Mini puzzle alert! That is all. And this is a fanfic so it's obvious that I do not own Professor Layton and Co. Oh! and the answer to the puzzles in the two previous puzzles are:

First puzzle answer is... WAREHOUSE

Second puzzle answer is...the letter D in the first column and the fourth row.


Chapter 11 – Past Connections and a Tail

Layton and Toshiro were down to the last puzzle. They had passed the three other puzzles that stood in their way, including the wall puzzle. Most of which were trials of wits that required strategic thinking, such as finding a way to cross a raging river on a broken bridge.

"This is it, Toshiro." Layton said as they arrived in front of an abandoned warehouse. Toshiro's fur started to stand on its ends out of excitement. They soon heard a faint meow.

"Luke? Is that you?" Layton shouted. He had a bad feeling about Luke, especially now that he heard a meow.

Luke's throat hurt from meowing for so long but his spirits lifted when he heard the Professor's voice. 'Time to tell him I'm here!' he thought as he started to roll on the floor. As soon as he got near the door, he slammed his body against it and started to meow louder.

Layton took that as a yes and ran towards the sound. The only thing between them was a locked door. Luke slammed his body against the door again. "We're here to get you, Luke!" Layton said as he started examining the puzzle on the lock.

'It really is the Professor! He's here! He didn't leave me alone!' Luke thought happily. He knew that Lizzy was wrong. The Professor is a true gentleman, after all.

Layton knew the answer to the puzzle but couldn't do it since the mechanism of the lock was too small and his hand was too big to turn the cog. Toshiro pawed the Professor's leg and meowed. He looked determined. Layton smiled. "You may solve this puzzle." He said.

Toshiro jumped unto Layton's shoulder and Layton crouched a little so that the lock was on the cat's eye level. He started to examine the puzzle.

"There were two big cogs at the two ends and four little ones connecting them to each other. Let's call the two big cogs, cog A and cog B. Now, you have to make cog B turn counter-clockwise. You can only turn cog A. How will you turn cog A then? Clockwise or counter-clockwise?"

Toshiro thought for a little while. Then, he found the answer…(Dear reader, if you wish to solve this easy puzzle, please stop for a while as the answer will be revealed in a short moment…)

.

.

.

'Clockwise! Of course!' Toshiro thought as he took out his claw and started to twist the cog at the bottom. They were relieved as they heard a resounding click. The lock fell to the floor. Just then, Luke slammed himself against the door and stumbled outside. Toshiro jumped off of the Professor's shoulder.

"Luke!" Layton shouted. He immediately went to the boy's side and started removing the ropes that tied him up.

"Nya!(Luke!)" Toshiro meowed. He was happy to see his friend…but not in this kind of state.

Luke looked overjoyed. Everything was going to be fine now. As soon as Layton was finished untying him, he wrapped his hands…err, paws around Layton's neck. "Nyah! (I'm so glad you came!)" He meowed, his voice quivering a bit. He was already feeling a lot better. He snuggled against the Professor's face, just like a cat.

"Everything's going to be alright, Luke." Layton said as he hugged the boy back. He could feel Luke's fur brush against his face. He was relieved he found Luke, even if he was already part-cat. Toshiro watched the two, a smile on his face. It was a heartwarming sight to see. But someone really had to ruin the moment.

Lizzy was again dressed as the Masked Kaito Kid. Luke let go off the Professor and hissed at the magician. Toshiro's hackles rose as he also hissed the person. Lizzy then clapped her hands slowly. "Well done, Layton. You may be what they say you are."

Layton stood up and turned to face this person, only to be slightly disturbed by the looks of the man. This person also wore a white suit and cape accompanied with a white top hat with a blue band. The only difference was that the person was wearing a mask. "Who are you?" he questioned.

"You may refer to me as the Masked Kaito Kid."Kaito/Lizzy said and bowed a little. He/she had a playful smirk on his face.

"So you're the one who kidnapped Luke…"Layton said with a bit of disgust. He felt a bit tense after hearing that name again…Kaito Kid…

"Yes. Isn't it obvious, Layton? In fact, all of this is my work." Kaito/Lizzy said, the smirk never fading from his/her face.

"Nya! (You're that so-called one heck of a magician, aren't you?)" Toshiro hissed but was sure that only Luke understood him.

'If only the Professor could understand me. I could just easily tell him that Lizzy is that man!'Luke thought.

Layton looked around him and saw a path. "Luke, Toshiro. Go ahead. I'll catch up with you later." He said and pointed the way to Luke but his gaze focused on the man before him. "What do you want, Kaito?" he asked.

Luke meowed in protest but Layton shot him a look. He knew the Professor wanted to deal with the masked magician alone. He nodded reluctantly and carried Toshiro. They ran down the path, leaving the Professor and the magician alone.

Lizzy/Kaito didn't stop the children. They weren't his/her main target, anyway. "There is only one thing I want, Layton…and that is revenge…revenge on the world."

"Revenge? Why so?" Layton asked, preparing himself if the person before him tried to attack him.

"You should know well, Layton…After all, you were the only one there to witness it…or are you refusing to acknowledge that day in the past?" Kaito/Lizzy said, his tone had a bit of anger in it.

"That…day?" Layton asked. But he completely knew what this guy was talking about.

"Hmph. Very well then. I won't kill you just yet…It's not yet the right time. So until then…Farewell…Layton. But remember, the past will catch up with you…" Kaito/Lizzy said and threw a smoke bomb on the floor.

Layton coughed and waited for the smoke to clear up. When it did, Kaito/Lizzy was nowhere to be found. He decided to meet up with the two kids.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Nya! (Professor!)" Luke exclaimed and ran to the Professor. They were waiting at the town square, by the fountain.

"There you are, Luke. Toshiro. Are you both alright?" Layton said. Luke's stomach then grumbled, making the Professor chuckle. "It seems you two are. Come on. Let's get something to eat." He said and headed to a nearby café.

Layton went to the counter to order. He looked at the menu and said "It seems that they only make sandwiches here. Is that fine with you two?"

Luke and Toshiro nodded. 'Great…I'm reduced to nodding…' Luke thought bitterly.

Layton ordered three sandwiches, two cups of Oasis Berry for the two and a cup of Belle Classic for him.

All three of them took their seats by the window. Luke looked at the sandwich then at his paws. Layton saw the boy's discomfort. "Don't worry, Luke. We'll solve this mystery before you turn into a cat completely…" he said in attempt to cheer up his apprentice. He then saw Toshiro having trouble with his sandwich.

Toshiro was nibbling at a sandwich on the floor."Nyahh...? (Why does my mouth have to be so small?)"He muttered.

Layton looked at Toshiro and chuckled a bit. "Need some help?"He said and took the sandwich. Then he tore it into little pieces and put it down again."There." he said. He picked up his cup and sipped a bit of his tea.

Toshiro smiled."Thank you!" he said.

Layton nodded. One thing confused him though. He just understood what Toshiro said. 'Since when did I understand animals?' Layton thought. He closed his eyes and took a sip of his Belle Classic again.

"Toshiro. I think something's bothering the Professor…" Luke said.

"Maybe he's thinking about something?" Toshiro replied.

"That's strange…"Layton suddenly said as he finished his tea. "Did you two just spoke in English and not meows?"

Luke and Toshiro looked at each other first then shook their heads. Layton thought of a reasonable explanation but regarded it as impossible. After all, getting his hands wet with the fountain water wasn't enough to turn him into a cat…was it? He felt something twitch on his head though…

"Ahhhh!" Toshiro suddenly shouted and jumped almost three feet in the air. Layton almost dropped his teacup in surprised. Luke then looked at where Toshiro was looking and froze in shock.

"What is it, Toshiro?" Layton asked.

"Y-you…YOU GREW A TAIL!" Toshiro shouted.


And that's where Chapter 11 ends! The Professor has a tail! What will happen next? Tune in to Chapter 12! And remember, Reviews are loved and Criticism is adored! :3 Nya~