iIl giudizio finale sta per essere emesso

(The final judgement shall be delivered)

Nessuno può emendarsi dal peccato che scorre nelle vene

(Nobody can escape the sin that flows in their veins)

Tu sei senza peccato?

(Are you without sin?)

Quanto sarà pesante il mio castigo?

(How heavy is my punishment?)

Ti accorgi delle voci senza voce?

(Are you aware of that which has no voice?)

Ti accorgi dei tuoi peccati?

(Are you aware of your own sins?)

Impossibile arrivare al vero segreto se non ci si accorge di tutto l'amore

(It is impossible to get to the real secret if you do not realize all of the love)

-Katayoku no Tori (Umineko no Naku Koro ni)-

"Ieyasu, I didn't kill—I didn't kill—I—"

He waved his knife in his hand, splattered gore everywhere.

"Ishida? What happened? Why did you—"

"I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE! I'M NOT A MURDERER! I—"

I pulled him into my arms.

Shrill clatter of the knife on his hand hit the floor, clearly audible in my ears.

"I know," I said—ignoring everything in front of me—ignoring the terrible view happened right in front of my very own eyes,

"You're not a murderer."

He trembled, then he shoved me back.

"I don't understand," he sobbed in panic, "I don't know why all of this happened, I can't remember anything, suddenly everything went dark, then—this bloody knife was on my hands—I—"

"Calm down, calm down, Ishida—"

"Ieyasu, you have to help me—please, kill me."

I looked at him in shock and disbelief—unable to believe about what he just said.

"Please kill me before I kill you."

"Mitsunari, Mitsunari—" I took the knife on the floor, then wrapped it in newspapers pages, "I can't."

He sobbed, and clutched my arm.

"All this is just a dream," I said softly, wiping his eyes with my fingers, "A nightmare. If the reality is too cruel, suppose it was a nightmare. And suppose that your beautiful dream is the undeniable reality. "

With an awkward movement, he slumped and he went unconscious.

"Sleep, sleep," I whispered, " Have a sweet dream—and never wake up again."

The rancid smell of blood filled the room

The place where we share our breath.

"I will protect you. I will."

"Ieyasu."

I was shocked, then opened my eyes forcefully.

Mitsunari appeared before me.

"Oh, you," I muttered.

He giggled.

I scratched my head, and got up, sat on the bed.

"Ieyasu, Ieyasu," he called, with somewhat cheerful voice, totally different from usual.
His tone is always full of dignity, and elegance.

"What is it? You look so happy. "

"This—here, you see this teddy bear?"

He showed a red-ribboned, stuffed bear plush on his hands.

"It's so cute," I said, commenting his plush.

Suddenly, I realized that something's really not right.

The doll's body was torn apart, its cotton insides were dangling from its severed body—most likely, it was slashed by a sharp object.

Mitsunari smiled—his eyes sparked a different shine than before.

His face looked exactly like the picture—the photographs displayed in the secret files at the police station the other day!

"Did you see this…? I stabbed them…then, their insides were scattered out…like this…like this doll's cotton. Scattered all the way…yes, like this…I want you to be like this too, Ieyasu… "

I shuddered, and then pushed him away from me.

"Who do you mean by them?" I asked, stepping out from the bed.

Mitsunari lifted his head in a crawling position—with rather a highly disturbing gesture.

"You know," he giggled, "Those who stabbed by my hands. They deserve being ruined. "

"What do you mean? Why? What have they done to you? "

"…because they are sinned…so I killed them all…to purify their tainted souls—stained by heavy sins…" he said, with an eerie chuckle.

I swallowed hard.
This is not Mitsunari.
It's like everyone else.

"They insult my loyalty…they dares to insult my loyalty…!"

"Mitsunari?"

"They dares to insult Hideyoshi-sama…they dares to insult my lord…!"

He gritted his teeth, then he ripped the doll's body apart and shredding it to pieces with his hands—cottons and cloth scattered everywhere.

"I'll tear them, I'll cut their stomachs open, I'll rip them apart…and I'll stuff their flesh into their own mouths! I'll destroy them…I'll grind their bones to dust…"

"Mitsunari…?"

I took a few steps back, felt a very bad omen emitted from him.

"They deserve it...they really deserve it...!"

He glared wildly at me.

"You…you too, you have killed Hideyoshi-sama…you're the most unforgivable—"

"MITSUNARI!"

He gasped, then turned his head—in confusion.

"Ieyasu…? What…happened?"

I frowned.

"...! W—what the hell…is this…? What just happened? I—"

Mitsunari stared at the severed doll on his lap, and his eyes round in horror.

"…what have I done… just now…?"

I slumped to the floor.

Everything has reached the end.

Mitsunari—no, we are about to be awakened from our dream, which I thought for all these times—that it would never end.

At the morning in the office front, Saika-san passed through me.

"Good morning—Tokugawa-san...?"

I turned my head away, then quickly tried to revert her attention to my face.

"Is Chosokabe here?"

"No, not yet…Tokugawa, what's wrong with your face...?"

"Oh, this?" I said, smiling a little—while I hide bruises and cuts on my cheek, "Yesterday, my pet seems to feel a bit annoyed to me."

Saika-san looked at me with concerned stare.

"Never mind, don't worry about it. Soon, it'll be okay, really, "I giggled, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Yoo, Sayaka—good morning…uh—"

Motochika appeared.
He looked stunned to see my face.

"Hey, Motochika," I said, "What a coincidence, I want to talk a bit with you."

He was silent—losing his relaxed manners.

"See you, Saika-san. Say my hello to Keiji, okay?"I said, while popped a wide smile out on my face.

After Motochika entered my office, I immediately closed and locked the door.

"Oh," he muttered, "Looks like this is going to be a serious dialogue."

"Very serious," I replied, "This is about the few days ago's gossip."

"By the way," he interrupted, "Your face, what happened? Your kitty smacked your face? Sounds so—beyond the impossible to me."

"More or less. You remember the rumor? Well, it's true. The gossip is true."

Motochika gawked—stunned in disbelief.

"Don't tell me…you…"

"Exactly. My face is like this because of Ishida."

He froze on his feet, still unable to believe my sudden revelation.

"Just as you've heard fom the rumors," I continued, "I really dokeeping him in my residence. And he's the one who commited the murder, indeed. "

"Damn you," he hissed, "How long have you been hiding him?"

"Three months."

"GOD DAMN!" snapped him.

He gasped for breath, while I continued to sit quietly, looked at him coldly.

"Are you crazy, Ieyasu?"

"Maybe so. But I don't care about it, as long as I'm happy. As long as we're happy as it should be."

"What do you mean?"

"We love each other. He will not do anything to the person he loves, you don't have to worry about it. "

"YOU IDIOT!"

Motochika slammed his fist into the wall—just a few inches from my face.

"Love is blind. Love makes you crazy as well. Look at yourself, you so crazy now! You're INSANE!"

I snorted, then laughed. Uproariously.

"You're right, Motochika," I laughed in hysteria, "I'm crazy. I'm insane. I was infected by insanity because I kept an insane person for three months in my house. "

Motochika glared at me sadly—but also looked upset.

"I come to the office today to take some time off," I said, as I grabbed my jacket, walked toward the door, "I want to take care of the Ishida's case first."

"For how long?"

"Maybe forever."

Motochika grabbed my shirt from behind, almost made me fell to the ground.

"Don't you take your time-off for the eternity, you idiot. I can't ask for anyone to help me to get these shitty recaps—but to you. Don't you ever expect me to ask Mouri—he'll dump me to shit."
I laughed again.

"Do not joke," I shove his hands off, "I'm not in the mood to laugh."

"You're the one who's talking," he replied.

"Motochika," I said, trying to make my voice as clear as possible to his ears, "I'm the one who's going to finish this once and for all. I hope you—and anyone else, to take your feets off, and don't dare to interfere in this matter. "

He slammed his punch into the table.

"NO!" He exclaimed, loudly, "You can't face this all by yourself! Call the cops or do anythi—"

"I want to get this over all by myself," I interrupted, "Just like the old times. I do not want anyone to interfere—even in this present life. "

Motochika draw his one right eye as if remembering something important—very important.

"What do you mean, Ieyasu?"

I turned to him, then stepped out of the room, not answering the question.

"Hey, wait! Ieyasu!"

I kept on walking, ignoring everything behind me.

"Please keep your voice down, Chosokabe. You're making a fuss," Saika-san hissed, passing him by.

"Please hold Ieyasu!" he cried, but I rushed out of the office first.

"What's the matter? Wait, Tokugawa-san! Wait a minute! Tokugawa-san!"

"Sayaka," he panted, "Call the cops."

"Chosokabe? What do you mean—"

"Saika-san, call the damn police now! This is an order! Now, GIVE ME THE DAMN PHONE!"

I rushed into the house—slammed the door, and locked it quickly.

As usual, I saw the sights that always greet me everyday.

The room—the white room—illuminated by the soft, dim white light.

The place where we share our breath.

The room's interior is white, with mahogany-framed windows matched with transparent silk curtains.
There was shiny marble floor.
There were wrinkled white linen bed sheets.

The only difference is the atmosphere which expands to the air.
Different than usual.
It was oppressive—no longer soft and soothing as ever.

Mitsunari emerged from behind the kitchen door, with dark red apron covered his clothings.

"Ah, you're home already, Ieyasu?" he asked.

I looked at him—filled with mixed feelings.

"Come here, I'm trying to make something in the kitchen—but I think there is a problem on the kitchen's floor. I'm afraid you wouldn't like it. "

"What? What is it? "I asked, taking off my shoes.

"That was—I accidentally spilled something on the floor…can you help me clean it up?" he coaxed, with an expression of regret.

I watched his face carefully.

This is really Mitsunari.
This is him.
The shine on his face—filled with such innocence is indeed showing him.

Theres no need to overthink about it.

I heaved a sigh of relief, then walked toward the kitchen.

"Where's the problem, let me help you clean—"

Oh no.

This is impossible.

Oh Lord.

This can't be happening.

I don't want to believe my own eyes.

Tadakatsu—my pet cat—was lying on the floor.

His condition was spelled out very, very horrible—with his guts scattered everywhere, and his face was completely crushed.
Just as the chopped flesh being ground by a machine—there were only few of his fur and eyeball still in a whole shape, showing that it—that terrible scrap meat was indeed Tadakatsu.

There was a loud laughter roared from the outside kitchen.

My shirt went wet by cold sweat.

Mitsunari's face suddenly appeared from the kitchen door—his head tilted, his eyes stared at me with a strange gleam.

" Tadakatsu—poor kitty... " he whispered, with a frightening wide grin on his face, "Oooh, look, Ieyasu—he's all red like this—what happened to him, huh…? Ahaha…ahahahahahahaha… "

I saw his hand—holding a large kitchen knife, covered in blood, and some of the flesh was still intact on the blade, clearly visible.

"You see this red lovely apron?" he said, taking off his apron from his white shirt, and showed a large blood stains splashed over his body, "I wear it because it was perfect to cover the blood. The color is beautiful, isn't it? "

I was shaking—stunned on my feet.

"Well, that's weird. I heard you like white better?" I asked, silently searched for the table behind me, looking for something to—at least, save me from a situation like this.

He paused, chuckled and glared at me sharply.

"White? Huh," he hissed—licked the bloody knife," What a boring color. The color that gets dirty easily."

I found something hard on the table—a wooden bread miller—and I held it tightly behind my back.

"White is the color of betrayal," he snarled, with tone of disgust in every sentence,

"Just like what all of you have done to Hideyoshi-sama. Just like what all of them have done. Just like… what you've done. "

Mitsunari held his head in anguish, then looked down, staring at the floor.

"I remember…the rain…blood…the pain…and you. Yes—you."

My grip on the in my back getting tight.

"You killed Hideyoshi-sama at that time. At that time—it was raining…and this pain. It hurts—hurts like hell. It hurts. It's all because of you. "

"Mitsunari—I—"

"YOU! YOU ARE THE MOST UNFORGIVABLE! I'LL RIP—SHRED—CUT YOU TO PIECES—TEAR YOU APART—I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOUUUUU!"

When I was about to swing the weapon behind my back, Mitsunari suddenly staggered, and fell a thud on the floor—the knife clattered, deafening my ears.

Half an hour later, Mitsunari opened his eyes.

He was lying on the couch—rubbing his eyes.

"Mitsunari," I called, approached him, though somewhat daunted.

He looked at me blankly—his face was filled with indescribable feelings.

"…what have I done…this time?" he whispered, painfully.

"You didn't do anything. You were just sleeping. "

"Liar," he snarled—hoarsely, "Don't lie anymore, Ieyasu."

"It's true. You slept all this time."

"I saw blood before," he muttered, covering his eyes with his arms while lying down, "I saw you in the kitchen—I can't remember it clearly, but I'm sure there was blood."

I sighed. My chest was too heavy.

"You're only dreaming. You were having a nightmare. Nothing happened here. See? "

"Really?" he said, as he rose from the couch, "Where's Tadakatsu? The last time I saw him when I was feeding him—"

"Tadakatsu disappeared," I interrupted quickly, "He's gone somewhere. Maybe tonight he'll come again. Don't worry. "

Mitsunari jumped, then hurried to the kitchen.

"Mitsunari! Don't—"

Too late—it's all over.

Mitsunari screamed hysterically to see what was happened in the kitchen.

The mess caused by his own actions.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"MITSUNARI!"

I grabbed him quickly, pressed his face on my face.

"TADAKATSU—HE'S NOT—HE'S— AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

"MITSUNARI! THIS IS JUST A DREAM—THIS IS JUST A NIGHTMARE! "

"NO—NOO—AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

He was wailing, beating my chest hysterically.

I carried him to the living room, pulled him away from the horrifiying mess.

The room—the white room—illuminated by the soft, dim white light.

The place where we share our breath.

He calmed down a bit, although he still sobbing a little.

"…yasu…"

"…"

"…Ieyasu…"

"Don't do anything," I whispered, "You didn't do anything. Don't worry about it. Go back to sleep. "

"It looks like I'm an insane murderer indeed..." he murmured hoarsely, as he chuckled, "I'm crazy."

"No, dear," I replied, softly, kissing his forehead, "You're not crazy. You're not insane. I've told you so many times, it's all just a dream. Your nightmare. "

"But this is reality," he sobbed—in my arms, "These are all my fault. I'm insane. "

"I love you, dear."

"Don't you ever love me again. I'm too filthy for the pure you."

"Are you insane or not, filthy or not—I still love you. I will always love you."

He was stunned as he looked at me, his face flushed.

I looked down, kissed his face. Feeling the warmth of his body.

Aaah, it feels so real.

"Actually," I said, "I want you to keep on living in happiness. I don't want you to be hurt by these painful truths. I—"

"You were lying to me—all these times?" he whispered, "You keep saying that I'm so pure, although in reality—I've been so much sinful like this?"

I nodded.

"The frog inside the well would be happy if he never came out of it. it will be happy enough just to spend its life in the well—because it did not know what's out there, "I said," However, this well was too shallow for us both."

He leaned his head into my chest.

"I've jumped out of the well—and hurt myself, then?" He said, regretfully.

"There are times when we'll able to be happier in ignorance," I said, "If we live our lives in light, we will be able to see everything painful—and we will suffer from knowing such things. If we live our lives in the darkness, we will not be able to see everything, and we will be able to live happily. "

Mitsunari chuckled.

"What's that—? You try to live your life in this time by drowning yourself in stupidity and ignorance? Differs from your hypocritical senses from those times? "

I was stunned, and then push Mitsunari's body away.

His face was changed again.

"…it turned out that we're just the same. We didn't care about all filths and sins that covered us—as long as we feel content about what our feelings are. Ha! How I'm sick to think about those things danced in my pool of blood and my torned flesh!" he roared—disgusted.

"I would mess myself for Hideyoshi-sama's sake! I'm even more willing to flith myself, than you! You—are a damn hypocritical swindler! You choose to walk in the light, acting like a saint, although you're just as filthy as I! You're also a dirty traitor! "

"Mitsunari," I interrupted, somewhat dismayed, but I do not want to lose by his accuses, "I did it because I love you.You also do it all because you loved Hideyoshi-sama too, right? "

"Don't you ever love me again. I'm too filthy for the pure you," he said, repeating his own words—by his other self, in a mocking tone, "HA—THE PURE YOU? STOP JOKING—YOU TRAITOROUS MURDERER! YOUR SANCTITY ACTS CANNOT HIDE YOUR SINFUL BETRAYALS!"

He drew a knife from under his shirt. His showed a wild expression.

"What's the better opportunity than this? The person I wanted to kill so much, now—he shows himself before me, and asks himself to be killed by my own hands!"

This time, I didn't bring anything to protect myself.

"Yes, Mitsunari," I replied, trying to stay calm, "What's the better opportunity than this? Kill me now. This is the best opportunity. "

Suddenly, some scenery popped in my mind.

It was raining, I was wounded.

I gasped for breath, clenched my fisst, but I was totally helpless.

I stretched my arms wide and received the last blow from him.

"Come on, kill me," I repeated—while I spread my arms as if a bird spreading its wings, "Kill me once again—Mitsunari."

He was trembling, gripping the knife tightly.

After few seconds of silence, he moved forward, and thrust the blade into my body—with tears flooding his face.

Then, I felt something cold penetrated my chest, and a severe pain attacked me.

I held my shirt—something warm and wet, was seeping.

Dripping red trickles colored the white floor.

I fell down, hit the ground.

My body was stiff, I breathed heavily.

"A—aaahh…Ieyasu….Aaaaahhh….no—no….."

Mitsunari dropped the knife—trembled, and knelt beside me.

"Wake up, Ieyasu—get up..." he was shaking me.

"Get up," he sobbed, "You promised to protect me—always, right? Because you are my sanctuary…right, Ieyasu? "

I wanted to answer all of his words, I wanted to get up from the floor. Get up—and hug him, kiss him, put him to sleep on the bed and tell him that everything will be okay. But alas, I can't do anything at all.

My body just twitched slightly, as the response of shakings—but I can't speak. My lungs were ripped, even taking a single breath was very, deeply painful. To keep alive in a state like this is very horrible.

"Ieyasu...please…...speak to me...tell me ...that you're alive. Tell me—that you're going to protect me. Tell me…if this is all just a bad dream. Please tell me—" his voice paused, choked by tears, "Please tell me that you love me. Once more… just one more time…"

I forced my hand to move—reached to his face. My body was shaking.

"What happens if my shelter destroyed, Ieyasu? What happens if my sanctuary is not anymore? I don't want that to happen—I don't want to! What should I do? What should I do? "

Mitsunari was shaking me, gripping me tightly.

With the last effort I have, I managed to touch his face, wiping his tears.

I forced myself to speak—though it will only speed up my time limits.

"...I love you."

I saw his face—it looks so pure and clear, though stained by blood and tears in my blurry eyes.

Then, I heard the door swung in overly loud voice, and boisterous noises stormed the room.

I saw people's feet and shoes got in—and dirtied the white floor.

Motochika's voice roared.

Then, Saika-san and Keiji's—cries and shrieks.

And other noises.

"…MOTOCHIKA—DON'T! HE'S TOO DANGEROUS!"

Vaguely, I saw Motochika rampaging to me and Mitsunari—while Keiji holding his body.

"HE HAS KILLED TOKUGAWA! DON'T YOU SEE, CHOSOKABE?" Saika-san screamed, covering her mouth.

"LET ME GO, KEIJI! I—I—!"

Then the room was getting more and more rowdy—and I saw some people holding Mitsunari, took him out of the room.

He rebelled, and screaming hysterically.

"IEYASU! LET ME GO! HE'S STILL ALIVE! IEYASU! "

I felt my breathing getting heavy—leaving my cold body, while the remaining people touching my body— pressing my neck.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to tell all the people here—in this room—to not separate both of us.

I want to get their feet off from here—and I'll touch Mitsunari, held him in my arms, kiss him, and told him for thousand times that I love him.

"IEYASUUUUUUUUU!"

The last thing I saw was Motochika sobbing, with Keiji and Saika-san,

Mitsunari who disappeared from behind the door, repeatedly screaming my name,

And the hands of the people who put me into a dark bag—I think it was a body bag.

All I can do now is just convince myself that all of this is just my nightmare—I'll soon be awake, and Mitsunari will be by my side, we will cuddle in the bed, and we will spend our time back in the sanctuary—just for both of us.

The frog in the well was happy.

It wasn't interested what was outside the well.

The frog in the well was happy.

It was recluse to anything that happened outside the well.

And you were happy.

Because you didn't know what occurred outside the well.

-Frederica Bernkastel (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)-