Doubt we can beat last chapter, but damn if I’m not going to try…

Hopefully, at the end of this chapter as well, all the motives are coming together and everyone reading will most likely now have a set idea on the murder and a few specific suspects. So let’s see if I can confuse you even further…

*

Triela: Huh?

????: Hmmm?

Triela: You seem…normal…

(The girl giggles…)

Satoshi: Sorry, not a sight we’re used to…

????: Oh, that’s O.K. I’m just here because of a loophole…and it gave me a chance to find someone as well…

(They both look confused, until her name is said…)

????: …oh, let me introduce myself. I’m Rika. Rika Sasaki.

Akari: (nods) Yes – she did work on her own for a while, but the image kinda died when Elaine was taken out. Fortunately, she met Tenchi-san, who has brought her back to life, and now they work together.

Negi: So…Anna-san was working for Kaleido Stage as well – meaning does she hold it responsible…

Hinata: (whispering) It’s similar to Imite-san’s…

(Negi nods)

Negi: Anyway, is that all Kanzaki-san?

(Akari nods)

Akari: Do you have any other questions?

Negi: No, that’s fine…we’ll be on our way. Hinata-san?

Hinata: (nods) Thank you Kanzaki-san.

Akari: You’re welcome.

(The two leave, with a bit more information…and additional motive…)

Negi: Do you think Respighi-san blames Kalos for Elaine’s injury?

Hinata: I think she blames herself…but it feels better to take out the additional cause to the problem…

Negi: I dunno…it still seems too open. Anna-san I agree probably has a good motive as well, but so does Tenchi…

Hinata: I know…there is more to this than meets the eye…

Mia: Oh, I believe I found her number when we were getting intimate…all my fault of course…

Tamahome: DON’T YOU DARE!!!

(Like a crazed Tasmanian devil, catching the detectives off guard…Mia looks and screams…)

Ban: WAIT!!!

(Tamahome turns and throws what appears to be a smoke grenade – it catches the three off a moment, allowing Tamahome to gain distance on Mia…)

(Mia drops the phone and runs – and whilst fast, Tamahome is catching up…)

Mia: HELP ME!

(Tamahome jumps and grabs Mia on the shoulder, ripping part of material of her dress. She struggles free…)

Tamahome: STOP YOU BITCH!

Mia: NO!

(Behind them, Ban and Triela have recovered from the grenade…)

Ban: Bastard…this one’s mine!

Triela: Save a piece left for me…

(The two run off…)

(Mia is down as she’s has either fainted, or Tamahome did knock her out…Tamahome senses the other two so he begins to run…)

(…unaware that Mia apparently wasn’t alone…)

Tamahome: Dammit…now…

(Suddenly, a small figure steps in front on Tamahome. Tamahome can’t stop…but he doesn’t need to…because the figure does that for him…)

(…a strong open palm to the stomach sends Tamahome gasping…and out…)

Tamahome: No…way…

(Before he passes out, a shot of the striker…combined with the words of Tamahome confirm who it is…)

Tamahome: Du…pl…ica…

(Tamahome collapses. The ditto girl runs away, leaving Mia and Tamahome for the detectives…)

Negi: Huh? What’s going on?

Triela: Uh…well…

(Shot of Shiine being restrained by Ban, with a red-faced Aya and Kotone already retreating…)

Negi: Kufei-san has shown about this moxibustion technique…designed to help with back pain…and Hinata-san knew a little about it as well…so…

Ban: Are you sure you’re 10 years old and not an old man?

Negi: Er…

(Shiine looks ready to faint, whilst Aya and Kotone, especially Kotone slink off…)

Shiine: There…there was an incident…at the circus…and there was a fight…and the two detectives there…one of them had the ability to immediate stop them with his powers…

(Suddenly, everyone looks at one person, who is in utter shock…if Hinata’s vote two days ago stunned everyone…)

Shiine: (quickly) I pick Negi Springfield to play the killer’s game!

(Negi yawns as he stretched out as footsteps hit the stairs…shot that it’s Aya who is up…she’s not exactly thrilled after learning about something as well (see IHQ) but she sees Negi folding his futon and shakes her head…)

Aya: You’re O.K Negi-kun?

(Negi is surprised by Aya’s voice but smiles…)

Negi: Morning Aya-san…yes, I’m fine now…just I know how awkward this is going to be…

Aya: (nods) I can tell…

Negi: I’m just going to try and get through it a step at a time, and hope that whoever the Team Leader is doesn’t try and make it worse…

Aya: Good point…(look at the kitchen)…need a drink?

Negi: Y-yeah…I may as well make something to eat as well…

Aya: I’ll join you.

Negi: Thank you Aya-san.

(Aya smiles and the two head off into the kitchen…)

(Negi and Aya get ready to make some breakfast, as both have had awkward moments with teammates recently…so with 5 people left to awaken…it’s definitely a lot more awkward than before…)

*

(…not in the least when Hinata gets up, and the puffed out face tells the story. She’s been crying most of the night…)

(Hinata tries her best to be presentable, as she…along with Satoshi are the next ones up, meaning Ban, Triela and Shiine are still in bed…)

Satoshi: So…is this the closest we are getting to normal for the moment?

Aya: At least until Shiine-chan gets up.

Satoshi: I don’t think those two are ready for it…

(Talk about awkward…both Hinata and Negi can’t really look at each other without a feeling of embarrassment or guilt…and the fear of what is going to happen when Shiine-chan comes downstairs…)

Hinata: Negi-kun…I-I…

Negi: It’s…it’s O.K! None of this is your fault Hinata-san…

Hinata: B-but…

Negi: It’s…it’s been hard for us…but we need to focus…

Aya: He’s right Hinata-chan. Otherwise…we’re all going to…

(Hinata nods, and wipes the last remains of her tears from her eyes…)

Hinata: I…I know Aya-san. Thank you…

(Aya smiles…though inside she feels just as bad as the two younger members…)

Triela: ATCHOOO!!!

Ban: You caught a cold kid?

Triela: (sniffs) I don’t catch colds – we have been made immune to all natural and unnatural diseases…

Ban: Then why the sneeze?

Triela: Hey, I’m not invincible to dust mites…

(Ban and Triela are out at 8.15, an hour after Aya got up…and whilst everything seems O.K on the surface, the underlying feeling is one of tension…that and of course, Shiine-chan hasn’t surfaced yet…)

Triela: Morning all…

(Shot of Negi finishing off some dishes, as onigiri is out ready to be eaten. He smiles slightly as Triela announces her entrance…)

Negi: Morning Triela-san…

Triela: You’re O.K Negi?

(Negi nods…)

Negi: I had a lot of time to think last night…and whilst I don’t like or even understand Shiine-chan’s decision…I will accept it.

Ban: Doesn’t mean you’ll accept him though right kid?

Triela: Ban!!

(Negi however doesn’t answer that and turns away…Triela’s eyes open slightly…)

Triela: Negi?

(Negi walks away as Ban pops an umeboshi onigiri in his mouth…)

Ban: A sour taste…how ironic…

*

(Indeed, Shiine obviously has been expecting the worst, and it isn’t until Satoshi and Ban team up to get him up…)

Ban: GET UP YOU CHICKEN!!!

Shiine: NO!!!

Satoshi: You are being incredibly silly…

(Shiine struggles but all the magic powers in the world can’t beat Ban’s power when he’s in the mood, and he’s almost kicking and screaming all the way downstairs, but at 9 in the morning, a very sick looking Shiine-chan is downstairs…)

(…you can cut the tension with a knife, as we see Hinata and Aya talking…)

Aya: …so if Duplica did the damage, how does that link with the murder weapon?

Hinata: I think it’s based what Ruri said…

Aya: Transformation item huh…(shivers)…I just felt a cold shiver down my back…

(They turn, and see a rather gulping looking Shiine-chan half dragged by the two yaoi stereotypes…be honest, they are…^_^)

Shiine: Please…I don’t…

Aya: Morning Shiine-chan!!!

(Aya is cheerful at least, as Shiine is surprised, still his nervousness is still there with Hinata staring at him…)

Shiine: Um…g-good morning…um…

Hinata: Shiine-chan…

(Shiine immediately bows in forgiveness…)

Shiine: HINATA-SAN, I’MSORRY – IJUSTFELTTHAT…

Hinata: …breakfast is in the kitchen, are you hungry?

(Shiine’s head collides with floor, as Ban chuckles…)

Ban: Man, you gotta love it…

*

(Indeed, Shiine-chan is on the quiet and putting stage as he forces himself into riceballs (unknown Negi had a hand in making them) – fortunately, Negi himself isn’t in the kitchen and it’s just Aya there cleaning up…the others are already in the investigation quarters, where they are looking over the killer clue…)

Triela: It’s a set of numbers for something…

Ban: It’s 7 numbers, maybe it matches for letters of the alphabet…

Satoshi: Already tried it – doesn’t matched anyone. However, we only have one suspect left in the game who has 7 letters in their name…

Negi: Duplica.

Hinata: It…it can’t be that obvious can it?

Satoshi: Well…

(As they think, a hush hits the room as Shiine enters…obviously not very comfortable in the slightest…)

Triela: Morning Shiine-chan.

Shiine: M-morning everyone.

(Negi steadily avoids his gaze as Hinata looks at both young mages for a moment seeing the nervousness in between their eyes. Ban sighs…)

Ban: Geez, if you’re gonna play silent treatment with each other, fine, but do it in your own time…

???: I quite agree.

(A new voice surprises everyone…)

Aya: I believe this lady would be the new Lead Investigator.

Ban: (smiles) Well, she’s got to follow in Rika’s footsteps…that will be a tough act…

(But then the lady makes her appearance…)

Ban: (jaws drops) …to…follow…

Triela: Wow, she’s beautiful.

Aya: (smiles) Actually, she’s quite famous around the medical world – it’s someone to aspire to be…I can’t believe she going to be our Lead Investigator.

Negi: Madam…

(The lady smiles. She’s 5 foot 6, has blue hair, a business suit out but a gentle smile on her pretty face. And she’s also one of the most famous characters in anime from one of the most famous shows.)

Aya: This is Mrs Ami Mizuno-san.

Ami: (bows) Nice to meet you all.

(Our 6^th Lead Investigator is indeed Sailor Moon’s Ami. Intelligent, beautiful, shy and at times (not by her own choice) the funniest character on the show…however, no time for further introductions…)

Ami: I’m sorry to rush into things already, but we’ve got a lot to do and I think we need to get things sorted.

All (yep, including Ban and Satoshi) Yes ma’am.

(The team shifts into overdrive…)

(Everything is going smoothly as Ami takes the stand. With just 7 detectives now, it’s a lot easier for everyone to see – in the front row we have Shiine, Triela and Negi on the right, just behind we have Hinata and Satoshi, and the two tallest Aya and Ban at the back (who don’t seem as hostile as previously (as Ban actually voted for Kotone than the expected Aya last time?).)

Ami: We’ve got a few orders of business to say the least. The killer has been on the loose, murdering Jet Black along with Kensuke Aida recently, and so we need to find out what is happening sooner than later. And to do so, we need to appoint a new Team Leader.

(Ami presses a button…)

Ami: Kotone Himekawa was killed last night but has left a parting message for one of you to be safe for 2 days. Let’s see who she picked.

(The last chance of seeing the beautiful Kotone (I miss her already…*sobs*) appears, and as I said last chapter, we bring you the most obvious pick of Team Leaders since half the votes of MG1.)

(Both Triela and Aya hang their head slightly…)

(The video ends as Hinata smiles with a small blush, touching the cheek where Kotone kissed her last night (to add to the one Anna added…^_^))

Ami: (smiles) And I see a younger version of myself is taking control for the next two days. Hinata-san, if you may?

(Hinata nods and bows as she enters the seat. As you know, the TL has a lot of power, not only do they avoid the vote and elimination for the next two days, they also have the power to eliminate someone of their choosing. This should be interesting.)

Ami: O.K…first of all, I have some interesting information. Last night, after their altrication at Kaleido Stage which left Anna injured, both Tenchi and Seta were brought in for questioning about the incidents, but were then sent home. Tamahome has also been released…so it seems like we’ve got more things to focus on with them, right?

(Ami smiles…)

Ami: Wrong. We’ve got some key new information, followed up from Ruri’s information she told Aya and Kotone last night. An anonymous tape was sent to the office this morning…and well…see for yourself…

(Ami presses another button and a fuzzy picture of what appears to be a security camera over a field…it soon becomes apparent that is the athletics field that Akari seems to specialise in. And speaking of the Cosmo Beauty…)

(Another familiar voice then appears…)

Ban: What the…

Ami: (interrupting) Anyway, I think we can safely say that if we are looking at the variety of weapons used in the murders, we originally thought they were three separate weapons. But this proves that a certain suspect could have used ONE weapon to do all the murders.

Aya: So…was Ruri telling the truth?

Ami: At least about this. So I think today’s focus is on our youngest suspect, as she could have literally have pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. If indeed, Ruri is correct, this girl has something which can transform into ANYTHING, not to mention her own dangerous disguise and martial arts skills, as apparently Tamahome found out to his dismay the other day as well. As for what she’s being trying to avoid telling…

(Ami smiles…)

Ami: …the only thing I can say at the moment is that it has something to do with Kaleido Stage. So that is where we are going to find her. We need to find out what happened with Tamahome, her alibis for the murders of Kensuke and Jet…and any other links with the remaining suspects…and of course Kalos.

(Ami looks over…with a TL already here, there are just 6 detectives. Therefore…)

Ami: For the two days of inquiries, we will have three teams of 2 people. Hinata, please choose the first team.

(Hinata thinks for a moment…)

Hinata: Satoshi…and Ban.

(That surprised people. They’ve been in the same team for several episodes now…and always passed. Is this a wise move from the ninja? None the less, both men seem indifferent to it, Team 1 is Ban and Satoshi.)

Ami: Very well. You two will visit Kaleido Stage where Duplica is apparently there. Confirm you know she has the ability to commit the murder and get the alibis…and any other information whilst you are there.

(Ami nods, and moves onto inquiry two…)

Ami: Next inquiry…

(Ami shows a piece of paper and waves it slightly…)

Ami: We received a letter from Ukyo Kuonji’s solictors as she was apparently, blackmailed via Kensuke with evidence from loan sharks.

Ami: As from last night’s inquiry, she was definitely very interested in what Hinata was doing when speaking to Anna last night…but now the evidence is on her. If you recall, we cleared Yomi last night from murder…

Yomi: Basically, I had made the application a while back, and got it accepted, but it took me forever to get my thoughts in gear to get the approve licence. So bang on the stroke of 8 on that night, I got in there before it closed, no lines and just shutting shop…and I got this.

(Aya and Kotone inspect it…)

Aya: It’s a licence of purchase for a property…to be renevated into a medical clinic…

Kotone: …with a provisional medicinal licence?

(Yomi nods)

Yomi: To my surprise, they knew about that I fired…and amazingly, they were on my side as Kalos’ speculations were on the dodgy side to say the least. So here I am…trying to sort out my life, if some bastard didn’t try to pin this on me with that whole bounty crap…

(The girls aren’t listening…they are scanning the document…)

Aya: Ah ha.

(The date on there is confirmed as NOVEMBER 5^TH, 19.58PM – Whilst not quite on the bell, it’s two minutes before, and it’s impossible for her to be committing a murder 2 minutes later…)

Ami: So what does this have to do with Ukyo? Well…we know Yomi is innocent…yet a certain bounty payment was made into her account. And from this evidence, Ukyo would now probably be a prime suspect if a bounty was involved.

Satoshi: Would she have the ability to hack though?

(Ami smiles…prepared for that.)

Ami: Well…that isn’t certain. What is though is that Ukyo tried to call Yomi…half an hour BEFORE THE MURDER.

(Stunned silence…)

Ami: And the message wasn’t too pleasant…

(Ami presses another button as an answering machine message hits the detectives…)

Ami: Indeed. So the next inquiry, for the chosen Team 2, is to speak to Ukyo and find out what this phone call was about, and if it had any link to Kalos or other suspects…and of course, the murder with Kensuke and others.

Hinata: Shiine-chan…and Aya.

(Negi breathes a small sigh of relief…Shiine remains stoic. Aya has a ‘I have to deal with him’ look on her face (Hinata replies with a apologetic look). Team 2 is Aya and Shiine.

(Ami looks at Negi and Triela…)

Ami: That leaves Negi and Triela as Team 3. Now, we’ve established that Ukyo has a big motive for the bounty…but who else of the remaining suspects would also do so?

Triela: Probably Touji, for the operation.

Ami: (nods) Touji Suzuhara. And we need to focus on him now Yomi is cleared, again, he seems to have mentioned Yomi a few times in past inquiries, where his alibis have not been satisfactory to say the least.

(Ami pauses for a moment, as even more new information is broadcast.)

Ami: Well, this morning, Touji was reported going into the hospital after an apparent relapse of the Evan virus – for better…or worse.

(They remember when Touji and Hikari told him of his decreasing lifespan…this doesn’t look good.)

Ami: I need Team 3 to get the whole story, especially considering he seemed fit and well yesterday to help stop the whole Tenchi/Seta fiasco.

Ban: Man, we have to deal with the brat?

Satoshi: At this stage, I don’t really want to disrespect anyone, especially considering we are down to pretty much half the suspects. And considering if Ruri is telling the truth…

Ban: Yeah, yeah…dangerous, blah. You should see the people I deal with at home…this is a walk in the park for me as far as danger is concerned.

Satoshi: Maybe you should have met my ‘other half…’

Ban: What?

Satoshi: Nothing.

(Ban and Satoshi seem focused in more or less normal circumstances. Fortunately, Negi and Shiine have been separated from each other so any fireworks are avoided…though concerns on how well they will do considering the problems is an obvious factor, one both Aya and Triela are concerned about…)

Aya: Shiine-chan? Please…don’t do what you did after the killer’s game…

Shiine: (quiet) I know…

Aya: Are you upset with yourself or them? Or both?

Shiine: Both…I guess.

Aya: Well, try and put that aside…we need to focus on today, and avoid anyone making excuses to eliminate us, O.K?

(Shiine doesn’t say anything, just nods. Not a good sign as Aya shakes her head ready to face Ukyo…)

(…whilst Negi is having similar problems, even though Triela is his partner…)

Triela: …I know you’re upset after last night, but it’s not going to help you if you’re sent out again by messing up. Ban and Satoshi are after blood you know…

Negi: I know, but it’s in the back of my mind, and I’m just scared how well it will affect me…

Triela: Aw…

(Triela grabs Negi heads and put the young mage in a headlock…and begins the worst torture a GSG girl can think of…)

(…THE NOOGIE OF DEATH!!!)

Triela: You are NOT going to slack off here, right, right?!!

Negi: (laughing) Triela-san, s-stop it!!!

Triela: Tap you little cutie…tap…

Negi: I tap! I tap!

(Triela lets go and ruffles Negi’s hair…)

Triela: Now you’re initiated into the Triela school of hard knocks. Now let’s kick a little ass!

Negi: (nods) Right!

(Ban’s insistence of dealing with a ‘brat’ with the youngest suspect at a mere 15 years of age. However, Satoshi has advised that it should be pretty obvious WHY she’s at Kaleido Stage…giving her a new motive and possibly making her the most dangerous suspect in the game.)

(As the two arrive, a crowd of (you guessed it) journalists have already surrounded the stage, and short of plowing through them with the van (as tempting as it might be) – not to mention the security in front…)

Jerry: Listen, Kaleido Stage has a major annoucement but considering the danger from yesterday, we advise you all to stay back!

Harima: Hey, you didn’t say that HE was going to be added for extra help?!

Hanai: If it wasn’t for the money…

Jigan: You just heard a rumour that Yakumo Tsukamoto was coming in as a a special act didn’t you?

Hanai: (cries manly waterfall tears…^_^) YAKUMO-KUN…

(Ban and Satoshi exit the van wondering how the heck they can pass by through this sea of destruction…)

Ban: So…security AND paparazzi…not a good start…

Satoshi: First things first, we need to get inside Kaleido Stage…but we need to…

????: Oy!

(Ban and Satoshi are surprised by a new voice…from in the trees…)

Ban: Huh?

????: Through here!

(Before Satoshi and Ban can say ‘WTF?’ someone grabs both their hands and heads through the foliage…)

*

(At the popular okonomiyaki restaurant, the concern of cause is how busy it is…)

Konatsu: Table 3 ready!

Asou: Table 5, can I take your order please?

Yukina: 4 ice teas right!!!

(Looks like Ucchan has found a few more helpers but that’s beside the point…)

Aya: Is Ukyo Kuonji here?

(Shot of someone cooking at the hot plates…it’s not Ucchan. It’s actually Sasami from Tenchi.)

Sasami: Kuonji-san decided to head off for a day off for once, she’s decided to head to the hills of Porta Vida, just north of here!

Aya: Will she still be there?

Sasami: (nods) She does that as long as light is there…it helps her relax to, as she said ‘escape the demons of the past.’

Aya: Those demons we need to bring to light…come on Shiine-chan!

(Shiine nods and follows…)

*

Triela: O.K, let’s do this…

(Negi knocks the door…)

Triela: Sorry to bother you Mrs Suzuhara, but we need to speak to your husband…it’s Triela and Negi from the detectives…

(A moments pause…)

(Hikari opens the door and smiles…)

Hikari: Come on in.

(The two enter as we see Touji in bed…laughing. And there’s another familiar young lady there as well…)

Shinobu: Oh, Springfield-san! Triela-san!

Triela: Shinobu?

Touji: Ah, you guys. Well…I’m not exactly in the best of shape to run after you, so I’ll guess I’ll succumb to your questions…now if they put me in worse shape…

Shinobu: (chuckles) Suzuhara-san…

Hikari: Man Touji, you’re starting to make me jealous…

Touji: I kid, I kid!

(Triela and Negi sweatdrop…is this the same Touji they’ve been dealing with all throughout the case?)

*

Ban: Hey, watch it!!!

(The mystery ‘kidnapper’ is shown to be Kaleido Stage’s very own Anna Hart, comedienne and a very popular acrobat especially with the female demographic for her butch like appearance and her tendency to go into a dramatic pose every time she fails at a joke…Mia is her biggest fan…^_^)

Anna: Sorry…but you guys were not going to get through that sea of evil without help…I know you need to speak to our new boss, and she’s just preparing for a conference…

Ban: Hold on…new boss?

Satoshi: So she knew we were coming?

Anna: I think she figured as much. Especially considering that you’ve been investigating the old boss…well…it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put 2 and 2 together.

Satoshi: I see.

Ban: Hold on, I don’t see…what is going on?

Satoshi: You mean…you haven’t figured it out yet?

Ban: What? I thought we…

(Satoshi sighs…)

Satoshi: Never mind, you’ll soon see – then I will have something funny to say to everyone else back at HQ. Anna-san, can you take us to your new owner please?

Anna: (nods) Sure.

*

(Through a navigation of the back entrance (ironically where Satoshi initially suspected how the murder of Kalos got in), Anna leads Ban and Satoshi through Kaleido Stage and upstairs into a main office…)

Anna: Here we are!

(They open the doors…)

Ban: So where is your new boss?

Duplica: Welcome.

(From her grave, Mizuki mutters ‘REIKO-CHAN, YOU’VE GOT A RIVAL…’)

Ban: YOU MEAN SHE’S THE OWNER?!!!

(In tandem, Satoshi and Anna hit Ban over the head…)

Duplica: I know Ruri normally has the honour of this word, but…baka.

(After Ban recovers, either from the hit, shock…or the fact he IS an idiot (or a combo of all three) it’s time to speak. Anna leaves and after making sure she can’t listen in, they begin to talk.)

Duplica: So, the cat is out of the bag so to speak?

Satoshi: Indeed. So you were planning to take over Kaleido Stage then?

Duplica: Not really – it just seemed a worthwhile transition considering my relationship with many of the cast here – and a good business with my agents and company.

Satoshi: Which, we might add, have not given you a full alibi on the time of Kalos’ murder…

Duplica: (smiles) …which coincide with my takeover now that Kalos has been…disposed of.

(Her voice changed to a darkish tone, which seems to creep Ban out slightly.)

Duplica: Basically…the attempted insurance fraud which Kalos tried…and failed at…was thrown out of court, and instead, I got a cash settlement after dealing with Kaleido Stage’s lawyers.

Satoshi: How did you win that?

Duplica: Simple…the evidence I got from Yomi’s files when I did a little investigating of my own provided the evidence that the injury was no accident. I owe Yomi a lot from this to say the least.

Ban: Duplica, you purchased the stage from that settlement?

Duplica: Yeah, and my own investments. I may be young, but I’m not stupid. I know my acting can only take so far, so I’ve got to have a little back-up so to speak…

Ban: I would say how can someone at 15 years of age do this…but I have a 14 year old professional detective next to me so I’ll shut up now.

(Duplica giggles as they continue the investigation.)

Satoshi: Miss Imite, are you aware of the deaths of Kensuke Aida and Jet Black?

(Duplica nods…)

Duplica: Indeed. And I suppose you want to know if I was anyway involved there as well?

(Silence. She almost seems to expect their questions – has Kotone taken over her body or something?)

Duplica: Fine. I can’t give the specific details, but I know that for the last week for the majority of the time I was contacting my lawyers and investors about the takeover of Kaleido Stage…I was insanely busy, and trust me…I wouldn’t have time to commit murder even if I wanted to.

Ban: We know you have something which can transform into…

Duplica: (shakes her head) Honestly, you should learn about Pokemon more. If anyone has said anything about Ditto, it’s wrong. It’s true about it’s transformation abilities…but it can only transform into OTHER POKEMON.

(Damn. Was Ruri lying?)

Duplica: Anything else?

(Her frankness is even worrying Satoshi…which ironically, leads them to a surprising new lead.)

Satoshi: So…this was Kalos’ office?

Duplica: (nods) Yes, seems a little big…everything is confusing. Trying to avoid destroying too much of Kalos’ stuff…they never really got round to everything here…

(Satoshi notices something…)

Satoshi: That safe…

(Duplica looked at it, and her face frowns slightly…)

Duplica: Yeah…I wondered about that as well. Not sure about what is in that…if anything…

Ban: Let’s have a look…

(Ban and Satoshi look at the safe…and notice scratch marks on there. But more importantly…)

Ban: A 7 number combination?

Duplica: No idea…no-one has said. I guess it was taken to the grave with Kalos.

Ban: Maybe…but perhaps it was unearthed from his grave?

Duplica: Huh?

(Satoshi gets his phone out and calls Hinata…)

Satoshi: Hinata, you know the killer clue we got…what was the combination again?

(Cue embarrassing moment for Satoshi…)

Satoshi: I…I left my notebook in the van.

(Silence…)

(Satoshi begins looking around the room as Ban gets the number from Satoshi…)

Ban: Miss Imite, I’m going to try something with this safe…so just bear with me for a moment.

(Duplica nods as Ban carefully inputs the numbers…just in case this is now becoming more than a coincidence…)

Ban: O.K…give me some sugar…

(Ban makes a click…)

(…BINGO!!!)

Ban: Eureka, we have lift off!

(Satoshi and Duplica both go around to the safe, looking at it’s contents…or what they can see…)

Duplica: It’s just a piece of paper…

(Satoshi quickly retrieves it before Duplica can get it…)

Satoshi: Maybe, but it’s evidence now.

Duplica: Hey, I’m the owner now – those contents should belong to me…

Satoshi: We got it first, and it now official evidence in the investigation of who murdered Kalos.

(Duplica seems pissed…but is forced to relent.)

Duplica: Fine. I don’t know how important it is anyway. Take it.

(Ban smiles…)

Satoshi: I think we’ll wrap that up now. I hope you all best for the future Miss Imite.

(Duplica tsks a little as the two men head out…)

*

Ban: So what the heck is that?

Satoshi: I’m not sure…but it looks some sort of complex coding.

Ban: Coding?

Satoshi: (nods) Like a binary substances, or a DNA code. My hunch is this is something to do with this Evan Virus – either the virus itself…or…

Ban: (putting 2 and 2 together) …the cure?

Satoshi: (nods) Kalos knew of something and didn’t want anyone else to know about it. Also…something else came to mind when I was scouring the office.

Ban: Hmm?

Satoshi: The office was the photograph that was taken by Kensuke when Ruri was there.

Ban: What?!! Are you sure?

Satoshi: (nods) Positive. We’ll get the photo evidence again when we get back to HQ…

Ban: Geez…

(Satoshi smiles…)

(Satoshi brings his theory to us…is he right?)

*

(Indeed, Sasami isn’t lying. Ukyo flowing raven hair is swirling in the wind as she is taking to relaxing on top of there…Aya and Shiine appear, and it’s seems like she doesn’t want to disturbed…)

(…fortunately, hanging around with Ran Kotobuki for so long means Aya doesn’t have to worry about that on her conscience…much.)

Aya: Kuonji-san?

(Ukyo lazily turns her head and sees the two. Her reaction is neutral, not pleased, but not outrightly violent. Probably better than Aya and Shiine expected…)

Ukyo: You hound me even when I take time off…I must be popular with you guys…

Aya: Well…I guess so. But we do need to talk to you about some new information involving you…

Ukyo: Fine…make it quick if possible – my thoughts are coming back into the head and I don’t want that when I want them to go away…

*

Ukyo: …so…you got the call huh?

Aya: (nods) We know you spoke to Yomi not too long prior to the murder. I need to know what happened after that and why you contacted her.

(Aya smartly doesn’t say that Yomi has been found innocent. Their goal is to see if she pins anything on her or links with the bounty payment that went into Yomi’s account for the bounty on Kalos…)

Ukyo: (smiles) Yomi-chan was a bit of a desperate figure sugar considering all the crap that had happened to us…we were in a similar boat but just not sailing up the same river.

(Ukyo lies down as despite her masculine attire, her face marks a bishoujo out as she stares at the clouds. Shiine gulps a little…)

Shiine: …b…but why? You called her so did you plan or do something after that call?

(Ukyo sits up…)

Ukyo: Come on, you heard her on the call surely sugar? She was a drunk lunatic at that moment and it led to a few not nice words that I called her just to snap out of it…

(Ukyo sighs…)

Ukyo: …she was trying to see if she could get her own private clinic set-up. Surprisingly, she done just that…after the murder.

(Implying something are we? Now we’re getting somewhere…)

Aya: So…

Ukyo: …and to think I was trying to help her sort that crap out.

(What?!!! That wasn’t what either detective expected…)

Aya: You were helping her?

(Ukyo nods…)

Ukyo: Yeah…I was searching for an online lease for her…and trying to do it on her behalf as an appointee. However, it was rejected.

Shiine: Was that Kalos’ doing?

Ukyo: I dunno if he expected that, but I’m sure he wanted to make sure Yomi didn’t get into anything again – it was screaming ‘Don’t mess with Kalos.’ Glad she got it done herself with that written lease…

(Aya suddenly thinks…)

Aya: When did you do this?

Ukyo: Probably…about 15 minutes after Yomi called…

(15 minutes – that means she would have been at home 15 minutes before the murder…if she’s telling the truth…)

(…but thinking of the distance between Ucchan’s and Kaleido Stage, it is probably still physically possible for Ukyo to make it, especially with her super jump capabilities.)

Ukyo: It was just kind of a blur after the meeting…

Shiine: Was this…on a laptop or computer?

Ukyo: Laptop sugar. It’s back home.

Shiine: Do you mind…if we borrow it for today?

(Ukyo seems confused…)

Ukyo: Why do you need to borrow it?

Aya: Think about it. If you were on the internet prior to the murder of someone, we can make sure you weren’t confirmed to be AT the murder.

(Ukyo pauses…)

Ukyo: You mean…you guys can do that?

(Aya nods…)

Ukyo: Damn…I had an alibi and I didn’t even realise it…

(You may have an alibi…)

(…a quick drive back to Ucchan’s, and one more relieved looking Ukyo takes over, as they see if they can clear someone else…)

*

(With Satoshi revelations/theories, it’s of interest to him to see what Triela/Negi get from Touji now…and they are already doing well, as they’ve cast out Hikari and Shinobu to avoid listening in (both girls are cleared, but they smartly realise they could still be listening in for information)…)

(…fortunately, Triela is on top of her game today.)

Triela: Considering you are here Touji, I guess this is something to do with this Evan Virus.

(Touji nods…)

Triela: I believe we need to know as much as we can about this, because it’s something that seems to be a focus on our inquiries, but we know little about it.

(With Touji in a much more pleasant state than he has been, it’s definitely the best time to ask. And even better, he seems more than willing to reply…)

Touji: The Evan virus…frankly, I don’t know much about it myself…in fact, no-one knows how it was caused…

Negi: Interesting…

Touji: ..the only thing I knew at that time was I caught it and basically Kalos was claiming a cure. However, the price of the cure was way out of our quota and we took a risk in investment with Kalos.

(Touji looks forlorn…)

Touji: …and you can see where THAT went.

(Triela nods…)

Touji: Basically, it transmutes into specific metals attached to human DNA, and infects the metal part, and transmutes it into the human flesh.

Negi: So…it wouldn’t affect some…like me…

Triela: (shudders) But it could effect someone like me then…

Touji: It’s not contagious…I think.

(Triela does take a step back…both Negi and even Touji sweatdrop…)

Touji: …but you’re right. A normal human wouldn’t be effected – but it’s basically people with cybernetic attachments or replacements who are in danger. And considering the complications with removing it from both the flesh matter and the metal matter, it is very difficult, hence the high price.

Negi: But…Jet…

Touji: Jet was different. He had the money thanks to his bounty savings, plus he was infected way before I was. The only way to save yourselves from it is a complicated cure via DNA and fibre optics within the metallic parts. Jet was considered a ‘guinea pig’ as well…but with the formula and surgery so complicated…

Triela: Who could actually do this?

Touji: You should know the answer to that…

Negi: Yomi…and Chiriko?

Touji: (nods) Those were two of the few people with the experience, intelligence and skill to perform this type of operation. But from what I know, Kalos somehow found about it as well and the structure to complete the operation…and I guess that’s what he was ‘investing’ our time and money for…and of course…

Negi: …he put Yomi and Chiriko out of the picture.

Touji: One is a scholar who is apparently a bigomist, and the other is a snoopy girl trying to search on other patients…at leasts that’s how Kalos’ lawyers would say. Bastard…

(Obviously Touji is still not remorcing over Kalos’ death…)

Touji: But I need to get this cure soon…otherwise…

(Suddenly, a new voice outside catches everyone’s attention…)

(Damn. Anna is still here (from yesterday’s injuries from Kaleido Stage which of course Touji witnessed) and seems to want to get inside there…the three shut up and Touji’s face changes from pleasant to pissed off…)

(The doors open slightly as Negi quickly cuts it off…)

Anna: Negi…please! I need to talk to Touji!!

Negi: Respighi-san, I can’t let you in, we are speaking under…

Anna: Please Negi!!! It’s important!

(Negi NEARLY withers under those puppy dog eyes…but he stands firm.)

Negi: I’m sorry, please…I’ll speak to you in a moment.

(Anna lowers her head…)

Anna: Please…don’t make me get by you by force…

(Negi gulps slightly, as Triela sets up behind him…)

Triela: Dark side…

(Negi seems scared, but holds firm, ready to cast magic…)

(…or at least would have, if Anna hadn’t ran at him. Negi’s eyes widen but he’s knocked down by Anna, but Triela stops her, and Triela is stronger than Anna, so Anna backs off a little…)

Triela: Stop this nonsense.

(A grip on Anna’s arm is enough to realise she can’t win that battle, and now a recovered Negi is also up, he won’t take any chances. However…)

Touji: So…you want to show your true colours now?

(Anna grits her teeth. Touji motions to the bandages on her arms…)

Touji: You stopped those two yesterday…your boyfriend and your sempai…

(Anna nearly bites her tongue…)

Touji: …but I know you have your own motivations about this! You’ve been screwing that harem lead behind people’s backs haven’t you…

(Triela seems to know an aura power and seems a little more hesitant…)

Touji: …and I know what happened to your sister…that’s WHY you’re really here isn’t it?

(Negi sees Anna…who seems in a stuttering rage.)

Anna: I…

(Anna’s fists tighten…)

Anna: …I dare you to say that again.

(The change in tone scares EVERYONE in the room, even Touji who seems to have lost his voice in a mere second. Hikari and Shinobu get into the room…)

Hikari: Please stop this!!!

Shinobu: Respighi-san, not like this!!!

(Shinobu’s voice seems like a tonic for Anna, and she relaxes, though her voice still has an edge to it…)

Anna: Fine…I don’t have the energy to deal with this now…I’ll retire…for now…

(Anna turns to Hikari…)

Anna: …but I suggest you make sure that husband of yours gets a brain, because at the moment, he’s on a high horse to destruction.

(Anna leaves, as Triela, Negi AND Touji sigh in relief…)

Touji: Damn.

Triela: Couldn’t have said that better myself…

Negi: I think we should leave for the moment.

(Triela nods as Touji seems to have lost all his energy as well…the two youngsters walk out…)

Hinata: So the link with the killer clue…

Satoshi: …was the safe we found in Kalos’ former office. It’s officially Duplica’s now.

Hinata: And…we have a possible alibi for Ukyo?

Ban: And Negi avoided yet another bloodbath, but this time not from Shiine-chan, from Anna and Touji.

Hinata: It’s…almost tragic…no, it is tragic. Everyone seems to be suffering from this Evan virus…one way, indirectly or directly from another…

Satoshi: I think with Ruri as well…I think she knows so much she has to be involved with this Evan virus as well – considering we got the picture BY the safe in Kalos’ office…

(Shot of the picture taken by Kensuke linking with Ruri – Satoshi was right, it IS Kalos’ office…but there is also a picture of the safe as well now making the evidence double deadly…)

Hinata: …this is getting clearer by the day.

Satoshi: Indeed…if we clear Ukyo pretty much all the remaining suspects have some sort of link with the Evan virus bar Ruri.

Hinata: And…

Ban: Hmm?

Hinata: Are…are those two…

(Ban and Satoshi have a slight smile…)

Satoshi: Well…

*

(Shot of Negi outside, training on his own, Kufei style…whilst inside, Shiine-chan is inside making tea and sighing…)

Shiine: Chacha-san, where did I go wrong?

(The hormones did Shiine-chan, but from one 13 year old gigolo to a 11 year old harem lead…)

Aya: They seem fine, but Shiine never seemed to get out of the funk he was in…

(Aya seems wary talking to Triela, though Triela doesn’t know about the problem of the vote previously (way back in episode 1 – gals hold grudges I guess…) – though the difference between Negi and Shiine is obvious…)

Triela: Negi seemed to be able to get out of the funk quickly…

(Aya seems a bit miffed – Triela is definitely more energetic than Aya, showing the possible reason WHY Negi seems to be doing a little better than Shiine…)

(Outside, Negi flying with a roaring elbow into mid air, and powers up his magic…)

Negi: I wish they didn’t take my pactio cards…talking to Asuna-san would really help right about now…

(Negi takes five as he rests and wipes a bit of sweat off…)

(Shot of the group (the remaining 7) having a late dinner (prepared by Shiine-chan) – the tension is only slight, despite Shiine and Negi not really talking, Triela at least tries to keep the conversation going…)

Triela: …we’re trying to learn Merchant of Venice but it’s hard not to be bored by Hillshire’s lectures…

(She imitates Hillshire quoting Shakespeare (which is lost by Shiine and Hinata) but Ban nods his approval. However, suddenly they are rudely interrupted…)

(A video file is sent to the team as Hinata excuses herself to check on the workstation. She clicks on the button (and thanks the good lord Satoshi on how to use it)…)

(…and is very surprised to see a picture of Anna tied in a chair…she plays the file…)

(The file ends there…and Hinata gulps…)

Hinata: G-guys?

*

Satoshi: So…Anna was kidnapped, and now we have to bargain…

(Shot of the 7, plus Ami Mizuno, who was also informed quite quickly…)

Ami: Yes, and we need to be very careful. We are going to arrange this, but considering a person’s life is in danger, we need to be ultra careful. We need a team to make the deposit, and then the rest to track…

(Ami holds up a bug…the same device used when trying (and succeeding) to trace Tamahome…)

Ami: We’ll make the exchange…but we are going to find out who these people are. We have three objectives.

(Ami holds one finger up…)

Ami: 1) You must rescue Anna without bloodshed and make the exchange safely.

(Ami holds up a second finger…)

Ami: 2) You must make sure we can trace the Third Eye and link it with whoever has kidnapped Anna.

(Finally, the third finger of the genius senshi raises…)

Ami: 3) To go to the hospital and ask witnesses if any what happened.

(The group nod as they begin organising…)

(Shot of Hinata organising the teams as they will do the followings…)

*

*

Negi: But why Anna-san?

Triela: I think we are assuming the worst here…we don’t know what’s going to happen…

(Shot of Negi who is shivering – he’s been in dangerous situations before but this is different even for him…)

(…Triela puts a hand on his shoulder.)

Triela: Get the eye, I’ll do the exchange.

(Negi looks up…)

Negi: Triela-san?

Triela: I don’t want your nerves to effect us…besides…I’m used to this. I don’t want any more excuses to vote one of us off…

(Triela gently hugs Negi for a moment before stepping out…)

Triela: Come on.

(Negi nods and takes the eye…Triela is unarmed as is Negi, as they look ahead…)

Triela: Oh boy…

(…shot ahead is someone barely seen in black clothing – the person seems to be shrouded so it’s hard to tell the size or sex of the person. However, what is shown is one very scared Battle Athlete.)

Triela: (calling) Anna?!!

(Anna hears the voice…)

Anna: Is…is that one of…

Triela: Yes, are you O.K?

(Anna nods…)

Anna: J-just…please…

Triela: What are the demands?

(A gunshot is fired into the air as Anna shivers – Triela doesn’t move an inch but Negi closes his eyes…)

Anna: J-Just move the item…forward as I m-move forward…

Triela: Fine.

(Triela calmly puts the bag down…a motion in the distance signals for Anna to move forward…and she does, slowly. Triela carefully inches the bag further forward.)

(As the distance increases, Triela steps back as it’s far enough for Anna to get close to the third eye. Suddenly, the person in the darkness throws a lasso grabbing the Eye. He or she drags it back as Anna moves forward and collapses in Triela’s arms.)

Triela: There, there. (to Negi) Go get this girl back to hospital!!!

Negi: Right!!!

(Negi quickly calls 911 as Triela lets Anna cry a bit as she talks in between sobs…)

Anna: It-it was just so quick…I c-couldn’t react…k-knocked me out and th-this happened…

Triela: It’s O.K…just calm down…

(Back at HQ, Hinata (listening via walkie talkie) calls…)

Hinata: Satoshi-kun, Ban-kun…go!!!

(They don’t need to be told twice…)

*

Ban: O.K, whoever it is, they’re moving!

Satoshi: No problems with the tracking – let’s go!

(Satoshi seems excited by this, as Ban enjoying the rush of speed as they begin tracing the third eye and the kidnapper…meanwhile at the hospital…)

*

(The first greeting the two get is on the hospital wall…)

Aya: Oh…

Shiine: I hate this messages…

(The Killer’s Game tomorrow night is either at a bowling alley or a brewery…hmm, normally a good time out will turn to be a last night out for one detective…but when they interview inside…)

*

Shiine: So no-one saw anything?!!!

(Touji shakes his head…)

Touji: All we know was this commotion about somebody had been kidnapped…I never thought it would be her.

Aya: Why not?

(Touji shakes his head…)

Touji: You’re two friends…trust me, they saw her…even weakened, she could take ANYBODY out. I don’t think it would be that easy unless she was knocked out…her reflexes are definitely above average for a human, and considering her friends are supposed to be even stronger and faster…it’s kinda scary.

(Aya and Shiine are talking with Touji as Aya gets a call…)

Aya: Yeah? Ah Negi…

(Shiine flinches…)

Aya: None I’m afraid. No-one noticed anything…it’s a bit of a bum’s rush to be honest…

Aya: Anyway, we’ll wrap things up here and get back to you.

(Negi hangs up as Aya sighs…)

Aya: They done the exchange…we now just wait….

(Touji seems a bit confused, but we now return back to the main point…the hunt IS ON.)

*

Ban: At times like this, I wish I was allowed to drive!!!

(Despite the good speed, it’s not really up to Ban’s level…or the fact they need to catch up to this kidnapper as fast as possible. Fortunately, the tracking device is having no problems and it appears to have been a good job all round.)

Satoshi: Left here…

Ban: Right.

Satoshi: No, left.

(Ban sweatdrops as they follow it, but as they do, Ban recognises something…)

Ban: This…seems familiar.

Satoshi: Hmm…

(Satoshi looks out the window, unsure of the whereabouts…but then a new twist hits them…)

Satoshi: Huh? It’s stopped…

Ban: Huh?

(Indeed, the tracker has stopped and is now in continuous bleep mode. That means…)

Ban: …the kidnapper has stopped here.

Satoshi: Let’s hurry!

(The urgency of the usually stoic Satoshi says it all. Traffic however in night LA is always a problem.)

Ban: Damn.

Satoshi: We can still get there…though if the kidnapper wanted the third eye…

Ban: Hmm?

Satoshi: How come the tracker has been like that for a fair few minutes? Surely he or she would have taken it with them?

(Fair point, and one Ban doesn’t have an answer for…)

Ban: I don’t like the thoughts of this…

*

(Eventually, the duo make it to where the tracker stopped. The two are very careful in case they get ambushed by whoever this kidnapper is (Ban has his sunglasses off just in case) – and it shows as an abandoned acre opposite a large building…this is important as we will see in a moment…)

Ban: So…

(Satoshi follows it…and sees something.)

Satoshi: The bag.

(Ban keeps guard as Satoshi moves forward…and looks in the bag.)

Satoshi: It’s still here?

Ban: What?!!!

(The Third Eye is indeed…still in there. Very unusual. And that’s not all…)

Satoshi: Look.

(Satoshi points to the building opposite, down a small hill and a walk around you get there. Seems a fair walk, but that’s not the point. The point is WHAT the building is.)

Ban: Oh boy.

Satoshi: Coincidence…framing…or…

(Shot of the building…The Lumiere Adoption Institute.)

*

(It’s just past midnight and everyone is now back – it’s been a tiring and emotional night. Shiine and Negi again are not sleeping in the same room (Negi now sleeping in a free room thanks to Ban and Satoshi as well as Aya and Triela sleeping in the same rooms), though those two along with Aya are already asleep, with Triela also on the way out…)

(…shot of the front room, as a tired Hinata makes notes of everything the group found out…)

(…Ban and Satoshi are the only ones who seem awake as in the kitchen, they talk…)

Ban: It’s weird. The fact that we’ve been on the same team so many times now, and it’s like I’ve taken for granted that.

Satoshi: It’s almost like we’re a team itself.

Ban: Well, why don’t we be one?

Satoshi: Hmm?

Ban: It’s not like either of us have anyone else we can ask – and we can destroy the others easily…

Satoshi: You did eliminate my old partner if you recall.

(Miyabi for those keeping track. Ban stutters a little but quickly recovers…)

Ban: I know…but I wasn’t exactly buddy-buddy with Kurz as well, I don’t hate Aya for voting for me now – but it’s doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings of revenge if necessary…and considering what you did with Hinata, you can’t argue with me…

Satoshi: Fair point.

Ban: I’m not saying we need to be working together for our own benefits completely – just a way to avoid and dispose the cliques around here.

Satoshi: I think they’ve all gone after Kotone’s elimination.

(Ban sweatdrops, but again, doesn’t miss a beat…)

Ban: O.K, fine…we both want to win – let’s make sure one of us does, simple?

(Satoshi nods)

Satoshi: Fine.

Ban: That was quick…

Satoshi: At the moment, the only person I see as a threat is Triela. We could focus on her, or try and make sure the problems with Negi and Shiine make sure one of those go. At least one of those two will be up for the vote no matter what.

Ban: And I doubt Hinata will vote for either of them.

Satoshi: That’s the issue. I don’t know who Hinata will vote for…but get the feeling it will be me.

Ban: Huh?

Satoshi: Think about it.

(Ban pauses…)

Ban: Oh.

Satoshi: So, this could be short lived. That’s why I suggest we get what we can do now…

Ban: (nods) Fine.

(Outside, they seem to have forgotten Hinata is still there…and heard every word…)

(…she clenches her fists…)

*

(Day 12 of what has been an eventful and exhausting case – physically and emotionally. Whilst not near the end yet, more things are now becoming suspect…and suspects are now getting discussed with more intensity…)

Aya: …I don’t think we can confirm yet if the kidnapper is the murderer as well.

Satoshi: Otherwise Anna and Touji are cleared by default. There is more to this than meets the eye.

Ban: With it being so close to Ruri’s place, that is some hell of a coincidence…

Negi: Would Ruri have been strong enough to do this though?

Shiine: Considering that Touji said she could have been sedated, I wouldn’t think that would be a problem, would you?

(The tone is now becoming a little shrill, and Negi is slowly getting annoyed…fortunately, Triela interrupts before fireworks fly.)

Triela: Well, my thoughts suggests Duplica personally. She has the ability to do pretty much anything with those transformation abilities.

Hinata: But…she would seems out of the remaining suspects the least interested in the Third Eye…

Ban: True…but considering what was told in the past, it would obviously have some bearing in the future, and financial motive is often the most dangerous in a murder investigation…trust me, I know that.

Aya: The Getbackers used to murders then?

(Now the tone there is even higher…and Ban is trying his hardest to not bite back…this time, it’s Hinata who saves the day.)

Hinata: …b-but, what about others? Seta-san for example and Tamahome-san could deal with Anna-san I think…

Triela: Tamahome? His motive is way different…he probably has even less motive for the third eye…

Negi: Possible double bluff?

Triela: It does happen…but Hinata’s right about Seta-san. He’s the one who would gain the most about having the Third Eye back…it was originally his after all.

Satoshi: It looks like we’ve got a lot of thoughts carrying into today.

(And it’s keeping them off petty squabbles…and the thoughts of who to eliminate in tonight’s murder game. Fortunately, as breakfast wraps up, the calmness of Ami will keep them under line…for now…)

Ami: This morning, I’m happy to announce that Anna Respighi has been discharged from hospital and is recovering fine from last night’s shake up.

(The group nods)

Ami: However, I think last night was what could be commonly referred to as an ‘eye opener.’

Ban: You can say that again.

Ami: You were forced to return the Third Eye to someone who had kidnapped Anna…but unusually, when you tracked them, the Third Eye was found on the floor. So what was that about?

Satoshi: My theory is that there was something on or in the Third Eye that the kidnapper wanted, and thus, took it and removed the remains, unaware of the tracking device we planted.

Ami: Very possible theory Satoshi-kun. In fact…

Ami: Was this something to do with the Third Eye what Jet was referring to?

Satoshi: Possibly.

Ami: Well, we can’t leave this stone unturned. Now, there are three suspects I want to focus on considering the circumstances.

(Again, the three fingers go up…)

Ami: Team 1, I want you to find Seta Noriyasu. He seems to have vanished recently every time you’ve tried to interview him, adding to possible suspicion. The Third Eye originally was his so he would have a desired interest in it’s return and usage.

(Team 1 (Ban/Satoshi) will see if Seta knows anything about this disappearance…)

Ami: The second person we want to focus on is Duplica Imite. After speaking to her yesterday, it appears she had a theory of the Evan Virus available and after Ban and Satoshi found it out, it would certainly be in her interest to acquire the Third Eye, plus as you mentioned, she could be one of the few people who would be physically able to subdue Anna. So Team 2, I want you to speak to her this time.

(Team 2 (Aya/Shiine) will be the ones this time to talk to Duplica, see if she is linked with the kidnapping…)

Ami: Lastly Team 3. The Third Eye was found on a hillside barely a quarter of a mile from Ruri Hoshino’s Institute. We need to see if she had a reason to acquire the Third Eye as well.

(Team 3 (Negi/Triela) will visit Ruri, and see if the ‘coincidence’ that the Third Eye was dumped near her place was really a coincidence…or something more…)

*

Ban: So…we’ve got to see what Seta was doing at the time of the kidnapping right?

Satoshi: How suspicious do you think he is?

Ban: Considering those glasses of his…

Satoshi: You’re one to talk.

Ban: Since when did you develop a sense of humour?

(Satoshi stays away from that comment…)

Aya: Shiine-chan, I want you to promise me something.

Shiine: What?

Aya: Please…don’t become a mole.

Shiine: Huh? I thought this was a mu…

(Aya sweatdrops…)

Aya: Not that. I mean, don’t dwell in your angst. Considering these circumstances, we could be up for the vote again…and I don’t want either of us to be letting the other down…

Shiine: But I’m n…

Aya: Kotone was eliminated two nights ago because she seemed to be relying more on others…you’re doing the same…I only mention this because I want you to turn to the likeable kid you were a few nights before this messy Negi business. And you won’t accomplish that if you’re going to be angsting every time Negi comes into the room…

Shiine: B-but…

Aya: No buts…now come on.

(Aya nearly drags Shiine out, wondering if Ran really is rubbing off on her with the melodramatic speeches…something Triela isn’t exactly an expert in…)

Triela: So, is Ruri the main suspect now?

Negi: If we can establish a link with the Evan virus…but the kidnapper and the killer could easily be two different people…

Triela: I know…

Negi: But Touji is right, could any of those three have kidnapping Anna?

Triela: That’s what we’re here to find out. Now get that cute face in the van whilst I begin bragging to the girls back home how I kidnapped a cute boy and was able to make him my minion for two days.

(Negi blushes as Triela’s teasing is very different to Aya’s lecturing…but both hopefully have the same effect…and that’s to avoid a possible bloodbath…)

*

Pedro: Si…he’s been very concerned about things recently…he’s been avoiding work…senor Kensuke’s death affected him hard I think…

Ban: Thanks. We’ll see what we can do.

(Ban and Satoshi go up to what appears to be Seta’s living quarters…and find him speaking to someone on the phone…)

Seta: …but it’s missing…I’m not sure what…

(Suddenly, he turns and sees the two detectives. He gulps and rushes into the phone…)

Seta: I’ll call you back – someon…something just came up. Talk to you later.

(Seta puts the phone down in a hurry, surprising Ban and making Satoshi suspicious…)

Ban: Good morning Mr. Noriyasu.

Seta: M-morning gentlemen, what’s wrong?

Satoshi: Are you alright sir? You seem nervous…

Seta: Y-yes, everything has been hit at me at once, and I’m way behind in my work as well…you’re still working this case?

Ban: Well, we’ve had additional problems with Jet’s death now adding to this…

Seta: I see.

Satoshi: Who was you speaking to on the phone just?

(Seta pauses for a moment…)

Seta: My wife…Haruka…she’s concerned about everything going on…a-and…she needed to check up on me…

Satoshi: O.K…(Satoshi writes something on his note pad for a moment)…so, we need to speak to you about something very important which occurred last night.

Seta: Is it something to do with the killings?

Satoshi: Quite possibly. May we come inside?

(Seta pauses again, looks behind, turns back and nods.)

Seta: Very well…just try not to be too long please.

Satoshi: We’ll be as quick as we can.

(So he says, but looks like Satoshi has caught a killer’s trait…lying…)

*

Aya: Are you sure about this?

Sora: You’ve got permission under Sarah and Duplica’s blessings to speak to anybody here when you want…

Shiine: Are you sure?

May: Remind me to beat some sense into you later, come on!!!

Sora: (sweatdrops) May…

(May literally drags off Shiine (who is slowly going into red mode again, Aya almost seems relieved as she chuckles behind them) as Sora does her best thief impersonation as they sneak over the side, avoiding and ignoring all questions hurled at them…)

(…the two female leads head off inside, as May sighs…)

May: Damn…this is really cutting in – I’m glad we’re at least training again…we’re getting rusty!!!

Sora: You’d admit that?

May: I’M STILL YOUR RIVAL NAEGINO SO QUIET!!!

Sora: (sweatdrops) H-hai…

(May heads off to the practice room as Sora follows…Aya and Shiine sweatdrops…)

Aya: That is the definite epitome of a love-hate relationship…

Shiine: Well…we need to ask Duplica about the kidnapping right…

Aya: (nods) We need to establish if she could have done it or not – that’s our main objective. Don’t lose sight of that and we’ll be in the clear.

Shiine: (nods) Right!

(Aya seems a little relieved that Shiine has recovered some of his old spark, but will it be enough?)

*

(Outside the Lumiere Institute, Team 3 (Negi and Triela) look on, seeing two people outside looking after some children…one with a pink mask on…)

Masked girl: Duwa!!!

Boy 1: Pink Dojiboron is funny!

(The other girl, a bit taller has an elegant look to her that few characters can match. This is Yakumo Tsukamoto (School Rumble) whilst her sister doing the power ranger/Kinnukuman impression is Tenma Tsukamoto (also School Rumble). Despite Tenma being smaller, less bustier and much more immature, she’s actually the older of the two sisters.)

Yakumo: Nee-san, are you O.K with that?

Tenma: Yakumoooooo…it’s fun! (tosses over a mask) Sure we can’t be a tag team?

Yakumo: Nee-san, they don’t have tag teams in amateur wrestling…

Triela: Um…excuse me?

(The two sisters look on…and as usual, Tenma’s fantasy of whichever character she is inhabiting takes over…)

Tenma: A-ha! New challengers!!! I, Tsukamoto Tenma, will not bow before anyone! (goes into an untrained fighting pose) Duwa!

Triela: Is…she serious?

Negi: Help…

Tenma: Duwa!

(Before Tenma can react, Triela is behind her in a chicken wing position…)

Triela: I could break you in half you know…

(But somehow, EVEN faster, Yakumo grabs Triela’s arm, and despite Triela having every advantage over Yakumo, takes her down in a single arm judo throw.)

(Rule 1: You pick on Yakumo’s sister, YOU GET OWNED.)

Triela: Geez…ow…

Yakumo: S-sorry…

(Triela laughs…)

Triela: N-no…just wow…you’ve got some power there…

Yakumo: I’m…I’m sorry…(Yakumo wisely removes Tenma mask, revealing the cute elder sister with the great antenna like hair cut (like Ohige from Pani Poni Dash except on the side than straight up).

Tenma: Ow…you’re violent!!!

Negi: Um…you kinda initiated it…

Tenma: Hey, GOOD LITTLE BOYS SHOULD BEHAVE THEIR ELDERS!!!

Triela: (smug) He’s a teacher…

(Tenma’s turns grey, as one of her great fears in life has come true…)

Tenma: Someonethisyoungisateacherandsmarterthanme…

Yakumo: Nee-san…

Triela: Anyway, is Miss Hoshino here?

Yakumo: Ruri-sempai? She’s inside…she’s been doing some meditating but…

Ruri: It’s O.K Yakumo.

(Ruri comes out, dressed in something similar to Akito Tenkawa’s original outfit…yellow and black (by the time this is shown, I should have finished by Akito cosplay) as she stares at the 3 girls and 1 child teacher.)

Ruri: Well…it seems I have quite the company today.

Negi: (bows) Hoshino-san, we’re sorry to bother you, but we need to follow up on some things you said and something of importance in relevance to the case after some investigation last night…

(Ruri moves up…and ever so slightly, smiles.)

Ruri: You’re one of those young ones who beat Haley on the first couple of days right. Fine, you’re welcome.

Triela: Huh?

Ruri: You’ve got skill and bravery. You can speak to me then…if it’s important…

Triela: It is.

(Ruri nods, and the trio head inside…)

*

Seta: Anna-san…

Satoshi: Yes, Anna-san was kidnapped last night. We wouldn’t normally keep such matters so open, but basically, we need to speak to everyone connected with the case and confirm their whereabouts…

Seta: Sure…but why me?

Ban: The kidnapper wanted, in exchange for Anna, the Third Eye.

(Seta pauses for a moment…)

Seta: I see…(sighs)…fine, I can definitely see that now. Very well…

Satoshi: We are looking for an alibi for you during the period between 8pm and 11.30pm last night.

(Seta has to think…)

Seta: Well…I haven’t been around the place for a while but last night, I was here, basically catching up with a lot of work. The night watchman could give me an alibi…

Satoshi: Who is that?

Seta: I’m not sure who was on duty then…probably either Mr. Kaiser or Mr Mello out-there…you can speak to either of them if you wish…

Ban: Any video evidence?

Seta: (shakes his head) If there was, would we have let the Third Eye get stolen?

Ban: Good point.

Satoshi: So, it’s O.K to speak with those then…

Seta: Yeah…though as they are night shift, they aren’t here yet…

Satoshi: I see…well, thanks for your time.

(The two leave, surprising Ban…)

Ban: That seemed…quick.

Satoshi: I know. But that’s all we need to do for the time being. We can go visit the night shift tonight to see if they can both confirm an alibi…also…

Ban: Also…

Satoshi: The way he acted when we interrupted his phone call…it seems there is something he didn’t want to say in front of us. I’ll call Hinata and see if we can make a trace on that call…

Ban: Is this a hunch?

Satoshi: Indeed…but they’re usually good.

Ban: Well, lead the way…

(Satoshi begins to see if they can find out what Seta is talking about…as with Duplica, she’s got one hell of a way to annoy/intimidating detectives…well…one of them…)

*

Duplica: (innocent) What?

Shiine: N-nothing…

(Shot of Duplica, who CLAIMS that their first performing will be an updated version of Little Riding Hood. Needless to say, her attire of the red hood isn’t exactly one that Shiine-chan really needed to be reminded of home…)

Aya: Well, I thought we were supposed to use the tactics of intimidation…but this is kinda…

Duplica: Hey, I didn’t know it would have this effect on him…

(Shiine is trying hard (and holding his nose like Kudo does during a Suetake moment…) but the fact that Duplica has let her hair down and also put on a blonde wig kinda makes it hard for him to concerntrate…)

Aya: Anyways…what I need to know is about an issue and where you was last night between 7.00pm and 11.30pm.

(Aya stretches out the time a bit longer, Duplica has had a history with chequered alibis…)

(…but the smile on her face is extremely confident…)

Duplica: Ah, something happened then. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but whatever happened, I can prove my innocence here and now.

Aya: Really?

(Duplica pushes forward what appears to be a large selection of paperwork…)

Duplica: Considering that I was just offically made owner of Kaleido Stage, I had to deal with a lot of press, work and phone calls. During pretty much the whole of the day after 6pm, I was in meetings, phone conversations, conference calls up until midnight. Man, I’m only 15…I’ll fall asleep tonight and I’ll be 45…

Aya: So…is this proof?

Duplica: Yeah, part of it…if you give me a moment, I’ll get my secretary to fax you all the information and contact deals of everyone I was there for.

(Weird…she’s so organised here, yet she can’t give a definite alibi for the murders? O.K…)

Aya: Thank you…

Duplica: Those are just photocopies – use them for whatever reasons you need and we’ll get in touch with your superiors.

Aya: Thanks.

Duplica: You’re welcome. Now, if you don’t mind…I’m a tad busy…

(Aya seems to take that as a ‘get out’ and obligies. Shiine still can’t look at her as Aya sighs.)

(TODAY’S MISSION….FAILED.)

*

(Team 3 – Inside the Hoshino’s place…)

Ruri: It’s a bit of a mess…

(Shot of Haley removing what appears to be glass from near the dining room area…)

Haley: Company?

(Shot of Negi and Triela looking rather nervous (and Triela rubbing her arm occasionally as Yakumo looks on apologetic) – with knowledge of the office at Kaleido Stage the office that Kensuke photographed, it makes things a lot more interesting now they know that Ruri has access to the murder scene…and keeping in mind the tracks she was following, Ruri suspicion meter has rose to the top…)

(…but is she physically capable of kidnapping Anna?)

Triela: So…where were you around 7pm onwards last night?

(Ruri sits down…)

Ruri: You go straight to the point don’t you.

Triela: Sorry, but this is quite important as something happened yesterday which could make or break this case.

Ruri: Fine, so you want to know my whereabouts last night?

Negi: In a nutshell, yes.

(Haley appears with a cup of tea, a little blood seems to be coming from his fingers from the glass – Ruri notices…)

Ruri: Haley…

Haley: I-I’m O.K…really…just…

Ruri: Wash it off and then bandage it, O.K?

(It seems Haley is a distraction for Ruri, but neither detective seems too impressed, and are 100% focused on the job on hand…)

Triela: Mrs Hoshino, if you please…

(Ruri doesn’t seem to take kindly to Triela’s tone, but she complies…)

Ruri: Very well. I know what happened anyway, so don’t need to hide it from me. Anna got kidnapped last night.

(Both detectives eyes rise slightly, but don’t show any more emotion than that…)

Ruri: The reason I know this? I was talking with Tenchi the whole time for the duration.

(That’s…one heck of an alibi.)

Triela: Can Tenchi confirm this?

(Ruri nods…)

Ruri: Not sure in what mood he would be in talking, but I’m sure you’ve got a facility to trace phone calls, so you can hear me talking to him for the majority of the time and then heading to his place at around…9.30pm?

Negi: Did you know about Anna being returned to the hospital?

Ruri: (nods) Tenchi got a phone call around 11.15pm, and that confirmed Anna was returned. (sighs) The baka is hopelessly in love with her, and considering the amount of female attention he has in Japan, he’s afraid of it coming out.

Triela: O.K…well, we’d best get on this. Thanks for your time Mrs. Hoshino.

(Ruri nods, the two leave (Triela catching another embarrassed look from Yakumo before she leaves) as Ruri looks around her place and sighs again…)

Ruri: They’re all idiots.

* * * *

(An unusually quiet day for the team as no messages when all three teams have returned to HQ, as Hinata with Satoshi and Aya’s help begin research on TWO phone conversations as well as a clue from yesterday…)

Hinata: The results from Kuonji-san’s laptop haven’t come in yet?

Satoshi: No, but Mizuno-san said she was going to get them by tonight and then she’d personally return the laptop.

Aya: Kuonji scares me sometimes so let’s get this done as soon as possible…

Hinata: I can understand as well getting a trace on Hoshino-san’s calls, but why the one from today for Seta-san as well?

Satoshi: We feel he was hiding something during that phone call, which he stopped as soon as he saw us…

Hinata: O.K…let’s see…

(The three continue to work on their stations, as a moment of awkwardness fills the room…)

(…with only Triela, Negi and Shiine around (Ban outside for a smoke) it’s an awkward moment that even chatterbox Triela isn’t fond of…)

Triela: Look, I suggest that we have to work together, otherwise we are going to regret it…

(Negi and Shiine are still in silent treatment mode to each other…)

Triela: Look, we are doing this together, otherwise…

(A simple crack of the knuckles is enough – despite their mage powers, are they quick enough to avoid Triela’s ‘killer glomp’…)

(…so they are forced to work together and…)

Triela: Shiine-chan, the soup is overflowing! Negi, check the rice cooker…

Shiine/Negi: Right…..

(…yep, they’re working together to make tea and lunch. O.K, not quite the meeting I envisioned but still…)

*

Ban: …so what have you got then?

(Shot of Aya, looking exhausted, and not ignoring Ban (really) just staying quiet…Satoshi and Hinata aren’t exactly in caffeine mode either, and Satoshi turns enough to speak to the Getbacker…)

Satoshi: Trying to trace this is harder than I thought…

Ban: Don’t you do that sort of stuff back home?

Satoshi: No…I’m a superior officer.

(Ban sweatdrops…)

Hinata: (listening in…) Hmmm…

Ban: Oy, what’s the ninja jailbait doing?

Satoshi: We’ve got Seta’s call that we heard part of today – the one we were suspicious of…we’re trying to get through all of Ukyo’s data and then on Ruri’s call yesterday…

(Shot of Aya’s eyes glazed over…)

Satoshi: …and I think Aya realises this is much order than any cram class she’s been too…

(Ban tries hard not to snicker, but is interrupted by the sound of a pencil drop…)

(…Hinata’s.)

Satoshi: Hinata? What is it?

Hinata: S-s-seta-san…he-he…

Ban: He did it? Kidnapped? Killed?

Hinata: (gulps) Yes…kind of. It’s…well….

(At 7.30pm, Hinata, Satoshi and Aya have worked together to find an astonishing discovery…)

Triela: Meal time!

(…cue the interruption…I’m going to make you wait a little longer…fortunately, not that much as they discuss the shock in HQ but now…we wait for Mizuno…)

*

(…fortunately, there isn’t much talk about voting here (again, HQ for that) but time for a key shock-u. Ami has arrived and it’s time to see all the information they found…)

Ami: So…you were hoping for a quiet night in, but that’s not quite what you got…

Satoshi: You could say that again…

Ami: Well, you’ve managed to do three things tonight, all are vital to the case. After this meeting, I will take this laptop to Ukyo…because we now know…

(Ami smiles…)

Ami: …that my old Survivor rival is innocent.

Ami: 7 people are still not cleared of this crime, and you certainly did a few things to help this case move even faster. We can confirm that Ruri was telling the truth about being with Tenchi, both on the phone and on location…

(Ami presses a button…)

Ami: O.K…basically, we’ve confirmed that she was with Tenchi after around 9.30pm and mostly on the phone…interesting though that the Third Eye was found outside her place…

Satoshi: …someone failed to frame her.

(Ami smiles.)

Ami: A bit of luck and some excellent hunch there Satoshi-kun, but yes. Here’s the big news. Indeed, we got a conversation held by Seta…and had some very unique information.

(Ami presses again…and watch the shock in everyone’s eyes hit – both here and to the readers…)

*

(Yep. You saw that – Anna and Seta FAKED the kidnapping…)

Seta: I’ve got a bad feeling about this…Tenchi is already pissed at me after everything and if we’re talking like this… but it’s missing…I’m not sure what…(suddenly an abrupt pause) I’ll call you back – someon…something just came up. Talk to you later.

(Shot of the 7 remaining detectives, with 7 suspects left…and this new information, we now have added motive, incentive and shock onto an already complicated case…)

Ami: So…now this is something we need to focus on completely…tomorrow. As today, we now have another focus – another killer’s game.

(It seems people have forgot about the KG, and the faces of the 6 detectives say it all. First of all, we have the first vote…)

Ami: So, Team 1…Ban and Satoshi.

(These two have got a great pass record, though neither of them are quite popular with the remaining detectives. A pass therefore almost every episode is vital. Let’s see how the Senshi of Mercury grades them…)

Ami: (puts her glasses on like a sensei) First of you, you went to Kaleido Stage, where you spoke to the new owner of Kaleido Stage, Duplica Imite. The explaining you did was fine, but you correctly identified the link between the safe and the killer clue – not to mention adding extra evidence against Ruri Hoshino linking in with one of Kensuke’s photographs. Well done.

(The two young men nod in approval.)

Ami: Today, you did brilliantly in catching Seta off guard during the phone conversation and he wasn’t able to give an alibi towards the kidnapping. And from this new evidence, we can conclude not only did Seta orchestrate the kidnapping, but also was in cahoots with Anna who actually faked the kidnapping. Excellent.

(Ami’s smile seems to even make Satoshi blush, as it’s time to rate the detectives…)

(So Team 1, Satoshi and Ban have 8.5 – that means the combined scores of the remaining two teams have to be 17.5 or more for Ban and Satoshi to be elligible for the vote. Let’s see how Shiine-chan and Aya did…)

Ami: Team 2 – Aya and Shiine-chan. On Day 1, you two went to Ukyo’s and after finding out where she was, you managed to find out about Ukyo’s alibi and we have now cleared her from the case. Well done.

(Aya and Shiine are quite happy…for the moment.)

Ami: On Day 2, you followed up on Duplica, this time in reference to the kidnapping incident. Whilst you did manage to find evidence to prove she didn’t do anything with the kidnapping, you didn’t follow up mainly…because of a certain distraction. Surely that would be suspicious if she knew you was coming Shiine-chan…how?

(Shiine looks forlorn…as he knows what’s coming next.)

Ami: So, for Aya and Shiine…

(Shiine is very dispondant – Aya touches his hand but it’s not helping the Akazukin Chacha representative.)

(Now Aya looks over Triela and Negi…did their performance surpass the ambigiously gay duo…who are taking on evil come what may…they are fighting off crime to save the day…^_^)

Ami: (smiles) Negi-kun…Triela-san…

(She pauses for a moment, as her smile warms the room, but let’s see if her words chill it back down…)

Ami: You were the catalyst to the ‘rescue’ of Anna and had to deal with a tough situation between Anna and Touji as well. Despite some physical problems, you managed to avoid bloodshed and was well done within the interviewing as well.

(A smile is enough…)

Ami: Today, you went to Ruri and managed to clear her from the kidnapping…which was very well done. But let’s see…

(This one is going to be close…)

Ami: 8.25 to Team 3 and 8.5 to Team 1…so Team 1, Ban and Satoshi, you avoid the first vote and will not be eligible to be eliminated by your fellow detectives.

(Satoshi smiles, Ban breathes a sigh of relief. Everyone else now feels that pain of possible elimination…Hinata looks the most concerned…)

Ami: So…the 6 of you, now have to vote between Shiine, Triela, Negi and Aya. I wish you all the best of luck, but we must have two people to play the Killer’s Game. So…Aya…if you don’t mind, join me in 10 minutes…

(The Sailor Moon bishoujo moves up into the investigator room, as for the first time really today, the team have to really think about the votes…and no-one is really safe…)

Ban: I sense the danger of voting like this, but I know when we have too many weak links and not enough strong ones, it affects the balance of the game…for the worse.

(Outside, the team reflects on what could happen…surprisingly, the one who is most concerned…is Satoshi.)

(Shot of Ami as Triela exits the booth and plops herself in a seat. Ami goes over to the front as Ami switches on a button…)

Ami: I have the results of the initial vote.

(Ami pauses, breathes…)

Ami: We have a tie.

(As the votes come up, you expect a 3 way tie between Negi and Shiine…but as you know, it’s wrong…because of Aya’s vote. Which means…)

TRIELA (1) AYA

Ami: As Aya and Triela were the only ones who didn’t vote for Negi and Shiine, they must cast a revote.

(And of course, the obvious unintentional evil that Ami performs is that…Aya and Triela now know they voted for each other…Triela looks pissed off, but Aya gives her a ‘I heard you before look’…looks like Negi and Shiine are no longer the only pissed off room-mates…)

Ami: Ladies, please…

(Ami puts a piece of paper and a pen besides each of the girls name. Both wizards look with puppy-dog eyes…though doesn’t seem to have any effect…)

(…the two girls reluctant to vote (Aya is the slower of the two), gives their votes to Ami, who reads them.)

Ami: One vote for Shiine…

(Pause)

Ami: …and one vote for Negi. Still a tie.

(For the record, Triela voted for Shiine and Aya voted for Negi. Interesting…neither wanting to betray their team-mate…or was it strategy…either way, cue the dramatic music.)

Ami: As we’ve got another tie, and most likely no way to break the tie…we leave it down to the Team Leader, who must break the tie.

(Gulp. So Hinata…the main cause between the break-up of these two (though completely unintentional) now has to pick between them to eliminate one. Not exactly a pleasant situation, though Ban seems to love it, and he is desperately trying to hide his smirk…)

Ami: Hinata, who will go first…Negi Springfield or Shiine-chan?

(Hinata’s eyes have that eerie pale glow – her nerves seem to have returned…but she stands up.)

Hinata: Mizuno-san, can I pick both my choices now?

(Ami’s eyes raise slightly…but nods.)

Ami: If you wish.

(Hinata coughs, rubs her eyes slightly and tries to avoid the looks of everyone…)

Hinata: I don’t know what happened – Negi-kun, Shiine-chan…you two were so close…and something happened. And…I know it’s my fault somewhere and somehow…and…I think I know why…

(Hinata turns around…)

Hinata: …and I want this to end…now.

(Hinata turns, her eyes stern and cold.)

Hinata: Negi-kun…Shiine-chan…BOTH of you play the killer’s game today.

.

..

…

….

…..

(Wow. Negi and Shiine’s mouths open wide. The rest of the group are silently stunned. Ban’s smirk has vanished. Satoshi’s mixed feature of shock and relief are evident. Aya shakes her head whilst Triela as a look of ‘well I be damned.’)

(All this matters not though, as Negi and Shiine’s silent treatment has officially been terminated by a ninja…and one will be terminated…permanently. Ami, the beautiful grim reaper, presents the two envelopes.)

Ami: BLOOD BOWLING OR BONE BREWERY…Choose your destiny.

(Shiine quickly picks one before anything else happens…)

Shiine: I’ve got…Blood Bowling.

Ami: (nods) Negi, confirm your location.

(Negi does so, as both mages are not happy…)

Negi: Yeah…(sighs)…Bone Brewery.

Ami: Good luck, and let you be safe…

(Ami’s words are no comfort for poor Negi and Shiine…who ask the obvious question…as do the rest of the group…)

*

Ban: Why?

Satoshi: She couldn’t pick between either, so both? Which I’m thankful for I might add…

Ban: Still…she liked them!!! Shiine had some insane crush on her I know and I thought she felt the same…but then that moxi joke seemed to hit him and…

Triela: Jealously, I told you. And Hinata had enough of it…

Ban: Maybe…but surprised you haven’t declared war on your roommate…

Triela: No, it’s O.K. If you think about it, couldn’t have happened at a better time. With 6 people left after one of them is…killed…we have 6 rooms…

(Triela stops and wipes an eye…)

Triela: Sorry…emotion glands…too…high…

Ban: Triela..

(Triela runs…)

(Innocence has melted – something Triela should be used to considering Henrietta and Rico are not just the sweetest people on earth, but also among the most violent…but in the kitchen…)

*

Hinata: DO YOU THINK I WANTED TO DO THAT?!!!

(Hinata, near tears, seems to be ‘explaining’ to Shiine AND Negi who have confronted her. Well, more explaination in HQ but…)

Negi: Hinata-san…I’m upset yes, and I thought maybe you didn’t want to hurt one of us…but…

Shiine: Negi, just admit it! She used us!

Hinata: NO I DIDN’T!

Shiine: You did! You let us get close…

Hinata: I DID THAT OUT OF MY OWN ACCORD – I LIKE THE BOTH OF YOU…BUT SHIINE-CHAN, YOU MADE TOO MUCH OF MY FRIENDSHIP WITH NEGI RIGHT?

Shiine: What?

(Hinata calms down slightly…)

Hinata: Aya-san said that you…l-liked me…more than friends…

(Shiine hides his head…)

Hinata: B-but…

Shiine: I love you Hinata-san!!!

(Hinata steps back…)

Shiine: (crying) I loved you Hinata-san…so w-why…why did you do it? Do you l-like Negi more? Do you…

Negi: Shiine…

Shiine: STAY OUT OF THIS!

Hinata: THAT’S ENOUGH!!!!

(Hinata’s tears are making a puddle on the ground…and she looks Shiine in the eyes…)

Hinata: That is not the case AT ALL! I like both of you…but not like th-that…at least…

(Hinata’s red face hints more…)

Hinata: …I-I have som-someone I l-like at home…

Shiine: But H-Hinata-san…

Hinata: …AND SO DO YOU SHIINE-CHAN!!!

(Stop. Shiine’s voice stops.)

Hinata: This Chacha-san…(cries)…she…she’ll hate us…for this…if you don’t…st-stop…

(Hinata runs out of the room, as Aya outside…is holding back tears of her own as well…)

Aya: Damn it…don’t let this game get to…

(Back in the kitchen, the truth hits Shiine harder than a ton of bricks…)

Shiine: (crying) I’m…s-so stupid…

(Shiine collapses…)

Shiine: CHACHA----SAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN…

(Negi’s eyes steam slightly as he wants to talk to Shiine, but it’s too awkward. He leaves the room, and takes out 4 cards….)

Negi: Asuna-san…Nodoka-san…Setsuna-san…Konoka-san…

(He holds them to his heart, crying like the 10 year old he is…)

Negi: I…I want to hear your voices now…wh-why can’t I…

(On the stairs, Ban looks on…)

Ban: Poor kid…never thought I’d get fond of this game…but fond of a brat?

(Ban walks away sighing…)

Ban: I’m getting soppy away from Ginji…

*

(Needless to say, the emotion has been drained by the time the Killer’s Game runs around. As Negi and Shiine prepare, the 5 other detectives are very nervous at seeing them off…)

(…whilst when Negi went out with Kotone, emotions were wild. Two days later, Negi plays his second killer’s game in a row…and no-one really wants to say anything…it’s a sombre little mood.)

Negi: Shiine-chan…I…

(Shiine looks up…)

Shiine: I never realised what was important to me…until now.

(He looks around…Shiine, also playing a second killer’s game…looks on, and for the first time in about 3 days…smiles.)

Shiine: I will return from this…and finally realise what is important about this…

(She grabs a locket of the core 6 of Akazukin…)

Shiine: Chacha-san…Orin-chan…everyone…even you dumb mutt…I’m not coming back yet…

(Shiine turns to look at Negi…no…not this time, no reconciling, despite the obvious looks that both tensai mahou shounen want too…Shiine steps forward…)

Shiine: I’ll see you all around.

(Aya is the first to break as she hugs Shiine, Shiine surprised by it…and then Triela…her tears not obviously hidden joins in. Shiine is surprised by the support here as Ban puts a hand on his shoulder. Satoshi just smiles…)

(…Hinata on the other hand, is trying her hardest not to match his eyes. Shiine shakes his head…)

Shiine: It’s O.K…thank you Hinata-san…

(Hinata smiles, as Shiine hugs her. Hinata is surprised but nods…trying her hardest not to cry…)

(…the first taxi comes…and cue a new plug to a series EVERYONE needs to watch…)

Yuki: No stops please.

Shiine: Er…

Yuki: Blood Bowling. We leave. Now.

(The girl in the taxi is somehow driving with one hand on the wheel, and reading what seems to be a complicated philosophy book on the other. This show is recognised to be the best thing ever on Anime On DVD, Anime England, The Birmingham Anime Society and probably half the anime forums on the planet, and rightly so. Yuki Nagato from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is our first driver.)

Shiine: Geez…great, I’ve got an alien driver…

Yuki: (drab) How did you know?

(facefault…)

Shiine: I…was…joking…

*

(Back inside, Negi is really unsure of this…)

Negi: Everyone, whatever happened today and the last few days will now be removed. Whether I agree with how it occurred…

(Hinata shivers…)

Negi: …I know that things will be much better for us when we come back. We will have 6 detectives left, half of the cast…and I hope we realise we have got the best 6 in the game when one of us returns. So…if I don’t…

(Negi smiles…)

Negi: …thank you.

Aya: Oh come on…

(Aya again is the first to glomp and even adds a gentle kiss on Negi’s cheek. Triela doesn’t follow suit but she is crying badly…)

Triela: Dammit…you’d better come back alive…you did it once…

(Negi eventually pries himself from Triela as Ban puts a hand on Negi’s head and ruffles it. Negi chuckles as Satoshi nods…)

Satoshi: Go.

(Negi nods as Hinata stops him…)

Hinata: Negi-kun…

(Negi shakes his head…)

Negi: Hinata-san, whatever happens…I want to say thank you…

(Glomp is a regular term when dealing with Negi, but Hinata’s emotion is on overboard – and on the reverse every 5 minutes…Negi nearly gets crushed, but fortunately…)

Haruhi: Oy, are you two finished making out yet?

(Negi and Hinata split up faster than me in a room of Inuyasha fangirls – as the great god(dess – literally) that is Haruhi Suzumiya comes, complete with a BAV esque space taxi (it’s Haruhi, she can do anything) complete with an SOS Brigade logo on the front…)

Haruhi: Come on, it’s a murder mystery! Come on, let’s see you get killed!

Negi: N-not a confidence booster…

Haruhi: Poo. You’re not exactly motivated enough…here…

(Haruhi hands him a picture…needless to say, the picture being Haruhi, is obviously something Negi isn’t prepared…)

(…and collapses…)

Haruhi: Tsk..kids’ today…

Ban: (nosebleeding) I don’t think anybody would have reacted much different…

*

(In the house, the 5 detectives are definitely quiet…Triela is already staking out a new room as Aya and Hinata go in the kitchen and have a drink of chocolate, whilst Ban smokes outside, and even Satoshi isn’t studying or…well…anything. He looks outside…awaiting for the choice where we are down to half…)

Shiine: (to himself) Chacha-san…I forgot everything that was important back home...I lost myself in this game. The suspects, the detectives...myself...

(He clutches the locket to his heart…)

Shiine: Show me the way…to win this…

*

Haruhi: …you’re an unusual kid right? 10 year olds don’t become teachers, though it wouldn’t be a lot more fun right? Hey, so what are you then? An esper? An alien? Someone from the future?

Negi: Um…

Haruhi: If you survive, come back to the SOS Brigade, we need a shotocon boy to draw the female demographic – we’ve already got the lolicon demographic…

(Negi may wish he would kill himself now…but his look of the class of 31 manages to get him through this…)

(…but will he survive two times in a row?)

*

(The wizard from the Brother’s Grimm universe steps outside in what you’d think would be a normal bowling alley…though it’s far from normal…)

(Shiine follows the map – and the sound of an explosion (which is actually a clattering of pins) makes him falls on his warlock butt)

Satoshi: O.K…

(Satoshi calls, surprisingly himself with the volume of his voice…)

Satoshi: EVERYONE!!!

(Aya and Hinata emerge from the kitchen, Triela slowly comes downstairs and Ban comes out of the rec room. Satoshi gulps as the van pulls in…)

(…it’s hard to tell obviously – Negi and Shiine were roughly the same height and the darkness outside helps nothing.)

Aya: O.K…

(The doors open as the shadows envelope everyone…)

Hinata: It’s…

(Hinata covers her mouth as Triela steps forward…)

Triela: Y-you…you did it…

(Shot of the survivor…)

(…Negi Springfield.)

Negi: The luck…luck…I’m…I’m so drained…

(Negi drops to the floor, exhausted physically and mentally. A tear escapes his eye as all 5 rush to him…)

Ban: Kid, are you alright?

Negi: Y-yeah…

(Ban and Satoshi help Negi up and guide him to a chair…the girls look stunned and all seem happy…but you know inside, they are feeling bad as well…)

Negi: It…it was horrible. Next time, I’d rather be killed…

Aya: Don’t say that!!!

Hinata: Y-you made it Negi-kun…

Triela: And we are happy for you…

Negi: …but…Shiine-chan…

(For the first time, the mood isn’t celebatory. Sure, there was some upset when Kotone died, but this time, no-one, out of respect for Shiine, doesn’t want to celebrate.)

(Negi probably is though…he survived and has made it to the final 6. Shiine hasn’t.)

*

Cut, print, sleep. (snores)

Another one bites the dust, and so close to the end believe it or not. Go me!

Ah, poor Shiine-chan. Akazukin never gets the respect it should. Can get long winded at times and very ‘monster of the day’ but it’s humour never gets old and the cute characters are a riot.

Shiine is very underrated in this show – he’s the ‘rival’ of Riiya’s for Chacha’s affections, and you always feel Chacha will pick Riiya…because they’re both so dumb. Shiine’s is a genius warlock…yet he is a little perverted. I twisted it a bit here, he’s actually very faithful to Chacha, but is very ecchi at times with his thoughts on her…^_^. I just thought it would be fun with other beautiful girls around him how he would react…and the irony of Shiine falling in love with a ninja of course when the cute ninja in Chacha likes him (and he doesn’t like back – shame on you Shiine-chan!!!)

Shiine’s chances of winning? They were quite good to start with and had him as an initial final 3 losing to Kotone and one of the ones remaining in the final 6. However, I guess that as much as I hate to admit, Chacha is very unknown in anime circles, so with this being my final fic, I had to bite my tongue and not put him in. Although to be fair, if I had put probably Orin or Yakko in, I probably would have had them winning.

And now the pointless notes and jokes!!!

*

My philosophy to have nothing to do with Inuyasha (apart from MG2 having Kagome as a suspect and even that didn’t last long) continues as the obviously archery reference which 99% of people would have used Inuyasha for…I use School Rumble for. :) Tenma Tsukamato (the lead until Eri became more popular…seriously…) in episode 2 takes the disguise as a shrine maiden and suddenly becomes incredibly skilled at archery…all for the purpose of shooting a love letter towards her love interest Karasuma Ooji. It leads to where Tenma (unknowingly) saved people from a bank heist (she only went into the bank because Karasuma went in there…^_^) and cries about it after. I love Tenma. :)

And more Tenma love as she and the lovely Yakumo are added as child helpers for Ruri – not that unfamiliar if you think about it, especially Season 2 for Duwa Tenma. :) And yes, when she wants to, Yakumo can kick that much ass.

A few more references here include two more School Rumble characters (Hanai at Kaleido Stage and Asou at Ucchans), along with Lupin III’s Jigan, Konatsu from Ranma ½, Yukina from Nadesico and Sasami from Tenchi Muyo.

Yes, I used 911 rather than the UK equivilent of 999 – even though Porta Vida is a make believe town in LA it’s still America.

The nosebleed joke when Shiine is looking at Duplica’s Chacha cosplay is a reference to Sensei No Ojikan, licenced as Doki Doki School Hours by Geneon. Here, Kudo, an intelligent young man has a crush on the high school jock…yes, it’s m/m – all yaoi fangirls squeal – and he is prone to nosebleeds about him as well (illustrated in the SnO leg in AR3). Weirdly, and it shames me to say it, I didn’t know the series went further than 13 episodes (5 DVDS on realise and 12 eps I’ve seen) so I don’t know what happens now – at least it’s something I need to get at Amecon.

An old school reference with Ami, as for long time fans of my reality works, you’ll recognise that Ami was indeed a rival to Ukyo’s during Anime and Video Game Survivor 2. It’s not the first time a crossover with a work has come in obviously (Chirika anyone?) and certain it’s not the last. And Ruri and Tenchi’s togetherness? Shouldn’t be that surprising considering one of the original reality works – the Original Mole Anime Edition which featured Ruri and Tenchi in the final 3…against the (still best) mole – Tomoyo Daidouji.

Ban and Satoshi – (sings) the ambiguously gay duo…True fact – one of the first AMVs I ever say was Doki Doki’s version of this to Street Fighter 2 V – and considering both DN Angel and Getbackers have extreme yaoi innuendo…yep. *commences singing*

Before any Negima purists named Joseph Klemm (:)) correct me, I’m aware Negi has 5 cards. However, I wrote this before the 5^th pactio and I don’t want to spoil…:P

Ah, Haruhi. Between that and School Rumble 2^nd Term – Spring has been a comedy fest (note: I wrote this on 10^th May so it’s still spring when I wrote it, though obviously not now) and Haruhi, whilst literally is one, is a god among gods. The funniest, most amazingly corrupt, evil, sadistic, energetic, clueless, intelligent, oxymoronic…gah, how many terms can I describe Haruhi? As for the photo…well, if you’ve seen Haruhi, you can probably guess it involves the beautiful Mikuru Asahina and some provocative cosplay (forced on my Haruhi – he got Mikuru into the SOS brigade because she’s a year older and yet has a lolicon face, and has big breasts. Welcome to Haruhi’s logic), well, you can understand poor Negi-kun’s and Ban-kun’s reaction…

Stay tuned for the next chapter, as we now have 3 guys and three girls (well, 2 girls and one gal) – who will be next? It’s literally anyone’s game now, so until next time…coming out to play?