Author's Note: Apologies for this chapter being low on action, but it does contain necessary plot points. I also think it's important to understand that, at first, Shion put significant thought into her plan to expose the killers among the Three Great Families. If you want Shion-insanity-action, just wait till next chapter. It's got torture, hallucination, and psychotic breaks. x)
The phone rang once again. This time, I was even more surprised by the person on the other end. Surprised—and immensely relieved. It was Kasai. He greeted me with a formal good morning. I decided that I wouldn't erase Shion just yet—I would make her disappear after the meeting tonight. As for this morning, I would play the roles of both Shion and Mion.
As Shion, I said chirpily, "Good morning, Kasai!"
"Good morning, Miss Shion. Do you need a ride back to Okinomiya?"
"No, I think I'll stay a little longer. By the way, Kasai, did you hear? About why those two were struck by the Curse of Oyashiro?" (I wanted reassurance. I wanted to test to see if Kasai was still on my side.)
"No, I haven't been told."
"From what I heard, they snuck into the ritual tool shrine by breaking through the padlock."
"How foolish of them."
"You know…" I smiled nervously. "Actually… I did that too."
"You went inside?!" demanded Kasai.
"Yes. Miss Takano asked me to come with her. I went with Takano, Tomitake, and a boy named Keiichi."
Kasai paused and then heaved a sigh. "How are you going to distinguish yourself this time, Shion?"
"Hmm, maybe I should rip out all five nails this time," I said sarcastically. Then I told him what was really on my mind. "Sorry. I grew up far away from Hinamizawa because the old Hag hates me. I don't know much about this place since she kept me locked away in that school. I really didn't know the religious people here were so strict about shrines, even ones that aren't in use anymore. So realistically, it shouldn't be a big deal."
"Miss Shion," replied Kasai gravely, "I intend to be on your side. But there are limits to what I can defend you from. You went too far."
"Kasai!" I exclaimed, unable to stop myself.
Did he really agree with Mion and Oryo? Did he think people deserved to die or be tortured just for entering an unused shrine? Then it couldn't just be a shrine. As I suspected, it was a chamber used to kill people, and the Three Great Families didn't want anyone seeing it. And now Kasai… even Kasai… was defending them.
"I have to go. Mion wants to talk to me. Later!" I hung up the phone.
Kasai was not my side.
I took a few slow, unbelieving steps backward from the phone. My back found the wall. I leaned against it and sank into a sitting position on the floor. Never in my life had I attempted anything significant without Kasai's help. He was my bodyguard, chaperone, and surrogate brother. I tried to keep myself calm. It would do no good to panic now. I had to think this through.
***The Plan***
First of all, I definitely had to start pretending to be Mion. Kasai would surely tell someone that Shion and Keiichi had gone into the shrine, if the Three Great Families didn't already know. They should already know, though. They should be planning to get rid of me and Keiichi. Maybe that was the reason for the meeting tonight. In order to save myself, I had to make Kasai and everyone else believe that Shion had been spirited away. But what about Keiichi? Shouldn't I try to save him?
No, I realized. Making an all-out effort to rescue Keiichi from being targeted would be the equivalent of instantly blowing my cover. I couldn't give up being the obedient family heir until I had more conclusive evidence of the crimes committed by the Sonozaki. The information Mion gave me in the dungeon was barely enough to warrant any police attention. Oryo, the main culprit, conveniently died. I needed to catch the person or people actually carrying out the crimes. The only way, then, to acquire proper evidence, was to watch how the enemy operated with their next victim. In other words, Keiichi would be the bait. If he was killed while I tried to smoke out the criminals in my family, well… so be it. Figuring out this series of gruesome crimes was more valuable than one foolish boy's life.
"Kei-chan, I'm sorry," I muttered, still on the floor. "I'll need to tell you all kinds of lies for this to work."
On the other hand, I also couldn't let the killers get to Keiichi before I figured anything out. If he was suddenly 'Spirited Away by the Demons', it would be bad news for me. I needed to somehow warn Keiichi. I needed him to at least be on the watch for potential enemies.
So I dressed up in Mion's modest school clothes and headed for the small school of Hinamizawa. When classes ended for the afternoon, I found a chance to talk to Keiichi alone. He stood leaning over one of the three connected outdoor sinks, which were used because PE were held outside and not in a gym. He washed his face as I approached from behind him. As he dried off, he turned toward me.
"Mion?" he asked, somewhat taken aback. "You don't look so good. Is everything alright?"
"Well," I smiled, hiding the irony, "I got caught up in the family dinner party. So I guess I had one too many drinks."
"You have a hangover?" exclaimed Keiichi. "How old are you anyway?"
"Cut me some slack, man," I said, imitating Mion. (For the purposes of this encounter, I intended for him to think I was indeed Mion.) "Ah, right, right," I continued. "So, Kei-chan. Did you happen to see Miss Takano or Mr. Tomitake last night?"
"Ah, well…" Keiichi looked down, wanting to keep his secret. "Um, I don't really remember…"
"Ok," I nodded. (He was saying the right things so far, although he sucked at lying.) "Then let me ask this. Did you see Shion last night?"
"Didn't you ask me that last night?" Keiichi dodged the question.
"Oh, did I?" (Mion had probably asked him.) "Well, I'm glad you weren't with them… I mean. I thought you might have a different answer if I asked you today. Don't worry." I copied Mion's easygoing smile and turned as if to walk away. "Don't worry, Keiichi. I'll tell them you weren't in on the bad stuff. I'll make sure they all know!"
Without waiting to see Keiichi's reaction, I shouldered Mion's stupid pink bag and took off at a brisk trot. The time for the meeting of the "executive committee" would be here before I knew it. I hastened to get back to the main estate and prepare. Without looking back, I prayed that my clues had gotten through Keiichi's thick head. He should begin to suspect the Sonozaki family, which would make him a more difficult target to 'Spirit Away.' Hopefully, at the meeting, I would find out which of Oryo's supporters did the killing. Then, I would report everything—and Keiichi would be safe again.
"Keiichi looked really unnerved, though," I thought. "Maybe I should go back to being Shion just with him, so I can look out for him better. Either way, it will have to wait until after the meeting."
At the main estate, I changed into a long, short-sleeved, cream-colored summer dress. It lacked just enough femininity to suit Mion's tastes. Then I hurried to the Furude Shrine. I had to run or risk being late, so by the time I climbed the stairs up through the three terraces and torri, I was panting heavily. With some effort, I stabilized myself and tried to assume the right mindset.
***The Executive Committee***
On my way into the meeting hall, I saw old Kiichiro Kimiyoshi, his son Toji Kimiyoshi, and three other men. One of them was Tadashi Furude, the brother of the late Furude Priest and Rika's uncle. So, I thought, all of the Three Great Families were represented here. As I looked at Kimiyoshi, I wondered if he could really be responsible for plotting murders. He looked so harmless.
Kiichiro Kimiyoshi was in his sixties and had a humble expression with wrinkles that showed he smiled often. The top of his head was mostly bald, but in the back, his grayish hair reached almost to his shoulders. He wore pants and a top that looked halfway between a kimono top and a business shirt. In other words, he dressed casually. His voice was kind and grandfatherly. It was difficult to imagine such a man committing atrocious crimes. Then again, I reminded myself, he had watched in silence while I tore off my own fingernails.
I entered the meeting hall side by side with old man Kimiyoshi. When we entered, some men were already present. We all took our seats around three low wooden tables pushed together to form a U. Not counting Kimiyoshi and myself, sitting alone at the middle table, there were ten members. Most of them I didn't recognize. But I knew that, to be on this committee, they must have positions of power and respect in the village.
Among them, I felt powerless. Butterflies went wild in my stomach. I knew I had to speak, but I hoped it wouldn't be right away. I tried to settle into the background and just listen. Mion must have attended these meetings before, fortunately. The other members were used to seeing a teenage girl at the head of the table, so they didn't all stare.
A middle-aged man with short, spiky hair stood up. "Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules," he said, breaking up the low chatter in the room. "Let's start with hearing from the Village Leader. Go ahead, sir."
"Yes, you'll have to excuse me for remaining seated," Kimiyoshi said politely. "My old back has been getting worse. Regardless, let's begin. First, regarding Watanagashi…"
The Village Leader's introduction was long and boring. However, the moment he started reviewing the freak deaths that began five years ago, the atmosphere grew heavier. When he finished announcing the two most recent deaths, he turned to me. Calling me "Mion-chan" like a grandfather, he asked what Oryo had to say.
I hesitated before finally finding the right words. "I am Mion Sonozaki, representing the master of the Sonozaki house. I am attending in place of the current master, Oryo Sonozaki." I willed myself to be stern and expressionless like Mion when she acted as heiress. "Unfortunately, the Curse of Oyashiro-sama has struck five years in a row. This is certainly something to be lamented."
This sounded noncommittal, like something Mion would say. I didn't want to make it blatantly obvious that I knew Oryo was a killer. One or more of the people here had to be her agent responsible for the killings, but which one could it be? Until I knew, I had to be conservative. On the other hand, I still intended to dig around for the truth.
"Does anyone know why the Curse has fallen this year?" I asked.
Everyone whispered and exchanged puzzles glances. A few shrugged. So then, they had no idea about the break-in at the ritual tool shrine. Maybe nobody knew. It didn't matter, though. Oryo must have had a reason for saying that Takano and Tomitake got what they deserved. Mion must have had a reason for accusing them of inciting Oyashiro's wrath. Perhaps only the two of them knew the truth about the break-in. There were other possible explanations, too.
Perhaps the village hated Tomitake and Takano simply because they were outsiders. More than that, they were nosy outsiders. Takano wanted to expose Hinamizawa's dark history. Tomitake took photos all over town and rarely asked permission. Perhaps that was why they were so hated. Or perhaps Mion really did see us sneak into the shed, and told only Oryo. Either way, my plan required revealing the truth.
"They broke the law of the ritual tool shrine by intruding," I stated. "They tainted our Sanctuary."
Several people at the tables gasped or stood up in outrage.
"How could they?!" exclaimed Tadashi Furude.
"Those fools!" cried Toji Kimiyoshi.
"Blasphemers!" snarled old man Kimiyoshi, suddenly breaking the image of "sweet grandfather."
"Please calm down," I continued. "In total, four people broke into the Shrine. That leaves us with two. Those two are Shion Sonozaki and Keiichi Maebara. Shion has already been dealt with, but…."
I trailed off with a sudden realization. Everyone in the room had calmed down like I ordered. Now, they were silent and emotionless, looking attentively at me. They looked that way even though I had subtly asked them to eliminate an enemy. Were they all ok with this? Had they understood me correctly?
"What about this other one?" Kimiyoshi asked grimly. "This Keiichi Maebara."
"He has not yet been taken care of," I replied flatly.
Shortly afterward, the meeting let out. I lingered behind with old man Kimiyoshi. Just as he put on his hat and prepared to leave, I stopped him. Though he wasn't a likely killer, he must know for sure who carried out the crimes. I kindly invited him over to the Sonozaki estate. Oryo wanted to see him, I lied, smiling sweetly. The old man joined me in ignorant bliss.
***Kimiyoshi's Mistake***
At the family estate, I brought Kimiyoshi into the sitting room and served some green tea. I apologized, saying that "Grandma" wanted to change clothes first. The old man said he would just wait. Then I wondered what to do with him.
There might be a chance I could convince to him to my side, as long as he didn't find out about Oryo. More likely, however, I would have to get information out of him by force. Haruka's thoughts threatened to take over mine as she thought about torturing the old man. In my head, I pleaded with her to calm down. There might be a way to trick him into giving some information.
"I think Oryo wants to talk about Shion," I began. "What should do we do with her?"
"Well, where is Shion now?" Kimiyoshi asked indifferently.
"She's in the underground dungeon."
"I see. Well, after breaking into the ritual tool shrine…"
"But I don't really think Shion deserves this." (I decided this was within character since Mion did traditionally stick up for me.) "She's been kept away from Hinamizawa all this time. She must have known what she was doing was dangerous, but she never knew it would be this bad."
Kimiyoshi sipped his tea and looked like he was trying to consider. "Mion-Chan. Do you think Shion feels sorry for what she did?"
"Yes," I replied, "but at this rate, I'm worried. She might be Spirited Away by the Demon, just like Satoshi Hojo last year."
"Don't worry, then," the old man assured me. "As long as she's really sorry, I'll make sure Shion isn't spirited away by any demon! Grandpa Kimiyoshi will take care of it!"
Did he just reveal that he supervised these things? Wait, better yet, had I just won him as an ally? Was he on my side after all? With Kimiyoshi's support, I might be able to keep this lie going for some time. Maybe, if Oryo's body was never found, I could get still find a way out of this disaster.
"I'd forgive Shion for just about anything," said Kimiyoshi, "unless it involved that Hojo brat."
So much for an ally.
"Did you say, 'Hojo Brat'?" I asked with forced calm.
"The Hojos deserved what they got," grumbled Kimiyoshi. "They tried to sell out the entire village. Their whole family deserves to be cursed."
"But Grandpa," I inserted, "wasn't Satoshi supposed to be forgiven after Shion distinguished herself? You were there when she removed three fingernails."
"Oh, those were for Kasai-san, Yoshirou-san, and Shion-chan herself."
That shocked me to the bone. I had pulled out three nails to save three lives, but Satoshi was not one of them. So Oryo hadn't lied to me. In my head, I could hear myself and Jun exclaiming over this. They felt a redoubling of guilt. Had we killed our own grandmother over a misunderstanding? No, cried Mari and Haruka. This new fact only served to prove that the Sonozaki family was guilty. Since they never made any agreement to keep Satoshi alive, who but they would have killed him?
"Why was Satoshi-kun Spirited Away?" asked Mari, taking over as Shion's consciousness recoiled in shock and outrage. "Satoshi's parents tried to sell out the village, but what was Satoshi's crime? I already know what you'll say. He was erased because it was the will of the Three Great Families."
"Er—Mion-chan?" Kimiyoshi stammered in confusion.
"No matter what happens," Mari went on, "you will continue to curse the Hojo family. No one will care what happens to them. No matter what, this village has decided, the Hojo family is despicable. I hate people like you, corrupted by such bigotry. People like you drove Satoshi's family into a corner."
As I spoke, Kimiyoshi grew increasingly frightened. I had betrayed Mion's character, and he realized it. As his eyes widened and his hands began to tremble, he must have figured out that I was not Mion at all. I had to be Shion. In that case, what had I done to Mion and Oryo? Old man Kimiyoshi looked petrified as he considered this.
"My poor, poor Satoshi-kun," Mari continued. "What wrong did he do? None at all. He was blamed simply for being a member of the Hojo family. And yet, that doesn't seem reason enough for even you monsters to kill him. Why did the curse fall on him? What crime did he commit?!"
Mari let out a furious shout and summarily Tasered Kimiyoshi. He fell to his side on the floor. This time, we had used a slightly lower voltage and struck the nerve along Kimiyoshi's neck and shoulder, avoiding the spine. The old man would surely live. In fact, he might only be incapacitated for a few minutes. During that time, Mari had to figure out what to do with him. How were we going to get information out of him? For a moment, Mari floundered in indecision.
That was all it took for Haruka to regain control of us. My consciousness faded to the background. Forced to watch from a distance, I couldn't control my own body or emotions. I tried in my head to reassert control. I didn't want to accidentally kill someone again. I didn't want to cause more suffering. Still, Haruka overpowered me. She planned to take care of old man Kimiyoshi herself. Before we dealt with him, however, we had to make sure the plan kept moving: we would have to give dear Keiichi a phone call.
