached my room.
I let out a sigh; it was the same as the other rooms. The molding was chipped and some of the floor panels were loose, and others creaked when pressure was applied to them.
Overall the room wasn't very big. A twin sized bed was in the middle of the room. A light wooden dresser sat to the left of it. And a closet was to the right of the bed, and across from the bed was a built in wooden desk. In front of the dresser on the wall was a window, with ugly dark purple curtains.
"It will have to do," I muttered. I set my box down on the dresser and pealed the tape off it. I noticed Tomoyo set her box down and opened it as well. I took out the first shirt that was in the box and walked to the closet with it.
"Hand me a hanger," I told Tomoyo, for I saw her box was the one with hangers.
"Here," Tomoyo replied with a smile as she handed me a pink plastic hanger.
"Thank you," I told her as I put the white shirt on the hanger. I let out a groan as I noticed another loose board in the far corner of the closet.
I walked over to my box and pulled out a blue blouse. "Hey Tomoyo, what do you think of the town?" I asked as I took another pink hanger from her.
"I like it; I really like the small town atmosphere," Tomoyo told me. A blight smile seemed plastered on her face.
"Are there any cute boys?" I asked teasingly.
"A few," Tomoyo answered while looking down at the floor.
"What does Tomoyo have a crush?" I teased, "You have got to tell me who it is. Or do I have to force it out of you."
Tomoyo looked up, bright red in the face. "No I won't tell," she stuttered.
I giggled before telling her, "I was just teasing you. But if you want you can tell me."
Tomoyo quickly shook her head as she handed me a white plastic hanger.
It took a while before we got all the clothes inside my closet. "There," I proclaimed when he had finally finished. "Everything is put away, and organized if I do say so myself. It goes color coated first come the blue, then the pink, then purple, followed by orange, then red and white, and lastly my three yellow hangers."
"Um Sakura, O comes before P," Tomoyo told me.
I groaned. "But I don't want to move those stupid ten orange hangers just to make the five purple and four pink ahead."
"It doesn't matter to me, but just don't forget," Tomoyo advised.
"I've never been to your house; what does it look like?" I asked.
"My house is pretty small, not as big as yours. But we have a lot of land where we raise horses," Tomoyo explained to me.
"How is raising horses?" I asked.
"Our horses are trained so most of the time they are obedient, but sometimes you have to crack the reigns," she replied cheerfully. "It can be tough at times and you need to have a firm command."
"Cool could we go riding sometime?" I asked excitedly.
"Of course Sakura," Tomoyo giggled.
A thought came into my head. "Hey Tomoyo," I asked in a soft voice, "What was that guy Eriol; what was he talking about?"
Tomoyo expression changed from smiling to thinking. She tapped her chin with her finger. She smiled at me, "Well that is Eriol for you, always making up stories. He does this all the time, so don't believe everything he says."
"Oh, ok," I told her. "That makes sense, I mean if something did happen we wouldn't have moved here." Unless it was covered up. I shook my head. That is just silly.
The door flew open suddenly and Umi ran into the room. "I'm bored," she yelled, "Play with me Onee-chan."
"I'm busy ask Touya," I told her.
"Mom, dad, and Touya left, they even left a note," Umi explained.
"Fine," I said as I let out a sigh, "Tomoyo and I will play with you."
"How about we play cards," Tomoyo suggested.
"I wanna play Old Maid," Umi cried out in delight.
"That sounds fine," I told them, "But do you have any cards, because our cards are in one of the unopened boxes."
"I'm sure Yukari has some cards," Tomoyo announced. "I will go ask her if she does and to play with us."
"Come on lets play in the living room," I told Umi.
Umi and I left my room and went into down the stairs and turned left to enter the living room. Tomoyo and Yukari entered into to the house not long after we sat down.
"Wow that didn't take long. Did you know exactly where the cards were?" I asked.
"Yes," Yukari answered.
"Wow you're that organized, that is impressive," I told her.
"Not I'm not organized; I don't know where anything is in my house," Yukari replied.
"But how did you know where the cards were?" I asked.
"I knew I was going to need them," Yukari plainly answered as she handed the deck to Tomoyo.
I was going to ask how she knew she would need them, but Tomoyo talked before I could get a chance. "Ok, whoever has the joker at the end is the loser. And to make things a little more fun, the person who loses will be asked a question and they have to answer truthfully. This way besides being a game we can learn some things about each other."
The way Tomoyo shuffled the cards so fast it was almost as if she was using magic. The cards were almost a blur in her hands.
"Wow Tomoyo that is impressive," I told her.
"Sugoi! Tomoyo-chan sugoi!" Umi cheered.
"Not really," Tomoyo answered calmly. She quickly dealt ten cards to each of us. She put the rest of the cards in a pile. "Alright everyone take a card off of the top."
Everyone took a card. "Ok, place the card face up." We all placed are cards face up. Mine was a 10H, Yukari 6S, Umi 6D, and Tomoyo 2H.
"Poor Tomoyo has to start with the joker," Umi cried.
"I won't be the one who ends up with it though," Tomoyo stated.
I starred at Tomoyo. The way she said that it was if it was a destined fact. Like something that was going to happen no matter what; weird.
"I have a match," I announced proudly. I set down my two fives.
"I get to start because I'm next to the joker," Yukari explained. "Ok, Sakura hold out your cards."
I held out my cards for her to pick from. She reached over and picked the card to the far left, the 8S.
She looked at with a passive face before saying, "You're turn."
Yes she didn't get a match, so I can even further my lead. Which one of Umi's should I pick? I know the middle card.
I reached out and took Umi's middle card. My face falters as I stare at the 5C in my hand. I must be the queen of fives.
"My turn," Umi cried out excitedly. She reached over and took Tomoyo's middle card as well. "Yeah, two queens."
The game went on until I had two cards and Tomoyo having four and Yukari three. "Ok, my turn," Yukari announced. She reached over and took Tomoyo's right card.
I watched her expression where remained passive as she threw down a pair of fours. Yukari only has two cards, yet she isn't panicking maybe Tomoyo has the joker. I reached over and grabbed Yukari's left card.
A horrified expression appears on my face. "Looks like Sakura got the joker, I better be careful of which card I pick," Tomoyo announces.
"This isn't a joker," I cry out, "It is a joke. Jokers are supposed to jesters. This thing on the card is a reaper and it says DEATH on it, death not joker."
"Relax Sakura, Yukari just has strange playing cards," Tomoyo tells me with a smile. But I notice the smile fade instantly. "I'm sure it doesn't mean anything." Tomoyo reaches over and takes my center card. "Two 5's," she announced as she threw the pair down.
Yukari took Tomoyo's right card. "I'm out," she shouted.
I gulp. It is only Tomoyo and I left. Is she picks the wrong card I win, but if she doesn't take the joker I lose.
I extend the cards out to Tomoyo. "Alright pick," I told her.
Tomoyo quickly reaches forward without hesitation and takes my left card. "I'm out," she announces right after taking my card. "Alright Sakura, Yukari will each ask you a question. My question is what type of books do you like to read?"
"Mystery, and romance," I answer.
"What is your least favorite type of movie to watch?" Yukari asked.
"Horror," I replied, "I can't stand it. It creeps me out and gives me nightmares."
"Interesting," Tomoyo and Yukari said at the same time.
"Well we have to get going," Tomoyo told me as Yukari picked up her cards.
"Why right after I tell you that fact you have to go?" I asked.
"We just looked at the clock and we are late to me a friend of ours," Tomoyo explained.
"See ya later Sakura," Yukari called out as she left the house with Tomoyo.
I quickly ran out of the house when she noticed Tomoyo's purse sitting on the couch. "Wait; Tomoyo you forgot your purse!" I yelled.
The front yard and driveway were empty. They must have headed down the street already. "Tomoyo!" I yelled as she ran down the driveway. When I reached the street she looked both ways but she didn't see anyone. Weird it is like they just vanished.
I started to walk back up the driveway. I glanced behind the house at the large towering forest. They must have gone through the forest. Maybe I can still catch them.
I ran past the house and into the forest. "Tomoyo!" I called out as I ran. I stopped and scanned the forest. "Tomoyo!" I yelled as loud as I could. I let out a sudden cry as someone tackled me to the ground.
"Shh!" the ten year old boy who tackled me hissed. "There are is a wolf nearby," he warned as he got off me.
"Yeah right," I told him as I got up.
The boy had spiky grayish hair and dark brown eyes. He wore a t-shirt and blue jeans. His eyes were filled with cheerfulness even though he had a serious expression on his face.
"It is true," he told me, "A little wolf is on the loose, and he is dangerous."
I held blank expression on my face as I out of a bush leapt a teenage boy a little older then me. He has short chestnut brown that hung down his forehead. He tackled the ten year old and held him against the ground.
I felt almost sick when the teen leaned down and lightly bite the boy on the neck. "Did you just bite him in the neck?" I questioned I wanted to make sure I saw right.
The teen got up and helped the boy up. "Yeah," he replied as if it wasn't weird. "You must be Tomoyo's cousin. I'm Syaoran Li."
Did she tell every weirdo who I am. He may be hot, but he is weird and freaky.
"See a little wolf," the boy said proudly as he pointed at Syaoran.
"Ha, ha, ha, I get it," I replied sarcastically.
Syaoran turned back to the little boy. He licked his lips almost menacingly. "Now Haru where is your sister." He asked is a creepy tone.
"No matter how much you torture me I will not betray my sister," he announced proudly.
"We'll see about that," he said nastily. He grabbed Haru by the collar of his shirt and started to drag him away.
"Hey what are you going to do to him!?" I yelled.
"Relax it is a game," Syaoran shouted back, "Baka."
I stuck my tongue out at the bush Syaoran walked through, before turning around and walked back to the house. Umi stood in front of the glass sliding door in the back.
"I want to go to the park!" She yelled.
"Ok, we will go," I told her. "I think I remember Tomoyo telling me there was a park near the center of town."
"Let's go," Umi shouted as she started running around to the front of the house.
"Wait, we have to write a note to mom and dad," I yelled as I chased after her.
"Already did that," she shouted back.
We ran down the driveway and then down the street.
"Why is our property like this?" Umi asked me. "Our house is right next to Yukari's but we have acres before we reached our neighbor's on the left side. And why are there houses on only one side of the street?"
"Don't ask me," I told her. "I didn't build the house or the town." I stopped. "Hey Umi; it is just me or is does the outside of our house seem so much bigger than the inside. I mean our house looks huge on the outside. But the first floor only has the kitchen, living room, bath room, and dining room. The second floor only has three rooms, Touya's, mine, and yours. And the third floor only has mom and dad's room. It just seems like from the outside that our house is so much bigger."
"I kind of think that too," Umi replied, "But it must just be our imaginations."
"I guess so," I laughed. "We must be going crazy."
We walked for a while before we reached the center of town. We walked down the street till we eventually found the park, after getting lost twice.
"Yeah we finally found the park!" Umi cried out running toward the playground where five other little kids were playing.
I noticed a young boy Umi's age playing all by himself. I was about to head over and talk to the boy when Umi noticed the boy and ran up to him. I noticed all the nasty looks she got from the other little kids when she ran over to the boy.
What's there problem!
I looked around and spotted a bench. I saw a girl about the age of fourteen sitting there. She wore a black dress that went down to her black shoes. She had long brown hair and green eyes. Her face looked like if you touched it hard it would break.
She has the gothic lolita look down. I walked over to the bench and sat down. "Hi I'm Sakura; Sakura Kinomoto."
"You're talking to me," the girl said shocked.
"My family and I just moved here," I told her.
"Oh," she replied slightly disappointed. "So that is why you are talking to me."
"I don't understand," I told her.
"You will find out soon enough," the girl answered.
"What is your name?" I asked.
"Mari Inihara," she replied.
"Well Mari from now I'm your friend," I told her.
A smile appeared on Mari's face before it turned to a frown. "You should leave this town."
"What?" I questioned.
"I can't explain it," Mari replied in a serious tone. "BUT YOU SHOULD LEAVE THIS TOWN!"
"I can't we just moved it; it would be weird to leave right away." I explained to her. I glanced around, my eyes narrowed on the blue haired guy who walked out of a shop. "Mari please watch my sister, I will be right back."
I quickly strolled over to Eriol. "Hey," I called out.
"Hello Sakura-chan," he greeted back.
His voice sounds strange and mysterious. "What were you talking about earlier?" I asked. "That tragedy what was it?"
"I was talking about what happened to the previous owners of that house," Eriol told me.
"You mean the people we just bought the house from?" I questioned.
Eriol shook his head. "No, I'm talking about the people who lived there three years ago."
"What happened to them?" I asked; my voice cracking a little. Why does it have to be something creepy; why can't they have just moved away or something?
"The owners of the house had three children. One night, late in June, the parents of the kids were slaughtered and chopped into pieces."
I gulped "What happened to the children?"
"They disappeared," Eriol answered.
"Did they ever catch the murderer?" I asked.
Eriol let out a creepy chuckle. He smirked while saying in a creepy tone, "You can't catch the killer; for he is Death."
My knees started to shake. "What do you mean?"
"Haven't you ever heard of Death the reaper," he told me.
I nodded my head. "Death is the reaper who takes peoples souls when they die."
"Correct, so you can't kill Death," Eriol whispered, "But he can kill you."
I gulped. "Why do you say it was Death, it was probably the children," I stuttered.
"People with high magic aura can feel Death's portal he using to enter our world. It is a chilling feeling, a terrible feeling that as if something horrible is going to happen. You felt him enter our world earlier today."
"That is just ridiculous; I would never believe something that outrageous," I told him.
"I also saw Death enter the house that night," Eriol told me is an almost silent voice. "He floated right into the third story and went through the walls."
"That is just dumb, I'm not that gullible," I told him as I walked away.
"Wait!" Eriol yelled.
I stopped and turned around. "What?" I questioned.
"Do you what are covering that wall over there?" Eriol asked as he pointed to said wall.
The wall was coated in missing children posters. "Yeah I see those posters, so what," I told him.
"Death killed all those children," Eriol explained.
"Yeah right," I replied as I walked away.
Umi and I walked home and eat dinner right when got home. The rest of the night before bed was spent unpacking boxes and putting stuff away.
"I'm so tired," I moaned as I fell on my bed. It is already past ten, I have to get up at 7 to go to school. UGH! I instantly fell asleep.
*POUND! POUND! POUND!*
I woke up to that horrendous sound. Who is walking around downstairs at midnight! I threw the blankets off and walked out of my room. I hear dad and Touya snoring; so who is downstairs!?
I slowly transcended down the stairs careful not to make much noise. I reached the last step and flicked the light switch.
The room lit up, but there was no sign of anymore being inside. I walked over to the sliding glass door and checked it. I then walked over to the front door and checked it as well.
A puzzled expression appeared on my face. Both doors are locked; no one could have gotten in. And I heard noise coming from downstairs, but when I turned the lights on no one was here.
I headed back towards the stairs, but as I went through the living room I spotted a playing card on the floor. Strange I thought Yukari took all her cards. I shrugged and walked over to it and picked it up. It was the joker. I frowned as I looked down at the reaper picture on the card. Strange; I could of sworn that the card before wasn't holding a scythe. It wasn't just holding a plain scythe. The scythe was coated red from blood.
(End)
Author's note
Hi I have decided to go in a pattern with my CCS fanfiction. It will go in a cycle. This story, You Believe in hope, Glacier, then this story again. I might break the cycle once in a while and post two chapters of one story. But mostly I think I will follow that pattern at least for now.
As you can probably tell by me posting another chapter; the whole story has been mapped out, or in other words vaguely outlined.
I will go through it and edit this chapter either Thursday or Friday. Too busy today and tomorrow, got a huge assignment I have yet to start on that is due Wednesday night. (Don't tell my teacher I haven't started yet)
See ya