A/N: I am sooo sorry about the unannounced hiatus. I had a HUGE case of writers block; but, now I am BACK. If you like this story, look out in October for my next Agatha Christie crossover: "Murder on the Hogwart's Express." This one will consist of H.P. characters and plot elements from "Murder on the Orient Express." I should have this story finished by the 10th of Sept. and then work on small fan-fics that I am undecided about. "Murder on the Hogwart's Express" should start sometime in eary November so be on the lookout. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 14

One Goes Out To Sea

It was 6:30. Tohru knew that she was up early but she wanted to have some breakfast ready for the others by the time they came down at 7:00. She was combing her hair and putting on her freshly ironed shirt and pants. She mounted the stairs with all the grace and poise that she had on the first night on the island. Before this infernal nightmare had begun. She wished that as she reached the bottom that Yuki would be there to take her hand and walk her into the dining room and she would find all the others there and all this would be just that, a nightmare. What she did see at the bottom of the stairs woke her from her dreams and brought the reality of what had been happening on the island home, hard. She walked down from the landing not looking at what lay at the base of the red-carpeted stairs that she trod. When she did notice, she let out a shriek that would rival the most hideous banshee. She walked down that last of the steps and kneeled over the body of the man who had welcomed her into his own house when she had no place to stay. It was hard to believe that the same man was now lying of the floor, his body covered in bruises. He had once stood so tall and now he was limp and lifeless. On the floor next to him, in a pool of crimson blood, was a large book. Tohru didn't have to guess what had taken the life of the man whom had opened the door to the Shoma family to her. He had undoubtedly been pushed down the stairs, accounting for the bruising and the odd way the body was laying, and to finish him off he had been beat in the head by the book. She knew better than to move things around.

Yuki was walking down the stairs. He yawned and looked down at Tohru on the floor. She was kneeling over a body; but, whose? "Oh my? Is that...?" Yuki couldn't finish his sentience as the body came into focus as he reached the last step and walked onto the cold polished wood floor. He now saw that the body laying on the floor was that of his uncle. He was shocked and amazed. He has just talked to his uncle the night before. He was just joking about how much of a pervert he was; but, now his life had been cut short. It was hard to believe. It was then, in his moment of concentration,that Ritsu made his grand entrance.

"Good M..." He couldn't finish his sentences. He was still utterly hung-over. He stepped down on the steps and managed to make it safely down the first three, and then he tripped over his poorly fix kimono and sailed down the steps landing under Yuki's gaze. He smiled and giggled. "How ya doin'?" He hiccuped.

"Oh, um, Ritsu, um, well, we just, I was going to, but, then, there," Tohru looked down at Ritsu and then at Shigure.

"Oh, hi Gure. How ya' doin?" Ritsu was unsure why Shigure didn't answer him unaware that he had just greeted a corpse. "Well fine then, you don't feel like talking and I don't fell like telling you that your leaking." He pointed at the pool of blood.

"Ritsu, he can't talk to you. He's dead; and by the way, he's not leaking, someone smashed his skull in with that book." Yuki looked at Ritsu with tears welling in the deep eyes. He had tried to suppress his emotion over the last few days but the dams were weak and they were surfacing. He turned and looked into Tohru's eyes. He found comfort there. A warm and deep comfort. He turned to look at the door to the den and wondered what he would find if he were to walk in and look at the mantle. "Tohru, why don't you go get Hatori and then we can help get Shiqure up to his room.

Tohru looked into Yuki's warm gaze. In his deep eyes she saw sorrow, pain, and fear; but, deep inside she saw a faint glimpse of comfort. She knew that over the last few days, his calm, cool, collection had given her the strength that she needed to go on; but, now he needed some of that strength back. She quietly nodded and turned to the stairs. She slowly walked up, stopped, and turned to look down at Yuki. "I'm sorry Yuki." The words fell slowly down the distance to Yuki's ears where they rang with a warm sense of comfort. He looked up to thank Tohru but she was gone.

Ritsu looked into Yuki's eyes. "You mean...That mean...WHAAAAAAA...THAT BIG MEANIES HURT GURE. HOW COULD HE? Wait, I know... This isn't funny. Come on you guys. I'm being PUNK'D. Right?" His eyes were pleading and Yuki's wished that he could tell him that he was right.

Tohru gently knocked on Hatori's door. "Hatori..."

"Yes..." The reply came as if he had been asleep.

"Something has happened and Yuki needs your help." She was trying to remain calm despite the urge to cry.

"Who was it?" Hatori sounded more awake and concerned by now.

"Oh... Um... Well... It was Shiqure." Tohru was sobbing by now.

"Oh... Well. I'll be right down." Hatori's voice seemed full of strain.

"Thank you." Tohru said and turned and walked down the stairs.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Tohru found the door to the den open and Yuki inside. Yuki was standing at the fireplace and Ritsu was asleep on the crash. Her eyes floated up to the mantle to see if the figures had been adjusted. Sure enough, there were only four figures. She walked forward to Yuki, his back turned to her and she leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Hatori's coming. Everything is going to be all right.

Yuki quickly turned on Tohru and grabbed her around the waist. He place his lips gently on hers and he felt comfort. For the first time since he had been on the island, he felt comport. Tohru didn't fight with Yuki as she secretly had planned this moment many times before. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity before a cry for help broke it. Yuki and Tohru looked into each others eyes and broke the embrace. The both looked down at Ritsu and realized that the cry must have come from Hatori. They both raced from the room and mounted the stairs, taking them two at a time. When they reached the door to Hatori's room, they found it ajar and raced inside. They turned and looked around. Everything seemed normal. That is when they noticed the water. They both turned to the bathroom door and noticed the water seeping out from under the crack. Yuki tried the door.

"It's locked." Yuki screamed.

"Break it down." Tohru's emotions were multiplied by ten.

Yuki took that advice and slammed into the door. There was a crack and the door swung open on it's hinges. They raced into the room and gasped in unison. There in the bathtub was Hatori, fully dressed with his face down in the water. Tied around his hands and ankles were long straps of seaweed. These also tied his head under the water. Yuki walked over to his uncle. There was no doubt about it, he was dead.

Downstairs there was the sound of a figure shattering and their blood ran cold.