Yami To Boushi to Hon no Tabibito: Ever After

Ten

The officers tried to bar Hazuki, who scowled in annoyance. Lilith hung back a bit, while Quill observed. They were close to where Eve had travelled to on this world, but unlike most they couldn't just bull their way through. They were in a modern city, with modern law and order, and a woman carrying a katana caused problems.

Drawn to the ruckus a tall man strode up to them, his black hair slightly curly and cut close to his head. He wasn't handsome, in a traditional sense, but was quite striking. He studied the three of them, his expression thoughtful as he waved the cops back. "You are from somewhere else," he noted, "in fact I think from another Earth."

"How..." Quill blinked

"There are scents on you even I don't recognize. Also observe this plant matter," he plucked it from Lilith's bosom, "see the structures here? I am a expert, and I have never seen the like. Unless you are somehow developing new species of plants..." He shrugged eloquently.

"Damn it Sherlock, stop running off like that," the shorter, slightly sandy brown haired man growled as he hurried over.

"Sherlock?" Hazuki blinked then asked, "Sherlock Holmes?"

"Indeed, and this is my colleague, John Watson," he nodded to the other man. Looking at Hazuki he asked, "Have we met?"

"Ah.. I've heard of your work," Hazuki lied.

"That damn blog of yours strikes again," Sherlock addressed Watson dryly, though something in his voice indicated he didn't believe her.

"Or your criminology site," Watson offered.

Lilith looked over to the building that was surrounded by cops and police tape. She could feel traces of Eve's passing, and it was recent too. Looking at Sherlock she said, "I take it you are investigating a disappearance. Young woman on her birthday, blond hair, odd red eyes?"

"Indeed," Sherlock conceded thoughtfully.

"I believe I and my companions can be of help," Lilith said firmly.

John looked bewildered, "Sherlock..."

"I will talk to the police," Sherlock made up his mind almost instantly as he ordered, "please wait here." With that, he strode off.

"Damn it, wait a moment," Watson hurried after him.

Waiting until they were gone Quill looked at Hazuki and Lilith and asked, "What was so unusual about him?"

"He's a character in a novel in the world I come from," Hazuki explained quietly. "I read them when I was younger." She looked at Lilith, "How is this...?"

Lilith shrugged, making her boobs bounce a bit. "There are a near infinite number of worlds... it's not impossible one is based off your fictions," she said. She looked thoughtful, "Though Eve like to think there was 'reality bleed' between books inspiring fictions in each other."

"Same as this?" Quill asked.

"Well, it wasn't set in modern London," Hazuki admitted.

A few moments later Sherlock returned. "Join us inside," he ordered and the group followed him into the building.

The house looked neat and orderly, except where the cops had been. The parents were there, standing off to one side crying. As Hazuki passed them she wondered a moment about her own home. Had her own parents reacted like that when she and Eve had disappeared? Were they worrying about her now that she was following another quest with Lilith? It was a disturbing thought, and one she didn't want to think about too much.

"Having some problems?" the woman officer mocked Sherlock.

"Not exactly, Officer Donovan. Just looking for confirmation," Sherlock admitted. He looked around, eyes assessing as he murmured, "This may be the first Locked Room mystery I can't solve."

"Locked Room?" Greg Lestrade asked.

"It's a common staple in fiction," Watson noted, "someone is killed or disappeared from a room with no way in or out. There's usually a twist to explain it."

"Sadly there seems to be no twist here. The young lady was here just short of midnight, then...," Sherlock looked annoyed, "gone."

"So what happened?" Greg asked grimly.

"No traces of break in, or of her leaving. No hidden rooms. No roof hatch that could be used to spirit her away," Sherlock said. He looked over at the women, "You said you had a insight?"

"I do," Lilith said, smiling winsomely. "Could we speak with Mr. Holmes on his own, please? It's something best discussed privately."

"What!" Donovan sqwalked as did the parents. John looked thoughtful while Greg appeared to consider the idea.

"Sherlock?" Greg looked at the consulting detective thoughtfully.

"Certainly," Sherlock agreed, "but I reserve the right to be discrete about what they reveal. Some answers aren't as helpful as you'd think."

With that Greg escorted the family and Donovan out, who was still complaining. "Hope we didn't get you in trouble," Hazuki noted.

"We loathe each other anyway," Sherlock waved it off.

Quill had her pendant out, which swiftly expanded into a staff. "Cadeus," she ordered, "scans please."

"Energy levels highest detected yet," the feminine voice noted. "Recording data for later analysis."

"Can I get one of those?" Sherlock asked, fascinated.

"Sorry," Quill apologized, "it's pretty much unique."

"Hmm," Sherlock nodded, taking in everything with a calm gaze. "I take it something unusual happened?" he asked.

"I'm a little busy," Lilith apologized as her hands glowed and she waved them purposely, "Hazuki, can you...?"

Hazuki sighed, "All right." She looked at Sherlock, "This is a bit of a long story..."

"I'm patent," Sherlock answered while keeping an eye on Lilith and Quill.

Hazuki puffed out a breath, then explained about Eve, her interest in humanity, and her jumping from universe to universe after experiencing life there. "This girl was also sixteen, correct?" Hazuki finished.

"I'll need more proof than your word that the missing girl is a incarnation of your Eve," Sherlock noted reasonably.

"I think we're getting closer," Lilith noted, "we might only be a few days behind her, relatively speaking."

"Oh well done," Hazuki grinned at her. A bit more subdued she pointed at Sherlock, "He doesn't believe me."

"Why not? It IS a completely fantastic story with no evidence," Quill smirked.

"Well, a lack of evidence of more rational means," Sherlock conceded.

Lilith sighed, her bosom bouncing noticeably, making Hazuki blush and look away. "Well, we have proof," she said, "Hazuki, Quill, get over here. Mr. Holmes, I'd suggest you step back."

"Why?" Sherlock asked, though he agreeably stepped back. No reason to take chances with strange women, after all.

"It's been interesting meeting you, sir," Hazuki added as the three women were engulfed in a bright green light.

Sherlock was blinded a moment, then once his vision cleared he blinked in astonishment. Like the missing girl, all three women had disappeared. He checked to see if there were any traces to explain it, but eventually sighed. How was he going to explain THIS one?

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"You can't say," Greg repeated flatly.

"I have a good idea of what happened," Sherlock said, "but I assure you, revealing it isn't going to help."

"Bloody useless," Donovan muttered.

Leaving the cops to talk to the bereaved family, he and Watson headed off. "I guess this isn't going on the blog?" Watson asked.

"Not much point," Sherlock agreed. As they walked he mused, "You know the saying, when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbably, must be the truth?"

"I've heard it," Watson agreed.

"Well, it becomes harder to apply when your definition of impossible changes," Sherlock grumped, but refused to explain further.

To be continued...

YES I dumped Yamibo into the Sherlock verse. Dedicated to my friend Christine, who's having a rough time right now.