Now, with just 6 suspects left and 6 detectives, that means we’ve got to eliminate one of each every episode. So let’s see what people think after this one…

Let’s get it on!

*

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…)

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.

(…things were brought into more interest as the worst kept secret in this fic was finally brought up, a.k.a. Duplica is the new owner of Kaleido Stage, and her way of playing the game was again a nail in the head for Shiine-chan…)

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…

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

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.

.(Indeed, Hinata chose both her friends despite Shiine-chan’s confession…and worse for the Chacha rep…)

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…)

(It’s approaching 2 weeks now of the case, and we’re half way through the detectives…but are we half-way through the case?)

(Triela’s surprising problem is quick hit upon when she’s the last one up at 9.50am…)

(…the first to greet her is Negi, who looked ready to get her up…)

Negi: Gee Triela-san, are you O.K? The lead investigator is going to appear soon…

Triela: (yawns) Yeah Negi…I’m dressed though aren’t I?

Negi: Well…

Triela: It’s O.K, I don’t need breakfast…actually, I feel like if I eat anything I’m going to be sick…

Negi: Bad night…

Triela: Just a bit…

(Triela drags herself into the kitchen, where Aya and Satoshi are already washing up. No sign of Ban or Hinata. Triela walks a little gingerly seeing Aya but simply opens the fridge and gets some flavoured milk…)

Satoshi: Good morning…

Triela: (nods) Mornin’…(looks around)…where’s Ban and Hinata?

Satoshi: Ban is in the exercise room on the bike, he’s heading for a shower in about 5 minutes – Hinata’s outside waiting for the Lead Investigator to come…

Triela: O.K…I’ll join her.

(The moment she leaves, Aya sighs…)

Negi: Aya-san?

Aya: Sorry…it’s getting more uncomfortable for me…I know with Shiine-chan gone, I thought it would get better…but knowing what Triela did to me…

Negi: But you…

Aya: (shakes her head) She did it first – way back in the first episode…(sighs)…trust is a fickle thing isn’t it?

Satoshi: Indeed.

(A crash catches their attention…)

Ban: DAMN EQUIPMENT!

(Negi and Aya sigh…)

Satoshi: Ban’s broke another machine - I thought with all his fighting experience he’d know how to control his strength…

Negi: Guess we need to sort this out with the author…

(Aya looks at the killer clue…four pictures of young girls as mentioned in HQ, we can see 4 passport photographs on the desk – I will NOT reveal who they are, but if you can figure out who they are at the link – it’s a HUGE clue to the killer’s identity…)

• A crop haired red/brunette holding a red and white ball and having a large butterfly perched on her shoulder.
• A tanned girl with a genki smile in black pigtails.
• A pigtailed red head with a polite smile – the pigtails are more curly than straight though.
• A sandy haired brown haired girl with boyish looks, and maybe familiar to Murder Game veterans…

(As I get ready to pay more expense (these Getbackers are an expenses nightmare) we cut outside where we see a young man head outside with a suitcase…)

*

(Outside, Hinata welcomes the young man, a blonde haired young man with a plain blue T-shirt and jeans comes in.)

Hinata: Everyone…

(The young man is quite handsome, fortunately with Aya taken, Triela not interested and Hinata unrequited, he’s safe from prying eyes – he had enough of that when he went back to Japan, but he’s only got eyes for one girls as well…shame she never notices…)

???: Is this everyone?

Satoshi: No, there’s a girl and a man – the man is finishing up in the shower…

Triela: (coming in) This…

(The man nods…)

Man: Hello there, I’m a representative of Kaleido Stage to oversee the investigation under special circumstances. My name is Ken Robbins.

(Ken Robbins (Kaleido Star) is the backstage manager, and full time admirer of the wonderful Sora Naegino. He’s in love with her, though he never admits to it, and Sora never notices him apart from a good friend. Despite his bad luck, he is quite handsome and intelligent, so he’s Lead Investigator Number 7.)

(A few minutes as Ban gets himself ready and Ken introduces himself again. The routine is now familiar for the detectives as they begin to make themselves in the main room…)

Ken: So…Duplica has basically sent me on order from this Chromus person to ‘get their acts together so they can prove it wasn’t me…’

(Sweatdrop city as Ken follows…fortunately he recovers quickly enough…)

Ken: Oh…well…I am here to help you, as I’m trying to find out who killed Kalos as much as you are. I’ve been briefed up to date, and my first order of business is…

(He reads the notes…)

Ken: …to hear the last well and testament of the last detective who was eliminated last night, Shiine…chan.

(Despite everything, he was always added the chan suffix to the end…but of course he would have wanted it that way…)

Ken: So, first order of business…

(Ken presses a button. Shiine’s choice will be very interesting considering that his two best friends (Negi and Hinata) betrayed him. Negi and Hinata themselves are having trouble looking at each other despite being next to each other in the front row. Triela on the far side, shakes her head as behind them, Ban, Satoshi and Aya watch with interest.)

(A blue screen flashes as we say goodbye to the lovable warlock one more time…)

(Ah ha. Triela, who probably is the second strongest detective other than Satoshi, has literally been under the radar all game. But just as she’s coming into it, she’s safe for 2 days. You can see Aya’s brow immediately fret…)

Ken: So Triela-san is it? You will be in the Leader’s chair and will be safe from elimination for the next two days.

(Triela now is guaranteed to make it to the final 5…)

Ken: Now, considering what we have learnt from last night…we know now that the kidnapping was actually a fake kidnapping, planned by Anna and Seta, to get the Third Eye. However, apparently the jewel to it, which seems a vital part…is missing. So their plan didn’t work…

(A shot of the Third Eye object outside the Institute is shown.)

Ken: Considering this, we need to speak to both Anna and Seta as matters of haste. These will be our two main inquiries for today.

(Ken turns to Triela)

Ken: We need two teams, one of 3 and one of 2. Triela-san, if you don’t mind.

(Triela stands up.)

Triela: Let’s make it a guys vs. girls team. The three will be Ban, Satoshi and Negi, whilst the girls will be Hinata and Aya.

(Again, Satoshi and Ban are a team, and their record is pretty damn good so far, in fact, apart from episode 1, Satoshi hasn’t had to be voted for yet, and Ban is close to that as well. The girls have to beat them now as Negi looks indifferent.)

Ken: So…we’ll make the three gentlemen Team 1 and the two young ladies Team 2. So…

(Ken speaks a bit louder…)

Ken: Team 1, I want you to speak to Seta. I want you to confront him and ask about the kidnapping from his side – get the key information on why it occurred and anything else you need to find out.

(With just 6 suspects left, everything is vital. Satoshi nods…)

(Ken turns to Aya, who is quite an attractive girl of course. Ken shakes his head, remembers Sora for a few seconds, and recovers.)

Ken: Team 2…you ladies will get the other half of this equation, namely former performer at Kaleido Stage Anna. She has returned from the shock of the pain and the hospital, or the so-called shock after all. And same thing, find out what the deal was with this kidnapping, see if there is any conflicting stories between the two parties involved.

Ken: The initial inquiries are simple…finding the information is the hard part. Good luck…and please find out as much as you can – we need to lay this ghost of Kalos’ past to rest…

(Sympathy for the deceased aside (and there wasn’t much from the detectives to be fair) it’s a guys vs. gals battle as Negi looks back at Hinata and Aya for a moment, before joining his two teammates…)

Hinata: We’re not going into this badly…

Aya: Hinata-chan?

(Shot of Hinata and Aya outside their van…)

Hinata: I know…we’re in trouble against Satoshi-kun…but giving up…when we think we’ve already lost…that’s the worst type of thinking you can have…

(Aya puts her hand on Hinata’s forehead…)

Aya: Has Kotone injected some psychic energy into you…

(Hinata blushes…)

Hinata: N-no…it’s just…I felt that…and…well…the words of someone…someone I care for…helped me bring me back…

Aya: (smiles) …so let’s make sure we don’t let each other down, right?

Hinata: Indeed.

(On the men’s side…)

Ban: Come on kid, let’s kick a…butt…

Negi: R-right?

Satoshi: We should be O.K – myself and Ban have worked well as a team so far, and those two haven’t worked as a team at all. As long as you get it together, we’ll be safe…

Negi: R…Right.

Ban: Geez, even I know not to scare kids on the first moment they join you…

(Satoshi remains silent as the case continues…)

*

(As the mix to see who seperates the guys from the gals takes shape, we can see that the two suspects in question are on opposite ends of the city, but on the same wavelength of murder possibility. They both obviously wanted the Eye…Seta as it belonged to him, but of course of the power it possessed, something Anna was interested in as well. The reasonings? Well, we’ve got a few reasons for Anna in particular, but let’s see how this questioning works…)

*

(Seta is still there, and after getting the information from Pedro, the trio of young men are ready to play hardball with Mr Noriyasu…who tipped off Ban and Satoshi unwittingly about the kidnapping himself…)

(…needless to say, when he sees the two detectives come out along with Negi, he’s not too happy.)

Seta: What do you want? You’ve bothered me long enough…so unless you h…

Satoshi: I believe we have something important to say, so if you don’t mind…

Seta: But I do! You have been bothering me with the same questions, and I’m beginning to suspect that I did these deeds! Kill Kalos? Kill my own friend and apprentice?

Satoshi: Do a fake kidnapping? That one I can believe…

(Seta is silent…)

Seta: I…I didn’t kill anybody! I was at the Gulf…I told you!

Satoshi: We’ve confirmed Kensuke was at the Gulf…but not you. Besides, we asked about the kidnapping, not the murder.

Ban: We know about everything Seta. I suggest you co-operate with us, or you have a choice.

Seta: A choice?

Ban: Of this kids magi, my snake bite grip and Jagan, or this kid’s alter ego. Your choice.

(Seta is tough, but again these three? He may have to think about this…)

Seta: O.K…fine…what do you want to talk about?

*

(Anna however, is a different story. Unaware at the slightest of the situation, we see her meditating for a moment outside the church. It’s a little cold, and she’s wearing a simple blue dress as the van passes by.)

(Anna reaction is a slight shake of the head, but when she sees Hinata, she smiles. Aya joins her as Anna steps off the chair…)

Anna: Hello?

Aya: Respighi-san?

Anna: (nods) Yes.

Hinata: Respighi-san, we need to speak to you…about various things that happened in the last couple of days.

Anna: (nods) I’m a bit surprised you want to speak to me so soon…I’m recovered but…

Aya: Yes…you recovered from the shock quite quickly…

Anna: (nods) It’s O.K, I mean…

Hinata: Respighi-san…we know.

Anna: Huh?

Aya: We know about the kidnapping…or lack of.

(Anna pauses…it’s a long pause…)

Aya: Re…

Anna: I…see.

(Anna smiles…)

Anna: You guys are good, I’ll give you that.

Hinata: Respighi-san, we need to ask why…

(Anna again does a long pause…but knows she doesn’t really have a choice in the matter…)

Anna: Very well…Tenchi is out at the moment, so we can talk. Come on.

(The two girls head in, cautious…but ready.)

*

(We’ve got two people in an collaborative kidnapping and both are being talked to as we speak…the guys now begin to make the archeologist sweat…or confess…but with Satoshi, they’ll probably do both…)

Seta: I keep telling you I was there!

Satoshi: And I keep telling you that a) we’ve got evidence that proves that Kensuke was there, not you and b) you keep trying to change the subject…

Ban: …and are failing miserably.

Seta: But I was there…dammit…I’ll find some proof, I swear it!

Satoshi: Proof is good, but the only thing we can prove on you Seta, is the fact that you and Anna co-elaborated on a kidnap scheme to recover that Third Eye.

Seta: It wasn’t even what…

Negi: …you was looking for?

Seta: Y-yeah…

Satoshi: We’ve heard all the conversation Seta-san. We intend to track down what’s so important about this Third Eye that you need it so badly that you would fake a kidnapping to get it back.

(Seta looks around…his workers are not listening…as Seta sighs…)

Seta: Fine. If I talk…

Ban: That’s all we want.

(Seta nods…and as one Akamatsu character to another…)

Negi: So…why?

(Seta looks for a cigarette…Ban offers him one, Negi steps away (smoking is bad, m’kay?) and Seta speaks.)

Seta: The Third Eye was an item that as I said, came from one of my archeological trips…and felt it was a valuable artificat…but nothing more. At least…until Anna sort it.

Ban: So…you know any beforehand?

(Seta chuckles…)

Seta: We go way back…

(As the three guys try hard not to think about comment, Seta continues…)

Seta: Anna…was the one who suggested this plan.

Negi: (surprised) Anna-san did?

Seta: (nods) Anna, as I said, was very interested in this item, and explained to me the very basics of what it was. You see, Anna-san is from the future…nearly 3000 years into the future…

(Negi recalls Akari and nods, that’s true…Seta continues…)

Seta: Anna was looking for something from the future, and she thought this third eye was it – it’s apparently not in her time…and she explained the supposed properties…

Satoshi: (nods) Yes, we are aware of these properties.

Seta: She didn’t intend for the plan to end up in the hospital though…it was quite difficult.

Ban: Yeah…who would have thought you would meet your maker in the hospital?

(….)

Satoshi: I believe that Marie girl could give you a few tips…

Ban: Who?

Satoshi: Research.

(As Negi slaps his forehead at the difference of the ADV guys and their research…or lack there of…)

Negi: Please Seta-san, continue.

Seta: Sure. The Blood Loss was a problem when she was stopping Tenchi…

Negi: Yes, it seemed unusual that you’d help her considering what happened between you and Tenchi…

(Seta pauses…)

Seta: Indeed…and to be fair, she wasn’t too happy with me…but she felt it was the best time to act with relations at a low. I guess she never counted on intuition…

(Satoshi smiles…)

Seta: Anyway, I drove by and Anna came out…we were concerned that Touji was there and could have stopped her, but fortunately those Battle Athletes skills of speed are handy…

(As Adam and I work out the eternal question, whose faster, Sena Kobayashi or Akari Kanzaki, Seta continues…)

Seta: But it seemed during her urgency…one thing was clear. She NEEDED to come back…to save something…or someone…in the future.

Negi: Her sister?

Seta: I think that’s part of the reason…otherwise the two of them wouldn’t have come – but from performer to church ruler? It seems…too obvious.

Satoshi: Maybe…the virus is widespread in her time?

(The three other males look at Satoshi…)

Seta: You know…I never thought of that.

Ban: Geez…this girl keeps getting more motives than Akabane!!! No, that’s excuses in his case…

Satoshi: It’s merely speculation, but being the furthest from the future…

Negi: …she’d have the most knowledge of what happens from the past.

(A brief pause from all…)

Satoshi: Well…Seta…we still need you to confirm that you had nothing to do with this murder…and normally we’d take you in for perverting the peace.

Negi: However…as the kidnapping was not official…and our colleagues are dealing with the other half…

Ban: …I’d just suggest you get an eye out.

(Ban raises his glasses…)

Ban: Unless you want me to do that…

(Seta gulps…and declines that offer.)

Seta: No…I think I’ll rest for the moment.

(Ban smiles as the three retreat, content with the information gathering they got this day…)

Anna: So…you know what happened?

Aya: We heard a taped conversation between yourself and Seta-san, and know as we said, you faked the kidnapping. So all we need to know…is why?

Anna: (sighs) Isn’t it obvious. He wanted the Third Eye back.

Hinata: But…why would you agree with it…wouldn’t you want a reason?

(Anna is quiet…not her dark side quiet, or even her shy side quiet…just…quiet…)

Anna: I guess I would feel indebted to help him…after all…my partner…

(Anna shakes her head for a moment…)

Anna: …my partner and him had a problem which caused an injury to myself…

Aya: Surely…that would mean he’d owe you…wouldn’t it?

(Anna is silent…)

Hinata: Did…did you arrange this?

(Anna looks at Hinata’s face…the stare down doesn’t work…before he puts her head in her hands…)

Anna: I don’t know…I don’t know WHY I did it…

Aya: So…

Anna: Yes…I helped. I guess…my feelings for my sister…was the cause. I…

(Anna clenches her fist)

Anna: …I needed to save her, and any ways to try and help her…would be the reason enough to help Seta recover the item…whether it was for my cost or his…

Hinata: Anna…

Aya: So…you needed it…to help your sister?

Anna: Yes…helping Seta return it in exchange for me needing it to help Elaine…

(Anna looks at them…)

Anna: Wait…did Ruri tell you of this…

(A question out of nowhere, and it kind of catches the detectives off guard…)

Aya: Ruri?

Hinata: I believe we researched the information…and Kanzaki-san helped confirm some of it…

(Anna seems to be a little surprised…)

Anna: Kanzaki-san?

(Admittingly it was true, but it was Ruri that confirmed it. The white lies are obviously not just with the detectives…however Anna seems intent to change the subject…)

Anna: Well…I thought Kanzaki-san would have been on my side…but Ruri…

(Anna smiles…)

Anna: Did you know about the problems she had with her adoptive father…

(The two do know of this, albeit briefly…however Anna continues…)

Anna: …Ruri…she enlisted my help about this at one time…as it coincided with similar effects suffering from her father…the ability to remove one’s senses from the body…

Aya: So it’s a relative to the Evan virus then?

Anna: Not sure…but it has similar properties. But I suggest you ask her one thing…how did it all get caused?

(Again, a surprise question…one that has the two girls on edge. Fortunately, where there is a will, there is a way…)

Hinata: We’ll speak with her…but…you still didn’t answer our question fully. Is it just Elaine that is the reason why you helped Seta in his quest to find the Third Eye?

Aya: And is there a real problem that a part is missing?

(Anna realises the girls aren’t bluffing…)

Anna: So…the jewel…you know…

(Anna sighs…)

Anna: The jewel…is the vital part of this whole equation…but that is not my field. All I know…it’s a key fragment to solving everything. I suggest…you ladies speak with someone who may know more about this…

(Anna shakes her head as Aya steps forward…)

Aya: I think there is more to this than meets the eye Respighi-san, and don’t think this is far from over.

(Aya leaves, Hinata bows once and follows her teammate. Anna, out of sight turns and wipes a few tears from her eyes…)

*

Aya: This is weird. Anna is definitely hiding something…but what?

Hinata: I hope Negi-kun and the others can shed a bit more light…

Aya: I get the feeling that we need to get the information from both of them, piece everything together…and then fill in the blanks…

Hinata: That sounds about right…

(Amid this seemingly bread and butter inquiry, a phone call for Triela interrupts proceedings…)

Triela: Hello?

Triela: Yes…who this is?

Triela: Tamahome?

Triela: O.K then…I’ll arrange at team…and then we’ll see who you are and what’s going on?

Triela: What the…

*

Triela: …and that’s what happened.

Ban: So it was female?

Triela: A female voice…and something to do with Tamahome…

Negi: Mia-san?

Triela: It didn’t…seem like it was Mia-san…it was a very different voice…

Hinata: Anybody we recognise…

(Triela has a good think…)

Triela: The only person I could think it would be is Duplica…but that’s only because on what we know about her imitation skills because it wasn’t anybody I recognised…

(Shot of Aya with Negi, as they exchange information. Triela looks briefly at Aya before continuing…)

Triela: Anyway, this is Tamahome we’re talking about so it could be quite dangerous…can you guys handle it?

Ban: (smiles) Sure…I still owe that guy a punch.

Satoshi: You do?

Ban: (chuckles) I’ll make him think it.

Negi: (sweatdrops) Ban-san…

(Aya seems a little edgey from that, but the two teams now correspond with each other about their findings in a quick team meeting…)

*

Ban: …so Seta is blaming Anna…

Aya: …and Anna is blaming Ruri.

(The talk of Seta and Anna’s discussions today would make good viewing in the SOS Brigade, but this is the Murder Game, so it’s hard to see who the team believe…)

Satoshi: Seta is really concerned I think about that Anna is a bit too interested in the Third Eye…but at the same time he’s using her to try and get it herself. But at the same time…

Hinata: Anna…is seeing that trying to change the subject and push an extra motive towards Ruri.

Negi: Do you think there is any truth to that?

Aya: I think so…

Triela: Really?

(Aya pauses…)

Aya: I do. Keep in mind that Seta and Anna did the kidnapping…but they must have had a reason to park outside Ruri’s place…with the Third Eye there…

Satoshi: Sure. To frame her.

(Aya shakes her head.)

Aya: No…if they were going to be caught, then what was the point? Maybe they are trying to send us a point on how either Anna or Seta, most likely Anna, knows there is something more of this case…

Hinata: She said something that there is something more to this case around the Evan virus…with Anna being further from the future than Ruri…maybe she does know more than we think…

Ban: That’s…an interesting point.

Negi: NO matter what…we have to speak to Ruri tomorrow…

(Triela sits by with a real look of interest…)

Triela: Hmm…

*

(Tamahome has never been the friendliest towards the detectives so this has set the intrigue level to the detectives at a much higher rate…)

Satoshi: So…we find out who this is, and why…

Ban: …why this person is linked with Tamahome?

Negi: Uh…guys…look.

(They approach the cabin, and Tamahome is outside, looking for something…or someone.)

Satoshi: O.K…be careful.

(Ban cracks his knuckles…)

Ban: Indeed.

(Negi closes his eyes in anticipation…and as they step out, Tamahome immediately sees them…)

Tamahome: You guys called me?

Satoshi: No…someone called us and arranged for us to meet here…with you apparently.

Tamahome: It was a weird voice…a voice changer perhaps…why would they…

(The voice changes to a very familiar female voice…to Tamahome.)

?????: …RECOGNISE YOUR OWN WIFE’S VOICE?

(Shit. Tamahome looks in absolute terror as Miaka Yuuki-Sukanami emerges. Unlike her more annoying 15 year oldself, this second OVA inspired Miaka holds her daughter Hikari as her husband and the father of the baby girl look on in fear…)

Tamahome: M-Miaka…

(Miaka steps up once…and SLAPS Tamahome.)

Miaka: Tamahome…you utter bastard!

(One of the most lovey duvey couples ever is in shitsville, and three male characters (two of them on the bishie side and the other with the possibility of the largest harem in existence) all are stunned…)

Ban: Uh….

(Miaka turns as Ban steps back slightly…fortunately, Negi’s experience with the ladies proves his ally here…)

Negi: Are you…the person who spoke to us?

(Miaka surprisingly doesn’t go for the whole ‘Negi is cute’ act, but she does calm down…)

Miaka: Yes…I wanted you to bear witness to the real crime of this case…

Tamahome: Miaka!!!

(Miaka scowls at Tamahome, nearly burying him…)

Miaka: Well, what happened then? You were supposed to call me on THAT night, and you didn’t answer…

Tamahome: I told you the next day, I was at a model shoot…

Miaka: Oh, that BS. We know how much you’ve been lying…anyway, your phone was turned off…if you were at a model agency, you NEVER leave your phone off.

Tamahome: But…

Miaka: You either did it…

Tamahome: I DIDN’T…

Miaka: …or you were screwing that Dutch bitch right?

Tamahome: LISTEN!!!

Miaka: IT’S TRUE THOUGH ISN’T IT?!!!

(This husband/wife quarrel is disturbing the peace, but Negi begins to slowly let it sail…)

Negi: Listen, Tamahome-san…you haven’t really confirmed what happened that night. Is this something you can confirm now?

Tamahome: I…I don’t know. I can’t remember.

Miaka: Yes right…you just don’t want to admit the truth…

Negi: What truth?

Miaka: THAT HE DID IT!!!

Tamahome: I DIDN’T IT!

(The next few lines are editing due to profanity and the quick use of ears over Negi’s ears…)

Satoshi: I think this is getting us nowhere. You brought us here to hear your lovers quarrel?

Miaka: Of course not…(sarcastic)…his LOVER is screwing that butch girl from Kaleido Stage…

(A slight pause at that…)

Tamahome: What are you talking about?

Miaka: Oh come on! I heard the rumours – you took on a girl who is openly gay right?

Tamahome: That’s another lie!!!

Miaka: Oh, so trying to defend her right? Or were you actually visiting that slut then weren’t you?’

Tamahome: ….SO…

Miaka: So?

(Pause for effect…)

Tamahome: …SO WHAT IF I WAS?!!!

(Three well trained male pairs of ears twitch at that. Satoshi is the first to speak…)

Satoshi: So…you were at Mia’s…at the night of the murder?

(Miaka cracks her knuckles…)

(…Tamahome remains silent.)

Tamahome: …I…

Ban: It’s your choice big man. Either save you from this case or save you from this marriage…

(Miaka glares at Ban…not exactly easy…)

Tamahome: Um…

Satoshi: Tamahome, you haven’t been the easiest with us. I believe at this moment, under the worst conditions, you have the choice of making things bad…or worse.

(Satoshi looks at the sky.)

Satoshi: We all make these decisions at one time…you just have to do it now.

(A tense moment as Tamahome looks at Miaka, then at the detectives…)

Tamahome: The truth is…

*

(At HQ, Triela’s phone rings…)

Triela: Hello? (pauses) Satoshi…

(*A long pause*)

Triela: Right…O.K…bye. (Puts phone down.) Hinata?!!! Can you and Aya head over to Kaleido Stage?

Hinata: Sure…but why?

Triela: We could clear another suspect…but end a relationship.

Hinata: Hmmm?

*

Mia: …it’s…really hard to remember what happened…but it was something neither one of us wanted to admit.

Aya: Why is that?

Mia: My relationship with Anna…Anna Hart that is…was something of a close secret. Then…Tamahome and Kalos got talking, and as he put it ‘felt it best that for both parties for this to happen’. That night…

(Mia tries not to cry as she speaks…)

Mia: …Tamahome came over to my place that night…when we were going out to a restaurant. He wasn’t going to go…but I convinced him. We needed to talk about ending this…

Hinata: But…the day we first spoke…

Mia: …(shakes her head)…sillyness on my part. I was upset with Kalos’ death and the break-up between myself and Tamahome that night at the restaurant.

Aya: Restaurant?

(Mia nods)

Mia: The night of the murder…we made a break up there, without papers or cameras…(sneers slightly)…ironic, if someone had caught our appearance there, Tamahome would have been cleared earlier…

(Mia shuffles something from her purse…)

Mia: It seemed silly to hold onto it, especially as I wasn’t in love with him…and…well…

(Mia hands it over to Aya…)

Mia: It should prove his innocence.

(Aya and Hinata look over the restaurant receipt…it is dated 20:01 on 05/11/05. The two nod and begin to head back to HQ…)

*

Triela: …O.K, basically it was an all you can eat Chinese restaurant…and that was confirmed by the store manager.

Ban: In English?

Triela: Tamahome’s cleared.

Satoshi: Works for me.

(CLEARED: TAKA ‘TAMAHOME’ SUKANAMI)

Aya: Oh…there was one other thing…

*

*

Triela: So…we have a killer’s game as well? Lovely…

Aya: Well…either 2 of us or three of us will be up for nomination…I think we need to realise how much we are rivals now…

Ban: Heh. Works for me.

(Negi and Hinata try not to look at each other’s eyes…)

Ban: Well…I think we’ve done a good job for tonight…if anyone needs me I’ll be outside…

(Ban leaves…)

Satoshi: A little cocky isn’t he?

Aya: But he’s dangerous…both in detective skills and the devious abilities one encounters on these games…

Satoshi: Hmm…I’d say some of the more unlikely people here have played this that way more…

(They then realise Hinata isn’t there…)

Satoshi: Figures.

(Shot of her outside, concerntrating her chakra, practicing her Jyuuken technique, albeit in a way which seems to make her look a bit more frustrated…)

Triela: I guess…no-one is over their own decisions in a small way…even Ban.

(Negi looks outside, then at Aya, and then at Triela, before yawning…)

Negi: I think…I’m both physically and mentally drained from this game now…good night…

(It’s only 9.05pm, and Negi is tucking in – sure he’s 10 years old, but considering the training he’s done with Eva-chan, this shouldn’t be that tiring…)

Aya: Poor Negi – he’s used to being in unusual environments compared to someone like me…but I think he’s had it the worst.

Satoshi: He’s gained a lot of respect for me just by keeping his chin high. He did well in taming the waters today – he is quite intelligent, but in a quiet way…similar to you Aya.

Aya: (smiles) Thank you.

(Triela feels a bit of a third wheel so steps outside, where Ban quickly interrupts you…)

Ban: Yo…who ya gonna screw?

Triela: Excuse me?

Ban: Sorry, bad terminology…you going to eliminate me tomorrow? Or try to?

Triela: I don’t think that information is for your ears sir…

Ban: Ah well…worth a try. I mean, it doesn’t really matter…everyone is thinking of double crossing everyone now, so whoever goes and whoever stays will be pissed off with everyone in the end.

Triela: Hey, w…

Ban: 4 days ago. That’s how long it was.

Triela: Huh?

Ban: I’m not normally one for friendly crap, but 4 days ago, despite the votes and the obvious eliminations, there was a sense of friendliness. Even before then when that bastard Fai went out, I felt that it was going to be guilt edged voted…and it was, but it was still unexpected.

(Ban takes a breath of cigarette air…)

Ban: Then…Kotone and Negi are out. Kotone betrayed by her teammates…

(Triela looks down, still not over that…)

Ban: …and Negi betrayed out of jealously by his best friend. Sure, he comes back…and then, the girl who they both admire…

Triela: Hey, wait…

Ban: (not letting her interrupt) …sends them both out. Quite a story…and now everyone is looking over their shoulder.

Triela: Hey, we’ve all played this game. You certainly have by taking advantage of the situation with Shiine and Miyabi.

Ban: True…but you helped eliminate Kotone, and you went against your roomate last night. Must be nice living with that fact as well as surviving for a couple of days…

Triela: Ban, it’s not going to work.

Ban: What?

Triela: This psychology crap…I’m not going to fall for it.

Ban: Really? I was just telling the truth…

(Triela is silent…)

Triela: The element of friendship hasn’t gone away…just with 6 people left…the game is plaguing on everyone’s minds…and I’m just the same.

(Triela walks away…)

Triela: So next time you pull that shit on me…

(Triela lunges forward with a speed that even Ban (who is incredibly fast as well) never expects. Ban just about reacts with a side dodge…but Triela someone managed to get his trademark sunglasses.)

(Triela looks at them as Ban escapes back…)

(…with one hand, she smashes the glasses, as it going into the fleshy part of her hand. It shows that her blood is red like anyone elses, but the calm façade with the cheeky smirk has gone…and in it’s place is the Triela that kicks ass, scares the shit out of everyone and kills without remorce.)

Triela: …it will be more than this.

(Triela walks away as Ban gulps…)

Ban: Maybe that wasn’t the best strategy…

(If so…why? As we watch Hinata casually look over her shoulder, Negi watching from the window over them has different thoughts…)

Negi: I haven’t…been able to concerntrate on the game as well people have thought. I’m not match for Satoshi-san, Ban-san or Aya-san in that regard…

(Negi seems to have met a rare condition for him – realisation he could be now the weak link in the team…)

Negi: Hinata-san…

(He watches her over her for a moment…shakes his head…)

Negi: No…must let it go…

(Negi indeed lie on his bed, trying to get an early night…)

*

(…this late, we see Hinata heading inside, she seems to have over-exercised in her kata, and her body and mind are both drained. Still up is a not so shaken Ban…everyone else is either asleep or not around…)

Ban: What the…

(Hinata nearly collapses…)

Hinata: Not…been…keeping…up…

(Ban catches her before she faints.)

Ban: Damn…isn’t this where that damn wizard manages to stop you before going overboard…

Hinata: Couldn’t…ask…Negi…

(Ban sighs…)

Ban: Damn…maybe I should be your training partner then, with you two treading on each others toes you need a three step, I could do with some practice…and at least be able to stop you when you’re dead to the world and no use to anyone…

(Hinata isn’t listening. She’s collapsed…^_^)

Ban: …hey, if I’m going to brag about my greatness, at least have the common decency to stay awake!!!!

(Ban drags Hinata away…before realising someone has been watching him…)

Ban: Why is it I’m being targetted like a hawk?

(Shot of Satoshi watching from the door…)

Satoshi: Manipulation your strong suit then?

(Satoshi walks off…as Ban looks on…)

Ban: Partnership survived last episode…so now…anything goes?

(Ban brings his smile into a smirk…)

Ban: Excellent.

*