We are down to a mere 5 people playing the game now, and just one more many suspects. This of course will lead to the final three, a mere two episodes away. It’s gone quite quick, but now I want it to end. I think I’m now all reality-ficed out and want to concrete on my actually writing work I’m doing, with fanfiction only going to work on based on series.

I’m working on my submission for the writing tournament at Amecon (I may be one of the judges as well) so whilst I’ve been doing well timekeeping in MG3, I get the feeling as we get closer to the deadline, I will lapse. I’m admitting it now so no angst from certain people who have terrorized authors in the past for not doing what he wanted for his own selfish causes revolving around work which is done because authors want to do them – and don’t get paid…

Sorry, lack of sleep and in a ranting mood. As an Artful, an Adam, a Star and a Zach once said…I suck.

The one good thing you will get is another good chapter of the Murder Game – Satoshi’s surprise pick for the Team Leader position and a reality which confirms that a couple of the detectives are screwed…or are they?

In the words of Mills Lane: Let’s get it on!

*

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…)

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?

Sora: He…he was very protective…over my status as the only Japanese star at Kaleido Stage…

Rosetta: (interrupting) Something I might add Sora didn’t agree with…she hates any discomfort or arguments on the stage…

Sora: Which…is probably why he did it. H-he knew it w-wouldn’t w-work if he wa-wanted me…

Satoshi: …it’s not what you think Tenchi, it’s what you know. And can you prove anything?

Tenchi: (sighs) It doesn’t matter if I can or can’t…

Ban: Do you have an alibi?

Tenchi: I don’t know…I was out that night and I don’t know…if anyone can confirm if I was anywhere to be honest…

Triela: Ban, you are too much of a smart ass…but that works to your advantage. Mainly…because I’m certain you don’t have a chance because of that attitude.

(Ban raises his eyebrows, as Triela finishes her little speech.)

Triela: And thus, the strongest danger is my choice. Satoshi, sorry. You’re way too much of a threat – so you’re playing tonight.

(We see a little pre-meeting as one member leaves a room fairly early…and joins with two other members…)

Triela: Is it normal for you two to be up so early?

Negi/Hinata: (in unison) Yes.

Triela: I guess I’m not the only one on call then…but anyway…I gathered you two here because last night, I realised that in my head I want to win…and in my heart…

(Triela grabs the two of them into a group hug…)

Triela: …I want you two to be with me at the end.

Negi: Su-ff-o-ca-ting…

(Triela realises she’s hugging Negi a little too tight…)

Triela: S-sorry. A-Anyway, we need to try and make sure that we get to the end…so we need to be wary of what Aya and Ban can do.

(Hinata looks a little forlorn but Triela doesn’t notice…)

Triela: So, we stick together…no tricks between us three. I want us to promise this…considering how deadly this game has been…I’m amazed the three of us are still here.

(Triela puts her hand out, as Negi quickly puts it on top. Hinata hesitates for a slight moment, but joined the two.)

Triela: O.K…in a few hours, let’s make sure we get in the final four together, and end this game with us three showing that we took out everyone else.

Negi: (smiles) Triela-san…thank you.

Triela: (smiles back) No problem Negi.

(The three leave as they head back to their rooms…and as Hinata is about to step inside the door…)

Hinata: (whispering) Gomen…Aya-san…

(Triela smiles…)

*

(The early morning talk made the three youngsters not really get back to sleep, and thus, they are up first. Fortunately, to avoid anybody hearing, their morning cackling simple revolves around where Negi wants eggs on his toast sunny side up or down…)

Triela: We’re both European Negi, don’t be so fussy…

Negi: Yes ma’am…

(Hinata giggles as Triela’s new found husband and wife routine works without a hitch, the ninja serving the rice, just as the sound of microwaves and the smell of burnt toast bring forth the nasal senses of one Ban Mido…)

Ban: Urghh…tea party for the kids…

(Triela’s contempt for Ban is well hidden despite this comment, and fortunately, Hinata isn’t so full of hatred for the Getbackers rep…)

Hinata: So no breakfast for Ban-san then?

Ban: NO! JOKE! JOKE! HA, FUNNY RIGHT?!!

Negi: I’m not sure what is scarier…Hinata-san with a sense of humour or Ban-san making breakfast…

Ban: The humour in these kids is getting more evil by the moment…

(Triela smirks – being around her seems to have rub off in the good way (Triela’s sense of humour) than a bad way (Triela’s sense of equisitely killing anybody in such a professional way that one wonders what would happen if she and Kirika from Noir would meet up…^_^).

(Hinata does serve the rice with toast and eggs, nice combo and as Ban hasn’t broken anything (yet) I’m well within the budget…at least, until the next Lead Investigator comes…)

(It isn’t long before Aya realises she straggling and is soon downstairs. She’s all smiles as she gets down…despite not exactly getting along with Triela or Ban, she’s still quite chipper…)

Aya: Morning…

Negi: Ah, Aya-san!!!

(Aya waves her long hair around, as the bishoujo from SuperGALS goes for a glass of OJ and a slice of toast…)

Aya: Not too hungry this morning…I’ll be fine…

(Aya hits the eat and study part as Negi looks on…)

Negi: Aya-san is focused already…

Aya: (Nods) Mmm…something I’m used to in a way, whether I like it or not…but this type of studying is something I’m sinking my teeth into…strategy, cunning, intelligence and skill…

Negi: You forgot sneakiness…

Aya: No-one’s perfect.

(Sweatdrops ahoy…)

*

(Aya has taken to the study room whilst Hinata is in the exercise room. This leaves Negi and Triela to clean up the investigator room to try and prepare for the next lead investigator, whilst Ban goes outside for a morning smoke.)

Ban: So…what’s my plan today…

???????: You could try and putting out that cigarette, they are impressionable young girls around here you know?

(Ban looks at the girl – about 15 years of age here, cropped reddy orange hair, a magnifying glass in her breast pocket and a dunking bird on her shoulder)

(Needless to say, Ban looks mystified…)

Ban: Er…are you lost little girl?

(Little girl suddenly gets pissed…)

???????: Hey, I maybe small for my height but I’m your lead investigator so at least show me some respect Ban-chan…

(The words ‘Ban-chan’ hit the Getbackers rep hard…and fast…)

Ban: B-Ban-chan?!!!

(The girl smiles as she bobs her tongue out, and a double trademark of a cute little fang and a Union Jack shirt confirms a British interest and the second host of the Murder Game series makes a welcome return…or unwelcome depending on how you feel…)

???????: Yotsuba-chan, checkii desu!!!

(SHE’S BACKKKKKKKK!!! Yotsuba (Sister Princess) everyone’s most favourite or most annoying host in the history of Reality fanfics returns for this big event, with just 5 detectives left the suspense is terrible…but Yot-chan will hope it will last…)

Yotsuba: All right, let’s round things up shall we?

(Yotsuba walks in, with Ban still in shock at this girl…you’d think he’d be used to it by now…naahhh…)

*

(Yotsuba quickly organises the detectives around (Even after Triela makes a crack about her being a ‘British Rico’ as everyone is round and proud. Two row now, as the kids (Triela, Hinata and Negi) are on the front and the adults (Aya and Ban) are behind them.)

Yotsuba: All right, meeting for today – the names Yotsuba, and I am your lead investigator for the next two days, so let’s make sure we narrow down this search for this killer, k?

(Yotsuba’s energy doesn’t seem to be catching, and she just has to make do with a solemn nod. Fortunately, Yotsuba is all business and she quickly makes do with that, and advised on an important piece of information…)

Yotsuba: First order of business, we need to see who is guaranteed safety for the next two days. To do so, we need to see who Satoshi, who was caught by the killer last time out, voted for to be the next Team Leader. So..

(Yotsuba dims the lights and presses a button. The last chance of the young Hiwatari is shown as his choice commences…)

(Ban seems stunned. Indeed, Negi is the only person out of the 5 who hasn’t been a TL…so he’s got a chance, and is a guaranteed final 4 entry.)

Yotsuba: (smiling) Negi-kun…he’s like a little brother to many of you…but for today and tomorrow, he could be deciding your fate.

(Negi seems nervous about the role, but Triela is all smiles. Everyone else seems fairly neutral, even Hinata.)

Yotsuba: So now…onto stage one.

(Yotsuba reveals a floppy disc…)

Yotsuba: On here, late last night, I got an e-mail just as I was preparing to head here from Promised Island. And it kinda surprised me at first, but once I got the briefing…

(Yotsuba puts the floppy into the workstation on the main disc. A few clicks of the mouse, and we see that the e-mail is indeed important.)

(Yotsuba exits and turns to the group…)

Yotsuba: This e-mail was done anonymously and despite my best efforts…

(Read, Rinrin’s best efforts…^_^)

Yotsuba: …I couldn’t trace it. What I do know and I’m sure you all know as well is that Seta and Anna were the ones who orchestrated the fake kidnapping and were most interested in returning the third eye’s whereabouts. However, it seems the key to the third eye is this jewel that this e-mail aludes to. Is it a hoax…or truth? That’s what we need to find out…

(Yotsuba stretches out…)

Yotsuba: …so we are going to try Anna and Seta again – though this time with a little help from Yotsuba-chan. Sadly…we didn’t get the search warrants in time, hopefully later on…so we need detectives of skill and speed.

(Yotsuba turns to one Negi-bozu…)

Yotsuba: Negi, if you please choose your first team.

(Negi doesn’t hesistate…and you could almost tell the moment Negi became Team Leader what was going to happen…much to the dismay of one Ban Mido…and indeed, one Aya Hoshino.)

Negi: Triela-san and Hinata-san please.

(In a world of no shocks, this isn’t a shock. Negi picks Triela and Hinata as Team 1.)

Yotsuba: You two young ladies are going over to The Church of the Returners. We need to see what we can find out in relation to the jewel…or even better, the jewel itself. See if you can get in there without any trouble though…we’ve got lucky before, I’ve never been good with luck.

(Yotsuba then turns to two detectives, who aren’t exactly on the best of terms with each other, but are now forced to work together…)

Yotsuba: Aya and Ban – by default you are Team 2. I want you to search the Archaeological Site. Similar deal, see what you can find and also see if you can drag Seta back into this…he’s been very evasive from Day 1.

Yotsuba: Simple inquiries, but effective ones. Both teams have to look for the third Eye Jewel and of course any other clues which may link to the theft and the murders. You have to be careful though…with the noose coming close to the killer they’ll be looking for any weaknesses, and not having a search warrant is a weakness.

(Yotsuba smiles.)

Yotsuba: Check once, you check. Check twice, you checkii. Off you go.

*

Triela: So…Negi is pulling this from the rug right?

Hinata: Mmmm.

Triela: (smiles) Don’t be so worried Hinata. Let’s just kick a little rear and be on our way. If we do better, we are guaranteed to be safe.

Hinata: I’m never sure of that word.

Triela: Guaranteed or safe?

Hinata: Both…

*

(The other two are obviously not so chatty…)

Ban: This…

Aya: What?

Ban: Nothing…let’s just use our brains and leave it at that, O.K?

(Ban steps into the van as Aya, nervous but angry at the same time, joins him. And for the duration of the ride, they don’t utter a word to each other…)

*

(The Church at 10.30am is usually busy, but when Triela and Hinata move near it, they both sense something strange…)

Triela: Odd…it’s like a ghost building.

Hinata: Hold on…

(Triela however puts her hand on Hinata’s shoulder…)

Triela: Not yet, let’s see what’s going on first.

(Triela steps out as the ninja follows her…the church is not open, which seems near impossible as it is always open to the people…)

Hinata: Closed?

Triela: Not just closed…

(Triela goes to open the door…it won’t budge.)

Triela: Locked.

(Triela knocks a couple of times – and Triela’s knocks wake the dead – but after a few moments they realise they are not coming in…yet…)

Triela: No joy.

Hinata: Do we look for a way in?

(Triela thinks for a moment and shakes her head…)

Triela: No…we do that, and if Anna or Tenchi catch us, we’re in trouble. We’ve got away with that before but that’s when the Church is open to us and there was less suspicion. Don’t forget, not only is Anna here, but Tenchi is as well, and both are still prime suspects.

Hinata: And if we go in without a warrant…

Triela: (nods) I think we have to wait.

Hinata: How long?

(Triela looks at the clock on the church tower…)

Triela: As long as we have to…

(Triela and Hinata look for somewhere to hide…wait as it were…so we could be waiting a while for them to do something…so let’s see if Aya and Ban have to do some tedious work as well…)

*

(Whilst the two aren’t too fond of each other, they know one thing…they need to pass…and that was the only thing they agreed with…)

Ban: If we lose…we are screwed. Negi won’t vote for those two…

Aya: …I’m sure he won’t vote for me either…

Ban: Gaahhh! If Triela and Hinata pass, one of us will go there and one of us will go with Negi – understand?!!!

(Aya gulps…)

Aya: I guess…

Ban: Then for the sake of all things Ginji, we work together, we kick ass, we send one of those kids to a tombstone…k?

Aya: K…

(These two have no Byakugan, but Ban’s Jagan might play a part…however, when they arrive at the dig, at least they don’t have to wait several hours to start playing…)

Seta: Hey, you guys again?!!!

(Ban sighs as this isn’t going to be an easy morning…)

*

(We’ll stick with Team 2 as Team 1 are currently in ‘hiding in trees mode’ to await to see if they can get some gossip…or clues as they are known here. Seta’s not too happy greeting at Aya and Ban suggests he may just not be too happy to see them…but at least they can try to search the premises for the jewel…)

Seta: No.

(…or at least, that was the plan.)

Ban: Look, we are trying to find something which you and Anna tried to get in a fake kidnapping.

Seta: By rights, you need a warrant.

Ban: By rights, we should have you arrested for orchestrating said kidnapping, but we haven’t, because we thought you would co-operate…

(Seta gets a little sweaty and tries to divert the attention…)

Seta: If I had it here, do you honestly think I would go to so much trouble to fake not only a kidnapping, but the fact I want this jewel?

Ban: Maybe…but we are investigating that…IN CONJUNCTION with the murders of Kalos, Jet and Kensuke…something that we are still investigating…

(Ban smirks, his attitude isn’t winning Seta over, but his questioning is making him do a double take…)

Seta: You actually still think that I’m being investigated? Tenchi and Touji are far more dangerous!

Aya: Sir…you are accusing other suspects – doesn’t that warrant suspicion?

(Seta again double takes, even Ban is surprised that she’s getting involved but isn’t stopping her.)

Aya: Look, Ban is right, but for the time being we are just searching for the jewel. If you are certain that we won’t find it here, then what do you have to worry about?

(Again, Aya-pe is right. Seta looks at them, and realises that he’s not going to win here. He finally sighs and gives up…)

Seta: Fine…but no funny tricks. I’ve had so much gone already I don’t know what you guys are gonna do…

Ban: Well…we’ll soon find out right.

(The two get the all clear to search…as back with Team 1…)

*

Triela: If I wasn’t built with cyborg parts, this would be aggrivating…

(Shot of the two hidden in some bushes on the far side of the church. They’ve also pushed the van out of sight so that Anna and Tenchi don’t put 2 and 2 together to make 5.)

(As there is still nothing happening for the moment let’s whizz back to Team 2…)

*

Ban: This is where that eye trick of ninja girl would come in handy…

(Ban’s grumbling as he shifts through papers and looking through holes of the dig area isn’t exactly helping his cause for Aya-chan. Aya ignores him and is searching the interiors of some of the break rooms, Seta’s places, as well as checking out anything else which could be deemed as unusual or suspicious…)

(…it does appear she’s more into the search, and searching for more than the jewel. Ban is just not enjoying getting involved with the dirty work…)

Ban: I didn’t come here to dig holes…that’s monkey-boy’s job!!!

(Ban is obviously thinking that Seta may have hidden the jewel underground…a smart idea in one respect considering his work…but considering the huge amount of terrain he has to cover, it might not be as smart…)

(…Aya on the other hand has been simply checked some of the unearthed digs and the insides. She hasn’t had any luck yet…)

Aya: It’s like finding a needle in a haystack…

Seta: That’s because there is no needle to find…or for that matter haystack…

Aya: Well, I’m sure we’ll find something…

(The fact Aya says it with such clarity makes Seta back off slightly…suggesting there may be something here which he doesn’t want the detectives to know or find out. Aya wipes off some sweat as she continues to search…)

*

(…the search isn’t too thorough thanks to Ban’s complaining and Aya’s poor physical strength, but they do find something during their search…)

*

(Inside Seta’s quarters, Aya is cooling off and looking through his desk. She finds a photograph of him, Haruka and Sarah together, but nothing too important. However, Aya is nothing but careful and begins a good search of the room…)

(…at one point, after Ban curses his luck again, she finds Seta’s white coat. With the weather as it is and the area very dusty, none of the detectives have actually seen him wear his trademark. Aya, with nothing to lose, searches the pockets.)

(Inside are some keys, bubblegum wrappers…and a doctorate. )

Aya: What’s this…

(Aya reads it…and her eyes widen.)

Aya: BAN…SETA!!!

*

(Aya shows the slip as Seta has to adjust his reading glasses…)

Seta: Paid doctorate towards Gulf of Mexico, Porting Dock – 20:07 Los Angeles Time – Confirmation docking Seta Noriyasu…

Aya: Do you know what this is?

Seta: Yes?

Aya: Can you read out the date of this?

(Seta has a closer look…)

Seta: November 5^th.

(Ban’s eyes widen…)

Aya: Can you tell me what happened on November 5^th at around 1800 hours?

(Seta thinks…but shrugs.)

Seta: Nope…what?

Ban: THAT WAS WHEN KALOS WAS MURDERED YOU IDIOT!!!

(Seta jumps back like a defence attorney in Phoenix Wright – as Aya continues…)

Aya: You had that in your possession all along…and you couldn’t use it at any point to clear you from the crime?

(Seta, from anger…now to utter flaggerastment…)

Seta: Uh…I forgot?

(Ban and Aya (rightfully) facefault…)

Ban: Well, we’ll have to check this out to confirm your alibi Seta-san. If you don’t mind that is…

(Seta has turn a 180 about his attitude towards Ban and Aya…)

Seta: No, no, go right ahead!!!

Ban: Excellent.

Seta: So…are you done?

(The two have to think…Seta looks set to be innocent, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t take the jewel.)

Aya: Shall we look a bit more?

(Ban thinks for a moment…)

Ban: Nah. If Seta is innocent, then he shouldn’t have reason for this right? We’ll check this out with Negi when he get back, and if we have to return, we will…

(Aya doesn’t like the sound of that…but she nods.)

Aya: I was getting tired…and yeah, we can come back if we need to…

Ban: I’m sure Seta won’t mind.

(Seta just chuckles nervously…)

(Ban and Aya have found a clue, not for the jewel, but to most likely clear Seta. They are heading back to HQ, where TL Negi will be ready to see if he can put the exclamation mark on Seta being innocent…)

*

(Hinata and Triela have been waiting for an hour…)

(O.K…now 2 hours and no luck yet. Patience is thin but both are used to this…so they are gritting their teeth and just sticking with it…)

*

Negi: So…I need to contact the docks again?

Ban: Yeah…see if this checks out. If it does, Seta is innocent.

Negi: But no jewel?

Aya: My guess…if Seta is innocent, then if it’s not with Anna and Tenchi, then we have to suspect Ruri, Touji and Duplica as well.

Negi: I understand.

(Negi begins calling as Ban escapes to avoid any more time with Aya…)

Aya: Now, I hope those girls are alright…

*

(3 HOURS GONE)

(O.K, now Triela is getting pissed…by now Team 1 have got back already…)

Triela: Geez…this is a test of patience right…

(Hinata hasn’t uttered a word…in fact, her eyes have been closed for the last hour or two…)

Triela: (whispering) O.K, you’re asleep now…

(Hinata shakes her head as Triela tries to get comfortable in the trees…and suddenly…)

Hinata: There they are!!!

(Triela nearly screams at the outburst but manages to catch herself before doing so…and they see MG’s golden couple, Anna and Tenchi, looking rather slow and subdued as they stutter to the church gate…)

Triela: (quiet as a mouse) Let’s see what we can hear…

(The two use their enhanced senses to see if they can get what they are saying, and indeed, what they are doing…)

*

*

(…and almost immediately, Tenchi’s attitude changes.)

Tenchi: You two were just walking down here?

Triela: Yes Mr. Masaki.

Tenchi: Why do I get the feeling that is hard to believe?

Triela: Why is that?

(Tenchi pauses…)

Tenchi: I don’t believe in coincidences…

(Anna puts a hand on her boyfriend’s arm though…)

Anna: Tenchi…this isn’t a good time to do this. Besides…these two aren’t so bad. Hinata-san’s very nice…

(Hinata blushes at the attention as her fellow blunette shows some camaraderie…however despite Anna’s fondness for Hinata, the two detectives have to maintain a professional stand point and keep in mind what their inquiry is…)

*

Anna: Yes…the kidnapping wasn’t a bright idea in retrospect but on that idea why do you…

Tenchi: Yes, why do you think it’s here?

(Shot of Triela interviewing, whilst Hinata is ‘looking’ around. Of course, the one true advantage she has over Aya and Ban is the Byakugan, which she is not shy in using for great justice…^_^)

Triela: Because you two are here, that’s why. We believe everyone in this case has some use or link towards this jewel, and that is what we are trying to find out.

(Triela’s ‘bluff’ in not hearing what the two said seems to be working…)

Tenchi: Well, we don’t like the fact that the girl there is searching our stuff to find something that isn’t here! We demand…

Triela: Excuse me, do you see her touching anything?

(Again, Tenchi has to bulk. Hinata is only looking…and whether the two know about her eye technique or not is not the point. The fact is Hinata is not doing any damage…)

Triela: …so if you want grounds that we are making a destruction of your home for our own needs…

Tenchi: Fine…but if she goes upstairs, we’re following her.

Triela: And I’ll be there.

(Tenchi is being out spoke by the most outspoken member of the Gunslinger Girls…)

Anna: Seta and I did make the motion yes, but there is no way we’d hide the jewel away…Tenchi needs it in particular to…well…

Tenchi: Yeah…

(Triela nods…)

*

(The four are now upstairs as Hinata is continuing her search…Triela is making sure Tenchi isn’t pressuring her…)

(…however, despite the nervous talk…the conclusion is…)

Hinata: (shakes her head) It’s not here…

(Triela pauses for a moment…)

Triela: Interesting.

Tenchi: There innocent…see?

Triela: Innocent of this yes…but…

Tenchi: Why you…

Anna/Hinata: Stop it, both of you!!!

(From the boiling rivers, calm amongst the storm. Hinata apologises and nearly has to drag Triela out of there before anything happens (Triela seems to be itching for a fight)…)

*

Triela: Nothing?

(Hinata shakes her head…)

Hinata: From the descriptions, it is an item which expels powers – an item like that would be impossible to miss with my Byagukan.

Triela: So…does that mean if they don’t have the jewel, they could be innocent?

Hinata: (shakes her head) We need to find the jewel first before we focus on anything else…let’s go back…

Triela: Indeed, lets.

(The two maidens that…kinda govern death…(I still firmly believe in my alternate title for GSG – Chibi-Noir) head back to HQ, where Negi-tachi have been busy little beavers…)

*

Negi: …so it wasn’t there?

Hinata: (shakes her head) Sorry Negi-kun…

Negi: Hey, no problem! Can’t find what isn’t there – besides, because of that it makes this easier…

(Shot of a slip of paper…)

Hinata: This is?

Negi: Search warrants. We got the O.K from Yotsuba – if they aren’t in Seta’s and Anna’s places, we need to search what we can left…namely…

Triela: Kaleido Stage, the Hoshinos and the Suzuharas…

Negi: Aya-san and Ban-san have already gone to Kaleido Stage…

Triela: …so you want us to go to which one?

(Negi looks a bit embarrassed…)

Negi: Both?

(Triela looks ready to kill Negi, but she smiles…)

Triela: Anyone else, I might have argued, but it’s inhuman that this 10 year old looks so cute…

(Triela grabs Hinata by the arm…)

Triela: Come on Hinata, let’s make sure they don’t steal all the glory…

Hinata: T-Triela-san!!!

(Negi looks apologetic, but Hinata’s giggle calms him. So Team 2 have headed to Kaleido Stage on a search warrant, whilst Team 1 decide to head first to…)

*

Hinata: Here first?

Triela: At this point, I’m more suspicious of Ruri than Touji. Touji may need it as a way for his operation, but Ruri needs it for her father…I do feel there is more to this than meets the proverbial eye…

Hinata: So…

(Triela knocks on the door as loud as she wants this time.)

Triela: And we have to wait several hours this time…

*

Haley: Not again…

(Triela’s look of authority and matching search warrant shuts the male half of the Hoshinos up rather quickly…)

Triela: Want to complain? Go ask my boss at HQ – she’ll sick her 12 other sisters on you…

(As Haley contemplates that threat, Triela and Hinata let themselves in – where Ruri is on a laptop, and is none too pleased at noticing them…)

Ruri: Welcome…state your business…and leave.

(Triela again reveals the paper…)

Triela: The tin woman has brought Dorothy along to find the lion and the scarecrow…oh, and possibly something which could be vital to the case.

(Ruri scowls at them…)

Ruri: Idiots.

(…but doesn’t stop them. That means it’s an O.K…as at Kaleido Stage…)

*

(Meanwhile, at Kaleido Stage…)

Ban: …at this point, ANYTHING would be useful.

(Kaleido Stage’s wide area isn’t exactly easy for them to search, hence why they only had the one place to search and Team 1 had two, because they’ve got to search not only Duplica’s office, but also places such as some of the dorms (like her old dorm) and the stage itself.)

(Shot of Ban and Aya seperating to do this…not too surprising, it spreads them out and they were both already uncomfortable with working with each other anyway.)

(They have managed to have a half-decent look, but have enlisted the help of a few helpers as well, including the inadvertent clearer of Tamahome, one Mia Guillem and her true partner, Anna Hart.)

Aya: So, you’re O.K then?

Mia: Yes…Tamahome will be out of the hospital in a few days…

(Sweatdrops – even the master of Chinese style martial arts is no match for an angry Miaka…)

Aya: …but you’re O.K?

Anna: (chuckles) Hell yeah – a rabid housewife is no match for a rabid dog.

Aya: (confused) Rabid dog?

(Both Mia and Anna chuckle – we don’t see what they mean by that, but if you want a hint…check out the last episode of the first disc of Kaleido Star: New Wings. A certain other Chinese character has an interesting way of showing her anger…)

Aya: (to herself) Duplica’s motive is very different…maybe the jewel is a worth to her financially…

(As Aya begins thinking hard…)

*

Ban: …because of her motive for money, she may be the most ruthless in the game. After all, money can make anybody mad.

Rosetta: Speaking from experience?

Ban: (chuckles) Yeah squirt.

(Rosetta bobs her tongue out as she begins helping Ban around the dorm areas…)

(…when…)

Duplica: What are you doing here?

(Ban seems shocked…but just for a mere second, and shows the warrant.)

Ban: Official business…you can’t stop me…blah blah. That Hoshino girl is here as well…

Duplica: Ruri or Aya…

(Ban facefaults…)

Ban: Aya you…

Duplica: What? You gonna arrest me for knowing my stuff?

(Ban curses – he realises that this is one of the few suspects he won’t be able to outsmart easily…and Duplica seems to be avoiding his glance – wary of his Jagan?)

Duplica: Anyway, what is it you want?

Ban: I’m looking for something which could be key to this case…something that you may have had at one point…

(Duplica’s eyes rise slightly, but her poker face is on…oh, and for the record, she is imitating Pheonix Wright…or Haruhi Suzumiya – sorry, couldn’t tell the difference in that episode…:P)

Duplica: (sarcastic) Ah, so you are trying to find something, stolen from me…here…

(Ban veins, and it is taking him serious restraint not to explode…however, I guess with Rosetta there, he is at least making a decent attempt not to turn into a destructive force of nature…)

Ban: At least…let me see…if there is a clue…now I know what is…or was…in there…

(Duplica smirks…)

Duplica: So…you know what it is then?

Ban: Yes.

Duplica: What was it?

(Now Ban smirks…)

Ban: Not telling.

(Duplica’s reaction is a bit of stepping back, as Ban has the advantage. Duplica, as much as she would like to change into Akabane and use Ditto as a bloody sword, keeps her anger in check and nods…)

Duplica: Fine – I can’t stop you if you’ve got a warrant…no matter how stupid you’re being…

(Ban refrains from trying to IMAGINE she’s Akabane and trying to destroy her…)

*

(…but then, Aya gets a surprise phone call…)

Aya: Hello?

(A bit of muttering before Aya’s eyes light up…)

Aya: WHAT?!!!

(Aya covers her mouth as Mia and Anna wonder what’s going on…Aya goes round the corner…)

Aya: You…found it?

*

(Prepare to be surprised…)

*

Hinata: BYAKUGAN…

Hinata: What?

(Both Hoshinos and indeed Triela turn in surprise as Hinata has almost immediately got something…)

Hinata: It’s…

(Hinata moves over to the dining room table (where the window was broken in a previous chapter) as she looks surprised…Ruri and Haley don’t break poker face, indeed, they seem as confused as Hinata goes over…)

(…to a vase.)

Hinata: Let’s see…

(Hinata gently picks up the vase and turns it upside down…)

(…and out pops…)

*

Triela: It was here all the time.

(Hinata is busy calling Aya as Ruri and Haley protest their innocence…you will never hear Ruri as outspoken as she is here…)

Ruri: I never took it.

(She’s still stoic though…which doesn’t help her cause…)

Triela: We found it here, therefore…

Ruri: Doesn’t mean either Haley or myself put it there.

Triela: Care to explain it then?

(Ruri pauses…)

Ruri: I…I can’t.

Triela: (victory smirk) Indeed.

(However, Ruri remains unflappable…)

Ruri: I wasn’t aware myself that this jewel was here – I never took it, stole it, put it there in any way shape or form…

(Triela has a think…)

Triela: Can you classify where you was 5 days ago…at around 7pm onwards?

Ruri: Well…I was here for certain – I was working on my computer…(points to workstation)

Triela: Really? Do you mind if we can check that out then?

(Ruri looks a bit annoyed…)

Ruri: You’ve checked my stations before, why again?

Triela: Because at the moment Miss Hoshino, you are very suspect, and if you want us to try and prove you are innocent, then you will do as we say.

Haley: Ruri a murderer? That’s unthinkable!

Hinata: Haley-san, our job is to find the innocent as much as the guilty…by all accounts, you should be helping us let Ruri-san to let us have a look…

(Haley realises that she’s right…and Ruri, whose emotions are as stoic as ever, almost beg for Haley to side with her…)

(…instead…her husband turns his back on her. Ruri’s eyes widen slightly…)

Ruri: (quietly) Baka…the path…to saving Akito…was here?

*

(One jewel and one workstation in their position, Triela and Hinata are on a roll. However, they haven’t finished yet…)

Triela: Whilst we’ve got this, let’s search the Suzuhara’s as well…any more information and a bit of bluffing will work…

Hinata: Checking on all the suspects Triela-san?

Triela: Indeed.

(Hinata and Triela head off to the Suzuzhara’s as back at Kaleido Stage, Ban is being ‘entertained..’)

*

(Ban has the double whammy of the fact Aya has the phone (and therefore doesn’t know about Team 1’s success) and the evil May Wong staring at him from my writing positon…as well as at him as he is searching Duplica’s office…)

May: The fact that this is literally descrating Kalos’ body as we speak…

Ban: I’m not in the mood…I deal with annoying women at home…

May: (in English) STUPID GOON!

Ban: (in English) STUPID BIT…

Duplica: (in English) SHUT THE F…

(The two turn as May’s evil glare was about to be put to the test against Ban’s evil eye, but Duplica’s shrill voice interrupts their cat fight.)

Duplica: Now, if you can please get my innocence over with…

(Duplica’s confidence is noted, and Ban nods as he gives the room the one over…not really expecting anything to find considering the room is hard to hide something in.)

(However, there is something he takes an interest in her office desk in the second draw…)

Ban: Scissors…paper work…

(Ban looks through it…and one of them is dated 8^th November – from Anna Hart…)

Ban: What’s this?

Duplica: Hey, that’s my pr…

Ban: (to himself)‘Anna…I had to do it…for the sake of us…and the future…’

(Before Duplica can react, Ban quickly puts the paper back…)

Ban: I guess there really isn’t much chance of it being here after all…I’ll think I’ll go and see how my colleague is doing…

(Ban strolls out like he owns the place (if Duplica is the killer and Ban wins maybe he will own the place…:P) as he goes to find where Aya is…)

*

(…who is ironically with Miss Hart (and Mia Guillem) as Ban catches a breath…)

Ban: Who…would have thought…a circus troupe would be so large…

*Remind me to introduce you to the Cirque Du Soleil…*

Aya: Ban…glad you’re here…

(Ban notices Anna and Mia…)

Ban: Same here…I need to tall to Anna…

Aya: Huh?

Ban: I need to ask her something about Duplica…

Aya: Well, what I’ve got to say is pretty important too…

(Ban almost ignores her, but she whispers quickly ‘Triela and Hinata found the jewel’…)

Ban: Oh…

Aya: O.K?

Ban: O.K.

*

Anna: Huh?

(Ban, Aya and Anna are in a concession stand, where three cups of coffee are being enjoyed at leisure…and questions are asked away from prying eyes…)

Ban: I saw it, and it was under your name.

Anna: Three days after the murder…she was sending it to me?

Ban: I just wonder…if you know anything which could help us around in concern if your new boss had anything to do with your old boss’…demise?

(Ban’s choice of words may not be the best, but Anna, the comic tomboy, is forced to be unusually serious here…)

Anna: Well…we’re good friends outside of work…even after the incident when she was injured, Mia and I often went over to the hospital to cheer her up…and I guess I could say I was her closest confidant.

Aya: Did you…know about the fact she was going to buy…

Anna: Yeah. And if you don’t mind me saying, I don’t think she had anything to do with Kalos. But that letter…may be referring to the takeover.

Ban: But if Kalos was dead…and she was planning this…

(Anna shakes her head)

Anna: No…she was planning this whilst in hospital WAY BEFORE his death…

(That catches the two off guard…)

Aya: You knew that?

Anna: (nods) I think I was the only one who did…I guess that’s why that note may seem apologetic…a few days after the murder of Kalos, it made things a lot easier…

(Ban isn’t convinced…her attitude during the funeral certainly suggested she had things well in hand, but…)

Anna: Duplica…she’s cheerful…but she’s corporate. It scares me that a girl that young has that amount of power and skill…

(Somewhere off screen, Rosetta and Marion sneeze, as do two detectives about to inquire at the Suzuharas…)

Ban: So…this brings us to one thing…if the jewel isn’t here – she doesn’t have anything to do with it…

(Anna breathes a sigh of relief…)

Ban: …but, by being the one without a motive where the jewel is a link, she could confuse us by making it look like she is innocent…

(Indeed – the other suspects remaining all have a link with the jewel in a personal away (assuming Seta is innocent) – Anna with her sister, Tenchi with his grandfather, Touji with his own life and Ruri with her adopted father)

Anna: Actually…there is one thing that has been worrying me about her…

(Aya and Ban are all ears…)

Anna: …but I’m not sure if I should betray her trust.

(Aya shows her badge once more…)

Aya: Withholding any information which could be vital to this case could be considered a crime Miss Hart…

(Anna sighs…)

Anna: Fine…I didn’t say this…

*

Triela: (wiping her nose) Those two are talking about us again…

(Hinata and Triela knock on the door to the Suzuharas – Touji has been the most outspoken mostly against the detectives, so the girls aren’t sure what type of reaction they will get…)

(…a delayed reaction is what they get as it takes quite a few moments for Hikari to answer, her face falls slightly…)

Hikari: Oh…

Triela: Not quite the happy reaction I was expected…

Touji: You’re lucky…she gave you any kind…

(Touji is now in view, sitting down. He doesn’t look so good – the affects of the Evan virus most likely…as he is sweating badly and looks in great pain.)

Touji: …so…what do you want?

(Hinata shows the search warrant as Triela briefly explains (albeit she is bluffing her way in as the jewel is in possession of the two young ladies) what they are looking for…)

(…Touji’s eyes light up…)

Touji: If we had, I wouldn’t be in this state! It’s that damn minx’ fault…that futuristic girl!!!

Triela: Which one? Ruri or Anna?

(Touji fortunately doesn’t have the strength to facefault, so manages to answer with a straight face…)

Touji: Respighi of course…she was orchestrating it, so she probably took it.

(Logic? Nah…course they don’t mention they found it at the Hoshinos…)

Triela: We are going to look at her place after here…

(Triela demonstrate a fratello’s best technique – lying through their teeth…)

Hinata: …we just need to check things out – we are making sure that we have covered all the bases…if you don’t mind…

(If there is one thing Hinata is good at, it’s making anger melt away (unless it’s Neji before Naruto knocked some sense into him). Even Touji, who seems to have been born 90% pissed off since they first met him into this game…)

Touji: Fine…you search, but be quick…

(Hinata nods, and quickly Byakugans. The key here is to find any clues that might be new to the case…)

(…but as the ninja searches, another problem occurs…)

*CRASH*

Hikari: TOUJI!!!

(Shot of Touji on the floor, in pain…holding his shoulder…)

Touji: Aaahhh…Hikari…

Hikari: He’s…

Triela: Touji? Can you stand…

(Touji tries…but he screams in pain, startling Hinata. A key decision is about to be made…)

Hikari: Hospital, quick!!!

Triela: I’ll take him there – we’ve got a van, Hikari, you come…

Hikari: But…

Triela: Toss Hinata the key, (shouts) Hinata, lock up after you’ve finished! Don’t touch a thing!!

Touji: You can’t do…ARRGGGHHH…

Triela: Hate to do this, but you don’t have a choice. Every second counts, and we need you to be in the hospital as soon as possible. Hinata is a ninja, and she takes her honour very seriously, so for once, trust us for god sake!!!

(Touji looks at Hikari, clutching his fleshy hand, and nods…)

Hikari: (crying slightly) Hinata-chan…key is on the shelf…please be quick…

(Hinata nods as Triela slings Touji over her shoulder (surprising Hikari with her cyborg strength) and heads out. Hinata continues to search…)

*

(…as do Ban and Aya…thanks to a new little lead by the other Anna…)

Ban: Transformation techniques?

(Anna has led Aya and Ban to her room, where there is a key bit of information regarding Duplica…as it gives a whole new theory on the murder weapons used in the three killings…)

Anna: Yeah, she showed it to me once – basically, her pokemon, Ditto, has the ability to normally just transform into other pokemon. However, Duplica’s Ditto is at such a high level, that it can imitate almost anything it sees and stores it in the memory…

Ban: Anything?

Anna: Yeah…and I know for a fact that she was making it transform…into…

(Anna pauses, and is really struggling to say this to the detectives…)

Aya: Anna, if it’s important, please tell us…

(Anna does hold on for a moment, but as Ban lifts his glasses to possibly do a Jagan…)

Anna: …weapons dammit! She was teaching it to transform into weapons!!!

Ban: W-weapons?

Anna: Swords…guns…gauntlets…she was one a serious trip – almost psychotic in one way…

(Ban thinks….)

Ban: We had a sword as a killer’s game item…was it a bluff?

(This is making their brains hurt…in fact, one of the things that the teams have never discovered are the murder weapons of Kensuke and Jet – Jet was shot whilst Kensuke was killed by a blow to the throat – possibly from a fist or technique, but with Duplica’s Ditto…it could have been anything…)

*

Triela: …is he allright?

(Shot of Hikari watching outside as some fluid is injected to Touji…)

Hikari: He is suffering…he hasn’t got long to live…we…we need that help now…

Triela: (feeling a little guilty as the way of helping is in her backpack) Well…if you haven’t got it…I’m sure…

Hikari: If we had it, we’d have used it…Chiriko and Yomi would have been called immediately, trust me…

(Triela remains quiet…as back at the Suzuharas…there indeed has been some updated information…)

*

Hinata: …Touji…

(Notes something rather interesting – a slashed up picture of Kalos in Touji’s room…and not so coincidentally considering recent problems, a book on swords…)

Hinata: Is this what Tenchi was speaking about?

(Not just that…Hinata’s all seeing eye locates something updated in Hikari’s diary…)

Hinata: This…was just 2 days ago…

‘I’m worried about my husband – he spends a lot of time trying to cleanse himself at the church – yet, I’ve been seeing him returning getting bruised, cut and the like – he says he practices kendo…almost in a way of relief in Tenchi…but considering their relationship with him, and particularly in Anna has been strained…I have to wonder…’

(Hinata closes the book, almost embarrassed to looking through personal thoughts…)

Hinata: So…does Touji have the skill to use a sword…to kill Kalos?

(She turns and looks at the shredded picture…and the fact he could have got into the church….)

Hinata: …to get the sword?

(Seta’s sword appears to have been lent to Tenchi…so if Touji got it…)

*

Triela: We’ll drop you back home…I need to pick up Hinata anyway…

Touji: Thanks…

Hikari: It looks like he needs to get to the hospital every so often…but…we need the cure…

(Again, Triela pretends to not know about the certain item in her backpack which could be the answer to their problems…)

Touji: Damn everyone…someone has the key…and we’re…suffering…

(Triela coughs up…)

Triela: Let’s hurry back before Hinata begins using the house as a dojo…

*

Triela: …so Touji could have got the sword AND has the ability to use it?

Ban: Was his physical fraility that bad when we first met?

Triela: No way. I think at the time, he was physically capable and indeed, vengeful to commit murder.

Aya: Well…

(The three are talking about the case, and suddenly realise they are together…with Hinata with Negi as they are sorting out something else…)

Triela: Awkwardness takes a step away when dealing with a murderer…

Negi: Done!!!

(Fortunately, Negi’s voice interrupts the slight awkwardness…)

Negi: Seta was at the docks – the time of the murder…got the word from the Mexican officials…

Ban: Seta…you silly oaf…

*(Seta, baka as he is – pretty forgot his own alibi…but at this point, he has now been safely cleared from the crime…)

Hinata: With Touji and Duplica looking more suspicious now in terms of the possible murder weapons used…

Aya: I’m still struggling…even with just 5 suspects left I can’t really give a strong feeling on who the killer is…

(Is this the toughest Murder Game yet? Well, with the game getting to a close, they will soon have to seriously think on who our murderer is…)

*

Negi: This is getting tiring…

(Shot of Negi and Hinata making lunch…Triela, Aya and Ban all doing their own thing…)

Hinata: We just have to be strong Negi-kun…draining of the mind and body, it’s a test that can’t be completed by simply answering questions…

Negi: I know…but everyone else so far has had to eliminate someone or try to…

(Hinata looks sad…Negi realises why and quickly re-iterates…)

Negi: H-Hinata-san, I didn’t mean it like that – I’m n-not upset about that, but…

(Negi sighs…)

Negi: Now I have to do it…

Hinata: I’m sorry…

(Negi puts his hand on Hinata’s shoulder…)

Negi: It’s the worst…

(The two resume their cooking as outside, Ban is NOT smoking and in fact seems to actually be revising his stuff…)

*

Ban: I haven’t got a chance at this rate…bar one thing happening…

(Ban looks inside the house…)

Ban: Aya…

(Ban kicks the dirt in frustration…)

Ban: Dammit…

(Ban seems to be upset at the situation, as he begins to try and delve into another cunning plan which pissed off Triela (to a point where she could have been kicked out of the game) and ironically kept him in the game…)

(…but is Ban now out of cunning plans?)

*

Aya: …my main hope is to pass, then vote off Triela…and then hope Negi votes off Ban…

(Aya seems to be thinking of all the combinations of votes there could be…)

Aya: I’m just afraid if Triela passes – what could happen…

(Aya taps her notes with her pencil…)

Aya: Working with Ban isn’t exactly the best thing in the world…but…

(Aya sighs…)

Aya: …in the end, I’m being as selfish as any of them aren’t I?

(As Aya contemplates…)

*

(…Triela plots.)

Triela: As long as we pass…we’re O.K. And our teamwork has to better than theirs...

(Triela now taps her pen…)

Triela: But that might what Aya and Ban are thinking as well and so they need a safety net…

(Triela collapses on her bed…)

Triela: I’ll have to have a good talk with Hinata…we must pass…any chance that Ban goes is good…Aya is a good back up…and if Aya goes, she’d probably pick Hinata…

(Triela sighs…)

Triela: …but of course, one of us three has to play at least one killer’s game then.

(Triela’s moral thoughts compared to her plotting seem to cancel each other out, and an interruption of ‘lunch’ seems to at least make her remove those thoughts for the moment…)

*

(Fortunately, there is nothing further to be done today, and the 5 remaining detectives can actually get a good night sleep tonight…despite the plotting from all 5 (no-one is truly innocent in this game, suspects AND detectives…)

Triela: …don’t get distracted – first of all, I know Aya is trying to pull you in…but if we pass, we will be together for another couple of days…

Hinata: I know…it’s just…I do feel bad…

Triela: Sympathy has been used Hinata…but not now.

(Hinata feels very awkward…but nods. She heads into her room…)

(…where Aya greets her and the two begin to talk about their ideas of the case…)

Aya: …I do think we have to think hard now…looking at all the incidents, the clues, the motives…

Hinata: This is the hardest exam in a way I’ve taken…

(Aya nods…)

Aya: This whole game is like one big exam…*shudders* …I hate exams…

(Yep, Aya brainbox is actually a hater of studying but is pressured by her parents…)

(Ban on the other hand seems content to snooze away…)

(As Triela and Negi meet just before they turn in as well…)

Negi: …I just feel there is still some small tension…which I inadvertently caused…

Triela: Don’t worry…we’re on board the same train. Don’t panic your cute little face…

Negi: (embarrassed) Triela-san!!!

(Triela chuckles as they say goodnight…but have different opinions on the killer…)

*

*

Triela: What was that?

(An amusing scene of everyone in her night clothes as they all somehow woke up from that (I say somehow because Ban sleeps like the dead of night) and see the carnage…)

Aya: Oh boy…

Ban: Someone is playing silly games with our sleep…

Hinata: Not a silly game…but a killer’s game…

(The group realise what Hinata means…as the ash and fire subside, there are two blackened ash messages imbedded into the ground…)

Negi: This killer is really playing with our minds now…

(The alibi clues aren’t really helping the detectives sleep and minds, as they head back in…but it’s just an extra sharp reminder that the next detective will be on their way soon…)

*

Yotsuba: See here?

(Seemes Yo-chan came over after the explosion (more in Inside HQ) and is keying them in on another bit of evidence that came in after they found the jewel with the Hoshinos…)

Yotsuba: It’s true that this was used during the time of the kidnapping…

(Yotsuba pauses…)

Yotsuba: …BUT…

(A fiendish fanged grin comes from this British export…)

Yotsuba: …there is a different password used to the one normally used for this system…and from confirmed sources…

(Yotsuba texted Rinrin for a big thank you on how to hack…)

Yotsuba: …this one is based on work used from Haley Hoshino.

(Gasp…)

Ban: So…Haley was on there at the time?

Yotsuba: Either that or Ruri is the ultimate baka…

Triela: So…what do we do?

Yotsuba: Well, that should be obvious…

*

Yotsuba: (claps her hands) TIME TO EAT!

(5 detectives on the verge of sweatdropping enjoying Aya’s cooking for the morning…not on Shirayuki’s level but Yotsuba isn’t fussy…)

Aya: And she’s going to lead us…

Negi: Er…I think so…

(Yotsuba takes no heed – been a while since a full English breakfast was served…how she persuaded Aya is anyone’s guess…)

*

(Onto more serious business, the team eventually wrap up and head into the investigation room. Tonight, just 4 detectives will remain, and it’s make or break time for a few detectives…)

Yotsuba: O.K ladies and gentlemen, we’ve been busy yesterday, and we got two big pieces of information. Number one, Seta is now innocent. Number two, Ruri looks guilty as sin.

(Yotsuba’s point blank damn near accusation raises some surprise, but fortunately, Yotsuba continues.)

Yotsuba: However, it never means they are guilty until proven. Sure, the item was found there, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was there.

(Problem is, with Seta innocent, it looks ready bad for Ruri…or does it? If she did steal it, it doesn’t mean she’s our murderer…)

Yotsuba: We are going to lay off the suspects for a day though. Gonna let them cool down. As I return this thing to Ruri, you guys are gonna spend the day finding out about this jewel.

(Yotsuba raises the red jewel, the key component to the Third Eye, an item seemingly everyone believes has some miraculous powers…)

Yotsuba: I’m going to send you out to make sure that the jewel’s properties, and indeed, purposes, according to our research and the word of our suspects are true, considering what was found in the safe at Kaleido Stage, and from what Anna, Tenchi, Touji and Ruri said of course.

(Yotsuba smiles.)

Yotsuba: it’s time to do some research, a different part of being a detective. And there are three parts to this.

(You can here some minute groans to this proclamation, but Yotsuba ignores it and holds out a finger…)

Yotsuba: Number one, the properties of the jewel – find the components and it’s base. Speak to suspects or former suspects if you must, I wash my hands on you guys for this one, it’s a free for all.

(A few write some notes down, others look blank…Yotsuba now holds two fingers out…)

Yotsuba: Secondly, focus on what you know and the motives contrived from this jewel – the background of 4 of the suspects in particular seems to revolve around this item.

(Yep, aside from Duplica, the four suspects all have an important reason for the use of this jewel. Finally, Yotsuba holds out three fingers…)

Yotsuba: Finally…find out the jewel in relation to Kalos and it’s value…because there is one suspect who seems outcast from this jewel, except for financial reasoning. There must be a key if she is still a key suspect.

(And you thought I’d forget her? All 5 suspects are going to be cast under an eye of a ruby…)

Yotsuba: This will be your only injury for today – and I need you to focus on a main subject. Team 1, you guys research the jewel whilst Team 2, you research the suspects. Use the CIC (Circumstance Information Centre) downtown for your research and speak with whoever you want to if you can…

(Triela/Hinata must find out about the jewel itself, whilst Ban/Aya follow up on the jewel in relation to it’s suspects…)

Triela: So…we got the tough job then?

Hinata: (nods) But I have an idea…

Triela: Seriously?

Hinata: (nods again) Mmmm…but it may require quite a bit of apologising…

Triela: One of my least favourite words…

Hinata: (sighs) …seems like I’m good at it…

(Triela and Hinata, opposites in one, similarities in another, head off to wherever they are planning, as meanwhile, a pep talk for any chance of saving Ban is under way…)

Ban: We’ve got the easy one – we already know about the motives, we’ve got to simply elaborate on them!!!

Aya: I know that but I just don’t think it’s going to be that easy…

Ban: Nope…we’re gonna just kick those little girls’ rears into the next moon, and then…

Aya: …watch Negi vote one of us off?

(Ban stops for a moment…did he not realise that?)

Ban: Er…

Aya: Trust me, unless you’re a very smooth talker…it won’t work. He thinks with his head and heart…

Ban: I can get him to vote for Hinata…they had pr…

(Aya sighs…)

Aya: Live onto what little hope you have Ban…let’s just pass this and hope you can scheme something to save both of us…

(Aya heads in as Ban realises the frustration of Aya now getting to her…)

Ban: Man…I’ll never understand girls…

*

(Shot of Hinata pointing in directions of somewhere in particular…as Triela realises what Hina-chan is planning…)

Triela: I see…

Hinata: (smiles) He originally found it, so he may be the best person to get the early facts from…we’ll head to the centre later…

(So shot of the van outside…)

(…the archeological dig…)

Triela: O.K, time to apologise…

*

Seta: …*breathes a sigh of relief* I guess in some ways I should be upset, but I know that it was in my way, a tad bit my fault as well…

(Translation: Seta goofed up in not confirming his alibi earlier, and wants to pretend it wasn’t his fault and wants to simply move along…)

(…fortunately, Triela and Hinata are forgiving (or simply want to hurry the case along)

Seta: You have the jewel?

Triela: Before yoy ask, police property, and it’s a huge link now to the case, so no, you can’t have it back…yet.

(Seta looks disappointed…)

Hinata: …however, we could hurry the process if you could help us how the jewel is made and patented, because the properties must be a huge focus on why so many people want it…

(Seta looks up slightly and realises what Hinata is saying…and nods.)

Seta: It’s roasting here, let’s get some water, because if I can get it back before anyone else can…I’m going to.

(Seta leads the two girls into a quarters, as we cut over to Ban-chan and Aya-pe…)

*

(Ban and Aya decide not to go with the advice of the LI, and instead, head straight for the centre. Aya, whether she likes it or not, is a studying machine, and already has a few ideas of what to do…)

Aya: The key thing is not to look at what we know, is to focus on expanding on that with looking for things we don’t know…

Ban: So, what do we do?

Aya: Remember…whether Ruri found the jewel or not, we’ve focused on the healing for her father right?

Ban: Yeah?

Aya: Well…there is something else that has been touched upon which never seems to have been answered.

Ban: And what is that?

(Aya opens her list of notes…)

(Of course…Ruri was being hinted at by Anna that she may have something about the grand scheme of things…and Aya seems to have put two and two together and come up with a theory. Still, it is a theory that they need to establish…)

(…so Aya begins to search for newspapers and internet files that they haven’t been able to access. Ban doesn’t really like taking orders, but Aya is in the zone…)

(…so let’s let them zone out…)

*

(After enough apologising and forgiveness, a couple of dishwater cups of tea and the slightest showing of impatience…)

Triela: We are basically looking for any history, or makings about the properties of the jewel, and why everyone appears to be looking for this, especially in relation to Kalos.

Seta: Hmm…I guess you know about the personal, but not about the work itself…

(The personal is being dealt with by Aya and Ban, so the two lethal weapons now have to rely on a bit of their intuition…)

(…fortunately, it’s bang on.)

Seta: The Third Eye itself is a piece of architecture dating to the 17^th century…but the jewel itself certainly seems to be based more on modern technology…which is quite contradictory to say the least…

Triela: Indeed.

Seta: Basically, I found it in Egypt – the properties of the jewel defined inside an ancient Aztec artefact…and one apparently revered by people over the world…

Hinata: So…is it an anicent item then?

Seta: Indeed. Despite it’s look and apparently interest in both power and economic value, it is an item dating back to the 17^th century along with the architecture after consulting many experts…

Triela: That wouldn’t be an assistant of yours or anything…

(Seta dodges the question…though one Keitaro Urashima sneezes back home…)

Seta: We’ve confirmed that many consider it to be the prelude of many intellectual and technological advantages of the future. It was apparently made by a patent involving ruby, refraction of light at specific angles…and ancient lynx’s blood.

Triela: Lynx’s blood?

Seta: (nods) A relative to the sabre tooth tiger apparently, the ancient lynx was legend to have powered starked on a full moon, where it’s blood echoes the moons light and makes all reactions obselete, in other words, a complete being…

Hinata: This…blood…is the key?

Seta: Apparently. I was skeptical as well, but after doing some research, it seemed that this legend is in a majority of texts, believing to some degree of truth.

Triela: So…what is it’s power then in relation to the now, so to speak?

Seta: Basically, the structure consists of the past, the present and the future in it’s making. It’s ability is to scan all physical matter – technological, mechanical or organic – alive, destroyed, deceased…it doesn’t matter. It can comprehend the structure…and can also fix it.

(Hinata gasps…)

Hinata: Does that mean…

(Seta knows what she’s going to ask…)

Seta: I don’t know Hinata-san. Tenchi is absolutely set in seeing his grandfather alive one more time, and he’s using this as an only option he’s got…whether I agree with his methods or not, I can still understand his methodology.

Triela: So…when you got hold of it…

Seta: (nods) After I got it and found it, I was ready to submit a full report when Kalos framed me for a certain Aztec theft, and this jewel was taken from me amongst other thing. It seems Kalos has an eye on the old legends…sorry…HAD an eye.

(Despite being cleared, it appears Seta has no love lost for the deceased former owner of Kaleido Stage…)

Seta: After taking advantage of a WRONG statement from the kingdom of Molmol, I was…as you can see, a little desperate. Hence why I used Anna to help me, thinking she didn’t have a direct need of it…and we have a little bit of history as well…

(Triela and Hinata begin thinking…)

Triela: I guess we need to follow this up…

Hinata: Right.

(The two make their excuses and get ready to join Ban and Aya at the CIC…)

*

(Ban is smart, but he wasn’t exactly someone who educated himself at school…but with Aya on the team, they have someone who knows what they are doing…whether it is out of habit or not…)

Aya: (a book in one hand, and a newspaper article in the other, she’s even got a Starbucks coffee (damn the expense)) O.K, if we focus on Ruri…she has to have got something big if what the rumours are true…

Ban: Why are you so sure?

Aya: She is hiding something, and it looks like with her power, she is holding others to not mention it…but Anna…has power seemingly high that she can avoid being scared by her…

Ban: She could be lying…

Aya: (smug) You were saying?

Ban: Never mind…

(Aya reads out loud to Ban and for our readers what the article says…)

*

Miss Hoshino said she may have created the Evan virus during a routine chemistry work involving herself and her husband Haley during some work in their adoption agency. Ruri admits it could have been a ‘power trip.’

‘During my navigator days, I had run in with many people, but one of them was a lady named Lapis Lazuli, a girl similar to myself. From this, I was able to control all matter…but doing this takes a lot of energy, and basically, I created a virus designed to destroy enemy ships from the inside…this was caused in a way after a brief incident involving the Nadesico’s computer Omokaine wouldn’t listen to orders.’

‘However, when I came into this country, the virus had spread further out of space and into bodies such as myself and Haley – as we were not mechanical it obviously didn’t affect us, but from us, it seems that mechanical energies in general were going strange. Worse, human contacts with metallic parts…’

Ban: Like Jet and Touji…

‘…were getting it affected, as Ruri herself is intending to remove the virus herself however it seems too late for a select few. Ruri has managed to forward the details to various officials to look and create an antitode…

*

(Aya trails off for a bit…)

Aya: So…it seems that this was the cause, and the fact Jet could afford this antidote…most likely based from this jewel.

Ban: Did Ruri know about it before or was she passed the information?

Aya: She is from the future don’t forget…

Ban: And also she had to get people to help cure Jet.

Aya: Yomi and Chiriko.

Ban: So they must have known something about this…

Aya: Maybe it wasn’t the jewel for them…Chiriko was a genius…

Ban: But from the past – he wouldn’t have a clue about this type of technology…

Aya: …hence why Yomi, who must have been an expert in this field, stepped in as well.

(Aya puts the article down…)

Aya: Let’s see if we can find stuff on the antidote then…

*

(Indeed, a breakthrough story about the antidote is found within some good research from the third Hoshino in this fanfic…)

Aya: See here…

‘An antidote was acquired thanks to a combination of the past (Chiriko), the present (Yomi) and the future (the Hoshinos) and Jet Black was able to provide the first experiment of it’s success. This virus has been confirmed that when it enters a metallic energy in link with human flesh, it comes into contact with the nervous system which can weaken the body over a length of time, eventually causing the human to die.’

Aya: And then Touji got caught in the investment scheme by Kalos of course…

Ban: …meaning Kalos had the cure, charged god knows what, tricked the Suzuharas, and thus, screwed them up big time.

Aya: I wouldn’t put it in those terms, but yes.

(At this point, Triela and Hinata have entered the CIC, and it’s a large place…Team 2 are on the 3^rd floor (Personal Records) as Hinata and Triela look on the 5^th Floor (Historical Artificats among the things here))

(They pass each other…a brief glare before they head up stairs…as a shiver descends this massive library…)

*

(Hours pass…and both teams are still studying away. Hinata and Triela, whilst study bugs they are not, both are still used to it in a weird fashion as they have attended schools/academies, (Triela’s actually being a proper school as well) and with a little aided up from Hinata’s Byakugan, it’s time for the kids to return back to school…)

*

Triela: Great lynx’s blood my ass!!!

(Triela isn’t too happy…they followed what Seta said, and it seems that he either was lying, or didn’t have a clue…)

Triela: I had a feeling he wasn’t completely sure…he may have got wanted to get revenge for his own idiocy…

Hinata: Um…Triela-san?

Triela: What?

Hinata: Shhhhhhh…

(Triela realises her loud voice isn’t exactly the best place for something like this -–she looks red in the face, and bows in apology before trying to hide behind Hinata…and fails miserably.)

Triela:This…is a library for all intents and purpose right?

(Hinata nods as she begins reading a book…)

Triela: Crap…

Hinata: Besides, I think Seta was correct…in a way.

Triela: Huh?

Hinata: I found something on the Te-Jewel – which seemed to stand for third eye.

Triela: Anicent animals blood then?

Hinata: Yes.

Triela: Huh?

Hinata: Well…

*

(Hinata explains that the jewel properties were made…from Zodiac Blood. Basically, the gem was made from 12 elements of Zodiac Warriors, all hailing from one of the 12 animal signs of the zodiac. However, the core of the jewel was made with the rare blood of someone born into the ‘13^th’ sign of the zodiac, the Cat’s blood. This ancient blood apparently has holy properties and made as a perfect use in medical and mechanical science, unknowing to warriors of the day how ahead of the times they were….)

(…hence why something like this is perfect for the Evan virus.)

Triela: With it’s futuristic power, and medical power…it also makes it a valued item.

(…the patents as you could guess, were ruby as well. The value of this combined with it’s power means…)

Hinata: None of the suspects are therefore safe now are they?

(Triela nods…as they continue the research…)

*

(Back with Team 2, Ban and Ayla are having problems because the majority of the remaining suspects are from the future, but it also narrows any information from their records as they are based from just recent times when they moved into the area…)

(…and in Anna’s case, over a year’s worth…)

*

Aya: So…this has some of Anna’s futuristic background on here?

(Aya has found some personal files – Anna’s in particular is a focus considering the problems she had originally when Kalos was ready to shut down her church…but it looks like that she has more than just a police record on file…)

Ban: So it says here that Anna and her sister both had possible distinguished sports careers, but only one was able to enter the University Satellite?

Aya: That’s right. Apparently, in their division, it was down to the twin sisters in a game of tennis, which Anna won…

Ban: Right…

Aya: …by forfeit. I.e. Anna’s racket, supposedly accidental…

Ban: …connected with her twin sisters skull.

Aya: Not words I would have chosen, but in a nutshell, yes.

(Aya continues to comprehend two fines, one of Anna, and also one of Elaine Respighi.)

Ban: Does that mean ‘Dark Anna’ resurfaced on her sister’s ass?

(Aya is not really enjoying the way Ban uses his terminology, but nods…)

Aya: Yes, it must be.

(And as we wonder if Hatsuhari from Fruits Basket would get along with Anna-chan…)

Aya: It seems Elaine recovered apparently through…

(Suddenly Aya gasps…)

Ban: What?

Aya: If…Anna needed more motive…

*

Ban: A metal plate?!!!

Aya: (nods) Elaine had a metal plate inserted into her skull to avoid frequent secretion of blood and matter which could have led to permanent brain damage. But…

Ban: …is she effected by…

(Aya nods)

Aya: You read my mind. The Evan virus. If Anna is using this as a cover up to get the jewel to save her sister…then…

(Is this theory true? Looks like they’ve got to delve further…)

Aya: Let’s go in a bit – we’ll look at Touji in a second, but let’s head over to Yomi’s clinic. She may shed a bit more light on the situation…to nullify the dark of Anna.

(Aya begins search as Ban…looks at her stunned…)

Ban: She’s good.

Triela: I think there may be some other people who may know about this jewel but are refusing to say too much…

Hinata: Who?

(Triela pauses for a moment before replying…)

Triela: Duplica.

Hinata: Imite-san?

Triela: I wouldn’t be surprised if the little tramp knew all along what was in there, but is hiding it because of it’s true worth. I think we need to speak to a few people at Kaleido Stage.

Hinata: Would Duplica admit it?

Triela: Maybe not…but remember what Yomi said about her injury? There is one person who I think we can trust there…

(Triela grabs the ninja girls hand…)

Triela: …come on, let’s go.

(Triela and Hinata scuttle off, as they begin running, as Team 2 resume studying…)

*

Ban: Anna…she’s looking more suspicious now if we take motives into consideration…church…sister…friends…

Aya: …but Touji was desperate. Life critical, he could have done a reckless thing?

Ban: It doesn’t make sense for him to steal the jewel…assuming he got it from Kalos’ locker…and not use it…

Aya: True…and we found it in Ruri’s…

Ban: My head hurts…

Aya: Indeed. I’m interested if this was vengence for Touji that why wasn’t he after Ruri as well…who was the cause of the virus…

Ban: Indeed…that little girl was watching over him and Tama and Kensuke…

Aya: Maybe Ruri killed out of guilt as the creator of the thing?

Ban: And what about Tenchi? Ressurection anyone?

(Aya shows some more info…)

Ban: Huh?

Aya: I don’t think it would work. His grandfather’s death was caused by natural causes…

(Ban reads the report…)

Ban: Revenge cause…but that still leaves the one wildcard.

(Aya nods.)

Aya: Duplica. She doesn’t have a personal vendetta outside of Kalos’ injuring her. Her real plan was to take over Kaleido Stage…and Kalos was an obstacle to do so.

Ban: So…what do we do?

(Aya puts her hands together…)

Aya: We simply wait and see.

*

(Triela and Hinata however are way ahead of them…as the kids shows they have Aya’s good impulses as well…)

Hinata: Er…hi…we’re here to see…

(Triela shows her the pass…)

Hinata: Thank you.

(The two girls head over to a part of the stage where two pretty young ladies are jumping on the trampoline – one around 17, the other 14 – one with a Chinese look, the other more European.)

Rosetta: So…what do you think we’re going to do next May?

May: Easy! The Shooting Star Spring!

Rosetta: (excited) Really? What does it entail?

May: (proudly) I don’t know! I just thought of the name!

(Rosetta, Triela and Hinata all sweatdrop…)

*

May: Eh? Where are you taking my partner away?

Hinata: We just need to talk to her for a moment if it’s O.K…we won’t be more than 5 minutes…

May: Feh…best be back…

(May stubbornly walks away but Triela smiles.)

May: That girl is a stubborn one…but she has a soft spot for you…

Rosetta: (shakes her head embarrassed) I don’t understand it myself at times…

Hinata: Anyway, this is something we felt you might know…

*

Rosetta: Well…I was close to her…

(Aya and Ban talks with Anna Hart, but if you recall, Rosetta was considering the closest towards Duplica (Prologue) and Triela and Hinata are trying to see if they can pick the diablo genius’ brains…)

Rosetta: But after her injury, she came here a few times to discuss payment with Kalos…despite his shunning, she seemed determined to always speak to him…

Triela: What do you make of this?

(Triela gets a photocopy of the jewel (handed to them by Seta) as Rosetta takes a gander at it…)

Rosetta: That’s…

(Rosetta eyes widen…)

Rosetta: The code!

Triela: Huh?

Rosetta: That’s the weird jewel with that code in it…Duplica said something about it…someone about ‘creating a stone to use for others whilst k…’

Hinata: K?

Rosetta: ..k-keeping something?

(The two girls stop…)

Hinata: (whispering) Maybe she meant to use it to create one to help Touji…

Triela: …and keep the other to sell for herself?

Hinata: Did Kalos know about it?

Triela: If he did, it explains the REAL reason he sabotaged her…and just another reason for a motive for our youngest suspect.

Rosetta: Please…

(Rosetta looks at them with pleading eyes…I can’t resist her eyes…damn loveable Europeans…we are lovable…really…)

Rosetta: Please don’t tell Duplica what I said…

(They notice the slight fear in Rosetta’s eyes…Triela casually wipes them off…)

Triela: Hey, don’t worry about it. We don’t blab. We just take in.

(Rosetta pauses for a moment before nodding. Despite being the older girl, she looks a lot more immature compared to Triela and Hinata, hence the calming effect. As Triela and Hinata leave for the moment…)

Triela: So…who do we suspect now mostly?

Hinata: All of them…

Triela: Heh, looks like you’re holding out on me.

(Hinata looks guilty but admits…)

Hinata: I…I want to win this.

(Triela casually puts her arm around the ninja and smiles.)

Triela: I would have done the same thing. You’re learning the world Hinata.

(Triela and Hinata move to the van…as we head to the clinic…)

*

(Ban and Aya head off to see if they can discover more about the virus, and if it affected Anna’s sister as much as it did Touji…)

Yomi: Ah, been a while.

(And they get a two for one sale as well)

Chiriko: Yes…is everything O.K after the problems?

Ban: Yeah, though Tenchi and Touji both need their brains looked in…

Aya: Actually, you could be of help as well Chiriko-san. We have been looking into the Evan Virus and we know there is not just Touji who was suffering but somebody else…and we do need this information…

*

Yomi: (sipping some tea) Ah…so you want to know if I had a patient under the name of Elaine right?

Chiriko: Should we be doing this – confidentially is…

Yomi: (smiles) I know Chi-chan. However, I haven’t decided whether I can help them yet…

(As we wonderful how difficult Chiriko: Yes…is everything O.K after the problems?

Ban: Yeah, though Tenchi and Touji both need their brains looked in…

Aya: Actually, you could be of help as well Chiriko-san. We have been looking into the Evan Virus and we know there is not just Touji who was suffering but somebody else…and we do need this information…

*

Yomi: (sipping some tea) Ah…so you want to know if I had a patient under the name of Elaine right?

Chiriko: Should we be doing this – confidentially is…

Yomi: (smiles) I know Chi-chan. However, I haven’t decided whether I can help them yet…

(As we wonderful how difficult Yomi has in saying Chi without adding the –yo part, Aya presses…)

Aya: Please Yomi-san, we need to confirm this is linked, because if it is, we have a brand new opening in this case.

(Aya’s pleading eyes are actually at times more deadlier that Ban’s Jagan eye…and it’s effect is working here…)

Yomi: (sigh) Listen, the moe effect usually only works when they are small, have pig tails and fail repeatedly at Japanese tongue twisters.

(Yomi dusts off some paperwork…and winks at Aya.)

Yomi: But in case, I’ll make an exception.

(Aya smiles as Ban just shakes his head. Chiriko stands back as Yomi gets a file out…)

Yomi: Elaine Respighi – twin sister of Anna Respighi. The two were briefly part of Kaleido Stage before Elaine suffered her illness. She had to return back to the future…

Aya: Her illness?

Yomi: Yes, the Evan virus. I don’t know too much of the details, but I believe Elaine was sent back to possible be frozen…to make sure…well…

(Chiriko bows his head as they realise what Yomi means…)

Yomi: …anyway, Anna has used the returners base and Kalos has stopped it. But you wonder…

Ban: Indeed, we do.

Aya: What about Touji-kun?

(Yomi again looks saddened…)

Yomi: His condition at this point would be sporadic – at best, I’d give him another month before his body breaks down. He needs to get that cure, and fast.

Chiriko: But the operation is so tough without the fundings and planning…

Yomi: (sneers) The fact the structure was stolen away as well didn’t help…we could do it Chi-chan, but do you want to risk it?

Chiriko: I get the feeling it’s going to be a choice we have to make if things don’t improve…

(Aya takes the report of Elaine’s condition and the two begin to head off back to HQ, as both teams have made some good advancements on the case today…)

• The jewel is of aztec/egyptian properties with technological issues to scan any mechanical device.
• Ruri herself apparently created the Evan virus which lead to some infamous human conditioning, but along with Touji and Jet, Elaine Respighi (Anna’s sister) was also affected.
• Duplica apparently was attempting to make a patent from the stone itself for sale purposes – possibly the real reason why Kalos attempted to sabotage her career…

(Two teams are now together, as Negi looks at everything they’ve found…)

Negi: Wow, this is good…

Ban: We know. The problem is it just adds to suspicion rather than eliminate someone from it.

Negi: Possibly…

(Hinata and Triela are outside, doing a bit of sparring…being couped in a library can be a bit tiresome…well…unless 4 girls from Negi’s show were the main club from it…)

Triela: Getting a bit rusty…I can’t let Henrietta beat my record…

(Hinata sidesteps with a spin and ends up behind Triela – the GSG girl is a bit surprised by that, but fortunately doesn’t attack…)

Hinata: Are you alright Triela-san?

Triela: Yeah…just a little stiff…the lack of medication with my own stubbornness is beginning to haunt me now…

(Triela does kneel down…looks in Negi’s direction (in the house on the workstation)…)

Triela: Damn that little kid. Looking so cute and yet so smart…(quietly)…if it wasn’t for him…

Hinata: Hmmm?

(Triela stands up…)

Triela: Nothing…come on…best be careful – no idea what trouble is brewing in there…

Hinata: Just…wipe your face first…

(Triela touches it…a bit of blood is on a small cut on her cheek. Hinata steps in, looks incredibly guilty, and runs…Triela chuckles…)

Triela: O.K, maybe I’m not getting rusty…maybe she’s just getting good…

*

(The last supper for the final 5. And it’s a tough one, especially as two have to be nominated…)

(…but who will Yo-chan favour? The two kawaii killers, or the mole and the snake?)

(As Aya prepares a stew, she looks nervous around as silence is the motto of the day. Only Triela is in the room, which doesn’t help Aya…)

(…Ban is upstairs, as his muscular body looks to have aged a few years after a few conversations with people like Yomi…)

Ban: Gah…I am screwed tonight then…

(Ban begins to think…)

Ban: I’m sure that wizard shrimp will vote for me, even if that bitch Triela is up for the vote tonight…

(Ban has to have a think…)

Ban: Which means I’ve got one chance…but it is incredibly risky…

(Ban looks in the mirror as his trademark sea urchin hair has been wetted down, as he looks at the sink, where a not so destroyed pair of glasses are showing…)

Ban: As tempting as it is to Jagan everyone, don’t think they’d appreciate it…so instead…

(Ban has had one cunning plan work when Triela was TL, will another one triumph tonight?)

*

Negi: So with Seta-san innocent, we are down to Anna, Ruri, Duplica, Touji and Tenchi.

Ban: Indeed, and today we certainly had a few more tricks throughout the trade so to speak…

Aya: We know what this jewel is about, and some new facts which basically made all three of the girls look even more suspicious than they already do.

Triela: I’m still concerned about Touji – if he had the jewel then he shouldn’t be in this state. Whether he’s the killer…

Hinata: It’s hard to see if the killer stole the jewel from the safe…remember how it was forced open?

Negi: True…Touji would be the only person who could most likely physically open it…

Ban: …unless there was another way…

(Everyone is beginning to pinpoint their own pieces to the puzzle…as they think about their suspects…)

Yotsuba: Well, well…we’ve had a busy couple of days haven’t we? Suspects cleared, more things revealed, the finding of a key item in a suspects house – it's like Santa brought everything for you today!

(Yotsuba’s fanged smile carries a slight edge to it but she continues…)

Yotsuba: However, all of this was from your hard work for both teams. You followed your instincts – and you went into the directions of people you felt could be helpful, and got some key facts…specifically about the creation and make of the jewel and indeed the Evan Virus, and another possible victim of it which we weren’t aware of…

(With Ruri and Anna getting higher in the motives, we now get to the crux of tonight’s meeting…yep, the vote.)

Yotsuba: But now, I have to rate your performance…and I would love to pass both teams, and it was close in the points, but it revolved about a more complete performance over an individual one.

(Yotsuba turns over to Team 1, Hinata and Triela first.)

Yotsuba: Hinata-chan, Triela-chan…

(Triela winces slightly at the chan suffix…)

Yotsuba: On the first day, you were looking through Ruri and Touji’s place for the gem. You stoked the Hoshino’s first, and utilising smart use of your abilities…

(Hinata blushes as Ban and Aya groan…)

Yotsuba: …you found the jewel and also managed to try to get an alibi for her, but only confirmed that it would have been Haley on the workstation. Even better, despite finding the jewel you headed over to the Suzuhara’s with a good bluff. And you found out that Touji could definitely be a swords buff – though his suffering caused a dilemma which you neatly sorted out. Well done.

(The two girls nod.)

Yotsuba: Today, you went to the CiC and did your own research. Researching the jewel itself was actually quite difficult, but you did well by conducting your own style of research with visits to both Touji, and surprisingly, Rosetta…a pretty bold and smart move which paid off. The properties give almost all the suspects an extra incentive, so well done.

(Yotsuba looks over them)

Yotsuba: Here are Yotsuba-san’s scores…checkii!!!

*

Yotsuba: Despite personal feelings, you two seemed to have a good day or two – finding out Seta’s innocence for one thing, and learning about Anna’s sister being a victim of the Evan virus, as well as an interesting discussion of Anna Hart.

(Yotsuba turns to Aya)

Yotsuba: Aya-san, you had a real good time today, and you get Yotsuba’s star of the day…

(But then Yotsuba shakes her head)

Yotsuba: But sometimes teamwork is needed when getting all the facts…which just let you down.

(Aya’s eyes widen as the scores are shown…)

*

(Much to both Ban and Aya’s dismay, they lose by half a point to Triela and Hinata…and thus, they are playing the vote for the first victim for the killer’s game.)

Yotsuba: Sorry, but that’s the way I go. From this of course, we lead to the group vote…which starts immediately. Ban and Aya will of course be voting for each other, so I’m not going to bother there…

(Yo-chan being lazy…^_^)

Yotsuba: …so it’s just Hinata and Triela. Triela, if you can be first please?

(Triela looks at Hinata, then at Negi…shakes her head and heads up first. Neither Ban or Aya look quite happy seeing Triela move upstairs to deliver the vote…and are now eyeballing Hinata…)

(…this is going to be ugly, no matter what…)

*

Yotsuba: Well Triela-chan…

Triela: (flinches) Feels weird being called that…

Yotsuba: …anyway, our first and last order of business is for you to nominate either Ban or Aya for the vote. Now, I understand you don’t have much love loss for either of them.

(Triela nods)

Yotsuba: Which probably makes this a more difficult choice than you expected…

Triela: Actually, not really.

Yotsuba: Hmmm?

(Triela puts a hand on one of the two available choices…)

*

(…and then we evilly cut over to a shot of Hinata now in the same predicament, only looking a lot more guilty…)

Yotsuba: You have to do this Hinata-chan…

Hinata: I-I know…but…

(She looks behind, almost hoping to look for advice, but not this time. She’s on her own…)

(…she looks at the two pictures…)

(…and picks one.)

Hinata: (insanely quiet) Sorry…

*

(Yotsuba goes downstairs with a more serious look than we are used to when dealing with the Union Jack clad detective. She dusts herself down, sits herself down next to Negi, and clears her throat.)

Yotsuba: The results are in…and we do have a first vote.

(Yotsuba gulps…)

Yotsuba: The first person…to play the killer’s game…

(Pause 1…)

Yotsuba: …will be…

(Pause 2…)

Yotsuba: Aya.

(Aya’s reaction, not too surprisingly, is one of shock. It looks like that if she did have any plans to try and get Hinata to be on her side, it failed thanks to Triela (and possibly Negi?) – there seems to be some relief on Negi’s fine…and utterly horror on Ban’s.)

(Why? It’s obvious…)

Yotsuba: Aya is the first…Negi-kun, if you don’t mind, end this quickly.

(Negi stands up as his nerves have subsided a little, but not enough for him to look a wreck…)

(…but then he speaks.)

Negi: Through this game, people have voted with their head, their heart…and both. Today, it seems that I should do both…

(Negi sighs…)

Negi: …which I do, no matter what he may thinks. I pick Ban Mido as the second player in the killer’s game.

(Ban shakes his head – he knew it was coming…so Ban plays his second killer’s game, whilst Aya is playing her first. Yotsuba heads over to the two with the envelopes…)

Yotsuba: FINAL ALIBI OR FIRST ALIBI? Choose your destiny.

(Ban swipes one before Aya can react…)

Ban: Final Alibi.

Yotsuba: Aya?

(Aya slowly opens the envelope…)

Aya: First Alibi…

Yotsuba: Good luck…may luck be on your side.

(Aya looks at Ban, who looks concerned…Aya then turns to Hinata, who avoids her gaze…she just leaves the room for a moment…then surprisingly, Ban follows her.)

(Triela, Hinata and Negi almost in unison sigh in relief…)

*

Triela: You prove yourself Hinata…

(The young ninja doesn’t look so happy though…)

Hinata: So why do I feel so rotten?

Negi: Hinata-san…

Hinata: …it…it doesn’t get easier does it…no matter who goes…

Triela: Oh, I think it may depending on who goes…

(Negi shakes his head as Hinata looks on at the kitchen, where Aya and Ban apparently are having a talk about the inevitable…)

*

Ban: You see?! Never trust anyone in this game!!! Even you, smart as you are, fell for it!

Aya: I didn’t…Hinata…I…

Ban: You tried to get her on your side…brilliant. Of course, that cyborg bitch has got her claws into her and Negi…and they were concerned that Negi may not vote for you…so Triela and Hinata DID vote for you, making sure I, the mighty Ban-sama, would be up for the chop.

(Ban smirks slightly…)

Ban: You see that smart girl? You’ve played the game as much as anyone, so how bitter are you that those three kids are going to be in the next episode?

(Aya looks at them…)

Aya: I…I can’t be too happy at that…but I can’t be angry…it’s the game and…

Ban: **** the game!

(Aya is stunned by the expletive, but Ban calms down a moment and surprisingly talks slowly…)

Ban: Aya…you and I…we haven’t got along ever since I voted for Miyabi. I did that for dislike and for strategy. You held a grudge, yet you didn’t get any problems on my side, and from what I saw, you didn’t on mine either.

(Ban slams his hand on the table)

Ban: So you don’t like me for that…fine. I can live with that. Here’s my retaliation.

(Ban lifts his glasses off and stares into Aya’s golden eyes…)

Ban: I felt you were the best person in this whole damn game…

(Aya is surprised…in fact she steps back a little as Ban speaks…)

Ban: …so whether or not you like me or not, I respect the hell out of you for being just yourself. More so than any other contestant.

(Ban turns once more to the ‘mole…’)

Ban: And I promise…if I am eliminated, you are making it to the final 3. So what about you?

(Ban leaves…as Aya, shocked, ponders those words. Clever trickery…or honest truth?)

Aya: Ban…

*

*

(We don’t beat around the bush this time. We cut straight to Ban and Aya ready to leave…Hinata and Negi are there though to greet them, though Triela is conspicuous by her absence (i.e. she doesn’t like either of them…). Hinata hasn’t been able to look at her new roommate (and one that didn’t last in her room very long) whilst Negi looks fairly guilty.)

Ban: The picture of innocence…well, would be if we knew what hadn’t happened…

Negi: I’m not going to say sorry, because I see Ban-san as a mind and a body to defeat…we’ve all done this one way when you, Hinata-san, and Aya-san were Team Leaders…

Ban: (pauses) He…does have a point.

Negi: So all I’m going to say is we will welcome whoever returns with good luck and open arms…

Hinata: We wish all the best to the two of you…

(Hinata looks ready to run but his quickly caught by Aya…who smiles.)

Aya: This isn’t right…how can I be mad at this stage?

(Aya hugs Hinata, and then hugs Negi (and kisses him on the cheek – Negi da player!) before looking back…)

Aya: Never thought Triela would be like this…she was the one that started…

(Negi and Hinata looked a bit surprised at this, but Aya smiles once more and waves goodbye to the two kids, as Ban steps forward…)

Ban: Y’know, I’m gonna kinda miss you brats if I don’t come back…not much, just a little.

(A smile is all he gets from the ‘brats’ as he strolls past…)

(…Aya has already met her driver…)

(We got old school for our drivers here, first of all Coach Mitaka from Maison Ikkoku, the handsome playboy tennis coach who has his eye on Kyoko…and apparently Aya as well.)

(Needless to say, Aya isn’t impressed.)

Aya: I…I do have a boyfriend….

(Mitaka shakes his head…)

Mitaka: How come that seems to be the first thing they all say now? (sighs) Come on my dear, let’s avoid a narrow death shall we?

(Aya certainly agrees with that, as Ban (again cursing the fact he won’t be able to drive) has a similar affect…)

Ban: Jackpot!

Ban: Crap…Hevn?

(Not quite the negotiator of Getbackers, but someone that can be just as scary. Madoka Ayukawa (Kimagure Orange Road) and probably the first true anime female that really defined the true sexy image but at the same time having a will (and a fist) of her own – she’s still in my top 10 when it comes to pure attractiveness)

Ban: So this Madoka-chan is not blind, can’t play a violin…

Madoka: I can play the piano.

Ban: …and is someone that I shouldn’t be taking the piss off a few minutes prior to be sent off to a killer’s game. LEAD ON MADAM!

Madoka: That’s better.

(Aya and Ban leave…and as they do, Negi and Hinata turn to a near curled up Triela inside the kitchen…)

Negi: They are gone Triela-san…

Triela: Pathetic…I’m the eldest of Section 2 cyborg girls, I speak 6 different languages, can kill a man with my bare hands…and here I am…not even able to look at either of them.

Hinata: Triela-san…

(Triela stands up as she looks outside…)

Triela: Guys, I’ll think I’ll call it an early night…

(Triela goes upstairs, as Negi and Hinata look up, concerned at their friend, who seems to have taken a turn for the worst…)

Negi: Should we check on her Hinata-san?

Hinata: (shakes her head) No…I think even Triela-san needs her moments alone…this just happens to be one of them.

Negi: So…we’re waiting for one of them to return then…

(Suddenly, Negi and Hinata both realise they are alone…and both suddenly go very quiet…)

Negi: Um…so…

Hinata: …wh-what shall we do?

(Two young people, very shy and sweet…all alone…what shall they do?)

*

(I’ll leave you to switch over to Inside HQ for that but in the meantime…)

*

Mitaka: I hope you return…better that playboy males are discarded.

HQ

Hinata: Here…

(Hinata seems to be rubbing ointment on Negi’s shoulder…looks like a sparring practice got out of hand…)

Negi: Ow-ow…

Hinata: Sorry Negi-kun…

Negi: It’s O.K…I just need more training…

(As Negi refuses to admit the reason he isn’t going all out is of Hinata’s resemblence to Nodoka (except more violent) they hear and see the lights of a vehicle outside…)

Hinata: S-Someone came back.

(The doors are forcably opened, and just from that, they know who it is…)

Negi: (smiles slightly) Ban returns.

(Ban cockily enters with a grin on his face…)

Ban: Evening all.

Hinata: (bows) Welcome back Ban-san…

Ban: Hah, it was too easy – never thought…

Negi: Ban, what’s that stain?

(Notice a wet mark on Ban’s pants as he places down the killer clue on a table. Ban realises and gulps…)

Ban: Er…nothing…bye!!!

(Ban heads upstairs as Hinata and Negi look at either other…and both realise…)

Negi: Disgusting…

(Hinata just turns away red as upstairs Ban tries to escape his ‘embarrassment…’)

Triela: Congratulations…pee boy.

(…and fails. Ban looks sternly at Triela, but realises now is NOT the time. He runs in as downstairs, Hinata and Negi study the clue.)

Hinata: Aya…

(She’s not coming back Hinata, meaning you’re sleeping alone again. Ban returned though as we have just 4 detectives now in the game and 5 suspects.)

*

Another one bites the dust, and we’re nearly done. 2 more main episodes and then all is revealed. How do you think you guys are doing now?

Well, it’s exhausting to say the least, however we’re near the end so just hang in there!

And now, onto the notes.

As I wrote this, Supergals Season 2 was licenced at Anime Expo. I cheered a lot. No dub (disappointing as it is a very good dub) but it’s here, so I know what I’m getting for Xmas.

And poor Aya-pe. Believe it or not, she’s actually not my favourite of the girls (Miyu is) but that doesn’t mean I don’t love her to bits – shy and reserved, very nervous and wants to lead by Ran’s example. She wants to change, from the bookworm to the kogal, and she certainly tries her best.

Her ‘romance’ with Rei is intriguing mainly because Rei is such an iceman. Whether it sticks or not is up for debate, but with the GALS manga and Season 2 I’ll be keeping an eye out.

Aya was the lurker in the shadows in the game, never standing out, but taking offense when she was put under the spotlight. Felt guilty and upset most of the game for obvious reasons, she could have won if not for those meddling kids…

Key question – will she let one of them win? We’ll see…

*

*

When Triela comments to Negi they are both European, it’s never actually said where she comes from (similar to Anna in BAV) – it is mentioned she may have been part of a black market ‘farm’ of children from Switzerland…and yes, I also commented that Anna could be from the Swiss Alps as well. I assure that in the words of Sousuke Sagara, that was purely a coincidence.

Triela’s reference to Yotsuba as a British Rico is a dub reference that both Yotsuba and Rico are played by Luci Christian. Checkii!

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is not only one of the best new series out, it’s quickly becoming one of my favourite series full stop. As I pray for a second season, the reference of Duplica copying Phoenix Wright is a play on one of the Haruhi Episodes where Haruhi-tachi get a murder mystery to solve (yes, spot the reference) and Haruhi imitates every movement of Wright in her defence. Hell, Koizumi even adds some Edgeworth into his movements! (If you’re not familiar with Pheonix Wright, it’s a lawyer based game currently on the DS…get it…NOW.)

The double May (one is bad enough) is simple. As I write this sentence, I have a May Wong T-Shirt I won from Ebay. It’s official, I have never, repeat, NEVER fanboyed around a series so much that I’m looking for official merchandise from the source – I failed in bids for a Sora figurine and a Sora/Layla towel but rumours of a famous scroll between Sora/Rosetta (which I’m basing my fanfic entry at Amecon from – the theme a la Iron Chef is ‘awkward love’ …and I’m hosting a yuri panel as well…you figure it out) at the auction…IT WILL BE MINE!!!

Hatsuharu from Fruits Basket famously turned into ‘Black Haru’ a sadistic, psychotic guy with a bone to pick with the world. This is similar to Anna, as both are normally very nice and sweet, but when they snap, boy do they snap.

And yes, I am nearly as big as Rosetta fanboy as I am with Sora. So sue me, I love her Jap voice…^_^

Sena vs. Akari – speed vs speed. Eyeshield 21 vs. BAV. :)