Another Murder

6:00 A.M. Moscow Airport

"Yes, dead male, about thirty-two, unknown weight means of death unknown," Ryo spoke to an officer of Interpol.

"Thank you, Inspector Kanuke," the old cop said as he took the body to the station. Ryo who had kept is cool as the officer interviewed him, broke down, hitting his fist against a pillar.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Another killing and I was right there and another one dies."

"Whoa, Ryo, you don't have to be so hard on yourself buddy," Kyo said, trying to comfort the depressed wolf.

"You don't understand. You still have your parents… I lost both. My mother when I was six and my father when I was fourteen… I lost them both…" Ryo blundered.

"That's horrible but… you're not the only one who lost parents," Juli said.

"Yes but your parent's killer was a demon, which that monster was killed. Neither of my parent's killers was caught."

"Hey, Ryo, let's get off that subject. Why don't you tell me where are you from?" Alex asked, trying to get on a better note.

Ryo gave a sigh, but smiled. The boy was only trying to cheer him up, "I was born in Bangkok. While my father was busy with Order duties, my mom and I stayed out of sight at home rather than go with him. We had a good living… mom was a waitress and I went to a good school but that all changed one day I came home from school I noticed mom did not greet me like usual. So I went in and saw her mangled body. I ran and called the cops. My father came and took me to my Aunt who lives in Lhasa."

"Wait, Lhasa?" asked Alex.

"The Capital of Tibet," Ryo said helpfully.

"So, you're Chinese." Alex concluded.

"Not really…," Ryo replied as they walked into Red Square taking in the sites.

"Wow, the city is beautiful," Juli said looking at the St. Basil's Cathedral, its domes as gorgeous as ever, "I just love those onion domes, don't you, Kyo?"

"Yeah, they're pretty but I like the State Historical Museum."

"I, on the other hand, like Lenin's Mausoleum," Ryo said, indicating a granite building

"What about that big building over there?" asked Alex, curious as ever.

"Ah, that, my friend, is The Kremlin… the home of the president of Russia," Ryo said

"Okay, neat," Alex said. And finally they came back to the hotel.

"Thank god, we got that Suite!" Juli said.

"Tell me about it. Oh, Kyo, can I use your cell-phone?" Alex asked.

"Why?"

"I need to call somebody… see if they're okay," Alex answered.

"Okay, but don't run down the minutes."

"I won't," he said as Kyo handed him the phone after a few rings someone answered.

"Yo, who this is?" the guy said.

"Hey, Dimitri!" said Alex, happy to hear a friend's voice.

"Well, if it isn't super spiff. How are you, dude?"

"I'm fine."

"Well, my sunny student, what do you want?"

"Well, nothing really," Alex replied, "Just wanted to see if you're okay."

"I am fine, don't worry." Dimitri said. But then a smashing sound resonated from the phone and the line went dead.

"Dimitri? Dimitri, are you there?" Alex asked then hung up the phone, "They got him," was all he said.

"So, weird… Rajan, and now Dimitri… the two apparently living KLAWW Gang members," Ryo said.

"How do you know about the KLAWW Gang?" Alex asked

"I work at Interpol remember."

"Yeah… well, what do you mean by living? What about Bison, the Contessa and Arpeggio?"

"Well, Bison was apparently was frozen again. The Contessa is an apparent real estate agent. As for Arpeggio I don't really know a lot about him." Ryo said then started to look at the beautiful portrait on the wall. "Hm, nice a copy of the Mona Lisa," he muttered.

"The Mona Lisa? But that's in the Louvre!" Alex whispered.

"It's a copy, a fake… you need better hearing, Alex. Now, let's get to bed," Kyo announced heading to a bedroom in the massive Russian suite. "Hey, Ryo there's a bed in the room to the right."

"Thanks," Ryo said walking to the room

"Night you guys," Rahul yawned, heading to his room.

"Yeah, sleep tight." Alex said falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Little did he know that a figure was watching him from the window.

"Hm… I found my next sacrifice. Now to mark him," the man said his hand glowing black, "Power of darkness guide me to mark a soul," he said and a mark appeared on Alex's hand "So long for know," the man said running away.

A few hours later... Alex gave a big yawn, "Man I was tired," he went to wipe his eyes and saw a strange mark. "KYO!" and the entire gang came in.

"Something wrong, Alex," Kyo asked moving toward him.

"Look," he said holding out his hand. Juli gasped and Ryomari looked as if he seen a ghost. "What does it mean?" he asked not noticing Ryo's expression

"Well... all victims of the Kumori-Kira had a mark relating to a sign of the zodiac… yours appears to be a Cancer sign," Ryo said

"The what?" asked Alex more worriedly.

"Never mind that! Can you remove it Ryo?" Kyo asked, only to have Ryo shake his head.

"No, I don't know the type of alchemy… but I can seal it so he won't be able to find you. Alex, hold up your hand," Ryomari said raising his hand, which started to shine a brilliant white.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked nervously, as he did what he was told but his arm was shaking.

"Quiet! I'm trying to use a counter spell."

"Counter spell?

"I'm trying to block the signal from the sign, but I can't if you stay still!" Ryo said getting impatient and grabbed Alex's arm.

"OW! That burns!" Alex yelled.

"I said quiet!" Ryo growled.

"BUT IT BURNS!" he screamed.

"I AM TRYING TO CONCENTRATE!" the arguing caused a vein to pop on Ryo's forehead.

"Be careful, Ryo. His body might not be able to handle the stress," Juli said anxiously.

"Yeah, after all he doesn't have any magic," Rahul agreed.

"Both of you, SHUT UP!" he yelled, silencing them both Juli and Rahul. There were a few more moments of tension until the others noticed the screaming stop and smelt the smell of singed fur.

"There… that's better," Ryo said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Now the Kumori-Kira won't be able to find you." He patted Alex on the shoulder and added, "You hung in there pretty well for a kid with no magic."

"Thanks," Alex replied rubbing his hand. "Now that crisis is averted, let's get something to eat. I'm starving!" he said with his stomach growling. That caused everybody to laugh.

They left to one of the many cafes. It was a sunny day and the earlier event completely left their minds until they saw the news.

"ANOTHER BODY WAS FOUND OUTSIDE RED SQUARE THE MAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS ARKADY REZNEYKOV, A NOTED RUSSIAN MOBSTER THE KILLER WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE INFAMOUS Kumori-Kira OF JAPAN. NOW TO MADILINE WITH SPORTS," the lady said as the waiter changed the channel.

"So sad," the waiter muttered, "though at least that scum is off the streets."

The then gang started to whisper amongst themselves.

"An unknown man and then a mobster… what is going on?" Ryo asked.

"Looks like your guess is as good as mine," Kyo said in a hushed tone as they finished up their breakfast, getting ready to start the day.