I'm surprised that people are still even looking at the DSQ section. I feel worried…

thanks to all those who reviewed!

Anyway, here's chapter two.

disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DETECTIVE SCHOOL Q.

Chapter Two: Memories

The bus may have been air-conditioned, but that was all that it had to make the trip comfortable. The stained vinyl seat covers were worn, and the padding was thin. The entire mass of old metal rattled as it went along, surprisingly speedy for a bus that looked as though it was way overdue for a health inspection.

Ryuu wondered how the entire vehicle wasn't coming apart, what with the sudden tiny explosions he could hear somewhere underneath the floorboards and the odd, almost dizzying smell reaching his nostrils. The pine-scented air freshener dangling from every other window didn't help much. The trip would take almost four hours, and in the lulling warmth of the afternoon, there was really nothing much to do. Kazuma had his laptop for company, since the usually-on-the-go Kinta was snoring his head off. Kyu was still as energetic as ever, pointing excitedly at things outside the window, nudging Ryuu and tugging at his olive-green jacket every few minutes. The young bishounen opted for being mildly interested in the passing scenery as it whooshed by in a slight blur.

Ryuu passed by Shizuko and Megumi's seat later on as the bus stopped at a gas station for refilling, since he needed to use the bathroom. He was surprised to find the skinny, dark-haired girl asleep on her companion's shoulder. Meg grinned up at him. "She seems tired."

"I imagine she would be. After chasing a purse-snatcher on a skateboard, I don't know what else she could be," Ryuu replied, stepping off the bus after waving at her casually. "I need to use the bathroom."

"Hurry back," Meg reminded him.

"This won't take long."

The bus resumed its uncomfortable journey a few minutes later, with Ryuu safely back on board. The driver grunted at him as he climbed up the steps in apparent distaste, muttering something about young teenagers wasting his time. As he passed by the girls' shared seat, he noticed that Shizuko had changed her position to lean against the window instead. Shaking his head, he went back to his seat.

However, unknown to any of them, Shizuko was dreaming, going back to a certain meeting that she had constantly thought about since entering the famous detective school.

Nanami-sensei stared at the records in disbelief. "Are these really the records of the new student, Dan-sensei?"

"Why yes," the principal replied, hiding an amused grin. "I anticipate a few objections."

"Hell yes," Nanami-sensei cried out, almost angry. "You can't let a delinquent into the school!"

"She passed the exams in New York," replied Dan-sensei curtly.

"But that's not the only determining factor!"

"Let me rephrase that: she passed the exams with only one mistake."

"WHAT?"

"I see that caught your attention."

"But sir! This new pupil," The teacher stammered in protest, "Why would anyone even qualify her?"

Prolonged silence and a faint twitch on Dan-sensei's lips answered him.

"…you're baiting me, aren't you?" asked Nanami, realizing what the older man was doing.

"I was wondering what kind of first impression you might form if you looked at those records."

"Are you sure you want a student like this in DDS? I mean, these documents," the white suited teacher waved them as if for emphasis. "The girl is obviously a felon in the making!"

"I see."

"Is that all you can say, sir?"

"Check these ones then, Nanami." As the head teacher spoke, he handed Nanami another sheaf of papers. As the young man studied them, his eyes grew wide in astonishment. "This can't be from the same person," came the reply. Nanami looked up. "What is this supposed to mean?"

"You've just seen just how a person can change, with the proper motivation," responded the wheel chaired gentleman. "Nanami, you do remember how you used to be a long time ago, don't you?"

The usually energetic teacher stiffened, and looked down at the ground in shame. "Yes, I do."

"Very well."

"But sir, what exactly makes you interested in this student?"

"It's difficult to explain," said Dan-sensei. "If you'll look at the records, she was given countless punishments and plenty of detentions for serious school offenses, yet her grades are exceptional. There's mention that she never raises a hand in class and is disinterested in lessons, but her marks are consistently very high. Her cover is excellent, Nanami, she does whatever she wants without concern, but at the same time she doesn't let a thing get past her.

"That trait is very vital in becoming a detective, don't you think?" asked the old man kindly.

"But what motivated her to turn a new leaf?" inquired the other educator.

"It's mentioned that she was sent to a reform school, but that center is closed now," murmured the principal. "Her stay in New York with her grandfather in New York is where it all begins. He's a criminologist. Takashi Miyahara of the New York Police Department. Incidentally, she used some of her skills to help out her grandfather. He wrote out a letter of recommendation himself, anticipating the trouble with her conflicting records."

"Is that why you're accepting her?"

"Oh goodness, no. But you see, it's obvious that this girl has made a big effort to change. I would be glad to be an instrument in that change. I have faith in her young mind…as well as her skills."

A scuffle of feet and a thump was heard near the door of the office, and the two men in the room turned in the direction of the noise. Dan-sensei smiled as he checked his watch. "As a matter of fact, we were supposed to be meeting the subject of our conversation several minutes ago," he remarked. He called out reassuringly to whoever was positioned outside. "If you've stopped eavesdropping on our conversation, you may come in now." His eyes twinkled in amusement.

A dark-haired girl stepped a little apprehensively into the room. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I just overheard the conversation before I could come in."

"No harm done," said the distinguished principal. "Shizuko Miyahara, I presume?"

"Yes. You must be Principal Dan."

"Yes, I am. Please take a seat."

The girl sat down, and Nanami took the opportunity to make his own observation of the young lady before them. Lithe and thin, she was dressed rather casually in a loose black t-shirt and a pair of slim-fitted jeans, a heavy-looking metal chain dangling somewhere around her belt loops. Her pale complexion contrasted sharply with her short dark hair. A small, round pendant, sterling silver, dangled from a chain at her neck. Looking slightly insecure, she poked at the carpeted floor with the top of her black sneakers.

She still looked every inch like the rebel that her records described. But Nanami now knew better than to judge a person based on appearance alone.

"So, I suppose you know why you're here," Dan-sensei began.

"Well, it's about my acceptance into DDS, right?" The girl asked, raising her brows. "Unless…something's changed?"

"No, nothing at all. We simply wanted more information out of you, something that your records won't tell us."

The gray-haired detective leaned forward slightly in his wheelchair. "I know it's not easy for you to discuss these things, but files and reports can't tell me much about a person, and I wanted to see you with my own eyes so that I could properly gauge your skill and what class you belong to, eventually. So, is it all right with you if I ask some questions?"

"Depends on the questions I'll be hearing," replied Shizuko, leaning back in her chair and bracing herself for what was to come.

"Fine, but I can assure you that this conversation will be confidential and will in no way affect your acceptance."

At that, Shizuko seemed to relax slightly. The principal smiled. "As you might probably expect, we've been through all your records, and I'm pleased to tell you personally that you passed the DDS exam with flying colors, despite the one mistake."

Nanami straightened out his white suit for a second and sat down in another chair, adding, "There hasn't been another student who's done so well, not since Ryuu Amakusa, now of Class Q, took the exam."

The girl raised her eyebrows. "Oh."

"We're surprised, of course that your records here in Japan show you as a kind of rebel and in contrast, your grades are above average," Dan-sensei spoke evenly. "And we also observed that your stay in New York for almost five years had an effect on you. You were under the care of your grandfather, correct?"

"Yes, sir. It's mostly because of him that I changed for the better," Shizuko expressed.

"He was a criminologist, was he not? He gave us a letter of recommendation right here. Did he refer you to DDS in any way?"

At this, the girl giggled. "No. My brother, who's staying here in Japan, told me about the school. He made a long distance call to tell me about it. My grandfather wasn't pleased. He wanted to keep the news from me until I was ready, but he had to concede in the end since he trained me up a little."

"He must be proud."

"I guess so."

"Since he's a criminologist," Nanami-sensei decided to probe, "Have you had any firsthand experience with forensics and laboratory procedures?"

"A bit," She shrugged. "My grandfather did take me to the lab several times."

"And your rebel past?" asked Dan-sensei. "Anything you'd like to clear up?"

"My answer won't affect my acceptance at DDS right?" Shizuko answered the question with another question, with the air of making sure the ground wasn't going to crumble away underneath her if she set foot on it.

The principal chuckled. "Like I said earlier, it won't affect anything."

"I was just making sure," the girl said sheepishly.

"Don't be nervous about it. We'd just like to see what kind of person you really are. We can't just drop you into a class you might not fit into. That, and we just wanted to see what you could tell us of your past."

With another shrug, and a hand reaching up to scratch the back of her head, she replied, "I guess…being a rebel was my way of escaping boredom. And finding a way to fit in. Needless to say, I was wrong in the direction I took, and I got into a lot of trouble, but right now, I don't want to think that I regret it…after all that's what made me into the person I am today, and I can't change that."

Somehow, the elderly head teacher smiled at her. "Very well. You've enlightened us quite a bit."

"I have?"

"Yes. And just so you know, we've decided to place you in Class Q."

"Shizuko, we're here…"

Meg prodded the dozing girl next to her, who merely mumbled something and rolled over to her other side. Megumi wrinkled her brow and continued to poke Shizuko.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Ryuu said, coming over to them.

Kinta yelled from outside, "Hey, are you guys going to get off or do I have to drag you out?"

Ryuu sighed at the call of the older teen and focused on the situation at hand. Recalling the last time he had tried to wake Shizuko during the Nine Circles of Hell case, he grimaced at the sudden mental image of Shizuko's fist aimed directly at his face.

"What do you suppose I should do then, leave her on the bus?" Meg asked sarcastically.

"I'll wake her," Ryuu offered. "You've no idea what happens if you're not prepared."

Meg gave him a curious glance. "What?"

"Just watch."

Meg got out of the way as Ryuu made his way over to the other girl's sleeping form. "Shizuko," he said quietly, gently shaking her by the shoulder.

As he had anticipated, Shizuko's fist went flying directly towards his nose. He caught the aggressive arm with his other hand and continued to prod her awake. Megumi stared in disbelief at the sudden movement coming from Shizuko. "That's…surprising," Meg managed to say. "Thanks for warning me."

"She attempts to kill anyone who disturbs her sleep," remarked Ryuu as Shizuko began to stir.

Megumi giggled in spite of herself. Surprised at the pink-haired girl's reaction to his offhand statement, he flushed in embarrassment.

"I hate to interrupt the moment," Shizuko snapped sleepily," but the two of you are in my way, and I don't want Kinta pulling me out the window."

The two teens jumped in surprise, and then Meg burst out laughing, followed by Ryuu's quiet chuckle.

The skinny girl smiled at them wanly and yawned. "I'm guessing we're there already?" she inquired, stretching out her cramped muscles.

"Yes, and Kinta is offering to drag us out of the bus if we don't hurry," Ryuu replied, taking down the bags from the creaky overhead compartment.

"He just wants to show off his immense strength, the big oaf," Megumi laughed as they got off the bus.

"About time you guys got off, it's 8:45 now and we've got a walk to the inn," Kazuma muttered, checking his watch.

"I don't understand why we had to come this late," Shizuko thought aloud as they strode down a dirt path, following Kazuma's directions.

"It was the only time that Sakagami-san, our client, had to spare with us," explained Megumi. "He works for the polo club as a financial manager, and he's a close personal friend of the owner, Arakida-sama. He'll be picking us up tonight, and since it's so late I doubt we'll get much attention from the people staying there now."

"I guess that's a good thing," said Kyu. "We don't want to grab so much attention by coming there during the day and having to ask so many questions from the guests."

"Do you think we'll have to think up another cover-up story for this case? Or should we just set ourselves out in the open as investigators?" asked Kinta.

"Maybe we'll leave that to Sakagami-san," Ryuu spoke up. "It'll be up to him whether we keep our investigation discreet."

"Good idea," agreed Kyu.

Braving the darkness, Class Q set out into the night.

Rants: yes, I know there isn't much action going on here, but I hope to include more in the next chapter.

YAY, Christmas vacation is almost here!

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