Notes: This chapter has a little bit of violence. You've been warned.

Now, to SovietKitty's review: Sure, I will ask for permission next time. Secondly, the murderer is not who anyone thinks, it's going to be a big shock. I will try to lengthen the chapters and make them creepy. Haha. I forgot that I had a storm on the way. I will explain much more when I finish this fic.

One last general note. Please don't look at my profile. (It's not finished.)

Chapter 10

"6 Little Tanks decide to wash

One of them drowns,

And then there were 5."

The next morning came, with everyone awake but Akio. Erwin creaked his door open to check on him. He sat there, his hands slightly red.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Erwin asked eyes wide.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," was the answer.

"Here, let me see," Erwin said.

There was no cut. Then how had he stained his hands then?

As if reading her mind, Akio said, "I moved her body onto the bed. I want her to be comfortable."

Erwin didn't comment. The death of Takako "Caesar" Suzuki had been a big blow to both of them, but mostly to Akio. They were the same flesh and blood after all.

"Are you okay?" Erwin asked.

"My sister just died. Why would I be okay?" Akio snapped.

"Look, I know you probably feel like a failure, but remember what you told me?" Erwin tried to convince him. "Don't give up."

Akio sighed. "Okay, I won't hurt myself. But give me some time."

"Hai," Erwin nodded, now that her friend was at least not going to harm himself.

"Hey, Erwin," Miho said. She was followed by Noriko. Yukari and Anzu's voices could be heard from the lounge.

"Is he okay?" Noriko asked.

"I think he's fine," Erwin said. "He just needs some time. He'll come around when we need him most."

"We'll stick together," Noriko said. "We will not fall victim to this murderer!"

Miho nodded.

Yukari and Anzu walked into the hall. Anzu was trailing behind Yukari, which made sense. Who knew when Akio would burst out of his room and go berserk?

Erwin was trying to figure out who the culprit was. Anzu was highly suspicious. Then again, everyone was. Akio however, had been on scene at several murders. She didn't want to suspect him, but one must take in everything.

Noriko was off thinking. The fools had missed it. She was sure that she knew who the murderer was, just to concoct a plan to nab the culprit.

"Yukari," Miho said, "Do you know if there is any way to travel around the house?"

Suddenly, Akio's door slammed open, sending Anzu into cover behind Noriko. "What do you mean?"

"As in secret passage ways," Miho answered.

Akio's eyes widened. "Why didn't I think of it before?"

"Alright," Erwin said, taking charge. "I want everyone in groups two. Split up, move it!"

"Hai!" was the reply.

Erwin and Akio were searching Akio's room. They hadn't found a thing. Akio was looking under Erwin's bed when Akio called his name.

"Akio!"

"Wha- ouch!" Akio shouted as he hit his head on the bed. His field marshal cap fell on the ground in front of him.

Cursing his luck and rubbing his head, he grabbed his cap and stuck on his head, standing up.

"What?" he asked.

"I think I found something," she said.

"What is it?" Akio questioned, moving closer.

It was in the closet. It was a small, barely noticeable hatch. Erwin lifted it. It was dark and damp inside. Erwin hopped in. She moved forward a bit, but bumped into something. She stumbled back.

"Damn it, it's fake," Erwin sighed.

Miho and Yukari were having similar luck. Only they hadn't found anything, not even any decoys. Both were very frustrated.

"Why can't we find anything!?" Yukari hopped up and down.

"We just need to calm down and look more carefully, Yukarin," Miho said.

In Noriko's room, Noriko and Anzu weren't having any better luck.

"Grrh, this is so hard!" Noriko was very frustrated.

"Well, if the murderer has any sense what so ever, he/she won't make it easy for us," Anzu said.

"Thank you for pointing that out, Captain Obvious," Noriko rolled her eyes.

"You're welcome," Anzu said.

After a couple more minutes of fruitless searching, the remaining six people met in the dining room. The six Panzer II's on the fireplace reminded everybody of their desperate situation.

Yukari, once again, went to cook with Noriko watching her. Anzu had long left the kitchen so that she would keep suspicion off herself.

Dinner was just some noodles in soup. Nobody was complaining however. Everyone was grateful that they were still alive.

Miho thought about the predicament that they were in. She didn't want Yukari to die, but she might not be able to defend her. She sighed.

Noriko was filthy. She had accidently stumbled across a furnace shaft, getting sprayed with dust. She wanted to shower.

"I want to take a shower," Noriko interjected.

"Sure," Akio said. "Just be careful. The next person dies drowned."

"Since when was I not careful?"

Akio raised an eyebrow.

"You were standing outside of your Type 89B during that match against Saunders and getting shot at by a 76mm gun and a machine gun," Miho said.

"So I take a few risks," Noriko said, "So what?"

"He means to not take risks with your life," Erwin said. "And if I were you, I would listen to him."

"I will. If you guys think it's needed, you can stand outside the door," Noriko said.

"Fine," Akio said. "We'll need two people to guard the door while the other two can do whatever you want."

"Why?" Yukari asked.

"Well, if the guard is the murderer, he or she could kill somebody while we're all distracted." Akio explained.

"Oh," Yukari said.

"I'm going to take a shower now," Noriko said, standing. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Akio looked at the others.

"Who wants to go watch the door?" Akio asked.

*Cricket*

"I'll go," Erwin said, standing.

"One more person," Akio said.

No one.

"Anyone?"

Nothing.

"Fine," Akio said. "I'll go."

Akio walked into the hallway in front of the bathroom. It was located at the end of hall. There was a chair beside the door. Erwin was already sitting there. Seeing Akio, she stood to let him have the chair. Akio stopped her.

"You have it," Akio said.

Erwin sat back down.

The sound of water came from the other side of the door. There were several splashes coming from the other side.

"What is Noriko doing?" Akio wondered aloud.

Noriko turned on the sink water, filling the sink up. She began to wash her face. She didn't hear a creak from behind her. Suddenly, something grabbed her hair and forced her face into the sink. She struggled furiously, trying to jerk whoever it was off, but to no avail. Her lungs burned, but she held her breath. She kicked whoever it was behind her. However, she barely got any breathing space, not enough to take a breath. She was slowly losing consciousness. Her instinct took over, and her lungs opened to take a breath. Freezing cold water rushed into his lungs. There was pain she never imagined possible. Then, her world went black.

"Seriously, why is she splashing so much?" Erwin asked. Akio rapped on the door.

"Noriko?" Akio asked a tinge of worry in his voice. "Open up!"

No answer.

"Get the axe," Akio said. Erwin ran off and returned with the axe. She chopped the door open. The people who bel this place weren't going to be happy about the doors.

The door creaked open, revealing Noriko's limp body in the sink.

Notes: Whoops! The next person is supposed to die banged on a door! Oh well. That'll be the next one then. I'll need to change the poem... Anyway. Now that more people are out of the question, who do you think is the murderer? Akio "Napoleon" Suzuki? Riko "Erwin" Matsumoto? Miho Nishizumi? Yukari Akiyama? Or Anzu Kadotani?