This will be the last but one Inside HQ – episode 9 will have one but then we shall just focus on the finale with the final three detectives (and suspects) as we get ever closer to the murderer.

I’m sure by now we’ve all got our ideas on who is winning and who is the murderer, but it has been changed so constantly with everyone’s votes that the fact no one seems set on who is the killer yet (similar to MG1 though the three finalists did get the killer right in the end, as opposed to MG2 when a set pattern was made and everyone got it wrong!) so let’s see if we can get a finale to match that.

Let’s get it on!

*

Triela: You’d think with my body I wouldn’t have these problems…but I guess a combination of sleepiness and stiff joints…

Negi: Maybe oil would work better than my magic…

(Triela delivers her trademark noogie to Negi (and Negi only of course…^_^) as Negi taps out, much to Hinata’s amusement outside as she enjoys the morning air…)

Hinata: Mmmm…it’s hard to feel relaxed in this game…but…

Negi: (inside) Hinata-san, Triela-san is picking on me again!!!

Triela: (inside) Don’t listen to him Hinata, it’s just my showing of affection!!!

(Hinata giggles as she heads inside to end the evil tyranny of one Gunslinger Girl…)

*

(Breakfast is made, and Ban makes an obvious comment after all of them are up…as Aya heads into the study room, he casually notes the closeness of the three youngsters.)

Ban: Not sure which combination is the married couple…Negi with Hinata, Negi with Triela or Triela with Hinata…

(A not so coincidental cushion aims towards Ban’s skull…)

(…with a rock inside it.)

Ban: OWWWW!! WHO THE…

(Triela (not-so) innocently whistles as Ban now has another reason to despise her. He isn’t bleeding but maybe refraining from sarcastic barbs may be the order of the day for the Getbacker…)

Ban: Damn her…playing the innocent act…

(Trust me Ban – Triela has never been innocent…)

(Anyway, the Getbacker decides that outside is the best course of action (where he’ll meet Yotsuba) as Triela and Negi voice their various concerns…)

Triela: You aren’t worried about Hinata right?

Negi: No…just well…I still remember what happened with Shiine-chan…

Triela: You think the same thing will happen right? And Aya-san…

(Negi nods…Triela puts her arm around Negi and smiles.)

Triela: She’ll be fine…trust me, after last night, she is with us. And you can calm your cute little head O.K?

Negi: (nods) I know…it’s just…

Triela: Hmm?

Negi: It’s just…I get this feeling around Hinata-san which reminds me of someone back home. And I just feel that it reminds me if the girl…Nodoka-san…would betray me, I don’t know what I’d feel…

(This is surprising…)

Triela: So…Hinata reminds you of someone back home?

(Negi nods…)

Triela: I see…

Negi: (blushes) It’s…embarrassing to say…but after the problems Shiine-chan said…then…maybe I…

Triela: Keep those thoughts Negi…they may be vital…

(Negi looks at Triela who gives him a gentle squeeze as Triela’s surrogate little brother does look a little calmer…)

Triela: And as long as I get both of you at the end of the game, I can kidnap you and introduce you two to Henrietta and Rico…they’re my normal glomping buddies but you two can give them a run for their money in cuteness…

Negi: (embarrassed as hell) TRIELA-SAN!!!!

(Triela laughs as in the study area, Aya looks at her notes – possibly the most details after Satoshi’s.)

Aya: So…today, could I be the Team Leader? Satoshi is so hard to figure out…

(She is thinking ahead, albeit futile if you’ve read the episode…)

Aya: I just hope I can create enough doubt in Hinata’s mind….

(As she thinks, the ninja girl expels…)

(…shot of Hinata doing push ups in the exercise room, sweat flowing down as she’s trying to forget her dilemma for the moment…)

(…unfortunately, it’s quickly raised again after Ban finds their illustrious leader for the next two days…)

*

(Yotsuba’s entry towards the group is interesting…after Negi is confirmed as Team Leader, there is an aura of disappointment – both for Ban and Aya, who not only both believed they would be Team Leader, but now have to work together, and as we know, there is no love lost there…)

Ban: Damn the one prodigy for not picking me and damn the other one for getting me to work with Aya…

Aya: Well, considering you’ve annoyed everyone here I guess it wouldn’t have been good no matter who you would have been paired with.

(Ban doesn’t even apologise after knowing that Aya overheard her…)

Ban: Hinata I wouldn’t have minded…yet at least I guess you can’t kick my ass…

Aya: I can outmove your mind though…

Ban: Are you sure about that?

(Aya isn’t very argumentative, but she simply shuts up shop as Ban doesn’t know whether he should be happy or not…the trio of kids plan begins now as Negi put Triela and Hinata together, and Yotsuba remains to do the one thing pretty much everyone female in this game (and pretty much outside the game) has done…)

(…glomp Negi.)

Yotsuba: Man, you’d be great as a little ane-chama! Hey, if you win, can you come back to Promised Island with me?

Negi: Triela-san, Hinata-san, help me!!!

(The two girls turn to Negi just before they head off…)

Triela: Nah, you’re handling this well there Negi. Hang in there!

Hinata: Negi-kun, fight-o!

(The two girls go, as Negi really wonders if Triela’s influence of Hinata is indeed a bad thing…)

*

(As Negi suffers, we see Triela and Hinata showing that they are in helper world, and look at their notes…this may be important for you quiz guys out there, why it's important to read both the main story and Inside HQ, check to see what the other’s think…)

Triela: Returners Church…do you think either Anna or Tenchi had anything to do with it then?

Hinata: I do like Anna-san…but I’m very concerned that could be a false impression and she really is hiding the fact she has been the killer all along…

Triela: Good…personal feelings not getting in the way of finding the case…

Hinata: Yes…you could say that.

(Triela eyes Hinata coyly for a moment but then resumes to studying…)

Triela: Well…I actually don’t see either as a killer to be honest…the fact that Tenchi’s weapon may have been used I think is a deliberate red herring…

Hinata: Then…

Triela: I’m looking at either Touji or Duplica at the moment…

Hinata: Hmmm…very different motives…but possible none the less…

Triela: Touji’s condition at the time of the murder wasn’t at a critical stage, so he would have had the strength to commit it, smash the safe with the Third Eye and run off. The main worry is why he hasn’t used it to help himself…

Hinata: Maybe he just didn’t know how to…

Triela: Maybe…or if he confirmed he had the third eye, that would simply bring him up as the murderer of Kalos. If he told Yomi or Chiriko…

Hinata: I see…

(This information/theory is not the same as what they’ve said in the main fic, meaning they are withholding some of their information…sneaky…)

(…completely different with Aya and Ban though…who are in complete silence…^_^)

*

(…on the way back however, he is a lot more talkative…both in anger about a wasted journey and him wanting to maim a certain Pokemon 2 ep character…)

Ban: …dammit! I bet they knew straight away and just waited a while just to spite me…

Aya: You believe Hinata-chan would do such a thing?

Ban: No…under the guise of that vile girl from Italy however I wouldn’t put it past her! But then I had to suffer those stupid barbs and smug look from that pint-sized Pokebrat! Insulting to me, the great Ban-sama…

(Aya covers her ears…)

Aya: Strange isn’t it…you only want to speak to me when it’s ranting away at your own ego…at least with Ran she accepts you as a human being…

(Ban stops his mini-dit…er…mini-rant…)

(Aya now invites the silent treatment…and you can see Ban, quite surprised at this burst…Ban, being Ban, doesn’t apologise, but simply sulks in the corner…)

*

(…and it’s not hugs and kisses when they return.)

Negi: I don’t think you had a good return then…

(Aya simply collapses as Ban heads upstairs. Negi goes over to her as Aya looks ready to cry…)

Aya: Negi-kun…I can’t take it with him…he’s a good detective yes, but everything else about him I can’t stand…at least with Otahata-kun I got the straight cold truth…him…I…

(Negi comforts the Gals rep as upstairs Ban, listening along, looks down…)

Ban: Hoshino…why is it you…

(Ban nearly smashes a wall in anger, but the sobs of Aya seem to stop him. He kicks the ground and heads off to his room to have a lie down, and possibly a good think…)

*

Triela: Yoo hoo!

(Which doesn’t help when Triela comes in all bouncy and energetic. Yeah, a girl from GSG is bouncy and energetic…what’s wrong with this picture?)

Triela: Outsmarting other people with metallic limbs is on the fun side wouldn’t you agree?

Hinata: Er…I wouldn’t know…

Negi: I would…except I’d feel guilty.

(Obligatory Chachamaru reference aside…)

(Triela takes a cup of coffee (she’s Italian, she can handle mud…) as Hinata and Negi go over notes…Negi pauses to tell Hinata about Aya…)

Negi: I’m not sure Triela-san would like this, but Aya-san was very upset when she came back…Ban I don’t think got on her right side today…though it’s a wonder if he got on her right side any day…

Hinata: Aya…

(Negi looks at Hinata, and remembering the three-pact with Triela earlier, has to be strict with the ninja…)

Negi: Hinata-san…it can’t work. We have to do this…you and Triela…do your part as I did mine….

(Hinata knows she can’t outfake Negi – after all, she kind of betrayed him once…)

Hinata: I know…and this late in the game, I should be grateful for this…but…

(She looks outside where Aya is looking at some cellphone photos of her with Miyu, Ran, Tatsuki, Sayo, Yuya, Rei and Yamato.)

Hinata: Very well Negi-kun…

Negi: Just make sure…

Hinata: (nods) We’ll do our best.

(Hinata moves into the exercise room, takes one glance at Aya, and then another at Negi, before heading in…)

*

(Things clear up a bit when they discuss the case and Negi clears Seta from the crime, and when Negi and Hinata are cooking dinner, it allowed the other three to be alone for a while. But after dinner, Aya and Hinata have a good talk…as Hinata has to do what ninjas should all be good at no matter how innocent they look (*coughsOrin*) – be deceptive.)

Aya: You’ve been working around the clock recently?

Hinata: (nods) I can’t let my guard down here, and also need to keep up with my training. With Kiba-kun and Shino-kun not here, Negi-kun and Triela-san have been trying their best…but it’s very different. They have power of a different sort and it’s good for changing styles…

Aya: You’re so strong Hinata…

Hinata: No…no I’m not…not compared to Neji-neesan or Naruto-kun…

(Aya shakes her head…)

Aya: I meant here.

(Aya points at Hinata’s heart…)

Aya: You are in a profession which seems to mean fighting, destruction and at times killing, yet you’ve got probably the kindest heart here…

(Hinata blushes…)

Hinata: I…I don’t think Shiine-chan would agree there…

Aya: (shakes her head) It’s only heartless if they have no reason…or in Shiine-chan’s case, the reason was stupid. Your reason was to break up the problems at the cost of your own feelings…noble for a ninja if nothing more…

Hinata: (blushing) Aya-san…

Aya: So whatever happens…please…don’t go for the wrong decision…

(Aya leaves as Hinata gulps…as the guilt is running down her spine…)

(…and Aya breathes a sigh of relief…)

Aya: Sorry Hinata-chan…you’re my only hope…

*

(This of course leads to Triela snapping Hinata out of her sympathy for Hoshino number 2 (and yes, there is irony there) as the case is now looking into the answers of the players and who they think our murderer is…)

(…and a late night boom interrupts their sleep (and brings forth a killer’s game clue)…)

(…but one person begins a little quest on his own…)

*

(Shot of Ban late night downstairs getting a drink and making some really detailed observations…and apparently some notes he stole from Aya…)

Ban: Using the evil eye this way…if my damn grandmother would have seen that…

(Ban you bastard…:P)

*

(After lack of sleep and the nervousness that the game is quickly turning into Big Brother…(yes, the fact Yotsuba was the lead investigator for this episode wasn’t a coincidence…) Ban, who from bobbing his tongue at Rosetta to trying to destroy the game, is momentarily distracted by said lead investigator…)

Ban: (in awe of Yotsuba devouring her meal) You are the world champion…

(Yotsuba swallows, drinks some water and smiles as Aya wonders how she got into feeding her…)

Yotsuba: Just good timing checkii! The producer of this has to cut costs considering the damage done here at times…

(Ban hastily eeps as a few look at him…)

Yotsuba: …so he cut food budgets for the investigators. Luckily Haruka-chan has been giving me charm lessons so…

Aya: So that’s why…

(As I look embarrassed, Yotsuba smiles to Negi…who turns away…)

Yotsuba: So Negi-kun, who hugs better? Triela-chan, Hinata-chan or me?

(Ever heard three spurts of coffee, soda and water hit the table at once? It just happened…)

Hinata: Y-Yotsuba-san!

Negi: Th-that wasn’t funny!!!

Triela: Really…

(Aya is trying her best not to giggle…and is failing.)

Hinata: Aya-san, not you as well!!!

(Yotsuba chuckles are turning into roars of laughter as Triela looks tempted to turn her into a human pincushion…)

Triela: Cute…cute…

(Triela shakes her head and leave after downing some milk. Negi and Hinata stay frozen, their faces turning crimson and Yotsuba still giggling.)

Yotsuba: Sorry, it’s just nice to embarrass someone who isn’t my big brother…everyone else who is younger than me is usually too nice or if I tried to upset them I’d actually feel guilty!

Aya: I see…well…as long as her evil just stays there, I’m happen.

Negi/Hinata: AYA-SAN!!!

(Aya and Yotsuba chuckle as the two younger members look embarrassed, as we cut to…)

*

(Aya’s anger at Ban is now more founded than ever…she finds part of a teared page on the floor where Ban was ‘studying’ last night…which leads to a more reason why Aya was angry…)

Aya: You know…just forget it…I don’t even care any more…

(Aya slams a door on Ban just as they are ready to prepare for their next inquiry which Yotsuba is about to call on for…however, Aya isn’t the only one with problems – Yotsuba’s little joke brings forth something that Triela hasn’t really realised…)

*

Triela: I love him don’t I?

(Triela admits to herself – through tender care and adorability to a point of being criminal, that whilst she has over loves in the world, it seems she has one here too…)

Triela: Maybe that’s why I felt so…upset when Yotsuba did that. But then, why is it different then?

(Triela looks downstairs where Hinata and Negi are washing up…)

Triela: Why am I not jealous when Hinata gets close to him?

(The answer…is soon obvious…)

Triela: (gasps quietly) I love her too right?

(Triela gets back into her room, crouches down on her bed and puts her head between her legs and lets out an angsty sigh.)

Triela: At home, it didn’t matter…I loved everyone there and could get away with it. But here, I’ve met two people that are dear to me…and I want it to keep it that way…

(Triela looks up…)

Triela: In some weird way, I’ve become the most selfish of all here…

(She looks at a photo taken by Hillshire of her cradling Henrietta during that famous night where the girls sang Beethoven. )

Triela: Girls…am I doing something wrong here?

(She clutches it and we leave that here for Triela to dwell upon…)

*

(Aya’s outburst at Ban is reflected when they head in the van…she is now not really caring what Ban does as long as it benefits her now. However, considering the two teams kind of go in the same place (albeit different floors) and it’s at a library technically, at least the quiet is mutual and not just ignoring.)

(Triela seems to have got her shine back after a moment of problems, and is working well with Hinata as they search for their own evidence…and the obvious difference between working together because of a friendship and working together because they have to is obvious…)

(You could say all went according to plan…)

*

(…which leads to two different conversations back home.)

Triela: Awww! She was so cute like that – I don’t care if she’s the same age as me…though that doesn’t seem to have bothered me before right Hinata?

Hinata: (sweatdrops) Triela-san…

(Triela is back to being a good mood after speaking with Rosetta at Kaleido Stage, as they seriously have a reminder about tonight…)

Triela: If all has gone to plan, we’re counting on you…

(Hinata nods…)

Hinata: I know…even though in the end, we’re always betraying someone.

Triela: True…

Hinata: …but…I want this as well. I want us three to be in the final, so one of us wins…

(Triela smiles and as usual, wraps an arm around the kunoichi.)

Triela: Thatta girl.

(A small cuddle leads us to Ban and Aya…who are both quiet as a mouse…basically they are focusing on their own notes, and whilst Ban would probably like to whip out an evil eye on Aya, her beautiful face seems to stop Ban from wanting to get angry…actually if you’ve notice, despite their problems, Ban has rarely raised his voice at Aya, this fits in nicely with what happens during the killer’s game…)

*

(Indeed…the killer’s game was unfortunately expected once Triela and Hinata passed…and to avoid any chance of Negi voting against them, Hinata voted for Aya along with Triela. Negi did the rest by sending Ban to play the killer’s game…)

(…which led of course to the confrontation of Ban and Aya. During that however, the other three have a relaxation and bonding moment…)

Negi: I will feel bad though…especially if Aya-san goes.

Hinata: (nods) Ban hasn’t been too bad with us really, just a bit condescending. But Triela-san…

(Triela comes in with a pool cue as she begins to get ready to destroy Negi and Hinata…on the pool table.)

Triela: You know…for a child mage and a ninja, you’re aiming skills kind of suck…

Hinata: It’s not like I’ve had training for this…

(Negi, who seems to be acting like Chiyo-chan in a way (i.e hates to lose) pouts as Triela easily sinks in the black – even 2 on 1 it’s an easy victory.)

Negi: No fair Triela-san!

Triela: All’s fun in love and war Negi…and that includes pool…

Negi: Then what about darts?

Triela: Heh…you think you have a chance there?

*

Triela: How the…

Negi: (smug) Never understand a mage’s throwing arm!

(Negi with a convincing 3-0 win against Triela…)

*

Negi: No way…

(And Triela gets her revenge as Hinata’s kunai training make her a 3-2 return winner in the next match…)

Hinata: Um…luck?

(Negi pouts and ‘sulks’ as the two girls can’t hold their laughter and giggle much to Negi’s disappointment. Fortunately, he can’t be mad at them for two long and joins in…)

(…however, happy time is quickly over when the killer’s game begins – leading to another time of solitude for Triela…so Hinata and Negi find something else to do…)

*

Negi: KYAH!!!

(Negi’s powered up lightning elbow strike nails Hinata in the gut, but suddenly a plank of wood comes out (IT’S LOG, LOG, IT’S BIG, IT’S BAD, IT’S WOOD! IT’S LOG, LOG, IT’S BETTER THAN BAD, IT’S GOOD!). Negi spins as Hinata comes from above him…)

(Negi dodges to the left and swings a kick to Hinata’s shoulder, aware of replacement techniques now…so he counters with some of his own…)

Negi: Setsuna-san technique!

(Yep, time for the bad Negi clones…this time though they won’t try and kiss Hinata (much to Joe Klemm, Yal-kun and Tiran’s disappointment), here they are acting similar to a Bushin technique. Hinata copies…but has the added advantage of…)

Hinata: BYAGUKAN!!!

(Negi seems to realise that a second too last as Hinata hits a (very weakened) Jyuken on the real Negi as she flies overside. However, despite being weak, Negi was caught off guard and catches his shoulder on a rock…)

Negi: Owww…

(Hinata immediately stops as Negi looks genuinely hurt (he’s not the type to fake anything…yet…) as Hinata catches him on the floor…)

Negi: Ow…

Hinata: Negi-kun! Are you O.K?

Negi: I-I’m fine Hinata-san…*winces in pain* Owww…

Hinata: You’re not…let’s see…

(Hinata checks where Negi is clutching and sees red appears on his shoulder. Hinata quickly rips off the piece of cloth on the shoulder as a nasty cut is showing with shrapnel. Hinata slowly gets Negi up…)

Hinata: We’re cleaning that up…come on Negi-kun…

Negi: H-Hinata-san…it’s not that bad…

Hinata: You’re bleeding Negi-kun! And we need to heal that wound…and to clean that off…

(The immortal words which strike fear into Negi, no matter who says it, Asuna, Konoka, his sister and now Hinata…)

Hinata: …you need to have a shower.

Negi: No, anything but…

(Sadly, Hinata is quite stern here as poor Negi is in the hands of the kunoichi…and is trying his best to run away…not a chance. :) Hinata piggy backs him inside, realising she has to be quiet (Triela called it a night) and Negi’s squealing halts as he really is hurt…)

(…and he relaxes. Yes, it’s very cute. Fan-art now to the usual e-mail address….:P)

*

Negi: You’re mean Hinata-san!

Hinata: Triela-san is asleep, keep your voice down!

Negi: But…

(Hinata is staying outside the shower after damn near forcing him in there and despite Negi’s impressive strength, it seems Hinata has a psychological edge and keeping him in there…)

Hinata: The ointment shouldn’t wipe off – we’ll wrap it after it’s cleaned and reapplied.

(Negi sulks as Hinata tries hard not to smile…)

Hinata: It’s funny…I’ve never really felt the need to look after someone before…

Negi: Hmm?

Hinata: At home, I never really had a chance to look after my younger sister Hanabi. And Kurenai-sensei, Shino-kun and Kiba-kun always seem to be looking out for me…so…

(Hinata shuffles her feet shyly…)

Hinata: It feels nice like this…

(It’s quiet for a moment as Negi inside looks very shy…)

Negi: Hinata-san, you’ve always been there haven’t you for everyone…both good and bad…

Hinata: I…I don’t think I will forget the double elimination nearly Negi-kun…and I’m still so sorry…but…

(A smile creeps on the ninja’s face (though Negi can’t see it))

Hinata: …I’m glad it ended like this.

(A moment of silence again before…)

Negi: Me too Hinata-san. Me too.

(In a room, Triela grabs her sheets and clings tighter, hearing all this…but it leads of course to downstairs where Hinata is fixing Negi up, and then they get a rude awakening…)

*

(Ban’s return was a bit disappointed (despite the pee boy jokes) and he goes off to plan his last stage of attack…)

Ban: I meant it…but…I hope it worked…

(Ban’s fist clutches deeply as he looks into the nightly star sky…as he hopes that this isn’t watched by millions of people who realised he was so scared at the killer’s game he’d peed his pants…)

*

One more of these to go – damn are we nearly at the end already?

Ban is getting more evil, Triela is getting more angsty and Hinata and Negi are as cute as ever. All is right…

…yeah right. Next episode will be a shocker and the final three a surprise.

But now for the penultimate…author notes…

*

*

Ane-chama is the term Yotsuba uses for ‘big brother’ in case you’re wondering.

Mini-dit was the nickname of Duplica’s Ditto which couldn’t transform it’s size properly. Cue Austin Powers jokes now…

Chachamaru is a robot under the guidance of Eva-chan (and lesser extent Hakase) in Negima – despite being a robot, she begins to discover more emotions around Negi-sensei to the point that Hakase understands that she is in love with the mage. She seems evil at first, but actually she is very apologetic about her initial violence towards Negi and is a good flower arranger and helps out children, old ladies and animals in her spare time. (Though lately, she seems to be back on the dark side…kind of…)

And yes, I can’t handle coffee. Bleaugh. Triela despite her young age seems to be able to handle wine which is a bit disturbing, though she usually wrinkles her nose with a ‘bleugh’ motion as well…

Considering one of Aya’s friend is Yuya who is known as ‘number two-kun’ because of his second place in the GL standings for gals, Aya being ‘Hoshino number two’ shouldn’t really faze her…much…

The ‘log’ joke is the first fanfic reverence to AMV Hell: Champion Edition – Naruto to Ren and Stimpy. Classic.