This chapter is a LOT shorter than the rest. First of all, it’s only one day worth of inquiries.

Second of all, we get ready to see who our three detectives believe is the killer. And as everyone knows, I’m a bastard who likes to put everyone on edge with a cliffhanger – considering all three of the final suspects are three ladies that have been well known in my fic world in one way or another, it’s nice to see there is nobody who at this point seemed to settle for one of the three…

To help everyone though, here’s a little poll cap.

O.K, I lied…so there is an overwelming favourite as the killer. Looks like I made this too easy…

…or perhaps too difficult? :)

Time turns on, the game is on…good luck.

*

Aya: Whether I agree with what I do or not is not in the question…and my personal feelings as well…however, it’s true. Throughout this game there has been a trio that has been very strong…and I don’t feel like it should be that they shouldn’t enjoy heartbreak either…

(Finally, the dust clears and we see three females. The tallest one has messy dark brunette hair, dressed in a blue Chinese outfit (out of paper as are the other two). This is Maggie Yui.)

(The next tallest and oldest of the three girls is a blond girl with a very bubbly nature as opposed to her taller ‘sister’ who is very quiet and subdued. She seems to light any room she enters though she gives certain people a few headaches…this is Michelle Chang.)

(The third, the smallest and the youngest, is spunky, a little brat, funny, vicious, milk drinking and once book hating, don’t get on the wrong side of this one despite her pink hair and chibiko looks. This is Anita King.)

(A MINUTE BEFORE THE MURDER…)

Triela: That’ll do nicely…

Triela: Would Anna have been able to access Kaleido Stage then?

(Akari looks up, and looks a little upset…)

Akari: How dare you! You’re implying that Anna-chan did this?

(But Triela is as cool as a cucumber and points out Akari’s mistake…)

Triela: Of course not – I only asked you if she could get to Kaleido Stage. It was you who assumed I suspected her of murder…which most likely means even you’ve considered that possibility as well…

Haley: …however, after the meeting, we decided that we wanted to counter-sue him…unfortunately…or fortunately…

(Haley’s bitterness is well founded – good job he’s been cleared…)

Hinata: …someone found a way to stop him before it was too late.

Haley: RURI DIDN’T DO IT!

(Hinata borrows from Triela’s tactics here…)

Hinata: Did I say she did?

(From the roof, we see Duplica, out of breath, with a collapsed girl over her shoulder…obviously Rosetta. By her side is a Wartortle (her Ditto) and a Squirtle (her Mini-Ditto) who looks as exhausted as their trainer…)

May: Duplica!!! Are you all right?!!!

Duplica: It…it’s hit my office…the damn fire hit my office and spread! If it wasn’t for these guys…

(A lot happened…including the last victim of the killer’s game…and after a really sad and semi-romantic goodbye…)

(…Negi Springfield felt to the killer’s sword as Hinata survived her third killer’s game…)

Let’s say it one more time…

Touji: So…everything went?

(Ironically, someone is watching them on the hill overhead looking down at the hospital, before returning her crystal blue gaze to the last night sky…just an hour after Negi met his fate at the hands of one of three women…)

Haley: Ruri…it’s freezing – come back in…

Ruri: (very softly, barely audible) I’ll be back in a moment.

(Haley waits a few moments, but gives in and goes back inside…)

(Ruri looks at the stars a moment, and cuddles her knees. Her body shivers in the late night cold as she stares behind her at Haley’s retreating figure…her head bows down and you can’t see her face as she speaks…)

Ruri: ….baka.

Sora: She didn’t go to the hospital?!!!

May: I think she was feeling guilty about Rosetta…

Sora: …but it wasn’t her fault…

(They look at the near remains of Kaleido Star, a caved area at the roof in particular…)

Sora: …w-was it?

(Inside, Duplica seems to be in solitude, in a similar position to Ruri, her head down, distraught…)

Duplica: (coughs) Of all things…why did this happen…

(Duplica looks to go to sleep…)

*

(…as meanwhile in their home in the church, Tenchi is sound asleep. Anna looks over him and caresses his hair…)

Anna: Forgive me…

(Anna kisses him on the forehead and she steps out in a nightgown into the cold air…)

(…she heads over to the waterfall…where she immediately dunks herself in…cleansing herself…)

(…the water from the waterfall washes her eyes, which tears were forming just prior to her entering…)

Anna: Kris…am I wrong for this?

*

(Nearly 3 weeks have gone in the game, and we are finally down to our three finalists – however, unlike previous games, it’s not one of a happy family…)

(TRIELA)

(The Gunslinger girl has been strong, steady, independent, yet friendly and intelligent…mostly. She and Ban haven’t had a great vibe going…but in Triela’s favour, she’s the only person who hasn’t played a killer’s game…a good sign considering Kano’s victory (0 killer’s games) in season 1.)

(She’s had a good friendship with Hinata, but she picked her over Negi during that horrid vote last episode…it was revealed she too, was in love with Negi…but also with Hinata. Maybe out of embarrassment…or guilt perhaps? Because of that, she seems to be keeping her distance from Hinata as much as Ban…)

Triela: Negi…this isn’t helping for the mind…

(Shot of Triela with her pactio card made by Negi of course last episode…Triela seems to be using it as a lucky charm…)

Triela: So close…and the plan didn’t work.

(Triela looks across the room and scowls…)

Triela: The two people I had a problem with the most made a real bombshell and amazingly, they screwed me by NOT trying to eliminate me…

(Referring of course to Aya (who picked Ban) and Ban himself (who chose Negi…to make Triela suffer worse than if she was picked…)

(…and speaking of my second favourite asshole in anime…)

*

(Ban hasn’t really got a choice – he has to make breakfast himself…seems like Hinata isn’t exactly in a friendly mood either…)

Ban: Diets suck ladies…in my case, they are usually forced upon…

(The fact that Ban has managed to get a good meal for the 19 days he’s been here will probably make Ginji go into electric shock, but let’s not say Ban hasn’t deserved it. Consistently the best performer in the inquiries along with Satoshi, and really the first to discover and utilise the dynamics of the game… namely treachery, deceit and just plain smartness.)

(Street smarts that is.)

Ban: Let’s see how the dice rolls this time…

(Ban has a dice in his hands and he rolls…)

(…a one.)

(Ban smirks.)

Ban: Figures.

*

(Outside, Hinata (without her trademark jacket) seems to be having a breakfast of ninja pills – nutritious yet tasteless. She sips on some water as she clutches her own pactio she made with Negi. Unlike Triela, she seems to have some vague idea of it’s power and possibly how to utilise it…)

Hinata: …Negi-kun, guide me like my own light…

(Hinata’s ‘light’ spirals from her hands as her chakra increases. Whether she realised it, she was the most athletic one of the team in terms of agility, and she was a good all rounder in terms of smarts, skills and strength. Her trademark nerves were removed early due to her friendships with Kotone and Negi, and it allowed her to grow as a detective…)

(…and whilst internally she may be relying on someone, it’s her own power and light…that could guide her to victory…)

*

(Shot of just Ban outside, as Triela is working on a punching pad, Hinata not seen…)

(…as we cut to just outside as…)

(…a car with two people rather familiar…and successful to the Murder Game experience…)

Female: Brings back memories…

Male: Indeed…

(Shot of the female, a sandy haired girl who is a fair bit taller than we last saw here. This is Murder Game winner, Kano Miyazawa (KARE KANO), the sister to episode 1’s Yukino Miyazawa, now full time editor (especially of Aya Sawada’s work) – wearing a casual T-shirt and cut off jeans.)

(The male, wearing a blue suit and looking extremely smart, is Ohjiro Mihara, Murder Game 2 winner (ANGELIC LAYER) – he’s still the prince of the layer despite now into his mid 20s, but his engagement ring suggests that he was patient and now has a complete family with his older brother, and the Suzuharas…specifically Misaki.)

Ban: Yo…what do you want you guys?

(Kano smiles…)

Kano: To do what only we’ve done before…

Ohjiro: …bring the Murder Game to an end…

*

Kano: Ah, this feels good…nice to be giving the pressure out rather than taking it…

(Kano chuckles in an evil manner that her big sis would approve of, with all three detectives seated (Ban in front, Hinata in middle and Triela at the back) as Ohjiro doesn’t sweatdrops despite the obvious eccentric that seems to run in the blood of the Miyazawas…)

Ohjiro: As you can see, we are the last investigators assigned to help you catch our murderer. I’m Ohjiro Mihara, and she is…

Kano: Kano Miyazawa, nice to meet you…I’m sure you’ve met my older sister at the beginning…my regards to you all for surviving her as much as the killer…

(Now Ohjiro sweatdrops, followed by Ban and Hinata (Triela remains calm…well, for her) as they begin to run down what they need to do…)

Ohjiro: As this is the final confrontation, we don’t have a Team Leader for this section…sorry, this is a final three, and we do mean final.

Kano: Indeed…your last day is today, as we give you this final killer clue…and a message.

(The killer clue is a selection of pictures of various anime characters through various animes…they are as follows…)

Kano: Work it out guys and girls? You better, because you’ve got less than 12 hours to figure it out…

(All three seem to be surprised by that, but Kano clicks a button on the workstation…)

*

Kano: Looks like our killer is ready for a final meeting…you guys only have until 10pm tonight to make your decision of the killer a final one.

Ohjiro: You will be given a quiz later tonight after reviewing and studying evidence, video clips and other means of working out who our murderess is…and then you will be directed to somewhere in the ruins of Kaleido Stage.

Kano: However, before that, you guys have one last day of finding the truth out. And because we’re so nice…unlike my sister…

Ohjiro: …and my brother…

(This time Triela does sweatdrop…)

Kano: And in the worst type of irony we can unleash on you, we are going to prove the old adage…to work with each other, you have to work against each other…

Triela: Oh no…

(Ohjiro nods)

Ohjiro: Oh yes. You guys must work together for these last inquiries. However, we are going to give you what you need to, because of some key last pointers we’ve received…

(Kano takes a list and reads out…)

Kano: You guys will need to speak to someone who seems to have managed to finally tell the truth. Her name is Sarah DuPont, Kalos’ fiance…she wasn’t very straight with you before, but she has decided to tell you all she knows after she left a message on our answerphone…

Ohjiro: Next…I want you to go to the hospital. Rosetta and Touji are both there and in bad condition. Speak to them and see if now you know about Touji if there is anything he is willing to tell you…

Kano: After that, I suggest you look around a few places of our three suspects. See if there are any last minute observations that could influence you on the right…or wrong track…

Ohjiro: Kaleido Stage however is off site, so you’ll get to visit Duplica’s old haunt, the Imite House. Anna and Ruri’s places however are fine, so go there and find yourself a clue and a killer…

Kano: After that, well…it’s up to you. I suggest you may best your time here, and calm yourselves. The horrors this game sets you up for at the end aren’t something you want to put in your mind…

(Kano shudders, her years when she was the winner just surviving a fight with Yuri (the first killer) as Ohjiro, a lot calmer as he had to deal with Jing (second killer)

Ohjiro: However…you must be wary, after all…you are all after the prize at the end, so be wary of each other as much as the opposition…the tales of distrust are worn well in this game…trust both of us on that…

Ohjiro: So…Ban, Hinata, Triela…you have your orders…go!!!

(The three nod as they stand up…knowing this is going to be both the longest and the shortest day of their lives…)

(The team together in the van are heading towards the clinic, which seems deserted (Yomi if you recall returned back to the hospital to see if she can help with the cure for the Evan virus – the team still have the gem if you recall)…however, a beautiful lady with her back turn has her golden locks flowing…)

Triela: Sarah?

(The blonde lady nods)

Sarah: Kinda find it odd considering how this is gone that I’m speaking to you and not someone else…

(Yep, it’s a clue there just to help you out…who should be speaking here? :P Anyway, as I mess with your minds, Sarah continues to speak…)

Sarah: I want to talk to guys about the night of Kalos’ murder…it’s taken quite a long time…as you can probably see, and indeed, some of you noticed, I wasn’t in the best frame of mind…

(Indeed, Sarah has rarely interacted with the detectives due to said state of mind, and even then it wasn’t exactly brilliant…)

Sarah: Now…my terms of it are coming…and the need to see who committed the murder needs to be brought to fruition.

(The notepads are out as Sarah begins explaining what she saw on the night of the murder…)

*

(Pale blue?)

(Shot of Sarah withdraws a pair of nunchuku (for those unfamiliar, Sarah is a martial arts expert/fanatic) and waves around in what seems to be a Japanese equivilent to a Native American chant…)

(Shot of Sarah clambering towards the sound…)

*

(Sarah bowed her head in regret and despair…)

Sarah: I knew it…

Ban: So…do you have an idea if someone was there that could have done the murder?

Sarah: Honestly? I thought Touji…but he wouldn’t have been able to come with such a good plan this easily…especially considering the condition he was in. However, if I had a good look at that girl…maybe…

(Ban and Hinata seem to be in note pad mode, but Triela seems to be not bothering and committing to memory. Confident or careless? You decide…)

Sarah: …I don’t want to name names, but I thing I’ve got a good idea of who it could be…

Ban: …I think we do as well.

(Sarah nods…)

Sarah: …but…

(Sarah looks around, almost hoping no-one is listening…)

Triela: But?

Sarah: …I could think it’s someone else…someone who could MAKE her hair look a different colour…especially as it’s a similar style to someone elses…

(Shock. Even Sarah may think it’s her current boss…)

Hinata: So…what are you doing now?

Sarah: (sighs) Nothing much, the dorms aren’t in working order for the time being so most of the crew are just relaxing at their homes if they are there or sharing with friends. I’m gonna go head off into the mountains tomorrow so I’m doing a bit more training…

Ban: Very well…I think we need to do a bit more searching…

Triela: Until hopefully we find out who did this, we bid you farewell.

(Hinata bows as the three leave, being quiet as they all contemplate their own thoughts…but by the magic of cheating, let’s see what they are…)

(A brief shot of the Kaleido Stage where we see a few School Rumble characters make an appearance…)

Karen: This rebuilding…does it need to be done like this for tonight?

Harima: Ah…for some reason we were asked to get this done…

Hanai: …though why they asked for your help is a mystery…

Harima: What did you say glasses-guy?!!!

Karen: STOP IT!!!

(Shot of Karen swinging a large pole (which weighs around 300 pounds) as the two rivals duck…keep in mind Karen is probably the most innocent character in the show, and she’s stronger than pretty much everyone including Harima…^_^)

Hanai: Fine…but only because I don’t want to disgrace myself in front of Yakumo-kun…

(Yakumo, making tea, shudders as she reads Hanai’s mind…fortunately she’s got her ONEE-CHAN POWER with her in case anything goes wrong…)

Tenma: Yak-u-mooooo…Eri-chan was being mean…

Eri: What? I only said she needed to set her mind working higher if she wanted to stay close to Karasuma-kun…

(On hearing Karasuma, Harima’s ears flutter a little…but as he turns, he immediately gets caught by the glare of Eri…and he turns back, saying something on the lines of that ‘damn Ojo’)

(Suou snickers seeing this as she lifts a heavy barrel…but asking Akira something (who is helping Yakumo prepare tea)…)

Suou: Akira, what is going on here?

Akira: I believe…it’s a set up for something…

(Akira pauses…)

Akira: …and I also believe, there is someone missing here which is vital to the case…

(Akira somehow looks at the readers…just imagine a sullen crew cut haired girl who can look surprisingly sexy in leather and riding a motorcycle looking at you…)

Akira: …if only they realise it.

(Question marks flutter around the heads of the girls as Asou comes over with some food preparations…)

Suou: Nice one Asou!

Asou: Thanks Suou…though I do think Akira is right…

(What? Do you want me to scream ‘HINT?’ Work it out and the game is yours…but let’s try normal methods rather than secret clues…)

*

(Inside the van, the atmosphere can be cut with a knife. No words are uttered, due to competition, genuine hatred, and the nervousness and disrespect that could cause…)

(As the three head out, they know that things may be bad in there…though if they remember, Rosetta is out of her coma from what the two former MG winners implied (and of course from what we’ve seen)…however, Touji’s condition may not be the best chance of helping…)

(…however, maybe there is another way he can help…)

*

Yomi: You guys better make sure he doesn’t collapse you know…we need to get on with his operation and get the cure blueprints correct…

(The team, who have the gem, nod and with just a day left…)

Ban: We’ll set it up that by tomorrow morning, the cure will be ready to use…

Yomi: (surprised) You sure?

Ban: Positive.

(The team slowly head towards Touji’s room, where they learn Rosetta is residing as well…)

(…knock knock…)

Hinata: (entering first and bowing) Excuse us…

???: Erm….er…and don’t do that again, you made us all worried…well, except me of course but…

Hikari: Give it up May, everyone sees you miss her…

(Shot of quite a full house, with Hikari, Touji (sitting on the side of the bed), Sora, May, Marion and Jonathan *making their MG debut* perched on her head…)

Rosetta: I’m…I’m just so grateful…

Triela: (whispers) This might be tricky…

Hinata: Actually…it might be extra helpful…

Ban: Hmm?

*

(A couple of minutes later, Ban is talking with Touji, Triela is with Rosetta and Hinata is with the other girls, talking about old things and new, as well as cheering up Touji with a bit of possible good news…)

Touji: …you have the cure?!!!

Ban: It was deliver…anonymously shall we say…to us…

Touji: B-but…you could have…

Ban: (sighs) Touji, we’re sorry, but considering up until yesterday we had you as a suspect, we weren’t in a position to do that…the item was and still is a considerable motive…

Touji: But…surely this means you know who the killer is?

(Ban smirks)

Ban: I might…not sure about those two…

(Ban with his usual ego talking, however does get down to the grit of the case…)

Ban: Touji, as I said we know now you didn’t commit the crimes…however, we also know you WERE at the scene of the crime…

Hikari: W-what?!!!

Touji: No…it’s O.K…go on Mr. Mido.

Ban: I prefer Ban-sama but hey, any respect works…but anyway…Sarah DuPont told us she chased you away whilst ‘inspecting’…

Touji: Hold on…before you get ahead of yourself…I was at Kaleido Stage yes…and I was looking through a window…but Sarah didn’t chase me off, I went on my own accord…I doubt she can chase me off a 3^rd floor roof from a ground floor growling like a cat…

(True…did Sarah lie? However…)

Touji: …it’s true. I wanted to get inside Kalos’ office…to have, shall we say, a quiet word…

Hikari: Touji!!!

Touji: Hikari, I wasn’t planning on anything worse than a beatdown…why would I want to kill someone who could still save my life? However…when Sarah spotted me…

(Shot of Touji looking inside a window when he hears Sarah…)

Ban: What happened then?

Touji: I awoke…a few hours later, a few hundred metres from Kaleido Stage…but as I looked, there seemed to be some…well…pazazz…

(Touji shakes his head)

Touji: …long story short, I had a killer headache, and wondered if I had been drinking…and thus, any alibi I had was kinda screwed there…

Hikari: Touji, you idiot!!!! Why didn’t you say this before…

Touji: Oh yeah, let’s see ‘er, where was you on the night of the murder?’ ‘Oh, about 500 metres away from the scene of the crime…’

(Hikari is silent as Touji also cools down…)

Touji: Sorry…my anger is on overdrive at times due to this illness…

Ban: But with that thud, someone must have knocked you out right…

Touji: (nods) Of course…

Ban: …who would that have been?

(Touji does the maths…)

Touji: The killer…

(Ban smiles)

Ban: Thank you very much.

*

(Triela doesn’t seem to be having as much look with Rosetta…but she is beginning to help when Triela asks about the fire…)

Rosetta: The fire was weird…there was no set point that it was set, but when the flames came up in my rooms, it was like everything was set up…

Triela: Maybe through a direct point?

Rosetta: Maybe…someone may have set things up before to get the fire to spread…someone with access to the place…

Triela: Intriguing…

Rosetta: …on the other hand, from what Sora told me, it came from the main tent, and spread at a rate that only a powerful fire could hit. It might have been created…like a molotov but with advanced power…

(That doesn’t help much…whilst Duplica has access easily to the Stage, Ruri and Anna are both considered geniuses in the future with technology…still, it gives Triela some food for thought as the diablo girl coughs a little…)

Triela: You all right?

Rosetta: (coughs) Y-yes…my memory isn’t that hazy but my body is still weak…I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help…

Triela: That’s fine…you may have been more help than you realised…

*

(Hinata has the hardest job because she is speaking to the rest of the girls…and they could only really say what Rosetta knew…or do they?)

May: I’m certain that damn fire came from the lower levels…unless Duplica set up something and presses a button to detonate from upstairs, how could she have done it?

Marion: But we’re only going on what you think…did you see it?

May: No – I was practising with Leon and Sora remember? Naegino, what did you think?

Sora: Well…the heat seemed to be rising, so I do think that May is right…

May: Ha, even Sora thinks so!

Sora: …but the fact that the crux of the flames was on the roof and it spread so quickly doesn’t seem to add up with what they think!

Marion: Ha!

Jonathan: Arp!

(As the 10 year old and the seal pup gloat in victory (as they should), Hinata has an interesting question based on that…)

Hinata: Could there have been two fires?

(The girls (and seal) look at the ninja…and go into the thinking position again…)

Sora: Now that you mention it…if someone came in the front door, and then escaped outside and climbed to the top…

May: You don’t buy that do you Naegino?

Marion: It makes sense though…but surely the cameras…

May: Destroyed kid – the fire would have got through them if we could recognise someone…

Marion: (accusingly) …unless they were in disguise…

May: Hey, wait a…

Marion: What?!!! If I think it’s her, I think it’s her! Stop defending her unless with these new theories you can!

(It’s kid and seal 2, bitchy Chinese girl NOT named Shampooo (but much more fun and far less irritating) 0 – but Hinata doesn’t go with her namesake of an inn ninja and make a mess of things…)

*

Hinata: So…if a person could get up there…

Sora: In the weather that it is, anyone could get access to the windows…problem is…with that height, it’s really hard unless you have access to Kaleido Stage…or have our type of abilities…

May: Kinda like yours in a way kid…er…the ninja one not the one with the seal on her head…

(Said seal and kid pout as May gets a small measure of revenge…)

Hinata: The problem is…why would someone want a fire here anyway? If I’m assuming whoever killed Kalos did this, why would this happen? Insurance…or someone or something else here needs to be rid of…

Jonathan: Arp, arp arp arrrppp!!!

Marion: Jonathan says maybe it had a ghost of the past that needed to be buried…

(Every girl bar Marion sweatdrops…)

May: I’ll never get used to the way she can understand that seal…

Sora: She tried to teach me the other day…

Hinata: Note to self, introduce Marion-chan to Tsunade-sama…maybe she can help her understand Tonton…

(However, Hinata does seem to think about that…as she makes a note of it…however, they get a different type of problems when they plan to exit…)

*

Ban: I’m not giving you guys anything that make give you an advantage…and you would be an idiot for doing so as well…

Triela: Hey, I don’t care how we feel about each other, but we’ve played it all the way by sharing each others information, and now you’re…

Ban: Oh don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same. You want to win as badly as I do, so what information we got should have only been used for our own purposes. I suggest you…

Triela: Hinata, use that trick of yours and get his hints…

Ban: You do, and my own little evil eye will do the same…

(Triela looks pissed, but…)

Hinata: Triela, stop…

(A gentle hand goes on top of Triela’s, but the slight singe of power from Hinata’s chakra is enough for Triela to realise this isn’t going to work…)

Hinata: …not now. He’s right in a way…we should all focus our own thoughts and minds on the killer…no matter what methods we choose to do so…

(Hinata turns and is the first to enter the van…)

Hinata: I suggest we visit the homes of the three suspects now…everyone agree we start with Ruri’s considering it’s the closest…

(Ban and Triela are still giving each other the evil eye treatment (albeit without Ban using a Jagan) as they realise that Ban is right…sneaky does it as Satoshi said a while ago, and all three here, regardless of ability, personality and strength have made it this far…)

(…now is the time not to blow it…)

*

(The main problem is of course, there is more than one Hoshino (sorry Aya-chan, you haven’t been brought back to life) in this household…but another problem quickly shows it’s head…)

Ban: There’s nobody around…

Triela: Not that…there’s some eerie silence in this place now…

(The voice inside is obviously Haley, but the fact they haven’t even knocked the door yet shows there is something…odd…)

Hinata: Haley-kun…we haven’t even done anything yet!

Hinata: Why?

Hinata: (pissed off…yes, Hinata and pissed off in the same sentence, don’t faint) BYAKUGAN!!!

(Hinata doesn’t beat round the bush, her trademark technique goes through the penetrations of wood and concrete, except the energy level in here is weak…and an acute sense of darkness is here…)

(…and only one living source.)

Hinata: Ruri isn’t in there…and there is something else…

(Hinata notices something which is weird…because it’s something that seems to be scattered around the house…small pieces of paper. It’s only unusual for the fact that…)

Hinata: The Hoshinos have never let anything come even near untidy…someone had I think a bit of an angry spell cast on them…

Triela: Kid…two hints. One, by tonight we’ll be gone and two, I don’t care anymore…

*TRIELA SMASH*

(The punch relieved some stress (probably pretended it was Ban’s face or something) as Haley stares gobsmacked…)

Ban: Damn, I wanted first dibs…

(Haley looks horrified but grows a backbone…)

Haley: L-Listen…don’t do anything!!! This is an authorised warrant, and I could have you guys…

Ban: Time for me to finally pound something!!!

(Haley looks ready to shit himself, but before Ban can really put a blot on the game, Hinata rushes forward…and hits a soft palm into his chest. The technique doesn’t hurt Haley on the outside, but his body subsides and passes out…)

Triela: YOU IDIOT BAN!!! IF YOU’D HAVE HIT HIM WHAT THE HELL…

Ban: Hey, I think breaking doors wasn’t exactly high on the list of what we learned in training…you said yourself we’ll be gone tonight…

Triela: I simply improvised!!! If they want to charge the remains of the door, please, I’ll write them a cheque…

Ban: Maybe your brain needs replaced as well…

Triela: Why you…

Hinata: SHUT UP!!!!

(Speaking of backbones growing….)

Hinata: Let’s…just…deal with this here right?

(Hinata has Haley over her shoulder and struggles a little but manages to put him on the sofa. Immediately, she goes over to some pieces of paper…and looks…)

Hinata: Pictures…of a man…

(They look at it, and indeed, the pictures are of a man…but it’s not Haley. It’s of a man with visor glasses on, with a black cloak and a grim expression…)

Ban: That must be…

Triela: It is.

(One of the pictures that Triela has picked up is a three way picture of the same man, but with a much happier expression in a yellow and black jumpsuit, a woman of the same height, large bust and happy smiles, and Ruri, a lot smaller but just with the same stoic expression she’s warn in this fanfic. In other words…)

Triela: Her family…must have been a fair few years ago…and that guy, must be Akito Tenkawa.

Ban: Nearly forgot about that…Ruri has a personal motive as much as anyone does…

Hinata: The guilt she suffered from releasing the Evan virus spread through her family to her new home…

(Hinata’s Byagukan directs them into other pictures, but one stands out as whilst most are scattered, one of them is found on a table in her room…)

*

Hinata: I think this one was intended for us to specifically find…

(On it, Ruri has left a message…)

‘To the investigators…

Ban: Must be the woman in the other pic…

(Stunned silence…it was a DELIBERATE virus?)

(Triela tries hard not to smile at the trademark Ruri-ism but she is challenging them to come to Kaleido Stage. As did of course our killer…)

Triela: So…is this an open and shut door?

Ban: I’ll let you know once we find what we need to find in the other places. I have a feeling this isn’t over…

Hinata: Let’s go to Anna-san’s church…

(The two others nod and it’s time for another future endeavour – this time at the hands of Anna Respighi…)

*

(…or not…as the case may be.)

Triela: Tenchi, what happened?

(Shot of a hurt Tenchi outside the house, clutching his ribs which have been stained with blood…)

Tenchi: A…little…domestic…shall we say?

Ban: Geez man, what did that sprig do?

Tenchi: Sprig…she isn’t. I think the pressure of what was happening with this damn murder…she panicked.

Triela: I think that’s an understatement…

(Ambulances come in the distance but Tenchi continues…)

Tenchi: She turned dark…and took it out on the furniture for about 3 minutes…I tried to stop her, but she can be insanely strong in that mode and punched me hard enough to…well…

(The puncture wounds say it all…)

Hinata: Oh…god…

Tenchi: I’m O.K…just…as soon as the blood showed, Anna ran out of here and I dunno where she went…

Ban: I think I can hazard a guess…

Tenchi: (nods) So can I…take a look…

(Tenchi shows something to the detectives…a message.)

Ban: Short…simple…and to the point.

Triela: A bit TOO much to the point…

Tenchi: Please…I don’t know what is going on with her, but please…let her come back…she…she…

(Tenchi begins to cry as the ambulance comes up. The detectives move to let Tenchi pass as his tears are more for his upset heart than his damaged rib…)

Triela: Poor guy…I think he’s been searching for true love for a long time, and now he’s found it…

Hinata: But that means that Anna and Ruri both are heading there…

Ban: Which leads to one conclusion…

*

(The first and only time the detectives have been able to go to Duplica’s home, which is basically like a smaller version of her old Imite House back in the days when I first got into anime (8 years ago) and only Pokemon and DBZ was on…)

Ban: This it?

Triela: No, it’s the local brothel…LOOK!!!

(It even has the ‘Imite House’ as a sign on there…)

Ban: Ah…

Triela: I think you can’t see beyond those glasses…

Hinata: Come on before there is more bloodshed…

(Looking for a way in, Ban suggests he takes a crack at the door this time…however, he still doesn’t get to pound anything due to an open window…Hinata checks for any alarms or anything, but it’s clear.)

*

(Sneaky as a ninja (bonus points for irony), Hinata leads Ban and Triela inside the home as Ban struggles to get through a small bathroom window on the highest floor. All three are able to get up there easily…but…)

Ban: Listen, there should be a sign saying….

Triela: …no big ass arrogant urchin heads here?

Ban: Yeah, that’s…HEY!!!

Hinata: Quiet, she might be here you know…

(The three are patrolling around like common thieves, but fortunately with Hinata’s Byakugan on overdrive, they quickly decipher that she isn’t in…)

(…and also decipher something else…)

*

Hinata: Here…

(A small cupboard door in what appears to be her living room (and Ban’s perversions in interrogating the bedroom were cut short by Triela) have been penetrated by Hinata. The level down here is small and cramped, which means Hinata takes charge in what she finds…)

Ban: What you’ve got?

Triela: Why does she have to show you what she finds?

(Ban growls a little at his own analogy, and indeed, if Hinata’s fast enough, she might just get away (Ban is pretty damn fast), however she of course does come out…with something interesting…)

Hinata: Look at this…

(Hidden medical notes are what Hinata has found…all involves cases involving the Evan virus. Looks like her stay in the hospital allowed her to research OTHER things as well…)

(…photographs – done in a style similar to the ones Kensuke took, moments before he died…)

Ban: Oh…golly…

(…the photographs are of Sora, Rosetta and May…the trifecta as they are known in the Stage. Why would Duplica have pictures of these girls…they’d more likely be found on my desktop…(in a non hentai context of course, no hentai found in the Homer household…^_^)

Triela: Studying about employees?

Hinata: But left with these papers about the illnesses? Why would Duplica take such an interest of them…

Ban: It was clearly something she didn’t want to speak about with us, and didn’t want shown anywhere near her at Kaleido Stage…

Triela: But…surely the girls aren’t effected by the virus?

Ban: They probably would have said something…

Hinata: …unless it has something to do with the jewel…

*RING*

Ban: Hi, the almighty Ban-sama here, how can I help you?

(Hinata stiffles a giggle on Ban’s answer, but the giggles turn into shocked stares as Ban's voice tones down…)

Ban: Right…O.K fine…we’ll be right over there!!!

(The phone disconnects…)

Ban: That was that Kano girl – she’s just been reported that there has been a break in…

(…dramatic pause…)

Ban: …at out HQ!!!

(The two girls eyes widen, but they begin to rush back…not knowing what the hell has happened…)

*

(Shot of the three as their van drops them off…no immediate sign of damage…until they get to the front door…)

Ban: It was pretty much broken in by force…

Triela: I’m almost afraid what we’ll find in there…

Hinata: I AM afraid…

(What comes next stunned the team…)

*

(Photographs are shown, all of the team members belongings…some not quite in good taste…)

Triela: She’s sick…I don’t care…this girl is sick…

(…bloodied photoes of her victims, and what appears to be possible photoshops ones of her 9 other victims…the detectives that fell before them.)

(Clothing and items are everywhere, with bloodied handprints and a message (of course in blood) saying ‘TONIGHT’ plastered on the whiteboard in the main quarters…)

(…even messages from the dead seem to be littered in blood…creepy enough…but some really hit a sore spot…)

Hinata: Kotone-chan…Negi-kun…

(Messages in the voice of forgiveness and despair from the 9 detectives bring a real edge to their mindset as the game comes to a close…but also, the will to win too…they can’t lose focus over something like this…)

Triela: Hinata, she’s just screwing with us…don’t take it heart, and just make it more worthwhile when this damn case is solved…

Hinata: I…you’re right…

Triela: Upstairs…let’s search…

(The girl do so as Ban looks round the outside…)

Ban: I hope Kano and Ohjiro are on this, because this isn’t exactly the best mental preparation to deal with a girl this deadly…

*

(Kano and Ohjiro come about 20 minutes later as the team are gathering everything they have found…they include…)

Kano: It’s gone…

Ohjiro: (nods) The Third Eye has been stolen.

(The general intimidation has not been lost on our two lead investigators, albeit whilst Ohjiro looks as calm as ever, Kano’s brow is sweating as the Adam’s apple bobs up inside her throat…)

Kano: I think I can safely say, the s*it has hit the fan…

(…looks like she’s been taking expletive lessons from Yukino…)

Ohjiro: I think that this is proof that the killer is wanting everything to end TONIGHT. And I think you have enough evidence and proof over the last few weeks to make a decision tonight.

(Ohjiro paces around the three detectives…)

Ohjiro: From now until a hour before 10pm, you will be going through your notes, researching the previous clues, look at video footage, go through the killer’s clues, and anything else you may think will help. You may eat, rest and do whatever you wish that can help you, but you’ve got 8 hours in total to get your preparation sorted out.

(A few nervous looks are scattered around the three detectives, even Triela seems to be feeling the pressure…)

Kano: I suggest you do rest and get your hopes up during this time, however remind yourself of all the clues in the game, and see if you can link everything to one person…because that is what it leads to in the end.

(To recap…let’s remind them and you guys and gals playing at home, what these clues were…specifically the killer clues…some had meanings in the game, some were secret clues…some…WERE BOTH.)

1)

A map is located with four key locations – Cairo, Ulan Bator, Paris and Los Angeles. This clue if you recall, linked various people within these locations… but is there anything else that these can be linked with?

Clue two is an Egyptian artificat known as ‘The Third Eye.’ Pretty obvious as this is a key component of the case…now apparently back in the hands of the killer…so why give it away in the first place?

A bloodied part of scrap is found – a blue and white scrap. It apparently belonged to Kalos as his blood and DNA. Nothing else is made much of it other than the fact that it was found with a slash of gravel signalling the killer escaped through the wall…ironically, this scrap could give the killer away the most clearly…if you knew what it meant.

The supposed murder weapon is found in episode 4 – the sword. It is in fact Seta’s sword, and prints show him on it. It’s not 100% certain this was the weapon that killed him though…

A key and a safe number. The suspects trace the key to Kalos’ deposit box where they find out that none of the profits went missing the day of the murder, instead, a receipt to scramble a code – after enlisting some help of Ruri (who is still a suspect) they find out the code was a way to eliminate the Evan virus.

Four passport photographs are posted – one of the following. And here I reveal who they are. May Oak (Pokemon Advanced), Chiharu Maehara (CCS), Chika Minzauki (AYA) and Kano Miyazawa (Kare Kano) – Their link = killer.

A hidden message is shown. F-T-K-I-L-E-N-T-V-. This is in reference to a particular anime…which if found out correctly, should narrow down the suspects CONSIDERABLY.

A script with past insurance claims showing what Kalos owed – the interesting thing though is that the fact that the bills for the court cases involving Anna and Ruri are different. Ruri’s case seems very accurate if they look at past evidence, but Anna’s seems out of place. In fact, it shows that Anna owes more because of her involvement with the future – but Anna claims that someone hacked into it and shows off her receipt to prove it. Is it heat or truth?

This killer clue is a selection of pictures of various anime characters through various animes…they are as follows…

To solve this clue, find the odd one out.

Oh…and during the HQ blitz…there was ONE MORE KILLER CLUE.

Two part. A poster with the singer Full Moon,and tennis player Izumi Himuro. A shadow with a pokeball is shown. ‘ The shadow is not our killer…but if you can figure out the link between Moon and Izumi, then you’ll figure out what the name of our killer is…

*

Kano: Ban Mido…Triela…Hinata Hyuuga…you three have earned the right to play one final killer’s game at Kaleido Stage. There, you three will locate one of three young ladies – a performer named Duplica, an athlete named Anna, and a captain named Ruri. However, one of these three showed another profession quite well in these last few weeks…professional killer.

Ohjiro: This is your time now…use it well, as it is your last. Once the time runs out, you will have an hour to submit your final report on who killed Kalos and why? Use the other murders to back up your report, and all these clues and facts you’ve found out. Who had the most reason to kill Kalos and why?

Kano: A simple question at first…but when you look into it, it will be the hardest question you may have taken in your life…

(I’d say Hinata may disagree but let’s continue…)

Kano: …so think hard, and think well.

Ohjiro: Your time, ladies and gentlemen…

(Triela scoffs and Ban smirks…)

Ohjiro: …begins now.

(There’s no shaking hands here, not even between Triela and Hinata. It’s all business, and the three here are ready to make it their business…)

*

(Shot of Ban inside the clue room, and watching a video clip of Anna. Here, we discover each of the suspects had their own introductions recorded by Jerry once he discovered who the suspects are…)

(Ban pauses as he thinks…)

(He looks at a couple of killer clues, namely the map and the pictures of the four girls…)

(Ban looks over at some of his notes…)

(Ban now heads over to the sword…)

(Ban begins to write some notes as we cut to Triela…)

*

(Triela is watching some clips taken throughout the game (if you recall, the LI’s actually took them and allowed Team Leaders to watch them to make decisions on votes) – here, Triela is looking at the first meeting between Ruri and the team of Negi, Hinata and Shiine…)

(She looks at some notes – referring here to her admittance about her father, and also of how the Evan virus game to play…)

(Triela looks over the pictures taken by Kensuke just before his death…)

(Triela hits a crosswire…but Hinata’s wires are far from crossed…)

*

(The kunoichi is going through the pictures of the burned out remains of Kaleido Stage…we see a picture of Duplica helping out Rosetta during the painful struggle…)

(Hinata is eyeing the Gendo impersonator and tapping her pen in thought. Ironically, she’s probably the most calm out of the three detectives…)

(She, like Ban, begins listening to Duplica’s introduction (instead of Anna’s…)

(Hinata has to hold her breath to avoid laughing at that comment…)

(She recalls of Kensuke’s fear during one of the interviews when Duplica on a motorcycle rudely interrupted…)

(The analogue switches to Duplica talking about her pokemon, Ditto…)

(Hinata begins ticking various points from her notebook and begins searching for more evidence as we cut back to Ban…)

*

(Ban seems to be focusing on Ruri now, and he’s looking at some of Haley’s testimonies from the past and seeing if there is anything there that can help him…)

(Ban looks through some police photos of when Ruri was ‘caught’ after Hinata found the Third Eye jewel…now stolen again of course…)

(Ban goes into Shikamaru thinking mode as he thinks over the two blunettes (one dark, one light) and their motives and possibilities for murder…as we return to a real killer herself…)

*

(Triela is now on the track of Duplica’s scent, this time looking in involvement with the weapons of the murders…)

(She remembers what Tamahome said about her…)

(Triela is scratching her head in frustration…and decides to take a coffee break….Hinata on the other hand is in a meditative state as she looks into Anna’s details…)

*

(She’s sitting down as she tries to block out the images of ‘that scene’ involving Tenchi and Anna, but does remember the words spoken when Tenchi could confirm an alibi…and Anna couldn’t.)

(The first meeting…at the funeral, her little impromptu speech and her running away…followed by the glimpse of her second nature (a.k.a. Dark Anna) made Hinata a bit more concerned and suspicious than she let on…)

Ban: She has connections through the case…except the Evan virus. At least…until this morning…a jack of all trades? A queen of all motives more like it…

(The study at Duplica’s home with the photos suggests the killer’s clue photos and Kensuke’s as well had a link…Ban is wracking his brains out for the solution now…)

(Triela is now confused…but knows a decision is needed… as does Hinata…)

*

(A flashback to Ruri’s little shield trick which trapped Negi, Shiine and Hinata way back in Episode 1…seems a long while ago doesn’t it?)

*

(A shot of Hinata and Triela outside the door as Kano and Ohjiro step in front. Ban is already sitting down…)

Triela: Hey…good luck…

(Hinata just smiles as Triela hugs her one more time…Ban tries not to scoff but Triela ignores him. The two girls sit down as Kano and Ohjiro explain the last part…of the last journey…)

Kano: Today, one of you three will correct identify the killer from one of three jezebels.

Ohjiro: Duplica, Anna and Ruri all have viable reasons, motives and ways to kill.

Kano: However, only one of them actually commit the murders of Kalos Eido, Kensuke Aida and Jet Black.

(Kano goes over with 3 pieces of paper…)

Ohjiro: Your final test…is to write your submission on who killed these people, how and why. Using the motives, your own observations and notes, the clues are all there, the clues you’ve found…use them all.

Kano: After you’ve finished…you will submit your quizzes to us and we will mark them.

Ohjiro: Then we will direct you with someone to help you in Kaleido Stage – and the person who has got the closest correct answer will confront the killer…and win the game.

Kano: So now, the rest is up to you. Good luck ladies and gent. I think…you are really going to need it…

Ohjiro: You may begin.

(The game is coming to an end…as three people begin to take an exam which could determine if they become rich or not have to go back to day 1 all that time ago…and figure out all the links which could only link to one person…)

*

Done and done!

No fancy ending this time, just getting your thinking head out, move it into 5^th gear and get those quizzes in!

And now, stupid notes time!

My favourite bastard in anime is Yoichi Hiruma (Eyeshield 21) – actually he’s my favourite male character in anime, full stop (finally someone knocked off his similar namesake Harima from School Rumble) – altogether now, YA-HA! Ban is also quite high in that list (4^th – Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket) is 3^rd, with Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop) 5^th) so anyone thinking automatically that Hinata or Triela will win this, think again…

Hinata’s namesake? Did you figure who I meant…not Shinobu from Love Hina, rather Shinobu from Shinobuden…the ninja played by Nana Mizuki of course (same seiyuu for both characters) – Hinata’s a lot more competent than Shinobu (which says it all really) hence the fact Hinata doesn’t make a Shinobu out of it…

No, I’m not being hentai (Seriously, I’ve not got or read a hentai in my whole life as an anime fan) – the desktop comment refers to my current wallpaper of a cute picture of Rosetta giving Sora a little peck on the cheek. I will rewatch the second OVA I think and get that beautiful shot of Rosetta and May doing their Revolution technique…that OVA had some of the most gorgeous animation ever…