Disclaimer::::
I do not own the characters from Harry Potter or Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, only my OC Character.
I don't make any profit from any of my stories on this website.
Rated M for future sexual content and language.
"Characters Speaking"
Characters Thinking
/Author Comments/
~~~Chapter Nine~~~
I put on my silver coat and pouch bag over my silver chalice and black princess dress as I leave my cafe/restaurant and head over to the office. Had to work longer than I expected to do when my employee called in sick.
When I get to the office, Yako and Godai are watching the TV, listening to Aya's show where she is singing. As I walk past the couch I see Godai's eyes watering as his body shakes. As the tears appear in his eyes, he covers his eyes with his right hand, hiding them completely from view.
"What are you crying over?" Neuro queries from behind his desk.
"I'm not crying!" Godai denies.
"You're joking, right? Godai-san is crying?" Yako questions surprised.
"Then why are you crying too?"
Yako looks surprised as she faces Neuro. A tear rolls down her cheek before she wipes it away with her sleeve. "What is this? Why am I crying?"
"Is this woman that popular?"
"She seems to be with those who are lonely or has a sense of loneliness," I admit softly from next to Neuro, leaning against the window.
Yako is silent as she wipes her tears away before she speaks up. "Her name is Aya Eishia. Even though she is using Japanese lyrics, she captured the hearts of many people with her voice. I heard that she sold over 3 billion records." Yako points at the screen. "Look at that. The audience is collapsing one by one. It's because her voice is so beautiful."
"How interesting. Humans can do something like this?"
"But you know, it seems like a lot of work," Yako admits. "Her previous producer and manager committed suicide. Maybe it's because of that...she hasn't written any new songs. But her inspiration came back. So she started writing songs again. Because of this big television studio, the number of people in the audience is amazing."
"So that's why everyone is paying so much attention to her." Neuro states before opening his eyes as the door opens.
"But receiving so much attention must be hard. Even leaving her house is difficult."
"Things aren't always what they seem." The female states from the door gaining Yako's attention. "A pair of sunglasses will do the job."
Yako blinks a few times before waving her hand in denial. "You must be joking, how can someone doing a live show get out?"
Aya tilts her head to the side, a smile on her face. "Really?"
Yako points at the TV. "You see, you look different from the person on the tele..." She stops and stares at Aya, smile frozen on her face. Her eyes widen and her mouth opens in surprise before she looks back and forth between Aya and the TV a couple of times.
Aya takes off her red sunglasses. "You really need some time to figure it out, eh? Humans aren't certain of their own instincts when needed."
Yako lets out a surprised yell. "It's really Aya Eishia!"
I tune out their conversation to look at Aya. She has blonde hair in a ponytail and red eyes. She is wearing a silver chain, a light blue shawl, black strapped dress, pink high heels and is holding a red purse.
Something about her seems almost...fake. Like she is hiding behind her kind mask, almost...but at the same time the mask isn't fake. How weird and peculiar.
I snap out if my thought in time to see Neuro knee Godai in the back knocking him unconscious. "He fainted because you were too charming."
"I'm sorry to interrupt so suddenly. Are you the female high school Tantei?"
"Yes, I am Katsuragi Yako."
"I assume you have something for sensei to solve, right?" Neuro queries.
"I hope you can help me find the reason as to why the people important to me died. "
"Are you talking about your previous producer and manager?" Yako questions.
"The police filed it as a suicide case. But I still cannot believe that. So that's why I want someone to investigate it thoroughly. Can you listen...to my request?"
"Um...this..."
Neuro pushes Yako's head down. "Understood! We accept."
Aya sits on one couch while the three of us sit on the other, me in the middle. "You are suspicious about the suicide, right?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain it in detail please?"
"It started three years ago. I was still a newcomer and was told to follow the producer Dajima Takuro. He seemed normal, just like any other day. Patted me like usual, and watched me walk towards the stage. The live show was a success. But after I went back inside...There were completely no signs of why he committed suicide. But, there weren't any logical explanations other than suicide."
"So that's why the police stopped investigating."
"What happened to the other one?" Yako asks.
Aya opens her eyes as she lifts her head. "Two years later, after the producer's death, my manager Oizumi Hibari who also supported me when I was still a newcomer...Even though she's my manager, we were also really close friends. She's been very supportive, especially after Dajima's death. But right after I finished recording...And returned to the dressing room...She was also dead. The police investigation concluded it was another suicide." Her hands on her lap, clench slightly. "I have lost two people who were very dear to me. These sad feelings get released while I'm singing..."
"I see." Neuro is holding Yako around her neck and shakes her. "Those two committed suicide at a crucial time. Seemingly using similar methods. No wonder you were suspicious."
Her phone buzzes from inside her bag. "It's a call from my manager, please give me a moment. Hello?" She gets up and walks towards the door.
Neuro leans close. "We can't let this chance get away, Yako, Yuuki. Solving this case will make us famous. Allowing more new cases to come."
Aya ends her call as she turns to look at us. "I forgot I had something to do, I must go back now."
"Of course you have your priorities. We can continue our talk there. Right, sensei?"
~~~Inside Aya's Car~~~
Yako sits up at the front with Aya while Neuro and I sit in the back. I listen to the conversation between Yako and Aya with interest.
"You sure are amazing, starting a Tantei Agency at your age. I would never be capable of doing that." Aya praises.
"What are you talking about? Selling 3 billion records at an age of 20, and they're also songs with Japanese lyrics that sell around the world!"
"Japanese lyrics are more than enough. The most important thing is your voice."
"Voice?"
"A lot of people have different brain structures that bypass the limits of race. Those are the people I am targeting."
"Different structures?" Yako queries.
"People who have these structures will respond to certain sound waves. That means, including the waves, melody, chord, rhythm and tone. Also, the style of how it's sung. If you string all of these together, the brain waves will cause a resonance with the sound waves." Aya has a finger pointed at Yako's head, just above her left ear.
"I never knew something like that was possible. So that's why the audience fainted. People who have these kinds of special structures are...?" Yako questions as we stop due to a red light.
Out the corner of my eye, I notice a smirk appear on Neuro's face. Meaning he is figuring out more of the mystery.
"This...'Where ever I am, I'm always lonely by myself.' Those people are people who think like that."
"Lonely by yourself...? That's why I cried..." I hear Yako murmur.
"There are currently around 3 billion people in the world who are like that. That's all there is to it."
~~~Aya's Studio~~~
As soon as we enter the building a man runs up to Aya. "Aya-san, what were you doing? The police came already. It was about the stalker since you asked them to come today."
"I'm so sorry." Aya apologises with a smile.
"Who are those three?" He queries.
"They're detectives. This is my manager, Miki-kun."
"Pleased to meet you/Nice to meet you." Yako and I greet at the same time.
"Detectives...you're still on about the suicide cases?"
"I'm sorry, I just can't take it anymore."
Yako takes her gaze away from the manager to rest on Aya. "Aya-san, what stalker?"
"Oh, that..."
"WOW, it's really Aya Eishia!" Ishigaki exclaims excitedly. "Please give me your autograph!" He asks happily as he takes out an autograph paper.
Sasazuka grabs it out of his hands, snaps it in half and throws it behind him. He reaches inside his jacket and takes out his badge. "Hello, this is inspector Sasazuka."
"Hello.
"Hello, Sasazuka-san/ Sasazuka." Yako and I greet at the same time.
"We sure meet often, Yako-chan, Yuuki-chan."
Ishigaki is making sputtering noises as tears fall down his cheeks. "That's...Really?"
"By the way, what about the stalker?" Yako asks.
"Oh, you're not here for this?" Sasazuka queries.
"We've heard that Aya-san can't take the stalking anymore. So that's why the manager called the police."
"Oh..." Yako looks up at Neuro. "It seems like everyone has something to do."
"We shouldn't stand here, let's go in."
The others walk on ahead. Neuro gazes at one of Aya's posters. "Minds that can cause resonance...Interesting."
"Neuro."
"Origin of mysteries - the brain, it's structure is even more complicated than mysteries themselves. Even though I'm a demon from hell, I can never control the human brain. I'm surprised someone on the surface would be able to do that."
We catch up with the others without any of them noticing that we had stayed behind. On the table are pictures of Aya that has had chains drawn on all of them and red prints, minus the actual print. "This is it."
"This is terrible. It gives me the creeps." Ishigaki admits.
"Because there are crazy fans, receiving something like this is not rare. But it's way beyond normal now." Miki-san states.
"What about the security forces?" Ishigaki questions.
"Even though we have permission...But it's like we've become laughing stocks. There's graffiti all around and windows were broken."
"I see," Sasazuka comments looking down at the photographs.
"Calling us was the right thing to do." Ishigaki approved.
Sasazuka drops the photograph he was holding back on the table. "Ishigaki, bring all the evidence to the car."
"Yes, sir! But the autograph comes first!"
"No." Sasazuka rejects.
"Oh right, Sasazuka-Keiji, regarding the suicide cases, do you know anything about it?" Neuro queries.
"I know nothing about it because I don't follow the case."
"Oh, I see."
"This case's investigation was basically finished," Sasazuka admits.
"I hope our reinvestigation can bring her mind to peace," Neuro adds.
"I see, I'll fax you the info later."
"Thank you." Neuro thanks with a smile.
~~~Later On~~~
The information is faxed over. "These pictures of the scene and the time of death are all work of the investigation."
"The times of suicide for both are very accurate. From the time of death to the time of the body being discovered, nobody entered the scene." Neuro comments as he reads the information.
"The number of suspects is zero. That's why we can only file it under suicide cases." Sasazuka admits.
"Who knows? Sensei, do you have something to say?"
"Is it ok that the Tantei-san is not participating in the investigation?" Aya asks.
"That's not it, the things that need to be investigated are all given to him. Music that affects people who are lonely...But how did you discover it? The power that was hidden in your music?" Yako questions.
"Tantei-san, after hearing my song, you felt there is something going on in your brain."
Yako looks surprised as her eyes widen. "That..."
"It seems that you are also very lonely."
"Huh...That's not it, I have Yuuki-Nee."
"Yako, you may have me but you no longer have the person that kept you happy anymore," I comment softly.
"But, it's really just loneliness." Yako adverts her gaze. "I am just a lonely person in the world." Yako focuses her gaze back on Aya who is resting her chin on top of her hands. "Me being able to compose songs that target people like you is because I am also lonely in the world."
"Aya-san."
"I'm only composing music like this to find my true self. These sounds can deliver a message to people sharing the same pain as me. To people like you."
I watch as Neuro walks up behind Yako, places his hands on the back of her seat and pulls it backwards. Yako lets out a yell as she falls to the ground along with her chair. "Tantei-san, are you alright?"
"This is how Sensei works her brain."
"Really...What is it?" Yako demands.
Neuro lowers his head. "After reading the info, I think I'm starting to get it. This mystery is on the tip of my tongue." Neuro brags low enough for only Yako and me to hear. He stands up, holding his hand out for me to take. I place mine in his and he helps me stand up but he doesn't let go of my hand. "But, I have a hypothesis. I'll eat the mystery later."
"Hypothesis?" Yako queries.
"Yes, but first we have to clean up some pests."
"Pests?" Yako questions confused.
"Dumb pests that got attracted by the bright light."
~~~That Night~~~
~~~Car Park~~~
I stay with Neuro while Yako goes off with Aya to get in her disguise. Neuro and I hide behind a column as Miki-san drops off Aya (Yako in disguise) inside the car park, not far from where Aya's car is parked.
Yako starts to walk towards her car when a man with a hood up (wearing a white tracksuit) stops in front of her. "Aya, it's useless, police won't be of any help. I know everything around your house. No matter how deep the security is, there has to be a flaw." He lets out a creepy laugh as he lowers his hood. "In the end...the person who can save you...Is me! ONLY ME!"
He has no hair and his pupils are small. His tongue is hanging out his mouth with drool trailing down his chin. His head has a belt of sorts attached. Using the strings from his hood he is strangling himself.
Yako takes a step back, completely freaked out. "I discovered something...Humans getting strangled like this will cause pleasure...they will also evolve more..." He loosens his hold on the strings and lowers his arms. His backpack slips down his arms and lands on the ground with a thud. Spilling out the bag is a bunch of handcuffs and locks.
"But even after getting strangled, your fellow companions didn't change...But I think you will be different...I will let you evolve...The only one that can do that...is me."
He walks towards Yako, handcuffs swinging in his hand. He stops not that far away from Yako. "A room has been prepared. If you get chained there..." A puddle forms at the top of his trousers as his excitement grows. "We can compose the best song in the world!"
"So it's really like this?" Neuro comments as we come out from behind the column.
"Who are you?"
"We're here to fulfil your pleasure." Sasazuka states as he comes out of hiding with Miki-san and Aya.
"Aya...these people are..."
Yako lets out a sigh as she takes off her sunglasses and the wig. "Why am I always the bait?"
"Damn you, how dare you lie to me."
Ishigaki grabs a hold of his shoulder from behind. "You can't escape anymore."
"Like the feeling of getting chained...After analyzing your stalking data, we revealed that you commit the crime when there's a high level of security. So our plan was fairly simple. Let the police do their job while letting your thing. Then setting a trap that you'll never get away from. I never thought we would have a success on the first day."
"Damn you. Aya, escape with me! That way...I can make you feel good."
"You bastard, what's with all the strength?" Ishigaki complains as he is dragged along, trying to hold him back by holding his waist.
"Only me...only I can become the person you love most. So escape with me!"
Sasazuka lunges forward and kicks him in the face. He is sent flying backwards, his back hitting a column. Ishigaki runs to Sasazuka and has his arms around his chest. "WOW, senpai you were so cool!"
"Arrest him quickly."
"Moving so fast..."
Neuro walks up to where the man is breathing heavily, almost panting. "Not bad...Human music can attract someone like this..."
"Aya...Aya..." He is repeating as his body shakes.
"But you are a pest. If you came in when I'm about to solve a mystery, my meal would be screwed. I should use what I've learned...Using music to cure you. 777 TOOLS OF THE DEMON WORLD, Evil Stringer." Neuro grabs a hold of the man's head. "Let me give you a different present."
I don't see what Neuro is doing until the man starts screaming and is kicking out his legs. "What's happening? He went crazy all of a sudden." Sasazuka questions confused.
Yako lets out a sigh. "Again...Using some weird tool..."
Aya walks past us towards the man as he goes silent. "Become the one I love most? Impossible. Even if you're by my side, I can still sing."
Yako lets out a quiet gasp as she gazes at Aya's back. She is finally catching on...ever so slowly.
"What happened to that guy?" Sasazuka questions standing in front of him.
"I don't know, seeing Aya-san with his real eyes...maybe he got over-excited? Sasazuka senpai, after hearing what he said, do you think it has a relationship with the suicides?"
"I think so, bring him back to investigate."
Aya walks over at the same time Neuro walks over to Yako and I. "Yako, Yuuki, the pest is now gone. It's time to find a good place to feast on the mystery."
Yako follows Neuro gaze towards Aya. Aya feels Yako's gaze and turns with a smile. Yako lets out a low gasp before Aya turns away and walks off.
I don't think this case is solved just yet...and I know Aya is involved somehow.
/Thank you for reading this chapter. Please leave a review. Your opinions are appreciated.\