(A/N: Here's chapter nineteen! I don't know if anyone's still reading this, but I'm still going to finish this because I've only have five chapters to go after this one, more or less. Hehehe. Honestly, I've just recently re-watched some of the Higurashi Visual Novels and they subconsciously reminded me I still have some Higurashi crossovers to continue. I don't know when I'm going to continue 'When the Peaceful Sunset's Cries Shed Blood', but I'm at least going to try to get this one done as soon as I can. No promises though. The key word is…try. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this chapter.)

Broken Promise, Shattered Reality

Finally! The moment has come! The moment that Hitoko sees the error of her ways! The day I make her realize the ultimate sin she committed towards my beloved Tsuskio-chan!

I lick my lips, relishing the dark, torturous thought roaming in my head.

I took merciful steps as I headed towards the underground Monozaki dungeon. Naraku stared up at me with such blank eyes, but I could see the fear behind them. It was as plain as day.

"Ha! Not so tough so tough now, are you, Naraku? I mocked him. "Now that the Monozaki family isn't tailing you around like the insolent bugs they are."

I was met with silence.

"Got nothing to say?"

I watched with twisted amusement as Naraku shifted his lifeless gaze towards the ground, as if concentrating hard enough on it would block out any other unpleasant sound or movement. He's look for some sort of escape from his last few days of torturous hell. Even if it's his own mind.

How delightful to see such hopelessness and despair in Naraku's eyes. Now, he has a little taste of the anguish I felt when there was nothing I could to prevent Tsuskio-chan's tragic fate.

But it wasn't enough.

No, it's definitely not enough.

"You're punishment for your crime still isn't over," I hissed at him with an icy cold voice. "It's far from over."

Without another word, I silently stalked out the door, purposefully leaving the large doors for Naraku could see and hear the dark, heinous, and enticing actions that will happen soon right before his very eyes.

This will surely break him even more!

"You… You monster!"

I smirked evilly at the chained up girl before me. Hearing her fearful voice brought great joy to my ears. Ah, Hitoko…! I'm going to enjoy hearing the delicious screams of agony and mercy coming your pathetic mouth as your life helplessly passes before your eyes.

"I see you just that old bag of bones wither away into dust," I said with an extra dose of cruel mockery in my voice.

Hitoko flinched away in disgust at the sight of the Miyoshi leader's corpse.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you hurting everyone?" Hitoko desperately questioned, disbelief and fear clear in her eyes.

I didn't answer her pitiful questions.

"Wh-what are you planning to do to me?"

My lips flared up into a ghostly, vicious smile as a whispered haughtily, "I'm going to kill you, slow and painful."

The gasp of anxiety and horror at my dreadful declaration of her upcoming demise.

"Stop, Tanaku! Don't hurt Hitoko!"

I hear Naraku's pathetic pleas from across the hall. The sound of it made my heart swell up with warped eagerness for what's to come.

Within a split second, I slammed my arm towards Hitoko's right arm.

A terrifying silence passed by before Hitoko noticed the sharp blade that pierced through her arm. Flesh, bones, and all.

The next second, her agonizing screams filled the room as the pain began to register in her mind.

"Stop it! Stop it, Tanaku!" Naraku frantically pleaded, fearing for this little brat's life.

As much as I took great delight in the despair in Naraku's voice, a sense of bitterness took root at my heart. He didn't cry out like that when Tsuskio-chan was in danger. He didn't let out of a single plea to spare her life. He just sat there and let it happen.

He let Tsuskio-chan die!

I stabbed Hitoko's arm again out of anger, ignoring the leech's pitiful cries.

"Why should I stop, huh, Naraku?!" I directed my anger at my helpless brother. "Why should I spare this insect's life?! All this brat ever did was suck the life out of Tsuskio-chan! That's her sin!" I twisted the knife in her arm, watching as the blood the flowing from her wound and soundlessly drip towards the floor below.

I removed the sharp blade from her flesh with so much vexation, being far from gentle.

I glared at the crying little girl, completely towards seeing her tear stained face. I leaned in, sneering hatefully at her face. "That's right, Hitoko. You did nothing but cry and hide behind Tsuskio-chan's back as she suffered, bleed, and died in your place. You cursed her with your misery, your pathetic existence! THAT'S YOUR SIN, YOU DAMN LEECH!"

I furiously jabbed the blade against her flesh repeatedly as Hitoko's cries became louder and hoarser with every stab, slice, and jerk I took with the knife. Her right arm was turning into a grotesque shape of deformed, bloody flesh.

After awhile, the sounds of her screams began to die down.

"What's the matter? Can't feel anything in your arm anymore?" I viciously teased her. "Let's try the other one, shall we?"

I thrusted the knife into her left arm. All I got was a grunt of pain. Hmm, not very amusing. Where was the painful screams of agony that was there just seconds ago?

I twisted the knife in her gory wound, hoping to get more of an enticing reaction from her.

Still nothing.

The soundless noise that passes by now served to anger me. Why? Why isn't this brat crying, pleading, squealing for someone to save her? For Tsuskio-chan to rescue her and shield her from danger?

"You… You're right…"

I could barely the sound of Hitoko's voice. It was so small and hoarse, most likely worn out from all her miserable yelps and shrieks.

I gave her my undivided attention just to amuse myself to listen to her pathetically list out her last moments of regret. Something I've been dying to here as she horrifically realizes the greatest sins as the life fades before her eyes.

"You're right. I caused nee-nee so much suffering and pain. All I did cry and hide behind nee-nee when life became too painful," Hitoko admitted. "I admit it. I have no excuses for myself."

She glared at me. The look of fierce determination that surprised me. Where did this renewed vigor come from?

"That's why I'm not going to plead for nee-nee to save me!" Hitoko shouted out with so much conviction in her voice, causing me to grit my teeth in aggravation. "I'm not going to cry, beg, or scream for someone to help me! I'll endure this all on my own, and show nee-nee just how strong I've become! No matter what cruel punishment you give me, I won't give in, you monster! I swear!"

I growled, feeling my anger hit its boiling point. Is this little bitch challenging me? Doesn't she realize the position she's in? I'll show her who's she's talking down to like that!

I stabbed, jabbed, and thrusted the already bloodstained knife all over her body, purposefully missing her vital spots to prolong her suffering. However, no matter how much pain I inflicted on her, I was met with aggravated silence, which only served to fuel my rage even more.

Why?! Why isn't she crying, like the pathetic piece of crap that she is?! Why?!

Before I realized it in my fit of rage, Hitoko's body grew limp becoming nothing but a lifeless corpse.

I stopped my enraged assaults finding it useless to abuse a dead body that can't feel pain anymore. The knife clashed onto the floor, and I breathed in deeply trying to regain my breathing now that all my adrenaline has disappeared.

"Do you see this, Tsuskio-chan? I got rid of every last piece of miserable trash! Now, we can be together!"

As I was praising my victory, I could see of vision of myself reuniting with my beloved Tsuskio-chan. I ran to her, sweep her in my arms, and spun her around in happiness and joy. I give her sweet and small kisses around her face and neck, showing how much I miss her.

As I gaze down on her face, I freeze up. Her lips are turned upwards into a hopeless smile. Her once beautiful and cheerful eyes are now dull and lifeless. And what's the worst part of it, is that there's bitter tears cascading down her gracious face.

"Why, Naraku, why?" Tsuskio-chan's voice sounded so heartbroken and depressed, it made my heart twist into a painful knot to hear such a heart wrenching sound.

I was confused, so I couldn't answer her.

Agonizing tears dripped down her face when she noticed I gave no response. Her smile grew wider, but underneath it all, I could see the hopeless and despair plastered delicately on her face.

"Why did you broke your promise, Naraku?"

I was even more puzzled. Promise? What promise?

Then it hit me, like a ton of bricks. I remember that fateful day two years ago where Tsuskio-chan asked me to take her place and watch over her sister for the Watanagashi Festival that year.

The promise…! I promised her I'll always protect her sister! Even if I didn't mean it at the time, it still Tsuskio-chan's last and only request!

The full frontal blow of what I've done, I erupted out into a sloppy pile of my own failures, regrets, and sins as the horrifying realization of what I've just done pass right before my eyes.

I stared at my bloody hands in dismay. What have I done?

I… I killed Hitoko!

I BROKE MY PROMISE!

Tsuskio-chan would never forgive me for what I've done! Never! She's never coming back for me now!

I punched the ground, putting every ounce of misery, agony, sorrow, and regret I felt in my being as I assaulting the floor until my knuckles began to bleed and my arm began to grow tired.

Then a heartless and spiteful laughter slipped past my lips.

What's the point of stopping now? Tsuskio-chan isn't coming for me anymore. I have nothing to lose now.

I sent Naraku a grotesque smirk.

Might as well finish what I've started before my soul burns in the darkest, foulest depths of hell.

Isn't that right? Tsuskio-chan…

After Kagome finished reading this passage out of Naraku's journal to glance over to see looks of stern and sullen faces of her friends. The more she read this uncharacteristically heartbroken entries, the more she began to feel bad for Naraku out of all people. And friends probably started to feel to same way. Maybe they didn't know Naraku as much as they claimed they did, and only fought for what they selfishly believed in good and justice, turning a blind side to the other side's pain and misery because it was more convenient for them to destroy Naraku without feeling any guilt as long as they remained in ignorance.

(A/N: That's the end of chapter nineteen! Hope you've enjoyed this! This… This… *sniff* This was depressing. So sad! *sniff* Anyway, I don't know when the next chapter will be out… So, stay tuned for it!)