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Return to Hinamizawa IV – Conspiracy Chapter

12
The Sisters

Miaka and I bumped into each other in the hallway, and looked at each other with the same baffled expression and the same question on our lips. It was Miaka who first voiced it.

"So what do we do now?"

I took a deep breath. "We take the one person we know is innocent into our confidence."

"And that's Satoko-san herself."

"Exactly."

So we hurried back to the shrine. The festival really was an all-day affair; the crowd had slowly swelled and was now at its height. Mumbling an apology, I began the heavy work of squeezing my way through. I steered towards the food stalls; our parents were just as keen on their traditional eating contests as we were. There was one hair-raising moment when I saw Naoya pass in front of me and almost ran straight into him; but I fell back into the crowd. Then Mami shot me a wink, grabbed Naoya's arm, and steered him away. Poor guy.

Then I caught sight of Mother's long green hair, which is pretty hard to miss. As I expected, she was in a group with Father, Satoko and Azusa, all of them busy on a huge pile of shaved ices. Miaka and I drew close, and gave them all a casual greeting, as though nothing was amiss.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," I said. "Aunt Satoko, can we talk to you in private? We could go to your house. It's very important."

"Well, sure," she said. "Is that me and Azusa, or just me?"

"I'm sorry, but we really do need to talk to you alone."

"Very well." She smiled at the others, and relinquished Azusa's arm. We threaded our way back through the crowd together, and returned to the Fujiura home. Emi looked up, but if she was surprised at seeing us again so soon, she gave no sign of it.

Satoko was already in the kitchen while Miaka and I were changing our shoes.

"Would you like some tea?" she called out.

Miaka and I glanced at each other. Refreshment was the last thing on our minds just then, but we both somehow felt it was impossible to refuse. So we all sat down together, and sipped our tea in nervous silence.

"So, what's all this about?" said Satoko.

I coughed. "Well... a couple of questions first. Do you know if there's another Satoko in the village?"

"No. I mean, yes, I know that there isn't."

"And have you seen Tomitake Jirou today?"

"Not at all."

"All right." I took a deep breath. "Aunt Satoko – there's a conspiracy to destroy the Sonozaki family and get the Kanahebi to come and take over. One member of the family is a traitor and part of the conspiracy, but we don't know who. Tomitake-san was on their trail, and we think they've got rid of him to keep him silent. We heard them say they were going to hide his body in your house – but we've looked, and it isn't here."

Satoko, being Satoko, accepted this without so much as a blink.

"You really saw these men," she said.

"Yes. We both did – Miaka will confirm it." She nodded.

"I wasn't doubting you," said Satoko. "Just making sure that I know where we're starting from. Where did you see them?"

"In the Labyrinth. They actually dragged the body out right past us, but they didn't see us."

"Tomitake's body?" She shuddered. But there was no time to spend on words of comfort.

"It was too dark to see it. But I'm sure it was a body."

"And could you see who the men were?"

"I knew their voices. It was Tsushima Shouichi and Kenji."

"You're sure of this," Satoko said sharply.

"Absolutely."

Satoko looked from one of us to the other – but Miaka couldn't back me up, as she had never met the Tsushimas, so she just gazed resolutely ahead.

"And they were planning to hide the body here, in my house?"

"Yes. And they shut us in, so we had to go through the tunnels to get out, so they had plenty of time to hide it. That's why we looked around the house before we came to get you."

"Thank you. It was well meant, but you should have come and got me at once." Satoko drummed on the table with her fingernails. "We've got to find the body. With that, if you two can positively identify Shouichi and Kenji as the killers, we can go to the police."

I frowned. "Technically, I'm not sure we can. We didn't actually see the murder being committed – we didn't dare to shine our torch towards them in case they saw us. We just heard a gun go off, and afterwards saw them dragging the body back past where we were hiding."

Satoko reached across and placed a hand over mine. "You did fine, Akito. I'm glad you didn't go putting yourselves in danger. That's enough to prove that the Tsushimas are members of the conspiracy. Now we just have to prove that a murder actually took place."

"Oh, I don't think we'll have difficulty with that," I said. "You see... they also killed cousin Masashi."

"Masashi?" Satoko's eyes opened wide. "He was here in Hinamizawa?"

"He actually came to the Manor. Earlier, we saw his car, and watched Gorou showing him in."

Satoko started drumming her fingers again. "Sorry, I'd like to be clear about exactly what happened. Go over the sequence of events again – in order."

So I did. I told her all about our stealthy entrance onto the Manor grounds, our watching of Masashi, how Gorou had said Mion was at the clinic, our exploration of the Labyrinth, and everything we had seen and heard. Miaka didn't say much, but she helped fill in when my memory failed me about some small detail.

When we had finished, Satoko remained silent for a while, as she let everything we had said filter into her consciousness. Then she stood up abruptly and said, "We've got to see Mion."

"Huh?"

"Do you know why she went to the clinic today?"

"No idea."

"Hmm. Irie wouldn't tell us if we asked. But it sounds like the killer knew about her visit to the clinic and took advantage of it. We've got to find out exactly what happened, and how much Mion knows."

"Well, all right," I said doubtfully. "But what happened to trying to find the body?"

"That's not so important any more," said Satoko. "I believe you when you say it isn't here. And at the moment we have no other leads on where it might be. But it sounds like if their plans have progressed this far, we don't have much time left to stave off disaster. So we have to follow up the leads we do have, and pray to Oyashiro-sama that it gets us somewhere."

There was nothing more to be said, so we hurried back to the Manor, this time going past the guard quite openly. Gorou told us that Mion was in the upstairs parlour, so we went up and knocked. Mion called out, "Come in!"

She was alone, in an armchair under the window, but with the curtains closed, reading a huge novel. She looked up, and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw who we were. Satoko greeted her with a warm smile.

"I hope you're well, Ane-ue?"

"Yes, very well, thank you."

"I'm glad to hear it." She perched herself on the rug, and looked steadily up at Mion. "You see, earlier your butler told me you'd gone to the clinic, so I was worried that you weren't feeling well."

"I'm fine." Mion sounded as if she wanted nothing more than to return to her novel.

"So, why did you go to the clinic, Ane-ue?"

Mion lowered her book and, for some reason, looked across the room at me. "I'm sorry. That's private."

"I didn't mean to cause offence..."

Mion hesitated, and then smiled. "That's all right. I'm just a bit tetchy, I suppose. Watanagashi – you know."

"I know." Satoko reached up and clasped hands with Mion, and for a while the two of them just held each other in silence. Miaka and I stood back in the doorway with our heads bowed.

"Still," Satoko said at last, "it must be lonely, staying here all day when everyone else is out."

"It's nice and peaceful," said Mion. "One day out of the year that I can have to myself, just to think. And remember." She closed her eyes for a moment.

"You haven't had any other visitors?" Satoko said casually.

"None at all."

"Oh? Wasn't Tomitake-san going to drop in?"

Mion tutted in mild exasperation. "You're right. Shion did say she'd arranged that with him. Maybe he's at the festival, and he'll come here later?"

"I didn't see him at the festival," said Satoko.

"I hope he didn't come here while I was out – he might think it rude that I wasn't here to welcome him. Though you'd think he would have just sent a text to ask where I was."

"Let's text him now."

"Sure."

Mion put her book down, and looked around as she tried to remember where she'd left her phone. We all sat in anxious silence as she sent the message.

"Well, that's that." She looked back across at Satoko. "Was there anything else?"

Satoko sighed. "I'm concerned about you, Ane-ue."

"I don't know why."

"Yes you do. There's something bothering you."

Mion squatted down opposite Satoko, and faced her with fire in her eyes. "And what if there is?" she said. "You know how I feel, Satoko. You know I'm carrying a wound that will never heal."

Suddenly, Miaka lifted herself and walked across the room to Mion, who watched her in surprise.

"I know how you feel, Mion-san," she said softly.

"Do you? Do you really?"

Miaka was halted for a moment by the strength of Mion's glare – but only for a moment. She knelt down close to Mion and said, with her head bowed, "I think I do. Don't you remember why I'm here in Hinamizawa?"

"Of course I remember –"

"So you know that I very nearly killed my mother – I might have killed both my parents if I hadn't collapsed just then. I can never forget that, not even for a moment. Akito's been very kind and tried to distract me with his club games, but it's still constantly on my mind. I might have lost them for ever. I very nearly did. And I just can't stop myself thinking about what life would be like without them. I would be alone, with no-one to turn to for comfort in the darkest hours. I know exactly how that must feel."

Mion stared at her in uncomprehending silence. I felt that there was something she was on the verge of saying, but whatever it was just refused to come out.

At last she said, "Your parents must be very proud of you."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Just look at you." And somehow, the glint of a smile found its way through the mist of her tears. "You're young, beautiful, athletic, everything a girl like you could want. And you still have time for someone like me, when I've done nothing to deserve it –"

"Don't say that, Ane-ue," Satoko said quietly.

"It's true, though. I often think that maybe nature just never intended us to live so long. When you get to my age, you're just full of cares and regrets, and when you look forward, there's nothing ahead except a wall of blackness, knowing you may have to carry them for another fifty years... you make sure you treasure your youth while you still have it, Miaka-chan."

"I will," she said. "But honestly, Mion-san, you're still young."

"Not really," said Mion. "Being the family head was a great burden, you know. I grew old before my time."

"Aunt Mion," I said, "if there's anything I can do to help –"

She looked up. "Thank you, Akito. But there's only one thing, really. Make sure you always take care of your sister."

"Huh? Kotone?" I said, startled. "I'll do my best, Aunt Mion, but honestly, I'm sure she manages fine by herself..."

I was taken aback by Mion's vehemence in response. "Really? Do you really think so?"

I couldn't think of what to say. Perhaps Mion knew something that I didn't. I couldn't honestly say for certain that I knew that wasn't the case. But I didn't see what Kotone had to do with anything, anyway. And Tomitake and Masashi were dead, and here we were making small talk as if nothing had happened! I looked over towards Satoko. We had put all her trust in her, put her in charge and let her handle the situation. It had been her idea that we speak to Mion. But she hadn't said anything about those deaths. And how could Miaka or I bring up the subject if Satoko chose not to?

There was silence for a long time. Perhaps we had all of us run out of things we wanted to say. At last Satoko nodded and said that the three of us should leave. Mion picked up her book again, but then sighed and set it down. She walked over to the window, held the curtain open a tiny crack, and stood staring out into the sky. She was lost in her own thoughts now, and it would not have been polite to stay any longer.

Satoko led us down to the drawing-room. As we entered, I looked all around for signs of Masashi having been here, of what he might have been doing, any message he might have left. But I could see nothing. I must have seemed to be quite distracted, for Miaka stepped over and put a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. I didn't know how to respond.

Satoko sat down and waited. Miaka and I sat down opposite her, keeping close together.

"Akito-kun, Miaka-chan," she said. "I'd like to ask whether either of you noticed anything just now."

"What kind of thing?" said Miaka.

"Well – what did you make of that little conversation?" she said.

I considered this for a while. "There is something bothering Aunt Mion, I'm sure of it," I said. "And it's something more than usual, not just her reflections on the past. Aunt Satoko, you don't think – perhaps – she might already know about the conspiracy? That she might even know about Masashi's death?"

Satoko frowned. "I don't know," she said. "It's not like Ane-ue to be so secretive..."

"Satoko-san," Miaka said timidly, "do you think – maybe – it would be best if we just told Mion-san everything? Then we could just ask her directly what she knows."

Satoko shook her head. "She's chosen not to talk with us, and there's nothing we can do about that."

"But if she knew what we know, perhaps –"

Satoko's expression was grim. "I'm sorry, Miaka-chan," she said. "I have to respect her decision."

"Well, then, what can we do?"

Satoko stared down at the floor. I knew that look: she never liked to admit defeat. But this time –

"Really," she said, "I'm afraid I have no idea."

We sat in silence for a while. At first I tried to keep my mind on the mystery, but it was a hot day, and so easy to be distracted by the tiniest things – the itch on the back of my neck where the sun was scorching it; the way the light formed swarms of butterflies on the opposite wall; and Miaka sitting next to me, so close I could feel her warmth, so close I could have reached out and held her, turned her towards me and bent my head down so that my lips touched hers – damn it! What was I doing, thinking about that at a time like this? Not that I had any right to think about it at any time. Tomitake and Masashi were dead, and Satoko – why wasn't she doing anything?

Fortunately, my torment came to an end at last when Miaka broke the silence.

"I've got an idea."

Satoko looked up at her. "Yes?"

"We could set a trap."

Satoko was certainly interested now. "What sort of trap?"

"Well, they've taken Tomitake's body away so that we have no evidence that a murder was committed."

"Of course."

"That means Masashi must have been killed by someone else. Or they would have taken his body away for the same reason."

"Wait," I said. "It was just chance that you found Masashi's body. If we hadn't come along when we did, it could easily have lain at the bottom of that well for years – until there was nothing but bones left there to find."

"Not really," said Miaka. "We were there because you knew Tomitake was exploring the Labyrinth. Of course he'd tell someone where he was going. So when he went missing, the police would be bound to search the Labyrinth sooner or later – and they'd know that."

"Well, all right," I said doubtfully. "Where does that get us?"

Satoko clicked her fingers. "Well done, Miaka! You've got it!"

"Huh?" I said. "Got what?"

"Don't you see, Akito-kun?" said Miaka. "We can send for the police now, and they'll find Masashi's body in the well. Then we tell them everything we witnessed – we won't even have to lie. We just leave out the part where they dragged Tomitake's body past us. Then it will sound like we witnessed Masashi's murder. That will give the police a reason to arrest the Tsushimas. It'll get them out of action for a while at least – and interrogating them might put the police onto the track of the man behind them."

She looked at me pleadingly, as though it mattered somehow what I thought of the plan. Well, that was touching, of course, but I wasn't in charge just then.

"I should have thought of that myself," said Satoko. "Well, there's no time to lose, so I'll phone Kumagai now. You two wait here for a moment."

Humming softly to herself, she walked away, leaving the door swinging behind her. We heard her footsteps fading away as she crossed the entrance hall.

And then, for the second time that day, the air split apart with a sudden explosion. It was followed by a heavy thud as something fell to the floor – and then silence.