Demonic Times of Yako
Chapter 13: All Strings Intertwine
"Damn you, you monster!!" a man yelled, shaking his fist as Neuro left the estate; he couldn't help but smiled in delicious malice. "You've ruined our family!" It was true. Neuro had continued on his mystery-solving spree, lying to everyone that his great sensei Yako Katsuragi was guiding him through each case via headset. This particular family was interesting, it started off as murder of an aunt but Neuro revealed that both spouses were cheating on each other with members of the other one's family. The puzzle eater was unfortunately desperate for the negative energy and therefore had to devour each mystery he could find. "I'm sorry," Neuro smiled innocently. "Sensei is so heartless, she doesn't care how many families she tears apart in order to make her pride grow!" Onto the next case!
Similar to the last one, Neuro resorted to clearing every mystery in order to regain his strength. As he solved the murder he was supposed to he also revealed that the grandparents never told their son that he actually married his long-lost sister. It explained the one eyed child Neuro mistook for a Cyclops. "This is my thirteenth mystery today," Neuro said. "I'm close to regaining all of my energy despite the little value of these thin mysteries." He couldn't recall the last time a mystery had made him drool. He was beginning to long for that flavor and texture once again! His heart then began to violently throb. Grabbing his chest, he stood still until the pain slowly resided. "Hmm," he smirked. "Ninety seven percent human…my time is running out."
The afternoon sun rose to its peak in the partially cloudy sky, signaling to Neuro that he had little time left in the day to solve the remaining puzzles. "I wonder how the pig is doing," he grinned, walking onto the sidewalk. "If she fails to solve that mystery today…I'll have to wait until this Hireki problem is settled to commence my plans for her."
"I'm pumped now!!" Yako said, tossing her twentieth box of chocolate to the floor as she typed away her case findings on the computer. Rom Piku observed from the side, happy to see Yako so hastily working to solve Akane's case. "All the pieces," Yako said. "They feel like they're already outlined in my head."
"Why don't you share your thoughts with us Ms. Detective," Rom Piku playfully asked, turning in her chair. Yako smiled, ready to unleash her thoughts. "Well…Akane was clearly killed and on the skeleton was a ring…so she's most likely married. Her husband is no where in sight and I think if they were living her together he would know about her body being trapped in a wall."
"What makes you think they were living here?" Rom Piku asked.
"It's this office. Technically it's supposed to be an office, this is an apartment, a place to live," Yako explained. "That's why there was a bathroom and a bedroom."
"But this isn't an apartment building," Rom Piku said. "What kind of building only has one apartment?"
"The only other explanation could be that it was a studio," Yako suggested. "Maybe an art studio. Godai."
"What is it?" he moaned, turning his head back in his chair.
"The reason this place feels like an office is because Neuro and your gang made it into one, you ignored the bathroom and bedroom. Who was here before your gang took over?" Yako asked.
"It was some artist and his wife," Godai said. Yako smiled, hearing her theory being proven by the ex-gangster's evidence. She typed the new information on the computer, reviewing everything before she continued. Rom Piku watched the lit eyes of excitement on the detective's face. Resisting the urge to read Yako's mind, she wondered what made the girl so excited about solving this case. Was it that solving this puzzle would impress Neuro and make her more useful to him…or did she actually enjoy doing this kind of stuff?
"Godai," Yako called out, spinning in Neuro's chair. "How did you get the apartment from the artist?"
"I paid him," Godai said. "He was selling it cheap and the guys didn't want to kill him and attract unwanted attention. To tell you the truth, I never really saw his wife when I talked to him." Yako took that as a clue. It was quite possible the wife was killed before Godai even moved into the apartment and converted it to an office. Chances were that Akane was the wife and that her husband killed her but where was the motivation? This was the part Yako would usually find trouble in. She could never imagine or even simulate herself thinking such horrible thoughts and dreadful plans. "Godai…where did you get the money to pay for this apartment? Where did you even hear about it from?"
A blush crawled along his face. "I…I don't know. Like I remember old shit like that. I don't want to talk about it!!" Yako decided to leave his past alone for now, not wasting het time trying to imagine what he had to do to get the money. She glanced over at the photos on her desk, the one of the bloody room and the other of a blood-stained bed. They were photos. To Yako, this was one of the most important things yet. "A photo," she said, holding up the pictures. "Is taken when you want to remember something and see it again. When you want to recall something you look at a photo. It's always something that you treasure and admire."
"Are you saying someone admired the room and the bed?" Rom Piku curiously asked, leaning over to see them.
"Why would anyone want to look at these?" she said, placing them on the scanner. She had to make copies of it for her next step. "The husband was an artist…maybe…he killed Akane just to make art. That's terrible."
"You must have seen some horrible cases with Neuro to so easily come up with that," Rom Piku said.
"Akane…" Yako sorrowfully said, looking at the braided hair on the wall. She placed the skeleton back into the wall, nearly fainting from touching it but she closed her eyes and did it in one quick shot. She was beginning to become afraid of how used to these dark, gloomy things she was getting. Clearly interacting with Neuro was causing her to change. Still, she had trouble mentally picturing what happened to Akane. Gore was never within her tastes.
"If we can find the husband, we can interview him," Yako said. "Godai, do you know where he went after he sold you his studio?"
"No," Godai answered. Yako then sweetly smiled. "Mr. Godai," she said. "Could you do me a big favor?"
"I don't like the tone in your goddamn voice," Godai snarled. "What the hell you want?!"
"Could you please go down to the police station and ask for a background check on the people who used to live here?" Yako asked, making sure to let Godai see her precious, cutesy young eyes. "Why should I leave the protective barrier around this office just to get some stinkin' info?!" he fussed. "Any of those other demons could come out and kill me to kill!"
"But I really want to solve this case," Yako pleaded. "And besides Mr. Godai, Sai and Hireki have no reason to kill you. Neuro doesn't care either way and you can't possibly give them any information that would help them win." Sucking his teeth, Godai rose from his chair and grabbed the printed copies of the photos before reaching for his jacket. "It's a fuckin' shame no one values me!!"
"Thank you," Yako said. "And just so you know Godai…if anything did happen to you…I would care."
"Shut the fuck up! Like I care what some bitch thinks!" Godai yelled before slamming the door. His lies were so see through that Yako almost wanted to chuckle. Rom Piku smiled. "He's happy," she said.
"I'm glad I have people like him to help me," Yako said, grabbing the computer's mouse. Clicking down on the keyboard, she gasped as she examined the website she was on. "I just found some important on Boogle!"
"You bastard!! How can you blame my children for killing the dog?!" a man yelled, grabbing Neuro by the collar.
"But sir," Neuro said in a weak voice. "Sensei said so. And your son is holding a knife behind you right now! Almost like he wants to stab you!" The man turned back, staring at his son who had the weapon high in the air.
"This can't be!!" the man said in misery. "First your mother tries to kill me and now my own children?!" Neuro naturally ate their puzzles before leaving, reviewing how demon-like these cases were becoming. He could even recognize the simple malevolence in the flavor. Opening his schedule book as he stepped down the stairs of the house, he checked off the case. "Let's see, what measly mystery is next to be devoured?" Suddenly a surge of pain surged throughout every inch of his body. The demon fell to his knees. A bubbling sensation formed in his hand. "It would seem like my cells are beginning to change."
"Thanks man," Godai said, taking the reports from Sasazuka. His phone then began to ring and on it was Yako's name. "Shit…" he said. "She probably wants me to pick up some food. I ain't got any money right now."
"Godai?" Yako said, hearing him greet her. "Are you still at the police station?"
"Yeah, I got your damn background information," Godai said. "The guy's name is Setsuke Hibari and his wife's name was Akane Hibari. He's in a mental hospital and according to police reports his wife disappeared a long time ago, around the time I got the office. The thing is that he voluntarily placed himself in the loony bin."
"Great!" Yako said. "I've solved everything! I just found a website featuring the photos as artwork."
"What? Are you serious?" Godai asked.
"Yeah, he's been selling them for high prices to mostly people with money and unique tastes," Yako explained. "It's so horrible to see someone making money off of someone else's suffering like that. The pictures and posters were labeled as digital prints so no one would think he actually used real organs to decorate the bathroom. Godai? Could you go there and bring Sasazuka with you too?"
"Psshhh….yeah ,sure. What the fuckin' hell. I might as well since I'm doing all your other goddamn errands," Godai complained.
"Thank you," Yako kindly said. "Call me when you meet Mr. Hibari."
"Can I help you boys?" the slim nurse asked, typing away at the keyboard with her trimmed nails. Her pink outfit had a strange attraction to Godai. Sasazuka whipped out his police identification. "We're from the police; we're here to see a Setsune Hibari. We'd like to ask him a few questions."
"Oh…of course," the nurse said. "He's right over at the comfort table near the plants."
"Thank you," Sasazuka said, placing his I.D back into hi coat. "Let's go."
"Yo, you Setsune?," Godai called out as the two made their way to the table. The balding man turned his bright blue eyes towards the two gentlemen, wondering why he would have visitors.
"Yes," he said. "Who would like to know?"
"I'm Sasazuka Eishi of the Japanese police, we have a few questions about your wife."
"Oh…oh! Have you found her?" the aging man asked, his white hair curling along the side of his head. Godai grinned as he clicked the speed dial on his cell phone. "I'm putting you on speaker Yako," he said.
"Okay!" she said. "Mr. Hibari, are you there?"
"Ye-yes…who is this?" he nervously replied. "Are you the same Yako…as in…the mastermind detective?"
"Yes, and we found your wife," Yako said.
"Oh really! That's wonderful! If anyone could do it it would be you!" Setsune complimented. Yako could feel the fear in his voice. He knew what was going to happen. "Mr. Hibari, we found the skeleton of your wife in our office," Yako started. "We know you killed her. We found the photos and have linked the profits you gain from them to your bank account."
"Ex…excuse me? What is this all about? Really?" Setsune nervously said, scratching his arm.
"Mr. Godai, please raise the phone into the air," Yako asked.
"Sure…" he said, not knowing what was happening. Once Yako said what she was going to say Godai would understand. "The culprit….is YOU!" she said. Godai moaned as he swung the phone through the air, mimicking her the best way he could. Sasazuka stood in the sidelines, watching the humiliation of the man next to him. Did she really have to do that?
"Setsune, we have the photos. Please show him Godai." Godai grinned as he pulled them out from his pants' pockets. Placing them softly on the table, he slid them over to Setsune, letting the man pick them up and examine them. The expression if shock was obvious. "I…I don't know anything about these photos!" the aged man denied, tossing them back at the table.
"We know you killed her for artistic purposes…and sold the photos as artwork online. We found your website," Yako revealed. "I know how shocked you must be to see them again."
"Of course I'm shocked! Look at the contents on these photos! How else am I supposed to act?!" Setsune loudly fussed, rising from the chair.
"You're shocked because you made them," Yako said, struck in wonder by his dedication to lie and not get caught. She could see Akane resting on the table. Even as a braid of hair, Yako could tell she was miserable.
"Alright, you're under arrest," Sasazuka said, opening his handcuffs. Setsune stepped back, scratching his arms harder and harder. "Fine! Fine!! I did it!!" he screamed, alarming all the patients. "I did it!! I KILLED MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE AKANE!!"
"Why?" Yako asked, utterly shocked by the sudden confession. "Why would you do something like that to such a nice person?! Someone that loved you?!"
"Because….because….I was a FAILURE!!" Setsune screamed. "I was an artist…who wanted glory and fame. That's all! But no matter what I did I couldn't reach it!! Every day my wife would support me and cheer me up, even though I knew she was miserable in the poverty we dwelled in!!" Blood was starting to rise from his neurotic scratching. "Of course people would compliment me on my paintings!! They can't paint like me so it seems so wonderful to them!! But no one would buy or talk about me!! I was nothing but an attraction to them!! I worked for years, mastering every form and medium of art but still nothing!! No one would buy or put me in magazines!! I couldn't live the rest of my life, knowing I wasted half of it on something that gained no merit!! So I killed my beautiful Akane!! OHH!!"
Godai and Sasazuka stood, watching as the man before them broke down in tears and began to hold himself on the floor. The other patients watched or ignored him while the nurses stayed back, letting the police do their job. "I killed her as she slept in our bed and began to rip our every fabric of her body! I used it to decorate bathroom! It had so much meaning in it! The sorrow of losing a wife, the misery implanted into her empty stomach and weak organs!! The horrible stench and colors of life ripped and slapped onto a bathroom's wall!! It was my only masterpiece!! She was a beautiful woman, motherly and with the bluest eyes you ever saw…with long, black hair and a lovely form…why did she ever fall for me?"
Godai blushed as the man described her. Setsune then rose and stared directly at the phone. "If I didn't get any glory I would have gone mad anyway and killed her and probably myself!!" he argued. "What was I supposed to do?!"
"When you love somebody you must be willing to even give up your most valuable dreams to make them happy!" Yako said, her eyes watering. "She supported you to see you happy, waiting for that day to come and…you just kill her!!" Rom Piku placed her hands on Yako's shoulder, hoping it would comfort her in some way.
"I know I'm a terrible artist and husband…" Setsune said as Sasazuka placed the handcuffs over his wrists. "Akane…she tried to keep it a secret but…I knew I wasn't' enough for her. I was never there for her. She thought I didn't know but…I knew she went to the host club, looking for that same host who made her feel special."
"Glory is never worth a human's life…" Yako said with a trembling voice.
"I wish I could agree…" Setsune said, walking out of the metal hospital before being placed into the back of the police car.
"You did a good job," Godai said.
"Thanks," Yako said. "But…why didn't you tell me how you heard about the apartment or where you got the money for it?"
"To tell you the truth….before the guys and I bought the place…we all had odd jobs…and mine…was as a host at a host club," Godai quietly said.
"Really?!" Yako asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, I was supposed to be the tough guy from the street with a gentle heart," Godai chuckled. "See ya back at the office then. And don't tell that damn demon about this!!"
Clapping the phone shut he turned around, only to feel a fist against his face, causing him to fall to the ground. Looking up, he could see Neuro sticking his arm out.
"Oh my, you've seem to have run into my fist," Neuro grinned blankly.
"I guess you're done you fuckin' bitch," Godai growled.
"Yes and I'm quite ready to go back home," Neuro said, pulling out a leash. "Chop, chop. Get in."
"I'm not wearing that goddamn leash…" Godai snarled. "Do it Godai, spit in his face! Spit in this demon's fucking face!!" he thought to himself.
"There's no need to worry. This is a mental hospital. Wearing a leash will seem normal," Neuro explained, already wrapping it around Godai's neck. The slave simply stood there, knowing he would be punished either way.
"I'm back," Neuro said. "And I found a putrid dog eating garbage off the street." Pulling Godai into the office, he strapped him to the desk. "We might have to neuter him. Pig, get my scissors!"
"Neuro! You're back!" Yako excitedly said, stepping out of her chair and walking up to him. "So…how did I do with the case?" she asked, anticipating the praise. Neuro grinned, walking towards the window.
"I'm impressed you solved the case in less than a day," He said. "You're promoted to dog's testicle hair."
"I'm…I'm still not even human yet…" Yako sighed.
"It was humor," Neuro blankly said, staring out the window. "You still require further evolution but so far…you've managed to exceed my expectations." Burning red with flustered emotions and pride, Yako couldn't stop smiling the moment she heard those words. Rom Piku made sure to try her best to smile, attempting to feel as happy for Yako a she could. Slowly but surely she could see the two of them coming closer together. Suddenly Neuro was no longer near the window.
"Neuro!" Yako shouted, running to the desk. Rom Piku, coming out of her thoughts, followed Yako.
"Wait…what happened?" she asked.
"Didn't you see it? Neuro just dropped to the ground!" Yako said. "Hurry, help me get him to the couch!" The two girls grunted as they lifted his heavy body onto the couch, accidentally bumping his head against the table on the way. Godai would have helped if he weren't attached to the desk by a leash. Then again he might have taken advantage of the situation and beat the crap out of the demon.
Laying him out across the couch, Yako held her hair back and placed her ear against his chest while placing two fingers on his wrist. The situation was too dangerous to care about the physical contact right now. "His heart's beating really fast and…so is his pulse!" Yako said.
"Call a hospital or something!" Godai yelled, trying to pull the leash out of the desk but Neuro apparently placed padlocks all over it. "If he dies because I couldn't help I'll laugh at that bastard!!"
"This isn't the time Godai…" Yako sternly said. "Rom Piku, please get me a warm cloth and a bucket of water." Yako knew she couldn't take Neuro to the hospital, especially since he was a demon. The puzzle eater had yet to inform her of his transformation. All she could do was whatever she thought was best for him. Despite the terrible conditions she did feel embarrassed and nervous unbuttoning his vest. Doing it as fast as she could, she tossed his blue vest to the couch across from them. Next was to remove his scarf from around his neck.
"I brought the water," Rom Piku said, placing it onto the table. "Here's the cloth."
"Great, thank you," Yako said, placing it on Neuro's forehead. She then began to notice something unusual. Neuro's body was bubbling, not the skin but what was underneath it. "What's happening here?" Yako asked. "What's going on?!"
"Calm down Yako," Rom Piku said, holding the girl in her arms. "I think he may finally be turning human."
It had been nearly an hour since he lost consciousness but Yako never budged from the couch. She remained by his side, watching for any changes. Her blush had no signs of vanishing anytime soon, both from excitement of being so close to him and from taking care of him so dearly. Rom Piku made it her job to watch over Yako, assuring she wouldn't fall asleep or miss any changes. Godai was reduced to gnawing at the leash that kept him stuck to the seat.
"Neuro?" Yako softly asked, seeing his eyes flicker. "Neuro?" The puzzle eater began to strain his eyes and move his mouth. The first thing he felt was the loss of his fangs. Yako could see it too; he had grown normal human teeth. Opening his eyes, he felt different. Neuro felt heavier, even his eyes felt different.
"Your eyes," Yako said. "They're normal."
"Normal?" he asked. Yako handed him a hand mirror from her bag. Snapping it open he could no longer see the glowing wheels in his eyes instead they were regular eyes with normal pupils and irises, still green though.
"Neuro…what happened?"
"I'm now a complete human," he said, handing her back her mirror. A dark aura surrounded him and soon his fangs returned along with his demonic eyes. "It means that I won't be able to do things as easily as I could before. Standing on walls and punching holes into buildings were as easy as breathing in my demon form. But now that I have a weak human body I will have to use more demon energy simply just to maintain my eyes and fangs."
"So…will you be okay?" Yako worriedly asked.
"Yes, I simply need more energy," Neuro explained, now looking at Akane. "I wish I could eat your mystery but you don't have one. The one I smelled was the one from your husband who you are connected to."
"Connected to?" Yako thought to herself. She hadn't realized it before but Neuro was able to detect mysteries off f anything connected to the mystery. She began to see this as more of a weakness in this situation.
"Somebody's at the door," Rom Piku said. "Don't worry, he's human."
"Let him in then," Neuro said. "I'll allow him to pass the barrier."
"Hello?" the petite, elderly man softly greeted, poking his head out through the door. "Come in," Yako smiled. Neuro rose from the cushions and rested his arms on his legs. "Yako, my vest," he said. She handed it to him, glad to see him ready for another case, unfortunately there was nothing normal about this one.
"I'm Aijara, the owner of the Osaka Museum of Natural History….there's been some unusual happenings there and I was hoping…maybe you could come investigate."
Neuro could smell the mystery; he had no choice but to accept. Yako rested herself on the arm of the couch as the man explained what was happening.
"All the workers seem to growling and disobeying me as of late," Aijara said. "And sometimes…I think I see some red-haired guy walking around the place, grinning at me. He's always there at random times all day but I can never find him when I chase after him. I'm beginning to fear that there might be demons or something," he nervously chuckled.
Neuro laid out across the couch, knowing full well what was to occur. "Sensei will take the case," he said, not even trying to hide his demonic appearance or voice. There was no enthusiasm in his tone either.
"Thank you!" Aijara gratefully bowed. "Can you come over tomorrow?"
"We'll be there in a few hours," Neuro said as his gaze slowly shifted from the roof. Aijara thanked them once more before leaving, slamming the door into Godai as he did. "Does no one notice me?!" Godai yelled.
Yako watched as the old man left the office and turned towards Neuro. She flinched. The demon was now gazing into her eyes, never budging. "Brace yourself Yako," he said calmly. "This case will be different."
"O-okay…" Yako stuttered. How long had he been staring at her?
"It's about time," Hireki said, sitting on the railing of the second floor in the museum. "Aijara has finally reported to Yako what you've been doing around here," Lolita said, wrapping her arms around his waist. The lure for Neuro was set and he took it. Now Hireki's greatest plan was in motion. With Neuro's puzzle he would have enough energy to finish off Mauka and eat her puzzle as well! Then Hell would be open to his unbending will.
Flying above the vast city, a gargoyle-like demon clamped onto the edge of a building, awaiting its master to arrive. "Master Mauka," it said.
"The report," she demanded.
"Hireki Shin has been found. The Osaka Museum of Natural History," it hissed. "Along with the mutant Sai and two female humans."
"Excellent," Mauka fiendishly grinned, tightening her fists. "It's about damn time I killed him! Get my sword back too!! Prepare the troops! We'll strike in the evening!!" Bracing her forces, the daughter of the devil walked back into the shadows, anticipating the blood of Hireki flowing into her mouth. "I'll kill Neuro and his friends too! Just out of spite!!"
In the distance, away in the depths of an alley, a door emerged from the bricked walls. The door vibrated, resembling the intestines of a human more than wood. Skulls made up the nails and hinges. Stepping out through the portal was a tall, smiling blue haired demon with a suitcase. He had the appearance of a human with his hair pulled back and one sharp bang going down his face, similar to Neuro's. His cute, innocent face lit with excitement as he found himself under a bright, blue sky. The only clue to his identity was an emblem on his shirt that read "S".
"Oh my…it's been so long since I've been to this beautiful world," S softly said. "It's changed so much. I love it! I wonder where Neuro is though. I've been dying to meet him."
Now all the actors were gathered, the final character has emerged as Hell's war is finally unleashed upon the human realm. Mauka, Hireki Shin, Sai, Lolita, Ai, S, Neuro, Yako, Godai, and Rom Piku all walked with ambitions towards the museum, a simple building constructed for education, now the future sight for a battle that would string together the loose threads of the approaching war.
Author: Ah, now we're getting into the depths of the story! Remember, feed me reviews! Who knows, I might even draw some pictures or sketches of the characters I've created. Tell me if you guys might want that. I'm not the best artist in the world but I'm not one of those people who can't tell their pictures suck either. Remember, review. It's what gives me my nutrients!